The Couplets

त्रिजटा सन बोली कर जोरी। मातु बिपति संगिनि तैं मोरी।।
Sita spoke to Trijata with joined palms, “O Mother, you are my companion in this distress.”

तजौं देह करु बेगि उपाई। दुसहु बिरहु अब नहिं सहि जाई।।
“Devise a means for me to abandon this body quickly. This unbearable separation can no longer be endured.”

आनि काठ रचु चिता बनाई। मातु अनल पुनि देहि लगाई।।
“Bring wood and construct a pyre. Then, O Mother, set fire to it with me upon it.”

सत्य करहि मम प्रीति सयानी। सुनै को श्रवन सूल सम बानी।।
“If you truly love me, O wise one, whose ears can bear to hear such words, sharp as arrows?”

In these heart-wrenching verses, the distressed Sita spoke to Trijata, a demoness devoted to Lord Rama. Seeing Sita’s anguish, Trijata suggested that she abandon her body and construct a pyre to end her suffering, as the separation from Lord Rama had become unbearable. However, Sita questioned Trijata’s love, asking whose ears could bear to hear such words, sharp as arrows.

The Couplets

सुनत बचन पद गहि समुझाएसि। प्रभु प्रताप बल सुजसु सुनाएसि।।
Hearing these words, Trijata grasped Sita’s feet and consoled her, narrating the glory, prowess, and fame of the Lord.

निसि न अनल मिल सुनु सुकुमारी। अस कहि सो निज भवन सिधारी।।
“Listen, O delicate one, fire cannot be obtained at night.” Saying this, Trijata returned to her abode.

कह सीता बिधि भा प्रतिकूला। मिलहि न पावक मिटिहि न सूला।।
Sita said, “Fate has become adverse. The fire cannot be obtained, nor can the arrows of pain be removed.”

देखिअत प्रगट गगन अंगारा। अवनि न आवत एकउ तारा।।
“Embers are visible in the sky, but not a single star appears on the earth.”

In these verses, Trijata grasped Sita’s feet and consoled her by narrating the glory, prowess, and fame of Lord Rama, reminding her of His strength and ability to rescue her. Trijata, realizing the futility of her suggestion, returned to her abode, stating that fire cannot be obtained at night.

Sita lamented that fate had become adverse, and she could neither obtain fire nor remove the arrows of her anguish. She poetically described her distress, seeing embers in the sky but not a single star on the earth, symbolizing the darkness and despair she felt.

The Couplets

पावकमय ससि स्रवत न आगी। मानहुँ मोहि जानि हतभागी।।
“The moon, though fiery, does not shed its light, as if considering me ill-fated.”

सुनहि बिनय मम बिटप असोका। सत्य नाम करु हरु मम सोका।।
“Listen to my plea, O Ashoka tree. In truth, remove my sorrow.”

नूतन किसलय अनल समाना। देहि अगिनि जनि करहि निदाना।।
“Like fresh sprouts, your tender leaves are equal to the fire. Give me the fire, so that I may find solace.”

देखि परम बिरहाकुल सीता। सो छन कपिहि कलप सम बीता।।
Seeing Sita in the throes of extreme separation, that moment seemed like an eon to Hanuman.

In her anguish, Sita lamented that even the fiery moon did not shed its light, as if considering her ill-fated. She pleaded with the Ashoka tree to remove her sorrow, likening its tender leaves to fresh sprouts equal to the fire, begging it to provide her the fire so that she may find solace.

Witnessing Sita’s extreme distress and longing for Lord Rama, that moment seemed like a Kalpa (16 million years long) to Hanuman, who was deeply moved by her plight.

The Couplet

कपि करि हृदयँ बिचार दीन्हि मुद्रिका डारी तब।
जनु असोक अंगार दीन्हि हरषि उठि कर गहेउ।।12।।

Deeply moved by Sita’s distress, Hanuman contemplated in his heart and then dropped the signet ring given to him by Lord Rama. It was as if the Ashoka tree had answered Sita’s plea and provided her the embers she sought. Sita, overjoyed, arose and grasped the ring, her sorrow momentarily alleviated by this token from her beloved Lord.

Through this poignant passage, Tulsidas masterfully captures the depths of Sita’s anguish and longing for Lord Rama, as well as Hanuman’s compassion and devotion in providing her solace and reassurance through the symbolic gesture of the signet ring.