Uttara Kanda, Sarga 17

अथ राजन्महाबाहुर्विचरन्स महीतले । हिमवद्वनमासाद्य परिचक्राम रावणः ।। 7.17.1 ।।

atha rājanmahābāhurvicaransa mahītale | himavadvanamāsādya paricakrāma rāvaṇaḥ || 7.17.1 ||

Then, O King, the mighty-armed Ravana, wandering on the earth, reached the Himalayan forest and roamed there.

तत्रापश्यत्स वै कन्यां कृष्णाजिनजटाधराम् । आर्षेण विधिना युक्तां दीप्यन्तीं देवतामिव ।। 7.17.2 ।।

tatrāpaśyatsa vai kanyāṃ kṛṣṇājinajaṭādharām | ārṣeṇa vidhinā yuktāṃ dīpyantīṃ devatāmiva || 7.17.2 ||

There he indeed saw a maiden, wearing a black deer-skin and matted hair, engaged in ascetic practices, shining like a goddess.

स दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां कन्यां तां सुमहाव्रताम् । काममोहपरीतात्मा पप्रच्छ प्रहसन्निव ।। 7.17.3 ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā rūpasampannāṃ kanyāṃ tāṃ sumahāvratām | kāmamohaparītātmā papraccha prahasanniva || 7.17.3 ||

Having seen that beautiful maiden observing great vows, he, whose mind was overcome by the delusion of desire, asked her as if with a smile.

किमिदं वर्तसे भद्रे विरुद्धं यौवनस्य ते । नहि युक्ता तवैतस्य रूपस्यैव प्रतिक्रिया ।। 7.17.4 ।।

kimidaṃ vartase bhadre viruddhaṃ yauvanasya te | nahi yuktā tavaitasya rūpasyaiva pratikriyā || 7.17.4 ||

O gentle lady, what is this conduct of yours, which is contrary to your youth, for such actions are indeed not suitable for your beauty.

रूपं ते ऽनुपमं भीरु कामोन्मादकरं नृणाम् । न युक्तं तपसि स्थातुं निर्गतो ह्येष निर्णयः ।। 7.17.5 ।।

rūpaṃ te 'nupamaṃ bhīru kāmonmādakaraṃ nṛṇām | na yuktaṃ tapasi sthātuṃ nirgato hyeṣa nirṇayaḥ || 7.17.5 ||

O timid one, your incomparable beauty, which incites desire and madness in men, is not suitable for ascetic practices, for this is indeed a well-established conclusion.

कस्यासि किमिदं भद्रे कश्च भर्ता वरानने । येन सम्भुज्यसे भीरु स नरः पुण्यभाग्भुवि ।। 7.17.6 ।।

kasyāsi kimidaṃ bhadre kaśca bhartā varānane | yena sambhujyase bhīru sa naraḥ puṇyabhāgbhuvi || 7.17.6 ||

O gentle lady, whose are you, and what is this activity; O beautiful-faced one, who is your husband, for the man by whom you are enjoyed, O timid one, is indeed fortunate on this earth.

पृच्छतः शंस मे सर्वं कस्य हेतोः परिश्रमः । एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या रावणेन यशस्विनी ।। 7.17.7 ।।

pṛcchataḥ śaṃsa me sarvaṃ kasya hetoḥ pariśramaḥ | evamuktā tu sā kanyā rāvaṇena yaśasvinī || 7.17.7 ||

Tell me everything, who am asking, for what reason is this exertion; thus spoken to by Ravana, that glorious maiden then replied.

कुशध्वजो मम पिता ब्रह्मर्षिरमितप्रभः । बृहस्पतिसुतः श्रीमान्बुद्ध्या तुल्यो बृहस्पतेः ।। 7.17.8 ।।

kuśadhvajo mama pitā brahmarṣiramitaprabhaḥ | bṛhaspatisutaḥ śrīmānbuddhyā tulyo bṛhaspateḥ || 7.17.8 ||

My father is Kushadhvaja, a Brahmarshi of immeasurable splendor, the glorious son of Brihaspati, and equal to Brihaspati in intellect.

तस्याहं कुर्वतो नित्यं वेदाभ्यासं महात्मनः । सम्भूय वाङ्मयी कन्या नाम्ना वेदवती स्मृता ।। 7.17.9 ।।

tasyāhaṃ kurvato nityaṃ vedābhyāsaṃ mahātmanaḥ | sambhūya vāṅmayī kanyā nāmnā vedavatī smṛtā || 7.17.9 ||

While my great-souled father was constantly engaged in the study of the Vedas, I was born as a daughter, manifested from his speech, and was known by the name Vedavati.

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः । ते ऽपि गत्वा हि पितरं वरणं रोचयन्ति मे ।। 7.17.10 ।।

tato devāḥ sagandharvā yakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ | te 'pi gatvā hi pitaraṃ varaṇaṃ rocayanti me || 7.17.10 ||

Then, gods along with Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, and Pannagas, all went to my father and sought my hand in marriage.

न च मां स पिता तेभ्यो दत्तवान्राक्षसर्षभ । कारणं तद्वदिष्यामि निशाचर निशामय ।। 7.17.11 ।।

na ca māṃ sa pitā tebhyo dattavānrākṣasarṣabha | kāraṇaṃ tadvadiṣyāmi niśācara niśāmaya || 7.17.11 ||

But that father of mine did not give me to them, O best of Rakshasas; I will now tell you the reason for that, O night-wanderer, so listen.

पितुस्तु मम जामाता विष्णुः किल सुरेश्वरः । अभिप्रेतस्त्रिलोकेशस्तस्मान्नान्यस्य मे पिता ।। 7.17.12 ।।

pitustu mama jāmātā viṣṇuḥ kila sureśvaraḥ | abhipretastrilokeśastasmānnānyasya me pitā || 7.17.12 ||

My father indeed desired Vishnu, the lord of gods and the lord of the three worlds, to be his son-in-law, and therefore he would not give me to anyone else.

दातुमिच्छति तस्मै तु तच्छ्रुत्वा बलदर्पितः । दम्भुर्नाम ततो राजा दैत्यानां कुपितो ऽभवत् ।। 7.17.13 ।।

dātumicchati tasmai tu tacchrutvā baladarpitaḥ | dambhurnāma tato rājā daityānāṃ kupito 'bhavat || 7.17.13 ||

But upon hearing that my father desired to give me to Vishnu, the king of Daityas named Dambhu, who was proud of his strength, became enraged.

तेन रात्रौ शयानो मे पिता पापेन हिंसितः ।। 7.17.14 ।।

tena rātrau śayāno me pitā pāpena hiṃsitaḥ || 7.17.14 ||

My father, while sleeping at night, was killed by that wicked one.

ततो मे जननी दीना तच्छरीरं पितुर्मम । परिष्वज्य महाभागा प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम् ।। 7.17.15 ।।

tato me jananī dīnā taccharīraṃ piturmama | pariṣvajya mahābhāgā praviṣṭā havyavāhanam || 7.17.15 ||

Then, my distressed mother, that noble lady, embraced my father's body and entered the fire.

ततो मनोरथं सत्यं पितुर्नारायणं प्रति । करोमीति तमेवाहं हृदयेन समुद्वहे ।। 7.17.16 ।।

tato manorathaṃ satyaṃ piturnārāyaṇaṃ prati | karomīti tamevāhaṃ hṛdayena samudvahe || 7.17.16 ||

Then, I bear in my heart the true desire of my father towards Narayana, vowing to fulfill it.

इति प्रतिज्ञामारुह्य चरामि विपुलं तपः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया राक्षसपुङ्गव ।। 7.17.17 ।।

iti pratijñāmāruhya carāmi vipulaṃ tapaḥ | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ mayā rākṣasapuṅgava || 7.17.17 ||

Thus, having undertaken this vow, I perform great austerity, and all this has been told to you by me, O best of Rakshasas.

नारायणो मम पतिर्न त्वन्यः पुरुषोत्तमात् । आश्रये नियमं घोरं नारायणपरीप्सया । विज्ञातस्त्वं हि मे राजन्गच्छ पौलस्त्यनन्दन ।। 7.17.18 ।।

nārāyaṇo mama patirna tvanyaḥ puruṣottamāt | āśraye niyamaṃ ghoraṃ nārāyaṇaparīpsayā | vijñātastvaṃ hi me rājangaccha paulastyanandana || 7.17.18 ||

Narayana is my husband, and no one else is superior to Purushottama; I undertake a severe vow with the desire to obtain Narayana, and now that you are known to me, O king, O delight of Pulastya, you may go.

जानामि तपसा सर्वं त्रैलोक्ये यद्धि वर्तते ।। 7.17.19 ।।

jānāmi tapasā sarvaṃ trailokye yaddhi vartate || 7.17.19 ||

I know all that indeed exists in the three worlds through my ascetic power.

सो ऽब्रवीद्रावणो भूयस्तां कन्यां सुमहाव्रताम् । अवरुह्य विमानाग्रात्कन्दर्पशरपीडितः ।। 7.17.20 ।।

so 'bravīdrāvaṇo bhūyastāṃ kanyāṃ sumahāvratām | avaruhya vimānāgrātkandarpaśarapīḍitaḥ || 7.17.20 ||

Afflicted by the arrows of Kama, Ravana descended from the top of his aerial car and spoke again to that maiden of great vows.

अवलिप्ता ऽसि सुश्रोणि यस्यास्ते मतिरीदृशी । वृद्धानां मृगशावाक्षि भ्राजते पुण्यसञ्चयः ।। 7.17.21 ।।

avaliptā 'si suśroṇi yasyāste matirīdṛśī | vṛddhānāṃ mṛgaśāvākṣi bhrājate puṇyasañcayaḥ || 7.17.21 ||

O beautiful-hipped one, you are arrogant to have such a mind; O deer-eyed one, the accumulation of merit shines only for the aged.

त्वं सर्वंगुणसम्पन्ना नार्हसे वक्तुमीदृशम् । त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी भीरु यौवनं ते निवर्तते ।। 7.17.22 ।।

tvaṃ sarvaṃguṇasampannā nārhase vaktumīdṛśam | trailokyasundarī bhīru yauvanaṃ te nivartate || 7.17.22 ||

O most beautiful in the three worlds and O timid one, you who are endowed with all virtues ought not to speak such a thing, for your youth is passing away.

अहं लङ्कापतिर्भद्रे दशग्रीव इति श्रुतः । तस्य मे भव भार्या त्वं भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्यथासुखम् ।। 7.17.23 ।।

ahaṃ laṅkāpatirbhadre daśagrīva iti śrutaḥ | tasya me bhava bhāryā tvaṃ bhuṅkṣva bhogānyathāsukham || 7.17.23 ||

O auspicious one, I am known as Dashagriva, the lord of Lanka; become my wife and enjoy pleasures as you please.

कश्च तावदसौ यं त्वं विष्णुरित्यभिभाषसे । वीर्येण तपसा चैव भोगेन च बलेन च ।।

kaśca tāvadasau yaṃ tvaṃ viṣṇurityabhibhāṣase | vīryeṇa tapasā caiva bhogena ca balena ca ||

Ravana asks Vedavati who this Vishnu is, whom she speaks of, and what he possesses in terms of valor, penance, enjoyment, and strength.

न मया स समो भद्रे यं त्वं कामयसे ऽङ्गने ।। 7.17.24 ।।

na mayā sa samo bhadre yaṃ tvaṃ kāmayase 'ṅgane || 7.17.24 ||

Ravana declares to Vedavati that the one she desires is not equal to him.

इत्युक्तवति तस्मिंस्तु वेदवत्यथ सा ऽब्रवीत् ।। 7.17.25 ।।

ityuktavati tasmiṃstu vedavatyatha sā 'bravīt || 7.17.25 ||

After Ravana had spoken thus, Vedavati then replied to him.

वै भोगेन च बलेन च ।। मा मैवमिति सा कन्या तमुवाच निशाचरम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपति विष्णुं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । त्वदृते राक्षसेन्द्रान्यः को ऽवमन्येत बुद्धिमान् ।। 7.17.26 ।।

vai bhogena ca balena ca || mā maivamiti sā kanyā tamuvāca niśācaram | trailokyādhipati viṣṇuṃ sarvalokanamaskṛtam | tvadṛte rākṣasendrānyaḥ ko 'vamanyeta buddhimān || 7.17.26 ||

Vedavati, the maiden, told the night-wanderer Ravana, "No, not so!" and asked, "O king of Rakshasas, who else among intelligent beings, besides you, would disrespect Vishnu, the lord of the three worlds, who is worshipped by all?"

एवमुक्तस्तया तत्र वेदवत्या निशाचरः । मूर्धजेषु तदा कन्यां कराग्रेण परामृशत् ।। 7.17.27 ।।

evamuktastayā tatra vedavatyā niśācaraḥ | mūrdhajeṣu tadā kanyāṃ karāgreṇa parāmṛśat || 7.17.27 ||

When Vedavati had spoken thus to him there, the night-wanderer Ravana then touched the maiden's hair with the tip of his hand.

ततो वेदवती क्रुद्धा केशान्हस्तेन सा ऽच्छिनत् । असिर्भूत्वा करस्तस्याः केशांश्छिन्नांस्तदा ऽकरोत् ।। 7.17.28 ।।

tato vedavatī kruddhā keśānhastena sā 'cchinat | asirbhūtvā karastasyāḥ keśāṃśchinnāṃstadā 'karot || 7.17.28 ||

Then, enraged Vedavati cut off her hair with her hand, which, having transformed into a sword, severed her locks.

सा ज्वलन्तीव रोषेण दहन्तीव निशाचरम् । उवाचाग्निं समाधाय मरणाय कृतत्वरा ।। 7.17.29 ।।

sā jvalantīva roṣeṇa dahantīva niśācaram | uvācāgniṃ samādhāya maraṇāya kṛtatvarā || 7.17.29 ||

Burning with rage as if to consume the night-wanderer, she, resolved to die, kindled a fire and spoke.

धर्षितायास्त्वयानार्य न मे जीवितमिष्यते । रक्षस्तस्मात्प्रवेक्ष्यामि पश्यतस्ते हुताशनम् ।। 7.17.30 ।।

dharṣitāyāstvayānārya na me jīvitamiṣyate | rakṣastasmātpravekṣyāmi paśyataste hutāśanam || 7.17.30 ||

O ignoble one, since I have been molested by you, I no longer desire to live, O Rakshasa; therefore, I shall enter the fire before your very eyes.

यस्मात्तु धर्षिता चाहं त्वया पापात्मना वने । तस्मात्तव वधार्थं हि समुत्पत्स्ये ह्यहं पुनः ।। 7.17.31 ।।

yasmāttu dharṣitā cāhaṃ tvayā pāpātmanā vane | tasmāttava vadhārthaṃ hi samutpatsye hyahaṃ punaḥ || 7.17.31 ||

Because I have been molested by your evil self in this forest, I shall indeed be born again for the sole purpose of your destruction.

न हि शक्यं स्त्रिया हन्तुं पुरुषः पापनिश्चः । शापे त्वयि मयोत्सृष्टे तपसश्च व्ययो भवेत् ।। 7.17.32 ।।

na hi śakyaṃ striyā hantuṃ puruṣaḥ pāpaniścaḥ | śāpe tvayi mayotsṛṣṭe tapasaśca vyayo bhavet || 7.17.32 ||

Indeed, it is not possible for a woman to kill a man of evil resolve, and if I were to utter a curse upon you, my accumulated penance would be lost.

यदि त्वस्ति मया किञ्चित्कृतं दत्तं हुतं तथा । तस्मात्त्वयोनिजा साध्वी भवेयं धर्मिणः सुता ।। 7.17.33 ।।

yadi tvasti mayā kiñcitkṛtaṃ dattaṃ hutaṃ tathā | tasmāttvayonijā sādhvī bhaveyaṃ dharmiṇaḥ sutā || 7.17.33 ||

If I have indeed performed any good deeds, given charity, or offered sacrifices, then may I be born as the virtuous, womb-born daughter of a righteous man.

एवमुक्त्वा प्रविष्टा सा ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् । पपात च दिवो दिव्या पुष्पवृष्टिः समन्ततः ।। 7.17.34 ।।

evamuktvā praviṣṭā sā jvalitaṃ jātavedasam | papāta ca divo divyā puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ samantataḥ || 7.17.34 ||

Having spoken thus, she entered the blazing fire, and simultaneously, a divine shower of flowers fell from the sky all around.

पुनरेव समुद्भूता पद्मे पद्मसमप्रभा । तस्मादपि पुनः प्राप्ता पूर्ववत्तेन रक्षसा ।। 7.17.35 ।।

punareva samudbhūtā padme padmasamaprabhā | tasmādapi punaḥ prāptā pūrvavattena rakṣasā || 7.17.35 ||

She emerged again from a lotus, radiant like a lotus, and from that lotus, she was again taken by that demon as before.

कन्यां कमलगर्भाभां प्रगृह्य स्वगृहं ययौ । प्रगृह्य रावणस्त्वेतां दर्शयामास मन्त्रिणे ।। 7.17.36 ।।

kanyāṃ kamalagarbhābhāṃ pragṛhya svagṛhaṃ yayau | pragṛhya rāvaṇastvetāṃ darśayāmāsa mantriṇe || 7.17.36 ||

Having seized the maiden, who shone like the heart of a lotus, the demon went to his own house, and Ravana then showed her to his minister.

लक्षणज्ञो निरीक्ष्यैव रावणं चैवमब्रवीत् । गृहस्थैषां हि सुश्रोणी त्वद्वधायैव दृश्यते ।। 7.17.37 ।।

lakṣaṇajño nirīkṣyaiva rāvaṇaṃ caivamabravīt | gṛhasthaiṣāṃ hi suśroṇī tvadvadhāyaiva dṛśyate || 7.17.37 ||

The physiognomist, having observed her, spoke to Ravana, saying, "This beautiful-hipped maiden, staying in your house, is indeed destined for your destruction."

एतच्छ्रुत्वा ऽर्णवे राम तां प्रचिक्षेप रावणः । सा चैव क्षितिमासाद्य यज्ञायतनमध्यगा ।। 7.17.38 ।।

etacchrutvā 'rṇave rāma tāṃ pracikṣepa rāvaṇaḥ | sā caiva kṣitimāsādya yajñāyatanamadhyagā || 7.17.38 ||

O Rama, having heard this, Ravana threw her into the water, and she, having reached the earth, indeed went into the middle of a sacrificial ground.

राज्ञो हलमुखोत्कृष्टा पुनरप्युत्थिता सती । सैषा जनकराजस्य प्रसूता तनया प्रभो । तव भार्या महाबाहो विष्णुस्त्वं हि सनातनः ।। 7.17.39 ।।

rājño halamukhotkṛṣṭā punarapyutthitā satī | saiṣā janakarājasya prasūtā tanayā prabho | tava bhāryā mahābāho viṣṇustvaṃ hi sanātanaḥ || 7.17.39 ||

O Lord, O mighty-armed one, she, having again arisen, drawn out by the ploughshare of King Janaka, is this daughter born to King Janaka, your wife, for you are indeed the eternal Vishnu.

पूर्वं क्रोधाहितः शत्रुर्यया ऽसौ निहतस्तथा । उपाश्रयित्वा शैलभस्तव वीर्यममानुषम् ।। 7.17.40 ।।

pūrvaṃ krodhāhitaḥ śatruryayā 'sau nihatastathā | upāśrayitvā śailabhastava vīryamamānuṣam || 7.17.40 ||

Previously, that mountain-like enemy, filled with anger, was thus killed by her, having resorted to your superhuman prowess.

एवमेषा महाभागा मर्त्येषूत्पत्स्यते पुनः । क्षेत्रे हलमुखोत्कृष्टे वेद्यामग्निशिखोपमा ।। 7.17.41 ।।

evameṣā mahābhāgā martyeṣūtpatsyate punaḥ | kṣetre halamukhotkṛṣṭe vedyāmagniśikhopamā || 7.17.41 ||

Thus, this highly fortunate one will again be born among mortals, in a field drawn out by the ploughshare, appearing like a flame of fire on the sacrificial ground.

एषा वेदवती नाम पूर्वमासीत्कृते युगे । त्रेतायुगमनुप्राप्य वधार्थं तस्य रक्षसः ।। 7.17.42 ।।

eṣā vedavatī nāma pūrvamāsītkṛte yuge | tretāyugamanuprāpya vadhārthaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ || 7.17.42 ||

This one, named Vedavati, was previously in the Krita Yuga, and upon the arrival of the Treta Yuga, she appeared for the purpose of killing that demon.

उत्पन्ना मैथिलकुले जनकस्य महात्मनः । सीतोत्पन्ना तु सीतेति मानुषैः पुनरुच्यते ।। 7.17.43 ।।

utpannā maithilakule janakasya mahātmanaḥ | sītotpannā tu sīteti mānuṣaiḥ punarucyate || 7.17.43 ||

She was born in the family of the great-souled Janaka, the king of Mithila, and because she emerged from the furrow, she is known by humans as Sita. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः ।। 17 ।। Thus ends the seventeenth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.