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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 54: Rāvaṇa’s deadline and threat

Summary. Sītā refuses him, he gives her twelve months to submit or be killed for his meal, then sends her to the aśoka grove

Sequence

  1. Sītā places a blade of grass between herself and Rāvaṇa before answering (3.54.1)
  2. she reaffirms her marriage and says Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa will kill him → had he attempted the abduction in Rāma's presence, he would already have died like Khara (3.54.2–7)
  3. his protection against Suras and asuras will not save him from Rāma, and Laṅkā will suffer for his deed (3.54.8–17)
  4. she refuses to dishonor herself even if he binds or kills her, then falls silent (3.54.18–20)
  5. Rāvaṇa threatens that she has twelve months to submit; otherwise his cooks will cut her up for his morning meal (3.54.21–22)
  6. he orders the rākṣasīs to break her resistance (3.54.23–26)
  7. they must take her to the aśoka grove, guard her closely, and alternate threats with soothing words to force compliance (3.54.27–28)
  8. they lead her into the flowering grove → despite its beauty, she finds no comfort and collapses in fear and grief while remembering Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. (3.54.29–32)

Verses 3.54.1–32

3.54.1

sā tathoktā tu vaidehī nirbhayā śokakarṣitā
tṛṇam antarataḥ kṛtvā rāvaṇaṃ pratyabhāṣata

Vaidehī, thus addressed, fearless though worn with grief, placing a blade of grass between them, replied to Rāvaṇa:

Words: sā — she; tathoktā — thus addressed; tu — but; vaidehī — Vaidehī; nirbhayā — fearless; śokakarṣitā — worn with grief; tṛṇam — a blade of grass; antarataḥ — between (them); kṛtvā — having placed; rāvaṇaṃ — to Rāvaṇa; pratyabhāṣata — replied

3.54.2

rājā daśaratho nāma dharmasetur ivācalaḥ
satyasandhaḥ parijñāto yasya putraḥ sa rāghavaḥ

There was a king named Daśaratha, unshakable as a dyke of dharma, true to his word and renowned—whose son is that Rāghava.

Words: rājā — king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; nāma — named; dharmasetur — a dyke of dharma; ivācalaḥ — unshakable as; satyasandhaḥ — true to his word; parijñāto — renowned, well-known; yasya — whose; putraḥ — son; sa — (is) that; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

3.54.3

rāmo nāma sa dharmātmā triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ
dīrghabāhur viśālākṣo daivataṃ sa patir mama

Rāma by name, righteous of soul, renowned in the three worlds, long-armed and wide-eyed—that husband of mine is to me a god.

Words: rāmo — Rāma; nāma — named; sa — he; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — worlds; viśrutaḥ — renowned; dīrghabāhur — long-armed; viśālākṣo — wide-eyed; daivataṃ — a god, deity; sa — that; patir — husband; mama — my

3.54.4

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jātaḥ siṃhaskandho mahādyutiḥ
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā yas te prāṇāṃ hariṣyati

Born in the line of the Ikṣvākus, lion-shouldered, of great splendour—he, together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, will take your life.

Words: ikṣvākūṇāṃ — of the Ikṣvākus; kule — in the line, family; jātaḥ — born; siṃhaskandho — lion-shouldered; mahādyutiḥ — of great splendour; lakṣmaṇena — with Lakṣmaṇa; saha — together; bhrātrā — brother; yas — who; te — your; prāṇāṃ — life-breaths (text prāṇāṃ for prāṇān); hariṣyati — will take away

3.54.5

pratyakṣaṃ yady ahaṃ tasya tvayā syāṃ dharṣitā balāt
śayitā tvaṃ hataḥ saṃkhye janasthāne yathā kharaḥ

Had I been assaulted by you by force before his very eyes, you would lie slain in battle, as Khara was slain in Janasthāna.

Words: pratyakṣaṃ — before (his) eyes; yady — if; ahaṃ — I; tasya — his; tvayā — by you; syāṃ — were, should be; dharṣitā — assaulted; balāt — by force; śayitā — would lie (slain); tvaṃ — you; hataḥ — slain; saṃkhye — in battle; janasthāne — in Janasthāna; yathā — as; kharaḥ — Khara

3.54.6

ya ete rākṣasāḥ proktā ghorarūpā mahābalāḥ
rāghave nirviṣāḥ sarve suparṇe pannagā yathā

These rākṣasas you have named, of terrible form and great strength—before Rāghava they are all venomless, as serpents before Garuḍa.

Words: ya — who; ete — these; rākṣasāḥ — rākṣasas; proktā — named, spoken of; ghorarūpā — of terrible form; mahābalāḥ — of great strength; rāghave — before Rāghava; nirviṣāḥ — venomless; sarve — all; suparṇe — before Garuḍa (Suparṇa); pannagā — serpents; yathā — as

3.54.7

tasya jyāvipramuktās te śarāḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ
śarīraṃ vidhamiṣyanti gaṅgākūlam ivormayaḥ

His arrows, gold-adorned, loosed from the bowstring, will tear your body apart as waves tear the bank of the Gaṅgā.

Words: tasya — his; jyāvipramuktās — loosed from the bowstring; te — those; śarāḥ — arrows; kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ — gold-adorned; śarīraṃ — (your) body; vidhamiṣyanti — will tear apart, shatter; gaṅgākūlam — the bank of the Gaṅgā; ivormayaḥ — as the waves

3.54.8

asurair vā surair vā tvaṃ yady avadho 'si rāvaṇa
utpādya sumahad vairaṃ jīvaṃs tasya na mokṣyase

Even if you are unslayable by asuras or gods, Rāvaṇa, having stirred up so great an enmity, you will not escape him alive.

Words: asurair — by asuras; vā — or; surair — by gods; vā — or; tvaṃ — you; yady — if; avadho — unslayable; 'si — are; rāvaṇa — O Rāvaṇa; utpādya — having stirred up; sumahad — so great; vairaṃ — enmity; jīvaṃs — living, alive; tasya — him, his; na — not; mokṣyase — you will escape

3.54.9

sa te jīvitaśeṣasya rāghavo 'ntakaro balī
paśor yūpagatasyeva jīvitaṃ tava durlabham

That mighty Rāghava will make an end of what remains of your life; your life is hard to keep, like that of a beast bound to the sacrificial post.

Words: sa — he; te — your; jīvitaśeṣasya — of the remainder of (your) life; rāghavo — Rāghava; 'ntakaro — the ender, destroyer; balī — mighty; paśor — of a beast; yūpagatasyeva — as of one bound to the sacrificial post; jīvitaṃ — life; tava — your; durlabham — hard to keep, precarious

3.54.10

yadi paśyet sa rāmas tvāṃ roṣadīptena cakṣuṣā
rakṣas tvam adya nirdagdho gaccheḥ sadyaḥ parābhavam

If that Rāma should look at you with an eye blazing with rage, O demon, you would be burnt to ashes this day and go at once to ruin.

Words: yadi — if; paśyet — should look at; sa — that; rāmas — Rāma; tvāṃ — you; roṣadīptena — blazing with rage; cakṣuṣā — with (his) eye; rakṣas — O demon; tvam — you; adya — this day; nirdagdho — burnt to ashes; gaccheḥ — would go; sadyaḥ — at once; parābhavam — to ruin, destruction

3.54.11

yaś candraṃ nabhaso bhūmau pātayen nāśayeta vā
sāgaraṃ śoṣayed vāpi sa sītāṃ mocayed iha

He who could cast the moon from the sky to the earth, or destroy it, or dry up the ocean—he might set Sītā free here.

Words: yaś — who; candraṃ — the moon; nabhaso — from the sky; bhūmau — to the earth; pātayen — should cast down; nāśayeta — or destroy; vā — or; sāgaraṃ — the ocean; śoṣayed — should dry up; vāpi — or even; sa — he; sītāṃ — Sītā; mocayed — might set free; iha — here

3.54.12

gatāyus tvaṃ gataśrīko gatasattvo gatendriyaḥ
laṅkā vaidhavyasaṃyuktā tvatkṛtena bhaviṣyati

Your life is spent, your fortune gone, your strength gone, your senses gone; through your doing, Laṅkā will be made a widow.

Words: gatāyus — (your) life spent; tvaṃ — you; gataśrīko — fortune gone; gatasattvo — strength gone; gatendriyaḥ — senses gone; laṅkā — Laṅkā; vaidhavyasaṃyuktā — joined to widowhood; tvatkṛtena — by your doing; bhaviṣyati — will become

3.54.13

na te pāpam idaṃ karma sukhodarkaṃ bhaviṣyati
yāhaṃ nītā vinā bhāvaṃ patipārśvāt tvayā vanāt

This evil deed of yours will not end in happiness—I who have been carried off by you against my will from my husband's side, from the forest.

Words: na — not; te — your; pāpam — evil; idaṃ — this; karma — deed; sukhodarkaṃ — ending in happiness; bhaviṣyati — will be; yāhaṃ — I who; nītā — carried off; vinā — without; bhāvaṃ — (my) consent, inclination; patipārśvāt — from my husband's side; tvayā — by you; vanāt — from the forest

3.54.14

sa hi daivatasaṃyukto mama bhartā mahādyutiḥ
nirbhayo vīryam āśritya śūnye vasati daṇḍake

For that husband of mine, of great splendour, endowed with divine power, relying on his valour, dwells fearless in the empty Daṇḍaka.

Words: sa — he; hi — for; daivatasaṃyukto — endowed with divine power; mama — my; bhartā — husband; mahādyutiḥ — of great splendour; nirbhayo — fearless; vīryam — valour; āśritya — relying on; śūnye — in the empty; vasati — dwells; daṇḍake — (the) Daṇḍaka (forest)

3.54.15

sa te darpaṃ balaṃ vīryam utsekaṃ ca tathāvidham
apaneṣyati gātrebhyaḥ śaravarṣeṇa saṃyuge

He will strip from your limbs, with a rain of arrows in battle, your pride, your strength, your valour, and such arrogance as this.

Words: sa — he; te — your; darpaṃ — pride; balaṃ — strength; vīryam — valour; utsekaṃ — arrogance; ca — and; tathāvidham — such, of that kind; apaneṣyati — will take away, strip; gātrebhyaḥ — from (your) limbs; śaravarṣeṇa — with a rain of arrows; saṃyuge — in battle

3.54.16

yadā vināśo bhūtānāṃ dṛśyate kālacoditaḥ
tadā kārye pramādyanti narāḥ kālavaśaṃ gatāḥ

When the destruction of creatures, driven by Time, draws near, then men fallen under Time's sway grow heedless in their duty.

Words: yadā — when; vināśo — destruction; bhūtānāṃ — of creatures; dṛśyate — is seen, draws near; kālacoditaḥ — driven by Time; tadā — then; kārye — in (their) duty; pramādyanti — grow heedless; narāḥ — men; kālavaśaṃ — under Time's sway; gatāḥ — fallen

3.54.17

māṃ pradhṛṣya sa te kālaḥ prāpto 'yaṃ rakṣasādhama
ātmano rākṣasānāṃ ca vadhāyāntaḥpurasya ca

By assaulting me, this your death-hour has arrived, vilest of demons—for the destruction of yourself, of the rākṣasas, and of your harem.

Words: māṃ — me; pradhṛṣya — having assaulted; sa — that; te — your; kālaḥ — death-hour, Time; prāpto — has arrived; 'yaṃ — this; rakṣasādhama — O vilest of demons; ātmano — of yourself; rākṣasānāṃ — of the rākṣasas; ca — and; vadhāyāntaḥpurasya — for the destruction, and of the harem; ca — and

3.54.18

na śakyā yajñamadhyasthā vediḥ srugbhāṇḍa maṇḍitā
dvijātimantrasaṃpūtā caṇḍālenāvamarditum

An altar standing in the midst of a sacrifice, adorned with the ladle and vessels and hallowed by the mantras of the twice-born, cannot be defiled by a caṇḍāla.

Words: na — not; śakyā — able, possible; yajñamadhyasthā — standing in the midst of a sacrifice; vediḥ — an altar; srugbhāṇḍa — ladle and vessels; maṇḍitā — adorned; dvijātimantrasaṃpūtā — hallowed by the mantras of the twice-born; caṇḍālenāvamarditum — to be defiled by a caṇḍāla

3.54.19

idaṃ śarīraṃ niḥsaṃjñaṃ bandha vā ghātayasva vā
nedaṃ śarīraṃ rakṣyaṃ me jīvitaṃ vāpi rākṣasa
na hi śakṣyāmy upakrośaṃ pṛthivyāṃ dātum ātmanaḥ

This body of mine is beyond feeling—bind it or slay it as you will. I need guard neither this body nor my life, rākṣasa; for I could never bring reproach upon myself in this world.

Words: idaṃ — this; śarīraṃ — body; niḥsaṃjñaṃ — beyond feeling, insensible; bandha — bind; vā — or; ghātayasva — have (it) slain; vā — or; nedaṃ — this (is) not; śarīraṃ — body; rakṣyaṃ — to be guarded; me — my; jīvitaṃ — life; vāpi — or even; rākṣasa — O rākṣasa; na — not; hi — for; śakṣyāmy — I shall be able; upakrośaṃ — reproach, blame; pṛthivyāṃ — in the world, on earth; dātum — to bring, give; ātmanaḥ — upon myself

3.54.20

evam uktvā tu vaidehī kroddhāt suparuṣaṃ vacaḥ
rāvaṇaṃ maithilī tatra punar novāca kiṃ cana

Having thus spoken, in anger, these very harsh words to Rāvaṇa, Vaidehī, Maithilī, then said nothing further.

Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; tu — and; vaidehī — Vaidehī; kroddhāt — in anger (text kroddhāt); suparuṣaṃ — very harsh; vacaḥ — words; rāvaṇaṃ — to Rāvaṇa; maithilī — Maithilī; tatra — there, then; punar — further, again; novāca — said not; kiṃ — any; cana — (any) thing at all

3.54.21

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā paruṣaṃ romaharṣaṇam
pratyuvāca tataḥ sītāṃ bhayasaṃdarśanaṃ vacaḥ

Hearing Sītā's harsh, hair-raising speech, he then answered Sītā with words that showed forth a threat:

Words: sītāyā — of Sītā; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; paruṣaṃ — harsh; romaharṣaṇam — hair-raising; pratyuvāca — answered; tataḥ — then; sītāṃ — to Sītā; bhayasaṃdarśanaṃ — displaying a threat; vacaḥ — words

3.54.22

śṛṇu maithili madvākyaṃ māsān dvādaśa bhāmini
kālenānena nābhyeṣi yadi māṃ cāruhāsini
tatas tvāṃ prātarāśārthaṃ sūdāś chetsyanti leśaśaḥ

'Hear my word, Maithilī: twelve months (I grant you), proud lady. If within this time you do not come to me, sweet-smiling one, then the cooks shall cut you up piecemeal for my morning meal.'

Words: śṛṇu — hear; maithili — O Maithilī; madvākyaṃ — my word; māsān — months; dvādaśa — twelve; bhāmini — O proud lady; kālenānena — within this time; nābhyeṣi — you do not come; yadi — if; māṃ — to me; cāruhāsini — O sweet-smiling one; tatas — then; tvāṃ — you; prātarāśārthaṃ — for the morning meal; sūdāś — the cooks; chetsyanti — will cut up; leśaśaḥ — piecemeal, into bits

3.54.23

ity uktvā paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ
rākṣasīś ca tataḥ kruddha idaṃ vacanam abravīt

Having thus spoken harsh words, Rāvaṇa, the tormentor of foes, then in anger said this to the rākṣasa-women:

Words: ity — thus; uktvā — having spoken; paruṣaṃ — harsh; vākyaṃ — words; rāvaṇaḥ — Rāvaṇa; śatrurāvaṇaḥ — tormentor of foes; rākṣasīś — to the rākṣasa-women; ca — and; tataḥ — then; kruddha — angry; idaṃ — this; vacanam — word; abravīt — said

3.54.24

śīghram evaṃ hi rākṣasyo vikṛtā ghoradarśanāḥ
darpam asyā vineṣyantu māṃsaśoṇitabhojanāḥ

'Quickly, you rākṣasa-women, misshapen and dreadful to behold, feeders on flesh and blood—rid her of her pride!'

Words: śīghram — quickly; evaṃ — thus; hi — indeed; rākṣasyo — rākṣasa-women; vikṛtā — misshapen; ghoradarśanāḥ — dreadful to behold; darpam — pride; asyā — her; vineṣyantu — let (them) remove; māṃsaśoṇitabhojanāḥ — feeders on flesh and blood

3.54.25

vacanād eva tās tasya vikṛtā ghoradarśanāḥ
kṛtaprāñjalayo bhūtvā maithilīṃ paryavārayan

At his very word, those misshapen, dreadful-looking women, making the gesture of joined palms, surrounded Maithilī.

Words: vacanād — at the word; eva — very; tās — those; tasya — his; vikṛtā — misshapen; ghoradarśanāḥ — dreadful-looking; kṛtaprāñjalayo — with palms joined; bhūtvā — having become; maithilīṃ — Maithilī; paryavārayan — surrounded

3.54.26

sa tāḥ provāca rājā tu rāvaṇo ghoradarśanaḥ
pracālya caraṇotkarṣair dārayann iva medinīm

And the king Rāvaṇa, dreadful to behold, said to them, stamping so with the pounding of his feet as if to split the earth:

Words: sa — he; tāḥ — to them; provāca — said; rājā — king; tu — and; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; ghoradarśanaḥ — dreadful to behold; pracālya — stamping, causing to shake; caraṇotkarṣair — with the pounding of his feet; dārayann — splitting; iva — as if; medinīm — the earth

3.54.27

aśokavanikāmadhye maithilī nīyatām iti
tatreyaṃ rakṣyatāṃ gūḍham uṣmābhiḥ parivāritā

'Let Maithilī be taken into the midst of the aśoka grove; there let her be kept closely guarded, surrounded by you.'

Words: aśokavanikāmadhye — into the midst of the aśoka grove; maithilī — Maithilī; nīyatām — let (her) be taken; iti — (thus); tatreyaṃ — there she; rakṣyatāṃ — let (her) be guarded; gūḍham — closely, secretly; uṣmābhiḥ — by you (text uṣmābhiḥ for yuṣmābhiḥ); parivāritā — surrounded

3.54.28

tatraināṃ tarjanair ghoraiḥ punaḥ sāntvaiś ca maithilīm
ānayadhvaṃ vaśaṃ sarvā vanyāṃ gajavadhūm iva

'There, by dread threats and again by soothing words, all of you bring Maithilī under control, as one tames a wild cow-elephant.'

Words: tatraināṃ — there her; tarjanair — by threats; ghoraiḥ — dread; punaḥ — again; sāntvaiś — by soothing words; ca — and; maithilīm — Maithilī; ānayadhvaṃ — bring (you all); vaśaṃ — under control; sarvā — all (of you); vanyāṃ — wild; gajavadhūm — a cow-elephant; iva — as, like

3.54.29

iti pratisamādiṣṭā rākṣasyo rāvaṇena tāḥ
aśokavanikāṃ jagmur maithilīṃ parigṛhya tām

Thus commanded by Rāvaṇa, those rākṣasa-women, taking hold of Maithilī, went to the aśoka grove,

Words: iti — thus; pratisamādiṣṭā — commanded, instructed; rākṣasyo — the rākṣasa-women; rāvaṇena — by Rāvaṇa; tāḥ — those; aśokavanikāṃ — to the aśoka grove; jagmur — went; maithilīṃ — Maithilī; parigṛhya — taking hold of; tām — her

3.54.30

sarvakāmaphalair vṛkṣair nānāpuṣpaphalair vṛtām
sarvakālamadaiś cāpi dvijaiḥ samupasevitām

a grove filled with trees bearing every desired fruit and manifold flowers and fruits, and frequented by birds intoxicated in every season.

Words: sarvakāmaphalair — bearing every desired fruit; vṛkṣair — with trees; nānāpuṣpaphalair — with manifold flowers and fruits; vṛtām — surrounded, filled; sarvakālamadaiś — intoxicated in every season; cāpi — and also; dvijaiḥ — by birds; samupasevitām — frequented

3.54.31

sā tu śokaparītāṅgī maithilī janakātmajā
rākṣasī vaśam āpannā vyāghrīṇāṃ hariṇī yathā

But Maithilī, Janaka's daughter, her limbs overwhelmed with grief, fell into the power of the rākṣasa-women like a doe among tigresses.

Words: sā — she; tu — but; śokaparītāṅgī — her limbs overwhelmed with grief; maithilī — Maithilī; janakātmajā — Janaka's daughter; rākṣasī — of the rākṣasa-women; vaśam — into the power; āpannā — fallen; vyāghrīṇāṃ — among tigresses; hariṇī — a doe; yathā — as, like

3.54.32

na vindate tatra tu śarma maithilī virūpanetrābhir atīva tarjitā
patiṃ smarantī dayitaṃ ca devaraṃ vicetanābhūd bhayaśokapīḍitā

There Maithilī found no comfort, sorely threatened by the deformed-eyed demonesses; remembering her beloved husband and her brother-in-law, she swooned, tormented by fear and grief.

Words: na — not; vindate — finds; tatra — there; tu — but; śarma — comfort, peace; maithilī — Maithilī; virūpanetrābhir — by the deformed-eyed (women); atīva — exceedingly; tarjitā — threatened; patiṃ — husband; smarantī — remembering; dayitaṃ — beloved; ca — and; devaraṃ — brother-in-law (Lakṣmaṇa); vicetanābhūd — became senseless, swooned; bhayaśokapīḍitā — tormented by fear and grief

← 3.53 Rāvaṇa’s offer to Sītā · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.55 Rāma meets Lakṣmaṇa →

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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