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.
अनयेनाभिसम्पन्नमर्थहीनमनुव्रते। नाशयाम्यहमद्य त्वां सूर्यः संध्यामिवौजसा
You, who are devoted but bereft of purpose and joined with misfortune, I will destroy today with my power, as the sun destroys the twilight.
इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रुरावणः। संददर्श ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः
Having spoken thus to Maithilī, King Rāvaṇa, the terror of his foes, then summoned all the Rākṣasī women of dreadful appearance.
एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा। गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम्
There were those with a single eye, those with a single ear, those with ears covered, those with cow-like ears, elephant-like ears, hanging ears, and those without ears.
हस्तिपद्यश्वपद्यौ च गोपदीं पादचूलिकाम्। एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम्
With hands like elephant's feet, feet like horse's hooves, cow-footed, with tiny feet, one-eyed, one-legged, broad-footed, and footless women—
अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम्। अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वानखामपि
With heads and necks exceedingly large, breasts and bellies immense, mouths and eyes enormous, with long tongues and nails as well—
अनासिकां सिंहमुखीं गोमुखीं सूकरीमुखीम्। यथा मद्वशगा सीता क्षिप्रं भवति जानकी
Nose-less, lion-faced, cow-faced, pig-faced—so that Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, may quickly come under my control—
तथा कुरुत राक्षस्यः सर्वाः क्षिप्रं समेत्य वा। प्रतिलोमानुलोमैश्च सामदानादिभेदनैः
Thus, all of you Rākṣasī women, quickly assemble and by contrary and agreeable means, by conciliation, gifts, and division—
आवर्जयत वैदेहीं दण्डस्योद्यमनेन च। इति प्रतिसमादिश्य राक्षसेन्द्रः पुनः पुनः
Bring Vaidehī around, even by threatening punishment; having thus repeatedly instructed them, the king of Rākṣasas—
काममन्युपरीतात्मा जानकीं प्रति गर्जत। उपगम्य ततः क्षिप्रं राक्षसी धान्यमालिनी
Overcome by desire and anger, roaring at Jānakī, then swiftly approached by the Rākṣasī Dhānyamālinī—
परिष्वज्य दशग्रीवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। मया क्रीड महाराज सीतया किं तवानया
She embraced the ten-necked one and spoke these words: 'Play with me, great king; what need have you for this Sītā?'