Sources · स्रोत

The ascetic at the door

द्वार पर तपस्वी
Valmiki · Aranya Kanda
3.46.1–3.49.22 (CrEd 3.44.1–3.47.21)

रावण एक भिक्षु ब्राह्मण के वेश में सूनी कुटिया पर आता है, और सीता अतिथि का सत्कार करते हुए उसे आसन और जल देती हैं और अपना परिचय देती हैं। वह अपना नाम बताता है और उन्हें अपनी पटरानी बनने को कहता है; सीता उसे सिंहनी को चाहने वाला सियार कहकर धिक्कारती हैं। वह अपना भयानक असली रूप धरकर उन्हें पकड़ लेता है, और सीता राम को पुकारती हैं।

Ravana comes to the empty hut in the guise of a wandering brahmin, and Sita, honouring a guest, gives him a seat and water and tells him who she is. He names himself and asks her to be his chief queen; she scorns him as a jackal reaching for a lioness. He takes his own fearsome form and seizes her, and she cries out for Rama.

Sanskrit · Hindi · English·Translation: Raam Leela

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Part 1 · भाग 1

The guest at the door

Valmiki 3.46–3.48.1 (CrEd 3.44–3.46.1)

॥ 3.46.11 ॥

CrEd 3.44.11

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.46.6–7 ॥

CrEd 3.44.6–7

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.46.10 ॥

CrEd 3.44.10

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.46.12 ॥

CrEd 3.44.12

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.46.16 ॥

CrEd 3.44.15

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

का त्वं काञ्चनवर्णाभे पीतकौशेयवासिनि कमलानां शुभां मालां पद्मिनीव च बिभ्रती ॥

kā tvaṃ kāñcanavarṇābhe pītakauśeyavāsini kamalānāṃ śubhāṃ mālāṃ padminīva ca bibhratī

Translation

Who are you, with the gleam of gold,
clad in yellow silk,
wearing a lovely garland of lotuses,
like a lotus pool?

लीला

सोने-सी दमक, पीला रेशम, गले में कमलों की माला, जैसे खिला हुआ कमल-ताल। आप कौन हैं?

Subtitle

Who are you, bright as gold,
in yellow silk,
garlanded with lotuses
like a lotus pool?

॥ 3.46.24b–25a ॥

CrEd 3.44.23

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

सा प्रतिक्राम भद्रं ते न त्वं वस्तुम् इहार्हसि राक्षसानाम् अयं वासो घोराणां कामरूपिणाम् ॥

sā pratikrāma bhadraṃ te na tvaṃ vastum ihārhasi rākṣasānām ayaṃ vāso ghorāṇāṃ kāmarūpiṇām

Translation

So turn back, and blessings on you;
you should not dwell here.
This is the home of rakshasas,
fearsome, taking what form they will.

लीला

लौट जाइए, आपका भला हो। यह जगह आपके रहने की नहीं। यहाँ भयानक राक्षस रहते हैं, जो जब चाहें, जो रूप धर लें।

Subtitle

Turn back, and bless you.
You should not live here.
This is the home of rakshasas
who take any shape they please.

॥ 3.46.33 ॥

CrEd 3.44.31

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.46.36 ॥

CrEd 3.44.34

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

इयं बृसी ब्राह्मण कामम् आस्यताम् इदं च पाद्यं प्रतिगृह्यताम् इति ॥

iyaṃ bṛsī brāhmaṇa kāmam āsyatām idaṃ ca pādyaṃ pratigṛhyatām iti

Translation

“Here is a seat, brahmin; sit as you please,
and here, accept this water for your feet.”

लीला

ब्राह्मण, यह आसन है, आराम से बैठिए। और पाँव धोने को यह जल लीजिए।

Subtitle

Brahmin, here is a seat of grass.
Sit as you please.
And here is water for your feet.

॥ 3.46.37 ॥

CrEd 3.44.35

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.46.38 ॥

CrEd 3.44.36

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.47.2 ॥

CrEd 3.45.2

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.47.3 ॥

CrEd 3.45.3

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

दुहिता जनकस्याहं मैथिलस्य महात्मनः सीता नाम्नास्मि भद्रं ते रामस्य महिषी प्रिया ॥

duhitā janakasyāhaṃ maithilasya mahātmanaḥ sītā nāmnāsmi bhadraṃ te rāmasya mahiṣī priyā

Translation

I am the daughter of Janaka,
the great-souled lord of Mithila;
Sita is my name, blessings on you,
Rama’s beloved queen.

लीला

मैं मिथिला के महाराज जनक की बेटी हूँ। मेरा नाम सीता है। मैं राम की प्रिय रानी हूँ। आपका भला हो।

Subtitle

I am the daughter of Janaka,
king of Mithila.
My name is Sita,
Rama's beloved queen.

॥ 3.47.17b–18a ॥

CrEd 3.45.15

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

दद्यान् न प्रतिगृह्णीयात् सत्यं ब्रूयान् न चानृतम् एतद् ब्राह्मण रामस्य व्रतं ध्रुवम् अनुत्तमम् ॥

dadyān na pratigṛhṇīyāt satyaṃ brūyān na cānṛtam etad brāhmaṇa rāmasya vrataṃ dhruvam anuttamam

Translation

He would give, and never take;
he would speak the truth, and never a lie:
this, brahmin, is Rama’s vow,
firm and unsurpassed.

लीला

ब्राह्मण, राम का व्रत अटल है। राम देते हैं, लेते नहीं। राम सच बोलते हैं, झूठ नहीं।

Subtitle

Brahmin, this is Rama's vow:
he gives, and never takes.
He speaks the truth,
never a lie.

॥ 3.47.22b–23 ॥

CrEd 3.45.19

3.47.23: popular text only · not in the CrEd

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

समाश्वस मुहूर्तं तु शक्यं वस्तुम् इह त्वया आगमिष्यति मे भर्ता वन्यम् आदाय पुष्कलम् ॥

samāśvasa muhūrtaṃ tu śakyaṃ vastum iha tvayā āgamiṣyati me bhartā vanyam ādāya puṣkalam

Translation

Take heart a moment;
you may stay here.
My husband will come,
bringing forest food in plenty.

लीला

थोड़ा सुस्ता लीजिए, आप यहाँ ठहर सकते हैं। मेरे पति बस आते ही होंगे, वन से ढेर सारे फल-मूल लेकर।

Subtitle

Rest a while; you may stay.
My husband will soon be back
with plenty of forest food.

॥ 3.47.24 ॥

CrEd 3.45.20

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

स त्वं नाम च गोत्रं च कुलम् आचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः एकश् च दण्डकारण्ये किमर्थं चरसि द्विज ॥

sa tvaṃ nāma ca gotraṃ ca kulam ācakṣva tattvataḥ ekaś ca daṇḍakāraṇye kimarthaṃ carasi dvija

Translation

So tell me truly your name,
your gotra and your family;
and why, twice-born, do you wander
alone in the Dandaka forest?

लीला

अब सच-सच बताइए, आपका नाम क्या है, गोत्र क्या है, कुल क्या है? ब्राह्मण, इस दण्डक वन में आप अकेले क्यों घूम रहे हैं?

Subtitle

Now tell me truly, brahmin:
your name, your clan, your family.
Why do you wander alone
in the Dandaka forest?

॥ 3.47.26 ॥

CrEd 3.45.22

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

येन वित्रासिता लोकाः सदेवासुरमानुषाः अहं स रावणो नाम सीते रक्षोगणेश्वरः ॥

yena vitrāsitā lokāḥ sadevāsuramānuṣāḥ ahaṃ sa rāvaṇo nāma sīte rakṣogaṇeśvaraḥ

Translation

He by whom the worlds are terrified,
gods and asuras and men:
I am he, Ravana by name,
Sita, lord of the rakshasa hosts.

लीला

सीते, जिसके नाम से देवता, असुर और मनुष्य, तीनों लोक काँपते हैं, मैं वही रावण हूँ, राक्षसों का राजा।

Subtitle

Sita, I am the one
who terrifies gods, asuras and men.
I am Ravana,
lord of the rakshasas.

॥ 3.47.26 ॥

CrEd 3.45.22

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.47.28 ॥

CrEd 3.45.24

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

बह्वीनाम् उत्तमस्त्रीणाम् आहृतानाम् इतस् ततः सर्वासाम् एव भद्रं ते ममाग्रमहिषी भव ॥

bahvīnām uttamastrīṇām āhṛtānām itas tataḥ sarvāsām eva bhadraṃ te mamāgramahiṣī bhava

Translation

Of the many finest women
brought here from every side,
of all of them, blessings on you,
be my chief queen.

लीला

इधर-उधर से मैं कितनी ही सुंदर स्त्रियाँ उठा लाया हूँ। उन सबमें तुम सबसे ऊपर रहोगी। मेरी पटरानी बनो।

Subtitle

Of all the fine women
I have carried off, far and near,
you shall be first.
Be my chief queen.

॥ 3.47.33 ॥

CrEd 3.45.29

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

महागिरिम् इवाकम्प्यं महेन्द्रसदृशं पतिम् महोदधिम् इवाक्षोभ्यम् अहं रामम् अनुव्रता ॥

mahāgirim ivākampyaṃ mahendrasadṛśaṃ patim mahodadhim ivākṣobhyam ahaṃ rāmam anuvratā

Translation

Unshakable as a great mountain,
the equal of great Indra,
unruffled as the great ocean:
to Rama, my husband, I am vowed.

लीला

मैं राम की हूँ, केवल राम की। जो पर्वत-से अडिग हैं, इन्द्र-से तेजस्वी, और सागर-से अथाह।

Subtitle

I belong to Rama:
unshakable as a mountain,
equal to Indra,
unmoved as the ocean.

॥ 3.47.37 ॥

CrEd 3.45.32

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

त्वं पुनर् जम्बुकः सिंहीं माम् इहेच्छसि दुर्लभाम् नाहं शक्या त्वया स्प्रष्टुम् आदित्यस्य प्रभा यथा ॥

tvaṃ punar jambukaḥ siṃhīṃ mām ihecchasi durlabhām nāhaṃ śakyā tvayā spraṣṭum ādityasya prabhā yathā

Translation

And you, a jackal, want me here,
a lioness, beyond your reach?
I can no more be touched by you
than the light of the sun.

लीला

और तू, सियार होकर, सिंहनी चाहता है? सूरज की रोशनी को कोई छू सकता है? तू मुझे भी नहीं छू सकता।

Subtitle

You, a jackal,
want me, a lioness?
You can no more touch me
than the light of the sun.

॥ 3.47.48 ॥

CrEd 3.45.43

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

तस्मिन् सहस्राक्षसमप्रभावे रामे स्थिते कार्मुकबाणपाणौ हृतापि तेऽहं न जरां गमिष्ये वज्रं यथा मक्षिकयावगीर्णम् ॥

tasmin sahasrākṣasamaprabhāve rāme sthite kārmukabāṇapāṇau hṛtāpi te 'haṃ na jarāṃ gamiṣye vajraṃ yathā makṣikayāvagīrṇam

Translation

While Rama stands, in power like the Thousand-eyed,
his bow and arrows in his hand,
though you carry me off, you will never digest me,
as a fly cannot digest the diamond it swallows.

लीला

जब तक राम धनुष-बाण लिए खड़े हैं, तू मुझे उठा भी ले जाए, तो पचा नहीं पाएगा। जैसे मक्खी हीरा निगल तो ले, पर पचा न सके।

Subtitle

While Rama stands with his bow,
carry me off if you can.
You will never digest me,
as a fly can't a diamond.

॥ 3.47.49 ॥

CrEd 3.45.44

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.48.1 ॥

CrEd 3.46.1

silent moment मौन क्षण

Part 2 · भाग 2

The true form

Valmiki 3.48–3.49.22 (CrEd 3.46–3.47.21)

॥ 3.48.4–6 ॥

CrEd 3.46.4–6

condensed from 3.48.4–6

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

येन वैश्रवणो भ्राता वैमात्रः कारणान्तरे ।
द्वन्द्वम् आसादितः क्रोधाद् रणे विक्रम्य निर्जितः ।
मद्भयार्तः परित्यज्य स्वम् अधिष्ठानम् ऋद्धिमत् ।
कैलासं पर्वतश्रेष्ठम् अध्यास्ते नरवाहनः ।
यस्य तत् पुष्पकं नाम विमानं कामगं शुभम् ।
वीर्याद् आवर्जितं भद्रे येन यामि विहायसं ॥

yena vaiśravaṇo bhrātā vaimātraḥ kāraṇāntare
dvandvam āsāditaḥ krodhād raṇe vikramya nirjitaḥ
madbhayārtaḥ parityajya svam adhiṣṭhānam ṛddhimat
kailāsaṃ parvataśreṣṭham adhyāste naravāhanaḥ
yasya tat puṣpakaṃ nāma vimānaṃ kāmagaṃ śubham
vīryād āvarjitaṃ bhadre yena yāmi vihāyasaṃ

Translation

I am he who, for a certain cause,
met my half-brother Vaishravana
in single combat, in anger,
and beat him in battle by my valour.
Stricken with fear of me, he left
his own rich seat;
on Kailasa, best of mountains,
he dwells now, he whom men carry.
His fine chariot named Pushpaka,
that goes wherever one wishes,
I won by my strength, good lady;
in it I travel the sky.

लीला

कुबेर, मेरा सौतेला भाई। रण में मैंने उसे हराया, और उसका पुष्पक, मन चाहे जहाँ उड़ने वाला विमान, अपने बल से छीन लिया।

Subtitle

I fought my brother Kubera
and beat him.
His Pushpaka, the flying chariot,
I took by my valour.

॥ 3.48.16 ॥

CrEd 3.46.16

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

तेन किं भ्रष्टराज्येन रामेण गतचेतसा करिष्यसि विशालाक्षि तापसेन तपस्विना ॥

tena kiṃ bhraṣṭarājyena rāmeṇa gatacetasā kariṣyasi viśālākṣi tāpasena tapasvinā

Translation

What will you do with Rama,
fallen from his kingdom, his spirit gone,
wide-eyed one, a hermit,
and a wretched one?

लीला

विशालाक्षी, उस राम का क्या करोगी? राज छिन गया, मन टूट गया, बस एक बेचारा तपस्वी रह गया है।

Subtitle

Wide-eyed one,
what will you do with Rama?
His kingdom lost, his spirit broken,
a poor ascetic.

॥ 3.48.20 ॥

CrEd 3.46.19

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.48.21 ॥

CrEd 3.46.20

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

कथं वैश्रवणं देवं सर्वदेवनमस्कृतम् भ्रातरं व्यपदिश्य त्वम् अशुभं कर्तुम् इच्छसि ॥

kathaṃ vaiśravaṇaṃ devaṃ sarvadevanamaskṛtam bhrātaraṃ vyapadiśya tvam aśubhaṃ kartum icchasi

Translation

How, naming as your brother
the god Vaishravana,
to whom all the gods bow,
can you wish to do this evil?

लीला

जिन कुबेर को सारे देवता पूजते हैं, उन्हें तू अपना भाई कहता है, और फिर ऐसा पाप करना चाहता है?

Subtitle

Kubera, whom all the gods revere,
you call your brother,
and yet you would do
this wicked thing?

॥ 3.48.23 ॥

CrEd 3.46.22

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

अपहृत्य शचीं भार्यां शक्यम् इन्द्रस्य जीवितुम् न तु रामस्य भार्यां माम् अपनीयास्ति जीवितम् ॥

apahṛtya śacīṃ bhāryāṃ śakyam indrasya jīvitum na tu rāmasya bhāryāṃ mām apanīyāsti jīvitam

Translation

One might carry off Shachi,
the wife of Indra, and live;
but having taken me away,
Rama’s wife, there is no life.

लीला

इन्द्र की पत्नी शची को हर ले, तो शायद कोई जी भी जाए। पर राम की पत्नी को हर ले, तो कोई जीवित नहीं बचेगा।

Subtitle

Steal Shachi, Indra's wife,
and a man might live.
Steal Rama's wife,
and no one lives.

॥ 3.49.1 ॥

CrEd 3.47.1

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.49.3 ॥

CrEd 3.47.3

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

उद्वहेयं भुजाभ्यां तु मेदिनीम् अम्बरे स्थितः आपिबेयं समुद्रं च मृत्युं हन्यां रणे स्थितः ॥

udvaheyaṃ bhujābhyāṃ tu medinīm ambare sthitaḥ āpibeyaṃ samudraṃ ca mṛtyuṃ hanyāṃ raṇe sthitaḥ

Translation

Standing in the sky, I could lift
the earth with my two arms;
I could drink up the ocean,
and, standing in battle, slay Death.

लीला

आकाश में खड़ा होकर मैं इन भुजाओं से धरती उठा लूँ। समुद्र पी जाऊँ। रण में मौत को भी मार डालूँ।

Subtitle

Standing in the sky,
I could lift the earth in my arms,
drink the ocean dry,
and kill Death in battle.

॥ 3.49.5 ॥

CrEd 3.47.5

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.49.6 ॥

CrEd 3.47.6

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.49.6–9 ॥

CrEd 3.47.6–9

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.49.11 ॥

CrEd 3.47.11

रावणRavana

वाल्मीकि

त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं यदि भर्तारम् इच्छसि माम् आश्रय वरारोहे तवाहं सदृशः पतिः ॥

triṣu lokeṣu vikhyātaṃ yadi bhartāram icchasi mām āśraya varārohe tavāhaṃ sadṛśaḥ patiḥ

Translation

If you want a husband
famed in the three worlds,
turn to me, lovely lady;
I am a husband fit for you.

लीला

तीनों लोकों में जिसका नाम हो, ऐसा पति चाहिए? तो मेरे पास आओ, सुंदरी। तुम्हारे योग्य पति मैं ही हूँ।

Subtitle

If you want a husband
famed in the three worlds,
turn to me, lady.
I am the one worthy of you.

॥ 3.49.15–18 ॥

CrEd 3.47.15–17

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.49.19 ॥

CrEd 3.47.18

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.49.21 ॥

CrEd 3.47.20

सीताSita

वाल्मीकि

सा गृहीतातिचुक्रोश रावणेन यशस्विनी रामेति सीता दुःखार्ता रामं दूरगतं वने ॥

sā gṛhītāticukrośa rāvaṇena yaśasvinī rāmeti sītā duḥkhārtā rāmaṃ dūragataṃ vane

Translation

Seized by Ravana, she cried aloud,
the glorious one, “Rama!”,
Sita, stricken with grief,
to Rama, gone far into the forest.

लीला

राम!

Subtitle

Rama!

॥ 3.49.21 ॥

CrEd 3.47.20

silent moment मौन क्षण

॥ 3.49.22 ॥

CrEd 3.47.21

silent moment मौन क्षण

In other Hindu scriptures

A shadow was taken, not Sita

Tulsidas, Ramcharitmanas 3.23.1–2 · not in Valmiki

Valmiki: Ravana seizes Sita herself, by the hair and thighs (CrEd 3.47.15–16)

He carried the ground she stood on

Kamban, Ramavataram, Aranya, Iravanan Soolchi 72–73 · not in Valmiki

Valmiki: Ravana seizes Sita herself, by the hair and thighs (CrEd 3.47.15–16)