Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— गते तु लक्ष्मणे दूरे भ्रातुरन्वेषणोद्यते। आययौ जानकीं हर्तुं मायावी दशकन्धरः॥१॥
Brahmā said: When Lakṣmaṇa had gone far away, intent on searching for his brother, the illusion-wielding ten-headed Rāvaṇa came to abduct Jānakī.
Passage 2
तमागतमभिप्रेत्य पलायाञ्चक्रिरे द्रुतम्। वानस्पत्याश्च ये देवाः सर्वाश्च वनदेवताः॥२॥
Perceiving his arrival, the deities dwelling in the trees and all the forest deities quickly fled.
Passage 3
अग्निस्तु परिजज्वाल भगवानावसथ्यगः। जानक्याः स्थानदानार्थं सर्वदैवत्य आत्मनि॥३॥
But the divine domestic fire blazed intensely, intending to give Jānakī a place within himself, who embodies all the gods.
Passage 4
अथ सोऽप्यतिमायावी धनुष्कोट्यन्तरा भुवि। प्रवेष्टुमक्षमतमं विज्ञायात्मानमस्रपः॥४॥
Then that extraordinarily deceptive blood-drinker discovered that he was utterly unable to enter the ground enclosed by the bow-tip.
Passage 5
स वै सुदुर्गमो देशो राक्षसैः खलवृत्तिभिः। रामस्याज्ञां भृशं दत्ता लक्ष्मणेन विनिर्मितः॥५॥
That ground, established by Lakṣmaṇa under Rāma's solemn command, was indeed impossible for wickedly disposed rākṣasas to cross.
Passage 6
इत्यसौ मायया भिक्षुर्वभूव कलभाषितः। अतिसौम्यतनुर्दृश्यो मनसा तीक्ष्णवृत्तिमान्॥६॥
Therefore, through illusion, he became a sweet-speaking mendicant, appearing exceedingly gentle in body while inwardly harboring a cruel purpose.
Passage 7
प्राविशत्सहसा पर्णशालाया द्वारि राक्षसः। शृण्वन्त्यां खलु जानक्यामुच्चैर्भाषितवान् वचः॥७॥
The rākṣasa suddenly came to the doorway of the leaf-thatched hut and loudly spoke these words so that Jānakī would hear.
Passage 8
हे देवि भवती भिक्षां ददातु सततव्रता। मह्यं दीनाय विप्राय द्वारप्राप्ताय सक्षुधे॥८॥
“O goddess, constant in your vows, please give alms to me—a wretched, hungry brāhmaṇa who has arrived at your door.”
Passage 9
सा श्रुत्वा वचनं भिक्षोर्दीनं करुणमानसा। आदाय फलशाकान्नमाजगाम बहिर्गृहात्॥९॥
Hearing the mendicant's pitiful words, compassionate Sītā took fruit, vegetables, and food and came out of the hut.
Passage 10
चञ्चलेव तनुद्योतिर्भासयन्त्यखिला दिशः। मुखेन्दुचन्द्रिकावृन्दं विकिरन्ती पुरः पुरः॥१०॥
Her bodily radiance flickered as she illumined every direction, casting everywhere the clustered moonlight of her moonlike face.
Passage 11
अथात्मना विनिर्गत्य लीलाकारणमानुषी। आवसथ्याग्निमविशत् सर्वज्ञा सर्वकारणा॥११॥
Then the all-knowing cause of all, human only for the sake of her divine play, withdrew in her true being and entered the domestic fire.
Passage 12
भिक्षादानोन्मुखीमेतां मायाभिक्षुरुवाच तु। नाहं प्रचलितुं शक्तः क्षुधा व्याकुलमानसः॥१२॥
As the manifested Sītā prepared to give alms, the false mendicant said to her, “My mind is overcome by hunger; I am unable to move.
Passage 13
इहैवागत्य मे देहि हे देवि नियतव्रते। अभिगम्योत्तमं दानं यत आहुर्मनीषिणः॥१३॥
“Come here and give it to me, O goddess firm in your vows, for the wise say that a gift personally brought to its recipient is the highest kind.”
Passage 14
अथ सा किल सौमित्रिकुण्डलीकृतदेशतः। बहिर्जगाम सर्वज्ञा भिक्षादानार्थमुद्यता॥१४॥
Then the all-knowing lady, intent on giving alms, went beyond the ground that Sumitrā's son had encircled.
Passage 15
तामागतां बहिः स्थानाद् रामाज्ञाकुण्डलीकृतात्। वीक्ष्य रक्षोऽधिपो मायी चकमे हर्तुमञ्जसा॥१५॥
Seeing that she had come outside the place encircled under Rāma's command, the deceitful lord of the rākṣasas immediately resolved to seize her.
Passage 16
अथाविरभवत्तस्य मायिनो रूपमुत्कटम्। विंशत्या बाहुभिर्भीमं करालं दशभिर्मुखैः॥१६॥
Then the illusionist's monstrous form appeared—terrifying with twenty arms and dreadful with ten faces.
Passage 17
आकृष्टरुष्टभ्रुकुटीतरङ्गणभीषणम्। सुभीषणं नभःस्पृग्भिः शिरोमुकुटकोटिभिः॥१७॥
It was fearsome with waves of contracted, furious brows and exceedingly terrible with the tips of its crowned heads touching the sky.
Passage 18
स्थूलघोणावलीघोरं ज्वलद्विंशतिलोचनम्। स्थूलोदरदरीभीमं स्थूलाङ्घ्रिक्षेपदुःसहम्॥१८॥
It was ghastly with a row of massive noses and twenty blazing eyes, dreadful with its cavernous belly, and unbearable in the tread of its enormous feet.
Passage 19
दृष्ट्वा रूपं सुदुष्प्रेक्ष्यं तस्य घोरतरं तदा। चकम्पे जानकीदेवी राक्षसोऽयमिति स्फुटम्॥१९॥
Seeing his exceedingly dreadful and nearly unendurable form, the goddess Jānakī trembled, realizing clearly, “This is a rākṣasa.” Sītā Is Carried into the Sky
Passage 20
तामार्तनादां कुररीमिवोच्चैः स्थूलाश्रुमोक्षां रुदतीं नितान्तम्। प्रकम्पमानां जविनानिलेन रम्भामिवादाय करेण सद्यः॥२०॥
She cried aloud in anguish like a curlew, weeping torrents of heavy tears and trembling like a plantain tree in a violent wind. He immediately seized her in his hand.
Passage 21
अंसे निधाय प्रसभं स्मरस्य शरैः पराभूतमतिः स दुष्टः। उच्चैः समुत्प्लुत्य नभःपथेन जगाम लङ्काभिमुखं दशास्यः॥२१॥
His judgment conquered by Love's arrows, the wicked ten-faced one forcibly placed her on his shoulder, sprang high, and traveled through the sky toward Laṅkā.
Passage 22
सा तद्रक्षोंऽसपीठस्था दीपयन्ती दिशो दश। मुखचन्द्रचमत्कारिचन्द्रिकाभिर्घनातलीम्। लिम्पन्तीव नभोमार्गे भान्ती विद्युदिव त्विषा॥२२॥
Seated upon that rākṣasa's shoulder, she illumined the ten directions. With the wondrous moonlight of her moonlike face she seemed to wash the cloudy sky-road, shining there with the brilliance of lightning.
Passage 23
सूक्ष्मारुणांशुकवृतैरङ्गैर्वेपथुशालिभिः। तप्तचामीकरप्रख्यैः शोभयन्ती नभःपथम्॥२३॥
Her trembling limbs, wrapped in a fine crimson garment and gleaming like heated gold, adorned the pathway of the sky.
Passage 24
कुर्वतीव प्रतिपथं नभश्चाम्पेयकाननम्। उच्चैर्विकचमन्दारपुष्पसौरभसम्पदा॥२४॥
With the rich fragrance of fully blossomed heavenly coral-tree flowers, she seemed to turn every stretch of the sky into a forest of campaka blossoms.
Passage 25
वासयन्ती दिशः कृत्स्ना मिलद्भ्रमरसंहतिः। मञ्जीरयुगनादेन कटिकाञ्चीरवेण च॥२५॥
She perfumed all the directions as swarms of bees gathered, while the sound of her two anklets mingled with the ringing girdle at her waist.
Passage 26
कूजयन्ती नभोदेशं लतेवालिगणान्विता। परस्ताद्विलुलद्वेणीपराभूतभुजङ्गमा॥२६॥
Accompanied by hosts of bees, she made the sky resound like a flowering vine; her braid streaming behind her outshone a serpent.
Passage 27
चलनां गतिवेगेन वलयानामपि ध्वनिम्। बिभ्रती मरुदालोलललितालकवल्लिका॥२७॥
The speed of the journey set her bracelets moving and sounding, while the wind tossed the graceful vine-like locks about her face.
Passage 28
आवेगात्पीनवक्षोजविपर्यस्तपटाञ्चला। स्वाङ्गस्पर्शसमुद्भूतैस्तस्यांसतटकण्टकैः॥२८॥
The rushing motion displaced the end of her garment over her full breasts, while contact with her body raised horripilation across the rākṣasa's shoulder. Sītā Laments and Condemns Rāvaṇa
Passage 29
उद्विजन्ती प्रतिपदं शिरीषाधिकमार्दवा। शोचन्ती स्वात्मनः कृत्यं रुदती करुणस्वरा॥२९॥
More delicate than a śirīṣa blossom, she recoiled at every moment, lamented her own action, and wept in a piteous voice.
Passage 30
हा नाथ हा रघुपते हा वीरवर हा पते। क्वासि क्वासीति जल्पन्ती निमग्ना शोकसागरे॥३०॥
“Alas, my lord! Alas, lord of the Raghus! Alas, greatest of heroes! Alas, my husband! Where are you? Where are you?” she cried, submerged in an ocean of grief.
Passage 31
पुरस्तान्नीयमाना च तेन पापीयसा भृशम्। पृष्ठतः परिपश्यन्ती मृगीव चकितेक्षणा॥३१॥
As that exceedingly wicked being bore her forward, she kept looking behind with the startled eyes of a doe.
Passage 32
हा पाप हा दुष्टमते हा रक्षोऽधम हा खल। मुञ्च मुञ्चेति जल्पन्ती मुक्तास्थूलाश्रुमोक्षणी॥३२॥
“O sinner! O evil-minded one! O vilest rākṣasa! O villain! Release me, release me!” she cried as large tears streamed freely.
Passage 33
मज्जन्तीवान्धतमसि व्याकुलीभूतमानसा। मुहुर्मुहुश्च मूर्च्छन्ती विलपन्ती मुहुर्मुहुः॥३३॥
Her mind overwhelmed as though sinking into blinding darkness, she fainted again and again and lamented without cease.
Passage 34
मिलन्ती घनराजीभिः पश्यन्ती व्योमदेवताः। नभो निकषयन्ती च तनुकाञ्चनरेखया॥३४॥
She passed among banks of clouds and looked toward the deities of the sky, seeming to test the heavens like a fine streak of gold upon a touchstone.
Passage 35
शपन्ती तं खलं पापं वमन्ती दुर्वचोविषम्। सूचयन्ती मृति तस्य वीरेन्द्रात्यन्तदुरात्मनः॥३५॥
She cursed that sinful villain and poured out the venom of fierce words, foretelling that the utterly wicked being would die at the hands of the lord of heroes.
Passage 36
दुस्तरे शोकपाथोधौ मज्जन्ती मनसा भृशम्। खिद्यमानैव नितरां निन्ये घोरेण रक्षसा॥३६॥
Her mind sinking deeply into an uncrossable ocean of sorrow, she was carried away by the terrible rākṣasa while suffering intensely.
Passage 37
स घोरचेताः करुणाविहीनो दुरुक्तमस्या अवमन्यमानः। निजप्रतापोन्नतिजातगर्वो निनाय तां व्योमपथेन मायी॥३७॥
Cruel-minded and devoid of compassion, the illusionist scorned her harsh words. Proud of the eminence of his own might, he bore her away along the path of the sky.