Akampana'\''s Report and Maricha'\''s First Refusal

Shloka 1 (aranya.31.1)

त्वरमाणस्ततो गत्वा जनस्थानादकम्पनः । प्रविश्य लङ्कां वेगेन रावणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 31.1 ॥

tvaramāṇastato gatvā janasthānādakampanaḥ | praviśya laṅkāṃ vegena rāvaṇaṃ vākyamabravīt || 31.1 ||

Then, having hurried away from Janasthana and swiftly entered Lanka, Akampana spoke these words to Ravana.

Shloka 2 (aranya.31.2)

जनस्थानस्थिता राजन् राक्षसा बहवो हताः । खरश्च निहतः संख्ये कथंचिदहमागतः ॥ 31.2 ॥

janasthānasthitā rājan rākṣasā bahavo hatāḥ | kharaśca nihataḥ saṃkhye kathaṃcidahamāgataḥ || 31.2 ||

"O king, many demons stationed in Janasthana have been killed; Khara too has fallen in battle, and I have somehow managed to reach here.

Shloka 3 (aranya.31.3)

एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवः क्रुद्धः संरक्तलोचनः । अकम्पनमुवाचेदं निर्दहन्निव तेजसा ॥ 31.3 ॥

evamukto daśagrīvaḥ kruddhaḥ saṃraktalocanaḥ | akampanamuvācedaṃ nirdahanniva tejasā || 31.3 ||

Hearing this, ten-headed Ravana, enraged and red-eyed, as if about to incinerate the whole world with his fiery glare, said this to Akampana:

Shloka 4 (aranya.31.4)

केन भीमं जनस्थानं हतं मम परासुना । को हि सर्वेषु लोकेषु गतिं नाधिगमिष्यति ॥ 31.4 ॥

kena bhīmaṃ janasthānaṃ hataṃ mama parāsunā | ko hi sarveṣu lokeṣu gatiṃ nādhigamiṣyati || 31.4 ||

"Who is this walking dead man who has destroyed my formidable Janasthana? Who in all the worlds has chosen a course after which there is no refuge left for him anywhere?

Shloka 5 (aranya.31.5)

न हि मे विप्रियं कृत्वा शक्यं मघवता सुखम् । प्राप्तुं वैश्रवणेनापि न यमेन च विष्णुना ॥ 31.5 ॥

na hi me vipriyaṃ kṛtvā śakyaṃ maghavatā sukham | prāptuṃ vaiśravaṇenāpi na yamena ca viṣṇunā || 31.5 ||

Having displeased me, it is not possible for Indra to know happiness, nor for Kubera, nor for Yama, nor even for Vishnu.

Shloka 6 (aranya.31.6)

कालस्य चाप्यहं कालो दहेयमपि पावकम् । मृत्युं मरणधर्मेण संयोजयितुमुत्सहे ॥ 31.6 ॥

kālasya cāpyahaṃ kālo daheyamapi pāvakam | mṛtyuṃ maraṇadharmeṇa saṃyojayitumutsahe || 31.6 ||

I am the very end of Time for Time itself; I could burn down Fire; and I am capable of yoking Death to the fate of dying.

Shloka 7 (aranya.31.7)

वातस्य तरसा वेगं निहन्तुमपि चोत्सहे । दहेयमपि संक्रुद्धस्तेजसाऽऽदित्यपावकौ ॥ 31.7 ॥

vātasya tarasā vegaṃ nihantumapi cotsahe | daheyamapi saṃkruddhastejasā''dityapāvakau || 31.7 ||

"If angered, I could scorch even the sun and fire with my radiance alone, and with my own force I could halt the very speed of the wind." Thus did Ravana boast of himself.

Shloka 8 (aranya.31.8)

तथा क्रुद्धं दशग्रीवं कृताञ्जलिरकम्पनः । भयात् संदिग्धया वाचा रावणं याचतेऽभयम् ॥ 31.8 ॥

tathā kruddhaṃ daśagrīvaṃ kṛtāñjalirakampanaḥ | bhayāt saṃdigdhayā vācā rāvaṇaṃ yācate'bhayam || 31.8 ||

Akampana, palms joined in supplication, his voice trembling with fear, begged that enraged ten-headed Ravana for his life.

Shloka 9 (aranya.31.9)

दशग्रीवोऽभयं तस्मै प्रददौ रक्षसां वरः । स विस्रब्धोऽब्रवीद् वाक्यमसंदिग्धमकम्पनः ॥ 31.9 ॥

daśagrīvo'bhayaṃ tasmai pradadau rakṣasāṃ varaḥ | sa visrabdho'bravīd vākyamasaṃdigdhamakampanaḥ || 31.9 ||

Dashagriva, foremost among the demons, granted him safety; reassured, Akampana then spoke these words without further hesitation.

Shloka 10 (aranya.31.10)

पुत्रो दशरथस्यास्ते सिंहसंहननो युवा । रामो नाम महास्कन्धो वृत्तायतमहाभुजः ॥ 31.10 ॥

putro daśarathasyāste siṃhasaṃhanano yuvā | rāmo nāma mahāskandho vṛttāyatamahābhujaḥ || 31.10 ||

"There is a son of King Dasharatha — youthful, built like a lion, broad-shouldered, with long and rounded arms — who is known as Rama.

Shloka 11 (aranya.31.11)

श्यामः पृथुयशाः श्रीमानतुल्यबलविक्रमः । हतस्तेन जनस्थाने खरश्च सहदूषणः ॥ 31.11 ॥

śyāmaḥ pṛthuyaśāḥ śrīmānatulyabalavikramaḥ | hatastena janasthāne kharaśca sahadūṣaṇaḥ || 31.11 ||

"Dark of hue, of vast renown, splendid, and of matchless strength and valor — it is he who slew Khara together with Dushana in Janasthana."

Shloka 12 (aranya.31.12)

अकम्पनवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । नागेन्द्र इव निःश्वस्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 31.12 ॥

akampanavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | nāgendra iva niḥśvasya idaṃ vacanamabravīt || 31.12 ||

Hearing these words of Akampana, Ravana, the lord of demons, hissed like a great serpent and spoke thus:

Shloka 13 (aranya.31.13)

स सुरेन्द्रेण संयुक्तो रामः सर्वामरैः सह । उपयातो जनस्थानं ब्रूहि कच्चिदकम्पन ॥ 31.13 ॥

sa surendreṇa saṃyukto rāmaḥ sarvāmaraiḥ saha | upayāto janasthānaṃ brūhi kaccidakampana || 31.13 ||

"Tell me, Akampana — did that Rama come to Janasthana in the company of Indra and all the immortal gods?"

Shloka 14 (aranya.31.14)

रावणस्य पुनर्वाक्यं निशम्य तदकम्पनः । आचचक्षे बलं तस्य विक्रमं च महात्मनः ॥ 31.14 ॥

rāvaṇasya punarvākyaṃ niśamya tadakampanaḥ | ācacakṣe balaṃ tasya vikramaṃ ca mahātmanaḥ || 31.14 ||

Hearing Ravana's question, Akampana once again described in detail the might and valor of that great-souled Rama.

Shloka 15 (aranya.31.15)

रामो नाम महातेजाः श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम् । दिव्यास्त्रगुणसम्पन्नः परं धर्मं गतो युधि ॥ 31.15 ॥

rāmo nāma mahātejāḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām | divyāstraguṇasampannaḥ paraṃ dharmaṃ gato yudhi || 31.15 ||

"Rama, they say, is greatly resplendent, foremost among all wielders of the bow, endowed with divine weapons and their powers, and one who conducts even his warfare by the highest righteousness.

Shloka 16 (aranya.31.16)

तस्यानुरूपो बलवान् रक्ताक्षो दुन्दुभिस्वनः । कनीयाँल्लक्ष्मणो भ्राता राकाशशिनिभाननः ॥ 31.16 ॥

tasyānurūpo balavān raktākṣo dundubhisvanaḥ | kanīyā~llakṣmaṇo bhrātā rākāśaśinibhānanaḥ || 31.16 ||

His match in might is his younger brother Lakshmana, red-eyed, his voice deep as a war-drum, his face radiant as the full-moon.

Shloka 17 (aranya.31.17)

स तेन सह संयुक्तः पावकेनानिलो यथा । श्रीमान् राजवरस्तेन जनस्थानं निपातितम् ॥ 31.17 ॥

sa tena saha saṃyuktaḥ pāvakenānilo yathā | śrīmān rājavarastena janasthānaṃ nipātitam || 31.17 ||

As wind joined with fire becomes fiercer, so is Lakshmana joined with that glorious, peerless prince; and it is by that very Rama that Janasthana has been laid waste.

Shloka 18 (aranya.31.18)

नैव देवा महात्मानो नात्र कार्या विचारणा । शरा रामेण तूत्सृष्टा रुक्मपुङ्खाः पतत्त्रिणः ॥ 31.18 ॥

naiva devā mahātmāno nātra kāryā vicāraṇā | śarā rāmeṇa tūtsṛṣṭā rukmapuṅkhāḥ patattriṇaḥ || 31.18 ||

They are not gods, great as they might seem — of this there should be no doubt at all. Rama let loose his gold-shafted, feather-winged arrows,

Shloka 19 (aranya.31.19)

सर्पाः पञ्चानना भूत्वा भक्षयन्ति स्म राक्षसान् । येन येन च गच्छन्ति राक्षसा भयकर्षिताः ॥ 31.19 ॥

sarpāḥ pañcānanā bhūtvā bhakṣayanti sma rākṣasān | yena yena ca gacchanti rākṣasā bhayakarṣitāḥ || 31.19 ||

and these turned into five-hooded serpents and began devouring the demons. Wherever the terror-stricken demons fled,

Shloka 20 (aranya.31.20)

तेन तेन स्म पश्यन्ति राममेवाग्रतः स्थितम् । इत्थं विनाशितं तेन जनस्थानं तवानघ ॥ 31.20 ॥

tena tena sma paśyanti rāmamevāgrataḥ sthitam | itthaṃ vināśitaṃ tena janasthānaṃ tavānagha || 31.20 ||

there, in every direction, they saw none but Rama standing before them; and thus, O blameless king, was your Janasthana utterly destroyed by him."

Shloka 21 (aranya.31.21)

अकम्पनवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । गमिष्यामि जनस्थानं रामं हन्तुं सलक्ष्मणम् ॥ 31.21 ॥

akampanavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo vākyamabravīt | gamiṣyāmi janasthānaṃ rāmaṃ hantuṃ salakṣmaṇam || 31.21 ||

Hearing Akampana's words, Ravana declared, "I shall go myself to Janasthana to kill Rama along with Lakshmana."

Shloka 22 (aranya.31.22)

अथैवमुक्ते वचने प्रोवाचेदमकम्पनः । शृणु राजन् यथावृत्तं रामस्य बलपौरुषम् ॥ 31.22 ॥

athaivamukte vacane provācedamakampanaḥ | śṛṇu rājan yathāvṛttaṃ rāmasya balapauruṣam || 31.22 ||

When Ravana had spoken thus, Akampana replied, "Listen, O king, to what has truly happened, and to the real might and valor of Rama.

Shloka 23 (aranya.31.23)

असाध्यः कुपितो रामो विक्रमेण महायशाः । आपगायास्तु पूर्णाया वेगं परिहरेच्छरैः ॥ 31.23 ॥

asādhyaḥ kupito rāmo vikrameṇa mahāyaśāḥ | āpagāyāstu pūrṇāyā vegaṃ parihareccharaiḥ || 31.23 ||

Rama, of vast renown, is unconquerable by force; when enraged, he can even check with his arrows the rushing current of a river in full flood.

Shloka 24 (aranya.31.24)

सताराग्रहनक्षत्रं नभश्चाप्यवसादयेत् । असौ रामस्तु सीदन्तीं श्रीमानभ्युद्धरेन्महीम् ॥ 31.24 ॥

satārāgrahanakṣatraṃ nabhaścāpyavasādayet | asau rāmastu sīdantīṃ śrīmānabhyuddharenmahīm || 31.24 ||

That resplendent Rama could bring down the very firmament together with its stars, planets, and constellations, and could raise up the earth itself were it to sink.

Shloka 25 (aranya.31.25)

भित्त्वा वेलां समुद्रस्य लोकानाप्लावयेद् विभुः । वेगं वापि समुद्रस्य वायुं वा विधमेच्छरैः ॥ 31.25 ॥

bhittvā velāṃ samudrasya lokānāplāvayed vibhuḥ | vegaṃ vāpi samudrasya vāyuṃ vā vidhameccharaiḥ || 31.25 ||

By breaching the shore of the ocean with his arrows, that mighty lord could flood all the worlds, or could halt the surge of the sea, or even still the wind itself.

Shloka 26 (aranya.31.26)

संहृत्य वा पुनर्लोकान् विक्रमेण महायशाः । शक्तः श्रेष्ठः स पुरुषः स्रष्टुं पुनरपि प्रजाः ॥ 31.26 ॥

saṃhṛtya vā punarlokān vikrameṇa mahāyaśāḥ | śaktaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sa puruṣaḥ sraṣṭuṃ punarapi prajāḥ || 31.26 ||

Or again, O greatly renowned one, that foremost among men is able, by his own power, to dissolve all the worlds and to create all beings anew.

Shloka 27 (aranya.31.27)

नहि रामो दशग्रीव शक्यो जेतुं रणे त्वया । रक्षसां वापि लोकेन स्वर्गः पापजनैरिव ॥ 31.27 ॥

nahi rāmo daśagrīva śakyo jetuṃ raṇe tvayā | rakṣasāṃ vāpi lokena svargaḥ pāpajanairiva || 31.27 ||

That Rama cannot be conquered in war by you, O Dashagriva, either alone or with the whole host of your demons — just as heaven can never be won by sinners, however numerous.

Shloka 28 (aranya.31.28)

न तं वध्यमहं मन्ये सर्वैर्देवासुरैरपि । अयं तस्य वधोपायस्तन्ममैकमनाः शृणु ॥ 31.28 ॥

na taṃ vadhyamahaṃ manye sarvairdevāsurairapi | ayaṃ tasya vadhopāyastanmamaikamanāḥ śṛṇu || 31.28 ||

I do not believe he can be slain even by all the gods and demons combined — yet there is one way to bring about his death; listen to it with a single-pointed mind.

Shloka 29 (aranya.31.29)

भार्या तस्योत्तमा लोके सीता नाम सुमध्यमा । श्यामा समविभक्ताङ्गी स्त्रीरत्नं रत्नभूषिता ॥ 31.29 ॥

bhāryā tasyottamā loke sītā nāma sumadhyamā | śyāmā samavibhaktāṅgī strīratnaṃ ratnabhūṣitā || 31.29 ||

In this world he has an excellent wife, slender-waisted, named Sita — youthful, of dark hue, of perfectly proportioned limbs, a very jewel among women adorned with jewels.

Shloka 30 (aranya.31.30)

नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी नाप्सरा न च पन्नगी । तुल्या सीमन्तिनी तस्या मानुषी तु कुतो भवेत् ॥ 31.30 ॥

naiva devī na gandharvī nāpsarā na ca pannagī | tulyā sīmantinī tasyā mānuṣī tu kuto bhavet || 31.30 ||

No goddess, no gandharva woman, no celestial nymph, no serpent-maiden equals that mature lady — how then could any mortal woman?

Shloka 31 (aranya.31.31)

तस्यापहर भार्यां त्वं तं प्रमथ्य महावने । सीतया रहितो रामो न चैव हि भविष्यति ॥ 31.31 ॥

tasyāpahara bhāryāṃ tvaṃ taṃ pramathya mahāvane | sītayā rahito rāmo na caiva hi bhaviṣyati || 31.31 ||

Abduct his wife by force while she is alone in the great forest; bereft of Sita, Rama will surely not be able to go on living." Thus did Akampana counsel Ravana.

Shloka 32 (aranya.31.32)

अरोचयत तद्वाक्यं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः । चिन्तयित्वा महाबाहुरकम्पनमुवाच ह ॥ 31.32 ॥

arocayata tadvākyaṃ rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ | cintayitvā mahābāhurakampanamuvāca ha || 31.32 ||

This counsel pleased the demon-lord, mighty-armed Ravana; having reflected upon it, he said to Akampana:

Shloka 33 (aranya.31.33)

बाढं कल्यं गमिष्यामि ह्येकः सारथिना सह । आनेष्यामि च वैदेहीमिमां हृष्टो महापुरीम् ॥ 31.33 ॥

bāḍhaṃ kalyaṃ gamiṣyāmi hyekaḥ sārathinā saha | āneṣyāmi ca vaidehīmimāṃ hṛṣṭo mahāpurīm || 31.33 ||

"Agreed! I shall go alone at daybreak with only my charioteer, and gladly bring Vaidehi back to this great city."

Shloka 34 (aranya.31.34)

तदेवमुक्त्वा प्रययौ खरयुक्तेन रावणः । रथेनादित्यवर्णेन दिशः सर्वाः प्रकाशयन् ॥ 31.34 ॥

tadevamuktvā prayayau kharayuktena rāvaṇaḥ | rathenādityavarṇena diśaḥ sarvāḥ prakāśayan || 31.34 ||

Having said this, Ravana set out, mounted on that chariot yoked with mule-like steeds and blazing like the sun, lighting up every quarter of the sky.

Shloka 35 (aranya.31.35)

स रथो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य नक्षत्रपथगो महान् । चञ्चूर्यमाणः शुशुभे जलदे चन्द्रमा इव ॥ 31.35 ॥

sa ratho rākṣasendrasya nakṣatrapathago mahān | cañcūryamāṇaḥ śuśubhe jalade candramā iva || 31.35 ||

That great chariot of the lord of demons, coursing swiftly along the path of the stars, shone as it went, like the moon amid the clouds.

Shloka 36 (aranya.31.36)

स दूरे चाश्रमं गत्वा ताटकेयमुपागमत् । मारीचेनार्चितो राजा भक्ष्यभोज्यैरमानुषैः ॥ 31.36 ॥

sa dūre cāśramaṃ gatvā tāṭakeyamupāgamat | mārīcenārcito rājā bhakṣyabhojyairamānuṣaiḥ || 31.36 ||

Going on to the distant hermitage of Maricha, that king, Ravana, was received and honored by Maricha, son of Taraka, with delicacies and foods not available to mortals.

Shloka 37 (aranya.31.37)

तं स्वयं पूजयित्वा तु आसनेनोदकेन च । अर्थोपहितया वाचा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 31.37 ॥

taṃ svayaṃ pūjayitvā tu āsanenodakena ca | arthopahitayā vācā mārīco vākyamabravīt || 31.37 ||

Having personally offered him a seat and water in welcome, Maricha spoke to Ravana in words laden with meaning:

Shloka 38 (aranya.31.38)

कच्चित् सकुशलं राजँल्लोकानां राक्षसाधिप । आशङ्के नाधिजाने त्वं यतस्तूर्णमुपागतः ॥ 31.38 ॥

kaccit sakuśalaṃ rāja~llokānāṃ rākṣasādhipa | āśaṅke nādhijāne tvaṃ yatastūrṇamupāgataḥ || 31.38 ||

"O king, lord of the demons, I am anxious — I do not know whether your subjects fare well, for I cannot even guess what has brought you here in such haste.

Shloka 39 (aranya.31.39)

एवमुक्तो महातेजा मारीचेन स रावणः । ततः पश्चादिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद् वाक्यकोविदः ॥ 31.39 ॥

evamukto mahātejā mārīcena sa rāvaṇaḥ | tataḥ paścādidaṃ vākyamabravīd vākyakovidaḥ || 31.39 ||

When Maricha had spoken thus to him, the greatly radiant Ravana, skilled in speech, then said this:

Shloka 40 (aranya.31.40)

आरक्षो मे हतस्तात रामेणाक्लिष्टकारिणा । जनस्थानमवध्यं तत् सर्वं युधि निपातितम् ॥ 31.40 ॥

ārakṣo me hatastāta rāmeṇākliṣṭakāriṇā | janasthānamavadhyaṃ tat sarvaṃ yudhi nipātitam || 31.40 ||

"O sire, my garrison has been destroyed by that untiring Rama; the whole of Janasthana, unconquerable until now, has been brought down by him in battle.

Shloka 41 (aranya.31.41)

तस्य मे कुरु साचिव्यं तस्य भार्यापहारणे । राक्षसेन्द्रवचः श्रुत्वा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 31.41 ॥

tasya me kuru sācivyaṃ tasya bhāryāpahāraṇe | rākṣasendravacaḥ śrutvā mārīco vākyamabravīt || 31.41 ||

"You must be my ally in abducting his wife." Hearing these words of the lord of demons, Maricha said:

Shloka 42 (aranya.31.42)

आख्याता केन वा सीता मित्ररूपेण शत्रुणा । त्वया राक्षसशार्दूल को न नन्दति नन्दितः ॥ 31.42 ॥

ākhyātā kena vā sītā mitrarūpeṇa śatruṇā | tvayā rākṣasaśārdūla ko na nandati nanditaḥ || 31.42 ||

"Who is this enemy in the guise of a friend who has broached the matter of Sita to you? O tiger among demons, who is this contemptible one who takes no joy in your welfare —

Shloka 43 (aranya.31.43)

सीतामिहानयस्वेति को ब्रवीति ब्रवीहि मे । रक्षोलोकस्य सर्वस्य कः शृङ्गं छेत्तुमिच्छति ॥ 31.43 ॥

sītāmihānayasveti ko bravīti bravīhi me | rakṣolokasya sarvasya kaḥ śṛṅgaṃ chettumicchati || 31.43 ||

who says 'bring Sita here' — tell me who he is. Who in all the world of demons wishes to see the crowning glory of your race cut down?

Shloka 44 (aranya.31.44)

प्रोत्साहयति यश्च त्वां स च शत्रुरसंशयम् । आशीविषमुखाद् दंष्ट्रामुद्धर्तुं चेच्छति त्वया ॥ 31.44 ॥

protsāhayati yaśca tvāṃ sa ca śatrurasaṃśayam | āśīviṣamukhād daṃṣṭrāmuddhartuṃ cecchati tvayā || 31.44 ||

Whoever has urged you to this is without doubt your enemy, for through you he wishes to draw the fangs from the very mouth of a serpent.

Shloka 45 (aranya.31.45)

कर्मणानेन केनासि कापथं प्रतिपादितः । सुखसुप्तस्य ते राजन् प्रहृतं केन मूर्धनि ॥ 31.45 ॥

karmaṇānena kenāsi kāpathaṃ pratipāditaḥ | sukhasuptasya te rājan prahṛtaṃ kena mūrdhani || 31.45 ||

By whose doing, and for what purpose, have you been led onto this crooked path, O king? It is as though someone has struck you on the head while you lay soundly asleep.

Shloka 46 (aranya.31.46)

विशुद्धवंशाभिजनाग्रहस्तः तेजोमदः संस्थितदोर्विषाणः । उदीक्षितुं रावण नेह युक्तः स संयुगे राघवगन्धहस्ती ॥ 31.46 ॥

viśuddhavaṃśābhijanāgrahastaḥ tejomadaḥ saṃsthitadorviṣāṇaḥ | udīkṣituṃ rāvaṇa neha yuktaḥ sa saṃyuge rāghavagandhahastī || 31.46 ||

His pure and glorious lineage his raised trunk, his own splendor his rutting fury, his firm arms his tusks — it is not fitting for you, O Ravana, even to raise your eyes toward that Raghava-elephant in battle.

Shloka 47 (aranya.31.47)

असौ रणान्तःस्थितिसंधिवालो विदग्धरक्षोमृगहा नृसिंहः । सुप्तस्त्वया बोधयितुं न शक्यः शराङ्गपूर्णो निशितासिदंष्ट्रः ॥ 31.47 ॥

asau raṇāntaḥsthitisaṃdhivālo vidagdharakṣomṛgahā nṛsiṃhaḥ | suptastvayā bodhayituṃ na śakyaḥ śarāṅgapūrṇo niśitāsidaṃṣṭraḥ || 31.47 ||

That man-lion, whose tail lashes as he stands amid the fray, slayer of the deer that are the cunning demons, his limbs made of arrows, his fangs of sharpened swords — do not dare to rouse that sleeping lion.

Shloka 48 (aranya.31.48)

चापापहारे भुजवेगपङ्के शरोर्मिमाले सुमहाहवौघे । न रामपातालमुखेऽतिघोरे प्रस्कन्दितुं राक्षसराज युक्तम् ॥ 31.48 ॥

cāpāpahāre bhujavegapaṅke śarormimāle sumahāhavaughe | na rāmapātālamukhe'tighore praskandituṃ rākṣasarāja yuktam || 31.48 ||

His bow the crocodile, the force of his arms the quicksand, his arrows the billows, the vast tumult of his warfare itself an ocean-tide — O king of demons, it is not fitting for you to plunge into that terrible, gaping mouth of the netherworld that is called Rama.

Shloka 49 (aranya.31.49)

प्रसीद लङ्केश्वर राक्षसेन्द्र लङ्कां प्रसन्नो भव साधु गच्छ । त्वं स्वेषु दारेषु रमस्व नित्यं रामः सभार्यो रमतां वनेषु ॥ 31.49 ॥

prasīda laṅkeśvara rākṣasendra laṅkāṃ prasanno bhava sādhu gaccha | tvaṃ sveṣu dāreṣu ramasva nityaṃ rāmaḥ sabhāryo ramatāṃ vaneṣu || 31.49 ||

"Relent, O lord of Lanka, O king of demons; be at peace and go gently back to Lanka. Take your pleasure always with your own wives, and let Rama take his pleasure with his wife in the forest." Thus spoke Maricha.

Shloka 50 (aranya.31.50)

एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवो मारीचेन स रावणः । न्यवर्तत पुरीं लङ्कां विवेश च गृहोत्तमम् ॥ 31.50 ॥

evamukto daśagrīvo mārīcena sa rāvaṇaḥ | nyavartata purīṃ laṅkāṃ viveśa ca gṛhottamam || 31.50 ||

When Maricha had spoken thus, ten-headed Ravana returned to the city of Lanka and entered his splendid palace.