Sita's Defiance, Ravana's Ultimatum

Shloka 1 (aranya.56.1)

सा तथा उक्ता तु वैदेही निर्भया शोक कर्शिता । तृणम् अन्तरतः कृत्वा रावणम् प्रति अभाषत ॥ 56.1 ॥

sā tathā uktā tu vaidehī nirbhayā śoka karśitā | tṛṇam antarataḥ kṛtvā rāvaṇam prati abhāṣata || 56.1 ||

Thus addressed, Vaidehi, though wasted with grief, spoke back to Ravana without fear, placing a blade of grass between herself and him.

Shloka 2 (aranya.56.2)

राजा दशरथो नाम धर्म सेतुः इव अचलः । सत्य सन्धः परिज्ञातो यस्य पुत्रः स राघवः ॥ 56.2 ॥

rājā daśaratho nāma dharma setuḥ iva acalaḥ | satya sandhaḥ parijñāto yasya putraḥ sa rāghavaḥ || 56.2 ||

"There was a king named Dasharatha, unshakable like a bridge of righteousness, renowned everywhere for holding fast to truth — his son is that Raghava.

Shloka 3 (aranya.56.3)

रामो नाम स धर्मात्मा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः । दीर्घ बाहुः विशालाक्षो दैवतम् स पतिः मम ॥ 56.3 ॥

rāmo nāma sa dharmātmā triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ | dīrgha bāhuḥ viśālākṣo daivatam sa patiḥ mama || 56.3 ||

He who is called Rama, that righteous soul renowned throughout the three worlds, long of arm and wide of eye — he is my very deity, my husband.

Shloka 4 (aranya.56.4)

इक्ष्वाकूणाम् कुले जातः सिंह स्कन्धो महाद्युतिः । लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा यः ते प्राणान् हरिष्यति ॥ 56.4 ॥

ikṣvākūṇām kule jātaḥ siṃha skandho mahādyutiḥ | lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā yaḥ te prāṇān hariṣyati || 56.4 ||

Born into the Ikshvaku line, lion-shouldered and mighty in splendor, he together with his brother Lakshmana will take your very life.

Shloka 5 (aranya.56.5)

प्रत्यक्षम् यदि अहम् तस्य त्वया स्याम् धर्षिता बलात् । शयिता त्वम् हतः संख्ये जनस्थाने यथा खरः ॥ 56.5 ॥

pratyakṣam yadi aham tasya tvayā syām dharṣitā balāt | śayitā tvam hataḥ saṃkhye janasthāne yathā kharaḥ || 56.5 ||

Had you violated me by force in his very presence, you too would now lie slain in battle, just as Khara lay slain in Janasthana.

Shloka 6 (aranya.56.6)

य एते राक्षसाः प्रोक्ता घोर रूपा महाबलाः । राघवे निर्विषाः सर्वे सुपर्णे पन्नगा यथा ॥ 56.6 ॥

ya ete rākṣasāḥ proktā ghora rūpā mahābalāḥ | rāghave nirviṣāḥ sarve suparṇe pannagā yathā || 56.6 ||

Those demons said to be dreadful in form and immense in strength — before Raghava, all of them will turn as harmless as serpents before Garuda.

Shloka 7 (aranya.56.7)

तस्य ज्या विप्रमुक्ताः ते शराः कांचन भूषणाः । शरीरम् विधमिष्यन्ति गंगा कूलम् इव ऊर्मयः ॥ 56.7 ॥

tasya jyā vipramuktāḥ te śarāḥ kāṃcana bhūṣaṇāḥ | śarīram vidhamiṣyanti gaṃgā kūlam iva ūrmayaḥ || 56.7 ||

His gold-adorned arrows, loosed straight from his bowstring, will tear your body apart, as waves tear at the banks of the Ganga.

Shloka 8 (aranya.56.8)

असुरैः वा सुरैः वा त्वम् यदि अवध्यो असि रावण । उत्पाद्य सुमहत् वैरम् जीवन् तस्य न मोक्ष्यसे ॥ 56.8 ॥

asuraiḥ vā suraiḥ vā tvam yadi avadhyo asi rāvaṇa | utpādya sumahat vairam jīvan tasya na mokṣyase || 56.8 ||

Even if you are unslayable by gods or by demons, Ravana, having provoked such immense enmity with him, you will not escape from him while still alive.

Shloka 9 (aranya.56.9)

स ते जीवित शेषस्य राघवो अन्त करो बली । पशोः यूप गतस्य इव जीवितम् तव दुर्लभम् ॥ 56.9 ॥

sa te jīvita śeṣasya rāghavo anta karo balī | paśoḥ yūpa gatasya iva jīvitam tava durlabham || 56.9 ||

That mighty Raghava will bring an end to what remains of your life — like a beast bound to the sacrificial post, your life is now beyond saving.

Shloka 10 (aranya.56.10)

यदि पश्येत् स रामः त्वाम् रोष दीप्तेन चक्षुषा । रक्षः त्वम् अद्य निर्दग्धो यथा रुद्रेण मन्मधः ॥ 56.10 ॥

yadi paśyet sa rāmaḥ tvām roṣa dīptena cakṣuṣā | rakṣaḥ tvam adya nirdagdho yathā rudreṇa manmadhaḥ || 56.10 ||

If Rama should fix upon you eyes ablaze with fury, you demon, you would be burnt to cinders this very instant, as Manmatha was consumed by Rudra.

Shloka 11 (aranya.56.11)

यः चन्द्रम् नभसो भूमौ पातयेन् नाशयेत वा । सागरम् शोषयेत् वा अपि स सीताम् मोचयेत् इह ॥ 56.11 ॥

yaḥ candram nabhaso bhūmau pātayen nāśayeta vā | sāgaram śoṣayet vā api sa sītām mocayet iha || 56.11 ||

He who could bring the moon down from the sky to earth, or destroy it outright, or even dry up the ocean — he alone will free Sita from this place.

Shloka 12 (aranya.56.12)

गत आयुः त्वम् गत श्रीकः गत सत्त्वो गत इन्द्रियः । लंका वैधव्य संयुक्ता त्वत् कृतेन भविष्यति ॥ 56.12 ॥

gata āyuḥ tvam gata śrīkaḥ gata sattvo gata indriyaḥ | laṃkā vaidhavya saṃyuktā tvat kṛtena bhaviṣyati || 56.12 ||

Your span of life is spent, your glory is spent, your vigor is spent, your very senses are spent — because of this deed of yours, Lanka will be widowed.

Shloka 13 (aranya.56.13)

न ते पापम् इदम् कर्म सुख उदर्कम् भविष्यति । या अहम् नीता विना भावम् पति पार्श्वात् त्वया वनात् ॥ 56.13 ॥

na te pāpam idam karma sukha udarkam bhaviṣyati | yā aham nītā vinā bhāvam pati pārśvāt tvayā vanāt || 56.13 ||

This sinful act of yours will never bear fruit in happiness — this act by which, against my will, you tore me away in the forest from my husband's side.

Shloka 14 (aranya.56.14)

स हि देवर संयुक्तो मम भर्ता महाद्युतिः । निर्भयो वीर्यम् आश्रित्य शून्ये वसति दण्डके ॥ 56.14 ॥

sa hi devara saṃyukto mama bhartā mahādyutiḥ | nirbhayo vīryam āśritya śūnye vasati daṇḍake || 56.14 ||

For my radiant husband, together with my brother-in-law, dwells fearless in the desolate Dandaka forest, relying on nothing but his own valor.

Shloka 15 (aranya.56.15)

स ते वीर्यम् दर्पम् बलम् उत्सेकम् च तथा विधम् । अपनेष्यति गात्रेभ्यः शर वर्षेण संयुगे ॥ 56.15 ॥

sa te vīryam darpam balam utsekam ca tathā vidham | apaneṣyati gātrebhyaḥ śara varṣeṇa saṃyuge || 56.15 ||

In battle, with a storm of arrows, he will strip from your limbs your valor, your pride, your strength, and that same arrogance of yours.

Shloka 16 (aranya.56.16)

यदा विनाशो भूतानाम् दृश्यते काल चोदितः । तदा कार्ये प्रमाद्यन्ति नराः काल वशम् गताः ॥ 56.16 ॥

yadā vināśo bhūtānām dṛśyate kāla coditaḥ | tadā kārye pramādyanti narāḥ kāla vaśam gatāḥ || 56.16 ||

When the destruction of creatures, driven on by time, draws near, men who have fallen under time's sway grow careless in their actions.

Shloka 17 (aranya.56.17)

माम् प्रधृष्य स ते कालः प्राप्तो अयम् रक्षस अधम । आत्मनो राक्षसानाम् च वधाय अन्तः पुरस्य च ॥ 56.17 ॥

mām pradhṛṣya sa te kālaḥ prāpto ayam rakṣasa adhama | ātmano rākṣasānām ca vadhāya antaḥ purasya ca || 56.17 ||

That time has come upon you now, vilest of demons, for having dared to assault me — a time of ruin for yourself, for all your demons, and even for the women of your inner chambers.

Shloka 18 (aranya.56.18)

न शक्या यज्ञ मध्यस्था वेदिः स्रुक् भाण्ड मण्डिता । द्विजाति मंत्र संपूता चण्डालेन अवमर्दितुम् ॥ 56.18 ॥

na śakyā yajña madhyasthā vediḥ sruk bhāṇḍa maṇḍitā | dvijāti maṃtra saṃpūtā caṇḍālena avamarditum || 56.18 ||

A fire-altar standing amid a sacrifice, adorned with sacrificial ladles and vessels and consecrated by the twice-born's hymns, cannot be trampled upon by an outcaste.

Shloka 19 (aranya.56.19)

तथा अहम् धर्म नित्यस्य धर्म पत्नी दृढ व्रता । त्वया संप्रष्टुम् न शक्या अहम् राक्षसाधम पापिना ॥ 56.19 ॥

tathā aham dharma nityasya dharma patnī dṛḍha vratā | tvayā saṃpraṣṭum na śakyā aham rākṣasādhama pāpinā || 56.19 ||

In just the same way, I am the lawful wife of one ever fixed in dharma, firm in my vow — and so, sinful and vilest of demons, I cannot even be touched by you.

Shloka 20 (aranya.56.20)

क्रीडन्ती राज हंसेन पद्म षँडेषु नित्यशः । हंसी सा तृण षण्डस्थम् कथम् द्रक्षेत मद्गुकम् ॥ 56.20 ॥

krīḍantī rāja haṃsena padma ṣa~ḍeṣu nityaśaḥ | haṃsī sā tṛṇa ṣaṇḍastham katham drakṣeta madgukam || 56.20 ||

A swan-hen who ever sports with her royal swan among beds of lotus — how could she so much as look at a crow lurking in a patch of grass?

Shloka 21 (aranya.56.21)

इदम् शरीरम् निःसंज्ञम् बन्ध वा घातयस्व वा । न इदम् शरीरम् रक्ष्यम् मे जीवितम् वा अपि राक्षस ॥ 56.21 ॥

idam śarīram niḥsaṃjñam bandha vā ghātayasva vā | na idam śarīram rakṣyam me jīvitam vā api rākṣasa || 56.21 ||

This lifeless body of mine — bind it, demon, or put it to death, as you please. Neither this body nor this life is anything I need preserve.

Shloka 22 (aranya.56.22)

न तु शक्यामि उपक्रोशम् पृथिव्याम् धातुम् आत्मनः । एवम् उक्त्वा तु वैदेही क्रोद्धात् सु परुषम् वचः ॥ 56.22 ॥

na tu śakyāmi upakrośam pṛthivyām dhātum ātmanaḥ | evam uktvā tu vaidehī kroddhāt su paruṣam vacaḥ || 56.22 ||

"But what I cannot bear is to let disgrace attach to me while I live on this earth." Having spoken these very harsh words to Ravana in her fury, Vaidehi —

Shloka 23 (aranya.56.23)

रावणम् मैथिली तत्र पुनः न उवाच किंचन । सीताया वचनम् श्रुत्वा परुषम् रोम हर्षणम् ॥ 56.23 ॥

rāvaṇam maithilī tatra punaḥ na uvāca kiṃcana | sītāyā vacanam śrutvā paruṣam roma harṣaṇam || 56.23 ||

— that Maithili said nothing further to Ravana in the matter. Having heard Sita's harsh, hair-raising words,

Shloka 24 (aranya.56.24)

प्रति उवाच ततः सीताम् भय संदर्शनम् वचः । शृणु मैथिलि मत् वाक्यम् मासान् द्वादश भामिनि ॥ 56.24 ॥

prati uvāca tataḥ sītām bhaya saṃdarśanam vacaḥ | śṛṇu maithili mat vākyam māsān dvādaśa bhāmini || 56.24 ||

Ravana then replied to Sita with words meant to strike terror: "Listen to my words, Maithili, O angry lady — twelve months

Shloka 25 (aranya.56.25)

कालेन अनेन न अभ्येषि यदि माम् चारु हासिनि । ततः त्वाम् प्रातः आशा अर्थम् सूदाः छेत्स्यन्ति लेशशः ॥ 56.25 ॥

kālena anena na abhyeṣi yadi mām cāru hāsini | tataḥ tvām prātaḥ āśā artham sūdāḥ chetsyanti leśaśaḥ || 56.25 ||

is the span of time given to you. O sweetly-smiling one, if within that time you do not come to me, then for the morning meal the cooks will slice you into pieces."

Shloka 26 (aranya.56.26)

इति उक्त्वा परुषम् वाक्यम् रावणः शत्रु रावणः । राक्षसीः च ततः क्रुद्ध इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥ 56.26 ॥

iti uktvā paruṣam vākyam rāvaṇaḥ śatru rāvaṇaḥ | rākṣasīḥ ca tataḥ kruddha idam vacanam abravīt || 56.26 ||

Having spoken these harsh words, Ravana — that scourge of his enemies — then, enraged, said this to the demonesses:

Shloka 27 (aranya.56.27)

शीघ्रम् एव हि राक्षस्यो विकृता घोर दर्शनाः । दर्पम् अस्या अपनेष्यन्तु मांस शोणित भोजनाः ॥ 56.27 ॥

śīghram eva hi rākṣasyo vikṛtā ghora darśanāḥ | darpam asyā apaneṣyantu māṃsa śoṇita bhojanāḥ || 56.27 ||

"You demonesses, deformed and dreadful to look upon, feeding on flesh and blood — break her pride at once.

Shloka 28 (aranya.56.28)

वचनात् एव ताः तस्य विकृता घोर दर्शनाः । कृत प्रांजलयो भूत्वा मैथिलीम् पर्यवारयन् ॥ 56.28 ॥

vacanāt eva tāḥ tasya vikṛtā ghora darśanāḥ | kṛta prāṃjalayo bhūtvā maithilīm paryavārayan || 56.28 ||

At that word of his alone, those demonesses, deformed and dreadful to look upon, folded their hands in obedience and closed in around Maithili.

Shloka 29 (aranya.56.29)

स ताः प्रोवाच राजा तु रावणो घोर दर्शनाः । प्रचाल्य चरण उत्कर्षैः दारयन् इव मेदिनीम् ॥ 56.29 ॥

sa tāḥ provāca rājā tu rāvaṇo ghora darśanāḥ | pracālya caraṇa utkarṣaiḥ dārayan iva medinīm || 56.29 ||

Then that king Ravana, stamping his feet as though he would rend the earth apart, spoke to those dreadful-looking demonesses:

Shloka 30 (aranya.56.30)

अशोक वनिका मध्ये मैथिली नीयताम् इति । तत्र इयम् रक्ष्यताम् गूढम् युष्माभिः परिवारिता ॥ 56.30 ॥

aśoka vanikā madhye maithilī nīyatām iti | tatra iyam rakṣyatām gūḍham yuṣmābhiḥ parivāritā || 56.30 ||

"Let this Maithili be taken to the midst of the Ashoka grove. There let her be closely surrounded and secretly guarded by all of you.

Shloka 31 (aranya.56.31)

तत्र एनाम् तर्जनैः घोरैः पुनः सांत्वैः च मैथिलीम् । आनयध्वम् वशम् सर्वा वन्याम् गज वधूम् इव ॥ 56.31 ॥

tatra enām tarjanaiḥ ghoraiḥ punaḥ sāṃtvaiḥ ca maithilīm | ānayadhvam vaśam sarvā vanyām gaja vadhūm iva || 56.31 ||

There, through fearsome threats and, in turn, through gentle persuasion, all of you together bring this Maithili under control, as one would tame a wild she-elephant.

Shloka 32 (aranya.56.32)

इति प्रति समादिष्टा राक्षस्यो रावणेन ताः । अशोक वनिकाम् जग्मुः मैथिलीम् परिगृह्य तु ॥ 56.32 ॥

iti prati samādiṣṭā rākṣasyo rāvaṇena tāḥ | aśoka vanikām jagmuḥ maithilīm parigṛhya tu || 56.32 ||

So commanded by Ravana, those demonesses took hold of Maithili and set out for the Ashoka grove —

Shloka 33 (aranya.56.33)

सर्व काम फलैः वृक्षैः नाना पुष्प फलैः वृताम् । सर्व काल मदैः च अपि द्विजैः समुपसेविताम् ॥ 56.33 ॥

sarva kāma phalaiḥ vṛkṣaiḥ nānā puṣpa phalaiḥ vṛtām | sarva kāla madaiḥ ca api dvijaiḥ samupasevitām || 56.33 ||

— that grove ringed with trees bearing every desired fruit and diverse flowers and fruits, and ever frequented by birds intoxicated with joy in every season.

Shloka 34 (aranya.56.34)

सा तु शोक परीत अंगी मैथिली जनकात्मजा । राक्षसी वशम् आपन्ना व्याघ्रीणाम् हरिणी यथा ॥ 56.34 ॥

sā tu śoka parīta aṃgī maithilī janakātmajā | rākṣasī vaśam āpannā vyāghrīṇām hariṇī yathā || 56.34 ||

But Maithili, Janaka's daughter, her whole body enveloped in grief, now fallen under the sway of demonesses, was like a doe fallen among tigresses.

Shloka 35 (aranya.56.35)

शोकेन महता ग्रस्ता मैथिली जनकात्मजा । न शर्म लभते भीरुः पाश बद्धा मृगी यथा ॥ 56.35 ॥

śokena mahatā grastā maithilī janakātmajā | na śarma labhate bhīruḥ pāśa baddhā mṛgī yathā || 56.35 ||

Consumed by an immense grief, Maithili, Janaka's daughter, that timid one, found no peace of mind — like a doe bound fast in a snare.

Shloka 36 (aranya.56.36)

न विन्दते तत्र तु शर्म मैथिली विरूप नेत्राभिः अतीव तर्जिता । पतिम् स्मरन्ती दयितम् च देवरम् विचेतना अभूत् भय शोक पीडिता ॥ 56.36 ॥

na vindate tatra tu śarma maithilī virūpa netrābhiḥ atīva tarjitā | patim smarantī dayitam ca devaram vicetanā abhūt bhaya śoka pīḍitā || 56.36 ||

Maithili found no peace there, relentlessly intimidated by those grotesque-eyed demonesses; remembering her beloved husband and her dear brother-in-law, tormented by fear and grief, she sank into unconsciousness.