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.
तां ददर्श ततो गृध्रो जटायुर्गिरिगोचरः। रुदतीं रामरामेति हियमाणां तपस्विनीम्
Then the vulture Jatayu, dwelling among the mountains, saw her—crying out 'Rama, Rama!'—the ascetic woman being carried away.
ततस्तां भर्तृशोकार्तां दीनां मलिनवाससम्। मणिशेषाभ्यलंकारां रुदतीं च पतिव्रताम्
Then, distressed by grief for her husband, miserable, clad in soiled garments, adorned only with remnants of her jewelry, weeping, and faithful to her spouse—
राक्षसीभिरुपास्यन्तीं समासीनां शिलातले। रावणःकामबाणार्तो ददर्शोपससर्प च
Surrounded by rakshasi women, seated upon a stone slab, Ravana, pierced by arrows of desire, saw her and approached.
देवदानवगन्धर्वयक्षकिंपुरुषैर्युधि। अजितोशोकवनिकां ययौ कन्दर्पपीडितः
Unconquered in battle by gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, and kimpurushas, he entered the grove of grief, afflicted by love.
दिव्याम्बरधरः श्रीमन्सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलः। विचित्रमाल्यमुकुटो वसन्त इव मूर्तिमान्
Wearing divine garments, splendid, with well-polished jeweled earrings, adorned with a garland and crown, he appeared like Spring embodied.
न कल्पवृक्षसदृशोयत्नादपि विभूषितः। श्मशानचैत्यद्रुमवद्भूषितोऽपि भयंकरः
Even if adorned with effort, he was not like the wish-fulfilling tree; though decorated, he was terrifying, like the trees of a cemetery shrine.
स तस्यास्तनुमध्यायाः समीपे रजनीचरः। ददृशे रोहिणीमेत्य शनैश्चर इव ग्रैहः
That night-wanderer, coming near her slender-waisted form, appeared like Saturn approaching Rohini.
स तामामन्त्र्य सुश्रोणीं पुष्पकेतुशराहतः। इदमित्यब्रवीद्वाक्यं त्रस्तां रौहीमिवाबलाम्
Addressing the lovely-hipped woman, struck by the arrows of desire, he spoke these words to the frightened, delicate girl, as if to a trembling deer.
सीते पर्याप्तमेतावत्कृतोभर्तुरनुग्रहः। प्रसादं कुरु तन्वङ्गि क्रियतां परिकर्म ते
Sita, enough of this favor to your husband; be gracious, slender-limbed one, let your adornment be made.
भजस्वमां वरारोहे महार्हाभरणाम्बरा। भवमे सर्वनारीणामुत्तमा वरवर्णिनी
Enjoy me, O beautiful one, clad in splendid ornaments and garments; among all women, be my foremost, O woman of excellent complexion.