Sloka & Translation

[Kabandha narrates his story-- promises to help Rama in finding Sita-- attains his true form after his cremation.]

purā rāma mahābāhō mahābalaparākrama.

rūpamāsīnmamā cintyaṅ triṣu lōkēṣu viśrutam৷৷3.71.1৷৷

yathā sōmasya śakrasya sūryasya ca yathā vapuḥ.


mahābāhō long-armed, mahābalaparākrama strong and powerful, rāma O Rama, purā in the past, sōmasya the Moon's, śakrasya Indra's, yathā as, sūryasya ca the Sun's, vapuḥ body, yathā like that, mama my,rūpam form, acintyam inconceivable, triṣu lōkēṣu in the three worlds, viśrutam renowned, āsīt it was.

O long-armed, mighty and powerful Rama! in the past I was handsome like the Moon or Indra or the Sun inconceivable to all the three worlds.
sō.haṅ rūpamidaṅ kṛtvā lōkavitrāsanaṅ mahat৷৷3.71.2৷৷

ṛṣīnvanagatānrāma trāsayāmi tatastataḥ.


rāma Rama, saḥ that, aham I, lōkavitrāsanam a great terror in the world, mahat great, idaṅ rūpam this form, kṛtvā after creating, tatastataḥ eventually, vanagatān those men in the forests, ṛṣīn seers, trāsayāmi used to terrorise.

With my appearance, I was a great nuisance to the world and used to terrorise the sages living in the forest.
tatassthūlaśirā nāma maharṣiḥ kōpitō mayā৷৷3.71.3৷৷

sañcinvanvividhaṅ vanyaṅ rūpēṇānēna dharṣitaḥ.


tataḥ then, vividham different, vanyam forest material, sañcinvan while collecting, sthūlaśirāḥ nāma by name Sthulasira, maharṣiḥ seer, anēna by this, rūpēṇa form, dharṣitaḥ was assaulted, mayā by me, kōpitaḥ was enraged.

With my appearance I invited the wrath of Sthulasira who I assaulted among the many seers, while he was collecting food in the forest.
tēnāhamuktaḥ prēkṣyaivaṅ ghōraśāpābhidhāyinā৷৷3.71.4৷৷

ētadēva nṛśaṅsaṅ tē rūpamastu vigarhitam.


prēkṣya seeing me, ghōraśāpābhidhāyinā pronounced a dreadful curse, tēna by him, aham I, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ said, tē you, nṛśaṅsam mean, vigarhitam dispising, ētat this, rūpamēva form only, astu it may be.

Seeing me he pronounced a dreadful curse on me saying, 'You will get a cruel, despicable form.'
sa mayā yācitaḥ kruddhaśśāpasyōntō bhavēditi৷৷3.71.5৷৷

abhiśāpakṛtasyēti tēnēdaṅ bhāṣitaṅ vacaḥ.


kruddhaḥ angry, saḥ he, abhiśāpakṛtasya pronounced on, śāpasya curse's, antaḥ end of it, bhavēt may be, iti thus, mayā by me, prārthitaḥ begged, tēna by him, idam this, vacaḥ words, bhāṣitam spoke.

When I sought to know how the curse angrily pronounced on me would come to an end, he said:
yadā chittvā bhujau rāmastvāṅ dahēdvijanē vanē৷৷3.71.6৷৷

tadā tvaṅ prāpsyasē rūpaṅ svamēva vipulaṅ śubham.


rāmaḥ Rama, bhujau two arms, chittvā cutting, tvām you, yadā when, vijanē in a desolate, vanē in forest, dahēt cremate, tadā then, svamēva your own, vipulam śubham greatly auspicious, rūpam form, prāpsyasē you will obtain.

'When Rama gets your arms in a desolate forest amputated and your body cremated, you would get back your gloriously auspicious form.'
śriyā virājitaṅ putraṅ danōstvaṅ viddhi lakṣmaṇa৷৷3.71.7৷৷

indrakōpādidaṅ rūpaṅ prāptamēvaṅ raṇājirē.


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, danōḥ Danu's family, śriyā by prosperity, virājitam shining, putram son, tvam you, viddhi know, indrakōpāt by the wrath of Indra, raṇājirē in the battlefield, ēvam this, idaṅ rūpam this form, prāptam is obtained.

O Lakshmana! know that I was the prosperous son of demon Danu. By the wrath of Indra in the battlefeild I obtained this form.
ahaṅ hi tapasōgrēṇa pitāmahamatōṣayam৷৷3.71.8৷৷

dīrghamāyussa mē prādāttatō māṅ vibhramō.spṛśat.


aham I, ugrēṇa by intense, tapasā by penance, pitāmaham the creator Brahma, ātōṣayam I made him happy, saḥ he, mē my, dīrgham long, āyuḥ life, prādāt graced, tataḥ then, mām me, vibhramaḥ confusion, aspṛśat overtook me.

I pleased the creator Brahma with great penance. He blessed me with long life. Then this pride and confusion overtook me.
dīrghamāyurmayā prāptaṅ kiṅ mē śakraḥ kariṣyati৷৷3.71.9৷৷

ityēvaṅ buddhimāsthāya raṇē śakramadharṣayam.


mayā by me, dīrgham long, āyuḥ life, prāptam has been attained, śakraḥ Indra, mē to me, kiṅ kariṣyati what can he do, ityēvam in that manner, buddhim in mind, āsthāya considering, raṇē in battle, śakram Indra, adharṣayam I attacked .

Having been blessed with long life and thinking, what can Indra do to me?, I attacked
him.
tasya bāhuprayuktēna vajrēṇa śataparvaṇā৷৷3.71.10৷৷

sakthinī caiva mūrdhā ca śarīrē sampravēśitam.


tasya his, bāhuprayuktēna deployed from his arm, śataparvaṇā by a weapon of hundred nodes, vajrēṇa with the thunderbolt, sakthinī caiva both my lower limbs, mūrdhā ca head also, śarīrē into the body, sampravēśitam entered.

The thunderbolt having a hundred nodes deployed by Indra pierced my thighs and my head.
sa mayā yācyamānassannānayadyamasādanam৷৷3.71.11৷৷

pitāmahavacassatyaṅ tadastviti mamābravīt.


saḥ he, mayā by me, yācyamānaḥ san being begged of him, yamasādanam to the abode of Yama, na ānayat did not take me, tat that, pitāmahavacaḥ word of the creator, satyam true, astu iti should become true, mama to me, abravīt said.

Entreated, he did not send me to the abode of Yama ( lord of death) and said, 'Let the words of the creator be true' .
anāhāraḥ kathaṅ śaktō bhagnasakthiśirōmukhaḥ৷৷3.71.12৷৷

vajrēṇābhihataḥ kālaṅ sudīrghamapi jīvitum.


vajrēṇa by the thunderbolt, abhihataḥ struck by, bhagnasakthiśirōmukhaḥ with thigh bones, head and face broken, anāhāraḥ starving, sudīrghaṅ kālam for a long time, jīvitumapi to live, katham somehow, śaktaḥ was possible.

Hit by the thunderbolt, my thigh-bones, head and face were broken. Somehow I could manage to live for a long time without food.
ēvamuktastu mē śakrō bāhū yōjanamāyatau৷৷3.71.13৷৷

prādādāsyaṅ ca mē kukṣau tīkṣṇadaṅṣṭramakalpayat.


ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been entreated, śakraḥ Indra, mē to me, yōjanam one yojana, āyatau long, bāhū two arms, prādāt he gave, mē to me, kukṣau in the stomach, tīkṣṇadaṅṣṭram with sharp teeth, āsyaṅ ca mouth also, akalpayat created.

Having been entreated, Indra created in me two long arms extending upto a yojana and set my mouth with sharp teeth in the stomach.
sō.haṅ bhujābhyāṅ dīrghābhyāṅ saṅkṛṣyāsminvanē carān৷৷3.71.14৷৷

siṅhavdipamṛgavyāghrān bhakṣayāmi samantataḥ.


saḥ aham with that I, asmin in this, vanē in the forest, dīrghābhyām with long, bhujābhyām with arms, asmin in this, vanē in the forest, samantataḥ all over, carān moving creatures, siṅhavdipamṛgavyāghrān lions, tigers, elephants and deer, saṅkṛṣya after pulling, bhakṣayāmi I eat.

Stretching the long arms in the forest, I dragged creatures like lions, tigers, elephants and deer moving in the forest and ate them.
sa tu māmabravīdindrō yadā rāmassalakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷3.71.15৷৷

chētsyatē samarē bāhū tadā svargaṅ gamiṣyasi.


saḥ that, indraḥ tu Indra too, mām to me, abravīt said, yadā when, salakṣmaṇaḥ along with Lakshmana, rāmaḥ Rama, samarē in the fight, bāhū chētsyatē cuts off the arms, tadā then, svargam heaven, gamiṣyasi you will go.

Indra too had said, 'When Rama along with Lakshmana cuts off your arms in a fight, you would reach heaven.'
anēna vapuṣā rāma vanē.sminrājasattama৷৷3.71.16৷৷

yadyatpaśyāmi sarvasya grahaṇaṅ sādhu rōcayē.


rājasattama best of kings, rāma Rama, asmin vanē in this forest, anēna vapuṣā with this body, yadyat whatever, paśyāmi I see, sarvasya of all, grahaṇam catch, sādhu proper, rōcayē I like.

O Rama, the best of kings! I thought it was only proper in this forest and with this body to catch whatever creature I saw.
avaśyaṅ grahaṇaṅ rāmō manyē.haṅ samupaiṣyati৷৷3.71.17৷৷

imāṅ buddhiṅ puraskṛtya dēhanyāsakṛtaśramaḥ.


rāmaḥ Rama, avaśyam certainly, grahaṇam into the hold, samupaiṣyati will come, aham I, manyē thinking, imām this, buddhim thought, puraskṛtya depending on, dēhanyāsakṛtaśramaḥ I am struggling to preserve my body.

O Rama, I was struggling to preserve my body all the time thinking that some day you would certainly come into my arms.
sa tvaṅ rāmō.si bhadraṅ tē nāhamanyēna rāghava৷৷3.71.18৷৷

śakyō hantuṅ yathātattvamēvamuktaṅ maharṣiṇā.


rāghava Rama, tvam you, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, asi you are, tē bhadram be blessed, maharṣiṇā by the seer, tattvam truly, ēvam in that way, yathā as, uktam stated, aham I, anyēna by others, hantum be attacked, śakyaḥ possible, na not.

You are that Rama. Be blessed. As stated by the seer I cannot be really killed by any one except you.
ahaṅ hi matisācivyaṅ kariṣyāmi nararṣabha৷৷3.71.19৷৷

mitraṅ caivōpadēkṣyāmi yuvābhyāṅ saṅskṛtō.gninā.


nararṣabha O best of men, aham I, agninā by fire, saṅskṛtaḥ purified man, yuvābhyām by you both, matisācivyam help you with my wisdom, kariṣyāmi I will do, mitraṅ caiva as a friend also, upadēkṣyāmi I will advise you.

O best among men! I will help you with my wisdom and give you friendly advice when I am purified by you both through cremation on the funeral pyre.
ēvamuktastu dharmātmā danunā tēna rāghavaḥ৷৷3.71.20৷৷

idaṅ jagāda vacanaṅ lakṣmaṇasyōpaśṛṇvataḥ.


tēna by him, danunā by Danu, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been told, dharmātmā righteous, rāghavaḥ Rama, lakṣmaṇasya to Lakshmana, upaśṛṇvataḥ listening, idam these, vacanam words, jagāda spoke.

Rigteous Rama spoke the following words in response to the story of Danu within Lakshmana's earshot:
rāvaṇēna hṛtā bhāryā mama sītā yaśassvinī৷৷3.71.21৷৷

niṣkrāntasya janasthānātsahabhrātrā yathāsukham.


janasthānāt from Janasthana, saha bhrātrā along with my brother, niṣkrāntasya when I had gone out, mama my, bhāryā wife, yaśassvinī famed lady, sītā Sita, rāvaṇēna by Ravana, yathāsukham happily, hṛtā carried off.

My illlustrious wife Sita was carried away by Ravana comfortably when I was away from Janasthana along with my brother.
nāmamātraṅ tu jānāmi na rūpaṅ tasya rakṣasaḥ৷৷3.71.22৷৷

nivāsaṅ vā prabhāvaṅ vā vayaṅ tasya na vidmahē.


tasya his, nāmamātram only the name, jānāmi I know, rūpam form, na do not know, tasya his, nivāsaṅ vā residence not known, prabhāvaṅ vā or his power, vayam we, na vidmahē we do not know.

I only know his name. We do not know how he looks, where he lives and what influence he has.
śōkārtānāmanāthānāmēvaṅ viparidhāvatām৷৷3.71.23৷৷

kāruṇyaṅ sadṛśaṅ kartumupakārē ca vartatām.


śōkārtānām striken by sorrow, anāthānām of orphans, ēvam that way, viparidhāvatām of those running all over, upakārē help, vartatāṅ ca do to others, kāruṇyam kindness, kartum do show, sadṛśam worthy of your compasssion.

Creatures like you may help those who, like orphans, run here and there, stricken with sorrow.
kāṣṭhānyādāya śuṣkāṇi kālē bhagnāni kuñjaraiḥ৷৷3.71.24৷৷

dhakṣyāmastvāṅ vayaṅ vīra śvabhrē mahati kalpitē.


vīra hero, kālē in the proper season, kuñjaraiḥ by elephants, bhagnāni broken, śuṣkāṇi dried, kāṣṭhāni logs of wood, ādāya after getting, kalpitē in a place set, mahati in a large one, śvabhrē in a pit, tvām you, dhakṣyāmaḥ we will cremate you.

O hero! we will cremate you in a huge pit to be prepared for this occasion, collecting dry logs of wood broken by elephants.
sa tvaṅ sītāṅ samācakṣva yēna vā yatra vā hṛtā৷৷3.71.25৷৷

kuru kalyāṇamatyarthaṅ yadi jānāsi tattvataḥ.


saḥ he, tvam you, tattvataḥ truly, jānāsi yadi if you know, sītām about Sita, yēna vā by whom, yatra vā of wherever, hṛtā carried, samācakṣva tell me, atyartham very much, kalyāṇam well-being, kuru you may do.

If you really know where SIta has been kidnapped and by whom, tell me. You will be
doing a great service.
ēvamuktastu rāmēṇa vākyaṅ danuranuttamam৷৷3.71.26৷৷

prōvāca kuśalō vaktuṅ vaktāramapi rāghavam.


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having been asked, vaktum telling, kuśalaḥ one who can speak well, danuḥ Danu, vaktāram addressing one who can speak, rāghavam to Rama, anuttamam best, vākyam word, prōvāca spoke.

Danu who was proficient in speech spoke with chosen words to Rama who was a great speaker himself:
divyamasti na mē jñānaṅ nābhijānāmi maithilīm৷৷3.71.27৷৷

yastāṅ jñāsyati taṅ vakṣyē dagdhassvaṅ rūpamāsthitaḥ.


mē to me, divyam divine, jñānam wisdom, nāsti I do not have, maithilīm Maithili, nābhijānāmi I do not know, dagdhaḥ burnt one, svaṅ rūm my original form, āsthitaḥ getting, tām her, yaḥ whoever, jñāsyati know of her, tam him, vakṣyē I will reveal.

I do not have divine wisdom (now). Nor do I know Sita. When you cremate me, I shall assume my original form and will tell you the name of the person who knows it.
adagdhasya tu vijñātuṅ śaktirasti na mē prabhō৷৷3.71.28৷৷

rākṣasaṅ taṅ mahāvīryaṅ sītā yēna hṛtā tava.


prabhō O lord, yēna by whom, tava your, sītā Sita, hṛtā is taken away, tam him, mahāvīryam very powerful, rākṣasam rakshasa, vijñātum to know, adagdhasya without being burnt, mē to me, śaktiḥ ability, nāsti is not there.

O lord! before I am cremated, I do not have the ability to know about that powerful demon by whom Sita has been abducted.
vijñānaṅ hi mama bhraṣṭaṅ śāpadōṣēṇa rāghava৷৷3.71.29৷৷

svakṛtēna mayā prāptaṅ rūpaṅ lōkavigarhitam.


rāghava Rama, śāpadōṣēṇa due to the curse, mama my, vijñānam wisdom, bhraṣṭaṅ hi is indeed lost, mayā by me, svakṛtēna by my own deed, lōkavigarhitam a form despised by the world, rūpam this form, prāptam is attained.

O Rama! due to the curse I have lost my wisdom. By my own deed, I have attained this form despicable to the world.
kiṅ tu yāvanna yātyastaṅ savitā śrāntavāhanaḥ৷৷3.71.30৷৷

tāvanmāmavaṭē kṣiptvā daha rāma yathāvidhi.


rāma Rama, kiṅ tu but, savitā Sun, śrāntavāhanaḥ with his vehicle (horses) tired, astam (yāti) setting, yāvat before, tāvat by then, mām me, avaṭē in a pit, kṣiptvā dropping, yathāvidhi in accordance with tradition, daha you may cremate.

Before the Sun disappears with his tired horses drop me into a pit and cremate me in accordance with tradition, O Rama !
dagdhastvayāhamavaṭē nyāyēna raghunandhana৷৷3.71.31৷৷

vakṣyāmi tamahaṅ vīra yastaṅ jñāsyati rākṣasam.


vīra O hero, raghunandhana O delight of the Raghus, aham I, tvayā by you, nyāyēna as per custom, avaṭē in a pit, dagdhaḥ cremated, yaḥ whoever, taṅ rākṣasam to that demon, jñāsyati knows, tam about him, vakṣyāmi I will let you know.

O heroic Rama, delight of the Raghus, if you drop me in a pit and cremate me as per custom, I will tell you about him who knows the demon.
tēna sakhyaṅ ca kartavyaṅ nyāyyavṛttēna rāghava৷৷3.71.32৷৷

kalpayiṣyati tē prītassāhāyyaṅ laghuvikramaḥ.


rāghava Rama, nyāyyavṛttēna rightfully conducting, tēna with him, sakhyaṅ ca friendship, kartavyam you should establish, laghuvikramaḥ a warrior of swift action, prītaḥ a pleased one, tē to you, sāhāyyam help, kalpayiṣyati he will do.

O Rama! you should establish friendship with him in a just manner. That hero of swift action will help you when he is pleased.
na hi tasyāstyavijñātaṅ triṣu lēkēṣu rāghava৷৷3.71.33৷৷

sarvānparisṛtō lōkānpurāsau kāraṇāntarē.


rāghava Rama, triṣu in the three, lōkēṣu worlds, tasya for him, avijñātam unknown to him, nāsti is not there, hi do, asau he, purā in the past, kāraṇāntarē for a different cause, sarvān all, lōkān worlds, parisṛtaḥ has roamed about.

O Rama, there is nothing that he does not know in the three worlds. In the past for a different reason he roamed all the (three) worlds.
ityārṣa śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkasaptatitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the seventyfirst sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.