Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— एवं विहरतस्तस्य सदारस्य स्मरत्विषः। सानुजस्य सुखाढ्यस्य पञ्चवट्यां निवासिनः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Thus Rāma, radiant as Kāma, dwelt happily at Pañcavaṭī, sporting there with his wife and younger brother.
Passage 2
सार्द्धद्वादशवर्षाणि व्यतीयुः केलिशालिनः। अथैच्छन्मुनिभिर्देवैर्विज्ञप्तो भूरमाकुलैः॥२॥
Twelve and a half years passed as he delighted in play. Then, petitioned by deeply distressed sages and gods, he resolved to act.
Passage 3
जगद्विद्रावघोरस्य रावणस्य वधं प्रति। तदा शूर्पणखा नाम क्रव्यादाधिपतेः स्वसा॥३॥
His purpose was the destruction of Rāvaṇa, the terrible being who made the world flee in fear. At that time Śūrpaṇakhā, sister of the lord of flesh-eating rākṣasas,
Passage 4
वृषस्यन्त्यतिकामार्ता तत्रागात्पुरुषार्थिनी। स्थापयित्वा जनस्थाने रक्षसां सुमहद्बलम्॥४॥
tormented by intense desire and seeking a man, came there after stationing a very great rākṣasa force at Janasthāna.
Passage 5
तत्र मुख्यतमाः केचिद्राक्षसा घोरदर्शनाः। खरश्च त्रिशिराश्चैव दूषणश्च बलाधिकः॥५॥
Among them were several foremost rākṣasas of dreadful appearance: Khara, Triśiras, and the exceedingly powerful Dūṣaṇa.
Passage 6
तत्रत्या मुनयो वीक्ष्य राक्षसानां बलं तु तत्। हाहेति रामरामेति लक्ष्मणेति च चुक्रुशुः॥६॥
Seeing that rākṣasa army, the sages living there cried, “Alas! Rāma! Rāma! Lakṣmaṇa!”
Passage 7
अग्निहोत्रगृहाण्येषां शान्तानां शुभकर्मणाम्। श्मशानभस्मविण्मूत्रव्याप्तानि विदधुः खलाः॥७॥
The wicked rākṣasas filled the sacrificial chambers of those peaceful men of sacred conduct with cremation-ground ashes, excrement, and urine.
Passage 8
पलायितास्ते कृच्छ्रेण स्थापिताः सज्यधन्वना। रामेण भक्तिप्रह्वेण तमेव पुनराययुः॥८॥
The sages fled with difficulty. They had formerly been restored by Rāma, who stood devotedly with his bow strung, and now they returned to him once more.
Passage 9
तान् स सत्यवचा वीरः सान्त्वयामास वाडवान्। प्रतीक्षध्वं द्विजाः कालं यावदेतन्निहन्म्यहम्॥९॥
That truthful hero consoled the brāhmaṇas: “Twice-born sages, wait for the proper time, until I destroy this force.”
Passage 10
एवमाश्वासितास्तेन वाडवा वेदपारगाः। अग्निहोत्राण्युपादाय तस्थुः श्रीरामसंनिधौ॥१०॥
Thus reassured by him, the brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas brought their sacred fires and remained near Śrī Rāma.
Passage 11
तान् रक्षमाणो रक्षोभ्यो ब्राह्मणान् साग्निकान् प्रभुः। अस्थापयत् स्वसविधे गोदायाः पुलिनावने॥११॥
Protecting those brāhmaṇas and their fires from the rākṣasas, the Lord settled them close to himself in the wooded sands of the Godāvarī. Śūrpaṇakhā's Disguise
Passage 12
अथैकदाचित्स विदेहकन्यया सहास्थितः पञ्चवटीवने शुभे। विहारशीलः स्मरकोटिसुन्दरो रराज चान्द्रीसहितो विधुर्यथा॥१२॥
One day, as he sat with Videha's daughter in the lovely forest of Pañcavaṭī, the playful Lord—more beautiful than ten million gods of love—shone like the moon accompanied by moonlight.
Passage 13
तत्राजगाम सा घोरा राक्षसी कूटमायया। सुन्दरं वेषमास्थाय दिव्यरूपेव सुन्दरी॥१३॥
The dreadful rākṣasī came there by deceptive magic, assuming a beautiful guise and appearing like a woman of celestial form.
Passage 14
छलाद्वशीकर्तुकामा जानक्याः पतिमच्युतम्। कामार्ता छद्मवेषाढ्या व्यदृश्यत वनान्तरे॥१४॥
Tormented by desire and richly disguised, she appeared within the forest, wishing to bring Jānakī's imperishable Lord under her control by deceit.
Passage 15
पीनस्तनोच्छ्रायसुरत्नहारिणी बृहन्नितम्बस्थलचारुमेखला। तनूदरी मञ्जुगभीरनाभिभृद्विभक्तचारुत्रिवलीतरङ्गभृत्॥१५॥
A splendid jeweled necklace lay upon her full, high breasts, and a lovely girdle encircled her broad hips. Her waist was slender, her navel deep and graceful, and three beautiful folds rippled distinctly across her middle.
Passage 16
नाभीसरोनिर्गतरोमराजिका मनोज्ञमध्या कृशदीप्तविग्रहा। सुकम्बुकण्ठी धृतकण्ठभूषणा कपोलपर्यन्तलसत्सुकुन्तला॥१६॥
A fine line of hair rose from the lake of her navel. Her middle was charming, her slender form radiant, her neck lovely as a conch and adorned with ornaments, and beautiful curls shone down to her cheeks.
Passage 17
अर्धेन्दुसंशोभिललाटपट्टिका सुलग्नसिन्दूरसुपूरविन्दुभाक्। अनङ्गकोदण्डयुगभ्रुवोरधः कुरङ्गचाञ्चल्यमनोज्ञलोचना॥१७॥
Her brow shone like a half-moon and bore a perfectly placed, full dot of vermilion. Beneath eyebrows resembling Kāma's paired bows, her captivating eyes moved with a deer's restlessness.
Passage 18
माणिक्यताटङ्कयुगप्रभावलीमिलन्मनोज्ञालकवल्लिचेष्टिता। शुकास्यनिर्जेत्रसुतुङ्गनासिका विलग्नमुक्ताभरणप्रभावती॥१८॥
Charming tendrils of hair played amid the radiance of her ruby earrings. Her lofty nose surpassed a parrot's beak and gleamed with the luster of its attached pearl ornament.
Passage 19
विकासिबन्धूकसुबान्धवाधरा दन्तावलीभ्यां किरणावलीधरा। मृणालकाण्डोपमबाहुवल्लरीविलम्बिकेयूरसुरत्नदीधितिः॥१९॥
Her lips were lovely companions to blossoming bandhūka flowers, while rows of rays streamed from her rows of teeth. Jeweled armlets hanging from her lotus-stalk-like arms cast a brilliant light.
Passage 20
सलज्जमुच्चैरवगुण्ठवाससा पिधाय वक्रेन्दुमुदीतविभ्रमा। सहावलीलाहसितप्रकाशिनी समल्लिधम्मिल्लभरेण मन्थरा॥२०॥
With feigned modesty she lifted her veil to cover the moon of her face, displaying coquettish gestures and a playful smile as she moved slowly beneath the weight of her jasmine-adorned hair-knot.
Passage 21
सकूजराजत्पदपद्मनूपुरा पदाङ्गुलीभूषणनादसौष्ठवा। मदालसामत्तगजेन्द्रगामिनी तरङ्गितारुण्यसुधोर्मिदर्शिनी॥२१॥
Anklets rang upon her shining lotus feet, and the ornaments on her toes sounded sweetly. Languid with passion, she walked like a rutting elephant and displayed surging waves of youthful nectar.
Passage 22
समस्तवामाकुलरूपगञ्जनोचितं वपुर्विग्रहवेषसौष्ठवम्। प्रदर्शयन्त्युद्यदपाङ्गवीक्षितैर्नृणां मनोमादनमोहनौचिता॥२२॥
She displayed bodily beauty, form, attire, and grace fit to eclipse the appearance of every woman, while her rising sidelong glances were fashioned to bewilder and inflame men's minds.
Passage 23
सगर्वसोल्लाससलज्जसोन्मदं पदं क्षिपन्ती विजने घने वने। स्थिता पुरोभूय विदेहजेशितुः शनैरुपागात् सविधं च तस्य सा॥२३॥
Stepping through the solitary, dense forest with pride, animation, coyness, and passion, she came slowly near the Lord of Videha's daughter and stood before him. Rāma Questions the Stranger
Passage 24
स्थितौ रहो यत्र विलासशालिनावुभौ प्रियौ तौ रसिनौ परस्परम्। तत्रागता सा नितरां व्यदृश्यत छलेन रूपं दधती तथाविधम्॥२४॥
She arrived where the two beloved connoisseurs of love were privately absorbed in play, and there she became plainly visible, deceitfully bearing that assumed form.
Passage 25
तामन्तराकोशनिगूढखङ्गवत्सुतीक्ष्णचित्तां रुचिराकृतिं बहिः। विवेद रामो भुवनान्तरात्मदृक् करालदर्शां किल राक्षसीमिति॥२५॥
Though outwardly attractive, within she had a fiercely sharp mind like a sword hidden in its sheath. Rāma, who sees the indwelling self of every world, knew her to be a rākṣasī of dreadful appearance.
Passage 26
ततस्तामेष पप्रच्छ कासि त्वं वरवर्णिनि। कुत एवासि सम्प्राप्ता निर्जनेऽत्र घने वने॥२६॥
He then asked her, “Fair-complexioned lady, who are you? From where have you come into this solitary, dense forest?
Passage 27
सुरी वा किन्नरी वापि नागी वापि वराङ्गना। बिभ्रती मोहनं नॄणां रूपमेतदजानताम्॥२७॥
“Are you a goddess, a kinnarī, a nāgī, or some other beautiful woman, bearing this form that bewilders men who do not know you?
Passage 28
आख्याहि का त्वमेतस्मिन् विजनेऽति घने वने। विचरन्ती मम पुरः सोत्कण्ठेव समागता॥२८॥
“Tell me who you are. You wander in this extremely dense, deserted forest and have come before me as though filled with longing.” Her Proposal
Passage 29
उवाच सा स्मितमुखी पृच्छमानं रघूद्वहम्। या काचिदस्मि पुंश्रेष्ठ किं ते जातिपरीक्षया॥२९॥
Smiling, she replied to the questioning scion of Raghu: “Best of men, whoever I may be, what concern is an inquiry into my birth to you?
Passage 30
तथाप्युत्तममेवास्ति कुलं रूपोचितं मम। जातिरप्युत्तमा कापि ज्ञास्यसि क्रमतो न किम्॥३०॥
“Nevertheless, my family is noble and suited to my beauty, and my birth too is of an excellent kind. Will you not learn this in due course?
Passage 31
प्रयोजनं तु मे सम्यक् श्रूयतां नृवर त्वया। दृष्ट्वा त्वां सुन्दरं लोके रन्तुकामास्मि संगता॥३१॥
“But hear properly the purpose for which I have come, O best of men. Seeing that you are beautiful in this world, I have approached desiring to make love with you.
Passage 32
अत्यारूढो मम हृदि प्रज्वलन् मदनानलः। एवं भाषयते मां वै मन्दाक्षरहितं वचः॥३२॥
“The blazing fire of desire has risen exceedingly high within my heart and compels me to speak these shameless words.
Passage 33
स त्वं प्रकृत्या रमणीयरूपः प्रायः प्रतीतः पुरुषप्रकाण्डः। यथेप्सितं मां रमयेह रम्ये वने नितान्तं रमणीविलासैः॥३३॥
“You are naturally handsome and clearly appear to be the foremost of men. Here in this delightful forest, enjoy me as you please with the arts of lovers.
Passage 34
अनन्तरं यत्र तवास्ति कामो गिरिष्वरण्ये दिवि वा धरण्याम्। विमानवर्येषु समुद्रमध्ये द्वीपेषु वा सौधवरेषु रन्तुम्॥३४॥
“Afterward, wherever you wish to sport—upon mountains, in forests, in heaven or on earth, aboard excellent aerial cars, amid the sea, upon islands, or within splendid palaces—
Passage 35
तत्रैव नेष्यामि भृशं स्वशक्त्या स्वपौरुषाढ्यं रमयन्तमुच्चैः। चिरेण कामार्ततमास्मि सम्यक् करावलम्बं मम देहि कान्त॥३५॥
“I shall carry you there by my own power as you display your virility and delight me intensely. I have long been utterly tormented by desire; beloved, give me the support of your hand.
Passage 36
अथ यदि स्वयमेव समागतां पुरुषवर्य न मां विजहास्यसि। सुमुख सुन्दर शूरवरेण्य भोस्तदिह पुण्यमलं समवाप्स्यसि॥३६॥
“Best of men, if you do not reject me when I have come to you of my own accord—handsome, beautiful, eminent hero—you will thereby obtain abundant merit here.”
Passage 37
इति बहुविलपन्तीमात्मनः संग्रहार्थं मदनमदपरीतां निस्त्रपामापतन्तीम्। निखिलनिगमवेत्ताप्येकपत्नीव्रतस्थो विधुततदुदितार्थस्तामथोच्चैर्विभाषे॥३७॥
Thus she spoke at length, seeking to possess him, overcome by the intoxication of desire, shamelessly pressing her suit. But though he knew all the Vedas, Rāma stood firm in his vow to one wife; rejecting the meaning of her words, he then addressed her aloud. Thus ends Chapter 142, “Śūrpaṇakhā's Entreaty,” in the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍi in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the glorious Ādi Rāmāyaṇa.