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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 46: Rāvaṇa boasts of his power

Summary. He recounts defeating Kubera and seizing Puṣpaka, offers Laṅkā’s pleasures and is rebuked by Sītā for disgracing his lineage

Sequence

  1. Rāvaṇa identifies himself as Kubera's half-brother and boasts that Devas and other beings flee before him (3.46.1–3)
  2. he recounts defeating Kubera and seizing Puṣpaka, saying that Kubera now lives on Kailāsa after abandoning his former home (3.46.4–6)
  3. he claims that even Indra, the wind, sun, trees, and rivers respond in fear to his presence (3.46.7–9)
  4. he describes Laṅkā's walls, golden courts, gardens, traffic, and abundance, promising Sītā pleasures that will make her forget Rāma (3.46.10–14)
  5. he belittles Rāma as a weak, dispossessed tapasvin and urges her not to reject him (3.46.15–18)
  6. Sītā asks how he can claim kinship with the honored Kubera while proposing such a crime (3.46.19–20)
  7. she predicts the destruction of the rākṣasas under his rule and says that even immortality could not save him after abducting her. (3.46.21–23)

Verses 3.46.1–23

3.46.1

evaṃ bruvatyāṃ sītāyāṃ saṃrabdhaḥ paruṣākṣaram
lalāṭe bhrukuṭīṃ kṛtvā rāvaṇaḥ pratyuvāca ha

While Sītā was speaking thus, Rāvaṇa, enraged, knitting his brows into a frown upon his forehead, replied in harsh words:

Words: evaṃ — thus; bruvatyāṃ — as she was speaking; sītāyāṃ — Sītā; saṃrabdhaḥ — enraged, agitated; paruṣākṣaram — in harsh syllables; lalāṭe — on the forehead; bhrukuṭīṃ — a frown, knitting of brows; kṛtvā — having made; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; pratyuvāca — replied; ha — indeed

3.46.2

bhrātā vaiśravaṇasyāhaṃ sāpatnyo varavarṇini
rāvaṇo nāma bhadraṃ te daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān

“I am the half-brother of Vaiśravaṇa, O lovely-hued one — Rāvaṇa by name, the majestic ten-necked one; blessings upon you.

Words: bhrātā — the brother; vaiśravaṇasyāhaṃ — of Vaiśravaṇa I; sāpatnyo — born of a co-wife, half-; varavarṇini — O lovely-hued one; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; nāma — by name; bhadraṃ — blessing, good fortune; te — to you; daśagrīvaḥ — the ten-necked one; pratāpavān — majestic, powerful

3.46.3

yasya devāḥ sagandharvāḥ piśācapatagoragāḥ
vidravanti bhayād bhītā mṛtyor iva sadā prajāḥ

from whom the gods together with the gandharvas, the piśācas, the birds and the serpents flee in terror, as living beings ever flee from death.

Words: yasya — from whom; devāḥ — the gods; sagandharvāḥ — together with the gandharvas; piśācapatagoragāḥ — the piśācas, birds and serpents; vidravanti — flee, scatter; bhayād — out of fear; bhītā — frightened; mṛtyor iva — as from death; sadā — always; prajāḥ — creatures, living beings

3.46.4

yena vaiśravaṇo bhrātā vaimātraḥ kāraṇāntare
dvandvam āsāditaḥ krodhād raṇe vikramya nirjitaḥ

by whom his half-brother Vaiśravaṇa, on some occasion, was in anger engaged in single combat and, by sheer valour, defeated in battle;

Words: yena — by whom; vaiśravaṇo — Vaiśravaṇa; bhrātā — the brother; vaimātraḥ — born of another mother, half-; kāraṇāntare — on some occasion, for some cause; dvandvam — to single combat, a duel; āsāditaḥ — was brought, engaged; krodhād — out of anger; raṇe — in battle; vikramya — having shown valour; nirjitaḥ — defeated, vanquished

3.46.5

madbhayārtaḥ parityajya svam adhiṣṭhānam ṛddhimat
kailāsaṃ parvataśreṣṭham adhyāste naravāhanaḥ

for, tormented by fear of me, having forsaken his own prosperous abode, the man-borne one (Kubera) now dwells on Kailāsa, best of mountains.

Words: madbhayārtaḥ — tormented by fear of me; parityajya — having abandoned; svam — his own; adhiṣṭhānam — abode, seat; ṛddhimat — prosperous, opulent; kailāsaṃ — Kailāsa; parvataśreṣṭham — best of mountains; adhyāste — dwells upon, occupies; naravāhanaḥ — he whose vehicle is men (Kubera)

3.46.6

yasya tat puṣpakaṃ nāma vimānaṃ kāmagaṃ śubham
vīryād āvarjitaṃ bhadre yena yāmi vihāyasaṃ

whose splendid aerial car named Puṣpaka, going wherever one wills, I seized by my might, O gracious one, and in which I travel through the sky.

Words: yasya — whose; tat — that; puṣpakaṃ — Puṣpaka; nāma — by name; vimānaṃ — aerial car; kāmagaṃ — going at will; śubham — splendid, beautiful; vīryād — by valour, might; āvarjitaṃ — won over, seized; bhadre — O gracious one; yena — by which; yāmi — I go, travel; vihāyasaṃ — through the sky, the air

3.46.7

mama saṃjātaroṣasya mukhaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva maithili
vidravanti paritrastāḥ surāḥ śakrapurogamāḥ

At the mere sight of my face, when wrath has arisen in me, O Maithilī, the gods led by Śakra flee away utterly terrified.

Words: mama — my; saṃjātaroṣasya — of me in whom rage has arisen; mukhaṃ — the face; dṛṣṭvaiva — at the very sight; maithili — O Maithilī; vidravanti — flee, scatter; paritrastāḥ — terrified; surāḥ — the gods; śakrapurogamāḥ — led by Śakra (Indra)

3.46.8

yatra tiṣṭhāmy ahaṃ tatra māruto vāti śaṅkitaḥ
tīvrāṃśuḥ śiśirāṃśuś ca bhayāt saṃpadyate raviḥ

Wherever I stand, there the wind blows warily, and the sun, whose rays are fierce, becomes cool-rayed out of fear.

Words: yatra — where; tiṣṭhāmy — I stand; ahaṃ — I; tatra — there; māruto — the wind; vāti — blows; śaṅkitaḥ — warily, hesitantly; tīvrāṃśuḥ — fierce-rayed (the sun); śiśirāṃśuś ca — and cool-rayed; bhayāt — out of fear; saṃpadyate — becomes; raviḥ — the sun

3.46.9

niṣkampapatrās taravo nadyaś ca stimitodakāḥ
bhavanti yatra yatrāhaṃ tiṣṭhāmi ca carāmi ca

Wherever I stand and wherever I move, the trees become still-leaved and the rivers hold their waters motionless.

Words: niṣkampapatrās — with unmoving leaves; taravo — the trees; nadyaś ca — and the rivers; stimitodakāḥ — with still waters; bhavanti — become; yatra — where; yatrāhaṃ — wherever I; tiṣṭhāmi — stand; ca — and; carāmi — move about; ca — and

3.46.10

mama pāre samudrasya laṅkā nāma purī śubhā
saṃpūrṇā rākṣasair ghorair yathendrasyāmarāvatī

On the far shore of the ocean lies my splendid city named Laṅkā, filled with fearsome rākṣasas, like Indra's Amarāvatī.

Words: mama — my; pāre — on the farther shore; samudrasya — of the ocean; laṅkā — Laṅkā; nāma — by name; purī — city; śubhā — splendid, fair; saṃpūrṇā — filled, full; rākṣasair — with rākṣasas; ghorair — fearsome; yathendrasyāmarāvatī — like Indra's Amarāvatī

3.46.11

prākāreṇa parikṣiptā pāṇḍureṇa virājitā
hemakakṣyā purī ramyā vaidūryamaya toraṇā

encircled by a white rampart and resplendent, a lovely city with golden courtyards and gateways made of beryl,

Words: prākāreṇa — by a rampart, wall; parikṣiptā — encircled, surrounded; pāṇḍureṇa — white, pale; virājitā — resplendent, shining; hemakakṣyā — with golden courtyards; purī — the city; ramyā — lovely, delightful; vaidūryamaya toraṇā — with gateways made of beryl

3.46.12

hastyaśvarathasaṃbhādhā tūryanādavināditā
sarvakāmaphalair vṛkṣaiḥ saṃkulodyānaśobhitā

thronged with elephants, horses and chariots, resounding with the blare of instruments, and graced with gardens crowded with trees that bear every desirable fruit.

Words: hastyaśvarathasaṃbhādhā — thronged with elephants, horses and chariots; tūryanādavināditā — resounding with the blare of instruments; sarvakāmaphalair — with all desired fruits; vṛkṣaiḥ — with trees; saṃkulodyānaśobhitā — adorned with crowded gardens

3.46.13

tatra tvaṃ vasatī sīte rājaputri mayā saha
na sramiṣyasi nārīṇāṃ mānuṣīṇāṃ manasvini

Dwelling there with me, O Sītā, O princess, O spirited one, you will feel no longing for human women.

Words: tatra — there; tvaṃ — you; vasatī — dwelling; sīte — O Sītā; rājaputri — O princess; mayā saha — together with me; na — not; sramiṣyasi — you will pine, weary yourself (for); nārīṇāṃ — of women; mānuṣīṇāṃ — human; manasvini — O spirited one, high-minded lady

3.46.14

bhuñjānā mānuṣān bhogān divyāṃś ca varavarṇini
na smariṣyasi rāmasya mānuṣasya gatāyuṣaḥ

Enjoying pleasures both human and divine, O lovely-hued one, you will not remember Rāma, a mortal whose life is already spent.

Words: bhuñjānā — enjoying; mānuṣān — human; bhogān — pleasures, enjoyments; divyāṃś ca — and divine; varavarṇini — O lovely-hued one; na — not; smariṣyasi — you will remember; rāmasya — Rāma; mānuṣasya — a mortal, human; gatāyuṣaḥ — whose life is gone

3.46.15

sthāpayitvā priyaṃ putraṃ rājñā daśarathena yaḥ
mandavīryaḥ suto jyeṣṭhas tataḥ prasthāpito vanam

he whom — the eldest son but feeble in valour — King Daśaratha, having installed his favourite son as heir, thereupon dispatched to the forest.

Words: sthāpayitvā — having installed, set up; priyaṃ — dear, favourite; putraṃ — son; rājñā — by the king; daśarathena — Daśaratha; yaḥ — who; mandavīryaḥ — feeble in valour; suto — the son; jyeṣṭhas — eldest; tataḥ — then, thereupon; prasthāpito — was sent forth; vanam — to the forest

3.46.16

tena kiṃ bhraṣṭarājyena rāmeṇa gatacetasā
kariṣyasi viśālākṣi tāpasena tapasvinā

What will you do, O wide-eyed one, with that Rāma — fallen from his kingdom, out of his wits, a wretched ascetic?

Words: tena — with that; kiṃ — what; bhraṣṭarājyena — fallen from his kingdom; rāmeṇa — Rāma; gatacetasā — out of his senses; kariṣyasi — will you do; viśālākṣi — O wide-eyed one; tāpasena — an ascetic; tapasvinā — a wretched one, one practising austerity

3.46.17

sarvarākṣasabhartāraṃ kāmāt svayam ihāgatam
na manmathaśarāviṣṭaṃ pratyākhyātuṃ tvam arhasi

You ought not to reject me — the lord of all rākṣasas, who has come here of my own accord out of desire, pierced by the arrows of Manmatha.

Words: sarvarākṣasabhartāraṃ — the lord of all rākṣasas; kāmāt — out of desire; svayam — of my own accord, in person; ihāgatam — come here; na — not; manmathaśarāviṣṭaṃ — pierced by love's arrows; pratyākhyātuṃ — to reject, refuse; tvam — you; arhasi — ought, should

3.46.18

pratyākhyāya hi māṃ bhīru paritāpaṃ gamiṣyasi
caraṇenābhihatyeva purūravasam urvaśī

For if you reject me, O timid one, you will fall into remorse, as Urvaśī did after spurning Purūravas, as it were, with her foot.

Words: pratyākhyāya — having rejected; hi — for, indeed; māṃ — me; bhīru — O timid one; paritāpaṃ — grief, remorse; gamiṣyasi — you will come to; caraṇenābhihatyeva — as if having struck with the foot; purūravasam — Purūravas; urvaśī — Urvaśī

3.46.19

evam uktā tu vaidehī kruddhā saṃraktalocanā
abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rahite rākṣasādhipam

Addressed thus, Vaidehī, angered and her eyes turned red, spoke harsh words to the lord of rākṣasas in that lonely place.

Words: evam — thus; uktā — addressed, spoken to; tu — but; vaidehī — Vaidehī; kruddhā — angered; saṃraktalocanā — with reddened eyes; abravīt — spoke; paruṣaṃ — harsh; vākyaṃ — words; rahite — in a lonely place, in private; rākṣasādhipam — to the lord of rākṣasas

3.46.20

kathaṃ vaiśravaṇaṃ devaṃ sarvabhūtanamaskṛtam
bhrātaraṃ vyapadiśya tvam aśubhaṃ kartum icchasi

“How is it that, citing as your brother the god Vaiśravaṇa, who is honoured by all beings, you wish to do so wicked a deed?

Words: kathaṃ — how; vaiśravaṇaṃ — Vaiśravaṇa; devaṃ — the god; sarvabhūtanamaskṛtam — honoured by all beings; bhrātaraṃ — brother; vyapadiśya — having cited, named as pretext; tvam — you; aśubhaṃ — an evil deed; kartum — to do; icchasi — wish, desire

3.46.21

avaśyaṃ vinaśiṣyanti sarve rāvaṇa rākṣasāḥ
yeṣāṃ tvaṃ karkaśo rājā durbuddhir ajitendriyaḥ

Inevitably, O Rāvaṇa, all the rākṣasas will perish — they whose king you are, cruel, evil-minded, and with senses unconquered.

Words: avaśyaṃ — inevitably, surely; vinaśiṣyanti — will perish; sarve — all; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; rākṣasāḥ — the rākṣasas; yeṣāṃ — whose; tvaṃ — you; karkaśo — cruel, harsh; rājā — king; durbuddhir — evil-minded; ajitendriyaḥ — with senses unconquered

3.46.22

apahṛtya śacīṃ bhāryāṃ śakyam indrasya jīvitum
na tu rāmasya bhāryāṃ mām apanīyāsti jīvitam

Having carried off Śacī, the wife of Indra, one might yet survive; but having borne away me, the wife of Rāma, there is no living.

Words: apahṛtya — having carried off; śacīṃ — Śacī; bhāryāṃ — the wife; śakyam — it is possible; indrasya — of Indra; jīvitum — to live, survive; na tu — but not; rāmasya — of Rāma; bhāryāṃ — the wife; mām — me; apanīyāsti — having borne away, there is; jīvitam — life, living

3.46.23

jīvec ciraṃ vajradharasya hastāc chacīṃ pradhṛṣyāpratirūparūpām
na mādṛśīṃ rākṣasadharṣayitvā pītāmṛtasyāpi tavāsti mokṣaḥ

One might live long even after violating Śacī of matchless beauty from the very hand of the wielder of the thunderbolt; but having assaulted one like me, O rākṣasa, there is no escape for you, even had you drunk the nectar of immortality.

Words: jīvec — one might live; ciraṃ — for long; vajradharasya — of the thunderbolt-wielder (Indra); hastāc — from the hand; chacīṃ — Śacī; pradhṛṣyāpratirūparūpām — having overpowered (her) of unrivalled beauty; na — not; mādṛśīṃ — one like me; rākṣasadharṣayitvā — O rākṣasa, having assaulted; pītāmṛtasyāpi — even for you who have drunk the nectar; tavāsti — there is for you; mokṣaḥ — escape, release

← 3.45 Rāvaṇa reveals his identity · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.47 Sītā’s abduction →

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.

Plain text: /text/3/46.md · JSON: /data/3/46.json