evam uktah ksanena eva saarathih laghu vikramah |

ratham sa.myojayaamaasa tasya abhimatam uttamam || 3-35-5

When that brisk-paced charioteer is said in this way he instantly harnessed the favorite and choicest chariot of Ravana with horses and got it ready. [3-35-5]

kaancanam ratham aasthaaya kaamagam ratna bhuusitam |

pishaaca vadanaih yuktam kharaih kanaka bhuusanaih || 3-35-6

megha pratima naadena sa tena dhanada anujah |

raaksasaadhipatih shriimaan yayau nada nadii patim || 3-35-7

That chariot which is decorated with golden ornaments, yoked with monster-faced mules that have gem studded trappings is ride-able by the wish of the rider, and sitting in such a chariot which is wholly golden and which rides with a sound like the pealing of thunder, that celebrated Ravana, the brother of Kubera and the lord of demons, traveled towards the lord of rivers and rivulets, namely the ocean. [3-35-6,7]

sa shveta vaala vyajanah shvetah chatro dashaananah |

snigdha vaiduurya sa.mkaasha tapta kaancana bhuusanah || 3-35-8

dashagriivo vimshati bhujo darshaniiya paricchadah |

tridasha arih muniindra ghno dasha shiirsa iva adri raat || 3-35-9

kaamagam ratham aasthaaya shushubhe raaksasaadhipah |

vidyun mandalavaan meghah sa balaaka iva ambare || 3-35-10

Dashaanana [Ravana], the decahedral demon, whose complexion like the smoothened Lapis-gem is lustrous, whose regalia that comprise white long-furred fans, white parasol and the like is spectacular, whose ornaments made out of refined gold are glittering, who similar to a kingly mountain with ten pinnacles and crags by way of his ten heads and twenty arms is gorgeous, and such a chief of demons who by that way is an adversary of gods and cutthroat of eminent-sages, seated in a nitid golden chariot that is rideable by the wish of its steersman, he shone forth like a black-cloud fringed with the streaks of lightning and rimmed with flights of cranes. [3-35-8, 9, 10]

sa shailam saagara anuupam viiryavaan avalokayan |

naanaa puspa phalair vriksair anukiirnam sahasrashah || 3-35-11

That dauntless Ravana forged ahead while viewing the area along the coastline which is interspersed with thousands of mountains and which is with variously flowered and fruited trees. [3-35-11]

shiita mangala toyaabhih padminiibhih sama.ntatah |

vishaalaih aashrama padaih vedimadbhih ala.nkritam || 3-35-12

Everywhere the coastland is bedecked with lotus-lakes containing clean and cool waters, and with extensive thresholds of hermitages containing Fire-altars. [3-35-12]

kadalya atavi sa.mshobham naalikera upashobhitam |

saalaih taalaih tamaalaih ca tarubhih ca supuspitaih || 3-35-13

Entire coast is gleaming with banana plantation and glistening with coconut trees, and the Sala, Palm, and Tamala trees are also in full blossom. [3-35-13]

atyanta niyata aahaaraih shobhitam parama risibhih |

naagaih suparnaih ga.ndharvaih ki.nnaraih ca sahasrashah || 3-35-14

jita kaamaih ca siddhaih ca caaranaih ca upashobhitam |

aajaih vaikhaanasaih maasaih vaalakhilyaih mariicipaih || 3-35-15

It is brightened up with thousands of reptiles and birds, with those many celestial beings that frequent the earth like Gandharva-s, Kinnara-s. And with eminent sages who have highly controlled food-habits, as well. It is also refulgent with the self-denying Siddha-s, Carana-s, and with sages that are the brainchildren of Brahma, namely Vaikhaanasa-s, Maasha-s, Vaalakhilyaa-s, Mariicipa-s. [3-35-14, 15]

divya aabharana maalyaabhih divya ruupaabhih aavritam |

kriidaa rati vidhijnaabhih apsarobhih sahasrashah || 3-35-16

With thousands of celestial maidens divine in their mien, namely apsara-s, who are prettified with divine ornaments and garlands, and who are also the experts in the methodical sex-games that seaside is pervaded. [3-35-16]

sevitam deva patniibhih shriimatiibhih upaasitam |

deva daanava sanghaih ca caritam tu amrita ashibhih || 3-35-17

That seacoast is adored by the propitious wives of gods and frequented by the assemblages of gods who thrive upon ambrosia, and even patronized by demons that strive for ambrosia. [3-35-17]

hamsa kraunca plava aakiirnam saarasaih sa.mpranaaditam |

vaiduurya prastaram snigdham saa.ndram saagara tejasaa || 3-35-18

It is spread with swans, ruddy-gees and frogs, and there the waterfowls are very noisy, and stones overlain on the coast are like lapis-gems, and with the ambience of ocean that whole delta is appearing smooth and sludgy. [3-35-18]

paanduraani vishaalaani divya maalya yutaani ca |

tuurya giita abhijustaani vimaanaani sama.ntatah || 3-35-19

tapasaa jita lokaanaam kaamagaan abhisa.mpatan |

gandharva apsarasah caiva dadarsha dhanadaanujah || 3-35-20

While Ravana, the brother of Kubera, is quickly transiting [to pass over] he saw everywhere the whitish and wideish aircrafts belonging to the deified [to make a god of] souls who acquired higher worlds, and from those aircrafts adorned with divine flowery tassels and piloted by the wish of their steersmen, instrumental and vocal music is resonating, and Gandharva-s are singing and Apsara-s are dancing in them. [3-35-19, 20]

niryaasa rasa muulaanaam ca.ndanaanaam sahasrashah |

vanaani pashyan saumyaani ghraana tripti karaani ca || 3-35-21

Ravana proceeded while observing thousands of woodlands with sandalwood trees that are soothing and satisfying the sense of smell, and that oozed sweet-smelling resin at their bases. [3-35-21]

aguruunaam ca mukhyaanaam vanaani upavanaani ca |

takkolaanaam ca jaatyaanaam phalaanaam ca sugandhinaam || 3-35-22

He also observed on his way the forests and woodlands containing the noteworthy aloe plants, Takkola trees, and the nutmeg trees that are with fruits and aromatic, as well. [3-35-22]

puspaani ca tamaalasya gulmaani maricasya ca |

muktaanaam ca samuuhaani shusyamaanaani tiiratah || 3-35-23

Also seen are the flowers of Tamala trees, shrubberies of pepper, and heaps of desiccating pearl-oysters along the seashore. [3-35-23]

shailaani pravaraan caiva pravaala nicayaan tathaa |

kaancanaani ca shringaani raajataani tathaiva ca || 3-35-24

Thus, he saw the peaking boulders, like that the reefs of corals, and like that also at the mountains that have golden and silvern crests. [3-35-24]

prasravaani manojnaani prasannaani adbhutaani ca |

dhana dhaanya upapannaani strii ratnaih aavritaani ca || 3-35-25

hasti ashva ratha gaadhaani nagaraani vilokayan |

On seeing the delightful, serene, and marvelous cascades, and cities that are abundant in wealth and agricultural produce, and abundant with gemlike womenfolk, and that are replete with elephants, horses, and chariots, Ravana proceeded further. [3-35-25, 26a]

tam samam sarvatah snigdham mridu sa.msparsha maarutam || 3-35-26

anuupe sindhu raajasya dadarsha tridiva upamam |

Ravana observed the delta adjacent to seacoast of that kingly ocean to be uniform and smooth, while the light air breezing in there is soft for touch, thus it looked heavenly. [3-35-26b, 27a]

tatra apashyat sa megha aabham nyagrodham munibhir vritam || 3-35-27

sama.ntaat yasya taah shaakhaah shata yojanam aayataah |

There Ravana also saw a banyan tree which in sheen is like a black-cloud, and the branches of which are stretching all over for a hundred yojana-s in length, and on which sages made their abode for practicing ascesis. [3-35-27b, 28a]

yasya hastinam aadaaya mahaa kaayam ca kacchapam || 3-35-28

bhaksaartham garudah shaakhaam aajagaama mahaabalah |

This is the tree on the branch of which once highly mighty Divine Eagle Garuda swooped to perch, clawing an elephant and a mammoth tortoise, for the purpose of dining them out on that tree-branch. [3-35-28b, 29a]

tasya taam sahasaa shaakhaam bhaarena patagottamah || 3-35-29

suparnah parna bahulaam babha.nja atha mahaabalah |

While descending rapidly then that best bird among birds Garuda suddenly broke that tree's branch which is full with leaves, owing to the impact of his high impetuosity. [3-35-29b, 30a]

tatra vaikhaanasaa maasaa vaalakhilyaa mariicipaah || 3-35-30

ajaa babhuuvuh dhuumraah ca sa.ngataah paramarsayah |

Adhering to that tree-branch there are eminent sages like, Vaikhaanasa-s, Maasha-s, Vaalakhilyaa-s, Mariicipa-s, Aja-s, and even sages like Dhuumraa-s that thrive on fumes and smokes are there, and there they are collectively practicing asceticism upside down while clasping branches with their legs. [3-35-30b, 31a]

tesaam dayaaartham garudah taam shaakhaam shata yojanaam || 3-35-31

bhagnam aadaaya vegena tau ca ubhau gaja kacchapau |

For the sake of the grace of those sages Garuda took flight from that tree, grasping that broken tree-branch of a hundred yojana length along with those pendulous sages with his beak, and both of the elephant and tortoise with both of his claws. [3-35-31b, 32a]

eka paadena dharma aatmaa bhaksayitvaa tat aamisam || 3-35-32

nisaada visayam hatvaa shaakhayaa patagottamah |

praharsam atulam lebhe moksayitvaa mahaamuniin || 3-35-33

That virtue-souled Garuda consumed the meat of his prays, namely the elephant and the giant tortoise with a single foot, and destroyed the province of tribesmen with the same broken tree branch, and thus that supreme bird Garuda gained an incomparable happiness in rescuing those great-sages. [3-35-32b, 33]

sa tena tu praharsena dvigunii krita vikramah |

amrita aanayanaartham vai cakaara matimaan matim || 3-35-34

When his valor has become twice as much with that happiness that heedful Garuda indeed resolved to bring ambrosia from heaven. [3-35-34]

ayo jaalaani nirmathya bhittvaa ratna griham varam |

mahendra bhavanaat guptam aajahaara amritam tatah || 3-35-35

Smashing the guard of iron-grid completely and crashing the unbreakable diamond -like strong room in which the ambrosia [the ointment or perfume of the gods] is safeguarded, then Garuda carried off ambrosia from the palace of Indra. [3-35-35]

tam maharsi ganaih justam suparna krita laksanam |

naamnaa subhadram nyagrodham dadarsha dhanada anujah || 3-35-36

Ravana on his way saw such a banyan tree named as Subhadra which is a much sought after tree for assemblages of great sages, and which betokens the deeds of that best-winged Garuda. [3-35-36]

tam tu gatvaa param paaram samudrasya nadii pateh |

dadarsha aashramam ekaa.nte punye ramye vanaa.ntare || 3-35-37

On going to the other side of the lord of rivers, namely ocean, Ravana saw a pleasing hermitage in the sacred and scenic interior of the forest. [3-35-37]

tatra krisna ajina dharam jataa valkala dhaarinam |

dadarsha niyata aahaaram maariicam naama raaksasam || 3-35-38

At that place Ravana saw the demon named Maareecha, wearing jute-clothes and black deerskin and tufts of hairs, and the one with regulated diet. [3-35-38]

sa raavanah samaagamya vidhivat tena raksasaa |

maariicena arcito raajaa sarva kaamaih amaanusaih || 3-35-39

That demon Maareecha welcomed the king Ravana and customarily entertained him catering all the offerings that are beyond the scope of humans. [3-35-39]

tam svayam puujayitvaa ca bhojanena udakena ca |

arthopahitayaa vaacaa maariico vaakyam abraviit || 3-35-40

On personally offering meals and drinking water, and venerating him properly Maareecha spoke this sentence to Ravana which is connotative of significance. [3-35-40]

kaccit te kushalam raajan la.nkaayaam raakshaseshvara |

kena arthen punah tvam vai tuurnam eva iha aagatah || 3-35-41

"Oh, king of the demons, is everything well with your Lanka? Oh, king, for what reason you have put in an appearance again, that too in a trice? [3-35-41]

evam ukto mahaatejaa maariicena sa raavana |

tatah pashcaat idam vaakyam abraviit vaakya kovidah || 3-35-42

When Maareecha spoke to him thus, that highly radiant and eloquent Ravana then afterwards spoke this sentence to Maareecha. [3-35-42]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande panca trimshah sargah

Thus, this is the 35th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

 

References

 

Desiraju Hanumanta Rao. (1998). Aranya Kanda - Forest track.

 

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

 

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.