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.
तं तथा दण्डकारण्ये यज्ञमुद्दिश्य दीक्षितम्। बभूवोपस्थितो रामश्चित्रं विस्फारयन् धनुः
There, in the Daṇḍaka forest, Rāma stood ready, having undertaken the vow for the sacrifice, wondrously stringing his bow.
अजातव्यञ्जनः श्रीमान् बालः श्यामः शुभेक्षणः। एकवस्त्रधरो धन्वी शिखी कनकमालया
Unmarked by beard, radiant, a dark-complexioned boy with auspicious eyes, wearing a single garment, carrying a bow, with a topknot adorned with a golden garland.
शोभयन् दण्डकारण्यं दीप्तेन स्वेन तेजसा। अदृश्यत तदा रामो बालचन्द्र इवोदितः
Illuminating the Daṇḍaka forest with his own blazing splendor, Rāma appeared then like the newly risen young moon.
ततोऽहं मेघसंकाशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः। बली दत्तवरो दर्पादाजगामाश्रमान्तरम्
Then I, dark as a cloud, wearing blazing golden earrings, strong and proud from the boon I had received, entered the hermitage.
तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टोऽहं सहसैवोद्यतायुधः। मां तु दृष्ट्वा धनुः सज्यमसम्भ्रान्तश्चकार ह
As I entered, he saw me, weapon in hand; seeing me, he calmly readied his bow, without any confusion.
अवजानन्नहं मोहाद् बालोऽयमिति राघवम्। विश्वामित्रस्य तां वेदिमभ्यधावं कृतत्वरः
Out of delusion, I scorned Rāghava, thinking, 'He is just a boy,' and, hastening, I rushed toward Viśvāmitra’s sacrificial altar.
तेन मुक्तस्ततो बाणः शितः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। तेनाहं ताडितः क्षिप्तः समुद्रे शतयोजने
Then, a sharp arrow, released by him, destroyer of enemies, struck me and hurled me a hundred yojanas into the sea.
नेच्छता तात मां हन्तुं तदा वीरेण रक्षितः। रामस्य शरवेगेन निरस्तो भ्रान्तचेतनः
He did not wish to kill me then, O father, but protected me; driven away by Rāma’s arrow’s force, I lost consciousness.
पातितोऽहं तदा तेन गम्भीरे सागराम्भसि। प्राप्य संज्ञां चिरात् तात लङ्कां प्रति गतः पुरीम्
Then I was cast into the deep ocean by him; regaining consciousness after a long time, O father, I went to the city of Laṅkā.
एवमस्मि तदा मुक्तः सहायास्ते निपातिताः। अकृतास्त्रेण रामेण बालेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
Thus I was spared at that time, but your allies were slain by Rāma, though he was a boy, unwearied in action and unused to weapons.