Chapter 21

Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty

VERSE 1

तस्य तद्वचनम् श्रुत्वा सीता रौद्रस्य रक्षसः
आर्ता दीनस्वरा दीनम् प्रत्युवाच ततः
शनैः

tasya tadvacanam śrutvā sītā raudrasya rakṣasaḥ
ārtā dīnasvarā dīnam pratyuvāca tataḥ
śanaiḥ

SYNONYMS

sītā: Seetha | śrutvā: listening | tasya raudrasya rakśasaḥ: to that horrible ogre's | tat: that | vacanam: word | ārtā: being tormented | pratyuvaca: spoke in reply | dīna svarā: with a pitiable voice | dīnam: pitifully | śanaiḥ: slowly. |

TRANSLATION

Seetha listening to that horrible ogre's word, being tormented spoke in reply with a pitiable voice, pitifully and slowly.

VERSE 2

दुःखार्ता रुदती सीता वेपमाना तपस्विनी
चिन्तयन्ती वरारोह पतिमेव पतिव्रता

duḥkhārtā rudatī sītā vepamānā tapasvinī
cintayantī varāroha patimeva pativratā

SYNONYMS

duhkhārtā: Being tormented by grief | tapasvinī: in a pitiful state | varārohā: with excellent limbs | pativratā: devoted to husband | cintayantī: thinking | patimeva: about husband alone | śuci smitā: with pleasant smiles | sītā: Seetha | rudati: was sobbing | vepamānā: shivering | kṛtvā: making | tṛṇam: a grass straw | antarataḥ: in between (herself and Ravana) | pratyuvāca: spoke in reply. |

TRANSLATION

Being tormented by grief, in a pitiful state, with excellent limbs, devoted to husband, thinking about husband alone, with pleasant smiles Seetha was sobbing, shivering and placing a straw in between herself and Ravana spoke thus in reply.

VERSE 3

निवर्तय मनो मत्तः स्वजने क्रियतां मनः

nivartaya mano mattaḥ svajane kriyatāṃ manaḥ

SYNONYMS

nivartaya: turn back | manaḥ: mind | mattaḥ: from me | manaḥ kriyatām: let your mind be made | svajaḥ: on your own wives | susiddhimiva: like best emancipation | pāpakṛt: (for) a sinner | na yuktam: it is not appropriate | prārthayitum: to pray | mām: me. |

TRANSLATION

"Turn your mind back from me. Let your mind be made on your own wives. Like best emancipation for a sinner, it is not appropriate to pray me."

VERSE 4

अकार्यम् न मया कार्यमेकपत्न्या विगर्हितम्

akāryam na mayā kāryamekapatnyā vigarhitam

SYNONYMS

jātayā: I was born | mahati: in a great | kule: family | saṃprāptayā: getting | kulam: family | ekapatnyā: having one husband | akāryam: a bad deed | nigarhitam: which is blameable | na kāryam: is not to be made | mayā: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"I was born in a great family. Getting such family, having one husband, a bad deed which is blameable is not to be made by me."

VERSE 5

एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेही रावणम् तम् यशस्विनी

evamuktvā tu vaidehī rāvaṇam tam yaśasvinī

SYNONYMS

vaidehī: Seetha | yaśasvinī: with renown | evam uktvā: thus speaking | tam ravaṇam: to that Ravana | kṛtvā: making | pṛṣṭhataḥ: the back | rākśasam: to (that) ogre | abravīt: spoke | vacanam: words | būyaḥ: again. |

TRANSLATION

Seetha with renown thus speaking to that Ravana, turned back and spoke words again.

VERSE 6

वाहमौपयिकी भार्या परभार्या सती तव

vāhamaupayikī bhāryā parabhāryā satī tava

SYNONYMS

aham: I | parabharyā: who am wife of another | satī: and devoted to husband | na: am not | aupaikī: suitable | bhāryā: wife | tava: to you | anvekśasva: observe | dharmam: righteousness | sādhu: well. | cara: follow | sādhuvratam: course of conduct of virtuous |

TRANSLATION

"I who am wife of another and devoted to husband am not suitable wife to you. Observe righteousness well. Follow well course of conduct of virtuous."

VERSE 7

यथा तव तथान्येषां दारा रक्ष्या विशाचर

yathā tava tathānyeṣāṃ dārā rakṣyā viśācara

SYNONYMS

niśācara: O ogre! | yathā: how | tava: your (wives) rakshyaaH = are to be protected | tathā: in the same way | anyeṣām: others' | dārāḥ: wives (are to be protected) | ātmānam upamām kṛtvā: making yourself as an example | ramyatām: enjoy | sveṣu dārseṣu: .your own wives. |

TRANSLATION

"O Ogre! How your wives are to be protected, in the same way others' wives are to be protected. Making yourself as an example enjoy your own wives."

VERSE 8

अतुष्टं स्वेषु दारेषु चपलम् चलितेन्द्रियम्

atuṣṭaṃ sveṣu dāreṣu capalam calitendriyam

SYNONYMS

atuṣṭam: one who is not satisfied | sveṣu dāreṣu: in own wives | capalam: fickle-minded one | calitendriyam: with disturbed senses | nikṛti prajñām: mean minded one | (to suc a man)parabhāryāḥ: others' wives | nayanti: will lead | parābhavam: to humiliation. |

TRANSLATION

"One who is not satisfied in own wives, a fickle-minded one with disturbed senses, mean minded one, to such a man, others' wives will lead to humilation."

VERSE 9

इह सन्तो न वा सन्ति सतो वा नानुवर्तसे

iha santo na vā santi sato vā nānuvartase

SYNONYMS

iha: here | na vā santi: are there not | santaḥ: good people? | nānuvartase vā: or are you not following | sataḥ: those (who are good)? | tathhahi: it must be like that | te buddhiḥ: (beacuse) your mind | ācāravarjitā: devoid of traditions | viparītā: is perverse. |

TRANSLATION

"Here are there not good people? Or are you not following those who are good? It must be like that because your mind, devoid of traditions is perverse."

VERSE 10

वचो मिथ्याप्रणीतात्मा पथ्यमुक्तं विचक्षणैः

vaco mithyāpraṇītātmā pathyamuktaṃ vicakṣaṇaiḥ

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | mithyā praṇītātmā: who is being led by mind towards unreal | na pratipadya se: is not taking | pathyam: wholesome | vacaḥ: words | uptam: being said | vicakśaṇaiḥ: by righteous ones | abhāvāya: for the destruction | rākśasānām: of ogres. |

TRANSLATION

"You who is being led by mind towards unreal is not taking wholesome words being said by righteous onesfor the destruction of ogres."

VERSE 11

आकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्

ākṛtātmānamāsādya rājānamanaye ratam

SYNONYMS

12| āsādya: (after) getting | rājānam: a king | akṛtātmānam: who has uncontrolled mind | ratam: interested | anaye: in bad path | samṛddani: wealthy | rāṣṭrāṇi: states | nagarāṇi ca: and cities also | vinaśyanti: will be destroyed | samāsādya: (after)getting | tvām: you | tathā: like that | iyam laṅkā: this Lanka | ratnaugha saṃkulā: filled with best things | nacirāt: in a short while | vinaśiṣyati: will be destroyed | tava: due to your | ekasya: one | aparādhāt: sin. |

TRANSLATION

"After getting a king who has uncontrolled mind, interested in a bad path, wealthy states and cities also will be destroyed. After getting you like that this Lanka filled with best things in a short while will be destroyed due to your one sin."

VERSE 13

स्वकृतैर्हन्यमानस्य आवणादीर्घदर्शिनः

svakṛtairhanyamānasya āvaṇādīrghadarśinaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāvana: O Ravana! | vināśe: (when there is) destruction | adīrgha darśinaḥ: (of) a short sighted one | hanyamānasya svakṛtaiḥ: being hit by his own deeds | pāpakamaṇaḥ: a sinner | bhūtāni: living beings | abhinandanti: will be happy |

TRANSLATION

"O Ravana! When there is destruction of a short sighted one being hit by his own deeds, a sinner, living beings will be happy."

VERSE 14

एवं त्वां पापकर्माणम् वक्ष्यन्ति निकृता जनाः

evaṃ tvāṃ pāpakarmāṇam vakṣyanti nikṛtā janāḥ

SYNONYMS

tvām: about you | pāpakarmāṇam: who is a sinner | evam: thus being destroyed | janāḥ: people | nikṛtāḥ: who have been humiliated by you | harṣitāḥ: being happy | ityeva vakśyanti: will speak thus | raudraḥ: the cruel Ravana | diṣṭyā: by God's grace | prāptaḥ: has got | etat vyasanam: this danger. |

TRANSLATION

"About you who is a sinner thus being destroyed, people who have been humiliated by you being happy will speak thus: 'The cruel Ravana by God's grace has got this danger' ".

VERSE 15

शक्या लोभयितुं नाहमैश्वर्येण धनेन वा

śakyā lobhayituṃ nāhamaiśvaryeṇa dhanena vā

SYNONYMS

aham: I | na śakyā: am not capable | lobhayitum: to be tempted | aisvaryeṇa: by wealth | dhanena vā: or by money | ananyā: am not separate | rāghaveṇa: with Raghava | prabhā yathā: like the sun-shine | bhāskareṇa: with the sun. |

TRANSLATION

"I am not capable to be tempted by wealth or by money. I am not separate with Raghava like the sun-shine with the sun."

VERSE 16

उपधाय भुजम् तस्य लोकनाथस्य सत्कृतम्

upadhāya bhujam tasya lokanāthasya satkṛtam

SYNONYMS

upadhāya: (after making) as a pillow | satkṛtam bhujam: that worshipped shoulder | lokanathasya: of that lord of the world | tasya: of that Rama | katham nāma: how | upadhāsyāmi: can I make as pillow | 'nyasya kasya cit: some other one's | bhujam: shoulder. |

TRANSLATION

"After making as a pillow that worshipped shoulder of that lord of the world, of that Rama, how can I make as pillow some other one's shoulder?"

VERSE 17

अहमौपयीकी भार्या तस्यैव वसुधापतेः

ahamaupayīkī bhāryā tasyaiva vasudhāpateḥ

SYNONYMS

vidyā iva: like the education | viprasya: of a brahmin | viditātmanaḥ: with a famous mind | vrata snātasya: initiated in religious vow | aham: I | aupayikī bharyā: am a suitable wife | tasyaiva: to that Rama alone | vasudhāpateḥ: the lord of earth. |

TRANSLATION

"Like the education of a brahmin with a famous mind, initiated in religious vow, I am suitable wife to that Rama alone the lord of earth."

VERSE 18

साधु रावण रामेण मां समानय दुःखिताम्

sādhu rāvaṇa rāmeṇa māṃ samānaya duḥkhitām

SYNONYMS

rāvaṇa: O Ravana! | mām samānaya: let me meet | sādhu: well | rāmeṇa sārdham: together with Rama | vāśitayā kareṇveva: like a female elephant | gajādhipam: with a (male) elephant | vane: in a forest. |

TRANSLATION

"O Ravana! Let me meet together with Rama like a female elephant with a male elephant in a forest."

VERSE 19

मित्रमौपयिकम् कर्तुम् रामः स्थानम् परीप्सता

mitramaupayikam kartum rāmaḥ sthānam parīpsatā

SYNONYMS

aupayikam: it is suited | asau: this | rāmaḥ: Rama | puruṣarṣabhaḥ: best among men | mitram kartum: is made to be a friend | tvayā: by you | parīpsatā: who is desiring | sthānam: continued existence | anicchatā ca: and not desiring | ghoram vadham: a horrible slaying. |

TRANSLATION

"It is suited that this Rama, best among men, is made to be a friend by you who is desiring continued existence and not desiring a horrible slaying."

VERSE 20

विदितः स हि धर्मज्ञः शरणागतवत्सलः

viditaḥ sa hi dharmajñaḥ śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: He (Rama) | dharmajñaḥ: the righteous one | viditaḥ hi: is indeed known | śaraṇāgatavatsalaḥ: as one who loves those who seek protection | icchasi yadi: if you desire | jīvitam: to live | maitrī bhavatu: let there be friendhip | te: to you | tena: with Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama the righteous one is indeed known as one who loves those who seek protection. If you desire to live. let there be friendship between you and Rama."

VERSE 21

प्रसादयस्व त्वं चनं शरणागतवत्सलम्

prasādayasva tvaṃ canaṃ śaraṇāgatavatsalam

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | prasādayasva: seek graciousness | enam: of this Rama | śaraṇāgatavatsalam: who loves those who seek protection | prayataḥ bhūtvā: becoming piously disposed | arhasi: you are suited | niryātayitum: to return | mām: me | asmai: to this Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"You seek graciousness of this Rama who loves those who seek protection. Becoming piously disposed, you are suited to return me to this Rama."

VERSE 22

एवम् हि ते भवेत्स्वस्ति सम्प्रदाय रघूत्तमे

evam hi te bhavetsvasti sampradāya raghūttame

SYNONYMS

evam: in this way | sampradāya: giving (me) | raghūttame: to Rama | bhavet: will become | svasti: fortunate | te: to you | ravaṇa: O Ravana! | tvam: you | anyathā kurvāṇa: doing in a different way | vadham prāpsyasi: will get slaying. |

TRANSLATION

"In this way giving me to Rama will become fortunate to you. O Ravana! If you do in a different way, you will get slayed."

VERSE 23

वर्जयेद्वज्रमुत्सृष्टं वर्जयेदन्तकश्चिरम्

varjayedvajramutsṛṣṭaṃ varjayedantakaściram

SYNONYMS

utk͟hṟiṣṭam: drawn out | vajram: Vajrayudha | varjayet: may spare you | tvadvidham: some one like you | antakaḥ: Lord of death | ciram: for a long time | saḥ ṟāghavaḥ: that Rama | lokanāthaḥ: the lord of worlds | saṃkruddhaḥ: greatly enraged | na: will not (spare you). |

TRANSLATION

"Drawn out Vajrayudha, the weapon of Indra may spare some one like you. Lord of death may spare you for a long time. That Rama the lord of worlds greatly enraged will not spare you."

VERSE 24

रामस्य धनुषः शब्दं श्रोष्यसि त्वं महास्वनम्

rāmasya dhanuṣaḥ śabdaṃ śroṣyasi tvaṃ mahāsvanam

SYNONYMS

nirghoṣamiva: like the great sound | aśaneḥ: of Vajrayudha | śatakratuvisṛṣṭaya: hurled by Indra | tvam śroṣyasi: you will hear | mahāsvanam: a loud sound | śabdam: which is sonorous | rāmasya dhanuṣaḥ: of Ram's bow. |

TRANSLATION

"Like the great sound of Vajrayudha hurled by Indra, you will hear a loud sound which is sonorous of Rama's bow."

VERSE 25

इह शीग्रं सुपर्वाणो ज्वलितास्य इवोरगाः

iha śīgraṃ suparvāṇo jvalitāsya ivoragāḥ

SYNONYMS

iṣavaḥ: arrows | suparvāṇaḥ: with good nodes | prajvalitāsyāḥ: with blazing tips | uragāḥ iva: like snakes | rāmalakśmaṇa lakśaṇāḥ: with characteristic signs of Rama and Lakshmana nipatishhyanti = will fall down | iha: here (in Lanka) | śīghram: soon. |

TRANSLATION

"Arrows with good nodes, with blazing tips, like snakes, with characteristic signs of Rama and Lakshmana will fall down soon here in Lanka."

VERSE 26

रक्षांसि परिनिघ्नस्तः पुर्यामस्यां समन्ततः

rakṣāṃsi parinighnastaḥ puryāmasyāṃ samantataḥ

SYNONYMS

kaṅka vāsasaḥ: arrows tied with the plumes of an eagle | parivighnantaḥ: will hit | rakśāṃsi: ogres | samantataḥ: everywhere | asyām puryām: in this city | kariṣyanti: (and) will make | asaṃpātam: without space. |

TRANSLATION

"Arrows tied with the plumes of an eagle will hit ogres everywhere in this city and will cover the city without space."

VERSE 27

राक्षसेन्द्रमहासर्पान् स रामगरुडो महान्

rākṣasendramahāsarpān sa rāmagaruḍo mahān

SYNONYMS

saḥ: That | rāmagarudaḥ: Garuda called Rama | vegena: speedily | uddhariṣyati: will pluck | rākśasendramahāsarpān: the great serpents called ogres | vainateyaḥ uragāniva: like Vainateya (plucking) the serpents. |

TRANSLATION

"That Garuda called Rama speedily will pluck the great serpants called ogres like Vainateya plucking the serpants."

VERSE 28

अपनेष्यति मां भर्ता त्वत्तः शीघ्रमरिन्दमः

apaneṣyati māṃ bhartā tvattaḥ śīghramarindamaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhartā: my husband | ariṃdamaḥ: the destoyer of foes | mām apaneṣyati: will take me away | tvattaḥ: from you | viṣṇuḥ iva: like Lord Vishnu | tribhiḥ kramaiḥ: with three steps | dīptām śriyam: (taking away) brilliant prosperity | asurebhyaḥ: from Asuras. |

TRANSLATION

"My husband who is a destroyer of foes will take me away from you like Lord Vishnu with three steps taking away the brilliant prosperity from Asuras."

VERSE 29

जनस्थाने हतस्थाने निहते रक्षसां बले

janasthāne hatasthāne nihate rakṣasāṃ bale

SYNONYMS

rakśaḥ: O ogre! | rakśasām bale: (while the) army of ogres | nihate: was being killed | janasthāne: at Janasthana | hatasthāne: (which became) land of the dead | etat: this | asādhu: bad (deed) | kṛtam vai: has been done | tvayā: by you | aśaktena: being powerless |

TRANSLATION

"O ogre! While the army of ogres was being killed at Janasthana which became the land of dead, this bad deed has been done by you being powerless."

VERSE 30

अश्रमम् तु तयोः शून्यं प्रविश्य नरसिम्हयोः

aśramam tu tayoḥ śūnyaṃ praviśya narasimhayoḥ

SYNONYMS

adhama: O lowest one! | tayoḥ bhrātroḥ: (when) those brothers | gatayoḥ: were gone | gocaram: out | praviśya: entering | āśramam: hermitage | śūnyam: without them | apanitā: I have been abducted | tvayā: by you. |

TRANSLATION

"O lowest one! When those brothers were gone out, entering hermitage without them, I have been abducted by you."

VERSE 31

न हि गन्धमुपाघ्राय रामलक्ष्मणयोस्त्वया

na hi gandhamupāghrāya rāmalakṣmaṇayostvayā

SYNONYMS

śārddulayoriva: like tiger | śunā: by dog | upāghrāya: smelling | gandham: scent | rāmalakśmaṇayoḥ: of Rama and Lakshmana | na śakyam hi: it is indeed not possible | tvayā: by you | sthātum: to stand | saṃdarśane: (in their) view. |

TRANSLATION

"Like tiger by dog, smelling the scent of Rama and Lakshmana it is indeed not possible by you to stand in their view."

VERSE 32

तस्य ते विग्रहे ताभ्यां युगग्रहणमस्थिरम्

tasya te vigrahe tābhyāṃ yugagrahaṇamasthiram

SYNONYMS

te: To you | tasya: like that | vigrahe: enmity | tabhyām: with those two | vigrahe iha: is like the enmity | ekasya bahoḥ: of one hand | vṛtrasya: of Vruttasura | indra bāhubhyām: with two hands of Indra | asthiram: (and) it is not persevering | yugagrahanam: (for you) to be an opponent (with them). |

TRANSLATION

"To you like that, enmity with those two is like the enmity of one hand of Vruttasura with two hands of Indra and it is not persevering for you to be an opponent with them."

VERSE 33

क्षिप्रं तव स नाथो मे रामः सौमित्रिणा सह

kṣipraṃ tava sa nātho me rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha

SYNONYMS

me nāthaḥ: my husband | saḥ rāmaḥ: that Rama | saumitriṇā saha: together with Lakshmana | adāsyate: will take away | śaraiḥ: with His arrows | tava prāṇān: your life | kśipram: quickly | ādityaḥ iva: like the sun | alpam toyam: (drying) shallow water. |

TRANSLATION

"My husband that Rama together with Lakshmana will take away with His arrows your life quickly like the sun drying up shallow water."

VERSE 34

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe ekaviṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

kāla hataḥ: Killed by time | kuberasya girim gatam: (even if you) go to the mountain of Kubera | athavā: or | ālyam: to his house | gato vā: or if you go | sabhām: to the assembly | rājñaḥ varunasya: of King Varuna | asaṃśayaṃ: without doubt | na mokśyase: you will not be released | dāśaratheḥ: from Rama | mahādrumaḥ: like a great tree | aśani: (from) thunderbolt. |

TRANSLATION

"Killed by time even if you go to the mountain of Kubera or to his house or if you go to the assembly of King Varuna, without doubt you will not be relased from Rama like a great tree from thunderbolt."