Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose

Sarga 34

Seetha, who was overwhelmed with anguish on hearing Ravana’s words, was comforted and rendered happy by Sarama, as parched earth is solaced by rain. 

Desiring to be of further service to her friend Seetha, the affectionate Sarama, skilled in the knowledge of time, smiling while talking, spoke the following words at that appropriate time. “O, black eyed lady! I am capable of carrying a message of your words and good will to Rama and to return secretly. When I am journeying in the sky self -supported, neither the god of wind nor Garuda the eagle can follow my movement.”

To Sarama, who was speaking as aforesaid, Seetha her voice no longer charged with grief, gently and sweetly replied in the following words: “You are capable of going to heaven or to the penultimate subterranean region. Know from me today the duty that has got to be performed by you for my sake. If your intention is to act kindly towards me and your resolve is firm , I wish you to go and know what Ravana is doing now. That cruel and evil minded Ravana, equipped with strength in the shape of conjuring tricks, who makes his enemies cry has bemused me, as spirituous liquor bemuses one, the moment it is imbibed. He causes me to be threatened by words all the time by the most frightful ogresses, who always surround me and insult me by their act repeatedly. I am depressed in mind and distrustful. My mind is not in its natural state. Staying in Ashoka grove, I am distressed because of his fear. Report to me, all that is decided by him during his talk going on with his ministers about the matter of releasing me or keeping me captive. It will be of great service to me. The soft spoken Sarama, wiping her face, which got moist with tears, replied as follows to Seetha who was speaking as aforesaid:

“If your opinion is like this, I shall go on that account, O, Seetha! Having grasped the feeling of the enemies, I shall return O, Seetha!”

Speaking thus, Surama thereafter went to the vicinity of that demon and heard the conversation of Ravana who was with his ministers. Sarama, who knew how to investigate could hear the wicked Ravana’s resolve and soon returned to Ashoka grove. Sarama, who entered the Ashoka grove, saw Seetha who looked like Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity (and the wife of Vishnu); bereft of the lotus and waiting for her only. 

Seetha affectionately embraced the kindly speaking Surama who returned there and offered personally a seat to her. "Sitting here comfortably, tell me about the real design of that cruel and wicked Ravana."

 When Seetha trembling with fear enquired thus, Sarama narrated all the conversation of Ravana together with his ministers.

“Excellent words were spoken by Kaikasi, the mother of Ravana as well as Aviddha the aged minister asking for your release, O Seetha! Let Seetha, be restored honorably to Rama the Lord of men. That wonderful** thing happened in Janasthana is an enough eye- opener to you.”

** Rama exterminated fourteen thousand demons led by such great warriors as Khara and Dushana at Janastana.

“Which mortal would accomplish the crossing of the ocean, the discovery of Seetha by Hanuman, and the carnage of the demons in combat on this earth? Though admonished in many ways by the aged ministers and his mother he is not inclined to set you free, any more than a miser would leave his hold on his riches.  O, Seetha! He does not want to release you, without dying himself in a battle. This is the resolve of the cruel Ravana along with his ministers. Thereafter, due to infatuation caused by his impending death, his aforesaid determination is very firm .He is not in a position to release you, not through sheer fear, but until he is actually defeated in battle through the carnage of all the demons and of himself. Killing Ravana by his sharp arrows in combat, Rama will take you back to Ayodhya by all means."

In the meantime was heard the sound of all the monkey troops blended with the sound of kettle drums, causing earth to shake. Hearing that sound of that monkey troops, the servants of Ravana stationed in Lanka were lack- luster with their movements, overcome by depression. They did not see anything salutary in it, owing to the fault of their king.

Thus completes 34th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.