Sarga 20

Verse 5.20.1

स तां परिवृतां दीनां निरानन्दां तपस्विनीम्।साकारैर्मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्न्यदर्शयत रावणः।।5.20.1।।

Rāvaṇa addressed her—Sītā, like an ascetic—surrounded by guards, downcast and joyless; and with sweet, artful words he sought to press his intent upon her.

Verse 5.20.2

मां दृष्ट्वा नागनासोरु गूहमाना स्तनोदरम्।अदर्शनमिवात्मानं भयान्नेतुं त्वमिच्छसि।।5.20.2।।

Seeing me, O woman with thighs like an elephant’s trunk, you hide your breasts and belly, as though, out of fear, you wished to make yourself unseen to me.

Verse 5.20.3

कामये त्वां विशालाक्षि बहुमन्यस्व मां प्रिये।सर्वाङ्गगुणसम्पन्ने सर्वलोकमनोहरे।।5.20.3।।

O Sītā, here there is no man, nor any shapeshifting rākṣasa, who can remove the fear in you that arises because of me.

Verse 5.20.4

नेह केचिन्मनुष्या वा राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः।व्यपसर्पतु ते सीते भयं मत्तः समुत्थितम्।।5.20.4।।

In the forest groves by the seashore—where stretches of blossoming trees are filled with bees—adorned with a pure golden garland, roam with me, O timid lady.

Verse 5.20.5

स्वधर्मो रक्षसां भीरु सर्वथैव न संशयः।गमनं वा परस्त्रीणां हरणं सम्प्रमथ्य वा।।5.20.5।।

O timid lady, this is indeed the very dharma of the rākṣasas in every way, without doubt: to approach other men’s wives, or to seize them by force through abduction.

Verse 5.20.6

एवं चैतदकामां तु न त्वां स्प्रक्ष्यामि मैथिलि।कामं कामः शरीरे मे यथाकामं प्रवर्तताम्।।5.20.6।।

So be it; yet, O Maithilī, since you are unwilling, I will not touch you. Let desire indeed course through my body as it pleases.

Verse 5.20.7

देवि नेह भयं कार्यं मयि विश्वसि हि प्रिये।प्रणयस्व च तत्त्वेन मैवं भूः शोकलालसा।।5.20.7।।

O lady, there is no need for fear here; trust in me, dear one. Show affection truly, and do not remain one who clings to grief.

Verse 5.20.8

एकवेणी धराशय्या ध्यानं मलिनमम्बरम्।अस्थानेऽप्युपवासश्च नैतान्यौपयिकानि ते।।5.20.8।।

With your hair in a single braid, lying on the bare ground, brooding, wearing soiled garments, and fasting without proper occasion—none of this is fitting for you.

Verse 5.20.9

विचित्राणि च माल्यानि चन्दनान्यगरूणि च।विविधानि च वासांसि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च।।5.20.9।।महार्हाणि च पानानि शयनान्यासनानि च।गीतं नृत्तं च वाद्यं च लभ मां प्राप्य मैथिलि।।5.20.10।।

O Maithilī, having obtained me, you may enjoy splendid garlands, sandal and aloe-wood perfumes, many kinds of garments, and divine ornaments; also costly drinks, beds and seats—and song, dance, and music as well.

Verse 5.20.10

विचित्राणि च माल्यानि चन्दनान्यगरूणि च।विविधानि च वासांसि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च।।5.20.9।।महार्हाणि च पानानि शयनान्यासनानि च।गीतं नृत्तं च वाद्यं च लभ मां प्राप्य मैथिलि।।5.20.10।।

O Maithilī, once you have obtained me, enjoy costly drinks, beds and seats, and also singing, dancing, and music.

Verse 5.20.11

स्त्रीरत्नमसि मैवं भूः कुरु गात्रेषु भूषणम्।मां प्राप्य हि कथं नु स्वास्त्वमनर्हा सुविग्रहे।।5.20.11।।

You are a jewel among women—do not remain thus; adorn your limbs with ornaments. O fair-bodied one, having obtained me, how could you ever be unworthy of prosperity and well-being?

Verse 5.20.12

इदं ते चारु सञ्जातं यौवनं व्यतिवर्तते।यदतीतं पुनर्नैति स्रोतः शीघ्रमपामिव।।5.20.12।।

This lovely youth that has arisen in you is passing away; what has gone does not return again—like the swift current of water.

Verse 5.20.13

त्वां कृत्वोपरतो मन्ये रूपकर्ता स विश्वसृक्।न हि रूपोपमा त्वन्या तवास्ति शुभदर्शने।।5.20.13।।

O woman of auspicious beauty, I deem that the Fashioner of forms, the Maker of the world, ceased his labor after creating you; for no other woman exists who can be likened to your loveliness.

Verse 5.20.14

त्वां समासाद्य वैदेहि रूपयौवनशालिनीम्।कः पुमानतिवर्तेत साक्षादपि पितामहः।।5.20.14।।

O Vaidehī, radiant with beauty and youth—what man could remain composed upon attaining you, even were he Pitāmaha (Brahmā) himself?

Verse 5.20.15

यद्यत्पश्यामि ते गात्रं शीतांशुसदृशानने।तस्मिंस्तस्मिन् पृथुश्रोणि चक्षुर्मम निबध्यते।।5.20.15।।

O moon-faced lady, O broad-hipped one—whatever limb of yours I behold, upon that very part my eyes become fastened.

Verse 5.20.16

भव मैथिलि भार्या मे मोहमेनं विसर्जय।बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणामाहृतानामितस्ततः।।5.20.16।।सर्वासामेव भद्रं ते ममाग्रमहिषी भव।

O Maithilī, become my wife; cast away this delusion. Among the many noble women brought from here and there, be—may you be blessed—my foremost queen-consort.

Verse 5.20.17

लोकेभ्यो यानि रत्नानि सम्प्रमथ्याहृतानि वै।।5.20.17।।तानि मे भीरु सर्वाणि राज्यं चैतदहं च ते।

O timid one, all the jewels wrested by force from the worlds—those all, this kingdom, and even I myself—are yours.

Verse 5.20.18

विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां नानानगरमालिनीम्।।5.20.18।।जनकाय प्रदास्यामि तव हेतोर्विलासिनि।

O graceful lady, having conquered the whole earth, adorned like a garland with many cities, I shall bestow it upon Janaka for your sake.

Verse 5.20.19

नेह पश्यामि लोकेऽन्यं यो मे प्रतिबलो भवेत्।पश्य मे सुमहद्वीर्यमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे।।5.20.19।।

Here in this world I see none other who could match my strength. Behold my vast prowess—unrivalled in battle.

Verse 5.20.20

असकृत्संयुगे भग्ना मया विमृदितध्वजाः।।5.20.20।।अशक्ताः प्रत्यनीकेषु स्थातुं मम सुरासुराः।

Again and again in battle I shattered gods and demons, crushing their standards; in encounters against me they were powerless to hold their ground.

Verse 5.20.21

इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम्।।5.20.21।।सप्रभाण्यवसज्यन्तां तवाङ्गे भूषणानि च।साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं संयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा।।5.20.22।।

Desire me; let your finest adornment be accomplished today.

Verse 5.20.22

इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम्।।5.20.21।।सप्रभाण्यवसज्यन्तां तवाङ्गे भूषणानि च।साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं संयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा।।5.20.22।।

Let radiant ornaments be set upon your limbs; I long to behold your beauty, perfectly arrayed with adornment.

Verse 5.20.23

प्रतिकर्माभिसंयुक्ता दाक्षिण्येन वरानने।भुंक्ष्व भोगान्यथाकामं पिब भीरु रमस्व च।।5.20.23।।

O fair-faced one, richly adorned and gracious, enjoy pleasures as you desire—eat, drink, and take your delight, O timid lady.

Verse 5.20.24

यथेष्टं च प्रयच्छ त्वं पृथिवीं वा धनानि च।ललस्व मयि विस्रब्धा धृष्टमाज्ञापयस्व च।।5.20.24।।

Bestow land or wealth as you please; be at ease with me and enjoy—command me boldly as well.

Verse 5.20.25

मत्प्रसादाल्ललन्त्याश्च ललन्तां बान्धवास्तव।ऋद्धिं ममानुपश्य त्वं श्रियं भद्रे यशश्च मे।।5.20.25।।

By my favor, as you live in enjoyment, let your kinsmen also rejoice; behold my prosperity, O gentle lady—my splendor and my fame.

Verse 5.20.26

किं करिष्यसि रामेण सुभगे चीरवाससा।निक्षिप्तविजयो रामो गतश्रीर्वनगोचरः।।5.20.26।।व्रती स्थण्डिलशायी च शङ्के जीवति वा न वा।

What will you do with Rāma, O fortunate lady, who wears bark-cloth? Rāma has set aside the triumphs of kingship, has lost his splendor, and roams the forest—an ascetic under vow, sleeping on bare ground; I even doubt whether he lives or not.

Verse 5.20.27

न हि वैदेहि रामस्त्वां द्रष्टुं वा प्युपलप्स्यते।पुरोबलाकैरसितैर्मेघैर्ज्योत्स्नामिवावृताम्।।5.20.27।।

O Vaidehī, Rāma will not be able even to see you—like moonlight veiled by dark clouds with cranes flying before them.

Verse 5.20.28

न चापि मम हस्तात्त्वां प्राप्तुमर्हति राघवः।।5.20.28।।हिरण्यकशिपुः कीर्तिमिन्द्रहस्तगतामिव।

Nor is Rāghava fit to win you back from my hands—any more than Hiraṇyakaśipu could seize the fame that lay in Indra’s grasp.

Verse 5.20.29

चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि।।5.20.29।।मनो हरसि मे भीरु सुपर्णः पन्नगं यथा।

O large-eyed one, dear to me—complete in beauty in every limb and captivating to all the worlds—I desire you. Show me favor; accept my suit.

Verse 5.20.30

क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनां तन्वीमप्यनलङ्कृताम्।।5.20.30।।त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रतिं नोपलभाम्यहम्।

O woman of charming smile, lovely teeth, and beautiful eyes—O graceful one! Timid as you are, you steal my mind, as Suparṇa (Garuḍa) snatches up a serpent.

Verse 5.20.31

अन्तःपुरनिवासिन्यः स्त्रियः सर्वगुणान्विताः।।5.20.31।।यावन्त्यो मम सर्वासामैश्वर्यम् कुरु जानकि।

Even seeing you in soiled silk—slender, and without ornaments—once I behold you, I find no desire for my own wives.

Verse 5.20.32

मम ह्यसितकेशान्ते त्रैलोक्यप्रवराः स्त्रियः।।5.20.32।।तास्त्वां परिचरिष्यन्ति श्रियमप्सरसो यथा।

O Jānakī, many women—endowed with every accomplishment—dwell within my inner palace. Exercise sovereignty over them all.

Verse 5.20.33

यानि वैश्रवणे सुभ्रु रत्नानि च धनानि च।।5.20.33।।तानि लोकांश्च सुश्रोणि मां च भुङ्क्ष्व यथासुखम्।

O lady of dark tresses, the finest women in the three worlds are mine; they will attend upon you as apsarases attend upon Śrī (Lakṣmī).

Verse 5.20.34

न रामस्तपसा देवि न बलेन न विक्रमैः।।5.20.34।।न धनेन मया तुल्यस्तेजसा यशसापि वा।

O fair-browed, full-hipped lady—enjoy, as you please, the gems and riches that came from Vaiśravaṇa, and these worlds as well, and me.

Verse 5.20.35

पिब विहर रमस्व भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् धननिचयं प्रदिशामि मेदिनीं च।मयि लल ललने यथासुखं त्वं त्वयि च समेत्य ललन्तु बान्धवास्ते।।5.20.35।।

O queen, Rāma is not my equal—neither in austerity (tapas), nor in strength, nor in valor; not in wealth, nor in splendor, nor even in fame.

Verse 5.20.36

कुसुमिततरुजालसन्ततानि भ्रमरयुतानि समुद्रतीरजानि।कनकविमलहारभूषिताङ्गी विहर मया सह भीरु काननानि।।5.20.36।।

Drink, sport, rejoice, and enjoy delights—I shall grant you heaps of wealth and even land. Sport with me, O lovely woman, as you please; and let your kinsfolk also gather and rejoice.