Seeing Sita overwhelmed with grief, a Rakshasi, named Sarama, who was
the beloved companion (of Sita), drew near to her dear (friend),
Vaidehi. And the mild-speeched Sarama comforted the exceedingly
distressed Sita, who had been bereft of her senses by the lord of
Rakshasas. Sita, who was protected there (by Sarama), had been made a
friend by her. And, protecting her at the command of Ravana, that
kind-hearted companion, firm in vows, saw Sita, deprived of her
consciousness. And she[90] comforted with a friend's affection that one
of fair vows, who was rolling in the dust and rising up from it like a
mare.[91] "Having come to the solitary wood for protecting thee, I,
renouncing all fear of Ravana, have, remaining hid, heard everything
that he addressed unto thee, as well as what thou hadst replied unto
him. For thee, O thou of expansive eyes, I have no fear of Ravana. And,
O Maithili, I, coming out, have also learnt well as to why the lord of
Rakshasas hath gone out hence hurriedly. Rama, acquainted with self, is
incapable of being surprised in sleep; nor doth the slaying of that
tiger-like one commend itself to me as probable. And the monkeys
fighting with trees, well protected by Raghava, like the gods protected
by the foremost of the celestials, are incapable of being slain. And,
possessed of arms long and rounded; graceful; broad-breasted; powerful;
accoutred with the bow; and mailed; righteous; and famous over the
earth; endowed with energy; and along with his brother, Lakshmana, ever
protecting himself and others; of noble descent; and versed in polity;
the destroyer of the hostile ranks; and of inconceivable strength and
manhood,--the graceful Raghava, O Sita, slayer of foes, is not slain.
This illusion hath been spread around thee by that fierce,
illusion-creating one, whose mind ever runs upon improper acts and who
opposeth himself to all creatures.--All thy sorrow hath departed, and
thy good day hath dawned. Certainly Lakshmi seeketh thee. And, O lady,
hearken unto what is dear to thee! Having crossed over the ocean, along
with the monkey-host, Rama hath encamped himself on the southern shore
of the sea. By me hath been seen the complete Kakutstha along with
Lakshmana, accompanied by the forces, stationed on the marge of the
main,--protected (by his native might). Those Rakshasas of fleet vigor
who had been despatched by this one, have brought the news that Raghava
hath crossed.--And, O large-eyed lady, having learnt this news,
Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--is consulting with all his counselors". As
the Rakshasi, Sarama, was relating this unto Sita, she heard the leonine
roars of the army, emitted with the greatest energy. And, hearing the
mighty sounds of kettledrums produced by sticks struck (thereon), the
honey-tongued Sarama spoke thus unto Sita,--"These dreadful sounds of
the kettledrum, O mother, call to arms. And hark to the solemn notes of
the kettledrums, resembling the rumbling of clouds! The mad elephants
are caparisoned and the car-horses are yoked; and thousands (of
warriors) are seen, mounted on steeds, with bearded darts in their
hands. And, as waters fill up the ocean, mailed warriors of wonderful
forms, vehement and roaring, by thousands rush out on all sides and fill
the highways. And mark the splendour spread around by the polished arms
and bucklers and mail,--and by the cars, horses and elephants of the
followers of the Rakshasa-chief,--consisting of many hues shooting
up,--like unto the appearance of a fire in summer, burning a
forest,--and also mark the excitement of ihe high-spirited and
fast-coursing Rakshas![92] And hear the sounds of bells and the rattling
of the car-wheels! And hear the neighing of the steeds and the reports
of the drums And fierce is the excitement of these Rakshasas--followers
of the Raksha-chief,--with their hands hearing upraised arms,--capable
of making people's hair stand on end. The sorrow removing Sree espouseth
thee; and the fear of the Rakshas is come. And as Vasava did unto the
Daityas, the lotus-eyed Rama, thy lord--of controlled anger, and of
inconceivable prowess, slaying Ravana in battle and thus delivering
thee, shall approach thee. And, as Vasava put forth his prowess among
his foes, in company with the foe-destroying Vishnu, thy lord, along
with Lakshmana, shall display his prowess among the Rakshas. On the
enemy having fallen, I shall behold thee, devoted to thy lord, with thy
desire attained, soon lying on the lap of Rama. And, O Janaki, embracing
(thy lord), thou shalt shed tears of joy on his mighty breast. And, O
Sita, soon shall the highly powerful Rama loosen this braid of thine
reaching unto thy hips, which thou hast been wearing for many a month.
And, O exalted one, seeing his face like the full moon risen, thou shalt
shed water begot of ruth, even as a she-serpent casts off her slough.
And, O Mithila's daughter, speedily slaying Ravana in battle, that one
worthy of happiness shall reap felicity in the company of thee, his
beloved. And, loved by the high-souled Rama, thou shalt be happy, even
as the Earth furnished with crops brought forth by plenteous showers. Do
thou, O exalted one, take refuge with him, who, going round the foremost
of mountains, speedily assumeth a steed-like circular movement; for even
the maker of day is the source of people's joy and grief".
[90] Sarama.--T.
[91] The commentator intelligently remarks: _As a mare does, to remove
fatigue.--T._
[92] This line of verse defies all attempts to make it fall into
syntactical order with the rest of the sentence. It is a hideous
hiatus in the passage.--T.