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—
अवोचद् यदि तत् तथ्यं भवेयं शरणं हि वः। तां चाहं तादृशीं दृष्ट्वा सीताया दारुणां दशाम्
Said, "If that is true, I will indeed be your refuge; and seeing Sītā in such a dreadful state—"
चिन्तयामास विश्रान्तो न च मे निर्वृतं मनः। सम्भाषणार्थे च मया जानक्याश्चिन्तितो विधिः
Resting, I reflected, yet my mind found no peace; I considered how I might speak with Janaki.
इक्ष्वाकुकुलवंशस्तु स्तुतो मम पुरस्कृतः। श्रुत्वा तु गदितां वाचं राजर्षिगणभूषिताम्
The lineage of Ikshvaku was praised and placed foremost by me; hearing those words, adorned with the speech of royal sages—
प्रत्यभाषत मां देवी बाष्पैः पिहितलोचना। कस्त्वं केन कथं चेह प्राप्तो वानरपुङ्गव
The lady replied to me, her eyes filled with tears: 'Who are you? By whom, and how, have you come here, O foremost of monkeys?'
का च रामेण ते प्रीतिस्तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि। तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा अहमप्यब्रुवं वचः
'And what affection do you have for Rama? That you must tell me.' Hearing her words, I too spoke.
देवि रामस्य भर्तुस्ते सहायो भीमविक्रमः। सुग्रीवो नाम विक्रान्तो वानरेन्द्रो महाबलः
'O lady, your husband Rama has a mighty and valorous ally named Sugriva, the powerful king of the monkeys.'
तस्य मां विद्धि भृत्यं त्वं हनूमन्तमिहागतम्। भर्त्रा सम्प्रहितस्तुभ्यं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
'Know me to be his servant, Hanuman, who has come here, sent to you by your blameless husband Rama.'
इदं तु पुरुषव्याघ्रः श्रीमान् दाशरथिः स्वयम्। अङ्गुलीयमभिज्ञानमदात् तुभ्यं यशस्विनि
'This, O illustrious one, is a sign of recognition which the glorious son of Dasharatha, the tiger among men, himself gave to you.'
तदिच्छामि त्वयाज्ञप्तं देवि किं करवाण्यहम्। रामलक्ष्मणयोः पार्श्वं नयामि त्वां किमुत्तरम्
'Therefore, O lady, command me—what shall I do? Shall I take you to the side of Rama and Lakshmana? What is your answer?'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा विदित्वा च सीता जनकनन्दिनी। आह रावणमुत्पाट्य राघवो मां नयत्विति
Hearing and understanding this, Sita, daughter of Janaka, said: 'Let Raghava uproot Ravana and take me.'