Chapter 38

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

कदाचित् अपि अहम् वीर्यात् पर्यटन् पृथिवीम् इमाम्
बलम् नाग सहस्रस्य धारयन् पर्वतोपमः

kadācit api aham vīryāt paryaṭan pṛthivīm imām
balam nāga sahasrasya dhārayan parvatopamaḥ

SYNONYMS

kadācit: at one time | aham api: I, even | vīryāt: with valour | imām pṛthivīm paryaṭan: this, earth, while roving | nāga sahasrasya balam dhārayan: elephants, thousand, strength, bearing | parvata upamaḥ = mountain, similar: I am | nīla jīmūta samkāśaḥ = blackiś, cloud, in śīn: I am | tapta kāncana: burnt [refined,] golden | kuṇḍalaḥ = ear: knobs - myself having | kirīṭī: wearing crown | parigha āyudhaḥ: bludgeon, as weapon | lokasya bhayam janayan: to world, terror, causing | ṛṣi māmsāni bhakṣayan: sage's, fleshes, while eating | daṇḍaka araṇyam vyacaram: Dandaka, forests, I was rambling. |

TRANSLATION

"At one time even I was on the rove around this earth, taking pride in my valour, bearing the strength of a thousand elephants, mountainous in my size and black-cloudlike in my sheen, wearing ear-knobs and a crown made out of refined gold, with a bludgeon as my weapon, and such as I was, I rambled Dandaka forest causing terror to the world, and eating the fleshes of sages." Thus Maareecha started to narrate his experience with Rama. [3-38-1, 2]

VERSE 3

विश्वामित्रो अथ धर्मात्मा मत् वित्रस्तो महामुनिः

viśvāmitro atha dharmātmā mat vitrasto mahāmuniḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 4a| atha dharmātmā viśvāmitraḥ: then, virtue-souled, Vishvamitra | mat: of me | vi trasta: highly, scared | svayam: in person | nara indram daśaratham gatvā: to people's king, to Dasharatha, on going to him | mahāmuniḥ: great-saint | idam abravīt: this, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"The virtue-souled great-saint Vishvamitra who was highly scared of me, then on going to Dasharatha in person that great-saint spoke this to that lord of people. [3-38-3b, 4a]

VERSE 4

अयम् रक्षतु माम् रामः पर्व काले समाहितः

ayam rakṣatu mām rāmaḥ parva kāle samāhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 5a| nara īśvara: oh, people's, lord | ayam mārīcāt: from this, Maareecha | me ghoram bhayam: to me, awesome, dismay | sam utpannam = verily, canced: befallen | rāmaḥ samāhitaḥ: Rama, becoming alert | parva kāle: at opportune, time of ritual | mām rakṣatu: me, let him safeguard. |

TRANSLATION

" 'An awesome dismay has befallen owing to this Maareecha, oh, lord of people Dasharatha, let Rama safeguard me becoming alert at the opportune time of the Vedic-ritual. [3-38-4b 5a]

VERSE 5

इति एवम् उक्तो धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथः तदा

iti evam ukto dharmātmā rājā daśarathaḥ tadā

SYNONYMS

b, 6a| iti evam uktaḥ = thus, that vay, one vho is spoken to: Dasharatha | dharma atmā rājā daśarathaḥ tadā: virtue-souled, king, Dasharatha, then | mahābhāgam mahāmunim viśvāmitram: to great-fortunate, to great-saint, Vishvamitra | prati uvāca = in turn, spoke: replied. |

TRANSLATION

"When he is spoken in that way, then that virtue-souled king Dasharatha replied that great-fortunate and great-saint Vishvamitra in this way. [3-38-5b, 6a]

VERSE 6

ऊन द्वादश वर्षो अयम् अकृत अस्त्रः च राघवः

ūna dvādaśa varṣo ayam akṛta astraḥ ca rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 7a| ayam [bālaḥ] rāghavaḥ: this, [boy,] Rama is | ūna dvādaś varṣaḥ = less than, tvelve, years: in age | a kṛta astraḥ ca = not, performed: unpractised, weapons, also | mama yat sainyam = mine, vhic, army: whatever army is there | kāmam mayā saha gamiṣyati: if need be, me, along with, will march on. |

TRANSLATION

" 'This boy Rama is less than twelve years in his age, unproficient in the use of weapons, and if need be, whatever army of mine is there it will march on along with me instead of Rama. [3-38-6b, 7a]

PURPORT

In Bala Kanda the age of Rama as said by Dasharatha to Vishvamitra is uuna SoDasa varSaH ' 'less than sixteen years.' Here Maareecha is saying that Rama is less than twelve. Maheshvara Tiirtha says that Maareecha lessened the age of Rama only to intimidate Ravana.
VERSE 7

बलेन चतुरंगेण स्वयम् एत्य निशाचरम्

balena caturaṃgeṇa svayam etya niśācaram

SYNONYMS

b, 8a| muni śreṣṭha: oh, sage, the eminent | caturangeṇa balena: with fourfold, forces | [aham: I] | svayam etya: in person, having come | tava śatrum: your, enemy | yathā īpsitam = as, desired [or, manasā īpsitān = as your heart, desires: whomever you indicate for elimination | niśācaram = suc: nightwalkers | vadhiṣyāmi: I will kill. |

TRANSLATION

" 'And having come in person with fourfold forces, oh eminent sage, I myself will eradicate that nightwalker whomever you indicate as an enemy of yours." So said Dasharatga to Vishvamitra. [3-38-7b, 8a]

PURPORT

In the fourfold army the four categories of army units are chariots, elephants, cavalry, and foot-soldiers.
VERSE 8

] एवम् उक्तः स तु मुनी राजानम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

] evam uktaḥ sa tu munī rājānam idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

b, 9a| evam uktaḥ: thus, who is spoken | saḥ tu munī: he, on his part, that sage Vishvamitra | rājānam idam abravīt: to king, this, said | rāmāt anyat balam: apart from Rama, other, force | tasya rakṣasaḥ: to him, to that demon | loke: in world | na paryāptam = not, enough for: can counterbalance. |

TRANSLATION

"When the sage Vishvamitra is spoken thus, then he said to the king, 'No other force in the world than Rama can counterbalance that demon. [3-38-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

देवतानाम् अपि भवान् समरेषु अभिपालकः

devatānām api bhavān samareṣu abhipālakaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 10a| nṛpa: oh, king | bhavān: you are | samareṣu: in war | devatānām api abhipālakaḥ: for gods, even [no doubt,] a defender of | tava kṛte karma: by you, undertaken, exploit | triloka viditam āsīt: in tri-world, well-known, is there. |

TRANSLATION

" 'No doubt, you are a defender of gods in wars, and oh, king, the exploits you have undertaken on behalf of gods are well-known in the triad of worlds. [3-38-9b, 10a]

VERSE 10

कामम् अस्ति महत् सैन्यम् तिष्टतु इह परंतप

kāmam asti mahat sainyam tiṣṭatu iha paraṃtapa

SYNONYMS

b, 11| paran tapaḥ: oh, enemy-flamer | mahat sainyam asti [astu]: remarkable, army, there is | kāmam: maybe, if it is there, let it be there | iha tiṣṭatu: here, let it sit tight | mahātejāḥ: great-resplendent one | eṣa bālaḥ api: he is, a boy, even if | tasya nigrahe samarthaḥ = his: Maareecha's, in forestalling, he is competent | parantapa: oh, enemy-inflamer | rāmam ādāya gamiṣye: Rama, on taking, I wish to go | te svasti astu: to you, safety, let there be. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Maybe your army is a remarkable one, oh, enemy-inflamer, let it sit tight here alone, and even if this great resplendent one is still a boy he alone is competent to forestall that Maareecha, hence oh, enemy-subjugator, let good betide you, I wish to take him alone along with me.' [3-38-10b, 11]

VERSE 12

इति एवम् उक्त्वा स मुनिः तम् आदाय नृपात्मजम्
जगाम परम प्रीतो विश्वामित्रः स्वम् आश्रमम्

iti evam uktvā sa muniḥ tam ādāya nṛpātmajam
jagāma parama prīto viśvāmitraḥ svam āśramam

SYNONYMS

saḥ muniḥ viśvāmitraḥ: he, sage, Vishvamitra | iti evam uktvā: thus, that way, on saying | nṛpa ātma jam: king's, own, son | tam = him: Rama | ādāya: taking along | parama prītaḥ: highly, gladdened | svam āśramam jagāma: to his own, to hermitage, went away. |

TRANSLATION

"Thus that way on saying he that sage Vishvamitra returned to his own hermitage highly gladdening to take the prince Rama along with him. [3-38-12]

VERSE 13

तम् तदा दण्डकारण्ये यज्ञम् उद्दिश्य दीक्षितम्
बभूव उपस्थितो रामः चित्रम् विस्फारयन् धनुः

tam tadā daṇḍakāraṇye yajñam uddiśya dīkṣitam
babhūva upasthito rāmaḥ citram visphārayan dhanuḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā rāmaḥ daṇḍakāraṇye: then, Rama, in Dandaka forest | yajñam uddiśya dīkṣitam: Vedic-ritual, concerning, who entered into vow | tam = him: at Vishvamitra | upa sthitaḥ: nearby staying | citram dhanuḥ visphārayan: amazing, bow, twingeing out | abhūva: he was there. |

TRANSLATION

"Then in Dandaka forest Rama twingeing his amazing bow stayed nearby the sage Vishvamitra who entered the vow of Vedic-ritual. [3-38-13]

PURPORT

There is a difference in mentioning the forest as Dandaka. Bala Kanda says that Vishvamitra performed ritual in north and Maareecha is now saying that as Dandaka forest.
VERSE 14

अजात व्यंजनः श्रीमान् बालः श्यामः शुभेक्षणः
एक वस्त्र धरो धन्वी शिखी कनक मालया

ajāta vyaṃjanaḥ śrīmān bālaḥ śyāmaḥ śubhekṣaṇaḥ
eka vastra dharo dhanvī śikhī kanaka mālayā

SYNONYMS

tadā: at that time | a jāta vyanjanaḥ = one vith: un, born, identities of maleness - like moustaches etc. | śrīmān = providential one: Rama | śyāmaḥ = peacock: bluish - complexioned | śubha īkṣaṇaḥ: magnificent, in looks | eka vastra dharaḥ: one, cloth, wearing | dhanvī: handling bow | śikhī: having hair-locks | kanaka mālayā: with golden, pendant | dīptena svena tejasā: with radiating, of his own, with radiance | daṇḍakāraṇyam śobhayan: Dandaka, forest, irradiating | rāmaḥ bālaḥ: Rama, is a boy | uditaḥ bāla candra iva: uprisen, baby, moon, [new moon,] like | adṛśyata: then, is seen, appeared. |

TRANSLATION

"At that time, yet unborn are the identities of adulthood like moustache on his face, and that providential one was magnificent in looks with a peacock-blue complexion, wearing a single cloth, locks of hair, and golden locket, and wielding a bow, and he was irradiating the Dandaka forest with a radiating radiance of his own, and then he appeared like the just risen baby-moon. [3-38-14, 15]

PURPORT

The identities of adulthood are the discardable things like moustaches, beard, etc. These are natural to humans or to birthed beings. But the mythological entities do not have them. As a young scholar, the boys are supposed to wear simply, hence 'one-piece-clothing' is said to be the dress of Rama. This suggests that he is not wearing any shield or armour to keep him safe. In Bala Kanda, at the outset of the journey of Rama and Lakshmana with Vishvamitra, it is said that they are wearing finger-covers made of certain lizard skin, which means to say that their fingers are very tender in using arrows. His mothers delicately arranged the locks of hair, because he is still 'boyish' to her. More so, he is with a 'boyish' ornament, say a single pendant, not verily embellished with princely jewellery. He appeared like some providential 'boy' hitherto unseen, with the height of a peacock, with the complexion of peacock-neck-blue, and moving about like a noble peacock. This boyish-Rama peacock is not screaming, yet his bow is twanging; leave alone the screeching and screaming. TThe 'new-moon' metaphor to Rama suggests that he has only waxing and no waning in him, uttarottara abhivR^iddhi and also that he is by birth an antagonist of tamas 'the darkness,' or darkish activities, like the moon whose activity is only to illumine the night. Further, he has a likeable persona to any, even to the present demon Maareecha, and even to Ravana. When Ravana sees Rama for the first time in war, Ravana praisefully acknowledges Rama's personality. Besides, Rama's gleam is like that of a baby-moon, against the backdrop of a thickish, darkish, blackish sky, called the forest.
VERSE 16

ततो अहम् मेघ संकाशः तप्त कांचन कुण्डलः
बली दत्त वरो दर्पात् आजगाम आश्रम अंतरम्

tato aham megha saṃkāśaḥ tapta kāṃcana kuṇḍalaḥ
balī datta varo darpāt ājagāma āśrama aṃtaram

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | megha samkāśaḥ: cloud, in similarity [in massiveness] | tapta kāncana kuṇḍalaḥ: burnt [purified,] golden, with ear-knobs | balī datta varaḥ = forceful, given, būn's: one who is given boons by Brahma | aham: I, such as I am | darpāt: pridefully | āśrama antaram ājagāma: hermitage's, interior, arrived. |

TRANSLATION

"And I who was like a massive black-cloud, wearing golden ear-knobs, already a forceful one further reinforced with the boon of Brahma, I pridefully entered into the interior of Vishwamitra's hermitage. [3-38-16]

PURPORT

The golden ear-knobs on the lobes of ears are either indicative of the knowledge one possess or the wealth factor. Maareecha refers to these ear ornaments more than once suggesting that 'wealth or wisdom is nothing to Rama, but righteousness alone will work out.' Because Ravana did not give an ear for the suggestions of Maareecha, his Lanka, built with refined gold, will be burnt to ashes in Sundara Kanda.
VERSE 17

तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टो अहम् सहसा एव उद्यत आयुधः
माम् तु दृष्ट्वा धनुः सज्यम् असम्भ्रान्तः चकार ह

tena dṛṣṭaḥ praviṣṭo aham sahasā eva udyata āyudhaḥ
mām tu dṛṣṭvā dhanuḥ sajyam asambhrāntaḥ cakāra ha

SYNONYMS

udyata āyudhaḥ: one with lifted up, weapon | praviṣṭaḥ: on who entered | aham: I am | sahasā eva: quick, thus | tena dṛṣṭaḥ = by him: by Rama, noticed | saḥ mām tu dṛṣṭvā: he, me, on seeing | a sam bhrāntaḥ = not, at all, ekṣcited: unexcitedly | dhanuḥ sa jyam: bow, with, bowstring | cakāra ha = made: strung, aimed, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama quickly noticed me on my very entry with an uplifted weapon, and on seeing me he unexcitedly strung bowstring to his bow. [3-38-17]

VERSE 18

अवजानन् अहम् मोहात् बालो अयम् इति राघवम्
विश्वामित्रस्य ताम् वेदिम् अभ्यधावम् कृत त्वरः

avajānan aham mohāt bālo ayam iti rāghavam
viśvāmitrasya tām vedim abhyadhāvam kṛta tvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

aham mohāt: I, unmindfully | ayam bālaḥ iti: he is, a boy, thus as | rāghavam: about Raghava | ava jānan = vithout, judging: trivialising | kṛta tvaraḥ: making, haste | viśvāmitrasya tām vedim: of Vishvamitra, that, towards Fire-altar | abhya dhāvam: towards, ran. |

TRANSLATION

"Unmindfully trivialising him as, 'this Raghava is just a boy,' I made haste and ran towards that Fire-altar of Vishvamitra. [3-38-18]

VERSE 19

तेन मुक्तः ततो बाणः शितः शत्रु निबर्हणः
तेन अहम् ताडितः क्षिप्तः समुद्रे शत योजने

tena muktaḥ tato bāṇaḥ śitaḥ śatru nibarhaṇaḥ
tena aham tāḍitaḥ kṣiptaḥ samudre śata yojane

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | tena: by him | śatru nibarhaṇaḥ = enemy, destroying: arrow | śitaḥ bāṇaḥ muktaḥ: acute, arrow, is released | aham tena tāḍitaḥ: I am, by it, who is hit | śata yojane samudre kṣiptaḥ: hundred, yojana-s [afar,] in ocean, plunged. |

TRANSLATION

"He then released an acute arrow that eliminates the enemy, and hit by it I am plunged into the ocean which was a hundred yojana-s off. [3-38-19]

VERSE 20

न इच्छता तात माम् हन्तुम् तदा वीरेण रक्षितः
रामस्य शर वेगेन निरस्तो भ्रान्त चेतनः

na icchatā tāta mām hantum tadā vīreṇa rakṣitaḥ
rāmasya śara vegena nirasto bhrānta cetanaḥ

SYNONYMS

tāta: oh, dear boy | tadā mām hantum na icchatā: then, me, to kill, [he] did not wish | vīreṇa rakśitaḥ: by valiant Rama, saved [I was] | rāmasya śara vegena: Rama's, by arrow's, thrust | bhrānta cetanaḥ: bewildered, [is my] animation | nir astaḥ = vithout, base: I was on my last legs. |

TRANSLATION

"That Rama did not wish to kill me then, and I am thus saved by that valiant one, oh, dear boy Ravana, but the thrust of Rama's arrow bewildered my animation and I was on my last legs. [3-38-20]

VERSE 21

पातितो अहम् तदा तेन गंभीरे सागर अंभसि
प्राप्य संज्ञाम् चिरात् तात लंकाम् प्रति गतः पुरीम्

pātito aham tadā tena gaṃbhīre sāgara aṃbhasi
prāpya saṃjñām cirāt tāta laṃkām prati gataḥ purīm

SYNONYMS

tāta: oh, boy | tadā: that way | aham: I was | gambhīre sāgara ambhasi: abyssal, ocean, in waters | tena: by him | pātitaḥ: one who is flung | cirāt sanjñām prāpya: after long time, consciousness, on gaining | lankām purīm: to Lanka, city | prati gataḥ: towards, went. |

TRANSLATION

"That way I who had been flung into the abyssal water of the ocean by him gained consciousness after a long time and proceeded towards the city of Lanka. [3-38-21]

VERSE 22

एवम् अस्मि तदा मुक्तः सहायाः ते शायास्तु निपातिताः
अकृत अस्त्रेण रामेण बालेन अक्लिष्ट कर्मणा

evam asmi tadā muktaḥ sahāyāḥ te - śāyāstu - nipātitāḥ
akṛta astreṇa rāmeṇa bālena akliṣṭa karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

tadā: at that time | a kṛta astreṇa: not, practised [elementary,] in use of arms | a kliṣṭa karmaṇā: un, complicated [effortless,] in deeds | bālena rāmeṇa: by boy, by Rama | evam muktaḥ asmi: thus, released, I am | te sahāyāḥ [tu] nipātitāḥ: those, helpmates, [on their part,] are killed. |

TRANSLATION

"At that time, that one with elementary knowledge in the use of weaponry, but who can undertake deeds in an effortless manner, such a boy, such a Rama spared me, albeit killing them that were my helpmates in that escapade. [3-38-22]

VERSE 23

तत् मया वार्यमाणः त्वम् यदि रामेण विग्रहम्
करिष्यसि आपदम् घोराम् क्षिप्रम् प्राप्य न शिष्यसि

tat mayā vāryamāṇaḥ tvam yadi rāmeṇa vigraham
kariṣyasi āpadam ghorām kṣipram prāpya na śiṣyasi

SYNONYMS

tat: thereby | mayā vāryamāṇaḥ: by me, being proscribed | tvam rāmeṇa vigraham: you, with Rama, confrontation | kariṣyasi yadi = do: make for, if | kṣipram ghorām āpadam: quickly, disastrous, calamity | prāpya naśiṣyasi: on getting, you ruin yourself. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, if you wish to make for any confrontation with Rama, despite of my proscribing you, you will ruin yourself on getting a disastrous calamity. [3-38-23]

VERSE 24

क्रीडा रति विधिज्ञानाम् समाज उत्सव शालिनाम्
रक्षसाम् चैव संतापम् अनर्थम् च आहरिष्यसि

krīḍā rati vidhijñānām samāja utsava śālinām
rakṣasām caiva saṃtāpam anartham ca āhariṣyasi

SYNONYMS

krīḍā rati vidhi jñānām: sporting, flirting, methods, knowers | samāja utsava śālinām: socialising, frolicking, with a conduct of | rakṣasām caiva: to such demons, also thus | santāpam anartham ca: distress, disaster, also | āhariṣyasi: you derive. |

TRANSLATION

"The demons are methodical in sporting and flirting, thus by their own conduct they are also socialising and frolicking, and to them you derive distress and disaster. [3-38-24]

VERSE 25

हर्म्य प्रासाद संबाधाम् नाना रत्न विभूउषिताम्
द्रक्ष्यसि त्वम् पुरीम् लंकाम् विनष्टाम् मैथिली कृते

harmya prāsāda saṃbādhām nānā ratna vibhūuṣitām
drakṣyasi tvam purīm laṃkām vinaṣṭām maithilī kṛte

SYNONYMS

harmya prāsāda sambādhām: with skyscrapers, palaces, dense with | nānā ratna vibhū ṣitām: with, many, gemstones, decorated | purīm lankām: city, Lanka | tvam: you | maithilī kṛte: Maithili, for the sake of | vi naṣṭām: as completely shattered [city] | drakṣyasi: you will see. |

TRANSLATION

"Dense with skyscrapers and palaces, and decorated with many a gemstone is that city Lanka, but you will see it completely shattered down, for the sake of that Maithili. [3-38-25]

VERSE 26

अकुर्वन्तो अपि पापानि शुचयः पाप संश्रयात्
पर पापैः विनश्यन्ति मत्स्या नाग ह्रदे यथा

akurvanto api pāpāni śucayaḥ pāpa saṃśrayāt
para pāpaiḥ vinaśyanti matsyā nāga hrade yathā

SYNONYMS

pāpāni: sins | a kurvantaḥ api: not, committed, even if | śucayaḥ: sinless ones | pāpa samśrayāt = vith sinners, by interdependence: tie-up | nāga hrade: in snakes, lake of | matsyā yathā: fish, as with | para pāpaiḥ: with other's, sins | vinaśyanti: get ruined. |

TRANSLATION

"Even if with uncommitted sins, the sinless will get ruined owing to their interdependence with other sinners, like the fish in a lake with snakes. [3-38-26]

VERSE 27

दिव्यचंदनदिग्धांगान्दिव्याअभरणभूषितान् यद्वा
दिव्य चंदन दिग्ध अंगान् दिव्य आभरण भूषितान्
द्रक्ष्यसि अभिहतान् भूमौ तव दोषात् तु राक्षसान्

divyacaṃdanadigdhāṃgāndivyāabharaṇabhūṣitān -yadvā-
divya caṃdana digdha aṃgān divya ābharaṇa bhūṣitān
drakṣyasi abhihatān bhūmau tava doṣāt tu rākṣasān

SYNONYMS

divya candana digdha angān: divine, sandal-paste, bedaubed, with limbs | divya ābharaṇa bhūṣitān: divine, ornaments, beautified with | rākṣasān: at demons | tava doṣāt tu: for your, blunder, owing to | bhūmau abhihatān drakṣyasi: to earth, trampled out, you are going to see. |

TRANSLATION

"Bedaubed with divine sandal-paste, beautified with divine ornaments are the limbs of the demons now, perchance you will be seeing them trampled out on ground for the blunder of yours. [3-38-27]

VERSE 28

हृत दारान् स दारान् च दश विद्रवतो दिशः
हत शेषान् अशरणान् द्रक्ष्यसि त्वम् निशाचरान्

hṛta dārān sa dārān ca daśa vidravato diśaḥ
hata śeṣān aśaraṇān drakṣyasi tvam niśācarān

SYNONYMS

hata śeṣān: after killing, remaining ones | niśā carān: nightwalkers | hṛta dārān: reft of [not abduction, but abandoned,] wives | sa dārān ca vith vives, also: along with wives | a śaraṇān: without, protector | daśa diśaḥ: to ten, directions | vi dravataḥ = verily, running avay: fleeing |

TRANSLATION

"Maybe, you will have to see the fleeing of the nightwalkers surviving after the carnage in all ten directions, some abandoning their wives and some along with their wives, only for lack of a protector. [3-38-28]

VERSE 29

शर जाल परिक्षिप्ताम् अग्नि ज्वाला समावृताम्
प्रदग्ध भवनाम् लंकाम् द्रक्ष्यसि त्वम् असंशयम्

śara jāla parikṣiptām agni jvālā samāvṛtām
pradagdha bhavanām laṃkām drakṣyasi tvam asaṃśayam

SYNONYMS

śara jāla parikṣiptām: arrows, enmesh, encircled by | agni jvālā samāvṛtām: by torch's, tongues, enfolded by | pra dagdha bhavanām: utterly, gutting down, buildings | lankām: at Lanka | tvam drakṣyasi: you, will see | a samśayam: without, doubt. |

TRANSLATION

"Without a doubt you will be seeing Lanka encircled with an enmesh of arrows, enfolded in the tongues of torches, while her buildings are utterly gutting down. [3-38-29]

VERSE 30

पर दार अभिमर्षात् तु न अनयत् पाप तरम् महत्
प्रमदानाम् सहस्राणि तव राजन् परिग्रहे

para dāra abhimarṣāt tu na anayat pāpa taram mahat
pramadānām sahasrāṇi tava rājan parigrahe

SYNONYMS

para dāra abhimarṣā tu: other's, wife, dalliance, but | pāpa taram = sin, higher in degrī: gravest | mahat: outrageous [error] | ānayat na: another, is not there | rājan: oh, king | pramadānām sahasrāṇi tava parigrahe: ladies, thousands, by you/your, seized [or, married.] |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, king, there is no other sin that is outrageous and gravest than the dalliance with another's wife and, besides, you already have a thousand wives, isn't so! [3-38-30]

VERSE 31

भव स्व दार निरतः स्व कुलम् रक्ष राक्षस
मानम् वृद्धिम् च राज्यम् च जीवितम् च इष्टम् आत्मनः

bhava sva dāra nirataḥ sva kulam rakṣa rākṣasa
mānam vṛddhim ca rājyam ca jīvitam ca iṣṭam ātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

rākṣasa: oh, demon | sva dāra nirataḥ bhava: in your own, wife, delighted in, you become | sva kulam rakṣa: your own, ethnos, safeguard | mānam vṛddhim ca rājyam ca: dignity, affluence, also, kingdom, also | ātmanaḥ iṣṭam jīvitam ca: for yourself, dear, [your] life, also | [rakśa: safeguard.] |

TRANSLATION

"Abide by your own wife and be delighted with her, oh, demon, safeguard your own ethnos, thus safeguard dignity, affluence, and kingdom of demons, thereby safeguard even your own dear life. [3-38-31]

VERSE 32

कलत्राणि च सौम्यानि मित्र वर्गम् तथैव च
यदि इच्छसि चिरम् भोक्तुम् मा कृथा राम विप्रियम्

kalatrāṇi ca saumyāni mitra vargam tathaiva ca
yadi icchasi ciram bhoktum mā kṛthā rāma vipriyam

SYNONYMS

saumyāni kalatrāṇi ca: beautiful ones, wives, also | tathā eva ca: also thus | mitra vargam: friends, circle | ciram bhoktum: for a long time, to enjoy | icchasi yadi: you desire, if | rāma vi priyam mā kṛthā: to Rama, un, desirable, do not, do. |

TRANSLATION

"If you desire to take pleasure with your beautiful wives and with your friend's circles for a long time, do not do anything undesirable to Rama. [3-38-32]

VERSE 33

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे अष्टा त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe aṣṭā triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

su hṛdā: with a good, heart | mayā bhṛśam nivāryamāṇaḥ: by me, considerably, being prevented | sītām prasahya dharṣayiṣyasi yadi: Seetha is, aggressively, intimidated, if [you wish to] | kṣīṇa balaḥ: one with diminished, army | sa bāndhavaḥ: with, kinsfolk | rāma śara ātta jīvitaḥ = ṟama's, arrov, taken avay, life: one with such removed life - dead | yama kṣayam gamiṣyasi: to Yama [the Terminator's,] world, you will go. |

TRANSLATION

"If you wish to intimidate Seetha aggressively despite of my considerable preventing in all my good-heartedness towards you, then your army will fade away, and you with your kinsfolk will emigrate to the world of Yama, the Terminator, for your life will be taken away by the arrow of Rama." Thus, Maareecha spoke to Ravana. [3-38-33]