Summary
This chapter describes the ogre women speaking to Seetha about her marrying Ravana.
Chapter [Sarga] 23 in Detail
ityuktvaa maithiliim raajaa raavanah shatruraavanah |
samdishya cha tatah sarvaa raaksasiirnirjagaama ha || 5-23-1
The king Ravana who makes enemies to cry thus speaking to Seetha thereafter also ordering all ogre women went away.
niskrante raaksasendra tu punarantahpuram gate |
raaksasyo bhiimaruupaastaah siitaam samabhidudruvuh || 5-23-2
After Ravana left and obtained gynaeceum, those ogres with horrible appearances went running to Seetha.
tatah siitaamupaagamya raaksasyah krodhamuurchitaah |
param purusayaa vaachaa vaidehiimidamabravan || 5-23-3
Thereafter reaching Seetha ogre women swooned with anger and with a very harsh speech spoke these words to Seetha.
paulastyasya varisthasya raavanasya mahaatmanah |
dashagriivasya bhaaryaatvam siite na bahumanyase || 5-23-4
"O Seetha! You are not respecting becoming wife of Ravana born in the family of Paulastya, best among men, a great soul with ten heads."
tatasvaekajataa naama raaksasii vaakyamabraviit |
amantyra krodhataamraaksii siitaam karatalodariim || 5-23-5
Thereafter an ogre woman named Ekajata with red eyes sue to anger calling Seetha with stomach that can be held by palm of the hand, spoke these words.
prajaapatiinaam sannam tu chaturtho yah prajaapatih |
maanaso brahmanah putrah pulastya iti vishrutah || 5-23-6
"Among the six Prajaapati’s, whichever son, the fourth Prajapati, born by the thought of Lord Brahma ,he is famous as Paulastya."
pulastyasya tu tejasvii mahaarsirmaanasah sutah |
naamnaa sa vishravaa naama prajaapatisamaprabhah || 5-23-7
By the name, famous as Visrava, with a radiance equaling that of Lord Brahma that glorious sage is the son born from the thought of Pulastya.
tasya putro vishaalaaksi raavanah shatruraavanah |
tasya tvam raaksasendrasya bhaaryaa bhavitumarhasi || 5-23-8
mayoktam chaarusarvaangi vaakyam kim naamamanyase |
"O wide eyed one! Ravana who makes enemies to cry, is Visrava's son. You are suited to become Ravana's wife. O one with all beautiful limbs! Why will you not agree words spoken by me."
tato harijataa naama raaksasii vaakyamabraviit || 5-23-9
vivartya nayane kopaanmaarjaarasadrisheksanaa |
Thereafter an ogre woman named Harijata with eyes like those of a cat turned around eyes due to anger and spoke these words.
yena devaastraayastrimshaddevaraajashcha nirjataah || 5-23-10
tasya tvam raaksasendrasya bhaaryaa bhavitumarhasi |
"By whom thirty three Devas and the king of Devas have been conquered, you are suited to become the wife of that lord of ogres.
tatastu praghasaa naama raaksasii krodhamuurchhitaa || 5-23-11
bhartsayanii tadaa ghoramidam vachanamabraviit |
Thereafter an ogre named Praghasa swooning with anger and then frightening Seetha, spoke this horrible word.
viiryotsiktasya shuurasya samgraame na nivartinah || 5-23-12
balino viiryayuktasya bhaaryaatvam kim na lapsyase |
"Why will you not get wifehood of Ravana who is proud of his might, valiant, who will not turn back in wars, who is strong together with valor."
priyaam bahumataam bhaaryaam tyaktvaa raajaa mahaabalah || 5-23-13
sarvaasaam cha mahaabhaagaam tvaamupaisyati raavanah |
"The mighty Ravana can leave dear respectable wife who among all wives is most fortunate and can obtain you."
samriddham striisahasrena naanaaratnopashobhitam || 5-23-14
antahpuram samutsrijya tvaamupaisyati raavanah |
"Ravana leaving gynaeceum filled with thousand women and shone by various best things can obtain you.
anyaa tu vikataa naama raaksasii vaakyamabraviit || 5-23-15
asakriddevataa yuddhe naagagandharvadaanavaah |
nirjitaah samare yena sate paarshvamupaagatah || 5-23-16
Another ogre woman named Vikata spoke these words: "By whom a number of times in war Devas, in war Nagas, Gandharvas and Danavas have been conquered that Ravana has come to your side."
tasya sarvasamriddhasya raavanasya mahaatmanah |
kimadya raaksasendrasya bhaaryaatvam nechchha.adhame || 5-23-17
"O vile one! Why do you not desire wifehood of such Ravana, fulfilled in all respects, who is a great soul and lord of ogres.
tatastu durmukhii naama raaksasii vaakyamabraviit |
yasya suuryo na tapati bhiito yasya cha maarutah || 5-23-18
na vaati smaayataapaange kim tvam tasya na tisthasi |
Thereafter an ogre woman named Durmukhi spoke these words: "O one with long eyes! Fearing whom the sun will not consume by heat, fearing whom the win will not blow, to that one why you are not favorable."
pustavristam cha taravo mumuchuryasya vai bhayaat || 5-23-19
shailaashcha subhru paaniiyam jaladaashcha yadechchhati |
tasya nairritaraajasya raajaraajasya bhaamini || 5-23-20
kim tvam na kuruse buddhim bhaaryaarthe raavanasya hi |
"O one with good eyebrows! O Seetha! By the fear of whom trees shed a shower of flowers, whenever Ravana desired mountains and clouds will shed water, why you are not making mind to be the wife of such Ravana, who is the king of ogres and king of kings."
saadhu te tattvato devi kathitam saadhu bhaamini || 5-23-21
grihaana susmite vaakyamanyathaa na bhavisyasi |
"O Seetha with a good smile! O princess! Understand kind words spoken to you well and truly."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye sundarakaande trayovimshah sargah
Thus completes 23rd Chapter of Sundara Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate