All 50 Uses of
oppress
in
The Ramayana
- Disease or famine ne'er oppressed His happy people, richly blest With all the joys of ample wealth, Of sweet content and perfect health.†
Book 1
- Well skilled in business, fair and just, They gained the people's love and trust, And thus without oppression stored The swelling treasury of their lord.†
Book 1
- None, all those days, was seen oppressed By hunger or by toil distressed.†
Book 1
- The queen, by Ráma thus addressed, Still with a mother's grief oppressed, While her long eyes with tears were dim, Began once more and answered him: "Not by my pleading may be stayed The firm resolve thy soul has made.†
Book 2
- I for my sire and mother feel Deep sorrow o'er my bosom steal, Lest mourning us, oppressed with fears, They blind their eyes with endless tears.†
Book 2
- With troubled spirits quite cast down They looked upon the royal town, And from their eyes, oppressed with woe, Their tears again began to flow.†
Book 2
- All joy was fled: oppressed with cares No bustling trader showed his wares.†
Book 2
- Bowed down by her oppressive hand, The helpless, lordless, godless land, Cursed for Kaikeyí's guilt will fall, And swift destruction seize it all.†
Book 2
- Soon as Kaikeyí, youngest queen, Thy coming to the town has seen, No doubt will then her mind oppress That Ráma roams the wilderness.†
Book 2
- And Ráma took, by toil oppressed, With Sítá and his brother, rest; And so the night, with sweet content, In Bharadvája's grove was spent.†
Book 2
- To him, in spirit quite cast down, Forsaken seemed the silent town, And by the rush of grief oppressed He pondered in his mournful breast: "Is all Ayodhyá burnt with grief, Steed, elephant, and man, and chief?†
Book 2
- When all the ladies in despair Saw Queen Kausalyá wailing there, And the poor king oppressed with pain, They flocked around and wept again.†
Book 2
- Can he, long lapped in pleasant rest, Unmeet for pain, by pain oppressed, Son of earth's king, his sad night spend Earth-couched, as one that has no friend?†
Book 2
- The queen's stern speech the monarch heard, As rage and grief her bosom stirred, And by his anguish sore oppressed Reflected in his secret breast.†
Book 2
- But soon by rankling grief oppressed The king awoke from troubled rest, And his sad heart was tried again With anxious thought where all was pain.†
Book 2
- I hastened near with pain oppressed; He faltered out his last behest.†
Book 2
- Oppressed with sorrow, tear-distained, The royal women thus complained.†
Book 2
- With joke and jest they strove to raise His spirits, quoting ancient plays; But Bharat still, the lofty-souled, Deaf to sweet tales his fellows told, Unmoved by music, dance, and jest, Sat silent, by his woe oppressed.†
Book 2
- His mind oppressed with woe and dread, Thus Bharat to his driver said, Viewed the dire signs Ayodhyá showed, And onward to the palace rode.†
Book 2
- Long on the ground he wept, and rolled From side to side, still unconsoled, And then, with bitter grief oppressed, His mother with these words addressed: "This joyful hope my bosom fed When from my grandsire's halls I sped— "The king will throne his eldest son, And sacrifice, as should be done."†
Book 2
- Kausalyá and Sumitrá too The coming of my mother rue, And if they live oppressed by woe, For their dear sons their sad tears flow.†
Book 2
- The noble matron prostrate there, Embraced, with tears, the weeping pair, And with her load of grief oppressed, To Bharat then these words addressed: "Now all is thine, without a foe, This realm for which thou longest so.†
Book 2
- But grief for Ráma yet oppressed High-minded Bharat's faithful breast— Such torment little was deserved By him who ne'er from duty swerved.†
Book 2
- Kausalyá, by her woe oppressed, The senseless Bharat's limbs caressed, As a fond cow in love and fear Caresses oft her youngling dear: Then yielding to her woe she said, Weeping and sore disquieted: "What torments, O my son, are these Of sudden pain or swift disease?†
Book 2
- With circling steps she humbly went Around the saint preëminent, And stood not far from Bharat's side With heart oppressed, and heavy-eyed.†
Book 2
- (398) Then when the pious chief had seen Lodged in her home each widowed queen, Still with his burning grief oppressed His holy guides he thus addressed: "I go to Nandigrám: adieu, This day, my lords to all of you: I go, my load of grief to bear, Reft of the son of Raghu, there.†
Book 2
- Thus, by the rankling dart oppressed, Kakutstha's offspring he addressed: In earth his mighty body lay, His spirit fled to heaven away.†
Book 3
- Thus with their hearts by fear oppressed In full assembly spoke the Blest, And bade five loveliest nymphs, as fair As lightning in the evening air, Armed with their winning wiles, seduce From his stern vows the great recluse.†
Book 3
- Agastya once, the worlds who viewed With love, a Deathlike fiend subdued, And armed with mighty power, obtained By holy works, this grove ordained To be a refuge and defence From all oppressors' violence.†
Book 3
- With ruth for suffering creatures filled, A deathlike fiend with might he killed, And gave this southern realm to be A refuge, from oppression free.†
Book 3
- But wandering through the rough rude wild Has wearied Janak's gentle child: With labours of the way oppressed The Maithil lady longs for rest.†
Book 3
- Say why would ye our lives oppress Who sojourn in the wilderness.†
Book 3
- Oppressed with pain, with loud lament At Khara's feet the monster bent.†
Book 3
- His words the Maithil lady heard Oppressed by woe but undeterred.†
Book 3
- Great fear and pain oppress my heart That dreads the coming blow, And through my left eye keenly dart The throbs that herald woe.†
Book 3
- When woes oppress and dangers threat Brave effort ne'er was fruitless yet."†
Book 3
- Loud-voiced as bulls they forth will burst And seek the flood, oppressed by thirst; Then rest a while, their wants supplied, Their well-fed bands on Pampá's side.†
Book 3
- Here Ráma stands, his heir by birth, Whose name is glorious in the earth: Sure refuge he of all oppressed, Most faithful to his sire's behest.†
Book 4
- With longing love and woe oppressed The Vánar chief he thus addressed: And he, while sobs his utterance broke, Raised up his reverent hands and spoke: "O Raghu's son, I cannot tell Where now that cruel fiend may dwell, Declare his power and might, or trace The author of his cursed race.†
Book 4
- Sugríva's heart with rapture swelled, And thus, by eager love impelled, He spoke in gracious tone, that, oft Checked by his joy, was low and soft: "I, by my brother's might oppressed, By ceaseless woe and fear distressed, Mourning my consort far away, On Rishyamúka's mountain stray.†
Book 4
- Then by strong effort, bravely made, The torrent of his tears he stayed, Wiped his bright eyes, his grief subdued, And thus, more calm, his speech renewed: "By Báli's conquering might oppressed, Of power and kingship dispossessed, Loaded with taunts of scorn and hate I left my realm and royal state.†
Book 4
- Ah, if the proud oppressor fell, His death would all my woe dispel.†
Book 4 *
- O swift to save in hour of fear, My prayer who dread this Báli, hear With gracious love assistance deign, And mine oppressor's arm restrain."†
Book 4
- When Ráma's speech had found a close, Brave Lakshma? terror of his foes, With wise and soothing words addressed Sugríva still with woe oppressed: "Arise Sugríva," thus he said, "Perform the service of the dead.†
Book 4
- s mightier arm oppressed, The wretch who comes to sue and pray From his lost kingdom far away.†
Book 4
- But when, by Báli's might oppressed, E'en in those wilds I could not rest, Came Hanumán the wise and brave, And thus his prudent counsel gave: "'I told thee how Matanga(748) cursed Thy tyrant, that his head should burst In pieces, should he dare invade The precincts of that tranquil shade.†
Book 4
- There may we dwell in peace and be From thy oppressor's malice free."†
Book 4
- Then Tára softly spake to cheer The Vánars' hearts oppressed by fear: "Despair no more, your doubts dispel: Come in this ample cavern dwell.†
Book 4
- He passed within the door, and found Fair women sleeping on the ground, Where wearied with the song, perchance, The merry game, the wanton dance, Each girl with wine and sleep oppressed Had sunk her drooping head to rest.†
Book 5
- í the queen of stars Oppressed by the red planet Mars; From her dear friends and husband torn, Amid the cruel fiends, forlorn, Who fierce-eyed watch around her kept, A tender woman sat and wept.†
Book 5
Definition:
-
(oppress as in: oppressive government) to dominate harshly and unfairly; or to make sufferThe meaning of oppress depends upon its context. For example:
- "The authorities oppress political activists," or "The new nation oppressed Native Americans." -- to dominate harshly and unfairly
- "She is oppressed by excessive debt." - made to suffer