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[Ravana attempts to tempt Sita]

स तां परिवृतां दीनां निरानन्दां तपस्विनीम्।

साकारैर्मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्न्यदर्शयत रावणः।।5.20.1।।


सः रावणः that Ravana, परिवृताम् surrounded, दीनाम् depressed, निरानन्दाम् sorrowful, तपस्विनीम् ascetic, ताम् her, साकारैः with animated words, मधुरै with sweet, वाक्यैः words, न्यदर्शयत expressed

Ravana expressed his intention in sweet words to the depressed and griefstricken ascetic Sita surrounded by demon guards:
मां दृष्ट्वा नागनासोरु गूहमाना स्तनोदरम्।

अदर्शनमिवात्मानं भयान्नेतुं त्वमिच्छसि।।5.20.2।।


नागनासोरु with thighs like the trunk of an elephant, माम् me, दृष्ट्वा on seeing, स्तनोदरम् breasts and belly, गूहमाना concealed, त्वम् you, भयात् through fear, आत्मानम् by yourself, अदर्शनम् concealed, नेतुम from me, इच्छसीव you want.

"On seeing me, Sita, you want to conceal your thighs, belly and breasts through fear of me. I think you do not want me to see you.
कामये त्वां विशालाक्षि बहुमन्यस्व मां प्रिये।

सर्वाङ्गगुणसम्पन्ने सर्वलोकमनोहरे।।5.20.3।।


विशालाक्षि largeeyed, सर्वाङ्गगुणसम्पन्ने richly endowed with beauty in all limbs, सर्वलोकमनोहरे delight of all the worlds, त्वाम् you, कामये desire, प्रिये dear, माम् me, बहुमन्यस्व oblige.

"O largeeyed one you are endowed with beauty in all limbs. You are the delight of all
worlds. I desire you, dear Oblige me.
नेह केचिन्मनुष्या वा राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः।

व्यपसर्पतु ते सीते भयं मत्तः समुत्थितम्।।5.20.4।।


सीते O Sita, इह here, मनुष्याः वा human beings or, कामरूपिणः those who can change their form at their will, राक्षसाः वा or demons, केचित् none, मत्तः of me, समुत्थितम् born, ते to you, भयम् fear, व्यपसर्पतु relieve.

"O Sita no human or demon. who can take any form at their will can relieve your fear born of me.
स्वधर्मो रक्षसां भीरु सर्वथैव न संशयः।

गमनं वा परस्त्रीणां हरणं सम्प्रमथ्य वा।।5.20.5।।


भीरु a timid lady, परस्त्रीणाम् at wives of others, गमनं वा having unrighteous, सम्प्रमथ्य by force, हरणं वा or abduction, रक्षसाम् for demons, सर्वथैव by all means, स्वधर्मः is natural, संशयः doubt, न not.

"O timid lady having an unrighteous approach to wives of others or their abduction by force is natural to demons, There is no doubt.
एवं चैतदकामां तु न त्वां स्प्रक्ष्यामि मैथिलि।

कामं कामः शरीरे मे यथाकामं प्रवर्तताम्।।5.20.6।।


मैथिलि Mythili, एतत् this, एवम् in this manner, कामः passion, कामम् passion, यथाकामम् as it desires, मे my, शरीरे body, प्रवर्तताम् may sway, तु indeed, अकामाम् not force to accept my desire, त्वाम् to you, न स्प्रक्ष्यामि I will not touch.

"Mythili let passion hold its sway over my body as it will. But I shall not force you or touch you since you do not love me.
देवि नेह भयं कार्यं मयि विश्वसि हि प्रिये।

प्रणयस्व च तत्त्वेन मैवं भूः शोकलालसा।।5.20.7।।


देवि O lady, इह here, भयम् fear, न कार्यम् no need to feel, प्रिये O dear, मयि in me, विश्वसिहि trust me, तत्त्वेन truly, प्रणयस्व love me, एवम् that way, शोकलालसा entertaining sorrow, मा भूः you should not be.

"O reverend lady, fear not me on that account. Have confidence in me. Show your love. Do not be swayed by grief .
एकवेणी धराशय्या ध्यानं मलिनमम्बरम्।

अस्थानेऽप्युपवासश्च नैतान्यौपयिकानि ते।।5.20.8।।


एकवेणी O lady with a single braid of hair, धराशय्या sleeping on the ground, ध्यानम् brooding, मलिनम् soiled, अम्बरम् clothes, अस्थाने without an occasion, उपवासश्च by fasting, एतानि these, ते to you, औपयिकानि not fit for you, न not.

"O Lady, to wear a single braid, sleep on the ground, brooding, wearing soiled clothes and fasting without proper occasion does not suit you.
विचित्राणि च माल्यानि चन्दनान्यगरूणि च।

विविधानि च वासांसि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च।।5.20.9।।

महार्हाणि च पानानि शयनान्यासनानि च।

गीतं नृत्तं च वाद्यं च लभ मां प्राप्य मैथिलि।।5.20.10।।


मैथिलि Mythili, माम् me, प्राप्य having secured, विचित्राणि wonderful, माल्यानि garlands, चन्दनानि sandal, अगरूणि incense, विविधानि several kinds, वासांसि च garments, दिव्यानि divine one, आभरणानि च ornaments, महार्हाणि rich, पानानि drinks, शयनानि bed also, आसनानि च and seats, गीतम् singing, नृत्तं च and dancing, वाद्यं च and musical instruments, लभ you may take

"O Mythili having secured me, you get all these comforts wonderful garlands, sandal, incense, garments and beautiful ornaments, rich drinks, beds and seats.You can enjoy songs, dances accompanied by musical instruments.
स्त्रीरत्नमसि मैवं भूः कुरु गात्रेषु भूषणम्।

मां प्राप्य हि कथं नु स्वास्त्वमनर्हा सुविग्रहे।।5.20.11।।


स्त्रीरत्नम् a jewel among women, असि you are, एवम् this way, मा भूः do not remain like this, गात्रेषु for your limbs, भूषणम् decoration, कुरु you do, सुविग्रहे lady of beautiful body, माम् me, प्राप्य having secured, त्वम् you, अनर्हा be undeserving, कथं नु how can you, स्याः be.

"You are a, a jewel among women. You should not remain like this. You should adorn yourself properly. How can you remain deprived after having me?
इदं ते चारु सञ्जातं यौवनं व्यतिवर्तते।

यदतीतं पुनर्नैति स्रोतः शीघ्रमपामिव।।5.20.12।।


चारु beautiful, सञ्जातम् created, इदम् this, ते यौवनम् your youth, व्यतिवर्तते will pass away, यत् since, शीघ्रम् fast, अतीतम् a past, अपाम् water, स्रोतः इव like flow, पुनः again, नैति does not come.

"Your charming youth should not pass away (uselessly). A past event does not come back like a current of stream.
त्वां कृत्वोपरतो मन्ये रूपकर्ता स विश्वसृक्।

न हि रूपोपमा त्वन्या तवास्ति शुभदर्शने।।5.20.13।।


शुभदर्शने lady of auspicious looks, रूपकर्ता creator, सः he, विश्वसृक् one who creates the world, त्वाम् you, कृत्वा having created, उपरतः he stopped, मन्ये I think, अन्या other lady, तव रूपोपमा comparable to your beauty, नास्ति हि indeed does not exist.

"O lady with auspicious looks Me thinks, the creator must have retired after creating your beautiful form. For there is no one comparable to you in beauty.
त्वां समासाद्य वैदेहि रूपयौवनशालिनीम्।

कः पुमानतिवर्तेत साक्षादपि पितामहः।।5.20.14।।


वैदेहि Vaidehi, रूपयौवनशालिनीम् endowed with (extraordinary) beauty and (exuberant) youth, त्वाम् you, समासाद्य after getting, साक्षात् personally, पितामहः grandsire, कः who, पुमान् man, अतिवर्तेत retain his balance of mind.

"O Vaidehi you have (extraordinary) beauty and (exuberant) youth. Who would not lose his balance of mind even if he were Brahma the grandsire himself after getting you?
यद्यत्पश्यामि ते गात्रं शीतांशुसदृशानने।

तस्मिंस्तस्मिन् पृथुश्रोणि चक्षुर्मम निबध्यते।।5.20.15।।


शीतांशुसदृशानने with face like the cool fullmoon, पृथुश्रोणि heavyhipped, ते your, यद्यत् whichever, गात्रम् limb, पश्यामि I see, तस्मिन् तस्मिन् एच whichever limb I behold, मम my, चक्षुः eyes, निबध्यते unable to extricate.

"O one with a face like the cool fullmoon, with heavy hips. I am unable to extricate my eyes from any limb (of your body) I see.
भव मैथिलि भार्या मे मोहमेनं विसर्जय।

बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणामाहृतानामितस्ततः।।5.20.16।।

सर्वासामेव भद्रं ते ममाग्रमहिषी भव।


मैथिलि O Mythili, मे my, भार्या wife, भव be, एनम् this, मोहम् delusion, विसर्जय give up, इतस्ततः from here and there, आहृतानाम् brought, बह्वीनाम् of many women, मम my, उत्तमस्त्रीणाम्
among the best women, सर्वासामेव of all of them, अग्रमहिषी the chief consort, भव be, ते भद्रम् be blessed৷৷

"O Mythili be my wife. Give up this (folly due to) delusion. Be my chief consort among the several excellent women I have picked up here and there. Be blessed.
लोकेभ्यो यानि रत्नानि सम्प्रमथ्याहृतानि वै।।5.20.17।।

तानि मे भीरु सर्वाणि राज्यं चैतदहं च ते।


भीरु a timid lady, लोकेभ्यः from the worlds, यानि those, रत्नानि gems, सम्प्रमथ्य by force, आहृतानि brought, वै indeed, तानि those, सर्वाणि all of them, मे myself, एतत् this, राज्यम् this kingdom, अहं च and I, ते to you.

"O timid lady, gems brought forcibly from all the worlds, this kingdom as well as myself are yours.
विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां नानानगरमालिनीम्।।5.20.18।।

जनकाय प्रदास्यामि तव हेतोर्विलासिनि।


विलासिनि a lovely lady, नानानगरमालिनीम् different cities forming a garland, सर्वाम् all, पृथिवीम् land, विजित्य winning, तव हेतोः for your sake, जनकाय to Janaka, प्रदास्यामि will give.

"O lovely lady I will win all the cities and lands and give them to Janaka for your sake.
नेह पश्यामि लोकेऽन्यं यो मे प्रतिबलो भवेत्।

पश्य मे सुमहद्वीर्यमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे।।5.20.19।।


यः whoever, मे to me, प्रतिबलः a rival, भवेत् may be, अन्यम् and no other hero, इह लोके in this world, न पश्यामि I cannot see, आहवे in a battle, अप्रितिद्वन्द्वम् unrivalled, मे my, सुमहत् great, वीर्यम् virility, पश्य you may see.

"I'm unrivalled in this entire world. Behold my matchless virility which permits no rival
in war.
असकृत्संयुगे भग्ना मया विमृदितध्वजाः।।5.20.20।।

अशक्ताः प्रत्यनीकेषु स्थातुं मम सुरासुराः।


मया by me, असकृत् again and again, संयुगे in battle, भग्नाः shattered, विमृदितध्वजाः their flags crushed, सुरासुराः gods and demons, मम my, प्रत्यनीकेषु in the wars against me, स्थातुम् to stand, अशक्ताः unable.

"The gods and demons were unable to withstand my power in wars fought against me. They were often shattered and defeated with their flags crushed in war.
इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम्।।5.20.21।।

सप्रभाण्यवसज्यन्तां तवाङ्गे भूषणानि च।

साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं संयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा।।5.20.22।।


माम् me, इच्छ love, अद्य today, तव your, उत्तमम् best, प्रतिकर्म decoration, क्रियताम् do, तव your, अङ्गे on limbs, सप्रभाणि radiant ones, भूषणानि च ornaments, अवसज्यन्ताम् wear, प्रतिकर्मणा युक्तम् by decorating yourself, ते your, रूपम् form, साधु pleasingly, पश्यामि I wish to see.

"Offer your love to me. Get yourself decorated in an excellent way. Wear glowing ornaments on your limbs. Let me see you in pleasingly decorated form.
प्रतिकर्माभिसंयुक्ता दाक्षिण्येन वरानने।

भुंक्ष्व भोगान्यथाकामं पिब भीरु रमस्व च।।5.20.23।।


वरानने O charming lady, भीरु timid lady, दाक्षिण्येन liberally, प्रतिकर्माभिसंयुक्ता decoration, यथाकामम् as you please, भोगान् luxuries, भुंक्ष्व enjoy, पिब drink, रमस्व च and enjoy.

"O charming lady decorate yourself liberally. Enjoy these pleasures as you please.
Drink and make merry.
यथेष्टं च प्रयच्छ त्वं पृथिवीं वा धनानि च।

ललस्व मयि विस्रब्धा धृष्टमाज्ञापयस्व च।।5.20.24।।


त्वम् yourself, पृथिवीम् the land, धनानि च and wealth also, यथेच्छम् as you wish, प्रयच्छ donate, विस्रब्धा being free, मयि with me, ललस्व enjoy, धृष्टम् boldly, आज्ञापयस्व च and command.

"Give away land and wealth as you wish. Enjoy with me freely and command me boldly. I will obey you by all means.
मत्प्रसादाल्ललन्त्याश्च ललन्तां बान्धवास्तव।

ऋद्धिं ममानुपश्य त्वं श्रियं भद्रे यशश्च मे।।5.20.25।।


मत्प्रसादात् by my grace, ललन्त्याः enjoying, तव your, बान्धवा relations, ललन्ताम् enjoy, भद्रे auspicious, त्वम् you, मम my, ऋद्धिम् affluence, मे my, यशश्च fame, अनुपश्य you will see.

"O blessed lady, see my affluence and my fame. Seeing you enjoy (life) by my grace all your kinsmen will follow.
किं करिष्यसि रामेण सुभगे चीरवाससा।

निक्षिप्तविजयो रामो गतश्रीर्वनगोचरः।।5.20.26।।

व्रती स्थण्डिलशायी च शङ्के जीवति वा न वा।


सुभगे O beautiful lady, चीरवाससा person clad in bark robes, रामेण with Rama, किम् what, करिष्यसि will do, निक्षिप्तविजयः renounced triumph of warrior, गतश्रीः he lost his fortune, वनगोचरः wanderer in the forest, व्रती following asceticism, स्थण्डिलशायी च sleeping on the ground, रामः Rama, जीवति वा alive or, न वा not alive, शङ्के I am doubtful.

"O beautiful lady Rama has renounced victory, he has lost his fortune. Clad in bark,
he is wandering in the forest following asceticism and sleeping on the ground. What can he do for you? I am in doubt if he is alive or not.
न हि वैदेहि रामस्त्वां द्रष्टुं वा प्युपलप्स्यते।

पुरोबलाकैरसितैर्मेघैर्ज्योत्स्नामिवावृताम्।।5.20.27।।


वैदेहि Vaidehi, रामः Rama, त्वाम् you, पुरोबलाकैः cranes in front, असितैः dark , मेघैः clouds, आवृताम् veiled, ज्योत्स्नामिव like moonbeams, द्रष्टुं वापि even to see, न हि उपलप्स्यते not possible.

"O Vaidehi I wonder if Rama can see you at all. You are like moonlight veiled by dark clouds and cannot be seen even by the flying cranes.
न चापि मम हस्तात्त्वां प्राप्तुमर्हति राघवः।।5.20.28।।

हिरण्यकशिपुः कीर्तिमिन्द्रहस्तगतामिव।


हिरण्यकशिपुः Hiranyakasipu, इन्द्रहस्तगताम् from Indra, कीर्तिमिव like fame, राघवः Raghava, मम my, हस्तात् from the hands, त्वाम् you, प्राप्तुम् to win, न चापि अर्हति he will not be able.

"Surely Raghava will not be able to win you back from my hands any more than the demon Hiranyakasipu was able to usurp the fame of Indra.
चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि।।5.20.29।।

मनो हरसि मे भीरु सुपर्णः पन्नगं यथा।


चारुस्मिते lady of charming smile, चारुदति lady of beautiful teeth, चारुनेत्रे beautifuleyed, विलासिनि luxurious, भीरु timid one, सुपर्णः Garuda, पन्नगं यथा like serpent, मे my, मनः mind, हरसि attract.

"O lovely, timid lady your smile, your teeth and your eyes are bewitching. Just as Garuda snatches away a serpent, you ravish my mind by your beauty.
क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनां तन्वीमप्यनलङ्कृताम्।।5.20.30।।

त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रतिं नोपलभाम्यहम्।


क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनाम् wearing soiled silk clothes, तन्वीम् beautiful, त्वाम् you, अनलङ्कृतामपि even when you are not decorated, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, अहम् I, स्वेषु at my own, दारेषु wives, रतिम् love, नोपलभामि I find not.

"Even when you are attired in soiled silk and are bereft of ornaments, I find no interest in my own wives.
अन्तःपुरनिवासिन्यः स्त्रियः सर्वगुणान्विताः।।5.20.31।।

यावन्त्यो मम सर्वासामैश्वर्यम् कुरु जानकि।


जानकि Janaki, मम my, अन्तःपुरनिवासिन्यः residing in the harem of the royal palace, सर्वगुणान्विताः endowed with all virtues, यावन्त्यः many of them, स्त्रियः women, सर्वासाम् for all of them, ऐश्वर्यम् authority, कुरु you may exercise.

"O Janaki There are a number of virtuous consorts residing in the harem of my royal palace. You may exercise your authority on all of them.
मम ह्यसितकेशान्ते त्रैलोक्यप्रवराः स्त्रियः।।5.20.32।।

तास्त्वां परिचरिष्यन्ति श्रियमप्सरसो यथा।


असितकेशान्ते lady of dark tresses, मम me, ताः those, त्रैलोक्यप्रवराः best among the women in the three worlds, स्त्रियः women, अप्सरस: apsaras, श्रियं यथा like goddess Lakshmi, त्वाम् you, परिचरिष्यन्ति will attend on you.

यानि वैश्रवणे सुभ्रु रत्नानि च धनानि च।।5.20.33।।

तानि लोकांश्च सुश्रोणि मां च भुङ्क्ष्व यथासुखम्।


सुश्रोणि heavyhipped, सुभ्रु lady of beautiful brows, वैश्रवणे with Vaisravana, यानि all such, रत्नानि gems, धनानि च and wealth, तानि those, लोकांश्च worlds also, मां च me as well, यथासुखम् be happy, भुङ्क्ष्व you may enjoy.

"O Sita of heavy hips and beautiful brows Be happy. Enjoy all the worlds of mine, the gems and wealth of Ravana.
न रामस्तपसा देवि न बलेन न विक्रमैः।।5.20.34।।

न धनेन मया तुल्यस्तेजसा यशसापि वा।


देवि queen, रामः Rama, तपसा by penance, मया to me, न तुल्यः not equal, बलेन by prowess, न विक्रमैः nor by valour, न not, धनेन in wealth, तेजसा in brilliance, यशसापि वा or even in fame, न not.

"O queen Rama is not equal to me either in penance or prowess or valour or wealth or brilliance or even in fame.
पिब विहर रमस्व भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् धननिचयं प्रदिशामि मेदिनीं च।

मयि लल ललने यथासुखं त्वं त्वयि च समेत्य ललन्तु बान्धवास्ते।।5.20.35।।


ललने O delightful one, धननिचयम् heaps of riches, मेदिनीं च and land, प्रदिशामि will present you, त्वम् you, पिब drink, विहर sport, रमस्व enjoy yourself, भोगान् all pleasures, भुङ्क्ष्व you enjoy, यथासुखम् be happy, मयि with me, लल sport, ते your, बान्धवाः relatives, समेत्य collectively, त्वयि in you, ललन्तु will enjoy.

"O delightful one I will bestow you with heaps of riches and land. Therefore, enjoy with me drinking, sporting, and revelling. Accept me and be happy to sport with me.Let your elatives join you and enjoy all my wealth.
कुसुमिततरुजालसन्ततानि भ्रमरयुतानि समुद्रतीरजानि।

कनकविमलहारभूषिताङ्गी विहर मया सह भीरु काननानि।।5.20.36।।


भीरु a timid lady, कनकविमलहारभूषिताङ्गी deck yourself with pure gold necklace, कुसुमिततरुजालसन्ततानि with stretches of trees filled with blossoms, भ्रमरयुतानि with swarm of bees, समुद्रतीरजानि grown on the sea shore, काननानि in the forest groves, मया सह with me, विहर you may enjoy.

"O timid lady embellish yourself with necklaces of pure gold and enjoy with me in the enchanting seaside forest groves full of trees with blossoms and swarming bees.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे विंशस्सर्गः।
Thus ends the twentieth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.