Sloka & Translation

[Ravana departs stealthily secretly to meet Maricha--description of the beautiful nature on the way to Maricha's hermitage.]

tataśśūrpaṇakhāvākyaṅ tacchrutvā rōmaharṣaṇam.

sacivānabhyanujñāya kāryaṅ buddhvā jagāma ha৷৷3.35.1৷৷


tataḥ then, rōmaharṣaṇam horripilating, tat that way, śūrpaṇakhāvākyam words of Surpanakha, śrutvā on hearing, sacivān ministers, abhyanujñāya took leave, kāryam task, buddhvā thinking over, jagāma ha went.

Then hearing the horripilating words of Surpanakha, Ravana took leave of the ministers and went thinking about the task ahead of him.
tatkāryamanugamyātha yathāvadupalabhya ca.

dōṣāṇāṅ ca guṇānāṅ ca sampradhārya balābalam.3.35.2৷৷

iti kartavyamityēva kṛtvā niścayamātmanaḥ.

sthirabuddhistatō ramyāṅ yānaśālāṅ jagāma ha৷৷3.35.3৷৷


atha and, tat that, kāryam task, anugamya thinking deeply, yathāvat duly, upalabhya ca understanding, dōṣāṇām of demerits, guṇānāṅ ca merits, balābalam strength and weakness, sampradhārya reflected on it, iti this, kartavyam duty, ityēva that way, ātmanaḥ in himself, niścayam decided, kṛtvā did, sthirabuddhi: firmly, tataḥ then, ramyāṅ delightful, yānaśālām coach-shed, jagāma ha went.

Deliberating on the task ahead, duly considering the pros and cons, demerits and merits, strength and weakness, of the issue and having firmly decided within himself, he left for the beautiful coach-shed.
yānaśālāṅ tatō gatvā pracchannō rākṣasādhipaḥ.

sūtaṅ sañcōdayāmāsa rathassaṅyōjyatāmiti৷৷3.35.4৷৷


tataḥ then, rākṣasādhipaḥ the demon-king, pracchanna: covertly, yānaśālām to the coach-shed, gatvā having gone, rathaḥ chariot, saṅyōjyatām harness, iti thus, sūtam charioteer, sañcōdayāmāsa ordered.

Ravana went covertly to the coach-shed and to the charioteer to get a chariot harnessed.
ēvamuktaḥ kṣēṇēnaiva sārathirlaghuvikramaḥ.

rathaṅ saṅyōjayāmāsa tasyābhimatamuttamam৷৷3.35.5৷৷


ēvam that way, uktaḥ said, laghuvikramaḥ a man of quick action, sārathiḥ charioteer, tasya his, abhimatam choice, uttamam great, ratham chariot, kṣaṇēnaiva in an instant, saṅyōjayāmāsa harnessed.

Thus ordered, the smart charioteer got the chariot of his choice harnessed in an instant.
kāñcanaṅ rathamāsthāya kāmagaṅ ratnabhūṣitam.

piśācavadanairyuktaṅ kharaiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ৷৷3.35.6৷৷

mēghapratimanādēna sa tēna dhanadānujaḥ.

rākṣasādhipatiśśrīmānyayau nadanadīpatim৷৷3.35.7৷৷


dhanadānujaḥ younger brother of Kubera, śrīmān prosperous, saḥ rākṣasādhipatiḥ the lord of the demons, kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ embellished with gold ornaments, piśācavadanaiḥ with demon-faced, kharaiḥ donkeys, yuktam yoked, kāñcanam golden, kāmagam go where one desires, ratnabhūṣitam decked with gems, ratham chariot, āsthāya riding, mēghapratimanādēna rumbling like a cloud, tēna that Ravana, nadanadīpatim towards the ocean, yayau went.

The younger brother of Kubera (Ravana), the prosperous lord of the demons ascended
the chariot which could go where he desired. Embellished with gold, studded with gems, harnessed with demon-faced donkeys, the chariot rolled towards the ocean, rumbling like a cloud.
sa śvētavālavyajanaḥ śvētacchatrō daśānanaḥ.

snigdhavaidūryasaṅkāśa staptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ৷৷3.35.8৷৷

viṅśadbhujō daśagrīvō darśanīyaparicchadaḥ.

tridaśārirmunīndraghnō daśaśīrṣa ivādrirāṭ৷৷3.35.9৷৷

kāmagaṅ rathamāsthāya śuśubhē rākṣasēśvaraḥ.

vidyunmaṇḍalavānmēghassabalāka ivāmbarē৷৷3.35.10৷৷


śvētavālavyajanaḥ with white yak tail fans, śvētacchatraḥ with white parasols, daśānanaḥ ten- headed, snigdhavaidūryasaṅkāśaḥ shining like smooth Vaidurya (Lapis Lazuli), taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ wearing pure gold ear-rings, viṅśadbhujaḥ twenty hands, daśagrīvaḥ ten-necked, darśanīyaparicchadaḥ attired in attractive robes, tridaśāriḥ enemy of gods, munīndraghnaḥ slayer of towering sages, daśaśīrṣaḥ ten-peaks, adrirāḍiva like king of mountains, saḥ rākṣasēśvaraḥ that lord of demons, kāmagam takes where one desires to go, ratham chariot, āsthāya having ascended, ambarē sky, vidyunmaṇḍalavān encircled by lightnings, sabalākaḥ accompanied by cranes, mēghaḥ iva cloud-like, śuśubhē shone.

Ravana, enemy of the gods, slayer of towering sages, with white yak-tail fans, and white parasols, shining like smooth vaidurya, wearing pure gold ear-rings, clad in attractive attire, ten necks with twenty strong hands, ten heads looking like ten mountain peaks, a cloud in the sky encircled by lightnings and accompanied by cranes, ascended the chariot that could go wherever he desired.
sa śailaṅ sāgarānūpaṅ vīryavānavalōkayan.

nānāpuṣpaphalairvṛkṣairanukīrṇaṅ sahasraśaḥ৷৷3.35.11৷৷


vīryavān valiant, saḥ he, śailam the mountain, sahasraśaḥ thousandfold, nānāpuṣpaphalaiḥ varieties of
flowers and fruits, vṛkṣaiḥ with trees, anukīrṇam full of, sāgarānūpam shore of the sea, avalōkayan seeing.

Valiant Ravana went-watching the mountains full of thousands of trees bearing flowers and fruits on the shore of the sea.
śītamaṅgalatōyābhiḥ padminībhissamantataḥ.

viśālairāśramapadairvēdimadbhissamāvṛtam৷৷3.35.12৷৷


śītamaṅgalatōyābhiḥ by those filled with cool, sacred water, padminībhiḥ with lotus-laden ponds, vēdimadbhi: having elevated altars, viśālaiḥ sprawlling one, āśramapadaiḥ with hermitages, samantataḥ on all sides, samāvṛtam surrounded.

(The area) surrounded on all sides with lotus-laden ponds filled with cool, sacred water, sprawling hermitages with elevated altars.
kadalyāḍhakisambādhaṅ nārikēlōpaśōbhitam.

sālaistālaistamālaiśca puṣpitaistarubhirvṛtam৷৷3.35.13৷৷


kadalyāḍhakisambādham full of banana plants, nārikēlōpaśōbhitam looking beautiful with coconut trees, puṣpitaiḥ with flowers, sālaiḥ with sal trees, tālaiḥ with palms, tamālaiḥ with tamala, tarubhiḥ trees, vṛtam surrounded.

The place covered with banana plants and coconut trees as well as blossoming sal and tamala trees was looking extremely beautiful.
nāgaissuparṇairgandhairvaiḥ kinnaraiśca sahasraśaḥ.

ajairvaikhānasairmāṣairvālakhilyairmarīcipaiḥ৷৷3.35.14৷৷

atyantaniyatāhāraiśśōbhitaṅ paramarṣibhiḥ.

jitakāmaiśca siddhaiśca cāraṇairupaśōbhitam৷৷3.35.15৷৷


nāgaiḥ with nagas, suparṇaiḥ with garudas, gandharvaiḥ gandharvas, sahasraśaḥ in thousands, kinnaraiśca with kinneras, ājaiḥ by ajas, vaikhānasaiḥ by vaikhanasas, māṣaiḥ by mashas, marīcipaiḥ by mareechipas, vālakhilyaiḥ by valakhilyas, atyantaniyatāhāraiḥ by those who are highly disciplined in food, paramarṣibhiḥ by great sages, śōbhitam looked charming, jitakāmaiḥ by those with perfect control over desires, siddhaiśca by the spiritually accomplished, cāraṇaiḥ by charanas, upaśōbhitam delightful.

The place looked charming with nagas, garudas, gandharvas, kinneras in their thousands and with the descendants of ajas, vaikhanasas, valakhilyas and with those who drink the rays of Sun and Moon for survival, with sages who were highly disciplined in the intake of food, spiritually accomplished and self-controlled hermits and charanas.
divyābharaṇamālyābhirdivyarūpābhirāvṛtam.

krīḍāratividhijñābhirapsarōbhissahasraśaḥ৷৷3.35.16৷৷


divyābharaṇamālyābhiḥ bedecked with fine ornaments and garlands, divyarūpābhiḥ paragons of beauty, krīḍāratividhijñābhiḥ ladies acquainted with various love-sports, sahasraśaḥ thousands, apsarōbhi: apsaras, āvṛtam full of.

(The place was) full of apsaras in their thousands and paragons of beauty adorned with divine ornaments and garlands, and experts in love-sports.
sēvitaṅ dēvapantībhiśśrīmatībhiśśriyā৷৷vṛtam.

dēvadānavasaṅghaiśca caritaṅ tvamṛtāśibhiḥ৷৷3.35.17৷৷


śrīmatībhiḥ prosperous (deities), dēvapatnībhiḥ goddesses, sēvitam inhabited, śriyā resort , vṛtam endowed, amṛtārthibhiḥ gods who sought nectar, dēvadānavasaṅghaiśca by hosts of gods and demons, caritam wandered about.

It was chosen by prosperous wives of gods as a reosrt. Hosts of gods and demons were wandering, there in the hope of tasting nectar.
haṅsakrauñcaplavākīrṇaṅ sārasaissampraṇāditam.

vaiḍhūryaprastaraṅ ramyaṅ snigdhaṅ sāgaratējasā৷৷3.35.18৷৷


haṅsakrauñcaplavākīrṇam full of flocks of swans and kraunchas and small floats, sārasaiḥ by sarasa birds, sampraṇāditam filled with sound, vaiḍhūryaprastaram having a stretch of vaidurya stones, ramyam delightful, sāgaratējasā by the radiance of the sea, snigdham shining.

(It was ) full of small floats, flocks of swans, kraunchas, sarasas cackling in the ponds, with great joy. It had stretches of vaidurya stones on the shore and shone with the radiance of the sea;
pāṇḍurāṇi viśālāni divyamālyayutāni ca.

tūryagītābhijuṣṭāni vimānāni samantataḥ৷৷3.35.19৷৷

tapasā jitalōkānāṅ kāmagānyabhisampatan.

gandharvāpsarasaścaiva dadarśa dhanadānujaḥ৷৷3.35.20৷৷


abhisampatan spleding along, dhanadānujaḥ younger brother of Kubera, tapasā with penance, jitalōkānām who has conquered all the worlds, pāṇḍurāṇi by pale ones, viśālāni large ones, divyamālyayutāni ca with divine flower garlands, tūryagītābhijuṣṭāni ringing with divine strains of music, kāmagāni fly where one desires, vimānāni aerial chariots, samantataḥ on all sides, gandharvāpsarasaścaiva by gandharvas and apsaras also, dadarśa saw.

Speeding along, the brother of Kubera (Ravana) saw pale-white, spacious aerial chariots on all sides controlled by those who had conquered the higher worlds by their penances. These chariots, decked with heavenly garlands, and ringing with divine music could fly where one desired. He saw gandharvas and apsaras as well.
niryāsarasamūlānāṅ candanānāṅ sahasraśaḥ.

vanāni paśyansaumyāni ghrāṇatṛptikarāṇi ca৷৷3.35.21৷৷


niryāsarasamūlānām tree trunks with resins (emitting juices), candanānām of sandalwood trees,
saumyāni delighting, ghrāṇatṛptikarāṇi satisfying to smell, ca and, sahasraśaḥ by thousands, vanāni trees, paśyan seeing,

He saw thousands of tree trunks with fine-smelling resins and sandalwood trees.
agarūṇāṅ ca mukhyānāṅ vanānyupavanāni ca.

takkōlānāṅ ca jātyānāṅ phalānāṅ ca sugandhinām৷৷3.35.22৷৷


mukhyānām of the prominent ones, agurūṇām aguru trees, vanāni forests, upavanāni ca pleasure-groves, takkōlānām of takkola fruits, phalānām of fruits, sugandhinām of the fragrant ones, jātyānām nutmegs,

(He saw) very fine aguru trees in the forest as well as pleasure-groves of takkola fruits, fragrant trees of a fine variety and fragrant nutmegs.
puṣpāṇi ca tamālasya gulmāni maricasya ca.

muktānāṅ ca samūhāni śuṣyamāṇāni tīrataḥ৷৷3.35.23৷৷


tamālasya tamala trees, puṣpāṇi flowers in bloom, maricasya of pepper, gulmāni shrubs, tīrataḥ on the shore, śuṣyamāṇāni drying, muktānām pearls, samūhāni ca hoards,

(He saw) tamala flowers in bloom, pepper shrubs in clusters and hoards of pearls kept for drying on the shores.
śaṅkhānāṅ prasaraṅ caiva pravālanicayaṅ tathā.

kāñcanāni ca śailāni rājatāni ca sarvaśaḥ৷৷3.35.24৷৷


śaṅkhānām conches, prasaraṅ caiva stretch also, tathā likewise, pravālanicayam heaps of corals, sarvaśaḥ all over, kāñcanāni gold, rājatāni ca and silver, śailāni mounds,

He saw stretches of conches, heaps of corals and mounds of gold and silver too.
prasravāṇi manōjñāni prasannāni hradāni ca.

dhanadhānyōpapannāni strīratnaiśśōbhitāni ca৷৷3.35.25৷৷

hastyaśvarathagāḍhāni nagarāṇyavalōkayan.


manōjñāni fascinating , prasravāṇi waterfalls, prasannāni pleasing, hradāni ca ponds, dhanadhānyōpapannāni endowed with wealth and grains in abundance, strīratnaiḥ best of women, śōbhitāni splendid looking, hastyaśvarathagāḍhāni elephants with, horses and chariots, nagarāṇi cities, avalōkayan went on seeing.

He went watching fascinating waterfalls, pleasing ponds, cities filled with wealth and grain, looking splendid with beautiful women and full of elephants, horses and chariots.
taṅ samaṅ sarvatasnigdhaṅ mṛdusaṅsparśamārutam.

anūpaṅ sindhurājasya dadarśa tridivōpamam৷৷3.35.26৷৷


sarvataḥ all over, samam levelled, snigdham beautiful, mṛdusaṅsparśamārutam the breeze gentle to touch, tridivōpamam comparable to heaven, sindhurājasya of the sea, tam anūpam back-waters, dadarśa saw.

It was a veritable heaven with the plain land flooded with the back-waters of the sea and gentle breeze blowing.
tatrāpaśyatsa mēghābhaṅ nyagrōdhamṛṣibhirvṛtam৷৷3.35.27৷৷

samantādyasya tāśśākhāśśatayōjanamāyatāḥ.


tatra there, saḥ he, yasya whose, śākhā branches, śatayōjanam one hundred yojanas, āyatāḥ spread, mēghābham looking like a cloud, ṛṣibhiḥ vṛtam occupied by sages, nyagrōdham banyan tree, apaśyat saw.

He saw a banyan tree with its branches spread on all sides measuring a hundred
yojanas, looking like a cloud and providing shelter to the sages.
yasya hastinamādāya mahākāyaṅ ca kacchapam৷৷3.35.28৷৷

bhakṣārthaṅ garuḍaśśākhāmājagāma mahābalaḥ.


mahābalaḥ very strong, garuḍaḥ Garuda, bhakṣārtham for food, hastinam elephant, mahākāyam of huge body, kacchapaṅ ca and tortoise, ādāya after getting, yasya whose, śākhām branch, ājagāma came to,

In the past, the mighty Garuda brought an elephant and a huge tortoise and sat on a branch of this tree to feed on them.
tasya tāṅ sahasā śākhāṅ bhārēṇa patagōttamaḥ৷৷3.35.29৷৷

suparṇaḥ parṇabahulāṅ babhañja ca mahābalaḥ.


patagōttamaḥ the best of birds, mahābalaḥ very strong, suparṇaḥ Suparna (Garuda), tasya his, tāṅ śākhām that branch, bhārēṇa with weight, sahasā at once, babhañja broke, parṇabahulāṅ full of leaves.

Due to the weight of this best of birds, the mighty Garuda, the leafy branch at once broke down.
tatra vaikhānasā māṣā vālakhilyā marīcipāḥ৷৷3.35.30৷৷

ajā babhūvurdhūmrāśca saṅgatāḥ paramarṣayaḥ.


vaikhānasā: vaikhanasas, māṣāḥ mashas, marīcipāḥ marichipas, vālakhilyāḥ valakhilyas, ajāḥ ajas,dhūmrāśca dhumras, paramarṣayaśca great seers,tatra there, saṅgatāḥ gathered,babhūvuḥ were.

Gathered together under the great tree were great sages like vaikhanasas, mashas, marichipas, valakhilyas, ajas and dhumras.
tēṣāṅ dayārthaṅ garuḍastāṅ śākhāṅ śatayōjanām৷৷3.35.31৷৷

jagāmādāya vēgēna tau cōbhau gajakacchapau.


garuḍaḥ Garuda, tēṣām their, dayārtham out of compassion, śatayōjanām extending to a hundred yojanas, tāṅ śākhām that branch, tau ubhau both, gajakacchapau elephant and the tortoise, ādāya taking, vēgēna with speed, jagāma went.

Out of compassion for the (endangered) seers Garuda carried away that hundred-yojana-long branch along with the elephant and the tortoise with great speed.
ēkapādēna dharmātmā bhakṣayitvā tadāmiṣam৷৷3.35.32৷৷

niṣādaviṣayaṅ hatvā śākhayā patagōttamaḥ.

praharṣamatulaṅ lēbhē mōkṣayitvā mahāmunīn৷৷3.35.33৷৷


dharmātmā righteous self, patagōttamaḥ the best among birds (Garuda), tat that, āmiṣam meat, ēkapādēna (standing) on one foot, bhakṣayitvā eating, śākhayā with the branch, niṣādaviṣayam settlement of night-walkers, hatvā destroying, mahāmunīn great seers, mōkṣayitvā delivering, atulam great, praharṣam happiness, lēbhē felt.

Righteous Garuda, the best among the birds, stood on one foot and ate the flesh (of elephant and tortoise) and with the branch of the tree, destroyed the settlement of the demons. Over the destruction of the demons and deliverance of the great seers he felt immeasurable happiness.
sa tēnaiva praharṣēṇa dviguṇīkṛtavikramaḥ.

amṛtānayanārthaṅ vai cakāra matimānmatim৷৷3.35.34৷৷


matimān wise, saḥ he (Garuda), tēnaiva praharṣēṇa out of that joy, dviguṇīkṛtavikramaḥ with redoubled vigour, amṛtānayanārtham to obtain nectar, matim cakāra made up his mind.

Quite happy, his energy redoubled, wise Garuda made up his mind to obtain nectar.
ayōjālāni nirmathya bhitvā ratnamayaṅ gṛham.

mahēndrabhavanādguptamājahārāmṛtaṅ tataḥ৷৷3.35.35৷৷


ayōjālāni grills of windows, nirmathya twisting and twirling, ratnamayam gṛham house made of gems, bhitvā breaking, tataḥ from there, mahēndrabhavanāt from the palace of Indra, guptam secretly, amṛtam nectar, ājahāra carried away.

Twisting and twirling the grills of the window, he broke open the room made of gems and quietly carried away the nectar from Indra's mansion.
taṅ maharṣigaṇairjuṣṭaṅ suparṇakṛtalakṣaṇam.

nāmnā subhadraṅ nyagrōdhaṅ dadarśa dhanadānujaḥ৷৷3.35.36৷৷


dhanadānujaḥ younger brother of Kubera, maharṣigaṇaiḥ by groups of seers, juṣṭam favoured resort, suparṇakṛtalakṣaṇam marked with breaking of the branch by Garuda, nāmnā by name, subhadram Subhadra, taṅ nyagrōdham that banyan tree, dadarśa beheld.

Ravana, the younger brother of Kubera, beheld that banyan tree called Subhadram ,which was a favoured resort of the sages bearing the ensignia of Garuda.
taṅ tu gatvā paraṅ pāraṅ samudrasya nadīpatēḥ.

dadarśāśramamēkāntē ramyē puṇyē vanāntarē৷৷3.35.37৷৷


nadīpatēḥ of lord of rivers(ocean), samudrasya of the sea, tam that, paraṅ pāram gatvā going over to the other side, ramyē in a beautiful, puṇyē in a sacred, vanāntarē in the middle of the forest, ēkāntē in a secluded place, āśramam hermitage, dadarśa beheld.

Ravana crossed over to the other side of the sea, the lord of rivers, and beheld a hermitage in a beautiful, secluded, sacred place in the middle of the forest.
tatra kṛṣṇājinadharaṅ jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam.

dadarśa niyatāhāraṅ mārīcaṅ nāma rākṣasām৷৷3.35.38৷৷


tatra there,kṛṣṇājinadharam clad in deer-skin, jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam with matted hair and bark cloth, niyatāhāram living on regulated food, mārīcaṅ nāma named Maricha, rākṣasam a demon, dadarśa saw.

There he saw a demon Maricha, by name, clad in dark deer-skin and bark ,with matted hair and living on restricted food.
sa rāvaṇassamāgamya vidhivattēna rakṣasā.

mārīcēnārcitō rājā sarvakāmairamānuṣaiḥ৷৷3.35.39৷৷


rājā king, saḥ rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, samāgamya reaching there, rakṣasā by the demon, tēna mārīcēna to Maricha, amānuṣaiḥ superhuman, sarvakāmaiḥ by fulfilling all desires, vidhivat as per tradition, arcitaḥ made worshipful offering.

When king Ravana reached there, Maricha received him in accordance with tradition and made worshipful offering to the king, fulfilling all his superhuman desires.
taṅ svayaṅ pūjayitvā tu bhōjanēnōdakēna ca.

arthōpahitayā vācā mārīcō vākyamabravīt৷৷3.35.40৷৷


mārīcaḥ Maricha, tam to him, bhōjanēna food, udakēna ca water, svayam himself, pūjayitvā after offering, arthōpahitayā meaningful, vācā words, vākyam abravīt said.

Maricha extended his hospitality with appropriate food and water and said with meaningful words:
kaccitsukuśalaṅ rājanlaṅkāyāṅ rākṣasēśvara.

kēnārthēna punastvaṅ vai tūrṇamēvamihāgataḥ৷৷3.35.41৷৷


rākṣasēśvara O lord of demons, rājan O king, laṅkāyām at Lanka, sukuśalaṅ kaccit I hope every thing is well, tvam you, kēna arthēna to what purpose, tūrṇam so soon, ēvam like this, punaḥ again, iha here, āgataḥ came?

O king ! O lord of the demons ! hope all is well in Lanka. What brings you here again so soon ?
ēvamuktō mahātējā mārīcēna sa rāvaṇaḥ.

tataḥ paścādidaṅ vākyamabravīdvākyakōvidaḥ৷৷3.35.42৷৷


mārīcēna by Maricha, ēvam thus, uktaḥ spoken, mahātējāḥ effulgent, vākyakōvidaḥ a skilled speaker, saḥ rāvaṇaḥ that Ravana, tataḥ paścāt later, idam this, vākyam words, abravīt said.

Thus addressed by Maricha, the effulgent, eloquent Ravana replied with these words:
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē pañcatriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtyfifth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.