Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirty eighth sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Listening up to rAvaNa’s sinister plan to abduct sItA with his help, chill went down mAricha’s spine. His throat parched. Gathering his wits, aware of rAma’s matchless prowess, he began to speak and articulate what a bad idea it was. He rebutted rAvaNa’s accusations about rAma point by point. He blasted rAvaNa for being careless in his assessment of rAma, inadequate due diligence and with right people and he castigated rAvaNa for bluffing callously and in an uninformed manner about rAma. He set the record straight and told rAvaNa of the circumstances in which rAma headed for the forest of his volition. He told rAvaNa about the peerless valor of rAma. And continued building a case to desist rAvaNa from a move that was not only suicidal but it would put the existence of the demonic clan potentially in peril. mAricha was no apprehensive but certain that this idea would spell distater for rAvaNa and even worse he would himself perish. Onwards…
Listen O rAvaNa, mAricha continued – “Once upon a time I had a mountainous form wielding the strength of a thousand elephants, spear in hand, decked with golden ear rings and crown, I roamed the danDaka forests at will like a dark cloud terrorizing people and feasting on the flesh of the sages. The great sage viSwAmaitra was much troubled by me and having gone to king daSaratha, requested him to spare rAma for a few days so as to punish me, protect him from the fear of me and safeguard his yajna. King daSaratha replied that rAma was less than twelve years of age and was as such inexperienced in wielding weapons in a battle. The king offered to himself go with his four-fold forces and protect the yajna of viSwAmitra by vanquishing the enemies as desired by the sage. The sage told the king daSaratha that he was well known for his battle on behalf of the gods and he surely was valorous and famous. However, the sage said, none other than rAma can be a match for this demon in the three worlds. Therefore the sage insisted that rAma be sent with him as he was glorious and was sure to subdue the enemy even if he was young.
With the sage’s request acceeded by the king, he went back to the hermitage along with rAma and began his vow to complete the yajna. rAma wielded his bow, twanged it and began the protection of the yajna.
अजातव्यञ्जनश्रीमान्पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः।
एकवस्त्रधरो धन्वी शिखी कनकमालया।।3.38.14।।
शोभयन् दण्डकारण्यं दीप्तेन स्वेन तेजसा।
अदृश्यत ततो रामो बालचन्द्र इवोदितः।।3.38.15।।
That rAma was boyish without the growth of facial hair, was handsome, eyes like lotus, celibate sporting a tuft of hair and a glowing golden chain. Appearing like the rising un-full moon, he lit up the danDaka forests with his luminance. Then out of my vanity, underestimating the young boy and his prowess, puffed up with the boons bestowed upon me, being haughty, I ran into the hermitage of sage viSwAmitra in order to desecrate his yajna.
The young boy, totally unperturbed at my sight, stretched his bow and unleashed the arrow on me. The momentum of the arrow was enough to vanquish the enemy and the arrow threw me away by a hundred yOjanas into the sea and I fainted by that impact. rAma didn’t want to kill me and so I was spared having lost my senses. Thrown into the deep sea, after a long time I regained my senses and retreated to lanka. Thus, O dear rAvaNa, I was spared of my life while those who accompanied me were all killed by the young warrior who was untrained then in warfare!
तन्मया वार्यमाणस्त्वं यदि रामेण विग्रहम्।
करिष्यस्यापदं घोरां क्षिप्रं प्राप्स्यसि रावण।।3.38.23।।
Therefore, O rAVaNa, I am warning you desist from picking up a fight with rAma, lest you meet with unimaginable disaster. Not only that, you will bring ruin to the beautiful city of lanka filled with great edifices and decked with gems and stones. And the habitants, who are masters of the love sport, who revel in the celebrations of social festivals will be subjected to untold mourning and will perish for no fault of those just like the fishes in the lake of serpents, all for the sake of your unrestrained desire for sItA. All those demons enjoying a good life will perish due to your mistake while the rest of one will flee in fear for want of protection.
शरजालपरिक्षिप्तामग्निज्वालासमावृताम्।
प्रदग्धभवनां लङ्कां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं न संशयः।।3.38.29।।
Undoubtedly you will see arrows rained upon lanka and the city going up in flames with all its mansions and edifices.
परदाराभिमर्शात्तु नान्यत्पापतरं महत्।
प्रमदानां सहस्रं च तव राजन्परिग्रहः।।3.38.30।।
O rAvaNa, there indeed is no greater sin than transgressing upon the chastity of others’ wives. You are blessed with a thousand lovely women, go and revel with them. Thus protect your race, kingdom, prosperity, prestige, and your own dear life.
कलत्राणि च सौम्यानि मित्रवर्गं तथैव च।
यदीच्छसि चिरं भोक्तं मा कृथा रामविप्रियम्।।3.38.32।।
If indeed you want to enjoy your good life, your gentle wives and friends for a long time, don’t antagonize rAma.
If you don’t care for my friendly advice and go ahead to violate sItA, your life will be finished by the arrows of rAma and you will reach abode of the god of death having your strength and support depleted.
निवार्यमाणस्सुहृदा मया भृशं प्रसह्य सीतां यदि धर्षयिष्यसि।
गमिष्यसि क्षीणबलस्सबान्धवो यमक्षयं रामशरात्तजीवितः।।3.38.33।।
Here we conclude the the thirty eighth 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: 3.39. For mAricha “rA is for rAma”!
Previous: 3.37. mAricha counsels, cautions and warns rAvaNa
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
