03.265
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
ततस्तां भर्तृशोकार्तां दीनां मलिनवाससम्। मणिशेषाभ्यलङ्कारां रुदतीं च पतिव्रताम् ॥०३-२६५-१॥
Then (they saw) her—afflicted by grief for her husband, helpless, clad in soiled garments, wearing only a few remaining jewels, weeping, and faithful to her husband. (03-265-1)
राक्षसीभिरुपास्यन्तीं समासीनां शिलातले। रावणः कामबाणार्तो ददर्शोपससर्प च ॥०३-२६५-२॥
Rāvaṇa, afflicted by the arrows of desire, saw her being served by the demonesses as she sat on the stone surface, and he drew near to her. (03-265-2)
देवदानवगन्धर्वयक्षकिम्पुरुषैर्युधि। अजितोऽशोकवनिकां ययौ कन्दर्पमोहितः ॥०३-२६५-३॥
Unconquered in battle by devas, dānavas, gandharvas, yakṣas, and kimpuruṣas, he went to the aśoka grove, deluded by Kandarpa (the god of love). (03-265-3)
दिव्याम्बरधरः श्रीमान्सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलः। विचित्रमाल्यमुकुटो वसन्त इव मूर्तिमान् ॥०३-२६५-४॥
Clad in divine garments, radiant with prosperity, adorned with well-polished jewel earrings, and wearing a splendid garland and crown, he appeared like Spring personified. (03-265-4)
स कल्पवृक्षसदृशो यत्नादपि विभूषितः। श्मशानचैत्यद्रुमवद्भूषितोऽपि भयङ्करः ॥०३-२६५-५॥
He, though adorned with great effort like a wish-fulfilling tree, is still fearful if he is like a tree in a cremation-ground sanctuary, even when decorated. (03-265-5)
स तस्यास्तनुमध्यायाः समीपे रजनीचरः। ददृशे रोहिणीमेत्य शनैश्चर इव ग्रहः ॥०३-२६५-६॥
He, the night-wanderer, was seen near her, the slender-waisted one, having approached Rohiṇī, like the planet Saturn. (03-265-6)
स तामामन्त्र्य सुश्रोणीं पुष्पकेतुशराहतः। इदमित्यब्रवीद्बालां त्रस्तां रौहीमिवाबलाम् ॥०३-२६५-७॥
Having addressed the beautiful-hipped woman, who was as powerless and frightened as a wild cow struck by the arrows of Kāma, he said these words to her. (03-265-7)
सीते पर्याप्तमेतावत्कृतो भर्तुरनुग्रहः। प्रसादं कुरु तन्वङ्गि क्रियतां परिकर्म ते ॥०३-२६५-८॥
O Sītā, this much is enough; your husband's favor has been accomplished. Be gracious, O slender-bodied one, and let your adornment be done. (03-265-8)
भजस्व मां वरारोहे महार्हाभरणाम्बरा। भव मे सर्वनारीणामुत्तमा वरवर्णिनि ॥०३-२६५-९॥
Worship me, O beautiful-thighed one adorned with most precious ornaments and raiment; among all women, be the foremost for me, O woman of exquisite complexion. (03-265-9)
सन्ति मे देवकन्याश्च राजर्षीणां तथाङ्गनाः। सन्ति दानवकन्याश्च दैत्यानां चापि योषितः ॥०३-२६५-१०॥
There are for me celestial maidens, and women belonging to royal seers as well. There are also daughters of Dānavas, and women of the Daityas. (03-265-10)
चतुर्दश पिशाचानां कोट्यो मे वचने स्थिताः। द्विस्तावत्पुरुषादानां रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम् ॥०३-२६५-११॥
Fourteen crore piśācas are at my command. Twice as many crores of man-eating rākṣasas of terrible deeds. (03-265-11)
ततो मे त्रिगुणा यक्षा ये मद्वचनकारिणः। केचिदेव धनाध्यक्षं भ्रातरं मे समाश्रिताः ॥०३-२६५-१२॥
Then my threefold yakṣas, who follow my command, some have indeed sought refuge with my brother, the lord of wealth. (03-265-12)
गन्धर्वाप्सरसो भद्रे मामापानगतं सदा। उपतिष्ठन्ति वामोरु यथैव भ्रातरं मम ॥०३-२६५-१३॥
O auspicious lady, Gandharvas and apsarases always attend to me when I have gone to the lavatory, O beautiful-thighed one, just as they would to my brother. (03-265-13)
पुत्रोऽहमपि विप्रर्षेः साक्षाद्विश्रवसो मुनेः। पञ्चमो लोकपालानामिति मे प्रथितं यशः ॥०३-२६५-१४॥
I am also the son of the Brahmin-sage, directly descended from the sage Viśravas; as the fifth among the protectors of the worlds, thus is my renowned fame. (03-265-14)
दिव्यानि भक्ष्यभोज्यानि पानानि विविधानि च। यथैव त्रिदशेशस्य तथैव मम भामिनि ॥०३-२६५-१५॥
O lovely one, there are divine foods to be eaten and enjoyed, and various kinds of drinks—just as they are for the lord of the gods, so they are for me. (03-265-15)
क्षीयतां दुष्कृतं कर्म वनवासकृतं तव। भार्या मे भव सुश्रोणि यथा मन्दोदरी तथा ॥०३-२६५-१६॥
May the evil deed, the act caused by your forest dwelling, be destroyed. Become my wife, O lovely-hipped one, just as Mandodari (became a wife). (03-265-16)
इत्युक्ता तेन वैदेही परिवृत्य शुभानना। तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा तमुवाच निशाचरम् ॥०३-२६५-१७॥
Thus addressed by him, Vaidehi (Sita), with a beautiful face, turned away and, having placed a blade of grass between them, spoke to the night-wandering demon. (03-265-17)
अशिवेनातिवामोरूरजस्रं नेत्रवारिणा। स्तनावपतितौ बाला सहितावभिवर्षती ॥ उवाच वाक्यं तं क्षुद्रं वैदेही पतिदेवता ॥०३-२६५-१८॥
Due to misfortune, Vaidehī, slender-thighed and devoted to her husband, with unceasing tears streaming onto her breasts, pouring together, uttered that paltry statement. (03-265-18)
असकृद्वदतो वाक्यमीदृशं राक्षसेश्वर। विषादयुक्तमेतत्ते मया श्रुतमभाग्यया ॥०३-२६५-१९॥
O lord of the rākṣasas, I the unfortunate one have repeatedly heard such despondent words of yours. (03-265-19)
तद्भद्रसुख भद्रं ते मानसं विनिवर्त्यताम्। परदारास्म्यलभ्या च सततं च पतिव्रता ॥०३-२६५-२०॥
Therefore, for your own auspicious happiness, turn your mind away. I am another's wife, always unattainable and devoted to my husband. (03-265-20)
न चैवोपयिकी भार्या मानुषी कृपणा तव। विवशां धर्षयित्वा च कां त्वं प्रीतिमवाप्स्यसि ॥०३-२६५-२१॥
A wretched human woman is not, indeed, a suitable wife for you; having violated a helpless one, what pleasure will you obtain? (03-265-21)
प्रजापतिसमो विप्रो ब्रह्मयोनिः पिता तव। न च पालयसे धर्मं लोकपालसमः कथम् ॥०३-२६५-२२॥
The Brāhmaṇa, who is like Prajāpati, the source of Brahman, is your father; how can you, being equal to the guardian of the world, not uphold righteousness? (03-265-22)
भ्रातरं राजराजानं महेश्वरसखं प्रभुम्। धनेश्वरं व्यपदिशन्कथं त्विह न लज्जसे ॥०३-२६५-२३॥
How are you not ashamed here, calling the king of kings, brother, friend of Maheśvara, lord, and lord of wealth? (03-265-23)
इत्युक्त्वा प्रारुदत्सीता कम्पयन्ती पयोधरौ। शिरोधरां च तन्वङ्गी मुखं प्रच्छाद्य वाससा ॥०३-२६५-२४॥
After saying this, Sītā burst into tears, her breasts quivering; the slender-bodied one covered her face and her neck with her garment. (03-265-24)
तस्या रुदत्या भामिन्या दीर्घा वेणी सुसंयता। ददृशे स्वसिता स्निग्धा काली व्यालीव मूर्धनि ॥०३-२६५-२५॥
As she wept, the radiant woman's long, well-arranged braid, shining and glossy and black, was seen on her head like a serpent. (03-265-25)
तच्छ्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यं सीतयोक्तं सुनिष्ठुरम्। प्रत्याख्यातोऽपि दुर्मेधाः पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वचः ॥०३-२६५-२६॥
After hearing those very harsh words spoken by Sītā, Rāvaṇa, though rejected, being of evil mind, again spoke further words. (03-265-26)
काममङ्गानि मे सीते दुनोतु मकरध्वजः। न त्वामकामां सुश्रोणीं समेष्ये चारुहासिनीम् ॥०३-२६५-२७॥
O Sītā, if desire afflicts my limbs, let Kāma, the Makara-bannered god, be the cause. But I will not unite with you, you of beautiful hips and charming smile, if you do not desire me. (03-265-27)
किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुं यत्त्वमद्यापि मानुषम्। आहारभूतमस्माकं राममेवानुरुध्यसे ॥०३-२६५-२८॥
What is there indeed that I cannot do, that you, even today, pursue only Rāma, the human who should have become our food? (03-265-28)
इत्युक्त्वा तामनिन्द्याङ्गीं स राक्षसगणेश्वरः। तत्रैवान्तर्हितो भूत्वा जगामाभिमतां दिशम् ॥०३-२६५-२९॥
Having thus spoken to her, who possessed flawless limbs, he, the lord of the rākṣasa hosts, became invisible on the spot and went off in the direction he desired. (03-265-29)
राक्षसीभिः परिवृता वैदेही शोककर्शिता। सेव्यमाना त्रिजटया तत्रैव न्यवसत्तदा ॥०३-२६५-३०॥
Vaidehī (Sītā), emaciated by sorrow and attended by Trijaṭā, remained there at that very place, surrounded by demonesses. (03-265-30)
