विक्रोशन्तीं तदा सीतां ददृशुर्वानरोत्तमाः। स च पम्पामतिक्रम्य लङ्कामभिमुखः पुरीम्
Then, the best of monkeys saw Sita crying out; and Ravana, crossing the Pampa lake, headed toward the city of Lanka.
जगाम मैथिलीं गृह्य रुदतीं राक्षसेश्वरः। तां जहार सुसंहृष्टो रावणो मृत्युमात्मनः
The king of the rakshasas, taking Maithili who was weeping, proceeded; Ravana, delighted, carried her off, though it meant his own death.
उत्सङ्गेनैव भुजगीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां महाविषाम्। वनानि सरितः शैलान् सरांसि च विहायसा
Holding her in his lap, like a serpent with sharp fangs and deadly venom, he flew over forests, rivers, mountains, and lakes.
स क्षिप्रं समतीयाय शरश्चापादिव च्युतः। तिमिनक्रनिकेतं तु वरुणालयमक्षयम्
He quickly crossed over, as an arrow shot from a bow, to the abode of Varuna, the inexhaustible home of whales and crocodiles.
सरितां शरणं गत्वा समतीयाय सागरम्। सम्भ्रमात् परिवृत्तोर्मी रुद्धमीनमहोरगः
Having reached the refuge of rivers, he crossed the ocean; in his agitation, the waves turned back, blocking fish and great serpents.
वैदेह्यां ह्रियमाणायां बभूव वरुणालयः। अन्तरिक्षगता वाचः ससृजुश्चारणास्तदा
As Vaidehī was being carried away, the abode of Varuṇa appeared, and voices arose in the sky, uttered by the celestial bards.
एतदन्तो दशग्रीव इति सिद्धास्तथाब्रुवन्। स तु सीतां विचेष्टन्तीमङ्केनादाय रावणः
The perfected beings said, 'This is the end of the ten-headed one.' Meanwhile, Rāvaṇa took the struggling Sītā onto his lap.
प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां रूपिणीं मृत्युमात्मनः। सोऽभिगम्य पुरीं लङ्कां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्
He entered the city of Laṅkā, which was the very form of death for himself. Approaching Laṅkā, with its well-laid great roads,
संरूढकक्ष्यां बहुलां स्वमन्तःपुरमाविशत्। तत्र तामसितापाङ्गीं शोकमोहसमन्विताम्
He entered his own inner palace, which had secure enclosures and was vast. There, he placed Sītā, whose eyes were dark and who was filled with grief and confusion.
निदधे रावणः सीतां मयो मायामिवासुरीम्। अब्रवीच्च दशग्रीवः पिशाचीर्घोरदर्शनाः
Rāvaṇa confined Sītā there, as Maya once did with his illusory demoness. Then the ten-headed one spoke to the terrifying, ghastly-looking demonesses:
यथा नैनां पुमान् स्त्री वा सीतां पश्यत्यसम्मतः। मुक्तामणिसुवर्णानि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च
"Let no man or woman, unless approved, see Sītā. Pearls, jewels, gold, garments, and ornaments—
यद् यदिच्छेत् तदैवास्या देयं मच्छन्दतो यथा। या च वक्ष्यति वैदेहीं वचनं किंचिदप्रियम्
Whatever she desires, let it be given to her at my command. But if anyone speaks even a single unpleasant word to Vaidehī—
अज्ञानाद् यदि वा ज्ञानान्न तस्या जीवितं प्रियम्। तथोक्त्वा राक्षसीस्तास्तु राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
Whether out of ignorance or knowledge, her life will not be dear to me." Having thus spoken to those demonesses, the powerful king of the Rākṣasas
निष्क्रम्यान्तःपुरात् तस्मात् किं कृत्यमिति चिन्तयन्। ददर्शाष्टौ महावीर्यान् राक्षसान् पिशिताशनान्
Left the inner palace, pondering what should be done. He saw eight mighty Rākṣasas, eaters of flesh.
स तान् दृष्ट्वा महावीर्यो वरदानेन मोहितः। उवाच तानिदं वाक्यं प्रशस्य बलवीर्यतः
Seeing them, the mighty one, deluded by the boon he had received, addressed them with these words, praising their strength and valor:
नानाप्रहरणाः क्षिप्रमितो गच्छत सत्वराः। जनस्थानं हतस्थानं भूतपूर्वं खरालयम्
"Armed with various weapons, go quickly from here at once. Go to Janasthāna, the place once inhabited by Khara, now destroyed.
तत्रास्यतां जनस्थाने शून्ये निहतराक्षसे। पौरुषं बलमाश्रित्य त्रासमुत्सृज्य दूरतः
"Stay there in Janasthāna, now empty and cleared of Rākṣasas. Rely on your courage and strength, casting away all fear from afar.
बहुसैन्यं महावीर्यं जनस्थाने निवेशितम्। सदूषणखरं युद्धे निहतं रामसायकैः
"A great and mighty army was stationed in Janasthāna, along with Dūṣaṇa and Khara, but they were slain in battle by Rāma's arrows.
ततः क्रोधो ममापूर्वो धैर्यस्योपरि वर्धते। वैरं च सुमहज्जातं रामं प्रति सुदारुणम्
"From that, an unprecedented anger has arisen in me, surpassing even my patience, and a terrible enmity has been born toward Rāma.
निर्यातयितुमिच्छामि तच्च वैरं महारिपोः। नहि लप्स्याम्यहं निद्रामहत्वा संयुगे रिपुम्
"I wish to discharge that enmity against the great enemy. I will not find sleep until I have slain my foe in battle.
तं त्विदानीमहं हत्वा खरदूषणघातिनम्। रामं शर्मोपलप्स्यामि धनं लब्ध्वेव निर्धनः
"Now, by killing Rāma, the slayer of Khara and Dūṣaṇa, I shall attain peace, just as a poor man does upon gaining wealth.
जनस्थाने वसद्भिस्तु भवद्भी राममाश्रिता। प्रवृत्तिरुपनेतव्या किं करोतीति तत्त्वतः
"You who dwell in Janasthāna must keep close watch on Rāma and report to me in detail whatever he does.
अप्रमादाच्च गन्तव्यं सर्वैरेव निशाचरैः। कर्तव्यश्च सदा यत्नो राघवस्य वधं प्रति
"All night-stalkers must proceed with vigilance, and constant effort must be made toward the destruction of Rāghava."
युष्माकं तु बलं ज्ञातं बहुशो रणमूर्धनि। अतश्चास्मिञ्जनस्थाने मया यूयं निवेशिताः
Your strength has been witnessed many times on the battlefield; therefore, I have stationed you here in Janasthāna.
ततः प्रियं वाक्यमुपेत्य राक्षसा महार्थमष्टावभिवाद्य रावणम्। विहाय लङ्कां सहिताः प्रतस्थिरे यतो जनस्थानमलक्ष्यदर्शनाः
Then, having approached and spoken pleasing words, the eight Rākṣasas, after saluting Rāvaṇa with great respect, left Laṅkā together, unseen, heading toward Janasthāna.
ततस्तु सीतामुपलभ्य रावणः सुसम्प्रहृष्टः परिगृह्य मैथिलीम्। प्रसज्य रामेण च वैरमुत्तमं बभूव मोहान्मुदितः स रावणः
Thereafter, having obtained Sītā, Rāvaṇa was exceedingly delighted; embracing the daughter of Mithilā, and having established a great enmity with Rāma, that Rāvaṇa, overcome by delusion, rejoiced.
thumb|पञ्चपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the fifty-fifth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
संदिश्य राक्षसान् घोरान् रावणोऽष्टौ महाबलान्। आत्मानं बुद्धिवैक्लव्यात् कृत्कृत्यममन्यत
Having instructed eight fierce and mighty Rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, due to confusion of mind, considered his task accomplished.
स चिन्तयानो वैदेहीं कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः। प्रविवेश गृहं रम्यं सीतां द्रष्टुमभित्वरन्
Tormented by the arrows of desire as he thought of Vaidehī, he entered his splendid palace, eager to see Sītā.
स प्रविश्य तु तद्वेश्म रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। अपश्यद् राक्षसीमध्ये सीतां दुःखपरायणाम्
Entering that mansion, Rāvaṇa, lord of the Rākṣasas, saw Sītā, immersed in sorrow, among the Rākṣasī women.