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.
अश्रुपूर्णमुखीं दीनां शोकभारावपीडिताम्। वायुवेगैरिवाक्रान्तां मज्जन्तीं नावमर्णवे
Her face was filled with tears, she was forlorn, oppressed by the weight of grief, like a boat sinking in the ocean, overwhelmed by the force of the wind.
मृगयूथपरिभ्रष्टां मृगीं श्वभिरिवावृताम्। अधोगतमुखीं सीतां तामभ्येत्य निशाचरः
Like a doe separated from her herd, surrounded by hounds, Sītā stood with her face turned downward as the night-stalker approached her.
तां तु शोकवशाद् दीनामवशां राक्षसाधिपः। सबलाद् दर्शयामास गृहं देवगृहोपमम्
That lord of the Rākṣasas, seeing her helpless and subdued by grief, showed her his palace, which resembled the abode of the gods.
हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधं स्त्रीसहस्रनिषेवितम्। नानापक्षिगणैर्जुष्टं नानारत्नसमन्वितम्
He showed her halls and mansions crowded together, attended by thousands of women, filled with various flocks of birds and adorned with many kinds of jewels.
दान्तकैस्तापनीयैश्च स्फाटिकै राजतैस्तथा। वज्रवैदूर्यचित्रैश्च स्तम्भैर्दृष्टिमनोरमैः
With pillars of ivory, gold, crystal, and silver, and decorated with wondrous patterns of diamond and cat's-eye, delightful to behold.
दिव्यदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणम्। सोपानं काञ्चनं चित्रमारुरोह तया सह
Resounding with the music of celestial drums, adorned with blazing gold, he ascended the splendid golden staircase together with her.
दान्तका राजताश्चैव गवाक्षाः प्रियदर्शनाः। हेमजालावृताश्चासंस्तत्र प्रासादपङ्क्तयः
There, the rows of palaces had charming windows of ivory and silver, covered with golden lattices.
सुधामणिविचित्राणि भूमिभागानि सर्वशः। दशग्रीवः स्वभवने प्रादर्शयत मैथिलीम्
In his own house, Daśagrīva showed Maithilī all the courtyards, wondrous with lime and jewels.
दीर्घिकाः पुष्करिण्यश्च नानापुष्पसमावृताः। रावणो दर्शयामास सीतां शोकपरायणाम्
He showed her ponds and lakes covered with various flowers, though Sītā remained absorbed in sorrow.
दर्शयित्वा तु वैदेहीं कृत्स्नं तद्भवनोत्तमम्। उवाच वाक्यं पापात्मा सीतां लोभितुमिच्छया
After showing Vaidehī that entire splendid palace, the wicked-hearted one spoke words to Sītā, intending to entice her.
दश राक्षसकोट्यश्च द्वाविंशतिरथापराः। वर्जयित्वा जरावृद्धान् बालांश्च रजनीचरान्
There are ten crores of Rākṣasas and twenty-two thousand chariots, excluding the old, the very young, and the night-wanderers.
तेषां प्रभुरहं सीते सर्वेषां भीमकर्मणाम्। सहस्रमेकमेकस्य मम कार्यपुरःसरम्
O Sita, I am the lord over all these mighty warriors; for each one, I have a thousand at my command, ready to act on my behalf.
यदिदं राज्यतन्त्रं मे त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्। जीवितं च विशालाक्षि त्वं मे प्राणैर्गरीयसी
This entire kingdom, O wide-eyed one, rests upon you; and my life itself—dear Sita—you are dearer to me than breath.
बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणां मम योऽसौ परिग्रहः। तासां त्वमीश्वरी सीते मम भार्या भव प्रिये
Among the many noble women who are my consorts, you, Sita, are their sovereign; become my wife, beloved.
साधु किं तेऽन्यथाबुद्ध्या रोचयस्व वचो मम। भजस्व माभितप्तस्य प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
Why do you persist in thinking otherwise? Accept my words; grant your favor to me, who am tormented, and be gracious.
परिक्षिप्ता समुद्रेण लङ्केयं शतयोजना। नेयं धर्षयितुं शक्या सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः
This Lanka, encircled by the sea and a hundred yojanas wide, cannot be violated even by gods with Indra, nor by demons.
न देवेषु न यक्षेषु न गन्धर्वेषु नर्षिषु। अहं पश्यामि लोकेषु यो मे वीर्यसमो भवेत्
Among gods, yakshas, gandharvas, or sages, I see no one in all the worlds who could match my strength.
राज्यभ्रष्टेन दीनेन तापसेन पदातिना। किं करिष्यसि रामेण मानुषेणाल्पतेजसा
What will you do with Rama—deprived of his kingdom, miserable, an ascetic, traveling on foot, a mere human of little power?
भजस्व सीते मामेव भर्ताहं सदृशस्तव। यौवनं त्वध्रुवं भीरु रमस्वेह मया सह
Accept me alone, Sita, as your husband, for I am your equal; youth is fleeting, timid one, so enjoy yourself here with me.
दर्शने मा कृथा बुद्धिं राघवस्य वरानने। कास्य शक्तिरिहागन्तुमपि सीते मनोरथैः
Do not set your mind, O beautiful-faced one, on seeing Raghava; who here has the power even in thought to come to you, Sita?