सीताहरणम् — Ravana reveals his true form and abducts Sita
अरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga concentrates the transition from verbal coercion to physical seizure. After hearing Sītā’s resistance, Rāvaṇa strikes his palms and enlarges into a fearsome form, abandoning the mendicant disguise and adopting a death-like appearance adorned with gold and red garments. He attempts persuasion by self-praise—claiming world-famous status, the capacity to assume forms at will, and superhuman martial power—then shifts to denigration of Rāma as a banished mortal living amid wild beasts. The discourse turns into action: Rāvaṇa grasps Sītā by the hair and thighs, terrifies the forest-deities, summons an illusory golden chariot harnessed with asses, and places her upon it. As she is carried through the sky, Sītā cries out to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, appeals to time and karmic consequence, and calls upon Janasthāna’s trees, mountains (Mālyavān, Prasravaṇa), and the Godāvarī river as witnesses to report the abduction. She then sees Jaṭāyu and implores him to inform Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with exact details, establishing a chain of testimony crucial for the epic’s ensuing pursuit.
Verse 3.49.1
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवः प्रतापवाम्।हस्ते हस्तं समाहत्य चकार सुमहद्वपुः।।3.49.1।।
Hearing Sītā’s words, the mighty Daśagrīva struck palm against palm and assumed a vastly enlarged form.
Verse 3.49.2
स मैथिलीं पुनर्वाक्यं बभाषे च ततो भृशम्।नोन्मत्तया श्रुतौ मन्ये मम वीर्यपराक्रमौ।।3.49.2।।
He spoke again with great force to Maithilī: “I think you are not in your right senses, for you have not heeded my strength and valor.”
Verse 3.49.3
उद्वहेयं भुजाभ्यां तु मेदिनीमम्बरे स्थितः।आपिबेयं समुद्रं च हन्यां मृत्युं रणे स्थितः।।3.49.3।।
Standing in the sky, I could lift the earth with my arms; I could drink up the ocean; standing in battle, I could even strike down Death.
Verse 3.49.4
अर्कं ऱुन्ध्यां शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्विभिन्द्या हि महीतलम्।कामरूपिणमुन्मत्ते पश्य मां कामदं पतिम्।।3.49.4।।
You cannot restrain this cruel night-roamer; he is powerful, victorious in battle, armed, and wicked-minded.
Verse 3.49.5
एवमुक्तवतस्तस्य सूर्यकल्पे शिखिप्रभे।क्रुद्धस्य हरिपर्यन्ते रक्ते नेत्रे बभूवतुः।।3.49.5।।
Thus, as he spoke in wrath, his eyes—sunlike, blazing as fire, tawny at the edges—turned blood-red.
Verse 3.49.6
सद्यस्सौम्यं परित्यज्य भिक्षुरूपं स रावणः।स्वं रूपं कालरूपाभं भेजे वैश्रवणानुजः।।3.49.6।।
At once Rāvaṇa—Kubera’s younger brother—cast off the gentle guise of a mendicant and assumed his own form, terrifying like Death itself.
Verse 3.49.7
संरक्तनयनश्श्रीमांस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणः।क्रोधेन महताविष्टो नीलजीमूतसन्निभः।।3.49.7।।दशास्यः कार्मुकी बाणी बभूव क्षणदाचरः।
Overcome by fierce anger, the glorious ten-faced night-ranger (Rāvaṇa), his eyes reddened and his body gleaming with heated-gold ornaments, looked like a dark rain-cloud as he stood armed with bow and arrows.
Verse 3.49.8
स परिव्राजकच्छद्म महाकायो विहाय तत्।।3.49.8।।प्रतिपद्य स्वकं रूपं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः।संरक्तनयनः क्रोधाज्जीमूतनिचयप्रभः।।3.49.9।।रक्ताम्बरधरस्तस्थौ स्त्रीरत्नं प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्।
Casting off that mendicant’s disguise, the mighty-bodied Rāvaṇa—the lord of the rākṣasas—assumed his own true form.
Verse 3.49.9
स परिव्राजकच्छद्म महाकायो विहाय तत्।।3.49.8।।प्रतिपद्य स्वकं रूपं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः।संरक्तनयनः क्रोधाज्जीमूतनिचयप्रभः।।3.49.9।।रक्ताम्बरधरस्तस्थौ स्त्रीरत्नं प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्।
His eyes reddened with anger and his radiance like piled storm-clouds, he stood clad in red garments, gazing upon Maithilī—Sītā, the jewel among women.
Verse 3.49.10
स तामसितकेशान्तां भास्करस्य प्रभामिव।।3.49.10।। वसनाभरणोपेतां मैथिलीं रावणोऽब्रवीत्।
Rāvaṇa addressed Maithilī—her dark hair gleaming, radiant like the Sun’s splendor, adorned with garments and ornaments.
Verse 3.49.11
त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं यदि भर्तारमिच्छसि।।3.49.11।।मामाश्रय वरारोहे तवाहं सदृशः पतिः।
“If you desire a husband renowned across the three worlds, O fair-hipped lady, take refuge in me—for I am a fitting husband for you.”
Verse 3.49.12
मां भजस्व चिराय त्वमहं श्लाघ्यः प्रियस्तव।।3.49.12।।नैव चाहं क्वचिद्भद्रे करिष्ये तव विप्रियम्।त्यज्यतां मानुषे भावो मयि भावः प्रणीयताम्।।3.49.13।।
“Accept me for the long term; I am worthy of praise and dear to you. Never, auspicious lady, will I cause you any displeasure. Let your attachment to a mere human be abandoned—let your love be turned toward me.”
Verse 3.49.13
मां भजस्व चिराय त्वमहं श्लाघ्यः प्रियस्तव।।3.49.12।।नैव चाहं क्वचिद्भद्रे करिष्ये तव विप्रियम्।त्यज्यतां मानुषे भावो मयि भावः प्रणीयताम्।।3.49.13।।
“Rāma has been cast out from kingship, has achieved no aim, and has but a limited span of life. By what virtues are you devoted to him, you foolish woman who fancies herself wise? For that misguided man abandoned his kingdom and his friends at a woman’s word, and now dwells in this forest haunted by beasts.”
Verse 3.49.14
राज्याच्च्युतमसिद्धार्थं रामं परिमितायुषम्।कैर्गुणैरनुरक्तासि मूढे पण्डितमानिनि।।3.49.14।।यः स्त्रिया वचनाद्राज्यं विहाय ससुहृज्जनम्।अस्मिन्व्यालानुचरिते वने वसति दुर्मतिः।।3.49.15।।
Having spoken thus to Maithilī—gentle of speech and worthy of love—the wicked-souled rākṣasa, deluded by lust, approached and seized Sītā, as Budha (Mercury) in the sky seizes Rohiṇī.
Verse 3.49.15
राज्याच्च्युतमसिद्धार्थं रामं परिमितायुषम्।कैर्गुणैरनुरक्तासि मूढे पण्डितमानिनि।।3.49.14।।यः स्त्रिया वचनाद्राज्यं विहाय ससुहृज्जनम्।अस्मिन्व्यालानुचरिते वने वसति दुर्मतिः।।3.49.15।।
He, of perverse judgment, abandoned the kingdom along with his friends and well-wishers at a woman’s word, and now dwells in this forest haunted by wild beasts.
Verse 3.49.16
इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं वाक्यं प्रियार्हां प्रियवादिनीम्।अभिगम्य सुदुष्टात्मा राक्षसः काममोहितः।।3.49.16।।जग्राह रावणस्सीतां बुधः खे रोहिणीमिव।
Having thus spoken to Maithilī, worthy of love and gentle of speech, the rākṣasa—evil at heart and deluded by desire—approached and seized Sītā, as Budha (Mercury) in the heavens seizes Rohiṇī.
Verse 3.49.17
वामेन सीतां पद्माक्षीं मूर्धजेषु करेण सः।।3.49.17।।ऊर्वोस्तु दक्षिणेनैव परिजग्राह पाणिना।
With his left hand he seized lotus-eyed Sītā by her hair, and with his right hand he gripped her beneath the thighs.
Verse 3.49.18
तं दृष्ट्वा मृत्युसङ्काशं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं महाभुजम्।।3.49.18।।प्राद्रवन्गिरिसङ्काशं भयार्ता वनदेवताः।
Seeing him—deathlike in appearance, sharp-fanged, mighty-armed, and mountainlike—the deities of the forest fled in terror.
Verse 3.49.19
स च मायामयो दिव्यः खरयुक्तः खरस्वनः।।3.49.19।।प्रत्यदृश्यत हेमाङ्गो रावणस्य महारथः।
Then there appeared Rāvaṇa’s great chariot—golden-limbed, wondrous and wrought of illusion—yoked to donkeys and resounding with their braying.
Verse 3.49.20
ततस्तां परुषैर्वाक्यैर्भर्त्सयन्स महास्वनः।।3.49.20।।अङ्केनादाय वैदेहीं रथमारोपयत्तदा।
Then, thundering loudly and scolding her with harsh words, he lifted Vaidehī onto his lap and set her upon the chariot.
Verse 3.49.21
सा गृहीता विचुक्रोश रावणेन यशस्स्विनी।।3.49.21।।रामेति सीता दुःखार्ता रामं दूरगतंवने।
Seized by Rāvaṇa, the illustrious Sītā cried out in grief, “Rāma!”—calling to him who was far away in the forest.
Verse 3.49.22
तामकामां स कामार्तः पन्नगेन्द्रवधूमिव।।3.49.22।।विवेष्टमानामादाय उत्पपाताथ रावणः।
Tormented by desire, Rāvaṇa seized her—unwilling and writhing like the bride of the serpent-king—and then sprang up into the air with her.
Verse 3.49.23
ततस्सा राक्षसेन्द्रेण ह्रियमाणा विहायसा।।3.49.23।।भृशं चुक्रोश मत्तेव भ्रान्तचित्ता यथाऽऽतुरा।
Then, borne through the sky by the lord of rākṣasas, she cried out loudly—like one distraught, her mind reeling as though maddened by anguish.
Verse 3.49.24
हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो गुरुचित्तप्रसादक।।3.49.24।।ह्रियमाणां न जानीषे रक्षसा माममर्षिणा।
“Alas, Lakṣmaṇa, mighty-armed—you who once soothed your elder brother’s heart—do you not know that I am being carried away by this wrathful rākṣasa?”
Verse 3.49.25
जीवितं सुखमर्थांश्च धर्महेतोः परित्यजन्।।3.49.25।।ह्रियमाणामधर्मेण मां राघव न पश्यसि।
“O Rāghava, for the sake of dharma you have renounced life’s comforts and possessions—do you not see me being carried off by an unrighteous deed?”
Verse 3.49.26
ननु नामाविनीतानां विनेतासि परन्तप।।3.49.26।।कथमेवंविधं पापं न त्वं शासि हि रावणम्।
“O scorcher of foes! You are known as the chastiser of the insolent—how is it, then, that you do not punish a sinner of this kind, Rāvaṇa?”
Verse 3.49.27
ननु सद्योऽविनीतस्य दृश्यते कर्मणःफलम्।।3.49.27।।कालोऽप्यङ्गीभवत्यत्र सस्यानामिव पक्तये।
“The fruit of an insolent person’s deed is not always seen at once; time too becomes a necessary factor here—just as crops ripen only in due season.”
Verse 3.49.28
त्वं कर्म कृतवानेतत्कालोपहतचेतनः।।3.49.28।।जीवितान्तकरं घोरं रामाद्व्यसनमाप्नुहि।
“With your mind struck down by Time, you have done this deed; from Rāma a dreadful calamity will befall you—one that brings life to its end.”
Verse 3.49.29
हन्तेदानीं सकामास्तु कैकेयी सह बान्धवैः।।3.49.29।।ह्रिये यद्धर्मकामस्य धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनः।
Alas—let Kaikeyī, with all her kin, have her desire fulfilled now, for in shame the dharmapatnī, the lawful wife of the glorious Rāma, devoted to dharma, is being carried off.
Verse 3.49.30
आमन्त्रये जनस्थाने कर्णिकारान्सुपुष्पितान्।।3.49.30।।क्षिप्रं रामाय शंसध्वं सीतां हरति रावणः।
I call upon you—karnikāra trees in bloom at Jana-sthāna: quickly tell Rāma that Rāvaṇa is carrying Sītā away.
Verse 3.49.31
माल्यवन्तं शिखरिणं वन्दे प्रस्रवणं गिरिम्।।3.49.31।।क्षिप्रं रामाय शंस त्वं सीतां हरति रावणः।
I bow to the mountain Mālyavat and to Mount Prasravaṇa. Quickly tell Rāma: ‘Rāvaṇa is carrying Sītā away.’
Verse 3.49.32
हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णां वन्दे गोदावरीं नदीम्।।3.49.32।।क्षिप्रं रामाय शंस त्वं सीतां हरति रावणः।
I bow to the river Godāvarī, filled with swans and kāraṇḍava birds. Quickly tell Rāma: ‘Rāvaṇa is carrying Sītā away.’
Verse 3.49.33
दैवतानि च यान्यस्मिन्वने विविधपादपे।।3.49.33।।नमस्करोम्यहं तेभ्योभर्तुश्शंसत मां हृताम्।
To all the deities who dwell in this forest of many kinds of trees, I bow in reverence. Tell my husband that I have been seized and carried away.
Verse 3.49.34
यानि कानि चिदप्यत्र सत्त्वानि निवसन्त्युत।।3.49.34।।सर्वाणि शरणं यामि मृगपक्षिगणानपि।
Whatever living beings dwell here—indeed all of them—I seek as refuge, even the herds of animals and the flocks of birds.
Verse 3.49.35
ह्रियमाणां प्रियां भर्तुः प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम्।।3.49.35।।विवशाऽपहृता सीता रावणेनेति शंसत।
Tell Rāma that Sītā—his beloved, dearer to him than life itself—has been carried off by Rāvaṇa while she was helpless.
Verse 3.49.36
विदित्वा मां महाबाहुरमुत्रापि महाबलः।।3.49.36।।आनेष्यति पराक्रम्य वैवस्वतहृतामपि।
If he learns of me, that mighty, long-armed hero will bring me back by his valor—even if Vaivasvata (Yama) himself had taken me away, even from his realm.
Verse 3.49.37
सा तदा करुणा वाचो विलपन्ती सुदुःखिता।।3.49.37।।वनस्पतिगतं गृध्रं ददर्शाऽयतलोचना।
Then Sītā, large-eyed and overwhelmed with sorrow, lamenting in piteous words, saw a vulture perched upon a tree.
Verse 3.49.38
सा तमुद्वीक्ष्य सुश्रोणी रावणस्य वशं गता।3.49.38।।समाक्रन्दद्भयपरा दुःखोपहतया गिरा।
Seeing him, Sītā—fair-hipped, yet fallen into Rāvaṇa’s power—cried out in fear, her voice broken by grief.
Verse 3.49.39
जटायो पश्य मामद्य ह्रियमाणामनाथवत्।।3.49.39।।अनेन राक्षसेन्द्रेण करुणं पापकर्मणा।
O Jaṭāyu, look at me now—carried off pitiably like one without a protector—by this lord of rākṣasas, a man of sinful deeds.
Verse 3.49.40
नैष वारयितुं शक्यस्तव क्रूरो निशाचरः।।3.49.40।।सत्त्वाञ्जितकाशी च सायुधश्चैव दुर्मतिः।
O Jaṭāyu, you must tell Rāma the truth of my abduction exactly as it occurred—and tell Lakṣmaṇa too, in full, leaving nothing out.
Verse 3.49.41
रामाय तु यथातत्त्वं जटायो हरणं मम।।3.49.41।।लक्ष्मणाय च तत्सर्वमाख्यातव्यमशेषतः।
“With sharp arrows I could even obstruct the sun and shatter the earth. O mad woman—look at me: a husband who grants desires, able to assume forms at will.”