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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 51: Sītā condemns the deception

Summary. She connects the golden deer with her abduction, challenges Rāvaṇa to face the brothers and warns him to release her

Sequence

  1. As Rāvaṇa carries her through the sky, Sītā accuses him of stealing her in the brothers' absence (3.51.1–3)
  2. she connects the deer deception with the abduction and condemns his attack on the bird who tried to save her (3.51.4)
  3. she says his boasts are worthless because he has not won her in an open contest, and challenges him to stop and face the brothers (3.51.5–11)
  4. she urges him to release her for his own safety, warning that Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa will destroy him otherwise (3.51.12–13)
  5. she says she cannot endure long separation from Rāma (3.51.14)
  6. she interprets Rāvaṇa's refusal of sound advice as a sign that death is near, invoking the river and tortures of the world of punishment (3.51.15–21)
  7. she recalls Rāma's destruction of the fourteen thousand and insists that he can kill her abductor too → Rāvaṇa continues carrying her as she struggles and laments. (3.51.22–25)

Verses 3.51.1–25

3.51.1

kham utpatantaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā maithilī janakātmajā
duḥkhitā paramodvignā bhaye mahati vartinī

Seeing him flying up into the sky, Maithilī, Janaka's daughter, grieved and utterly distraught, in the grip of great fear,

Words: kham — into the sky; utpatantaṃ — flying up; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; maithilī — Maithilī (Sītā); janakātmajā — Janaka's daughter; duḥkhitā — grieved; paramodvignā — utterly distraught; bhaye — in fear; mahati — great; vartinī — abiding, being (in)

3.51.2

roṣarodanatāmrākṣī bhīmākṣaṃ rākṣasādhipam
rudatī karuṇaṃ sītā hriyamāṇedam abravīt

her eyes coppery-red with angry weeping, Sītā, weeping piteously as she was carried off, spoke this to the fearsome-eyed lord of rākṣasas:

Words: roṣarodanatāmrākṣī — with eyes coppery-red from angry weeping; bhīmākṣaṃ — the fearsome-eyed one; rākṣasādhipam — the lord of rākṣasas; rudatī — weeping; karuṇaṃ — piteously; sītā — Sītā; hriyamāṇedam — being carried off, this; abravīt — spoke

3.51.3

na vyapatrapase nīca karmaṇānena rāvaṇa
jñātvā virahitāṃ yo māṃ corayitvā palāyase

'Are you not ashamed of this deed, base Rāvaṇa—you who, knowing me forsaken, steal me away and flee?

Words: na — not; vyapatrapase — are you ashamed; nīca — O base one; karmaṇānena — by this deed; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; jñātvā — having known; virahitāṃ — forsaken, alone; yo — who; māṃ — me; corayitvā — having stolen; palāyase — you flee

3.51.4

tvayaiva nūnaṃ duṣṭātman bhīruṇā hartum icchatā
mamāpavāhito bhartā mṛgarūpeṇa māyayā
yo hi mām udyatas trātuṃ so 'py ayaṃ vinipātitaḥ

Surely by you alone, evil-souled coward wishing to abduct me, was my husband lured away by magic in the guise of a deer; and even he who rose to save me has been struck down.

Words: tvayaiva — by you alone; nūnaṃ — surely; duṣṭātman — O evil-souled one; bhīruṇā — by the coward; hartum — to abduct; icchatā — wishing; mamāpavāhito — my (husband) was lured away; bhartā — husband; mṛgarūpeṇa — in the form of a deer; māyayā — by magic, illusion; yo — who; hi — indeed; mām — me; udyatas — rose up, set out; trātuṃ — to save; so 'py — he too; ayaṃ — this one (Jaṭāyu); vinipātitaḥ — has been struck down

3.51.5

paramaṃ khalu te vīryaṃ dṛśyate rākṣasādhama
viśrāvya nāmadheyaṃ hi yuddhe nāsti jitā tvayā

Truly a supreme valour of yours is on display, vilest of rākṣasas!—for, though you proclaim your name aloud, in fair battle you have won nothing.

Words: paramaṃ — supreme; khalu — indeed; te — your; vīryaṃ — valour; dṛśyate — is seen, displayed; rākṣasādhama — O vilest of rākṣasas; viśrāvya — having proclaimed aloud; nāmadheyaṃ — name; hi — for; yuddhe — in battle; nāsti — there is not; jitā — (anything) won; tvayā — by you

3.51.6

īdṛśaṃ garhitaṃ karma kathaṃ kṛtvā na lajjase
striyāś ca haraṇaṃ nīca rahite ca parasya ca

Having done such a contemptible deed, how are you not ashamed—the carrying off of a woman, base one, in a lonely place, and the wife of another at that!

Words: īdṛśaṃ — such a; garhitaṃ — contemptible, blameworthy; karma — deed; kathaṃ — how; kṛtvā — having done; na — not; lajjase — are you ashamed; striyāś — of a woman; ca — and; haraṇaṃ — the carrying off; nīca — O base one; rahite — in a lonely place; ca — and; parasya — of another; ca — and

3.51.7

kathayiṣyanti lokeṣu puruṣāḥ karma kutsitam
sunṛśaṃsam adharmiṣṭhaṃ tava śauṇḍīryamāninaḥ

Men throughout the worlds will tell of the contemptible deed—most cruel, most unrighteous—of you who fancy yourself valiant.

Words: kathayiṣyanti — will tell, relate; lokeṣu — throughout the worlds; puruṣāḥ — men; karma — the deed; kutsitam — contemptible; sunṛśaṃsam — most cruel; adharmiṣṭhaṃ — most unrighteous; tava — your; śauṇḍīryamāninaḥ — of you who pride yourself on prowess

3.51.8

dhik te śauryaṃ ca sattvaṃ ca yat tvayā kathitaṃ tadā
kulākrośakaraṃ loke dhik te cāritram īdṛśam

Shame on your heroism and courage of which you boasted then! Shame on such conduct of yours, that brings reproach upon your line in the world.

Words: dhik — shame on; te — your; śauryaṃ — heroism; ca — and; sattvaṃ — courage, spirit; ca — and; yat — which; tvayā — by you; kathitaṃ — was boasted, told; tadā — then; kulākrośakaraṃ — bringing reproach on the family; loke — in the world; dhik — shame on; te — your; cāritram — conduct; īdṛśam — such

3.51.9

kiṃ śakyaṃ kartum evaṃ hi yaj javenaiva dhāvasi
muhūrtam api tiṣṭhasva na jīvan pratiyāsyasi

What can be done, since you flee at such speed? Stand still even for a moment—you will not go back alive!

Words: kiṃ — what; śakyaṃ — can be, is possible; kartum — to do; evaṃ — thus; hi — for; yaj — since; javenaiva — at such very speed; dhāvasi — you flee, run; muhūrtam — for a moment; api — even; tiṣṭhasva — stand still; na — not; jīvan — alive, living; pratiyāsyasi — you will go back

3.51.10

na hi cakṣuḥpathaṃ prāpya tayoḥ pārthivaputrayoḥ
sasainyo 'pi samartaḥs tvaṃ muhūrtam api jīvitum

For once you come within the sight of those two princes, you, even with an army, would not be able to live even a moment.

Words: na — not; hi — for; cakṣuḥpathaṃ — the range of sight; prāpya — having reached; tayoḥ — of those two; pārthivaputrayoḥ — of the two princes; sasainyo — even with an army; 'pi — even; samartaḥs — able (text samartaḥs for samarthaḥ); tvaṃ — you; muhūrtam — for a moment; api — even; jīvitum — to live

3.51.11

na tvaṃ tayoḥ śarasparśaṃ soḍhuṃ śaktaḥ kathaṃ cana
vane prajvalitasyeva sparśam agner vihaṃgamaḥ

You will in no way be able to endure the touch of their arrows, as a bird cannot endure the touch of blazing fire in the forest.

Words: na — not; tvaṃ — you; tayoḥ — of those two; śarasparśaṃ — the touch of arrows; soḍhuṃ — to endure; śaktaḥ — able; kathaṃ — in any; cana — way at all; vane — in the forest; prajvalitasyeva — as of the blazing (fire); sparśam — touch; agner — of fire; vihaṃgamaḥ — a bird

3.51.12

sādhu kṛtvātmanaḥ pathyaṃ sādhu māṃ muñca rāvaṇa
matpradharṣaṇaruṣṭo hi bhrātrā saha patir mama
vidhāsyati vināśāya tvaṃ māṃ yadi na muñcasi

Do rightly by your own welfare; kindly release me, Rāvaṇa. For my husband, enraged at my molestation, together with his brother will contrive your destruction if you do not let me go.

Words: sādhu — well, rightly; kṛtvātmanaḥ — having done for oneself; pathyaṃ — (what is) wholesome, beneficial; sādhu — kindly, well; māṃ — me; muñca — release; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; matpradharṣaṇaruṣṭo — enraged at my molestation; hi — for; bhrātrā — with his brother; saha — together; patir — husband; mama — my; vidhāsyati — will contrive, bring about; vināśāya — for (your) destruction; tvaṃ — you; māṃ — me; yadi — if; na — not; muñcasi — you release

3.51.13

yena tvaṃ vyavasāyena balān māṃ hartum icchasi
vyavasāyaḥ sa te nīca bhaviṣyati nirarthakaḥ

The resolve with which you seek to carry me off by force—that resolve of yours, base one, will come to nothing.

Words: yena — with which; tvaṃ — you; vyavasāyena — resolve, effort; balān — by force; māṃ — me; hartum — to carry off; icchasi — you wish; vyavasāyaḥ — resolve; sa — that; te — your; nīca — O base one; bhaviṣyati — will become; nirarthakaḥ — fruitless, vain

3.51.14

na hy ahaṃ tam apaśyantī bhartāraṃ vibudhopamam
utsahe śatruvaśagā prāṇān dhārayituṃ ciram

For not seeing that husband of mine, who is like a god, and fallen into the enemy's power, I cannot bear to keep hold of my life for long.

Words: na — not; hy — for; ahaṃ — I; tam — that; apaśyantī — not seeing; bhartāraṃ — husband; vibudhopamam — like a god; utsahe — I am able, I dare; śatruvaśagā — fallen into the enemy's power; prāṇān — life-breaths; dhārayituṃ — to hold, sustain; ciram — for long

3.51.15

na nūnaṃ cātmanaḥ śreyaḥ pathyaṃ vā samavekṣase
mṛtyukāle yathā martyo viparītāni sevate

Surely you regard neither your own good nor your welfare—just as a mortal at the hour of death takes to perverse things.

Words: na — not; nūnaṃ — surely; cātmanaḥ — and one's own; śreyaḥ — good, benefit; pathyaṃ — welfare, wholesome; vā — or; samavekṣase — you regard, consider; mṛtyukāle — at the hour of death; yathā — just as; martyo — a mortal; viparītāni — perverse, contrary things; sevate — resorts to, takes to

3.51.16

mumūrṣūṇāṃ hi sarveṣāṃ yat pathyaṃ tan na rocate
paśyāmīva hi kaṇṭhe tvāṃ kālapāśāvapāśitam

For to all who are about to die, what is wholesome gives no pleasure; and I seem to see you with the noose of Death fastened round your throat.

Words: mumūrṣūṇāṃ — of those about to die; hi — for; sarveṣāṃ — of all; yat — what; pathyaṃ — (is) wholesome; tan — that; na — not; rocate — pleases; paśyāmīva — I seem to see; hi — indeed; kaṇṭhe — at the throat; tvāṃ — you; kālapāśāvapāśitam — fastened with the noose of Death

3.51.17

yathā cāsmin bhayasthāne na bibheṣe daśānana
vyaktaṃ hiraṇmayān hi tvaṃ saṃpaśyasi mahīruhān

And since in this place of peril you feel no fear, ten-faced one, plainly you are seeing the trees as if made of gold.

Words: yathā — since, in that; cāsmin — and in this; bhayasthāne — place of peril; na — not; bibheṣe — you fear; daśānana — O ten-faced one; vyaktaṃ — plainly, clearly; hiraṇmayān — made of gold; hi — indeed; tvaṃ — you; saṃpaśyasi — you see, behold; mahīruhān — the trees (earth-growers)

3.51.18

nadīṃ vairataṇīṃ ghorāṃ rudhiraughanivāhinīm
khaḍgapatravanaṃ caiva bhīmaṃ paśyasi rāvaṇa

You behold the dread river Vaitaraṇī flowing with a flood of blood, and the fearsome forest of sword-leaves, Rāvaṇa.

Words: nadīṃ — the river; vairataṇīṃ — Vaitaraṇī (river of the dead); ghorāṃ — dread, terrible; rudhiraughanivāhinīm — flowing with a flood of blood; khaḍgapatravanaṃ — the forest of sword-leaves; caiva — and; bhīmaṃ — fearsome; paśyasi — you see; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa

3.51.19

taptakāñcanapuṣpāṃ ca vaidūryapravaracchadām
drakṣyase śālmalīṃ tīkṣṇām āyasaiḥ kaṇṭakaiś citām

And you shall behold the cruel śālmalī tree, its flowers of molten gold and its leaves of choice beryl, thickly set with iron thorns.

Words: taptakāñcanapuṣpāṃ — with flowers of molten gold; ca — and; vaidūryapravaracchadām — with leaves of choice beryl; drakṣyase — you shall see; śālmalīṃ — the śālmalī (silk-cotton) tree; tīkṣṇām — sharp, cruel; āyasaiḥ — with iron; kaṇṭakaiś — thorns; citām — thickly set, covered

3.51.20

na hi tvam īdṛśaṃ kṛtvā tasyālīkaṃ mahātmanaḥ
dhārituṃ śakṣyasi ciraṃ viṣaṃ pītveva nirghṛṇaḥ

For having done such a wrong to that great-souled one, you will not be able to survive long, pitiless one, as though you had drunk poison.

Words: na — not; hi — for; tvam — you; īdṛśaṃ — such a; kṛtvā — having done; tasyālīkaṃ — that wrong (to him); mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; dhārituṃ — to sustain (your life); śakṣyasi — you will be able; ciraṃ — for long; viṣaṃ — poison; pītveva — as if having drunk; nirghṛṇaḥ — pitiless one

3.51.21

baddhas tvaṃ kālapāśena durnivāreṇa rāvaṇa
kva gato lapsyase śarma bhartur mama mahātmanaḥ

Bound by the inescapable noose of Death, Rāvaṇa, where can you go to find refuge from my great-souled husband?

Words: baddhas — bound; tvaṃ — you; kālapāśena — by the noose of Death; durnivāreṇa — inescapable, hard to ward off; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; kva — where; gato — having gone; lapsyase — will you find, obtain; śarma — refuge, safety; bhartur — from my husband; mama — my; mahātmanaḥ — great-souled

3.51.22

nimeṣāntaramātreṇa vinā bhrātaram āhave
rākṣasā nihatā yena sahasrāṇi caturdaśa

By whom, in but the space of a wink, without his brother, fourteen thousand rākṣasas were slain in battle—

Words: nimeṣāntaramātreṇa — in but the space of a wink; vinā — without; bhrātaram — (his) brother; āhave — in battle; rākṣasā — rākṣasas; nihatā — slain; yena — by whom; sahasrāṇi — thousands; caturdaśa — fourteen

3.51.23

sa kathaṃ rāghavo vīraḥ sarvāstrakuśalo balī
na tvāṃ hanyāc charais tīkṣṇair iṣṭabhāryāpahāriṇam

how should that heroic Rāghava, skilled in all weapons and mighty, not slay you with his sharp arrows—you who abduct his beloved wife?

Words: sa — that; kathaṃ — how; rāghavo — Rāghava; vīraḥ — hero; sarvāstrakuśalo — skilled in all weapons; balī — mighty; na — not; tvāṃ — you; hanyāc — should slay; charais — with arrows; tīkṣṇair — sharp; iṣṭabhāryāpahāriṇam — the abductor of his beloved wife

3.51.24

etac cānyac ca paruṣaṃ vaidehī rāvaṇāṅkagā
bhayaśokasamāviṣṭā karuṇaṃ vilalāpa ha

This and much else harsh Vaidehī, upon Rāvaṇa's lap, filled with fear and grief, piteously lamented.

Words: etac — this; cānyac — and other; ca — and; paruṣaṃ — harsh (words); vaidehī — Vaidehī; rāvaṇāṅkagā — resting on Rāvaṇa's lap; bhayaśokasamāviṣṭā — filled with fear and grief; karuṇaṃ — piteously; vilalāpa — lamented; ha — indeed

3.51.25

tathā bhṛśārtāṃ bahu caiva bhāṣiṇīṃ vilalāpa pūrvaṃ karuṇaṃ ca bhāminīm
jahāra pāpas taruṇīṃ viveṣṭatīṃ nṛpātmajām āgatagātravepathum

So the sinful one bore off that beautiful young woman—sorely afflicted, speaking much, who had lamented piteously before, the king's daughter, writhing and twisting, her limbs seized with trembling.

Words: tathā — so, thus; bhṛśārtāṃ — sorely afflicted; bahu — much; caiva — and; bhāṣiṇīṃ — speaking; vilalāpa — who had lamented; pūrvaṃ — before; karuṇaṃ — piteously; ca — and; bhāminīm — the beautiful woman; jahāra — bore off, carried away; pāpas — the sinful one; taruṇīṃ — the young woman; viveṣṭatīṃ — writhing, twisting; nṛpātmajām — the king's daughter; āgatagātravepathum — her limbs seized with trembling

← 3.50 Rāvaṇa seizes Sītā again · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.52 Sītā drops her ornaments →

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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