पौलस्त्यस्य वरिष्ठस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः। दशग्रीवस्य भार्यात्वं सीते न बहु मन्यसे
'O Sītā, you do not value being the wife of the foremost of the Paulastyas, the great-souled Rāvaṇa, the ten-necked one.'
ततस्त्वेकजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। आमन्त्र्य क्रोधताम्राक्षी सीतां करतलोदरीम्
Then a demoness named Ekajaṭā, her eyes reddened with anger, addressed Sītā, whose belly rested upon her palm.
प्रजापतीनां षण्णां तु चतुर्थोऽयं प्रजापतिः। मानसो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः पुलस्त्य इति विश्रुतः
Of the six progenitors, this is the fourth Prajāpati, renowned as Pulastya, the mind-born son of Brahmā.
पुलस्त्यस्य तु तेजस्वी महर्षिर्मानसः सुतः। नाम्ना स विश्रवा नाम प्रजापतिसमप्रभः
Pulastya's radiant son, the great sage born of mind, is named Viśravā, equal in brilliance to the progenitors.
तस्य पुत्रो विशालाक्षि रावणः शत्रुरावणः। तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि
His son, O wide-eyed one, is Rāvaṇa, the enemy of enemies; you ought to become the wife of that lord of demons.
मयोक्तं चारुसर्वाङ्गि वाक्यं किं नानुमन्यसे। ततो हरिजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Why, O beautiful-limbed one, do you not accept the words I have spoken? Then a demoness named Harijaṭā spoke.
विवृत्य नयने कोपान्मार्जारसदृशेक्षणा। येन देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवराजश्च निर्जितः
Opening her eyes in anger, resembling those of a cat, she said: 'By whom the thirty-three gods and the king of gods were conquered.'
तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि। वीर्योत्सिक्तस्य शूरस्य संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः। बलिनो वीर्ययुक्तस्य भार्यात्वं किं न लिप्ससे
You ought to become the wife of that lord of demons, mighty and heroic, never retreating in battle, endowed with strength and valor; why do you not desire to be his wife?
प्रियां बहुमतां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा राजा महाबलः। सर्वासां च महाभागां त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः
The mighty king will abandon his beloved and esteemed wife, and approach you, O most fortunate, above all others, Rāvaṇa will come to you.
समृद्धं स्त्रीसहस्रेण नानारत्नोपशोभितम्। अन्तःपुरं तदुत्सृज्य त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः
Leaving behind his splendid inner chambers, adorned with a thousand women and various jewels, Rāvaṇa will come to you.
अन्या तु विकटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। असकृद् भीमवीर्येण नागा गन्धर्वदानवाः। निर्जिताः समरे येन स ते पार्श्वमुपागतः
Then another demoness named Vikaṭā spoke: 'By whose terrible prowess elephants, gandharvas, and demons have been repeatedly defeated in battle, he has come to your side.'
तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः। किमर्थं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्यात्वं नेच्छसेऽधमे
For what reason, O lowest one, do you not wish to be the wife of Rāvaṇa, the lord of demons, who possesses all prosperity and greatness?
ततस्तां दुर्मुखी नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। यस्य सूर्यो न तपति भीतो यस्य स मारुतः। न वाति स्मायतापाङ्गि किं त्वं तस्य न तिष्ठसे
Then a demoness named Durmukhī spoke: 'For whom the sun does not shine, and the wind, frightened, does not blow, O gentle-eyed one, why do you not stand with him?'
पुष्पवृष्टिं च तरवो मुमुचुर्यस्य वै भयात्। शैलाः सुस्रुवुः पानीयं जलदाश्च यदेच्छति
The trees showered flowers out of fear for him; mountains released water, and clouds give whatever he desires.
तस्य नैर्ऋतराजस्य राजराजस्य भामिनि। किं त्वं न कुरुषे बुद्धिं भार्यार्थे रावणस्य हि
O beautiful one, for that king of the demons, king of kings, why do you not resolve to be Rāvaṇa's wife?
साधु ते तत्त्वतो देवि कथितं साधु भामिनि। गृहाण सुस्मिते वाक्यमन्यथा न भविष्यसि
O goddess, O beautiful one, what has been said to you is good and true; accept these words, O smiling one, otherwise you will not survive.
thumb|चतुर्विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे सुन्दरकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः ॥५-
Listen to the twenty-fourth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa.
ततः सीतां समस्तास्ता राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः। परुषं परुषानर्हामूचुस्तद्वाक्यमप्रियम्
Then all the demonesses with distorted faces spoke harsh and unworthy words to Sītā, words that were unpleasant.
किं त्वमन्तःपुरे सीते सर्वभूतमनोरमे। महार्हशयनोपेते न वासमनुमन्यसे
Why, O Sītā, do you not consent to stay in the inner chambers, delightful to all beings, furnished with luxurious beds?
मानुषी मानुषस्यैव भार्यात्वं बहु मन्यसे। प्रत्याहर मनो रामान्नैवं जातु भविष्यति
You overvalue the marriage of a human woman to a human man; withdraw your mind from Rāma—such a thing will never happen.
त्रैलोक्यवसुभोक्तारं रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम्। भर्तारमुपसंगम्य विहरस्व यथासुखम्
Approach Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, enjoyer of the wealth of the three worlds, and live with him as you please.
मानुषी मानुषं तं तु राममिच्छसि शोभने। राज्याद् भ्रष्टमसिद्धार्थं विक्लवन्तमनिन्दिते
O beautiful one, you desire that human Rāma, who is deprived of his kingdom, unsuccessful in his aims, and dispirited, O blameless lady.
राक्षसीनां वचः श्रुत्वा सीता पद्मनिभेक्षणा। नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing the words of the rākṣasīs, Sītā, whose eyes are like lotus petals, with her eyes filled with tears, spoke these words.
यदिदं लोकविद्विष्टमुदाहरत संगताः। नैतन्मनसि वाक्यं मे किल्बिषं प्रतितिष्ठति
Whatever hateful words you all are speaking together, such sinful speech does not remain in my mind.
न मानुषी राक्षसस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हति। कामं खादत मां सर्वा न करिष्यामि वो वचः
A human woman should not become the wife of a rākṣasa; you may all eat me if you wish, but I will not do your bidding.
दीनो वा राज्यहीनो वा यो मे भर्ता स मे गुरुः। तं नित्यमनुरक्तास्मि यथा सूर्यं सुवर्चला
Whether he is destitute or deprived of his kingdom, my husband is my lord; I am always devoted to him, as Suvarcalā is to the sun.
यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति। अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा
As the greatly fortunate Śacī serves Indra, as Arundhatī serves Vasiṣṭha, and as Rohiṇī serves the moon,
लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त्यं सुकन्या च्यवनं यथा। सावित्री सत्यवन्तं च कपिलं श्रीमती यथा
As Lopāmudrā serves Agastya, Sukanyā serves Cyavana, Sāvitrī serves Satyavat, and Śrīmatī serves Kapila,
सौदासं मदयन्तीव केशिनी सगरं यथा। नैषधं दमयन्तीव भैमी पतिमनुव्रता
As Madayantī serves Saudāsa, Keśinī serves Sagara, Damayantī serves Nala, and Bhīmi serves her husband with fidelity,
तथाहमिक्ष्वाकुवरं रामं पतिमनुव्रता। सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः। भर्त्सयन्ति स्म परुषैर्वाक्यै रावणचोदिताः
So too am I devoted to my husband Rāma, the best of the Ikṣvākus. Hearing Sītā’s words, the rākṣasīs, enraged at Rāvaṇa’s urging, began to threaten her with harsh words.