एषां वधार्थं शत्रूणां रक्षसां पापकर्मणाम्। तदिदं नः कृतं कार्यं त्वया दशरथात्मज
'For the destruction of these wicked rākṣasa enemies, this task has been accomplished by you, O son of Daśaratha.'
स्वधर्मं प्रचरिष्यन्ति दण्डकेषु महर्षयः। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरो लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया
The great sages will now practice their own dharma in Daṇḍaka; meanwhile, the heroic Lakṣmaṇa, together with Sītā—
गिरिदुर्गाद् विनिष्क्रम्य संविवेशाश्रमे सुखी ततो रामस्तु विजयी पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः
Having come out from the mountain stronghold, Rama, victorious and honored by the great sages, happily entered the hermitage.
प्रविवेशाश्रमं वीरो लक्ष्मणेनाभिपूजितः। तं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुहन्तारं महर्षीणां सुखावहम्
The hero entered the hermitage, honored by Lakshmana; seeing him, the destroyer of enemies and bringer of comfort to the sages,
बभूव हृष्टा वैदेही भर्तारं परिषस्वजे। मुदा परमया युक्ता दृष्ट्वा रक्षोगणान् हतान्। रामं चैवाव्ययं दृष्ट्वा तुतोष जनकात्मजा
Vaidehī became delighted and embraced her husband; filled with supreme joy at seeing the hosts of demons slain, and beholding Rama, the imperishable, Janaka’s daughter was satisfied.
ततस्तु तं राक्षससङ्घमर्दनं सम्पूज्यमानं मुदितैर्महात्मभिः। पुनः परिष्वज्य मुदान्वितानना बभूव हृष्टा जनकात्मजा तदा
Then, as Rama was being honored by the delighted great sages for crushing the host of demons, Janaka’s daughter, her face radiant with joy, once again embraced him and was exceedingly glad.
thumb|एकत्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the thirty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
त्वरमाणस्ततो गत्वा जनस्थानादकम्पनः। प्रविश्य लङ्कां वेगेन रावणं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Then Akampana, hurrying from Janasthāna, swiftly entered Laṅkā and spoke these words to Rāvaṇa.
जनस्थानस्थिता राजन् राक्षसा बहवो हताः। खरश्च निहतः संख्ये कथंचिदहमागतः
O King, many demons stationed at Janasthāna have been slain, and Khara too has been killed in battle; I have somehow escaped.
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः क्रुद्धः संरक्तलोचनः। अकम्पनमुवाचेदं निर्दहन्निव तेजसा
Hearing this, the ten-headed one, enraged and his eyes bloodshot, spoke to Akampana, his energy as if burning all around.
केन भीमं जनस्थानं हतं मम परासुना। को हि सर्वेषु लोकेषु गतिं नाधिगमिष्यति
By whom has my dreadful Janasthāna been destroyed with weapons? Who, indeed, in all the worlds will not meet their end?
न हि मे विप्रियं कृत्वा शक्यं मघवता सुखम्। प्राप्तुं वैश्रवणेनापि न यमेन च विष्णुना
Not even Indra, having done me harm, nor Kubera, nor Yama, nor Viṣṇu, can attain happiness.
कालस्य चाप्यहं कालो दहेयमपि पावकम्। मृत्युं मरणधर्मेण संयोजयितुमुत्सहे
Indeed, I am Time to time itself; I could burn even fire, and by the law of death, I am able to unite Death with his own end.
वातस्य तरसा वेगं निहन्तुमपि चोत्सहे। दहेयमपि संक्रुद्धस्तेजसाऽऽदित्यपावकौ
By force, I am able to overcome the speed of the wind; in my wrath, I could burn the sun and fire with my energy.
तथा क्रुद्धं दशग्रीवं कृताञ्जलिरकम्पनः। भयात् संदिग्धया वाचा रावणं याचतेऽभयम्
To the ten-headed one, thus enraged, Akampana, with joined palms and a voice trembling with fear, sought assurance of safety from Rāvaṇa.
दशग्रीवोऽभयं तस्मै प्रददौ रक्षसां वरः। स विस्रब्धोऽब्रवीद् वाक्यमसंदिग्धमकम्पनः
The ten-headed lord, best of the demons, granted him safety; thus reassured, Akampana spoke these words without hesitation.
पुत्रो दशरथस्यास्ते सिंहसंहननो युवा। रामो नाम महास्कन्धो वृत्तायतमहाभुजः
There dwells a son of Dasharatha, young, lion-shouldered, named Rama, mighty-armed and broad-chested.
श्यामः पृथुयशाः श्रीमानतुल्यबलविक्रमः। हतस्तेन जनस्थाने खरश्च सहदूषणः
Dark-complexioned, of great fame, glorious, equal in strength and valor; by him, Khara and Dūṣaṇa were slain at Janasthāna.
अकम्पनवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। नागेन्द्र इव निःश्वस्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing Akampana’s words, Rāvaṇa, lord of the demons, sighed like a great serpent and spoke these words.
स सुरेन्द्रेण संयुक्तो रामः सर्वामरैः सह। उपयातो जनस्थानं ब्रूहि कच्चिदकम्पन
Is this Rama, joined with Indra and all the gods, who has come to Janasthāna? Tell me truly, Akampana.
रावणस्य पुनर्वाक्यं निशम्य तदकम्पनः। आचचक्षे बलं तस्य विक्रमं च महात्मनः
Hearing Ravana’s words again, Akampana spoke of the strength and valor of that great soul.
रामो नाम महातेजाः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्। दिव्यास्त्रगुणसम्पन्नः परं धर्मं गतो युधि
Rama, radiant and mighty, is the foremost among all archers, endowed with the qualities of divine weapons, and has attained supreme righteousness in battle.
तस्यानुरूपो बलवान् रक्ताक्षो दुन्दुभिस्वनः। कनीयाँल्लक्ष्मणो भ्राता राकाशशिनिभाननः
His younger brother Lakshmana, powerful and red-eyed, whose voice resounds like a drum, has a face like the full moon and matches him in strength.
स तेन सह संयुक्तः पावकेनानिलो यथा। श्रीमान् राजवरस्तेन जनस्थानं निपातितम्
Joined with him, like fire with wind, that glorious prince destroyed Janasthana.
नैव देवा महात्मानो नात्र कार्या विचारणा। शरा रामेण तूत्सृष्टा रुक्मपुङ्खाः पतत्त्रिणः
Neither the gods nor the great souls need to deliberate here; the arrows released by Rama, golden-feathered and winged, are enough.
सर्पाः पञ्चानना भूत्वा भक्षयन्ति स्म राक्षसान्। येन येन च गच्छन्ति राक्षसा भयकर्षिताः
Those arrows became five-headed serpents and devoured the rakshasas, while the terrified rakshasas fled wherever they could.
तेन तेन स्म पश्यन्ति राममेवाग्रतः स्थितम्। इत्थं विनाशितं तेन जनस्थानं तवानघ
Wherever they went, they saw Rama standing before them; thus Janasthana was destroyed by him, O faultless one.
अकम्पनवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। गमिष्यामि जनस्थानं रामं हन्तुं सलक्ष्मणम्
Hearing Akampana’s words, Ravana spoke: 'I will go to Janasthana to kill Rama and Lakshmana.'
अथैवमुक्ते वचने प्रोवाचेदमकम्पनः। शृणु राजन् यथावृत्तं रामस्य बलपौरुषम्
When these words were spoken, Akampana replied: 'Hear, O king, the true account of Rama’s strength and prowess.'
असाध्यः कुपितो रामो विक्रमेण महायशाः। आपगायास्तु पूर्णाया वेगं परिहरेच्छरैः
Rama, renowned for his valor, is unconquerable when angered; he could check the force of a full river with his arrows.