दिव्याभरणमाल्याभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिरावृतम्। क्रीडारतविधिज्ञाभिरप्सरोभिः सहस्रशः
Surrounded by thousands of apsarases, radiant in divine ornaments and garlands, of celestial beauty, skilled in the arts of play and ritual.
सेवितं देवपत्नीभिः श्रीमतीभिरुपासितम्। देवदानवसङ्घैश्च चरितं त्वमृताशिभिः
Attended by the illustrious wives of the gods, revered by them, and frequented by hosts of gods and asuras who partake of ambrosia.
हंसक्रौञ्चप्लवाकीर्णं सारसैः सम्प्रसादितम्। वैदूर्यप्रस्तरं स्निग्धं सान्द्रं सागरतेजसा
Filled with swans, cranes, and waterfowl, gladdened by sarasa birds, with smooth, lustrous beryl stones, dense with the brilliance of the ocean.
पाण्डुराणि विशालानि दिव्यमाल्ययुतानि च। तूर्यगीताभिजुष्टानि विमानानि समन्ततः
All around, vast and pale-white aerial palaces adorned with divine garlands, resounding with music and song.
तपसा जितलोकानां कामगान्यभिसम्पतन्। गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव ददर्श धनदानुजः
The brother of Kubera beheld the gandharvas and apsarases, moving freely as they pleased, who had conquered the worlds through austerity.
निर्यासरसमूलानां चन्दनानां सहस्रशः। वनानि पश्यन् सौम्यानि घ्राणतृप्तिकराणि च
He saw gentle forests of sandalwood trees, thousands in number, with roots exuding fragrant resin, pleasing to the sense of smell.
अगुरूणां च मुख्यानां वनान्युपवनानि च। तक्कोलानां च जात्यानां फलिनां च सुगन्धिनाम्
And forests and groves of the finest agaru trees, of takkolas, jātis, and other fruit-bearing, fragrant species.
पुष्पाणि च तमालस्य गुल्मानि मरिचस्य च। मुक्तानां च समूहानि शुष्यमाणानि तीरतः
The flowers of the tamāla, the thickets of marica, and clusters of pearls drying on the riverbank.
शैलानि प्रवरांश्चैव प्रवालनिचयांस्तथा। काञ्चनानि च शृङ्गाणि राजतानि तथैव च
He saw excellent mountains, heaps of coral, and peaks of gold and silver as well.
प्रस्रवाणि मनोज्ञानि प्रसन्नान्यद्भुतानि च। धनधान्योपपन्नानि स्त्रीरत्नैरावृतानि च
Charming and clear springs, wondrous to behold, lands rich in wealth and grain, and filled with women of rare beauty.
हस्त्यश्वरथगाढानि नगराणि विलोकयन्। तं समं सर्वतः स्निग्धं मृदुसंस्पर्शमारुतम्
Observing cities crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, he saw that land everywhere level, lush, and caressed by gentle breezes.
अनूपे सिन्धुराजस्य ददर्श त्रिदिवोपमम्। तत्रापश्यत् स मेघाभं न्यग्रोधं मुनिभिर्वृतम्
In the marshes of the Sindhu king, he saw a place like heaven; there he beheld a banyan tree, dark as a cloud, surrounded by sages.
समन्ताद् यस्य ताः शाखाः शतयोजनमायताः। यस्य हस्तिनमादाय महाकायं च कच्छपम्
Its branches stretched a hundred yojanas in every direction; from it, an elephant and a great-bodied turtle were taken up.
भक्षार्थं गरुडः शाखामाजगाम महाबलः। तस्य तां सहसा शाखां भारेण पतगोत्तमः
For the sake of food, the mighty Garuḍa came to a branch; with his weight, that best of birds suddenly broke the branch.
सुपर्णः पर्णबहुलां बभञ्जाथ महाबलः। तत्र वैखानसा माषा वालखिल्या मरीचिपाः
The mighty Suparṇa broke a branch thick with leaves; there, the Vaikhānasas, Māṣas, Vālakhilyas, and Marīcipas were gathered.
आजा बभूवुर्धूम्राश्च संगताः परमर्षयः। तेषां दयार्थं गरुडस्तां शाखां शतयोजनाम्
There, the great sages, grey and assembled, appeared as goats; for their sake, Garuḍa took that branch, a hundred yojanas long.
भग्नामादाय वेगेन तौ चोभौ गजकच्छपौ। एकपादेन धर्मात्मा भक्षयित्वा तदामिषम्
Taking the broken branch swiftly, along with both the elephant and the tortoise, the righteous one, standing on one foot, ate that flesh.
निषादविषयं हत्वा शाखया पतगोत्तमः। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मोक्षयित्वा महामुनीन्
Having destroyed the territory of the Niṣādas with the branch, the foremost of birds attained incomparable joy, having freed the great sages.
स तु तेन प्रहर्षेण द्विगुणीकृतविक्रमः। अमृतानयनार्थं वै चकार मतिमान् मतिम्
Then, filled with that joy, his strength doubled; the wise one resolved in his mind to bring the nectar.
तं महर्षिगणैर्जुष्टं सुपर्णकृतलक्षणम्। नाम्ना सुभद्रं न्यग्रोधं ददर्श धनदानुजः
He, the brother of the Lord of Wealth, saw the banyan tree named Subhadra, marked by Suparṇa and frequented by hosts of great sages.
तं तु गत्वा परं पारं समुद्रस्य नदीपतेः। ददर्शाश्रममेकान्ते पुण्ये रम्ये वनान्तरे
Having crossed to the far shore of the ocean, lord of rivers, he saw a hermitage in a secluded, holy, and beautiful part of the forest.
तत्र कृष्णाजिनधरं जटामण्डलधारिणम्। ददर्श नियताहारं मारीचं नाम राक्षसम्
There he saw Mārīca, the rākṣasa, wearing black antelope skin and matted locks, disciplined in food.
स रावणः समागम्य विधिवत् तेन रक्षसा। मारीचेनार्चितो राजा सर्वकामैरमानुषैः
Rāvaṇa, having approached properly, was honored by Mārīca, the rākṣasa, with all kinds of human enjoyments.
तं स्वयं पूजयित्वा च भोजनेनोदकेन च। अर्थोपहितया वाचा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
After personally welcoming him with food and water, Mārīca spoke words of purpose to him.
कच्चित्ते कुशलं राजन् लङ्कायां राक्षसेश्वर। केनार्थेन पुनस्त्वं वै तूर्णमेव इहागतः
"Is all well with you, O king, lord of the rākṣasas in Laṅkā? For what purpose have you come here so quickly again?"
एवमुक्तो महातेजा मारीचेन स रावणः। ततः पश्चादिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद् वाक्यकोविदः
Thus addressed by Mārīca, the radiant Rāvaṇa, skilled in speech, then spoke these words.
thumb|षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen to the thirty-sixth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
मारीच श्रूयतां तात वचनं मम भाषतः। आर्तोऽस्मि मम चार्तस्य भवान् हि परमा गतिः
"Mārīca, listen, dear one, to my words as I speak; I am afflicted, and for one in distress, you are the highest refuge."
जानीषे त्वं जनस्थानं भ्राता यत्र खरो मम। दूषणश्च महाबाहुः स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे
"You know Janasthāna, where my brother Khara, the mighty Dūṣaṇa, and my sister Śūrpaṇakhā dwell."
त्रिशिराश्च महाबाहू राक्षसः पिशिताशनः। अन्ये च बहवः शूरा लब्धलक्षा निशाचराः
"There is also Triśiras, the mighty, flesh-eating rākṣasa, and many other valiant night-wanderers, skilled in their aim."