Rama and Lakshmana while safeguarding the ritual of Sage Vishvamitra for six days and nights, on the last night demons named Maareecha and Subaahu come to hinder the ritual. Rama acts deftly and hits out Maareecha to a long distance, but kills the other, namely Subaahu. Rama thus makes the ritual of sage Vishvamitra a success.
अथ तौ देश कालज्ञौ राजपुत्रौ अरिंदमौ |
देशे काले च वाक्यज्ञौ अब्रूताम् कौशिकम् वचः || १-३०-१
1. atha = then; desha kaala j~nau = place, time, those sensible of; arindamau = enemy-subjugators; deshe kaale ca vaakya j~nau = in place, in time, wording - talking, sensible ones; such; tau raajaputrau = those two, princes; kaushikam vacaH abruutaam = to Kushi's son [Vishvamitra,] sentence, started to say.
The two enemy subjugators, Rama and Lakshmana, who are sensible of their conduct according to time and place, and who will be sensibly talking according to time and place, those princes then spoke this sentence to Vishvamitra. [1-30-1]
भगवन् श्रोतुम् इच्छावो यस्मिन् काले निशाचरौ |
संरक्षणीयौ तौ ब्रूहि न अतिवर्तेत तत् क्षणम् || १-३०-२
2. bhagavan = oh, god; tau nishaa carau = those, night-walkers; yasmin kaale = at which, time; samrakSaNiiyau = be safeguarded; shrotum icChaavaH = to listen, we two are interested; tat kSaNam na ativarteta = that, moment, let not, pass away; bruuhi = tell us.
"Oh, god, we are interested to listen at which time those night-walkers come to disturb the ritual, and at which time we have to safeguarded the ritual from them, that you tell us, let not that moment pass away." [1-30-2]
It appears from the word order as above, 'at which time those two demons are to be safeguarded by us?' But positioning the word samrakshNiiyau is a grammarian's headache. On this many kinds of declinations are said. Rama Tilaka attributes this rakshNiyau 'to be safeguarded' to ritual, and he says that 'from whom the ritual is to be safeguarded'
एवम् ब्रुवाणौ काकुत्स्थौ त्वरमाणौ युयुत्सया |
सर्वे ते मुनयः प्रीताः प्रशशंसुर् नृपात्मजौ || १-३०-३
3. evam bruvaaNau = this way, who are speaking; yuyutsayaa tvaramaaNau = to combat, those that making haste; nR^ipa aatmajau kaakutsthau = to king's, sons - to princes, Kakutstha-s; te munayaH sarve = those, sages, all of them; priitaaH prashashamsuH = delighted at them, praised them.
All the sages available there are delighted with the princes of Kakutstha dynasty who are speaking thus and making haste for a combat with demons and they praised them. [1-30-3]
अद्य प्रभृति षट् रात्रम् रक्षतम् राघवौ युवाम् |
दीक्षाम् गतो हि येष मुनिर् मौनित्वम् च गमिष्यति || १-३०-४
4. raaghavau = oh, Raghava-s; yuvaam = you two; adya prabhR^iti = today, henceforth; SaT raatram = for six, nights [and days also]; ritual is; rakSatam = is to be safeguarded; eSa muniH = this, sage Vishvamitra; diikSaam gataH = vow, entered [is under vow]; maunitvam ca gamiSyati hi = muteness, also, he enters into, indeed.
"Oh, Raghava-s, you have to safeguard this ritual for six nights and days from today, and this Sage Vishvamitra who is under the vow of ritual goes into muteness as required by the vow." Thus said the other sages near at ritual place. [1-30-4]
तौ तु तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रौ यशस्विनौ |
अनिद्रौ षट् अहोरात्रम् तपोवनम् अरक्षताम् || १-३०-५
5. yashasvinau = glorious ones; tau raajaputrau tu = those two, princes, for their part; tat vacanam shrutvaa = that, sentence, on hearing; Sat aho raatram = for six, days, nights; a nidrau = without, sleep - wakefully; tapaH vanam = ritual, woodland; arakSataam = safeguarded.
On hearing that sentence of the other sages those two glorious princes have wakefully safeguarded that woodland of the ritual for six nights and days. [1-30-5]
उपासाम् चक्रतुर् वीरौ यत्तौ परम धन्विनौ |
ररक्षतुर् मुनिवरम् विश्वामित्रम् अरिंदमौ || १-३०-६
6. parama dhanvinau = great, bow wielders; viirau = valiant ones; yattau = alertly; upaasaam cakratuH = nearby, they moved - patrolled close to the Altar of Fire; arimdamau = enemy destroyers; vishvaamitram muni varam = Vishvamitra, the best sage; rarakSatuH = they protected.
On alertly patrolling nearby the Altar of Fire those two enemy-destroyers who are the wielders of great bows and valiant ones have protected the best sage Vishvamitra. [1-30-6]
अथ काले गते तस्मिन् षष्ठे अहनि तदा आगते |
सौमित्रम् अब्रवीद् रामो यत्तो भव समाहितः || १-३०-७
7. atha = then; tasmin kaale gate = that, period, while elapsing; SaSThe ahani aagate = on sixth, day, has come; tadaa = then; raamaH saumitram abraviit = Rama, to Soumitri, said; yattaH samaahitaH bhava = be prepared, on alert, you be.
While that period of six days is elapsing and when the sixth day has come, then Rama said to Saumitri, "you be prepared and be on alert." [1-30-7]
रामस्य एवम् ब्रुवाणस्य त्वरितस्य युयुत्सया |
प्रजज्वाल ततो वेदिः स उपाध्याय पुरोहिता || १-३०-८
8. yuyutsayaa tvaritasya = to combat, quickening; raamasya evam bruvaaNasya = of Rama, thus, while saying; tataH = then; sa upaadhyaaya purohitaa = with, teacher - officator Vishvamitra, with other priests - attended by them; vediH = altar of fire; pra ja jvaala = suddenly, highly, flared up.
While Rama is saying thus himself quickening to combat then the fire in the Altar of Fire flared up suddenly and highly, brightening the chief officiator of the ritual, namely Vishvamitra, and other priests around it. [1-30-8]
The compound pra ja jwaala , with many stresses for the flare is given here to import that the ritual is achieving its climax and it will be fructified thereby. The demons enter just at this juncture to spoil the ritual.
स दर्भ चमस स्रुक्का स समित् कुसुमोच्चया |
विश्वामित्रेण सहिता वेदिः जज्वाल स ऋत्विजा || १-३०-९
9. sa darbha camasa srukkaa = with, sacred grass, drink-vessels, oblation spoons; sa samit kusuma uccayaa = with, firewood sticks, flowers, heaps of; vishvaamitreNa sahitaa = Vishvamitra, attended by; vediH = altar of fire; ja jvaala = highly flared up; sa R^itvijaa = with Ritwiks, conductors of ritual.
The Altar of Fire around which sacred grass, drink-vessels, oblation spoons, firewood-sticks, and heaps of flowers are kept, and around which Vishvamitra and the conductors of ritual are sitting, that altar flared high. [1-30-9]
The darbha is kusha grass used specifically in rituals even today. chamasa is a wooden vessels used for consuming soma juice. srukk is an arm-length wooden spoon with a palm size receptacle at one end used to pour clarified butter and other liquids into Altar of Fire to the chanting of hymns. samidha-s comprises items of wood pieces or sticks, mainly from sandalwood trees and a variety of other items that are offered into fire.
मंत्रवत् च यथा न्यायम् यज्ञो असौ संप्रवर्तते |
आकाशे च महान् शब्दः प्रादुर् आसीत् भयानकः || १-३०-१०
10. asau yaj~naH = that, Vedic ritual; mantravat ca yathaa nyaayam = hymnal rendering, also, as per, rules; sam pravartate = while well, proceeding; aakaashe bhayaanakaH = in sky, frightening onel mahaan shabdaH = strident, blare; praaduH aasiit = generated, it is.
While the Vedic ritual is proceeding well towards its conclusion according to hymnal rendering and rules of conducting the ritual, a strident and frightening blare is generated in the sky. [1-30-10]
आवार्य गगनम् मेघो यथा प्रावृषि दृश्यते |
तथा मायाम् विकुर्वाणौ राक्षसौ अभ्यधावताम् || १-३०-११
11. praa vR^iSi = in great - torrential, cloudburst; meghaH yathaa = [massive] cloud, as to how; dR^ishyate [nir gate] = appears, [emerges]; tathaa = likewise; gaganam aavaarya = sky, enshrouding; raakSasau maayaam vi kurvaaNau = two demons, wizardry, verily, performing; abhya dhaavataam = towards, came running - swooped down.
As to how massive clouds appear in torrential cloudburst, likewise two demons appeared enshrouding the sky, and performing wizardry they are about to swoop down towards the Altar of Fire. [1-30-11]
मारीचः च सुबाहुः च तयोर् अनुचराः तथा |
आगंय भीम संकाशा रुधिर ओघान् अवासृजन् || १-३०-१२
12. bhiima samkaashaa = monstrous, in aspect; maariicaH ca subaahuH ca = Maareecha, also, Subaahu, also; tayoH = their; [ye = who are]; tathaa anucaraaH = like that, followers; are there, they too; aagamya = have come; rudhira oghaan avaasR^ijan = blood, spates, started to pour down.
Maareecha and Subaahu are the monstrous demons that have come along with their followers and they have started to pour down spates of blood. [1-30-12]
ताम् तेन रुधिर ओघेण वेदीम् वीक्ष्य समुक्षिताम् |
सहसा अभिद्रुतो रामः तान् अपश्यत् ततो दिवि || १-३०-१३
13. tena rudhira ogheNa = by that, blood, streams; [maNDitaa = filled]; taam sam ukshitaam = that, verily, swamped; vediim viikshya = altar of fire [with other paraphernalia,], on noticing; tataH sahasaa abhidrutaH = then, swiftly, running towards; raamaH = Rama; taan apashyat divi = them [demons,] saw, in sky.
On noticing the Altar of Fire swamped with streams of blood, then Rama swiftly ran towards that direction and saw the demons in the sky. [1-30-13]
तौ आपतन्तौ सहसा दृष्ट्वा राजीव लोचनः |
लक्ष्मणम् तौ अभिसंप्रेक्ष्य रामो वचनम् अब्रवीत् || १-३०-१४
14. raajiiva locanaH raamaH = lotus, eyed one, Rama; sahasaa aa patantau = hastily, coming and falling - [about to] swoop; tau dR^iSTvaa = them two, on perceiving; lakSmaNam tu = at Lakshmana, but - however; abhi sam prekSya = fully, well, glancing - giving quick look to check up; vacanam abraviit = sentence, said.
Perceiving that the two demons are about to swoop down on Altar of Fire in haste, that lotus-eyed Rama however gave a quick checking look at Lakshmana saying this sentence. [1-30-14]
पश्य लक्ष्मण दुर्वृत्तान् राक्षसान् पिशित अशनान् |
मानवास्त्र समाधूतान् अनिलेन यथा घनान् || १-३०-१५
करिष्यामि न संदेहो न उत्सहे हन्तुम् ईदृशान् |
15, 16a. lakSmaNa = oh, Lakshmana; dur vR^ittaan = ill, behaved; pishita ashanaan = raw-flesh, eaters; such as these; iidR^ishaan = this kind of; raakSasaan = demons; na utsahe hantum = not, enthusiastic - reluctant, to kill; anilena ghanaan yathaa = by wind - by a gust, thick-cloud, as with; maanava astra sam aadhuutaan = by Maanva missile, well, puffed out; kariSyaami = I will do [blow them distantly]; na sandehaH = no, doubt; pashya = you see.
"Lakshmana, I am reluctant to eliminate this kind of these ill-behaved and raw flesh eating demons, but no doubt, they will be puffed out with Manava missile like a gust puffing thick clouds, you may see." Thus Rama said to Lakshmana. [1-30-15, 16a]
इति उक्त्वा वचनम् रामः चापे संधाय वेगवान् || १-३०-१६
मानवम् परम उदारम् अस्त्रम् परम भास्वरम् |
चिक्षेप परम क्रुद्धो मारीच उरसि राघवः || १-३०-१७
16b, 17. iti uktvaa vacanam = thus, said, sentence; vegavaan raamaH = agile, Rama; parama udaaram = greatly, benign - arrow; parama bhaasvaram = highly, radiating arrow; maanavam astram = Maanava, missile; caape sandhaaya = on bow, fitting - taking aim with; parama kruddhaH = highly, furious Rama; raaghavaH maariica urasi = Raghava, on Maareecha's, chest; cikSepa = darted.
Saying so that agile Rama fitted the very benign and highly radiant arrow Maanava on his bow, and taking aim with it at Maareecha that highly furious Raghava darted it on the chest of Maareecha. [1-30-16b, 17]
स तेन परमास्त्रेण मानवेन समाहितः |
संपूर्णम् योजन शतम् क्षिप्तः सागर संप्लवे || १-३०-१८
18. tena maanavena parama astreNa = by that, by Maanava, great, missile; sam aahitaH = well hit; saH = he that Maareecha, the demon; sampuurNam yojana shatam = fully, yojana-s, hundred; saagara samplave = in ocean, billowy - rocking with tidewaters; kSiptaH = is hurled.
Cleanly hit with that great missile Maanava, demon Maareecha is pitched for a hundred yojana lengths in full, and flung down into an ocean rocking with tidewaters. [1-30-18]
विचेतनम् विघूर्णन्तम् शीतेषु बल पीडितम् |
निरस्तम् दृश्य मारीचम् रामो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत् || १-३०-१९
19. shiita iSu bala piiDitam = by Cold, arrow's - missile's, strength, rammed away; vi cetanam vi ghuurNantam = without, sense, verily, whirling; nirastam = rendered without staying power - thrown out; maariicam = at Maareecha; dR^ishya = on seeing; raamaH lakSmaNam abraviit = Rama, to Lakshmana, said.
On seeing him highly whirling, rendered insensate and thrown out when rammed away with the strength of that Cold arrow Rama said this to Lakshmana. [1-30-19]
पश्य लक्ष्मण शीतेषुम् मानवम् मनु संहितम् |
मोहयित्वा नयति एनम् न च प्राणैर् व्ययुज्यत || १-३०-२०
20. lakSmaNa = Lakshmana; manu samhitam = by Manu, expounded; maanavam shiiteSum = pertaining to Maanava missile, Cold arrow; pashya = see; enam mohayitvaa nayati = him, on baffling, taking away; praaNaiH na = with lives; vyayujyata [vi a yujyata = verily, not, separated] = not killed him.
"Lakshmana, see the Cold arrow belonging to Maanava missile expounded by Manu which is taking him away on baffling, but without taking away his life. [1-30-20]
Rama is reluctant to eliminate demon Maareecha at this juncture because the same demon discourages Ravana in confronting Rama, but becomes a golden deer at the behest of Ravana, at the time of Ravana's abducting Seetha. So, Rama shows forbearance at Maareecha till such time.
इमान् अपि वधिष्यामि निर्घृणान् दुष्ट चारिणः |
राक्षसान् पाप कर्मस्थान् यज्ञ घ्नान् रुधिर अशनान् || १-३०-२१
21. nir ghR^iNaan = those who are - not, having ruth; duSTa caariNaH = ill, behaving one - iniquitous ones; paapa karma sthaan = evil, doings, abiding in - flagitious; yaj~na ghnaan = ritual, hinderers; rudhira ashanaan = blood, eaters - drinkers; imaan raakSasaan api = these, demons, but; vadhiSyaami = I wish to kill.
"But I wish to kill these demons for they are ruthless, iniquitous, flagitious, ritual-hinderers and blood-drinkers." So said Rama to Lakshmana. [1-30-21]
इति उक्त्वा लक्ष्मणम् च अशु लाघवम् दर्शयन् इव |
संगृह्य सुमहत् च अस्त्रम् आग्नेयम् रघुनंदनः |
सुबाहु उरसि चिक्षेप स विद्धः प्रापतत् भुवि || १-३०-२२
22. iti uktvaa lakshmaNam = thus, saying, to Lakshmana, also; raghu nandanaH = Raghu's, descendent - Rama; darshayan ashu laaghavam iva = to show, swift, dexterity, as though; su mahat = very, powerful - missile; aagneyam astram samgR^ihya = Aagneya, missile, on taking; subaahu urasi cikSepa = on Subaahu's, chest, darted it; saH viddhaH = he - Subaahu, struck with it; pra apatat bhuvi = flat, fell, on ground.
Thus saying to Lakshmana, as though to show his swift dexterity Rama, the descendent of Raghu dynasty, took up a very powerful missile called Aagneya astra, Fire-missile, and darted it on the chest of Subaahu, by which that demon Subaahu is struck and fell flat on ground. [1-30-22]
शेषान् वायव्यम् आदाय निजघान महायशाः |
राघवः परमोदारो मुनीनाम् मुदम् आवहन् || १-३०-२३
23. mahaa yashaaH = great glorious one; parama udaaraH = supremely, generous one - Rama; raaghavaH = Raghava; muniinaam mudam aa vahan = to sages, felicity, on, carrying - in order to bringing on; vaayavyam aadaaya = Air-god, missile of, on taking; sheSaan [raakshasaan] = remaining [demons]; nijaghaana = hit down.
In order to bring felicity to the sages that great glorious and supremely generous Raghava took up the missile of Air-god and hit down the remaining demons. [1-30-23]
स हत्वा राक्षसान् सर्वान् यज्ञ घ्नान् रघुनंदनः |
ऋषिभिः पूजितः तत्र यथा इन्द्रो विजये पुरा || १-३०-२४
24. raghu nandanaH = Raghu's, delight; yaj~na ghnaan = ritual, hinderers; raakSasaan sarvaan hatvaa = demons, all of them, when eliminated; puraa vijaye indraH yathaa = once, when victorious, Indra, as with; tatra R^iSibhiH puujitaH = there - in hermitage, by sages, idealised.
When Rama, the delight of Raghu's dynasty, has eliminated all of the demons that are the hinderers of Vedic rituals, the sages available there in that hermitage idealised him as Indra was idealised once, when he became victories on demons. [1-30-24]
अथ यज्ञे समाप्ते तु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः |
निरीतिका दिशो दृष्ट्वा काकुत्स्थम् इदम् अब्रवीत् || १-३०-२५
25. atha yaj~ne samaapte tu = then, ritual, on completion, but; vishvaamitraH mahaamuniH = Vishvamitra, great sage; nir iitikaa dishaH dR^iSTvaa = devoid of, calamities, precincts, beholding; kaakutstham idam abraviit = to Kakutstha - to Rama, this, said.
On the completion of ritual beholding the precincts that are devoid of calamities the great sage Vishvamitra said this to Rama. [1-30-25]
कृतार्थो अस्मि महाबाहो कृतम् गुरु वचः त्वया |
सिद्धाश्रमम् इदम् सत्यम् कृतम् वीर महायशः |
स हि रामम् प्रशस्य एवम् ताभ्याम् संध्याम् उपागमत् || १-३०-२६
26. mahaa baahuH = oh, dextrous one; kR^ita arthaH asmi = made, results I am - my purpose is fully realised; tvayaa guru vacaH kR^itam = by you, mentor's, word of honour, is actualised; mahaa yashaH viira = oh, highly illustrious, valiant - Rama; idam siddha aashramam = this, Siddha [Accomplished] hermitage; satyam kR^itam = true [to its name,] is rendered; saH evam raamam prashasya = he - Vishvamitra, thus, at Rama, while applauding; taabhyaam sandhyaam upaagamat = by both of them, vesper-time, came nigh.
"My purpose in conducting the ritual is fully realised, oh, dextrous Rama, and you too, as a highly illustrious prince, have actualised the word of honour of your mentor, where one mentor is your father King Dasharatha and the other is myself, and likewise oh, valiant Rama the glory of this Accomplished hermitage is also actualised..." thus when Vishvamitra is applauding Rama, they have come close to vesper-time for vespertine prayers on Sandhya, the goddess of gloaming. [1-30-26]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे त्रिंशः सर्गः
@ 2001, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : July 04]