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[Ravana attempts to tempt Sita]

sa tāṅ parivṛtāṅ dīnāṅ nirānandāṅ tapasvinīm.

sākārairmadhurairvākyairnyadarśayata rāvaṇaḥ৷৷5.20.1৷৷


saḥ rāvaṇaḥ that Ravana, parivṛtām surrounded, dīnām depressed, nirānandām sorrowful, tapasvinīm ascetic, tām her, sākāraiḥ with animated words, madhurai with sweet, vākyaiḥ words, nyadarśayata expressed

Ravana expressed his intention in sweet words to the depressed and grief-stricken ascetic Sita surrounded by demon guards:
māṅ dṛṣṭvā nāganāsōru gūhamānā stanōdaram.

adarśanamivātmānaṅ bhayānnētuṅ tvamicchasi৷৷5.20.2৷৷


nāganāsōru with thighs like the trunk of an elephant, mām me, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, stanōdaram breasts and belly, gūhamānā concealed, tvam you, bhayāt through fear, ātmānam by yourself, adarśanam concealed, nētuma from me, icchasīva you want.

"On seeing me, Sita, you want to conceal your thighs, belly and breasts through fear of me. I think you do not want me to see you.
kāmayē tvāṅ viśālākṣi bahumanyasva māṅ priyē.

sarvāṅgaguṇasampannē sarvalōkamanōharē৷৷5.20.3৷৷


viśālākṣi large-eyed, sarvāṅgaguṇasampannē richly endowed with beauty in all limbs, sarvalōkamanōharē delight of all the worlds, tvām you, kāmayē desire, priyē dear, mām me, bahumanyasva oblige.

"O large-eyed one ! you are endowed with beauty in all limbs. You are the delight of all
worlds. I desire you, dear ! Oblige me.
nēha kēcinmanuṣyā vā rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ.

vyapasarpatu tē sītē bhayaṅ mattaḥ samutthitam৷৷5.20.4৷৷


sītē O Sita, iha here, manuṣyāḥ vā human beings or, kāmarūpiṇaḥ those who can change their form at their will, rākṣasāḥ vā or demons, kēcit none, mattaḥ of me, samutthitam born, tē to you, bhayam fear, vyapasarpatu relieve.

"O Sita! no human or demon. who can take any form at their will can relieve your fear born of me.
svadharmō rakṣasāṅ bhīru sarvathaiva na saṅśayaḥ.

gamanaṅ vā parastrīṇāṅ haraṇaṅ sampramathya vā৷৷5.20.5৷৷


bhīru a timid lady, parastrīṇām at wives of others, gamanaṅ vā having unrighteous, sampramathya by force, haraṇaṅ vā or abduction, rakṣasām for demons, sarvathaiva by all means, svadharmaḥ is natural, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na not.

"O timid lady! having an unrighteous approach to wives of others or their abduction by force is natural to demons, There is no doubt.
ēvaṅ caitadakāmāṅ tu na tvāṅ sprakṣyāmi maithili.

kāmaṅ kāmaḥ śarīrē mē yathākāmaṅ pravartatām৷৷5.20.6৷৷


maithili Mythili, ētat this, ēvam in this manner, kāmaḥ passion, kāmam passion, yathākāmam as it desires, mē my, śarīrē body, pravartatām may sway, tu indeed, akāmām not force to accept my desire, tvām to you, na sprakṣyāmi I will not touch.

"Mythili ! let passion hold its sway over my body as it will. But I shall not force you or touch you since you do not love me.
dēvi nēha bhayaṅ kāryaṅ mayi viśvasi hi priyē.

praṇayasva ca tattvēna maivaṅ bhūḥ śōkalālasā৷৷5.20.7৷৷


dēvi O lady, iha here, bhayam fear, na kāryam no need to feel, priyē O dear, mayi in me, viśvasihi trust me, tattvēna truly, praṇayasva love me, ēvam that way, śōkalālasā entertaining sorrow, mā bhūḥ you should not be.

"O reverend lady, fear not me on that account. Have confidence in me. Show your love. Do not be swayed by grief .
ēkavēṇī dharāśayyā dhyānaṅ malinamambaram.

asthānē.pyupavāsaśca naitānyaupayikāni tē৷৷5.20.8৷৷


ēkavēṇī O lady with a single braid of hair, dharāśayyā sleeping on the ground, dhyānam brooding, malinam soiled, ambaram clothes, asthānē without an occasion, upavāsaśca by fasting, ētāni these, tē to you, aupayikāni not fit for you, na not.

"O Lady, to wear a single braid, sleep on the ground, brooding, wearing soiled clothes and fasting without proper occasion does not suit you.
vicitrāṇi ca mālyāni candanānyagarūṇi ca.

vividhāni ca vāsāṅsi divyānyābharaṇāni ca৷৷5.20.9৷৷

mahārhāṇi ca pānāni śayanānyāsanāni ca.

gītaṅ nṛttaṅ ca vādyaṅ ca labha māṅ prāpya maithili৷৷5.20.10৷৷


maithili Mythili, mām me, prāpya having secured, vicitrāṇi wonderful, mālyāni garlands, candanāni sandal, agarūṇi incense, vividhāni several kinds, vāsāṅsi ca garments, divyāni divine one, ābharaṇāni ca ornaments, mahārhāṇi rich, pānāni drinks, śayanāni bed also, āsanāni ca and seats, gītam singing, nṛttaṅ ca and dancing, vādyaṅ ca and musical instruments, labha you may take

"O Mythili! having secured me, you get all these comforts- wonderful garlands, sandal, incense, garments and beautiful ornaments, rich drinks, beds and seats.You can enjoy songs, dances accompanied by musical instruments.
strīratnamasi maivaṅ bhūḥ kuru gātrēṣu bhūṣaṇam.

māṅ prāpya hi kathaṅ nu svāstvamanarhā suvigrahē৷৷5.20.11৷৷


strīratnam a jewel among women, asi you are, ēvam this way, mā bhūḥ do not remain like this, gātrēṣu for your limbs, bhūṣaṇam decoration, kuru you do, suvigrahē lady of beautiful body, mām me, prāpya having secured, tvam you, anarhā be undeserving, kathaṅ nu how can you, syāḥ be.

"You are a, a jewel among women. You should not remain like this. You should adorn yourself properly. How can you remain deprived after having me?
idaṅ tē cāru sañjātaṅ yauvanaṅ vyativartatē.

yadatītaṅ punarnaiti srōtaḥ śīghramapāmiva৷৷5.20.12৷৷


cāru beautiful, sañjātam created, idam this, tē yauvanam your youth, vyativartatē will pass away, yat since, śīghram fast, atītam a past, apām water, srōtaḥ iva like flow, punaḥ again, naiti does not come.

"Your charming youth should not pass away (uselessly). A past event does not come back like a current of stream.
tvāṅ kṛtvōparatō manyē rūpakartā sa viśvasṛk.

na hi rūpōpamā tvanyā tavāsti śubhadarśanē৷৷5.20.13৷৷


śubhadarśanē lady of auspicious looks, rūpakartā creator, saḥ he, viśvasṛk one who creates the world, tvām you, kṛtvā having created, uparataḥ he stopped, manyē I think, anyā other lady, tava rūpōpamā comparable to your beauty, nāsti hi indeed does not exist.

"O lady with auspicious looks! Me thinks, the creator must have retired after creating your beautiful form. For there is no one comparable to you in beauty.
tvāṅ samāsādya vaidēhi rūpayauvanaśālinīm.

kaḥ pumānativartēta sākṣādapi pitāmahaḥ৷৷5.20.14৷৷


vaidēhi Vaidehi, rūpayauvanaśālinīm endowed with (extraordinary) beauty and (exuberant) youth, tvām you, samāsādya after getting, sākṣāt personally, pitāmahaḥ grandsire, kaḥ who, pumān man, ativartēta retain his balance of mind.

"O Vaidehi! you have (extraordinary) beauty and (exuberant) youth. Who would not lose his balance of mind even if he were Brahma the grandsire himself after getting you?
yadyatpaśyāmi tē gātraṅ śītāṅśusadṛśānanē.

tasmiṅstasmin pṛthuśrōṇi cakṣurmama nibadhyatē৷৷5.20.15৷৷


śītāṅśusadṛśānanē with face like the cool full-moon, pṛthuśrōṇi heavy-hipped, tē your, yadyat whichever, gātram limb, paśyāmi I see, tasmin tasmin ēca whichever limb I behold, mama my, cakṣuḥ eyes, nibadhyatē unable to extricate.

"O one with a face like the cool full-moon, with heavy hips. I am unable to extricate my eyes from any limb (of your body) I see.
bhava maithili bhāryā mē mōhamēnaṅ visarjaya.

bahvīnāmuttamastrīṇāmāhṛtānāmitastataḥ৷৷5.20.16৷৷

sarvāsāmēva bhadraṅ tē mamāgramahiṣī bhava.


maithili O Mythili, mē my, bhāryā wife, bhava be, ēnam this, mōham delusion, visarjaya give up, itastataḥ from here and there, āhṛtānām brought, bahvīnām of many women, mama my, uttamastrīṇām
among the best women, sarvāsāmēva of all of them, agramahiṣī the chief consort, bhava be, tē bhadram be blessed৷৷

"O Mythili ! be my wife. Give up this (folly due to) delusion. Be my chief consort among the several excellent women I have picked up here and there. Be blessed.
lōkēbhyō yāni ratnāni sampramathyāhṛtāni vai৷৷5.20.17৷৷

tāni mē bhīru sarvāṇi rājyaṅ caitadahaṅ ca tē.


bhīru a timid lady, lōkēbhyaḥ from the worlds, yāni those, ratnāni gems, sampramathya by force, āhṛtāni brought, vai indeed, tāni those, sarvāṇi all of them, mē myself, ētat this, rājyam this kingdom, ahaṅ ca and I, tē to you.

"O timid lady, gems brought forcibly from all the worlds, this kingdom as well as myself are yours.
vijitya pṛthivīṅ sarvāṅ nānānagaramālinīm৷৷5.20.18৷৷

janakāya pradāsyāmi tava hētōrvilāsini.


vilāsini a lovely lady, nānānagaramālinīm different cities forming a garland, sarvām all, pṛthivīm land, vijitya winning, tava hētōḥ for your sake, janakāya to Janaka, pradāsyāmi will give.

"O lovely lady! I will win all the cities and lands and give them to Janaka for your sake.
nēha paśyāmi lōkē.nyaṅ yō mē pratibalō bhavēt.

paśya mē sumahadvīryamapratidvandvamāhavē৷৷5.20.19৷৷


yaḥ whoever, mē to me, pratibalaḥ a rival, bhavēt may be, anyam and no other hero, iha lōkē in this world, na paśyāmi I cannot see, āhavē in a battle, apritidvandvam unrivalled, mē my, sumahat great, vīryam virility, paśya you may see.

"I'm unrivalled in this entire world. Behold my matchless virility which permits no rival
in war.
asakṛtsaṅyugē bhagnā mayā vimṛditadhvajāḥ৷৷5.20.20৷৷

aśaktāḥ pratyanīkēṣu sthātuṅ mama surāsurāḥ.


mayā by me, asakṛt again and again, saṅyugē in battle, bhagnāḥ shattered, vimṛditadhvajāḥ their flags crushed, surāsurāḥ gods and demons, mama my, pratyanīkēṣu in the wars against me, sthātum to stand, aśaktāḥ unable.

"The gods and demons were unable to withstand my power in wars fought against me. They were often shattered and defeated with their flags crushed in war.
iccha māṅ kriyatāmadya pratikarma tavōttamam৷৷5.20.21৷৷

saprabhāṇyavasajyantāṅ tavāṅgē bhūṣaṇāni ca.

sādhu paśyāmi tē rūpaṅ saṅyuktaṅ pratikarmaṇā৷৷5.20.22৷৷


mām me, iccha love, adya today, tava your, uttamam best, pratikarma decoration, kriyatām do, tava your, aṅgē on limbs, saprabhāṇi radiant ones, bhūṣaṇāni ca ornaments, avasajyantām wear, pratikarmaṇā yuktam by decorating yourself, tē your, rūpam form, sādhu pleasingly, paśyāmi I wish to see.

"Offer your love to me. Get yourself decorated in an excellent way. Wear glowing ornaments on your limbs. Let me see you in pleasingly decorated form.
pratikarmābhisaṅyuktā dākṣiṇyēna varānanē.

bhuṅkṣva bhōgānyathākāmaṅ piba bhīru ramasva ca৷৷5.20.23৷৷


varānanē O charming lady, bhīru timid lady, dākṣiṇyēna liberally, pratikarmābhisaṅyuktā decoration, yathākāmam as you please, bhōgān luxuries, bhuṅkṣva enjoy, piba drink, ramasva ca and enjoy.

"O charming lady! decorate yourself liberally. Enjoy these pleasures as you please.
Drink and make merry.
yathēṣṭaṅ ca prayaccha tvaṅ pṛthivīṅ vā dhanāni ca.

lalasva mayi visrabdhā dhṛṣṭamājñāpayasva ca৷৷5.20.24৷৷


tvam yourself, pṛthivīm the land, dhanāni ca and wealth also, yathēccham as you wish, prayaccha donate, visrabdhā being free, mayi with me, lalasva enjoy, dhṛṣṭam boldly, ājñāpayasva ca and command.

"Give away land and wealth as you wish. Enjoy with me freely and command me boldly. I will obey you by all means.
matprasādāllalantyāśca lalantāṅ bāndhavāstava.

ṛddhiṅ mamānupaśya tvaṅ śriyaṅ bhadrē yaśaśca mē৷৷5.20.25৷৷


matprasādāt by my grace, lalantyāḥ enjoying, tava your, bāndhavā relations, lalantām enjoy, bhadrē auspicious, tvam you, mama my, ṛddhim affluence, mē my, yaśaśca fame, anupaśya you will see.

"O blessed lady, see my affluence and my fame. Seeing you enjoy (life) by my grace all your kinsmen will follow.
kiṅ kariṣyasi rāmēṇa subhagē cīravāsasā.

nikṣiptavijayō rāmō gataśrīrvanagōcaraḥ৷৷5.20.26৷৷

vratī sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca śaṅkē jīvati vā na vā.


subhagē O beautiful lady, cīravāsasā person clad in bark robes, rāmēṇa with Rama, kim what, kariṣyasi will do, nikṣiptavijayaḥ renounced triumph of warrior, gataśrīḥ he lost his fortune, vanagōcaraḥ wanderer in the forest, vratī following asceticism, sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca sleeping on the ground, rāmaḥ Rama, jīvati vā alive or, na vā not alive, śaṅkē I am doubtful.

"O beautiful lady! Rama has renounced victory, he has lost his fortune. Clad in bark,
he is wandering in the forest following asceticism and sleeping on the ground. What can he do for you? I am in doubt if he is alive or not.
na hi vaidēhi rāmastvāṅ draṣṭuṅ vā pyupalapsyatē.

purōbalākairasitairmēghairjyōtsnāmivāvṛtām৷৷5.20.27৷৷


vaidēhi Vaidehi, rāmaḥ Rama, tvām you, purōbalākaiḥ cranes in front, asitaiḥ dark , mēghaiḥ clouds, āvṛtām veiled, jyōtsnāmiva like moon-beams, draṣṭuṅ vāpi even to see, na hi upalapsyatē not possible.

"O Vaidehi! I wonder if Rama can see you at all. You are like moonlight veiled by dark clouds and cannot be seen even by the flying cranes.
na cāpi mama hastāttvāṅ prāptumarhati rāghavaḥ৷৷5.20.28৷৷

hiraṇyakaśipuḥ kīrtimindrahastagatāmiva.


hiraṇyakaśipuḥ Hiranyakasipu, indrahastagatām from Indra, kīrtimiva like fame, rāghavaḥ Raghava, mama my, hastāt from the hands, tvām you, prāptum to win, na cāpi arhati he will not be able.

"Surely Raghava will not be able to win you back from my hands any more than the demon Hiranyakasipu was able to usurp the fame of Indra.
cārusmitē cārudati cārunētrē vilāsini৷৷5.20.29৷৷

manō harasi mē bhīru suparṇaḥ pannagaṅ yathā.


cārusmitē lady of charming smile, cārudati lady of beautiful teeth, cārunētrē beautiful-eyed, vilāsini luxurious, bhīru timid one, suparṇaḥ Garuda, pannagaṅ yathā like serpent, mē my, manaḥ mind, harasi attract.

"O lovely, timid lady! your smile, your teeth and your eyes are bewitching. Just as Garuda snatches away a serpent, you ravish my mind by your beauty.
kliṣṭakauśēyavasanāṅ tanvīmapyanalaṅkṛtām৷৷5.20.30৷৷

tvāṅ dṛṣṭvā svēṣu dārēṣu ratiṅ nōpalabhāmyaham.


kliṣṭakauśēyavasanām wearing soiled silk clothes, tanvīm beautiful, tvām you, analaṅkṛtāmapi even when you are not decorated, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, aham I, svēṣu at my own, dārēṣu wives, ratim love, nōpalabhāmi I find not.

"Even when you are attired in soiled silk and are bereft of ornaments, I find no interest in my own wives.
antaḥpuranivāsinyaḥ striyaḥ sarvaguṇānvitāḥ৷৷5.20.31৷৷

yāvantyō mama sarvāsāmaiśvaryam kuru jānaki.


jānaki Janaki, mama my, antaḥpuranivāsinyaḥ residing in the harem of the royal palace, sarvaguṇānvitāḥ endowed with all virtues, yāvantyaḥ many of them, striyaḥ women, sarvāsām for all of them, aiśvaryam authority, kuru you may exercise.

"O Janaki! There are a number of virtuous consorts residing in the harem of my royal palace. You may exercise your authority on all of them.
mama hyasitakēśāntē trailōkyapravarāḥ striyaḥ৷৷5.20.32৷৷

tāstvāṅ paricariṣyanti śriyamapsarasō yathā.


asitakēśāntē lady of dark tresses, mama me, tāḥ those, trailōkyapravarāḥ best among the women in the three worlds, striyaḥ women, apsarasa: apsaras, śriyaṅ yathā like goddess Lakshmi, tvām you, paricariṣyanti will attend on you.

yāni vaiśravaṇē subhru ratnāni ca dhanāni ca৷৷5.20.33৷৷

tāni lōkāṅśca suśrōṇi māṅ ca bhuṅkṣva yathāsukham.


suśrōṇi heavy-hipped, subhru lady of beautiful brows, vaiśravaṇē with Vaisravana, yāni all such, ratnāni gems, dhanāni ca and wealth, tāni those, lōkāṅśca worlds also, māṅ ca me as well, yathāsukham be happy, bhuṅkṣva you may enjoy.

"O Sita of heavy hips and beautiful brows! Be happy. Enjoy all the worlds of mine, the gems and wealth of Ravana.
na rāmastapasā dēvi na balēna na vikramaiḥ৷৷5.20.34৷৷

na dhanēna mayā tulyastējasā yaśasāpi vā.


dēvi queen, rāmaḥ Rama, tapasā by penance, mayā to me, na tulyaḥ not equal, balēna by prowess, na vikramaiḥ nor by valour, na not, dhanēna in wealth, tējasā in brilliance, yaśasāpi vā or even in fame, na not.

"O queen! Rama is not equal to me either in penance or prowess or valour or wealth or brilliance or even in fame.
piba vihara ramasva bhuṅkṣva bhōgān dhananicayaṅ pradiśāmi mēdinīṅ ca.

mayi lala lalanē yathāsukhaṅ tvaṅ tvayi ca samētya lalantu bāndhavāstē৷৷5.20.35৷৷


lalanē O delightful one, dhananicayam heaps of riches, mēdinīṅ ca and land, pradiśāmi will present you, tvam you, piba drink, vihara sport, ramasva enjoy yourself, bhōgān all pleasures, bhuṅkṣva you enjoy, yathāsukham be happy, mayi with me, lala sport, tē your, bāndhavāḥ relatives, samētya collectively, tvayi in you, lalantu will enjoy.

"O delightful one! I will bestow you with heaps of riches and land. Therefore, enjoy with me- drinking, sporting, and revelling. Accept me and be happy to sport with me.Let your elatives join you and enjoy all my wealth.
kusumitatarujālasantatāni bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni.

kanakavimalahārabhūṣitāṅgī vihara mayā saha bhīru kānanāni৷৷5.20.36৷৷


bhīru a timid lady, kanakavimalahārabhūṣitāṅgī deck yourself with pure gold necklace, kusumitatarujālasantatāni with stretches of trees filled with blossoms, bhramarayutāni with swarm of bees, samudratīrajāni grown on the sea shore, kānanāni in the forest groves, mayā saha with me, vihara you may enjoy.

"O timid lady! embellish yourself with necklaces of pure gold and enjoy with me in the enchanting seaside forest groves full of trees with blossoms and swarming bees.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē viṅśassargaḥ.
Thus ends the twentieth sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.