अर्कं तुद्यां शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्विभिन्द्यां हि महीतलम्। कामरूपेण उन्मत्ते पश्य मां कामरूपिणम्
I could pierce the sun with sharp arrows and split the earth's surface; O mad one, witness me, who can assume any form at will.
एवमुक्तवतस्तस्य रावणस्य शिखिप्रभे। क्रुद्धस्य हरिपर्यन्ते रक्ते नेत्रे बभूवतुः
As Ravana, radiant as a peacock, spoke thus in anger, his eyes became bloodshot at the end of his speech.
सद्यः सौम्यं परित्यज्य तीक्ष्णरूपं स रावणः। स्वं रूपं कालरूपाभं भेजे वैश्रवणानुजः
At once, Ravana abandoned his gentle appearance and assumed a fierce form, resembling the aspect of Time, the brother of Kubera.
संरक्तनयनः श्रीमांस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणः। क्रोधेन महताविष्टो नीलजीमूतसंनिभः
With eyes red as blood, adorned with heated golden ornaments, possessed by great wrath, he resembled a dark thundercloud.
दशास्यो विंशतिभुजो बभूव क्षणदाचरः। स परिव्राजकच्छद्म महाकायो विहाय तत्
The ten-headed, twenty-armed night-wanderer revealed his immense form, casting aside the disguise of an ascetic.
प्रतिपेदे स्वकं रूपं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। रक्ताम्बरधरस्तस्थौ स्त्रीरत्नं प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम्
Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, assumed his own appearance, stood clad in blood-red garments, gazing at the jewel among women, Maithilī.
स तामसितकेशान्तां भास्करस्य प्रभामिव। वसनाभरणोपेतां मैथिलीं रावणोऽब्रवीत्
Rāvaṇa spoke to Maithilī, whose dark hair framed her face, who shone like the radiance of the sun, adorned with fine garments and ornaments.
त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं यदि भर्तारमिच्छसि। मामाश्रय वरारोहे तवाहं सदृशः पतिः
If you desire a husband renowned in all three worlds, O slender-waisted one, take refuge in me; I am a worthy husband for you.
मां भजस्व चिराय त्वमहं श्लाघ्यः पतिस्तव। नैव चाहं क्वचिद् भद्रे करिष्ये तव विप्रियम्
Choose me for lasting companionship; I am a praiseworthy husband for you, and, gentle lady, I will never do you any harm.
त्यज्यतां मानुषो भावो मयि भावः प्रणीयताम्। राज्याच्च्युतमसिद्धार्थं रामं परिमितायुषम्
Abandon your human attachment and direct your heart toward me; forsake Rāma, who has lost his kingdom, failed in his aims, and whose life is limited.
कैर्गुणैरनुरक्तासि मूढे पण्डितमानिनि। यः स्त्रियो वचनाद् राज्यं विहाय ससुहृज्जनम्
By what virtues are you attached, O deluded one who thinks herself wise, to the man who, at a woman's word, abandoned his kingdom and his friends?
अस्मिन् व्यालानुचरिते वने वसति दुर्मतिः। इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं वाक्यं प्रियार्हां प्रियवादिनीम्
He dwells in this forest, haunted by beasts, his mind misguided—thus Rāvaṇa spoke to Maithilī, who was worthy of affection and gentle in speech.
अभिगम्य सुदुष्टात्मा राक्षसः काममोहितः। जग्राह रावणः सीतां बुधः खे रोहिणीमिव
Then the wicked-hearted rākṣasa, overcome by desire, approached and seized Sītā, as the moon seizes Rohiṇī in the sky.
वामेन सीतां पद्माक्षीं मूर्धजेषु करेण सः। ऊर्वोस्तु दक्षिणेनैव परिजग्राह पाणिना
With his left hand he grasped Sītā, lotus-eyed, by her hair, and with his right hand he seized her thighs.
तं दृष्ट्वा गिरिशृङ्गाभं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं महाभुजम्। प्राद्रवन् मृत्युसंकाशं भयार्ता वनदेवताः
Seeing him, mountain-like, with sharp fangs and mighty arms, the forest deities, terrified as if facing death, fled in fear.
स च मायामयो दिव्यः खरयुक्तः खरस्वनः। प्रत्यदृश्यत हेमाङ्गो रावणस्य महारथः
Then appeared Rāvaṇa's wondrous, magical chariot, shining like gold, drawn by mules and resounding with a harsh noise.
ततस्तां परुषैर्वाक्यैरभितर्ज्य महास्वनः। अंकेनादाय वैदेहीं रथमारोपयत् तदा
Thereupon, with harsh words and a great roar, he threatened her, took Vaidehī onto his lap, and set her upon the chariot.
सा गृहीतातिचुक्रोश रावणेन यशस्विनी। रामेति सीता दुःखार्ता रामं दूरं गतं वने
Seized by Rāvaṇa, the illustrious Sītā cried out in anguish, calling for Rāma, who was far away in the forest.
तामकामां स कामार्तः पन्नगेन्द्रवधूमिव। विचेष्टमानामादाय उत्पपाताथ रावणः
Rāvaṇa, driven by desire, carried off the struggling Sītā, as if she were the wife of the serpent king.
ततः सा राक्षसेन्द्रेण ह्रियमाणा विहायसा। भृशं चुक्रोश मत्तेव भ्रान्तचित्ता यथातुरा
Then, as she was being carried away through the sky by the king of rākṣasas, she cried out loudly, her mind distraught, like a maddened, suffering woman.
हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो गुरुचित्तप्रसादक। ह्रियमाणां न जानीषे रक्षसा कामरूपिणा
"O Lakṣmaṇa, mighty-armed, who brings joy to your elders' hearts, you do not know that I am being carried off by a shape-shifting rākṣasa!"
जीवितं सुखमर्थं च धर्महेतोः परित्यजन्। ह्रियमाणामधर्मेण मां राघव न पश्यसि
"Rāghava, you, who for the sake of righteousness abandoned life, happiness, and wealth, do not see me being taken away unrighteously!"
ननु नामाविनीतानां विनेतासि परंतप। कथमेवंविधं पापं न त्वं शाधि हि रावणम्
Are you not the chastiser of the unruly, O scorcher of foes? Why do you not punish such wickedness, indeed, why do you not chastise Ravana?
न तु सद्योऽविनीतस्य दृश्यते कर्मणः फलम्। कालोऽप्यङ्गीभवत्यत्र सस्यानामिव पक्तये
The fruit of an unruly deed is not seen immediately; time also plays a part here, as it does in the ripening of crops.
त्वं कर्म कृतवानेतत् कालोपहतचेतनः। जीवितान्तकरं घोरं रामाद् व्यसनमाप्नुहि
You have committed this act, your mind clouded by time; now suffer a dreadful calamity, bringing the end of your life, from Rama.
हन्तेदानीं सकामा तु कैकेयी बान्धवैः सह। ह्रियेयं धर्मकामस्य धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनः
Now Kaikeyi, together with her kin, may rejoice; the virtuous wife of the righteous, renowned man is being carried away.
आमन्त्रये जनस्थाने कर्णिकारांश्च पुष्पितान्। क्षिप्रं रामाय शंसध्वं सीतां हरति रावणः
I address the blooming Karnikara trees in Janasthana: quickly tell Rama that Ravana is abducting Sita.
हंससारससंघुष्टां वन्दे गोदावरीं नदीम्। क्षिप्रं रामाय शंस त्वं सीतां हरति रावणः
I salute the Godavari river, resounding with flocks of swans and cranes; quickly tell Rama that Ravana is abducting Sita.
दैवतानि च यान्यस्मिन् वने विविधपादपे। नमस्करोम्यहं तेभ्यो भर्तुः शंसत मां हृताम्
And to the deities dwelling in this forest among various trees, I bow; announce to my husband that I have been carried away.
यानि कानिचिदप्यत्र सत्त्वानि विविधानि च। सर्वाणि शरणं यामि मृगपक्षिगणानि वै
Whatever creatures are here, of whatever kind, I seek refuge in all—herds of deer and flocks of birds alike.