Sloka & Translation

[Rama chases the magic deer-- unable to catch, kills it -- gets stunned at the deer calling out Sita, Lakshmana imitating his voice--death of the deer--Rama returns to the hermitage.]

tathā tu taṅ samādiśya bhrātaraṅ raghunandanaḥ.

babandhāsiṅ mahātējā jāmbūnadamayatsarum৷৷3.44.1৷৷


mahātējāḥ brilliant, raghunandanaḥ delight of the Raghu dynasty, bhrātaram brother, tam to him, tathā in that way, samādiśya instructed, jāmbūnadamayatsarum golden handle , asim the sword, babandha tied.

The brilliant Rama, delight of the Raghu dynasty, thus instructed his brother and fastened a sword with a golden handle to his waist.
tata stryavanataṅ cāpamādāyā.tmavibhūṣaṇam.

ābadhya ca kalāpau dvau jagāmōdagravikramaḥ৷৷3.44.2৷৷


tataḥ then, udagravikramaḥ of indomitable prowess, tryavanatam bent in three places, ātmavibhūṣaṇam an ornament to him, cāpam bow, ādāya took, dvau both, kalāpau two quivers, ābaddhya tied at the back, jagāma went.

A man of indomitable prowess, he took the bow with three curves that was like an ornament to him, tied two quivers at the back and left.
taṅ vañcayānō rājēndramāpatantaṅ nirīkṣyavai.

babhūvāntarhitastrāsātpunassandarśanē.bhavat৷৷ca3.44.3৷৷

baddhāsirdhanurādāya pradudrāva yatō mṛgaḥ.


āpatantam approaching, rājēndram to the king, tam him, nirīkṣaya seeing, vañcayānaḥ while deceiving, trāsāt out of fear, antarhitaḥ disappeared, babhūva became, punaḥ again, sandarśanē within sight, abhavat appeared, baddhāsiḥ held his sword, dhanuḥ bow, ādāya lifting, mṛgaḥ deer, yataḥ wherever, pradudrāva ran.

On seeing Rama approaching him, the deer disappeared due to fear and again came within sight. With his sword and the bow, Rama chased wherever the deer ran.
taṅ sma paśyati rūpēṇa dyōtamānamivāgrataḥ৷৷3.44.4৷৷

avēkṣyāvēkṣya dhāvantaṅ dhanuṣpāṇirmahāvanē.

ativṛttamiṣōḥ pātāllōbhayānaṅ kadācana৷৷3.44.5৷৷

śaṅkitantu samudbhrāntamutpatantamivāmbarē.

dṛśyamānamadṛśyaṅ ca vanōddēśēṣu kēṣucit৷৷3.44.6৷৷

chinnābhrairiva saṅvītaṅ śāradaṅ candramaṇḍalam.


dhanuṣpāṇiḥ wielder of the bow (Rama), avēkṣya saw, mahāvanē in the huge forest, dhāvantam running, tam him, rūpēṇa form, agrataḥ in front, paśyati sma saw, kadācana sometimes, iṣōḥ scared of the arrow, pātāt ran, ativṛttam went out of reach, lōbhayānam enticing, śaṅkitam frightened, samudbhrāntam bewildered, ambarē in the sky, utpatantamiva as if flying up, chinnābhraiḥ by the scattered clouds, saṅvītam surrounded, śāradam autumnal,candramaṇḍalam iva like the orb of the Moon, kēṣucit in certain places, vanōddēśēṣu in the forest tract, dṛśyamānam came within sight, adṛśyaṅ ca again disappeared.

Rama, wielder of the bow, saw that splendid animal ahead of him. Holding the bow he saw the deer running away, bewldered into the great forest looking at him again and again. The deer was getting out of the range of his arrow, while it enticed him now and then. Suspecting that he might be caught, the deer was, as though jumping into the sky. Now it came within sight and now out of sight in the huge forest. It looked like the autumnal moon surrounded by clouds. (The clouds muffle the Moon and reveal him now and then).
muhurtādēva dadṛśē muhurdūrātprakāśatē৷৷3.44.7৷৷

darśanādarśanādēvaṅ sō.pākarṣata rāghavam.

sudūramāśramasyāsya mārīcō mṛgatāṅ gataḥ৷৷3.44.8৷৷


mṛgatām in the form of a deer, gataḥ transformed, saḥ mārīcaḥ that Maricha, muhūrtādēva for a moment, dadṛśē was seen, muhuḥ again, (muhūrtāt another moment), dūrāt at a distance, prakāśatē appeared, ēvaṅ as, darśanādarśanāt appearing and disappearing, rāghavam Rama, upākarṣata pulled away.

Maricha, transformed into a deer, was seen now near, now far-off. He pulled Rama away from the hermitage through his exits and entrances.
āsīt kruddhastu kākutsthō vivaśastēna mōhitaḥ.

athāvatasthē saṅbhrāntaścāyāmāśritya śādvalē৷৷3.44.9৷৷


tēna by that, mōhitaḥ deluded, kākutstha:Rama, vivaśaḥ tired, kruddhaḥ in rage, āsīt was, atha then, saṅbhrāntaḥ perplexed, chāyām shade, āśritya seeking, śādvalē on green grass, avatasthē waited.

Deluded by that deer, Rama got tired, perplexed and angry. Then bewidered, he waited on a grassland under a shade.
sa tamunmādayāmāsa mṛgarūpō niśācaraḥ.

mṛgaiḥ parivṛtō vanyairadūrātpratyadṛśyata৷৷3.44.10৷৷


mṛgarūpaḥ assuming the form of a deer, saḥ niśācaraḥ that demon, tam him, unmādayāmāsa excited, vanyaiḥ with forest, mṛgaiḥ animals, parivṛtaḥ surrounded by, adūrāt not very far from him, adṛśyata was seen.

That demon transformed himself into a deer and, surrounded by the animals of the forest at close range, attracted his attention.
gṛhītukāmaṅ dṛṣṭvaivaṅ punarēvābhyadhāvata.

tatkṣaṇādēva saṅtrāsātpunarantarhitō.bhavat৷৷3.44.11৷৷


gṛhītukāmam intending to catch him, ēvam in that way, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, punarēva once again, abhyadhāvata ran, tatkṣaṇādēva in a moment, punarēva again, trāsāt out of fear, antarhitaḥ disappeared, abhavat became.

Seeing Rama's intention to catch him, the deer ran away once again out of fear and disappeared in a moment.
punarēva tatō dūrādvṛkṣaṣaṇḍādvinissṛtam.

dṛṣṭvā rāmō mahātējāstaṅ hantuṅ kṛtaniścayaḥ৷৷3.44.12৷৷


tataḥ then, mahātējāḥ resplendent, rāmaḥ Rama , punarēva again, dūrāt from a distance, vṛkṣaṣaṇḍāt from a group of trees, vinissṛtam coming out, tam him, dṛṣṭvā saw, hantum to kill, kṛtaniścayaḥ determined .

Resplendent Rama saw the deer coming out of a cluster of trees at a distance and determined to kill him.
bhūyastu śaramuddhṛtya kupitastatra rāghavaḥ.

sūryaraśmipratīkāśaṅ jvalantamarimardanaḥ৷৷3.44.13৷৷

sandhāya sudṛḍhē cāpē vikṛṣya balavadbalī.

tamēva mṛgamuddiśya śvasantamiva pannagam৷৷3.44.14৷৷

mumōca jvalitaṅ dīptamastraṅ brahmavinirmitam.


tatra there, bhūyaḥ again, kupitaḥ enraged, arimardanaḥ destroyer of foes, balī powerful,rāghavaḥ Rama, sūryaraśmipratīkāśam glowing like the rays of the Sun, jvalantam blazing, śaram dart, uddhṛtya
lifting, sudṛḍhē in a sturdy, cāpē in bow, sandhāya aiming, balavat with force, vikṛṣya drew, śvasantam sighing, pannagam iva like the serpent, jvalitam burning, dīptam shining, brahmanirmitam created by Brahma, astram weapon, tam him, mṛgamēva on the deer, uddiśya aiming, mumōca released.

Powerful Rama, destroyer of foes, lifted in a rage his arrow blazing like the light of the Sun, strung it to his sturdy bow and drew it with all his force. He then aimed at the deer and released the shining arrow created by Brahma which went hissing like a serpent.
śarīraṅ mṛgarūpasya vinirbhidya śarōttamaḥ৷৷3.44.15৷৷

mārīcasyaiva hṛdayaṅ bibhēdāśanisannibhaḥ.


āśanisannibhaḥ like thunderbolt, śarōttamaḥ the great arrow, mṛgarūpasya assuming deer form, śarīram body, vinirbhidya pierced, mārīcasya Maricha's, hṛdayamēva heart, bibhēda tore.

The great arrow which was like a thunderbolt first pierced into the body of Maricha who had assumed the form of a deer and then tore his heart.
tālamātramathōtplutya nyapatatsaśarāturaḥ৷৷3.44.16৷৷

vinadanbhairavaṅ nādaṅ dharaṇyāmalpajīvitaḥ.


atha and then, saḥ Maricha, śarāturaḥ hurt by the dart, alpajīvitaḥ very little life left, bhairavaṅ nādam frightening sound, vinadan released, tālamātram to the height of a palm tree, utplutya leaped up, dharaṇyām on earth, nyapatat dropped.

And, hurt by the dart, Maricha roared frighteningly, leaped as high as a palm tree and dropped down on earth almost dead.
mriyamāṇastu mārīcō jahau tāṅ kṛtrimāṅ tanum৷৷3.44.17৷৷

smṛtvā tadvacanaṅ rakṣō dadhyau kēna tu lakṣmaṇam.

iha prasthāpayētsītā śūnyē tāṅ rāvaṇō harēt৷৷3.44.18৷৷


mārīcaḥ Maricha, mriyamāṇaḥ breathing his last, kṛtrimām artificial, tām that, tanum body, jahau gave up, rakṣaḥ the demon, tadvacanam those words, smṛtvā remembering, dadhyau thought, sītā Sita, kēna by what means, lakṣmaṇam Lakshmana, iha here, prasthāpayēt she may send, śūnyē in seclusion, tām her, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, harēt will abduct.

Maricha gave up his false form of the deer and before breathing his last, remembered the words of Ravana. He thought over the means through which Sita could send Lakshmana to this spot so that Ravana would abduct her when she is alone.
sa prāptakālamājñāya cakāra ca tata svanam.

sadṛśaṅ rāghavasyēha hā sītē lakṣmaṇēti ca৷৷3.44.19৷৷


tataḥ then, saḥ Maricha, prāptakālam the right time, ājñāya having realised, rāghavasya Rama's, sadṛśam similar, hā sītē Alas, Sita, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, iti ca like that, svanam a sound, cakāra released.

Then Maricha realised that the appropriate time had come. In a voice similar to Rama's, he shouted loudly 'Alas Sita, Alas Lakshmana !'
tēna marmaṇi nirviddhaṅ śarēṇānupamēna hi.

mṛgarūpaṅ tu tattyaktvā rākṣasaṅ rūpamāsthitaḥ৷৷3.44.20৷৷

cakrē sa sumahākāyaṅ mārīcō jīvitaṅ tyajan.


saḥ mārīcaḥ that, Maricha, tēna by that, anupamēna matchless, śarēṇa by the dart, marmaṇi in vital part, nirviddham struck, tat then, mṛgarūpam form of a deer, tvaktvā giving up, rākṣasaṅ rūpam form of a demon, āsthitaḥ assumed, jīvitam life, tyajan while giving up, sumahākāyam that huge body, cakrē attained.

Struck in the vital part by Rama's matchless dart, Maricha gave up the form of the deer and assumed his huge body of the demon.
taṅ dṛṣṭvā patitaṅ bhūmau rākṣasaṅ ghōradarśanam৷৷3.44.21৷৷

rāmō rudhirasiktāṅgaṅ cēṣṭamānaṅ mahītalē.

jagāma manasā sītāṅ lakṣmaṇasya vacassmaran৷৷3.44.22৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, bhūmau on the ground, patitam fallen down, ghōradarśanam terrific figure, rudhirasiktāṅgam drenched in blood, mahītalē on the ground, cēṣṭamānam moving his limbs, taṅ rākṣasam that demon, dṛṣṭvā seen, lakṣmaṇasya Lakshmana's, vacaḥ words, smaran remembered, manasā by his mind, sītām Sita, jagāma went.

Seeing that terrific demon fallen on the ground, drenched in blood, and strring his limbs, Rama thought of Lakshmana's words and reached Sita mentally (thought of her).
mārīcasya tu māyaiṣā pūrvōktaṅ lakṣmaṇēna tu.

tattathā hyabhavaccādya mārīcō.yaṅ mayā hataḥ৷৷3.44.23৷৷


ēṣā this way, mārīcasya Maricha's, māyā magic, lakṣmaṇēna by Lakshmana, pūrvōktam told earlier, tat that, tathā in the same way, abhavat hi it happened, mayā by me, hataḥ killed, ayam that, mārīcaḥ Maricha.

This is an illusion created by Maricha. It happened exactly the way Lakshmana had said earlier. Maricha is now killed.
hā sītē lakṣmaṇētyēvamākruśya ca mahāsvaram.

mamāra rākṣasassō.yaṅ śrutvā sītā kathaṅ bhavēt৷৷3.44.24৷৷

lakṣmaṇaśca mahābāhuḥ kāmavasthāṅ gamiṣyati.

iti sañcintya dharmātmā rāmō hṛṣṭatanūruhaḥ৷৷3.44.25৷৷


saḥ he, Maricha, ayaṅ rākṣasaḥ this demon, hā sītē Alas, Sita, lakṣmaṇa (Alas,) Lakshmana,
ityēvam in this manner, mahāsvaram loudly, ākruśya screamed, mamāra died, śrutvā heard, sītā Sita, katham how, bhavēt will she be, mahābāhuḥ long- armed, lakṣmaṇaśca Lakshmana too, kām what, avasthām situation, gamiṣyati will reach, dharmātmā righteous , rāmaḥ Rama, iti like this, sañcintya on thinking, hṛṣṭatanūrūhaḥ his hair stood on end.

This demon Maricha screamed aloud saying, 'Alas, Sita, Alas, Lakshmana'. He is now dead. How would Sita react to this voice? What would be the condition of Lakshmana? While righteous Rama reflected on this, his hair stood on end.
tatra rāmaṅ bhayaṅ tīvramāvivēśa viṣādajam.

rākṣasaṅ mṛgarūpaṅ taṅ hatvā śrutvā ca tatsvaram৷৷3.44.26৷৷


mṛgarūpam in the form of a deer, rākṣasam demon, hatvā having killed, tatsvaram that sound, śrutvā ca having heard, tatra there, rāmam Rama, viṣādajam born of sadness, tīvram intense, bhayam fear, āvivēśa came over.

After killing the demon in the figure of a deer and hearing his voice, Rama was overtaken by intense fear born of despair.
nihatya pṛṣataṅ cānyaṅ māṅsamādāya rāghavaḥ.

tvaramāṇō janasthānaṅ sasārābhimukhastadā৷৷3.44.27৷৷


tadā then, rāghavaḥ Rama, anyam another, pṛṣatam deer, nihatya having killed, māṅsam venison, ādāya collected, tvaramāṇaḥ quickly, janasthānam Janasthanam, abhimukhaḥ towards, sasāra departed.

Then Rama killed another deer, collected the venison and hastened to Janasthana.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē catuścatvāriṅśassargaḥ.
Thus ends the fortyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.