Setubandha

Author(s): Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 22

Trijatā points to the pleasure garden, laid waste by Hanumat who was but a servant of Rama, a symbol of the humiliation of Ravana's pride (v. 95). Then she says
Fainting and sinking to the ground, languid and drooping, thou art under such a delusion that even knowing it clearly to be a deception of the demons, I am likewise stricken with grief.
Why hast thou no confidence in Rama even now? He hath built a causeway between the Suvela and the Malaya before the eyes of the united demons, and stormed the peaks of the Suvela. vv. 97,98
Paying no heed to the admonition of Trijatā, Sita sinks down upon her bosom, and then suddenly recovering herself, speaks again
Tell me if I am the same that first saw this head and sank to the ground, and then recovering from the swoon, see it again, and cling to life. v. 103
Thou hadst sped hither, o scion of Raghu,......to save my life worn by the sorrows of separation; but I destroyed thy life, myself remaining alive. v. 106.
She looks at the severed head once more; and begs Trijatā to suffer her to die (v. 113). But her death, she says, will be a shameless one, 'despicable because of lack of love," since she 'accepted widowhood with a cruel heart' instead of resolving to die on seeing the head (v. 114).
'This is the fate of all, but such an end is unbecoming to those who have an exalted sense of honour'. As she uttered these words she threw ບ. 115 herself on the ground, beating her breast.
No more did she wish to lament, nor smote her breast, like an enemy. She shed Her heart was bent no tears, but checked their on death. v. 117
flow.
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Trijata consoles her again. It is impossible imagine what Sitä has thought to be true. Referring to the burning of Lanka by Hanumat, she argues: a single ape made the wails of the people re-echo through the houses of the city; how could Rama die with the demons unscathed (v. 122)?