Aranya Kanda, Sarga 46

तया परुषमुक्तस्तु कुपितो राघवानुजः। स विकाङ्क्षन्भृशं रामं प्रतस्थे नचिरादिव।।3.46.1।।

tayā paruṣamuktastu kupito rāghavānujaḥ| sa vikāṅkṣanbhṛśaṃ rāmaṃ pratasthe nacirādiva

Lakshmana, brother of Rama, hurt by the harsh words of Sita, hastened with Rama's wellbeing in mind.

तदासाद्य दशग्रीवः क्षिप्रमन्तरमास्थितः। अभिचक्राम वैदेहीं परिव्राजकरूपधृक्।।3.46.2।।

tadāsādya daśagrīvaḥ kṣipramantaramāsthitaḥ| abhicakrāma vaidehīṃ parivrājakarūpadhṛk

The tenheaded Ravana who was in hiding assumed the guise of a wandering mendicant and approached Sita.

श्लक्ष्णकाषायसंवीतश्शिखी छत्री उपानही। वामे चांसेऽवसज्याथ शुभे यष्टिकमण्डलू।।3.46.3।। परिव्राजकरूपेण वैदेहीमन्वपद्यत।

ślakṣṇakāṣāyasaṃvītaśśikhī chatrī upānahī| vāme cāṃse'vasajyātha śubhe yaṣṭikamaṇḍalū parivrājakarūpeṇa vaidehīmanvapadyata|

And then Ravana wearing fine orange robes, with hair knotted on the head, carrying a parasol, wearing sandals, hanging a kamandalu (waterpot), and a staff on the auspicious left shoulder walked towards Vaidehi like a mendicant.

तामाससादातिबलो भ्रातृभ्यां रहितां वने।।3.46.4।। रहितां चन्द्रसूर्याभ्यां सन्ध्यामिव महत्तमः।

tāmāsasādātibalo bhrātṛbhyāṃ rahitāṃ vane rahitāṃ candrasūryābhyāṃ sandhyāmiva mahattamaḥ|

Mighty Ravana approached Sita deprived of both the brothers, Like darkness encompasses the evening twilight in the absence of the Sun and the Moon.

तामपश्यत्ततो बालां रामपत्नीं यशस्विनीम्।।3.46.5।। रोहिणीं शशिना हीनां ग्रहवद्भृशदारुणः।

tāmapaśyattato bālāṃ rāmapatnīṃ yaśasvinīm rohiṇīṃ śaśinā hīnāṃ grahavadbhṛśadāruṇaḥ|

The extremely cruel Ravana saw the illustrious young wife of Rama just as Ketu looks at Rohini star in the absence of the Moon.

तमुग्रतेजःकर्माणं जनस्थानरूहा द्रुमाः।।3.46.6।। समीक्ष्य सम्प्रकम्पन्ते न प्रवाति च मारुतः।

tamugratejaḥkarmāṇaṃ janasthānarūhā drumāḥ samīkṣya samprakampante na pravāti ca mārutaḥ|

Seeing the ferocious Ravana, the huge trees at Janasthana shook vidently. Even the wind ceased to blow.

शीघ्रस्रोताश्च तं दृष्ट्वा वीक्षन्तं रक्तलोचनम्।।3.46.7।। स्तिमितं गन्तुमारेभे भयाद्गोदावरी नदी।

śīghrasrotāśca taṃ dṛṣṭvā vīkṣantaṃ raktalocanam stimitaṃ gantumārebhe bhayādgodāvarī nadī|

Seeing Ravana with his bloodred eyes, the swiftflowing river Godavari slowed down out of fear.

रामस्य त्वन्तरप्रेप्सुर्दशग्रीवस्तदन्तरे।।3.46.8।। उपतस्थे च वै देहीं भिक्षुरूपेण रावणः।

rāmasya tvantaraprepsurdaśagrīvastadantare upatasthe ca vai dehīṃ bhikṣurūpeṇa rāvaṇaḥ|

The tenheaded Ravana who was waiting for Rama's absence now got it. Disguised as a mendicant he stepped toward to where Sita was.

अभव्यो भव्यरूपेण भर्तारमनुशोचतीम्।।3.46.9।। अभ्यवर्तत वैदेहीं चित्रामिव शनैश्चरः।

abhavyo bhavyarūpeṇa bhartāramanuśocatīm abhyavartata vaidehīṃ citrāmiva śanaiścaraḥ|

The evilminded Ravana in the guise of a holy man, like Saturn moves towards Chitra star, came close to Sita who was brooding over her husband.

स पापो भव्यरूपेण तृणैः कूप इवावृतः।।3.46.10।। अतिष्ठत्प्रेक्ष्य वैदेहीं रामपत्निं यशस्विनीम्।

sa pāpo bhavyarūpeṇa tṛṇaiḥ kūpa ivāvṛtaḥ atiṣṭhatprekṣya vaidehīṃ rāmapatniṃ yaśasvinīm|

Just like a well is concealed by an overgrowth of grass, Ravana guised as a holy man stood looking at illustrious Sita, the wife of Rama.

शुभां रुचिरदन्तोष्ठीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्।।3.46.11।। आसीनां पर्णशालायां बाष्पशोकाभिपीडिताम्। स तां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्।।3.46.12।। अभ्यगच्छत वैदेहीं दुष्टचेता निशाचरः।

śubhāṃ ruciradantoṣṭhīṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām āsīnāṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ bāṣpaśokābhipīḍitām| sa tāṃ padmapalāśākṣīṃ pītakauśeyavāsinīm abhyagacchata vaidehīṃ duṣṭacetā niśācaraḥ|

The wicked demon came close to that auspicious princess from Videha sitting in the cottage Her face was like the full moon. Her teeth and lips were lovely. She was clad in yellow silk. Her eyes were like lotus petals tormented by tears of grief.

शुभां रुचिरदन्तोष्ठीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्।।3.46.11।। आसीनां पर्णशालायां बाष्पशोकाभिपीडिताम्। स तां पद्मपलाशाक्षीं पीतकौशेयवासिनीम्।।3.46.12।। अभ्यगच्छत वैदेहीं दुष्टचेता निशाचरः।

śubhāṃ ruciradantoṣṭhīṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām āsīnāṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ bāṣpaśokābhipīḍitām| sa tāṃ padmapalāśākṣīṃ pītakauśeyavāsinīm abhyagacchata vaidehīṃ duṣṭacetā niśācaraḥ|

The wicked demon came close to that auspicious princess from Videha sitting in the cottage Her face was like the full moon. Her teeth and lips were lovely. She was clad in yellow silk. Her eyes were like lotus petals tormented by tears of grief.

स मन्मथशराविष्टो ब्रह्मघोषमुदीरयन्।।3.46.13।। अब्रवीत्प्रश्रितं वाक्यं रहिते राक्षसाधिपः।

sa manmathaśarāviṣṭo brahmaghoṣamudīrayan abravītpraśritaṃ vākyaṃ rahite rākṣasādhipaḥ|

Struck by the arrows of the god of love, that lord of the demons, chanting verses from the Vedas, humbly spoke these words to her in a solitary spot.

तामुत्तमां स्त्रियं लोके पद्महीनामिव श्रियम्।।3.46.14।। विभ्राजमानां वपुषा रावणः प्रशशंस ह।

tāmuttamāṃ striyaṃ loke padmahīnāmiva śriyam vibhrājamānāṃ vapuṣā rāvaṇaḥ praśaśaṃsa ha|

Sita was the most lovely lady of the world shining in beauty. She was like the goddess of wealth (Laxmi) without her lotus. Ravana praised her thus:

का त्वं काञ्चनवर्णाभे पीतकौशेयवासिनि।।3.46.15।। कमलानां शुभां मालां पद्मिनीव हि बिभ्रती।

kā tvaṃ kāñcanavarṇābhe pītakauśeyavāsini kamalānāṃ śubhāṃ mālāṃ padminīva hi bibhratī|

Who are you with a golden complexion, clad in yellow silk, and looking like a lotuspond and wearing an auspicious lotus garland?

ह्रीः कीर्तिः श्रीश्शुभा लक्ष्मीरप्सरा वा शुभानने।।3.46.16।। भूतिर्वा त्वं वरारोहे रतिर्वा स्वैरचारिणी।

hrīḥ kīrtiḥ śrīśśubhā lakṣmīrapsarā vā śubhānane bhūtirvā tvaṃ varārohe ratirvā svairacāriṇī|

O lady with a beautiful face, with lovely thighs, are you 'hri', shyness personified? Are you the auspicious lovely Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth? Are you the goddess of fame? Are you an apsara? Are you Bhuti, the goddess of fortune? Or are you Rati, the goddess of love moving at your free will ?

समाश्शिखरिणस्स्निग्धाः पाण्डुरा दशनास्तव।।3.46.17।। विशाले विमले नेत्रे रक्तान्ते कृष्णतारके।

samāśśikhariṇassnigdhāḥ pāṇḍurā daśanāstava viśāle vimale netre raktānte kṛṣṇatārake|

Your teeth are even and pointed, white and beautiful.Your eyes are large and clear and sparkling with dark pupils with a red tinge at the corner.

विशालं जघनं पीनमूरू करिकरोपमौ।।3.46.18।। एतावुपचितौ वृत्तौ संहतौ सम्प्रवल्गितौ। पीनोन्नतमुखौ कान्तौ स्निग्धौ तालफलोपमौ।।3.46.19।। मणिप्रवेकाभरणौ रुचिरौ ते पयोधरौ।

viśālaṃ jaghanaṃ pīnamūrū karikaropamau etāvupacitau vṛttau saṃhatau sampravalgitau| pīnonnatamukhau kāntau snigdhau tālaphalopamau maṇipravekābharaṇau rucirau te payodharau|

Your big hips are stout and strong, Your smooth thighs are like the trunk of an elephant, your breasts adorned with gems, are round and robust like palm fruits and drooping with heaviness with projected stiff nipples, shining and delightful, adding beauty.

विशालं जघनं पीनमूरू करिकरोपमौ।।3.46.18।। एतावुपचितौ वृत्तौ संहतौ सम्प्रवल्गितौ। पीनोन्नतमुखौ कान्तौ स्निग्धौ तालफलोपमौ।।3.46.19।। मणिप्रवेकाभरणौ रुचिरौ ते पयोधरौ।

viśālaṃ jaghanaṃ pīnamūrū karikaropamau etāvupacitau vṛttau saṃhatau sampravalgitau| pīnonnatamukhau kāntau snigdhau tālaphalopamau maṇipravekābharaṇau rucirau te payodharau|

Your big hips are stout and strong, Your smooth thighs are like the trunk of an elephant, your breasts adorned with gems, are round and robust like palm fruits and drooping with heaviness with projected stiff nipples, shining and delightful, adding beauty.

चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि।।3.46.20।। मनो हरसि मे कान्ते नदी कूलमिवाम्भसा। करान्तमितमध्यासि सुकेशी संहतस्तनी।।3.46.21।।

cārusmite cārudati cārunetre vilāsini mano harasi me kānte nadī kūlamivāmbhasā| karāntamitamadhyāsi sukeśī saṃhatastanī

O lady with an elegant smile, beautiful teeth, lovely eyes you are enticing.Your slender waist can be compassed by my fist.Your hair is beautiful and your large breasts are rubbing against each other.You are capturing my mind just as the flow of water in a river touches its banks.

चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि।।3.46.20।। मनो हरसि मे कान्ते नदी कूलमिवाम्भसा। करान्तमितमध्यासि सुकेशी संहतस्तनी।।3.46.21।।

cārusmite cārudati cārunetre vilāsini mano harasi me kānte nadī kūlamivāmbhasā| karāntamitamadhyāsi sukeśī saṃhatastanī

O lady with an elegant smile, beautiful teeth, lovely eyes you are enticing.Your slender waist can be compassed by my fist.Your hair is beautiful and your large breasts are rubbing against each other.You are capturing my mind just as the flow of water in a river touches its banks.

नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी न यक्षी न च किन्नरी। नैवंरूपा मया नारी दृष्टपूर्वा महीतले।।3.46.22।।

naiva devī na gandharvī na yakṣī na ca kinnarī| naivaṃrūpā mayā nārī dṛṣṭapūrvā mahītale

O beautiful lady I have not seen such a beauty earlier either among goddesses or among gandharavis, or yakshis or even among kinneris.

रूपमग्र्यं च लोकेषु सौकुमार्यं वयश्चते। इह वासश्च कान्तारे चित्तमुन्मादयन्ति मे।।3.46.23।।

rūpamagryaṃ ca lokeṣu saukumāryaṃ vayaścate| iha vāsaśca kāntāre cittamunmādayanti me

You are the most beautiful among women in the world. With all your tenderness and youth you are living in this forlorn forest. This maddens my heart.

सा प्रतिक्राम भद्रं ते नैवं वस्तुमिहार्हसि। राक्षसानामयं वासो घोराणां कामरूपिणाम्।।3.46.24।।

sā pratikrāma bhadraṃ te naivaṃ vastumihārhasi| rākṣasānāmayaṃ vāso ghorāṇāṃ kāmarūpiṇām

It is not safe for a lady like you to reside here. Move out at once. This is only fit for the dwelling of horrible demons who can change their form at will.

प्रासादाग्राणि रम्याणि नगरोपवनानि च। सम्पन्नानि सुगन्धीनि युक्तान्याचरितुं त्वया।।3.46.25।।

prāsādāgrāṇi ramyāṇi nagaropavanāni ca| sampannāni sugandhīni yuktānyācarituṃ tvayā

You deserve to stroll in the terraces of palaces, in beautiful, luxurious and fragrant city gardens.

वरं माल्यं वरं भोज्यं वरं वस्त्रं च शोभने। भर्तारं च वरं मन्ये त्वद्युक्तमसितेक्षणे।।3.46.26।।

varaṃ mālyaṃ varaṃ bhojyaṃ varaṃ vastraṃ ca śobhane| bhartāraṃ ca varaṃ manye tvadyuktamasitekṣaṇe

O beautiful, blackeyed lady, I think you deserve the best of garlands, best of food, and clothes and a suitable husband.

का त्वं भवसि रुद्राणां मरुतां वा वरानने। वसूनां वा वरावोहे देवता प्रतिभासि मे।।3.46.27।।

kā tvaṃ bhavasi rudrāṇāṃ marutāṃ vā varānane| vasūnāṃ vā varāvohe devatā pratibhāsi me

O best of women O lady with beautiful buttocks can you be one of the Rudras or Maruts or Vasus? To me, you appear like a goddess.

नेह गच्छन्ति गन्धर्वा न देवा न च किन्नराः। राक्षसानामयं वासः कथं नु त्वमिहागता।।3.46.28।।

neha gacchanti gandharvā na devā na ca kinnarāḥ| rākṣasānāmayaṃ vāsaḥ kathaṃ nu tvamihāgatā

Neither gandharvas, nor kinnaras, nor gods move here. This is only a dwelling place for the demons. How did you come here ?

इह शाखामृगास्सिंहा द्वीपिव्याघ्रमृगास्तथा। ऋक्षास्तरक्षवः कङ्काः कथं तेभ्यो न बिभ्यसि।।3.46.29।।

iha śākhāmṛgāssiṃhā dvīpivyāghramṛgāstathā| ṛkṣāstarakṣavaḥ kaṅkāḥ kathaṃ tebhyo na bibhyasi

There are monkeys, lions, panthers, tigers, hyenas, bears, kanka birds and other wild animals here. How is it that you are not afraid of them?

मदान्वितानां घोराणां कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम्। कथमेका महारण्ये न बिभेषि वरानने।।3.46.30।।

madānvitānāṃ ghorāṇāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ tarasvinām| kathamekā mahāraṇye na bibheṣi varānane

O Charming lady how is it that although alone you are not afraid of the dreadful, swift, powerful wild animals like elephants in rut ?

कासि कस्य कुतश्चित्त्वं किं निमित्तं च दण्डकान्। एका चरसि कल्याणि घोरान्राक्षससेवितान्।।3.46.31।।

kāsi kasya kutaścittvaṃ kiṃ nimittaṃ ca daṇḍakān| ekā carasi kalyāṇi ghorānrākṣasasevitān

Who are you, O auspicious lady ? Who are your people? Why are you here? From where have you come? For what reason are you going about alone in this fierce Dandaka tract, inhabited by demons?

इति प्रशस्ता वैदेही रावणेन दुरात्मना। द्विजातिवेशेण हि तं दृष्ट्वा रावणमागतम्।।3.46.32।। सर्वैरतिथिसत्कारैः पूजयामास मैथिली।

iti praśastā vaidehī rāvaṇena durātmanā| dvijātiveśeṇa hi taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇamāgatam sarvairatithisatkāraiḥ pūjayāmāsa maithilī|

Seeing Ravana, a villain in the guise of a brahmin praising her, Sita, the princess of Videha, honoured him with all hospitality.

उपनीयासनं पूर्वं पाद्येनाभिनिमन्त्र्य च।।3.46.33।। अब्रवीत्सिद्धमित्येव तदा तं सौम्यदर्शनम्।

upanīyāsanaṃ pūrvaṃ pādyenābhinimantrya ca abravītsiddhamityeva tadā taṃ saumyadarśanam|

She offered the handsome guest a seat first and then water for washing his feet with, and then invited him for food.

द्विजातिवेषेण समीक्ष्य मैथिली समागतं पात्रकुसुम्भधारिणम्। अशक्यमुद्वेष्टुमपायदर्शनम् न्यमन्त्रयद्ब्राह्मणवत्तदाङ्गना।।3.46.34।।

dvijātiveṣeṇa samīkṣya maithilī samāgataṃ pātrakusumbhadhāriṇam| aśakyamudveṣṭumapāyadarśanam nyamantrayadbrāhmaṇavattadāṅganā

Sita, being a lady, was unable to doubt him since he came in the guise of a brahmin, holding a bottlegourd and a begging bowl. Without knowing his illintention she invited him in, mistaking him for a brahmin.

इयं बृसी ब्राह्मण काममास्यतामिदं च पाद्यं प्रतिगृह्यतामिति। इदं च सिद्धं वनजातमुत्तमं त्वदर्थमव्यग्रमिहोपभुज्यताम्।।3.46.35।।

iyaṃ bṛsī brāhmaṇa kāmamāsyatāmidaṃ ca pādyaṃ pratigṛhyatāmiti| idaṃ ca siddhaṃ vanajātamuttamaṃ tvadarthamavyagramihopabhujyatām

O brahmin, here is the seat for you. Feel free to sit. Here is water to wash your feet with. This is the best of food for you collected from the forest. Please partake this without hesitation.

निमन्त्र्यमाणः प्रतिपूर्णभाषिणीं नरेन्द्रपत्नीं प्रसमीक्ष्य मैथिलीम्। प्रसह्य तस्याहरणे धृतं मनः समर्पयत्स्वात्मवधाय रावणः।।3.46.36।।

nimantryamāṇaḥ pratipūrṇabhāṣiṇīṃ narendrapatnīṃ prasamīkṣya maithilīm| prasahya tasyāharaṇe dhṛtaṃ manaḥ samarpayatsvātmavadhāya rāvaṇaḥ

Ravana was observing the princess from Mithila, wife of a king inviting him and speaking to him in cordial manner. Looking at her, he resolved to abduct her forcibly, inviting his own death.

ततः सुवेषं मृगयागतं पतिं प्रतीक्षमाणा सहलक्ष्मणं तदा। विवीक्षमाणा हरितं ददर्श तन्महद्वनं नैव तु रामलक्ष्णौ।।3.46.37।।

tataḥ suveṣaṃ mṛgayāgataṃ patiṃ pratīkṣamāṇā sahalakṣmaṇaṃ tadā| vivīkṣamāṇā haritaṃ dadarśa tanmahadvanaṃ naiva tu rāmalakṣṇau

Sita looked out for the beautiful figure of Rama who had gone to hunt the deer along with Lakshmana. Waiting eagerly for her husband, she only saw the vast stretch of green forest but not Rama and Lakshmana. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे षट्चत्वारिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fortysixth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.