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|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 24

In this Sarga also the Rakshasa women continue the four modes of persuasion. They surround Sita telling her many things about Ravana. All the time trying to win her over for Ravana. They end up threatening Sita that if she does not follow their advice, they will resort to eating her up.

Now we go through the Slokas of Sarga 24

||Sloka 24.01||

tatassītāmupāgamya rākṣasyō vikr̥tānanaḥ|
paruṣaṁ paruṣā nārya ūcustāṁ vākyamapriyam ||24.01||

sa|| vikr̥tānanaḥ paruṣāḥ rākṣasyaḥ tataḥ sītāṁ upāgamya anārya paruṣaṁ apriyaṁ vākyaṁ tāṁ ūcuḥ ||

||Sloka meanings||

vikr̥tānanaḥ paruṣāḥ rākṣasyaḥ -
hideous and harsh Rakshasa women
tataḥ sītāṁ upāgamya -
then having approached Sita
anārya apriyaṁ vākyaṁ -
vulgar and unbecoming words
paruṣaṁ tāṁ ūcuḥ - uttered harshly to her
.

||ślōkatātparyamu||

"The hideous and harsh Rakshasa women then approached Sita and they uttered vulgar and unbecoming words to her harshly".||24.01||

||Sloka 24.02||

kiṁ tvaṁ antaḥpurē sītē sarvabhūtamanōharē|
mahārhaśayanōpētē na vāsamanumanyasē||24.02||

sa|| sītē sarvabhūta manōharē tvaṁ aṁtaḥpurē mahārhaśayanōpētē vāsaṁ na anumanyasē kiṁ?

||Sloka meanings||

sītē sarvabhūta manōharē -
Oh Sita ! Pleasing to look at for all
mahārhaśayanōpētē aṁtaḥpurē - harem with well-furnished beds
tvaṁ vāsaṁ na anumanyasē kiṁ? - why are you not willing to reside in
uṁḍaḍāniki nīvu eṁduku aṁgīkariṁcuṭalēdu.

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Sita ! Pleasing to look at for all, why are you not willing to reside in the harem with well-furnished beds".||24.02||

||Sloka 24.03||

mānuṣī mānuṣaṣyaiva bhāryā tvaṁ bahumanyasē|
pratyāhāra manō rāmān na tvaṁ jātu marhasi||24.03||

sa|| tvaṁ mānuṣī mānuṣasyaiva bhāryā bahumanyasē (yadi tat) pratyāhāra rāmān tvaṁ jātu na arhasi||

||Sloka meanings||

tvaṁ mānuṣī - you being a woman
mānuṣasyaiva bhāryā bahumanyasē -
holds being wife of one in human form only in high esteem
tvaṁ jātu na arhasi - you are not fit to live
pratyāhāra manō rāmān - withdraw your mind from Rama

||Sloka summary||

" Being a woman who holds being wife of one human form only in high esteem , then you do not deserve to live. Withdraw your mind from Rama." ||24.03||

Here Rakshasa women berate Sita, saying, "mānuṣī mānuṣyasyaiva bhāryātvaṁ bahumanyase"; "Being born as a human, and being the wife of human.. ..you think is great."

"pratyāhara manōrāmāt" -" Remove Rama from your mind. "These are the words of Rakshasis.

There is another echo to the reference of her being human. Rama and Sita are born human beings. Ramayana is the story of best among human beings. Valmiki seems to remind us of the beginning of Ramayana. We heard this in the first few Slokas of Ramayana.

In the very beginning of Balakanda Valmiki asked Narada, who is that best one among men . Narada's answer is that, Rama born of Ikshwaku line is that person. Rama was born as a human being, who faced many difficulties, who followed the prescribed code of conduct as primary goal, and who overcame all the difficulties. In Rakshasi's reference to Sita being "maanuShI" we get back to remembering the root of the story of Ramayana. The Poet seems to remind us that point.

||Sloka 24.04||

trailōkya vasubhōktāraṁ rāvaṇaṁ rākṣasēśvaram|
bhartāra mupasaṁgamya viharasva yathā sukham||24.04||

sa|| rākṣasēśvaraṁ trailōkya vasubhōktāraṁ rāvaṇaṁ bhartāraṁ upasaṁgamya yathā sukhaṁ viharasva||

||Sloka meanings||

rākṣasēśvaraṁ trailōkya vasubhōktāraṁ - trilōkabhōgamulanuanubhaviṁcu rākṣasēśvaruḍu(agu)
rāvaṇaṁ bhartāraṁ upasaṁgamya -
rāvaṇuni bhartagā poṁdi
yathā sukhaṁ viharasva -
sukhamugā vihariṁcumu

rākṣasēśvaraṁ trailōkya vasubhōktāraṁ -
king of Rakshasas , and one who enjoys the wealth of the three worlds
rāvaṇaṁ bhartāraṁ upasaṁgamya -
uniting with Ravana as husband
yathā sukhaṁ viharasva -
live with pleasure as you please

||Sloka summary||

"Uniting yourself with Ravana the king of Rakshasas , who enjoys the wealth of the three worlds, live with pleasure as you please."||24.04||

||Sloka 24.05||

mānuṣī mānuṣaṁ taṁ tu rāmam iccasi śōbhanē|
rājyāt bhraṣṭaṁ asiddhārthaṁ viklabaṁ tva maniṁditē||24.05||

sa|| śōbhanē aniṁditē tvaṁ tu rājyāt bhraṣṭaṁ asiddhārthaṁ mānuṣaṁ viklabaṁ mānuṣaṁ taṁ rāmaṁ icchasi ||

||Sloka meanings||

śōbhanē aniṁditē -
O Charming lady, blameless one
tvaṁ tu rājyāt bhraṣṭaṁ -
you want only the one who lost his kingdom
asiddhārthaṁ mānuṣaṁ -
unsuccessful man ,
viklabaṁ mānuṣaṁ -
distressed human being too
taṁ rāmaṁ icchasi -
you want that Raman

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Charming lady ! Blameless one ! you want only that Rama who is a dethroned king, an unsuccessful one and a distressed human being too." ||24.05||

||Sloka 24.06||

rākṣasīnāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā sītā padmanibhēkṣaṇā|
nētrābhyāṁ aśrupūrṇābhyāṁ idaṁ vacanamabravīt ||24.06||

sa|| sītā padmanibēkṣaṇā rākṣasīnāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā aśrupūrṇābhyāṁ nētrābhyāṁ idaṁ vacanaṁ abravīt ||

||Sloka meanings||

sītā padmanibēkṣaṇā -
Sita with eyes like that of lotus petals
rākṣasīnāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā -
having heard those words of the Rakshasa women
aśrupūrṇābhyāṁ nētrābhyāṁ -
with eyes filled with tears
idaṁ vacanaṁ abravīt -
spoke the following words

||Sloka summary||

"Sita with eyes like that of lotus petals, hearing those words of the Rakshasa women, spoke the following words with eyes filled with tears." ||24.06||

||Sloka 24.07||

yadidaṁ lōkavidviṣṭa mudāharatha saṁgatāḥ|
naitan manasi vākyaṁ mē kilbiṣaṁ pratibhāti mē||24.07||

sa||saṁgatāḥ lōkavidvaṣṭaṁ yat idaṁ vākyaṁ udāharatha ētat vaḥ mē manasi kilbiṣaṁ pratibhāti na ||

||Sloka meanings||

saṁgatāḥ - joined together
yat idaṁ lōkavidvaṣṭaṁ -
that which is not acceptable to the world
vākyaṁ udāharatha -
words ( you are) telling me
vaḥ mē manasi kilbiṣaṁ pratibhāti na -
those sinful words do not appeal to my mind

||Sloka summary||

"The words addressed by all of you joined together are not acceptable to the world . Those sinful words do not appeal to me."||24.07||

||Sloka 24.08||

na mānuṣī rākṣasasya bhāryā bhavitumarhati|
kāmaṁ khādata māṁ sarvā na kariṣyāmi vō vacaḥ||24.08||

sa|| mānuṣī rākṣasasya bhāryā bhavituṁ na arhati | sarvān māṁ kāmaṁ khādata| vō vacaḥ na kariṣyāmi||

||Sloka meanings||

mānuṣī - a human being
rākṣasasya bhāryā - wife of a Rakshasa
bhavituṁ na arhati - not possible to be
sarvān māṁ kāmaṁ khādata -
all of you can happily eat me
vō vacaḥ na kariṣyāmi -
those words addressed to me I will not follow

||Sloka summary||

'A human being cannot be the wife of a Rakshasa. All of you can eat me freely. I will not do what you told me'.||24.08||

||Sloka 24.09||

dīnō vā rājyahīnō vā yō mē bhartā sa mē guruḥ|
taṁ nityamanuraktā'smi yathā sūryaṁ suvarcalā||24.09||

sa|| dīnaḥ vā rājyahīnaḥ vā yō mē bhartaḥ saḥ mē guruḥ| taṁ nityaṁ anuraktāsmi yathā suvarcalā sūryaṁ anuraktasi||

||Sloka meanings||

dīnaḥ vā rājyahīnaḥ vā -
even if he is a dejected one or one who lost kingdom,
yō mē bhartaḥ saḥ mē guruḥ -
one who is my husband , is my master too
taṁ nityaṁ anuraktāsmi -
I will always follow him
yathā suvarcalā - like Suvarchala
sūryaṁ anuraktasi - follows Sun

||Sloka summary||

"My husband, even if he is a dejected one or one who lost kingdom, he is my master. I will follow him always like Suvarchala is devoted to Sun." ||24.09||

Rakshasis tell Sita to accept that..
"trailōkya vasu bhōktāram" ; "the enjoyer of the riches of the three worlds". That is Ravana. "Accept him and live happily there after". That is Rakshasis push.

Sita's response is worth listening to and worth remembering. Sita says
"na mānuṣī rākṣasasya bhāryā bhavitumarhati"-"No woman born as human can be the wife of a Rakshasas".

"dīnō vā rājyahīnō vā"- "even if he is a dejected one or one who lost kingdom", he is still my master.

The portrayal of Sita as a devoted wife,
and as a virtuous woman gets reinforced again and again. The mystic of Sita as the ideal wife gets reinforced by her actions. Like following Rama to forests, like declaring Rama -"dīnō vā rājyahīnō vā"- as her master.

Ramayana Tilaka says,
ati duḥkha samayē'pi dr̥ḍhavratatvadyōtanāya
anēkasādhvīnāmupanyāsō dr̥ṣṭāntavidhayētyāhuḥ||
"In the most sorrowful time also to declare her virtuous nature, she gives the examples of many virtuous women ."

Sita gives the examples of all virtuous women

||Sloka 24.10||

yathā śacī mahābhāgā śakraṁ samupatiṣṭati|
aruṁdhatī vaśiṣṭhaṁ ca rōhiṇī śaśinaṁ yathā||24.10||

sa|| yathā mahābhāgā śacī śakraṁ samupatiṣṭhati ( tathaiva)| yathā aruṁdhatī vaśiṣṭhaṁ rōhiṇī śaśinaṁ ca||

||Sloka meanings||

yathā mahābhāgā śacī -
Like the noble Sachi
śakraṁ samupatiṣṭhati -
following Indra
yathā aruṁdhatī vaśiṣṭhaṁ -
Arundhati following Vasishta
rōhiṇī śaśinaṁ ca-
Rohini following the Moon

||Sloka summary||

"Like the noble Sachi following Indra, Arundhati following Vasishta and Rohini following the Moon." ||24.10||

||Sloka 24.11||

lōpamudrā yathā'gastyaṁ sukanyā cyavanaṁ yathā|
sāvitrī satyavaṁtaṁ ca kapilaṁ śrīmatī yathā||24.11||

sa|| yathā lōpamudrā agastyaṁ yathā sukanyā cyavanaṁ yathā sāvitrī satyavaṁtaṁ ca kapilaṁ śrīmatī yathā ||

||Sloka meanings||

yathā lōpamudrā agastyaṁ -
like Lopamudra following Agastya
yathā sukanyā cyavanaṁ -
like Sukanya following Chyavana
yathā sāvitrī satyavaṁtaṁ -
like Savitri following Satyvantam
ca kapilaṁ śrīmatī yathā -
like Srimati following Kapila

||Sloka summary||

"Like Lopamudra following Agastya, Sukanya following Chyavanam , Savitri following Satyvantam and Srimati following Kapila ( I will follow Rama)".||24.11||

||Sloka 24.12||

saudāsaṁ madayaṁtīva kēśinī sagaraṁ yathā|
naiṣadhaṁ damayaṁtīva bhaimī patimanuvratā||12||
tathā'haṁ ikṣvāku rāmaṁ patimanuvratā|

sa|| yathā madayaṁtī saudāsaṁ iva kēsinī sagaraṁ yathā bhaimī damayaṁtī naiṣadhaṁ iva anuvratā tathā ahaṁ ikṣvākunāthaṁ patiṁ rāmaṁ anuvratā ||

||Sloka meanings||

yathā madayaṁtī saudāsaṁ iva -
Like Madayanti followed Saudasa
kēsinī sagaraṁ yathā - like Kesini followed Sagara
bhaimī damayaṁtī naiṣadhaṁ iva anuvratā -
Bhima's daughter Damayanti followed Nala, the king of Naishadha,
ikṣvākunāthaṁ patiṁ rāmaṁ -
Ikshwaku leader and my husband Rama
tathā ahaṁ anuvratā -
likewise I will follow'.

||Sloka summary||

'Like Madayanti followed Saudasa, Kesini followed Sagara , Bhima's daughter Damayanti followed Nala, the king of Naishadha, I will follow the Ikshwaku leader and my husband Rama'. ||24.12||

sītamma ceppina māṭa. suvarcala sūryuni anusariṁcinaṭlu, mahāpativratalaina śaci śakruni,
aruṁdhati vaśiṣṭhuni, rōhiṇi caṁdruni, lōpamudra agastyuni, sukanya cyavanuni, sāvitri satyavaṁtuni anusariṁcinaṭulanē, tanu kūḍā rāmuni anusaristānu ani.
In these words of Sita we hear her commitment to her husband . That eloquent commitment is what attracts the respect of Hanuma.

||Sloka 24.13||

sītāyā vacanaṁ śrutvā rākṣyasaḥ krōdhamūrchitāḥ||13||
bhartsayanti sma paruṣaiḥ vākyai rāvaṇacōditā|

sa|| rāvaṇa ca uditā rākṣasyaḥ sītāyāḥ vacanaṁ śrutvā krōdhamūrchitāḥ paruṣaiḥ vākyaḥ bhartsayanti sma||

||Sloka meanings||

rāvaṇa ca uditā rākṣasyaḥ -
the Rakshasa women , ordered by Ravana
sītāyāḥ vacanaṁ śrutvā-
hearing those words of Sita
krōdhamūrchitāḥ -
overtaken by anger
paruṣaiḥ vākyaḥ bhartsayanti sma-
threaten her again with harsh statements

||Sloka summary||

Hearing those words of Sita, the Rakshasa women , ordered by Ravana ( to persuade her) , overtaken by anger threaten her again with harsh statements. ||24.13||

||Sloka 24.14||

avalīnaḥ sa nirvākyō hanumān śiṁśupādrumē||14||
sītāṁ saṁtarjayantīnām rākṣasīnāṁ sa śuśruvē||

sa|| kapiḥ saḥ hanumān nirvākyaḥ śiṁśupādrumē avalīnaḥ sītāṁ saṁtarjayantīnāṁ rākṣasīnām saḥ śuśruvē ||

||Sloka meanings||

śiṁśupādrumē avalīnaḥ -
hidden in the branches of Simsupa tree
kapiḥ saḥ hanumān nirvākyaḥ -
that Vanara who was silent
sītāṁ saṁtarjayantīnāṁ rākṣasīnām-
the Rakshasa women threatening Sita
saḥ śuśruvē - he heard

||Sloka summary||

"Hanuman the Vanara who was silent, hidden in the branches of Simsupa tree , heard the threats employed by the Rakshasa women against Sita". ||24.14||

||Sloka 24.15||

tāmabhikramya saṁkruddhā vēpamānāṁ samantataḥ||24.15||
bhr̥śaṁ saṁlilihurdīptān pralambān daśanaccadān|

sa|| vēpamānāṁ tāṁ samantataḥ abhikramya saṁkr̥ddhāḥ dīptān pralambān daśanacchadān bhr̥śaṁ saṁlilihuḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

vēpamānāṁ tāṁ - her who is trembling in fear
samantataḥ abhikramya saṁkr̥ddhāḥ - approached surrounding her in anger
dīptān pralambān daśanacchadān bhr̥śaṁ saṁlilihuḥ-
licking their lips again and again

||Sloka summary||

The angry and glowing Rakshasa women, licking their lips again and again, surrounded her who is trembling in fear ||24.15||

||Sloka 24.16||

ūcuśca paramakruddhāḥ pragr̥hyāśu paraśvadhān||24.16||
nēyamarhasi bhartāraṁ rāvaṇaṁ rākṣasādhipam|

sa|| paramakr̥ddhāḥ āśu paraśvadhān pragr̥hya ūcuśca| iyaṁ rākṣasādhipaṁ rāvaṇaṁ bhartāraṁ na arhasi||

||Sloka meanings||

paramakr̥ddhāḥ āśu -
the enraged Rakshasis with anger immediately
paraśvadhān pragr̥hya ūcuśca -
took their axes and spoke.
rākṣasādhipaṁ rāvaṇaṁ -
to have the king of Rakshasas
bhartāraṁ iyaṁ na arhasi -
as her husband she is not fit

||Sloka summary||

The enraged Rakshasis with anger took their axes and spoke. "She is unfit to have the king of Rakshasas as her husband'. ||24.16||

||Sloka 24.17||

sā bhartsyamānā bhīmābhi rākṣasībhirvarānanā||24.17||
sā bhāṣpamupārjantī śiṁśupāṁ tāmupāgamat||

sa|| bhīmābhiḥ rākṣasībhiḥ bhartsyamānā sā varānanā sabhāṣpaṁ apasarpantī tāṁ śiṁśupāṁ upāgamat||

||Sloka meanings||

bhīmābhiḥ bhartsyamānā rākṣasībhiḥ -
threatened by the fearsome Rakshasis
sā varānanā - the best among women
sabhāṣpaṁ apasarpantī -
with eyes filled with tears.
tāṁ śiṁśupāṁ upāgamat -
moved towards that Simsupa tree

||Sloka summary||

" Threatened by the fearsome Rakshasis ,Sita the best among women moved towards the Simsupa tree with eyes filled with tears." ||24.17||

||Sloka 24.18||

tatastāsāṁ śiṁśupāṁ sītā rākṣasībhiḥ samāvr̥tā||24.18||
abhigamya viśālākṣī tasthau śōkapariplutā||

sa|| tataḥ viśālākṣī sītā tāṁ śiṁśupāṁ abhigamya rākṣasībhiḥ samāvr̥tā śōkapariplutā tasthau ||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ viśālākṣī sītā -
then the wide eyed Sita
tāṁ śiṁśupāṁ abhigamya -
having reached the Simsupa tree
rākṣasībhiḥ samāvr̥tā -
surrounded by the Rakshasa women
śōkapariplutā tasthau -
very much drowned in sea of sorrow stayed there

||Sloka summary||

"Then the wide eyed Sita having reached the Simsupa tree , still surrounded by the Rakshasa women stayed there, very much drowned in sea of sorrow." ||24.18||

||Sloka 24.19||

tāṁ kr̥śāṁ dīnavadanāṁ malināmbaradhāriṇīm||24.19||
bhartsayāṁ cakrirē sītāṁ rākṣasya stāṁ samantataḥ|

sa|| tāḥ rākṣasyaḥ kr̥śāṁ dīnavadanāṁ malina aṁbara dhāriṇīṁ tāṁ sītāṁ samaṁtataḥ bhartsayāṁ cakrirē||

||Sloka meanings||

tāḥ rākṣasyaḥ -
those Rakshasa women
tāṁ sītāṁ samaṁtataḥ -
surrounded that Sita
malina aṁbara dhāriṇīṁ -
clad in soiled clothes
kr̥śāṁ dīnavadanāṁ -
with shrunken and with dejected face
bhartsayāṁ cakrirē -
started threatening her

||Sloka summary||

"Those Rakshasis surrounded Sita, looking dejected, famished ,and wearing soiled clothes." and started abusing her." ||24.19||

||Sloka 24.20||

tatastāṁ vinatā nāma rākṣasī bhīmadarśanā||24.20||
abravītkupitākārā karāḷā nirṇatōdarī|

sa||tataḥ bhīmadarśanā kupitākārā karānā nirṇatōdarī vinatānāma rākṣasī tāṁ abravīt ||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ bhīmadarśanā -
then one fearsome looking
kupitākārā karāḷā -
dark one, with loathsome appearance
nirṇatōdarī -
with a large sunken belly
vinatā nāma rākṣasī -
Rakshasi by name Vinata
tāṁ abravīt -
spoke to Sita

||Sloka summary||

"Then one fearsome looking Rakshasi, dark one, with loathsome appearance and a large sunken belly,
by name Vinata , addressed Sita." ||24.20||

||Sloka 24.21||

sītē paryāpta mētāvat bhartusnēhō nidarśitaḥ||24.21||
sarvatrātikr̥taṁ bhadrē vyasanā yōpakalpatē|

sa|| sītē bhartuḥ snēhaḥ nidarśitaḥ | ētāvat paryāptaṁ bhadrē |sarvatra atikr̥taṁ vyasanāya upakalpatē||

||Sloka meanings||

sītē bhartuḥ snēhaḥ nidarśitaḥ -
Oh Sita ! shown love for husband
ētāvat paryāptaṁ bhadrē -
auspicious lady, to that extent it is enough
sarvatra atikr̥taṁ -
anything in excess
vyasanāya upakalpatē -
leads to adversity

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Sita ! You have shown your love for your husband. To that extent it is good. Everywhere excess leads to adversity." ||24.21||

||Sloka 24.22||
parituṣṭāsmi bhadraṁ tē mānuṣastē kr̥tō vidhiḥ||24.22||
mamāpi tu vacaḥ pathyaṁ bruvantyāḥ kuru maithili|

sa|| maithilī parituṣṭā asmi | tē mānuṣaḥ vithiḥ kr̥taḥ | tē bhadraṁ| mama bruvaṁtyāḥ vacaḥ api kuru||

||Sloka meanings||

maithilī parituṣṭā asmi -
Maithili I am happy
tē mānuṣaḥ vithiḥ kr̥taḥ -
done your duty as a human being
tē bhadraṁ - Good for you
mama bruvaṁtyāḥ vacaḥ api kuru -
follow my words also

||Sloka summary||

'Maithili I am happy. You have done your duty as a human being. Good for you. You follow my words also ||24.22||

||Sloka 24.23||

rāvaṇaṁ bhaja bhartāraṁ bhartāraṁ sarva rakṣasām||24.23||
vikrāntaṁ rūpavantaṁ ca surēśa miva vāsavam|
dakṣiṇaṁ tyāgaśīlaṁ ca sarvasya priyadarśanam||24.24||

sa|| sarvarākṣasāṁ bhartāraṁ vikrāṁtaṁ rūpavaṁtaṁ surēśaṁ vāsavaṁ iva dakṣiṇaṁ tyāgaśīlaṁ ca sarvasya priyadarśanam rāvaṇaṁ bhartāraṁ bhaja||

||Sloka meanings||

sarvarākṣasāṁ bhartāraṁ -
lord of all Rakshasas
vikrāṁtaṁ rūpavaṁtaṁ -
courageous, handsome,
surēśaṁ vāsavaṁ iva dakṣiṇaṁ -
lord of gods too like Indra, generous one
tyāgaśīlaṁ ca sarvasya priyadarśanam -
sacrificing one, pleasing to all
rāvaṇaṁ bhartāraṁ bhaja -
that Ravana accept him as husband

||Sloka summary||

"Ravana is the Lord of all Rakshasas, courageous, handsome, Lord of gods too like Indra, generous one , sacrificing one, pleasing in appearance. You accept him as your husband.'||24.23,24||

||Sloka 24.25, 26||

mānuṣaṁ kr̥paṇaṁ rāmaṁ tyaktvā rāvaṇa māśraya|
divyāṅgarāgā vaidēhī divyābharaṇabhūṣitā||24.25||
adya prabhr̥ti sarvēṣāṁ lōkānāṁ īśvarī bhava|
agnē ssvāhā yathā dēvī śacī'vēṁdrasya śōbhanē||24.26||

sa|| mānuṣaṁ kr̥paṇaṁ rāmaṁ tyaktvā, rāvaṇaṁ āśraya|| vaidēhī divyābharaṇabhūṣitā divyāṁgarāgā adya prabhr̥ti sarvēṣāṁ lōkānāṁ īśvarī bhava yathā agnēḥ dēvī svāhā iṁdrasya śacī iva ||

||Sloka meanings||

mānuṣaṁ kr̥paṇaṁ rāmaṁ tyaktvā, -
leaving helpless human Rama
rāvaṇaṁ āśraya - seek refuge of Ravana.
vaidēhī divyābharaṇabhūṣitā -
Vaidehi wearing wonderful ornaments
divyāṁgarāgā - have heavenly unguents
adya prabhr̥ti - from now on
sarvēṣāṁ lōkānāṁ īśvarī bhava -
be the queen of all people
yathā agnēḥ dēvī svāhā -
( become) like Svaha of Agni
iṁdrasya śacī iva -
and Indra's Sachi

||Sloka summary||

"Leaving helpless human Rama, seek refuge of Ravana. Vaidehi, wearing wonderful ornament, have heavenly unguents, from now on be the queen of all people, be like Svaha of Agni and Indra's Sachi." ||24.25,26||

||Sloka 24.27||

kiṁ tē rāmēṇa vaidēhī kr̥paṇēna gatāyuṣā|
ētaduktaṁ ca mē vākyaṁ yadi tvaṁ na kariṣyasi||24.27||
asmin muhūrtē sarvāstvāṁ bhakṣayiṣyāmahē vayam|

sa|| tē kr̥paṇēna gatāyuṣaḥ rāmēṇa kiṁ| ētat uktaṁ mē vākyaṁ yadi tvaṁ na kariṣyasi tvāṁ asmin muhūrtē vayaṁ sarvāḥ bhakṣayiṣyāmahē ||

||Sloka meanings||

kr̥paṇēna gatāyuṣaḥ - pitiable, with lifespan gone
rāmēṇa tē kiṁ - what do you want with Rama
ētat uktaṁ mē vākyaṁ - these words spoken by me
yadi tvaṁ na kariṣyasi - if you do not follow
asmin muhūrtē - this very moment
vayaṁ sarvāḥ - all of us
tvāṁ bhakṣayiṣyāmahē- eat you

||Sloka summary||

"Why do you want the pitiable Rama , whose lifespan is gone? If you do not follow the words I have spoken, then this very moment we will eat you up". ||24.27||

||Sloka 24.28||

anyātu vikaṭā nāma lambamānapayōdharā||24.28||
abravīt kupitā sītāṁ muṣṭi mudyamya garjatī|

sa|| laṁbamāna payōdharā anyā vikaṭā nāma tu muṣṭiṁ udyamya garjatī sītāṁ abravīt ||

||Sloka meanings||

laṁbamāna payōdharā anyā -
another with long drooping breasts
vikaṭā nāma tu - named Vikata
muṣṭiṁ udyamya -
with raised clinched fists
garjatī sītāṁ abravīt -
spoke to Sita threateningly

||Sloka summary||

"One other Rakshasi named Vikata who has long drooping breasts, spoke threateningly to Sita with raised clinched fists." ||24.28||

||Sloka 24.29||

bahūn apriyarūpāṇi vacanāni sudurmatē ||24.29||
anukrōśān mr̥dutvā cca sōḍhāni tava maithili|

sa|| sudurmatē maithili apriyarūpāṇi bahūni tava vacanāni anukrōśāt mr̥dutvāt sōḍhāni ||

||Sloka meanings||

sudurmatē maithili -
O wicked Maithili
apriyarūpāṇi bahūni -
many unpleasant ones ( spoken)
tava vacanāni - your words
anukrōśāt mr̥dutvāt sōḍhāni -
put up with them with kindness

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Wicked Maithili ! Many unpleasant words of yours were put up with out of kindness and mildness". ||24.29||

||Sloka 24.30||

na ca naḥ kuruṣē vākyaṁ hitaṁ kālapuraskr̥tam||24.30||
anītāsi samudrasya pāraṁ anyairdurāsadam|

sa|| maithili kālapuraskr̥tāṁ hitaṁ vākyaṁ na kuruṣē| anyaiḥ durāsadam samudrasya pāram ānītā asi||

||Sloka meanings||

maithili - Maithili
kālapuraskr̥tāṁ hitaṁ -
timely words of good advice
vākyaṁ na kuruṣē - do not accept
anyaiḥ durāsadam samudrasya pāram -
crossing ocean not possible for others .
ānītā asi -
you have been brought

||Sloka summary||

"Maithili ! You do not accept these timely words of good advice from others. You have been brought here crossing the ocean impossible for others." ||24.30||

||Sloka 24.31||

rāvaṇāntaḥ puraṁ ghōraṁ praviṣṭā cāpi maithili||24.31||
rāvaṇasya gr̥hē ruddhā masmābhistu surakṣitām|
natvāṁ śaktaḥ paritrātu mapi sākṣāt purandaraḥ||24.32||

sa|| maithili ghōraṁ rāvaṇāṁtaḥ puraṁ praviṣṭā asi|| rāvaṇasya gr̥hē ruddhāṁ asmābhiḥ surakṣitāṁ tvāṁ paritrātuṁ sākṣāt puraṁdaraḥ api na śaktaḥ |

||Sloka meanings||.

maithili - Maithili
ghōraṁ rāvaṇāṁtaḥ puraṁ praviṣṭā asi -
You are in the inaccessible inner palaces of Ravana
rāvaṇasya gr̥hē ruddhāṁ asmābhiḥ surakṣitāṁ-
riches in Ravana's palace are protected by us.
tvāṁ paritrātuṁ -
to rescue you
sākṣāt puraṁdaraḥ api na śaktaḥ -
not possible even for Indra
.
||Sloka summary||

"You are in the inaccessible inner palaces of Ravana. You are in Ravana's palace protected by us. It is not possible even for Indra to rescue you from here." ||24.31,32||

||Sloka 24.33||

kuruṣva hita vādinyā vacanaṁ mama maithili|
alaṁ aśruprapātēna tyaja śōkamanarthakam||24.33||

sa|| maithilī hitavādinyā mama vacanaṁ kuruṣva|| alaṁ aśru prapātēna | anarthakam śōkaṁ tyaja||

||Sloka meanings||

hitavādinyā -
words of a well wisher
mama vacanaṁ kuruṣva-
listen to my words
alaṁ aśru prapātēna -
enough of shedding tears
anarthakam śōkaṁ tyaja -
give up useless sorrow

||Sloka summary||

"Maithili ! You follow the words of a well-wisher like me. Enough of shedding tears. Give up useless sorrow."||24.33||

||Sloka 24.34||

bhaja prītiṁ ca harṣaṁ ca tyajaitāṁ nitya dainyatām|
sītē rākṣasarājēna saha krīḍā yathāsukham||24.34||

sa|| ētān nitya dainyatāṁ tyaja | prītiṁ ca harṣaṁ ca bhaja||sītē rākṣasarājēna saha yathā sukhaṁ krīḍā||

||Sloka meanings||

ētān nitya dainyatāṁ tyaja -
Leave this pitiable state for ever
prītiṁ ca harṣaṁ ca bhaja -
enjoy love and happiness.
sītē rākṣasarājēna saha-
with the king of Rakshasas, O Sita
yathā sukhaṁ krīḍā -
sport and enjoy as you wish

||Sloka summary||

"Leave this pitiable state forever. Enjoy love and happiness. Oh Sita sport and enjoy with the king of Rakshasas."||24.34||

||Sloka 24.35||

jānāsi yathā bhīru strīṇāṁ yauvanamadhruvam|
yāvanna tē vyatikrāmēt tāvat sukhamavāpnuhi||24.35||

||sa|| bhīru strīṇāṁ yauvanaṁ yathā adhruvaṁ jānāsi hi | tē yāvat na atikramēt tāvat sukhaṁ avāpnu hi||

||Sloka meanings||

bhīru strīṇāṁ yauvanaṁ -
Oh Timid one for Women youth( is)
yathā adhruvaṁ jānāsi hi -
know that to be uncertain
tē yāvat na atikramēt -
before it is over
tāvat sukhaṁ avāpnu hi -
enjoy all pleasures

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Timid one ! You know that youth is uncertain for women. Before it is over, enjoy all pleasures." ||24.35||

||Sloka 24.36||

udyānāni ca ramyāṇi parvatōpavanāni ca|
saha rākṣasarājēna cara tvaṁ madirēkṣaṇē||24.36||

||sa|| madirēkṣaṇē ramyāṇi udyānāni parvata upavanāni ca tvaṁ rākṣasarājēna saha cara ||

||Sloka meanings||

madirēkṣaṇē -
Oh Lady of intoxicating eyes
ramyāṇi udyānāni -
delightful gardens,
parvata upavanāni ca -
gardens around the mountains
tvaṁ rākṣasarājēna saha cara -
with the king of Rakshasas enjoy yourself

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Lady of intoxicating eyes! Going around delightful gardens, and the gardens around the mountains with the king of Rakshasas enjoy yourself." ||24.36||

||Sloka 24.37||

strī sahasrāṇi tē sapta vaśē sthāsyaṁti sundarī|
rāvaṇaṁ bhaja bhartāraṁ bhartāraṁ sarva rakṣasām||24.37||

sa|| suṁdarī sapta sahasrāṇī strī tē vaśē sthāsyaṁti |sarvarakṣasāṁ bhartāraṁ rāvaṇaṁ bhaja||

||Sloka meanings||

suṁdarī sapta sahasrāṇī strī -
O beautiful one, seven thousand women
tē vaśē sthāsyaṁti -
will be under your control
sarvarakṣasāṁ bhartāraṁ -
king of all Rakshasas
rāvaṇaṁ bhaja -
accept that Ravana

||Sloka summary||

"Oh Beautiful one seven thousand women will be under your control. Accept the Lord of all Rakshasas".||24.37||

||Sloka 24.38||

utpāṭya vātē hr̥dayaṁ bhakṣayiṣyāmi maithili|
yadi mē vyāhr̥taṁ vākyaṁ na yathāvat kariṣyasi||24.38||

sa|| maithilī yadi mē vyāhr̥taṁ vākyaṁ yathāvat na kariṣyasi tē hr̥dayaṁ utpāṭya bhakṣayiṣyāmi ||

||Sloka meanings||

yadi mē vyāhr̥taṁ vākyaṁ -
if the words spoken by me
yathāvat na kariṣyasi -
are not followed as is
maithilī tē hr̥dayaṁ utpāṭya-
Maithili, will pluck out your heart
bhakṣayiṣyāmi - eat it up

||Sloka summary||

"Maithili ! If the words spoken by me are not followed as is, your heart will be plucked and eaten by me".||24.38||

||Sloka 24.39||

tataścaṇḍōdarī nāma rākṣasī krōthamūrchitā|
bhrāmayantī mahaccūla midaṁ vacanamabravīt||24.39||

sa|| tataḥ caṁḍōdarī nāma rākṣasī krōdhamūrchitā mahat śūlaṁ bhrāmayaṁtī idaṁ vacanaṁ abravīt||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ caṁḍōdarī nāma rākṣasī -
then a Rakshasi by name Chandodari
krōdhamūrchitā -
over powered by anger
mahat śūlaṁ bhrāmayaṁtī -
twirling her spear
idaṁ vacanaṁ abravīt-
spoke the following words

||Sloka summary||

"Then a Rakshasi by name Chandodari over powered with anger , twirling her spear spoke the following words."||24.39||

||Sloka 24.40||

imāṁ hariṇa lōlākṣīṁ trāsōtkampipayōdharām|
rāvaṇēna hr̥tāṁ dr̥ṣṭvā daurhr̥dō mē mahānabhūt||24.40||

sa|| hariṇalōlākṣīṁ trāsōtkaṁpita payōdharāṁ rāvaṇēna hr̥tāṁ imām dr̥ṣṭvā mē mahān daurhr̥daḥ abhūt ||

||Sloka meanings||

rāvaṇēna hr̥tāṁ -
brought by Ravana
hariṇalōlākṣīṁ -
with eyes flashing like a doe
trāsōtkaṁpita payōdharāṁ -
with breasts heaving in distress,
imām dr̥ṣṭvā - seeing her
mē mahān daurhr̥daḥ abhūt -
a great desire came in my heart.

||Sloka summary||

" rāvaṇuni cēta apahariṁcabaḍina, kaṁpistunna stanamulu gala hariṇalōlākṣini cūcinapuḍu nāku goppa kōrika galigenu." ||24.40||

"Seeing her, brought by Ravana, with eyes flashing like a doe, with breasts heaving in distress, a great desire came in my heart. " ||24.40||

Tilaka Tika says- daurhr̥daḥ garbhiṇyā garbhakr̥t icchāviśēṣō daurhr̥dam; 'daurhr̥daṁ' means the desire that overpowers a pregnant woman. It means that desire is so strong.

||Sloka 24.41||

yakr̥tplīha mathōtpīḍaṁ hr̥dayaṁ ca sabandhanam|
antrāṇyapi tathā śīrṣaṁ khādēya miti mē matiḥ||24.41||

sa|| yakr̥t plīhaṁ utpīḍam sabaṁdhanam hr̥dayaṁ ca antrāṇyapi tathā śīrṣaṁ khādēyaṁ iti mē matiḥ||

Tilaka Tika says- yakr̥t dakṣiṇa bhāgasthaḥ kālakhaṇḍhākhyō māṁsa viśēṣaḥ | plīham hr̥daya vāmabhāgasthō gulmākhyō māṁsa viśēṣaḥ | utpīḍam hr̥dayōparisthita māṁsabandhanam| Here the Rakshasi was talking about her desire to eat the meat all around the heart.

||Sloka meanings||

yakr̥t plīhaṁ utpīḍam -
picking her spleen and liver
sabaṁdhanam hr̥dayaṁ ca -
heart including all joints
antrāṇyapi tathā śīrṣaṁ -
intestines as well as head
khādēyaṁ iti mē matiḥ-
eat all of that is on my mind

||Sloka summary||

"Have a great mind to pick her spleen and liver, heart including all joints, intestines as well as head, and eat all of that". ||24.41||

||Sloka 24.42||

tatastu praghasā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt |
kaṁṭhamasyā nr̥śaṁsāyāḥ pīḍayāma kimāsyatē||24.42||

sa|| tataḥ praghasā nāma rākṣasī (idaṁ) vākyaṁ abravīt| asyāḥ nr̥śaṁsāyāḥ kaṁṭhaṁ pīḍyāma | kiṁ āsyatē||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ praghasā nāma rākṣasī -
then a Rakshasi by name Praghasa
(idaṁ) vākyaṁ abravīt -
said the following.
asyāḥ nr̥śaṁsāyāḥ -
this heartless one.
kaṁṭhaṁ pīḍyāma -
twist her head
kiṁ āsyatē -
why are we waiting?

||Sloka summary||

"Then a Rakshasi by name Praghasa said the following. ' We will twist the head of this heartless one. Why are we waiting?" ||24.42||

||Sloka 24.43||

nivēdyatāṁ tatō rājñē mānuṣī sā mr̥tēti ha |
nātra kaścana saṁdēhāḥ khādatēti sa vakṣyati ||24.43||

sa|| tataḥ rājñē nivēdyatāṁ sā mānuṣī mr̥taḥ iti || tataḥ saḥ khādata iti vakṣati | atra kaścana saṁdēhaḥ na||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ rājñē nivēdyatāṁ -
then we will tell the King
sā mānuṣī mr̥taḥ iti -
that the human is dead
tataḥ saḥ khādata iti vakṣati -
then he will say eat her
atra kaścana saṁdēhaḥ na -
there is no doubt about that

||Sloka summary||

"Then we will tell the King that the human is dead ! Then he will say eat her. There is no doubt about that." ||24.43||

||Sloka 24.44||

tatastvajāmukhī nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt |
viśa syēmāṁ tata ssarvāḥ samān kuruta pīlukān||24.44||

sa|| tataḥ ajāmukhī nāma rākṣasī vākyaṁ abravīt| sarvāḥ imām viśasya tataḥ samān pīlukān kuruta||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ ajāmukhī nāma rākṣasī -
then Rakshasi by name Ajamukhi
vākyaṁ abravīt -
said the following.
sarvāḥ imām viśasya -
all cut her in pieces
tataḥ samān pīlukān kuruta -
then we will divide equally

||Sloka summary||

"Then Rakshasi by name Ajamukhi said the following. ' Let us all cut her in equal pieces. Then we will divide equally." ||24.44||

||Sloka 24.45||

vibhajāma tataḥ sarvā vivādō mē na rōcatē|
sēya mānīyatāṁ kṣipraṁ lēhyā muccāvacaṁ bahu||24.45||

sa|| tataḥ sarvāḥ vibhajāma | mē vivādaḥ na rōcatē| kṣipraṁ pēyaṁ uccāvacam bahu lēhyāṁ ānīyatām ||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ sarvāḥ vibhajāma -
then we will all share
mē vivādaḥ na rōcatē -
I do not like arguments.
kṣipraṁ pēyaṁ uccāvacam -
quickly all types of drinks
bahu lēhyāṁ ānīyatām -
bring all types food that can be licked

||Sloka summary||

"I do not like arguments, we will all share. Go quickly bring all types of drinks and all types food that can be licked".||24.45||

||Sloka 24.46||

tataśśūrpaṇakhānāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt |
ajāmukhyā yaduktaṁ hi tadēva mamarōcatē ||24.46||

sa|| tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī vākyaṁ abravīt | ajāmukhī yat uktaṁ tadēva mama rōcatē||

||Sloka meanings||

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī -
Then a Rakshasi by name Surpanakha
vākyaṁ abravīt -
said the following
ajāmukhī yat uktaṁ -
that which was said by Ajamukhi
tadēva mama rōca -
I like only that

||Sloka summary||

"Then a Rakshasi by name Surpanakha said the following. 'I like whatever is said by Ajamukhi only." ||24.46||

||Sloka 24.47||

surā cānīyatāṁ kṣipraṁ sarva śōkavināśinī|
mānuṣaṁ māṁsaṁ āsādya nr̥tyāma'tha nikumbhilām||24.47||

sa|| kṣipraṁ sarvaśōkavināśinī surā ca ānīyatām | mānuṣā māṁsam āsvādya atha nikuṁbhalāṁ nr̥tyāmaḥ||

||Sloka meanings||

kṣipraṁ sarvaśōkavināśinī -
Quickly that which is destroyer of all sorrows
surā ca ānīyatām -
wine be brought
mānuṣā māṁsam āsvādya -
relishing the human flesh
atha nikuṁbhalāṁ nr̥tyāmaḥ -
start Nikumbha dance

||Sloka summary||

"Quickly get the wine which is destroyer of all sorrows. After relishing the human flesh we will start Nikumbha dance". ||24.47||

||Sloka 24.48||

ēvaṁ saṁbhartsyamānā sā sītā surasutōpamā|
rākṣasībhiḥ sughōrābhi rdhairyamutsr̥jya rōditi||24.48||

sa|| sughōrābhiḥ rākṣasībhiḥ ēvaṁ saṁbhartsyamānā surasutōpamā sā sītā dhairyaṁ utsr̥jya rōditi||

||Sloka meanings||

sughōrābhiḥ rākṣasībhiḥ -
by the dreadful Rakshasis
ēvaṁ saṁbhartsyamānā -
thus being threatened
surasutōpamā sā sītā -
Sita who is like the daughter of gods
dhairyaṁ utsr̥jya rōdati -
cried giving up courage

||Sloka summary||

"Thus being threatened by the dreadful Rakshasis , Sita who is like the daughter of gods cried giving up courage". ||24.48||

The poet says, thus threatened by the Rakshasa women, Sita losing her courage started weeping. With this Sloka the twenty fifth chapter comes to an end.

ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē vālmīkīyē
caturviṁśat sahasrikāyāṁ saṁhitāyām
śrīmatsuṁdarakāṁḍē caturviṁśassargaḥ||

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

|| om tat sat||