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.
ते तु रामेण सामर्षाः शूलपट्टिशपाणयः। समरे निहताः सर्वे सायकैर्मर्मभेदिभिः
But all of them, furious and armed with spears and pikes, were slain in battle by Rāma with arrows that pierce the vital points.
तान् भूमौ पतितान् दृष्ट्वा क्षणेनैव महाजवान्। रामस्य च महत्कर्म महांस्त्रासोऽभवन्मम
Seeing those swift warriors fallen to the ground in a moment, and Rāma's great deed, I was seized by immense fear.
सास्मि भीता समुद्विग्ना विषण्णा च निशाचर। शरणं त्वां पुनः प्राप्ता सर्वतो भयदर्शिनी
Thus I am frightened, agitated, and despondent, O night-wanderer; seeing danger everywhere, I have come to you again for refuge.
विषादनक्राध्युषिते परित्रासोर्मिमालिनि। किं मां न त्रायसे मग्नां विपुले शोकसागरे
Inhabited by crocodiles of despair and waves of terror, why do you not rescue me, who am submerged in the vast ocean of grief?
एते च निहता भूमौ रामेण निशितैः शरैः। ये च मे पदवीं प्राप्ता राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः
Those flesh-eating rākṣasas who came to my aid have been struck down on the ground by Rāma with sharp arrows.
मयि ते यद्यनुक्रोशो यदि रक्षःसु तेषु च। रामेण यदि शक्तिस्ते तेजो वास्ति निशाचर
If you have any compassion for me, or for those rākṣasas, and if you have strength or power against Rāma, O night-wanderer—
दण्डकारण्यनिलयं जहि राक्षसकण्टकम्। यदि रामममित्रघ्नं न त्वमद्य वधिष्यसि
Strike down the thorn of the demons dwelling in the Dandaka forest; if you do not kill Rama, the destroyer of enemies, today,
तव चैवाग्रतः प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि निरपत्रपा। बुद्ध्याहमनुपश्यामि न त्वं रामस्य संयुगे
I will abandon my life right before you, shameless one; in my judgment, you are not able to face Rama in battle.
स्थातुं प्रतिमुखे शक्तः सबलोऽपि महारणे। शूरमानी न शूरस्त्वं मिथ्यारोपितविक्रमः
Even with your forces, you are not capable of standing face to face with him in the great war; you claim to be a hero, but you are not—your valor is falsely attributed.
अपयाहि जनस्थानात् त्वरितः सहबान्धवः। जहि त्वं समरे मूढान्यथा तु कुलपांसन
Depart swiftly from Janasthana with your kin; otherwise, kill the fools in battle, or you will bring disgrace upon your lineage.