← 3.51 Sītā condemns the deception · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.53 Rāvaṇa’s offer to Sītā →

Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 52: Sītā drops her ornaments

Summary. She drops her silk and ornaments among five monkeys, Rāvaṇa confines her in Laṅkā and sends agents to Janasthāna

Sequence

  1. Sītā sees five monkeys on a mountain peak (3.52.1)
  2. hoping they may convey news to Rāma, she deliberately drops her golden-colored silk upper garment together with ornaments among them → Rāvaṇa, hurrying onward, does not notice, while the monkeys look up at her cries (3.52.2–4)
  3. he passes Pampā and continues across forests, rivers, and mountains toward Laṅkā (3.52.5–7)
  4. he crosses the ocean as cāraṇas and siddhas declare that this act will bring his end (3.52.8–10)
  5. entering Laṅkā, he takes Sītā into his inner apartments (3.52.11–13)
  6. he orders the women guarding her to admit no visitors without permission, provide whatever valuables or clothing she wants, and speak no unkind word to her on pain of death. Rāvaṇa leaves the apartments and summons eight powerful rākṣasas (3.52.14–18)
  7. he sends them to occupy the devastated Janasthāna, where Khara's force was destroyed (3.52.19–21)
  8. he declares his determination to avenge that defeat and says he will not rest until Rāma is dead (3.52.22–24)
  9. the eight must report accurately on Rāma's movements, act cautiously, and work toward killing him (3.52.25–27)
  10. they depart secretly for Janasthāna → Rāvaṇa congratulates himself on obtaining Sītā, unaware of the consequences of this new enmity. (3.52.28–29)

Verses 3.52.1–29

3.52.1

hriyamāṇā tu vaidehī kaṃ cin nātham apaśyatī
dadarśa giriśṛṅgasthān pañcavānarapuṃgavān

But Vaidehī, being carried off and seeing no protector, beheld five bull-monkeys perched on a mountain peak.

Words: hriyamāṇā — being carried off; tu — but; vaidehī — Vaidehī; kaṃ — any; cin — (any) at all; nātham — protector; apaśyatī — not seeing; dadarśa — beheld; giriśṛṅgasthān — perched on a mountain peak; pañcavānarapuṃgavān — five bull-monkeys

3.52.2

teṣāṃ madhye viśālākṣī kauśeyaṃ kanakaprabham
uttarīyaṃ varārohā śubhāny ābharaṇāni ca
mumoca yadi rāmāya śaṃseyur iti maithilī

In their midst the wide-eyed, fair-hipped Maithilī let fall her golden-hued silk upper-garment and her lovely ornaments, thinking, 'Perhaps they will tell Rāma.'

Words: teṣāṃ — of them; madhye — in the midst; viśālākṣī — the wide-eyed one; kauśeyaṃ — silk; kanakaprabham — golden-hued; uttarīyaṃ — upper garment; varārohā — the fair-hipped one; śubhāny — lovely; ābharaṇāni — ornaments; ca — and; mumoca — let fall, released; yadi — if, perhaps; rāmāya — to Rāma; śaṃseyur — they might tell; iti — thus (thinking); maithilī — Maithilī

3.52.3

vastram utsṛjya tan madhye vinikṣiptaṃ sabhūṣaṇam
saṃbhramāt tu daśagrīvas tat karma na ca buddhivān

She let fall the garment, cast down there with the ornaments; but the ten-necked one, clever though he was, in his haste did not notice that act.

Words: vastram — the garment; utsṛjya — having let fall, released; tan — that; madhye — in the midst; vinikṣiptaṃ — cast down; sabhūṣaṇam — with the ornaments; saṃbhramāt — out of haste, agitation; tu — but; daśagrīvas — the ten-necked one; tat — that; karma — act; na — not; ca — and; buddhivān — the clever one, (did not) mark

3.52.4

piṅgākṣās tāṃ viśālākṣīṃ netrair animiṣair iva
vikrośantīṃ tadā sītāṃ dadṛśur vānararṣabhāḥ

The tawny-eyed bull-monkeys then gazed with well-nigh unblinking eyes at that wide-eyed Sītā as she cried out.

Words: piṅgākṣās — the tawny-eyed ones; tāṃ — her; viśālākṣīṃ — the wide-eyed one; netrair — with eyes; animiṣair — unblinking; iva — as if; vikrośantīṃ — crying out; tadā — then; sītāṃ — Sītā; dadṛśur — gazed at; vānararṣabhāḥ — the bull-monkeys

3.52.5

sa ca pampām atikramya laṅkām abhimukhaḥ purīm
jagāma rudatīṃ gṛhya maithilīṃ rākṣaseśvaraḥ

And crossing the Pampā, the lord of rākṣasas, facing toward the city of Laṅkā, went on, holding the weeping Maithilī.

Words: sa — he; ca — and; pampām — the Pampā (lake); atikramya — having crossed; laṅkām — Laṅkā; abhimukhaḥ — facing toward; purīm — city; jagāma — went; rudatīṃ — weeping; gṛhya — having seized, holding; maithilīṃ — Maithilī; rākṣaseśvaraḥ — the lord of rākṣasas

3.52.6

tāṃ jahāra susaṃhṛṣṭo rāvaṇo mṛtyum ātmanaḥ
utsaṅgenaiva bhujagīṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāṃ mahāviṣām

Greatly delighted, Rāvaṇa bore her off—his own death—as one might carry in his lap a sharp-fanged, deadly-venomed she-serpent.

Words: tāṃ — her; jahāra — bore off; susaṃhṛṣṭo — greatly delighted; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; mṛtyum — death; ātmanaḥ — of himself, his own; utsaṅgenaiva — as if in his lap; bhujagīṃ — a she-serpent; tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāṃ — sharp-fanged; mahāviṣām — deadly-venomed

3.52.7

vanāni saritaḥ śailān sarāṃsi ca vihāyasā
sa kṣipraṃ samatīyāya śaraś cāpād iva cyutaḥ

Through the sky he swiftly passed over forests, rivers, mountains, and lakes, like an arrow shot from a bow.

Words: vanāni — forests; saritaḥ — rivers; śailān — mountains; sarāṃsi — lakes; ca — and; vihāyasā — through the sky; sa — he; kṣipraṃ — swiftly; samatīyāya — passed over; śaraś — an arrow; cāpād — from a bow; iva — like; cyutaḥ — released, shot

3.52.8

timinakraniketaṃ tu varuṇālayam akṣayam
saritāṃ śaraṇaṃ gatvā samatīyāya sāgaram

Reaching the imperishable abode of Varuṇa—home of the timi-fish and crocodiles, the refuge of rivers—he passed over the ocean.

Words: timinakraniketaṃ — home of the timi-fish and crocodiles; tu — and; varuṇālayam — the abode of Varuṇa; akṣayam — imperishable; saritāṃ — of rivers; śaraṇaṃ — refuge; gatvā — having reached; samatīyāya — passed over; sāgaram — the ocean

3.52.9

saṃbhramāt parivṛttormī ruddhamīnamahoragaḥ
vaidehyāṃ hriyamāṇāyāṃ babhūva varuṇālayaḥ

As Vaidehī was being carried off, the ocean, abode of Varuṇa, in agitation turned back its waves, its fish and great serpents held motionless.

Words: saṃbhramāt — in agitation; parivṛttormī — its waves turned back; ruddhamīnamahoragaḥ — its fish and great serpents held motionless; vaidehyāṃ — when Vaidehī (loc. abs.); hriyamāṇāyāṃ — being carried off (loc. abs.); babhūva — became; varuṇālayaḥ — the abode of Varuṇa (the ocean)

3.52.10

antarikṣagatā vācaḥ sasṛjuś cāraṇās tadā
etad anto daśagrīva iti siddhās tadābruvan

Then the Cāraṇas, moving in the sky, sent forth words, and the Siddhas said, 'This is your end, ten-necked one!'

Words: antarikṣagatā — moving in the sky; vācaḥ — words; sasṛjuś — sent forth, uttered; cāraṇās — the Cāraṇas (celestial bards); tadā — then; etad — this; anto — (is your) end; daśagrīva — O ten-necked one; iti — thus; siddhās — the Siddhas; tadābruvan — then said

3.52.11

sa tu sītāṃ viveṣṭantīm aṅkenādāya rāvaṇaḥ
praviveśa purīṃ laṅkāṃ rūpiṇīṃ mṛtyum ātmanaḥ

But Rāvaṇa, taking on his lap the writhing Sītā—his own death embodied—entered the city of Laṅkā.

Words: sa — he; tu — but; sītāṃ — Sītā; viveṣṭantīm — writhing, twisting; aṅkenādāya — having taken on his lap; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; praviveśa — entered; purīṃ — the city; laṅkāṃ — Laṅkā; rūpiṇīṃ — embodied, in the form of; mṛtyum — death; ātmanaḥ — of himself, his own

3.52.12

so 'bhigamya purīṃ laṅkāṃ suvibhaktamahāpathām
saṃrūḍhakakṣyā bahulaṃ svam antaḥpuram āviśat

Having reached the city of Laṅkā with its well-laid great avenues, he entered his own inner apartments with their many dense enclosures.

Words: so — he; 'bhigamya — having reached; purīṃ — the city; laṅkāṃ — Laṅkā; suvibhaktamahāpathām — with well-laid great avenues; saṃrūḍhakakṣyā — with dense-grown enclosures; bahulaṃ — abounding, manifold; svam — his own; antaḥpuram — inner apartments; āviśat — entered

3.52.13

tatra tām asitāpāṅgīṃ śokamohaparāyaṇām
nidadhe rāvaṇaḥ sītāṃ mayo māyām ivāsurīm

There Rāvaṇa set down that dark-cornered-eyed Sītā, sunk in grief and bewilderment, as the demon Maya once hid away his demonic magic.

Words: tatra — there; tām — her; asitāpāṅgīṃ — with dark eye-corners; śokamohaparāyaṇām — sunk in grief and bewilderment; nidadhe — set down, placed; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; sītāṃ — Sītā; mayo — Maya (the demon architect); māyām — magic, illusion; ivāsurīm — as (his) demonic (magic)

3.52.14

abravīc ca daśagrīvaḥ piśācīr ghoradarśanāḥ
yathā naināṃ pumān strī vā sītāṃ paśyaty asaṃmataḥ

And the ten-necked one told the fearsome-looking piśāca-women: 'See to it that no man or woman look upon this Sītā without my leave.'

Words: abravīc — said; ca — and; daśagrīvaḥ — the ten-necked one; piśācīr — the piśāca-women; ghoradarśanāḥ — fearsome-looking; yathā — so that; naināṃ — not her; pumān — a man; strī — a woman; vā — or; sītāṃ — Sītā; paśyaty — look upon; asaṃmataḥ — unauthorized, without leave

3.52.15

muktāmaṇisuvarṇāni vastrāṇy ābharaṇāni ca
yad yad icchet tad evāsyā deyaṃ macchandato yathā

'Pearls, gems, and gold, garments and ornaments—whatever she desires, just that must be given to her, according to my will.'

Words: muktāmaṇisuvarṇāni — pearls, gems, and gold; vastrāṇy — garments; ābharaṇāni — ornaments; ca — and; yad — whatever; yad — whatever; icchet — she may desire; tad — that; evāsyā — just to her; deyaṃ — must be given; macchandato — according to my will; yathā — as, according to

3.52.16

yā ca vakṣyati vaidehīṃ vacanaṃ kiṃ cid apriyam
ajñānād yadi vā jñānān na tasyā jīvitaṃ priyam

'And whoever speaks any unkind word to Vaidehī, whether from ignorance or knowingly—her life is forfeit.'

Words: yā — whoever (fem.); ca — and; vakṣyati — will speak; vaidehīṃ — to Vaidehī; vacanaṃ — word; kiṃ — any; cid — (any) at all; apriyam — unkind; ajñānād — from ignorance; yadi — if; vā — or; jñānān — knowingly; na — not; tasyā — her; jīvitaṃ — life; priyam — (is) dear, (is to be) spared

3.52.17

tathoktvā rākṣasīs tās tu rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān
niṣkramyāntaḥpurāt tasmāt kiṃ kṛtyam iti cintayan
dadarśāṣṭau mahāvīryān rākṣasān piśitāśanān

Having thus addressed those rākṣasa-women, the mighty lord of rākṣasas went out from that inner apartment and, pondering 'What is to be done?', beheld eight flesh-eating rākṣasas of great valour.

Words: tathoktvā — having thus spoken; rākṣasīs — the rākṣasa-women; tās — those; tu — and; rākṣasendraḥ — the lord of rākṣasas; pratāpavān — the mighty one; niṣkramyāntaḥpurāt — having gone out from the inner apartment; tasmāt — from that; kiṃ — what; kṛtyam — is to be done; iti — thus; cintayan — pondering; dadarśāṣṭau — beheld eight; mahāvīryān — of great valour; rākṣasān — rākṣasas; piśitāśanān — flesh-eaters

3.52.18

sa tān dṛṣṭvā mahāvīryo varadānena mohitaḥ
uvācaitān idaṃ vākyaṃ praśasya balavīryataḥ

Seeing them, the greatly valiant one, deluded by the boon he had won, praised them for their strength and valour and spoke to them these words:

Words: sa — he; tān — them; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; mahāvīryo — the greatly valiant one; varadānena — by the granting of a boon; mohitaḥ — deluded; uvācaitān — spoke to them; idaṃ — this; vākyaṃ — speech; praśasya — having praised; balavīryataḥ — for their strength and valour

3.52.19

nānāpraharaṇāḥ kṣipram ito gacchata satvarāḥ
janasthānaṃ hatasthānaṃ bhūtapūrvaṃ kharālayam

'Armed with various weapons, go swiftly and in haste from here to Janasthāna, the ruined place, formerly the abode of Khara.'

Words: nānāpraharaṇāḥ — armed with various weapons; kṣipram — swiftly; ito — from here; gacchata — go; satvarāḥ — in haste; janasthānaṃ — to Janasthāna; hatasthānaṃ — the ruined place; bhūtapūrvaṃ — formerly, once; kharālayam — the abode of Khara

3.52.20

tatroṣyatāṃ janasthāne śūnye nihatarākṣase
pauruṣaṃ balam āśritya trāsam utsṛjya dūrataḥ

'Dwell there in Janasthāna, now empty with its rākṣasas slain, relying on your manly strength and casting fear far away.'

Words: tatroṣyatāṃ — let (you) dwell there; janasthāne — in Janasthāna; śūnye — empty; nihatarākṣase — its rākṣasas slain; pauruṣaṃ — manly; balam — strength; āśritya — relying on; trāsam — fear; utsṛjya — having cast off; dūrataḥ — far away

3.52.21

balaṃ hi sumahad yan me janasthāne niveśitam
sadūṣaṇakharaṃ yuddhe hataṃ tad rāmasāyakaiḥ

'For that great force of mine which was stationed in Janasthāna, together with Dūṣaṇa and Khara, was slain in battle by Rāma's arrows.'

Words: balaṃ — force; hi — for; sumahad — very great; yan — which; me — my; janasthāne — in Janasthāna; niveśitam — stationed; sadūṣaṇakharaṃ — together with Dūṣaṇa and Khara; yuddhe — in battle; hataṃ — was slain; tad — that; rāmasāyakaiḥ — by Rāma's arrows

3.52.22

tataḥ krodho mamāpūrvo dhairyasyopari vardhate
vairaṃ ca sumahaj jātaṃ rāmaṃ prati sudāruṇam

'Therefore an unprecedented wrath rises in me, overriding my composure; and a very great, dreadful enmity toward Rāma has arisen.'

Words: tataḥ — therefore; krodho — wrath; mamāpūrvo — unprecedented, of mine; dhairyasyopari — over my composure; vardhate — grows, rises; vairaṃ — enmity; ca — and; sumahaj — very great; jātaṃ — has arisen; rāmaṃ — Rāma; prati — toward; sudāruṇam — dreadful

3.52.23

niryātayitum icchāmi tac ca vairam ahaṃ ripoḥ
na hi lapsyāmy ahaṃ nidrām ahatvā saṃyuge ripum

'I wish to repay that enmity toward my foe; for I shall get no sleep until I have slain my enemy in battle.'

Words: niryātayitum — to repay, requite; icchāmi — I wish; tac — that; ca — and; vairam — enmity; ahaṃ — I; ripoḥ — of/toward the foe; na — not; hi — for; lapsyāmy — I shall obtain; ahaṃ — I; nidrām — sleep; ahatvā — without having slain; saṃyuge — in battle; ripum — the enemy

3.52.24

taṃ tv idānīm ahaṃ hatvā kharadūṣaṇaghātinam
rāmaṃ śarmopalapsyāmi dhanaṃ labdhveva nirdhanaḥ

'Now, once I have slain that Rāma, the slayer of Khara and Dūṣaṇa, I shall find relief, as a pauper who has gained wealth.'

Words: taṃ — that; tv — and; idānīm — now; ahaṃ — I; hatvā — having slain; kharadūṣaṇaghātinam — the slayer of Khara and Dūṣaṇa; rāmaṃ — Rāma; śarmopalapsyāmi — I shall obtain relief; dhanaṃ — wealth; labdhveva — as if having gained; nirdhanaḥ — a pauper

3.52.25

janasthāne vasadbhis tu bhavadbhī rāmam āśritā
pravṛttir upanetavyā kiṃ karotīti tattvataḥ

'And you, dwelling in Janasthāna, must bring me true intelligence concerning Rāma—what he is doing.'

Words: janasthāne — in Janasthāna; vasadbhis — by (you) dwelling; tu — and; bhavadbhī — by you; rāmam — Rāma; āśritā — concerning, relating to; pravṛttir — news, intelligence; upanetavyā — must be brought; kiṃ — what; karotīti — he is doing, thus; tattvataḥ — truly, in truth

3.52.26

apramādāc ca gantavyaṃ sarvair eva niśācaraiḥ
kartavyaś ca sadā yatno rāghavasya vadhaṃ prati

'And all you night-rangers must go heedfully, and effort must ever be made toward the slaying of Rāghava.'

Words: apramādāc — heedfully, without carelessness; ca — and; gantavyaṃ — must be gone; sarvair — by all; eva — indeed; niśācaraiḥ — by the night-rangers; kartavyaś — must be made; ca — and; sadā — always; yatno — effort; rāghavasya — of Rāghava; vadhaṃ — the slaying; prati — toward

3.52.27

yuṣmākaṃ hi balajño 'haṃ bahuśo raṇamūrdhani
ataś cāsmiñ janasthāne mayā yūyaṃ niyojitāḥ

'For I know your strength, from many a time at the front of battle; therefore I have appointed you here in Janasthāna.'

Words: yuṣmākaṃ — your; hi — for; balajño — knower of (your) strength; 'haṃ — I; bahuśo — many times; raṇamūrdhani — at the front of battle; ataś — therefore; cāsmiñ — and in this; janasthāne — in Janasthāna; mayā — by me; yūyaṃ — you (pl.); niyojitāḥ — have been appointed

3.52.28

tataḥ priyaṃ vākyam upetya rākṣasā mahārtham aṣṭāv abhivādya rāvaṇam
vihāya laṅkāṃ sahitāḥ pratasthire yato janasthānam alakṣyadarśanāḥ

Then the eight rākṣasas, having received the pleasing, weighty command and saluted Rāvaṇa, left Laṅkā together and set out for Janasthāna, unseen by any eye.

Words: tataḥ — then; priyaṃ — pleasing; vākyam — command, speech; upetya — having received, approached; rākṣasā — the rākṣasas; mahārtham — weighty, of great import; aṣṭāv — eight; abhivādya — having saluted; rāvaṇam — Rāvaṇa; vihāya — having left; laṅkāṃ — Laṅkā; sahitāḥ — together; pratasthire — set out; yato — toward where; janasthānam — Janasthāna; alakṣyadarśanāḥ — unseen, invisible

3.52.29

tatas tu sītām upalabhya rāvaṇaḥ susaṃprahṛṣṭaḥ parigṛhya maithilīm
prasajya rāmeṇa ca vairam uttamaṃ babhūva mohān muditaḥ sa rākṣasaḥ

Then Rāvaṇa, having got Sītā and seized Maithilī, greatly delighted, and having entered into a supreme enmity with Rāma, that rākṣasa grew joyful out of his delusion.

Words: tatas — then; tu — and; sītām — Sītā; upalabhya — having obtained; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; susaṃprahṛṣṭaḥ — greatly delighted; parigṛhya — having seized; maithilīm — Maithilī; prasajya — having entered into, incurred; rāmeṇa — with Rāma; ca — and; vairam — enmity; uttamaṃ — supreme, utmost; babhūva — became; mohān — out of delusion; muditaḥ — joyful; sa — that; rākṣasaḥ — rākṣasa

← 3.51 Sītā condemns the deception · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.53 Rāvaṇa’s offer to Sītā →

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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