03.265
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
tatastāṃ bhartṛśokārtāṃ dīnāṃ malinavāsasam। maṇiśeṣābhyalaṅkārāṃ rudatīṃ ca pativratām॥03-265-1॥
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)
rākṣasībhir upāsyantīṃ samāsīnāṃ śilātale। rāvaṇaḥ kāmabāṇārto dadarśopasasarpa ca॥03-265-2॥
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)
devadānavagandharvayakṣakimpuruṣairyudhi। ajito'śokavanikāṃ yayau kandarpamohitaḥ ॥03-265-3॥
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)
divyāmbaradharaḥ śrīmān sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalaḥ। vicitramālyamukuṭo vasanta iva mūrtimān ॥03-265-4॥
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)
sa kalpavṛkṣasadṛśo yatnād api vibhūṣitaḥ। śmaśānacaityadrumavad bhūṣito 'pi bhayaṅkaraḥ ॥03-265-5॥
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)
sa tasyās tanumadhyāyāḥ samīpe rajanīcaraḥ। dadṛśe rohiṇīm etya śanaiścara iva grahaḥ॥03-265-6॥
He, the night-wanderer, was seen near her, the slender-waisted one, having approached Rohiṇī, like the planet Saturn. (03-265-6)
sa tām āmantrya suśroṇīṁ puṣpaketuśarāhataḥ। idam ity abravīd bālāṁ trastāṁ rauhīm ivābalām॥03-265-7॥
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)
sīte paryāptam etāvat kṛto bhartur anugrahaḥ। prasādaṃ kuru tanvaṅgi kriyatāṃ parikarma te॥03-265-8॥
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)
bhajasva māṃ varārohe mahārhābharaṇāmbarā। bhava me sarvanārīṇāmuttamā varavarṇini ॥03-265-9॥
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)
santi me devakanyāś ca rājarṣīṇāṃ tathāṅganāḥ। santi dānavakanyāś ca daityānāṃ cāpi yoṣitaḥ॥03-265-10॥
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)
caturdaśa piśācānāṃ koṭyo me vacane sthitāḥ। dvistāvatpuruṣādānāṃ rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām॥03-265-11॥
Fourteen crore piśācas are at my command. Twice as many crores of man-eating rākṣasas of terrible deeds. (03-265-11)
tato me triguṇā yakṣā ye mad-vacana-kāriṇaḥ। kecid eva dhana-adhyakṣam bhrātaram me samāśritāḥ॥03-265-12॥
Then my threefold yakṣas, who follow my command, some have indeed sought refuge with my brother, the lord of wealth. (03-265-12)
gandharvāpsaraso bhadre māmāpānagataṃ sadā। upatiṣṭhanti vāmo-ru yathaiva bhrātaraṃ mama॥03-265-13॥
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)
putro'ham api viprarṣeḥ sākṣād viśravaso muneḥ। pañcamo lokapālānām iti me prathitaṃ yaśaḥ॥03-265-14॥
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)
divyāni bhakṣyabhojyāni pānāni vividhāni ca। yathaiva tridaśeśasya tathaiva mama bhāmini॥03-265-15॥
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)
kṣīyatāṃ duṣkṛtaṃ karma vanavāsakṛtaṃ tava। bhāryā me bhava suśroṇi yathā mandodarī tathā ॥03-265-16॥
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)
ity-uktā tena vaidehī parivṛtya śubhānanā। tṛṇam antarataḥ kṛtvā tam uvāca niśācaram ॥03-265-17॥
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)
aśivenātivāmorūr ajasraṃ netravāriṇā। stanāv apatitau bālā sahitāv abhivarṣatī॥ uvāca vākyaṃ taṃ kṣudraṃ vaidehī patidevatā॥03-265-18॥
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)
asakṛd vadato vākyam īdṛśaṃ rākṣaseśvara। viṣādayuktam etat te mayā śrutam abhāgyayā ॥03-265-19॥
O lord of the rākṣasas, I the unfortunate one have repeatedly heard such despondent words of yours. (03-265-19)
tadbhadrasukha bhadraṃ te mānasaṃ vinivartyatām। paradārā'smyalabhyā ca satataṃ ca pativratā॥03-265-20॥
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)
na caiva-upayikī bhāryā mānuṣī kṛpaṇā tava। vivaśāṃ dharṣayitvā ca kāṃ tvaṃ prītim avāpsyasi ॥03-265-21॥
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)
prajāpatisamo vipro brahmayoniḥ pitā tava। na ca pālayase dharmaṃ lokapālasamaḥ katham ॥03-265-22॥
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)
bhrātaraṃ rājarājānaṃ maheśvarasakhaṃ prabhum। dhaneśvaraṃ vyapadiśan kathaṃ tv iha na lajjase ॥03-265-23॥
How are you not ashamed here, calling the king of kings, brother, friend of Maheśvara, lord, and lord of wealth? (03-265-23)
ity uktvā prārudat sītā kampayantī payōdharau। śirōdharāṁ ca tanvaṅgī mukhaṁ pracchādya vāsasā॥03-265-24॥
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)
tasyā rudatyā bhāminyā dīrghā veṇī susaṃyatā। dadṛśe svasitā snigdhā kālī vyālīva mūrdhani ॥03-265-25॥
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)
tacchrutvā rāvaṇo vākyaṃ sītayoktaṃ suniṣṭhuram। pratyākhyāto'pi durmedhāḥ punarevābravīdvacaḥ॥03-265-26॥
After hearing those very harsh words spoken by Sītā, Rāvaṇa, though rejected, being of evil mind, again spoke further words. (03-265-26)
kāmamaṅgāni me site dunotu makaradhvajaḥ। na tvāmakāmāṃ suśroṇīṃ sameṣye cāruhāsinīm ॥03-265-27॥
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)
kiṁ nu śakyaṁ mayā kartuṁ yattvamadyāpi mānuṣam। āhārabhūtamasmākaṁ rāma-mevānurudhyase ॥03-265-28॥
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)
ity uktvā tām anindya-aṅgīm saḥ rākṣasa-gaṇa-īśvaraḥ। tatra eva antarhitaḥ bhūtvā jagāma abhimatāṃ diśam॥03-265-29॥
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)
rākṣasībhiḥ parivṛtā vaidehī śokakarśitā। sevyamānā trijaṭayā tatraiva nyavasattadā ॥03-265-30॥
Vaidehī (Sītā), emaciated by sorrow and attended by Trijaṭā, remained there at that very place, surrounded by demonesses. (03-265-30)
