पश्यास्य जृम्भमाणस्य दीप्तामग्निशिखोपमाम्। जिह्वां मुखान्निःसरन्तीं मेघादिव शतह्रदाम्
Behold, as it yawns, its tongue—brilliant as a blazing flame—emerges from its mouth like a hundred-rayed cloud.
मसारगल्वर्कमुखः शङ्खमुक्तानिभोदरः। कस्य नामानिरूप्योऽसौ न मनो लोभयेन्मृगः
With a face like sapphire and gold, and a belly resembling conch and pearls—who would not feel desire for such an indescribable deer?
कस्य रूपमिदं दृष्ट्वा जाम्बूनदमयप्रभम्। नानारत्नमयं दिव्यं न मनो विस्मयं व्रजेत्
Who, seeing this form—radiant as gold from the Jambū river, divine, adorned with various gems—would not be filled with wonder?
मांसहेतोरपि मृगान् विहारार्थं च धन्विनः। घ्नन्ति लक्ष्मण राजानो मृगयायां महावने
For the sake of meat, and also for sport, kings, O Lakṣmaṇa, hunt deer with bows in the great forest.
धनानि व्यवसायेन विचीयन्ते महावने। धातवो विविधाश्चापि मणिरत्नसुवर्णिनः
In the great forest, through effort, treasures are sought—various minerals, gems, and gold.
तत् सारमखिलं नॄणां धनं निचयवर्धनम्। मनसा चिन्तितं सर्वं यथा शुक्रस्य लक्ष्मण
All that is considered the essence of wealth among men, the means of increasing riches, and all that is desired in the mind, O Lakṣmaṇa, is as it is for Śukra.
अर्थी येनार्थकृत्येन संव्रजत्यविचारयन्। तमर्थमर्थशास्त्रज्ञाः प्राहुरर्थ्याः सुलक्ष्मण
Whatever a seeker pursues for the sake of gain, without hesitation, that is called 'wealth' by those skilled in the science of wealth, O noble Lakṣmaṇa.
एतस्य मृगरत्नस्य परार्घ्ये काञ्चनत्वचि। उपवेक्ष्यति वैदेही मया सह सुमध्यमा
On the priceless golden skin of this jewel among deer, Vaidehī, slender-waisted, will sit with me.
न कादली न प्रियकी न प्रवेणी न चाविकी। भवेदेतस्य सदृशी स्पर्शेऽनेनेति मे मतिः
Neither the plantain, nor the priyaka, nor the praveṇī, nor the āvikī—none of these, I think, would match this one in touch.
एष चैव मृगः श्रीमान् यश्च दिव्यो नभश्चरः। उभावेतौ मृगौ दिव्यौ तारामृगमहीमृगौ
This splendid deer and that celestial one moving in the sky—both are divine: the star-deer and the earth-deer.
यदि वायं तथा यन्मां भवेद् वदसि लक्ष्मण। मायैषा राक्षसस्येति कर्तव्योऽस्य वधो मया
If, as you say, O Lakṣmaṇa, this is indeed a demon's illusion, then I must slay this deer.
एतेन हि नृशंसेन मारीचेनाकृतात्मना। वने विचरता पूर्वं हिंसिता मुनिपुंगवाः
For by this cruel Māricā, whose nature is unrighteous, the foremost sages wandering in the forest were previously harmed.
उत्थाय बहवोऽनेन मृगयायां जनाधिपाः। निहताः परमेष्वासास्तस्माद् वध्यस्त्वयं मृगः
Many kings, expert archers, rose up for the hunt and were slain by him; therefore, this deer must be killed.
पुरस्तादिह वातापिः परिभूय तपस्विनः। उदरस्थो द्विजान् हन्ति स्वगर्भोऽश्वतरीमिव
Earlier, here, Vātāpi, having deceived ascetics, killed brahmins from within their bellies, as a foal within its mother.
स कदाचिच्चिराल्लोभादाससाद महामुनिम्। अगस्त्यं तेजसा युक्तं भक्ष्यस्तस्य बभूव ह
Once, out of greed, he approached the great sage Agastya, endowed with brilliance, and became his food.
त्वयाविगण्य वातापे परिभूताश्च तेजसा। जीवलोके द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्मादसि जरां गतः
By you, O Vātāpi, the best of brahmins were disregarded and overpowered by your might; thus you have come to old age among the living.
तद् रक्षो न भवेदेव वातापिरिव लक्ष्मण। मद्विधं योऽतिमन्येत धर्मनित्यं जितेन्द्रियम्
Such a being is not a true demon, O Lakshmana, who would scorn someone like me—steadfast in righteousness and self-control—just as Vatapi did.
भवेद्धतोऽयं वातापिरगस्त्येनेव मा गतः। इह त्वं भव संनद्धो यन्त्रितो रक्ष मैथिलीम्
He will meet his end, just as Vatapi was destroyed by Agastya; do not go, but remain here, armed and vigilant, to guard Maithili.
अस्यामायत्तमस्माकं यत् कृत्यं रघुनन्दन। अहमेनं वधिष्यामि ग्रहीष्याम्यथवा मृगम्
Our duty here, O delight of the Raghus, depends on her; I will either slay this creature or capture the deer.
यावद् गच्छामि सौमित्रे मृगमानयितुं द्रुतम्। पश्य लक्ष्मण वैदेह्या मृगत्वचि गतां स्पृहाम्
While I go swiftly, O Saumitri, to bring back the deer, observe the longing Vaidehi has for its beautiful skin.
त्वचा प्रधानया ह्येष मृगोऽद्य न भविष्यति। अप्रमत्तेन ते भाव्यमाश्रमस्थेन सीतया
This deer will not survive today, for its skin is its chief allure; you must remain alert in the hermitage with Sita.
यावत् पृषतमेकेन सायकेन निहन्म्यहम्। हत्वैतच्चर्म चादाय शीघ्रमेष्यामि लक्ष्मण
As soon as I strike down this spotted deer with a single arrow, I will take its hide and return quickly, O Lakshmana.
प्रदक्षिणेनातिबलेन पक्षिणा जटायुषा बुद्धिमता च लक्ष्मण। भवाप्रमत्तः प्रतिगृह्य मैथिलीं प्रतिक्षणं सर्वत एव शङ्कितः
With the mighty and wise bird Jatayu circling to the right, you must remain vigilant, protecting Maithili, and be wary at every moment from all sides.
thumb|चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen to the forty-fourth sarga (chapter) in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
तथा तु तं समादिश्य भ्रातरं रघुनन्दनः। बबन्धासिं महातेजा जाम्बूनदमयत्सरुम्
Thus instructing his brother, the scion of Raghu, radiant with great energy, fastened his sword made of Jambū-nada gold.
ततस्त्रिविनतं चापमादायात्मविभूषणम्। आबध्य च कपालौ द्वौ जगामोदग्रविक्रमः
Then, taking up his triple-curved bow, his own ornament, and fastening two quivers, he set out with vigorous stride.
तं वन्यराजो राजेन्द्रमापतन्तं निरीक्ष्य वै। बभूवान्तर्हितस्त्रासात् पुनः संदर्शनेऽभवत्
Seeing the king of the forest rushing toward him, the king of kings became invisible out of fear, and then reappeared.
बद्धासिर्धनुरादाय प्रदुद्राव यतो मृगः। तं स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतयन्तमिवाग्रतः
With sword fastened and bow in hand, he pursued the deer, watching it shine before him with its splendid form.
अवेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य धावन्तं धनुष्पाणिर्महावने। अतिवृत्तमिवोत्पाताल्लोभयानं कदाचन
Watching and watching as it ran, bow in hand, through the great forest, he saw it sometimes behaving unnaturally, enticing him now and then.
शङ्कितं तु समुद्भ्रान्तमुत्पतन्तमिवाम्बरम्। दृश्यमानमदृश्यं च वनोद्देशेषु केषुचित्
It seemed suspicious, agitated, leaping as if into the sky, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden in parts of the forest.