Ravana’s tempting promises

स तां परिवृतां दीनां निरानन्दां तपस्विनीम् ।

sa tāṃ parivṛtāṃ dīnāṃ nirānandāṃ tapasvinīm |

Ravana addressed that guarded, unhappy, joyless, suffering woman

साकारैर्मधुरैर्वाक्यैर्न्यदर्शयत रावणः ॥

sākārairmadhurairvākyairnyadarśayata rāvaṇaḥ ||

with apparently courteous and sweet words.

मां दृष्ट्वा नागनासोरु गूहमाना स्तनोदरम् ।

māṃ dṛṣṭvā nāganāsoru gūhamānā stanodaram |

'Seeing me, you cover your breasts and abdomen, graceful-thighed one;

अदर्शनमिवात्मानं भयान्नेतुं त्वमिच्छसि ॥

adarśanamivātmānaṃ bhayānnetuṃ tvamicchasi ||

in fear you seem to wish to make yourself invisible.'

कामये त्वां विशालाक्षि बहु मन्यस्व मां प्रिये ।

kāmaye tvāṃ viśālākṣi bahu manyasva māṃ priye |

'I desire you, wide-eyed one; think highly of me, beloved,

सर्वांगगुणसम्पन्ने सर्वलोकमनोहरे ॥

sarvāṃgaguṇasampanne sarvalokamanohare ||

you whose every limb is excellent and who enchant the whole world.'

नेह किञ्चिन्मनुष्या वा राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः ।

neha kiñcinmanuṣyā vā rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ |

'There are no humans here, nor other shape-changing rakshasas;

व्यपसर्पतु ते सीते भयं मत्तः समुत्थितम् ॥

vyapasarpatu te sīte bhayaṃ mattaḥ samutthitam ||

let the fear of me that has arisen in you depart, Sita.'

स्वधर्मो रक्षसां भीरु सर्वदैव न संशयः ।

svadharmo rakṣasāṃ bhīru sarvadaiva na saṃśayaḥ |

'Timid one, it is always the rakshasas' own custom, without doubt,

गमनं वा परस्त्रीणां हरणं सम्प्रमथ्य वा ॥

gamanaṃ vā parastrīṇāṃ haraṇaṃ sampramathya vā ||

to approach others' wives or seize them by force.'

एवं चैवमकामां त्वां न च स्प्रक्ष्यामि मैथिलि ।

evaṃ caivamakāmāṃ tvāṃ na ca sprakṣyāmi maithili |

'Even so, princess of Mithila, I will not touch you against your wish,

कामं कामः शरीरे मे यथाकामं प्रवर्तताम् ॥

kāmaṃ kāmaḥ śarīre me yathākāmaṃ pravartatām ||

however freely desire may rage through my body.'

देवि नेह भयं कार्यं मयि विश्वसिहि प्रिये ।

devi neha bhayaṃ kāryaṃ mayi viśvasihi priye |

'Lady, you need not fear here; trust me, beloved.

प्रणयस्व च तत्त्वेन मैवं भूः शोकलालसा ॥

praṇayasva ca tattvena maivaṃ bhūḥ śokalālasā ||

Give me true affection and do not remain immersed in grief.'

एकवेणी अधःशय्या ध्यानं मलिनमम्बरम् ।

ekaveṇī adhaḥśayyā dhyānaṃ malinamambaram |

'A single braid, sleeping on the ground, brooding, dirty clothing,

अस्थानेऽप्युपवासश्च नैतान्यौपयिकानि ते ॥

asthāne’pyupavāsaśca naitānyaupayikāni te ||

and fasting without purpose are not suitable for you.'

विचित्राणि च माल्यानि चन्दनान्यगुरूणि च ।

vicitrāṇi ca mālyāni candanānyagurūṇi ca |

'Beautiful garlands, sandalwood and agaru perfumes,

विविधानि च वासांसि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च ॥

vividhāni ca vāsāṃsi divyānyābharaṇāni ca ||

varied garments and divine ornaments—'

महार्हाणि च पानानि शयनान्यासनानि च ।

mahārhāṇi ca pānāni śayanānyāsanāni ca |

'costly drinks, beds and seats,

गीतं नृत्यं च वाद्यं च लभ मां प्राप्य मैथिलि ॥

gītaṃ nṛtyaṃ ca vādyaṃ ca labha māṃ prāpya maithili ||

song, dance, and music: obtain all these by accepting me, princess of Mithila.'

स्त्रीरत्नमसि मैवं भूः कुरु गात्रेषु भूषणम् ।

strīratnamasi maivaṃ bhūḥ kuru gātreṣu bhūṣaṇam |

'You are a jewel among women; do not remain like this, but adorn your body.

मां प्राप्य हि कथं वा स्यास्त्वमनर्हा सुविग्रहे ॥

māṃ prāpya hi kathaṃ vā syāstvamanarhā suvigrahe ||

With me, beautiful one, how could you lack what you deserve?'

इदं ते चारु संजातं यौवनं ह्यतिवर्तते ।

idaṃ te cāru saṃjātaṃ yauvanaṃ hyativartate |

'This lovely youth that has come to you is passing;

यदतीतं पुनर्नैति स्रोतः स्रोतस्विनामिव ॥

yadatītaṃ punarnaiti srotaḥ srotasvināmiva ||

what has gone does not return, like a river's flowing water.'

त्वां कृत्वोपरतो मन्ये रूपकर्ता स विश्वकृत् ।

tvāṃ kṛtvoparato manye rūpakartā sa viśvakṛt |

'I think the world's maker ceased his work after creating you,

नहि रूपोपमा ह्यन्या तवास्ति शुभदर्शने ॥

nahi rūpopamā hyanyā tavāsti śubhadarśane ||

for no other beauty equals yours, lovely woman.'

त्वां समासाद्य वैदेहि रूपयौवनशालिनीम् ।

tvāṃ samāsādya vaidehi rūpayauvanaśālinīm |

'Who, even the Grandfather himself, could remain unmoved

कः पुनर्नातिवर्तेत साक्षादपि पितामहः ॥

kaḥ punarnātivarteta sākṣādapi pitāmahaḥ ||

upon meeting you, Sita, endowed with beauty and youth?'

यद् यत् पश्यामि ते गात्रं शीतांशुसदृशानने ।

yad yat paśyāmi te gātraṃ śītāṃśusadṛśānane |

'Whichever part of your body I behold, moon-faced one,

तस्मिंस्तस्मिन् पृथुश्रोणि चक्षुर्मम निबध्यते ॥

tasmiṃstasmin pṛthuśroṇi cakṣurmama nibadhyate ||

there my eyes become fixed, graceful woman.'

भव मैथिलि भार्या मे मोहमेतं विसर्जय ।

bhava maithili bhāryā me mohametaṃ visarjaya |

'Become my wife, princess of Mithila; abandon this delusion.

बह्वीनामुत्तमस्त्रीणां ममाग्रमहिषी भव ॥

bahvīnāmuttamastrīṇāṃ mamāgramahiṣī bhava ||

Be my chief queen among my many excellent women.'

लोकेभ्यो यानि रत्नानि सम्प्रमथ्याहृतानि मे ।

lokebhyo yāni ratnāni sampramathyāhṛtāni me |

'All the treasures I have seized from the worlds are yours,

तानि ते भीरु सर्वाणि राज्यं चैव ददामि ते ॥

tāni te bhīru sarvāṇi rājyaṃ caiva dadāmi te ||

timid one, and I give you my kingdom as well.'

विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां नानानगरमालिनीम् ।

vijitya pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ nānānagaramālinīm |

'For your sake I shall conquer the whole earth, adorned with many cities,

जनकाय प्रदास्यामि तव हेतोर्विलासिनि ॥

janakāya pradāsyāmi tava hetorvilāsini ||

and give it to Janaka, lovely woman.'

नेह पश्यामि लोकेऽन्यं यो मे प्रतिबलो भवेत् ।

neha paśyāmi loke’nyaṃ yo me pratibalo bhavet |

'I see no one else in the world who can match my strength.

पश्य मे सुमहद्वीर्यमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे ॥

paśya me sumahadvīryamapratidvandvamāhave ||

Behold my immense prowess, unequaled in battle.'

असकृत् संयुगे भग्ना मया विमृदितध्वजाः ।

asakṛt saṃyuge bhagnā mayā vimṛditadhvajāḥ |

'Again and again I have broken gods and asuras in combat and shattered their banners;

अशक्ताः प्रत्यनीकेषु स्थातुं मम सुरासुराः ॥

aśaktāḥ pratyanīkeṣu sthātuṃ mama surāsurāḥ ||

they could not stand against my opposing forces.'

इच्छ मां क्रियतामद्य प्रतिकर्म तवोत्तमम् ।

iccha māṃ kriyatāmadya pratikarma tavottamam |

'Choose me; let your finest adornment be prepared today.

सुप्रभाण्यवसज्जन्तां तवांगे भूषणानि हि ॥

suprabhāṇyavasajjantāṃ tavāṃge bhūṣaṇāni hi ||

Let brilliantly shining ornaments be placed upon your limbs.'

साधु पश्यामि ते रूपं सुयुक्तं प्रतिकर्मणा ।

sādhu paśyāmi te rūpaṃ suyuktaṃ pratikarmaṇā |

'Let me see your beauty enhanced by careful adornment;

प्रतिकर्माभिसंयुक्ता दाक्षिण्येन वरानने ॥

pratikarmābhisaṃyuktā dākṣiṇyena varānane ||

adorned in this way, beautiful-faced one, show me graciousness.'

भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् यथाकामं पिब भीरु रमस्व च ।

bhuṅkṣva bhogān yathākāmaṃ piba bhīru ramasva ca |

'Enjoy pleasures as you wish, drink and rejoice, timid one;

यथेष्टं च प्रयच्छ त्वं पृथिवीं वा धनानि च ॥

yatheṣṭaṃ ca prayaccha tvaṃ pṛthivīṃ vā dhanāni ca ||

give away wealth or even the earth according to your desire.'

ललस्व मयि विस्रब्धा धृष्टमाज्ञापयस्व च ।

lalasva mayi visrabdhā dhṛṣṭamājñāpayasva ca |

'Be at ease with me and command me boldly.

मत्प्रासादाल्ललन्त्याश्च ललतां बान्धवस्तव ॥

matprāsādāllalantyāśca lalatāṃ bāndhavastava ||

Through my favor, may your relatives also share your enjoyment.'

ऋद्धिं ममानुपश्य त्वं श्रियं भद्रे यशस्विनि ।

ṛddhiṃ mamānupaśya tvaṃ śriyaṃ bhadre yaśasvini |

'Consider my prosperity and splendor, fortunate, renowned lady.

किं करिष्यसि रामेण सुभगे चीरवासिना ॥

kiṃ kariṣyasi rāmeṇa subhage cīravāsinā ||

What will you do with Rama, who wears bark-cloth?'

निक्षिप्तविजयो रामो गतश्रीर्वनगोचरः ।

nikṣiptavijayo rāmo gataśrīrvanagocaraḥ |

'Rama has laid aside victory, lost prosperity, and wanders in the forest;

व्रती स्थण्डिलशायी च शंके जीवति वा न वा ॥

vratī sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca śaṃke jīvati vā na vā ||

he keeps vows and sleeps on bare ground. I doubt whether he is even alive.'

नहि वैदेहि रामस्त्वां द्रष्टुं वाप्युपलभ्यते ।

nahi vaidehi rāmastvāṃ draṣṭuṃ vāpyupalabhyate |

'Rama cannot even gain sight of you, Sita,

पुरोबलाकैरसितैर्मेघैर्ज्योत्स्नामिवावृताम् ॥

purobalākairasitairmeghairjyotsnāmivāvṛtām ||

as moonlight is hidden by dark clouds with cranes before them.'

न चापि मम हस्तात् त्वां प्राप्तुमर्हति राघवः ।

na cāpi mama hastāt tvāṃ prāptumarhati rāghavaḥ |

'Raghava cannot recover you from my hand,

हिरण्यकशिपुः कीर्तिमिन्द्रहस्तगतामिव ॥

hiraṇyakaśipuḥ kīrtimindrahastagatāmiva ||

as Hiranyakashipu could not recover his glory once it lay in Indra's power.'

चारुस्मिते चारुदति चारुनेत्रे विलासिनि ।

cārusmite cārudati cārunetre vilāsini |

'With lovely smile, teeth, and eyes, charming and timid one,

मनो हरसि मे भीरु सुपर्णः पन्नगं यथा ॥

mano harasi me bhīru suparṇaḥ pannagaṃ yathā ||

you carry off my mind as Garuda carries away a serpent.'

क्लिष्टकौशेयवसनां तन्वीमप्यनलंकृताम् ।

kliṣṭakauśeyavasanāṃ tanvīmapyanalaṃkṛtām |

'Seeing you slender, unadorned, and dressed in worn silk,

त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वेषु दारेषु रतिं नोपलभाम्यहम् ॥

tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā sveṣu dāreṣu ratiṃ nopalabhāmyaham ||

I can find no pleasure in my own wives.'

अन्तःपुरनिवासिन्यः स्त्रियः सर्वगुणान्विताः ।

antaḥpuranivāsinyaḥ striyaḥ sarvaguṇānvitāḥ |

'Rule over all the women who live in my inner apartments,

यावत्यो मम सर्वासामैश्वर्यं कुरु जानकि ॥

yāvatyo mama sarvāsāmaiśvaryaṃ kuru jānaki ||

endowed though they are with every excellence, Janaki.'

मम ह्यसितकेशान्ते त्रैलोक्यप्रवरस्त्रियः ।

mama hyasitakeśānte trailokyapravarastriyaḥ |

'My women, the finest in the three worlds, dark-haired one,

तास्त्वां परिचरिष्यन्ति श्रियमप्सरसो यथा ॥

tāstvāṃ paricariṣyanti śriyamapsaraso yathā ||

will attend upon you as apsarases attend upon Lakshmi.'

यानि वैश्रवणे सुभ्रु रत्नानि च धनानि च ।

yāni vaiśravaṇe subhru ratnāni ca dhanāni ca |

'Enjoy with me, as you please, the treasures and wealth of Kubera,

तानि लोकांश्च सुश्रोणि मया भुङ्क्ष्व यथासुखम् ॥

tāni lokāṃśca suśroṇi mayā bhuṅkṣva yathāsukham ||

and the worlds themselves, lovely-browed, graceful woman.'

न रामस्तपसा देवि न बलेन च विक्रमैः ।

na rāmastapasā devi na balena ca vikramaiḥ |

'Rama does not equal me in austerity, strength, or feats of valor,

न धनेन मया तुल्यस्तेजसा यशसापि वा ॥

na dhanena mayā tulyastejasā yaśasāpi vā ||

nor in wealth, radiance, or fame, lady.'

पिब विहर रमस्व भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान्

piba vihara ramasva bhuṅkṣva bhogān

'Drink, wander, rejoice, and enjoy pleasures;

धननिचयं प्रदिशामि मेदिनीं च ।

dhananicayaṃ pradiśāmi medinīṃ ca |

I offer you heaps of wealth and the earth.

मयि लल ललने यथासुखं त्वं

mayi lala lalane yathāsukhaṃ tvaṃ

Be happy with me according to your desire,

त्वयि च समेत्य ललन्तु बान्धवास्ते ॥

tvayi ca sametya lalantu bāndhavāste ||

and let your relatives gather to share your happiness.'

कुसुमिततरुजालसंततानि

kusumitatarujālasaṃtatāni

'Through coastal woods dense with flowering trees,

भ्रमरयुतानि समुद्रतीरजानि ।

bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni |

alive with bees and growing beside the sea,

कनकविमलहारभूषितांगी

kanakavimalahārabhūṣitāṃgī

your body adorned with pure golden necklaces,

विहर मया सह भीरु काननानि ॥

vihara mayā saha bhīru kānanāni ||

wander with me, timid one.'