Ravana's Journey to Maricha, and the Legend of Garuda's Branch

Shloka 1 (aranya.35.1)

ततः शूर्पणखावाक्यं तच्छ्रुत्वा रोमहर्षणम् । सचिवानभ्यनुज्ञाय कार्यं बुद्ध्वा जगाम ह ॥ 35.1 ॥

tataḥ śūrpaṇakhāvākyaṃ tacchrutvā romaharṣaṇam | sacivānabhyanujñāya kāryaṃ buddhvā jagāma ha || 35.1 ||

Then, having heard that hair-raising speech of Shurpanakha, Ravana took leave of his ministers and, having resolved upon his course of action, departed from there.

Shloka 2 (aranya.35.2)

तत् कार्यमनुगम्यान्तर्यथावदुपलभ्य च । दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम् ॥ 35.2 ॥

tat kāryamanugamyāntaryathāvadupalabhya ca | doṣāṇāṃ ca guṇānāṃ ca sampradhārya balābalam || 35.2 ||

Pursuing that matter thoroughly in his mind, and weighing well its faults and merits, its strengths and weaknesses,

Shloka 3 (aranya.35.3)

इति कर्तव्यमित्येव कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः । स्थिरबुद्धिस्ततो रम्यां यानशालां जगाम ह ॥ 35.3 ॥

iti kartavyamityeva kṛtvā niścayamātmanaḥ | sthirabuddhistato ramyāṃ yānaśālāṃ jagāma ha || 35.3 ||

having thus resolved in his mind, "This is exactly how it must be done" — with his mind now made firm, he then went to his splendid chariot-house.

Shloka 4 (aranya.35.4)

यानशालां ततो गत्वा प्रच्छन्नं राक्षसाधिपः । सूतं संचोदयामास रथः संयुज्यतामिति ॥ 35.4 ॥

yānaśālāṃ tato gatvā pracchannaṃ rākṣasādhipaḥ | sūtaṃ saṃcodayāmāsa rathaḥ saṃyujyatāmiti || 35.4 ||

Having gone to the chariot-house in secret, that lord of demons urged his charioteer, saying, "Let the chariot be yoked."

Shloka 5 (aranya.35.5)

एवमुक्तः क्षणेनैव सारथिर्लघुविक्रमः । रथं संयोजयामास तस्याभिमतमुत्तमम् ॥ 35.5 ॥

evamuktaḥ kṣaṇenaiva sārathirlaghuvikramaḥ | rathaṃ saṃyojayāmāsa tasyābhimatamuttamam || 35.5 ||

So instructed, that nimble charioteer, in but an instant, made ready that choicest chariot so dear to Ravana.

Shloka 6 (aranya.35.6)

कामगं रथमास्थाय काञ्चनं रत्नभूषितम् । पिशाचवदनैर्युक्तं खरैः कनकभूषणैः ॥ 35.6 ॥

kāmagaṃ rathamāsthāya kāñcanaṃ ratnabhūṣitam | piśācavadanairyuktaṃ kharaiḥ kanakabhūṣaṇaiḥ || 35.6 ||

That golden chariot, studded with gems and rideable at will, was yoked with mule-like steeds bearing demon-faces and adorned with golden trappings.

Shloka 7 (aranya.35.7)

मेघप्रतिमनादेन स तेन धनदानुजः । राक्षसाधिपतिः श्रीमान् ययौ नदनदीपतिम् ॥ 35.7 ॥

meghapratimanādena sa tena dhanadānujaḥ | rākṣasādhipatiḥ śrīmān yayau nadanadīpatim || 35.7 ||

Mounting that chariot, which rumbled like a thundercloud, the glorious lord of demons, brother of the god of wealth, set off toward the ocean, lord of rivers and streams.

Shloka 8 (aranya.35.8)

स श्वेतवालव्यजनः श्वेतच्छत्रो दशाननः । स्निग्धवैदूर्यसंकाशस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणः ॥ 35.8 ॥

sa śvetavālavyajanaḥ śvetacchatro daśānanaḥ | snigdhavaidūryasaṃkāśastaptakāñcanabhūṣaṇaḥ || 35.8 ||

Ten-faced, adorned with a white yak-tail fan and a white parasol, his body smooth and lustrous as a cat's-eye gem, decked in ornaments of refined gold —

Shloka 9 (aranya.35.9)

दशग्रीवो विंशतिभुजो दर्शनीयपरिच्छदः । त्रिदशारिर्मुनीन्द्रघ्नो दशशीर्ष इवाद्रिराट् ॥ 35.9 ॥

daśagrīvo viṃśatibhujo darśanīyaparicchadaḥ | tridaśārirmunīndraghno daśaśīrṣa ivādrirāṭ || 35.9 ||

twenty-armed, adorned with striking regalia, adversary of the gods and slayer of great sages, he seemed like a very king of mountains with ten peaks.

Shloka 10 (aranya.35.10)

कामगं रथमास्थाय शुशुभे राक्षसाधिपः । विद्युन्मण्डलवान् मेघः सबलाक इवाम्बरे ॥ 35.10 ॥

kāmagaṃ rathamāsthāya śuśubhe rākṣasādhipaḥ | vidyunmaṇḍalavān meghaḥ sabalāka ivāmbare || 35.10 ||

Mounted on that chariot that moved at will, the lord of demons shone forth like a cloud in the sky ringed with flashes of lightning and a flock of cranes.

Shloka 11 (aranya.35.11)

सशैलसागरानूपं वीर्यवानवलोकयन् । नानापुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैरनुकीर्णं सहस्रशः ॥ 35.11 ॥

saśailasāgarānūpaṃ vīryavānavalokayan | nānāpuṣpaphalairvṛkṣairanukīrṇaṃ sahasraśaḥ || 35.11 ||

That valiant Ravana pressed on, gazing upon the mountains and the coastal terrain, thickly covered on every side with thousands of trees bearing manifold flowers and fruits.

Shloka 12 (aranya.35.12)

शीतमङ्गलतोयाभिः पद्मिनीभिः समन्ततः । विशालैराश्रमपदैर्वेदिमद्भिरलंकृतम् ॥ 35.12 ॥

śītamaṅgalatoyābhiḥ padminībhiḥ samantataḥ | viśālairāśramapadairvedimadbhiralaṃkṛtam || 35.12 ||

That land was adorned everywhere with lotus-lakes of cool and auspicious water, and with vast hermitage-grounds furnished with sacrificial altars.

Shloka 13 (aranya.35.13)

कदल्यटविसंशोभं नारिकेलोपशोभितम् । सालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च तरुभिश्च सुपुष्पितैः ॥ 35.13 ॥

kadalyaṭavisaṃśobhaṃ nārikelopaśobhitam | sālaistālaistamālaiśca tarubhiśca supuṣpitaiḥ || 35.13 ||

It gleamed with plantations of banana trees, was adorned with coconut palms, and abounded in sala, tala, and tamala trees, and other trees in full and beautiful bloom.

Shloka 14 (aranya.35.14)

अत्यन्तनियताहारैः शोभितं परमर्षिभिः । नागैः सुपर्णैर्गन्धर्वैः किंनरैश्च सहस्रशः ॥ 35.14 ॥

atyantaniyatāhāraiḥ śobhitaṃ paramarṣibhiḥ | nāgaiḥ suparṇairgandharvaiḥ kiṃnaraiśca sahasraśaḥ || 35.14 ||

It was graced by eminent sages of most disciplined diet, and by thousands of nagas, garudas, gandharvas, and kinnaras.

Shloka 15 (aranya.35.15)

जितकामैश्च सिद्धैश्च चारणैश्चोपशोभितम् । आजैर्वैखानसैर्माषैर्वालखिल्यैर्मरीचिपैः ॥ 35.15 ॥

jitakāmaiśca siddhaiśca cāraṇaiścopaśobhitam | ājairvaikhānasairmāṣairvālakhilyairmarīcipaiḥ || 35.15 ||

It was further adorned with self-conquered Siddhas and Charanas, and with ascetics called Aja, Vaikhanasa, Masha, Valakhilya, and Maricipa.

Shloka 16 (aranya.35.16)

दिव्याभरणमाल्याभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिरावृतम् । क्रीडारतविधिज्ञाभिरप्सरोभिः सहस्रशः ॥ 35.16 ॥

divyābharaṇamālyābhirdivyarūpābhirāvṛtam | krīḍāratavidhijñābhirapsarobhiḥ sahasraśaḥ || 35.16 ||

It was thronged with thousands of apsaras of celestial form, adorned with divine ornaments and garlands, skilled in the arts of dalliance and love.

Shloka 17 (aranya.35.17)

सेवितं देवपत्नीभिः श्रीमतीभिरुपासितम् । देवदानवसङ्घैश्च चरितं त्वमृताशिभिः ॥ 35.17 ॥

sevitaṃ devapatnībhiḥ śrīmatībhirupāsitam | devadānavasaṅghaiśca caritaṃ tvamṛtāśibhiḥ || 35.17 ||

It was frequented by the resplendent wives of the gods, and traversed too by hosts of gods and demons who partake of ambrosia.

Shloka 18 (aranya.35.18)

हंसक्रौञ्चप्लवाकीर्णं सारसैः सम्प्रसादितम् । वैदूर्यप्रस्तरं स्निग्धं सान्द्रं सागरतेजसा ॥ 35.18 ॥

haṃsakrauñcaplavākīrṇaṃ sārasaiḥ samprasāditam | vaidūryaprastaraṃ snigdhaṃ sāndraṃ sāgaratejasā || 35.18 ||

It teemed with swans, curlews, and waterfowl, resounded with the calls of cranes, and its smooth, dense rocks gleamed like cat's-eye gems in the radiance of the ocean.

Shloka 19 (aranya.35.19)

पाण्डुराणि विशालानि दिव्यमाल्ययुतानि च । तूर्यगीताभिजुष्टानि विमानानि समन्ततः ॥ 35.19 ॥

pāṇḍurāṇi viśālāni divyamālyayutāni ca | tūryagītābhijuṣṭāni vimānāni samantataḥ || 35.19 ||

Everywhere there were seen white, spacious aerial cars, hung with celestial garlands and resounding with music and song —

Shloka 20 (aranya.35.20)

तपसा जितलोकानां कामगान्यभिसम्पतन् । गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव ददर्श धनदानुजः ॥ 35.20 ॥

tapasā jitalokānāṃ kāmagānyabhisampatan | gandharvāpsarasaścaiva dadarśa dhanadānujaḥ || 35.20 ||

those wish-borne chariots of the souls who had won higher worlds by their austerity. And as he sped onward, the brother of the god of wealth also beheld gandharvas and apsaras.

Shloka 21 (aranya.35.21)

निर्यासरसमूलानां चन्दनानां सहस्रशः । वनानि पश्यन् सौम्यानि घ्राणतृप्तिकराणि च ॥ 35.21 ॥

niryāsarasamūlānāṃ candanānāṃ sahasraśaḥ | vanāni paśyan saumyāni ghrāṇatṛptikarāṇi ca || 35.21 ||

He went on, beholding thousands of sandalwood groves, their roots oozing fragrant resin, groves that were soothing to the mind and gratifying to the sense of smell.

Shloka 22 (aranya.35.22)

अगुरूणां च मुख्यानां वनान्युपवनानि च । तक्कोलानां च जात्यानां फलिनां च सुगन्धिनाम् ॥ 35.22 ॥

agurūṇāṃ ca mukhyānāṃ vanānyupavanāni ca | takkolānāṃ ca jātyānāṃ phalināṃ ca sugandhinām || 35.22 ||

He saw too forests and groves of the finest aloewood, and stands of takkola trees, and nutmeg trees laden with fragrant fruit.

Shloka 23 (aranya.35.23)

पुष्पाणि च तमालस्य गुल्मानि मरिचस्य च । मुक्तानां च समूहानि शुष्यमाणानि तीरतः ॥ 35.23 ॥

puṣpāṇi ca tamālasya gulmāni maricasya ca | muktānāṃ ca samūhāni śuṣyamāṇāni tīrataḥ || 35.23 ||

He also saw the blossoms of tamala trees, thickets of pepper vines, and heaps of pearls drying along the shore.

Shloka 24 (aranya.35.24)

शैलानि प्रवरांश्चैव प्रवालनिचयांस्तथा । काञ्चनानि च शृङ्गाणि राजतानि तथैव च ॥ 35.24 ॥

śailāni pravarāṃścaiva pravālanicayāṃstathā | kāñcanāni ca śṛṅgāṇi rājatāni tathaiva ca || 35.24 ||

He likewise saw magnificent mountain-crags, heaps of coral, and peaks glinting with gold and silver.

Shloka 25 (aranya.35.25)

प्रस्रवाणि मनोज्ञानि प्रसन्नान्यद्भुतानि च । धनधान्योपपन्नानि स्त्रीरत्नैरावृतानि च ॥ 35.25 ॥

prasravāṇi manojñāni prasannānyadbhutāni ca | dhanadhānyopapannāni strīratnairāvṛtāni ca || 35.25 ||

He saw delightful, clear, and wondrous cascades, and cities rich in wealth and grain, thronged with jewel-like women,

Shloka 26 (aranya.35.26)

हस्त्यश्वरथगाढानि नगराणि विलोकयन् । तं समं सर्वतः स्निग्धं मृदुसंस्पर्शमारुतम् ॥ 35.26 ॥

hastyaśvarathagāḍhāni nagarāṇi vilokayan | taṃ samaṃ sarvataḥ snigdhaṃ mṛdusaṃsparśamārutam || 35.26 ||

and packed with elephants, horses, and chariots. He saw that land, level and lustrous everywhere, caressed by a soft and gentle breeze,

Shloka 27 (aranya.35.27)

अनूपे सिन्धुराजस्य ददर्श त्रिदिवोपमम् । तत्रापश्यत् स मेघाभं न्यग्रोधं मुनिभिर्वृतम् ॥ 35.27 ॥

anūpe sindhurājasya dadarśa tridivopamam | tatrāpaśyat sa meghābhaṃ nyagrodhaṃ munibhirvṛtam || 35.27 ||

lying along the shore of the ocean, and it appeared to him just like heaven itself. There, too, he saw a vast banyan tree, dark as a cloud, surrounded by sages,

Shloka 28 (aranya.35.28)

समन्ताद् यस्य ताः शाखाः शतयोजनमायताः । यस्य हस्तिनमादाय महाकायं च कच्छपम् ॥ 35.28 ॥

samantād yasya tāḥ śākhāḥ śatayojanamāyatāḥ | yasya hastinamādāya mahākāyaṃ ca kacchapam || 35.28 ||

whose branches stretched a hundred yojanas in every direction. It was this very tree onto whose branch, once, carrying off an elephant and a huge tortoise,

Shloka 29 (aranya.35.29)

भक्षार्थं गरुडः शाखामाजगाम महाबलः । तस्य तां सहसा शाखां भारेण पतगोत्तमः ॥ 35.29 ॥

bhakṣārthaṃ garuḍaḥ śākhāmājagāma mahābalaḥ | tasya tāṃ sahasā śākhāṃ bhāreṇa patagottamaḥ || 35.29 ||

mighty Garuda had swooped down to feast upon them. And that best of birds, mighty Garuda, by the sheer force of his weight, suddenly

Shloka 30 (aranya.35.30)

सुपर्णः पर्णबहुलां बभञ्जाथ महाबलः । तत्र वैखानसा माषा वालखिल्या मरीचिपाः ॥ 35.30 ॥

suparṇaḥ parṇabahulāṃ babhañjātha mahābalaḥ | tatra vaikhānasā māṣā vālakhilyā marīcipāḥ || 35.30 ||

snapped off that leaf-laden branch. On that very branch dwelt Vaikhanasa, Masha, Valakhilya, and Maricipa ascetics,

Shloka 31 (aranya.35.31)

आजा बभूवुर्धूम्राश्च संगताः परमर्षयः । तेषां दयार्थं गरुडस्तां शाखां शतयोजनाम् ॥ 35.31 ॥

ājā babhūvurdhūmrāśca saṃgatāḥ paramarṣayaḥ | teṣāṃ dayārthaṃ garuḍastāṃ śākhāṃ śatayojanām || 35.31 ||

along with the eminent sages called Aja and Dhumra, all dwelling there together. Out of compassion for those sages, Garuda, with that hundred-yojana-long

Shloka 32 (aranya.35.32)

भग्नामादाय वेगेन तौ चोभौ गजकच्छपौ । एकपादेन धर्मात्मा भक्षयित्वा तदामिषम् ॥ 35.32 ॥

bhagnāmādāya vegena tau cobhau gajakacchapau | ekapādena dharmātmā bhakṣayitvā tadāmiṣam || 35.32 ||

broken branch, and taking along both the elephant and the tortoise, sped swiftly away. That righteous Garuda, best of birds, devoured that flesh with a single claw,

Shloka 33 (aranya.35.33)

निषादविषयं हत्वा शाखया पतगोत्तमः । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मोक्षयित्वा महामुनीन् ॥ 35.33 ॥

niṣādaviṣayaṃ hatvā śākhayā patagottamaḥ | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe mokṣayitvā mahāmunīn || 35.33 ||

and with that same branch destroyed the province of the Nishada tribesmen, and, having safely set down those great sages, attained incomparable joy.

Shloka 34 (aranya.35.34)

स तु तेन प्रहर्षेण द्विगुणीकृतविक्रमः । अमृतानयनार्थं वै चकार मतिमान् मतिम् ॥ 35.34 ॥

sa tu tena praharṣeṇa dviguṇīkṛtavikramaḥ | amṛtānayanārthaṃ vai cakāra matimān matim || 35.34 ||

With that joy his valor grew twofold, and that wise Garuda resolved to fetch the nectar of immortality from heaven.

Shloka 35 (aranya.35.35)

अयोजालानि निर्मथ्य भित्त्वा रत्नगृहं वरम् । महेन्द्रभवनाद् गुप्तमाजहारामृतं ततः ॥ 35.35 ॥

ayojālāni nirmathya bhittvā ratnagṛhaṃ varam | mahendrabhavanād guptamājahārāmṛtaṃ tataḥ || 35.35 ||

Smashing through the iron nets and breaching that finest chamber of gems, he carried off the nectar that lay guarded within Indra's own palace.

Shloka 36 (aranya.35.36)

तं महर्षिगणैर्जुष्टं सुपर्णकृतलक्षणम् । नाम्ना सुभद्रं न्यग्रोधं ददर्श धनदानुजः ॥ 35.36 ॥

taṃ maharṣigaṇairjuṣṭaṃ suparṇakṛtalakṣaṇam | nāmnā subhadraṃ nyagrodhaṃ dadarśa dhanadānujaḥ || 35.36 ||

That banyan tree, frequented by great sages and bearing the marks of Garuda's own deed, named Subhadra, was seen by the brother of the god of wealth.

Shloka 37 (aranya.35.37)

तं तु गत्वा परं पारं समुद्रस्य नदीपतेः । ददर्शाश्रममेकान्ते पुण्ये रम्ये वनान्तरे ॥ 35.37 ॥

taṃ tu gatvā paraṃ pāraṃ samudrasya nadīpateḥ | dadarśāśramamekānte puṇye ramye vanāntare || 35.37 ||

Going on beyond it, to the far shore of the ocean, lord of rivers, he saw within the forest a secluded, sacred, and delightful hermitage.

Shloka 38 (aranya.35.38)

तत्र कृष्णाजिनधरं जटामण्डलधारिणम् । ददर्श नियताहारं मारीचं नाम राक्षसम् ॥ 35.38 ॥

tatra kṛṣṇājinadharaṃ jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇam | dadarśa niyatāhāraṃ mārīcaṃ nāma rākṣasam || 35.38 ||

There he saw a demon named Maricha, clad in black antelope-skin, wearing a coil of matted locks, and living on a strictly regulated diet.

Shloka 39 (aranya.35.39)

स रावणः समागम्य विधिवत् तेन रक्षसा । मारीचेनार्चितो राजा सर्वकामैरमानुषैः ॥ 35.39 ॥

sa rāvaṇaḥ samāgamya vidhivat tena rakṣasā | mārīcenārcito rājā sarvakāmairamānuṣaiḥ || 35.39 ||

King Ravana approached that demon, and Maricha duly honored him with every desired offering beyond the reach of mortal men.

Shloka 40 (aranya.35.40)

तं स्वयं पूजयित्वा च भोजनेनोदकेन च । अर्थोपहितया वाचा मारीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 35.40 ॥

taṃ svayaṃ pūjayitvā ca bhojanenodakena ca | arthopahitayā vācā mārīco vākyamabravīt || 35.40 ||

Having personally honored him with food and water, Maricha spoke these words, weighty with meaning:

Shloka 41 (aranya.35.41)

कच्चित्ते कुशलं राजन् लङ्कायां राक्षसेश्वर । केनार्थेन पुनस्त्वं वै तूर्णमेव इहागतः ॥ 35.41 ॥

kaccitte kuśalaṃ rājan laṅkāyāṃ rākṣaseśvara | kenārthena punastvaṃ vai tūrṇameva ihāgataḥ || 35.41 ||

"Is all well, O king, O lord of the demons, in your Lanka? For what reason have you come here again, and in such haste?"

Shloka 42 (aranya.35.42)

एवमुक्तो महातेजा मारीचेन स रावणः । ततः पश्चादिदं वाक्यमब्रवीद् वाक्यकोविदः ॥ 35.42 ॥

evamukto mahātejā mārīcena sa rāvaṇaḥ | tataḥ paścādidaṃ vākyamabravīd vākyakovidaḥ || 35.42 ||

Thus addressed by Maricha, that greatly radiant and eloquent Ravana then spoke these words in reply.