Chapter [Sarga] 21

Introduction

In this chapter Seetha replies to Ravana saying that He should seek friendship with Rama and return Her back to Rama.


Verse Locator

tasya tadvachanam shrutvaa siitaa raudrasya rakSasaH |
aartaa diinasvaraa diinam pratyuvaacha tataH shanaiH || 5-21-1

1. siitaa= Seetha; shrutvaa= listening; tasya raudrasya rakshasaH= to that horrible ogre's; tat= that; vachanam= word; aartaa= being tormented; pratyuvacha= spoke in reply; diina svaraa= with a pitiable voice; diinam= pitifully; shanaiH= slowly.

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

Verse Locator

duHkhaartaa rudatii siitaa vepamaanaa tapasvinii |
chintayantii varaaroha patimeva pativrataa || 5-21-2
tR^iNamantarataH kR^itvaa pratyuvaacha shuchismitaa |

2. duhkhaartaa= Being tormented by grief; tapasvinii= in a pitiful state; varaarohaa= with excellent limbs; pativrataa= devoted to husband; chintayantii= thinking; patimeva= about husband alone; shuchi smitaa= with pleasant smiles; siitaa= Seetha; rudati=was sobbing;vepamaanaa= shivering; kR^itvaa= making; tR^iNam= a grass straw;antarataH= in between (herself and Ravana);pratyuvaacha= spoke in reply.

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 Locator

nivartaya mano mattaH svajane kriyataaM manaH || 5-21-3
na maaM praarthayituM yuktaM susiddhimiva paapakR^it |

3. nivartaya= turn back; manaH= mind; mattaH= from me; manaH kriyataam= let your mind be made; svajaH= on your own wives; susiddhimiva= like best emancipation;paapakR^it= (for) a sinner; na yuktam= it is not appropriate; praarthayitum= to pray;maam= me.

"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 Locator

akaaryam na mayaa kaaryamekapatnyaa vigarhitam || 5-21-4
kulam sampraaptayaa puNyam kule mahati jaatayaa |

4. jaatayaa= I was born; mahati= in a great; kule= family; saMpraaptayaa=getting;kulam= family;ekapatnyaa= having one husband; akaaryam= a bad deed; nigarhitam= which is blameable;na kaaryam= is not to be made; mayaa= by me.

"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 Locator

evamuktvaa tu vaidehii raavaNam tam yashasvinii || 5-21-5
raavaNam pR^iSThataH kR^itvaa bhuuyo vachanambraviit |

5. vaidehii= Seetha;yashasvinii=with renown; evam uktvaa= thus speaking; tam ravaNam= to that Ravana; kR^itvaa= making; pR^ishhThataH= the back; raakshasam= to (that) ogre; abraviit= spoke; vachanam= words; buuyaH= again.

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

Verse Locator

vaahamaupayikii bhaaryaa parabhaaryaa satii tava || 5-21-6
saadhu dharmamavekshasva saadhu saadhuvratam chara |

6. aham= I; parabharyaa= who am wife of another;satii= and devoted to husband; na= am not; aupaikii= suitable; bhaaryaa= wife; tava= to you; anvekshasva= observe; dharmam= righteousness; saadhu= well; chara=follow; saadhuvratam= course of conduct of virtuous; saadhu= well.

"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 Locator

yathaa tava tathaanyeSaaM daaraa rakSyaa vishaachara || 5-21-7
aatmaanamupamaaM kR^itvaa sveSu daareSu ramyataam |

7. nishaachara= O ogre!; yathaa= how; tava= your (wives) rakshyaaH= are to be protected; tathaa= in the same way; anyeshhaam = others'; daaraaH= wives (are to be protected); aatmaanam upamaam kR^itvaa=making yourself as an example; ramyataam= enjoy; sveshhu daarseshhu= .your own wives.

"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 Locator

atuSTaM sveSu daareSu chapalam chalitendriyam || 5-21-8
nayanti nikR^itiprajJNaM paradaaraaH paraabhavam |

8. atushhTam= one who is not satisfied; sveshhu daareshhu= in own wives; chapalam= fickle-minded one; chalitendriyam= with disturbed senses; nikR^iti prajJNaam= mean minded one; (to such a man)parabhaaryaaH= others' wives; nayanti= will lead; paraabhavam= to humiliation.

"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 Locator

iha santo na vaa santi sato vaa naanuvartase || 5-21-9
tathaahi vipariitaa te buddhiraachaaravarjitaa |

9. iha= here; na vaa santi= are there not; santaH= good people?; naanuvartase vaa=or are you not following; sataH= those (who are good)?; tathhahi= it must be like that; te buddhiH= (beacuse) your mind; aachaaravarjitaa= devoid of traditions; vipariitaa= is perverse.

"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 Locator

vacho mithyaapraNiitaatmaa pathyamuktaM vichakSaNaiH || 5-21-10
raakshasaanaamabhaavaaya tvam vaa na vratipadyase |

10. tvam= you; mithyaa praNiitaatmaa= who is being led by mind towards unreal; na pratipadya se= is not taking; pathyam= wholesome; vachaH= words; uptam= being said; vichakshaNaiH= by righteous ones; abhaavaaya= for the destruction; raakshasaanaam= of ogres.

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

Verse Locator

aakR^itaatmaanamaasaadya raajaanamanaye ratam || 5-21-11
samR^iddhaani vinashyanti raaSTraaNi nagaraaNi cha |
tatheyam tvaam samaasaadya laN^kaa ratnaughasamkulaa || 5-21-12
aparaadhaattavaikasya vachiraadvinashiSyati |

11, 12. aasaadya= (after) getting; raajaanam= a king; akR^itaatmaanam= who has uncontrolled mind; ratam= interested; anaye= in bad path; samR^iddani=wealthy; raashhTraaNi= states; nagaraaNi cha= and cities also; vinashyanti= will be destroyed; samaasaadya= (after)getting; tvaam= you; tathaa= like that; iyam laN^kaa= this Lanka;ratnaugha saMkulaa= filled with best things; nachiraat= in a short while; vinashishhyati= will be destroyed; tava= due to your; ekasya= one; aparaadhaat= sin.

"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 Locator

svakR^itairhanyamaanasya aavaNaadiirghadarshinaH || 5-21-13
abhinandanti bhuutaani vinaashe paapakarmaNaH |

13. raavana= O Ravana!; vinaashe= (when there is) destruction; adiirgha darshinaH= (of) a short sighted one; hanyamaanasya svakR^itaiH= being hit by his own deeds; paapakamaNaH= a sinner; bhuutaani= living beings; abhinandanti= will be happy;

"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 Locator

evaM tvaaM paapakarmaaNam vakSyanti nikR^itaa janaaH || 5-21-14
diSTyaitad vyasanaM praapto raudra ityeva harSitaaH |

14. tvaam= about you;paapakarmaaNam= who is a sinner; evam= thus being destroyed; janaaH= people; nikR^itaaH= who have been humiliated by you; harshhitaaH= being happy; ityeva vakshyanti= will speak thus; raudraH= the cruel Ravana; dishhTyaa= by God's grace; praaptaH= has got; etat vyasanam= this danger.

"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 Locator

shakyaa lobhayituM naahamaishvaryeNa dhanena vaa || 5-21-15
ananyaa raaghaveNaahaM bhaaskareNa prabhaa yathaa |

15. aham= I; na shakyaa= am not capable; lobhayitum= to be tempted; aisvaryeNa= by wealth; dhanena vaa= or by money;aham= I; ananyaa= am not separate; raaghaveNa= with Raghava; prabhaa yathaa= like the sun-shine; bhaaskareNa= with the sun.

"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 Locator

upadhaaya bhujam tasya lokanaathasya satkR^itam || 5-21-16
katham naamopadhaasyaami bhujamanyasya kasya chit |

16. upadhaaya= (after making) as a pillow; satkR^itam bhujam= that worshipped shoulder; lokanathasya= of that lord of the world; tasya= of that Rama;katham naama= how; upadhaasyaami= can I make as pillow; .anyasya kasya chit= some other one's; bhujam= shoulder.

"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 Locator

ahamaupayiikii bhaaryaa tasyaiva vasudhaapateH || 5-21-17
vratasnaatasya viprasya vidyeva viditaatmanaH |

17. vidyaa iva= like the education;viprasya= of a brahmin; viditaatmanaH= with a famous mind; vrata snaatasya= initiated in religious vow; aham= I;aupayikii bharyaa= am a suitable wife; tasyaiva= to that Rama alone; vasudhaapateH= the lord of earth.

"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 Locator

saadhu raavaNa raameNa maaM samaanaya duHkhitaam || 5-21-18
vane vaashitayaa saartham kareNveva gajaadhipam |

18. raavaNa= O Ravana!; maam samaanaya= let me meet;saadhu=well; raameNa saardham= together with Rama; vaashitayaa kareNveva= like a female elephant; gajaadhipam= with a (male) elephant; vane= in a forest.

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

Verse Locator

mitramaupayikam kartum raamaH sthaanam pariipsataa || 5-21-19
vadham chaanichchhataa ghoraM tvayaasau puruSarSabhaH |

19. aupayikam= it is suited; asau= this; raamaH= Rama; purushharshhabhaH= best among men; mitram kartum= is made to be a friend; tvayaa= by you; pariipsataa= who is desiring; sthaanam= continued existence; anichchhataa cha= and not desiring; ghoram vadham= a horrible slaying.

"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 Locator

viditaH sa hi dharmajJNaH sharaNaagatavatsalaH || 5-21-20
tena maitrii bhavatu te yadi jiivitumicchasi |

20. saH= He (Rama); dharmajJNaH= the righteous one; viditaH hi= is indeed known;sharaNaagatavatsalaH= as one who loves those who seek protection; ichchhasi yadi= if you desire; jiivitam= to live; maitrii bhavatu= let there be friendhip; te= to you; tena= with Rama.

"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 Locator

prasaadayasva tvaM chanaM sharaNaagatavatsalam || 5-21-21
maaM chaasmai niyato bhuutvaa niryaatayitumarhasi |

21. tvam= you; prasaadayasva= seek graciousness;enam= of this Rama; sharaNaagatavatsalam=who loves those who seek protection;prayataH bhuutvaa= becoming piously disposed; arhasi= you are suited; niryaatayitum= to return; maam= me; asmai= to this Rama.

"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 Locator

evam hi te bhavetsvasti sampradaaya raghuuttame || 5-21-22
anyathaa tvam hi kurvaNo vadham praapsyasi raavaNa |

22. evam= in this way; sampradaaya= giving (me); raghuuttame= to Rama;bhavet= will become; svasti= fortunate; te= to you; ravaNa= O Ravana!; tvam= you; anyathaa kurvaaNa=doing in a different way; vadham praapsyasi= will get slaying.

"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 Locator

varjayedvajramutsR^iSTaM varjayedantakashchiram || 5-21-23
tvadvidham tu na sa kruddho lokanaathaH sa raaghavaH |

23. utKRishhTam= drawn out; vajram= Vajrayudha, the weapon of Indra; varjayet= may spare;tvadvidham= some one like you; antakaH= Lord of death; varjayet= may spare you; chiram= for a long time; saH RaaghavaH= that Rama; lokanaathaH= the lord of worlds; saMkruddhaH= greatly enraged; na= will not (spare you).

"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 Locator

raamasya dhanuSaH shabdaM shroSyasi tvaM mahaasvanam || 5-21-24
shatakratuvisR^iSTasya nirghoSamashaneriva |

24. nirghoshhamiva= like the great sound; ashaneH= of Vajrayudha; shatakratuvisR^iSTaya= hurled by Indra; tvam shroshhyasi= you will hear; mahaasvanam= a loud sound; shabdam= which is sonorous; raamasya dhanushhaH= of Ram's bow.

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

Verse Locator

iha shiigraM suparvaaNo jvalitaasya ivoragaaH || 5-21-25
iSavo nipatiSyanti raamalakSmaNalakSaNaaH |

25. ishhavaH= arrows; suparvaaNaH= with good nodes;prajvalitaasyaaH= with blazing tips; uragaaH iva= like snakes; raamalakshmaNa lakshaNaaH= with characteristic signs of Rama and Lakshmana nipatishhyanti= will fall down; iha= here (in Lanka); shiighram= soon.

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

Verse Locator

rakSaaMsi parinighnastaH puryaamasyaaM samantataH || 5-21-26
asampaataM kariSyanti patantaH kaN^kavaasasaH |

26. kaN^ka vaasasaH=arrows tied with the plumes of an eagle; parivighnantaH= will hit; rakshaaMsi= ogres; samantataH= everywhere; asyaam puryaam= in this city; karishhyanti= (and) will make; asaMpaatam= without space.

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

Verse Locator

raakshasendramahaasarpaan sa raamagaruDo mahaan || 5-21-27
uddhariSyati vegena vainateya ivoragaan |

27. saH= That; raamagarudaH= Garuda called Rama; vegena= speedily; uddharishhyati= will pluck; raakshasendramahaasarpaan= the great serpents called ogres; vainateyaH uragaaniva= like Vainateya (plucking) the serpents.

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

Verse Locator

apaneSyati maaM bhartaa tvattaH shiighramarindamaH || 5-21-28
asurebhyaH shriyaM diiptaaM viSNustribhiriva kramaiH |

28. bhartaa= my husband;ariMdamaH= the destoyer of foes; maam apaneshhyati= will take me away; tvattaH= from you; vishhNuH iva= like Lord Vishnu; tribhiH kramaiH= with three steps; diiptaam shriyam= (taking away) brilliant prosperity; asurebhyaH= from Asuras.

"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 Locator

janasthaane hatasthaane nihate rakSasaaM bale || 5-21-29
ashaktena tvayaa rakSaH kR^itametadasaadhu vai |

29. rakshaH= O ogre!;rakshasaam bale= (while the) army of ogres; nihate= was being killed; janasthaane= at Janasthana; hatasthaane= (which became) land of the dead; etat= this; asaadhu= bad (deed); kR^itam vai= has been done; tvayaa= by you; ashaktena= being powerless;.

"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 Locator

ashramam tu tayoH shuunyaM pravishya narasimhayoH || 5-21-30
gocharaM gatayorrbhaatrorapaniitaa tvayaadhama |

30. adhama=O lowest one!; tayoH bhraatroH= (when) those brothers; gatayoH= were gone; gocharam= out; pravishya= entering; aashramam= hermitage; shuunyam= without them; apanitaa= I have been abducted; tvayaa= by you.

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

Verse Locator

na hi gandhamupaaghraaya raamalakSmaNayostvayaa || 5-21-31
shakyaM samdarshane sthaatuM shunaa shaarduulayoriva |

31. shaarddulayoriva= like tiger; shunaa= by dog; upaaghraaya= smelling; gandham= scent;raamalakshmaNayoH= of Rama and Lakshmana; na shakyam hi= it is indeed not possible; tvayaa= by you; sthaatum= to stand; saMdarshane= (in their) view.

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

Verse Locator

tasya te vigrahe taabhyaaM yugagrahaNamasthiram || 5-21-32
vR^itrasyevendrabaahubhyaaM baahorekasya vigrahe |

32. te= To you; tasya= like that; vigrahe= enmity; tabhyaam= with those two; vigrahe iha= is like the enmity; ekasya bahoH= of one hand; vR^itrasya= of Vruttasura; indra baahubhyaam= with two hands of Indra; asthiram=(and) it is not persevering; yugagrahanam=(for you) to be an opponent (with them).

"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 Locator

kShipraM tava sa naatho me raamaH saumitriNaa saha || 5-21-33
toyamalpamivaadityaH praanaanaadaasyate sharaiH |

33. me naathaH= my husband; saH raamaH= that Rama; saumitriNaa saha= together with Lakshmana; adaasyate=will take away; sharaiH= with His arrows; tava praaNaan= your life; kshipram= quickly;aadityaH iva=like the sun;alpam toyam= (drying) shallow water.

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

Verse Locator

giriM kuberasya gato.athavaalayam |
sabhaaM gato vaa varuNasya raajJNaH |
asaMshayaM daasharatherna mokSyase |
mahaadrumaH kaalahato.ashaneriva || 5-21-34

34. kaala hataH= Killed by time; kuberasya girim gatam= (even if you) go to the mountain of Kubera; athavaa= or; aalyam= to his house; gato vaa= or if you go; sabhaam= to the assembly; raajJNaH varunasya= of King Varuna; asaMshayaM= without doubt; na mokshyase= you will not be released; daasharatheH= from Rama; mahaadrumaH= like a great tree; ashani= (from) thunderbolt.

"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."

 

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe ekaviMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 21st Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.


Verse Locator for Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty : Chapter 21

 

Top of Page1234
56789
1011121314
1516171819
2021222324
2526272829
3031323334

Sarga 21 in English Prose

Contents

Next Sarga

Previous Sarga

© June, 2005, Kishore Kopalle