Aranya Kanda — Sarga 18

तां तु शूर्पणखां रामः कामपाशावपाशिताम्। स्वेच्छया श्लक्ष्णया वाचा स्मितपूर्वमथाब्रवीत्॥

With a smile, Rāma jestingly addressed Śūrpanakhā who had been ensnared in the noose of love, in soft words.

Aranya Kanda 18.1

कृतदारोऽसि भवती भार्येयं दयिता मम। त्वद्विधानां तु नारीणां सुदु:खा ससपत्नता॥

Gentle one, I am already wedded; this is my beloved wife. To females like to you co-wifehood is exceedingly miserable.

Aranya Kanda 18.2

अनुजस्त्वेष मे भ्राता शीलवान् प्रियदर्शनः। श्रीमानकृतदारश्च लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्॥ अपूर्वी भार्यया चार्थी तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः। अनुरूपश्च ते भर्ता रूपस्यास्य भविष्यति॥

This young brother of mine is good-looking, and is of an excellent character; he is graceful, and is still unwived. The powerful one is named Laksmana. He has not yet tested the pleasures of a wife's company, and is desirous of having a spouse. And he is youthful and of an inviting presence. He will become a fit husband for you, considering this your beauty.

Aranya Kanda 18.3

एनं भज विशालाक्षि भर्तारं भ्रातरं मम। असपत्ना वरारोहे मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा॥

O you of expansive eyes, seek this brother of mine as your husband, even as the solar beam seeks Meru. (By doing so), You O supremely beautiful damsel, will not have to fear a co-wife.

Aranya Kanda 18.4

इति रामेण सा प्रोक्ता राक्षसी काममोहिता। विसृज्य रामं सहसा ततो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्॥

Having been thus addressed by Rāma, the Rākṣasī intoxicated with lust, at once leaving Rāma, spoke to Lakşmaņa.

Aranya Kanda 18.5

अस्य रूपस्य ते युक्ता भार्याहं वरवर्णिनी। मया सह सुखं सर्वान् दण्डकान् विचरिष्यसि।७।।

I am fit to be your wife possessed of transcendental grace, having regard to this beauty of yours. And with me you will happily range these Dandakas.

Aranya Kanda 18.6

एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्री राक्षस्या वाक्यकोविदः। ततः शूपनखीं स्मित्वा लक्ष्मणो युक्तमब्रवीत्॥

Thus accosted by the Räkşasi, Sumitrā's son, Lakşmana versed in speech, with a smile appropriately observed to Śūrpanakhā,

Aranya Kanda 18.7

कथं दासस्य मेदासी भार्या भवितुमिच्छसि। सोऽहमार्येण परवान् भ्रात्रा कमलवर्णिनी॥

Why wish you to be the servant of me who am a servant myself*? O lotus-hued one, I am dependant on my noble brother. The text is difficult to render literally:—Why wish you to be the female servant of me who am myself a male servant.

Aranya Kanda 18.8

समृद्धार्थस्य सिद्धार्था मुदितामलवर्णिनि। आर्यस्य त्वं विशालाक्षि भार्या भव यवीयसी॥

O you of expansive eyes, be you securing the sumimum bonum, with a joyful heart, become, O superbly beautiful wench, the younger wife of the noble one of great good fortune.

Aranya Kanda 18.9

एतां विरूपामसती कराला निर्णतोदरीम्। भार्यां वृद्धां परित्यज्य त्वामेवैष भजिष्यति॥

Renouncing this frightful, unchaste, hideous, old wife possessed of a lean abdomen; he will devote himself to you.

Aranya Kanda 18.10

को हि रूपमिदं श्रेष्ठं संत्यज्य वरवर्णिनि। मानुषीषु वरारोहे कुर्याद् भावं विचक्षणः॥

O paragon among damsels, O supremely charming lady, what man possessed of discernment, passing by such grace, would bear affliction to a human female?

Aranya Kanda 18.11

इति सा लक्ष्मणेनोक्ता कराला निर्णतोदरी। मन्यते तद्वचः सत्यं परिहासाविचक्षणा॥

Thus accosted by Lakşmaņa, that hideous one having a lean abdomen being incapable of understanding jest, took his words as true.

Aranya Kanda 18.12

सा रामं पर्णशालायामुपविष्टं परंतपम्। सीतया सह दुर्धर्षमब्रवीत् काममोहिता॥

Thereupon as that subduer of enemies, the irrepressible Rāma, was seated in the cottage in company with Sītā, the Rākşasī, transported with lust, said to him.

Aranya Kanda 18.13

इमां विरूपामसती कराला निर्णतोदरीम्। वृद्धां भार्यामवष्टभ्य न मां त्वं बहु मन्यसे॥

Forsaking this deformed, unchaste, horrible old wife of yours possessed of a lean abdomen, you do not regard me.

Aranya Kanda 18.14

अद्येमां भक्षयिष्यामि पश्यतस्तव मानुषीम्। त्वया सह चरिष्यामि निःसपत्ना यथा सुखम्॥

To-day, you looking on, I shall eat up this human female. And I shall, rid of a co-wife, happily range with you.

Aranya Kanda 18.15

इत्युक्त्वा मृगशावाक्षीमलातसदृशेक्षणा। अभ्यगच्छत् सुसंक्रुद्धा महोल्का रोहिणीमिव ॥

Having said this, even as a mighty meteor strike Rohiņī, that one having eyes resembling live coals, waxing exceedingly enraged, rushed towards that (damsel) with the eyes of a doe.

Aranya Kanda 18.16

तां मृत्युपाशप्रतिमामापतन्ती महाबलः। विगृह्य रामः कुपितस्ततो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्॥

Thereupon, hindering the Rākṣasi resembling the noose of death, as she was rushing on, the mighty Rāma, growing wroth said to Lakşmaņa.

Aranya Kanda 18.17

कुरैरनार्यैः सौमित्रे परिहासः कथंचन। न कार्यः पश्य वैदेहीं कथंचित् सौम्य जीवतीम्॥

O Saumitri (Sumitrā's son), what is the good of jesting with a base and wicked one? No use of doing it. Look, I amiable one, Vaidehi (Videha's daughter) is well nigh dead.

Aranya Kanda 18.18

इमां विरूपामसतीमतिमत्तां महोदरीम्। राक्षसी पुरुषव्याघ्र विरूपयितुमर्हसि॥

It behoves you, O foremost of men, to deform this frightful, unchaste Rākşasī of a huge abdomen, transported with lust.

Aranya Kanda 18.19

इत्युक्तो लक्ष्मणस्तस्या क्रुद्धो रामस्य पश्यतः। उद्धृत्य खङ्ग चिच्छेद कर्णनासे महाबलः॥

Thus desired the exceedingly strong Laksmana, fired with wrath, taking out his sword, in the sight of Rāma, cut off her nose and ears.

Aranya Kanda 18.20

निकृत्तकर्णनासा तु विस्वरं सा विनद्य च। यथागतं प्रदुद्राव घोरा शूर्पणखा वनम्॥

Her ears and nose cut off, the terrible Śūrpanakhā, uttering frightful cries, fled a main into the forest whence she had come.

Aranya Kanda 18.21

सा विरुपा महाघोरा राक्षसी शोणितोक्षिता। ननाद विविधान् नादान् यथा प्रावृषि तोयदः॥

And being deformed, and covered with gore, the dreadful Rākşasī sent up many a roar, like clouds rumbling in the rains.

Aranya Kanda 18.22

सा विक्षरन्ती रुधिरं बहुधा घोरदर्शना। प्रगृह्य बाहू गर्जन्ती प्रविवेश महावनम्॥

And bleeding profusely, the grimvisaged Rākṣasī, lifting up her arms, and roaring, entered the mighty forest.

Aranya Kanda 18.23

ततस्तु सा राक्षससङ्घसंवृतं खरं जनस्थानगतं विरूपिता। उपेत्या तं भ्रातरमुग्रतेजसं पपात भूमौ गगनाद् यथाशनिः॥

Then having been deformed, (the Rākşasī) approaching, her brother of fierce energy, Khara, come to Janasthāna, (seated surrounded by numbers of Raksasas), fell down to the earth, even as the thunderbolt bursts from the sky.

Aranya Kanda 18.24

ततः सभार्ये भयमोहमूच्छिता सलक्ष्मणं राघवमागतं वनम्। विरूपणं चात्मनि शोणितोक्षिता शशंस सर्वं भगिनी खरस्य सा॥

Then that sister of Khara, bathed in blood, and deprived of her senses through fright, related all about Räma's arrival at the forest along with Lakşmaņa and his own wife, as well as the forest along with Lakşmana and his own wife, as well as the circumstances connected with her being deformed.

Aranya Kanda 18.25