--- title: "Aranya Kanda, Sarga 70" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/aranya-kanda/sarga-70" lang: "en" --- # Aranya Kanda, Sarga 70 > कृत्वैवमुदकं तस्मै प्रस्थितौ राघवौ तदा। > अवेक्षन्तौ वने सीतां जग्मतुः पश्चिमां दिशम्॥ १॥ Set out on their journey after offering water to the spirit of the deceased Jaṭāyu, as aforesaid, and looking about for Sītā in the forest, the two scions of Raghu now proceeded in a south-westerly direction. (1) > तां दिशं दक्षिणां गत्वा शरचापासिधारिणौ। > अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाकौ पन्थानं प्रतिपेदतुः॥ २॥ > गुल्मैर्वृक्षैश्च बहुभिर्लताभिश्च प्रवेष्टितम्। > आवृतं सर्वतो दुर्गं गहनं घोरदर्शनम्॥ ३॥ Having moved in that south-westerly direction, the two scions of Ikṣwāku, who wielded a bow, a sword and arrows each, reached an untrodden track blocked with many shrubs, trees and creepers, covered on all sides, difficult to tread, impenetrable and dreadful to look at. (2-3) > व्यतिक्रम्य तु वेगेन गृहीत्वा दक्षिणां दिशम्। > सुभीमं तन्महारण्यं व्यतियातौ महाबलौ॥ ४॥ Passing beyond it with speed and taking to a southerly direction, the two princes, who were possessed of great might, left that vast and most fearful forest behind. (4) > ततः परं जनस्थानात् त्रिकोशं गम्य राघवौ। > क्रौञ्चारण्यं विविशतुर्गहनं तौ महौजसौ॥ ५॥ > नानामेघघनप्रख्यं प्रहृष्टमिव सर्वतः। > नानावर्णैः शुभैः पुष्पैर्मृगपक्षिगणैर्युतम्॥ ६॥ Having covered a distance of two leagues beyond Janasthāna, those two scions of Raghu, who were endowed with great energy, penetrated into the dense Krauñca forest, which wore the hue of a mass of clouds and looked highly rejoiced on all sides, adorned as it was with beautiful flowers of various colours and inhabited by herds of beasts and flocks of birds. (5-6) > दिदृक्षमाणौ वैदेहीं तद् वनं तौ विचिक्यतुः। > तत्र तत्रावतिष्ठन्तौ सीताहरणदुःखितौ॥ ७॥ Eager to behold Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory), they explored that forest, halting here and there when exhausted, distressed as they were due to the abduction of Sītā. (7) > ततः पूर्वेण तौ गत्वा त्रिक्रोशं भ्रातरौ तदा। > क्रौञ्चारण्यमतिक्रम्य मतङ्गाश्रममन्तरे॥ ८॥ > दृष्ट्वा तु तद् वनं घोरं बहुभीममृगद्विजम्। > नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं सर्वं गहनपादपम्॥ ९॥ > ददृशाते गिरौ तत्र दरीं दशरथात्मजौ। > पातालसमगम्भीरां तमसा नित्यसंवृताम्॥ १०॥ > आसाद्य च नरव्याघ्रौ दर्यास्तस्याविदूरतः। > ददर्शतुर्महारूपां राक्षसीं विकृताननाम्॥ ११॥ > भयदामल्पसत्त्वानां बीभत्सां रौद्रदर्शनाम्। > लम्बोदरीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां करालीं परुषत्वचम्॥ १२॥ > भक्षयन्तीं मृगान् भीमान् विकटां मुक्तमूर्धजाम्। > अवैक्षतां तु तौ तत्र भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ १३॥ Then having travelled two leagues in an easterly direction and leaving the Krauñca forest behind, and seeing the hermitage of Sage Mataṅga midway, the aforesaid two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, for their part sighted the dreadful forest adjoining it, which was infested with many fearful beasts and birds and thickly set with trees of every description, and which was all full of dense clusters of trees. Reaching there a cave in the mountain, which was deep like Pātāla (the nethermost of the subterranean regions) and eternally enveloped in darkness, the two sons of Daśaratha, tigers among men, beheld not far from that cave an ogress of gigantic form and hideous appearance. The aforesaid two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, found her there to be a source of terror to men of deficient strength, loathsome and grim of aspect, with a protruding belly and sharp teeth and a hard skin, fierce and tall of stature, given to devouring fearful beasts, her hair dishevelled. (8—13) > सा समासाद्य तौ वीरौ व्रजन्तं भ्रातुरग्रतः। > एहि रंस्यावहेत्युक्त्वा समालम्भत लक्ष्मणम्॥ १४॥ Approaching the aforesaid heroes and saying to Lakṣmaṇa. who was walking ahead of his eldest brother, “Come, let us revel !” caught Lakṣmaṇa by the hand. (14) > उवाच चैनं वचनं सौमित्रिमुपगुह्य च। > अहं त्वयोमुखी नाम लाभस्ते त्वमसि प्रियः॥ १५॥ Nay, embracing the darling of Sumitrā, she spoke to him as follows : “I am Ayomukhī by name and a veritable acquisition to you, while you are beloved of me. (15) > नाथ पर्वतदुर्गेषु नदीनां पुलिनेषु च। > आयुश्चिरमिदं वीर त्वं मया सह रंस्यसे॥ १६॥ “O valiant lord, you shall revel with me throughout this long life on mountain defiles and on the banks of rivers.” (16) > एवमुक्तस्तु कुपितः खड्गमुद्धृत्य लक्ष्मणः। > कर्णनासस्तनं तस्या निचकर्तारिसूदनः॥ १७॥ Drawing his sword when spoken to as aforesaid, Lakṣmaṇa, the destroyer of his enemies, for his part, angrily cut off her ears, nose and breasts. (17) > कर्णनासे निकृत्ते तु विस्वरं विननाद सा। > यथागतं प्रदुद्राव राक्षसी घोरदर्शना॥ १८॥ Her ears and nose having been lopped off, the aforesaid ogress of grim visage for her part screamed loudly and ran away as she had come. (18) > तस्यां गतायां गहनं व्रजन्तौ वनमोजसा। > आसेदतुरमित्रघ्नौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ १९॥ Marching forward vigorously when she had left, the two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the slayers of their foes, reached an impenetrable forest. (19) > लक्ष्मणस्तु महातेजाः सत्त्ववाञ्छीलवाञ्छुचिः। > अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम्॥ २०॥ With joined palms Lakṣmaṇa, for his part, who was endowed with great energy, full of courage, possessed of good conduct and pious, submitted as follows to his eldest brother of fiery spirit : (20) > स्पन्दते मे दृढं बाहुरुद्विग्नमिव मे मनः। > प्रायशश्चाप्यनिष्टानि निमित्तान्युपलक्षये॥ २१॥ “My left arm is steadily throbbing, nay, my mind is feeling perturbed as it were, and I also behold mostly evil portents. (21) > तस्मात् सज्जीभवार्य त्वं कुरुष्व वचनं मम। > ममैव हि निमित्तानि सद्यः शंसन्ति सम्भ्रमम्॥ २२॥ “Therefore, follow my advice and get you ready to meet the impending peril, O noble brother ! The portents unmistakably and definitely betoken imminent danger to my mind. (22) > एष वञ्जुलको नाम पक्षी परमदारुणः। > आवयोर्विजयं युद्धे शंसन्निव विनर्दति॥ २३॥ “This most frightful bird, known by the name of Vañjulaka, is emitting a shrill cry, foretelling, as it were, victory for us in an encounter.” (23) > तयोरन्वेषतोरेवं सर्वं तद् वनमोजसा। > संजज्ञे विपुलः शब्दः प्रभञ्जन्निव तद् वनम्॥ २४॥ While the two brothers were vigorously exploring the whole of that forest in this way, a loud noise arose, rending the aforesaid forest, as it were. (24) > संवेष्टितमिवात्यर्थं गहनं मातरिश्वना। > वनस्य तस्य शब्दोऽभूद् वनमापूरयन्निव॥ २५॥ The forest was enveloped, as it were, in a storm. From the heart of the forest there arose a sound, making the whole forest resound, as it were. (25) > तं शब्दं कांक्षमाणस्तु रामः खड्गी सहानुजः। > ददर्श सुमहाकायं राक्षसं विपुलोरसम्॥ २६॥ Seeking to find out the cause of that sound, sword in hand, Śrī Rāma for his part with his younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, beheld an ogre of vast proportions and distinguished by a broad chest. (26) > आसेदतुश्च तद्रक्षस्तावुभौ प्रमुखे स्थितम्। > विवृद्धमशिरोग्रीवं कबन्धमुदरेमुखम्॥ २७॥ Both the princes approached that ogre stationed before them. Colossal in size, the ogre consisted of a mere trunk without a head or neck and having his mouth in the belly. (27) > रोमभिर्निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्महागिरिमिवोच्छ्रितम्। > नीलमेघनिभं रौद्रं मेघस्तनितनिःस्वनम्॥ २८॥ Covered with sharp bristling hair and tall as a big mountain, he possessed the hue of a blue cloud, was ferocious and had a voice resembling thunder. (28) > अग्निज्वालानिकाशेन ललाटस्थेन दीप्यता। > महापक्षेण पिङ्गेन विपुलेनायतेन च॥ २९॥ > एकेनोरसि घोरेण नयनेन सुदर्शिना। > महादंष्ट्रोपपन्नं तं लेलिहानं महामुखम्॥ ३०॥ Endowed with a single fearful reddish yet brown fiery eye, both long and wide and bright as a flame, located in a forehead in the centre of the chest, nay, furnished with long lashes and possessing a good vision, the ogre was licking again and again his enormous mouth set with big teeth. (29-30) > भक्षयन्तं महाघोरानृक्षसिंहमृगद्विजान्। > घोरौ भुजौ विकुर्वाणमुभौ योजनमायतौ॥ ३१॥ > कराभ्यां विविधान् गृह्य ऋक्षान् पक्षिगणान् मृगान्। > आकर्षन्तं विकर्षन्तमनेकान् मृगयूथपान्॥ ३२॥ The ogre devoured the fiercest bears and lions as well as other beasts and birds. Stretching out both his frightful arms, each eight miles long, and seizing with his hands bears and other beasts and flocks of birds of various kinds, he drew towards himself many leaders of herds of deer and cast aside others. (31-32) > स्थितमावृत्य पन्थानं तयोर्भ्रात्रोः प्रपन्नयोः। > अथ तं समतिक्रम्य क्रोशमात्रं ददर्शतुः॥ ३३॥ > महान्तं दारुणं भीमं कबन्धं भुजसंवृतम्। > कबन्धमिव संस्थानादतिघोरप्रदर्शनम्॥ ३४॥ The ogre was stationed blocking the way of the two brothers when they drew near him. Thereupon receding to a distance of two miles, the two brothers looked on the great ogre, Kabandha by name, who was cruel and terrible, a mere trunk, as it were, encircled with arms and most fearful to behold by his very constitution. (33-34) > स महाबाहुरत्यर्थं प्रसार्य विपुलौ भुजौ। > जग्राह सहितावेव राघवौ पीडयन् बलात्॥ ३५॥ Stretching his extensive arms at full length, the mighty-armed ogre forcibly seized the two scions of Raghu together, squeezing them with his grip. (35) > खड्गिनौ दृढधन्वानौ तिग्मतेजौ महाभुजौ। > भ्रातरौ विवशं प्राप्तौ कृष्यमाणौ महाबलौ॥ ३६॥ Though armed with swords and wielding strong bows, and possessed of great strength, the two mighty-armed brothers of fiery energy were reduced to a helpless plight when being pulled by the ogre. (36) > तत्र धैर्याच्च शूरस्तु राघवौ नैव विव्यथे। > बाल्यादनाश्रयाच्चैव लक्ष्मणस्त्वभिविव्यथे॥ ३७॥ Of them, by virtue of his firmness, the heroic Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) for his part did not feel distressed at all. Due to his puerile nature and feeling of helplessness too, Lakṣmaṇa, however, completely gave himself up to agony. (37) > उवाच च विषण्णः सन् राघवं राघवानुजः। > पश्य मां विवशं वीर राक्षसस्य वशंगतम्॥ ३८॥ Nay, feeling despondent, Lakṣmaṇa, the younger brother of Śrī Rāma, submitted as follows to Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) : “Look at me helplessly fallen into the clutches of the ogre. (38) > मयैकेन तु निर्युक्तः परिमुच्यस्व राघव। > मां हि भूतबलिं दत्त्वा पलायस्व यथासुखम्॥ ३९॥ “Having offered sacrifice to this ogre with me alone (as a victim), manage to escape from the clutches of this monster, O scion of Raghu ! Offering me as a sacrifice to the devil in the form of this ogre run away at your convenience. (39) > अधिगन्तासि वैदेहीमचिरेणेति मे मतिः। > प्रतिलभ्य च काकुत्स्थ पितृपैतामहीं महीम्॥ ४०॥ > तत्र मां राम राज्यस्थः स्मर्तुमर्हसि सर्वदा। > लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु रामः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्॥ ४१॥ “You will recover Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory) before long: such is my conviction. Nay, getting back the rulership of the earth inherited from your forefathers, and installed on the throne, O Rāma, you should always remember me there.” Spoken to as aforesaid by Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma for his part replied to him as follows: (40-41) > मा स्म त्रासं वृथा वीर नहि त्वादृग् विषीदति। > एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रूरो भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ ४२॥ > तावुवाच महाबाहुः कबन्धो दानवोत्तमः। > कौ युवां वृषभस्कन्धौ महाखड्गधनुर्धरौ॥ ४३॥ > घोरं देशमिमं प्राप्तौ दैवेन मम चाक्षुषौ। > वदतं कार्यमिह वां किमर्थं चागतौ युवाम्॥ ४४॥ “Pray, do not give way to fear, O valiant Lakṣmaṇa ! A man like you would never feel dejected.” In the meanwhile the cruel and mighty-armed Kabandha, the foremost of demons, spoke as follows to the aforesaid two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa : “Who are you with shoulders like those of a bull and wielding large swords and bows? Having reached this dreadful region, you have fallen within the range of my sight by will of Providence. Reveal the purpose of your visit here and declare what for you have come here. (42—44) > इमं देशमनुप्राप्तौ क्षुधार्तस्येह तिष्ठतः। > सबाणचापखड्गौ च तीक्ष्णशृङ्गाविवर्षभौ॥ ४५॥ > मां तूर्णमनुसम्प्राप्तौ दुर्लभं जीवितं हि वाम्। > तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा कबन्धस्य दुरात्मनः॥ ४६॥ > उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो मुखेन परिशुष्यता। > कृच्छ्रात् कृच्छ्रतरं प्राप्य दारुणं सत्यविक्रम॥ ४७॥ > व्यसनं जीवितान्ताय प्राप्तमप्राप्य तां प्रियाम्। > कालस्य सुमहद् वीर्यं सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मण॥ ४८॥ “You have reached this region while I stood oppressed with hunger. Since, armed with bows, swords and arrows and as such appearing like a pair of bulls with pointed horns, you have speedily approached me, your life is now difficult to get back (now that it is my hands).” Hearing the aforesaid challenge of that evil-minded Kabandha, Śrī Rāma spoke as follows to Lakṣmaṇa, whose mouth was getting parched : “A calamity which threatens to terminate our life has befallen us without our being able to recover the aforesaid darling, while we had already suffered a terrible disaster in the shape of the loss of Sītā, which was more painful than the one we had already undergone in the shape of loss of sovereignty and exile to the forest, O Lakṣmaṇa of unfailing prowess ! Very great is the power of the Time-Spirit over all living beings, O Lakṣmaṇa ! (45—48) > त्वां च मां च नरव्याघ्र व्यसनैः पश्य मोहितौ। > नहि भारोऽस्ति दैवस्य सर्वभूतेषु लक्ष्मण॥ ४९॥ “Look at yourself and me too, O tiger among men, distracted by misfortunes. Surely the control of Destiny on all living beings, O Lakṣmaṇa, does not constitute a burden to it. (49) > शूराश्च बलवन्तश्च कृतास्त्राश्च रणाजिरे। > कालाभिपन्नाः सीदन्ति यथा वालुकसेतवः॥ ५०॥ “Caught in the grip of the Time-Spirit, even valiant and mighty souls, nay, even those who have practised archery on the field of battle perish like dams of sand.” (50) > इति ब्रुवाणो दृढसत्यविक्रमो > महायशा दाशरथिः प्रतापवान्। > अवेक्ष्य सौमित्रिमुदग्रविक्रमः > स्थिरां तदा स्वां मतिमात्मनाकरोत्॥ ५१॥ Looking at Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā), who looked miserable, while speaking, as aforesaid, the highly illustrious and glorious Śrī Rāma (son of Daśaratha) who was possessed of unflinching and unfailing prowess and exalted valour, presently collected his mind by himself. (51) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.