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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 45: Rāvaṇa reveals his identity

Summary. Sītā recounts her marriage and exile, he offers Queenship in Laṅkā and she rejects him with warnings of destruction

Sequence

  1. Thinking that a brāhmaṇa guest should not be left unanswered, Sītā introduces herself as Janaka's daughter and Rāma's wife (3.45.1–3)
  2. in this account, she says she lived in Rāma's home for a year before Daśaratha planned his installation (3.45.4–5)
  3. she recounts Kaikeyī's demands for Bharata's succession and Rāma's exile, and Daśaratha's unsuccessful attempts to change her mind (3.45.6–9)
  4. she describes Rāma as twenty-five and praises his character (3.45.10)
  5. she tells how Kaikeyī delivered the fourteen-year command and Rāma accepted it to preserve his father's truth (3.45.11–15)
  6. she explains that Lakṣmaṇa accompanied them and invites the guest to wait for Rāma's return with forest provisions (3.45.16–19)
  7. she asks the visitor's name, lineage, and reason for traveling alone. (3.45.20)
  1. Rāvaṇa now identifies himself as the feared ruler of the rākṣasas (3.45.21–22)
  2. he says her beauty has made him dissatisfied with his own wives and offers to make her his chief Queen in island Laṅkā, served by five thousand attendants (3.45.23–27)
  3. Sītā angrily rejects him and affirms her devotion to Rāma (3.45.28–31)
  4. she compares his desire to a jackal seeking a lioness and lists impossible, self-destructive acts as parallels for taking Rāma's wife (3.45.32–39)
  5. she insists that Rāvaṇa is as far below Rāma as lead below gold or a crow below Garuḍa, and that abducting her will destroy him (3.45.40–43)
  6. despite her firm words, she trembles → Rāvaṇa responds by boasting of his power to frighten her. (3.45.44–45)

Verses 3.45.1–45

3.45.1

rāvaṇena tu vaidehī tadā pṛṣṭā jihīrṣuṇā
parivrājakarūpeṇa śaśaṃsātmānam ātmanā

Then, questioned by Rāvaṇa — who longed to carry her off — in the guise of a wandering mendicant, Vaidehī of her own accord declared who she was.

Words: rāvaṇena — by Rāvaṇa; tu — and; vaidehī — Vaidehī (Sītā); tadā — then; pṛṣṭā — questioned; jihīrṣuṇā — by (him) longing to carry (her) off; parivrājakarūpeṇa — in the form of a wandering mendicant; śaśaṃsātmānam — she declared herself; ātmanā — by herself, of her own accord

3.45.2

brāhmaṇaś cātithiś caiṣa anukto hi śapeta mām
iti dhyātvā muhūrtaṃ tu sītā vacanam abravīt

'This one is a Brahmin and a guest; if left unanswered, he might well curse me' — so reflecting for a moment, Sītā spoke these words.

Words: brāhmaṇaś — a Brahmin; cātithiś — and a guest; caiṣa — and this one; anukto — unanswered; hi — indeed; śapeta — might curse; mām — me; iti — thus; dhyātvā — having reflected; muhūrtaṃ — for a moment; tu — and; sītā — Sītā; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke

3.45.3

duhitā janakasyāhaṃ maithilasya mahātmanaḥ
sītā nāmnāsmi bhadraṃ te rāmabhāryā dvijottama

'I am the daughter of the great-souled Janaka, king of Mithilā; Sītā by name am I — blessings on you — the wife of Rāma, O best of Brahmins.'

Words: duhitā — daughter; janakasyāhaṃ — of Janaka, I; maithilasya — of the Maithila (king of Mithilā); mahātmanaḥ — great-souled; sītā — Sītā; nāmnāsmi — by name I am; bhadraṃ — a blessing; te — upon you; rāmabhāryā — wife of Rāma; dvijottama — O best of the twice-born

3.45.4

saṃvatsaraṃ cādhyuṣitā rāghavasya niveśane
bhuñjānā mānuṣān bhogān sarvakāmasamṛddhinī

'For a year I dwelt in Rāghava's home, enjoying human pleasures, blessed with the fulfillment of every desire.'

Words: saṃvatsaraṃ — for a year; cādhyuṣitā — and having dwelt; rāghavasya — of Rāghava; niveśane — in the abode; bhuñjānā — enjoying; mānuṣān — human; bhogān — pleasures; sarvakāmasamṛddhinī — enjoying abundance of every wish

3.45.5

tataḥ saṃvatsarād ūrdhvaṃ samamanyata me patim
abhiṣecayituṃ rāmaṃ sameto rājamantribhiḥ

'Then, after a year, the king, together with his royal counselors, resolved to consecrate my husband Rāma.'

Words: tataḥ — then; saṃvatsarād — after a year; ūrdhvaṃ — beyond, later; samamanyata — he resolved; me — my; patim — husband; abhiṣecayituṃ — to consecrate; rāmaṃ — Rāma; sameto — joined, together; rājamantribhiḥ — with the royal ministers

3.45.6

tasmin saṃbhriyamāṇe tu rāghavasyābhiṣecane
kaikeyī nāma bhartāraṃ mamāryā yācate varam

'But while that consecration of Rāghava was being prepared, my noble mother-in-law named Kaikeyī begged a boon of her husband.'

Words: tasmin — when that; saṃbhriyamāṇe — being prepared; tu — but; rāghavasyābhiṣecane — the consecration of Rāghava; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; nāma — by name; bhartāraṃ — (her) husband; mamāryā — my noble lady; yācate — begs; varam — a boon

3.45.7

pratigṛhya tu kaikeyī śvaśuraṃ sukṛtena me
mama pravrājanaṃ bhartur bharatasyābhiṣecanam
dvāv ayācata bhartāraṃ satyasaṃdhaṃ nṛpottamam

'Having bound my father-in-law by a past favor, Kaikeyī begged two things of her husband, that best of kings, true to his word: the banishment of my husband and the consecration of Bharata.'

Words: pratigṛhya — having secured, bound; tu — and; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; śvaśuraṃ — father-in-law; sukṛtena — by a good deed, favor; me — my; mama — my; pravrājanaṃ — the banishment; bhartur — of (my) husband; bharatasyābhiṣecanam — the consecration of Bharata; dvāv — two (things); ayācata — she begged; bhartāraṃ — (her) husband; satyasaṃdhaṃ — true to his word; nṛpottamam — best of kings

3.45.8

nādya bhokṣye na ca svapsye na pāsye 'haṃ kadā cana
eṣa me jīvitasyānto rāmo yady abhiṣicyate

'I shall not eat today, nor ever sleep or drink again; this will be the end of my life, if Rāma is consecrated.'

Words: nādya — not today; bhokṣye — I will eat; na — not; ca — and; svapsye — I will sleep; na — not; pāsye — I will drink; 'haṃ — I; kadā — ever; cana — at all; eṣa — this; me — my; jīvitasyānto — the end of (my) life; rāmo — Rāma; yady — if; abhiṣicyate — is consecrated

3.45.9

iti bruvāṇāṃ kaikeyīṃ śvaśuro me sa mānadaḥ
ayācatārthair anvarthair na ca yācñāṃ cakāra sā

'My honor-giving father-in-law implored Kaikeyī, who spoke thus, with offers of fitting riches, yet she would not heed his entreaty.'

Words: iti — thus; bruvāṇāṃ — speaking; kaikeyīṃ — Kaikeyī; śvaśuro — father-in-law; me — my; sa — he; mānadaḥ — the honor-giving one; ayācatārthair — implored with riches; anvarthair — fitting, meaningful; na — not; ca — and; yācñāṃ — the entreaty; cakāra — did, heeded; sā — she

3.45.10

mama bhartā mahātejā vayasā pañcaviṃśakaḥ
rāmeti prathito loke guṇavān satyavāk śuciḥ
viśālākṣo mahābāhuḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ

'My husband, of great splendor, twenty-five years of age, renowned in the world as "Rāma," is virtuous, truthful, pure, large-eyed, mighty-armed, and devoted to the welfare of all beings.'

Words: mama — my; bhartā — husband; mahātejā — of great splendor; vayasā — in age; pañcaviṃśakaḥ — twenty-five (years old); rāmeti — 'Rāma' thus; prathito — renowned; loke — in the world; guṇavān — virtuous; satyavāk — truthful of speech; śuciḥ — pure; viśālākṣo — large-eyed; mahābāhuḥ — mighty-armed; sarvabhūtahite — in the welfare of all beings; rataḥ — devoted

3.45.11

abhiṣekāya tu pituḥ samīpaṃ rāmam āgatam
kaikeyī mama bhartāram ity uvāca drutaṃ vacaḥ

'But when Rāma came into his father's presence for the consecration, Kaikeyī swiftly spoke these words to my husband:'

Words: abhiṣekāya — for the consecration; tu — but; pituḥ — of (his) father; samīpaṃ — near, into the presence; rāmam — Rāma; āgatam — come; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; mama — my; bhartāram — husband; ity — thus; uvāca — said; drutaṃ — quickly; vacaḥ — word(s)

3.45.12

tava pitrā samājñaptaṃ mamedaṃ śṛṇu rāghava
bharatāya pradātavyam idaṃ rājyam akaṇṭakam

'Hear, Rāghava, what your father has enjoined upon me: this unrivaled kingdom is to be given to Bharata,'

Words: tava — your; pitrā — by (your) father; samājñaptaṃ — commanded, ordained; mamedaṃ — to me this; śṛṇu — hear; rāghava — O Rāghava; bharatāya — to Bharata; pradātavyam — should be given; idaṃ — this; rājyam — kingdom; akaṇṭakam — free of thorns, unrivaled

3.45.13

tvayā tu khalu vastavyaṃ nava varṣāṇi pañca ca
vane pravraja kākutstha pitaraṃ mocayānṛtāt

'and you indeed must dwell for fourteen years in the forest; go forth, Kākutstha, and free your father from untruth.'

Words: tvayā — by you; tu — and; khalu — indeed; vastavyaṃ — it must be dwelt; nava — nine; varṣāṇi — years; pañca — five; ca — and; vane — in the forest; pravraja — go forth (into exile); kākutstha — O Kākutstha; pitaraṃ — father; mocayānṛtāt — free from falsehood

3.45.14

tathety uvāca tāṃ rāmaḥ kaikeyīm akutobhayaḥ
cakāra tadvacas tasyā mama bhartā dṛḍhavrataḥ

'So be it,' fearless Rāma said to her, to Kaikeyī; and my husband, steadfast in his vow, carried out her word.

Words: tathety — 'so be it' thus; uvāca — said; tāṃ — to her; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kaikeyīm — to Kaikeyī; akutobhayaḥ — fearing nothing from any quarter; cakāra — carried out; tadvacas — that word; tasyā — her; mama — my; bhartā — husband; dṛḍhavrataḥ — steadfast in vow

3.45.15

dadyān na pratigṛhṇīyāt satyabrūyān na cānṛtam
etad brāhmaṇa rāmasya vrataṃ dhruvam anuttamam

'He would give but never take, would speak the truth and never a lie: such, O Brahmin, is Rāma's firm and unexcelled vow.'

Words: dadyān — he would give; na — not; pratigṛhṇīyāt — he would take; satyabrūyān — he would speak truth; na — not; cānṛtam — and untruth; etad — this; brāhmaṇa — O Brahmin; rāmasya — of Rāma; vrataṃ — vow; dhruvam — firm, constant; anuttamam — unsurpassed

3.45.16

tasya bhrātā tu vaimātro lakṣmaṇo nāma vīryavān
rāmasya puruṣavyāghraḥ sahāyaḥ samare 'rihā

'His half-brother, born of another mother, valiant Lakṣmaṇa by name — a tiger among men — is Rāma's companion, a slayer of foes in battle.'

Words: tasya — his; bhrātā — brother; tu — and; vaimātro — born of another mother; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; nāma — by name; vīryavān — valiant; rāmasya — of Rāma; puruṣavyāghraḥ — a tiger among men; sahāyaḥ — companion; samare — in battle; 'rihā — slayer of foes

3.45.17

sa bhrātā lakṣmaṇo nāma dharmacārī dṛḍhavrataḥ
anvagacchad dhanuṣpāṇiḥ pravrajantaṃ mayā saha

'That brother, Lakṣmaṇa by name, righteous and steadfast in vow, bow in hand, followed Rāma into exile, along with me.'

Words: sa — that; bhrātā — brother; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; nāma — by name; dharmacārī — practicing righteousness; dṛḍhavrataḥ — steadfast in vow; anvagacchad — followed; dhanuṣpāṇiḥ — bow in hand; pravrajantaṃ — (Rāma) going into exile; mayā — with me; saha — together

3.45.18

te vayaṃ pracyutā rājyāt kaileyyās tu kṛte trayaḥ
vicarāma dvijaśreṣṭha vanaṃ gambhīram ojasā

'Cast out from the kingdom for Kaikeyī's sake, we three, O best of Brahmins, now roam this deep forest by our own strength.'

Words: te — those; vayaṃ — we; pracyutā — fallen, cast out; rājyāt — from the kingdom; kaileyyās — of Kaikeyī (var. Kaileyī); tu — indeed; kṛte — for the sake; trayaḥ — three; vicarāma — we roam; dvijaśreṣṭha — O best of the twice-born; vanaṃ — forest; gambhīram — deep, dense; ojasā — by (our own) strength

3.45.19

samāśvasa muhūrtaṃ tu śakyaṃ vastum iha tvayā
āgamiṣyati me bhartā vanyam ādāya puṣkalam

'Rest a while; you may stay here. My husband will soon return, bringing an abundance of forest fare.'

Words: samāśvasa — rest, take comfort; muhūrtaṃ — for a while; tu — and; śakyaṃ — it is possible; vastum — to stay; iha — here; tvayā — by you; āgamiṣyati — will come; me — my; bhartā — husband; vanyam — forest produce; ādāya — having gathered; puṣkalam — abundant

3.45.20

sa tvaṃ nāma ca gotraṃ ca kulam ācakṣva tattvataḥ
ekaś ca daṇḍakāraṇye kimarthaṃ carasi dvija

'Now you — tell me truly your name, your gotra, and your family; and why, O Brahmin, do you wander alone in the Daṇḍaka forest?'

Words: sa — you (that one); tvaṃ — you; nāma — name; ca — and; gotraṃ — gotra, lineage; ca — and; kulam — family; ācakṣva — tell; tattvataḥ — truly; ekaś — alone; ca — and; daṇḍakāraṇye — in the Daṇḍaka forest; kimarthaṃ — for what purpose; carasi — you wander; dvija — O twice-born

3.45.21

evaṃ bruvatyāṃ sītāyāṃ rāmapatnyāṃ mahābalaḥ
pratyuvācottaraṃ tīvraṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ

As Sītā, Rāma's wife, spoke thus, the mighty Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, gave a harsh reply:

Words: evaṃ — thus; bruvatyāṃ — (as she was) speaking; sītāyāṃ — (as) Sītā; rāmapatnyāṃ — the wife of Rāma; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one; pratyuvācottaraṃ — replied a reply; tīvraṃ — harsh, fierce; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; rākṣasādhipaḥ — lord of the rākṣasas

3.45.22

yena vitrāsitā lokāḥ sadevāsurapannagāḥ
ahaṃ sa rāvaṇo nāma sīte rakṣogaṇeśvaraḥ

'I am that very Rāvaṇa by name, O Sītā, lord of the hordes of rākṣasas, by whom the worlds — with their gods, asuras, and serpents — have been terrified.'

Words: yena — by whom; vitrāsitā — terrified; lokāḥ — the worlds; sadevāsurapannagāḥ — with gods, asuras, and serpents; ahaṃ — I; sa — that; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; nāma — by name; sīte — O Sītā; rakṣogaṇeśvaraḥ — lord of the hosts of rākṣasas

3.45.23

tvāṃ tu kāñcanavarṇābhāṃ dṛṣṭvā kauśeyavāsinīm
ratiṃ svakeṣu dāreṣu nādhigacchāmy anindite

'But since I beheld you, golden-hued and clad in silk, O blameless one, I find no delight in my own wives.'

Words: tvāṃ — you; tu — but; kāñcanavarṇābhāṃ — of golden hue; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kauśeyavāsinīm — clad in silk; ratiṃ — delight; svakeṣu — in my own; dāreṣu — wives; nādhigacchāmy — I find not; anindite — O blameless one

3.45.24

bahvīnām uttamastrīṇām āhṛtānām itas tataḥ
sarvāsām eva bhadraṃ te mamāgramahiṣī bhava

'Of the many lovely women I have carried off from here and there — of them all, indeed — become my chief queen; blessings on you!'

Words: bahvīnām — of the many; uttamastrīṇām — of excellent women; āhṛtānām — carried off; itas — from here; tataḥ — from there; sarvāsām — of all; eva — indeed; bhadraṃ — a blessing; te — upon you; mamāgramahiṣī — my chief queen; bhava — become

3.45.25

laṅkā nāma samudrasya madhye mama mahāpurī
sāgareṇa parikṣiptā niviṣṭā girimūrdhani

'In the midst of the ocean stands my great city named Laṅkā, girded by the sea and set upon a mountain summit.'

Words: laṅkā — Laṅkā; nāma — by name; samudrasya — of the ocean; madhye — in the midst; mama — my; mahāpurī — great city; sāgareṇa — by the sea; parikṣiptā — surrounded; niviṣṭā — situated, set; girimūrdhani — on a mountain top

3.45.26

tatra sīte mayā sārdhaṃ vaneṣu vicariṣyasi
na cāsyāraṇyavāsasya spṛhayiṣyasi bhāmini

'There, O Sītā, you shall roam the groves with me, and you will no longer yearn for this life in the wilderness, O lovely one.'

Words: tatra — there; sīte — O Sītā; mayā — with me; sārdhaṃ — together; vaneṣu — in the groves; vicariṣyasi — you will roam; na — not; cāsyāraṇyavāsasya — and for this forest-dwelling; spṛhayiṣyasi — you will yearn; bhāmini — O lovely lady

3.45.27

pañcadāsyaḥ sahasrāṇi sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ
sīte paricariṣyanti bhāryā bhavasi me yadi

'Five thousand maidservants, adorned with every ornament, will wait upon you, O Sītā, if you become my wife.'

Words: pañcadāsyaḥ — five ... maidservants; sahasrāṇi — thousand; sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ — adorned with all ornaments; sīte — O Sītā; paricariṣyanti — will wait upon, serve; bhāryā — wife; bhavasi — you become; me — my; yadi — if

3.45.28

rāvaṇenaivam uktā tu kupitā janakātmajā
pratyuvācānavadyāṅgī tam anādṛtya rākṣasaṃ

But thus addressed by Rāvaṇa, the daughter of Janaka, flawless of limb, grew angry and, scorning that rākṣasa, replied:

Words: rāvaṇenaivam — by Rāvaṇa thus; uktā — addressed; tu — but; kupitā — angered; janakātmajā — the daughter of Janaka; pratyuvācānavadyāṅgī — the flawless-limbed one replied; tam — him; anādṛtya — disregarding; rākṣasaṃ — the rākṣasa

3.45.29

mahāgirim ivākampyaṃ mahendrasadṛśaṃ patim
mahodadhim ivākṣobhyam ahaṃ rāmam anuvratā

'Unshakable as a great mountain, my husband is the peer of mighty Indra, imperturbable as the vast ocean — to that Rāma I am devoted.'

Words: mahāgirim — a great mountain; ivākampyaṃ — like, unshakable; mahendrasadṛśaṃ — equal to great Indra; patim — husband; mahodadhim — the great ocean; ivākṣobhyam — like, unagitatable; ahaṃ — I; rāmam — Rāma; anuvratā — devoted (to)

3.45.30

mahābāhuṃ mahoraskaṃ siṃhavikrāntagāminam
nṛsiṃhaṃ siṃhasaṃkāśam ahaṃ rāmam anuvratā

'Mighty-armed, broad-chested, striding with a lion's gait, a lion among men and lion-like in form — to that Rāma I am devoted.'

Words: mahābāhuṃ — mighty-armed; mahoraskaṃ — broad-chested; siṃhavikrāntagāminam — moving with a lion's stride; nṛsiṃhaṃ — a lion among men; siṃhasaṃkāśam — resembling a lion; ahaṃ — I; rāmam — Rāma; anuvratā — devoted (to)

3.45.31

pūrṇacandrānanaṃ vīraṃ rājavatsaṃ jitendriyam
pṛthukīrtiṃ mahābāhum ahaṃ rāmam anuvratā

'Full-moon-faced, heroic, a cherished prince, master of his senses, of wide renown, and mighty-armed — to that Rāma I am devoted.'

Words: pūrṇacandrānanaṃ — full-moon-faced; vīraṃ — hero; rājavatsaṃ — a cherished prince; jitendriyam — master of his senses; pṛthukīrtiṃ — of wide renown; mahābāhum — mighty-armed; ahaṃ — I; rāmam — Rāma; anuvratā — devoted (to)

3.45.32

tvaṃ punar jambukaḥ siṃhīṃ mām ihecchasi durlabhām
nāhaṃ śakyā tvayā spraṣṭum ādityasya prabhā yathā

'You, a mere jackal, desire me here — a lioness, beyond your reach. You could no more touch me than lay hold of the radiance of the sun.'

Words: tvaṃ — you; punar — on the other hand; jambukaḥ — a jackal; siṃhīṃ — a lioness; mām — me; ihecchasi — here you desire; durlabhām — hard to attain; nāhaṃ — not I; śakyā — able (to be); tvayā — by you; spraṣṭum — to touch; ādityasya — of the sun; prabhā — the radiance; yathā — as

3.45.33

pādapān kāñcanān nūnaṃ bahūn paśyasi mandabhāk
rāghavasya priyāṃ bhāryāṃ yas tvam icchasi rāvaṇa

'Surely, ill-fated one, you are seeing many golden trees — you, Rāvaṇa, who covet the beloved wife of Rāghava!'

Words: pādapān — trees; kāñcanān — golden; nūnaṃ — surely; bahūn — many; paśyasi — you see; mandabhāk — ill-fated one; rāghavasya — of Rāghava; priyāṃ — beloved; bhāryāṃ — wife; yas — who; tvam — you; icchasi — desire; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa

3.45.34

kṣudhitasya ca siṃhasya mṛgaśatros tarasvinaḥ
āśīviṣasya vadanād daṃṣṭrām ādātum icchasi

'You wish to pluck the fang from the mouth of a venomous serpent — or of a hungry, swift lion, the slayer of beasts.'

Words: kṣudhitasya — of a hungry; ca — and; siṃhasya — lion; mṛgaśatros — slayer of beasts; tarasvinaḥ — swift, mighty; āśīviṣasya — of a venomous serpent; vadanād — from the mouth; daṃṣṭrām — a fang; ādātum — to take, pluck; icchasi — you wish

3.45.35

mandaraṃ parvataśreṣṭhaṃ pāṇinā hartum icchasi
kālakūṭaṃ viṣaṃ pītvā svastimān gantum icchasi

'You wish to carry off Mount Mandara, best of mountains, in your bare hand; you wish, having drunk the Kālakūṭa poison, to walk away unharmed.'

Words: mandaraṃ — Mount Mandara; parvataśreṣṭhaṃ — best of mountains; pāṇinā — with (your) hand; hartum — to carry off; icchasi — you wish; kālakūṭaṃ — the Kālakūṭa; viṣaṃ — poison; pītvā — having drunk; svastimān — safe, unharmed; gantum — to go, walk away; icchasi — you wish

3.45.36

akṣisūcyā pramṛjasi jihvayā leḍhi ca kṣuram
rāghavasya priyāṃ bhāryām adhigantuṃ tvam icchasi

'You would rub your eye with a needle and lick a razor with your tongue — you who wish to win the beloved wife of Rāghava!'

Words: akṣisūcyā — with a needle to the eye; pramṛjasi — you wipe, rub; jihvayā — with the tongue; leḍhi — you lick; ca — and; kṣuram — a razor; rāghavasya — of Rāghava; priyāṃ — beloved; bhāryām — wife; adhigantuṃ — to obtain; tvam — you; icchasi — wish

3.45.37

avasajya śilāṃ kaṇṭhe samudraṃ tartum icchasi
sūryā candramasau cobhau prāṇibhyāṃ hartum icchasi
yo rāmasya priyāṃ bhāryāṃ pradharṣayitum icchasi

'With a stone tied around your neck you wish to cross the ocean; you wish to snatch up both the sun and the moon with your two hands — you who would violate the beloved wife of Rāma!'

Words: avasajya — having tied, hung; śilāṃ — a stone; kaṇṭhe — around the neck; samudraṃ — the ocean; tartum — to cross; icchasi — you wish; sūryā — the sun (in the pair); candramasau — and the moon (the two); cobhau — and both; prāṇibhyāṃ — with (your) two hands; hartum — to seize; icchasi — you wish; yo — who; rāmasya — of Rāma; priyāṃ — beloved; bhāryāṃ — wife; pradharṣayitum — to assault, violate; icchasi — wish

3.45.38

agniṃ prajvalitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vastreṇāhartum icchasi
kalyāṇa vṛttāṃ rāmasya yo bhāryāṃ hartum icchasi

'Seeing a blazing fire, you wish to carry it off in your garment — you who would abduct the virtuous wife of Rāma!'

Words: agniṃ — fire; prajvalitaṃ — blazing; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; vastreṇāhartum — to carry off with a cloth; icchasi — you wish; kalyāṇa — of auspicious; vṛttāṃ — conduct; rāmasya — of Rāma; yo — who; bhāryāṃ — wife; hartum — to carry off; icchasi — wish

3.45.39

ayomukhānāṃ śūlānām agre caritum icchasi
rāmasya sadṛśīṃ bhāryāṃ yo 'dhigantuṃ tvam icchasi

'You wish to tread upon the tips of iron-pointed spikes — you who would win the wife worthy of Rāma!'

Words: ayomukhānāṃ — iron-pointed; śūlānām — of spikes, spears; agre — on the tips; caritum — to walk; icchasi — you wish; rāmasya — of Rāma; sadṛśīṃ — worthy, matching; bhāryāṃ — wife; yo — who; 'dhigantuṃ — to obtain; tvam — you; icchasi — wish

3.45.40

yad antaraṃ siṃhaśṛgālayor vane yad antaraṃ syandanikāsamudrayoḥ
surāgryasauvīrakayor yad antaraṃ tad antaraṃ dāśarathes tavaiva ca

'The difference between a lion and a jackal in the forest, between a rivulet and the sea, between fine nectar and sour gruel — such is the difference between the son of Daśaratha and you.'

Words: yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; siṃhaśṛgālayor — between a lion and a jackal; vane — in the forest; yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; syandanikāsamudrayoḥ — between a rivulet and the ocean; surāgryasauvīrakayor — between fine nectar and sour gruel; yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; tad — that; antaraṃ — difference; dāśarathes — of the son of Daśaratha; tavaiva — and of you yourself; ca — and

3.45.41

yad antaraṃ kāñcanasīsalohayor yad antaraṃ candanavāripaṅkayoḥ
yad antaraṃ hastibiḍālayor vane tad antaraṃ daśarathes tavaiva ca

'The difference between gold and lead, between sandal-water and mire, between an elephant and a cat in the wood — such is the difference between Daśaratha's son and you.'

Words: yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; kāñcanasīsalohayor — between gold and lead-iron; yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; candanavāripaṅkayoḥ — between sandal-water and mud; yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; hastibiḍālayor — between an elephant and a cat; vane — in the forest; tad — that; antaraṃ — difference; daśarathes — of (the son of) Daśaratha; tavaiva — and of you yourself; ca — and

3.45.42

yad antaraṃ vāyasavainateyayor yad antaraṃ madgumayūrayor api
yad antaraṃ sārasagṛdhrayor vane tad antaraṃ dāśarathes tavaiva ca

'The difference between a crow and Garuḍa, between a cormorant and a peacock, between a crane and a vulture in the wood — such is the difference between the son of Daśaratha and you.'

Words: yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; vāyasavainateyayor — between a crow and Garuḍa; yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; madgumayūrayor — between a cormorant and a peacock; api — even; yad — what; antaraṃ — difference; sārasagṛdhrayor — between a crane and a vulture; vane — in the forest; tad — that; antaraṃ — difference; dāśarathes — of the son of Daśaratha; tavaiva — and of you yourself; ca — and

3.45.43

tasmin sahasrākṣasamaprabhāve rāme sthite kārmukabāṇapāṇau
hṛtāpi te 'haṃ na jarāṃ gamiṣye vajraṃ yathā makṣikayāvagīrṇam

'While that Rāma stands, mighty as the thousand-eyed god, with bow and arrow in hand — even if carried off by you, I shall never be consumed by you, any more than a fly can digest a swallowed diamond.'

Words: tasmin — when that; sahasrākṣasamaprabhāve — of might equal to the thousand-eyed (Indra); rāme — (when) Rāma; sthite — stands; kārmukabāṇapāṇau — with bow and arrow in hand; hṛtāpi — even if carried off; te — by you; 'haṃ — I; na — not; jarāṃ — to being consumed, digested; gamiṣye — I will go, come; vajraṃ — a diamond; yathā — as; makṣikayāvagīrṇam — swallowed by a fly

3.45.44

itīva tad vākyam aduṣṭabhāvā sudṛṣṭam uktvā rajanīcaraṃ tam
gātraprakampād vyathitā babhūva vātoddhatā sā kadalīva tanvī

Having spoken such words firmly to that night-roamer, she of faultless nature — slender-formed — fell to trembling in every limb and grew distressed, like a plantain tree tossed by the wind.

Words: itīva — thus indeed; tad — that; vākyam — speech; aduṣṭabhāvā — of faultless disposition; sudṛṣṭam — well-considered, firmly; uktvā — having spoken; rajanīcaraṃ — the night-roamer; tam — that; gātraprakampād — from trembling of the body; vyathitā — distressed, agitated; babhūva — became; vātoddhatā — tossed by the wind; sā — she; kadalīva — like a plantain tree; tanvī — the slender one

3.45.45

tāṃ vepamānām upalakṣya sītāṃ sa rāvaṇo mṛtyusamaprabhāvaḥ
kulaṃ balaṃ nāma ca karma cātmanaḥ samācacakṣe bhayakāraṇārtham

Seeing Sītā trembling thus, Rāvaṇa, whose might was like Death itself, recounted his lineage, his strength, his name, and his deeds, so as to strike terror in her.

Words: tāṃ — her; vepamānām — trembling; upalakṣya — observing; sītāṃ — Sītā; sa — he; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; mṛtyusamaprabhāvaḥ — of might equal to Death; kulaṃ — lineage; balaṃ — strength; nāma — name; ca — and; karma — deeds; cātmanaḥ — and of himself; samācacakṣe — related, recounted; bhayakāraṇārtham — for the purpose of causing fear

← 3.44 Rāvaṇa’s parivrājaka disguise · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.46 Rāvaṇa boasts of his power →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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