ततस्तस्याश्रमं गत्वारामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। चक्रतुस्तद्यथा सर्वमुभौ यत्पूर्वमन्त्रितम्
Then, reaching the hermitage of Rama, whose deeds are pure, both of them carried out everything as they had previously planned.
रावणस्तु यतिर्भूत्वा मुण्डः कुण्डीत्रिदण्डधृत्। मृगश्चभूत्वामारीचस्तं देशमुपजग्मतुः
Ravana took the guise of an ascetic—shaven-headed, with water-pot and triple staff—while Maricha became a deer, and they entered that place.
दर्शयामास मारीचो वैदेहीं मृगरूपधृत्। चोदयामास तस्यार्थे सा रामं विधिचोदिता
Maricha, having assumed the form of a deer, appeared before Vaidehi; and, as fate would have it, she urged Rama to pursue it.
रामस्तस्याः प्रियं कुर्वन्धनुरादाय सत्वरः। रक्षार्थे लक्ष्मणं न्यस्य प्रययौ मृगलिप्सया
Rama, wishing to please her, swiftly took up his bow, left Lakshmana to guard her, and went in pursuit of the deer.
स धन्वी बद्धतूणीरः खङ्गगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्। अन्वधावन्मृगं रामो रुद्रस्तारामृगं यथा
Armed with bow and quiver, sword and gauntlets, Rama chased after the deer, as Rudra once pursued the star-deer.
सोऽन्तर्हितः पुनस्तस्य दर्शनं राक्षसो व्रजन्। चकर्ष महदध्वानं रामस्तं वुबुधे ततः
The Rakshasa, vanishing and reappearing, led Rama far away; but Rama became aware of his deception.
निशाचरं विदित्वा तं राघवः प्रतिभानवान्। अमोघं शरमादाय जघान मृगरूपिणम्
Perceiving him to be a night-wanderer, the wise Raghava took up an unfailing arrow and struck down the one in deer form.
स रामवाणाभिहतः कृत्वा रामस्वरं तदा। हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवं चुक्रोशार्तस्वरेण ह
Struck by Rama's arrow, he then cried out in Rama's voice, 'Alas, Sita! Alas, Lakshmana!' in a tone of great distress.
शुश्राव तस्य वैदेही ततस्तां करुणां गिरम्। साप्रापतत्ततः सीता तामुवाचाथ लक्ष्मणः
Vaidehi heard that pitiful cry, and Sita, deeply troubled, spoke to Lakshmana.
अलं ते शङ्कया भीरु को रामं प्रहरिष्यति। मुहूर्ताद्द्रक्ष्यसे रामं भर्तारं त्वं शुचिस्मितम्
Lakshmana said to her: Enough of your fear, timid one; who could harm Rama? In a moment you will see your husband, O fair-smiling one.
इत्युक्ता सा प्ररुदती पर्यशङ्कत लक्ष्मणम्। हता वै स्त्रीस्वभावेन शुद्धचारित्रभूषणा
Thus addressed, she wept and grew anxious about Lakshmana, slain as it seemed, by the nature of a woman, adorned with pure conduct.
सा तं परुषमारब्धा वक्तुं साध्वी पतिव्रता। नैष कामो भवेन्मूढ यं त्वं प्रार्थयसे हृदा
She, the virtuous and faithful wife, began to speak harshly to him: 'This desire you pursue in your heart, fool, can never be.'
अप्यहंशस्त्रमादाय हन्यामात्मानमात्मना। पतेयं गिरिशृङ्गाद्वा विशेयं वा हुताशनम्
Even if I must take up a weapon and slay myself, or leap from a mountain peak, or enter the consuming fire,
रामं भर्तारमुत्सुज्यन त्वहं त्वां कथञ्चन। निहीनमुपतिष्ठेयं शार्दूली क्रोष्टुकं यथा
I could never, having abandoned Rama my husband, attend upon you, as a tigress would upon a jackal.
एतादृशं वचः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः प्रियराघ्नव। पिधायकर्णौ सद्वृत्तः प्रस्थितो येन राघवः
Hearing such words, Lakshmana, the beloved of Rama, closed his ears, steadfast in virtue, and departed toward where Rama was.
स रामस्य पदंगृह्य प्रससार धनुर्धरः। अवीक्षमाणो विम्बोष्ठीं प्रययौ लक्ष्मणस्तदा
He, the bearer of the bow, took up Rama's path and proceeded; Lakshmana, not looking back at the one with beautiful lips, went forth.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे रक्षो रावणः प्रत्यदृश्यत। अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण भस्मच्छन्न इवानलः
Meanwhile, the demon Ravana appeared, ill-fated yet bearing a noble form, like fire covered in ashes.
यतिवेपप्रतिच्छन्नो जिहीर्षुस्तामनिन्दिताम्। `उपागच्छत्स वैदेहीं रावणः पापनिश्चयः
Disguised as an ascetic, intent on seizing her, Ravana, fixed on evil, approached Vaidehi, the blameless one.
सा तमालक्ष्यसंप्राप्तं धर्मज्ञा जनकात्मजा। निमन्त्रयामास तदा फलमूलाशनादिभिः
Seeing him arrive, the daughter of Janaka, wise in righteousness, invited him then with offerings of fruit and roots.
अवमत्यततः सर्वं स्वं रूपं प्रत्यपद्यत। सान्त्वयामास वैदेहीं कामी राक्षसपुङ्गवः
He scorned all that, resumed his own form, and began to soothe Vaidehi; the passionate chief of the rakshasas.
सीते राक्षसराजोऽहंरावणो नाम विश्रुतः। मम लङ्कापुरी नाम्ना रम्या पारे महोदधेः
O Sita, I am Ravana, king of the rakshasas, renowned by name; my city Lanka lies beautiful beyond the great ocean.
तत्र त्वं नरनारीषु शोभिष्यसि मया सह। भार्या मे भव सुश्रोणि तापसं त्यज राघवम्
There, among men and women, you will shine with me; become my wife, lovely-hipped one, abandon the ascetic Rama.
एवमादीनि वाक्यानि श्रुत्वा तस्याथ जानकी। पिधाय कर्णौ सुश्रोणी मैवमित्यब्रवीद्वचः
Hearing such words, Janaki, the lovely-hipped, covered her ears and replied, 'Do not speak thus.'
प्रपतेद्द्यौः सनक्षत्रा पृथिवी शकलीभवेत्। `शुष्येत्तोयनिधौ तोयं चन्द्रः शीतांशुतां त्यजेत्
Let the sky with its stars fall, let the earth be shattered, let water dry up in the ocean, let the moon abandon its cool rays—
उष्णांशुत्वमथो जह्यादादित्यो वह्निरुष्णताम्'। त्यक्त्वाशैत्यं भजेन्नाहं त्यजेयंरघुनन्दनम्
Let the sun forsake its heat, let fire lose its warmth, let cold be abandoned—never would I forsake Raghu's descendant.
कथं हि भिन्नकरटं पद्मिनं वनगोचरम्। उपस्थाय महानागं करेणुः सूकरं स्पृशेत्
How could an elephant cow, having left the broken lotus pond in the forest, touch a boar, ignoring the great elephant?
कथं हि पीत्वा माध्वीकं पीत्वा च मधुमाधवीम्। लोभं सौवीरके कुर्यान्नारी काचिदिति स्मरेः
How could a woman, having tasted honey and sweet wine, crave for sour beer? Remember this.
इति सा तं समाभाष्य प्रविवेशाश्रमं ततः। क्रोधात्प्रस्फुरमाणौष्ठी विधुन्वाना करौ मुहुः
Thus having spoken to him, she entered the hermitage, her lips trembling with anger, repeatedly shaking her hands.
तामधिद्रुत्य सुश्रोणीं रावणः प्रत्यषेधयत्
Ravana, hastening toward her, blocked the path of the lovely-hipped woman.
भर्त्सयित्वातु रूक्षेण स्वरेण गतचेतनाम्। मूर्धजेषु निजग्राह ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे ततः
He rebuked her with a harsh voice, though she had lost consciousness, and seized her by the hair, then began to lift her up.