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?'
विवर्णया कृपणया मानुष्या राक्षसेश्वर। नूनमस्यां महाराज न देवा भोगसत्तमान्
'With this colorless, pitiable human woman, O lord of Rākṣasas? Surely, O great king, in her the gods, the best enjoyments—'
विदधत्यमरश्रेष्ठास्तव बाहुबलार्जितान्। अकामां कामयानस्य शरीरमुपतप्यते
'The foremost immortals do not bestow upon her the pleasures won by your mighty arms. For one who desires an unwilling woman, the body is tormented.'
इच्छतीं कामयानस्य प्रीतिर्भवति शोभना। एवमुक्तस्तु राक्षस्या समुत्क्षिप्तस्ततो बली। प्रहसन् मेघसंकाशो राक्षसः स न्यवर्तत
'For one who desires a willing woman, joy is beautiful.' Thus addressed by the Rākṣasī, the powerful one, like a mass of clouds, laughed and withdrew.
प्रस्थितः स दशग्रीवः कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम्। ज्वलद्भास्करसंकाशं प्रविवेश निवेशनम्
Departing, the ten-necked one seemed to make the earth tremble; shining like blazing sun, he entered his palace.
देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च तास्ततः। परिवार्य दशग्रीवं प्रविशुस्ता गृहोत्तमम्
Then, divine and Gandharva maidens, and Nāga maidens, surrounded the ten-necked one and entered that splendid mansion.
स मैथिलीं धर्मपरामवस्थितां प्रवेपमानां परिभर्त्स्य रावणः। विहाय सीतां मदनेन मोहितः स्वमेव वेश्म प्रविवेश रावणः
Having rebuked Sītā, the virtuous daughter of Mithilā, who was trembling, Rāvaṇa, deluded by desire, abandoned her and entered his own palace.
thumb|त्रयोविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे त्रयोविंशः सर्गः ॥५-
Listen to the twenty-third chapter.
इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रुरावणः। संदिश्य च ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्निर्जगाम ह
Having thus spoken to Maithilī, the king Rāvaṇa, the terror of his foes, after instructing all the Rākṣasī women, departed.
निष्क्रान्ते राक्षसेन्द्रे तु पुनरन्तःपुरं गते। राक्षस्यो भीमरूपास्ताः सीतां समभिदुद्रुवुः
When the king of Rākṣasas had gone out and returned to his inner chambers, those fearsome Rākṣasī women rushed toward Sītā.
ततः सीतामुपागम्य राक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः। परं परुषया वाचा वैदेहीमिदमब्रुवन्
Then, approaching Sītā, the Rākṣasī women, maddened by anger, addressed Vaidehī with extremely harsh words.