Sloka & Translation

[Maricha describes his escape to Dandaka forest -- advises Ravana against the idea of encountering Rama.]

ēvamasmi tadā muktaḥ kathañcittēna saṅyugē.

idānīmapi yadvṛttaṅ tacchṛṇuṣva niruttaram৷৷3.39.1৷৷


tadā then, tēna by him, saṅyugē in the combat, kathañcit somehow , ēvam in that way, muktaḥ asmi I was released, idānīmapi recently also, yat whatever, vṛttam has taken place, tat that, niruttaram without any reply, śṛṇuṣva listen to it.

I was somehow saved by him this way in the combat.Listen without any reply to what has taken place recently.
rākṣasābhyāmahaṅ dvābhyāmanirviṇṇastathā kṛtaḥ.

sahitō mṛgarūpābhyāṅ praviṣṭō daṇḍakāvanam৷৷3.39.2৷৷


tathākṛtaḥ having done so, anirviṇṇaḥ unworried, aham I, mṛgarūpābhyām in the form of deer, dvābhyām by two, rākṣasābhyām by demons, sahitaḥ accompanied by, daṇḍakāvanam forest of Dandaka, praviṣṭaḥ entered.

Having done so, I picked up courage and entered Dandaka forest, accompanied by the two other demons in the form of deer .
dīptajihvō mahākāyastīkṣṇadaṅṣṭrō mahābalaḥ.

vyacaraṅ daṇḍakāraṇyaṅ māṅsabhakṣō mahāmṛgaḥ৷৷3.39.3৷৷


dīptajihvaḥ flaming red tongue, mahākāyaḥ big body, tīkṣṇadaṅṣṭraḥ sharp teeth, mahābalaḥ very strong , māṅsabhakṣaḥ feeding on flesh, mahāmṛgaḥ a huge animal, daṇḍakāraṇyam Dandaka forest, vyacaram wandered.

I wandered in Dandaka forest in the form of a huge animal with a big and strong body, a flaming red tongue and sharp teeth feeding on flesh.
agnihōtrēṣu tīrthēṣu caityavṛkṣēṣu rāvaṇa.

atyantaghōrō vyacaraṅ tāpasānsampradharṣayan৷৷3.39.4৷৷


rāvaṇa Ravana!, atyantaghōraḥ very dreadful , agnihōtrēṣu at the sacrificial sites, tīrthēṣu at sacred rivers, caityavṛkṣēṣu alter at the root of fig trees in sacred places, tāpasān ascetics, sampradharṣayan torturing, vyacaram I wandered.

O Ravana, assuming a very dreadful form, I wandered about sacrificial spots, sacred places, river banks, under huge trees planted at quadrangles-torturing the ascetics.
nihatya daṇḍakāraṇyē tāpasāndharmacāriṇaḥ.

rudhirāṇi pibaṅstēṣāṅ tathā māṅsāni bhakṣayan৷৷3.39.5৷৷


daṇḍakāraṇyē in the Dandaka forest, dharmacāriṇaḥ following righteousness, tāpasān ascetics, nihatya after slaying, tēṣām their, rudhirāṇi blood, piban drinking, tathā likewise, māṅsāni flesh, bhakṣayan eating.

I wandered about the Dandaka forest slaying righteous ascetics, drinking their blood and eating their flesh.
ṛṣimāṅsāśanaḥ krūrastrāsayanvanagōcarān.

tathā rudhiramattō.haṅ vicarandharmadūṣakaḥ৷৷3.39.6৷৷


aham I, ṛṣimāṅsāśanaḥ eater of the flesh of ascetics, krūraḥ cruel, vanagōcarān roamers of the forest, trāsayan while frightening, tathā likewise, rudhiramattaḥ intoxicated with their blood, dharmadūṣakaḥ harming the righteous, vicaran wandered.

While thus roaming, I harmed the wanderers of the forest. Intoxicated with their blood
I used to frighten the righteous.
āsādayaṅ tadā rāmaṅ tāpasaṅ dharmacāriṇam.

vaidēhīṅ ca mahābhāgāṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ ca mahāratham৷৷3.39.7৷৷


tadā then, dharmacāriṇam the followers of the righteous path, tāpasam ascetic, rāmam Rama, mahābhāgām venerable lady, vaidēhīṅ ca Vaidehi too, mahāratham great warrior, lakṣmaṇaṅ ca and Lakshmana, āsādayam I encountered.

I encountered again the righteous Rama who was in the form of an ascetic, with venerable Sita and the great warrior Lakshmana.
tāpasaṅ niyatāhāraṅ sarvabhūtahitē ratam.

sō.haṅ vanagataṅ rāmaṅ paribhūya mahābalam৷৷3.39.8৷৷

tāpasō.yamiti jñātvā pūrvavairamanusmaran.

abhyadhāvaṅ hi saṅkruddhastīkṣṇa śṛṅgō mṛgākṛtiḥ৷৷3.39.9৷৷

jighāṅsurakṛtaprajñastaṅ prahāramanusmaran.


mṛgākṛtiḥ in the form of a deer, tīkṣṇaśṛṅga: pointed horns, saḥ aham that me, pūrvavairam earlier hostility, anusmaran remembering, tāpasam ascetic, niyatāhāram with restricted food, sarvabhūtahitē well-wisher of all beings, ratam engaged, mahābalam very strong, vanagatam came to the forest, rāmam Rama, ayam this, tāpasaḥ an ascetic, iti thus thinking, paribhūya disregarding, taṅ prahāram his blow in the past, anusmaran remembering, jighāṅsuḥ with an intention of killing, saṅkṛddhaḥ very angry, abhyadhāvam ran towards him.

Although Rama was very strong, he was living on restricted diet, engaged in the welfare of all beings. Treating him as a mere ascetic living in the forest, remembering my past hostility with him and disregarding his (fatal) blow, I ran towards him angrily, assuming the form of a sharp-horned animal with an intention to kill him.
tēna muktāstrayō bāṇāśśitāśśatrunibarhaṇāḥ৷৷3.39.10৷৷

vikṛṣya balavaccāpaṅ suparṇānilanissvanāḥ.


tēna by him, cāpam bow, balavat might, vikṛṣya having drawn, śatrunibarhaṇāḥ slayers of enemies, śitāḥ sharp, suparṇānilanisvanāḥ whizzing like Garuda or the wind, trayaḥ three, bāṇāḥ darts, muktāḥ released.

His mighty bow drawn, Rama released three sharp darts that came whizzing like Garuda or the wind. They could destroy the enemy.
tē bāṇā vajrasaṅkāśāssumuktā raktabhōjanāḥ.

ājagmussahitāssarvē trayassannataparvaṇaḥ৷৷3.39.11৷৷


vajrasaṅkāśāḥ like the thunderbolt, raktabhōjanāḥ which feed on blood, sannataparvaṇaḥ with strong joints, sarvē all, tē trayaḥ bāṇāḥ the three darts, sumuktāḥ well-targetted, sahitāḥ together, ājagmuḥ came at once.

All the three tightly jointed, well-targetted darts, strong as thunderbolt, and which could feed on blood came together all at once.
parākramajñō rāmasya śaṭhō dṛṣṭabhayaḥ purā.

samudbhāntastatōmuktastāvubhau rākṣasau hatau৷৷3.39.12৷৷


rāmasya Rama's, śaṭha: deceitful, purā earlier, dṛṣṭabhayaḥ having seen that fearful, parākramajñaḥ knower of his prowess, samudbhrāntaḥ in a bewildered state, tataḥ then, muktaḥ let away, tau two others, rākṣasau two demons, ubhau both, hatau were killed.

Having known Rama's prowess earlier and experienced tremendous fear, I ran away in a bewildered state as I was deceitful. The other two demons (who had accompanied me) succumbed.
śarēṇa muktō rāmasya kathañcitprāpya jīvitam.

iha pravrājitō yuktastāpasō.haṅ samāhitaḥ৷৷3.39.13৷৷


aham I, rāmasya Rama's, śarēṇa by the darts, kathañcit somehow, muktaḥ escaped, jīvitam life, prāpya having attained, yuktaḥ engaged in, samāhitaḥ composed state, tāpasaḥ an ascetic, iha here, pravrājitaḥ have started living the life of a recluse.

With my escape from Rama's darts I somehow got a fresh lease of life. Now I am composed. I have started living the life of a recluse here. I have turned an ascetic.
vṛkṣē vṛkṣē ca paśyāmi cīrakṛṣṇājināmbaram.

gṛhītadhanuṣaṅ rāmaṅ pāśahastamivāntakam৷৷3.39.14৷৷


cīrakṛṣṇājināmbaram clad in bark and deer-skin, gṛhītadhanuṣam holding the bow, pāśahastam having a noose in hand, antakamiva like the god of death, rāmam Rama, vṛkṣē vṛkṣē in every tree, paśyāmi I see.

I see Rama in every tree, clad in bark and deer-skin, wielding the bow, holding a noose in hand like the god of death.
api rāmasahasrāṇi bhītaḥ paśyāmi rāvaṇa.

rāmabhūtamidaṅ sarvamaraṇyaṅ pratibhāti mē৷৷3.39.15৷৷


rāvaṇa Ravana, bhītaḥ fearful, rāmasahasrāṇyapi thousands of Ramas, paśyāmi I see, idam this, sarvam all over, araṇyam forest, rāmabhūtam filled with Rama, mē to me, pratibhāti appears.

O Ravana! I see in my fear thousands of Ramas. The entire forest appears to me as though filled with Rama.
rāmamēva hi paśyāmi rahitē rākṣasādhipa.

dṛṣṭvā svapnagataṅ rāmamudbhramāmi vicētanaḥ৷৷3.39.16৷৷


rākṣasādhipa O king of the demons, rahitē in a solitary state, rāmamēva only Rama, paśyāmi I see, svapnagatam even in my dreams, rāmam Rama, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, vicētanaḥ senseless, udbhramāmi I am bewildered.

O king of the demons ! I see only Rama even in solitude. When I see him in a dream I lose my senses in a state of bewilderment.
rakārādīni nāmāni rāmatrastasya rāvaṇa.

ratnāni ca rathāścaiva trāsaṅ saṅjanayanti mē৷৷3.39.17৷৷


rāvaṇa Ravana, rāmatrastasya for one frightened by Rama, mē to, me, rakārādīni nāmāni names beginning with 'Ra', ratnāni gems, rathāścaiva chariots also, trāsam fear, sañjanayanti create in me.

O Ravana!, every name beginning with the letter 'Ra', such as Ratna (gems), Ratha (chariot), etc. strike terror in me.
ahaṅ tasya prabhāvajñō na yuddhaṅ tēna tē kṣamam.

baliṅ vā namuciṅ vāpi hanyāddhi raghunandanaḥ৷৷3.39.18৷৷


aham I, tasya his, prabhāvajñaḥ knower of his power, tē to you, tēna with him, yuddham war, kṣamam proper, na not, raghunandanaḥ delight of the Raghu dynasty (Rama), baliṅ vā Bali or, namuciṅ vāpi even Namuchi, hanyāddhi can slay.

I know his power.It is not proper to wage a war with him. Rama, delight of the Raghu dynasty, can slay even Bali or Namuchi.
raṇē rāmēṇa yuddhyasva kṣamāṅ vā kuru rākṣasa .

na tē rāmakathā kāryā yadi māṅ draṣṭumicchasi ৷৷3.39.19 ৷৷


Missing

Missing
bahavassādhavō lōkē yuktā dharmamanuṣṭhitāḥ.

parēṣāmaparādhēna vinaṣṭhāssaparicchadāḥ৷৷3.39.20৷৷


lōkē in the world, yuktāḥ absorbed in, dharmam righteous ways, anuṣṭhitāḥ followers, bahavaḥ many, sādhava: pious people, parēṣām of others, aparādhēna by their mistake, saparicchadāḥ along with all
their followers, vinaṣṭāḥ are destroyed.

There were many pious men in this world who practise yoga and dharma .They have been destroyed along with their retinue due to mistakes committed by others.
sō৷৷haṅ tavāparādhēna vinaśyēyaṅ niśācara.

kuru yattē kṣamaṅ tattvamahaṅ tvā nānuyāmi ha৷৷3.39.21৷৷


niśācara O demon, saḥ aham that I, tava aparādhēna by your mistake, vinaśyēyam I will be ruined, tē to you, yat whatever, kṣamam appropriate, tat that, tvam you, kuru you may do, aham I, tvā you, na anuyāmi ha will not follow.

O demon ! As such, I will perish due to your offence. You may do anything you deem appropriate. I will not follow you.
rāmaśca hi mahātējā mahāsattvō mahābalaḥ৷৷3.39.22৷৷

api rākṣasalōkasya na bhavēdantakō.pi saḥ.


rāmaśca Rama also, mahātējāḥ brilliant, mahāsattva: very powerful, mahābalaḥ very strong, saḥ he, rākṣasalōkasya for the community of demons, antakaḥ god of death, na bhavēdapi not be.

Rama is brilliant, powerful and strong. I hope he will not be the god of death for the world of demons.
yadi śūrpaṇakhāhētōrjanasthānagataḥ kharaḥ৷৷3.39.23৷৷

ativṛttō hataḥ pūrvaṅ rāmēṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā.

atra brūhi yathātattvaṅ kō rāmasya vyatikramaḥ৷৷3.39.24৷৷


janasthānagataḥ staying at Janasthana, kharaḥ Khara, śūrpaṇakhāhētōḥ for the sake of Surpanakha, pūrvam earlier, ativṛttaḥ a person who exceeded his limits, akliṣṭakarmaṇā by one who can accomplish a work easily, rāmēṇa by Rama, hataḥ slain, yadi if, atra here, rāmasya Rama's,
vyatikramaḥ violation, kaḥ what, yathātattvam truly, brūhi tell me.

For the sake of Surpanakha, Khara of Janasthana committed excesses and got killed by Rama who can accomplish things with ease.Tell me truly if Rama did violate anything here.
idaṅ vacō bandhuhitārthināmayā yathōcyamānaṅ yadi nābhipatsyasē.

sabāndhavastyakṣyasi jīvitaṅ raṇē hatō৷৷dya rāmēṇa śarairajihmagaiḥ৷৷3.39.25৷৷


bandhuhitārthinā one seeking the welfare of relations, mayā by myself, ucyamānam being spoken, vacaḥ word, yathā as, na no, abhipatyasē yadi you do not follow, sabāndhavaḥ with all relations, adya now, rāmēṇa by Rama, ajihmagaiḥ that which moves straight, śaraiḥ with darts, hataḥ you are slayed, raṇē in war, jīvitam life, tyakṣayasi you will give up.

If you do not follow my advice given for the welfare of our kith and kin, O Ravana, you are killed today. With your relations you will succumb to his straight-moving arrows.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkōnacatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtyninth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.