Sloka & Translation

[Sita ridicules Ravana-- not willing to reply directly speaks to a blade of grass about Rama's might and Ravana's destruction-- Ravana sends Sita to Asoka garden.]

sā tathōktā tu vaidēhī nirbhayā śōkakarśitā.

tṛṇamantarataḥ kṛtvā rāvaṇaṅ pratyabhāṣata৷৷3.56.1৷৷


tathā thus, uktā having addressed, śōkakarśitā sunk in deep sorrow, sā vaidēhī that Sita, princess from Videha, nirbhayā unafraid , tṛṇam blade of grass, antarataḥ between him and her, kṛtvā placed, rāvaṇam Ravana, pratyabhāṣata replied.

Thus addressed by Ravana, Sita, immersed in deep sorrow and unafraid of him, placed a blade of grass between her and him (intending not to speak to him straight) and replied:
rājā daśarathō nāma dharmasēturivācalaḥ.

satyasandhaḥ parijñātō yasya putrassarāghavaḥ৷৷3.56.2৷৷


daśarathō nāma named Dasaratha, rājā king, acalaḥ steadfast, dharmasēturiva as an embankment (protector) of righteousness, satyasandhaḥ true to his promise, parijñātaḥ renowned, saḥ rāghavaḥ that Rama, yasya whose, putraḥ son.

Rama is a son of the renowned king Dasaratha, who was a firm ambankment (protector) of righteousness and was true to his promise.
rāmō nāma sa dharmātmā triṣu lōkēṣu viśrutaḥ.

dīrghabāhurviśālākṣō daivataṅ hi patirmama৷৷3.56.3৷৷


triṣu in the three, lōkēṣu in the worlds, viśrutaḥ highly renowned, dīrghabāhuḥ long-armed, viśālākṣaḥ large-eyed, rāmō nāma named Rama, saḥ he, dharmātmā righteous soul, mama my, patiḥ
husband, daivatam god to all.

The long-armed, large-eyed Rama is famous in all the three worlds. He is my husband, a righteous soul and a god to all.
ikṣvākūṇāṅ kulē jātassiṅhaskandhō mahādyutiḥ.

lakṣmaṇēna saha bhrātrā yastē prāṇānhariṣyati৷৷3.56.4৷৷


ikṣvākūṇām of Ikshvakus, kulē in the dynasty, jātaḥ born, siṅhaskandhaḥ shoulders of a lion, mahādyutiḥ effulgent, bhrātrā with his brother, lakṣmaṇēna saha along with Lakshmana, yaḥ who, tē your, prāṇān life, hariṣyati will take away.

The brilliant Rama of the Ikshvaku dynasty with the lion's shoulders will come with his brother Lakshmana and take away your life.
pratyakṣaṅ yadyahaṅ tasya tvayā syāṅ dharṣitā balāt.

śayitā tvaṅ hatassaṅkhyē janasthānē yathā kharaḥ৷৷3.56.5৷৷


aham I, tvayā by your, tasya his, pratyakṣam (in his) presence, balāt with force, dharṣitā attacked, syāṅ yadi if you were to be, tvam you, janasthānē in Janasthana, kharaḥ Khara, yathā just as, hataḥ killed, śayitā lying down.

Had you abducted me forcibly in his presence, you would have been lying down dead just as Khara in Janasthana.
ya ētē rākṣasāḥ prōktā ghōrarūpā mahābalāḥ.

rāghavē nirviṣāssarvē suparṇē pannagā yathā৷৷3.56.6৷৷


ghōrarūpāḥ of dreadful forms, mahābalāḥ very strong , yē those, ētē such of, rākṣasāḥ demons, prōktāḥ has been said, sarvē all, suparṇē Suparna, pannagāḥ serpents, yathā like, rāghavē with regard to Rama, nirviṣāḥ are devoid of poison.

Those dreadful, mighty demons you have described are ineffective in his presence just like the serpents who with their venom are ineffective in the presence of Suparna (Garuda).
tasya jyāvipramuktāstē śarāḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ.

śarīraṅ vidhamiṣyanti gaṅgākūlamivōrmayaḥ৷৷3.56.7৷৷


tasya his, jyāvipramuktāḥ released from the string of the bow, kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ gold-tipped, śarāḥ arrows, ūrmayaḥ waves, gaṅgākūlamiva like the bank of the Ganges, tē śarīram your body, vidhamiṣyanti will shatter.

The gold-tipped arrows released from his bow-string will shatter your body like the waves erode the banks of river Ganga.
asurairvā surairvā tvaṅ yadyavadhyō.si rāvaṇa.

utpādya sumahadvairaṅ jīvaṅstasya na mōkṣyasē৷৷3.56.8৷৷


rāvaṇa O Ravana, tvam you, asurairvā by demons, surairvā or by gods, avadhyaḥ are not to be killed, asi yadi even if, sumahat great, vairam enmity, utpādya after creating, jīvan with life, tasya his, na mōkṣyasē you will not be released.

O Ravana, even if you stand invulnerable to gods and demons, you will not come out alive in the combat with Rama with whom you have earned great enmity.
sa tē jīvitaśēṣasya rāghavō.ntakarō balī.

paśōryūpagatasyēva jīvitaṅ tava durlabham৷৷3.56.9৷৷


balī powerful, saḥ rāghavaḥ Rama, tē your, jīvitaśēṣasya of the little life left, antakaraḥ destroyer of life, yūpagatasya tied to the sacrificial post, paśōriva like a beast ready for sacrifice, tava your, jīvitam life, durlabham difficult to survive.

Powerful Rama will put an end to whatever little life you are left with. Just as a beast
tied to a sacrificial post, you will not survive.
yadi paśyētsa rāmastvāṅ rōṣadīptēna cakṣuṣā.

rakṣastvamadya nirdhagdhō gacchēssadyaḥ parābhavam৷৷3.56.10৷৷


rakṣaḥ O demon, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, rōṣadīptēna burning with anger, cakṣuṣā with eyes, tvām you, paśyēt if he sees, adya now, sadyaḥ instantly, tvam you, nirdhagdhaḥ totally burnt, parābhavam gacchēḥ you will be destroyed.

O demon, you will be completely consumed if Rama looks at you with eyes burning in anger.
yaścandraṅ nabhasō bhūmau pātayēnnāśayēta vā.

sāgaraṅ śōṣayēdvāpi sa sītāṅ mōcayēdiha৷৷3.56.11৷৷


yaḥ he who, candram Moon, nabhasaḥ from the sky, bhūmau on the earth, pātayēt can bring down, vā or even, nāśayēta destroy, sāgaram sea, śōṣayēdvāpi will make it dry, saḥ he, iha here, sītām Sita, mōcayēt will liberate

He who can bring down the Moon to the earth from the sky or even dash it down, he who can drain the sea dry will definitely release me from here.
gatāyustvaṅ gataśrīkō gatasattva gatēndriyaḥ.

laṅkā vaidhavyasaṅyuktā tvatkṛtēna bhaviṣyati৷৷3.56.12৷৷


tvam you, gatāyuḥ life is gone, gataśrīkaḥ deprived of your fortune, gatasattva your strength sapped, gatēndriyaḥ your senses dissipated, tvatkṛtēna by your action, laṅkā Lanka, vaidhavyasaṅyuktā bhaviṣyati attain widowhood.

Your life is coming to an end. Your fortunes will wane, your strength will be sapped. Your senses will be dissipated. By your deeds Lanka will attain widowhood.
na tē pāpamidaṅ karma śukhōdarkaṅ bhaviṣyati.

yā.haṅ nītā vinābhāvaṅ patipārśvāttvayā vanē৷৷3.56.13৷৷


tē you, idam this, karma deed, śukhōdarkam will result in happiness, na bhaviṣyati will not be, yā which, aham I, tvayā by you, vanē in the forest, patipārśvāt from my husband, vinābhāvam without any feeling, nītā I am brought.

This evil deed(of abduction) will not yield happy results.You have brought me from my husband from the forest without any forethought.
sa hi daivatasaṅyuktō mama bhartā mahādyutiḥ.

nirbhayō vīryamāśritya śūnyē vasati daṇḍakē৷৷3.56.14৷৷


mahādyutiḥ effulgent, mama my, bhartā husband, saḥ he, vīryam valour, āśritya resorting to, nirbhayaḥ a fearless, daivatasaṅyuktaḥ supported by divine power, śūnyē in a desolate, daṇḍakē in Dandaka, vasati is dwelling.

My effulgent, valiant husband armed with divine power resides fearlessly in the desolate Dandaka.
sa tē darpaṅ balaṅ vīryamutsēkaṅ ca tathāvidham.

apanēṣyati gātrēbhyaśśaravarṣēṇa saṅyugē৷৷3.56.15৷৷


saḥ he, saṅyugē in combat, śaravarṣēṇa with showers of arrows, tē your, gātrēbhyaḥ from limbs, darpam pride, balam power, vīryam heroism, tathāvidham as such, utsēkaṅ ca haughtiness, apanēṣyati will remove.

He will remove your pride, your power, your valour and haughtiness from your limbs with a shower of arrows in the fight.
yadā vināśō bhūtānāṅ dṛśyatē kālacōditaḥ.

tadā kāryē pramādyanti narāḥ kālavaśaṅ gatāḥ৷৷3.56.16৷৷


bhūtānām for the living beings, yadā whenever, kālacōditaḥ prompted by time (death), vināśaḥ destruction, dṛśyatē is seen, tadā then, narāḥ men, kālavaśam overcome by time, gatāḥ become, kāryē deeds, pramādyanti commit blunders.

When destruction draws near, people being prompted by time start commiting blunders in their deeds.
māṅ pradhṛṣya sa tē kālaḥ prāptō.yaṅ rākṣasādhama.

ātmanō rākṣasānāṅ ca vadhāyāntaḥpurasya ca৷৷3.56.17৷৷


rākṣasādhama O vilest of demons, mām me, pradhṛṣya having assaulted, ātmanaḥ your, rākṣasānāṅ ca of all demons, antaḥpurasya ca and of women of the harem, vadhāya for destruction, saḥ kālaḥ that time, tē to you, prāptaḥ has come near.

You vilest of demons, since you have assaulted me, the time of your death and destruction of all demons and of all women in the harem has drawn near.
na śakyā yajñamadhyasthā vēdī sṛgbhāṇḍamaṇḍitā.

dvijātimantrapūtā ca caṇḍālēnāvamarditum৷৷3.56.18৷৷


yajñamadhyasthā in the midst of the sacrificial ceremony, sugbhāṇḍamaṇḍitā decorated with ladles and other vessels, dvijātimantrapūtā ca sanctified by brahmins uttering sacred Vedic hymns, vēdī altar, caṇḍālēna by a man of low caste, avamarditum to violate, na śakyā is not possible.

The sacrificial altar adorned with ladles and vessels and sanctified by the sacred mantras recited by brahmins cannot be defiled by a chandala (man of lowest caste).
tathā.haṅ dharmanityasya dharmapatnī pativratā.

tvayā spṛṣṭuṅ na śakyāsmi rākṣasādhama pāpinā৷৷3.56.19৷৷


rākṣasādhama lowly demon, tathā similarly, dharmanityasya of the ever righteous, dharmapatnī rigteous wife, pativratā chaste woman, aham I am, pāpinā sinner, tvayā you, spṛṣṭum to touch, śakyā possible, nāsmi not.

O lowly demon ! similarly I am a chaste woman and wife of the ever righteous Rama who cannot be defiled by a sinner like you.
krīḍantī rājahaṅsēna padmaṣaṇḍēṣu nityadā.

haṅsī sā tṛṇaṣaṇḍasthaṅ kathaṅ paśyēta madgukam৷৷3.56.20৷৷


padmaṣaṇḍēṣu lotus ponds, nityadā always, rājahaṅsēna with royal swan, krīḍantī sporting, sā haṅsī for that female swan, tṛṇaṣaṇḍastham resting on grass land, madgukam water-crow, katham how can, paśyēta will see.

How can a female swan ever sporting in lotus-ponds in the company of a royal swan look at the water-crow resting on a grassy land?
idaṅ śarīraṅ nissaṅjñaṅ bandha vā khātayasva vā.

nēdaṅ śarīraṅ rakṣayaṅ mē jīvitaṅ vāpi rākṣasa৷৷3.56.21৷৷

na tu śakṣyāmyupakrōśaṅ pṛthivyāṅ dātumātmanaḥ.


rākṣasa demon, nissaṅjñam unconscious, idam this, śarīram body, bandha vā bind it on, vā khātayasva or bury, mē to me, idam this, śarīram body, jīvitaṅ vā even life, rakṣayam to protect, na not, tu but, pṛthivyām on earth, ātmana: of myself, upakrōśam ignominy, dātum to give, na śakṣyāmi not possible.

O demon ! this body has (now) no consciousness. You may bind it or bury it. I do not think that this body or even this life need to be protected. But at no cost can I make this an object of censure on earth (must not be branded an unchaste woman).
ēvamuktvā tu vaidēhī krōdhātsuparuṣaṅ vacaḥ৷৷3.56.22৷৷

rāvaṇaṅ maithilī tatra punarnōvāca kiñcana.


vaidēhī Sita (Vaidehi), maithilī princess from Mithila, krōdhāt in anger, rāvaṇam Ravana, ēvam in that way, suparuṣam very harsh, vacaḥ words, uktvā having uttered, tatra there, punaḥ again, kiñcana not, nōvāca speak.

Having uttered these very harsh words out of anger, the daughter of Videha, the princess from Mithila spoke no more.
sītāyā vacanaṅ śrutvā paruṣaṅ rōmaharṣaṇam৷৷3.56.23৷৷

pratyuvāca tatassītāṅ bhayasandarśanaṅ vacaḥ.


sītāyāḥ Sita's such, paruṣam harsh, rōmaharṣaṇam horripilating, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, tataḥ then, sītām Sita, bhayasandarśanam creating fear, vacaḥ words, pratyuvāca replied.

Having heard such harsh, horripilating words from Sita, Ravana replied in a way designed to create fear in her:
śṛṇu maithili madvākyaṅ māsāndvādaśa bhāmini৷৷3.56.24৷৷

kālēnānēna nābhyēṣi yadi māṅ cāruhāsini.

tatastvāṅ prātarāśārthaṅ sūdāśchētsyanti lēśaśaḥ৷৷3.56.25৷৷


maithili Princess from Mithila, bhāmini lovely one, madvākyam my statement, śṛṇu listen, dvādaśa twelve, māsān months, cāruhāsini a lady with sweet smile, anēna otherwise, kālēna in course of time, mām me, nābhyēṣi yadi if you do not accept my hand, tataḥ thereupon, sūdāḥ cooks, tvām you, prātarāśārthē for breakfast, lēśaśaḥ in small bits, chētsyanti will cut you.

O comely princess from Mithila, O lady with a sweet smile! listen to my words. If you do not accept my hand in the course of twelve months, the cooks will cut you off into small bits for the (my) breakfast.
ityuktvā paruṣaṅ vākyaṅ rāvaṇaśśatrurāvaṇaḥ.

rākṣasīśca tataḥ kruddha idaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷3.56.26৷৷


śatrurāvaṇaḥ who makes enemies wail, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, iti these, paruṣam harsh, vākyam words, uktvā having said, tataḥ then, kruddhaḥ enraged, rākṣasīḥ demoness, idam these, vacanam words, abravīt said.

Enraged Ravana, who used to make enemies wail, turned to the demonesses and said these words.
śīghramēva hi rākṣasyō vikṛtā ghōradarśanāḥ.

darpamasyā vinēṣyadhvaṅ māṅsaśōṇitabhōjanāḥ৷৷3.56.27৷৷


vikṛtāḥ loathsome, ghōradarśanāḥ fearful, māṅsaśōṇitabhōjanāḥ flesh-eaters and blood-sulkers, rākṣasyaḥ demonesses, śīghramēva at once, asyāḥ her, darpam pride, vinēṣyadhvam humble.

Addressing the flesh-eating, blood-drinking, loathsome and fearful demonesses Ravana said, Humble her pride at once.
vacanādēva tāstasya sughōrā rākṣasīgaṇāḥ.

kṛtaprāñjalayō bhūtvā maithilīṅ paryavārayan৷৷3.56.28৷৷


sughōrāḥ very dreadful one, tāḥ they, rākṣasīgaṇāḥ demonesses, tasya his, vacanādēva soon after he said, kṛta prāñjalayaḥ (offered obeisance) with folded hands, bhūtvā being, maithilīm paryavārayan surrounded Sita.

No sooner had Ravana said it than the dreadful demonesses offered obeisance to him with folded hands and surrounded Sita.
sa tāḥ prōvāca rājā tu rāvaṇō ghōradarśanaḥ.

pracālya caraṇōtkarṣairdārayanniva mēdinīm৷৷3.56.29৷৷


ghōradarśanaḥ of terrific form, rājā king, saḥ rāvaṇaḥ that Ravana, caraṇōtkarṣaiḥ stamping his feet, mēdinīm on the ground, pracālya after shaking, dārayanniva as if tearing the ground, tāḥ to them, prōvāca said.

Stamping his feet and shaking the ground as if tearing the earth, Ravana said to those fierce-looking demonesses:
aśōkavanikāmadhyē maithilī nīyatāmiyam.

tatrēyaṅ rakṣyatāṅ gūḍhaṅ yuṣmābhiḥ parivāritā৷৷3.56.30৷৷


iyaṅ maithilī this Maithili (sita), aśōkavanikāmadhyē in the middle of Asoka grove, nīyatām take, tatra there, iyam she, yuṣmābhiḥ by you, parivāritā surrounded by, gūḍham secretly, rakṣyatām protect.

Let this Sita be led into the Asoka grove. There sit round her and protect her in secret (her presence there should not be made public).
tatraināṅ tarjanairghōraiḥ punassāntvaiśca maithilīm.

ānayadhvaṅ vaśaṅ sarvā vanyāṅ gajavadhūmiva৷৷3.56.31৷৷


tatra there, sarvāḥ all, ēnāṅ maithilīm this Sita, ghōraiḥ terrrific, tarjanaiḥ threatening, punaḥ again, sāntvaśca by gently coaxing, vanyām wild, gajavadhūmiva like a female elephant, vaśam under control, ānayadhvam being her.

There you all bring her under control through forcing and cajoling as one would do to tame a wild she-elephant.
iti pratisamādiṣṭā rākṣasyō rāvaṇēna tāḥ.

aśōkavanikāṅ jagmurmaithilīṅ parigṛhya tu৷৷3.56.32৷৷

sarvakālaphalairvṛkṣairnānāpuṣpaphalairvṛtām.

sarvakālamadaiścāpi dvijaissamupasēvitām৷৷3.56.33৷৷


rāvaṇēna Ravana, iti like that, pratisamādiṣṭāḥ instructed, tāḥ those, rākṣasyaḥ demonesses, maithilīm to Sita, parigṛhya took, sarvakālaphalaiḥ with fruits of all seasons, nānāpuṣpaphalaiḥ with different kinds of flowers and fruits, vṛkṣaiḥ with trees, vṛtām surrounded, sarvakālamadaiḥ cheerful in all seaons, dvijaiḥ birds, samupasēvitām served by, aśōkavanikām to the Asoka grove, jagmuḥ went.

Thus instructed by Ravana, the demonesses took Sita into the Asoka grove, which was full of perenmal fruits and flowers of different kinds, where trees yielded fruits of all seasons and birds were always cheerful.
sā tu śōkaparītāṅgī maithilī janakātmajā.

rākṣasīvaśamāpannā vyāghrīṇāṅ hariṇī yathā৷৷3.56.34৷৷


śōkaparītāṅgī engulfed in grief, janakātmajā daughter of Janaka, sā maithilī that Sita, hariṇī doe, vyāghrīṇāṅ yathā as among tigresses, rākṣasīvaśam under the control of the demonesses, āpannā was placed.

Sita, daughter of Janaka, engulfed in grief found herself like a doe under the control of tigresses.
śōkēna mahatā grastā maithilī janakātmajā.

na śarma labhatē bhīruḥ pāśabaddhā mṛgī yathā৷৷3.56.35৷৷


mahatā by great, śōkēna by grief, grastā immersed, bhīruḥ helpless lady, janakātmajā daughter of Janaka, maithilī Sita, pāśabaddhā ensnared, mṛgī yathā like a female, śarma peace, na labhatē not had.

Sita, daughter of Janaka, immersed in deep grief knew no peace just like a doe caught in a snare.
na vindatē tatra tu śarma maithilī virūpanētrābhiratīva tarjitā.

patiṅ smarantī dayitaṅ ca dēvataṅ vicētanā.bhūdbhayaśōkapīḍitā৷৷3.56.36৷৷


virūpanētrābhiḥ by women of deformed eyes, atīva excessively, tarjitā threatened, maithilī Sita, tatra there, śarma peace, na vindatē not had, dayitam beloved, patim husband, dēvataṅ ca desired deity, smarantī while remembering, bhayaśōkapīḍitā tortured by fear and grief, vicētanā lost conciousness, abhūt became.

Sita had no peace as she was threatened excessively by those women of deformed looks. Remembering her beloved husband who was also her god, and overtaken by fear and grief , she fell unconscious.
itayārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ṣaṭapañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftysixth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.