Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 20: Rāma Kills the Fourteen Rākṣasas
Text 3.20.10
तिष्ठतैवात्र संतुष्टा नोपावर्तितुमर्हथ।
यदि प्राणैरिहार्थो वा निवर्तध्वं निशाचराः॥
tiṣṭhataivātra santuṣṭā nopāvartitum arhatha
yadi prāṇair ihārtho vā nivartadhvaṁ niśācarāḥ
tiṣṭhata = stand; eva = just; atra = here; santuṣṭāḥ = in happiness; na upāvartitum arhatha = don’t go back; yadi = if; prāṇaiḥ iha arthaḥ = you value your lives here; vā = or else; nivartadhvam = return [to your residences]; niśācarāḥ = rākṣasas.
Rākṣasas, just stand here in happiness! Don’t go back. Or else, if you value your lives here, return [to your residences]!
“[Stand here] in happiness” means “[Stand here] without fear.” “Don’t go back” means “Don’t escape.”