Sundara Kanda · Sarga 23 of 68 · 19 verses
The Rakshasis Urge Sita
As soon as Ravana has gone, the rakshasi guards rush at Sita, mad with anger, and harangue her. Ekajata recites Ravana’s lineage: Pulastya, the mind-born son of Brahma, fourth of the six Prajapatis; Pulastya’s son, the great sage Vishravas; and his son Ravana. How can she not take such a man as husband? Harijata, eyes like a cat’s, says Ravana has conquered the thirty-three gods and their king and will leave his favourite wife and his thousand women for her. Vikata reminds her that he has beaten nagas, gandharvas and danavas; Durmukhi that the sun does not dare to scorch him nor the wind to blow, that trees rain flowers and mountains pour water at his wish. Take our advice, they say, or you will not live.
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इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रुरावणः । संदिश्य च ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्निर्जगाम ह ॥ १ ॥
Having spoken so to Maithili and given orders to all the rakshasis, King Ravana, who makes his enemies cry out, went away.
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निष्क्रान्ते राक्षसेन्द्रे तु पुनरन्तःपुरं गते । राक्षस्यो भीमरूपास्ताः सीतां समभिदुद्रुवुः ॥ २ ॥
When the king of the rakshasas had gone out and returned to the inner palace, those rakshasis of terrible form rushed at Sita.
ततः सीतामुपागम्य राक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः । परं परुषया वाचा वैदेहीमिदमब्रुवन् ॥ ३ ॥
Coming up to Sita, the rakshasis, swooning with anger, said this to Vaidehi in the harshest words:
पौलस्त्यस्य वरिष्ठस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः । दशग्रीवस्य भार्यात्वं सीते न बहु मन्यसे ॥ ४ ॥
“Sita, you do not think much of being the wife of Ravana, the great-souled, the most eminent descendant of Pulastya, Ten-necked.”
ततस्त्वेकजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । आमन्त्र्य क्रोधताम्राक्षी सीतां करतलोदरीम् ॥ ५ ॥
Then a rakshasi named Ekajata spoke, her eyes copper with anger, addressing Sita, whose waist was as slender as the palm of a hand:
प्रजापतीनां षण्णां तु चतुर्थोऽयं प्रजापतिः । मानसो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः पुलस्त्य इति विश्रुतः ॥ ६ ॥
“Of the six Prajapatis, the fourth is the one famed as Pulastya, mind-born son of Brahma.
पुलस्त्यस्य तु तेजस्वी महर्षिर्मानसः सुतः । नाम्ना स विश्रवा नाम प्रजापतिसमप्रभः ॥ ७ ॥
“Pulastya’s mind-born son is the radiant great sage named Vishravas, equal in splendour to a Prajapati.
तस्य पुत्रो विशालाक्षि रावणः शत्रुरावणः । तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि ॥ ८ ॥
“His son, large-eyed one, is Ravana, who makes his enemies cry out. You ought to become the wife of that king of the rakshasas.
मयोक्तं चारुसर्वाङ्गि वाक्यं किं नानुमन्यसे । ततो हरिजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ९ ॥
“Why do you not agree to the words I have spoken, lovely in every limb?” Then a rakshasi named Harijata spoke,
विवृत्य नयने कोपान्मार्जारसदृशेक्षणा । येन देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवराजश्च निर्जितः ॥ १० ॥
rolling her cat-like eyes in anger: “He by whom the thirty-three gods and the king of the gods were conquered:
तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि । वीर्योत्सिक्तस्य शूरस्य संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः । बलिनो वीर्ययुक्तस्य भार्यात्वं किं न लिप्ससे ॥ ११ ॥
“you ought to be the wife of that king of the rakshasas. Why do you not want to be the wife of one proud of his valour, a hero who never turns back in battle, mighty, full of valour?
प्रियां बहुमतां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा राजा महाबलः । सर्वासां च महाभागां त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः ॥ १२ ॥
“The mighty king Ravana will leave his dear, esteemed wife, the most fortunate of all, and come to you.
समृद्धं स्त्रीसहस्रेण नानारत्नोपशोभितम् । अन्तःपुरं तदुत्सृज्य त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः ॥ १३ ॥
“Leaving his inner palace, rich with a thousand women and adorned with many jewels, Ravana will come to you.”
अन्या तु विकटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । असकृद् भीमवीर्येण नागा गन्धर्वदानवाः । निर्जिताः समरे येन स ते पार्श्वमुपागतः ॥ १४ ॥
Another rakshasi, named Vikata, said: “He of terrible valour, by whom nagas, gandharvas and danavas have again and again been conquered in battle, has come to your side.
तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः । किमर्थं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्यात्वं नेच्छसेऽधमे ॥ १५ ॥
“Why, low creature, do you not want to be the wife of that great-souled king of the rakshasas, Ravana, rich in everything?”
ततस्तां दुर्मुखी नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । यस्य सूर्यो न तपति भीतो यस्य स मारुतः । न वाति स्मायतापाङ्गि किं त्वं तस्य न तिष्ठसे ॥ १६ ॥
Then a rakshasi named Durmukhi said to her: “He for fear of whom the sun does not scorch, the wind does not blow, long-eyed one: why do you not stand by him?
पुष्पवृष्टिं च तरवो मुमुचुर्यस्य वै भयात् । शैलाः सुस्रुवुः पानीयं जलदाश्च यदेच्छति ॥ १७ ॥
“For fear of him the trees let fall showers of flowers, and the mountains and clouds pour out water when he wishes.
तस्य नैर्ऋतराजस्य राजराजस्य भामिनि । किं त्वं न कुरुषे बुद्धिं भार्यार्थे रावणस्य हि ॥ १८ ॥
“Why do you not set your mind on becoming the wife of that king of the nairritas, king of kings, Ravana, lovely one?
साधु ते तत्त्वतो देवि कथितं साधु भामिनि । गृहाण सुस्मिते वाक्यमन्यथा न भविष्यसि ॥ १९ ॥
“It has been said to you well and truly, goddess, lovely one. Take our advice, sweet-smiling one; otherwise you will not live.”