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.
सन्ति मे देवक्न्याश्च गन्धर्वाणआं च योषितः। सन्ति दानवन्याश् दैत्यानां चापि योषितः। `तासामद्यविशालाक्षि सर्वासां मे भवोत्तमा
I have daughters of gods, and women of the gandharvas; there are danava maidens, and women of the daityas; among them today, O wide-eyed one, be the best of all for me.
चतुर्दश पिशाचीनां कोट्यो मे वचने स्थिताः। द्विस्तावत्पुरुषादानां रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्
Fourteen crore of pisachi women stand at my command; twice as many man-eating rakshasas of terrible deeds.
ततो मे त्रिगुणा यक्षा ये मद्वचनकारिणः। केचिदेव धनाध्यक्षं भ्रातरं मे समाश्रिताः
Then, three times as many yakshas obey my command; some have taken refuge with my brother, the lord of wealth.
गन्दर्वाप्सरसो भद्रे मामापानगतं सदा। उपतिष्ठन्ति वामोरु यथैव भ्रातरं मम
O gentle one, gandharvas and apsaras always attend upon me, O lovely-thighed woman, just as they do my brother.
पुत्रोऽहमपि विप्रर्षेः साक्षाद्विश्रवसो मुनेः। पञ्चमो लोकपालानामिति मे प्रथितं यशः
I am also the son of the sage Visravas, O sage; my fame is proclaimed as the fifth among the guardians of the worlds.
दिव्यानि भक्ष्यभोज्यानि पानानि विविधानि च। यथैव त्रिदशेशस्यतथैव मम भामिनि
Divine foods and dishes, and various drinks, O beautiful one, are mine just as they are for the lord of the gods.
क्षीयतां दुष्कृतं कर्म वनवासकृतं तव। भार्या मे भवसुश्रोणि यथा मण्डोदरीतथा
May the evil deeds you have committed during your exile in the forest be diminished; O lady of lovely hips, become my wife, just as Mandodari is to me.
इत्युक्ता तेन वैदेही परिवृत्य सुभानना। तृणमनतरतः कृत्वातमुवाच निशाचरम्
Thus addressed by him, Vaidehī, her face beautiful, turned away, placed a blade of grass between them, and spoke to the night-wanderer.
अशिवेनातिवामोरूरजस्रं नेत्रवारिणा। स्तनावपतितौ बाला संहतावभिवर्षती
With her shapely thighs trembling, tears streaming ceaselessly from her eyes, the young woman, her breasts pressed together, wept as she spoke.
व्यवस्थाप्यकथंचित्सा विषादादतिमोहिता'। उवाच वाक्यं तं क्षुद्रं वैदेही पतिदेवता
Barely composing herself, overwhelmed by grief and confusion, Vaidehī, devoted to her husband, spoke these words to that vile one.