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—
व्यचरन् दण्डकारण्यमृषिमांसानि भक्षयन्। विश्वामित्रोऽथ धर्मात्मा मद्वित्रस्तो महामुनिः
I wandered the Daṇḍaka forest, eating the flesh of sages; then Viśvāmitra, the righteous great sage, terrified of me—
स्वयं गत्वा दशरथं नरेन्द्रमिदमब्रवीत्। अयं रक्षतु मां रामः पर्वकाले समाहितः
Went himself to King Daśaratha and said this: 'Let Rāma protect me, intent, at the time of sacrifice.'
मारीचान्मे भयं घोरं समुत्पन्नं नरेश्वर। इत्येवमुक्तो धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा
'O king, a terrible fear of Mārīca has arisen in me.' Thus addressed, the righteous King Daśaratha at that time—
प्रत्युवाच महाभागं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। ऊनद्वादशवर्षोऽयमकृतास्त्रश्च राघवः
Replied to the illustrious Viśvāmitra, the great sage: 'This Rāghava is not yet twelve years old and untrained in arms.'
कामं तु मम तत् सैन्यं मया सह गमिष्यति। बलेन चतुरङ्गेण स्वयमेत्य निशाचरम्
'Indeed, my army will go with me; with my fourfold force, I myself will come against the night-stalker.'
वधिष्यामि मुनिश्रेष्ठ शत्रुं तव यथेप्सितम्। एवमुक्तः स तु मुनी राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
'I will slay your enemy, best of sages, as you desire.' Thus addressed, the sage spoke to the king as follows:
रामान्नान्यद् बलं लोके पर्याप्तं तस्य रक्षसः। देवतानामपि भवान् समरेष्वभिपालकः
There is no other force in the world, apart from Rāma, sufficient against that Rākṣasa; even among the gods, you are the protector in battles.
आसीत् तव कृतं कर्म त्रिलोकविदितं नृप। काममस्ति महत् सैन्यं तिष्ठत्विह परंतप
The deed you performed, O king, is renowned throughout the three worlds; though you have a great army, let it remain here, O scorcher of foes.
बालोऽप्येष महातेजाः समर्थस्तस्य निग्रहे। गमिष्ये राममादाय स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु परंतप
Even though he is a boy, this one of great brilliance is capable of restraining him; I will go, taking Rāma with me—may you fare well, O subduer of enemies.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स मुनिस्तमादाय नृपात्मजम्। जगाम परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रः स्वमाश्रमम्
Having spoken thus, the sage, exceedingly pleased, took the prince and departed for his own hermitage.