Ravana Enlists Mareecha

Shloka 1 (aranya.36.1)

मारीच श्रूयताम् तात वचनम् मम भाषतः । आर्तो अस्मि मम च आर्तस्य भवान् हि परमा गतिः ॥ 36.1 ॥

mārīca śrūyatām tāta vacanam mama bhāṣataḥ | ārto asmi mama ca ārtasya bhavān hi paramā gatiḥ || 36.1 ||

"Give heed, dear Mareecha, to these words I speak. I am in anguish, and for one so anguished, you alone are the highest refuge." Thus Ravana began addressing Mareecha.

Shloka 2 (aranya.36.2)

जानीषे त्वम् जनस्थाने भ्राता यत्र खरो मम । दूषणः च महाबाहुः स्वसा शूर्पणखा च मे ॥ 36.2 ॥

jānīṣe tvam janasthāne bhrātā yatra kharo mama | dūṣaṇaḥ ca mahābāhuḥ svasā śūrpaṇakhā ca me || 36.2 ||

"You know how, in Janasthana, dwell my brother Khara, the mighty-armed Dushana, and my sister Shurpanakha,

Shloka 3 (aranya.36.3)

त्रिशिराः च महातेजा राक्षसः पिशित अशनः । अन्ये च बहवः शूरा लब्ध लक्षा निशाचराः ॥ 36.3 ॥

triśirāḥ ca mahātejā rākṣasaḥ piśita aśanaḥ | anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā labdha lakṣā niśācarāḥ || 36.3 ||

and there too the mighty, flesh-devouring demon Trishira, along with many other valiant night-rangers who never miss their mark.

Shloka 4 (aranya.36.4)

वसन्ति मत् नियोगेन अधिवासम् च राक्षसः । बाधमाना महारण्ये मुनीन् ये धर्म चारिणः ॥ 36.4 ॥

vasanti mat niyogena adhivāsam ca rākṣasaḥ | bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīn ye dharma cāriṇaḥ || 36.4 ||

By my command those demons have made their abode there, and in that great forest they constantly torment the sages who walk the path of righteousness.

Shloka 5 (aranya.36.5)

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसाम् भीम कर्मणाम् । शूराणाम् लब्ध लक्षाणाम् खर चित्त अनुवर्तिनाम् ॥ 36.5 ॥

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasām bhīma karmaṇām | śūrāṇām labdha lakṣāṇām khara citta anuvartinām || 36.5 ||

You are equally aware that fourteen thousand demons of fearsome deeds, valiant and unerring of aim, who followed the will of Khara, were stationed there —

Shloka 6 (aranya.36.6)

ते तु इदानीम् जनस्थाने वसमाना महाबलाः । संगताः परम आयत्ता रामेण सह संयुगे ॥ 36.6 ॥

te tu idānīm janasthāne vasamānā mahābalāḥ | saṃgatāḥ parama āyattā rāmeṇa saha saṃyuge || 36.6 ||

those very mighty demons, then dwelling in Janasthana, girding themselves with utmost resolve, joined battle with Rama.

Shloka 7 (aranya.36.7)

नाना शस्त्र प्रहरणाः खर प्रमुख राक्षसः । तेन संजात रोषेण रामेण रण मूर्धनि ॥ 36.7 ॥

nānā śastra praharaṇāḥ khara pramukha rākṣasaḥ | tena saṃjāta roṣeṇa rāmeṇa raṇa mūrdhani || 36.7 ||

The demons led by Khara, armed with weapons of every kind, stood in the vanguard of that battle; then Rama, his fury rising within him,

Shloka 8 (aranya.36.8)

अनुक्त्वा परुषम् किंचित् शरैर् व्यापारितम् धनुः । चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसाम् उग्र तेजसाम् ॥ 36.8 ॥

anuktvā paruṣam kiṃcit śarair vyāpāritam dhanuḥ | caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasām ugra tejasām || 36.8 ||

without uttering even a harsh word, brought his bow into play with arrows, and those fourteen thousand demons of terrible fierceness,

Shloka 9 (aranya.36.9)

निहतानि शरैः दीप्तैः मानुषेण पदातिना । खरः च निहतः संख्ये दूषणः च निपातितः ॥ 36.9 ॥

nihatāni śaraiḥ dīptaiḥ mānuṣeṇa padātinā | kharaḥ ca nihataḥ saṃkhye dūṣaṇaḥ ca nipātitaḥ || 36.9 ||

were struck down by that lone human foot-soldier with his blazing arrows. Khara too was slain in that combat, and Dushana was likewise brought low.

Shloka 10 (aranya.36.10)

हत्वा त्रिशिरसम् च अपि निर्भया दण्डकाः कृताः । पित्रा निरस्तः क्रुद्धेन स भार्यः क्षीण जीवितः ॥ 36.10 ॥

hatvā triśirasam ca api nirbhayā daṇḍakāḥ kṛtāḥ | pitrā nirastaḥ kruddhena sa bhāryaḥ kṣīṇa jīvitaḥ || 36.10 ||

Slaying Trishira as well, he has rendered Dandaka forest wholly free of fear. That same Rama, cast out by his enraged father, has come there with his wife, his life-span now dwindling,

Shloka 11 (aranya.36.11)

स हन्ता तस्य सैन्यस्य रामः क्षत्रिय पांसनः । अशीलः कर्कशः तीक्ष्णो मूर्खो लुब्धो अजित इन्द्रियः ॥ 36.11 ॥

sa hantā tasya sainyasya rāmaḥ kṣatriya pāṃsanaḥ | aśīlaḥ karkaśaḥ tīkṣṇo mūrkho lubdho ajita indriyaḥ || 36.11 ||

and that same Rama, a disgrace to the race of Kshatriyas, is the slayer of that army of mine. He is ill-natured, harsh, fierce, foolish, greedy, and one whose senses remain unconquered.

Shloka 12 (aranya.36.12)

त्यक्त धर्मः तु अधर्म आत्मा भूतानाम् अहिते रतः । येन वैरम् विना अरण्ये सत्त्वम् आश्रित्य केवलम् ॥ 36.12 ॥

tyakta dharmaḥ tu adharma ātmā bhūtānām ahite rataḥ | yena vairam vinā araṇye sattvam āśritya kevalam || 36.12 ||

He has cast off righteousness and become unrighteous of soul, ever delighting in the harm of all beings — he who, without any enmity, relying solely on his own strength, in that forest,

Shloka 13 (aranya.36.13)

कर्ण नास अपहारेण भगिनी मे विरूपिता । तस्य भार्याम् जनस्थानात् सीताम् सुर सुत उपमाम् ॥ 36.13 ॥

karṇa nāsa apahāreṇa bhaginī me virūpitā | tasya bhāryām janasthānāt sītām sura suta upamām || 36.13 ||

disfigured my sister by cutting off her nose and ears. His wife Sita, lovely as a daughter of the gods, I mean to carry off from Janasthana,

Shloka 14 (aranya.36.14)

आनयिष्यामि विक्रम्य सहायः तत्र मे भव । त्वया हि अहम् सहायेन पार्श्वस्थेन महाबल ॥ 36.14 ॥

ānayiṣyāmi vikramya sahāyaḥ tatra me bhava | tvayā hi aham sahāyena pārśvasthena mahābala || 36.14 ||

by force; in that undertaking you must become my aid. O mighty one, with you as my helper standing at my side,

Shloka 15 (aranya.36.15)

भ्रातृभिः च सुरान् युद्धे समग्रान् न अभिचिंतये । तत् सहायो भव त्वम् मे समर्थो हि असि राक्षस ॥ 36.15 ॥

bhrātṛbhiḥ ca surān yuddhe samagrān na abhiciṃtaye | tat sahāyo bhava tvam me samartho hi asi rākṣasa || 36.15 ||

together with my brothers, I would not care even for all the gods combined in battle. So, demon, be my helper in this, for you alone are truly capable of it.

Shloka 16 (aranya.36.16)

वीर्ये युद्धे च दर्पे च न हि अस्ति सदृशः तव । उपायतो महान् शूरो महा माय विशारदः ॥ 36.16 ॥

vīrye yuddhe ca darpe ca na hi asti sadṛśaḥ tava | upāyato mahān śūro mahā māya viśāradaḥ || 36.16 ||

In valour, in war, and in daring there is none equal to you; you are a great hero in resourcefulness and a supreme master of the arts of illusion.

Shloka 17 (aranya.36.17)

एतत् अर्थम् अहम् प्राप्तः त्वत् समीपम् निशाचर । शृणु तत् कर्म साहाय्ये यत् कार्यम् वचनात् मम ॥ 36.17 ॥

etat artham aham prāptaḥ tvat samīpam niśācara | śṛṇu tat karma sāhāyye yat kāryam vacanāt mama || 36.17 ||

It is for this very purpose, O night-ranger, that I have come to you. Now listen to the task you must perform to aid me, as I tell it to you.

Shloka 18 (aranya.36.18)

सौवर्णः त्वम् मृगो भूत्वा चित्रो रजत बिन्दुभिः । आश्रमे तस्य रामस्य सीतायाः प्रमुखे चर ॥ 36.18 ॥

sauvarṇaḥ tvam mṛgo bhūtvā citro rajata bindubhiḥ | āśrame tasya rāmasya sītāyāḥ pramukhe cara || 36.18 ||

Take on the form of a golden deer, dappled with spots of silver, and roam before Sita's eyes in the hermitage of that Rama.

Shloka 19 (aranya.36.19)

त्वाम् तु निःसंशयम् सीता दृष्ट्वा तु मृग रूपिणम् । गृह्यताम् इति भर्तारम् लक्ष्मणम् च अभिधास्यति ॥ 36.19 ॥

tvām tu niḥsaṃśayam sītā dṛṣṭvā tu mṛga rūpiṇam | gṛhyatām iti bhartāram lakṣmaṇam ca abhidhāsyati || 36.19 ||

Seeing you in the guise of a deer, Sita will without doubt say to her husband, and to Lakshmana too, 'Catch it.'

Shloka 20 (aranya.36.20)

ततः तयोः अपाये तु शून्ये सीताम् यथा सुखम् । निराबाधो हरिष्यामि राहुः चन्द्र प्रभाम् इव ॥ 36.20 ॥

tataḥ tayoḥ apāye tu śūnye sītām yathā sukham | nirābādho hariṣyāmi rāhuḥ candra prabhām iva || 36.20 ||

Then, once those two are drawn away, in that lonely place I shall, unhindered and at ease, carry off Sita, as Rahu seizes the radiance of the moon.

Shloka 21 (aranya.36.21)

ततः पश्चात् सुखम् रामे भार्या आहरण कर्शिते । विस्रब्धम् प्रहरिष्यामि कृत अर्थेन अन्तर् आत्मना ॥ 36.21 ॥

tataḥ paścāt sukham rāme bhāryā āharaṇa karśite | visrabdham prahariṣyāmi kṛta arthena antar ātmanā || 36.21 ||

Thereafter, when Rama is left weakened and worn by the abduction of his wife, I, my inmost desire now fulfilled, shall strike him down with ease and confidence." Thus did Ravana entreat Mareecha.

Shloka 22 (aranya.36.22)

तस्य राम कथाम् श्रुत्वा मारीचस्य महात्मनः । शुष्कम् समभवत् वक्त्रम् परित्रस्तो बभूव च ॥ 36.22 ॥

tasya rāma kathām śrutvā mārīcasya mahātmanaḥ | śuṣkam samabhavat vaktram paritrasto babhūva ca || 36.22 ||

On hearing this account of Rama, the great-souled Mareecha's mouth went utterly dry, and he became thoroughly terrified.

Shloka 23 (aranya.36.23)

ओष्टौ परिलिहन् शुष्कौ नेत्रैः अनिमिषैः इव । मृत भूत इव आर्तः तु रावणम् समुत् ईक्षतः ॥ 36.23 ॥

oṣṭau parilihan śuṣkau netraiḥ animiṣaiḥ iva | mṛta bhūta iva ārtaḥ tu rāvaṇam samut īkṣataḥ || 36.23 ||

Licking his dry lips again and again, staring with unblinking eyes as though already lifeless, he gazed up in distress at Ravana.

Shloka 24 (aranya.36.24)

स रावणम् त्रस्त विषण्ण चेता महावने राम पराक्रमज्ञः । कृत अंजलिः तत्त्वम् उवाच वाक्यम् हितम् च तस्मै हितम् आत्मनः च ॥ 36.24 ॥

sa rāvaṇam trasta viṣaṇṇa cetā mahāvane rāma parākramajñaḥ | kṛta aṃjaliḥ tattvam uvāca vākyam hitam ca tasmai hitam ātmanaḥ ca || 36.24 ||

His heart sunk with fear and dismay, and well acquainted with Rama's valour from that great forest, Mareecha folded his hands and began to speak the plain truth to Ravana — words that were good for Ravana, and good for himself as well.