Aranya Kanda, Sarga 36

मारीच श्रूयातां तात वचनं मम भाषतः। आर्तोऽस्मि मम चार्तस्य भवान्हि परमा गतिः।।3.36.1।।

mārīca śrūyātāṃ tāta vacanaṃ mama bhāṣataḥ| ārto'smi mama cārtasya bhavānhi paramā gatiḥ

O dear Maricha hear my words. I am distressed and you are my ultimate refuge.

जानीषे त्वं जनस्थाने यथा भ्राता खरो मम। दूषणश्च महाबाहु स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे।।3.36.2।। त्रिशिराश्च महातेजा राक्षसः पिशिताशनः। अन्ये च बहवश्शूरा लब्धलक्षा निशाचराः।।3.36.3।। वसत्नि मन्नियोगेन नित्यवासं च राक्षसाः। बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन्वै धर्मचारिणः।।3.36.4।।

jānīṣe tvaṃ janasthāne yathā bhrātā kharo mama| dūṣaṇaśca mahābāhu svasā śūrpaṇakhā ca me triśirāśca mahātejā rākṣasaḥ piśitāśanaḥ| anye ca bahavaśśūrā labdhalakṣā niśācarāḥ vasatni manniyogena nityavāsaṃ ca rākṣasāḥ| bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīnvai dharmacāriṇaḥ

You know that my brothers, Khara and Dusana, the strongarmed heroes, my sister Surpanakha and the mighty cannibal Trisira, and many other heroic demons successful in hitting their targets are bonafide residents. They have been harassing the followers of righteous path (the sages) at my behest.

जानीषे त्वं जनस्थाने यथा भ्राता खरो मम। दूषणश्च महाबाहु स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे।।3.36.2।। त्रिशिराश्च महातेजा राक्षसः पिशिताशनः। अन्ये च बहवश्शूरा लब्धलक्षा निशाचराः।।3.36.3।। वसत्नि मन्नियोगेन नित्यवासं च राक्षसाः। बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन्वै धर्मचारिणः।।3.36.4।।

jānīṣe tvaṃ janasthāne yathā bhrātā kharo mama| dūṣaṇaśca mahābāhu svasā śūrpaṇakhā ca me triśirāśca mahātejā rākṣasaḥ piśitāśanaḥ| anye ca bahavaśśūrā labdhalakṣā niśācarāḥ vasatni manniyogena nityavāsaṃ ca rākṣasāḥ| bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīnvai dharmacāriṇaḥ

You know that my brothers, Khara and Dusana, the strongarmed heroes, my sister Surpanakha and the mighty cannibal Trisira, and many other heroic demons successful in hitting their targets are bonafide residents. They have been harassing the followers of righteous path (the sages) at my behest.

जानीषे त्वं जनस्थाने यथा भ्राता खरो मम। दूषणश्च महाबाहु स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे।।3.36.2।। त्रिशिराश्च महातेजा राक्षसः पिशिताशनः। अन्ये च बहवश्शूरा लब्धलक्षा निशाचराः।।3.36.3।। वसत्नि मन्नियोगेन नित्यवासं च राक्षसाः। बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन्वै धर्मचारिणः।।3.36.4।।

jānīṣe tvaṃ janasthāne yathā bhrātā kharo mama| dūṣaṇaśca mahābāhu svasā śūrpaṇakhā ca me triśirāśca mahātejā rākṣasaḥ piśitāśanaḥ| anye ca bahavaśśūrā labdhalakṣā niśācarāḥ vasatni manniyogena nityavāsaṃ ca rākṣasāḥ| bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīnvai dharmacāriṇaḥ

You know that my brothers, Khara and Dusana, the strongarmed heroes, my sister Surpanakha and the mighty cannibal Trisira, and many other heroic demons successful in hitting their targets are bonafide residents. They have been harassing the followers of righteous path (the sages) at my behest.

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। शूराणां लब्धलक्षाणां खरचित्तानुवर्तिनाम्।।3.36.5।।

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām| śūrāṇāṃ labdhalakṣāṇāṃ kharacittānuvartinām

These fourteen thousand heroes, perpetrators of terrible deeds, skilled in hitting the targets had been acting according to the direction of Khara.

ते त्विदानीं जनस्थाने वसमाना महाबलाः। सङ्गताः परमायत्ता रामेण सह संयुगे।।3.36.6।। नानाप्रहरणोपेताः खरप्रमुखराक्षसाः।

te tvidānīṃ janasthāne vasamānā mahābalāḥ| saṅgatāḥ paramāyattā rāmeṇa saha saṃyuge nānāpraharaṇopetāḥ kharapramukharākṣasāḥ|

These mighty demons, living in Janasthana, eqipped with different kinds of weapons, supported and led by Khara, met Rama in an encounter.

तेन सञ्जातरोषेण रामेण रणमूर्धनि। अनुक्त्वा परुषं किञ्चिच्छरैर्व्यापारितं धनुः।।3.36.7।।

tena sañjātaroṣeṇa rāmeṇa raṇamūrdhani| anuktvā paruṣaṃ kiñciccharairvyāpāritaṃ dhanuḥ

With his wrath generated, Rama, without even speaking anything, used his bow and the arrows.

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसामुग्रतेजसाम्। निहतानि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मानुषेण पदातिना।।3.36.8।।

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāmugratejasām| nihatāni śaraistīkṣṇairmānuṣeṇa padātinā

Being a human being who fought on foot, he killed fourteen thousand ferocious demons with his sharp arrows.

खरश्च निहतस्सङ्ख्ये दूषणश्च निपातितः। हतश्च त्रिशिराश्चापि निर्भया दण्डकाः कृताः।।3.36.9।।

kharaśca nihatassaṅkhye dūṣaṇaśca nipātitaḥ| hataśca triśirāścāpi nirbhayā daṇḍakāḥ kṛtāḥ

Khara, Dusana and Trisira were killed in war.The residents of Dandaka forest are rendered safe and fearless.

पित्रा निरस्तः क्रुद्धेन सभार्यः क्षीणजीवितः। स हन्ता तस्य सैन्यस्य रामः क्षत्रियपांसनः।।3.36.10।।

pitrā nirastaḥ kruddhena sabhāryaḥ kṣīṇajīvitaḥ| sa hantā tasya sainyasya rāmaḥ kṣatriyapāṃsanaḥ

Rama, a victim of his father's anger, banished into the forest with his wife, a shortlived mortal and a calumny on the kshatriyas has killed the army of demons.

दुश्शीलः कर्कशस्तीक्ष्णो मूर्खो लुब्धोऽजितेन्द्रियः।।3.36.11।। त्यक्तधर्मो ह्यधर्मात्मा भूतानामहिते रतः।

duśśīlaḥ karkaśastīkṣṇo mūrkho lubdho'jitendriyaḥ tyaktadharmo hyadharmātmā bhūtānāmahite rataḥ|

He is a man of bad conduct, harsh, sharptonged, stupid, miserly and a slave to his senses. He is immoral and unrighteous, one who is busy harming others.

येन वैरं विनाऽरण्ये सत्वमाश्रित्य केवलम्।।3.36.12।। कर्णनासापहरणाद्भगिनी मे विरूपिता। तस्यभार्यां जनस्थानात्सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम्।3.36.13।। आनयिष्यामि विक्रम्य सहायस्तत्र मे भव।

yena vairaṃ vinā'raṇye satvamāśritya kevalam karṇanāsāpaharaṇādbhaginī me virūpitā| tasyabhāryāṃ janasthānātsītāṃ surasutopamām|3.36.13|| ānayiṣyāmi vikramya sahāyastatra me bhava|

With no enmity whatsoever, merely because he has strength, he cut off the nose and ears of my sister and mutilated her. His wife Sita is like the daughter of heaven. I would like to abduct her with force from Janasthana for which you should be my accomplice.

येन वैरं विनाऽरण्ये सत्वमाश्रित्य केवलम्।।3.36.12।। कर्णनासापहरणाद्भगिनी मे विरूपिता। तस्यभार्यां जनस्थानात्सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम्।3.36.13।। आनयिष्यामि विक्रम्य सहायस्तत्र मे भव।

yena vairaṃ vinā'raṇye satvamāśritya kevalam karṇanāsāpaharaṇādbhaginī me virūpitā| tasyabhāryāṃ janasthānātsītāṃ surasutopamām|3.36.13|| ānayiṣyāmi vikramya sahāyastatra me bhava|

With no enmity whatsoever, merely because he has strength, he cut off the nose and ears of my sister and mutilated her. His wife Sita is like the daughter of heaven. I would like to abduct her with force from Janasthana for which you should be my accomplice.

त्वया ह्यहं सहायेन पार्श्वस्थेन महाबल।।3.36.14।। भ्रातृभिश्च सुरान्युद्धे समग्रान्नाभिचिन्तये। तत्सहायो भव त्वं मे समर्थो ह्यसि राक्षस।।3.36.15।।

tvayā hyahaṃ sahāyena pārśvasthena mahābala bhrātṛbhiśca surānyuddhe samagrānnābhicintaye| tatsahāyo bhava tvaṃ me samartho hyasi rākṣasa

You are mighty. I do not care to fight even the gods when you and my brothers are by my side. Therefore, O demon, be my accomplice. (I know) you are capable of that.

त्वया ह्यहं सहायेन पार्श्वस्थेन महाबल।।3.36.14।। भ्रातृभिश्च सुरान्युद्धे समग्रान्नाभिचिन्तये। तत्सहायो भव त्वं मे समर्थो ह्यसि राक्षस।।3.36.15।।

tvayā hyahaṃ sahāyena pārśvasthena mahābala bhrātṛbhiśca surānyuddhe samagrānnābhicintaye| tatsahāyo bhava tvaṃ me samartho hyasi rākṣasa

You are mighty. I do not care to fight even the gods when you and my brothers are by my side. Therefore, O demon, be my accomplice. (I know) you are capable of that.

वीर्ये युद्धे च दर्पे च न ह्यस्ति सदृशस्तव। उपायज्ञो महान्शूरस्सर्वमायाविशारदः।।3.36.16।।

vīrye yuddhe ca darpe ca na hyasti sadṛśastava| upāyajño mahānśūrassarvamāyāviśāradaḥ

In valour, in war and in conceit there is no one equal to you. You know all means (of success). You are great. You are brave. You are an expert in all deceitful arts.

एतदर्थमहं प्राप्तस्त्वत्समीपं निशाचर। शृणु तत्कर्म साहाय्ये यत्कार्यं वचनान्मम।।3.36.17।।

etadarthamahaṃ prāptastvatsamīpaṃ niśācara| śṛṇu tatkarma sāhāyye yatkāryaṃ vacanānmama

I have come to you for this purpose seeking your help. Listen to my words on what you should do:

सौवर्णस्त्वं मृगो भूत्वा चित्रो रजतबिन्दुभिः। आश्रमे तस्य रामस्य सीतायाः प्रमुखे चर।।3.36.18।।

sauvarṇastvaṃ mṛgo bhūtvā citro rajatabindubhiḥ| āśrame tasya rāmasya sītāyāḥ pramukhe cara

Be a wonderful golden deer dappled with silver dots and roam in front of Sita in Rama's hermitage.

त्वां तु निस्संशयं सीता दृष्ट्वा तु मृगरूपिणम्। गृह्यतामिति भर्तारं लक्ष्मणं चाभिधास्यति।।3.36.19।।

tvāṃ tu nissaṃśayaṃ sītā dṛṣṭvā tu mṛgarūpiṇam| gṛhyatāmiti bhartāraṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ cābhidhāsyati

Seeing you in the form of a deer, Sita will undoubtedly ask her husband and Lakshmana to capture you.

ततस्तयोरपाये तु शून्ये सीतां यथासुखम्। निराबाधो हरिष्यामि राहुश्चन्द्रप्रभामिव।।3.36.20।।

tatastayorapāye tu śūnye sītāṃ yathāsukham| nirābādho hariṣyāmi rāhuścandraprabhāmiva

Then during their absence it will be easy for me to abduct Sita in an isolated place without obstruction, like Rahu eclipsing the light of the moon.

ततः पश्चात्सुखं रामे भार्याहरणकर्शिते। विस्रब्धः प्रहरिष्यामि कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।3.36.21।।

tataḥ paścātsukhaṃ rāme bhāryāharaṇakarśite| visrabdhaḥ prahariṣyāmi kṛtārthenāntarātmanā

Thereafter, when Rama with his soul afflicted due to his wife's abduction. I can freely, happily, successfully strike him down.

तस्य रामकथां श्रुत्वा मारीचस्य महात्मनः। शुष्कं समभवद्वक्त्रं परितप्ता बभूव ह।।3.36.22।।

tasya rāmakathāṃ śrutvā mārīcasya mahātmanaḥ| śuṣkaṃ samabhavadvaktraṃ paritaptā babhūva ha

At the mention of Rama's name, great Maricha's mouth dried up and he became concerned.

ओष्ठौ परिलिहञ्चुष्कौ नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव। मृतभूत इवार्तस्तु रावणं समुदैक्षत।।3.36.23।।

oṣṭhau parilihañcuṣkau netrairanimiṣairiva| mṛtabhūta ivārtastu rāvaṇaṃ samudaikṣata

Licking his dried up lips, as though his eyes stopped winking like those of the dead, Maricha stared at Ravana, distressed.

स रावणं त्रस्तविषण्णचेता महावने रामपराक्रमज्ञः। कृताञ्जलिस्तत्वमुवाच वाक्यं हितं च तस्मै हितमात्मनश्च।।3.36.24।।

sa rāvaṇaṃ trastaviṣaṇṇacetā mahāvane rāmaparākramajñaḥ| kṛtāñjalistatvamuvāca vākyaṃ hitaṃ ca tasmai hitamātmanaśca

Maricha who knows of Rama's valour was frightened and depressed at heart. He revealed to Ravana with folded hands some facts for mutual benefit. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे षट् त्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtysixth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.