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Chapter 34

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

ततः शूर्पणखाम् दृष्ट्वा ब्रुवन्तीम् परुषम् वचः
अमात्य मध्ये संकृउद्धः परिपप्रच्छ रावणः

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhām dṛṣṭvā bruvantīm paruṣam vacaḥ
amātya madhye saṃkṛuddhaḥ paripapraccha rāvaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | amātya madhye: ministers, amidst [in presence of] | paruṣam vacaḥ bruvantīm: bitter, words, one who is speaking | śūrpaṇakhām dṛṣṭvā: Shuurpanakha, on seeing | samkṛuddhaḥ rāvaṇaḥ paripapraccha = highly, infuriated one, ṟavana, questioned: queried. |

TRANSLATION

On observing Shuurpanakha who is speaking bitter words against him in the presence of ministers then Ravana is highly infuriated and queried her. [1-34-1]

VERSE 2

कः च रामः कथम् वीर्यः किम् रूपः किम् पराक्रमः
किम् अर्थम् दण्डकारण्यम् प्रविष्टः च सुदुस्तरम्

kaḥ ca rāmaḥ katham vīryaḥ kim rūpaḥ kim parākramaḥ
kim artham daṇḍakāraṇyam praviṣṭaḥ ca sudustaram

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ kaḥ: Rama, who is | katham vīryaḥ: what, is his calibre | kim rūpaḥ: of what, mien | kim parākramaḥ: what, is his bravery | su dustaram: highly, inscrutable | daṇḍaka araṇyam: Dandaka forest | kim artham praviṣṭaḥ: what, for reason, he entered. |

TRANSLATION

"Who is Rama? How brave he is? Of what mien and what calibre he is? And for what reason he entered the highly inscrutable Dandaka forest? [1-34-2]

PURPORT

'Why this Rama has to come this far to Dandaka instead of loitering somewhere near Himalayas? Has he come purposefully with any revenge against us, the demons, or is it a pleasure-trip? Why should he leave his ancestral kingdom and enter Dandaka, a stronghold of demons?' This is the real worry of Ravana. kena ca kaaraNena kula parampara aagatam praajyam raajyam parityajya nikhila nishaacara vaaso asmin deshe samaagataH - dk Ravana might be unaware that Dandaka forest also belongs to Ikshvaku-s as Kishkindha belonged to them, as said by Rama at the time of eliminating of Vali.
VERSE 3

आयुधम् किम् च रामस्य येन ते राक्षसाः हता
खरः च निहतः संख्ये दूषणः त्रिशिराः तथा

āyudham kim ca rāmasya yena te rākṣasāḥ hatā
kharaḥ ca nihataḥ saṃkhye dūṣaṇaḥ triśirāḥ tathā

SYNONYMS

, 4a| yena: by whom [by which Rama] | rākṣasāḥ: demons | kharaḥ ca: Khara, also | dūṣaṇaḥ triśirāḥ tathā: Duushana, Trishira, likewise | sankhye nihatā: in war, killed | rāmasya āyudham kim ca: Rama's, weapon, what is, also | manojña angī = fascinating, having limbs: oh, lady with fascinating limbs [Shuurpanakha] | kena tvam virūpitā ca: by whom, you are, disfigured, even | tat tvam brūhi: that, you, tell. |

TRANSLATION

"What is the weapon of that Rama by whom these many demons are killed in war, likewise Duushana and Trishira are killed, and even the unkillable Khara is killed? Oh, lady with fascinating limbs, who disfigured you? That you tell. [1-34-3, 4a]

PURPORT

This can be simple question 'What is his weapon?' without telling round about as above. But Ravana is weighing arsenal balance since he is self-content with a giant-robot namely Kumbhakarna, and with a brave and all-trickster son Indrajit, along with his own ICBMs, ASMs and ASMs, plus his own invincibility. Thereby he is said to be puzzled at arsenal-less Rama and asking: kaani kaani ca aayudhaani khara mukha nishaacra praaNa haani karaaNi - dk 'you said that Rama caused this havoc single-handedly, then he should have used various and numerous weapons by which missiles are flung... because common sense does not permit any belief that a handheld bow can dart numerous arrows or missile, that too when wielded by a single human...'
VERSE 4

इति उक्ता राक्षस इन्द्रेण राक्षसी क्रोध मूर्च्छिता

iti uktā rākṣasa indreṇa rākṣasī krodha mūrcchitā

SYNONYMS

b, 5a| rākṣasa indreṇa: by demons, king | iti uktā: this way, she is who is spoken | krodha mūrcchitā rākṣasī: with fury, who is in a fit of, demoness | tataḥ: then | rāmam: about Rama | yathā nyāyam = as it is: in the point of fact | ākhyātum upacakrame: to describe, commenced. |

TRANSLATION

When the king of demons has asked her thus, she that demoness Shuurpanakha who is in a fit of fury then commenced to describe Rama in the point of fact. [3-34-4b, 5a]

VERSE 5

दीर्घबाहुः विशालाक्षः चीर कृष्ण अजिन अम्बरः

dīrghabāhuḥ viśālākṣaḥ cīra kṛṣṇa ajina ambaraḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 6a| daśaratha ātmajaḥ rāmaḥ: Dasharatha's, son, Rama | dīrgha bāhuḥ: long, one with arms, or implicitly- inescapable arms | viśāla akṣaḥ = broad, eyed one, or implicitly: keen eyed | cīra: has jute-cloth | kṛṣṇa ajina ambaraḥ: black, deer, skin, as his dress | kandarpa sama rūpaḥ ca: Love-god, similar, in semblance. |

TRANSLATION

"Dasharatha's son Rama is the one with inescapable arms and keen-eyed, but has jute-cloths and skin of black-deer for his dress, yet in semblance he is similar to the Love-god. [3-34-5b, 6a]

VERSE 6

शक्र चाप निभम् चापम् विकृष्य कनकांगदम्

śakra cāpa nibham cāpam vikṛṣya kanakāṃgadam

SYNONYMS

b, 7a| śakra cāpa nibham: Indra's, bow, [Rainbow] similar in sheen | kanaka angadam cāpam: that has golden, fillets, a bow | vikṛṣya: on yanking out | mahā viṣān sarpān iva: those that have deadly, poison, snakes, like | dīptān nārācān kṣipati: candent, iron-arrows, he strews. |

TRANSLATION

"Yanking out a bow with golden fillets, and that is similar to the bow of Indra in its shine, he strews candent iron-arrows that simulate snakes with deadly poison. [3-34-6b, 7a]

VERSE 7

न आददानम् शरान् घोरान् न मुंचंतम् महाबलम्

na ādadānam śarān ghorān na muṃcaṃtam mahābalam

SYNONYMS

b, 8a| samyuge: on battleground | ghorān śarān: ghastly, arrows | ā dadānam: taking [drawing from quiver] | na paśyāmi = not, ī do sī: imperceivable | kārmukam vikarṣantam: bow, stretching of | na: I do not see. | muncantam [śīlī mukhān]: shooting from bowstring, [arrows with sharp points] | mahābalam rāmam: great-mighty one, Rama |

TRANSLATION

"It has become imperceivable for me to me to see when and how he drew his ghastly arrows from quiver on the battleground; or, stretching his bow admitting those arrows on bowstring - no; or, his releasing those sharp edged arrows from the bow - no; why them, that great mighty Rama himself has become imperceptible in the fastness of his action. [3-34-7b, 8a]

VERSE 8

हन्यमानम् तु तत् सैन्यम् पश्यामि शर वृष्टिभिः

hanyamānam tu tat sainyam paśyāmi śara vṛṣṭibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 9a| indreṇa: by Indra | aśma vṛṣṭibhiḥ = vith stones, of rain: with hailstorm | āhatam sasyam iva: devastated, rich harvest, as with | śara vṛṣṭibhiḥ: of arrows, with downpour | tu: but | hanyamānam tat uttamam sainyam: being annihilated, that, best, army | paśyāmi = ī am sīing: then I have seen. |

TRANSLATION

"As with a crop of grain devastated by a hailstorm of Indra, I could only see that best army while it is being annihilated with a downpour of arrows. [3-34-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

रक्षसाम् भीम वीर्याणाम् सहस्राणि चतुर्दश

rakṣasām bhīma vīryāṇām sahasrāṇi caturdaśa

SYNONYMS

b, 10| padātinā ekena tena: foot-soldier, lone one, by him [by Rama] | tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ: with excruciating, arrows | ardha adhika muhūrtena: half, more, one hour | bhīma vīryāṇām rakṣasām: of fiendish, might, demons | caturdaśa sahasrāṇi: fourteen, thousands | nihatāni: are destroyed | saha dūṣaṇaḥ kharaḥ ca: along with, Duushana, Khara, is also [killed.] |

TRANSLATION

"Thus a lone foot-soldier with his excruciating arrows has exterminated fourteen thousand demons with fiendish might, including Duushana, and along withKhara, say, within one and half hours. [3-34-9b,10]

PURPORT

The above is consolidated and said as: saH ayam adhunaa muni jana samucita veShopi dhik kR^ita shakra paraakrame vikrameNa shakra kaarmuka sadR^ikSham caapam aakR^iShya mahaa viShaan aashii viShaan iva rukma punkhaan anukShaNam prakShipan rakSho vikShobhakaram ati bhayankaram ruupam aavahati - dk .
VERSE 11

ऋषीणाम् अभयम् दत्तम् कृत क्षेमाः च दण्डकाः

ṛṣīṇām abhayam dattam kṛta kṣemāḥ ca daṇḍakāḥ

SYNONYMS

- one fūt verse, 12| ṛṣīṇām abhayam dattam: to sages, protection, accorded | daṇḍakāḥ: Dandaka forest | kṛta kṣemāḥ ca = made [restored,] to safety: rendered as snuggest place, also | mahātmanā vidita ātmanā = by high: minded one, well-versed, soul - in scriptures | strī vadham śankamānena: woman, slaughter, hesitant of | rāmeṇa: by such Rama is | aham ekā: I, a single one | pari bhūya: on humiliating | kathamcit muktā: somehow, let off. |

TRANSLATION

"Accorded is the protection to the sages, and Dandaka is made as a snuggest place for them. I am the lone one somehow let off by such a high-minded Rama, of course, on humiliating me by cutting my nose and ears. Maybe, it is because he is hesitant of woman-slaughter for he is a well-versed soul. [1-34-11, 12]

PURPORT

Here she twisted the story line to her side, as she edited the scene of her humiliation later to annihilation of their army. In Dandaka witch-hunting is over and it is calm and collected now. In fact, Ravana intruded into Janasthaana of Dandaka and stationed some army to protect intrusion into Lanka, as his mainstay is only the castled city Lanka. Now that the doors to Lanka are wide open Lanka is exposed to an imminent danger. nishaacaraan asankhyaiH rukma punkhaiH vishikhaiH vimadhya shatamakha mukhamakha bhuje akhila tapasvinaH ca nirbhayam vidhaaya danDakaaraNyam api sakala muni jana sharaNyam atanuta - dk .
VERSE 13

भ्राता च अस्य महातेजा गुणतः तुल्य विक्रमः
अनुरक्तः च भक्तः च लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्

bhrātā ca asya mahātejā guṇataḥ tulya vikramaḥ
anuraktaḥ ca bhaktaḥ ca lakṣmaṇo nāma vīryavān

SYNONYMS

mahātejā: highly resplendent | guṇataḥ tulya vikramaḥ: by trait, matches [his brother Rama,] in bravery | anuraktaḥ ca: adherent, also | bhaktaḥ ca: devotee, also | vīryavān: stout-hearted one | lakṣmaṇaḥ nāma: Lakshmana, known as | asya bhrātā = is his: Rama's, brother. |

TRANSLATION

"A highly resplendent one who by his trait matches his brother in bravery, an adherent and a devotee of his brother, such a stout-hearted one is Rama's brother known as Lakshmana. [1-34-13]

VERSE 14

अमर्षी दुर्जयो जेता विक्रान्तो बुद्धिमान् बली
रामस्य दक्षिणे बाहुः नित्यम् प्राणो बहिः चरः

amarṣī durjayo jetā vikrānto buddhimān balī
rāmasya dakṣiṇe bāhuḥ nityam prāṇo bahiḥ caraḥ

SYNONYMS

amarṣī: irritable one | durjayaḥ: invincible one | jetā: victor | vikrāntaḥ: valiant | buddhimān: intelligent one | balī: mighty one | nityam rāmasya dakṣiṇe bāhuḥ: perpetual, Rama's, a right, hand | bahiḥ caraḥ prāṇaḥ =: peripherally, moving, life | gist: vividly. |

TRANSLATION

"That Lakshmana is an easily irritable one, he is not that easily invincible, an easy victor, but not an easygoing valiant, yet he is an intellectual at ease, and a mighty one who does not ease off, such a Lakshmana is the perpetual right-hand and the peripherally moving life of Rama. [1-34-14]

VERSE 15

रामस्य तु विशालाक्षी पूर्णेन्दु सदृश आनना
धर्म पत्नी प्रिया नित्यम् भर्तृः प्रिय हिते रता

rāmasya tu viśālākṣī pūrṇendu sadṛśa ānanā
dharma patnī priyā nityam bhartṛḥ priya hite ratā

SYNONYMS

viśāla akṣī: broad-eyed one | pūrṇa indu sadṛśa ānanā: full, moon, similar, one with such face | tu: but | rāmasya dharma patnī: Rama's, wedded, wife | bhartṛḥ priyā: husband's, dear one | nityam priya hite ratā = alvays, in her dear one: Rama's, well-being, delights in. |

TRANSLATION

"But, one with her broad-eyes, face similar to the full-moon is the dear and wedded wife of Rama, and she always takes delight in the well-being of her dear one, namely Rama. [1-34-15]

VERSE 16

सा सुकेशी सुनासोरुः सुरूपा च यशस्विनी
देवत इव वनस्थ अस्यराजते श्रीर् इव अपरा

sā sukeśī sunāsoruḥ surūpā ca yaśasvinī
devata iva vanastha asyarājate śrīr iva aparā

SYNONYMS

su keśī: one with lengthy, hair | su nāsa ūruḥ: with fine, nose, thighs | su rūpā ca: fine, looking, also | yaśasvinī: a glorious one | sā: she | asya vanastha devata iva: of that, situated in woodland, goddess, like | aparā śrīḥ iva = another: temporal, Goddess Lakshmi, like | rājate: is beaming forth. |

TRANSLATION

"She is the one with lengthy hairdo, her nose and thighs are fine, and that glorious one with fine looks is the wife of Rama, and she is beaming forth like a sylvan deity situated in that woodland, who in turn is like Goddess Lakshmi in a temporal form. [1-34-16]

VERSE 17

तप्त कांचन वर्ण आभा रक्त तुंग नखी शुभा
सीता नाम वरारोहा वैदेही तनु मध्यमा

tapta kāṃcana varṇa ābhā rakta tuṃga nakhī śubhā
sītā nāma varārohā vaidehī tanu madhyamā

SYNONYMS

tapta kāncana varṇa ābhā: burnt [refined,] gold, in colour [in complexion,] in shade of | rakta tunga nakhī: having rosy, jutted, nails | śubhā: auspicious one | [sā] vaidehī: that daughter of king of Videha kingdom | varārohā: with curvaceous, hips | tanu madhyamā: with slender waist | sītā nāma: Seetha, known as. |

TRANSLATION

"She has a complexion mathing the shade of refined gold, her nails are rosy and jutting, and she with her curvaceous hips and slim waist is the daughter of King of Videha, and known as Seetha. [1-34-17]

VERSE 18

न एव देवी न गंधर्वा न यक्षी न च किंनरी
तथा रूपा मया नारी दृष्ट पूर्वा महीतले

na eva devī na gaṃdharvā na yakṣī na ca kiṃnarī
tathā rūpā mayā nārī dṛṣṭa pūrvā mahītale

SYNONYMS

tathā rūpā: such a, kind of comeliness | devī: a goddess | mayā na eva dṛṣṭa pūrvā = by me, not, in that vay, sīn, previously: so far | gandharvā [gandharvī]: gandharva female | na: no | yakṣī na: yaksha-female, no | kinnarī ca: kinnaraa-female, even | nārī mahītale: woman, on the face of earth | na = no: not seen by me. |

TRANSLATION

"So far I have not seen any goddess with such a comeliness; a gandharva female - no; a yaksha female - no; a kinnara female - no; and a woman, no, not on the face of earth! [1-34-18]

VERSE 19

यस्य सीता भवेत् भार्या यम् च हृष्टा परिष्वजेत्
अति जीवेत् स सर्वेषु लोकेषु अपि पुरंदरात्

yasya sītā bhavet bhāryā yam ca hṛṣṭā pariṣvajet
ati jīvet sa sarveṣu lokeṣu api puraṃdarāt

SYNONYMS

yasya: to whom | sītā bhāryā bhavet: Seetha, wife, becomes as | hṛṣṭā yam pariṣvajet ca = gladly, vhom, śe hugs, also [after becoming his vife: not owing to a forced marriage] | saḥ sarveṣu lokeṣu: he, in all, worlds | purandarāt api: even, [better than] Indra | ati jīvet: grandly, lives. |

TRANSLATION

"To whom Seetha becomes a wife and around whom she gladly throws her arms after such a marriage, he lives more grandly than Indra in all the worlds. [1-34-19]

VERSE 20

सा सुशीला वपुः श्लाघ्या रूपेण अप्रतिमा भुवि
तव अनुरूपा भार्या सा त्वम् च तस्याः पतिः वरः

sā suśīlā vapuḥ ślāghyā rūpeṇa apratimā bhuvi
tava anurūpā bhāryā sā tvam ca tasyāḥ patiḥ varaḥ

SYNONYMS

su śīlā: highly, gracious | vapuḥ ślāghyā: by bodily structure, laudable | sā: she is | rūpeṇa a pratimā bhuvi: by appearance, not, comparable | sā tava anurūpā bhāryā: she is, to you, seemly for, a wife | [syāt: she becomes | tathā: likewise] | tvam ca: you, too [will become] | tasyāḥ varaḥ patiḥ: her, best, husband. |

TRANSLATION

"She is a highly gracious lady, laudable by her bodily structure, incomparable by her appearance, and she will become a seemly wife of yours, and you too will become a best husband of hers. [1-34-20]

VERSE 21

ताम् तु विस्तीर्ण जघनाम् पीन उत्तुंग पयो धराम्
भार्या अर्थे तु तव आनेतुम् उद्यता अहम् वर
आननाम्

tām tu vistīrṇa jaghanām pīna uttuṃga payo dharām
bhāryā arthe tu tava ānetum udyatā aham vara
ānanām

SYNONYMS

, 22a| mahā bhuja = oh, mighty śouldered one: Ravana | vistīrṇa jaghanām: she who is broad, hipped | pīna uttunga paya dharām: one with fatty, bulgy, milk, containers [breasts] | tām vara ānanām tu: her, who has excellent, face, but | tava bhāryā arthe tu: wife, for the purpose of, but | ānetum = to bring her: to Lanka | udyatā: when venturing | aham: I am | krūreṇa lakśmaṇena: by cruel, Lakshmana | virūpitā asmi: disfigured, I am. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, mighty shouldered brother, but when I ventured to bring her as your wife, whose hips are broad, bosom fat and bulgy, face excellent, that cruel Lakshmana disfigured me. [1-34-21, 22a]

VERSE 22

ताम् तु दृष्ट्वा अद्य वैदेहीम् पूर्ण चन्द्र निभ आननाम्

tām tu dṛṣṭvā adya vaidehīm pūrṇa candra nibha ānanām

SYNONYMS

b, 23a| pūrṇa candra nibha ānanām: full, moon, shine, with such a face | tām tu vaidehīm adya dṛṣṭvā: her, at Vaidehi, now, if you see | tvam: you | manmathasya śarāṇām: to Lover-god's, arrows | vidheyaḥ bhaviṣyasi: a groveller, you will become. |

TRANSLATION

"You too will become a groveller at the arrows Lover-god in case you now see Vaidehi with a face shining like full-moon. [1-34-22, 23a]

VERSE 23

यदि तस्याम् अभिप्रायो भार्या अर्थे तव जायते
शीघ्रम् उद् ध्रियताम् पादो जयार्थम् इह दक्षिणः

yadi tasyām abhiprāyo bhāryā arthe tava jāyate
śīghram ud dhriyatām pādo jayārtham iha dakṣiṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, c| tasyām: her | tava bhāryā arthe: your, wife, for the purpose of | abhiprāyaḥ jāyate yadi = opinion, is created, if: if you hatch | iha: now | jaya artham = success, for the purpose of: if you aspire success | dakṣiṇaḥ pādaḥ: right, foot | śīghram uddhriyatām = quickly, be upraised: put your best foot forward. |

TRANSLATION

"Hence, if you hatch an opinion to make her as your wife, and if you aspire success, now itself quickly put your best foot, namely your right foot, forward. [1-34-23]

VERSE 24

रोचते यदि ते वाक्यम् मम एतत् राक्षसेश्वर
क्रियताम् निर्विशंकेन वचनम् मम रावण

rocate yadi te vākyam mama etat rākṣaseśvara
kriyatām nirviśaṃkena vacanam mama rāvaṇa

SYNONYMS

rākśasa īśvara rāvaṇa: oh, demon's, king, Ravana | mama etat vākyam = my, all this, sentence: advise | te rocate yadi: to you, pleasing, if | nir vi śankena = vithout, verily, doubting: without becoming a shilly-shallyer | mama vacanam kriyatām = my, sentence: idea, let it be done. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, the king of demons Ravana, if this advise of mine is pleasing to you, let this idea be actualised without any shilly-shallying in your mind. [1-34-24]

VERSE 25

विज्ञाय इह आत्म शक्तिम् च क्रियताम् च महाबल
सीता तव अनवद्यांगी भार्यत्वे राक्षसेश्वर

vijñāya iha ātma śaktim ca kriyatām ca mahābala
sītā tava anavadyāṃgī bhāryatve rākṣaseśvara

SYNONYMS

rākśasa īśvara: oh, demon's, king | mahābala: oh, great-mighty one | ātma śaktim vijñāya = your ovn, capacity: stout-heartedness, on realizing, an a vadya angii = not, un, speakable, limbed - one with immaculate limbs | sītā tava bhāryatve = ṣītha, for your, in vifehūd: to become a wife |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, king of the demons, realise your stout-heartedness, and oh, great mighty one, let that immaculately limbed Seetha be abducted to become your wife. [1-34-25]

VERSE 26

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे चतुर् त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe catur triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmeṇa: by Rama | a jihma gaiḥ: not, curly, going [straight shooting | ] śaraiḥ: with such arrows | janasthāna gatān niśācarān hatān: Janasthaana, positioned, night-walkers, as destroyed | niśamya = on hearing: bear in mind | dūṣaṇam ca kharam ca: Duushana, also, Khara, is even | nihatam dṛṣṭvā = killed, on sīing: be conscious of | tvam adya kṛtyam = you, nov, action that is to be taken: doable deed, accomplishable | pratipattum arhasi: to awake to, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"On recognising that Rama with his straight shooting arrows destroyed the night-walkers positioned at Janasthaana, and further on distinguishing that Duushana, and even Khara, is dispatched, it is apt of you to awake to a workable action." Thus Shuurpanakha has earbashed Ravana. [1-34-26]