Sundara Kanda · Sarga 9 of 68 · 73 verses
The Women of Ravana Asleep
In the middle of that best of dwellings, Hanuman, son of the wind, sees a pure, long, excellent building, half a yojana wide and a yojana long, the great house of the king of the rakshasas, crowded with many palaces. Seeking Vaidehi, long-eyed Sita, Hanuman, slayer of enemies, goes all round it. Looking at the supreme dwelling of the rakshasa, the glorious one reaches the king’s quarters, surrounded by four-tusked and three-tusked elephants, spacious, guarded by rakshasas with weapons raised, filled with Ravana’s rakshasi wives and with kings’ daughters taken by force, like the ocean crowded with crocodiles and sea-monsters, whales and fish, shaken by the wind and by serpents. The beauty that is in Vaishravana, in the moon, in the god with the bay horses, is lovely and lasting in Ravana’s house; the wealth of King Kubera, of Yama and of Varuna is matched or surpassed here in the rakshasa’s houses. In the middle of that mansion the son of the wind sees another well-built house with many turrets: the divine celestial chariot Pushpaka, adorned with all jewels, which Vishvakarman made in heaven for Brahma, which Kubera won from the Grandfather by supreme austerity, and which the lord of the rakshasas took by conquering Kubera with his might. It is set with well-made pillars of gold and refined gold, carved with wolves and deer, blazing with beauty; adorned on every side with lovely pinnacled chambers like Meru and Mandara, as if scratching the sky; well made by Vishvakarman, shining like fire and sun, with golden stairs and lovely fine altars, with lattice windows of gold and crystal, with fine altars of sapphire and great sapphire, its floor shining with many-coloured coral, precious gems and peerless pearls, with red sandal like refined gold, fragrant, like the young sun, adorned with excellent pinnacled chambers of many kinds. The great monkey climbs the divine Pushpaka. Standing there, he smells on every side the divine, mingled fragrance arising from drinks, foods and dishes, like the wind in bodily form. That fragrance seems to say to the great one, as a kinsman to his best kinsman, “Come here, to where Ravana is.” Setting out toward it, he sees a great, auspicious hall, very dear to Ravana, like a beloved, fine woman: with stairs of gems, shining with golden lattices, its floor covered with crystal, inlaid with ivory figures, adorned with pearls, diamonds and coral, silver and gold, with jewelled pillars, many pillars, even, straight, very high, well adorned all round, as if setting off for heaven on its lofty pillars as on wings; spread with a great carpet marked with the signs of the earth, wide like the earth with its kingdoms and houses, echoing with intoxicated birds, perfumed with divine fragrance, with costly coverings, frequented by the lord of the rakshasas, smoky with aloe incense, spotless, white as a swan, dappled with offerings of leaves and flowers, bright, giving joy to the mind and brightening the complexion, destroying grief, divine, as if the mother of beauty. Guarded by Ravana, it satisfies his five senses like a mother with the five best objects of sense. The son of the wind thinks: “This is heaven, this is the world of the gods, this may be Indra’s city, or this is the supreme perfection.”
He sees golden lamps there as if brooding, like gamblers defeated at dice by great cheats. With the light of the lamps, Ravana’s splendour and the gleam of ornaments, he thinks the place ablaze. Then he sees a thousand fine women seated on carpets, adorned in many kinds of dress, with clothes and garlands of many colours, fallen under the power of drink and sleep after midnight, having played and stopped, now sleeping soundly. That sleeping assembly, its ornaments silent, shines like a great lotus forest whose swans and bees have fallen silent. The son of the wind sees the faces of those lovely women, their teeth hidden, their eyes closed, fragrant as lotuses. Their lotus faces, which had opened like lotuses at the end of the night, now shone with their petals closed again as at night. “Surely intoxicated bees long for these lotus faces again and again, as for blooming lotuses”: so the glorious great monkey thinks reasonably, for he judges them equal in quality to water-born flowers. Ravana’s hall, lit by those women, shines like the clear autumn sky adorned with stars, and the lord of the rakshasas, surrounded by them, shines like the glorious lord of the stars surrounded by stars. “The stars that fall from the sky when their merit is spent have all gathered here,” the monkey thinks. The radiance, complexion and clarity of the women shine there clearly, like those of great stars of auspicious light. Their hair loose, their full garlands and fine ornaments scattered, their minds overcome by sleep at the time of drinking and exertion: some with their tilaka marks smudged, some with anklets slipped off, some with their necklaces fallen to their sides; some covered with pearl necklaces, some with their clothes slipped, their girdle-strings flung aside like fillies that have been ridden; some without earrings, their garlands torn and crushed, like flowering creepers trampled by a great elephant in the forest. On some, necklaces bright as moonbeams risen between the breasts look like sleeping swans; on others, beryl ones like kadamba birds, and golden threads like chakravakas. With hips like sandbanks, adorned with swans, ducks and chakravakas, they shine like rivers; like sleeping rivers, with nets of bells for ripples, golden ornaments for great lotuses, amorous gestures for crocodiles and glory for banks. On the soft limbs and breasts of some, the lovely lines left by ornaments are themselves like ornaments. The hems of some women’s garments, stirred by the breath of their mouths, flutter again and again over their faces, shining like raised banners at the mouths of those lovely wives of many fine colours. The earrings of some women of lovely radiance swing gently with the breath of their mouths. The sweet, naturally fragrant breath of their mouths, smelling of sugar-wine, serves Ravana. Some of Ravana’s women, thinking they are Ravana’s face, kiss the faces of their co-wives again and again. Those fine women, their minds deeply attached to Ravana, not their own mistresses, do only what pleases their co-wives. Some lie there with their arms adorned with bracelets as pillows, others on lovely garments; one on another’s breast, one on another’s arm, one in another’s lap, another on her breasts; leaning on one another’s thighs, sides, waists and backs, their limbs entwined, following the power of intoxication and affection, delighted by the touch of one another’s limbs, slender-waisted, their arms joined together, all the women sleep there. Strung on the thread of one another’s arms, that garland of women shines like a garland strung on a thread with intoxicated bees. Ravana’s forest of women is like a forest stirred by the wind in the spring month, its creepers in bloom, strung together in garlands, their heaps of flowers clinging, their trunks entwined, crowded with bees. Even where it would be natural, it is impossible to tell apart the women’s ornaments, limbs, clothes and garlands. While Ravana sleeps at ease, the burning golden lamps seem to watch those women of many radiances with unblinking eyes. The wives of royal sages, brahmanas and daityas, of gandharvas, and daughters of rakshasas have come under the power of his love. All those women were taken by Ravana in his love of war; some came of their own accord, bewildered by love. No woman there was taken by force, won by the qualities of the valiant one; none loved another, none had belonged to another before, except the excellent daughter of Janaka. None of his wives was of low birth or poor in form, unskilful, without grace, of weak spirit, or not desired by her lover. The lord of the monkeys, of good mind, thinks: “If Raghava’s lawful wife were like these wives of the great king of the rakshasas, it would be well for him.” And again he thinks: “Surely Sita excels in virtue. And yet this great-souled lord of Lanka has done her this terrible, ignoble deed.”
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तस्यालयवरिष्ठस्य मध्ये विमलमायतम् । ददर्श भवनश्रेष्ठं हनुमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ १ ॥
In the middle of that best of dwellings, Hanuman, son of the wind, saw a spotless, long, best of houses,
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अर्धयोजनविस्तीर्णमायतं योजनं महत् । भवनं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य बहुप्रासादसंकुलम् ॥ २ ॥
half a yojana wide and a yojana long, great: the house of the lord of the rakshasas, crowded with many palaces.
मार्गमाणस्तु वैदेहीं सीतामायतलोचनाम् । सर्वतः परिचक्राम हनूमानरिसूदनः ॥ ३ ॥
Seeking Vaidehi, long-eyed Sita, Hanuman, slayer of enemies, went all round on every side.
उत्तमं राक्षसावासं हनुमानवलोकयन् । आससादाथ लक्ष्मीवान् राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशनम् ॥ ४ ॥
Looking at the excellent dwelling of the rakshasas, Hanuman, the glorious one, then reached the residence of the king of the rakshasas,
चतुर्विषाणैर्द्विरदैस्त्रिविषाणैस्तथैव च । परिक्षिप्तमसम्बाधं रक्ष्यमाणमुदायुधैः ॥ ५ ॥
surrounded by four-tusked and likewise three-tusked elephants, spacious, being guarded by those with weapons raised,
राक्षसीभिश्च पत्नीभी रावणस्य निवेशनम् । आहृताभिश्च विक्रम्य राजकन्याभिरावृतम् ॥ ६ ॥
Ravana’s residence, surrounded by rakshasi wives and by kings’ daughters brought by valour,
तन्नक्रमकराकीर्णं तिमिंगिलझषाकुलम् । वायुवेगसमाधूतं पन्नगैरिव सागरम् ॥ ७ ॥
like the ocean crowded with crocodiles and sea-monsters, filled with whale-swallowers and fish, shaken by the force of the wind, as if by serpents.
या हि वैश्रवणे लक्ष्मीर्या चन्द्रे हरिवाहने । सा रावणगृहे रम्या नित्यमेवानपायिनी ॥ ८ ॥
The beauty that is in Vaishravana, that in the moon and in the one with bay horses, that is in Ravana’s house, lovely, always unfailing.
या च राज्ञः कुबेरस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च । तादृशी तद्विशिष्टा वा ऋद्धी रक्षोगृहेष्विह ॥ ९ ॥
And the wealth that is King Kubera’s, and Yama’s and Varuna’s, such, or distinguished beyond it, is the wealth here in the rakshasa’s houses.
तस्य हर्म्यस्य मध्यस्थवेश्म चान्यत् सुनिर्मितम् । बहुनिर्यूहसंयुक्तं ददर्श पवनात्मजः ॥ १० ॥
And in the middle of that mansion the son of the wind saw another house, well built, joined with many turrets:
ब्रह्मणोऽर्थे कृतं दिव्यं दिवि यद् विश्वकर्मणा । विमानं पुष्पकं नाम सर्वरत्नविभूषितम् ॥ ११ ॥
the divine celestial chariot named Pushpaka, which was made in heaven by Vishvakarman for Brahma, adorned with all jewels,
परेण तपसा लेभे यत् कुबेरः पितामहात् । कुबेरमोजसा जित्वा लेभे तद् राक्षसेश्वरः ॥ १२ ॥
which Kubera obtained from the Grandfather by supreme austerity; having conquered Kubera by might, the lord of the rakshasas obtained it.
ईहामृगसमायुक्तैः कार्तस्वरहिरण्मयैः । सुकृतैराचितं स्तम्भैः प्रदीप्तमिव च श्रिया ॥ १३ ॥
Set with well-made pillars of gold and refined gold, joined with wolves and deer, as if blazing with beauty,
मेरुमन्दरसंकाशैरुल्लिखद्भिरिवाम्बरम् । कूटागारैः शुभागारैः सर्वतः समलंकृतम् ॥ १४ ॥
adorned on every side with pinnacled chambers and lovely chambers, like Meru and Mandara, as if scratching the sky,
ज्वलनार्कप्रतीकाशैः सुकृतं विश्वकर्मणा । हेमसोपानयुक्तं च चारुप्रवरवेदिकम् ॥ १५ ॥
well made by Vishvakarman, like fire and the sun, joined with golden stairs, with lovely, fine altars,
जालवातायनैर्युक्तं काञ्चनैः स्फाटिकैरपि । इन्द्रनीलमहानीलमणिप्रवरवेदिकम् ॥ १६ ॥
joined with lattice windows of gold and of crystal too, with fine altars of sapphire and great sapphire gems,
विद्रुमेण विचित्रेण मणिभिश्च महाधनैः । निस्तुलाभिश्च मुक्ताभिस्तलेनाभिविराजितम् ॥ १७ ॥
shining with a floor of many-coloured coral, precious gems, and peerless pearls,
चन्दनेन च रक्तेन तपनीयनिभेन च । सुपुण्यगन्धिना युक्तमादित्यतरुणोपमम् ॥ १८ ॥
joined with red sandal like refined gold, of very holy fragrance, like the young sun,
कूटागारैर्वराकारैर्विविधैः समलंकृतम् । विमानं पुष्पकं दिव्यमारुरोह महाकपिः । तत्रस्थः सर्वतो गन्धं पानभक्ष्यान्नसम्भवम् ॥ १९ ॥
adorned with excellent pinnacled chambers of many kinds: the great monkey climbed the divine celestial chariot Pushpaka. Standing there, a fragrance on every side, arising from drink, food and dishes,
दिव्यं सम्मूर्च्छितं जिघ्रन् रूपवन्तमिवानिलम् । स गन्धस्तं महासत्त्वं बन्धुर्बन्धुमिवोत्तमम् ॥ २० ॥
divine, mingled, he smelled, like wind having a form. That fragrance, to that great being, as a kinsman to his best kinsman,
इत एहीत्युवाचेव तत्र यत्र स रावणः । ततस्तां प्रस्थितः शालां ददर्श महतीं शिवाम् ॥ २१ ॥
seemed to say, “Come here,” there where that Ravana was. Then, setting out toward it, he saw a great, auspicious hall,
रावणस्य महाकान्तां कान्तामिव वरस्त्रियम् । मणिसोपानविकृतां हेमजालविराजिताम् ॥ २२ ॥
very dear to Ravana, like a beloved, fine woman, made with stairs of gems, shining with golden lattices,
स्फाटिकैरावृततलां दन्तान्तरितरूपिकाम् । मुक्तावज्रप्रवालैश्च रूप्यचामीकरैरपि ॥ २३ ॥
its floor covered with crystals, with figures inlaid with ivory, with pearls, diamonds and coral, and with silver and gold too,
विभूषितां मणिस्तम्भैः सुबहुस्तम्भभूषिताम् । समैर्ऋजुभिरत्युच्चैः समन्तात् सुविभूषितैः ॥ २४ ॥
adorned with jewelled pillars, adorned with very many pillars, even, straight, very high, well adorned all round:
स्तम्भैः पक्षैरिवात्युच्चैर्दिवं सम्प्रस्थितामिव । महत्या कुथयाऽऽस्तीर्णां पृथिवीलक्षणाङ्कया ॥ २५ ॥
with pillars very high like wings, as if set out for heaven; spread with a great carpet bearing the marks of the earth,
पृथिवीमिव विस्तीर्णां सराष्ट्रगृहशालिनीम् । नादितां मत्तविहगैर्दिव्यगन्धाधिवासिताम् ॥ २६ ॥
wide like the earth, rich in kingdoms and houses, resounding with intoxicated birds, perfumed with divine fragrance,
परर्घ्यास्तरणोपेतां रक्षोऽधिपनिषेविताम् । धूम्रामगुरुधूपेन विमलां हंसपाण्डुराम् ॥ २७ ॥
joined with costly coverings, frequented by the lord of the rakshasas, smoky with aloe incense, spotless, white as a swan,
पत्रपुष्पोपहारेण कल्माषीमिव सुप्रभाम् । मनसो मोदजननीं वर्णस्यापि प्रसाधिनीम् ॥ २८ ॥
dappled as it were with offerings of leaves and flowers, very bright, producing joy of mind and adorning complexion too,
तां शोकनाशिनीं दिव्यां श्रियः संजननीमिव । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थैस्तु पञ्च पञ्चभिरुत्तमैः ॥ २९ ॥
that divine one, destroying grief, as if the producer of beauty: the senses, by the best five objects of the senses,
तर्पयामास मातेव तदा रावणपालिता । स्वर्गोऽयं देवलोकोऽयमिन्द्रस्यापि पुरी भवेत् । सिद्धिर्वेयं परा हि स्यादित्यमन्यत मारुतिः ॥ ३० ॥
she, ruled by Ravana, satisfied then like a mother. “This is heaven, this is the world of the gods, this may be Indra’s city, or this would be the supreme perfection”: so the son of the wind thought.
प्रध्यायत इवापश्यत् प्रदीपांस्तत्र काञ्चनान् । धूर्तानिव महाधूर्तैर्देवनेन पराजितान् ॥ ३१ ॥
As if brooding, he saw golden lamps there, like gamblers defeated at gaming by great cheats.
दीपानां च प्रकाशेन तेजसा रावणस्य च । अर्चिर्भिर्भूषणानां च प्रदीप्तेत्यभ्यमन्यत ॥ ३२ ॥
By the light of the lamps and by Ravana’s splendour, and by the flames of ornaments, he thought it ablaze.
ततोऽपश्यत् कुथासीनं नानावर्णाम्बरस्रजम् । सहस्रं वरनारीणां नानावेषबिभूषितम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Then he saw a thousand fine women, seated on carpets, with clothes and garlands of many colours, adorned in many kinds of dress,
परिवृत्तेऽर्धरात्रे तु पाननिद्रावशंगतम् । क्रीडित्वोपरतं रात्रौ प्रसुप्तं बलवत् तदा ॥ ३४ ॥
come under the power of drink and sleep when midnight had turned, having played and stopped at night, then sleeping soundly.
तत् प्रसुप्तं विरुरुचे निःशब्दान्तरभूषितम् । निःशब्दहंसभ्रमरं यथा पद्मवनं महत् ॥ ३५ ॥
That sleeping one shone, adorned with silence within, like a great lotus forest with silent swans and bees.
तासां संवृतदान्तानि मीलिताक्षीणि मारुतिः । अपश्यत् पद्मगन्धीनि वदनानि सुयोषिताम् ॥ ३६ ॥
The son of the wind saw the faces of those lovely women, with teeth covered, eyes closed, fragrant as lotuses.
प्रबुद्धानीव पद्मानि तासां भूत्वा क्षपाक्षये । पुनः संवृतपत्राणि रात्राविव बभुस्तदा ॥ ३७ ॥
Having become like lotuses woken at the end of night, they shone then again with petals closed, as at night.
इमानि मुखपद्मानि नियतं मत्तषट्पदाः । अम्बुजानीव फुल्लानि प्रार्थयन्ति पुनः पुनः ॥ ३८ ॥
“Surely intoxicated bees long again and again for these lotus faces, as for blooming lotuses”:
इति वामन्यत श्रीमानुपपत्त्या महाकपिः । मेने हि गुणतस्तानि समानि सलिलोद्भवैः ॥ ३९ ॥
so the glorious great monkey thought, with reason; for he thought them equal in qualities to the water-born ones.
सा तस्य शुशुभे शाला ताभिः स्त्रीभिर्विराजिता । शरदीव प्रसन्ना द्यौस्ताराभिरभिशोभिता ॥ ४० ॥
That hall of his shone, made splendid by those women, like the clear sky in autumn adorned by stars.
स च ताभिः परिवृतः शुशुभे राक्षसाधिपः । यथा ह्युडुपतिः श्रीमांस्ताराभिरिव संवृतः ॥ ४१ ॥
And the lord of the rakshasas, surrounded by them, shone like the glorious lord of the stars surrounded by stars.
याश्च्यवन्तेऽम्बरात् ताराः पुण्यशेषसमावृताः । इमास्ताः संगताः कृत्स्ना इति मेने हरिस्तदा ॥ ४२ ॥
“The stars that fall from the sky, covered by the remainder of merit: these are they, all gathered”: so the monkey then thought.
ताराणामिव सुव्यक्तं महतीनां शुभार्चिषाम् । प्रभावर्णप्रसादाश्च विरेजुस्तत्र योषिताम् ॥ ४३ ॥
Clearly, as of great stars of auspicious light, the radiance, complexion and clarity of the women shone there.
व्यावृत्तकचपीनस्रक्प्रकीर्णवरभूषणाः । पानव्यायामकालेषु निद्रोपहतचेतसः ॥ ४४ ॥
With hair loose and full garlands scattered, fine ornaments strewn, their minds struck by sleep at the times of drinking and exertion,
व्यावृत्ततिलकाः काश्चित् काश्चिदुदभ्रान्तनूपुराः । पार्श्वे गलितहाराश्च काश्चित् परमयोषितः ॥ ४५ ॥
some with tilaka smudged, some with anklets thrown off, and some fine women with necklaces fallen at their sides,
मुक्ताहारवृताश्चान्याः काश्चित् प्रस्रस्तवाससः । व्याविद्धरशनादामाः किशोर्य इव वाहिताः ॥ ४६ ॥
and others covered with pearl necklaces, some with clothes slipped down, with girdle-strings flung aside, like fillies that have been driven,
अकुण्डलधराश्चान्या विच्छिन्नमृदितस्रजः । गजेन्द्रमृदिताः फुल्ला लता इव महावने ॥ ४७ ॥
and others not wearing earrings, with garlands broken and crushed, like flowering creepers in a great forest crushed by a lordly elephant.
चन्द्रांशुकिरणाभाश्च हाराः कासांचिदुद्गताः । हंसा इव बभुः सुप्ताः स्तनमध्येषु योषिताम् ॥ ४८ ॥
And on some women, necklaces with the radiance of moonbeams, risen between their breasts, shone like sleeping swans.
अपरासां च वैदूर्याः कादम्बा इव पक्षिणः । हेमसूत्राणि चान्यासां चक्रवाका इवाभवन् ॥ ४९ ॥
And on others, beryl ones like kadamba birds; and on others, golden threads were like chakravakas.
हंसकारण्डवोपेताश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः । आपगा इव ता रेजुर्जघनैः पुलिनैरिव ॥ ५० ॥
Joined with swans and ducks, adorned with chakravakas, they shone like rivers, with hips like sandbanks.
किङ्किणीजालसंकाशास्ता हेमविपुलाम्बुजाः । भावग्राहा यशस्तीराः सुप्ता नद्य इवाबभुः ॥ ५१ ॥
With nets of bells for ripples, with gold for great lotuses, with gestures for crocodiles, with glory for banks, they shone like sleeping rivers.
मृदुष्वंगेषु कासांचित् कुचाग्रेषु च संस्थिताः । बभूवुर्भूषणानीव शुभा भूषणराजयः ॥ ५२ ॥
On the soft limbs of some, and set on the tips of their breasts, the lovely lines of ornaments became like ornaments.
अंशुकान्ताश्च कासांचिन्मुखमारुतकम्पिताः । उपर्युपरि वक्त्राणां व्याधूयन्ते पुनः पुनः ॥ ५३ ॥
And the ends of the garments of some, shaken by the breath of their mouths, are tossed again and again above their faces.
ताः पताका इवोद्धूताः पत्नीनां रुचिरप्रभाः । नानावर्णसुवर्णानां वक्त्रमूलेषु रेजिरे ॥ ५४ ॥
Those shone like banners raised, of lovely radiance, at the roots of the faces of the wives of many fine colours.
ववल्गुश्चात्र कासांचित् कुण्डलानि शुभार्चिषाम् । मुखमारुतसंकम्पैर्मन्दं मन्दं च योषिताम् ॥ ५५ ॥
And here the earrings of some women of lovely light swung gently, gently with the trembling of the breath of their mouths.
शर्करासवगन्धः स प्रकृत्या सुरभिः सुखः । तासां वदननिःश्वासः सिषेवे रावणं तदा ॥ ५६ ॥
That breath of their mouths, with the scent of sugar-wine, naturally fragrant, pleasant, served Ravana then.
रावणाननशंकाश्च काश्चिद् रावणयोषितः । मुखानि च सपत्नीनामुपाजिघ्रन् पुनः पुनः ॥ ५७ ॥
And some of Ravana’s women, suspecting Ravana’s face, kissed the faces of their co-wives again and again.
अत्यर्थं सक्तमनसो रावणे ता वरस्त्रियः । अस्वतन्त्राः सपत्नीनां प्रियमेवाचरंस्तदा ॥ ५८ ॥
Those fine women, their minds greatly attached to Ravana, not independent, did then only what was dear to their co-wives.
बाहूनुपनिधायान्याः पारिहार्यविभूषितान् । अंशुकानि च रम्याणि प्रमदास्तत्र शिश्यिरे ॥ ५९ ॥
Others, placing their arms adorned with bracelets as pillows, and lovely garments, the women lay there.
अन्या वक्षसि चान्यस्यास्तस्याः काचित् पुनर्भुजम् । अपरा त्वङ्कमन्यस्यास्तस्याश्चाप्यपरा कुचौ ॥ ६० ॥
One on the chest of another, and some again on her arm, another in the lap of another, and another on her breasts,
ऊरुपार्श्वकटीपृष्ठमन्योन्यस्य समाश्रिताः । परस्परनिविष्टांग्यो मदस्नेहवशानुगाः ॥ ६१ ॥
resting on one another’s thighs, sides, hips and backs, their limbs entered into one another, following the power of intoxication and affection,
अन्योन्यस्यांगसंस्पर्शात् प्रीयमाणाः सुमध्यमाः । एकीकृतभुजाः सर्वाः सुषुपुस्तत्र योषितः ॥ ६२ ॥
pleased by the touch of one another’s limbs, slender-waisted, with arms made one, all the women slept there.
अन्योन्यभुजसूत्रेण स्त्रीमाला ग्रथिता हि सा । मालेव ग्रथिता सूत्रे शुशुभे मत्तषट्पदा ॥ ६३ ॥
Strung with the thread of one another’s arms, that garland of women shone like a garland strung on a thread, with intoxicated bees.
लतानां माधवे मासि फुल्लानां वायुसेवनात् । अन्योन्यमालाग्रथितं संसक्तकुसुमोच्चयम् ॥ ६४ ॥
Of creepers in the month of Madhava, blooming, from the service of the wind, strung in garlands with one another, their heaps of flowers clinging,
प्रतिवेष्टितसुस्कन्धमन्योन्यभ्रमराकुलम् । आसीद् वनमिवोद्धूतं स्त्रीवनं रावणस्य तत् ॥ ६५ ॥
their fine trunks entwined, crowded with one another’s bees: that forest of women of Ravana was like a forest stirred up.
उचितेष्वपि सुव्यक्तं न तासां योषितां तदा । विवेकः शक्य आधातुं भूषणांगाम्बरस्रजाम् ॥ ६६ ॥
Even in the fitting, clearly, no distinguishing of those women’s ornaments, limbs, clothes and garlands could then be made.
रावणे सुखसंविष्टे ताः स्त्रियो विविधप्रभाः । ज्वलन्तः काञ्चना दीपाः प्रेक्षन्तो निमिषा इव ॥ ६७ ॥
When Ravana slept at ease, the burning golden lamps seem to watch those women of many radiances, as if unblinking.
राजर्षिविप्रदैत्यानां गन्धर्वाणां च योषितः । रक्षसां चाभवन् कन्यास्तस्य कामवशंगताः ॥ ६८ ॥
The wives of royal sages, brahmanas and daityas, of gandharvas, and the daughters of rakshasas had come under the power of his love.
युद्धकामेन ताः सर्वा रावणेन हृताः स्त्रियः । समदा मदनेनैव मोहिताः काश्चिदागताः ॥ ६९ ॥
All those women were carried off by Ravana, desiring war; and some, with intoxication, came, bewildered by love itself.
न तत्र काश्चित् प्रमदाः प्रसह्य वीर्योपपन्नेन गुणेन लब्धाः । न चान्यकामापि न चान्यपूर्वा विना वरार्हां जनकात्मजां तु ॥ ७० ॥
There no women were taken by force, won by the quality of one endowed with valour; nor loving another, nor belonging to another before, except the daughter of Janaka, worthy of the best.
न चाकुलीना न च हीनरूपा नादक्षिणा नानुपचारयुक्ता । भार्याभवत् तस्य न हीनसत्त्वा न चापि कान्तस्य न कामनीया ॥ ७१ ॥
Neither low-born nor poor in form, nor unskilful, nor without grace, was a wife of his, nor weak in spirit, nor not desirable to her lover.
बभूव बुद्धिस्तु हरीश्वरस्य यदीदृशी राघवधर्मपत्नी । इमा महाराक्षसराजभार्याः सुजातमस्येति हि साधुबुद्धेः ॥ ७२ ॥
The thought of the lord of the monkeys, of good mind, was: “If Raghava’s lawful wife were such as these wives of the great king of the rakshasas, it would be well-born for him.”
पुनश्च सोऽचिन्तयदात्तरूपो ध्रुवं विशिष्टा गुणतो हि सीता । अथायमस्यां कृतवान् महात्मा लंकेश्वरः कष्टमनार्यकर्म ॥ ७३ ॥
And again he thought, having taken on form: “Surely Sita is distinguished in virtue. And then this great-souled lord of Lanka has done to her a hard, ignoble deed.”