Canto 3 -
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Chapter 49: Rāvaṇa Kidnaps Sītā
Text 3.49.40
नैष वारयितुं शक्यस्तव क्रूरो निशाचरः।
सत्त्ववाञ्जितकाशी च सायुधश्चैव दुर्मतिः॥
naiṣa vārayituṁ śakyas tava krūro niśācaraḥ
sattvavāñ jita-kāśī ca sāyudhaś caiva durmatiḥ
na = not; eṣaḥ = this; vārayitum = to restrain; śakyaḥ = it is possible; tava = for you; krūraḥ = cruel; niśācaraḥ = night-ranger; sattvavān = because he is powerful; jita-kāśī ca = victorious; sa-āyudhaḥ = armed; ca eva = and; durmatiḥ = evil-minded.
It is not possible for you to restrain this cruel night-ranger because he is powerful, victorious, armed and evil-minded.1
1 Rāmāyaṇa-bhūṣaṇa: jita-kāśī jayāvahaḥ.
“Evil-minded” indicates that Rāvaṇa was deceptive in warfare.
Anticipating that Jaṭāyu might ask her, “Then what should I do?” she speaks the next verse.