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.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः। समेयुश्च महात्मानो युद्धदर्शनकांक्षया
Then the gods, along with the gandharvas, siddhas, and cāraṇas, those great souls, came together, eager to witness the battle.
ऋषयश्च महात्मानो लोके ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमाः। समेत्य चोचुः सहितास्तेऽन्योन्यं पुण्यकर्मणः
And the great sages, foremost among the brahmarṣis, assembled together and spoke among themselves, those doers of virtuous deeds.
स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणानां च लोकानां चेति संस्थिताः। जयतां राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनीचरान्
May there be welfare for cows, brāhmaṇas, and for all the worlds! May Rāghava conquer in battle the Paulastyas, the night-wanderers!
चक्रहस्तो यथा युद्धे सर्वानसुरपुंगवान्। एवमुक्त्वा पुनः प्रोचुरालोक्य च परस्परम्
Just as the wielder of the discus destroys all the foremost asuras in battle—so saying, they again spoke, looking at one another.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। एकश्च रामो धर्मात्मा कथं युद्धं भविष्यति
Fourteen thousand rākṣasas of terrible deeds, and Rāma alone, righteous—how will this battle be?
आविष्टं तेजसा रामं संग्रामशिरसि स्थितम्। दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि भयाद् विव्यथिरे तदा
Seeing Rāma, blazing with energy and standing at the forefront of battle, all beings then were seized with fear.
रूपमप्रतिमं तस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। बभूव रूपं क्रुद्धस्य रुद्रस्येव महात्मनः
The form of Rama, whose deeds are unwearied, became incomparable; it was like the appearance of the great-souled Rudra when enraged.
इति सम्भाष्यमाणे तु देवगन्धर्वचारणैः। ततो गम्भीरनिर्ह्रादं घोरचर्मायुधध्वजम्
While the gods, Gandharvas, and Caranas spoke thus, then arose a host with deep, terrifying roars, clad in dreadful skins, bearing weapons and banners.
अनीकं यातुधानानां समन्तात् प्रत्यपद्यत। वीरालापान् विसृजतामन्योन्यमभिगच्छताम्
The array of the night-demons assembled all around, uttering the shouts of warriors, advancing toward one another.
चापानि विस्फारयतां जृम्भतां चाप्यभीक्ष्णशः। विप्रघुष्टस्वनानां च दुन्दुभींश्चापि निघ्नताम्
They drew their bows, stretching them repeatedly, and yawned again and again; the tumult of their voices and the beating of drums resounded.
तेषां सुतुमुलः शब्दः पूरयामास तद् वनम्। तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ताः श्वापदा वनचारिणः
The tumultuous noise of those demons filled that forest; frightened by that sound, the wild beasts dwelling there fled.
दुद्रुवुर्यत्र निःशब्दं पृष्ठतो नावलोकयन्। तच्चानीकं महावेगं रामं समनुवर्तत
They ran to where it was silent, not looking back; and that mighty host, swift as a torrent, advanced upon Rama.
धृतनानाप्रहरणं गम्भीरं सागरोपमम्। रामोऽपि चारयंश्चक्षुः सर्वतो रणपण्डितः
That host, bearing various weapons, deep as the ocean, stood before Rama; and Rama, expert in battle, cast his gaze everywhere.
ददर्श खरसैन्यं तद् युद्धायाभिमुखो गतः। वितत्य च धनुर्भीमं तूण्याश्चोद्धृत्य सायकान्
He saw the army of Khara approaching for battle, and, stringing his formidable bow, drew arrows from his quiver.
क्रोधमाहारयत् तीव्रं वधार्थं सर्वरक्षसाम्। दुष्प्रेक्ष्यश्चाभवत् क्रुद्धो युगान्ताग्निरिव ज्वलन्
He summoned intense wrath for the destruction of all the demons; enraged, he became hard to behold, like the fire at the end of an age blazing forth.
तं दृष्ट्वा तेजसाऽऽविष्टं प्राव्यथन् वनदेवताः। तस्य रुष्टस्य रूपं तु रामस्य ददृशे तदा। दक्षस्येव क्रतुं हन्तुमुद्यतस्य पिनाकिनः
Seeing him filled with radiance, the forest deities trembled; the form of Rama, enraged, appeared then like Pinaka-wielding Shiva, intent on destroying Daksha's sacrifice.
तत्कार्मुकैराभरणै रथैश्च तद्वर्मभिश्चाग्निसमानवर्णैः। बभूव सैन्यं पिशिताशनानां सूर्योदये नीलमिवाभ्रजालम्
With their bows, ornaments, chariots, and armor shining like fire, the army of flesh-eating demons looked at sunrise like a dark mass of clouds.
thumb|पञ्चविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चविंशः सर्गः ॥३-
The twenty-fifth sarga is to be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
अवष्टब्धधनुं रामं क्रुद्धं तं रिपुघातिनम्। ददर्शाश्रममागम्य खरः सह पुरःसरैः
Khara, accompanied by his foremost warriors, came to the hermitage and saw Rama, angry and with his bow in hand, the slayer of enemies.
तं दृष्ट्वा सगुणं चापमुद्यम्य खरनिःस्वनम्। रामस्याभिमुखं सूतं चोद्यतामित्यचोदयत्
Seeing him with his bow strung and raised, Khara, with a roar, ordered his charioteer to drive toward Rama.