Sloka & Translation

[Lakshmana departs from the hermitage -- Ravana arrives in a saint's robes -- praises Sita and enquires of her -- Sita reveals details about her family to Ravana.]

tayā paruṣamuktastu kupitō rāghavānujaḥ.

sa vikāṅkṣanbhṛśaṅ rāmaṅ pratasthē nacirādiva৷৷3.46.1৷৷


tayā by her, paruṣam harsh, uktaḥ said, saḥ he, rāghavānujaḥ brother of Rama, kupitaḥ angry, bhṛśam very much, vikāṅkṣan wished, na cirādiva very soon, rāmam to Rama, pratasthē went.

Lakshmana, brother of Rama, hurt by the harsh words of Sita, hastened with Rama's well-being in mind.
tadāsādya daśagrīvaḥ kṣipramantaramāsthitaḥ.

abhicakrāma vaidēhīṅ parivrājakarūpadhṛk৷৷3.46.2৷৷


antaram inside, āsthitaḥ in hiding, daśagrīvaḥ ten-headed Ravana, tat there, āsādya assuming, parivrājakarūpadhṛk assuming the form of a wandering mendicant, vaidēhīm to Vaidehi, abhicakrāma approached.

The ten-headed Ravana who was in hiding assumed the guise of a wandering mendicant and approached Sita.
ślakṣṇakāṣāyasaṅvītaśśikhī chatrī upānahī.

vāmē cāṅsē.vasajyātha śubhē yaṣṭikamaṇḍalū৷৷3.46.3৷৷

parivrājakarūpēṇa vaidēhīmanvapadyata.


atha then, ślakṣṇakāṣāyasaṅvītaḥ wearing fine orange robes, śikhī with knotted hair on the head, chatrī with a parasol, upānahī wearing sandals, vāmē aṅsē on his left shoulder, śubhē
auspicious, yaṣṭikamaṇḍalū staff and water pot, āsajya hung to the shoulder, parivrājakarūpēṇa as a mendicant, vaidēhīm to Vaidehi, anvapadyata walked towards.

And then Ravana wearing fine orange robes, with hair knotted on the head, carrying a parasol, wearing sandals, hanging a kamandalu (water-pot), and a staff on the auspicious left shoulder walked towards Vaidehi like a mendicant.
tāmāsasādātibalō bhrātṛbhyāṅ rahitāṅ vanē৷৷3.46.4৷৷

rahitāṅ candrasūryābhyāṅ sandhyāmiva mahattamaḥ.


atibalaḥ mighty Ravana, vanē in the forest, bhrātṛbhyām with both brothers, rahitām in the absence of, tām them, candrasūryābhyām by both Sun and Moon, sandhyām in the evening twilight, mahat great, tamaḥ iva like darkness, āsasāda reached.

Mighty Ravana approached Sita deprived of both the brothers, Like darkness encompasses the evening twilight in the absence of the Sun and the Moon.
tāmapaśyattatō bālāṅ rāmapatnīṅ yaśasvinīm৷৷3.46.5৷৷

rōhiṇīṅ śaśinā hīnāṅ grahavadbhṛśadāruṇaḥ.


tataḥ then, bhṛśadāruṇaḥ extremely cruel, yaśasvinīm illustrious lady, rāmapatnīm Rama's wife, bālām young lady, tām her, śaśinā Moon, hīnām without, rōhiṇīm at Rohini, grahavat like planet Ketu, apaśyat gazed.

The extremely cruel Ravana saw the illustrious young wife of Rama just as Ketu looks at Rohini star in the absence of the Moon.
tamugratējaḥkarmāṇaṅ janasthānarūhā drumāḥ৷৷3.46.6৷৷

samīkṣya samprakampantē na pravāti ca mārutaḥ.


ugratējaḥkarmāṇam of ferocious activities, tam him, samīkṣya saw, janasthānaruhāḥ at Janasthana, mahādrumāḥ huge trees, samprakampantē shaken up, mārutaḥ ca even the wind, na pravāti blows not.

Seeing the ferocious Ravana, the huge trees at Janasthana shook vidently. Even the wind ceased to blow.
śīghrasrōtāśca taṅ dṛṣṭvā vīkṣantaṅ raktalōcanam৷৷3.46.7৷৷

stimitaṅ gantumārēbhē bhayādgōdāvarī nadī.


śīghrasrōtāḥ swift-flowing, gōdāvarīnadī river Godavari, raktalōcanam blood-red eyes, vīkṣantam looked at, tam him, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, bhayāt out of fear, stimitam slow, gantum ārēbhē started flowing;

Seeing Ravana with his blood-red eyes, the swift-flowing river Godavari slowed down out of fear.
rāmasya tvantaraprēpsurdaśagrīvastadantarē৷৷3.46.8৷৷

upatasthē ca vai dēhīṅ bhikṣurūpēṇa rāvaṇaḥ.


rāmasya Rama's, antaraprēpsuḥ waiting for a chance, daśagrīvaḥ ten-headed, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, tadantarē in his absence, bhikṣurūpēṇa disguised in the form of a mendicant, vaidēhīm to Vaidehi, upatasthē went close.

The ten-headed Ravana who was waiting for Rama's absence now got it. Disguised as a mendicant he stepped toward to where Sita was.
abhavyō bhavyarūpēṇa bhartāramanuśōcatīm৷৷3.46.9৷৷

abhyavartata vaidēhīṅ citrāmiva śanaiścaraḥ.


abhavyaḥ evil one, bhartāram about husband, anuśōcatīm worried , vaidēhīm to Vaidehi, bhavyarūpēṇa disguised like a holy man, śanaiścaraḥ like the Saturn moving to, citrāmiva towards Chitra , abhyavartata stood near.

The evil-minded Ravana in the guise of a holy man, like Saturn moves towards Chitra
star, came close to Sita who was brooding over her husband.
sa pāpō bhavyarūpēṇa tṛṇaiḥ kūpa ivāvṛtaḥ৷৷3.46.10৷৷

atiṣṭhatprēkṣya vaidēhīṅ rāmapatniṅ yaśasvinīm.


kūpaḥ well, tṛṇai by grass, bhavyarūpēṇa disguised like a holy man, āvṛtaḥ concealed, iva like, saḥ he, pāpaḥ that sinner, yaśasvinīm illustrious, rāmapatnīm Rama's wife, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, prēkṣya after seeing, atiṣṭhat stood.

Just like a well is concealed by an overgrowth of grass, Ravana guised as a holy man stood looking at illustrious Sita, the wife of Rama.
śubhāṅ ruciradantōṣṭhīṅ pūrṇacandranibhānanām৷৷3.46.11৷৷

āsīnāṅ parṇaśālāyāṅ bāṣpaśōkābhipīḍitām.

sa tāṅ padmapalāśākṣīṅ pītakauśēyavāsinīm৷৷3.46.12৷৷

abhyagacchata vaidēhīṅ duṣṭacētā niśācaraḥ.


duṣṭacētāḥ wicked, saḥ niśācaraḥ that night-walker, śubhām auspicious lady, ruciradantōṣṭhīm lwith lovely teeth and lips, pūrṇacandranibhānanām face like the fullmoon, parṇaśālāyām in the cottage, āsīnām seated, bāṣpaśōkābhipīḍitām tormented by tears of grief, padmapalāśākṣīm eyes like lotus petals, pītakauśēyavāsinīm clad in yellow silk, tāṅ vaidēhīm that Vaidehi, abhyagacchata came close.

The wicked demon came close to that auspicious princess from Videha sitting in the cottage Her face was like the full moon. Her teeth and lips were lovely. She was clad in yellow silk. Her eyes were like lotus petals tormented by tears of grief.
sa manmathaśarāviṣṭō brahmaghōṣamudīrayan৷৷3.46.13৷৷

abravītpraśritaṅ vākyaṅ rahitē rākṣasādhipaḥ.


manmathaśarāviṣṭaḥ struck by the arrows of the god of love, saḥ rākṣasādhipaḥ that lord of the demons, brahmaghōṣam chanting from the Vedas, udīrayan while chanting, rahitē in a solitary spot, praśritam humbly, vākyam these words, abravīt spoke.

tāmuttamāṅ striyaṅ lōkē padmahīnāmiva śriyam৷৷3.46.14৷৷

vibhrājamānāṅ vapuṣā rāvaṇaḥ praśaśaṅsa ha.


lōkē in the world, uttamām the best, striyam lady, padmahīnām without a lotus, śriyam iva like goddess of wealth, vapuṣā with her body, vibhrājamānām shining, tām her, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, praśaśaṅsa ha he praised.

Sita was the most lovely lady of the world shining in beauty. She was like the goddess of wealth (Laxmi) without her lotus. Ravana praised her thus:
kā tvaṅ kāñcanavarṇābhē pītakauśēyavāsini৷৷3.46.15৷৷

kamalānāṅ śubhāṅ mālāṅ padminīva hi bibhratī.


kāñcanavarṇābhē of golden hue, pītakauśēyavāsini clad in yellow silk, padminīva like a lotus pond, kamalānām of lotuses, śubhām auspicious, mālām garland, bibhratī wearing, tvam you, kā who are you?

Who are you with a golden complexion, clad in yellow silk, and looking like a lotus-pond and wearing an auspicious lotus garland?
hrīḥ kīrtiḥ śrīśśubhā lakṣmīrapsarā vā śubhānanē৷৷3.46.16৷৷

bhūtirvā tvaṅ varārōhē ratirvā svairacāriṇī.


śubhānanē lady of beautiful face, varārōhē with lovely things, tvam you, hrīḥ shyness personified, kīrtiḥ goddess of fame, śubhā auspicious, śrīḥ or goddess of wealth, lakṣmīḥ or Lakshmi,
apsarā vā or apsara?, bhūtirvā Bhuti, goddess of fortune, svairacāriṇī Rati who makes at will freely, ratirvā or Rati, golden of love.

O lady with a beautiful face, with lovely thighs, are you 'hri', shyness personified? Are you the auspicious lovely Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth? Are you the goddess of fame? Are you an apsara? Are you Bhuti, the goddess of fortune? Or are you Rati, the goddess of love moving at your free will ?
samāśśikhariṇassnigdhāḥ pāṇḍurā daśanāstava৷৷3.46.17৷৷

viśālē vimalē nētrē raktāntē kṛṣṇatārakē.


daśanāḥ teeth, samāḥ even, śikhariṇaḥ pointed, snigdhāḥ shining, tava your, pāṇḍurāḥ pale white, nētrē eyes, viśālē large, vimalē clear, raktāntē having reddish tinge, kṛṣṇatārakē having dark pupils.

Your teeth are even and pointed, white and beautiful.Your eyes are large and clear and sparkling with dark pupils with a red tinge at the corner.
viśālaṅ jaghanaṅ pīnamūrū karikarōpamau৷৷3.46.18৷৷

ētāvupacitau vṛttau saṅhatau sampravalgitau.

pīnōnnatamukhau kāntau snigdhau tālaphalōpamau৷৷3.46.19৷৷

maṇipravēkābharaṇau rucirau tē payōdharau.


viśālam big, jaghanam hips, pīnam stout, ūrū thighs, karikarōpamau like the elephant's trunk, tē your, ētāḥ these two, maṇipravēkābharaṇau adorned with gems, payōdharau breasts, upacitau well-formed, vṛttau round, saṅhatau coming together, sampravalgitau drooping due to weight, pīnōnnatamukhau are stout and nipples projecting, kāntau shining, snigdhau delightful, tālaphalōpamau like two palm friuts, rucirau adding beauty.

Your big hips are stout and strong, Your smooth thighs are like the trunk of an elephant, your breasts adorned with gems, are round and robust like palm fruits and drooping with heaviness with projected stiff nipples, shining and delightful, adding beauty.
cārusmitē cārudati cārunētrē vilāsini৷৷3.46.20৷৷

manō harasi mē kāntē nadī kūlamivāmbhasā.

karāntamitamadhyāsi sukēśī saṅhatastanī৷৷3.46.21৷৷


cārusmitē lady with an elegant smile, cārudati lady of lovely teeth, cārunētrē beautiful eyes, vilāsini lovely lady, kāntē attractive lady, nadī river, ambhasā with water, kūlamiva like a river bank, mē my, manaḥ mind, harasi capturing, karāntamitamadhyā slender waist could be compassed with fist, sukēśī of beautiful hair, saṅhatastanī breasts rubbing agaist each other, asi you are.

O lady with an elegant smile, beautiful teeth, lovely eyes! you are enticing.Your slender waist can be compassed by my fist.Your hair is beautiful and your large breasts are rubbing against each other.You are capturing my mind just as the flow of water in a river touches its banks.
naiva dēvī na gandharvī na yakṣī na ca kinnarī.

naivaṅrūpā mayā nārī dṛṣṭapūrvā mahītalē৷৷3.46.22৷৷


mayā by me, mahītalē on this earth, ēvaṅ rūpā such a beauty, nārī lady, na dṛṣṭapūrvā not seen earlier, dēvī O goddess, naiva neither, gandharvī gandharva woman, na not even, yakṣī yakshi, na not, kinnarī kinnera woman.

O beautiful lady! I have not seen such a beauty earlier either among goddesses or among gandharavis, or yakshis or even among kinneris.
rūpamagryaṅ ca lōkēṣu saukumāryaṅ vayaścatē.

iha vāsaśca kāntārē cittamunmādayanti mē৷৷3.46.23৷৷


lōkēṣu in the world, agryam the best, tē your, rūpam beauty, saukumāryam tenderness, vayaśca youth, iha here, kāntārē in this forlorn forest, vāsaśca living, mē my, cittam heart, unmādayanti
are maddening.

You are the most beautiful among women in the world. With all your tenderness and youth you are living in this forlorn forest. This maddens my heart.
sā pratikrāma bhadraṅ tē naivaṅ vastumihārhasi.

rākṣasānāmayaṅ vāsō ghōrāṇāṅ kāmarūpiṇām৷৷3.46.24৷৷


sā such a lady, pratikrāma move out, tē of yours, bhadram safety, iha here, ēvam in this way, vastum to reside, na arhasi not proper, ayam this is, ghōrāṇām horrible, kāmarūpiṇām who can change their form at will, rākṣasānām of demons, vāsaḥ dwelling place.

It is not safe for a lady like you to reside here. Move out at once. This is only fit for the dwelling of horrible demons who can change their form at will.
prāsādāgrāṇi ramyāṇi nagarōpavanāni ca.

sampannāni sugandhīni yuktānyācarituṅ tvayā৷৷3.46.25৷৷


prāsādāgrāṇi terraces of palaces, ramyāṇi beautiful, sampannāni luxurious, sugandhīni fragrant, nagarōpavanāni ca city gardens, tvayā yourself, ācaritum to stroll, yuktāni deserve.

You deserve to stroll in the terraces of palaces, in beautiful, luxurious and fragrant city gardens.
varaṅ mālyaṅ varaṅ bhōjyaṅ varaṅ vastraṅ ca śōbhanē.

bhartāraṅ ca varaṅ manyē tvadyuktamasitēkṣaṇē৷৷3.46.26৷৷


asitēkṣaṇē black- eyed lady, śōbhanē O beauty!, varam best of, mālyam garlands, varam best of, bhōjyam food, varam best of, vastram clothes, varam choicest, bhartāraṅ ca and husband, tvadyuktam suitable for you, manyē I think.

O beautiful, black-eyed lady, I think you deserve the best of garlands, best of food,
and clothes and a suitable husband.
kā tvaṅ bhavasi rudrāṇāṅ marutāṅ vā varānanē.

vasūnāṅ vā varāvōhē dēvatā pratibhāsi mē৷৷3.46.27৷৷


varānanē O beautiful lady, varārōhē O with beautiful buttocks lady, tvam you, kā bhavasi who are you, rudrāṇām among Rudras, marutāṅ vā or Maruta's, vasūnāṅ vā or Vasus, mē to me, dēvatā goddess, pratibhāsi you appear.

O best of women! O lady with beautiful buttocks ! can you be one of the Rudras or Maruts or Vasus? To me, you appear like a goddess.
nēha gacchanti gandharvā na dēvā na ca kinnarāḥ.

rākṣasānāmayaṅ vāsaḥ kathaṅ nu tvamihāgatā৷৷3.46.28৷৷


iha here, gandharvāḥ gandharva, na gacchanti do not go this way, dēvāḥ gods, na not, kinnarāḥ ca and kinnara, na not, ayam this is, rākṣasānām for demons, vāsaḥ dwelling place, tvam you, katham how, iha here, āgatā came?

Neither gandharvas, nor kinnaras, nor gods move here. This is only a dwelling place for the demons. How did you come here ?
iha śākhāmṛgāssiṅhā dvīpivyāghramṛgāstathā.

ṛkṣāstarakṣavaḥ kaṅkāḥ kathaṅ tēbhyō na bibhyasi৷৷3.46.29৷৷


iha here, śākhāmṛgāḥ monkeys, siṅhāḥ lions, dvīpivyāghramṛgāḥ panthers, tigers and other wild animals, tathā so also, ṛkṣāḥ bears, tarakṣavaḥ hyenas, kaṅkāḥ Kanka birds, tēbhyaḥ by them, katham how is it, na bibhyasi you are not frightened.

There are monkeys, lions, panthers, tigers, hyenas, bears, kanka birds and other wild animals here. How is it that you are not afraid of them?
madānvitānāṅ ghōrāṇāṅ kuñjarāṇāṅ tarasvinām.

kathamēkā mahāraṇyē na bibhēṣi varānanē৷৷3.46.30৷৷


varānanē beautiful lady, mahāraṇyē in dense woods, madānvitānām in rut, ghōrāṇām fierce, tarasvinām swift and powerful, kuñjarāṇām of elephants, ēkā alone, katham how, na bibhēṣi are you not scared of them?

O Charming lady! how is it that although alone you are not afraid of the dreadful, swift, powerful wild animals like elephants in rut ?
kāsi kasya kutaścittvaṅ kiṅ nimittaṅ ca daṇḍakān.

ēkā carasi kalyāṇi ghōrānrākṣasasēvitān৷৷3.46.31৷৷


kalyāṇi O auspicious lady, tvam you, kā asi who are you, kasya to whose, kutaścit where did you come from ?, rākṣasasēvitān inhabited by demons, ghōrān terrible, daṇḍakān Dandaka, ēkā alone, kiṅ nimittam for what reason, carasi you roam.

Who are you, O auspicious lady! ? Who are your people? Why are you here? From where have you come? For what reason are you going about alone in this fierce Dandaka tract, inhabited by demons?
iti praśastā vaidēhī rāvaṇēna durātmanā.

dvijātivēśēṇa hi taṅ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇamāgatam৷৷3.46.32৷৷

sarvairatithisatkāraiḥ pūjayāmāsa maithilī.


durātmanā by the villain, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, iti thus, praśastā praised, maithilī Maithili, vaidēhī princess of Videha, dvijātivēśēṇa in the guise of a brahmin, āgatam come, taṅ rāvaṇam that Ravana, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, sarvaiḥ with all, atithisatkāraiḥ with hospitality, pūjayāmāsa honoured him.

Seeing Ravana, a villain in the guise of a brahmin praising her, Sita, the princess of
Videha, honoured him with all hospitality.
upanīyāsanaṅ pūrvaṅ pādyēnābhinimantrya ca৷৷3.46.33৷৷

abravītsiddhamityēva tadā taṅ saumyadarśanam.


tadā then, pūrvam first, āsanam seat, upanīya brought, pādyēna water for his feet, abhinimantrya ca and inviting (for food), saumyadarśanam lovely-looking, tam to him, siddham food ready, ityēva in this way, abravīt said.

She offered the handsome guest a seat first and then water for washing his feet with, and then invited him for food.
dvijātivēṣēṇa samīkṣya maithilī samāgataṅ pātrakusumbhadhāriṇam.

aśakyamudvēṣṭumapāyadarśanam nyamantrayadbrāhmaṇavattadāṅganā৷৷3.46.34৷৷


tadā then, maithilī Maithili, aṅganā lady, dvijātivēśēṇa in the guise of a brahmin, samāgatam having come, pātrakusumbhadhāriṇam holding a bottle-gourd as a begging bowl, udvēṣṭum to hate, aśakyam not possible, apāyadarśanam dangerous intention, brāhmaṇavat brahmin, nyamantrayat she invited.

Sita, being a lady, was unable to doubt him since he came in the guise of a brahmin, holding a bottle-gourd and a begging bowl. Without knowing his ill-intention she invited him in, mistaking him for a brahmin.
iyaṅ bṛsī brāhmaṇa kāmamāsyatāmidaṅ ca pādyaṅ pratigṛhyatāmiti.

idaṅ ca siddhaṅ vanajātamuttamaṅ tvadarthamavyagramihōpabhujyatām৷৷3.46.35৷৷


brāhmaṇa O brahmin, iyam this is, bṛsī the seat of an ascetic, kāmam freely, āsyatām be seated, idam this is, pādyam water for washing feet, pratigṛhyatām please take, iti these, idam this is, uttamam best, vanajātam available in the forest, tvadartham for you, siddham kept ready, iha here, avyagram without hesitation, upabhujyatām please eat.

O brahmin, here is the seat for you. Feel free to sit. Here is water to wash your feet with. This is the best of food for you collected from the forest. Please partake this without hesitation.
nimantryamāṇaḥ pratipūrṇabhāṣiṇīṅ narēndrapatnīṅ prasamīkṣya maithilīm.

prasahya tasyāharaṇē dhṛtaṅ manaḥ samarpayatsvātmavadhāya rāvaṇaḥ৷৷3.46.36৷৷


nimantryamāṇaḥ as he was being invited, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, pratipūrṇabhāṣiṇīm soft-spoken, narēndrapatnīm wife of the king, maithilīm Maithili, prasamīkṣya looking at her, svātmavadhāya for his own destruction, prasahya forcibly, tasyāḥ her, haraṇē to abduct, manaḥ set his mind, dhṛtam intent upon, samarpayat presented.

Ravana was observing the princess from Mithila, wife of a king inviting him and speaking to him in cordial manner. Looking at her, he resolved to abduct her forcibly, inviting his own death.
tataḥ suvēṣaṅ mṛgayāgataṅ patiṅ pratīkṣamāṇā sahalakṣmaṇaṅ tadā.

vivīkṣamāṇā haritaṅ dadarśa tanmahadvanaṅ naiva tu rāmalakṣṇau৷৷3.46.37৷৷


tataḥ then, suvēṣam that beautiful form of Rama, mṛgayāgatam gone to hunt the deer, sahalakṣmaṇam along with Lakshmana, patim husband, pratīkṣamāṇā while waited, tadā then, vivīkṣamāṇā while she looked with eagerness, haritam green, tat that, mahat dense, vanam forest, dadarśa saw, rāmalakṣmaṇau tu for Rama and Lakshmana, naiva not seen.

Sita looked out for the beautiful figure of Rama who had gone to hunt the deer along with Lakshmana. Waiting eagerly for her husband, she only saw the vast stretch of green forest but not Rama and Lakshmana.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ṣaṭcatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortysixth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.