Chapter 43
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
सा तम् संप्रेक्ष्य सुश्रोणी कुसुमानि विचिन्वती
हेम राजत वर्णाभ्याम् पार्श्वाभ्याम् उपशोभितम्
sā tam saṃprekṣya suśroṇī kusumāni vicinvatī
hema rājata varṇābhyām pārśvābhyām upaśobhitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That slender-waisted Seetha whose limbs are flawless, whose complexion is like purified gold, and who is presently culling flowers is highly gladdened to observe the Golden Deer that is brightened in one flank with the colour of gold and the other is silvery, and she shouted for attention of her husband, and even that of Lakshmana who is presently weaponed. [3-43-1, 2]
आहूय आहूय च पुनः तम् मृगम् साधु वीक्षते
आगच्छ आगच्छ शीघ्रम् वै आर्यपुत्र सह अनुज
āhūya āhūya ca punaḥ tam mṛgam sādhu vīkṣate
āgaccha āgaccha śīghram vai āryaputra saha anuja
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, noble prince, come here," thus she called her husband and peered at the deer, and again she called, "really come with your younger brother quickly," and again gazed at the deer, and thus she oftentimes called and oftentimes saw the deer fondly. [3-43-3]
तया आहूतौ नरव्याघ्रौ वैदेह्या राम लक्ष्मणौ
वीक्षमाणौ तु तम् देशम् तदा ददृशतुः मृगम्
tayā āhūtau naravyāghrau vaidehyā rāma lakṣmaṇau
vīkṣamāṇau tu tam deśam tadā dadṛśatuḥ mṛgam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those manly lions Rama and Lakshmana thus bidden by Vaidehi came there exploring that place and then they saw that Golden Deer. [3-43-4]
शंकमानः तु तम् दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणो रामम् अब्रवीत्
तम् एव एनम् अहम् मन्ये मारीचम् राक्षसम् मृगम्
śaṃkamānaḥ tu tam dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇo rāmam abravīt
tam eva enam aham manye mārīcam rākṣasam mṛgam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
But Lakshmana became incredulous on seeing it and said to Rama, "I believe this deer to be that Maareecha, the demon." [3-43-5]
चरन्तो मृगयाम् हृष्टाः पापेन उपाधिना वने
अनेन निहता राम राजानः काम रूपिणा
caranto mṛgayām hṛṣṭāḥ pāpena upādhinā vane
anena nihatā rāma rājānaḥ kāma rūpiṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, when kings engaged in hunting games were delightedly moving in the forest, this Maareecha killed many of them resorting to many disguises, for he is a guise-changer by his wish. [3-43-6]
अस्य मायाविदो माया मृग रूपम् इदम् कृतम्
भानुमत् पुरुषव्याघ्र गन्धर्व पुर संनिभम्
asya māyāvido māyā mṛga rūpam idam kṛtam
bhānumat puruṣavyāghra gandharva pura saṃnibham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Maareecha is an expert in many wiles and he has now assumed the form of this Golden-Deer, oh, manly lion, which is not more than the scintillating city of Gandharva-s, a city of wiles, which any trickster can create to make-believe. [3-43-7]
PURPORT
मृगो हि एवम् विधो रत्न विचित्रो न अस्ति राघव
जगत्याम् जगतीनाथ माया एषा हि न संशयः
mṛgo hi evam vidho ratna vicitro na asti rāghava
jagatyām jagatīnātha māyā eṣā hi na saṃśayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Raghava, this kind of amazing animal with gemlike dapples is nonexistent in the world, isn't it. Hence, oh, lord of the world, this is truly a phantasm. No doubt about it." So said Lakshmana to Rama. [3-43-8]
PURPORT
एवम् ब्रुवाणम् काकुत्स्थम् प्रतिवार्य शुचि स्मिता
उवाच सीता संहृष्टा चद्मना हृत चेतना
evam bruvāṇam kākutstham prativārya śuci smitā
uvāca sītā saṃhṛṣṭā cadmanā hṛta cetanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While Lakshmana of Kakutstha-s is speaking thus, she who is self-satisfied as her heart is conjured by the cozenage, such a Seetha of a toothy smile deterred him and spoke. [3-43-9]
आर्यपुत्र अभिरामो असौ मृगो हरति मे मनः
आनय एनम् महाबाहो क्रीडार्थम् नः भविष्यति
āryaputra abhirāmo asau mṛgo harati me manaḥ
ānaya enam mahābāho krīḍārtham naḥ bhaviṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, nobleman's son, that delightful deer is stealing my heart, oh, dextrous one, bring it round, it will be our plaything. [3-43-10]
इह आश्रम पदे अस्माकम् बहवः पुण्य दर्शनाः
मृगाः चरन्ति सहिताः चमराः सृमराः तथा
iha āśrama pade asmākam bahavaḥ puṇya darśanāḥ
mṛgāḥ caranti sahitāḥ camarāḥ sṛmarāḥ tathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Here in the threshold of our hermitage many animals with adorable manifestation are moving about in flocks and herds, say Caamara deer, like that Srimara deer. [3-43-11]
PURPORT
ऋक्षाः पृषत संघाः च वानराः किनराः तथा
विचरन्ति महाबाहो रूप श्रेष्ठा महाबलाः
ṛkṣāḥ pṛṣata saṃghāḥ ca vānarāḥ kinarāḥ tathā
vicaranti mahābāho rūpa śreṣṭhā mahābalāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Also the animals that are excellent in their form, say monkeys, are moving here. Likewise herds of Kinnara deer, spotted-deer, and even bears of great-might are freely moving here. [3-43-12]
PURPORT
न च अस्य सदृशो राजन् दृष्ट पूर्वो मृगः मया
तेजसा क्षमया दीप्त्या यथा अयम् मृग सत्तमः
na ca asya sadṛśo rājan dṛṣṭa pūrvo mṛgaḥ mayā
tejasā kṣamayā dīptyā yathā ayam mṛga sattamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As to how this extraordinary deer is appearing, oh, king, by way of its brilliance, tameness, or by the lustre of its skin, I have not so far seen any coequal to this. [3-43-13]
नाना वर्ण विचित्र अंगो रत्न भूतो मम अग्रतः
द्योतयन् वनम् अव्यग्रम् शोभते शशि संनिभः
nānā varṇa vicitra aṃgo ratna bhūto mama agrataḥ
dyotayan vanam avyagram śobhate śaśi saṃnibhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Diversely coloured, amazingly limbed, and spotted with gemlike dapples it is shining forth like a deer that is completely gemmy, and while nonchalantly moving before me it is enlivening the forest like the moon. [3-43-14]
अहो रूपम् अहो लक्ष्मीः स्वर संपत् च शोभना
मृगो अद्भुतो विचित्रांगो हृदयम् हरति इव मे
aho rūpam aho lakṣmīḥ svara saṃpat ca śobhanā
mṛgo adbhuto vicitrāṃgo hṛdayam harati iva me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Ah, what a form, ah, what a brilliance, what a beautiful bleat! This amazingly limbed deer is wonderful, and this is stealing my heart, as it were. [3-43-15]
यदि ग्रहणम् अभ्येति जीवन् एव मृगः तव
आश्चर्य भूतम् भवति विस्मयम् जनयिष्यति
yadi grahaṇam abhyeti jīvan eva mṛgaḥ tava
āścarya bhūtam bhavati vismayam janayiṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It will be surprising if this deer draws into your capture alive and well, as it creates astonishment to one and all. [3-43-16]
समाप्त वन वासानाम् राज्य स्थानाम् च नः पुनः
अंतःपुरे विभूषार्थो मृग एष भविष्यति
samāpta vana vāsānām rājya sthānām ca naḥ punaḥ
aṃtaḥpure vibhūṣārtho mṛga eṣa bhaviṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When we return to kingdom on completing our dwelling in forest this deer becomes a masterpiece in palace-chambers for us. [3-43-17]
भरतस्य आर्यपुत्रस्य श्वश्रूणाम् मम च प्रभो
मृग रूपम् इदम् दिव्यम् विस्मयम् जनयिष्यति
bharatasya āryaputrasya śvaśrūṇām mama ca prabho
mṛga rūpam idam divyam vismayam janayiṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, lord, the form of this deer creates an excellent jubilation to Bharata, to you the son of the nobleman, to my mothers-in-law, and also to me in palace-chambers. [3-43-18]
जीवन् न यदि ते अभ्येति ग्रहणम् मृग सत्तमः
अजिनम् नरशार्दूल रुचिरम् तु भविष्यति
jīvan na yadi te abhyeti grahaṇam mṛga sattamaḥ
ajinam naraśārdūla ruciram tu bhaviṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Else if that best deer does not come into you capture while alive, oh tigerly-man, at the least its gorgeous deerskin will be remnant of it. [3-43-19]
निहतस्य अस्य सत्त्वस्य जांबूनदमय त्वचि
शष्प बृस्याम् विनीतायाम् इच्छामि अहम् उपासितुम्
nihatasya asya sattvasya jāṃbūnadamaya tvaci
śaṣpa bṛsyām vinītāyām icchāmi aham upāsitum
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I wish to sit along with you on its golden deerskin, overlaying it on a seat of tender darbha grass-blades, in case the deer is felled. [3-43-20]
PURPORT
कामवृत्तम् इदम् रौद्रम् स्त्रीणाम् असदृशम् मतम्
वपुषा तु अस्य सत्त्वस्य विस्मयो जनितो मम
kāmavṛttam idam raudram strīṇām asadṛśam matam
vapuṣā tu asya sattvasya vismayo janito mama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Tradition says that this sort of unruly self-seeking is unbefitting to women, yet that deer's beautiful body is inducing curiosity in me." Seetha said so to Rama and remained waiting for his reply. [3-43-21]
PURPORT
तेन कांचन रोम्णा तु मणि प्रवर शृंगिणा
तरुण आदित्य वर्णेन नक्षत्र पथ वर्चसा
tena kāṃcana romṇā tu maṇi pravara śṛṃgiṇā
taruṇa āditya varṇena nakṣatra patha varcasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As for that deer's horns they vie with excellent sapphires, its golden coat with the glitter of tender sun, and its ambience with silver spots on coat with a milk way containing twinkling stars, and by that reason even Raghava's heart is awestruck when he saw it. [3-43-22, 23a]
PURPORT
एवम् सीता वचः श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च मृगम् अद्भुतम्
evam sītā vacaḥ śrutvā dṛṣṭvā ca mṛgam adbhutam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In this way, hearing the words of Seetha and observing that wondrous deer Raghava is also amused by its form, and even motivated by Seetha in fetching it, he delightedly spoke this word to his brother Lakshmana. [3-43-23b, 24]
PURPORT
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्याः स्पृहाम् उल्लसिताम् इमाम्
रूप श्रेष्ठतया हि एष मृगो अद्य न भविष्यति
paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidehyāḥ spṛhām ullasitām imām
rūpa śreṣṭhatayā hi eṣa mṛgo adya na bhaviṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lakshmana, behold this enthusiastic delight of Vaidehi. Oh, Soumitri, presently no other deer indeed with such an excellent form exists in this forest. Or else, does it exist in Nandana Gardens of Indra - no, it cannot be there; in the adjoins of Caitraratha Gardens of Kubera - no, it will not be there, then how can there be some deer on earth which is similar to this! [3-43-25, 26]
प्रतिलोम अनुलोमाः च रुचिरा रोम राजयः
शोभन्ते मृगम् आश्रित्य चित्राः कनक बिन्दुभिः
pratiloma anulomāḥ ca rucirā roma rājayaḥ
śobhante mṛgam āśritya citrāḥ kanaka bindubhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Amazing are its hairlines with hair upturned at some places and down-turned at other, and the golden spots embedded on the coat of the deer are glittery. [3-43-27]
पश्य अस्य जृंभमाणस्य दीप्ताम् अग्नि शिखोपमाम्
जिह्वाम् मुखात् निःसरंतीम् मेघात् इव शत ह्रदाम्
paśya asya jṛṃbhamāṇasya dīptām agni śikhopamām
jihvām mukhāt niḥsaraṃtīm meghāt iva śata hradām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"See at its tongue that is exserting from its mouth while it is yawning, which is similar to the flaring tongue of fire and to the lightning from a cloud. [3-43-28]
मसार गल्वर्क मुखः शंख मुक्ता निभ उदरः
कस्य नाम अनिरूप्यः असौ न मनो लोभयेत् मृगः
masāra galvarka mukhaḥ śaṃkha muktā nibha udaraḥ
kasya nāma anirūpyaḥ asau na mano lobhayet mṛgaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Its face is like a mug made up of sapphires, its paunch is pearly and conchoidal, and whose heart is it that will not lured for this deer with an inexplicable beauty. [3-43-29]
कस्य रूपम् इदम् दृष्ट्वा जांबूनदमय प्रभम्
नाना रत्नमयम् दिव्यम् न मनो विस्मयम् व्रजेत्
kasya rūpam idam dṛṣṭvā jāṃbūnadamaya prabham
nānā ratnamayam divyam na mano vismayam vrajet
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On seeing at this astounding look of the deer which is golden in glitter and bejewelled numerously as it were, whose heart is it that will not be transported into astonishment. [3-43-30]
मांस हेतोः अपि मृगान् विहारार्थम् च धन्विनः
घ्नन्ति लक्ष्मण राजानो मृगयायाम् महावने
māṃsa hetoḥ api mṛgān vihārārtham ca dhanvinaḥ
ghnanti lakṣmaṇa rājāno mṛgayāyām mahāvane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Kings pursuing games of hunting in great forests, oh, Lakshmana, will be felling deer either for the sake of flesh, or just for the purpose of sporting archery. [3-43-31]
धनानि व्यवसायेन विचीयन्ते महावने
धातवो विविधाः च अपि मणि रत्न सुवर्णिनः
dhanāni vyavasāyena vicīyante mahāvane
dhātavo vividhāḥ ca api maṇi ratna suvarṇinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"And exerting themselves in great forests they by far amass forest produce, ores, jewels, gemstones and the gravel of gold. [3-43-32]
PURPORT
तत् सारम् अखिलम् नॄणाम् धनम् निचय वर्धनम्
मनसा चिन्तितम् सर्वम् यथा शुक्रस्य लक्ष्मण
tat sāram akhilam nṝṇām dhanam nicaya vardhanam
manasā cintitam sarvam yathā śukrasya lakṣmaṇa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Everything of that wealth from forest produce will be filling the treasuries of kings, like the speculated objects filling the entire treasury of Shukra just by his thinking of them in his mind. [3-43-33]
PURPORT
अर्थी येन अर्थ कृत्येन संव्रजति अविचारयन्
तम् अर्थम् अर्थ शास्त्रज्ञः प्राहुः अर्थ्याः च लक्ष्मण
arthī yena artha kṛtyena saṃvrajati avicārayan
tam artham artha śāstrajñaḥ prāhuḥ arthyāḥ ca lakṣmaṇa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The financial experts and the other financially well-off people say that with which aspirational activity an aspirant unhesitatingly scurries and achieves it, that achieved target alone is lauded to be worthwhile, or, as real wealth. [3-43-34]
PURPORT
एतस्य मृग रत्नस्य परार्ध्ये कांचन त्वचि
उपवेक्ष्यति वैदेही मया सह सुमध्यमा
etasya mṛga ratnasya parārdhye kāṃcana tvaci
upavekṣyati vaidehī mayā saha sumadhyamā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This comely Vaidehi will be sitting on that invaluable golden skin of that gem of a deer along with me. [3-43-35]
PURPORT
न कादली न प्रियकी न प्रवेणी न च अविकी
भवेत् एतस्य सदृशी स्पर्शनेन इति मे मतिः
na kādalī na priyakī na praveṇī na ca avikī
bhavet etasya sadṛśī sparśanena iti me matiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I think the skin of Kadali deer, or of Priyaki deer, or of Praveni deer, or as a matter of fact the skins of best breed of deer or sheep will not be match to the deerskin of this deer, insofar as the soft-touch is concerned. [3-43-36]
PURPORT
एष चैव मृगः श्रीमान् यः च दिव्यो नभः चरः
उभौ एतौ मृगौ दिव्यौ तारामृग महीमृगौ
eṣa caiva mṛgaḥ śrīmān yaḥ ca divyo nabhaḥ caraḥ
ubhau etau mṛgau divyau tārāmṛga mahīmṛgau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Only two divine deer are there, this magnificent deer on earth, and the other that moves in skies remaining in stellar region. [3-43-37]
PURPORT
यदि वा अयम् तथा यत् माम् भवेत् वदसि लक्ष्मण
माया एषा राक्षसस्य इति कर्तव्यो अस्य वधो मया
yadi vā ayam tathā yat mām bhavet vadasi lakṣmaṇa
māyā eṣā rākṣasasya iti kartavyo asya vadho mayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are telling me that 'this is the wizardry of the demon.' Even then, Lakshmana, if this results in that way as a demon's wizardry, my duty also results in the elimination of that deer. [3-43-38]
एतेन हि नृशंसेन मारीचेन अकृत आत्मना
वने विचरता पूर्वम् हिंसिता मुनि पुंगवाः
etena hi nṛśaṃsena mārīcena akṛta ātmanā
vane vicaratā pūrvam hiṃsitā muni puṃgavāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If this deer is Maareecha, this heinous and vicious-souled demon has indeed tortured many eminent sages earlier when was on the prowl in the forests, thus he is eliminable. [3-43-39]
उत्थाय बहवो अनेन मृगयायाम् जनाधिपाः
निहताः परम इष्वासाः तस्मात् वध्यः तु अयम् मृगः
utthāya bahavo anena mṛgayāyām janādhipāḥ
nihatāḥ parama iṣvāsāḥ tasmāt vadhyaḥ tu ayam mṛgaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He rebelliously killed many kings who are excellent archers while they were in hunting games, at least for that reason this bestial monster is eradicable. [3-43-40]
PURPORT
पुरस्तात् इह वातापिः परिभूय तपस्विनः
उदरस्थो द्विजान् हन्ति स्व गर्भो अश्वतरीम् इव
purastāt iha vātāpiḥ paribhūya tapasvinaḥ
udarastho dvijān hanti sva garbho aśvatarīm iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Demon Vaataapi who held ascetics in contempt was here earlier, and staying in the stomachs of Brahmans he used to come out by ripping their stomachs open and thus he was killing Brahmans, like a mare-calf killing its own mother at its time of birth by ripping the womb of its own mother. [3-43-41]
PURPORT
स कदाचित् चिरात् लोभात् आससाद महामुनिम्
अगस्त्यम् तेजसा युक्तम् भक्ष्यः तस्य बभूव ह
sa kadācit cirāt lobhāt āsasāda mahāmunim
agastyam tejasā yuktam bhakṣyaḥ tasya babhūva ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On one occasion after some time, that Vaataapi avariciously obtained that great-saint and the one who is endowed with effulgent, namely Agastya, as an eatable, but actually that demon has became an eatable to the sage. [3-43-42]
समुत्थाने च तत् रूपम् कर्तु कामम् समीक्ष्य तम्
उत्स्मयित्वा तु भगवान् वातापिम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
samutthāne ca tat rūpam kartu kāmam samīkṣya tam
utsmayitvā tu bhagavān vātāpim idam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On observing the demon Vaataapi who is trying to assume his original form of demon in order to come out of his stomach, that godly saint Agastya spoke this to Vaataapi with a scornful smile. [3-43-43]
त्वया अविगण्य वातापे परिभूताः च तेजसा
जीव लोके द्विज श्रेष्ठाः तस्मात् असि जराम् गतः
tvayā avigaṇya vātāpe paribhūtāḥ ca tejasā
jīva loke dvija śreṣṭhāḥ tasmāt asi jarām gataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, Vaataapi, you have irreverently eradicated the best Brahmans in this world owing to your might, therefore I have assimilated you.' So said sage Agastya to Vaataapi. [3-43-44]
तत् एतत् न भवेत् रक्षो वातापिः इव लक्ष्मण
मत् विधम् यो अतिमन्येत धर्म नित्यम् जितेन्द्रियम्
tat etat na bhavet rakṣo vātāpiḥ iva lakṣmaṇa
mat vidham yo atimanyeta dharma nityam jitendriyam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lakshmana, such a demon who is like Vaataapi will not be there any more. He who disregards someone of my kind, who always abides in righteousness and who is self-controlled, such a demon will be eliminated as sage Agastya has eliminated demon Vaataapi, if that demon happens to get at me. [3-43-45, 46a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Lakshmana, the descendent of Raghu, you stay here in all preparedness and guard Maithili steadfastly, whatever enterprise of ours is there that is founded in her. [3-43-46b, 47a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I wish to catch this deer, Soumitri, if not I will kill it, and I will be going forthwith to fetch the deer. [3-43-47b, 48a]
पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेहीम् मृग त्वचि गताम् स्पृहाम्
paśya lakṣmaṇa vaidehīm mṛga tvaci gatām spṛhām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lakshmana, see how Vaidehi's percept is overtaken by deerskin. Indeed by the strangeness of its skin that deer must be a mysterious being, hence, it will not survive now. [3-43-48]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Lakshmana, apply yourself vigilantly while staying in hermitage along with Seetha. So soon as I go I will be felling that spotted deer with one arrow and returning quickly. [3-43-49b, 50]
PURPORT
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे त्रि चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe tri catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Lakshmana, you be here taking care of Maithili along with the forthright, formidable and fatherly bird Jatayu, and be watchful and suspicious from everywhere and every split-second." Thus Rama spoke to Lakshmana and started to go after the deer [3-43-51]