“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 34 Shurpanakha Induces Ravana to Kidnap Sita Summary Ravana enquires about Rama's valor and weaponry for which Shuurpanakha narrates about Rama, Seetha, and Lakshmana and what has happened in Janasthaana. Thus she prompts Ravana to achieve Seetha as his wife, for none surpasses Seetha in her beauty. Chapter [Sarga] 34 in Detail tatah shuurpanakhaam dristvaa bruvantiim parusam vacah | amaatya madhye samkriuddhah paripapraccha raavanah || 3-34-1 On observing Shuurpanakha who is speaking bitter words against him in the presence of ministers then Ravana is highly infuriated and queried her. [1-34-1] kah ca raamah katham viiryah kim ruupah kim paraakramah | kim artham dandakaaranyam pravistah ca sudustaram || 3-34-2 "Who is Rama? How brave he is? Of what mien [appearance] and what caliber he is? And for what reason he entered the highly inscrutable Dandaka forest? [1-34-2] aayudham kim ca raamasya yena te raaksasaah hataa | kharah ca nihatah sa.nkhye duusanah trishiraah tathaa || 3-34-3 tat tvam bruuhi manojnaangii kena tvam ca viruupitaa | "What is the weapon of that Rama by whom these many demons are killed in war, likewise Duushana and Trishira are killed, and even the not killable Khara is killed? Oh, lady with fascinating limbs, who disfigured you? That you tell. [1-34-3, 4a] Page 1 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 34 iti uktaa raaksasa indrena raaksasii krodha muurcchitaa || 3-34-4 tato raamam yathaa nyaayam aakhyaatum upacakrame | When the king of demons has asked her thus, she that demoness Shuurpanakha who is in a fit of fury then commenced to describe Rama in the point of fact. [3-34-4b, 5a] diirghabaahuh vishaalaaksah ciira krisna ajina ambarah || 3-34-5 kandarpa sama ruupah ca raamo dasharatha aatmajah | "Dasharatha's son Rama is the one with inescapable arms and keen-eyed, but has jute- cloths and skin of black-deer for his dress, yet in semblance he is similar to the Love-god. [3-34- 5b, 6a] shakra caapa nibham caapam vikrisya kanakaa.ngadam || 3-34-6 diiptaan ksipati naaraacaan sarpaan iva mahaa visaan | "Yanking out a bow with golden fillets, and that is similar to the bow of Indra in its shine, he strews candent iron-arrows that simulate snakes with deadly poison. [3-34-6b, 7a] na aadadaanam sharaan ghoraan na mu.nca.ntam mahaabalam || 3-34-7 na kaarmukam vikarsantam raamam pashyaami sanyuge | "It has become unperceivable for me to see when and how he drew his ghastly arrows from quiver on the battleground; or, stretching his bow admitting those arrows on bowstring - no; or, his releasing those sharp edged arrows from the bow - no; why them, that great mighty Rama himself has become imperceptible in the fastness of his action. [3-34-7b, 8a] hanyamaanam tu tat sainyam pashyaami shara vristibhih || 3-34-8 indrena iva uttamam sasyam aahatam tu ashma vristibhih | "As with a crop of grain devastated by a hailstorm of Indra, I could only see that best army while it is being annihilated with a downpour of arrows. [3-34-8b, 9a] Page 2 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 34 raksasaam bhiima viiryaanaam sahasraani caturdasha || 3-34-9 nihataani sharaih tiiksnaih tena ekena padaatinaa | ardhaadhika muhuurtena kharah ca saha duusanah || 3-34-10 "Thus a lone foot-soldier with his excruciating arrows has exterminated fourteen thousand demons with fiendish might, including Duushana, and along with Khara, say, within one and half hours. [3-34-9b,10] risiinaam abhayam dattam krita ksemaah ca dandakaah || 3-34-11 ekaa katha.mcit muktaa aham paribhuuya mahaatmanaa | strii vadham sha.nkamaanena raamena viditaatmanaa || 3-34-12 "Accorded is the protection to the sages, and Dandaka is made as a snuggest place for them. I am the lone one somehow let off by such a high-minded Rama, of course, on humiliating me by cutting my nose and ears. Maybe, it is because he is hesitant of woman-slaughter for he is a well-versed soul. [1-34-11, 12] bhraataa ca asya mahaatejaa gunatah tulya vikramah | anuraktah ca bhaktah ca laksmano naama viiryavaan || 3-34-13 "A highly resplendent one who by his trait matches his brother in bravery, an adherent and a devotee of his brother, such a stout-hearted one is Rama's brother known as Lakshmana. [1-34-13] amarsii durjayo jetaa vikraanto buddhimaan balii | raamasya daksine baahuh nityam praano bahih carah || 3-34-14 "That Lakshmana is an easily irritable one, he is not that easily invincible, an easy victor, but not an easygoing valiant, yet he is an intellectual at ease, and a mighty one who does not ease off, such a Lakshmana is the perpetual right-hand and the peripherally moving life of Rama. [1-34-14] Page 3 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 34 raamasya tu vishaalaaksii puurnendu sadrisha aananaa | dharma patnii priyaa nityam bhartrih priya hite rataa || 3-34-15 "But, one with her broad-eyes, face similar to the full-moon is the dear and wedded wife of Rama, and she always takes delight in the well-being of her dear one, namely Rama. [1-34-15] saa sukeshii sunaasoruh suruupaa ca yashasvinii | devata iva vanastha asyaraajate shriir iva aparaa || 3-34-16 "She is the one with lengthy hairdo, her nose and thighs are fine, and that glorious one with fine looks is the wife of Rama, and she is beaming forth like a sylvan deity situated in that woodland, who in turn is like Goddess Lakshmi in a temporal form. [1-34-16] tapta kaa.ncana varna aabhaa rakta tu.nga nakhii shubhaa | siitaa naama varaarohaa vaidehii tanu madhyamaa || 3-34-17 "She has a complexion matching the shade of refined gold, her nails are rosy and jutting, and she with her curvaceous hips and slim waist is the daughter of King of Videha, and known as Seetha. [1-34-17] na eva devii na ga.ndharvaa na yaksii na ca ki.nnarii | tathaa ruupaa mayaa naarii drista puurvaa mahiitale || 3-34-18 "So far I have not seen any goddess with such a comeliness; a Gandharva female - no; a Yaksha female - no; a Kinnara female - no; and a woman, no, not on the face of earth! [1-34-18] yasya siitaa bhavet bhaaryaa yam ca hristaa parisvajet | ati jiivet sa sarvesu lokesu api pura.ndaraat || 3-34-19 "To whom Seetha becomes a wife and around whom she gladly throws her arms after such a marriage, he lives more grandly than Indra in all the worlds. [1-34-19] Page 4 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 34 saa sushiilaa vapuh shlaaghyaa ruupena apratimaa bhuvi | tava anuruupaa bhaaryaa saa tvam ca tasyaah patih varah || 3-34-20 "She is a highly gracious lady, laudable by her bodily structure, incomparable by her appearance, and she will become a seemly wife of yours, and you too will become a best husband of hers. [1-34-20] taam tu vistiirna jaghanaam piina uttu.nga payo dharaam | bhaaryaa arthe tu tava aanetum udyataa aham vara aananaam || 3-34-21 viruupitaa asmi kruurena lakshmanena mahaabhuja "Oh, mighty shouldered brother, but when I ventured to bring her as your wife, whose hips are broad, bosom fat and bulgy, and face excellent, that cruel Lakshmana disfigured me. [1- 34-21, 22a] taam tu dristvaa adya vaidehiim puurna candra nibha aananaam || 3-34-22 manmathasya sharaanaam ca tvam vidheyo bhavisyasi | "You too will become a groveler [crawler] at the arrows lover-god in case you now see Vaidehi with a face shining like full-moon. [1-34-22, 23a] yadi tasyaam abhipraayo bhaaryaa arthe tava jaayate | shiighram ud.h dhriyataam paado jayaartham iha daksinah || 3-34-23 "Hence, if you hatch an opinion to make her as your wife, and if you aspire success, now itself quickly put your best foot, namely your right foot, forward. [1-34-23] rocate yadi te vaakyam mama etat raakshaseshvara | kriyataam nir.hvisha.nkena vacanam mama raavana || 3-34-24 "Oh, the king of demons Ravana, if this advise of mine is pleasing to you, let this idea be actualized without any shilly-shallying in your mind. [1-34-24] Page 5 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Aranya Kanda – Chapter 34 vijnaaya iha aatma shaktim ca kriyataam ca mahaabala | siitaa tava anavadyaa.ngii bhaaryatve raakshaseshvara || 3-34-25 "Oh, king of the demons, realize your stout-heartedness, and oh, great mighty one, let that immaculately limbed Seetha be abducted to become your wife. [1-34-25] nishamya raamena sharaih ajihmagaih hataan janasthaana gataan nishaacaraan | kharam ca dristvaa nihatam ca duusanam tvam adya krityam pratipattum arhasi || 3-34-26 "On recognizing that Rama with his straight shooting arrows destroyed the night-walkers positioned at Janasthaana, and further on distinguishing that Duushana, and even Khara, is dispatched, it is apt of you to awake to a workable action." Thus Shuurpanakha has ear bashed Ravana. [1-34-26] iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande catur tri.mshah sargah Thus, this is the 34th 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. Page 6 of 6 .