Aranya Kanda · Sarga 55 of 76 · 37 verses
Ravana Shows Sita His Palace
Having sent off the eight terrible, mighty rakshasas, Ravana, through confusion of mind, thinks his work is done. Thinking of Vaidehi, tormented by the arrows of desire, he hurries into his lovely house to see Sita. Entering, Ravana, king of the rakshasas, sees Sita among the rakshasis, wholly given to sorrow, her face full of tears, wretched, crushed by the weight of grief, like a boat sinking in the ocean, overwhelmed by the force of the wind, like a doe separated from her herd and surrounded by dogs, her face turned down. Approaching her, wretched and helpless with grief, the king of the rakshasas forcibly shows her his house, like the house of the gods: crowded with mansions and palaces, served by thousands of women, full of flocks of birds of many kinds, rich in jewels of many kinds, with pillars of ivory, gold, crystal and silver, inlaid with diamonds and beryl, lovely to see; resounding with divine drums, adorned with refined gold. He climbs the wonderful golden staircase with her. There are rows of palaces with lovely windows of ivory and silver covered with golden lattices. Dashagriva shows Maithili the floors of his house, bright with stucco and gems everywhere; he shows Sita, wholly given to sorrow, the long ponds and lotus pools full of many flowers.
Having shown Vaidehi that whole splendid house, the evil one, wanting to tempt her, says: “Ten crores and twenty-two more of rakshasas, not counting the old and the children: I am the lord of them all, Sita, of terrible deeds; a thousand of them go before me in a single task. This whole government of my kingdom, and my life, rest in you, large-eyed one; you are weightier to me than my life. Of the many excellent women I have taken, be the mistress of them all, Sita; be my wife, beloved. What good is your other thought? Accept my words. Love me, burning as I am; you should show me favour. Lanka, a hundred yojanas wide, is surrounded by the ocean; it cannot be assailed even by gods and asuras with Indra. Among gods, yakshas, gandharvas and seers I see no one in the worlds equal to me in valour. What will you do with Rama, fallen from his kingdom, wretched, an ascetic on foot, a man of little power? Love me, Sita; I am the husband fit for you. Youth does not last, timid one; enjoy yourself here with me. Do not set your mind on seeing Raghava, lovely-faced one; what power has he to come here, Sita, even in his dreams? The swift wind in the sky cannot be bound with ropes, nor the clear flames of a blazing fire be grasped. I see no one in the three worlds, lovely one, who could take you away by valour, protected by my arms. Rule this very great kingdom of Lanka; beings like me, and the gods, and all that moves and does not move, will be your servants. Wet with the water of consecration, be content and give pleasure. Whatever evil deed you did before has been spent by your forest life; enjoy here the fruit of your good deeds. Here are all garlands and heavenly perfumes, Maithili, and the finest ornaments; enjoy them with me. The flying chariot named Pushpaka, lovely-hipped one, bright as the sun, belonging to my brother Vaishravana, was won by force in battle; that wide, lovely chariot, swift as thought: enjoy yourself in it with me as you please, Sita. Your lotus-like face, spotless and lovely to see, lovely-hipped one, does not shine when afflicted with grief.” As he speaks, Sita covers her moon-like face with the end of her garment and slowly sheds tears. To Sita, brooding, unwell, her radiance struck by worry, the ‘hero’ Ravana, night-ranger, says: “Enough of your shame, Vaidehi, made by fear of losing dharma. This union that will overcome you is sanctioned by the seers, queen. These two smooth feet of yours I press with my heads; show me favour quickly; I am your obedient servant. These are not empty words spoken by me in my longing. Ravana would never bow his head to any woman.” Having said this to Maithili, Janaka’s daughter, Dashagriva, fallen into the power of Death, thinks: “She is mine.”
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संदिश्य राक्षसान् घोरान् रावणोऽष्टौ महाबलान् । आत्मानं बुद्धिवैक्लव्यात् कृत्कृत्यममन्यत ॥ १ ॥
Having commanded the eight terrible, very mighty rakshasas, Ravana, through confusion of mind, thought himself to have done what was to be done.
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Ravana Shows Sita His Palace 1 min read.
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स चिन्तयानो वैदेहीं कामबाणैः प्रपीडितः । प्रविवेश गृहं रम्यं सीतां द्रष्टुमभित्वरन् ॥ २ ॥
Thinking of Vaidehi, tormented by the arrows of desire, he entered his lovely house, hurrying to see Sita.
स प्रविश्य तु तद्वेश्म रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । अपश्यद् राक्षसीमध्ये सीतां दुःखपरायणाम् ॥ ३ ॥
Entering that house, Ravana, king of the rakshasas, saw Sita in the midst of the rakshasis, wholly given to sorrow,
अश्रुपूर्णमुखीं दीनां शोकभारावपीडिताम् । वायुवेगैरिवाक्रान्तां मज्जन्तीं नावमर्णवे ॥ ४ ॥
her face full of tears, wretched, crushed by the weight of grief, like a boat sinking in the ocean, assailed by the force of the wind,
मृगयूथपरिभ्रष्टां मृगीं श्वभिरिवावृताम् । अधोगतमुखीं सीतां तामभ्येत्य निशाचरः ॥ ५ ॥
like a doe fallen from the herd of deer and surrounded by dogs. Approaching that Sita, her face turned downward, the night-ranger,
तां तु शोकवशाद् दीनामवशां राक्षसाधिपः । सबलाद् दर्शयामास गृहं देवगृहोपमम् ॥ ६ ॥
the king of the rakshasas, forcibly showed her, wretched and helpless through grief, his house, like the house of the gods,
हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधं स्त्रीसहस्रनिषेवितम् । नानापक्षिगणैर्जुष्टं नानारत्नसमन्वितम् ॥ ७ ॥
crowded with mansions and palaces, attended by thousands of women, frequented by flocks of many kinds of birds, endowed with many kinds of jewels,
दान्तकैस्तापनीयैश्च स्फाटिकै राजतैस्तथा । वज्रवैदूर्यचित्रैश्च स्तम्भैर्दृष्टिमनोरमैः ॥ ८ ॥
with pillars of ivory, gold, crystal and silver, bright with diamonds and beryl, delightful to the eye,
दिव्यदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणम् । सोपानं काञ्चनं चित्रमारुरोह तया सह ॥ ९ ॥
with the sound of divine drums, adorned with refined gold; he climbed the wonderful golden staircase with her.
दान्तका राजताश्चैव गवाक्षाः प्रियदर्शनाः । हेमजालावृताश्चासंस्तत्र प्रासादपङ्क्तयः ॥ १० ॥
Windows of ivory and silver, lovely to see, covered with golden lattices, were there in the rows of palaces.
सुधामणिविचित्राणि भूमिभागानि सर्वशः । दशग्रीवः स्वभवने प्रादर्शयत मैथिलीम् ॥ ११ ॥
Floors bright everywhere with stucco and gems Dashagriva showed to Maithili in his own house.
दीर्घिकाः पुष्करिण्यश्च नानापुष्पसमावृताः । रावणो दर्शयामास सीतां शोकपरायणाम् ॥ १२ ॥
Long ponds and lotus pools covered with many kinds of flowers Ravana showed to Sita, wholly given to sorrow.
दर्शयित्वा तु वैदेहीं कृत्स्नं तद्भवनोत्तमम् । उवाच वाक्यं पापात्मा सीतां लोभितुमिच्छया ॥ १३ ॥
Having shown Vaidehi that whole best of houses, the evil-souled one, wishing to tempt Sita, said these words:
दश राक्षसकोट्यश्च द्वाविंशतिरथापराः । वर्जयित्वा जरावृद्धान् बालांश्च रजनीचरान् ॥ १४ ॥
“Ten crores of rakshasas and twenty-two more besides, leaving out the night-rangers old with age and the children:
तेषां प्रभुरहं सीते सर्वेषां भीमकर्मणाम् । सहस्रमेकमेकस्य मम कार्यपुरःसरम् ॥ १५ ॥
“I am the lord of them all, Sita, of terrible deeds. A thousand go before me for a single one of my tasks.
यदिदं राज्यतन्त्रं मे त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । जीवितं च विशालाक्षि त्वं मे प्राणैर्गरीयसी ॥ १६ ॥
“This whole government of my kingdom is established in you, and my life, large-eyed one; you are weightier to me than my life-breaths.
बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणां मम योऽसौ परिग्रहः । तासां त्वमीश्वरी सीते मम भार्या भव प्रिये ॥ १७ ॥
“Of the many excellent women who are my household, of them you are the mistress, Sita; be my wife, beloved.
साधु किं तेऽन्यथाबुद्ध्या रोचयस्व वचो मम । भजस्व माभितप्तस्य प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ १८ ॥
“Well, what is the use of your other thought? Accept my word. Love me, burning as I am; you should show me favour.
परिक्षिप्ता समुद्रेण लङ्केयं शतयोजना । नेयं धर्षयितुं शक्या सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥ १९ ॥
“This Lanka, a hundred yojanas, is surrounded by the ocean; it cannot be assailed even by gods and asuras with Indra.
न देवेषु न यक्षेषु न गन्धर्वेषु नर्षिषु । अहं पश्यामि लोकेषु यो मे वीर्यसमो भवेत् ॥ २० ॥
“Neither among gods, nor yakshas, nor gandharvas, nor seers, do I see in the worlds one who would be equal to me in valour.
राज्यभ्रष्टेन दीनेन तापसेन पदातिना । किं करिष्यसि रामेण मानुषेणाल्पतेजसा ॥ २१ ॥
“What will you do with Rama, fallen from his kingdom, wretched, an ascetic on foot, a man of little splendour?
भजस्व सीते मामेव भर्ताहं सदृशस्तव । यौवनं त्वध्रुवं भीरु रमस्वेह मया सह ॥ २२ ॥
“Love me, Sita; I am a husband fit for you. Youth is not lasting, timid one; enjoy yourself here with me.
दर्शने मा कृथा बुद्धिं राघवस्य वरानने । कास्य शक्तिरिहागन्तुमपि सीते मनोरथैः ॥ २३ ॥
“Do not set your mind on seeing Raghava, lovely-faced one. What power has he to come here, Sita, even in his wishes?
न शक्यो वायुराकाशे पाशैर्बद्धुं महाजवः । दीप्यमानस्य वाप्यग्नेर्ग्रहीतुं विमलाः शिखाः ॥ २४ ॥
“The swift wind in the sky cannot be bound with nooses, nor the clear flames of a blazing fire be grasped.
त्रयाणामपि लोकानां न तं पश्यामि शोभने । विक्रमेण नयेद् यस्त्वां मद्बाहुपरिपालिताम् ॥ २५ ॥
“I do not see, lovely one, in the three worlds, one who could lead you away by valour, guarded by my arms.
लङ्कायाः सुमहद्राज्यमिदं त्वमनुपालय । त्वत्प्रेष्या मद्विधाश्चैव देवाश्चापि चराचरम् ॥ २६ ॥
“Rule this very great kingdom of Lanka. Those like me, and the gods, and all that moves and does not move, will be your servants.
अभिषेकजलक्लिन्ना तुष्टा च रमयस्व च । दुष्कृतं यत्पुरा कर्म वनवासेन तद्गतम् ॥ २७ ॥
“Wet with the water of consecration, be content and give delight. Whatever evil deed was yours before has gone by your forest life.
यच्च ते सुकृतं कर्म तस्येह फलमाप्नुहि । इह सर्वाणि माल्यानि दिव्यगन्धानि मैथिलि ॥ २८ ॥
“And whatever good deed is yours, gain here its fruit. Here are all garlands and divine perfumes, Maithili,
भूषणानि च मुख्यानि तानि सेव मया सह । पुष्पकं नाम सुश्रोणि भ्रातुर्वैश्रवणस्य मे ॥ २९ ॥
“and the finest ornaments: enjoy them with me. The flying chariot named Pushpaka, lovely-hipped one, of my brother Vaishravana,
विमानं सूर्यसंकाशं तरसा निर्जितं रणे । विशालं रमणीयं च तद्विमानं मनोजवम् ॥ ३० ॥
“like the sun, was won by force in battle. That flying chariot, wide and lovely, swift as thought,
तत्र सीते मया सार्धं विहरस्व यथासुखम् । वदनं पद्मसंकाशं विमलं चारुदर्शनम् ॥ ३१ ॥
“in it, Sita, enjoy yourself with me as you please. Your face, like a lotus, spotless, lovely to see,
शोकार्तं तु वरारोहे न भ्राजति वरानने । एवं वदति तस्मिन् सा वस्त्रान्तेन वराङ्गना ॥ ३२ ॥
“afflicted with grief, lovely-hipped one, does not shine, lovely-faced one.” As he spoke so, that noblest woman, with the end of her garment,
पिधायेन्दुनिभं सीता मन्दमश्रूण्यवर्तयत् । ध्यायन्तीं तामिवास्वस्थां सीतां चिन्ताहतप्रभाम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Sita, covering her moon-like face, slowly shed tears. To Sita, brooding as if unwell, her radiance struck by worry,
उवाच वचनं वीरो रावणो रजनीचरः । अलं व्रीडेन वैदेहि धर्मलोपकृतेन ते ॥ ३४ ॥
the hero Ravana, night-ranger, said these words: “Enough of shame, Vaidehi, caused by the loss of dharma.
आर्षोऽयं देवि निष्पन्दो यस्त्वामभिभविष्यति । एतौ पादौ मया स्निग्धौ शिरोभिः परिपीडितौ ॥ ३५ ॥
“This union, queen, which will overcome you, is of the seers’ sanction. These two smooth feet of yours are pressed by me with my heads.
प्रसादं कुरु मे क्षिप्रं वश्यो दासोऽहमस्मि ते । इमाः शून्या मया वाचः शुष्यमाणेन भाषिताः ॥ ३६ ॥
“Show me favour quickly; I am your obedient servant. These words have not been spoken emptily by me as I wither away.
न चापि रावणः कांचिन्मूर्ध्ना स्त्रीं प्रणमेत ह । एवमुक्त्वा दशग्रीवो मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् । कृतान्तवशमापन्नो ममेयमिति मन्यते ॥ ३७ ॥
“Ravana would never bow with his head to any woman.” Having said this to Maithili, Janaka’s daughter, Dashagriva, fallen into the power of Death, thinks: “She is mine.”