Ravana's Temptation of Sita

Shloka 1 (sundara.20.1)

स तां परिवृतां दीनां निरानन्दां तपस्विनीम् । साकारैर्मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्न्यदर्शयत रावणः ॥ 20.1 ॥

sa tāṃ parivṛtāṃ dīnāṃ nirānandāṃ tapasvinīm | sākārair madhurair vākyair nyadarśayata rāvaṇaḥ ||

To that Sita -- surrounded, wretched, joyless, like an ascetic woman -- Ravana revealed himself, in words sweet and full of meaning.

Shloka 2 (sundara.20.2)

मां दृष्ट्वा नागनासोरु गूहमाना स्तनोदरम् । अदर्शनमिवात्मानं भयान्नेतुं त्वमिच्छसि ॥ 20.2 ॥

māṃ dṛṣṭvā nāganāsoru gūhamānā stanodaram | adarśanam ivātmānaṃ bhayān netuṃ tvam icchasi ||

"O one whose thighs are like an elephant's trunk, seeing me, you cover your breasts and belly, wishing, out of fear, to make yourself as if invisible.

Shloka 3 (sundara.20.3)

कामये त्वां विशालाक्षि बहु मन्यस्व मां प्रिये । सर्वांगगुणसम्पन्ने सर्वलोकमनोहरे ॥ 20.3 ॥

kāmaye tvāṃ viśālākṣi bahu manyasva māṃ priye | sarvāṅgaguṇasampanne sarvalokamanohare ||

O wide-eyed one, I desire you; esteem me greatly, beloved -- O you whose every limb is flawless, who enchants the whole world!

Shloka 4 (sundara.20.4)

नेह किञ्चिन्मनुष्या वा राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः । व्यपसर्पतु ते सीते भयं मत्तः समुत्थितम् ॥ 20.4 ॥

neha kiñcin manuṣyā vā rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ | vyapasarpatu te sīte bhayaṃ mattaḥ samutthitam ||

Here there are no men, nor rakshasas who could change form at will; let this fear of me that has risen in you, Sita, depart.

Shloka 5 (sundara.20.5)

स्वधर्मो रक्षसां भीरु सर्वदैव न संशयः । गमनं वा परस्त्रीणां हरणं सम्प्रमथ्य वा ॥ 20.5 ॥

svadharmo rakṣasāṃ bhīru sarvadaiva na saṃśayaḥ | gamanaṃ vā parastrīṇāṃ haraṇaṃ sampramathya vā ||

O timid one, approaching another's wife, or seizing her by force and abducting her, is ever the natural way of rakshasas -- of this there is no doubt.

Shloka 6 (sundara.20.6)

एवं चैवमकामां त्वां न च स्प्रक्ष्यामि मैथिलि । कामं कामः शरीरे मे यथाकामं प्रवर्तताम् ॥ 20.6 ॥

evaṃ caivam akāmāṃ tvāṃ na ca sprakṣyāmi maithili | kāmaṃ kāmaḥ śarīre me yathākāmaṃ pravartatām ||

And yet, though this be so, I will not touch you against your will, Maithili -- let desire in my body run its course however it will.

Shloka 7 (sundara.20.7)

देवि नेह भयं कार्यं मयि विश्वसिहि प्रिये । प्रणयस्व च तत्त्वेन मैवं भूः शोकलालसा ॥ 20.7 ॥

devi neha bhayaṃ kāryaṃ mayi viśvasihi priye | praṇayasva ca tattvena maivaṃ bhūḥ śokalālasā ||

O queen, there is no need for fear here; trust me, my love; give your affection truly, and do not remain so lost in grief.

Shloka 8 (sundara.20.8)

एकवेणी अधःशय्या ध्यानं मलिनमम्बरम् । अस्थानेऽप्युपवासश्च नैतान्यौपयिकानि ते ॥ 20.8 ॥

ekaveṇī adhaḥśayyā dhyānaṃ malinam ambaram | asthāne'py upavāsaśca naitāny aupayikāni te ||

A single braid, a bed upon the ground, brooding meditation, soiled garments, fasting at an unfitting time -- none of these become you.

Shloka 9 (sundara.20.9)

विचित्राणि च माल्यानि चन्दनान्यगुरूणि च । विविधानि च वासांसि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च ॥ 20.9 ॥

vicitrāṇi ca mālyāni candanāny agurūṇi ca | vividhāni ca vāsāṃsi divyāny ābharaṇāni ca ||

Wondrous garlands, sandal-paste and aloe-wood, garments of every kind, celestial ornaments --

Shloka 10 (sundara.20.10)

महार्हाणि च पानानि शयनान्यासनानि च । गीतं नृत्यं च वाद्यं च लभ मां प्राप्य मैथिलि ॥ 20.10 ॥

mahārhāṇi ca pānāni śayanāny āsanāni ca | gītaṃ nṛtyaṃ ca vādyaṃ ca labha māṃ prāpya maithili ||

-- costly drinks, couches and seats, song, dance, and music -- gain all these, Maithili, by winning me.

Shloka 11 (sundara.20.11)

स्त्रीरत्नमसि मैवं भूः कुरु गात्रेषु भूषणम् । मां प्राप्य हि कथं वा स्यास्त्वमनर्हा सुविग्रहे ॥ 20.11 ॥

strīratnam asi maivaṃ bhūḥ kuru gātreṣu bhūṣaṇam | māṃ prāpya hi kathaṃ vā syās tvam anarhā suvigrahe ||

You are a jewel among women; do not remain like this -- adorn your limbs with ornaments. O lovely one, having won me, how could you remain unworthy of pleasures?

Shloka 12 (sundara.20.12)

इदं ते चारु संजातं यौवनं ह्यतिवर्तते । यदतीतं पुनर्नैति स्रोतः स्रोतस्विनामिव ॥ 20.12 ॥

idaṃ te cāru saṃjātaṃ yauvanaṃ hy ativartate | yad atītaṃ punar naiti srotaḥ srotasvinām iva ||

This lovely youth of yours is slipping away; what has passed does not return, like the current of a flowing stream.

Shloka 13 (sundara.20.13)

त्वां कृत्वोपरतो मन्ये रूपकर्ता स विश्वकृत् । नहि रूपोपमा ह्यन्या तवास्ति शुभदर्शने ॥ 20.13 ॥

tvāṃ kṛtvoparato manye rūpakartā sa viśvakṛt | nahi rūpopamā hy anyā tavāsti śubhadarśane ||

O fair one, it seems to me that the maker of forms, the creator of the universe, rested content after fashioning you; for there is no other equal to your beauty.

Shloka 14 (sundara.20.14)

त्वां समासाद्य वैदेहि रूपयौवनशालिनीम् । कः पुनर्नातिवर्तेत साक्षादपि पितामहः ॥ 20.14 ॥

tvāṃ samāsādya vaidehi rūpayauvanaśālinīm | kaḥ punar nātivarteta sākṣād api pitāmahaḥ ||

O Vaidehi, having found you, so graced with beauty and youth, who indeed -- even Grandsire Brahma himself -- would not overstep his bounds?

Shloka 15 (sundara.20.15)

यद् यत् पश्यामि ते गात्रं शीतांशुसदृशानने । तस्मिंस्तस्मिन् पृथुश्रोणि चक्षुर्मम निबध्यते ॥ 20.15 ॥

yad yat paśyāmi te gātraṃ śītāṃśusadṛśānane | tasmiṃs tasmin pṛthuśroṇi cakṣur mama nibadhyate ||

O moon-faced one, O broad-hipped one, whichever part of your body I look upon, there my eyes remain fixed.

Shloka 16 (sundara.20.16)

भव मैथिलि भार्या मे मोहमेतं विसर्जय । बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणां ममाग्रमहिषी भव ॥ 20.16 ॥

bhava maithili bhāryā me mohametaṃ visarjaya | bahvīnām uttamastrīṇāṃ mamāgramahiṣī bhava ||

Become my wife, Maithili; give up this delusion. Become the foremost queen among my many excellent women.

Shloka 17 (sundara.20.17)

लोकेभ्यो यानि रत्नानि सम्प्रमथ्याहृतानि मे । तानि ते भीरु सर्वाणि राज्यं चैव ददामि ते ॥ 20.17 ॥

lokebhyo yāni ratnāni sampramathyāhṛtāni me | tāni te bhīru sarvāṇi rājyaṃ caiva dadāmi te ||

All the jewels I have plundered and brought from every land, O timid one, all these, and my kingdom too, I give to you.

Shloka 18 (sundara.20.18)

विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां नानानगरमालिनीम् । जनकाय प्रदास्यामि तव हेतोर्विलासिनि ॥ 20.18 ॥

vijitya pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ nānānagaramālinīm | janakāya pradāsyāmi tava hetor vilāsini ||

O gracious one, for your sake I shall conquer the entire earth, garlanded with its many cities, and bestow it upon Janaka.

Shloka 19 (sundara.20.19)

नेह पश्यामि लोकेऽन्यं यो मे प्रतिबलो भवेत् । पश्य मे सुमहद्वीर्यमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे ॥ 20.19 ॥

neha paśyāmi loke'nyaṃ yo me pratibalo bhavet | paśya me sumahadvīryam apratidvandvam āhave ||

In this world I see none other who could match my strength; behold my mighty valor, unrivaled in battle.

Shloka 20 (sundara.20.20)

असकृत् संयुगे भग्ना मया विमृदितध्वजाः । अशक्ताः प्रत्यनीकेषु स्थातुं मम सुरासुराः ॥ 20.20 ॥

asakṛt saṃyuge bhagnā mayā vimṛditadhvajāḥ | aśaktāḥ pratyanīkeṣu sthātuṃ mama surāsurāḥ ||

Time and again in battle, gods and demons alike have been broken by me, their banners crushed; they are powerless to stand against my ranks.

Shloka 21 (sundara.20.21)

इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम् । सुप्रभाण्यवसज्जन्तां तवांगे भूषणानि हि ॥ 20.21 ॥

iccha māṃ kriyatām adya pratikarma tavottamam | suprabhāṇy avasajjantāṃ tavāṅge bhūṣaṇāni hi ||

Desire me; let your finest adornment be prepared today; let radiant ornaments be fitted upon your limbs.

Shloka 22 (sundara.20.22)

साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं सुयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा । प्रतिकर्माभिसंयुक्ता दाक्षिण्येन वरानने ॥ 20.22 ॥

sādhu paśyāmi te rūpaṃ suyuktaṃ pratikarmaṇā | pratikarmābhisaṃyuktā dākṣiṇyena varānane ||

O fair-faced one, I long to gaze well upon your form, adorned with fitting ornament, made lovely by skillful care.

Shloka 23 (sundara.20.23)

भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् यथाकामं पिब भीरु रमस्व च । यथेष्टं च प्रयच्छ त्वं पृथिवीं वा धनानि च ॥ 20.23 ॥

bhuṅkṣva bhogān yathākāmaṃ piba bhīru ramasva ca | yatheṣṭaṃ ca prayaccha tvaṃ pṛthivīṃ vā dhanāni ca ||

Enjoy pleasures as you wish, O timid one; drink, take your delight; and, if you wish, freely give away land or wealth.

Shloka 24 (sundara.20.24)

ललस्व मयि विस्रब्धा धृष्टमाज्ञापयस्व च । मत्प्रासादाल्ललन्त्याश्च ललतां बान्धवस्तव ॥ 20.24 ॥

lalasva mayi visrabdhā dhṛṣṭam ājñāpayasva ca | matprāsādāl lalantyāśca lalatāṃ bāndhavas tava ||

Take your ease with me, free of care, and boldly command as you please; through my favor, as you delight, let your kinsmen too delight.

Shloka 25 (sundara.20.25)

ऋद्धिं ममानुपश्य त्वं श्रियं भद्रे यशस्विनि । किं करिष्यसि रामेण सुभगे चीरवासिना ॥ 20.25 ॥

ṛddhiṃ mamānupaśya tvaṃ śriyaṃ bhadre yaśasvini | kiṃ kariṣyasi rāmeṇa subhage cīravāsinā ||

Behold my splendor and my fortune, O gracious, glorious one; O fortunate one, what will you do with Rama, clad in bark garments?

Shloka 26 (sundara.20.26)

निक्षिप्तविजयो रामो गतश्रीर्वनगोचरः । व्रती स्थण्डिलशायी च शंके जीवति वा न वा ॥ 20.26 ॥

nikṣiptavijayo rāmo gataśrīr vanagocaraḥ | vratī sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca śaṅke jīvati vā na vā ||

Rama has abandoned all hope of victory, stripped of fortune, wandering the wilds; keeping his vows, sleeping on bare ground -- I doubt even whether he still lives.

Shloka 27 (sundara.20.27)

नहि वैदेहि रामस्त्वां द्रष्टुं वाप्युपलभ्यते । पुरोबलाकैरसितैर्मेघैर्ज्योत्स्नामिवावृताम् ॥ 20.27 ॥

nahi vaidehi rāmas tvāṃ draṣṭuṃ vāpy upalabhyate | purobalākair asitair meghair jyotsnām ivāvṛtām ||

O Vaidehi, Rama shall not even manage to see you again, any more than moonlight can be seen once veiled by dark clouds fronted with cranes.

Shloka 28 (sundara.20.28)

न चापि मम हस्तात् त्वां प्राप्तुमर्हति राघवः । हिरण्यकशिपुः कीर्तिमिन्द्रहस्तगतामिव ॥ 20.28 ॥

na cāpi mama hastāt tvāṃ prāptum arhati rāghavaḥ | hiraṇyakaśipuḥ kīrtim indrahastagatām iva ||

Nor can Raghava recover you from my hands, any more than Hiranyakashipu could recover his glory once it had passed into Indra's hands.

Shloka 29 (sundara.20.29)

चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि । मनो हरसि मे भीरु सुपर्णः पन्नगं यथा ॥ 20.29 ॥

cārusmite cārudati cārunetre vilāsini | mano harasi me bhīru suparṇaḥ pannagaṃ yathā ||

O you of the lovely smile, the lovely teeth, the lovely eyes, O charming one, O timid one -- you steal my heart, as Garuda snatches away a serpent.

Shloka 30 (sundara.20.30)

क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनां तन्वीमप्यनलंकृताम् । त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रतिं नोपलभाम्यहम् ॥ 20.30 ॥

kliṣṭakauśeyavasanāṃ tanvīm apy analaṃkṛtām | tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā sveṣu dāreṣu ratiṃ nopalabhāmy aham ||

Even seeing you thin, unadorned, wearing a soiled silken garment, I find no delight left in my own wives.

Shloka 31 (sundara.20.31)

अन्तःपुरनिवासिन्यः स्त्रियः सर्वगुणान्विताः । यावत्यो मम सर्वासामैश्वर्यं कुरु जानकि ॥ 20.31 ॥

antaḥpuranivāsinyaḥ striyaḥ sarvaguṇānvitāḥ | yāvatyo mama sarvāsām aiśvaryaṃ kuru jānaki ||

O Janaki, take sovereignty over all my women, however many, who dwell within my inner chambers, endowed with every virtue.

Shloka 32 (sundara.20.32)

मम ह्यसितकेशान्ते त्रैलोक्यप्रवरस्त्रियः । तास्त्वां परिचरिष्यन्ति श्रियमप्सरसो यथा ॥ 20.32 ॥

mama hy asitakeśānte trailokyapravarastriyaḥ | tās tvāṃ paricariṣyanti śriyam apsaraso yathā ||

O dark-haired one, the finest women of the three worlds who are mine shall wait upon you, as apsarases attend the goddess of fortune.

Shloka 33 (sundara.20.33)

यानि वैश्रवणे सुभ्रु रत्नानि च धनानि च । तानि लोकांश्च सुश्रोणि मया भुङ्क्ष्व यथासुखम् ॥ 20.33 ॥

yāni vaiśravaṇe subhru ratnāni ca dhanāni ca | tāni lokāṃśca suśroṇi mayā bhuṅkṣva yathāsukham ||

O fair-browed one, O shapely one, whatever jewels and wealth belong to Kubera, all these, and all the worlds, and myself besides -- enjoy them at your pleasure.

Shloka 34 (sundara.20.34)

न रामस्तपसा देवि न बलेन च विक्रमैः । न धनेन मया तुल्यस्तेजसा यशसापि वा ॥ 20.34 ॥

na rāmas tapasā devi na balena ca vikramaiḥ | na dhanena mayā tulyas tejasā yaśasāpi vā ||

O queen, Rama is not my equal -- neither in austerity, nor in strength and valor, nor in wealth, nor in splendor, nor even in fame.

Shloka 35 (sundara.20.35)

पिब विहर रमस्व भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् धननिचयं प्रदिशामि मेदिनीं च । मयि लल ललने यथासुखं त्वं त्वयि च समेत्य ललन्तु बान्धवास्ते ॥ 20.35 ॥

piba vihara ramasva bhuṅkṣva bhogān dhananicayaṃ pradiśāmi medinīṃ ca | mayi lala lalane yathāsukhaṃ tvaṃ tvayi ca sametya lalantu bāndhavās te ||

Drink, take your ease, delight, enjoy every pleasure; I shall grant you heaped treasure and the earth itself. O playful one, sport with me as you please, and let your kinsmen too gather and rejoice with you.

Shloka 36 (sundara.20.36)

कुसुमिततरुजालसंततानि भ्रमरयुतानि समुद्रतीरजानि । कनकविमलहारभूषितांगी विहर मया सह भीरु काननानि ॥ 20.36 ॥

kusumitatarujālasaṃtatāni bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni | kanakavimalahārabhūṣitāṅgī vihara mayā saha bhīru kānanāni ||

O timid one, your limbs adorned with pure golden necklaces, come roam with me through those groves that grow along the seashore, dense with flowering trees, humming with bees.