________________
12C
SETUBẢNDHA 105. "This thy end is worthy of a man;33 and the lord of the demons hath done what befits a demon. Why is it that death, worthy of a woman, and available at will,34 doth not befall me?
106. "Thou hadst sped hither, o scion of Raghu, as soon as Hanūmat delivered his message, to save my life, worn by the sorrows of separation; but I destroyed thy life, myself remaining alive.'
107. Stupefied in her heart, she sank to the ground again as she wearily moaned in a faint voice, with the face hidden35 by her tresses, and the hair spreading about the neck in front.
108. Bereft of all hope of reposing on Rāma's bosom, she lay on the ground, covered with the wavy, dishevelled hair of her loosened braid.
109. She could not wipe her face with her feeble hand, turned red, like a new leaf, by beating the breast, but somehow put aside her tresses on one cheek.36
110. When her vision, bedimmed with tears, failed to apprehend even the things lying in front of her, she somehow rubbed her eyes with both hands.
111. With the tears wiped away by her tresses, scattered by a gust of wind, she looked at Rāma's head, vibrating on the ground, as if it had just been severed by the demons.37
112. Her mournful eyes, fixed on the head, with the pupils much dilated and motionless, were washed, not hindered by her tears.38
113. She beheld it once more; and, intent on death, glanced at Trijatā with tearless eyes, and piteously smiled as she said 'Suffer me (to die)'.
33. Because, as she thinks, he died fighting. 34. i.e., by suicide. 35. Lit. darkened. 36. i.e., to be able to look at the head. 37. See Kulanātha in Extracts. 38. i.e., in spite of her tears, she could see the head clearly.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
