Aranya Kanda · Sarga 31 of 76 · 50 verses
Akampana’s News; Ravana Goes to Maricha
Akampana hurries from Janasthana, enters Lanka swiftly and says to Ravana: “King, many rakshasas living in Janasthana have been killed, and Khara has been killed in battle; I barely escaped.” At this, Dashagriva, angry, his eyes red, says to Akampana as if to burn him with his power: “Who has destroyed my terrible Janasthana, seeking his own death? Who will find no refuge in all the worlds? Having done me harm, neither Maghavan nor Vaishravana, neither Yama nor Vishnu can find happiness. I am the Time of Time; I could burn even fire; I could join Death to death. I could stop the force of the wind with my speed; in anger I could burn up the sun and fire with my power.” Seeing Dashagriva so angry, Akampana, palms joined, asks Ravana for safety in a voice faltering with fear. The best of rakshasas grants him safety, and, reassured, Akampana speaks plainly: “There is a son of Dasharatha, young, built like a lion, named Rama, broad-shouldered, with round, long, mighty arms, dark, of wide fame, glorious, of matchless strength and valour. He has killed Khara with Dushana in Janasthana.” Hearing this, Ravana, king of the rakshasas, sighing like a king of serpents, says: “Did Rama come to Janasthana with the king of the gods and all the immortals, Akampana? Tell me.” Hearing Ravana again, Akampana describes the great soul’s strength and valour: “Rama of great splendour is the best of all archers, endowed with the power of divine weapons, supreme in war. His equal is his mighty younger brother Lakshmana, red-eyed, with a voice like a drum, face like the full moon. Joined with him, like wind with fire, that glorious best of kings has laid Janasthana low. They were not gods, great souls; there is no need to wonder about that. The gold-feathered arrows released by Rama became five-headed serpents and devoured the rakshasas. Wherever the rakshasas ran, driven by fear, there they saw Rama standing before them. So Janasthana was destroyed by him, sinless one.”
Hearing Akampana, Ravana says: “I will go to Janasthana to kill Rama and Lakshmana.” Akampana answers: “Hear, king, the true strength and manhood of Rama. Angry, glorious Rama cannot be overcome by valour. With his arrows he could turn back the current of a full river; he could bring down the sky with its stars, planets and constellations; he could lift up the sinking earth; breaking the ocean’s shore, he could flood the worlds; he could scatter the ocean’s force or the wind with arrows; having destroyed the worlds by his valour, that best of men could create creatures again. Rama cannot be conquered by you in battle, Dashagriva, nor by the whole world of rakshasas, as heaven cannot be won by sinners. I do not think even all the gods and asuras could kill him. But here is a way to kill him; listen to me attentively. His wife, the best in the world, is named Sita, slender-waisted, youthful, well proportioned, a jewel among women, adorned with jewels. No goddess, gandharvi, apsaras or naga woman is her equal; how could a human woman be? Carry off his wife, having tricked him in the great forest. Without Sita, Rama will not live.” Ravana, king of the rakshasas, likes that advice. Thinking it over, the mighty-armed one says to Akampana: “Very well. I will go at dawn, alone with my charioteer, and bring Vaidehi joyfully to this great city.” Saying this, Ravana sets out in a sun-coloured chariot yoked with donkeys, lighting up all the directions. The great chariot of the rakshasa king, travelling the path of the stars, shines as it moves, like the moon among clouds. Going far, to a hermitage, he comes to Maricha, son of Tataka. Honoured by Maricha with food and drink not of this world, seated and given water, the king hears Maricha say, with meaningful words: “Is all well with the worlds, king of the rakshasas? I am uneasy; I do not know why you have come so quickly.” Ravana, skilled in speech, answers: “My guards have been killed, dear one, by Rama of unwearied deeds; all of Janasthana, that could not be killed, has been laid low in battle. Help me carry off his wife.” Hearing the rakshasa king, Maricha says: “Who told you of Sita, an enemy in the guise of a friend? Who, having been made happy by you, tiger among rakshasas, does not rejoice? Who tells you, ‘Bring Sita here’? Tell me. Who wants to cut off the horn of the whole world of rakshasas? The one who urges you on is surely an enemy, who wants you to pull the fang out of a venomous snake’s mouth. By what act have you been led onto this wrong road? Who has struck you on the head while you slept happily, king? Ravana, you should not even look at that elephant in rut, Raghava, in battle: his trunk the pride of pure lineage and birth, his tusks his firmly planted arms. That man-lion cannot be woken from sleep by you: his mane the joints of battle, he who kills the clever rakshasa-deer, his limbs full of arrows, his teeth sharp swords. You should not leap into that terrible pit of hell that is Rama, king of rakshasas, a great flood of battle, its mud the force of his arms, its waves garlands of arrows, which steals away bows. Be gracious, lord of Lanka; go back to Lanka in peace. Enjoy your own wives always, and let Rama enjoy the forest with his wife.” Spoken to so by Maricha, Dashagriva Ravana turns back to the city of Lanka and enters his splendid palace.
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त्वरमाणस्ततो गत्वा जनस्थानादकम्पनः । प्रविश्य लङ्कां वेगेन रावणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Then Akampana, going in haste from Janasthana, entered Lanka swiftly and said these words to Ravana:
Commentary on the whole sarga
Akampana’s News; Ravana Goes to Maricha 1 min read.
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जनस्थानस्थिता राजन् राक्षसा बहवो हताः । खरश्च निहतः संख्ये कथंचिदहमागतः ॥ २ ॥
“King, many rakshasas who lived in Janasthana have been killed, and Khara has been killed in battle; I have come somehow.”
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः क्रुद्धः संरक्तलोचनः । अकम्पनमुवाचेदं निर्दहन्निव तेजसा ॥ ३ ॥
Spoken to so, Dashagriva, angry, his eyes reddened, said this to Akampana, as if burning him with his splendour:
केन भीमं जनस्थानं हतं मम परासुना । को हि सर्वेषु लोकेषु गतिं नाधिगमिष्यति ॥ ४ ॥
“By whom has my terrible Janasthana been destroyed, he whose life is gone? Who will find no refuge in all the worlds?
न हि मे विप्रियं कृत्वा शक्यं मघवता सुखम् । प्राप्तुं वैश्रवणेनापि न यमेन च विष्णुना ॥ ५ ॥
“For having done what is displeasing to me, happiness cannot be gained by Maghavan, nor even by Vaishravana, nor Yama, nor Vishnu.
कालस्य चाप्यहं कालो दहेयमपि पावकम् । मृत्युं मरणधर्मेण संयोजयितुमुत्सहे ॥ ६ ॥
“I am the Time even of Time; I could burn even fire; I am able to join Death to the law of dying.
वातस्य तरसा वेगं निहन्तुमपि चोत्सहे । दहेयमपि संक्रुद्धस्तेजसाऽऽदित्यपावकौ ॥ ७ ॥
“I could even stop the speed of the wind with my force; in anger I could burn even the sun and fire with my splendour.”
तथा क्रुद्धं दशग्रीवं कृताञ्जलिरकम्पनः । भयात् संदिग्धया वाचा रावणं याचतेऽभयम् ॥ ८ ॥
Akampana, palms joined, asked Ravana, so angry, Dashagriva, for safety, in a voice uncertain with fear.
दशग्रीवोऽभयं तस्मै प्रददौ रक्षसां वरः । स विस्रब्धोऽब्रवीद् वाक्यमसंदिग्धमकम्पनः ॥ ९ ॥
Dashagriva, best of rakshasas, granted him safety. Reassured, Akampana spoke words without uncertainty:
पुत्रो दशरथस्यास्ते सिंहसंहननो युवा । रामो नाम महास्कन्धो वृत्तायतमहाभुजः ॥ १० ॥
“There is a son of Dasharatha, young, with the build of a lion, named Rama, broad-shouldered, with round, long, mighty arms,
श्यामः पृथुयशाः श्रीमानतुल्यबलविक्रमः । हतस्तेन जनस्थाने खरश्च सहदूषणः ॥ ११ ॥
“dark, of wide fame, glorious, of incomparable strength and valour. By him Khara with Dushana has been killed in Janasthana.”
अकम्पनवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । नागेन्द्र इव निःश्वस्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १२ ॥
Hearing Akampana’s words, Ravana, king of the rakshasas, sighing like a king of serpents, said these words:
स सुरेन्द्रेण संयुक्तो रामः सर्वामरैः सह । उपयातो जनस्थानं ब्रूहि कच्चिदकम्पन ॥ १३ ॥
“Has that Rama come to Janasthana joined with the lord of the gods, with all the immortals? Tell me, Akampana.”
रावणस्य पुनर्वाक्यं निशम्य तदकम्पनः । आचचक्षे बलं तस्य विक्रमं च महात्मनः ॥ १४ ॥
Hearing those words of Ravana again, Akampana told of the strength and valour of that great soul:
रामो नाम महातेजाः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम् । दिव्यास्त्रगुणसम्पन्नः परं धर्मं गतो युधि ॥ १५ ॥
“Rama by name, of great splendour, is the best of all bowmen, endowed with the qualities of divine weapons, gone to the highest in war.
तस्यानुरूपो बलवान् रक्ताक्षो दुन्दुभिस्वनः । कनीयाँल्लक्ष्मणो भ्राता राकाशशिनिभाननः ॥ १६ ॥
“Fit for him is his mighty younger brother Lakshmana, red-eyed, with a voice like a drum, his face like the full moon.
स तेन सह संयुक्तः पावकेनानिलो यथा । श्रीमान् राजवरस्तेन जनस्थानं निपातितम् ॥ १७ ॥
“Joined with him, like wind with fire, that glorious best of kings has laid Janasthana low.
नैव देवा महात्मानो नात्र कार्या विचारणा । शरा रामेण तूत्सृष्टा रुक्मपुङ्खाः पतत्त्रिणः ॥ १८ ॥
“They were not gods, great souls; there need be no wondering about that. The arrows released by Rama, gold-feathered, winged,
सर्पाः पञ्चानना भूत्वा भक्षयन्ति स्म राक्षसान् । येन येन च गच्छन्ति राक्षसा भयकर्षिताः ॥ १९ ॥
“became five-headed serpents and devoured the rakshasas. By whatever way the rakshasas went, driven by fear,
तेन तेन स्म पश्यन्ति राममेवाग्रतः स्थितम् । इत्थं विनाशितं तेन जनस्थानं तवानघ ॥ २० ॥
“by that way they saw Rama himself standing in front. So Janasthana has been destroyed by him, sinless one.”
अकम्पनवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । गमिष्यामि जनस्थानं रामं हन्तुं सलक्ष्मणम् ॥ २१ ॥
Hearing Akampana’s words, Ravana said: “I will go to Janasthana to kill Rama with Lakshmana.”
अथैवमुक्ते वचने प्रोवाचेदमकम्पनः । शृणु राजन् यथावृत्तं रामस्य बलपौरुषम् ॥ २२ ॥
When these words had been spoken, Akampana said this: “Hear, king, the strength and manhood of Rama as it truly is.
असाध्यः कुपितो रामो विक्रमेण महायशाः । आपगायास्तु पूर्णाया वेगं परिहरेच्छरैः ॥ २३ ॥
“Angry, greatly glorious Rama cannot be overcome by valour. He could turn back with arrows the force of a full river.
सताराग्रहनक्षत्रं नभश्चाप्यवसादयेत् । असौ रामस्तु सीदन्तीं श्रीमानभ्युद्धरेन्महीम् ॥ २४ ॥
“He could even bring down the sky with its stars, planets and constellations. That glorious Rama could lift up the sinking earth.
भित्त्वा वेलां समुद्रस्य लोकानाप्लावयेद् विभुः । वेगं वापि समुद्रस्य वायुं वा विधमेच्छरैः ॥ २५ ॥
“Breaking the ocean’s shore, the lord could flood the worlds; or he could scatter with arrows the force of the ocean or the wind.
संहृत्य वा पुनर्लोकान् विक्रमेण महायशाः । शक्तः श्रेष्ठः स पुरुषः स्रष्टुं पुनरपि प्रजाः ॥ २६ ॥
“Or, having destroyed the worlds by his valour, that greatly glorious one, the best of men, is able to create creatures again.
नहि रामो दशग्रीव शक्यो जेतुं रणे त्वया । रक्षसां वापि लोकेन स्वर्गः पापजनैरिव ॥ २७ ॥
“Rama cannot be conquered in battle by you, Dashagriva, nor even by the world of rakshasas, as heaven cannot be won by sinful people.
न तं वध्यमहं मन्ये सर्वैर्देवासुरैरपि । अयं तस्य वधोपायस्तन्ममैकमनाः शृणु ॥ २८ ॥
“I do not think him to be killed even by all the gods and asuras. But this is the means of killing him; hear it from me with one mind.
भार्या तस्योत्तमा लोके सीता नाम सुमध्यमा । श्यामा समविभक्ताङ्गी स्त्रीरत्नं रत्नभूषिता ॥ २९ ॥
“His wife, the best in the world, is named Sita, slender-waisted, youthful, of well-proportioned limbs, a jewel among women, adorned with jewels.
नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी नाप्सरा न च पन्नगी । तुल्या सीमन्तिनी तस्या मानुषी तु कुतो भवेत् ॥ ३० ॥
“No goddess, nor gandharvi, nor apsaras, nor naga woman is equal to her as a married woman; how then could a human woman be?
तस्यापहर भार्यां त्वं तं प्रमथ्य महावने । सीतया रहितो रामो न चैव हि भविष्यति ॥ ३१ ॥
“Carry off his wife, having beguiled him in the great forest. Bereft of Sita, Rama will surely not live.”
अरोचयत तद्वाक्यं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । चिन्तयित्वा महाबाहुरकम्पनमुवाच ह ॥ ३२ ॥
Ravana, king of the rakshasas, liked those words. Having thought, the mighty-armed one said to Akampana:
बाढं कल्यं गमिष्यामि ह्येकः सारथिना सह । आनेष्यामि च वैदेहीमिमां हृष्टो महापुरीम् ॥ ३३ ॥
“Very well. I will go at dawn, alone with my charioteer, and joyfully bring this Vaidehi to the great city.”
तदेवमुक्त्वा प्रययौ खरयुक्तेन रावणः । रथेनादित्यवर्णेन दिशः सर्वाः प्रकाशयन् ॥ ३४ ॥
Having said this, Ravana set out in a sun-coloured chariot yoked with donkeys, lighting up all the directions.
स रथो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य नक्षत्रपथगो महान् । चञ्चूर्यमाणः शुशुभे जलदे चन्द्रमा इव ॥ ३५ ॥
That great chariot of the lord of the rakshasas, moving on the path of the stars, shone as it went, like the moon among clouds.
स दूरे चाश्रमं गत्वा ताटकेयमुपागमत् । मारीचेनार्चितो राजा भक्ष्यभोज्यैरमानुषैः ॥ ३६ ॥
Going far off to a hermitage, he came to the son of Tataka. The king was honoured by Maricha with food and drink not human.
तं स्वयं पूजयित्वा तु आसनेनोदकेन च । अर्थोपहितया वाचा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ३७ ॥
Having himself honoured him with a seat and water, Maricha said these words, with speech full of meaning:
कच्चित् सकुशलं राजँल्लोकानां राक्षसाधिप । आशङ्के नाधिजाने त्वं यतस्तूर्णमुपागतः ॥ ३८ ॥
“Is all well with the worlds, king, lord of the rakshasas? I am uneasy; I do not know why you have come so quickly.”
एवमुक्तो महातेजा मारीचेन स रावणः । ततः पश्चादिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद् वाक्यकोविदः ॥ ३९ ॥
Spoken to so by Maricha, that Ravana of great splendour, skilled in speech, then afterwards said these words:
आरक्षो मे हतस्तात रामेणाक्लिष्टकारिणा । जनस्थानमवध्यं तत् सर्वं युधि निपातितम् ॥ ४० ॥
“My guard has been killed, dear one, by Rama of unwearied deeds; that whole Janasthana, which could not be killed, has been laid low in battle.
तस्य मे कुरु साचिव्यं तस्य भार्यापहारणे । राक्षसेन्द्रवचः श्रुत्वा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ४१ ॥
“Give me your help in carrying off his wife.” Hearing the words of the rakshasa king, Maricha said:
आख्याता केन वा सीता मित्ररूपेण शत्रुणा । त्वया राक्षसशार्दूल को न नन्दति नन्दितः ॥ ४२ ॥
“By whom has Sita been told of to you, an enemy in the form of a friend? Who, having been gladdened by you, tiger among rakshasas, does not rejoice?
सीतामिहानयस्वेति को ब्रवीति ब्रवीहि मे । रक्षोलोकस्य सर्वस्य कः शृङ्गं छेत्तुमिच्छति ॥ ४३ ॥
“Who says, ‘Bring Sita here’? Tell me. Who wishes to cut off the horn of the whole world of rakshasas?
प्रोत्साहयति यश्च त्वां स च शत्रुरसंशयम् । आशीविषमुखाद् दंष्ट्रामुद्धर्तुं चेच्छति त्वया ॥ ४४ ॥
“And he who urges you on is an enemy, without doubt, who wishes you to pull a fang from the mouth of a venomous snake.
कर्मणानेन केनासि कापथं प्रतिपादितः । सुखसुप्तस्य ते राजन् प्रहृतं केन मूर्धनि ॥ ४५ ॥
“By what deed have you been led onto a bad road? By whom have you been struck on the head while sleeping happily, king?
विशुद्धवंशाभिजनाग्रहस्त- तेजोमदः संस्थितदोर्विषाणः । उदीक्षितुं रावण नेह युक्तः स संयुगे राघवगन्धहस्ती ॥ ४६ ॥
“That rutting elephant Raghava, whose trunk is pure lineage and birth, whose rut is his splendour, whose tusks are his firmly set arms, is not fit to be looked at by you here in battle, Ravana.
असौ रणान्तःस्थितिसंधिवालो विदग्धरक्षोमृगहा नृसिंहः । सुप्तस्त्वया बोधयितुं न शक्यः शराङ्गपूर्णो निशितासिदंष्ट्रः ॥ ४७ ॥
“That man-lion, whose mane is his stance in the midst of battle, killer of the cunning rakshasa-deer, sleeping, cannot be woken by you, his limbs full of arrows, his teeth sharp swords.
चापापहारे भुजवेगपङ्के शरोर्मिमाले सुमहाहवौघे । न रामपातालमुखेऽतिघोरे प्रस्कन्दितुं राक्षसराज युक्तम् ॥ ४८ ॥
“Into that very terrible mouth of hell that is Rama, which steals bows, whose mud is the force of his arms, garlanded with waves of arrows, a great flood of battle, it is not fit to leap, king of rakshasas.
प्रसीद लङ्केश्वर राक्षसेन्द्र लङ्कां प्रसन्नो भव साधु गच्छ । त्वं स्वेषु दारेषु रमस्व नित्यं रामः सभार्यो रमतां वनेषु ॥ ४९ ॥
“Be gracious, lord of Lanka, king of rakshasas; go back well to Lanka, gracious. Delight always in your own wives; let Rama delight in the forests with his wife.”
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवो मारीचेन स रावणः । न्यवर्तत पुरीं लङ्कां विवेश च गृहोत्तमम् ॥ ५० ॥
Spoken to so by Maricha, that Dashagriva Ravana turned back to the city of Lanka and entered his excellent house.