कद्रूर्नागसहस्रं तु विजज्ञे धरणीधरान्। द्वौ पुत्रौ विनतायास्तु गरुडोऽरुण एव च
Kadrū gave birth to a thousand serpents, the earth-supporting nāgas; and Vinatā had two sons, Garuḍa and Aruṇa.
तस्माज्जातोऽहमरुणात् सम्पातिश्च ममाग्रजः। जटायुरिति मां विद्धि श्येनीपुत्रमरिंदम
From Aruṇa I was born, and Sampāti is my elder brother; know me as Jaṭāyu, the son of Śyenī, O subduer of foes.
सोऽहं वाससहायस्ते भविष्यामि यदीच्छसि। इदं दुर्गं हि कान्तारं मृगराक्षससेवितम्। सीतां च तात रक्षिष्ये त्वयि याते सलक्ष्मणे
If you wish, I will be your companion in dwelling here; for this forest is a difficult stronghold, frequented by beasts and rākṣasas. Dear one, I will protect Sītā when you depart with Lakṣmaṇa.
जटायुषं तु प्रतिपूज्य राघवो मुदा परिष्वज्य च संनतोऽभवत् । पितुर्हि शुश्राव सखित्वमात्मवा- ञ्जटायुषा संकथितं पुनः पुनः
Rāghava honored Jaṭāyu, joyfully embraced him, and bowed; for he had heard again and again from his father about their friendship with Jaṭāyu.
स तत्र सीतां परिदाय मैथिलीं सहैव तेनातिबलेन पक्षिणा। जगाम तां पञ्चवटीं सलक्ष्मणो रिपून् दिधक्षन् शलभानिवानलः
There, entrusting Sītā, the princess of Mithilā, to that mighty bird, he went to Pañcavaṭī with Lakṣmaṇa, eager to destroy his enemies like fire consumes moths.
thumb|सप्तदशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the seventeenth sarga be heard.
कृताभिषेको रामस्तु सीता सौमित्रिरेव च। तस्माद् गोदावरीतीरात् ततो जग्मुः स्वमाश्रमम्
Rāma, having completed his ablutions, with Sītā and Saumitri, left the bank of the Godāvarī and went to his own hermitage.
आश्रमं तमुपागम्य राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकं कर्म पर्णशालामुपागमत्
Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, approached that hermitage, performed the morning rituals, and entered the leaf-hut.
उवास सुखितस्तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः। स रामः पर्णशालायामासीनः सह सीतया
He dwelt there happily, honored by the great sages; Rāma sat in the leaf-hut with Sītā.
विरराज महाबाहुश्चित्रया चन्द्रमा इव। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा चकार विविधाः कथाः
The mighty-armed Rāma shone like the moon adorned with patterns; with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, he engaged in various conversations.
तदासीनस्य रामस्य कथासंसक्तचेतसः। तं देशं राक्षसी काचिदाजगाम यदृच्छया
As Rāma sat, his mind absorbed in stories, a certain rākṣasī arrived there by chance.
सा तु शूर्पणखा नाम दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः। भगिनी राममासाद्य ददर्श त्रिदशोपमम्
She was named Śūrpaṇakhā, sister of the rākṣasa Daśagrīva; approaching Rāma, she saw him, resembling a celestial.
दीप्तास्यं च महाबाहुं पद्मपत्रायतेक्षणम्। गजविक्रान्तगमनं जटामण्डलधारिणम्
She saw his radiant face, mighty arms, eyes long as lotus petals, gait like an elephant, and his matted locks arranged in a circle.
सुकुमारं महासत्त्वं पार्थिवव्यञ्जनान्वितम्। राममिन्दीवरश्यामं कंदर्पसदृशप्रभम्
She saw Rāma, gentle yet of great strength, marked with royal signs, dark as a blue lotus, shining like Kāma himself.
बभूवेन्द्रोपमं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसी काममोहिता। सुमुखं दुर्मुखी रामं वृत्तमध्यं महोदरी
Seeing him, resembling Indra, the rākṣasī, overwhelmed by desire, though ugly-faced, gazed at handsome Rāma, her broad waist contrasting with her large belly.
विशालाक्षं विरूपाक्षी सुकेशं ताम्रमूर्धजा। प्रियरूपं विरूपा सा सुस्वरं भैरवस्वना
She, with distorted eyes, gazed at his wide eyes; her hair was coppery, his hair beautiful; she, ugly, saw his pleasing form; her voice was sweet, yet terrifying.
तरुणं दारुणा वृद्धा दक्षिणं वामभाषिणी। न्यायवृत्तं सुदुर्वृत्ता प्रियमप्रियदर्शना
She was old, yet youthful; fierce, yet gentle in speech; of wicked conduct, yet he was righteous; she was unpleasant to behold, though he was pleasing.
शरीरजसमाविष्टा राक्षसी राममब्रवीत्। जटी तापसवेषेण सभार्यः शरचापधृक्
The rākṣasī, possessed by bodily passion, spoke to Rāma: 'You, with matted hair, dressed as an ascetic, with your wife, bearing bow and arrows...'
आगतस्त्वमिमं देशं कथं राक्षससेवितम्। किमागमनकृत्यं ते तत्त्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि
You have come to this land, inhabited by Rākṣasas—how is that? What is the purpose of your coming? You should tell the truth.
एवमुक्तस्तु राक्षस्या शूर्पणख्या परंतपः। ऋजुबुद्धितया सर्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे
Thus addressed by the Rākṣasī named Śūrpaṇakhā, the tormentor of foes, he began to tell everything with straightforward intent.
आसीद् दशरथो नाम राजा त्रिदशविक्रमः। तस्याहमग्रजः पुत्रो रामो नाम जनैः श्रुतः
There was a king named Daśaratha, whose valor rivaled the gods; I am his eldest son, known among people as Rāma.
भ्रातायं लक्ष्मणो नाम यवीयान् मामनुव्रतः। इयं भार्या च वैदेही मम सीतेति विश्रुता
This is my younger brother, named Lakṣmaṇa, devoted to me; and this is my wife, the famed Vaidehī, known as Sītā.
त्वां तु वेदितुमिच्छामि कस्य त्वं कासि कस्य वा। त्वं हि तावन्मनोज्ञाङ्गी राक्षसी प्रतिभासि मे
But I wish to know about you—whose are you, who are you, and to whom do you belong? For you appear to me as a Rākṣasī, though with a most attractive form.
इह वा किंनिमित्तं त्वमागता ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः। साब्रवीद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसी मदनार्दिता
Why have you come here—what is the real reason? Speak truthfully. Hearing these words, the Rākṣasī, tormented by desire, replied.
श्रूयतां राम तत्त्वार्थं वक्ष्यामि वचनं मम। अहं शूर्पणखा नाम राक्षसी कामरूपिणी
Listen, Rāma, I will tell you the truth as it is: I am a Rākṣasī named Śūrpaṇakhā, able to assume any form at will.
अरण्यं विचरामीदमेका सर्वभयंकरा। रावणो नाम मे भ्राता यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः
I wander alone in this forest, terrifying to all. Rāvaṇa is my brother—perhaps you have heard of him.
वीरो विश्रवसः पुत्रो यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः। प्रवृद्धनिद्रश्च सदा कुम्भकर्णो महाबलः
He is a hero, son of Viśravas—perhaps you have heard of him. And there is Kumbhakarṇa, ever given to deep sleep, of great might.
विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा न तु राक्षसचेष्टितः। प्रख्यातवीर्यौ च रणे भ्रातरौ खरदूषणौ
Vibhīṣaṇa, too, is righteous in nature, not acting like a Rākṣasa; and my brothers Khara and Dūṣaṇa are renowned for their valor in battle.
तानहं समतिक्रान्तां राम त्वापूर्वदर्शनात्। समुपेतास्मि भावेन भर्तारं पुरुषोत्तमम्
Having left them behind, Rāma, and seeing you for the first time, I have come to you, drawn by feeling, seeking the best of men as my husband.
अहं प्रभावसम्पन्ना स्वच्छन्दबलगामिनी। चिराय भव भर्ता मे सीतया किं करिष्यसि
I am endowed with power, moving freely by my own strength; be my husband for a long time—what will you do with Sītā?