Ravana's Deception of Sita

Shloka 1 (yuddha.31.1)

ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलम् लङ्कायां नृपतेश्चराः । सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन् । ॥ 31.1 ॥

tatastamakṣobhyabalam laṅkāyāṃ nṛpateścarāḥ | suvele rāghavaṃ śaile niviṣṭaṃ pratyavedayan | || 31.1 ||

The king's spies in Lanka reported to him that Raghava, with his unshakeable army, had encamped on Mount Suvela.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.31.2)

चाराणाम् रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तम् रामम् महाबलम् । जातोद्वेगोऽभवत्किंचित्सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् । ॥ 31.2 ॥

cārāṇām rāvaṇaḥ śrutvā prāptam rāmam mahābalam | jātodvego'bhavatkiṃcitsacivānidamabravīt | || 31.2 ||

Hearing from his spies that mighty Rama had arrived, Ravana grew somewhat agitated and spoke these words to his ministers.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.31.3)

मन्त्रिणः शीघ्रमायान्तु सर्वे वै सु समाहिताः । अयम् नो मन्त्रकालो हि सम्प्रास्त इति राक्षसाः । ॥ 31.3 ॥

mantriṇaḥ śīghramāyāntu sarve vai su samāhitāḥ | ayam no mantrakālo hi samprāsta iti rākṣasāḥ | || 31.3 ||

"Let all the ministers come at once, fully attentive of mind - O demons, this is now the hour for counsel."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.31.4)

तस्य तच्चासनम् श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणोऽभ्यागमन् द्रुतम् । ततः स मन्त्रयामास राक्षसैः सचिवैः सह । ॥ 31.4 ॥

tasya taccāsanam śrutvā mantriṇo'bhyāgaman drutam | tataḥ sa mantrayāmāsa rākṣasaiḥ sacivaiḥ saha | || 31.4 ||

Hearing his command, the ministers came swiftly. Then he took counsel with his demon ministers.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.31.5)

मन्त्रयित्वा तु दुर्धर्षः क्षमं यत्तदन्न्तरम् । विसर्जयित्वा सचिवान् प्रविवेश स्वमालयम् । ॥ 31.5 ॥

mantrayitvā tu durdharṣaḥ kṣamaṃ yattadanntaram | visarjayitvā sacivān praviveśa svamālayam | || 31.5 ||

Having deliberated on what was fitting to be done next, the formidable Ravana dismissed his ministers and entered his own palace.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.31.6)

ततो राक्षसमादाय विद्युज्जिह्वम् महाबलम् । मायाविदम् महामायः प्रविशद्यत्र मैथिली । ॥ 31.6 ॥

tato rākṣasamādāya vidyujjihvam mahābalam | māyāvidam mahāmāyaḥ praviśadyatra maithilī | || 31.6 ||

Then that great illusionist took with him the mighty demon Vidyujjihva, who knew magic spells, and went to the place where Maithili was.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.31.7)

विद्युज्जिह्वम् च मायाज्ञमब्रवीद्राक्षसाधिपः । मोहयिष्यावहे सीताम् मायया जनकात्मजाम् । ॥ 31.7 ॥

vidyujjihvam ca māyājñamabravīdrākṣasādhipaḥ | mohayiṣyāvahe sītām māyayā janakātmajām | || 31.7 ||

The lord of demons said to Vidyujjihva, the knower of illusions, "Together we shall bewilder Sita, the daughter of Janaka, with our magic."

Shloka 8 (yuddha.31.8)

शिरो मायामयम् गृह्य राघवस्य विशाचर । मां त्वं समुपतिष्ठस्व महच्च सशरम् धनुः । ॥ 31.8 ॥

śiro māyāmayam gṛhya rāghavasya viśācara | māṃ tvaṃ samupatiṣṭhasva mahacca saśaram dhanuḥ | || 31.8 ||

"O night-ranger, fashion an illusory head of Raghava and present yourself before me, along with a great bow and arrows."

Shloka 9 (yuddha.31.9)

एवमुक्त स्तथेत्याह विद्युज्जिह्वो निशाचतः । दर्शयामास ताम् मायाम् सुप्रयुक्ताम् स रावणे । ॥ 31.9 ॥

evamukta stathetyāha vidyujjihvo niśācataḥ | darśayāmāsa tām māyām suprayuktām sa rāvaṇe | || 31.9 ||

So addressed, the demon Vidyujjihva said "So be it," and displayed to Ravana that illusion, skillfully wrought.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.31.10)

तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद्राजा प्रददौ च विभूषणम् । अशोकवनिकायाम् च सीतादर्शनलालसः । ॥ 31.10 ॥

tasya tuṣṭo'bhavadrājā pradadau ca vibhūṣaṇam | aśokavanikāyām ca sītādarśanalālasaḥ | || 31.10 ||

The king was pleased with him and gave him an ornament in reward. Then, eager for a sight of Sita, in the Ashoka grove -

Shloka 11 (yuddha.31.11)

नैरृतानामधिपतिः सम्विवेश महाबलः । ततो दीनामदैन्यार्हाम् ददर्श धनदानुजः । ॥ 31.11 ॥

nairṛtānāmadhipatiḥ samviveśa mahābalaḥ | tato dīnāmadainyārhām dadarśa dhanadānujaḥ | || 31.11 ||

- the mighty lord of the rakshasas, Kubera's younger brother, made his entry. There he beheld the wretched one, undeserving of such wretchedness.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.31.12)

अधोमुखीं शोकपरामुपविष्टाम् महीतले । भर्तारमेव ध्यायन्तीमशोकवनिकाम् गताम् । ॥ 31.12 ॥

adhomukhīṃ śokaparāmupaviṣṭām mahītale | bhartārameva dhyāyantīmaśokavanikām gatām | || 31.12 ||

She sat upon the ground, her face bowed down, sunk in grief, absorbed only in thoughts of her husband, having reached that Ashoka grove.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.31.13)

उपास्यमानाम् घोराभी राक्षसीभिरदूरतः । उपसृत्य ततः सीताम् प्रहर्षं नाम कीर्तयन् । ॥ 31.13 ॥

upāsyamānām ghorābhī rākṣasībhiradūrataḥ | upasṛtya tataḥ sītām praharṣaṃ nāma kīrtayan | || 31.13 ||

Then, approaching Sita, who was attended nearby by dreadful ogresses, and proclaiming his own name with delight -

Shloka 14 (yuddha.31.14)

इदम् च वचनम् धृष्टमुवाच जनकात्मजाम् । सान्त्व्यमाना मया भद्रे यमाश्रित्य विमन्यसे । ॥ 31.14 ॥

idam ca vacanam dhṛṣṭamuvāca janakātmajām | sāntvyamānā mayā bhadre yamāśritya vimanyase | || 31.14 ||

- he spoke this insolent speech to the daughter of Janaka: "O gentle one, he for whose sake you spurned my consolation and would not be comforted by me -

Shloka 15 (yuddha.31.15)

खरहन्ता स ते भर्ता राघवः समरे हतः । चिन्नम् ते सर्वथा मूलम् दर्पश्च विहतो मया । ॥ 31.15 ॥

kharahantā sa te bhartā rāghavaḥ samare hataḥ | cinnam te sarvathā mūlam darpaśca vihato mayā | || 31.15 ||

- that Rama, the slayer of Khara, your husband, has been killed in battle. Your root has been utterly severed and your pride has been struck down by me."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.31.16)

व्यसनेनात्मनः सीते मम भार्या भविष्यसि । विसृजैतां मतिं मूढे किं मृतेन करिष्यसि । ॥ 31.16 ॥

vyasanenātmanaḥ sīte mama bhāryā bhaviṣyasi | visṛjaitāṃ matiṃ mūḍhe kiṃ mṛtena kariṣyasi | || 31.16 ||

"By this calamity of yours, Sita, you shall now become my wife. Abandon this resolve, O deluded one - what use is a dead man to you?

Shloka 17 (yuddha.31.17)

भवस्व भद्रे भार्याणां सर्वासामीश्वरी मम । अल्पपुण्ये निवृत्तार्थे मूढे पण्डितमानिनि । ॥ 31.17 ॥

bhavasva bhadre bhāryāṇāṃ sarvāsāmīśvarī mama | alpapuṇye nivṛttārthe mūḍhe paṇḍitamānini | || 31.17 ||

Become, O gentle one, the mistress over all my queens. O deluded one of scant merit, your purpose thwarted, thinking yourself wise -

Shloka 18 (yuddha.31.18)

शृणु भर्तृवधम् सीते घोरं वृत्रवधं यथा । समायातः समुद्रान्तं हन्तुं मां किल राघवः । ॥ 31.18 ॥

śṛṇu bhartṛvadham sīte ghoraṃ vṛtravadhaṃ yathā | samāyātaḥ samudrāntaṃ hantuṃ māṃ kila rāghavaḥ | || 31.18 ||

- hear, O Sita, of your husband's dreadful slaying, even as the slaying of Vritra. Raghava had truly come to the sea's edge to kill me,

Shloka 19 (yuddha.31.19)

वानरेन्द्रप्रणीतेन बलेव महता वृतः । सम्निविष्टः समुद्रस्य पीड्य तीरमथोत्तरम् । ॥ 31.19 ॥

vānarendrapraṇītena baleva mahatā vṛtaḥ | samniviṣṭaḥ samudrasya pīḍya tīramathottaram | || 31.19 ||

surrounded by a vast army marshalled by the lord of monkeys, and had encamped there, pressing upon the northern shore of the sea, as the sun went down.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.31.20)

बलेन महता रामो व्रजत्यस्तम् दिवाकरे । अथाध्वनि परिश्रान्तमर्धरात्रे स्थितम् बलम् । ॥ 31.20 ॥

balena mahatā rāmo vrajatyastam divākare | athādhvani pariśrāntamardharātre sthitam balam | || 31.20 ||

Then, while their army lay there wearied from the march, sound asleep at midnight, it was first approached and scouted out by our spies.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.31.21)

सुखसुप्तं समासाद्य चरितम् प्रथमं चरैः । तत्प्रहस्तप्रणीतेन बलेन महता मम । ॥ 31.21 ॥

sukhasuptaṃ samāsādya caritam prathamaṃ caraiḥ | tatprahastapraṇītena balena mahatā mama | || 31.21 ||

By my own great army, led by Prahasta, Rama's forces were destroyed that very night, at the very spot where Rama and Lakshmana lay -

Shloka 22 (yuddha.31.22)

बलमस्य हतम् रात्रौ यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः । पट्टिशान् परिघांश्चक्रानृष्टीर्दण्डान्महायुधान् । ॥ 31.22 ॥

balamasya hatam rātrau yatra rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ | paṭṭiśān parighāṃścakrānṛṣṭīrdaṇḍānmahāyudhān | || 31.22 ||

- where Rama's army was slain that night, along with Lakshmana. Wielding halberds, maces, discuses, spikes, clubs and great weapons -

Shloka 23 (yuddha.31.23)

बाणजालानि शूलानि भास्वरान् कूटमुद्गरान् । यष्टीश्च तोमरान् प्रासांश्चक्राणि मुसलानि च । ॥ 31.23 ॥

bāṇajālāni śūlāni bhāsvarān kūṭamudgarān | yaṣṭīśca tomarān prāsāṃścakrāṇi musalāni ca | || 31.23 ||

- showers of arrows, gleaming spears, spiked mallets, staves, lances, javelins, discuses and clubs, the demons wielded them again and again and struck down the monkeys.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.31.24)

उद्यम्योद्यम्य रक्षोभिर्वानरेषु निपातिताः । अथ सुप्तस्य रामस्य प्रहस्तेन प्रमाथिना । ॥ 31.24 ॥

udyamyodyamya rakṣobhirvānareṣu nipātitāḥ | atha suptasya rāmasya prahastena pramāthinā | || 31.24 ||

Then, while Rama lay asleep, the fierce Prahasta, his hand made ready, severed his head with his mighty sword, unopposed by anyone.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.31.25)

असक्तम् कृतहस्तेन शिरश्छिन्नं महासिना । विभीषणः समुत्पत्य निगृहीतो यदृच्छया । ॥ 31.25 ॥

asaktam kṛtahastena śiraśchinnaṃ mahāsinā | vibhīṣaṇaḥ samutpatya nigṛhīto yadṛcchayā | || 31.25 ||

Vibhishana, by chance, was seized and captured after leaping up; Lakshmana, together with the monkey hosts, was driven off in every direction.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.31.26)

दिशम् प्रव्राजितः सैन्यैर्लक्ष्मणः प्लवगैः सह । सुग्रीवो ग्रीवया सीते भग्नया प्लवगाधिपः । ॥ 31.26 ॥

diśam pravrājitaḥ sainyairlakṣmaṇaḥ plavagaiḥ saha | sugrīvo grīvayā sīte bhagnayā plavagādhipaḥ | || 31.26 ||

O Sita, Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, with his neck broken, and Hanuman -

Shloka 27 (yuddha.31.27)

निरस्तहनुकः श्रेते हनुमान् राक्षसैर्हतः । जाम्बवानथ जानुभ्यामुत्पतन्निहतो युधि । ॥ 31.27 ॥

nirastahanukaḥ śrete hanumān rākṣasairhataḥ | jāmbavānatha jānubhyāmutpatannihato yudhi | || 31.27 ||

- his jaw torn away, lie slain by the demons. Jambavan too, as he sprang up upon his knees, was struck down in the fighting -

Shloka 28 (yuddha.31.28)

पट्टिशैर्बहुभिश्छन्नो विकृत्तः सादपो यथा । मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभौ तौ वानरवरर्षभौ । ॥ 31.28 ॥

paṭṭiśairbahubhiśchanno vikṛttaḥ sādapo yathā | maindaśca dvividaścobhau tau vānaravararṣabhau | || 31.28 ||

- covered by many spears, hacked apart like a felled tree. And Mainda and Dvivida, that pair of foremost bulls among monkeys -

Shloka 29 (yuddha.31.29)

निःश्वसन्तौ रुदन्तौ च रुधिरेण परीवृतौ । असिना व्यायतौ चिन्नौ मध्ये ह्यरिनिषूदनौ । ॥ 31.29 ॥

niḥśvasantau rudantau ca rudhireṇa parīvṛtau | asinā vyāyatau cinnau madhye hyariniṣūdanau | || 31.29 ||

- breathing hard and weeping, drenched all over in blood, were cut through the middle by a sword, those two slayers of foes.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.31.30)

अनुश्वसिति मेदिन्याम् पनसः पनसो यथा । ॥ 31.30 ॥

anuśvasiti medinyām panasaḥ panaso yathā | || 31.30 ||

Panasa lay groaning upon the earth, like a jackfruit-tree fallen.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.31.31)

वाराचैर्बहुभिश्छन्नः श्रेते दर्याम् दरीमुखः । कुमुदस्तु महातेजा निष्कूजन् सायकैर्हतः । ॥ 31.31 ॥

vārācairbahubhiśchannaḥ śrete daryām darīmukhaḥ | kumudastu mahātejā niṣkūjan sāyakairhataḥ | || 31.31 ||

Pierced through by many steel-tipped arrows, Darimukha lay in a mountain cleft; and the mighty Kumuda, on his part, shrieking, was slain by a hail of arrows.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.31.32)

अङ्गदो बहुभिश्छिन्नः शरैरासाद्य राक्षसैः । परितो रुधिरोद्गारी क्षितौ निपतिताङ्गदः । ॥ 31.32 ॥

aṅgado bahubhiśchinnaḥ śarairāsādya rākṣasaiḥ | parito rudhirodgārī kṣitau nipatitāṅgadaḥ | || 31.32 ||

Angada lay struck down by many arrows at the hands of the demons who had closed upon him, fallen to the ground, gushing blood on every side.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.31.33)

हरयो मथिता नागै रथजालैस्तथापरे । शयाना मृदितास्तत्र वायुवेगैरिवाम्बुदाः । ॥ 31.33 ॥

harayo mathitā nāgai rathajālaistathāpare | śayānā mṛditāstatra vāyuvegairivāmbudāḥ | || 31.33 ||

Other monkeys lying there were crushed by elephants and by the massed press of chariots, as clouds are torn apart by the force of the wind.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.31.34)

प्रसृताश्च परे त्रस्ताः हन्यमाना जघन्यतः । अनुद्रुतास्तु रक्षोभिः सिम्हैरिव महाद्विपाः । ॥ 31.34 ॥

prasṛtāśca pare trastāḥ hanyamānā jaghanyataḥ | anudrutāstu rakṣobhiḥ simhairiva mahādvipāḥ | || 31.34 ||

The rest fled about in terror, struck from behind and pursued by the demons, as great elephants are pursued by lions.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.31.35)

सागरे पतिताः केचित्केचिद्गगनमाश्रिताः । ऋक्षा वृक्षानुपारूढा वानरैर्व्यतिमिश्रिताः । ॥ 31.35 ॥

sāgare patitāḥ kecitkecidgaganamāśritāḥ | ṛkṣā vṛkṣānupārūḍhā vānarairvyatimiśritāḥ | || 31.35 ||

Some fell into the sea, some took refuge in the sky; the bears climbed up into the trees, mingled together with the monkeys.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.31.36)

सागरस्य च तीरेषु शैलेषु च वनेषु च । पिङ्गलास्ते विरूपाक्षे राक्षसैर्बहवो हताः । ॥ 31.36 ॥

sāgarasya ca tīreṣu śaileṣu ca vaneṣu ca | piṅgalāste virūpākṣe rākṣasairbahavo hatāḥ | || 31.36 ||

On the sea's shores, upon the mountains and in the forests, that tawny host was slain in great numbers by the demons of monstrous eyes.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.31.37)

एवम् तव हतो भर्ता ससैन्यो मम सेवया । क्षतजार्द्रं रजोध्वस्तमिदं चाप्याहृतम् शिरः । ॥ 31.37 ॥

evam tava hato bhartā sasainyo mama sevayā | kṣatajārdraṃ rajodhvastamidaṃ cāpyāhṛtam śiraḥ | || 31.37 ||

"Thus was your husband slain, together with his army, by my forces. This head, wet with his blood and covered with dust, has been brought here."

Shloka 38 (yuddha.31.38)

ततः परमदुर्धर्षो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । सीतायामुपशृण्वत्यां राक्षसीमिद मब्रवीत् । ॥ 31.38 ॥

tataḥ paramadurdharṣo rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ | sītāyāmupaśṛṇvatyāṃ rākṣasīmida mabravīt | || 31.38 ||

Then Ravana, lord of demons, exceedingly formidable, spoke thus to a rakshasi, while Sita listened from nearby.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.31.39)

राक्षसम् क्रूरकर्माणम् विद्युज्जिह्वम् समानय । येन तद्रघनशिरः सङ्ग्रमात्स्वयमाहृतम् । ॥ 31.39 ॥

rākṣasam krūrakarmāṇam vidyujjihvam samānaya | yena tadraghanaśiraḥ saṅgramātsvayamāhṛtam | || 31.39 ||

"Bring here the demon of cruel deeds, Vidyujjihva, by whom Raghava's very head was brought back with his own hands from the battlefield."

Shloka 40 (yuddha.31.40)

विद्युज्जिह्व स्तदा गृह्य शिरस्तत्सशरासनम् । प्रणामम् शिरसा कृत्वा रावणस्याग्रतः स्थितः । ॥ 31.40 ॥

vidyujjihva stadā gṛhya śirastatsaśarāsanam | praṇāmam śirasā kṛtvā rāvaṇasyāgrataḥ sthitaḥ | || 31.40 ||

Then Vidyujjihva, taking up that head together with the bow and arrows, made his obeisance with bowed head and stood before Ravana.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.31.41)

तमब्रवीत्ततो राजा रावणो राक्षसम् स्थितम् । विद्युज्जिह्वम् महाजिह्वम् समीपपरिवर्तिनम् । ॥ 31.41 ॥

tamabravīttato rājā rāvaṇo rākṣasam sthitam | vidyujjihvam mahājihvam samīpaparivartinam | || 31.41 ||

Then king Ravana spoke to that demon Vidyujjihva of the great tongue, standing there close beside him -

Shloka 42 (yuddha.31.42)

अग्रतः कुरु सीतायाः श्रीघ्रं दाशरथेः शिरः । अवस्थां पश्चिमां भर्तुः कृपणा साधु पश्यतु । ॥ 31.42 ॥

agrataḥ kuru sītāyāḥ śrīghraṃ dāśaratheḥ śiraḥ | avasthāṃ paścimāṃ bhartuḥ kṛpaṇā sādhu paśyatu | || 31.42 ||

"Set the son of Dasharatha's head at once before Sita. Let the poor wretch behold well her husband's final state.

Shloka 43 (yuddha.31.43)

एवमुक्तं तु तद्रक्षः शिरस्तत्प्रियदर्शनम् । उपनिक्षिप्य सीतायाः क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत । ॥ 31.43 ॥

evamuktaṃ tu tadrakṣaḥ śirastatpriyadarśanam | upanikṣipya sītāyāḥ kṣipramantaradhīyata | || 31.43 ||

So commanded, that demon set that once-cherished head down close by Sita, and swiftly vanished from that place.

Shloka 44 (yuddha.31.44)

रावणश्चापि चिक्षेप भास्वरम् कार्मुकम् महत् । त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातम् रामस्यैतदिति ब्रुवन् । ॥ 31.44 ॥

rāvaṇaścāpi cikṣepa bhāsvaram kārmukam mahat | triṣu lokeṣu vikhyātam rāmasyaitaditi bruvan | || 31.44 ||

Ravana, too, flung down a great gleaming bow, declaring, "This is Rama's own bow, renowned in all three worlds!"

Shloka 45 (yuddha.31.45)

इदम् तत्तव रामस्य कार्मुकं ज्यासमाव्ऱ्६इतम् । इह प्रहस्तेवानीतम् तम् हत्वा निशि मानुषम् । ॥ 31.45 ॥

idam tattava rāmasya kārmukaṃ jyāsamāvऱ्6itam | iha prahastevānītam tam hatvā niśi mānuṣam | || 31.45 ||

"This, indeed, is that very bow of yours - of Rama, still strung with its cord - brought here by Prahasta after he slew that mortal in the night."

Shloka 46 (yuddha.31.46)

स विद्युज्जिह्वेन सहैव तच्छिरो धनुश्च भूमौ विनिकीर्यमाणः । विदेहराजस्य सुताम् यशस्विनीं ततोऽब्रवीत्ताम् भव मे वशानुगा । ॥ 31.46 ॥

sa vidyujjihvena sahaiva tacchiro dhanuśca bhūmau vinikīryamāṇaḥ | videharājasya sutām yaśasvinīṃ tato'bravīttām bhava me vaśānugā | || 31.46 ||

So Ravana, together with Vidyujjihva, flung down that head and bow upon the ground before the illustrious daughter of the king of Videha, and said to her, "Now become submissive to me."