Aranya Kanda, Sarga 54

ह्रियमाणा तु वैदेही कञ्चिन्नाथमपश्यती। ददर्श गिरिशृङ्गस्थान्पञ्च वानरपुङ्गवान्।।3.54.1।।

hriyamāṇā tu vaidehī kañcinnāthamapaśyatī| dadarśa giriśṛṅgasthānpañca vānarapuṅgavān

While Sita was being kidnapped, she saw no one to protect her. Only five great monkeys stood on the top of a mountain.

तेषां मध्ये विशालाक्षी कौशेयं कनकप्रभम्। उत्तरीयं वरारोहा शुभान्याभरणानि च।।3.54.2।। मुमोच यदि रामाय शंसेयुरिति मैथिली।

teṣāṃ madhye viśālākṣī kauśeyaṃ kanakaprabham| uttarīyaṃ varārohā śubhānyābharaṇāni ca mumoca yadi rāmāya śaṃseyuriti maithilī|

Largeeyed, bright and beautiful Sita dropped her upper silk garment shining like gold and auspicious ornaments in their midst with a hope they may report this to Rama.

वस्त्रमुत्सृज्य तन्मध्ये निक्षिप्तं सहभूषणम्।।3.54.3।। सम्भ्रमात्तु दशग्रीवस्तत्कर्म न स बुद्धवान्।

vastramutsṛjya tanmadhye nikṣiptaṃ sahabhūṣaṇam sambhramāttu daśagrīvastatkarma na sa buddhavān|

In his excitement Ravana failed to notice when Sita dropped down that garment along with ornaments in their midst.

पिङ्गाक्षास्तां विशालाक्षीं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव।।3.54.4।। विक्रोशन्तीं तथा सीतां ददृशुर्वानरर्षभाः।

piṅgākṣāstāṃ viśālākṣīṃ netrairanimiṣairiva vikrośantīṃ tathā sītāṃ dadṛśurvānararṣabhāḥ|

The best among the tawneyeyed monkeys gazed, without blinking, at the largeeyed Sita lamenting.

स च पम्पामतिक्रम्य लङ्कामभिमुखः पुरीम्।।3.54.5।। जगाम रुदतीं गृह्य वैदेहीं राक्षसेश्वरः।

sa ca pampāmatikramya laṅkāmabhimukhaḥ purīm jagāma rudatīṃ gṛhya vaidehīṃ rākṣaseśvaraḥ|

Ravana crossed the lake Pampa and flew towards the city of Lanka carrying with him lamenting daughter of Videha.

तां जहार सुसंहृष्टो रावणो मृत्युमात्मनः।।3.54.6।। उत्सङ्गेनेव भुजगीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां महाविषाम्।

tāṃ jahāra susaṃhṛṣṭo rāvaṇo mṛtyumātmanaḥ utsaṅgeneva bhujagīṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāṃ mahāviṣām|

Delighted Ravana, carried off Sita, the very embodiment of his death, like one carrying a highly poisonous sharpfanged female snake on his lap.

वनानि सरितश्शैलांत्सरांसि च विहायसा।।3.54.7।। स क्षिप्रं समतीयाय शरश्चापादिव च्युतः।

vanāni saritaśśailāṃtsarāṃsi ca vihāyasā sa kṣipraṃ samatīyāya śaraścāpādiva cyutaḥ|

Like an arrow released from the bow, Ravana went through the sky, at once crossing forests, rivers mountains and tanks.

तिमिनक्रनिकेतं तु वरुणालयमक्षयम्।।3.54.8।। सरितां शरणं गत्वा समतीयाय सागरम्।

timinakraniketaṃ tu varuṇālayamakṣayam saritāṃ śaraṇaṃ gatvā samatīyāya sāgaram|

Ravana soon crossed the refuge of rivers, the abode of Varuna, god of the sea, inexhaustible ocean, and the home for whales and crocodiles.

सम्भ्रमात्परिवृत्तोर्मी रुद्धमीनमहोरगः।।3.54.9।। वैदेह्यां ह्रियमाणायां बभूव वरुणालयः।

sambhramātparivṛttormī ruddhamīnamahoragaḥ vaidehyāṃ hriyamāṇāyāṃ babhūva varuṇālayaḥ|

While Sita, princess of Videha was being carried away, the ocean, abode of Varuna got bewildered, waves rolled back, the movement of big serpents and fishes stopped.

अन्तरिक्षगता वाचस्ससृजुश्चारणास्तदा।।3.54.10।। एतदन्तो दशग्रीव इति सिद्धास्तदाब्रुवन्।

antarikṣagatā vācassasṛjuścāraṇāstadā etadanto daśagrīva iti siddhāstadābruvan|

The charanas and siddhas moving in the sky said, O tenheaded Ravana this is your end .

स तु सीतां विवेष्टन्तीमङ्केनादाय रावणः।।3.54.11।। प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां रूपिणीं मृत्युमात्मनः।

sa tu sītāṃ viveṣṭantīmaṅkenādāya rāvaṇaḥ praviveśa purīṃ laṅkāṃ rūpiṇīṃ mṛtyumātmanaḥ|

Ravana entered the city of Lanka holding Sita who was tossing from side to side and who was the very embodiment of his death.

सोऽभिगम्य पुरीं लङ्कां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्।।3.54.12।। संरूढकक्ष्याबहुलं स्वमन्तःपुरमाविशत्।

so'bhigamya purīṃ laṅkāṃ suvibhaktamahāpathām saṃrūḍhakakṣyābahulaṃ svamantaḥpuramāviśat|

Ravana went through the well laidout roads of the city of Lanka and through the well many guarded halls of the palace and entered the inner apartment.

तत्र तामसितापाङ्गां शोकमोहपरायणाम्।।3.54.13।। निदधे रावणस्सीतां मयो मायामिवस्त्रियम्।

tatra tāmasitāpāṅgāṃ śokamohaparāyaṇām nidadhe rāvaṇassītāṃ mayo māyāmivastriyam|

Sita, with her dark eye lashes and lost in utter sorrow was kept in the harem by Ravana, like demon Maya kept Mayamayi.

अब्रवीच्च दशग्रीवः पिशाचीर्घोरदर्शनाः।।3.54.14।। यथा नेमां पुमान् स्त्री वा सीतां पश्यत्यसम्मतः।

abravīcca daśagrīvaḥ piśācīrghoradarśanāḥ yathā nemāṃ pumān strī vā sītāṃ paśyatyasammataḥ|

Ravana ordered the female goblins of fearful appearance,'Let no outsider whether man or woman, see her, without my permission'.

मुक्तामणिसुवर्णानि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च।।3.54.15।। यद्यदिच्छेत्तदेवास्या देयं मच्छन्दतो यथा।

muktāmaṇisuvarṇāni vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca yadyadicchettadevāsyā deyaṃ macchandato yathā|

Pearls, gems or gold, clothes or ornaments, whatever she desires, be made available to her without any hesitation.

या च वक्ष्यति वैदेहीं वचनं किञ्चिदप्रियम्।।3.54.16।। अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानान्न तस्या जीवितं प्रियम्।

yā ca vakṣyati vaidehīṃ vacanaṃ kiñcidapriyam ajñānādyadi vā jñānānna tasyā jīvitaṃ priyam|

Whoever utters any unpleasant words knowingly or unknowingly to Sita, princess of Videha is not worthy to survive (must be killed).

तथोक्त्वा राक्षसीस्तास्तु राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्।।3.54.17।। निष्क्रम्यान्तः पुरात्तस्मात्किंकृत्यमिति चिन्तयन्। ददर्शाष्टौ महावीर्यान्राक्षसान्पिशिताशनान्।।3.54.18।।

tathoktvā rākṣasīstāstu rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān niṣkramyāntaḥ purāttasmātkiṃkṛtyamiti cintayan| dadarśāṣṭau mahāvīryānrākṣasānpiśitāśanān

The courageous lord of the demons, having said so to the demonesses, came out of the inner apartment. While contemplating the future course of action, he saw eight powerful, carnivorous demons.

तथोक्त्वा राक्षसीस्तास्तु राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्।।3.54.17।। निष्क्रम्यान्तः पुरात्तस्मात्किंकृत्यमिति चिन्तयन्। ददर्शाष्टौ महावीर्यान्राक्षसान्पिशिताशनान्।।3.54.18।।

tathoktvā rākṣasīstāstu rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān niṣkramyāntaḥ purāttasmātkiṃkṛtyamiti cintayan| dadarśāṣṭau mahāvīryānrākṣasānpiśitāśanān

The courageous lord of the demons, having said so to the demonesses, came out of the inner apartment. While contemplating the future course of action, he saw eight powerful, carnivorous demons.

स तान्दृष्ट्वा महावीर्यो वरदानेन मोहितः। उवाचैतानिदं वाक्यं प्रशस्य बलवीर्यतः।।3.54.19।।

sa tāndṛṣṭvā mahāvīryo varadānena mohitaḥ| uvācaitānidaṃ vākyaṃ praśasya balavīryataḥ

The mighty Ravana, deluded by the boons, praised the strength and valour of the demons and said :

नानाप्रहरणाः क्षिप्रमितो गच्छत सत्वराः। जनस्थानं हतस्थानं भूतपूर्वं खरालयम्।।3.54.20।।

nānāpraharaṇāḥ kṣipramito gacchata satvarāḥ| janasthānaṃ hatasthānaṃ bhūtapūrvaṃ kharālayam

Armed with different weapons, proceed at once to Janasthana where Khara lived and died.

तत्रोष्यतां जनस्थाने शून्ये निहतराक्षसे। पौरुषं बलमाश्रित्य त्रासमुत्सृज्य दूरतः।।3.54.21।।

tatroṣyatāṃ janasthāne śūnye nihatarākṣase| pauruṣaṃ balamāśritya trāsamutsṛjya dūrataḥ

Go and there in the desolate Janasthana where all demons had been killed, leaving all your apprehensions and relying on your strength and vigour.

बलं हि सुमहद्यन्मे जनस्थाने निवेशितम्। सदूषणखरं युद्धे हतं रामेण सायकैः।।3.54.22।।

balaṃ hi sumahadyanme janasthāne niveśitam| sadūṣaṇakharaṃ yuddhe hataṃ rāmeṇa sāyakaiḥ

I had stationed a great army at Janasthana, who were all killed along with Khara and Dusana by Rama's arrows.

तत क्रोधो ममामर्षाद्धैर्यस्योपरि वर्तते। वैरं च सुमहज्जातं रामं प्रति सुदारुणम्।।3.54.23।।

tata krodho mamāmarṣāddhairyasyopari vartate| vairaṃ ca sumahajjātaṃ rāmaṃ prati sudāruṇam

My anger engineered by my intolerance has crossed the limits of my patience. It has created in me a terrific enmity against Rama.

निर्यातयितुमिच्छामि तच्च वैरमहं रिपोः। न हि लप्स्याम्यहं निद्रामहत्वा संयुगे रिपुम्।।3.54.24।।

niryātayitumicchāmi tacca vairamahaṃ ripoḥ| na hi lapsyāmyahaṃ nidrāmahatvā saṃyuge ripum

I want to take revenge on my foe. I shall not sleep until I kill him in a combat.

तं त्विदानीमहं हत्वा खरदूषणघातिनम्। रामं शर्मोपलप्स्यामि धनं लब्ध्वेव निर्धनः।।3.54.25।।

taṃ tvidānīmahaṃ hatvā kharadūṣaṇaghātinam| rāmaṃ śarmopalapsyāmi dhanaṃ labdhveva nirdhanaḥ

I will be happy only after killing the destroyer of Khara and Dusana, just as a poor man feels happy only on acquiring wealth.

जनस्थाने वसद्भिस्तु भवद्भीराममाश्रिता। प्रवृत्तिरुपनेतव्या किञ्करोतीति तत्त्वतः।।3.54.26।।

janasthāne vasadbhistu bhavadbhīrāmamāśritā| pravṛttirupanetavyā kiñkarotīti tattvataḥ

While dwelling at Janasthana, all of you should collect exact information about the activities of Rama.

अप्रमादाच्च गन्तव्यं सर्वैरपि निशाचरैः। कर्तव्यश्च सदा यत्नो राघवस्य वधं प्रति।।3.54.27।।

apramādācca gantavyaṃ sarvairapi niśācaraiḥ| kartavyaśca sadā yatno rāghavasya vadhaṃ prati

All of you, O nightrangers, should be on the alert there and it should be always your duty to try to kill Rama.

युष्माकं च बलज्ञोऽहं बहुशो रणमूर्धनि। अतश्चास्मिन् जनस्थाने मया यूयं नियोजिताः।।3.54.28।।

yuṣmākaṃ ca balajño'haṃ bahuśo raṇamūrdhani| ataścāsmin janasthāne mayā yūyaṃ niyojitāḥ

I have seen your strength on many war fronts. That is why you have been assigned this duty at Janasthana.

ततः प्रियं वाक्यमुपेत्य राक्षसा महार्थमष्टावभिवाद्य रावणम्। विहाय लङ्कां सहिताः प्रतस्थिरे यतो जनस्थानमलक्ष्यदर्शनाः।।3.54.29।।

tataḥ priyaṃ vākyamupetya rākṣasā mahārthamaṣṭāvabhivādya rāvaṇam| vihāya laṅkāṃ sahitāḥ pratasthire yato janasthānamalakṣyadarśanāḥ

The eight demons were glad to hear the pleasing and meaningful words of Ravana. They offered him salutations and left Lanka in the direction of Janasthana without being seen by any one.

ततस्तु सीतामुपलभ्य रावणः सुसम्प्रहृष्टः परिगृह्य मैथिलीम्। प्रसज्य रामेण च वैरमुत्तमं बभूव मोहान्मुदितस्सराक्षसः।।3.54.30।।

tatastu sītāmupalabhya rāvaṇaḥ susamprahṛṣṭaḥ parigṛhya maithilīm| prasajya rāmeṇa ca vairamuttamaṃ babhūva mohānmuditassarākṣasaḥ

Then the demon Ravana felt greatly happy for getting Sita, princess of Mithila, without knowing in his delusion that he had created the bitterest enmity with Rama. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वामलीकीये आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे चतुःपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the fiftyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.