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VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA · CHAPTER 22
सुन्दरकाण्डम् · सर्गः २२
Angered by Sita’s refusal, Ravana threatens her, orders the guards to pressure her, and returns to his palace.
An edition-specific reading with original English meanings. Source & reading notes
SCENE 01 · VERSES 1–46
Angered by Sita’s refusal, Ravana threatens her, orders the guards to pressure her, and returns to his palace.
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा परुषं राक्षसेश्वरः ।
sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā paruṣaṃ rākṣaseśvaraḥ |
Hearing Sita's harsh words, the rakshasa lord
प्रत्युवाच ततः सीतां विप्रियं प्रियदर्शनाम् ॥
pratyuvāca tataḥ sītāṃ vipriyaṃ priyadarśanām ||
answered the lovely woman with an unwelcome reply.
यथा यथा सान्त्वयिता वश्यः स्त्रीणां तथा तथा ।
yathā yathā sāntvayitā vaśyaḥ strīṇāṃ tathā tathā |
'The more a man comforts women, the more he falls under their control;
यथा यथा प्रियं वक्ता परिभूतस्तथा तथा ॥
yathā yathā priyaṃ vaktā paribhūtastathā tathā ||
the more kindly he speaks, the more he is despised.'
संनियच्छति मे क्रोधं त्वयि कामः समुत्थितः ।
saṃniyacchati me krodhaṃ tvayi kāmaḥ samutthitaḥ |
'The desire that has arisen in me for you restrains my anger,
द्रवतो मार्गमासाद्य हयानिव सुसारथिः ॥
dravato mārgamāsādya hayāniva susārathiḥ ||
as a good charioteer reins in horses running along a road.'
वामः कामो मनुष्याणां यस्मिन् किल निबध्यते ।
vāmaḥ kāmo manuṣyāṇāṃ yasmin kila nibadhyate |
'Desire acts strangely in people: toward the one upon whom it fastens,
जने तस्मिंस्त्वनुक्रोशः स्नेहश्च किल जायते ॥
jane tasmiṃstvanukrośaḥ snehaśca kila jāyate ||
compassion and affection arise.'
एतस्मात् कारणान्न त्वां घातयामि वरानने ।
etasmāt kāraṇānna tvāṃ ghātayāmi varānane |
'For that reason I do not kill you, beautiful-faced one,
वधार्हामवमानार्हां मिथ्या प्रव्रजने रताम् ॥
vadhārhāmavamānārhāṃ mithyā pravrajane ratām ||
though you deserve death and humiliation for your false attachment to the ascetic life.'
परुषाणि हि वाक्यानि यानि यानि ब्रवीषि माम् ।
paruṣāṇi hi vākyāni yāni yāni bravīṣi mām |
'Every harsh word you speak to me
तेषु तेषु वधो युक्तस्तव मैथिलि दारुणः ॥
teṣu teṣu vadho yuktastava maithili dāruṇaḥ ||
would justify a terrible death for you, princess of Mithila.'
एवमुक्त्वा तु वैदेहीं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ।
evamuktvā tu vaidehīṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ |
Having spoken thus to Sita, the rakshasa king Ravana,
क्रोधसंरम्भसंयुक्तः सीतामुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥
krodhasaṃrambhasaṃyuktaḥ sītāmuttaramabravīt ||
filled with furious agitation, continued.
द्वौ मासौ रक्षितव्यौ मे योऽवधिस्ते मया कृतः ।
dvau māsau rakṣitavyau me yo’vadhiste mayā kṛtaḥ |
'I shall preserve the two months that I have fixed as your limit.
ततः शयनमारोह मम त्वं वरवर्णिनि ॥
tataḥ śayanamāroha mama tvaṃ varavarṇini ||
After that, beautiful woman, you must come to my bed.'
द्वाभ्यामूर्ध्वं तु मासाभ्यां भर्तारं मामनिच्छतीम् ।
dvābhyāmūrdhvaṃ tu māsābhyāṃ bhartāraṃ māmanicchatīm |
'After those two months, if you still refuse me as husband,
मम त्वां प्रातराशार्थे सूदाश्छेत्स्यन्ति खण्डशः ॥
mama tvāṃ prātarāśārthe sūdāśchetsyanti khaṇḍaśaḥ ||
my cooks will cut you into pieces for my morning meal.'
तां भर्त्स्यमानां सम्प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसेन्द्रेण जानकीम् ।
tāṃ bhartsyamānāṃ samprekṣya rākṣasendreṇa jānakīm |
Seeing Janaki threatened by the rakshasa king,
देवगन्धर्वकन्यास्ता विषेदुर्विकृतेक्षणाः ॥
devagandharvakanyāstā viṣedurvikṛtekṣaṇāḥ ||
the daughters of gods and gandharvas became distressed, their eyes troubled.
ओष्ठप्रकारैरपरा नेत्रैर्वक्त्रैस्तथापराः ।
oṣṭhaprakārairaparā netrairvaktraistathāparāḥ |
Some reassured Sita with movements of their lips,
सीतामाश्वासयामासुस्तर्जितां तेन रक्षसा ॥
sītāmāśvāsayāmāsustarjitāṃ tena rakṣasā ||
others with their eyes and faces, while the rakshasa threatened her.
ताभिराश्वासिता सीता रावणं राक्षसाधिपम् ।
tābhirāśvāsitā sītā rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam |
Comforted by them, Sita addressed Ravana
उवाचात्महितं वाक्यं वृत्तशौटीर्यगर्वितम् ॥
uvācātmahitaṃ vākyaṃ vṛttaśauṭīryagarvitam ||
with words defending her welfare and proud of her upright conduct.
नूनं न ते जनः कश्चिदस्मिन्निःश्रेयसि स्थितः ।
nūnaṃ na te janaḥ kaścidasminniḥśreyasi sthitaḥ |
'Surely there is no one here devoted to your highest good,
निवारयति यो न त्वां कर्मणोऽस्माद् विगर्हितात् ॥
nivārayati yo na tvāṃ karmaṇo’smād vigarhitāt ||
since no one restrains you from this condemned deed.'
मां हि धर्मात्मनः पत्नीं शचीमिव शचीपतेः ।
māṃ hi dharmātmanaḥ patnīṃ śacīmiva śacīpateḥ |
'Who but you in the three worlds would even mentally desire
त्वदन्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रार्थयेन्मनसापि कः ॥
tvadanyastriṣu lokeṣu prārthayenmanasāpi kaḥ ||
the wife of righteous Rama, as though seeking Indra's Shachi?'
राक्षसाधम रामस्य भार्याममिततेजसः ।
rākṣasādhama rāmasya bhāryāmamitatejasaḥ |
'Lowest of rakshasas, you have spoken wickedly to the wife of immeasurably radiant Rama.
उक्तवानसि यत् पापं क्व गतस्तस्य मोक्ष्यसे ॥
uktavānasi yat pāpaṃ kva gatastasya mokṣyase ||
Where could you go to escape its consequence?'
यथा दृप्तश्च मातंगः शशश्च सहितौ वने ।
yathā dṛptaśca mātaṃgaḥ śaśaśca sahitau vane |
'As a proud elephant and a hare meet in the forest,
तथा द्विरदवद् रामस्त्वं नीच शशवत् स्मृतः ॥
tathā dviradavad rāmastvaṃ nīca śaśavat smṛtaḥ ||
so Rama is the elephant, while you, base one, are the hare.'
स त्वमिक्ष्वाकुनाथं वै क्षिपन्निह न लज्जसे ।
sa tvamikṣvākunāthaṃ vai kṣipanniha na lajjase |
'You feel no shame insulting the lord of Ikshvaku's line here,
चक्षुषो विषये तस्य न यावदुपगच्छसि ॥
cakṣuṣo viṣaye tasya na yāvadupagacchasi ||
only because you have not yet come within his sight.'
इमे ते नयने क्रूरे विकृते कृष्णपिंगले ।
ime te nayane krūre vikṛte kṛṣṇapiṃgale |
'Why do those cruel, distorted, dark-tawny eyes of yours
क्षितौ न पतिते कस्मान्मामनार्य निरीक्षतः ॥
kṣitau na patite kasmānmāmanārya nirīkṣataḥ ||
not fall to the ground as you stare at me, ignoble one?'
तस्य धर्मात्मनः पत्नी स्नुषा दशरथस्य च ।
tasya dharmātmanaḥ patnī snuṣā daśarathasya ca |
'I am that righteous man's wife and Dasharatha's daughter-in-law.
कथं व्याहरतो मां ते न जिह्वा पाप शीर्यति ॥
kathaṃ vyāharato māṃ te na jihvā pāpa śīryati ||
How does your tongue not split as you address me so, sinner?'
असंदेशात्तु रामस्य तपसश्चानुपालनात् ।
asaṃdeśāttu rāmasya tapasaścānupālanāt |
'Because Rama has not instructed me, and because I preserve my austerity,
न त्वां कुर्मि दशग्रीव भस्म भस्मार्हतेजसा ॥
na tvāṃ kurmi daśagrīva bhasma bhasmārhatejasā ||
I do not reduce you to ashes with the power that could burn you, ten-headed one.'
नापहर्तुमहं शक्या तस्य रामस्य धीमतः ।
nāpahartumahaṃ śakyā tasya rāmasya dhīmataḥ |
'I could not truly be taken from wise Rama;
विधिस्तव वधार्थाय विहितो नात्र संशयः ॥
vidhistava vadhārthāya vihito nātra saṃśayaḥ ||
fate has arranged this for your destruction, without doubt.'
शूरेण धनदभ्रात्रा बलैः समुदितेन च ।
śūreṇa dhanadabhrātrā balaiḥ samuditena ca |
'You, the heroic brother of the lord of wealth, supported by armies,
अपोह्य रामं कस्माच्चिद् दारचौर्यं त्वया कृतम् ॥
apohya rāmaṃ kasmāccid dāracauryaṃ tvayā kṛtam ||
stole another's wife only after contriving to remove Rama.'
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ।
sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ |
Hearing Sita's words, Ravana, lord of rakshasas,
विवृत्य नयने क्रूरे जानकीमन्ववैक्षत ॥
vivṛtya nayane krūre jānakīmanvavaikṣata ||
opened his cruel eyes wide and stared at Janaki.
नीलजीमूतसंकाशो महाभुजशिरोधरः ।
nīlajīmūtasaṃkāśo mahābhujaśirodharaḥ |
Dark as a rain cloud, with mighty arms and neck,
सिंहसत्त्वगतिः श्रीमान् दीप्तजिह्वोग्रलोचनः ॥
siṃhasattvagatiḥ śrīmān dīptajihvogralocanaḥ ||
he had a lion's strength and gait, blazing tongue and fierce eyes.
चलाग्रमुकुटप्रांशुश्चित्रमाल्यानुलेपनः ।
calāgramukuṭaprāṃśuścitramālyānulepanaḥ |
Tall beneath a swaying crown, with varied garlands and perfumes,
रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरस्तप्तांगदविभूषणः ॥
raktamālyāmbaradharastaptāṃgadavibhūṣaṇaḥ ||
he wore red flowers and garments and gleaming armlets.
श्रोणीसूत्रेण महता मेचकेन सुसंवृतः ।
śroṇīsūtreṇa mahatā mecakena susaṃvṛtaḥ |
A broad, dark waist-cord encircled him,
अमृतोत्पादने नद्धो भुजंगेनेव मन्दरः ॥
amṛtotpādane naddho bhujaṃgeneva mandaraḥ ||
like the serpent bound around Mandara when nectar was churned.
ताभ्यां स परिपूर्णाभ्यां भुजाभ्यां राक्षसेश्वरः ।
tābhyāṃ sa paripūrṇābhyāṃ bhujābhyāṃ rākṣaseśvaraḥ |
With his two full and powerful arms, the rakshasa lord
शुशुभेऽचलसंकाशः शृंगाभ्यामिव मन्दरः ॥
śuśubhe’calasaṃkāśaḥ śṛṃgābhyāmiva mandaraḥ ||
shone like the mountain Mandara with its twin peaks.
तरुणादित्यवर्णाभ्यां कुण्डलाभ्यां विभूषितः ।
taruṇādityavarṇābhyāṃ kuṇḍalābhyāṃ vibhūṣitaḥ |
Adorned with earrings the color of the young sun,
रक्तपल्लवपुष्पाभ्यामशोकाभ्यामिवाचलः ॥
raktapallavapuṣpābhyāmaśokābhyāmivācalaḥ ||
he resembled a mountain with two ashoka trees bearing red leaves and flowers.
स कल्पवृक्षप्रतिमो वसन्त इव मूर्तिमान् ।
sa kalpavṛkṣapratimo vasanta iva mūrtimān |
He resembled a wish-fulfilling tree and spring embodied,
श्मशानचैत्यप्रतिमो भूषितोऽपि भयंकरः ॥
śmaśānacaityapratimo bhūṣito’pi bhayaṃkaraḥ ||
yet even adorned he was frightening, like a monument in a cremation ground.
अवेक्षमाणो वैदेहीं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः ।
avekṣamāṇo vaidehīṃ kopasaṃraktalocanaḥ |
Looking at Sita with eyes reddened by anger,
उवाच रावणः सीतां भुजंग इव निःश्वसन् ॥
uvāca rāvaṇaḥ sītāṃ bhujaṃga iva niḥśvasan ||
Ravana spoke while breathing like a serpent.
अनयेनाभिसम्पन्नमर्थहीनमनुव्रते ।
anayenābhisampannamarthahīnamanuvrate |
'You follow a course of folly without benefit;
नाशयाम्यहमद्य त्वां सूर्यः संध्यामिवौजसा ॥
nāśayāmyahamadya tvāṃ sūryaḥ saṃdhyāmivaujasā ||
today I shall destroy you with my power as the sun dispels twilight.'
इत्युक्त्वा मैथिलीं राजा रावणः शत्रुरावणः ।
ityuktvā maithilīṃ rājā rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ |
Having spoken to the princess of Mithila, King Ravana, terror of foes,
संददर्श ततः सर्वा राक्षसीर्घोरदर्शनाः ॥
saṃdadarśa tataḥ sarvā rākṣasīrghoradarśanāḥ ||
looked at all the dreadful rakshasis.
एकाक्षीमेककर्णां च कर्णप्रावरणां तथा ।
ekākṣīmekakarṇāṃ ca karṇaprāvaraṇāṃ tathā |
There were women with one eye, one ear, ears like a covering,
गोकर्णीं हस्तिकर्णीं च लम्बकर्णीमकर्णिकाम् ॥
gokarṇīṃ hastikarṇīṃ ca lambakarṇīmakarṇikām ||
cow ears, elephant ears, hanging ears, or no ears.
हस्तिपद्यश्वपद्यौ च गोपदीं पादचूलिकाम् ।
hastipadyaśvapadyau ca gopadīṃ pādacūlikām |
Some had elephant, horse, or cow feet, or tufts upon their feet;
एकाक्षीमेकपादीं च पृथुपादीमपादिकाम् ॥
ekākṣīmekapādīṃ ca pṛthupādīmapādikām ||
some had one eye or foot, broad feet, or no feet.
अतिमात्रशिरोग्रीवामतिमात्रकुचोदरीम् ।
atimātraśirogrīvāmatimātrakucodarīm |
Some had enormous heads and necks, breasts and bellies,
अतिमात्रास्यनेत्रां च दीर्घजिह्वानखामपि ॥
atimātrāsyanetrāṃ ca dīrghajihvānakhāmapi ||
huge mouths and eyes, long tongues and nails.
अनासिकां सिंहमुखीं गोमुखीं सूकरीमुखीम् ।
anāsikāṃ siṃhamukhīṃ gomukhīṃ sūkarīmukhīm |
Some had no noses, or lion, cow, and pig faces.
यथा मद्वशगा सीता क्षिप्रं भवति जानकी ॥
yathā madvaśagā sītā kṣipraṃ bhavati jānakī ||
'Make Sita, Janaka's daughter, submit to me quickly—'
तथा कुरुत राक्षस्यः सर्वाः क्षिप्रं समेत्य वा ।
tathā kuruta rākṣasyaḥ sarvāḥ kṣipraṃ sametya vā |
'all of you rakshasis gather at once and act,
प्रतिलोमानुलोमैश्च सामदानादिभेदनैः ॥
pratilomānulomaiśca sāmadānādibhedanaiḥ ||
using contrary and agreeable methods, conciliation, gifts, and division—'
आवर्जयत वैदेहीं दण्डस्योद्यमनेन च ।
āvarjayata vaidehīṃ daṇḍasyodyamanena ca |
'and win over Sita with threats of punishment as well.'
इति प्रतिसमादिश्य राक्षसेन्द्रः पुनः पुनः ॥
iti pratisamādiśya rākṣasendraḥ punaḥ punaḥ ||
The rakshasa king repeated these instructions again and again.
काममन्युपरीतात्मा जानकीं प्रति गर्जत ।
kāmamanyuparītātmā jānakīṃ prati garjata |
Overwhelmed by desire and anger, he roared at Janaki.
उपगम्य ततः क्षिप्रं राक्षसी धान्यमालिनी ॥
upagamya tataḥ kṣipraṃ rākṣasī dhānyamālinī ||
Then the rakshasi Dhanyamalini quickly approached—
परिष्वज्य दशग्रीवमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।
pariṣvajya daśagrīvamidaṃ vacanamabravīt |
embraced ten-headed Ravana, and said:
मया क्रीड महाराज सीतया किं तवानया ॥
mayā krīḍa mahārāja sītayā kiṃ tavānayā ||
'Play with me, great king; what need have you of this Sita—'
विवर्णया कृपणया मानुष्या राक्षसेश्वर ।
vivarṇayā kṛpaṇayā mānuṣyā rākṣaseśvara |
'this pale, pitiable human woman, lord of rakshasas?
नूनमस्यां महाराज न देवा भोगसत्तमान् ॥
nūnamasyāṃ mahārāja na devā bhogasattamān ||
Surely, great king, the foremost gods do not allot to her—'
विदधत्यमरश्रेष्ठास्तव बाहुबलार्जितान् ।
vidadhatyamaraśreṣṭhāstava bāhubalārjitān |
'the finest pleasures that your arm's strength has won.
अकामां कामयानस्य शरीरमुपतप्यते ॥
akāmāṃ kāmayānasya śarīramupatapyate ||
Desiring someone who does not desire you torments the body.'
इच्छतीं कामयानस्य प्रीतिर्भवति शोभना ।
icchatīṃ kāmayānasya prītirbhavati śobhanā |
'Desiring one who desires you brings lovely happiness.'
एवमुक्तस्तु राक्षस्या समुत्क्षिप्तस्ततो बली ।
evamuktastu rākṣasyā samutkṣiptastato balī |
Thus addressed and drawn away by the rakshasi,
प्रहसन् मेघसंकाशो राक्षसः स न्यवर्तत ॥
prahasan meghasaṃkāśo rākṣasaḥ sa nyavartata ||
the strong, cloudlike rakshasa laughed and turned back.
प्रस्थितः स दशग्रीवः कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् ।
prasthitaḥ sa daśagrīvaḥ kampayanniva medinīm |
Ten-headed Ravana departed as though shaking the earth
ज्वलद्भास्करसंकाशं प्रविवेश निवेशनम् ॥
jvaladbhāskarasaṃkāśaṃ praviveśa niveśanam ||
and entered his residence, bright as the blazing sun.
देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च तास्ततः ।
devagandharvakanyāśca nāgakanyāśca tāstataḥ |
The daughters of gods, gandharvas, and nagas
परिवार्य दशग्रीवं प्रविशुस्ता गृहोत्तमम् ॥
parivārya daśagrīvaṃ praviśustā gṛhottamam ||
surrounded him and entered that magnificent house.
स मैथिलीं धर्मपरामवस्थितां
sa maithilīṃ dharmaparāmavasthitāṃ
After threatening the trembling princess of Mithila,
प्रवेपमानां परिभर्त्स्य रावणः ।
pravepamānāṃ paribhartsya rāvaṇaḥ |
who remained firmly devoted to righteousness,
विहाय सीतां मदनेन मोहितः
vihāya sītāṃ madanena mohitaḥ
Ravana, deluded by desire, left Sita
स्वमेव वेश्म प्रविवेश रावणः ॥
svameva veśma praviveśa rāvaṇaḥ ||
and entered his own dwelling.
CHAPTER 22 COMPLETE
Sita remains steadfast, but the guards now carry his threatening orders.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kanda, chapter 22. This reading follows Sanskrit Wikisource revision 354263, with all 46 numbered verses. Verse divisions and wording vary between editions.
The Sanskrit is preserved with normalized display spacing and line breaks. Some sentences continue across verse boundaries; the English follows that continuity. A yojana is a traditional distance unit, retained without assigning a modern measurement. Shape-changing and celestial beings belong to the epic’s sacred narrative.
English line senses and short meanings are original AI-assisted DHIH renderings checked against this Sanskrit reading; they are not a word-for-word grammatical commentary or a claim of human scholarly certification. Roman transliteration is generated mechanically in IAST. Names may also appear in familiar English spellings.
Sanskrit transcription credit: Wikisource contributors, revision history. The adapted reading text and DHIH English on this chapter page are offered under CC BY-SA 4.0. The ancient Sanskrit work is in the public domain. Illustrations are separately commissioned AI-generated DHIH artwork.
Historical comparison: M. N. Dutt’s Ramayana, volume II, a public-domain translation, was consulted for narrative context. The English displayed here is a fresh rendering of the pinned Sanskrit, not a reproduction of that translation.
This chapter includes coercion, explicit death threats, and threatened cannibalism. It is suitable for mature or carefully guided reading rather than an unguided young-child story. Audio will be added only when suitable recording permissions are available.