Aranya Kanda · Sarga 47 of 76 · 50 verses
“I Am Ravana”
Asked by Ravana in the form of a mendicant, who wants to carry her off, Vaidehi tells him about herself. Thinking for a moment, “He is a brahmana and a guest; if I do not answer, he may curse me,” Sita says: “I am the daughter of great-souled Janaka of Mithila, named Sita, bless you, the dear chief queen of Rama. For twelve years I lived in the house of the Ikshvakus, enjoying human pleasures, rich in every desire. In the thirteenth year the lord king, with the royal ministers, decided to consecrate Rama. While Raghava’s consecration was being prepared, my noble mother-in-law named Kaikeyi asked her husband for a boon. Having bound my father-in-law by a good deed done for him, Kaikeyi asked her husband, the truthful best of kings, for two boons: my husband’s banishment and Bharata’s consecration. ‘I will not eat today, nor sleep, nor drink, ever; this is the end of my life, if Rama is consecrated.’ To Kaikeyi saying this, my father-in-law the king offered gifts of every kind, but she did not change her request. My husband, of great splendour, is twenty-five years old, and I am counted eighteen years from my birth. Known in the world as Rama, truthful, of good character, pure, large-eyed, mighty-armed, devoted to the good of all beings: the great king, father Dasharatha himself, afflicted by desire, wishing to please Kaikeyi, did not consecrate Rama. When Rama came to his father for the consecration, Kaikeyi said to my husband at once: ‘Hear from me, Raghava, what your father has commanded: this kingdom without a thorn is to be given to Bharata, and you must live in the forest for fourteen years. Go to the forest, Kakutstha; free your father from untruth.’ Fearless, my husband, firm in his vows, said to Kaikeyi, ‘So be it,’ and did as she said. He would give and not take; he would speak truth and never falsehood: this is Rama’s highest vow, brahmana. His half-brother, named Lakshmana, mighty, a tiger among men, Rama’s companion in battle, slayer of enemies, celibate, firm in his vows, followed him, bow in hand, as he went forth with me. With matted hair, in an ascetic’s form, with me and his younger brother, ever devoted to dharma, firm in his vows, he entered the Dandaka forest. So we three, fallen from the kingdom because of Kaikeyi, wander in the deep forest, best of brahmanas, by our own strength. Rest a moment; you can stay here. My husband will come soon, bringing plenty of forest food, having killed ruru deer, iguanas and boars and taking much meat. Now tell me truly your name, your clan and your family. And why do you wander alone in the Dandaka forest, twice-born?”
As Sita, Rama’s wife, speaks, the very mighty Ravana, king of the rakshasas, gives a fierce answer: “I am that Ravana, Sita, lord of the hosts of rakshasas, by whom the worlds with gods, asuras and men are terrified. Seeing you, golden-coloured, dressed in silk, faultless one, I find no pleasure in my own wives. Of the many excellent women carried off here and there, be the chief queen of them all, bless you. My great city named Lanka is in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by the sea, built on the top of a mountain. There, Sita, you will wander with me in the forests and will not long for this forest life, passionate one. Five thousand maidservants adorned with every ornament will wait on you, Sita, if you become my wife.” Told this by Ravana, Janaka’s faultless daughter, angry, answers the rakshasa with contempt: “I am devoted to Rama, my husband, unshakable like a great mountain, like great Indra, unstirrable like the great ocean. I am devoted to Rama, endowed with every good mark, round and full as a banyan, true to his word, most fortunate. I am devoted to Rama, mighty-armed, broad-chested, walking with a lion’s stride, a lion among men, like a lion. I am devoted to Rama, his face like the full moon, a king’s son, master of his senses, of wide fame, mighty-armed. You, a jackal, want me, a lioness hard to win. You cannot touch me, any more than the light of the sun. Surely you, unlucky one, see many golden trees, you who desire Raghava’s beloved wife, rakshasa. You want to take a fang from the mouth of a hungry lion, the swift enemy of deer, or of a venomous snake. You want to carry off Mandara, best of mountains, in your hand; you want to drink kalakuta poison and go away well. You are wiping your eye with a needle and licking a razor with your tongue, you who want to win Raghava’s beloved wife. You want to cross the ocean with a stone tied to your neck; you want to carry off both the sun and the moon in your hands, you who want to violate Rama’s beloved wife. Having seen a blazing fire, you want to carry it off in a cloth, you who want to take Rama’s wife of good conduct. You want to walk on the points of iron spears, you who want to win a wife worthy of Rama. The difference between a lion and a jackal in the forest, between a little stream and the ocean, between the best wine and sour gruel, is the difference between Dasharatha’s son and you. The difference between gold and lead or iron, between sandal water and mud, between an elephant and a cat in the forest, is the difference between Dasharatha’s son and you. The difference between a crow and Garuda, between a cormorant and a peacock, between a swan and a vulture in the forest, is the difference between Dasharatha’s son and you. While Rama, of power like the thousand-eyed god, stands with bow and arrows in hand, even if carried off by you I will not be digested, as ghee swallowed by a fly.” Having said these very harsh words to the night-ranger, she whose heart is not wicked is shaken, her body trembling, like a slender plantain tossed by the wind. Seeing Sita trembling, Ravana, with power like Death’s, tells of his own family, strength, name and deeds, to frighten her.
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रावणेन तु वैदेही तदा पृष्टा जिहीर्षुणा । परिव्राजकरूपेण शशंसात्मानमात्मना ॥ १ ॥
Asked then by Ravana, who wished to carry her off, in the form of a mendicant, Vaidehi told about herself herself.
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ब्राह्मणश्चातिथिश्चैष अनुक्तो हि शपेत माम् । इति ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं तु सीता वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ २ ॥
“He is a brahmana and a guest; if not answered, he may curse me”: having thought so for a moment, Sita said these words:
दुहिता जनकस्याहं मैथिलस्य महात्मनः । सीता नाम्नास्मि भद्रं ते रामस्य महिषी प्रिया ॥ ३ ॥
“I am the daughter of great-souled Janaka of Mithila. I am named Sita, bless you, the dear chief queen of Rama.
उषित्वा द्वादश समा इक्ष्वाकूणां निवेशने । भुञ्जाना मानुषान् भोगान् सर्वकामसमृद्धिनी ॥ ४ ॥
“Having lived twelve years in the house of the Ikshvakus, enjoying human pleasures, rich in every desire,
तत्र त्रयोदशे वर्षे राजाऽमन्त्रयत प्रभुः । अभिषेचयितुं रामं समेतो राजमन्त्रिभिः ॥ ५ ॥
“there, in the thirteenth year, the lord king, together with the royal ministers, resolved to consecrate Rama.
तस्मिन् सम्भ्रियमाणे तु राघवस्याभिषेचने । कैकेयी नाम भर्तारं ममार्या याचते वरम् ॥ ६ ॥
“While Raghava’s consecration was being prepared, my noble mother-in-law named Kaikeyi asked her husband for a boon.
परिगृह्य तु कैकेयी श्वशुरं सुकृतेन मे । मम प्रव्राजनं भर्तुर्भरतस्याभिषेचनम् ॥ ७ ॥
द्वावयाचत भर्तारं सत्यसंधं नृपोत्तमम् । नाद्य भोक्ष्ये न च स्वप्स्ये न पास्ये न कदाचन ॥ ८ ॥
“Having bound my father-in-law by a good deed, Kaikeyi asked her husband, the truthful best of kings, for two things: my husband’s banishment and Bharata’s consecration. ‘I will not eat today, nor sleep, nor ever drink;
एष मे जीवितस्यान्तो रामो यदभिषिच्यते । इति ब्रुवाणां कैकेयीं श्वशुरो मे स पार्थिवः ॥ ९ ॥
“’this is the end of my life, if Rama is consecrated.’ To Kaikeyi speaking so, my father-in-law, that lord of the earth,
अयाचतार्थैरन्वर्थैर्न च याच्ञां चकार सा । मम भर्ता महातेजा वयसा पञ्चविंशकः ॥ १० ॥
“offered things of value, fitting things; but she did not make that request. My husband of great splendour is twenty-five years of age;
अष्टादश हि वर्षाणि मम जन्मनि गण्यते । रामेति प्रथितो लोके सत्यवान् शीलवान् शुचिः ॥ ११ ॥
“eighteen years are counted for me from my birth. Famed in the world as Rama, truthful, of good character, pure,
विशालाक्षो महाबाहुः सर्वभूतहिते रतः । कामार्तश्च महाराजः पिता दशरथः स्वयम् ॥ १२ ॥
“large-eyed, mighty-armed, devoted to the good of all beings: and the great king, father Dasharatha himself, afflicted by desire,
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत् । अभिषेकाय तु पितुः समीपं राममागतम् ॥ १३ ॥
“to please Kaikeyi, did not consecrate that Rama. When Rama came to his father’s side for the consecration,
कैकेयी मम भर्तारमित्युवाच द्रुतं वचः । तव पित्रा समाज्ञप्तं ममेदं शृणु राघव ॥ १४ ॥
“Kaikeyi quickly said these words to my husband: ‘Hear from me this that your father has commanded, Raghava:
भरताय प्रदातव्यमिदं राज्यमकण्टकम् । त्वया तु खलु वस्तव्यं नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च ॥ १५ ॥
“’This kingdom without a thorn is to be given to Bharata; and you must live for nine and five years
वने प्रव्रज काकुत्स्थ पितरं मोचयानृतात् । तथेत्युवाच तां रामः कैकेयीमकुतोभयः ॥ १६ ॥
“’in the forest. Go forth, Kakutstha; free your father from untruth.’ Rama, fearing nothing from anywhere, said to that Kaikeyi, ‘So be it,’
चकार तद्वचः श्रुत्वा भर्ता मम दृढव्रतः । दद्यान्न प्रतिगृह्णीयात् सत्यं ब्रूयान्न चानृतम् ॥ १७ ॥
“and my husband, firm in his vows, did so, having heard her words. He would give and not take; he would speak truth and not falsehood:
एतद् ब्राह्मण रामस्य व्रतं धृतमनुत्तमम् । तस्य भ्राता तु वैमात्रो लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान् ॥ १८ ॥
“this, brahmana, is the unsurpassed vow held by Rama. His half-brother, named Lakshmana, mighty,
रामस्य पुरुषव्याघ्रः सहायः समरेऽरिहा । स भ्राता लक्ष्मणो नाम ब्रह्मचारी दृढव्रतः ॥ १९ ॥
“the tiger among men, Rama’s companion in battle, slayer of enemies, that brother named Lakshmana, celibate, firm in his vows,
अन्वगच्छद् धनुष्पाणिः प्रव्रजन्तं मया सह । जटी तापसरूपेण मया सह सहानुजः ॥ २० ॥
“followed, bow in hand, him who went forth with me. With matted hair, in the form of an ascetic, with me and with his younger brother,
प्रविष्टो दण्डकारण्यं धर्मनित्यो दृढव्रतः । ते वयं प्रच्युता राज्यात् कैकेय्यास्तु कृते त्रयः ॥ २१ ॥
“ever devoted to dharma, firm in his vows, he entered the Dandaka forest. So we three, fallen from the kingdom because of Kaikeyi,
विचराम द्विजश्रेष्ठ वनं गम्भीरमोजसा । समाश्वस मुहूर्तं तु शक्यं वस्तुमिह त्वया ॥ २२ ॥
“wander, best of the twice-born, in the deep forest by our own strength. Rest a moment; you can stay here.
आगमिष्यति मे भर्ता वन्यमादाय पुष्कलम् । रुरून् गोधान् वराहांश्च हत्वाऽऽदायामिषं बहु ॥ २३ ॥
“My husband will come, bringing plentiful forest food, having killed ruru deer, iguanas and boars, and taking much meat.
स त्वं नाम च गोत्रं च कुलमाचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः । एकश्च दण्डकारण्ये किमर्थं चरसि द्विज ॥ २४ ॥
“Now tell truly your name, clan and family. And for what reason do you wander alone in the Dandaka forest, twice-born?”
एवं ब्रुवत्यां सीतायां रामपत्न्यां महाबलः । प्रत्युवाचोत्तरं तीव्रं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ॥ २५ ॥
As Sita, Rama’s wife, spoke so, the very mighty Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, gave a fierce reply:
येन वित्रासिता लोकाः सदेवासुरमानुषाः । अहं स रावणो नाम सीते रक्षोगणेश्वरः ॥ २६ ॥
“He by whom the worlds with gods, asuras and men are terrified: I am that Ravana, Sita, lord of the hosts of rakshasas.
त्वां तु काञ्चनवर्णाभां दृष्ट्वा कौशेयवासिनीम् । रतिं स्वकेषु दारेषु नाधिगच्छाम्यनिन्दिते ॥ २७ ॥
“Having seen you, golden in colour, wearing silk, faultless one, I find no delight in my own wives.
बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणामाहृतानामितस्ततः । सर्वासामेव भद्रं ते ममाग्रमहिषी भव ॥ २८ ॥
“Of the many excellent women brought from here and there, of all of them, bless you, be my chief queen.
लङ्का नाम समुद्रस्य मध्ये मम महापुरी । सागरेण परिक्षिप्ता निविष्टा गिरिमूर्धनि ॥ २९ ॥
“My great city named Lanka is in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by the sea, built on the top of a mountain.
तत्र सीते मया सार्धं वनेषु विचरिष्यसि । न चास्य वनवासस्य स्पृहयिष्यसि भामिनि ॥ ३० ॥
“There, Sita, you will wander with me in the forests, and you will not long for this forest life, passionate one.
पञ्च दास्यः सहस्राणि सर्वाभरणभूषिताः । सीते परिचरिष्यन्ति भार्या भवसि मे यदि ॥ ३१ ॥
“Five thousand maidservants adorned with every ornament will wait on you, Sita, if you become my wife.”
रावणेनैवमुक्ता तु कुपिता जनकात्मजा । प्रत्युवाचानवद्याङ्गी तमनादृत्य राक्षसम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Spoken to so by Ravana, Janaka’s faultless daughter, angry, answered that rakshasa, disregarding him:
महागिरिमिवाकम्प्यं महेन्द्रसदृशं पतिम् । महोदधिमिवाक्षोभ्यमहं राममनुव्रता ॥ ३३ ॥
“Unshakable like a great mountain, like great Indra, unstirrable like the great ocean: I am devoted to Rama, my husband.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलम् । सत्यसंधं महाभागमहं राममनुव्रता ॥ ३४ ॥
“Endowed with every good mark, round and full as a banyan, true to his promise, most fortunate: I am devoted to Rama.
महाबाहुं महोरस्कं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम् । नृसिंहं सिंहसंकाशमहं राममनुव्रता ॥ ३५ ॥
“Mighty-armed, broad-chested, walking with a lion’s gait, a lion among men, like a lion: I am devoted to Rama.
पूर्णचन्द्राननं रामं राजवत्सं जितेन्द्रियम् । पृथुकीर्तिं महाबाहुमहं राममनुव्रता ॥ ३६ ॥
“Rama, his face like the full moon, a king’s son, master of his senses, of wide fame, mighty-armed: I am devoted to Rama.
त्वं पुनर्जम्बुकः सिंहीं मामिहेच्छसि दुर्लभाम् । नाहं शक्या त्वया स्प्रष्टुमादित्यस्य प्रभा यथा ॥ ३७ ॥
“But you, a jackal, want me here, a lioness hard to win. I cannot be touched by you, any more than the light of the sun.
पादपान् काञ्चनान् नूनं बहून् पश्यसि मन्दभाक् । राघवस्य प्रियां भार्यां यस्त्वमिच्छसि राक्षस ॥ ३८ ॥
“Surely you, ill-fated one, see many golden trees, you who desire Raghava’s dear wife, rakshasa.
क्षुधितस्य च सिंहस्य मृगशत्रोस्तरस्विनः । आशीविषस्य वदनाद् दंष्ट्रामादातुमिच्छसि ॥ ३९ ॥
“You wish to take a fang from the mouth of a hungry lion, the swift enemy of deer, and of a venomous snake.
मन्दरं पर्वतश्रेष्ठं पाणिना हर्तुमिच्छसि । कालकूटं विषं पीत्वा स्वस्तिमान् गन्तुमिच्छसि ॥ ४० ॥
“You wish to carry Mandara, best of mountains, with your hand; having drunk the poison kalakuta, you wish to go away well.
अक्षि सूच्या प्रमृजसि जिह्वया लेढि च क्षुरम् । राघवस्य प्रियां भार्यामधिगन्तुं त्वमिच्छसि ॥ ४१ ॥
“You wipe your eye with a needle and lick a razor with your tongue, you who wish to obtain Raghava’s dear wife.
अवसज्य शिलां कण्ठे समुद्रं तर्तुमिच्छसि । सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ चोभौ पाणिभ्यां हर्तुमिच्छसि ॥ ४२ ॥
“With a stone tied to your neck you wish to cross the ocean; you wish to carry off both the sun and moon with your hands,
यो रामस्य प्रियां भार्यां प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छसि । अग्निं प्रज्वलितं दृष्ट्वा वस्त्रेणाहर्तुमिच्छसि ॥ ४३ ॥
“you who wish to violate Rama’s dear wife. Having seen a blazing fire, you wish to carry it off in a cloth,
कल्याणवृत्तां यो भार्यां रामस्याहर्तुमिच्छसि । अयोमुखानां शूलानामग्रे चरितुमिच्छसि । रामस्य सदृशीं भार्यां योऽधिगन्तुं त्वमिच्छसि ॥ ४४ ॥
“you who wish to carry off Rama’s wife of auspicious conduct. You wish to walk on the points of iron-tipped spears, you who wish to win a wife fit for Rama.
यदन्तरं सिंहसृगालयोर्वने यदन्तरं स्यन्दनिकासमुद्रयोः । सुराग्र्यसौवीरकयोर्यदन्तरं तदन्तरं दाशरथेस्तवैव च ॥ ४५ ॥
“The difference between lion and jackal in the forest, the difference between a trickle and the ocean, the difference between the best wine and sour gruel: that is the difference between Dasharatha’s son and you.
यदन्तरं काञ्चनसीसलोहयो- र्यदन्तरं चन्दनवारिपङ्कयोः । यदन्तरं हस्तिबिडालयोर्वने तदन्तरं दाशरथेस्तवैव च ॥ ४६ ॥
“The difference between gold and lead or iron, the difference between sandal water and mud, the difference between elephant and cat in the forest: that is the difference between Dasharatha’s son and you.
यदन्तरं वायसवैनतेययो- र्यदन्तरं मद्गुमयूरयोरपि । यदन्तरं हंसकगृध्रयोर्वने तदन्तरं दाशरथेस्तवैव च ॥ ४७ ॥
“The difference between a crow and Vainateya, the difference too between a cormorant and a peacock, the difference between a swan and a vulture in the forest: that is the difference between Dasharatha’s son and you.
तस्मिन् सहस्राक्षसमप्रभावे रामे स्थिते कार्मुकबाणपाणौ । हृतापि तेऽहं न जरां गमिष्ये आज्यं यथा मक्षिकयावगीर्णम् ॥ ४८ ॥
“While that Rama, of power equal to the thousand-eyed god, stands with bow and arrows in hand, even carried off I will not be digested by you, as ghee swallowed by a fly.”
इतीव तद्वाक्यमदुष्टभावा सुदुष्टमुक्त्वा रजनीचरं तम् । गात्रप्रकम्पाद् व्यथिता बभूव वातोद्धता सा कदलीव तन्वी ॥ ४९ ॥
Having said these very harsh words so to that night-ranger, she, of unwicked nature, was distressed by the trembling of her body, slender, like a plantain tossed by the wind.
तां वेपमानामुपलक्ष्य सीतां स रावणो मृत्युसमप्रभावः । कुलं बलं नाम च कर्म चात्मनः समाचचक्षे भयकारणार्थम् ॥ ५० ॥
Seeing that Sita trembling, Ravana, of power like Death’s, recounted his own family, strength, name and deeds, for the purpose of causing fear.