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.
इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम्। सुप्रभाण्यवसज्जन्तां तवांगे भूषणानि हि
Desire me—let the finest adornments be made for you today; let splendid ornaments be attached to your limbs.
साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं सुयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा। प्रतिकर्माभिसंयुक्ता दाक्षिण्येन वरानने
Indeed, I see your form well suited to adornment; adorned with ornaments and grace, O lovely-faced one.
भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् यथाकामं पिब भीरु रमस्व च। यथेष्टं च प्रयच्छ त्वं पृथिवीं वा धनानि च
Enjoy pleasures as you wish, drink, O timid one, and delight; give as you desire, whether the earth or wealth.
ललस्व मयि विस्रब्धा धृष्टमाज्ञापयस्व च। मत्प्रासादाल्ललन्त्याश्च ललतां बान्धवस्तव
Indulge in me freely, command boldly; by my favor, as you enjoy, let your relatives also rejoice.
ऋद्धिं ममानुपश्य त्वं श्रियं भद्रे यशस्विनि। किं करिष्यसि रामेण सुभगे चीरवासिना
See my prosperity, my wealth, O fortunate and renowned one; what will you do with Rama, O lovely one, clad in bark?
निक्षिप्तविजयो रामो गतश्रीर्वनगोचरः। व्रती स्थण्डिलशायी च शंके जीवति वा न वा
Rama, his victory lost, his fortune gone, dwelling in the forest, observing vows and lying on the ground—I doubt whether he lives or not.
नहि वैदेहि रामस्त्वां द्रष्टुं वाप्युपलभ्यते। पुरोबलाकैरसितैर्मेघैर्ज्योत्स्नामिवावृताम्
O Vaidehi, Rama cannot even see you, nor reach you, as the moonlight is covered by dark clouds of cranes.
न चापि मम हस्तात् त्वां प्राप्तुमर्हति राघवः। हिरण्यकशिपुः कीर्तिमिन्द्रहस्तगतामिव
Nor can Raghava take you from my hand, just as Hiranyakashipu could not seize the fame that was in Indra's grasp.
चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि। मनो हरसि मे भीरु सुपर्णः पन्नगं यथा
O charming one with a lovely smile, sweet laughter, and beautiful eyes, you steal my heart, O timid one, as Garuda steals the serpent.
क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनां तन्वीमप्यनलंकृताम्। त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रतिं नोपलभाम्यहम्
Seeing you, slender and unadorned, clad in soiled silk, I find no pleasure in my own wives.