Aranya Kanda/Aranya Kanda Sarga 20
Book III : Aranya Kanda - The Forest Trek
Aranya Kanda Sarga 20 in English
Chapter [Sarga] 20 - Rama eliminates Khara's demons
Introduction - The fourteen demons arrive at Rama's cottage guided by Shurpanakha and they wage a war with Rama in which Rama destructs all their weaponry and eliminates them all. Seeing this defeat Shuurpanakha rushes back to her brother to report the defeat.
1. Then on arriving at Raghava's hermitage that ghastly Shuurpanakha has shown the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, along with Seetha to the fourteen demons. [3-20-1]
2. They have seen the great-mighty Rama seated in the thatched cottage along with Seetha and Lakshmana attending to him. [3-20-2]
3. On seeing the arrival of the demons, and the demoness Shuurpanakha too, that magnificent Rama of Raghava dynasty said to the radiantly brilliant Lakshmana. [3-20-3]
4. Oh, Soumitri, briefly tarry at the close of Seetha as I wish to eliminate these demons who have trailed the path of that demoness to here. [3-20-4]
5. On hearing that word of Rama, then the nimble-souled Lakshmana honoured the word of Rama saying "so be it." [3-20-5]
6. On taking up his awful bow that is decorated with gold Raghava stringed it with bowstring and even spoke the demons as a forewarning. [3-20-6]
7. We the sons of Dasharatha are brothers named Rama and Lakshmana, and we entered the impenetrable forests Dandaka along with Seetha. [3-20-7]
8. We the dispassionate subsist on fruits and tubers treading in the path of virtue, and we being the sages resident in Dandaka forest what for you outrage us. [3-20-8]
9. As assigned by the sages I chanced here with bow and arrows to decimate you evil-souled and unrighteous beings in a crucial clash. [3-20-9]
10. Stay there obligingly or you should not be able to return, else if you desire your lives, oh, nightwalkers, you may return now. [3-20-10]
11, 12. On hearing that sentence of Rama they the fourteen ghoulish demons who are the slayers of Brahmans and handlers of spears have become highly infuriated, and they with their bloodshot eyes and with harsh words said these words to Rama, whose eyes are with blood streaks at their ends, and who also is a sweet talker, and whose valour is yet unseen by those fourteen demons. [3-20-11, 12]
13. Killed in conflict by us you alone will set your lives loose as an inciter of fury in our highly great souled lord Khara. [3-20-13]
14. Indeed, what capability you have as a lone one to stand against many of us in the forefront of war, and why tell again about your battling ability in a given battle. [3-20-14]
15. When we launch maces, spears and swords by our might you will forgo your lives, mettle, and even the bow now clasped in your hand." So said the demons to Rama. [3-20-15]
For the three verses the above meaning is the textual meaning. For them there is another import.
su mahaatmanaH oh, Supreme Person; bhartR^iH kharasya our lord, to Khara; krodham utpaadya anger, infusing; asmaabhiH hataH tvam praaNaan na haasyase eva by us, killed, you, Spirits, not, leaves, thus...
"Oh! Supreme Person, we have come here because you incited anger in our lord Khara, and by us killed will you let go your lives, mettle and spirits? No. Never it will happen."
The reason for not happening of that event is explained: raNa muurdhan in war's, van; ekasya te agrataH sthaatum lone one, you, before, to stand; bahuunaam asmaakam api many, we are, though; kaa shaktiH where is, capability for us
"Though you are a lone being, and we are many, where is the capability for us to stand before you in the van of war?"
Thus they say that they have come only at the behest of their lord but not to kill Rama. baahuH yuktaiH parighaiH shuula paTTisaiH upalakshitaanaam though equipped with our paraphernalia like maces, spears, swords etc., adhyaahaara: asmaakam our; praaNaan viiryam tyakshasi lives, vitality, we loose; ehi come... give us salvation.
"Though we are equipped with much paraphernalia like maces, spears, swords etc., we lose our lives and vitality at your hand, so come on, take them away, and accord salvation and release from our curse. It is better to die at your hand than returning to Khara and dying a merciless death at the hand of Khara.
It may be remembered that these fourteen are the cursed Vedic-scholarly disciples of Chandrakanta, now in an accursed form namely Khara. Maheshvara Tiirtha.
16, 17a. Thus saying that way clamorously they the fourteen demons, upraising their weapons they unhesitatingly rushed towards Rama alone, and they hurled lances towards that unconquerable Raghava. [3-20-16, 17a]
17b, 18a. Rama in turn shredded all of those fourteen lances only with as many arrows that are adorned in gold. [3-20-17b, 18a]
18b, 19a. Next that great resplendent Rama in high wrath took up fourteen iron bolt like arrows that are whetted on whetstone and equalling the sun in their dazzle. [3-20-18b, 19a]
19b, 20a. Then Raghava took up his bow, arched it, and aiming at the targeted demons released arrows as Indra would release his Thunderbolts. [3-20-19b, 20a]
20b, 21a. And by the force of their speed those arrows gored the chests of those demons, and then on coming out bedaubed with blood they swiftly penetrated into earth like snakes into snake pit. [3-20-20b, 21a]
21b, 22a. Those arrows bursting their hearts they are blood bathed, mangled, and utterly dead, and like the uprooted trees they fell onto the ground. [3-20-21b, 22a]
22. On seeing the demons falling onto ground that demoness Shuurpanakha is convulsed in rage, and she with a blanched aspect returned to the near of Khara in an agonising manner like a creeper exuding resin on incision, and fell before him as before. [3-20-22b, 23]
24. Then she in the presence of her brother Khara discharged a great outcry, and with a bloodless face she spilled tears attuning the strains of a whiner. [3-20-24]
25. Shuurpanakha having seen the fall of demons quickly fled from Panchavati of Rama to trikanTaka, the capital of Khara, and she being the sister of Khara she reported to Khara all about the destruction of those demons, in its entirety. [3-20-25]
श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः ॥३-२०॥
ततः शूर्पणखा घोरा राघव आश्रमम् आगता । रक्षसान् आचचक्षे तौ भ्रातरौ सह सीतया ॥३-२०-१॥
ते रामम् पर्ण शालायाम् उपविष्टम् महाबलम् । ददृशुः सीतया सार्धम् लक्ष्मणेन अपि सेवितम् ॥३-२०-२॥
ताम् दृष्ट्वा राघवः श्रीमान् आगताम् ताम् च राक्षसीम् । अब्रवीत् भ्रातरम् रामो लक्ष्मणम् दीप्त तेजसम् ॥३-२०-३॥
मुहूर्तम् भव सौमित्रे सीतायाः प्रत्यनंतरः । इमान् अस्या वधिष्यामि पदवीम् आगतान् इह ॥३-२०-४॥
वाक्यम् एतत् ततः श्रुत्वा रामस्य विदित आत्मनः । तथा इति लक्ष्मणो वाक्यम् रामस्य प्रत्यपूजयत् ॥३-२०-५॥
राघवो अपि महत् चापम् चामीकर विभूषितम् । चकार सज्यम् धर्मात्मा तानि रक्षांसि च अब्रवीत् ॥३-२०-६॥
पुत्रौ दशरथस्य आवाम् भ्रातरौ राम लक्ष्मणौ । प्रविष्टौ सीतया सार्धम् दुश्चरम् दण्डका वनम् ॥३-२०-७॥
फल मूल अशनौ दांतौ तापसौ धर्म चारिणौ । वसन्तौ दण्डकारण्ये किम् अर्थम् उपहिंसथ ॥३-२०-८॥
युष्मान् पाप आत्मकान् हंतुम् विप्रकारान् महाहवे । ऋषीणाम् तु नियोगेन प्राप्तो अहम् सशर आसनः ॥३-२०-९॥
तिष्ठत एव अत्र संतुष्टा न उपवरितितुम् अर्हथ । यदि प्राणैः इह अर्थो वो निवर्तध्वम् निशा चराः ॥३-२०-१०॥
तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राक्षसाः ते चतुर्दश । ऊचुर् वाचम् सुसंक्रुद्धा ब्रह्मघ्नः शूल पाणयः ॥३-२०-११॥
संरक्त नयना घोरा रामम् रक्तांत लोचनम् । परुषा मधुर आभाषम् हृष्टाः अदृष्ट पराक्रमम् ॥३-२०-१२॥
क्रोधम् उत्पाद्य नो भर्तुः खरस्य सुमहात्मनः । त्वम् एव हास्यसे प्राणान् अद्य अस्माभिर् हतो युधि ॥३-२०-१३॥
का हि ते शक्तिर् एकस्य बहूनाम् रण मूर्धनि । अस्माकम् अग्रतः स्थातुम् किम् पुनर् योद्धुम् आहवे ॥३-२०-१४॥
एभिः बाहु प्रयुक्तैः नः परिघैः शूल पट्टिशैः । प्राणाम् त्यक्ष्यसि वीर्यम् च धनुः च कर पीडितम् ॥३-२०-१५॥
इति एवम् उक्त्वा संरब्धा राक्षसाः ते चतुर्दश । उद्यत आयुध निस्त्रिंशा रामम् एव अभिदुद्रुवुः ॥३-२०-१६॥
चिक्षिपुः तानि शूलानि राघवम् प्रति दुर्जयम् । तानि शूलानि काकुत्स्थः समस्तानि चतुर्दश ॥३-२०-१७॥
तावद्भिः एव चिच्छेद शरैः कांचन भूषितैः । ततः पश्चात् महातेजा नाराचान् सूर्य संनिभान् ॥३-२०-१८॥
जग्राह परम क्रुद्धः चतुर्दश शिल अशितान् । गृहीत्वा धनुः आयम्य लक्ष्यान् उद्दिश्य राक्षसान् ॥३-२०-१९॥
मुमोच राघवो बाणान् वज्रान् इव शतक्रतुः । ते भित्त्वा रक्षसाम् वेगात् वक्षांसि रुधिर आप्लुताः ॥३-२०-२०॥
विनिष्पेतुः तदा भूमौ वल्मीकात् इव पन्नगाः । तैः भग्न हृदया बूमौ छिन्न मूला इव द्रुमाः ॥३-२०-२१॥
निपेतुः शोणित स्नाता विकृता विगत असवः । तान् भूमौ पतितान् दृष्ट्वा राक्षसी क्रोध मूर्च्छिता ॥३-२०-२२॥
उपगम्य खरम् सा तु किंचित् संशुष्क शोणिता । पपात पुनः एव आर्ता सनिर्यासा इव वल्लरी ॥३-२०-२३॥
भ्रातुः समीपे शोक आर्ता ससर्ज निनदम् महत् । सस्वरम् मुमोच बाष्पम् विवर्ण वदना तदा ॥३-२०-२४॥
निपातितान् प्रेक्ष्य रणे तु राक्षसान् प्रधाविता शूर्पणखा पुनः ततः । वधम् च तेषाम् निखिलेन रक्षसाम् शशंस सर्वम् भगिनी खरस्य सा ॥३-२०-२५॥
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः ॥३-२०॥