← 3.35 Mārīca’s warning · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.37 Mārīca’s second defeat and terror →

Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 36: Mārīca’s story of his first defeat

Summary. He recalls attacking Viśvāmitra’s sacrifice and being hurled a hundred yojanas into the sea by the young Rāma’s arrow

Sequence

  1. Mārīca recounts his former life as a powerful, arrogant killer of forest ṛṣis (3.36.1–2)
  2. because of the threat he posed to Viśvāmitra's sacrifice, the muni went to Daśaratha and asked for Rāma's protection (3.36.3–4)
  3. Daśaratha objected that Rāma was not yet sixteen and inexperienced, offering to come with his army instead (3.36.5–6)
  4. Viśvāmitra insisted that Rāma alone was capable and took him to the hermitage (3.36.7–9)
  5. the youthful Rāma stood guard over the sacrifice (3.36.10–12)
  6. Mārīca approached armed and dismissed him as a mere boy, rushing toward the altar (3.36.13–15)
  7. Rāma's arrow hurled him a hundred yojanas into the sea → after eventually recovering consciousness, Mārīca made his way to Laṅkā; other attackers had been killed (3.36.16–18)
  8. he warns that Rāvaṇa's proposed war will likewise destroy the rākṣasas, including innocent people caught up in their ruler's wrongdoing (3.36.19–24)
  9. he predicts a burning Laṅkā surrounded by arrows and urges Rāvaṇa to remain content with his own wives → abducting Sītā will bring death to him and his relatives. (3.36.25–28)

Verses 3.36.1–28

3.36.1

kadā cid apy ahaṃ vīryāt paryaṭan pṛthivīm imām
balaṃ nāgasahasrasya dhārayan parvatopamaḥ

Once, in my might, roaming this earth, bearing the strength of a thousand elephants, like a mountain,

Words: kadā cid apy — once upon a time; ahaṃ — I; vīryāt — out of (my) strength, valour; paryaṭan — roaming, wandering; pṛthivīm imām — this earth; balaṃ — the strength; nāgasahasrasya — of a thousand elephants; dhārayan — bearing, holding; parvatopamaḥ — like a mountain

3.36.2

nīlajīmūtasaṃkāśas taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ
bhayaṃ lokasya janayan kirīṭī parighāyudhaḥ
vyacaraṃ daṇḍakāraṇyam ṛṣimāṃsāni bhakṣayan

resembling a dark thundercloud, with earrings of refined gold, crowned and armed with an iron bludgeon, striking terror into the world, I roamed the Daṇḍaka forest, devouring the flesh of sages.

Words: nīlajīmūtasaṃkāśas — resembling a dark cloud; taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ — with earrings of refined gold; bhayaṃ — fear; lokasya — of the world; janayan — producing, causing; kirīṭī — crowned, wearing a diadem; parighāyudhaḥ — armed with an iron club; vyacaraṃ — I roamed; daṇḍakāraṇyam — the Daṇḍaka forest; ṛṣimāṃsāni — the flesh of sages; bhakṣayan — devouring

3.36.3

viśvāmitro 'tha dharmātmā madvitrasto mahāmuniḥ
svayaṃ gatvā daśarathaṃ narendram idam abravīt

Then the righteous great sage Viśvāmitra, terrified of me, went in person to King Daśaratha and said this:

Words: viśvāmitro 'tha — then Viśvāmitra; dharmātmā — the righteous one; madvitrasto — terrified of me; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; svayaṃ — himself, in person; gatvā — having gone; daśarathaṃ — to Daśaratha; narendram — the king; idam abravīt — said this

3.36.4

ayaṃ rakṣatu māṃ rāmaḥ parvakāle samāhitaḥ
mārīcān me bhayaṃ ghoraṃ samutpannaṃ nareśvara

'Let this Rāma, attentive, protect me at the time of the sacrifice; a terrible fear of Mārīca has arisen in me, O lord of men.'

Words: ayaṃ — this (one); rakṣatu — let (him) protect; māṃ — me; rāmaḥ — Rāma; parvakāle — at the time of the sacrifice; samāhitaḥ — attentive, composed; mārīcān — from Mārīca; me — in me, my; bhayaṃ — fear; ghoraṃ — terrible; samutpannaṃ — arisen; nareśvara — O lord of men

3.36.5

ity evam ukto dharmātmā rājā daśarathas tadā
pratyuvāca mahābhāgaṃ viśvāmitraṃ mahāmunim

Thus addressed, the righteous King Daśaratha then replied to the greatly blessed great sage Viśvāmitra:

Words: ity evam ukto — thus addressed; dharmātmā — the righteous; rājā — king; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tadā — then; pratyuvāca — replied; mahābhāgaṃ — the greatly blessed; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahāmunim — the great sage

3.36.6

ūna ṣoḍaśa varṣo 'yam akṛtāstraś ca rāghavaḥ
kāmaṃ tu mama yat sainyaṃ mayā saha gamiṣyati
badhiṣyāmi muniśreṣṭha śatruṃ tava yathepsitam

'This Rāghava is not yet sixteen years old and untrained in arms; but if you wish, the army that is mine shall go with me, and I will slay your enemy as you desire, O best of sages.'

Words: ūna — short of, less than; ṣoḍaśa — sixteen; varṣo 'yam — this ... years (old); akṛtāstraś ca — and untrained in weapons; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; kāmaṃ tu — but if you wish, verily; mama — my; yat sainyaṃ — the army which; mayā saha — with me; gamiṣyati — will go; badhiṣyāmi — I will slay; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; śatruṃ — the enemy; tava — your; yathepsitam — as desired

3.36.7

ity evam uktaḥ sa munī rājānaṃ punar abravīt
rāmān nānyad balaṃ loke paryāptaṃ tasya rakṣasaḥ

Thus addressed, the sage spoke to the king again: 'No power in the world other than Rāma is a match for that rākṣasa.'

Words: ity evam uktaḥ — thus addressed; sa munī — that sage; rājānaṃ — to the king; punar abravīt — spoke again; rāmān — than Rāma; nānyad — no other; balaṃ — power, force; loke — in the world; paryāptaṃ — sufficient, a match; tasya rakṣasaḥ — for that rākṣasa

3.36.8

bālo 'py eṣa mahātejāḥ samarthas tasya nigrahe
gamiṣye rāmam ādāya svasti te 'stu paraṃtapaḥ

'Though a boy, this one of great splendour is able to subdue him; I shall go, taking Rāma. May it be well with you, O scorcher of foes.'

Words: bālo 'py — though a boy; eṣa — this (one); mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; samarthas — able; tasya nigrahe — in subduing him; gamiṣye — I shall go; rāmam ādāya — taking Rāma; svasti te 'stu — may it be well with you; paraṃtapaḥ — O scorcher of foes (nom. for voc.)

3.36.9

ity evam uktvā sa munis tam ādāya nṛpātmajam
jagāma paramaprīto viśvāmitraḥ svam āśramam

Having spoken thus, the sage Viśvāmitra, greatly pleased, took that king's son and went to his own hermitage.

Words: ity evam uktvā — having spoken thus; sa munis — that sage; tam ādāya — taking him; nṛpātmajam — the king's son; jagāma — went; paramaprīto — greatly pleased; viśvāmitraḥ — Viśvāmitra; svam āśramam — to his own hermitage

3.36.10

taṃ tadā daṇḍakāraṇye yajñam uddiśya dīkṣitam
babhūvāvasthito rāmaś citraṃ visphārayan dhanuḥ

Then, in the Daṇḍaka forest, Rāma stood guard over him (the sage) consecrated for the sacrifice, twanging his wondrous bow.

Words: taṃ — him (the sage); tadā — then; daṇḍakāraṇye — in the Daṇḍaka forest; yajñam uddiśya — with a view to the sacrifice; dīkṣitam — consecrated (for the sacrifice); babhūvāvasthito — stood by, remained; rāmaś — Rāma; citraṃ — wondrous, brilliant; visphārayan — twanging, drawing; dhanuḥ — the bow

3.36.11

ajātavyañjanaḥ śrīmān bālaḥ śyāmaḥ śubhekṣaṇaḥ
ekavastradharo dhanvī śikhī kanakamālayā

Glorious, still beardless, a boy, dark-hued, with lovely eyes, wearing a single garment, an archer, with a topknot and a golden chain,

Words: ajātavyañjanaḥ — with beard not yet grown; śrīmān — glorious, handsome; bālaḥ — a boy; śyāmaḥ — dark-hued; śubhekṣaṇaḥ — with lovely eyes; ekavastradharo — wearing a single garment; dhanvī — an archer, bow-bearer; śikhī — with a topknot, crest; kanakamālayā — with a golden chain

3.36.12

śobhayan daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ dīptena svena tejasā
adṛśyata tadā rāmo bālacandra ivoditaḥ

illumining the Daṇḍaka forest with his own blazing splendour, Rāma then appeared like the risen young moon.

Words: śobhayan — adorning, illumining; daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ — the Daṇḍaka forest; dīptena — with blazing; svena tejasā — his own splendour; adṛśyata — was seen, appeared; tadā — then; rāmo — Rāma; bālacandra — the young moon; ivoditaḥ — like the risen

3.36.13

tato 'haṃ meghasaṃkāśas taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ
balī dattavaro darpād ājagāma tadāśramam

Then I, resembling a cloud, with earrings of refined gold, mighty and granted a boon, came in my arrogance to that hermitage.

Words: tato 'haṃ — then I; meghasaṃkāśas — resembling a cloud; taptakāñcanakuṇḍalaḥ — with earrings of refined gold; balī — mighty, strong; dattavaro — granted a boon; darpād — out of arrogance; ājagāma — came; tadāśramam — to that hermitage

3.36.14

tena dṛṣṭaḥ praviṣṭo 'haṃ sahasaivodyatāyudhaḥ
māṃ tu dṛṣṭvā dhanuḥ sajyam asaṃbhrāntaś cakāra ha

Seen by him as I entered, suddenly with weapon upraised—but on seeing me, unshaken, he strung his bow.

Words: tena dṛṣṭaḥ — seen by him; praviṣṭo 'haṃ — I, having entered; sahasaivodyatāyudhaḥ — suddenly with weapon upraised; māṃ tu dṛṣṭvā — but on seeing me; dhanuḥ sajyam — the bow strung; asaṃbhrāntaś — unshaken, unperturbed; cakāra ha — made (i.e. strung), indeed

3.36.15

avajānann ahaṃ mohād bālo 'yam iti rāghavam
viśvāmitrasya tāṃ vedim adhyadhāvaṃ kṛtatvaraḥ

Despising Rāghava out of folly, thinking 'This is a mere boy,' I rushed in haste towards that altar of Viśvāmitra.

Words: avajānann — despising; ahaṃ — I; mohād — out of delusion, folly; bālo 'yam iti — 'this is a boy'; rāghavam — Rāghava; viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; tāṃ vedim — that altar; adhyadhāvaṃ — I rushed towards; kṛtatvaraḥ — in haste, having hurried

3.36.16

tena muktas tato bāṇaḥ śitaḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ
tenāhaṃ tāḍitaḥ kṣiptaḥ samudre śatayojane

Then a sharp, foe-crushing arrow was loosed by him; struck by it, I was flung into the sea, a hundred yojanas away.

Words: tena muktas — loosed by him; tato — then; bāṇaḥ — arrow; śitaḥ — sharp, whetted; śatrunibarhaṇaḥ — foe-crushing; tenāhaṃ — by it I; tāḍitaḥ — struck; kṣiptaḥ — flung, cast; samudre — into the sea; śatayojane — a hundred yojanas (away)

3.36.17

rāmasya śaravegena nirasto bhrāntacetanaḥ
pātito 'haṃ tadā tena gambhīre sāgarāmbhasi
prāpya saṃjñāṃ cirāt tāta laṅkāṃ prati gataḥ purīm

Cast away by the force of Rāma's arrow, my senses reeling, I was then hurled by him into the deep waters of the ocean; regaining consciousness after a long time, my dear, I made my way to the city of Laṅkā.

Words: rāmasya — of Rāma; śaravegena — by the force of the arrow; nirasto — cast away; bhrāntacetanaḥ — with reeling senses; pātito 'haṃ — I was made to fall; tadā tena — then, by him; gambhīre — in the deep; sāgarāmbhasi — in the waters of the ocean; prāpya saṃjñāṃ — having regained consciousness; cirāt — after a long time; tāta — my dear; laṅkāṃ prati — towards Laṅkā; gataḥ — went; purīm — the city

3.36.18

evam asmi tadā muktaḥ sahāyās te nipātitāḥ
akṛtāstreṇa rāmeṇa bālenākliṣṭakarmaṇā

Thus was I then let off; but your companions were struck down by Rāma—a boy, untrained in arms, of untiring deeds.

Words: evam asmi — thus I was; tadā muktaḥ — then released, let off; sahāyās te — your companions; nipātitāḥ — struck down, felled; akṛtāstreṇa — untrained in weapons; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; bālenākliṣṭakarmaṇā — by the boy of untiring deeds

3.36.19

tan mayā vāryamāṇas tvaṃ yadi rāmeṇa vigraham
kariṣyasy āpadaṃ ghorāṃ kṣipraṃ prāpya naśiṣyasi

Therefore, though restrained by me, if you make war with Rāma, you will swiftly meet with terrible calamity and perish.

Words: tan — therefore; mayā — by me; vāryamāṇas — being restrained; tvaṃ — you; yadi — if; rāmeṇa — with Rāma; vigraham — war, conflict; kariṣyasy — you will make; āpadaṃ — calamity, misfortune; ghorāṃ — terrible; kṣipraṃ — quickly; prāpya — having met with; naśiṣyasi — you will perish

3.36.20

krīḍā ratividhijñānāṃ samājotsavaśālinām
rakṣasāṃ caiva saṃtāpam anarthaṃ cāhariṣyasi

And you will bring grief and ruin upon the rākṣasas—those versed in the ways of sport and love, who delight in assemblies and festivals.

Words: krīḍā — sport, play (compound-initial); ratividhijñānāṃ — of those knowing the modes of love; samājotsavaśālinām — of those delighting in gatherings and festivals; rakṣasāṃ caiva — and of the rākṣasas; saṃtāpam — grief, torment; anarthaṃ — ruin, misfortune; cāhariṣyasi — and you will bring

3.36.21

harmyaprāsādasaṃbādhāṃ nānāratnavibhūuṣitām
drakṣyasi tvaṃ purīṃ laṅkāṃ vinaṣṭāṃ maithilīkṛte

You will see the city of Laṅkā—crowded with mansions and palaces, adorned with jewels of every kind—brought to ruin for the sake of Maithilī.

Words: harmyaprāsādasaṃbādhāṃ — crowded with mansions and palaces; nānāratnavibhūuṣitām — adorned with various jewels [source spells 'vibhūuṣitām']; drakṣyasi — you will see; tvaṃ — you; purīṃ laṅkāṃ — the city of Laṅkā; vinaṣṭāṃ — destroyed, ruined; maithilīkṛte — for the sake of Maithilī

3.36.22

akurvanto 'pi pāpāni śucayaḥ pāpasaṃśrayāt
parapāpair vinaśyanti matsyā nāgahrade yathā

Even the innocent, who do no wrong, perish through consorting with the wicked, by the sins of others—like the fish in the serpent's pool.

Words: akurvanto 'pi — even those doing no (evil); pāpāni — evil (deeds); śucayaḥ — the pure, innocent; pāpasaṃśrayāt — from association with the wicked; parapāpair — by the sins of others; vinaśyanti — perish; matsyā — the fish; nāgahrade — in the serpent's pool; yathā — as, like

3.36.23

divyacandanadigdhāṅgān divyābharaṇabhūṣitān
drakṣyasy abhihatān bhūmau tava doṣāt tu rākṣasān

You will see the rākṣasas—their limbs smeared with divine sandal-paste, adorned with heavenly ornaments—struck down upon the ground through your fault.

Words: divyacandanadigdhāṅgān — with limbs smeared with divine sandal; divyābharaṇabhūṣitān — adorned with divine ornaments; drakṣyasy — you will see; abhihatān — struck down; bhūmau — on the ground; tava doṣāt — through your fault; tu — indeed; rākṣasān — the rākṣasas

3.36.24

hṛtadārān sadārāṃś ca daśavidravato diśaḥ
hataśeṣān aśaraṇān drakṣyasi tvaṃ niśācarān

You will see the night-rangers—some robbed of their wives, some with their wives—fleeing in all ten directions, the survivors of the slaughter, helpless.

Words: hṛtadārān — those robbed of their wives; sadārāṃś ca — and those with their wives; daśavidravato — fleeing in the ten (directions); diśaḥ — the directions, quarters; hataśeṣān — the survivors of the slaughter; aśaraṇān — helpless, without refuge; drakṣyasi tvaṃ — you will see; niśācarān — the night-rangers

3.36.25

śarajālaparikṣiptām agnijvālāsamāvṛtām
pradagdhabhavanāṃ laṅkāṃ drakṣyasi tvam asaṃśayam

Without doubt you will see Laṅkā encircled by a net of arrows, wrapped in flames of fire, its houses burnt down.

Words: śarajālaparikṣiptām — encircled by a net of arrows; agnijvālāsamāvṛtām — enveloped in flames of fire; pradagdhabhavanāṃ — with houses burnt down; laṅkāṃ — Laṅkā; drakṣyasi tvam — you will see; asaṃśayam — without doubt

3.36.26

pramadānāṃ sahasrāṇi tava rājan parigrahaḥ
bhava svadāranirataḥ svakulaṃ rakṣarākṣasa

Thousands of women, O king, are your possession; be content with your own wives, and protect your own house, O rākṣasa.

Words: pramadānāṃ — of (beautiful) women; sahasrāṇi — thousands; tava rājan — your, O king; parigrahaḥ — possession, retinue; bhava — be; svadāranirataḥ — devoted to your own wives; svakulaṃ — your own family; rakṣarākṣasa — protect (it), O rākṣasa

3.36.27

mānaṃ vṛddhiṃ ca rājyaṃ ca jīvitaṃ ceṣṭam iātmanaḥ
yadīcchasi ciraṃ bhoktuṃ mā kṛthā rāma vipriyam

If you wish long to enjoy honour, prosperity, kingship, and your own dear life, do not do what is displeasing to Rāma.

Words: mānaṃ — honour; vṛddhiṃ ca — and prosperity, growth; rājyaṃ ca — and kingship; jīvitaṃ — life; ceṣṭam — and dear; iātmanaḥ — your own [source typo for ātmanaḥ]; yadīcchasi — if you wish; ciraṃ — long, for a long time; bhoktuṃ — to enjoy; mā kṛthā — do not do; rāma — (to) Rāma (compound-initial); vipriyam — displeasure, offence

3.36.28

nivāryamāṇaḥ suhṛdā mayā bhṛśaṃ prasahya sītāṃ yadi dharṣayiṣyasi
gamiṣyasi kṣīṇabalaḥ sabāndhavo yamakṣayaṃ rāmaśarāttajīvitaḥ

Though earnestly restrained by me, your well-wisher, if you violently assault Sītā, you will go—your strength drained, with your kinsmen—to the abode of Yama, your life seized by Rāma's arrows.

Words: nivāryamāṇaḥ — being restrained; suhṛdā — by (your) well-wisher; mayā — by me; bhṛśaṃ — earnestly, strongly; prasahya — by force, violently; sītāṃ — Sītā; yadi — if; dharṣayiṣyasi — you will assault, violate; gamiṣyasi — you will go; kṣīṇabalaḥ — with strength drained; sabāndhavo — with your kinsmen; yamakṣayaṃ — to the abode of Yama; rāmaśarāttajīvitaḥ — your life seized by Rāma's arrows

← 3.35 Mārīca’s warning · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.37 Mārīca’s second defeat and terror →

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.

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