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.
छिन्नाभ्रैरिव संवीतं शारदं चन्द्रमण्डलम्। मुहूर्तादेव ददृशे मुहुर्दूरात् प्रकाशते
Like the autumn moon veiled by scattered clouds, it would appear for a moment, then shine from afar.
दर्शनादर्शनेनैव सोऽपाकर्षत राघवम्। स दूरमाश्रमस्यास्य मारीचो मृगतां गतः
By appearing and disappearing, Maricha, who had taken the form of a deer, drew Rāghava far from the hermitage.
आसीत् क्रुद्धस्तु काकुत्स्थो विवशस्तेन मोहितः। अथावतस्थे सुश्रान्तश्छायामाश्रित्य शाद्वले
The descendant of Kakutstha, angered and bewildered by him, became helpless; then, exhausted, he paused, seeking shade on a grassy spot.
स तमुन्मादयामास मृगरूपो निशाचरः। मृगैः परिवृतोऽथान्यैरदूरात् प्रत्यदृश्यत
That night-stalker, in the form of a deer, began to agitate him, and surrounded by other deer, appeared not far away.
ग्रहीतुकामं दृष्ट्वा तं पुनरेवाभ्यधावत। तत्क्षणादेव संत्रासात् पुनरन्तर्हितोऽभवत्
Seeing him eager to seize, he again rushed forward; but in that very moment, out of fear, he vanished once more.
पुनरेव ततो दूराद् वृक्षखण्डाद् विनिःसृतः। दृष्ट्वा रामो महातेजास्तं हन्तुं कृतनिश्चयः
Then again, from a distance, emerging from behind a tree, Rama, of great brilliance, saw him and resolved to kill.
भूयस्तु शरमुद्धृत्य कुपितस्तत्र राघवः। सूर्यरश्मिप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमरिमर्दनम्
Raghava, now enraged, took up a shining arrow, blazing like the rays of the sun, a destroyer of enemies.
संधाय सुदृढे चापे विकृष्य बलवद्बली। तमेव मृगमुद्दिश्य श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्
He fitted it to his sturdy bow, drawing it with great force, aiming at that very deer, who breathed like a serpent.
मुमोच ज्वलितं दीप्तमस्त्रं ब्रह्मविनिर्मितम्। शरीरं मृगरूपस्य विनिर्भिद्य शरोत्तमः
He released the flaming, radiant weapon, crafted by Brahma; the excellent arrow pierced the body of the deer-form.
मारीचस्यैव हृदयं बिभेदाशनिसंनिभः। तालमात्रमथोत्प्लुत्य न्यपतत् स भृशातुरः
It struck Maricha's heart, like a thunderbolt; leaping a palm's length, he fell, grievously wounded.
व्यनदद् भैरवं नादं धरण्यामल्पजीवितः। म्रियमाणस्तु मारीचो जहौ तां कृत्रिमां तनुम्
He uttered a dreadful cry upon the earth, his life nearly spent; as he was dying, Maricha abandoned that false form.
स्मृत्वा तद्वचनं रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम्। इह प्रस्थापयेत् सीता तां शून्ये रावणो हरेत्
Recalling the words of the demon, he pondered: by what means might Lakshmana be sent away here, so that Ravana could seize Sita in solitude?
स प्राप्तकालमाज्ञाय चकार च ततः स्वनम्। सदृशं राघवस्येव हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च
Recognizing the moment had come, he then cried out, imitating Raghava's voice: 'Alas, Sita! Lakshmana!'
तेन मर्मणि निर्विद्धं शरेणानुपमेन हि। मृगरूपं तु तत् त्यक्त्वा राक्षसं रूपमास्थितः
Pierced in a vital spot by the incomparable arrow, he abandoned the deer-form and assumed the shape of a demon.
चक्रे स सुमहाकायं मारीचो जीवितं त्यजन्। तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ राक्षसं भीमदर्शनम्
Maricha, of immense body, relinquished life; seeing him fallen on the ground, a demon of terrifying appearance—
रामो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गं चेष्टमानं महीतले। जगाम मनसा सीतां लक्ष्मणस्य वचः स्मरन्
Rama saw him, his body drenched in blood, writhing on the earth; his mind turned to Sita, remembering Lakshmana's words.
मारीचस्य तु मायैषा पूर्वोक्तं लक्ष्मणेन तु। तत् तथा ह्यभवच्चाद्य मारीचोऽयं मया हतः
This was Maricha's illusion, as Lakshmana had previously said; so it has come to pass today—Maricha has been slain by me.
हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवमाक्रुश्य तु महास्वनम्। ममार राक्षसः सोऽयं श्रुत्वा सीता कथं भवेत्
Crying out loudly, 'Alas, Sita! Lakshmana!' the demon died; hearing this, what will happen to Sita?
लक्ष्मणश्च महाबाहुः कामवस्थां गमिष्यति। इति संचिन्त्य धर्मात्मा रामो हृष्टतनूरुहः
Lakshmana, mighty-armed, will surely depart, driven by desire; thinking thus, the righteous Rama felt his hair stand on end.
तत्र रामं भयं तीव्रमाविवेश विषादजम्। राक्षसं मृगरूपं तं हत्वा श्रुत्वा च तत्स्वनम्
Then intense fear, born of anxiety, entered Rama; having slain the demon in deer-form and hearing that cry—