दनु-शापकथा तथा सीताहरण-प्रश्नः (Danu’s Curse Narrative and Rama’s Inquiry about Sita)
अरण्यकाण्ड
This sarga is structured as an etiological confession followed by a pragmatic request for intelligence. A cursed being—identifying himself as a former, illustrious son of Danu—recounts his earlier beauty and renown, his arrogance after receiving long life from Brahmā, and his assault on Indra in battle. Indra’s vajra (described as śataparvan, “hundred-jointed”) mutilates him, after which Indra reshapes his body into a monstrous form with yojana-long arms and a mouth placed in the belly, enabling predation in the forest. The speaker explains that a seer (Sthūlaśiras) cursed him into this despised form for terrorizing forest-dwelling r̥ṣis, but also fixed the termination condition: when Rāma cuts off his arms and cremates him in a secluded forest, he will regain his auspicious form and release withheld knowledge. Rāma then states his own crisis—Sītā abducted by Rāvaṇa during his absence from Janasthāna—and asks for actionable details (abductor, location, power). The cursed being admits he lacks “divine knowledge” until cremation restores him; post-cremation he will disclose who knows the relevant rākṣasa and advises Rāma to form friendship with that swift, just-acting ally, who is said to have traversed the three worlds and thus knows what is unknown to others.
Verse 3.71.1
पुरा राम महाबाहो महाबलपराक्रम।रूपमासीन्ममा चिन्त्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्।।3.71.1।।यथा सोमस्य शक्रस्य सूर्यस्य च यथा वपुः।
O Rāma, long-armed and mighty in strength and valor—formerly my beauty was famed through the three worlds, beyond imagining, like the splendor of the Moon, of Śakra (Indra), and of the Sun.
Verse 3.71.2
सोऽहं रूपमिदं कृत्वा लोकवित्रासनं महत्।।3.71.2।।ऋषीन्वनगतान्राम त्रासयामि ततस्ततः।
O best of men, I shall aid you with the counsel of my understanding; and, once purified by fire through you both, I shall advise you also as a friend.
Verse 3.71.3
ततस्स्थूलशिरा नाम महर्षिः कोपितो मया।।3.71.3।।सञ्चिन्वन्विविधं वन्यं रूपेणानेन धर्षितः।
Then a great seer named Sthūlaśiras, while gathering various forest produce, was by me insulted and violated in this very form—thus I provoked his wrath.
Verse 3.71.4
तेनाहमुक्तः प्रेक्ष्यैवं घोरशापाभिधायिना।।3.71.4।।एतदेव नृशंसं ते रूपमस्तु विगर्हितम्।
Seeing me thus, he who pronounced a dreadful curse said to me: ‘Let this very form of yours become cruel and contemptible.’
Verse 3.71.5
स मया याचितः क्रुद्धश्शापस्योन्तो भवेदिति।।3.71.5।।अभिशापकृतस्येति तेनेदं भाषितं वचः।
When I begged him—though he was wrathful—asking how the end of the curse laid upon me might come to pass, he then spoke these words.
Verse 3.71.6
यदा छित्त्वा भुजौ रामस्त्वां दहेद्विजने वने।।3.71.6।।तदा त्वं प्राप्स्यसे रूपं स्वमेव विपुलं शुभम्।
‘When Rama, in a lonely forest, cuts off your two arms and burns you, then you will regain your own true form—vast and auspicious.’
Verse 3.71.7
श्रिया विराजितं पुत्रं दनोस्त्वं विद्धि लक्ष्मण।।3.71.7।।इन्द्रकोपादिदं रूपं प्राप्तमेवं रणाजिरे।
O Lakṣmaṇa, know that I was once the illustrious son of Danu, resplendent with prosperity; but through Indra’s wrath on the battlefield, I came to possess this present form.
Verse 3.71.8
अहं हि तपसोग्रेण पितामहमतोषयम्।।3.71.8।।दीर्घमायुस्स मे प्रादात्ततो मां विभ्रमोऽस्पृशत्।
For by severe austerities I pleased Pitāmaha (Brahmā); he granted me long life—yet thereafter delusion and pride seized me.
Verse 3.71.9
दीर्घमायुर्मया प्राप्तं किं मे शक्रः करिष्यति।।3.71.9।।इत्येवं बुद्धिमास्थाय रणे शक्रमधर्षयम्।
Thinking, ‘I have obtained long life—what can Śakra (Indra) do to me?’, I adopted that reckless notion and assailed Indra in battle.
Verse 3.71.10
तस्य बाहुप्रयुक्तेन वज्रेण शतपर्वणा।।3.71.10।।सक्थिनी चैव मूर्धा च शरीरे सम्प्रवेशितम्।
By that thunderbolt—hundred-jointed—hurled from his arm, my thighs and even my head were driven into my body.
Verse 3.71.11
स मया याच्यमानस्सन्नानयद्यमसादनम्।।3.71.11।।पितामहवचस्सत्यं तदस्त्विति ममाब्रवीत्।
Though I begged him, he did not send me to Yama’s abode; instead he told me, “Let the Creator’s word be made true.”
Verse 3.71.12
अनाहारः कथं शक्तो भग्नसक्थिशिरोमुखः।।3.71.12।।वज्रेणाभिहतः कालं सुदीर्घमपि जीवितुम्।
Struck by the thunderbolt, with thighs, head, and face broken—how could I, without food, survive for so very long?
Verse 3.71.13
एवमुक्तस्तु मे शक्रो बाहू योजनमायतौ।।3.71.13।।प्रादादास्यं च मे कुक्षौ तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रमकल्पयत्।
When I spoke thus, Śakra granted me arms a yojana long, and fashioned for me a mouth in my belly, fitted with sharp fangs.
Verse 3.71.14
सोऽहं भुजाभ्यां दीर्घाभ्यां संकृष्यास्मिन्वने चरान्।।3.71.14।।सिंहव्दिपमृगव्याघ्रान् भक्षयामि समन्ततः।
With those long arms, here in this forest I drag in roaming creatures—lions, elephants, deer, and tigers—and devour them from all sides.
Verse 3.71.15
स तु मामब्रवीदिन्द्रो यदा रामस्सलक्ष्मणः।।3.71.15।।छेत्स्यते समरे बाहू तदा स्वर्गं गमिष्यसि।
Indra told me: “When Rāma, with Lakṣmaṇa, cuts off your arms in battle, then you shall go to heaven.”
Verse 3.71.16
अनेन वपुषा राम वनेऽस्मिन्राजसत्तम।।3.71.16।।यद्यत्पश्यामि सर्वस्य ग्रहणं साधु रोचये।
O Rāma, best of kings—dwelling in this forest with such a body, I came to approve, as ‘proper,’ the seizing of whatever I happened to see.
Verse 3.71.17
अवश्यं ग्रहणं रामो मन्येऽहं समुपैष्यति।।3.71.17।।इमां बुद्धिं पुरस्कृत्य देहन्यासकृतश्रमः।
Clinging to this conviction, I struggled on merely to sustain my body, thinking that surely one day Rāma would come within my grasp.
Verse 3.71.18
स त्वं रामोऽसि भद्रं ते नाहमन्येन राघव।।3.71.18।।शक्यो हन्तुं यथातत्त्वमेवमुक्तं महर्षिणा।
You are that very Rāma—blessings upon you, O Rāghava. As the great seer declared, in truth none but you can slay me.
Verse 3.71.19
अहं हि मतिसाचिव्यं करिष्यामि नरर्षभ।।3.71.19।।मित्रं चैवोपदेक्ष्यामि युवाभ्यां संस्कृतोऽग्निना।
O Rāma, taking on this dreadful form that became a great terror to the world, I used to harass again and again the seers dwelling in the forest.
Verse 3.71.20
एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा दनुना तेन राघवः।।3.71.20।।इदं जगाद वचनं लक्ष्मणस्योपशृण्वतः।
Thus addressed by Danu, righteous Rāghava spoke these words, while Lakṣmaṇa listened nearby.
Verse 3.71.21
रावणेन हृता भार्या मम सीता यशस्स्विनी।।3.71.21।।निष्क्रान्तस्य जनस्थानात्सहभ्रात्रा यथासुखम्।
My renowned wife Sītā was carried off by Rāvaṇa when I had gone out from Jana-sthāna together with my brother, in a moment of unwary ease.
Verse 3.71.22
नाममात्रं तु जानामि न रूपं तस्य रक्षसः।।3.71.22।।निवासं वा प्रभावं वा वयं तस्य न विद्महे।
I know only his name; I do not know the form of that rākṣasa—nor do we know his dwelling or his power.
Verse 3.71.23
शोकार्तानामनाथानामेवं विपरिधावताम्।।3.71.23।।कारुण्यं सदृशं कर्तुमुपकारे च वर्तताम्।
For those stricken by sorrow, left without refuge, and wandering in confusion like this, it is fitting to show compassion and to act in helpful service.
Verse 3.71.24
काष्ठान्यादाय शुष्काणि काले भग्नानि कुञ्जरैः।।3.71.24।।धक्ष्यामस्त्वां वयं वीर श्वभ्रे महति कल्पिते।
O hero, gathering dry logs—seasoned by time and broken by elephants—we shall cremate you in a great pit prepared for the rite.
Verse 3.71.25
स त्वं सीतां समाचक्ष्व येन वा यत्र वा हृता।।3.71.25।।कुरु कल्याणमत्यर्थं यदि जानासि तत्त्वतः।
Therefore, tell me truly about Sītā—by whom she was taken, or to what place; if you know the reality, do this great good for us.
Verse 3.71.26
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण वाक्यं दनुरनुत्तमम्।।3.71.26।।प्रोवाच कुशलो वक्तुं वक्तारमपि राघवम्।
Thus addressed by Rāma, Danu—skilled in speech—replied to Rāghava, himself an accomplished speaker, with words most excellent.
Verse 3.71.27
दिव्यमस्ति न मे ज्ञानं नाभिजानामि मैथिलीम्।।3.71.27।।यस्तां ज्ञास्यति तं वक्ष्ये दग्धस्स्वं रूपमास्थितः।
I have no divine knowledge, nor do I know Maithilī. But when I have been burned and have regained my own true form, I shall tell you who it is that knows of her.
Verse 3.71.28
अदग्धस्य तु विज्ञातुं शक्तिरस्ति न मे प्रभो।।3.71.28।।राक्षसं तं महावीर्यं सीता येन हृता तव।
O lord, so long as I have not been burned, I have no power to know or disclose that mighty rākṣasa by whom your Sītā was carried away.
Verse 3.71.29
विज्ञानं हि मम भ्रष्टं शापदोषेण राघव।।3.71.29।।स्वकृतेन मया प्राप्तं रूपं लोकविगर्हितम्।
O Rāghava, through the fault of a curse my discernment has indeed been lost; and by my own deed I have obtained this form that the world despises.
Verse 3.71.30
किं तु यावन्न यात्यस्तं सविता श्रान्तवाहनः।।3.71.30।।तावन्मामवटे क्षिप्त्वा दह राम यथाविधि।
But before the Sun sets—his steeds grown weary—cast me into a pit and burn me, O Rama, according to the proper rite.
Verse 3.71.31
दग्धस्त्वयाहमवटे न्यायेन रघुनन्धन।।3.71.31।।वक्ष्यामि तमहं वीर यस्तं ज्ञास्यति राक्षसम्।
When you have burned me in a pit according to due rule, O delight of the Raghus—O hero—I shall tell you of the one who knows that rākṣasa.
Verse 3.71.32
तेन सख्यं च कर्तव्यं न्याय्यवृत्तेन राघव।।3.71.32।।कल्पयिष्यति ते प्रीतस्साहाय्यं लघुविक्रमः।
O Rāghava, you should form friendship with him by righteous conduct; when pleased, that swift-acting hero will provide you assistance.
Verse 3.71.33
न हि तस्यास्त्यविज्ञातं त्रिषु लेकेषु राघव।।3.71.33।।सर्वान्परिसृतो लोकान्पुरासौ कारणान्तरे।
O Rāghava, there is nothing unknown to him in the three worlds; for once, on another occasion and for a different cause, he roamed through all the worlds.