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."
वसन्ति मन्नियोगेन अधिवासं च राक्षसाः। बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन् ये धर्मचारिणः
"By my command, the rākṣasas dwell there, harassing the sages who practice righteousness in the great forest."
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। शूराणां लब्धलक्षाणां खरचित्तानुवर्तिनाम्
"Fourteen thousand rākṣasas of terrible deeds, valiant and skilled in their aim, followers of Khara's will, reside there."
ते त्विदानीं जनस्थाने वसमाना महाबलाः। सङ्गताः परमायत्ता रामेण सह संयुगे
Now, those mighty ones dwelling in Janasthāna, gathered together and fully dependent, engaged in battle with Rāma.
नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः खरप्रमुखराक्षसाः। तेन संजातरोषेण रामेण रणमूर्धनि
The rākṣasas led by Khara, wielding various weapons, faced Rāma, who had become enraged in the midst of battle.
अनुक्त्वा परुषं किंचिच्छरैर्व्यापारितं धनुः। चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसामुग्रतेजसाम्
Without uttering a single harsh word, but with his bow set in motion by arrows, Rāma slew fourteen thousand fierce and powerful rākṣasas.
निहतानि शरैर्दीप्तैर्मानुषेण पदातिना। खरश्च निहतः संख्ये दूषणश्च निपातितः
Those were struck down by blazing arrows from the human warrior on foot; Khara was also slain in the fight, and Dūṣaṇa was brought down.
हत्वा त्रिशिरसं चापि निर्भया दण्डकाः कृताः। पित्रा निरस्तः क्रुद्धेन सभार्यः क्षीणजीवितः
Having killed Triśiras as well, he made the Daṇḍaka forest free from fear; exiled by his angry father, he lives with his wife, his life nearly spent.
स हन्ता तस्य सैन्यस्य रामः क्षत्रियपांसनः। अशीलः कर्कशस्तीक्ष्णो मूर्खो लुब्धोऽजितेन्द्रियः
That Rāma, the destroyer of that army, is a disgrace among kṣatriyas—unrighteous, harsh, cruel, foolish, greedy, and lacking self-control.
त्यक्तधर्मा त्वधर्मात्मा भूतानामहिते रतः। येन वैरं विनारण्ये सत्त्वमास्थाय केवलम्
He has abandoned righteousness, his mind set on unrighteousness, delighting in the harm of beings; without enmity, he has taken up violence in the forest.
कर्णनासापहारेण भगिनी मे विरूपिता। अस्य भार्यां जनस्थानात् सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम्
By cutting off the ears and nose, my sister was disfigured; I will seize his wife Sītā, equal to a daughter of the gods, from Janasthāna.
आनयिष्यामि विक्रम्य सहायस्तत्र मे भव। त्वया ह्यहं सहायेन पार्श्वस्थेन महाबल
I will bring her by force—be my ally in this; with you standing by my side, mighty one, I shall succeed.
भ्रातृभिश्च सुरान् सर्वान् नाहमत्राभिचिन्तये। तत्सहायो भव त्वं मे समर्थो ह्यसि राक्षस
Even if all the gods with their brothers come, I have no concern; so be my ally, for you are indeed capable, O rākṣasa.
वीर्ये युद्धे च दर्पे च न ह्यस्ति सदृशस्तव। उपायतो महान् शूरो महामायाविशारदः
In strength, in battle, and in pride, there is none equal to you; you are a great hero, skilled in great magic and strategy.
एतदर्थमहं प्राप्तस्त्वत्समीपं निशाचर। शृणु तत् कर्म साहाय्ये यत् कार्यं वचनान्मम
For this purpose I have come to you, O night-wanderer; listen to what must be done as my ally, according to my words.
सौवर्णस्त्वं मृगो भूत्वा चित्रो रजतबिन्दुभिः। आश्रमे तस्य रामस्य सीतायाः प्रमुखे चर
Take the form of a golden deer, adorned with silver spots, and wander before Sītā at Rāma’s hermitage.
त्वां तु निःसंशयं सीता दृष्ट्वा तु मृगरूपिणम्। गृह्यतामिति भर्तारं लक्ष्मणं चाभिधास्यति
Seeing you in the form of a deer, Sītā will certainly ask her husband and Lakṣmaṇa to capture you.
ततस्तयोरपाये तु शून्ये सीतां यथासुखम्। निराबाधो हरिष्यामि राहुश्चन्द्रप्रभामिव
Then, when those two are gone and the place is deserted, I will seize Sītā at my ease, just as Rāhu seizes the moon’s radiance.
ततः पश्चात् सुखं रामे भार्याहरणकर्शिते। विश्रब्धं प्रहरिष्यामि कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना
Afterwards, when Rāma is tormented by the abduction of his wife, I will strike him down at my leisure, my purpose accomplished and my heart satisfied.
तस्य रामकथां श्रुत्वा मारीचस्य महात्मनः। शुष्कं समभवद् वक्त्रं परित्रस्तो बभूव च
Hearing Rāvaṇa’s account of Rāma, the great-souled Mārīca’s mouth became dry, and he was filled with terror.
ओष्ठौ परिलिहन् शुष्कौ नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव। मृतभूत इवार्तस्तु रावणं समुदैक्षत
Licking his parched lips, his eyes unblinking like one dead, tormented, he gazed at Rāvaṇa.