Aranya Kanda, Sarga 50

तं शब्दमवसुप्तस्तु जटायुरथ शुश्रुवे। निरीक्ष्य रावणं क्षिप्रं वैदेहीं च ददर्श सः।।3.50.1।।

taṃ śabdamavasuptastu jaṭāyuratha śuśruve| nirīkṣya rāvaṇaṃ kṣipraṃ vaidehīṃ ca dadarśa saḥ

While reposing, Jatayu heard the cry and at once looked up and saw Ravana and Vaidehi.

ततः पर्वतकूटाभस्तीक्ष्णतुण्डः खगोत्तमः। वनस्पतिगतश्श्रीमान्व्याजहार शुभां गिरम्।।3.50.2।।

tataḥ parvatakūṭābhastīkṣṇatuṇḍaḥ khagottamaḥ| vanaspatigataśśrīmānvyājahāra śubhāṃ giram

Glorious Jatayu, the best among the birds, looked like the peak of a mountain. His beak was sharp. His words were auspious. He spoke from the top of the tree:

दशग्रीव स्थितो धर्मे पुराणे सत्यसंश्रयः। जटायुर्नाम नाम्नाहं गृध्रराजो महाबलः।।3.50.3।।

daśagrīva sthito dharme purāṇe satyasaṃśrayaḥ| jaṭāyurnāma nāmnāhaṃ gṛdhrarājo mahābalaḥ

O tenheaded Ravana, I am Jatayu, king of vultures. I am mighty. An eternal follower, of dharma, I am an adherent to truth.

राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः। लोकानां च हिते युक्तो रामो दशरथात्मजः।।3.50.4।।

rājā sarvasya lokasya mahendravaruṇopamaḥ| lokānāṃ ca hite yukto rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ

Rama, Dasaratha's son, is the king of the entire world. He is equal to Indra and Varuna. He is ever engaged in the welfare of the entire world.

तस्यैषा लोकनाथस्य धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनी। सीता नाम वरारोहा यां त्वं हर्तुमिहेच्छसि।।3.50.5।।

tasyaiṣā lokanāthasya dharmapatnī yaśasvinī| sītā nāma varārohā yāṃ tvaṃ hartumihecchasi

The lady you want to abduct from here is the famous Sita, the lawful wife of Rama, the lord of the world.

कथं राजास्थितो धर्मे परदारान्परामृशेत्। रक्षणीया विशेषेण राजदारा महाबल।।3.50.6।।

kathaṃ rājāsthito dharme paradārānparāmṛśet| rakṣaṇīyā viśeṣeṇa rājadārā mahābala

How can a king who adheres to righteousness outrage another's wife ? O powerful one, a king's wife in particular should be protected.

निवर्तय मतिं नीचां परदाराभिमर्शनात्। न तत्समाचरेद्धीरो यत्परोऽस्य विगर्हयेत्।।3.50.7।। यथात्मनस्तथान्येषां दारा रक्ष्या विपश्चिता।

nivartaya matiṃ nīcāṃ paradārābhimarśanāt| na tatsamācareddhīro yatparo'sya vigarhayet yathātmanastathānyeṣāṃ dārā rakṣyā vipaścitā|

Refrain yourself from the vile thought of violating other's wives. Wise men do not adopt what is censured by others. Just like one's own, the wise should protect other's wives.

धर्ममर्थं वा कामं वा शिष्टाश्शास्त्रेष्वनागतम्।।3.50.8।। व्यवस्यन्त्यनु राजानं धर्मं पौलस्त्यनन्दन।

dharmamarthaṃ vā kāmaṃ vā śiṣṭāśśāstreṣvanāgatam vyavasyantyanu rājānaṃ dharmaṃ paulastyanandana|

O son of Paulastya learned men determine the path of dharma artha and kama, following a king's conduct even if they are not declared in sastras.

राजा धर्मस्य कामस्य द्रव्याणां चोत्तमो निधिः।।3.50.9।। धर्मश्शुभं वा पापं वा राजमूलं प्रवर्तते।

rājā dharmasya kāmasya dravyāṇāṃ cottamo nidhiḥ dharmaśśubhaṃ vā pāpaṃ vā rājamūlaṃ pravartate|

A king is the best repository of rigteousness, material wealth and pleasures. The king is the root of dharma, virtue and sin.

पापस्वभावश्चपलः कथं त्वं रक्षसां वर।।3.50.10।। ऐश्वर्यमभिसम्प्राप्तो विमानमिव दुष्कृतिः।

pāpasvabhāvaścapalaḥ kathaṃ tvaṃ rakṣasāṃ vara aiśvaryamabhisamprāpto vimānamiva duṣkṛtiḥ|

O best of demons by nature you are sinful, and fickleminded. You do all forbidden acts. Otherwise,how could you get this wealth, like the celestial chariot?

कामं स्वभावो यो यस्य न शक्यः परिमार्जितुम्।।3.50.11।। न हि दुष्टात्मनामार्यमावसत्यालये चिरम्।

kāmaṃ svabhāvo yo yasya na śakyaḥ parimārjitum na hi duṣṭātmanāmāryamāvasatyālaye ciram|

Indeed, it is not possible to erase the nature of any one, whatever it be. Prosperity does not rest for long in the house of the evilminded.

विषये वा पुरे वा ते यदा रामो महाबलः।।3.50.12।। नापराध्यति धर्मात्मा कथं तस्यापराध्यसि।

viṣaye vā pure vā te yadā rāmo mahābalaḥ nāparādhyati dharmātmā kathaṃ tasyāparādhyasi|

Powerful and righteous Rama has not offended you, your kingdom or your city. Why do you offend him?

यदि शूर्पणखाहेतोर्जनस्थानगतः खरः।।3.50.13।। अतिवृत्तो हतः पूर्वं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। अत्र ब्रूहि यथातत्त्वं को रामस्य व्यतिक्रमः।।3.50.14।। यस्य त्वं लोकनाथस्य भार्यां हृत्वा गमिष्यसि।

yadi śūrpaṇakhāhetorjanasthānagataḥ kharaḥ ativṛtto hataḥ pūrvaṃ rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā| atra brūhi yathātattvaṃ ko rāmasya vyatikramaḥ yasya tvaṃ lokanāthasya bhāryāṃ hṛtvā gamiṣyasi|

On account of Surpanakha, Khara trespassed into Janasthana and got killed by Rama, without much effort. Tell me truly, what transgression (of dharma) did he commit for which you are stealing away the wife of Rama who is the lord of this world?.

यदि शूर्पणखाहेतोर्जनस्थानगतः खरः।।3.50.13।। अतिवृत्तो हतः पूर्वं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। अत्र ब्रूहि यथातत्त्वं को रामस्य व्यतिक्रमः।।3.50.14।। यस्य त्वं लोकनाथस्य भार्यां हृत्वा गमिष्यसि।

yadi śūrpaṇakhāhetorjanasthānagataḥ kharaḥ ativṛtto hataḥ pūrvaṃ rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā| atra brūhi yathātattvaṃ ko rāmasya vyatikramaḥ yasya tvaṃ lokanāthasya bhāryāṃ hṛtvā gamiṣyasi|

On account of Surpanakha, Khara trespassed into Janasthana and got killed by Rama, without much effort. Tell me truly, what transgression (of dharma) did he commit for which you are stealing away the wife of Rama who is the lord of this world?.

क्षिप्रं विसृज वैदेहीं मा त्वा घोरेण चक्षुषा।।3.50.15।। दहेद्दहनभूतेन वृत्रमिन्द्राशनिर्यथा।

kṣipraṃ visṛja vaidehīṃ mā tvā ghoreṇa cakṣuṣā daheddahanabhūtena vṛtramindrāśaniryathā|

Leave Vaidehi at once lest with her fierce looks you should be burnt down like demon Vrtra by the thunderbolt of Indra.

सर्पमाशीविषं बद्ध्वा वस्त्रान्ते नावबुध्यसे।।3.50.16।। ग्रीवायां प्रतिसक्तं च कालपाशं न पश्यसि।

sarpamāśīviṣaṃ baddhvā vastrānte nāvabudhyase grīvāyāṃ pratisaktaṃ ca kālapāśaṃ na paśyasi|

You are not aware that you are tying a venomous snake with the skirt of your cloth. worn by you. You are not able to see the noose of death tightened around your neck.

स भारस्सौम्य भर्तव्यो यो नरं नावसादयेत्।।3.50.17।। तदन्नमपि भोक्तव्यं जीर्यते यदनामयम्।

sa bhārassaumya bhartavyo yo naraṃ nāvasādayet tadannamapi bhoktavyaṃ jīryate yadanāmayam|

O gentle Ravana one should carry that much of weight which does not tire him. One should eat only that wholesome food which can be easily digested.

यत्कृत्वा न भवेद्धर्मो न कीर्तिर्न यशो भुवि।।3.50.18।। शरीरस्य भवेत्खेदः कस्तत्कर्म समाचरेत्।

yatkṛtvā na bhaveddharmo na kīrtirna yaśo bhuvi śarīrasya bhavetkhedaḥ kastatkarma samācaret|

Who will do such a deed which cannot beget dharma, fame or glory in the world? Who will do such deeds that bring only exhaustion to the body?

षष्टिर्वर्षसहस्राणि मम जातस्य रावण।।3.50.19।। पितृपैतामहं राज्यं यथावदनुतिष्ठतः।

ṣaṣṭirvarṣasahasrāṇi mama jātasya rāvaṇa pitṛpaitāmahaṃ rājyaṃ yathāvadanutiṣṭhataḥ|

Sixty thousand years ago I was born, O Ravana Since then I have ruled justly my hereditary kingdom.

वृद्धोऽहं त्वं युवा धन्वी सशरः कवची रथी।।3.50.20।। तथाप्यादाय वैदेहीं कुशली न गमिष्यसि।

vṛddho'haṃ tvaṃ yuvā dhanvī saśaraḥ kavacī rathī tathāpyādāya vaidehīṃ kuśalī na gamiṣyasi|

I am old, you are young, wielding a bow and arrows, with shield to protect and chariot to ride. Even then I will not let you go safe with Vaidehi kidnapped.

न शक्तस्त्वं बलाद्धर्तुं वैदेहीं मम पश्यतः।।3.50.21।। हेतुभिर्न्यायसंसिद्धैद्धृवां वेदश्रुतीमिव।

na śaktastvaṃ balāddhartuṃ vaidehīṃ mama paśyataḥ hetubhirnyāyasaṃsiddhaiddhṛvāṃ vedaśrutīmiva|

You cannot carry Vaidehi by force within my very sight just as the everlasting revelations of the Vedas cannot be robbed by mere logic of reason.

युद्ध्यस्व यदि शूरोऽसि मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ रावण।।3.50.22।। शयिष्यसे हतो भूमौ यथापूर्वं खरस्तथा।

yuddhyasva yadi śūro'si muhūrtaṃ tiṣṭha rāvaṇa śayiṣyase hato bhūmau yathāpūrvaṃ kharastathā|

O Ravana, if you are brave, fight with me. In a moment, you will be killed like Khara and lie down on the ground.

असकृत्संयुगे येन निहता दैत्यदानवाः।।3.50.23।। नचिराच्चीरवासास्त्वां रामो युधि वधिष्यति।

asakṛtsaṃyuge yena nihatā daityadānavāḥ nacirāccīravāsāstvāṃ rāmo yudhi vadhiṣyati|

Clad in bark garments, Rama, who has often slain demons in the past will soon kill you in war.

किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुं गतौदूरं नृपात्मजौ।।3.50.24।। क्षिप्रं त्वं नश्यसे नीच तयोर्भीतो न संशयः।

kiṃ nu śakyaṃ mayā kartuṃ gataudūraṃ nṛpātmajau kṣipraṃ tvaṃ naśyase nīca tayorbhīto na saṃśayaḥ|

What can I do? O mean fellow the two princes have gone far away.You will soon be destroyed out of fear for them. There is no doubt.

न हि मे जीवमानस्य नयिष्यसि शुभामिमाम्।।3.50.25।। सीतां कमलपत्राक्षीं रामस्य महिषीं प्रियाम्।

na hi me jīvamānasya nayiṣyasi śubhāmimām sītāṃ kamalapatrākṣīṃ rāmasya mahiṣīṃ priyām|

I will not let you take away the auspicious, lotuseyed Sita, the dear consort of Rama as long as I am alive.

अवश्यं तु मया कार्यं प्रियं तस्य महात्मनः।।3.50.26।। जीवितेनापि रामस्य तथा दशरथस्य च।

avaśyaṃ tu mayā kāryaṃ priyaṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ jīvitenāpi rāmasya tathā daśarathasya ca|

I should do this important work of those great souls, Rama and Dasaratha, even if it claims my life.

तिष्ठ तिष्ठ दशग्रीव मुहूर्तं पश्य रावण।।3.50.27।। युद्धातिथ्यं प्रदास्यामि यथाप्राणं निशाचर। वृन्तादिव फलं त्वां तु पातयेयं रथोत्तमात्।।3.50.28।।

tiṣṭha tiṣṭha daśagrīva muhūrtaṃ paśya rāvaṇa yuddhātithyaṃ pradāsyāmi yathāprāṇaṃ niśācara| vṛntādiva phalaṃ tvāṃ tu pātayeyaṃ rathottamāt

O ten headed Ravana stay, stay for a while. O demon as long as I am alive I will treat you with the hospitality of war. You will be pulled down from this best of the chariots like a ripe fruit drops from the stalk. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चाशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fiftieth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.