Episode 13 - Sita's desperation and Trijata's dream

Sita looked like a deer surrounded by wolves. Her misery brought about by her separation from her husband was intensified by the cruelty and the wickedness of the terrible Rakshasis. Sita pondered: “The maxim that death does not visit either a man or a woman unless the time is ripe, is true. I am undergoing great suffering and I do not know what sin has been committed by me in a previous birth. It is not possible even to die for me even if I wish, with these Rakshasis guarding me. Fie upon human life and servitude!”

Even in the midst of despair, Sita did not lose hope altogether. She reflected: “Though Lanka, being an island, seems to be impregnable, Rama's arrows will reach here and destroy Ravana. Perhaps, Rama does not know that I am held captive here. Jatayu, who could have carried the message to Rama, though old, attacked Ravana and was killed by him. If Rama knows that I am here, he, along with Lakshmana, will free the world from any trace of Rakshasas. Just as I am crying here, desolate and grief-stricken, all the Lankan women will cry for their lost husbands. Shortly, Lanka will turn into a huge grave-yard to be visited by eagles, hovering around. Consequent on Ravana's death, Lanka will look like a widow. The time set by Ravana for my death is nearing. I wonder why the death ordained for me by the wicked and lowly Rakshasa does not visit him. These Rakshasas, who eat meat and are blood-thirsty, have no idea of sin or Dharma and there is nothing like a prohibited act for them. These sinners will soon face annihilation.”

“I am helpless in the absence of Rama. Ravana will have me killed in time as stipulated. There is no one here even to supply me with poison to bring my life to an end. Perhaps, Rama has reached Heaven, unable to bear my separation. Or he may have resorted to a life of seclusion out of a sense of resignation. Are there no pure qualities in me and do I merit such misery as this? Has my fortune dried up?”

“Probably, Ravana has deceived Rama and Lakshmana and killed them. The hermits, who have shunned all sin and conquered their senses and minds, are great indeed. They have no attachment to or hatred for anything and they remain unaffected by any happening. Salutations to such holy men!”

As Sita was getting nearer and nearer to a high point of desperation, some of the Rakshasis went to report her refusal to Ravana and others began to threaten Sita with death. However, a Rakshasi called Trijata had a surprise and addressed the other Rakshasis thus: “You wicked ones! You kill and eat yourselves up and not Sita. I have had a terrible dream portending the destruction of Ravana along with Rama's triumph.”

The Rakshasis at once became curious and pleaded with Trijata to elaborate her dream. Trijata continued: “I have seen Sita joining Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana, on a huge, bright elephant. They were then seated on the Pushpaka airplane and moved in the northern (auspicious) direction. Just as sinners cannot attain Heaven, neither the gods nor the Rakshasas can conquer the great Rama, Sita's husband.”

“I have seen Ravana with a bald head, dressed in black, falling from an airplane to the ground and being dragged by a woman. He was also seen riding a donkey and moving in the southern (inauspicious) direction. He fell even from that donkey, crying, upside down. His brother, Kumbhakarna and his sons Indrajit and others were all crest-fallen and moving southward like Ravana.”

“I found only Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, dressed in bright white and seated on an elephant and moving in a kingly procession. I have seen Lanka set on fire by Rama's emissary, a Vanara.”

“Enough of your cruel words to Sita. We have to seek her mercy now to avert the danger that awaits us. Sita has a tender heart and the ability to protect us and she will respond to our prayer.”

Trijata then noticed some good omens on the person of Sita. Her left eye began to wink and her left shoulder and left thigh began to jerk. A bird seated on a tree was making agreeable sounds as if to denote the approaching union of Rama and Sita.

Sita began to cry once again like a little girl deserted in a forest. She wanted to die but did not know how. She reflected: “My heart is hard like a rock, being able to withstand this misery. This Ravana, with an offending appearance, wants to kill me, an innocent woman. The time is running out and sits heavily on me. I cannot give my heart to the Rakshasa just as a Brahmin cannot impart the Vedic Mantras (hymns) to the undeserving. There is no doubt that Kala (God of Death) attracted me in the guise of a golden deer. Out of greed, I despatched Rama and Lakshmana to fetch it and certainly caused their death.”

“O Rama! You have a moon's face and are truthful and do good to all beings and are loved by one and all. What a pity you don't know that I am imprisoned here! Just as everything done for ungrateful men produces nothing in return, so have my Pativratyam (perfect devotion to husband in thought, word and deed), my adherence to truth and Dharma and my forbearance produced nothing. I have no hope of meeting you, Rama, and I am only destined to die out of despair.”

Sita finally decided to end her life by hanging from a branch of the tree sheltering her, with her matted locks of hair tied round her neck. However, she noticed some good omens on her own person which dissuaded her from suicide. For once, she felt lifted in spirits like a withering seed sprouting upon the onset of rain. Her sorrow soon evaporated and her face brightened like a moon-lit night.

Note: It may be mentioned that Rakshasi Trijata's dream and the indication by the bird's agreeable sounds ultimately come true.