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.
स रावणं त्रस्तविषण्णचेता महावने रामपराक्रमज्ञः। कृताञ्जलिस्तत्त्वमुवाच वाक्यं हितं च तस्मै हितमात्मनश्च
He, who knew well the might of Rāma, with his mind disturbed and fearful in the great forest, addressed Rāvaṇa with joined palms, speaking words of truth, beneficial to him and to himself.
thumb|सप्तत्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तत्रिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the thirty-seventh chapter be heard. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Araṇyakaṇḍa, the thirty-seventh chapter.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा मारीचो राक्षसेश्वरम्
Hearing the words of the king of the Rākṣasas, the eloquent and radiant Mārīca replied to the lord of the Rākṣasas.
सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततं प्रियवादिनः। अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः
O King, men who always speak pleasant words are easy to find; but one who speaks and listens to what is unpleasant yet wholesome is rare.
न नूनं बुध्यसे रामं महावीर्यगुणोन्नतम्। अयुक्तचारश्चपलो महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्
You surely do not understand Rāma, exalted in strength and virtue, unpredictable in conduct, restless, and equal to Indra and Varuṇa.
अपि स्वस्ति भवेत् तात सर्वेषामपि रक्षसाम्। अपि रामो न संक्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकानराक्षसान्
May all the Rākṣasas, dear one, be safe; may Rāma, if angered, not destroy the worlds and the Rākṣasas.
अपि ते जीवितान्ताय नोत्पन्ना जनकात्मजा। अपि सीतानिमित्तं च न भवेद् व्यसनं महत्
May the daughter of Janaka not have arisen for the end of your life; may there not be great calamity because of Sītā.
अपि त्वामीश्वरं प्राप्य कामवृत्तं निरङ्कुशम्। न विनश्येत् पुरी लङ्का त्वया सह सराक्षसा
May the city of Lanka, along with all the Rākṣasas, not perish with you, their lord, indulging in unchecked desires.
त्वद्विधः कामवृत्तो हि दुःशीलः पापमन्त्रितः। आत्मानं स्वजनं राष्ट्रं स राजा हन्ति दुर्मतिः
A king like you, ruled by desire, of bad character, advised by wicked counselors, destroys himself, his kin, and his realm through misguided judgment.
न च पित्रा परित्यक्तो नामर्यादः कथंचन। न लुब्धो न च दुःशीलो न च क्षत्रियपांसनः
He was not abandoned by his father, nor did he ever transgress boundaries; he is not greedy, nor of bad character, nor a stain upon the Kṣatriya race.