Sloka & Translation

[Surpanakha meets Rama --reveals her identity -- expresses her desire to be his wife]

kṛtābhiṣēkō rāmastu sītā saumitrirēva ca.

tasmādgōdāvarītīrāttatō jagmusvamāśramam৷৷3.17.1৷৷


kṛtābhiṣēkaḥ bath over, rāmastu Rama too, sītā Sita, saumitrirēva ca and also Lakshmana, tataḥ then, tasmāt therefrom, gōdāvarītīrāt from the bank of Godavari, svam their, āśramam hermitage, jagmuḥ went.

Ablution over, Rama, accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, went back from the bank of the river Godabari to their hermitage.
āśramaṅ tamupāgamya rāghavassaha lakṣmaṇaḥ.

kṛtvā paurvāhṇikaṅ karma parṇaśālāmupāgamat৷৷3.17.2৷৷


sahalakṣmaṇaḥ accompanied by Lakshmana, rāghavaḥ Rama, tam that, āśramam hermitage, upāgamya on reaching, paurvāhṇikam rituals to be performed in the forenoon, karma rituals, kṛtvā after doing, parṇaśālām cottage thatched with leaves, upāgamat went in.

On reaching the hermitage, Rama and Lakshmana performed the forenoon rituals and entered the leaf-thatched cottage.
uvāsa sukhitastatra pūjyamānō maharṣibhiḥ.

lakṣmaṇēna saha bhrātrā cakāra vividhāḥ kathāḥ৷৷3.17.3৷৷


maharṣibhiḥ by ascetics, pūjyamānaḥ worshipped by, tatra there, sukhitaḥ peacefully, uvāsa stayed, bhrātrā brother, lakṣmaṇēna saha with Lakshmana, vividhāḥ diverse, kathāḥ talks, cakāra making.

Honoured by the ascetics , Rama stayed there peacefully with brother Lakshmana,
discussing diverse matters (from time to time).
sa rāmaḥ parṇaśālāyāmāsīnassaha sītayā.

virarāja mahābāhuścitrayā candramāḥ iva৷৷3.17.4৷৷


sītayā saha along with Sita, parṇaśālāyām in the cottage, āsīnaḥ seated, mahābāhuḥ long-armed, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, citrayā with the constellation Chitra, candramāḥ iva like the Moon, virarāja appeared.

Long-armed Rama seated with Sita in the cottage, appeared like the Moon in conjunction with constellation Chitra.
tathā.sīnasya rāmasya kathāsaṅsaktacētasaḥ.

taṅ dēśaṅ rākṣasī kācidājagāma yadṛcchayā৷৷3.17.5৷৷


rāmasya Rama's, kathāsaṅsaktacētasaḥ engrossed in conversation, tathā like that, āsīnasya while he was sitting, kācit one, rākṣasī demoness, yadṛcchayā by chance, taṅ dēśam to that place, ājagāma came.

While Rama was thus seated, engrossed in conversation, there incidentally appeared a demoness.
sā tu śūrpaṇakhā nāma daśagrīvasya rākṣasaḥ.

bhaginī rāmamāsādya dadarśa tridaśōpamam৷৷3.17.6৷৷


rākṣasaḥ demon, daśagrīvasya of the ten-headed (Ravana), bhaginī sister, śūrpaṇakhā nāma by name Surpanakha, sā tu she, tridaśōpamam resembling god, rāmam Rama, āsādya near, dadarśa saw.

Surpanakha, sister of the ten-headed demon (Ravana) approached Rama shining like a god.
siṅhōraskaṅ mahābāhuṅ padmapatranibhēkṣaṇam.

ājānubāhuṅ dīptāsyamatīva priyadarśanam৷৷3.17.7৷৷

gajavikrāntagamanaṅ jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇam.

sukumāraṅ mahāsattvaṅ pārthivavyañjanānvitam৷৷3.17.8৷৷

rāmamindīvaraśyāmaṅ kandarpasadṛśaprabham.

babhūvēndrōpamaṅ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasī kāmamōhitā৷৷3.17.9৷৷


siṅhōraskam whose chest was like that of a lion, mahābāhum long-armed, padmapatranibhēkṣaṇam whose eyes resembled lotus petals, ājānubāhum knee-long arms, dīptāsyam with a glowing face, atīva vey much, priyadarśanam pleasing to look at, gajavikrāntagamanam who walked with the gait of an elephant, jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇam having matted hair, sukumāram delicate, mahāsatvam very strong , pārthivavyañjanānvitam endowed with royal traits, indīvaraśyāmam blue-lotus-like complexion, kandarpasadṛśaprabham glowing like the god of love, indrōpamam as Indra, rāmam Rama, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, rākṣasī demoness, kāmamōhitā infatuated, babhūva became.

The demoness was infatuated with Rama, whose chest was like that of a lion, who was strong-armed, who had a glowing face, pleasing to the eyes, who walked with the gait of an elephant, whose hair was matted, who was gentle and strong who was, endowed with royal traits, who had a blue lotus-like complexion, who was handsome as the god of love, and who resembled Indra.
sumukhaṅ durmukhī rāmaṅ vṛttamadhyaṅ mahōdarī.

viśālākṣaṅ virūpākṣī sukēśaṅ tāmramūrdhajā৷৷3.17.10৷৷

prītirūpaṅ virūpā sā susvaraṅ bhairavasvarā.

taruṇaṅ dāruṇā vṛddhā dakṣiṇaṅ vāmabhāṣiṇī৷৷3.17.11৷৷

nyāyavṛttaṅ sudurvṛttā priyamapriyadarśanā.

śarīrajasamāviṣṭā rākṣasī vākyamabravīt৷৷3.17.12৷৷


durmukhī looking, mahōdarī huge-bellied, virūpākṣī woman with deformed eyes, tāmramūrdhajā copper-red hair, virūpā ugly, bhairavasvarā of shrill voice, dāruṇā vṛddhā dreadfully old, vāmabhāṣiṇī with a perverted tongue, sudurvṛtā very wicked, apriyadarśanā ugly to look at, rākṣasī the demoness, sumukham of beautiful face, vṛttamadhyam slender waist, viśālākṣam large-eyed, sukēśam with beautiful hair, prītirūpam with lovely appearance, susvaram sweet voice, taruṇam young , dakṣiṇam favourable, nyāyavṛttam who was just, priyam lovely, rāmam to Rama, śarīrajasamāviṣṭā overcome by lust, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Rama's face was lovely, Surpanakha's was hideous. Rama had a slender waist, she had a huge belly. His eyes were large, hers were deformed. His hair was black and beautiful, hers was copper-coloured. He was lovely in appearance, she was ugly. His voice was sweet, hers was shrill. He was young, she was dreadfully old. He was positive, she was perverted. Rama was well-behaved, she was wicked. Rama was just and loving while she was overcome by lust. (This) demoness said to Rama :
jaṭī tāpasarūpēṇa sabhāryaśśaracāpadhṛt.

āgatastvamimaṅ dēśaṅ kathaṅ rākṣasasēvitam৷৷3.17.13৷৷

kimāgamanakṛtyaṅ tē tattvamākhyātumarhasi.


tvam you, jaṭī having matted hair, sabhāryaḥ with your wife, śaracāpadhṛt holding bow and arrows, tāpasarūpēṇa in the form of an ascetic, rākṣasasēvitam haunted by demons, imaṅ this, dēśam place, katham how, āgataḥ have you come, tē your, āgamanakṛtyam reason for coming, kim what, tatvam truth, akhyātum to tell, arhasi should.

O Rama! you are wearing matted hair like an ascetic, but living with your wife and holding bow and arrows. What brings you to this place haunted by demons ? You should tell me the truth ?
ēvamuktastu rākṣasyā śūrpaṇakhyā parantapaḥ৷৷3.17.14৷৷

ṛjubuddhitayā sarvamākhyātumupacakramē.


rākṣasyā by the demoness, śūrpaṇakhyā by Surpanakha, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ asked, parantapaḥ a scorcher of foes, ṛjubuddhitayā due to simple-mindedness, sarvam everything, ākhyātum to tell, upacakramē started.

Thus asked by the demoness Surpanakha, Rama, scorcher of foes began telling her everything due to his simplemindedness.
anṛtaṅ na hi rāmasya kadācidapi sammatam৷৷3.17.15৷৷

viśēṣēṇā.śramasthasya samīpē strījanasya ca.


rāmasya to Rama, anṛtam untruth, kadācidapi ever, na sammataṅ hi not acceptable, āśramasthasya while at the hermitage, strījanasya of women, samīpē ca in the presence of, viśēṣēṇa especially.

To Rama untruth is never acceptable at the hermitage and especially in the presence of a woman.
āsīddhaśarathō nāma rājā tridaśavikramaḥ৷৷3.17.16৷৷

tasyāhamagrajaḥ putrō rāmō nāma janaiśśrutaḥ.


tridaśavikramaḥ mighty like the gods, daśarathō nāma Dasaratha by name, rājā king, āsīt was, aham I am, tasya his, agrajaḥ eldest, putraḥ son, rāmō Rama, nāma by name, janaiḥ by people, śrutaḥ heard.

(Rama replied) There was a king named Dasaratha who was mighty like the gods. I am his eldest son known among the people as Rama.
bhrātā.yaṅ lakṣmaṇō nāma yavīyānmāmanuvrataḥ৷৷3.17.17৷৷

iyaṅ bhāryā ca vaidēhī mama sītēti viśrutā.


ayam he is, lakṣmaṇō nāma Lakshmana by name, yavīyān younger one, bhrātā brother, mām to
me, anuvrataḥ always following me, vaidēhī daughter of king of Videha, iyam this, mama my, bhāryā wife, sītēti as Sita, viśrutā well-known.

Here is Lakshmana , my younger brother, who always follows me . And this is the daughter of the king of Videha and my wife, well-known as Sita.
niyōgāttu narēndrasya piturmātuśca yantritaḥ৷৷3.17.18৷৷

dharmārthaṅ dharmakāṅkṣī ca vanaṅ vastumihāgataḥ.


narēndrasya king's, pituḥ father's, mātuśca and mother's, niyōgāt by the order, yantritaḥ impelled, dharmakāṅkṣī ca one desirous of establishing righteousness, dharmārtham for the sake of duty, iha here, vastum to reside, vanam to the forest, āgataḥ I have come.

I have come here, commanded by the king, my father and mother.Intending to obey the orders of my father, and impelled by duty to establish righteousness I have come to reside here.
tvāṅ tu vēditumicchāmi kathyatāṅ kvāsi kasya vā৷৷3.17.19৷৷

na hi tāvanmanōjñāṅgī rākṣasī pratibhāsi mē.


tvām you, vēditum to know, icchāmi I wish, kathyatām you may speak, kva who, asi you are, kasya vā whose, manōjñāṅgī a woman of beautiful limbs, rākṣasī demoness, mē to me, na pratibhāsi seem not.

I wish to know who you are. Tell me who your kins are. With lovely limbs you do not appear to be a demoness.
iha vā kiom nimittaṅ tvamāgatā brūhi tatvataḥ৷৷3.17.20৷৷

sābravīdvacanaṅ śrutvā rākṣasī madanārditā.


iha here, kiom nimittam for what purpose, tvam you, āgatā vā you have come, tatvataḥ truly, brūhi tell, vacanam these words, śrutvā hearing, madanārditā overtaken by passion, sā rākṣasī that
demoness, abravīt said,

Tell me truly what you have come here for. Having heard the words of Rama and overtaken by passion, the demoness said:
śrūyatāṅ rāma vakṣyāmi tattvārthaṅ vacanaṅ mama. 3.17.21৷৷

ahaṅ śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī.

araṇyaṅ vicarāmīdamēkā sarvabhayaṅkarā৷৷3.17.22৷৷


aham myself, śūrpaṇakhā nāma is Surpanakha by name, kāmarūpiṇī assume the form I desire, rākṣasī a demoness, ēkā alone, sarvabhayaṅkarā can terrorise all creatures, idam this, araṇyam forest, vicarāmi I move about.

My name is Surpanakha. I am a demoness who can assume any form at will, I move in this forest alone, unleashing a reign of terror.
rāvaṇō nāma mē bhrātā balīyānrākṣasēśvaraḥ.

vīrō viśravasaḥ putrō yadi tē śrōtramāgataḥ৷৷3.17.23৷৷


balīyān strongman, vīraḥ a hero, viśravasa: Visrava's, putraḥ son, rāvaṇō nāma by name Ravana, rākṣasēśvaraḥ lord for all demons, mē my, bhrātā brother, tē to you, śrōtram is heard,yadi I suppose.

My brother is Ravana, son of Visrava, and lord of all demons. You have heard his name I suppose.
pravṛddhanidraśca sadā kumbhakarṇō mahābalaḥ.

vibhīṣaṇastu dharmātmā na tu rākṣasacēṣṭitaḥ৷৷3.17.24৷৷

prakhyātavīryau ca raṇē bhrātarau kharadūṣaṇau.


sadā always, pravṛddhanidraḥ in deep sleep, mahābalaḥ very strong, kumbhakarṇaḥ ca Kumbhakarna, dharmātmā
a righteous one, vibhīṣaṇastu Vibhisana also, tu but, rākṣasacēṣṭitaḥ nature of the demon, na not, raṇē in war, prakhyātavīryau both very well-known heroes, kharadūṣaṇau ca Khara and Dusana, bhrātarau two brothers.

Kumbhakarna is another brother of mine. He is very strong. He is always in deep sleep. Vibhisna another brother. He is righteous free from any demoniac trait. My other two brothers are Khara and Dusana who are well-known heroes of war.
tānahaṅ samatikrāntā rāma tvā pūrvadarśanāt৷৷3.17.25৷৷

samupētāsmi bhāvēna bhartāraṅ puruṣōttamam.


rāma O Rama, aham I, tān them, samatikrāntā transgressing all of them, pūrvadarśanāt as soon as I saw, puruṣōttamam finest of men, tvā you, bhartāram as husband, bhāvēna with that feeling, samupētā approached, asmi I am.

Setting them aside, I came here, as soon as I saw you. You are the finest among men and I am here wishing you to be my husband.
ahaṅ prabhāvasampannā svacঁalagāminī৷৷3.17.26৷৷

cirāya bhava mē bhartā sītayā kiṅ kariṣyasi.


aham I, prabhāvasampannā influential, svacঁalagāminī I have the capacity for moving wherever I want cirāya for long, mē my, bhartā husband, bhava you, sītayā with Sita, kiṅnkariṣyasi what will you do?

I have influence over others, I have capacity to move wherever I want. Be my husband forever. What will you do with Sita?
vikṛtā ca virūpā ca na cēyaṅ sadṛśī tava৷৷3.17.27৷৷

ahamēvānurūpā tē bhāryā rūpēṇa paśya mām.


vikṛtā ca an ugly form, virūpā ca deformed too, iyam this woman, tava your, na sadṛśī is not
suitable to you, tē you, ahamēva I alone, anurūpā suitable, mām me, bhāryārūpēṇa as wife, paśya look upon.

She is ugly, deformed, unsuitable for you. I am alone fit for you. Look upon me as your wife.
imāṅ virūpāmasatīṅ karālāṅ nirṇatōdarīm৷৷3.17.28৷৷

anēna tē saha bhrātrā bhakṣayiṣyāmi mānuṣīm.


virūpām deformed, asatīm unchaste, karālām frightful, nirṇatōdarīm flat bellied woman, imāṅ mānuṣīm to this lady, tē bhrātrāsaha along with your brother, bhakṣayiṣyāmi I will eat up.

I will devour your brother along with this disfigured, unchaste and fearful lady with a flat belly.
tataḥ parvataśṛṅgāṇi vanāni vividhāni ca৷৷3.17.29৷৷

paśyansaha mayā kānta daṇḍakānvicariṣyasi.


kānta O darling, tataḥ thereafter, parvataśṛṅgāṇi tops of mountains, vividhāni many kinds, vanāni ca forests also, paśyan while seeing, mayā saha with me, daṇḍakān Dandaka forest, vicariṣyasi will wander.

O darling, thereafter you can keep wandering with me in this Dandaka forest, enjoying the beauty of the mountain tops and forests.
ityēvamuktaḥ kākutsthaḥ prahasya madirēkṣaṇām৷৷3.17.30৷৷

idaṅ vacanamārēbhē vaktuṅ vākyaviśāradaḥ.


ityēvam in this way, uktaḥ said, vākyaviśāradaḥ expert in speech, kākutstha: Rama, prahasya laughing, madirēkṣaṇām to her with bewitching eyes, idaṅ vacanam these words, vaktum to speak, ārēbhē started.

Thus addressed, Rama, skilled in speech, laughed and started speaking to that woman of bewitching eyes.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē saptadaśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.