Sloka & Translation

[Sita reproaches Ravana--pleads, threatens Ravana with dire consequences.]

khamutpatantaṅ taṅ dṛṣṭvā maithilī janakātmajā.

duḥkhitā paramōdvignā bhayē mahati vartinī৷৷3.53.1৷৷


janakātmajā Janaka's daughter, maithilī Maithili, kham into the sky, utpatantam while flying, tam Ravana, dṛṣṭvā seeing, paramōdvignā agitated greatly, mahati intense, bhayē fear, vartinī became, duḥkhitā miserable.

Sita, daughter of Janaka, princess of Mithila felt miserable, looking at Ravana taking off and got very much agitated out of fear.
rōṣarōdanatāmrākṣī bhīmākṣaṅ rākṣasādhipam.

rudantī karuṇaṅ sītā hriyamāṇēdamabravīt৷৷3.53.2৷৷


hriyamāṇā while being carried away, sītā Sita, karuṇam piteously, rudantī weeping, rōṣarōdanatāmrākṣī eyes reddened due to crying out of anger and grief, bhīmākṣam with frightening eyes, rākṣasādhipam to Ravana, the lord of demons, idam these (words), abravīt said.

While being carried away, Sita wept piteously and her eyes went red with tears of anger and grief. Looking at the frightening eyes of the king of the demons, she said these words :
na vyapatrapasē nīca karmaṇānēna rāvaṇa.

jñātvā virahitāṅ yanmāṅ cōrayitvā palāyasē৷৷3.53.3৷৷


nīca O mean, rāvaṇa Ravana, virahitām when I am separated, mām me, cōrayitvā having stolen, palāyasē run away, iti yat like this, anēna by this, karmaṇā by action, na vyapatrapasē are
you not ashamed?

O mean Ravana, are you not ashamed of kidnapping me when I was separated (from my husband)?
tvayaiva nūnaṅ duṣṭātman bhīruṇā hartumicchatā.

mamāpavāhitō bhartā mṛgarūpēṇa māyayā৷৷3.53.4৷৷


duṣṭātman O wicked fellow, hartum to abduct, icchatā desiring, bhīruṇā by a timid one, tvayaiva yourself, mama my, bhartā husband, māyayā with deceit, mṛgarūpēṇa in the form of deer, apavāhitaḥ led to a distance.

O wicked fellow, with an intention to abduct me you enticed my husband to a distance deceitfully in the form of a deer.
yō hi māmudyatastrātuṅ sō.pyayaṅ vinipātitaḥ.

gṛdhrarājaḥ purāṇō.sau śvaśurasya sakhā mama৷৷3.53.5৷৷


yaḥ who, gṛdhrarājaḥ king of vultures, mām me, trātum to protect, udyataḥ tried, mama my, śvaśurasya of father-in-law, purāṇaḥ old, sakhā friend, ayam he, asau api he too, vinipātitaḥ is fallen.

This Jatayu, an old friend of my father-in-law tried to protect me but he too has fallen a prey.
paramaṅ khalu tē vīryaṅ dṛśyatē rākṣasādhama.

viśrāvya nāmadhēyaṅ hi yuddhē nāsmi jitā tvayā৷৷3.53.6৷৷


rākṣasādhamaḥ O lowly demon, tē viryam bravery, paramam very great, dṛśyatē khalu is seen indeed, nāmadhēyam your name, viśrāvya after announcing, tvayā by your, yuddhē war, jitā won, nāsmi hi I am not.

O lowly demon, you have, indeed, shown your heroism (in killing this old vulture).
You have not won me in a battle declared by you.
īdṛśaṅ garhitaṅ karma kathaṅ kṛtvā na lajjasē.

striyāśca haraṇaṅ nīca rahitē ca parasya ca৷৷3.53.7৷৷


nīca O lowly fellow, rahitē when alone, parasya ca other's, striyāḥ woman's, haraṇam abduction, īdṛśam this way, garhitam despised, karma deed, kṛtvā after doing, katham how is it, na lajjasē are you not ashamed!

O lowly fellow! how is it that you are not ashamed of commiting such a despicable act abducting another's wife when she is alone ?
kathayiṣyanti lōkēṣu puruṣāḥ karma kutsitam.

sunṛśaṅsamadharmiṣṭhaṅ tava śauṇḍīryamāninaḥ৷৷3.53.8৷৷


śauṇḍīryamāninaḥ considering yourself to be brave, tava yourself, sunṛśaṅsam this very cruel act, adharmiṣṭham unrighteous, kutsitam despised by others, karma action, lōkēṣu in the worlds, puruṣāḥ people, kathayiṣyanti will talk about.

You consider yourself to be brave after committing such a cruel, despicable and unrighteous act for which people of the world will condemn you.
dhiktē śauryaṅ ca sattvaṅ ca yattvaṅ kathitavāṅstadā.

kulākrōśakaraṅ lōkē dhiktē cāritramīdṛśam৷৷3.53.9৷৷


strength, dhik fie, lōkē in the world, kulākrōśakaram that which would bring calumny to the family, tē to you, īdṛśam such, cāritram behaviour, dhik I condemn.

Fie upon your heroism and strength about which you boasted. Fie upon your character that would bring calumny to the race and the world. I condemn such behaviour of yours.
kiṅ kartuṅ śakyamēvaṅ hi yajjavēnaiva dhāvasi.

muhūrtamapi tiṣṭhasva na jīvanpratiyāsyasi৷৷3.53.10৷৷


kim what, kartum to do, śakyam is possible, yat since, ēvam in this way, javēnaiva so swiftly, dhāvasi you are running, muhūrtamapi for a moment also, tiṣṭhasva you stay, jīvan with life, na pratiyāsyasi you will not.

Tarry a little, you will not go back with life. What can be done now since you are running away so swiftly?
na hi cakṣuṣpathaṅ prāpya tayōḥ pārthivaputrayōḥ.

sasainyō.pi samarthastvaṅ muhūrtamapi jīvitum৷৷3.53.11৷৷


tayōḥ of both of them, pārthivaputrayōḥ of the two princes, cakṣuṣpatham within the range of their sight, prāpya on reaching, tvam you, sasainyō.pi even with your army, muhūrtamapi for a moment, jīvitum to live, na samarthaḥ hi not possible.

If you come within sight of these two princes, it will not be possible for you to live for a moment even if you are with your entire army.
na tvaṅ tayōśśarasparśaṅ sōḍhuṅ śaktaḥ kathañcana.

vanē prajvalitasyēva sparśamagnērvihaṅgamaḥ৷৷3.53.12৷৷


vanē in the forest, prajvalitasya of burning, agnēḥ fire, sparśam touch, vihaṅgamaḥ iva like bird, tvam you, tayōḥ of both of them, śarasparśam touch of arrows, sōḍhum to endure, kathañcana anyhow, na śaktaḥ it is not possible for you.

Just as a bird cannot bear the touch of forest fire, you will not be able to endure the mere touch of arrows of the two heroes indeed!.
sādhu kurvā৷৷tmanaḥ pathyaṅ sādhu māṅ muñca rāvaṇa.

matpradharṣaṇaruṣṭō hi bhrātrā saha patirmama৷৷3.53.13৷৷

vidhāsyati vināśāya tvaṅ māṅ yadi na muñcasi.


rāvaṇa Ravana, sādhu it is only proper, ātmanaḥ your, pathyam good for your wellbeing, kuru you may do, mām me, sādhu be good, muñca you may release, tvam you, mām me, na muñcasi you do not leave, yadi what, matpradharṣaṇaruṣṭaḥ enraged for the assaulting me, mama patiḥ my husband, bhrātrā saha along with his brother, vināśāya for destruction, vidhāsyati he will arrange.

O Ravana! be good and do whatever is beneficial to you. It is proper for you to release me. If you do not, enraged over my assault, my husband along with his brother, will bring about your destruction.
yēna tvaṅ vyavasāyēna balānmāṅ hartumicchasi৷৷3.53.14৷৷

vyavasāyassa tē nīca bhaviṣyati nirarthakaḥ.


nīca O mean fellow, tvam you, yēna by which, vyavasāyēna effort, mām me, balāt by force, hartum to abduct, icchasi desire, tē your, saḥ that, vyavasāyaḥ determination, nirarthakaḥ fruitless, bhaviṣyati will become.

O vile creature, the effort you are making to abduct me forcibly will be fruitless.
na hyahaṅ tamapaśyantī bhartāraṅ vibudhōpamam৷৷3.53.15৷৷

utsahē śatruvaśagā prāṇāndhārayituṅ ciram.


aham I am, vibudhōpamam god-like, bhartāram husband, tam him, apaśyantī without seeing him, śatruvaśagā at the mercy of an enemy, ciram long, prāṇān life, dharayitum to hold on, na utsahē hi I am not enthused.

I will not be eager to hold on to my life for long to live at the mercy of the enemy without being able to see my god-like husband.
na nūnaṅ cātmanaḥ pathyaṅ śrēyō vā samavēkṣasē৷৷3.53.16৷৷

mṛtyukālē yathā martyō viparītāni sēvatē.


martya: a mortal, mṛtyukālē at the time of death, yathā as, viparītāni very differently, sēvatē he will resort to, ātmanaḥ your own, pathyam whatever is beneficial to you, śrēyō vā your welfare, na samavēkṣasē you are not able to foresee.

At the time of death, mortals behave very differently. They act contrary to their own welfare. Likewise you are not able to foresee what is beneficial and good for you.
mumūrṣūṇāṅ hi sarvēṣāṅ yatpathyaṅ tanna rōcatē৷৷3.53.17৷৷

paśyāmyadya hi kaṇṭhētvāṅ kālapāśāvapāśitam.


mumūrṣūṇām who want to die, sarvēṣām all of them, yat what, pathyam is salutary, tat that, na rōcatē not like, adya now, tvām you, kaṇṭhē in your neck, kālapāśāvapāśitam noose of death wound round, paśyāmi hi I see.

Those who wish to die, do not like anything salutary. I see the noose of death wound round your neck now.
yathā cāsminbhayasthānē na bibhēṣi daśānana৷৷3.53.18৷৷

vyaktaṅ hiraṇmayān hi tvaṅ sampaśyasi mahīruhān.


daśānana ten-headed Ravana!, tvam you, asmin in this, bhayasthānē cause of fear, yathā even so, na bibhēṣi you are not scared, hiraṇmayān golden, mahīruhān trees, sampaśyasi you see, vyaktam evident.

O ten-headed Ravana, since you do not fear the source of fear, evidently you see golden trees. (a symptom of death).
nadīṅ vaitaraṇīṅ ghōrāṅ rudhiraughanivāhinīm৷৷3.53.19৷৷

asipatravanaṅ caiva bhīmaṅ paśyasi rāvaṇa.


rāvaṇa Ravana, rudhiraughanivāhinīm river carrying torrents of blood flowing, ghōrām dreadful, vaitaraṇīṅ nadīm river Vaitarani, bhīmam frightening, asipatravanaṅ caiva forest of trees with swords as leaves, paśyasi see.

O Ravana, you see the dreadful river Vaitarani with torrents of blood flowing and frightening forest of trees with swords as leaves.
taptakāñcanapuṣpāṅ ca vaiḍūryapravaracchadām৷৷3.53.20৷৷

drakṣyasē śālmalīṅ tīkṣṇāmāyasaiḥ kaṇṭakaiścitām.


tapkakāñcanapuṣpām with bright golden flowers, vaiḍūryapravaracchadām with barks of excellent Vaidurya stones like bark, āyasaiḥ with iron, kaṇṭakaiḥ thorns, citām logged, tīkṣṇām sharp, śālmalīm salmali (silk-cotton) tree, drakṣyasē you see.

You will see a log of salmali tree with bright golden flowers and excellent vaidurya stone with pointed iron thorns.
na hi tvamīdṛśaṅ kṛtvā tasyālīkaṅ mahātmanaḥ৷৷3.53.21৷৷

dharituṅ śakṣyasi ciraṅ viṣaṅ pītvēva nirghṛṇaḥ.


nirghṛṇaḥ pitiless, tvam you, mahātmanaḥ of the noble, tasya his, īdṛśam such, alīkam deceiving, kṛtvā after doing, viṣam poison, pītvēva as if after drinking, ciram for long, dharitum to survive, na śakṣyasi not possible.

You are pitiless. You will not be able to survive for long after deceiving such noble Rama just as man cannot survive after drinking poison.
baddhastvaṅ kālapāśēna durnivārēṇa rāvaṇa৷৷3.53.22৷৷

kvagatō lapsyasē śarma bharturmama mahātmanaḥ.


rāvaṇa Ravana, tvam you, durnivārēṇa by the inevitable, kālapāśēna noose of death, baddhaḥ bound, mama my, bhartuḥ husband's, mahātmanaḥ great Rama, kva where can you, gataḥ go, śarma peace, lapsyasē will you get.

O Ravana! you are bound by the inevitable noose of death. Where shall you get away from great Rama, my husband to obtain peace.
nimēṣāntaramātrēṇa vinā bhrātrā mahāvanē৷৷3.53.23৷৷

rākṣasā nihatā yēna sahasrāṇi caturdaśa.

sa kathaṅ rāghavō vīrassarvāstrakuśalō balī৷৷3.53.24৷৷

na tvāṅ hanyāccharaistīkṣṇairiṣṭabhāryāpahāriṇam.


yēna by whom, mahāvanē in this great forest, bhrātrā vinā without the help of his brother, nimēṣāntaramātrēṇa in a short while, caturdaśa sahasrāṇi fourteen thousand, rākṣasāḥ demons, nihatāḥ were killed, vīraḥ warrior, sarvāstrakuśalī well-versed in the use of all kinds of weapons, balī strong man, saḥ that, rāghavaḥ Rama, iṣṭabhāryāpahāriṇam who has stolen his beloved wife, tvām you, tīkṣṇaiḥ with sharp, śaraiḥ arrows, katham how, na hanyāt will he not kill?

Rama has killed fourteen thousand demons alone without his brother within a moment. He is a strong warrior and well-versed in the use of all kinds of weapons. You have stolen his loving wife. How can he live without killing you.
taccānyacca paruṣaṅ vaidēhī rāvaṇāṅkagā৷৷3.53.25৷৷

bhayaśōkasamāviṣṭā karuṇaṅ vilalāpa ha.


rāvaṇāṅkagā a lady under Ravana's grip, vaidēhī Vaidehi (Sita), bhayaśōkasamāviṣṭā full of fear and sorrow, ētat ca these words, anyacca and other words, paruṣam harsh, karuṇam piteously, vilalāpa ha wept.

Sita, daughter of Videha, full of sorrow and fear under Ravana's grip uttered these partly harsh and partly piteous words-weeping.
tathā bhṛśārtāṅ bahucaiva bhāṣiṇīṅ vilāpapūrvaṅ karuṇaṅ ca bhāminīm.

jahāra pāpaḥ karuṇaṅ vicēṣṭatīṅ nṛpātmajāmāgatagātravēpathum৷৷3.53.26৷৷


tathā likewise, bhṛśārtām greatly terrified, vilāpapūrvam weeping, karuṇaṅ ca piteously, bahucaiva in many ways, bhāṣiṇīm talking, karuṇam mournfully, vicēṣṭatīm struggling, nṛpātmajām princess, āgatagātravēpathum whose body started shivering, bhāminīm to the beautiful lady, pāpaḥ sinner Ravana, jahāra carried off.

Sinful Ravana carried away the beautiful princess trembling with great fear, struggling helplessly, crying pathetically and pleading in many mournful ways.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē tripañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.