The story of Trijata (Sarga 27)

Trijata’s dream gives an auspicious indication of the destruction of the rakshasas and the victory of Shri Raghunatha.

When Sita spoke such dreadful words, the rakshasis became almost senseless with anger. Some of them went to report her words to the wicked Ravana.

Then those fearsome-looking rakshasis approached Sita and began speaking harsh words, all directed towards the same purpose and threatening harm to her:

Sita, you wicked-minded woman, this very day, at this very moment, all these rakshasis will feast happily on your flesh.

Seeing Sita being frightened in this way by those wicked night-roaming women, the elderly rakshasi Trijata, who had just awakened from sleep, said to them:

Wretched night-roaming women, eat yourselves! You will not be able to eat Sita, the beloved daughter of King Janaka and the dear daughter-in-law of King Dasharatha.

Today, I have seen a terrible dream that made my hair stand on end. It foretells the destruction of the rakshasas and the rise of Sita and her husband.

Hearing Trijata’s words, all those rakshasis, who had earlier been almost fainting with anger, became frightened. They said to her:

Tell us, what kind of dream did you see tonight?

Hearing their question, Trijata described her dream:

In my dream today, I saw a divine palanquin travelling through the sky. It was made of ivory and drawn by a thousand horses. Shri Raghunatha himself, wearing a garland of white flowers and white garments, arrived here in that palanquin with Lakshmana.

I also saw Sita wearing white garments and sitting on the summit of a white mountain surrounded by the sea. There, Sita was reunited with Shri Ramachandra, just as sunlight is united with the sun.

Then I saw Shri Raghunatha again. He was seated with Lakshmana upon an enormous elephant with four tusks, as tall as a mountain.

Shining like the sun through their own radiance, and wearing white garlands and white garments, the two brothers, Shri Rama and Lakshmana, approached Janaki.

Then Janaki too climbed onto the shoulder of that elephant, which stood in the sky beside the mountain peak, with her husband helping her up.

After this, the lotus-eyed Sita rose from her husband’s lap and reached the moon and the sun. I saw her touching them with both hands and passing her hands over them.

Then that great elephant, upon which the two princes and the large-eyed Sita were seated, came and stood above Lanka.

Next, I saw Shri Ramachandra, the glory of the Kakutstha lineage, arrive here in a chariot drawn by eight white bulls. Wearing a garland of white flowers and white garments, he was accompanied by his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana.

Afterwards, in another scene, I saw the Supreme Person, Lord Shri Rama, whose valour is unfailing and whose strength is mighty, seated with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana in the divine Pushpaka aerial vehicle, radiant like the sun. They departed from here towards the north.

In this way, I saw Shri Rama, whose prowess is like that of Lord Vishnu, together with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana.

Shri Ramachandra possesses immense splendour. Neither gods, asuras, rakshasas, nor anyone else can defeat him, just as sinful people cannot conquer heaven.

I also saw Ravana in my dream. His head was shaved, his body was drenched in oil, and he wore red clothes. He was intoxicated with liquor and wore a garland of oleander flowers.

Dressed in this way, Ravana fell from the Pushpaka aerial vehicle to the earth. A woman was dragging the shaven-headed Ravana somewhere.

Then I saw him again, dressed in black clothes and travelling in a chariot drawn by donkeys. He was adorned with a red garland and red sandalwood paste.

He drank oil, laughed, and danced. His mind was confused like that of a madman, and his senses were disturbed. Riding a donkey, he hurried towards the south.

Then I saw Ravana, the king of the rakshasas, fall from the donkey onto the ground, with his head down and his feet upwards. He was overcome with fear and bewilderment.

Terrified, he suddenly rose. Maddened and naked, he went forward, uttering many insults and abusive words.

Before him lay a foul-smelling, miserable, dark, hell-like mire of filth. Ravana entered it and sank into it.

Then I again saw Ravana going south. He entered a lake in which there was no trace of mud. There was a dark-complexioned young woman whose body was smeared with mud. She wore red garments and was dragging Ravana southwards with a rope tied around his neck.

I saw the mighty Kumbhakarna in the same condition.

All of Ravana’s sons also appeared with shaved heads and bodies drenched in oil.

I also saw Ravana riding a boar, Indrajit riding a crocodile, and Kumbhakarna riding a camel, all travelling south.

Among the rakshasas, Vibhishana alone appeared beneath a white parasol, wearing a white garland and white garments, with white sandalwood paste and ointments upon his body.

Conches were sounding near him, and drums were being beaten. Along with their deep sound, there was dancing and singing, adding to Vibhishana’s splendour.

With his four ministers, Vibhishana stood in the sky upon a divine elephant with four tusks. It was as enormous as a mountain, and its trumpeting was as deep as the sound of clouds.

I also saw a great gathering of rakshasas drinking oil and wearing red garlands and red garments. There were songs and the sweet sounds of wind instruments.

I saw this beautiful city of Lanka fallen into the sea, together with its horses, chariots, and elephants. Its outer and inner gateways were broken.

In my dream, I saw that a powerful monkey, who had come as Shri Ramachandra’s messenger, had burned to ashes the city of Lanka protected by Ravana.

In Lanka, burned in this way, all the rakshasa women were drinking oil, becoming intoxicated, and laughing loudly.

All those foremost rakshasas and warriors, including Kumbhakarna, wore red clothes and entered a pit of cow dung.

So move away and see how Shri Raghunatha recovers Sita. He is fierce in his wrath and will have all of you killed along with the rakshasas, you who have supported them in their words.

Shri Raghunatha will never tolerate his faithful wife, his deeply honoured and beloved Sita, being threatened and frightened in this way.

Stop speaking such harsh words, because nothing will be gained by them. Speak gently now.

I think it would be best for us to ask Sita, the daughter of the King of Videha, for mercy and forgiveness.

A sorrowful woman about whom such a dream is seen is freed from her many sorrows and obtains something supremely precious and dear to her.

Rakshasis, I know that you wish to do or say something else, but what will come of it?

Although you have threatened Sita greatly, now take refuge in her and ask her to grant you freedom from fear, because a terrible danger from Shri Raghunatha has arisen for the rakshasas.

Rakshasis, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, the princess of Mithila, will be pleased merely by your bowing to her. She alone can protect you from this great danger.

I do not see even the slightest unfavourable sign upon the body of the large-eyed Sita that would suggest she will remain in suffering forever.

I believe that her present sorrow is brief, like the shadow that falls upon the moon during an eclipse.

For I saw this noble Sita seated in an aerial vehicle in my dream. Therefore, she is not destined to remain in sorrow.

I now see the fulfilment of Janaki’s cherished desire approaching. There will not be much delay in the destruction of Ravana, the king of the rakshasas, and the victory of Raghunatha.

Her large eye, like a lotus petal, can be seen twitching. This indicates that she will soon hear very welcome news.

The left arm of the princess of Videha has suddenly begun trembling, with its hairs standing on end. This too is an auspicious sign.

Her beautiful left thigh, like an elephant’s trunk, is also trembling, indicating that Shri Raghunatha will soon appear before her.

Look, that bird sitting in its nest upon the branch is repeatedly making sweet, comforting calls. Its voice seems to say, Welcome! Filled with joy, it repeatedly announces the arrival of good fortune, or urges her to prepare to welcome her beloved.

Hearing this news of her husband’s victory, the modest Sita became filled with joy and said to them all:

If your words prove true, I will certainly protect all of you.