Question about vAlmiki rAmAyaNA

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 05 Mar 2008, 19:08

Can someone point out the description of sItA given in the Adi kAvya? The original sanskrit with an english translation will be appreciated!

THANKS.

Ravi

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 05 Mar 2008, 20:34

I have to specify this further: I am looking for this description in bAlakANDam - and not the one through the lascivious eyes of rAvaNa, which comes later.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Mar 2008, 05:31

Sorry to disappoint you Shankar. There is nothing in BalakaaNDa eulogizing Sita except the mention that Janaka found her in his ploughshare and that she was of immaculate conception (ayOnijA). There is no mention of the Romantic scenes which Kamban so effectively portrays

If you want a physical description (varNana) of sita's beauty listen to shUrpaNaka @
http://www.valmikiramayan.net/aranya/sa ... _frame.htm

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 06 Mar 2008, 07:36

Thanks CML. That is what I thought. Does the Adi kAvya mention how old sItA was?

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 06 Mar 2008, 13:24

Didn't vAlmIki also compose the AnandarAmAyaNa & adhyAtma rAmAyaNas as well?

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 06 Mar 2008, 21:02

rs,
According to Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kanda, Chapter 47 - Conversation between Sita and Ravana before her abduction - this is the statement made by Sita -

My husband,.....was over twenty-five years of age (when he left for forest), while my age (at the time of departure from Ayodhya) calculated to be eighteen years from my birth. (10, 11)

Earlier, in the same chapter she tells Ravana -

Having lived for twelve years in the palace of Kings of Ikshvaku's line .... I lived in the midst of an abundance of all kinds of enjoyments. In the thirteenth year of my stay in that palace, .... my father in law ... decided to instal Sri Rama as Prince Regent. (4,5)

(This statement about staying for 12 years in the palace - after marriage - is again made by Sita to Hanuman - Sundara Kanda, Chapter 33, verses 17, 18)

Accordingly, Sita should have been married off at the age of 6 - and Rama was 13 at that time.

A possible child marriage offence by IPC.

PS : As per Gita Press, Ghorakpur version of Valmiki Ramayana

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Mar 2008, 21:15

No!
But I have heard claims that Sita was older than Rama! I will be very much interested in knowing its source. While valmiki extensively describes the birth of Rama and even of the vanaras (Chapter 17, Balakanda) he is very silent about Sita's birth. There is the reference briefly in chapter 66 to her origin as stated by Janaka
Here is the translation by Griffith of the relevant portions:

Once, as it chanced, I ploughed the ground,
When sudden, 'neath the share was found
An infant springing from the earth,
Named SitÃ¡ from her secret birth. 2
In strength and grace the maiden grew,
My cherished daughter, fair to view.
I vowed her, of no mortal birth,
Meet prize for noblest hero's worth.
In strength and grace the maiden grew,
And many a monarch came to woo.
To all the princely suitors I
Gave, mighty Saint, the same reply:
'I give not thus my daughter, she
Prize of heroic worth shall be. 3
To MithilÃ¡ the suitors pressed
Their power and might to manifest.
To all who came with hearts aglow
I offered S'iva's wondrous bow.

Not one of all the royal band
Could raise or take the bow in hand.
The suitors' puny might I spurned,
And back the feeble princes turned.
Enraged thereat, the warriors met,
With force combined my town beset.
Stung to the heart with scorn and shame,
With war and threats they madly came,
Besieged my peaceful walls, and long
To MithilÃ¡ did grievous wrong.
There, wasting all, a year they lay,
And brought my treasures to decay,
Filling my soul, O Hermit chief,
With bitter woe and hopeless grief.
At last by long-wrought penance I
Won favour with the Gods on high,
Who with my labours well content
A four-fold host to aid me sent.
Then swift the baffled heroes fled
To all the winds discomfited--
Wrong-doers, with their lords and host,
And all their valour's idle boast.
This heavenly bow, exceeding bright,
These youths shall see, O Anchorite.
Then if young RÃ¡ma's hand can string
The bow that baffled lord and king,
To him I give, as I have sworn,
My SitÃ¡, not of woman born.'

Just note the emphasis on the 'ayOnijA' (not born of womb) nature. There were not even ny glowing compliments of her beauty.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 06 Mar 2008, 21:27

VGV ,

What a pleasant surprise. Welcome back after your long Sabbatical

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 06 Mar 2008, 22:07

Yes indeed! A very hearty welcome!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 07 Mar 2008, 19:17

Welcome, VGV, and thanks.
Thanks CML.

The reason I asked this question is that if sItA was 6 years old when rAma set eyes on her in mythilA for the first time, then, Arunachala Kavi could NOT have been correct in his description of sItA, especially in the first caraNam of '(y)ArO ivar (y)ArO?'

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 07 Mar 2008, 20:47

rs,
The same applies to Kamban also - 'aNNalum nOkkinAn avaLum nOkkinAL'