Sloka & Translation

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

पुरा राम महाबाहो महाबलपराक्रम।

रूपमासीन्ममा चिन्त्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्।।3.71.1।।

यथा सोमस्य शक्रस्य सूर्यस्य च यथा वपुः।


महाबाहो longarmed, महाबलपराक्रम strong and powerful, राम O Rama, पुरा in the past, सोमस्य the Moon's, शक्रस्य Indra's, यथा as, सूर्यस्य च the Sun's, वपुः body, यथा like that, मम my,रूपम् form, अचिन्त्यम् inconceivable, त्रिषु लोकेषु in the three worlds, विश्रुतम् renowned, आसीत् it was.

O longarmed, mighty and powerful Rama in the past I was handsome like the Moon or Indra or the Sun inconceivable to all the three worlds.
सोऽहं रूपमिदं कृत्वा लोकवित्रासनं महत्।।3.71.2।।

ऋषीन्वनगतान्राम त्रासयामि ततस्ततः।


राम Rama, सः that, अहम् I, लोकवित्रासनम् a great terror in the world, महत् great, इदं रूपम् this form, कृत्वा after creating, ततस्ततः eventually, वनगतान् those men in the forests, ऋषीन् seers, त्रासयामि used to terrorise.

With my appearance, I was a great nuisance to the world and used to terrorise the sages living in the forest.
ततस्स्थूलशिरा नाम महर्षिः कोपितो मया।।3.71.3।।

सञ्चिन्वन्विविधं वन्यं रूपेणानेन धर्षितः।


ततः then, विविधम् different, वन्यम् forest material, सञ्चिन्वन् while collecting, स्थूलशिराः नाम by name Sthulasira, महर्षिः seer, अनेन by this, रूपेण form, धर्षितः was assaulted, मया by me, कोपितः 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.
तेनाहमुक्तः प्रेक्ष्यैवं घोरशापाभिधायिना।।3.71.4।।

एतदेव नृशंसं ते रूपमस्तु विगर्हितम्।


प्रेक्ष्य seeing me, घोरशापाभिधायिना pronounced a dreadful curse, तेन by him, अहम् I, एवम् in that way, उक्तः said, ते you, नृशंसम् mean, विगर्हितम् dispising, एतत् this, रूपमेव form only, अस्तु it may be.

Seeing me he pronounced a dreadful curse on me saying, 'You will get a cruel, despicable form.'
स मया याचितः क्रुद्धश्शापस्योन्तो भवेदिति।।3.71.5।।

अभिशापकृतस्येति तेनेदं भाषितं वचः।


क्रुद्धः angry, सः he, अभिशापकृतस्य pronounced on, शापस्य curse's, अन्तः end of it, भवेत् may be, इति thus, मया by me, प्रार्थितः begged, तेन by him, इदम् this, वचः words, भाषितम् spoke.

When I sought to know how the curse angrily pronounced on me would come to an end, he said:
यदा छित्त्वा भुजौ रामस्त्वां दहेद्विजने वने।।3.71.6।।

तदा त्वं प्राप्स्यसे रूपं स्वमेव विपुलं शुभम्।


रामः Rama, भुजौ two arms, छित्त्वा cutting, त्वाम् you, यदा when, विजने in a desolate, वने in forest, दहेत् cremate, तदा then, स्वमेव your own, विपुलम् शुभम् greatly auspicious, रूपम् form, प्राप्स्यसे 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.'
श्रिया विराजितं पुत्रं दनोस्त्वं विद्धि लक्ष्मण।।3.71.7।।

इन्द्रकोपादिदं रूपं प्राप्तमेवं रणाजिरे।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, दनोः Danu's family, श्रिया by prosperity, विराजितम् shining, पुत्रम् son, त्वम् you, विद्धि know, इन्द्रकोपात् by the wrath of Indra, रणाजिरे in the battlefield, एवम् this, इदं रूपम् this form, प्राप्तम् 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.
अहं हि तपसोग्रेण पितामहमतोषयम्।।3.71.8।।

दीर्घमायुस्स मे प्रादात्ततो मां विभ्रमोऽस्पृशत्।


अहम् I, उग्रेण by intense, तपसा by penance, पितामहम् the creator Brahma, आतोषयम् I made him happy, सः he, मे my, दीर्घम् long, आयुः life, प्रादात् graced, ततः then, माम् me, विभ्रमः confusion, अस्पृशत् overtook me.

I pleased the creator Brahma with great penance. He blessed me with long life. Then this pride and confusion overtook me.
दीर्घमायुर्मया प्राप्तं किं मे शक्रः करिष्यति।।3.71.9।।

इत्येवं बुद्धिमास्थाय रणे शक्रमधर्षयम्।


मया by me, दीर्घम् long, आयुः life, प्राप्तम् has been attained, शक्रः Indra, मे to me, किं करिष्यति what can he do, इत्येवम् in that manner, बुद्धिम् in mind, आस्थाय considering, रणे in battle, शक्रम् Indra, अधर्षयम् I attacked .

Having been blessed with long life and thinking, what can Indra do to me?, I attacked
him.
तस्य बाहुप्रयुक्तेन वज्रेण शतपर्वणा।।3.71.10।।

सक्थिनी चैव मूर्धा च शरीरे सम्प्रवेशितम्।


तस्य his, बाहुप्रयुक्तेन deployed from his arm, शतपर्वणा by a weapon of hundred nodes, वज्रेण with the thunderbolt, सक्थिनी चैव both my lower limbs, मूर्धा च head also, शरीरे into the body, सम्प्रवेशितम् entered.

The thunderbolt having a hundred nodes deployed by Indra pierced my thighs and my head.
स मया याच्यमानस्सन्नानयद्यमसादनम्।।3.71.11।।

पितामहवचस्सत्यं तदस्त्विति ममाब्रवीत्।


सः he, मया by me, याच्यमानः सन् being begged of him, यमसादनम् to the abode of Yama, न आनयत् did not take me, तत् that, पितामहवचः word of the creator, सत्यम् true, अस्तु इति should become true, मम to me, अब्रवीत् 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' .
अनाहारः कथं शक्तो भग्नसक्थिशिरोमुखः।।3.71.12।।

वज्रेणाभिहतः कालं सुदीर्घमपि जीवितुम्।


वज्रेण by the thunderbolt, अभिहतः struck by, भग्नसक्थिशिरोमुखः with thigh bones, head and face broken, अनाहारः starving, सुदीर्घं कालम् for a long time, जीवितुमपि to live, कथम् somehow, शक्तः was possible.

Hit by the thunderbolt, my thighbones, head and face were broken. Somehow I could manage to live for a long time without food.
एवमुक्तस्तु मे शक्रो बाहू योजनमायतौ।।3.71.13।।

प्रादादास्यं च मे कुक्षौ तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रमकल्पयत्।


एवम् in that way, उक्तः having been entreated, शक्रः Indra, मे to me, योजनम् one yojana, आयतौ long, बाहू two arms, प्रादात् he gave, मे to me, कुक्षौ in the stomach, तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रम् with sharp teeth, आस्यं च mouth also, अकल्पयत् 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.
सोऽहं भुजाभ्यां दीर्घाभ्यां संकृष्यास्मिन्वने चरान्।।3.71.14।।

सिंहव्दिपमृगव्याघ्रान् भक्षयामि समन्ततः।


सः अहम् with that I, अस्मिन् in this, वने in the forest, दीर्घाभ्याम् with long, भुजाभ्याम् with arms, अस्मिन् in this, वने in the forest, समन्ततः all over, चरान् moving creatures, सिंहव्दिपमृगव्याघ्रान् lions, tigers, elephants and deer, संकृष्य after pulling, भक्षयामि 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.
स तु मामब्रवीदिन्द्रो यदा रामस्सलक्ष्मणः।।3.71.15।।

छेत्स्यते समरे बाहू तदा स्वर्गं गमिष्यसि।


सः that, इन्द्रः तु Indra too, माम् to me, अब्रवीत् said, यदा when, सलक्ष्मणः along with Lakshmana, रामः Rama, समरे in the fight, बाहू छेत्स्यते cuts off the arms, तदा then, स्वर्गम् heaven, गमिष्यसि you will go.

Indra too had said, 'When Rama along with Lakshmana cuts off your arms in a fight, you would reach heaven.'
अनेन वपुषा राम वनेऽस्मिन्राजसत्तम।।3.71.16।।

यद्यत्पश्यामि सर्वस्य ग्रहणं साधु रोचये।


राजसत्तम best of kings, राम Rama, अस्मिन् वने in this forest, अनेन वपुषा with this body, यद्यत् whatever, पश्यामि I see, सर्वस्य of all, ग्रहणम् catch, साधु proper, रोचये 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.
अवश्यं ग्रहणं रामो मन्येऽहं समुपैष्यति।।3.71.17।।

इमां बुद्धिं पुरस्कृत्य देहन्यासकृतश्रमः।


रामः Rama, अवश्यम् certainly, ग्रहणम् into the hold, समुपैष्यति will come, अहम् I, मन्ये thinking, इमाम् this, बुद्धिम् thought, पुरस्कृत्य depending on, देहन्यासकृतश्रमः 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.
स त्वं रामोऽसि भद्रं ते नाहमन्येन राघव।।3.71.18।।

शक्यो हन्तुं यथातत्त्वमेवमुक्तं महर्षिणा।


राघव Rama, त्वम् you, सः रामः that Rama, असि you are, ते भद्रम् be blessed, महर्षिणा by the seer, तत्त्वम् truly, एवम् in that way, यथा as, उक्तम् stated, अहम् I, अन्येन by others, हन्तुम् be attacked, शक्यः possible, न not.

You are that Rama. Be blessed. As stated by the seer I cannot be really killed by any one except you.
अहं हि मतिसाचिव्यं करिष्यामि नरर्षभ।।3.71.19।।

मित्रं चैवोपदेक्ष्यामि युवाभ्यां संस्कृतोऽग्निना।


नरर्षभ O best of men, अहम् I, अग्निना by fire, संस्कृतः purified man, युवाभ्याम् by you both, मतिसाचिव्यम् help you with my wisdom, करिष्यामि I will do, मित्रं चैव as a friend also, उपदेक्ष्यामि 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.
एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा दनुना तेन राघवः।।3.71.20।।

इदं जगाद वचनं लक्ष्मणस्योपशृण्वतः।


तेन by him, दनुना by Danu, एवम् in that way, उक्तः having been told, धर्मात्मा righteous, राघवः Rama, लक्ष्मणस्य to Lakshmana, उपशृण्वतः listening, इदम् these, वचनम् words, जगाद spoke.

Rigteous Rama spoke the following words in response to the story of Danu within Lakshmana's earshot:
रावणेन हृता भार्या मम सीता यशस्स्विनी।।3.71.21।।

निष्क्रान्तस्य जनस्थानात्सहभ्रात्रा यथासुखम्।


जनस्थानात् from Janasthana, सह भ्रात्रा along with my brother, निष्क्रान्तस्य when I had gone out, मम my, भार्या wife, यशस्स्विनी famed lady, सीता Sita, रावणेन by Ravana, यथासुखम् happily, हृता carried off.

My illlustrious wife Sita was carried away by Ravana comfortably when I was away from Janasthana along with my brother.
नाममात्रं तु जानामि न रूपं तस्य रक्षसः।।3.71.22।।

निवासं वा प्रभावं वा वयं तस्य न विद्महे।


तस्य his, नाममात्रम् only the name, जानामि I know, रूपम् form, न do not know, तस्य his, निवासं वा residence not known, प्रभावं वा or his power, वयम् we, न विद्महे we do not know.

I only know his name. We do not know how he looks, where he lives and what influence he has.
शोकार्तानामनाथानामेवं विपरिधावताम्।।3.71.23।।

कारुण्यं सदृशं कर्तुमुपकारे च वर्तताम्।


शोकार्तानाम् striken by sorrow, अनाथानाम् of orphans, एवम् that way, विपरिधावताम् of those running all over, उपकारे help, वर्ततां च do to others, कारुण्यम् kindness, कर्तुम् do show, सदृशम् worthy of your compasssion.

Creatures like you may help those who, like orphans, run here and there, stricken with sorrow.
काष्ठान्यादाय शुष्काणि काले भग्नानि कुञ्जरैः।।3.71.24।।

धक्ष्यामस्त्वां वयं वीर श्वभ्रे महति कल्पिते।


वीर hero, काले in the proper season, कुञ्जरैः by elephants, भग्नानि broken, शुष्काणि dried, काष्ठानि logs of wood, आदाय after getting, कल्पिते in a place set, महति in a large one, श्वभ्रे in a pit, त्वाम् you, धक्ष्यामः 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.
स त्वं सीतां समाचक्ष्व येन वा यत्र वा हृता।।3.71.25।।

कुरु कल्याणमत्यर्थं यदि जानासि तत्त्वतः।


सः he, त्वम् you, तत्त्वतः truly, जानासि यदि if you know, सीताम् about Sita, येन वा by whom, यत्र वा of wherever, हृता carried, समाचक्ष्व tell me, अत्यर्थम् very much, कल्याणम् wellbeing, कुरु you may do.

If you really know where SIta has been kidnapped and by whom, tell me. You will be
doing a great service.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण वाक्यं दनुरनुत्तमम्।।3.71.26।।

प्रोवाच कुशलो वक्तुं वक्तारमपि राघवम्।


रामेण by Rama, एवम् in that way, उक्तः having been asked, वक्तुम् telling, कुशलः one who can speak well, दनुः Danu, वक्तारम् addressing one who can speak, राघवम् to Rama, अनुत्तमम् best, वाक्यम् word, प्रोवाच spoke.

Danu who was proficient in speech spoke with chosen words to Rama who was a great speaker himself:
दिव्यमस्ति न मे ज्ञानं नाभिजानामि मैथिलीम्।।3.71.27।।

यस्तां ज्ञास्यति तं वक्ष्ये दग्धस्स्वं रूपमास्थितः।


मे to me, दिव्यम् divine, ज्ञानम् wisdom, नास्ति I do not have, मैथिलीम् Maithili, नाभिजानामि I do not know, दग्धः burnt one, स्वं रूम् my original form, आस्थितः getting, ताम् her, यः whoever, ज्ञास्यति know of her, तम् him, वक्ष्ये 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.
अदग्धस्य तु विज्ञातुं शक्तिरस्ति न मे प्रभो।।3.71.28।।

राक्षसं तं महावीर्यं सीता येन हृता तव।


प्रभो O lord, येन by whom, तव your, सीता Sita, हृता is taken away, तम् him, महावीर्यम् very powerful, राक्षसम् rakshasa, विज्ञातुम् to know, अदग्धस्य without being burnt, मे to me, शक्तिः ability, नास्ति 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.
विज्ञानं हि मम भ्रष्टं शापदोषेण राघव।।3.71.29।।

स्वकृतेन मया प्राप्तं रूपं लोकविगर्हितम्।


राघव Rama, शापदोषेण due to the curse, मम my, विज्ञानम् wisdom, भ्रष्टं हि is indeed lost, मया by me, स्वकृतेन by my own deed, लोकविगर्हितम् a form despised by the world, रूपम् this form, प्राप्तम् 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.
किं तु यावन्न यात्यस्तं सविता श्रान्तवाहनः।।3.71.30।।

तावन्मामवटे क्षिप्त्वा दह राम यथाविधि।


राम Rama, किं तु but, सविता Sun, श्रान्तवाहनः with his vehicle (horses) tired, अस्तम् (याति) setting, यावत् before, तावत् by then, माम् me, अवटे in a pit, क्षिप्त्वा dropping, यथाविधि in accordance with tradition, दह 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
दग्धस्त्वयाहमवटे न्यायेन रघुनन्धन।।3.71.31।।

वक्ष्यामि तमहं वीर यस्तं ज्ञास्यति राक्षसम्।


वीर O hero, रघुनन्धन O delight of the Raghus, अहम् I, त्वया by you, न्यायेन as per custom, अवटे in a pit, दग्धः cremated, यः whoever, तं राक्षसम् to that demon, ज्ञास्यति knows, तम् about him, वक्ष्यामि 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.
तेन सख्यं च कर्तव्यं न्याय्यवृत्तेन राघव।।3.71.32।।

कल्पयिष्यति ते प्रीतस्साहाय्यं लघुविक्रमः।


राघव Rama, न्याय्यवृत्तेन rightfully conducting, तेन with him, सख्यं च friendship, कर्तव्यम् you should establish, लघुविक्रमः a warrior of swift action, प्रीतः a pleased one, ते to you, साहाय्यम् help, कल्पयिष्यति 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.
न हि तस्यास्त्यविज्ञातं त्रिषु लेकेषु राघव।।3.71.33।।

सर्वान्परिसृतो लोकान्पुरासौ कारणान्तरे।


राघव Rama, त्रिषु in the three, लोकेषु worlds, तस्य for him, अविज्ञातम् unknown to him, नास्ति is not there, हि do, असौ he, पुरा in the past, कारणान्तरे for a different cause, सर्वान् all, लोकान् worlds, परिसृतः 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.
इत्यार्ष श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे एकसप्ततितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the seventyfirst sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.