Ravana's Ultimatum and Sita's Rebuke

Shloka 1 (sundara.22.1)

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा परुषं राक्षसेश्वरः । प्रत्युवाच ततः सीतां विप्रियं प्रियदर्शनाम् ॥ १ ॥

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā paruṣaṃ rākṣaseśvaraḥ | pratyuvāca tataḥ sītāṃ vipriyaṃ priyadarśanām || 1 ||

Hearing Sita's harsh words, the lord of the rakshasas replied to her, the lovely-faced one, with words unpleasant though outwardly gentle.

Shloka 2 (sundara.22.2)

यथा यथा सान्त्वयिता वश्यः स्त्रीणां तथा तथा । यथा यथा प्रियं वक्ता परिभूतस्तथा तथा ॥ २ ॥

yathā yathā sāntvayitā vaśyaḥ strīṇāṃ tathā tathā | yathā yathā priyaṃ vaktā paribhūtastathā tathā || 2 ||

"However a woman is soothed, so she becomes controllable; however sweetly a man speaks to her, so he is disdained by her."

Shloka 3 (sundara.22.3)

संनियच्छति मे क्रोधं त्वयि कामः समुत्थितः । द्रवतो मार्गमासाद्य हयानिव सुसारथिः ॥ ३ ॥

saṃniyacchati me krodhaṃ tvayi kāmaḥ samutthitaḥ | dravato mārgamāsādya hayāniva susārathiḥ || 3 ||

"Desire, having risen up in me toward you, is restraining my anger, as a skilled charioteer restrains horses that have found a bad road and are bolting."

Shloka 4 (sundara.22.4)

वामः कामो मनुष्याणां यस्मिन् किल निबध्यते । जने तस्मिंस्त्वनुक्रोशः स्नेहश्च किल जायते ॥ ४ ॥

vāmaḥ kāmo manuṣyāṇāṃ yasmin kila nibadhyate | jane tasmiṃstvanukrośaḥ snehaśca kila jāyate || 4 ||

"Desire is treacherous for men: in whomever it becomes fixed, in that person compassion and affection are indeed born."

Shloka 5 (sundara.22.5)

एतस्मात् कारणान्न त्वां घातयामि वरानने । वधार्हामवमानार्हां मिथ्या प्रव्रजने रताम् ॥ ५ ॥

etasmāt kāraṇānna tvāṃ ghātayāmi varānane | vadhārhāmavamānārhāṃ mithyā pravrajane ratām || 5 ||

"For this reason alone, O fair-faced one, I do not kill you, though you deserve death and disgrace, obsessed as you are with a false ascetic-wanderer."

Shloka 6 (sundara.22.6)

परुषाणि हि वाक्यानि यानि यानि ब्रवीषि माम् । तेषु तेषु वधो युक्तस्तव मैथिलि दारुणः ॥ ६ ॥

paruṣāṇi hi vākyāni yāni yāni bravīṣi mām | teṣu teṣu vadho yuktastava maithili dāruṇaḥ || 6 ||

"For every one of the harsh words that you keep speaking to me, a terrible death would be fitting for you, O princess of Mithila."

Shloka 7 (sundara.22.7)

एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेहीं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । क्रोधसंरम्भसंयुक्तः सीतामुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥ ७ ॥

evamuktvā tu vaidehīṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | krodhasaṃrambhasaṃyuktaḥ sītāmuttaramabravīt || 7 ||

Speaking thus to Vaidehi, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, seized by a fit of rage, spoke this further word to Sita:

Shloka 8 (sundara.22.8)

द्वौ मासौ रक्षितव्यौ मे योऽवधिस्ते मया कृतः । ततः शयनमारोह मम त्वं वरवर्णिनि ॥ ८ ॥

dvau māsau rakṣitavyau me yo'vadhiste mayā kṛtaḥ | tataḥ śayanamāroha mama tvaṃ varavarṇini || 8 ||

"Two months are the limit I have set and will observe. After that, you shall mount my bed, O fair-complexioned one."

Shloka 9 (sundara.22.9)

द्वाभ्यामूर्ध्वं तु मासाभ्यां भर्तारं मामनिच्छतीम् । मम त्वां प्रातराशार्थे सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति खण्डशः ॥ ९ ॥

dvābhyāmūrdhvaṃ tu māsābhyāṃ bhartāraṃ māmanicchatīm | mama tvāṃ prātarāśārthe sūdāśchetsyanti khaṇḍaśaḥ || 9 ||

"Beyond those two months, if you still do not desire me as husband, my cooks shall cut you into pieces for my morning meal."

Shloka 10 (sundara.22.10)

तां भर्त्स्यमानां सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण जानकीम् । देवगन्धर्वकन्यास्ता विषेदुर्विकृतेक्षणाः ॥ १० ॥

tāṃ bhartsyamānāṃ samprekṣya rākṣasendreṇa jānakīm | devagandharvakanyāstā viṣedurvikṛtekṣaṇāḥ || 10 ||

Seeing Janaki so threatened by the lord of the rakshasas, those divine and gandharva maidens grieved, their eyes filled with distress.

Shloka 11 (sundara.22.11)

ओष्ठप्रकारैरपरा नेत्रैर्वक्त्रैस्तथापराः । सीतामाश्वासयामासुस्तर्जितां तेन रक्षसा ॥ ११ ॥

oṣṭhaprakārairaparā netrairvaktraistathāparāḥ | sītāmāśvāsayāmāsustarjitāṃ tena rakṣasā || 11 ||

Some, by the movement of their lips, others by their eyes and faces, comforted Sita, terrified as she was by that rakshasa.

Shloka 12 (sundara.22.12)

ताभिराश्वासिता सीता रावणं राक्षसाधिपम् । उवाचात्महितं वाक्यं वृत्तशौटीर्यगर्वितम् ॥ १२ ॥

tābhirāśvāsitā sītā rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam | uvācātmahitaṃ vākyaṃ vṛttaśauṭīryagarvitam || 12 ||

Comforted by them, Sita spoke to Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, words for her own good, proud in the strength of her virtue.

Shloka 13 (sundara.22.13)

नूनं न ते जनः कश्चिदस्मिन्निःश्रेयसि स्थितः । निवारयति यो न त्वां कर्मणोऽस्माद् विगर्हितात् ॥ १३ ॥

nūnaṃ na te janaḥ kaścidasminniḥśreyasi sthitaḥ | nivārayati yo na tvāṃ karmaṇo'smād vigarhitāt || 13 ||

"Surely there is no one near you who wishes you well, since no one restrains you from this blameworthy deed."

Shloka 14 (sundara.22.14)

मां हि धर्मात्मनः पत्नीं शचीमिव शचीपतेः । त्वदन्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रार्थयेन्मनसापि कः ॥ १४ ॥

māṃ hi dharmātmanaḥ patnīṃ śacīmiva śacīpateḥ | tvadanyastriṣu lokeṣu prārthayenmanasāpi kaḥ || 14 ||

"Who, even in the three worlds, would desire even in thought me, wife of the righteous Rama, as one might desire Shachi, the wife of Shachi's lord Indra — no one but you."

Shloka 15 (sundara.22.15)

राक्षसाधम रामस्य भार्याममिततेजसः । उक्तवानसि यत् पापं क्व गतस्तस्य मोक्ष्यसे ॥ १५ ॥

rākṣasādhama rāmasya bhāryāmamitatejasaḥ | uktavānasi yat pāpaṃ kva gatastasya mokṣyase || 15 ||

"O vilest of rakshasas! Having spoken this sin against the wife of the boundlessly radiant Rama, where will you go to be released from it?"

Shloka 16 (sundara.22.16)

यथा दृप्तश्च मातंगः शशश्च सहितौ वने । तथा द्विरदवद् रामस्त्वं नीच शशवत् स्मृतः ॥ १६ ॥

yathā dṛptaśca mātaṃgaḥ śaśaśca sahitau vane | tathā dviradavad rāmastvaṃ nīca śaśavat smṛtaḥ || 16 ||

"As a rutting elephant and a hare together in a forest — so Rama is like the elephant, and you, O base one, are remembered as the hare."

Shloka 17 (sundara.22.17)

स त्वमिक्ष्वाकुनाथं वै क्षिपन्निह न लज्जसे । चक्षुषो विषये तस्य न यावदुपगच्छसि ॥ १७ ॥

sa tvamikṣvākunāthaṃ vai kṣipanniha na lajjase | cakṣuṣo viṣaye tasya na yāvadupagacchasi || 17 ||

"You insult the lord of the Ikshvaku line and yet feel no shame here, not even while you have not yet come within range of his sight."

Shloka 18 (sundara.22.18)

इमे ते नयने क्रूरे विकृते कृष्णपिंगले । क्षितौ न पतिते कस्मान्मामनार्य निरीक्षतः ॥ १८ ॥

ime te nayane krūre vikṛte kṛṣṇapiṃgale | kṣitau na patite kasmānmāmanārya nirīkṣataḥ || 18 ||

"These cruel, distorted, dark-brown eyes of yours that look upon me, O ignoble one — why do they not fall out of your head?"

Shloka 19 (sundara.22.19)

तस्य धर्मात्मनः पत्नी स्नुषा दशरथस्य च । कथं व्याहरतो मां ते न जिह्वा पाप शीर्यति ॥ १९ ॥

tasya dharmātmanaḥ patnī snuṣā daśarathasya ca | kathaṃ vyāharato māṃ te na jihvā pāpa śīryati || 19 ||

"Speaking thus of me, wife of that righteous one and daughter-in-law of Dasharatha — how has your sinful tongue not shriveled away?"

Shloka 20 (sundara.22.20)

असंदेशात्तु रामस्य तपसश्चानुपालनात् । न त्वां कुर्मि दशग्रीव भस्म भस्मार्हतेजसा ॥ २० ॥

asaṃdeśāttu rāmasya tapasaścānupālanāt | na tvāṃ kurmi daśagrīva bhasma bhasmārhatejasā || 20 ||

"Only because I lack Rama's command and must keep my vow of austerity, O ten-necked one, I do not reduce you to ashes with the fire of my own power, though you well deserve it."

Shloka 21 (sundara.22.21)

नापहर्तुमहं शक्या तस्य रामस्य धीमतः । विधिस्तव वधार्थाय विहितो नात्र संशयः ॥ २१ ॥

nāpahartumahaṃ śakyā tasya rāmasya dhīmataḥ | vidhistava vadhārthāya vihito nātra saṃśayaḥ || 21 ||

"I cannot truly be taken away from wise Rama; this act has been ordained only for your destruction — of this there is no doubt."

Shloka 22 (sundara.22.22)

शूरेण धनदभ्रात्रा बलैः समुदितेन च । अपोह्य रामं कस्माच्चिद् दारचौर्यं त्वया कृतम् ॥ २२ ॥

śūreṇa dhanadabhrātrā balaiḥ samuditena ca | apohya rāmaṃ kasmāccid dāracauryaṃ tvayā kṛtam || 22 ||

"You, valiant and strong, brother of the lord of wealth, endowed with armies — having somehow got Rama out of the way, you have committed the theft of another man's wife."

Shloka 23 (sundara.22.23)

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । विवृत्य नयने क्रूरे जानकीमन्ववैक्षत ॥ २३ ॥

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | vivṛtya nayane krūre jānakīmanvavaikṣata || 23 ||

Hearing Sita's words, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, turned his cruel eyes and looked closely at Janaki.

Shloka 24 (sundara.22.24)

नीलजीमूतसंकाशो महाभुजशिरोधरः । सिंहसत्त्वगतिः श्रीमान् दीप्तजिह्वोग्रलोचनः ॥ २४ ॥

nīlajīmūtasaṃkāśo mahābhujaśirodharaḥ | siṃhasattvagatiḥ śrīmān dīptajihvogralocanaḥ || 24 ||

He was like a dark rain-cloud, with mighty shoulders and neck, moving with a lion's power, glorious, with a fiery tongue and fierce eyes.

Shloka 25 (sundara.22.25)

चलाग्रमुकुटप्रांशुश्चित्रमाल्यानुलेपनः । रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरस्तप्तांगदविभूषणः ॥ २५ ॥

calāgramukuṭaprāṃśuścitramālyānulepanaḥ | raktamālyāmbaradharastaptāṃgadavibhūṣaṇaḥ || 25 ||

Tall, with the crest of his crown swaying, adorned with rich garlands and unguents, clad in red garlands and garments, decked in armlets of refined gold.

Shloka 26 (sundara.22.26)

श्रोणीसूत्रेण महता मेचकेन सुसंवृतः । अमृतोत्पादने नद्धो भुजंगेनेव मन्दरः ॥ २६ ॥

śroṇīsūtreṇa mahatā mecakena susaṃvṛtaḥ | amṛtotpādane naddho bhujaṃgeneva mandaraḥ || 26 ||

Bound about the waist with a great dark girdle, he was like Mount Mandara bound round by the great serpent for the churning of nectar.

Shloka 27 (sundara.22.27)

ताभ्यां स परिपूर्णाभ्यां भुजाभ्यां राक्षसेश्वरः । शुशुभेऽचलसंकाशः शृंगाभ्यामिव मन्दरः ॥ २७ ॥

tābhyāṃ sa paripūrṇābhyāṃ bhujābhyāṃ rākṣaseśvaraḥ | śuśubhe'calasaṃkāśaḥ śṛṃgābhyāmiva mandaraḥ || 27 ||

With those two full, rounded arms the lord of the rakshasas, resembling a mountain, shone like Mandara with its twin peaks.

Shloka 28 (sundara.22.28)

तरुणादित्यवर्णाभ्यां कुण्डलाभ्यां विभूषितः । रक्तपल्लवपुष्पाभ्यामशोकाभ्यामिवाचलः ॥ २८ ॥

taruṇādityavarṇābhyāṃ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ vibhūṣitaḥ | raktapallavapuṣpābhyāmaśokābhyāmivācalaḥ || 28 ||

Adorned with earrings colored like the rising sun, he was like a mountain covered with two Ashoka trees in red bloom and fresh shoots.

Shloka 29 (sundara.22.29)

स कल्पवृक्षप्रतिमो वसन्त इव मूर्तिमान् । श्मशानचैत्यप्रतिमो भूषितोऽपि भयंकरः ॥ २९ ॥

sa kalpavṛkṣapratimo vasanta iva mūrtimān | śmaśānacaityapratimo bhūṣito'pi bhayaṃkaraḥ || 29 ||

Resembling a wish-fulfilling tree, he seemed like the very embodiment of spring; yet, like a monument in a cremation ground, he was terrifying even in his ornamented splendor.

Shloka 30 (sundara.22.30)

अवेक्षमाणो वैदेहीं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः । उवाच रावणः सीतां भुजंग इव निःश्वसन् ॥ ३० ॥

avekṣamāṇo vaidehīṃ kopasaṃraktalocanaḥ | uvāca rāvaṇaḥ sītāṃ bhujaṃga iva niḥśvasan || 30 ||

Gazing upon Vaidehi with eyes red with fury, sighing like a serpent, Ravana spoke to Sita:

Shloka 31 (sundara.22.31)

अनयेनाभिसम्पन्नमर्थहीनमनुव्रते । नाशयाम्यहमद्य त्वां सूर्यः संध्यामिवौजसा ॥ ३१ ॥

anayenābhisampannamarthahīnamanuvrate | nāśayāmyahamadya tvāṃ sūryaḥ saṃdhyāmivaujasā || 31 ||

"Devoted as you are to one worthless and stripped of all resource by his own misconduct, I shall this day destroy you, as the sun destroys the twilight with its own brilliance."

Shloka 32 (sundara.22.32)

इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रुरावणः । संददर्श ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः ॥ ३२ ॥

ityuktvā maithilīṃ rājā rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ | saṃdadarśa tataḥ sarvā rākṣasīrghoradarśanāḥ || 32 ||

Having spoken thus to Sita, King Ravana, enemy-scourge, then summoned all the rakshasi women of horrible appearance.

Shloka 33 (sundara.22.33)

एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा । गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम् ॥ ३३ ॥

ekākṣīmekakarṇāṃ ca karṇaprāvaraṇāṃ tathā | gokarṇīṃ hastikarṇīṃ ca lambakarṇīmakarṇikām || 33 ||

one-eyed, one-eared, with ears like coverings, with ears like a cow's, with ears like an elephant's, with dangling ears, and earless ones;

Shloka 34 (sundara.22.34)

हस्तिपद्यश्वपद्यौ च गोपदीं पादचूलिकाम् । एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम् ॥ ३४ ॥

hastipadyaśvapadyau ca gopadīṃ pādacūlikām | ekākṣīmekapādīṃ ca pṛthupādīmapādikām || 34 ||

with feet like an elephant's or a horse's, feet like a cow's, feet with hair growing over them, one-eyed and one-footed ones, broad-footed and footless ones;

Shloka 35 (sundara.22.35)

अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम् । अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वानखामपि ॥ ३५ ॥

atimātraśirogrīvāmatimātrakucodarīm | atimātrāsyanetrāṃ ca dīrghajihvānakhāmapi || 35 ||

with grotesquely oversized heads and necks, oversized breasts and bellies, oversized mouths and eyes, and with long tongues, or none at all;

Shloka 36 (sundara.22.36)

अनासिकां सिंहमुखीं गोमुखीं सूकरीमुखीम् । यथा मद्वशगा सीता क्षिप्रं भवति जानकी ॥ ३६ ॥

anāsikāṃ siṃhamukhīṃ gomukhīṃ sūkarīmukhīm | yathā madvaśagā sītā kṣipraṃ bhavati jānakī || 36 ||

noseless ones, lion-faced, cow-faced, and boar-faced ones — he commanded them: "see that Sita, daughter of Janaka, quickly comes under my control."

Shloka 37 (sundara.22.37)

तथा कुरुत राक्षस्यः सर्वाः क्षिप्रं समेत्य वा । प्रतिलोमानुलोमैश्च सामदानादिभेदनैः ॥ ३७ ॥

tathā kuruta rākṣasyaḥ sarvāḥ kṣipraṃ sametya vā | pratilomānulomaiśca sāmadānādibhedanaiḥ || 37 ||

"So act, all you rakshasis, gathering swiftly together, using every means both harsh and gentle — conciliation, gifts, and sowing dissension —"

Shloka 38 (sundara.22.38)

आवर्जयत वैदेहीं दण्डस्योद्यमनेन च । इति प्रतिसमादिश्य राक्षसेन्द्रः पुनः पुनः ॥ ३८ ॥

āvarjayata vaidehīṃ daṇḍasyodyamanena ca | iti pratisamādiśya rākṣasendraḥ punaḥ punaḥ || 38 ||

"win Vaidehi over, and, if need be, by threatening punishment." Having thus commanded again and again,

Shloka 39 (sundara.22.39)

काममन्युपरीतात्मा जानकीं प्रति गर्जत । उपगम्य ततः क्षिप्रं राक्षसी धान्यमालिनी ॥ ३९ ॥

kāmamanyuparītātmā jānakīṃ prati garjata | upagamya tataḥ kṣipraṃ rākṣasī dhānyamālinī || 39 ||

the lord of the rakshasas, his mind overcome by lust and fury, kept roaring at Janaki. Then the rakshasi Dhanyamalini quickly approached,

Shloka 40 (sundara.22.40)

परिष्वज्य दशग्रीवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । मया क्रीड महाराज सीतया किं तवानया ॥ ४० ॥

pariṣvajya daśagrīvamidaṃ vacanamabravīt | mayā krīḍa mahārāja sītayā kiṃ tavānayā || 40 ||

embraced Ravana of the ten necks, and spoke these words: "Sport with me, great king! What is this Sita to you,"

Shloka 41 (sundara.22.41)

विवर्णया कृपणया मानुष्या राक्षसेश्वर । नूनमस्यां महाराज न देवा भोगसत्तमान् ॥ ४१ ॥

vivarṇayā kṛpaṇayā mānuṣyā rākṣaseśvara | nūnamasyāṃ mahārāja na devā bhogasattamān || 41 ||

"colorless, wretched, a mere human woman, O lord of the rakshasas? Surely, great king, the foremost of the gods do not"

Shloka 42 (sundara.22.42)

विदधत्यमरश्रेष्ठास्तव बाहुबलार्जितान् । अकामां कामयानस्य शरीरमुपतप्यते ॥ ४२ ॥

vidadhatyamaraśreṣṭhāstava bāhubalārjitān | akāmāṃ kāmayānasya śarīramupatapyate || 42 ||

bestow upon her the wondrous enjoyments won by the might of your arms. The body of one who desires a woman who does not desire him only suffers torment;"

Shloka 43 (sundara.22.43)

इच्छतीं कामयानस्य प्रीतिर्भवति शोभना । एवमुक्तस्तु राक्षस्या समुत्क्षिप्तस्ततो बली । प्रहसन् मेघसंकाशो राक्षसः स न्यवर्तत ॥ ४३ ॥

icchatīṃ kāmayānasya prītirbhavati śobhanā | evamuktastu rākṣasyā samutkṣiptastato balī | prahasan meghasaṃkāśo rākṣasaḥ sa nyavartata || 43 ||

"but for one who desires a woman who herself desires him, the delight is truly beautiful." Thus addressed by that rakshasi, the powerful Ravana, resembling a rain-cloud,

Shloka 44 (sundara.22.44)

प्रस्थितः स दशग्रीवः कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् । ज्वलद्भास्करसंकाशं प्रविवेश निवेशनम् ॥ ४४ ॥

prasthitaḥ sa daśagrīvaḥ kampayanniva medinīm | jvaladbhāskarasaṃkāśaṃ praviveśa niveśanam || 44 ||

laughing, allowed himself to be drawn away and turned back. Setting out, ten-necked Ravana, as though shaking the very earth,

Shloka 45 (sundara.22.45)

देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च तास्ततः । परिवार्य दशग्रीवं प्रविशुस्ता गृहोत्तमम् ॥ ४५ ॥

devagandharvakanyāśca nāgakanyāśca tāstataḥ | parivārya daśagrīvaṃ praviśustā gṛhottamam || 45 ||

entered his own dwelling, which blazed like the sun. The maidens of gods, gandharvas, and nagas, then, surrounding ten-necked Ravana on every side, entered that finest of mansions.

Shloka 46 (sundara.22.46)

स मैथिलीं धर्मपरामवस्थितां प्रवेपमानां परिभर्त्स्य रावणः । विहाय सीतां मदनेन मोहितः स्वमेव वेश्म प्रविवेश रावणः ॥ ४६ ॥

sa maithilīṃ dharmaparāmavasthitāṃ pravepamānāṃ paribhartsya rāvaṇaḥ | vihāya sītāṃ madanena mohitaḥ svameva veśma praviveśa rāvaṇaḥ || 46 ||

Thus Ravana, having threatened Sita — trembling, yet steadfastly devoted to righteousness — abandoned her and, overpowered by passion, entered his own splendid dwelling.