Aranya KandaSarga 3833 Verses

Sarga 38

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः (Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power)

अरण्यकाण्ड

This sarga presents a retrospective testimony and an admonitory counsel. Mārīca recounts his former predation in Daṇḍakāraṇya—depicted with hyperbolic strength ("thousand elephants"), cloud-dark splendor, and weapon-bearing terror—where he fed on ascetics. The narrative then recalls the earlier protective mission of Rāma under Viśvāmitra’s ritual discipline: Rāma stands guard at the sacrifice, described with luminous, moon-like imagery, youthful features, and ascetic simplicity. When Mārīca attacks the sacrificial altar, Rāma responds without agitation, strings his bow, and releases a sharp arrow that hurls Mārīca a hundred yojanas into the sea; notably, Rāma refrains from killing him, while Mārīca’s companions are destroyed. Using this lived experience as evidence, Mārīca warns Rāvaṇa against violating another’s wife (paradāra), predicts Laṅkā’s devastation for Sītā’s sake, and frames association with sin as socially contagious (fish perishing in a serpent-pool). The chapter thus fuses memory, ethical jurisprudence, and political foresight into a direct deterrent speech.

Shlokas

Verse 3.38.1

कदाचिदप्यहं वीर्यात्पर्यटन्पृथिवीमिमाम्।बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्पर्वतोपमः।।3.38.1।।नीलजीमूतसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।भयं लोकस्य जनयन्किरीटी परिघायुधः।।3.38.2।।व्यचरं दण्डकारण्ये ऋषिमांसानि भक्षयन्।

Once, driven by my own brute prowess, I roamed this earth—mountain-like, bearing the strength of a thousand elephants. Dark as a rain-cloud, wearing gleaming gold earrings and a crown, weapon in hand, I spread fear among the people.

Verse 3.38.2

Dark as a rain-cloud, wearing heated-gold earrings, crowned and armed with an iron club, I spread fear among the people; in the Daṇḍaka forest I roamed, devouring the flesh of sages.

Verse 3.38.3

विश्वामित्रोऽथ धर्मात्मा मद्वित्रस्तो महामुनिः।।3.38.3।।स्वयं गत्वा दशरथं नरेन्द्रमिदमब्रवीत्।

O king, there is no great sin more grievous than violating another man’s wife—especially when you yourself already possess a thousand women in your household.

Verse 3.38.4

अद्य रक्षतु मां रामः पर्वकाले समाहितः।।3.38.4।।मारीचान्मे भयं घोरं समुत्पन्नं नरेश्वर।

O king, from Mārīca a dreadful fear has arisen for me; therefore let Rāma—composed and vigilant—protect me today at the time of the sacred observance.

Verse 3.38.5

इत्येवमुक्तो धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा।।3.38.5।।प्रत्युवाच महाभागं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्।

Thus addressed, the righteous King Daśaratha then replied to the illustrious great sage Viśvāmitra.

Verse 3.38.6

बालो द्वादशवर्षोऽयमकृतास्त्रश्च राघवः।।3.38.6।।कामं तु मम यत्सैन्यं मया सह गमिष्यति।

“This Rāghava is but a boy of twelve and not yet trained in weapons; therefore my army will certainly go along with me.”

Verse 3.38.7

बलेन चतुरङ्गेण स्वयमेत्य निशाचरान्।।3.38.7।।वधिष्यामि मुनिश्रेष्ठ शत्रूंस्ते मनसेप्सितान्।

O best of sages, I myself will come with my fourfold army and slay those night-roaming foes—your enemies whom you wish to be destroyed.

Verse 3.38.8

इत्येवमुक्तस्समुनी राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।3.38.8।।रामान्नान्यद्बलं लोके पर्याप्तं तस्य रक्षसः।

When the king spoke thus, the sage replied: in this world no power is sufficient against that rākṣasa—except Rāma.

Verse 3.38.9

देवतानामपि भवान् समरेष्वभिपालकः।।3.38.9।।आसीत्तव कृतं कर्म त्रिलोके विदितं नृप।

O king, you have served as a protector even of the gods in battle; your deeds are renowned throughout the three worlds.

Verse 3.38.10

काममस्तु महत्सैन्यं तिष्ठत्विह परन्तप।।3.38.10।।बालोऽप्येष महातेजास्समर्थस्तस्य निग्रहे।गमिष्ये राममादाय स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु परन्तप।।3.38.11।।

I ranged through the Daṇḍaka forest, feeding on the flesh of ascetics.

Verse 3.38.11

“If you so desire, O scorcher of foes, let your great army remain here. Though he is only a boy, this radiant Rāma is fully capable of subduing him. I shall go, taking Rāma with me—may auspiciousness be yours, O subduer of enemies.”

Verse 3.38.12

एवमुक्त्वा तु स मुनिस्तमादाय नृपात्मजम्।जगाम परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रस्स्वमाश्रमम्।।3.38.12।।

Having spoken thus, the sage Viśvāmitra, greatly delighted, took the king’s son with him and went to his own hermitage.

Verse 3.38.13

तं तदा दण्डकारण्ये यज्ञमुद्दिश्य दीक्षितम्।बभूवोपस्थितो रामश्चित्रं विष्फारयन्धनुः।।3.38.13।।

Then, in the Daṇḍaka forest, with the sacrifice in view and the rite undertaken, Rāma stood ready on guard, drawing back his wondrous bow.

Verse 3.38.14

अजातव्यञ्जनश्रीमान्पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः।एकवस्त्रधरो धन्वी शिखी कनकमालया।।3.38.14।।शोभयन् दण्डकारण्यं दीप्तेन स्वेन तेजसा।अदृश्यत ततो रामो बालचन्द्र इवोदितः।।3.38.15।।

With no beard yet grown, handsome, lotus-petaled in gaze—clad in a single garment, bow in hand, hair bound up, wearing a golden garland—Rāma shone there. With his own radiant splendor he seemed to beautify the Daṇḍaka forest, like the young moon newly risen.

Verse 3.38.15

Then I—cloud-dark, wearing gleaming gold earrings—strong, and swollen with the pride of boons granted to me, came to that hermitage.

Verse 3.38.16

ततोऽहं मेघसङ्काशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।बली दत्तवरोदर्पादाजगाम तदाश्रमम्।।3.38.16।।

Spotted by him, I rushed in at once with weapons raised; but when he saw me, he calmly strung his bow, unshaken.

Verse 3.38.17

तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टोऽहं सहसैवोद्यतायुधः।मां तु दृष्ट्वा धनुस्सज्यमसम्भ्रान्तश्चकार सः।।3.38.17।।

Deluded, I belittled Rāghava as “only a boy,” and in my haste I rushed toward Viśvāmitra’s sacrificial altar.

Verse 3.38.18

अवजानन्नहं मोहाद्बालोऽयमिति राघवम्।विश्वामित्रस्य तां वेदिमभ्यधावं कृतत्वरः।।3.38.18।।

Out of delusion, I disregarded Rāghava, thinking, “He is merely a child,” and hastily rushed toward Viśvāmitra’s sacrificial altar.

Verse 3.38.19

तेन मुक्तस्ततो बाणः शितश्शत्रुनिबर्हणः।तेनाहं त्वाहतः क्षिप्तस्समुद्रे शतयोजने।।3.38.19।।

Once, driven by sheer prowess, I roamed this earth, bearing the strength of a thousand elephants, towering like a mountain.

Verse 3.38.20

नेच्छता तात मां हन्तुं तदा वीरेण रक्षितः।रामस्य शरवेगेन निरस्तोऽहमचेतनः।।3.38.20।।

Then he loosed a sharp arrow, a crusher of enemies; struck by it, I was hurled a hundred yojanas away into the sea.

Verse 3.38.21

पातितोऽहं तदा तेन गम्भीरे सागराम्भसि।प्राप्य संज्ञां चिरात्तात लङ्कां प्रतिगतः पुरीम्।।3.38.21।।

O dear one, though he did not wish to slay me, that hero preserved me; hurled away by the swift force of Rāma’s arrow, I fell unconscious.

Verse 3.38.22

एवमस्मि तदा मुक्तस्सहायास्तु निपातिताः।अकृतास्त्रेण बालेन रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।।3.38.22।।

Then he cast me into the deep waters of the ocean; after a long while, regaining consciousness, I returned to the city of Laṅkā.

Verse 3.38.23

तन्मया वार्यमाणस्त्वं यदि रामेण विग्रहम्।करिष्यस्यापदं घोरां क्षिप्रं प्राप्स्यसि रावण।।3.38.23।।

Thus I was spared then, though my companions were struck down—by the young Rāma, who, even without full mastery of weapons, accomplishes deeds without strain.

Verse 3.38.24

क्रीडारतिविधिज्ञानां समाजोत्सवशालिनाम्।रक्षसां चैव सन्तापमनर्थं चाहरिष्यसि।।3.38.24।।

Therefore, even as I restrain you with this counsel, if you choose conflict with Rāma, O Rāvaṇa, you will swiftly meet a dreadful calamity.

Verse 3.38.25

हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधां नानारत्नविभूषिताम्।द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं पुरीं लङ्कां विनष्टां मैथिलीकृते।।3.38.25।।

You will bring anguish and ruin upon the rākṣasas as well—upon those skilled in pleasures and pastimes, and those who flourish in social gatherings and festivities.

Verse 3.38.26

अकुर्वन्तोऽपि पापानि शुचयः पापसंश्रयात्।परपापैर्विनश्यन्ति मत्स्या नागह्रदे यथा।।3.38.26।।

You will behold Laṅkā—crowded with mansions and palaces, adorned with many gems—lying in ruins, all because of Maithilī.

Verse 3.38.27

दिव्यचन्दनदिग्धाङ्गान्दिव्याभरणभूषितान्।द्रक्ष्यस्यभिहतान्भूमौ तव दोषात्तु राक्षसान्।।3.38.27।।

Even the pure, though committing no sin themselves, are ruined by the sins of others when they take shelter among the wicked—like fish that perish in a pool infested with serpents.

Verse 3.38.28

हृतदारान् सदारांश्च दश विद्रवतो दिशः।हतशेषानशरणान्द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं निशाचरान्।।3.38.28।।

You will see the surviving night-rangers—some with their wives carried off, others fleeing with their wives—scattering in all ten directions, helpless and without refuge.

Verse 3.38.29

शरजालपरिक्षिप्तामग्निज्वालासमावृताम्।प्रदग्धभवनां लङ्कां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं न संशयः।।3.38.29।।

Without doubt you will behold Laṅkā: strewn about with a net of arrows, encircled by tongues of fire, its dwellings burnt and blazing.

Verse 3.38.30

परदाराभिमर्शात्तु नान्यत्पापतरं महत्।प्रमदानां सहस्रं च तव राजन्परिग्रहः।।3.38.30।।

O rākṣasa, be devoted to your own wives; protect your lineage, your honor, your prosperity, your kingdom—and your own dear life.

Verse 3.38.31

भव स्वदारनिरतस्वकुलं रक्ष राक्षस।मानमृद्धिं च राज्यं च जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः।।3.38.31।।

If you wish to enjoy for a long time your gentle wives and the company of your friends, do not commit any offense that makes you hostile to Rāma.

Verse 3.38.32

कलत्राणि च सौम्यानि मित्रवर्गं तथैव च।यदीच्छसि चिरं भोक्तं मा कृथा रामविप्रियम्।।3.38.32।।

Though I, your well-wisher, strongly restrain you—if you still violate Sītā by force, your life will be taken by Rāma’s arrows, and with your kinsmen, your strength exhausted, you will go to Yama’s abode.

Verse 3.38.33

निवार्यमाणस्सुहृदा मया भृशं प्रसह्य सीतां यदि धर्षयिष्यसि।गमिष्यसि क्षीणबलस्सबान्धवो यमक्षयं रामशरात्तजीवितः।।3.38.33।।

Then the great sage Viśvāmitra—righteous at heart and frightened of me—went in person to King Daśaratha and spoke these words.