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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 53: Rāvaṇa’s offer to Sītā
Summary. He displays his palace, promises wealth and authority over his wives, claims rescue is impossible and bows at her feet
Sequence
- After dispatching the eight agents, Rāvaṇa returns to Sītā, whom he finds grieving among her guards (3.53.1–5)
- he forcibly leads her through his residence to display its mansions, jeweled pillars, golden stairs, ivory and silver windows, decorated floors, and lotus pools (3.53.6–12)
- he boasts of the number of rākṣasas under his command and says that his Kingdom and life are now at her disposal (3.53.13–16)
- he offers her authority over his other wives and urges her to accept him (3.53.17–18)
- he claims that Laṅkā's ocean defenses and his own strength make rescue impossible, belittling Rāma's power (3.53.19–25)
- he offers royal installation, divine ornaments, and travel with him in Puṣpaka (3.53.26–30)
- he dismisses her concern about violating dharma and portrays acceptance as her destined good fortune (3.53.31–32)
- calling himself her obedient servant, he bows his heads at her feet and says he has never bowed to another woman → he wrongly assumes that she is already his. (3.53.33–35)
Verses 3.53.1–35
3.53.1
saṃdiśya rākṣasān ghorān rāvaṇo 'ṣṭau mahābalān
ātmānaṃ buddhivaiklavyāt kṛtakṛtyam amanyata
Having dispatched the eight terrible, mighty rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, in his confusion of mind, thought himself to have accomplished his aim.
Words: saṃdiśya — having dispatched, instructed; rākṣasān — rākṣasas; ghorān — terrible; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; 'ṣṭau — eight; mahābalān — mighty; ātmānaṃ — himself; buddhivaiklavyāt — from confusion of mind; kṛtakṛtyam — to have accomplished his aim; amanyata — thought, considered
3.53.2
sa cintayāno vaidehīṃ kāmabāṇasamarpitaḥ
praviveśa gṛhaṃ ramyaṃ sītāṃ draṣṭum abhitvaran
Brooding on Vaidehī, pierced by the arrow of love, he entered his lovely house, hastening to see Sītā.
Words: sa — he; cintayāno — brooding, thinking; vaidehīṃ — on Vaidehī; kāmabāṇasamarpitaḥ — pierced by the arrow of love; praviveśa — entered; gṛhaṃ — house; ramyaṃ — lovely; sītāṃ — Sītā; draṣṭum — to see; abhitvaran — hastening
3.53.3
sa praviśya tu tadveśma rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ
apaśyad rākṣasīmadhye sītāṃ śokaparāyaṇam
Entering that dwelling, Rāvaṇa, the lord of rākṣasas, saw Sītā, given over to grief, in the midst of the rākṣasa-women.
Words: sa — he; praviśya — having entered; tu — and; tadveśma — that dwelling; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; rākṣasādhipaḥ — the lord of rākṣasas; apaśyad — saw; rākṣasīmadhye — in the midst of the rākṣasa-women; sītāṃ — Sītā; śokaparāyaṇam — given over to grief
3.53.4
aśrupūrṇamukhīṃ dīnāṃ śokabhārāvapīḍitām
vāyuvegair ivākrāntāṃ majjantīṃ nāvam arṇave
her face brimming with tears, wretched, crushed under the weight of grief, like a boat overwhelmed by gusts of wind and sinking in the sea;
Words: aśrupūrṇamukhīṃ — her face brimming with tears; dīnāṃ — wretched; śokabhārāvapīḍitām — crushed by the weight of grief; vāyuvegair — by gusts of wind; ivākrāntāṃ — as if overwhelmed; majjantīṃ — sinking; nāvam — a boat; arṇave — in the sea
3.53.5
mṛgayūthaparibhraṣṭāṃ mṛgīṃ śvabhir ivāvṛtām
adhomukhamukhīṃ dīnām abhyetya ca niśācaraḥ
like a doe strayed from the herd and hemmed in by hounds, her face downcast and wretched—and the night-ranger, approaching her,
Words: mṛgayūthaparibhraṣṭāṃ — strayed from the herd of deer; mṛgīṃ — a doe; śvabhir — by hounds; ivāvṛtām — as if hemmed in; adhomukhamukhīṃ — with downcast face; dīnām — wretched; abhyetya — having approached; ca — and; niśācaraḥ — the night-ranger
3.53.6
tāṃ tu śokavaśāṃ dīnām avaśāṃ rākṣasādhipaḥ
sa balād darśayām āsa gṛhaṃ devagṛhopamam
that wretched, helpless woman, in the grip of grief, the lord of rākṣasas forcibly led about to show her his house, like the house of a god:
Words: tāṃ — her; tu — but; śokavaśāṃ — in the grip of grief; dīnām — wretched; avaśāṃ — helpless; rākṣasādhipaḥ — the lord of rākṣasas; sa — he; balād — forcibly; darśayām — showed; āsa — (showed); gṛhaṃ — house; devagṛhopamam — like the house of a god
3.53.7
harmyaprāsādasaṃbadhaṃ strīsahasraniṣevitam
nānāpakṣigaṇair juṣṭaṃ nānāratnasamanvitam
crowded with mansions and palaces, thronged by thousands of women, frequented by flocks of many birds, and furnished with jewels of every kind;
Words: harmyaprāsādasaṃbadhaṃ — crowded with mansions and palaces; strīsahasraniṣevitam — thronged by thousands of women; nānāpakṣigaṇair — by flocks of many birds; juṣṭaṃ — frequented, haunted; nānāratnasamanvitam — furnished with jewels of every kind
3.53.8
kāñcanais tāpanīyaiś ca sphāṭikai rājatais tathā
vajravaidūryacitraiś ca stambhair dṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ
with pillars of gold and refined gold, of crystal and of silver, inlaid with diamond and beryl, ravishing to the eye;
Words: kāñcanais — of gold; tāpanīyaiś — of refined gold; ca — and; sphāṭikai — of crystal; rājatais — of silver; tathā — and so; vajravaidūryacitraiś — inlaid with diamond and beryl; ca — and; stambhair — with pillars; dṛṣṭimanoharaiḥ — ravishing to the eye
3.53.9
divyadundubhinirhrādaṃ taptakāñcanatoraṇam
sopānaṃ kāñcanaṃ citram āruroha tayā saha
resounding with divine drums, its archway of refined gold; and he ascended the wondrous golden staircase along with her.
Words: divyadundubhinirhrādaṃ — resounding with divine drums; taptakāñcanatoraṇam — with an archway of refined gold; sopānaṃ — staircase; kāñcanaṃ — golden; citram — wondrous, variegated; āruroha — ascended; tayā — with her; saha — together
3.53.10
dāntakā rājatāś caiva gavākṣāḥ priyadarśanāḥ
hemajālāvṛtāś cāsaṃs tatra prāsādapaṅktayaḥ
There the rows of palaces had lovely lattice-windows of ivory and of silver, veiled with golden network.
Words: dāntakā — of ivory; rājatāś — of silver; caiva — and; gavākṣāḥ — lattice-windows; priyadarśanāḥ — lovely to behold; hemajālāvṛtāś — veiled with golden network; cāsaṃs — and were; tatra — there; prāsādapaṅktayaḥ — the rows of palaces
3.53.11
sudhāmaṇivicitrāṇi bhūmibhāgāni sarvaśaḥ
daśagrīvaḥ svabhavane prādarśayata maithilīm
The ten-necked one showed Maithilī, in his own palace, the floor-spaces on every side, variegated with stucco and gems.
Words: sudhāmaṇivicitrāṇi — variegated with stucco and gems; bhūmibhāgāni — floor-spaces; sarvaśaḥ — on every side; daśagrīvaḥ — the ten-necked one; svabhavane — in his own palace; prādarśayata — showed; maithilīm — to Maithilī
3.53.12
dīrghikāḥ puṣkariṇyaś ca nānāpuṣpasamāvṛtāḥ
rāvaṇo darśayām āsa sītāṃ śokaparāyaṇām
Rāvaṇa showed grief-stricken Sītā the oblong ponds and lotus-pools covered with flowers of every kind.
Words: dīrghikāḥ — oblong ponds; puṣkariṇyaś — lotus-pools; ca — and; nānāpuṣpasamāvṛtāḥ — covered with flowers of every kind; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; darśayām — showed; āsa — (showed); sītāṃ — to Sītā; śokaparāyaṇām — given over to grief
3.53.13
darśayitvā tu vaidehīṃ kṛtsnaṃ tad bhavanottamam
uvāca vākyaṃ pāpātmā rāvaṇo janakātmajām
Having shown Vaidehī that whole excellent mansion, the evil-souled Rāvaṇa spoke these words to Janaka's daughter:
Words: darśayitvā — having shown; tu — and; vaidehīṃ — to Vaidehī; kṛtsnaṃ — whole, entire; tad — that; bhavanottamam — excellent mansion; uvāca — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; pāpātmā — the evil-souled one; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; janakātmajām — to Janaka's daughter
3.53.14
daśarākṣasakoṭyaś ca dvāviṃśatir athāparāḥ
varjayitvā jarā vṛddhān bālāṃś ca rajanīcarān
'Ten crore of rākṣasas, and twenty-two more, excluding those infirm with age and the young among the night-rangers—
Words: daśarākṣasakoṭyaś — ten crore of rākṣasas; ca — and; dvāviṃśatir — twenty-two; athāparāḥ — and others besides; varjayitvā — excluding; jarā — by old age; vṛddhān — the aged; bālāṃś — the young; ca — and; rajanīcarān — the night-rangers
3.53.15
teṣāṃ prabhur ahaṃ sīte sarveṣāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām
sahasram ekam ekasya mama kāryapuraḥsaram
of all those of dreadful deeds I am the lord, Sītā; for me a thousand attend upon each single one, going before in my service.
Words: teṣāṃ — of them; prabhur — lord; ahaṃ — I; sīte — O Sītā; sarveṣāṃ — of all; bhīmakarmaṇām — of dreadful deeds; sahasram — a thousand; ekam — one; ekasya — for each single one; mama — my; kāryapuraḥsaram — going before in service
3.53.16
yad idaṃ rājyatantraṃ me tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam
jīvitaṃ ca viśālākṣi tvaṃ me prāṇair garīyasī
This whole machinery of my kingdom rests upon you; and my life too, wide-eyed one—you are dearer to me than my very breaths.
Words: yad — which; idaṃ — this; rājyatantraṃ — machinery of the kingdom; me — my; tvayi — upon you; sarvaṃ — whole; pratiṣṭhitam — rests, is established; jīvitaṃ — life; ca — and; viśālākṣi — O wide-eyed one; tvaṃ — you; me — to me; prāṇair — than my life-breaths; garīyasī — dearer, weightier
3.53.17
bahūnāṃ strīsahasrāṇāṃ mama yo 'sau parigrahaḥ
tāsāṃ tvam īśvarī sīte mama bhāryā bhava priye
Of the many thousands of women who are my consorts, you shall be the mistress, Sītā; become my wife, beloved.
Words: bahūnāṃ — of many; strīsahasrāṇāṃ — thousands of women; mama — my; yo — which; 'sau — that (household); parigrahaḥ — possession, retinue, consorts; tāsāṃ — of them; tvam — you; īśvarī — mistress; sīte — O Sītā; mama — my; bhāryā — wife; bhava — become; priye — O beloved
3.53.18
sādhu kiṃ te 'nyayā buddhyā rocayasva vaco mama
bhajasva mābhitaptasya prasādaṃ kartum arhasi
Come, what use to you is any other thought? Delight in my words. Love me; you ought to be gracious to one so tormented (with love).
Words: sādhu — come, well; kiṃ — what (use); te — to you; 'nyayā — by another; buddhyā — thought, notion; rocayasva — take delight in; vaco — words; mama — my; bhajasva — love, be devoted to; mābhitaptasya — to me who am tormented; prasādaṃ — favour, grace; kartum — to show, do; arhasi — you ought
3.53.19
parikṣiptā samudreṇa laṅkeyaṃ śatayojanā
neyaṃ dharṣayituṃ śakyā sendrair api surāsuraiḥ
This Laṅkā, a hundred yojanas wide, is girdled by the ocean; it cannot be assailed even by the gods and asuras together with Indra.
Words: parikṣiptā — girdled, surrounded; samudreṇa — by the ocean; laṅkeyaṃ — this Laṅkā; śatayojanā — a hundred yojanas (wide); neyaṃ — this (is) not; dharṣayituṃ — to be assailed; śakyā — possible, able; sendrair — together with Indra; api — even; surāsuraiḥ — by gods and asuras
3.53.20
na deveṣu na yakṣeṣu na gandharveṣu narṣiṣu
ahaṃ paśyāmi lokeṣu yo me vīryasamo bhavet
Neither among gods, nor yakṣas, nor gandharvas, nor seers do I see anyone in the worlds who could be my equal in valour.
Words: na — not; deveṣu — among gods; na — nor; yakṣeṣu — among yakṣas; na — nor; gandharveṣu — among gandharvas; narṣiṣu — nor among seers; ahaṃ — I; paśyāmi — see; lokeṣu — in the worlds; yo — who; me — my; vīryasamo — equal in valour; bhavet — might be
3.53.21
rājyabhraṣṭena dīnena tāpasena gatāyuṣā
kiṃ kariṣyasi rāmeṇa mānuṣeṇālpatejasā
What will you do with Rāma—fallen from his kingdom, wretched, an ascetic whose days are spent, a mere man of scant power?
Words: rājyabhraṣṭena — fallen from his kingdom; dīnena — wretched; tāpasena — an ascetic; gatāyuṣā — whose life is spent; kiṃ — what; kariṣyasi — will you do; rāmeṇa — with Rāma; mānuṣeṇālpatejasā — a mere man of scant power
3.53.22
bhajasva sīte mām eva bhartāhaṃ sadṛśas tava
yauvanaṃ hy adhruvaṃ bhīru ramasveha mayā saha
Love me alone, Sītā; I am a husband befitting you. Youth is fleeting, timid one—take your pleasure here with me.
Words: bhajasva — love, be devoted to; sīte — O Sītā; mām — me; eva — alone; bhartāhaṃ — I (am) a husband; sadṛśas — befitting, matching; tava — you; yauvanaṃ — youth; hy — for; adhruvaṃ — fleeting, impermanent; bhīru — O timid one; ramasveha — take pleasure here; mayā — with me; saha — together
3.53.23
darśane mā kṛthā buddhiṃ rāghavasya varānane
kāsya śaktir ihāgantum api sīte manorathaiḥ
Set not your mind on seeing Rāghava, fair-faced one; what power has he to come here, Sītā, even in his fancies?
Words: darśane — on the seeing; mā — do not; kṛthā — make, set; buddhiṃ — the mind, intention; rāghavasya — of Rāghava; varānane — O fair-faced one; kāsya — what (is) his; śaktir — power; ihāgantum — to come here; api — even; sīte — O Sītā; manorathaiḥ — by wishes, in fancy
3.53.24
na śakyo vāyur ākāśe pāśair baddhaṃ mahājavaḥ
dīpyamānasya vāpy agner grahītuṃ vimalāṃ śikhām
The mighty-swift wind in the sky cannot be bound with nooses, nor can the bright flame of blazing fire be seized.
Words: na — not; śakyo — able, possible; vāyur — the wind; ākāśe — in the sky; pāśair — with nooses; baddhaṃ — to bind (text baddhaṃ for baddhuṃ); mahājavaḥ — mighty-swift; dīpyamānasya — of blazing; vāpy — or even; agner — of fire; grahītuṃ — to seize; vimalāṃ — bright, clear; śikhām — flame
3.53.25
trayāṇām api lokānāṃ na taṃ paśyāmi śobhane
vikrameṇa nayed yas tvāṃ madbāhuparipālitām
In all the three worlds, lovely one, I do not see him who could by valour carry you off, guarded as you are by my arms.
Words: trayāṇām — of the three; api — even; lokānāṃ — worlds; na — not; taṃ — him; paśyāmi — I see; śobhane — O lovely one; vikrameṇa — by valour; nayed — might carry off; yas — who; tvāṃ — you; madbāhuparipālitām — guarded by my arms
3.53.26
laṅkāyāṃ sumahad rājyam idaṃ tvam anupālaya
abhiṣekodakaklinnā tuṣṭā ca ramayasva mām
Rule over this great kingdom in Laṅkā; anointed with the water of consecration and content, delight me.
Words: laṅkāyāṃ — in Laṅkā; sumahad — very great; rājyam — kingdom; idaṃ — this; tvam — you; anupālaya — rule over, protect; abhiṣekodakaklinnā — wet with consecration-water; tuṣṭā — content; ca — and; ramayasva — delight, please; mām — me
3.53.27
duṣkṛtaṃ yat purā karma vanavāsena tad gatam
yaś ca te sukṛto dharmas tasyeha phalam āpnuhi
Whatever evil deed you did before is wiped away by your forest-dwelling; and reap here the fruit of the good, righteous merit that is yours.
Words: duṣkṛtaṃ — ill-done, evil; yat — which; purā — before; karma — deed; vanavāsena — by forest-dwelling; tad — that; gatam — is gone, wiped away; yaś — which; ca — and; te — your; sukṛto — well-done, meritorious; dharmas — righteous merit; tasyeha — its (fruit) here; phalam — fruit; āpnuhi — reap, obtain
3.53.28
iha sarvāṇi mālyāni divyagandhāni maithili
bhūṣaṇāni ca mukhyāni tāni seva mayā saha
Here, Maithilī, are all garlands of divine fragrance and choicest ornaments—enjoy them together with me.
Words: iha — here; sarvāṇi — all; mālyāni — garlands; divyagandhāni — of divine fragrance; maithili — O Maithilī; bhūṣaṇāni — ornaments; ca — and; mukhyāni — choicest, principal; tāni — those; seva — enjoy, make use of; mayā — with me; saha — together
3.53.29
puṣpakaṃ nāma suśroṇi bhrātur vaiśravaṇasya me
vimānaṃ ramaṇīyaṃ ca tad vimānaṃ manojavam
There is a car named Puṣpaka, fair-hipped one, belonging to my brother Vaiśravaṇa—a lovely aerial car, and that car is swift as thought.
Words: puṣpakaṃ — Puṣpaka; nāma — named; suśroṇi — O fair-hipped one; bhrātur — of the brother; vaiśravaṇasya — of Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera); me — my; vimānaṃ — aerial car; ramaṇīyaṃ — lovely; ca — and; tad — that; vimānaṃ — car; manojavam — swift as thought
3.53.30
tatra sīte mayā sārdhaṃ viharasva yathāsukham
vadanaṃ padmasaṃkāśaṃ vimalaṃ cārudarśanam
There, Sītā, disport with me at your pleasure. Your face, resembling a lotus, spotless and lovely to behold,
Words: tatra — there; sīte — O Sītā; mayā — with me; sārdhaṃ — together; viharasva — disport, roam; yathāsukham — at your pleasure; vadanaṃ — face; padmasaṃkāśaṃ — resembling a lotus; vimalaṃ — spotless; cārudarśanam — lovely to behold
3.53.31
śokārtaṃ tu varārohe na bhrājati varānane
alaṃ vrīḍena vaidehi dharmalopa kṛtena te
stricken with grief, fair-hipped one, does not shine, O fair-faced. Enough, Vaidehī, of the shame that arises in you from (fear of) a lapse of dharma!
Words: śokārtaṃ — stricken with grief; tu — but; varārohe — O fair-hipped one; na — not; bhrājati — shines; varānane — O fair-faced one; alaṃ — enough of; vrīḍena — shame, bashfulness; vaidehi — O Vaidehī; dharmalopa — lapse of dharma; kṛtena — caused by, occasioned by; te — your
3.53.32
ārṣo 'yaṃ daivaniṣyando yas tvām abhigamiṣyati
etau pādau mayā snigdhau śirobhiḥ paripīḍitau
This that comes to you is a sanctioned course, a working of fate. These two tender feet of yours are pressed by me with my heads (in homage).
Words: ārṣo — sanctioned by the seers; 'yaṃ — this; daivaniṣyando — a working of fate; yas — which; tvām — you; abhigamiṣyati — will come to, befall; etau — these two; pādau — feet; mayā — by me; snigdhau — tender, smooth; śirobhiḥ — with (my) heads; paripīḍitau — pressed, clasped
3.53.33
prasādaṃ kuru me kṣipraṃ vaśyo dāso 'ham asmi te
nemāḥ śūnyā mayā vācaḥ śuṣyamāṇena bhāṣitāḥ
Show me your favour quickly; I am your obedient slave. These words, spoken by me as I pine away, are not empty.
Words: prasādaṃ — favour, grace; kuru — show, do; me — me; kṣipraṃ — quickly; vaśyo — obedient, submissive; dāso — slave; 'ham — I; asmi — am; te — your; nemāḥ — not these; śūnyā — empty; mayā — by me; vācaḥ — words; śuṣyamāṇena — pining away, drying up; bhāṣitāḥ — spoken
3.53.34
na cāpi rāvaṇaḥ kāṃ cin mūrdhnā strīṃ praṇameta ha
evam uktvā daśagrīvo maithilīṃ janakātmajām
'And never has Rāvaṇa bowed his head to any woman!' Having thus spoken to Maithilī, Janaka's daughter, the ten-necked one,
Words: na — not; cāpi — and ever; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; kāṃ — any; cin — (any) at all; mūrdhnā — with the head; strīṃ — woman; praṇameta — would bow to; ha — indeed; evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; daśagrīvo — the ten-necked one; maithilīṃ — to Maithilī; janakātmajām — Janaka's daughter
3.53.35
kṛtāntavaśam āpanno mameyam iti manyate
fallen under the sway of Death, thought, 'She is mine.'
Words: kṛtāntavaśam — under the sway of Death; āpanno — fallen into; mameyam — 'she is mine'; iti — thus; manyate — thinks
← 3.52 Sītā drops her ornaments · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.54 Rāvaṇa’s deadline and threat →
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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