Sloka & Translation

[Ravana commands Maricha with the authority of a king-- threatens to kill him if he disobeyed- determined Ravana indicates his plan of the golden deer.]

mārīcēna tu tadvākyaṅ kṣamaṅ yuktaṅ ca niśācaraḥ.

uktō na pratijagrāha martukāma ivauṣadham৷৷3.40.1৷৷


uktaḥ spoken, niśācaraḥ demon, (rāvaṇaḥ Ravana), mārīcēna by Maricha, kṣamam competent, yuktaṅ ca suitable, tat that, vākyam advice, martukāmaḥ one who wishes to die, auṣadham iva like medicine, na pratijagrāha did not accept৷৷

The demon Ravana did not heed the appropriate advice of the competent Maricha just like a man wishing to die refuses medicine.
taṅ pathyahitavaktāraṅ mārīcaṅ rākṣasādhipaḥ.

abravītparuṣaṅ vākyamayuktaṅ kālacōditaḥ৷৷3.40.2৷৷


rākṣasādhipaḥ king of the demons, kālacōditaḥ driven by fate, pathyahitavaktāram to one who spoke salutary and beneficial words, taṅ mārīcam that Maricha, ayuktam not appropriate, paruṣam harsh, vākyam word, abravīt said.

The king of the demons, driven by fate, replied with improper and harsh words to Maricha whose advice was salutary and beneficial to him :
yatkilaitadayuktārthaṅ mārīca mayi kathyatē.

vākyaṅ niṣphalamatyarthamuptaṅ bījamivōṣarē৷৷3.40.3৷৷


mārīca O Maricha, ayuktārtham in appropriate, yat which, vākyam words, mayi towards me, kathyatē is being said, ūṣarē in saline soil, uptam sown, bījamiva like the seed, atyartham very much, niṣphalam useless.

O Maricha, the words addressed to me are not appropriate.Your advice is extremely fruitless like a seed sown in saline, barren soil.
tvadvākyairna tu māṅ śakyaṅ bhēttuṅ rāmasya saṅyugē.

pāpaśīlasya mūrkhasya mānuṣasya viśēṣataḥ৷৷3.40.4৷৷


tvadvākyaiḥ by your words, pāpaśīlasya of a sinner, mūrkhasya of a foolish one, viśēṣataḥ specially, mānuṣasya of a human being, rāmasya of Rama, mām me, saṅyugē in a combat, bhēttum to break, na śakyam not possible.

It is not possible to dissuade me from my encounter with Rama who is sinful, foolish and especially an ordinary human being.
yastyaktvā suhṛdō rājyaṅ mātaraṅ pitaraṅ tathā.

strīvākyaṅ prākṛtaṅ śrutvā vanamēkapadē gataḥ৷৷3.40.5৷৷


yaḥ he who, prākṛtam ordinary, strīvākyam woman's word, śrutvā after hearing, suhṛdaḥ friends, rājyam kingdom, mātaram mother, tathā also, pitaram father, tyaktvā after leaving, ēkapadē at once, vanam to the forest, gataḥ went.

On hearing the casual words of a woman, (this) Rama came to the forest at once, leaving his friends, kingdom, mother and father.
avaśyantu mayā tasya saṅyugē kharaghātinaḥ.

prāṇaiḥ priyatarā sītā hartavyā tava sannidhau৷৷3.40.6৷৷


saṅyugē in a war, kharaghātinaḥ of one who killed Khara, tasya his, prāṇaiḥ more than his life, priyatarā dearer, (bhāryā wife), sītā Sita, tava your, sannidhau in the presence, avaśyam surely, mayā by myself, hartavyā will abduct.

In your very presence I will surely abduct Sita, wife of Rama who killed Khara in war,
Sita whom he loves more than his life.
ēvaṅ mē niścitā buddhirhṛdi mārīca vartatē.

na vyāvartayituṅ śakyā sēndrairapi surāsuraiḥ৷৷3.40.7৷৷


mārīca Maricha, mē my, buddhi mind, ēvam this way, niścitā made up, hṛdi in my heart, vartatē stop, sēndraiḥ with Indra, surāsurairapi deities or demons, vyāvartayitum to change, na śakyā not possible.

O Maricha ! I have made up my mind that way. Even demons or deities including Indra cannot alter this decision of mine.
dōṣaṅ guṇaṅ vā sampṛṣṭastvamēvaṅ vaktumarhasi.

apāyaṅ vāpyupāyaṅ vā kāryasyāsya viniścayē৷৷3.40.8৷৷


asya kāryasya in this task, viniścayē this decision, dōṣam demerits, guṇaṅ vā or merit, apāyam danger, upāyaṅ vā or any way out, sampṛṣṭaḥ asked of you, tvam you, ēvam in that way, vaktum arhasi should say.

If I asked you the merits or demerits, the risks involved or the way out while deciding a case, you should have said what you did.
sampṛṣṭēna tu vaktavyaṅ sacivēna vipaścitā.

udyatāñjalinā rājñē ya icchēdbhūtimātmanaḥ৷৷3.40.9৷৷


yaḥ whoever, ātmanaḥ his, bhūtim riches, icchēt wants, sampṛṣṭēna by him when asked, vipaścitā by a wise man, sacivēna by a minister, udyatāñjalinā by him with folded palms, rājñē to the king, vaktavyam be said.

A wise counsellor should give advice to the king only when his opinion is sought and that too with folded hands, if he wishes his own prosperity.
vākyamapritakūlaṅ tu mṛdupūrvaṅ hitaṅ śubham.

upacārēṇa yuktaṅ ca vaktavyō vasudhādhipaḥ৷৷3.40.10৷৷


vasudhādhipaḥ lord of the earth, apratikūlam not unfavourable, mṛdupūrvam politely, hitam welfare, śubham auspicious,upacārēṇa with proper decorum, yuktam with, vākyam word, vaktavyaḥ suggested.

A king should be addressed with politeness and decorum, with words not unfavourble intended for his good luck and well-being.
sāvamardaṅ tu yadvākyaṅ mārīca hitamucyatē.

nābhinandati tadrājā mānārhō mānavarjitam৷৷3.40.11৷৷


mārīca O Maricha, mānavarjitam disrespectful, yat whatever, hitam good, vākyam words, sāvamardam in an oppressive way, ucyatē when spoken, tat that, mānārhaḥ who deserves respect, rājā king, nābhinandati does not like.

A king who deserves honour does not feel happy to hear even good words of advice if said in disrespectful or authoritarian way, O Maricha !
pañca rūpāṇi rājānō dhārayantyamitaujasaḥ.

agnērindrasya sōmasya varuṇasya yamasya ca৷৷3.40.12৷৷


amitaujasa: very powerful , rājānaḥ kings, agnēḥ of fire, indrasya of Indra, sōmasya Moon's, varuṇasya Varuna's, yamasya ca and of lord of death, pañca five, rūpāṇi forms, dhārayanti will assume.

Very powerful kings assume five forms like fire, Indra, Moon, Varuna and Yama.
auṣṇyaṅ tathā vikramaṅ ca saumyaṅ daṇḍaṅ prasannatām.

dhārayanti mahātmānō rājānaḥ kṣaṇadācara৷৷3.40.13৷৷

tasmātsarvāsvavasthāsu mānyāḥ pūjyāśca pārthivāḥ.


kṣaṇadācara of demon, mahātmanaḥ great self, rājānaḥ kings, auṣṇyam heat, tathā similarly, vikramaṅ ca valour, saumyam gentleness, daṇḍam command, prasannatām grace, dhārayanti possess, tasmāt therefore, pārthivāḥ kings, sarvāsu at all, avasthāsu stages, mānyāḥ deserve to be respected, pūjyāśca worthy of reverence.

Great kings possess heat, (of the fire-god), valour (of Indra), coolness (of the Moon), command (of Varuna) and grace (of the Lord of death). Therefore kings at all stages deserve respect and reverence.
tvaṅ tu dharmamavijñāya kēvalaṅ mōhamāsthitaḥ.

abhyāgataṅ māṅ daurātmyātparuṣaṅ vaktumicchasi৷৷3.40.14৷৷


tvaṅ tu you on your part, dharmam rightful duty, avijñāya not knowing, kēvalam only, mōham because of delusion, āsthitaḥ have taken recourse to, abhyāgatam to a guest (who comes without prior announcement), mām me, daurātmyāt out of evil mind, paruṣam harsh, vaktum to speak, icchasi want.

You do not know your rightful duty.Because of delusion and an evil mind, you want to speak only harsh words to me, a guest who has come to you.
guṇadōṣau na pṛcchāmi kṣamaṅ cātmani rākṣasa.

mayōktaṅ tava caitāvatsaṅpratyamitavikramaḥ৷৷3.40.15৷৷


rākṣasa O demon, guṇadōṣau good or bad, ātmani yourself, kṣamam welfare, na pṛcchāmi not asked you, amitavikramaḥ extremely valiant one, samprati now, tava your, ētāvat as such, mayā by me, uktam asked.

O demon ! O extremely valiant demon ! I ask you(to do) this much now. I am not asking you whether it is good or bad or whether it is for my welfare or not.
asmiṅstu tvaṅ mahākṛtyē sāhāyyaṅ kartumarhasi.

śṛṇu tatkarma sāhāyyē yatkāryaṅ vacanānmama৷৷3.40.16৷৷


asmin in this, mahākṛtyē great task, tvam you, sāhāyyam help, kartum to do, arhasi behove, mama vacanāt by my words, sāhāyyē render help, yat that which, kāryam task, tat that, karma action, śṛṇu listen.

You have to help me in accomplishing this great task .Hear me on the kind of work you have to do.
sauvarṇastvaṅ mṛgō bhūtvā citrō rajatabindubhiḥ .

āśramē tasya rāmasya sītāyāḥ pramukhē cara ৷৷3.40.17 ৷৷


Missing

Missing
sauvarṇastvaṅ mṛgō bhūtvā citrō rajatabindubhiḥ.

āśramē tasya rāmasya sītāyāḥ pramukhē cara.

pralōbhayitvā vaidēhīṅ yathēṣṭaṅ gantumarhasi৷৷3.40.18৷৷


tvam you, rajatabindubhiḥ with silver spots, citraḥ wonderful, sauvarṇaḥ golden, mṛgaḥ deer, bhūtvā being, tasya his, rāmasya Rama's, āśramē in hermitage, sītāyāḥ Sita's, pramukhē in front, cara go about, vaidēhīm Sita, pralōbhayitvā after fascinating her, yathēṣṭam as you desire, gantum to go, arhasi you may.

Transform yourself into a wonderful golden deer with silver spots and move about in front of Sita at the hermitage of Rama. After fascinating her, you may go whereever you desire.
tvāṅ tu māyāmṛgaṅ dṛṣṭvā kāñcanaṅ jātavismayā.

ānayainamiti kṣipraṅ rāmaṅ vakṣyati maithilī৷৷3.40.19৷৷


maithilī Sita, kāñcanam golden, māyāmṛgam illusory deer, tvām you, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, jātavismayā wonderstruck, ēnaṅ this deer, kṣipram quickly, ānaya get me, iti thus, rāmam Rama, vakṣyati will say.

Seeing the illusory golden deer, Sita, wonder-struck, will at once ask Rama to get the
deer.
apakrāntē tu kākutsthē dūraṅ yātvāpyudāhara.

hā sītē lakṣmaṇētyēvaṅ rāmavākyānurūpakam৷৷3.40.20৷৷


kākutsthē the scion of the Kakutsthas, apakrāntē diverted, dūram to a distance, yātvā going, rāmavākyānurūpakam resembling Rama's voice, hā Alas, sītē Sita!, hā lakṣmaṇa Alas, Lakshmana!, ityēvam in this way, udāhara api cry also.

Divert Rama to a far-off place and cry, 'Alas, Sita!, Alas, Lakshmana', imitating the voice of Rama.
tacchrutvā rāmapadavīṅ sītayā ca pracōditaḥ.

anugacchati sambhrāntaḥ saumitrirapi sauhṛdāt৷৷3.40.21৷৷


saumitrirapi Lakshmana too, tat that, śrutvā on hearing, sītayā ca by Sita, pracōditaḥ urged, sambhrāntaḥ bewildered, sauhṛdāt out of love , rāmapadavīm following the track of Rama, anugacchati will go.

On hearing you, Lakshmana will be bewildered. Urged by Sita and out of love for Rama, Lakshmana will follow the same track as Rama.
apakrāntē ca kākutsthē lakṣmaṇē ca yathāsukham.

ānayiṣyāmi vaidēhīṅ sahasrākṣaśśacīmiva৷৷3.40.22৷৷


kākutsthē when Rama, lakṣmaṇē ca and Lakshmana, apakrāntē are away, vaidēhīm Vaidehi, sahasrākṣaḥ thousand-eyed Indra, śacīmiva like Sachi, yathāsukham comfortably, ānayiṣyāmi will get Sita.

When Rama and Lakshmana are away I will comfortably abduct Vaidehi like the thousand-eyed Indra brought Sachi.
ēvaṅ kṛtvā tvidaṅ kāryaṅ yathēṣṭaṅ gaccha rākṣasa.

rājyasyārdhaṅ prayacchāmi mārīca tava suvrata৷৷3.40.23৷৷


rākṣasa O demon, idam this, kāryam work, ēvam in that way, kṛtvā having done, yathēṣṭam wherever you please, gaccha go, suvrata a person of good determination, mārīca Maricha, tava to you, rājyasya of my kingdom, ardham half, prayacchāmi I will offer.

You may go wherever you want after accomplishing this task. I will give you, O demon of determination half my kingdom.
gaccha saumya śivaṅ mārgaṅ kāryasyāsya vivṛddhayē.

ahaṅ tvānugamiṣyāmi sarathō daṇḍakāvanam৷৷3.40.24৷৷


saumya O handsome, asya of this, kāryasya of this task, vivṛddhayē for fulfilment, śivam auspicious, mārgam path, gaccha go, aham I, sarathaḥ riding on the chariot, daṇḍakāvanam to Dandaka forest, anugamiṣyāmi I will follow.

Go and accomplish this task. Let your path be auspicious. I will follow you on the chariot into the Dandaka forest.
prāpya sītāmayuddhēna vañcayitvā tu rāghavam.

laṅkāṅ pratigamiṣyāmi kṛtakāryassaha tvayā৷৷3.40.25৷৷


rāghavam Rama, vañcayitvā deceiving, sītām Sita, ayuddhēna without a war, prāpya obtain, kṛtakāryaḥ having accomplished the task, tvayā saha along with you, laṅkāṅ prati towards Lanka, gamiṣyāmi will go.

I will deceive Rama and obtain Sita, without waging a war. With the work done, I will return to Lanka along with you.
na cētkarōṣi mārīca hanmi tvāmahamadya vai.

ētatkāryamavaśyaṅ mē balādapi kariṣyasi.

rājñō hi pratikūlasthō na jātu sukhamēdhatē৷৷3.40.26৷৷


mārīca Maricha, na karōṣi cēt if you do not do this, aham I, adya vai now itself, hanmi I will kill, mē myself, ētat this, kāryam task, balādapi forcibly also , avaśyam certainly, kariṣyasi will make you do, rājñaḥ to the king, pratikūlasthaḥ against, jātu generally, sukham in comfort, na ēdhatē hi will not live.

O Maricha! if you do not do this, I will kill you now. Or, by force make you do this work. No one who goes against the king lives in comfort.
āsādya taṅ jīvitasaṅśayastē mṛtyurdhruvō hyadya mayā virudhya.

ētadyathāvatpratigṛhya buddhyā yadatra pathyaṅ kuru tattathā tvam৷৷3.40.27৷৷


tam to him, āsādya facing in a combat, tē to you, jīvitasaṅśayaḥ doubtful to be alive, mayā with me, virudhya picking up, adya now, mṛtyuḥ death, dhruvaḥ sure, ētat as such, buddhyā think, yathāvat do as you like, pratigṛhya accept, atra here, yat whatever, pathyam desirable, tat that, tvam you, tathā like that, kuru do.

Your survival is doubtful after facing Rama in combat. But your death is certain if you oppose me now. Think carefuly and do whatever is desirable for you in the present circumstances.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē catvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortieth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.