Viradha Seizes Sita

Shloka 1 (aranya.2.1)

कृतातिथ्योऽथ रामस्तु सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति । आमन्त्र्य स मुनीन् सर्वान् वनमेवान्वगाहत ॥ 2.1 ॥

kṛtātithyo'tha rāmastu sūryasyodayanaṃ prati | āmantrya sa munīn sarvān vanamevānvagāhata || 2.1 ||

Then, having received their hospitality, Rama, as the sun rose, took leave of all those sages and pressed on into the forest itself.

Shloka 2 (aranya.2.2)

नानामृगगणाकीर्णमृक्षशार्दूलसेवितम् । ध्वस्तवृक्षलतागुल्मं दुर्दर्शसलिलाशयम् ॥ 2.2 ॥

nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇamṛkṣaśārdūlasevitam | dhvastavṛkṣalatāgulmaṃ durdarśasalilāśayam || 2.2 ||

That forest teemed with herds of every kind of deer and was frequented by bears and tigers; its trees, creepers and thickets lay broken and ravaged, and its pools of water were dismal to behold.

Shloka 3 (aranya.2.3)

निष्कूजमानशकुनिं झिल्लिकागणनादितम् । लक्ष्मणानुचरो रामो वनमध्यं ददर्श ह ॥ 2.3 ॥

niṣkūjamānaśakuniṃ jhillikāgaṇanāditam | lakṣmaṇānucaro rāmo vanamadhyaṃ dadarśa ha || 2.3 ||

In it the birds fell silent while swarms of crickets shrilled on all sides. Followed by Lakshmana, Rama surveyed the depths of that forest thus.

Shloka 4 (aranya.2.4)

सीतया सह काकुत्स्थस्तस्मिन् घोरमृगायुते । ददर्श गिरिशृङ्गाभं पुरुषादं महास्वनम् ॥ 2.4 ॥

sītayā saha kākutsthastasmin ghoramṛgāyute | dadarśa giriśṛṅgābhaṃ puruṣādaṃ mahāsvanam || 2.4 ||

There, amid those fearsome beasts, Rama, together with Sita, beheld a man-eating demon, huge as a mountain peak, roaring with a terrible voice.

Shloka 5 (aranya.2.5)

गभीराक्षं महावक्त्रं विकटं विकटोदरम् । बीभत्सं विषमं दीर्घं विकृतं घोरदर्शनम् ॥ 2.5 ॥

gabhīrākṣaṃ mahāvaktraṃ vikaṭaṃ vikaṭodaram | bībhatsaṃ viṣamaṃ dīrghaṃ vikṛtaṃ ghoradarśanam || 2.5 ||

Deep-socketed of eye and vast of mouth, grotesque and grotesquely bellied, he was loathsome, misshapen, towering, deformed, and terrible to look upon.

Shloka 6 (aranya.2.6)

वसानं चर्म वैयाघ्रं वसार्द्रं रुधिरोक्षितम् । त्रासनं सर्वभूतानां व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम् ॥ 2.6 ॥

vasānaṃ carma vaiyāghraṃ vasārdraṃ rudhirokṣitam | trāsanaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ vyāditāsyamivāntakam || 2.6 ||

He wore a tiger's hide, soaked with fat and drenched in blood, terrifying to every living creature, like Death himself with jaws agape.

Shloka 7 (aranya.2.7)

त्रीन् सिंहांश्चतुरो व्याघ्रान् द्वौ वृकौ पृषतान् दश । सविषाणं वसादिग्धं गजस्य च शिरो महत् ॥ 2.7 ॥

trīn siṃhāṃścaturo vyāghrān dvau vṛkau pṛṣatān daśa | saviṣāṇaṃ vasādigdhaṃ gajasya ca śiro mahat || 2.7 ||

Three lions, four tigers, two wolves, ten spotted deer, and the great tusked head of an elephant, smeared with fat—

Shloka 8 (aranya.2.8)

अवसज्यायसे शूले विनदन्तं महास्वनम् । स रामं लक्ष्मणं चैव सीतां दृष्ट्वा च मैथिलीम् ॥ 2.8 ॥

avasajyāyase śūle vinadantaṃ mahāsvanam | sa rāmaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva sītāṃ dṛṣṭvā ca maithilīm || 2.8 ||

—he had impaled upon an iron spear, bellowing all the while; and on catching sight of Rama, of Lakshmana, and of Sita, Janaka's daughter—

Shloka 9 (aranya.2.9)

अभ्यधावत् सुसंक्रुद्धः प्रजाः काल इवान्तकः । स कृत्वा भैरवं नादं चालयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥ 2.9 ॥

abhyadhāvat susaṃkruddhaḥ prajāḥ kāla ivāntakaḥ | sa kṛtvā bhairavaṃ nādaṃ cālayanniva medinīm || 2.9 ||

he charged upon them in furious rage, like Time itself, the destroyer, rushing upon all creatures, and let out a fearsome roar that seemed to make the earth tremble.

Shloka 10 (aranya.2.10)

अङ्केनादाय वैदेहीमपक्रम्य तदाब्रवीत् । युवां जटाचीरधरौ सभार्यौ क्षीणजीवितौ ॥ 2.10 ॥

aṅkenādāya vaidehīmapakramya tadābravīt | yuvāṃ jaṭācīradharau sabhāryau kṣīṇajīvitau || 2.10 ||

Snatching up Vaidehi in his arms and drawing back, he said: "You two, wearing matted locks and bark garments, and with a wife beside you — your lives are now spent!

Shloka 11 (aranya.2.11)

प्रविष्टौ दण्डकारण्यं शरचापासिपाणिनौ । कथं तापसयोर्वां च वासः प्रमदया सह ॥ 2.11 ॥

praviṣṭau daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ śaracāpāsipāṇinau | kathaṃ tāpasayorvāṃ ca vāsaḥ pramadayā saha || 2.11 ||

You have entered the Dandaka forest bearing bow, arrows and sword in hand — how is it that you two, professing to be ascetics, dwell here together with a woman?

Shloka 12 (aranya.2.12)

अधर्मचारिणौ पापौ कौ युवां मुनिदूषकौ । अहं वनमिदं दुर्गं विराधो नाम राक्षसः ॥ 2.12 ॥

adharmacāriṇau pāpau kau yuvāṃ munidūṣakau | ahaṃ vanamidaṃ durgaṃ virādho nāma rākṣasaḥ || 2.12 ||

Who are you, you two sinners, walkers of unrighteousness, defilers of the sage's calling? I am a demon named Viradha, who roams this impenetrable forest,

Shloka 13 (aranya.2.13)

चरामि सायुधो नित्यमृषिमांसानि भक्षयन् । इयं नारी वरारोहा मम भार्या भविष्यति ॥ 2.13 ॥

carāmi sāyudho nityamṛṣimāṃsāni bhakṣayan | iyaṃ nārī varārohā mama bhāryā bhaviṣyati || 2.13 ||

forever armed, forever feeding on the flesh of sages. This shapely woman shall become my wife,

Shloka 14 (aranya.2.14)

युवयोः पापयोश्चाहं पास्यामि रुधिरं मृधे । तस्यैवं ब्रुवतो दुष्टं विराधस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 2.14 ॥

yuvayoḥ pāpayoścāhaṃ pāsyāmi rudhiraṃ mṛdhe | tasyaivaṃ bruvato duṣṭaṃ virādhasya durātmanaḥ || 2.14 ||

and in battle I shall drink the blood of you two sinners!" When the evil-minded Viradha had spoken these vile words—

Shloka 15 (aranya.2.15)

श्रुत्वा सगर्वितं वाक्यं सम्भ्रान्ता जनकात्मजा । सीता प्रवेपितोद्वेगात् प्रवाते कदली यथा ॥ 2.15 ॥

śrutvā sagarvitaṃ vākyaṃ sambhrāntā janakātmajā | sītā pravepitodvegāt pravāte kadalī yathā || 2.15 ||

—hearing his arrogant words, Janaka's daughter, Sita, was thrown into panic and trembled with fear like a plantain tree shaken by a gale.

Shloka 16 (aranya.2.16)

तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः सीतां विराधाङ्कगतां शुभाम् । अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं वाक्यं मुखेन परिशुष्यता ॥ 2.16 ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ sītāṃ virādhāṅkagatāṃ śubhām | abravīllakṣmaṇaṃ vākyaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā || 2.16 ||

Seeing that auspicious Sita held fast in Viradha's arms, Raghava, his face gone dry with dread, spoke this to Lakshmana:

Shloka 17 (aranya.2.17)

पश्य सौम्य नरेन्द्रस्य जनकस्यात्मसम्भवाम् । मम भार्यां शुभाचारां विराधाङ्के प्रवेशिताम् ॥ 2.17 ॥

paśya saumya narendrasya janakasyātmasambhavām | mama bhāryāṃ śubhācārāṃ virādhāṅke praveśitām || 2.17 ||

"Look, gentle Lakshmana — see the daughter of King Janaka, my wife of blameless conduct, thrust into the arms of Viradha,

Shloka 18 (aranya.2.18)

अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धां राजपुत्रीं यशस्विनीम् । यदभिप्रेतमस्मासु प्रियं वरवृतं च यत् ॥ 2.18 ॥

atyantasukhasaṃvṛddhāṃ rājaputrīṃ yaśasvinīm | yadabhipretamasmāsu priyaṃ varavṛtaṃ ca yat || 2.18 ||

that illustrious princess, reared in the utmost comfort! Whatever was wished upon us, whatever was dear to Kaikeyi and secured through her boons—

Shloka 19 (aranya.2.19)

कैकेय्यास्तु सुसंवृत्तं क्षिप्रमद्यैव लक्ष्मण । या न तुष्यति राज्येन पुत्रार्थे दीर्घदर्शिनी ॥ 2.19 ॥

kaikeyyāstu susaṃvṛttaṃ kṣipramadyaiva lakṣmaṇa | yā na tuṣyati rājyena putrārthe dīrghadarśinī || 2.19 ||

that, O Lakshmana, is coming to pass swiftly, this very day. She, the far-sighted one, who was not satisfied even when the kingdom was won for her son—

Shloka 20 (aranya.2.20)

ययाहं सर्वभूतानां प्रियः प्रस्थापितो वनम् । अद्येदानीं सकामा सा या माता मध्यमा मम ॥ 2.20 ॥

yayāhaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ priyaḥ prasthāpito vanam | adyedānīṃ sakāmā sā yā mātā madhyamā mama || 2.20 ||

who sent me, dear as I am to all beings, into exile in the forest — she, my middle mother, will now, this very moment, consider her desire fulfilled.

Shloka 21 (aranya.2.21)

परस्पर्शात् तु वैदेह्या न दुःखतरमस्ति मे । पितुर्विनाशात् सौमित्रे स्वराज्य हरणात् तथा ॥ 2.21 ॥

parasparśāt tu vaidehyā na duḥkhataramasti me | piturvināśāt saumitre svarājya haraṇāt tathā || 2.21 ||

To me, O Saumitri, no grief is greater — not my father's death, nor the seizing of my kingdom — than this, that another's hand has touched Vaidehi."

Shloka 22 (aranya.2.22)

इति ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे बाष्पशोकपरिप्लुतः । अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणः क्रुद्धो रुद्धो नाग इव श्वसन् ॥ 2.22 ॥

iti bruvati kākutsthe bāṣpaśokapariplutaḥ | abravīllakṣmaṇaḥ kruddho ruddho nāga iva śvasan || 2.22 ||

When Kakutstha had spoken thus, Lakshmana, overwhelmed with tears of grief, replied in anger, hissing like a serpent brought to bay:

Shloka 23 (aranya.2.23)

अनाथ इव भूतानां नाथस्त्वं वासवोपमः । मया प्रेष्येण काकुत्स्थ किमर्थं परितप्यसे ॥ 2.23 ॥

anātha iva bhūtānāṃ nāthastvaṃ vāsavopamaḥ | mayā preṣyeṇa kākutstha kimarthaṃ paritapyase || 2.23 ||

"You, O Kakutstha, are the protector of all beings, equal to Indra himself — why then do you torment yourself as though helpless, when I stand ready to serve you?

Shloka 24 (aranya.2.24)

शरेण निहतस्याद्य मया क्रुद्धेन रक्षसः । विराधस्य गतासोर्हि मही पास्यति शोणितम् ॥ 2.24 ॥

śareṇa nihatasyādya mayā kruddhena rakṣasaḥ | virādhasya gatāsorhi mahī pāsyati śoṇitam || 2.24 ||

This very day, felled by this angered arrow of mine, Viradha's life-breath shall depart, and the earth shall drink the blood of that demon.

Shloka 25 (aranya.2.25)

राज्यकामे मम क्रोधो भरते यो बभूव ह । तं विराधे विमोक्ष्यामि वज्री वज्रमिवाचले ॥ 2.25 ॥

rājyakāme mama krodho bharate yo babhūva ha | taṃ virādhe vimokṣyāmi vajrī vajramivācale || 2.25 ||

The anger I once felt against Bharata when he desired the kingdom — that same anger I shall now unleash upon Viradha, as Indra hurls his thunderbolt upon a mountain.

Shloka 26 (aranya.2.26)

मम भुजबलवेगवेगितः । पततु शरोऽस्य महान् महोरसि । व्यपनयतु तनोश्च जीवितं । पततु ततश्च महीं विघूर्णितः ॥ 2.26 ॥

mama bhujabalavegavegitaḥ | patatu śaro'sya mahān mahorasi | vyapanayatu tanośca jīvitaṃ | patatu tataśca mahīṃ vighūrṇitaḥ || 2.26 ||

"Let this great arrow, hurled with the speed and force of my arm, fall upon his massive chest; let it drive the life from his body, and let him then reel and crash, whirling, to the ground."