Chapter 4
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
ह्रियमाणौ तु काकुत्स्थौ दृष्ट्वा सीता रघूत्तमौ
उच्चैः स्वरेण चुक्रोश प्रगृह्य सु महाभुजौ
hriyamāṇau tu kākutsthau dṛṣṭvā sītā raghūttamau
uccaiḥ svareṇa cukrośa pragṛhya su mahābhujau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing those two very dexterous scions of Kakutstha, and the best ones from Raghu dynasty, namely Rama and Lakshmana, grabbed and being carried off, Seetha screamed in a high-pitched voice.[3-4-1]
एष दाशरथी रामः सत्यवान् शीलवान् शुचिः
रक्षसा रौद्र रूपेण ह्रियते सह लक्ष्मणः
eṣa dāśarathī rāmaḥ satyavān śīlavān śuciḥ
rakṣasā raudra rūpeṇa hriyate saha lakṣmaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He that truth-abiding, virtuous, and the flawless Rama of Dasharatha is carried off along with Lakshmana by the demon with a ferocious look... [3-4-2]
माम् ऋका भक्ष इष्यन्ति शार्दूल द्वीपिनः तथा
माम् हरः उत्सृज्य काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तमः
mām ṛkā bhakṣa iṣyanti śārdūla dvīpinaḥ tathā
mām haraḥ utsṛjya kākutsthau namaste rākṣasottamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Wild bears, tigers and panthers aspire to eat me away... oh, best demon, thieve me instead and release Kakutstha-s... Hail to thee..." [Said Seetha.] [3-4-3]
तस्याः तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा वैदेह्याः राम लक्ष्मणौ
वेगम् प्रचक्रतुर् वीरौ वधे तस्य दुरात्मनः
tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā vaidehyāḥ rāma lakṣmaṇau
vegam pracakratur vīrau vadhe tasya durātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing Vaidehi's that utterance those valorous ones Rama and Lakshmana speedily busied themselves in eliminating that evil-minded demon Viradha. [3-4-4]
तस्य रौद्रस्य सौमित्रिः सव्यम् बाहुम् बभञ्ज ह
रामः तु दक्षिणम् बाहुम् तरसा तस्य रक्षसः
tasya raudrasya saumitriḥ savyam bāhum babhañja ha
rāmaḥ tu dakṣiṇam bāhum tarasā tasya rakṣasaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Soumitri indeed severed the left arm of that ferocious one, while Rama rent the right arm of that demon with his might. [3-4-5]
सः भग्न बहुः संविग्नः पपात आशु विमूर्छितः
धरण्याम् मेघ संकाशो वज्र भिन्न इव अचलः
saḥ bhagna bahuḥ saṃvignaḥ papāta āśu vimūrchitaḥ
dharaṇyām megha saṃkāśo vajra bhinna iva acalaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When his arms are mutilated that demon similar to a dark-cloud is frustrated, fainted, and fell onto ground, like the mountain demolished by the Thunderbolt of Indra. [3-4-6]
मुष्टिभिर् बाहुभिर् पद्भिः सूदयन्तौ तु राक्षसम्
उद्यंयोद्यंय च अपि एनम् स्थण्डिले निष्पिपेषतुः
muṣṭibhir bāhubhir padbhiḥ sūdayantau tu rākṣasam
udyaṃyodyaṃya ca api enam sthaṇḍile niṣpipeṣatuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
They battered that demon with their fists, hands and feet, and even by heaving and hurling him again and again they entirely pounded on him on the ground. [3-4-7]
स विद्धो बहुभिर् बाणैः खड्गाभ्याम् च परिक्षतः
निष्पिष्टो बहुधा भूमौ न ममार स राक्षसः
sa viddho bahubhir bāṇaiḥ khaḍgābhyām ca parikṣataḥ
niṣpiṣṭo bahudhā bhūmau na mamāra sa rākṣasaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Though that demon is battered with many arrows, even sheared off with two swords, and even though he is entirely pounded on the ground he is not killed. [3-4-8]
तम् प्रेक्ष्य रामः सुभृशम् अवध्यम् अचल उपमम्
भयेषु अभय दः श्रीमान् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्
tam prekṣya rāmaḥ subhṛśam avadhyam acala upamam
bhayeṣu abhaya daḥ śrīmān idam vacanam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On observing that the mountain-similar demon is ineradicable that easily, then Rama, the sublime one, and the bestower of shelter in fear, spoke this sentence to Lakshmana. [3-4-9]
तपसा पुरुषव्याघ्र राक्षसो।अयम् न शक्यते
शस्त्रेण युधि निर्जेतुम् राक्षसम् निखनावहे
tapasā puruṣavyāghra rākṣaso|ayam na śakyate
śastreṇa yudhi nirjetum rākṣasam nikhanāvahe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh! Manly-tiger Lakshmana, it is impossible to overpower this demon with weapons in a confrontation, hence, let's bury this demon... [3-4-10]
कुंजर्स्य इव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्य अस्य लक्ष्मण!
वने अस्मिन् सुमहद् श्वभ्रम् खन्यताम् रौद्रवर्चसः
kuṃjarsya iva raudrasya rākṣasasya asya lakṣmaṇa!
vane asmin sumahad śvabhram khanyatām raudravarcasaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lakshmana, a very deep pit be dug for this furious and ferocious reprobate in this forest, as though for an elephant... [3-4-11]
इति उक्त्वा लक्ष्मणम् रामः प्रदरः खन्यताम् इति
तस्थौ विराधम् आक्र्ंय कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान्
iti uktvā lakṣmaṇam rāmaḥ pradaraḥ khanyatām iti
tasthau virādham ākrṃya kaṇṭhe pādena vīryavān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On saying to Lakshmana that �a trench shall be dug...' then Rama repressively placed his foot on the throat of Viradha, and stood by. [3-4-12]
तत् श्रुत्वा राघवेण उक्तम् राक्षसः प्रश्रितम् वचः
इदम् प्रोवाच काकुत्स्थम् विराधः पुरुषर्षभम्
tat śrutvā rāghaveṇa uktam rākṣasaḥ praśritam vacaḥ
idam provāca kākutstham virādhaḥ puruṣarṣabham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing that said by Raghava, demon Viradha sincerely spoke these humble words to Rama, the finest one from Kakutstha dynasty. [3-4-13]
हतो।अहम् पुरुषव्याघ्रः शक्र तुल्य बलेन वै
मया तु पूर्वम् त्वम् मोहान् न ज्ञातः पुरुषर्षभः
hato|aham puruṣavyāghraḥ śakra tulya balena vai
mayā tu pūrvam tvam mohān na jñātaḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Dead I am, oh! Manly-tiger and a coequal of Indra in your strength... I have fallaciously not identified you earlier... oh, best one among men... [3-4-14]
कौसल्या सुप्रजातः तात रामः त्वम् विदितो मया
वैदेही च महाभागा लक्ष्मणः च महायशाः
kausalyā suprajātaḥ tāta rāmaḥ tvam vidito mayā
vaidehī ca mahābhāgā lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahāyaśāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, sire, now I have known you to be Rama, the son of Kausalya... and even propitious Seetha and greatly renowned one Lakshmana are now known to me... [3-4-15]
अभि शापाद् अहम् घोरम् प्रविष्टो राक्ष्सीम् तनुम्
तुंबुरुः नाम गन्धर्वः शप्तो वैश्रवणेन हि
abhi śāpād aham ghoram praviṣṭo rākṣsīm tanum
tuṃburuḥ nāma gandharvaḥ śapto vaiśravaṇena hi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By curse I had to enter this ghoulish demon's body, but I am a celestial gandharva, named Tumburu and Kubera cursed me... [3-4-16]
प्रसाद्यमानः च मया सो।अब्रवीत् माम् महायशाः
यदा दाशरथी रमः त्वाम् वधिष्यति संयुगे
prasādyamānaḥ ca mayā so|abravīt mām mahāyaśāḥ
yadā dāśarathī ramaḥ tvām vadhiṣyati saṃyuge
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When entreated by me, he that greatly renowned Kubera said to me, 'When Dasharatha's Rama kills you in a fight... then you will attain your nature of celestial body and you will go to heavens...' [3-4-17, 18a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" King Kubera thus cursed angrily me for not presenting myself in his service when I was interested in a celestial dancer Rambha, and indeed he alone said this curse-clearance to me... [3-4-18b, 19a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" And by your grace I am released from this utterly hideous cruse, and now I wish to go to my own heavenly abode, oh, firestorm of enemies, let safety betide you all... [3-4-19b, 20a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Sire, att one and half yojana-s of distance from here Sage Sharabhanga, a great saint of virtue, and an efficacious sage with sun-like resplendence dwells, you shall quickly approach him for he advises you opportunely... [3-4-20-21]
अवटे च अपि माम् राम निक्षिप्य कुशली व्रज
रक्षसाम् गत सत्त्वानाम् एष धर्मः सनातनः
avaṭe ca api mām rāma nikṣipya kuśalī vraja
rakṣasām gata sattvānām eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama you go safely on burying me in a pit... this is the age-old custom for those demons that lost vitality... those that are inhumed in pit, to them there will be the worlds of manes..." [3-4-22, 23a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"And on saying thus to Rama that Viradha who is hurt by arrows became heaven-worthy on leaving his body. [3-4-23b, 24a]
तत् श्रुत्वा राघवः वाक्यम् लक्ष्मणम् व्यादिदेश ह
tat śrutvā rāghavaḥ vākyam lakṣmaṇam vyādideśa ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
And Raghava on hearing those words of the demon ordered Lakshmana, "Lakshmana, a very deep pit be dug for this furious and ferocious reprobate in this forest, as though for an elephant..." On saying to Lakshmana that �a trench shall be dug...' then Rama repressively placed his foot on the throat of Viradha, and stood by. [3-4-24b, 25, 26]
ततः खनित्रम् आदाय लक्ष्मणः श्वभ्रम् उत्तमम्
अखनत् पार्श्वतः तस्य विराधस्य महात्मनः
tataḥ khanitram ādāya lakṣmaṇaḥ śvabhram uttamam
akhanat pārśvataḥ tasya virādhasya mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, on taking a digging tool Lakshmana dug a deep pit beside the great soul Viradha. [3-4-27]
तम् मुक्त कण्ठम् उत्क्षिप्य शङ्कु कर्णम् महास्वनम्
विराधम् प्राक्षिपत् श्वभ्रे नदन्तम् भैरव स्वनम्
tam mukta kaṇṭham utkṣipya śaṅku karṇam mahāsvanam
virādham prākṣipat śvabhre nadantam bhairava svanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On releasing his throat from the stamping of Rama, he that long eared, lurid voiced Viradha is ensconced in that pit while he is still blaring with his horrific voice. [3-4-28]
तम् आहवे दारुणम् आशु विक्रमौ
स्थिरौ उभौ संयति राम लक्ष्मणौ
मुदान्वितौ चिक्षिपतुर् भयावहम्
नदन्तम् उत्क्षिप्य बिलेन राक्ष्सम्
tam āhave dāruṇam āśu vikramau
sthirau ubhau saṃyati rāma lakṣmaṇau
mudānvitau cikṣipatur bhayāvaham
nadantam utkṣipya bilena rākṣsam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those deftly victorious ones Rama and Lakshmana who compose themselves in a given fight, both have gladly raised that Viradha, a ghoulish one in fight, a terrifying demon who is still blaring, with all their might and hurled him into the pit. [3-4-29]
अवध्यताम् प्रेक्ष्य महासुरस्य तौ
शितेन शस्त्रेण तदा नरर्षभौ
समर्थ्य च अत्यर्थ विशारदौ उभौ
बिले विरधस्य वधम् प्रचक्रतुः
avadhyatām prekṣya mahāsurasya tau
śitena śastreṇa tadā nararṣabhau
samarthya ca atyartha viśāradau ubhau
bile viradhasya vadham pracakratuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On observing the indestructibility of that demon with any weapon, however sharp it might be, those two best ones among men that are very expertly skilled have thought over well and undertook the elimination of that great demon in a pit. [3-4-30]
स्वयम् विराधेन हि मृत्युम् आत्मनः
प्रसह्य रामेण वधार्थम् ईप्सितः
निवेदितः कानन चारिणा स्वयम्
न मे वधः शस्त्र कृतो भवेत् इति
svayam virādhena hi mṛtyum ātmanaḥ
prasahya rāmeṇa vadhārtham īpsitaḥ
niveditaḥ kānana cāriṇā svayam
na me vadhaḥ śastra kṛto bhavet iti
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Viradha himself preferred his death at the hands of Rama and desired for a long to be killed by Rama and that forest walker himself appraised that, "Killing me with any weapon is impossible..." [3-4-31]
तदेव रामेण निशंय भाषितम्
कृता मतिः तस्य बिल प्रवेशने
बिलम् च तेन अति बलेन रक्षसा
प्रवेश्यमानेन वनम् विनादितम्
tadeva rāmeṇa niśaṃya bhāṣitam
kṛtā matiḥ tasya bila praveśane
bilam ca tena ati balena rakṣasā
praveśyamānena vanam vināditam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On listening to that which is said by Viradha, Rama resolved his mind to cast him into pit, and when that mighty demon is being flung into the pit the whole forest blared with that demon's cries. [3-4-32]
प्रहृष्ट रूपौ इव राम लक्ष्मणौ
विराधम् उर्व्याम् प्रदरे निपात्य तम्
ननन्दतुः वीत भयौ महावने
शिलाभिः अन्तर् दधतुः च राक्षसम्
prahṛṣṭa rūpau iva rāma lakṣmaṇau
virādham urvyām pradare nipātya tam
nanandatuḥ vīta bhayau mahāvane
śilābhiḥ antar dadhatuḥ ca rākṣasam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama and Lakshmana felt happy by way of their look in burying Viradha in the pit of the earth, and on burying him they two felt rejoiced for gone is the fear in that great forest, and within the pit they have also concealed him with boulders in order to make it a burial-chamber to the departed soul. [3-4-33]
PURPORT
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe caturthaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then they two who have dazzling golden bows have eliminated that demon and retrieved Seetha, and they gladly journeyed on in that great forest like the two entities abiding on the skies, namely the Sun and Moon. [3-4-34] The episode of Viraadha assumes some importance in Hindu mythology. It may be observed that Viraadha drops down Seetha, lifts and carries Rama and Lakshmana far away from Seetha, where Rama and Lakshmana kill Viraadha. aadhyaatma raamaayana which occurs in the chapter 61 of brahmaanmda puraana also narrates this episode of Viradha as a one to one fight, herein Rama affronts and kills him straight. But in Valmiki Ramayana, Viradha takes away Seetha first and then Rama and Lakshmana, too. A question arises as to why the demon should snatch Seetha away and later carry Rama and Lakshmana to a distant place from Seetha. It is part of the scheme that Rama kills no demon or sinner in the presence of Seetha, including Ravana, for she is that benevolent one to all the sinners and pardons them if surrendered in faith at her feet, as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Our concern here is with skaanda purana , a Shiva Puraana, in which Viradha's episode is explained detailedly. The skaanda puraana puts it as: On seeing Seetha Viraaadha thought, " She is the Supreme goddess through whom heavens can be obtained by salvation and also release from the bondage [of demon's body ] On just seeing Her, relieved is this body cage, so with all my devotion, I steal Her ." etc. Hence vi raadha meant to be verily, devout, like Radha of Krishna. When chased and hurt by Rama and Lakshmana, the demon releases Seetha, but carries both the brothers away. For this distancing Rama and Lakshmana from Seetha, it is said that Rama does not kill any demon in the presence of Seetha, for she graciously condones the mischief of the demons, if they are true devotees. Again in skaanda puraana , at the end of this Viraaadha episode, the phala shruti [Fruit of Listening] it is narrated as: