Sundara Kand
Narration
The twenty-first chapter of the Sundara Kanda. Sita counsels Ravana and tells him that he is insignificant before Shri Rama.
Hearing the words of that fearsome rakshasa, Sita felt great anguish. In a subdued voice, with deep sorrow, she slowly began to reply.
At that moment, the beautiful, devoted, ascetic Sita was trembling and weeping in distress. She was thinking only of her husband.
The daughter of the King of Videha, whose smile was pure, placed a blade of grass between herself and Ravana and answered him:
“Turn your mind away from me and direct your love towards your own wives.
“Just as a sinful man cannot aspire to spiritual accomplishment, you are not worthy of desiring me. I can never commit an improper act condemned for a faithful wife, because I was born into a noble family and married into a sacred family.”
Having said this to Ravana, the illustrious princess of Videha turned her back towards him and continued:
“Ravana, I am a faithful wife and another man’s woman. I am not fit to become your wife.
“Night-roaming rakshasa, turn your attention towards the highest righteousness and faithfully follow the conduct of virtuous people.
“Just as your wives receive protection from you, you should also protect the wives of others. Take yourself as the example and remain devoted to your own wives.
“A restless man whose senses are uncontrolled, whose judgement deserves condemnation, and who is not satisfied with his own wives is brought to ruin and disgrace through his pursuit of other men’s wives.
“Do no virtuous people live here? Or, even though they live here, do you refuse to follow them? Is that why your judgement has become so distorted and devoid of good conduct?
“Or perhaps you dismiss as worthless the advice of wise people who speak for your welfare. Intent on bringing about the destruction of the rakshasas, you refuse to accept it.
“Great and prosperous kingdoms and cities are destroyed when they fall into the hands of an unjust king whose mind is impure and who refuses to accept sound advice.
“In the same way, this city of Lanka, filled with treasures, will soon be destroyed through your offence alone, because it has fallen into your hands.
“Ravana, when a shortsighted sinner is destroyed by his own evil deeds, all living beings rejoice at his downfall.
“Likewise, those whom you have tormented will call you a sinner and rejoice, saying, ‘It is good that this oppressor has met with such suffering.’
“Just as sunlight is inseparable from the sun, I am inseparable from Raghunatha. You cannot tempt me with power or wealth.
“Having rested my head upon the honoured arm of Shri Ramachandra, the Lord of the world, how can I now use another man’s arm as my pillow?
“Just as knowledge of the Vedas belongs to a learned Brahmin who has completed his studies and knows the Self, I am fit to be the wife only of Raghunatha, the Lord of the earth.
“Ravana, the best course for you would be to reunite me, a sorrowful woman, with Shri Raghunatha, just as someone might reunite a female elephant longing for her mate with the king of elephants in the forest.
“If you wish to protect your city and escape dreadful bondage, you should make the Supreme Person, Lord Shri Rama, your friend. He alone is worthy of that friendship.
“Lord Shri Rama knows all the principles of righteousness and is renowned for his affection towards those who seek refuge in him. If you wish to remain alive, you should become his friend.
“Seek refuge in Shri Rama, who lovingly protects those who come to him, and win his favour. With a pure heart, return me to him.
“By handing me over to Shri Raghunatha in this way, you will secure your welfare. If you act otherwise, you will fall into great calamity.
“A thunderbolt released against a night-roaming rakshasa like you might perhaps spare you, and even Death might overlook you for a long time. But Raghunatha, the Lord of the world, when filled with anger, will never spare you.
“You will hear the terrible twang of Shri Ramachandra’s bow, like the thunderous crash of the thunderbolt hurled by Indra.
“Arrows bearing the names of Shri Rama and Lakshmana, with finely formed joints, will soon fall here like serpents with blazing mouths.
“Those arrows, feathered with the plumes of kanka birds, will destroy the rakshasas in this city. There is no doubt about it. They will rain down so thickly that there will not be space left even for a sesame seed.
“Just as Garuda, the son of Vinata, destroys serpents, Shri Rama, like a mighty Garuda, will swiftly uproot the great serpents that are the rakshasa kings.
“Just as Lord Vishnu, with only three strides, took away the glorious royal fortune of the asuras, my husband Shri Rama, the destroyer of enemies, will soon take me away from your dwelling.
“Rakshasa, when the destruction of the rakshasa army ruined your refuge at Janasthana and you became incapable of fighting, you resorted to the vile act of deceit and theft.
“Wretched night-roaming rakshasa, you entered the deserted hermitage of Shri Rama and Lakshmana, those lions among men, and abducted me.
“At that time, they had gone into the forest to kill the illusory deer. Otherwise, you would have received the consequence of your deed then and there.
“You cannot stand before Shri Rama and Lakshmana even if you merely catch their scent. Can a dog ever stand its ground before two tigers?
“Just as, in battle against Indra’s two arms, Vritrasura’s single arm could not bear the burden of combat, you too can never bear the burden of fighting those two brothers or stand against them on the battlefield.
“Shri Rama, the lord of my life, will come with Lakshmana, the son of Sumitra, and swiftly take your life with his arrows, just as the sun dries up a small quantity of water with its rays.
“You may go to Kubera’s Mount Kailasa or hide in Varuna’s assembly. But just as a great tree already stricken by time is destroyed when a thunderbolt strikes it, you will immediately lose your life when struck by the arrow of Shri Rama, the son of Dasharatha.
“There is no doubt about this, because Death has already claimed you.”