Verse 12.1
त्रिजटा सन बोलीं कर जोरी। मातु बिपति संगिनि तैं मोरी॥
तजौं देह करु बेगि उपाई। दुसह बिरहु अब नहिं सहि जाई॥ १ ॥
trijaṭā sana bolīṁ kara jorī mātu bipati saṁgini taiṁ morī
tajauṁ deha karu begi upāī dusaha birahu aba nahiṁ sahi jāī
Translation
With folded hands Sita said to Trijata, "Mother, you are my companion in misfortune. Quickly find a way for me to give up this body; I can no longer bear this unbearable separation.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
सीता जी हाथ जोड़कर त्रिजटा से बोलीं, "माता! तुम मेरी विपत्ति की साथी हो। जल्दी कोई उपाय करो कि मैं यह शरीर छोड़ दूँ। अब यह असहनीय विरह सहा नहीं जाता।
Commentary
This is the lowest point of Sita's story in the kand. She calls the demoness "mother," an image of how completely alone she is apart from Trijata.
Verse 12.2
आनि काठ रचु चिता बनाई। मातु अनल पुनि देहि लगाई॥
सत्य करहि मम प्रीति सयानी। सुनै को श्रवन सूल सम बानी॥ २ ॥
āni kāṭha rachu chitā banāī mātu anala puni dehi lagāī
satya karahi mama prīti sayānī sunai ko śhravana sūla sama bānī
Translation
"Bring wood, build a pyre, and then, mother, set it alight. Make my love true, wise one. Who can listen to words that pierce the ear like a spike?"
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
"लकड़ी लाकर चिता बना दो, फिर माता, उसमें आग लगा दो। हे सयानी! मेरी प्रीति को सच्चा कर दो। कानों में शूल जैसी चुभने वाली (रावण की) बातें कौन सुने?"
Verse 12.3
सुनत बचन पद गहि समुझाएसि। प्रभु प्रताप बल सुजसु सुनाएसि॥
निसि न अनल मिल सुनु सुकुमारी। अस कहि सो निज भवन सिधारी॥ ३ ॥
sunata bachana pada gahi samujhāesi prabhu pratāpa bala sujasu sunāesi
nisi na anala mila sunu sukumārī asa kahi so nija bhavana sidhārī
Translation
Hearing this, Trijata clasped her feet and consoled her, telling her of the Lord's glory, strength and good name. "Listen, delicate one, you will not get fire at night," she said, and went off to her own house.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
यह सुनकर त्रिजटा ने चरण पकड़कर उन्हें समझाया और प्रभु का प्रताप, बल और सुयश सुनाया। "हे सुकुमारी! सुनो, रात में आग नहीं मिलेगी," यह कहकर वह अपने घर चली गई।
Commentary
Trijata's refusal is gentle and practical: she does not argue with Sita's despair, she simply points out that there is no fire to be had at night, and leaves time to do its work.
Verse 12.4
कह सीता बिधि भा प्रतिकूला। मिलिहि न पावक मिटिहि न सूला॥
देखिअत प्रगट गगन अंगारा। अवनि न आवत एकउ तारा॥ ४ ॥
kaha sītā bidhi bhā pratikūlā milihi na pāvaka miṭihi na sūlā
dekhiata pragaṭa gagana aṁgārā avani na āvata ekau tārā
Translation
Sita said, "Fate has turned against me. I will get no fire and my pain will not end. Embers are plainly visible in the sky, yet not a single star comes down to earth.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
सीता जी बोलीं, "विधाता ही उलटा हो गया है। न आग मिलेगी, न पीड़ा मिटेगी। आकाश में अंगारे साफ़ दिख रहे हैं, पर धरती पर एक भी तारा नहीं आता।
Commentary
In her grief Sita sees the stars as live coals that could light her pyre, if only one would fall.
Verse 12.5
पावकमय ससि स्रवत न आगी। मानहुँ मोहि जानि हतभागी॥
सुनहि बिनय मम बिटप असोका। सत्य नाम करु हरु मम सोका॥ ५ ॥
pāvakamaya sasi sravata na āgī mānahum̐ mohi jāni hatabhāgī
sunahi binaya mama biṭapa asokā satya nāma karu haru mama sokā
Translation
"The moon is made of fire, yet it will not drop any flame, as though it knows me to be ill-fated. Hear my plea, Ashoka tree: make your name true and take away my sorrow.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
"चंद्रमा अग्निमय है, फिर भी आग नहीं बरसाता, मानो मुझे अभागिनी जानकर। हे अशोक वृक्ष! मेरी विनती सुन, अपना नाम सच्चा कर और मेरा शोक हर ले।
Commentary
Ashoka means "without sorrow." Sita pleads with the very tree she sits under to live up to its name. Separated lovers in Indian poetry often find the moon burning rather than cool, and she feels the same.
Verse 12.6
नूतन किसलय अनल समाना। देहि अगिनि जनि करहि निदाना॥
देखि परम बिरहाकुल सीता। सो छन कपिहि कलप सम बीता॥ ६ ॥
nūtana kisalaya anala samānā dehi agini jani karahi nidānā
dekhi parama birahākula sītā so chhana kapihi kalapa sama bītā
Translation
"Your new leaves are like fire. Give me that fire; do not be cruel." Seeing Sita so utterly stricken by separation, that moment felt like an age to the monkey.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
"तेरे नए कोमल पत्ते अग्नि के समान हैं। मुझे आग दे, निष्ठुर मत बन।" सीता जी को विरह से अत्यंत व्याकुल देखकर वह क्षण कपि को कल्प के समान बीता।
Commentary
A kalpa is a cosmic age of billions of years. The young red ashoka leaves look like flames to Sita, and watching her, Hanuman cannot wait any longer.
Verse 12.7
कपि करि हृदयँ बिचार दीन्हि मुद्रिका डारि तब।
जनु असोक अंगार दीन्ह हरषि उठि कर गहेउ॥ १२ ॥
kapi kari hṛidayam̐ bichāra dīnhi mudrikā ḍāri taba
janu asoka aṁgāra dīnha haraṣhi uṭhi kara gaheu
Translation
Having thought it over, the monkey dropped the ring down to her. It seemed as if the Ashoka had given her an ember; she rose with joy and took it in her hand.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
कपि ने मन में विचार करके तब अँगूठी नीचे डाल दी। मानो अशोक ने अंगारा दे दिया हो, सीता जी ने हर्षित होकर उठकर उसे हाथ में ले लिया।
Commentary
This verse is a sortha, a doha with its half-lines reversed. The glinting ring falls just as Sita begs the tree for fire, so she takes it as the tree's answer: a spark, but one of hope rather than death.
