# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 45 — Rāvaṇa reveals his identity

*Sītā recounts her marriage and exile, he offers Queenship in Laṅkā and she rejects him with warnings of destruction*

Portion: Rāvaṇa’s disguise and Sītā’s abduction · Verses: 45 · Ref format: 3.45.<verse>

## Sequence

- Thinking that a brāhmaṇa guest should not be left unanswered, Sītā introduces herself as Janaka's daughter and Rāma's wife (45.1–3)
- in this account, she says she lived in Rāma's home for a year before Daśaratha planned his installation (45.4–5)
- she recounts Kaikeyī's demands for Bharata's succession and Rāma's exile, and Daśaratha's unsuccessful attempts to change her mind (45.6–9)
- she describes Rāma as twenty-five and praises his character (45.10)
- she tells how Kaikeyī delivered the fourteen-year command and Rāma accepted it to preserve his father's truth (45.11–15)
- she explains that Lakṣmaṇa accompanied them and invites the guest to wait for Rāma's return with forest provisions (45.16–19)
- she asks the visitor's name, lineage, and reason for traveling alone (45.20).

- Rāvaṇa now identifies himself as the feared ruler of the rākṣasas (45.21–22)
- he says her beauty has made him dissatisfied with his own wives and offers to make her his chief Queen in island Laṅkā, served by five thousand attendants (45.23–27)
- Sītā angrily rejects him and affirms her devotion to Rāma (45.28–31)
- she compares his desire to a jackal seeking a lioness and lists impossible, self-destructive acts as parallels for taking Rāma's wife (45.32–39)
- she insists that Rāvaṇa is as far below Rāma as lead below gold or a crow below Garuḍa, and that abducting her will destroy him (45.40–43)
- despite her firm words, she trembles → Rāvaṇa responds by boasting of his power to frighten her (45.44–45).

## Verses

**3.45.1**  
rāvaṇena tu vaidehī tadā pṛṣṭā jihīrṣuṇā  
parivrājakarūpeṇa śaśaṃsātmānam ātmanā  
Then, questioned by Rāvaṇa — who longed to carry her off — in the guise of a wandering mendicant, Vaidehī of her own accord declared who she was.

**3.45.2**  
brāhmaṇaś cātithiś caiṣa anukto hi śapeta mām  
iti dhyātvā muhūrtaṃ tu sītā vacanam abravīt  
'This one is a Brahmin and a guest; if left unanswered, he might well curse me' — so reflecting for a moment, Sītā spoke these words.

**3.45.3**  
duhitā janakasyāhaṃ maithilasya mahātmanaḥ  
sītā nāmnāsmi bhadraṃ te rāmabhāryā dvijottama  
'I am the daughter of the great-souled Janaka, king of Mithilā; Sītā by name am I — blessings on you — the wife of Rāma, O best of Brahmins.'

**3.45.4**  
saṃvatsaraṃ cādhyuṣitā rāghavasya niveśane  
bhuñjānā mānuṣān bhogān sarvakāmasamṛddhinī  
'For a year I dwelt in Rāghava's home, enjoying human pleasures, blessed with the fulfillment of every desire.'

**3.45.5**  
tataḥ saṃvatsarād ūrdhvaṃ samamanyata me patim  
abhiṣecayituṃ rāmaṃ sameto rājamantribhiḥ  
'Then, after a year, the king, together with his royal counselors, resolved to consecrate my husband Rāma.'

**3.45.6**  
tasmin saṃbhriyamāṇe tu rāghavasyābhiṣecane  
kaikeyī nāma bhartāraṃ mamāryā yācate varam  
'But while that consecration of Rāghava was being prepared, my noble mother-in-law named Kaikeyī begged a boon of her husband.'

**3.45.7**  
pratigṛhya tu kaikeyī śvaśuraṃ sukṛtena me  
mama pravrājanaṃ bhartur bharatasyābhiṣecanam  
dvāv ayācata bhartāraṃ satyasaṃdhaṃ nṛpottamam  
'Having bound my father-in-law by a past favor, Kaikeyī begged two things of her husband, that best of kings, true to his word: the banishment of my husband and the consecration of Bharata.'

**3.45.8**  
nādya bhokṣye na ca svapsye na pāsye 'haṃ kadā cana  
eṣa me jīvitasyānto rāmo yady abhiṣicyate  
'I shall not eat today, nor ever sleep or drink again; this will be the end of my life, if Rāma is consecrated.'

**3.45.9**  
iti bruvāṇāṃ kaikeyīṃ śvaśuro me sa mānadaḥ  
ayācatārthair anvarthair na ca yācñāṃ cakāra sā  
'My honor-giving father-in-law implored Kaikeyī, who spoke thus, with offers of fitting riches, yet she would not heed his entreaty.'

**3.45.10**  
mama bhartā mahātejā vayasā pañcaviṃśakaḥ  
rāmeti prathito loke guṇavān satyavāk śuciḥ  
viśālākṣo mahābāhuḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ  
'My husband, of great splendor, twenty-five years of age, renowned in the world as "Rāma," is virtuous, truthful, pure, large-eyed, mighty-armed, and devoted to the welfare of all beings.'

**3.45.11**  
abhiṣekāya tu pituḥ samīpaṃ rāmam āgatam  
kaikeyī mama bhartāram ity uvāca drutaṃ vacaḥ  
'But when Rāma came into his father's presence for the consecration, Kaikeyī swiftly spoke these words to my husband:'

**3.45.12**  
tava pitrā samājñaptaṃ mamedaṃ śṛṇu rāghava  
bharatāya pradātavyam idaṃ rājyam akaṇṭakam  
'Hear, Rāghava, what your father has enjoined upon me: this unrivaled kingdom is to be given to Bharata,'

**3.45.13**  
tvayā tu khalu vastavyaṃ nava varṣāṇi pañca ca  
vane pravraja kākutstha pitaraṃ mocayānṛtāt  
'and you indeed must dwell for fourteen years in the forest; go forth, Kākutstha, and free your father from untruth.'

**3.45.14**  
tathety uvāca tāṃ rāmaḥ kaikeyīm akutobhayaḥ  
cakāra tadvacas tasyā mama bhartā dṛḍhavrataḥ  
'So be it,' fearless Rāma said to her, to Kaikeyī; and my husband, steadfast in his vow, carried out her word.

**3.45.15**  
dadyān na pratigṛhṇīyāt satyabrūyān na cānṛtam  
etad brāhmaṇa rāmasya vrataṃ dhruvam anuttamam  
'He would give but never take, would speak the truth and never a lie: such, O Brahmin, is Rāma's firm and unexcelled vow.'

**3.45.16**  
tasya bhrātā tu vaimātro lakṣmaṇo nāma vīryavān  
rāmasya puruṣavyāghraḥ sahāyaḥ samare 'rihā  
'His half-brother, born of another mother, valiant Lakṣmaṇa by name — a tiger among men — is Rāma's companion, a slayer of foes in battle.'

**3.45.17**  
sa bhrātā lakṣmaṇo nāma dharmacārī dṛḍhavrataḥ  
anvagacchad dhanuṣpāṇiḥ pravrajantaṃ mayā saha  
'That brother, Lakṣmaṇa by name, righteous and steadfast in vow, bow in hand, followed Rāma into exile, along with me.'

**3.45.18**  
te vayaṃ pracyutā rājyāt kaileyyās tu kṛte trayaḥ  
vicarāma dvijaśreṣṭha vanaṃ gambhīram ojasā  
'Cast out from the kingdom for Kaikeyī's sake, we three, O best of Brahmins, now roam this deep forest by our own strength.'

**3.45.19**  
samāśvasa muhūrtaṃ tu śakyaṃ vastum iha tvayā  
āgamiṣyati me bhartā vanyam ādāya puṣkalam  
'Rest a while; you may stay here. My husband will soon return, bringing an abundance of forest fare.'

**3.45.20**  
sa tvaṃ nāma ca gotraṃ ca kulam ācakṣva tattvataḥ  
ekaś ca daṇḍakāraṇye kimarthaṃ carasi dvija  
'Now you — tell me truly your name, your gotra, and your family; and why, O Brahmin, do you wander alone in the Daṇḍaka forest?'

**3.45.21**  
evaṃ bruvatyāṃ sītāyāṃ rāmapatnyāṃ mahābalaḥ  
pratyuvācottaraṃ tīvraṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ  
As Sītā, Rāma's wife, spoke thus, the mighty Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, gave a harsh reply:

**3.45.22**  
yena vitrāsitā lokāḥ sadevāsurapannagāḥ  
ahaṃ sa rāvaṇo nāma sīte rakṣogaṇeśvaraḥ  
'I am that very Rāvaṇa by name, O Sītā, lord of the hordes of rākṣasas, by whom the worlds — with their gods, asuras, and serpents — have been terrified.'

**3.45.23**  
tvāṃ tu kāñcanavarṇābhāṃ dṛṣṭvā kauśeyavāsinīm  
ratiṃ svakeṣu dāreṣu nādhigacchāmy anindite  
'But since I beheld you, golden-hued and clad in silk, O blameless one, I find no delight in my own wives.'

**3.45.24**  
bahvīnām uttamastrīṇām āhṛtānām itas tataḥ  
sarvāsām eva bhadraṃ te mamāgramahiṣī bhava  
'Of the many lovely women I have carried off from here and there — of them all, indeed — become my chief queen; blessings on you!'

**3.45.25**  
laṅkā nāma samudrasya madhye mama mahāpurī  
sāgareṇa parikṣiptā niviṣṭā girimūrdhani  
'In the midst of the ocean stands my great city named Laṅkā, girded by the sea and set upon a mountain summit.'

**3.45.26**  
tatra sīte mayā sārdhaṃ vaneṣu vicariṣyasi  
na cāsyāraṇyavāsasya spṛhayiṣyasi bhāmini  
'There, O Sītā, you shall roam the groves with me, and you will no longer yearn for this life in the wilderness, O lovely one.'

**3.45.27**  
pañcadāsyaḥ sahasrāṇi sarvābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ  
sīte paricariṣyanti bhāryā bhavasi me yadi  
'Five thousand maidservants, adorned with every ornament, will wait upon you, O Sītā, if you become my wife.'

**3.45.28**  
rāvaṇenaivam uktā tu kupitā janakātmajā  
pratyuvācānavadyāṅgī tam anādṛtya rākṣasaṃ  
But thus addressed by Rāvaṇa, the daughter of Janaka, flawless of limb, grew angry and, scorning that rākṣasa, replied:

**3.45.29**  
mahāgirim ivākampyaṃ mahendrasadṛśaṃ patim  
mahodadhim ivākṣobhyam ahaṃ rāmam anuvratā  
'Unshakable as a great mountain, my husband is the peer of mighty Indra, imperturbable as the vast ocean — to that Rāma I am devoted.'

**3.45.30**  
mahābāhuṃ mahoraskaṃ siṃhavikrāntagāminam  
nṛsiṃhaṃ siṃhasaṃkāśam ahaṃ rāmam anuvratā  
'Mighty-armed, broad-chested, striding with a lion's gait, a lion among men and lion-like in form — to that Rāma I am devoted.'

**3.45.31**  
pūrṇacandrānanaṃ vīraṃ rājavatsaṃ jitendriyam  
pṛthukīrtiṃ mahābāhum ahaṃ rāmam anuvratā  
'Full-moon-faced, heroic, a cherished prince, master of his senses, of wide renown, and mighty-armed — to that Rāma I am devoted.'

**3.45.32**  
tvaṃ punar jambukaḥ siṃhīṃ mām ihecchasi durlabhām  
nāhaṃ śakyā tvayā spraṣṭum ādityasya prabhā yathā  
'You, a mere jackal, desire me here — a lioness, beyond your reach. You could no more touch me than lay hold of the radiance of the sun.'

**3.45.33**  
pādapān kāñcanān nūnaṃ bahūn paśyasi mandabhāk  
rāghavasya priyāṃ bhāryāṃ yas tvam icchasi rāvaṇa  
'Surely, ill-fated one, you are seeing many golden trees — you, Rāvaṇa, who covet the beloved wife of Rāghava!'

**3.45.34**  
kṣudhitasya ca siṃhasya mṛgaśatros tarasvinaḥ  
āśīviṣasya vadanād daṃṣṭrām ādātum icchasi  
'You wish to pluck the fang from the mouth of a venomous serpent — or of a hungry, swift lion, the slayer of beasts.'

**3.45.35**  
mandaraṃ parvataśreṣṭhaṃ pāṇinā hartum icchasi  
kālakūṭaṃ viṣaṃ pītvā svastimān gantum icchasi  
'You wish to carry off Mount Mandara, best of mountains, in your bare hand; you wish, having drunk the Kālakūṭa poison, to walk away unharmed.'

**3.45.36**  
akṣisūcyā pramṛjasi jihvayā leḍhi ca kṣuram  
rāghavasya priyāṃ bhāryām adhigantuṃ tvam icchasi  
'You would rub your eye with a needle and lick a razor with your tongue — you who wish to win the beloved wife of Rāghava!'

**3.45.37**  
avasajya śilāṃ kaṇṭhe samudraṃ tartum icchasi  
sūryā candramasau cobhau prāṇibhyāṃ hartum icchasi  
yo rāmasya priyāṃ bhāryāṃ pradharṣayitum icchasi  
'With a stone tied around your neck you wish to cross the ocean; you wish to snatch up both the sun and the moon with your two hands — you who would violate the beloved wife of Rāma!'

**3.45.38**  
agniṃ prajvalitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vastreṇāhartum icchasi  
kalyāṇa vṛttāṃ rāmasya yo bhāryāṃ hartum icchasi  
'Seeing a blazing fire, you wish to carry it off in your garment — you who would abduct the virtuous wife of Rāma!'

**3.45.39**  
ayomukhānāṃ śūlānām agre caritum icchasi  
rāmasya sadṛśīṃ bhāryāṃ yo 'dhigantuṃ tvam icchasi  
'You wish to tread upon the tips of iron-pointed spikes — you who would win the wife worthy of Rāma!'

**3.45.40**  
yad antaraṃ siṃhaśṛgālayor vane yad antaraṃ syandanikāsamudrayoḥ  
surāgryasauvīrakayor yad antaraṃ tad antaraṃ dāśarathes tavaiva ca  
'The difference between a lion and a jackal in the forest, between a rivulet and the sea, between fine nectar and sour gruel — such is the difference between the son of Daśaratha and you.'

**3.45.41**  
yad antaraṃ kāñcanasīsalohayor yad antaraṃ candanavāripaṅkayoḥ  
yad antaraṃ hastibiḍālayor vane tad antaraṃ daśarathes tavaiva ca  
'The difference between gold and lead, between sandal-water and mire, between an elephant and a cat in the wood — such is the difference between Daśaratha's son and you.'

**3.45.42**  
yad antaraṃ vāyasavainateyayor yad antaraṃ madgumayūrayor api  
yad antaraṃ sārasagṛdhrayor vane tad antaraṃ dāśarathes tavaiva ca  
'The difference between a crow and Garuḍa, between a cormorant and a peacock, between a crane and a vulture in the wood — such is the difference between the son of Daśaratha and you.'

**3.45.43**  
tasmin sahasrākṣasamaprabhāve rāme sthite kārmukabāṇapāṇau  
hṛtāpi te 'haṃ na jarāṃ gamiṣye vajraṃ yathā makṣikayāvagīrṇam  
'While that Rāma stands, mighty as the thousand-eyed god, with bow and arrow in hand — even if carried off by you, I shall never be consumed by you, any more than a fly can digest a swallowed diamond.'

**3.45.44**  
itīva tad vākyam aduṣṭabhāvā sudṛṣṭam uktvā rajanīcaraṃ tam  
gātraprakampād vyathitā babhūva vātoddhatā sā kadalīva tanvī  
Having spoken such words firmly to that night-roamer, she of faultless nature — slender-formed — fell to trembling in every limb and grew distressed, like a plantain tree tossed by the wind.

**3.45.45**  
tāṃ vepamānām upalakṣya sītāṃ sa rāvaṇo mṛtyusamaprabhāvaḥ  
kulaṃ balaṃ nāma ca karma cātmanaḥ samācacakṣe bhayakāraṇārtham  
Seeing Sītā trembling thus, Rāvaṇa, whose might was like Death itself, recounted his lineage, his strength, his name, and his deeds, so as to strike terror in her.