सा तु रावणवेगेन पुष्पवृष्टिः समन्ततः। समाधूता दशग्रीवं पुनरेवाभ्यवर्तत
That shower of flowers, scattered everywhere by Ravana's speed, circled back again to the ten-headed one.
अभ्यवर्तत पुष्पाणां धारा वैश्रवणानुजम्। नक्षत्रमाला विमला मेरुं नगमिवोन्नतम्
A shower of flowers descended upon the brother of Vaiśravaṇa, as a pure garland of stars upon the lofty mountain Meru.
चरणान्नूपुरं भ्रष्टं वैदेह्या रत्नभूषितम्। विद्युन्मण्डलसंकाशं पपात धरणीतले
From Vaidehī's foot fell an anklet adorned with jewels, shining like a circle of lightning, and dropped to the earth.
तरुप्रवालरक्ता सा नीलाङ्गं राक्षसेश्वरम्। प्रशोभयत वैदेही गजं कक्ष्येव काञ्चनी
Vaidehī, with limbs reddened by the tender shoots of trees, enhanced the splendor of the dark-bodied lord of the Rākṣasas, like a golden girdle on an elephant in its enclosure.
तां महोल्कामिवाकाशे दीप्यमानां स्वतेजसा। जहाराकाशमाविश्य सीतां वैश्रवणानुजः
That brother of Vaiśravaṇa, entering the sky, seized Sītā, who shone with her own radiance like a great meteor blazing in the heavens.
तस्यास्तान्यग्निवर्णानि भूषणानि महीतले। सघोषाण्यवशीर्यन्त क्षीणास्तारा इवाम्बरात्
Her ornaments, glowing like fire, fell to the ground with a clatter, breaking apart like faded stars from the sky.
तस्याः स्तनान्तराद् भ्रष्टो हारस्ताराधिपद्युतिः। वैदेह्या निपतन् भाति गङ्गेव गगनच्युता
The necklace, radiant as the lord of stars, slipped from between her breasts and, as it fell, shone like the Ganges descending from the sky.
उत्पातवाताभिरता नानाद्विजगणायुताः। मा भैरिति विधूताग्रा व्याजह्रुरिव पादपाः
The trees, shaken at their tips by ominous winds and filled with flocks of various birds, seemed to cry out, 'Do not fear!'
नलिन्यो ध्वस्तकमलास्त्रस्तमीनजलेचराः। सखीमिव गतोत्साहां शोचन्तीव स्म मैथिलीम्
The lotuses, their blossoms destroyed, the fish and water creatures frightened, seemed to mourn Maithilī, their friend who had lost all hope.
समन्तादभिसम्पत्य सिंहव्याघ्रमृगद्विजाः। अन्वधावंस्तदा रोषात् सीताच्छायानुगामिनः
Then, lions, tigers, deer, and birds, gathering from all sides, ran after Sītā's shadow in anger.
जलप्रपातास्रमुखाः शृङ्गैरुच्छ्रितबाहुभिः। सीतायां ह्रियमाणायां विक्रोशन्तीव पर्वताः
The mountains, with streams as mouths and peaks raised like arms, seemed to cry out as Sītā was being carried away.
ह्रियमाणां तु वैदेहीं दृष्ट्वा दीनो दिवाकरः। प्रविध्वस्तप्रभः श्रीमानासीत् पाण्डुरमण्डलः
Seeing Vaidehī being carried off, the sun, afflicted and glorious, lost his brilliance and appeared with a pale disk.
नास्ति धर्मः कुतः सत्यं नार्जवं नानृशंसता। यत्र रामस्य वैदेहीं सीतां हरति रावणः
Where Rāvaṇa abducts Sītā, Rāma's Vaidehī, there is no righteousness, no truth, no integrity, no compassion.
इति भूतानि सर्वाणि गणशः पर्यदेवयन्। वित्रस्तका दीनमुखा रुरुदुर्मृगपोतकाः
Thus, all the beings, in groups, lamented; terrified and with downcast faces, the young animals cried.
उद्वीक्ष्योद्वीक्ष्य नयनैर्भयादिव विलक्षणैः। सुप्रवेपितगात्राश्च बभूवुर्वनदेवताः
The forest deities, their bodies trembling greatly, gazed again and again with anxious, bewildered eyes.
विक्रोशन्तीं दृढं सीतां दृष्ट्वा दुःखं तथा गताम्। तां तु लक्ष्मण रामेति क्रोशन्तीं मधुरस्वराम्
Seeing Sītā crying out loudly, suffering so, calling 'Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa' in her sweet voice—
अवेक्षमाणां बहुशो वैदेहीं धरणीतलम्। स तामाकुलकेशान्तां विप्रमृष्टविशेषकाम्। जहारात्मविनाशाय दशग्रीवो मनस्विनीम्
He seized Vaidehī, glancing repeatedly at the earth, her hair disheveled, her ornaments disturbed, for his own destruction, that ten-headed one.
ततस्तु सा चारुदती शुचिस्मिता विनाकृता बन्धुजनेन मैथिली। अपश्यती राघवलक्ष्मणावुभौ विवर्णवक्त्रा भयभारपीडिता
Then that beautiful, pure-smiling Maithilī, deprived of her kin, looked for both Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa, her face pale, oppressed by the weight of fear.
thumb|त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the fifty-third chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
खमुत्पतन्तं तं दृष्ट्वा मैथिली जनकात्मजा। दुःखिता परमोद्विग्ना भये महति वर्तिनी
Seeing him flying through the sky, Maithilī, the daughter of Janaka, was deeply distressed, exceedingly agitated, and gripped by great fear.
रोषरोदनताम्राक्षी भीमाक्षं राक्षसाधिपम्। रुदती करुणं सीता ह्रियमाणा तमब्रवीत्
Her eyes reddened by anger and weeping, Sītā, as she was being carried away, spoke with sorrow to the terrifying-eyed lord of the Rākṣasas.
न व्यपत्रपसे नीच कर्मणानेन रावण। ज्ञात्वा विरहितां यो मां चोरयित्वा पलायसे
Do you not feel shame, vile one, for this act, Rāvaṇa, as you abduct me, knowing I am alone, and flee like a thief?
त्वयैव नूनं दुष्टात्मन् भीरुणा हर्तुमिच्छता। ममापवाहितो भर्ता मृगरूपेण मायया
Surely it was you, evil-minded coward, who, wishing to abduct me, led my husband away by deceit, taking the form of a deer.
यो हि मामुद्यतस्त्रातुं सोऽप्ययं विनिपातितः। गृध्रराजः पुराणोऽसौ श्वशुरस्य सखा मम
Even he who rose to protect me, that ancient king of vultures, my father-in-law’s friend, has now been struck down.
परमं खलु ते वीर्यं दृश्यते राक्षसाधम। विश्राव्य नामधेयं हि युद्धे नास्मि जिता त्वया
Indeed, your strength is truly seen, lowest of Rākṣasas, for though you proclaimed your name, you did not defeat me in battle.
ईदृशं गर्हितं कर्म कथं कृत्वा न लज्जसे। स्त्रियाश्चाहरणं नीच रहिते च परस्य च
How do you not feel shame after committing such a despicable deed—abducting another man’s wife, and in secret, wretch?
कथयिष्यन्ति लोकेषु पुरुषाः कर्म कुत्सितम्। सुनृशंसमधर्मिष्ठं तव शौटीर्यमानिनः
Men in the world will speak of your act as contemptible—cruel, most unrighteous, though you boast of your heroism.
धिक् ते शौर्यं च सत्त्वं च यत्त्वया कथितं तदा। कुलाक्रोशकरं लोके धिक् ते चारित्रमीदृशम्
Fie upon the valor and character you have claimed; such conduct brings disgrace to your lineage in the world—shame on you.
किं शक्यं कर्तुमेवं हि यज्जवेनैव धावसि। मुहूर्तमपि तिष्ठ त्वं न जीवन् प्रतियास्यसि
What can be done, since you flee so swiftly? Stay even for a moment—you will not return alive.
नहि चक्षुःपथं प्राप्य तयोः पार्थिवपुत्रयोः। ससैन्योऽपि समर्थस्त्वं मुहूर्तमपि जीवितुम्
Not even with your army could you survive for a moment, once within sight of those two princes.