Summary
A spy of Ravana named Akampana rushes to him to break the news of annihilation of Janasthaana by Rama. He suggests Ravana to abduct Seetha. Because parting with Seetha causes grief to Rama and thereby he dies. On thinking for while, Ravana goes to Maareecha seeking his help in abducting Seetha. Maareecha while explaining Rama's capabilities, reminds us of the incarnations of Vishnu, and advises Ravana to be content with what he has.
Chapter [Sarga] 31 in Detail
tvaramanah tato gatvaa janasthaanaat aka.mpanah |
pravishya la.nkaam vegena raavanam vaakyam abraviit || 3-31-1
Then on going hurriedly from Janasthaana and on speedily entering Lanka Akampana spoke these words to Ravana. [3-31-1]
janasthaana sthitaa raajan rakshasaa bahavo hataah |
kharah ca nihatah sa.mkhye kthamcit aham aagatah || 3-31-2
"Oh, king, many demons positioned in Janasthaana are killed, Khara is also killed in war, and somehow I have come here. [3-31-2]
evam ukto dashagriivah kruddhah samrakata locanah |
aka.mpanam uvaaca idam nirdahan iva tejasaa || 3-31-3
Thus said, then that ten-faced Ravana is infuriated with bloodshot eyes, and as though to burn down whole world with his radiance he spoke this to Akampana. [3-31-3]
kena bhiimam janasthaanam hatam mama paraasunaa |
ko hi sarvesu lokesu gatim na adhigamisyati || 3-31-4
"Who is that dead-and-gone that has destroyed my indomitable Janasthaana? Who is it that has indeed opted for no recourse in all of the worlds? [3-31-4]
na hi me vipriyam kritaa shakyam maghavataa sukham |
praptum vaishravanena api na yamena ca visnunaa || 3-31-5
"Evoking indignation in me it is really impossible for Indra to be happy; even for Kubera - no; for Yama - no; why them, even Vishnu cannot be happy. [3-31-5]
kaalasya ca api aham kalo daheyam api paavakam |
mrityum marana dharmena sa.myojayitum utsahe || 3-31-6
"I am the End-Time for the Time-god himself, I will burn down the Fire-god, and I am capable of conjoining Death with the virtue of deathliness. [3-31-6]
vaatasya tarasaa vegam nihantum api ca utsahe |
daheyam api samkruddhah tejasaa aaditya paavakau || 3-31-7
"If I am enraged I will incinerate Sun-god or Fire-god just with my radiance, I will halt even the impetuosity of Wind-god with that of mine." Thus Ravana said about himself. [3-31-7]
tathaa kruddham dashagriivam kritaa.njalih aka.mpanah |
bhayaat sa.mdigdhayaa vacaa raavanam yaacate abhayam || 3-31-8
Akampana with his palms adjoined and voice hesitant with fear sought for the clemency of that decahedral demon Ravana who is enraged in that way. [3-31-8]
dashagriivo abhayam tasmai pradadau rakshasaam varah |
sa visrabdho abraviit vaakyam asa.ndigdham aka.mpanah || 3-31-9
When the supremo [one who is highest in rank or authority] of demons Dasha-Griiva pardoned him then that Akampana spoke these words, unfalteringly and trustfully. [3-31-9]
putro dasharathah te si.mha sa.mhanano yuvaa |
raamo naama mahaaska.ndho vritta aayata mahaabhujah || 3-31-10
"He is a youth whose shoulders are mighty, arms round and lengthy, built like that a lion, who is the son of Dasharatha and known as Rama. [3-31-10]
shyaamah prithuyashaah shriimaan atulya bala vikramah |
hatah tena janasthaane kharah ca saha duusanah || 3-31-11
"He is blue-black in complexion, a highly renowned one with matchless might and valor, a magnificent one such as he is he slew Duushana along with Khara in Janasthaana." [3-31-11]
akampana vacah shrutvaa raavano raakshasaadhipa |
naagendra iva nihshvasya idam vacanam abraviit || 3-31-12
On hearing the words of Akampana, the chief of demons Ravana, spoke these words hissing like a kingly serpent. [3-31-12]
sa surendrena sa.myukto raamah sarva amaraih saha |
upayaato janasthaanam bruuhi kaccit aka.mpana || 3-31-13
"The question is whether that Rama arrived at Janasthaana associated with Indra and along with all of the immortal gods? Oh, Akampana, speak about it. [3-31-13]
raavanasya punar vaakyam nishamya tad aka.mpanah |
aacacakshe balam tasya vikramam ca mahaatmanah || 3-31-14
Akampana again detailed about the might and valor of that great souled Rama on hearing that sentence of Ravana. [3-31-14]
raamo naama mahaatejaah shrestah sarva dhanusmataam |
divya astra guna sa.mpannah paramdharma gato yudhi || 3-31-15
"Rama means someone who is highly resplendent, an ablest archer among all archers, one who is endowed with divine missiles and divine attributes, and he is the one who conducts warfare with a supreme conduct. [3-31-15]
tasya anuruupo balabvaan raktaaksho dundubhi svanah |
kaniiyaan lakshmano bhraataa raakaa shashi nibha aananah || 3-31-16
"And a mighty one with red eyes and drumbeat like voice, and whose face is shiny like the full-moon is Rama's selfsame younger brother known as Lakshmana. [3-31-16]
sa tena saha sa.myuktah paavakena anilo yathaa |
shriimaan raaja varah tena janasthaanam nipaatitam || 3-31-17
"Alike the wind associating with fire this Lakshmana is associated with that glorious and nonpareil prince Rama, and that firestorm, namely Rama, destroyed Janasthaana. [3-31-17]
na eva devaa mahatmano na atra kaaryaa vicaaranaa |
sharaa raamena tu utsristaa rukmapu.nkhaah patatrinah || 3-31-18
sarpaah pa.ncaananaa bhuutvaa bhakshayanti sma raakshasaan |
"They are not any great souled gods or any heavenly beings as such; hence there is no need to doubt about it. Rama unloosened his gold-finned and feather-winged arrows, which on becoming five-faced serpents started consuming the demons. [3-31-18]
yena yena ca gacchanti raakshasaa bhaya karshitaah || 3-31-19
tena tena sma pashyanti raamam eva agratah sthitam |
ittham vinaashitam janasthaanam tena tava anagha || 3-31-20
"To whichever nook those demons smitten by fear of those serpent-like are fleeing, they have seeing Rama alone standing afore them in that corner, and oh, merited king Ravana, in this way your Janasthaana is totally ruined by that Rama. [3-31-19b, 20] [3-31-19]
aka.mpana acah shrutvaa raavano vaakyam abraviit |
gamisyaami janasthanam raamam hantum sa lakshmanam || 3-31-21
On hearing the words of Akampana Ravana said these words, "I will to go to Janasthaana to kill Rama along with Lakshmana." [3-31-21]
atha evam ukte vacane provaaca idam aka.mpanah |
shrunu raajan yathaa vrittam raamasya bala paurusam || 3-31-22
When Ravana said so then Akampana said these words in reply, " listen, oh, king, what all has happened, and of what in actuality is Rama's spirit and grit. [3-31-22]
asaadhyah kupito raamo vikramena mahaayashaah |
aapa gaayaah tu puurnaayaa vegam pariharet sharaih || 3-31-23
"Rama, the highly renowned, is invincible just by braving against him, for that Rama in fury can stall the onrush of a plethoric river with his arrows. [3-31-23]
sa taaraa graha nakshatram nabhah ca api avasaadayet |
asau raamah tu siidantiim shriimaan abhyuddharet mahiim || 3-31-24
"That magnificent Rama can collapse even the firmament along with its starlets, stars and planets, and he even can elevate the earth if it were to collapse. [3-31-24]
bhitvaa velaam samudrasya lokaan aaplaavayet vibhuh |
vegam vaa api samudrasya vaaayum vaa vidhamet sharaih || 3-31-25
"On breaching the shoreline of the ocean with his arrows that lord Rama can deluge worlds, and he can stem the tide of turbulent ocean, or can even stall the agent of that turbulence, namely the wind. [3-31-25]
samhritya vaa punar lokaan vikramena mahaayashaah |
shakatah shresthah sa purusah srastum punar api prajaah || 3-31-26
"That great valorous and the ablest among humans is capable to destroy all the worlds with his valor, and even capable of creating the people again.
Or, again dissolving all the worlds into him, that great contemplator who transcends all is even capable of creating the creation again from out of him. [3-31-26]
na hi raamo dashagriiva shakyo jetum rane tvayaa |
rakshasaam vaa api lokena svargah paapa janaih iva || 3-31-27
"Oh, Dasha-Griiva, it is impossible to conquer that Rama in war for your, either singly or along with the hosts of the demon-supporters of yours, as one heaven cannot be won by many sinners. [3-31-27]
na tam vadhyam aham manye sarvaih deva asuraih api |
ayam asya vadha upaaya tat ekamanaah shriunu || 3-31-28
"I do not think that he is killable even for all god and demons, and this is the idea to kill him, and to this you may listen attentively. [3-31-28]
bhaaryaa tasya uttamaa loke siitaa naama sumadhyamaa |
shyaamaa sama vibhakta a.ngii strii ratnam ratna buusitaa || 3-31-29
"An excellent woman in the world is there, a youthful one with symmetrical limbs, a jewel-like lady adorned with jewelry, that slender-waist one who is known as Seetha is his wife. [3-31-29]
na eva devii na gandharvii na apsaraa na ca pannagii |
tulyaa siimantinii tasyaa maanusii tu kuto bhavet || 3-31-30
"No goddess can be likened to that mature lady; a Gandharva female - no; a Apsara female - no; a Pannaga female -no, then how can there be a woman of her like? [3-31-30]
tasya apahara bhaaryaam tvam tam pramathya mahaavane |
siitaayaa rahito raamo na ca eva hi bhavisyati || 3-31-31
"You forcefully abduct his wife when she is in solitude, and indeed Rama will not exist reft [robbed] of Seetha." Akampana advised Ravana in this way. [3-31-31]
arocayat tad vaakyam raavano raakshasa adhipah |
cintayitvaa mahaabaahuh aka.mpanam uvaaca || 3-31-32
The chief of demons Ravana favoring that idea thought of it and that mighty armed Ravana then spoke to Akampana. [3-31-32]
baadham kalyam gamisyaami hi ekah saarathinaa saha |
aanesyaami ca vaidehiim imaam hristo mahaa puriim || 3-31-33
"Agreed! I wish to go alone early in the morning with a charioteer and I delightfully wish to lead Vaidehi into the elegant city Lanka." Ravana declared that way. [3-31-33]
tat evam uktvaa prayayau khara yuktena raavanah |
rathena aaditya varnena dishah sarvaah prakaashayan || 3-31-34
Saying so Ravana journeyed in a chariot that is yoked with mule-like horses, and that has the dazzling of the sun, whereby all the directions are made to glitter. [3-31-34]
sa ratho raakshasa i.ndrasya nakshatra pathago mahaan |
ca.ncuuryamaanah shushubhe jalade ca.ndramaa iva || 3-31-35
That opalescent chariot of the lord of demons while speedily progressing through starry way shone forth as if it is the moon in clouds. [3-31-35]
sa duure ca aashramam gatvaa taatakeyam upaagatam |
maariicena arcito raajaa bhakshya bhojyaih amaanusaih || 3-31-36
On going to the hermitage of Maareecha which is at a distant place Maareecha the son of Tataka received Ravana and venerated that king of demons with sweetmeats and savouries that are unavailable to humans. [3-31-36]
tam svayam puujayitvaa tu aasanena udakena ca |
artha upahitayaa vaacaa maariico vaakyam abraviit || 3-31-37
Offering proper seat and water for washing feet and hands Maareecha personally attended Ravana and spoke to him this sentence that is worded meaningfully. [3-31-37]
kashcit sukushalam raajan lokaanaam raakshasaadhipa |
aasha.nke na atha jaane tvam yatah tuurnam upaagatam || 3-31-38
"Oh, king and supremo of demons, I am anxious to know whether everything safe and secure to the inhabitants of your kingdom, for I am not in the know of the reason by which now you have come here rushingly. [3-31-38]
evam ukto mahaatejaa maariicena sa raavana |
tatah pashcaat idam vaakyam abraviit vaakya kovidah || 3-31-39
When Maareecha said so to him that greatly radiant one who is a sententious speaker that Ravana thereafter spoke this sentence. [3-31-39]
aaraksho me hatah taata raamena aklista kaarinaa |
janasthaanam avadhyam tat sarvam yudhi nipaatitam || 3-31-40
tasya me kuru saacivyam tasya bhaarya apaharane |
"Oh, sire, Rama who is indefatigable in warring has ruined my security stationed at Janasthaana, and in war he even brought down all of Janasthaana which is undefeatable so far, such as I am, to me you have to render friendly help in kidnapping Rama's wife." [3-31-40]
raakshasendra vacah shrutvaa maariico vaakyam abraviit || 3-31-41
aakhyaataa kena vaa siitaa mitra ruupena shatrunaa |
tvayaa raakshasa shaarduula ko na na.ndati na.nditah || 3-31-42
On hearing the words of that chief of demons, Maareecha spoke these words, "who broached the subject of Seetha with you, an enemy in the fakery of a friend? Oh, tigerly demon, who is that censurable one that is unhappy with you, since he is giving such a self-ruinous advise? [3-31-42]
siitaam iha aanasva iti ko braviiti braviihi me |
raksho lokasya sarvasya kah shri.ngam cchettum icchati || 3-31-43
"Who is saying that Seetha is to be brought to Lanka with a desire to get your apogeal ten-heads that are prominent among all the clansmen of demons to be cut-off? [3-31-43]
protsaahayati yah ca tvam sa ca shatruh asa.mshayam |
aashii mukhaat da.mstraam uddhartum ca icchati tvayaa || 3-31-44
"Also, he who has motivated you in this way is an undoubted enemy of yours, for he wanted to extricate the fangs of a snake from its mouth, of course, through you. [3-31-44]
karmanaa anena kena asi kaapatham pratipaaditah |
sukha suptasya te raajan prahritam kena muurdhani || 3-31-45
"By whom and by which purpose of his you are made to blunder upon this awry path, oh, king, it is as good as his hitting hard on your head while you are fast asleep. [3-31-45]
vishuddha va.msha abhijanaa agra hastah
tejo madah samsthita dor visaanah |
udiikshitum raavana na iha yuktah
sa sa.myuge raaghava gandhi hastii || 3-31-46
"Oh, Ravana, it will be unbefitting to raise an eye to see Rama in war, who will be then like a majestic elephant that has an impeccable dynasty and bloodline as its mammoth trunk, personal radiance as its indomitable might, very firm pair of arms as its pernicious tusks, more so, who will be with the redolence of the irrepressible lineage of Raghava-s. [3-31-46]
asau rana antah sthiti sa.mdhi vaalah
vidagdha raksho mriga haa nrisi.mhah |
suptah tvayaa bodhayitum na shakyah
shaaraa.nga purno nishita asi da.mstrah || 3-31-47
"To be in the midst of war itself is the fury of that lion called Rama, by which that lion raises its tail touching the back of its trunk, that lion is all-inclusive with forelegs, paws, and claws that are included in arrows, while its fangs are swords, and it is the killer of the deer called the expert killer-demons, and mind you, do not dare to rouse that sleeping man-lion. [3-31-47]
caapaapahaare bhuja vega pa.nke
shara uurmimaale su mahaa aahava oghe |
na raama paataala mukhe ati ghore
praskanditum raakshasa raaja yuktam || 3-31-48
"His bow is crocodilian, his shoulder-speed is quagmire, his arrows are tidal, and the great immensity of his war itself is a tideland, and oh, king of demons, it is inapt of you to slide down into the much-ghoulish mouth of that abyssal ocean, called Rama. [3-31-48]
prasiida la.nkeshvara raakshasendra
la.nkaam prasanno bhava saadhu gaccha |
tvam svesu daaresu ramasva nityam
raamah sa bhaaryo ramataam vanesu || 3-31-49
"Oh, lord of Lanka, be appeased towards Rama, be quietened and gently proceed to Lanka. You take delight in your wives, and let Rama be delighting with wife in forests." Thus Maareecha spoke to Ravana. [3-31-49]
evam ukto dashagriivo maariicena sa raavanah |
nyavartata puriim la.nkaam vivesha ca griha uttamam || 3-31-50
When thus said by Maareecha that ten faced Ravana returned to his city Lanka and entered his best house and home. [3-31-50]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande eka tri.msha sargah
Thus, this is the 31st chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate