Aranya Kanda, Sarga 42

एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनं मारीचो रावणं ततः। गच्छावेत्यब्रवीद्दीनो भयाद्रात्रिंचरप्रभोः।।3.42.1।।

evamuktvā tu vacanaṃ mārīco rāvaṇaṃ tataḥ| gacchāvetyabravīddīno bhayādrātriṃcaraprabhoḥ

Having thus spoken to the demonking, the distressed Maricha said out of fear, Let both of us go.

दृष्टश्चाहं पुनस्तेन शरचापासिधारिणा। मद्वधोद्यतशस्त्रेऽण विनष्टं जीवितं च मे।।3.42.2।।

dṛṣṭaścāhaṃ punastena śaracāpāsidhāriṇā| madvadhodyataśastre'ṇa vinaṣṭaṃ jīvitaṃ ca me

If that warrior Rama carrying bow, arrows and sword sees me once again he will raise his weapon to kill me, and I will cease to be.

न हि रामं पराक्रम्य जीवन्प्रतिनिवर्तते। वर्तते प्रतिरूपोऽसौ यमदण्डहतस्य ते।।3.42.3।।

na hi rāmaṃ parākramya jīvanpratinivartate| vartate pratirūpo'sau yamadaṇḍahatasya te

No one who exhibits his heroism before Rama will come back alive. To you, already hit by Yama's staff, he is another form of the same Yama.

किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुमेवं त्वयि दुरात्मनि। एष गच्छाम्यहं तात स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु निशाचर।।3.42.4।।

kiṃ nu śakyaṃ mayā kartumevaṃ tvayi durātmani| eṣa gacchāmyahaṃ tāta svasti te'stu niśācara

What can I do if you remain evilminded? O dear demon, I am going. May your path be auspicious

प्रहृष्टस्त्वभवत्तेन वचनेन स रावणः। परिष्वज्य सुसंश्लिष्टमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.42.5।।

prahṛṣṭastvabhavattena vacanena sa rāvaṇaḥ| pariṣvajya susaṃśliṣṭamidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Ravana was so overwhelmed with joy to hear those words that he embraced him tightly and said:.

एतच्छौण्डीर्ययुक्तं ते मच्छन्दवशवर्तिनः। इदानीमसि मारीचः पूर्वमन्यो निशाचरः।।3.42.6।।

etacchauṇḍīryayuktaṃ te macchandavaśavartinaḥ| idānīmasi mārīcaḥ pūrvamanyo niśācaraḥ

Act according to my wish. It befits your valour. You were a different demon earlier. Now you are Maricha.

आरुह्यतामयं शीघ्रं रथो रत्नविभूषितः। मया सह तथा युक्तः पिशाचवदनैः खरैः।।3.42.7।।

āruhyatāmayaṃ śīghraṃ ratho ratnavibhūṣitaḥ| mayā saha tathā yuktaḥ piśācavadanaiḥ kharaiḥ

Ascend quickly with me this chariot encrusted with gems and yoked with donkeys with devils' faces৷৷

प्रलोभयित्वा वैदेहीं यथेष्टं गन्तुमर्हसि। तां शून्ये प्रसभं सीतामानयिष्यामि मैथिलीम्।।3.42.8।।

pralobhayitvā vaidehīṃ yatheṣṭaṃ gantumarhasi| tāṃ śūnye prasabhaṃ sītāmānayiṣyāmi maithilīm

You may go whereever you like after tempting Vaidehi. When the princess of Mithila is alone, I will bring her by force.

ततो रावणमारीचौ विमानमिव तं रथम्। आरुह्य ययतुश्शीघ्रं तस्मादाश्रममण्डलात्।।3.42.9।।

tato rāvaṇamārīcau vimānamiva taṃ ratham| āruhya yayatuśśīghraṃ tasmādāśramamaṇḍalāt

Thereafter Ravana and Maricha ascended the chariot, which was like an aerial car, and quickly departed from that cluster of hermitages.

तथैव तत्र पश्यन्तौ पत्तनानि वनानि च। गीरींश्च सरितस्सर्वा राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च।।3.42.10।।

tathaiva tatra paśyantau pattanāni vanāni ca| gīrīṃśca saritassarvā rāṣṭrāṇi nagarāṇi ca

And likewise, they went past towns, forests, mountains, streams, states and cities.

समेत्य दण्डकारण्यं राघवस्याश्रमं ततः। ददर्श सह मारीचो रावणो राक्षसाधिपः।।3.42.11।।

sametya daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ rāghavasyāśramaṃ tataḥ| dadarśa saha mārīco rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ

Ravana, king of the demons, accompanied by Maricha, then reached Dandaka forest and saw Rama's hermitage.

अवतीर्य रथात्तस्मात्ततः काञ्चनभूषणात्। हस्ते गृहीत्वा मारीचं रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।3.42.12।।

avatīrya rathāttasmāttataḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāt| haste gṛhītvā mārīcaṃ rāvaṇo vākyamabravīt

Then Ravana got off the chariot decorated with golden embellishments and, holding Maricha's hand, said:.

एतदाश्रमपदं दृश्यते कदलीवृतम्। क्रियतां तत्सखे शीघ्रं यदर्थं वयमागताः।।3.42.13।।

etadāśramapadaṃ dṛśyate kadalīvṛtam| kriyatāṃ tatsakhe śīghraṃ yadarthaṃ vayamāgatāḥ

O friend here is the site of the hermitage surrounded by banana plants. Quickly get to work on the purpose for which we have come.

स रावणवचश्श्रुत्वा मारीचो राक्षसस्तदा। मृगो भूत्वाऽश्रमद्वारि रामस्य विचचार ह।।3.42.14।।

sa rāvaṇavacaśśrutvā mārīco rākṣasastadā| mṛgo bhūtvā'śramadvāri rāmasya vicacāra ha

Hearing Ravana's words, Maricha transformed himself into a deer and started moving at the entrance of Rama's hermitage.

स तु तद्रूपमास्थाय महदद्भुतदर्शनम्। मणिप्रवरशृङ्गाग्रस्सितासितमुखाकृतिः।।3.42.15।।

sa tu tadrūpamāsthāya mahadadbhutadarśanam| maṇipravaraśṛṅgāgrassitāsitamukhākṛtiḥ

Maricha assumed the form of a wonderful and magnificent deer with his antlers studded with the most precious gems, his face dappled with luminous spots of white and black.

रक्तपद्मोत्पलमुख इन्द्रनीलोत्पलश्रवाः। किंचिदभ्युन्नतग्रीव इंद्रनीलदलाधरः।।3.42.16।।

raktapadmotpalamukha indranīlotpalaśravāḥ| kiṃcidabhyunnatagrīva iṃdranīladalādharaḥ

The deer's face was like a pink lotus, his ears were like blue lotus. His neck slightly raised, his lips were like petals of blue lotus.

कुन्देन्दुवज्रसङ्काशमुदरं चास्य भास्वरम्। मधूकनिभपार्श्वश्च पद्मकिञ्जल्कसन्निभः।।3.42.17।। वैडूर्यसङ्काशखुरस्तनुजङ्घस्सुसंहतः।

kundenduvajrasaṅkāśamudaraṃ cāsya bhāsvaram| madhūkanibhapārśvaśca padmakiñjalkasannibhaḥ vaiḍūryasaṅkāśakhurastanujaṅghassusaṃhataḥ|

His bright belly was shining like kunda flowers or the Moon or diamond. His flanks were like the golden madhuka flowers. comparable to the filaments of lotus. His hooves were like vaidurya, and his legs were slim and willshaped.

इन्द्रायुधसवर्णेन पुच्छेनोर्ध्वं विराजता।।3.42.18।। मनोहरस्स्निग्धवर्णो रत्नैर्नानाविधैर्वृतः।

indrāyudhasavarṇena pucchenordhvaṃ virājatā manoharassnigdhavarṇo ratnairnānāvidhairvṛtaḥ|

His tail stood up looking magnificent like a colourful rainbow. Bedecked with various gems, he shone beautiful.

क्षणेन राक्षसो जातो मृगः परमशोभनः।।3.42.19।। वनं प्रज्वलयन्रम्यं रामाश्रमपदं च तत्।

kṣaṇena rākṣaso jāto mṛgaḥ paramaśobhanaḥ vanaṃ prajvalayanramyaṃ rāmāśramapadaṃ ca tat|

Transformed into a most beautiful deer in a moment, Maricha brightened the beautiful forest and Rama's hermitage.

मनोहरं दर्शनीयं रूपं कृत्वा स राक्षसः।।3.42.20।। प्रलोभनार्थं वैदेह्या नानाधातुविचित्रितम्। विचरन्गच्छते तस्माच्छाद्वलानि समन्ततः।।3.42.21।।

manoharaṃ darśanīyaṃ rūpaṃ kṛtvā sa rākṣasaḥ pralobhanārthaṃ vaidehyā nānādhātuvicitritam| vicarangacchate tasmācchādvalāni samantataḥ

Transfigured into a beautiful, magnificent form painted with the colours of different minerals in order to tempt Sita, Maricha roamed all around the grassland.

मनोहरं दर्शनीयं रूपं कृत्वा स राक्षसः।।3.42.20।। प्रलोभनार्थं वैदेह्या नानाधातुविचित्रितम्। विचरन्गच्छते तस्माच्छाद्वलानि समन्ततः।।3.42.21।।

manoharaṃ darśanīyaṃ rūpaṃ kṛtvā sa rākṣasaḥ pralobhanārthaṃ vaidehyā nānādhātuvicitritam| vicarangacchate tasmācchādvalāni samantataḥ

Transfigured into a beautiful, magnificent form painted with the colours of different minerals in order to tempt Sita, Maricha roamed all around the grassland.

रूप्यैर्बिन्दुशतैश्चित्रो भूत्वा स प्रियदर्शनः। विटपीनां किसलयान्भङ्त्क्वाऽदन्विचचार ह।।3.42.22।।

rūpyairbinduśataiścitro bhūtvā sa priyadarśanaḥ| viṭapīnāṃ kisalayānbhaṅtkvā'danvicacāra ha

That deer with hundreds of silver spots on the body appeared enchanting and pleasing to the eyes while he wandered about nibbling the tender leaves of trees.

कदलीगृहकं गत्वा कर्णिकारानितस्ततः। समाश्रयन्मन्दगतिस्सीतासन्दर्शनं तथा।।3.42.23।।

kadalīgṛhakaṃ gatvā karṇikārānitastataḥ| samāśrayanmandagatissītāsandarśanaṃ tathā

The deer went wandering about the banana groves surrounding Rama's hermitage and moved slowly towards the karnikara trees in order to catch the attention of Sita.

राजीवचित्रपृष्ठस्स विरराज महामृगः। रामाश्रमपदाभ्याशे विचचार यथासुखम्।।3.42.24।।

rājīvacitrapṛṣṭhassa virarāja mahāmṛgaḥ| rāmāśramapadābhyāśe vicacāra yathāsukham

That magnificent deer glittered with the colour of blue lotus on its back, wandered merrily in the vicinity of Rama's hermitage.

पुनर्गत्वा निवृत्तश्च विचचार मृगोत्तमः। गत्वा मुहूर्तं त्वरया पुनः प्रतिनिवर्तते।।3.42.25।।

punargatvā nivṛttaśca vicacāra mṛgottamaḥ| gatvā muhūrtaṃ tvarayā punaḥ pratinivartate

The wonderful deer moved to and fro, now disappearing and now swiftly returning.

विक्रीडंश्च क्वचिद्भूमौ पुनरेव निषीदति। आश्रमद्वारमागम्य मृगयूथानि गच्छति।।3.42.26।।

vikrīḍaṃśca kvacidbhūmau punareva niṣīdati| āśramadvāramāgamya mṛgayūthāni gacchati

The deer is now sporting, now sitting on the ground, now standing at the entrance of the hermitage and now running with the herds of deer.

मृगयूथैरनुगतः पुनरेव निवर्तते। सीतादर्शनमाकांक्षन्राक्षसो मृगतां गतः।।3.42.27।। परिभ्रमति चित्राणि मण्डलानि विनिष्पतन्।

mṛgayūthairanugataḥ punareva nivartate| sītādarśanamākāṃkṣanrākṣaso mṛgatāṃ gataḥ paribhramati citrāṇi maṇḍalāni viniṣpatan|

Followed by herds of deer and coming back to see Sita again and again, the deer cavorted and pranced and frisked in circles in a wonderful way.

समुद्वीक्ष्य च ते सर्वे मृगा ह्यन्ये वनेचराः।।3.42.28।। उपागम्य समाघ्राय विद्रवन्ति दिशो दश।

samudvīkṣya ca te sarve mṛgā hyanye vanecarāḥ upāgamya samāghrāya vidravanti diśo daśa|

Seeing the deer, other animals wandering in the forest come near and sniffing him run away in all ten directions.

राक्षसस्सोऽपि तान्वन्यान्मृगान्मृगवधे रतः।।3.42.29।। प्रच्छादनार्थं भावस्य न भक्षयति संस्पृशन्।

rākṣasasso'pi tānvanyānmṛgānmṛgavadhe rataḥ pracchādanārthaṃ bhāvasya na bhakṣayati saṃspṛśan|

The demon who was interested in killing wild deer touched and felt them but did not kill or feed on them in order to hide his intention.

तस्मिन्नेव ततः काले वैदेही शुभलोचना।।3.42.30।। कुसुमावचयव्यग्रा पादपानभ्यवर्तत।

tasminneva tataḥ kāle vaidehī śubhalocanā kusumāvacayavyagrā pādapānabhyavartata|

In the mean time Sita who, with her auspicious looks, was busy plucking flowers drew near the trees.

कर्णिकारानशोकांश्च चूतांश्च मदिरेक्षणा।।3.42.31।। कुसुमान्यवचिन्वन्ती चचार रुचिरानना।

karṇikārānaśokāṃśca cūtāṃśca madirekṣaṇā kusumānyavacinvantī cacāra rucirānanā|

With her bewitching eyes and beautiful face, Sita, went about plucking flowers from karnikara, ashoka and mango trees.

अनर्हाऽरण्यवासस्य सा तं रत्नमयं मृगम्।।3.42.32।। मुक्तामणि विचित्राङ्गं ददर्श परमाङ्गना।

anarhā'raṇyavāsasya sā taṃ ratnamayaṃ mṛgam muktāmaṇi vicitrāṅgaṃ dadarśa paramāṅganā|

The great lady Sita, unworthy of dwelling in the forest, saw the wonderful deer decked with gems, with spots of pearls all over the body.

सा तं रुचिरदन्तोष्ठी रूप्यधातुतनूरुहम्।।3.42.33।। विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयना सस्नेहं समुदैक्षत।

sā taṃ ruciradantoṣṭhī rūpyadhātutanūruham vismayotphullanayanā sasnehaṃ samudaikṣata|

A lady with beautiful teeth and lips, Sita saw the deer having silver and mineral coloured hair on the body. She gazed at the animal with wonder and joy and love.

स च तां रामदयितां पश्यन्मायामयो मृगः।।3.42.34।। विचचार पुनश्चित्रं दीपयन्निव तद्वनम्।

sa ca tāṃ rāmadayitāṃ paśyanmāyāmayo mṛgaḥ vicacāra punaścitraṃ dīpayanniva tadvanam|

That illusory deer saw Rama's wife and moved around wonderfully as if illuminating the forest with his radiance.

अदृष्टपूर्वं तं दृष्ट्वा नानारत्नमयं मृगम्।।3.42.35।। विस्मयं परमं सीता जगाम जनकात्मजा।

adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā nānāratnamayaṃ mṛgam vismayaṃ paramaṃ sītā jagāma janakātmajā|

Seeing such an unprecedented deer decorated with different gems, Sita, daughter of Janaka, stood amazed. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.