Sundara Kanda, Sarga 20

Meaning

The aforesaid Rāvaṇa disclosed his mind in the following significant and sweet words to the poor and wretched Sītā, who was bereft of all joy and remained surrounded all the time by ogresses : (1)

Meaning

“Concealing your breasts and belly, O lady with thighs resembling the proboscis of an elephant, you want to keep yourself out of sight, as it were, through fear of me. (2)

Meaning

“I long for you, O large-eyed lady ! Pray, hold me in high esteem, O beloved one, who are richly endowed with all bodily excellences and ravish the mind of all people. (3)

Meaning

“There are no men or ogres capable of changing form at will here. And let your fear born of me vanish for good, O Sītā! (4)

Meaning

“It has always been the peculiar course of conduct prescribed for ogres, O timid one, to approach sexually the wives of others or to bear them away by force: there is no doubt about it. (5)

Meaning

“Notwithstanding this, O princess of Mithilā, I will not touch you so long as you do not love me in return. I would fain let passion hold sway at will over my body. (6)

Meaning

“No fear should be entertained by you on this spot, O adorable lady ! Have confidence in me, O beloved one ! Make love to me in reality; don’t get swayed by grief. (7)

Meaning

“To wear a single plait, to lie on the ground, to remain brooding all the time, to put on a soiled attire and to observe a fast even when there is no occasion for it—all these are not proper for you. (8)

Meaning

“Having secured me as your lover, enjoy garlands of diverse kinds as well as sandal-pastes and aloes, as also robes of various kinds and celestial ornaments too, nay, costly drinks, beds and seats, vocal and instrumental music and dancing, O princess of Mithilā ! (9-10)

Meaning

“You are a jewel among women; no longer, therefore, remain in this shabby condition. Wear ornaments on your limbs. Indeed, having had me as your lover, how can you remain unadorned, O lady endowed with a lovely form? (11)

Meaning

“This charming youth of yours, which is now fully developed, is actually passing away. What has actually passed never returns any more than the current of streams. (12)

Meaning

“Having created you as the paragon of beauty, I believe, the celebrated maker of the universe, who designed your form, has retired from his duty of designing forms, for indeed there is no other women who can compare in comeliness with you, O lady of charming aspect ! (13)

Meaning

“Who, having come across you, O princess of the Videha territory, adorned as you are with comeliness and exuberant youth, would not lose his balance of mind, even if he is Brahmā (the grandfather of the universe) himself? (14)

Meaning

“My eye gets riveted, O lady of broad hips, on each of your limbs which I behold, O lady endowed with a moonlike countenance! (15)

Meaning

“Give up this folly in the form of fidelity to your husband and become my consort, O princess of Mithilā! Become the foremost queen of my numerous excellent wives. (16)

Meaning

“I offer you all the well-known jewels which have been brought by me by way of booty from the various kingdoms, as well as my own, O timid one! (17)

Meaning

“Having fully subjugated the entire globe with its chain of cities, O sportive lady, I will offer it to Janaka, your father, for your sake. (18)

Meaning

“I do not find in the universe anyone else who may be my equal in might. You will behold my extraordinary vitality which knows no rival in combat. (19)

Meaning

“Unable to stand in ranks hostile to me, the gods as well as the demons were more than once utterly routed in battle by me, their standards having been smashed.(20)

Meaning

“Therefore, be favourably disposed to me. Let you be exquisitely decorated today. Let exceptionally brilliant jewels be worn on your limbs. (21)

Meaning

“Let me behold your excellent form profusely adorned with decoration. Be decorated by way of courtesy to me, O lady endowed with a charming countenance ! (22)

Meaning

“Enjoy luxuries according to your pleasure; drink and revel, O timid one ! And gift you land as well as riches to others as you wish. (23)

Meaning

“Full of confidence in me, seek pleasures and boldly give orders to me. When you enjoy pleasures out of kindness to me, let your relatives too enjoy life. (24)

Meaning

“Look at my affluence and prosperity, O blessed and illustrious lady ! What will you do, O lovely one, with Rāma, who remains clad in tatters? (25)

Meaning

“Rāma has given up all hope of victory, has lost his fortune; dwells in the forest, is observing sacred vows and lies on the ground without any cot. I am doubtful whether he still survives or not. (26)

Meaning

“Surely Rāma will not be able even to see you, any more than moonshine veiled by dark clouds perceived by herons, O Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory ! (27)

Meaning

“Nor will Rāma, a scion of Raghu, be able to get you back from my hands any more than the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu was able to recover his glory which had passed into the hands of Indra. (28)

Meaning

“You ravish my mind even as Garuḍa, who is noted for his charming wings, carries away a serpent, O sportive yet timid lady, distinguished by sweet smiles, lovely teeth and beautiful eyes ! (29)

Meaning

“Seeing you clad in a worn out silk cloth, emaciated and unadorned, I find no delight even in my own principal consort, Mandodarī. (30)

Meaning

“Hold sway, O daughter of Janaka, over all the women who dwell in my gynaeceum and are endowed with all excellences. (31)

Meaning

“My celebrated consorts, who are most excellent in all the three worlds (heaven, earth and the intermediate region), will wait on you even as celestial nymphs attend on Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, O lady with black hair ! (32)

Meaning

“Make use according to your pleasure of all the jewels and riches which (though won by me) exist in the possession of Kubera (son of Viśravā), O lady of charming brows and graceful limb, and enjoy the rulership of the three worlds. (33)

Meaning

“Neither in point of asceticism, nor in might, nor in prowess, nor in wealth, nor in glory, nor even in renown is Rāma equal to me. (34)

Meaning

“Therefore, drink, sport, revel and enjoy pleasures. Bestow on your relatives the immense store of wealth that you will own from now onwards as well as the earth that will now be yours. Enjoy you life according to your pleasure, depending on me, O beloved one, and, reaching your presence, let your relatives too enjoy life. (35)

Meaning

“Your person adorned with bright gold necklaces, range in my company, O timid one, the groves, appearing on the seashore, nay, covered all over with clusters of trees in blossom and crowded with black bees.” (36)