Aranya Kanda, Sarga 44

तथा तु तं समादिश्य भ्रातरं रघुनन्दनः। बबन्धासिं महातेजा जाम्बूनदमयत्सरुम्।।3.44.1।।

tathā tu taṃ samādiśya bhrātaraṃ raghunandanaḥ| babandhāsiṃ mahātejā jāmbūnadamayatsarum

The brilliant Rama, delight of the Raghu dynasty, thus instructed his brother and fastened a sword with a golden handle to his waist.

तत स्त्र्यवनतं चापमादायाऽत्मविभूषणम्। आबध्य च कलापौ द्वौ जगामोदग्रविक्रमः।।3.44.2।।

tata stryavanataṃ cāpamādāyā'tmavibhūṣaṇam| ābadhya ca kalāpau dvau jagāmodagravikramaḥ

A man of indomitable prowess, he took the bow with three curves that was like an ornament to him, tied two quivers at the back and left.

तं वञ्चयानो राजेन्द्रमापतन्तं निरीक्ष्यवै। बभूवान्तर्हितस्त्रासात्पुनस्सन्दर्शनेऽभवत्।।च3.44.3।। बद्धासिर्धनुरादाय प्रदुद्राव यतो मृगः।

taṃ vañcayāno rājendramāpatantaṃ nirīkṣyavai| babhūvāntarhitastrāsātpunassandarśane'bhavat||ca3.44.3|| baddhāsirdhanurādāya pradudrāva yato mṛgaḥ|

On seeing Rama approaching him, the deer disappeared due to fear and again came within sight. With his sword and the bow, Rama chased wherever the deer ran.

तं स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतमानमिवाग्रतः।।3.44.4।। अवेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य धावन्तं धनुष्पाणिर्महावने। अतिवृत्तमिषोः पाताल्लोभयानं कदाचन।।3.44.5।। शङ्कितन्तु समुद्भ्रान्तमुत्पतन्तमिवाम्बरे। दृश्यमानमदृश्यं च वनोद्देशेषु केषुचित्।।3.44.6।। छिन्नाभ्रैरिव संवीतं शारदं चन्द्रमण्डलम्।

taṃ sma paśyati rūpeṇa dyotamānamivāgrataḥ avekṣyāvekṣya dhāvantaṃ dhanuṣpāṇirmahāvane| ativṛttamiṣoḥ pātāllobhayānaṃ kadācana śaṅkitantu samudbhrāntamutpatantamivāmbare| dṛśyamānamadṛśyaṃ ca vanoddeśeṣu keṣucit chinnābhrairiva saṃvītaṃ śāradaṃ candramaṇḍalam|

Rama, wielder of the bow, saw that splendid animal ahead of him. Holding the bow he saw the deer running away, bewldered into the great forest looking at him again and again. The deer was getting out of the range of his arrow, while it enticed him now and then. Suspecting that he might be caught, the deer was, as though jumping into the sky. Now it came within sight and now out of sight in the huge forest. It looked like the autumnal moon surrounded by clouds. (The clouds muffle the Moon and reveal him now and then).

तं स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतमानमिवाग्रतः।।3.44.4।। अवेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य धावन्तं धनुष्पाणिर्महावने। अतिवृत्तमिषोः पाताल्लोभयानं कदाचन।।3.44.5।। शङ्कितन्तु समुद्भ्रान्तमुत्पतन्तमिवाम्बरे। दृश्यमानमदृश्यं च वनोद्देशेषु केषुचित्।।3.44.6।। छिन्नाभ्रैरिव संवीतं शारदं चन्द्रमण्डलम्।

taṃ sma paśyati rūpeṇa dyotamānamivāgrataḥ avekṣyāvekṣya dhāvantaṃ dhanuṣpāṇirmahāvane| ativṛttamiṣoḥ pātāllobhayānaṃ kadācana śaṅkitantu samudbhrāntamutpatantamivāmbare| dṛśyamānamadṛśyaṃ ca vanoddeśeṣu keṣucit chinnābhrairiva saṃvītaṃ śāradaṃ candramaṇḍalam|

Rama, wielder of the bow, saw that splendid animal ahead of him. Holding the bow he saw the deer running away, bewldered into the great forest looking at him again and again. The deer was getting out of the range of his arrow, while it enticed him now and then. Suspecting that he might be caught, the deer was, as though jumping into the sky. Now it came within sight and now out of sight in the huge forest. It looked like the autumnal moon surrounded by clouds. (The clouds muffle the Moon and reveal him now and then).

तं स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतमानमिवाग्रतः।।3.44.4।। अवेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य धावन्तं धनुष्पाणिर्महावने। अतिवृत्तमिषोः पाताल्लोभयानं कदाचन।।3.44.5।। शङ्कितन्तु समुद्भ्रान्तमुत्पतन्तमिवाम्बरे। दृश्यमानमदृश्यं च वनोद्देशेषु केषुचित्।।3.44.6।। छिन्नाभ्रैरिव संवीतं शारदं चन्द्रमण्डलम्।

taṃ sma paśyati rūpeṇa dyotamānamivāgrataḥ avekṣyāvekṣya dhāvantaṃ dhanuṣpāṇirmahāvane| ativṛttamiṣoḥ pātāllobhayānaṃ kadācana śaṅkitantu samudbhrāntamutpatantamivāmbare| dṛśyamānamadṛśyaṃ ca vanoddeśeṣu keṣucit chinnābhrairiva saṃvītaṃ śāradaṃ candramaṇḍalam|

Rama, wielder of the bow, saw that splendid animal ahead of him. Holding the bow he saw the deer running away, bewldered into the great forest looking at him again and again. The deer was getting out of the range of his arrow, while it enticed him now and then. Suspecting that he might be caught, the deer was, as though jumping into the sky. Now it came within sight and now out of sight in the huge forest. It looked like the autumnal moon surrounded by clouds. (The clouds muffle the Moon and reveal him now and then).

मुहुर्तादेव ददृशे मुहुर्दूरात्प्रकाशते।।3.44.7।। दर्शनादर्शनादेवं सोऽपाकर्षत राघवम्। सुदूरमाश्रमस्यास्य मारीचो मृगतां गतः।।3.44.8।।

muhurtādeva dadṛśe muhurdūrātprakāśate darśanādarśanādevaṃ so'pākarṣata rāghavam| sudūramāśramasyāsya mārīco mṛgatāṃ gataḥ

Maricha, transformed into a deer, was seen now near, now faroff. He pulled Rama away from the hermitage through his exits and entrances.

मुहुर्तादेव ददृशे मुहुर्दूरात्प्रकाशते।।3.44.7।। दर्शनादर्शनादेवं सोऽपाकर्षत राघवम्। सुदूरमाश्रमस्यास्य मारीचो मृगतां गतः।।3.44.8।।

muhurtādeva dadṛśe muhurdūrātprakāśate darśanādarśanādevaṃ so'pākarṣata rāghavam| sudūramāśramasyāsya mārīco mṛgatāṃ gataḥ

Maricha, transformed into a deer, was seen now near, now faroff. He pulled Rama away from the hermitage through his exits and entrances.

आसीत् क्रुद्धस्तु काकुत्स्थो विवशस्तेन मोहितः। अथावतस्थे संभ्रान्तश्चायामाश्रित्य शाद्वले।।3.44.9।।

āsīt kruddhastu kākutstho vivaśastena mohitaḥ| athāvatasthe saṃbhrāntaścāyāmāśritya śādvale

Deluded by that deer, Rama got tired, perplexed and angry. Then bewidered, he waited on a grassland under a shade.

स तमुन्मादयामास मृगरूपो निशाचरः। मृगैः परिवृतो वन्यैरदूरात्प्रत्यदृश्यत।।3.44.10।।

sa tamunmādayāmāsa mṛgarūpo niśācaraḥ| mṛgaiḥ parivṛto vanyairadūrātpratyadṛśyata

That demon transformed himself into a deer and, surrounded by the animals of the forest at close range, attracted his attention.

गृहीतुकामं दृष्ट्वैवं पुनरेवाभ्यधावत। तत्क्षणादेव संत्रासात्पुनरन्तर्हितोऽभवत्।।3.44.11।।

gṛhītukāmaṃ dṛṣṭvaivaṃ punarevābhyadhāvata| tatkṣaṇādeva saṃtrāsātpunarantarhito'bhavat

Seeing Rama's intention to catch him, the deer ran away once again out of fear and disappeared in a moment.

पुनरेव ततो दूराद्वृक्षषण्डाद्विनिस्सृतम्। दृष्ट्वा रामो महातेजास्तं हन्तुं कृतनिश्चयः।।3.44.12।।

punareva tato dūrādvṛkṣaṣaṇḍādvinissṛtam| dṛṣṭvā rāmo mahātejāstaṃ hantuṃ kṛtaniścayaḥ

Resplendent Rama saw the deer coming out of a cluster of trees at a distance and determined to kill him.

भूयस्तु शरमुद्धृत्य कुपितस्तत्र राघवः। सूर्यरश्मिप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमरिमर्दनः।।3.44.13।। सन्धाय सुदृढे चापे विकृष्य बलवद्बली। तमेव मृगमुद्दिश्य श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्।।3.44.14।। मुमोच ज्वलितं दीप्तमस्त्रं ब्रह्मविनिर्मितम्।

bhūyastu śaramuddhṛtya kupitastatra rāghavaḥ| sūryaraśmipratīkāśaṃ jvalantamarimardanaḥ sandhāya sudṛḍhe cāpe vikṛṣya balavadbalī| tameva mṛgamuddiśya śvasantamiva pannagam mumoca jvalitaṃ dīptamastraṃ brahmavinirmitam|

Powerful Rama, destroyer of foes, lifted in a rage his arrow blazing like the light of the Sun, strung it to his sturdy bow and drew it with all his force. He then aimed at the deer and released the shining arrow created by Brahma which went hissing like a serpent.

भूयस्तु शरमुद्धृत्य कुपितस्तत्र राघवः। सूर्यरश्मिप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमरिमर्दनः।।3.44.13।। सन्धाय सुदृढे चापे विकृष्य बलवद्बली। तमेव मृगमुद्दिश्य श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्।।3.44.14।। मुमोच ज्वलितं दीप्तमस्त्रं ब्रह्मविनिर्मितम्।

bhūyastu śaramuddhṛtya kupitastatra rāghavaḥ| sūryaraśmipratīkāśaṃ jvalantamarimardanaḥ sandhāya sudṛḍhe cāpe vikṛṣya balavadbalī| tameva mṛgamuddiśya śvasantamiva pannagam mumoca jvalitaṃ dīptamastraṃ brahmavinirmitam|

Powerful Rama, destroyer of foes, lifted in a rage his arrow blazing like the light of the Sun, strung it to his sturdy bow and drew it with all his force. He then aimed at the deer and released the shining arrow created by Brahma which went hissing like a serpent.

शरीरं मृगरूपस्य विनिर्भिद्य शरोत्तमः।।3.44.15।। मारीचस्यैव हृदयं बिभेदाशनिसन्निभः।

śarīraṃ mṛgarūpasya vinirbhidya śarottamaḥ mārīcasyaiva hṛdayaṃ bibhedāśanisannibhaḥ|

The great arrow which was like a thunderbolt first pierced into the body of Maricha who had assumed the form of a deer and then tore his heart.

तालमात्रमथोत्प्लुत्य न्यपतत्सशरातुरः।।3.44.16।। विनदन्भैरवं नादं धरण्यामल्पजीवितः।

tālamātramathotplutya nyapatatsaśarāturaḥ vinadanbhairavaṃ nādaṃ dharaṇyāmalpajīvitaḥ|

And, hurt by the dart, Maricha roared frighteningly, leaped as high as a palm tree and dropped down on earth almost dead.

म्रियमाणस्तु मारीचो जहौ तां कृत्रिमां तनुम्।।3.44.17।। स्मृत्वा तद्वचनं रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम्। इह प्रस्थापयेत्सीता शून्ये तां रावणो हरेत्।।3.44.18।।

mriyamāṇastu mārīco jahau tāṃ kṛtrimāṃ tanum smṛtvā tadvacanaṃ rakṣo dadhyau kena tu lakṣmaṇam| iha prasthāpayetsītā śūnye tāṃ rāvaṇo haret

Maricha gave up his false form of the deer and before breathing his last, remembered the words of Ravana. He thought over the means through which Sita could send Lakshmana to this spot so that Ravana would abduct her when she is alone.

म्रियमाणस्तु मारीचो जहौ तां कृत्रिमां तनुम्।।3.44.17।। स्मृत्वा तद्वचनं रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम्। इह प्रस्थापयेत्सीता शून्ये तां रावणो हरेत्।।3.44.18।।

mriyamāṇastu mārīco jahau tāṃ kṛtrimāṃ tanum smṛtvā tadvacanaṃ rakṣo dadhyau kena tu lakṣmaṇam| iha prasthāpayetsītā śūnye tāṃ rāvaṇo haret

Maricha gave up his false form of the deer and before breathing his last, remembered the words of Ravana. He thought over the means through which Sita could send Lakshmana to this spot so that Ravana would abduct her when she is alone.

स प्राप्तकालमाज्ञाय चकार च तत स्वनम्। सदृशं राघवस्येह हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च।।3.44.19।।

sa prāptakālamājñāya cakāra ca tata svanam| sadṛśaṃ rāghavasyeha hā sīte lakṣmaṇeti ca

Then Maricha realised that the appropriate time had come. In a voice similar to Rama's, he shouted loudly 'Alas Sita, Alas Lakshmana '

तेन मर्मणि निर्विद्धं शरेणानुपमेन हि। मृगरूपं तु तत्त्यक्त्वा राक्षसं रूपमास्थितः।।3.44.20।। चक्रे स सुमहाकायं मारीचो जीवितं त्यजन्।

tena marmaṇi nirviddhaṃ śareṇānupamena hi| mṛgarūpaṃ tu tattyaktvā rākṣasaṃ rūpamāsthitaḥ cakre sa sumahākāyaṃ mārīco jīvitaṃ tyajan|

Struck in the vital part by Rama's matchless dart, Maricha gave up the form of the deer and assumed his huge body of the demon.

तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ राक्षसं घोरदर्शनम्।।3.44.21।। रामो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गं चेष्टमानं महीतले। जगाम मनसा सीतां लक्ष्मणस्य वचस्स्मरन्।।3.44.22।।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ bhūmau rākṣasaṃ ghoradarśanam rāmo rudhirasiktāṅgaṃ ceṣṭamānaṃ mahītale| jagāma manasā sītāṃ lakṣmaṇasya vacassmaran

Seeing that terrific demon fallen on the ground, drenched in blood, and strring his limbs, Rama thought of Lakshmana's words and reached Sita mentally (thought of her).

तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ राक्षसं घोरदर्शनम्।।3.44.21।। रामो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गं चेष्टमानं महीतले। जगाम मनसा सीतां लक्ष्मणस्य वचस्स्मरन्।।3.44.22।।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ bhūmau rākṣasaṃ ghoradarśanam rāmo rudhirasiktāṅgaṃ ceṣṭamānaṃ mahītale| jagāma manasā sītāṃ lakṣmaṇasya vacassmaran

Seeing that terrific demon fallen on the ground, drenched in blood, and strring his limbs, Rama thought of Lakshmana's words and reached Sita mentally (thought of her).

मारीचस्य तु मायैषा पूर्वोक्तं लक्ष्मणेन तु। तत्तथा ह्यभवच्चाद्य मारीचोऽयं मया हतः।।3.44.23।।

mārīcasya tu māyaiṣā pūrvoktaṃ lakṣmaṇena tu| tattathā hyabhavaccādya mārīco'yaṃ mayā hataḥ

This is an illusion created by Maricha. It happened exactly the way Lakshmana had said earlier. Maricha is now killed.

हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवमाक्रुश्य च महास्वरम्। ममार राक्षसस्सोऽयं श्रुत्वा सीता कथं भवेत्।।3.44.24।। लक्ष्मणश्च महाबाहुः कामवस्थां गमिष्यति। इति सञ्चिन्त्य धर्मात्मा रामो हृष्टतनूरुहः।।3.44.25।।

hā sīte lakṣmaṇetyevamākruśya ca mahāsvaram| mamāra rākṣasasso'yaṃ śrutvā sītā kathaṃ bhavet lakṣmaṇaśca mahābāhuḥ kāmavasthāṃ gamiṣyati| iti sañcintya dharmātmā rāmo hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ

This demon Maricha screamed aloud saying, 'Alas, Sita, Alas, Lakshmana'. He is now dead. How would Sita react to this voice? What would be the condition of Lakshmana? While righteous Rama reflected on this, his hair stood on end.

हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवमाक्रुश्य च महास्वरम्। ममार राक्षसस्सोऽयं श्रुत्वा सीता कथं भवेत्।।3.44.24।। लक्ष्मणश्च महाबाहुः कामवस्थां गमिष्यति। इति सञ्चिन्त्य धर्मात्मा रामो हृष्टतनूरुहः।।3.44.25।।

hā sīte lakṣmaṇetyevamākruśya ca mahāsvaram| mamāra rākṣasasso'yaṃ śrutvā sītā kathaṃ bhavet lakṣmaṇaśca mahābāhuḥ kāmavasthāṃ gamiṣyati| iti sañcintya dharmātmā rāmo hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ

This demon Maricha screamed aloud saying, 'Alas, Sita, Alas, Lakshmana'. He is now dead. How would Sita react to this voice? What would be the condition of Lakshmana? While righteous Rama reflected on this, his hair stood on end.

तत्र रामं भयं तीव्रमाविवेश विषादजम्। राक्षसं मृगरूपं तं हत्वा श्रुत्वा च तत्स्वरम्।।3.44.26।।

tatra rāmaṃ bhayaṃ tīvramāviveśa viṣādajam| rākṣasaṃ mṛgarūpaṃ taṃ hatvā śrutvā ca tatsvaram

After killing the demon in the figure of a deer and hearing his voice, Rama was overtaken by intense fear born of despair.

निहत्य पृषतं चान्यं मांसमादाय राघवः। त्वरमाणो जनस्थानं ससाराभिमुखस्तदा।।3.44.27।।

nihatya pṛṣataṃ cānyaṃ māṃsamādāya rāghavaḥ| tvaramāṇo janasthānaṃ sasārābhimukhastadā

Then Rama killed another deer, collected the venison and hastened to Janasthana. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे चतुश्चत्वारिंशस्सर्गः। Thus ends the fortyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.