Sloka & Translation

[Viradha attacks Rama and Lakshmana -- carries away Sita.]

kṛtātithyō.tha rāmastu sūryasyōdayanaṅ prati.

āmnatṟya sa munīnsarvānvanamēvānvagāhata৷৷3.2.1৷৷


atha then, kṛtātithyaḥ on receiving hospitality, saḥ rāmastu that Rama also, sūryasyōdayanaṅ prati at the time of sunrise, sarvān all, munīn sages, āmnatṟya took leave, vanamēva into the forest, anvagāhata entered deep.

After receiving hospitality from the sages, Rama took of all of them at sunrise and entered deep into the forest.
nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇamṛkṣaśārdūla sēvitam.

dhvastavṛkṣalatāgulmaṅ durdarśasalilāśayam৷৷3.2.2৷৷

niṣkūjanānāśakunijhillikāgaṇanāditam.

lakṣmaṇānugatō rāmō vanamadhyaṅ dadarśa ha৷৷3.2.3৷৷


lakṣmaṇānugataḥ followed by Lakshmana, rāmaḥ Rama, nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇam filled with different kinds of animals, ṛkṣaśārdūlasēvitam inhabited by bears and tigers, dhvastavṛkṣalatāgulmam a place where trees, creepers and bushes were crushed (due to frequent visit by demons), durdaśa difficult to see, salilāśayam water-reservoirs like wells, niṣkūjanānāśakuni with the twitter of various birds, jhillikāgaṇanāditam resounding with the chirping of crickets. vanamadhyam midst of the forest, dadarśa ha witnessed.

With Lakshmana following, Rama went through the forest, filled with herds of animals and inhabited by bears and tigers. It was a place where trees, creepers and bushes were crushed (by frequent visits of demons). It was difficult to locate a water source. And it resounded with the chirping of various birds and insects (crickets).
sītayā saha kākutsthastasminaghōramṛgāyutē.

dadarśa giriśṛṅgābhaṅ puruṣādaṅ mahāsvanam৷৷3.2.4৷৷


sītayā saha along with Sita, kākutsthaḥ Rama of the Kakutstha family, ghōramṛgāyutē infested with dreadful animals, tasmin in that place, giriśṛṅgābham comparable to the peak of a mountain, mahāsvanam heavy sound, puruṣādam a cannibal, dadarśa saw.

While Rama along with Sita was wandering in the forest infested with dreadful animals, he saw a roaring cannibal resembling the peak of a mountain.
gambhīrākṣaṅ mahāvaktraṅ vikaṭaṅ viṣamōdaram.

bībhatsaṅ viṣamaṅ dīrghaṅ vikṛtaṅ ghōradarśanam৷৷3.2.5৷৷


gambhīrākṣam deep-eyed, mahāvaktram with a large face, vikaṭam of dreadful appearance, viṣamōdaram with a huge belly, bībhatsam loathsome, viṣamam crude, dīrgham tall, vikṛtam ugly, ghōradarśanam of frightful appearance.

He was of dreadful appearance with deep eyes, a huge face and a big belly. He looked tall, ugly and frightening.
vasānaṅ carma vaiyāghraṅ vasārdraṅ rudhirōkṣitam.

trāsanaṅ sarvabhūtānāṅ vyāditāsyamivāntakam৷৷3.2.6৷৷


vaiyāghram tiger's, carma skin, vasānam wore, vasārdram wet with marrow, rudhirōkṣitam drenched with blood, sarvabhūtānām of all beings, trāsanam causing terror, vyāditāsyam with wide open mouth, antakam iva like the god of death.

Wearing a tiger-skin, he resembled the god of death. With a wide, open mouth, wet with marrow and drenched with blood, he struck terror into all beings.
trīnsimhānścaturō vyāghrāndvau vṛkau pṛṣatāndaśa.

saviṣāṇaṅ vasādigdhaṅ gajasya ca śirō mahat.

avasajyāyasē śūlē vinadantaṅ mahāsvanam৷৷3.2.7৷৷


trīn three, siṅhān lions, caturaḥ four, vyāghrān tigers, dvau two, vṛkau wolves, daśa ten, pṛṣatān deer, saviṣāṇam along with the tusk of an elephant, vasādigdham wet with the fat of flesh, mahat great, gajasya śiraḥ elephant's head, āyasē on an iron, śūlē spoke, avasajya having pierced, mahāsvanam shouting loudly, vinadantam while he produced.

Roaring loudly, he carried an iron spit in which were pierced three lions, four tigers, two wolves, ten deer and the huge head of an elephant with its tusks smeared with the fat of flesh.
sa rāmaṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ caiva sītāṅ dṛṣṭvā ca maithilīm.

abhyadhāvatsusaṅkṛddhaḥ prajāḥ kāla ivāntakaḥ৷৷3.2.8৷৷


saḥ that, rāmam Rama, lakṣmaṇaṅ ca and Lakshmana, maithilīm princess of Mithila, sītāṅ ca and to Sita, dṛṣṭvā seeing susaṅkṛddhaḥ he was with anger, antakaḥ god of death, kālaḥ Yama, prajāḥ iva like the people, abhyadhāvat ran towards.

Looking extremely furious, he ran towards Rama, Lakshmana and Sita like the god of death rushes towards the (dying) people.
sa kṛtvā bhairavaṅ nādaṅ cālayanniva mēdinīm.

aṅkēnādāya vaidēhīmapakramya tatō.bravīt৷৷3.2.9৷৷


tataḥ then, saḥ that demon, mēdinīm earth, cālayanniva as if shaking, bhairavam dreadful, nādam sound, kṛtvā after producing, vaidēhīm Sita, aṅkēna in his lap, ādāya taking, apakramya after moving aside, abravīt said.

Making a dreadful sound, as if shaking the earth, he took Sita on his lap, stepped aside and said:
yuvāṅ jaṭācīradharau sabhāryau kṣīṇajīvitau.

praviṣṭau daṇḍakāraṇyaṅ śaracāpāsidhāriṇau৷৷3.2.10৷৷


jaṭācīradharau both of you clad in bark and with matted hair, kṣīṇajīvitau both with shortened life, yuvām both of you, sabhāryau with your wife, śaracāpāsidhāriṇau holding bows, arrows and swords, daṇḍakāraṇyam to Dandaka forest, praviṣṭau entered into.

You both clad in bark and wearing matted hair, holding bows, arrows and swords have entered into the Dandaka forest with your wife. Your life has been cut short indeed৷৷
kathaṅ tāpasayōrvāṅ ca vāsaḥ pramadayā saha.

adharmacāriṇau pāpau kau yuvāṅ munidūṣakau৷৷3.2.11৷৷


tāpasayōḥ you wear attire of ascetics, vām you both, vāsaḥ stay, katham how is it possible, adharmacariṇau both unrighteous people, munidūṣakau both distorting ascetic discipline, pāpau sinners, yuvām both , kau who are you?

How is it that you both, dressed in the robes of ascetics, live with a woman? Leading an unrighteous and sinful life, who are you who have brought disgrace to the ascetic discipline ?
ahaṅ vanamidaṅ durgaṅ virādhō nāma rākṣasaḥ.

carāmi sāyudhō nityamṛṣimāṅsāni bhakṣayan৷৷3.2.12৷৷


aham I, virādhō nāma Viradha by name, rākṣasaḥ demon, sāyudhaḥ ready with arms, nityam always, ṛṣimāṅsāni flesh of ascetics, bhakṣayan while eating, durgam dense, idam here, vanam forest, carāmi I wander.

I am a demon named Viradha. I move in this dense forest with my weapons eating the flesh of the sages.
iyaṅ nārī varārōhā mama bhāryā bhaviṣyati.

yuvayōḥ pāpayōścāhaṅ pāsyāmi rudhiraṅ mṛdhē৷৷3.2.13৷৷


varārōhā a beautiful woman (with fine hips), iyaṅ nārī this woman, mama my, bhāryā wife, bhaviṣyati will be, aham I, mṛdhē in the fight, pāpayōḥ of both of you sinners, yuvayōḥ of you both, rudhiram blood, pāsyāmi I shall drink.

This woman of fine hips shall be my wife. You sinners! I shall drink the blood of both of you in the fight.
tasyaivaṅ bruvatō duṣṭaṅ virādhasya durātmanaḥ.

śrutvā sagarvitaṅ vākyaṅ sambhrāntā janakātmajā৷৷3.2.14৷৷


ēvam in that way, bruvataḥ while he spoke, durātmanaḥ of that wicked, tasya virādhasya that Viradha's, sagarvitam boastful, janakātmajā daughter of Janaka, duṣṭam cruel, vākyam statements, śrutvā after hearing, sambhrāntā bewildered out of fear.

Sita, daughter of Janaka was bewildered out of fear when she heard the cruel and boastful words of that wicked Viradha.
sītā pravēpatōdvēgāt prāvātē kadalī yathā৷৷3.2.15৷৷

tāṅ dṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ sītāṅ virādhāṅkagatāṅ śubhām.

abravīllakṣmaṇaṅ vākyaṅ mukhēna pariśuṣyatā৷৷3.2.16৷৷


sītā Sita, udvēgāt due to anxiety, pravātē in strong wind, kadalī yathā like a plantain tree, pravēpitā was shaken, rāghavaḥ Rama, virādhāṅkagatām in the lap of Viradha, śubhām Sita, the auspicious, tām her, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, pariśuṣyatā with a parched(pale), mukhēna with face, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Seeing the auspicious Sita in the lap of Viradha shaken out of anxiety, like a plantain tree in a strong wind, Rama with his throat parched said to Lakshmana:
paśya saumya narēndrasya janakasyātmasambhavām.

mama bhāryāṅ śubhācārāṅ virādhāṅkē pravēśitām৷৷3.2.17৷৷

atyantasukhasaṅmavaṛddhāṅ rājaputrīṅ yaśasvinīm.


saumya O gentle one, narēndrasya king's, janakasya Janaka's, ātmasambhavām daughter, born of his own self, mama bhāryām my wife, śubhācārām of good conduct, atyantasukhasaṅvṛddhām brought up in utmost comfort, yaśasvinīm an illustrious one, virādhāṅkē in the lap of Viradha, pravēśitām entered, rājaputrīm princess, paśya see.

Gentle Lakshmana, see the illustrious daughter ofJanaka, a lady of good conduct, brought up in utmost comfort caught in the lap of Viradha!
yadabhiprētamasmāsu priyaṅ varavṛtaṅ ca yat৷৷3.2.18৷৷

kaikēyyāstu susaṅvṛttaṅ kṣipramadyaiva lakṣmaṇa.


lakṣmaṇa O Lakshmana, asmāsu for us, yat whatever, abhiprētam desired, yat that, varavṛtaṅ ca those boons desired, kaikēyyāḥ by Kaikeyi's, priyam joy, adyaiva to day itself, kṣipram now itself, susaṅvṛtam attained well.

O Lakshmana! whatever Kaikeyi desired through her boons has now come true so soon.
yā na tuṣyati rājyēna putrārthē dīrghadarśinī৷৷3.2.19৷৷

yayāhaṅ sarvabhūtānāṅ priyaḥ prasthāpitō vanam.

adyēdānīṅ sakāmā sā yā mātā madhyamā mama৷৷3.2.20৷৷


dīrghadarśinī far-sighted lady, yā such a lady as she is, putrārthē for her son, rājyēna with kingdom, na tuṣyati not being contended, yayā by whomsoever, sarvabhūtānām of all beings, priyaḥ dear, aham I, vanam forest, prasthāpitaḥ is sent, yā whoever, mama my, madhyamā mātā middle mother, sā she, adya today, sakāmā has her desire fulfilled.

Kaikeyi, my middle mother is far-sighted indeed ! Not content with the kingdom alone see sent me, beloved of all beings, away to the forest. Let her cherished desire be fulfilled.
parasparśāttu vaidēhyāḥ na duḥkhataramastimē.

piturvināśātsaumitrē ! svarājyaharaṇāttathā৷৷3.2.21৷৷


saumitrē! O Lakshmana, vaidēhyāḥ Sita's, parasparśāt the touch of a man other man, pituḥ father's, vināśāt more than demise, tathā in the same way, svarājyaharaṇāt more than the the loss of my kingdom, mē to me, duḥkhataram more painful, nāsti is not.

O Lakshmana! nothing is more sorrowful to me than the touch of Vaidehi by another. It is more painful to me than the death of my father or loss of my kingdom.
iti bruvati kākutsthē bāṣpaśōkapariplutē.

abravīllakṣmaṇaḥ kruddhō ruddhō nāga iva śvasan৷৷3.2.22৷৷


kākutsthē when Rama of the Kakutstha family, iti this way, bruvati while he spoke, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, bāṣpaśōkapariplutē full of tears of sorrow, kruddhaḥ angry, ruddhaḥ tied up, nāgaḥ iva like a serpent, śvasan hissing, abravīt said.

As Rama was thus full of tears of sorrow, Lakshmana sighed heavily in anger like a hissing serpant in confinement. And said:
anātha iva bhūtānāṅ nāthastvaṅ vāsavōpamaḥ.

mayā prēṣyēṇa kākutstha! kimarthaṅ paritapyasē৷৷3.2.23৷৷


kākutstha! O Rama!, bhūtānām of all beings, nāthaḥ lord, vāsavōpamaḥ comparable to Indra, tvam you, anāthaḥ an orphan, iva like, prēṣyēṇa by a servant (at your service), mayā by myself, kimartham for what reason, paritapyasē feeling sad.

O Rama, you are, like Indra, lord of all beings. What makes you feel sad like an orphan when I am at your service like a servant?
śarēṇa nihatasyādya mayā kruddhēna rakṣasaḥ.

virādhasya gatāsōrhi mahī pāsyati śōṇitam৷৷3.2.24৷৷


kruddhēna by an angry one, mayā by me, adya now, śarēṇa by the arrow, nihatasya killed, gatāsōḥ of one who loses life, rakṣasaḥ of this demon, virādhasya Viradha's, śōṇitam blood, mahī the earth, pāsyati will drink.

The earth will drink the blood of Viradha with his life gone, slain by my angry arrow.
rājyakāmē mama krōdhō bharatē yō babhūva ha.

taṅ virādhē pramōkṣyāmi vajrī vajramivācalē৷৷3.2.25৷৷


rājyakāmē one who was desirous of kingdom, bharatē on Bharata, mama my, yaḥ whatever, krōdha: anger, babhūva ha was felt, tam that, vajrī Indra, vajram thunderbolt, acalē iva at a mountain, virādhē on Viradha, pramōkṣyāmi I will release.

Like Indra who hits the mountain with his thunderbolt, I shall release on Viradha the anger I felt against Bharata for his passion for the kingdom.
mama bhujabalavēgavēgitaḥ patatu śarō.sya mahānmahōrasi.

vyapanayatu tanōśca jīvitaṅ patatu tatassamahīṅ vighūrṇitaḥ৷৷3.2.26৷৷


mama my, bhujabalavēgavēgitaḥ by the strength of my arms, mahān great, śaraḥ arrow, asya his, mahōrasi in high speed, patatu may fall, tanōḥ from the body, jīvitam life, vyapanayatu separate, tataḥ then, vighūrṇitaḥ reeling round and round, mahīm earth, patatu may fall down.

Spurred by the speed of my strong arms, my arrow will fall on his broad chest and separate his life from his body. Then his body reeling round and round will fall on the ground.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē dvitīyassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the second sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.