Trijata’s Dream
Suddenly, a voice stopped them. It was Trijata’s voice, a Rakshasi respected as a sorceress with great divinatory powers.
“That’s enough. Stop it!” she said aloud. “Don’t threaten Sita. Don’t try to scare her. I just woke up from a terrible dream. Listen. I saw Rama triumphantly entering Lanka, followed by armies of monkeys, and I saw the grounds of the city littered with the bodies of our husbands, our children, our fathers, our relatives, and our friends. I have seen numerous omens indicating Sita’s victory over the one who kidnapped her. If this dream comes true, it is better for us not to mistreat her in this way, because then she could take severe revenge.”
The frightened Rakshasis stopped harassing her. But even though she heard those words, Sita didn’t calm down too much.
«How could I still have hope»? She thought.
“It’s been a year and Rama hasn’t arrived yet. He may never make it. He will not be able to find this inaccessible and hidden island. Perhaps, who knows, he even forgot me or gave up looking for me. My life is a hell. The thought of Rama tortures me. I can’t live without him. And these Raksasas who haunt me all day … I can’t go on living like this. I will fast to death thinking of my beloved Rama», she thought.
But at that moment, when she had decided to end her existence, an auspicious sign appeared on her body. And then others, and still others. The signs were so clear that Sita gave up her intention of dying.
Hanuman saw that Sita was in too much pain. He had found it, it was true, and he should have run back immediately to lead the armies to Lanka, but he could not leave her in that state. He had to give her a sign, a reason to keep hoping and living. He jumped onto a branch of the tree under which Sita was sitting disconsolately, and whispered some words to her. Curious, she looked up and saw the little monkey.
This is a section of the book “The Ramayana”, in English.
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