Aranya Kanda — Sarga 48

एवं ब्रुवत्यां सीतायां संरब्धः परुषं वचः। ललाटे भृकुटिं कृत्वा रावणः प्रत्युवाच ह॥

After Sītā had spoken these harsh words, Rāvana, enraged, with a frown, replied.

Aranya Kanda 48.1

भ्राता वैश्रवणस्याहं सापत्नो वरवर्णिनि। रावणो नाम भद्रं ते दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान्॥

O you of a beatiful countenance, I am the step-brother of the Lord of wealth and my name is the mighty Ten-necked Rāvana May good betide you!

Aranya Kanda 48.2

यस्य देवाः सगन्धर्वाः पिशाचपतगोरगाः। विद्रवन्ति सदा भीता मृत्योरिव सदा प्रजाः॥ येन वैश्रवणे भ्राता वैमात्रः कारणान्तरे। द्वन्द्वमासादितः कोधाद् रणे विक्रम्य निर्जितः॥

Like to people fearing Death, the celestials, Gandharvas, Piśāchas, Pannagas and Serpents fly in diverse directions being frightened by me. I have subdued by my prowess, my step-brother, the Lord of wealth in a conflict, quarrelling with him for some reason.

Aranya Kanda 48.3

मद्भयार्तः परित्यज्य स्वमधिष्ठानमृद्धिमत्। कैलासं पर्वतश्रेष्ठमध्यास्ते नरवाहनः॥

Thereat, that one carried by men, renouncing out of my fear this wealthy abode of Lankā, has been living on that Lord of mountains, Kailāśa.

Aranya Kanda 48.4

यस्य तत् पुष्पकं नाम विमानं कामगं शुभम्। वीर्यादावर्जितं भद्रे येन यामि विहायसम्॥

O you auspicious one, by virtue of my prowess I have taken away that beautiful chariot of his called Puspaka. Ascending that chariot you shall travei by the ethereal route.

Aranya Kanda 48.5

मम संजातरोषस्य मुखं दृष्ट्वैव मैथिलि। विद्रवन्ति परित्रस्ताः सुराः शक्रपुरोगमाः॥

O Maithilee, when I am excited with ire, Indra and other celestials at the mere sight of my countenance fly away in divers directions out of fear.

Aranya Kanda 48.6

यत्र तिष्ठाम्यहं तत्र मारुतो वाति शङ्कितः। तीव्रांशुः शिशिरांशुश्च भयात् सम्पद्यते दिवि॥

Wherever I live, the Wind bloweth cautiously and the Sun (of piercing rays) out of fear for me appeareth in the welkin like the Moon.

Aranya Kanda 48.7

निष्कम्पपत्रास्तरवो नद्यश्च स्तिमितोदकाः। भवन्ति यत्र तत्राहं तिष्ठामि च चरामि च॥

What shall I say more? Wherever I live, even the leaves of the trees do not flutter and the currents of the rivers are stopped.

Aranya Kanda 48.8

मम पारे समुद्रस्य लङ्का नाम पुरी शुभा। सम्पूर्णा राक्षसैघोरैर्यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती॥

Beyond the ocean stands my beautiful capital Larikā like to Indra's Amaravati, (the capital of the Lord of celestials), guarded on all sides by the terrible night-rangers and encircled by yellow walls.

Aranya Kanda 48.9

प्राकारेण परिक्षिप्ता पाण्डुरेण विराजिता। हेमकक्ष्या पुरी रम्या वैदूर्यमयतोरणा॥

That beautiful city has gate-ways of ornamented and jewelled arches and golden apartinents.

Aranya Kanda 48.10

हस्त्यश्वरथसम्बाधा तूर्यनादविनादिता। सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैः संकुलोद्यान भूषिता॥

It is filled with clephants, horses and chariots, always resounds with the sounds of bugles, and is beautified with gardens having divers trees of wished-for fruits.

Aranya Kanda 48.11

तत्र त्वं वस हे सीते राजपुत्रि मया सह। न स्मरिष्यसि नारीणां मानुषीणां मनस्विनि॥

O Sītā, O you the daughter of a king, in this city shall you dwell with me. O large-minded damsel, you shall never think of earthly women.

Aranya Kanda 48.12

भुञ्जाना मानुषान् भोगान् दिव्यांश्च वरवर्णिनि। न स्मरिष्यसि रामस्य मानुषस्य गतायुषः॥

O you of an exquisite countenance, enjoying these many things passing human, you shall not any more think of Rāma a human being of brief existence.

Aranya Kanda 48.13

स्थापयित्वा प्रियं पुत्रं राज्ये दशरथो नृपः। मन्दवार्यस्ततो ज्येष्ठः सुतः प्रस्थापितो वनम्॥ तेन किं भ्रष्टराज्येन रामेण गतचेतसा। करिष्यसि विशालाक्षि तापसेन तपस्विना ॥

Placing his beloved son on the throne, king Dasaratha has sent away his eldest son of weak prowess into the woods. O you of expansive eyes, what shall you do with that wretched ascetic Rāma who has been deprived of his kingdom?

Aranya Kanda 48.14

रक्ष राक्षसभर्तारं कामय स्वयमागतम्। न मन्यथशराविष्टं प्रत्याख्यातुं त्वमर्हसि ॥

I am the lord of the whole world of Rākşasas; being pierced by the shafts of Kāma have I come by you. It does not behave you therefore to pass by me.

Aranya Kanda 48.15

प्रत्याख्याय हि मां भीरु पश्चात्तापं गमिष्यसि। चरणेनाभिहत्येव पुरुरवसमुर्वशी॥

O timid damsel, truly shall you repent afterwards if you did disregard me, like to Urvasi kicking Pururavā.

Aranya Kanda 48.16

अङ्गुल्या न समो रामो मम युद्धे स मानुषः। तव भाग्येन सम्प्राप्तं भजस्व वरवर्णिनि ॥ एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही क्रुद्धा संरक्तलोचना। अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं रहिते राक्षसाधिपम्॥

Rāma is a human being and is not even equal to a finger of mine in battle. By your good luck have I come to you-do you give yourself up to me, O you of a beautiful countenance. Being thus addressed by him, Vaidehi exceedingly wroth and with blood-red eyes spoke to that Lord of Rākşasas in the lonely forest, these bold words.

Aranya Kanda 48.17

कथं वैश्रवणं देवं सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम्। भ्रातरं व्यपदिश्य त्वमशुभं कर्तुमिच्छसि॥

How do you wish to perpetrate such an impious deed after introducing as your brother that highly worshipful Kubera adored by all the deities.

Aranya Kanda 48.18

अवश्यं विनशिष्यन्ति सर्वे रावण राक्षसाः। वेषां त्वं कर्कशो राजा दुर्बुद्धिरजितेन्द्रियः॥

O Rāvana, surely shall all the Räkşasas meet with death, who have such a stupid, harsh and lustful person like you for their king.

Aranya Kanda 48.19

अपहृत्य शची भार्यां शक्यमिन्द्रस्य जीवितुम्। नहि रामस्य भार्यां मामानीय स्वस्तिमान् भवेत्॥

One can breathe on this earth carrying away Indra's wife, Śacī—but stealing me, the wife of Rāma, no body shall be able to live in peace.

Aranya Kanda 48.20

च्छची प्रधृष्याप्रतिरूपरूपाम्। न मादृशीं राक्षस धर्षयित्वा पीतामृतस्यापि तवास्ति मोक्षः॥

O Räkşasa, it might be possible for one to live on this earth treating contemptuously the wife of the holder of thunder-bolt, but insulting me none shall escape the hands of Death even if he drinketh nectar.

Aranya Kanda 48.21