Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

ततः शूर्पणखा वाक्यम् तत् श्रुत्वा रोम हर्षणम्
सचिवान् अभ्यनुज्ञाय कार्यम् बुद्ध्वा जगाम ह

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhā vākyam tat śrutvā roma harṣaṇam
sacivān abhyanujñāya kāryam buddhvā jagāma ha

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | roma harṣaṇam = hair, raising: exciting | , tat śūrpaṇakhā vākyam śrutvā: that, Shuurpanakha's, sentence, advise, on hearing | sacivān abhyanujñāya: to ministers, bidding adieu | kāryam buddhvā jagāma ha: his task, resolving, proceeded, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the exciting advise of Shuurpanakha then Ravana bade adieu to ministers, and indeed on resolving his further task he proceeded to his personal palace chambers. [3-35-1]

VERSE 2

तत् कार्यम् अनुगम्यांतर् यथावत् उपलभ्य च
दोषाणाम् च गुणानाम् च सम्प्रधार्य बल अबलम्

tat kāryam anugamyāṃtar yathāvat upalabhya ca
doṣāṇām ca guṇānām ca sampradhārya bala abalam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

While following up his thinking about that task he got a pertinent thought, and on deliberating about the credits and discredits, strengths and weaknesses of that thought he decided that 'this is to be done in this method only.' On taking a decision in that way and with a firm mind he indeed proceeded to his excellent vehicle-garage. [3-35-2, 3]

VERSE 4

यान शालाम् ततो गत्वा प्रच्छन्नम् राक्षस अधिपः
सूतम् संचोदयामास रथः संयुज्यताम् इति

yāna śālām tato gatvā pracchannam rākṣasa adhipaḥ
sūtam saṃcodayāmāsa rathaḥ saṃyujyatām iti

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That lordly demon then has gone to the vehicle garage in secrecy, and directed the charioteer thus as, 'let the chariot be harnessed.' [3-35-4]

PURPORT

This 'secretly going to his own garage...' is one among the many oddities of Ravana that is suggested here. Kings never go to stables or garages but horses or chariots come to their fore, if ordered. Ravana's ministers have heard Shuurpanakha's report about the destruction of all the demons in Janasthaana. Because they have heard, it will not remain a secret or suppressible fact, but it will spread as a wild fire. Then some action has become necessary for Ravana now to save his face. praaNam eva parityajya maanam eva abhirakshatu 'Let life go but not the self-respect...' So, his first thinking is to wage a war with Rama, but it may become a worthless expedition because Rama's capabilities are partially known. Next, he thought to abduct Seetha, for she is said not only to be beautiful but a dearly cherished wife of Rama. If Seetha is distracted from Rama, Rama may die anguishing for Seetha, thus this imminent danger, called Rama, gets ruined once for all. The human nature is bhaaryaa duHkham punar bhaaryaa just 'to lament for a parted wife for some time till a second wife is secured...' Thus, that wife-addict Rama will lament for Seetha for some time and seeks another woman as his wife. Instead, if he starts searching for Seetha alone, it is impossible for those two young humans to come searching this far, or to cross the ocean, or to enter Lanka. And even on entering Lanka, it is impossible to survive further at the hands of demons. These are some of the many of his deliberations on the 'strengths and weaknesses and the credits and discredits...' of his thought mentioned in the verse. Then he enters his beautiful vehicle garage secretly. Why a king shall behave this quirkily? Because 'walls have ears...' and what all Shuurpanakha barked in the court must be audible throughout the palace by now, or may be all over Lanka, and if someone sees Ravana's exit at this point of time, everyone despises him, on the charge that he is trying to bring yet another woman. Though it is not said vividly here, that he is going to abduct Seetha thievishly keeping his valour and bravery aside, this will be made known in the words of Kumbhakarna in Yuddha Kaanda. This is shameful for his own self, as he did not do this way on previous occasions. For such a cowardly act, even Ravana's cherished wife Mandodari may despise or deride Ravana. So, he came to stables with a quirk of secrecy, which of course, will not remain a secret, soon.

VERSE 5

एवम् उक्तः क्षणेन एव सारथिः लघु विक्रमः
रथम् संयोजयामास तस्य अभिमतम् उत्तमम्

evam uktaḥ kṣaṇena eva sārathiḥ laghu vikramaḥ
ratham saṃyojayāmāsa tasya abhimatam uttamam

SYNONYMS

evam uktaḥ = thus, vho is said: the charioteer | laghu vikramaḥ sārathiḥ: brisk, paced, charioteer | tasya abhimatam: his [Ravana's] favourite one | uttamam ratham: choicest, chariot | kṣaṇena eva: in an instant, thus | samyojayāmāsa = started to harness: horses, got it ready. |

TRANSLATION

When that brisk-paced charioteer is said in this way he instantly harnessed the favourite and choicest chariot of Ravana with horses and got it ready. [3-35-5]

VERSE 6

कांचनम् रथम् आस्थाय कामगम् रत्न भूषितम्
पिशाच वदनैः युक्तम् खरैः कनक भूषणैः

kāṃcanam ratham āsthāya kāmagam ratna bhūṣitam
piśāca vadanaiḥ yuktam kharaiḥ kanaka bhūṣaṇaiḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That chariot which is decorated with golden ornaments, yoked with monster-faced mules that have gem studded trappings is rideable by the wish of the rider, and sitting in such a chariot which is wholly golden and which rides with a sound like the pealing of thunder, that celebrated Ravana, the brother of Kubera and the lord of demons, travelled towards the lord of rivers and rivulets, namely the ocean. [3-35-6,7]

VERSE 8

स श्वेत वाल व्यजनः श्वेतः छत्रो दशाननः
स्निग्ध वैदूर्य संकाश तप्त कान्चन भूषणः

sa śveta vāla vyajanaḥ śvetaḥ chatro daśānanaḥ
snigdha vaidūrya saṃkāśa tapta kāncana bhūṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

śveta vāla vyajanaḥ: with white, long-furred, fans [regal insignia] | śvetaḥ chatraḥ: with white, parasol | daśa ānanaḥ = ten: faced - Ravana | snigdha vaidūrya samkāśa: [his body] smooth, Lapis, similar in shine | tapta kāncana bhūṣaṇaḥ: having burnt [refined,] golden, ornaments | daśa grīvaḥ vimśati bhujaḥ: with ten, throats [heads,] twenty, arms | darśanīya pari cchadaḥ: with good-looking [spectacular,] over, coverings [regalia] | tridaśa ariḥ: gods', adversary | muni indra ghnaḥ: sages, eminent, cutthroat | daśa śīrṣa adri rāṭ iva: ten, heads [pinnacles,] mountain, king, who is similar to | saḥ rākṣasa adhipaḥ: he that, demons, chief | kāma gam ratham āsthāya: by wish, rideable, chariot, seated in | ambare: in sky | vidyut maṇḍalavān: one with lightning flashes, and with such an area around it | sa balāka: that is with, [flights of]cranes | meghaḥ iva: cloud, as with | śuśubhe: shone forth. |

TRANSLATION

Dasha-aanana, the decahedral demon, whose complexion like the smoothened Lapis-gem is lustrous, whose regalia that comprise white long-furred fans, white parasol and the like is spectacular, whose ornaments made out of refined gold are glittering, who similar to a kingly mountain with ten pinnacles and crags by way of his ten heads and twenty arms is gorgeous, and such a chief of demons who by that way is an adversary of gods and cutthroat of eminent-sages, seated in a nitid golden chariot that is rideable by the wish of its steersman, he shone forth like a black-cloud fringed with the streaks of lightning and rimmed with flights of cranes. [3-35-8, 9, 10]

PURPORT

Here the cloud metaphors with Ravana, the streaks of lightning with the silvery flashes of his regalia, and the decorated chariot with the flight of cranes.

VERSE 11

स शैलम् सागर अनूपम् वीर्यवान् अवलोकयन्
नाना पुष्प फलैर् वृक्षैर् अनुकीर्णम् सहस्रशः

sa śailam sāgara anūpam vīryavān avalokayan
nānā puṣpa phalair vṛkṣair anukīrṇam sahasraśaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

That dauntless Ravana forged ahead while viewing the area along the coastline which is interspersed with thousands of mountains and which is with variously flowered and fruited trees. [3-35-11]

VERSE 12

शीत मंगल तोयाभिः पद्मिनीभिः समंततः
विशालैः आश्रम पदैः वेदिमद्भिः अलंकृतम्

śīta maṃgala toyābhiḥ padminībhiḥ samaṃtataḥ
viśālaiḥ āśrama padaiḥ vedimadbhiḥ alaṃkṛtam

SYNONYMS

śīta mangala toyābhiḥ: with cool, clean, waters | padminībhiḥ: with lotus-lakes | vedimadbhiḥ: having Fire-altars | viśālaiḥ āśrama padaiḥ: with extensive, hermitage, thresholds | samantataḥ alankṛtam = everyvhere, bedecked vith: seeing them he proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

Everywhere the coastland is bedecked with lotus-lakes containing clean and cool waters, and with extensive thresholds of hermitages containing Fire-altars. [3-35-12]

VERSE 13

कदल्य अटवि संशोभम् नालिकेर उपशोभितम्
सालैः तालैः तमालैः च तरुभिः च सुपुष्पितैः

kadalya aṭavi saṃśobham nālikera upaśobhitam
sālaiḥ tālaiḥ tamālaiḥ ca tarubhiḥ ca supuṣpitaiḥ

SYNONYMS

kadalya aṭavi samśobham = vith banana, orcards: plantation, gleaming with | nālikera upaśobhitam: coconut trees, glistening with | sālaiḥ tālaiḥ tamālaiḥ ca tarubhiḥ ca supuṣpitaiḥ: saala, palm, tamaala, trees, as well, well, blossomed. |

TRANSLATION

Entire coast is gleaming with banana plantation and glistening with coconut trees, and the saala, palm, and tamaala trees are also in full blossom. [3-35-13]

VERSE 14

अत्यन्त नियत आहारैः शोभितम् परम ऋषिभिः
नागैः सुपर्णैः गंधर्वैः किंनरैः च सहस्रशः

atyanta niyata āhāraiḥ śobhitam parama ṛṣibhiḥ
nāgaiḥ suparṇaiḥ gaṃdharvaiḥ kiṃnaraiḥ ca sahasraśaḥ

SYNONYMS

nāgaiḥ suparṇaiḥ gandharvaiḥ: with reptiles, birds, gandharva-s | sahasraśaḥ: kinnara's ca = with thousands of, kinnaraiH, as well | ājaiḥ: with Brahma's brainchildren | vaikhānasaiḥ: with Vaikhanasa sages | māṣaiḥ: with sage of Maasha descendents | marīci paiḥ: with Mariicipa-s, sages that dink moonbeams | vāla khilyaiḥ: with, Vaalakhilya sages | atyanta niyata āhāraiḥ: those with highly, controlled, food-habits | parama ṛṣibhiḥ: with eminent, sages | śobhitam = brightened vith: coastal area | jita kāmaiḥ siddhaiḥ ca: conquered, desires [self-denying,] also, with Siddha-s | cāraṇaiḥ ca: Caarana-s, also with | upaśobhitam = coast is: refulgent. |

TRANSLATION

It is brightened up with thousands of reptiles and birds, with those many celestial beings that frequent the earth like gandharva-s, kinnaraa-s. And with eminent sages who have highly controlled food-habits, as well. It is also refulgent with the self-denying Siddha-s, Carana-s, and with sages that are the brainchildren of Brahma, namely Vaikhanasa-s, Maasha-s, Vaalakhilya-s, Mariicipa-s. [3-35-14, 15]

PURPORT

The details about these sages are given in the 6th chapter of this Aranya Kanda when these categories of sages meet Rama requesting protection from demons.

VERSE 16

दिव्य आभरण माल्याभिः दिव्य रूपाभिः आवृतम्
क्रीडा रति विधिज्ञाभिः अप्सरोभिः सहस्रशः

divya ābharaṇa mālyābhiḥ divya rūpābhiḥ āvṛtam
krīḍā rati vidhijñābhiḥ apsarobhiḥ sahasraśaḥ

SYNONYMS

divya ābharaṇa mālyābhiḥ: with divine, ornaments, garlands | divya rūpābhiḥ: with divine, aspects | krīḍā rati vidhi jñābhiḥ: game of, sex, methods, experts in | sahasraśaḥ apsarobhiḥ: in thousands, by apsara-s | āvṛtam: pervaded with. |

TRANSLATION

With thousands of celestial maidens divine in their mien, namely apsara-s, who are prettified with divine ornaments and garlands, and who are also the experts in the methodical sex-games that seaside is pervaded. [3-35-16]

VERSE 17

सेवितम् देव पत्नीभिः श्रीमतीभिः उपासितम्
देव दानव सन्घैः च चरितम् तु अमृत अशिभिः

sevitam deva patnībhiḥ śrīmatībhiḥ upāsitam
deva dānava sanghaiḥ ca caritam tu amṛta aśibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

śrīmatībhiḥ deva patnībhiḥ: by propitious, gods, wives of | sevitam: [seashore] is adored | amṛta aśibhiḥ: on ambrosia, thrive upon [or, who strive for] | deva sanghaiḥ ca caritam: gods, assemblages, frequented by | [amṛta arthibhiḥ: for ambrosia, who strive for] | dānava upāsitam tu: demon's, groups, patronised, even. |

TRANSLATION

That seacoast is adored by the propitious wives of gods and frequented by the assemblages of gods who thrive upon ambrosia, and even patronised by demons that strive for ambrosia. [3-35-17]

PURPORT

The demons did not get their share of amR^ita 'divine elixir' therefore they cannot be called amR^ita ashibhiH 'ambrosia consumers.' As such, some other mms contain this expression amR^ita arthibhiH 'desirers of ambrosia...' the demons. They also frequent those coasts along with gods.

VERSE 18

हंस क्रौन्च प्लव आकीर्णम् सारसैः संप्रणादितम्
वैदूर्य प्रस्तरम् स्निग्धम् सांद्रम् सागर तेजसा

haṃsa kraunca plava ākīrṇam sārasaiḥ saṃpraṇāditam
vaidūrya prastaram snigdham sāṃdram sāgara tejasā

SYNONYMS

hamsa kraunca plava ākīrṇam: with swans, ruddy-gees, frogs, spread out | sārasaiḥ sam pra ṇāditam: by saarasa water-fowls, very, much, noisy | vaidūrya prastaram: Lapis-gem like, stones, overlain | sāgara tejasā: by ocean's, ambience | sāndram: sludgy | snigdham: smooth. |

TRANSLATION

It is spread with swans, ruddy-gees and frogs, and there the waterfowls are very noisy, and stones overlain on the coast are like lapis-gems, and with the ambience of ocean that whole delta is appearing smooth and sludgy. [3-35-18]

VERSE 19

पाण्डुराणि विशालानि दिव्य माल्य युतानि च
तूर्य गीत अभिजुष्टानि विमानानि समंततः

pāṇḍurāṇi viśālāni divya mālya yutāni ca
tūrya gīta abhijuṣṭāni vimānāni samaṃtataḥ

SYNONYMS

, 20| abhisampatan: abhi sam patan = towards, quickly, falling - while quickly going | dhanada anujaḥ = k͟hubera's, brother: Ravana | tapasā jita lokānām: by asceticism, of those who acquired, [higher] worlds | pāṇḍurāṇi viśālāni: whitish, widish | divya mālya yutāni ca: divine, flowery-tassels, having, also | tūrya gīta abhijuṣṭāni: musical notes, singing, resonating | kāma gān vimānāni = = by viś, moving, aircrafts: of deified souls | apsarasaḥ caiva = gandharva: s, apsara-s, also thus - in those aircrafts, where gandharva-s are singing, and apsara-s are dancing | samantataḥ dadarśa: everywhere, Ravana has seen. |

TRANSLATION

While Ravana, the brother of Kubera, is quickly transiting he saw everywhere the whitish and widish aircrafts belonging to the deified souls who acquired higher worlds, and from those aircrafts adorned with divine flowery tassels and piloted by the wish of their steersmen, instrumental and vocal music is resonating, and gandharva-s are singing and apsara-s are dancing in them. [3-35-19, 20]

VERSE 21

निर्यास रस मूलानाम् चंदनानाम् सहस्रशः
वनानि पश्यन् सौम्यानि घ्राण तृप्ति कराणि च

niryāsa rasa mūlānām caṃdanānām sahasraśaḥ
vanāni paśyan saumyāni ghrāṇa tṛpti karāṇi ca

SYNONYMS

niryāsa rasa mūlānām: oozing, fluid [resin,] at bases | candanānām: of sandalwood trees | saumyāni: soothingly | ghrāṇa tṛpti karāṇi ca: sense of smell, satisfying to, also | sahasraśaḥ vanāni paśyan = in thousands, vūdlands, vhile observing: Ravana proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana proceeded while observing thousands of woodlands with sandalwood trees that are soothing and satisfying the sense of smell, and that oozed sweet-smelling resin at their bases. [3-35-21]

VERSE 22

अगुरूणाम् च मुख्यानाम् वनानि उपवनानि च
तक्कोलानाम् च जात्यानाम् फलानाम् च सुगन्धिनाम्

agurūṇām ca mukhyānām vanāni upavanāni ca
takkolānām ca jātyānām phalānām ca sugandhinām

SYNONYMS

mukhyānām agurūṇām ca vanāni: noteworthy, aloe vera plants, forests of | upavanāni ca: woodlands, also | takkolānām: of Takkola trees | phalānām ca su gandhinām: with fruits of, also, aromatic ones | jātyānām: of nutmeg trees |

TRANSLATION

He also observed on his way the forests and woodlands containing the noteworthy aloe plants, Takkola trees, and the nutmeg trees that are with fruits and aromatic, as well. [3-35-22]

VERSE 23

पुष्पाणि च तमालस्य गुल्मानि मरिचस्य च
मुक्तानाम् च समूहानि शुष्यमाणानि तीरतः

puṣpāṇi ca tamālasya gulmāni maricasya ca
muktānām ca samūhāni śuṣyamāṇāni tīrataḥ

SYNONYMS

tamālasya puṣpāṇi ca = of ṭamāla trīs: cassia, at flowers, also | maricasya gulmāni ca: of pepper, shrubberies, also | tīrataḥ: along seashore | śuṣyamāṇāni: that are desiccating | muktānām samūhāni ca = of pearls [of oysters,] heaps, also: he saw. |

TRANSLATION

Also seen are the flowers of Tamaala trees, shrubberies of pepper, and heaps of desiccating pearl-oysters along the seashore. [3-35-23]

VERSE 24

शैलानि प्रवरान् चैव प्रवाल निचयान् तथा
कांचनानि च शृंगाणि राजतानि तथैव च

śailāni pravarān caiva pravāla nicayān tathā
kāṃcanāni ca śṛṃgāṇi rājatāni tathaiva ca

SYNONYMS

śailāni pra varān caiva = boulders, very best ones: peaking, also thus | [śaṅkhānāṃ prastaraṃ caiva: conch shells, heaps of, also thus] | tathā: like that | pravāla nicayān: coral, reefs of | kāncanāni rājatāni ca = golden, silvern, also: suggesting their ores inside | śṛngāṇi: also, crests | tathaiva ca: like that, even. |

TRANSLATION

Thus, he saw the peaking boulders, like that the reefs of corals, and like that also at the mountains that have golden and silvern crests. [3-35-24]

VERSE 25

प्रस्रवाणि मनोज्ञानि प्रसन्नानि अद्भुतानि च
धन धान्य उपपन्नानि स्त्री रत्नैः आवृतानि च

prasravāṇi manojñāni prasannāni adbhutāni ca
dhana dhānya upapannāni strī ratnaiḥ āvṛtāni ca

SYNONYMS

, 26a| manojñāni prasannāni adbhutāni prasravāṇi: delightful, serene, marvellous, cascades | [or, manojñāni prasravāṇi: delightful, cascades | prasannāni adbhutāni hradāni ca: serene, marvellous, lakes, also | ] dhana dhānya upapannāni: wealth, grain, endowed with | strī ratnaiḥ āvṛtāni ca: women, gemlike, spread with, also | hasti aśva ratha gāḍhāni: elephants, horses, chariots, replete with | nagarāṇi vilokayan = cities, vhile vieving at: he proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing the delightful, serene, and marvellous cascades, and cities that are abundant in wealth and agricultural produce, and abundant with gemlike womenfolk, and that are replete with elephants, horses, and chariots, Ravana proceeded further. [3-35-25, 26a]

VERSE 26

तम् समम् सर्वतः स्निग्धम् मृदु संस्पर्श मारुतम्

tam samam sarvataḥ snigdham mṛdu saṃsparśa mārutam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Ravana observed the delta adjacent to seacoast of that kingly ocean to be uniform and smooth, while the light air breezing in there is soft for touch, thus it looked heavenly. [3-35-26b, 27a]

PURPORT

VERSE 27

तत्र अपश्यत् स मेघ आभम् न्यग्रोधम् मुनिभिर् वृतम्

tatra apaśyat sa megha ābham nyagrodham munibhir vṛtam

SYNONYMS

b, 28a| tatra: there | saḥ: he that Ravana | yasya = vhic: tree's | tāḥ śākhāḥ: those, branches | samantāt śata yojanam āyatāḥ: all over, hundred, yojana, in length | megha ābham = vhic trī is: cloudlike, in shine | munibhiḥ vṛtam = vith sages, encompassing it: sages settled on that tree practising ascesis | nyagrodham = īndian Fig trī [banyan trī, Ficus benghalensis: the branches of which hang down and root themselves,] | apaśyat: he saw. |

TRANSLATION

There Ravana also saw a banyan tree which in sheen is like a black-cloud, and the branches of which are stretching all over for a hundred yojana-s in length, and on which sages made their abode for practising ascesis. [3-35-27b, 28a]

VERSE 28

यस्य हस्तिनम् आदाय महा कायम् च कच्छपम्

yasya hastinam ādāya mahā kāyam ca kacchapam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

This is the tree on the branch of which once highly mighty Divine Eagle Garuda swooped to perch, clawing an elephant and a mammoth tortoise, for the purpose of dining them out on that tree-branch. [3-35-28b, 29a]

PURPORT

One yojana is 900 miles, where one yojana is nine English miles. The legendary version is that the elephant and tortoise are engaged in a fierce fight though none of them is a prey to the other, and seeing them and to teach a lesson to such causeless quarrellers, Garuda flies in and claws both and searches for a place to feast on them. Finding this tree worthwhile to have a leisure dinner he dashes on to one branch.

VERSE 29

तस्य ताम् सहसा शाखाम् भारेण पतगोत्तमः

tasya tām sahasā śākhām bhāreṇa patagottamaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 30a| pataga uttamaḥ = among birds, the best: Garuda | mahābalaḥ = highly mighty: with high impetuous Garuda | su parṇaḥ = one vith: excellent, wings - Garuda, the eagle | tasya = of its: tree's | tām parṇa bahulām śākhām = that, vith leaves, many: that branch full with leaves | atha: then | bhāreṇa sahasā babhanja = oving to his veight, suddenly, broke: while descending rapidly. |

TRANSLATION

While descending rapidly then that best bird among birds Garuda suddenly broke that tree's branch which is full with leaves, owing to the impact of his high impetuosity. [3-35-29b, 30a]

VERSE 30

तत्र वैखानसा माषा वालखिल्या मरीचिपाः

tatra vaikhānasā māṣā vālakhilyā marīcipāḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Adhering to that tree-branch there are eminent sages like, Vaikhanasa-s, Maasha-s, Vaalakhilya-s, Mariicipa-s, Aja-s, and even sages like Dhuumraa-s that thrive on fumes and smokes are there, and there they are collectively practising asceticism upside down while clasping branches with their legs. [3-35-30b, 31a]

VERSE 31

तेषाम् दयाअर्थम् गरुडः ताम् शाखाम् शत योजनाम्

teṣām dayāartham garuḍaḥ tām śākhām śata yojanām

SYNONYMS

b, 32a| garuḍaḥ: Garuda | teṣām dayāartham: for their, grace's sake | śata yojanām tām bhagnam śākhām: of hundred, yojana-length, that, broken, tree-branch | tau ubhau gaja kacchapau ca: those, two, elephant, tortoise also | ādāya: on taking | vegena [jagāma] = quickly, [he vent: to relocate the sages - verse finishes later.] |

TRANSLATION

For the sake of the grace of those sages Garuda took flight from that tree, grasping that broken tree-branch of a hundred yojana length along with those pendulous sages with his beak, and both of the elephant and tortoise with both of his claws. [3-35-31b, 32a]

VERSE 32

एक पादेन धर्म आत्मा भक्षयित्वा तत् आमिषम्

eka pādena dharma ātmā bhakṣayitvā tat āmiṣam

SYNONYMS

b, 33| dharmāatmā: virtue-souled one | pataga uttamaḥ = among birds, the best: supreme bird Garuda | tat āmiṣam: that, meat [of elephant and tortoise] | eka pādena bhakṣayitvā: with one, foot, having consumed | śākhayā: with tree branch | niṣāda viṣayam hatvā: tribesmen's, province, having destroyed | mahā munīn mokṣayitvā = great: sages, having released, rescued - in a safe place | atulam praharṣam lebhe: incomparable, happiness, he gained. |

TRANSLATION

That virtue-souled Garuda consumed the meat of his prays, namely the elephant and the giant tortoise with a single foot, and destroyed the province of tribesmen with the same broken tree branch, and thus that supreme bird Garuda gained an incomparable happiness in rescuing those great-sages. [3-35-32b, 33]

PURPORT

Garuda held tortoise and elephant in two claws in the first instance and when to settle down on tree branch he transferred one pray from one claw to the other and held both of them by one claw and with the other free claw he caught hold of the tree branch. But it broke under his weight, and then suddenly without making it to fall on ground he grasped that branch with his beak and took to flight. While flying in sky he held both the preys in claw, and the tree branch into the other. Then he started to eat his preys in sky with one claw, still upholding the branch from falling. Seeing this feat of Garuda, the sages clinging to that tree branch bless him to be successful in his next mission and leave that branch. When that tree branch is free from sages, Garuda throws it on a province of some antagonistic tribal community, by weight of which the whole of that tribal community is destroyed. This is one way of telling the myth.

VERSE 34

स तेन तु प्रहर्षेण द्विगुणी कृत विक्रमः
अमृत आनयनार्थम् वै चकार मतिमान् मतिम्

sa tena tu praharṣeṇa dviguṇī kṛta vikramaḥ
amṛta ānayanārtham vai cakāra matimān matim

SYNONYMS

matimān: heedful one | saḥ: he that Garuda | tena praharṣeṇa tu: with that, happiness but | dvi guṇī kṛta vikramaḥ = vith tvo, multiplied: double, rendered, valour - his valour became twice as much - as sages blessed for rescuing them | amṛta ānayana artham vai = ambrosia, bringing: from heaven, for the purpose of, indeed | cakāra matim = made, his mind: resolved. |

TRANSLATION

When his valour has become twice as much with that happiness that heedful Garuda indeed resolved to bring ambrosia from heaven. [3-35-34]

VERSE 35

अयो जालानि निर्मथ्य भित्त्वा रत्न गृहम् वरम्
महेन्द्र भवनात् गुप्तम् आजहार अमृतम् ततः

ayo jālāni nirmathya bhittvā ratna gṛham varam
mahendra bhavanāt guptam ājahāra amṛtam tataḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Smashing the guard of iron-grid completely and crashing the unbreakable diamond -like strongroom in which the ambrosia is safeguarded, then Garuda carried off ambrosia from the palace of Indra. [3-35-35]

VERSE 36

तम् महर्षि गणैः जुष्टम् सुपर्ण कृत लक्षणम्
नाम्ना सुभद्रम् न्यग्रोधम् ददर्श धनद अनुजः

tam maharṣi gaṇaiḥ juṣṭam suparṇa kṛta lakṣaṇam
nāmnā subhadram nyagrodham dadarśa dhanada anujaḥ

SYNONYMS

dhanada anujaḥ: Kubera's, brother Ravana | maharṣi gaṇaiḥ juṣṭam: at it [tree,] great-sages, by assemblages of, sought-after | suparṇa kṛta lakṣaṇam = by best: winged Garuda, deed, signs - betokens Garuda's actions | nāmnā subhadram = by name, ṣubhadra: named as | tam nyagrodham dadarśa = that, banyan trī, ṟavana sav: and proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana on his way saw such a banyan tree named as Subhadra which is a much sought after tree for assemblages of great sages, and which betokens the deeds of that best-winged Garuda. [3-35-36]

VERSE 37

तम् तु गत्वा परम् पारम् समुद्रस्य नदी पतेः
ददर्श आश्रमम् एकांते पुण्ये रम्ये वनांतरे

tam tu gatvā param pāram samudrasya nadī pateḥ
dadarśa āśramam ekāṃte puṇye ramye vanāṃtare

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On going to the other side of the lord of rivers, namely ocean, Ravana saw a pleasing hermitage in the sacred and scenic interior of the forest. [3-35-37]

VERSE 38

तत्र कृष्ण अजिन धरम् जटा वल्कल धारिणम्
ददर्श नियत आहारम् मारीचम् नाम राक्षसम्

tatra kṛṣṇa ajina dharam jaṭā valkala dhāriṇam
dadarśa niyata āhāram mārīcam nāma rākṣasam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

At that place Ravana saw the demon named Maareecha, wearing jute-clothes and black deerskin and tufts of hairs, and the one with regulated diet. [3-35-38]

VERSE 39

स रावणः समागम्य विधिवत् तेन रक्षसा
मारीचेन अर्चितो राजा सर्व कामैः अमानुषैः

sa rāvaṇaḥ samāgamya vidhivat tena rakṣasā
mārīcena arcito rājā sarva kāmaiḥ amānuṣaiḥ

SYNONYMS

rājā saḥ rāvaṇaḥ: king, he that, Ravana | samāgamya = is approaced: welcomed by Maareecha | rakṣasā tena mārīcena: by demon, that, Maareecha | a mānuṣaiḥ: with super, humanly [not subhuman] | sarva kāmaiḥ: with all, offerings | vidhivat arcitaḥ = customarily, ṟavana is adored: entertained. |

TRANSLATION

That demon Maareecha welcomed the king Ravana and customarily entertained him catering all the offerings that are beyond the scope of humans. [3-35-39]

VERSE 40

तम् स्वयम् पूजयित्वा च भोजनेन उदकेन च
अर्थोपहितया वाचा मारीचो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

tam svayam pūjayitvā ca bhojanena udakena ca
arthopahitayā vācā mārīco vākyam abravīt

SYNONYMS

mārīcaḥ: Maareecha | tam: him [Ravana] | bhojanena udakena ca: with meals, and with drinking water [offering] | svayam pūjayitvā ca = in person, venerating: entertaining, also | artha upahitayā vācā: with significance, connotative, with words | vākyam abravīt: sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On personally offering meals and drinking water, and venerating him properly Maareecha spoke this sentence to Ravana which is connotative of significance. [3-35-40]

VERSE 41

कच्चित् ते कुशलम् राजन् लंकायाम् राक्षसेश्वर
केन अर्थेन् पुनः त्वम् वै तूर्णम् एव इह आगतः

kaccit te kuśalam rājan laṃkāyām rākṣaseśvara
kena arthen punaḥ tvam vai tūrṇam eva iha āgataḥ

SYNONYMS

rākśasa īśvara: oh, demons, king | te lankāyām kuśalam kaccit: in your, Lanka, safe, isn't it | rājan: oh, king | tvam kena arthena: you, by which, reason | punaḥ tūrṇam eva iha āgataḥ: again, in a trice, only, here, came. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, king of the demons, is everything well with your Lanka? Oh, king, for what reason you have put in an appearance again, that too in a trice? [3-35-41]

PURPORT

This statement contains 'why you have come again?' and taking hold of this word, 'again...' some, who hold that the episode of Akampana is justifiable, say that the episode of Akampana is not interpolated but the original work of Valmiki. For this, the ex-party says that when a whole of chapter is included, inclusion of one word 'again...' is not a bothersome affair to the mythologists or interpolators. When it is questioned that interspersing Akampana's episode defeats the spectacular entry of Ravana, the defendants say that the antagonists need not be given such priorities. So also, Vali's Kishkindha is not portrayed in a spectacular way when Sugreeva attacked Vali for the first time, but it is detailed in the second round, to some extent, and fully when Lakshmana enters it. In this episode, a jump of event to Garuda's exploits may be jerky, but it is questioned when can Ravana recollect about Garuda's might, why does he ignore still mightier Vishnu. Ravana's continuous fear for Vishnu made him to think of Garuda - that too, on seeing Subhadra, the banyan tree, and that too - while going to kidnap Seetha. The path through which Ravana coursed is towards Himalayas, where an idolatry place called deva bhuumi is said to be earmarked for higher souls. When Rama hit Maareecha, he fell far off from the ritual place of Vishwamitra. That place is said to be on northern side of Himalayas. Some ancient mms contain this verse which also tell about that place as deva bhuumi and it is on the northern side of kuru i.e., kurukhsetra where Great War of Maha Bharata occurred: uttaraanshca kuruun pashyan pashyan caiva nagottamaan | deva daanava sanghaiH ca sevitam hi amR^ita arthibhiH ||

VERSE 42

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे पंच त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe paṃca triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mārīcena: by Maareecha | evam uktaḥ: thus, who is spoken to | mahātejā vākya kovidaḥ = highly radiant one, sentence making, ekṣpert in: eloquent one | saḥ rāvaṇa: he, that Ravana | tataḥ paścāt: then, after | idam vākyam abravīt: this, sentence, spoke [to Maareecha.] |

TRANSLATION

When Maareecha spoke to him thus, that highly radiant and eloquent Ravana then afterwards spoke this sentence to Maareecha. [3-35-42]