Sloka & Translation

[Sita puls a few ornaments in bundles and throws them down in the midst of vanaras-- she hopes somebody will communicate this to Rama.]

hriyamāṇā tu vaidēhī kañcinnāthamapaśyatī.

dadarśa giriśṛṅgasthānpañca vānarapuṅgavān৷৷3.54.1৷৷


hriyamāṇā taken away, vaidēhī Vaidehi, nātham protector, kañcit some one, apaśyatī not seeing, giriśṛṅgasthān standing on the peak of the mountain, pañca five, vānarapuṅgavān great monkeys, dadarśa saw.

While Sita was being kidnapped, she saw no one to protect her. Only five great monkeys stood on the top of a mountain.
tēṣāṅ madhyē viśālākṣī kauśēyaṅ kanakaprabham.

uttarīyaṅ varārōhā śubhānyābharaṇāni ca৷৷3.54.2৷৷

mumōca yadi rāmāya śaṅsēyuriti maithilī.


viśālākṣī large- eyed, varārōhā charming, bhāminī effulgent, kanakaprabham shining like gold, kauśēyam silk, uttarīyam upper cloth, śubhāni auspicious, ābharaṇāni ca ornaments also, rāmāya for Rama, yadi if at all, śaṅsēyuḥ they may tell, iti thus, tēṣām them, madhyē between, mumōca dropped.

Large-eyed, bright and beautiful Sita dropped her upper silk garment shining like gold and auspicious ornaments in their midst with a hope they may report this to Rama.
vastramutsṛjya tanmadhyē nikṣiptaṅ sahabhūṣaṇam৷৷3.54.3৷৷

sambhramāttu daśagrīvastatkarma na sa buddhavān.


sahabhūṣaṇam along with ornaments, vastram clothes, utsṛjya discarding, tanmadhyē in their midst, nikṣiptam thrown down, saḥ daśagrīvaḥ that ten-headed Ravana, sambhramāt due to excitement, tat that, karma action of Sita, na buddhavān did not know.

In his excitement Ravana failed to notice when Sita dropped down that garment along with ornaments in their midst.
piṅgākṣāstāṅ viśālākṣīṅ nētrairanimiṣairiva৷৷3.54.4৷৷

vikrōśantīṅ tathā sītāṅ dadṛśurvānararṣabhāḥ.


piṅgākṣāḥ tawney- eyed, vānararṣabhāḥ best among monkeys, viśālākṣīm large-eyed, tathā like that, vikrōśantīm lamenting, tāṅ sītām that Sita, animiṣairiva without blinking, nētraiḥ eyes, dadṛśuḥ gazed at.

The best among the tawney-eyed monkeys gazed, without blinking, at the large-eyed Sita lamenting.
sa ca pampāmatikramya laṅkāmabhimukhaḥ purīm৷৷3.54.5৷৷

jagāma rudatīṅ gṛhya vaidēhīṅ rākṣasēśvaraḥ.


saḥ rākṣasēśvaraḥ that lord of the demons, pampām Pampa, atikramya on crossing, laṅkāṅ purīm to the city of Lanka, abhimukhaḥ towards, rudatīm crying, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, gṛhya taking, jagāma went.

Ravana crossed the lake Pampa and flew towards the city of Lanka carrying with him lamenting daughter of Videha.
tāṅ jahāra susaṅhṛṣṭō rāvaṇō mṛtyumātmanaḥ৷৷3.54.6৷৷

utsaṅgēnēva bhujagīṅ tīkṣṇadaṅṣṭrāṅ mahāviṣām.


rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, susaṅhṛṣṭaḥ delighted, ātmanaḥ his own, mṛtyum death, tām her, tīkṣṇadaṅṣṭrām sharp fanged, mahāviṣām highly poisonous, bhujagīm female snake, utsaṅgēnēva on his lap, jahāra carried.

Delighted Ravana, carried off Sita, the very embodiment of his death, like one carrying a highly poisonous sharp-fanged female snake on his lap.
vanāni saritaśśailāṅtsarāṅsi ca vihāyasā৷৷3.54.7৷৷

sa kṣipraṅ samatīyāya śaraścāpādiva cyutaḥ.


saḥ he, cāpāt from the bow, cyutaḥ released, śaraḥ iva like an arrow, kṣipram at once, vanāni forests, saritaḥ rivers, śailān mountains, sarāṅsi ca tanks, vihāyasā through the sky, samatīyāya crossed.

Like an arrow released from the bow, Ravana went through the sky, at once crossing forests, rivers mountains and tanks.
timinakranikētaṅ tu varuṇālayamakṣayam৷৷3.54.8৷৷

saritāṅ śaraṇaṅ gatvā samatīyāya sāgaram.


timinakranikētam the abode of whales and crocodiles, akṣayam inexhaustible,saritāṅ śaraṇam refuge of all rivers, varuṇālayam abode Varuna, god of the sea, gatvā having covered, sāgaram ocean, samatīyāya crossed.

Ravana soon crossed the refuge of rivers, the abode of Varuna, god of the sea, inexhaustible ocean, and the home for whales and crocodiles.
sambhramātparivṛttōrmī ruddhamīnamahōragaḥ৷৷3.54.9৷৷

vaidēhyāṅ hriyamāṇāyāṅ babhūva varuṇālayaḥ.


vaidēhyām to Sita, daughter of Videha, hriyamāṇāyām was being carried away, varuṇālayaḥ the abode of Varuna, the ocean, sambhramāt out of bewilderment, parivṛttōrmiḥ waves turned back, ruddhamīnamahōragaḥ movement of big serpents and fishes stopped, babhūva became.

While Sita, princess of Videha was being carried away, the ocean, abode of Varuna
got bewildered, waves rolled back, the movement of big serpents and fishes stopped.
antarikṣagatā vācassasṛjuścāraṇāstadā৷৷3.54.10৷৷

ētadantō daśagrīva iti siddhāstadābruvan.


tadā then, antarikṣagatāḥ flying in the sky, cāraṇāḥ bards, daśagrīvaḥ ten-headed Ravana, ētadantaḥ iti this is the end, vācaḥ words, sasṛjuḥ spoke, tadā then, siddhāḥ siddhas, abruvan uttered.

The charanas and siddhas moving in the sky said, O ten-headed Ravana! this is your end .
sa tu sītāṅ vivēṣṭantīmaṅkēnādāya rāvaṇaḥ৷৷3.54.11৷৷

pravivēśa purīṅ laṅkāṅ rūpiṇīṅ mṛtyumātmanaḥ.


saḥ rāvaṇaḥ that Ravana, ātmanaḥ his own, rūpiṇīm personified form, mṛtyum death, vivēṣṭantīm struggling, sītām Sita, aṅkēna by his arm, ādāya holding her, laṅkāṅ purīm city of Lanka, pravivēśa entered.

Ravana entered the city of Lanka holding Sita who was tossing from side to side and who was the very embodiment of his death.
sō.bhigamya purīṅ laṅkāṅ suvibhaktamahāpathām৷৷3.54.12৷৷

saṅrūḍhakakṣyābahulaṅ svamantaḥpuramāviśat.


saḥ Ravana, suvibhaktamahāpathām well laid-out roads, laṅkāṅ purīm city of Lanka, abhigamya entering, saṅrūḍhakakṣyābahulam with many well-guarded halls, svam his, antaḥpuram inner apartment, āviśat entered.

Ravana went through the well laid-out roads of the city of Lanka and through the well many guarded halls of the palace and entered the inner apartment.
tatra tāmasitāpāṅgāṅ śōkamōhaparāyaṇām৷৷3.54.13৷৷

nidadhē rāvaṇassītāṅ mayō māyāmivastriyam.


rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, asitāpāṅgām a lady of dark eye-lashes, śōkamōhaparāyaṇām lady lost in sorrow, tāṅ sītām that Sita, mayaḥ demon Maya, māyāmiva like Maya, tatra there ( in the harem), nadadhē kept.

Sita, with her dark eye lashes and lost in utter sorrow was kept in the harem by Ravana, like demon Maya kept Mayamayi.
abravīcca daśagrīvaḥ piśācīrghōradarśanāḥ৷৷3.54.14৷৷

yathā nēmāṅ pumān strī vā sītāṅ paśyatyasammataḥ.


daśagrīvaḥ ten-headed Ravana, ghōradarśanāḥ of fearful appearance, piśācīḥ female goblins, abravīt ca said, asammataḥ without my permission, pumān man, strī vā or a woman, imām this lady, sītām Sita, yathā in a way, na paśyati will not see.

Ravana ordered the female goblins of fearful appearance,'Let no outsider whether man or woman, see her, without my permission'.
muktāmaṇisuvarṇāni vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca৷৷3.54.15৷৷

yadyadicchēttadēvāsyā dēyaṅ macchandatō yathā.


muktāmaṇisuvarṇāni pearls, gems or gold, vastrāṇi clothes, ābharaṇāni ca and ornaments, yat yat whatever, icchēt she desires, tadēva all that, asyāḥ to her, macchandatō yathā without hesitation, dēyam should be given.

Pearls, gems or gold, clothes or ornaments, whatever she desires, be made available to her without any hesitation.
yā ca vakṣyati vaidēhīṅ vacanaṅ kiñcidapriyam৷৷3.54.16৷৷

ajñānādyadi vā jñānānna tasyā jīvitaṅ priyam.


yā ca whosoever, ajñānāt out of ignorance, jñānāt knowingly, vaidēhīm to Vaidehi, kiñcit even a little, apriyam displeasing, vacanam words, vakṣyati utters, tasyāḥ her, jīvitam life, na not, priyam worthy,

Whoever utters any unpleasant words knowingly or unknowingly to Sita, princess of Videha is not worthy to survive (must be killed).
tathōktvā rākṣasīstāstu rākṣasēndraḥ pratāpavān৷৷3.54.17৷৷

niṣkramyāntaḥ purāttasmātkiṅkṛtyamiti cintayan.

dadarśāṣṭau mahāvīryānrākṣasānpiśitāśanān৷৷3.54.18৷৷


pratāpavān courageous, rākṣasēndraḥ lord of demons (Ravana), rākṣasīḥ demoness, tathā likewise, uktvā having said so, tasmāt from that, antaḥpurāt from the inner apartments, niṣkramya coming out, kim what, kṛtyam can be done, cintayan while thinking, mahāvīryān most powerful ones, piśitāśanān flesheaters, aṣṭau eight, rākṣasān demons, dadarśa saw.

The courageous lord of the demons, having said so to the demonesses, came out of the inner apartment. While contemplating the future course of action, he saw eight powerful, carnivorous demons.
sa tāndṛṣṭvā mahāvīryō varadānēna mōhitaḥ.

uvācaitānidaṅ vākyaṅ praśasya balavīryataḥ৷৷3.54.19৷৷


tāndṛṣṭvā seeing them, mahāvīryaḥ mighty, varadānēna by the boons, mōhitaḥ a deluded one, saḥ he, balavīryataḥ about their strength, praśasya after praising them, ētān them, idam this, vākyam word, uvāca said.

The mighty Ravana, deluded by the boons, praised the strength and valour of the demons and said :
nānāpraharaṇāḥ kṣipramitō gacchata satvarāḥ.

janasthānaṅ hatasthānaṅ bhūtapūrvaṅ kharālayam৷৷3.54.20৷৷


nānāpraharaṇāḥ a variety of weapons, satvarāḥ very quickly, itaḥ from here, kṣipram at once, hatasthānam where he was slain, kharālayam the abode of Khara, bhūtapūrvam the earlier (dwelling), janasthānam Janasthana, gacchata you may go.

Armed with different weapons, proceed at once to Janasthana where Khara lived and died.
tatrōṣyatāṅ janasthānē śūnyē nihatarākṣasē.

pauruṣaṅ balamāśritya trāsamutsṛjya dūrataḥ৷৷3.54.21৷৷


pauruṣam prowess, balam vigour, āśritya relying on, trāsam fear, dūrataḥ leaving, utsṛjya given up, nihatarākṣasē where all demons were killed, śūnyē desolate, tatra there, janasthānē at Janasthana, uṣyatām dwell there.

Go and there in the desolate Janasthana where all demons had been killed, leaving all your apprehensions and relying on your strength and vigour.
balaṅ hi sumahadyanmē janasthānē nivēśitam.

sadūṣaṇakharaṅ yuddhē hataṅ rāmēṇa sāyakaiḥ৷৷3.54.22৷৷


mē mine, sumahat very great, yat since, balam army, janasthānē at Janasthana, nivēśitam had stationed, sadūṣaṇakharam with Dusana and Khara, rāmēṇa by Rama, sāyakaiḥ arrows, hatam killed.

I had stationed a great army at Janasthana, who were all killed along with Khara and Dusana by Rama's arrows.
tata krōdhō mamāmarṣāddhairyasyōpari vartatē.

vairaṅ ca sumahajjātaṅ rāmaṅ prati sudāruṇam৷৷3.54.23৷৷


tataḥ then, mama my, amarṣāt due to that intolerance, krōdhaḥ wrath, dhairyasya one's patience, upari over and above, vartatē is arising, rāmaṅ prati towards Rama, sumahat very great, sudāruṇam terrific, vairaṅ ca enmity, jātam is created.

My anger engineered by my intolerance has crossed the limits of my patience. It has created in me a terrific enmity against Rama.
niryātayitumicchāmi tacca vairamahaṅ ripōḥ.

na hi lapsyāmyahaṅ nidrāmahatvā saṅyugē ripum৷৷3.54.24৷৷


aham I am, ripōḥ enemy, tat that, niryātayitum avenge, icchāmi I am desirous, saṅyugē in combat, ripum enemy, ahatvā without slaying, aham I, nidrām sleep, na lapsyāmi hi I am not getting.

I want to take revenge on my foe. I shall not sleep until I kill him in a combat.
taṅ tvidānīmahaṅ hatvā kharadūṣaṇaghātinam.

rāmaṅ śarmōpalapsyāmi dhanaṅ labdhvēva nirdhanaḥ৷৷3.54.25৷৷


aham I am, idānīm now, kharadūṣaṇaghātinam the killer of Khara and Dusana, tam him, rāmam Rama, hatvā after slaying, nirdhanaḥ one without wealth, dhanam wealth, labdhvā having acquired, iva like that, śarma pleasure, upalapsyāmi I will have.

I will be happy only after killing the destroyer of Khara and Dusana, just as a poor man feels happy only on acquiring wealth.
janasthānē vasadbhistu bhavadbhīrāmamāśritā.

pravṛttirupanētavyā kiñkarōtīti tattvataḥ৷৷3.54.26৷৷


janasthānē at Janasthana, vasadbhi: while dwelling, bhavadbhi: by you all, kiṅ what, karōti iti he does, rāmam Rama, āśritā pertaining to, pravṛtti: activities, tattvataḥ exactly, upanētavyā get the
information.

While dwelling at Janasthana, all of you should collect exact information about the activities of Rama.
apramādācca gantavyaṅ sarvairapi niśācaraiḥ.

kartavyaśca sadā yatnō rāghavasya vadhaṅ prati৷৷3.54.27৷৷


niśācaraiḥ by night-rangers, sarvairapi by all of them, apramādāt alertly, gantavyam go there, rāghavasya Rama's, vadhaṅ prati to slay Rama, sadā always, yatnaḥ effort, kartavyaśca should be done.

All of you, O night-rangers, should be on the alert there and it should be always your duty to try to kill Rama.
yuṣmākaṅ ca balajñō.haṅ bahuśō raṇamūrdhani.

ataścāsmin janasthānē mayā yūyaṅ niyōjitāḥ৷৷3.54.28৷৷


aham I, raṇamūrdhani on war front, bahuśaḥ many times, yuṣmākam your, balajñaḥ knower of strength, ataśca therefore, yūyam you, asmin in this, janasthānē at Janasthana, mayā by me, niyōjitāḥ are engaged.

I have seen your strength on many war fronts. That is why you have been assigned this duty at Janasthana.
tataḥ priyaṅ vākyamupētya rākṣasā mahārthamaṣṭāvabhivādya rāvaṇam.

vihāya laṅkāṅ sahitāḥ pratasthirē yatō janasthānamalakṣyadarśanāḥ৷৷3.54.29৷৷


tataḥ then, aṣṭau eight, rākṣasāḥ demons, priyam dear, mahārtham words of profound meaningl, vākyam statement, upētya after receiving, rāvaṇam Ravana, abhivādya offering salutations, laṅkām Lanka, vihāya leaving, sahitāḥ together, alakṣyadarśanāḥ without being seen by any one, janasthānam to Janasthana, yataḥ in that direction, pratasthirē left.

The eight demons were glad to hear the pleasing and meaningful words of Ravana. They offered him salutations and left Lanka in the direction of Janasthana without being seen by any one.
tatastu sītāmupalabhya rāvaṇaḥ susamprahṛṣṭaḥ parigṛhya maithilīm.

prasajya rāmēṇa ca vairamuttamaṅ babhūva mōhānmuditassarākṣasaḥ৷৷3.54.30৷৷


tataḥ then, rākṣasaḥ the demons, saḥ rāvaṇaḥ that Ravana, sītām Sita, upalabhya seeing, maithilīm Maithili, parigṛhya getting, susamprahṛṣṭaḥ feeling extremely happy, rāmēṇa at Rama, uttamam highest, vairam enmity, prasajya incited, mōhāt in delusion, muditaḥ rejoiced, babhūva became.

Then the demon Ravana felt greatly happy for getting Sita, princess of Mithila, without knowing in his delusion that he had created the bitterest enmity with Rama.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vāmalīkīyē ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē catuḥpañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.