गतेऽथ लक्ष्मणे तत्र रावणः कपटाकृतिः । भिक्षुवेषं ततः कृत्वा प्रविवेश तदाश्रमे
When Lakṣmaṇa had left, Rāvaṇa, in a deceitful form, then assumed the guise of a mendicant and entered that hermitage.
जानकी तं यतिं मत्वा दत्त्वार्घ्यं वन्यमादरात् । भैक्ष्यं समर्पयामास रावणाय दुरात्मने
Jānakī, taking him for an ascetic, offered him forest hospitality with respect, and presented alms to Rāvaṇa, the wicked one.
तां पप्रच्छ स दुष्टात्मा नम्रपूर्वं मृदुस्वरम् । काऽसि पद्मपलाशाक्षि वने चैकाकिनी प्रिये
That evil-minded one questioned her, first humbly and in a gentle voice: 'Who are you, lotus-eyed one, alone in the forest, O lovely lady?'
पिता कस्तेऽथ वामोरु भ्राता कः कः पतिस्तव । मूढेवैकाकिनी चात्र स्थिताऽसि वरवर्णिनि
'Who is your father, O slender-thighed one? Who is your brother, and who is your husband? Why are you, of excellent complexion, standing here alone like one bewildered?'
निर्जने विपिने किं त्वं सौधार्हा त्वमसि प्रिये । उटजे मुनिपत्नीवद्देवकन्यासमप्रभा
'Why are you, worthy of a palace, here in this lonely forest, O dear one? In this hut, you shine like a sage’s wife or a divine maiden.'
व्यास उवाच इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच विदेहजा । दिव्यं दिष्ट्या यतिं ज्ञात्वा मन्दोदर्याः पतिं तदा
Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the daughter of Videha replied, recognizing the ascetic by divine intuition as Mandodarī’s husband.
राजा दशरथः श्रीमांश्चत्वारस्तस्य वै सुताः । तेषां ज्येष्ठः पतिर्मेऽस्ति रामनामेति विश्रुतः
King Daśaratha, illustrious, had four sons; among them, my husband is the eldest, renowned by the name Rāma.
विवासितोऽथ कैकेय्या कृते भूपतिना वरे । चतुर्दश समा रामो वसतेऽत्र सलक्ष्मणः
Exiled by the king at Kaikeyī’s request, Rāma dwells here with Lakṣmaṇa for fourteen years.
जनकस्य सुता चाहं सीतानाम्नीति विश्रुता । भङ्क्त्वा शैवं धनुः कामं रामेणाहं विवाहिता
I am the daughter of Janaka, famed as Sītā by name; after Rāma broke Śiva’s bow, I was wed to him according to my wish.
रामबाहुबलेनात्र वसामो निर्भया वने । काञ्चनं मृगमालोक्य हन्तुं मे निर्गतः पतिः
By the strength of Rāma’s arms, we live here in the forest without fear; seeing a golden deer, my husband went out to hunt it for me.
लक्ष्मणोऽपि पुनः श्रुत्वा रवं भ्रातुर्गतोऽधुना । तयोर्बाहुबलादत्र निर्भयाऽहं वसामि वै
Lakshmana too, hearing again the sound of his brother who has now departed, I dwell here without fear, relying on the strength of their arms.
मयेदं कथितं सर्वं वृत्तान्तं वनवासके । तेऽत्रागत्यार्हणां ते वै करिष्यन्ति यथाविधि
I have told you everything, the entire account of the exile in the forest; when they arrive here, they will honor you according to proper custom.
यतिर्विष्णुस्वरूपोऽसि तस्मात्त्वं पूजितो मया । आश्रमो विपिने घोरे कृतोऽस्ति रक्षसां कुले
You are an ascetic, the embodiment of Vishnu; therefore, I have worshipped you. An ashram has been established in this dreadful forest, among the race of Rakshasas.
तस्मात्त्वां परिपृच्छामि सत्यं ब्रूहि ममाग्रतः । कोऽसि त्रिदण्डिरूपेण विपिने त्वं समागतः
Therefore, I ask you—speak the truth before me: Who are you, appearing in the form of a tridanda-bearing ascetic, who has arrived in this forest?
रावण उवाच लङ्केशोऽहं मरालाक्षि श्रीमान्मन्दोदरीपतिः । त्वत्कृते तु कृतं रूपं मयेत्थं शोभनाकृते
Ravana said: I am the lord of Lanka, O swan-eyed one, the illustrious husband of Mandodari; for your sake, I have assumed this beautiful form.
आगतोऽहं वरारोहे भगिन्या प्रेरितोऽत्र वै । जनस्थाने हतौ श्रुत्वा भ्रातरौ खरदूषणौ
I have come here, O fair-browed one, sent by my sister; hearing that my brothers Khar and Dushana were slain at Janasthana.
अङ्गीकुरु नृपं मां त्वं त्यक्त्वा तं मानुषं पतिम् । हृतराज्यं गतश्रीकं निर्बलं वनवासिनम्
Accept me as your king, abandoning that human husband—who has lost his kingdom, his glory, is powerless, and dwells in the forest.
पट्टराज्ञी भव त्वं मे मन्दोदर्युपरि स्फुटम् । दासोऽस्मि तव तन्वङ्गि स्वामिनी भव भामिनि
Become my chief queen, surpassing Mandodari; I am your servant, O slender-limbed one, be my mistress, O radiant lady.
जेताऽहं लोकपालानां पतामि तव पादयोः । करं गृहाण मेऽद्य त्वं सनाथं कुरु जानकि
I am the conqueror of the guardians of the worlds; I fall at your feet. Take my hand today, O Janaki, make me yours and grant me protection.
पिता ते याचितः पूर्वं मया वै त्वत्कृतेऽबले । जनको मामुवाचेत्थं पणबन्धो मया कृतः
Your father was previously entreated by me for your sake, O powerful one; Janaka spoke to me thus: a wager has been made by me.
रुद्रचापभयान्नाहं सम्प्राप्तस्तु स्वयंवरे । मनो मे संस्थितं तावन्निमग्नं विरहातुरम्
Out of fear of Rudra's bow, I did not come to the svayamvara; my mind remained there, plunged in sorrow from separation.
वनेऽत्र संस्थितां श्रुत्वा पूर्वानुरागमोहितः । आगतोऽस्म्यसितापाङ्गि सफलं कुरु मे श्रमम्
Hearing that you remain in the forest, captivated by former affection, I have come, O dark-eyed one; make my effort fruitful.
लक्ष्मणकृतरामशोकसान्त्वनम् व्यास उवाच तदाकर्ण्य वचो दुष्टं जानकी भयविह्वला । वेपमाना स्थिरं कृत्वा मनो वाचमुवाच ह
Vyasa said: Hearing those wicked words, Janaki, trembling with fear, steadied her mind and spoke.
पौलस्त्य किमसद्वाक्यं त्वमात्थ स्मरमोहितः । नाहं वै स्वैरिणी किन्तु जनकस्य कुलोद्भवा
O descendant of Pulastya, why do you utter such unworthy words, deluded by desire? I am not a wanton woman, but born in the noble lineage of Janaka.
गच्छ लङ्कां दशास्य त्वं राम त्वां वै हनिष्यति । मत्कृते मरणं तत्र भविष्यति न संशयः
Go to Lanka, O ten-headed one; Rama will surely slay you. For my sake, your death will occur there—there is no doubt.
इत्युक्त्वा पर्णशालायां गता सा वह्निसन्निधौ । गच्छ गच्छेति वदती रावणं लोकरावणम्
Having spoken thus, she went into the leaf-hut, near the fire, repeatedly saying 'Go, go!' to Ravana, the terror of the worlds.
सोऽथ कृत्वा निजं रूपं जगामोटजमन्तिकम् । बलाज्जग्राह तां बालां रुदती भयविह्वलाम्
Then, resuming his own form, he approached the hut; by force, he seized the young woman, who was crying and overwhelmed by fear.
रामरामेति क्रन्दन्ती लक्ष्मणेति मुहुर्मुहुः । गृहीत्वा निर्गतः पापो रथमारोप्य सत्वरः
Crying out 'Rama, Rama!' and 'Lakshmana!' again and again, the wicked one carried her away, quickly placing her on his chariot.
गच्छन्नरुणपुत्रेण मार्गे रुद्धो जटायुषा । सङ्ग्रामोऽभून्महारौद्रस्तयोस्तत्र वनान्तरे
As he was going, his path was blocked by Jatayu, son of Aruna; there, in the depths of the forest, a fierce battle arose between the two.
हत्वा तं तां गृहीत्वा च गतोऽसौ राक्षसाधिपः । लङ्कायां क्रन्दती तात कुररीव दुरात्मनः
Having slain him and seized her, that lord of the Rakshasas departed; in Lanka, she wept like a distressed curlew, O dear one, at the hands of that wicked soul.