॥ अथ अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥
३.४८.१
तं शब्दमवसुप्तस्य जटायुरथ शुश्रुवे ।
निरैक्षद्रावणं क्षिप्रं वैदेहीं च ददर्श सः ॥
Summary AI Then, the sleeping *Jaṭāyu* heard that sound; he quickly looked at *Rāvaṇa* and beheld *Vaidehī*.
M N Dutt Hearing these words Jațāyu, who lay buried in a deep slumber, awoke and beheld both Rāvana and Janaki.
३.४८.२
ततः पर्वतकूटाभस्तीक्ष्णतुण्डः खगोत्तमः ।
वनस्पतिगतः श्रीमान्व्याजहार शुभां गिरम् ॥
Summary AI Then, that illustrious best of birds, resembling a mountain peak and possessing a sharp beak, stationed on a tree, uttered auspicious words.
M N Dutt There-at the lord of birds resting on the tree, having a big sharp beak like to the summit of a hill, addressed these soft words to Rāvana,
३.४८.३
दशग्रीवस्थितो धर्मे पुराणे सत्यसंश्रयः ।
जटायुर्नाम नाम्नाहं गृध्रराजो महाबलः ॥
Summary AI O *Daśagrīva*, I am the mighty King of Vultures named *Jaṭāyu*, who is established in the ancient *dharma* and takes refuge in truth.
M N Dutt O brother Ten-necked one, I am conversant with Purāņas, of truthful vows and abide by religion. It does not behove you to perpetrate such an iniquitous deed before me. I am Jātayu, the mighty lord of vultures.
३.४८.४
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः ।
लोकानां च हिते युक्तो रामो दशरथात्मजः ॥
Summary AI *Rāma*, the son of *Daśaratha*, is the king of the entire world, equal to *Mahendra* and *Varuṇa*, and is devoted to the welfare of all beings.
M N Dutt Daśaratha's son Rāma is the lord of all men like to Mahendra and Varuņa. He is ever engaged in the welfare of all men.
३.४८.५
तस्यैषा लोकनाथस्य धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनी ।
सीता नाम वरारोहा यां त्वं हर्तुमिहेच्छसि ॥
Summary AI This illustrious lady of beautiful form named *Sītā* is the lawful wife of that protector of the worlds, whom you desire to abduct here.
M N Dutt This exquisitely beautiful and far-famed Sītā whom you are about to steal away, is the married wife of that lord of men.
३.४८.७
न तत्समाचरेद्धीरो यत्परोऽस्य विगर्हयेत् ।
यथात्मनस्तथान्येषां दारा रक्ष्या विमर्शनात् ॥
Summary AI A wise man should not perform an act for which another would censure him. Just as one protects one's own wife, so should the wives of others be protected from violation.
३.४८.८
अर्थं वा यदि वा कामं शिष्टाः शास्त्रेष्वनागतम् ।
व्यवस्यन्त्यनु राजानं धर्मं पौरस्त्यनन्दन ॥
Summary AI O scion of the *Paulastya* race, the wise determine wealth, pleasure, or *dharma* not explicitly mentioned in the scriptures by following the conduct of the king.
M N Dutt O son of Paulastya, at the instance of the king mild subjects perform many an action conducing to virtue, wealth and desire, though not mentioned in the Šāstras.
३.४८.९
राजा धर्मश्च कामश्च द्रव्याणां चोत्तमो निधिः ।
धर्मः शुभं वा पापं वा राजमूलं प्रवर्तते ॥
Summary AI The king is the source of *dharma*, pleasure, and the best treasury of riches. Virtue or vice, and *dharma* itself, proceed with the king as their root.
M N Dutt The king is the virtue, the king is the desire and the king is the prime jewel of all subjects. Virtue, desire or sin-every thing ariseth from the king.
३.४८.१०
पापस्वभावश्चपलः कथं त्वं रक्षसां वर ।
ऐश्वर्यमभिसंप्राप्तो विमानमिव दुष्कृती ॥
Summary AI O best of *rākṣasas*, being fickle and sinful by nature, how have you obtained sovereignty, like an evildoer attaining a celestial chariot?
M N Dutt O you the best of Rākṣasas, you are vicious and unsteady; how have you come by riches like to a sinner attaining to the abode of celestials?
३.४८.११
कामस्वभावो यो यस्य न स शक्यः प्रमार्जितुम् ।
न हि दुष्टात्मनामार्य मा वसत्यालये चिरम् ॥
Summary AI One's innate disposition cannot be wiped away. Noble conduct indeed does not dwell for long in the abode of the wicked-minded.
M N Dutt A vicious person can never relinquish his sinful habits—virtue does never reside in the abodes of impious persons.
३.४८.१२
विषये वा पुरे वा ते यदा रामो महाबलः ।
नापराध्यति धर्मात्मा कथं तस्यापराध्यसि ॥
Summary AI When the mighty and righteous *Rāma* has committed no offense against you in your kingdom or city, why do you wrong him?
M N Dutt The mighty and the virtuous-souled Rāma has committed nothing wrong in your city or your dominions. Why do you then commit wrong by him?
३.४८.१३
यदि शूर्पणखाहेतोर्जनस्थानगतः खरः ।
अतिवृत्तो हतः पूर्वं रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ॥
Summary AI If the transgressive *Khara*, residing in *Janasthāna*, was previously slain by *Rāma* of unwearied actions for the sake of *Śūrpaṇakhā*.
M N Dutt Though the wicked Khara of Janasthāna has been slain by him on Sūrpanakhā's account, yet how is he to blame for it do you truly speak.
३.४८.१४
अत्र ब्रूहि यथासत्यं को रामस्य व्यतिक्रमः ।
यस्य त्वं लोकनाथस्य हृत्वा भार्यां गमिष्यसि ॥
Summary AI Speak the truth here: what was *Rāma's* transgression, that you would go after abducting the wife of that protector of the worlds?
M N Dutt Khara of Janasthāna is highly wicked and if Rāma of blameless actions has killed him on Surpanakha's account how is he to blame? Why do you then carry away the wife of that lord of men?
३.४८.१५
क्षिप्रं विसृज वैदेहीं मा त्वा घोरेण चक्षुषा ।
दहेद्दहन भूतेन वृत्रमिन्द्राशनिर्यथा ॥
Summary AI Release *Vaidehī* quickly, lest he consume you with his terrible, fire-like gaze, just as *Indra's* thunderbolt destroyed *Vṛtra*.
M N Dutt Do you soon leave off Vaidehī. Like to Indra burning down Vịtrāsura, Rāma, looking with his terrible eyes like flaming fire, shall reduce you to ashes.
३.४८.१६
सर्पमाशीविषं बद्ध्वा वस्त्रान्ते नावबुध्यसे ।
ग्रीवायां प्रतिमुक्तं च कालपाशं न पश्यसि ॥
Summary AI You do not realize that you have tied a venomous serpent in the hem of your garment, and you do not see the noose of Death fastened around your neck.
M N Dutt Do you not understand that you have tied with cloth a virulent serpent? Do you not see that you have placed around your neck the noose of death?
३.४८.१७
स भारः सौम्य भर्तव्यो यो नरं नावसादयेत् ।
तदन्नमुपभोक्तव्यं जीर्यते यदनामयम् ॥
Summary AI O gentle one, only that burden should be carried which does not exhaust a man, and only that food should be consumed which can be digested without causing illness.
M N Dutt It is always proper to carry such a weight as does not exhaust (him who carries); it is always proper to take such a food as does not cause illness.
३.४८.१८
यत्कृत्वा न भवेद्धर्मो न कीर्तिर्न यशो भुवि ।
शरीरस्य भवेत्खेदः कस्तत्कर्म समाचरेत् ॥
Summary AI Who would perform an act which yields no merit, no fame, and no glory on earth, but results only in the exhaustion of the body?
M N Dutt Who engageth himself in such an action as does not confer virtue, fame or glory, but bring about physical affliction only?
३.४८.१९
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि मम जातस्य रावण ।
पितृपैतामहं राज्यं यथावदनुतिष्ठतः ॥
Summary AI O *Rāvaṇa*, sixty thousand years have passed since my birth, during which I have rightfully maintained my ancestral kingdom.
M N Dutt O Rāvana, I am sixty thousand years old and have been administering regularly my ancestral kingdom.
३.४८.२०
वृद्धोऽहं त्वं युवा धन्वी सरथः कवची शरी ।
तथाप्यादाय वैदेहीं कुशली न गमिष्यसि ॥
Summary AI I am old, while you are young, armed with a bow, a chariot, armor, and arrows; nevertheless, you shall not depart safely after taking *Vaidehī*.
M N Dutt Old though I am, you shall not be able to carry away with safety Jānakī in my presence, young, accoutred in mails as you are with bow and arrows in your hands and ascending a car.
३.४८.२१
न शक्तस्त्वं बलाद्धर्तुं वैदेहीं मम पश्यतः ।
हेतुभिर्न्यायसंयुक्तैर्ध्रुवां वेदश्रुतीमिव ॥
Summary AI Just as a firm Vedic revelation cannot be subverted by logical arguments joined with reason, you are not able to forcibly abduct Vaidehī while I am watching.
M N Dutt As it is not easy to destroy, by the reasonings of Logic, Vedas and Śrutis containing eternal and immutable truths, so you shall not be able to carry away Vaidehi by force before me.
३.४८.२२
युध्यस्व यदि शूरोऽसि मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ रावण ।
शयिष्यसे हतो भूमौ यथापूर्वं खरस्तथा ॥
Summary AI O Rāvaṇa! If you are a hero, fight and stay for a moment. Just as Khara was previously slain, you too shall lie slain upon the earth.
M N Dutt If you are a hero do you fight. Or do you wait for a moment, O Rāvana, you shall also embrace the earth like to Khara.
३.४८.२३
असकृत्संयुगे येन निहता दैत्यदानवाः ।
नचिराच्चीरवासास्त्वां रामो युधि वधिष्यति ॥
Summary AI He by whom Daityas and Dānavas have been repeatedly slain in battle, that bark-clad Rāma will kill you in combat before long.
M N Dutt Soon shall Rāma clad in bark destroy you in the battle field, who had many a time and oft destroyed in conflict the celestials and Dānavas.
३.४८.२४
किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुं गतौ दूरं नृपात्मजौ ।
क्षिप्रं त्वं नश्यसे नीच तयोर्भीतो न संशयः ॥
Summary AI What can I possibly do? The two princes have gone far away. You base creature, you are undoubtedly afraid of them and will soon be destroyed.
M N Dutt These two princes Rāma and Lakşmaņa are at a distance, what shall I do now? O vile being, undoubtedly shall you, terrified, be destroyed by thein.
३.४८.२५
न हि मे जीवमानस्य नयिष्यसि शुभामिमाम् ।
सीतां कमलपत्राक्षीं रामस्य महषीं प्रियाम् ॥
Summary AI While I am alive, you shall certainly not carry away this auspicious Sītā, the lotus-eyed beloved queen of Rāma.
M N Dutt Myself drawing my breath you shall not be able to carry away this beloved queen of Rāma, the pure-natured Sitä having eyes resembling lotuses.
३.४८.२६
अवश्यं तु मया कार्यं प्रियं तस्य महात्मनः ।
जीवितेनापि रामस्य तथा दशरथस्य च ॥
Summary AI Even at the cost of my life, I must surely perform what is pleasing to the high-souled Rāma as well as to Daśaratha.
M N Dutt It is my duty to do good to the high-souled Rāma and Dasaratha even at the sacrifice of my life.
॥ इति अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥
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Sanskrit Sahitya is a free, open-access digital library of classical Sanskrit literature with AI-powered tools and translations.