तेन रात्रौ शयानो मे पिता पापेन हिंसितः ।। ७.१७.
While my father lay sleeping at night, he was harmed by that wicked one.
ततो मे जननी दीना तच्छरीरं पितुर्मम । परिष्वज्य महाभागा प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम् ।। ७.१७.
Then my mother, distressed, embraced my father's body, and the noble lady entered the sacrificial fire.
ततो मनोरथं सत्यं पितुर्नारायणं प्रति । करोमीति तमेवाहं हृदयेन समुद्वहे ।। ७.१७.
Then, I made a true vow regarding my father to Nārāyaṇa: 'I will fulfill this,' and I carried it in my heart.
इति प्रतिज्ञामारुह्य चरामि विपुलं तपः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया राक्षसपुङ्गव ।। ७.१७.
Having made this pledge, I practice intense austerity. All this has been told to you by me, O foremost of rākṣasas.
नारायणो मम पतिर्न त्वन्यः पुरुषोत्तमात् । आश्रये नियमं घोरं नारायणपरीप्सया । विज्ञातस्त्वं हि मे राजन्गच्छ पौलस्त्यनन्दन ।। ७.१७.
Nārāyaṇa is my husband, not anyone other than the supreme person. I observe severe vows out of desire for Nārāyaṇa. You are known to me, O king; go, O son of Pulastya.
जानामि तपसा सर्वं त्रैलोक्ये यद्धि वर्तते ।। ७.१७.
Through austerity, I know everything that happens in the three worlds.
सो ऽब्रवीद्रावणो भूयस्तां कन्यां सुमहाव्रताम् । अवरुह्य विमानाग्रात्कन्दर्पशरपीडितः ।। ७.१७.
Then Rāvaṇa again spoke to that maiden of great vows, descending from the top of his aerial chariot, afflicted by the arrows of Kāma.
अवलिप्ता ऽसि सुश्रोणि यस्यास्ते मतिरीदृशी । वृद्धानां मृगशावाक्षि भ्राजते पुण्यसञ्चयः ।। ७.१७.
You are proud, O lovely-hipped one, whose mind is thus. Among the elders, O fawn-eyed one, your store of merit shines.
त्वं सर्वंगुणसम्पन्ना नार्हसे वक्तुमीदृशम् । त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी भीरु यौवनं ते निवर्तते ।। ७.१७.
You are endowed with all virtues; you should not speak in this way. O beautiful one of the three worlds, timid girl, your youth is passing.
अहं लङ्कापतिर्भद्रे दशग्रीव इति श्रुतः । तस्य मे भव भार्या त्वं भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्यथासुखम् ।। ७.१७.
I am the lord of Laṅkā, O noble lady, known as Daśagrīva. Be my wife and enjoy pleasures as you wish.
कश्च तावदसौ यं त्वं विष्णुरित्यभिभाषसे । वीर्येण तपसा चैव भोगेन च बलेन च ७.१७.
Who is this whom you call Viṣṇu? In prowess, austerity, enjoyment, and strength—
इत्युक्तवति तस्मिंस्तु वेदवत्यथ सा ऽब्रवीत् ।। ७.१७.
When he had spoken thus, Vedavatī then replied.
ैव भोगेन च बलेन च ।। मा मैवमिति सा कन्या तमुवाच निशाचरम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपति विष्णुं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । त्वदृते राक्षसेन्द्रान्यः को ऽवमन्येत बुद्धिमान् ।। ७.१७.
In enjoyment and strength—do not speak so. Thus the maiden addressed the night-wanderer: 'Viṣṇu, lord of the three worlds, honored by all beings—who but you, O king of rākṣasas, would disregard him, being wise?'
एवमुक्तस्तया तत्र वेदवत्या निशाचरः । मूर्धजेषु तदा कन्यां कराग्रेण परामृशत् ।। ७.१७.
Thus addressed by Vedavatī, the night-wanderer then touched the maiden's hair with his hand.
ततो वेदवती क्रुद्धा केशान्हस्तेन सा ऽच्छिनत् । असिर्भूत्वा करस्तस्याः केशांश्छिन्नांस्तदा ऽकरोत् ।। ७.१७.
Then Vedavatī, enraged, cut her hair with her hand; her hand became a sword and cut off her hair.
सा ज्वलन्तीव रोषेण दहन्तीव निशाचरम् । उवाचाग्निं समाधाय मरणाय कृतत्वरा ।। ७.१७.
She, blazing with anger as if on fire, burning the night-demon with her fury, spoke after fixing her mind like fire, hastening toward death.
धर्षितायास्त्वयानार्य न मे जीवितमिष्यते । रक्षस्तस्मात्प्रवेक्ष्यामि पश्यतस्ते हुताशनम् ।। ७.१७.
Dishonored by you, O ignoble one, I no longer wish to live; therefore, demon, before your eyes I will enter the sacred fire.
यस्मात्तु धर्षिता चाहं त्वया पापात्मना वने । तस्मात्तव वधार्थं हि समुत्पत्स्ये ह्यहं पुनः ।। ७.१७.
Because I have been violated by you, wicked-souled, in the forest, therefore I shall be born again for your destruction.
न हि शक्यं स्त्रिया हन्तुं पुरुषः पापनिश्चः । शापे त्वयि मयोत्सृष्टे तपसश्च व्ययो भवेत् ।। ७.१७.
Indeed, a woman cannot kill a man whose mind is set on evil; if I were to curse you, my ascetic merit would be lost.
यदि त्वस्ति मया किञ्चित्कृतं दत्तं हुतं तथा । तस्मात्त्वयोनिजा साध्वी भवेयं धर्मिणः सुता ।। ७.१७.
If I have performed any act, given any gift, or offered any oblation, by that may I be born a virtuous daughter, not from a womb.
एवमुक्त्वा प्रविष्टा सा ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् । पपात च दिवो दिव्या पुष्पवृष्टिः समन्ततः ।। ७.१७.
Having spoken thus, she entered the blazing fire, and from the heavens a divine shower of flowers fell all around.
पुनरेव समुद्भूता पद्मे पद्मसमप्रभा । तस्मादपि पुनः प्राप्ता पूर्ववत्तेन रक्षसा ।। ७.१७.
She was born again from a lotus, shining like a lotus, and once more was seized by that demon as before.
कन्यां कमलगर्भाभां प्रगृह्य स्वगृहं ययौ । प्रगृह्य रावणस्त्वेतां दर्शयामास मन्त्रिणे ।। ७.१७.
Taking the maiden, radiant as a lotus bud, Ravana brought her to his house and showed her to his counselor.
लक्षणज्ञो निरीक्ष्यैव रावणं चैवमब्रवीत् । गृहस्थैषां हि सुश्रोणी त्वद्वधायैव दृश्यते ।। ७.१७.
The counselor, skilled in signs, observed her and said to Ravana: 'This beautiful-hipped woman, dwelling in your house, appears destined for your death.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ऽर्णवे राम तां प्रचिक्षेप रावणः । सा चैव क्षितिमासाद्य यज्ञायतनमध्यगा ।। ७.१७.
Hearing this, O Rama, Ravana cast her into the ocean; she reached the earth and entered the midst of a sacrificial altar.
राज्ञो हलमुखोत्कृष्टा पुनरप्युत्थिता सती । सैषा जनकराजस्य प्रसूता तनया प्रभो । तव भार्या महाबाहो विष्णुस्त्वं हि सनातनः ।। ७.१७.
Again, she was raised up by the king's plough, and thus was born as the daughter of King Janaka, O mighty-armed one, your wife; for you are the eternal Vishnu.
पूर्वं क्रोधाहितः शत्रुर्यया ऽसौ निहतस्तथा । उपाश्रयित्वा शैलभस्तव वीर्यममानुषम् ।। ७.१७.
Formerly, by her wrath, that enemy was slain; she took refuge in the mountain and relied on your superhuman power.
एवमेषा महाभागा मर्त्येषूत्पत्स्यते पुनः । क्षेत्रे हलमुखोत्कृष्टे वेद्यामग्निशिखोपमा ।। ७.१७.
Thus, this blessed one will be born again among mortals, in a field ploughed by the ploughshare, shining like a flame upon the altar.
एषा वेदवती नाम पूर्वमासीत्कृते युगे । त्रेतायुगमनुप्राप्य वधार्थं तस्य रक्षसः ।। ७.१७.
She was formerly known as Vedavati in the Krita age; in the Treta age, she was born for the destruction of that demon.
उत्पन्ना मैथिलकुले जनकस्य महात्मनः । सीतोत्पन्ना तु सीतेति मानुषैः पुनरुच्यते ।। ७.१७.
Born in the noble line of Mithila, daughter of the great Janaka, she was found in a furrow and is called Sita by men.