अन्तःपुरनिवासिन्यः स्त्रियः सर्वगुणान्विताः। यावत्यो मम सर्वासामैश्वर्यं कुरु जानकि
O Janaki, all the women residing in my inner chambers, endowed with every virtue—rule over them all.
मम ह्यसितकेशान्ते त्रैलोक्यप्रवरस्त्रियः। तास्त्वां परिचरिष्यन्ति श्रियमप्सरसो यथा
At the end of my sword, the foremost women of the three worlds will serve you, just as the Apsaras serve the goddess of fortune.
यानि वैश्रवणे सुभ्रु रत्नानि च धनानि च। तानि लोकांश्च सुश्रोणि मया भुङ्क्ष्व यथासुखम्
O beautiful-browed one, enjoy as you please the jewels and treasures that are with Vaiśravaṇa, and the worlds as well, O lovely-hipped lady.
न रामस्तपसा देवि न बलेन च विक्रमैः। न धनेन मया तुल्यस्तेजसा यशसापि वा
O lady, neither by asceticism, nor by strength and valor, nor by wealth, is Rāma equal to me in brilliance or in fame.
पिब विहर रमस्व भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् धननिचयं प्रदिशामि मेदिनीं च। मयि लल ललने यथासुखं त्वं त्वयि च समेत्य ललन्तु बान्धवास्ते
Drink, wander, delight, enjoy pleasures; I will grant you heaps of wealth and the earth itself. O lovely one, indulge yourself with me as you wish, and let your relatives rejoice, united with you.
कुसुमिततरुजालसंततानि भ्रमरयुतानि समुद्रतीरजानि। कनकविमलहारभूषितांगी विहर मया सह भीरु काननानि
O timid one, roam with me through forests thick with blossoming trees and swarming with bees along the seashore, adorned with pure golden necklaces.
thumb|एकविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥५-
Listen to the twenty-first chapter.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सीता रौद्रस्य रक्षसः। आर्ता दीनस्वरा दीनं प्रत्युवाच ततः शनैः
Hearing those words of the fierce Rākṣasa, Sītā, distressed, replied to him in a faint, sorrowful voice.
दुःखार्ता रुदती सीता वेपमाना तपस्विनी। चिन्तयन्ती वरारोहा पतिमेव पतिव्रता
Tormented by grief, weeping, trembling, devoted to austerity, the noble Sītā, ever faithful to her husband, kept thinking only of him.
तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा प्रत्युवाच शुचिस्मिता। निवर्तय मनो मत्तः स्वजने प्रीयतां मनः
Placing a blade of grass between herself and him, the pure-smiling Sītā replied: 'Turn your mind away from me; let your heart find joy among your own.'
न मां प्रार्थयितुं युक्तस्त्वं सिद्धिमिव पापकृत्। अकार्यं न मया कार्यमेकपत्न्या विगर्हितम्
You are not fit to desire me, just as a sinner is not fit to attain success; what is improper must not be done by me, a woman devoted to one husband, for it is condemned.
कुलं सम्प्राप्तया पुण्यं कुले महति जातया। एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही रावणं तं यशस्विनी
Born into a great and noble family, having attained a virtuous lineage—thus spoke Vaidehī, the illustrious one, to Rāvaṇa.
रावणं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा भूयो वचनमब्रवीत्। नाहमौपयिकी भार्या परभार्या सती तव
Turning her back to Rāvaṇa, she spoke again: 'I am not a suitable wife for you; I am another's wife, and true to him.'
साधु धर्ममवेक्षस्व साधु साधुव्रतं चर। यथा तव तथान्येषां रक्ष्या दारा निशाचर
Practice righteousness, observe the vow of virtue; as your own, so should others' wives be protected, O night-wanderer.
आत्मानमुपमां कृत्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रम्यताम्। अतुष्टं स्वेषु दारेषु चपलं चपलेन्द्रियम्। नयन्ति निकृतिप्रज्ञं परदाराः पराभवम्
Considering yourself as a measure, delight in your own wives; those dissatisfied with their own, fickle in their senses, and cunning, are ruined by other men's wives.
इह सन्तो न वा सन्ति सतो वा नानुवर्तसे। यथा हि विपरीता ते बुद्धिराचारवर्जिता
Whether there are good people here or not, you do not follow them; for your mind is perverse and devoid of proper conduct.
वचो मिथ्याप्रणीतात्मा पथ्यमुक्तं विचक्षणैः। राक्षसानामभावाय त्वं वा न प्रतिपद्यसे
You do not accept the wholesome words spoken by the wise, meant for the welfare of the Rākṣasas; your mind is set on falsehood.
अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्। समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च
When a king, lacking self-control and devoted to unrighteousness, is encountered, prosperous kingdoms and cities are destroyed.
तथैव त्वां समासाद्य लंका रत्नौघसंकुला। अपराधात् तवैकस्य नचिराद् विनशिष्यति
In the same way, having you as their lord, Lankā, filled with heaps of jewels, will soon be destroyed because of your single offense.
स्वकृतैर्हन्यमानस्य रावणादीर्घदर्शिनः। अभिनन्दन्ति भूतानि विनाशे पापकर्मणः
When one like Ravana, who sees far ahead, is struck down by his own deeds, all beings rejoice at the destruction of the wicked.
एवं त्वां पापकर्माणं वक्ष्यन्ति निकृता जनाः। दिष्ट्यैतद् व्यसनं प्राप्तो रौद्र इत्येव हर्षिताः
Thus, people will speak of you as evil-doer, saying, 'By fate, this calamity has come upon the fierce one,' and they will be glad.
शक्या लोभयितुं नाहमैश्वर्येण धनेन वा। अनन्या राघवेणाहं भास्करेण यथा प्रभा
I cannot be enticed by wealth or power; I am devoted only to Raghava, as light is to the sun.
उपधाय भुजं तस्य लोकनाथस्य सत्कृतम्। कथं नामोपधास्यामि भुजमन्यस्य कस्यचित्
Having placed my trust in the honored arm of that lord of the world, how could I ever rest my arm upon anyone else’s?
अहमौपयिकी भार्या तस्यैव च धरापतेः। व्रतस्नातस्य विद्येव विप्रस्य विदितात्मनः
I am the rightful wife only of that lord of the earth, as knowledge is for the sage who has mastered himself and bathed in vows.
साधु रावण रामेण मां समानय दुःखिताम्। वने वासितया सार्धं करेण्वेव गजाधिपम्
O Ravana, bring me to Rama, who is suffering, as the elephant king is brought to the forest by the female elephant.
मित्रमौपयिकं कर्तुं रामः स्थानं परीप्सता। बन्धं चानिच्छता घोरं त्वयासौ पुरुषर्षभः
Rama, the best among men, desires to make a fitting alliance, seeking a place, and does not wish for a dreadful bond with you.
विदितः सर्वधर्मज्ञः शरणागतवत्सलः। तेन मैत्री भवतु ते यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि
He is known as one who understands all dharmas, who cherishes those who seek refuge; let friendship be with him, if you wish to live.
एवं हि ते भवेत् स्वस्ति सम्प्रदाय रघूत्तमे। अन्यथा त्वं हि कुर्वाणः परां प्राप्स्यसि चापदम्
Thus, you will have well-being by making peace with the best of the Raghu line; otherwise, by acting differently, you will meet with the highest calamity.
वर्जयेद् वज्रमुत्सृष्टं वर्जयेदन्तकश्चिरम्। त्वद्विधं न तु संक्रुद्धो लोकनाथः स राघवः
One may avoid a hurled thunderbolt, one may long evade Death; but not one like you, when enraged, can escape the lord of the world, Raghava.
रामस्य धनुषः शब्दं श्रोष्यसि त्वं महास्वनम्। शतक्रतुविसृष्टस्य निर्घोषमशनेरिव
You will hear the mighty sound of Rama’s bow, like the thunder of a bolt released by Indra.