सीताहरणोत्तरं लङ्काप्रवेशः — Sita’s Abduction and Ravana’s Entry into Lanka
अरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga tracks the abduction sequence’s closing arc and its immediate political aftermath. As Vaidehi is carried away, she searches in vain for protection and sees five eminent vanaras stationed on a mountain peak; in a tactical act of signaling, she drops her silk upper cloth and ornaments among them, hoping they will inform Rama, while Ravana—caught in the excitement of flight—fails to notice. Ravana’s aerial passage is rendered as swift and arrow-like, crossing forests, rivers, mountains, tanks, and the ocean (Varuna’s abode), whose waves and creatures are described as stilled in bewilderment at Sita’s seizure; celestial charanas and siddhas pronounce an ominous prophecy: “this is your end.” Upon reaching Lanka, Ravana proceeds through well-laid roads and guarded palace halls into the inner apartments, where Sita—overcome by grief—is confined in the harem. He orders fearsome rakshasi guards to prevent any unauthorized sight of her, commands that her desired comforts be provided, and threatens death for anyone who speaks harshly to her. Exiting the inner chambers and contemplating next steps, Ravana addresses eight powerful rakshasas, praising their strength and dispatching them to the now-desolate Janasthana to gather intelligence on Rama and to maintain constant efforts toward his death. The sarga closes by marking Ravana’s deluded joy at possessing Sita, while unknowingly intensifying the ultimate enmity that will bring his downfall.
Verse 3.54.1
ह्रियमाणा तु वैदेही कञ्चिन्नाथमपश्यती।ददर्श गिरिशृङ्गस्थान्पञ्च वानरपुङ्गवान्।।।।
As Vaidehī was being carried away, seeing no protector at hand, she beheld upon a mountain peak five mighty leaders among the monkeys.
Verse 3.54.2
तेषां मध्ये विशालाक्षी कौशेयं कनकप्रभम्।उत्तरीयं वरारोहा शुभान्याभरणानि च।।।।मुमोच यदि रामाय शंसेयुरिति मैथिली।
In their very midst, the large-eyed Maithilī—noble in bearing—let fall her golden-shining silk upper cloth and her auspicious ornaments, hoping that they might convey word of this to Rāma.
Verse 3.54.3
वस्त्रमुत्सृज्य तन्मध्ये निक्षिप्तं सहभूषणम्।।।।सम्भ्रमात्तु दशग्रीवस्तत्कर्म न स बुद्धवान्।
The foremost of the monkeys, tawny-eyed, beheld Sītā—wide-eyed and crying out in distress—and stared as though unblinking.
Verse 3.54.4
पिङ्गाक्षास्तां विशालाक्षीं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव।।।।विक्रोशन्तीं तथा सीतां ददृशुर्वानरर्षभाः।
Exulting, Rāvaṇa carried her away—though she was his very death—like a man who lifts onto his lap a sharp-fanged, most venomous she-serpent.
Verse 3.54.5
स च पम्पामतिक्रम्य लङ्कामभिमुखः पुरीम्।।।।जगाम रुदतीं गृह्य वैदेहीं राक्षसेश्वरः।
Like an arrow released from a bow, he swiftly sped through the sky, passing over forests, rivers, mountains, and lakes.
Verse 3.54.6
तां जहार सुसंहृष्टो रावणो मृत्युमात्मनः।।।।उत्सङ्गेनेव भुजगीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां महाविषाम्।
He crossed the ocean—home of whales and crocodiles, the inexhaustible dwelling of Varuṇa, and the refuge into which all rivers flow.
Verse 3.54.7
वनानि सरितश्शैलांत्सरांसि च विहायसा।।।।स क्षिप्रं समतीयाय शरश्चापादिव च्युतः।
As Vaidehī was being carried off, the ocean—Varuṇa’s abode—grew bewildered: its waves turned back, and the motion of great fish and serpents was stilled.
Verse 3.54.8
तिमिनक्रनिकेतं तु वरुणालयमक्षयम्।।।।सरितां शरणं गत्वा समतीयाय सागरम्।
Then the eight rākṣasas, having received Rāvaṇa’s pleasing words of weighty import, saluted him and departed together from Laṅkā toward Janasthāna, moving so as to remain unseen.
Verse 3.54.9
सम्भ्रमात्परिवृत्तोर्मी रुद्धमीनमहोरगः।।।।वैदेह्यां ह्रियमाणायां बभूव वरुणालयः।
Then, having obtained Sītā and taken Maithilī into his power, Rāvaṇa was filled with joy; yet, deluded by folly, that rākṣasa became the instigator of the fiercest enmity with Rāma.
Verse 3.54.10
अन्तरिक्षगता वाचस्ससृजुश्चारणास्तदा।।।।एतदन्तो दशग्रीव इति सिद्धास्तदाब्रुवन्।
Then the Cāraṇas, moving through the sky, sent forth their voices; and the Siddhas declared: “O Daśagrīva, this is your end.”
Verse 3.54.11
स तु सीतां विवेष्टन्तीमङ्केनादाय रावणः।।।।प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां रूपिणीं मृत्युमात्मनः।
But Rāvaṇa, taking Sītā—writhing and struggling—in the crook of his arm, entered the city of Laṅkā, bearing in her the embodied form of his own death.
Verse 3.54.12
सोऽभिगम्य पुरीं लङ्कां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्।।।।संरूढकक्ष्याबहुलं स्वमन्तःपुरमाविशत्।
Having reached the city of Laṅkā with its broad, well-laid roads, he passed through the many strongly secured enclosures and entered his own inner palace apartments.
Verse 3.54.13
तत्र तामसितापाङ्गां शोकमोहपरायणाम्।।।।निदधे रावणस्सीतां मयो मायामिवस्त्रियम्।
There Rāvaṇa placed Sītā—dark-eyed, given over to grief and bewilderment—just as it is said the asura Maya kept Māyā, a woman of illusion.
Verse 3.54.14
अब्रवीच्च दशग्रीवः पिशाचीर्घोरदर्शनाः।।।।यथा नेमां पुमान् स्त्री वा सीतां पश्यत्यसम्मतः।
Then Daśagrīva commanded the frightful-looking pishācī: “Let no man or woman see this Sītā without my permission.”
Verse 3.54.15
मुक्तामणिसुवर्णानि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च।।।।यद्यदिच्छेत्तदेवास्या देयं मच्छन्दतो यथा।
“Pearls, gems, gold, garments, and ornaments—whatever she may desire, let it be given to her at once, according to my will.”
Verse 3.54.16
या च वक्ष्यति वैदेहीं वचनं किञ्चिदप्रियम्।।।।अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानान्न तस्या जीवितं प्रियम्।
“And whoever speaks to Vaidehī even a slightly harsh word—whether out of ignorance or knowingly—let them not hold their life dear (they must not be spared).”
Verse 3.54.17
तथोक्त्वा राक्षसीस्तास्तु राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्।।।।निष्क्रम्यान्तः पुरात्तस्मात्किंकृत्यमिति चिन्तयन्।ददर्शाष्टौ महावीर्यान्राक्षसान्पिशिताशनान्।।।।
Having thus instructed those rākṣasī, the powerful lord of the rākṣasas came out from the inner palace; and, thinking “What should be done now?”, he saw eight mighty, flesh-eating demons.
Verse 3.54.18
तथोक्त्वा राक्षसीस्तास्तु राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्।।3.54.17।।निष्क्रम्यान्तः पुरात्तस्मात्किंकृत्यमिति चिन्तयन्।ददर्शाष्टौ महावीर्यान्राक्षसान्पिशिताशनान्।।3.54.18।।
Seeing them, that mighty one—deluded by the boons he had obtained—praised their strength and valor and spoke these words to them.
Verse 3.54.19
स तान्दृष्ट्वा महावीर्यो वरदानेन मोहितः।उवाचैतानिदं वाक्यं प्रशस्य बलवीर्यतः।।।।
Seeing them, that mighty Ravana, deluded by the boons he had received, praised their strength and valor and spoke these words to them.
Verse 3.54.20
नानाप्रहरणाः क्षिप्रमितो गच्छत सत्वराः।जनस्थानं हतस्थानं भूतपूर्वं खरालयम्।।।।
Armed with various weapons, go quickly from here—at once, without delay—to Janasthāna, the place where Khara once dwelt and where he was slain.
Verse 3.54.21
तत्रोष्यतां जनस्थाने शून्ये निहतराक्षसे।पौरुषं बलमाश्रित्य त्रासमुत्सृज्य दूरतः।।।।
Dwell there in Janasthāna—now desolate, its rākṣasas slain—casting fear far away and relying on your valor and strength.
Verse 3.54.22
बलं हि सुमहद्यन्मे जनस्थाने निवेशितम्।सदूषणखरं युद्धे हतं रामेण सायकैः।।।।
For the mighty force I had stationed in Janasthāna—together with Dūṣaṇa and Khara—was slain in battle by Rāma with his arrows.
Verse 3.54.23
तत क्रोधो ममामर्षाद्धैर्यस्योपरि वर्तते।वैरं च सुमहज्जातं रामं प्रति सुदारुणम्।।।।
Therefore, from my intolerant resentment, anger rises beyond the bounds of my patience; and a very great, dreadful enmity toward Rāma has been born in me.
Verse 3.54.24
निर्यातयितुमिच्छामि तच्च वैरमहं रिपोः।न हि लप्स्याम्यहं निद्रामहत्वा संयुगे रिपुम्।।।।
I desire to exact that enmity upon my foe; for I shall not find sleep until, in battle, I have slain the enemy.
Verse 3.54.25
तं त्विदानीमहं हत्वा खरदूषणघातिनम्।रामं शर्मोपलप्स्यामि धनं लब्ध्वेव निर्धनः।।।।
Only after slaying Rāma—the killer of Khara and Dūṣaṇa—shall I gain contentment, like a penniless man who becomes joyful upon obtaining wealth.
Verse 3.54.26
जनस्थाने वसद्भिस्तु भवद्भीराममाश्रिता।प्रवृत्तिरुपनेतव्या किञ्करोतीति तत्त्वतः।।।।
While you dwell in Janasthāna, keeping watch on Rāma, you must bring me accurate intelligence—what Rāma is doing and how he is proceeding, in truth.
Verse 3.54.27
अप्रमादाच्च गन्तव्यं सर्वैरपि निशाचरैः।कर्तव्यश्च सदा यत्नो राघवस्य वधं प्रति।।।।
All you night-roamers must proceed without heedlessness; and you must ever strive toward the slaying of Rāghava (Rāma).
Verse 3.54.28
युष्माकं च बलज्ञोऽहं बहुशो रणमूर्धनि।अतश्चास्मिन् जनस्थाने मया यूयं नियोजिताः।।।।
I know your strength well, proven many times on the very forefront of battle; therefore, here in Janasthāna, I have appointed you to this task.
Verse 3.54.29
ततः प्रियं वाक्यमुपेत्य राक्षसा महार्थमष्टावभिवाद्य रावणम्।विहाय लङ्कां सहिताः प्रतस्थिरे यतो जनस्थानमलक्ष्यदर्शनाः।।।।
In the turmoil, Sītā cast down a cloth among them, together with her ornaments; but Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa), in his agitation, did not grasp what she had done.
Verse 3.54.30
ततस्तु सीतामुपलभ्य रावणः सुसम्प्रहृष्टः परिगृह्य मैथिलीम्।प्रसज्य रामेण च वैरमुत्तमं बभूव मोहान्मुदितस्सराक्षसः।।।।
Crossing Lake Pampā, the lord of the rākṣasas went toward the city of Laṅkā, bearing Vaidehī as she wept.