Chapter 46
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
तया परुषम् उक्तः तु कुपितो राघव अनुजः
स विकांक्षन् भृशम् रामम् प्रतस्थे न चिरात् इव
tayā paruṣam uktaḥ tu kupito rāghava anujaḥ
sa vikāṃkṣan bhṛśam rāmam pratasthe na cirāt iva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Raghava's younger brother Lakshmana is very much infuriated at Seetha who spoke to him rudely, as such he journeyed towards Rama at once as though he is yearning to see Rama immediately, albeit his heart wanted him to stand guard to Seetha. [3-46-1]
तदा आसाद्य दशग्रीवः क्षिप्रम् अंतरम् आस्थितः
अभिचक्राम वैदेहीम् परिव्राजक रूप धृक्
tadā āsādya daśagrīvaḥ kṣipram aṃtaram āsthitaḥ
abhicakrāma vaidehīm parivrājaka rūpa dhṛk
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Quickly taking hold of intervallic time then the ten-headed Ravana approached Vaidehi adopting an aspect of a sanyaasi, a meandering Brahman friar. [3-46-2]
श्लक्ष्ण काषाय संवीतः शिखी चत्री उपानही
वामे च अंसे अवसज्य अथ शुभे यष्टि कमण्डलू
ślakṣṇa kāṣāya saṃvītaḥ śikhī catrī upānahī
vāme ca aṃse avasajya atha śubhe yaṣṭi kamaṇḍalū
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That sanyaasi is now cloaked in smooth silky saffron, his head-hair is neatly tufted, sandals are wooden, umbrella is on right shoulder, and on his left shoulder a shaft of sanyaasi is shouldered, onto which his handy water vessel is hooked, and he proceeded towards Vaidehi in a mien of meandering sanyaasi. [3-46-3, 4a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As with a pitchiest gloom overcoming the sunless and moonless lively eventide, that great-mighty Ravana came over to Vaidehi in that forest, when she is without two of the brothers, namely Rama and Lakshmana. [3-46-4b, 5a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As a sinister planet looks over Star Rohini when she is devoid of Moon, that extremely sinister Ravana then looked over the glorious and youthful princess Seetha. [3-46-5b, 6a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On observing ferocious Ravana whose activities are iniquitous, the trees of Janasthaana are not in full sway, nor the wind is in full swing. [3-46-6b, 7a]
शीघ्र स्रोताः च तम् दृष्ट्वा वीक्षंतम् रक्त लोचनम्
śīghra srotāḥ ca tam dṛṣṭvā vīkṣaṃtam rakta locanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing him who is seeing with his bloodshot eyes, River Godavari too is frightened and started to rush off quietly, whose onrush will be rapid otherwise. [3-46-7b, 8a]
PURPORT
रामस्य तु अंतरम् प्रेप्सुः दशग्रीवः तत् अंतरे
rāmasya tu aṃtaram prepsuḥ daśagrīvaḥ tat aṃtare
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In the meanwhile the Decahedron demon Ravana, who is all the while waiting for some lapse of Rama, neared Vaidehi in the getup of a sanyaasi. [3-46-8b, 9a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That disgraceful Ravana made advances in a graceful mien of Brahman almsman to Vaidehi who is thinking over her husband, like the slow moving Saturn making advance to Star Citra which will be ominous. [3-46-9b, 10a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Like a wellspring shrouded by grass, enshrouded in a decent getup of a Brahman friar, in a trice Ravana leeringly stood before of Vaidehi, the admirable wife of Rama. [3-46-10b, 11a]
PURPORT
तिष्टन् संप्रेक्ष्य च तदा पत्नीम् रामस्य रावण
tiṣṭan saṃprekṣya ca tadā patnīm rāmasya rāvaṇa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While standing before her then Ravana eyed at the auspicious wife of Rama, whose lips and teeth are fine, visage is shiny like a full moon, and who is presently tortured by her tearful lamentation and sitting in the straw-cottage, and he approached that lotus-petal eyed Vaidehi who is dressed in ochry silks, as that night-walker is gladdened at his heart for her solitude. [3-46-11b, 12,13]
दृष्ट्वा काम शर आविद्धो ब्रह्म घोषम् उदीरयन्
अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् रहिते राक्षस अधिपः
dṛṣṭvā kāma śara āviddho brahma ghoṣam udīrayan
abravīt praśritam vākyam rahite rākṣasa adhipaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He who is hit by the arrows of Love-god that king of demons Ravana, on seeing Seetha entered resonating the resonances of Vedic-hymns as precursory in seeking alms, and spoke these well-mannered sentences to her who is in solitariness. [3-46-14]
ताम् उत्तमाम् त्रिलोकानाम् पद्म हीनाम् इव श्रियम्
विभ्राजमानाम् वपुषा रावणः प्रशशंस ह
tām uttamām trilokānām padma hīnām iva śriyam
vibhrājamānām vapuṣā rāvaṇaḥ praśaśaṃsa ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana really acclaimed her who is an excellent one in all the three worlds, beaming forth with the beauty of her body, and who is like Goddess Lakshmi but for Divine-lotus as Her settle, for Seetha is devoid of her settling, namely Rama. [3-46-15]
का त्वम् कांचन वर्ण आभे पीत कौशेय वासिनि
कमलानाम् शुभाम् मालाम् पद्मिनी इव च बिभ्रती
kā tvam kāṃcana varṇa ābhe pīta kauśeya vāsini
kamalānām śubhām mālām padminī iva ca bibhratī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Glittering like the glitter of gold, silkened in ochry silks, you are like a lotus-tendril garlanded with divine lotuses as your ensemble, who are you?" Thus Ravanan started addressing Seetha [3-46-16]
PURPORT
ह्रीः श्रीः कीर्तिः शुभा लक्ष्मीः अप्सरा वा शुभ आनने
भूतिर् वा त्वम् वराअरोहे रतिर् वा स्वैर चारिणी
hrīḥ śrīḥ kīrtiḥ śubhā lakṣmīḥ apsarā vā śubha ānane
bhūtir vā tvam varāarohe ratir vā svaira cāriṇī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, rosy faced one, are you the personified numen of Respect, Renown or Resplendence, or the Felicitous Lakshmi herself, or oh, curvaceous one, are you a nymphal Apsara, or the numen of Benefactress, or a self-motivated woman, or Rati Devi, the consort of Manmatha, the Love God. [3-46-17]
PURPORT
समाः शिखरिणः स्निग्धाः पाण्डुरा दशनाः तव
विशाले विमले नेत्रे रक्तान्ते कृष्ण तारके
samāḥ śikhariṇaḥ snigdhāḥ pāṇḍurā daśanāḥ tava
viśāle vimale netre raktānte kṛṣṇa tārake
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Your teeth are evenly, smooth and their tips are like jasmine buds, and your whitish broad eyes are spotless, reddish at ends, and pupils are black. [3-46-18]
विशालम् जघनम् पीनम् ऊरू करि कर उपमौ
एतौ उपचितौ वृत्तौ संहतौ संप्रगल्भितौ
viśālam jaghanam pīnam ūrū kari kara upamau
etau upacitau vṛttau saṃhatau saṃpragalbhitau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Your hips are beamy, thighs burly akin to elephant's trunks, and these two breasts of yours that are ornamented with best jewellery are rotund, rubbing and bumping each other, and they are swinging up and up, their nipples are brawny and jutting out, and they are smoothish like palm-fruits, thus they are covetable for they are beautiful. [3-46-19, 20]
चारु स्मिते चारु दति चारु नेत्रे विलासिनि
मनो हरसि मे रामे नदी कूलम् इव अंभसा
cāru smite cāru dati cāru netre vilāsini
mano harasi me rāme nadī kūlam iva aṃbhasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, allurer, your smile is alluring, teeth are alluring, and your eyes allure, oh, beauty, your waist is palmful, your hair velvety, your breasts are jostling, and you rob my soul as a spate robs riverbank. [3-46-21, 22a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I have not hitherto seen any earthly female with this kind of features on the face of earth; or, a goddess - no; a gandharva female - no; yaksha female - no; kinnaraa female - no, none whosoever! [3-46-22b, 23a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I marvel why an excellent one in all the three worlds by her features, more so, fragile and youthful as yourself should be living here in the thick of forest. [3-46-23b, 24, 25a]
सा प्रतिक्राम भद्रम् ते न त्वम् वस्तुम् इह अर्हसि
sā pratikrāma bhadram te na tvam vastum iha arhasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Such as you are you go back, let safety betide you, as you are unsuited to live in here, for this forest is the dwelling for ghastly demons who by their wish will be changing their guise. [3-46-24b, 25a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Delightful rooftops of skyscrapers, flourishing and richly fragranced pleasure-gardens of cities alone are meetly to you to saunter. [3-46-25b, 26a]
वरम् माल्यम् वरम् गंधम् वरम् वस्त्रम् च शोभने
varam mālyam varam gaṃdham varam vastram ca śobhane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Oh, beauteous lady, I opine that only best garlands, best scents, best foodstuffs, best clothing are meetly to you, oh, lady with black pupils, hence it is meet and right to you to have a best husband. "Getting at you, the garlands, scents, foodstuffs, or clothing, they all become the best, because you are the best beauteous one, as such, he alone becomes a best person who gets you as his wife, and it is meet and right to you to choose such a husband, [aside: me alone.] [3-46-26b, 27a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, curvaceous lady, who are you? Oh, one with an impeccable smile, do you belong to Rudraa-gods, or Marut-gods, or to Vasu-s? To me you are beaming forth like a goddess. [3-46-27b, 28a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This is the dwelling-place of demons, and no goddess, nor a gandharva, nor a kinnara can arrive here, but how you have come here? [3-46-28b, 29a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Here, simians, lions, leopards, tigers, likewise other predators, bears, tigers, vultures will be moving. How you are not frightened from them? [3-46-29b, 30a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Being alone in this forest, oh, lady with a lovely face, how you are unafraid of horrendous and mighty elephants possessed of rut? [3-46-30b, 31a]
का असि कस्य कुतः च त्वम् किम् निमित्तम् च दण्डकान्
kā asi kasya kutaḥ ca tvam kim nimittam ca daṇḍakān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, auspicious lady, who are you? Whose are you? Also from where are you? And being lonely, what for you are moving in dreadful Dandaka forest that is adored by demons?" Thus Ravana spoke to Seetha. [3-46-31, 32b]
इति प्रशस्ता वैदेही रावणेन दुरात्मना महात्मना
iti praśastā vaidehī rāvaṇena durātmanā - mahātmanā-
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When the wicked minded Ravana praised her in this way, Vaidehi the princess from Mithila has seen him who has arrived in the getup of Brahman and started to revere him with all the respects affordable to a casual guest. [3-46-32b, 33]
उपानीय आसनम् पूर्वम् पाद्येन अभिनिमंत्र्य च
अब्रवीत् सिद्धम् इति एव तदा तम् सौम्य दर्शनम्
upānīya āsanam pūrvam pādyena abhinimaṃtrya ca
abravīt siddham iti eva tadā tam saumya darśanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
She firstly fetched a seat him, then invited him with water for feet-wash, and then said to him who looked gracious in his bearing, 'alms are ready.' [3-46-34]
द्विजाति वेषेण समीक्ष्य मैथिली
तम् आगतम् पात्र कुसुंभ धारिणम्
अशक्यम् उद्द्वेष्टुम् उपाय दर्शनान्
न्यमंत्रयत् ब्राह्मणवत् यथा आगतम्
dvijāti veṣeṇa samīkṣya maithilī
tam āgatam pātra kusuṃbha dhāriṇam
aśakyam uddveṣṭum upāya darśanān
nyamaṃtrayat brāhmaṇavat yathā āgatam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Maithili explored him who arrived with the features of a Brahman, with a saffron-robe and alms-bowl, and finding no reason to refute him flatly, as he has come like a Brahman, she invited him as a Brahman. Maithili explored him who arrived with the features of a Brahman, with a saffron-robe and alms-bowl, and as he came with an unimperilling appearance of a Brahman, she invited him as she would ordinarily invite a real Brahman. [3-46-35]
PURPORT
इयम् बृसी ब्राह्मण कामम् आस्यताम्
इदम् च पाद्यम् प्रतिगृह्यताम् इति
इदम् च सिद्धम् वन जातम् उत्तमम्
त्वत् अर्थम् अव्यग्रम् इह उपभुज्यताम् ३४६३६
iyam bṛsī brāhmaṇa kāmam āsyatām
idam ca pādyam pratigṛhyatām iti
idam ca siddham vana jātam uttamam
tvat artham avyagram iha upabhujyatām 3-46-36
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Brahman, this is the Darbha-grass-seat and you be seated comfortably, here is water, receive it for hand and feet wash, here is the forest grown victuals for your sake... dine on them relaxedly..." Thus Seetha said to Ravana. [3-46-36]
निमंत्र्यमाणः प्रतिपूर्ण भाषिणीम्
नरेन्द्र पत्नीम् प्रसमीक्ष्य मैथिलीम्
प्रसह्य तस्या हरणे धृढम् मनः
समर्पयामास आत्म वधाय रावणः
nimaṃtryamāṇaḥ pratipūrṇa bhāṣiṇīm
narendra patnīm prasamīkṣya maithilīm
prasahya tasyā haraṇe dhṛḍham manaḥ
samarpayāmāsa ātma vadhāya rāvaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana thoroughly observed that wife of the king, Maithili, when she invited him talking civilities contextual in inviting a guest, that too Brahman sanyasi, and he firmed up his mind to abduct her even forcibly, and started to dedicate himself for destruction. [3-46-37]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे षट् चत्वारिन्शः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe ṣaṭ catvārinśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then she looked forward for her shapely husband who has gone on a hunting game, and who must be returning along with Lakshmana, and though she looked intently she could only see the green backdrop of that great forest, but not Rama or Lakshmana. [3-46-38]
