“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 2

The Demon Viradha attacks , and Summary

Viradha the demon confronts Rama and other and tries to abduct Seetha, and then Rama. The killing of this Viradha is the first act of Rama in eliminating negative forces in his empire to establish Rama Raajya [kingdom]. This killing is also a gift to Sage Sharabhanga, whom he meets later, as per the meaning of verse I-1-41 of Samkshepa Ramayana contained in Bala Kanda. Rama thus started to act freeing the saints and sages in forests, and the forests themselves, from the cruelties of demons. Viradha is a demon by curse and a devotee Goddess Lakshmi, now incarnate as Seetha. Hence this demon wanted to own his goddess and hence lifts Seetha into his hands to abduct her away from Rama. But Rama and Lakshmana overpower and eliminate him, rescuing not only Seetha, but also other saints and sages living thereabout.

Chapter [Sarga] 2 in Detail

krita aatithyo.atha raamastu suuryasya udayanam prati |

aama.ntrya sa muniim tat sarvaan vanam eva anvagaahata || 3-2-1

Then, on receiving the hospitality in that hermitage for that day, and on the next day before sunrise, Rama bade farewell to all of the sages, and thus entered the deep forests. [3-2-1]

naanaa mriga gana aakiirnam riksha shaarduula sevitam |

dhvasta vriksha lataa gulmam durdarsha salilaashayam || 3-2-2

niskuujamaanaa shakuni jhillikaa gana naaditam |

lakshmana anucharoo raamo vana madhyam dadarsha ha || 3-2-3

Rama followed by Lakshmana has indeed seen that midst of the forest which is filled with very many animal herds, where the bears and tigers are frequenting, and whose trees, creepers, bushes are ruined, water ponds rendered unsightly, birds song-less, but where the swarms of crickets are whistling deafeningly. [3-3-2, 3]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 2 siitaayaa saha kaakutsthah tasmin ghora mriga aayute |

dadarsha giri shringa aabham purushaadam mahaasvanam || 3-2-4

Therein Rama has seen along with Seetha, a lurid voiced man-eater who is akin to a mountain-peak, among horrendous animals. [3-2-4]

gambhiira aksham mahaavaktram vikatam vikatodaram |

biibhatsam vishamam diirgham vikritam ghora darshanam || 3-2-5

Deep eyed, huge mouthed, horrible with a monstrous belly, hideously misshapen, and a very soaring one that demon is, an ugly one with a horrendous look. [3-2-5]

vasaanam charma vaiyaaghram vasa aardram rudhirokshitam |

traasanam sarva bhuutaanaam vyaaditaasyam iva antakam || 3-2-6

Wearing tiger's skin that is wetted with fat and dampened with blood, he is frightening to all beings like the wide-open mouth of Death. [3-2-6]

triin simhaan chaturo vyaaghraan dvau vrikau prishataan dasha |

savishaanam vasaadigdham gajasya cha shiro mahat || 3-2-7

avasajya aaayase shuule vinadantam mahaasvanam |

He skewered three lions, four tigers, two wolves, ten spotted deer, and a big head of an elephant with tusks and fouled with fat on an iron spear, and he is yelling with his deafening voice. [3-2-7-8a]

sa raamam lakshmanam chaiva siitaam drishtvaa cha maithiliim || 3-2-8

abhya dhaavat susa.mkruddho prajaah kaala iva antakah |

He that demon on seeing Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha ran towards them very angrily, like the Time, the Eliminator of people. [3-2-8b-9a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 2 sa kritvaa bhairavam naadam chaalayan iva mediniim || 3-2-9

ankena aadaaya vaidehiim apakramya tadaa abraviit |

He shouted a tremulous blare, as though to tremor the earth, and seized Vaidehi with his arms and gone afar, and then said this way. [9b-10a]

yuvaam jataa chiira dharau sabhaaryau kshiina jiivitau || 3-2-10

pravishtau dandakaaranyam shara chaapa asi paaninau |

"You two wear jute cloths like hermits, but handle arrows, bows and swords like warriors yet entered Dandaka forest with your wife... your lives are on the wane... [3-2-10b-11a]

katham taapasayoh yuvaam cha vaasah pramadayaa saha || 3-2-11

adharma chaarinau paapau kau yuvaam muni duushakau |

"How saintly are you while living with your wife? You sinful fellows dishonest are you ways... who are you... you insulters of sainthood? [3-2-11b-12a]

aham vanam idam durgam viraagho naama raakshasah || 3-2-12

charaami saayudho nityam maa.msaani bhakshayan |

"I am a demon named Viradha and I will be on the rove in this impassable forest with weapon, always eating the flesh of sages... [3-2-12b-13a]

iyam naarii varaarohaa mama bhaaryaa bhavishyati || 3-2-13

yuvayoh paapayoh cha aham paasyaami rudhiram mridhe |

"This best waist woman will be my wife, and I will drink your blood of you two sinful one in a fight with you... [3-2-13b-14a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 2 tasya evam bruvato dushtam viraadhasya duraatmanah || 3-2-14

shrutvaa sagarvitam vaakyam sa.mbhraantaa janakaatmajaa |

On listening those arrogant words spoken in bad intent by that evil minded Viradha, Seetha, the daughter of , is much panicked. [3-2-14b-15a.]

siitaa praavepitaa udvegaat pravaate kadalii yathaa || 3-2-15

taam drishtvaa raaghavah siitaam viraadha ankagataam shubhaam |

abraviit lakshmanam vaakyam mukhena parishushyataa || 3-2-16

Seetha in fear wiggled like a plantain tree in a whirlwind, and on seeing at the auspicious lady gone into the arms of Viradha, Raghava spoke this sentence to Lakshmana, with his face fully turning to pale. [3-2-15b-16]

pashya saumya narendrasya janakasya atma sa.mbhavaam |

mama bhaaryaam shubhaachaaraam viraadhaanke praveshitaam || 3-2-17

atyanta sukha sa.mvriddhaam raajaputriim yashasviniim |

"See! Gentle Lakshmana, see that illustrious princes Seetha, the daughter of emperor Janaka, one who is brought up comfortably in immense comfort, and my auspiciously traditional wife... now gone into the wretched hands of a demon... [3-2-17-18a]

yat abhipretam asmaasu priyam vara vritam cha yat || 3-2-18

kaikeyyaastu susa.mvrittam kshipram adya eva lakshmana |

"That which is desired to befall on us, and that which is the choicest desire of , and that which is concomitant to her boons, oh, Lakshmana, that has come to pass quickly, and today only Lakshmana... [3-2-18b-19a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 2 yaa na tushyati raajyena putraarthe diirgha darshinii || 3-2-19

yayaa.aham sarvabhuutaanaam priyah prasthaapito vanam |

adya idaaniim sakaamaa saa yaa maataa mama madhyamaa || 3-2-20

"She who is a foresighted lady, she who is not happy with the kingdom for her son, she by whom I, a dear one to all beings, am sent to forests, and she is my middle mother, her desire is fulfilled today, nay now itself... [3-2-19b-20]

para sparshaat tu vaidehyaa na duhkhataram asti me |

pitur vinaashaat saumitre sva raajya haranaat tathaa || 3-2-21

"To me, oh, Soumitri, the grief of others touching Seetha is more, than father's demise or grabbing away my kingdom... [3-2-21]

iti bruvati kaakutsthe baashpa shoka pariplutah |

abraviit lakshmanah kruddho ruddho naaga iva shvasan || 3-2-22

When said thus by Rama, Lakshmana said this with flooding tears of lament, and in his anger hissing like a forestalled snake. [3-2-22]

anaatha iva bhuutaanaam naathah tvam vaasavopamah |

mayaa preshyena kaakutsthah kim artham paritapyase || 3-2-23

"Oh, Rama, you being the Indra like lord of all beings, and while you are being attended by an adherent like me, what for you worry yourself like a derelict? [3-2-23]

sharena nihatasya adya mayaa kruddhena rakshasah |

viraadhasya gata asoh hi mahii paasyati shonitam || 3-2-24

"He will now be felled with my arrow as I am enraged at him, and gone are his lives now, and indeed the earth shall drink his blood... [3-2-24]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 2 raajya kaame mama krodho bharate yo babhuuva ha |

tam viraadhe vimokshyaami vajrii vajram iva achale ||3-2-25

"Indeed, that which anger was there to me on when he desired kingdom, that anger I will now release on Viradha, as Indra released his Thunderbolt on the mountain... [3-2-25]

mama bhuja bala vega vegitah

patatu sharo.asya mahaan mahorasi |

vyapanayatu tanoh cha jiivitam

patatu tatah cha mahiim vighuurnitah || 3-2-26

"Accelerated by my shoulder strength this ruinous arrow shall fall on his massive chest, thus life from his body shall decamp, and then he shall whirling [to move in a circle or similar curve especially with force or speed] fall onto the earth..." So said Lakshmana. [3-2-26]

iti vaalmiiki raamayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande dvitiiyah sargah

Thus, this is the 2nd 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 treck.

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

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

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