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.
मानुषौ तौ न शक्नोषि हन्तुं वै रामलक्ष्मणौ। निःसत्त्वस्याल्पवीर्यस्य वासस्ते कीदृशस्त्विह
You are unable to slay those two men, Rama and Lakshmana; what sort of existence do you have here, lacking strength and possessing little power?
रामतेजोऽभिभूतो हि त्वं क्षिप्रं विनशिष्यसि। स हि तेजःसमायुक्तो रामो दशरथात्मजः
Overcome by Rama's energy, you will soon perish; for Rama, son of Dasharatha, is endowed with that very power.
भ्रातुः समीपे शोकार्ता नष्टसंज्ञा बभूव ह। कराभ्यामुदरं हत्वा रुरोद भृशदुःखिता
Beside her brother, grief-stricken and unconscious, she struck her belly with her hands and wept, overwhelmed by intense sorrow.
thumb|द्वाविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे द्वाविंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Chapter twenty-two is to be heard. In the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, in the Aranya Kanda, the twenty-second chapter.
एवमाधर्षितः शूरः शूर्पणख्या खरस्ततः। उवाच रक्षसां मध्ये खरः खरतरं वचः
Thus provoked by Shurpanakha, the warrior Khara spoke among the demons, uttering words harsher than Khara himself.
तवापमानप्रभवः क्रोधोऽयमतुलो मम। न शक्यते धारयितुं लवणाम्भ इवोल्बणम्
This anger of mine, arising from your insult, is unparalleled; it cannot be contained, like turbulent salt water.
न रामं गणये वीर्यान्मानुषं क्षीणजीवितम्। आत्मदुश्चरितैः प्राणान् हतो योऽद्य विमोक्ष्यते
I do not regard Rama as powerful—a mortal whose life is nearly spent; today, he will lose his life through his own misdeeds.
बाष्पः संधार्यतामेष सम्भ्रमश्च विमुच्यताम्। अहं रामं सह भ्रात्रा नयामि यमसादनम्
Hold back your tears and let go of your agitation; I will send Rama and his brother to the abode of Yama.
परश्वधहतस्याद्य मन्दप्राणस्य भूतले। रामस्य रुधिरं रक्तमुष्णं पास्यसि राक्षसि
Today, you will drink the hot blood of Rama, struck down by my axe, as he lies weak on the earth, O demoness.
सम्प्रहृष्टा वचः श्रुत्वा खरस्य वदनाच्च्युतम्। प्रशशंस पुनर्मौर्ख्याद् भ्रातरं रक्षसां वरम्
Hearing these words, flowing from Khara's mouth, she became delighted and, in her folly, again praised her brother, foremost among the demons.