Shurpanakha's Wooing

Shloka 1 (aranya.17.1)

कृत अभिषेको रामः तु सीता सौमित्रिर् एव च | तस्मात् गोदावरी तीरात् ततो जग्मुः स्वम् आश्रमम् ॥ 17.1 ॥

kṛta abhiṣeko rāmaḥ tu sītā saumitrir eva ca | tasmāt godāvarī tīrāt tato jagmuḥ svam āśramam || 17.1 ||

Having bathed, Rama, together with Sita and Saumitri, then went from that bank of the Godavari to his own hermitage.

Shloka 2 (aranya.17.2)

आश्रमम् तम् उपागम्य राघवः सह लक्ष्मणः | कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकम् कर्म पर्णशालाम् उपागमत् ॥ 17.2 ॥

āśramam tam upāgamya rāghavaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ | kṛtvā paurvāhṇikam karma parṇaśālām upāgamat || 17.2 ||

Reaching that hermitage, Raghava, together with Lakshmana, performed the morning rites and then came to the leaf-hut.

Shloka 3 (aranya.17.3)

उवास सुखितः तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षभः | स रामः पर्ण शालायाम् आसीनः सह सीतया ॥ 17.3 ॥

uvāsa sukhitaḥ tatra pūjyamāno maharṣabhaḥ | sa rāmaḥ parṇa śālāyām āsīnaḥ saha sītayā || 17.3 ||

There that most eminent of men, Rama, honoured by the sages of the place, dwelt happily, seated in the leaf-hut together with Sita,

Shloka 4 (aranya.17.4)

-३ विरराज महा बाहुः चित्रया चन्द्रमा इव | लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा चकार विविधाः कथाः ॥ 17.4 ॥

-3 virarāja mahā bāhuḥ citrayā candramā iva | lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā cakāra vividhāḥ kathāḥ || 17.4 ||

and, mighty-armed, shone like the moon beside the star Chitra, conversing on many things together with his brother Lakshmana.

Shloka 5 (aranya.17.5)

तदा आसीनस्य रामस्य कथा संसक्त चेतसः | तम् देशम् राक्षसी काचिद् आजगाम यदृच्छ्हया ॥ 17.5 ॥

tadā āsīnasya rāmasya kathā saṃsakta cetasaḥ | tam deśam rākṣasī kācid ājagāma yadṛcchhayā || 17.5 ||

Then, on one occasion, as Rama sat there absorbed in conversation, a certain demoness chanced to arrive at that very place.

Shloka 6 (aranya.17.6)

सा तु शूर्पणखा नाम दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः | भगिनी रामम् आसाद्य ददर्श त्रिदश उपमम् ॥ 17.6 ॥

sā tu śūrpaṇakhā nāma daśagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ | bhaginī rāmam āsādya dadarśa tridaśa upamam || 17.6 ||

She, the sister of the ten-necked demon Ravana, named Shurpanakha, drew near Rama and beheld one who seemed a very god —

Shloka 7 (aranya.17.7)

दीप्तास्यम् च महाबाहुम् पद्म पत्रायत ईक्षणम् | गज विक्रांत गमनम् जटा मण्दल धारिणम् ॥ 17.7 ॥

dīptāsyam ca mahābāhum padma patrāyata īkṣaṇam | gaja vikrāṃta gamanam jaṭā maṇdala dhāriṇam || 17.7 ||

radiant of face, mighty-armed, eyes wide as lotus petals, his gait stately as an elephant's, his hair bound in matted locks,

Shloka 8 (aranya.17.8)

सुकुमारम् महा सत्त्वम् पार्थिव व्यंजन अन्वितम् | रामम् इन्दीवर श्यामम् कन्दर्प सदृश प्रभम् ॥ 17.8 ॥

sukumāram mahā sattvam pārthiva vyaṃjana anvitam | rāmam indīvara śyāmam kandarpa sadṛśa prabham || 17.8 ||

delicate yet of great vigour, marked with every sign of royalty, dark-hued as the blue lotus, radiant as the god of love —

Shloka 9 (aranya.17.9)

बभूव इन्द्रोपमम् दृष्ट्वा राक्षसी काम मोहिता | सुमुखम् दुर्मुखी रामम् वृत्त मध्यम् महोदरी ॥ 17.9 ॥

babhūva indropamam dṛṣṭvā rākṣasī kāma mohitā | sumukham durmukhī rāmam vṛtta madhyam mahodarī || 17.9 ||

seeing this Rama, who resembled Indra, the demoness was overcome with desire. Ill-favoured herself, she gazed on his fair face; pot-bellied, she gazed on his slender waist;

Shloka 10 (aranya.17.10)

विशालाक्षम् विरूपाक्षी सुकेशम् ताम्र मूर्धजा | प्रियरूपम् विरूपा सा सुस्वरम् भैरव स्वना ॥ 17.10 ॥

viśālākṣam virūpākṣī sukeśam tāmra mūrdhajā | priyarūpam virūpā sā susvaram bhairava svanā || 17.10 ||

wry-eyed, she gazed on his wide eyes; copper-haired, on his neatly-tressed head; ill-formed herself, on his lovely form; harsh of voice, on his sweet voice —

Shloka 11 (aranya.17.11)

तरुणम् दारुणा वृद्धा दक्षिणम् वाम भाषिणी | न्याय वृत्तम् सुदुर्वृत्ता प्रियम् अप्रिय दर्शना ॥ 17.11 ॥

taruṇam dāruṇā vṛddhā dakṣiṇam vāma bhāṣiṇī | nyāya vṛttam sudurvṛttā priyam apriya darśanā || 17.11 ||

hideous with age, she gazed on his youth; crooked of speech, on his righteous speech; ill-behaved, on his right conduct; unlovely to look upon, on his loveliness —

Shloka 12 (aranya.17.12)

शरीरज समाविष्टा राक्षसी रामम् अब्रवीत् | जटी तापस रूपेण सभार्यः शर चाप धृक् ॥ 17.12 ॥

śarīraja samāviṣṭā rākṣasī rāmam abravīt | jaṭī tāpasa rūpeṇa sabhāryaḥ śara cāpa dhṛk || 17.12 ||

and, possessed by the god of desire, that demoness spoke thus to Rama: "Matted-haired you are, bearing bow and arrows, in the guise of an ascetic, and yet with a wife beside you —

Shloka 13 (aranya.17.13)

आगतः त्वम् इमम् देशम् कथम् राक्षस सेवितम् | किम् आगमन कृत्यम् ते तत् त्वम् आख्यातुम् अर्हसि ॥ 17.13 ॥

āgataḥ tvam imam deśam katham rākṣasa sevitam | kim āgamana kṛtyam te tat tvam ākhyātum arhasi || 17.13 ||

how have you come to this region, which is frequented by demons? It behoves you to tell me truly the purpose of your coming."

Shloka 14 (aranya.17.14)

एवम् उक्तः तु राक्षस्या शूर्पणख्या परंतपः | ऋजु बुद्धितया सर्वम् आख्यातुम् उपचक्रमे ॥ 17.14 ॥

evam uktaḥ tu rākṣasyā śūrpaṇakhyā paraṃtapaḥ | ṛju buddhitayā sarvam ākhyātum upacakrame || 17.14 ||

Thus questioned by the demoness Shurpanakha, that scorcher of foes, Rama, began to relate everything to her plainly and straightforwardly.

Shloka 15 (aranya.17.15)

आसीत् दशरथो नाम राजा त्रिदश विक्रमः | तस्य अहम् अग्रजः पुत्रो रामो नाम जनैः श्रुतः ॥ 17.15 ॥

āsīt daśaratho nāma rājā tridaśa vikramaḥ | tasya aham agrajaḥ putro rāmo nāma janaiḥ śrutaḥ || 17.15 ||

"There was a king named Dasharatha, of godlike valour; I am his eldest son, known among people by the name Rama.

Shloka 16 (aranya.17.16)

भ्राता अयम् लक्ष्मणो नाम यवीयान् माम् अनुव्रतः | इयम् भार्या च वैदेही मम सीतेति विश्रुता ॥ 17.16 ॥

bhrātā ayam lakṣmaṇo nāma yavīyān mām anuvrataḥ | iyam bhāryā ca vaidehī mama sīteti viśrutā || 17.16 ||

This is my younger brother, named Lakshmana, ever devoted and following after me; and this is my wife, the princess of Videha, renowned by the name Sita.

Shloka 17 (aranya.17.17)

नियोगात् तु नरेन्द्रस्य पितुर् मातुः च यंत्रितः | धर्मार्थम् धर्मकांक्षी च वनम् वस्तुम् इह आगतः ॥ 17.17 ॥

niyogāt tu narendrasya pitur mātuḥ ca yaṃtritaḥ | dharmārtham dharmakāṃkṣī ca vanam vastum iha āgataḥ || 17.17 ||

Bound by the command of my father the king, and of my mother too, and desiring to uphold righteousness, I have come here to dwell in the forest.

Shloka 18 (aranya.17.18)

त्वाम् तु वेदितुम् इच्छ्हामि कस्य त्वम् का असि कस्य वा | त्वम् हि तावन्मनोज्ञा.ंगी राक्षसी प्रतिभासि मे ॥ 17.18 ॥

tvām tu veditum icchhāmi kasya tvam kā asi kasya vā | tvam hi tāvanmanojñā.ṃgī rākṣasī pratibhāsi me || 17.18 ||

But you — I wish to know of you: whose wife are you, what is your name, or whose daughter are you? For with a form so enchanting, you seem to me, indeed, to be a demoness.

Shloka 19 (aranya.17.19)

इह वा किम् निमित्तम् त्वम् आगता ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः | सा अब्रवीत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राक्षसी मदन अर्दिता ॥ 17.19 ॥

iha vā kim nimittam tvam āgatā brūhi tattvataḥ | sā abravīt vacanam śrutvā rākṣasī madana arditā || 17.19 ||

What, then, has brought you here? Tell me truly." Hearing these words, that demoness, tormented by desire, spoke thus:

Shloka 20 (aranya.17.20)

श्रूयताम् राम वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वार्थम् वचनम् मम | अहम् शूर्पणखा नाम राक्षसी कामरूपिणी ॥ 17.20 ॥

śrūyatām rāma vakṣyāmi tattvārtham vacanam mama | aham śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī || 17.20 ||

"Listen, Rama, I shall tell you the plain truth of the matter. I am a demoness named Shurpanakha, who can take on any form at will,

Shloka 21 (aranya.17.21)

अरण्यम् विचरामि इदम् एका सर्व भयंकरा | रावणो नाम मे भ्राता यदि ते श्रोत्रम् आगतः ॥ 17.21 ॥

araṇyam vicarāmi idam ekā sarva bhayaṃkarā | rāvaṇo nāma me bhrātā yadi te śrotram āgataḥ || 17.21 ||

and I wander alone through this forest, striking terror into all. Ravana is my brother's name, if that name has ever reached your ears.

Shloka 22 (aranya.17.22)

वीरो विश्रवसः पुत्रो यदि ते श्रोत्रम् आगतः | प्रवृद्ध निद्रः च सदा कुंभकर्णो महाबलः ॥ 17.22 ॥

vīro viśravasaḥ putro yadi te śrotram āgataḥ | pravṛddha nidraḥ ca sadā kuṃbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ || 17.22 ||

And the mighty Kumbhakarna, ever given to profound sleep, is my brother too, if his name has reached your ears —

Shloka 23 (aranya.17.23)

विभीषणः तु धर्मात्मा न तु राक्षस चेष्टितः | प्रख्यात वीर्यौ च रणे भ्रातरौ खर दूषणौ ॥ 17.23 ॥

vibhīṣaṇaḥ tu dharmātmā na tu rākṣasa ceṣṭitaḥ | prakhyāta vīryau ca raṇe bhrātarau khara dūṣaṇau || 17.23 ||

and the righteous Vibhishana, who does not conduct himself as a demon, is my brother as well; and Khara and Dushana, renowned in battle for their valour, are two brothers of mine besides.

Shloka 24 (aranya.17.24)

तान् अहम् समतिक्रान्ता राम त्वा पूर्व दर्शनात् | समुपेता अस्मि भावेन भर्तारम् पुरुषोत्तमम् ॥ 17.24 ॥

tān aham samatikrāntā rāma tvā pūrva darśanāt | samupetā asmi bhāvena bhartāram puruṣottamam || 17.24 ||

All of them, O Rama, I could surpass in valour; but the moment I first beheld you, I resolved in my heart that you, the noblest of men, alone were fit to be my husband, and so I have drawn near to you.

Shloka 25 (aranya.17.25)

अहम् प्रभाव संपन्ना स्वच्छ्हंद बल गामिनी | चिराय भव भर्ता मे सीतया किम् करिष्यसि ॥ 17.25 ॥

aham prabhāva saṃpannā svacchhaṃda bala gāminī | cirāya bhava bhartā me sītayā kim kariṣyasi || 17.25 ||

I am endowed with great power, and I move about freely by my own strength. Become my husband for all time — what use have you for Sita?

Shloka 26 (aranya.17.26)

विकृता च विरूपा च न सा इयम् सदृशी तव | अहम् एव अनुरूपा ते भार्या रूपेण पश्य माम् ॥ 17.26 ॥

vikṛtā ca virūpā ca na sā iyam sadṛśī tava | aham eva anurūpā te bhāryā rūpeṇa paśya mām || 17.26 ||

This one is misshapen and ill-formed; she is no fit match for you. I alone am your true match — behold my form, and look upon me as your wife.

Shloka 27 (aranya.17.27)

इमाम् विरूपाम् असतीम् करालाम् निर्णत उदरीम् | अनेन सह ते भ्रात्रा भक्षयिष्यामि मानुषीम् ॥ 17.27 ॥

imām virūpām asatīm karālām nirṇata udarīm | anena saha te bhrātrā bhakṣayiṣyāmi mānuṣīm || 17.27 ||

Shall I devour this misshapen, deceitful, hollow-bellied human woman, together with that brother of yours, and so set you free?"

Shloka 28 (aranya.17.28)

ततः पर्वत शृङ्गाणि वनानि विविधानि च | पश्यन् सह मया कामी दण्डकान् विचरिष्यसि ॥ 17.28 ॥

tataḥ parvata śṛṅgāṇi vanāni vividhāni ca | paśyan saha mayā kāmī daṇḍakān vicariṣyasi || 17.28 ||

"Afterward you shall roam with me at will through the Dandaka forest, beholding its many mountain-peaks and woodlands." So Shurpanakha spoke to Rama.

Shloka 29 (aranya.17.29)

इति एवम् उक्तः काकुत्स्थः प्रहस्य मदिर ईक्षणाम् | इदम् वचनम् आरेभे वक्तुम् वाक्य विशारदः ॥ 17.29 ॥

iti evam uktaḥ kākutsthaḥ prahasya madira īkṣaṇām | idam vacanam ārebhe vaktum vākya viśāradaḥ || 17.29 ||

Thus addressed, Kakutstha, skilled in speech, laughed and began to say these words to her whose eyes were clouded with passion.