Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirty fifth sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
SUrpaNakha managed to grab rAvaNa’s attention in the assembly by taking liberty of castigating him in the middle of the ministers and raising serious questions on the way he is employing statecraft and staying abreast of the happenings all over. Like the devil teaching good conduct, SUrpaNakha offers a lesson or two to rAvaNa about what a good king is like with respect to staying informed by the use of appropriate secret services. And she brazenly accuses rAvaNa of not doing enough on that count and even seems to suggest he will perish at this rate! The ten-headed demon then enquires about rAma and she details the appearance, might and valor of the duo as truly as she has seen. She then goes on to add about sItA and describes her beauty and tells him that he should hurry to up to abduct her and make her his wife. The ten-headed demon rAvAna liked this idea. Onwards…
Having heard the hair-raising account of what transpired at janasthAna from SUrpaNakha, rAvaNa sent his ministers away and began thinking about the suggestion of the ogress. As far as he can estimate, he weighed the pros and cons of the suggestion, thought of the merits and demerits and decided himself that it was the right thing to do. Then, having firmly decided so, he went to the chariot-house and ordered the charioteer to bring out a befitting chariot for his travel. He immediately made the choicest chariot ready and presented it. It was a golden chariot studded with gems, pulled by devil-faced donkeys and could go wherever rAvaNa desired. Ascending that chariot rAvaNa traveled towards the ocean.
स श्वेतवालव्यजनः श्वेतच्छत्रो दशाननः।
स्निग्धवैदूर्यसंकाश स्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः।।3.35.8।।
विंशद्भुजो दशग्रीवो दर्शनीयपरिच्छदः।
त्रिदशारिर्मुनीन्द्रघ्नो दशशीर्ष इवाद्रिराट्।।3.35.9।।
कामगं रथमास्थाय शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः।
विद्युन्मण्डलवान्मेघस्सबलाक इवाम्बरे।।3.35.10।।
Fanned by white yak-furred fans under a brilliant white parasol, having donned pure gold earrings, he looked like the king of the mountains with ten heads resembling mountain peaks and twenty arms that have tormented sages and the gods including indra, he shone like a gem in the sky in the aerial chariot that could take him wherever he desired. He resembled the cloud, his ornaments the lightning and the parasol, white cranes and so he looked like a cloud with lightning floating in the sky with the brilliant white cranes.
The valorous rAvaNa traveled in the skies watching over the beaches, mountains on the shores, lovely hermitages sporting elevated altars, lotus ponds and sylvan surroundings filled with banana plantation, coconut trees, sAl and palm trees. Those hermitages were filled with races like the nAgas, garuDas, gandharvas, kinnerAs in thousands and various orders of sages such as aja, vaikhAnasa, mAsha, marIchipa who were extremely self restrained and disciplined in matters of food. There were also scores of sidhhAs, accomplished ones and chArANas, wanderers. There were scores of gandharvas and apsaras, experts in amorous sports well dressed and adorned. The gods and demons wandered around, reveled in those resorts and had a great time.
On the skies, rAvaNa witnessed aerial chariots of the sages who had accomplished and attained exalted high heavens. Their chariots, well decorated and beautiful music emanating from them, could move anywhere as per their wish. Moving forward, on the earth he witnessed sandalwood trees, groves of kankola fruits, fragrant nutmegs, tamAla flowers and pepper shrubs. There were heaps of pearls on the shores that were drying.
As he flew along, there were heaps of shells, gold, silver, corals and then there were lovely waterfalls and beautiful lakes and cities and in those were beautiful women, chariots, horses and elephants. The backwaters far from the sea and the plains with their sylvan surroundings verily resmbled heaven with gentle breeze blowing through.
And a bit further he witnessed a large banyan tree that spread over hundred yOjanas. It was a shelter for the sages.
[It was not an ordinary banyan tree, there is history associated with it].
Once the great garuDa carrying a giant elephant and tortoise in its claws rested on a branch of that tree to feed on them. Below that were assembled scores of sages of different orders – vaikhAnasas, mAshas, vAlakhilyas, marichipAs, aja and dhUmra for their scholarly discussions. The branch on which garuDA sat gave in and broke due to the sheer weight of the garuDa along with its preys – the giant elephant and the tortoise. The sages were about to be hurt by the falling branch when the righteous garuDa displayed outstanding agility and strength and taking compassion on the sages, flew away taking the falling branch in one claw and the preys in the other! Then feeding on the preys while on one foot with the branch, garuDa then destroyed the settlement of hunters that troubled the sages. By this heroic act, the garuDa was mighty pleased and his energy and enthusiasm were redoubled. He went straight to the palace of indra and breaking through the window, he stole away the nectar pot from there stealthily.
[The reason for stealing of nectar has its own story. ]
[Coming back to the banyan tree], rAvaNa, the brother of kubEra witnessed that sprawling banyan tree which carried the insignia of garuDa and was a favourite spot of assembly for the sages. Having crossed over the ocean by some distance, rAvaNa now beheld a hermitage in the forest in a lovely spot. And in that hermitage he beheld a demon by name mAricha who wore bark clothes and matted locks and observed vows with regulated and disciplined intake of food.
तत्र कृष्णाजिनधरं जटावल्कलधारिणम्।
ददर्श नियताहारं मारीचं नाम राक्षसम्।।3.35.38।।
mAricha received the king rAvaNa with due protocol, showered appropriate hospitality on him and welcomed him. He treated him with food and water and having received him thus, he meaningfully asked –
कच्चित्सुकुशलं राजन्लङ्कायां राक्षसेश्वर।
केनार्थेन पुनस्त्वं वै तूर्णमेवमिहागतः।।3.35.41।।
“O king, I hope all is well in lanka. What brings you back here so soon again?”
Thus asked by mAricha, rAvaNa, well versed in the use of words, replied.
Here we conclude the the thirty fifth sarga of the araNya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 3.36. rAvaNa reveals his plan, shocks mAricha!
Previous: 3.34. She seeds and feeds poison
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
