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.
न च धर्मगुणैर्हीनः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। न च तीक्ष्णो हि भूतानां सर्वभूतहिते रतः
He, the joy of Kausalyā, is not lacking in virtues of dharma; he is not harsh to beings, but is devoted to the welfare of all creatures.
वञ्चितं पितरं दृष्ट्वा कैकेय्या सत्यवादिनम्। करिष्यामीति धर्मात्मा ततः प्रव्रजितो वनम्
Seeing his truthful father deceived by Kaikeyī, that righteous one said, 'I will do it,' and then went into exile in the forest.
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं पितुर्दशरथस्य च। हित्वा राज्यं च भोगांश्च प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्
For the sake of Kaikeyī's desire and his father Daśaratha, he abandoned the kingdom and pleasures, and entered the Daṇḍaka forest.
न रामः कर्कशस्तात नाविद्वान् नाजितेन्द्रियः। अनृतं न श्रुतं चैव नैव त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि
Rāma is not harsh, dear one, nor ignorant, nor uncontrolled; you should not speak what is untrue or unheard about him.
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानामिव वासवः
Rāma is dharma embodied, noble, and steadfast in truth and valor; he is the king of all the world, like Indra among the gods.
कथं नु तस्य वैदेहीं रक्षितां स्वेन तेजसा। इच्छसे प्रसभं हर्तुं प्रभामिव विवस्वतः
How do you wish to seize Vaidehī, protected by her own radiance, as one would try to snatch the brilliance of the sun?
शरार्चिषमनाधृष्यं चापखड्गेन्धनं रणे। रामाग्निं सहसा दीप्तं न प्रवेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि
You should not attempt to enter the blazing Rāma-fire in battle, whose arrows are like flames, whose fuel is uncut, and who cannot be approached.
धनुर्व्यादितदीप्तास्यं शरार्चिषममर्षणम्। चापबाणधरं तीक्ष्णं शत्रुसेनापहारिणम्
He, whose bow is drawn wide, whose mouth is radiant, whose arrows are like flames, who is unyielding, armed with bow and arrows, fierce, and destroyer of enemy armies.
राज्यं सुखं च संत्यज्य जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः। नात्यासादयितुं तात रामान्तकमिहार्हसि
Having abandoned kingdom, comfort, and even the cherished life of the self, you should not, dear one, bring about your own end here for the sake of Rāma.
अप्रमेयं हि तत्तेजो यस्य सा जनकात्मजा। न त्वं समर्थस्तां हर्तुं रामचापाश्रयां वने
For the brilliance of him whose wife is the daughter of Janaka is immeasurable; you are not capable of taking her, who is protected by Rāma's bow, in the forest.
तस्य वै नरसिंहस्य सिंहोरस्कस्य भामिनी। प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियतरा भार्या नित्यमनुव्रता
To that lion among men, broad-chested and radiant, his wife—ever devoted—is dearer than life itself.
न सा धर्षयितुं शक्या मैथिल्योजस्विनः प्रिया। दीप्तस्येव हुताशस्य शिखा सीता सुमध्यमा
That beloved of the mighty son of Mithilā, Sītā of slender waist, cannot be violated—she is like the blazing flame of a sacrificial fire.
किमुद्यमं व्यर्थमिमं कृत्वा ते राक्षसाधिप। दृष्टश्चेत् त्वं रणे तेन तदन्तमुपजीवितम्
Why undertake this futile effort, lord of the rākṣasas? If you are seen by him in battle, that will surely be your end.
जीवितं च सुखं चैव राज्यं चैव सुदुर्लभम्। यदीच्छसि चिरं भोक्तुं मा कृथा रामविप्रियम्
If you wish to enjoy life, happiness, and the exceedingly rare kingdom for a long time, do not do what displeases Rāma.
स सर्वैः सचिवैः सार्धं विभीषणपुरस्कृतैः। मन्त्रयित्वा स धर्मिष्ठैः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः। दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्
With all your counselors, led by Vibhīṣaṇa, having deliberated with the righteous and made up your mind, carefully weighing faults and virtues, strength and weakness—
आत्मनश्च बलं ज्ञात्वा राघवस्य च तत्त्वतः। हितं हि तव निश्चित्य क्षमं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि
Knowing your own strength and that of Rāghava in truth, you should decide what is truly beneficial and proper for you to do.
अहं तु मन्ये तव न क्षमं रणे समागमं कोसलराजसूनुना। इदं हि भूयः शृणु वाक्यमुत्तमं क्षमं च युक्तं च निशाचराधिप
But I think it is not fitting for you to meet the son of the king of Kosala in battle. Now hear again this excellent, proper, and fitting counsel, lord of the night-walkers.
thumb|अष्टात्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टात्रिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
The thirty-eighth sarga is to be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
कदाचिदप्यहं वीर्यात् पर्यटन् पृथिवीमिमाम्। बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन् पर्वतोपमः
Once, roaming this earth by my own might, bearing the strength of a thousand elephants, I was like a mountain.
नीलजीमूतसंकाशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः। भयं लोकस्य जनयन् किरीटी परिघायुधः
Dark as a rain cloud, adorned with blazing golden earrings, terrifying the world, crowned and wielding a mace as my weapon—