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.
निपातितान् प्रेक्ष्य रणे तु राक्षसान् प्रधाविता शूर्पणखा पुनस्ततः। वधं च तेषां निखिलेन रक्षसां शशंस सर्वं भगिनी खरस्य सा
Seeing the demons struck down in battle, Śūrpaṇakhā, having fled, then told her brother Khara everything about their slaughter, the destruction of all the rākṣasas.
thumb|एकविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the twenty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakaṇḍa.
स पुनः पतितां दृष्ट्वा क्रोधाच्छूर्पणखां पुनः। उवाच व्यक्तया वाचा तामनर्थार्थमागताम्
Then, seeing Śūrpaṇakhā fallen again, Khara, enraged, spoke to her in clear words, for she had come seeking help.
मया त्विदानीं शूरास्ते राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः। त्वत्प्रियार्थं विनिर्दिष्टाः किमर्थं रुद्यते पुनः
Now, those heroic, flesh-eating rākṣasas have been sent by me for your sake—why do you weep again?
भक्ताश्चैवानुरक्ताश्च हिताश्च मम नित्यशः। हन्यमाना न हन्यन्ते न न कुर्युर्वचो मम
They are always devoted, loyal, and well-disposed toward me; if they are being killed, they would not fail to obey my command.
किमेतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि कारणं यत्कृते पुनः। हा नाथेति विनर्दन्ती सर्पवच्चेष्टसे क्षितौ
What is this? I wish to hear the reason for which you cry out 'Alas, protector!' and writhe on the ground like a snake.
अनाथवद् विलपसि किं नु नाथे मयि स्थिते। उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ मा मैवं वैक्लव्यं त्यज्यतामिति
Why do you lament like one without a protector, when I am here? Rise, rise! Do not be so faint-hearted—cast off this weakness.
इत्येवमुक्ता दुर्धर्षा खरेण परिसान्त्विता। विमृज्य नयने सास्रे खरं भ्रातरमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the formidable Khara, she, comforted, wiped her tear-filled eyes and spoke to her brother Khara.
अस्मीदानीमहं प्राप्ता हतश्रवणनासिका। शोणितौघपरिक्लिन्ना त्वया च परिसान्त्विता
Now I have come to you, my ears and nose cut off, drenched in streams of blood, and you have comforted me.
प्रेषिताश्च त्वया शूरा राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश। निहन्तुं राघवं घोरं मत्प्रियार्थं सलक्ष्मणम्
You sent those fourteen heroic rākṣasas, armed, to kill the dreadful Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa for my sake.