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?
विकृता च विरूपा च न सेयं सदृशी तव। अहमेवानुरूपा ते भार्यारूपेण पश्य माम्
She is deformed and ugly, not a match for you; I alone am suitable for you as a wife—look at me in that form.
इमां विरूपामसतीं करालां निर्णतोदरीम्। अनेन सह ते भ्रात्रा भक्षयिष्यामि मानुषीम्
This ugly, wicked, fierce, and sunken-bellied woman—I will eat her, your brother's companion, along with him.
ततः पर्वतशृङ्गाणि वनानि विविधानि च। पश्यन् सह मया कामी दण्डकान् विचरिष्यसि
Then, desiring, you will roam the Daṇḍaka forest with me, seeing mountain peaks and various woods.
इत्येवमुक्तः काकुत्स्थः प्रहस्य मदिरेक्षणाम्। इदं वचनमारेभे वक्तुं वाक्यविशारदः
Thus addressed, Kākutstha, the wise speaker, laughed at the intoxicated-eyed woman and began to reply with these words.
thumb|अष्टादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen to the eighteenth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Araṇya Kāṇḍa.
तां तु शूर्पणखां रामः कामपाशावपाशिताम्। स्वेच्छया श्लक्ष्णया वाचा स्मितपूर्वमथाब्रवीत्
Then Rāma, seeing Śūrpaṇakhā ensnared by the bonds of desire, spoke to her gently, of his own accord, with a smile.
कृतदारोऽस्मि भवति भार्येयं दयिता मम। त्वद्विधानां तु नारीणां सुदुःखा ससपत्नता
I am already married, and this dear lady is my wife. For women like you, having a co-wife is a source of great sorrow.
अनुजस्त्वेष मे भ्राता शीलवान् प्रियदर्शनः। श्रीमानकृतदारश्च लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्
But this is my younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa by name, virtuous, pleasing to behold, glorious, and unmarried, endowed with valor.
अपूर्वी भार्यया चार्थी तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः। अनुरूपश्च ते भर्ता रूपस्यास्य भविष्यति
He is young, handsome, seeking a wife for the first time, and he will be a fitting husband for you, matching your own beauty.
एनं भज विशालाक्षि भर्तारं भ्रातरं मम। असपत्ना वरारोहे मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा
O large-eyed one, take him, my brother, as your husband, O lovely-hipped woman, without a rival wife, like the radiance of the sun upon Mount Meru.