Sloka & Translation

[The demonesses attempt to convince Sita]

ityuktvā maithilīṅ rājā rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ.

sandiśya ca tataḥ sarvā rākṣasīrnirjagāma ha৷৷5.23.1৷৷

rājā king, śatrurāvaṇaḥ tormentor of enemies, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, maithilīm Mythili, iti thus, uktvā having spoken, tataḥ thereafter, sarvāḥ all, rākṣasīḥ demonesses, sandiśya ca having commanded, nirjagāma departed.

King Ravana, tormentor of enemies, having thus spoken to Mythili commanded the demonesses and departed.

niṣkrāntē rākṣasēndrē tu punarantaḥpuraṅ gatē.

rākṣasyō bhīmarūpāstāḥ sītāṅ samabhidudruvuḥ৷৷5.23.2৷৷

rākṣasēndrē the lord of demons, niṣkrāntē having left, punaḥ again, antaḥpuram to the inner chambers, gatē gone, bhīmarūpāḥ women of hideous appearance, tāḥ those, rākṣasya: demonesses, sītām Sita, samabhidudruvuḥ ran to her.

As the demon king left for his abode all the demonesses of hideous looks rushed towards Sita and crowded around her.

tataḥ sītāmupāgamya rākṣasyaḥ krōdhamūrchitāḥ.

paraṅ paruṣayā vācā vaidēhīmidamabruvan৷৷5.23.3৷৷

tataḥ then, rākṣasyaḥ demonesses, sītām to Sita, upāgamya went near, krōdhamūrchitāḥ senses lost in anger, param very, paruṣayā harsh, vācā words, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, idam thus, abruvan spoke.

The demonesses, overcome with anger, approached Sita and harshly said:

paulastyasya variṣṭhasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ.

daśagrīvasya bhāryā tvaṅ sītē na bahumanyasē৷৷5.23.4৷৷

sītē O Sita, paulastyasya in Paulastya's, variṣṭhasya the distinguished, mahātmanaḥ of the high-souled, daśagrīvasya ten-necked, rāvaṇasya Ravana's, bhāryātvam to be his wife, na bahumanyasē not treating it as a privilege

'O Sita! don't you think it is a privilege to be the wife of the high-souled, ten-necked Ravana, who is the distinguished king of a high family of sage Paulastya?

tatastvēkajaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt.

āmantyra krōdhātāmrākṣī sītāṅ karatalōdarīm৷৷5.23.5৷৷

tataḥ then, ēkajaṭā nāma called Ekajata, rākṣasī she-demon, krōdhātāmrākṣī eyes red with anger, karatalōdarīm with a belly of the size of the palm, sītām Sita, āmantyra having called, vākyam these words, abravīt spoke.

Then Ekajata, a she-demon of hideous looks, eyes red with anger and a belly of the size of the palm said to Sita:

prajāpatīnāṅ ṣaṇṇāṅ tu caturthō yaḥ prajāpatiḥ.

mānasō brahmaṇaḥ putraḥ pulastya iti viśrutaḥ৷৷5.23.6৷৷

ṣaṇṇām of the six, prajāpatīnām of Prajapatis, yaḥ he who was, caturthaḥ fourth, prajāpatiḥ, brahmaṇaḥ Brahma, mānasaḥ born out of mind, putraḥ a son, pulastyaḥ Pulastya, iti thus, viśrutaḥ very famous.

'The mind-born son of Brahma is well known as Paulastya. He was the fourth among the six Prajapatis (Maricha, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Plaha, Kratu).

pulastyasya tu tējasvī maharṣirmānasaḥ sutaḥ.

nāmnā sa viśravā nāma prajāpatisamaprabhaḥ৷৷5.23.7৷৷

nāmnā with the name, viśravā nāma Vishravas by name, prajāpatisamaprabhaḥ equal in splendour to Prajapati, tējasvī glorious, saḥ maharṣiḥ that sage, pulastyasya Pulastya's, mānasaḥ mind-born, sutaḥ son.

'This glorious mind-born sage Pulastya's son is the famous Vishrava who, in glory and splendour was equal to Prajapatis.

tasya putrō viśālākṣi rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ.

tasya tvaṅ rākṣasēndrasya bhāryā bhavitumarhasi৷৷5.23.8৷৷

mayōktaṅ cārusarvāṅgiḥ vākyaṅ kiṅ nānumanyasē.

viśālākṣi a large-eyed lady, śatrurāvaṇa: a tormentor of enemies, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, tasya his, putraḥ son, tvam you, rākṣasēndrasya lord of demons, tasya his, bhāryā wife, bhavitum to become, arhasi you deserve, cārusarvāṅgi a lady of beautiful limbs, mayā by me, uktam spoken, vākyam words, kim why, nānumanyasē not heeding.

'O large-eyes lady! to become the wife of the lord of demons is a stroke of good luck. You deserve to be one. O lady of beautiful limbs! why don't you accept his proposal?'

tatō harijaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt৷৷5.23.9৷৷

vivartya nayanē kōpānmārjārasadṛśēkṣaṇā.

tataḥ then, mārjārasadṛśēkṣaṇā cat-eyed, harijaṭā nāma called Harijata, rākṣasī ogress, kōpāt with anger, nayanē both eyes, vivartya rolling, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Then an ogress called Harijata said this in anger, her cat-eyes rolling:

yēna dēvāstrayastriṅśaddēvarājaśca nirjitāḥ৷৷5.23.10৷৷

tasya tvaṅ rākṣasēndrasya bhāryā bhavitumarhasi.

yēna by him, trayastriṅśat thirtythree, dēvāḥ gods, dēvarājaśca Indra, king of the gods, nirjitāḥ are conquered, tasya his, rākṣasēndrasya of the lord of ogres, tvam you, bhāryā wife, bhavitum to become, arhasi you ought to be.

'You ought to be the wife of the lord of ogres who has vanquished thirty three crores of gods including Indra, their king.'

tatastu praghasā nāma rākṣasī krōdhamūrchitā৷৷5.23.11৷৷

bhartsayantī tadā ghōramidaṅ vacanamabravīt.

tataḥ then, praghasā nāma named Praghasa, rākṣasī ogress, krōdhamūrchitā overwhelmed with anger, tadā then, bhartsayantī deriding, ghōram terrific manner, idam these, vacanaṅ tu words also, abravīt spoke.

Then an ogress named Praghasa, overwhelmed with anger, deriding Sita said these terrible words:

vīryōtsiktasya śūrasya saṅgrāmēṣu nivartinaḥ৷৷5.23.12৷৷

balinō vīryayuktasya bhāryātvaṅ kiṅ na lapsyasē.

vīryōtsiktasya Valiant, śūrasya hero's, saṅgrāmēṣu in wars, anivartinaḥ hero who never retreats, balinaḥ powerful, vīryayuktasya mighty one, bhāryātvam to be a wife, kim why, na lapsyasē not wishing.

'Why don't you wish to be the wife of such a mighty and powerful king, a valiant hero who has never beaten a retreat in war?

priyāṅ bahumatāṅ bhāryāṅ tyaktvā rājā mahābalaḥ৷৷5.23.13৷৷

sarvāsāṅ ca mahābhāgāṅ tvāmupaiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ.

rājā king, mahābalaḥ mighty, rāvaṇaḥRavana, priyām his dear, bahumatām favourrite lady, sarvāsām of all, mahābhāgām highly respectable, bhāryām wife, tyaktvā renouncing, tvām you, upaiṣyati he is desirous

'Even renouncing his highly respectable, favourite wife among all, mighty Ravana is prepared to accept you.

samṛddhaṅ strīsahasrēṇa nānāratnōpaśōbhitam৷৷5.23.14৷৷

antaḥpuraṅ samutsṛjya tvāmupaiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ.

rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, strīsahasrēṇa with a thousand wives, samṛddham rich, nānāratnōpaśōbhitam decorated with many gems, antaḥpuram inner chambers, samutsṛjya abandoning, tvām you, upaiṣyati is desiring.

'Ravana is prepared to abandon a thousand wives in his prosperous harem decorated with all kinds of gems in order to accept you.'

anyā tu vikaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt৷৷5.23.15৷৷

asakṛddēvatā yuddhē nāgagandharvadānavāḥ.

nirjitāḥ samarē yēna sa tē pārśvamupāgataḥ৷৷5.23.16৷৷

vikaṭā nāma called Vikata, anyā other, rākṣasī tu ogress also, vākyam these words, abravīt spoke, yēna by whom, asakṛt often, yuddhē in war, dēvatāḥ gods, samarē in war, nāgagandharvadānavāḥ nagas, gandharvas and demons, nirjitāḥ vanquished, saḥ he, tē your, pārśvam side, āgataḥ has come to you.

Another ogress called Vikata said, ' Know that he who has often defeated gods in war and has vanquished nagas, gandharvas and demons has come to you (seeking your favour)'.

tasya sarvasamṛddhasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ.

kimadya rākṣasēndrasya bhāryātvaṅ nēcchasē.dhamē৷৷5.23.17৷৷

adhamē O foolish woman, sarvasamṛddhasya who has abundance of wealth, mahātmanaḥ great self, rākṣasēndrasya of the lord of ogres, tasya his, rāvaṇasya Ravana's, bhāryātvam to be wife, adya now, kim why, nēcchasē do not you desire

'O foolish woman! why don't you seek the wifehood of a glorious king of demons who has abundance of wealth?'

tatastu durmukhī nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt.

yasya sūryō na tapati bhītō yasya ca mārutaḥ৷৷5.23.18৷৷

na vāti smāyatāpāṅgē kiṅ tvaṅ tasya na tiṣṭhasi.

tataḥ then, durmukhī nāma named Durmukhi, rākṣasī ogress, vākyam these words, abravīt spoke, āyatāpāṅgē lady of long side glaces, yasya whose, bhītaḥ by fear of whom, sūryaḥ Sun, na tapati not scorch, yasya by whose, bhītaḥ by fear of whom, mārutaḥ wind, na vāti sma not blow, tasya his, tvam you, kim why, na tiṣṭhasi not yield

Then an ogress called Durmukhi said, 'O lady of long side-glances! why don't you yield to him, afraid of whom the Sun scorches not and strong winds blow not?

puṣpavṛṣṭiṅ ca taravō mumucuryasya vai bhayāt৷৷5.23.19৷৷

śailāśca subhru pānīyaṅ jaladāśca yadēcchati.

tasya nairṛtarājasya rājarājasya bhāmini ৷৷5.23.20৷৷

kiṅ tvaṅ na kuruṣē buddhiṅ bhāryārthē rāvaṇasya hi.

subhru lady with beautiful eye-brows, bhāmini radiant one, yasya whose, bhayāt fear, taravaḥ trees, puṣpavṛṣṭim rain of flowers, mumucuḥ released, yadā whenever, icchati wishes, śailāśca even mountains, jaladāśca clouds also, pānīyam water, nairṛtarājasya for the king of the
south-west, Ravana, rājarājasya king of kings, tasya his, rāvaṇasya Ravana's, bhāryārthē to become his wife, buddhim mind accepting, tvam you, kim why, na kuruṣē not wishing?

'O lady of beautiful brows! why don't you make up your mind to accept the king of kings, afraid of whom the trees rain flowers, the mountains and clouds release water at his will? Ravana is the king of the south-west, direction Why don't you wish to be his wife?

sādhu tē tattvatō dēvi kathitaṅ sādhu bhāmini৷৷5.23.21৷৷

gṛhāṇa susmitē vākyamanyathā na bhaviṣyasi.

susmitē lady with a gentle smile, bhāmini a beautiful lady, dēvi queen, tattvataḥ truly, sādhu well, tē you, kathitam spoken, sādhu wishing well, vākyam these words, gṛhāṇa accept, anyathā otherwise, na bhaviṣyasi will not be alive.

'O beautiful lady with a gentle smile! we have tendered good advice to you wishing you well. Accept this advice or else you may not be alive.'
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē sundarakāṇḍē trayōviṅśassargaḥ.
Thus ends the twentythird sarga of Sundarakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.