Sanskrit Sloka text in Devanagari, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu , and English

|| Om tat sat ||

sundarakāṇḍ
atha ēkaviṁśassargaḥ

ślō|| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sītā raudrasya rakṣasaḥ|
artā dīnasvarā dīnaṁ pratyuvāca śanairvacaḥ||1||

sa|| tasya raudrasya rakṣasaḥ vacanaṁ śr̥tvā ārtā dīnaṁ dīnasvarā sītā śanaiḥ pratyuvāca||

Hearing those words of that fierce Rakshasa, distressed and pitiable Sita replied in a sorrowful tone.

ślō|| duḥkhārtā rudatī sītā vēpamānā tapasvinī|
cintayantī varārōhā patiṁ ēva pativrataḥ||2||
tr̥ṇamantaraḥ kr̥tvā pratyuvāca śucismitā|

sa|| sītā vēpamānā tapaśvinī pativrataḥ patiṁ ēva cintayantī duḥkhārtā rudatī sucismitā tr̥ṇaṁ antaraḥ kr̥tvā pratyuvāca||

Trembling ascetic Sita , a chaste woman ever thinking of her husband only, crying , afflicted by grief, yet with a gentle smile replied him, putting a blade of grass between them.

ślō|| nivartaya manō mattaḥ svajanē kriyatāṁ manaḥ||3||
namāṁ prārthayituṁ yuktaṁ susiddhamiva pāpakr̥t|
akāryaṁ na mayā kāryaṁ ēkapatnyā vigarhitam||4||
kulaṁ saṁprāptayā puṇyaṁ kulē mahati jātayā|

sa|| mattaḥ manō nivartaya | svajanē kriyatāṁ | māṁ prārthayituṁ na yuktaṁ pāpakr̥t susiddham iva|| mahati kulē jātayā kulaṁ saṁprāptayā ēkapatnyā mayā vigarhitaṁ akāryaṁ na kāryaṁ ||

'Turn away your mind from me. You fix it in your own people. Like the sinner hoping for blessings, desiring me is not proper for you. Born in a great lineage, having gained a great lineage, devoted to single husband , the contemptible forbidden action (proposed by you) will not be done.

ślō|| ēvamuktvā tu vaidēhī rāvaṇaṁ taṁ yaśasvinī||5||
rākṣasaṁ pr̥ṣṭhataḥ kr̥tvā bhūyō vacanamabravīt|
nāha maupayikī bhāryā parabhāryā satī tava||6||
sādhu dharmamavēkṣasva sādhu sādhu vrataṁ cara|

sa|| yaśasvinī vaidēhī taṁ rāvaṇaṁ ēvaṁ uktvā rākṣasaṁ pr̥ṣṭataḥ kr̥tvā bhūyaḥ vacanam abravīt|| parabhāryā satī ahaṁ aupayikī bhāryā na |tava dharmaṁ sādhu avēkṣasva|sādhuvrataṁ sādhu cara||

Glorious Vaidehi having said this to that Ravana turned her back and spoke these words again.' As a chaste married woman , I am not a wife to be obtained by other efforts. You may examine the righteous conduct. With honesty follow honest action.

ślō|| yathā tava tathā'nyēṣāṁ dārā rakṣyā niśācara||7||
ātmānamupamāṁ kr̥tvā svēṣudārēṣu ramyatāṁ|
atuṣṭaṁ svēṣu dārēṣu capalaṁ calitēndriyaḥ||8||
nayanti nikr̥ti prajñaṁ paradārāḥ parābhavam|

sa|| niśācara yathā tava dārāḥ rakṣyāḥ tathā anyēṣāṁ | ātmānaṁ upamā kr̥tvā svēṣu dārēṣu ramyatām|| svēṣu dārēṣu atuṣṭaṁ capalaṁ calitēndriyaṁ nikr̥tiprajñaṁ paradārāḥ parābhavaṁ nayanti ||

'Oh Night being ! Like your wives are protected, similarly other's wives (too are to be protected). Making yourself an example enjoy with your own wives. Evil minded one, one with unsteady mind with no control on his senses, one who is unsatisfied with his own wives, will be insulted by other's wives.

ślō|| ihā santō na vā santi satō vā nānuvartasē||9||
tathā hi viparītā buddhi rācāravarjitā|
vacō mithyā praṇītātmā pathya muktaṁ vicakṣaṇaiḥ||10||
rākṣasānāmabhāvāya tvaṁ vā na pratipadyasē|

sa||iha saṁtaḥ na vā saṁti |sataḥ anuvartasē na| tathā hi ācāravarjitā tē buddhiḥ viparītā || mithyāpraṇītātmā rākṣasānāṁ abhavāya tvaṁ vicakṣaṇaiḥ uktaṁ pathyaṁ vacaḥ na pratipadyasē||

Are there no pious one here? Or you do not follow the saints. That is why your evil mind is after forbidden actions. Indulging in unrighteous act, you are not following righteous advice leading to destruction of the Rakshasas.

ślō|| akr̥tātmāna māsādya rājānamanayēratam||11||
samr̥ddhāni vinaśyanti rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca|
tathēyaṁ tvāṁ samāsādya laṅkāratnaugha saṁkulā||12||
aparādhāttavaikasya na cirā dvinaśiṣyati|
svakr̥tairhanyamānasya rāvaṇā dīrghadarśinaḥ||13||
abhinandanti bhūtāni vināśē pāpakarmaṇaḥ|
ēvaṁ tvāṁ pāpakarmāṇaṁ vakṣyanti nikr̥tā janāḥ||14||
diṣṭyaitat vyasanaṁ prāptō raudra ityēva harṣitāḥ |

sa|| akr̥tātmānaṁ anayē rataṁ rājānaṁ āsādya samr̥ddhāni rāṣṭrāni nagarāṇi ca vinaśyaṁti|| tathā tvāṁ samasādya ratnaughasaṁkulā iyaṁ laṁkā ēkasya tava aparādhāt na cirāt vinaśiṣyati||rāvaṇa adīrghadarśanaḥ svakr̥taiḥ hanyamānasya pāpakarmaṇaḥ vināsē bhūtāni abhinaṁdaṁti ||nikr̥tāḥ janāḥ ēvaṁ raudraḥ pāpakarmāṇaṁ tvāṁ harṣitāḥ | diṣṭyāētat vyasanaṁ prāptaḥ ityēva vakṣyaṁti||

Having kings who are foolish engaged in improper acts, prosperous countries and cities are destroyed. In that way having obtained you, this Lanka which is filled with gems , will soon be destroyed because of your single crime. Oh Ravana ! Living creatures will rejoice by the destruction of a short sighted one who is killed by his own deeds, In that way insulted people will be delighted about your destruction. They will say 'luckily he met his doom etc'.

ślō|| śakyā lōbhayituṁ nāham aiśvaryēṇa dhanēna vā||15||
ananyā rāghavēṇāhaṁ bhāskarēṇa prabhā yathā|
upadhāya bhujaṁ tasya lōkanāthasya satkr̥tam||16||
kathaṁ nāmōpadhāsyāmi bhujamanyasya kasyacit|
aha maupayikī bhāryā tasyaiva vasudhāpatēḥ||17||
vratasnātasya dhīrasya vidyēva viditātmanaḥ|

sa|| ahaṁ aiśvaryēṇa dhanēna vā lōbhayituṁ na śakyā | prabhā bhāskarēṇa yathā ahaṁ rāghavēṇa ananyā||lōkanāthasya tasya satkr̥taṁ bhujaṁ upadhāya anyasya kasya cit bhujaṁ kathaṁ nāma upadhāsyāmi || vratasnātasya viditātmanaḥ viprasya vidyā iva ahaṁ vasudhāpatēḥ tasyaiva aupayikī bhāryā ||

I cannot be tempted by power or even wealth. Like the splendor of the Sun, I am not separable from Rama.' Having used his shoulder which protected the world and which performed great deeds, I am not going to use any other shoulder. Like the knowledge of an ascetic who is bathed in ceremonial duties, who is a realized soul I am that Lord of the earth's wife, fit for him only.

ślō|| sādhu rāvaṇa rāmēṇa māṁ samānaya duḥkhitām||18||
vanē vāśitayā sārthaṁ karēṇvēva gajādhipam|
mitramaupayikaṁ kartuṁ rāmaḥ sthānaṁ parīpsatā||19||
vadhaṁ cānicchatā ghōraṁ tvayā'sau puruṣarṣabhaḥ|
viditaḥ sa hi dharmajñaḥ śaraṇāgatavatsalam||20||
tēna maitrī bhavatu tē yadi jīvitu micchasi|
prasādayasva tvaṁ cainaṁ śaraṇāgatavatsalam||21||
māṁ cāsmai prayatō bhūtvā niryātayitumarhasi|

sa|| rāvaṇa duḥkhitāṁ mām gajādhipaṁ vanē vāśitayā karēṇvēva rāmēṇa sārdhaṁ sādhu samānaya|| sthānaṁ parīpsitā ghōraṁ vadhaṁ anicchatā tvayā asau puruṣarṣabhaḥ rāmaḥ mitraṁ kartuṁ aupayikaṁ||dharmajñaḥ saḥ śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ (iti) viditaḥ hi| yadi tē jīvituṁ icchasi tēna maitrī bhavatu|| tvaṁ śaraṇāgatavatsalaṁ ēnaṁ prasādayasva ca| niyataḥ bhūtvā mām asmai niryātayituṁ arhasi ||

Oh Ravana ! Uniting me in sorrows with Rama would be good like uniting the female elephant separated from the king of elephants in the forest, If you are desirous of avoiding dreadful death seek the friendship of Rama the bull among men. As one who knows Dharma, he is kind to those who seek protection. If you desire to live then seek his friendship. You propiate him who is kind to the those who seek protection. Controlling yourself it is proper for you to return me.

ślō|| ēvaṁ hi tē bhavētsvasti saṁpradāya raghūttamē||22||
anyathā tvaṁ hi kurvāṇō vadhaṁ prāpsyasi rāvaṇa|
varjayēt vajra mutsr̥ṣṭaṁ varjayē dantakaściram||23||
tadvidhaṁ tu na saṁkruddhō lōkanāthaḥ sa rāghavaḥ|
rāmasya dhanuṣaśśabdaṁ śrōṣyasi tvaṁ mahāsvanam||24||
śatakratuvisr̥ṣṭasya nirghōṣamaśanēriva|

sa||ēvaṁ raghūttamē saṁpradāya tē svastiḥ bhavēt| anyathā kurvāṇaḥ rāvaṇa tvaṁ vadhaṁ prāpsyasi|| tadvidhaṁ utsr̥ṣṭaṁ vajraṁ varjayēt ciraṁ aṁtakaḥ varjayēt | samkr̥ddhaḥ lōkanāthaḥ saḥ rāghavaḥ na ( varjayēt)|| śatakratuvisr̥ṣṭasya aśanēḥ nirghōṣaṁ iva rāmasya dhanuṣaḥ mahāsvanam śabdaṁ tvaṁ śrōṣyasi||

This way having given me away you will achieve prosperity. Ravana ! Otherwise you will face death. The raised thunderbolt may spare you , the Yama may spare you. But the angry Lord of the world, Raghava will not spare you. You will hear the great sound of Rama's bow , like the thunderbolt released by Indra, the one who performed hundred Yagnyas,

ślō|| iha śīghraṁ suparvāṇō jvalitāsya ivōragāḥ||25||
iṣavō nipatiṣyanti rāmalakṣmaṇa lakṣaṇāḥ|
rakṣāṁsi parinighnantaḥ puryāmasyāṁ samantataḥ||26||
asaṁpātaṁ kariṣyanti patantaḥ kaṅkavāsasaḥ|
rākṣasēṁdra mahāsarpān sa rāmagaruḍō yathā||27||
uddhariṣyati vēgēna vainatēya ivōragān|
apanēṣvati māṁ bhartā tvattaḥ śīghramarindamaḥ||28||
asurēbhyaḥ śriyaṁ dīptāṁ viṣṇustribhiriva kramaiḥ|

sa|| suparvāṇaḥ śīghraṁ jvalitasyāḥ uragāḥ iva rāmalakṣmaṇalakṣaṇāḥ iṣavaḥ iha nipatiṣyaṁti|| kaṁkavāsasaḥ pataṁtaḥ asyāṁ puryāṁ samaṁtataḥ rakṣāṁsi parinighnaṁtaḥ asaṁpatāṁ kariṣyaṁti || mahān saḥ rāmagaruḍaḥ rākṣasēṁdra mahāsarpān vainatēyaḥ uragān iva vēgēna uddhariṣyati|| sīghraṁ ariṁdamaḥ bhartā mām tvattaḥ viṣṇuḥ tribhī kramaiḥ dīptaṁ śriyaṁ asurēbhyaḥ iva apanēṣyati||

Well jointed arrows with flaming fangs like that of poisonous snakes marked with names of Rama and Lakshmana will soon be raining. The shafts with feathers of Kanka bird falling on this city will be killing Rakshasas everywhere. Like the Garuda swiftly carrying away the great serpents, the great Rama will kill the king of demons. Swiftly my husband, the subduer of enemies will take me away from you like Vishnu with three strides took away the prosperity of the Asuras.

ślō|| janasthānē hatasthānē nihatē rakṣasāṁ balē||29||
aśaktēna tvayā rakṣaḥ kr̥ta mētadasādhu vai |
āśramaṁ tu tayōḥ śūnyaṁ praviśya narasiṁhayōḥ||30||
gōcaraṁ gatayōrbhrātrōḥ apanītā tvayā'dhamā|

sa|| rakṣasāṁ balē nihatē janasthānē hatasthānē rakṣaḥ aśaktēna tvayā ētat asādhu kr̥taṁ vai|| athama narasiṁhayōḥ tayōḥ bhrātrōḥ gōcaraṁ gatayōḥ śūnyaṁ āśramaṁ praviśya tvayā apanītāḥ ||

When the Rakshasa army was killed in Janasthana you being unable to do anything resorted to this evil deed. Oh Mean one, when the two lions among men were away, entering the unprotected hermitage I have been abducted by you.

ślō|| nahi grandhamupāghrāya rāmalakṣmaṇayōstvayā||31||
śakyaṁ saṁdarśanē sthātum śunā śārdūlayōriva|
tasya tē vigrahē tābhyāṁ yuga grahaṇa masthiram||32||
vr̥trasyēvēndrabāhūbhyāṁ bāhōrēkasya nigrahaḥ|
kṣipraṁ tava sanāthō mē rāma ssaumitriṇā saha|
tōyamalpamivādityaḥ prāṇānādāsyatē śaraiḥ|33||

sa|| śunā śārdūlayōriva rāmalakṣmaṇayōḥ gaṁdhaṁ upaghrāya tvayā saṁdarśanē sthātuṁ na śakyaṁ hi || tasya tābhyāṁ vigrahē iṁdrabāhubhyāṁ vr̥trasya ēkasya bāhōḥ vigrahē iva yugagrahaṇaṁ asthiraṁ||mē nāthaḥ saḥ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha ādityaḥ alpaṁ tōyamiva śaraiḥ tava prāṇān kṣipraṁ dāsyatē||

You would not have been able to be stand in front of Rama and Lakshmana like a dog in front of two tigers , if you smelt their presence. You cannot stand both of them in a battle like the one armed Vritrasura could not face the two armed Indra. My husband Rama with the son of Sumitra will destroy your life breath like the Sun destroys a little water with his radiance.

ślō|| giriṁ kubērasya gatō'padhāya vā
sabhāṁ gatō vā varuṇasya rājñaḥ |
asaṁśayaṁ dāśarathērnamōkṣyasē
mahādrumaḥ kālahatō'śanēriva||34||

sa|| kālahataḥ kubērasya giriṁ vā ālayaṁ gataḥ rājñaḥ varuṇasya sabhām gataḥ mahādrumaḥ aśanairiva dāśarathēḥ na mōkṣyasē||

Doomed by time, going to Kubera's mountain or palace, or even entering Varunas assembly , you cannot evade Rama's arrows like a mighty tree cannot escape lightning.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsundarakāṇḍē ēkaviṁśassargaḥ||

Thus the Sarga twenty one in Sundarakanda of Valmiki Ramayana ends.

||ōm tat sat||