Sloka & Translation

[Maricha's narration of his experience of Rama's strength--explains to Ravana the consequences of waging a war with Rama.]

kadācidapyahaṅ vīryātparyaṭanpṛthivīmimām.

balaṅ nāgasahasrasya dhārayanparvatōpamaḥ৷৷3.38.1৷৷

nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśastaptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ.

bhayaṅ lōkasya janayankirīṭī parighāyudhaḥ৷৷3.38.2৷৷

vyacaraṅ daṇḍakāraṇyē ṛṣimāṅsāni bhakṣayan.


kadācit at one time, ahamapi I also, vīryāt out of prowess, imām this, pṛthivīm earth, paryaṭan while wandering, nāgasahasrasya thousands of elephants, balam strength, dhārayan while possesed, parvatōpamaḥ like a mountain, nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśaḥ looked like a dark cloud, taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ bright gold ear-rings, kirīṭī crown, parighāyudhaḥ spear, lōkasya among people, bhayam fear, janayan creating, ṛṣimāṅsāni flesh of ascetics, bhakṣayan eating, daṇḍakāraṇyē in Dandaka forest, vyacaram I was moving about.

Once I was roaming the earth, like a mountain possessing the strength of a thousand elephants, like a dark cloud, wearing bright gold ear-rings and crown,holding a spear in hand, terrorising the people. I was wandering in Dandaka forest feeding on the flesh of ascetics.
viśvāmitrō.tha dharmātmā madvitrastō mahāmuniḥ৷৷3.38.3৷৷

svayaṅ gatvā daśarathaṅ narēndramidamabravīt.


atha hence, dharmātmā righteous, viśvāmitraḥ Visvamitra, mahāmuniḥ great sage, madvitrastaḥ afraid of me, svayam he himself, narēndram king, daśaratham Dasaratha, gatvā went idam these words, abravīt said.

Hence the great sage, righteous Visvamitra afraid of me, went to king Dasaratha and said:
adya rakṣatu māṅ rāmaḥ parvakālē samāhitaḥ৷৷3.38.4৷৷

mārīcānmē bhayaṅ ghōraṅ samutpannaṅ narēśvara.


narēśvara king, mārīcāt from Maricha, mē myself, ghōraṅ (mahat) very, bhayam fear, samutpannam has been created, adya now, rāmaḥ Rama, samāhitaḥ composed, parvakālē while doing sacrifice at the time of lunar conjunctions on full moon and new moon days, mām rakṣatu protect me.

'O king! Maricha has created in me a great fear. Spare the self possessed Rama to protect me while I do the sacrifice.'
ityēvamuktō dharmātmā rājā daśarathastadā৷৷3.38.5৷৷

pratyuvāca mahābhāgaṅ viśvāmitraṅ mahāmunim.


ityēvam thus, uktaḥ spoken, dharmātmā righteous, rājā king, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, tadā then, mahābhāgam the glorious, mahāmunim the great sage, viśvāmitram Visvamitra, pratyuvāca replied.

When the great, venerable sage Visvamitra said so, the righteous king Dasaratha replied:
bālō dvādaśavarṣō.yamakṛtāstraśca rāghavaḥ৷৷3.38.6৷৷

kāmaṅ tu mama yatsainyaṅ mayā saha gamiṣyati.


ayam this lad, rāghavaḥ Rama, bālaḥ young one, dvādaśavarṣē: twelve years old, akṛtāstraśca not experienced in the use of weapons, mama mine, yat that, sainyam army, kāmam surely, mayā saha along with me, gamiṣyati will come,

'My son Rama is only twelve. He is not experienced in the use of weapons. I shall accompany you with my army.
balēna caturaṅgēṇa svayamētya niśācarān৷৷3.38.7৷৷

vadhiṣyāmi muniśrēṣṭha śatrūṅstē manasēpsitān.


muniśrēṣṭha O distinguished sage!, caturaṅgēna with four divisions (elephants, horses, cavalry and infantry)of the army, balēna with army, svayam I myself, ētya after coming, tē your, śatrūn enemies, manasā in your mind, īpsitān desired ones, niśācarān night-walkers, vadhiṣyāmi I will slay.

'O distinguished sage! with the four divisions of my army I will slay the enemies you want me to.'
ityēvamuktassamunī rājānamidamabravīt৷৷3.38.8৷৷

rāmānnānyadbalaṅ lōkē paryāptaṅ tasya rakṣasaḥ.


ityēvam in that way, ukta addressed, saḥ muniḥ that sage, rājānam to the king, idam these words, abravīt said, rāmāt excepting Rama, anyat other, balam strength, tasya rakṣasaḥ for that demon, lōkē in this world, na paryāptam not enough.

When the king thus responded to the sage, he told him that none other than Rama in this world is a match for that demon.
dēvatānāmapi bhavān samarēṣvabhipālakaḥ৷৷3.38.9৷৷

āsīttava kṛtaṅ karma trilōkē viditaṅ nṛpa.


nṛpa O king, bhavān you, samarēṣu in wars, dēvatānāmapi even to gods, abhipālakaḥ a guardian, kṛtam help, tava your, karma deed, trilōkē in the three worlds, viditam well known, āsīt was.

'O king, you have protected even gods in wars and have been a guardian. Your deeds are very well-known in the three worlds.
kāmamastu mahatsainyaṅ tiṣṭhatviha parantapa৷৷3.38.10৷৷

bālō.pyēṣa mahātējāssamarthastasya nigrahē.

gamiṣyē rāmamādāya svasti tē.stu parantapa৷৷3.38.11৷৷


parantapa O scourge of the foes, mahat great, sainyam army, astu kāmam so you wish, iha here, tiṣṭhatu let it stay, mahātējāḥ glorious one, ēṣaḥ he, bālō.pi even if he is a boy, tasya his, nigrahē in suppressing, samarthaḥ capable, parantapa subduer of enemy, rāmam Rama, ādāya after taking, gamiṣyē I will go, tē to you, svasti auspicious, astu be.

'O scourge of foes! as you wish, let your great army wait here. Even though Rama is young he is glorious, and capable of subduing the enemy. I will take him. Be blessed.'
ēvamuktvā tu sa munistamādāya nṛpātmajam.

jagāma paramaprītō viśvāmitrassvamāśramam৷৷3.38.12৷৷


saḥ that, viśvāmitraḥ muniḥ sage Visvamitra, ēvam in that way, uktvā having said, paramaprītaḥ very happily, tam him, nṛpātmajam prince Rama, ādāya after taking, svam his, āśramam hermitage, jagāma went.

Sage Visvamitra saying so took the son of the king and went back very happily to his hermitage.
taṅ tadā daṇḍakāraṇyē yajñamuddiśya dīkṣitam.

babhūvōpasthitō rāmaścitraṅ viṣphārayandhanuḥ৷৷3.38.13৷৷


tadā then, rāmaḥ Rama, daṇḍakāraṇyē in Dandaka forest, yajñam Yagna, uddiśya for the purpose, dīkṣitam settled in rigorous religious discipline(vow), tam him, upasthitaḥ standing by, citram wonderful, dhanuḥ bow, viṣphārayan while stretching, babhūva became.

Then Rama was initiated for the protection of sacrifices and stood on guard, stretching his wonderful bow.
ajātavyañjanaśrīmānpadmapatranibhēkṣaṇaḥ.

ēkavastradharō dhanvī śikhī kanakamālayā৷৷3.38.14৷৷

śōbhayan daṇḍakāraṇyaṅ dīptēna svēna tējasā.

adṛśyata tatō rāmō bālacandra ivōditaḥ৷৷3.38.15৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, ajātavyañjanaḥ with beards ungrown, śrīmān handsome, padmapatranibhēkṣaṇaḥ having eyes like lotus petals, ēkavastradharaḥ clad in a single garment, dhanvī wielding bow, śikhī wearing a knot of hair on the head, kanakamālayā with a gold chain, dīptēna luminous, svēna by his, tējasā by lustre, daṇḍakāraṇyam Dandaka forest, śōbhayan beautifying, rāmaḥ Rama, uditaḥ just risen, bālacandra iva like young Moon, adṛśyata looked.

Thereafter, handsome Rama, with eyes like lotus petals, beards ungrown, clad in a single garment with knotted hair on the head, wielding a bow, with a chain of gold, luminous with his own lustre enhanced the glory of Dandaka forest by looking like the young moon just risen.
tatō.haṅ mēghasaṅkāśastaptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ.

balī dattavarōdarpādājagāma tadāśramam৷৷3.38.16৷৷


tataḥ then, mēghasaṅkāśaḥ looking like a dark hued cloud, taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ wearing bright golden ear-rings, balī a strong man, dattavaraḥ bestowed with boons, aham I, darpāt with pride, tadāśramam the hermitage, ājagāma arrived.

Then looking like a dark cloud, wearing bright golden ear-rings, proud of power bestowed on me with boons, I arrived at the hermitage.
tēna dṛṣṭaḥ praviṣṭō.haṅ sahasaivōdyatāyudhaḥ.

māṅ tu dṛṣṭvā dhanussajyamasambhrāntaścakāra saḥ৷৷3.38.17৷৷


udyatāyudhaḥ with raised weapons, praviṣṭaḥ entered, aham I, sahasaiva at once, tēna by him, Rama, dṛṣṭaḥ seen, saḥ he, mām me, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, asambhrāntaḥ unperturbed, dhanuḥ bow, sajyam
stringing, cakāra did.

I entered at once and lifted my weapons. Rama saw me and unperturbed, started stringing his bow.
avajānannahaṅ mōhādbālō.yamiti rāghavam.

viśvāmitrasya tāṅ vēdimabhyadhāvaṅ kṛtatvaraḥ৷৷3.38.18৷৷


aham I, mōhāt due to delusion, ayam this, bālaḥ young boy, iti in this way, rāghavam Rama, avajānan underestimating, kṛtatvaraḥ making sounds, viśvāmitrasya Visvamitra's, tām that, vēdim sacrificial altar, abhyadhāvam ran towards the same.

Out of my delusion I underestimated the young boy, and screaming, ran towards Visvamitra's sacrificial altar.
tēna muktastatō bāṇaḥ śitaśśatrunibarhaṇaḥ.

tēnāhaṅ tvāhataḥ kṣiptassamudrē śatayōjanē৷৷3.38.19৷৷


tataḥ then, tēna by him, śatrunibarhaṇaḥ a subduer of enemy, śitaḥ sharp, bāṇaḥ arrow, muktaḥ unleashed, aham on me, tēna with that, āhataḥ struck, śatayōjanē one hundred yojanas away, samudrē into the sea, ākṣipta: I was thrown.

Then Rama released a sharp arrow that could kill the enemy. It struck me and threw me at a distance of hundred yojanas into the sea.
nēcchatā tāta māṅ hantuṅ tadā vīrēṇa rakṣitaḥ.

rāmasya śaravēgēna nirastō.hamacētanaḥ৷৷3.38.20৷৷


tāta O dear, tadā then, mām me, hantum to kill, nēcchatā by not intending, vīrēṇa rakṣitaḥ protected by the hero, rāmasya Rama's, śaravēgēna by the speed of his dart, acētanaḥ lost conciousness, aham I, nirastaḥ thrown away.

O dear! being thrown away by the speed of his dart I lost my consciousness. I was protected by Rama who did not want to kill me.
pātitō.haṅ tadā tēna gambhīrē sāgarāmbhasi.

prāpya saṅjñāṅ cirāttāta laṅkāṅ pratigataḥ purīm৷৷3.38.21৷৷


tāta O dear!, tadā then, aham I, gambhīrē in deep, sāgarāmbhasi in sea water, pātitaḥ was thrown, cirāt after a long time, saṅjñām consciousess, prāpya after attaining, laṅkāṅ purīm city of Lanka, pratigataḥ went towards.

O dear! I was thrown into the deep sea and after a long time regained consciousness and returned to the city of Lanka.
ēvamasmi tadā muktassahāyāstu nipātitāḥ.

akṛtāstrēṇa bālēna rāmēṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā৷৷3.38.22৷৷


tadā then, akṛtāstrēṇa who had not mastered archery, bālēna by the young boy, akliṣṭakarmaṇā by one who acomplishes any task with ease, rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in that way, muktaḥ asmi I was spared, sahāyāstu others who accompanied me, nipātitāḥ were destroyed.

That way I was spared by the young boy who was not versed in archery and who could still accomplish the task with ease.Those who accompanied me were destroyed.
tanmayā vāryamāṇastvaṅ yadi rāmēṇa vigraham.

kariṣyasyāpadaṅ ghōrāṅ kṣipraṅ prāpsyasi rāvaṇa৷৷3.38.23৷৷


rāvaṇa Ravana, tat that, mayā by me, vāryamāṇaḥ while being prevented, tvam you, rāmēṇa with Rama, vigraham conflict, kariṣyasi yadi if you wage, kṣipram very soon, ghōrām dreadful, āpadam calamity, prāpsyasi you will face.

If you pick up conflict with Rama even while being warned by me you will soon face a
dreadful calamity.
krīḍāratividhijñānāṅ samājōtsavaśālinām.

rakṣasāṅ caiva santāpamanarthaṅ cāhariṣyasi৷৷3.38.24৷৷


krīḍāratividhijñānām of those who know love-sport, samājōtsavaśālinām of those who celebrate community festivals, rakṣasāṅ caiva of demons too, santāpam grief, anarthaṅ ca disaster, āhariṣyasi you will bring.

You will bring grief and disaster into the lives of demons who are sporting in love and who are in the habit of celebrating community festivals with joy.
harmyaprāsādasambādhāṅ nānāratnavibhūṣitām.

drakṣyasi tvaṅ purīṅ laṅkāṅ vinaṣṭāṅ maithilīkṛtē৷৷3.38.25৷৷


harmyaprāsādasambādhām with magnificent royal mansions, nānāratnavibhūṣitām embellisted with various gems, laṅkāṅ purīm city of Lanka, tvam you, maithilīkṛtē for the sake of Sita, vinaṣṭām ruined, drakṣyasi you will see.

You will see the city of Lanka dotted with magnificent royal mansions embellished with different kinds of gems ruined for the sake of Sita.
akurvantō.pi pāpāni śucayaḥ pāpasaṅśrayāt.

parapāpairvinaśyanti matsyā nāgahradē yathā৷৷3.38.26৷৷


pāpāni sins, akurvantō.pi even without committing, śucayaḥ pure men, pāpasaṅśrayāt by contact with sinners, nāgahradē in a pool of serpents, matsyāḥ yathā like the fish, parapāpaiḥ sins committed by others, vinaśyanti will be destroyed.

Even without committing any sin those pure souls because they keep company with sinners will be destroyed for the sins of others just like fishes in a pool of serpents.
divyacandanadigdhāṅgāndivyābharaṇabhūṣitān.

drakṣyasyabhihatānbhūmau tava dōṣāttu rākṣasān৷৷3.38.27৷৷


divyacandanadigdhāṅgān with limbs smeared with sandal paste and unguents, divyābharaṇabhūṣitān adorned with excellent ornaments, rākṣasān demons, tava dōṣāt for your mistakes, bhūmau on this earth, abhihatān killed, drakṣyasi you will see.

You will see the demons who smear their limbs with sandal paste and unguents, who are adorned with excellent ornaments slain and laid on the ground for your mistakes.
hṛtadārān sadārāṅśca daśa vidravatō diśaḥ.

hataśēṣānaśaraṇāndrakṣyasi tvaṅ niśācarān৷৷3.38.28৷৷


hataśēṣān the surviving, niśācarān demons, hṛtadārān with their wives abducted, sadārāṅśca those with wives, aśaraṇān with none to take care of them, daśa diśaḥ in ten directions, vidravataḥ while running, tvam you, drakṣyasi you will see.

You will see the rest of the demons with their wives gone or fleeing in all directions helplessly with none to take care of them.
śarajālaparikṣiptāmagnijvālāsamāvṛtām.

pradagdhabhavanāṅ laṅkāṅ drakṣyasi tvaṅ na saṅśayaḥ৷৷3.38.29৷৷


śarajālaparikṣiptām scattered arrows, agnijvālāsamāvṛtām surrounded by flames of fire, pradagdhabhavanām with buildings on fire, laṅkām Lanka, tvam you, drakṣyasi you will see, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na not.

You will undoubtedly see Lanka filled with arrows, surrounded by flames of fire and its buildings on fire.
paradārābhimarśāttu nānyatpāpataraṅ mahat.

pramadānāṅ sahasraṅ ca tava rājanparigrahaḥ৷৷3.38.30৷৷


paradārābhimarśāt violating the chastity of others' wives, pāpataram a greater sin, mahat highly, anyat other thing, na not, rājan O king, pramadānām women sahasram thousand, tava your, parigrahaḥwhom you married,

O king! there is no sin greater than violating the chastity of others wives, when you have married a thousand lovely women.
bhava svadāraniratasvakulaṅ rakṣa rākṣasa.

mānamṛddhiṅ ca rājyaṅ ca jīvitaṅ cēṣṭamātmanaḥ৷৷3.38.31৷৷


rākṣasa O demon, svadāranirataḥ enjoy your own wives, bhava be, svakulam your race, rakṣa you protect, mānam prestige, ṛddhiṅ ca prosperity also, rājyaṅ ca kingdom too, ātmanaḥ your, iṣṭam dear, jīvitaṅ ca and your life.

Enjoy with your wives. Protect your race, prestige, kingdom, prosperity and your own dear life.
kalatrāṇi ca saumyāni mitravargaṅ tathaiva ca.

yadīcchasi ciraṅ bhōktaṅ mā kṛthā rāmavipriyam৷৷3.38.32৷৷


saumyāni beautiful ones, kalatrāṇi wives, tathaiva ca similarly, mitravargam friends, ciram for a long time, bhōktum to enjoy, icchasi yadi wish to, rāma vipriyam offence to Rama, mā kṛthāḥ do not do.

If you wish to enjoy your beautiful wives and your good friends for long, do not create enmity with Rama.
nivāryamāṇassuhṛdā mayā bhṛśaṅ prasahya sītāṅ yadi dharṣayiṣyasi.

gamiṣyasi kṣīṇabalassabāndhavō yamakṣayaṅ rāmaśarāttajīvitaḥ৷৷3.38.33৷৷


suhṛdā by a friend, mayā by myself, bhṛśam profusely, nivāryamāṇaḥ prevented, sītām Sita, prasahya forcibly, dharṣayiṣyasi yadi if you violate Sita, kṣīṇabalaḥ with reduced strength, sabāndhavaḥ along with your kin, rāmaśarāttajīvitaḥ your life taken away by Rama's arrows, yamakṣayam abode of Yama , gamiṣyasi you will go.

If you violate Sita forcibly notwithstanding my friendly warning, your life will be drained by the arrows of Rama and you will reach the abode of Yama with your kith and kin, your strength depleted.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē aṣṭatriṅśassargaḥ.
Thus ends the thirtyeighth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.