Ravana Abducts Sita

Shloka 1 (aranya.49.1)

सीताया वचनम् श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान् । हस्ते हस्तम् समाहत्य चकार सुमहत् वपुः ॥ 49.1 ॥

sītāyā vacanam śrutvā daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān | haste hastam samāhatya cakāra sumahat vapuḥ || 49.1 ||

Hearing Sita's words, the mighty ten-necked Ravana clapped his hands together and assumed a vast and terrible form.

Shloka 2 (aranya.49.2)

स मैथिलीम् पुनः वाक्यम् बभाषे वाक्य कोविदः । न उन्मत्तया श्रुतौ मन्ये मम वीर्य पराक्रमौ ॥ 49.2 ॥

sa maithilīm punaḥ vākyam babhāṣe vākya kovidaḥ | na unmattayā śrutau manye mama vīrya parākramau || 49.2 ||

That skilled speaker addressed Maithili once more: 'O deluded one, I think you have not heard of my might and my valour.'

Shloka 3 (aranya.49.3)

उद् वहेयम् भुजाभ्याम् तु मेदिनीम् अंबरे स्थितः । आपिबेयम् समुद्रम् च मृत्युम् हन्याम् रणे स्थितः ॥ 49.3 ॥

ud vaheyam bhujābhyām tu medinīm aṃbare sthitaḥ | āpibeyam samudram ca mṛtyum hanyām raṇe sthitaḥ || 49.3 ||

'Standing in the sky, I could lift up the very earth with my two arms; I could drink the ocean dry; standing in battle, I could slay Death itself.'

Shloka 4 (aranya.49.4)

अर्कम् तुंद्याम् शरैः तीक्ष्णैर् विभिंद्याम् हि महीतलम् । काम रूपिणम् उन्मत्ते पश्य माम् कामदम् पतिम् ॥ 49.4 ॥

arkam tuṃdyām śaraiḥ tīkṣṇair vibhiṃdyām hi mahītalam | kāma rūpiṇam unmatte paśya mām kāmadam patim || 49.4 ||

'I could pierce the sun and split the very surface of the earth with my sharp arrows. O deluded one, behold me — one who can take any form at will, a husband who can grant your every desire.' Thus Ravana revealed his true nature.

Shloka 5 (aranya.49.5)

एवम् उक्तवतः तस्य रावणस्य शिखि प्रभे । क्रुद्धस्य हरि पर्यन्ते रक्ते नेत्रे बभूवतुः ॥ 49.5 ॥

evam uktavataḥ tasya rāvaṇasya śikhi prabhe | kruddhasya hari paryante rakte netre babhūvatuḥ || 49.5 ||

As Ravana spoke thus, enraged, his eyes — already glowing like fire, tawny at their rims — turned bloodshot.

Shloka 6 (aranya.49.6)

सद्यः सौम्यम् परित्यज्य तीक्ष्ण रूपम् स रावणः । स्वम् रूपम् काल रूप आभम् भेजे वैश्रवण अनुजः ॥ 49.6 ॥

sadyaḥ saumyam parityajya tīkṣṇa rūpam sa rāvaṇaḥ | svam rūpam kāla rūpa ābham bheje vaiśravaṇa anujaḥ || 49.6 ||

At once discarding his gentle form, that Ravana, Vaishravana's younger brother, took on his own terrible, fearsome shape, resembling Death itself.

Shloka 7 (aranya.49.7)

संरक्त नयनः श्रीमान् तप्त कांचन भूषणः । क्रोधेन महता आविष्टो नील जीमूत सन्निभः ॥ 49.7 ॥

saṃrakta nayanaḥ śrīmān tapta kāṃcana bhūṣaṇaḥ | krodhena mahatā āviṣṭo nīla jīmūta sannibhaḥ || 49.7 ||

That splendid being, his eyes now reddened, adorned with ornaments of burnished gold, possessed by towering fury, gleaming dark as a rain-cloud —

Shloka 8 (aranya.49.8)

दश आस्यो विंशति भुजो बभूव क्षणदा चरः । स परिव्राजक च्छद्म महाकायो विहाय तत् ॥ 49.8 ॥

daśa āsyo viṃśati bhujo babhūva kṣaṇadā caraḥ | sa parivrājaka cchadma mahākāyo vihāya tat || 49.8 ||

that night-ranger became ten-faced and twenty-armed; abandoning the guise of a mendicant, that mighty-bodied one

Shloka 9 (aranya.49.9)

प्रतिपेदे स्वकम् रूपम् रावणो राक्षस अधिपः । रक्त अंबर धरः तस्थौ स्त्री रत्नम् प्रेक्ष्य मैथिलीम् ॥ 49.9 ॥

pratipede svakam rūpam rāvaṇo rākṣasa adhipaḥ | rakta aṃbara dharaḥ tasthau strī ratnam prekṣya maithilīm || 49.9 ||

resumed his own true form, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas. Clad in red garments, he stood there gazing at Maithili, that jewel among women.

Shloka 10 (aranya.49.10)

स ताम् असित केश अन्ताम् भास्करस्य प्रभाम् इव । वसन आभरण उपेताम् मैथिलीम् रावणो अब्रवीत् ॥ 49.10 ॥

sa tām asita keśa antām bhāskarasya prabhām iva | vasana ābharaṇa upetām maithilīm rāvaṇo abravīt || 49.10 ||

To her, whose hair was dark to its very ends, radiant as the sun's own light, adorned with garments and jewels, that Maithili, Ravana spoke thus:

Shloka 11 (aranya.49.11)

त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातम् यदि भर्तारम् इच्छसि । माम् आश्रय वरारोहे तव अहम् सदृशः पतिः ॥ 49.11 ॥

triṣu lokeṣu vikhyātam yadi bhartāram icchasi | mām āśraya varārohe tava aham sadṛśaḥ patiḥ || 49.11 ||

'O shapely one, if you desire a husband renowned in all three worlds, take refuge in me — I alone am a fitting match for you.'

Shloka 12 (aranya.49.12)

माम् भजस्व चिराय त्वम् अहम् श्लाघ्यः पतिः तव । न एव च अहम् क्वचित् भद्रे करिष्ये तव विप्रियम् ॥ 49.12 ॥

mām bhajasva cirāya tvam aham ślāghyaḥ patiḥ tava | na eva ca aham kvacit bhadre kariṣye tava vipriyam || 49.12 ||

'Accept me for all time; I shall be a husband you may well be proud of, and, O gracious one, I shall never cause you the slightest displeasure.'

Shloka 13 (aranya.49.13)

त्यज्यताम् मानुषो भावो मयि भावः प्रणीयताम् । राज्यात् च्युतम् असिद्ध अर्थम् रामम् परिमित आयुषम् ॥ 49.13 ॥

tyajyatām mānuṣo bhāvo mayi bhāvaḥ praṇīyatām | rājyāt cyutam asiddha artham rāmam parimita āyuṣam || 49.13 ||

'Give up this attachment to a mere human, and turn your heart toward me instead. As for Rama — fallen from his kingdom, his purposes unfulfilled, his life-span limited —'

Shloka 14 (aranya.49.14)

कैः गुणैः अनुरक्ता असि मूढे पण्डित मानिनि । यः स्त्रिया वचनात् राज्यम् विहाय ससुहृत् जनम् ॥ 49.14 ॥

kaiḥ guṇaiḥ anuraktā asi mūḍhe paṇḍita mānini | yaḥ striyā vacanāt rājyam vihāya sasuhṛt janam || 49.14 ||

'by what virtues, O foolish one who deems herself so wise, are you devoted to him, who on a mere woman's word abandoned his kingdom together with all his kinsmen and friends,'

Shloka 15 (aranya.49.15)

अस्मिन् व्याल अनुचरिते वने वसति दुर्मतिः । इति उक्त्वा मैथिलीम् वाक्यम् प्रिय अर्हाम् प्रिय वादिनीम् ॥ 49.15 ॥

asmin vyāla anucarite vane vasati durmatiḥ | iti uktvā maithilīm vākyam priya arhām priya vādinīm || 49.15 ||

'and now, mindless, dwells in this forest infested with wild beasts?' Having spoken these words to Maithili — one worthy of gentle speech, herself so gentle-spoken —

Shloka 16 (aranya.49.16)

अभिगम्य सुदुष्ट आत्मा राक्षसः काम मोहितः । जग्राह रावणः सीताम् बुधः खे रोहिणीम् इव ॥ 49.16 ॥

abhigamya suduṣṭa ātmā rākṣasaḥ kāma mohitaḥ | jagrāha rāvaṇaḥ sītām budhaḥ khe rohiṇīm iva || 49.16 ||

that utterly wicked rakshasa, maddened by lust, drew near and seized Sita, as the planet Budha seizes the star Rohini in the sky.

Shloka 17 (aranya.49.17)

वामेन सीताम् पद्माक्षीम् मूर्धजेषु करेण सः । ऊर्वोः तु दक्षिणेन एव परिजग्राह पाणिना ॥ 49.17 ॥

vāmena sītām padmākṣīm mūrdhajeṣu kareṇa saḥ | ūrvoḥ tu dakṣiṇena eva parijagrāha pāṇinā || 49.17 ||

With his left hand he seized lotus-eyed Sita by her hair, and with his right hand at her thighs, he took hold of her.

Shloka 18 (aranya.49.18)

तम् दृष्ट्वा गिरि शृंग आभम् तीक्ष्ण दंष्ट्रम् महा भुजम् । प्राद्रवन् मृत्यु संकाशम् भय आर्ता वन देवताः ॥ 49.18 ॥

tam dṛṣṭvā giri śṛṃga ābham tīkṣṇa daṃṣṭram mahā bhujam | prādravan mṛtyu saṃkāśam bhaya ārtā vana devatāḥ || 49.18 ||

At the sight of him — mighty-armed, sharp-fanged, towering like a mountain peak, terrible as Death — the deities of the forest fled in terror.

Shloka 19 (aranya.49.19)

स च मायामयो दिव्यः खर युक्तः खर स्वनः । प्रत्यदृश्यत हेमांगो रावणस्य महारथः ॥ 49.19 ॥

sa ca māyāmayo divyaḥ khara yuktaḥ khara svanaḥ | pratyadṛśyata hemāṃgo rāvaṇasya mahārathaḥ || 49.19 ||

Then Ravana's marvelous, illusion-wrought chariot appeared before him — divine, drawn by braying mules, its parts of gold, and harshly resonant.

Shloka 20 (aranya.49.20)

ततः ताम् परुषैः वाक्यैः अभितर्ज्य महास्वनः । अंकेन आदाय वैदेहीम् रथम् आरोपयत् तदा ॥ 49.20 ॥

tataḥ tām paruṣaiḥ vākyaiḥ abhitarjya mahāsvanaḥ | aṃkena ādāya vaidehīm ratham āropayat tadā || 49.20 ||

Then, with a mighty roar, threatening her with harsh words, he lifted Vaidehi against his side and set her upon the chariot.

Shloka 21 (aranya.49.21)

सा गृहीता अतिचुक्रोश रावणेन यशस्विनी । रामा इति सीता दुःख आर्ता रामम् दूरम् गतम् वने ॥ 49.21 ॥

sā gṛhītā aticukrośa rāvaṇena yaśasvinī | rāmā iti sītā duḥkha ārtā rāmam dūram gatam vane || 49.21 ||

Seized by Ravana, that glorious lady, Sita, tormented with grief, cried out again and again for Rama, who was then far off in the forest.

Shloka 22 (aranya.49.22)

ताम् अकामाम् स काम आर्तः पन्नग इन्द्र वधूम् इव । विवेष्टमानाम् आदाय उत्पपात अथ रावणः ॥ 49.22 ॥

tām akāmām sa kāma ārtaḥ pannaga indra vadhūm iva | viveṣṭamānām ādāya utpapāta atha rāvaṇaḥ || 49.22 ||

Then Ravana, tormented by lust, seized her — unwilling, writhing like the wife of a serpent-king — and rose up into the sky.

Shloka 23 (aranya.49.23)

ततः सा राक्षसेन्द्रेण ह्रियमाणा विहायसा । भृशम् चुक्रोश मत्ता इव भ्रांत चित्ता यथा आतुरा ॥ 49.23 ॥

tataḥ sā rākṣasendreṇa hriyamāṇā vihāyasā | bhṛśam cukrośa mattā iva bhrāṃta cittā yathā āturā || 49.23 ||

As she was carried off through the sky by that lord of rakshasas, she wailed piteously, her mind reeling, like one frenzied, like one in delirium.

Shloka 24 (aranya.49.24)

हा लक्ष्मण महाबाहो गुरु चित्त प्रसादक । ह्रियमाणाम् न जानीषे रक्षसा काम रूपिणा ॥ 49.24 ॥

hā lakṣmaṇa mahābāho guru citta prasādaka | hriyamāṇām na jānīṣe rakṣasā kāma rūpiṇā || 49.24 ||

'Ah, Lakshmana, mighty of arm, who ever brings joy to your elders' hearts — you know not that I am being carried off by this shape-shifting demon!'

Shloka 25 (aranya.49.25)

जीवितम् सुखम् अर्थाम् च धर्म हेतोः परित्यजन् । ह्रियमाणाम् अधर्मेण माम् राघव न पश्यसि ॥ 49.25 ॥

jīvitam sukham arthām ca dharma hetoḥ parityajan | hriyamāṇām adharmeṇa mām rāghava na paśyasi || 49.25 ||

'O Raghava, you who gave up life, happiness, and wealth for the sake of righteousness — you do not see that I am being carried off by this very unrighteousness!'

Shloka 26 (aranya.49.26)

ननु नाम अविनीतानाम् विनेता असि परंतप । कथम् एवम् विधम् पापम् न त्वम् शास्सि हि रावणम् ॥ 49.26 ॥

nanu nāma avinītānām vinetā asi paraṃtapa | katham evam vidham pāpam na tvam śāssi hi rāvaṇam || 49.26 ||

'Surely, O scorcher of foes, you are the subduer of the unruly — how is it, then, that you do not now punish this sinner Ravana?'

Shloka 27 (aranya.49.27)

ननु सद्यो अविनीतस्य दृश्यते कर्मणः फलम् । कालो अपि अंगी भवति अत्र सस्यानाम् इव पक्तये ॥ 49.27 ॥

nanu sadyo avinītasya dṛśyate karmaṇaḥ phalam | kālo api aṃgī bhavati atra sasyānām iva paktaye || 49.27 ||

'Indeed, the fruit of an evil deed is not seen at once — for even Time itself must play its part here, as it does in the ripening of the crop.'

Shloka 28 (aranya.49.28)

त्वम् कर्म कृतवान् एतत् काल उपहत चेतनः । जीवित अंतकरम् घोरम् रामात् व्यसनम् आप्नुहि ॥ 49.28 ॥

tvam karma kṛtavān etat kāla upahata cetanaḥ | jīvita aṃtakaram ghoram rāmāt vyasanam āpnuhi || 49.28 ||

'You, your reason overthrown by Time, have committed this deed — now receive from Rama a dreadful calamity that shall end your very life!'

Shloka 29 (aranya.49.29)

हन्त इदानीम् सकामा तु कैकेयी बान्धवैः सह । ह्रियेयम् धर्म कामस्य धर्म पत्नी यशस्विनः ॥ 49.29 ॥

hanta idānīm sakāmā tu kaikeyī bāndhavaiḥ saha | hriyeyam dharma kāmasya dharma patnī yaśasvinaḥ || 49.29 ||

'Alas, now Kaikeyi, together with her kinsfolk, has her wish fulfilled — for I, the righteous wife of that glorious lover of righteousness, am being carried off!'

Shloka 30 (aranya.49.30)

आमंत्रये जनस्थानम् कर्णिकारान् च पुष्पितान् । क्षिप्रम् रामाय शंसध्वम् सीताम् हरति रावणः ॥ 49.30 ॥

āmaṃtraye janasthānam karṇikārān ca puṣpitān | kṣipram rāmāya śaṃsadhvam sītām harati rāvaṇaḥ || 49.30 ||

'I call upon Janasthana, and upon the flowering karnikara trees: tell Rama at once that Ravana is carrying Sita away!'

Shloka 31 (aranya.49.31)

हंस सारस संघुष्टाम् वन्दे गोदावरीम् नदीम् । क्षिप्रम् रामाय शंस त्वम् सीताम् हरति रावणः ॥ 49.31 ॥

haṃsa sārasa saṃghuṣṭām vande godāvarīm nadīm | kṣipram rāmāya śaṃsa tvam sītām harati rāvaṇaḥ || 49.31 ||

'I bow to you, river Godavari, resounding with the cries of swans and cranes — tell Rama at once that Ravana is carrying Sita away!'

Shloka 32 (aranya.49.32)

दैवतानि च यान्ति अस्मिन् वने विविध पादपे । नमस्करोमि अहम् तेभ्यो भर्तुः शंसत माम् हृताम् ॥ 49.32 ॥

daivatāni ca yānti asmin vane vividha pādape | namaskaromi aham tebhyo bhartuḥ śaṃsata mām hṛtām || 49.32 ||

'And to whatever deities move in this forest of many trees, I offer my homage — tell my husband that I have been carried away.'

Shloka 33 (aranya.49.33)

यानि कानिचित् अपि अत्र सत्त्वानि निवसन्ति उत । सर्वाणि शरणम् यामि मृग पक्षि गणान् अपि ॥ 49.33 ॥

yāni kānicit api atra sattvāni nivasanti uta | sarvāṇi śaraṇam yāmi mṛga pakṣi gaṇān api || 49.33 ||

'Whatever creatures dwell here — I take refuge in every one of them, even the herds of beasts and the flocks of birds.'

Shloka 34 (aranya.49.34)

ह्रियमाणाम् प्रियाम् भर्तुः प्राणेभ्यो अपि गरीयसीम् । विवश अपहृता सीता रावणेन इति शंसत ॥ 49.34 ॥

hriyamāṇām priyām bhartuḥ prāṇebhyo api garīyasīm | vivaśa apahṛtā sītā rāvaṇena iti śaṃsata || 49.34 ||

'Tell him that Sita, dearer to her husband than his own life, is being helplessly carried off, abducted by Ravana.'

Shloka 35 (aranya.49.35)

विदित्वा माम् महाबाहुः अमुत्र अपि महाबलः । आनेष्यति पराक्रम्य वैवस्वत हृताम् अपि ॥ 49.35 ॥

viditvā mām mahābāhuḥ amutra api mahābalaḥ | āneṣyati parākramya vaivasvata hṛtām api || 49.35 ||

'On learning this, that mighty, great-armed Rama will, by his own valour, bring me back — even were I carried off to the very realm of Yama himself.'

Shloka 36 (aranya.49.36)

सा तदा करुणा वाचो विलपंती सुदुःखिता । वनस्पति गतम् ग्रिध्रम् ददर्श आयत लोचना ॥ 49.36 ॥

sā tadā karuṇā vāco vilapaṃtī suduḥkhitā | vanaspati gatam gridhram dadarśa āyata locanā || 49.36 ||

Then, wailing piteously, deeply anguished, that wide-eyed lady caught sight of a vulture perched upon a great tree.

Shloka 37 (aranya.49.37)

सा तम् उद् वीक्ष्य सुश्रोणी रावणस्य वशम् गता । समाक्रंदत् भयपरा दुःख उपहतया गिरा ॥ 49.37 ॥

sā tam ud vīkṣya suśroṇī rāvaṇasya vaśam gatā | samākraṃdat bhayaparā duḥkha upahatayā girā || 49.37 ||

That shapely lady, now in Ravana's power, looked up at him and cried out, overcome with fear, in a voice broken by anguish:

Shloka 38 (aranya.49.38)

जटायो पश्य मम आर्य ह्रियमाणम् अनाथ वत् । अनेन राक्षसेद्रेण करुणम् पाप कर्मणा ॥ 49.38 ॥

jaṭāyo paśya mama ārya hriyamāṇam anātha vat | anena rākṣasedreṇa karuṇam pāpa karmaṇā || 49.38 ||

'O noble Jatayu, behold me, being carried off pitiably, like one without protector, by this lord of rakshasas of such sinful deeds!'

Shloka 39 (aranya.49.39)

न एष वारयितुम् शक्यः त्वया क्रूरो निशाचर । सत्त्ववान् जितकाशी च स आयुधः चैव दुर्मतिः ॥ 49.39 ॥

na eṣa vārayitum śakyaḥ tvayā krūro niśācara | sattvavān jitakāśī ca sa āyudhaḥ caiva durmatiḥ || 49.39 ||

'Yet it is not possible for you to stop this cruel night-ranger — for he is formidable, ever victorious, well-armed, and evil of mind.'

Shloka 40 (aranya.49.40)

रामाय तु यथा तत्त्वम् जटायो हरणम् मम । लक्ष्मणाय च तत् सर्वम् आख्यातव्यम् अशेषतः ॥ 49.40 ॥

rāmāya tu yathā tattvam jaṭāyo haraṇam mama | lakṣmaṇāya ca tat sarvam ākhyātavyam aśeṣataḥ || 49.40 ||

'O Jatayu, you must relate to Rama, and fully to Lakshmana too, the entire truth of my abduction, exactly as it happened, leaving nothing out.'