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  1   1    |     SITA-SWAYAWARA~(The Bridal of Sita)~THE Epic relates to the
  2   1    |      Videhas had a daughter named Sita, who was miraculously born
  3   1    |           Rama succeeded, and won Sita. The story of Rama's winning
  4   1    |         the sister and cousins of Sita, forms the subject of this
  5   1, 2 |          He shall win my peerless Sita who shall bend my bow of
  6   1, 2 |      proud and peerless princess, Sita glory of my house,~Sheds
  7   1, 2 |           be my plighted promise, Sita dearer than my life,~Won
  8   1, 2 |        shall speak to Dasa-ratha, Sita is by valour won,~They shall
  9   1, 3 |          He shall win my peerless Sita who shall bend my bow of
 10   1, 6 |        Softly came the sweet-eyed Sita,--bridal blush upon her
 11   1, 6 |           rite was done:~"This is Sita child of Janak, dearer unto
 12   1, 6 |          is faithful wife,~And my Sita best of women follows thee
 13   1, 6 |           pair.~Next he turned to Sita's sister, Urmila of beauty
 14   1, 7 |      every happy bride,~Soft-eyed Sita noble-destined, Urmila of
 15   1, 7 |       affection fond and trusting Sita loved,~And within her faithful
 16   1, 7 |          sweet communion lived in Sita's loving heart!~Days of
 17   1, 7 |          gladness o'er the gentle Sita flew,~As she like the QUEEN
 18   1, 7 |          sweet communion lived in Sita's loving heart!~
 19   2, 3 |         With her lord the saintly Sita silent passed the sacred
 20   2, 3 |        night,~Kept by Rama and by Sita, for the day's auspicious
 21   2, 3 |          that sweet and soft-eyed Sita might accept her people'
 22   2, 4 |        and in her anguish wait on Sita's proud command?~With a
 23   3    |        are narrated in this Book. Sita and the faithful Lakshman
 24   3, 1 |       LOVE~"Dearly loved, devoted Sita! daughter of a royal line,~
 25   3, 1 |          But before I leave thee, Sita, in the wilderness to rove,~
 26   3, 1 |         Serve my crownéd brother, Sita, as a faithful, duteous
 27   3, 1 |        Keep thy fasts and vigils, Sita, while thy Rama is away,~
 28   3, 1 |           kindness prove!~Listen, Sita, unto Bharat speak no heedless
 29   3, 1 |        each dear relation, gentle Sita, be it thine,~Part we love!
 30   3, 1 |         Rama spake, and soft-eyed Sita, ever sweet in speech and
 31   3, 1 |           the banishment of Rama, Sita's exile is decreed,~Sire
 32   3, 1 |           forests dark and drear,~Sita steps before her husband
 33   3, 1 |        mansions in the woods will Sita rove,~Waste no thought on
 34   3, 1 |      fearless by her Rama's side,~Sita will still live and wander
 35   3, 1 |           by Rama tasted shall be Sita's cherished food!~Bid me
 36   3, 1 |    happiest lot to woman given,--~Sita seeks not throne or empire,
 37   3, 1 |         lord and husband faithful Sita would reside!~Therefore
 38   3, 2 |         Lakshman as he heard what Sita, said,~And he touched the
 39   3, 2 |      reign!~All alone with gentle Sita thou shalt track thy darksome
 40   3, 2 |        And whenwith thy meek-eyed Sita thou shalt seek the mountain
 41   3, 2 |          grateful heart,~And with Sita and with Lakshman for the
 42   3, 3 |         eye,~As she saw departing Sita for her blessings drawing
 43   3, 3 |           Ever true and righteous Sita, follow still my godlike
 44   3, 3 |         Like a God to me is Rama, Sita shall not leave his side,~
 45   3, 3 |           she marked the faithful Sita true in heart, in virtue
 46   3, 4 |           Rama and obey."~Queenly Sita bright-apparelled, with
 47   3, 4 |        True is righteous -hearted Sita cleaving to her husband
 48   3, 5 |       through the day,~"Soft-eyed Sita, faithful Lakshman," thus
 49   3, 5 |          and verdure Rama and his Sita slept,~Faithful Lakshman
 50   3, 5 |           Raghu's sons and gentle Sita mounted on the stately car,~
 51   3, 6 |          And the princes and fair Sita ventured on the sacred wave.~
 52   3, 6 |        sphere descended! banished Sita bows to thee.~May my lord
 53   3, 6 |        With rny wife, the saintly Sita, daughter of Videha's king,~
 54   3, 6 |           And to see the banished Sita and to see us, much I fear,~
 55   3, 6 |      Passed the brothers and fair Sita honoured by Prayaga's Sacre.~
 56   3, 7 |      Morning dawned, and faithful Sita with the brothers held her
 57   3, 7 |           Lakshman for the gentle Sita made a soft and pleasant
 58   3, 7 |         her loving lord supported Sita stepped upon the raft,~And
 59   3, 7 |     glorious Jumna!" so the pious Sita prayed,~"Peaceful be my
 60   3, 7 |          path to clear,~Soft-eyed Sita followed gently, Rama followed
 61   3, 7 |     smiling blossom and to gentle Sita gave,~Oft to Rama turned
 62   3, 7 |       with eager joy and pleasure Sita turned her eye once more,~
 63   3, 7 |          eastern mountains stood,~Sita woke and gallant Lakshman,
 64   3, 7 |    Peaceful on its shady uplands, Sita, we shall live and rove!"~
 65   4    |           Kausalya when she meets Sita in the dress of an anchorite
 66   4    |           Atri welcomed the young Sita, and robed her in rich raiments
 67   4, 1 |         unto righteous Rama, unto Sita true and bold,~Theirs be
 68   4, 1 |           Rama sat with meek-eyed Sita, faithful Lakshman loitered
 69   4, 3 |         Lastly came the soft-eyed Sita with obeisance soft and
 70   4, 3 |         their bosoms, round their Sita as they prest,~As a mother
 71   4, 3 |        But thy sweet face, gentle Sita, is like faded lotus dry,~
 72   4, 3 |           spouse!~Sweetly, gentle Sita answered, answered Rama
 73   4, 6 |           of Gods above,~Welcomed Sita in her cottage, tended her
 74   4, 6 |       sadness which the soft-eyed Sita told:~How the monarch of
 75   4, 6 |        made by ploughshare infant Sita sprang to birth,~How the
 76   4, 6 |         lost his father's throne,~Sita followed him in exile in
 77   4, 6 |           Softly from the lips of Sita words of joy and sorrow
 78   4, 6 |       Sweet the tale you tell me, Sita, of thy wedding and thy
 79   4, 6 |           thy consort waits thee, Sita, but before thou leavest,
 80   4, 6 |         and beauteous, sweet-eyed Sita softly came,~Where with
 81   4, 6 |           wifely love and longina Sita met her hero bold,~Anasuya'
 82   4, 6 |          listened of the grace by Sita gained,~Favours of the ancient
 83   5    |    morning, when the brothers and Sita went for their ablutions
 84   5, 1 |         Righteous Rama, soft-eyed Sita, and the gallant Lakshman
 85   5, 1 |       bright as Lord of Midnight, Sita with her saintly face,~Lakshman
 86   5, 1 |         And the toil-worn, tender Sita slumbered in the asram's
 87   5, 1 |         With his faithful consort Sita in these wilds he wanders
 88   5, 1 |         valiant Lakshman, saintly Sita seek this shade,~And to
 89   5, 1 |            Rama and the soft-eyed Sita, were with gallant Lakshman
 90   5, 1 |           a woman's soft devotion Sita, bowed unto the saint.~Saint
 91   5, 2 |        toil and trouble, faithful Sita follows thee,~True to wedded
 92   5, 2 |        Fortune's frown or favour, Sita still in truth abides,~As
 93   5, 2 |           s forest as the saintly Sita's home!"~"Great Agastya!"
 94   5, 2 |       Tend thy true and toil-worn Sita, farther still she may not
 95   5, 2 |        lay,~Tend thy dear devoted Sita and protect each pious rite,~
 96   5, 2 |         Panchavati lay,~Soft-eyed Sita followed meekly where her
 97   5, 3 |      Where my sweet and soft-eyed Sita may repose in sylvan bliss,~
 98   5, 3 |           grateful accents gentle Sita praised his skill,~Praised
 99   5, 3 |        and with Lakshman and with Sita child of love,~Dwelt in
100   5, 4 |          Godavari came.~Meek-eyed Sita softly followed with the
101   5, 4 |            Like our sun-embrownéd Sita with her toil and penance
102   5, 4 |         lord, in loosened tresses Sita to her cottage came,~As
103   6    |            BOOK VI - SITA-HARANA~(Sita Lost)~WE exchange the quiet
104   6    |     stealing away the unprotected Sita.~The misfortunes of our
105   6    |     crossed the stainless mind of Sita, and words of unmerited
106   6    |           men and women in India, Sita remains to this day the
107   6, 1 |       leafy cottage Rama dwelt in Sita's love,~And with Lakshman
108   6, 1 |          wife, Videha's daughter, Sita makes with me her home.~
109   6, 1 |         human wife aside,~Pale is Sita and misshapen, scarce a
110   6, 1 |         food of Rakshas! weakling Sita I will slay,~Slay that boy
111   6, 2 |           passion-smitten maiden! Sita is my honoured wife,~With
112   6, 2 |           younger consort, banish Sita from his arms,~Spurning
113   6, 2 |           from his arms,~Spurning Sita's faded beauty let him seek
114   6, 2 |          fresher charms,~Spurning Sita's faded graces let him brighter
115   6, 2 |           in her path!"~Fawn-eyed Sita fell in terror as the Raksha
116   6, 2 |            Let me wake to life my Sita, chase this female void
117   6, 3 |       Till the woodland-wand'ring Sita marked the creature in his
118   6, 3 |      Lakshman," thus the raptur'd Sita spake,~"Mark the deer of
119   6, 3 |         with forceful fascination Sita's inmost heart was thrilled,~"
120   6, 3 |        capture in thy way,~As thy Sita's sweet companion in these
121   6, 3 |     Ayodhya will repair,~Dwell in Sita's palace chamber nursed
122   6, 3 |          palace chamber nursed by Sita's tender care,~And our royal
123   6, 3 |         of lustre cherish for thy Sita's sake,~I will as a golden
124   6, 3 |          Lakshman with the gentle Sita stay,~Long through woods
125   6, 4 |        cry of danger?" questioned Sita in distress,~"Woe, to me!
126   6, 4 |        Spake the hero: "Fear not, Sita! Dwellers of the azure height,~
127   6, 4 |        this forest dark and high!~Sita, thou hast heard my elder
128   6, 4 |         causeless pain!"~Sparkled Sita's eye in anger, frenzy marked
129   6, 4 |         hope as foul thy purpose! Sita is a faithful wife,~Sita
130   6, 4 |          Sita is a faithful wife,~Sita follows saintly Rama, true
131   6, 4 |          the wood,~Witness, I for Sita's safety by my elder's mandate
132   6, 5 |         Came to sad and sorrowing Sita in the guise of anchorite,~
133   6, 5 |       bore.~And he came to lonely Sita, for each warlike chief
134   6, 5 |           And he cast his eyes on Sita, as a graha casts its shade~
135   6, 5 |          guise of anchorite,~Unto Sita's lonely cottage pressed
136   6, 5 |   Lighting up the lonely cottage, Sita sat in radiance high,~As
137   6, 6 |        Listen, Brahman!" answered Sita,--unsuspecting in her mind~
138   6, 6 |           beauty's golden lustre, Sita, wins my royal heart,~Be
139   6, 6 | gay-dressed damsels shall upon my Sita, wait,~Queen of Ravan's
140   6, 6 |           of his state!"~Sparkled Sita's eyes in anger and a tremor
141   6, 7 |           snake in eagle's talons Sita writhed with piteous wail,~
142   6, 7 |           Speak to Rama, that his Sita ruthless Ravan bears away!~
143   6, 7 |           Speak of Rama, that his Sita ruthless Ravan bears away!~
144   6, 7 |     spirits of the rock and fell,~Sita renders you obeisance as
145   6, 7 |           Speak to Rama, that his Sita ruthless Ravan bears away!~
146   6, 7 |        When thou hearest helpless Sita is by Ravan torn away!~And
147   6, 7 |           they know that trusting Sita is by Ravan torn away!"~
148   6, 7 |         Vainly wept the anguished Sita; vain Jatayu in his wrath,~
149   7, 5 |         Sighing like my anguished Sita when she wept in woe and
150   7, 5 |            Ah, my lost and loving Sita! writhing in a Raksha's
151   7, 5 |         throne and empire with my Sita I could part,~As the stream
152   7, 5 |         stream erodes its margin, Sita's absence breaks my heart,~
153   7, 5 |        fastness doth my sorrowing Sita bide,~But Sugriva true and
154   7, 6 |                VI - THE QUEST FOR SITA~Past the rains, the marshalled
155   7, 6 |          For the quest of saintly Sita, thus his mighty mandate
156   8    |         BOOK VIII - SITA-SANDESA~(Sita Discovered)~Among the many
157   8    |           directions in search of Sita, Hanuman succeeded in the
158   8    |          the quest and discovered Sita in Ceylon. Ceylon is separated
159   8    |        and lighted on the island. Sita, scorning the proposals
160   8, 1 |                               I - SITA IN THE ASOKA GARDEN~Crossed
161   8, 1 |          And in tireless quest of Sita searched the margin of the
162   8, 1 |          This is she! the saintly Sita, by a cruel fortune crost,"~
163   8, 1 |        This is she! the soft-eyed Sita, wept with unavailing tear,~
164   8, 1 |           still in deed and word,~Sita, in her silent suffering
165   8, 1 |          Rama lost but cherished, Sita heaves the choking sigh,~
166   8, 1 |          heaves the choking sigh,~Sita lives for righteous Rama,
167   8, 2 |         in the wood,~Searched for Sita, in the jungle where his
168   8, 2 |           In the search of stolen Sita still unto his Rama dear!~
169   8, 2 |            In the quest of hidden Sita, Rama's consort loved and
170   8, 2 |           the voice: the ravished Sita cast her wond'ring eyes
171   8, 3 |           the loved and cherished Sita, is to Rama ever dear,~And
172   8, 3 |        his force is drawing near!~Sita, held that tender token
173   8, 3 |          If the thought of absent Sita wakes within his heart a
174   8, 3 |          speedy vengeance and for Sita's quick relief,~Doth he
175   8, 3 |          fond remembrance cherish Sita loved of yore,~Nursing in
176   8, 3 |            Bowed unto the queenly Sita and in gentle accents said:~"
177   8, 3 |          than his life,~Trust me, Sita, conquering Rama comes with
178   8, 3 |         Till he rescues cherished Sita from the Raksha's castled
179   8, 3 |         castled hold,~Thoughts of Sita leave not Rama dreary day
180   8, 4 |                              IV - SITA'S TOKEN~Token from her raven
181   8, 4 |      Token from her raven tresses Sita to the Vanar gave,~Hanuman
182   8, 4 |            Jewel from the brow of Sita by her sorrowing consort
183   8, 4 |   loathsome loving word,~Spake of Sita's scorn and anger and her
184   8, 4 |        sea, by mighty INDRA to my Sita's father given,~Well I know
185   8, 4 |         know this sweet memorial, Sita wore it on her head,~And
186   8, 4 |           faithful vassal, how my Sita wept and prayed,~Like the
187   8, 4 |          thirsty, dear to me what Sita said,~Did she send this
188   8, 4 |          isle,~Where my soft-eyed Sita lingers midst the Rakshas
189   8, 4 |          distant Lanka's confines Sita weeps the livelong day,~
190   9    |         his island and discovered Sita in her imprisonment, but
191   9    | unoffending Rama. He advised that Sita should be restored to her
192   9, 2 |         tears and vain repentance Sita to his consort yield,~While
193   9, 6 |           insult hath the saintly Sita given,~She who chained in
194   9, 6 |          counsel, king and elder, Sita to her lord restore,~Wipe
195   9, 6 |     battles for the right!~Render Sita to her Rama ere with vengeance
196   9, 7 |         thou hast sought unwisely Sita, in her calm retreat,~As
197   9, 7 |          the hermit Rama, widowed Sita be thy bride!"~
198  10, 2 |                              II - SITA'S LAMENT~Indrajit ere dawned
199  10, 2 |           them take the sorrowing Sita to the gory field of war!~
200  10, 2 |          the foe,~Anguish woke in Sita's bosom and a dimness filled
201  10, 2 |          her agéd eyes once more,~Sita's love! Ayodhya's monarch!
202  10, 2 |         Sorely wept the sorrowing Sita in her accents soft and
203  10, 2 |          midnight wept to witness Sita's woe,~But Trijata her companion,--
204  10, 2 |      subdued by sadness, spake to Sita tenderly:~"Weep not, sad
205  10, 2 |         Weep not, sad and saintly Sita, shed not widow's tears
206  10, 2 |       Trust me, sad and sorrowing Sita, marks of death these eyes
207  10, 2 |            Listen more, my gentle Sita, though a captive in our
208  10, 2 |          Weep not thus, my gentle Sita,--hasten we to Lanka now."~
209  10, 6 |         his arts and deep devices Sita's beauteous image made,~
210  10, 6 |         seeks as spouse,~'Tis for Sita, impious Ravan meets thee
211  10, 6 |        throne and empire, but thy Sita will not yield,~Deem not
212  10, 6 |        wed!~'Twas an image of thy Sita, Indrajit hath cleft in
213  10, 7 |  exclaimed the monarch, "she-wolf Sita dies to-day,~Indrajit but
214  10, 7 |        the shades where soft-eyed Sita, silent sorrowed for her
215  10, 7 |      victor of the combat widowed Sita as thy bride!"~Slow and
216  10, 12|           I prayed,--the faithful Sita, might unto her consort
217  11    |          happy return to Ayodhya. Sita proves her stainless virtue
218  11, 1 |         brow was clouded, saintly Sita, spake in shame:~"Wherefore
219  11, 1 |           harvest-bearing furrow, Sita sprang from Mother Earth,~
220  11, 1 |  throbbing bosom funeral pyre for Sita made,~And Videha's sinless
221  11, 1 |           in her faith and valour Sita stepped upon the pyre,~And
222  11, 1 |          maid and matron wept for Sita true and lost,~For bedecked
223  11, 1 |          in gems and rich attire,~Sita vanished in the red fire
224  11, 1 |       each secret deed,~Witnessed Sita's high devotion and a woman'
225  11, 2 |         by her changeless virtue, Sita still remains the same,~
226  11, 2 |         sadness true to thee hath Sita stood,~Courted oft by royal
227  11, 2 |           wedded troth and virtue Sita thought of thee alone,~Pare
228  11, 2 |          of youth,~Have I doubted Sita's virtue, Sita's fixed and
229  11, 2 |          I doubted Sita's virtue, Sita's fixed and changeless truth,~
230  11, 2 |            And the fond forgiving Sita in his bosom hid her face!~
231  11, 3 |  deceitful Ravan with my trusting Sita fled.~Dost thou mark, my
232  11, 3 |           thou mark, my soft-eyed Sita, cottage on the river's
233  11, 3 |       righteous peace and penance Sita, lived in days of yore,~
234  11, 3 |           Dost thou, dear devoted Sita, see the Jumna in her might '~
235  11, 3 |         side.~Joy! joy! my gentle Sita,! Fair Ayodhya looms above,~
236  11, 4 |         unto Rama from afar,~Unto Sita, unto Lakshman, seated on
237  12    |            describing the fate of Sita, and giving the poem a sad
238  12    |         still hung on the fame of Sita, and the people of Ayodhya
239  12    |           his loving and faithful Sita to live in forests once
240  12    |        live in forests once more.~Sita found an asylum in the hermitage
241  12    |       heart yearned once more for Sita, whom he had banished but
242  12    |          him, and he desired that Sita might once more prove her
243  12    |           approval of his people.~Sita came. But her life had been
244  12    |        the Earth, which had given Sita birth, yawned and took back
245  12    |    ancient hymns of the Rig Veda, Sita is simply the goddess of
246  12    |  concealed in the Ramayana, where Sita the heroine of the Epic
247  12    |          women in India, however, Sita is not an allegory; she
248  12, 2 |          child of righteous fame,~Sita's sons, as youthful hermits
249  12, 4 |           pure and peerless dame,~Sita banished to the forest,
250  12, 5 |                               V - SITA LOST~Morning dawned; and
251  12, 5 |         dawned; and with Valmiki, Sita to the gathering came,~Banished
252  12, 5 |       Faithful still the banished Sita, in her bosom held her lord!~
253  12, 5 |         his bosom Rama questioned Sita's faithful love,~And the
254  12, 5 |           subjects I have bade my Sita, roam,~Tore her from my
255  12, 5 |          and dreary forest was my Sita left to mourn,~In the lone
256  12, 5 |           of sinful pride,~May my Sita prove her virtue, be again
257  12, 5 |          the royal chambers flew.~Sita, saw the bright Celestials,
258  12, 5 |        Mother Earth I relieve thy Sita from the burden of this
259  12, 5 |     proclaim her virtue! But fair Sita is no more,~Lone is Rama'
260 Epi    |         is a monarch and a saint. Sita, the daughter of Janak and
261 Epi    |           and the faithfulness of Sita were described again and
262 Epi    |        description, the bridal of Sita is poor and commonplace,
263 Epi    |        Kama, Bhima and Duryodban. Sita's protest and defiance,
264 Epi    |       fulness and womanly love of Sita, run like two threads of
265 Epi    |          eyes of Hindus,~Rama and Sita are the Hindu ideals of
266 Epi    |          ideal of a woman's life. Sita holds a place in the hearts
267 Epi    |          cling round the story of Sita's sufferings and Sita's
268 Epi    |          of Sita's sufferings and Sita's faithfulness, told in
269 Epi    |           cherished through life. Sita's adventures in a desolate
270 Epi    |     trials of a woman's life; and Sita's endurance and faithfulness
271 Epi    |     troubles of life. "For," said Sita:~For my mother often taught
272 Epi    |        mansions in the woods will Sita rove,~Waste no thought on
273 Epi    |        western World. The tale of Sita was a tale of womanly faith
274 Epi    |          the unfaltering truth of Sita's character; she goes to
275 Epi    |         and holier character than Sita; the literature of the world