45 shlokas
अथ राजन्महाबाहुर्विचरन्स महीतले । हिमवद्वनमासाद्य परिचक्राम रावणः ।। 7.17.1 ।।
atha rājanmahābāhurvicaransa mahītale | himavadvanamāsādya paricakrāma rāvaṇaḥ || 7.17.1 ||
Translation
Now, O King, the mighty-armed Ravana, wandering over the surface of the earth, reached the forest of the Himalaya and roamed about there.
तत्रापश्यत्स वै कन्यां कृष्णाजिनजटाधराम् । आर्षेण विधिना युक्तां दीप्यन्तीं देवतामिव ।। 7.17.2 ।।
tatrāpaśyatsa vai kanyāṃ kṛṣṇājinajaṭādharām | ārṣeṇa vidhinā yuktāṃ dīpyantīṃ devatāmiva || 7.17.2 ||
Translation
There he saw a maiden wearing a black antelope skin and matted locks, engaged in the observances of an ascetic and shining like a goddess.
स दृष्ट्वा रूपसम्पन्नां कन्यां तां सुमहाव्रताम् । काममोहपरीतात्मा पप्रच्छ प्रहसन्निव ।। 7.17.3 ।।
sa dṛṣṭvā rūpasampannāṃ kanyāṃ tāṃ sumahāvratām | kāmamohaparītātmā papraccha prahasanniva || 7.17.3 ||
Translation
Seeing that maiden, endowed with beauty and devoted to great vows, his mind overcome by the bewilderment of desire, he asked her, smiling as it were:
किमिदं वर्तसे भद्रे विरुद्धं यौवनस्य ते । नहि युक्ता तवैतस्य रूपस्यैव प्रतिक्रिया ।। 7.17.4 ।।
kimidaṃ vartase bhadre viruddhaṃ yauvanasya te | nahi yuktā tavaitasya rūpasyaiva pratikriyā || 7.17.4 ||
Translation
'What is this way of life you follow, gentle lady, so contrary to your youth? Indeed, such usage of this beauty of yours is not fitting.'
रूपं ते ऽनुपमं भीरु कामोन्मादकरं नृणाम् । न युक्तं तपसि स्थातुं निर्गतो ह्येष निर्णयः ।। 7.17.5 ।।
rūpaṃ te 'nupamaṃ bhīru kāmonmādakaraṃ nṛṇām | na yuktaṃ tapasi sthātuṃ nirgato hyeṣa nirṇayaḥ || 7.17.5 ||
Translation
'Your beauty is incomparable, O timid one, and maddens the desire of men. It is not right that you should abide in austerities, such is my settled conclusion.'
कस्यासि किमिदं भद्रे कश्च भर्ता वरानने । येन सम्भुज्यसे भीरु स नरः पुण्यभाग्भुवि ।। 7.17.6 ।।
kasyāsi kimidaṃ bhadre kaśca bhartā varānane | yena sambhujyase bhīru sa naraḥ puṇyabhāgbhuvi || 7.17.6 ||
Translation
'Whose are you, and what is this, gentle lady? And who is your husband, O fair-faced one? That man by whom you are enjoyed, O timid one, is the most blessed in the world.'
पृच्छतः शंस मे सर्वं कस्य हेतोः परिश्रमः । एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या रावणेन यशस्विनी ।। 7.17.7 ।।
pṛcchataḥ śaṃsa me sarvaṃ kasya hetoḥ pariśramaḥ | evamuktā tu sā kanyā rāvaṇena yaśasvinī || 7.17.7 ||
Translation
'Tell me, who ask you, all of it, for what reason is this toil?' Thus addressed by Ravana, that illustrious maiden replied:
कुशध्वजो मम पिता ब्रह्मर्षिरमितप्रभः । बृहस्पतिसुतः श्रीमान्बुद्ध्या तुल्यो बृहस्पतेः ।। 7.17.8 ।।
kuśadhvajo mama pitā brahmarṣiramitaprabhaḥ | bṛhaspatisutaḥ śrīmānbuddhyā tulyo bṛhaspateḥ || 7.17.8 ||
Translation
'My father is Kushadhvaja, a Brahmarshi of boundless splendor, the glorious son of Brihaspati, and in wisdom equal to Brihaspati himself.'
तस्याहं कुर्वतो नित्यं वेदाभ्यासं महात्मनः । सम्भूय वाङ्मयी कन्या नाम्ना वेदवती स्मृता ।। 7.17.9 ।।
tasyāhaṃ kurvato nityaṃ vedābhyāsaṃ mahātmanaḥ | sambhūya vāṅmayī kanyā nāmnā vedavatī smṛtā || 7.17.9 ||
Translation
'I was born to that great soul as he was constantly engaged in the study of the Vedas, a maiden made of speech (Vedic recitation), known by the name Vedavati.'
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः । ते ऽपि गत्वा हि पितरं वरणं रोचयन्ति मे ।। 7.17.10 ।।
tato devāḥ sagandharvā yakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ | te 'pi gatvā hi pitaraṃ varaṇaṃ rocayanti me || 7.17.10 ||
Translation
'Then the gods together with the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, and the Nagas, they too went to my father and sought to choose me in marriage.'
न च मां स पिता तेभ्यो दत्तवान्राक्षसर्षभ । कारणं तद्वदिष्यामि निशाचर निशामय ।। 7.17.11 ।।
na ca māṃ sa pitā tebhyo dattavānrākṣasarṣabha | kāraṇaṃ tadvadiṣyāmi niśācara niśāmaya || 7.17.11 ||
Translation
'But my father did not give me to them, O bull among Rakshasas. I shall tell you the reason for that, hear it, O night-wanderer.'
पितुस्तु मम जामाता विष्णुः किल सुरेश्वरः । अभिप्रेतस्त्रिलोकेशस्तस्मान्नान्यस्य मे पिता ।। 7.17.12 ।।
pitustu mama jāmātā viṣṇuḥ kila sureśvaraḥ | abhipretastrilokeśastasmānnānyasya me pitā || 7.17.12 ||
Translation
'My father indeed desired Vishnu, the Lord of the gods, the Lord of the three worlds, as his son-in-law; therefore my father would have me belong to no other.'
दातुमिच्छति तस्मै तु तच्छ्रुत्वा बलदर्पितः । दम्भुर्नाम ततो राजा दैत्यानां कुपितो ऽभवत् ।। 7.17.13 ।।
dātumicchati tasmai tu tacchrutvā baladarpitaḥ | dambhurnāma tato rājā daityānāṃ kupito 'bhavat || 7.17.13 ||
Translation
'He wished to give me to him; and hearing that, the king of the Daityas named Dambhu, proud of his strength, then became enraged.'
तेन रात्रौ शयानो मे पिता पापेन हिंसितः ।। 7.17.14 ।।
tena rātrau śayāno me pitā pāpena hiṃsitaḥ || 7.17.14 ||
Translation
By that wicked one my father was slain as he lay sleeping in the night.
ततो मे जननी दीना तच्छरीरं पितुर्मम । परिष्वज्य महाभागा प्रविष्टा हव्यवाहनम् ।। 7.17.15 ।।
tato me jananī dīnā taccharīraṃ piturmama | pariṣvajya mahābhāgā praviṣṭā havyavāhanam || 7.17.15 ||
Translation
Then my wretched mother, that highly blessed lady, embracing the body of my father, entered the fire.
ततो मनोरथं सत्यं पितुर्नारायणं प्रति । करोमीति तमेवाहं हृदयेन समुद्वहे ।। 7.17.16 ।।
tato manorathaṃ satyaṃ piturnārāyaṇaṃ prati | karomīti tamevāhaṃ hṛdayena samudvahe || 7.17.16 ||
Translation
Thereafter, to make true my father's heart's wish concerning Narayana, I bear that very resolve within my heart, vowing, "I shall accomplish it."
इति प्रतिज्ञामारुह्य चरामि विपुलं तपः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया राक्षसपुङ्गव ।। 7.17.17 ।।
iti pratijñāmāruhya carāmi vipulaṃ tapaḥ | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ mayā rākṣasapuṅgava || 7.17.17 ||
Translation
Having taken up this vow, I practice vast austerities. All this has been declared by me to you, O bull among the Rakshasas.
नारायणो मम पतिर्न त्वन्यः पुरुषोत्तमात् । आश्रये नियमं घोरं नारायणपरीप्सया । विज्ञातस्त्वं हि मे राजन्गच्छ पौलस्त्यनन्दन ।। 7.17.18 ।।
nārāyaṇo mama patirna tvanyaḥ puruṣottamāt | āśraye niyamaṃ ghoraṃ nārāyaṇaparīpsayā | vijñātastvaṃ hi me rājangaccha paulastyanandana || 7.17.18 ||
Translation
Narayana is my husband, and none other than that Supreme Person; I undertake this terrible discipline out of the longing to win Narayana. You are indeed known to me, O king; go your way, O delight of Pulastya's line.
जानामि तपसा सर्वं त्रैलोक्ये यद्धि वर्तते ।। 7.17.19 ।।
jānāmi tapasā sarvaṃ trailokye yaddhi vartate || 7.17.19 ||
Translation
By my austerities I know all that comes to pass in the three worlds.
सो ऽब्रवीद्रावणो भूयस्तां कन्यां सुमहाव्रताम् । अवरुह्य विमानाग्रात्कन्दर्पशरपीडितः ।। 7.17.20 ।।
so 'bravīdrāvaṇo bhūyastāṃ kanyāṃ sumahāvratām | avaruhya vimānāgrātkandarpaśarapīḍitaḥ || 7.17.20 ||
Translation
Then Ravana, tormented by the arrows of the god of love, descending from the top of his chariot, spoke once more to that maiden of mighty vows.
अवलिप्ता ऽसि सुश्रोणि यस्यास्ते मतिरीदृशी । वृद्धानां मृगशावाक्षि भ्राजते पुण्यसञ्चयः ।। 7.17.21 ।।
avaliptā 'si suśroṇi yasyāste matirīdṛśī | vṛddhānāṃ mṛgaśāvākṣi bhrājate puṇyasañcayaḥ || 7.17.21 ||
Translation
"You are conceited, O fair-hipped one, that your mind should be of such a kind. O fawn-eyed lady, it is in the aged that an accumulation of merit shines forth."
त्वं सर्वंगुणसम्पन्ना नार्हसे वक्तुमीदृशम् । त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी भीरु यौवनं ते निवर्तते ।। 7.17.22 ।।
tvaṃ sarvaṃguṇasampannā nārhase vaktumīdṛśam | trailokyasundarī bhīru yauvanaṃ te nivartate || 7.17.22 ||
Translation
"You who are endowed with every virtue ought not to speak in this manner. O timid one, beauty of the three worlds, your youth is slipping away."
अहं लङ्कापतिर्भद्रे दशग्रीव इति श्रुतः । तस्य मे भव भार्या त्वं भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्यथासुखम् ।। 7.17.23 ।।
ahaṃ laṅkāpatirbhadre daśagrīva iti śrutaḥ | tasya me bhava bhāryā tvaṃ bhuṅkṣva bhogānyathāsukham || 7.17.23 ||
Translation
"I am the lord of Lanka, O gentle lady, known as Dashagriva. Become the wife of me who am he, and enjoy pleasures at your ease."
कश्च तावदसौ यं त्वं विष्णुरित्यभिभाषसे । वीर्येण तपसा चैव भोगेन च बलेन च ।।
kaśca tāvadasau yaṃ tvaṃ viṣṇurityabhibhāṣase | vīryeṇa tapasā caiva bhogena ca balena ca ||
Translation
"And who, after all, is this one whom you call Vishnu — in valor, in austerity, in enjoyment, and in strength?"
न मया स समो भद्रे यं त्वं कामयसे ऽङ्गने ।। 7.17.24 ।।
na mayā sa samo bhadre yaṃ tvaṃ kāmayase 'ṅgane || 7.17.24 ||
Translation
"He whom you desire, O gentle one, O lovely-limbed woman, is not the equal of me."
इत्युक्तवति तस्मिंस्तु वेदवत्यथ सा ऽब्रवीत् ।। 7.17.25 ।।
ityuktavati tasmiṃstu vedavatyatha sā 'bravīt || 7.17.25 ||
Translation
When he had spoken thus, Vedavati then replied.
वै भोगेन च बलेन च ।। मा मैवमिति सा कन्या तमुवाच निशाचरम् । त्रैलोक्याधिपति विष्णुं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । त्वदृते राक्षसेन्द्रान्यः को ऽवमन्येत बुद्धिमान् ।। 7.17.26 ।।
vai bhogena ca balena ca || mā maivamiti sā kanyā tamuvāca niśācaram | trailokyādhipati viṣṇuṃ sarvalokanamaskṛtam | tvadṛte rākṣasendrānyaḥ ko 'vamanyeta buddhimān || 7.17.26 ||
Translation
"...indeed in enjoyment and in strength." "Not so, not so!" that maiden said to the night-roaming demon. "Apart from you, O lord of Rakshasas, what wise man would slight Vishnu, the sovereign of the three worlds, who is honored by all the worlds?"
एवमुक्तस्तया तत्र वेदवत्या निशाचरः । मूर्धजेषु तदा कन्यां कराग्रेण परामृशत् ।। 7.17.27 ।।
evamuktastayā tatra vedavatyā niśācaraḥ | mūrdhajeṣu tadā kanyāṃ karāgreṇa parāmṛśat || 7.17.27 ||
Translation
Thus addressed there by Vedavati, the night-roamer then seized the maiden by the hair with the tip of his hand.
ततो वेदवती क्रुद्धा केशान्हस्तेन सा ऽच्छिनत् । असिर्भूत्वा करस्तस्याः केशांश्छिन्नांस्तदा ऽकरोत् ।। 7.17.28 ।।
tato vedavatī kruddhā keśānhastena sā 'cchinat | asirbhūtvā karastasyāḥ keśāṃśchinnāṃstadā 'karot || 7.17.28 ||
Translation
Then Vedavati, enraged, cut off her hair with her hand; her hand having become a sword, she thus made her hair shorn away.
सा ज्वलन्तीव रोषेण दहन्तीव निशाचरम् । उवाचाग्निं समाधाय मरणाय कृतत्वरा ।। 7.17.29 ।।
sā jvalantīva roṣeṇa dahantīva niśācaram | uvācāgniṃ samādhāya maraṇāya kṛtatvarā || 7.17.29 ||
Translation
She, as though blazing with fury, as though consuming the night-roamer, having kindled a fire, made haste toward death and spoke.
धर्षितायास्त्वयानार्य न मे जीवितमिष्यते । रक्षस्तस्मात्प्रवेक्ष्यामि पश्यतस्ते हुताशनम् ।। 7.17.30 ।।
dharṣitāyāstvayānārya na me jīvitamiṣyate | rakṣastasmātpravekṣyāmi paśyataste hutāśanam || 7.17.30 ||
Translation
"Since I have been outraged by you, O base one, life is no longer desired by me; therefore, O demon, I shall enter the fire before your very eyes."
यस्मात्तु धर्षिता चाहं त्वया पापात्मना वने । तस्मात्तव वधार्थं हि समुत्पत्स्ये ह्यहं पुनः ।। 7.17.31 ।।
yasmāttu dharṣitā cāhaṃ tvayā pāpātmanā vane | tasmāttava vadhārthaṃ hi samutpatsye hyahaṃ punaḥ || 7.17.31 ||
Translation
"Because I have been outraged by you, O evil-souled one, in the forest, for that very reason I shall be born again for the purpose of your slaying."
न हि शक्यं स्त्रिया हन्तुं पुरुषः पापनिश्चः । शापे त्वयि मयोत्सृष्टे तपसश्च व्ययो भवेत् ।। 7.17.32 ।।
na hi śakyaṃ striyā hantuṃ puruṣaḥ pāpaniścaḥ | śāpe tvayi mayotsṛṣṭe tapasaśca vyayo bhavet || 7.17.32 ||
Translation
"For it is not possible for a woman to slay a man of sinful resolve; and were a curse to be uttered by me upon you, there would come about a waste of my austerity."
यदि त्वस्ति मया किञ्चित्कृतं दत्तं हुतं तथा । तस्मात्त्वयोनिजा साध्वी भवेयं धर्मिणः सुता ।। 7.17.33 ।।
yadi tvasti mayā kiñcitkṛtaṃ dattaṃ hutaṃ tathā | tasmāttvayonijā sādhvī bhaveyaṃ dharmiṇaḥ sutā || 7.17.33 ||
Translation
If there is in me anything of merit—of rites performed, of gifts bestowed, and of oblations offered to the fire—then by virtue of that, may I, a virtuous woman, be reborn not from a womb, as the daughter of a righteous man.
एवमुक्त्वा प्रविष्टा सा ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् । पपात च दिवो दिव्या पुष्पवृष्टिः समन्ततः ।। 7.17.34 ।।
evamuktvā praviṣṭā sā jvalitaṃ jātavedasam | papāta ca divo divyā puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ samantataḥ || 7.17.34 ||
Translation
Having spoken thus, she entered the blazing fire; and a divine rain of flowers fell from the heavens on every side.
पुनरेव समुद्भूता पद्मे पद्मसमप्रभा । तस्मादपि पुनः प्राप्ता पूर्ववत्तेन रक्षसा ।। 7.17.35 ।।
punareva samudbhūtā padme padmasamaprabhā | tasmādapi punaḥ prāptā pūrvavattena rakṣasā || 7.17.35 ||
Translation
She was born once again upon a lotus, radiant as the lotus itself; but from there too she was again seized by that Rakshasa, as before.
कन्यां कमलगर्भाभां प्रगृह्य स्वगृहं ययौ । प्रगृह्य रावणस्त्वेतां दर्शयामास मन्त्रिणे ।। 7.17.36 ।।
kanyāṃ kamalagarbhābhāṃ pragṛhya svagṛhaṃ yayau | pragṛhya rāvaṇastvetāṃ darśayāmāsa mantriṇe || 7.17.36 ||
Translation
Taking up the maiden, who shone like the inner heart of a lotus, he went to his own dwelling; and Ravana, having brought her, displayed her to his counsellor.
लक्षणज्ञो निरीक्ष्यैव रावणं चैवमब्रवीत् । गृहस्थैषां हि सुश्रोणी त्वद्वधायैव दृश्यते ।। 7.17.37 ।।
lakṣaṇajño nirīkṣyaiva rāvaṇaṃ caivamabravīt | gṛhasthaiṣāṃ hi suśroṇī tvadvadhāyaiva dṛśyate || 7.17.37 ||
Translation
The one versed in marks, having looked upon her, spoke thus to Ravana: 'This fair-hipped maiden, kept in your house, is seen to portend nothing but your own destruction.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ऽर्णवे राम तां प्रचिक्षेप रावणः । सा चैव क्षितिमासाद्य यज्ञायतनमध्यगा ।। 7.17.38 ।।
etacchrutvā 'rṇave rāma tāṃ pracikṣepa rāvaṇaḥ | sā caiva kṣitimāsādya yajñāyatanamadhyagā || 7.17.38 ||
Translation
Hearing this, O Rama, Ravana cast her into the ocean; yet she, reaching the earth, came to rest in the midst of a sacrificial ground.
राज्ञो हलमुखोत्कृष्टा पुनरप्युत्थिता सती । सैषा जनकराजस्य प्रसूता तनया प्रभो । तव भार्या महाबाहो विष्णुस्त्वं हि सनातनः ।। 7.17.39 ।।
rājño halamukhotkṛṣṭā punarapyutthitā satī | saiṣā janakarājasya prasūtā tanayā prabho | tava bhāryā mahābāho viṣṇustvaṃ hi sanātanaḥ || 7.17.39 ||
Translation
Turned up by the blade of the king's plough, that virtuous woman rose up again; she, O lord, is the daughter born to King Janaka, and your wife, O mighty-armed one—for you are indeed the eternal Vishnu.
पूर्वं क्रोधाहितः शत्रुर्यया ऽसौ निहतस्तथा । उपाश्रयित्वा शैलभस्तव वीर्यममानुषम् ।। 7.17.40 ।।
pūrvaṃ krodhāhitaḥ śatruryayā 'sau nihatastathā | upāśrayitvā śailabhastava vīryamamānuṣam || 7.17.40 ||
Translation
Long ago that foe, made hostile through wrath, was slain by her in this very manner, when she had taken refuge in your superhuman, more-than-mortal valour.
एवमेषा महाभागा मर्त्येषूत्पत्स्यते पुनः । क्षेत्रे हलमुखोत्कृष्टे वेद्यामग्निशिखोपमा ।। 7.17.41 ।।
evameṣā mahābhāgā martyeṣūtpatsyate punaḥ | kṣetre halamukhotkṛṣṭe vedyāmagniśikhopamā || 7.17.41 ||
Translation
Thus shall this greatly fortunate one be born again among mortals, in a field turned up by the blade of the plough, upon a sacrificial altar, resembling a tongue of fire.
एषा वेदवती नाम पूर्वमासीत्कृते युगे । त्रेतायुगमनुप्राप्य वधार्थं तस्य रक्षसः ।। 7.17.42 ।।
eṣā vedavatī nāma pūrvamāsītkṛte yuge | tretāyugamanuprāpya vadhārthaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ || 7.17.42 ||
Translation
She was formerly, in the Krita age, named Vedavati; reaching the Treta age for the destruction of that Rakshasa,
उत्पन्ना मैथिलकुले जनकस्य महात्मनः । सीतोत्पन्ना तु सीतेति मानुषैः पुनरुच्यते ।। 7.17.43 ।।
utpannā maithilakule janakasya mahātmanaḥ | sītotpannā tu sīteti mānuṣaiḥ punarucyate || 7.17.43 ||
Translation
she was born in the Maithila line, of the great-souled Janaka; and because she sprang up from the furrow (sita), she is called Sita by men.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः ।। 17 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe saptadaśaḥ sargaḥ || 17 ||
Translation
Thus, in the sacred Ramayana of Valmiki, the first epic poem, in the holy Uttara Kanda, ends the seventeenth canto.