World of Philosophy

SR No.: 007005
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 1002
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 30 MB

Page 160

पिता मे मिथिलाधिपः । रामं जामातरं प्राप्य स्त्रियं पुरुषविग्रहम् ॥ अनऊतं वत लोकोऽयमज्ञानाद् यदि वक्ष्यति । तेजो नास्ति परं रामे तपतीय दिवाकरे | Ayodhyakanda (AK), 30.3-4).
There are instances when one can see her training as a princess and deep knowledge of Dharma. There is dialogue between Sita and Rama. She tells him about the three disasters emerging from the desires. They are, 1. approaching other's wife; 2. cruelty without enmity and 3. untruth. Among these three, killing without any reason is the most terrible disaster. Only use of bow and arrow according to Sita is for the protection of helpless and sad ones (परदराभिगमनं विना वैरं च रौद्रता । मिथ्यावाक्यं न ते भूतं न भविष्यति राघव ॥ क्षत्रियाणां तु वीराणां वनेषु नियतात्मनाम् । धनुषा कार्यमेतावदार्तानामभिरक्षणम् || Aranyakanda (ANK), 9.4; 9, 26).
Then we meet Sita when Ravana is abducting her. She is terrified, worried and in total shock of this sudden happening. Still, her inner brave self is thinking to find out solution in that dire situation. She sees five monkey chieftains sitting on the mountain. Tears her garment and puts her ornaments in it and throws small bundle of ornaments to them. She is hoping that in case Rama comes to find her, he would get her news. (ह्रियमाणा तु वैदेही कंचिन्नाथमपश्यती । ददर्श गिरिश्रऊङ्गस्थान् पञ्च वानरपुङ्गवान् । तेषां मध्ये विशालाक्षी कौशेयं कनकप्रभम् । उतरीयं वारारोह्य शुभान्याभरणानि च ॥ मुमोच यदि रामाय शंसेयुरिति भामिनी । वस्त्रमुत्सऊज्य तन्मध्ये निक्षिप्तं सहभूषणम् ॥ ( ANK, 53.1-3). During this abduction Sita is continuously lamenting, wailing. She is in panic, but continuously she is seeking some way of escape. She saw the great bird Jatayu the Vulture. She beseeched his help. (जटायो पश्य मामार्य हियमाणामनाथवत् । अनेन राक्षसेन्द्रेणाकरुणं पापकर्मणा ॥ANK, 49.38). Jatayu fought with Ravana with all his might. Jatayu broke Ravana's chariot and bow. Still, he could not stop Ravana. Ravana cut his legs and wings and left him to die.
Sita is supremely courageous in dealing with Ravana. She admonishes Ravana with strong words. She is not afraid of ogresses surrounding her. Ravana comes in the Ashoka garden with all his paraphernalia. She puts a · stick of grass between herself and Ravana (तऊणमन्तरतः कऊत्वा प्रत्युवाच शुचिस्मिता । Sundarakanda (SuK), 21.2). She reminds him of his duty that he should protect other women just as he protects his own. She tells him to be contented with his own wives. Kings who unjustly rob things which are not theirs, they perish (यथा तव तथान्येषां रक्ष्या दारा निशाचर । आत्मानमुपमां कऊत्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रम्यताम् ॥ अकऊतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम् । समऊद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च ॥ तथैव त्वां समासाद्य लङ्का स्त्रौघसंकुला । अपराधातवैकस्य नचिराद्विनशिषयति ॥ SuK, 21.7, 11-12 ). She further tells him that she cannot be lured by riches, money, or kingdom. This speech shows her strong indomitable spirit. The whole twenty first chapter of Sundarakanda is devoted for Sita's speech. She is helpless and continuously crying, but at the same time she is level headed. Her reason has not left her. She speaks about Dharma to Ravana. She boldly tells him consequences of
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