September 14, 2016: Session C5

Maithili Folklore 16_09_14_c_5

Documented by Coralynn V. Davis and Carlos Gomez
Transcription and Translation by Pranav Prakash

Teller: Vineeta Devi
Location: Ranti
Date: 9/14/16

View the transcription in Maithili.

अच्छा आहाँ के एकर कहानी त नै बुझल हैत?

Let’s see, do you all know his story? 

Suman: ककर?

Suman: Whose?

बिभीषण के. केकर भाइ छीयै उ? 

Bibhisan’s. Whose brother is he?

Suman: राबण के भाय नै छीयै?

Suman: Isn’t he Raban’s brother?

नै।

No.

Suman: केकर छीयै?

Suman: Whose?

राम के भाय।

Ram’s brother.

Suman: So, another version of Ramayana.

बिभीषण जो है नऽ…क्यों नाम रहा? अब बिभीषण की कहानी आई…रामायण की कुछ कह देते हैं। रावण ने…अपने आईना में…

He who is Bibhisan…why is he named Bibhisan? Now comes the story of Bibhisan…let me tell you something from the Ramayana. Ravan…in his mirror…

Suman: खाली मैथिली बाजब। 

Suman: Speak in Maithili only…

.मुह देखल्कै…हँऽ हँऽ…ऐइना में मुँह देखल्के, तऽ ओकरा भबिष्य में लिखल रहै कि, “तू दशरथ के पुत्र के हाथ से तोरा मृत्यु छौ।” 

…saw his face…He saw his face in the mirror. It was written in his fate that, “You are destined to get killed at the hand of the son of Dashratha.”

A woman in the background: सोनू, लाही रे। 

A woman in the background: Sonū, bring it. 

Prof. Davis asks Suman: What’s the…? 

Suman: That you will die by the hands of Dashratha’s son. Dashratha was the father of Ram. 

Prof. Davis: Yes, yes, okay. 

तऽ रावण देखल्के भबिष्य में जे, “हमरा दशरथ के पुत्र के हाथ से मृत्यु ऐय।” 

Thus Ravan saw that in his future, “I will be killed at the hand of Dashratha’s son.” 

तऽ ऊ ओय समय में रावण बहुत बड़ा प्रतापी धर्मात्मा रहै। 

At that point in time, Ravan was a highly reputed and pious person. 

तीन लोक के जानकारी बला। 

He had knowledge of all three worlds. 

ओ जब ध्यान देलकै, तऽ देखलकै सात महीना के बच्चा कौशल्या के गर्भ में छै।

When he meditated, he noticed that there was a seven month old child in the womb of Kaushalya. 

ऊ कि केलक, कहलके भीषण के − भीषण मने तूफान – तूफान के कहलके, “तुम…हम जे चलै छी, तऽ आवाज होयछै।”

What he did was that he said to Bhishan – “Bhishan” means “storm” – he said to the storm, “You…when I walk, there is a noise.”  

है, औएठाँ ने बैसी। 

Hey, don’t sit there.

Suman: नै, नै, बेसै दियो। 

Suman: No, no, let her sit there. 

आवाज होऐछै, हाहावट तऽ सब जैन जाऐछै। तू तूफान ऐहन जोड़ से ऊठा जे हम जाए तऽ केकड़ो पता नै चलै।

 “There is noise; everyone notices that noise. You are a storm, so lift me up in such a way that no one has any inkling of my movement.” 

तूफान एकदम अनहड़ बीहाएड़ तूफान उठले, भीषण पूरा। 

The storm arose riotously; it was dreadful. 

तब जाऽ कऽ राबण गेलै आ कौशल्या क पलंग सहिते उठा लेलकै। 

Ravan thus went to Kaushalya, and he lifted her up upon her bed. 

कौशल्या सूतल रहल। उठा लेलकै।

Kaushalya was sleeping. He lifted her up. 

“आ जाए छी एकड़ा समुद्र में फेक देबै। इ मएर जेतै तऽ गर्भ वला बच्चा मएर जेतै, हमर जाएन बच जाएत।” 

“I will take her to the sea and drown her in it. She will die, and the child in her womb too will die. My life will be spared. 

नेनै जाएत रहै, तऽ घनघोर जंगल रहै। 

While carrying her away, he passed through a dense forest. 

ओही जंगल में रावण के पिता…सर…बिस्बसर्वा तपस्या करत रहै। 

Ravan’s father was in that very forest…Bisbasarba was meditating there. 

ओए…ओही जंगल देकै जाएत रहै कि कौशल्या के नींद खुएल गेलै। 

He…was passing through that jungle when Kaushalya woke up. 

रावण के जे देखल्कै डर से बच्चा ओत्तै पैदा भो गेलै। 

When she saw Ravan, she was so scared that she gave birth to the child. 

साते महीना के छै बिभीषन। 

Bibhisan had been in his mother’s womb for seven months.

ओही लॅ कॅ एखनो सात महीना के बच्चा जीयेछै। 

That’s how a seven-months old child survives even today. 

तऽ बच्चा पैदा लेल्कै तै रावण बच्चा कॅ ओहिठाँ छोड़ देल्के जंगल में अ कौशल्या के जाए कॅ फेर अजोध्या में पहुँचा देल्कै। 

Since the baby had already been born, Ravan left the baby there, and he returned Kaushalya back to Ajodhya. 

जेकरा मारे लॅ जाएत रहै, से तऽ आब इहमर जीतै नै। 

The one he wanted to kill would not survive any longer in that forest. 

अब बच्चा चहैय, “अहै अहै,” करै लग्लै। 

Now the baby began crying, “Ahai, ahai.” 

रावण…अ…रावण के बाप जे बिश्वकर्मा छलैय, तेकरा कान में आवाज गेलै। 

Ravan…er…Ravan’s father, who was Bisvakarma, his ears heard the baby’s cry. 

ओ कहल्कै, “ई घनघोर जंगल में मनुष्य के बच्चा के आवाज छै, ओ हो कुछ नै, रावण दुष्ट…इहा…ओकरै काम यऽ।

He said, “This is the sound of a human baby crying in this dense forest. This must be the doing of the evil Ravan…he must have done this. 

येहा कोनो बच्चा कॅ फेक देलकयऽ।” 

He must have thrown away this baby.” 

उ गेलै देखै लॅ, तऽ नार-पुराएन सहिते बच्चा काएन रहल यऽ। 

He went in search. He found a baby, still with its placenta attached, crying. 

जखन कानै तऽ बच्चा कॅ उठा कॅ अ मैय के देलकैयऽ। 

As the baby was crying, he picked it up and gave it to the mother. 

ओ अपन घरवाली कॅ जे देत्यकन्या रहै। 

He gave the child to his wife who was the daughter of a demon. 

ब्राह्मणी के रूप बदैल के रहै। 

She was disguised in the form of a Brahmin woman. 

ओकरा देलकै जे बाल…गौ-गुहाएर – गौरक्षा, बालरक्षा, त्रियारक्षा – इ तीनटा कॅ रक्षा करना चाही…, “इ बाल…एकरा आहाँ अपना बच्चा के तरह पाल्यौ अ रावेन सॅ बचा के राखबै।”

He gave it to her…Cow-herders – protection of cow, protection of children, protection of rituals – these three things must be protected…”This child…raise it as if it were your own child, and protect it from Ravan.” 

एकर माए कहैछे, “बच्चा के नाम की रहतै?”

His mother asked, “What will you name this child?” 

तऽ कहलकै, “देख्यौ, इ बच्चा के जन्म भीषण में छै। तै लेकै ऐय बच्चा के नाम बिभीषण रहतै।” 

He replied, “Look, this child was born during a storm. So, his name will be Bibhisan.” 

भीषण में जे जन्म जे भेलै, तै कारण उ बिभीषण के नाम…बिभीषण पड़लै। 

Since he was born during a storm (bhisan), his name will be Bibhisan. 

Prof. Davis: What is bhishan? 

Suman: storm…bhishan is storm. 

बिभीषण के…रावण हमेशा ओकरा से दुश्मनी बचपने से करल लग्लै। 

Bibhisan had…Ravan hated him since his childhood. 

लेकिन पति आज्ञा समैझ कॅ, उ बिभीषण के बचैल्कै। 

But she followed the command of her husband; she protected him. 

बढ़लै त उ हमेशा जाने कि, “हमर भाए इ नै यऽ।” 

While growing up, he always knew, “He is not my brother.” 

लेकिन उ तऽ बचपन सॅ रहलै ओकरा ओइठाँ, उ त बुझल्कै इहा माए-बाप हमर यऽ, इहा भाए यऽ, तऽ रावण कॅ, “भैय्या, भैय्या” कहै लाग्लै बिभीषण। 

But he had lived with him since he was a child. He understood that “these are my parents and he is my brother.” So, he used to address Ravan as “Brother, brother.” Bibhisan used to say that. 

बाद में एकरा धर्म…दशरथजी तऽ धर्मात्मा रहै, धर्म के अंश तऽ बच्चा के रहबै करतै। 

Later his virtue…Dasharatha was a pious man. So, some of his virtues passed on to his child. 

इ राम-राम जपैत, तऽ रावण कॅ गोस्सा उठैत। 

When he would recite “Ram-Ram,” Ravan used to get angry. 

लास्त में एकरा की कैलक, निकाएल कॅ एक कुटिया बना कॅ रावण जे से ओकरा अलग कै देल्कै, अपन महल सॅ अलग कॅ देल्कै। 

In the end, what he did was that he removed Bibhisan from his home. He made a hut outside for Bibhisan. He banished Bibhisan from his palace. 

लेकिन एकरा जखन जे…तपस्या कैल्कै रावण, एकरा जे अग्निबाण भेटल रहै, नाभ-कुण्ड में प्राण ओकरा देल गैल रहै, “जे तोरा नाभ कुण्ड में प्राण छुपा दै छीयौ, अ जहिया अग्नि-बाण से मारतौ, तोरा नाभ-कुण्ड में तखनी मरबै।” 

But when…Ravan performed austerities. When he received the agniban (a powerful arrow), then his life-spirit was hidden in his navel, “Your life-spirit has been hidden in your navel. You will die only when someone hits you in the navel with the agniban.”

Prof. Davis: What is it?

Suman laughs: Flour.

घर में हमर सभक हमेशा बदमाशियै करैत रहै छै। 

She is constantly messing around in our house. 

Suman: कहू कहू।

Suman: Keep going, keep going. 

अ कि कैल्कै…तऽ ऊ चीज तऽ रावण बचपनै सॅ रावण के घर में रहै, तऽ सबटा राबण के बात जनैत रहै। लेकिन खून…भाई के खून भाइ कॅ साथ दै छै। आपना जो होगा नऽ…

Then what he did…since he had lived in the house of Ravan all his life, he knew everything about Ravan. But…biological, one is always helped by their biological brother. Whomever is your own…

Suman: मैथिली मैथिली।

Suman: Maithili, Maithili. 

आहाँ के अपन खून अहीं के साथ दैत। 

Whoever is your own blood will support you. 

त उ त रहै राम के भाए। 

So, he was actually the brother of Ram. 

त जखन कि ओकरा लड़ाए भेलै राम-रावण में, तऽ हनुमान पहुचलखिन्ह, “त सीता कतै छै?” जखनै कहल्कैय, “जय श्री राम।” 

When they–Ram and Ravan–fought each other, then Hanuman arrived and asked, “Where is Sita?” When he said, “Hail Shri Ram…” 

तखनै बिभीषण कहल्कै जे, “राम के भक्त इ लंका में कहाँ से पहुँचा है?”

Then Bibhisan replied, “Who is this devotee of Ram? Why is he in Lanka?” 

“तुम कौन हो? कहाँ से आए हो?” 

“Who are you? Where are you from?” 

“हम श्रीराम…हमको राम का दूत है। राम ने भेजा है। सीता कहाँ है? पता लगाने के लिये।”

“I am the Great Ram’s…I am Ram’s messenger. Ram has sent me here. Where is Sita? I have to find out her.” 

तो बिभीषणै बतैल्कै जे, “अशोक बाटिका में सीताजी यऽ।” 

So, Bibhisan replied, “Sita-ji is in Ashok Garden.” 

रावण कोन घर में रहैछै, बिभीषणै बतैल्कै। 

Bibhisan shared the location of the house where Ravan lived. 

अ तब जाए कॅ जखन कि रावन कॅ कुछ…सीता कॅ हनुमान जी पतै लगै कॅ हुन्का पास गेलैन हऽ, अँगूठी जे देखैल्कैयऽ, से जखन कि उ नदी पार केल्खिन गंगा, तऽ अँगूठी केवट के दैत रहथिन रामजी। 

That is how when Ravan had something…When Hanuman learned of the whereabouts of Sita, he gave her the ring. This was the same ring that Ram had tried to give to Kevat. 

उहो अँगूठी सीताजी देखनै रहथिन जे अँगूठी केवट नै लेल्कैयऽ। 

Sita-ji had seen that ring. She knew that Kevat had refused to take his ring. 

कहल्कै केवट, “प्रभु, अहूँ केवट, हमहूँ केवट। केवट एक दोसर से पैसा नै लै छै। इ अँगूठी हम नै लैब, आहाँ राखू।” 

Kevat said, “O Lord, you are a boatman (kevat), and I am a boatman too. One boatman never charges another boatman. I will not take your ring. You keep it.” 

“तऽ केना?”

“How come?” 

“तऽ हम एठाँ गंगा के केवट छी। आहाँ भवसागर नदी के केवट छी। हम मरब तखन आहाँ हमरा पाएर कॅ दैब। ऐय जनम हम आहाँ के पाएर कॅ दै छी।” 

“I am the boatman for crossing the River Ganga. You are the boatman for crossing the river of life. When I die, please take me across that river. Meanwhile, I will help you cross this river.” 

तऽ वेहै अँगूठी सीता जी देखल्खिन्ह, “इ तऽ केवट के दैत रहथिन से अँगूठी छै। इ अँगूठी श्री लंका में के आनलक?” 

So, Sita saw it was the same ring. She thought, “This is the ring that he wanted to give to the boatman. Who has brought this ring to Sri Lanka?”

कहल्खिन, “कौन हो? कहाँ से अँगूठी आया?”

She asked, “Who is there? Where has this ring come from?” 

तऽ हनुमानजी कूद कॅ ऐलखीन्ह।

Then Hanuman-ji came jumping over to her.

कहल्खिन्ह, “नै चिन्हैछी।” 

She said, “No, I don’t recognize you.” 

तऽ कहल्खिन्ह, “हम राम के दूत छी । हम अहीं के पता लग्बैलऽ हमरा रामजी भेजलेथ्ह।” 

But he replied, “I am the messenger of Ram. I was sent by Ram to learn of your whereabouts.”

औइठाँ कुशल समाचार भेलै जे अशोक बाटिका उजाड़-फुजाड़ भेलै से भेलै। 

They inquired after each other there. Then he rampaged Ashok garden. 

तकरा बाद इ…बिभीषण जे…सारा पता हनुमान लगा लेल्कै रावण के बारे में। 

Afterwards this…Bibhisan who…helped Hanuman find out everything about Ravan,… 

उ जाकर राम के कहल्के। तऽ जखन राम रावण जुध होबै लग्लैह, तखन बिभीषण हनुमानजी कॅ साथे पहूँचल्खिन्ह। 

Then he went and informed Ram. And, when Ram and Ravan were fighting with each other, then Bibhisan, along with Hanuman, arrived there. 

आ इ सीताजी कॅ जन्म जे छे से केना छे? 

And how was Sita born into this world?  

एक समय आकाल जे पड़लै, तऽ टैक्स लबै लेल्कै राबण सबसे। सब राजा महाराजा तऽ देल्कै टैक्स, साधू महात्मा सॅ माँगल्कै टैक्स। 

Once there was a famine. Then Ravan began collecting taxes. All the other kings and emperors paid tax to him. He demanded tax from ascetics and saints, as well.   

कहल्कै साधू महात्मा, “हम तो महात्मा हैं, हमारे पास तो पैसा नहीं है, हम क्या दैंगे?” 

These pious men said, “We are enlightened ones. We don’t have money. What can we give?”

“तुम्हारे शरीर में खून है नऽ, खून दो।”

“You have blood in your body. Give me blood.”

सब साधू महात्मा के खून लेल्कै, तो उ धर्म के खून रहै। 

He took blood from all of the ascetics and saints. That was the blood of righteousness. 

धर्म शक्ति के खून रहै। 

It was the blood endowed with the power of virtue. 

वेहै मटकूरी में जे राबण धैल्कै ने जमा कै कॅ, उ मन्दोदरी जे धरती में सीतामढ़ी में गैड़ देल्खिन, तऽ सीता जे छथिन से धर्म शक्ति छथिन। 

The very same pot in which Ravan collected the blood, this was the pot that Mandodari buried in the earth near Sitamarhi. That’s why Sita embodied the power of virtue. 

Suman: राबण के बेटी रहथिन? 

Suman: She was Ravan’s daughter?

तही दुआरे रावण के बेटी कहल्यै। रावणै नऽ लेनै रहै, तऽ धर्म शक्ति छलैन। 

That’s why she is the daughter of Ravan. It was after all Ravan who collected the blood. She is the power of virtue. 

Suman speaks to Prof. Davis: In her version, Sītā becomes the daughter of Rāvaṇa. 

तऽ राबण…। सीता धर्म शक्ति छलिन्ह, तै दुआरे अगर सीता एक बेर तैक दैत्यै पक उठा के त राबण जेड़ जेतै।

Then Ravan…Sita embodies the power of virtue. That’s why, if Sita were to cast a glance at Ravan, he would burst into flames. 

लेकिन कहल्कै, “अगर हम जला दै छीयै, पिता हत्या हैत। दोसर हमर पति के तऽ कोनो नाम नै हेतै।” तै दुआरे सीता पलक नै उठबैत रहथिन।

But she said, “If I had lit him on fire, I would have killed my father. Besides, my husband would not have achieved fame.” So, she never lifted her eyelids in front of him.

Suman: So Sita had this power to just burn down Ravan with one glance. But she won’t do that because Ravan was the father, so she would…have this…she would be accused in the history for killing her own father. Also, Ram would get no credit. So..

Prof. Davis: That’s very interesting!

Suman: So, she sacrificed all of that. 

Prof. Davis:  Wow! That’s very interesting! 

राम जे छथिन्ह…राम तऽ व्याकुल भौ गेल्खिन जे रावण तऽ मैर नै रहल यैऽ। तखन बिभीषण…हनुमान कॅ कहल्खिन्ह, “अगर हमको तुम राम के पास ले चलता, तो बहुत बड़ा गुन गाता।” 

Ram who was there…Ram was anxious, as Ravan could not be killed. Then Bibhisan…said to Hanuman, “If you carry me to Ram, I will praise your merits.” 

हनुमानजी कन्हा पर उठा कॅ राबण कै लॅ गेल्खिन ओते राम के पास।

Hanuman-ji carried him from Ravana’s place to where Ram was. 

Suman: बिभीषण के?

Suman: He carried Bibhisan?

बिभीषन के। 

Yes, Bibhisan.

तऽ ओएठाँ बिभीषण हमेशा राम के साथ देल्कै। 

So Bibhisan always with Ram over there. 

रावण देख रहल छै। 

Ravan noticed this. 

बिभीषण हर पोल बता रहल छै रावण के…अ राम के। 

Bibhisan was revealing all of Ravan’s secrets to Ram.

बिभीषणै बतैल्कै जे, “उसको अग्निबाण से मारो, नाभ-कुण्ड में प्राण है। अगर कोई छल करके मन्दोदरी से बाण ले आए, तो रावण मरेगा। ऐसे नहीं मर सकता है।” 

Bibhisan said, “Shoot him with the agniban. His life-spirit is hidden in his navel. If someone is able to deceive Mandodari and collect the agniban from her, then Ravan can be killed. If not, he can’t be killed.

तखन जाए कॅ हनुमान जी की केल्खिन्ह, त पण्डा के रूप धारण कै लेल्खिन्ह।

Then what Hanuman did was that he took the guise of a priest.

जे पण्डा अखनो गाँव गाँव में घूमे यऽ। 

The sort of priest who goes from village to village. 

पण्डा के रूप धारण कॅ क, अ राम राम ओते गेल्खिन्ह करैत। 

He was disguised as a priest, and he was chanting the name of Ram. 

तो राम के नाम से तऽ मन्दोदरी के कोनो गोस्सा नै चढ़ै।

The name of Ram did not bother Mandodari. 

तऽ उ गेल्खिन्ह, कहल्खिन्ह कि, “महारानी, रावण को से बड्ड बढ़ा आफत पेड़ गेलैय, आहाँ के पास अग्नि बाण देनैय राखै लॅ राबण, से माँग्लक ऐय।” 

So, he went there and addressed her, “O Queen, Ravan is in deep trouble. He must have given you the agniban. He has asked for it.”

ओ मन्दोदरी बुझल्खिन जे, “इ बात तऽ मने राबणै जनै छलै कि हमी जानै छलियै। तऽ आब बिभीषणै। तीनै आदमी जानै छलै। उ त कहनै नै हेतै। अ हम।”

Mandodari thought, “No one, except Ravan and I, knows this. And Bibhisan too knows this. There are only three people who know this. They would not have revealed this secret to anyone. And I have not done so either. 

“नै देबै आहाँ अग्निबान तऽ राबण मारल जेता।” 

“If you do not give the agniban, then Ravan will be killed.” 

बेचारी घबरा कॅ अग्निबाण निकाएल कॅ दॅ देल्कैय । 

She, poor thing, anxiously brought out the agniban and gave it to him. 

ओ अग्निबाण लॅ कॅ हनुमानजी चैल गेल्खिन्ह, गेल्खिन्ह राम के पास। 

Hanuman-ji took the agniban and went back to Ram. 

जखनै राम के हाथ में अग्निबाण देखल्कैय, राबण बुइझ गेलै जे इ भेद तऽ बिभीषण जानेत रहै आ बिभीषण ओकरे पास में छे। 

When Ravan saw the agniban in the hands of Ram, he immediately understood that this secret was known to Bibhisan and Bibhisan was on Ram’s side.

इ बिभीषणै बतैल्कैय्य। 

Bibhisan must have told him. 

तखन उ कहल्केयऽ जऽ, “मारू अग्निबाण सॅ।” 

Then he said, “Shoot him with the agniban.”

तब रामजी अग्निबाण सॅ नाभकुण्ड में मारल्खिन, तऽ राबण मरलैयऽ। 

Then Ram-ji shot the agniban at his navel, and Ravan died. 

मरै घड़ी में उ कुछ ज़िन्दा रहै तखन पठैल्खिन्यऽ रा…बिभीषण गेलैय्य, “भैय्या,” प्रणाम करलक।

As he was dying, Bibhisan was sent…went there. “O Brother!,” he offered his respects to him. 

“हट जाओ मेरे पास से, तुम मेरा भाई नहीं हो, तुम भेदिया हो भेदिया। आज से तुमको भेदिया कहेगा। तू घर का भेद लंका ढ़ाहे। घर का भेद बता करके मेरा लंका का सर्वनाश करवा दिया।”

“Get away from me, You are not my brother. You are a defector. You will be known as a defector from now onward. You have destroyed the house of Lanka. You have revealed the secret of our house. You have destroyed my Lanka.”

आ इ रामे के पार्टी भेलै। 

He was on the side of Ram. 

रावण कॅ…रावण सात भाई – रावण, अहिरावण, महिरावण, कुम्भकरण… – सब ऊ भाई रावणै रहै, सबटा राबणै के पाट देल्कैय्य। 

Ravan had…Ravan had seven brothers – Ravan, Ahiravan, Mahiravan, Kumbharavan…– all his brothers were Ravan themselves; they all were on the side of Ravan. 

अ राम के भाई देखियो छलै रहै तब नऽ राम के पाट देल्कैय्य, “राम, राम,” केल्कैय्य। 

And he was Ram’s brother, you see; that is why he supported Ram and he chanted, “Ram, Ram.” 

लेकिन इ बात बहुत आदमी नै जानैछै, रामायण में नै देनै छैय, तैं नै कोनो जाने छै। 

But this detail is not known to many people. This is not mentioned in the Ramayana. That’s why no one knows about this. 

कोनो कोनो ऐहन बात छै जे रामायण में नै छेपैलै। 

There are a few things that are not printed in the Ramayana. 

तऽ लेकिन देख्यौ अपना मिला कै जे राम के भाई रहै तब नऽ राम के साथ देल्कैय। रावण के भाई तऽ रावणै के साथ देल्कैय्य। 

Now, if you were paying attention, whoever was the brother of Ram, they supported Ram. Whoever was the brother of Ravan, they supported Ravan.

तकरा बाद कहल्कै नऽ कि, लक्ष्मण के कहल्खिन जे, “कुछ ब्राह्मण था, उससे कुछ ज्ञान लो।” तो ज्ञान लबै लॅ जे गेलैय्य त सिरमाँ तरफ से गेलैय्य लक्ष्मण।

Then he said that…he said to Lakshman that, “Afterall, he was a Brahmin, you should acquire some knowledge from him.” In order to acquire some knowledge, Lakshman approached Ravan from the side of his head. 

“कौन है?”

“Who is this?”

तऽ, “हम छीयै, लक्ष्मण।”

He replied, “It’s me, Lakshman.”

“क्या बात है?”

“What’s the matter?”

तऽ, “हमरा…आप ब्राह्मण छी । कुछ शिक्षा दियऽ।”

He replied, “To me…you are a Brahmin. Impart to me some wisdom.” 

“भाग ऐय्ठाँ सँ!,” डँटल्कै। 

“Get out of here!,” he yelled at him. 

भाएग गेलै। रामजी मुस्कुरा लगैल्खिन। कहल्खिन, “की लक्ष्मण की भेल?”

He fled. Ram-ji began smiling. He said, “What happened, Lakshman?” 

“बड़ी जोड़ सॅ डाँट देलक।”

“He yelled at me angrily.” 

“आहाँ ककड़ो सिर पएर चढ़ कॅ ज्ञान लेबै। 

“Would you seek learning from someone by getting on his head? 

कि पैर पकड़ कै ज्ञान लेबै ? जाऊँ आहाँ पैर तरफ सॅ।”

Or would you hold his feet? Go and approach him from the side of his feet.” 

तऽ पैर तरफ से जे गेलैयँ नऽ…

Then he went to the feet of Ravan…

एकटा किताब में कबीर दास छपैनै छथिन, “कल करो सो आज करो, आज करो सो अब, पल में प्रलय होगी, बहुरि करोगे कब।” 

There is a book in which Kabir Das has printed, “What you have to do tomorrow, do it today. What you have to do today, do it now. A disaster may strike in a moment, how would you get back to doing anything?” 

तऽ हम सब सबसे कोस्चन कॅ लैय छीयै, “कौन कहा? कब कहा? क्यों कहा? किसको कहा?,” तऽ इ बात कहुत कोई नै जानै छै। 

We are able to question others, “Who said this? When did they say this? Why did they say this? To whom was this said?” 

ये तब राबण मरते समय लक्ष्मण के कहैछै, “कल करो सो आज करो, आज करो सो आब, पल में परलय होइगी, बहुरि करोगे कब।

Ravan said this to Lakshman when he was about to die: “What you have to do tomorrow, do it today. What you have to do today, do it now. A disaster may strike in a moment, how would you get back to doing anything? 

हमने तीन बात सोचे थे। 

I thought of doing three things. 

बाप के आगे बेटा नहीं मरै। 

The son should not die before the father. 

बीच समुद्र में मकान बनाये। 

I should make a house in the sea. 

आकाश से पाताल तक सीढ़ी लगाये। जीना। सीढ़ी लगाये। 

I should make a ladder stretching from the underground to the heavens. A spur-like chain. A ladder. 

लकिन तीनों चीज में हमको ऐको चीज पूरा नहीं हुआ। 

But I could not accomplish any of the three things.

हम तो सोचे अमर हैं। 

I thought I was immortal. 

हमको नाभि-कुण्ड के बारे में किसी पता नहीं होगा। 

No one would know about my navel-center. 

न मरेंगे, कल बना लेंगे। 

I lived as if I wouldn’t die; so, I could do these things tomorrow. 

कल होके भूल जाते थे, फिर कल करेंगे।

When tomorrow came, I would forget to do it. Then I’d resolve to do it the next day. 

फिर कल भूल जाते थे, करतै करतै अचानक में मृत्यु हमरा भो गेल। 

And I would forget again the next day. And then I suddenly met my death. 

तैं दुआरे आहाँ सब जै छी सौचैछी से कैय्य लियऽ। 

That’s why you, who is still alive, should at once attain your goals. 

आए काएल के भरोसा नै राखू। 

Do not trust in tomorrow.

तऽ इ तऽ रावण कहल्कै लक्ष्मण सॅ, चुँकि मर…मरतै समय चुँकि ओकरा अपना नै पूरा भेलै। 

This is what Ravan told Lakshman because he realized while dying that he had failed to attain his goals. 

तऽ तैं दुआरे इ चीज कबीर दास किताब में छपा देल्कैय्य।

So, this was published in the book of Kabir Das. 

तऽ इ चीज हम पढ़ल्यै। 

I read this thing there. 

तऽ ई कहानी हमर बाबूजी हमरा कहनै रहथिन जे राबण ने ओकरा कहल्कै, तऽ हम तऽ इ बात सुईन लेनै रहियै। 

This story was narrated by my father who informed me that Ravan had said this to Lakshman. I had heard this from my father. 

तऽ आब हम कोस्चन कॅ लै छियै बहुतो आदमी से जे, “कल करे सो आज करे बला में – कौन कहा? किसको कहा? कब कहा? क्यो कहा?” 

I am able to question others, “With regards to the saying, ‘What you have to do tomorrow, do it today,’ who said this? When did they say this? Why did they say this? To whom was this said?

तऽ इ बात कॅ हेडोमास्तर सब जवाब नै दैय्य। तब हेडोमास्तर के हम बतबै छीयै। 

Even the headmasters are unable to answer my questions. Then I explain this to headmasters. 

Suman: आहाँ के खिस्सा सबटा आहाँ के बाबूजी कहनै छैथ?

Suman: Were all your stories narrated by your father? 

हाँ…हमर माँओ कहनै छलैय्य। 

Yes…my mother too used to narrate them.

अ इ खिस्सा − कोन कहा? किसको कहा?  

And this story — Who told you this? To whom was this said?

इ हमर बाबूयैजी कहने रहथिन, “जऽ, देखियो राबण के से, मृत्यु समय मे रावण लक्ष्मण के कहनै रहै अऽ चुँकि…अपना ओकरा पूरा नै भेलै, तैं दुआरै।

This story was told by my father. He said, “You see, Ravan said this to Lakshman while he was dying, because he was not able to fulfill his goals.” 

तऽ देख्यौ बिभीषण तऽ राम के भाए रहै, लेकिन ककड़ो पता नै रहै। 

So, you see, Bibhisan was Ram’s brother. But no one knows about this. 

भाई भाई के साथ दिया क्योंकि बिभीषन राम का भाई है, लेकिन रामायण में नहीं छपने के कारण उसको जानकारी नही है किसी को। 

A brother supports his brother; hence Bibhisan was Ram’s brother. But since this was not printed in the Ramayana, no one knows about this.

ऐसा कोई है जो कि किसी को…पूर्वज के आदमी छै नऽ ऊ सब कोनो कोनो बात जानै छे जऽ, अपन बाल बच्चा के कहल्कै, उ बाल बच्चा अपन बच्चा के कहल्कै, उ बच्चा अपन बच्चा के कहल्कै।  

Is there anyone who…our ancestors used to know certain things that they would share with their children, and their children would share these things with their children, and they in turn with their children. 

Prof. Davis to Suman: So, she is saying that the stories are passed down. So, that was a very strange version. Right? 

Suman nods and says: It’s…it’s also popular in southern part of India. In South India, they say that Sītā was Rāvan’s daughter. 

Prof. Davis to Suman: Oh, this is something you have heard about…

राम राज…राम राज किया नै लेल्खिन? अच्छा रामो राज किया नै लेल्खिन्ह? 

King Ram…why did Ram become the king? Let’s see, why did he not rule in the beginning? 

राम सोचल्खिन हमर बड़ा भाए जे य से लंका में फसल्य। 

Ram thought,  “My elder brother was stranded in Lanka.

ओकरा राज नै हेतै, त हमरा पहिले राज भौ जैत।

Instead of him becoming the ruler, I will end up ascending the throne. 

त हम…त हमर भाइ के त सब दिन लंक…दुखै लागल रहलै। 

Then I…then my brother will remain stranded in Lank…will remain miserable.” 

तै दुआरे राबण के माएर कॅ बिभीषण के राज दॅ देल्खिन्ह लंका के, तकर बाद अपना राज लेल्खिन्ह। 

That’s why he first killed Ravan and offered the kingdom to Bibhisan; then he ascended the throne himself. 

जब उ अपना रामराज नै लेल्खिन्ह बड़ा भाए के चलते भरत जे छै, उहो राज नै लेल्खिन्ह बड़ा भाए के चलते। 

When he refused to become the ruler because of his elder brother, Bharat too—on account of his elder brother—refused to become the king. 

बड़ा जे करैछै नऽ, उ छोटा करैछै। 

Whatever elders do, younger siblings follow them. 

तब राम जे छै, से बतैल्खिन्ह ओकरा…जे, “आहाँ जे राज दॅ रहल छीयै, त हम त राज्य के सभा में राज-सेवा में लाएग जाएब। 

Then Ram explained to him…that, “Since you are giving me your kingdom, I will have to run the court and occupy myself with serving the kingdom.

त तै इ राक्षस-सब नै मारल जैत।” 

This implies that demons and such won’t be killed.” 

त,

होहीयै सोही जो राम रचि राखा, 

को करि तरक बढ़ाबै साखा।

Thus,

What Ram has destined, that will verily take place.

Why create more arguments to oppose this view?

इ सबटा कहानी रामै के रचल रहै।

All these happenings were planned by Ram himself. 

तै दुआरे कहल्खिन जे, “हम जो आकाशवानी किये थे जे हम जन्म लेंगे दशरथ के यहाँ, तो हम राबण को राक्षस को मारेंगे। राज दीजियेगा, राज करेंगे, तो कैसे मारा जायेगा? 

That’s why he said, “I had sounded a heavenly proclamation that I will be born in the house of Dashrath, and I will kill the demon named Ravan. If you make me the ruler now, how will he be killed? 

तो वैहे सबटा राम रचल्खिन्ह – साधु सब के सिखा कॅ, मन्थरा के सिखा कॅ, सरस्वती के बजा कॅ, हुन्का कण्ठ में बैसा कॅ, उ लेल्खिन्ह। 

All of this is, therefore, the creation of Ram. He coached all sages, he coached Manthra, he invited Sarasvati and instilled [speech] in her throat, he got [what he wanted]. 

त उ राम देखियौ…भर…बिभीषण के लंका के राज बिभीषण के भेलैय, अजोध्या के राज राम के भेलैय। राम लंका बिभीषण के चलते अपना राज नै लेल्खिन, त भरतो ने लेल्खिन राज। 

Then, you seem Ram gave the rule of Lanka to…Bhar…Bhibhisan. Ayodhya became the kingdom of Ram. Ram did not become the ruler until Bibhisan [got his kingdom]. That’s why Bharat too did not ascend the throne. 

Suman laughs and says: I just…I don’t know…the boy…

Prof. Davis: You were laughing about that. 

Suman: But, yeah, she is…she is saying that, you know, Ram was like…he had three more brothers…

लेकिन रामायण में नै देनैछै, त बहुत आदमी एकरा गलत माएन लैछै। 

But these stories are not mentioned in Ramayana. That’s why many people think these stories are wrong. 

Suman: आहाँ लेकिन कत्तै से सुनलिये इ? 

Suman: Where did you hear this story?

हमर माए, हमर नानी…

My mother, my maternal grandmother…

Suman: इ बिभीषण वला कथा आहाँ कत्तै से सुनलिये?

Suman: Where did you hear this story of Bibhisan? 

हमर नानी कहल्के माँ कॅ, माँ कहल्के हमरा। 

My grandmother had narrated it to my mother, my mother to me. 

Suman: ओ आहाँ के नानी कहनै छै।

Suman:  I see, so your maternal grandmother had narrated it. 

माँ के, अ माँ…

To my mother, and my mother…

Suman: अ माँ आहाँ के…

Suman: And your mother to you…

अ हम अपन बाल बच्चा के। 

And I narrate it to my children. 

Suman to Prof. Davis: This is very interesting because I haven’t heard it before. 

देखियो नऽ केना अखैन छलैय, तब नऽ राम के साथ देल्खिन्ह। सीता हरण से पहले त कौशल्या हरण वेहै राबण केन्नै रहै। बाद में कौशल्या हरण नै कॅ सकलै, त सीता हरण केल्के। 

So you see how it has been all along. That’s why Ram supported all this. Prior to the kidnapping of Sita, Kaushalya was abducted. Ravan has done it. When he failed in his abduction of Kaushalya, he went for Sita.

Suman: I don’t know how it becomes like this. 

देखियौ, राबणौ जानैत रहै, हमर बेटी य। सीतो जानेत रहै हमर पिता य। 

So you see, Ravan knew that she was his daughter. Sita knew that he was her father.

राबणो…जब जंगल से उठा के लंका लॅ जै सकैछै, त लंका सॅ उठा कॅ महल में लै जै सकै छलैय। 

Ravan too [knew this]…When he was capable of abducting and bringing Sita to Lanka, then he could have taken her to his palace. 

लेकिन राबणो के मन में गलत करै के ओकरा धमकी दै। डेरबै। 

But Ravan did not do anything bad to her. Only scared her. 

“देखियै, सीता अपन धर्म के रक्षा करैय, या सीता अपन धर्म के नाश करैय डर के मारे,” तै दुआरे सीता के डरबै।

He scared her [because he thought], “Let me see if Sita protects her honor, or whether she succumbs to fear and gives up her chastity.” 

अगर चाहतियै तऽ राबण अपन महल में लॅ जा सकै छलैय। जब जंगल से आनलकै…

If Ravan had so desired, he could have taken her to his palace. If he was capable of bringing her to the forest…

Suman: She is more on the Ravan’s side. She is saying Ravan could have done anything. If he took Sita to his world, like his empire, so he would have taken her to her…er…his palace also. But he didn’t do that. So, because,  yeah, Sita never, I don’t know, Sita never…

जंगल से उठा के जखन लंका लॅ गेलै…

When he could bring her to Lanka from the forest…

Suman: …she…she stood in this forest…a grove and she never went to the palace…Rāvaṇ’s palace. 

…त राबण…तो…

…then Raban…then

Suman: …so this grove was part of Ravan’s empire, but she never physically went to his palace. 

Prof. Davis: …even though she was his daughter…

Suman: ya…

Prof. Davis: So, how does this…um…what does this mean in terms of…um…eh…is this just a really different version, or is it that she was originally Ravan’s daughter and then somehow ended up in…you know…the area where King Janaka was and then he discovered her…but he didn’t know that she was Ravan’s daughter?

Suman: Yes, yes…I think so…she would know…

राबणो के मन में…

In Raban’s mind too…

Suman: नै नै उ पूछै छथिन जे जनक….

Suman: No no, she is asking that Janak…

Suman looks at something and begins laughing. A boy has smeared flour on his face. 

पूरा पाउडर ढ़ाएर कॅ लगा लेल्कै। उ एत्तै त एकरा डाँटतै…हा हा हा…पूरा पाउडर…हा हा हा…आए मौसी मारतौ…हा हा हा। 

He has poured powder all over himself. When she returns, she will scold him so much…ha ha have…so much powder…your aunt will beat you today…ha ha ha. 

Prof. Davis: He is really proud of himself. 

Suman nods and laughs. 

हा हा हा…कार्टूनै सनक…हा हा हा। 

ha ha ha…like a cartoon…ha ha ha.

Suman: इ पूछै छथिन जे जनक केना…जनक के बुझल छलै जे इ सीता जे से राबण के बेटी छै? 

Suman: She is asking how did…Janak find out that Sita was Raban’s daughter. 

उहुँ, नै। 

No. 

Suman: He did not know that. 

सीता के जानकारी रहै, राम के जानकारी रहै। सीता जनै…उ त धर्म शक्ति रहथिन नऽ। 

Sita knew about this, Ram knew about this. Sita knew…she had, after all, the power of dharma. 

Suman: Oh, Ram too knew about this. 

Prof. Davis: Oh, that’s interesting. 

Prof. Davis laughs. 

Suman: This changes the picture. 

Prof. Davis: …changes everything. 

उ देखियौ…वैह…जब जंगल से उ अपन लंका लॅ गेलै उठा के ओत्तै दूर, त लंका से उ महल में लै जै सकै छलैय। 

So you see…that’s how…when he took her to the forest in Lanka, when he took her so far, then he could have brought her into his palace. 

लेकिन उ राबणो के पास में पाप नै रहै। उ डरबै, धमकाबै, डर के मारे इ धर्म…इ हमर साथ इ गलत करै लॅ तैयार ऐय्य की नैय्य?

But Raban had no sinful intentions. He scared her, he threatened her [to test if]  she would, from fear, give up her honor…whether she will indulge in wrong actions or not? 

Suman: लेकिन गलत केना करतै जखन बाप छै त? 

Suman: But how could he do anything bad when he was himself the father? 

सीताजी जान अरैप लेल्खिन नऽ? सीतो जी कहल्खिन, “हम मएर जाएब, लेकिन अपन धर्म के नाश नै कऽ सकैय।” 

Had not Sitaji committed her life [to dharma]? Sitaji said, “I’ll die but I will never abandon my dharma. 

हुन्का डरबै जे डर सॅ इ गलत पर आबै कि नै। 

He threatened her because he wanted to see whether she would do anything wrong or not. 

अपन धर्म के इ रक्षा करैय या इ अपन डर सॅ जिन्दगी के रक्षा करैय? 

Whether she protects her dharma, or whether she protects her life [at the expense of dharma]?  

लेकिन राबणो के मन में नै रहै। ओकरा डरबै खाली। से रहतियै त ओकरा घींच के न लॅ जा सकै छलै औत्तै सॅ? 

But Raban had no evil intentions. He was merely scaring her. If he had [such intentions], then could he not have dragged her to his palace from there? 

लेकिन राबण ओकरा डरबैत रहै झूठौ के। अ सीतोजी जानैत रहै जे इ हमरा जबरदस्ती ने कॅ सकैय। 

Raban was merely scaring her, he was putting on an act. And Sitaji, being aware of all this, knew that he would not force her to do anything. 

अगर जै दिन सीता हाथ पकैड़ लेतियै, त उ एक बेर पल उठा देतियै, राबण ओहिठाँ जेल कॅ भस्म भै जेत्तियै। 

If a day were to come that would make Raban hold her hands, then Sita could raise her eyelids just once and Ravan would burn to ashes there. 

लेकिन सीतो पल नै उठाबै, “अगर पल उठाबै जे क्रोध फूइट पड़त हमर।” अ राबणो छै ओकरा साथ धमकेल्कै डरैल्कै लेकिन कहल्के लास्ट में, “सीता सती है, ऐसी बात नहीं है।” लास्ट में। 

But Sita never raised her eyelids, “If I raise my eyelids, my anger will know no bounds.” Raban, on his part, threatened and scared her but in the end he conceded, “There’s no denying that Sita is a pious woman.” He said this at the end. 

Prof. Davis: Can you ask her why was it important that Ram get credit for saving Sita? 

Suman: पूछै छथिन जे, “राम के किया क्रेडिट भेटबाक चाही सीता के बचबै के लेल?” 

Suman:  She is asking, “Why should Ram be lauded with the credit of rescuing Sita?” 

कथि राम? 

What about Ram? 

Suman: राम जेना राम बचैल्खिन नै, त राम के नाम भौ गेल। रामे राम। राम बचेल्खिन सीता के, राम आनल्खिन हुन्का राबण सॅ बचा कॅ। त इ किया जरूरी छलैय जे रामे जा कॅ कैरतॅथिन? 

Suman: Ram was, after all, the one who rescued her. This enhanced Ram’s fame. Ram is hailed as Ram everywhere. Ram saved Sita. Ram brought her back and rescued her from Raban. Why was it important for Ram—and not anyone else—to rescue her from Lanka?  

पतिब्रता स्त्री जो है नऽ, अपने पति का मान-सम्मान चाहती है। पतिबरता स्त्री। अपना मान सम्मान नै, पति के। 

Sita was a faithful wife. She wanted respect and honor for her husband. A faithful wife [wants this]. She did not care for her own fame and well-being, but she did care for her husband’s. 

Suman: So, a good wife always wants her husband to get the credit. 

वैहै चाहे छथिन, नै त, सीता एना छलकै नऽ, तै दौरान नै, क्रोध से जैड़ जेत्तियै। लेकिन उ हमेशा पल नीचा झुकैल्खिन्ह। 

This is what Sita wanted. Otherwise, if Sita had so desired, her fury could have burned [Raban] to ashes. But her eyelids were lowered all the time. 

Suman: …because she was a good wife. 

लेकिन सीता अपन शक्ति देखैल्खिन्ह। सीता कभी गुस्सा नै केल्खिन्ह राम के साथ। 

But Sita was conscious of her prowess. She never used to get angry with Ram. 

लेकिन गुस्सा एक बेर केल्खिन्ह।

She was angry with him only once.  

जब सीता बनबास भेलैय, अ राम वापस सीता के आनै गेल्खिन्ह तखन राम के उपर ओ सीता के गुस्सा एलैय जे, “नहीं, जिस राज्य से हम पग उठा के चले आये हैं, औई राज्य में हम दुबारा पैर नै राखब।” भागै छथिन। 

When Sita was sent again to the forest and Ram went back to get her, then Sita was furious at Ram, “No, I will never set foot in that kingdom which I was forced to leave.” She fled. 

कत्तै हुन्का पास में शक्ति रहै जे धरती माता के कहल्खिन फाटे लॅ त फैट गेलै।

From where did she get so much strength that she asked Mother Earth to open itself and the earth opened itself. 

राबण के नै मार सकै छल्खिन्ह? माएर देथिन। पति मे मान रखल्खिन्ह। 

Couldn’t she have killed Raban? She could have killed him. But she honored her husband. 

अ उ धरती माता के फट कॅ फेर उ धरती में समा गेल्खिन्ह। 

But she asked Mother Earth to open itself and she was absorbed in the earth. 

आय्यौ जे धरती माता छै, से सीता माता छै। ऐय धरती में सीता समेल्खिन्ह नै। 

Even today Mother Earth is where Mother Sita is. Sita went into this same earth. 

एक हुन्कर दोसर रूप देखैल्कैय जे धरती माता निकैलके लॅ गेल्खिन्ह सीता के। लेकिन धरती माता सीतै छथिन्ह। शक्ति यऽ।

She showed a different form when she came out of the earth after he dug her out. But mother earth is really Sita. The goddess of power. 

Suman: Sita became one with the earth when she asked the earth to…kind of…open up.

Prof. Davis: …and swallow up…

Suman: Ya.

Prof. Davis: …at the very end. 

Suman: Ya…so she is saying that she was so strong that she, after…I mean…even I think so…that when Ram asked her to leave the palace, she never went back. 

Prof. Davis: Ah ha…so that was the matter of…sort of will and righteousness…kind of

Suman: …and dignity also, that “I am not going back to this place.”

त सी…तो सीता में त एत्तै शक्ति रहै जे धरती फाड़ देल्खिन। राबण के माएर सकै छथिन लेकिन पति के मान रखल्खिन्ह और हीन्का जे छै से अपन अपनो दुबारा नै गेल्खिन्ह आजोध्या लौट के। जेना हम छीयै। हमहू वैहे काम केने छीयै। 

So Si…Sita had so much prowess that she was able to cause earth to open up. She could have killed Raban but she wanted to keep her husband’s honor. So honorable was she that she never returned to Ayodhya. I too am like that. I have done the same thing.