अहं तस्य प्रभावज्ञो न युद्धं तेन ते क्षमम्। बलिं वा नमुचिं वापि हन्याद्धि रघुनन्दनः
I know his power; battle with him is not suitable for you. The descendant of Raghu could slay even Bali or Namuci.
रणे रामेण युद्धस्व क्षमां वा कुरु रावण। न ते रामकथा कार्या यदि मां द्रष्टुमिच्छसि
Fight Rama in battle, or show patience, O Ravana. You need not speak of Rama if you wish to see me.
बहवः साधवो लोके युक्ता धर्ममनुष्ठिताः। परेषामपराधेन विनष्टाः सपरिच्छदाः
Many virtuous people in the world, devoted to righteousness, have perished, along with their possessions, because of others’ offenses.
सोऽहं परापराधेन विनशेयं निशाचर। कुरु यत् ते क्षमं तत्त्वमहं त्वां नानुयामि वै
Thus, by another’s offense, I too may perish, O night-wanderer. Do what you deem proper; I will not follow you.
रामश्च हि महातेजा महासत्त्वो महाबलः। अपि राक्षसलोकस्य भवेदन्तकरोऽपि हि
Rama is possessed of great splendor, great courage, and great strength; he could indeed be the destroyer even of the world of Rakshasas.
यदि शूर्पणखाहेतोर्जनस्थानगतः खरः। अतिवृत्तो हतः पूर्वं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। अत्र ब्रूहि यथातत्त्वं को रामस्य व्यतिक्रमः
If Khara, because of Shurpanakha, went to Janasthana and was excessively violent, and was previously slain by Rama, whose deeds are effortless, then tell me truly, what fault is there in Rama?
इदं वचो बन्धुहितार्थिना मया यथोच्यमानं यदि नाभिपत्स्यसे। सबान्धवस्त्यक्ष्यसि जीवितं रणे हतोऽद्य रामेण शरैरजिह्मगैः
If you do not accept these words, spoken by me for your welfare and that of your kin, then you and your relatives will lose your lives in battle, slain today by Rama’s straight-flying arrows.
thumb|चत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the fortieth chapter be heard. In the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, Aranyakanda, the fortieth chapter.
मारीचस्य तु तद् वाक्यं क्षमं युक्तं च रावणः। उक्तो न प्रतिजग्राह मर्तुकाम इवौषधम्
Ravana, hearing Maricha’s words, which were proper and fitting, did not accept them, like one wishing for death rejects medicine.
तं पथ्यहितवक्तारं मारीचं राक्षसाधिपः। अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यमयुक्तं कालचोदितः
The lord of Rakshasas, prompted by fate, spoke harsh and unfitting words to Maricha, who advised what was wholesome and beneficial.
दुष्कुलैतदयुक्तार्थं मारीच मयि कथ्यते। वाक्यं निष्फलमत्यर्थं बीजमुप्तमिवोषरे
This speech, Maricha, spoken to me, is unfit and meaningless, coming from one of ignoble lineage; it is utterly fruitless, like a seed sown in barren ground.
त्वद्वाक्यैर्न तु मां शक्यं भेत्तुं रामस्य संयुगे। मूर्खस्य पापशीलस्य मानुषस्य विशेषतः
Your words cannot break me in battle against Rama, especially since he is a foolish, sinful human.
यस्त्यक्त्वा सुहृदो राज्यं मातरं पितरं तथा। स्त्रीवाक्यं प्राकृतं श्रुत्वा वनमेकपदे गतः
He who, having abandoned friends, kingdom, mother and father, went alone to the forest upon hearing the ordinary words of a woman—
अवश्यं तु मया तस्य संयुगे खरघातिनः। प्राणैः प्रियतरा सीता हर्तव्या तव संनिधौ
Certainly, in battle with the slayer of Khara, I must seize Sita, who is dearer to him than life, right before you.
एवं मे निश्चिता बुद्धिर्हृदि मारीच विद्यते। न व्यावर्तयितुं शक्या सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः
Such is the firm resolve in my heart, Maricha; it cannot be turned aside, not even by gods or demons together with Indra.
दोषं गुणं वा सम्पृष्टस्त्वमेवं वक्तुमर्हसि। अपायं वा उपायं वा कार्यस्यास्य विनिश्चये
When asked about the faults or merits, you ought to speak thus, whether about danger or opportunity, regarding the decision of this task.
सम्पृष्टेन तु वक्तव्यं सचिवेन विपश्चिता। उद्यताञ्जलिना राज्ञो य इच्छेद् भूतिमात्मनः
When questioned, a wise minister should speak, with hands joined in respect, to the king, if he desires his own prosperity.
वाक्यमप्रतिकूलं तु मृदुपूर्वं शुभं हितम्। उपचारेण वक्तव्यो युक्तं च वसुधाधिपः
Words that are not opposed, gentle, auspicious, and beneficial, should be spoken to the ruler, with proper decorum and appropriateness.
सावमर्दं तु यद्वाक्यमथवा हितमुच्यते। नाभिनन्देत तद् राजा मानार्थी मानवर्जितम्
If words are spoken that are harsh or beneficial, but lack respect, the king who values honor should not welcome them.
पञ्च रूपाणि राजानो धारयन्त्यमितौजसः। अग्नेरिन्द्रस्य सोमस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च
Kings of immeasurable energy bear five forms: those of Agni, Indra, Soma, Yama, and Varuna.
औष्ण्यं तथा विक्रमं च सौम्यं दण्डं प्रसन्नताम्। धारयन्ति महात्मानो राजानः क्षणदाचर
Great kings, O night-wanderer, possess heat, valor, gentleness, punishment, and graciousness, as do those deities.
तस्मात् सर्वास्ववस्थासु मान्याः पूज्याश्च नित्यदा। त्वं तु धर्ममविज्ञाय केवलं मोहमाश्रितः
Therefore, in all circumstances, they must always be honored and revered; but you, ignorant of duty, are simply seized by delusion.
अभ्यागतं तु दौरात्म्यात् परुषं वदसीदृशम्। गुणदोषौ न पृच्छामि क्षेमं चात्मनि राक्षस
Out of wickedness, you have spoken such harsh words to one who has come; I do not ask about merits or faults, nor about your own welfare, O Rakshasa.
मयोक्तमपि चैतावत् त्वां प्रत्यमितविक्रम। अस्मिंस्तु स भवान् कृत्ये साहाय्यं कर्तुमर्हसि
Even after all this has been said by me to you, O one of restrained prowess, you must assist me in this task.
शृणु तत्कर्म साहाय्ये यत्कार्यं वचनान्मम। सौवर्णस्त्वं मृगो भूत्वा चित्रो रजतबिन्दुभिः
Hear now the deed required for your assistance, as I tell you: you must become a golden deer, adorned with silver spots.
आश्रमे तस्य रामस्य सीतायाः प्रमुखे चर। प्रलोभयित्वा वैदेहीं यथेष्टं गन्तुमर्हसि
Roam before Sita in Rama's hermitage; after enticing Vaidehi, you may depart as you wish.
त्वां हि मायामयं दृष्ट्वा काञ्चनं जातविस्मया। आनयैनमिति क्षिप्रं रामं वक्ष्यति मैथिली
When Maithili sees you, a magical, golden creature, she will be amazed and quickly say to Rama, 'Bring it to me!'
अपक्रान्ते च काकुत्स्थे दूरं गत्वाप्युदाहर। हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवं रामवाक्यानुरूपकम्
And when Kakutstha has gone far away, you should cry out, 'Ha, Sita! Lakshmana!' in a manner resembling Rama's voice.
तच्छ्रुत्वा रामपदवीं सीतया च प्रचोदितः। अनुगच्छति सम्भ्रान्तः सौमित्रिरपि सौहृदात्
Hearing that, and urged by Sita, Saumitri too, out of friendship, anxiously follows the path of Rama.
अपक्रान्ते च काकुत्स्थे लक्ष्मणे च यथासुखम्। आहरिष्यामि वैदेहीं सहस्राक्षः शचीमिव
When Kakutstha and Lakshmana have departed, I will seize Vaidehi at my ease, just as the thousand-eyed Indra took Shachi.