Chapter 38
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
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
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]
विश्वामित्रो अथ धर्मात्मा मत् वित्रस्तो महामुनिः
viśvāmitro atha dharmātmā mat vitrasto mahāmuniḥ
SYNONYMS
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]
SYNONYMS
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]
SYNONYMS
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]
SYNONYMS
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
SYNONYMS
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
SYNONYMS
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]
SYNONYMS
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]
SYNONYMS
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]
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
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]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
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
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]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे अष्टा त्रिंशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe aṣṭā triṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
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]