The Slaying of Maricha

Shloka 1 (aranya.44.1)

तथा तु तम् समादिश्य भ्रातरम् रघुनंदनः । बबन्ध असिम् महातेजा जांबूनदमयः त्सरुम् ॥ 44.1 ॥

tathā tu tam samādiśya bhrātaram raghunaṃdanaḥ | babandha asim mahātejā jāṃbūnadamayaḥ tsarum || 44.1 ||

Having thus instructed his brother, the greatly resplendent scion of Raghu fastened to his waist his sword, its hilt of gold.

Shloka 2 (aranya.44.2)

ततः त्रि विनतम् चापम् आदाय आत्म विभूषणम् । आबध्य च कलापौ द्वौ जगाम उदग्र विक्रमः ॥ 44.2 ॥

tataḥ tri vinatam cāpam ādāya ātma vibhūṣaṇam | ābadhya ca kalāpau dvau jagāma udagra vikramaḥ || 44.2 ||

Then, taking up his own emblem, the triple-curved bow, and buckling on his two quivers, Rama, whose valour rose ever higher, set out.

Shloka 3 (aranya.44.3)

तम् वंचयानो राजेन्द्रम् आपतन्तम् निरीक्ष्य वै । बभूव अंतर्हितः त्रासात् पुनः संदर्शने अभवत् ॥ 44.3 ॥

tam vaṃcayāno rājendram āpatantam nirīkṣya vai | babhūva aṃtarhitaḥ trāsāt punaḥ saṃdarśane abhavat || 44.3 ||

Seeing that peerless king closing in on it, the deer vanished as though in fright, only to beguile him, and then reappeared once more.

Shloka 4 (aranya.44.4)

बद्ध असिः धनुः आदाय प्रदुद्राव यतो मृगः । तम् स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतमानम् इव अग्रतः ॥ 44.4 ॥

baddha asiḥ dhanuḥ ādāya pradudrāva yato mṛgaḥ | tam sma paśyati rūpeṇa dyotamānam iva agrataḥ || 44.4 ||

His sword girt and bow in hand, Rama rushed to where the deer had gone, and there he would see it again before him, seeming to shine with its own radiant form.

Shloka 5 (aranya.44.5)

अवेक्ष्य अवेक्ष्य धावन्तम् धनुष् पाणिः महावने । अतिवृत्तम् इषोः पातात् लोभयानम् कदाचन ॥ 44.5 ॥

avekṣya avekṣya dhāvantam dhanuṣ pāṇiḥ mahāvane | ativṛttam iṣoḥ pātāt lobhayānam kadācana || 44.5 ||

Bow in hand, he watched it, again and again, as it darted through the great forest -- at times keeping itself just beyond the range of his arrow, as though to tease him,

Shloka 6 (aranya.44.6)

शंकितम् तु समुद् भ्रान्तम् उत्पतन्तम् इव अंबरे । दृअश्यमानम् अदृश्यम् च वन उद्देशेषु केषुचित् ॥ 44.6 ॥

śaṃkitam tu samud bhrāntam utpatantam iva aṃbare | dṛaśyamānam adṛśyam ca vana uddeśeṣu keṣucit || 44.6 ||

wary and seeming utterly bewildered, it would seem to spring up as if into the very sky, now visible, now vanishing among the thickets of the forest,

Shloka 7 (aranya.44.7)

चिन्न अभ्रैः इव संवीतम् शारदम् चन्द्र मण्डलम् । मुहूर्तात् एव ददृशे मुहुर् दूरात् प्रकाशते ॥ 44.7 ॥

cinna abhraiḥ iva saṃvītam śāradam candra maṇḍalam | muhūrtāt eva dadṛśe muhur dūrāt prakāśate || 44.7 ||

like the autumn moon's disc wrapped now and again in torn clouds -- seen close at hand for one moment, and shining out from afar the very next.

Shloka 8 (aranya.44.8)

दर्शन अदर्शनेन एव सः अपाकर्षत राघवम् । सुदूरम् आश्रमस्य अस्य मारिचो मृगताम् गतः ॥ 44.8 ॥

darśana adarśanena eva saḥ apākarṣata rāghavam | sudūram āśramasya asya mārico mṛgatām gataḥ || 44.8 ||

In this very way, by appearing and disappearing, Maricha in his guise as the deer drew Raghava far, far away from his own hermitage.

Shloka 9 (aranya.44.9)

आसीत् क्रुद्धः तु काकुत्स्थो विवशः तेन मोहितः । अथ अवतस्थे सुश्रान्तः च्छायाम् आश्रित्य शाद्वले ॥ 44.9 ॥

āsīt kruddhaḥ tu kākutstho vivaśaḥ tena mohitaḥ | atha avatasthe suśrāntaḥ cchāyām āśritya śādvale || 44.9 ||

Rama grew angry, feeling helpless, bewitched as he was by it; then, thoroughly exhausted, he paused for a while, taking shelter in the shade at the edge of a meadow.

Shloka 10 (aranya.44.10)

स तम् उन्मादयामास मृगरूपो निशाचर । मृगैः परिवृतो अथ वन्यैः अदूरात् प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥ 44.10 ॥

sa tam unmādayāmāsa mṛgarūpo niśācara | mṛgaiḥ parivṛto atha vanyaiḥ adūrāt pratyadṛśyata || 44.10 ||

That night-wanderer in his deer-disguise maddened him all the more, appearing again close by, now surrounded by a herd of wild deer.

Shloka 11 (aranya.44.11)

ग्रहीतु कामम् दृष्ट्वा तम् पुनः एव अभ्यधावत । तत् क्षणात् एव संत्रासात् पुनर् अंतर्हितो अभवत् ॥ 44.11 ॥

grahītu kāmam dṛṣṭvā tam punaḥ eva abhyadhāvata | tat kṣaṇāt eva saṃtrāsāt punar aṃtarhito abhavat || 44.11 ||

Eager now to catch it, Rama, at the sight of it, ran forward once again; but at that very instant, as though in mortal terror, it vanished once more.

Shloka 12 (aranya.44.12)

पुनर् एव ततो दूरात् वृक्ष खण्डात् विनिःसृतः । दृष्ट्वा रामो महातेजाः तम् हन्तुम् कृत निश्चयः ॥ 44.12 ॥

punar eva tato dūrāt vṛkṣa khaṇḍāt viniḥsṛtaḥ | dṛṣṭvā rāmo mahātejāḥ tam hantum kṛta niścayaḥ || 44.12 ||

Then, once more, it darted out from a distant clump of trees; and at the sight of it, the greatly resplendent Rama resolved that he would kill it.

Shloka 13 (aranya.44.13)

भूयः तु शरम् उद्धृत्य कुपितः तत्र राघवः । सूर्य रश्मि प्रतीकाशम् ज्वलंतम् अरि मर्दनम् ॥ 44.13 ॥

bhūyaḥ tu śaram uddhṛtya kupitaḥ tatra rāghavaḥ | sūrya raśmi pratīkāśam jvalaṃtam ari mardanam || 44.13 ||

Then Raghava, now thoroughly enraged, drew out another arrow -- blazing, enemy-crushing, radiant as the sun's own rays --

Shloka 14 (aranya.44.14)

संधाय सुदृढे चापे विकृष्य बलवत् बली । तम् एव मृगम् उद्दिश्य श्वसंतम् इव पन्नगम् ॥ 44.14 ॥

saṃdhāya sudṛḍhe cāpe vikṛṣya balavat balī | tam eva mṛgam uddiśya śvasaṃtam iva pannagam || 44.14 ||

fitted it upon his sturdy bow, and, drawing the string back with all his mighty strength, took aim straight at that deer with an arrow that hissed like a serpent --

Shloka 15 (aranya.44.15)

मुमोच ज्वलितम् दीप्तम् अस्त्रम् ब्रह्म विनिर्मितम् । शरीरम् मृग रूपस्य विनिर्भिद्य शरोत्तमः ॥ 44.15 ॥

mumoca jvalitam dīptam astram brahma vinirmitam | śarīram mṛga rūpasya vinirbhidya śarottamaḥ || 44.15 ||

released that blazing, brilliant missile which Brahma himself had once fashioned; and that finest of arrows pierced clean through the deer's body,

Shloka 16 (aranya.44.16)

मारीचस्य एव हृदयम् विभेद अशनि संनिभः । ताल मात्रम् अथ उत्प्लुत्य न्यपतत् स भृश आतुरः ॥ 44.16 ॥

mārīcasya eva hṛdayam vibheda aśani saṃnibhaḥ | tāla mātram atha utplutya nyapatat sa bhṛśa āturaḥ || 44.16 ||

-- striking like a thunderbolt -- tore straight through Maricha's heart; and he, mortally stricken, leapt up as high as a palm tree and then crashed down.

Shloka 17 (aranya.44.17)

व्यनदत् भैरवम् नादम् धरण्याम् अल्प जीवितः । म्रियमाणः तु मारीचो जहौ ताम् कृत्रिमाम् तनुम् ॥ 44.17 ॥

vyanadat bhairavam nādam dharaṇyām alpa jīvitaḥ | mriyamāṇaḥ tu mārīco jahau tām kṛtrimām tanum || 44.17 ||

With his life fast ebbing, he let out one dreadful, blood-curdling cry as he fell to the ground; and Maricha, even as he died, cast off that illusory deer-body.

Shloka 18 (aranya.44.18)

स्मृत्वा तत् वचनम् रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम् । इह प्रस्थापयेत् सीता ताम् शून्ये रावणे हरेत् ॥ 44.18 ॥

smṛtvā tat vacanam rakṣo dadhyau kena tu lakṣmaṇam | iha prasthāpayet sītā tām śūnye rāvaṇe haret || 44.18 ||

Recalling Ravana's words, the demon thought to himself: "By what means can Sita be made to send Lakshmana here, so that Ravana may carry her off while the place stands undefended?"

Shloka 19 (aranya.44.19)

स प्राप्त कालम् अज्ञाय चकार च ततः स्वरम् । सदृशम् राघवस्य एव हा सीते लक्ष्मण इति च ॥ 44.19 ॥

sa prāpta kālam ajñāya cakāra ca tataḥ svaram | sadṛśam rāghavasya eva hā sīte lakṣmaṇa iti ca || 44.19 ||

Realizing that this was his final moment, he then cried out in a voice made to sound exactly like Raghava's: "Ah, Sita! Ah, Lakshmana!"

Shloka 20 (aranya.44.20)

तेन मर्मणि निर्विद्धम् शरेण अनुपमेन हि । मृग रूपम् तु तत् त्यक्त्वा राक्षसम् रूपम् आस्थितः ॥ 44.20 ॥

tena marmaṇi nirviddham śareṇa anupamena hi | mṛga rūpam tu tat tyaktvā rākṣasam rūpam āsthitaḥ || 44.20 ||

Struck through the very heart by that peerless arrow, Maricha cast off his deer's form and resumed his true demon shape,

Shloka 21 (aranya.44.21)

चक्रे स सुमहा कायम् मारीचो जीवितम् त्यजन् । तम् दृष्ट्वा पतितम् भूमौ राक्षसम् भीम दर्शनम् ॥ 44.21 ॥

cakre sa sumahā kāyam mārīco jīvitam tyajan | tam dṛṣṭvā patitam bhūmau rākṣasam bhīma darśanam || 44.21 ||

and, even as his life ebbed away, Maricha's body swelled into a vast form. On seeing that fearsome demon fallen there upon the ground,

Shloka 22 (aranya.44.22)

रामो रुधिर सिक्त अंगम् चेष्टमानम् महीतले । जगाम मनसा सीताम् लक्ष्मणस्य वचः स्मरन् ॥ 44.22 ॥

rāmo rudhira sikta aṃgam ceṣṭamānam mahītale | jagāma manasā sītām lakṣmaṇasya vacaḥ smaran || 44.22 ||

his limbs drenched in blood and writhing on the earth, Rama's thoughts flew instantly to Sita, as he recalled what Lakshmana had said.

Shloka 23 (aranya.44.23)

मारीचस्य तु माय एषा पूर्व उक्तम् लक्ष्मणेन तु । तत् तदा हि अभवत् च अद्य मारीचो अयम् मया हतः ॥ 44.23 ॥

mārīcasya tu māya eṣā pūrva uktam lakṣmaṇena tu | tat tadā hi abhavat ca adya mārīco ayam mayā hataḥ || 44.23 ||

"This is truly Maricha's trickery, exactly as Lakshmana warned me earlier -- and it has indeed come to pass, for the one I have killed today is none other than Maricha himself.

Shloka 24 (aranya.44.24)

हा सीते लक्ष्मण इति एवम् आक्रुश्य तु महा स्वनम् । ममार राक्षसः सो अयम् श्रुत्वा सीता कथम् भवेत् ॥ 44.24 ॥

hā sīte lakṣmaṇa iti evam ākruśya tu mahā svanam | mamāra rākṣasaḥ so ayam śrutvā sītā katham bhavet || 44.24 ||

That demon died crying out loudly, 'Ah, Sita! Ah, Lakshmana!' -- but when she hears it, what will become of Sita?

Shloka 25 (aranya.44.25)

लक्ष्मणः च महाबाहुः काम् अवस्थाम् गमिष्यति । इति संचिन्त्य धर्माअत्मा रामो हृष्ट तनू रुहः ॥ 44.25 ॥

lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahābāhuḥ kām avasthām gamiṣyati | iti saṃcintya dharmāatmā rāmo hṛṣṭa tanū ruhaḥ || 44.25 ||

And into what state of alarm will the mighty-armed Lakshmana fall?" Turning this over in his mind, the righteous Rama felt his hair stand on end in dread.

Shloka 26 (aranya.44.26)

तत्र रामम् भयम् तीव्रम् आविवेश विषादजम् । राक्षसम् मृग रूपम् तम् हत्वा श्रुत्वा च तत् स्वनम् ॥ 44.26 ॥

tatra rāmam bhayam tīvram āviveśa viṣādajam | rākṣasam mṛga rūpam tam hatvā śrutvā ca tat svanam || 44.26 ||

Having slain that demon in the deer's form, and having heard that dreadful cry, a sharp fear born of anguish now overtook Rama.

Shloka 27 (aranya.44.27)

निहत्य पृषतम् च अन्यम् मांसम् आदाय राघवः । त्वरमाणो जनस्थानम् ससार अभिमुखः तदा ॥ 44.27 ॥

nihatya pṛṣatam ca anyam māṃsam ādāya rāghavaḥ | tvaramāṇo janasthānam sasāra abhimukhaḥ tadā || 44.27 ||

Then Raghava, killing another spotted deer and taking up its flesh, hastened without delay back toward Janasthana.