[87] This _sloka_ has 'Angada' twice. One, of course, is left out.--T.
Seeing that head and that excellent bow, and (remembering) the union of (Rama) and Sugriva related by Hanuman,--and (seeing) those eyes, and the complexion of that face, and that countenance like unto that of her lord,--and that hair and that forehead; and that beautiful jewel forming the crest; and recognizing (Rama) by all these tokens combined,-- (Sita), exceedingly aggrieved, rebuked Kaikeyi, lamenting like a female osprey,--"O Kaikeyi, have thy wishes attained. Slain hath been the son of the race; and the entire race is exterminated by thee, partial to dissension. And what evil had been done unto Kaikeyi by the revered Rama, that along with me, he hadst been banished into the woods, with rags given him (for his covering)?" Having said this, Vaidehi, forlorn and trembling (all over), dropped to the earth, like a plantain cut off. Then, recovering after a while, and having regained her consciousness, the large-eyed one, placing the head in her front, gave way to grief. "Ah! I am undone, O mighty-armed one! O thou that didst follow stern vows! From thy (death), I have come by this final plight, having been rendered a widow. The greatest calamity (that can befall a woman), is said to be the death of her husband. And, possessor of an excellent character, thou hast departed before me, who have ever trod the path of the righteous; but who have come by a mighty grief and am plunged in a sea of sorrow. And thou, who was engaged in delivering me, hast thyself fallen! And my mother-in-law, Kauçalya, attached (to thee), through the death of thee, her son, at the hands of Rakshasas, hath been reduced to the condition of a cow that hath been deprived of her calf. O Raghava, even the astrologers had predicted long life for thee. But their words are false,--thou, O Raghava, wast short-lived. Or didst thy wisdom, wise and good as thou wert, come to naught? For God, who is the origin of all beings, maketh (every one) reap the fruit of his own acts. And why, versed in polity as thou wast, didst thou come by death, unforeseen? Thou wast acquainted with the means of warding off misfortune, and skilled in doing so. And having been brought hither by me, representing the Fatal Night, fierce and fell,--after (being) embraced, and by force,--the lotus-eyed one hath met with his death. Here liest thou, O long-armed one, leaving me lone,--and embracing the Earth like thy beloved fair. Ever carefully worshipped with perfumed wreaths, this bow of thine, O hero, embellished with gold, is dear unto me. O sinless one, thou hast surely gone to heaven, and (art there) in the company of thy sire and my father-in-law, Daçaratha, and all thy ancestors. Thou hast become a star of the firmament as the fruit of thy great act.[88] Thou hast disregarded thy righteous race of Rajarshis. O king, why dost thou not look at me? And why is it that thou dost not answer me, who am a girl, hardly arrived at youth,--and who am thy wife and companion? That thou at the time of thy espousing my hand hadst vowed--I will practise (righteousness) with thee--do thou, O Kakutstha, recollect the same, and take me, who am overwhelmed with distress. Why, O best of goers, hast thou gone from this world to that other, leaving behind me, overwhelmed with distress? That person of thine which, decked out with auspicious things, I used to embrace, beasts of prey will for certain tear the same. Having performed the Agnishtoma and other sacrifices with _Dakshinas_ (dispensed),--why hadst not thou attained purity by means of the sacrificial fire? Kauçalya, overwhelmed with sorrow, shall only behold one of the three that had gone away to distant lands,--come (back)--Lakshmana. And, on being asked by her, he shall relate thine as well as the deaths of thy friend's troops over night at the hands of the Rakshasas. And, O Raghava, hearing thee slain while asleep, and me staying in the abode of the Raksha, she with her heart cleft (in twain), shall cease to exist. And for the sake of me, abject that I am, that sinless son of the king, Rama, possessed of prowess, having crossed the ocean, hath been slain in the footprint of a cow. I, the befouler of my line, who had been wedded by Daçaratha's son through want of discretion, becoming the wife of the revered Rama, was (in reality) his Death. Without doubt, in another birth I had abstained from choice gifts,--and therefore it is that I sorrow to-day, albeit being the wife of one that was (ever dear) unto guests. Do thou, O Ravana, speedily slay me upon Rama; and, bringing the wife to the husband, compass my best benefit. Do thou join my head to his and my body to his body. I will, O Ravana, follow the way of my high-souled lord".