इति तस्यां ब्रुवाणायां चतुर्दश महाबलान्। व्यादिदेश खरः क्रुद्धो राक्षसानन्तकोपमान्
As she was speaking thus, Khara, enraged, commanded fourteen mighty rākṣasas, fierce as the end of time.
मानुषौ शस्त्रसम्पन्नौ चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरौ। प्रविष्टौ दण्डकारण्यं घोरं प्रमदया सह
Two men, armed with weapons, clad in bark and black antelope skin, have entered the dreadful Daṇḍaka forest with a woman.
तौ हत्वा तां च दुर्वृत्तामुपावर्तितुमर्हथ। इयं च भगिनी तेषां रुधिरं मम पास्यति
Having slain those two and that wicked woman, you should return; and this, their sister, shall drink their blood for me.
मनोरथोऽयमिष्टोऽस्या भगिन्या मम राक्षसाः। शीघ्रं सम्पाद्यतां गत्वा तौ प्रमथ्य स्वतेजसा
This is the wish of my sister, O rākṣasas; let it be quickly accomplished—go, overpower them with your own might.
युष्माभिर्निहतौ दृष्ट्वा तावुभौ भ्रातरौ रणे। इयं प्रहृष्टा मुदिता रुधिरं युधि पास्यति
When you have slain those two brothers in battle, this one, delighted and joyful, will drink their blood in the fight.
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टा राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश। तत्र जग्मुस्तया सार्धं घना वातेरिता इव
Thus commanded, those fourteen rākṣasas went there with her, like clouds driven by the wind.
thumb|विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे विंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Let the twentieth sarga be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakaṇḍa, twentieth sarga.
ततः शूर्पणखा घोरा राघवाश्रममागता। राक्षसानाचचक्षे तौ भ्रातरौ सह सीतया
Then the terrible Śūrpaṇakhā, having arrived at Rāghava's hermitage, reported those two brothers, along with Sītā, to the rākṣasas.
ते रामं पर्णशालायामुपविष्टं महाबलम्। ददृशुः सीतया सार्धं लक्ष्मणेनापि सेवितम्
They saw Rāma, of great strength, seated in the leaf-hut, attended by Sītā and also by Lakṣmaṇa.
तां दृष्ट्वा राघवः श्रीमानागतांस्तांश्च राक्षसान्। अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम्
Seeing her arrive, and those rākṣasas, the illustrious Rāghava spoke to his brother Lakṣmaṇa, blazing with energy:
मुहूर्तं भव सौमित्रे सीतायाः प्रत्यनन्तरः। इमानस्या वधिष्यामि पदवीमागतानिह
Wait for a moment, Saumitri, staying close to Sītā; I will destroy those who have come upon this path here.
वाक्यमेतत् ततः श्रुत्वा रामस्य विदितात्मनः। तथेति लक्ष्मणो वाक्यं राघवस्य प्रपूजयन्
Hearing this command from Rāma, who knows himself, Lakṣmaṇa honored Rāma’s words, replying, 'So be it.'
राघवोऽपि महच्चापं चामीकरविभूषितम्। चकार सज्यं धर्मात्मा तानि रक्षांसि चाब्रवीत्
Rāghava, righteous in nature, took up his great bow adorned with gold, strung it, and addressed the demons.
पुत्रौ दशरथस्यावां भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। प्रविष्टौ सीतया सार्धं दुश्चरं दण्डकावनम्
We are the sons of Daśaratha, brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, who have entered the difficult Daṇḍaka forest together with Sītā.
फलमूलाशनौ दान्तौ तापसौ ब्रह्मचारिणौ। वसन्तौ दण्डकारण्ये किमर्थमुपहिंसथ
Eating fruits and roots, disciplined, ascetic, observing celibacy, dwelling in Daṇḍaka forest—why do you harm us?
युष्मान् पापात्मकान् हन्तुं विप्रकारान् महाहवे। ऋषीणां तु नियोगेन सम्प्राप्तः सशरासनः
Armed with bow and arrows, I have come, by the command of the sages, to slay you evil-hearted ones who commit outrages in this great conflict.
तिष्ठतैवात्र संतुष्टा नोपवर्तितुमर्हथ। यदि प्राणैरिहार्थो वो निवर्तध्वं निशाचराः
Remain here content; you should not retreat. If you value your lives, depart from here, O night-dwellers.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश। ऊचुर्वाचं सुसंक्रुद्धा ब्रह्मघ्नाः शूलपाणयः
Hearing his words, the fourteen Rākṣasas, murderers of Brahmins, wielding spears, replied in great anger.
संरक्तनयना घोरा रामं संरक्तलोचनम्। परुषा मधुराभाषं हृष्टा दृष्टपराक्रमम्
Terrible, with bloodshot eyes, gazing at Rāma whose eyes were also bloodshot, they spoke harshly with a mocking sweetness, delighted at his display of valor.
क्रोधमुत्पाद्य नो भर्तुः खरस्य सुमहात्मनः। त्वमेव हास्यसे प्राणान् सद्योऽस्माभिर्हतो युधि
By provoking the wrath of our master Khara, of great might, you alone will lose your life, slain by us in battle this very moment.
का हि ते शक्तिरेकस्य बहूनां रणमूर्धनि। अस्माकमग्रतः स्थातुं किं पुनर्योद्धुमाहवे
What power do you have, alone, to stand before many in the midst of battle, let alone to fight us in this conflict?
एभिर्बाहुप्रयुक्तैश्च परिघैः शूलपट्टिशैः। प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यसि वीर्यं च धनुश्च करपीडितम्
With these clubs, spears, and pikes hurled by our arms, you will lose your life, your strength, and the bow gripped in your hand.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा संरब्धा राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश। उद्यतायुधनिस्त्रिंशा राममेवाभिदुद्रुवुः
Having spoken thus, the fourteen enraged Rākṣasas, weapons and swords raised, rushed straight at Rāma.
चिक्षिपुस्तानि शूलानि राघवं प्रति दुर्जयम्। तानि शूलानि काकुत्स्थः समस्तानि चतुर्दश
They hurled their spears at Rāghava, who was unconquerable; all fourteen spears were thrown at him.
तावद्भिरेव चिच्छेद शरैः काञ्चनभूषितैः। ततः पश्चान्महातेजा नाराचान् सूर्यसंनिभान्
With those very arrows, adorned with gold, he cut them all down; then, the mighty one took up nārāca arrows, shining like the sun.
जग्राह परमक्रुद्धश्चतुर्दश शिलाशितान्। गृहीत्वा धनुरायम्य लक्ष्यानुद्दिश्य राक्षसान्
Extremely enraged, he seized fourteen sharp, stone-tipped arrows, drew his bow, and aimed at the demons.
विनिष्पेतुस्तदा भूमौ वल्मीकादिव पन्नगाः। तैर्भग्नहृदया भूमौ छिन्नमूला इव द्रुमाः
They fell to the ground like serpents from anthills; their hearts shattered, lying on the earth like trees with roots cut.
निपेतुः शोणितस्नाता विकृता विगतासवः। तान् भूमौ पतितान् दृष्ट्वा राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता
They fell, bathed in blood, deformed and lifeless; seeing them fallen on the ground, the demoness was seized by wrath.
उपगम्य खरं सा तु किंचित्संशुष्कशोणिता। पपात पुनरेवार्ता सनिर्यासेव वल्लरी
She, with blood somewhat dried, approached Khara and then, afflicted, fell again, like a vine deprived of its sap.
भ्रातुः समीपे शोकार्ता ससर्ज निनदं महत् । सस्वरं मुमुचे बाष्पं विवर्णवदना तदा
Distressed with grief, she let out a great cry near her brother, and with a trembling voice shed tears, her face pale.