मारीचाश्रमगमनम् (Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage)
अरण्यकाण्ड
Sarga 35 records Ravana’s transition from reactive outrage to calculated execution. After hearing Śūrpaṇakhā’s “horripilating” report, he formally disengages from his ministers, deliberates on merits/demerits and relative strengths, and proceeds covertly to the yānaśālā to order a chariot harnessed. The narrative then amplifies Ravana’s regal-terror iconography—ten heads, twenty arms, white parasols and yak-tail fans, gold earrings, and a desire-driven chariot—using dense epithets and cloud-lightning similes to mark sovereign mobility. The journey becomes a coastal-forest survey: mountains by the sea, lotus ponds, hermitages with altars, fragrant sandalwood and aguru groves, pearls drying on shores, conches, corals, and mounds of gold and silver, plus cities rich in grain, women, and war-animals. A major digression localizes a mythic landmark: the banyan “Subhadra,” whose branch Garuḍa once broke while carrying an elephant and tortoise, rescuing sages and later resolving to seize amṛta from Indra’s mansion. Crossing the sea’s farther shore, Ravana reaches a secluded sacred hermitage and finds Marīca living as an ascetic (deerskin, bark, regulated diet). Maricha receives him with formal hospitality and inquires about Lanka and Ravana’s urgent purpose; Ravana prepares to state his intent, closing the sarga on the threshold of counsel and conspiracy.
Verse 3.35.1
ततश्शूर्पणखावाक्यं तच्छ्रुत्वा रोमहर्षणम्।सचिवानभ्यनुज्ञाय कार्यं बुद्ध्वा जगाम ह।।।।
Then, hearing Śūrpaṇakhā’s hair-raising account, he took leave of his ministers and departed, reflecting on the task he intended to pursue.
Verse 3.35.2
तत्कार्यमनुगम्याथ यथावदुपलभ्य च।दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्।।।इति कर्तव्यमित्येव कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः।स्थिरबुद्धिस्ततो रम्यां यानशालां जगाम ह।।।।
Having reflected on the task before him and understood it rightly—after weighing faults and merits and judging strength and weakness—he resolved within himself, “This is what must be done.” Firm in mind, he then went to the delightful chariot-shed.
Verse 3.35.3
तत्कार्यमनुगम्याथ यथावदुपलभ्य च।दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्।3.35.2।।इति कर्तव्यमित्येव कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः।स्थिरबुद्धिस्ततो रम्यां यानशालां जगाम ह।।3.35.3।।
Having resolved within himself, “This indeed is what must be done,” he, steadfast in purpose, then went to the delightful coach-shed.
Verse 3.35.4
यानशालां ततो गत्वा प्रच्छन्नो राक्षसाधिपः।सूतं सञ्चोदयामास रथस्संयोज्यतामिति।।।।
Mounting a golden chariot that could go wherever one wished, adorned with gems and yoked to donkey steeds with piśāca-like faces, decked in gold, Rāvaṇa—Kubera’s younger brother, the splendid lord of the rākṣasas—set out with a roar like thunderclouds toward the lord of rivers, the ocean.
Verse 3.35.5
एवमुक्तः क्षेणेनैव सारथिर्लघुविक्रमः।रथं संयोजयामास तस्याभिमतमुत्तमम्।।।।
After personally honoring him with food and water, Mārīca spoke to him in words weighted with purpose.
Verse 3.35.6
काञ्चनं रथमास्थाय कामगं रत्नभूषितम्।पिशाचवदनैर्युक्तं खरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः।।।।मेघप्रतिमनादेन स तेन धनदानुजः।राक्षसाधिपतिश्श्रीमान्ययौ नदनदीपतिम्।।।।
“O King, O lord of rākṣasas—may all be well in Laṅkā. For what purpose have you come here again, and so quickly?”
Verse 3.35.7
काञ्चनं रथमास्थाय कामगं रत्नभूषितम्।पिशाचवदनैर्युक्तं खरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः।।3.35.6।।मेघप्रतिमनादेन स तेन धनदानुजः।राक्षसाधिपतिश्श्रीमान्ययौ नदनदीपतिम्।।3.35.7।।
Thus addressed by Mārīca, the radiant Rāvaṇa—skilled in speech—then replied with these words.
Verse 3.35.8
स श्वेतवालव्यजनः श्वेतच्छत्रो दशाननः।स्निग्धवैदूर्यसंकाश स्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।।।।विंशद्भुजो दशग्रीवो दर्शनीयपरिच्छदः।त्रिदशारिर्मुनीन्द्रघ्नो दशशीर्ष इवाद्रिराट्।।।।कामगं रथमास्थाय शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः।विद्युन्मण्डलवान्मेघस्सबलाक इवाम्बरे।।।।
That ten-faced lord of the rākṣasas—fanned with white yak-tail whisks and shaded by a white parasol—shone, gleaming like smooth vaidūrya and wearing earrings of heated gold. With twenty arms and ten necks, splendidly attired, an enemy of the gods and a slayer of great sages, his ten heads looked like a mountain-king with ten peaks. Mounting a chariot that could go wherever one wished, the rākṣasa-king blazed in the sky like a cloud ringed with lightning and accompanied by cranes.
Verse 3.35.9
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।।
Ten-necked and twenty-armed, splendidly attired, an enemy of the gods and a slayer of great sages—Rāvaṇa appeared like a mountain-king with ten peaks.
Verse 3.35.10
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।।
Mounting his wish-moving chariot, the lord of the rākṣasas shone forth—like a cloud in the sky, ringed with lightning and accompanied by cranes.
Verse 3.35.11
स शैलं सागरानूपं वीर्यवानवलोकयन्।नानापुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैरनुकीर्णं सहस्रशः।।।।
That valiant one gazed upon the mountain by the sea’s marshy shore, strewn everywhere—thousandfold—with trees bearing many kinds of flowers and fruits.
Verse 3.35.12
शीतमङ्गलतोयाभिः पद्मिनीभिस्समन्ततः।विशालैराश्रमपदैर्वेदिमद्भिस्समावृतम्।।।।
All around it was encircled by lotus-ponds filled with cool, auspicious waters, and by spacious hermitage-sites furnished with sacred altars.
Verse 3.35.13
कदल्याढकिसम्बाधं नारिकेलोपशोभितम्।सालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च पुष्पितैस्तरुभिर्वृतम्।।।।
It was thick with banana groves, beautified by coconut palms, and encircled by flowering trees—śāla, palm, and tamāla.
Verse 3.35.14
नागैस्सुपर्णैर्गन्धैर्वैः किन्नरैश्च सहस्रशः।अजैर्वैखानसैर्माषैर्वालखिल्यैर्मरीचिपैः।।।।अत्यन्तनियताहारैश्शोभितं परमर्षिभिः।जितकामैश्च सिद्धैश्च चारणैरुपशोभितम्।।।।
It was thronged in thousands by nāgas, suparṇas, gandharvas, and kinnaras; and graced by ascetic lineages—Ajas, Vaikhānasas, Māṣas, Vālakhilyas, and Marīcipas—great rishis of strict discipline in food, conquerors of desire, along with siddhas and cāraṇas, making the region shine with sanctity.
Verse 3.35.15
नागैस्सुपर्णैर्गन्धैर्वैः किन्नरैश्च सहस्रशः।अजैर्वैखानसैर्माषैर्वालखिल्यैर्मरीचिपैः।।3.35.14।।अत्यन्तनियताहारैश्शोभितं परमर्षिभिः।जितकामैश्च सिद्धैश्च चारणैरुपशोभितम्।।3.35.15।।
It was filled with thousands of apsarases—of divine beauty—adorned with heavenly ornaments and garlands, skilled in the arts of play and love.
Verse 3.35.16
दिव्याभरणमाल्याभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिरावृतम्।क्रीडारतिविधिज्ञाभिरप्सरोभिस्सहस्रशः।।।।
It was frequented by the illustrious wives of the gods, endowed with splendor; and it was traversed by hosts of gods and dānavas, living on amṛta, the nectar of immortality.
Verse 3.35.17
सेवितं देवपन्तीभिश्श्रीमतीभिश्श्रियाऽऽवृतम्।देवदानवसङ्घैश्च चरितं त्वमृताशिभिः।।।।
It was crowded with hamsas, krauñca-birds, and plavas, resonant with the calls of sārasas; delightful with stretches of vaidūrya-stone, and gleaming with the sea’s radiance.
Verse 3.35.18
हंसक्रौञ्चप्लवाकीर्णं सारसैस्सम्प्रणादितम्।वैढूर्यप्रस्तरं रम्यं स्निग्धं सागरतेजसा।।।।
Speeding onward, Kubera’s younger brother beheld on every side vast, pale-bright vimānas, adorned with heavenly garlands and filled with instrumental music and song—wish-moving craft of those who had won the higher worlds through tapas. He also saw Gandharvas and Apsarases.
Verse 3.35.19
पाण्डुराणि विशालानि दिव्यमाल्ययुतानि च।तूर्यगीताभिजुष्टानि विमानानि समन्ततः।।।।तपसा जितलोकानां कामगान्यभिसम्पतन्।गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव ददर्श धनदानुजः।।।।
Rāvaṇa, the younger brother of Kubera, saw on every side vast, pale-bright aerial vimānas, adorned with divine garlands and resonant with instrumental music and song, swiftly coursing through the sky. They belonged to those who had won higher worlds through tapas and could go wherever one wished; he also beheld Gandharvas and Apsarases.
Verse 3.35.20
पाण्डुराणि विशालानि दिव्यमाल्ययुतानि च।तूर्यगीताभिजुष्टानि विमानानि समन्ततः।।3.35.19।।तपसा जितलोकानां कामगान्यभिसम्पतन्।गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव ददर्श धनदानुजः।।3.35.20।।
As he sped onward, Kubera’s younger brother saw on every side vast, pale-bright vimānas adorned with heavenly garlands and resonant with instrumental music and song—chariots that moved at will and belonged to ascetics who had conquered higher worlds through tapas. He also saw Gandharvas and Apsarases.
Verse 3.35.21
निर्यासरसमूलानां चन्दनानां सहस्रशः।वनानि पश्यन्सौम्यानि घ्राणतृप्तिकराणि च।।।।
He beheld, by the thousand, forests of sandalwood trees whose trunks exuded fragrant resin—gentle and pleasing, satisfying even the sense of smell.
Verse 3.35.22
अगरूणां च मुख्यानां वनान्युपवनानि च।तक्कोलानां च जात्यानां फलानां च सुगन्धिनाम्।।।।
He beheld forests of choice aguru trees and delightful pleasure-groves, along with fragrant takkola fruits and the aromatic produce of jāti.
Verse 3.35.23
पुष्पाणि च तमालस्य गुल्मानि मरिचस्य च।मुक्तानां च समूहानि शुष्यमाणानि तीरतः।।।।
He saw tamāla blossoms, thickets of pepper, and heaps of pearls spread out to dry along the shore.
Verse 3.35.24
शङ्खानां प्रसरं चैव प्रवालनिचयं तथा।काञ्चनानि च शैलानि राजतानि च सर्वशः।।।।
He saw broad stretches of conches and shells, heaps of coral, and everywhere mounds—some of gold and some of silver.
Verse 3.35.25
प्रस्रवाणि मनोज्ञानि प्रसन्नानि ह्रदानि च।धनधान्योपपन्नानि स्त्रीरत्नैश्शोभितानि च।।।।हस्त्यश्वरथगाढानि नगराण्यवलोकयन्।
He kept gazing upon enchanting waterfalls and clear lakes, and upon cities rich in wealth and grain—adorned with excellent women and crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots.
Verse 3.35.26
तं समं सर्वतस्निग्धं मृदुसंस्पर्शमारुतम्।अनूपं सिन्धुराजस्य ददर्श त्रिदिवोपमम्।।।।
He saw that region—level and lovely on every side, with breezes gentle to the touch—where the sea-king’s backwaters spread, a landscape like the very heavens.
Verse 3.35.27
तत्रापश्यत्स मेघाभं न्यग्रोधमृषिभिर्वृतम्।।।।समन्ताद्यस्य ताश्शाखाश्शतयोजनमायताः।
There he beheld a cloud-hued nyagrodha banyan, encircled by sages, whose branches spread on every side for a hundred yojanas.
Verse 3.35.28
यस्य हस्तिनमादाय महाकायं च कच्छपम्।।।।भक्षार्थं गरुडश्शाखामाजगाम महाबलः।
On that very tree, the mighty Garuḍa once came to a branch, bearing an elephant and a huge tortoise, intending to eat them.
Verse 3.35.29
तस्य तां सहसा शाखां भारेण पतगोत्तमः।।।।सुपर्णः पर्णबहुलां बभञ्ज च महाबलः।
Under the sheer weight of the best of birds—mighty Suparṇa (Garuḍa)—that leaf-laden branch suddenly snapped.
Verse 3.35.30
तत्र वैखानसा माषा वालखिल्या मरीचिपाः।।।।अजा बभूवुर्धूम्राश्च सङ्गताः परमर्षयः।
There, gathered together, were great seers—the Vaikhānasas, Māṣas, Vālakhilyas, Marīcipas, as well as the Ajās and the Dhūmras.
Verse 3.35.31
तेषां दयार्थं गरुडस्तां शाखां शतयोजनाम्।।।।जगामादाय वेगेन तौ चोभौ गजकच्छपौ।
Out of compassion for them, Garuḍa swiftly bore away that branch, a hundred yojanas in length, carrying with it both the elephant and the tortoise.
Verse 3.35.32
एकपादेन धर्मात्मा भक्षयित्वा तदामिषम्।।।।निषादविषयं हत्वा शाखया पतगोत्तमः।प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मोक्षयित्वा महामुनीन्।।।।
Standing on a single foot, the righteous best of birds ate that flesh; then, with the branch, he destroyed the Niṣāda settlement, and having delivered the great sages, he attained boundless joy.
Verse 3.35.33
एकपादेन धर्मात्मा भक्षयित्वा तदामिषम्।।3.35.32।।निषादविषयं हत्वा शाखया पतगोत्तमः।प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मोक्षयित्वा महामुनीन्।।3.35.33।।
Buoyed by that very joy, his prowess redoubled; the wise one resolved to bring back amṛta, the nectar of immortality.
Verse 3.35.34
स तेनैव प्रहर्षेण द्विगुणीकृतविक्रमः।अमृतानयनार्थं वै चकार मतिमान्मतिम्।।।।
Twisting apart the iron lattices and breaking into the gem-built chamber, he then secretly carried off the amṛta from Mahendra’s (Indra’s) palace.
Verse 3.35.35
अयोजालानि निर्मथ्य भित्वा रत्नमयं गृहम्।महेन्द्रभवनाद्गुप्तमाजहारामृतं ततः।।।।
Rāvaṇa, Kubera’s younger brother, beheld the nyagrodha banyan called Subhadra—frequented by companies of great ṛṣis and bearing the mark left by Suparṇa (Garuḍa).
Verse 3.35.36
तं महर्षिगणैर्जुष्टं सुपर्णकृतलक्षणम्।नाम्ना सुभद्रं न्यग्रोधं ददर्श धनदानुजः।।।।
Having crossed to the far shore of the ocean—the lord of rivers—he beheld a hermitage, secluded, beautiful, and sacred, deep within the forest.
Verse 3.35.37
तं तु गत्वा परं पारं समुद्रस्य नदीपतेः।ददर्शाश्रममेकान्ते रम्ये पुण्ये वनान्तरे।।।।
Having gone to the far shore of the ocean—the lord of rivers—he saw a hermitage, secluded, beautiful, and sacred, deep within the forest.
Verse 3.35.38
तत्र कृष्णाजिनधरं जटावल्कलधारिणम्।ददर्श नियताहारं मारीचं नाम राक्षसाम्।।।।
Then the lord of the rākṣasas went secretly to the chariot-shed and commanded the charioteer, “Harness the chariot.”
Verse 3.35.39
स रावणस्समागम्य विधिवत्तेन रक्षसा।मारीचेनार्चितो राजा सर्वकामैरमानुषैः।।।।
Thus commanded, the swift-acting charioteer at once harnessed an excellent chariot, just as his master desired.
Verse 3.35.40
तं स्वयं पूजयित्वा तु भोजनेनोदकेन च।अर्थोपहितया वाचा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।
With white yak-tail fans and a white parasol, the ten-faced Rāvaṇa—gleaming like polished vaidūrya, wearing heated-gold earrings—ten-necked and twenty-armed, splendidly adorned, foe of the gods and slayer of great sages, like a mountain-king with ten peaks, shone as he mounted the wish-moving chariot, like a cloud in the sky ringed with lightning and attended by cranes.
Verse 3.35.41
कच्चित्सुकुशलं राजन्लङ्कायां राक्षसेश्वर।केनार्थेन पुनस्त्वं वै तूर्णमेवमिहागतः।।।।
There he saw the rākṣasa named Mārīca—clad in a dark deerskin, wearing matted locks and bark-garments, living on measured fare.
Verse 3.35.42
एवमुक्तो महातेजा मारीचेन स रावणः।ततः पश्चादिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद्वाक्यकोविदः।।।।
When King Rāvaṇa arrived, the rākṣasa Mārīca received and honored him according to proper custom, offering him superhuman luxuries that satisfied every desire.