On the starting out of Khara's demonic forces to wage a war with Rama, many bad omens are foreboded by vultures, animals, and even by nature. Though in the know of the portent evil, Khara proceeds with his army vaingloriously messaging his army that he can overcome these auguries or even Indra, and Rama is nothing before him.
tat prayātam balam ghoram aśivam śoṇita udakam |
abhyavarṣat mahā meghaḥ tumulo gardabha aruṇaḥ ||
3-23-1
1. gardabha aruNaH = ass-like [greyish,] in colour; tumulaH = tumultuous; mahaa meghaH = massy, cloud; prayaatam tat ghoram balam = advancing that, fiendish, army of Khara; a shivam = ill-omened; shoNita udakam = blood, waters; abhyavarSat = rained.
A massy and tumultuous ass-coloured cloud rained ill-omened bloody water while that fiendish force is advancing. [3-23-1]
nipetuḥ turagāḥ tasya ratha yuktā mahājavāḥ |
same puṣpacite deśe rājamārge yadṛcchhayā || 3-23-2
2. ratha yuktaa = to chariot, paired; mahaa javaaH tasya turagaaH = highly, speedy, his, horses; raaja maarge = royal, road [high way]; puSpa cite = with flowers, overspread; same deshe = on even [surface,] at places; yadR^icChayaa nipetuH = in a trice, fallen [tottered.]
The highly speedy horses paired to Khara's chariot have tottered in a trice, even though that place on the highway is with even surface and spread with flowers. [3-23-2]
śyāmam rudhira paryantam babhūva pariveṣaṇam |
alāta cakra pratimam pratigṛhya divākaram || 3-23-3
3. divaakaram = sun; prati gR^ihya [pari gR^ihya] = on capturing; shyaamam = blackish; rudhira paryantam [pari antam] = blood-red, at edges - a corona; alaata cakra pratimam = fireball, circle of, in shape; pari veSaNam = a nest nested around; babhuuva = became - formed.
Capturing the sun a blackish corona with blood-red outer circle has formed and nested around it like the fiery ring formed by circling a fireball. [3-23-3]
This sort of corona can be seen during the total eclipse of sun where a black corona with red tinged glow forms around the eclipsed sun. This circling of fireball handheld on a sling is there even today, and it is performed before marriage processions or such other events as a daring sport.
tato dhvajam upāgamya hema daṇḍam samucchhritam |
samākramya mahākāyaḥ tasthau gṛdhraḥ sudāruṇaḥ
|| 3-23-4
4. tataH = then; mahaa kaayaH = massive, bodied; su daaruNaH gR^idhraH = very, awful, eagle; hema daNDam = golden, shaft; sam ucChritam = very, lofty one; dhvajam upaagamya = flag, nearing at; [hema daNDam = golden shaft]; sam aakramya = well, occupying; tasthau = seated.
Then, nearing the golden shaft of the flag of the chariot with a very lofty flagstaff, an awful eagle with massive body occupied and perched atop of that golden shaft. [3-23-4]
janasthāna samīpe ca samākramya khara svanāḥ |
visvarān vividhān ca cakruḥ māṃsa ādā mṛga pakṣiṇaḥ
|| 3-23-5
5. khara svanaaH = cacophonous, voiced ones; maamsa aadaa= flesh, eating - carnivorous; mR^iga pakSiNaH = animals [predators,] birds - vultures; janasthaana samiipe sam aakramya = Janasthaana, nearby, took over; vi vidhaan = many, kinds of; vi svaraan = out of, tune - raucous sounds; cakruH = made.
Cacophonous and carnivorous predators and vultures took over the nearby places of Janasthaana and they made raucous sounds of many kinds. [3-23-5]
vyājahruḥ ca padīptāyām diśi vai bhairava svanam |
aśivā yātudhānānām śivā ghorā mahāsvanāḥ || 3-23-6
6. ghoraa mahaa svanaaH shivaa = fearsome, loud, noised, jackals; abhi diiptaayaam dishi = very, [by sun] scorched, in direction, towards that stretch; bhairava svanam = [emitting] awful, sounds; yaatudhaanaanaam = to demons; a shivaa vyaajahruH = not, auspicious, made know - they howled.
Turning towards the stretch scorched by the sun, fearsome and loud noised jackals have howled emitting awful sounds, that which is inauspicious to the demons. [3-23-6]
prabhinnagajasaṃkāśatoyaśoṇitadhāriṇaḥ | - yadvā -
prabhinna gaja saṃkāśa toya śoṇita dhāriṇaḥ |
ākāśam tat anākāśam cakruḥ bhīma aṃbu vāhakāḥ|| 3-23-7
7. pra bhinna gaja [giri] samkaasha = verily, bursting, elephant [mountain,] similar - burst mountains, or, elephants coving the sky ; toya shoNita dhaariNaH = waters, bloodlike, carrying; bhiimaaH ambu vaahakaaH = frightening, water, carriers [clouds]; tadaa = then; aakaasham = that, sky; an aakaasham cakruH = less, leeway, made as.
Then frightening clouds similar to bursting mountains carrying bloodlike water have rendered the firmament less of leeway. [3-23-7]
babhūva timiram ghoram uddhatam roma harṣaṇam |
diśo vā pradiśo vā api suvyaktam na cakāśire || 3-23-8
8. ghoram uddhatam roma harSaNam = abominable, upheave - cataclysmic, hair, raising; timiram = darkness; babhuuva = became; disha vaa pradishaH vaa api = in milieus, or, inter, milieus, or, even; su vyaktam na cakaashire = very, clearly, not, brightened.
There chanced an abominable, cataclysmic, hair-raising darkness whereby the milieus or inter-milieus are not very clearly brightened. [3-23-8]
kṣataja ārdra savarṇābhā saṃdhyā kālam vinā babhau |
kharam ca abhimukham neduḥ tadā ghorā mṛgāḥ
khagāḥ || 3-23-9
kaṃka gomāyu gṛdhrāḥ ca cukruśuḥ bhaya saṃśinaḥ |
9, 10a. kaalam vinaa = time, without - untimely; kSataja aardra sa varNa abhaa = blood, drenched, similar, in colour, with hue of - similar to the hue and colour of blood wet object; sandhyaa = eventide; babhau = glistened; tadaa = then; ghoraa mR^igaaH = horrendous, brutes; khagaaH = birds; kharam abhi mukham = at Khara, towards, facing; neduH = clamoured; kanka gomaayu gR^idhraaH ca = vultures, jackals, eagles, also; bhaya samshinaH cukrushuH = danger, portending, screamed.
An untimely eventide glistened with a colour similar to the one drenched in blood, and then horrendous brutes and birds have clamoured facing Khara directly, and the vultures, jackals and eagles too have screamed portending danger. [3-23-9, 10a]
nityā aśiva karā yuddhe śivā ghora nidarśanāḥ || 3-23-10
neduḥ balasya abhimukham jvāla udgāribhiḥ
ānanaiḥ |
10. yuddhe = in war; nityaa a hiva karaa = always, not, auspicious, causers of - agents of; ghora nidarshanaaH = calamities, demonstrable for [foretellers]; shivaa = [female] jackals; jvaala udgaaribhiH aananaiH = blazes, spewing, with snouts; balasya abhimukham neduH = forces, in front of, howled.
Jackals, that too female jackals, are always the agents of inauspiciousness in wars with demonstrable calamities brought forth by their portending howling, and such jackals have now howled in front of Khara's army with their snouts spewing blazes. [3-23-10]
kabandhaḥ parigha ābhāso dṛśyate bhāskara aṃtike || 3-23-11
jagrāha sūryam svarbhānuḥ aparvaṇi mahāgrahaḥ
|
pravāti mārutaḥ śīghram niṣprabho abhūt divākaraḥ || 3-23-12
11b, 12. bhaaskara antike = sun, near at; parigha aabhaasaH = club like - spherical object, in shape; kabandhaH = human trunk; dR^ishyate = is revealed; mahaa grahaH = great, planet; svarbhaanuH = Rahu, [the eclipsing planet]; jagraaha suuryam = captured, the sun; maarutaH shiighram pravaati = wind, swiftly, blew - frantically whirled; divaakaraH niS prabhaH abhuut = sun, without, shine, became.
A spherical object like that of a human trunk is revealed near at the sun, while the sun is rendered shineless as though Rahu, the great eclipsing-planet, has eclipsed him inopportunely, and the wind too whirled frantically. [3-23-11b, 12]
utpetuḥ ca vinā rātrim tārāḥ khadyotana prabhāḥ |
saṃlīna mīna vihagā nalinyaḥ śuṣka paṃkajāḥ ||
3-23-13
tasmin kṣaṇe babhūvuḥ ca vinā puṣpa phalaiḥ drumāḥ |
13, 14a. kha dyotana prabhaaH = sky, illuminators, with brilliance of - with the brilliance equalling that of fire-flies; taaraaH = stars; vinaa raatrim = without, night nightfall; utpetuH = sprang up - seen; tasmin kSaNe = it that, moment; samliina miina vihagaa = merged - stood still, fishes, waterfowls - that have; nalinyaH = lakes; shuSka pankajaaH = with dried-up, lotuses - they became; drumaaH vinaa puSpa phalaiH babhuuvuH = trees, without, fruits, flowers, became - dropped of from trees.
Stars sprang up with the brilliance of fireflies though it is not night, and at that moment fishes and waterfowls stood still in lakes, lotuses have dried up, flowers and fruits have dropped from trees as though it is night. [3-23-13, 14a]
uddhūtaḥ ca vinā vātam reṇuḥ jaladhara aruṇaḥ || 3-23-14
cīcī kūci iti vāśyanto babhūvuḥ tatra sārikāḥ
|
14b, 15a. vinaa vaatam = without, wind [puffing]; jala dhara aruNaH = water, carrier [like the colour of such clouds,] reddish-brown; reNuH = dust; uddhuutaH = is shoved up; tatra = there; saarikaaH = Sharika birds [Maina, Gracula Reliosa]; cii cii kuu cii = cii, cii, kuu, cii; iti = thus as; vaashyantaH babhuuvuH = twittering, they became - they are confused.
Without any puffing of wind dust in brownish-red colour is heaved up, and there the songbirds like Maina started to twitter as 'cii cii kuu cii'. [3-23-14b, 15a]
The expression cii cii kuu cii is an onomatopoetic expression for the twittering of birds.
ulkāḥ ca api sa nirghoṣā nipetuḥ ghora darśanāḥ || 3-23-15
pracacāla mahī ca api sa śaila vana kānanā
|
15b, 16a. ghora darshanaaH = horrible, in look; sa nir ghoSaa = with, outgoing, sound - thunderously; ulkaaH ca api = meteors, also, even; nipetuH = fell down; sa shaila vana kaananaa = with, mountains, woods, forests; [sarvaa] mahii ca api = [entire] earth, also, even; pracacaala [pra ca caala] = verily, shakily, quaked.
Meteors horrible in their look have fallen down thunderously, and even the earth together with its mountains, woods and forests quaked shakily. [3-23-15b, 16a]
kharasya ca rathasthasya nardamānasya dhīmataḥ || 3-23-16
prākaṃpata bhujaḥ savyaḥ svaraḥ ca asya
avasajjata |
16b, 17a. ratha sthasya = in chariot, staying; nardamaanasya dhiimataH = while raving, clever one; kharasya = of Khara; savyaH bhujaH = left, shoulder; praa kampata = excessively, thrilled; asya svaraH ca = his, voice, also; ava sajjata = down, slacked - quavered.
He who is raving while sitting in his chariot that clever Khara's left shoulder thrilled excessively, and his voice too quavered. [3-23-16b, 17a]
sa asrā saṃpadyate dṛṣṭiḥ paśyamānasya sarvataḥ || 3-23-17
lalāṭe ca rujo jātā na ca mohāt nyavartata
|
17b, 18a. sarvataH pashyamaanasya = everywhere, while seeing; [asya = his]; dR^iSTiH = sight - eyes; sa asraa sampadyate = is with, tears, obtained [eyes spawned tears]; lalaaTe ca = on forehead, also; ruja jaataa = ache, is born - occurred; mohaat = owing to imprudence - by vanity; na ca = not, also; niaavartata [ni aa vartata = back, towards, proceeded] = he did not turn back.
While he is seeing everywhere his eyes spawned tears for no good reason, his forehead ached, but he did not retrace his steps owing to his own vanity. [3-23-17b, 18a]
tān samīkṣya mahotpātān utthitān roma harṣaṇān || 3-23-18
abravīt rākṣasān sarvān prahasan sa kharaḥ
tadā |
18b, 19a. saH kharaH = he, that Khara; tadaa utthitaan = then - at that moment, stemmed up; taan roma harSaNaan = them, hair, raising ones; mahaa utpaataan = worst, auguries; samiikSya = observing; prahasan = laughing off; sarvaan raakSasaan abraviit = to all, demons, said.
On observing those worst auguries stemming up at that moment with hair-raising nature, Khara laughed them off and said this to all of the demons. [3-23-18b, 19a]
mahā utpātān imān sarvān utthitān ghora darśanān || 3-23-19
na ciṃtayāmi aham vīryāt balavān durbalān
iva |
19b, 20a. utthitaan = uprisen - cropped up; ghora darshanaan = horrible, appearing [in their nature]; imaan mahaa utpaataan = these, awful, auguries; sarvaan = all of them; aham = I; viiryaat = owing to [my own] valour; balavaan dur balaan iva = mighty one [is unworried of,] not, mighty one [mightless one,] as with; na cintayaami = I am not, thinking - I am unbothered.
"These awful auguries with their horrible nature have arisen, but owing to my own valour I am unbothered about all of them as with a mighty one unworried of the mightless. [3-23-19b, 20a]
tārā api śaraiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ pātayeyam nabhaḥ talāt || 3-23-20
mṛtyum maraṇa dharmeṇa saṃkruddho yojayāmi
aham |
20b, 21a. aham = I; taaraa api = stars, even; sharaiH tiikSNaiH = with arrows, excruciating; nabhaH talaat paatayeyam = from sky's, plane, make to fall [strike to fall - hurtle]; sam kruddhaH = highly, infuriated; mR^ityum = to Death; maraNa dharmeNa = with death's, disposition with mortality; yojayaami = I can enjoin.
"With the excruciating arrows of mine I can hurtle stars from the face of sky, and if highly infuriated, I can even enjoin mortality to Death himself. [3-23-20b, 21a]
rāghavam tam bala utsiktam bhrātaram ca asya lakṣmaṇam || 3-23-21
ahatvā sāyakaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ na upāvartitum
utsahe |
21b, 22a. bala utsiktam = by might, enthused - haughty; tam raaghavam = that, Raghava; asya bhraataram lakSmaNam ca = his, brother, Lakshmana, too; tiikSNaiH saayakaiH = with incisive, arrows; a hatvaa = without, killing; upaavartitum [upa aa vartitum] = to return; na utsahe = not, enthusiastic - reluctant.
"I am reluctant to return without killing that Rama, a haughty one by his might, together with his brother Lakshmana, with my incisive arrows. [3-23-21b, 22a]
yan nimittam tu rāmasya lakṣmaṇasya viparyayaḥ || 3-23-22
sakāmā bhaginī me astu pītvā tu rudhiram
tayoḥ |
22b, 23a. raamasya lakSmaNasya = Rama's, Lakshmana's; vi paryayaH = mis, behaviour - perverse of them; yat nimittam = in whose [Shuurpanakha's,] respect; sa [me] bhaginii = she, [my] sister; tayoH = of those two; rudhiram piitvaa = blood, on drinking; sa kaamaa astu = fulfilled, desire - contented, let her be.
"In whose respect both Rama and Lakshmana behaved perversely, let that sister of mine be contented in drinking the blood of those two. [3-23-22b, 23a]
na kvacit prāpta pūrvo me saṃyugeṣu parājayaḥ || 3-23-23
yuṣmākam etat pratyakṣam na anṛtam kathayāmi
aham |
23b, 24a. me samyugeSu = to me, in combats; kvacit paraajayaH na praaptaH puurvaH = anywhere, defeat, not, chanced, earlier; etat yuSmaakam pratyakSam = that is, to you all, obvious; aham an R^itam = I am, un, truth; na kathayaami = not, telling.
"No defeat has chanced on me in combats at anytime and anywhere, that to you all is obvious and I tell no untruth. [3-23-23b, 24a]
deva rājam api kruddho matta airāvata gāminam || 3-23-24
vajra hastam raṇe hanyām kim punaḥ tau ca
mānuṣau |
24b, 25a. kruddhaH = if I am in fury; matta airaavata gaaminam = ruttish, Iravata elephant, going on - treks; vajra hastam = Thunderbolt, wielder; deva raajam api = god's, king [Indra,] even; raNe hanyaam = in war, I kill; tau ca [ku] maanuSau = those two, are but, [base] humans; kim punaH = why, [speak of] again.
"If I am infuriated I can eliminate even the king of gods, wielder of Thunderbolt and a trekker on ruttish elephant Iravata, namely Indra in a war, then why talk about these two humans." Thus Khara addressed his troops. [3-23-24b, 25a]
sā tasya garjitam śrutvā rākṣasāanām mahā camūḥ || 3-23-25
praharṣam atulam lebhe mṛtyu pāśa avapāśitā
|
25b, 26a. mR^ityu paasha ava paashitaa = death's, by noose, tied, down; saa mahaa camuuH raakSasaaanaam = that, sizable, army, of demons; tasya garjitam shrutvaa = his [Khara's,] thundered [speech,] on hearing; a tulam = not, comparable; pra harSam lebhe = rejoice, they obtained.
On hearing that thundering speech of Khara that sizeable army of demons which is tied down by the noose of death obtained an incomparable rejoice. [3-23-25b, 26a]
sameyuḥ ca mahātmāno yuddha darśana kāṃkṣiṇaḥ || 3-23-26
ṛṣayo deva gandharvāḥ siddhāḥ ca saha cāraṇaiḥ
|
26b, 27a. mahaa aatmaanaH = great souls; R^iSayaH deva gandharvaaH = sages, gods, gandharva-s; siddhaaH ca saha caaraNaiH = siddha-s, also, with, carana-s; yuddha darshana kaankSiNaH = war, see, desiring to; samiiyuH = came together [in firmament.]
Then desiring to see the war of Khara with Rama, great-souls like sages, gods, gandharva-s along with carana-s and siddha-s have come together in firmament. [3-23-26b, 27a]
sametya ca ūcuḥ sahitāḥ te anyāyam puṇyakarmaṇaḥ || 3-23-27
svasti go brāhmaṇebhyo astu lokānām ye
ca sammatāḥ |
27b, 28a. puNya karmaNaH = of pious, deeds; te = those; sametya = gathering at a place; anyaH anyam = other, to other [with one another]; sahitaaH = on meeting; go braahmaNebhyaH = for cows, Brahmans; ye lokaanaam sam mataaH = those, who by people, are respected; to them; svasti astu = good, may betide; [uucuH = said.]
On gathering at a place those great souls met one another and said, "let good betide cows, Brahmans and those that are held respectful by the people at large." [3-23-27b, 28a]
jayatām rāghavo yuddhe paulastyān rajanī carān || 3-23-28
cakrahasto yathā viṣṇuḥ sarvān asura sattamān
|
28. cakra hastaH viSNuH = dic, handler, Vishnu; yuddhe sarvaan asura sattamaan = in war, all, demons, mighty ones; yathaa = as with, as Vishnu dealt with demons; raaghavaH = Raghava [sankhye = in war]; rajanii caraan paulastyaan = [these] night walkers, belonging to Pulastya dynasty; jayataam = shall triumph over.
"Let Raghava triumph over these mighty night walkers from the lineage of Pulastya, as with Vishnu who once conquered all the mighty demons in war." So said celestials to one another. [3-23-28]
etat ca anyat ca bahuśo bruvāṇāḥ parama ṛṣayaḥ || 3-23-29
jāta kautūhalāt tatra vimānasthāḥ ca devatāḥ
|
dadṛśur vāhinīm teṣām rākṣasānām gata āyuṣām || 3-23-30
29. etat ca anyat ca bahushaH = this, also, other, also, a good many topics; bruvaaNaaH parama R^iSayaH = while speaking, great, sages; tatra vimaana sthaaH = there, in aircrafts, abiding in; devataaH ca = gods, also; jaata kautuuhalaat = originated, inquisitiveness; gata aayuSaam = those with lapsed - beyond hope, longevity; teSaam raakSasaanaam = their, of demons; vaahiniim dadR^ishuH = [flow of] army, they saw.
While the great sages are speaking about this and many other topics, they and the gods abiding in their aircrafts have inquisitively seen the flow of army of demons, whose longevity is now beyond hope. [3-23-29, 30]
rathena tu kharo vegāt sainyasya agrāt viniḥsṛtaḥ |
śyenagāmī pṛthugrīvo yajñaśatruḥ vihaṃgamaḥ ||
3-23-31
durjayaḥ karavīrākṣaḥ paruṣaḥ kālakārmukaḥ |
hemamālī mahāmālī sarpāasyo rudhirāśanaḥ
|| 3-23-32
dvādaśa ete mahāvīryāḥ pratasthuḥ abhitaḥ kharam |
31. kharaH rathena vegaat = Khara, by chariot's, speed; sainyasya agraat viniHsR^itaH = to army's, van of, bolted out; one additional foot: tam dR^iSTvaa raakshasam bhuuyo raakshasaascha vinihsR^itaaH = him, on seeing, the demon Khara, then, demons, also, rushed out.] shyenagaamii pR^ithugriivaH yaGYashatruH vihangamaH = Shyenagaami, Prithugviira, Yajnashatu, Vihamgama durjayaH karaviiraakSaH paruSaH kaalakaarmukaH = Durjaya, Karaviiraaksha, Parusha, Kaalakaarmuka; hemamaalii mahaamaalii sarpaaasyaH rudhiraashanaH = Hemamaali, Mahaamaali, Sarpaasya, Rudhiraaksha; mahaa viiryaaH = great, vigorous ones; ete = these are; dvaa dasha = two, ten [twelve demons]; kharam abhitaH pratasthuH = Khara, around - in a semicircle, cruised.
Khara speedily bolted in his chariot to the van of his legions, and on seeing that demon Khara going in front other important demons too rushed to fore. They are Shyenagaami, Prithugviira, Yajnashatru, Vihamgama and also Durjaya, Karaviiraaksha, Parusha, Kaalakaarmuka, Hemamaali, Mahaamaali, Sarpaasya, Rudhiraaksha. These twelve highly valorous demons cruised in a semicircle around Khara. [3-23-31]
mahākapālaḥ sthūlākṣaḥ pramāthī triśirāḥ tathā |
catvāra ete senā agre dūṣaṇam pṛṣṭhato anvayuḥ ||
3-23-33
33. mahaakapaalaH sthuulaakSaH pramaathii trishiraaH tathaa = Mahakapaala, Stuulaaksha, Pramaathii, Trishira, likewise; ete catvaara = these, four; senaa agre [senaanyaH = forces, at fore [army commanders]; duuSaNam pR^iSThataH anvayuH = Duushana, at behind, followed.
Likewsie Mahakapaala, Stuulaaksha, Pramaathii, Trishira are the four commanders of demonic forces and they followed Duushana marching at his behind. [3-23-33]
sā bhīma vegā samara abhikāṃkṣiṇī
sudāruṇā rākṣasa vīra senā |
tau rāja putrau sahasā abhyupetā
mālā grahāṇām iva candra sūryau || 3-23-34
34. bhiima vegaa = infernally, speedy; samara abhi kaamkshiNii = for battle, readily, interested in; su daaruNaa = highly, execrable; saa raakSasa viira senaa = that, demonic, valiant ones', army of; sahasaa = quickly; grahaaNaam maalaa iva = of planets, festoon, as if; candra suuryau = to Moon, Sun; tau raaja putrau abhi upetaa = at them two, princes, towards, rushed.
That army of valiant demons which is highly execrable, infernally speedy, and readily inspirited for a battle quickly rushed towards those two princes, Rama and Lakshmana, as though a festoon of planets would rush towards the Moon and Sun so as to put them to rout. [3-23-34]
---
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe trayo viṃśaḥ sargaḥ
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| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
© 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : June 04]