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|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 23

In Sarga twenty-two, Ravana tells Maithili that she has a time limit of two months. He also commands the Rakshasa women guarding her, to win over Sita to using all modes of persuasion. Then Ravana, the tormentor of enemies leaves for his palace.

We now hear the subsequent events.

The Slokas of twenty third Sarga follow with meanings and summary.

||Sloka 23.01||

इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रु रावणः।
संदिश्य च ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्निर्जगाम ह ||23.01||

स॥ मैधिलीं इत्युक्त्वा रावणः शत्रु रावणः ततः सर्वान् राक्षसीः संदिश्य च ततः राजा निर्जगाम॥

॥Sloka meanings||

मैधिलीं इत्युक्त्वा -
thus having told Maithili
रावणः शत्रु रावणः -
Ravana, the tormentor of enemies
सर्वान् राक्षसीः संदिश्य च -
commanded all the Rakshasa women too
ततः राजा निर्जगाम -
then the king left

||श्लोक तात्पर्यमु॥

"Thus having told Maithili , Ravana, the tormentor of enemies, commanded all the Rakshasa women too and then left ( for his palace)". ||23.01||

Tilaka Tika says - शतॄन् रावयति हाहाकारशब्दं कारयति, सः शतृरावणः - makes enemies cry in distress hence he is called, शतृरावणः.

||Sloka 23.02||

निष्क्रान्ते राक्षसेन्द्रे तु पुनरन्तःपुरं गते।
राक्षस्यो भीमरूपाः सीतां समभिदुद्रुवुः॥23.02||

स॥ राक्षसेंद्रे पुनः अंतःपुरं गते निष्क्रान्ते तु भीमरूपाः राक्षस्यः तां सीतां समभिदुद्रुवुः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

राक्षसेंद्रे निष्क्रान्ते -
after the king of Rakshasas left that place
पुनः अंतःपुरं गते तु -
and again went to his harem
भीमरूपाः राक्षस्यः -
the fearsome Rakshasa women
तां सीतां समभिदुद्रुवुः -
surrounded Sita

||Sloka summary||

"After the king of Rakshasas left for the inner harem, the fearsome Rakshasa women surrounded Sita." ||23.02||

||Sloka 23.03||

ततस्सीतां उपागम्य रक्षस्यः क्रोथमूर्चिताः।
परं परुषया वाचा वैदेहीं इदमब्रुवन् ||23.03||

स॥ ततः रक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्छिताः सीतां वैदेहीं उपागम्य परं परुषया वाचा इदं अब्रुवन् ||

||Sloka meanings||

ततः रक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्छिताः -
then the Rakshasa women having lost their senses in anger
सीतां वैदेहीं उपागम्य - approached Sita
परं परुषया वाचा - with harsh words
इदं अब्रुवन् - spoke thus.

||Sloka summary||

"Then the Rakshasa women having lost their senses in anger, approached Sita and said the following angry words." ||23.03||

||Sloka 23.04||

पौलस्तस्य वरिष्ठस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः।
दशग्रीवस्य भार्या त्वं सीते न बहुमन्यसे॥23.04||

स॥ सीते महात्मनः पौलस्तस्य वरिष्ठस्य दशग्रीवस्य भार्या त्वं न बहुमन्यसे ||

||Sloka meanings||.

सीते महात्मनः पौलस्तस्य -
of the son of Pulastya, the great soul
वरिष्ठस्य दशग्रीवस्य भार्या -
wife of distinguished , ten headed one's
त्वं न बहुमन्यसे -
you think is not a privilege

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Sita, don't you think that it is a privilege to be the wife of the great soul, son of Pulastya, the distinguished ten headed Ravana".||23.04||

||Sloka 23.05||

ततस्त्वेकजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यम ब्रवीत्।
आमन्त्र्य क्रोधताम्राक्षी सीतां करतलोदरीम्॥23.05||

स॥ ततः एकजटा नाम राक्षसी आमन्त्र्य क्रोधताम्राक्षी करतलोदरीं सीतां (इदं) वाक्यं अब्रवीत् |

||Sloka meanings||

ततः एकजटा नाम राक्षसी -
then one Rakshasi by name Ekajata
आमन्त्र्य क्रोधताम्राक्षी -
who had eyes red with anger, having been called
करतलोदरीं सीतां -
Sita who is with a belly of the size of a palm
(इदं) वाक्यं अब्रवीत् -
said the following words

||Sloka summary||Ó

"Then one Rakshasi by name Ekajata, who had eyes red with anger having been called , told Sita with a belly of the size of a palm, the following words." ||23.05||

||Sloka 23.06||

प्रजापतीनां षण्णां तु चतुर्थो यः प्रजापतिः।
मानसो ब्रह्मणः पुत्त्रः पुलस्त्य इति विश्रुतः॥23.06||

स॥ षण्णां प्रजापतीनां चतुर्थो प्रजापति पुलस्त्यः यः ब्रह्मणः मानसपुत्रः इति विश्रुतः तु ||

||Sloka meanings||

षण्णां प्रजापतीनां -
among six Prajapatis
चतुर्थो प्रजापति पुलस्त्यः -
fourth Prajapatis is Pulastya
यः ब्रह्मणः मानसपुत्रः -
the son born out of the thought of Brahma
इति विश्रुतः तु -
known to be so

||Sloka summary||

"Pulastya, the fourth among six Prajapatis, is known as the son born out of the thought of Brahma." ||23.06||

||Sloka 23.07||

पुलस्तस्य तु तेजस्वी महर्षिर्मानसः सुतः।
नाम्ना स विश्रवा नाम प्रजापति समप्रभः ||23.07||

स॥ तेजस्वी पुलस्तस्य मानसः सुतः महर्षिः विश्रवाः नामः सः प्रजापति समप्रभः ||

||Sloka meanings||

तेजस्वी पुलस्तस्य मानसः सुतः -
glorious Pulastya's son born out of his thoughts
महर्षिः विश्रवाः नामः -
named great seer Visravas
सः प्रजापति समप्रभः -
he is equal in splendor to Prajapatis

||Sloka summary||

"The glorious Pulastya's son born out of thinking , equal in splendor to Prajapatis is great Rishi Visravasa." ||23.07||

||Sloka 23.08||

तस्य पुत्त्रो विशालाक्षी रावणश्शत्रु रावणः।
तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हसि॥23.08||
मयोक्तं चारु सर्वाङ्गि वाक्यं किं नानुमन्यसे।

स॥ विशालाक्षी तस्य पुत्रः रावणश्शत्रु रावणः ||तस्य राक्षसेंद्रस्य भार्या भवितु त्वं अर्हसि || चारु सर्वाङ्गि मयोक्तं वाक्यं किं न अनुमन्यसे?॥

॥Sloka meanings||

विशालाक्षी तस्य पुत्रः - Oh Wide eyed one ! his son
रावणश्शत्रु रावणः - Ravana, the tormentor of enemies
तस्य राक्षसेंद्रस्य - of that king of Rakshasas
भार्या भवितु त्वं अर्हसि - you deserve to be wife
चारु सर्वाङ्गि - Oh Lady of beautiful limbs
मयोक्तं वाक्यं - the words spoken by me
किं न अनुमन्यसे? - Why do you not follow ?

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Wide eyed one ! Ravana, the tormentor of enemies is his son You deserve to be his wife. Oh Lady of beautiful limbs ! Why do you not follow the words spoken by me?" ||23.08||

" After the King of Rakshasas left ..."

The fearsome Rakshasa women surrounded Sita. Their job was clear. That is to persuade Sita to accept Ravana. They approach Sita with words of persuasion, words of praise for Ravana, and the words of fear about Ravana come at the end.

"दशग्रीवस्य भार्यात्वं सीते न बहु मन्यसे".

"Oh Sita ! Don't you think that it is a privilege to be the wife of the great soul ,Ravana".

They start with extolling Ravana's impressive lineage.

" Pulastya is the fourth among six Prajapatis. He is known as the son born out of mind of Brahma. The glorious Pulastya's son born out of mind , equal in splendor to Prajapatis is great Rishi Visrava.
Oh wide eyed one ! Ravana, the tormentor of enemies is his son".

That is the lineage of Ravana.

They take turns in praising Ravana. They are on their job of persuasion.

||Sloka 23.09||

ततो हरिजटा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥9||
विवर्त्य नयने कोपात् मार्जार सदृशेक्षणा।

स॥ ततः मार्जार सदृसेक्षणा हरिजटा नाम राक्षसी विवृत्य नयनः कोपात् (इदं) वचनं अब्रवीत् ||

||Sloka meanings||

ततः मार्जार सदृसेक्षणा -
then a cat eyed Rakshasi
हरिजटा नाम राक्षसी -
by name Harijata
कोपात् विवृत्य नयनः -
with eyes rolling in anger
(इदं) वचनं अब्रवीत् -
said the following words

||Sloka summary||

"Then a cat eyed Rakshasi by name Harijata who had eyes rolling in anger, said the following words." ||23.09||

||Sloka 23.10||

येन देवाः त्रयस्त्रिंशत् देवराजश्च निर्जिताः॥23.10||
तस्य त्वं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितु मर्हसि।

॥Sloka meanings||

येन त्रयत्रिंशत् देवाः -
by whom thirty-three crore gods
देवराजश्च निर्जिताः -
king of Devas too was defeated
तस्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य -
of that king of Rakshasas
भार्या भवितुं अर्हसि -
deserve to be the wife

||Sloka summary||

स॥ येन त्रयत्रिंशत् देवाः देवराजश्च निर्जिताः तस्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या भवितुं अर्हसि॥

"You deserve to be the wife of that king of Rakshasas who defeated thirty-three crore gods including the king of Devas". ||23.10||

Now the Rakshasa women take turns to praise Ravana .

"येन देवा त्रयत्रिंशत् देवराजश्च विजिताः' ।
" by whom the leader of the thirty three crore Devas was defeated".

For the Rakshasas that is high qualification

Saying that she is fit to be his wife, in their ignorance the Rakshasa women think that is a compliment. That is the level of knowledge of the people schooled in ignorance.

||Sloka 23.11||

ततस्तु प्रघसा नाम राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्चिता॥23.11||
भर्त्ययन्ती तदा घोरम् इदं वचनमब्रवीत् |

स॥ ततः क्रोधमूर्छिता भर्त्सयंती प्रघसा नाम राक्षसी इदं घोरं वचनं अब्रवीत्॥

॥Sloka meanings||

ततः क्रोधमूर्छिता -
one who lost her senses in anger
भर्त्सयंती - deriding
प्रघसा नाम राक्षसी -
a Rakshasi by name Praghasa
इदं घोरं वचनं अब्रवीत् -
said these terrible words

||Sloka summary||

Then a Rakshasi who lost her senses in anger, spoke these terrible words deriding Sita

||Sloka 23.12||

वीर्योत्सिक्तस्य शूरस्य संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः॥23.12||
बलिनो वीर्ययुक्तस्य भार्या किं त्वं न लप्स्यसे।

स॥ वीर्योत्सिक्तस्य शूरस्य संग्रामेषु अनिवर्तिनः बलिनः वीर्ययुक्तस्य भार्या त्वं किं न लप्स्यसे॥

॥Sloka meanings||

वीर्योत्सिक्तस्य शूरस्य -
of valiant warrior
संग्रामेषु अनिवर्तिनः -
one who never retreats in battle.
बलिनः वीर्ययुक्तस्य भार्या -
wife of a powerful and mighty one
त्वं किं न लप्स्यसे -
why you do not wish to be

||Sloka summary||

"Why are you not wishing to be the wife of the mighty valiant one, who never retreats in battle."

||Sloka 23.13||

प्रियां बहुमतां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा राजा महाबलः॥23.13||
सर्वासां च महाभागां त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः।

स॥ रावणः महाबलः सर्वासां च महाभागां बहुमतां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा राजा त्वां उपैष्यति ||

||Sloka meanings||

रावणः महाबलः -
most powerful Ravana
सर्वासां च बहुमतां -
favorite lady among all
महाभागां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा -
leaving highly respectable wife
राजा त्वां उपैष्यति -
the king is desiring you

||Sloka summary||

" The most powerful Ravana rejecting all the highly respectable ladies including his dear favorite lady, is desiring you." ||23.13||

The Rakshasa women roll a number of praises for Ravana .

"शूरस्य संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः"
"Mighty valiant one, who never retreats in battle"

"प्रियां बहुमतां भार्यां त्यक्त्वा"
"Rejecting all the highly respectable ladies including his dear favorite lady,
Ravana is desiring you".

That he is desiring Sita, wife of another, which is against normal cannons of law, is presented as a qualification for Ravana.

||Sloka 23.14||

समुद्धं स्त्री सहस्रेण नानारत्नोपशोभितम्॥23.14||
अंतः पुरं समुत्सृज्य त्वामुपैष्यति रावणः।

स॥ रावणः स्त्रीसहस्रेण समृद्धं नानारत्नोपशोभितं अंतः पुरं समुत्सृज्य त्वां उपैष्यति ||

||Sloka meanings||

नानारत्नोपशोभितं -
shining with all kinds of gems
स्त्रीसहस्रेण समृद्धं -
filled with thousand wives
अंतः पुरं समुत्सृज्य -
abandoning his harem
रावणः त्वां उपैष्यति -
Ravana is desiring you'.

||Sloka summary||

"Ravana abandoning thousand wives in his harem provided with all kinds of gems , is desiring you".||23.14||

||Sloka 23.15,16||

अन्यातु विकटानाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥23.15||
असकृद्देवता युद्दे नागगन्धर्व दानवाः।
निर्जिताः समरे येन स ते पार्श्वमुपागतः॥23.16||

स॥ विकटा नाम अन्या राक्षसी (इदं) वाक्यं अब्रवीत् | येन असकृत् युद्धे देवताः नाग गंधर्व दानवाः युद्धे समरे निर्जिताः सः ते पार्श्वं उपागतः॥

॥Sloka meanings||

विकटा नाम अन्या राक्षसी -
then a Rakshasi by name Vikata
(इदं) वाक्यं अब्रवीत् -
said the following words
येन असकृत् - who has often
देवताः नाग गंधर्व दानवाः -
Devas , Nagas, Gandharvas , Danavas
युद्धे समरे निर्जिताः - defeated in the war
सः ते पार्श्वं उपागतः -
he wants to be by your side

||Sloka summary||

"Then a Rakshasi by name Vikata said the following words. 'He who has often defeated Devas , Nagas, Gandharvas , Danavas in battle wants to be by your side." ||23.15,16||

||Sloka 23.17||

तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य रावणस्य महात्मनः।
किमद्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भार्या त्वं नेच्छसेऽधमे ||23.17||

स॥ अथमे तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य महात्मनः रावणस्य राक्ष्सेंद्रस्य भार्या किं न इच्छसे

॥Sloka meanings||

तस्य सर्वसमृद्धस्य -
one of abundance of wealth
महात्मनः राक्ष्सेंद्रस्य -
great soul and King of Rakshasas
रावणस्य भार्या - Ravana's wife
अथमे किं न इच्छसे -
Oh Foolish woman, why do you not wish
अधमुराला अगुटकु ऎंदुकु इष्टपडवु

॥Sloka summary||

"Oh Foolish woman! Why do you not wish to be the wife of the great soul Ravana who has abundance of wealth ?" ||23.17||

Having said how powerful Ravana is, they tell Sita she is fit enough to be his wife, "भार्या भवितुं अर्हसि", "You are worthy of becoming his wife"; Describing her as being worthy of Ravana shows their ignorance.

They are not aware of the antecedents of Sita, nor that Rama won her by lifting Siva's bow, which the king of Rakshasas failed to lift.


||Sloka 23.18||

ततस्तु दुर्मुखी नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।
यस्य सूर्यो न तपति भीतो यस्य च मारुतः॥23.18||
न वाति स्मायतापाङ्गे किं त्वं तस्य न तिष्ठसि।

स॥ ततः दुर्मुखी नाम राक्षसी (इदं) वाक्यं अब्रवीत् | आयतापाङ्गे यस्य भीतः सूर्यः न तपति यस्य च मारुतः न वाति स्म तस्य त्वं किं न तिष्ठसि ||

||Sloka meanings||

ततः दुर्मुखी नाम राक्षसी -
then a Rakshasi by name Durmukhi
(इदं) वाक्यं अब्रवीत् -
spoke the following words
आयतापाङ्गे यस्य भीतः -
O Lady of long side glances , afraid of whom
सूर्यः न तपति -
Sun does not shine brightly
यस्य च मारुतः न वाति स्म -
the wind does not blow?
तस्य त्वं किं न तिष्ठसि -
why don't you stand by that one?

||Sloka summary||

"Then a Rakshasi by name Durmukhi spoke the following words.' O Lady of long side glances ! Why don't you stand by that one afraid of whom the Sun does not shine brightly and the wind does not blow?" ||23.18||

Having talked about his greatness, the Rakshasa women describe how he is feared by others.

"यस्य सूर्यो न तपति भीतो यस्य च मारुतः"
"Afraid of whom Sun does not shine and wind does not blow",

"पुष्पवृष्टिंच तरवो मुमुचुर्यस्य वै भयात्।"
"Afraid of whom the trees shower flowers",

"Afraid of whom mountains and clouds release water, that is Ravana !

This represents the power that Ravana has on the nature. In another sense the ability to control the nature is a great asset , if only it is used for benefit in a self-less way. But Ravana is on a destructive path.

||Sloka 23.19, 20||

पुष्पवृष्टिं च तरवो मुमुचुरस्य वै भयात्॥23.19||
ततस्तु सुभ्रु पानीयं जलादाश्च यदेच्छति।

तस्य नैरृतराजस्य राजराजस्य भामिनी॥23.20||
किं त्वं न कुरुषे बुद्धिं भार्यार्थे रावणस्य हि।

स॥ सुभ्रु भामिनि यस्य भयात् तरवः पुष्पवृष्ठिं मुमुचुः यदा इच्छति शैलाश्च जलदाश्च पानीयं नैर्रुतराजस्य राजराजस्य तस्य रावणस्य भार्यार्थे बुद्धिं त्वं न कुरुषे?॥

॥Sloka meanings||

सुभ्रु भामिनि -
Oh Lady with beautiful eyebrows
यस्य भयात् तरवः पुष्पवृष्ठिं मुमुचुः -
afraid of whom the trees shower flowers
यदा इच्छति शैलाश्च -
on whose wish the mountains
जलदाश्च पानीयं -
clouds share water
नैर्रुतराजस्य -
of the king of Southwest
राजराजस्य तस्य रावणस्य -
of the king of kings, of that Ravana
भार्यार्थे बुद्धिं त्वं न कुरुषे -
to be his why not you make up your mind

||Sloka summary||

'Oh Lady with beautiful eyebrows ! Why not you make up your mind to be the wife of Ravana , the king of kings, king of Southwest, afraid of whom the trees shower flowers, the mountains and clouds release water ?' ||23.19,20||

||Sloka 23.21||

साधुते तत्त्वतो देवि कथितं साधु भामिनि।
गृहाण सुस्मिते वाक्यं अन्यथा न भविष्यसि ||23.21||

स॥ सुस्मिते भामिनि देवि तत्त्वतः साधु ते कथितं वाक्यं गृहाण अन्यथा न भविष्यसि ||

||Sloka meanings||

सुस्मिते भामिनि देवि -
Oh Lady with gentle smile
तत्त्वतः साधु ते कथितं वाक्यं -
these words spoken truly in your interest
गृहाण अन्यथा न भविष्यसि -
Accept otherwise you will not be alive

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Lady with gentle smile ! Accept these words spoken truly in your interest , otherwise you will not be alive". ||23.21||

Having praised Ravana in many ways ,
the Rakshasis now employ the last method of fear.

"गृहाण सुस्मिते वाक्यं अन्यथा न भविष्यसि" (23.20)
"Accept these words spoken truly in your interest , otherwise you will not be alive".

So the Rakshasa women use all their tricks of persuasion including threats to convince Sita with no effect.

When one is in search of "Self" or realization of Self, there will be many obstacles. One will have occasion to see many a "throne' which could be his. Being the wife of a great person is one such throne. The "mumukshu" does not fall for such attractions. He also should not fall for such attractions.

A mumukshu may face obstacles, but he also gets aid from people supportive of his goals.

While fear of Ravana is described, as a cause for the behavior or Sun, moon, wind and trees, we also heard earlier how the same come forward to help Hanuma.

In the first Sarga we hear about Sun and wind gods. "तताप न हि तं सूर्यं" ; "शिषेवे च तथावायुः"; There the Sun and Vayu were in a helpful mode. Sun does not shine too brightly lest he tire out Hanuma. Vayu blows gently to make it easy for Hanuma.

Similarly in the second Sarga, Moon comes to the aid Hanuma." चंद्रोपि साचिव्य मिवास्य कुर्वन्" |

Moon helps in the search. The trees in Ashokvan shower flowers on Hanuma, as he enters the grove in search of Sita.

In pursuing good deeds , the helpers appear on the horizon. This is because of the selfless nature of the deed. That is the result of Nishkama karma. Many people come forward when there no "selfish motive"

That is what we hear in this Sarga.

Thus ends the twenty third Sarga of Sundarakanda in Ramayana the first poem in Sanskrit composed by the first poet sage Valmiki

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये वाल्मीकीये
चतुर्विंशत् सहस्रिकायां संहितायाम्
श्रीमत्सुंदरकांडे त्रयोविंशस्सर्गः॥

॥om tat sat||
||ओम् तत् सत्॥