रामायणम् — उत्तरकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः | rāmāyaṇam

अथ राजन्महाबाहुर्विचरन्स महीतलम् ।
हिमवद्वनमासाद्य परिचक्राम रावणः ॥

Summary AI O King, the mighty-armed Rāvaṇa, while wandering across the earth, reached the forests of the Himavat mountains and roamed through them.

M N Dutt Then, O King, the mighty-armed Ravana ranging the earth, came to Himavān and began to go round it.

७.१७.२

तत्रापश्यत वै कन्यां कृष्टाजिनजटाधराम् ।
आर्षेण विधिना युक्तां तपन्तीं देवतामिव ॥

Summary AI There, he beheld a maiden wearing a black antelope skin and matted hair, looking like a goddess as she performed austerities according to the sacred rites of sages.

M N Dutt It came to pass that there he saw a damsel wearing a dark deer-skin and matted locks, leading the life of a saint, and flaming like a celestial.

७.१७.३

स दृष्ट्वा रूपसंपन्नां कन्यां तां सुमहाव्रताम् ।
काममोहपरीतात्मा पप्रच्छ प्रहसन्निव ॥

Summary AI Upon seeing that beautiful maiden of exceptional vows, Rāvaṇa, his soul overwhelmed by lust and delusion, questioned her while laughing mockingly.

M N Dutt Seeing the girl observing high vows, endowed with beauty, he, with his soul overwhelmed with lust asked her, laughing.

७.१७.४

किमिदं वर्तसे भद्रे विरुद्धं यौवनस्य ते ।
न हि युक्ता तवैतस्य रूपस्येयं प्रतिक्रिया ॥

Summary AI "O blessed lady, why do you live in a manner so contrary to your youth? Such a lifestyle is certainly not suited for your exquisite beauty."

M N Dutt How is it, o amiable one, that you act thus contrary to your youth? This course of life surely does not befit your beauty.

७.१७.५

कस्यासि दुहिता भद्रे को वा भर्ता तवानघे ।
पृच्छतः शंस मे शीघ्रं को वा हेतुस्तपोऽर्जने ॥

Summary AI "Whose daughter are you, O sinless one? Who is your husband? Tell me quickly as I ask, what is the reason for your pursuit of penance?"

७.१७.६

एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या तेनानार्येण रक्षसा ।
अब्रवीद्विधिवत्कृत्वा तस्यातिथ्यं तपोधना ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed by that ignoble Rākṣasa, the ascetic maiden, after offering him hospitality according to the tradition, began to speak.

M N Dutt Thus accosted by Rāvana, that illustrious girl, having asceticism for wealth, having received him hospitably in due form, said.

७.१७.७

कुशध्वजो नाम पिता ब्रह्मर्षिर्मम धार्मिकः ।
बृहस्पतिसुतः श्रीमान्बुद्ध्या तुल्यो बृहस्पतेः ॥

Summary AI "My father is the righteous Brahmarṣi named Kuśadhvaja, the son of Bṛhaspati, who is glorious and equal to Bṛhaspati in intellect."

M N Dutt My sire is named Kušadhvaja a Brahmarși of immeasurable energy, son to Bệhaspati, endowed with grace, and like to Bphaspati himself in intelligence.

७.१७.८

तस्याहं कुर्वतो नित्यं वेदाभ्यासं महात्मनः ।
संभूता वान्मयी कन्या नाम्ना वेदवती स्मृता ॥

Summary AI "While that great soul was constantly engaged in Vedic study, I was born as his speech-born daughter and became known as Vedavatī."

M N Dutt And while that high sound one was engaged in the daily study of the Vedas, I was born as his word-impregnated daughter, named Vedavati.

७.१७.९

ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः ।
ते चापि गत्वा पितरं वरणं रोचयन्ति मे ॥

Summary AI "Then gods, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Pannagas approached my father, desiring to take me as their wife."

M N Dutt When the gods and the Gandharvas and the Yaksas, Raksasas, and Pannagas, coming to my sire asked for me, O foremost of Rākşasas, my father did not bestow me on any one of them. And I shall you the reason thereof; listen, O long-armed one.

७.१७.१०

न च मां स पिता तेभ्यो दत्तवान्राक्षसेश्वर ।
कारणं तद्वदिष्यामि निशामय महाभुज ॥

Summary AI "But my father did not grant me to them, O lord of Rākṣasas. O mighty-armed one, listen as I explain the reason for his decision."

M N Dutt When the gods and the Gandharvas and the Yaksas, Raksasas, and Pannagas, coming to my sire asked for me, O foremost of Rākşasas, my father did not bestow me on any one of them. And I shall you the reason thereof; listen, O long-armed one.

७.१७.११

पितुस्तु मम जामाता विष्णुः किल सुरोत्तमः ।
अभिप्रेतस्त्रिलोकेशस्तस्मान्नान्यस्य मे पिता ॥

Summary AI "My father intended Viṣṇu, the supreme deity and lord of the three worlds, to be his son-in-law; therefore, he would not give me to anyone else."

७.१७.१२

दातुमिच्छति धर्मात्मा तच्छ्रुत्वा बलदर्पितः ।
शम्भुर्नाम ततो राजा दैत्यानां कुपितोऽभवत् ।
तेन रात्रौ प्रसुप्तो मे पिता पापेन हिंसितः ॥

Summary AI "Hearing that he wished to give me to Viṣṇu, a Daitya king named Śambhu, arrogant in his power, became enraged and murdered my father while he slept."

७.१७.१३

ततो मे जननी दीना तच्छरीरं पितुर्मम ।
परिष्वज्य महाभागा प्रविष्टा दहनं सह ॥

Summary AI "Then my noble and wretched mother, embracing my father's body, entered the funeral pyre along with him."

७.१७.१४

ततो मनोरथं सत्यं पितुर्नारायणं प्रति ।
करोमीति ममेच्छा च हृदये साधु विष्ठिता ॥

Summary AI "Since then, the desire to fulfill my father’s wish regarding Nārāyaṇa has remained firmly established in my heart."

M N Dutt Then wishing to realise my father's wish touching Närāyana, I have fixed my heart even upon him.

७.१७.१५

अहं प्रेतगतस्यापि करिष्ये काङ्क्षितं पितुः ।
इति प्रतिज्ञामारुह्य चरामि विपुलं तपः ॥

Summary AI "I practice this intense penance, having taken a vow to fulfill the desire of my deceased father."

७.१७.१६

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया राक्षसपुंगव ।
आश्रितां विद्धि मां धर्मं नारायणपतीच्छया ॥

Summary AI "O best of Rākṣasas, I have told you everything. Know that I have taken refuge in righteousness, desiring Nārāyaṇa as my husband."

७.१७.१७

विज्ञातस्त्वं हि मे राजन्गच्छ पौलस्त्यनन्दन ।
जानामि तपसा सर्वं त्रैलोक्ये यद्धि वर्तते ॥

Summary AI "I know who you are, O King; go now, O descendant of Pulastya. Through my penance, I am aware of everything that happens in the three worlds."

M N Dutt I know you, O king. Go you, O son of Paulastya. By virtue of my asceticism I know all that takes place in these three regions.

७.१७.१८

सोऽब्रवीद्रावणस्तत्र तां कन्यां सुमहाव्रताम् ।
अवरुह्य विमानाग्रात्कन्दर्पशरपीडितः ॥

Summary AI Then Rāvaṇa, afflicted by the arrows of Kandarpa, descended from the top of his aerial chariot and spoke to that maiden of great vows.

M N Dutt Thereat descending from the front of his car, Ravana, affected with the shafts of Kandarpa, again addressed that girl, observant of a mighty VOW. a

७.१७.१९

अवलिप्तासि सुश्रोणि यस्यास्ते मतिरीदृशी ।
वृद्धानां मृगशावाक्षि भ्राजते धर्मसंचयः ॥

Summary AI "O lady of beautiful hips, you are full of pride to have such a mindset. O fawn-eyed one, the accumulation of merit (dharma) suits only the elderly."

M N Dutt O you of sharply hips, in as much as such is your intent, you must be very proud. O you having the eyes of young antelope, accumulation of religious merit suits old people.

७.१७.२०

त्वं सर्वगुणसंपन्ना नार्हसे कर्तुमीदृशम् ।
त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी भीरु यौवने वार्धकं विधिम् ॥

Summary AI "You, endowed with all virtues and the beauty of the three worlds, O timid one, should not adopt this aged way of life in your youth."

M N Dutt You, furnished with every perfection, should not talk thus. You are the paragon in these three worlds,. Your youth wax away.

७.१७.२१

कश्च तावदसौ यं त्वं विष्णुरित्यभिभाषसे ।
वीर्येण तपसा चैव भोगेन च बलेन च ।
न मयासौ समो भद्रे यं त्वं कामयसेऽङ्गने ॥

Summary AI Rāvaṇa asks, "O auspicious lady, who is this Viṣṇu of whom you speak? He whom you desire is not equal to me in prowess, penance, enjoyment, or strength."

M N Dutt Who is he whom you call Vişņu O mild one, neither in prowess, nor in asceticism, nor in enjoyment, nor in strength, is he my equal, whom, O damsel, you seek.

७.१७.२२

मा मैवमिति सा कन्या तमुवाच निशाचरम् ।
मूर्धजेषु च तां रक्षः कराग्रेण परामृशत् ॥

Summary AI The maiden said to the night-stalker, "Do not speak thus!" However, the Rākṣasa seized her by her hair with the tips of his fingers.

M N Dutt Thus addressed there by Vedavatī, the nightranger seized the girl by the hair.

७.१७.२३

ततो वेदवती क्रुद्धा केशान्हस्तेन साच्छिनत् ।
उवाचाग्निं समाधाय मरणाय कृतत्वरा ॥

Summary AI Then the enraged Vedavatī cut off her hair with her hand. Hurrying toward death, she kindled a sacrificial fire and spoke.

७.१७.२४

धर्षितायास्त्वयानार्य नेदानीं मम जीवितम् ।
रक्षस्तस्मात्प्रवेक्ष्यामि पश्यतस्ते हुताशनम् ॥

Summary AI "O ignoble one! Since I have been insulted by you, I no longer wish to live. Therefore, O Rākṣasa, I shall enter the fire even as you watch me."

M N Dutt You object, having been outraged by you I wish not to live. Therefore, O Raksasa, I will enter into fire in your very presence.

७.१७.२५

यस्मात्तु धर्षिता चाहमपापा चाप्यनाथवत् ।
तस्मात्तव वधार्थं वै समुत्पत्स्याम्यहं पुनः ॥

Summary AI "Since I, though sinless, have been insulted like a helpless woman, I shall take birth again for the sake of your destruction."

M N Dutt As I have in this world been dishonoured by you you are nefarious. I shall again be born to compass your destruction.

७.१७.२६

न हि शक्यः स्त्रिया पाप हन्तुं त्वं तु विशेषतः ।
शापे त्वयि मयोत्सृष्टे तपसश्च व्ययो भवेत् ॥

Summary AI "O sinful one, you cannot be slain by a woman especially. If I were to cast a curse upon you, my penance would be exhausted."

M N Dutt It lie not in a female to slay a male intent on sin; and if I utter a curse, it shall cost my asceticism.

७.१७.२७

यदि त्वस्ति मया किंचित्कृतं दत्तं हुतं तथा ।
तेन ह्ययोनिजा साध्वी भवेयं धर्मिणः सुता ॥

Summary AI "If I have performed any pious deed, given charity, or offered oblations, then may I be born as the virtuous daughter of a righteous man, not from a womb."

M N Dutt But if I have done anything, given away any thing, offered oblations to the fire, then I shall be the chaste daughter of some virtuous person, albeit unborn of any female vessel.

७.१७.२८

एवमुक्त्वा प्रविष्टा सा ज्वलन्तं वै हुताशनम् ।
पपात च दिवो दिव्या पुष्पवृष्टिः समन्ततः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus, she entered the blazing fire, and a divine rain of flowers fell from the heavens on all sides.

M N Dutt Having delivered herself thus, she entered into the flaming fire; and thereat a celestial shower of blossoms rained all around from heaven.

७.१७.२९

पूर्वं क्रोधहतः शत्रुर्ययासौ निहतस्त्वया ।
समुपाश्रित्य शैलाभं तव वीर्यममानुषम् ॥

Summary AI This enemy, previously destroyed by her anger, has now been slain by you, relying on your mountain-like superhuman prowess.

M N Dutt The enemy, endowed with the splendour of a hill, formerly that been slain by her, by help of your superhuman prowess.

७.१७.३०

एवमेषा महाभागा मर्त्येषूत्पद्यते पुनः ।
क्षेत्रे हलमुखग्रस्ते वेद्यामग्निशिखोपमा ॥

Summary AI Thus, this illustrious woman was born again among mortals in a field furrowed by a plow, appearing like a flame of fire on an altar.

M N Dutt This one of eminent righteousness would again spring up on earth like a flame from a field furrowed by the plough.

७.१७.३१

एषा वेदवती नाम पूर्वमासीत्कृते युगे ।
त्रेतायुगमनुप्राप्य वधार्थं तस्य रक्षसः ।
सीतोत्पन्नेति सीतैषा मानुषैः पुनरुच्यते ॥

Summary AI She was known as Vedavatī in the Kṛta Yuga. Reaching the Tretā Yuga for the destruction of that Rākṣasa, she was born from a furrow; thus, she is called Sītā by humans.

M N Dutt This one named Vedavatſ was born in the Kệta age; and in the Tretā age, for compassing the destruction of that Rākşasa, she was born in the Maithila line of the high-souled Janaka.

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