ततो दृष्ट्वैव वैदेही रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्। प्रावेपत वरारोहा प्रवाते कदली यथा
Then, seeing Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, Vaidehī, of noble form, trembled like a plantain tree in the wind.
ऊरुभ्यामुदरं छाद्य बाहुभ्यां च पयोधरौ। उपविष्टा विशालाक्षी रुदती वरवर्णिनी
Covering her belly with her thighs and her breasts with her arms, the wide-eyed, radiant lady sat weeping.
दशग्रीवस्तु वैदेहीं रक्षितां राक्षसीगणैः। ददर्श दीनां दुःखार्तां नावं सन्नामिवार्णवे
But the ten-headed one saw Vaidehī, guarded by bands of rākṣasīs, wretched and tormented by sorrow, like a sinking ship at sea.
असंवृतायामासीनां धरण्यां संशितव्रताम्। छिन्नां प्रपतितां भूमौ शाखामिव वनस्पतेः
Sitting uncovered on the ground, firm in her vows, she appeared like a broken branch fallen to earth from a tree.
मलमण्डनदिग्धांगीं मण्डनार्हाममण्डनाम्। मृणाली पङ्कदिग्धेव विभाति न विभाति च
Her body smeared with grime instead of ornaments, though worthy of adornment, she shone and did not shine, like a lotus stalk stained with mud.
समीपं राजसिंहस्य रामस्य विदितात्मनः। संकल्पहयसंयुक्तैर्यान्तीमिव मनोरथैः
As if approaching the royal lion Rāma, knower of himself, drawn by the horses of her resolve, journeying by the chariot of her thoughts.
शुष्यन्तीं रुदतीमेकां ध्यानशोकपरायणाम्। दुःखस्यान्तमपश्यन्तीं रामां राममनुव्रताम्
Withering, weeping, alone, absorbed in meditation and sorrow, seeing no end to her suffering, devoted to Rāma and Rāma alone.
चेष्टमानामथाविष्टां पन्नगेन्द्रवधूमिव। धूप्यमानां ग्रहेणेव रोहिणीं धूमकेतुना
Restless, then collapsing, like the wife of the serpent king, or like Rohiṇī oppressed by the comet Dhūmaketu.
वृत्तशीले कुले जातामाचारवति धार्मिके। पुनः संस्कारमापन्नां जातामिव च दुष्कुले
Born in a virtuous family, of upright conduct and righteousness, yet now as if fallen into misfortune, like one born in an ignoble house.
सन्नामिव महाकीर्तिं श्रद्धामिव विमानिताम्। प्रज्ञामिव परिक्षीणामाशां प्रतिहतामिव
Like fame diminished, like faith insulted, like wisdom depleted, like hope struck down.
आयतीमिव विध्वस्तामाज्ञां प्रतिहतामिव। दीप्तामिव दिशं काले पूजामपहतामिव
Like a command frustrated, like a direction once bright now destroyed, like worship interrupted at its proper time.
पौर्णमासीमिव निशां तमोग्रस्तेन्दुमण्डलाम्। पद्मिनीमिव विध्वस्तां हतशूरां चमूमिव
Like the full-moon night whose orb is seized by darkness, like a lotus pond ravaged, like an army whose heroes are slain.
प्रभामिव तमोध्वस्तामुपक्षीणामिवापगाम्। वेदीमिव परामृष्टां शान्तामग्निशिखामिव
Like radiance overcome by gloom, like a river dried up, like a sacrificial altar defiled, like a flame now extinguished.
उत्कृष्टपर्णकमलां वित्रासितविहंगमाम्। हस्तिहस्तपरामृष्टामाकुलामिव पद्मिनीम्
Like a lotus pond whose leaves and flowers are torn, whose birds are frightened away, disturbed by the touch of an elephant's trunk.
पतिशोकातुरां शुष्कां नदीं विस्रावितामिव। परया मृजया हीनां कृष्णपक्षे निशामिव
Like a river dried up, afflicted by grief for her husband, abandoned, like a night bereft of the moon in the dark fortnight.
सुकुमारीं सुजातांगीं रत्नगर्भगृहोचिताम्। तप्यमानामिवोष्णेन मृणालीमचिरोद्धृताम्
She, delicate and finely formed, accustomed to a home filled with jewels, seemed like a lotus-stalk, freshly plucked, withering under the heat.
गृहीतामालितां स्तम्भे यूथपेन विनाकृताम्। निःश्वसन्तीं सुदुःखार्तां गजराजवधूमिव
Seized, bound to a pillar, separated from her companions, sighing deeply in her great distress, she resembled the consort of an elephant-king taken captive.
उपवासेन शोकेन ध्यानेन च भयेन च। परिक्षीणां कृशां दीनामल्पाहारां तपोधनाम्
Emaciated, frail, and miserable from fasting, grief, meditation, and fear, she was thin, pitiable, eating little, and rich in austerity.
आयाचमानां दुःखार्तां प्राञ्जलिं देवतामिव। भावेन रघुमुख्यस्य दशग्रीवपराभवम्
Afflicted by sorrow, she pleaded with joined palms like a goddess, her heart set on the chief of the Raghus, awaiting the defeat of the ten-headed one.
समीक्षमाणां रुदतीमनिन्दितां सुपक्ष्मताम्रायतशुक्ललोचनाम्। अनुव्रतां राममतीव मैथिलीं प्रलोभयामास वधाय रावणः
Rāvaṇa sought to tempt Maithilī, ever devoted to Rāma, who was gazing, weeping, faultless, with long, red, wide, and bright eyes, in order to bring about her death.
thumb|विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः ॥५-
The twentieth chapter is to be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Sundara Kāṇḍa.
स तां परिवृतां दीनां निरानन्दां तपस्विनीम्। साकारैर्मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्न्यदर्शयत रावणः
Then Rāvaṇa, with sweet and alluring words, revealed himself to her—surrounded, dejected, joyless, and devoted to austerity.
मां दृष्ट्वा नागनासोरु गूहमाना स्तनोदरम्। अदर्शनमिवात्मानं भयान्नेतुं त्वमिच्छसि
O slender-waisted one, seeing me, you hide your breasts and belly, as if you wish to make yourself unseen out of fear.
कामये त्वां विशालाक्षि बहु मन्यस्व मां प्रिये। सर्वांगगुणसम्पन्ने सर्वलोकमनोहरे
I desire you, wide-eyed one; consider me highly, beloved, you who are adorned with all virtues and enchant all the worlds.
नेह किञ्चिन्मनुष्या वा राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः। व्यपसर्पतु ते सीते भयं मत्तः समुत्थितम्
Here, neither humans nor shape-shifting rākṣasas can harm you; let your fear of me, O Sītā, depart.
स्वधर्मो रक्षसां भीरु सर्वदैव न संशयः। गमनं वा परस्त्रीणां हरणं सम्प्रमथ्य वा
O timid one, it is always the way of rākṣasas—there is no doubt—to approach or seize the wives of others, by force if needed.
एवं चैवमकामां त्वां न च स्प्रक्ष्यामि मैथिलि। कामं कामः शरीरे मे यथाकामं प्रवर्तताम्
Yet, even so, I will not touch you, Maithilī, against your will; let desire act in my body as it wishes.
देवि नेह भयं कार्यं मयि विश्वसिहि प्रिये। प्रणयस्व च तत्त्वेन मैवं भूः शोकलालसा
Lady, you need not fear here; trust me, beloved. Give your affection truly—do not remain so absorbed in sorrow.
एकवेणी अधःशय्या ध्यानं मलिनमम्बरम्। अस्थानेऽप्युपवासश्च नैतान्यौपयिकानि ते
A single braid, sleeping on the ground, meditation, soiled garments, and fasting at the wrong time—these are not suitable for you.
विचित्राणि च माल्यानि चन्दनान्यगुरूणि च। विविधानि च वासांसि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च
Here are splendid garlands, sandalwood, aloes, various garments, and divine ornaments.