य एते राक्षसाः प्रोक्ता घोररूपा महाबलाः। राघवे निर्विषाः सर्वे सुपर्णे पन्नगा यथा
'All these Rākṣasas you boast of, fierce and mighty, are powerless before Rāghava, as serpents are before Garuḍa.'
तस्य ज्याविप्रमुक्तास्ते शराः काञ्चनभूषणाः। शरीरं विधमिष्यन्ति गङ्गाकूलमिवोर्मयः
'His arrows, released from the bowstring and adorned with gold, will strike your body like waves striking the bank of the Gaṅgā.'
असुरैर्वा सुरैर्वा त्वं यद्यवध्योऽसि रावण। उत्पाद्य सुमहद् वैरं जीवंस्तस्य न मोक्ष्यसे
'Even if you are invulnerable to gods or demons, Rāvaṇa, after provoking such great enmity, you will not escape alive from him.'
स ते जीवितशेषस्य राघवोऽन्तकरो बली। पशोर्यूपगतस्येव जीवितं तव दुर्लभम्
'That mighty Rāghava will be the end of your remaining life; your survival is as unlikely as that of a beast led to the sacrificial post.'
यदि पश्येत् स रामस्त्वां रोषदीप्तेन चक्षुषा। रक्षस्त्वमद्य निर्दग्धो यथा रुद्रेण मन्मथः
'If Rāma were to see you with eyes blazing in anger, you, demon, would be burned up today as Kāmadeva was by Rudra.'
यश्चन्द्रं नभसो भूमौ पातयेन्नाशयेत वा। सागरं शोषयेद् वापि स सीतां मोचयेदिह
'He who could cast down the moon from the sky, destroy it, or dry up the ocean—only he could free Sītā here.'
गतासुस्त्वं गतश्रीको गतसत्त्वो गतेन्द्रियः। लङ्का वैधव्यसंयुक्ता त्वत्कृतेन भविष्यति
'You are as good as dead, your glory gone, your strength and senses lost; because of you, Laṅkā will be left widowed.'
न ते पापमिदं कर्म सुखोदर्कं भविष्यति। याहं नीता विनाभावं पतिपार्श्वात् त्वया बलात्
This wicked deed of yours will not bring you happiness; you have taken me by force from my husband's side, separating me from him.
स हि देवरसंयुक्तो मम भर्ता महाद्युतिः। निर्भयो वीर्यमाश्रित्य शून्ये वसति दण्डके
My husband, radiant and mighty, endowed with divine strength, dwells fearlessly in the desolate Dandaka forest, relying on his valor.
स ते वीर्यं बलं दर्पमुत्सेकं च तथाविधम्। अपनेष्यति गात्रेभ्यः शरवर्षेण संयुगे
He will strip you of your strength, power, arrogance, and pride in battle, with a rain of arrows upon your body.
यदा विनाशो भूतानां दृश्यते कालचोदितः। तदा कार्ये प्रमाद्यन्ति नराः कालवशं गताः
When destruction comes upon beings, driven by time, then people, subject to fate, become careless in their actions.
मां प्रधृष्य स ते कालः प्राप्तोऽयं राक्षसाधम। आत्मनो राक्षसानां च वधायान्तःपुरस्य च
By assaulting me, your time has arrived, O vile Rakshasa, for the destruction of yourself, the Rakshasas, and your inner palace.
न शक्या यज्ञमध्यस्था वेदिः स्रुग्भाण्डमण्डिता। द्विजातिमन्त्रसम्पूता चण्डालेनावमर्दितुम्
An altar adorned with vessels and ladles, sanctified by the mantras of the twice-born, cannot be desecrated by a Chandala, even if placed in the midst of a sacrifice.
तथाहं धर्मनित्यस्य धर्मपत्नी दृढव्रता। त्वया स्प्रष्टुं न शक्याहं राक्षसाधम पापिना
So too, as the devoted wife of a righteous man, firm in my vows, I cannot be touched by you, O wicked Rakshasa.
क्रीडन्ती राजहंसेन पद्मषण्डेषु नित्यशः। हंसी सा तृणमध्यस्थं कथं द्रक्ष्येत मद्गुकम्
Just as a swan, always playing among lotuses, would never notice a mud-hen hidden among the reeds, so too am I beyond your reach.
इदं शरीरं निःसंज्ञं बन्ध वा घातयस्व वा। नेदं शरीरं रक्ष्यं मे जीवितं वापि राक्षस
This body is insensible; bind it or kill it as you wish. Neither my body nor my life is to be protected, O Rakshasa.
न तु शक्यमपक्रोशं पृथिव्यां दातुमात्मनः। एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही क्रोधात् सुपरुषं वचः
But it is not possible for me to give up my honor on this earth. Having spoken thus, Vaidehi uttered harsh words in anger.
रावणं जानकी तत्र पुनर्नोवाच किंचन। सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा परुषं रोमहर्षणम्
There, Janaki said nothing further to Ravana, having spoken words that were harsh and hair-raising.
प्रत्युवाच ततः सीतां भयसंदर्शनं वचः। शृणु मैथिलि मद्वाक्यं मासान् द्वादश भामिनि
Then Ravana replied to Sita with words meant to inspire fear: 'Listen, Maithili, to my words, O beautiful one, for twelve months.'
कालेनानेन नाभ्येषि यदि मां चारुहासिनि। ततस्त्वां प्रातराशार्थं सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति लेशशः
If, within this time, you do not approach me, O lovely-smiling one, then my cooks will cut you into pieces for breakfast.
इत्युक्त्वा परुषं वाक्यं रावणः शत्रुरावणः। राक्षसीश्च ततः क्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having spoken these harsh words, Ravana, the enemy of enemies, then angrily addressed the Rakshasis.
शीघ्रमेव हि राक्षस्यो विरूपा घोरदर्शनाः। दर्पमस्यापनेष्यन्तु मांसशोणितभोजनाः
Immediately, the Rakshasis, hideous and terrifying to behold, who feast on flesh and blood, will humble her pride.
वचनादेव तास्तस्य सुघोरा घोरदर्शनाः। कृतप्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा मैथिलीं पर्यवारयन्
At his command, those fierce and dreadful Rakshasis, with palms joined in reverence, surrounded Maithili.
स ताः प्रोवाच राजासौ रावणो घोरदर्शनाः। प्रचल्य चरणोत्कर्षैर्दारयन्निव मेदिनीम्
Then Ravana, the king, terrifying to behold, addressed them, stamping his feet as if tearing the earth.
अशोकवनिकामध्ये मैथिली नीयतामिति। तत्रेयं रक्ष्यतां गूढं युष्माभिः परिवारिता
Take Maithili to the center of the Ashoka grove; let her be guarded there, hidden and surrounded by you.
तत्रैनां तर्जनैर्घोरैः पुनः सान्त्वैश्च मैथिलीम्। आनयध्वं वशं सर्वा वन्यां गजवधूमिव
There, with fierce threats and then with coaxing words, bring this daughter of Mithila under control, as one would a wild elephant-cow.
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टा राक्षस्यो रावणेन ताः। अशोकवनिकां जग्मुर्मैथिलीं परिगृह्य तु
Thus commanded by Ravana, those rakshasi women went to the Ashoka grove, taking Maithili with them.
सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैर्नानापुष्पफलैर्वृताम्। सर्वकालमदैश्चापि द्विजैः समुपसेविताम्
It was surrounded by trees bearing all desired fruits, adorned with various flowers and fruits, and always attended by intoxicated birds.
सा तु शोकपरीताङ्गी मैथिली जनकात्मजा। राक्षसीवशमापन्ना व्याघ्रीणां हरिणी यथा
There, Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, her body seized by grief, fell under the power of the rakshasis, like a doe among tigers.
शोकेन महता ग्रस्ता मैथिली जनकात्मजा। न शर्म लभते भीरुः पाशबद्धा मृगी यथा
Consumed by great sorrow, Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, found no peace, like a frightened deer bound in a snare.