अहं लङ्कापुरी वीर निर्जिता विक्रमेण ते। यस्मात् तस्माद् विजेतासि सर्वरक्षांस्यशेषतः
"O hero, by your valor, the city of Lanka has been conquered by you; therefore, you will surely defeat all the rākṣasas without exception."
तत्राहं सर्वरात्रं तु विचरञ्जनकात्मजाम्। रावणान्तःपुरगतो न चापश्यं सुमध्यमाम्
There, I wandered the whole night searching for Janaka's daughter, and though I entered Ravana's inner chambers, I did not see the slender-waisted one.
ततः सीतामपश्यंस्तु रावणस्य निवेशने। शोकसागरमासाद्य न पारमुपलक्षये
Then, not seeing Sita in Ravana's palace, I was overcome by a sea of sorrow, unable to perceive its far shore.
शोचता च मया दृष्टं प्राकारेणाभिसंवृतम्। काञ्चनेन विकृष्टेन गृहोपवनमुत्तमम्
As I grieved, I saw an excellent house-garden, surrounded by a golden wall.
सप्राकारमवप्लुत्य पश्यामि बहुपादपम्। अशोकवनिकामध्ये शिंशपापादपो महान्
Leaping over the wall, I saw, amidst many trees, a great śiṃśapā tree in the center of the Ashoka grove.
तमारुह्य च पश्यामि काञ्चनं कदलीवनम्। अदूराच्छिंशपावृक्षात् पश्यामि वरवर्णिनीम्
Climbing up there, I see a golden grove of plantains; not far from the śiṃśapā tree, I see a woman of splendid complexion.
श्यामां कमलपत्राक्षीमुपवासकृशाननाम्। तदेकवासःसंवीतां रजोध्वस्तशिरोरुहाम्
Dark-skinned, with eyes like lotus petals, her face thinned by fasting, clad in a single garment, her hair dust-stained.
मांसशोणितभक्ष्याभिर्व्याघ्रीभिर्हरिणीं यथा। सा मया राक्षसीमध्ये तर्ज्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः
Surrounded by flesh- and blood-eating she-demons, as a doe among tigresses, she was repeatedly threatened by them in my sight.
एकवेणीधरा दीना भर्तृचिन्तापरायणा। भूमिशय्या विवर्णाङ्गी पद्मिनीव हिमागमे
Wearing her hair in a single braid, dejected, her mind fixed on her husband, lying on the ground, her body faded, like a lotus at the onset of winter.
रावणाद् विनिवृत्तार्था मर्तव्ये कृतनिश्चया। कथंचिन्मृगशावाक्षी तूर्णमासादिता मया
Having lost all hope from Rāvaṇa, resolved to die, somehow, with fawn-like eyes, she was swiftly found by me.
तां दृष्ट्वा तादृशीं नारीं रामपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्। तत्रैव शिंशपावृक्षे पश्यन्नहमवस्थितः
Seeing such a woman, the illustrious wife of Rāma, I remained there on the śiṃśapā tree, watching.
ततो हलहलाशब्दं काञ्चीनूपुरमिश्रितम्। शृणोम्यधिकगम्भीरं रावणस्य निवेशने
Then I heard a clamor, mingled with the sound of girdles and anklets, deep and resounding, from Rāvaṇa’s palace.
ततोऽहं परमोद्विग्नः स्वरूपं प्रत्यसंहरम्। अहं च शिंशपावृक्षे पक्षीव गहने स्थितः
Then, extremely anxious, I withdrew my true form, and remained in the dense foliage of the śiṃśapā tree like a bird.
ततो रावणदाराश्च रावणश्च महाबलः। तं देशमनुसम्प्राप्तो यत्र सीताभवत् स्थिता
Then Rāvaṇa’s wives and mighty Rāvaṇa himself arrived at that place where Sītā was staying.
तं दृष्ट्वाथ वरारोहा सीता रक्षोगणेश्वरम्। संकुच्योरू स्तनौ पीनौ बाहुभ्यां परिरभ्य च
Seeing the lord of the rākṣasas, Sītā, of lovely form, drew in her thighs and covered her full breasts with her arms.
वित्रस्तां परमोद्विग्नां वीक्ष्यमाणामितस्ततः। त्राणं कंचिदपश्यन्तीं वेपमानां तपस्विनीम्
Terrified, deeply distressed, glancing about, seeing no one to protect her, trembling, devoted to austerity.
तामुवाच दशग्रीवः सीतां परमदुःखिताम्। अवाक्शिराः प्रपतितो बहुमन्यस्व मामिति
Daśagrīva spoke to Sītā, overwhelmed with sorrow: 'With head bowed, I fall before you—regard me with favor.'
यदि चेत्त्वं तु मां दर्पान्नाभिनन्दसि गर्विते। द्विमासानन्तरं सीते पास्यामि रुधिरं तव
'But if, out of pride, you do not welcome me, O proud one, then after two months, Sītā, I shall drink your blood.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः। उवाच परमक्रुद्धा सीता वचनमुत्तमम्
Hearing these words of Rāvaṇa, the wicked-souled, Sītā, greatly enraged, spoke these excellent words.
राक्षसाधम रामस्य भार्याममिततेजसः। इक्ष्वाकुवंशनाथस्य स्नुषां दशरथस्य च
'Vile rākṣasa! I am the wife of Rāma, of boundless splendor, daughter-in-law of Daśaratha, lord of the Ikṣvāku line.'
अवाच्यं वदतो जिह्वा कथं न पतिता तव। किंस्विद्वीर्य तवानार्य यो मां भर्तुरसंनिधौ
'How has your tongue not fallen out as you utter such unspeakable words? What is your strength, O ignoble one, that you take me in my husband’s absence?'
अपहृत्यागतः पाप तेनादृष्टो महात्मना। न त्वं रामस्य सदृशो दास्येऽप्यस्य न युज्यसे
'You have come here, wicked one, after abducting me unseen by that great-souled man; you are not equal to Rāma, not even fit to be his servant.'
अजेयः सत्यवाक् शूरो रणश्लाघी च राघवः। जानक्या परुषं वाक्यमेवमुक्तो दशाननः
'Rāghava is unconquerable, truthful, heroic, and renowned in battle.' Thus did Janakī speak harsh words to Daśānana.
जज्वाल सहसा कोपाच्चितास्थ इव पावकः। विवृत्य नयने क्रूरे मुष्टिमुद्यम्य दक्षिणम्
He blazed up suddenly with anger, like fire fed with fuel, opening his fierce eyes and raising his right fist.
मैथिलीं हन्तुमारब्धः स्त्रीभिर्हाहाकृतं तदा। स्त्रीणां मध्यात् समुत्पत्य तस्य भार्या दुरात्मनः
He began to attack Maithilī, intending to kill her, while the women cried out in alarm; then, leaping up from among the women, the wife of that wicked one—
वरा मन्दोदरी नाम तया स प्रतिषेधितः। उक्तश्च मधुरां वाणीं तया स मदनार्दितः
Mandodarī by name, the foremost among women, restrained him; and, overcome by love, she spoke sweet words to him.
सीतया तव किं कार्यं महेन्द्रसमविक्रम। मया सह रमस्वाद्य मद्विशिष्टा न जानकी
"What do you want with Sītā, whose valor equals Indra's? Enjoy yourself with me now; Jānakī is not superior to me."
देवगन्धर्वकन्याभिर्यक्षकन्याभिरेव च। सार्धं प्रभो रमस्वेति सीतया किं करिष्यसि
"Enjoy yourself, lord, with the daughters of gods and Gandharvas, and with the Yakṣa maidens as well; what will you do with Sītā?"
ततस्ताभिः समेताभिर्नारीभिः स महाबलः। उत्थाप्य सहसा नीतो भवनं स्वं निशाचरः
Then, surrounded by those assembled women, that mighty demon was quickly raised up and led to his own palace.
याते तस्मिन् दशग्रीवे राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः। सीतां निर्भर्त्सयामासुर्वाक्यैः क्रूरैः सुदारुणैः
When the ten-headed one had departed, the Rākṣasī women with distorted faces began to threaten Sītā with harsh and terrible words.