Sundarakanda Sarga 22: Ravana's Two-Month Ultimatum (Full Text & Meaning)
Sundarakanda Sarga 22: Ravana's Two-Month Ultimatum (Full Text & Meaning)
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Read Sundarakanda Sarga 22 with full Sanskrit Shlokas and verbatim English meanings. Infuriated by Sītā's rejection, Rāvaṇa delivers a terrifying two-month deadline: accept him or be slaughtered for his morning meal. Despite the looming threat of death, Sītā remains unwavering. Rāvaṇa departs in a rage, leaving the Devi to the mercy of his cruelest guardians. . Download PDF for convinience or read along online at Kalady.org
| Detail | Total Shlokas: 46 | Primary Characters: Sita Devi, Ravana, Dhanyamalini | Key Events: Rāvaṇa-Kāla-Nirṇaya (Ravana's Deadline), Sītā-Nirbhaya-Vāk (Sita's Fearless Reply), Dhānyamālinī-Sāntvanam (Dhanyamalini's Intervention) | Location: Ashoka Vatika, Lanka |
athaḥ śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇe suṃdarakāṃḍe dvāviṁśassargaḥ
Beginning of Sundarakanda from Srimad Valmiki Ramanaya - 22nd Sarga
māsadvayāvadhikaraṇam Ravana's Two-Month Ultimatum
sītāyā vacanaṅ śrutvā paruṣaṅ rākṣasādhipaḥ | pratyuvāca tataḥ sītāṅ vipriyaṅ priyadarśanām || 1
Having heard the harsh words from Sita, the lord of the Rākṣasas (Ravana) then spoke an unpleasing reply to that beautiful-faced woman. (1)
yathā yathā sāntvayitā vaśyaḥ strīṇāṅ tathā tathā | yathā yathā priyaṅ vaktā paribhūtastathā tathā || 2
The more a man attempts to appease or win over a woman, will only render him more subservient to her; and the more pleasing his words, the more he is slighted or disrespected. (2)
sanniyacchati mē krōdhaṅ tvayi kāmaḥ samutthitaḥ | dravatō.mārgamāsādya hayāniva susārathiḥ || 3
Just as a good charioteer manages runaway horses that have left their proper course, the consuming desire that has sprung up within me for you is the only thing restraining my fury. (3)
vāmaḥ kāmō manuṣyāṇāṅ yasmin kila nibadhyatē | janē tasmiṅstvanukrōśaḥ snēhaśca kila jāyatē || 4
"The nature of human desire is perverse indeed: for the person one is most passionately attached to, one also inevitably develops tenderness and affection." (4)
ētasmātkāraṇānna tvāṅ ghātayāmi varānanē | vadhārhāmavamānārhāṅ mithyā pravrajitē ratām || 5
"O beautiful-faced one, it is for this very reason—this intense desire—that I do not kill you. Even though your devotion to that mere, false ascetic Rama makes you fully worthy of death and dishonor." (5)
paruṣāṇīha vākyāni yāni yāni bravīṣi mām | tēṣu tēṣu vadhō yuktastava maithili dāruṇaḥ || 6
O Maithili, for the harsh words which you speak to me, a terrible death is truly justified for you. (6)
ēvamuktvā tu vaidēhīṅ rāvaṇō rākṣasādhipaḥ | krōdhasaṅrambhasaṅyuktaḥ sītāmuttaramabravīt || 7
Having spoken thus to Vaidehi (Sita), Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas, filled with anger and fury, spoke the following words to Sita. (7)
dvau māsau rakṣitavyau mē yō.vadhistē mayā kṛtaḥ | tataḥ śayanamārōha mama tvaṅ varavarṇini || 8
Two months is the period I have fixed for you to be kept under guard. After that, O lady of beautiful complexion, you must accept me. (8)
ūrdhvaṅ dvābhyāṅ tu māsābhyāṅ bhartāraṅ māmanicchatīm | mama tvāṅ prātarāśārthamālabhantē mahānasē || 9
After two months, if you still do not desire me as your husband, you will be cooked for my morning meal in the great kitchen. (9)
tāṅ tarjyamānāṅ samprēkṣya rākṣasēndrēṇa jānakīm | dēvagandharvakanyāstā viṣēdurvikṛtēkṣaṇāḥ || 10
Seeing Janaki being threatened by the Lord of the Rakshasas (Ravana), those young women of the gods and Gandharvas became distressed, their eyes agitated. (10)
ōṣṭhaprakārairaparā vaktranētraistathāparāḥ | sītāmāśvāsayāmāsuḥ tarjitāṅ tēna rakṣasā || 11
Others (the celestial women) offered reassurance to Sita, who was being threatened by that Rakshasa (Ravana): some by movements of their lips, and others by the expressions on their faces and eyes. (11)
tābhirāśvāsitā sītā rāvaṇaṅ rākṣasādhipam | uvācātmahitaṅ vākyaṅ vṛttaśauṇḍīryagarvitam || 12
Comforted by them, Sita, filled with pride in her conduct and virtuous character, spoke words conducive to the welfare of Ravana, the King of the Rakshasas. (12)
nūnaṅ na tē janaḥ kaścidasti niḥśrēyasē sthitaḥ | nivārayati yō na tvāṅ karmaṇō.smādvigarhitāt || 13
"Surely, you have no one near you who is truly concerned for your ultimate well-being, no one who would restrain you from this shameful, despicable act." (13)
māṅ hi dharmātmanaḥ patnīṅ śacīmiva śacīpatēḥ | tvadanyastriṣu lōkēṣu prārthayēnmanasāpi kaḥ || 14
"Just as Shachi is the dharma patni (wife) of Indra, I am the dharma patni of Śrī Rāma. No one else in these three worlds would even conceive of desiring me in their thoughts. Only you could commit such a great sin." (14)
rākṣasādhama rāmasya bhāryāmamitatējasaḥ | uktavānasi yatpāpaṅ kva gatastasya mōkṣyasē || 15
O vilest of Rākṣasas, for having spoken such abusive words to the wife of Śrī Rāma, the one of immeasurable glory, you will not escape death, no matter where you go. (15)
yathā dṛptaśca mātaṅgaḥ śaśaśca saddṛśō yudhi | tathā mātaṅgavadrāmastvaṅ nīca: śaśavat smṛtaḥ || 16
Your preparation to fight Śrī Rāma is like a hare challenging an arrogant elephant in the forest. Śrī Rāma is that mighty elephant, and you, O vilest one, are that hare. (16)
sa tvamikṣvākunāthaṅ vai kṣipanniha na lajjasē | cakṣuṣōrviṣayaṅ tasya na tāvadupagacchasi || 17
That day, being too afraid to face Śrī Rāma, the King of the Ikshvāku dynasty, you deceitfully sent him away with a phantom deer (Māyā Mṛga), and then abducted me. Are you not ashamed of speaking such daring words in his absence? You will only learn the true measure of his strength when you finally face him. (16-17)
imē tē nayanē krūrē virūpē kṛṣṇapiṅgalē | kṣitau na patitē kasmānmāmanārya nirīkṣitaḥ || 18
O ignoble one, why do these cruel, hideous, black and tawny eyes of yours not immediately fall out and drop to the ground after you have dared to look at me? (18)
tasya dharmātmanaḥ patnīṅ snuṣāṅ daśarathasya ca | kathaṅ vyāharatō māṅ tē na jihvā vyavaśīryatē || 19
How is it that, when you speak to me, the wife of that righteous soul (Rāma) and the daughter-in-law of Daśaratha, your tongue does not split into a thousand pieces? (19)
asandēśāttu rāmasya tapasaścānupālanāt | na tvāṅ kurmi daśagrīva bhasma bharmārha tējasā || 20
O Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa), I could reduce you to ashes with the terrifying and burning power of my penance and my pativratyam (supreme devotion to husband). But because I do not have a command from Rāma to do so, you are still alive. (20)
nāpahartumahaṅ śakyā tvayā rāmasya dhīmataḥ | vidhistava vadhārthāya vihitō nātra saṅśayaḥ || 21
You were never truly capable of abducting me, the wife of the wise Rāma. This whole act has simply been an instrument of your own undoing. There is absolutely no doubt that fate has ordained this for the sole purpose of bringing about your destruction. (21)
śūrēṇa dhanadabhrātrā balaiḥ samuditēna ca | apōhya rāmaṅ kasmāddhi dāracauryaṅ tvayā kṛtam || 22
You boast that you are brave, the brother of Kubera, the God of Wealth, and a lord with powerful armies. If this is true, then why did you deceitfully draw Rāma away, and commit the base act of stealing his wife? (22)
Section 4: Ravana's Formidable and Terrifying Appearance (Shlokas 23–31)
sītāyā vacanaṅ śrutvā rāvaṇō rākṣasādhipaḥ | vivṛtya nayanē krūrē jānakīmanvavaikṣata || 23
Upon hearing Sītā's words, Rāvaṇa, the lord of the Rākṣasas, furiously darted his cruel eyes at Jānakī. (23)
nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśō mahābhujaśirōdharaḥ | siṅhasattvagatiḥ śrīmān dīpta jihvāgralōcanaḥ || 24
Rāvaṇa's appearance was formidable: he resembled a dark rain cloud, possessing a massive head and great arms. He moved with the majestic, glorious gait of a lion, and his eyes and the tip of his tongue were bright red. (24)
calāgramakuṭaprāṅśuḥ citramālyānulēpanaḥ | raktamālyāmbaradhara tatsaṅgadavibhūṣaṇaḥ || 25
He was tall, his splendid crown was shifting as he moved with agitation. His body was smeared with colored unguents and adorned with variegated garlands. Clad in red garments and garlands, he was further decorated with a full array of ornaments that suited. (24-25)
śrōṇisūtrēṇa mahatā mēcakēna susaṅvṛtaḥ | amṛtōtpādanaddhēna bhujagēnēva mandaraḥ || 26
Rāvaṇa was encircled by a great, dark waistband, which resembled the dark serpent (Vāsuki) used for churning the amritam (nectar of immortality) wrapped around Mount Mandara. (26)
tābhyāṅ sa paripūrṇābhyāṅ bhujābhyāṅ rākṣasēśvaraḥ | śuśubhē.calasaṅkāśaḥ śṛṅgābhyāmiva mandaraḥ || 27
With his two massive arms, the king of the Rākṣasas shone brightly, appearing like the Mandara Mountain itself with its two towering peaks. (26-27)
taruṇādityavarṇābhyāṅ kuṇḍalābhyāṅ vibhūṣitaḥ | raktapallavapuṣpābhyāmaśōkābhyāmivācalaḥ || 28
He was adorned with a pair of earrings that shone with the color of the young, rising sun. With these earrings, he appeared like a mountain graced by two Aśoka trees, brilliant with red sprouts and flowers. (28)
sa kalpavṛkṣapratimō vasanta iva mūrtimān | śmaśānacaityapratimō bhūṣitō.pi bhayaṅkaraḥ || 29
He appeared magnificent, like the Kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling tree) or the very embodiment of the Spring season. However, even with all his splendid decorations, he remained utterly terrifying, like a dreadful shrine in a cremation ground. (29)
avēkṣamāṇō vaidēhīṅ kōpasaṅraktalōcanaḥ | uvāca rāvaṇaḥ sītāṅ bhujaṅga iva niḥśvasan || 30
His eyes blood-red and swollen with unbridled fury, Rāvaṇa glared at Vaidehi (Sītā). He roared out a breath like a venomous serpent and spoke to her. (30)
anayēnābhisampannam arthahīnamanuvratē | nāśayāmyahamadya tvāṅ sūryaḥ sandhyāmivaujasā || 31
O Sītā, you who adhere to this worthless vow of devotion to that unethical and poor Rāma—I shall destroy you today with my power, just as the mighty Sun, with its fierce energy, extinguishes the twilight. (31)
ityuktvā maithilīṅ rājā rāvaṇaḥ śatrurāvaṇaḥ | sandidēśa tataḥ sarvā rākṣasīrghōradarśanāḥ || 32
Having spoken thus to Maithili, King Rāvaṇa, the terror of his enemies, then gave instructions to all the hideous-looking Rākṣasīs. (32)
kākṣīmēkakarṇāṅ ca karṇaprāvaraṇāṅ tathā | gōkarṇīṅ hastikarṇīṅ ca lambakarṇīmakarṇikām || 33
The king then addressed all the Rākṣasīs, whose very sight was frightening, commanding them to assemble quickly.
(Among them were those who were) one-eyed, one-eared, with covered ears, cow-eared, elephant-eared, long-eared, or earless; some with elephant's feet, horse's feet, cow's feet, or deformed feet; others were one-eyed, one-footed, broad-footed, or footless; some had excessively large heads and necks, immensely large breasts and bellies, or disproportionately large mouths and eyes; some were long-tongued or tongueless, noseless, lion-faced, cow-faced, or pig-faced. (33-35)
hastipādyaśvapādyau ca gōpādīṅ pādacūlikām | ēkākṣīmēkapādīṅ ca pṛthupādīmapādikām || 34
atimātraśirōgrīvāmatimātrakucōdarīm | atimātrāsyanētrāṅ ca dīrghajihvāmajihvikām || 35
anāsikāṅ siṅhamukhīṅ gōmukhīṅ sūkarīmukhīm | yathā madvaśagā sītā kṣipraṅ bhavati jānakī || 36
Rāvaṇa commanded them - "All of you Rākṣasīs, assemble quickly and act in such a way that Jānakī quickly comes under my control." (36)
tathā kuruta rākṣasyaḥ sarvāḥ kṣipraṅ samētya ca | pratilōmānulōmaiśca sāmadānādibhēdanaiḥ | āvarjayata vaidēhīṅ daṇḍasyōdyamanēna ca. || 37
"You must achieve this by using all means—both harsh and gentle—including conciliation (sāma), gifts (dāna), and creating discord (bhēda). You must subdue Vaidehī, even by the use of force (or the threat of punishment)." (37)
iti pratisamādiśya rākṣasēndraḥ punaḥ punaḥ | kāmamanyuparītātmā jānakīṅ paryatarjayat || 38
Having thus commanded the demonesses, the lord of the Rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, whose soul was overwhelmed by both lust and rage, repeatedly threatened Jānakī. (38)
upagamya tataḥ śīghraṅ rākṣasī dhānyamālinī | pariṣvajya daśagrīvamidaṅ vacanamabravīt || 39
At that moment, a Rākṣasī named Dhānyamālinī quickly approached him. She embraced Daśagrīva and spoke these words: (39)
mayā krīḍa mahārāja sītayā kiṅ tavānayā | vivarṇayā kṛpaṇayā mānuṣyā rākṣasēśvara || 40
"O great King, play with me! O King of the Rākṣasas, what need do you have for this mortal woman, who is colorless and pitiable?" (40)
nūnamasyā mahārāja na divyān bhōgasattamān | vidadhātyamaraśrēṣṭhastava bāhubalārjitān || 41
"Surely, O great King, the most excellent celestial enjoyments—which you have earned by the strength of your own arms—are not destined for her enjoyment." (41)
akāmāṅ kāmayānasya śarīramupatapyatē | icchantīṅ kāmayānasya prītirbhavati śōbhanā || 42
"One is only tormented when one desires an unwilling woman; true and beautiful satisfaction comes when one desires a woman who is willing." (42)
ēvamuktastu rākṣasyā samutkṣiptastatō balī | prahasanmēghasaṅkāśō rākṣasaḥ sa nyavartata || 43
Upon being addressed thus by the Rākṣasī, the mighty Rāvaṇa, who resembled a dark cloud, was momentarily distracted and, laughing, he then turned back. (43)
prasthitaḥ sa daśagrīvaḥ kampayanniva mēdinīm | jvaladbhāskaravarṇābhaṅ pravivēśa nivēśanam || 44
That Rāvaṇa, departing with a radiance like the blazing sun and seeming to make the earth tremble with his presence, entered his private palace. (44)
dēvagandharvakanyāśca nāgakanyāśca sarvataḥ | parivārya daśagrīvaṅ viviśustaṅ gṛhōttamam || 45
The young women of the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Nāgas surrounded Rāvaṇa, and all of them entered his supreme palace. (45)
sa maithilīṅ dharmaparāmavasthitāṅ prapēpamānāṅ paribhartsya rāvaṇaḥ | vihāya sītāṅ madanēna mōhitaḥ svamēva vēśma pravivēśa bhāsvaram || 46
Rāvaṇa fiercely threatened Maithilī (Sītā), who remained steadfast in her righteousness despite her trembling. Completely overcome by lust, he then abandoned Sītā and retreated into his own magnificent palace. (46)
ityārśe śrīmadramāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye suṃdarakaṃde dvāviṁśassargaḥ
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