---
title: "Aranya Kanda, Sarga 44"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/aranya-kanda/sarga-44"
lang: "en"
---

# Aranya Kanda, Sarga 44

> तथा तु तं समादिश्य भ्रातरं रघुनन्दनः।  
> बबन्धासिं महातेजा जाम्बूनदमयत्सरुम्॥ १॥

Having duly cautioned as above his aforesaid brother, Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma (the delight of the Raghus), for his part, who was possessed of exceptional glory fastened to his girdle his sword with a golden hilt. (1)

> ततस्त्रिविनतं चापमादायात्मविभूषणम्।  
> आबध्य च कलापौ द्वौ जगामोदग्रविक्रमः॥ २॥

Then, seizing his triply-curved bow, which served as his adornment, and fastening two quivers, Śrī Rāma of terrific prowess sallied forth. (2)

> तं वन्यराजो राजेन्द्रमापतन्तं निरीक्ष्य वै।  
> बभूवान्तर्हितस्त्रासात् पुनः संदर्शनेऽभवत्॥ ३॥

Observing Śrī Rāma, the ruler of rulers, approaching, Mārīca, the foremost of deer, went out of sight awhile through fear and again came into full view. (3)

> बद्धासिर्धनुरादाय प्रदुद्राव यतो मृगः।  
> तं स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतयन्तमिवाग्रतः॥ ४॥  
> अवेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य धावन्तं धनुष्पाणिर्महावने।  
> अतिवृत्तमिवोत्पाताल्लोभयानं कदाचन॥ ५॥

Taking his bow, with the sword fastened to his girdle, Śrī Rāma (the wielder of a bow) ran fast towards the spot where the deer stood and saw it radiating lustre as it were by its form in front of it. Looking back again and again it ran in the large forest. Now it slipped past after a leap and then tempted Śrī Rāma to catch hold of it by coming very near. (4-5)

> शङ्कितं तु समुद्भ्रान्तमुत्पतन्तमिवाम्बरम्।  
> दृश्यमानमदृश्यं च वनोद्देशेषु केषुचित्॥ ६॥  
> छिन्नाभ्रैरिव संवीतं शारदं चन्द्रमण्डलम्।  
> मुहूर्तादेव ददृशे मुहुर्दूरात् प्रकाशते॥ ७॥

Now it appeared seized with fear of being hurt by Śrī Rāma’s arrow, utterly confused and leaping in the air; while at other times it disappeared into some depths of the forest like the orb of the autumnal moon screened by fragmented clouds. Just after a while it became visible at hand and again flashed into view at a distance the very next moment. (6-7)

> दर्शनादर्शनेनैव सोऽपाकर्षत राघवम्।  
> स दूरमाश्रमस्यास्य मारीचो मृगतां गतः॥ ८॥

Just by coming into view and going out of sight, that notorious Mārīca, who had assumed the form of a deer, bore Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, far away from his hermitage. (8)

> आसीत् क्रुद्धस्तु काकुत्स्थो विवशस्तेन मोहितः।  
> अथावतस्थे सुश्रान्तश्छायामाश्रित्य शाद्वले॥ ९॥

Beguiled by him and feeling helpless, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha) for his part felt enraged and, seeking the shade of a tree, thoroughly exhausted as he was, stood at ease on a spot covered with velvety grass. (9)

> स तमुन्मादयामास मृगरूपो निशाचरः।  
> मृगैः परिवृतोऽथान्यैरदूरात् प्रत्यदृश्यत॥ १०॥

That ogre appearing in the form of a deer puzzled him. Surrounded by other deer, he presently came into view not far off. (10)

> ग्रहीतुकामं दृष्ट्वा तं पुनरेवाभ्यधावत।  
> तत्क्षणादेव संत्रासात् पुनरन्तर्हितोऽभवत्॥ ११॥

Beholding Rāma eager to capture it, it took to flight once more and out of fright instantly went out of sight again. (11)

> पुनरेव ततो दूराद् वृक्षखण्डाद् विनिःसृतः।  
> दृष्ट्वा रामो महातेजास्तं हन्तुं कृतनिश्चयः॥ १२॥  
> भूयस्तु शरमुद्धृत्य कुपितस्तत्र राघवः।  
> सूर्यरश्मिप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमरिमर्दनम्॥ १३॥  
> संधाय सुदृढे चापे विकृष्य बलवद्बली।  
> तमेव मृगमुद्दिश्य श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्॥ १४॥  
> मुमोच ज्वलितं दीप्तमस्त्रं ब्रह्मविनिर्मितम्।  
> शरीरं मृगरूपस्य विनिर्भिद्य शरोत्तमः॥ १५॥  
> मारीचस्यैव हृदयं बिभेदाशनिसंनिभः।  
> तालमात्रमथोत्प्लुत्य न्यपतत् स भृशातुरः॥ १६॥  
> व्यनदद् भैरवं नादं धरण्यामल्पजीवितः।  
> म्रियमाणस्तु मारीचो जहौ तां कृत्रिमां तनुम्॥ १७॥

Then again it issued forth from a distant cluster of trees. Seeing the deer and pulling out with great fury a blazing arrow bright as a sunbeam and capable of destroying the enemy, nay, firmly setting it to the bow and aiming it at that very animal, drawing the bow with full force, the mighty Śrī Rāma, the celebrated scion of Raghu, for his part, who was endowed with extraordinary energy and had made up his mind to make short work of the deer, discharged in that forest that flaming and effulgent missile fashioned by Brahmā (the creator) and looking like a fiery serpent. Having thoroughly and deeply penetrated through the heart of the deer form, that excellent arrow, which shone brightly as lightning, pierced the heart of Mārīca himself. Bounding as high as a palmyra tree, the deer, which felt sore afflicted, fell down to the ground and uttered a terrific roar, its life being very short, while dying, however, Mārīca shed that assumed form. (12—17)

> स्मृत्वा तद्वचनं रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम्।  
> इह प्रस्थापयेत् सीता तां शून्ये रावणो हरेत्॥ १८॥

Recalling the instruction of Rāvaṇa, the ogre for his part reflected how Sītā should send away Lakṣmaṇa to that spot and how Rāvaṇa should bear her away in her isolation. (18)

> स प्राप्तकालमाज्ञाय चकार च ततः स्वनम्।  
> सदृशं राघवस्येव हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च॥ १९॥

Nay, perceiving what was opportune, the ogre forthwith uttered a cry precisely resembling the voice of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), saying “Alas Sītā ! Ah Lakṣmaṇa !” (19)

> तेन मर्मणि निर्विद्धं शरेणानुपमेन हि।  
> मृगरूपं तु तत् त्यक्त्वा राक्षसं रूपमास्थितः॥ २०॥  
> चक्रे स सुमहाकायं मारीचो जीवितं त्यजन्।  
> तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ राक्षसं भीमदर्शनम्॥ २१॥  
> रामो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गं चेष्टमानं महीतले।  
> जगाम मनसा सीतां लक्ष्मणस्य वचः स्मरन्॥ २२॥

Casting off the aforesaid form of a deer, deeply pierced in the vital parts by that peerless arrow, and taking on the form of an ogre, the said Mārīca, while giving up the ghost, revealed his gigantic body. Seeing that ogre of terrible aspect, fallen on the ground, writhing on the earth’s surface, his limbs bathed in blood, Śrī Rāma mentally turned towards Sītā, recollecting the warning of Lakṣmaṇa. (20—22)

> मारीचस्य तु मायैषा पूर्वोक्तं लक्ष्मणेन तु।  
> तत् तथा ह्यभवच्चाद्य मारीचोऽयं मया हतः॥ २३॥

(He said to himself) : ‘Indeed this was a conjuring trick played by Mārīca, which had already been pointed out by Lakṣmaṇa. Indeed, what he said has come to be true and it is Mārīca who has been killed by me today. (23)

> हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवमाक्रुश्य तु महास्वनम्।  
> ममार राक्षसः सोऽयं श्रुत्वा सीता कथं भवेत्॥ २४॥

‘Since this notorious ogre has breathed his last uttering a loud wail : ‘Alas Sītā ! Ah Lakṣmaṇa !’ how will Sītā feel on hearing it? (24)

> लक्ष्मणश्च महाबाहुः कामवस्थां गमिष्यति।  
> इति संचिन्त्य धर्मात्मा रामो हृष्टतनूरुहः॥ २५॥

‘And what moods will the mighty armed Lakṣmaṇa pass through?’ Reflecting thus, Śrī Rāma, whose mind was set on virtue, found his hair standing on end (through apprehension about the future of Sītā). (25)

> तत्र रामं भयं तीव्रमाविवेश विषादजम्।  
> राक्षसं मृगरूपं तं हत्वा श्रुत्वा च तत्स्वनम्॥ २६॥

A poignant fear, born of dejection, seized Śrī Rāma on his having slain that ogre appearing in the form of a deer and hearing his cry. (26)

> निहत्य पृषतं चान्यं मांसमादाय राघवः।  
> त्वरमाणो जनस्थानं ससाराभिमुखं तदा॥ २७॥

Having made short work of that uncommon spotted deer and taking fruits etc., fit for the consumption of ascetics, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, then hastily proceeded towards his hermitage in Janasthāna. (27)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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