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—
निहत्य पृषतं चान्यं मांसमादाय राघवः। त्वरमाणो जनस्थानं ससाराभिमुखं तदा
Having killed another spotted deer and taken its flesh, Raghava hurried toward Janasthana.
thumb|पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the forty-fifth chapter be heard.
आर्तस्वरं तु तं भर्तुर्विज्ञाय सदृशं वने। उवाच लक्ष्मणं सीता गच्छ जानीहि राघवम्
Recognizing that anguished cry in the forest as her husband's, Sita said to Lakshmana, 'Go and find out about Raghava.'
नहि मे जीवितं स्थाने हृदयं वावतिष्ठते। क्रोशतः परमार्तस्य श्रुतः शब्दो मया भृशम्
My life is not secure, nor does my heart remain steady; I have heard the voice of one in great distress, crying out, and it has shaken me deeply.
आक्रन्दमानं तु वने भ्रातरं त्रातुमर्हसि। तं क्षिप्रमभिधाव त्वं भ्रातरं शरणैषिणम्
You must save your brother, who is calling out in the forest; quickly run to him, your brother who seeks refuge.
रक्षसां वशमापन्नं सिंहानामिव गोवृषम्। न जगाम तथोक्तस्तु भ्रातुराज्ञाय शासनम्
He has fallen into the power of the rakshasas, like a bull among lions; yet, Lakshmana did not go, remembering his brother's command.
तमुवाच ततस्तत्र क्षुभिता जनकात्मजा। सौमित्रे मित्ररूपेण भ्रातुस्त्वमसि शत्रुवत्
Then, disturbed, the daughter of Janaka spoke to him there: 'Son of Sumitra, though you appear as a friend, you are acting as an enemy to your brother.'
यस्त्वमस्यामवस्थायां भ्रातरं नाभिपद्यसे। इच्छसि त्वं विनश्यन्तं रामं लक्ष्मण मत्कृते
If, in this situation, you do not go to your brother, then, Lakshmana, it is for my sake that you wish for Rama's destruction.
लोभात्तु मत्कृते नूनं नानुगच्छसि राघवम्। व्यसनं ते प्रियं मन्ये स्नेहो भ्रातरि नास्ति ते
Surely, out of desire for me, you do not follow Raghava; I think you take pleasure in his misfortune, and you have no affection for your brother.
तेन तिष्ठसि विस्रब्धं तमपश्यन् महाद्युतिम्। किं हि संशयमापन्ने तस्मिन्निह मया भवेत्
That is why you remain here so confidently, not seeing him, the radiant one; what would become of me here if he, in whom I trust, is in danger?