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.
असकृद्वदतो वाक्यमीदृशं राक्षसेश्वर। विषादयुक्तमेतत्ते मया श्रुतमभाग्यया। तद्भद्रमुख भद्रं ते मानसं विनिवर्त्यताम्
Again and again you speak such words, O lord of the rākṣasas; I, unfortunate, have heard them, filled with sorrow. Therefore, noble-faced one, turn your mind away from this.
परदाराऽस्म्यलभ्या च सततं च पतिव्रता। न चैवौपयिकी भार्य मानुषी तव राक्षस
I am another's wife, unattainable, always devoted to my husband; and a human woman is not a suitable wife for you, O rākṣasa.
विवशां धर्षयित्वच कां त्वं प्रीतिमवाप्स्यसि। न च पालयसे धर्मं लोकपालसमः कथम्
If you force yourself upon a helpless woman, what pleasure will you gain? How do you, who claim to uphold dharma like the guardians of the world, not observe it yourself?
भ्रातरं राजराजं तं महेश्वरसस्वं प्रभुम्। धनेश्वरं व्यपदिशन्कथं त्विह न लज्जसे
How do you not feel shame, here, when you call your own brother, the king of kings, the great lord, the master of wealth, your lord?
इत्युक्त्वा प्रारुदत्सीता कम्पयन्ती पयोधरौ। शिरोधरां च तन्वङ्गी मुस्वं प्रच्छाद्यवाससा
Having spoken thus, Sītā wept, her breasts trembling, her slender body bent, covering her face with her garment.
तस्य रुदत्या भामित्या दीर्घा वेणी सुसयता। ददृशे स्वसिता स्निग्धा काली व्यालीव मूर्धनि
As she wept, that spirited woman's long, well-braided hair, dark and glossy, fell over her head like a black serpent.
श्रुत्वा तद्रावणो वाक्यं सीतयोक्तं सुनिषुरम्। प्रत्याख्यातोऽपिदुर्मेधाः पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वचः
Hearing Sītā's words, spoken with deep resolve, Rāvaṇa, though rejected, spoke again with harsh intent.
काममङ्गनि मे सीते दुनोतु मकरध्वजः। नत्वामकामां सुश्रोणीं समेप्ये चारुहासिनीं
Let the god of love torment my limbs, O Sītā, if he wishes; but I will not touch you, lovely-hipped, beautiful-smiling one, against your will.
किंनु शक्यं मया कर्तुं यत्त्वमद्यापिमानुषम्। आहारभूतमस्माकं राममेवानुरुध्यसे
What can I do, since even now you, a human meant to be our food, still long only for Rāma?
इत्युक्त्वा तामनिन्द्याङ्गीं स राक्षसमहेश्वरः। तत्रैवान्तर्हितो भूत्वा जगामाभिमतां दिशम्
Having spoken thus to her, whose limbs were beyond reproach, the great lord of the rākṣasas vanished from there and went in the direction he desired.