तमुवाच ततो रामो राक्षसं ज्वलिताननम्। पृच्छन्तं सुमहातेजा इक्ष्वाकुकुलमात्मनः
To that demon with a blazing face, Rama of great splendor, descendant of Ikshvaku, replied as he was questioned.
तमुवाच विराधस्तु रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्। हन्त वक्ष्यामि ते राजन् निबोध मम राघव
Viradha then spoke to Rama, whose valor is true: 'Well, I shall tell you, O king; listen to me, O Rāghava.'
पुत्रः किल जवस्याहं माता मम शतह्रदा। विराध इति मामाहुः पृथिव्यां सर्वराक्षसाः
'I am said to be the son of Java, my mother is Śatahradā; all the demons on earth call me Viradha.'
तपसा चाभिसम्प्राप्ता ब्रह्मणो हि प्रसादजा। शस्त्रेणावध्यता लोकेऽच्छेद्याभेद्यत्वमेव च
'Through asceticism I gained boons, granted by Brahma's favor: in this world, I cannot be slain by weapons, nor can I be cut or pierced.'
उत्सृज्य प्रमदामेनामनपेक्षौ यथागतम्। त्वरमाणौ पलायेथां न वां जीवितमाददे
'Abandon this woman and flee as you came, both of you, without delay; otherwise, I will take your lives.'
तं रामः प्रत्युवाचेदं कोपसंरक्तलोचनः। राक्षसं विकृताकारं विराधं पापचेतसम्
Rama, his eyes reddened with anger, replied to that demon Viradha, deformed and evil-minded:
क्षुद्र धिक् त्वां तु हीनार्थं मृत्युमन्वेषसे ध्रुवम्। रणे प्राप्स्यसि संतिष्ठ न मे जीवन् विमोक्ष्यसे
'Wretch, shame on you, so base and deprived! Surely you seek death; stand your ground in battle, for you shall not escape alive from me.'
ततः सज्यं धनुः कृत्वा रामः सुनिशितान् शरान्। सुशीघ्रमभिसंधाय राक्षसं निजघान ह
Then Rama strung his bow and swiftly aimed sharp arrows, striking the demon.
धनुषा ज्यागुणवता सप्त बाणान् मुमोच ह। रुक्मपुङ्खान् महावेगान् सुपर्णानिलतुल्यगान्
With his bow strung, he released seven arrows, golden-feathered, of great speed, like the wind of Garuda.
ते शरीरं विराधस्य भित्त्वा बर्हिणवाससः। निपेतुः शोणितादिग्धा धरण्यां पावकोपमाः
Those arrows, piercing the body of Viradha, clad in peacock feathers, fell to the earth, stained with blood, blazing like fire.
स विद्धो न्यस्य वैदेहीं शूलमुद्यम्य राक्षसः। अभ्यद्रवत् सुसंक्रुद्धस्तदा रामं सलक्ष्मणम्
Wounded, the demon set Vaidehī down, raised his spear in fury, and charged fiercely at Rama and Lakshmana.
स विनद्य महानादं शूलं शक्रध्वजोपमम्। प्रगृह्याशोभत तदा व्यात्तानन इवान्तकः
Roaring loudly, brandishing a spear like Indra's banner, he shone then, mouth agape like Death himself.
अथ तौ भ्रातरौ दीप्तं शरवर्षं ववर्षतुः। विराधे राक्षसे तस्मिन् कालान्तकयमोपमे
Then the two brothers unleashed a blazing rain of arrows upon that demon Viradha, who resembled Death at the end of time.
स प्रहस्य महारौद्रः स्थित्वाजृम्भत राक्षसः। जृम्भमाणस्य ते बाणाः कायान्निष्पेतुराशुगाः
That exceedingly fierce demon laughed, stood firm, and yawned; as he yawned, those swift arrows fell out from his body.
स्पर्शात् तु वरदानेन प्राणान् संरोध्य राक्षसः। विराधः शूलमुद्यम्य राघवावभ्यधावत
By the boon he had received, the demon Viradha suppressed his life-breaths from the touch of the arrows, then raised his spear and charged at the Raghavas.
तच्छूलं वज्रसंकाशं गगने ज्वलनोपमम्। द्वाभ्यां शराभ्यां चिच्छेद रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः
Rama, foremost among wielders of weapons, cut down that spear, which was like a thunderbolt and blazing like fire in the sky, with two arrows.
तद् रामविशिखैश्छिन्नं शूलं तस्यापतद् भुवि। पपाताशनिना छिन्नं मेरोरिव शिलातलम्
That spear, severed by Rama’s arrows, fell to the ground, crashing like a thunderbolt-shattered peak from Mount Meru.
तौ खड्गौ क्षिप्रमुद्यम्य कृष्णसर्पाविवोद्यतौ। तूर्णमापेततुस्तस्य तदा प्रहरतां बलात्
Then the two quickly raised their swords, flashing like black serpents, and rushed at him with force to strike.
स वध्यमानः सुभृशं भुजाभ्यां परिगृह्य तौ। अप्रकम्प्यौ नरव्याघ्रौ रौद्रः प्रस्थातुमैच्छत
Though being struck severely, that terrible demon seized the two tiger-like men with his arms, unshakable as they were, and tried to depart.
तस्याभिप्रायमाज्ञाय रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्। वहत्वयमलं तावत् पथानेन तु राक्षसः
Perceiving his intention, Rama said to Lakshmana, 'Let this demon carry us along his path for now.'
यथा चेच्छति सौमित्रे तथा वहतु राक्षसः। अयमेव हि नः पन्था येन याति निशाचरः
'Let the demon carry us as he wishes, O Saumitri, for this is indeed our path—wherever this night-wanderer goes.'
स तु स्वबलवीर्येण समुत्क्षिप्य निशाचरः। बालाविव स्कन्धगतौ चकारातिबलोद्धतः
Then that night-stalker, relying on his own strength and power, lifted them up as if they were children riding on his shoulders, in his excessive pride.
तावारोप्य ततः स्कन्धं राघवौ रजनीचरः। विराधो विनदन् घोरं जगामाभिमुखो वनम्
Having placed the two Raghavas on his shoulders, the night-wanderer Viradha, roaring terribly, went straight into the forest.
वनं महामेघनिभं प्रविष्टो द्रुमैर्महद्भिर्विविधैरुपेतम्। नानाविधैः पक्षिकुलैर्विचित्रं शिवायुतं व्यालमृगैर्विकीर्णम्
He entered a forest, vast as a great dark cloud, filled with many kinds of large trees, adorned with various flocks of birds, teeming with auspicious creatures, and scattered with wild beasts and serpents.
thumb|चतुर्थः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the fourth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
ह्रियमाणौ तु काकुत्स्थौ दृष्ट्वा सीता रघूत्तमौ। उच्चैः स्वरेण चुक्रोश प्रगृह्य सुमहाभुजौ
Seeing the two scions of Raghu, the mighty-armed sons of Kakutstha, being carried off, Sita cried out loudly, grasping them.
एष दाशरथी रामः सत्यवाञ्छीलवान् शुचिः। रक्षसा रौद्ररूपेण ह्रियते सहलक्ष्मणः
This is Rama, son of Dasharatha, truthful, virtuous, and pure, being carried away by a demon of terrible form, along with Lakshmana.
मामृक्षा भक्षयिष्यन्ति शार्दूलद्वीपिनस्तथा। मां हरोत्सृज काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तम
Tigers and leopards will devour me—release me, O best of Rakshasas! O Kakutsthas, I bow to you.
तस्य रौद्रस्य सौमित्रिः सव्यं बाहुं बभञ्ज ह। रामस्तु दक्षिणं बाहुं तरसा तस्य रक्षसः
Then Saumitri broke the demon’s left arm, and Rama forcefully broke his right arm.
स भग्नबाहुः संविग्नः पपाताशु विमूर्च्छितः। धरण्यां मेघसंकाशो वज्रभिन्न इवाचलः
With both arms broken, that cloud-like demon, shaken and unconscious, fell swiftly to the ground like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.