Shloka 55
सुन्दरकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः
हनुमद्वृत्तान्तकथनम्, सीताभिज्ञान-प्रदानम्, लङ्कादाह-वर्णनम्
अदूरे शिंशुपावृक्षात्पश्यामि वरवर्णिनीम्।।।।श्यामां कमलपत्राक्षीमुपवासकृशाननाम्।तदेकवासस्संवीतां रजोध्वस्तशिरोरुहाम्।।।।शोकसन्तापदीनाङ्गीं सीतां भर्तृहिते स्थिताम्।राक्षसीभिर्विरूपाभिः क्रूराभिरभिसंवृताम्।।।।मांसशोणितभक्षाभिर्व्याघ्रीभिर्हरिणीमिव।
adūre śiṃśupā-vṛkṣāt paśyāmi vara-varṇinīm |
śyāmāṃ kamala-patrākṣīm upavāsa-kṛśānanām |
tad-eka-vāsaḥ-saṃvītāṃ rajo-dhvasta-śiroruhām |
śoka-santāpa-dīnāṅgīṃ sītāṃ bhartṛ-hite sthitām |
rākṣasībhir virūpābhiḥ krūrābhir abhisaṃvṛtām |
māṃsa-śoṇita-bhakṣābhir vyāghrībhir hariṇīm iva ||
Non loin du śiṃśupā, j’aperçus Sītā, la belle de teint : sombre de peau, aux yeux pareils aux pétales de lotus, le visage amaigri par le jeûne. Elle n’était vêtue que d’un seul tissu, et ses cheveux étaient souillés de poussière. Ses membres, brisés par le chagrin et l’ardeur de la peine, demeuraient voués au bien de son époux ; mais des rākṣasī difformes et cruelles, mangeuses de chair et de sang, l’encerclaient, telle une biche au milieu de tigresses.
"Not far from the Simsupa tree I saw beautiful Sita, of dark complexion, with eyes like lotus petals, whose face was emaciated due to fasting, wearing only a single sari (the same one since her abduction) her locks filled with dust, pathetic looking, immersed in sorrow, meditating on her husband seated like a doe encircled by tigresses, surrounded by ugly and cruel she-demons fed on flesh and blood.
FAQs
Fidelity to dharma under coercion: Sītā’s steadfastness—despite fear, deprivation, and threats—embodies satya and unwavering marital righteousness.
From his vantage point in the Aśoka grove, Hanumān finally sees Sītā, weakened by fasting and grief, surrounded and guarded by cruel rākṣasīs.
Sītā’s dhairya (fortitude) and satya-niṣṭhā (commitment to truth and fidelity), shown by enduring suffering without abandoning righteousness.