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.
ततः शरसहस्रेण राममप्रतिमौजसम्। अर्दयित्वा महानादं ननाद समरे खरः
After tormenting Rama, whose strength was unmatched, with a thousand arrows, Khara roared loudly in the fight.
ततस्तत्प्रहतं बाणैः खरमुक्तैः सुपर्वभिः। पपात कवचं भूमौ रामस्यादित्यवर्चसम्
Then, struck by arrows released by Khara, Rama's splendid armor, radiant as the sun, fell to the earth.
स शरैरर्पितः क्रुद्धः सर्वगात्रेषु राघवः। रराज समरे रामो विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्
Rama, enraged and pierced with arrows all over his body, shone in battle like fire blazing without smoke.
ततो गम्भीरनिर्ह्रादं रामः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। चकारान्ताय स रिपोः सज्यमन्यन्महद्धनुः
Then Rama, destroyer of enemies, made ready another great bow, stringing it for the end of his foe, with a deep, resonant sound.
सुमहद् वैष्णवं यत् तदतिसृष्टं महर्षिणा। वरं तद् धनुरुद्यम्य खरं समभिधावत
He took up that mighty Vaishnava bow, bestowed by the great sage, and advanced toward Khara.
ततः कनकपुङ्खैस्तु शरैः संनतपर्वभिः। चिच्छेद रामः संक्रुद्धः खरस्य समरे ध्वजम्
Then Rama, enraged, cut down Khara's banner in battle with arrows, golden-feathered and tightly bound.
स दर्शनीयो बहुधा विच्छिन्नः काञ्चनो ध्वजः। जगाम धरणीं सूर्यो देवतानामिवाज्ञया
That beautiful golden banner, severed in many places, fell to the earth, like the sun descending by the command of the gods.
तं चतुर्भिः खरः क्रुद्धो रामं गात्रेषु मार्गणैः। विव्याध हृदि मर्मज्ञो मातङ्गमिव तोमरैः
Khara, enraged, pierced Rama's limbs with four arrows, striking his heart with precision, as an elephant is struck with spears.
स रामो बहुभिर्बाणैः खरकार्मुकनिःसृतैः। विद्धो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गो बभूव रुषितो भृशम्
Rama, pierced by many arrows shot from Khara's bow, became drenched in blood and was greatly angered.
स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः संगृह्य परमाहवे। मुमोच परमेष्वासः षट् शरानभिलक्षितान्
Then Rama, best among archers, took up his bow in that supreme battle and released six well-aimed arrows.