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.
तृणवद् भाषितं तासां गणयामास जानकी। गर्जितं च तथा तासां सीतां प्राप्य निरर्थकम्
Jānakī regarded their words as insignificant as grass, and likewise their roaring, which, having reached Sītā, was meaningless.
वृथा गर्जितनिश्चेष्टा राक्षस्यः पिशिताशनाः। रावणाय शशंसुस्ताः सीताव्यवसितं महत्
The Rākṣasīs, flesh-eaters, made empty threats and gestures; they reported Sītā's firm resolve to Rāvaṇa.
ततस्ताः सहिताः सर्वा विहताशा निरुद्यमाः। परिक्लिश्य समस्तास्ता निद्रावशमुपागताः
Then all those women, together, their hopes dashed and their efforts exhausted, tormented, finally succumbed to sleep.
तासु चैव प्रसुप्तासु सीता भर्तृहिते रता। विलप्य करुणं दीना प्रशुशोच सुदुःखिता
When they had fallen asleep, Sītā, devoted to her husband's welfare, lamented sorrowfully, afflicted and deeply distressed.
तासां मध्यात् समुत्थाय त्रिजटा वाक्यमब्रवीत्। आत्मानं खादत क्षिप्रं न सीतामसितेक्षणाम्
Rising from among them, Trijaṭā spoke these words: "Devour yourselves quickly, not Sītā of dark eyes.
जनकस्यात्मजां साध्वीं स्नुषां दशरथस्य च। स्वप्नो ह्यद्य मया दृष्टो दारुणो रोमहर्षणः
"This virtuous daughter of Janaka, daughter-in-law of Daśaratha—today I saw a dreadful, hair-raising dream.
रक्षसां च विनाशाय भर्तुरस्या जयाय च। अलमस्मान् परित्रातुं राघवाद् राक्षसीगणम्
"It foretells the destruction of the Rākṣasas and the victory of her husband; it is enough—let us seek protection from Rāghava for the host of Rākṣasīs.
अभियाचाम वैदेहीमेतद्धि मम रोचते। यदि ह्येवंविधः स्वप्नो दुःखितायाः प्रदृश्यते
"Let us beg Vaidehī for mercy; this pleases me. For if such a dream appears to one who is suffering—
सा दुःखैर्विविधैर्मुक्ता सुखमाप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्। प्रणिपातप्रसन्ना हि मैथिली जनकात्मजा
"She, freed from various sorrows, attains unsurpassed happiness; for Maithilī, daughter of Janaka, is gracious to those who bow before her.
अलमेषा परित्रातुं राक्षस्यो महतो भयात्। ततः सा ह्रीमती बाला भर्तुर्विजयहर्षिता
"She alone is able to protect the Rākṣasīs from great danger." Then that modest young woman, delighted by her husband's coming victory—