Sundarakanda Sarga 20: Plea for Love (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 20: Plea for Love (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 20 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. Rāvaṇa attempts to woo Sītā with promises of unparalleled luxury, power, and the status of his chief queen. He urges her to cast aside her grief and enjoy the pleasures of Laṅkā, claiming that Rāma is a mere ascetic who can never hope to find her or challenge the might of the Rākṣasas. Download PDF for convenience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 36 | Primary Character: Ravana & Sita Devi | Key Events: Rāvaṇa-Pralōbhanam (Ravana's Temptation), Sītā-Bhrānti-Nivāraṇam (Ravana's Attempt to Woo Sita), Rāma-Nindā (Ravana's Insults to Rama) | Location: Ashoka Vatika, Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe viṁśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 20th Sarga
praṇayaprārthana
Plea for Love
sa tāṅ parivṛtāṅ dīnāṅ nirānandāṅ tapasvinīm | sākārairmadhurairvākyaiḥ nyadarśayata rāvaṇaḥ || 1
While Sita, though distressed, maintained her unwavering chastity and focused mind, Ravana artfully conveyed his intentions with his facial expressions, hand gestures, and captivating, sweet words. (1)
māṅ dṛṣṭvā nāganāsōru gūhamānā stanōdaram | adarśanamivātmānaṅ bhayānnētuṅ tvamicchasi || 2
“O Beautiful Sita! Why do you cover your chest with your hands the moment you see me? Is it out of fear that you wish to turn your face away?” (2)
kāmayē tvāṅ viśālākṣi bahumanyasva māṅ priyē | sarvāṅgaguṇasampannē sarvalōkamanōharē || 3
“O wide-eyed one, I yearn for you! Look upon me with favor, my beloved. You are endowed with perfect grace in your whole form, a true captivator of all the worlds.” (3)
nēha kēcinmanuṣyā vā rākṣasāḥ kāmarūpiṇāḥ | vyapasarpatu tē sītē bhayaṅ mattaḥ samutthitam || 4
"There is no one else here, Sita, neither men nor Rākṣasas who can assume any form. Therefore, let this fear that has risen in you on account of me completely disappear." (4)
svadharmō rakṣasāṅ bhīru sarvathaiva na saṅśayaḥ | gamanaṅ vā parastrīṇāṅ haraṇaṅ sampramathya vā || 5
“O timid one, have no doubt at all: this is the very nature—the sacred dharma—of the Rākṣasas! Whether by choice or by force, we are destined to pursue and take the wives of others.” (5)
ēvaṅ caitadakāmāṅ tu na tvāṅ sprakṣyāmi maithili | kāmaṅ kāmaḥ śarīrē mē yathākāmaṅ pravartatām || 6
"O Maithili, put that concern aside. It is my very nature to be a person of desire. Let Manmatha—the god of love—ignite the flames of passion in me as fiercely as he wishes, but I will not touch you if you are unwilling." (6)
dēvi nēha bhayaṅ kāryaṅ mayi viśvasi hi priyē | praṇayasva ca tattvēna maivaṅ bhūḥ śōkalālasā || 7
“O Devi, my beloved, there is absolutely no need for you to fear here. Please trust me and offer me your true love. Do not continue to pine away in sorrow.” (7)
ēkavēṇī dharāśayyā dhyānaṅ malinamambaram | asthānē.pyupavāsaśca naitānyaupayikāni tē || 8
"A single braid, sleeping on the bare ground, this endless contemplation, wearing unclean garments, and all this unnecessary fasting—none of these practices are fitting for a beautiful woman like you." (8)
vicitrāni ca mālyāni candanānyagarūṇi ca | vividhāni ca vāsāṅsi divyānyābharaṇāni ca || 9 mahārhāṇi ca pānāni śayanānyāsanāni ca | gītaṅ nṛttaṅ ca vādyaṅ ca labha māṅ prāpya maithili || 10
"O Maithili, by accepting me, you shall have various colorful garlands, sandalwood pastes, perfumes of agarwood, and a wealth of clothes. You shall enjoy divine ornaments, the most exquisite drinks, luxurious beds and seats, and constant entertainment from singing, dancing, and music." (9 - 10)
strīratnamasi maivaṅ bhūḥ kuru gātrēṣu bhūṣaṇam | māṅ prāpya hi kathaṅ nu svāstvamanarhā suvigrahē || 11
You are the most precious of women—a very jewel! You must not remain in this state. Adorn your beautiful form with ornaments. How can you, possessed of such a flawless structure and having now found me, continue to be unworthy of happiness and well-being? (11)
idaṅ tē cāru sañjātaṅ yauvanaṅ vyativartatē | yadatītaṅ punarnaiti srōtaḥ śīghramapāmiva || 12
"This beautiful youth of yours is swiftly passing away. That which is gone does not return, just like the rapid current of water." (12)
tvāṅ kṛtvōparatō manyē rūpakartā sa viśvasṛk | na hi rūpōpamā tvanyā tavāsti śubhadarśanē || 13
"I believe the Brahma ceased his work after shaping you, O beautiful one. For truly, there exists no other likeness or comparison that can do justice to your beauty." (13)
tvāṅ samāsādya vaidēhi rūpayauvanaśālinīm | kaḥ pumānativartēta sākṣādapi pitāmahaḥ || 14
Upon seeing you, O Vaidehi, radiant with such beauty and youth, what man—even Brahma himself, the Progenitor of all—could not possibly turn away from you. (14)
yadyatpaśyāmi tē gātraṅ śītāṅśusadṛśānanē | tasmiṅstasmin pṛthuśrōṇi cakṣurmama nibadhyatē || 15
O Moon-faced one, whatever part of your body I look upon, on that very part my gaze becomes fixed. (15)
bhava maithili bhāryā mē mōhamēnaṅ visarjaya | bahvīnāmuttamastrīṇām āhṛtānāmitastataḥ | sarvāsāmēva bhadraṅ tē mamāgramahiṣī bhava || 16
"O Maithili, cast aside this delusion and be my wife! I have brought many excellent women here from every corner, but I offer you the highest position: be my chief queen. Do this, and secure your own well-being." (16)
lōkēbhyō yāni ratnāni sampramathyāhṛtāni vai | tāni mē bhīru sarvāṇi rājyaṅ caitadahaṅ ca tē || 17
“O timid one, all the treasures that have been forcibly plundered from the worlds are now mine, and I offer you all of them—this entire kingdom, and myself, as well.” (17)
vijitya pṛthivīṅ sarvāṅ nānānagaramālinīm | janakāya pradāsyāmi tava hētōrvilāsini || 18
“O graceful one, I would conquer this entire earth, adorned with its chain of diverse cities, and I would gladly bestow it all upon your father, Janaka, just for the sake of winning you.” (18)
nēha paśyāmi lōkē.nyaṅ yō mē pratibalō bhavēt | paśya mē sumahadvīryam apratidvandvamāhavē || 19
"I look across all the worlds and there is no one who possesses the strength to oppose me. Just behold my immense valor, which is absolutely unchallenged in battle!” (19)
asakṛtsaṅyugē bhagnā mayā vimṛditadhvajāḥ | aśaktāḥ pratyanīkēṣu sthātuṅ mama surāsurāḥ || 20
"I have repeatedly shattered the forces of gods and demons in battle, crushing their standards and leaving them incapable of standing against my might." (20)
iccha māṅ kriyatāmadya pratikarma tavōttamam | saprabhāṇyavasajyantāṅ tavāṅgē bhūṣaṇāni ca || 21
sādhu paśyāmi tē rūpaṅ saṅyuktaṅ pratikarmaṇā | pratikarmābhisaṅyuktā dākṣiṇyēna varānanē || 22
bhuṅkṣva bhōgānyathākāmaṅ piba bhīru ramasva ca | yathēṣṭaṅ ca prayaccha tvaṅ pṛthivīṅ vā dhanāni ca || 23
"Desire me, and let the finest preparations be made for you today; let shining ornaments be placed upon your entire form. O beautiful-faced one, how much more magnificent your beauty will be when you are adorned and display your full grace. O timid one, enjoy pleasures as you wish, drink, and disport yourself freely. You are also welcome to give away the entire earth or any treasures as you desire." (21 - 23)
lalasva mayi visrabdhā dhṛṣṭamājñāpayasva ca | matprasādāllalantyāśca lalantāṅ bāndhavāstava || 24
Trust in me, enjoy my company fearlessly, and boldly give me your commands. And as you delight in my favor, your own relatives will also share in that happiness and enjoy prosperity. (24)
ṛddhiṅ mamānupaśya tvaṅ śriyaṅ bhadrē yaśaśca mē | kiṅ kariṣyasi rāmēṇa subhagē cīravāsasā || 25
"O blessed one, behold my immense prosperity, my glory, and my fame. O fortunate one, what good will you find with Rama, who is clad only in the bark of trees (like a poor ascetic)?" (25)
nikṣiptavijayō rāmō gataśrīrvanagōcaraḥ | vratī sthaṇḍilaśāyī ca śaṅkē jīvati vā na vā || 26
"Rama has lost his glory, his victory abandoned. He is now deprived of all fortune, wandering the forest, living as a bare ascetic who sleeps on the cold earth. I even doubt if he is alive anymore." (26)
na hi vaidēhi rāmastvāṅ draṣṭuṅ vā pyupalapsyatē | purō balākairasitaiḥ mēghairjyōtsnāmivāvṛtām || 27
na cāpi mama hastāttvāṅ prāptumarhati rāghavaḥ | hiraṇyakaśipuḥ kīrtimindrahastagatāmiva || 28
"O Vaidehi, Rama will never be able to find or see you, as if you were the moonlight completely shrouded by dark, crane-filled storm clouds. And even if he were to find you, Raghava (Rama) will no more be able to snatch you from my grasp than Hiraṇyakaśipu was able to recover his lost glory from the hand of Indra." (27 - 28)
cārusmitē cārudati cārunētrē vilāsini | manō harasi mē bhīru suparṇaḥ pannagaṅ yathā || 29
O beautiful-smiling, beautiful-eyed, and charming woman, your timid presence has utterly seized my heart, just as the great Garuda swiftly snatches a serpent from the earth! (29)
kliṣṭakauśēyavasanāṅ tanvīmapyanalaṅkṛtām | tvāṅ dṛṣṭvā svēṣu dārēṣu ratiṅ nōpalabhāmyaham || 30
antaḥpuranivāsinyaḥ striyaḥ sarvaguṇānvitāḥ | yāvantyō mama sarvāsāmaiśvaryam kuru jānaki || 31
O Janaki, after seeing you, even though you are in this state—so slender, unadorned, and wearing only soiled silk—I find no delight in my own wives, even those in my inner palace who possess every virtue. I want you to become the supreme mistress over all of them. (30 - 31)
mama hyasitakēśāntē trailōkyapravarāḥ striyaḥ | tāstvāṅ paricariṣyanti śriyamapsarasō yathā || 32
O beautiful-haired one, the most excellent women of the three worlds already reside in my palace. Yet, they all will attend upon you and serve you, just as the Apsaras attend upon the Lakshmi Devi. (32)
yāni vaiśravaṇē subhru ratnāni ca dhanāni ca | tāni lōkāṅśca suśrōṇi māṅ ca bhuṅkṣva yathāsukham || 33
O beautiful one, all the jewels and riches that belong to Kubera—all these worlds and even myself—are yours to enjoy as you please. (33)
na rāmastapasā dēvi na balēna na vikramaiḥ | na dhanēna mayā tulyastējasā yaśasāpi vā || 34
O Devi, in every aspect—be it spiritual power, sheer strength, martial valor, vast wealth, dazzling splendor, or fame—Rama is simply not my equal and will never be my equal (34)
piba vihara ramasva bhuṅkṣva bhōgān dhananicayaṅ pradiśāmi mēdinīṅ ca | mayi lala lalanē yathāsukhaṅ tvaṅ tvayi ca samētya lalantu bāndhavāstē || 35
"O lovely woman, drink your fill, and take pleasure in every delight and sport! I will bestow upon you boundless riches and the entire earth. Come, rejoice in my love without restraint, and through my favor, let all your relatives share in your joy and prosperity." (35)
kusumitatarujālasantatāni bhramarayutāni samudratīrajāni | kanakavimalahārabhūṣitāṅgī vihara mayā saha bhīru kānanāni || 36
"O timid one, with your body adorned in bright, pure golden necklaces, come wander with me through the seaside forests, where blossoming trees form a dense canopy and are filled with the sweet humming of bees." (36)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde viṁśassargaḥ
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