Aranya Kanda, Sarga 37

तच्छृत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो मारीचो राक्षसेश्वरम्।।3.37.1।।

tacchṛtvā rākṣasendrasya vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ| pratyuvāca mahāprājño mārīco rākṣaseśvaram

Having heard the words of Ravana, lord of the demons, wise Maricha who was also an eloquent speaker replied:

सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन्सततं प्रियवादिनः। अप्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः।।3.37.2।।

sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājansatataṃ priyavādinaḥ| apriyasya tu pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ

O king, it is always easy to find men who speak pleasing words, but it is difficult to get a speaker and a listener who use words unpleasant (to the ears) but beneficial (in life).

न नूनं बुध्यसे रामं महावीर्यं गुणोन्नतम्। अयुक्तचारश्चपलो महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्।।3.37.3।।

na nūnaṃ budhyase rāmaṃ mahāvīryaṃ guṇonnatam| ayuktacāraścapalo mahendravaruṇopamam

You are fickleminded. You have employed no spy ( who could have told you the truth about Rama's character). Rama is very brave and virtuous comparable to Indra and Varuna. Surely you are not able to know what Rama is.

अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्तात सर्वेषां भुवि रक्षसाम्। अपि रामो नासङ्क्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकमराक्षसम्।।3.37.4।।

api svasti bhavettāta sarveṣāṃ bhuvi rakṣasām| api rāmo nāsaṅkruddhaḥ kuryāllokamarākṣasam

O dear may there be good to all the demons in the world. If Rama gets enraged, he will make this world demonless.

अपि ते जीवितान्ताय नोत्पन्ना जनकात्मजा। अपि सीतानिमित्तं च न भवेद्व्यसनं मम।।3.37.5।।

api te jīvitāntāya notpannā janakātmajā| api sītānimittaṃ ca na bhavedvyasanaṃ mama

Hope the daughter of Janaka is not born to put an end to your life. Hope I will not face any disaster on account of Sita.

अपि त्वामीश्वरं प्राप्य कामवृत्तं निरङ्कुशम्। न विनश्येत्पुरी लङ्का त्वया सह सराक्षसा।।3.37.6।।

api tvāmīśvaraṃ prāpya kāmavṛttaṃ niraṅkuśam| na vinaśyetpurī laṅkā tvayā saha sarākṣasā

I hope the city of Lanka along with the (entire) race of demons will not be destroyed, with a dictator like you who is a slave to sensual pleasure.

त्वद्विधः कामवृत्तो हि दुश्शीलः पापमन्त्रितः। आत्मानं स्वजनं राष्ट्रं स राजा हन्ति दुर्मतिः।।3.37.7।।

tvadvidhaḥ kāmavṛtto hi duśśīlaḥ pāpamantritaḥ| ātmānaṃ svajanaṃ rāṣṭraṃ sa rājā hanti durmatiḥ

A king who is a slave to passion, who is of bad conduct, of wicked thoughts, advised in evil ways destroys himself, his kith and kin and the entire kingdom.

न च पित्रा परित्यक्तो नामर्यादः कथञ्चन। न लुब्धो न च दुश्शीलो न च क्षत्रियपांसनः।।3.37.8।। न च धर्मगुणैर्हीनः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। न तीक्ष्णो न च भूतानां सर्वेषामहिते रतः।।3.37.9।।

na ca pitrā parityakto nāmaryādaḥ kathañcana| na lubdho na ca duśśīlo na ca kṣatriyapāṃsanaḥ na ca dharmaguṇairhīnaḥ kausalyānandavardhanaḥ| na tīkṣṇo na ca bhūtānāṃ sarveṣāmahite rataḥ

Rama, the delight of Kausalya, has not forsaken by his father. He has never crossed the limits of dharma. He is not miserly. He has no bad conduct. He is not a slur on the kshatriyas. He does not lack in righteousness. He is not cruel nor is he engaged in doing harm to others.

न च पित्रा परित्यक्तो नामर्यादः कथञ्चन। न लुब्धो न च दुश्शीलो न च क्षत्रियपांसनः।।3.37.8।। न च धर्मगुणैर्हीनः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। न तीक्ष्णो न च भूतानां सर्वेषामहिते रतः।।3.37.9।।

na ca pitrā parityakto nāmaryādaḥ kathañcana| na lubdho na ca duśśīlo na ca kṣatriyapāṃsanaḥ na ca dharmaguṇairhīnaḥ kausalyānandavardhanaḥ| na tīkṣṇo na ca bhūtānāṃ sarveṣāmahite rataḥ

Rama, the delight of Kausalya, has not forsaken by his father. He has never crossed the limits of dharma. He is not miserly. He has no bad conduct. He is not a slur on the kshatriyas. He does not lack in righteousness. He is not cruel nor is he engaged in doing harm to others.

वञ्चितं पितरं दृष्ट्वा कैकेय्या सत्यवादिनम्। करिष्यामीति धर्मात्मा तात प्रव्रजितो वनम्।।3.37.10।।

vañcitaṃ pitaraṃ dṛṣṭvā kaikeyyā satyavādinam| kariṣyāmīti dharmātmā tāta pravrajito vanam

O dear, seeing that his truthful father was going to be deceived by Kaikeyi, righteous Rama himself offered to fulfil the promise of his father and came away to the forest.

कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं पितुर्दशरथस्य च। हित्वा राज्यं च भोगांश्च प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्।।3.37.11।।

kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ piturdaśarathasya ca| hitvā rājyaṃ ca bhogāṃśca praviṣṭo daṇḍakāvanam

To satisfy the desire of Kaikeyi and to fulfil his father's word he came to Dandaka forest, leaving the kingdom and all royal pleasures, behind.

न रामः कर्कशस्तात नाविद्वान्नाजितेन्द्रियः। अनृतं दुश्श्रुतं चैव नैव त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि।।3.37.12।।

na rāmaḥ karkaśastāta nāvidvānnājitendriyaḥ| anṛtaṃ duśśrutaṃ caiva naiva tvaṃ vaktumarhasi

O my dear, Rama is not harsh nor ignorant. It is not that he has no control over the senses. It is not proper for you to say what is false. You are illinformed.

रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मस्साधुस्सत्यपराक्रमः। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानां मघवानिव।।3.37.13।।

rāmo vigrahavān dharmassādhussatyaparākramaḥ| rājā sarvasya lokasya devānāṃ maghavāniva

Rama is dharma incarnate. He is pious. His strength is truth. He is king of all the worlds like Indra to the gods.

कथं त्वं तस्य वैदेहीं रक्षितां स्वेन तेजसा। इच्छसि प्रसभं हर्तुं प्रभामिव विवस्वतः।।3.37.14।।

kathaṃ tvaṃ tasya vaidehīṃ rakṣitāṃ svena tejasā| icchasi prasabhaṃ hartuṃ prabhāmiva vivasvataḥ

Sita is protected by the strength of her character. How do you desire to carry her away forcibly (from Rama) ? Can any one separate the radiance of the Sun from the Sun itself ?

शरार्चिषमाधृष्यं चापखङ्गेन्धनं रणे। रामाग्निं सहसा दीप्तं न प्रवेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि।।3.37.15।।

śarārciṣamādhṛṣyaṃ cāpakhaṅgendhanaṃ raṇe| rāmāgniṃ sahasā dīptaṃ na praveṣṭuṃ tvamarhasi

You should not enter into the unquenchable fire that is Rama, the fire that has the arrows (of Rama) as its flames and his sword and bow as fuel.

धनुर्व्यादितदीप्तास्यं शरार्चिषममर्षणम्। चापबाणधरं तीक्ष्णं शत्रुसैन्यप्रहारिणम्।।3.37.16।। राज्यं सुखं च सन्त्यज्य जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः। नात्यासादयितुं तात रामान्तकमिहार्हसि।।3.37.17।।

dhanurvyāditadīptāsyaṃ śarārciṣamamarṣaṇam| cāpabāṇadharaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ śatrusainyaprahāriṇam rājyaṃ sukhaṃ ca santyajya jīvitaṃ ceṣṭamātmanaḥ| nātyāsādayituṃ tāta rāmāntakamihārhasi

You should not give up happiness,your dear life and kingdom and come to Rama who is a variable god of death. His bow is like on open burning mouth, and his flaming arrows are like fire. He is all anger. He is wielder of bow and arrows. He can strike the enemy army (alone).

धनुर्व्यादितदीप्तास्यं शरार्चिषममर्षणम्। चापबाणधरं तीक्ष्णं शत्रुसैन्यप्रहारिणम्।।3.37.16।। राज्यं सुखं च सन्त्यज्य जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः। नात्यासादयितुं तात रामान्तकमिहार्हसि।।3.37.17।।

dhanurvyāditadīptāsyaṃ śarārciṣamamarṣaṇam| cāpabāṇadharaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ śatrusainyaprahāriṇam rājyaṃ sukhaṃ ca santyajya jīvitaṃ ceṣṭamātmanaḥ| nātyāsādayituṃ tāta rāmāntakamihārhasi

You should not give up happiness,your dear life and kingdom and come to Rama who is a variable god of death. His bow is like on open burning mouth, and his flaming arrows are like fire. He is all anger. He is wielder of bow and arrows. He can strike the enemy army (alone).

अप्रमेयं हि तत्तेजो यस्य सा जनकात्मजा। न त्वं समर्थस्तां हर्तुं रामचापाश्रयं वने।।3.37.18।।

aprameyaṃ hi tattejo yasya sā janakātmajā| na tvaṃ samarthastāṃ hartuṃ rāmacāpāśrayaṃ vane

Immeasurable indeed is the power of Rama to whom Sita, daughter of Janaka belongs. You are not competent to kidnap her, for she is under the refuge of Rama's bow in the forest.

तस्य सा नरसिंहस्य सिंहोरस्कस्य भामिनी। प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियतरा भार्या नित्यमनुव्रता।।3.37.19।।

tasya sā narasiṃhasya siṃhoraskasya bhāminī| prāṇebhyo'pi priyatarā bhāryā nityamanuvratā

Beautiful Sita happens to be the wife of Rama who is like a lion among men. Rama has a broad chest like that of a lion. He loves Sita who is ever loyal to him, more than his life.

न सा धर्षयितुं शक्या मैथिल्योजस्विनः प्रिया। दीप्तस्येव हुताशस्य शिखा सीता सुमध्यमा।।3.37.20।।

na sā dharṣayituṃ śakyā maithilyojasvinaḥ priyā| dīptasyeva hutāśasya śikhā sītā sumadhyamā

Sita is the darling of mighty Rama. With her slender waist, she is like the leaping flames of blazing fire and it is not possible for you to touch her.

किमुद्यममिमं व्यर्थं कृत्वा ते राक्षसाधिप। दृष्टश्चेत्वं रणे तेन तदन्तं तव जीवितम्।।3.37.21।।

kimudyamamimaṃ vyarthaṃ kṛtvā te rākṣasādhipa| dṛṣṭaścetvaṃ raṇe tena tadantaṃ tava jīvitam

O chief of the demons, why do you make this futile attempt ? The moment you are seen by Rama in war will be the last of your life.

जीवितं च सुखं चैव राज्यं चैव सुदुर्लभम्। यदीच्छसि चिरं भोक्तुं मा कृथा रामविप्रियम्।।3.37.22।।

jīvitaṃ ca sukhaṃ caiva rājyaṃ caiva sudurlabham| yadīcchasi ciraṃ bhoktuṃ mā kṛthā rāmavipriyam

If you want to enjoy your life, happiness and even the kingdom which is not easily attainable for long, do not incur the displeasure of Rama.

स सर्वैस्सचिवैस्सार्धं विभीषणपुरोगमैः। मन्त्रयित्वा तु धर्मिष्ठैः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः।।3.37.23।। दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्। आत्मनश्च बलं ज्ञात्वा राघवस्य च तत्वतः।।3.37.24।। हिताहितं विनिश्चित्य क्षमं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि।

sa sarvaissacivaissārdhaṃ vibhīṣaṇapurogamaiḥ| mantrayitvā tu dharmiṣṭhaiḥ kṛtvā niścayamātmanaḥ doṣāṇāṃ ca guṇānāṃ ca sampradhārya balābalam| ātmanaśca balaṃ jñātvā rāghavasya ca tatvataḥ hitāhitaṃ viniścitya kṣamaṃ tvaṃ kartumarhasi|

After consulting all your ministers and the righteous persons led by Vibhisana, you may take a decision. Assess the real strength and weakness, merits and demerits of your own and of Rama. Decide what is good or bad for you and then take steps you deem proper.

स सर्वैस्सचिवैस्सार्धं विभीषणपुरोगमैः। मन्त्रयित्वा तु धर्मिष्ठैः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः।।3.37.23।। दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्। आत्मनश्च बलं ज्ञात्वा राघवस्य च तत्वतः।।3.37.24।। हिताहितं विनिश्चित्य क्षमं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि।

sa sarvaissacivaissārdhaṃ vibhīṣaṇapurogamaiḥ| mantrayitvā tu dharmiṣṭhaiḥ kṛtvā niścayamātmanaḥ doṣāṇāṃ ca guṇānāṃ ca sampradhārya balābalam| ātmanaśca balaṃ jñātvā rāghavasya ca tatvataḥ hitāhitaṃ viniścitya kṣamaṃ tvaṃ kartumarhasi|

After consulting all your ministers and the righteous persons led by Vibhisana, you may take a decision. Assess the real strength and weakness, merits and demerits of your own and of Rama. Decide what is good or bad for you and then take steps you deem proper.

अहं तु मन्ये तव न क्षमं रणे समागमं कोसलराजसूनुना। इदं हि भूयश्श़ृणु वाक्यमुत्तमं क्षमं च युक्तं च निशाचरेश्वर।।3.37.25।।

ahaṃ tu manye tava na kṣamaṃ raṇe samāgamaṃ kosalarājasūnunā| idaṃ hi bhūyaśśa़ṛṇu vākyamuttamaṃ kṣamaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca niśācareśvara

O Ravana I think it is not good on your part to confront the prince of Kosala in a war. Listen to my words and consider what is good for you. इत्यार्षे श्री मद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तत्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtyseventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.