Shloka 31
Dyumatsena’s Restoration and Sāvitrī’s Disclosure of Yama’s Boons (आरण्यकपर्व, अध्याय २८२)
अनिन्द्य अंगोंवाली सीतासे ऐसा कहकर राक्षसराज रावण वहीं अन्तर्धान हो अभीष्ट दिशाकी ओर चल दिया ।। राक्षसीभि: परिवृता वैदेही शोककर्शिता । सेव्यमाना त्रिजटया तत्रैव न्न्यवसत् तदा
anindya-aṅgāvalī sītāse evaṃ kahitvā rākṣasarāja rāvaṇaḥ tatraiva antardhānaḥ bhūtvā abhīṣṭa-diśaṃ prati calitaḥ || rākṣasībhiḥ parivṛtā vaidehī śoka-karśitā | sevyamānā trijaṭayā tatraiva nyavasat tadā ||
Nói như thế với Sītā có thân thể không tì vết, Rāvaṇa—vua của loài rākṣasa—liền biến mất ngay tại chỗ và đi về phương hướng hắn mong muốn. Vaidehī, bị nỗi sầu khổ bào mòn, khi ấy vẫn ở lại nơi đó—bị bọn rākṣasī vây quanh, song được Trijaṭā hầu cận và chăm nom.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical contrast: coercive, unrighteous power (Rāvaṇa’s intimidation and departure after asserting control) versus steadfast virtue under suffering (Sītā’s blamelessness and endurance). It also suggests that compassion and right conduct can appear even among adversaries, as seen in Trijaṭā’s attentive care.
After speaking to Sītā, Rāvaṇa vanishes and leaves in the direction he chooses. Sītā remains where she is, surrounded by rākṣasī guards, weakened by grief, while Trijaṭā stays near her and attends to her.