स्तिमितं गन्तुमारेभे भयाद् गोदावरी नदी। रामस्य त्वन्तरं प्रेप्सुर्दशग्रीवस्तदन्तरे
The Godāvarī river, out of fear, began to flow slowly; meanwhile, Daśagrīva, seeking an opportunity against Rāma, approached.
उपतस्थे च वैदेहीं भिक्षुरूपेण रावणः। अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण भर्तारमनुशोचतीम्
Rāvaṇa, in the guise of a mendicant, drew near to Vaidehī—unworthy though he appeared worthy—while she mourned her husband.
अभ्यवर्तत वैदेहीं चित्रामिव शनैश्चरः। सहसा भव्यरूपेण तृणैः कूप इवावृतः
He approached Vaidehī like Saturn approaches a brilliant star, suddenly, in a worthy guise, like a well covered with grass.
अतिष्ठत् प्रेक्ष्य वैदेहीं रामपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्। तिष्ठन् सम्प्रेक्ष्य च तदा पत्नीं रामस्य रावणः
He stood gazing at Vaidehī, Rāma's illustrious wife; thus Rāvaṇa stood, looking at Rāma's wife.
शुभां रुचिरदन्तोष्ठीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्। आसीनां पर्णशालायां बाष्पशोकाभिपीडिताम्
Beautiful, with lovely teeth and lips, her face like the full moon, she sat in the leaf-hut, overwhelmed by tears and sorrow.
स तां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्। अभ्यगच्छत वैदेहीं हृष्टचेता निशाचरः
He, the night-stalker, with delighted mind, approached Vaidehī, whose eyes were like lotus petals and who wore yellow silk.
दृष्ट्वा कामशराविद्धो ब्रह्मघोषमुदीरयन्। अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितं वाक्यं रहिते राक्षसाधिपः
Pierced by the arrows of desire, raising a sound like the chanting of sacred words, the lord of the Rākṣasas spoke courteous words in private.
तामुत्तमां त्रिलोकानां पद्महीनामिव श्रियम्। विभ्राजमानां वपुषा रावणः प्रशशंस ह
Rāvaṇa praised her, radiant in form, like the highest fortune of the three worlds deprived of the lotus, shining in her beauty.
रौप्यकाञ्चनवर्णाभे पीतकौशेयवासिनि। कमलानां शुभां मालां पद्मिनीव च बिभ्रती
Clad in yellow silk, with a garland of lotuses, her appearance rivaled silver and gold, like a blooming lotus-pond.
ह्रीः श्रीः कीर्तिः शुभा लक्ष्मीरप्सरा वा शुभानने। भूतिर्वा त्वं वरारोहे रतिर्वा स्वैरचारिणी
Are you Modesty, Fortune, Fame, Auspicious Lakṣmī, or a celestial nymph, O beautiful-faced one? Or are you Prosperity, O lovely-hipped, or the free-roaming goddess of Love?
समाः शिखरिणः स्निग्धाः पाण्डुरा दशनास्तव। विशाले विमले नेत्रे रक्तान्ते कृष्णतारके
Your teeth are even, smooth, and white as mountain-snow; your eyes are large and clear, with red corners and dark pupils.
विशालं जघनं पीनमूरू करिकरोपमौ। एतावुपचितौ वृत्तौ संहतौ सम्प्रगल्भितौ
Your hips are broad, your thighs full, rounded, and firm, like the trunks of young elephants, well-shaped and closely set.
पीनोन्नतमुखौ कान्तौ स्निग्धतालफलोपमौ। मणिप्रवेकाभरणौ रुचिरौ ते पयोधरौ
Your breasts are full, high, and lovely, resembling smooth palm-fruits, adorned with gems and pearls, beautiful to behold.
चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि। मनो हरसि मे रामे नदीकूलमिवाम्भसा
O Rāma’s beloved, with charming smile, lovely teeth, and enchanting eyes, playful one, you steal my mind as water steals the riverbank.
करान्तमितमध्यासि सुकेशे संहतस्तनि। नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी न यक्षी न च किंनरी
With a waist graspable by the hand, beautiful hair, and closely-set breasts, you are neither goddess, nor celestial, nor yakṣī, nor kinnarī.
नैवंरूपा मया नारी दृष्टपूर्वा महीतले। रूपमग्र्यं च लोकेषु सौकुमार्यं वयश्च ते
Never before on earth have I seen a woman of such form; your beauty, delicacy, and youth are supreme in the worlds.
इह वासश्च कान्तारे चित्तमुन्माथयन्ति मे। सा प्रतिक्राम भद्रं ते न त्वं वस्तुमिहार्हसि
Your dwelling in this lonely forest stirs my heart; so, depart, good lady, you should not remain here.
राक्षसानामयं वासो घोराणां कामरूपिणाम्। प्रासादाग्राणि रम्याणि नगरोपवनानि च
This is the abode of Rākṣasas, fierce and shape-shifting; there are splendid palaces and city gardens.
सम्पन्नानि सुगन्धीनि युक्तान्याचरितुं त्वया। वरं माल्यं वरं गन्धं वरं वस्त्रं च शोभने
They are rich, fragrant, and suitable for you to enjoy; O beautiful one, you deserve the finest garlands, perfumes, and garments.
भर्तारं च वरं मन्ये त्वद्युक्तमसितेक्षणे। का त्वं भवसि रुद्राणां मरुतां वा शुचिस्मिते
O dark-eyed one, you deserve a worthy husband; who are you, with pure smile—are you among the wives of Rudras or Maruts?
वसूनां वा वरारोहे देवता प्रतिभासि मे। नेह गच्छन्ति गन्धर्वा न देवा न च किन्नराः
O lovely-hipped, you appear to me as a goddess among the Vasus; for Gandharvas, gods, and Kinnaras do not come here.
राक्षसानामयं वासः कथं तु त्वमिहागता। इह शाखामृगाः सिंहा द्वीपिव्याघ्रमृगा वृकाः
This is the dwelling of Rākṣasas—how have you come here? Here are tree-dwelling deer, lions, island-tigers, and wolves.
ऋक्षास्तरक्षवः कङ्काः कथं तेभ्यो न बिभ्यसे। मदान्वितानां घोराणां कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम्
There are bears, hyenas, cranes—how do you not fear them? And the fierce, intoxicated, swift elephants?
कथमेका महारण्ये न बिभेषि वरानने। कासि कस्य कुतश्च त्वं किं निमित्तं च दण्डकान्
How do you, alone in this great forest, O beautiful-faced one, not feel fear? Who are you, whose daughter, from where, and for what reason have you come to Daṇḍaka?
एका चरसि कल्याणि घोरान् राक्षससेवितान्। इति प्रशस्ता वैदेही रावणेन महात्मना
O lovely one, you wander alone through places frequented by fierce rākṣasas; thus Vaidehī was praised by the great-souled Rāvaṇa.
द्विजातिवेषेण हि तं दृष्ट्वा रावणमागतम्। सर्वैरतिथिसत्कारैः पूजयामास मैथिली
Seeing Rāvaṇa arrive in the guise of a twice-born, Maithilī honored him with all the courtesies due to a guest.
उपानीयासनं पूर्वं पाद्येनाभिनिमन्त्र्य च। अब्रवीत् सिद्धमित्येव तदा तं सौम्यदर्शनम्
She first brought a seat, invited him with water for washing the feet, and said, 'All is ready,' to that gentle-looking one.
द्विजातिवेषेण समीक्ष्य मैथिली समागतं पात्रकुसुम्भधारिणम्। अशक्यमुद्द्वेष्टुमुपायदर्शना- न्न्यमन्त्रयद् ब्राह्मणवत् तथागतम्
Maithilī, observing him come in the attire of a twice-born, bearing a vessel and kusumbha, found it impossible to refuse, and welcomed him as one would a brāhmaṇa.
इयं बृसी ब्राह्मण काममास्यता- मिदं च पाद्यं प्रतिगृह्यतामिति। इदं च सिद्धं वनजातमुत्तमं त्वदर्थमव्यग्रमिहोपभुज्यताम्
'Here is a seat, brāhmaṇa, please be seated; accept this water for your feet. This excellent forest fare, prepared for you, may you partake of it here without concern.'
निमन्त्र्यमाणः प्रतिपूर्णभाषिणीं नरेन्द्रपत्नीं प्रसमीक्ष्य मैथिलीम्। प्रसह्य तस्या हरणे दृढं मनः समर्पयामास वधाय रावणः
Rāvaṇa, seeing Maithilī, the queen, speaking fully and invitingly, firmly resolved in his mind to seize her by force and dedicate himself to her destruction.