युष्माकमेतत् प्रत्यक्षं नानृतं कथयाम्यहम्। देवराजमपि क्रुद्धो मत्तैरावतगामिनम्
This is evident before you; I do not speak falsely. Even if enraged, I could slay the king of the gods, who rides the intoxicated Airavata.
वज्रहस्तं रणे हन्यां किं पुनस्तौ च मानवौ। सा तस्य गर्जितं श्रुत्वा राक्षसानां महाचमूः
He who wields the thunderbolt in battle could be slain by me—what then of those two men? Hearing his roar, the great army of the Rākṣasas
प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मृत्युपाशावपाशिता। समेयुश्च महात्मानो युद्धदर्शनकांक्षिणः
felt incomparable delight, though bound by the noose of death; and the great souls, eager to witness the battle, assembled.
ऋषयो देवगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः। समेत्य चोचुः सहितास्तेऽन्योन्यं पुण्यकर्मणः
The seers, gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas gathered together and spoke among themselves about the one of virtuous deeds.
स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु लोकानां ये च सम्मताः। जयतां राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनीचरान्
"May there be well-being for cows and Brāhmaṇas, and for those esteemed in the worlds. May Rāghava conquer in battle the Paulastyas, the night-roaming demons.
चक्रहस्तो यथा विष्णुः सर्वानसुरसत्तमान्। एतच्चान्यच्च बहुशो ब्रुवाणाः परमर्षयः
As Viṣṇu, bearing the discus, destroyed all the foremost Asuras, so may he." Thus, and in many other ways, the supreme seers spoke.
जातकौतूहलास्तत्र विमानस्थाश्च देवताः। ददृशुर्वाहिनीं तेषां राक्षसानां गतायुषाम्
Filled with curiosity, the gods stationed in their aerial chariots watched the army of the Rākṣasas, whose life-force was spent.
रथेन तु खरो वेगात् सैन्यस्याग्राद् विनिःसृतः। श्येनगामी पृथुग्रीवो यज्ञशत्रुर्विहंगमः
Then Khara, swift as a hawk, emerged rapidly at the head of the army in his chariot; Pṛthugrīva, Yajñaśatru, Vihaṃgama,
दुर्जयः करवीराक्षः परुषः कालकार्मुकः। हेममाली महामाली सर्पास्यो रुधिराशनः
Durjaya, Karavīrākṣa, Paruṣa, Kālakārmuka, Hemamālī, Mahāmālī, Sarpāsya, and Rudhirāśana—
द्वादशैते महावीर्याः प्रतस्थुरभितः खरम्। महाकपालः स्थूलाक्षः प्रमाथस्त्रिशिरास्तथा। चत्वार एते सेनाग्रे दूषणं पृष्ठतोऽन्वयुः
these twelve of great valor advanced around Khara; Mahākapāla, Sthūlākṣa, Pramātha, and Triśiras—these four followed Dūṣaṇa at the rear of the army.
सा भीमवेगा समराभिकांक्षिणी सुदारुणा राक्षसवीरसेना। तौ राजपुत्रौ सहसाभ्युपेता माला ग्रहाणामिव चन्द्रसूर्यौ
That army of fierce speed, eager for battle, dreadful and filled with Rākṣasa heroes, suddenly confronted the two princes, like the sun and moon approached by garlanded planets.
thumb|चतुर्विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the twenty-fourth sarga. Thus ends the twenty-fourth sarga in the Araṇya Kāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
आश्रमं प्रतियाते तु खरे खरपराक्रमे। तानेवौत्पातिकान् रामः सह भ्रात्रा ददर्श ह
When Khara, mighty in valor, had departed for the hermitage, Rāma, together with his brother, beheld those same ominous portents.
तानुत्पातान् महाघोरान् रामो दृष्ट्वात्यमर्षणः। प्रजानामहितान् दृष्ट्वा वाक्यं लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्
Seeing those terrible and dreadful omens, Rāma, deeply disturbed for the welfare of the people, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa these words:
इमान् पश्य महाबाहो सर्वभूतापहारिणः। समुत्थितान् महोत्पातान् संहर्तुं सर्वराक्षसान्
"Behold, O mighty-armed one, these great and destructive omens that have arisen to bring about the destruction of all the Rākṣasas.
अमी रुधिरधारास्तु विसृजन्ते खरस्वनाः। व्योम्नि मेघा निवर्तन्ते परुषा गर्दभारुणाः
These streams of blood, resounding with harsh cries, are being poured forth; in the sky, clouds turn back, rough and the color of donkey's blood.
सधूमाश्च शराः सर्वे मम युद्धाभिनन्दिताः। रुक्मपृष्ठानि चापानि विचेष्टन्ते विचक्षण
All my arrows, wreathed in smoke and golden-backed, move restlessly, eager for battle, O discerning one.
यादृशा इह कूजन्ति पक्षिणो वनचारिणः। अग्रतो नोऽभयं प्राप्तं संशयो जीवितस्य च
The forest-dwelling birds are calling in strange ways; safety does not lie ahead for us, and there is doubt regarding our very lives.
सम्प्रहारस्तु सुमहान् भविष्यति न संशयः। अयमाख्याति मे बाहुः स्फुरमाणो मुहुर्मुहुः
A tremendous battle will surely take place—of this there is no doubt; my arm, trembling again and again, foretells it to me.
संनिकर्षे तु नः शूर जयं शत्रोः पराजयम्। सुप्रभं च प्रसन्नं च तव वक्त्रं हि लक्ष्यते
But, O hero, when we draw near, victory for us and defeat for the enemy are certain; for your face shines bright and clear.
उद्यतानां हि युद्धार्थं येषां भवति लक्ष्मण। निष्प्रभं वदनं तेषां भवत्यायुः परिक्षयः
For those who are about to fight, O Lakshmana, when their faces lose their luster, it is a sign that their life is nearing its end.
रक्षसां नर्दतां घोरः श्रूयतेऽयं महाध्वनिः। आहतानां च भेरीणां राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः
A terrible roar is heard from the howling of the rākṣasas, and the drums struck by those cruel-doing demons.
अनागतविधानं तु कर्तव्यं शुभमिच्छता। आपदं शङ्कमानेन पुरुषेण विपश्चिता
One who desires good must make preparations for what is yet to come, being wise and anticipating possible danger.
तस्माद् गृहीत्वा वैदेहीं शरपाणिर्धनुर्धरः। गुहामाश्रय शैलस्य दुर्गां पादपसंकुलाम्
Therefore, take Vaidehī with you, armed with bow and arrows, and seek refuge in a cave on the mountain, one that is fortified and thick with trees.
प्रतिकूलितुमिच्छामि न हि वाक्यमिदं त्वया। शापितो मम पादाभ्यां गम्यतां वत्स मा चिरम्
I wish to oppose them myself; do not argue with me about this. Go, my child, as I command you—do not delay.
त्वं हि शूरश्च बलवान् हन्या एतान् न संशयः। स्वयं निहन्तुमिच्छामि सर्वानेव निशाचरान्
You are indeed brave and strong, and could certainly slay these foes; but I wish to destroy all these night-wanderers myself.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया। शरानादाय चापं च गुहां दुर्गां समाश्रयत्
Thus addressed by Rāma, Lakshmana, together with Sītā, took up his arrows and bow and sought shelter in the fortified cave.
तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे तु गुहां लक्ष्मणे सह सीतया। हन्त निर्युक्तमित्युक्त्वा रामः कवचमाविशत्
When Lakshmana had entered the cave with Sītā, Rāma said, 'Now, let them come!' and put on his armor.
स तेनाग्निनिकाशेन कवचेन विभूषितः। बभूव रामस्तिमिरे महानग्निरिवोत्थितः
Adorned with that armor, shining like fire, Rāma appeared in the darkness like a great blazing fire arisen.
स चापमुद्यम्य महच्छरानादाय वीर्यवान्। सम्बभूवास्थितस्तत्र ज्यास्वनैः पूरयन् दिशः
Raising his bow and taking his great arrows, the valiant one stood there, filling the quarters with the twang of the bowstring.