Shloka 8
एकोनचत्वारिंशः सर्गः (Aranyakanda 39): राक्षसस्य रामत्रासवर्णनम् / The Demon’s Account of Rama
Fear
तापसं नियताहारं सर्वभूतहिते रतम्।सोऽहं वनगतं रामं परिभूय महाबलम्।।।।तापसोऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्।अभ्यधावं हि संक्रुद्धस्तीक्ष्ण शृङ्गो मृगाकृतिः।।।।जिघांसुरकृतप्रज्ञस्तं प्रहारमनुस्मरन्।
tāpasaṃ niyatāhāraṃ sarvabhūtahite ratam |
so ’haṃ vanagataṃ rāmaṃ paribhūya mahābalam ||
tāpaso ’yam iti jñātvā pūrvavairam anusmaran |
abhyadhāvaṃ hi saṃkruddhas tīkṣṇaśṛṅgo mṛgākṛtiḥ ||
jighāṃsur akṛtaprajñas taṃ prahāram anusmaran |
Embora Rāma fosse poderoso, vivia de forma frugal e dedicava-se ao bem-estar de todos os seres. Desprezando-o como um mero asceta da floresta, lembrando-me da minha antiga inimizade — e esquecendo a lição do seu golpe anterior — investi contra ele com fúria, assumindo a forma de uma besta de chifres afiados, com a intenção tola de matá-lo.
Although Rama was very strong, he was living on restricted diet, engaged in the welfare of all beings. Treating him as a mere ascetic living in the forest, remembering my past hostility with him and disregarding his (fatal) blow, I ran towards him angrily, assuming the form of a sharp-horned animal with an intention to kill him.
FAQs
The verse teaches that dharmic power is rooted in self-restraint and universal goodwill; prideful contempt for such virtue leads to self-destruction.
Marīca recalls attacking Rāma in the forest after dismissing him as only an ascetic, driven by old hostility and anger.
Rāma’s restraint (niyatāhāra) and benevolence toward all beings (sarvabhūtahita) are emphasized as marks of true strength.