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.
ततः सुवेषं मृगयागतं पतिं प्रतीक्षमाणा सहलक्ष्मणं तदा। निरीक्षमाणा हरितं ददर्श त- न्महद् वनं नैव तु रामलक्ष्मणौ
Then, as she waited for her husband, splendidly dressed and returned from the hunt, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, she looked around and saw the vast green forest, but not Rāma or Lakṣmaṇa.
thumb|सप्तचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the forty-seventh chapter be heard. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa, the forty-seventh chapter.
रावणेन तु वैदेही तदा पृष्टा जिहीर्षुणा। परिव्राजकरूपेण शशंसात्मानमात्मना
Then, Vaidehī was questioned by Rāvaṇa, who wished to abduct her; he declared himself, disguised as a wandering ascetic.
ब्राह्मणश्चातिथिश्चैष अनुक्तो हि शपेत माम्। इति ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं तु सीता वचनमब्रवीत्
Thinking, 'If this brāhmaṇa guest is not properly received, he may curse me,' Sītā, after a moment's reflection, spoke these words.
दुहिता जनकस्याहं मैथिलस्य महात्मनः। सीता नाम्नास्मि भद्रं ते रामस्य महिषी प्रिया
'I am the daughter of Janaka, the great king of Mithilā; my name is Sītā. Blessings to you. I am the beloved queen of Rāma.'
उषित्वा द्वादश समा इक्ष्वाकूणां निवेशने। भुञ्जाना मानुषान् भोगान् सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी
I lived for twelve years in the palace of the Ikṣvākus, enjoying human pleasures, fulfilled in all desires.
तत्र त्रयोदशे वर्षे राजाऽमन्त्रयत प्रभुः। अभिषेचयितुं रामं समेतो राजमन्त्रिभिः
In the thirteenth year, the king, together with his ministers, resolved to consecrate Rāma as ruler.
तस्मिन् सम्भ्रियमाणे तु राघवस्याभिषेचने। कैकेयी नाम भर्तारं ममार्या याचते वरम्
As preparations were made for Rāghava's consecration, my noble mother-in-law, named Kaikeyī, requested a boon from her husband.
परिगृह्य तु कैकेयी श्वशुरं सुकृतेन मे। मम प्रव्राजनं भर्तुर्भरतस्याभिषेचनम्
Kaikeyī, having won my father-in-law's favor, secured my husband's exile and Bharata's consecration.
द्वावयाचत भर्तारं सत्यसंधं नृपोत्तमम्। नाद्य भोक्ष्ये न च स्वप्स्ये न पास्ये न कदाचन
She asked the king, steadfast in truth and foremost among men, for two boons: 'I will neither eat, nor sleep, nor drink, ever.'
एष मे जीवितस्यान्तो रामो यदभिषिच्यते। इति ब्रुवाणां कैकेयीं श्वशुरो मे स पार्थिवः
'This is the end of my life if Rāma is consecrated,' so spoke Kaikeyī to my father-in-law, the king.
अयाचतार्थैरन्वर्थैर्न च याच्ञां चकार सा। मम भर्ता महातेजा वयसा पञ्चविंशकः
She did not ask for wealth or other benefits, nor did she make any further requests; my husband, of great splendor, was twenty-five years old.
अष्टादश हि वर्षाणि मम जन्मनि गण्यते। रामेति प्रथितो लोके सत्यवान् शीलवान् शुचिः
Eighteen years have passed since my birth; in the world, I am known as Rāma—truthful, virtuous, and pure.
विशालाक्षो महाबाहुः सर्वभूतहिते रतः। कामार्तश्च महाराजः पिता दशरथः स्वयम्
Wide-eyed, strong-armed, devoted to the welfare of all beings, my father is King Daśaratha himself, a man driven by desire.
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत्। अभिषेकाय तु पितुः समीपं राममागतम्
For the sake of fulfilling Kaikeyī’s cherished wish, my father did not anoint me, Rāma, though I had come before him for the consecration.
कैकेयी मम भर्तारमित्युवाच द्रुतं वचः। तव पित्रा समाज्ञप्तं ममेदं शृणु राघव
Kaikeyī quickly spoke these words to my husband: ‘Hear this, Rāghava, as commanded by your father on my behalf.’
भरताय प्रदातव्यमिदं राज्यमकण्टकम्। त्वया तु खलु वस्तव्यं नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च
‘This untroubled kingdom must be given to Bharata, and you must indeed dwell in the forest for nine and five years.’
वने प्रव्रज काकुत्स्थ पितरं मोचयानृतात् । तथेत्युवाच तां रामः कैकेयीमकुतोभयः
‘Go to the forest, O descendant of Kakutstha, and free your father from falsehood.’ Rāma, undaunted, replied to Kaikeyī, ‘So be it.’
चकार तद्वचः श्रुत्वा भर्ता मम दृढव्रतः। दद्यान्न प्रतिगृह्णीयात् सत्यं ब्रूयान्न चानृतम्
Hearing those words, my steadfast husband did as he was told; he would give but not accept, speak truth and never falsehood.
एतद् ब्राह्मण रामस्य व्रतं धृतमनुत्तमम्। तस्य भ्राता तु वैमात्रो लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्
O Brāhmaṇa, this is the supreme vow firmly held by Rāma; his brother, born of another mother, is named Lakṣmaṇa, mighty in valor.