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|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 20

In this Sarga we hear the uninterrupted dialog of Ravana addressing the unhappy, sorrowing ascetic lady Sita. Ravana expresses his desire in no uncertain terms.
He addresses her with sweet and animated words. He was the ego personified. His dialog is in line with his personification aptly summarized as, 'rāvayati iti rāvaṇaḥ'

||Sloka 20.01||

sa tāṁ parivr̥tām dīnāṁ nirānandāṁ tapassvinīm|
sākārairmathurairvākyaiḥ nyadarśayata rāvaṇaḥ||20.01||

sa|| tāṁ parivr̥tāṁ dīnāṁ nirānaṁdāṁ tapassvinīṁ tāṁ sākāraiḥ madhuraiḥ vākyaiḥ nyadarśayata||

||Sloka meanings||

parivr̥tāṁ dīnāṁ - surrounded and looking depressed
nirānaṁdāṁ tapassvinīṁ - unhappy ascetic
tāṁ sākāraiḥ madhuraiḥ vākyaiḥ - with sweet and animated words
tāṁ nyadarśayata - addressed her

||Sloka summary||

"Then the depressed unhappy ascetic lady Sita surrounded by Rakshasa women was addressed by Ravana with sweet animated words." ||20.01||

This is Ravana's unabashed attempt to woo Sita.

That Ravana is no other than our own mind, which finds innumerable opportunities to stray from the path of "Good", which is ever ready to take the path of "Pleasant"

The innumerable ways in which a mind can be persuaded to wander or stray from the path of good can be seen in the attempts of Ravana to win Sita.

||Sloka 20.02||

māṁ dr̥ṣṭvā nāganāsōru gūhamāna stanōdaram|
adarśanamivātmānaṁ bhayānnētuṁ tva miccasi||20.02||'

sa|| nāganāsōru māṁ dr̥ṣṭvā stanōdaraṁ gūhamānā tvaṁ bhayāt ātmānaṁ nētum adarśanaṁ icchasi iva ||

||Sloka meanings||

nāganāsōru -
Lady with thighs like the trunk of an elephant
māṁ dr̥ṣṭvā bhayāt -
seeing me out of fear
stanōdaraṁ gūhamānā -
hiding your breasts and belly,
ātmānaṁ nētum -
yourself from me
tvaṁ adarśanaṁ icchasi iva -
you want to conceal yourself

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Lady with thighs like the trunk of an elephant ! Seeing me, out of fear hiding your breasts and belly, you want to conceal yourself.: ||20.03||

||Sloka 20.03||

kāmayētvāṁ viśālākṣī bahumanyasva māṁ priyē|
sarvāṅga guṇa saṁpannē sarvalōkamanōharē||20.03||

sa|| viśālākṣī sarvāṅga guṇa saṁpannē sarvalōka manōharē tvāṁ kāmayē || priyē māṁ bahumanyasva||

||Sloka meanings||

viśālākṣī sarvāṅga guṇa saṁpannē-
Oh large eyed one, richly endowed with beauty in all limbs
sarvalōka manōharē -
delight of the whole world
tvāṁ kāmayē - I desire you
priyē māṁ bahumanyasva - dear oblige me

||Sloka summary||

"Oh large eyed one, richly endowed with beauty in all limbs, delight of all worlds I desire you. Dear oblige me ." ||20.03||

||Sloka 20.04||

nēha kēcinmanuṣyā vā rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ|
vyapasarpatu tē sītē bhayaṁ mattassamutthitam||20.04||

sa||iha manuṣyā vā rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ na | sītē tē mattaḥ samutthitaṁ bhayaṁ vyapasarpatu||

||Sloka meanings||

iha manuṣyā vā -
here there are no other men
rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ na -
or Rakshasas who can change their form
tē mattaḥ samutthitaṁ bhayaṁ -
the fear that got generated in your mind
sītē vyapasarpatu -
o Sita please give up

||Sloka summary||

"Here there are no other men or Rakshasas who can change their form . Sita be free of fear you have of me". ||20.04||

Ravana starts his dialog saying, "nēha kēcinmanuṣyā vā" - "here there is nobody else", meaning that there is nothing to fear, since nobody else is there.

It is a known common failing. When one wants to do something that is not normal, he would like to do it surreptitiously, when nobody is watching him. For one whose mind is ever focused on things other than spiritual pursuits, the mind becomes ever eager when nobody else is watching, even though that ever-present Self is always watching !

||Sloka 20.05||

svadharmō rakṣasāṁ bhīru sarvathaiva nasaṁśayaḥ|
gamanaṁ vā parastrīṇāṁ haraṇaṁ saṁpramadhya vā ||20.05||

sa|| hē bhīru parastrīṇāṁ haraṇaṁ vā saṁpramadhya vā gamanaṁ vā rakṣasāṁ sarvathaiva svadharmaḥ| na saṁśayaḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

hē bhīru parastrīṇāṁ saṁpramadhya haraṇaṁ vā -
Oh Timid one kidnapping by force
gamanaṁ vā - approaching
rakṣasāṁ sarvathaiva svadharmaḥ -
always normal for Rakshasas
na saṁśayaḥ - there is no doubt

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Timid one kidnapping by force or approaching others wives is normal for Rakshasas. There is no doubt" ||20.05||

'Self' belongs to Paramatman. But getting hold of that 'Self', and indulging oneself in all other pursuits of seemingly pleasant ways is the function of mind. Although 'Self' is pure by nature, the preponderance of one's nature in the form of Tamo Rajo and Sattva Gunas diverts one from the true 'Self' to ego satisfying activities.

Ravana who is the other form of the fickle mind, tells Sita that to steal others wives and indulge themselves is in the nature of Rakshasa.

Thus, through Ravana's words the poet is again narrating the truth of the fickle mind which indulges itself forgetting the true nature of Self.

||Sloka 20.06||

ēvaṁ caitadakāmaṁ tu na tvāṁ sprakṣyāmi maithili|
kāmaṁ kāmaḥ śarīrē mē yathā kāmaṁ pravartatām||20.06||

sa|| ētat ēvaṁ kāmaḥ kāmaṁ yathākāmaṁ mē śarīrē pravartatām tu | akāmam maithilī tvāṁ na sprakṣyāmi ||

||Sloka meanings||

ētat ēvaṁ kāmaṁ - let it be
kāmaḥ yathākāmaṁ -passion as it desires
mē śarīrē pravartatām tu - holds sway on my body
maithilī - Mythili
akāmaṁ tvāṁ na sprakṣyāmi -
not touch you who do not desire me

||Sloka summary||

"Let the passion holds it sway on my body in this way. But I do not touch you who do not desire me." ||20.06||

Mind diverts only those who have no self-control. Mind cannot capture those who are of firm thoughts. We hear this in Gita too. One who is Sthita pragnya does not waver under any circumstances,

Ravana too acknowledges saying, "ēvaṁ caitadakāmaṁ tu na tvāṁ sprakṣyāmi maithili"; Even though it is in our nature - I am not going to touch you since you are, "akāmaṁ tu". (You) have no desire."

Desire is the cause of bondage. Desiring things other than Bhagavan creates bondage. Sita desired the golden deer , that resulted in her bondage. Now Sita's mind is locked on no other than Rama and Ravana cannot touch her as he says.

"akāma" means one without any desires . It also means one desiring only "a" meaning Vishnu. The one who is desiring only "Vishnu" cannot be captured by anything else.

||Sloka 20.07||

dēvī nēha bhayaṁ kāryaṁ mayi viśvasihi priyē|
praṇayasva ca tatvēna maivaṁ bhūḥ śōkalālasā ||20.07||

sa|| dēvī priyē mayi viśvasihi iha bhayaṁ na kāryaṁ | tatvēna ca praṇayasva | ēvaṁ śōkalālasā mā bhūḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

dēvī priyē mayi viśvasihi - . O Lady trust me
iha bhayaṁ na kāryaṁ - have no fear here
tatvēna ca praṇayasva - truly love me
ēvaṁ śōkalālasā mā bhūḥ - do not be entertaining sorrow.

||Sloka summary||

"O Lady trust me. You have no fear here. Truly love me. Do not be entertaining sorrow."||20.07||

||Sloka 20.08||

ēkavēṇīdharāśayyā dhyānaṁ malina maṁbaram|
asthānē'pyupavāsaśca naitā nyaupayikāni tē||20.08||

sa|| ēkavēṇī dharāśayyā dhyānaṁ malinaṁ aṁbaraṁ asthānē upavāsaḥ ca ētān tē na aupayikāni ||

||Sloka meanings||

ēkavēṇī dharāśayyā -
being with a single braid, sleeping on the ground
dhyānaṁ - meditation,
malinaṁ aṁbaraṁ asthānē upavāsaḥ ca -
wearing soiled clothes, fasting without reason
ētān tē na aupayikāni - not appropriate for you

||Sloka summary||

"Oh lady ! being with a single braid , sleeping on the ground, meditation, wearing soiled clothes, fasting without reason are not appropriate for you." ||20.08||

The descriptions used by Ravana for Sita are "ēkavēṇī", "dharāśayyā" ,"yauvanaṁ"; These are the same thoughts pushed by the mind to drive one away from spiritual path. Ravana's exhortation "kuru gātrēṣu bhūṣaṇaṁ" too is the one, which is on the top of many a being in pursuit of vanity.

There are those who think that this body is the Self. They believe that the being born is to be wedded to pursuit of desires. Such people are lost in the fear of youth passing them by. Everything is to be experienced in the youth. Ravana keeps referring to the same saying, let not your "youth go waste"

But Self is different from the "body". Self enters the body to seek the unification with Paramatman. That unification is possible only in the form of human beings. Being born in human form is like the youth. Before that life is over one must experience the "Self" or "Paramatman". Otherwise it is also a wasted life.

||Sloka 20.09||

vicitrāṇi ca mālyāni candanānyagarūṇi ca|
vividhāni ca vāsāṁsi divyānyābharaṇānica ||20.09||

sa|| maithili māṁ prāpya vicitrāṇi mālyāni candanāni agarūṇi ca vividhāni vāsāṁsi divyān ābharaṇāni ca labhasva||

||Sloka meanings||

maithili māṁ prāpya - Mythili having secured me
vicitrāṇi mālyāni - wonderful garlands
candanāni agarūṇi ca - sandal incense
vividhāni vāsāṁsi - several kinds of garments
divyān ābharaṇāni ca labhasva - obtain divine ornaments

||Sloka summary||

"Mythili having secured me , you can get wonderful garlands, sandal incense several kinds of divine garments and ornaments." ||20.09||

||Sloka 20.10||

mahārhāṇi ca pānāni śayanānyāsanāni ca|
gītaṁ nr̥ttaṁ ca vādyaṁca labha māṁ prāpya maithili ||20.10||

sa|| mahārhāṇi ca pānāni śayanāni āsanāni ca gītaṁ nr̥ttaṁ ca vādyaṁ ca labha||

||Sloka meanings||

mahārhāṇi ca pānāni - rich drinks
śayanāni āsanāni ca - rich beds and seats too,
gītaṁ nr̥ttaṁ ca vādyaṁ ca- singing dancing and music too
labha - you can enjoy

||Sloka summary||

"Rich drinks, beds and seats too, as well as singing dancing and music too
you can enjoy." ||20.10||

||Sloka 20.11||

strī ratnamasi maivaṁ bhūḥ kuru gātrēṣu bhūṣaṇaṁ|
māṁ prāpya hi kathaṁ nu syāt tvamanarhā suvigrahē||20.11||

sa|| strī ratnaṁ asi | ēvaṁ mābhūḥ | gātrēṣu bhūṣaṇaṁ kuru | suvigrahē māṁ prāpya tvaṁ kathaṁ nu anarhā syāt ||

||Sloka meanings||

strī ratnaṁ asi - you are jewel among women
ēvaṁ mābhūḥ - do not remain like this
gātrēṣu bhūṣaṇaṁ kuru - decorate your limbs
suvigrahē māṁ prāpya - lady of beautiful body having obtained me
tvaṁ kathaṁ nu anarhā syāt - how can you be deprived of anything.

||Sloka summary||

"You are jewel among women. Do not remain like this. Decorate your limbs. Lady of beautiful body having obtained me how can you be deprived of anything." ||20.11||

||Sloka 20.12||

idaṁ tē cāru saṁjātaṁ yauvanaṁ vyativartatē|
yat atītaṁ punarnaiti srōtaḥ śīghramapāmiva||20.12||

sa|| cāru saṁjātaṁ idaṁ tē yauvanaṁ vyativartatē | yat atītaṁ śīghraḥ srōtaḥ apāṁ iva punaḥ na iti||

||Sloka meanings||

cāru saṁjātaṁ -
beautifully created
idaṁ tē yauvanaṁ vyativartatē -
this youth of yours will pass away
yat atītaṁ śīghraḥ -
( like) the fast (flowing)
srōtaḥ apāṁ iva punaḥ na iti -
flowing water it will not return again

||Sloka summary||

"This beautiful youth of yours thus created will pass away. Like the fast-flowing water it will not return again." ||20.12||

||Sloka 20.13||

tvāṁ kr̥tvōparatō manyē rūpakartā sa viśvasr̥k |
na hi rūpōpamā tvanyā tavāsti śubhadarśanē ||20.13||

sa|| śubhadarśanē tvāṁ kr̥tvā saḥ rūpakartā viśvasr̥k uparataḥ manyē| tvat anyā tava rūpasamaḥ na asti ||

||Sloka meanings||

śubhadarśanē - Oh lady of auspicious looks
tvāṁ kr̥tvā - having created you
saḥ rūpakartā viśvasr̥k- the creator of this world
uparataḥ manyē - stopped (creation) I think
tvat anyā tava rūpasamaḥ na asti -
other than you, there is none who is comparable beauty to you

||Sloka summary||

"Oh lady of auspicious looks having created you even the creator of this world stopped. There is none who is comparable beauty to you."||20.13||

||Sloka 20.14||

tvāṁ samasādya vaidēhī rūpayauvanaśālinīm|
kaḥ pumā nativartēta sākṣā dapi pitāmahaḥ||20.14||

sa||vaidēhī rūpayauvanaśālinīṁ tvāṁ samāsādya kaḥ pumān ativartēta || sākṣāt pitāmahaḥ api||

||Sloka meanings||

rūpayauvanaśālinīṁ - of endowed with youth and beauty
tvāṁ samāsādya - having seen you
kaḥ pumān ativartēta - which man can go away
sākṣāt pitāmahaḥ api - even grandsire cannot

||Sloka summary||

"Vaidehi after getting you with your extraordinary beauty youth who can retain his mind. Even creator cannot." ||20.14||

||Sloka 20.15||

yadyat paśyāmi tē gātraṁ śītāṁśusadr̥śānanē|
tasmiṁ stasmin pr̥thuśrōṇī cakṣurmama nibadhyatē||20.15||

sa|| śītāṁśusadr̥śānanē pr̥thuśrōṇī tē yadyat gātraṁ paśāmi tasmiṁ tasmin mama cakṣuḥ nibadhyatē||

||Sloka meanings||

śītāṁśusadr̥śānanē - with face like that of a full moon
pr̥thuśrōṇī - with heavy hips
tē yadyat gātraṁ paśyāmi - whichever limb I see
tasmiṁ tasmin mama cakṣuḥ nibadhyatē - in that in that my eyes are locked

||Sloka summary||

"With face like that of a full moon and heavy hips, whichever limb I see, limbs which ever limb I see I am unable to extricate my eyes." ||20.15||

||Sloka 20.16||

bhava maithili bhāryā mē mōha mēnaṁ visarjaya|
bahvināṁ uttamastrīṇāṁ āhr̥tānām itaḥ tataḥ||20.16||

sa|| maithili mē bhāryā bhava | ēnaṁ mōhaṁ visarjaya | āhr̥tānāṁ bhahvīnām mama uttama strīṇāṁ sarvāsāṁ ēva agramahiṣī bhava| tē bhadram astu ||

||Sloka meanings||

maithili mē bhāryā bhava - Mythili be my wife
ēnaṁ mōhaṁ visarjaya - give up this delusion
āhr̥tānāṁ bhahvīnām - of many women brought
mama uttama strīṇāṁ sarvāsāṁ ēva - of all the best of my women
agramahiṣī bhava - be the chief consort .
tē bhadram astu - you be blessed

||Sloka summary||

"Mythili, be my wife. Give up this delusion. Be my chief consort among all the several wonderful women who have been brought by me and be blessed."||20.16||

||Sloka 20.17||

sarvāsāmēva bhadraṁtē mamāgramahīṣībhava|
lōkēbhyō yāni ratnāni saṁpramathyāhr̥tāni vai||20.17||
tāni mē bhīru sarvāṇi rājyaṁ caitadahaṁ ca tē|

sa|| bhīruḥ lōkēbhyaḥ yāni ratnāni saṁpramamadhya āhr̥tāni tāni sarvāṇi ētat rājyaṁ ca ahaṁ ca tē||

||Sloka meanings||

bhīruḥ lōkēbhyaḥ yāni ratnāni -
Oh Timid lady ! All those gems and precious things from all over the world
saṁpramamadhya āhr̥tāni - brought by force
tāni sarvāṇi - all of those
ētat rājyaṁ ca - this kingdom too
ahaṁ ca tē - and me too are yours

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Timid lady ! All the gems and precious things I brought by force from all over the world, all the kingdom and me too are yours."||20.17||

||Sloka 20.18||

vijitya pr̥thivīṁ sarvāṁ nānānagaramālinīm||20.18||
janakāya pradāsyāmi tava hētōrvilāsinī|

sa|| pr̥thivīṁ sarvāṁ nānā nagaramālinīṁ vijitya vilāsinī tava hētōḥ janakāya pradāsyāmi ||

||Sloka meanings||

sarvāṁ nānā nagaramālinīṁ -
of all the different cities forming a garland
pr̥thivīṁ vijitya - the earth , having won
vilāsinī tava hētōḥ -O lovely lady for you
janakāya pradāsyāmi - give to King Janaka

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Lovely lady! Winning the whole world and all the cities I will give them to Janaka for your sake." ||20.18||

||Sloka 20.19||

nēha paśyāmi lōkē'nyaṁ yō mē pratibalō bhavēt ||20.19||
paśyamē sumahadvīryaṁ apratidvandvamāhavē|

sa|| iha lōkē anyaṁ mē pratibalaḥ na | āhavē mē sumahat vīryaṁ apratidvandvaṁ paśya ||

||Sloka meanings||

iha lōkē anyaṁ mē pratibalaḥ na -
in this world there is none equal to me
āhavē mē sumahat vīryaṁ -
my great strength
āhavē apratidvandvaṁ paśya -
unrivalled in the battle, see

||Sloka summary||

"In this world there is none equal to me. In battle see my unrivalled great strength."||20.19||

||Sloka 20.20||

asakr̥t saṁyugē bhagnā mayā vimr̥ditadhvajāḥ||20.20||
aśaktāḥ pratyanīkēṣu sthātuṁ mama surāsurāḥ|

sa||mayā asakr̥t surāsurāḥ saṁyugē bhagnāḥ vimr̥dita dhvajāḥ | mama pratyanīkēṣu sthātum aśaktāḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

mayā asakr̥t -
by me again and again
surāsurāḥ saṁyugē bhagnāḥ -
Devas and Asuras having been shattered in the battle
vimr̥dita dhvajāḥ - with their flags crushed
mama pratyanīkēṣu sthātum aśaktāḥ -
unable to stand against me

||Sloka summary||

"Again and again Devas and Asuras, with their flags crushed, were shattered in battle unable to stand against me." ||20.20||

||Sloka 20.21,22||

icca māṁ kriyatā madya pratikarma tavōttamam||20.21||
saprabhāṇyavasajyantāṁ tavāṅgē bhūṣaṇānica|
sādhu paśyāmi tē rūpaṁ saṁyuktaṁ pratikarmaṇā||20.22||

sa||māṁ iccha ādya tava uttamam pratikarma kriyatām| tava aṅgē sa prabhāṇi bhūṣaṇāni ca avasajyaṁtāṁ | pratikarmaṇā saṁyuktaṁ tē sādhu rūpaṁ paśyāmi ||

||Sloka meanings||

māṁ iccha - desire me
ādya tava - today you
uttamam pratikarma kriyatām - do best decoration
tava aṅgē sa prabhāṇi bhūṣaṇāni ca -
radiant ornaments on your limbs
avasajyaṁtāṁ - may you wear
saṁyuktaṁ pratikarmaṇā -
decorating yourself in all ways
sādhu paśyāmi tē rūpaṁ -
your pleasing form I wish to see

||Sloka summary||

"Desire me. You do best decoration. You wear radiant ornaments on your body. I wish you to decorate yourself and see your pleasing form". ||20.21-22||

||Sloka 20.23||

pratikarmābhi saṁyuktā dākṣiṇyēna varānanē|
bhuṁkṣvabhōgān yathākāmaṁ piba bhīru ramasva ca||20.23||

sa|| varānanē bhīruḥ dākṣiṇyēna pratikarmābhi saṁyuktā yathā kāmaṁ bhōgān bhuṁkṣva piba ramasva ca||

||Sloka meanings||

varānanē bhīruḥ -
O Charming lady ! Timid one
dākṣiṇyēna pratikarmābhi saṁyuktā -
Liberally decorate yourself as you like
yathā kāmaṁ bhōgān bhuṁkṣva -
enjoy luxuries as you please
piba ramasva ca -
drink and enjoy

||Sloka summary||

"O Charming lady ! Timid one ! Liberally decorate yourself as you like, drink and make merry." ||20.23||

||Sloka 20.24||

yathēṣṭaṁ ca prayacca tvaṁ pr̥thivīṁ vā dhanāni ca|
lalasva mayi visrabdā dhr̥ṣṭa mājñāpayasva ca||20.24||

sa|| tvaṁ pr̥thivīm dhanāni ca yathēcchaṁ prayaccha| visrabdā mayi lalasva | ghr̥ṣṭaṁ ājñāpayasva ca||

||Sloka meanings||

pr̥thivīm dhanāni ca -
land and wealth
tvaṁ yathēcchaṁ prayaccha -
you give away as you wish
visrabdā mayi lalasva -
being free enjoy with me
ghr̥ṣṭaṁ ājñāpayasva ca -
boldly order me.

||Sloka summary||

"Give away land and wealth as you wish. Being free enjoy with me. Boldly order me."||20.24||

||Sloka 20.25||

matprasādā llalantyāśca lalantāṁ bhāndhavā stava |
buddhiṁ māmanupaśya tvaṁ śriyaṁ bhadrē yaśaśca mē||20.25||

sa|| bhadrē matprasādāt lalantyāḥ tava bāṁdhavā lalantāṁ | tvaṁ mama r̥ddhiṁ yaśaśca anupaśya|

||Sloka meanings||

bhadrē matprasādāt lalantyāḥ -
Oh Auspicious lady ! By my grace enjoying
tava bāṁdhavā lalantāṁ -
your relations too may enjoy
mama r̥ddhiṁ -my wealth
yaśaśca tvaṁ anupaśya -
and fame too you see

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Auspicious lady ! By my grace enjoying your relations you too may enjoy. You see my wealth and fame." ||20.25||

||Sloka 20.26||

kiṁ kariṣyasi rāmēṇa subhagē cīravāsasā|
nikṣipta vijayō rāmō gataśrīḥ vanagōcaraḥ||20.26||
vratī sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca śaṅkē jīvati vā na vā|

sa|| subhagē cīravāsasā rāmēṇa kiṁ kariṣyasi| nikṣipta vijayaḥ gataśrīḥ vanagōcaraḥ vratī sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca rāmaḥ jīvati vā na śaṅkē ||

||Sloka meanings||

subhagē cīravāsasā rāmēṇa -
beautiful lady, with Rama who wears bark clothes
kiṁ kariṣyasi - what will you do
nikṣipta vijayaḥ gataśrīḥ -
with who renounced victory, lost fortune
vanagōcaraḥ vratī -
wandering in the forest , following ascetism
sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca -
sleeping on the ground
rāmaḥ jīvati vā na śaṅkē -
whether Rama is alive or not is doubtful

||Sloka summary||

"O Beautiful lady ! What will you do with the person in bark robes. With renounced victory, lost fortune, wandering in the forest , following ascetism , sleeping on the ground whether Rama is alive or not I am doubtful." ||20.26||

||Sloka 20.27||

na hi vaidēhi rāma stvāṁ draṣṭuṁ vāpyupalapsyatē||20.27||
purō balākai rasitaiḥ mēghaiḥ jyōtsnāmivāvr̥tam|

sa|| vaidēhī rāmaḥ tvaṁ purōbalākaiḥ asitaiḥ mēghaiḥ āvr̥tāṁ jyōtsnāṁ iva draṣṭuṁ vā pi na hi upalapsyatē||

||Sloka meanings||

vaidēhī -O Vaidehi
purōbalākaiḥ asitaiḥ -
the cranes flying in the front
mēghaiḥ āvr̥tāṁ jyōtsnāṁ iva -
cannot see the moon rays veiled by the clouds
rāmaḥ tvaṁ draṣṭuṁ vā pi - for Rama too to see you
na hi upalapsyatē - is not possible .

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Vaidehi ! Rama too may not even be able to see you, like the cranes flying in the front cannot see the moon rays veiled by the clouds." ||20.27||

||Sloka 20.28||

na cāpi mama hastā ttvām prāptu marhati rāghavaḥ||20.28||
hiraṇyakaśipuḥ kīrtiṁ iṁdrahastagatāmiva|

sa|| hiraṇyakaśipuḥ indrahasta gatāṁ kīrtiṁ iva rāghavaḥ mama hastāt tvāṁ prāptuṁ na cāpi arhati||

||Sloka meanings||.

hiraṇyakaśipuḥ indrahastagatāṁ kīrtiṁ iva -
like Hiranyakasipu was able to get back Certhiids wife from the hands of Indra
rāghavaḥ mama hastāt -
from my hands Raghava
tvāṁ prāptuṁ na cāpi arhati -
not possible to get you

||Sloka summary||

"Raghava will not be able to get you back from my hands like Hiranyakasipu was able to get back his wife Kirti from the hands of Indra." ||20.28||

||Sloka 20.29||

cārusmitē cārudati cārunētrē vilāsini|| 20.29||
manōharasi mē bhīru suparṇaḥ pannagaṁ yathā|

sa||cārusmitē cārudati cārunētrē vilāsini bhīru suparṇaḥ pannagaṁ yathā mama manaḥ harasi||

||Sloka meanings||

cārusmitē cārudati -
Lady of charming smile and beautiful teeth
cārunētrē vilāsini bhīru -
of beautiful luxurious eyes and timid lady
suparṇaḥ pannagaṁ yathā -
like the Garuda snatching away a serpent.
mama manaḥ harasi -
you have captivated my mind

||Sloka summary||

"Lady of charming smile, lady of beautiful teeth , beautiful eyes luxurious and timid lady you have captivated my mind like the Garuda snatching away a serpent. ||20.29||

||Sloka 20.30||

kliṣṭa kauśēyavasanāṁ tanvī mapyanalaṅkr̥tām||20.30||
tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā svēṣu dārēṣu ratiṁ nōpalabhāmyaham|

sa|| kliṣṭakauśēyavasanāṁ tanvīṁ tvāṁ analaṁkr̥tāṁ api dr̥ṣṭvā ahaṁ svēṣu dārēṣu ratiṁ na upalabhāmi||

||Sloka meanings||

kliṣṭakauśēyavasanāṁ - wearing spoiled silk clothes
analaṁkr̥tāṁ api - though not adorned
tanvīṁ tvāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā - oh tender woman seeing you I
ahaṁ svēṣu dārēṣu - with my wives
ahaṁ ratiṁ na upalabhāmi -
I am not finding love in my other wives

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Tender woman wearing spoiled silk clothes, though not adorned, seeing you I am not finding love in my other wives. " ||20.30||

||Sloka 20.31||

antaḥpura nivāsinyaḥ striyaḥ sarvaguṇānvitāḥ||20.31||
yāvaṁtyō mama sarvāsām aiśvvaryaṁ kuru jānaki|

sa|| jānakī mama striyaḥ antaḥpuranivāsinyaḥ yāvantyaḥ sarvaguṇānvitāḥ | sarvāsāṁ iśvaryaṁ kuru||

||Sloka meanings||

jānakī striyaḥ mama antaḥpuranivāsinyaḥ -
O Janaki, ladies of my harem
yāvantyaḥ sarvaguṇānvitāḥ -
many of them are endowed with all attributes
sarvāsāṁ aiśvaryaṁ kuru -
exercise authority on all of them

||Sloka summary||

"ō jānakī nā aṁtaḥ puramulō unna strīlu cālāmaṁdi sarvaguṇa saṁpannulu. nīvu vāraṁdaripai adhipatyamu vahiṁcumu". ||20.31||

"O Janaki, many of the ladies of my harem are endowed with all attributes . You exercise authority on all of them." ||20.31||

||Sloka 20.32||

mama hyasitakēśāṁtē trailōkyapravarā sstriyaḥ||20.32||
tāstvāṁ paricariṣyanti śriya mapsarasō yathā|

sa|| asitakēśāṁtē mama tāḥ trailōkya pravarāḥ striyaḥ apsarasaḥ śriyaṁ yathā tvāṁ paricariṣyanti||

||Sloka meanings||

asitakēśāṁtē -
Oh lady with dark hair
mama tāḥ trailōkya pravarāḥ striyaḥ -
my women, the best among the women in the three worlds
apsarasaḥ śriyaṁ yathā -
like Apsarasas attending on Lakshmi
tvāṁ paricariṣyanti -
they will serve you

||Sloka summary||

"O lady with black hair, the best among the women in the three worlds, Apsaras who are mine will attend on you like Goddess Lakshmi." ||20.32||

||Sloka 20.33||

yāni vaiśravaṇē subhru ratnāni dhanāni ca||20.33||
tāni lōkāṁśca suśrōṇi māṁ ca bhuṅkṣva yathā sukham|

sa|| suśrōṇi subhr̥ vaiśravaṇē yāni ratnāni dhanāni ca tāni lōkāṁśca māṁ ca yathāsukhaṁ bhuṅkṣva||

||Sloka meanings||

suśrōṇi subhr̥ - Lady of beautiful hips, beautiful eyebrows
vaiśravaṇē yāni ratnāni dhanāni ca - whatever gems and wealth Kubera had
tāni lōkāṁśca māṁ ca - that , the worlds and me too
yathāsukhaṁ bhuṅkṣva - enjoy as you please

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Lady of beautiful hips, beautiful eyebrows you be happy and enjoy with whatever gems and wealth and those worlds as well including me." ||20.33||

||Sloka 20.34||

na rāmastapasā dēvi na balēna na vikramaiḥ|
na dhanēna mayā tulyaḥ tējasā yaśasā'pi vā||20.34||

sa|| dēvī rāmaḥ tapasā mayā na tulyaḥ | na balēna vikramaiḥ ca|na dhanēna tējasā yaśasā api vā||

||Sloka meanings||

rāmaḥ tapasā mayā na tulyaḥ -
Rama is not my equal in penance
na balēna vikramaiḥ ca -
not in prowess or valor
na dhanēna tējasā yaśasā api vā -
\not in wealth, brilliance or fame too

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Devi , Rama is not my equal in penance. Not in prowess or valor. Not in wealth, brilliance or fame too." ||20.34||

||Sloka 20.35||

piba vihara ramasva bhuṅkṣva bhōgān
dhananicayaṁ pradiśāmi mēdinīṁ ca|
mayi lala lalanē yathāsukhaṁ tvaṁ
tvayi ca samētya lalantu bāndhavāstē || 20.35||

sa||lalanē dhananicayaṁ mēdinīṁ ca tvaṁ pradiśāmi |piba vihara ramasva | bhōgān yathāyuktaṁ mayi lala| tē bāndhavāḥ samētya tvayi lalantu||

||Sloka meanings||

lalanē dhananicayaṁ mēdinīṁ ca -
delightful one, Heaps of riches as well as lands
tvaṁ pradiśāmi -
I am presenting to you
piba vihara ramasva -
drink, sport and enjoy
bhōgān yathāyuktaṁ mayi lala -
enjoy all pleasures enjoy as you please
tē bāndhavāḥ samētya tvayi lalantu -
enjoy along with your relations

||Sloka summary||

"Oh delightful one, Heaps of riches as well as lands I am presenting to you. Drink, sport and enjoy. All enjoy all pleasures enjoy as you please. Enjoy along with your relations." ||20.35||

||Sloka 20.36||

kusumita tarujāla saṁtatāni
bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni|
kanaka vimala hārabhūṣitāṅgi
vihara mayā saha bhīru kānanāni||20.36||

sa|| bhīru kanaka vimala hārabhūṣitāṁgī kusumita tarujāla saṁtatāni bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni kānanāni mayā saha vihara||

||Sloka meanings||

bhīru kanaka vimala hārabhūṣitāṁgī -
Oh Timid one, deck yourself with pure gold necklaces
kusumita tarujāla saṁtatāni -
groves full of trees with blossoms
bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni kānanāni -
sea side forest groves with swarms of bees
mayā saha vihara -
you may enjoy with me

||Sloka summary||

Oh Timid one ! Deck yourself with pure gold necklaces. Enjoy along with me in the enchanting sea side forest groves full of trees with swarms of bees. ||20.36||

Ravana's words in the end "Drink, sport and enjoy. Enjoy all pleasures with me as you please. Enjoy along with your relations" have a lilt. The poet's poetic lines with a lilt, give a hint of a man walking with swagger, blinded by his assumptions of power.

That is where a mind full of ego positions a man.

In these Slokas, Ravana presses Sita to leave Rama from her mind and enjoy the life . He praises Sita saying even the creator will want her. He puts down Rama as a simple wanderer in the forest.

Those are all the words of one whose ego is at its height. Ego boosted by mind with the wealth, the indulgence tries to distance the man from the search of Self

The poet is presenting the push of the mind towards the path of "pleasant". The path described by Yama to Nachiketa, the path that is not to be followed.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsuṁdarakāṁḍē viṁśassargaḥ||

Thus ends the Sarga 20 in Sundarakanda of Shrimad Valmiki Ramayan composed by Valmiki.

||om tat sat ||