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Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 34: Rāvaṇa’s abduction plan

Summary. Mārīca must become a golden deer to lure the brothers away, leaving Sītā unguarded and Rāma vulnerable to grief

Sequence

  1. Rāvaṇa tells Mārīca that he needs his help (3.34.1)
  2. he describes the Janasthāna force, admitting that it lived there under his orders and harassed the munis (3.34.2–6)
  3. he recounts Rāma's destruction of the fourteen thousand and their leaders (3.34.7–9)
  4. he then portrays Rāma as a vicious, disgraced exile and claims that Śūrpaṇakhā was mutilated without provocation (3.34.10–12)
  5. he announces his intention to abduct Sītā and flatters Mārīca's power as the help he needs (3.34.13–16)
  6. Mārīca must become a golden deer with silver spots and appear before Sītā (3.34.17)
  7. Rāvaṇa expects her to ask the brothers to catch it, leaving the hut unguarded → he plans to abduct her in their absence and later kill Rāma when grief has weakened him (3.34.18–20)
  8. hearing Rāma's name and this proposal terrifies Mārīca, who prepares to give unwelcome but protective advice. (3.34.21–22)

Verses 3.34.1–22

3.34.1

mārīca śrūyatāṃ tāta vacanaṃ mama bhāṣataḥ
ārto 'smi mama cārtasya bhavān hi paramā gatiḥ

Mārīca, my dear, let my words be heard as I speak; I am in distress, and for me in my distress you are the supreme resort.

Words: mārīca — O Mārīca; śrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; tāta — my dear (term of affection); vacanaṃ — word, speech; mama — my; bhāṣataḥ — as (I) speak; ārto 'smi — I am distressed; mama cārtasya — and of me in distress; bhavān — your honour; hi — indeed; paramā — supreme; gatiḥ — resort, refuge

3.34.2

jānīṣe tvaṃ janasthānaṃ bhrātā yatra kharo mama
dūṣaṇaś ca mahābāhuḥ svasā śūrpaṇakhā ca me

You know Janasthāna, where my brother Khara lived, and mighty-armed Dūṣaṇa, and my sister Śūrpaṇakhā,

Words: jānīṣe — you know; tvaṃ — you; janasthānaṃ — Janasthāna; bhrātā — brother; yatra — where; kharo — Khara; mama — my; dūṣaṇaś ca — and Dūṣaṇa; mahābāhuḥ — mighty-armed; svasā — sister; śūrpaṇakhā ca — and Śūrpaṇakhā; me — my

3.34.3

triśirāś ca mahātejā rākṣasaḥ piśitāśanaḥ
anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā labdhalakṣā niśācarāḥ

and Triśiras of great splendour, a flesh-eating rākṣasa, and many other heroic night-rangers, sure of their aim,

Words: triśirāś ca — and Triśiras; mahātejā — of great splendour; rākṣasaḥ — a rākṣasa; piśitāśanaḥ — a flesh-eater; anye ca — and others; bahavaḥ — many; śūrā — heroes; labdhalakṣā — sure of aim; niśācarāḥ — night-rangers

3.34.4

vasanti manniyogena adhivāsaṃ ca rākṣasaḥ
bādhamānā mahāraṇye munīn ye dharmacāriṇaḥ

By my command those rākṣasas dwell there, holding their abode in the great forest and harassing the sages who walk in the way of dharma.

Words: vasanti — they dwell; manniyogena — by my command; adhivāsaṃ ca — and (their) abode; rākṣasaḥ — the rākṣasa(s); bādhamānā — harassing, tormenting; mahāraṇye — in the great forest; munīn — the sages; ye — who; dharmacāriṇaḥ — practisers of dharma

3.34.5

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām
śūrāṇāṃ labdhalakṣāṇāṃ kharacittānuvartinām

Fourteen thousand rākṣasas of terrible deeds—heroes, sure of aim, following the will of Khara—

Words: caturdaśa — fourteen; sahasrāṇi — thousands; rakṣasāṃ — of rākṣasas; bhīmakarmaṇām — of terrible deeds; śūrāṇāṃ — of heroes; labdhalakṣāṇāṃ — sure of aim; kharacittānuvartinām — following Khara's will

3.34.6

te tv idānīṃ janasthāne vasamānā mahābalāḥ
saṃgatāḥ param āyattā rāmeṇa saha saṃyuge

those mighty ones, now dwelling in Janasthāna, joined battle with Rāma, fully bent (on the fight).

Words: te tv — and they; idānīṃ — now; janasthāne — in Janasthāna; vasamānā — dwelling; mahābalāḥ — mighty; saṃgatāḥ — met, engaged; param — greatly, exceedingly; āyattā — bent (on it), exerting; rāmeṇa saha — together with Rāma; saṃyuge — in battle

3.34.7

tena saṃjātaroṣeṇa rāmeṇa raṇamūrdhani
anuktvā paruṣaṃ kiṃ cic charair vyāpāritaṃ dhanuḥ

By that Rāma, roused to fury at the head of the battle, without uttering a single harsh word, the bow was set to work with arrows.

Words: tena — by that; saṃjātaroṣeṇa — roused to fury; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; raṇamūrdhani — at the head of the battle; anuktvā — not having spoken; paruṣaṃ — a harsh (word); kiṃ cic — anything at all; charair — with arrows; vyāpāritaṃ — was set to work, employed; dhanuḥ — the bow

3.34.8

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ bhīmakarmaṇām
nihatāni śarais tīkṣṇair mānuṣeṇa padātinā

Fourteen thousand rākṣasas of terrible deeds were slain with sharp arrows by a single man on foot.

Words: caturdaśa — fourteen; sahasrāṇi — thousands; rakṣasāṃ — of rākṣasas; bhīmakarmaṇām — of terrible deeds; nihatāni — slain; śarais tīkṣṇair — with sharp arrows; mānuṣeṇa — by a man, a human; padātinā — on foot, a foot-soldier

3.34.9

kharaś ca nihataḥ saṃkhye dūṣaṇaś ca nipātitaḥ
hatvā triśirasaṃ cāpi nirbhayā daṇḍakāḥ kṛtāḥ

And Khara was slain in battle and Dūṣaṇa struck down; and having killed Triśiras too, he made the Daṇḍaka forests free from fear.

Words: kharaś ca — and Khara; nihataḥ — slain; saṃkhye — in battle; dūṣaṇaś ca — and Dūṣaṇa; nipātitaḥ — struck down, felled; hatvā — having killed; triśirasaṃ cāpi — and Triśiras too; nirbhayā — free from fear; daṇḍakāḥ — the Daṇḍaka forests; kṛtāḥ — made

3.34.10

pitrā nirastaḥ kruddhena sabhāryaḥ kṣīṇajīvitaḥ
sa hantā tasya sainyasya rāmaḥ kṣatriyapāṃsanaḥ

Banished by his angry father, together with his wife, his fortunes ruined—that Rāma, a disgrace to the kṣatriyas, is the slayer of that army.

Words: pitrā — by (his) father; nirastaḥ — cast out, banished; kruddhena — angry; sabhāryaḥ — together with his wife; kṣīṇajīvitaḥ — whose livelihood is ruined; sa — he; hantā — the slayer; tasya sainyasya — of that army; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kṣatriyapāṃsanaḥ — a disgrace to the kṣatriyas

3.34.11

aśīlaḥ karkaśas tīkṣṇo mūrkho lubdho 'jitendriyaḥ
tyaktadharmas tv adharmātmā bhūtānām ahite rataḥ

Ill-natured, harsh, cruel, foolish, greedy, with senses unsubdued, having abandoned dharma, unrighteous of soul, delighting in the harm of creatures—

Words: aśīlaḥ — ill-natured, without character; karkaśas — harsh, rough; tīkṣṇo — cruel, sharp; mūrkho — foolish; lubdho — greedy; 'jitendriyaḥ — with senses unsubdued; tyaktadharmas — having abandoned dharma; tv — but, indeed; adharmātmā — unrighteous of soul; bhūtānām — of creatures; ahite — in harm; rataḥ — delighting

3.34.12

yena vairaṃ vināraṇye sattvam āśritya kevalam
karṇanāsāpahāreṇa bhaginī me virūpitā

by whom, without cause for enmity, in the forest, relying merely on brute force, my sister was disfigured by the cutting off of her ears and nose.

Words: yena — by whom; vairaṃ — enmity, cause for hostility; vināraṇye — without, in the forest; sattvam — brute strength, force; āśritya — relying on, resorting to; kevalam — merely, only; karṇanāsāpahāreṇa — by the cutting off of ears and nose; bhaginī — sister; me — my; virūpitā — disfigured, deformed

3.34.13

tasya bhāryāṃ janasthānāt sītāṃ surasutopamām
ānayiṣyāmi vikramya sahāyas tatra me bhava

I shall carry off by force his wife Sītā, like a daughter of the gods, from Janasthāna—be my helper in this.

Words: tasya — his; bhāryāṃ — wife; janasthānāt — from Janasthāna; sītāṃ — Sītā; surasutopamām — like a daughter of the gods; ānayiṣyāmi — I shall bring, carry off; vikramya — having used force, striding forth; sahāyas — a helper; tatra — there, in this; me — my, for me; bhava — be

3.34.14

tvayā hy ahaṃ sahāyena pārśvasthena mahābala
bhrātṛbhiś ca surān yuddhe samagrān nābhicintaye

For with you as my helper at my side, O mighty one, and with my brothers, I would give no thought to all the gods together in battle.

Words: tvayā hy — for with you; ahaṃ — I; sahāyena — with a helper; pārśvasthena — standing at (my) side; mahābala — O mighty one; bhrātṛbhiś ca — and with my brothers; surān — the gods; yuddhe — in battle; samagrān — all, entire; nābhicintaye — I would not worry about, reckon with

3.34.15

tat sahāyo bhava tvaṃ me samartho hy asi rākṣasa
vīrye yuddhe ca darpe ca na hy asti sadṛśas tava

So be my helper, for you are able, O rākṣasa; in valour, in battle, and in pride there is none equal to you.

Words: tat — therefore, so; sahāyo bhava — be a helper; tvaṃ me — you, my; samartho hy asi — for you are capable; rākṣasa — O rākṣasa; vīrye — in valour; yuddhe ca — and in battle; darpe ca — and in pride; na hy asti — for there is not; sadṛśas tava — one equal to you

3.34.16

etadartham ahaṃ prāptas tvatsamīpaṃ niśācara
śṛṇu tat karma sāhāyye yat kāryaṃ vacanān mama

For this purpose I have come to you, O night-ranger; hear what deed of assistance is to be done at my word.

Words: etadartham — for this purpose; ahaṃ — I; prāptas — have come, arrived; tvatsamīpaṃ — to your presence; niśācara — O night-ranger; śṛṇu — hear; tat karma — that deed; sāhāyye — in assistance; yat kāryaṃ — which is to be done; vacanān mama — at my word

3.34.17

sauvarṇas tvaṃ mṛgo bhūtvā citro rajatabindubhiḥ
āśrame tasya rāmasya sītāyāḥ pramukhe cara

Becoming a golden deer, dappled with silver spots, roam within the sight of Sītā at the hermitage of that Rāma.

Words: sauvarṇas — golden; tvaṃ — you; mṛgo — a deer; bhūtvā — having become; citro — dappled, variegated; rajatabindubhiḥ — with silver spots; āśrame — at the hermitage; tasya rāmasya — of that Rāma; sītāyāḥ — of Sītā; pramukhe — before, in the sight of; cara — roam, move about

3.34.18

tvāṃ tu niḥsaṃśayaṃ sītā dṛṣṭvā tu mṛgarūpiṇam
gṛhyatām iti bhartāraṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ cābhidhāsyati

Without doubt, on seeing you in the form of a deer, Sītā will say to her husband and to Lakṣmaṇa, 'Let it be caught!'

Words: tvāṃ tu — and you; niḥsaṃśayaṃ — without doubt; sītā — Sītā; dṛṣṭvā tu — upon seeing; mṛgarūpiṇam — in the form of a deer; gṛhyatām — let it be caught; iti — thus; bhartāraṃ — to her husband; lakṣmaṇaṃ cābhidhāsyati — and will speak to Lakṣmaṇa

3.34.19

tatas tayor apāye tu śūnye sītāṃ yathāsukham
nirābādho hariṣyāmi rāhuś candraprabhām iva

Then, in the absence of those two, when the place is empty, I shall carry off Sītā at my ease, unhindered, as Rāhu seizes the radiance of the moon.

Words: tatas — then; tayor apāye — at the departure of those two; tu — indeed; śūnye — in the empty (place); sītāṃ — Sītā; yathāsukham — at ease, comfortably; nirābādho — unhindered; hariṣyāmi — I shall carry off; rāhuś — Rāhu; candraprabhām — the radiance of the moon; iva — like

3.34.20

tataḥ paścāt sukhaṃ rāme bhāryāharaṇakarśite
visrabdhaṃ prahariṣyāmi kṛtārthenāntarātmanā

Then afterwards, when Rāma is worn down by the carrying-off of his wife, I shall strike him at ease and with confidence, my inmost self content.

Words: tataḥ paścāt — then afterwards; sukhaṃ — at ease, happily; rāme — when Rāma (is); bhāryāharaṇakarśite — worn down by the carrying-off of his wife; visrabdhaṃ — confidently, without fear; prahariṣyāmi — I shall strike; kṛtārthenāntarātmanā — with my inmost self satisfied

3.34.21

tasya rāmakathāṃ śrutvā mārīcasya mahātmanaḥ
śuṣkaṃ samabhavad vaktraṃ paritrasto babhūva ca

On hearing that talk about Rāma, the mouth of the great-souled Mārīca went dry, and he was seized with terror.

Words: tasya — his (Mārīca's); rāmakathāṃ — the talk of Rāma; śrutvā — having heard; mārīcasya — of Mārīca; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; śuṣkaṃ — dry; samabhavad — became; vaktraṃ — mouth, face; paritrasto — terrified; babhūva ca — and became

3.34.22

sa rāvaṇaṃ trastaviṣaṇṇacetā mahāvane rāmaparākramajñaḥ
kṛtāñjalis tattvam uvāca vākyaṃ hitaṃ ca tasmai hitam ātmanaś ca

He, his mind stricken with fear and dejection, knowing Rāma's prowess in the great forest, with palms joined spoke to Rāvaṇa true words—words salutary both to Rāvaṇa and to himself.

Words: sa — he; rāvaṇaṃ — to Rāvaṇa; trastaviṣaṇṇacetā — his mind stricken with fear and dejection; mahāvane — in the great forest; rāmaparākramajñaḥ — knowing Rāma's prowess; kṛtāñjalis — with palms joined; tattvam — the truth, truly; uvāca — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; hitaṃ ca — and salutary, beneficial; tasmai — to him (Rāvaṇa); hitam — salutary, beneficial; ātmanaś ca — and to himself

← 3.33 Rāvaṇa’s flight and Garuḍa’s story · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.35 Mārīca’s warning →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/3/34.md · JSON: /data/3/34.json