Paumacariya 93

English (machine translation) 93

Language: English

93.1

Then, as Rāma was residing in that excellent park, the Mahendrodaya, / all the citizens, eager [to see him], set out in a crowd for a sight [of him].

93.2

Meanwhile, Sītā, with a bewildered mind, spoke to Lord Padma / who was seated on an auspicious throne, about her right eye throbbing:

93.3

'She thinks in her mind: This is surely the herald of some sorrow; / tell me, surely, about my eye throbbing again and again.

93.4

Not satisfied with one, was suffering not experienced inside the ocean? / Fate acts without a reason; what further will it do to another?'

93.5

She was addressed by Bhānumatī: 'Why have you fallen into dejection, daughter of Janaka? / Whatever [karma] one has accumulated, that pleasure or pain one experiences.'

93.6

Then Guṇamālā said: 'What is the use here of making doubt? / Arrange a great worship for the temples of the supreme Jinas, O Vaidehī!

93.7

Then peace will come to you who are endowed with self-restraint, penance, observance, and virtue, / imbued with devotion to the Jina, and intent on venerating the ascetics.'

93.8

Having said this, the daughter of Janaka then spoke to a minister / named Bhadrakalaśa, commanding him with this purpose:

93.9

'Becoming heedful, give supreme gifts every day; / and let all the people perform worship, anointing, and other rites for the supreme Jinas.'

93.10

The moment he was thus spoken to, having given gifts and mounted an excellent elephant, / he proclaimed in the middle of the city that which was spoken by the daughter of Janaka:

93.11

'Let the people in this excellent city, endowed with moral virtue and self-restraint, / perform great worship, anointings, and other rites for the Jina shrines!'

93.12

Hearing this speech, the people quickly adorned the temples of the Lord of Jinas, / making them charming with all manner of equipment.

93.13

Anointings of the supreme Jinas were performed with abundant milk, curd, and clarified butter, / accompanied by many auspicious songs and cries of 'Victory!' mingling with musical instruments.

93.14

Sītā too, endowed with penance, observance, and self-restraint, performed the worship of the Jinas; / and meanwhile, the citizens arrived en masse near Padma.

93.15

Making sounds of respectful greeting and announced by the doorkeeper, they entered; / folding their hands into buds, all the subjects bowed to Padma.

93.16

Then Rāma addressed those who were the leaders of the subjects: / 'Tell the purpose of your arrival, casting off mental distress.'

93.17

Vijaya, Sūradeva, Madhugandha, Piṅgala, Śūladhara, / as well as Kāśyapa, Kāla, and Kṣema were the leaders.

93.18

Then, their hearts seized by fear and their feet trembling, they did not utter a word; / through Padma's majesty they cast their faces downward and became ashamed.

93.19

Having reassured them, Rāma asked the reason for their coming once more: / 'Tell me in confidence, casting aside all fear and dread.'

93.20

When they were thus questioned, one leader said to him: / 'Master, without an assurance of safety our speech does not come out.'

93.21

Then Lord Padma said: 'There is no cause for fear for you; / speak with full confidence, casting aside dread and anxiety.'

93.22

Then, having obtained safety, Vijaya, joining his hands in reverence, / uttered words with distinct syllables: 'Master! Listen to our speech.

93.23

Master! All this worldly folk have their minds deluded by sin, / take pleasure in seizing upon others' faults, and are naturally deceitful by disposition.

93.24

[They say] repeatedly: 'How is it that Sītā, carried off and enjoyed by the lord of the Rākṣasas, / was nonetheless brought back here by Rāma?

93.25

In gardens, houses, and at ponds and wells, the master of the realm, / leaving aside other talk, speaks of nothing but the slander of Sītā:

93.26

'How can King Daśaratha's son, Rāma, lord of the earth with three oceans, / bring back the daughter of Janaka after she was carried off by Rāvaṇa?

93.27

Surely there is no fault here in a woman attached to another man, / since this lotus-like [Rāma] keeps Sītā in his own house.

93.28

Whatever conduct the king observes here upon earth, / all the people become even more devoted to following such a practice.'

93.29

O Rāghava! Since the people are speaking thus with extremely wicked and sinful hearts, / now quickly execute a terrible restraint [upon them]!'

93.30

Hearing this speech, Rāma felt as if struck on the head by a thunderbolt; / his mind overwhelmed with shame, he suddenly fell into supreme despondency.

93.31

Having reflected, he reached [the thought]: 'Alas! What is this other misfortune, / which has arisen, extremely unbearable, concerning the slander of Sītā?

93.32

She for whose sake terrible sorrow of separation was endured in the forest— / that Sītā soils the moon of my lineage with the stain of dishonor.

93.33

She for whose sake the lord of Rākṣasas was slain by me in battle— / that Sītā makes the mirror of my fame soiled with disgrace.

93.34

The people speak quite rightly: she was taken by another man into his house, / yet was brought back here again by me, deluded by passion.

93.35

Or rather, who understands the conduct of young women, who are crooked by nature? / They are a very mine of faults, in whose bodies desire resides.

93.36

A woman is the root of evil deeds, a wide road leading to hell, / and a great obstacle to liberation; she is always to be abandoned.

93.37

Blessed are those noble men who, having abandoned their young women, / renounced the world, took vows, and attained the supreme, immovable state of bliss!'

93.38

Pondering these and many other such thoughts, Rāghava / could find no peace on his seat, nor on his bed, nor in his splendid palace.

Though Rāma was steadfast and pure, his mind was overwhelmed by fear of scandal and affection, overcome by the fierce force of passion, / and intense sorrow arose in him on account of the daughter of King Janaka.

93.40

Thus ends the ninety-third chapter, entitled "The Deliberation Concerning the People", in the Paümacariya.

Linked texts (1)

Paümacariya — Vimalasūri, Māhārāṣṭrī Prakrit