Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
Rama eliminates fourteen thousand demons led by Duushana. Firstly, the forerunning demons are killed, next Duushana is routed, and then twelve other captains who on knowing Duushana's downfall dashed towards Rama. Left behind are only two, Khara and Trishira, the chiefs of that demonic force in Janasthaana. |
d¨ÿaõa× tu svakam sainyam hanyam˜nam vilokya ca |
sandideþa mah˜b˜hu× bhŸma veg˜n niþ˜car˜n || 3-26-1
r˜kÿas˜n pañca s˜hasr˜n samareÿu anivartina× |
1. mahaabaahuH duuSaNaH tu= mighty armed one, Duushana, on his part; hanyamaanam= while being shattered; svakam sainyam vilokya ca= his own, forces, on seeing, also; bhiima vegaan nishaacaraan= of monstrous, impetus, nightwalkers; samareSu a+ nivartinaH = in war, not, retreating; panca saahasraan raakshasaan = t five, thousands, demons; samdidesha= ordered.
On seeing the shattering of his own forces, Duushana bid five thousand mighty-armed nightwalkers of monstrous impetus, and who knew no retreat in war, to attack Rama. [3-26-1]
te þ¨lai× pa÷÷iþai× kadagai× þil˜ varaÿai× drumai× || 3-26-2
þara varÿai× vicchinnam vavarÿu× tam samantata× |
2b, 3a. te= they; shuulaiH paTTishaiH kadagaiH= with spears, scimitars, swords; shilaa varaSaiH= with boulder, rains; drumaiH = with trees; shara varSaiH= with arrow, rains; a vi cChinnam= not, verily, ceasing [incessantly]; sam antataH= completely, from all over; tam= on that Rama; va varSuH= inordinately, rained.
And they with spears, scimitars, swords, and with the rains of boulders, trees and arrows rained incessantly and inordinately upon Rama from all over. [3-26-2b, 3a]
tat drum˜õ˜m þil˜n˜m ca varÿam pr˜õa haram mahat || 3-26-3
pratijagr˜ha dharm˜tm˜ r˜ghava× tŸkÿõa s˜yakai× |
3b, 4a. dharmaatmaa raaghavaH= virtue-souled, Raghava; tat praaNa haram = that, lives, taking; mahat= ghastly one [storming]; drumaaNaam shilaanaam ca= of trees, of boulders, also; varSam = storm; tiikSNa saayakaiH= with fierce, arrows; prati jagraaha= in return, taken [neutralised.]
Raghava, the virtue-souled, in his turn has neutralised that ghastly and life-taking storm of boulders and trees with his fierce arrows. [3-26-3b, 4a]
pratig®hya ca tad varÿam nimŸlita iva ®ÿabha× || 3-26-4
r˜ma× krodham param lebhe vadha artham sarva rakÿas˜m |
4b, 5a. raamaH= Rama; nimiilita R^iSabhaH iva = with closed eyes, a bull, as with; tat varSam prati gR^ihya= that, storm, on receiving - on assimilating; sarva rakSasaam vadha artham = of all, demons, elimination, for the sake of; param krodham lebhe= inordinate, infuriation, he took [he evoked.]
Like a bull receiving rain with closed eyes Rama assimilated that storming and then evoked an inordinate infuriation for eliminating all of the demons. [3-26-4b, 5a]
tata× krodha sam˜viÿ÷a× pradŸpta iva tejas˜ || 3-26-5
þarai× abhyakirat sainyam sarvata× saha d¨ÿaõam |
5b, 6a. tataH krodha samaaviSTaH= then, exasperation, prevailing over; tejasaa pradiipta iva = with blaze [of virtue,] highly blazing, like; saha duuSaNam sainyam= along with, Duushana, on army; sarvataH = from all over; sharaiH= with arrows; abhi akirat = fully, bestrewn - diffused.
Exasperation prevailing on him who appeared to be highly blazing with the blaze of his own virtue, he then diffused Duushana and his army with arrows from all over. [3-26-5b, 6a]
tata× sen˜ pati× kruddho d¨ÿaõa× þatru d¨ÿaõa× || 3-26-6
þarai× aþani kalpai× tam r˜ghavam samav˜rayat |
6b, 7a. tataH= then; senaa patiH= army, commander; shatru duuSaNaH duuSaNaH = rival's, railer, Duushana; kruddhaH= becoming enraged; ashani kalpaiH sharaiH = thunderbolt, simulative of, with arrows; tam raaghavam= him, that Raghava; sam avaarayat= virtually, forestalled.
And on becoming enraged Duushana, the railer of his rivals and the commander of that army, then virtually forestalled Raghava's onslaught with his arrows that are simulative of thunderbolts. [3-26-6b, 7a]
tato r˜ma× saðkruddha× kÿureõa asya mahat dhanu× || 3-26-7
ciccheda samare vŸra× caturbhi× caturo hay˜n |
7b, 8a. tataH sam kruddhaH= then, infuriated [Rama]; samare viiraH raamaH = in war, valiant one, Rama; kshureNa= razor-sharp [arrow with crescent-shaped barb]; asya mahat dhanuH= his [Duushana's,] sturdy, bow; caturbhiH caturaH hayaan= with four [arrows,] four, horses; cicCheda= shivered [bow broken into shivers] / shredded [horses shredded into pieces.]
That valiant one in warring Rama is then infuriated and with his crescent-barbed arrow shivered the sturdy bow of Duushana, shredding four of his horses with four more arrows. [3-26-7b, 8a]
hatv˜ ca aþv˜n þarai× tŸkÿõai× artha candreõa s˜rathe || 3-26-8
þiro jah˜ra tad rakÿa× tribhir vivy˜dha vakÿasi |
8b, 9a. tiikshNaiH sharaiH= with excruciating, arrows; ashvaan ca hatvaa = horses, even, on destructing; artha candreNa = with half, moon-shaped - crescent-barbed arrow; saarathe shiraH jahaara= charioteer's, head, snatched away - fragmented; tribhiH= with three [arrows]; tat rakshaH vakshasi vivyaadha = that, demon [Duushana,] in chests, impaled.
On destructing the horses with excruciating arrows, he even fragmented the head of the charioteer with a crescent-barbed arrow, and even impaled the chest of demon Duushana with some more arrows. [3-26-8b, 9a]
One crescent dart he aimed which shred / Clean from his neck the driver's head; / Three more with deadly skill addressed / Stood quivering in the giant's breast. - Griffith.
sa cchinna dhanv˜ viratho hata aþvo hata s˜rathi× || 3-26-9
jagr˜ha giri þ®ðga ˜bham parigham roma harÿaõam |
veÿ÷itam k˜ñcanai× pa÷÷ai× deva sainya abhimardanam || 3-26-10
˜yasai× þaðkubhi× tŸkÿõai× kŸrõam para vas˜ ukÿit˜m |
vajra aþani sama sparþam para gopura d˜raõam || 3-26-11
9b, 10, 11. cChinna dhanvaa= with a fractured, bow; vi+rathaH without - shattered, chariot; hata ashvaH hata saarathiH= killed, horses, killed, charioteer; saH= he that Duushana; giri shR^inga aabham= mountain, peak, in its shine - outranking; roma harSaNam= hair, thriller of; kaancanaiH paTTaiH veSTitam = with golden, girdles, girt with; deva sainya abhi mardanam= god's, army, now, gritter of; tiikSNaiH aayasaiH shankubhiH = with incisive, iron, spikes; kiirNam= overlain - studded with; para vasaa ukSitaam =, with others [enemy's,] fats, saturated once; vajra ashani sama sparsham = diamond, thunderbolt, coequal, for touch; para gopura daaraNam= others [adversaries',] archway, which ransacks; such a; parigham jagraaha= mace, he grabbed.
With his bow fractured and chariot shredded, and with horses and charioteer killed, he that Duushana grabbed a mace which outranks a peak of mountain and a hair-thriller at its sight, and which girt with golden girths once gritted the armies of gods, the head of which is studded with incisive iron spikes and saturated with the fat of foes, a coequal of a diamond and a thunderbolt in its hardiness and flashiness, and a ransacker of the archways of fortresses of his adversaries. [3-26-9b, 10, 11]
tam mah˜ uraga saðk˜þam prag®hya parigham raõe |
d¨ÿaõo abhyapatat r˜mam kr¨ra karm˜ niþ˜cara× || 3-26-12
12. kruura karmaa nishaacaraH= one with infernal, exerts, nightwalker; duuSaNaH= Duushana; raNe= in war; mahaa uraga samkaasham= infernal, serpent, akin to; tam parigham= that, mace; pra gR^ihya= well, taking - gripping firmly; raamam= towards Rama; abhyaapatat [abhi aa patat= towards, came, falling] fell upon - rushed at.
On firmly gripping that mace which in war is akin to an infernal serpent, and the touch of which tantamount to snakebite, rushed that nightwalker Duushana with infernal exerts rushed towards Rama. [3-26-12]
tasya abhipatam˜nasya d¨ÿaõasya sa r˜ghava× |
dv˜bhy˜m þar˜bhy˜m ciccheda sa hasta ˜bharaõau bhujau || 3-26-13
13. saH raaghavaH= he, Raghava; abhi patamaanasya= towards, while coming upon; tasya duuSaNasya= his, of Duushana; sa hasta aabharaNau bhujau= with, hand, ornaments, shoulders - arms with wrist-ornaments; dvaabhyaam sharaabhyaam cicCheda= two, arrows, sheared off.
While Duushana came falling on, he that Raghava sheared off his shoulders that have wrist-ornaments on his arms with two arrows. [3-26-13]
bhraÿ÷a× tasya mah˜k˜ya× pap˜ta raõa m¨rdhani |
parigha× chinna hastasya þakra dhvaja iva agrata× || 3-26-14
14. raNa muurdhani= in war, in vanguard of; Chinna hastasya= on who has sheared, hands; tasya= his; mahaa kaayaH= gigantic, in construct; parighaH bhraSTaH= mace, having slipped - and spinned; shakra dhvaja iva= Indra's, flagstaff, like [when collapsed]; agrataH pa paata= in front of [Duushana,] fell.
When Duushana's arms are thus sheared in the van of war, his gigantic mace slipped and spun in his own front, like the flagstaff with flag raised in honour of Indra, and collapsed . [3-26-14]
kar˜bhy˜m ca vikŸrõ˜bhy˜m pap˜ta bhuvi d¨ÿaõa× |
viÿ˜õ˜bhy˜m viþŸrõ˜bhy˜m manasvŸ iva mah˜gaja× || 3-26-15
15. duuSaNaH = Duushana; vikiirNaabhyaam karaabhyaam= with strewn, arms; vishiirNaabhyaam viSaaNaabhyaam = broken down, with two tusks; manasvii= self-regarding - haughty one; mahaa gajaH iva= gigantic, elephant, like; bhuvi papaata= on earth, fell down.
With both of his arms strewn around Duushana fell down onto earth like a haughty and gigantic elephant when both of its tusks are broken down. [3-26-15]
d®ÿ÷v˜ tam patitam bh¨mau d¨ÿaõam nihatam raõe |
s˜dhu s˜dhu iti k˜kutstham sarva bh¨t˜ni ap¨jayan || 3-26-16
16. raNe nihatam= in war, elimination of; bhuumau patitam= on earth, fallen; tam duuSaNam dR^iSTvaa= him, that Duushana, on seeing; sarva bhuutaani= all, beings; kaakutstham= to Kakutstha; saadhu saadhu iti = good, good, thus as; apuujayan= venerated - applauded.
On seeing Duushana eliminated and fallen to ground, all the beings have applauded Rama saying, 'good, good...' [3-26-16]
etasmin antare kruddh˜× traya× sen˜ agra y˜yina× |
saÕhatya abhyadravan r˜mam m®tyu p˜þa avap˜þit˜× || 3-26-17
mah˜kap˜la× sth¨l˜kÿa× pram˜thŸ ca mah˜bala× |
17, 18a. etasmin antare= in this, meantime; kruddhaaH= infuriated ones; mahaakapaalaH sthuulaakSaH= Mahakapaala, Sthulaaksha; mahaabalaH pramaathii ca= great-mighty one, Pramaathi, also; trayaH senaa agra yaayinaH= three, army, fore, striders [leading, commanders]; mR^ityu paasha ava paashitaaH= by death's, rein, bound by; samhatya [samhR^itya]= collectively; raamam abhi dravan = to Rama, towards, ran.
In the meantime infuriated are the three leading commanders of that army, namely Mahakapaala, Sthulaaksha and great mighty Pramaathii, and they collectively ran towards Rama, bound by the rein of death. [3-26-17, 18a]
mah˜kap˜lo vipulam þ¨lam udyamya r˜kÿasa× || 3-26-18
sth¨l˜kÿa× pa÷÷iþam g®hya pram˜thŸ ca paraþvadham |
18b, 19a. mahaakapaalaH vipulam shuulam udyamya= Mahakapaala, broad, trident, raising up; raakSasaH sthuulaakSaH paTTisham gR^ihya= demon, Sthulaaksha, scimitar, handling; pramaathii ca parashvadham = Pramaathi, also, axe [handling, they rushed.]
Mahakapaala raising a broad trident, Sthulaaksha handling a scimitar, Pramaathi handling an axe rushed towards Rama. [3-26-18b, 19a]
d®ÿ÷v˜ eva ˜patata× t˜m tu r˜ghava× s˜yakai× þitai× || 3-26-19
tŸkÿõa agrai× pratijagr˜ha sampr˜pt˜n atithŸn iva |
19b, 20a. raaghavaH= Raghava; aa patataH= coming, falling on; taam tu= them, but; dR^iSTvaa eva= on seeing, thus; shitaiH tiikSNa agraiH saayakaiH = sharpened, with acute, edges, with arrows; sampraaptaan a+tithiin iva= chanced, [guests] without, time limit [an inopportune guests of war] as with; jagraaha= received - taken on.
As one would receive guests meeting his basic needs, Raghava too took on these untimely guests of war, rather the insurgents, meeting their basic needs which now are no more than highly sharpened acute edged arrows, when he saw them coming and falling upon him, inopportunely. [3-26-19b, 20a]
mah˜kap˜lasya þira× ciccheda raghunandana× || 3-26-20
asaðkhyeyai× tu b˜õa oghai× pramam˜tha pram˜thinam |
sth¨l˜kÿasya akÿiõŸ sth¨le p¨ray˜m˜sa s˜yakai× || 3-26-21
sa pap˜ta hato bh¨mau vi÷apŸ iva mah˜druma× |
d¨ÿaõasya anug˜n pañca sahasr˜n kupita× kÿaõ˜t || 3-26-22
hatv˜ tu pañca sahasr˜n anayat yama sadanam |
20b, 21, 22, 23a. raghunandanaH= Raghu's, legatee - Rama; mahaakapaalasya shiraH cicCheda Mahakapaala's, head, chopped off; a+samkhyeyaiH tu baaNa oghaiH= not, calculable, but, arrows, with spate of; pramaathinam= Pramatha is; prama maatha [pra ma maatha= totally, routed, down]= eliminated; sthuulaakSasya= Sthuulakaya's; sthuule akSiNii= bulging, eyes; saayakaiH puurayaamaasa= with arrows, started to fill; saH= he [Sthulaaksha]; kshaNaat hataH= forthwith, killed; viTapii mahaa drumaH iva= with branches, burly, tree, like; bhuumau papaata = onto ground, fell down; kupitaH= infuriated one - Rama; duuSaNasya panca sahasraan anugaan = Duushana's, five, thousand, henchmen are; panca sahasraan= with five, thousand [arrows]; hatvaa tu = on eliminating, but; anayat yama sadanam = led them, to Yam, Time-god's, residence [hell.]
Rama, the legatee of Raghu, chopped off the head of Mahakapaala, with incalculable spates of arrows he eliminated Pramaathi, and filled the bulging eyes of Sthulaaksha with arrows by which Sthulaaksha is killed and fell down onto ground like a burly tree with its broad branches. Then still infuriated Rama forthwith eliminated the five thousand hench-demons of Duushana with five thousand arrows, and thus he led them to the residence of Time-god, namely the hell. [3-26-20b, 21, 22, 23a]
The words viTapi 'a tree with branches and twigs...' and druma 'a tree' in general. Though they are similar to give the general meaning of a tree, they are juxtaposed taking the viTapi as the adjective of the word druma. This is not exactly synonymic usage, but a shade of difference is available in both words. Readers may please refer to the excellent book of Dr. Satya Vrat, The Ramayana - A Linguistic Study.
d¨ÿaõam nihatam þrutv˜ tasya ca eva pad˜nug˜n || 3-26-23
vy˜dideþa khara× kruddho sena adhyakÿ˜n mah˜bal˜n |
23b, 24a. duuSaNam nihatam= Duushana, as killed; tasya pada anugaan= his own, followers; shrutvaa = on hearing; kharaH kruddhaH= Khara, irately; mahaa balaan sena adhyakshaan= to them who have mighty forces under them, to army, captains; vyaadidesha= ordered.
On hearing about the killing of Duushana and also thus of the followers of Duushana, Khara irately ordered his army captains, under whose captaincy mighty forces are there. [3-26-23b, 24a]
ayam vinihata× saðkhye d¨ÿaõa× sa pad˜nug˜× || 3-26-24
mahaty˜ senay˜ s˜rdham yuddhv˜ r˜mam kum˜nuÿam |
þastrai× n˜n˜ vidha ak˜rai× hanadhvam sarva r˜kÿas˜× || 3-26-25
24b, 25. ayam= he [Duushana]; sa pada anugaaH = with, followers; duuSaNaH= Duushana; sankhye= in war; vinihataH= is killed; sarva raakshasaaH= oh, all, demons; mahatyaa senayaa saardham= formidable, army, along with - take; yuddhvaa= on combat; naanaa vidha akaaraiH shastraiH= diverse, kinds of, having designs, with weapons; ku maanuSam= evil, human; raamam = Rama; hanadhvam= be killed.
"Duushana is killed in war along with his followers, hence all you demons, take formidable army, take weapons of diverse designs, combat and kill that evil-human Rama..." Thus Khara ordered the remaining demons. [3-26-24b, 25]
evam uktv˜ khara× kruddho r˜mam eva abhi dudruve |
þyenag˜mŸ p®thugrŸvo yajñaþatrur vihaðgama× || 3-26-26
durjaya× karavŸr˜kÿa× paruÿa× k˜lak˜rmuka× |
hemam˜lŸ mah˜m˜lŸ sarpasyo rudhir˜þana× || 3-26-27
dv˜daþa ete mah˜vŸry˜ bala adhyakÿ˜× sa sainik˜×
ramam eva abhyadh˜vanta vis®janta× þarottam˜n || 3-26-28
26, 27, 28. kharaH evam uktvaa= Khara, = thus, saying; kruddhaH= in rage; raamam eva abhi dudruve= to Rama, alone, towards, rushed; shyenagaamii pR^ithugriivaH yaj~nashatruH vihangamaH= Shyenagaami, Prithugriiva, Yajnashatru, Vihangama durjayaH karaviiraakshaH paruSaH kaalakaarmukaH= Durjaya, Karaviiraaksha, Parusha, Kaalakaarmuka; hemamaalii mahaamaalii sarpasyaH rudhiraashanaH= Hemamaali, Mahaamaali, Sarpaasya, Rudhiraaksha; ete mahaaviiryaa dvaadasha = these, fiendishly atrocious [demons] twelve are; bala adhyakshaaH= troop, leaders; sa sainikaaH = with, demon forces; shara uttamaan visR^ijantaH= arrows, best ones - atrocious one, while launching; ramam eva abhyadhaavanta= to Rama, alone, towards, rushed.
Saying so Khara himself rushed towards Rama in rage, and Shyenagaami, Prithugriiva, Yajnashatru, Vihangama Durjaya, Karaviiraaksha, Parusha, Kaalakaarmuka, Hemamaali, Mahaamaali, Sarpaasya, and Rudhiraaksha are the twelve fiendishly atrocious troop leaders of demonic forces, and they too rushed towards Rama launching their atrocious arrows. [3-26-26, 27, 28]
tata× p˜vaka saðk˜þai× hema vajra vibh¨ÿitai× |
jaghana þeÿam tejasvŸ tasya sainyasya s˜yakai× || 3-26-29
29. tejasvii= resplendent - Rama; tataH= then; paavaka samkaashaiH= ritual-fire, isimilar in blaze; hema vajra vibhuuSitaiH = with gold, diamonds, embellished with; saayakaiH= with arrows; tasya sainyasya sheSam of that, army's, remaining [demons]; jaghana= annihilated.
He who is resplendent that Rama then annihilated the remaining demons of that army with his arrows that are embellished with gold and diamonds, and that are blazing like ritual-fires. [3-26-29]
te rukma puðkh˜ viþikh˜× sa dh¨m˜ iva p˜vak˜× |
nijaghnu× t˜ni rakÿ˜Õsi vajr˜ iva mah˜drum˜n || 3-26-30
30. rukma punkhaa= with golden, tailpieces; sa dhuumaa paavakaaH iva= with, fumes, similar to, [dazzling] ritual-fires, as though; te vi shikhaaH= those [arrows,] with sharp barbs; vajraaH mahaa drumaan iva= Thunderbolts, gigantic, trees, as with; taani rakSaamsi nijaghnuH= them, demons, felled.
With those arrows that have golden tailpieces and sharp barbs, and that are dazzling like fuming ritual fires Rama felled the demons, as Thunderbolts of Indra will be felling gigantic trees. [3-26-30]
rakÿas˜m tu þatam r˜ma× þatena ekena karõin˜ |
sahasram tu sahasreõa jagh˜na raõa m¨rdhani || 3-26-31
31. raamaH tu rakSasaam shatam= Rama, but, demons, a hundred; karNinaa= with rudder-like [helm/tiller of a rudder of a ship,] suchlike arrow; ekena shatena= with one, hundred; sahasram = thousand [demons]; sahasreNa= with thousand [arrows]; raNa muurdhani= in war's, forefront; jaghaana= hit down.
With a hundred rudder like arrows Rama hit down a hundred demons, and with a thousand more, thousand more demons are hit in the forefront of that war. [3-26-31]
tai× bhinna varma ˜bharaõ˜× chinna bhinna þara ˜san˜× |
nipetu× þoõita ˜digdh˜ dharaõy˜m rajanŸcar˜× || 3-26-32
32. taiH= with them [arrows]; bhinna varma aabharaNaaH= ripped off, shields, armorial-ornaments; Chinna bhinna shara aasanaaH= ruined, rickety, arrow's, seat [bow]; rajanii caraaH shoNita aa digdhaa= nightwalkers, by blood, wholly, [bodies] smudged; dharaNyaam = onto ground; nipetuH = fell down.
Ripped are their shields and armorial-ornaments, ruined and rickety are their bows, and they the nightwalkers fell flat on ground, bodies wholly smudged with blood. [3-26-32]
tai× mukta keþai× samare patitai× þoõita ukÿitai× |
vistŸrõ˜ vasudh˜ k®tsn˜ mah˜vedi× kuþai× iva || 3-26-33
33. samare patitaiH= in war, fell down; mukta keshaiH= released, head-hair [tousling]; shoNita ukSitaiH= with blood, drenched; taiH= with them, those demons; kR^itsnaa vasudhaa= entire, earth; mahaa vediH kushaiH vistiirNaa iva= vast, fire-altar, with holy-grass, spread over with, like [became.]
With those demons that have fallen down in war, whose hair is tousled and who are drenched in blood, entire earth looked like a vast altar of fire overspread with holy grass. [3-26-33]
tat kÿaõe tu mah˜ ghoram vanam nihata r˜kÿasam |
babh¨va niraya prakhyam m˜Õsa þoõita kardamam || 3-26-34
34. nihata raakSasam vanam = with killed, demons, forest; kSaNe mahaa ghoram= in a moment, very, disgustingly; maamsa shoNita kardamam= flesh, blood, sludgy; niraya prakhyam= hell, identical with; babhuuva= became.
That forest which became sludgy with the flesh and blood of killed demons and very disgusting, in a moment it became identical with hell. [3-26-34]
caturdaþa sahasr˜õi rakÿas˜m bhŸma karmaõ˜m |
hat˜ni ekena r˜meõa m˜nuÿeõa pad˜tin˜ || 3-26-35
35. maanuSeNa= by a human; padaatinaa= foot-soldier; raameNa ekena = by Rama; a lone one; bhiima karmaNaam= of frightening, exploits; rakSasaam= demons are; catur dasha sahasraaNi = four, ten, thousand - fourteen thousand; hataani= are eliminated.
Thus that Rama, a lone one, that too a foot-soldier, has eliminated fourteen thousand demons of frightening exploits. [3-26-35]
tasya sainyasya sarvasya khara× þeÿo mah˜ratha× |
r˜kÿasa× triþir˜× caiva r˜ma× ca ripus¨dana× || 3-26-36
36. sarvasya= of the entire [army]; tasya sainyasya= of his [Khara's,] army; mahaarathaH kharaH sheSaH= great-charioteer, Khara, remnant - excepting for; raakSasaH trishiraaH caiva= demon, Trishira, also thus [except for]; raamaH ca ripu suudanaH= Rama, also, enemy, destroyer; [nishaacaraa hata sheSau = on killing, reaming ones, nightwalkers;]
Of his entire army great-charioteer Khara and Trishira are the remaining nightwalkers, and Rama, the enemy destroyer, naturally on the other side. [3-26-36]
The last compound in the second foot indicates that Rama is also remaining as one among the army of Khara, which is found irksome to some scholars. They said that the older mms contain the expression hata shSau nishaaacaraa instead of raamaH ca ripu suudanaH taking the finishing line from the opening words of next verse. Otherwise, it can be said 'on the side of Khara only two demons, namely Khara and Trishira are remaining, and on the other side Rama is remaining...' as given here. But it is said to be inappropriate, because Rama cannot be grouped with the killable side. Further, there are some more petty demons besides Khara and Trishira, to carry a word to Ravana, as said in the coming chapters.
þeÿ˜ hat˜ mah˜vŸry˜ r˜kÿas˜ raõa m¨rdhani |
ghor˜ durviÿah˜× sarve lakÿmaõasya agrajena || 3-26-37
37. mahaa viiryaa= highly, valorous ones; ghoraaH= ghastly ones; durviSahaaH= unbearable ones; sarve sheSaa raakshasaa = all, remaining, demons; [te= they are]; lakshmaNasya agrajena= by Lakshmana's, elder brother - Rama; raNa muurdhani hataa= in war's, forefront, are eliminated.
Lakshmana's elder brother Rama eliminated all of the remaining demons in the forefront of war who are highly valorous, ghastly and unbearable. [3-26-37]
tata× tu tad bhŸma balam mah˜ ˜have
samŸkÿya r˜meõa hatam balŸyas˜ |
rathena r˜mam mahat˜ khara× tata×
sam˜sas˜da indra iva udyata aþani× || 3-26-38
38. tataH= then; kharaH= Khara; mahaa aahave= in great war; baliiyasaa raameNa= by forceful one, Rama; hatam= those that are - killed; tat bhiima balam= that, gigantic, force; samiikSya = on surveying; tataH= then; udyata ashaniH= one with - upraised, Thunderbolt; indra iva = Indra, as with; mahataa rathena= by a great, chariot; raamam samaasasaada [sam aa sa saada]= to Rama, marched onto reach.
Then on surveying that great demonic force which is eliminated by Rama in that staggering war, Khara then marched on to reach Rama in a huge chariot, as with Indra who will march upraising his Thunderbolt. [3-26-38]
iti v˜lmŸki r˜m˜yaõe ˜di k˜vye araõya k˜õýe ÿaý viÕþa× sarga×
Thus, this is the 26th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : June 04]