Chapter 17

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

कृत अभिषेको रामः तु सीता सौमित्रिर् एव च
तस्मात् गोदावरी तीरात् ततो जग्मुः स्वम् आश्रमम्

kṛta abhiṣeko rāmaḥ tu sītā saumitrir eva ca
tasmāt godāvarī tīrāt tato jagmuḥ svam āśramam

SYNONYMS

kṛta abhiṣekaḥ rāmaḥ tu: on taking, bath, Rama, but | sītā saumitriḥ eva ca: Seetha, Soumitri, thus, also | tataḥ: then | tasmāt godāvarī tīrāt: from that, Godavari, from bank, jagmuH svam aashramam = went, to his own, hermitage. |

TRANSLATION

On taking bath Rama with Seetha and Soumitri, then went to his own hermitage from that bank of River Godavari. [3-17-1]

VERSE 2

आश्रमम् तम् उपागम्य राघवः सह लक्ष्मणः
कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकम् कर्म पर्णशालाम् उपागमत्

āśramam tam upāgamya rāghavaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ
kṛtvā paurvāhṇikam karma parṇaśālām upāgamat

SYNONYMS

saha lakṣmaṇaḥ rāghavaḥ: with, Lakshmana, Raghava | tam āśramam upāgamya: that, hermitage, on nearing | paurva āhṇikam karma kṛtvā: early, morning, rituals, on performing | parṇaśālām upāgamat: cottage, reached. |

TRANSLATION

Nearing that hermitage Raghava along with Lakshmana performed early morning rituals and then reached the cottage. [3-17-2]

VERSE 3

उवास सुखितः तत्र पूज्यमानो महर्षभः
स रामः पर्ण शालायाम् आसीनः सह सीतया

uvāsa sukhitaḥ tatra pūjyamāno maharṣabhaḥ
sa rāmaḥ parṇa śālāyām āsīnaḥ saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

saḥ rāmaḥ: he, that Rama | maharṣabhaḥ pūjyamānaḥ: by eminent sages, being adored [when within their reach] | tatra sukhitaḥ uvāsa: there, comfortably, stayed he who is spending time | parṇaśālāyām sītayā saha āsīnaḥ: in hermitage, Seetha, along with, sitting | saha bhrātrā lakṣmaṇena: with, brother, Lakshmana | cakāra vividhāḥ kathāḥ: narrating, many, legends | mahābāhuḥ vi ra rāja: that dexterous one, shone forth | citrayā candramā iva: with Chitra star-constellation, Moon, like. |

TRANSLATION

There Rama comfortably spent time while being adored by eminent sages when he is with them, and narrating many a narrative while sitting in hermitage along with Seetha and his brother Lakshmana, thus he shone forth like the moon when with Chitra constellation. [3-1-7-3, 4]

PURPORT

The Chitra star is with clearest whiteness against the sky-blue background and thus it is said citra mauktikam ekam 'Chitra star and a pearl are one in colour.' Thus sky-blue coloured Rama is the moon while pearl white Seetha is pearl white Chitra star.
VERSE 5

तदा आसीनस्य रामस्य कथा संसक्त चेतसः
तम् देशम् राक्षसी काचिद् आजगाम यदृच्छ्हया

tadā āsīnasya rāmasya kathā saṃsakta cetasaḥ
tam deśam rākṣasī kācid ājagāma yadṛcchhayā

SYNONYMS

rāmasya kathā samsakta cetasaḥ: Rama is, narrative, absorbed in, with such a heart | tadā āsīnasya: thus, sitting in hermitage | kācit rākṣasī: some, demoness | yadṛcchayā tam deśam ājagāma: fortuitously, at that, place, arrived. |

TRANSLATION

At one time when Rama is sitting in hermitage and heartily absorbed in telling narratives some demoness arrived at that place, fortuitously. [3-17-5]

VERSE 6

सा तु शूर्पणखा नाम दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः
भगिनी रामम् आसाद्य ददर्श त्रिदश उपमम्

sā tu śūrpaṇakhā nāma daśagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ
bhaginī rāmam āsādya dadarśa tridaśa upamam

SYNONYMS

rakṣasaḥ daśa grīvasya bhaginī: demon, ten, faced one's [Ravana's,] sister | śūrpaṇakhā nāma: Shuurpanakha, named | sā tu: she, but | tridaśa upamam: paradisiacal being, who is like | rāmam āsādya: Rama, on reaching | dadarśa: she saw him. |

TRANSLATION

She is but the sister of ten-faced demon Ravana, Shuurpanakha by her name and she has seen him on reaching the paradisiacal being like Rama. [3-17-6]

VERSE 7

दीप्तास्यम् च महाबाहुम् पद्म पत्रायत ईक्षणम्
गज विक्रांत गमनम् जटा मण्दल धारिणम्

dīptāsyam ca mahābāhum padma patrāyata īkṣaṇam
gaja vikrāṃta gamanam jaṭā maṇdala dhāriṇam

SYNONYMS

dīpta āsyam: radiant, faced | mahābāhum: lengthy armed | padma patra āyata ikṣaṇam: lotus, petal, long, eyed one | gaja vikrānta gamanam: elephant, in pacing, in walk [imposingly pacing] | jaṭā maṇdala dhāriṇam: hair-tuft, bunches, wearing | sukumāram mahāsattvam: delicate, greatly vigorous | pārthiva vyanjana anvitam: kingly, aspects, one having them | indīvara śyāmam: blue-lotus-like, deep-blue coloured | kandarpa sadṛśa prabham: Love-god, similar, in his brilliance | indra upamam: Indra, in simile | rāmam: at Rama | dṛṣṭvā: having seen | rākṣasī kāma mohitā: demoness, love, sickened | babhūva: she [Shurpanakha] became. |

TRANSLATION

He whose face is radiant, arms lengthy, eyes large like lotus petals, stride like that of an elephant, wearing bunches of hair-tufts, delicate yet greatly vigorous, possessor of all kingly aspects, complexion deep-blue like blue lotus, similar to Love-god in brilliance and in simile to Indra, the demoness has seen such a Rama and became lovesick. [3-17-7, 8, 9a]

VERSE 10

सुमुखम् दुर्मुखी रामम् वृत्त मध्यम् महोदरी

sumukham durmukhī rāmam vṛtta madhyam mahodarī

SYNONYMS

b, 10, 11, 12a| dur mukhī: unpleasing, faced one [Shurpanakha] | su mukham: with pleasing, faced one [at Rama] | mahā udarī: pot-bellied one [Shuurpanakha] | vṛtta madhyam: with slim, waisted one [Rama ] | vi rūpa akṣī: wry, eyed one [Shuurpanakha] | viśāla akṣam: with broad-eyed [Rama] | tāmra mūrdhajā: coppery, haired one [Shuurpanakha] | su keśam: with neatly, tressed [Rama] | vi rūpā: ugly, featured one [Shuurpanakha] | priya rūpam: with charming, featured one [Rama] | bhairava svanā: brassy, voiced one [Shuurpanakha] | su svaram: gentle, voiced one [Rama] | dāruṇā: vR^iddhaa = deplorably, oldish one [Shuurpanakha] | taruṇam: youngish [Rama] | vāma bhāṣiṇī: crooked, talker [Shuurpanakha] | dakṣiṇam: with pleasant speaking [Rama] | su dur vṛttā: very, ill, mannered one [Shuurpanakha] | nyāya vṛttam: rightful one, in behaviour [Rama] | a priya darśanā = un, pleasant one, to lūk at [abominable one: Shuurpanakha] | priyam = vith pleasant one [to lūk on, amiable one: Rama] | : she [Shuurpanakha] | rāmam: at Rama | śarīra ja samāviṣṭā: by Love-god, besieged | rākṣasī rāmam abravīt: demoness, to Rama, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

She that demoness who is facially unpleasant one with that pleasant faced one, pot bellied one with the slim-waisted one, wry-eyed one with the broad-eyed one, coppery-haired one with the neatly tressed one, ugly featured one with the charming featured one, brassy voiced one with the gentle voiced one, deplorably oldish one with the youngish one, crooked talker with the pleasant talker, ill-mannered one with the well-mannered one, uncouth one with couth, abominable one with amiable Rama spoke, besieged by Love-god. [3-17-9b, 11, 12a]

VERSE 12

जटी तापस रूपेण सभार्यः शर चाप धृक्

jaṭī tāpasa rūpeṇa sabhāryaḥ śara cāpa dhṛk

SYNONYMS

b, 13| tvam: you are | jaṭī: one with matted hair [ascetic] | sa bhāryaḥ: with, wife | śara cāpa dhṛk: arrows, bows, handling | tāpasa rūpeṇa: in sage's, in aspect | rākṣasa sevitam: by demons, frequented by | imam deśam: this, province | katham āgataḥ: what for, you have come | te āgamana kṛtyam kim: your, coming [here,] purpose of, what is | tat tvam: that, you | [tattvam: in actuality | ] ākhyātum arhasi: to tell, apt of you.. |

TRANSLATION

"You are an ascetic yet with a wife, handling bow and arrows yet in the appearance of a sage what for you have come to this province frequented by demons it will be apt of you to tell the purpose of your coming here, in actuality " [3-17-12b, 13]

VERSE 14

एवम् उक्तः तु राक्षस्या शूर्पणख्या परंतपः
ऋजु बुद्धितया सर्वम् आख्यातुम् उपचक्रमे

evam uktaḥ tu rākṣasyā śūrpaṇakhyā paraṃtapaḥ
ṛju buddhitayā sarvam ākhyātum upacakrame

SYNONYMS

rākṣasyā śūrpaṇakhyā: by demoness, by Shuurpanakha | evam uktaḥ: thus, one who is spoken | paramtapaḥ: enemy, scorcher, Rama | ṛju buddhitayā: straight, at mind straightforwardly | sarvam ākhyātum upacakrame: all of it, to narrate [inform,] started to. |

TRANSLATION

Thus asked by demoness Shuurpanakha that enemy-scorcher Rama started to inform all about it, straightforwardly. [3-17-14]

VERSE 15

आसीत् दशरथो नाम राजा त्रिदश विक्रमः
तस्य अहम् अग्रजः पुत्रो रामो नाम जनैः श्रुतः

āsīt daśaratho nāma rājā tridaśa vikramaḥ
tasya aham agrajaḥ putro rāmo nāma janaiḥ śrutaḥ

SYNONYMS

tridaśa vikramaḥ: godlike, in valour | daśarathaḥ nāma rājā āsīt: Dasharatha, named, king, was there | aham tasya agrajaḥ putraḥ: I am, his, eldest, son | rāmaḥ nāma janaiḥ śrutaḥ: Rama, by name, by people, heard. |

TRANSLATION

"A king named Dasharatha was there with his godlike valour, I am his eldest son, and people hear of me by name Rama. [3-17-15]

VERSE 16

भ्राता अयम् लक्ष्मणो नाम यवीयान् माम् अनुव्रतः
इयम् भार्या च वैदेही मम सीतेति विश्रुता

bhrātā ayam lakṣmaṇo nāma yavīyān mām anuvrataḥ
iyam bhāryā ca vaidehī mama sīteti viśrutā

SYNONYMS

ayam lakṣmaṇaḥ nāma: he is, Lakshmana, by name | yavīyān bhrātā: younger, brother | mām anu vrataḥ: me, follows, in devotion | vaidehī: [daughter of Videha king] Vaidehi | iyam [mama] bhāryā: she is, [my,] wife | sīta iti viśrutā: Seetha, thus, well-known. |

TRANSLATION

"He is Lakshmana by his name, my younger brother and a devoted follower of mine, and she is my wife, daughter of Videha's king, well-known as Seetha. [3-17-16]

VERSE 17

नियोगात् तु नरेन्द्रस्य पितुर् मातुः च यंत्रितः
धर्मार्थम् धर्मकांक्षी च वनम् वस्तुम् इह आगतः

niyogāt tu narendrasya pitur mātuḥ ca yaṃtritaḥ
dharmārtham dharmakāṃkṣī ca vanam vastum iha āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

narendrasya: by king | pituḥ: by father | mātuḥ ca: by mother, also | niyogāt tu: by directive, but | yantritaḥ: I am directed by | dharma kānkṣī: probity, desiring | dharma artham ca: probity, for the sake of, also | iha vastum vanam āgataḥ: here, to live, to forests, I came. |

TRANSLATION

"Desiring to implement the probity in following father's orders and for the sake of establishing probity in living an ascetic's life I have come here to forests to dwell, as enjoined by the directives of the king and my father, and by my mother, as well. [3-17-17]

VERSE 18

त्वाम् तु वेदितुम् इच्छ्हामि कस्य त्वम् का असि कस्य वा
त्वम् हि तावन्मनोज्ञा।ंगी राक्षसी प्रतिभासि
मे

tvām tu veditum icchhāmi kasya tvam kā asi kasya vā
tvam hi tāvanmanojñā|ṃgī rākṣasī pratibhāsi
me

SYNONYMS

tvām veditum icchāmi: you, to know, I wish to | kasya: whose [daughter] | tvam: you are, indeed | : what [your name] | asi: is there | : either | tāvāt: by the way | manojña angī: enthralling, with body | rākśasī pratibhāsi me: demoness, you are appearing, to me, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"I too wish to know about you. Whose wife are you? What is your name? Or, whose daughter are you? By the way, you are with a most enthralling personality, and then you must be a demoness. [3-17-18]

PURPORT

So far the handsomeness of Shuurpanakha is not narrated in these verses. But Rama's addressing her as a handsome woman is for fun sake, so some commentators say. The episode Shuurpanakha is considered to have haasya rasa , comic relief. Refusing the unnecessarily joking of Rama some say that Shuurpanakha came there with an exquisite form. And what all said negatively about her in preceding verses is the implicit idea of the poet. Taking the entrance of Shuurpanakha with a beautiful personality every cinema that is shot on Ramayana gives a cabaret dance with inciting song to Shuurpanakha at this situation. In some other mms there are a few more verses that contain a situation where Jatayu comes to Rama to take leave of him to go and see his relatives and bird-friends, after Rama returns from the river. Then, knowing that Jatayu is not there Shuurpanakha enters the cottage area with a guise of winsome beauty. No demon or demoness can approach that cottage of Rama, as long as Jatayu is there - is the point for establishment. While the difference in mms/texts is between one or two letters like, na hi taavat manoj~na angii and tvam hi taavat manoj~na angii , whether the poet entered Shuurpanakha in a fashionable getup or as an old female is another point that remained inconclusive.
VERSE 19

इह वा किम् निमित्तम् त्वम् आगता ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः
सा अब्रवीत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राक्षसी मदन अर्दिता

iha vā kim nimittam tvam āgatā brūhi tattvataḥ
sā abravīt vacanam śrutvā rākṣasī madana arditā

SYNONYMS

iha kim nimittam tvam āgatā vā: here, what, for, you, came, either | tattvataḥ brūhi: actually, you tell | vacanam śrutvā: said words, on hearing | madana arditā: by love, wetted | sā rākṣasī abravīt: she that, demoness, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"What for you have come, either, you tell in actuality..." Thus Rama asked her. On hearing the words of Rama she that demoness wetted with love said these words. [3-17-19]

VERSE 20

श्रूयताम् राम वक्ष्यामि तत्त्वार्थम् वचनम् मम
अहम् शूर्पणखा नाम राक्षसी कामरूपिणी

śrūyatām rāma vakṣyāmi tattvārtham vacanam mama
aham śūrpaṇakhā nāma rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī

SYNONYMS

, 21a| śrūyatām rāma: let it be heard, Rama | tattva artham mama vacanam: truth, meaning, my. words [my words are truthful] | vakṣyāmi: I will say | aham śūrpaṇakhā nāma: I am, Shuurpanakha, named | rākṣasī: demoness | kāma rūpiṇī: by wish, guise-changer | ekā: lonely | sarva bhayam karā: to all, fear, causing [unnerving] | idam araṇyam vi carāmi: in this, forest, am freely moving. |

TRANSLATION

"I will tell you truth, Rama, nothing but truth, I am a guise-changing demoness named Shuurpanakha, and I will be freely moving in this forest in a solitary manner and unnerving all. [3-17-20, 21a]

VERSE 21

रावणो नाम मे भ्राता यदि ते श्रोत्रम् आगतः

rāvaṇo nāma me bhrātā yadi te śrotram āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 22a| vīraḥ rāvaṇaḥ me bhrātā: valorous, Ravana, is my, brother | yadi te śrotram āgataḥ: if ever, by you, to ears, has come [if ever you have heard of him] | viśravasaḥ putraḥ: Vishravasa, son of | yadi te śrotram āgataḥ [or, balīyān rākśasa īśvaraḥ]: If you ever heard, [or, mighty one, demons, king.] |

TRANSLATION

"My brother is valorous and mighty Ravana, the king of demons and the son of Vishravasa, if ever you have heard of him. [3-17-21b, 22a]

VERSE 22

प्रवृद्ध निद्रः च सदा कुंभकर्णो महाबलः

pravṛddha nidraḥ ca sadā kuṃbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 23| sadā: always | pravṛddha nidraḥ = one vith intensified: profound, sleep | mahābalaḥ: mighty one | kumbhakarṇaḥ ca: Kumbhakarna, is also [my brother] | dharmātmā vibhīṣaṇaḥ: virtue-souled one, Vibheeshana [is also my brother] | tu: but | rākṣasa ceṣṭitaḥ: with demon's, conduct | na: he is not | raṇe prakhyāta vīryau: in war, renowned, braving ones | khara dūṣaṇau: Khara, Dushana[ bhraatarau = are two brothers. |

TRANSLATION

"And the mighty Kumbhakarna who will always be in profound sleep is my brother, and the virtue-souled Vibheeshana too is my brother, but he does not behave like a demon, and two more bothers of mine are Khara and Duushana who are renowned for their bravery in war. [3-17-22b, 23

VERSE 24

तान् अहम् समतिक्रान्ता राम त्वा पूर्व दर्शनात्
समुपेता अस्मि भावेन भर्तारम् पुरुषोत्तमम्

tān aham samatikrāntā rāma tvā pūrva darśanāt
samupetā asmi bhāvena bhartāram puruṣottamam

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | aham: I am | tān: them | sam ati krāntā: I an excel [them with my bravery] | pūrva darśanāt: firstly, on seeing | puruṣa uttamam: of men, the best one | tvā: you | bhartāram bhāvena: as husband, with the notion of | sam upetā: neared | asmi: I am. |

TRANSLATION

"I can excel all of them by my bravery, oh, Rama, and on seeing you for the first time I had a notion that you being the choicest among men you alone are my husband, hence I neared you. [3-17-24]

VERSE 25

अहम् प्रभाव संपन्ना स्वच्छ्हंद बल गामिनी
चिराय भव भर्ता मे सीतया किम् करिष्यसि

aham prabhāva saṃpannā svacchhaṃda bala gāminī
cirāya bhava bhartā me sītayā kim kariṣyasi

SYNONYMS

aham prabhāva sampannā: I am, preponderance, endowed with | svacchanda bala gāminī: with independent, might, goer [I operate] | cirāya me bhartā: for a long time, to me, husband | bhava: you be | sītayā kim kariṣyasi: with Seetha, what, you do [bring off.] |

TRANSLATION

"I am endowed with such preponderances and I can operate with my independent might, as such you become my everlasting husband by the way, what can you bring off with Seetha. [3-17-25]

VERSE 26

विकृता च विरूपा च न सा इयम् सदृशी तव
अहम् एव अनुरूपा ते भार्या रूपेण पश्य माम्

vikṛtā ca virūpā ca na sā iyam sadṛśī tava
aham eva anurūpā te bhāryā rūpeṇa paśya mām

SYNONYMS

vikṛtā ca: unlovely one, also | virūpā ca: unshapely one, also | sā iyam: she, this one [such as she is] | tava na sadṛśī: to you, not, appropriate [unworthy wife] | te aham eva anurūpā: to you , I, alone, appropriate [worthy wife] | mām bhāryā rūpeṇa paśya: me, wife, in manner of, see, me [treat me as your wife.] |

TRANSLATION

"Unlovely and unshapely is this one, such as she is, this Seetha is unworthy to be your wife, and I am the lone one worthy to be your wife, hence treat me as your wife. [3-17-26]

VERSE 27

इमाम् विरूपाम् असतीम् करालाम् निर्णत उदरीम्
अनेन सह ते भ्रात्रा भक्षयिष्यामि मानुषीम्

imām virūpām asatīm karālām nirṇata udarīm
anena saha te bhrātrā bhakṣayiṣyāmi mānuṣīm

SYNONYMS

virūpām: without shape disfigured one | a satīm = not, gūd one: dishonest | karālām: diabolical one | nirṇata udarīm: hallow-stomached | imām mānuṣīm: this, human female | anena: with him | te bhrātrā saha: your, brother, along with | bhakṣa yiṣyāmi: I wish to eat up [shall I eat them up without a later time botheration to you.] |

TRANSLATION

"Shall I eat up this disfigured, dishonest, diabolical human female with a hallow stomach along with him, that brother of yours to make you free.

PURPORT

Lakshmana will use the very same wording in the next chapter when retorting Shuurpanakha.
VERSE 28

ततः पर्वत शृ।ंगाणि वनानि विविधानि च
पश्यन्सहमयाकामीदण्डकान्विचरिष्यसि यद्वा
पश्यन्
सह मया कामी दण्डकान् विचरिष्यसि

tataḥ parvata śṛ|ṃgāṇi vanāni vividhāni ca
paśyansahamayākāmīdaṇḍakānvicariṣyasi - yadvā -
paśyan
saha mayā kāmī daṇḍakān vicariṣyasi

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: afterwards | vividhāni: various | parvata śṛngāṇi: mountain, tops [in sky] | vanāni ca: forests [on earth,] also | paśyan: while seeing experiencing, enjoying | maya saha: me, along with | kāmī: lustily | daṇḍakān vi cariṣyasi: Dandaka forest, well, ramble about. |

TRANSLATION

"Afterwards, you can lustily ramble about Dandaka forest along with me while enjoying yourself on various mountaintops in the sky and in forests on the earth." So Shuurpanakha said to Rama. [3-17-28]

VERSE 29

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe saptadaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

iti evam uktaḥ: thus, that way, who is said | vākya viśāradaḥ: in words, expert | kākutsthaḥ prahasya: Kakutstha Rama, chuckled | madira īkṣaṇām: one with besotted, eyes Shuurpanakha [in lovesickness] | idam vacanam vaktum ārebhe: this, sentence, to tell, started. |

TRANSLATION

When he is said that way Rama chuckled and that wordsmith started to reply her who eyes are besotted in lovesickness with this sentence. [3-17-29]