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[Sita spurns Ravana's submission.]

tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā sītā raudrasya rakṣasaḥ.

ārtā dīnasvarā dīnaṅ pratyuvāca śanairvacaḥ৷৷5.21.1৷৷


sītā Sita, raudrasya angry, tasya his, rakṣasaḥ of the demon, tat those, vacanam words, śrutvā after hearing, ārtā oppressed, dīnasvarā in a sorrowful tone, dīnam pitiable, śanaiḥ slowly, vacaḥ words, pratyuvāca replied.

On hearing the demon's haughty words, oppressed, pitiable Sita replied slowly in a sorrowful tone.
duḥkhārtā rudatī sītā vēpamānā tapasvinī.

cintayantī varārōhā patimēva pativratā৷৷5.21.2৷৷

tṛṇamantarataḥ kṛtvā pratyuvāca śucismitā.


duḥkhārtā afflicted by grief, tapasvinī ascetic, varārōhā a lady of beautiful hips, pativratā chaste woman, patimēva only husband, cintayantī thinking of, śucismitā with a gentle smile, sītā Sita, rudatī sobbing, vēpamānā trembling, tṛṇam a blade of grass, antarataḥ between (Ravana and her), kṛtvā placed, pratyuvāca replied.

Sita, austere, beautiful and chaste afflicted by grief kept sobbing. Brooding over her husband and trembling in fear, she placed a blade of grass in between her and Ravana and replied with a gentle smile on her face.
nivartaya manō mattaḥ svajanē kriyatāṅ manaḥ৷৷5.21.3৷৷

na māṅ prārthayituṅ yuktaṅ susiddhimiva pāpakṛt.


mattaḥ from me, manaḥ mind, nivartaya turn away, svajanē in your own wives, manaḥ mind, kriyatām you may fix, pāpakṛt sinner, susiddhimiva like blessedness, mām me, prārthayitum to desire, na yuktam it is not proper.

"Turn your mind away from me and fix it on your wives. You should not expect to seek me just as a sinner cannot hope to seek blessedness.
akāryaṅ na mayā kāryamēkapatnyā vigarhitam৷৷5.21.4৷৷

kulaṅ samprāptayā puṇyaṅ kulē mahati jātayā.


mahati high, kulē lineage, jātayā born, puṇyam meritorious, kulam family, samprāptayā joined by virtue of marriage, ēkapatnyā a woman devoted to a single husband, mayā by me, vigarhitam contemptible, akāryam forbidden act, na kāryam not to be done.

"I was born of high lineage and joined a meritorious family by virtue of my marriage. I am devoted only to my husband. I should not commit this contemptible, forbidden act."
ēvamuktvā tu vaidēhī rāvaṇaṅ taṅ yaśasvinī৷৷5.21.5৷৷

rākṣasaṅ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā bhūyō vacanamabravīt.


yaśasvinī glorious lady, vaidēhī Vaidehi, taṅ rāvaṇam that Ravana, ēvam in that manner, uktvā having spoken, rākṣasam demon, pṛṣṭhataḥ at the back, kṛtvā having placed, bhūyaḥ further, vacanam these words, abravīt spoke.

Glorious Vaidehi having thus spoken to the demon turned her back and continued:
nāhamaupayikī bhāryā parabhāryā satī tava৷৷5.21.6৷৷

sādhu dharmamavēkṣasva sādhu sādhuvrataṅ cara.


parabhāryā other's wife, satī chaste, aham I am, aupayikī obtained by efforts, bhāryā wife, na not, dharmam righteous, sādhu properly, avēkṣasva you may examine, tava your, sādhuvratam honesty, sādhu
honest, cara you may practise.

"I cannot be your lawful wife obtainable by your personal efforts. I am a chaste woman married to another man. (Being a king) examine the dharma honestly and adopt a pious way of life.
yathā tava tathānyēṣāṅ dārā rakṣyā niśācara৷৷5.21.7৷৷

ātmānamupamāṅ kṛtvā svēṣu dārēṣu ramyatām.


niśācara night-roamer (Ravana), tava your, yathā as such, anyēṣām others, dārāḥ wives, tathā in the same way, rakṣyāḥ should be protected, ātmānam yourself, upamā an example, kṛtvā by placing, svēṣu at your, dārēṣu at wives, ramyatām you may enjoy.

"O night-ranger! Enjoy your wives. Take care of them. Taking your example, others' wives also deserve to be protected.
atuṣṭaṅ svēṣu dārēṣu capalaṅ calitēndriyam৷৷5.21.8৷৷

nayanti nikṛtiprajñaṅ paradārāḥ parābhavam.


svēṣu with your own, dārēṣu in wives, atuṣṭam unsatisfied, capalam unsteady, calitēndriyam one with no control over the senses, nikṛtiprajñam evil minded, paradārāḥ others wives, parābhavam insult, nayanti take.

"The wives of others will insult an evil-minded man who is not satisfied with his own wives, is fickle-minded and has no control over his senses.
iha santō na vā santi satō vā nānuvartasē৷৷5.21.9৷৷

tathāhi viparītā tē buddhirācāravarjitā.


iha here, santaḥ pious, na vā santi are not present, sataḥ of the saints, nānuvartasē vā you do not follow, tathāhi this way, ācāravarjitā that which is a forbidden act, tē your, buddhiḥ mind, viparītā perverse.

vacō mithyāpraṇītātmā pathyamuktaṅ vicakṣaṇaiḥ৷৷5.21.10৷৷

rākṣasānāmabhāvāya tvaṅ vā na pratipadyasē.


mithyāpraṇītātmā indulging in unrighteous act, tvam you, vicakṣaṇaiḥ who have sense of discrimination, uktam spoken, pathyam proper advice, vacaḥ words, rākṣāsānām of demons, abhāvāya for destruction, na pratipadyasē you do not agree.

"You are indulging in unrighteous act and not listening to the advice of wise men who have a sense of discrimination. You are the cause of the destruction of demons.
akṛtātmānamāsādya rājānamanayē ratam৷৷5.21.11৷৷

samṛddhāni vinaśyanti rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca.


akṛtātmānam foolish, anayē in unfair means, ratam engaged, rājānam king, āsādya after obtaining, samṛddhāni prosperous, rāṣṭrāṇi countries, nagarāṇi ca and cities, vinaśyanti are destroyed.

"Even prosperous countries and cities are destroyed on account of indiscreet rulers engaged in unfair means.
tathēyaṅ tvāṅ samāsādya laṅkā ratnaughasaṅkulā৷৷5.21.12৷৷

aparādhāttavaikasya nacirādvinaśiṣyati.


tathā in that way, tvām you, samāsādya having got, ratnaughasaṅkulā filled with gems, iyam this, laṅkā Lanka, ēkasya a single person, tava your, aparādhāt for your crime, na cirāt very soon, vinaśiṣyati will be destroyed.

"Having got you as its ruler, this Lanka filled with gems (riches) will perish without
delay for the crime of one individual.
svakṛtairhanyamānasya rāvaṇādīrghadarśinaḥ৷৷5.21.13৷৷

abhinandanti bhūtāni vināśē pāpakarmaṇaḥ.


rāvaṇa Ravana, adīrghadarśinaḥ of a short sighted, svakṛtaiḥ by your own deed, hanyamānasya killed, pāpakarmaṇaḥ of a sinner, vināśē at the destruction, bhūtāni living creatures, abhinandanti will rejoice.

"O Ravana! living beings will welcome and enjoy the destruction of a short-sighted sinner killed by his own vile act.
ēvaṅ tvāṅ pāpakarmāṇaṅ vakṣyanti nikṛtā janāḥ৷৷5.21.14৷৷

diṣṭyaitadvyasanaṅ prāptō raudra ityēva harṣitāḥ.


ēvam in that way, pāpakarmāṇam sinner, tvām you, nikṛtāḥ insulted, janāḥ people, harṣitāḥ will feel glad, raudraḥ angry one, diṣṭyā luckily, ētat thus, vyasanam doom, prāptaḥ met, ityēva like this, vakṣyanti they will say.

"Seeing you, getting ruined this way for your sin, those who were angry with you for their humiliation in your hands will feel glad and say 'Luckily this terrible fellow has met with his doom' .
śakyā lōbhayituṅ nāhamaiśvaryēṇa dhanēna vā৷৷5.21.15৷৷

ananyā rāghavēṇāhaṅ bhāskarēṇa prabhā yathā.


aham I, aiśvaryēṇa by power, dhanēna vā or even with wealth, lōbhayitum to be tempted, na śakyā not possible, prabhā light, bhāskarēṇa yathā like that of the Sun, aham I, rāghavēṇa by Raghava, ananyā inseparable.

"I cannot be lured by your power or wealth. I am inseparable from Raghava like light from the Sun.
upadhāya bhujaṅ tasya lōkanāthasya satkṛtam৷৷5.21.16৷৷

kathaṅ nāmōpadhāsyāmi bhujamanyasya kasya cit.


lōkanāthasya of the lord of the people, tasya his, satkṛtam an honourable one, bhujam arm, upadhāya having used as a pillow, anyasya others, kasya cit of any one, bhujam arm, kathaṅ nāma how can I, upadhāsyāmi will I rest.

"How can I pillow on somebody's arm after resting on the honourable arm of the great lord of the worlds ?
ahamaupayikī bhāryā tasyaiva vasudhāpatēḥ৷৷5.21.17৷৷

vratasnātasya viprasya vidyēva viditātmanaḥ.


vratasnātasya an ascetic who had ceremonial bath having observed vows, viditātmanaḥ knower of the self, viprasya brahmin's, vidyā iva like the knowledge, aham I, vasudhāpatēḥ of the lord of the earth, tasyaiva him alone, aupayikī fit, bhāryā wife.

"I am alone the lawful wife of the lord of the earth like the knowledge of the Vedas which rightfully belongs to a wise brahmin who has realised the self after having had his ceremonial bath (as a token of celibacy) and having observed strict vows during the period of his study.
sādhu rāvaṇa rāmēṇa māṅ samānaya duḥkhitām৷৷5.21.18৷৷

vanē vāśitayā sārdhaṅ karēṇvēva gajādhipam.


rāvaṇa Ravana, duḥkhitām grieving, mām to me, gajādhipam with the king of elephants, vanē in the forest, vāśitayā by the separated, karēṇvēva female elephant, rāmēṇa with Rama, sārdham along with, sādhu it is proper, samānaya you may unite me.

"O Ravana! it is proper for you to unite me in distress with Rama as one would unite a female elephant with the lordly elephant from which it is separated in the wilderness.
mitramaupayikaṅ kartuṅ rāmaḥ sthānaṅ parīpsatā৷৷5.21.19৷৷

vadhaṅ cānicchatā ghōraṅ tvayāsau puruṣarṣabhaḥ.


asau this, puruṣarṣabhaḥ bull among men, rāmaḥ Rama, sthānam it is proper, parīpsatā desirous of avoiding, ghōram dreadful, vadham death, anicchatā ca by not willing, tvayā by you, mitram friendship, kartum to do, aupayikam with due effort.

"I wish you to build friendship with Rama, the bull among men. Surely it is the right thing for you to do, if you are desirous of avoiding a dreadful death.
viditaḥ sa hi dharmajñaḥ śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ৷৷5.21.20৷৷

tēna maitrī bhavatu tē yadi jīvitumicchasi.


dharmajñaḥ one who knows dharma, saḥ he, śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ kind to those who seek his protection, viditaḥ hi famous, jīvitum to preserve your life, icchasi yadi if you so desire, tē to you, tēna with him, maitrī friendship, bhavatu be built.

"He is famous as a knower of dharma and is compassionate to those who seek his protection. If you desire to preserve your life build friendship with him.
prasādayasva tvaṅ cainaṅ śaraṇāgatavatsalam৷৷5.21.21৷৷

māṅ cāsmai niyatō bhūtvā niryātayitumarhasi.


tvam you, śaraṇāgatavatsalam one who is compassionate to those who seek refuge, ēnam him, prasādayasva ca propitiate, niyataḥ disciplined, bhūtvā after exercising, mām me, asmai for your sake I, niryātayitum to return, arhasi it is proper for you.

"Propitiate him. He is compassionate to those who seek refuge. Exercise control over your senses for your sake and it is proper for you to return me to him.
ēvaṅ hi tē bhavētsvasti sampradāya raghūttamē৷৷5.21.22৷৷

anyathā tvaṅ hi kurvāṇō vadhaṅ prāpsyasi rāvaṇa.


ēvam in that way, raghūttamē foremost in the Raghu family, sampradāya after giving away, tē to you, svasti welfare, bhavēt may be, rāvaṇa Ravana, tvam you, anyathā otherwise, kurvāṇaḥ doing so, vadham death, prāpsyasi will face.

"It is good for you to give me back to Rama, the foremost in the Raghu dynasty. Otherwise you will face death.
varjayēdvajramutsṛṣṭaṅ varjayēdantakaściram৷৷5.21.23৷৷

tvadvidhaṅ tu na saṅkṛddhō lōkanāthaḥ sa rāghavaḥ.


tvadvidham a person like you, utsṛṣṭam that which has been released, vajram thunderbolt, varjayēt may spare its target, ciram for a long time, antakaḥ Yama, varjayēt may leave, saṅkṛddhaḥ angry, lōkanāthaḥ lord of the world, saḥ that, rāghavaḥ Raghava, na will not.

rāmasya dhanuṣaḥ śabdaṅ śrōṣyasi tvaṅ mahāsvanam৷৷5.21.24৷৷

śatakratuvisṛṣṭasya nirghōṣamaśanēriva.


śatakratuvisṛṣṭasya released by Indra who has performed a hundred yajnas, aśanēḥ of a thunderbolt, nirghōṣamiva like the rumble, rāmasya Rama's, dhanuṣaḥ bow's, mahāsvanam great twang, śabdam sound, tvam you, śrōṣyasi you will hear.

"You will hear the terrible twang of Rama's bow resembling the rumble of the thunderbolt released by Indra who performed a hundred yajnas.
iha śīghraṅ suparvāṇō jvalitāsyā ivōragā: ৷৷5.21.25৷৷

iṣavō nipatiṣyanti rāmalakṣmaṇalakṣaṇāḥ.


suparvāṇaḥ well jointed arrows, śīghraṅ soon, jvalitāsyāḥ with flaming fangs, uragāḥ iva like the poisonous snakes, rāmalakṣmaṇalakṣaṇāḥ marked with the names of Rama and Lakshmana, iṣavaḥ arrows, iha here, nipatiṣyanti will be raining.

rakṣāṅsi parinighnantaḥ puryāmasyāṅ samantataḥ৷৷5.21.26৷৷

asaṅpātaṅ kariṣyanti patantaḥ kaṅkavāsasaḥ.


kaṅkavāsasaḥ the shafts with feathers of Kanka bird, patanta: while falling, asyām in this, puryām city, samantataḥ all over, rakṣāṅsi demons, parinighnantaḥ killing, asampātam covering all over, kariṣyanti will fall.

"The shafts bound with feathers of Kanka birds (released by Rama and Lakshmana) will be killing the demons all over this Lanka. They will not give a chance for any other weapon to fall.
rākṣasēndramahāsarpān sa rāmagaruḍō mahān৷৷5.21.27৷৷

uddhariṣyati vēgēna vainatēya ivōragān.


mahān great, saḥ he, rāmagaruḍaḥ Garuda of Rama, rākṣasēndra demon king, mahāsarpān great serpents (in the form of demon chiefs), vainatēyaḥ son of Vinata or Garuda, uragāniva like serpents, vēgēna swiftly, uddhariṣyati will carry up.

"Just as Garuda swiftly extirpates the serpents, Rama will exterminate the demon leaders.
apanēṣyati māṅ bhartā tvattaḥ śīghramarindamaḥ৷৷5.21.28৷৷

asurēbhyaḥ śriyaṅ dīptāṅ viṣṇustribhiriva kramaiḥ.


śīghram swiftly, arindamaḥ subduer of enemies, bhartā husband, mām me, tvattaḥ from you, viṣṇuḥ Visnu, tribhiḥ with three, kramaiḥ strides, dīptām glowing, śriyam prosperity, asurēbhyaḥ iva like that from the asuras, apanēṣyati will take away.

"My husband, the subduer of enemies, will soon take me away just as Lord Visnu in the form of Vamana took away the glowing prosperity from the demons with three strides.
janasthānē hatasthānē nihatē rakṣasāṅ balē৷৷5.21.29৷৷

aśaktēna tvayā rakṣaḥ kṛtamētadasādhu vai.


rakṣasām demons, balē in the army, nihatē when it was killed, janasthānē in Janasthana, hatasthānē spot of death, rakṣaḥ O demon, aśaktēna having no capacity, tvayā by you, ētat this, asādhu dishonest, kṛtaṅ vai act is done.

"When the army of demons as killed you had no capacity to protect and was destroyed at Janasthana, the place of death. You acted in this dishonest way.
āśramaṅ tu tayōḥ śūnyaṅ praviśya narasiṅhayōḥ৷৷5.21.30৷৷

gōcaraṅ gatayōrbhrātrōrapanītā tvayādhama.


adhama mean creature, narasiṅhayōḥ two lions among men, tayōḥ those two, bhrātrōḥ brothers, gōcaram not found, gatayōḥ when they went, śūnyam desolate, āśramam hut, praviśya entered, tvayā you, apanītā abducted.

"You are a mean creature. Finding me in the vacant hut, when the two brothers, lions among men, were away, you abducted me.
na hi gandhamupāghrāya rāmalakṣmaṇayōstvayā৷৷5.21.31৷৷

śakyaṅ saṅdarśanē sthātuṅ śunā śārdūlayōriva.


śunā by a dog, śārdūlayōriva like two tigers, rāmalakṣmaṇayōḥ of both Rama and Lakshmana, gandham smell, upāghrāya smelling, tvayā by you, sandarśanē in their sight, sthātum to stand there, na śakyaṅ hi it will not be possible.

"Had you smelt the presence of Rama and Lakshmna, it would not have been possible for you to stand there, like a dog under the gaze of a pair of tigers.
tasya tē vigrahē tābhyāṅ yugagrahaṇamasthiram৷৷5.21.32৷৷

vṛtrasyēvēndrabāhubhyāṅ bāhōrēkasya vigrahē.


tasya to him, tē you, tābhyām both of them, vigrahē battle, indrabāhubhyām by the two-armed Indra, vṛtrasya Vritra's, ēkasya only one, bāhōḥ armed, vigrahē iva like the body, yugagrahaṇam seize you, asthiram not possible to win.

"You will not be able to withstand them in a battle. You will meet the same fate as the one-armed Vritra in a battle with the two-armed Indra.
kṣipraṅ tava sa nāthō mē rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha৷৷5.21.33৷৷

tōyamalpamivādityaḥ prāṇānādāsyatē śaraiḥ.


mē nāthaḥ my lord, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, saumitriṇā saha accompanied by Saumitri, ādityaḥ the Sun, alpam shallow, tōyamiva like water, śaraiḥ by arrows, tava your, prāṇān life, kṣipram at once, dāsyatē will take away.

"My lord Rama accompanied by Saumitri will draw out your life by his arrows swiftly as Aditya sucks up shallow water at once by his radiance.
giriṅ kubērasya gatō.tha vālayaṅ sabhāṅ gatō vā varuṇasya rājñaḥ.

asaṅśayaṅ dāśarathērna mōkṣyasē mahādrumaḥ kālahatō.śanēriva৷৷5.21.34৷৷


kālahataḥ doomed by time, kubērasya Kubera's, girim mountain, vā or else, ālayam residence,
gataḥ going, rājñaḥ king, varuṇasya Varuna's, sabhām assembly, gatō vā or will go, mahādrumaḥ mighty tree, aśanēriva by lightning, dāśarathēḥ by Rama son of Dasaratha, na mōkṣyasē you do not escape.

"Even if you fly to Kubera's mountain (Kailasa) or the residence of king Varuna (ocean) you will not escape Rama's arrows like a mighty tree cannot evade lightning.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē ēkaviṅśassargaḥ.
Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.