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.
अङ्गुल्या न समो रामो मम युद्धे स मानुषः। तव भाग्येन सम्प्राप्तं भजस्व वरवर्णिनि
Rama, that mortal, is not equal to me in battle, not even to my finger; O woman of splendid complexion, enjoy what has come to you by your fortune.
एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना। अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं रहिते राक्षसाधिपम्
Thus addressed, Vaidehi, her eyes reddened in anger, spoke harsh words to the lord of the rakshasas in private.
कथं वैश्रवणं देवं सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम्। भ्रातरं व्यपदिश्य त्वमशुभं कर्तुमिच्छसि
How can you, desiring to do evil, claim to be the brother of Kubera, the god honored by all the gods?
अवश्यं विनशिष्यन्ति सर्वे रावण राक्षसाः। येषां त्वं कर्कशो राजा दुर्बुद्धिरजितेन्द्रियः
Certainly, all the rakshasas will perish, O Ravana, for whom you, harsh and ill-minded, uncontrolled in your senses, are king.
अपहृत्य शचीं भार्यां शक्यमिन्द्रस्य जीवितुम्। नहि रामस्य भार्यां मामानीय स्वस्तिमान् भवेत्
It is possible for Indra to live after abducting his wife Shachi, but having brought me, Rama's wife, you will not remain unharmed.
जीवेच्चिरं वज्रधरस्य पश्चा- च्छचीं प्रधृष्याप्रतिरूपरूपाम्। न मादृशीं राक्षस धर्षयित्वा पीतामृतस्यापि तवास्ति मोक्षः
One may live long after violating Shachi, the matchless beauty of the thunder-wielder, but after violating a woman like me, O rakshasa, even if you drink nectar, you will not find release.
thumb|एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the forty-ninth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Aranya Kanda.
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान्। हस्ते हस्तं समाहत्य चकार सुमहद् वपुः
Hearing Sita's words, the mighty ten-headed one struck his hand with his hand and made his form immense.
स मैथिलीं पुनर्वाक्यं बभाषे वाक्यकोविदः। नोन्मत्तया श्रुतौ मन्ये मम वीर्यपराक्रमौ
He again addressed Maithili, skilled in speech: 'I think my strength and valor are not heard by you, who are not mad.'
उद्वहेयं भुजाभ्यां तु मेदिनीमम्बरे स्थितः। आपिबेयं समुद्रं च मृत्युं हन्यां रणे स्थितः
I could lift the earth with my arms while standing in the sky, drink up the ocean, and slay Death in battle.