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—
मन्मथस्य शराणां च त्वं विधेयो भविष्यसि। यदि तस्यामभिप्रायो भार्यात्वे तव जायते। शीघ्रमुद्ध्रियतां पादो जयार्थमिह दक्षिणः
You will be subject to the arrows of Kāma, if your desire for her as your wife arises; quickly lift your right foot here for victory.
रोचते यदि ते वाक्यं ममैतद् राक्षसेश्वर। क्रियतां निर्विशङ्केन वचनं मम रावण
If my words please you, O lord of the rākṣasas, let my counsel be carried out without hesitation, O Rāvaṇa.
विज्ञायैषामशक्तिं च क्रियतां च महाबल। सीता तवानवद्याङ्गी भार्यात्वे राक्षसेश्वर
Let their weakness be understood, and let action be taken, O mighty one; Sītā, flawless in form, should become your wife, O lord of the rākṣasas.
निशम्य रामेण शरैरजिह्मगै- र्हताञ्जनस्थानगतान् निशाचरान्। खरं च दृष्ट्वा निहतं च दूषणं त्वमद्य कृत्यं प्रतिपत्तुमर्हसि
Having heard that the night-dwellers stationed at Janasthāna were slain by Rāma's straight-flying arrows, and seeing Khara and Dūṣaṇa killed, you must now undertake your task.
thumb|पञ्चत्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चत्रिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the thirty-fifth chapter be heard.
ततः शूर्पणखावाक्यं तच्छ्रुत्वा रोमहर्षणम्। सचिवानभ्यनुज्ञाय कार्यं बुद्ध्वा जगाम ह
Then, having heard Śūrpaṇakhā's words, which caused his hair to stand on end, he consulted his ministers, understood the matter, and set out.
तत् कार्यमनुगम्यान्तर्यथावदुपलभ्य च। दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्
He pursued the matter, obtained information as appropriate, and considered the strengths and weaknesses, faults and virtues.
इति कर्तव्यमित्येव कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः। स्थिरबुद्धिस्ततो रम्यां यानशालां जगाम ह
Having decided that this must be done, he made up his mind, and with firm resolve, went to the splendid chariot hall.
यानशालां ततो गत्वा प्रच्छन्नं राक्षसाधिपः। सूतं संचोदयामास रथः संयुज्यतामिति
Having gone to the chariot hall, the lord of the rākṣasas, concealed, ordered the charioteer: 'Let the chariot be yoked.'
एवमुक्तः क्षणेनैव सारथिर्लघुविक्रमः। रथं संयोजयामास तस्याभिमतमुत्तमम्
Thus addressed, the swift and skillful charioteer quickly yoked his master's favored, excellent chariot.