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.
महार्हाणि च पानानि शयनान्यासनानि च। गीतं नृत्यं च वाद्यं च लभ मां प्राप्य मैथिलि
There are costly drinks, beds, seats, songs, dances, and music—enjoy these, having obtained me, O Maithilī.
स्त्रीरत्नमसि मैवं भूः कुरु गात्रेषु भूषणम्। मां प्राप्य हि कथं वा स्यास्त्वमनर्हा सुविग्रहे
You are a jewel among women—do not be so; adorn your body with ornaments. Having gained me, how could you, so beautiful, be unworthy?
इदं ते चारु संजातं यौवनं ह्यतिवर्तते। यदतीतं पुनर्नैति स्रोतः स्रोतस्विनामिव
This lovely youth of yours is passing away; what is gone does not return, just as a stream never flows back.
त्वां कृत्वोपरतो मन्ये रूपकर्ता स विश्वकृत्। नहि रूपोपमा ह्यन्या तवास्ति शुभदर्शने
I think that the creator of forms, the maker of the universe, ceased his work after making you, O beautiful one; for there is no other form comparable to yours.
त्वां समासाद्य वैदेहि रूपयौवनशालिनीम्। कः पुनर्नातिवर्तेत साक्षादपि पितामहः
Who, having approached you, Vaidehi, endowed with beauty and youth, could resist—even the Grandfather himself?
यद् यत् पश्यामि ते गात्रं शीतांशुसदृशानने। तस्मिंस्तस्मिन् पृथुश्रोणि चक्षुर्मम निबध्यते
Whatever part of your body I see, O one with a face like the cool-rayed moon, to that my gaze is drawn, O broad-hipped lady.
भव मैथिलि भार्या मे मोहमेतं विसर्जय। बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणां ममाग्रमहिषी भव
Be my wife, O Maithili, abandon this delusion; among my many excellent wives, become my chief queen.
लोकेभ्यो यानि रत्नानि सम्प्रमथ्याहृतानि मे। तानि ते भीरु सर्वाणि राज्यं चैव ददामि ते
All the jewels I have seized from the worlds, O timid one, and the kingdom as well—I give them all to you.
विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां नानानगरमालिनीम्। जनकाय प्रदास्यामि तव हेतोर्विलासिनि
Having conquered the whole earth adorned with many cities, I will give it to your father, O playful one, for your sake.
नेह पश्यामि लोकेऽन्यं यो मे प्रतिबलो भवेत्। पश्य मे सुमहद्वीर्यमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे
I see no one else in the world who could match my strength; behold my great, unrivaled valor in battle.