शुष्ककाष्ठैर्भवेत् कार्यं लोष्ठैरपि च पांसुभिः। न तु स्थानात् परिभ्रष्टैः कार्यं स्याद् वसुधाधिपैः
Tasks may be accomplished with dry sticks, with clods, or with dust, but not by kings who have fallen from their position.
उपभुक्तं यथा वासः स्रजो वा मृदिता यथा। एवं राज्यात् परिभ्रष्टः समर्थोऽपि निरर्थकः
Just as a garment once worn or a garland once crushed is discarded, so too, one who has fallen from the kingdom, though capable, becomes useless.
अप्रमत्तश्च यो राजा सर्वज्ञो विजितेन्द्रियः। कृतज्ञो धर्मशीलश्च स राजा तिष्ठते चिरम्
But the king who is vigilant, all-knowing, self-controlled, grateful, and righteous remains established for a long time.
नयनाभ्यां प्रसुप्तो वा जागर्ति नयचक्षुषा। व्यक्तक्रोधप्रसादश्च स राजा पूज्यते जनैः
Whether asleep or awake with his eyes, he keeps watch with the eye of policy; a king whose anger and favor are clear is honored by the people.
त्वं तु रावण दुर्बुद्धिर्गुणैरेतैर्विवर्जितः। यस्य तेऽविदितश्चारै रक्षसां सुमहान् वधः
But you, Rāvaṇa, of evil mind, are devoid of these virtues, for you did not know, through spies, of the great slaughter of the Rākṣasas.
परावमन्ता विषयेषु सङ्गवान् न देशकालप्रविभागतत्त्ववित्। अयुक्तबुद्धिर्गुणदोषनिश्चये विपन्नराज्यो न चिराद् विपत्स्यसे
You insult others, are attached to pleasures, do not know the true division of place and time, your judgment is unsound in discerning virtues and faults; your ruined kingdom will soon be destroyed.
इति स्वदोषान् परिकीर्तितांस्तथा समीक्ष्य बुद्ध्या क्षणदाचरेश्वरः। धनेन दर्पेण बलेन चान्वितो विचिन्तयामास चिरं स रावणः
Thus, having considered these faults of his, the lord of the night-walkers, Rāvaṇa, endowed with wealth, pride, and power, pondered for a long time.
thumb|चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the thirty-fourth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
ततः शूर्पणखां दृष्ट्वा ब्रुवन्तीं परुषं वचः। अमात्यमध्ये संक्रुद्धः परिपप्रच्छ रावणः
Then, seeing Śūrpaṇakhā speaking harsh words, Rāvaṇa, enraged among his ministers, questioned her.
कश्च रामः कथंवीर्यः किंरूपः किंपराक्रमः। किमर्थं दण्डकारण्यं प्रविष्टश्च सुदुस्तरम्
Who is this Rāma? What is his strength? What is his appearance? What is his prowess? And for what reason has he entered the Daṇḍaka forest, which is so difficult to traverse?
आयुधं किं च रामस्य येन ते राक्षसा हताः। खरश्च निहतः संख्ये दूषणस्त्रिशिरास्तथा
What weapon does Rāma possess, by which these Rākṣasas were slain—Khara, Triśiras, and Dūṣaṇa all killed in battle?
तत्त्वं ब्रूहि मनोज्ञाङ्गि केन त्वं च विरूपिता। इत्युक्ता राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्च्छिता
Tell me the truth, lovely-limbed one—by whom were you disfigured? Thus questioned by the lord of Rākṣasas, the demoness, overcome with anger,
ततो रामं यथान्यायमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे। दीर्घबाहुर्विशालाक्षश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरः
Then began to describe Rāma as he truly is: long-armed, wide-eyed, clad in bark and black antelope skin.
कन्दर्पसमरूपश्च रामो दशरथात्मजः। शक्रचापनिभं चापं विकृष्य कनकाङ्गदम्
Rāma, son of Daśaratha, handsome as Kāmadeva, draws a bow like Indra’s, adorned with golden armlets.
दीप्तान् क्षिपति नाराचान् सर्पानिव महाविषान्। नाददानं शरान् घोरान् विमुञ्चन्तं महाबलम्
He launches blazing arrows, like deadly serpents, never ceasing to release his fierce shafts with immense strength.
न कार्मुकं विकर्षन्तं रामं पश्यामि संयुगे। हन्यमानं तु तत्सैन्यं पश्यामि शरवृष्टिभिः
I do not see Rāma drawing his bow in battle, but I see his enemies’ army struck down by showers of arrows.
इन्द्रेणेवोत्तमं सस्यमाहतं त्वश्मवृष्टिभिः। रक्षसां भीमवीर्याणां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश
Like Indra destroying the finest crops with a hailstorm, so did he strike down fourteen thousand fierce Rākṣasas.
निहतानि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तेनैकेन पदातिना। अर्धाधिकमुहूर्तेन खरश्च सहदूषणः
With sharp arrows, that one man on foot slew them all in little more than half a muhūrta—Khara and Dūṣaṇa included.
ऋषीणामभयं दत्तं कृतक्षेमाश्च दण्डकाः
He granted safety to the sages, and the Daṇḍaka forest is now secure.
एका कथंचिन्मुक्ताहं परिभूय महात्मना। स्त्रीवधं शङ्कमानेन रामेण विदितात्मना
I alone barely escaped, humiliated by that great-souled one, Rāma, who, knowing himself, refrained from killing a woman.
भ्राता चास्य महातेजा गुणतस्तुल्यविक्रमः। अनुरक्तश्च भक्तश्च लक्ष्मणो नाम वीर्यवान्
His brother, too, is of great energy, equal in valor and virtue, devoted and loyal—Lakṣmaṇa by name, mighty in strength.
अमर्षी दुर्जयो जेता विक्रान्तो बुद्धिमान् बली। रामस्य दक्षिणो बाहुर्नित्यं प्राणो बहिश्चरः
Impetuous, unconquerable, a victor, courageous, wise, and strong—he is Rāma’s right arm, ever his life outside his body.
रामस्य तु विशालाक्षी पूर्णेन्दुसदृशानना। धर्मपत्नी प्रिया नित्यं भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता
Rāma’s wife, broad-eyed and with a face like the full moon, is ever devoted to her husband, delighting in his welfare.
सा सुकेशी सुनासोरूः सुरूपा च यशस्विनी। देवतेव वनस्यास्य राजते श्रीरिवापरा
She is lovely-haired, fine-nosed, shapely, and renowned; she shines in this forest like a goddess, or like another Śrī herself.
तप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभा रक्ततुङ्गनखी शुभा। सीता नाम वरारोहा वैदेही तनुमध्यमा
With the radiance of burnished gold, beautiful, with red, prominent nails, slender-waisted Sītā of noble form, daughter of Videha.
नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी न यक्षी न च किंनरी। तथारूपा मया नारी दृष्टपूर्वा महीतले
Never before have I seen on earth a woman so lovely—not goddess, nor Gandharvī, nor Yakṣī, nor Kinnarī.
यस्य सीता भवेद् भार्या यं च हृष्टा परिष्वजेत्। अभिजीवेत् स सर्वेषु लोकेष्वपि पुरंदरात्
He whose wife is Sītā, whom she embraces with joy, would surpass even Indra in happiness among all beings.
सा सुशीला वपुःश्लाघ्या रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि। तवानुरूपा भार्या सा त्वं च तस्याः पतिर्वरः
She is virtuous, admirable in form, unmatched in beauty on earth; she would be a fitting wife for you, and you the best husband for her.
तां तु विस्तीर्णजघनां पीनोत्तुङ्गपयोधराम्। भार्यार्थे तु तवानेतुमुद्यताहं वराननाम्
I am resolved to bring her, whose hips are broad, whose breasts are full and high, and whose face is lovely, for you as your wife.
विरूपितास्मि क्रूरेण लक्ष्मणेन महाभुज। तां तु दृष्ट्वाद्य वैदेहीं पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्
I have been disfigured by the cruel Lakṣmaṇa, who has mighty arms; but now, seeing Vaidehī, whose face is like the full moon—