Sri Valmiki Ramayanam - Sundara Kanda (Book 5) Sarga 17 to 24

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar, 

 Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 17

Introduction

In this chapter Hanuma sees Seetha surrounded by ogresses

tataH kumudaSaNDaabho nirmalam nirmalodayaH |
prajagaama nabhashchandro hamso niilamivodakam || 5-17- 1

1. tataH = Thereafter; chandraH = the moon; nirmala udayaH = with a peaceful rise; kumuda shhanDaabhaH = with radiance equaling that of a group of lotuses; prajagaama=obtained;nirmalam nabhaH = clear sky; iva=like; hamsaH= a swan; niilam udakam = blue water;

Thereafter the moon with a peaceful rise, with radiance equaling that of a group of lotuses, obtained the clear sky like a swan obtaining blue water.

saachivyamiva kurvan sa prabhayaa nirmalaprabhaH |
chandramaa rashmabhiH shiitaiH siSeve pavanaatmajam || 5-17-2

2. saH chandramaaH = that moon; nirmala prabhaH = with a peaceful glow; sishheve = served; pavanaatmajam = Hanuma, shiitaiH rashmibhiH = with cool rays; kurvan iva = as though performing; saachivyam = help; prabhaayaa = with radiance.

That moon with a peaceful glow served Hanuma with cool rays as though performing help with radiance.

sa dadarsha tataH siitaam puurNachandranibhaananaam |
shokabhaarairiva nyastaaM bhaarairnaavamivaambhasi || 5-17-3

3. tataH = Thereafter; saH = Hanuma; dadarsha = saw; siitaam = Seetha; puurNa chandra nibhhananaam = with face like a full moon, nyastaam = put down; shookabhaaraiH = by the weight of grief; naavamiva = like a ship; nyastaam = sinking down; ambhasi = in water; bhaaraiH = due to weight;

Thereafter Hanuma saw Seetha with a face like a full moon, put down by the weight of grief, like a ship sinking down in water due to weight.

didR^ikshamaaNo vaidehiim hanumaan maarutaatmajaH |
sa dadarshaaviduurasthaa raakshasiirghoradarshanaaH || 5-17-4
ekaakshiimekakarNaam cha karNapraavaraNaam tathaa |
akarNaam shaN^kukarNaam ca mastakochchhvaasanaasikaam || 5-17-5
atikaayottamaaN^giiM cha tanudiirghashirodharaam |
dhvastakeshiim tathaakeshiim keshakambaladhaariNiim || 5-17-6
lambakarNalalaaTaam cha lambodarapayodharaam |
lamboSThiiM chubukoSThiiM cha lambaasyaam lambajaanukaam || 5-17-7
hrasvaam diirghaam ca kubjaam vikaTaam vaamanaaM tathaa |
karaalaam bhugnavaktraam cha piN^gaakshiim vikR^itaananaam || 5-17-8

4,5,6,7,8. maarutaatmajaH = Hanuma; didR^ikshamaaNaH = wanting to see; vaidehiim = Seetha; dadarsha = saw; viduurasthaa = nearby; raakshasiiH = ogresses; ghora darshanaaH = with horrible appearance; ekaakshiim = (ogress) with one eye; ekakarNaam cha = and (another) with a single ear; tathaa = and also; karNapraavaraNaam = one with ears as covering body; saN^ku karNaam = with conch shell like ears; mastakochchvaasa naasikaam = one with fattened nose up to head; tanu diirgha shirodharaam = one with a lean and long neck; dhvastakesiim = one with disheveled hair; tathaa = and also; akeshiim = one without hair; keshakambala dhaariNiim = one with hair like a blanket; lamba karNa lalaataam cha = one with hanging stomach and breasts; lamboshhThiim = one with hanging face; chubukoshhThiim = one with lips at chin; lambaasyaam = one with hanging face; lambajaanukaam = with hanging knees; hrasvaam = one who is short; diirghaam = one who is tall; tathaa = and also; kubjaam = hunch backed one; vikaTaam = one who is distorted; vaamanaam = one is dwarf; tathaa = and also; karaalaam = one with high teeth; bhugna vaktraam cha = and one with crooked mouth; piN^gaakshiim = one with green eyes; vikR^itaananaam = one with a horrible face.

Hanuma wanting to see Seetha saw nearby ogresses with horrible appearance - one with one eye; one with a single ear and also one with ears as covering; one with conch shell like ears; one with fattened nose up to head; one with lean and long neck; one with disheveled hair and also one without hair; one with blanket like hair; one with hanging stomach and breasts; one with hanging face; one with lips at chin; one with hanging face; one with hanging knees; one who is short; one who is tall and also hunch backed one; one who is distorted; a dwarf one and also one with high teeth and one with crooked mouth, one with green eyes and one with a horrible face.

vikR^itaaH piN^galaaH kaaliiH krodhanaaH kalahapriyaaH |
kaalaayasamahaashuulakuuTamudgadhaariNiiH || 5-17-9
varaahamR^igashaarduulamahiSaajashivaamukhiiH |
gajoSTra hayapaadiishcha nikhaatashirasoparaaH || 5-17-10
ekahastaikapaadaashcha kharakarNyashvakarNikaaH |
gokarNiirhastikarNIIshcha harikarNiistathaaparaaH || 5-17-11
atinaasaashcha tiryaN^naasaa anaasikaaH |
gajanannibhanaasaashcha lalaaTocchvaasanaasikaaH || 5-17-12
hastipaadaa mahaapaadaa gopaadaaH paadachuuLikaaH |
atimaatrashirogriivaa atimaatrakuchodariiH || 5-17-13
atimaatrasyanetraashcha diirghajihvaanakhaastathaa |
ajaamukhiirhastimukhiirgomukhaaH suukariimukhiiH || 5-17-14
hayoSTrakharavaktraashcha raakshasiirghoradarshanaaH |
shuulamudgarahastaashcha krodhanaaH kalahapriyaaH || 5-17-15
karaaLaa dhuumrakeshiishcha raakshasiirvikR^itaananaaH |
pibantiiH satataM paanaM sadaa maaM sasuraapriyaaH || 5-17-16
maamsashoNitadigdhaaN^giirmaamsashoNitabhojanaaH |
taa dadarsha kapishreSTho romaharSaNadarshanaaH || 5-17-17
skandhavantamupaasiinaaH parivaarya vanaspatim |

9,10,11,12,13,14,15,15, 17. kapi shhresThaH = Hanuma; dadrsha = saw; vikR^itaaH = horrible ones; piN^galaaaH = dark complexioned ones; krodhanaaH = angry ones;kalaha priyaaH = those who like quarrels; kaalaayasamahaa shuula kuuTa mudgara dhaariniiH = ones wearing big darts, mallets and clubs of iron;varaaha mR^iga shaarduula mahishhaa shivaa mukhiiH = with faces like those of pigs, deer,tigers,buffaloes,goats,she-foxes; gajoshhTra hayapaadiiH = with feet like those of elephants, camels,horses;nikaata shirasaH= with heads sunk into bodies;aparaaH=some others; eka hastaika paadaashcha = with a single hand and those with single foot; khara karNyasva karNikaa = those with donkey ears and horse ears;gokarNiiH = those with cow ears; hasti karNiiH = those with elephant ears; hari karNiiH = those with monkey ears; aparaaH = and some others; anaasaaH = without nose; ati naasaashcha= with big nose; tiryajN^aasaaH = those with horizontal nose; vinaasikaaH = those with crooked nose; gajasannibha naasaashcha = those with elephant-like nose; lalaaTocchvaasa naasikaaH = nose fixed in forehead; hasti paadaaH = with feet like those of elephant; mahaapaadaaH = those with big feet; gopaadaaH = those with cow like feet; paada chuuLikaaH = those with hair on their feet; atimaatra shirogriivaaH = those with big heads and necks; atimaatrakuchodariiH = those with big nipples and big stomach; atimaatraasyanetrashcha = those with big mouths and eyes; diirghajihvaa nakhaaH = with long tongues and nails; tathaa = and also;ajaamukhiiH = those with face like that of a she-goat; hastimukhiiH = those with elephant like face; gomukhiiH = those with face like that of a cow;suukarii mukhiiH = those with face of a she-pig; hayoshhTrakharavaktraashcha = with faces like those of horses, camels, donkeys; ghoradarshanaaH = those with horrible appearance; raakshasiiH = ogresses; shuula mudgara hastaashcha = carrying pikes and clubs in their hand; krodhanaaH = angry ones; kalaha priyaaH = those who like quarrels; karaaLaaH = those with high teeth; dhuumra kesiishcha = with hair color like that of smoke; vikR^itaanaaH = with horrible faces; satatam = always; pibantiiH = drinking; paanam= liquor; sadaa = always; maamsasuraa priyaaH = desiring meat and liquor; maamsa shoNitadigdhaaN^gii = with body smeared by meat and blood; maamsa shoNita bhojanaaH = with meat and blood as food; romaharshhaNa darsanaaH = whose appearance made hair to stand up; upaasinnaaH = sitting; parivaarya = around; vanapatim = a great tree; skandhavantam = with huge trunk;

Hanuma saw horrible ogresses, dark complexioned ones, angry ones, those who like quarrels, ones wearing big darts, mallets and clubs of iron, with faces like those of pigs, deer, tigers, buffaloes, goats, she-foxes, with feet like those of elephants, camels, horses, with heads sunk into bodies, with single hand and single foot, those ears like that of donkeys and horses, those with cow ears, those with elephant ears, those with monkey ears, and some others without nose, those with horizontal nose, those with crooked nose, those with elephant-like nose, toes with nose fixed in forehead, with feet like those of elephant, those with big feet, those with cow like feet, those with hair on their feet, those with big heads and necks, those with big nipples and big stomach, those with big eyes and mouths, with long tongues and nails, and also the a face like that of a she-goat, those with elephant like face, those with face like that of a cow, those with face of a she-pig, those with faces like those of horses, camels, donkeys, those with horrible appearance, ogresses carrying pikes and clubs in their hand, angry ones, those who like quarrels, those with high teeth, with hair color like that of smoke, with horrible faces, always drinking liquor, always desiring meat and liquor, with body smeared by meat and blood, with meat and blood as food, whose appearance made hair to stand up, sitting around a great tree with huge trunk.

tasyaadhastaachcha taam deviim raajaputriimaninditaam || 5-17-18
lakSayaamaasa lakSmiivaan hanumaan jankaatmajaam |

18. hanumaan = Hanuma; lakshmiivaan = the glorious one; lakshayaamaasa=saw; taam deviim = that Seetha; raajaputriim = the princess;janakaatmajaam = daughter of Janaka; aninditaam = unblemished one; tasya adhastaat=below that tree

Hanuma the glorious one saw that Seetha, the princess, daughter of Janaka, unblemished one below that tree.

niSprabhaam Shokasantaptaam malasamkulamuurdhajaam || 5-17-19
kshiiNapuNyaam chyutaam bhuumau taaraam nipatitaamiva |

19. nishhprabhaam = lack lustre one, shokasamtaptaam = being tormented by grief; malasamkulamuurdhajaam = with hair covered by dirt; kshhiNa puNyaam = with merits exhausted; taaraamiva = like a star; chyutaam = fallen from heavens; bhuumau nipatitaam = that fell on ground.

She was lack luster being tormented by grief, with hair covered by dirt, with merits exhausted, like star fallen from heavens onto ground.

chaaritravyapadeshaaDyaaM bhartR^idarshanadurgataam || 5-17-20
bhuuSaNairuttamorhiinaam bhartR^ivaatsalyabhuuSaNaam |

20. chaaritravyapadeshaadyaam = rich with fame of character; bhartR^idarshana durgataam = poor due to not seeing husband; hiinaam = lacking; uttamaiH bhuushhanaiH = excellent ornaments; bhartR^ivaatsalya bhuushhaNaam = with husband's love as ornament.

She was rich with fame of lofty character, poor due to not seeing husband, lacking excellent ornaments, with husband's love as ornament.

raakshasaadhipasamruddhaam bandhubhishcha vinaa kR^itaam || 5-17-21
viyuuthaam simhasamruddhaam baddhaam gajavadhuumiva |

21. raakshaadhipa saMruddhaam = Being held captive by Ravana; kR^itaam = made; bandhubhiH vinaa cha = without relatives, gajavadhuumiva = like a she-elephant; viyuudhaam = without herd, siMha saMruddhaam baddhaam = being detained by a lion; .

Being held captive by Ravana, without any relatives, She was like a she-elephant without herd, being detained by a lion.

chandrarekhaam payodaante shaaradaabrairivaavR^itaam || 5-17-22
kliSTaruupaamasamsparshaadayuktaamiva vallakiim |

22. chandrarekhaamiva = like moon; aavR^itaam = being covered; shaaradaabhraiH = by clouds; payodaante = at the end of rainy season; klishhta rupaam = With an appearance lacking lustre; asamsparshaat = due to lack of contact (with husband); valaakiimiva = like Veena; aayuktaam = which was unplucked.

She was like moon being covered by clouds at the end of rainy season with an appearance lacking lustre due to lack of contact with husband, was like an unplucked Veena.

sa taam bhartavashe yuktaamayuktaam raakshasiivashe || 5-17-23
ashokavanikaamadhye shokasaagaramaaplutaam |

23. siitaam= (Hanuma saw)Seetha; bhartR^ivashe yuktaam = being suited to be with her husband; raakshasiivashe = in the custody of ogresses; ashokavanikaa madhye = in the middle of Ashoka garden;aaplutaam = being immersed, shoka saagaraam= in an ocean of grief.

Hanuma saw Seetha being suited to be with her husband, in the custody of ogresses, in the middle of Ashoka garden being immersed in an ocean of grief

taabhiH parivR^itaam tatra sagrahaamiva rohiNiim || 5-17-24
dadarsha hanumaan deviim lataamakusumaamiva |

24. hanumman = Hanuma; dadarsha = saw; deviim = Seetha; tatra = there; parivR^itaam = surrounded, taabhiH = by those ogresses; sagrahaamiva rohiNiim = like Rohini with planets; lathaamiva = like a creeper; akusumaam = without flowers.

Hanuma saw Seetha there surrounded by those ogresses, like Rohini with planets, like a creeper without flowers.

saa malena ca digdhaaN^giivapuSaa caapyalaMkR^itaa || 5-17-25
mR^iNaalii paN^kadigdheva vibhaati cha na bhaati cha |

25. igdhaaN^gii = With body smeared; malena = with dirt; vapusshaa chaapi alaMkR^itaa = being graced by her body; saa = that Seetha; vibhaati = shone; na vibhaati cha = and also not shining;mR^iNaaliiva = like a lotus-fibre; paN^ka digdhaaH = covered with dirt.

With body smeared with dirt, being graced by Her body, that Seetha shone and also did not shine, like a lotus-fibre covered with dirt.

malinena tu vastreNa parikliSTena bhaaminiim || 5-17-26
saMvR^itaam mR^igashaabaakshiiM dadarsha hanumaan kapiH |
taam deviiM diinavadanaamadiinaaM bhartR^itejasaa || 5-17-27
rakshitaam svena shiilena siitaamasitalochanaam |

26, 27. hanumaan kapiH = the monkey Hanuma;darasha = saw; taam deviim seethaam = that Seetha; bhaaminiim = with great beauty;asitalochanaam = with black eye;samvR^itaam = covered; vastreNa = by a cloth; pariklishhTena = which was creased; malinena = dirty; mR^iga shaabaakshiim = with eyes of a deer; diinavadanaam = with a pitiful face; adiinaam = not depressed; bhartR^i tejasaa =due to the brilliance of husband; rakshitaam = protected; svena shiilena = by her own character.

The monkey Hanuma saw that Seetha with great beauty with black eyes, covered by a cloth which was creased and dirty, with eyes of a deer, with a pitiful face, not depressed due to the brilliance of her husband, protected by her own character.

taam dR^iSTvaa hanumaan siitaam mR^igashaabanibhekshaNaam |
mR^igakanyaamiva trastaam viikshamaaNaam samantataH || 5-17-28
dahantiimiva niHshvaasairvR^ikSaan pallavadhaariNaH |
samghaatamiva shokaanaam duHkhasyormimivothitaam || 5-17-29

28, 29. hanumaan = Hanuma; siitaam dR^ishhTvaa = on seeing Seetha (became very happy); mR^iga shaaba nibhekshaNaam = with eyes of a fawn; trastaam mR^iga kanyaamiva = fearful like a she-deer; viikshamaNaam = seeing; vR^ikshaan = trees; pallava dhaariNaH = with young shoots; dahantiimiva = as though being burnt; niHshvaasaiH = by sighs; shokaanaam samghaatamiva = like a bundle of grief; uurmimiva = like a wave; duHkhasya = of sorrow; uthitaam = risen up.

Hanuma became happy on seeing Seetha with eyes of a fawn, fearful like a she-deer, seeing trees with young shoots, as though being burnt by sighs, like a bundle of grief, with a wave of sorrow risen up.

taam kshamaaM suvibhaktaaN^giiM vinaabharaNashobhiniim |
praharSamatulam lebhe maarutiH prekSya maithiliim || 5-17-30

30. maarutiH = The son of wind-god Hanuma;prekshya = on seeing, taam maithiliim = that Seetha; kshamaam = like the goddess Earth; suvibhaktaaN^giim = with well divided body parts; vinaabharaNa shobhiniim = shining even without ornaments; lebhe = obtained; atulam praharshaam = great joy.

Hanuma the son of wind god on seeing Seetha that Seetha like the goddess earth, with well divided body parts shining eve without ornaments, obtained great joy.

harSajaani cha so.ashruuNi taam dR^iSTvaa madirekSaNaam |
mumuche hanumaamstatra namashcakre cha raaghavam || 5-17-31

31. hanumaan = Hanuma, dR^ishTvaa = on seeing; taam = her;tatra = there; madirekshaNaam = with intoxicating eyes ; mumuche = shed; harshajaani ashruuNi = tears of joy;namashchakre cha = and also paid obeisance; raaghavam = to Sri Rama.

Hanuma on seeing Seetha there with intoxicating eyes shed tears of joy and also paid obeisance to Sri Rama.

namaskR^itvaa raamaaya lakshmaNaaya cha viiryavaan |
siitaadarshanasamhR^iSTo hanumaan samvR^ito.abhavat || 5-17-32

32. siita darshana samHR^isTaa =Being joyful on seeing Seetha; hanumaan = Hanuma; viiryavaan = the mighty one; namaskR^itvaa = paid obeisance; raamaaya = to Sri Rama; lakshmaNaaya cha = and to Lakshmana;samvR^itaH abhavat = became covered (with leaves)

Being joyful on seeing Seetha, Hanuma the mighty one paid obeisance to Sri Rama and to Lakshmana and became covered with leaves.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe saptadashaH sargaH

Thus completes 17th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 18

Introduction

In this chapter Hanuma sees Ravana entering Ashoka garden with a retinue of his wives following him.

tathaa viprekshamaaNasya vanam puSpitapaadapam |
vichinvatashcha vaidehiim kiMchiccheSaa nishaabhavat || 5-18-1

1. nishaa= the night; abhavat= became; kiMchichheshaa= a little remaning; tathaa viprekshamaaNasya= while (Hanuma) searched like that; vaidehiim= Seetha; vanam= in the garden; pushhpitapaadapam= with flowers in blossom;

A little of the night was left while Hanuma was searching like that for Seetha in the garden with flowers in blossom.

SaDaN^gavedaviduSaam kratupravarayaajinaam |
shushraava brahmaghoSaan sa viraatre brahmarakshasaam || 5-18-2

2. saH= That Hanuma; shushraava= heard; brahma ghoshhaan= Vedic sounds; viraatre= early in the morning; brahmaraakshasaam= of Brahma Rakshasas;shhadaN^ga veda vidushhaam= well versed in six parts of Vedas; kratu pravara yaajinaam= who performed excellent sacrifices;

That Hanuma heard Vedic sounds early in the morning of Brahma Rakshasas well versed in six parts of Vedas and those who performed excellent sacrifices.

atha maN^galavaaditrashabdaiH shrutimanoharaiH |
prabudhyata mahaabaahurdashagriivo mahaabalaH || 5-18-3

3. atha= Thereafter; dasagriivaH= Ravana; mahaa baahuH= with great arms; mahaa balaH= with great prowess; praabudhyata= was woken; mangalavaaditra shabdaiH= by the sounds of various auspicious musical instruments; shrutimanoharaiH= pleasing to the ear.

Thereafter Ravana with great arms and great prowess was woken by the sounds of various auspicious musical instruments pleasing to the ear.

vibudhya tu yathaakaalam raakshasendraH prataapavaan |
srastamaalyaambaradharo vaidehiimanvacintayaat || 5-18-4

4. raakshasendraH= The king of rakshasas; prataapavaan= with great might; vibudhya= woke up; yathaakaalam= at the appropriate time; srasta maalyaambara dharaH= wearing slippery flower garlands; anvachintayat= remembered; videhiim= about Seetha.

The king of rakshasas with great might woke up at the appropriate hour wearing slippery flower garlands remembered about Seetha.

bhR^ishaM niyuktastasyaam ca madanena madotkaTaH |
na sa taM raakshasaH kaamaM shashaakaatmani guuhitum || 5-18-5

5. tasyaam= In that Seetha's matter; niyuktaH= directed; bHR^isham= a lot; madanena= by the god of love; madotkaTaH= excited by passion; saH raakshasaH= that Rakshasa; na shasaaka= was not capable; guuhitum= to suppress; aatmani= in self; tam kaamam= that desire.

In that Seetha's matter, directed a lot by the god of love and excited by passion, that Rakshasa was not capable to suppress in self that desire.

sa sarvaabharaNairyukto bibhacchhriyamanuttamaam |
taaM nagairbahubhirjuSTaam sarvapuSpaphalopagaiH || 5-18-6

6. yuktaH= together with; sarvaabharaNaiH= all ornaments; bibhrat= wearing; anuttamaam shriyam= great glory; saH= that Ravana; (entered) that Ashoka garden; jushhTaam= having; bahubhiH nagaiH= a lot of trees; sarvapushhpaphalopagaiH= with all fruits and flowers.

Together with all ornaments wearing great glory that Ravana entered that Ashoka garden having a lot of trees with all fruits and flowers.

vR^itaaM puSkariNiibhishca naanaapuSpopashobhitaam |
sadaamadaishcha vihagairvichitraam paramaadbhutaam || 5-18-7

7. (Ravana entered that Ashoka garden) paramaadbhutaam= a great wonderful one; vR^itaam= together; pushhkariNiibhiH= with lakes; naanaa pushhpopashobitaam= shone by various flowers; vichitraam= brilliant;vihagaiH= with birds; sadaa madaiH= always in rut.

Ravana entered that great wonderful Ashoka garden together with lakes, shone by various flowers, brilliant with birds always in rut.

iihaamR^igaishcha vividhairjuSTaaM DR^iSTimanoharaiH |
viithiiH saMprekshamaaNashcha maNikaaJNcanatoraNaaH || 5-18-8
naanaamR^igagaNaakiirNaaM phalaiH prapatitairvR^itaam |
ashokavanakaameva praavishatsaMtatadrumaam || 5-18-9

8, 9. praavishat= (Ravana) entered; ashokavanikaameva= Ashoka garden; saMprekshamaaNashcha= seeing;maNikaaN^chana toranaaH= archways of gold and gems; jushhTaam= crowded; iihaamR^igaishcha= by artificial deer; vividhaiH= of various varieties; dR^ishhTimanoharaiH= ravishing the eyes and mind; naanaamR^igagaNaakiirNaam= filled with animals of various kinds; vR^itaam= together; prapatitaiH phalaiH=with fallen fruits;samtatadrumaam= full of trees.

Ravana entered Ashoka garden seeing archways of gold and gems crowded by artificial deer of various kinds ravishing eyes and mind, filled with animals of various kinds, together with fallen fruits and full of trees.

aN^ganaashatamaatraM tu taM vrajantamanuvrajat |
mahendramiva paulastyamM devagandharvayoSitaH || 5-18-10

10. vrajantam= while going, aN^ganaashatamaatram= only a hundred of women;anuvrajat= followed; tam paulastyam= that Ravana; devagandharvayoshitaH= like Deva and Gandharva women; mahendram= (following) Indra.

While He was going only a hundred of women followed that Ravana like Deva and Gandharva women following Indra.

diipikaaH kaaJNcaniiH kaashchijjagR^ihustatra yoSitaH |
vaalavyajanahastaashcha taalavR^intaani chaaparaaH || 5-18-11

11. tatra= there; kaashchit= some; yoshhitaH= women; jagR^iH= bore; diipikaaH= lamps; kaaN^chaniiH= of gold; aparaaH= some others; taalavR^intaani= (carried) chowries vaalavyajana hastaashcha= (some others had) fans of Palmyra leaves in their hands.

There some women bore lamps of gold; some others carried chowries; some others had fans of Palmyra leaves in their hands.

kaaJNchanairapi bhR^iN^gaarairjahruH salilamagrataH |
maNDalaagaan brusiiMshchaapi gR^ihyaanyaaH pR^iSThato yayuH || 5-18-12

12. (Some women) juhruH= carried; salilam= water; bhR^ingaaraiH= in small vessels; kaaN^chaniH= of gold; anyaaH= some others; pR^ishhThataH yayuH= followed in the back; gR^ihya= taking; brusiiMshchaiva= pillows; maNDalaagraan= with circular ends

Some women carried water in small vessels of gold; some others followed in the back taking pillows with circular ends.

kaachidratnamayiiM sthaaliiM puurNaaM paanasya braajatam |
dakshiNaa dakshiNenaiva tadaa jagraaha paaNinaa || 5-18-13

13. kaachit= one; bhaaminii= woman; dakshinaa= to the right (of Ravana); jagraaH= held; dakshinenaiva paaNinaa= with her right hand; sthaaliim= a vesel; paanasya= of liqour; ratnamayiim= with gem stones; puurNaam= full (of liqour)

One woman to the right of Ravana held with her right hand a vessel with gem stones filled with liqour.

raajahaMsapratiikaashaM chatraM puurNashashiprabham |
sauvarNadaNDamaparaa gR^ihiitvaa pR^iSThato yayau || 5-18-14

14. aparaa= another (woman); pR^ishhthataH yayau= went at back; gR^ihiitvaa= taking; chhatram= an umbrella; raajahamsapratiikaasham= equalling a royal swan; puurnashasiprabhaam= with the radiance of full moon; sauvarNadaNDam= with a golden handle.

Another woman went at back taking an umbrella equalling a royal swan with the radiance of full moon with a golden handle.

nidraamadapariitaakSyo raavanasyottamaaH striyaH |
anujagmuH patiM viiram ghanam vidyullataa iva || 5-18-15

15. nidraamada pariitaakshyo = With sleepy eyes; uttamaaH striyaH = best women; raavaNasya = of Ravana; anujagmuH = followed; viiram patim = mighty husband; vidyullataaH ghanamiva = like lightning (following a) cloud.

With sleepy eyes best women of Ravana followed mighty husband like lightning following a cloud.

vyaaviddhahaarakeyuuraaH samaamR^iditavarNakaaH |
samaagaLitakeshaantaaH sasvedavadanaastathaa || 5-18-16
ghorNantyo madasheSeNa nidrayaa ca shubhaananaaH |
svedakliSTaaN^gakusumaaH sumaalyaakulamuurdhajaaH || 5-18-17
prayaantaM nairR^itapatiM naaryo madiralochanaaH |
bahumaanaaccha kaamaacca priyaa bhaaryaastamanvayuH || 5-18-18

16,17,18. vyyaviddha keyuuraaH = With displaced necklaces and armlets; samaamR^idita varNakaaH = with effaced cover (of sandal-paste); samaagaLita keshaantaaH = with dishevelled hair; tathaa = and also; sasveda vadanaaH = with sweaty faces; ghoorNantyaH = staggering; madasheshheNa nidrayaa cha = due to surviving trace of liqour and due to sleepiness; sveda klishhTaN^ga kusumaaH = with shrivelled flowers on perspiring bodies; sumaalyaakulamuurdhajaaH = with dishevelled hair along with good garlands; madiralochanaaH = with intoxicating eyes; naaryaaH = women; priyaaH bhaaryaaH = who were dear wives; anvayuH = followed; tam = that; nairR^itapatim = king of Rakshasas; prayaantam = who was going; bahumaanaachcha = due to respect; kaamaachcha = and due to love.

With displaced necklaces and armlets, with effaced cover of sandal-paste, with dishevelled hair, and also with sweaty faces, staggering due to surviving trace of liquor and due to sleepiness, with shrivelled flowers on perspiring bodies, with dishevelled hair along with good garlands, with intoxicating eyes, women who were dear wives followed that king of Rakshasas who was going due to respect and due to love.

sa ca kaamaparaadhiinaH patistaasaaM mahaabalaH |
siitaasaktamanaa mando mandaaJNcitagatirbabhau || 5-18-19

19. patiH = husband; taasaam = of those (women); mahaabalaH = of great might; kaamaparaadhiinaH = who was surrendered to lust; sa cha = that Ravana also; mandaH = (who was) dull witted; siitaasakta manaaH = with his mind interested in Seetha; babhau = shone; mandaaN^chita gatiH = with a slow and beautiful gait.

Husband of those women, of great might, who was surrendered to lust, that Ravana also who was dull witted, with his mind interested in Seetha shone with a slow and beautiful gait.

tataH kaaJNciininaadaM ca nuupuraaNaam ca nisvanam |
shushraava paramastriiNaaM sa kapirmaarutaatmajaH || 5-18-20

20. tataH = Thereafter; saH kapiH = that Hanuma; maarutaatjamjaam = the son of wind-god; sushraava = heard; kaaN^chiininaadam = the sound of waist-bands; nuupuraaNam nisvanam cha = and the sound of anklets; paramastriiNaam = of those excellent women.

Thereafter that Hanuma, the son of wind-god heard the sound of waist-bands and the sound of anklets of those excellent women.

taM caapratimakarmaaNamacintyabalapauruSam |
dvaaradeshamanupraaptaM dadarsha hanumaan kapiH || 5-18-21

21. hanumaan = Hanuma; kapiH= the monkey; dadarsha = saw; tam cha = that Ravana also; apratima karmaaNam = performer of deeds without an equal; achintya bala paurushham = with unfathomable might and virility, anupraaptam = reaching; dvaara desham = entrance region.

Hanuma the monkey saw that Ravana also, performer of deeds without an equal, with unfathomable might and virility, reaching the entrance region.

diipikaabhiranekaabhiH samantaadavabhaasitam |
gandhatailaavasiktaabhirdriyamaaNaabhiragrataH || 5-18-22

22. gandha tailaavasiktaabhH = Wettened by fragrant oil; dhriyamaaNaabhiH = being carried; agrataH = in front; (Hanuma saw Ravana) avabhaasitam = being shone; samantaat = in all directions; anekaabhiH = by many; diipikaabhiH = lamps;

Wettened by fragrant oil, being carried in front of Ravana, Hanuma saw Ravana being shone in all directions by many lamps.

kaamadarpamadairyuktaM jihmataamraayatekshaNam |
samakshamiva kandarpamapaviddhasharaasanam || 5-18-23

23. (Hanuma saw Ravana) yuktam = together; kaamadarpamadaiH = with lust; vanity and intoxication; jihmataamraayatekshaNam = with wide red eyes which were slanted; samaksham kandarpamiva = like Manmadha, the god of love in person;apaviddhasharaasanam = with bow kept at a distance;

Hanuma saw Ravana together with lust, vanity and intoxication, with wide red eyes which were slanted, like the god of love in person with bow kept at a distance.

mathitaamR^itaphenaabhamarajovastramuttamam |
saliilamanukarSantaM vimuktaM saktamaN^gade || 5-18-24

24. (Hanuma saw Ravana) salillam = playfully; anukarshhantam = readjusting;uttamam vastram = excellent (upper) garment;mathitaamR^itaphenaabham = With the lustre of churned nectar froth; arajaH = without stain;vimuktam = slipping; aN^gade saktam = being entangled with armlet; .

Hanuma saw Ravana playfully readjusting his excellent upper garment with the luster of churned nectar froth, without stain,slipping being entangled in armlet.

taM patraviTape liinaH atrapuSpaghanaavR^itah |
samiipamiva saMkraantaM nidhyaatumupachakrame || 5-18-25

25. (Hanuma) liinaH = blended;patraviTape = in a branch full of leaves; patrapusshpaghanaavR^itaH = covered by groups of leaves and flowers; upachakrame = started; nidhyaatum = to see; tam = that Ravana; samkraantamiva = as though coming; samiipam = near (Him);

Hanuma blended in a branch full of leaves covered by groups of leaves and flowers started to see that Ravana as though coming near Him.

avekshamaaNastu tato dadarsha kapikuJNjaraH |
ruupayauvanasaMpannaa raavaNasya varastiyaH || 5-18-26

26. tataH = Thereafter; kapikuN^jaraH = the best among Vanaras; avekashamaaNaH = looking in all directions; dadarsha = saw;varastriyaH = best women; raavaNasya = of Ravana; ruupayauvanasampannaaH = full of beauty and youth;

Thereafter Hanuma, the best among Vanaras looking in all directions saw best women of Ravana full of beauty and youth.

taabhiH parivR^ito raajaa suruupaabhirmahaayashaaH |
tasmR^igadvijasamghaSTaM praviSTaH pramadaavanam || 5-18-27

27. raajaa = king; mahaa yashaaH = of great fame; parivR^itaH = together; taabhiH = with those women; suruupaabhiH = with good appearance; pravishhTaH = entered; tat = that garden; mR^igadvijasaMghushhtam = resounded by animals and birds.

King of great fame, Ravana, together with those women with good appearance entered that garden resounded by animals and birds.

kSiibo vicitraabharaNaH shaN^kukarNo mahaabalaH |
tena vishravasaH putraH sa dR^iSTo raakSasaadhipaH || 5-18-28
vR^itaH paramanaariibhistaaraabhiriva candraamaaH |
taM dadarsha mahaatejaastejovantaM mahaakapiH || 5-18-29

28, 29. saH raakshsaadhipaH = that king of Rakshasas; kshiibaH = who was intoxicated; vichitraabharaNaH = with wonderful ornaments; saN^kukarNaH = with pointed ears; vishravasaH putraH = son of Visravasa; chandramaaH iva =was like the moon; taaraabhiH = together with stars; vR^itaH = together; paramanaariibhiH = with best women; dR^ishhtaH = was seen; tena= by that Hanuma; mahaa kapiH = that great Vanara; mahaa tejaaH = with great brilliance; dadarsha = saw; tam = that Ravana; tejovantam = with glory.

That king of Rakshasas who was intoxicated with wonderful ornaments, with pointed ears, son of Visravasa was like the moon together with stars, together with best women was seen by Hanuma. That great Vanara with great brilliance saw that Ravana with glory.

raavaNo.ayam mahaabaahuriti saMchintya vaanaraH |
avapluto mahaatejaa hanumaanmaarutaatmajaH || 5-18-30

30. maarutaatmajaH = The son of god of wind; vaanaraH = Vanara; hanumaan = Hanuma; mahaa tejaaH = of great brilliance; ayam = this; mahaabaahuH = long armed one; raavaNaH = is Ravana; iti samchintya = thinking thus; avaplutaH = jumped down.

The son of god of wind Vanara Hanuma of great brilliance thinking thus "This long armed one is Ravana", jumped down.

sa tathaapyugratejaaH sannirdhuutastasya tejasaa |
patraguhyaantare sakto hanumaan saMvR^ito.abhavat || 5-18-31

31. tathaa = thus, hanumaan = Hanuma; ugra tejaaH sannapi = (although) of terrible energy; nirdhuutaH = was overshadowed; tasya tejasaa = by Ravana's brilliance; abhavat = (and) became; patra guhyaantare saktaH = rooted behind a group of leaves; samvR^itaH = and was concealed;

Thus Hanuma although of terrible energy was overshadowed by Ravana's brilliance and became rooted behind a group of leaves and was concealed.

sa taamasitakeshaantaaM sushroNiiM saMhatastaniim |
didR^ikshurasitaapaaN^gamupaavartata raavaNaH || 5-18-32

32. saH raavanaH = that Ravana; upaavartata = neared; taam = Seetha; asitakeshaantaam = with black hair; sushroNiim = with charming limbs; samhatastaniim = with well knit breasts; asitaapaaN^gaam = with black corners of eyes; didR^ikshuH = wishing to see (Her);

That Ravana neared Seetha with black hair, with charming limbs with well knit breasts, with black corners of eyes, wishing to see Her.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe aSTaadashaH sargaH

Thus completes 18th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 19

Introduction

tasminneva tataH kaale raajaputrii tvaninditaa |
ruupayauvanasampannaM bhuuSaNottamabhuuSitam || 5-19-1
tato dR^iSTvaiva vaidehii raavaNam raakshasaadhipam |
praavepata varaarohaa pravaate kadalii yathaa || 5-9-2

1, 2. tataH= Thereafter; tasmin kaale eva= at that time;vaidehii=Seetha; raajaputrii= a princess; aninditaa= without any blame; varaarohaa= of excellent limbs; praavepata= shook; kadalii yathaa= like a plantain tree; pravaate= in wind; dR^ishhTvaiva= on seeing; raavaNam= Ravana; raakshasaadhipam=the king of Rakshasas; ruupa yauvana sampannam= endowed with beauty and youth; bhuushaNotaama bhuushhitam= adorned with excellent ornaments.

Thereafter at that time Seetha a princess without any blame of excellent limbs shook like a plantain tree in wind on seeing Ravana the king of rakshasas endowed with beauty and youth adorned with excellent ornaments.

aacchhaadyodaramuurubhyaaM baahubhyaaM ca payodharau |
upaviSTaa vishaalaakSii rudantii varavarNinii || 5-19-3

3. vishaalaakshii= The wide eyed Seetha; varavarNinii= with excellent color; aachchhaadya= covering; udaram= stomach; uurubhyaam= with thighs; payodharau= breasts; baahubhyaam= with hands; upavisshTaa= sat down; rudantii= crying.

The wide eyed Seetha with excellent color covering stomach with thighs and breasts with hands sat down crying.

dashagriivastu vaidehiim rakSitaaM raakshasiigaNaiH |
dadarsha diinaam duHkhaartaaM naavaM sannaamivaarNave || 5-19-4

4. dashagriivastu= Ravana; dadarsha= saw; vaidehiim= Seetha;rakshitaam= protected; raakshasiigaNaiH= by batches of ogres; diinaam= (looking) miserable; duHkhaataam= being struck with grief; naavamiva= like a ship; sannaam= in danger; aarNave= in the sea;

Ravana saw Seetha protected by batches of ogres looking miserable being struck with grief like a ship in danger in the sea.

asaMvR^itaayaamaasiinaam dharaNyaam saMshitavrataam |
chinaaM prapatitaaM bhuumau shaakhaamiva vanaspateH || 5-19-5

5. aasiinaam= (Ravana saw Seetha) sitting down;asamvR^itaam= on uncovered; dhaaraNyaam= land;samShitavrataan= with a firm resolve; vanaspateH shaakhaamiva= like a branch of a tree; prapatitaam= fallen down; bhumau= on earth; chinnam= being torn (from the tree).

Ravana saw Seetha sitting down on uncovered land, with a firm resolve, like a branch of a tree fallen down on earth being torn from the tree.

malamaNDanacitraaN^giim maNDanaarhaamamaNDitaam |
mR^iNaalii paN^kadigdheva vibhaati na vibhaati ca || 5-19-6

6. malamaNDana chitraaN^giim= (Ravana saw Seetha) With a strange body with dirt as an ornament; maNDanaarhaam= suitable to decorate with ornaments; amaNDittam= without any ornaments;vibhaati=shining; mR^iNaaliiva= like a lotus stem; paN^kadigdhaa= being covered with mud; na vibhaati cha= and also not shining.

Ravana saw Seetha with a stange body with dirt as ornament, who although suited to decorate with ornaments was without ornaments. Although She was shining like a lotus stem covered with mud, She was not shining also.

samiipam raajasimhasya raamasya viditaatmanaH |
saN^kalpahayasamyuktairyaantiimiva manorathaiH || 5-19-7

7. yaantiimiva= (Seetha) Was as though going;samiipam= near; raamasya= to Rama; raajasimhasya= a lion among kings; viditaatmanaH= with a famous personality; manorathaiH= with desires as chariot; samkalpahayasamyuktaiH= tied with thoughts as horses.

Seetha was as though going near to Rama a lion among kings with a famous personality with desires as chariot tied with thoughts as horses.

shuSyantiim rudatiimekaaM dhyaanashokaparaayaNaam |
duHkhasyaantamapashyantiiM raamaaM raamamanuvrataam || 5-19-8

8. raamaam= (Seetha) a pleasant one; shhuShyanttim= was emaciated; rudatiim=was crying; ekaam= being alone; dhyaanashokaparaayaNaam= having surrendered to Her thoughts and sorrow; apashyantiim= not seeing; antam= the end; dukhasya= of grief;anuvrataam=following the will; raamam= of Rama.

Seetha a pleasant one, was emaciated, was crying, being alone having surrendered to Her thoughts and sorrow not seeing the end of grief, following the will of Rama.

cheSTamaanaaM tathaaviSTaaM pannagendravadhuumiva |
dhuupyamaanaam graheNeva rohiNiiM dhuumaketunaa || 5-19-9

9. tathaa= And also; pannagendravadhuumiva= (Seetha) was like great she-serpant; cheshhTamaanaam=writhing;aavishhTaam=under the spell of an incantation;rohiNiimiva= like Rohini; dhuupyamaanaam= being fumigated; dhuumaketunaa grahena= by a smoke colored planet called Ketu.

And also Seetha was like a great she-serpant writhing under the spell of an incantation. She was like Rohini being fumigated by a smoke colored planet called Ketu.

vR^ittashiilakule jaataamaacaaravati dhaarmike |
punaH samskaaramaapannaaM jaataamiva ca duSkule || 5-19-10

10. jaataam= Being born; dhaarmike= in a virtuous; aachaaravati= traditional; vR^itta shiila kule= family with good conduct and character; aapannaam= getting; samskaaram= married; punaH= again; jaataamiva=(Seetha was) like being born; dushhkule= in a bad family.

Being born in a virtuous traditional family with good conduct and character and getting married, Seetha appeared as if She was born in a bad family.

abhuutenaapavaadena kiirtiim nipatitaamiva |
amnaayaanaamayogena vidyaaM prashithilaamiva || 5-19-11

11. kiirtimiva=(Seetha was) like fame;nipatitaam= fallen down;abhuutena= (due to) false; apavaadena= blame;vidyaamiva= like education; prashithitaam= runied; ayogena= (due to) non conformity ;aamnaayaanaam= (of) learning by heart.

Seetha was like fame fallen down due to false blame. She was like education ruined due to lack of learning by heart.

sannaamiva mahaakiirtiM shraddhaamiva vimaanitaam |
prajJNaamiva parikSiiNaamaashaaM pratihataamiva || 5-19-12

12. sannam iva=(Seetha was) like deteriorated; mahaakiirtim=great fame; shraddaamiva=like faith; vimaanitaam=insulted; praJNaamiva= like an understanding; parikshiiNaam= grown feeble; aashaamiva=like hope; pratihataam=dulled.

Seetha was like deteriorated great fame,like insulted faith,like an understanding grown feeble, like dulled hope.

aayatiimiva vidhvastaamaajJNaaM pratihataamiva |
diiptaamiva dishaM kaale puujaamapahR^itaamiva || 5-19-13

13. aayatiimiva=(Seetha was) like expectation; vidhvastaam=destroyed; aajJNaamiva= like an order; pratihataam=flouted; diiptaam dishaamiva= like a blazing quarter; kaale= during a period of destruction; puujaamiva= like a worship; avahR^itaam= stolen.

Seetha was like an expectation destroyed, like an order flouted; like a blazing quarter during a period of destruction, like a worship stolen.

padminiimiva vidhvastaaM hatashuuraaM camuumiva |
prabhaamiva tamodhvastaamupakSiiNaamivaapagaam || 5-19-14

14. padminiimiva=(Seetha was) like a lotus; vidhvastaam= destroyed; chamuumiva= like an army; hata shuraam= with killed warriors; prabhaamiva= like light; tamodhvastaam= destroyed by darkness; apaagaamiva= like a river; upakshiiNaam= vanished.

Seetha was like a lotus destroyed, like an army with killed warriors, like light destroyed by darkness, like vanished river.

vediimiva paraamR^iSTaaM shaantaamagnishikhaamiva |
paurNamaasiimiva nishaaM raahugrastendumaNDalaam || 5-19-15

15. vediimiva=(Seetha was) like an altar; paraamR^ishhTaam= desecrated; agnishikhaamiva= like a tongue of fire; shantaam= gone out; paurNamaasiim nishaamiva= like a full moon night; raahugrastendumaNDalaam= with moon devoured by Rahu.

Seetha was like an altar desecrated, like a tongue of fire gone out, like a full moon night with moon devoured by Rahu.

utkR^iSTaparNakamalaaM vitraasitavihaN^gamaam |
hastihastaparaamR^iSTamaakulaaM padminiimiva || 5-19-16

16. padminiimiva= (Seetha was) like a lotus pond; aakulaam= agitated; utKR^ishhTapaNakamalaam= with torned out leaves and lotuses; hastihastaparaamR^ishhTaam= (being) roughly treated by the trunk of an elephant.

Seetha was like a lotus pond agitated with torned out leaves and lotuses, being roughly traeated by the trunk of an elephant.

patishokaaturaaM shuSkaaM nadiiM visraavitaamiva |
parayaa mR^ijayaa hiinaam kR^iSNapakshanishaamiva || 5-19-17

17. patishokaaturaam= Grieved for husband; nadiimiva=(Seetha was) like a river; shushhkaam= dried up; visraavitaam=(with water) caused to flow out; hiinaam= lacking; parayaa mR^ijayaa= best washing; kR^ishhNa paksha nishaamiva= like a new moon night.

Grieved for husband, Seetha was like a river which has dried uo with water caused to flow out lacking best washing, was like a new moon night.

sukumaariim sujaataaN^giiM ratna garbhagR^ihochitaam |
tapyamaanaamivoSNena mR^iNaaliimachiroddhR^itaam || 5-19-18

18. sukumaariim=(Seetha was) a delicate one; sujaataN^giim= with well built limbs; ratnagarbhagR^ihochitaam= accustomed to houses full of diamonds; tapyamaanaam= being tormented; ushhNena= by heat; mR^iNaaliimiva= like a lotus fibre; achiroddhR^itaam= uprooted short time back.

Seetha was a delicate one with well built limbs, accustomed to houses full of diamonds, being tormented by heat, like a lotus fibre uprooted short time back.

gR^ihiitaamaaLitaaM stambhe yuuthapena vinaakR^itaam |
niHshvasantiiM suduHkhaartaaM gajaraajavadhuumiva || 5-19-19

19. gajaraajavadhuumiva= (Seetha was) Like a she-elephant; gR^ihiitaam= captured; aaLitaam= tied; stambhe= to a pillar; kR^itena= made; yuudhapena vinaa= (to be) without the leader of herd; niHshvasantiim= sighing; suduHkhartaam= very much tormented by grief.

Seetha was like a she-elephant captured and tied to a pillar, made to be without the leader of herd, sighing, very much tormented by grief.

ekayaa diirghayaa veNyaa shobhamaanaamayatnataH |
niilayaa niiradaapaaye vanaraajyaa mahiimiva || 5-19-20

20. diirghayaa= with a long, ekayaa= single; veNyaa= plait;shobhamaanaam= shining; ayatnataH= without effort; mahiimiva= (Seetha) was like the earth; niilayaa vanaraajyaa= with dark groups of trees; niiradaapaaye= at the end of rainy season.

With a long single plait, shining without effort, Seetha was like the earth with dark groups of trees at the end of rainy season.

upavaasena shokena dhyaanena ca bhayena cha |
parikSiiNaaM kR^ishaaM diinaamalpaahaaraaM tapodhanaam || 5-19-21

21. parikshiiNaam= wasted; kRishaam= emaciated; upavaasena= due to fasting; shokena= due to sorrow; dhyaanena= due to thought; bhayena cha= and due to fear; alpaahaaraam= (Seetha) was with limited food; tapodhanaam= (and) with austerity as wealth.

Wasted, emaciated due to fasting, due to sorrow, due to thought and due to fear, Seetha was with limited food and with austerity as wealth.

aayaacamaanaam duHkhaartaaM praaJNjaliM devataamiva |
bhaavena raghumukhyasya dashagriivaparaabhavam || 5-19-22

22. devataamiva=(Seetha was) like a celestial being; duHkhaartaam= tormented by grief; bhavena= by thought; praaN^jalim= with joined palms; ayaachamaanaam= desiring; dashagriiva paraabhavam= defeat of Ravana; raghu mukhyasya= (at the hands of) Sri Rama.

Seetha was like a celestial being, tormented by grief and by thought with joined palms, desiring the defeat of Ravana at the hands of Sri Rama.

samiikSamaaNaaM rudatiimaninditaaM |
supakSmataamraayatashuklalocanaam |
anuvrataaM raamamatiiva maithiliiM |
pralobhayaamaasa vadhaaya raavaNaH || 5-19-23

23. raavanaH= Ravana; pralobhayaamaasa= (was trying) to allure; vadhaaya= (and threatening) death ( to Seetha) ;samiikshamaaNaam= who was looking at every direction; rudatiim= crying; aninditaam= without blame; supakshmataamraayata shuklalochanaam= with good eye lids and reddish and white eyes;atiiva anuvrataam= with an excessive vow to follow; raamam= Sri Rama.

Ravana was trying to allure and threatening death to Seetha who was looking at every direction, crying, without blame, with good eye lids and reddish and white eyes, with an excessive vow to follow Sri Rama.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe ekonaviMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 19th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 20

Introduction

In this chapter Ravana entices Seetha with wealth, gems, sovereignty over all wives of Ravana.

sa taam parivR^itaaM diinaaM niraanandaaM tapasviniim |
saakaarairmadhurairvaakyairnyadarshayata raavaNaH || 5-20-1

1. raavaNaH=Ravana; nyadarshayata=conveyed; saakaaraiH vaakyaiH = in significant words; taam= (to) that Seetha; parivR^itaam = surrounded (by ogresses); diinaam= (who was) wretched; nirranandaam=without happiness; tapasviniim=(and) pitiable.

Ravana conveyed in significant words to that Seetha who was surrounded by ogresses, wretched, without happiness and pitiable.

maaM dR^iSTvaa naaganaasoru guuhamaanaa stanodaram |
adarshanamivaatmaanaM bhayaannetuM tvamichchasi || 5-20-2

2. naagavaasoru = (You are) With thighs like the trunk of an elephant; maam dR^ishhTvaa = seeing me; guhamaanaa = covering; stanodaram=(your) breasts and belly; tvam = you; ichchhasiiva = desire; netum = obtaining; adarshanam = disappearence; aatmaanam = of self; bhayaat = due to fear.

"You are with thighs like the trunk of an elephant. Seeing me covering your breasts and belly, you desire obtaining disappearance of self due to fear.

kaamaye tvaam vishaalaakshi bahumanyasva maaM priye |
sarvaaN^gaguNasampanne sarvalokamanohare || 5-20-3

3. vishaalakshii = O wide eyed one!; sarvaaN^ga guNa sampannaa = you are endowed with bodily excellencies; sarva loka manohare=pleasing to all people; tvaam kaamaye = I desire you; priye = O lovable one!; maam bahumayasva = respect me.

"O wide eyed one! You are endowed with bodily excellencies, pleasing to all people. I desire you. O lovable one! respect me."

neha kechinmanuSyaa vaa raakshasaaH kaamaruupiNaH |
vyapasarpatu te siite bhayam mattaH samutthitam || 5-20-4

4. seethe = O Seetha!; iha = here; kechit na = there are no; manushhyaaH = humans; kaamaruupiNaH raakshasaaH vaa = or ogres with ability to change form; te bhayam = (Let)your fear; samutthitam = caused; mattaH = due to me; vyapasarpatu = be removed;

"O Seetha! Here there are no humans or ogres with ability to change form. Let your fear caused due to me be removed."

svadharmo rakshasaaM bhiiru sarvathaiva na samshayaH |
gamanaM vaa parastriiNaam haraNam sampramathya vaa || 5-20-5

5. bhiiru = O one with fear; gamanam vaa = obtaining parastriiNaam = women belonging to others; haraNam vaa = or abducting; saMpramathya = by force; svadharmaH = is the righteous deed; rakshasaam = for ogres; sarvathaiva = by all means; saMshayaH na = there is no doubt (in this).

"O one with fear! Obtaining women belonging to others or abducting by force is the righteous deed for ogres by all means. There is no doubt in this."

evaM caitadakaamaaM tu na tvaaM sprakshyaami maithili |
kaamam kaamaH shariire me yathaakaamaM praartataam || 5-20-6

6. maithili = O Seetha!; etat evam = It is like this; kaamaH = desire; kaamam = very much; yathaa kaamam pravartataam = may behave in whatever way it likes; me = in my; shariire= body; tu =but; na spR^ikshyaami = I will not touch; tvaam = you; akaamaam= without lust.

"O Seetha! It is like this. desire very much may behave in whatever way it likes in my body. But I will not touch you without lust."

devi neha bhayam kaaryam mayi vishvasihi priye |
praNayasva cha tatvaena maivam bhuuH shikalaalasaa || 5-20-7

7. devi = O queen (of my heart)!;iha = in this matter; bhayam na kkaryam = fear is not to be made; priye = O love! vishvasihi = believe; mayi = in me; tattvena = truly; praNayasva = become with love; maa bhuuH = do not become; shokalaalasaa = absorbed in sorrow;evam = like this.

"O queen of my heart! In this matter fear is not to be made. O love! Believe in me. Truly become with love. Do not become absorbed in sorrow like this."

ekaveNii dharaashayyaa dhyaanaM malinamambaram |
asthaane.apyupavaasashcha naitaanyaupayikaani te || 5-20-8

8. ekaveNii = single plait; dharaashayya = the bed of ground; dhyaanam = meditation; malinam ambaram = dirty cloth; asthaane upavaasashcha = fasting at an inappropriate time; etaani = all these; na aupayikaani = are not useful; te = to you.

"Single plait, the bed of ground,mediation,dirty cloth,fasting at an inappropriate time - all these are not useful to you."

vichitraaNi cha maalyaani chandanaanyagaruuNi cha |
vividhaani cha vaasaaMsi dvyaanyaabharaNaani cha || 5-20-9
mahaarhaNi cha paanaani shayanaanyaasanaani cha |
giitam nR^ittaM cha vaadyaM cha labha maM praapya maithili || 5-20-10

9, 10. maithilii = O Seetha!; praapya = getting; maam = me; labha = gain; vichitraaNi maalyaani = wonderful garlands; chandanaani = sandals; agaruuNi = Agallochums; vividhaani vaasaaMsi cha = a variety of cloths; divyaani aabharaNaani cha = and best ornaments; mahaarhaaNi paanaani = the best drinks; shayanaani = beds; aasanaani cha = and seats; giitam = song, nR^ittam cha = and dance; vaadyam cha = and musical instrument.

"O Seetha! After getting me gain wonderful garlands, sandals, Agallochums, a variety of cloths and best ornaments, the best drinks, beds and seats, song and dance and musical instrument."

striiratnamasi maivam bhuuH kuru gaatreSu bhuuSaNam |
maaM praapya hi katham nu syaastvamanarhaa suvigrahe || 5-20-11

11. strii ratnma asi = You are a gem among women; maa bhuuH = do not be; evam = like this; kuru = make; bhuushhaNam = decoration; aatrshhu = on your limbs; suvigrahe = O one with a good body!; praapya getting; maam = me; katham nu = how (will you); syyaH =become; anarhaaH = unsuited (for luxuries).

"You are a gem among women. Do not be like this. Make decoration on your limbs. O one with a good body! Getting me how will you become unsuited for luxuries?"

idam te chaaru samjaatam yauvanam vyativartate |
yadatiitaM punarnaiti srotaH shiighramapaamiva || 5-20-12

12. idam = this; te yauvanum = your youth; chaaru saMjaatam = born beautifully; vyativartate= is passing away; yat = Whichever (youth); siighram = (is) quickly; atiitam = passing away; naiti = will not come back; punaH = again; apaam srotaH iva = like the flow of water.

"This your youth born beautifully is passing away, whichever youth is quickly passing away will not come back again like the flow of water."

tvaaM kR^itvoparato manye ruupakartaa sa vishvasR^ik |
na hi ruupopamaa tvanyaa tavaasti shubhadarshane || 5-20-13

13. shubha darshane = O one with auspicious appearance!; ruupa kartaa = the creator of form; saH = that; visvasR^ik = creator of the world, Lord Brahma; kR^itvaa = made; tvaam = you; uparataH = and stopped; manye = I think so; anyaa = Another; naasti hi = is indeed not; tava ruupopamaa = equal to your appearance.

"O one with auspicious appearance! The creator of form, that creator of the world, Lord Brahma has made you and stopped - I think thus. There is not another who is equal to your appearance."

tvaam samaaasaadya vaidehi ruupayauvanashaaliniim |
kaH pumaanativarteta saakshaadapi pitaamahaH || 5-20-14

14. vaidehii = O Seetha!; samaasaadya = obtaining; tvaam = you; ruupayauvanashaaliniim = endowed with beauty and youth; kaH pumaan = which man; sakshaat pitaamahaH = (even if he is) Lord Brahma himself; ativarteta= will disregard (you).

"O Seetha! Obtaining you endowed with beauty and youth, which man even if he is Lord Brahma himself will disregard (leave) you."

yadyatpashyaami te gaatram shiitaamshusadR^ishaanane |
tasmimstasmin pR^idhushroNi cakshurmama nibadhyate || 5-20-15

15. shiitaaMshusadR^ishhanane = O one with face like that of moon!; pR^ithushroNi=O one with broad hips!; te = your; yadyat = whichever; gaatram =limb; pashyaami = I see; mama = my; chakshuH = eye; nibadhyate = is getting tied; tasmin tasmin = in that that (limb).

"O one with face like that of moon! O one with broad hips! Your whichever limb I see, my eye is getting tied in that that limb."

bhava maithili bhaayaa me mohamenam visarjaya |
bahviinaamuttamastriiNaamaahR^itaanaamitastataH || 5-20-16
sarvaapaameva bhadraM te mamaagramahiSii bhava |

16. maithilii = O Seetha!; bhava = become; me = my; bhaaryaa = wife; visarjaya = leave; evam = this; moham = ignorance; sarvasaameva = In all; mama = my;bahviinaam = many; uttama strrinaam = best women; aahR^itaanaam = brought; itastataH = from here and there; bhava = become; agramahishhii = foremost consort; te bhadram = (let there be) auspicious to you.

"O Seetha! Become my wife. Leave this ignorance. In all my many best women brought from here and there, become foremost consort. Let there be auspicious to you."

lokebho yaani ratnaani sampramathyaahR^itaani vai || 5-20-17
taani me bhiiru sarvaaNi raajyam chaitadahaM cha te |

17. bhiiru = O timid one!; raani ratnaani = Whatever gems; aahR^itaani vai = (that have been)brought; saMpramadhya = by force; taani sarvaaNi = all those; me = my; etat = this; raajyam = kingdom; aham cha = and also myself; te = (belong to) you.

"O timid one! Whatever gems that have been brought by force, all those, my this kingdom and also myself belong to you."

vijitya pR^ithiviiM sarvaaM naanaanagaramaaliniim || 5-20-18
janakaaya pradaasyaami tava hetorvilaasini |

18. vilaasini = O charmful lady!; vijitya = conquering; sarvaam pR^ithiviim = the entire earth; naanaa nagara maaliniim = together with chain of various cities; tava hetoH = for your sake; pradaasyaami = I can give; janakaaya = to king Janaka.

"O charmful lady! Conquering the entire earth together with chain of various cities for your sake, I can give to king Janaka.

neha pashyaami loke.anyam yo me pratibalo bhavet || 5-20-19
pashya me sumahadviiryamapratidvandvamaahave |

19. iha loke = in this world; na pashyaami = I do not see; anyam = another one; yaH = who; pratibalaH = is equally matched (to me); pashya = see; me = my; sumahat = very great; viiryam = power.

"In this world I do not see another one who is equally matched to me. See my very great power."

asakR^itsamyuge bhagnaa mayaa vimR^iditadhvajaaH || 5-20-20
ashaktaaH pratyaniikeSu sthaatuM mama suraasuraaH |

20. suraasuraaH = Suras and Asuras; bhagnaaH = defeated; vimR^idita dhvajaaH = with broken flags; mayaa = by me; saMyuge = in war; asakR^it = many times; ashaktaaH = are powerless; sthaatum = to stand; pratyaniikeshhu = (in an army)against met;mama = of me.

"Suras and Asuras defeated with broken flags by me in war many times are powerless to stand in an army against me."

ichchha maaM kriyataamadya pratikarma tavottamam || 5-20-21
saprabhaaNyavasajyantaaM tavaaMge bhuuSaNaani cha |
saadhu pashyaami te ruupam samyuktaM pratikarmaNaa || 5-20-22

21, 22. iccha = desire; maam = me; adya = now; tava = (let) your; uttamam = best; pratikarma = decoration; kriyataam = be made; tava =on your; aN^ge = body; bhushhaNaani = (let) ornaments also; saprabhaaNi = with great brilliance; avasajya = be fit; saadhu pashyaami = I will see well; tava = your ruupam = form; pratikarmaNaa yuktam = together with decoration.

"Desire me! Now let your best decoration be made. On your body let ornaments also with great brilliance be fit. I will see well your form together with decoration."

pratikarmaabhisamyuktaa daakshiNyena varaanane |
bhumkSva bhogaanyathaakaamaM piba bhiiru ramasva cha || 5-20-23

23. varaane = O one with best face!; bhiiru = O timid one! daakshiNyena = with consideration; pratikarmaabhi saMyuktaa = together with decoration; bhuMksva = enjoy; bhogaan = luxuries; yathaa kaamam = according to your desire; piba = drink; ramasva cha = Rejoice

"O one with best face! O timid one! With consideration enjoy luxuries according to your desire together with decoration. Drink. Rejoice."

yathechchham cha prayachchha tvaM pR^ithiviim vaa dhanaani cha |
lalasva mayi visrabdhaa dhR^iSTamaajJNaapayasva cha || 5-20-24

24. tvam = you; prayaccha = donate; priR^thiviim = land; dhanaani cha = and wealth; yathecchham = according to wish; visrabhdaa = with confidence; lalasva = behave freely; mayi = in my matter; dhR^ishhtam = fearlessly; aajJNaapayasva cha = order also.

"You donate land and wealth according to your wish. With confidence behave freely in my matter. Fearlessly order also."

matrpasaadaallalantyaashcha lalantaaM baandhavaastava |
buddhiM mamaanupashya tvam shriyam bhadre yashashcha me || 5-20-25

25. matprasaadaat= By my grace; lalantyaaH = (with your) sporting; tava = your bandhavaaH = relatives; lalantaam = (will also) sport; bhadre = O auspicious one!; tvam = you; anupashya = see; mama =my; buddhim = wealth; me yashashcha= and my fame.

" By my grace with your sporting, tour relatives will also sport. O auspicious one! You see my wealth and my fame."

kiM kariSyasi raameNa subhage chiiravaasasaa |
nikSiptavijayo raamo gatashriirvanagocharaH || 5-20-26
vratii sthaNDilashaayii cha shaN^ke jiivati vaa na vaa |

26. subhage = O beautiful one!;kim = what; karishhyasi =can you do; raameNa =with Rama; chiira vasasaa = clad in tatters; nikshipta vijayaH = with lost hope of victory; gatashrii = with gone fortune; vana gocharaH = roaming in forests; vratii = observing austerities; sthaNDilashayii cha = and also sleeping on floor; shaN^ke = I doubt; raamaH =(if) Rama; jiivati = (is) alive or; na vaa = not.

"O beautiful one! What can you do with Rama clad in tatters, with lost hope of victory, with gone fortune. Roaming in forests, observing austerities and also sleeping on floor, I doubt if Rama is alive or not."

na hi vaidehi raamstvaaM draSTuM vaa pyupalassyate || 5-20-27
purobalaakairasitairme ghorjyotsnaamivaavR^itaam |

27. vaidehii = O Seetha!; raamaH = Rama; na hi upalapsyate = indeed does not get opportunity; drashhTum vaapi tvaam= even to see you; jyotsnaamiva = like moonlight; aavR^itaam = covered; asitaiH meghaiH = by dark clouds; purobalaakaiH = with cranes at the front.

"O Seetha, Rama indeed does not get opportunity even to see you like moonlight covered by dark clous with cranes at the front."

na chaapi mama hastaattvaaM praaptumarhati raaghavaH || 5-20-28
hiraNyakashipuH kiirtimindrahastagataamiva |

28. kiirtimiva = like keerthi; hiraNyakashipuH = (got by) Hiranyakasipu; indrahastagataam = from Indra's hand; raaghavaH = Rama; na chaapi arhati = is not suited; praaptum = to get; tvaam = you; mama hastaat = from my hand.

"Like Keerthi got by Hiranyakasipu from Indra's hand, Rama is not suited to get you from my hands."

chaarusmite chaarudati chaarunetre vilaasini || 5-20-29
mano harasi me bhiiru suparNaH panngaM yathaa |

29. chaarusmite = O One with a beautiful smile!; chaarudati = O one with beautiful teeth!; chaarunetre = O one with beautiful eyes!; vilaasinii = O charmful one!; bhiiru = O timid one!; harasi = you are stealing; me manaH = my heart; pannagaM yathaa = like a serpent; suparNaH = (stolen) by Garuda.

"O one with a beautiful smile! O one with beautiful teeth!O one with beautiful eyes! O charmful one! O timid one! You are stealing my heart like a serpent stolen by Garuda.

kliSTakausheyavasanaam tanviimapyanalamkR^itaam || 5-20-30
tvaaM dR^iSTvaa sveSu daareSu ratiM nopalabhaamyaham |

30. kliSTa kausheya vasanaam = (You are) wearing a silk cloth in a bad condition; tanviim = (you are) emaciated; analaMkR^itaamapi= Even though you have not decorated; dR^ishhTvaa = seeing; tvaam = you; aham = I; nopalabhaami = am not getting; ratim= happiness; sveshhu daareshhu = in my wives.

"You are Wearing a silk cloth in a bad condition. You are emaciated. Even though you have not decorated, seeing you I am not getting happiness in my wives."

antH puravinaasinyaH striyaH sarvaguNaanvitaaH || 5-20-31
yaavantyo mama sarvaasaamaishvaram kuru jaanaki |

31. jaanaki = O Seetha!; yaavantyaH = whovever; striyaH = women; mama antaHpura nivaasinyaH = living in my gynaeceum; sarvaguNaanvitaaH = endowed with all virtues; kuru = have; aishvaryam = sovereignty; sarvaasaam = on all of them.

"O Seetha! whoever women living in gynaeceum endowed with all virtues, have sovereignty on all of them."

mama hyasitakeshaante trailokyapravaraaH striyaH || 5-20-32
taastvaaM parichariSyanti shriyamapsaraso yathaa |

32. asitakeshhante = O one with black hair! mama = my; taaH = those; striyaH = women; apsarasaH = apsarasas; trailokyapravaraaH = best among the three worlds; paricharishhyanti = will serve; tvaam = you; shriyam yathaa = like the goddess of wealth.

"O one with black hair! My those women and apsarasas who are the best among the three worlds will serve you like the goddess of wealth."

yaani vaishravaNe subhru ratnaani cha dhanaani cha || 5-20-33
taani lokaamshcha sushroNi maaM cha bhumkSva yathaasukham |

33. sushroNi = O one with beautiful hips!; subhru = O one with beautiful eyebrows; bhunkshva = enjoy; yathaasukham = according to your comfort; yaani ratnaani = Whatever gems; dhanaani cha = and wealth; vaishravaNe = belonging to Kubera; taani = all those; lokaaMshcha = three worlds; maaM cha = and me;

"O one with beautiful hips! O one with beuatiful eyebrows! Enjoy according to your comfort whatever gems and wealth belonging to Kubera, all those three worlds and me."

na raamastapasaa devi na balena vikramaiH || 5-20-34
na dhanena mayaa tulyastejasaa yashasaapi vaa |

34. devii = O Seetha!; raamaH = Rama na tulyaH = is not equal; mayaa = to me; tapasaa = by austerity; na = not (equal); balaena cha = by might; na = not (equal); vikramaiH = by strength;na = not (equal) dhanena = by wealth; tejasaa = by brilliance; yashsaapi cha = and by fame.

"O Seetha! Rama is not equal to me by austerity, not equal by might; not equal by strength, not equal by wealth, by brilliance and by fame."

piba vihara ramasva bhuMkSva bhogaan |
dhananichauam pradishaami mediniim cha |
mayi lala lalane yathaasukham tvam |
tvayi cha sametya lalantu baandhavvaste || 5-20-35

35. lalane = O playful one!; pradishaami = I will give; dhananichayam = hordes of wealth; mediniim cha = and land; tvam = you; piba = drink; vihara = roam freely; ramasva = and play; bhunkshva = enjoy; bhogaan = luxuries; lala = sport; yathaasukham == according to comfort; mayi = in me; te baandhavaaH = your relatives; lalantu = may sport; sametya = together; tvayi = in you.

"O playful one! I will give hordes of wealth and land. You drink. Roam freely and play. Enjoy luxuries. Sport according to comfort in me. Your relatives may sport together in you."

kanakavimalahaarabhuuSitaaN^gii |
vihara mayaa saha bhiiru kaananaani || 5-20-36

36. bhiiru = O timid one!; kanakavimalahaarabhuushhinaaN^gii = with body decorated by gold colored, pure garlands; vihaara = roam; mayaa saha = with me; kaananaani = in forests; samudratiirajaani = born at sea shore;kusumita taru jaala saMtataani = filled with groups of flowered trees; bhramara yutaani = with humble bees

"O timid one! With body decorated with gold colored, pure garlands, roam with me in forests born at sea shore filled with groups of flowered trees and with humble bees."

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe vimShaH sargaH

Thus completes 20th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 21

Introduction

In this chapter Seetha replies to Ravana saying that He should seek friendship with Rama and return Her back to Rama.

tasya tadvachanam shrutvaa siitaa raudrasya rakSasaH |
aartaa diinasvaraa diinam pratyuvaacha tataH shanaiH || 5-21-1

1. siitaa= Seetha; shrutvaa= listening; tasya raudrasya rakshasaH= to that horrible ogre's; tat= that; vachanam= word; aartaa= being tormented; pratyuvacha= spoke in reply; diina svaraa= with a pitiable voice; diinam= pitifully; shanaiH= slowly.

Seetha listening to that horrible ogre's word, being tormented spoke in reply with a pitiable voice, pitifully and slowly.

duHkhaartaa rudatii siitaa vepamaanaa tapasvinii |
chintayantii varaaroha patimeva pativrataa || 5-21-2
tR^iNamantarataH kR^itvaa pratyuvaacha shuchismitaa |

2. duhkhaartaa= Being tormented by grief; tapasvinii= in a pitiful state; varaarohaa= with excellent limbs; pativrataa= devoted to husband; chintayantii= thinking; patimeva= about husband alone; shuchi smitaa= with pleasant smiles; siitaa= Seetha; rudati=was sobbing;vepamaanaa= shivering; kR^itvaa= making; tR^iNam= a grass straw;antarataH= in between (herself and Ravana);pratyuvaacha= spoke in reply.

Being tormented by grief, in a pitiful state, with excellent limbs, devoted to husband, thinking about husband alone, with pleasant smiles Seetha was sobbing, shivering and placing a straw in between herself and Ravana spoke thus in reply.

nivartaya mano mattaH svajane kriyataaM manaH || 5-21-3
na maaM praarthayituM yuktaM susiddhimiva paapakR^it |

3. nivartaya= turn back; manaH= mind; mattaH= from me; manaH kriyataam= let your mind be made; svajaH= on your own wives; susiddhimiva= like best emancipation;paapakR^it= (for) a sinner; na yuktam= it is not appropriate; praarthayitum= to pray;maam= me.

"Turn your mind back from me. Let your mind be made on your own wives. Like best emancipation for a sinner, it is not appropriate to pray me."

akaaryam na mayaa kaaryamekapatnyaa vigarhitam || 5-21-4
kulam sampraaptayaa puNyam kule mahati jaatayaa |

4. jaatayaa= I was born; mahati= in a great; kule= family; saMpraaptayaa=getting;kulam= family;ekapatnyaa= having one husband; akaaryam= a bad deed; nigarhitam= which is blameable;na kaaryam= is not to be made; mayaa= by me.

"I was born in a great family. Getting such family, having one husband, a bad deed which is blameable is not to be made by me."

evamuktvaa tu vaidehii raavaNam tam yashasvinii || 5-21-5
raavaNam pR^iSThataH kR^itvaa bhuuyo vachanambraviit |

5. vaidehii= Seetha;yashasvinii=with renown; evam uktvaa= thus speaking; tam ravaNam= to that Ravana; kR^itvaa= making; pR^ishhThataH= the back; raakshasam= to (that) ogre; abraviit= spoke; vachanam= words; buuyaH= again.

Seetha with renown thus speaking to that Ravana, turned back and spoke words again.

vaahamaupayikii bhaaryaa parabhaaryaa satii tava || 5-21-6
saadhu dharmamavekshasva saadhu saadhuvratam chara |

6. aham= I; parabharyaa= who am wife of another;satii= and devoted to husband; na= am not; aupaikii= suitable; bhaaryaa= wife; tava= to you; anvekshasva= observe; dharmam= righteousness; saadhu= well; chara=follow; saadhuvratam= course of conduct of virtuous; saadhu= well.

"I who am wife of another and devoted to husband am not suitable wife to you. Observe righteousness well. Follow well course of conduct of virtuous."

yathaa tava tathaanyeSaaM daaraa rakSyaa vishaachara || 5-21-7
aatmaanamupamaaM kR^itvaa sveSu daareSu ramyataam |

7. nishaachara= O ogre!; yathaa= how; tava= your (wives) rakshyaaH= are to be protected; tathaa= in the same way; anyeshhaam = others'; daaraaH= wives (are to be protected); aatmaanam upamaam kR^itvaa=making yourself as an example; ramyataam= enjoy; sveshhu daarseshhu= .your own wives.

"O Ogre! How your wives are to be protected, in the same way others' wives are to be protected. Making yourself as an example enjoy your own wives."

atuSTaM sveSu daareSu chapalam chalitendriyam || 5-21-8
nayanti nikR^itiprajJNaM paradaaraaH paraabhavam |

8. atushhTam= one who is not satisfied; sveshhu daareshhu= in own wives; chapalam= fickle-minded one; chalitendriyam= with disturbed senses; nikR^iti prajJNaam= mean minded one; (to such a man)parabhaaryaaH= others' wives; nayanti= will lead; paraabhavam= to humiliation.

"One who is not satisfied in own wives, a fickle-minded one with disturbed senses, mean minded one, to such a man, others' wives will lead to humilation."

iha santo na vaa santi sato vaa naanuvartase || 5-21-9
tathaahi vipariitaa te buddhiraachaaravarjitaa |

9. iha= here; na vaa santi= are there not; santaH= good people?; naanuvartase vaa=or are you not following; sataH= those (who are good)?; tathhahi= it must be like that; te buddhiH= (beacuse) your mind; aachaaravarjitaa= devoid of traditions; vipariitaa= is perverse.

"Here are there not good people? Or are you not following those who are good? It must be like that because your mind, devoid of traditions is perverse."

vacho mithyaapraNiitaatmaa pathyamuktaM vichakSaNaiH || 5-21-10
raakshasaanaamabhaavaaya tvam vaa na vratipadyase |

10. tvam= you; mithyaa praNiitaatmaa= who is being led by mind towards unreal; na pratipadya se= is not taking; pathyam= wholesome; vachaH= words; uptam= being said; vichakshaNaiH= by righteous ones; abhaavaaya= for the destruction; raakshasaanaam= of ogres.

"You who is being led by mind towards unreal is not taking wholesome words being said by righteous onesfor the destruction of ogres."

aakR^itaatmaanamaasaadya raajaanamanaye ratam || 5-21-11
samR^iddhaani vinashyanti raaSTraaNi nagaraaNi cha |
tatheyam tvaam samaasaadya laN^kaa ratnaughasamkulaa || 5-21-12
aparaadhaattavaikasya vachiraadvinashiSyati |

11, 12. aasaadya= (after) getting; raajaanam= a king; akR^itaatmaanam= who has uncontrolled mind; ratam= interested; anaye= in bad path; samR^iddani=wealthy; raashhTraaNi= states; nagaraaNi cha= and cities also; vinashyanti= will be destroyed; samaasaadya= (after)getting; tvaam= you; tathaa= like that; iyam laN^kaa= this Lanka;ratnaugha saMkulaa= filled with best things; nachiraat= in a short while; vinashishhyati= will be destroyed; tava= due to your; ekasya= one; aparaadhaat= sin.

"After getting a king who has uncontrolled mind, interested in a bad path, wealthy states and cities also will be destroyed. After getting you like that this Lanka filled with best things in a short while will be destroyed due to your one sin."

svakR^itairhanyamaanasya aavaNaadiirghadarshinaH || 5-21-13
abhinandanti bhuutaani vinaashe paapakarmaNaH |

13. raavana= O Ravana!; vinaashe= (when there is) destruction; adiirgha darshinaH= (of) a short sighted one; hanyamaanasya svakR^itaiH= being hit by his own deeds; paapakamaNaH= a sinner; bhuutaani= living beings; abhinandanti= will be happy;

"O Ravana! When there is destruction of a short sighted one being hit by his own deeds, a sinner, living beings will be happy."

evaM tvaaM paapakarmaaNam vakSyanti nikR^itaa janaaH || 5-21-14
diSTyaitad vyasanaM praapto raudra ityeva harSitaaH |

14. tvaam= about you;paapakarmaaNam= who is a sinner; evam= thus being destroyed; janaaH= people; nikR^itaaH= who have been humiliated by you; harshhitaaH= being happy; ityeva vakshyanti= will speak thus; raudraH= the cruel Ravana; dishhTyaa= by God's grace; praaptaH= has got; etat vyasanam= this danger.

"About you who is a sinner thus being destroyed, people who have been humiliated by you being happy will speak thus: 'The cruel Ravana by God's grace has got this danger' ".

shakyaa lobhayituM naahamaishvaryeNa dhanena vaa || 5-21-15
ananyaa raaghaveNaahaM bhaaskareNa prabhaa yathaa |

15. aham= I; na shakyaa= am not capable; lobhayitum= to be tempted; aisvaryeNa= by wealth; dhanena vaa= or by money;aham= I; ananyaa= am not separate; raaghaveNa= with Raghava; prabhaa yathaa= like the sun-shine; bhaaskareNa= with the sun.

"I am not capable to be tempted by wealth or by money. I am not separate with Raghava like the sun-shine with the sun."

upadhaaya bhujam tasya lokanaathasya satkR^itam || 5-21-16
katham naamopadhaasyaami bhujamanyasya kasya chit |

16. upadhaaya= (after making) as a pillow; satkR^itam bhujam= that worshipped shoulder; lokanathasya= of that lord of the world; tasya= of that Rama;katham naama= how; upadhaasyaami= can I make as pillow; .anyasya kasya chit= some other one's; bhujam= shoulder.

"After making as a pillow that worshipped shoulder of that lord of the world, of that Rama, how can I make as pillow some other one's shoulder?"

ahamaupayiikii bhaaryaa tasyaiva vasudhaapateH || 5-21-17
vratasnaatasya viprasya vidyeva viditaatmanaH |

17. vidyaa iva= like the education;viprasya= of a brahmin; viditaatmanaH= with a famous mind; vrata snaatasya= initiated in religious vow; aham= I;aupayikii bharyaa= am a suitable wife; tasyaiva= to that Rama alone; vasudhaapateH= the lord of earth.

"Like the education of a brahmin with a famous mind, initiated in religious vow, I am suitable wife to that Rama alone the lord of earth."

saadhu raavaNa raameNa maaM samaanaya duHkhitaam || 5-21-18
vane vaashitayaa saartham kareNveva gajaadhipam |

18. raavaNa= O Ravana!; maam samaanaya= let me meet;saadhu=well; raameNa saardham= together with Rama; vaashitayaa kareNveva= like a female elephant; gajaadhipam= with a (male) elephant; vane= in a forest.

"O Ravana! Let me meet together with Rama like a female elephant with a male elephant in a forest."

mitramaupayikam kartum raamaH sthaanam pariipsataa || 5-21-19
vadham chaanichchhataa ghoraM tvayaasau puruSarSabhaH |

19. aupayikam= it is suited; asau= this; raamaH= Rama; purushharshhabhaH= best among men; mitram kartum= is made to be a friend; tvayaa= by you; pariipsataa= who is desiring; sthaanam= continued existence; anichchhataa cha= and not desiring; ghoram vadham= a horrible slaying.

"It is suited that this Rama, best among men, is made to be a friend by you who is desiring continued existence and not desiring a horrible slaying."

viditaH sa hi dharmajJNaH sharaNaagatavatsalaH || 5-21-20
tena maitrii bhavatu te yadi jiivitumicchasi |

20. saH= He (Rama); dharmajJNaH= the righteous one; viditaH hi= is indeed known;sharaNaagatavatsalaH= as one who loves those who seek protection; ichchhasi yadi= if you desire; jiivitam= to live; maitrii bhavatu= let there be friendhip; te= to you; tena= with Rama.

"Rama the righteous one is indeed known as one who loves those who seek protection. If you desire to live. let there be friendship between you and Rama."

prasaadayasva tvaM chanaM sharaNaagatavatsalam || 5-21-21
maaM chaasmai niyato bhuutvaa niryaatayitumarhasi |

21. tvam= you; prasaadayasva= seek graciousness;enam= of this Rama; sharaNaagatavatsalam=who loves those who seek protection;prayataH bhuutvaa= becoming piously disposed; arhasi= you are suited; niryaatayitum= to return; maam= me; asmai= to this Rama.

"You seek graciousness of this Rama who loves those who seek protection. Becoming piously disposed, you are suited to return me to this Rama."

evam hi te bhavetsvasti sampradaaya raghuuttame || 5-21-22
anyathaa tvam hi kurvaNo vadham praapsyasi raavaNa |

22. evam= in this way; sampradaaya= giving (me); raghuuttame= to Rama;bhavet= will become; svasti= fortunate; te= to you; ravaNa= O Ravana!; tvam= you; anyathaa kurvaaNa=doing in a different way; vadham praapsyasi= will get slaying.

"In this way giving me to Rama will become fortunate to you. O Ravana! If you do in a different way, you will get slayed."

varjayedvajramutsR^iSTaM varjayedantakashchiram || 5-21-23
tvadvidham tu na sa kruddho lokanaathaH sa raaghavaH |

23. utKRishhTam= drawn out; vajram= Vajrayudha, the weapon of Indra; varjayet= may spare;tvadvidham= some one like you; antakaH= Lord of death; varjayet= may spare you; chiram= for a long time; saH RaaghavaH= that Rama; lokanaathaH= the lord of worlds; saMkruddhaH= greatly enraged; na= will not (spare you).

"Drawn out Vajrayudha, the weapon of Indra may spare some one like you. Lord of death may spare you for a long time. That Rama the lord of worlds greatly enraged will not spare you."

raamasya dhanuSaH shabdaM shroSyasi tvaM mahaasvanam || 5-21-24
shatakratuvisR^iSTasya nirghoSamashaneriva |

24. nirghoshhamiva= like the great sound; ashaneH= of Vajrayudha; shatakratuvisR^iSTaya= hurled by Indra; tvam shroshhyasi= you will hear; mahaasvanam= a loud sound; shabdam= which is sonorous; raamasya dhanushhaH= of Ram's bow.

"Like the great sound of Vajrayudha hurled by Indra, you will hear a loud sound which is sonorous of Rama's bow."

iha shiigraM suparvaaNo jvalitaasya ivoragaaH || 5-21-25
iSavo nipatiSyanti raamalakSmaNalakSaNaaH |

25. ishhavaH= arrows; suparvaaNaH= with good nodes;prajvalitaasyaaH= with blazing tips; uragaaH iva= like snakes; raamalakshmaNa lakshaNaaH= with characteristic signs of Rama and Lakshmana nipatishhyanti= will fall down; iha= here (in Lanka); shiighram= soon.

"Arrows with good nodes, with blazing tips, like snakes, with characteristic signs of Rama and Lakshmana will fall down soon here in Lanka."

rakSaaMsi parinighnastaH puryaamasyaaM samantataH || 5-21-26
asampaataM kariSyanti patantaH kaN^kavaasasaH |

26. kaN^ka vaasasaH=arrows tied with the plumes of an eagle; parivighnantaH= will hit; rakshaaMsi= ogres; samantataH= everywhere; asyaam puryaam= in this city; karishhyanti= (and) will make; asaMpaatam= without space.

"Arrows tied with the plumes of an eagle will hit ogres everywhere in this city and will cover the city without space."

raakshasendramahaasarpaan sa raamagaruDo mahaan || 5-21-27
uddhariSyati vegena vainateya ivoragaan |

27. saH= That; raamagarudaH= Garuda called Rama; vegena= speedily; uddharishhyati= will pluck; raakshasendramahaasarpaan= the great serpents called ogres; vainateyaH uragaaniva= like Vainateya (plucking) the serpents.

"That Garuda called Rama speedily will pluck the great serpants called ogres like Vainateya plucking the serpants."

apaneSyati maaM bhartaa tvattaH shiighramarindamaH || 5-21-28
asurebhyaH shriyaM diiptaaM viSNustribhiriva kramaiH |

28. bhartaa= my husband;ariMdamaH= the destoyer of foes; maam apaneshhyati= will take me away; tvattaH= from you; vishhNuH iva= like Lord Vishnu; tribhiH kramaiH= with three steps; diiptaam shriyam= (taking away) brilliant prosperity; asurebhyaH= from Asuras.

"My husband who is a destroyer of foes will take me away from you like Lord Vishnu with three steps taking away the brilliant prosperity from Asuras."

janasthaane hatasthaane nihate rakSasaaM bale || 5-21-29
ashaktena tvayaa rakSaH kR^itametadasaadhu vai |

29. rakshaH= O ogre!;rakshasaam bale= (while the) army of ogres; nihate= was being killed; janasthaane= at Janasthana; hatasthaane= (which became) land of the dead; etat= this; asaadhu= bad (deed); kR^itam vai= has been done; tvayaa= by you; ashaktena= being powerless;.

"O ogre! While the army of ogres was being killed at Janasthana which became the land of dead, this bad deed has been done by you being powerless."

ashramam tu tayoH shuunyaM pravishya narasimhayoH || 5-21-30
gocharaM gatayorrbhaatrorapaniitaa tvayaadhama |

30. adhama=O lowest one!; tayoH bhraatroH= (when) those brothers; gatayoH= were gone; gocharam= out; pravishya= entering; aashramam= hermitage; shuunyam= without them; apanitaa= I have been abducted; tvayaa= by you.

"O lowest one! When those brothers were gone out, entering hermitage without them, I have been abducted by you."

na hi gandhamupaaghraaya raamalakSmaNayostvayaa || 5-21-31
shakyaM samdarshane sthaatuM shunaa shaarduulayoriva |

31. shaarddulayoriva= like tiger; shunaa= by dog; upaaghraaya= smelling; gandham= scent;raamalakshmaNayoH= of Rama and Lakshmana; na shakyam hi= it is indeed not possible; tvayaa= by you; sthaatum= to stand; saMdarshane= (in their) view.

"Like tiger by dog, smelling the scent of Rama and Lakshmana it is indeed not possible by you to stand in their view."

tasya te vigrahe taabhyaaM yugagrahaNamasthiram || 5-21-32
vR^itrasyevendrabaahubhyaaM baahorekasya vigrahe |

32. te= To you; tasya= like that; vigrahe= enmity; tabhyaam= with those two; vigrahe iha= is like the enmity; ekasya bahoH= of one hand; vR^itrasya= of Vruttasura; indra baahubhyaam= with two hands of Indra; asthiram=(and) it is not persevering; yugagrahanam=(for you) to be an opponent (with them).

"To you like that, enmity with those two is like the enmity of one hand of Vruttasura with two hands of Indra and it is not persevering for you to be an opponent with them."

kShipraM tava sa naatho me raamaH saumitriNaa saha || 5-21-33
toyamalpamivaadityaH praanaanaadaasyate sharaiH |

33. me naathaH= my husband; saH raamaH= that Rama; saumitriNaa saha= together with Lakshmana; adaasyate=will take away; sharaiH= with His arrows; tava praaNaan= your life; kshipram= quickly;aadityaH iva=like the sun;alpam toyam= (drying) shallow water.

"My husband that Rama together with Lakshmana will take away with His arrows your life quickly like the sun drying up shallow water."

giriM kuberasya gato.athavaalayam |
sabhaaM gato vaa varuNasya raajJNaH |
asaMshayaM daasharatherna mokSyase |
mahaadrumaH kaalahato.ashaneriva || 5-21-34

34. kaala hataH= Killed by time; kuberasya girim gatam= (even if you) go to the mountain of Kubera; athavaa= or; aalyam= to his house; gato vaa= or if you go; sabhaam= to the assembly; raajJNaH varunasya= of King Varuna; asaMshayaM= without doubt; na mokshyase= you will not be released; daasharatheH= from Rama; mahaadrumaH= like a great tree; ashani= (from) thunderbolt.

"Killed by time even if you go to the mountain of Kubera or to his house or if you go to the assembly of King Varuna, without doubt you will not be relased from Rama like a great tree from thunderbolt."

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe ekaviMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 21st Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 22

Introduction

Ravana gives Seetha two months to marry hm. He orders ogres to frighten Seetha and bring Her to his control. Ravana then goes back to his own house with his consorts.

siitaaya vachanaM shrutvaa paruSaM raakshaseshvaraH |
pratyuvaacha tataH siitaaM vipriyaM priyadarshanam || 5-22-1

1. raakshasesvaraH= King of ogres; shrutvaa= listening; sitaayaaH vachanam= to Seetha's words; parushham= which were harsh; tataH= thereafter; siitaam pratyuvaacha= replied to Seetha; vipriyam= unpleasant (words); priyadarshanam= which are seen to be pleasant.

Ravana listening to Seetha's words which were harsh thereafter replied to Seetha unpleasant words which are seen to be pleasant.

yathaa yathaa saantvayitaa vashyaH striiNaaM tathaa tathaa |
yathaa yathaa priyam vaktaa pariBhuutastathaa tahaa || 5-22-2

2. yathaa yathaa= in whatever way; saantvayitaa= gentle language (is used); striiNaam= to women; tathaa tathaa= in that way; vashyaH= (they) will be under control; yathaa yathaa= in whatever way; vaktaa= (men) speak; priyam= dear words; tathaa tathaa= in that way; paribhuutaH= they will be rejected.

"In whatever way gentle language is used to women in that way they will be under control. In whatever way men speak dear words, in that way they will be rejected."

saMniyachchati me krodhaM tvayi kaamaH samutthitaH |
dravato.amaargamaasaadya hayaaniva susaarathiH || 5-22-3

3. tvayi= in your matter; kaamaH= desire;samutthitaH= which has risen up; saMniyachchhati= is subdueing; krodham= anger;hayaniva= like horses; dravataH= running;amaargam aasaadya= obtaining a bad path; susaarathiH= (being subdued by) a good charioteer.

"In your matter desire which has risen up is subdueing my anger like horses running obtaining a bad path being subdued by a good charioteer."

vaamaH kaamo manuSyaaNaam yasmin kila nibadhyate |
jane tasmiMstvanukroshaH snehashcha kila jaayate || 5-22-4

4. kaamaH= deisre; manushhyaaNaam= of men; vaamaH= is unfavourable; yasmin= in which; jane=man;nibadhyate=(desire) is tied up; tasmin= in that man; jaayate kila= there is; anukroshaH= compassion;snehashcha= and fondness.

"Desire of men is unfavourable. In which man desire is tied up, in that man there is compassion and fondness."

etasmaatkaaraNaanna tvaaM ghaatayaami varaanane |
vadhaarhamavamaanaarhaaM mithyaapravrajite rataam || 5-22-5

5. varaanane= O one with a beautiful face!; etasmaat= for this reason; tvaam= (although) you (are); vadhaarhaam= suitable to be killed; avamaanaarhaam= (and) suitable to be humiliated; rataam= interested; mithyaapravrajite= ( in Rama who is in) sham exile; na ghaatayaami= I am not killing you.

"O one with a beautiful face! For this reason although you are suitable to be killed and suitable to be humilaited, interested in Rama who is in sham exile, I am not killing you."

paruSaaNiiha vaakyaani yaani yaani braviiSi maam |
teSu teSu vadho yuktastava maithili daaruNaH || 5-22-6

6. maithilii= O Seetha!; iha= here; yaani yaani= whatever; parushhaNi= harsh; vaakyaani= words; braviishhi= you are speaking; maam= about me; teshhu teshhu= (because of) those (words); tava daaruNaH vadha= your horrible slaying; yuktaH= is suitable;

"O Seetha! Here whatever harsh words you are speaking about me, because of those words, you are suitable to be horribly slayed."

ekamuktvaa tu viadeshiiM raavaNo raakshasaadhipaH |
krodhasaMrambhasamyuktaH siitaamuttaramabraviit || 5-22-7

7. raakshasaadhipaH= king of ogres; raavanaH= Ravana; evam uktvaa= speaking thus; vaidehiim= to Seetha; krodhasaMrambhasaMyuktaH=full of anger and fury; abraviit= spoke; uttaram= subsequent word; siitaam= to Seetha.

The king of ogres Ravana speaking thus to Seetha, full of anger and fury spoke subsequent word to Seetha.

dvau maasau rakShitavyau me yo.avadhiste mayaa kR^itaH |
tataH shayanamaaroha mama tvaM varavarNini || 5-22-8

8. varavarNini= O Seetha with best complexion!; yaH= whatever; avadhiH= limit; kR^ita=has been made; mayaa= by me; te= to you; dvau= (those) two; maasau= months; rakshitavyau= are protectable; me= to me; tataH= thereafter; aaroha= ascend; mama shayanam= my bed.

"O Seetha with best complexion! Whatever limit has been made by me to you, those two months are protectable to me. Thereafter ascend my bed."

uurdhvaM dvaabhyaaM tu maasaabhyaaM bhartaaram maamanichchatiim |
mama tvaaM praataraashaarthamaalabhante mahaanase || 5-22-9

9. uurdhvam= above; dvaabhyaam maasaabhyaaM= two months; tvaam= you; anichchhatiim= not desiring; mama= me; bhartaaram= as husband; aalabhante= will be killed; mahaanase= in my kitchen; mama praataraashaartham= for my breakfast.

"Above two months you not desiring me as husband will be killed in my kitched for my breakfast."

taaM tarjyamaanaaM samprekSya raakSasendreNa jaanakiim |
devagandharvakanyaastaa viSedurvikR^itekSaNaaH || 5-22-10

10. saMprekshya= Seeing; jaanakiim= Seetha; tarjyamaanaam= being frightened; raakshasendreNa= by Ravana; taaH= those; devagandharva kanyaa= Deva and Gandharva maidens; vishheduH= grieved; vikR^itekshaNaaH= with troubled eyes.

Seeing Seetha being frightened by Ravana those Deva and Gandharva maidens grieved with troubled eyes.

auSThaprakaarairaparaa vaktranetraistathaaparaaH |
siitaamaashvaasayaamaasustarjitaaM tena rakSasaa || 5-22-11

11. taparaaH= some;oshhThaprakaraiH= in the way of lips; tathaa= and in the like manner; aparaaH= some (others); vaktranetraiH= with faces and eyes; aashvaasayaamaasuH= consoled;taam siitaam=that Seetha; tarjitaam= frightened; tena rakshsaa= by that ogre;

Some in the way of lips and in like manner some others with faces and eyes consoled that Seetha frightened by that ogre.

taabhiraashvaasitaa siitaa raavaNam raakSasaadhipam |
uvaachaatmahitaM vaakyaM vR^ittashauNDiiryagarvitam || 5-22-12

12. aashvaasitaa= consoled; taabhiH= by them; siitaa= Seetha; vR^itta shaunDiirya garvitam= proud of virtuous conduct; uvaacha= spoke; vaakyam= words; aatmahitam= beneficial to self;raakshsaadhipam raavaNam= to the king of ogres Ravana.

Consoled by them Seetha proud of virtuous conduct spoke words beneficial to self to the king of ogres Ravana.

nuunam na te janaH kashchidasti niHshreyase sthitaH |
nivaarayati yo na tvaaM karmaNo.asmaadvigarhitaat || 5-22-13

13. yaH= Whoever; nivaarayati= prevents; tvaam= you; asmaat karmaNaH= from these actions; nigarhitaat= (which are) blameable; janaH= (such) a person; rataH= interested; te niHshreyase= in your welfare; kashchit naasti= there is none. nuunam= this is definite.

"Whoever prevents you from these actions which are blameable, such a person interested in your welfare there is none. This is definite."

maaM hi dharmaatmanaH patniiM shachiimiva shachiipateH |
tvadanyastriSu lokeSu praarthayenmanasaapi kaH || 5-22-14

14. trishhu lokeshhu= in all the three worlds; tvadanyaH= except you; kaH= who; manasaapi= even by heart; praarthayet=will desire;maam= me; patniim= (who am the) wife; dharmaatmanaH= of virtuous Rama;shachiimiva= like Sachi; shachiipateH= the wife of Indra.

"In all the three worlds except you who even by heart will desire me who am the wife of virtuous Rama like Sachi the wife of Indra."

raakSasaadhama raamasya bhaaryaamamitatejasaH |
uktavaanasi yatpaapaM kva gatastasya mokSyase || 5-22-15

15. raakshasaadhama= O vile ogre!;yat paapam= whatever sinful word; uktavaan asi= you spoke; bharyaam= to me who is the wife; amitatejasaH raamasya= of the great respendent Rama; tasya= from that word; kva= where; gataH= will you go; mokshyase= to be released?

"O vile ogre! Whatever sinful word you spoke to me who is the wife of the great resplendent Rama, from that word where will you go to be released?"

yathaa dR^iptashcha maataN^gaH shashashcha sahitau vane |
tathaa dviradavadraamastvaM niicha shashavat smR^itaH || 5-22-16

16. yathaa= like;dR^iptaH maataJNgaashcha= an elephant in rut; shashashcha= and a hare;sahitau= at war; vane= in the forest;tathaa= in the same way; niicha= O vile one! raamaH= Rama; dviradavat= is like an elephant; tvam= you; smR^itaH= are said; shshavat= to be like a hare.

"Like an elephant in rut and a hare at war in the forest, in the same way O vile one! Rama is like an elephant and you are said to be like a hare."

sa tvamikSvaakunaatham vai kSipanniha na lajjase |
chakSuSorviSayam tasya na taavadupagachchhasi || 5-22-17

17. saH= such; tvam= you; na lajjase= are not shameful; kshipan= abusing; ikshvaakunaatham= the lord of Ikshvaku dynasty Rama; na upagachchhasi= you are not getting; tasya= Rama's; vishayam taavat= matter so much.

"Such you are not shameful abusing the lord of Ikshvaku dynasty Rama. You are not getting Rama's matter so much."

ive te nayane kruute viruupe kR^iSNapiN^gale |
kSitau na patite kasmaanmaamanaarya niriikSataH || 5-22-18

18. anaarya= O ignoble one!; te= your; ime nayane= these eyes; kruure= (which are) cruel; viruupe= crooked; kR^ishhNa piJNgaLe= which are black and reddish brown; maam niriikshitaH= which are seeing me; kasmaat= for what reason; na patite= are (they) not falling down.

"O ignoble one! your these eyes which are cruel, crooked, which are black and reddish brown, which are seeing me, for what reason are they not falling down."

tasya dharmaatmanaH patniiM snuSaaM dasharathasya cha |
kathaM vyaaharato maaM te na jihvaa vyavashiiryate || 5-22-19

19. vyaaharataH= thus speaking; maam=a bout me;patniim= (who am) the wife; dharmaatmanaH tasya= of virtuous Rama; snushhaam cha= and the daughter-in-law; dasharathasya= of Dasaratha; katham= how; te jihvaa= your tongue;vyavashiiryate= did not fall off.

"Thus speaking about me who am the wife of virtuous Rama and the daughter-in-law of Dasaratha how your tongue did not fall off."

asaMdeshaattu raamasya tapasashchaamapaalanaat |
na tvaaM kurmi dashagriiva bhasma bharmaarha tejasaa || 5-22-20

20. dashagriiva= O Ravana!; bhasmaarha= (although you are) suited to be burnt into ashes; asaMdeshaat= not having mandate; raamasya= of Rama; anupaalanaat= (and) preserving; tapasaH= austerity; na kurmi= I am not making; tvaam bhasmam= you into ashes; tejasaa= (with my) glory.

"O Ravana! Although you are suited to be burnt into ashes, not having the mandate of Rama and preserving austerity, I am not reducing you into ashes with my glory."

naapahartumahaM shakyaa tvayaa raamasya dhiimataH |
vidhistava vadhaarthaaya vihito naatra saMshayaH || 5-22-21

21. dhiimataH= wise; raamasya= Rama's; aham= I; na shakyaa= am not capable of being; apahartum= abducted; tvayaa= by you; vidhiH=(this) act; vihitaH= has been made; tava= for your; vadhaarthaaya= slaying; atra= in this; na saMshayaH= there is no doubt.

"Wise Rama's I am not capable of being abducted by you. This act has been made for your slaying. In this there is no doubt."

shuureNa dhanadabhraatraa balaiH samuditena cha |
apihya raamaM kasmaaddhi daarachauryaM tvayaa kR^itam || 5-22-22

22. tvayaa= by you; shuureNa= (who is) strong; dhanadabhraatraa= brother of Kubera; samuditena cha= possessed of; balaiH= army; apohya= removing; raamam= Rama; kasmaat= for what reason; daarachauryam= abduction of wife; kR^itam= has been done.

"By you who is strong, brother of Kubera possessed of army, removing Rama for what reason abduction of wife has been done."

siitaayaa vachanaM shrutvaa raavaNo raakSasaadhipaH |
vinR^itya nayane kruure jaanakiimanvavaikSata || 5-22-23

23. raakshasaadhipaH= king of rakshasas; raavanaH= Ravana; shrutvaa= listening; siitaayaaH vachanam= to Seetha's words; vivR^itya= turned around; kruure= (his) cruel; nayane= eyes; anvavaikshata= and saw; jaanakiim= Seetha.

King of rakshasas Ravana listening to Seetha's words turned around his cruel eyes and saw Seetha.

niilajiimuutasamkaasho mahaabhujashirodharaH |
siMhasattvagatiH shriimaan diipta jihvagralochanaH || 5-22-24

24. niilajiimuuta saMkaasho= (Ravana was) equal to a black cloud; mahaabhujashirodharaH= with big shoulders and neck; siMhasattvagatiH= with the strength and gait of a lion; shriimaan= glorious; diipta jihvaagra lochanaH= with radiant tip of tongue and eyes.

Ravana was qual to a black cloud, with big shoulders and neck with the strength and gait of a lion, glorious with radiant tip of tongue and eyes.

chalaagramakuTapraaMshushchitramaalyaanulepanaH |
raktamaalyaambaradharastaptaaN^gadavibhuuSaNaH || 5-22-25

25. chalaagramakutapraaMshuH= (He was) tall with moving front portion of crown; chitramaalyaanulepananaH= with excellent garlands and anointments; raktamaalyaambara dharaH= wearing red garlands and clothes; taptaaN^gada vibhuushhanaH= with ornaments made of refined gold;

He was tall with moving front portion of crown, with excellent garlands and anointments, wearing red garlands and clothes, with ornaments made of refined gold.

shroNisuutreNa mahataa mechakena susamvR^itaH |
amR^itotpaadanaddhena bhujageneva mandaraH || 5-22-26

26. mandaraH iva= Like Mount Mandara; bhujagena= by Vasuki; amR^itotpaadaneddhena= tied for producing nectar;susaMvR^itaH= (Ravana was) well tied; mahataa mechakena shroNi suutreNa= by a black big thread

Like Mount Mandara tied by Vasuki for producing nectar, Ravana was well tied by a black big thread.

taabhyaaM sa paripuurNaabhyaaM bhujaabhyaaM raakSaseshvaraH |
shushubhe.achalasaMkaashaH shR^iN^gaabhyaamiva mandaraH || 5-22-27

27. achala saMkaashaH= Equalling a mountain; raakshasesvaraH= the king of ogres; shushubhe= shone; taabhyaam paripuurNaabhyaam bhujaabhyaam= (with) those perfect shoulders; mandaraH i va= like Mount Mandara; shR^iN^gaabhyaam= with its peaks.

Equalling a mountain the king of ogres shone with those perfect shoulders like Mount Mandara with its peaks.

taruNaadityavarNaabhyaaM kuNDalaabhyaaM vibhuuSitaH |
raktapallavapuSpaabhyaamashokaabhyaamivaachalaH || 5-22-28

28. taruNaaditya varNaabhyaam= With the color of just risen sun; vibhuushhitaH= decorated; kuNDalaabhyaam= by earrings; achalaH iva= (he) was like a mountain;ashokaabhyaam= with Ashoka trees; raktapallava pushhpaabhyaam= (with) red flowers and shoots.

With the color of just risen sun, decorated by earrings, he was like a mountain with Ashoka trees with red flowers and shoots.

sa kalpavR^ikSapratimo vasanta iva muurtimaan |
shmashaanachaityapratimo bhuuSito.api bhayamkaraH || 5-22-29

29. kalpavR^iksha pratima= Equalling a Kalpavriksha; saH= he; vasantaH muurtimaan iva= was like the embodiment of spring; shmashaana chaitya pratimaH= like a funeral mound in a grave-yard; bhayankaraH= was horrible; bhuushhito api= even though decorated.

Equalling a Kalpavriksha he was like the embodiment of spring season. Like a funeral mound in a grave-yard was horrible even though decorated.

avekSamaaNo vaidehiiM kopasamraktalochanaH |
uvaacha raavaNaH siitaaM bhujaN^ga iva niHshvasan || 5-22-30

30. kopasaMraktalochanaH= With red eyes due to anger; raavanaH= Ravana; avekshamaaNaH= was looking; vaidehiim= (at) Seetha; niHshvasan= sighing; bhujaN^gaH iva= like a serpant; uvaacha= spoke; siitaam= to Seetha.

With red eyes due to anger Ravana was looking at Seetha sighing like a serpant and spoke to Seetha.

anayenaabhisampannamarthahiinamanuvrate |
naashayaamyahamadya tvaaM suuryaH sandhyaamivaujasaa || 5-22-31

31. anuvrate= O follower of Rama!;abhisampannam= possessed; anayena= with bad conduct; arthahiinam= without wealth; adya= now; aham= I; naashayaami= will destroy; tvaam= you; suuryaH iva= like the sun; sandhyyaa= (destroying) morning twilight; ojasaa= with light.

O foloower of Rama posessing bad conduct, without wealth! Now I will destroy you like sun destroying morning twilight with light.

ityuktvaa maithiliim raajaa raavaNaH shatruraavaNaH |
samdidesha tataH sarvaa raakSasiirgoradarshanaaH || 5-22-32

32. raajaa= the king; raavaNa= Ravana; shatruraavanaH = who causes enemies to cry; iti uktvaa= thus speaking; maithiliim= to Seetha; tataH= thereafter; sandidesha= ordered; sarvaaH= all; raakshasiiH= ogre women; ghoradarshanaaH= with horrible appearances.

The king Ravana who causes enemies to cry thus speaking to Seetha, thereafter ordered all ogre women with horrible appearances.

ekaakSiimekakarNaaM cha karNapraavaraNaaM tathaa |
gokarNiiM hastikarNiim cha lambakarNiimakarNikaam || 5-22-33
hastipaadyashvapaadyau cha gopaadiiM paadachuuLikaam |
ekaakSiimekapaadiiM cha pR^ithupaadiimapaadikaam || 5-22-34
atimaatrashirogriivaamatimaatrakuchodariim |
atimaatraasyanetraam cha diirghajihvamajihvikaam || 5-22-35
anaasikaaM simhamukhiiM gomukhiim suukariimukhiim |

33, 34, 35. ekaakshiim= (Ravana ordered) one with a singe eye; ekakarNaam cha= one with a single ear; tataa= and; karNapraavaraNaam= one with ears as covering; gokarNiim= one with cow's ears; hastikarNiim cha= one with ears of an elephant; lambakarNiim= one with dangling ears; akarNikaam= one without ears; hastipaadyashvapaadyau cha= and one with the feet of an elephant and one with feet of a horse; gopaadiim= one with feet of a cow; paadachuulikaam= one with hair over the feet; ekaakshiim= one with a single eye; ekapaadiim cha= and one with a single foot; pR^ithupaadiim= one with big feet; apaadikaam= one wthout feet; atimaatrashirogriivaam= one with a big head and neck; atimaatrakuchodariim= one with big breats and stomach; atimaatraasya netraam cha= and one with big mouth and eyes; diirghajihvaam= one with long tongue; ajihvikaam= one without tongue; anaasikaam= one without nose; siMhamukhiim= one with the face of a lion; gomukhiim= one with the face of a cow; suukaramukhiim= one with the face of a pig.

Ravana ordered one with a single eye, one with a single ear and one with ears as covering, one with cow's wars, one with ears of an elephant, one with dangling ears, one without ears and one with the feet of an elephant and one with the feet of a horse, one with feet of a cow,one with hair over feet, one with a single eye and one with a single foot, one with big feet, one without feet, one with a big head and neck,one with big breasts and stomach, and one with big mouth and eyes, one with a long tongue, one without tongue, one without nose, one with the face of a lion, one with the face of a cow,one with the face of a pig.

yathaa madvashagaa siitaa kSpraM bhavati jaanakii || 5-22-36
tathaa kuruta raakSasyaH sarvaaH kSipraM sametya cha |

36. raakshasyaH= O ogres! yathaa= how; jaanakii= the daughter of Janaka, siitaa= Seetha; madvashagaa bhavati= becomes (under) my control; kshipram= quickly; tathaa= thus; sarvaaH= all of you; sametya cha= together; kuruta= do that task).

"O ogres! How the daughter of Janaka, Seetha becomes under my control quickly, thus all of you together do that task."

pratilomaanulomaishcha saamadaanaadibhedanaiH || 5-22-37
avarjayata vaidehiiM daNDasyodyamanena cha |

37. pratiloma anulomaishcha= with hostile and favourable (tasks); saamadaanaadibhedanaiH= with kind words, with gifts, and dividing words; udyamanena cha= and exertion; daNDasya=of punishment; avarjayata= bring under possession; vaidehiim= Seetha.

"With hostile and favourable tasks, with kind words, with gifts and dividing words and exertion of punishment, bring Seetha under my possession."

iti pratisamaadishya raakSasendraH punaH punaH || 5-22-38
kaamamanyupariitaatmaa jaanakiiM paryatarjayat |

38. raakshsendraH= Ravana; iti= thuus; pratisamadishya= ordered; punaH punaH= again and again; kaamamanyu pariitaatmaa= with a mind full of lust and anger; paryatarjayat= frightened; jaanakiim= Seetha.

Ravana thus ordered again and again with a mind full of lust and anger frightened Seetha.

upagamya tataH shiighraM raakSasii dhaanyamaalinii || 5-22-39
pariSvajya dashagriivamidaM vachanamabraviit |

39. tataH= Thereafter; raakshasii= an ogre; dhaanyamaalinii= (called) Dhanyamalini; shiighram= quickly; upagamya= neared; dashagriivam= Ravana; parishhvajya= embraced (him); abraviit= (and) spoke; idam= these; vachanam= words.

Thereafter an ogre named Dhanyamalini quickly neared Ravana, embraced him and spoke these words.

mayaa kriiDa mahaaraaja siitayaa kiM tavaanayaa || 5-22-40
vivarNayaa kR^ipaNayaa maanuSyaa raakSaseshvara |

40. mahaaraajaa= O king!; kriiDa= sport; mayaa= with me; raakshasesshvara= O lord of ogres!; kim prayojanam= of what use; tava= to you; anayaa=(is) this; siitayaa= Seetha; vivarNayaa= (who is) colorless; kR^ipaNayaa maanushhyaa= and a wreched human;

"O king! Sport with me. O lord of ogres! Of what use to you is this Seetha who is colorless and a wreched human."

nuunamasyaa mahaaraaja na divyaan bhogasattamaan || 5-22-41
vidadhaatyamarashreSThastava baahubalaarjitaan |

41. maharaja= O king!; amarashreshhThaH= Lord Brahma; na vidadhaata= did not assign; asyaaH= to Her; divyaan= wonderful; bhogasattamaan= best luxuries; tava baahubalaarjitaan= earned by the might of your arms; ;nuunam= this is definite.

"O king! Lord Barhma did not assign to Her wonderful best luxuries earned by the might of your arms. This is definite."

akaamaaM kaamayaanasya shariiramupatapyate || 5-22-42
ichchhantiiM kaamayaanasya priitirbhavati shobhanaa |

42. shariiram= the body; kaamayaanasya= of one who desires; akaamaam= (a woman) without desire; upatapyate= suffers pain; shobhanaa= good; priitiH= happiness; bhavati= will occur; kaamayaanasya= to one who loves;icchantiim= (a woman) who desires (him).

"The body of one who desires a woman without desire suffers pain. Good happiness will occur to one who loves a woman who desires him."

evamuktastu raakSasyaa samutkSiptastato balii || 5-22-43
prahasanmeghasamkaasho raakSasaH sa nyavartata |

43. evam= thus; uktaH= spoken to; raakshasyaaH= by that ogre; saH= that; raakshasaH= Ravana; balii= who was strong; meghasaMkaashaH= equalling a cloud; tataH= thereafter; samutkkshipataH= being taken away; nyavartata= turned back; prahasan= laughing.

Thus spoken to by that ogre that Ravana who was strong equalling a cloud, thereafter being taken away turned back laughing."

prasthitaH sa dashagriivaH kampayanniva mediniim || 5-22-44
jvaladbhaaskaravarNaabham pravivesha niveshanam |

44. saH= that; dashagriivaH= Ravana; prasthitaH= departing; kampayanniva= was as though shaking; mediniim= the earth; pravivesha= entered; niveshanam= (his) house jvaladbhaaskaravarNaabham= with the lustre of blazing sun shine;

That Ravana departing was as though shaking the earth and entered his house with the lustre of blazing sun shine.

devagandharvakanyaashcha naagakanyaashcha sarvataH || 5-22-45
parivaarya dashagriivaM vivishustaM gR^ihottamam |

45. deva gandharva kanyaashcha= Deva and Gandharva maidens; naagakanyaashcha= and Naga maidens; parivaarya= surrounding; raavaNam= Ravana; sarvataH= in all directions; vivishuH= entered; tam= that; gR^ihottamam= best among houses.

Deva and Gandharva maidens and Naga maidens surrounding Ravana in all directions entered that best among houses.

sa maithiliiM dhrama paraamavasthitaaM |
pravepamaanaaM paribharsya raavaNaH |
vihaaya siitaaM madanena mohitaH |
svameva veshma pravivesha bhaasvaram || 5-22-46

46. saH= that; raavanaH= Ravana; paribhartsya= frightening; maithiliim= Seetha; avasthitaam= (who was) steadfastly; dharmaparaam= intent on virtue; pravepamaanaam= (and who was) shaking; vihaaya= leaving; siitaam= Seetha; mohitaH= infatuated; madanena= by love;pravivesha= entered; svam= his own; veshmaiva= house; bhaasvaram= which was shining.

That Ravana frightening Seetha who was steadfastly intent on virtue and who was shaking, leaving Seetha, infatuated by love, entered his own house which was shining.

ityaarSe shiirmadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe dvaaviMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 22nd Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 23

Introdction

This chapter describes the ogre women speaking to Seetha about her marrying Ravan

ityuktvaa maithiliiM raajaa raavaNaH shatruraavaNaH |
saMdishya cha tataH sarvaa raakSasiirnirjagaama ha || 5-23-1

1. raajaa= the king; raavaNaH= Ravana; shatruraavaNaH= who makes enemies to cry; iti uktvaa= thus speaking; maithiliim= to Seetha; tataH= thereafter; saMdishya= also ordering; sarvaaH= all; raakshasiiH= ogre women; nirjagaama= went away.

The king Ravana who makes enemies to cry thus speaking to Seetha thereafter also ordering all ogre women went away.

niSkrante raakSasendra tu punarantaHpuraM gate |
raakSasyo bhiimaruupaastaaH siitaaM samabhidudruvuH || 5-23-2

2. raakshasendre= Ravana; nishhkraante= leaving; gate= obtaining; punaH= again; antaHpuram= gynaeceum; taaH raakshasyaH= those ogres; bhiimaruupaaH= with horrible appearances; samabhidudruvuH= went running; siitaam= to Seetha.

After Ravana left and obtained gynaeceum, those ogres with horrible appearances went running to Seetha.

tataH siitaamupaagamya raakSasyaH krodhamuurchitaaH |
paraM puruSayaa vaachaa vaidehiimidamabravan || 5-23-3

3. tataH= thereafter; upaagamya= reaching; siitaam= Seetha; raakshasyaH= ogre women; krodhamuurchitaaH= swooned with anger; vaachaa= (with a) speech; param= (which was) very; parushhayaa= harsh; abruvan= spoke; idam= this (word); vaidehiim= to Seetha.

Thereafter reaching Seetha ogre women swooned with anger and with a very harsh speech spoke these words to Seetha.

paulastyasya variSThasya raavaNasya mahaatmanaH |
dashagriivasya bhaaryaatvaM siite na bahumanyase || 5-23-4

4. siite= O Seetha!; na bahumanyase= you are not respecting; bhaaryaatvam= becoming wife; raavaNAsya= of Ravana; paulastasya= born in the family of Paulastya; varidhhThasya= best among men; mahaatmanaH= a great soul; dashagrrivasya= with ten heads;

"O Seetha! You are not respscting becoming wife of Ravana born in the family of Paulastya, best among men, a great soul with ten heads."

tatasvaekajaTaa naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
amantyra krodhataamraakSii siitaaM karatalodariim || 5-23-5

5. tataH= Thereafter; raakshasii= an ogre woman; ekajaTaa naama= named Ekajata; krodhataamraakshii= with red eyes due to anger; aamantrya= calling; siitaam= Seetha; karatalodariim= with stomach that can be held by a palm of the hand; abraviit= spoke; vaakyam= (these) words.

Thereafter an ogre woman named Ekajata with red eyes sue to anger calling Seetha with stomach that can be held by palm of the hand, spoke these words.

prajaapatiinaam SaNNaM tu chaturtho yaH prajaapatiH |
maanaso brahmaNaH putraH pulastya iti vishrutaH || 5-23-6

6. aNNaam prajaapatiinaam= among the six Prajapathis; yaH= whichever; putraH= son;chaturthaH prajapatiH= the fourth Prajapati; maanasaH= born by the thought; brahmaNaH= of Lord Brahma; vishrutaH= (he is) famous; pulastyaH iti= as Pulastya.

"Among th six Prajapatis, whichever son, the fourth Prajapati, born by the thought of Lord Brahma ,he is famous as Paulastya."

pulastyasya tu tejasvii mahaarSirmaanasaH sutaH |
naamnaa sa vishravaa naama prajaapatisamaprabhaH || 5-23-7

7. naamnaa= By the name; vishravaa naama= famous as Visrava; prajaapati samaprabhaH= with a radiance equalling that of Lord Brahma; saH tejasvii maharshhiH= that glorious sage; sutaH= is the son; maanasaH= (born) from the thought; pulastasya= of Pulastya.

By the name, famous as Visrava, with a radiance equalling that of Lord Brahmathat glorious sage is the son born from the thought of Pulastya.

tasya putro vishaalaakSi raavaNaH shatruraavaNaH |
tasya tvaM raakSasendrasya bhaaryaa bhavitumarhasi || 5-23-8
mayoktaM chaarusarvaaN^gi vaakyam kiM naamamanyase |

8. vishaakshii= O wide eyed one!; raavaNaH= Ravana; shatruraavaNaH= who makes enemies to cry; tasya= is his (Visrava's); putraH= son; tvam= you; arhasi= are suited; bhavitum= to become; tasya= Ravana's; bhaaryaa= wife; chaarusarvaaNgii= O one with all beautiful limbs!; kim=why; naanumanyase= will you not agree; vaakyam=words; uktam= spoken; mayaa= by me.

"O wide eyed one! Ravana who makes enemies to cry, is Visrava's son. You are suited to become Ravana's wife. O one with all beautiful limbs! Why will you not agree words spoken by me."

tato harijaTaa naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit || 5-23-9
vivartya nayane kopaanmaarjaarasadR^ishekSaNaa |

9. tataH= Thereafter;raakshasii= an ogre woman; harijaTaa naama= named Harijata; maarjaarasadR^ishekshaNaa= with eyes like those of a cat; vivartya= turned around; nayane= eyes; kopaat= due to anger; abraviit=(and) spoke; vaakyam= (these) words.

Thereafter an ogre woman named Harijata with eyes like those of a cat turned around eyes due to anger and spoke these words.

yena devaastraayastriMshaddevaraajashcha nirjataaH || 5-23-10
tasya tvaM raakSasendrasya bhaaryaa bhavitumarhasi |

10. yena= by whom; trastriMshat= thirty three; devaaH= Devas; devaraajashcha= and the king of Devas; nirjitaaH= have been conquered; tvam= you; arhasi= are suited; bhavitum= to become; bhaaryaa= the wife; tasya raakshasendrasya= of that lord of ogres.

"By whom thirty three Devas and the king of Devas have been conquered, you are suited to become the wife of that lord of ogres.

tatastu praghasaa naama raakSasii krodhamuurchhitaa || 5-23-11
bhartsayanii tadaa ghoramidaM vachanamabraviit |

11. tataH= Thereafter; raakshasii= an ogre woman; praghasaa naama= named Praghasa; krodhamuurchhitaa= swooning with anger; tadaa= then; bhartsayantii= frightening (Seetha) ; abraviit= spoke; idam= this; ghoram= horrible (word).

Thereafter an ogre named Praghasa swooning with anger and then frightening Seetha, spoke this horrible word.

viiryotsiktasya shuurasya samgraame na nivartinaH || 5-23-12
balino viiryayuktasya bhaaryaatvam kiM na lapsyase |

12. kim= why; na lapsyase= (you) will not get; bharyaatvam= wife-hood (of Ravana); viiryotsiktasya= (who is) proud of his might; shuurasya= valiant; anivartinaH= who will not turn back; saMgraameshhu= in wars; balinaH= strong; viiryayuktasya= together with valour.

"Why will you not get wifehood of Ravana who is proud of his might, valiant, who will not turn back in wars, who is strong together with valour."

priyaaM bahumataaM bhaaryaaM tyaktvaa raajaa mahaabalaH || 5-23-13
sarvaasaaM cha mahaabhaagaaM tvaamupaiSyati raavaNaH |

13. raavaNaH= Ravana; mahaabalaH= with great might; tyaktvaa= leaving;priyaam= dear; bahumataam= respectable; bhaaryaam= wife; sarvaasaam= who among all wives; mahaabhaagaam= is most fortunate; upaishhyati= can obtain; tvaam= you.

"The mighty Ravana can leave dear respectable wife who among all wives is most fortunate and can obtain you."

samR^iddham striisahasreNa naanaaratnopashobhitam || 5-23-14
antaHpuraM samutsR^ijya tvaamupaiSyati raavaNaH |

14. raavaNaH= Ravana; samutsR^ijya = leaving; antaHpuram= gynaeceum; samR^iddham= filled; strii sahasreNa= with thousand women; naanaa ratnopashobhitam= shone by various best things; upaishhyati= can obtain; tvaam= you.

"Ravana leaving gynaeceum filled with thousand women and shone by various best things can obtain you.

anyaa tu vikaTaa naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit || 5-23-15
asakR^iddevataa yuddhe naagagandharvadaanavaaH |
nirjitaaH samare yena sate paarshvamupaagataH || 5-23-16

15, 16. anyaa= another; raakshasii tu= ogre woman; vikaTaa naama= named Vikata; abraviit= spoke; vaakyam= (these) words; yena= by whom; asakR^it= a number of times; yuddhe= in war; devataaH= Devas; samare= in war; naagagandharvadaanavaaH= Nagas, Gandharvas and Danavas; nirjiaaH= have been conquered; saH= that Ravana; aagataH= has come; te paarsvam= to your side.

Another ogre woman named Vikata spoke these words: "By whom a number of times in war Devas, in war Nagas, Gandharvas and Danavas have been conquered that Ravana has come to your side."

tasya sarvasamR^iddhasya raavaNasya mahaatmanaH |
kimadya raakSasendrasya bhaaryaatvaM nechchha.adhame || 5-23-17

17. adhame= O vile one; kim= why; adya= now; nechchhase= are you not desring; bhaaryaatvam= wifehood; tasya raavaNasya= of such Ravana; sarvasamR^iddhasya= fulfilled in all respects; mahaatmanaH= great soul; raakshasendrasya= lord of ogres.

"O vile one! Why are you not desiring wifehood of such Ravana, fulfilled in all respects, who is a great soul and lord of ogres.

tatastu durmukhii naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
yasya suuryo na tapati bhiito yasya cha maarutaH || 5-23-18
na vaati smaayataapaaN^ge kiM tvaM tasya na tiSThasi |

18. tataH= Thereafter; raakshasii= an ogre woman; durmukhii naama= named Durmuukhi; abraviit= spoke; vaakyam= (these) words; aayataa paaN^ge= O one with long cornered eyes! bhiitaH= fearing; yasya= whom; suuryaH= sun; na tapati= will not consume by heat; bhiitaH= fearing; yasya= whom; maarutaH= wind; na vaati sma= will not blow; tasya= to that one; kim=why; tvam= are you; na tiShhThasi= not favourable.

Thereafter an ogre woman named Durmukhi spoke these words: " O one with long eyes! Fearing whom the sun will not comsume by heat, fearing whom the win will not blow, to that one why are you not favourable."

puSTavR^iSTaM cha taravo mumuchuryasya vai bhayaat || 5-23-19
shailaashcha subhru paaniiyam jaladaashcha yadechchhati |
tasya nairR^itaraajasya raajaraajasya bhaamini || 5-23-20
kiM tvaM na kuruSe buddhiM bhaaryaarthe raavaNasya hi |

19, 20. subhru= O one with good eyebrows!; bhaminii= O Seetha!; bhayaat= by the fear; yasya= of whom; taravaH= trees; mumuchuH= shed; pushhpavR^ishhTim= a shower of flowers; yadaa ichchhati= whenever desired; shailaashcha= mountains; jaladaashcha= and clouds; paniiyam= (will shed) water;kim= why; tvam= you; na kurushhe= are not making; buddhim= mind; baaryaardhe= to be the wife; tasya raavaNasya= of such Ravana; nairR^ita raajasya= king of ogres; raajaraajasya= (and) king of kings;

"O one with good eyebrows! O Seetha! By the fear of whom trees shed a shower of flowers, whenever Ravana desired mountains and clouds will shed water, why you are not making mind to be the wife of such Ravana, who is the king of ogres and king of kings."

saadhu te tattvato devi kathitaM saadhu bhaamini || 5-23-21
gR^ihaaNa susmite vaakyamanyathaa na bhaviSyasi |

21. susmite bhaaminii= O Seetha with good smile; devii= O princess! gR^ihaaNa= understand; saadhu vaakyam= kind words; te kathitam= spoken to you; saadhu= well; tattvataH= truly.

"O Seetha with a good smile! O princess! Understand kind words spoken to you well and truly."

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe trayoviMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 23rd Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

Chapter [Sarga] 24

Introduction

Seetha cites the examples of Sachi, Arundhati, Rohini et.al., on their devotion towards their husbands. Ogre women threaten to kill Seetha and eat her

Seetha cites the examples of Sachi, Arundhati, Rohini et.al., on their devotion towards their husbands. Ogre women threaten to kill Seetha and eat her.

tataH siitaamupaagamya raakSasyo vikR^itaananaaH |
paruSaM paruSaa naarya UcustaaM vaakyamapriyam || 5-24-1

1. tataH= Thereafter; raakshasyaH naaryaH= ogre women; parushhaaH= with a cruel nature; vikR^itaananaH= with crooked faces; upaagamya= neared; taam siitaam= that Seetha; uuchuH= (and) spoke; apriyam= unpleasant; vaakyam= words; parushham= harshly.

Thereafter ogre women with a cruel nature, with crooked faces neared that Seetha and spoke unpleasant words harshly.

kiM tvamantaHpure siite sarvabhuutamanohare |
mahaarhashayanopete na vaasamanumanyase || 5-24-2

2. siite= O Seetha; kim= why; tvam= (are) you; naanuamanyase= not agreeing; vaasam= to stay; antaHpure= in the gynaeceum; sarvabhuuta manohare= pleasing to all beings; mahaarhashayanopete= together with the very best beds.

"O Seetha! Why are you not agreeing to stay in the gynaeceum pleasing to all beings together with very best beds."

maanuSii maanuSasyaiva bhaaryaatvaM bahumanyase |
pratyaahara mano raamaanna tvaM jaatu bhaviSyasi || 5-24-3

3. maanyshhii= you who are a human; bahumanyase= are thinking highly; bhaaryaatvam= (about) the wifehood; maanushhasyaiva= of a human being; pratyahaara= withdraw; manaH= mind; raamaat= from Rama; tvam= (otherwise) you; na bhavishhyasi= will not exist; jaatu= at all;

"You who are a human are thinking highly about the wifehood of a human being. Withdraw your mind from Rama. Otherwise you will not exist at all."

trailokyavasubhoktaaraM raavaNaM raakSaseshvaram |
bhartaaramupasaMgamya viharasva yathaasukham || 5-24-4

4. viharasva= sport; yathaasukham= according to (your) comfort; saMgamya= coming together; raakshaseshvaram= (with) the king of ogres; raavaNam= Ravana; trailokyavasubhoktaaram= enjoying luxuries of the three worlds; bhartaaram= (and taking him) as husband.

"Sport according to your comfort coming together with the king of ogres Ravana enjoying luxuries of the three worlds and taking him as husband.

maanuSii maanuSaM taM tu raamamichchhasi shobhane |
raajyaadbhraaSTamasiddhaarthaM viklabaM tvamanindite || 5-24-5

5. shobhane= O beautiful one!; anindite= O irreproachable one!; maanushhii tu= but being a human; tvam= you; iccchhasi= are desiring; tam raamam= that Rama; maanushham= who is a human; bhrashhTam= banished; raajyaat= from kingdom; asiddhaartham= unsuccessful; viklabam= (and) gloomy.

"O beautiful one! O irrreproachable one! But being a human you are desiring that Rama who is a human, banished from kingdom, unsuccessful and gloomy."

raakSasiinaaM vachaH shrutvaa siitaa padmanibhekSaNaa |
netraabhyaamashrupuurNaabhyaamidaM vacanamabraviit || 5-24-6

6. siitaa= Seetha; padma nibhekshaNaa= with eyes like lotuses; shrutvaa= hearing; vachaH= words; raakshasiinaam= of ogre women; abraviit= spoke; idam vachanam= these words; netraabhyaam= with eyes; ashrupuurNaabhyaam= filled with tears.

Seetha with eyes like lotuses hearing the words of ogre women spoke these words with eyes filled with tears.

yadidam lokavidviSTamudaaharatha saMgataaH |
naitanmanasi vaakyaM me kilbiSaM pratibhaati vaH || 5-24-7

7. saMgataa= (all of you) coming together; yat vaakyam= whatever words; lokavidviSTam= which are hated in the world; udaaharatha= you spoke; me= in my matter; etat= this; na pratibhaati= does it not seem; kilbishham= sinful; vaH= in your; manasi= mind;

"All of you coming together whatever words which are hated in the world you spoke in my matter, this does it not seem sinful in your mind?"

na maanuSii raakSasasya bhaaryaa bhavitumarhati |
kaamaM khaadata maaM sarvaa na kariSyaami vo vachaH || 5-24-8

8. maanushhii= Human woman; na arhati= is not suited; bhavitum= to become; bhaaryaa= wife; raakshasasya= of an ogre; sarvaaH= all of you; kaamam= freely; khaadata= eat; maam= me; na karishhyaami= I will not honour; vaH vachanaH= your words.

"Human woman is not waited to become wife of an ogre. All of you freely eat me. I will not honour your words."

diino vaa raajyahiino vaa yo me bhartaa sa me guruH |
taM nityamanuraktaasmi yathaa suuryaM suvarchalaa || 5-24-9

9. diinaH vaa= (although) wretched; raajya hiinaH vaa= or without kingdom; yaH= whoever; me bhartaa= is my husband; saH= He (alone); me= is my; guruH= master; suvarchalaa yathaa= like Suvarchala; suuryam= with the Sun God; anuraktaa asmi tam= I am fond of Him; nityam= always;

"Although wretched or without kingdom, whoever is my husband, He alone is my master. Like Suvarchala with the Sun God, I am fond of Him always."

yathaa shacii mahaabhaagaa shakraM samupatiSThati |
arundhatii vasiSThaM ca rohiNii shashinaM yathaa || 5-24-10
lopaamudraa yathaagastyaM sukanyaacyavanaM yathaa |
saavitrii satyavantaM ca kapilaM shriimatii yathaa || 5-24-11
saudaasaM madayantiiva keshinii sagaraM yathaa |
naiSadhaM damayantiiva bhaimii patimanuvrataa || 5-24-12
tathaahamikSvaakuvaraM raamaM patimanuvrataa |

10, 11, 12. yathaa= like; mahaabhaagaa= the highly fortunate; shachii= Sachi; samupatishhThati= (who) waits; shukram= upon Indra; arundhatii vasishhTham cha= like Arundhati on Vasishta; yathaa= like; rohiNi sashinam= Rohini on the Moon God; yathaa= like; lopamudraa agastyam= Lopamudra on Agastya; sukanyaa chyavanam yathaa= like Sukanya on Chyavana; saavitrii satyavantam= (like) Savitri on Satyavanta; shriimatii kapilam yathaa= like Srimati on Kapila; saudaasam madayantiiva= like Madayanti on Saudasa; keshinii sagaram yathaa= like Kesini on Sagara; damayantiiva= like Damayanti; bhaimii= daughter of Bhima; anuvrataa= devoted; patim naishhadham= to husband Nala; tathaa= in the same way; aham anuvrataa= I am devoted; patim raamam= to my husband Rama; ikshvaakuvaram= best in Ikshvaku dynasty.

"Like the highly fortunate Sachi who waits upon Indra, like Arundhati on Vasishta, like Rohini on the Moon God, like Lopamudra on Agastya, like Sukanya on Chyavana, like Savitri on Satyavanta, like Srimati on Kapila, like Madayanti on Saudasa, like Kesini on Sagara, like Damayanti the daughter of Bhima, devoted to husband Nala, in the same way I am devoted to my husband Rama, the best in Ikshvaku dynasty."

siitaayaa vacanaM shrutvaa raakSasyaH krodhamuurchitaaH || 5-24-13
bhartsayanti sma paruSairvaakyai raavaNacoditaaH |

13. raakshasyaH= ogre women; raavaNa choditaaH= incited by Ravana; shrutvaa= listening; vachanam= to the words; siitaayaaH= of Seetha; krodhamuurchitaaH= swooned with anger; bhartsayanti= frightened (Her); parushhaiH vaakyaiH= with harsh words.

Ogre women incited by Ravana listening to the words of Seetha, swooned with anger and frightened Her with harsh words.

avaliinaH sa nirvaakyo hanumaan shiMshupaadrume || 5-24-14
siitaaM saMtarjayantiistaa raaksasiirashR^iNot kapiH |

14. saH hanumaan= that Hanuma; kapiH= a monkey; nirvaakyaH= not talking; avaliinaH= (and) hiding; shiMshupaa drume = in the Simsupa tree; ashR^iNot= listened; taaH raakshasiiH= to those ogre women; saMtarjayantiiH= frightening; siitaam= Seetha.

That monkey Hanuma not talking and hiding in the Simsupa tree listened to those ogre women frightening Seetha.

taamabhikramya saMkruddaa vepamaanaaM samantataH || 5-24-15
bhR^ishaM saMlilihurdiiptaan pralabman dashanachchhadaan |

15. abhikramya= nearing; taam= that Seetha; vepamaanaam= shaking (with fear); samantataH= in all directions; saMkR^iddhaH= (those ogres) being angry; saMlilihuH= licked; bhR^isham= a lot; diiptaan= shining; pralambaan dashanachchhadaan= hanging lips.

Nearing that Seetha shaking with fear in all directions, those ogres being angry licked a lot shining and hanging lips.

Uchushcha paramakruddhaaH pragR^ihyaashu parashvadhaan || 5-24-16
neyamarhati bhartaaraM raavaNaM raakSasaadhipam |

16. paramkruddhaaH= being angry a lot; pragR^ihya= grasping; aashu= quickly; parashvadhaan= axes; uuchushcha= and spoke; iyam= this woman; naarhati= is not suited; raakshasaadhipam= (to have) the king of ogres; raavaNAm= Ravana; bhartaaram= as husband.

Being angry a lot and grasping axes quickly spoke as follows: "This woman is not suited to have the king of ogres Ravana as husband."

saa bhartasyamaanaa bhiimaabhii raakSasiibhirvaraananaa || 5-24-17
sabaaSpamapasarpantii shiMshupaaM taamupaagamat |

17.bhatsyamaanaa= being frightened; raakshasiibhiH= by ogre women; bhiimaabhiH= who were horrible; saa varaananaa= that Seetha with best face; sabaashhpam= with tears in eyes; apasarpantii= moving from there; uppagamat= reached; taam shiMshupaam= that Simsupa tree.

Being frightened by ogre women who were horrible that Seetha with best face with tears in eyes and moving from there reached that Simsupa tree.

tatastaaM shiMshupaaM siitaa raakSasiibhiH samaavR^itaa || 5-24-18
abhigamya vishaalaakSii tasthau shokapariplutaa |

18. tataH= Thereafter; vishaalaakshii= the wide eyed; siitaa= Seetha; abhigamya= nearing; taam siMsupaam= that Simsupa tree; samaavR^itaa= being surrounded; raakshasiibhiH= by ogre women; tasthau= was situated (there); shokapariplutaa= with gloom.

Thereafter the wide eyed Seetha nearing that Simsupa tree being surrounded by ogre women was situated there with gloom.

taaM kR^ishaaM diinavadanaaM malinaambaradhaariNiim || 5-24-19
bhartsayaaMchakrire siitaaM raakSasyastaam samantataH |

19. taaH= those; raakshasyaH= ogres; bhartsayaaMchakrire= frightened; samantataH= from all directions; taam siitaam= that Seetha; kR^ishaam= (who was) emaciated; diinavadanaam= with a pitiful face; malinaambaradhaariNiim= wearing dirty garments;

Those ogres frightened from all directions that Seetha who was emaciated with a pitiful face and wearing dirty garments.

tatastaaM vinataa naama raakSasii bhiimadarshanaa || 5-24-20
abraviitkupitaakaaraa karaaLaa nirNatodarii |

20. tataH= Thereafter; raakshasii= an ogre woman; vinataa naama= named Vinata; bhiimadarshnaa= with a horrible appearance; kupitaakaaraa= with an angry form; karaaLaa= crooked; nirNatodarii= having a prominent belly; taam abraviit= spoke to Her.

Thereafter an ogre woman named Vinata with a horrible appearance with an angry form, crooked, having a prominent belly spoke to Her.

siite paryaaptametaavadbhartuH sneho nidarshitaH || 5-24-21
sarvaatraatikR^itaM bhadre vyasanaayopakalpate |

21. siite= O Seetha!; snehaH= love; bhartuH= of husband; nidarshitaH= has been shown (by you); etaavat= this much; paryaaptam= is enough; bhadre= O auspicious one!; sarvatra= at all times; atikR^itam= doing (something) excessively; upakalpate= serves as; vyasanaaya= vice ;

"O Seetha! You have showed love of husband. This much is enough. O auspicious one! At all times doing something excessively serves as vice."

parituSTaasmi bhadraM te maanuSaste kR^ito vidhiH || 5-24-22
mamaapi tu vachaH pathyaM bruvantyaaH kuru maithili |

22. maithili= O Seetha! paritushhTaa asmi= I am happy; maanushhaH vidhiH= human duty; kR^itaH= has been done; te= by you; bhadram= (let there be) fortune; te= to you; kuru= do (according to); mama= my; pathyam= wholesome; vachaH api= words also;bruvantyaaH= (which are) being told;

"O Seetha! I am happy. Human duty has been done by you. Let there be fortune to you. Do also according to my wholesome words being told."

raavaNaM bhja bhartaaraM bhartaaraM sarvarakSasaam || 5-24-23
vikraantaM ruupavantaM cha sureshamiva vaasavam |
dakSiNaM tyaagashiilaM cha sarvasya priyadarshanam || 5-24-24

23, 24. bhaja= obtain; bhartaaram= as husband; raavaNam= Ravana; bhartaaram= (who is) the lord; sarva rakshasaam= to all ogres; vikraantam= bold; ruupavantam cha=and handsome; vaasavamiva= like Indra; sureshham= the lord of Devas; dakshiNam= able one; tyaagashiilaM cha= and liberal; priyadarshanam= with a pleasing appearance; sarvasya= to all;

"Obtain as husband Ravana who is the lord of al l ogres, bold and handsome, like Indra the lord of Devas, able one and liberal with a pleasing appearance to all."

maanuSaM kR^ipaNaM raamaM tyaktvaa raavaNamaashraya |
divyaaN^garaagaa vaidehi divyaabharaNabhuuSitaa || 5-24-25
adyaprabhR^iti sarveSaaM lokanaamiishvarii bhava |

25. tyaktvaa= leaving; raamam= Rama; maanushham= a human; kR^ipaNam= miserable; aashraya= seek refuge; raavaNam= (in) Ravana; vaidehi= O Seetha!; divyaN^garaagaa= with best unguents to the body; divyaabharaNa bhuushhitaa= decorated with best ornaments; bhava= become; iishvarii= mistress; sarveshhaam lokaanaam= of all the worlds; adyaprabhR^iti = from today.

"Leaving Rama who is a human and miserable, seek refuge in Ravana. O Seetha! With best unguents to the body and decorated with best ornaments, become mistress of all the worlds from today."

agneH svaahaa yathaa devii shichii vendrasya shobhane || 5-24-26
kiM te raameNa vaidehi kR^ipaNena gataayiSaa |

26. shobhane= O auspicious one!; svahaa yathaa= like Svaha; devii= wife; agneH= of the Fire God; shachiiva= like Sachi; indrasya= (wife) of Indra (become mistress of all worlds; vaidehi= O Seetha!; kim= what (is the use); raameNa= with Rama; kR^paNena= who is miserable; gataayushhaa= and with gone vigour;

"O auspicious one! Like Svaha the wife of the Fire God, like Sachi the wife of Indra become mistress of all worlds. O Seetha! What is the use with Rama who is miserable and with gone vigour."

etaduktaM cha me vaakyaM yadi tvaM na kariSyapi || 5-24-27
asminmuhuurte sarvaastvaaM bhakSayiSyaamahe vayam |

27. tvam na karishhyasi= if you do not do; me etat uktam vaakyam= my this spoken word; vayam sarvaaH= all of us; asmin= in this; muhuurte= moment; bhakshayishhyaamahe= will eat; tvaam= you.

If you do not do my this spoken word, all of us in this moment will eat you.

anyaa tu vikaTaa naama labamaanapayodharaa || 5-24-28
abraviitkupitaa siitaaM muSTimudyamya garjatii |

28. anyya tu= another (ogre); vikaTaa naama= named Vikata; lambamaanapayodharaa= with hanging breasts; udyamaya= rasing; mushhTim= fist; garjatii= roaring; kupitaa= with anger; abraviit= spoke; siitaam= to Seetha.

Another ogre named Vikata with hanging breasts raising fist and roaring with anger spoke to Seetha.

bahUnypriyaruupaaNi vachanaani sudurmate || 5-24-29
anukroshaanmaR^idutvaachcha soDhaani tava maithili |

29. sudurmate maithilii= O Seetha with evil mind!; tava bahuuni vachanaani= your many words; apriyaruupaaNi= very unpleasant ones; sodhaani= have been tolerated; anukroshaat= due to pity; mR^idutvaachcha= and due to softness.

"O Seetha with an evil mind! Your many words which are unpleasant have been tolerated due to pity and due to softness."

na cha naH kuruSe vaakyaM hitaM kaalapuruskR^itam || 5-24-30
aniitaasi samudrasya paaramanyairduraasadam |
raavaNaantaHpuraM ghoraM praviSTaa chaasi maithili || 5-24-31

30, 31. maithili= O Seetha!; na kurushhe cha= you are not doing; naH= our; vaakyam= word; kaalapuraskR^itam= (which is) respected by time; hitam= (and) wholesome; aaniitaa asi= you have been brought; samudrasya paaram= (to this) bank of the ocean; duraasadam= not obtainable; anyaiH= by others; pravishhTaa asi= you have entered; ghoram= terrible; raavaNaanantaHpuram= gynaeceum of Ravana.

"O Seetha! You are not doing according to our word which is respected by time and wholesome. You have been brought to this bank of the ocean not obtainable by others. You have entered the terrible gynaeceum of Ravana."

raavaNasya gR^ihe ruddhaamasmaabhistu surakSitaam |
na tvaaM shaktaH paritraatumapi saakSaatpurandaraH || 5-24-32

32. ruddhaam= withheld; raavaNasya gR^ihe= in the house of Ravana; surakshitaam= well protected; asmaabhiH= by us; purandaraH api= even Devendra; saakshaat= himself; na shaktaH= is not capable; paritraatum= to protect; tvaam= you.

"Withheld in the house of Ravana well protected by us, even Devendra himself is not capable to protect you."

kuruSva hitavaadinyaa vachanaM mama maithili |
alamashruprapaatena tyaja shokamanrthakam || 5-24-33

33. maithili= O Seetha!; kurushhva= do; mama vachanam= (according to) my word; hitavaadinyaaH= (which is) beneficial; ashruprapaatena= discharge of tears;alam= is enough; tyaja= leave; anarthakam= worthless; shokam= gloom.

"O Seetha! Do according to my word, which is beneficial. Discharge of tears is enough. Leave worthless gloom."

bhaja priitiM cha harSaM cha tyajaitaaM nityadainyataam |
siite raakSasaraajena saha kriiDa yathaasukham || 5-24-34

34. siite = O Seetha!;bhaja = have; priitim cha = love; harshham cha = and happiness; tyaja = leave; etaam = this; nityadainyataam = daily gloom; kriiDa = sport; yathaa sukham = according to comfort; raakshasaraajena saha = with the king of ogres.

"O Seetha! Have love and happiness. Leave this daily gloom. Sport according to comfort with the king of ogres."

jaanaasi hi yathaa bhiiru striiNaaM yauvanamadhruvam |
yaavanna te vyatikraamettaavatsukhamavaapnuhi || 5-24-35

35. bhiiru = O timid one!; jaanaasi hi = you know; yathaa = how; yauvanam = youth; striiNaam = of women; adhruvam = is not lasting; yaavat = as long as; te = your (youth);na vyatikraamet = will not pass away; taavat = so long; avaapnuhi = get; sukham = comfort.

"O timid one! You know how youth of women is not lasting. As long as your youth will not pass away, so long get comfort."

udyaanaani ca ramyaaNi parvatopavanaani cha |
saha raakSasaraajena chara tvaM madirekSaNe || 5-24-36

36. madirekshaNe = O one with intoxicating eyes!; tvam = you; raakshasa raajena = along with king of ogres; chara = roam; ramyaaNi udyaanaani = beautiful groves; parvatopavanaani = mountains and nearby forests.

"O one with intoxicating eyes! You along with king of ogres roam beautiful groves, mountains and nearby forests.

striisahasraaNi te sapta vashe sthaasyanti sundari |
raavaNaM bhaja bhartaaraM bhrtaaraM sarvarakSasaam || 5-24-37

37. sundari = O beautiful one!; sapta = seven; strii sahasraaNi = thousand women; sthaasyanti = will be; te vashe = in your control; bhaja = have; bhartaaram = as husband; raavaNam = Ravana; bhartaaram = lord; sarvarakshsaam = of all ogres;

"O beautiful one! seven thousand women will be in your control. Have as husband Ravana the lord of all ogres."

utpaaTya vaa te hR^idayaM bhakSayiSyaami maithili |
yadi me vyaahR^itaM vaakyaM na yathaavatkariSyasi || 5-24-38

38. maithili = O Seetha!; na karishhyasi yadi = if you do not do; me vyaahR^itam vaakyam = (according to) my spoken word; yathhvat = as is; bhakshayishhyaami = I will eat; te hR^idayam = your heart; utpaaTya vaa = (indeed by) plucking it out.

"O Seetha! If you do not do according to my spoken word as is, I will eat your heart indeed by plucking it out."

tatashchaNDodarii naama raakSasii krodhamUrchhitaa |
bhraamayantii mahacchuulamidaM vacanambraviit || 5-24-39

39. tataH = thereafter; raakshasii = an ogre woman; chaNDodarii naama = named Chandodari; krodhamuurchhitaa = swooning with anger; bhraamayantii = turning around; mahat =a big; shuulam = spike; abraviit = spoke; idam = this; vachanam = word.

Thereafter an ogre woman named Chandodari swooning with anger, turning around a big spike spoke this word.

imaaM hariNalolaakSiiM traasotkampipayodharaaM |
raavaNena hR^itaaM dR^iSTvaa dauhR^ido me mahaanabhuut || 5-24-40

40. dR^ishhTvaa = seeing; imaam = this woman; hariNalolaakshiim = with eyes like that of a deer; traasotkampipayodharaam = with moving breasts due to fear; hR^itaam = abducted; raavaNena = by Ravana; abhuut = (there) occurred; me = to me; mahaan = a great; dauhR^idaH = desire.

"Seeing this woman with eyes like that of a deer, with moving breasts due to fear, abducted by Ravana, there occured to me a great desire."

yakR^itlpiihamathotpiiDaM hR^idayaM cha sabandhanam |
antraaNyapi tathaa shiirSaM khaadeyamiti me matiH || 5-24-41

41. me matiH = it is my mind ;khadeyam iti = to eat; yakR^it = the liver; pliiham = the spleen; utpiiDam = flesh above heart; hR^idayaM cha = and heart; sabandhanam = together with muscle; antraaNyapi cha = and entrails; tathaa =and; shiirshham = the head.

"It is my mind to eat the liver, the spleen, flesh above heart and heart together with muscle and entrails and the head."

tatastu praghasaa naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
kaNThamasyaa nR^ishaMsaayaaH piiDayaama kimaasyate || 5-24-42

42. raakshasii = ogre woman; praghasaa naama = named Pragasa; abraviit = spoke; vaakyam = (these) words; pIDayaama = squeeze; kaNTham = the neck; asyaaH = of this; nR^ishaMsaayaaH = cruel woman; kim = why; aasyate = do we delay?

An ogre woman named Pragasa spoke these words : "Squeeze the neck of this cruel woman. Why do we delay?"

nivedyataaM tato raajJNe maanuSii saa mR^iteti ha |
naatra kashchana saMdehaH khaadateti sa vakSyati || 5-24-43

43. tataH = thereafter; nivedyataam = let it be known; raajJNe = to the king (that) ;saa = that; maanushhii = human woman; mR^iteti = has died; saH = he; vakshyati = will say; iti = thus;khaadata = eat; na sandehaH = there is no doubt; atra = in this matter.

"Thereafter let it be known to the king that that human woman has died. He will say thus : "Eat.". There is no doubt in this matter."

tatastvajaamukhii naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
vishasyemaaM tataH sarvaaH samaan kuruta piilukaan || 5-24-44

44. tataH = thereafter; raakshasii = an ogre woman; ajaamukhii naama = named Ajamukhi; abraviit = spoke; vaakyam = (these) words; sarvaaH = all of you; vishasya = killing; imaam = this woman; tataH = thereafter; kuruta = do; samaan = equal; piilukaan = pieces.

Thereafter an ogre woman named Ajamukhi spoke these words : "All of you killing this woman thereafter do equal pieces."

vibhajaama tataH sarvaa vivaado me na rochate |
peyamaaniiyataaM kSipraM lehyamuchchaavachaM bahu || 5-24-45

tataH = thereafter; sarvaaH = all of us; vibhajaama = will divide; vivaadaH = quarrel; na rochate = is not desirable; me = to me; peyam = liquor; uchchaavacham = many kinds; bahu = a lot of; lehyam = lickables; aniiyataam = be brought; kshipram = quickly.

"Thereafter all of us will divide. Quarrel is not desirable to me. Liquor, many kinds and a lot of lickables be brought quickly."

tataH shuurpaNakhaa naama raakSasii vaakyamabraviit |
ajaamukhyaa yaduktaM hi tadeva mama rochate || 5-24-46

46. tataH = thereafter; raakshasii = an ogre woman; shuurpaNakhaa naama = named Surpanakha; abraviit = spoke; vaakyam = (these) words; yat = that; uktaam = (which was) spoken; ajaamukhyaa = by Ajamukhi; tadeva = that; rochate = is desirable; mama = to me.

Thereafter an ogre woman named Surpanakha spoke these words: "That which was spoken by Ajamukhi, is desirable to me."

suraa chaaniiyataaM kSipraM sarvashokavinaashinii |
maanuSaM maaM samaasvaadya nR^ityaamotha nikumbhilaam || 5-24-47

47. suraa cha = liquor; sarvashokavinaashinii = (which is the) destroyer of all sorrow; aniiyataam = be brought; kshipram = quickly;aasvaadya = eating; maanushham maaMsam = human flesh; atha = afterwards; nR^ityaamaH = we will dance; nikumbhilaam = for (propitiating) Nikumbhila;

"Liquor which is the destroyer of all sorrow be brought quickly. Eating human flesh afterwards, we will dance for propitiating Nikumbila."

evaM saMbhartsyamaanaa saa siitaa surasutopamaa |
raakSasiibhiH sughoraabhirdhairyamutsR^ijya roditi || 5-24-48

48. evam = thus; saMbhartsyamaanaa = being frightened; sughoraabhiH = by horrible; raakshasiibhiH = ogres; saa siitaa = that Seetha; surasutopamaa = equalling a daughter of gods; utsR^ijya = abandoning; dhairyam = fortitude; rodati = is crying.

Thus being frightened by horrible ogres, that Seetha equalling a daughter of gods, abandoning fortitude, was crying.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe chaturviMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 24th Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection