अभिशापकृतस्येति तेनेदं भाषितं वचः। यदा छित्त्वा भुजौ रामस्त्वां दहेद् विजने वने
He, the author of the curse, spoke these words to me: 'When Rama, having cut off your arms, burns you in a lonely forest—'
तदा त्वं प्राप्स्यसे रूपं स्वमेव विपुलं शुभम्। श्रिया विराजितं पुत्रं दनोस्त्वं विद्धि लक्ष्मण
'—then you will regain your own vast and splendid form, adorned with glory. Know, O Lakshmana, that you are the son of Danu.'
इन्द्रकोपादिदं रूपं प्राप्तमेवं रणाजिरे। अहं हि तपसोग्रेण पितामहमतोषयम्
Through Indra's wrath, I obtained this form on the battlefield; for by severe austerity I had pleased the Grandsire.
दीर्घमायुः स मे प्रादात् ततो मां विभ्रमोऽस्पृशत् । दीर्घमायुर्मया प्राप्तं किं मां शक्रः करिष्यति
He granted me long life, and thus confusion did not touch me. Having obtained long life, what could Indra do to me?
इत्येवं बुद्धिमास्थाय रणे शक्रमधर्षयम्। तस्य बाहुप्रमुक्तेन वज्रेण शतपर्वणा
Thinking thus, I challenged Indra in battle; with his hundred-spoked thunderbolt, he struck my thighs and head.
सक्थिनी च शिरश्चैव शरीरे सम्प्रवेशितम्। स मया याच्यमानः सन् नानयद् यमसादनम्
My thighs and head were pierced into my body; though I begged him, he did not send me to the abode of Yama.
पितामहवचः सत्यं तदस्त्विति ममाब्रवीत्। अनाहारः कथं शक्तो भग्नसक्थिशिरोमुखः
He said to me, 'Let the Grandsire's word be fulfilled.' How could I, unfed and with broken thighs, head, and mouth—
वज्रेणाभिहतः कालं सुदीर्घमपि जीवितुम्। स एवमुक्तः शक्रो मे बाहू योजनमायतौ
—struck by the thunderbolt, live for a very long time? Thus addressed, Indra made my arms a yojana long—
तदा चास्यं च मे कुक्षौ तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रमकल्पयत् । सोऽहं भुजाभ्यां दीर्घाभ्यां संक्षिप्यास्मिन् वनेचरान्
—and fashioned my mouth in my belly with sharp fangs. With these long arms, I seize the forest-dwellers here—
सिंहद्वीपिमृगव्याघ्रान् भक्षयामि समन्ततः। स तु मामब्रवीदिन्द्रो यदा रामः सलक्ष्मणः
—and devour lions, elephants, deer, and tigers all around. Then Indra said to me, 'When Rama, together with Lakshmana—'
छेत्स्यते समरे बाहू तदा स्वर्गं गमिष्यसि। अनेन वपुषा तात वनेऽस्मिन् राजसत्तम
'—cuts off your arms in battle, then you will go to heaven. With this form, O best of kings, in this forest—'
यद् यत् पश्यामि सर्वस्य ग्रहणं साधु रोचये। अवश्यं ग्रहणं रामो मन्येऽहं समुपैष्यति
'—whatever I see, I eagerly desire to seize. Surely, I think, Rama will come to seize me.'
इमां बुद्धिं पुरस्कृत्य देहन्यासकृतश्रमः। स त्वं रामोऽसि भद्रं ते नाहमन्येन राघव
Holding to this resolve, weary from maintaining this body, I say to you: you are Rama—blessings to you, Raghava—I cannot be slain by any other.
शक्यो हन्तुं यथा तत्त्वमेवमुक्तं महर्षिणा। अहं हि मतिसाचिव्यं करिष्यामि नरर्षभ
As the great sage has truly said, it is possible to slay him; I will offer my counsel and support, O best of men.
मित्रं चैवोपदेक्ष्यामि युवाभ्यां संस्कृतोऽग्निना। एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा दनुना तेन राघवः
I will also instruct you both in the rites of friendship, sanctified by fire.
इदं जगाद वचनं लक्ष्मणस्य च पश्यतः। रावणेन हृता भार्या सीता मम यशस्विनी
Thus addressed, the righteous Rāghava spoke these words, as Lakṣmaṇa listened: 'My illustrious wife Sītā has been taken by Rāvaṇa.'
निष्क्रान्तस्य जनस्थानात् सह भ्रात्रा यथासुखम्। नाममात्रं तु जानामि न रूपं तस्य रक्षसः
After leaving Janasthāna with my brother, I know only the name of that rākṣasa, not his form.
निवासं वा प्रभावं वा वयं तस्य न विद्महे। शोकार्तानामनाथानामेवं विपरिधावताम्
We do not know his dwelling or his power; we are afflicted by grief, without support, wandering in distress.
कारुण्यं सदृशं कर्तुमुपकारेण वर्तताम्। काष्ठान्यानीय भग्नानि काले शुष्काणि कुञ्जरैः
It is fitting to show compassion and render help to those who act thus, bringing dry wood broken by elephants at the proper time.
धक्ष्यामस्त्वां वयं वीर श्वभ्रे महति कल्पिते। स त्वं सीतां समाचक्ष्व येन वा यत्र वा हृता
We will burn you, O hero, in the great pit prepared; so tell us of Sītā—by whom or where she was taken.
कुरु कल्याणमत्यर्थं यदि जानासि तत्त्वतः। एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण वाक्यं दनुरनुत्तमम्
Do a great good, if you truly know; reveal it. Thus addressed by Rāma, the mighty demon replied.
प्रोवाच कुशलो वक्ता वक्तारमपि राघवम्। दिव्यमस्ति न मे ज्ञानं नाभिजानामि मैथिलीम्
He, skilled in speech, spoke to Rāghava, the speaker: 'I do not possess divine knowledge, nor do I know Maithilī.'
यस्तां वक्ष्यति तं वक्ष्ये दग्धः स्वं रूपमास्थितः। योऽभिजानाति तद्रक्षस्तद् वक्ष्ये राम तत्परम्
'When I am burned and regain my true form, I will tell you who knows of her; I will reveal to you, Rāma, that rākṣasa who knows.'
अदग्धस्य हि विज्ञातुं शक्तिरस्ति न मे प्रभो। राक्षसं तु महावीर्यं सीता येन हृता तव
'While unburned, I do not have the power to know, O lord; but the mighty rākṣasa who took your Sītā—'
विज्ञानं हि महद् भ्रष्टं शापदोषेण राघव। स्वकृतेन मया प्राप्तं रूपं लोकविगर्हितम्
'My great knowledge has been lost through the curse, O Rāghava; by my own deed I have obtained this form, despised by the world.'
किं तु यावन्न यात्यस्तं सविता श्रान्तवाहनः। तावन्मामवटे क्षिप्त्वा दह राम यथाविधि
'But before the weary sun sets, cast me into the pit and burn me, Rāma, as is proper.'
दग्धस्त्वयाहमवटे न्यायेन रघुनन्दन। वक्ष्यामि तं महावीर यस्तं वेत्स्यति राक्षसम्
'Burned by you in the pit according to justice, O descendant of Raghu, I will tell you of the mighty hero who will find that rākṣasa.'
तेन सख्यं च कर्तव्यं न्याय्यवृत्तेन राघव। कल्पयिष्यति ते वीर साहाय्यं लघुविक्रम
'You must make friendship with him, O Rāghava, for he is righteous; O hero, he will devise swift aid for you.'
नहि तस्यास्त्यविज्ञातं त्रिषु लोकेषु राघव। सर्वान् परिवृतो लोकान् पुरा वै कारणान्तरे
'Nothing is unknown to him in all three worlds, O Rāghava; surrounded by all beings, he once roamed for another reason.'
thumb|द्विसप्ततितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे द्विसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥३-
Here ends the seventy-second sarga. Listen.