क्षुधितस्य च सिंहस्य मृगशत्रोस्तरस्विनः। आशीविषस्य वदनाद् दंष्ट्रामादातुमिच्छसि
You wish to snatch the fangs from the mouth of a hungry lion, the swift enemy of deer, or to seize the jaws of a venomous serpent.
मन्दरं पर्वतश्रेष्ठं पाणिना हर्तुमिच्छसि। कालकूटं विषं पीत्वा स्वस्तिमान् गन्तुमिच्छसि
You wish to lift Mandara, the foremost mountain, with your hand, or to drink deadly poison and go forth unharmed.
अक्षि सूच्या प्रमृजसि जिह्वया लेढि च क्षुरम्। राघवस्य प्रियां भार्यामधिगन्तुं त्वमिच्छसि
You rub your eye with a needle and lick a razor with your tongue, for you desire to attain the beloved wife of Raghava.
अवसज्य शिलां कण्ठे समुद्रं तर्तुमिच्छसि। सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ चोभौ पाणिभ्यां हर्तुमिच्छसि
You wish to swim across the ocean with a stone tied to your neck, or to seize the sun and moon with your hands.
यो रामस्य प्रियां भार्यां प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छसि। अग्निं प्रज्वलितं दृष्ट्वा वस्त्रेणाहर्तुमिच्छसि
You who wish to violate Rama’s beloved wife, desire to snatch blazing fire with a cloth upon seeing it.
कल्याणवृत्तां यो भार्यां रामस्याहर्तुमिच्छसि। अयोमुखानां शूलानामग्रे चरितुमिच्छसि। रामस्य सदृशीं भार्यां योऽधिगन्तुं त्वमिच्छसि
You who wish to seize Rama’s virtuous wife, desire to walk upon the tips of iron spears, for you wish to attain a wife equal to Rama.
यदन्तरं सिंहसृगालयोर्वने यदन्तरं स्यन्दनिकासमुद्रयोः। सुराग्र्यसौवीरकयोर्यदन्तरं तदन्तरं दाशरथेस्तवैव च
The distance between a lion and a jackal in the forest, between a river and the ocean, between the finest wine and ordinary liquor—that is the distance between Dasharatha’s son and you.
यदन्तरं काञ्चनसीसलोहयो- र्यदन्तरं चन्दनवारिपङ्कयोः। यदन्तरं हस्तिबिडालयोर्वने तदन्तरं दाशरथेस्तवैव च
The distance between gold, lead, and iron, between sandalwood, water, and mud, between elephants and donkeys in the forest—that is the distance between Dasharatha’s son and you.
तस्मिन् सहस्राक्षसमप्रभावे रामे स्थिते कार्मुकबाणपाणौ। हृतापि तेऽहं न जरां गमिष्ये आज्यं यथा मक्षिकयावगीर्णम्
While Rāma, radiant as the thousand-eyed Indra, stood with bow and arrow in hand, even though I have been taken from you, I shall not succumb to old age—just as clarified butter, when swallowed by a fly, is not diminished.
इतीव तद्वाक्यमदुष्टभावा सुदुष्टमुक्त्वा रजनीचरं तम्। गात्रप्रकम्पाद् व्यथिता बभूव वातोद्धता सा कदलीव तन्वी
Thus, with pure intent, she spoke those words to the night-wandering demon, though he was wicked; trembling in her limbs, she became distressed, slender as a banana plant shaken by the wind.
तां वेपमानामुपलक्ष्य सीतां स रावणो मृत्युसमप्रभावः। कुलं बलं नाम च कर्म चात्मनः समाचचक्षे भयकारणार्थम्
Observing Sītā trembling, Rāvaṇa—whose presence was as dreadful as death—began to recount his lineage, strength, name, and deeds, in order to instill fear.
thumb|अष्टचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the forty-eighth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Aranya Kāṇḍa.
एवं ब्रुवत्यां सीतायां संरब्धः परुषं वचः। ललाटे भ्रुकुटिं कृत्वा रावणः प्रत्युवाच ह
As Sītā spoke thus, Rāvaṇa, angered, made a furrow on his brow and replied to her with harsh words.
भ्राता वैश्रवणस्याहं सापत्नो वरवर्णिनि। रावणो नाम भद्रं ते दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान्
O woman of noble complexion, I am Rāvaṇa, the rival brother of Vaiśravaṇa, known as Daśagrīva, mighty in power—may you fare well.
यस्य देवाः सगन्धर्वाः पिशाचपतगोरगाः। विद्रवन्ति सदा भीता मृत्योरिव सदा प्रजाः
The gods, Gandharvas, spirits, birds, and serpents always flee from me in fear, just as all creatures flee from death.
येन वैश्रवणो भ्राता वैमात्राः कारणान्तरे। द्वन्द्वमासादितः क्रोधाद् रणे विक्रम्य निर्जितः
My brother Vaiśravaṇa, though born of a different mother, was challenged by me out of anger for another reason; I confronted him in battle and conquered him.
मद्भयार्तः परित्यज्य स्वमधिष्ठानमृद्धिमत्। कैलासं पर्वतश्रेष्ठमध्यास्ते नरवाहनः
Afflicted by fear of me, he abandoned his own splendid abode and now dwells in the foremost mountain, Kailāsa, riding his celestial vehicle.
यस्य तत् पुष्पकं नाम विमानं कामगं शुभम्। वीर्यादावर्जितं भद्रे येन यामि विहायसम्
That splendid aerial chariot called Puṣpaka, which travels at will, was won by me through my valor, O gentle one; with it, I traverse the sky.
मम संजातरोषस्य मुखं दृष्ट्वैव मैथिलि। विद्रवन्ति परित्रस्ताः सुराः शक्रपुरोगमाः
When I am angered, O daughter of Mithilā, merely seeing my face causes the gods, led by Indra, to scatter in terror.
यत्र तिष्ठाम्यहं तत्र मारुतो वाति शङ्कितः। तीव्रांशुः शिशिरांशुश्च भयात् सम्पद्यते दिवि
Wherever I stand, the wind blows hesitantly; the sun's rays grow fierce, and the moon's rays become cool, all out of fear in the heavens.
निष्कम्पपत्रास्तरवो नद्यश्च स्तिमितोदकाः। भवन्ति यत्र तत्राहं तिष्ठामि च चरामि च
Wherever I am present or move about, the trees stand still without shaking their leaves, and the rivers become motionless in their waters.
मम पारे समुद्रस्य लङ्का नाम पुरी शुभा। सम्पूर्णा राक्षसैर्घोरैर्यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती
Beyond the ocean lies my splendid city called Laṅkā, filled with fierce rākṣasas, just as Amarāvatī is filled with immortals for Indra.
प्राकारेण परिक्षिप्ता पाण्डुरेण विराजिता। हेमकक्ष्या पुरी रम्या वैदूर्यमयतोरणा
That delightful city, encircled by a shining white wall, adorned with golden courtyards and gateways made of lapis lazuli, stands resplendent.
हस्त्यश्वरथसम्बाधा तूर्यनादविनादिता। सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैः संकुलोद्यानभूषिता
Crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, resounding with the music of instruments, and decorated with gardens full of trees bearing every desired fruit.
तत्र त्वं वस हे सीते राजपुत्रि मया सह। न स्मरिष्यसि नारीणां मानुषीणां मनस्विनि
There, O Sītā, princess, you shall dwell with me; you will not remember the women of humankind, O thoughtful one.
भुञ्जाना मानुषान् भोगान् दिव्यांश्च वरवर्णिनि। न स्मरिष्यसि रामस्य मानुषस्य गतायुषः
Enjoying both human and divine pleasures, O woman of radiant complexion, you will not remember Rāma, the mortal whose life has ended.
स्थापयित्वा प्रियं पुत्रं राज्ये दशरथो नृपः। मन्दवीर्यस्ततो ज्येष्ठः सुतः प्रस्थापितो वनम्
Having installed his beloved son in the kingdom, King Dasharatha, lacking strength, then sent his eldest son into the forest.
तेन किं भ्रष्टराज्येन रामेण गतचेतसा। करिष्यसि विशालाक्षि तापसेन तपस्विना
What will you accomplish, O wide-eyed one, with Rama, who has lost his kingdom and his mind, living as an ascetic?
रक्ष राक्षसभर्तारं कामय स्वयमागतम्। न मन्मथशराविष्टं प्रत्याख्यातुं त्वमर्हसि
Cherish the lord of the rakshasas, who has come to you of his own accord; you should not reject one pierced by the arrows of love.
प्रत्याख्याय हि मां भीरु पश्चात्तापं गमिष्यसि। चरणेनाभिहत्येव पुरूरवसमुर्वशी
If you reject me, O timid one, you will later feel regret, just as Urvashi did after striking Pururavas with her foot.