This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki”

Twenty fourth 24th Chapter

Bullying by the Rakshasis

(This chapter describes the various ways, the Rakshasis tried to bully Sita)

After this the ugly looking hard hearted Rakshasa ladies came near Sita and told the following harsh and undesirable words:  1

Hey Sita, why are you not consenting to the life in Harem which is liked by all beings and which has very special beds?  2

You think a human lady should only be the wife of another human being but that is not going to happen to you and so drag away your mind from Sri Rama.  3

Accept being the wife of Ravana who enjoys the greatest pleasures in all the three worlds and engage in pleasant love play. 4

It is strange for you who is a lucky human being without any defects, wanting to rejoin Rama who has been driven away from his kingdom, who is dejected and who is suffering because of sorrow. 5

Sita who had eyes similar to the lotus , after hearing the words of Rakshasis . with tear- filled eyes, told the following words: 6

All the words told by you jointly are against the percepts of the world and are sinful and is not acceptable to me. 7

A human lady should not become the wife of a Rakshasa, Even if all of you are going to eat me away, I am not going to listen to your words. 8

Though my husband has been driven away from his kingdom and though he is in dire straits, he is always one who is respected by me and like the Lady Suvarchala is always with the Sun God, I will always be with him.  9

( This simile is strange , because Suvarchala being hurt by Sun’s harsh rays, left her shadow instead of her to be his wife.)

I would never part from my husband Rama who is the prince of Ikshuvaku clan, like the very lucky Lady Sachi devi from Indra, like Arundathi from Vasishta, Rohini from the moon god, Lopamudhra from Sage Agasthya, Sukanya from Sage Chyavana, Savithri from Prince Sathyavan, Madayanthi from Soudasa, Kesini from Sagara and the great Bhima princess Damayanthi from the great King Nala. 10-12

(here she lists the various great virtuous ladies of her time. Since each couple represents a famous well known story, they are not related here. She also indicates that like Damayanthi and Madayanthi, she will also rejoin her husband.)

Those Rakshasis appointed by Ravana, hearing the words of Sita, became livid with anger and uttered the following harsh words and bullied her. 13

Hanuman the monkey who was silently hiding atop the Simshuba tree carefully watched Sita and those Rakshasis. 14

Those angry women surrounded her who was trembling by fear on all the four sides licked and bit their dry and elongated lips. 15

They who were very angry took the white axe in their hands and told, This lady does not deserve to be  the wife of Ravana who is the king of Rakshasas. 16

(Till this time, the Rakshasis were trying to convince Sita logically.)

Terrorized by the hateful Rakshasis, she who had a pleasant face wiped away her tears and reached the Simshuba tree. 17

Surrounded by the Rakshasis that broad eyed Sita drowned in her sorrow reached the Simshuba tree and stood there. 18

See also  Nirvana Shatkam

Those Rakshasis surrounded on all sides Sita who was thin, who had a faded face and who wore dirty cloths and started bullying her. 19

Then a Rakshasi called Vinatha who was having all signs of being angry, who was having a hateful look, who was having a pot belly and who was ugly to look at addressing Sita told: 20

Madam Sita, you have till now shown that you love your husband sufficiently and doing anything more than this necessary leads to sorrow. 21

Hey princess of Mithila, I am very much satisfied by your proper observation of the duty of human beings and let all good come to you . Be pleased to obey me who is telling you what is good for you. 22-23

You please accept Ravana who is the king of all Rakshasas, who is handsome, who is valorous, who is like Indra, the king of devas, who is powerful, who has the sense of sacrifice and who tells sweet things to every one as your husband. 24

Hey pretty lady who is the daughter of Videha, leave the poor unstable Rama and accept Ravana as husband and from today wear very costly make up and ornaments and become a queen of the three worlds. You would be then like Sachi Devi to Indra and Swaha Devi for the God of fire. 25-26

(Swaha is the wife of Agni, the god of fire)

Hey daughter of Videha, what is the use of your having the mortal Rama who does not have any support whatsoever? If you are not going to obey these words of mine to you, immediately all of us would eat you completely . 27

Then A Rakshasi called Vikata who was having stooping breasts became very angry and with fists held up roared and told the following words to Sita. 28

Hey very ignorant princess of Mithila, We have been tolerating several of your illogical words due to mercy towards and because of our peaceful nature. 29

You are not obeying our words which are the only suitable ones to the present circumstances. 30

Hey princess of Mithila you have been brought to the other shore of the ocean which cannot be crossed by any one and you have also come in to the horror filled harem of Ravana. 31

Stop those tears and give away your sorrow which is going to cause problems to you. 32

Leave out this permanent bad feeling and take as your share yourself happiness and love.  33

Hey Sita, enjoy yourselves by passionate love with the king of Rakshasas. 34

Hey, coward, you seem not to know that the youth in ladies is not a permanent and so it is necessary to enjoy all pleasures till youth is there with you. 35

Hey, lady with a pretty eye, along with the king of Rakshasa see many flower gardens  and mountain parks. 36

Hey pretty one, under your control there would be seven thousand ladies to obey you. 37

Hey princess of Mithila, if you do not act according to my words, I would definitely tear open your heart and eat it. 38

After that a Rakshasi called Chandodhari with cruel looks and rotating a huge spear, told her the following words:- 39

Seeing this lady who was abducted by Ravana, who is having with shaking breasts due to fear and who has doe like eyes, I am getting a great desire. 40

It is my wish to bite away and eat her liver. Pancreas, the fleshy part above that, her fleshy bones, heart , intestines, and head. 41

Alas, after that a Rakshasi called Praghasa told, Why are we keeping quiet? Let us strangle this bad lady’s neck and tell our king that that human lady is no more. Then he will tell us” You can eat her” and “I do not have any doubt about his telling like this. 42-43

Then another Rakshasi called Ajaamukhi(sheep headed one) told Let us cut her in to small pieces and divide them equally among us and let us all take part in that. I do not like to go on arguing with her without doing this. Go and swiftly bring several type of drinks and several chutneys. 44-45

Then a Rakshasi called Surpanaka (lady having very broad nails) told, I am in agreement with what Ajamukhi has told us .Go bring wine which makes us forget all sorrows. Let us eat the human flesh and dance in the grounds of Nikumbila. 46-47

See also  Search in the hall for drinking (Chapter 11)

(Nikumbila is the ground outside the city where Ravana used to carry out his fire sacrifices.)

Terribly bullied thus by all the Rakshasis, Sita who is like a divine lady lost her courage and started crying. 48

Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.

Chapter 25: Sorrow of Sita Devi

Seeing of good omens (Chapter 29)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Twenty-ninth (29th) Chapter  Seeing of good omens  (Good omens occurred to Sita who was consoled by those omens and gained more confidence) Good omens approached her who is faultless; who does forever good, who was mentally perturbed and who because of lack of happiness was terribly…

Keep reading

Searching inside the Asoka forest (Chapter 14)

Fourteenth Chapter Searching inside the Asoka forest (Graphic description of the Asoka forest as seen by Hanuman is given. Seeing the forest Hanuman decides that Sita should definitely visit there because she likes the forest and also needs to do her morning ablations) The very powerful Hanuman after thinking for some more time and after…

Keep reading

Crashing of hopes of Hanuman (Chapter 13)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Thirteenth (13th) Chapter Crashing of hopes of Hanuman (The worries of the very disappointed Hanuman are described graphically. At the end he sees a glimmer of hope when he sees the Asoka forest) After jumping from the Vimana on to the wall he was restless like…

Keep reading

The arrival of Ravana (18th Chapter)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Eighteenth (18th) Chapter Arrival of Ravana (Here the description of the passionate Ravana who woke up and came to Asoka forest along with his wives to see Sita , is given. Ravana is described as valorous but spoiled by his passion and his women are…

Keep reading

Sundara Kandam-An introduction

AN INTRODUCTION TO SUNDER KAND. Sundara Kandam: An introduction INTRODUCTION TO SUNDARA KANDA P.R.Ramachander Sundara Kandam is the fifth section of Ramayana (the story of Lord Rama) written by Sage Valmiki and comprises 2885 verses spread in 68 chapters. Sundara, as we all know in the literary sense means ‘beautiful’ and ‘Kandam’, means ‘section’. The…

Keep reading

Seeking clarifications of the message of Sita (Chapter 66)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-sixth Chapter Seeking clarifications of the message of Sita ( Rama is upset to know about Sita and asks Hanuman to tell in detail what has been told by her. The pearl brooch brings to him memories of her, his father and father in law.) Rama…

Keep reading

Informing the message of Sita (Chapter 67)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-seventh Chapter Informing the message of Sita. (Hanuman again details the pitiable state of affairs of Sita. He also indicates the several doubts arising in her mind due to her not seeing any action from the part of Rama and Lakshmana.) Having been told by Rama…

Keep reading

Further news about the consolation of Sita (Chapter 68)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty-eighth Chapter Further news about consolation of Sita (Hanuman further relates about the doubts in Sita’s mind and how he gave a pep talk and encouraged her.) Hey lion among men, I who was in a haste to return , because of the love and nearness…

Keep reading

Hurting of the security staff of the forest (Chapter 62)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty second Chapter Hurting of the security staff of the forest (The guard of the garden, Dadhimuka who was the uncle of Sugreeva tried his best to stop the destruction of the honey forest. Angadha became very angry and hit him. Then Dadhimukha reached the presence…

See also  Presentation of the ring (Chapter 36)
Keep reading

Words of Angadha (Chapter 60)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixtieth Chapter Words of Angadha (Angadha who is the crown prince and leader of the team tells his opinion as to what needs to be done. He feels that they should wage a war, destroy the Rakshasas  and take Sita along with them. The wise Jambhavan…

Keep reading

Informing about the destruction of the honey forest (Chapter 63)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty -third Chapter Informing about destruction of the honey forest (Dadhimuka along with his other security staff is not able to succeed and are ill treated by Angadha and other monkeys. So he reaches Sugreeva’s presence and complaints to him about the behavior of the monkeys.…

Keep reading

Return of Hanuman and other monkeys (Chapter 64)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty- fourth Chapter Return of Hanuman and other monkeys (Hanuman and other monkeys return back to Kishkinda and inform the good news of having found Sita and her being virtuous.) Thus told by Sugreeva, at that time the well pleased Dadhimuka saluted Raghava, Lakshmana and Sugreeva.…

Keep reading

Thinking about future action (Chapter 59)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty-ninth Chapter Thinking about the future action (Hanuman then narrates the problems of Sita in Lanka in a graphical manner. He tells the other monkeys that as a virtuous woman she herself could kill Ravana but is not doing so, because it would bring bad fame…

Keep reading

Telling the happenings of Lanka

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty-eighth Chapte Telling the happenings of Lanka (In this chapter Hanuman informs his monkey friends all that happened after he took off and till he returned. This chapter is the summary of all the previous 57 chapters of Sundara Kanda.) anuman and other very strong…

Keep reading

Destruction of Honey forest (Chapter 61)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Sixty -first Chapter Destruction of Honey forest (The monkeys start their return journey and reached the honey forest of Sugreeva. Being given permission to drink the honey, they destroy the forest , insult and hurt Dadhimuka who was the uncle of Sugreeva and in charge of…

Keep reading

Fear of the monkey (Chapter 55)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- fifth Chapter Fear of the monkey (After seeing the entire city burning, suddenly Hanuman feels that Sita also might have been destroyed. He curses himself for causing such an eventuality because of his anger .Rethinking about the several immortal happenings and overhearing Charanas who told…

Keep reading

The crossing of the sea from Lanka (Chapter 56)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- sixth Chapter Crossing of sea from Lanka (Hanuman took leave of Janaki and climbed to the top of Lamba Mountain, preparing himself to cross the ocean. He assumed his very big form and rose from the mountain to the north) Hanuman saluted Janaki who was…

Keep reading

Reaching the northern shore of the sea (Chapter 57)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- seventh Chapter Reaching the northern shore of the sea, (Hanuman crossed the ocean and was received by the monkeys with happiness. He informed them that he has seen Sita. He also told them about the pitiable but virtuous condition she was in.) Hanuman like a…

Keep reading

Sunderkand: Burning of the city of Lanka (Chapter 54)

This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki” Fifty- fourth Chapter of Sunderkand Burning of the city of Lanka (Hanuman decided to inflict more misery to the city of Lanka by setting fire to it. He systematically set fire to all the houses, places and forests. He was praised by all Gods for such…

Keep reading

Browse Temples in India

Recent Posts

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *