Chapter 39

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

एवम् अस्मि तदा मुक्तः कथंचित् तेन संयुगे
इदानीम् अपि यत् वृत्तम् तत् शृउणुष्व यत् उत्तरम्

evam asmi tadā muktaḥ kathaṃcit tena saṃyuge
idānīm api yat vṛttam tat śṛuṇuṣva yat uttaram

SYNONYMS

tadā: at that time | tena: by him | samyuge = in combat: in confrontation | kathamcit evam muktaḥ asmi: somehow, this way, released, I am | idānīm api: now, even | yat vṛttam: what, has happened | yat uttaram = vhat, later: has happened later | tat śṛuṇuṣva: that, you hear. |

TRANSLATION

"Thus I was somehow released by him in a confrontation then in his teens. Now you may also listen to what has happened later in his adulthood." Thus Maareecha continued his advise to Ravana. [4-39-1]

VERSE 2

राक्षाभ्याम् अहम् द्वाभ्याम् अनिर्विण्णः तथा कृतः
सहितो मृग रूपाभ्याम् प्रविष्टो द।न्डका वने

rākṣābhyām aham dvābhyām anirviṇṇaḥ tathā kṛtaḥ
sahito mṛga rūpābhyām praviṣṭo da|nḍakā vane

SYNONYMS

tathā kṛtaḥ = in suc a vay, rendered: previously hit in to ocean by Rama | a nir viṇṇaḥ = not, completely, abaśed: unabashedly | aham: I | mṛga rūpābhyām: animal, in guise of | dvābhyām rākśābhyām: with two, demons | sahitaḥ: joined with | danḍakā vane praviṣṭaḥ: in Dandaka, forest, I entered. |

TRANSLATION

"Though Rama hit me previously in such a way, I unabashedly entered Dandaka forest together with two more demons who were in the guise of animals. [4-39-2]

VERSE 3

दीप्त जिह्वो महादंष्ट्रः तीक्ष्ण शृंगो महाबलः
व्यचरन् द।न्डाकारण्यम् मांस भक्षो महामृगः

dīpta jihvo mahādaṃṣṭraḥ tīkṣṇa śṛṃgo mahābalaḥ
vyacaran da|nḍākāraṇyam māṃsa bhakṣo mahāmṛgaḥ

SYNONYMS

dīpta jihvaḥ: torching, tongue | mahā damṣṭraḥ: incisive, teeth | tīkśṇa śṛngaḥ: excruciating, horns | mahā balaḥ: extraordinary, energy | māmsa bhakśaḥ mahā mṛgaḥ = fleś, eating: carnivorous, gigantic, animal | danḍāka araṇyam: Dandaka, forest | vyacaran = vhile ī vas on the rove: from here the expressions at the end of verses, 3, 4, 5, 6, are eka anvaya - have a concatenation with - raamaam aasaadayan - I reached Rama - in the 7th verse. |

TRANSLATION

"On becoming a gigantic carnivorous animal with a torching tongue, incisive teeth and excruciating horns, and with an extraordinary energy, I was on the rove in Dandaka forest while getting at Rama. [4-39-3]

VERSE 4

अग्निहोत्रेषु तीर्थेषु चैत्य वृक्षेषु रावण
अत्यन्त घोरो व्यचरन् तापसान् संप्रधर्षयन्

agnihotreṣu tīrtheṣu caitya vṛkṣeṣu rāvaṇa
atyanta ghoro vyacaran tāpasān saṃpradharṣayan

SYNONYMS

rāvaṇa: oh, Ravana | atyanta ghoraḥ: extremely, horrible [aspect of animal] | agnihotreṣu tīrtheṣu caitya vṛkśeṣu: at ritual-altars, holy bathing places, sanctuaries, trees of | tāpasān: sages | sam pra dharṣayan: very, utterly, brutalising | vyacaran: moving about. |

TRANSLATION

"I moved about Dandaka forest, oh, Ravana, in an extremely horrible aspect of animal, utterly brutalising the sages at ritual-altars, holy bathing places and under the trees of religious sanctuaries while reaching Rama. [4-39-4]

VERSE 5

निहत्य द।न्डकारण्ये तापसान् धर्मचरिणः
रुधिराणि पिबन्तः तेषाम् तन् मांसानि च भक्षयन्

nihatya da|nḍakāraṇye tāpasān dharmacariṇaḥ
rudhirāṇi pibantaḥ teṣām tan māṃsāni ca bhakṣayan

SYNONYMS

danḍaka araṇye: in Dandaka, forest | dharma cariṇaḥ tāpasān nihatya: saintliness, treaders in, saints, killing | teṣām rudhirāṇi pibantaḥ: their, blood, while drinking | [tathā: likewise] | tan māmsāni bhakśayan ca: their, fleshes, on feasting, also |

TRANSLATION

"I have proceeded to Rama killing saints in Dandaka forest who are the treaders in saintliness, and drinking off their blood and feasting on their flesh. [4-39-5]

VERSE 6

ऋषि माअंस अशनः क्रूरः त्रासयन् वनगोचरान्
तदा रुधिर मत्तो अहम् व्यचरन् द।न्डका वनम्

ṛṣi māaṃsa aśanaḥ krūraḥ trāsayan vanagocarān
tadā rudhira matto aham vyacaran da|nḍakā vanam

SYNONYMS

aham: I | ṛṣi māamsa aśanaḥ: sage's, flesh, eater | krūraḥ: brutal one | vanagocarān trāsayan: forest dwellers, frightening | tadā rudhira mattaḥ: in that way, by blood, besotted with | danḍakā vanam vyacaran: in Dandaka, forest, rambling. |

TRANSLATION

"On becoming such a brutal animal I have been eating the flesh of sages, frightening the forest dwellers, and in that way I rambled in Dandaka forest besotted with blood-drinking while reaching Rama. [4-39-6]

VERSE 7

तदा अहम् द।न्डकारण्ये विचरन् धर्म दूषकः
आसादयम् तदा रामम् तापसम् धर्मम् आश्रितम्

tadā aham da|nḍakāraṇye vicaran dharma dūṣakaḥ
āsādayam tadā rāmam tāpasam dharmam āśritam

SYNONYMS

, 8a| aham dharma dūṣakaḥ: I, righteousness, an abuser of | tadā: then | danḍakāraṇye vicaran: in Dandaka forest, while wandering | dharmam āśritam = righteousness: rectitude, who resorted to - assumed rectitude of sainthood | tāpasam: to saintly person | rāmam: Rama | mahā bhāgām vaidehi ca: great-fortunate one, Vaidehi, also | mahā ratham lakśmaṇam ca: top-speeded-chariot-rider -Lakshmana, also | āsādayam: I reached. |

TRANSLATION

"While I was wandering in Dandaka forest as an abuser of virtue, then I reached Rama who by then has assumed the rectitude befitting to a saint, and I even reached the great-fortunate Vaidehi and top-speeded-chariot-rider Lakshmana. [4-39-7, 8a]

VERSE 8

तापसम् नियत आहारम् सर्व बूत हिते रतम्

tāpasam niyata āhāram sarva būta hite ratam

SYNONYMS

b, 9, 10| mṛga ākṛtiḥ: [I am in] animal, in the shape of | tīkśṇa śṛngaḥ: with incisive, horns | saḥ aham: such as, I am | pūrva vairam anusmaran: earlier, grudge, recollecting | tāpasam niyata āhāram = hermit, regulated, dietary: to Rama | sarva būta hite ratam: all, beings, welfare, delighted in | mahā balam = great: mighty one - Rama | vana gatam = forest, came in: abiding in | rāmam: of Rama | ayam tāpasaḥ jñātvā = he is, [mere] hermit, on thinking: presuming | iti: in that way | pari bhūya = completely, disregarding: his other faculties once shown | tam prahāram anusmaran = that: earlier, assault, recollecting | jighāmsuḥ: intending to kill | su sam kruddhaḥ: very, extremely, infuriated | a kṛta prajñaḥ = not, making, discrimination: indiscriminately | abhyadhāvam: towards dashed. |

TRANSLATION

"I was in the shape of an animal with incisive horns. Such as I was I recollected my earlier grudge against that great mighty Rama who takes delight in the welfare of all being, who by then was santlike on a regulated diet and abiding in the forest, whereby I presumed him to be mere hermit. In that way, I was very extremely infuriated to recollect his earlier assault on me, and I indiscriminately dashed towards him, only to kill him, completely disregarding his other faculties. [4-39-8b, 9, 10]

VERSE 11

तेन त्यक्ताः त्रयो बाणाः शिताः शत्रु निबर्हणाः
विकृष्य सुमहत् चापम् सुपर्ण अनिल तुल्य गाः

tena tyaktāḥ trayo bāṇāḥ śitāḥ śatru nibarhaṇāḥ
vikṛṣya sumahat cāpam suparṇa anila tulya gāḥ

SYNONYMS

tena = by him: by Rama | su mahat cāpam: highly, magnificent, bow | vikṛṣya: stringing out | śatru nibarhaṇāḥ = enemy, eliminators: arrows | śitāḥ: excruciating ones | suparṇa anila tulya gāḥ: Divine Eagle Garuda, Air-god, matching, in egress | trayaḥ bāṇāḥ: three, arrows | tyaktāḥ muktāḥ: are released. |

TRANSLATION

"Stringing out his highly magnificent bow Rama then released three excruciating and enemy eliminating arrows which in their egress match the Air-god and the Divine-Eagle Garuda. [4-39-11]

VERSE 12

ते बाणा वज्र संकाशाः सुघोरा रक्त भोजनाः
आजग्मुः सहिताः सर्वे त्रयः संनतपर्वणः

te bāṇā vajra saṃkāśāḥ sughorā rakta bhojanāḥ
ājagmuḥ sahitāḥ sarve trayaḥ saṃnataparvaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

vajra samkāśāḥ: thunderbolt, similar to | rakta bhojanāḥ: having blood, for their board | sam nata parvaṇaḥ: verily, bent, at barbs | su ghorā: highly, horrendous | sarve te trayaḥ bāṇā: all, those, three, arrows | sahitāḥ = collectively: in a = "EN-GB" style = "font-size:10.0pt | ājagmuḥ = came: towards us, the three in animal guise. |

TRANSLATION

"All those three thunderbolt like arrows that have only blood for their board, acutely bent at barbs, and that are highly horrendous have come at us in a coordinated manner. [4-39-12]

VERSE 13

पराक्रमज्ञो रामस्य शठो दृष्ट भयः पुरा
समुत्क्रांतः ततः मुक्तः तौ उभौ राक्षसौ हतौ

parākramajño rāmasya śaṭho dṛṣṭa bhayaḥ purā
samutkrāṃtaḥ tataḥ muktaḥ tau ubhau rākṣasau hatau

SYNONYMS

rāmasya: of Rama | [śaraḥ: of arrow] | purā dṛṣṭa bhayaḥ: earlier, seen, is the fear | parākrama jñḥ: valour [of Rama,] knower [I am] | śaṭhaḥ = though ī can deceive him: warily | sam ut krāntaḥ: well [trickily,] retreated | tataḥ muktaḥ: from there, I am released | tau rākśasau ubhau hatau: they, demons, both, are killed. |

TRANSLATION

"As I have earlier seen the fear caused by his arrow I am in the know of Rama's valour, hence I retreated from there trickily and gingerly, but the other two demons were killed. [4-39-13]

PURPORT

Here the action of Rama's arrow is indicated. Rama's arrow will not shoot at the back of the opponent or it backstabs either. Even when killing Vali, though Rama is not affronting Vali, Rama's arrow pierced Vali's chest. Here because Maareecha is retreating, that third arrow of Rama did not kill Maareecha but followed him in a chasing manner. But the other two demons unknowing about Rama's arrow, they confronted him and the other two arrows eliminated them. There is discussion on the word shaThaH 'one capable to trick' used in the verse as some mms employ the word sharaH, 'an arrow.' In this section vividly explainable verses are there in some ancient versions of mms. This particular verse reads like this in them: paraakramaj~no raamasya tathaa dR^iSTa bhayaH puraa | aapatantam sharam dR^iSTvaa megha ga.mbhiira nissvanam || tato aham vegavaan tatra vaata.mhaa nimeshataH | apa kraanta param paaram nivR^ittaH saagaraat sharaH || 'I am in the know of Rama's valour, and I am also in the know of what fear he caused in an earlier instance, and on seeing the arrows coming upon like thunderous clouds, in a wink I escaped to the other side of ocean, and Rama's arrow having come chasing me up to ocean-shore returned.' In here, the efficacy of Rama's arrow is clearly narrated and it is not clear why pundits did not consider these verses of ancient mms instead of the above verse.
VERSE 14

शरेण मुक्तो रामस्य कथंचित् प्राप्यजीवितम्
इह प्रव्राजितो युक्तः तापसो अहम् समाहितः

śareṇa mukto rāmasya kathaṃcit prāpyajīvitam
iha pravrājito yuktaḥ tāpaso aham samāhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | rāmasya śareṇa: by Rama's, arrow | kathamcit muktaḥ: somehow, when exempted | jīvitam prāpya = lifespan, on getting: regaining | yuktaḥ: in yogic way of life | samāhitaḥ: self-collectedly | tāpasaḥ: as an ascetic | iha: to here | pra vrājitaḥ: sent as a monk on renouncing. |

TRANSLATION

"When I was somehow exempted by the arrow of Rama I regained lifespan, and when that arrow made me to renounce everything like a monk and fled me to this place, the other side of ocean to where you came by your aircraft, here I am living here in a yogic way, self-collectedly like an ascetic. [4-39-14]

VERSE 15

वृक्षे वृक्षे हि पश्यामि चीर कृष्ण अजिन अंबरम्
गृहीत धनुषम् रामम् पाश हस्तम् इव अंतकम्

vṛkṣe vṛkṣe hi paśyāmi cīra kṛṣṇa ajina aṃbaram
gṛhīta dhanuṣam rāmam pāśa hastam iva aṃtakam

SYNONYMS

cīra kṛṣṇa ajina ambaram: jute-cloths, black, deerskin, dressed one | gṛhīta dhanuṣam: handling, bow | pāśa hastam antakam iva: tether, in hand, Terminator, as with | rāmam: at Rama | vṛkśe vṛkśe paśyāmi hi: at tree, at tree, I behold, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"From then on wards, I am indeed descrying Rama at this tree and at that tree, dressed in jute-cloths and black deerskin, and handling his bow like the Terminator handling a tether. [4-39-15]

VERSE 16

अपि राम सहस्राणि भीतः पश्यामि रावण
राम भूतम् इदम् सर्वम् अरण्यम् प्रतिभाति मे

api rāma sahasrāṇi bhītaḥ paśyāmi rāvaṇa
rāma bhūtam idam sarvam araṇyam pratibhāti me

SYNONYMS

rāvaṇa: Ravana | bhītaḥ = frightened: I am | rāma sahasrāṇi api: Rama, in thousands, even | paśyāmi: I am visualising | idam sarvam araṇyam: this, entire, forest | rāma bhūtam pratibhāti me: with Rama's, entity, reflects, to me. |

TRANSLATION

"Given to fright I even visualise thousands Rama-s, and whole this forest is reflecting to me as one entity of Rama. [4-39-16]

VERSE 17

रामम् एव हि पश्यामि रहिते राक्षसेश्वर
दृष्ट्वा स्वप्न गतम् रामम् उद् भ्रमामि विचेतनः

rāmam eva hi paśyāmi rahite rākṣaseśvara
dṛṣṭvā svapna gatam rāmam ud bhramāmi vicetanaḥ

SYNONYMS

rākśasa īśvara: oh, demons, king | rahite = none is not there: void of people | rāmam eva paśyāmi: Rama, alone, I envisage | svapna gatam rāmam dṛṣṭvā: dream, who entered, Rama, on seeing | vi cetanaḥ = vithout, spirit: dispirited - swooning | udbhramāmi [ut bhramāmi] = to up, moving: jolting up | hi: in fact. |

TRANSLATION

"Even at a place void of people I am envisaging Rama alone, and oh, king of demons, even if he enters my dream, in fact, I am jolting up and swooning. [4-39-17]

VERSE 18

र कार अदीनि नामानि राम त्रस्तस्य रवण
रत्नानि च रथाः च एव वित्रासम् जनयन्ति मे

ra kāra adīni nāmāni rāma trastasya ravaṇa
ratnāni ca rathāḥ ca eva vitrāsam janayanti me

SYNONYMS

ravaṇa: oh, Ravana | rāma trastasya: Rama, frightened by | me: to me | ra kāra adīni nāmāni: ra, alphabets, starting with, names | ratnāni ca rathāḥ ca eva: ratna-s [gems,] also, ratha-s [chariots,] also, even | vi trāsam: high, scare | janayanti: causing. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Ravana, appalled of Rama the names starting with the syllable ' ra ' like ratna -s, ratha -s, viz., gemstones, chariots are appalling to me, including your name, that starts with a ' ra ....' [4-39-18]

PURPORT

'If I hear the first letter 'ra' of any given name, I am scared at the ensuing second syllable presuming it to be 'ma' and if that second syllable of that word I am going to hear happens to be other than 'ma' then my fear ceases.'
VERSE 19

अहम् तस्य प्रभावज्ञो न युद्धम् तेन ते क्षमम्
बलिम् वा नमुचिं वा अपि हन्यद्धि रघुन्ंअंदन

aham tasya prabhāvajño na yuddham tena te kṣamam
balim vā namuciṃ vā api hanyaddhi raghunṃaṃdana

SYNONYMS

aham tasya prabhāva jñaḥ: I am, of his, efficacy, knower of | te: to you | tena: with him | yuddham na kśamam: war, not, fair enough | raghun nadana = ṟagu's, descendant: Rama | balim vā namucim vā api: Emperor Bali, either, Namuchi, or, even | hanyat hi: can kill, in fact. |

TRANSLATION

"I am well-acquainted with his efficacy, and a war with him will be an unfair thing for you, for that Raghu's descendant can in fact kill either Emperor Bali or Namuchi, the demon. [4-39-19]

PURPORT

Emperor Bali is more powerful and mighty than Ravana. aananda raamaayana says in a chapter on the 'defeats of Ravana' raavaNa paraajaya, that Ravana once entered netherworld to conquer it, where Bali is held captive by Trivikrama, i.e., Vishnu. At that time Bali and his queen are playing dice game. When Ravana entered, the dice in the hand of Bali has slipped to the floor, and Bali asks Ravana to pick and give it before conquering netherworld. Ravana who lifted Mt. Kailash could not lift that two-inch dice, which is so far handled playfully by Bali. Such is the might of Emperor Bali
VERSE 20

रणे रामेण युद्ध्स्व क्षमाम् वा कुरु रावण
न ते राम कथा कार्या यदि माम् द्रष्टुम् इच्छसि

raṇe rāmeṇa yuddhsva kṣamām vā kuru rāvaṇa
na te rāma kathā kāryā yadi mām draṣṭum icchasi

SYNONYMS

rāvaṇa: oh, Ravana | raṇe rāmeṇa yuddhsva: in war, with Rama, you may combat | kśamām vā kuru: forgive and forget, either, you do | mām draṣṭum icchasi yadi: , me, to see, you wish, if | te rāma kathā na kāryā: by you, Rama's, episode [topic] not, to be done [be broached.] |

TRANSLATION

"You may either wage a war with Rama if you wish to avenge the killings of Khara and others, or forgive and forget that Rama agreeing to my suggestions, but do not broach the topic of Rama with me if you wish to see me alive. [4-39-20]

VERSE 21

बहवः साधवो लोके युक्ता धर्मम् अनुष्टिताः
परेषाम् अपराधेन विनष्टाः स परिच्छदाः

bahavaḥ sādhavo loke yuktā dharmam anuṣṭitāḥ
pareṣām aparādhena vinaṣṭāḥ sa paricchadāḥ

SYNONYMS

loke: in world | yuktāḥ: reasonable people | dharmam anuṣṭitāḥ: righteousness, practisers of | bahavaḥ sādhavaḥ: many, sagacious people | pareṣām aparādhena: by others, misdeeds | sa paricchadāḥ: with, kith and kin | vi naṣṭāḥ: are utterly, ruined. |

TRANSLATION

"In the world many of the sagacious and reasonable people that are the practisers of righteousness are utterly ruined along with their kith and kin, just by the misdeeds of others. [4-39-21]

VERSE 22

सः अहम् पर अपराधेन विनाशेयम् निशाचर
कुरु यत् ते क्षमम् तत् त्वम् अहम् त्वाम् न अनुयामि वै

saḥ aham para aparādhena vināśeyam niśācara
kuru yat te kṣamam tat tvam aham tvām na anuyāmi vai

SYNONYMS

niśācara: oh, nightwalker | saḥ aham: such as I am, I | para aparādhena vināśeyam: by other's, misdeed, I bound to ruin | te yat kśamam: to you, which is, fair | tat tvam kuru: that, you, do | aham tvām na anuyāmi vai: I, you, not, follow, simply. |

TRANSLATION

"Such a saintly one as I am, I am bound to ruin by other's misdeeds, hence you do whatever that is fair to you, but I am not the one to simply take after you. [4-39-22]

VERSE 23

रामः च हि महातेजा महासत्त्वो महाबलः
अपि राक्षस लोकस्य भवेत् अन्तकरो अपि हि

rāmaḥ ca hi mahātejā mahāsattvo mahābalaḥ
api rākṣasa lokasya bhavet antakaro api hi

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ ca: Rama, also | mahātejā: a great-resplendent one | mahā sattvaḥ: highly, courageous | mahā balaḥ: highly, powerful | hi: definitely | [saḥ: he] | rākśasa lokasya api: for demon's, world's, even | anta karaḥ api = end, maker: eradicator | bhavet hi: becomes, for sure. |

TRANSLATION

"Definitely Rama is the one with exceptional resplendence, exemplary courage and extraordinary power, and for sure, he becomes an eradicator of the world of demons. [4-39-23]

VERSE 24

यदि शूर्पणखा हेतोः जनस्थान गत खरः
अति वृत्तो हतः पूर्वम् रामेण अक्लिष्ट कर्मणा
अत्र ब्रूहि यथावत् त्वम् को रामस्य व्यतिक्रमः

yadi śūrpaṇakhā hetoḥ janasthāna gata kharaḥ
ati vṛtto hataḥ pūrvam rāmeṇa akliṣṭa karmaṇā
atra brūhi yathāvat tvam ko rāmasya vyatikramaḥ

SYNONYMS

janasthāna gata = zanasthāna, gone in: positioned in | kharaḥ: Khara | śūrpaṇakhā hetoḥ: Shuurpanakha, owing to | pūrvam: firstly | ati vṛttaḥ = over, stepping: his limits | akliṣṭa karmaṇā rāmeṇa = by one vho is of: uncomplicated, actions, by Rama | hataḥ yadi: killed, if | atra: in that matter | rāmasya: of Rama | vytikramaḥ [vi ati kramaḥ = really, over, stepping: his limits | kaḥ: what is it | tvam: you | yathā vat = as it is: in final analysis | brūhi: you tell. |

TRANSLATION

"If Khara positioned in Janasthaana has firstly overstepped his bounds and attacked Rama, that too owing to Shuurpanakha, and if Rama of uncomplicated actions has eliminated Khara in self-defence, what really is the transgression of Rama in that matter, you tell of that in the final analysis. [4-39-24]

VERSE 25

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे एकोन चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe ekona catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

bandhu hita arthinā: kinsman, wellbeing, ambitious of | mayā ucyamānam: by me, being said | idam vacaḥ = this, vord: advise | yathā: as said | na abhipatsyase: not, you are agreeable for it | sa bāndhavaḥ: with, kinsmen | adya = nov: presently | rāmeṇa: by Rama | a jihma gaiḥ: not, curvedly, shooting [linear accelerators] | śaraiḥ hataḥ: with arrows, killed | raṇe jīvitam tyakśyasi: in a confrontation, life, you will deliver up. |

TRANSLATION

"I am saying this word of advise as I am ambitious of the wellbeing of my kinsmen through you, and if this is disagreeable to you, you will have to deliver up your life in a confrontation with Rama along with the lives of your kinsmen, perishing at the linearly accelerating arrows of Rama. [4-39-25]