Sarga 24

ततः सीतामुपागम्य राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः। परुषं परुषा नार्य ऊचुस्तां वाक्यमप्रियम्।।5.24.1।।

Then the hideous ogresses approached Sita and spoke these harsh words in an unbecoming manner: Note...

किं त्वमन्तःपुरे सीते सर्वभूतमनोहरे। महार्हशयनोपेते न वासमनुमन्यसे।।5.24.2।।

'O Sita why don't you agree to dwell in Ravana's inner apartment furnished with fine bedsteads, and ...

मानुषी मानुषस्यैव भार्यात्वं बहुमन्यसे। प्रत्याहर मनो रामान्न त्वं जातु भविष्यसि।।5.24.3।।

'You are a woman, wife of Rama, an ordinary mortal you are holding in high esteem. Withdraw your mi...

त्रैलोक्यवसुभोक्तारं रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम्। भर्तारमुपसङ्गम्य विहरस्व यथासुखम्।।5.24.4।।

"Accept Ravana as your husband and after uniting with him enjoy all the pleasures of the three world...

मानुषी मानुषं तं तु राममिच्छसि शोभने। राज्याद्भ्र्रष्टमसिद्धार्थं विक्लबं त्वमनिन्दिते।।5.24.5।।

'O charming lady you have an irreproachable beauty and grace. Why do you think of human Rama only wh...

राक्षसीनां वचः श्रुत्वा सीता पद्मनिभेक्षणा। नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।5.24.6।।

Hearing the words of the ogresses, Sita with eyes like lotus petals full of tears replied this way:

यदिदं लोकविद्विष्टमुदाहरथ सङ्गताः। नैतन्मनसि वाक्यं मे किल्बिषं प्रतिभाति वः।।5.24.7।।

"All of you joined together and spoke such words that are not acceptable to the world. Your sinful w...

न मानुषी राक्षसस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हति। कामं खादत मां सर्वा न करिष्यामि वो वचः।।5.24.8।।

' A human being ought not to become wife of a demon. Devour me if you want. I refuse to accept your ...

दीनो वा राज्यहीनो वा यो मे भर्ता स मे गुरुः। तं नित्यमनुरक्तास्मि यथा सूर्यं सुवर्चला।।5.24.9।।

'Dejected or dethroned from the kingdom, Rama is my lawful husband. I will ever remain devoted to Ra...

यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति। अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा।।5.24.10।। लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त...

'I am steadfast (in love) to my husband Rama, the foremost of the Ikshvaku family in the same manner...

यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति। अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा।।5.24.10।। लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त...

'I am steadfast (in love) to my husband Rama, the foremost of the Ikshvaku family in the same manner...

यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति। अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा।।5.24.10।। लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त...

'I am steadfast (in love) to my husband Rama, the foremost of the Ikshvaku family in the same manner...

सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्छिताः।।5.24.13।। भर्त्सयन्ति स्म परुषैर्वाक्यै रावणचोदिताः।

Hearing the reply of Sita, the ogresses ordered by Ravana and overtaken by anger again began to thre...

अवलीनः स निर्वाक्यो हनूमान् शिंशुपाद्रुमे।।5.24.14।। यसीतां सन्तर्जयन्तीस्ता राक्षसीरशृणोत् कपिः।

Hanuman who kept himself concealed on the simsupa tree speechlessly listened to the ogresses threate...

तामभिक्रम्य सङ्कृद्धा वेपमानां समन्ततः।।5.24.15।। भृशं संलिलिहुर्दीप्तान् प्रलम्बान् दशनच्छदान्।

Sita was trembling in fear. The enraged ogresses went on licking their lips hanging, again and agai...

ऊचुश्च परमक्रुद्धाः प्रगृह्याशु परश्वधान्।।5.24.16।। नेयमर्हति भर्तारं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्।

The enraged ogresses immediately picked up the axes and rose up saying, 'she is unfit to have the de...

सा भर्त्स्यमाना भीमाभी राक्षसीभिर्वरानना।।5.24.17।। सबाष्पमप सर्पन्ती शिंशुपां तामुपागमत्।

As the charming Sita was threatened by the fierce ogresses, she moved towards the simsupa tree with ...

ततस्तां शिंशुपां सीता राक्षसीभिः समावृता।।5.24.18।। अभिगम्य विशालाक्षी तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुता।

Then the largeeyed Sita, drowned in sorrow surrounded by the ogresses went near the simsupa tree and...

तां कृशां दीनवदनां मलिनाम्बरधारिणीम्।।5.24.19।। भर्त्सयाञ्चक्रिरे सीतां राक्षस्यस्तां समन्ततः।

The ogresses started intimidating Sita who was dressed in soiled clothes and emaciated with a deject...

ततस्तां विनता नाम राक्षसी भीमदर्शना।।5.24.20।। अब्रवीत्कुपिताकारा कराला निर्णतोदरी।

Then a dark ogress called Vinata with a terryfying look, loathsome appearance and a large sunken bel...

सीते पर्याप्तमेतावद्भर्तुः स्नेहो निदर्शितः।।5.24.21।। सर्वात्रातिकृतं भद्रे व्यसनायोपकल्पते

'O Sita you have shown your love for your husband to this extent. It is enough. O auspicious lady an...

परितुष्टास्मि भद्रं ते मानुषस्ते कृतो विधिः।।5.24.22।। ममापि तु वचः पथ्यं ब्रुवन्त्याः कुरु मैथिलि।

"O Mythili I beseech you (to oblige Ravana). You have discharged your duty as a human being. Be happ...

रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम्।।5.24.23।। विक्रान्तं रूपवन्तं च सुरेशमिव वासवम्। दक्षिणं त्या...

'Accept as your husband the demon king Ravana, courageous and handsome like Indra, king of the gods ...

रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम्।।5.24.23।। विक्रान्तं रूपवन्तं च सुरेशमिव वासवम्। दक्षिणं त्या...

'Accept as your husband the demon king Ravana, courageous and handsome like Indra, king of the gods ...

मानुषं कृपणं रामं त्यक्त्वा, रावणमाश्रय। दिव्याङ्गरागा वैदेहि दिव्याभरणभूषिता।।5.24.25।। अद्यप्रभृति...

'Leave the helpless human Rama and seek Ravana's refuge. O Vaidehi, using the heavenly unguents and ...

अग्नेः स्वाहा यथा देवी शची वेन्द्रस्य शोभने।।5.24.26।। किं ते रामेण वैदेहि कृपणेन गतायुषा।

O beautiful Sita Just like Swaha, queen to the Firegod and Sachi to Indra, accept Ravana. Why are yo...

एतदुक्तं च मे वाक्यं यदि त्वं न करिष्यसि।।5.24.27।। अस्मिन्मुहूर्ते सर्वास्त्वां भक्षयिष्यामहे वयम्।

'If you do not heed our words of advice, all of us will eat you at this very moment.'

अन्या तु विकटा नाम लम्बमानपयोधरा।।5.24.28।। अब्रवीत्कुपिता सीतां मुष्टिमुद्यम्य गर्जती।

Now Vikata another ogress with hanging breasts raised her fist up in anger and roared at Sita.

बहून्यप्रियरूपाणि वचनानि सुदुर्मते।।5.24.29।। अनुक्रोशान्मृदुत्वाच्च सोढानि तव मैथिलि।

O wicked Mythili! we have tolerated many unpleasant words uttered by you due to our kindness and mil...

न च नः कुरुषे वाक्यं हितं कालपुरस्कृतम्।।5.24.30।। आनीतासि समुद्रस्य पारमन्यैर्दुरासदम्। रावणान्तःपु...

'O Mythili you have heeded not our good and timely advice tendered in your interest. You have been b...

न च नः कुरुषे वाक्यं हितं कालपुरस्कृतम्।।5.24.30।। आनीतासि समुद्रस्य पारमन्यैर्दुरासदम्। रावणान्तःपु...

'O Mythili you have heeded not our good and timely advice tendered in your interest. You have been b...

रावणस्य गृहे रुद्धामस्माभिस्तु सुरक्षिताम्। न त्वां शक्तः परित्रातुमपि साक्षात्पुरन्दरः।।5.24.32।।

'You are in Ravana's house, wellguarded by us. It is not possible even for Indra, destroyer of citad...

कुरुष्व हितवादिन्या वचनं मम मैथिलि। अलमश्रुप्रपातेन त्यज शोकमनर्थकम्।।5.24.33।।

'Mythili, act according to our advice. I am your wellwisher. Give up sorrow and stop shedding useles...

भज प्रीतिं च हर्षं च त्यजैतां नित्यदैन्यताम्। सीते राक्षसराजेन सह क्रीड यथासुखम्।।5.24.34।।

'O Sita offer your love to Ravana, adore him and be happy. Give up this continuous dejection. Enjoy ...

जानासि हि यथा भीरु स्त्रीणां यौवनमध्रुवम्। यावन्न ते व्यतिक्रामेत्तावत्सुखमवाप्नुहि।।5.24.35।।

'O timid Sita know that youth of women is fleeting and transient. Before it is over, enjoy all kinds...

उद्यानानि च रम्याणि पर्वतोपवनानि च। सह राक्षसराजेन चर त्वं मदिरेक्षणे।।5.24.36।।

'O lady of intoxicating eyes range in the company of the demon king, the delightful gardens and moun...

स्त्री सहस्राणि ते सप्त वशे स्थास्यन्ति सुन्दरि। रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम्।।5.24.37।।

'O beautiful Sita seven thousand ogresses will be at your beck and call. (Therefore) accept Ravana, ...

उत्पाट्य वा ते हृदयं भक्षयिष्यामि मैथिलि। यदि मे व्याहृतं वाक्यं न यथावत्करिष्यसि।।5.24.38।।

'O Mythili if you heed not my words of advice, I will pluck out your heart and eat it up'.

ततश्चण्डोदरी नाम राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता। भ्रामयन्ती महच्छूलमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।5.24.39।।

Next spoke a fiercelooking ogress called Chandodari, overcome with anger taking up a huge trident an...

इमां हरिणलोलाक्षीं त्रासोत्कम्पिपयोधराम्। रावणेन हृतां दृष्टवा दौहृदो मे महानभूत्।।5.24.40।।

'I have developed a morbid desire to feast upon this woman with eyes flashing like doe's, whose brea...

यकृत्प्लीहमथोत्पीडं हृदयं च सबन्धनम्। आन्त्राण्यपि तथा शीर्षं खादेयमिति मे मतिः।।5.24.41।।

'I thought of feasting on your spleen, liver, heart, all the joints, head and intestines.'

ततस्तु प्रघसा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। कण्ठमस्या नृशंसायाः पीडयाम किमास्यते।।5.24.42।।

Next spoke an ogress called Praghasa, saying 'Why not we twist and squeeze the neck of this heartles...

निवेद्यतां ततो राज्ञे मानुषी सा मृतेति ह। नात्र कश्चन संदेहः खादतेति स वक्ष्यति।।5.24.43।।

'Thereafter we will announce that such a human being is dead. Then Ravana will simply say 'eat her u...

ततस्त्वजामुखी नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। विशस्येमां ततः सर्वाः समान् कुरुत पिण्डकान्।।5.24.44।।

Then an ogress called Ajamukhi said, 'Let her body be cut into lumps of equal pieces.

विभजाम ततः सर्वा विवादो मे न रोचते। पेयमानीयतां क्षिप्रं लेह्यमुच्चावचं बहु।।5.24.45।।

'We shall share them. I do not like disputes in this regard. Go swiftly and get drinks and food to l...

ततः शूर्पणखा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। अजामुख्या यदुक्तं हि तदेव मम रोचते।।5.24.46।।

Then an ogress called Surpanakha said, 'I too like the proposal of Ajamukhi.'

सुरा चानीयतां क्षिप्रं सर्वशोकविनाशिनी। मानुषं मांसमास्वाद्य नृत्यामोऽथ निकुम्भिलाम्।।5.24.47।।

'Get the wine quickly, destroyer of all sorrows. After relishing the human flesh we will start Nikum...

एवं संभर्त्स्यमाना सा सीता सुरसुतोपमा। राक्षसीभिः सुघोराभिर्दैर्यमुत्सृज्य रोदिति।।5.24.48।।

Threatened by the ogresses in that manner, Sita who was like the daughter of a god, cried aloud. इत्...