🌿 Aranya Kanda

Sarga 37

22 shlokas

AK-37-1Aranya Kanda 37.1

तच्छृत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। प्रत्युवाच महाप्राज्ञो मारीचो राक्षसेश्वरम्।।3.37.1।।

tacchṛtvā rākṣasendrasya vākyṃ vākyaviśāradḥ| pratyuvāca mahāprājño mārīco rākṣaseśvaram||3.37.1||

Translation

राक्षसेन्द्रस्य lord of the demons (Ravana), तत् वाक्यम् the words, श्रुत्वा having heard, महाप्राज्ञः very wise, वाक्यविशारदः eloquent speaker, मारीचः Maricha, राक्षसेश्वरम् to Ravana, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Meaning

Having heard the words of Ravana, lord of the demons, wise Maricha who was also an eloquent speaker replied:

AK-37-2Aranya Kanda 37.2

सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन्सततं प्रियवादिनः। अप्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः।।3.37.2।।

sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājansatatṃ priyavādinḥ| apriyasya tu pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhḥ||3.37.2||

Translation

राजन् O king, प्रियवादिनः sweettongued, पुरुषाः men, सततम् always, सुलभाः easy to find, अप्रियस्य unpleasant to hear, तु but, पथ्यस्य salutary, वक्ता speaker, श्रोता च audience, दुर्लभः is difficult to find.

Meaning

O king, it is always easy to find men who speak pleasing words, but it is difficult to get a speaker and a listener who use words unpleasant (to the ears) but beneficial (in life).

AK-37-3Aranya Kanda 37.3

न नूनं बुध्यसे रामं महावीर्यं गुणोन्नतम्। अयुक्तचारश्चपलो महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्।।3.37.3।।

na nūnṃ budhyase rāmṃ mahāvīryṃ guṇonnatam| ayuktacāraścapalo mahendravaruṇopamam||3.37.3||

Translation

अयुक्तचारः a man who does not employ a spy, चपलः fickleminded, महावीर्यम् very brave, गुणोन्नतम् of good qualities, महेन्द्र वरुणोपमम् comparable to Indra and Varuna, रामम् Rama, नूनम् surely, न बुध्यसे not able to know.

Meaning

You are fickleminded. You have employed no spy ( who could have told you the truth about Rama's character). Rama is very brave and virtuous comparable to Indra and Varuna. Surely you are not able to know what Rama is.

AK-37-4Aranya Kanda 37.4

अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्तात सर्वेषां भुवि रक्षसाम्। अपि रामो नासङ्क्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकमराक्षसम्।।3.37.4।।

api svasti bhavettāta sarveṣāṃ bhuvi rakṣasām| api rāmo nāsaṅkruddhḥ kuryāllokamarākṣasam||3.37.4||

Translation

तात O dear, भुवि in the world, सर्वेषाम् of all, रक्षसाम् of demons, स्वस्ति safe, अपिभवेत् may be I wish, रामः Rama, न सङ्क्रुद्धः gets angry, लोकम् world, अराक्षसम् without rakshasa, अपि न कुर्यात् will he not do?.

Meaning

O dear may there be good to all the demons in the world. If Rama gets enraged, he will make this world demonless.

AK-37-5Aranya Kanda 37.5

अपि ते जीवितान्ताय नोत्पन्ना जनकात्मजा। अपि सीतानिमित्तं च न भवेद्व्यसनं मम।।3.37.5।।

api te jīvitāntāya notpannā janakātmajā| api sītānimittṃ ca na bhavedvyasanṃ mama||3.37.5||

Translation

जनकात्मजा daughter of Janaka, ते to you, जीवितान्ताय to destroy your life, अपि नोत्पन्ना not born I hope, सीतानिमित्तम् on account of Sita, मम myself, व्यसनम् disaster, अपि न भवेत् hope it will not happen.

Meaning

Hope the daughter of Janaka is not born to put an end to your life. Hope I will not face any disaster on account of Sita.

AK-37-6Aranya Kanda 37.6

अपि त्वामीश्वरं प्राप्य कामवृत्तं निरङ्कुशम्। न विनश्येत्पुरी लङ्का त्वया सह सराक्षसा।।3.37.6।।

api tvāmīśvarṃ prāpya kāmavṛttṃ niraṅkuśam| na vinaśyetpurī laṅkā tvayā saha sarākṣasā||3.37.6||

Translation

कामवृत्तम् a slave to sensual pleasures, निरङ्कुशम् a dictator, त्वाम् you, ईश्वरम् lord, प्राप्य after getting, सराक्षसा along with demons, पुरी लङ्का city of Lanka, त्वया सह along with you, न विनश्येदपि may it not be destroyed,

Meaning

I hope the city of Lanka along with the (entire) race of demons will not be destroyed, with a dictator like you who is a slave to sensual pleasure.

AK-37-7Aranya Kanda 37.7

त्वद्विधः कामवृत्तो हि दुश्शीलः पापमन्त्रितः। आत्मानं स्वजनं राष्ट्रं स राजा हन्ति दुर्मतिः।।3.37.7।।

tvadvidhḥ kāmavṛtto hi duśśīlḥ pāpamantritḥ| ātmānṃ svajanṃ rāṣṭrṃ sa rājā hanti durmatiḥ||3.37.7||

Translation

कामवृत्तः passionate, दुश्शीलः a person of bad character, पापमन्त्रितः advised in evil ways, दुर्मतिः of wicked mind, त्वद्विधः one like you, सः राजा that king, आत्मानम् himself, स्वजनम् his own people, राष्ट्रम् country, हन्ति हि will ruin.

Meaning

A king who is a slave to passion, who is of bad conduct, of wicked thoughts, advised in evil ways destroys himself, his kith and kin and the entire kingdom.

AK-37-8-9Aranya Kanda 37.8–9 (युग्मम्)

न च पित्रा परित्यक्तो नामर्यादः कथञ्चन। न लुब्धो न च दुश्शीलो न च क्षत्रियपांसनः।।3.37.8।। न च धर्मगुणैर्हीनः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। न तीक्ष्णो न च भूतानां सर्वेषामहिते रतः।।3.37.9।।

na ca pitrā parityakto nāmaryādḥ kathañcana| na lubdho na ca duśśīlo na ca kṣatriyapāṃsanḥ||3.37.8|| na ca dharmaguṇairhīnḥ kausalyānandavardhanḥ| na tīkṣṇo na ca bhūtānāṃ sarveṣāmahite ratḥ||3.37.9||

Translation

कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः delight of Kausalya (Rama), पित्रा by father, न च परित्यक्तः not at all forsaken, कथञ्चन to do so, अमर्यादः nor crossed the limits of dharma, न not, लुब्धः miserly, न not, दुश्शीलः of bad conduct, न च and not, तीक्ष्ण sharptongued, क्षत्रियपांसनः च calumny to kshatriyas, न not, धर्मगुणैः in righteousness, हीनः not lacking, न not, तीक्ष्णः cruel, न not, सर्वेषाम् for all, भूतानाम् of beings, अहिते in doing harm, रतः is involved,

Meaning

Rama, the delight of Kausalya, has not forsaken by his father. He has never crossed the limits of dharma. He is not miserly. He has no bad conduct. He is not a slur on the kshatriyas. He does not lack in righteousness. He is not cruel nor is he engaged in doing harm to others.

AK-37-10Aranya Kanda 37.10

वञ्चितं पितरं दृष्ट्वा कैकेय्या सत्यवादिनम्। करिष्यामीति धर्मात्मा तात प्रव्रजितो वनम्।।3.37.10।।

vañcitṃ pitarṃ dṛṣṭvā kaikeyyā satyavādinam| kariṣyāmīti dharmātmā tāta pravrajito vanam||3.37.10||

Translation

तात dear, सत्यवादिनम् always speaks the truth, पितरम् father, कैकेय्या by Kaikeyi, वञ्चितम् deceived, दृष्ट्वा after seeing, धर्मात्मा righteous man, करिष्यामि इति saying I will do it, वनम् forest, प्रव्रजितः came.

Meaning

O dear, seeing that his truthful father was going to be deceived by Kaikeyi, righteous Rama himself offered to fulfil the promise of his father and came away to the forest.

AK-37-11Aranya Kanda 37.11

कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं पितुर्दशरथस्य च। हित्वा राज्यं च भोगांश्च प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्।।3.37.11।।

kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthṃ piturdaśarathasya ca| hitvā rājyṃ ca bhogāṃśca praviṣṭo daṇḍakāvanam||3.37.11||

Translation

कैकेय्याः of Kaikeyi, पितुः father's दशरथस्य च and Dasaratha's, प्रियकामार्थम् to satisfy their desire, राज्यम् kingdom, भोगांश्च pleasures, हित्वा after leaving, दण्डकावनम् Dandaka forest प्रविष्टः he entered.

Meaning

To satisfy the desire of Kaikeyi and to fulfil his father's word he came to Dandaka forest, leaving the kingdom and all royal pleasures, behind.

AK-37-12Aranya Kanda 37.12

न रामः कर्कशस्तात नाविद्वान्नाजितेन्द्रियः। अनृतं दुश्श्रुतं चैव नैव त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि।।3.37.12।।

na rāmḥ karkaśastāta nāvidvānnājitendriyḥ| anṛtṃ duśśrutṃ caiva naiva tvṃ vaktumarhasi||3.37.12||

Translation

तात O dear, रामः Rama, कर्कशः hardhearted, न not, अविद्वान् not learned, न not, अजितेन्द्रियः not that he has no control over the senses, न not, त्वम् you, अनृतम् false, दुश्श्रुतं चैव illinformed, वक्तुम् to speak, नार्हसि not proper.

Meaning

O my dear, Rama is not harsh nor ignorant. It is not that he has no control over the senses. It is not proper for you to say what is false. You are illinformed.

AK-37-13Aranya Kanda 37.13

रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मस्साधुस्सत्यपराक्रमः। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानां मघवानिव।।3.37.13।।

rāmo vigrahavān dharmassādhussatyaparākramḥ| rājā sarvasya lokasya devānāṃ maghavāniva||3.37.13||

Translation

रामः Rama, विग्रहवान् a personification of, धर्मः dharma, साधुः pious , सत्यपराक्रमः one whose strength is truth, देवानाम् for gods, मघवानिव like Indra, सर्वस्य for all, लोकस्य worlds, राजा king.

Meaning

Rama is dharma incarnate. He is pious. His strength is truth. He is king of all the worlds like Indra to the gods.

AK-37-14Aranya Kanda 37.14

कथं त्वं तस्य वैदेहीं रक्षितां स्वेन तेजसा। इच्छसि प्रसभं हर्तुं प्रभामिव विवस्वतः।।3.37.14।।

kathṃ tvṃ tasya vaidehīṃ rakṣitāṃ svena tejasā| icchasi prasabhṃ hartuṃ prabhāmiva vivasvatḥ||3.37.14||

Translation

त्वम् you, तस्य his, स्वेन own, तेजसा strength of character, रक्षिताम् will be protected, वैदेहीम् Vaidehi, विवस्वतः Sun's, प्रभामिव like the radiance, प्रसभम् forcibly, हर्तुम् to take, कथम् how, इच्छसि you wish.

Meaning

Sita is protected by the strength of her character. How do you desire to carry her away forcibly (from Rama) ? Can any one separate the radiance of the Sun from the Sun itself ?

AK-37-15Aranya Kanda 37.15

शरार्चिषमाधृष्यं चापखङ्गेन्धनं रणे। रामाग्निं सहसा दीप्तं न प्रवेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि।।3.37.15।।

śarārciṣamādhṛṣyṃ cāpakhaṅgendhanṃ raṇe| rāmāgniṃ sahasā dīptṃ na praveṣṭuṃ tvamarhasi||3.37.15||

Translation

शरार्चिषम् arrows are flames, अनाधृष्यम् cannot be overpowered, चापखड्गेन्धनम् bow and sword as fuel, रणे in war, दीप्तम् blazing, रामाग्निम् fire of Rama, सहसा at once, प्रवेष्टुम् to enter, त्वम् you, न अर्हसि should not.

Meaning

You should not enter into the unquenchable fire that is Rama, the fire that has the arrows (of Rama) as its flames and his sword and bow as fuel.

AK-37-16-17Aranya Kanda 37.16–17 (युग्मम्)

धनुर्व्यादितदीप्तास्यं शरार्चिषममर्षणम्। चापबाणधरं तीक्ष्णं शत्रुसैन्यप्रहारिणम्।।3.37.16।। राज्यं सुखं च सन्त्यज्य जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः। नात्यासादयितुं तात रामान्तकमिहार्हसि।।3.37.17।।

dhanurvyāditadīptāsyṃ śarārciṣamamarṣaṇam| cāpabāṇadharṃ tīkṣṇṃ śatrusainyaprahāriṇam||3.37.16|| rājyṃ sukhṃ ca santyajya jīvitṃ ceṣṭamātmanḥ| nātyāsādayituṃ tāta rāmāntakamihārhasi||3.37.17||

Translation

तात O dear, धनुर्व्यादितदीप्तास्यम् his bow is an open burning mouth, शरार्चिषम् flaming arrows as fire, अमर्षणम् anger, चापबाणधरम् wielder of bow and arrows, तीक्ष्णम् sharp, शत्रुसैन्यप्रहारिणम् one who can strike the enemy's army, रामान्तकम् Rama like Yama himself, आत्मनः your own, इष्टम् dear, राज्यम् kingdom, सुखं च and happiness, जीवितं च life, सन्त्यज्य after abandoning, इह here, आत्यासादयितुम् to enter, न not, अर्हसि should.

Meaning

You should not give up happiness,your dear life and kingdom and come to Rama who is a variable god of death. His bow is like on open burning mouth, and his flaming arrows are like fire. He is all anger. He is wielder of bow and arrows. He can strike the enemy army (alone).

AK-37-18Aranya Kanda 37.18

अप्रमेयं हि तत्तेजो यस्य सा जनकात्मजा। न त्वं समर्थस्तां हर्तुं रामचापाश्रयं वने।।3.37.18।।

aprameyṃ hi tattejo yasya sā janakātmajā| na tvṃ samarthastāṃ hartuṃ rāmacāpāśrayṃ vane||3.37.18||

Translation

सा she, जनकात्मजा Sita, daughter of Janaka, यस्य whose, तत् that, अप्रमेयम् immeasurable, तेजः हि is the power, वने in the forest, रामचापाश्रयम् under the refuge of Rama's bow, ताम् herself, हर्तुम् to abduct, त्वम् you, समर्थः competent, न not.

Meaning

Immeasurable indeed is the power of Rama to whom Sita, daughter of Janaka belongs. You are not competent to kidnap her, for she is under the refuge of Rama's bow in the forest.

AK-37-19Aranya Kanda 37.19

तस्य सा नरसिंहस्य सिंहोरस्कस्य भामिनी। प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियतरा भार्या नित्यमनुव्रता।।3.37.19।।

tasya sā narasiṃhasya siṃhoraskasya bhāminī| prāṇebhyo'pi priyatarā bhāryā nityamanuvratā||3.37.19||

Translation

सा भामिनी effulgent lady, सिंहोरस्कस्य of a lion's chest, तस्य his, नरसिंहस्य of a lion in the form of man, प्राणेभ्योपि more than his life, प्रियतरा dearer, भार्या wife, नित्यम् always, अनुव्रता loyal to him.

Meaning

Beautiful Sita happens to be the wife of Rama who is like a lion among men. Rama has a broad chest like that of a lion. He loves Sita who is ever loyal to him, more than his life.

AK-37-20Aranya Kanda 37.20

न सा धर्षयितुं शक्या मैथिल्योजस्विनः प्रिया। दीप्तस्येव हुताशस्य शिखा सीता सुमध्यमा।।3.37.20।।

na sā dharṣayituṃ śakyā maithilyojasvinḥ priyā| dīptasyeva hutāśasya śikhā sītā sumadhyamā||3.37.20||

Translation

मैथिली Maithili, ओजस्विनः of the mighty, प्रिया darling, सुमध्यमा slender waist, सा सीता that Sita, दीप्तस्य of burning, हुताशस्य fire's, शिखा इव like a leaping flame, धर्षयितुम् to touch her, न शक्या not possible.

Meaning

Sita is the darling of mighty Rama. With her slender waist, she is like the leaping flames of blazing fire and it is not possible for you to touch her.

AK-37-21Aranya Kanda 37.21

किमुद्यममिमं व्यर्थं कृत्वा ते राक्षसाधिप। दृष्टश्चेत्वं रणे तेन तदन्तं तव जीवितम्।।3.37.21।।

kimudyamamimṃ vyarthṃ kṛtvā te rākṣasādhipa| dṛṣṭaścetvṃ raṇe tena tadantṃ tava jīvitam||3.37.21||

Translation

राक्षसाधिप chief of the demons, व्यर्थम् futile, इमम् this, उद्यमम् attempt, कृत्वा doing, ते you, किम् why, त्वम् you, रणे in war, तेन by him, दृष्टः seen, चेत् if, तव your, जीवितम् life, तदन्तम् that is the end.

Meaning

O chief of the demons, why do you make this futile attempt ? The moment you are seen by Rama in war will be the last of your life.

AK-37-22Aranya Kanda 37.22

जीवितं च सुखं चैव राज्यं चैव सुदुर्लभम्। यदीच्छसि चिरं भोक्तुं मा कृथा रामविप्रियम्।।3.37.22।।

jīvitṃ ca sukhṃ caiva rājyṃ caiva sudurlabham| yadīcchasi cirṃ bhoktuṃ mā kṛthā rāmavipriyam||3.37.22||

Translation

जीवितं च life and, सुखं चैव also happiness, सुदुर्लभम् not easily attainable, राज्यं चैव even kingdom, चिरम् for long, भोक्तुम् to enjoy, इच्छसि यदि if you desire to, रामविप्रियम् displeasure to Rama, मा कृथाः do not incur.

Meaning

If you want to enjoy your life, happiness and even the kingdom which is not easily attainable for long, do not incur the displeasure of Rama.

AK-37-23-24Aranya Kanda 37.23–24 (युग्मम्)

स सर्वैस्सचिवैस्सार्धं विभीषणपुरोगमैः। मन्त्रयित्वा तु धर्मिष्ठैः कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः।।3.37.23।। दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्। आत्मनश्च बलं ज्ञात्वा राघवस्य च तत्वतः।।3.37.24।। हिताहितं विनिश्चित्य क्षमं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि।

sa sarvaissacivaissārdhṃ vibhīṣaṇapurogamaiḥ| mantrayitvā tu dharmiṣṭhaiḥ kṛtvā niścayamātmanḥ||3.37.23|| doṣāṇāṃ ca guṇānāṃ ca sampradhārya balābalam| ātmanaśca balṃ jñātvā rāghavasya ca tatvatḥ||3.37.24|| hitāhitṃ viniścitya kṣamṃ tvṃ kartumarhasi|

Translation

सः त्वम् you, धर्मिष्ठैः followers of righteous path, विभीषणपुरोगमैः by prominent people like Vibhisana, सर्वैः by all, सचिवैः सार्धम् with all ministers, मन्त्रयित्वा after discussing, आत्मनः yourself, निश्चयम् decision, कृत्वा take, दोषाणां च of demerits, गुणानां च of merits, बलाबलम् strength and weakness, सम्प्रधार्य assessing, आत्मनश्च your own, राघवस्य च Rama's, बलम् strength, तत्वतः in fact, ज्ञात्वा knowing, हिताहितम् welfare and otherwise, विनिश्चित्य after deciding, क्षमम् propriety, कर्तुम् to do, अर्हसि should.

Meaning

After consulting all your ministers and the righteous persons led by Vibhisana, you may take a decision. Assess the real strength and weakness, merits and demerits of your own and of Rama. Decide what is good or bad for you and then take steps you deem proper.

AK-37-25Aranya Kanda 37.25

अहं तु मन्ये तव न क्षमं रणे समागमं कोसलराजसूनुना। इदं हि भूयश्श़ृणु वाक्यमुत्तमं क्षमं च युक्तं च निशाचरेश्वर।।3.37.25।।

ahṃ tu manye tava na kṣamṃ raṇe samāgamṃ kosalarājasūnunā| idṃ hi bhūyaśśa़ṛṇu vākyamuttamṃ kṣamṃ ca yuktṃ ca niśācareśvara||3.37.25||

Translation

निशाचरेश्वर Ravana, अहं तु on my part, तव your, रणे in war, कोसलराजसूनुना by Rama son of the king of Kosala, समागमम् meet, क्षमम् good, न मन्ये not consider, उत्तमम् best, क्षमम् capable, युक्तं च and proper, इदं वाक्यम् these words, भूयः further, शृणु you may listen.

Meaning

O Ravana I think it is not good on your part to confront the prince of Kosala in a war. Listen to my words and consider what is good for you. इत्यार्षे श्री मद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे सप्तत्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtyseventh sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

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