Sita's Steadfastness and the Rakshasis' Threats to Devour Her

Shloka 1 (sundara.24.1)

ततः सीतां समस्तास्ता राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः । परुषं परुषानर्हामूचुस्तद्वाक्यमप्रियम् ॥ १ ॥

tataḥ sītāṃ samastāstā rākṣasyo vikṛtānanāḥ | paruṣaṃ paruṣānarhāmūcustadvākyamapriyam || 1 ||

Then all those rakshasi women of misshapen faces spoke harsh, unpleasant words to Sita, who deserved no such harshness.

Shloka 2 (sundara.24.2)

किं त्वमन्तःपुरे सीते सर्वभूतमनोहरे । महार्हशयनोपेते न वासमनुमन्यसे ॥ २ ॥

kiṃ tvamantaḥpure sīte sarvabhūtamanohare | mahārhaśayanopete na vāsamanumanyase || 2 ||

"Why, O Sita, do you refuse to dwell in the gynaeceum, delightful to every being, furnished with the finest of beds?"

Shloka 3 (sundara.24.3)

मानुषी मानुषस्यैव भार्यात्वं बहु मन्यसे । प्रत्याहर मनो रामान्न त्वं जातु भविष्यसि ॥ ३ ॥

mānuṣī mānuṣasyaiva bhāryātvaṃ bahu manyase | pratyāhara mano rāmānna tvaṃ jātu bhaviṣyasi || 3 ||

"Being human, you set too high a value on becoming the wife of a mere human. Withdraw your mind from Rama, or you will not survive at all."

Shloka 4 (sundara.24.4)

त्रैलोक्यवसुभोक्तारं रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम् । भर्तारमुपसंगम्य विहरस्व यथासुखम् ॥ ४ ॥

trailokyavasubhoktāraṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣaseśvaram | bhartāramupasaṃgamya viharasva yathāsukham || 4 ||

"Come together with Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, who enjoys the wealth of the three worlds, and take him as husband; sport as you please."

Shloka 5 (sundara.24.5)

मानुषी मानुषं तं तु राममिच्छसि शोभने । राज्याद् भ्रष्टमसिद्धार्थं विक्लबं त्वमनिन्दिते ॥ ५ ॥

mānuṣī mānuṣaṃ taṃ tu rāmamicchasi śobhane | rājyād bhraṣṭamasiddhārthaṃ viklabaṃ tvamanindite || 5 ||

"You, a human, desire that human Rama, O radiant one — banished from his kingdom, his purpose unaccomplished, and full of despair, O blameless one."

Shloka 6 (sundara.24.6)

राक्षसीनां वचः श्रुत्वा सीता पद्मनिभेक्षणा । नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ६ ॥

rākṣasīnāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sītā padmanibhekṣaṇā | netrābhyāmaśrupūrṇābhyāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 6 ||

Hearing the words of the rakshasis, Sita of lotus-like eyes spoke these words, her eyes brimming with tears:

Shloka 7 (sundara.24.7)

यदिदं लोकविद्विष्टमुदाहरथ संगताः । नैतन्मनसि वाक्यं मे किल्बिषं प्रतिभाति वः ॥ ७ ॥

yadidaṃ lokavidviṣṭamudāharatha saṃgatāḥ | naitanmanasi vākyaṃ me kilbiṣaṃ pratibhāti vaḥ || 7 ||

"Whatever hateful words all of you gathered together have uttered against me, this does not seem to weigh as sin upon my mind at all."

Shloka 8 (sundara.24.8)

न मानुषी राक्षसस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हति । कामं खादत मां सर्वा न करिष्यामि वो वचः ॥ ८ ॥

na mānuṣī rākṣasasya bhāryā bhavitumarhati | kāmaṃ khādata māṃ sarvā na kariṣyāmi vo vacaḥ || 8 ||

"It is not fitting for a human woman to become the wife of a rakshasa. Freely, all of you, devour me — I will not obey your words."

Shloka 9 (sundara.24.9)

दीनो वा राज्यहीनो वा यो मे भर्ता स मे गुरुः । तं नित्यमनुरक्तास्मि यथा सूर्यं सुवर्चला ॥ ९ ॥

dīno vā rājyahīno vā yo me bhartā sa me guruḥ | taṃ nityamanuraktāsmi yathā sūryaṃ suvarcalā || 9 ||

"Whoever is my husband, wretched or without a kingdom, he alone is my master; I am devoted to him always, as Suvarchala is to the Sun."

Shloka 10 (sundara.24.10)

यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति । अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा ॥ १० ॥

yathā śacī mahābhāgā śakraṃ samupatiṣṭhati | arundhatī vasiṣṭhaṃ ca rohiṇī śaśinaṃ yathā || 10 ||

"As the greatly fortunate Shachi waits upon Shakra, as Arundhati upon Vasishtha, as Rohini upon the Moon,"

Shloka 11 (sundara.24.11)

लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त्यं सुकन्या च्यवनं यथा । सावित्री सत्यवन्तं च कपिलं श्रीमती यथा ॥ ११ ॥

lopāmudrā yathāgastyaṃ sukanyā cyavanaṃ yathā | sāvitrī satyavantaṃ ca kapilaṃ śrīmatī yathā || 11 ||

"as Lopamudra upon Agastya, as Sukanya upon Chyavana, as Savitri upon Satyavan, as glorious Shrimati upon Kapila,"

Shloka 12 (sundara.24.12)

सौदासं मदयन्तीव केशिनी सगरं यथा । नैषधं दमयन्तीव भैमी पतिमनुव्रता । तथाहमिक्ष्वाकुवरं रामं पतिमनुव्रता ॥ १२ ॥

saudāsaṃ madayantīva keśinī sagaraṃ yathā | naiṣadhaṃ damayantīva bhaimī patimanuvratā | tathāhamikṣvākuvaraṃ rāmaṃ patimanuvratā || 12 ||

"as Madayanti upon Saudasa, as Keshini upon Sagara, as Bhaimi, Damayanti, is devoted to her husband Nala —"

Shloka 13 (sundara.24.13)

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः । भर्त्सयन्ति स्म परुषैर्वाक्यै रावणचोदिताः ॥ १३ ॥

sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā rākṣasyaḥ krodhamūrcchitāḥ | bhartsayanti sma paruṣairvākyai rāvaṇacoditāḥ || 13 ||

"so am I devoted to my husband Rama, the foremost of the Ikshvakus." Hearing Sita's words, the rakshasis, swooning with rage, incited by Ravana, began to threaten her with harsh words.

Shloka 14 (sundara.24.14)

अवलीनः स निर्वाक्यो हनुमान् शिंशुपाद्रुमे । सीतां संतर्जयन्तीस्ता राक्षसीरशृणोत् कपिः ॥ १४ ॥

avalīnaḥ sa nirvākyo hanumān śiṃśupādrume | sītāṃ saṃtarjayantīstā rākṣasīraśṛṇot kapiḥ || 14 ||

Hanuman, that monkey, keeping utterly still and silent in the Simshupa tree, listened to those rakshasis terrifying Sita.

Shloka 15 (sundara.24.15)

तामभिक्रम्य संक्रुद्धा वेपमानां समन्ततः । भृशं संलिलिहुर्दीप्तान् प्रलम्बान् दशनच्छदान् ॥ १५ ॥

tāmabhikramya saṃkruddhā vepamānāṃ samantataḥ | bhṛśaṃ saṃlilihurdīptān pralambān daśanacchadān || 15 ||

Closing in upon her from every side as she trembled, those enraged rakshasis licked their gleaming, hanging lips again and again,

Shloka 16 (sundara.24.16)

ऊचुश्च परमक्रुद्धाः प्रगृह्याशु परश्वधान् । नेयमर्हति भर्तारं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम् ॥ १६ ॥

ūcuśca paramakruddhāḥ pragṛhyāśu paraśvadhān | neyamarhati bhartāraṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam || 16 ||

and, seizing their axes, cried out in the height of their fury: "This woman is not fit to have Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, as her husband."

Shloka 17 (sundara.24.17)

सा भर्त्स्यमाना भीमाभी राक्षसीभिर्वरानना । सबाष्पमपसर्पन्ती शिंशुपां तामुपागमत् ॥ १७ ॥

sā bhartsyamānā bhīmābhī rākṣasībhirvarānanā | sabāṣpamapasarpantī śiṃśupāṃ tāmupāgamat || 17 ||

Threatened thus by those horrible rakshasis, that lovely-faced Sita, wiping away her tears, moved away and drew near to that Simshupa tree.

Shloka 18 (sundara.24.18)

ततस्तां शिंशुपां सीता राक्षसीभिः समावृता । अभिगम्य विशालाक्षी तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुता ॥ १८ ॥

tatastāṃ śiṃśupāṃ sītā rākṣasībhiḥ samāvṛtā | abhigamya viśālākṣī tasthau śokapariplutā || 18 ||

Then Sita, wide-eyed, surrounded by the rakshasis, approached that Simshupa tree and remained there, overwhelmed by grief.

Shloka 19 (sundara.24.19)

तां कृशां दीनवदनां मलिनाम्बरधारिणीम् । भर्त्सयांचक्रिरे सीतां राक्षस्यस्तां समन्ततः ॥ १९ ॥

tāṃ kṛśāṃ dīnavadanāṃ malināmbaradhāriṇīm | bhartsayāṃcakrire sītāṃ rākṣasyastāṃ samantataḥ || 19 ||

Emaciated, her face pitiful, clothed in soiled garments — the terrible rakshasis surrounded and threatened her from every side.

Shloka 20 (sundara.24.20)

ततस्तां विनता नाम राक्षसी भीमदर्शना । अब्रवीत्कुपिताकारा कराळा निर्णतोदरी ॥ २० ॥

tatastāṃ vinatā nāma rākṣasī bhīmadarśanā | abravītkupitākārā karāḻā nirṇatodarī || 20 ||

Then a rakshasi named Vinata, of terrifying appearance, her form contorted with anger, misshapen, with a sunken belly, spoke to her:

Shloka 21 (sundara.24.21)

सीते पर्याप्तमेतावद् भर्तुः स्नेहो निदर्शितः । सर्वत्रातिकृतं भद्रे व्यसनायोपकल्पते ॥ २१ ॥

sīte paryāptametāvad bhartuḥ sneho nidarśitaḥ | sarvatrātikṛtaṃ bhadre vyasanāyopakalpate || 21 ||

"O Sita, this much devotion to your husband that you have shown is quite enough. Excess of anything, O gentle one, leads only to ruin."

Shloka 22 (sundara.24.22)

परितुष्टास्मि भद्रं ते मानुषस्ते कृतो विधिः । ममापि तु वचः पथ्यं ब्रुवन्त्याः कुरु मैथिलि ॥ २२ ॥

parituṣṭāsmi bhadraṃ te mānuṣaste kṛto vidhiḥ | mamāpi tu vacaḥ pathyaṃ bruvantyāḥ kuru maithili || 22 ||

"I am well pleased — may good fortune be yours; you have performed your human duty. Now do, O princess of Mithila, according to my wholesome counsel as well."

Shloka 23 (sundara.24.23)

रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम् ॥ २३ ॥

rāvaṇaṃ bhaja bhartāraṃ bhartāraṃ sarvarakṣasām || 23 ||

"Take Ravana, lord of all the rakshasas, as your husband —"

Shloka 24 (sundara.24.24)

विक्रान्तं रूपवन्तं च सुरेशमिव वासवम् । दक्षिणं त्यागशीलं च सर्वस्य प्रियदर्शनम् ॥ २४ ॥

vikrāntaṃ rūpavantaṃ ca sureśamiva vāsavam | dakṣiṇaṃ tyāgaśīlaṃ ca sarvasya priyadarśanam || 24 ||

"valiant and handsome as Indra, lord of the gods, capable, generous, and pleasing in appearance to all."

Shloka 25 (sundara.24.25)

मानुषं कृपणं रामं त्यक्त्वा रावणमाश्रय । दिव्याङ्गरागा वैदेहि दिव्याभरणभूषिता । अद्यप्रभृति सर्वेषां लोकानामीश्वरी भव ॥ २५ ॥

mānuṣaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ rāmaṃ tyaktvā rāvaṇamāśraya | divyāṅgarāgā vaidehi divyābharaṇabhūṣitā | adyaprabhṛti sarveṣāṃ lokānāmīśvarī bhava || 25 ||

"Leaving Rama, a wretched human being, take refuge in Ravana. O Vaidehi, anointed with divine unguents and adorned with divine ornaments, become from this day the mistress of all the worlds."

Shloka 26 (sundara.24.26)

अग्नेः स्वाहा यथा देवी शची वेन्द्रस्य शोभने । किं ते रामेण वैदेहि कृपणेन गतायुषा ॥ २६ ॥

agneḥ svāhā yathā devī śacī vendrasya śobhane | kiṃ te rāmeṇa vaidehi kṛpaṇena gatāyuṣā || 26 ||

"As Svaha is to the god of fire, as Shachi is to Indra, O radiant one — of what use to you, O Vaidehi, is Rama, wretched and his life all but spent?"

Shloka 27 (sundara.24.27)

एतदुक्तं च मे वाक्यं यदि त्वं न करिष्यसि । अस्मिन्मुहूर्ते सर्वास्त्वां भक्षयिष्यामहे वयम् ॥ २७ ॥

etaduktaṃ ca me vākyaṃ yadi tvaṃ na kariṣyasi | asminmuhūrte sarvāstvāṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmahe vayam || 27 ||

"If you do not act upon these words that I have spoken to you, in this very hour all of us together shall devour you."

Shloka 28 (sundara.24.28)

अन्या तु विकटा नाम लम्बमानपयोधरा । अब्रवीत्कुपिता सीतां मुष्टिमुद्यम्य गर्जती ॥ २८ ॥

anyā tu vikaṭā nāma lambamānapayodharā | abravītkupitā sītāṃ muṣṭimudyamya garjatī || 28 ||

Then another rakshasi, named Vikata, her breasts hanging low, enraged, raising her fist and roaring, spoke to Sita:

Shloka 29 (sundara.24.29)

बहून्यप्रियरूपाणि वचनानि सुदुर्मते । अनुक्रोशान्मृदुत्वाच्च सोढानि तव मैथिलि ॥ २९ ॥

bahūnyapriyarūpāṇi vacanāni sudurmate | anukrośānmṛdutvācca soḍhāni tava maithili || 29 ||

"O evil-minded one! Many unbecoming words have been tolerated from you, O princess of Mithila, only out of our pity and gentleness."

Shloka 30 (sundara.24.30)

न च नः कुरुषे वाक्यं हितं कालपुरस्कृतम् ॥ ३० ॥

na ca naḥ kuruṣe vākyaṃ hitaṃ kālapuraskṛtam || 30 ||

"And still you do not heed our counsel, timely and beneficial though it is."

Shloka 31 (sundara.24.31)

अनीतासि समुद्रस्य पारमन्यैर्दुरासदम् । रावणान्तःपुरं घोरं प्रविष्टा चासि मैथिलि ॥ ३१ ॥

anītāsi samudrasya pāramanyairdurāsadam | rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṃ ghoraṃ praviṣṭā cāsi maithili || 31 ||

"You have been brought to this farther shore of the ocean, unreachable by others, O princess of Mithila, and you have entered this terrible gynaeceum of Ravana."

Shloka 32 (sundara.24.32)

रावणस्य गृहे रुद्धामस्माभिस्तु सुरक्षिताम् । न त्वां शक्तः परित्रातुमपि साक्षात्पुरन्दरः ॥ ३२ ॥

rāvaṇasya gṛhe ruddhāmasmābhistu surakṣitām | na tvāṃ śaktaḥ paritrātumapi sākṣātpurandaraḥ || 32 ||

"Confined and closely guarded by us in Ravana's own house, not even Purandara himself would be capable of rescuing you."

Shloka 33 (sundara.24.33)

कुरुष्व हितवादिन्या वचनं मम मैथिलि । अलमश्रुप्रपातेन त्यज शोकमनर्थकम् ॥ ३३ ॥

kuruṣva hitavādinyā vacanaṃ mama maithili | alamaśruprapātena tyaja śokamanarthakam || 33 ||

"Follow my well-meaning counsel, O princess of Mithila; enough of this shedding of tears — abandon this useless grief."

Shloka 34 (sundara.24.34)

भज प्रीतिं च हर्षं च त्यजैतां नित्यदैन्यताम् । सीते राक्षसराजेन सह क्रीड यथासुखम् ॥ ३४ ॥

bhaja prītiṃ ca harṣaṃ ca tyajaitāṃ nityadainyatām | sīte rākṣasarājena saha krīḍa yathāsukham || 34 ||

"Take up love and delight; abandon this endless misery. O Sita, sport as you please with the king of the rakshasas."

Shloka 35 (sundara.24.35)

जानासि हि यथा भीरु स्त्रीणां यौवनमध्रुवम् । यावन्न ते व्यतिक्रामेत्तावत्सुखमवाप्नुहि ॥ ३५ ॥

jānāsi hi yathā bhīru strīṇāṃ yauvanamadhruvam | yāvanna te vyatikrāmettāvatsukhamavāpnuhi || 35 ||

"You surely know, O timid one, how fleeting is the youth of women; while yours has not yet passed, obtain your happiness."

Shloka 36 (sundara.24.36)

उद्यानानि च रम्याणि पर्वतोपवनानि च । सह राक्षसराजेन चर त्वं मदिरेक्षणे ॥ ३६ ॥

udyānāni ca ramyāṇi parvatopavanāni ca | saha rākṣasarājena cara tvaṃ madirekṣaṇe || 36 ||

"Roam with the king of the rakshasas, O intoxicating-eyed one, through lovely gardens and groves upon the mountainsides."

Shloka 37 (sundara.24.37)

स्त्रीसहस्राणि ते सप्त वशे स्थास्यन्ति सुन्दरि । रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम् ॥ ३७ ॥

strīsahasrāṇi te sapta vaśe sthāsyanti sundari | rāvaṇaṃ bhaja bhartāraṃ bhartāraṃ sarvarakṣasām || 37 ||

"Seven thousand women shall stand at your command, O lovely one; take Ravana, lord of all the rakshasas, as your husband."

Shloka 38 (sundara.24.38)

उत्पाट्य वा ते हृदयं भक्षयिष्यामि मैथिलि । यदि मे व्याहृतं वाक्यं न यथावत्करिष्यसि ॥ ३८ ॥

utpāṭya vā te hṛdayaṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmi maithili | yadi me vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ na yathāvatkariṣyasi || 38 ||

"Otherwise, O princess of Mithila, I shall tear out your heart and eat it, if you do not do exactly as I have said."

Shloka 39 (sundara.24.39)

ततश्चण्डोदरी नाम राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता । भ्रामयन्ती महच्छूलमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ३९ ॥

tataścaṇḍodarī nāma rākṣasī krodhamūrchitā | bhrāmayantī mahacchūlamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 39 ||

Then a rakshasi named Chandodari, swooning with rage, brandishing a great spike, spoke this word:

Shloka 40 (sundara.24.40)

इमां हरिणलोलाक्षीं त्रासोत्कम्पितपयोधराम् । रावणेन हृतां दृष्ट्वा दौहृदो मे महानभूत् ॥ ४० ॥

imāṃ hariṇalolākṣīṃ trāsotkampitapayodharām | rāvaṇena hṛtāṃ dṛṣṭvā dauhṛdo me mahānabhūt || 40 ||

"Seeing this woman with the roving eyes of a deer, her breasts trembling with fear, carried off by Ravana, a great craving has come over me."

Shloka 41 (sundara.24.41)

यकृत्प्लीहमथोत्पीडं हृदयं च सबन्धनम् । अन्त्राण्यपि तथा शीर्षं खादेयमिति मे मतिः ॥ ४१ ॥

yakṛtplīhamathotpīḍaṃ hṛdayaṃ ca sabandhanam | antrāṇyapi tathā śīrṣaṃ khādeyamiti me matiḥ || 41 ||

"It is my wish to eat her liver, her spleen, the flesh above her heart, her heart together with its vessels, her entrails, and her head as well."

Shloka 42 (sundara.24.42)

ततस्तु प्रघसा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । कण्ठमस्या नृशंसायाः पीडयाम किमास्यते ॥ ४२ ॥

tatastu praghasā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt | kaṇṭhamasyā nṛśaṃsāyāḥ pīḍayāma kimāsyate || 42 ||

Then a rakshasi named Praghasa spoke this word: "Why do we delay? Let us squeeze the throat of this cruel woman."

Shloka 43 (sundara.24.43)

निवेद्यतां ततो राज्ञे मानुषी सा मृतेति ह । नात्र कश्चन संदेहः खादतेति स वक्ष्यति ॥ ४३ ॥

nivedyatāṃ tato rājñe mānuṣī sā mṛteti ha | nātra kaścana saṃdehaḥ khādateti sa vakṣyati || 43 ||

"Let it then be reported to the king that this human woman has died; without any doubt he will say, 'Eat her.'"

Shloka 44 (sundara.24.44)

ततस्त्वजामुखी नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । विशस्येमां ततः सर्वाः समान् कुरुत पीलुकान् ॥ ४४ ॥

tatastvajāmukhī nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt | viśasyemāṃ tataḥ sarvāḥ samān kuruta pīlukān || 44 ||

Then a rakshasi named Ajamukhi spoke this word: "Having killed her, let all of us cut her into equal portions."

Shloka 45 (sundara.24.45)

विभजाम ततः सर्वा विवादो मे न रोचते । पेयमानीयतां क्षिप्रं लेह्यमुच्चावचं बहु ॥ ४५ ॥

vibhajāma tataḥ sarvā vivādo me na rocate | peyamānīyatāṃ kṣipraṃ lehyamuccāvacaṃ bahu || 45 ||

"Thereafter we shall divide it among us — quarreling does not please me. Let much drink and many kinds of delicacies be brought quickly."

Shloka 46 (sundara.24.46)

ततः शूर्पणखा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । अजामुख्या यदुक्तं हि तदेव मम रोचते ॥ ४६ ॥

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt | ajāmukhyā yaduktaṃ hi tadeva mama rocate || 46 ||

Then a rakshasi named Shurpanakha spoke this word: "Whatever Ajamukhi has proposed pleases me too."

Shloka 47 (sundara.24.47)

सुरा चानीयतां क्षिप्रं सर्वशोकविनाशिनी । मानुषं मां समास्वाद्य नृत्यामोऽथ निकुम्भिलाम् ॥ ४७ ॥

surā cānīyatāṃ kṣipraṃ sarvaśokavināśinī | mānuṣaṃ māṃ samāsvādya nṛtyāmo'tha nikumbhilām || 47 ||

"Let liquor, destroyer of all sorrow, be brought quickly; tasting human flesh, we shall then dance for Nikumbhila."

Shloka 48 (sundara.24.48)

एवं संभर्त्स्यमाना सा सीता सुरसुतोपमा । राक्षसीभिः सुघोराभिर्धैर्यमुत्सृज्य रोदिति ॥ ४८ ॥

evaṃ saṃbhartsyamānā sā sītā surasutopamā | rākṣasībhiḥ sughorābhirdhairyamutsṛjya roditi || 48 ||

Thus threatened by those exceedingly horrible rakshasis, that Sita, equal to a daughter of the gods, abandoning all fortitude, wept.