अवश्यं विनशिष्यन्ति सर्वे रावण राक्षसाः। येषां त्वं कर्कशो राजा दुर्बुद्धिरजितेन्द्रियः
All the demons will certainly perish, O Rāvaṇa, whose king is cruel, foolish, and unable to control his senses.
तदिदं काकतालीयं घोरमासादितं मया। अत्र त्वं शोचनीयोऽसि ससैन्यो विनशिष्यसि
This dreadful event has occurred to me by chance, and here you are to be mourned; you and your army will perish.
मां निहत्य तु रामोऽसावचिरात् त्वां वधिष्यति। अनेन कृतकृत्योऽस्मि म्रिये चाप्यरिणा हतः
After killing me, Rāma will soon slay you; by this, my purpose is fulfilled, and I die, struck down by an enemy.
दर्शनादेव रामस्य हतं मामवधारय। आत्मानं च हतं विद्धि हृत्वा सीतां सबान्धवम्
Consider me already slain merely by the sight of Rāma; know yourself to be destroyed as well, having abducted Sītā along with her kin.
आनयिष्यसि चेत् सीतामाश्रमात् सहितो मया। नैव त्वमपि नाहं वै नैव लङ्का न राक्षसाः
If you bring Sītā from the hermitage together with me, neither you nor I, nor Lanka nor the demons, will survive.
निवार्यमाणस्तु मया हितैषिणा न मृष्यसे वाक्यमिदं निशाचर। परेतकल्पा हि गतायुषो नरा हितं न गृह्णन्ति सुहृद्भिरीरितम्
Though I, your well-wisher, try to restrain you, you do not accept these words, O night-wanderer; men whose lives are ended, like the dead, do not heed the advice spoken by friends.
thumb|द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the forty-second chapter. In the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Aranya Kāṇḍa, the forty-second chapter.
एवमुक्त्वा तु परुषं मारीचो रावणं ततः। गच्छावेत्यब्रवीद् दीनो भयाद् रात्रिंचरप्रभोः
Having spoken harshly, Mārīca then said to Rāvaṇa, 'Let us go,' sorrowful and fearful of the lord of night-wanderers.
दृष्टश्चाहं पुनस्तेन शरचापासिधारिणा। मद्वधोद्यतशस्त्रेण निहतं जीवितं च मे
I have again been seen by him who bears bow, arrows, and sword, whose weapon is raised to kill me; my life is already destroyed.
नहि रामं पराक्रम्य जीवन् प्रतिनिवर्तते। वर्तते प्रतिरूपोऽसौ यमदण्डहतस्य ते
No one who confronts Rāma returns alive; he is like the punishment of Yama for you.
किं नु कर्तुं मया शक्यमेवं त्वयि दुरात्मनि। एष गच्छाम्यहं तात स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु निशाचर
What can I possibly do, with you being so wicked? I depart now, O night-wanderer; may you fare well.
प्रहृष्टस्त्वभवत् तेन वचनेन स राक्षसः। परिष्वज्य सुसंश्लिष्टमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
The demon became delighted by those words, and embracing him tightly, spoke these words.
एतच्छौटीर्ययुक्तं ते मच्छन्दवशवर्तिनः। इदानीमसि मारीचः पूर्वमन्यो हि राक्षसः
Now you possess this courage, acting according to my wishes; you are Mārīca now, whereas before you were another demon.
आरुह्यतामयं शीघ्रं खगो रत्नविभूषितः। मया सह रथो युक्तः पिशाचवदनैः खरैः
Mount this swift bird-like chariot adorned with jewels; together with me, the chariot is yoked with donkeys having ghastly faces.
प्रलोभयित्वा वैदेहीं यथेष्टं गन्तुमर्हसि। तां शून्ये प्रसभं सीतामानयिष्यामि मैथिलीम्
After enticing Vaidehī, you may depart as you wish; in the deserted place, I will forcibly bring Sītā, the princess of Mithilā.
ततस्तथेत्युवाचैनं रावणं ताटकासुतः। ततो रावणमारीचौ विमानमिव तं रथम्
Then, agreeing so, Tāṭakā's son spoke to Rāvaṇa; after that, Mārīca and Rāvaṇa, like a flying palace, boarded that chariot.
आरुह्याययतुः शीघ्रं तस्मादाश्रममण्डलात्। तथैव तत्र पश्यन्तौ पत्तनानि वनानि च
Mounting, they swiftly departed from that circle of hermitages; there, they observed cities and forests alike.
गिरींश्च सरितः सर्वा राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च। समेत्य दण्डकारण्यं राघवस्याश्रमं ततः
They saw mountains, all rivers, realms, and towns; arriving at Daṇḍaka forest, then at Rāghava's hermitage.
ददर्श सहमारीचो रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। अवतीर्य रथात् तस्मात् ततः काञ्चनभूषणात्
There, together with Mārīca, Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, saw it; then, dismounting from that golden-adorned chariot.
हस्ते गृहीत्वा मारीचं रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। एतद् रामाश्रमपदं दृश्यते कदलीवृतम्
Taking Mārīca by the hand, Rāvaṇa spoke: 'This is Rāma's hermitage, surrounded by banana trees.'
क्रियतां तत् सखे शीघ्रं यदर्थं वयमागताः। स रावणवचः श्रुत्वा मारीचो राक्षसस्तदा
'Friend, quickly do that for which we have come.' Hearing Rāvaṇa's words, Mārīca, the rākṣasa, then—
मृगो भूत्वाऽऽश्रमद्वारि रामस्य विचचार ह। स तु रूपं समास्थाय महदद्भुतदर्शनम्
Assuming the form of a deer, wandered at the entrance of Rāma's hermitage; he took on a shape wondrous and astonishing.
मणिप्रवरशृङ्गाग्रः सितासितमुखाकृतिः। रक्तपद्मोत्पलमुख इन्द्रनीलोत्पलश्रवाः
With horns of finest jewels, a face both white and black; a mouth like a red lotus, ears like blue lotuses.
किंचिदभ्युन्नतग्रीव इन्द्रनीलनिभोदरः। मधूकनिभपार्श्वश्च कञ्जकिञ्जल्कसंनिभः
With a slightly raised neck, a belly resembling blue sapphire; flanks like honey-colored flowers, and like the filaments of a lotus.
वैदूर्यसंकाशखुरस्तनुजङ्घः सुसंहतः। इन्द्रायुधसवर्णेन पुच्छेनोर्ध्वं विराजितः
Hooves shining like beryl, slender legs well-formed; with a tail radiant, colored like Indra's rainbow.
मनोहरस्निग्धवर्णो रत्नैर्नानाविधैर्वृतः। क्षणेन राक्षसो जातो मृगः परमशोभनः
Enchanting, with glossy hues, adorned with various gems; in a moment, the rākṣasa became a deer of supreme beauty.
वनं प्रज्वलयन् रम्यं रामाश्रमपदं च तत्। मनोहरं दर्शनीयं रूपं कृत्वा स राक्षसः
Illuminating the lovely forest and Rāma's hermitage, that rākṣasa, making himself delightful and pleasing to the eye—
प्रलोभनार्थं वैदेह्या नानाधातुविचित्रितम्। विचरन् गच्छते सम्यक् शाद्वलानि समन्ततः
To entice Vaidehī, adorned with various minerals, he wandered, moving perfectly across the green meadows all around.
रौप्यैर्बिन्दुशतैश्चित्रं भूत्वा च प्रियदर्शनः। विटपीनां किसलयान् भक्षयन् विचचार ह
Becoming charming, marked with hundreds of silvery spots, he roamed, eating the tender leaves of the trees.
कदलीगृहकं गत्वा कर्णिकारानितस्ततः। समाश्रयन् मन्दगतिं सीतासंदर्शनं ततः
Going to the banana grove, then to the kārṇikāra trees, he lingered with gentle steps, awaiting Sītā's sight.