Shloka 9
मारीचाश्रमगमनम्
Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage
स श्वेतवालव्यजनः श्वेतच्छत्रो दशाननः।स्निग्धवैदूर्यसंकाश स्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।।3.35.8।।विंशद्भुजो दशग्रीवो दर्शनीयपरिच्छदः।त्रिदशारिर्मुनीन्द्रघ्नो दशशीर्ष इवाद्रिराट्।।3.35.9।।कामगं रथमास्थाय शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः।विद्युन्मण्डलवान्मेघस्सबलाक इवाम्बरे।।3.35.10।।
sa śvetavālavyajanaḥ śvetacchatro daśānanaḥ |
snigdhavaidūryasaṅkāśaḥ staptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ ||
viṃśadbhujō daśagrīvo darśanīyaparicchadaḥ |
tridaśārir munīndraghno daśaśīrṣa ivādrirāṭ ||
kāmagaṃ ratham āsthāya śuśubhe rākṣaseśvaraḥ |
vidyunmaṇḍalavān meghaḥ sabalāka ivāmbare ||
Mit weißen Yakschweif-Fächern und weißem Sonnenschirm erschien der Zehnantlitzige Rāvaṇa — glänzend wie polierter Vaidūrya, mit Ohrringen aus glühendem Gold — zehnhalsig und zwanzigarmig, herrlich geschmückt, Feind der Götter und Töter großer Weisen, wie ein Bergkönig mit zehn Gipfeln. Als der Herr der Rākṣasas den wunschbewegten Wagen bestieg, strahlte er wie eine Wolke am Himmel, von Blitzen umkränzt und von Kranichen begleitet.
Maricha extended his hospitality with appropriate food and water and said with meaningful words:
FAQs
The Ramayana warns that brilliance and majesty do not equal dharma. Rāvaṇa’s dazzling appearance is juxtaposed with epithets like “slayer of sages,” implying moral decline beneath grandeur.
A detailed poetic description frames Rāvaṇa’s departure, heightening tension before his encounter with Mārīca and the unfolding plot against Rāma.
No virtue is emphasized; the verse stresses overwhelming power and intimidating splendor, reinforcing the theme that unchecked power without satya and dharma becomes destructive.