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.
अवलीनः स निर्वाक्यो हनुमान् शिंशपाद्रुमे। सीतां संतर्जयन्तीस्ता राक्षसीरशृणोत् कपिः
Hanumān, silent and concealed in the śiṃśapā tree, heard those rākṣasīs threatening Sītā.
तामभिक्रम्य संरब्धा वेपमानां समन्ततः। भृशं संलिलिहुर्दीप्तान् प्रलम्बान् दशनच्छदान्
Rushing at her from all sides, furious, they licked their long, blazing fangs intensely as she trembled.
ऊचुश्च परमक्रुद्धाः प्रगृह्याशु परश्वधान्। नेयमर्हति भर्तारं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्
Seizing their sharp axes, they spoke in great anger: 'She does not deserve Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, as her husband.'
सा भर्त्स्यमाना भीमाभी राक्षसीभिर्वरांगना। सा बाष्पमपमार्जन्ती शिंशपां तामुपागमत्
That noble lady, threatened by the terrifying rākṣasīs, wiped away her tears and approached the śiṃśapā tree.
ततस्तां शिंशपां सीता राक्षसीभिः समावृता। अभिगम्य विशालाक्षी तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुता
Then Sītā, surrounded by the rākṣasīs, came to the śiṃśapā tree; the wide-eyed one stood there, overwhelmed by grief.
तां कृशां दीनवदनां मलिनाम्बरवासिनीम्। भर्त्सयाञ्चक्रिरे भीमा राक्षस्यस्ताः समन्ततः
Those terrifying rākṣasīs all around began to threaten her—emaciated, with a sorrowful face, clad in soiled garments.
ततस्तु विनता नाम राक्षसी भीमदर्शना। अब्रवीत् कुपिताकारा कराला निर्णतोदरी
Then a rākṣasī named Vinatā, fearsome in appearance, with a terrible face and sunken belly, spoke in anger.
सीते पर्याप्तमेतावद् भर्तुः स्नेहः प्रदर्शितः। सर्वत्रातिकृतं भद्रे व्यसनायोपकल्पते
O Sita, this much affection from your husband has been sufficiently shown; everywhere, O gentle one, excess leads to misfortune.
परितुष्टास्मि भद्रं ते मानुषस्ते कृतो विधिः। ममापि तु वचः पथ्यं ब्रुवन्त्याः कुरु मैथिलि
I am satisfied; may good befall you. The human path has been fulfilled. But now, Maithili, do what I say, for it is beneficial.
रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम्। विक्रान्तमापतन्तं च सुरेशमिव वासवम्
Accept Ravana as your husband, the lord of all the Rakshasas, mighty and advancing like Indra, the king of the gods.