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[Sita spurns Ravana's submission.]

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सीता रौद्रस्य रक्षसः।

आर्ता दीनस्वरा दीनं प्रत्युवाच शनैर्वचः।।5.21.1।।


सीता Sita, रौद्रस्य angry, तस्य his, रक्षसः of the demon, तत् those, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा after hearing, आर्ता oppressed, दीनस्वरा in a sorrowful tone, दीनम् pitiable, शनैः slowly, वचः words, प्रत्युवाच replied.

On hearing the demon's haughty words, oppressed, pitiable Sita replied slowly in a sorrowful tone.
दुःखार्ता रुदती सीता वेपमाना तपस्विनी।

चिन्तयन्ती वरारोहा पतिमेव पतिव्रता।।5.21.2।।

तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा प्रत्युवाच शुचिस्मिता।


दुःखार्ता afflicted by grief, तपस्विनी ascetic, वरारोहा a lady of beautiful hips, पतिव्रता chaste woman, पतिमेव only husband, चिन्तयन्ती thinking of, शुचिस्मिता with a gentle smile, सीता Sita, रुदती sobbing, वेपमाना trembling, तृणम् a blade of grass, अन्तरतः between (Ravana and her), कृत्वा placed, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Sita, austere, beautiful and chaste afflicted by grief kept sobbing. Brooding over her husband and trembling in fear, she placed a blade of grass in between her and Ravana and replied with a gentle smile on her face.
निवर्तय मनो मत्तः स्वजने क्रियतां मनः।।5.21.3।।

न मां प्रार्थयितुं युक्तं सुसिद्धिमिव पापकृत्।


मत्तः from me, मनः mind, निवर्तय turn away, स्वजने in your own wives, मनः mind, क्रियताम् you may fix, पापकृत् sinner, सुसिद्धिमिव like blessedness, माम् me, प्रार्थयितुम् to desire, न युक्तम् it is not proper.

"Turn your mind away from me and fix it on your wives. You should not expect to seek me just as a sinner cannot hope to seek blessedness.
अकार्यं न मया कार्यमेकपत्न्या विगर्हितम्।।5.21.4।।

कुलं सम्प्राप्तया पुण्यं कुले महति जातया।


महति high, कुले lineage, जातया born, पुण्यम् meritorious, कुलम् family, सम्प्राप्तया joined by virtue of marriage, एकपत्न्या a woman devoted to a single husband, मया by me, विगर्हितम् contemptible, अकार्यम् forbidden act, न कार्यम् not to be done.

"I was born of high lineage and joined a meritorious family by virtue of my marriage. I am devoted only to my husband. I should not commit this contemptible, forbidden act."
एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही रावणं तं यशस्विनी।।5.21.5।।

राक्षसं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा भूयो वचनमब्रवीत्।


यशस्विनी glorious lady, वैदेही Vaidehi, तं रावणम् that Ravana, एवम् in that manner, उक्त्वा having spoken, राक्षसम् demon, पृष्ठतः at the back, कृत्वा having placed, भूयः further, वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Glorious Vaidehi having thus spoken to the demon turned her back and continued:
नाहमौपयिकी भार्या परभार्या सती तव।।5.21.6।।

साधु धर्ममवेक्षस्व साधु साधुव्रतं चर।


परभार्या other's wife, सती chaste, अहम् I am, औपयिकी obtained by efforts, भार्या wife, न not, धर्मम् righteous, साधु properly, अवेक्षस्व you may examine, तव your, साधुव्रतम् honesty, साधु
honest, चर you may practise.

"I cannot be your lawful wife obtainable by your personal efforts. I am a chaste woman married to another man. (Being a king) examine the dharma honestly and adopt a pious way of life.
यथा तव तथान्येषां दारा रक्ष्या निशाचर।।5.21.7।।

आत्मानमुपमां कृत्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रम्यताम्।


निशाचर nightroamer (Ravana), तव your, यथा as such, अन्येषाम् others, दाराः wives, तथा in the same way, रक्ष्याः should be protected, आत्मानम् yourself, उपमा an example, कृत्वा by placing, स्वेषु at your, दारेषु at wives, रम्यताम् you may enjoy.

"O nightranger Enjoy your wives. Take care of them. Taking your example, others' wives also deserve to be protected.
अतुष्टं स्वेषु दारेषु चपलं चलितेन्द्रियम्।।5.21.8।।

नयन्ति निकृतिप्रज्ञं परदाराः पराभवम्।


स्वेषु with your own, दारेषु in wives, अतुष्टम् unsatisfied, चपलम् unsteady, चलितेन्द्रियम् one with no control over the senses, निकृतिप्रज्ञम् evil minded, परदाराः others wives, पराभवम् insult, नयन्ति take.

"The wives of others will insult an evilminded man who is not satisfied with his own wives, is fickleminded and has no control over his senses.
इह सन्तो न वा सन्ति सतो वा नानुवर्तसे।।5.21.9।।

तथाहि विपरीता ते बुद्धिराचारवर्जिता।
 

इह here, सन्तः pious, न वा सन्ति are not present, सतः of the saints, नानुवर्तसे वा you do not follow, तथाहि this way, आचारवर्जिता that which is a forbidden act, ते your, बुद्धिः mind, विपरीता perverse.

"Are there no pious men around or are you not heeding their words? Your mind is perverted and inclined to commit a forbidden act.
वचो मिथ्याप्रणीतात्मा पथ्यमुक्तं विचक्षणैः।।5.21.10।।

राक्षसानामभावाय त्वं वा न प्रतिपद्यसे।


मिथ्याप्रणीतात्मा indulging in unrighteous act, त्वम् you, विचक्षणैः who have sense of discrimination, उक्तम् spoken, पथ्यम् proper advice, वचः words, राक्षासानाम् of demons, अभावाय for destruction, न प्रतिपद्यसे you do not agree.

"You are indulging in unrighteous act and not listening to the advice of wise men who have a sense of discrimination. You are the cause of the destruction of demons.
अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्।।5.21.11।।

समृद्धानि विनश्यन्ति राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च।


अकृतात्मानम् foolish, अनये in unfair means, रतम् engaged, राजानम् king, आसाद्य after obtaining, समृद्धानि prosperous, राष्ट्राणि countries, नगराणि च and cities, विनश्यन्ति are destroyed.

"Even prosperous countries and cities are destroyed on account of indiscreet rulers engaged in unfair means.
तथेयं त्वां समासाद्य लङ्का रत्नौघसङ्कुला।।5.21.12।।

अपराधात्तवैकस्य नचिराद्विनशिष्यति।


तथा in that way, त्वाम् you, समासाद्य having got, रत्नौघसङ्कुला filled with gems, इयम् this, लङ्का Lanka, एकस्य a single person, तव your, अपराधात् for your crime, न चिरात् very soon, विनशिष्यति will be destroyed.

"Having got you as its ruler, this Lanka filled with gems (riches) will perish without
delay for the crime of one individual.
स्वकृतैर्हन्यमानस्य रावणादीर्घदर्शिनः।।5.21.13।।

अभिनन्दन्ति भूतानि विनाशे पापकर्मणः।


रावण Ravana, अदीर्घदर्शिनः of a short sighted, स्वकृतैः by your own deed, हन्यमानस्य killed, पापकर्मणः of a sinner, विनाशे at the destruction, भूतानि living creatures, अभिनन्दन्ति will rejoice.

"O Ravana living beings will welcome and enjoy the destruction of a shortsighted sinner killed by his own vile act.
एवं त्वां पापकर्माणं वक्ष्यन्ति निकृता जनाः।।5.21.14।।

दिष्ट्यैतद्व्यसनं प्राप्तो रौद्र इत्येव हर्षिताः।


एवम् in that way, पापकर्माणम् sinner, त्वाम् you, निकृताः insulted, जनाः people, हर्षिताः will feel glad, रौद्रः angry one, दिष्ट्या luckily, एतत् thus, व्यसनम् doom, प्राप्तः met, इत्येव like this, वक्ष्यन्ति they will say.

"Seeing you, getting ruined this way for your sin, those who were angry with you for their humiliation in your hands will feel glad and say 'Luckily this terrible fellow has met with his doom' .
शक्या लोभयितुं नाहमैश्वर्येण धनेन वा।।5.21.15।।

अनन्या राघवेणाहं भास्करेण प्रभा यथा।


अहम् I, ऐश्वर्येण by power, धनेन वा or even with wealth, लोभयितुम् to be tempted, न शक्या not possible, प्रभा light, भास्करेण यथा like that of the Sun, अहम् I, राघवेण by Raghava, अनन्या inseparable.

"I cannot be lured by your power or wealth. I am inseparable from Raghava like light from the Sun.
उपधाय भुजं तस्य लोकनाथस्य सत्कृतम्।।5.21.16।।

कथं नामोपधास्यामि भुजमन्यस्य कस्य चित्।


लोकनाथस्य of the lord of the people, तस्य his, सत्कृतम् an honourable one, भुजम् arm, उपधाय having used as a pillow, अन्यस्य others, कस्य चित् of any one, भुजम् arm, कथं नाम how can I, उपधास्यामि will I rest.

"How can I pillow on somebody's arm after resting on the honourable arm of the great lord of the worlds ?
अहमौपयिकी भार्या तस्यैव वसुधापतेः।।5.21.17।।

व्रतस्नातस्य विप्रस्य विद्येव विदितात्मनः।


व्रतस्नातस्य an ascetic who had ceremonial bath having observed vows, विदितात्मनः knower of the self, विप्रस्य brahmin's, विद्या इव like the knowledge, अहम् I, वसुधापतेः of the lord of the earth, तस्यैव him alone, औपयिकी fit, भार्या wife.

"I am alone the lawful wife of the lord of the earth like the knowledge of the Vedas which rightfully belongs to a wise brahmin who has realised the self after having had his ceremonial bath (as a token of celibacy) and having observed strict vows during the period of his study.
साधु रावण रामेण मां समानय दुःखिताम्।।5.21.18।।

वने वाशितया सार्धं करेण्वेव गजाधिपम्।


रावण Ravana, दुःखिताम् grieving, माम् to me, गजाधिपम् with the king of elephants, वने in the forest, वाशितया by the separated, करेण्वेव female elephant, रामेण with Rama, सार्धम् along with, साधु it is proper, समानय you may unite me.

"O Ravana it is proper for you to unite me in distress with Rama as one would unite a female elephant with the lordly elephant from which it is separated in the wilderness.
मित्रमौपयिकं कर्तुं रामः स्थानं परीप्सता।।5.21.19।।

वधं चानिच्छता घोरं त्वयासौ पुरुषर्षभः।


असौ this, पुरुषर्षभः bull among men, रामः Rama, स्थानम् it is proper, परीप्सता desirous of avoiding, घोरम् dreadful, वधम् death, अनिच्छता च by not willing, त्वया by you, मित्रम् friendship, कर्तुम् to do, औपयिकम् with due effort.

"I wish you to build friendship with Rama, the bull among men. Surely it is the right thing for you to do, if you are desirous of avoiding a dreadful death.
विदितः स हि धर्मज्ञः शरणागतवत्सलः।।5.21.20।।

तेन मैत्री भवतु ते यदि जीवितुमिच्छसि।


धर्मज्ञः one who knows dharma, सः he, शरणागतवत्सलः kind to those who seek his protection, विदितः हि famous, जीवितुम् to preserve your life, इच्छसि यदि if you so desire, ते to you, तेन with him, मैत्री friendship, भवतु be built.

"He is famous as a knower of dharma and is compassionate to those who seek his protection. If you desire to preserve your life build friendship with him.
प्रसादयस्व त्वं चैनं शरणागतवत्सलम्।।5.21.21।।

मां चास्मै नियतो भूत्वा निर्यातयितुमर्हसि।


त्वम् you, शरणागतवत्सलम् one who is compassionate to those who seek refuge, एनम् him, प्रसादयस्व च propitiate, नियतः disciplined, भूत्वा after exercising, माम् me, अस्मै for your sake I, निर्यातयितुम् to return, अर्हसि it is proper for you.

"Propitiate him. He is compassionate to those who seek refuge. Exercise control over your senses for your sake and it is proper for you to return me to him.
एवं हि ते भवेत्स्वस्ति सम्प्रदाय रघूत्तमे।।5.21.22।।

अन्यथा त्वं हि कुर्वाणो वधं प्राप्स्यसि रावण।


एवम् in that way, रघूत्तमे foremost in the Raghu family, सम्प्रदाय after giving away, ते to you, स्वस्ति welfare, भवेत् may be, रावण Ravana, त्वम् you, अन्यथा otherwise, कुर्वाणः doing so, वधम् death, प्राप्स्यसि will face.

"It is good for you to give me back to Rama, the foremost in the Raghu dynasty. Otherwise you will face death.
वर्जयेद्वज्रमुत्सृष्टं वर्जयेदन्तकश्चिरम्।।5.21.23।।

त्वद्विधं तु न सङ्कृद्धो लोकनाथः स राघवः।
 

त्वद्विधम् a person like you, उत्सृष्टम् that which has been released, वज्रम् thunderbolt, वर्जयेत् may spare its target, चिरम् for a long time, अन्तकः Yama, वर्जयेत् may leave, सङ्कृद्धः angry, लोकनाथः lord of the world, सः that, राघवः Raghava, न will not.

"A thunderbolt may spare its target, Yama, lord of death may spare for a long time the life of a person doomed. But Rama, the lord of the world, will not spare any one when enraged.
रामस्य धनुषः शब्दं श्रोष्यसि त्वं महास्वनम्।।5.21.24।।

शतक्रतुविसृष्टस्य निर्घोषमशनेरिव।


शतक्रतुविसृष्टस्य released by Indra who has performed a hundred yajnas, अशनेः of a thunderbolt, निर्घोषमिव like the rumble, रामस्य Rama's, धनुषः bow's, महास्वनम् great twang, शब्दम् sound, त्वम् you, श्रोष्यसि you will hear.

"You will hear the terrible twang of Rama's bow resembling the rumble of the thunderbolt released by Indra who performed a hundred yajnas.
इह शीघ्रं सुपर्वाणो ज्वलितास्या इवोरगा: ।।5.21.25।।

इषवो निपतिष्यन्ति रामलक्ष्मणलक्षणाः।
 

सुपर्वाणः well jointed arrows, शीघ्रं soon, ज्वलितास्याः with flaming fangs, उरगाः इव like the poisonous snakes, रामलक्ष्मणलक्षणाः marked with the names of Rama and Lakshmana, इषवः arrows, इह here, निपतिष्यन्ति will be raining.

"Arrows marked with Rama and Lakshmana will soon rain on Lanka like the poisonous snakes with flaming fangs.
रक्षांसि परिनिघ्नन्तः पुर्यामस्यां समन्ततः।।5.21.26।।

असंपातं करिष्यन्ति पतन्तः कङ्कवाससः।


कङ्कवाससः the shafts with feathers of Kanka bird, पतन्त: while falling, अस्याम् in this, पुर्याम् city, समन्ततः all over, रक्षांसि demons, परिनिघ्नन्तः killing, असम्पातम् covering all over, करिष्यन्ति will fall.

"The shafts bound with feathers of Kanka birds (released by Rama and Lakshmana) will be killing the demons all over this Lanka. They will not give a chance for any other weapon to fall.
राक्षसेन्द्रमहासर्पान् स रामगरुडो महान्।।5.21.27।।

उद्धरिष्यति वेगेन वैनतेय इवोरगान्।


महान् great, सः he, रामगरुडः Garuda of Rama, राक्षसेन्द्र demon king, महासर्पान् great serpents (in the form of demon chiefs), वैनतेयः son of Vinata or Garuda, उरगानिव like serpents, वेगेन swiftly, उद्धरिष्यति will carry up.

"Just as Garuda swiftly extirpates the serpents, Rama will exterminate the demon leaders.
अपनेष्यति मां भर्ता त्वत्तः शीघ्रमरिन्दमः।।5.21.28।।

असुरेभ्यः श्रियं दीप्तां विष्णुस्त्रिभिरिव क्रमैः।


शीघ्रम् swiftly, अरिन्दमः subduer of enemies, भर्ता husband, माम् me, त्वत्तः from you, विष्णुः Visnu, त्रिभिः with three, क्रमैः strides, दीप्ताम् glowing, श्रियम् prosperity, असुरेभ्यः इव like that from the asuras, अपनेष्यति will take away.

"My husband, the subduer of enemies, will soon take me away just as Lord Visnu in the form of Vamana took away the glowing prosperity from the demons with three strides.
जनस्थाने हतस्थाने निहते रक्षसां बले।।5.21.29।।

अशक्तेन त्वया रक्षः कृतमेतदसाधु वै।


रक्षसाम् demons, बले in the army, निहते when it was killed, जनस्थाने in Janasthana, हतस्थाने spot of death, रक्षः O demon, अशक्तेन having no capacity, त्वया by you, एतत् this, असाधु dishonest, कृतं वै act is done.

"When the army of demons as killed you had no capacity to protect and was destroyed at Janasthana, the place of death. You acted in this dishonest way.
आश्रमं तु तयोः शून्यं प्रविश्य नरसिंहयोः।।5.21.30।।

गोचरं गतयोर्भ्रात्रोरपनीता त्वयाधम।


अधम mean creature, नरसिंहयोः two lions among men, तयोः those two, भ्रात्रोः brothers, गोचरम् not found, गतयोः when they went, शून्यम् desolate, आश्रमम् hut, प्रविश्य entered, त्वया you, अपनीता abducted.

"You are a mean creature. Finding me in the vacant hut, when the two brothers, lions among men, were away, you abducted me.
न हि गन्धमुपाघ्राय रामलक्ष्मणयोस्त्वया।।5.21.31।।

शक्यं संदर्शने स्थातुं शुना शार्दूलयोरिव।


शुना by a dog, शार्दूलयोरिव like two tigers, रामलक्ष्मणयोः of both Rama and Lakshmana, गन्धम् smell, उपाघ्राय smelling, त्वया by you, सन्दर्शने in their sight, स्थातुम् to stand there, न शक्यं हि it will not be possible.

"Had you smelt the presence of Rama and Lakshmna, it would not have been possible for you to stand there, like a dog under the gaze of a pair of tigers.
तस्य ते विग्रहे ताभ्यां युगग्रहणमस्थिरम्।।5.21.32।।

वृत्रस्येवेन्द्रबाहुभ्यां बाहोरेकस्य विग्रहे।


तस्य to him, ते you, ताभ्याम् both of them, विग्रहे battle, इन्द्रबाहुभ्याम् by the twoarmed Indra, वृत्रस्य Vritra's, एकस्य only one, बाहोः armed, विग्रहे इव like the body, युगग्रहणम् seize you, अस्थिरम् not possible to win.

"You will not be able to withstand them in a battle. You will meet the same fate as the onearmed Vritra in a battle with the twoarmed Indra.
क्षिप्रं तव स नाथो मे रामः सौमित्रिणा सह।।5.21.33।।

तोयमल्पमिवादित्यः प्राणानादास्यते शरैः।


मे नाथः my lord, सः रामः that Rama, सौमित्रिणा सह accompanied by Saumitri, आदित्यः the Sun, अल्पम् shallow, तोयमिव like water, शरैः by arrows, तव your, प्राणान् life, क्षिप्रम् at once, दास्यते will take away.

"My lord Rama accompanied by Saumitri will draw out your life by his arrows swiftly as Aditya sucks up shallow water at once by his radiance.
गिरिं कुबेरस्य गतोऽथ वालयं सभां गतो वा वरुणस्य राज्ञः।

असंशयं दाशरथेर्न मोक्ष्यसे महाद्रुमः कालहतोऽशनेरिव।।5.21.34।।


कालहतः doomed by time, कुबेरस्य Kubera's, गिरिम् mountain, वा or else, आलयम् residence,
गतः going, राज्ञः king, वरुणस्य Varuna's, सभाम् assembly, गतो वा or will go, महाद्रुमः mighty tree, अशनेरिव by lightning, दाशरथेः by Rama son of Dasaratha, न मोक्ष्यसे you do not escape.

"Even if you fly to Kubera's mountain (Kailasa) or the residence of king Varuna (ocean) you will not escape Rama's arrows like a mighty tree cannot evade lightning.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे एकविंशस्सर्गः।
Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.