Aranya Kanda, Sarga 34

ततश्शूर्पणखां दृष्ट्वा ब्रुवन्तीं परुषं वचः। अमात्यमध्ये सङ्क्रुद्धः परिपप्रच्छ रावणः।।3.34.1।।

tataśśūrpaṇakhāṃ dṛṣṭvā bruvantīṃ paruṣaṃ vacaḥ| amātyamadhye saṅkruddhaḥ paripapraccha rāvaṇaḥ

Incensed at the harsh words Surpanakha used in the midst of ministers, Ravana said:

कश्च रामः कथंवीर्यः किंरूपः किंपराक्रमः। किमर्थं दण्डकारण्यं प्रविष्टस्सुदुरासदम्।।3.34.2।।

kaśca rāmaḥ kathaṃvīryaḥ kiṃrūpaḥ kiṃparākramaḥ| kimarthaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ praviṣṭassudurāsadam

Who is Rama? What is his strength? How does he look? How valiant is he? For what purpose has he entered the impenetrable Dandaka forest?

आयुधं किञ्च रामस्य निहता येन राक्षसाः। खरश्च निहतस्संख्ये दूषणस्त्रिशिरास्तथा।।3.34.3।।

āyudhaṃ kiñca rāmasya nihatā yena rākṣasāḥ| kharaśca nihatassaṃkhye dūṣaṇastriśirāstathā

With what weapons he has killed demons like Khara, Dusana and Trisira ?

इत्युक्ता राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता। ततो रामं यथातत्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे।।3.34.4।।

ityuktā rākṣasendreṇa rākṣasī krodhamūrchitā| tato rāmaṃ yathātatvamākhyātumupacakrame

Thus questioned by Ravana, the demoness, overcome by anger, began telling him about Rama faithfully:

दीर्घबाहुर्विशालाक्ष श्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरः। कन्दर्पसमरूपश्च रामो दशरथात्मजः।।3.34.5।।

dīrghabāhurviśālākṣa ścīrakṛṣṇājināmbaraḥ| kandarpasamarūpaśca rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ

Rama, Dasaratha's son, has long arms, large eyes. He is clad in deerskin and bark. He resembles Cupid.

शक्रचापनिभं चापं विकृष्य कनकाङ्गदम्। दीप्तान् क्षिपति नाराचान्सर्पानिव महाविषान्।।3.34.6।।

śakracāpanibhaṃ cāpaṃ vikṛṣya kanakāṅgadam| dīptān kṣipati nārācānsarpāniva mahāviṣān

His bow resembles Indra's, He is adorned with gold bands. Drawing the bow, he releases glittering arrows like highly poisonous snakes.

नाददानं शरान्घोरान्नमुञ्चन्तं शिलीमुखान्। न कार्मुकं विकर्षन्तं रामं पश्यामि संयुगे।।3.34.7।।

nādadānaṃ śarānghorānnamuñcantaṃ śilīmukhān| na kārmukaṃ vikarṣantaṃ rāmaṃ paśyāmi saṃyuge

I could not see Rama in the dreadful war while he was pulling an arrow from the quiver, aiming the dart, and drawing the bowstring.

हन्यमानं तु तत्सैन्यं पश्यामि शरवृष्टिभिः। इन्द्रेणेवोत्तमं सस्यमाहतन्त्वश्मवृष्टिभिः।।3.34.8।।

hanyamānaṃ tu tatsainyaṃ paśyāmi śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ| indreṇevottamaṃ sasyamāhatantvaśmavṛṣṭibhiḥ

Just as Indra destroys the crop ready for harvest by raining hailstones, I have seen Rama killing the army with a shower of arrows.

रक्षसां भीमरूपाणां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश। निहतानि शरै स्तीक्ष्णैस्तेनैकेन पदातिना।।3.34.9।। अर्धाधिकमुहूर्तेन खरश्च सहदूषणः।

rakṣasāṃ bhīmarūpāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa| nihatāni śarai stīkṣṇaistenaikena padātinā ardhādhikamuhūrtena kharaśca sahadūṣaṇaḥ|

Fighting alone on foot with his sharp arrows Rama killed within a span of one and a half muhurta, the fourteen thousand dreadful demons including Dusana and Khara.

ऋषीणामभयं दत्तं कृतक्षेमाश्च दण्डकाः।।3.34.10।। एका कथञ्चिन्मुक्ताहं परिभूय महात्मना। स्त्रीवधं शङ्कमानेन रामेण विदितात्मना।।3.34.11।।

ṛṣīṇāmabhayaṃ dattaṃ kṛtakṣemāśca daṇḍakāḥ ekā kathañcinmuktāhaṃ paribhūya mahātmanā| strīvadhaṃ śaṅkamānena rāmeṇa viditātmanā

Sages have been assured safety. Peace has been restored to Dandaka forest. As Rama, the great soul, who knows the self, hesitated to kill a woman, I was alone saved after this humiliation.

ऋषीणामभयं दत्तं कृतक्षेमाश्च दण्डकाः।।3.34.10।। एका कथञ्चिन्मुक्ताहं परिभूय महात्मना। स्त्रीवधं शङ्कमानेन रामेण विदितात्मना।।3.34.11।।

ṛṣīṇāmabhayaṃ dattaṃ kṛtakṣemāśca daṇḍakāḥ ekā kathañcinmuktāhaṃ paribhūya mahātmanā| strīvadhaṃ śaṅkamānena rāmeṇa viditātmanā

Sages have been assured safety. Peace has been restored to Dandaka forest. As Rama, the great soul, who knows the self, hesitated to kill a woman, I was alone saved after this humiliation.

भ्राता चास्य महातेजा गुणतस्तुल्यविक्रमः। अनुरक्तश्च भक्तश्च लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्।।3.34.12।।

bhrātā cāsya mahātejā guṇatastulyavikramaḥ| anuraktaśca bhaktaśca lakṣmaṇo nāma vīryavān

His brother called Lakshmana looks radiant. He is virtuous and courageous like him, valiant, devoted and loyal.

अमर्षी दुर्जयो जेता विक्रान्तो बुद्धिमान्बली। रामस्य दक्षिणो बाहुर्नित्यं प्राणो बहिश्चरः।।3.34.13।।

amarṣī durjayo jetā vikrānto buddhimānbalī| rāmasya dakṣiṇo bāhurnityaṃ prāṇo bahiścaraḥ

He is impatient, invincible, victorious, bold, intelligent and strong. He is even the right hand of Rama, his outer life.

रामस्य तु विशालाक्षी पूर्णेन्दुसदृशानना। धर्मपत्नी प्रिया भर्तुर्नित्यं प्रियहिते रता।।3.34.14।।

rāmasya tu viśālākṣī pūrṇendusadṛśānanā| dharmapatnī priyā bharturnityaṃ priyahite ratā

Rama's beloved consort is a largeeyed lady. Her face is like the full moon. She is engaged in the wellbeing of her husband.

सा सुकेशी सुनासोरुस्सुरूपा च यशस्विनी। देवतेव वनस्यास्य राजते श्रीरिवापरा।।3.34.15।।

sā sukeśī sunāsorussurūpā ca yaśasvinī| devateva vanasyāsya rājate śrīrivāparā

She is an illustrious lady. She is goodlooking with her long hair, wellshaped nose and things. She appears to be the presiding deity of the forest, another goddess of wealth (Laxmi).

तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभा रक्ततुङ्गनखी शुभा। सीता नाम वरारोहा वैदेही तनुमध्यमा।।3.34.16।।

taptakāñcanavarṇābhā raktatuṅganakhī śubhā| sītā nāma varārohā vaidehī tanumadhyamā

She is Sita, princess of Videha, a virtuous lady of golden complexion, a beautiful lady of slender waist and heavy hips.

नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी न यक्षी न च किन्नरी। नैवंरूपा मया नारी दृष्टपूर्वा महीतले।।3.34.17।।

naiva devī na gandharvī na yakṣī na ca kinnarī| naivaṃrūpā mayā nārī dṛṣṭapūrvā mahītale

I had not seen such a beautiful woman earlier, among the gandharvas, or yakshas, or kinneras. I have not seen such a beauty among the humans on earth.

यस्य सीता भवेद्भार्या यं च हृष्टा परिष्वजेत्। अतिजीवेत्स सर्वेषु लोकेष्वपि पुरन्दरात्।।3.34.18।।

yasya sītā bhavedbhāryā yaṃ ca hṛṣṭā pariṣvajet| atijīvetsa sarveṣu lokeṣvapi purandarāt

Whosoever gets Sita as his wife, whoever she embraces happily will wish to live longer than Indra, the breaker of fortresses in this world.

सा सुशीला वपुश्श्लाघ्या रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि। तवानुरूपा भार्या स्यात्त्वं च तस्यास्तथा पतिः।।3.34.19।।

sā suśīlā vapuśślāghyā rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi| tavānurūpā bhāryā syāttvaṃ ca tasyāstathā patiḥ

She is a woman of good conduct, of praiseworthy beauty. She is matchless in her beauty on earth. She will be a suitable wife for you and you, a suitable husband for her.

तां तु विस्तीर्णजघनां पीनश्रोणिपयोधराम्। भार्यार्थे च तवानेतुमुद्यताहं वराननाम्।।3.34.20।। विरूपितास्मि क्रूरेण लक्ष्मणेन महाभुज।

tāṃ tu vistīrṇajaghanāṃ pīnaśroṇipayodharām| bhāryārthe ca tavānetumudyatāhaṃ varānanām virūpitāsmi krūreṇa lakṣmaṇena mahābhuja|

O mightyarmed one I have been disfigured by cruel Lakshmana as I was attempting to bring that lady of broad thighs, pointed breasts, heavy hips and a beautiful face to make her your wife.

तां तु दृष्ट्वाद्य वैदेहीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्। मन्मथस्य शराणां वै त्वं विधेयो भविष्यसि।।3.34.21।।

tāṃ tu dṛṣṭvādya vaidehīṃ pūrṇacandranibhānanām| manmathasya śarāṇāṃ vai tvaṃ vidheyo bhaviṣyasi

If you see her today, this lady with a face like the fullmoon, you will (instantaneously) fall a victim to the arrows of the god of love.

यदि तस्यामभिप्रायो भार्यार्थे तव जायते। शीघ्रमुद्ध्रियतां पादो जयार्थमिह दक्षिणः।।3.34.22।।

yadi tasyāmabhiprāyo bhāryārthe tava jāyate| śīghramuddhriyatāṃ pādo jayārthamiha dakṣiṇaḥ

If you intend her to be your wife, raise your right foot now and proceed to win her over.

कुरु प्रियं तथा तेषां रक्षसां राक्षसेश्वर। वधात्तस्य नृशंसस्य रामस्याश्रमवासिनः।।3.34.23।।

kuru priyaṃ tathā teṣāṃ rakṣasāṃ rākṣaseśvara| vadhāttasya nṛśaṃsasya rāmasyāśramavāsinaḥ

O lord of the demons, do a favour to your clan by killing that cruel Rama dwelling in the hermitage.

तं शरैर्निशितैर्हत्वा लक्ष्मणं च महारथम्। हतनाथां सुखं सीतां यथावदुपभोक्ष्यसि।।3.34.24।।

taṃ śarairniśitairhatvā lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahāratham| hatanāthāṃ sukhaṃ sītāṃ yathāvadupabhokṣyasi

Kill Rama, that great warrior along with Lakshmana with sharp arrows and enjoy the company of Sita happily as you like, with her husband dead.

रोचते यति ते वाक्यं ममैतद्राक्षसेश्वर। क्रियतां निर्विशङ्केन वचनं मम रावण।।3.34.25।।

rocate yati te vākyaṃ mamaitadrākṣaseśvara| kriyatāṃ nirviśaṅkena vacanaṃ mama rāvaṇa

If you like what I have said, do accordingly without any hesitation, O Ravana, lord of the demons.

विज्ञायेहात्मशक्तिं च ह्रियतामबला बलात्। सीता सर्वानवद्याङ्गी भार्यार्थे राक्षसेश्वर।।3.34.26।।

vijñāyehātmaśaktiṃ ca hriyatāmabalā balāt| sītā sarvānavadyāṅgī bhāryārthe rākṣaseśvara

Assess your own strength, O Lord of the demons, before you forcefully abduct that delicate Sita who is charming in all respects and make her your wife.

निशम्य रामेण शरैरजिह्मगै र्हतान् जनस्थानगतान्निशाचरान्। खरं च बुद्ध्वा निहतं च दूषणं त्वमत्र कृत्यं प्रतिपत्तुमर्हसि।।3.34.27।।

niśamya rāmeṇa śarairajihmagai rhatān janasthānagatānniśācarān| kharaṃ ca buddhvā nihataṃ ca dūṣaṇaṃ tvamatra kṛtyaṃ pratipattumarhasi

On hearing about the death of the demons including Khara and Dusana who fell to the straight and swift arrows of Rama, you should decide your course of action. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtytfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.