← 3.46 Rāvaṇa boasts of his power · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.48 Jaṭāyu confronts Rāvaṇa →
Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 47: Sītā’s abduction
Summary. Rāvaṇa reveals his ten-faced form and lifts her into his flying chariot, she calls on the forest, river and Jaṭāyu to inform Rāma
Sequence
- Rāvaṇa strikes his hands together and boasts that he can lift the earth, drink the ocean, stop the sun, and defeat Death (3.47.1–4)
- he abandons the parivrājaka disguise and reveals his huge, ten-faced, armed form (3.47.5–9)
- he again urges Sītā to choose him and insults Rāma for obeying the exile command (3.47.10–14)
- he seizes her by the hair with his left hand and around the thighs with his right (3.47.15–16)
- the vanadevatās flee, and his magical donkey-drawn chariot appears (3.47.17–18)
- threatening her, he lifts her into it → she cries for Rāma as he carries her unwilling and struggling into the air. (3.47.19–22)
- Sītā calls to Lakṣmaṇa and Rāma, who are too far away to know what is happening (3.47.23–25)
- she warns Rāvaṇa that the consequences of his crime will mature in time and bring his death, then laments that Kaikeyī's wish seems fulfilled (3.47.26–28)
- she appeals to Janasthāna's trees, the mountains Mālyavat and Prasravaṇa, the Godāvarī, the vanadevatās, and all animals and birds to tell Rāma who has taken her (3.47.29–34)
- confident that he will recover her once he knows, she specifically calls on Jaṭāyu to report the whole abduction to both brothers. (3.47.35–36)
Verses 3.47.1–36
3.47.1
sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān
haste hastaṃ samāhatya cakāra sumahad vapuḥ
Hearing Sītā's words, the mighty ten-necked Rāvaṇa, striking hand against hand, assumed a colossal form.
Words: sītāyā — of Sītā; vacanaṃ — words; śrutvā — having heard; daśagrīvaḥ — the ten-necked one (Rāvaṇa); pratāpavān — mighty, majestic; haste — on (one) hand; hastaṃ — hand; samāhatya — having clapped, struck; cakāra — made; sumahad — very great; vapuḥ — body, form
3.47.2
sa maithilīṃ punar vākyaṃ babhāṣe ca tato bhṛśam
nonmattayā śrutau manye mama vīryaparākramau
He spoke to Maithilī once more, and then vehemently: 'It seems this foolish woman has not heard of my valor and prowess.'
Words: sa — he; maithilīṃ — to Maithilī; punar — again; vākyaṃ — words; babhāṣe — spoke; ca — and; tato — then; bhṛśam — vehemently; nonmattayā — not by the foolish (woman); śrutau — (the two) have been heard; manye — I think; mama — my; vīryaparākramau — valor and prowess
3.47.3
udvaheyaṃ bhujābhyāṃ tu medinīm ambare sthitaḥ
āpibeyaṃ samudraṃ ca mṛtyuṃ hanyāṃ raṇe sthitaḥ
'Standing in the sky, I could lift the earth with my arms, drink up the ocean, and, taking my stand in battle, slay Death himself.'
Words: udvaheyaṃ — I could lift up; bhujābhyāṃ — with (my) two arms; tu — indeed; medinīm — the earth; ambare — in the sky; sthitaḥ — standing; āpibeyaṃ — I could drink up; samudraṃ — the ocean; ca — and; mṛtyuṃ — Death; hanyāṃ — I could slay; raṇe — in battle; sthitaḥ — standing
3.47.4
arkaṃ rundhyāṃ śarais tīkṣṇair vibhindyāṃ hi mahītalam
kāmarūpiṇam unmatte paśya māṃ kāmadaṃ patim
'With sharp arrows I could halt the sun and cleave open the surface of the earth. Behold me, foolish woman — a lord who changes shape at will and grants every wish, a fit husband!'
Words: arkaṃ — the sun; rundhyāṃ — I could obstruct, halt; śarais — with arrows; tīkṣṇair — sharp; vibhindyāṃ — I could cleave; hi — indeed; mahītalam — the surface of the earth; kāmarūpiṇam — one who takes any form at will; unmatte — O foolish woman; paśya — behold; māṃ — me; kāmadaṃ — granter of desires; patim — a husband
3.47.5
evam uktavatas tasya rāvaṇasya śikhiprabhe
kruddhasya hariparyante rakte netre babhūvatuḥ
As Rāvaṇa spoke thus in his fury, his two eyes, glowing like fire and tawny at the corners, turned red.
Words: evam — thus; uktavatas — of (him) having spoken; tasya — his; rāvaṇasya — of Rāvaṇa; śikhiprabhe — fire-bright (the two eyes); kruddhasya — of the angry one; hariparyante — tawny at the edges; rakte — red; netre — (the two) eyes; babhūvatuḥ — became (the two)
3.47.6
sadyaḥ saumyaṃ parityajya bhikṣurūpaṃ sa rāvaṇaḥ
svaṃ rūpaṃ kālarūpābhaṃ bheje vaiśravaṇānujaḥ
At once casting off that gentle mendicant guise, Rāvaṇa, the younger brother of Vaiśravaṇa, assumed his own form, terrible as Death itself.
Words: sadyaḥ — at once; saumyaṃ — gentle, pleasing; parityajya — abandoning; bhikṣurūpaṃ — the mendicant form; sa — he; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; svaṃ — his own; rūpaṃ — form; kālarūpābhaṃ — resembling the form of Death; bheje — assumed, took on; vaiśravaṇānujaḥ — the younger brother of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera)
3.47.7
saṃraktanayanaḥ śrīmāṃs taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ
daśāsyaḥ kārmukī bāṇī babhūva kṣaṇadācaraḥ
Red-eyed, majestic, with earrings of burnished gold, ten-faced, bearing bow and arrows, the night-roamer stood revealed.
Words: saṃraktanayanaḥ — with red eyes; śrīmāṃs — majestic; taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ — with earrings of burnished gold; daśāsyaḥ — the ten-faced; kārmukī — bearing a bow; bāṇī — bearing arrows; babhūva — became; kṣaṇadācaraḥ — the night-roamer
3.47.8
sa parivrājakacchadma mahākāyo vihāya tat
pratipede svakaṃ rūpaṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ
Casting off that disguise of a wandering mendicant, the huge-bodied Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, resumed his own form.
Words: sa — he; parivrājakacchadma — the disguise of a wandering mendicant; mahākāyo — the huge-bodied one; vihāya — abandoning; tat — that; pratipede — took on, resumed; svakaṃ — his own; rūpaṃ — form; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; rākṣasādhipaḥ — lord of the rākṣasas
3.47.9
saṃraktanayanaḥ krodhāj jīmūtanicayaprabhaḥ
raktāmbaradharas tasthau strīratnaṃ prekṣya maithilīm
With eyes reddened by rage, glowing like a bank of thunderclouds, clad in red garments, he stood gazing upon Maithilī, that jewel among women.
Words: saṃraktanayanaḥ — with reddened eyes; krodhāj — from anger; jīmūtanicayaprabhaḥ — shining like a mass of storm-clouds; raktāmbaradharas — wearing red garments; tasthau — he stood; strīratnaṃ — the jewel among women; prekṣya — gazing at; maithilīm — Maithilī
3.47.10
sa tām asitakeśāntāṃ bhāskarasya prabhām iva
vasanābharaṇopetāṃ maithilīṃ rāvaṇo 'bravīt
To her — dark-tressed and radiant as the sun's own light, adorned with garments and jewels, to Maithilī — Rāvaṇa spoke:
Words: sa — he; tām — her; asitakeśāntāṃ — with dark hair-ends, dark-tressed; bhāskarasya — of the sun; prabhām — the radiance; iva — like; vasanābharaṇopetāṃ — endowed with garments and ornaments; maithilīṃ — Maithilī; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; 'bravīt — said
3.47.11
triṣu lokeṣu vikhyātaṃ yadi bhartāram icchasi
mām āśraya varārohe tavāhaṃ sadṛśaḥ patiḥ
'If you want a husband renowned throughout the three worlds, turn to me, O fair-hipped one; I am a husband worthy of you.'
Words: triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — worlds; vikhyātaṃ — renowned; yadi — if; bhartāram — a husband; icchasi — you desire; mām — me; āśraya — resort to, take refuge in; varārohe — O fair-hipped one; tavāhaṃ — I for you; sadṛśaḥ — a fitting, matching; patiḥ — husband
3.47.12
māṃ bhajasva cirāya tvam ahaṃ ślāghyas tava priyaḥ
naiva cāhaṃ kva cid bhadre kariṣye tava vipriyam
tyajyatāṃ mānuṣo bhāvo mayi bhāvaḥ praṇīyatām
'Love me long, and I shall be your praiseworthy beloved; never, gentle lady, will I do anything to displease you. Give up this attachment to a mortal, and let your affection be set on me.'
Words: māṃ — me; bhajasva — love, be devoted to; cirāya — for a long time; tvam — you; ahaṃ — I; ślāghyas — praiseworthy; tava — your; priyaḥ — beloved; naiva — never; cāhaṃ — and I; kva — anywhere; cid — ever; bhadre — O gentle lady; kariṣye — I will do; tava — your; vipriyam — displeasure, harm; tyajyatāṃ — let be abandoned; mānuṣo — human, mortal; bhāvo — attachment, feeling; mayi — toward me; bhāvaḥ — affection; praṇīyatām — let be directed, bestowed
3.47.13
rājyāc cyutam asiddhārthaṃ rāmaṃ parimitāyuṣam
kair guṇair anuraktāsi mūḍhe paṇḍitamānini
'By what virtues are you so enamored of Rāma — fallen from his kingdom, his ends unachieved, his lifespan brief — O foolish woman who fancies herself wise?'
Words: rājyāc — from the kingdom; cyutam — fallen; asiddhārthaṃ — whose purposes are unaccomplished; rāmaṃ — Rāma; parimitāyuṣam — of limited lifespan; kair — by what; guṇair — virtues; anuraktāsi — you are enamored; mūḍhe — O foolish woman; paṇḍitamānini — O you who fancy yourself wise
3.47.14
yaḥ striyā vacanād rājyaṃ vihāya sasuhṛjjanam
asmin vyālānucarite vane vasati durmatiḥ
'—that fool who, at a woman's word, forsook his kingdom and his kinsfolk and now dwells in this forest haunted by wild beasts!'
Words: yaḥ — who; striyā — of a woman; vacanād — by the word; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; vihāya — abandoning; sasuhṛjjanam — together with his kinsfolk; asmin — in this; vyālānucarite — frequented by wild beasts; vane — in the forest; vasati — dwells; durmatiḥ — the fool
3.47.15
ity uktvā maithilīṃ vākyaṃ priyārhāṃ priyavādinīm
jagrāha rāvaṇaḥ sītāṃ budhaḥ khe rohiṇīm iva
Having spoken these words to Maithilī — she who deserved only kindness and spoke only kindly — Rāvaṇa seized Sītā, as the planet Budha might seize the star Rohiṇī in the sky.
Words: ity — thus; uktvā — having spoken; maithilīṃ — to Maithilī; vākyaṃ — words; priyārhāṃ — deserving of kindness; priyavādinīm — sweet-spoken; jagrāha — seized; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; sītāṃ — Sītā; budhaḥ — the planet Budha (Mercury); khe — in the sky; rohiṇīm — Rohiṇī (a star); iva — like
3.47.16
vāmena sītāṃ padmākṣīṃ mūrdhajeṣu kareṇa saḥ
ūrvos tu dakṣiṇenaiva parijagrāha pāṇinā
With his left hand he seized the lotus-eyed Sītā by the hair, and with his right he grasped her about the thighs.
Words: vāmena — with (his) left; sītāṃ — Sītā; padmākṣīṃ — lotus-eyed; mūrdhajeṣu — by the hair; kareṇa — with (his) hand; saḥ — he; ūrvos — by the two thighs; tu — and; dakṣiṇenaiva — with the right only; parijagrāha — grasped; pāṇinā — with (his) hand
3.47.17
taṃ dṛṣṭvā giriśṛṅgābhaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ mahābhujam
prādravan mṛtyusaṃkāśaṃ bhayārtā vanadevatāḥ
Seeing him — huge as a mountain peak, sharp-fanged, mighty-armed, and terrible as Death — the forest deities fled in terror.
Words: taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; giriśṛṅgābhaṃ — resembling a mountain peak; tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ — with sharp fangs; mahābhujam — great-armed; prādravan — fled; mṛtyusaṃkāśaṃ — resembling Death; bhayārtā — stricken with fear; vanadevatāḥ — the forest deities
3.47.18
sa ca māyāmayo divyaḥ kharayuktaḥ kharasvanaḥ
pratyadṛśyata hemāṅgo rāvaṇasya mahārathaḥ
Then Rāvaṇa's great chariot appeared — magical and divine, drawn by donkeys, harsh-braying, its body all of gold.
Words: sa — that; ca — and; māyāmayo — made of magic, illusory; divyaḥ — divine; kharayuktaḥ — yoked with donkeys; kharasvanaḥ — harsh-sounding; pratyadṛśyata — appeared; hemāṅgo — golden-bodied; rāvaṇasya — of Rāvaṇa; mahārathaḥ — the great chariot
3.47.19
tatas tāṃ paruṣair vākyair abhitarjya mahāsvanaḥ
aṅkenādāya vaidehīṃ ratham āropayat tadā
Then, threatening her with harsh words, the loud-voiced Rāvaṇa took Vaidehī up in his arms and set her upon the chariot.
Words: tatas — then; tāṃ — her; paruṣair — with harsh; vākyair — words; abhitarjya — having threatened; mahāsvanaḥ — the loud-voiced one; aṅkenādāya — taking on (his) lap, in his arms; vaidehīṃ — Vaidehī; ratham — the chariot; āropayat — set (her) up on; tadā — then
3.47.20
sā gṛhītāticukrośa rāvaṇena yaśasvinī
rāmeti sītā duḥkhārtā rāmaṃ dūragataṃ vane
Seized by Rāvaṇa, the illustrious Sītā, tormented with grief, cried out aloud, 'Rāma!' — to Rāma who had gone far off in the forest.
Words: sā — she; gṛhītāticukrośa — seized, she cried out loudly; rāvaṇena — by Rāvaṇa; yaśasvinī — the illustrious one; rāmeti — 'Rāma!' thus; sītā — Sītā; duḥkhārtā — stricken with grief; rāmaṃ — Rāma; dūragataṃ — gone far away; vane — in the forest
3.47.21
tām akāmāṃ sa kāmārtaḥ pannagendravadhūm iva
viveṣṭamānām ādāya utpapāthātha rāvaṇaḥ
Then, seizing her — unwilling and writhing like the consort of the serpent-king — the lust-stricken Rāvaṇa sprang up into the air.
Words: tām — her; akāmāṃ — unwilling; sa — he; kāmārtaḥ — tormented by lust; pannagendravadhūm — like the consort of the serpent-king; iva — like; viveṣṭamānām — writhing, struggling; ādāya — seizing; utpapāthātha — flew up, then; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa
3.47.22
tataḥ sā rākṣasendreṇa hriyamāṇā vihāyasā
bhṛśaṃ cukrośa matteva bhrāntacittā yathāturā
Then, borne off through the sky by the lord of the rākṣasas, she cried out loudly, like a woman frenzied, her mind distraught, as one in torment.
Words: tataḥ — then; sā — she; rākṣasendreṇa — by the lord of rākṣasas; hriyamāṇā — being carried off; vihāyasā — through the sky; bhṛśaṃ — greatly; cukrośa — cried out; matteva — like one frenzied; bhrāntacittā — of distracted mind; yathāturā — like one afflicted
3.47.23
hā lakṣmaṇa mahābāho gurucittaprasādaka
hriyamāṇāṃ na jānīṣe rakṣasā kāmarūpiṇā
'Alas, Lakṣmaṇa, mighty-armed one, gladdener of your elders' hearts! You do not know that I am being carried off by a rākṣasa who changes shape at will!'
Words: hā — alas; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; mahābāho — O mighty-armed one; gurucittaprasādaka — O gladdener of your elders' hearts; hriyamāṇāṃ — (me) being carried off; na — not; jānīṣe — you know; rakṣasā — by a rākṣasa; kāmarūpiṇā — who takes any form at will
3.47.24
jīvitaṃ sukham arthāṃś ca dharmahetoḥ parityajan
hriyamāṇām adharmeṇa māṃ rāghava na paśyasi
'You who would give up life, comfort, and wealth for the sake of dharma — O Rāghava, you do not see me being carried off in violation of all dharma!'
Words: jīvitaṃ — life; sukham — comfort, pleasure; arthāṃś — wealth; ca — and; dharmahetoḥ — for the sake of dharma; parityajan — renouncing; hriyamāṇām — (me) being carried off; adharmeṇa — unrighteously; māṃ — me; rāghava — O Rāghava; na — not; paśyasi — you see
3.47.25
nanu nāmāvinītānāṃ vinetāsi paraṃtapa
katham evaṃvidhaṃ pāpaṃ na tvaṃ śādhi hi rāvaṇam
'Surely you are the chastiser of the unruly, O scorcher of foes; why, then, do you not punish so wicked a one as Rāvaṇa?'
Words: nanu — surely; nāmāvinītānāṃ — indeed of the unruly ones; vinetāsi — you are the chastiser; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes; katham — how, why; evaṃvidhaṃ — of such a kind; pāpaṃ — the evildoer; na — not; tvaṃ — you; śādhi — chastise, punish; hi — indeed; rāvaṇam — Rāvaṇa
3.47.26
nanu sadyo 'vinītasya dṛśyate karmaṇaḥ phalam
kālo 'py aṅgī bhavaty atra sasyānām iva paktaye
'Surely the fruit of a misdeed shows itself in due course; here, too, time plays its part, just as it does in the ripening of crops.'
Words: nanu — surely; sadyo — at once; 'vinītasya — of an ill deed; dṛśyate — is seen; karmaṇaḥ — of a deed; phalam — the fruit; kālo — time; 'py — too; aṅgī — a contributing factor; bhavaty — becomes; atra — here, in this; sasyānām — of crops; iva — like; paktaye — for the ripening
3.47.27
sa karma kṛtavān etat kālopahatacetanaḥ
jīvitāntakaraṃ ghoraṃ rāmād vyasanam āpnuhi
'You have done this deed, your wits undone by doom; now reap from Rāma a dreadful calamity that will end your life!'
Words: sa — you (that one); karma — deed; kṛtavān — have done; etat — this; kālopahatacetanaḥ — one whose mind is destroyed by doom; jīvitāntakaraṃ — life-ending; ghoraṃ — terrible; rāmād — from Rāma; vyasanam — calamity; āpnuhi — obtain! reap!
3.47.28
hantedānīṃ sakāmā tu kaikeyī bāndhavaiḥ saha
hriyeyaṃ dharmakāmasya dharmapatnī yaśasvinaḥ
'Ah, now Kaikeyī and her kinsmen have their wish — I, the lawful wife of the illustrious, dharma-loving Rāma, am being carried away!'
Words: hantedānīṃ — ah, now; sakāmā — with her desire fulfilled; tu — indeed; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; bāndhavaiḥ — with (her) kinsmen; saha — together; hriyeyaṃ — I am being carried off; dharmakāmasya — of (Rāma) who loves dharma; dharmapatnī — lawful wife; yaśasvinaḥ — of the illustrious one
3.47.29
āmantraye janasthānaṃ karṇikārāṃś ca puṣpitān
kṣipraṃ rāmāya śaṃsadhvaṃ sītāṃ harati rāvaṇaḥ
'I take my leave of Janasthāna and the flowering Karṇikāra trees; tell Rāma quickly — Rāvaṇa is carrying Sītā away!'
Words: āmantraye — I take leave of; janasthānaṃ — Janasthāna; karṇikārāṃś — the Karṇikāra trees; ca — and; puṣpitān — in flower, blossoming; kṣipraṃ — quickly; rāmāya — to Rāma; śaṃsadhvaṃ — tell (you all); sītāṃ — Sītā; harati — carries off; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa
3.47.30
mālyavantaṃ śikhariṇaṃ vande prasravaṇaṃ girim
kṣipraṃ rāmāya śaṃsadhvaṃ sītāṃ harati rāvaṇaḥ
'I salute the peaked mountain Mālyavat and Mount Prasravaṇa; tell Rāma quickly — Rāvaṇa is carrying Sītā away!'
Words: mālyavantaṃ — Mālyavat; śikhariṇaṃ — the peaked (mountain); vande — I salute; prasravaṇaṃ — Prasravaṇa; girim — mountain; kṣipraṃ — quickly; rāmāya — to Rāma; śaṃsadhvaṃ — tell (you all); sītāṃ — Sītā; harati — carries off; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa
3.47.31
haṃsasārasasaṃghuṣṭāṃ vande godāvarīṃ nadīm
kṣipraṃ rāmāya śaṃsadhvaṃ sītāṃ harati rāvaṇaḥ
'I salute the river Godāvarī, loud with geese and cranes; tell Rāma quickly — Rāvaṇa is carrying Sītā away!'
Words: haṃsasārasasaṃghuṣṭāṃ — resounding with geese and cranes; vande — I salute; godāvarīṃ — the Godāvarī; nadīm — river; kṣipraṃ — quickly; rāmāya — to Rāma; śaṃsadhvaṃ — tell (you all); sītāṃ — Sītā; harati — carries off; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa
3.47.32
daivatāni ca yānty asmin vane vividhapādape
namaskaromy ahaṃ tebhyo bhartuḥ śaṃsata māṃ hṛtām
'And the deities who dwell in this forest of many trees — to them I bow; tell my husband that I have been carried off!'
Words: daivatāni — the deities; ca — and; yānty — who go, dwell; asmin — in this; vane — forest; vividhapādape — with its various trees; namaskaromy — I make obeisance; ahaṃ — I; tebhyo — to them; bhartuḥ — to (my) husband; śaṃsata — tell; māṃ — me; hṛtām — carried off
3.47.33
yāni kāni cid apy atra sattvāni nivasanty uta
sarvāṇi śaraṇaṃ yāmi mṛgapakṣigaṇān api
'Whatever creatures dwell here, to them all I go for refuge — even to the flocks of beasts and birds.'
Words: yāni — whatever; kāni — which; cid — -soever; apy — even; atra — here; sattvāni — creatures; nivasanty — dwell; uta — indeed; sarvāṇi — all; śaraṇaṃ — for refuge; yāmi — I go; mṛgapakṣigaṇān — the hosts of beasts and birds; api — also
3.47.34
hriyamāṇāṃ priyāṃ bhartuḥ prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyasīm
vivaśāpahṛtā sītā rāvaṇeneti śaṃsata
'Tell him this: that Sītā, her husband's beloved, dearer to him than his own life, has been borne off helpless — carried away by Rāvaṇa!'
Words: hriyamāṇāṃ — (her) being carried off; priyāṃ — beloved; bhartuḥ — of (her) husband; prāṇebhyo — than his life-breaths; 'pi — even; garīyasīm — dearer, weightier; vivaśāpahṛtā — helpless, carried off; sītā — Sītā; rāvaṇeneti — by Rāvaṇa, thus; śaṃsata — tell
3.47.35
viditvā māṃ mahābāhur amutrāpi mahābalaḥ
āneṣyati parākramya vaivasvatahṛtām api
'Once he learns of me, the mighty-armed, mighty Rāma will bring me back by force, even from the other world — even had Yama himself carried me off.'
Words: viditvā — having learned (of); māṃ — me; mahābāhur — the mighty-armed; amutrāpi — even there, even in the other world; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one; āneṣyati — will bring back; parākramya — exerting his valor; vaivasvatahṛtām — even if carried off by Yama; api — even
3.47.36
rāmāya tu yathātattvaṃ jaṭāyo haraṇaṃ mama
lakṣmaṇāya ca tat sarvam ākhyātavyam aśeṣataḥ
'O Jaṭāyus, my abduction must be told, just as it happened, to Rāma and to Lakṣmaṇa — the whole of it, leaving nothing out.'
Words: rāmāya — to Rāma; tu — and; yathātattvaṃ — truthfully, as it really is; jaṭāyo — O Jaṭāyus; haraṇaṃ — the abduction; mama — of me; lakṣmaṇāya — to Lakṣmaṇa; ca — and; tat — that; sarvam — all; ākhyātavyam — should be told; aśeṣataḥ — completely, without omission
← 3.46 Rāvaṇa boasts of his power · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.48 Jaṭāyu confronts Rāvaṇa →
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/3/47.md · JSON: /data/3/47.json