Chapter XLVIII: Section XLVIII

And seeing her husband, as well as the exceedingly powerful Lakshmana,--slain, Sita, afflicted with grief, burst into bitter lamentation. "The soothsayers had said that I should have sons, and should never be a widow. But on Rama being slain, it seems now that those ones, possessed of knowledge, had spoken untruthfully. And those also, who having celebrated sacrifices and rites, had said that I should become the queen (of Rama),--on Rama being slain, seems to-day to have spoken a falsehood, although they are possessed of knowledge. And they also asserted that I should be honored of the wives of heroic kings as well as of my lord,--but on Rama being slain, they seem to have uttered a falsehood, although possessed of knowledge. And those twice-born ones that in my hearing had said auspicious words, on Rama being slain, seem to-day to have spoken a falsehood, although they were possessed of knowledge. These lotus-marks on the feet, betokening unto gentlewomen possessing them, that they are to be installed in the kingdom in company with their husbands--who are kings,--are on me. And those marks find I none on me by which women of rare fortune come by widowhood,--but I find that in me these good tokens are nullified. Those marks that are pronounced infallible by those versed in such knowledge, on Rama being slain, are nullified in me. My hairs are fine, equal, and blue; my eye-brows touch each other; my hips are devoid of down and round; and my teeth are close. My temples, and eyes, hands, feet, ankles, and thighs are equal. And my fingers are furnished with round nails, and are plump and even in the middle. And my breasts are close and firm and developed, and have their nipples sunk. And my navel is depressed, with high sides. And my chest is swelling. And my complexion is like the hue of gems,--and my down soft. And they said that I was furnished with twelve auspicious signs. And my hands in the middle parts of my fingers contain wheat-marks; and in the spaces between the fingers, have no uneven corners. And my feet also partake of the general complexion. And my laugh is a gentle smile. And those versed in marks of women knew that I was possessed of such marks. And those Brahmanas skilled in telling fortune said that I should be installed in the kingdom along with my husband; but all that hath been falsified. Having purified Janasthana (of Rakshasas), obtained tidings of me, and crossed the Ocean[152] incapable of being Agitated, those brothers have been slain in the footprint of a cow! The descendants of Raghu had obtained Varuua and Agneya and Aindra and Vayava and _Brahmaciras_ weapons.[153] Through illusion have those lords of me, who am forlorn--Rama and Lakshmana, resembling Vasava himself in battle,--been slain. Coming in battle within ken of Raghava, a foe, even if he be endowed with the fleetness of thought,--doth not go back, living. There is nothing which is too hard for Time; and the Destroyer is incapable of being overcome; inasmuch as Rama along with his brother Lakshmana hath fallen in fight. And I do not so much mourn Rama or the mighty car-warrior--Lakshmana--or, for that matter, self,--as I do the wretched Mother-in-law of mine. She ever thinketh of the period of the promise. 'When shall I behold Sita and Lakshmana with Raghava?'" As she was thus lamenting, the Rakshasi, Trijata, said,--"O exalted lady, do not weep thus. Thy lord liveth. And, O dignified one, I shall unfold unto thee potent and probable reasons why the brothers Rama and Lakshmana live. When their leader falleth, the countenances of the warriors in battle are not overspread with passion, or display cheerfulness and vivacity. And, O Vaidehi, if those had lost their lives, this celestial chariot, named Pushpaka, would not have held thee. An army that hath its heroes and chiefs slain--becoming dispirited and drooping, rangeth the field, like a vessel on water that hath lost its helmsman. But, O lorn one, these troops, betraying neither agitation nor anxiety, are guarding the Kakutsthas. This I tell thee of them out of affection. Do thou, at this conclusion bringing in joy, take comfort; and behold the Kakutsthas unslain. This I tell thee from affection. I never told thee untruths heretofore; nor, O Mithila's daughter, will I tell them unto thee now. Thou by virtue of thy character conducive to delight, hast found an access into my heart. These even the celestials and Asuras with Indra (at their head) are incompetent to quell. Seeing such sight, I speak to thee as to their being alive. And behold, O Maithili, this mighty wonder! These are lying insensible with arrows; but of those Grace hath not taken leave. It generally happens that the faces of persons dead and gone, are unsightly to a degree. Therefore, O Janaka's daughter, leave off grief and sorrow and stupor. For the sake of Rama and Lakshmana thou canst not today put a period to thy existence". Hearing her words, Mithila's daughter--Sita--resembling the daughter of a celestial, with hands joined, said,--"May this be so!" Then turning away the car Pushpaka fleet as the mind, the distressed Sita entered Lanka along with Trijata. Then in company with Trijata, alighting from Pushpaka, she along with the Rakshasis entered the _acoka_ wood. And entering that sporting-ground of the Rakshasa lord abounding in woody tracts, Sita, having beheld those princes and reflected on them, became subject to a mighty grief.

[152] The commentator assigns a metaphorical sense to ocean,--but this
is hardly necessary.

[153] _'And did they not remember this now?'_ completes the sense.--T.