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VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA · CHAPTER 24
सुन्दरकाण्डम् · सर्गः २४
Sita answers with examples of steadfast devotion. The guards respond with increasingly cruel threats while Hanuman listens unseen.
An edition-specific reading with original English meanings. Source & reading notes
SCENE 01 · VERSES 1–47
Sita answers with examples of steadfast devotion. The guards respond with increasingly cruel threats while Hanuman listens unseen.
ततः सीतां समस्तास्ता राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः ।
tataḥ sītāṃ samastāstā rākṣasyo vikṛtānanāḥ |
Then all those distorted-faced rakshasis spoke harsh, unwelcome words
परुषं परुषानर्हामूचुस्तद्वाक्यमप्रियम् ॥
paruṣaṃ paruṣānarhāmūcustadvākyamapriyam ||
to Sita, who did not deserve harsh treatment.
किं त्वमन्तःपुरे सीते सर्वभूतमनोरमे ।
kiṃ tvamantaḥpure sīte sarvabhūtamanorame |
'Why, Sita, will you not agree to live in the inner palace,
महार्हशयनोपेते न वासमनुमन्यसे ॥
mahārhaśayanopete na vāsamanumanyase ||
delightful to every creature and furnished with costly beds?'
मानुषी मानुषस्यैव भार्यात्वं बहु मन्यसे ।
mānuṣī mānuṣasyaiva bhāryātvaṃ bahu manyase |
'Being human, you value being a human man's wife.
प्रत्याहर मनो रामान्नैवं जातु भविष्यति ॥
pratyāhara mano rāmānnaivaṃ jātu bhaviṣyati ||
Withdraw your mind from Rama; that union will never happen again.'
त्रैलोक्यवसुभोक्तारं रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम् ।
trailokyavasubhoktāraṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣaseśvaram |
'Accept Ravana, lord of rakshasas and enjoyer of the three worlds' wealth,
भर्तारमुपसंगम्य विहरस्व यथासुखम् ॥
bhartāramupasaṃgamya viharasva yathāsukham ||
as your husband, and live as happily as you wish.'
मानुषी मानुषं तं तु राममिच्छसि शोभने ।
mānuṣī mānuṣaṃ taṃ tu rāmamicchasi śobhane |
'Beautiful, faultless woman, you still desire that human Rama,
राज्याद् भ्रष्टमसिद्धार्थं विक्लवन्तमनिन्दिते ॥
rājyād bhraṣṭamasiddhārthaṃ viklavantamanindite ||
driven from his kingdom, unsuccessful, and distressed.'
राक्षसीनां वचः श्रुत्वा सीता पद्मनिभेक्षणा ।
rākṣasīnāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sītā padmanibhekṣaṇā |
Hearing the rakshasis' words, lotus-eyed Sita
नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
netrābhyāmaśrupūrṇābhyāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt ||
spoke with both eyes full of tears.
यदिदं लोकविद्विष्टमुदाहरत संगताः ।
yadidaṃ lokavidviṣṭamudāharata saṃgatāḥ |
'The sinful words you utter together are condemned by the world;
नैतन्मनसि वाक्यं मे किल्बिषं प्रतितिष्ठति ॥
naitanmanasi vākyaṃ me kilbiṣaṃ pratitiṣṭhati ||
they find no resting place in my mind.'
न मानुषी राक्षसस्य भार्या भवितुमर्हति ।
na mānuṣī rākṣasasya bhāryā bhavitumarhati |
'A human woman should not become a rakshasa's wife.
कामं खादत मां सर्वा न करिष्यामि वो वचः ॥
kāmaṃ khādata māṃ sarvā na kariṣyāmi vo vacaḥ ||
You may all devour me, but I will not do as you say.'
दीनो वा राज्यहीनो वा यो मे भर्ता स मे गुरुः ।
dīno vā rājyahīno vā yo me bhartā sa me guruḥ |
'Whether distressed or deprived of his kingdom, my husband remains worthy of my reverence.
तं नित्यमनुरक्तास्मि यथा सूर्यं सुवर्चला ॥
taṃ nityamanuraktāsmi yathā sūryaṃ suvarcalā ||
I am always devoted to him, as Suvarchala is to the Sun.'
यथा शची महाभागा शक्रं समुपतिष्ठति ।
yathā śacī mahābhāgā śakraṃ samupatiṣṭhati |
'As fortunate Shachi attends Indra,
अरुन्धती वसिष्ठं च रोहिणी शशिनं यथा ॥
arundhatī vasiṣṭhaṃ ca rohiṇī śaśinaṃ yathā ||
Arundhati attends Vasishtha, and Rohini the Moon—'
लोपामुद्रा यथागस्त्यं सुकन्या च्यवनं यथा ।
lopāmudrā yathāgastyaṃ sukanyā cyavanaṃ yathā |
'as Lopamudra attends Agastya, Sukanya Chyavana,
सावित्री सत्यवन्तं च कपिलं श्रीमती यथा ॥
sāvitrī satyavantaṃ ca kapilaṃ śrīmatī yathā ||
Savitri Satyavan, and Shrimati Kapila—'
सौदासं मदयन्तीव केशिनी सगरं यथा ।
saudāsaṃ madayantīva keśinī sagaraṃ yathā |
'as Madayanti attends Saudasa, Keshini Sagara,
नैषधं दमयन्तीव भैमी पतिमनुव्रता ॥
naiṣadhaṃ damayantīva bhaimī patimanuvratā ||
and Bhima's daughter Damayanti faithfully follows Nala of Nishadha—'
तथाहमिक्ष्वाकुवरं रामं पतिमनुव्रता ।
tathāhamikṣvākuvaraṃ rāmaṃ patimanuvratā |
'so I am devoted to my husband Rama, foremost of Ikshvaku's line.'
सीताया वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षस्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः ।
sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā rākṣasyaḥ krodhamūrcchitāḥ |
Hearing Sita's words, the rakshasis, overwhelmed by anger
भर्त्सयन्ति स्म परुषैर्वाक्यै रावणचोदिताः ॥
bhartsayanti sma paruṣairvākyai rāvaṇacoditāḥ ||
and driven by Ravana's command, threatened her harshly.
अवलीनः स निर्वाक्यो हनुमान् शिंशपाद्रुमे ।
avalīnaḥ sa nirvākyo hanumān śiṃśapādrume |
Hidden silently in the shimshapa tree, Hanuman
सीतां संतर्जयन्तीस्ता राक्षसीरशृणोत् कपिः ॥
sītāṃ saṃtarjayantīstā rākṣasīraśṛṇot kapiḥ ||
heard the rakshasis threatening Sita.
तामभिक्रम्य संरब्धा वेपमानां समन्ततः ।
tāmabhikramya saṃrabdhā vepamānāṃ samantataḥ |
They rushed angrily around the trembling woman
भृशं संलिलिहुर्दीप्तान् प्रलम्बान् दशनच्छदान् ॥
bhṛśaṃ saṃlilihurdīptān pralambān daśanacchadān ||
and repeatedly licked their bright, long, hanging lips.
ऊचुश्च परमक्रुद्धाः प्रगृह्याशु परश्वधान् ।
ūcuśca paramakruddhāḥ pragṛhyāśu paraśvadhān |
Extremely angry, they quickly raised axes and cried:
नेयमर्हति भर्तारं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम् ॥
neyamarhati bhartāraṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam ||
'This woman does not deserve Ravana, king of rakshasas, as husband!'
सा भर्त्स्यमाना भीमाभी राक्षसीभिर्वरांगना ।
sā bhartsyamānā bhīmābhī rākṣasībhirvarāṃganā |
Threatened by the terrible rakshasis, the lovely woman
सा बाष्पमपमार्जन्ती शिंशपां तामुपागमत् ॥
sā bāṣpamapamārjantī śiṃśapāṃ tāmupāgamat ||
wiped away her tears and approached that shimshapa tree.
ततस्तां शिंशपां सीता राक्षसीभिः समावृता ।
tatastāṃ śiṃśapāṃ sītā rākṣasībhiḥ samāvṛtā |
Reaching the shimshapa, wide-eyed Sita stood
अभिगम्य विशालाक्षी तस्थौ शोकपरिप्लुता ॥
abhigamya viśālākṣī tasthau śokapariplutā ||
surrounded by rakshasis and overwhelmed by sorrow.
तां कृशां दीनवदनां मलिनाम्बरवासिनीम् ।
tāṃ kṛśāṃ dīnavadanāṃ malināmbaravāsinīm |
The terrible rakshasis threatened her from every side,
भर्त्सयाञ्चक्रिरे भीमा राक्षस्यस्ताः समन्ततः ॥
bhartsayāñcakrire bhīmā rākṣasyastāḥ samantataḥ ||
thin and sorrowful-faced as she was, wearing dirty clothes.
ततस्तु विनता नाम राक्षसी भीमदर्शना ।
tatastu vinatā nāma rākṣasī bhīmadarśanā |
Then a frightening rakshasi named Vinata,
अब्रवीत् कुपिताकारा कराला निर्णतोदरी ॥
abravīt kupitākārā karālā nirṇatodarī ||
fierce-faced and hollow-bellied, spoke with an angry appearance.
सीते पर्याप्तमेतावद् भर्तुः स्नेहः प्रदर्शितः ।
sīte paryāptametāvad bhartuḥ snehaḥ pradarśitaḥ |
'Sita, you have shown enough affection for your husband.
सर्वत्रातिकृतं भद्रे व्यसनायोपकल्पते ॥
sarvatrātikṛtaṃ bhadre vyasanāyopakalpate ||
Excess in anything, good woman, brings misfortune.'
परितुष्टास्मि भद्रं ते मानुषस्ते कृतो विधिः ।
parituṣṭāsmi bhadraṃ te mānuṣaste kṛto vidhiḥ |
'I am satisfied; you have performed your human duty.
ममापि तु वचः पथ्यं ब्रुवन्त्याः कुरु मैथिलि ॥
mamāpi tu vacaḥ pathyaṃ bruvantyāḥ kuru maithili ||
Now, princess of Mithila, follow the beneficial words I speak.'
रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम् ।
rāvaṇaṃ bhaja bhartāraṃ bhartāraṃ sarvarakṣasām |
'Accept Ravana as husband, the lord of all rakshasas,
विक्रान्तमापतन्तं च सुरेशमिव वासवम् ॥
vikrāntamāpatantaṃ ca sureśamiva vāsavam ||
valiant in attack like Vasava, ruler of the gods.'
दक्षिणं त्यागशीलं च सर्वस्य प्रियवादिनम् ।
dakṣiṇaṃ tyāgaśīlaṃ ca sarvasya priyavādinam |
'He is generous, gracious, and pleasant-spoken to everyone.
मानुषं कृपणं रामं त्यक्त्वा रावणमाश्रय ॥
mānuṣaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ rāmaṃ tyaktvā rāvaṇamāśraya ||
Abandon pitiable human Rama and take refuge in Ravana.'
दिव्यांगरागा वैदेहि दिव्याभरणभूषिता ।
divyāṃgarāgā vaidehi divyābharaṇabhūṣitā |
'Anointed with divine perfumes and adorned with divine ornaments,
अद्यप्रभृति लोकानां सर्वेषामीश्वरी भव ॥
adyaprabhṛti lokānāṃ sarveṣāmīśvarī bhava ||
from this day become mistress of all the worlds, Sita.'
अग्नेः स्वाहा यथा देवी शची वेन्द्रस्य शोभने ।
agneḥ svāhā yathā devī śacī vendrasya śobhane |
'Be like the goddess Svaha to Fire or Shachi to Indra, beautiful one.
किं ते रामेण वैदेहि कृपणेन गतायुषा ॥
kiṃ te rāmeṇa vaidehi kṛpaṇena gatāyuṣā ||
What use is Rama to you, Sita, wretched and as good as dead?'
एतदुक्तं च मे वाक्यं यदि त्वं न करिष्यसि ।
etaduktaṃ ca me vākyaṃ yadi tvaṃ na kariṣyasi |
'If you do not do as I have said,
अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते सर्वास्त्वां भक्षयिष्यामहे वयम् ॥
asmin muhūrte sarvāstvāṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmahe vayam ||
all of us will devour you this very moment.'
अन्या तु विकटा नाम लम्बमानपयोधरा ।
anyā tu vikaṭā nāma lambamānapayodharā |
Another rakshasi, Vikata, with hanging breasts,
अब्रवीत् कुपिता सीतां मुष्टिमुद्यम्य तर्जती ॥
abravīt kupitā sītāṃ muṣṭimudyamya tarjatī ||
angrily threatened Sita with her fist raised.
बहून्यप्रतिरूपाणि वचनानि सुदुर्मते ।
bahūnyapratirūpāṇi vacanāni sudurmate |
'Many unsuitable words of yours, foolish princess of Mithila,
अनुक्रोशान्मृदुत्वाच्च सोढानि तव मैथिलि ॥
anukrośānmṛdutvācca soḍhāni tava maithili ||
we have endured through pity and gentleness.'
न च नः कुरुषे वाक्यं हितं कालपुरस्कृतम् ।
na ca naḥ kuruṣe vākyaṃ hitaṃ kālapuraskṛtam |
'You do not obey our timely, beneficial advice.
आनीतासि समुद्रस्य पारमन्यैर्दुरासदम् ॥
ānītāsi samudrasya pāramanyairdurāsadam ||
You have been brought across the ocean, where others can scarcely come.'
रावणान्तःपुरे घोरे प्रविष्टा चासि मैथिलि ।
rāvaṇāntaḥpure ghore praviṣṭā cāsi maithili |
'You have entered Ravana's dreadful inner domain, princess of Mithila;
रावणस्य गृहे रुद्धा अस्माभिस्त्वभिरक्षिता ॥
rāvaṇasya gṛhe ruddhā asmābhistvabhirakṣitā ||
confined in his house, you are guarded by us.'
न त्वां शक्तः परित्रातुमपि साक्षात् पुरंदरः ।
na tvāṃ śaktaḥ paritrātumapi sākṣāt puraṃdaraḥ |
'Not even Indra himself could rescue you.
कुरुष्व हितवादिन्या वचनं मम मैथिलि ॥
kuruṣva hitavādinyā vacanaṃ mama maithili ||
Follow my advice, which is for your good, princess of Mithila.'
अलमश्रुनिपातेन त्यज शोकमनर्थकम् ।
alamaśrunipātena tyaja śokamanarthakam |
'Enough of falling tears; abandon useless sorrow.
भज प्रीतिं प्रहर्षं च त्यजन्ती नित्यदैन्यताम् ॥
bhaja prītiṃ praharṣaṃ ca tyajantī nityadainyatām ||
Give up constant misery and embrace affection and joy.'
सीते राक्षसराजेन परिक्रीड यथासुखम् ।
sīte rākṣasarājena parikrīḍa yathāsukham |
'Sita, enjoy yourself as you wish with the rakshasa king.
जानीमहे यथा भीरु स्त्रीणां यौवनमध्रुवम् ॥
jānīmahe yathā bhīru strīṇāṃ yauvanamadhruvam ||
We know, timid one, that a woman's youth does not last.'
यावन्न ते व्यतिक्रामेत् तावत् सुखमवाप्नुहि ।
yāvanna te vyatikrāmet tāvat sukhamavāpnuhi |
'Enjoy happiness before it passes away;
उद्यानानि च रम्याणि पर्वतोपवनानि च ॥
udyānāni ca ramyāṇi parvatopavanāni ca ||
through delightful gardens and groves upon the mountains—'
सह राक्षसराजेन चर त्वं मदिरेक्षणे ।
saha rākṣasarājena cara tvaṃ madirekṣaṇe |
'wander with the rakshasa king, lovely-eyed one.
स्त्रीसहस्राणि ते देवि वशे स्थास्यन्ति सुन्दरि ॥
strīsahasrāṇi te devi vaśe sthāsyanti sundari ||
Thousands of women will stand under your command, beautiful lady.'
रावणं भज भर्तारं भर्तारं सर्वरक्षसाम् ।
rāvaṇaṃ bhaja bhartāraṃ bhartāraṃ sarvarakṣasām |
'Accept Ravana, lord of all rakshasas, as husband;
उत्पाट्य वा ते हृदयं भक्षयिष्यामि मैथिलि ॥
utpāṭya vā te hṛdayaṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmi maithili ||
otherwise I shall tear out and eat your heart, princess of Mithila—'
यदि मे व्याहृतं वाक्यं न यथावत् करिष्यसि ।
yadi me vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ na yathāvat kariṣyasi |
'if you do not carry out the words I have spoken.'
ततश्चण्डोदरी नाम राक्षसी क्रूरदर्शना ॥
tataścaṇḍodarī nāma rākṣasī krūradarśanā ||
Then the cruel-looking rakshasi named Chandodari—
भ्रामयन्ती महच्छूलमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।
bhrāmayantī mahacchūlamidaṃ vacanamabravīt |
whirled a great trident and spoke these words:
इमां हरिणशावाक्षीं त्रासोत्कम्पपयोधराम् ॥
imāṃ hariṇaśāvākṣīṃ trāsotkampapayodharām ||
'This doe-eyed woman, her body trembling with fear—'
रावणेन हृतां दृष्ट्वा दौर्हृदो मे महानयम् ।
rāvaṇena hṛtāṃ dṛṣṭvā daurhṛdo me mahānayam |
'when I saw her brought away by Ravana, a terrible craving arose in me:
यकृत्प्लीहं महत् क्रोडं हृदयं च सबन्धनम् ॥
yakṛtplīhaṃ mahat kroḍaṃ hṛdayaṃ ca sabandhanam ||
her liver, spleen, chest, and heart with its vessels—'
गात्राण्यपि तथा शीर्षं खादेयमिति मे मतिः ।
gātrāṇyapi tathā śīrṣaṃ khādeyamiti me matiḥ |
'and her limbs and head as well, I long to eat.'
ततस्तु प्रघसा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
tatastu praghasā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt ||
Then a rakshasi named Praghasa spoke.
कण्ठमस्या नृशंसायाः पीडयामः किमास्यते ।
kaṇṭhamasyā nṛśaṃsāyāḥ pīḍayāmaḥ kimāsyate |
'Let us crush this cruel woman's throat; why wait?
निवेद्यतां ततो राज्ञे मानुषी सा मृतेति ह ॥
nivedyatāṃ tato rājñe mānuṣī sā mṛteti ha ||
Then tell the king that the human woman has died.'
नात्र कश्चन संदेहः खादतेति स वक्ष्यति ।
nātra kaścana saṃdehaḥ khādateti sa vakṣyati |
'There is no doubt that he will say, “Eat her.”'
ततस्त्वजामुखी नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
tatastvajāmukhī nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt ||
Then a rakshasi named Ajamukhi spoke.
विशस्येमां ततः सर्वान् समान् कुरुत पिण्डकान् ।
viśasyemāṃ tataḥ sarvān samān kuruta piṇḍakān |
'Kill her and divide the portions equally;
विभजाम ततः सर्वा विवादो मे न रोचते ॥
vibhajāma tataḥ sarvā vivādo me na rocate ||
let us share them all, for I dislike quarrels.'
पेयमानीयतां क्षिप्रं माल्यं च विविधं बहु ।
peyamānīyatāṃ kṣipraṃ mālyaṃ ca vividhaṃ bahu |
'Bring drink quickly and many different garlands.'
ततः शूर्पणखा नाम राक्षसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī vākyamabravīt ||
Then the rakshasi named Shurpanakha spoke.
अजामुख्या यदुक्तं वै तदेव मम रोचते ।
ajāmukhyā yaduktaṃ vai tadeva mama rocate |
'What Ajamukhi has said pleases me too.
सुरा चानीयतां क्षिप्रं सर्वशोकविनाशिनी ॥
surā cānīyatāṃ kṣipraṃ sarvaśokavināśinī ||
Bring liquor quickly, the drink that drives away every sorrow.'
मानुषं मांसमास्वाद्य नृत्यामोऽथ निकुम्भिलाम् ।
mānuṣaṃ māṃsamāsvādya nṛtyāmo’tha nikumbhilām |
'After tasting human flesh, let us dance at Nikumbhila.'
एवं निर्भर्त्स्यमाना सा सीता सुरसुतोपमा ।
evaṃ nirbhartsyamānā sā sītā surasutopamā |
Thus threatened by those distorted rakshasis,
राक्षसीभिर्विरूपाभिर्धैर्यमुत्सृज्य रोदिति ॥
rākṣasībhirvirūpābhirdhairyamutsṛjya roditi ||
Sita, lovely as a daughter of the gods, lost her composure and wept.
CHAPTER 24 COMPLETE
Overwhelmed by their cruelty, Sita weeps; Hanuman has witnessed her refusal.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kanda, chapter 24. This reading follows Sanskrit Wikisource revision 354271, with all 47 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.
The full text contains explicit threats of murder and cannibalism. It is not a children’s adaptation. Sita’s refusal is clear throughout; threats and captivity cannot establish consent. Audio will be added only when suitable recording permissions are available.