||om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 28

Tattvadipika
यमस्य मूलं !

"यमस्य मूलं" means root of Yama,
or simply reaching the abode of Yama.
Sita said that in her sorrow.
The implication is that it better to go to Yama than living here.

Sita earlier told Ravana,
"असंशयं दाशरथेर्नमोक्ष्यसे",
meaning that you cannot escape Dasarathi,
Sita earlier told Rakshasa women proudly
"दीनोवा राज्यहीनोवा "
that what ever he may be her husband is her master etc,
But after being threatened by Rakshasas,
Sita says she is "अल्पपुण्या" "कृपणा" etc.,
blaming herself for her misfortune.
She come to a point of saying
"न हि जीवितेः अर्थो"
meaning that there is no meaning to this life
All of this means that Sita is unable to control her mind.

Though happy to have heard Trijata's dream,
and also happy with Trijata recalling good omens,
Ravana's words still reverberate in her mind
Thus Sita is still not becalmed.

With none of her people being near,
she cries like a girl left in the middle of a forest.

So the unyielding thought train continues.
"नाकालमृत्यु र्भवतीति संतः" ,
"the words of the wise that the death will not come if it is not its time is indeed true"
"जीवामि किंचित् क्षणमपि अपुण्या" ,
" living even for a moment means that (i am) one without merits".

Her thought train continues unabated.
She says that since she is any way being killed by Ravana ( after two months),
she may as well die, and there is nothing wrong with that.
"नैवास्ति दोषं".

She is certain that she will surely be killed,
if Rama does not come within the time limit.
She feels it is difficult to live two more months waiting for the inevitable.
That waiting would be like that of a thief awaiting death penalty.

Then again her thoughts move on to Rama and Lakshmana.

Having been tricked by that Rakshasa who came in the form of a deer,
both of them may have been killed because of her.
She is sure that fate came in the form of deer,
Her temptation resulted in the loss of Rama and Lakshmana.

In her captivity Sita was following her heart waiting for deliverance.
What was she doing for deliverance?
" अनन्यदैवत्वं इति" meaning "पत्येकदेवत्वं इति"
"Never thinking of any other god" , or effectively thinking of husband as the only god",
"Sleeping on the ground and following the code of conduct"
" Being devoted as a wife. "
All of these with no result.
"पतिव्रतात्त्वं विफलं ममेदम्"
" Being a devoted wife has been fruitless "

These are thoughts in intense sorrow.
In that sorrow holding on to her plaits she says to her self
"शीघ्रं गमिष्यामि यमस्य मूलं", अंटे
"I shall go to Yama quickly "

Sita stood hanging onto a branch of the Simsupa tree.
तस्यास्तु रामं प्रविचिन्तयित्वा
रामनुजं स्वं अ कुलं शुभाङ्ग्याः॥
She thought about Rama, Lakshmana and her family.
These are thoughts of one giving up.
Even as she seems to give up ,at that very moment she encounters omens.
Omens which give her strength.

That moment poet says she sees signs
which reduce her sorrow
which increase her hopes,
which are also "well known",
which also appeared "before".

The Sarga ends on that hopeful note.

Hanuman sitting in the branches too is seeing Sita's predicament.
He would have to think that time has come for him to make his move.

When poet says about the omens as
"पुरापि सिद्धानि", " occurred earlier too",
he is virtually hinting that similar good omens that have been seen earlier.
There is no indication on what could be such occasion.
The coronation that was about happen ,
but did not happen could not have been the occasion.
So Ramayan Tilak concludes that
that such occasion could have been only at the time of her marriage.
That was at the time of arrival of Rama with Sage Viswamitra in Janaka's court.
That occasion resulted in Sita and Rama's marriage.
Govindaraja says ""तान् उत्तरसर्गे विवरिष्यति",
that such occasion when such omens occurred will be elaborated in Uttara Kanda.

Thus the Sarga twenty eight concludes.

|| om tat sat ||
|| This is what we understood from Tattva Dipika of Shri Bhashyam, Appalacharyulu garu"||
|| om tat sat||