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

||om tat sat||

sundarakāṁḍa.
atha dvāviṁśassargaḥ

ślō|| sītāyāvacanaṁ śrutvā paruṣaṁ rākṣasādhipaḥ|
pratyuvāca tataḥ sītāṁ vipriyaṁ priyadarśanām|| 1||

sa|| sītāyāḥ tat paruṣaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā priyadarśanāṁ taṁ sītāṁ rākṣasādhipaḥ vipriyaṁ pratyuvāca||

earing those unpleasant words of Sita, the king of Rakshasas replied Sita in unpleasant words

ślō|| yathā yathā sāntvayitā vaśyaḥ strīṇāṁ tathā tathā|
yathā yathā priyaṁ vaktā paribhūta stathā tathā||2||
sanniyamēcchati mē krōthaṁ tvayi kāmaḥ samutthitaḥ|
dravata'mārga māsādya hayā niva susārathiḥ||3||
vāmaḥ kāmō manuṣyāṇāṁ yasmin kila nibadhyatē|
janē tasmin stvanukrōśa snēhaśca kila jāyatē ||4||

sa|| strīṇāṁ yatha yathā sāntvayitā tathā tathā vaśyaḥ yathā yathā priyaṁ vaktā tathā tadhā paribhūtaḥ bhaviṣyati|| tvayi samutthithā kāmaḥ susārathiḥ amārgaṁ āsādya dravataḥ hayāniva mē krōdhaṁ sanniyamēcchati ||manuṣyāṇāṁ kāmaḥ vāmaḥ yasminjanē nibadhyatē tasmin anukrōśaḥ snēhaḥ ca jāyatē kila||

Among the women more and more the passionate one is courteous, the more he speaks sweetly, the more he is humiliated. That passion that has arisen me has controlled anger like a good charioteer controls the horses that are running on a wrong path. Among men the love is partial and is bound it generate friendship and compassion in one who is punishable.

ślō|| ētasmāt kārāṇān na tvāṁ ghātayāmi varānanē|
vadhārhāṁ avamānārhāṁ mithyā pravrajitē ratām||5||
paruṣāṇīha vākyāni yāni yāni bravīṣi mām|
tēṣu tēṣu vadhōyuktaḥ tava maithili dāruṇaḥ||6||
ēvamuktvātu vaidēhīṁ rāvaṇō rākṣasādhipaḥ|
krōdhasaṁrambha saṁyuktaḥ sītāṁ uttaramabravīt||7||

sa|| varānanē ētasmāt kāraṇāt vadhārhaṁ avamānārhaṁ mithyā pravrajitē ratām tvāṁ na ghātayāmi || maithili yāni yāni paruṣāṇīha vākyāni mām bravīṣi tēṣu tēṣu tava vadhaḥ yuktaḥ || vaidēhīṁ sītāṁ ēvam uktvātu rākṣasādhipaḥ krōdhasaṁraṁbha saṁyuktaḥ rāvaṇaḥ uttaraṁ abravīt

' For these reasons Oh the best among women! though worthy of being killed and worthy of being put to shame, you will not be killed. Maithili whatever angry words you have told me for those words you deserve to be killed'. Having said this to Sita the daughter of Videha, the king of Rakshasa continued and said the following in anger mixed with excitement.

ślō|| dvaumāsau rakṣitavyau mē yō'vadhistē mayā kr̥taḥ|
tata śśayanamārōha mamatvaṁ varavarṇinī ||8||
ūrdhvaṁ dvābhyāṁ tu māsābhyāṁ bhartāraṁ mā manicchatīm|
mama tvāṁ prātarāśārthaṁ ālabhantē mahānasē||9||

sa|| mayā tē yaḥ avadhiḥ kr̥taḥ | dvau māsau mē rakṣitavyau varavarṇinī tataḥ mama śayanaṁ ārōha || dvābhyāṁ māsābhyāṁ ūrdhvaṁ māṁ bhartāram anicchatīṁ tvāṁ mama prātarāśārthaṁ mahananē ālabhaṁtē||

'I am giving you a deadline. O Lady of beautiful color ! you are protected for two months. There after you have to climb into my bed. Beyond two months if you do not wish to accept me as your husband then you will be sent the kitchen to be cooked as my breakfast'.

ślō|| tāṁ tarjyamānāṁ saṁprēkṣya rākṣasēndrēṇa jānakīṁ|
dēvagandharvakanyāḥ viṣēdurvikr̥tēkṣaṇāḥ||10||
ōṣṭhaprakāraiḥ aparā vaktranētrai stathā'parē |
sītāṁ āśvāsayāmāsustarjitāṁ tēna rakṣasā||11||
tābhirāśvāsitā sītā rāvaṇam rākṣasādhipam|
uvācātmahitaṁ vākyaṁ vr̥tta śauṇḍīrya garvitam|| 12||

sa|| rākṣasēṁdrēṇa tarjyamānaṁ tāṁ jānakīṁ saṁprēkṣya dēvagaṁdharvakanyāḥ vikr̥tēkṣaṇāḥ viṣēduḥ || tēna rakṣasā tarjitāṁ tāṁ sītāṁ aparāṁ auṣṭaprakāraiḥ tathā aparāḥ vaktranētraiḥ āśvāsayāmāsuḥ || tābhiḥ āśvāsitā sītā vr̥ttaśauṁḍīrya garvitaṁ ātmahitaṁ vākyaṁ rākṣasādhipaṁ rāvaṇam uvāca||

Seeing that Janaki who is being threatened by the king of Rakshasas, the Deva and Gandharva women wept with distressed eyes. Sita being threatened by that Rakshasa, was consoled by the others with movement of lips and yet others with movement of eyes and faces. Thus consoled Sita, proud of the power of her virtues, said the following in her defense to Ravana the king of Rakshasas.

ślō|| nūnaṁ natē janaḥ kaścit asti niśśrēyasē sthitaḥ|
nivārayati yō na tvām karmaṇō'smāt vigarhitāt||13||
māṁ hi dharmātmanaḥ patnīṁ śacīmiva śacīpatēḥ|
tvadanyaḥ triṣu lōkēṣu prārthayē nmanasā'pi kaḥ||14||
rākṣasādhama rāmasya bhāryāṁ amita tējasaḥ|
uktavānapi yatpāpaṁ kva gata stasya mōkṣyasē||15||

sa|| niśrēyasē sthitaḥ kaścit janaḥ yō tvāṁ asmāt vigarhitāt karmaṇaḥ nivārayati na asti nūnaṁ || śacīpatēḥ śacīmiva dharmātmanaḥ patnīṁ māṁ triṣu lōkēṣu tvadanyaḥ kaḥ manasādapi prārthayēt || rākṣasādhama amita tējasaḥ rāmasya bhāryāṁ yat pāpaṁ uktavān asi tasya kva gataḥ mōkṣyasē ||

Surely people who are interested in your welfare who can prevent you from this despicable act are surely not there. In the three worlds there is no body other than you who can even in his mind desire me the righteous Ram's wife who is pure like Sachi, the wife of Indra. Oh the Lowest among Rakshasas, for the sinful words you spoke to the wife of Rama who is of great brilliance, where can you go to escape the consequences?

ślō|| yathā dr̥ptaśca mātaṅgaḥ śaśa śca sahitō vanē|
tathā dviradavadrāmastvaṁ nīca śaśavat smr̥taḥ||16||
sa tvaṁ ikṣvākunāthaṁ vai kṣipannihana lajjasē|
cakṣuṣōrviṣayaṁ tasya na tāva dupagacchasi||17||
imē tē nayanē krūrē virūpē kr̥ṣṇapiṅgaḷē |
kṣitau na patitē kasmānmāmanārya nirīkṣitaḥ||18||

sa|| yudhi sadr̥śaḥ dr̥ptaḥ mātaṁgaḥ śaśaḥ ca yathā , tathā rāmaḥ dviravat tvaṁ nīcaḥ śaśavat smr̥taḥ || saḥ tvaṁ ikṣvākunāthaṁ kṣipan na lajjasē tasya cakṣōrviṣayaṁ tāvat na upagacchasi || anārya mām nirīkṣataḥ tē kr̥̄rē virūpē kr̥ṣṇapiṁgākṣē imē nayanē kasmāt na patitē kṣitau|

Like an arrogant elephant in battle with a dog, in the same way you are like a mean dog and Rama is like the elephant. You should be ashamed of looking down upon that scion of Ikshavakus in whose sight you dare not walked. Oh Dishonorable wretch, seeing me with those dark brown eyes, why those eyes are not falling off on the ground?.

ślō|| tasya dharmātmanaḥ patnīṁ snuṣāṁ daśarathasya ca|
kathaṁ vyāharatō māṁ tēna jihvā vyavasīryatē||19||
asaṁdēśāttu rāmasya tapasaścānupālanāt|
na tvāṁ kurmi daśagrīva bhasma bhasmārha tējasā||20||
nāpahartu mahaṁ śakyā tvayā rāmasya dhīmataḥ|
vidhistava vadhārdhāya vihitō nātra saṁśayaḥ||21||
śūrēṇa dhanadabhrātrā balai ssamuditēna ca|
apōhyā rāmaṁ kasmāddhi dāracauryaṁ tvayā kr̥tam||22||

sa|| tasya ( rāmasya) dharmātmanaḥ patnīṁ daśarathasya snuṣā ca māṁ vyāharatō tēna jihvā kathaṁ na vyavasīryatē | bhasmārha daśagrīva rāmasya asaṁdēśāt tapasaḥ anupālanāt tējasā tvāṁ bhasma nakurmi|| dhīmataḥ rāmasya ahaṁ tvayā apahartuṁ na śakyā | tava vadhārhāya vidhiḥ atra vihitaḥ na saṁśayaḥ||śūrēṇa dhanadabhrātrā balaiḥ samuditēna ca tvayā rāmaṁ apōhya kasmāt dāracauryaṁ kr̥taṁ |

While you thus speak to me, the wife of that righteous one and the daughter in law of King Dasaratha, why does not your tongue not fall on the ground. Though you deserve to be turned into ashes , oh Ten headed one ! for want of permission from Rama I am not turning you to ashes with my powers of penance. You are not capable of stealing me from Rama. Fate has made it happen for your death only. There is no doubt. You are a brother of Kubera , being a warrior and you are possessed of an army, So why did you steal his wife, by tricking him?

ślō|| sītāyā vacanaṁ śrutvā rāvaṇō rākṣasādhipaḥ|
vivr̥tya nayanē krūrē jānakī manvavaikṣata||23||

sa|| rāvaṇaḥ rākṣasādhipaḥ sītāyāḥ vacanam śrutvā jānakīṁ kr̥̄rē vivr̥tyanayanē anvavaikṣata||

Ravana hearing those words of Sita looked at her with deadly eyes.

ślō|| nīlajīmūta saṁkāśō mahābhujaśirōdharaḥ|
siṁhasatvagatiḥ śrīmān dīptajihvāgralōcanaḥ||24||
calāgramakuṭaprāṁśuḥ citramālyānulēpanaḥ|
raktamālyāmbaradharaḥ taptāṁgada vibhūṣaṇaḥ||25||
śrōṇi sūtrēṇa mahatā mēcakēna susaṁvr̥taḥ|
amr̥tōtpādanaddēna bhujagēnaiva mandaraḥ||26||

sa|| nīlajīmūta saṁkāśaḥ mahābhujaśirōdharaḥ siṁhasatvagatiḥ śrīmān dīpta jihvāgralōcanaḥ |calāgramakuṭaprāṁśuḥ citramālyānulēpanaḥ raktamālyāṁbaradharaḥ tatsaṁgadavibhūṣaṇaḥ||amr̥tōtpādanaddhēna bhujagēna mandaraḥ iva mahatā mēcakēna śrōṇisūtrēṇa susaṁvr̥taḥ||

He was looking like mass of dark clouds, with strong arms and neck, with the gait of a lion , blazing eyes and tongue. He was wearing colorful garlands with an unsteady crown on his head, with red colored clothes and garlands as well as shining ornamental armlets. With black thread around his waist he was like the mount Mandara wrapped with black serpent at the time of the great churning for the nectar

ślō|| tābhyāṁ paripūrṇābhyāṁ bhujābhyāṁ rākṣasēśvaraḥ|
śuśubhē'calasaṁkāśaḥ śr̥ṅgābhyāmiva maṁdaraḥ||27||
taruṇādityavarṇābhyāṁ kuṇḍalābhyāṁ vibhūṣitaḥ|
raktapallavapuṣpābhyāṁ aśōkābhyāṁ ivācalaḥ||28||
sakalpavr̥kṣapratimō vasaṁta iva mūrtimān|
śmaśānacaityapratimō bhūṣita'pi bhayaṁkaraḥ||29||

sa|| tābhyāṁ paripūrṇābhyāṁ bhujābhyāṁ śr̥ṁgābhyāṁ maṁdara iva saḥ acalasaṁkāsaḥ rākṣasēśvaraḥ śuśubhē|| taruṇāditya varṇābhyāṁ kuṇḍalābhyāṁ vibhūṣitaḥ raktapallavapuṣpābhyaṁ aśōkābhyāṁ acalaḥ iva||kalpavr̥kṣapratimaḥ saḥ mūrtimān vasaṁtaḥ iva śmaśānacaityapratimaḥ bhūṣitaḥ api bhayaṁkaraḥ ||

The King of Rakshasas shone like the mount Mandara with his two long arms shining like two mountain peaks. Adorned with earrings of the color of the rising sun, he was looking like a mountain with two Ashoka trees with red leaves and flowers. Though resembling a wish fulfilling tree, like personification of spring season, he was fearsome like a memorial on burial grounds.

ślō|| avēkṣamāṇō vaidēhīṁ kōpasaṁrakta lōcanaḥ|
uvāca rāvaṇaḥ sītāṁ bhujaṅga iva niśśvasan||30||
anayēnābhisaṁpannam arthahīnaṁ anuvratē|
nāśayā myahamadya tvāṁ sūryaḥ sandhyā mivaujasā||31||
ityuktvā maithilīṁ rāja rāvaṇaḥ śatru rāvaṇaḥ|
saṁdidēśa tataḥ sarvā rākṣasīrghōradarśanāḥ||32||

sa|| kōpasaṁrakta lōcanaḥ rāvaṇaḥ vaidēhīṁ avēkṣamāṇaḥ bhujaṁga iva niḥśvasan sītāṁ uvāca|| anayēna abhisaṁpannaṁ artha hīnaṁ anuvratē adya ahaṁ tvāṁ sūrya aujasāsandhyāmiva nāśayāmi || rājā śatrurāvaṇaḥ maithilīṁ iti uktvā tataḥ ghōradarśanāḥ rākṣasīḥ saṁdidēśa||

Looking at Vaidehi , with his eyes flashing red with anger and hissing like a serpent, Raven spoke to Sites' Sita You are endowed with a wrong vows, following meaningless practices. I am going to destroy you like the Sun destroys twilight with his luster. Having said this the king, who torments his enemies, then addressed the fearsome looking Rakshasa women.

ślō|| ēkākṣīṁ ēkakarṇāṁ ca karṇaprāvaraṇaṁ tathā|
gōkarṇīṁ hastikarṇīṁ ca lambakarṇīṁ akarṇikām||33||
hasti pādyaśvapādyau ca gōpādīṁ pādacūḷikam|
ēkākṣīṁ ēkapādīṁ ca pr̥thupādīṁ apādikām||34||
atimātra śirō grīvāṁ atimātra kucōdarīm|
atimātrasya nētrāṁ ca dīrghajihvāṁ ajihvikām||35||
anāśikāṁ siṁhamukhīṁ gōmukhīṁ sūkarīmukhīm|

sa|| ēkākṣīṁ ēkakarṇāṁ tathā karṇaprāvaraṇaṁ ca gōkarṇīṁ hastikarṇīṁ laṁbakarṇīṁ akarṇikām ca||hastipādyaḥ aśvapādyaḥ gōpādīṁ pādacūḷīkāṁ ca ēkākṣīṁ ēkapādīṁ pr̥thupādīṁ apādikāṁ ca|| atimātra śirōgrīvāṁ atimātra kucōdarīṁ atimātrasya nētrāṁ ca dīrghajihvāṁ ajihvikāṁ ca || anāsikāṁ siṁhamukhīṁ gōmukhīṁ sūkarīmukhīṁ ca|

Some Rakshasa women are with one eye, one ear. Some are with covered ears, ears of cow, ears of an elephant, long ears and there are those without ears. They have feet of an elephant, horse, or cow. Some of them have hair grown on the feet. Some are with one eye, one leg, many feet, and without feet too. Some are with huge neck and head, with large breasts and belly. Some are with large eyes, long tongue, without tongue too. Some are without nose, with the face of a lion, cow and boar too

ślō|| yathā madvaśagā sītā kṣipraṁ bhavati jānakī||36||
tathā kuruta rākṣasyaḥ sarvāṁ kṣipraṁ samētya ca|
pratilōmānu lōmaiśca sāmadānādi bhēdanaiḥ||37||
avarjayata vaidēhīṁ daṇḍasyōdyamanēnaca|
iti pratisamādiśya rākṣasēndraḥ punaḥ punaḥ||38||
kāmamanyuparītātmā jānakīṁ paryatarjayat|

sa|| rākṣasyaḥ sarvāḥ kṣipraṁ samētya jānakī sītā kṣipraṁ yathā madvaśagā bhavati tathā kuruta||pratilōmānulōmaiśca sāmadānādibhēdanaiḥ daṇḍasya udyamānēna vaidēhīṁ avarjayata|| rākṣasēṁdraḥ punaḥ punaḥ iti pratisamāsādya kāmamanyuparītātmā jānakīṁ paryatarjayat ||

'Oh Rakshasa women all of you together quickly make Sita to be under my control. Adopting means favorable or contrary using the persuasion, gifts , confusion, or threats win over Vaidehi'. The king of Rakshasas burning with passion and anger thus ordering them again and again threatened Sita.

ślō|| upagamya tataḥ kṣipraṁ rākṣasī dhānyamālinī||39||
pariṣvajya daśagrīvaṁ idaṁ vacanamabravīt|
mayākrīḍa mahārāja sītayā kiṁ tavānayā||40||
vivarṇayā kr̥paṇayā mānuṣyā rākṣasēśvara|
nūnaṁ asyā mahārāja na divyān bhōgasattamān||41||
vidadadhātyamaraśrēṣṭhaḥ tava bāhubalārjitān|

sa|| tataḥ dhānyamālinī rākṣasī śīghraṁ upagamya daśagrīvaṁ pariṣvajya idaṁ vacanaṁ abravīt||mahārāja mayā krīḍa| rākṣasēśvara vivarṇayā kr̥paṇayā mānuṣyā anayā sītayā tava kiṁ || mahārāja amaraśrēṣṭhaḥ tava bāhubalārjitān divyān bhōgasattamān asyāḥ nūnaṁ na vidadhāti ||

Then a Rakshasa woman Dhyanamalini quickly approached the ten headed one embracing him said the following words. 'Oh King ! Play with me. Oh King of Rakshasas! What have you to do with this pale, pitiable human being Sita? Oh Great King ! The immortal luxuries won by the power of your arms are not to be given to this one surely'.

ślō|| akāmaṁ kāmayānasya śarīramupatapyatē||42||
icchantīṁ kāmayānasya prītirbhavati śōbhanā|
ēvamuktastu rākṣasyā samut-kṣipta statō balī||43||
prahasanmēgha saṅkāśō rākṣasaḥ sa nyavartata|

sa|| akāmāṁ kāmayānasya śarīraṁ upatapyatē icchaṁtīṁ kāmayānasya śōbhanā prītiḥ bhavati ||rākṣasyā ēvamuktaḥ balī mēghasaṁkāśaḥ saḥ rākṣasaḥ tataḥ samut-kṣiptaḥ prahasan nyavartata||

'Offering oneself to an uncaring one is tormented. Offering oneself to one who loves gets enjoyable pleasures'. Having been addressed thus, the powerful Rakshasa resembling a cloud turned away laughing heartily.

ślō|| prasthitaḥ sa daśagrīvaḥ kaṁpayanniva mēdinīm||44||
jvaladbhāskaravarṇābhāṁ pravivēśa nivēśanam|
dēvagandharva kanyāśca nāgakanyāśca sarvataḥ|
parivārya daśagrīvaṁ viviśu staṁ gr̥hōttamam ||45||

sa|| saḥ daśagrīvaḥ mēdinīṁ kaṁpayanniva prasthitaḥ jvaladabhāskaravarṇābham nivēśanam pravivēśa||dēvagaṁdharvakanyāḥ ca nāgakanyāḥ ca sarvatḥ daśagrīvaṁ parivārya taṁ gr̥hōttamaṁ viviśuḥ||

That ten headed one left as if shaking the earth, entered his residence with the glow like that of the blazing mid-day Sun. The daughters of Devas Gandharvas and Nagas too followed the ten headed one and entered their palace.

ślō|| sa maithilīṁ dharmaparāṁ avasthitām
pravēpamānāṁ paribhartsya rāvaṇaḥ|
vihāyasītāṁ madanēna mōhitaḥ
svamēva vēśma pravivēśa bhāsvaram||46||

sa|| saḥ rāvaṇaḥ dharmaparāṁ avasthitāṁ pravēpamānāṁ maithilīṁ paribhartsya sītāṁ vihāya madanēna mōhitaḥ bhāsvaraṁ svaṁ vēśmēvapravivēśa||

Having derided Mythili who is steadfast wedded to righteous conduct, who is trembling with fear, that Ravana who is over powered with passion left and he entered his glittering mansion.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsundarakāṇḍē dvāviṁśassargaḥ||

|| ōm tat sat||