Sundara Kanda, Sarga 23

इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रुरावणः। सन्दिश्य च ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्निर्जगाम ह।।5.23.1।।

ityuktvā maithilīṃ rājā rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ| sandiśya ca tataḥ sarvā rākṣasīrnirjagāma ha

King Ravana, tormentor of enemies, having thus spoken to Mythili commanded the demonesses and departed.

निष्क्रान्ते राक्षसेन्द्रे तु पुनरन्तःपुरं गते। राक्षस्यो भीमरूपास्ताः सीतां समभिदुद्रुवुः।।5.23.2।।

niṣkrānte rākṣasendre tu punarantaḥpuraṃ gate| rākṣasyo bhīmarūpāstāḥ sītāṃ samabhidudruvuḥ

As the demon king left for his abode all the demonesses of hideous looks rushed towards Sita and crowded around her.

ततः सीतामुपागम्य राक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्छिताः। परं परुषया वाचा वैदेहीमिदमब्रुवन्।।5.23.3।।

tataḥ sītāmupāgamya rākṣasyaḥ krodhamūrchitāḥ| paraṃ paruṣayā vācā vaidehīmidamabruvan

The demonesses, overcome with anger, approached Sita and harshly said:

पौलस्त्यस्य वरिष्ठस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः। दशग्रीवस्य भार्या त्वं सीते न बहुमन्यसे।।5.23.4।।

paulastyasya variṣṭhasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ| daśagrīvasya bhāryā tvaṃ sīte na bahumanyase

'O Sita don't you think it is a privilege to be the wife of the highsouled, tennecked Ravana, who is the distinguished king of a high family of sage Paulastya?

ततस्त्वेकजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। आमन्त्य्र क्रोधाताम्राक्षी सीतां करतलोदरीम्।।5.23.5।।

tatastvekajaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt| āmantyra krodhātāmrākṣī sītāṃ karatalodarīm

Then Ekajata, a shedemon of hideous looks, eyes red with anger and a belly of the size of the palm said to Sita:

प्रजापतीनां षण्णां तु चतुर्थो यः प्रजापतिः। मानसो ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः पुलस्त्य इति विश्रुतः।।5.23.6।।

prajāpatīnāṃ ṣaṇṇāṃ tu caturtho yaḥ prajāpatiḥ| mānaso brahmaṇaḥ putraḥ pulastya iti viśrutaḥ

'The mindborn son of Brahma is well known as Paulastya. He was the fourth among the six Prajapatis (Maricha, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Plaha, Kratu).

पुलस्त्यस्य तु तेजस्वी महर्षिर्मानसः सुतः। नाम्ना स विश्रवा नाम प्रजापतिसमप्रभः।।5.23.7।।

pulastyasya tu tejasvī maharṣirmānasaḥ sutaḥ| nāmnā sa viśravā nāma prajāpatisamaprabhaḥ

'This glorious mindborn sage Pulastya's son is the famous Vishrava who, in glory and splendour was equal to Prajapatis.

तस्य पुत्रो विशालाक्षि रावणः शत्रुरावणः। तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि।।5.23.8।। मयोक्तं चारुसर्वाङ्गिः वाक्यं किं नानुमन्यसे।

tasya putro viśālākṣi rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ| tasya tvaṃ rākṣasendrasya bhāryā bhavitumarhasi mayoktaṃ cārusarvāṅgiḥ vākyaṃ kiṃ nānumanyase|

'O largeeyes lady to become the wife of the lord of demons is a stroke of good luck. You deserve to be one. O lady of beautiful limbs why don't you accept his proposal?'

ततो हरिजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।5.23.9।। विवर्त्य नयने कोपान्मार्जारसदृशेक्षणा।

tato harijaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt vivartya nayane kopānmārjārasadṛśekṣaṇā|

Then an ogress called Harijata said this in anger, her cateyes rolling:

येन देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवराजश्च निर्जिताः।।5.23.10।। तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि।

yena devāstrayastriṃśaddevarājaśca nirjitāḥ tasya tvaṃ rākṣasendrasya bhāryā bhavitumarhasi|

'You ought to be the wife of the lord of ogres who has vanquished thirty three crores of gods including Indra, their king.'

ततस्तु प्रघसा नाम राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता।।5.23.11।। भर्त्सयन्ती तदा घोरमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

tatastu praghasā nāma rākṣasī krodhamūrchitā bhartsayantī tadā ghoramidaṃ vacanamabravīt|

Then an ogress named Praghasa, overwhelmed with anger, deriding Sita said these terrible words:

वीर्योत्सिक्तस्य शूरस्य सङ्ग्रामेषु निवर्तिनः।।5.23.12।। बलिनो वीर्ययुक्तस्य भार्यात्वं किं न लप्स्यसे।

vīryotsiktasya śūrasya saṅgrāmeṣu nivartinaḥ balino vīryayuktasya bhāryātvaṃ kiṃ na lapsyase|

'Why don't you wish to be the wife of such a mighty and powerful king, a valiant hero who has never beaten a retreat in war?

प्रियां बहुमतां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा राजा महाबलः।।5.23.13।। सर्वासां च महाभागां त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः।

priyāṃ bahumatāṃ bhāryāṃ tyaktvā rājā mahābalaḥ sarvāsāṃ ca mahābhāgāṃ tvāmupaiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ|

'Even renouncing his highly respectable, favourite wife among all, mighty Ravana is prepared to accept you.

समृद्धं स्त्रीसहस्रेण नानारत्नोपशोभितम्।।5.23.14।। अन्तःपुरं समुत्सृज्य त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः।

samṛddhaṃ strīsahasreṇa nānāratnopaśobhitam antaḥpuraṃ samutsṛjya tvāmupaiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ|

'Ravana is prepared to abandon a thousand wives in his prosperous harem decorated with all kinds of gems in order to accept you.'

अन्या तु विकटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।5.23.15।। असकृद्देवता युद्धे नागगन्धर्वदानवाः। निर्जिताः समरे येन स ते पार्श्वमुपागतः।।5.23.16।।

anyā tu vikaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt asakṛddevatā yuddhe nāgagandharvadānavāḥ| nirjitāḥ samare yena sa te pārśvamupāgataḥ

Another ogress called Vikata said, ' Know that he who has often defeated gods in war and has vanquished nagas, gandharvas and demons has come to you (seeking your favour)'.

अन्या तु विकटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।5.23.15।। असकृद्देवता युद्धे नागगन्धर्वदानवाः। निर्जिताः समरे येन स ते पार्श्वमुपागतः।।5.23.16।।

anyā tu vikaṭā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt asakṛddevatā yuddhe nāgagandharvadānavāḥ| nirjitāḥ samare yena sa te pārśvamupāgataḥ

Another ogress called Vikata said, ' Know that he who has often defeated gods in war and has vanquished nagas, gandharvas and demons has come to you (seeking your favour)'.

तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः। किमद्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्यात्वं नेच्छसेऽधमे।।5.23.17।।

tasya sarvasamṛddhasya rāvaṇasya mahātmanaḥ| kimadya rākṣasendrasya bhāryātvaṃ necchase'dhame

'O foolish woman why don't you seek the wifehood of a glorious king of demons who has abundance of wealth?'

ततस्तु दुर्मुखी नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। यस्य सूर्यो न तपति भीतो यस्य च मारुतः।।5.23.18।। न वाति स्मायतापाङ्गे किं त्वं तस्य न तिष्ठसि।

tatastu durmukhī nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt| yasya sūryo na tapati bhīto yasya ca mārutaḥ na vāti smāyatāpāṅge kiṃ tvaṃ tasya na tiṣṭhasi|

Then an ogress called Durmukhi said, 'O lady of long sideglances why don't you yield to him, afraid of whom the Sun scorches not and strong winds blow not?

पुष्पवृष्टिं च तरवो मुमुचुर्यस्य वै भयात्।।5.23.19।। शैलाश्च सुभ्रु पानीयं जलदाश्च यदेच्छति। तस्य नैरृतराजस्य राजराजस्य भामिनि ।।5.23.20।। किं त्वं न कुरुषे बुद्धिं भार्यार्थे रावणस्य हि।

puṣpavṛṣṭiṃ ca taravo mumucuryasya vai bhayāt śailāśca subhru pānīyaṃ jaladāśca yadecchati| tasya nairṛtarājasya rājarājasya bhāmini kiṃ tvaṃ na kuruṣe buddhiṃ bhāryārthe rāvaṇasya hi|

'O lady of beautiful brows why don't you make up your mind to accept the king of kings, afraid of whom the trees rain flowers, the mountains and clouds release water at his will? Ravana is the king of the southwest, direction Why don't you wish to be his wife?