Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
Khara, the brother of Shuurpanakha starts out to wage war with Rama with fourteen thousand demons and with their unusual arsenal. This is the first major move of demons towards Rama that leads to the ultimate battle at the end of epic. |
evam ˜dharÿita× þ¨ra× þ¨rpaõakhy˜ khara× tata× |
uv˜ca rakÿas˜m madhye khara× kharataram vaca× || 3-22-1
1. tataH= then; shuurpaNakhyaa= by Shuurpanakha; evam rakSasaam madhye aadharSitaH= this way, demons, among, disparaged; shuuraH kharaH= valiant, Khara; kharaH= infuriated one; khara taram vacaH= hurtful, highly, words; uvaaca= spoke.
Thus when Shuurpanakha disparaged that valiant Khara amidst demons he is infuriated and spoke these highly hurtful words. [3-22-1]
tava apam˜na prabhava× krodho ayam atulo mama |
na þakyate dh˜rayitum lavaõa ambha iva ulbaõam || 3-22-2
2. tava apamaana prabhavaH= your, disgrace, originating from; mama atulaH ayam krodhaH= my, limitless, this, fury; ulbaNam lavaNa ambha iva= highly [bitter,] salt, water, like; dhaarayitum na shakyate= to contain, not, possible.
"This fury of mine originating from the disgrace brought on you is like the highly bitter salt water that is impossible to contain when ingested. [3-22-2]
na r˜mam gaõaye vŸry˜n m˜nuÿam kÿŸõa jŸvitam |
˜tma duþcaritai× pr˜õ˜n hato yo adya vimokÿyati || 3-22-3
3. maanuSam kSiiNa jiivitam raamam= human, one with dwindled, lifetime, Rama will be; viiryaat na gaNaye= by [his] valour, not, I do not reckon - I do not care; yaH= which Rama; aatma duH caritaiH= by his own, bad, doings; hataH= slain; adya praaNaan vi + mokSyati= now, lives, is going to give up.
"I do not care the valour of that Rama for he is a human with dwindled lifetime, now going to give up his life slain by his own misdoings. [3-22-3]
b˜ÿpa× samdh˜ryat˜m eÿa sambhrama× ca vimucyat˜m |
aham r˜mam saha bhr˜tr˜ nay˜mi yama s˜danam || 3-22-4
4. eSa baaSpaH= these, tears, hold back; samdhaaryataam= hold back; sambhramaH ca vimucyataam= despair, too, cast of; aham raamam bhraatraa saha= I, Rama, brother, along with; nayaami yama saadanam= send, to Terminator's, abode.
"Control your tears and cast off your despair too, for I will send Rama to the abode of the Terminator along with his brother. [3-22-4]
paraþvadha hatasya adya manda pr˜õasya bh¨ tale |
r˜masya rudhiram raktam uÿõam p˜syasi r˜kÿasi || 3-22-5
5. raakSasii= oh, demoness; adya= now; bhuu tale= to earth's, surface; parashvadha hatasya= by axe, hew down; manda praaNasya= one who is with slowed down, lives - short-lived Rama; raamasya raktam uSNam rudhiram= Rama's, red, hot, blood; paasyasi= you will swill.
"Now, you demoness, you will swill that Rama's red hot blood when that short-lived one is hewed down to earth with an axe." So Khara assured Shuurpanakha. [3-22-5]
s˜ prah®ÿ÷v˜ vaca× þrutv˜ kharasya vadan˜t cyutam |
praþaþaÕsa punar maurkhy˜t bhr˜taram rakÿas˜m varam || 3-22-6
6. saa kharasya vadanaat cyutam= she, frm Khara's, face - mouth, fallen; vacaH shrutvaa= words, on hearing; pra hR^iSTvaa= very, gladdened; maurkhyaat= by stupidity; bhraataram= about brother; rakSasaam varam= among demons, [you are] the best; punaH pra+shashamsa= again - further, highly praised.
On hearing the words plunged from the mouth of Khara she is very much gladdened and in all her stupidity she further praised her brother highly saying, "you are the best among all the demons..." [3-22-6]
tay˜ paruÿita× p¨rvam punar eva praþaÕsita× |
abravŸt d¨ÿaõam n˜ma khara× sen˜ patim tad˜ || 3-22-7
7. tayaa puurvam paruSitaH= by her, earlier, denounced; punaH eva prashamsitaH= again, thus, praised; kharaH= Khara [is overjoyed]; tadaa= then; duuSaNam naama senaa patim= Duushana, named, to army, commander; abraviit= said - ordered.
Though she denounced him earlier she alone praised him now for which Khara is overjoyed, and then he ordered his army commander, namely Duushana. [3-22-7]
caturdaþa sahasr˜õi mama citta anuvartin˜m |
rakÿas˜m bhŸma veg˜n˜m samareÿu anivartin˜m || 3-22-8
8. mama citta anuvartinaam= my, will, followers of; bhiima vegaanaam= of frightful, hustle; samareSu= in combats; a+ni+vartinaam= not, return, coming [unretreating]; such of those; rakSasaam= demons; catur dasha sahasraaNi= four, ten, thousand [fourteen thousand]; are there.
"Those who are the followers of my will, whose hustle will be frightful and who will be unretreating in combats, such of those demons are there in fourteen thousand numbers, aren't they. [3-22-8]
nŸla jŸm¨ta varõ˜n˜m loka hiÕs˜ vih˜r˜õ˜m |
sarva udyogam udŸrõ˜n˜m rakÿas˜m saumya k˜raya || 3-22-9
9. saumya= oh, gentle Duushana; niila jiimuuta varNaanaam= blue, cloud, complexioned ones; loka himsaa vihaaraaNaam= in race, massacres [genocide,] pampering in; udiirNaanaam rakSasaam= domineering, demons; sarva udyogam= all at once, for activity - belligerence; kaaraya= make, cause them to.
"And oh, gentle Duushana, those domineering demons are with dark-clouds like complexions, and they are the pamperers of genocide, as such, cause them for a belligerency, all at once. [3-22-9]
The very sight of these black cloud like demons will be murderous to humans, as Rama exclaimed about Tataka. If the on looking humans are not dead at first sight of these demons, then these demons can pamper in killing humans
upasth˜paya me kÿipram ratham saumya dhan¨Õÿi ca |
þar˜n ca citr˜n khaýg˜Õ ca þaktŸ ca vividh˜× þit˜× || 3-22-10
10. saumya= oh, gentle one; me= for me; ratham= chariot; dhanuumSi sharaan ca= bows, arrows, also; citraan khaDgaam ca= amazing, swords, also; vi vidhaaH shitaaH shaktii ca= diverse, sharp, power bolts, also; kSipram upa sthaapaya= promptly, before me, be positioned.
"For me, oh, gentle one, promptly position my chariot before me along with bows and arrows, amazing swords and diverse sharp power bolts. [3-22-10]
agre niry˜tum icch˜mi paulasty˜n˜m mah˜tman˜m |
vadh˜rtham durvinŸtasya r˜masya raõa kovida || 3-22-11
11. raNa kovida= oh, war, expert Duushana; dur+viniitasya= of evil, minded one; raamasya vadha artham= Rama's, for elimination, purpose of; mahaatmanaam paulastyaanaam great-souled ones, of all Paulastya clansmen [demon race]; agre= ahead of; niryaatum icChaami= to start, I wish to.
"Oh, war pert Duushana, I wish to start ahead of all the demons of ours, who are the clans-demons of the great souled Paulastya, for the purpose of elimination of that evil-minded Rama." So said Khara to Duushana. [3-22-11]
For this Maheshvara Tiirtha says: r˜masya agre paulasty˜n˜m r˜kÿas˜n˜m vadh˜rtham niry˜tum icch˜mi which gives meaning: "Before Rama I wish to present all the demonic clansmen of Sage Paulastya, for the purpose of elimination, for which I am starting ahead as a starter of this elimination process..."
iti tasya bruv˜õasya s¨rya varõam mah˜ratham |
sat aþvai× þabalai× yuktam ˜cacakÿe atha d¨ÿaõa× || 3-22-12
12. tasya= his, Khara's; iti bruvaaNasya= thus, while saying; atha duuSaNaH= then, Duushana; suurya varNam mahaa ratham= sun, coloured [dazzle,] great, chariot; shabalaiH= variegated in colours; sat ashvaiH yuktam= very good, horses, along with [yoked]; aacacakSe= informed - heralded.
While Khara is saying thus Duushana heralded saying, "Here comes the great chariot with sun's dazzle, yoked with very good horses of variegated colours." [3-22-12]
tam meru þikhara ˜k˜ram tapta k˜ñcana bh¨ÿaõam |
hema cakram asamb˜dham vaid¨ryamaya k¨baram || 3-22-13
matsyai× puÿpai× drumai× þailai× candra s¨ryai× ca k˜ñcanai× |
m˜ðgalyai× pakÿi samghai× ca t˜r˜bhi× ca sam˜v®tam || 3-22-14
dhvaja nistriÕþa sampannam kiðkiõŸ vara bh¨ÿitam |
sat aþva yuktam sa× amarÿ˜t ˜ruroha khara× tad˜ || 3-22-15
13, 14, 15. saH kharaH= he, that Khara; meru shikhara aakaaram= like Mt. Meru's, ridge, in shape; tapta kaancana bhuuSaNam= molten, gold, embellished in; hema cakram= golden, wheeled; a + sam + baadham= not, verily, inconvenient [not congested, having enough room, seating capacity]; vaiduuryamaya kuubaram= with studded-gems, shaft of yoke; kaancanaiH= with golden [with artefacts of gold, like]; matsyaiH puSpaiH drumaiH shailaiH= with fishes, flowers, trees, mountains; candra suuryaiH ca= moon, sun, also; maangalyaiH pakSi samghaiH ca= auspicious one, bird, flocks; taaraabhiH ca= with stars, also; sam + aa + vR^itam= all over, encompassed; dhvaja nistrinsha sampannam= flags, swords, endowed with; kinkiNii vara bhuuSitam= jingle-bells, best ones, decorated with; sat ashva yuktam= best, horses, yoked with; [ratham= chariot] tadaa= then; amarSaat aaruroha= with rancour, mounted.
That chariot which has a roomy cabin with its rooftop like that of the ridge of Mt. Meru, body embellished in gold, wheels golden, gem-studded yoke-to-carriage shaft, all around encompassed with golden artefacts like fishes, flowers, trees, mountains, sun, moon, and auspicious birds flocks and stars, and even decorated with jingle-bells, endowed with flags, swords, and best horses, and such as it is, Khara embarked on it with all his rancour. [3-22-13, 14, 15]
khara× tu t˜n mahat sainy˜m ratha carma ˜yudha dhvaj˜n |
niry˜ta iti abravŸt prekÿya d¨ÿaõa× sarva r˜kÿas˜n || 3-22-16
16. kharaH tu= Khara, but; mahat sainyaam= great, army; ratha carma [varma] aayudha dhvajaan= which has - chariots, skins, [shields,] weaponry, flags; taan sarva raakSasaan= them, all, demons; prekshya duuSaNaH= on seeing - on overseeing, Duushana; niryaata iti= proceed, thus as; abraviit= said - charged.
On overseeing that great army with chariots, skins shields, weaponry and flags, and even at Duushana too, Khara charged all those demons saying "proceed." [3-22-16]
tata× tad r˜kÿasam sainyam ghora carma ˜yudha dhvajam |
nirjag˜ma jana sth˜n˜t mah˜n˜dam mah˜javam || 3-22-17
17. tataH= then; ghora carma [varman] aayudha dhvajam= having ghoulish, skins, [shields] weaponry, flags; tat raakSasam sainyam= that, demonic, force; mahaa naadam= with blatant, blare; mahaa javam= with hasty, foray; janasthaanaat nirjagaama= from Janasthaana, issued forth.
Then that demonic force with their ghoulish skin shields, weaponry and flags, issued forth from Janasthaana, blaring blatantly and foraying dashingly. [3-22-17]
mudgarai× pa÷÷iþai× þ¨lai× sutŸkÿõai× ca paraþvadhai× |
khaýgai× cakrai× ca hastasthai× bhr˜jam˜nai× sa tomarai× || 3-22-18
þaktibhi× parighai× ghorai× atim˜trai× ca k˜rmukai× |
gad˜ asi musalai× vajrai× g®hŸtai× bhŸma darþanai× || 3-22-19
r˜kÿas˜n˜m sughor˜õ˜m sahasr˜õi caturdaþa |
niry˜t˜ni jana sth˜n˜t khara citta anuvartin˜m || 3-22-20
18. gR^ihiitaiH= taken; hasta sthaiH= in hands, carrying [wielding]; mudgaraiH paTTishaiH shuulaiH= maces, dart-bolts, spears; su tiikSNaiH ca= very, [razor-] sharp ones, also; parashvadhaiH khaDgaiH cakraiH ca= axes, swords, discs, also; bhraajamaanaiH tomaraiH shaktibhiH= flashing ones, power-darts, with power-bolts; ghoraiH parighaiH= dreadful ones, iron-maces; ati maatraiH kaarmukaiH= un, usual ones, bows; gadaa asi musalaiH= clubs, scimitars, pounding-shafts; bhiima darshanaiH= that are calamitous, in look; vajraiH= with thunderbolt [like weapons]; khara citta anuvartinaam= Khara's, whim, followers; su ghoraaNaam= very, fiendish one; raakSasaanaam= of demons; catur dasha sahasraaNi= four, ten, thousand, [army of fourteen thousand]; janasthaanaat niryaataani= from Janasthaana, started out.
Wielding maces, dart-bolts, and spears, and also razor-sharp axes, swords and discs, and dreadful power-darts and power-bolts that are flashing, iron maces, unusual bows, clubs, scimitars and pounding-shafts, and even thunderbolt like weapons that are calamitous in look, that army which comprises fourteen thousand fiendish demons that are the followers of Khara's whim, has started from Janasthaana. [3-22-18, 19, 20]
Earlier batch which was sent against Rama consisted fourteen demons and now it is an army of fourteen thousand demons.
t˜n tu nirdh˜vato d®ÿ÷v˜ r˜kÿas˜n bhŸma darþanam |
kharasya atha ratha× kiñcit jag˜ma tat anantaram || 3-22-21
21. nir dhaavataH= out, rushing; bhiima darshanam= of diabolic, appearance; taan raakSasaan dR^iSTvaa= thgem, demons, on seeing; kimcit tat anantaram== a little, that, after - at their behind; atha= then; kharasya rathaH jagaama= Khara's, chariot, proceeded.
On seeing the outrush of those demons of diabolic appearance, then Khara's chariot also proceeded a little later at their behind. [3-22-21]
tata× t˜n þabal˜n aþv˜n tapta k˜ñcana bh¨ÿit˜n |
kharasya matam ˜jñ˜ya s˜rathi× paryacodayat || 3-22-22
22. tataH= then; saarathiH= charioteer; tapta kaancana bhuuSitaan= molten [polished] golden, adorned with; shabalaan taan ashvaan= colourful, them, horses; kharasya matam aaj~naaya= Khara's, notion, knowing [according to]; pari+acodayat= set spurs to horses - speedily charioted.
Then the charioteer set spurs on those colourful horses that are adorned in polished gold according to the notions of Khara. [3-22-22]
sañcodito ratha× þŸghram kharasya ripu gh˜tina× |
þabdena ˜p¨ray˜m˜sa diþa× sa pradiþa× tath˜ || 3-22-23
23. tathaa= that way; ripu ghaatinaH= enemy, destroyer; kharasya= of Khara; shiighram coditaH= quickly - impetuously, driven; saH rathaH= that, chariot; dishaH= quarters, sa pra+dishaH= with, inter, quarters; shabdena aapuurayaamaasa= with noise, started to swell.
When the chariot of enemy destroyer Khara is driven that impetuously, it has started to swell earth's four cardinal quarters and inter-quarters with turbulence. [3-22-23]
prav®ddha manyu× tu khara× khara svare
ripo× vadha artham tvarito yath˜ antaka× |
ac¨cudat s˜rathim unnadan punar
mah˜balo megha iva aþma varÿav˜n || 3-22-24
24. pra vR^iddha manyuH= speedily, escalating, rancour; khara svare= having harsh - thunderous, voice; kharaH= Khara; ripoH vadha artham= enemy, killing, intending to; antakaH yathaa= Terminator, as with; tvaritaH= hastening; ashma varSavaan= having stones, storm; mahaa balaH= overwhelming; megha iva= a cloud, like; saarathim= at charioteer; punaH= again - repeatedly; ut+nadan= loudly, shouting at; acuucudat [a cuu cudat]= hurried up.
He whose voice is thunderous and whose rancour escalated speedily, and who is hastening forward like the Terminator intending to destroy his enemy, that Khara repeatedly hurried the charioteer shouting at him loudly like a overwhelming cloud that is going to storm stones. [3-22-24]
iti v˜lmŸki r˜m˜yaõe ˜di k˜vye kiÿkindha k˜õýe dv˜ viÕþa× sarga×
Thus, this is the 22nd chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : June 04]