शरधारासमूहान् स महामेघ इवोत्सृजन्। व्यसृजत् सदृशं नादं जलार्द्रस्येव दुन्दुभेः
He released streams of arrows like a great cloud, producing a sound like a drum wetted by water.
आगच्छन्तं त्रिशिरसं राक्षसं प्रेक्ष्य राघवः। धनुषा प्रतिजग्राह विधुन्वन् सायकान् शितान्
Seeing Triśiras, the rākṣasa, approaching, Rāma readied his bow and received him, shaking sharp arrows.
स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलो रामत्रिशिरसोस्तदा। सम्बभूवातिबलिनोः सिंहकुञ्जरयोरिव
Then a tumultuous clash arose between Rāma and Triśiras, both exceedingly strong, like that of a lion and an elephant.
ततस्त्रिशिरसा बाणैर्ललाटे ताडितस्त्रिभिः। अमर्षी कुपितो रामः संरब्ध इदमब्रवीत्
Then, struck on the forehead by three arrows from Triśiras, Rāma, enraged and indignant, spoke these words in fury.
अहो विक्रमशूरस्य राक्षसस्येदृशं बलम्। पुष्पैरिव शरैर्योऽहं ललाटेऽस्मि परिक्षतः
Ah, what strength this valorous Rākṣasa possesses! I have been wounded on my forehead by his arrows, as if by flowers.
ममापि प्रतिगृह्णीष्व शरांश्चापगुणाच्च्युतान्। एवमुक्त्वा सुसंरब्धः शरानाशीविषोपमान्
Now accept from me too these arrows loosed from my bowstring; so saying, greatly enraged, he took up arrows like deadly serpents.
त्रिशिरोवक्षसि क्रुद्धो निजघान चतुर्दश। चतुर्भिस्तुरगानस्य शरैः संनतपर्वभिः
In his fury, he struck Triśiras on the chest with fourteen arrows, and with four more, sharp and well-feathered, he struck his horses.
न्यपातयत तेजस्वी चतुरस्तस्य वाजिनः। अष्टभिः सायकैः सूतं रथोपस्थे न्यपातयत्
The mighty one brought down all four of his steeds, and with eight arrows, he struck down the charioteer onto the floor of the chariot.
रामश्चिच्छेद बाणेन ध्वजं चास्य समुच्छ्रितम्। ततो हतरथात् तस्मादुत्पतन्तं निशाचरम्
Rāma then cut down his raised banner with an arrow; and as the night-stalker leapt from his ruined chariot—
चिच्छेद रामस्तं बाणैर्हृदये सोऽभवज्जडः। सायकैश्चाप्रमेयात्मा सामर्षस्तस्य रक्षसः
Rāma struck him in the heart with arrows, making him senseless; and, his spirit immeasurable, he furiously pierced that Rākṣasa with more shafts.
शिरांस्यपातयत् त्रीणि वेगवद्भिस्त्रिभिः शरैः। स धूमशोणितोद्गारी रामबाणाभिपीडितः
With three swift arrows, he struck down his three heads; streaming smoke and blood, tormented by Rāma's arrows—
न्यपतत् पतितैः पूर्वं समरस्थो निशाचरः। हतशेषास्ततो भग्ना राक्षसाः खरसंश्रयाः
That night-stalker, already wounded, fell down in the midst of battle; then, the remaining Rākṣasas, routed and defeated, fled to Khara.
द्रवन्ति स्म न तिष्ठन्ति व्याघ्रत्रस्ता मृगा इव। तान् खरो द्रवतो दृष्ट्वा निवर्त्य रुषितस्त्वरन्। राममेवाभिदुद्राव राहुश्चन्द्रमसं यथा
They fled and did not stand, like deer terrified by a tiger; seeing them in flight, Khara, enraged, turned them back and swiftly charged at Rāma, as Rāhu rushes at the moon.
thumb|अष्टाविंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टाविंशः सर्गः ॥३-
Listen now to the twenty-eighth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa.
निहतं दूषणं दृष्ट्वा रणे त्रिशिरसा सह। खरस्याप्यभवत् त्रासो दृष्ट्वा रामस्य विक्रमम्
Seeing Dūṣaṇa slain in battle along with Triśiras, even Khara was struck with fear at the sight of Rāma's valor.
स दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं सैन्यमविषह्यं महाबलम्। हतमेकेन रामेण दूषणस्त्रिशिरा अपि
He saw the Rākṣasa army, vast and mighty, destroyed by Rāma alone, along with Dūṣaṇa and Triśiras.
तद्बलं हतभूयिष्ठं विमनाः प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसः। आससाद खरो रामं नमुचिर्वासवं यथा
Seeing his force mostly destroyed, the Rākṣasa, disheartened, advanced on Rāma, as Namuci did on Indra.
विकृष्य बलवच्चापं नाराचान् रक्तभोजनान्। खरश्चिक्षेप रामाय क्रुद्धानाशीविषानिव
Drawing his powerful bow, Khara hurled barbed arrows, bloodthirsty, at Rāma, like enraged venomous serpents.
ज्यां विधुन्वन् सुबहुशः शिक्षयास्त्राणि दर्शयन्। चचार समरे मार्गान् शरै रथगतः खरः
Shaking his bowstring repeatedly, displaying his skill in weapons, Khara, riding in his chariot, moved through the battle, loosing arrows.
स सर्वाश्च दिशो बाणैः प्रदिशश्च महारथः। पूरयामास तं दृष्ट्वा रामोऽपि सुमहद् धनुः
That great chariot-warrior filled all the quarters and directions with arrows; seeing this, Rāma took up his mighty bow.
स सायकैर्दुर्विषहैर्विस्फुलिङ्गैरिवाग्निभिः। नभश्चकाराविवरं पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिभिः
With arrows impossible to withstand, like sparks of fire, he made the sky seem without space, like a rainstorm fills the air.
तद् बभूव शितैर्बाणैः खररामविसर्जितैः। पर्याकाशमनाकाशं सर्वतः शरसंकुलम्
Then, with sharp arrows loosed by Khara and Rāma, the sky all around became crowded with arrows, leaving no open space.
शरजालावृतः सूर्यो न तदा स्म प्रकाशते। अन्योन्यवधसंरम्भादुभयोः सम्प्रयुध्यतोः
The sun, veiled by a multitude of arrows, did not shine at that time, as both warriors fought fiercely, intent on each other's destruction.
ततो नालीकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णाग्रैश्च विकर्णिभिः। आजघान रणे रामं तोत्रैरिव महाद्विपम्
Then, with nalikas, narachas, and sharp-tipped vikarni arrows, Khara struck Rama in battle, as an elephant is struck with goads.
तं रथस्थं धनुष्पाणिं राक्षसं पर्यवस्थितम्। ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि पाशहस्तमिवान्तकम्
All beings beheld that rakshasa, standing on his chariot, bow in hand, surrounded on all sides, like Death holding a noose.
हन्तारं सर्वसैन्यस्य पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितम्। परिश्रान्तं महासत्त्वं मेने रामं खरस्तदा
Khara then regarded Rama, the slayer of all armies, steadfast in valor, and mighty in spirit, as exhausted.
तं सिंहमिव विक्रान्तं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम्। दृष्ट्वा नोद्विजते रामः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा
Rama, seeing Khara, bold as a lion and moving with a lion's stride, did not feel fear, just as a lion does not fear a small animal.
ततः सूर्यनिकाशेन रथेन महता खरः। आससादाथ तं रामं पतङ्ग इव पावकम्
Then Khara, with his great chariot shining like the sun, approached Rama, as a moth approaches fire.
ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशे महात्मनः। खरश्चिच्छेद रामस्य दर्शयन् हस्तलाघवम्
Khara, demonstrating skill of hand, cut Rama's bow, along with its arrow, at the grip, in the midst of battle.
स पुनस्त्वपरान् सप्त शरानादाय मर्मणि। निजघान रणे क्रुद्धः शक्राशनिसमप्रभान्
Then, taking seven more arrows, blazing like Indra's thunderbolt, Rama, enraged, struck Khara in the vital points during battle.