# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 61 — Lakṣmaṇa restrains Rāma’s anger *He rejects destroying the world for one offender and urges a search and persuasion before resorting to force* Portion: The battle’s traces and Rāma’s anger · Verses: 16 · Ref format: 3.61. ## Sequence - Seeing Rāma poised for destruction, Lakṣmaṇa appeals to his usual restraint and concern for living beings (61.1–5) - he says they do not yet know who owned or wrecked the chariot → although the ground clearly shows a fight, it shows no great army, so the evidence does not justify blaming the world for one offender's act (61.6–9) - he reminds Rāma that the natural and divine worlds need not be his enemies (61.10–11) - he proposes that they search together, with the paramarṣis’ help, through oceans, mountains, forests, caves, lakes, and even the deva- and gandharva-lokas until they identify the abductor (61.12–14) - first they should try inquiry and persuasion → only if these fail should Rāma use force against those responsible (61.15–16). ## Verses **3.61.1** tapyamānaṃ tathā rāmaṃ sītāharaṇakarśitam lokānām abhave yuktaṃ sāmvartakam ivānalam Rāma, tormented thus and wasted by the abduction of Sītā, fit to bring about the destruction of the worlds like the fire of universal dissolution— **3.61.2** vīkṣamāṇaṃ dhanuḥ sajyaṃ niḥśvasantaṃ muhur muhuḥ hantukāmaṃ paśuṃ rudraṃ kruddhaṃ dakṣakratau yathā gazing at his strung bow, sighing again and again, like the angry Rudra bent on slaying the sacrificial victim at Dakṣa's sacrifice— **3.61.3** adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ saṃkruddhaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ sa lakṣmaṇaḥ abravīt prāñjalir vākyaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā seeing Rāma enraged as never before, Lakṣmaṇa, with palms joined, spoke these words with a face gone dry: **3.61.4** purā bhūtvā mṛdur dāntaḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ na krodhavaśam āpannaḥ prakṛtiṃ hātum arhasi Having formerly been gentle, self-controlled, and devoted to the welfare of all beings, you ought not, fallen under the sway of anger, to forsake your true nature. **3.61.5** candre lakṣṇīḥ prabhā sūrye gatir vāyau bhuvi kṣamā etac ca niyataṃ sarvaṃ tvayi cānuttamaṃ yaśaḥ In the moon is beauty, in the sun radiance, in the wind motion, in the earth forbearance; all this is fixed—and in you is unsurpassed glory. **3.61.6** na tu jānāmi kasyāyaṃ bhagnaḥ sāṃgrāmiko rathaḥ kena vā kasya vā hetoḥ sāyudhaḥ saparicchadaḥ But I do not know whose is this shattered war-chariot, nor by whom or for what reason it was broken, with its weapons and its trappings. **3.61.7** khuranemikṣataś cāyaṃ sikto rudhirabindubhiḥ deśo nivṛttasaṃgrāmaḥ sughoraḥ pārthivātmaja And this ground, torn by hooves and wheel-rims and sprinkled with drops of blood—O prince, a most dreadful place where a battle has just ended. **3.61.8** ekasya tu vimardo 'yaṃ na dvayor vadatāṃ vara na hi vṛttaṃ hi paśyāmi balasya mahataḥ padam This was the struggle of one alone, not of two, O best of speakers; for I see no sign, no footprint of a great host. **3.61.9** naikasya tu kṛte lokān vināśayitum arhasi yuktadaṇḍā hi mṛdavaḥ praśāntā vasudhādhipāḥ You ought not to destroy the worlds for the sake of one alone; for kings who wield the rod justly are gentle and tranquil. **3.61.10** sadā tvaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ śaraṇyaḥ paramā gatiḥ ko nu dārapraṇāśaṃ te sādhu manyeta rāghava You are ever the refuge of all beings, their supreme resort; who, O Rāghava, would deem the loss of your wife a light matter? **3.61.11** saritaḥ sāgarāḥ śailā devagandharvadānavāḥ nālaṃ te vipriyaṃ kartuṃ dīkṣitasyeva sādhavaḥ Rivers, oceans, mountains, gods, gandharvas and dānavas are unable to do you harm, as good men cannot harm one consecrated for a sacrifice. **3.61.12** yena rājan hṛtā sītā tam anveṣitum arhasi maddvitīyo dhanuṣpāṇiḥ sahāyaiḥ paramarṣibhiḥ Him by whom Sītā was carried off you ought to seek out, O king—with me as your companion, bow in hand, and with the great seers as helpers. **3.61.13** samudraṃ ca viceṣyāmaḥ parvatāṃś ca vanāni ca guhāś ca vividhā ghorā nalinīḥ pārvatīś ca ha We shall search the ocean, the mountains and the forests, the caves manifold and dreadful, the lotus-ponds, and the mountain streams. **3.61.14** devagandharvalokāṃś ca viceṣyāmaḥ samāhitāḥ yāvan nādhigamiṣyāmas tava bhāryāpahāriṇam With minds intent we shall search even the worlds of the gods and gandharvas, until we track down the one who abducted your wife. **3.61.15** na cet sāmnā pradāsyanti patnīṃ te tridaśeśvarāḥ kosalendra tataḥ paścāt prāptakālaṃ kariṣyasi If the lords of the gods will not restore your wife by conciliation, then afterwards, O lord of Kosala, you shall do what the hour demands. **3.61.16** śīlena sāmnā vinayena sītāṃ nayena na prāpsyasi cen narendra tataḥ samutsādaya hemapuṅkhair mahendravajrapratimaiḥ śaraughaiḥ If by good conduct, conciliation, courtesy, and diplomacy you do not recover Sītā, O king of men, then root them out with floods of gold-feathered arrows that match the thunderbolt of mighty Indra.