thumb|द्वाविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे द्वाविंशः सर्गः ॥५-
Listen to the twenty-second chapter.
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा परुषं राक्षसेश्वरः। प्रत्युवाच ततः सीतां विप्रियं प्रियदर्शनाम्
Hearing Sītā’s harsh words, the lord of the rākṣasas replied to Sītā, who was lovely to behold, with words displeasing to her.
यथा यथा सान्त्वयिता वश्यः स्त्रीणां तथा तथा। यथा यथा प्रियं वक्ता परिभूतस्तथा तथा
The more one tries to soothe women, the more they become submissive; likewise, the more one speaks kindly, the more one is disregarded.
संनियच्छति मे क्रोधं त्वयि कामः समुत्थितः। द्रवतो मार्गमासाद्य हयानिव सुसारथिः
Desire has arisen in me for you, restraining my anger, as a skilled charioteer controls horses that rush upon the path.
वामः कामो मनुष्याणां यस्मिन् किल निबध्यते। जने तस्मिंस्त्वनुक्रोशः स्नेहश्च किल जायते
When fickle desire binds a person, compassion and affection are said to arise in that person.
एतस्मात् कारणान्न त्वां घातयामि वरानने। वधार्हामवमानार्हां मिथ्या प्रव्रजने रताम्
For this reason, O beautiful-faced one, I do not kill you, though you deserve death and contempt, being devoted to false asceticism.
परुषाणि हि वाक्यानि यानि यानि ब्रवीषि माम्। तेषु तेषु वधो युक्तस्तव मैथिलि दारुणः
For every harsh word you speak to me, O Maithilī, you deserve a cruel death.
एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेहीं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। क्रोधसंरम्भसंयुक्तः सीतामुत्तरमब्रवीत्
Having spoken thus to Vaidehī, Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, filled with anger and rage, addressed Sītā further.
द्वौ मासौ रक्षितव्यौ मे योऽवधिस्ते मया कृतः। ततः शयनमारोह मम त्वं वरवर्णिनि
Two months have been set by me for your protection; after that, O woman of excellent complexion, you must ascend my bed.
द्वाभ्यामूर्ध्वं तु मासाभ्यां भर्तारं मामनिच्छतीम्। मम त्वां प्रातराशार्थे सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति खण्डशः
If, after those two months, you do not desire me as your husband, then, for my morning meal, the cooks will cut you into pieces.
तां भर्त्स्यमानां सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण जानकीम्। देवगन्धर्वकन्यास्ता विषेदुर्विकृतेक्षणाः
Seeing Jānakī being threatened by the king of the rākṣasas, the daughters of the gods and gandharvas became distressed, their eyes altered.
ओष्ठप्रकारैरपरा नेत्रैर्वक्त्रैस्तथापराः। सीतामाश्वासयामासुस्तर्जितां तेन रक्षसा
Some comforted Sītā, who was threatened by that rākṣasa, with gestures of their lips, others with their eyes, and others with their faces.
ताभिराश्वासिता सीता रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्। उवाचात्महितं वाक्यं वृत्तशौटीर्यगर्वितम्
Comforted by them, Sītā spoke to Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, words beneficial to herself, proud in her noble conduct.
नूनं न ते जनः कश्चिदस्मिन्निःश्रेयसि स्थितः। निवारयति यो न त्वां कर्मणोऽस्माद् विगर्हितात्
Surely, there is no one among your people who stands in the path of righteousness, who restrains you from this condemned act.
मां हि धर्मात्मनः पत्नीं शचीमिव शचीपतेः। त्वदन्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रार्थयेन्मनसापि कः
Who, other than you, would even in thought desire the wife of a righteous man, as one might desire Śacī, the wife of the lord of Śacī, among the three worlds?
राक्षसाधम रामस्य भार्याममिततेजसः। उक्तवानसि यत् पापं क्व गतस्तस्य मोक्ष्यसे
O vilest of Rākṣasas, you have committed a wicked act by seizing the wife of Rāma, whose splendor is immeasurable. Where will you go to escape its consequences?
यथा दृप्तश्च मातंगः शशश्च सहितौ वने। तथा द्विरदवद् रामस्त्वं नीच शशवत् स्मृतः
Just as an arrogant elephant and a hare together in the forest are not equals, so too is Rāma like the elephant, and you, base one, are to be regarded as the hare.
स त्वमिक्ष्वाकुनाथं वै क्षिपन्निह न लज्जसे। चक्षुषो विषये तस्य न यावदुपगच्छसि
You do not feel shame, hurling insults at the lord of the Ikṣvāku line here, though you have not yet come within the range of his sight.
इमे ते नयने क्रूरे विकृते कृष्णपिंगले। क्षितौ न पतिते कस्मान्मामनार्य निरीक्षतः
Why do you, ignoble one, look at me with those cruel, deformed, dark-brown eyes of yours, which have not yet fallen to the ground?
तस्य धर्मात्मनः पत्नी स्नुषा दशरथस्य च। कथं व्याहरतो मां ते न जिह्वा पाप शीर्यति
How is it, wicked one, that your tongue does not wither as you speak to me, the wife of that righteous man and daughter-in-law of Daśaratha?
असंदेशात्तु रामस्य तपसश्चानुपालनात्। न त्वां कुर्मि दशग्रीव भस्म भस्मार्हतेजसा
Only because I have no command from Rāma, and out of observance of my asceticism, O ten-headed one, do I not reduce you to ashes with the fire of my energy, as you deserve.
नापहर्तुमहं शक्या तस्य रामस्य धीमतः। विधिस्तव वधार्थाय विहितो नात्र संशयः
It is not possible for me to be taken by force from that wise Rāma; fate has been ordained for your destruction—of this there is no doubt.
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। विवृत्य नयने क्रूरे जानकीमन्ववैक्षत
Hearing Sītā’s words, Rāvaṇa, lord of the Rākṣasas, widened his fierce eyes and gazed at Jānakī.
नीलजीमूतसंकाशो महाभुजशिरोधरः। सिंहसत्त्वगतिः श्रीमान् दीप्तजिह्वोग्रलोचनः
He was like a dark raincloud, with mighty arms and a broad head, moving with the gait of a lion, resplendent, with a blazing tongue and fierce eyes.
चलाग्रमुकुटप्रांशुश्चित्रमाल्यानुलेपनः। रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरस्तप्तांगदविभूषणः
His tall, shifting crown shone, adorned with varied garlands and ointments; he wore red garlands and garments, and was decorated with blazing gold ornaments.
श्रोणीसूत्रेण महता मेचकेन सुसंवृतः। अमृतोत्पादने नद्धो भुजंगेनेव मन्दरः
He was well girded with a great, variegated belt at his hips, like Mount Mandara bound by the serpent at the churning of nectar.
ताभ्यां स परिपूर्णाभ्यां भुजाभ्यां राक्षसेश्वरः। शुशुभेऽचलसंकाशः शृंगाभ्यामिव मन्दरः
With those two full arms, the lord of the Rākṣasas shone like Mount Mandara with its two peaks.
तरुणादित्यवर्णाभ्यां कुण्डलाभ्यां विभूषितः। रक्तपल्लवपुष्पाभ्यामशोकाभ्यामिवाचलः
Adorned with earrings shining like the young sun, he resembled a mountain decorated with aśoka trees bearing red buds and flowers.
स कल्पवृक्षप्रतिमो वसन्त इव मूर्तिमान्। श्मशानचैत्यप्रतिमो भूषितोऽपि भयंकरः
He was like the wish-fulfilling tree, as if spring itself had taken form; yet, though adorned, he was as terrifying as a cemetery shrine.
अवेक्षमाणो वैदेहीं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः। उवाच रावणः सीतां भुजंग इव निःश्वसन्
Looking at Vaidehī with eyes reddened by anger, Rāvaṇa spoke to Sītā, hissing like a serpent.