Sloka & Translation

[Ravana takes on his true form -- speaks of his glory -- Sita abuses Ravana in harsh words.]

ēvaṅ bṛvantyāṅ sītāyāṅ saṅrabdaḥ paruṣaṅ vacaḥ.

lalāṭē bhṛkuṭīṅ kṛtvā rāvaṇaḥ pratyuvāca ha৷৷3.48.1৷৷


sītāyām when Sita, ēvam in that way, bṛvantyām as she spoke, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, saṅrabdhaḥ roused to anger, lalāṭē forehead, bhṛkuṭīm knitted eyebrows, kṛtvā doing, paruṣam harsh, vacaḥ words, pratyuvāca replied.

Addressed thus by Sita, Ravana, his anger roused, knitted his eyebrows with a frown on his forehead and replied to her harshly:
bhrātā vaiśravaṇasyāhaṅ sāpatnyō varavarṇini.

rāvaṇō nāma bhadraṅ tē daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān৷৷3.48.2৷৷


varavarṇini most beautiful woman, aham I, vaiśravaṇasya of Kubera's, sāpatnyaḥ step-mother's son, bhrātā brother, daśagrīvaḥ ten -headed, pratāpavān powerful, rāvaṇō nāma called Ravana, tē to you, bhadram be pleased.

O paragon of beauty ! I am the half-brother of Kubera, born of his step-mother. I am known as the ten-headed, powerful Ravana. Be blessed !
yasya dēvāssagandharvāḥ piśācapatagōragāḥ.

vidravanti bhayādbhītā mṛtyōriva sadā prajāḥ৷৷3.48.3৷৷


prajāḥ people, mṛtyōriva like death, yasya whose, bhayāt out of fear, bhītāḥ scared of, sagandharvāḥ including gandharvas, dēvāḥ gods, piśācapatagōragā: evil spirits, birds and serpents, vidravanti run away.

Just as people get scared of death, all (creatures) including gandharvas, gods, evil spirits, birds and snakes run away from me.
yēna vaiśravaṇō rājā dvaimātraḥ kāraṇāntarē.

dvandvamāsāditaḥ krōdhādraṇē vikramya nirjitaḥ৷৷3.48.4৷৷


yēna by whom, kāraṇāntarē for some other reason, krōdhāt in anger, dvandvam duel, āsāditaḥ took place, dvaimātraḥ stepmother, vaiśravaṇaḥ rājā king Vaisravana, raṇē in war, vikramya with my prowess, nirjitaḥ was defeated.

For some reason or other a duel took place between me and king Kubera. With my prowess, I defeated him in the duel.
yadbhayārtaḥ parityajya svamadhiṣṭhānamṛddhimat.

kailāsaṅ parvataśrēṣṭhamadhyāstē naravāhanaḥ৷৷3.48.5৷৷


naravāhanaḥ Kubera (having a human being as his carrier), yadbhayārtaḥ due to fear of whom, ṛddhimat prosperous, svam his own, adhiṣṭhānam place of residence, parityajya giving up, parvataśrēṣṭham mighty mountain, kailāsam Kailasa, adhyāstē residing.

Out of fear for me, Kubera is residing on the mighty mount Kailasa, leaving his own earlier prosperous place of residence.
yasya tatpuṣpakaṅ nāma vimānaṅ kāmagaṅ śubham.

vīryādēvārjitaṅ bhadrē yēna yāmi vihāyasam৷৷3.48.6৷৷


bhadrē O noble lady, yasya whose, tat that, puṣpakaṅ nāma by name Pushpaka, kāmagam goes where one desires, śubham auspicious, vimānam chariot, vīryādēva by valour alone, ārjitam gained over, yēna in which, vihāyasam sky, yāmi I move about.

O noble lady ! with my valour I gained over from Kubera the aerial chariot 'Pushpaka',
which can go wherever one desires and in which I move about in the sky.
mama sañjātarōṣasya mukhaṅ dṛṣṭvaiva maithili.

vidravanti paritrastāssurāśśakrapurōgamāḥ৷৷3.48.7৷৷


maithili O Maithili, sañjātarōṣasya when I get angry, mama my, mukham face, dṛṣṭvaiva on seeing alone, paritrastāḥ frightened , śakrapurōgamāḥ led by Indra, surāḥ gods, vidravanti run away.

O Princess from Mithila, seeing my angry face even gods led by Indra take to their heels in fear.
yatra tiṣṭhāmyahaṅ tatra mārutō vāti śaṅkitaḥ.

tīvrāṅśuśśiśirāṅśuśca bhayātsampadyatē raviḥ৷৷3.48.8৷৷


aham I am, yatra wherever, tiṣṭhāmi stay, tatra there, mārutaḥ the Wind-god, śaṅkitaḥ hesitantly, vāti blows, tīvrāṅśuḥ the Sun with scorching rays, raviḥ ca even Sun, bhayāt in fear, śiśirāṅśuḥ Moon of cool radiance, sampadyatē discharges duties.

Wherever I am, the Wind-god blows with hesitation. So are the Sun and the Moon afraid of me. Afraid of me the Sun duly discharges his duties.
niṣkampapatrāstaravō nadyaśca stimitōdakāḥ.

bhavanti yatra yatrāhaṅ tiṣṭhāmi vicarāmi ca৷৷3.48.9৷৷


aham I am, yatra yatra wherever, tiṣṭhāmi stay, vicarāmi move about, udakāḥ water, niṣkampapatrāḥ with their leaves, taravaḥ trees, nadyaśca the rivers also, stimitōdakāḥ have still waters, bhavanti remain.

Wherever I stay or move about, the leaves of trees do not shake, and the waters in rivers remain still.
mama pārē samudrasya laṅkā nāma purī śubhā.

sampūrṇā rākṣasairghōrairyathēndrasyāmarāvatī৷৷3.48.10৷৷


ghōraiḥ by the terrific, rākṣasaiḥ by demons, sampūrṇā filled with, laṅkā nāma known as Lanka, śubhā auspicious, iṅdrasya Indra's, amarāvatīva like Amaravati, mama my, purī city, samudrasya on these, pārē shore.

My city known as Lanka, teeming with terrific demons, is on the other side of the sea. It is beautiful like the city of Indra's Amaravati.
prākārēṇa parikṣiptā pāṇḍurēṇa virājatā.

hēmakakṣyā purī ramyā vaiḍhūryamayatōraṇā৷৷3.48.11৷৷


ramyā beautiful, pāṇḍurēṇa pale white, virājatā shining , prākārēṇa by a ramparts, parikṣiptā surrounded, hēmakakṣyā interiors built of gold, vaiḍhūryamayatōraṇā entrance gates encrusted with vaidurya (cat's eye).

The beautiful city of Lanka shines with its pale white ramparts and golden interiors. The entrance gates are encrusted with vaidurya (cat's-eye).
hastyaśvarathasambādhā tūryanādavināditā.

sarvakālaphalairvṛkṣaissaṅkulōddyānaśōbhitā৷৷3.48.12৷৷


hastyaśvarathasambādhā crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, tūryanādavināditā resounding with trumpets, sarvakālaphalaiḥ yielding fruits in all seasons, vṛkṣaiḥ by trees, saṅkulōdyānaśōbhitā looks splendid with delightful pleasure-gardens.

It is crowded with elephants, horses and chariots. It resounds with the music of trumpets. The trees in the delightful pleasure-gardens yield fruits in all seasons.
tatra tvaṅ vasatī sītē rājaputri mayā saha.

na smariṣyasi nārīṇāṅ mānuṣīṇāṅ manasvini৷৷3.48.13৷৷


rājaputri princess, manasvini high-minded, sītē Sita, tatra there, mayā saha along with me, vasatī while residing, mānuṣīṇām of human beings, nārīṇām of women, na smariṣyasi you will not think of.

O high-minded princess, O Sita! while living with me, you will not even think of other women.
bhuñjānā mānuṣānbhōgāndivyāṅśca varavarṇini.

na smariṣyasi rāmasya mānuṣasya gatāyuṣaḥ৷৷3.48.14৷৷


varavarṇini blessed lady of excellant complexion, mānuṣān mortals, bhōgān pleasures, divyāṅśca wonderful as well as divine, bhuñjānā enjoying, mānuṣasya mortals, gatāyuṣaḥ of a short life-span, rāmasya Rama's, na smariṣyisi not think of.

O blessed lady of fine complexion, while enjoying both human and heavenly pleasures with me there, you will not remember Rama who is a mortal of short life-span.
sthāpayitvā priyaṅ putraṅ rājñā daśarathēna yaḥ.

mandavīryassutō jyēṣṭhastataḥ prasthāpitō vanam৷৷3.48.15৷৷


rājñā by the king, daśarathēna Dasaratha's, priyam dear, putram son (Bharata), sthāpayitvā consecrating, tataḥ then, mandavīryaḥ weakling, jyēṣṭhaḥ sutaḥ eldest son, yaḥ one who is, vanam forest, prasthāpitaḥ sent away.

Considering the eldest son a weakling, king Dasaratha has sent him away to the forest so that he could consecrate his dear son(Bharata).
tēna kiṅ bhraṣṭarājyēna rāmēṇa gatacētasā.

kariṣyasi viśālākṣi tāpasēna tapasvinā৷৷3.48.16৷৷


viśālākṣi O large-eyed, bhraṣṭarājyēna dislodged from the kingdom, gatacētasā lost the capacity to think, tāpasēna ascetic, tapasvinā by a pitiable man, tēna rāmēṇa such Rama, kiṅ kariṣyasi what can he do (for you) ?

O large-eyed Sita! dislodged from the kingdom, Rama has lost his capacity to think. He is doing penance, assuming an ascetic role. What can he do (for you)?
sarvarākṣasabhartāraṅ kāmātsvayamihāgatam.

na manmathaśarāviṣṭaṅ pratyākhyātuṅ tvamarhasi৷৷3.48.17৷৷


kāmāt owing to passion, svayam I myself, iha here, āgatam came, manmathaśarāviṣṭam overcome by the arrows of the god of love, sarvarākṣasabhartāram lord of all demons, tvam you, pratyākhyātum to reject, na arhasi not proper.

I am lord of all the demons. You should not reject me I am here (only because I am) overcome by the arrows of the god of love.
pratyākhyāya hi māṅ bhīru paritāpaṅ gamiṣyasi.

caraṇēnābhihatyēva purūravasamūrvaśī৷৷3.48.18৷৷


bhīru O timid lady, mām me, pratyākhyāya after you reject, purūravasam Pururava, caraṇēna by the feet, abhihatya kicking, ūrvaśīva like Urvasi, paritāpam regret, gamiṣyasi will you experience later.

O timid lady! if you reject me, you will regret like Urvasi who kicked Pururava and regretted later.
aṅgulyā na samō rāmō mama yuddhē sa mānuṣaḥ.

tava bhāgyēna samprāptaṅ bhajasva varavarṇini৷৷3.48.19৷৷


varavarṇini O lady of fine complexion, mānuṣaḥ a mere mortal, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, yuddhē in war, mama for me, aṅgulyā with my finger, samaḥ equal, na not, tava your, bhāgyēna by your luck,
samprāptam have I come, bhajasva take refuge.

O lady of fine complexion, Rama is a (mere) mortal. In war he is no match (even) for my finger. It is your good fortune that you have got me here. Take refuge in me.
ēvamuktā tu vaidēhī kruddhā saṅraktalōcanā.

abravītparuṣaṅ vākyaṅ rahitē rākṣasādhipam৷৷3.48.20৷৷


ēvam that way, uktā told, vaidēhī Vaidehi, kruddhā enraged, saṅraktalōcanā eyes turned red, rahitē in that solitary place, rākṣasādhipam chief of the demons, paruṣam harsh, vākyam words, abravīt said.

Thus addressed, Sita was enraged and her eyes turned red. She replied in harsh words to the chief of the demons in that solitary place:.
kathaṅ vaiśravaṇaṅ dēvaṅ sarvabhūtanamaskṛtam.

bhrātaraṅ vyapadiśya tvamaśubhaṅ kartumicchasi৷৷3.48.21৷৷


sarvabhūtanamaskṛtam worshipped by all beings, dēvam god, vaiśravaṇam Kubera, bhrātaram brother, vyapadiśya addressing him, tvam you, aśubham inauspicious deed, kartum to do, katham how come, icchasi you desire.

Why do you wish to do something inauspicious by calling Lord Kubera who is worshipped by all beings your brother ?
avaśyaṅ vinaśiṣyanti sarvē rāvaṇa rākṣasāḥ.

yēṣāṅ tvaṅ karkaśō rājā durbuddhirajitēndriyaḥ৷৷3.48.22৷৷


rāvaṇa O Ravana, karkaśaḥ cruel, durbuddhi: evil-minded, ajitēndriyaḥ having no control over the senses, tvam you, yēṣām of whom, rājā king, sarvē all of them, rākṣasāḥ demons, avaśyam certainly, vinaśiṣyanti will be destroyed.

O Ravana ,you are cruel and evil-minded. You have no control over your senses. (And yet) you are the ruler of your breed. Surely they are going to be destroyed.
apahṛtya śacīṅ bhāryāṅ śakyamindrasya jīvitum.

na ca rāmasya bhāryāṅ māmapanīyāsti jīvitam৷৷3.48.23৷৷


indrasya Indra's, bhāryām wife, śacī Sachi, apahṛtya after abducting, jīvitum to live, śakyam may be possible, rāmasya Rama's, bhāryām wife, mām me, apanīya after carrying away, jīvitam life, nāsti not there.

It may be possible (for some one) to live after abducting Indra's wife, Sachi, but it is not possible for any one to live after kidnapping the wife of Rama.
jīvēcciraṅ vajradharasya hastācchacīṅ pradhṛṣyāpratirūparūpām.

na mādṛśīṅ rākṣasa dūśayitvā pītāmṛtasyāpi tavāsti mōkṣaḥ৷৷3.48.24৷৷


rākṣasa demon, aprātirūparūpām most beautiful lady, śacīm Sachi, vajradharasya wielder of the thunderbolt, Indra's, hastām from the hands, pradhṛṣya after snatching, ciram long, jīvēt may live, mādṛśīm one like me, dūṣayitvā after assualting, pītāmṛtasyāpi even after drinking nectar, tava your, mōkṣaḥ release from death, na not possible.

O demon, you may live long after forcibly snatching the most beautiful Sachi, from the hands of Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, but after abusing a woman like me, you will not be released from death even if you drink nectar.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē aṣṭacatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortyeighty sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.