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Aranya Kaanda - Sarga 20
In this Sarga, the Rākshasas, fourteen in all, go to Rāma and Lakshmaṇa, led by Ṡūrpaṇakhā. Upon seeing them, Rāma tells Lakshmaṇa to stand guard for Seetā.
Rāma tells the Rākshasas who he is and asks them why they harass him. He warns them that he will kill them for their sin of harming the Ṛshis, unless they flee away. Quite unaware of the strength of Rāma, they mock at him saying that it would be him who would die, if at all he could stand against them in the fight. They hurl their spears at Rāma and Rāma shatters them with his arrows. Then with fourteen more arrows he kills everyone of them.
Ṡūrpaṇakhā runs again back to Khara and cries pitifully, narrating all that that has happened.
3.20.1 ததஸ்ஸூர்பணகா கோரா
ராகவாஸ்ரமமாகதா ।
ராக்ஷஸாநாசசக்ஷே தௌ
ப்ராதரௌ ஸஹ ஸீதயா ॥
tataṡṡūrpaṇakhā ghōrā
rāghavāṡramamāgatā ।
rākṣasānācacakṣē tau
bhrātarau saha sītayā ॥
Then the dreadful Ṡūrpaṇakhā,
came to Rāghava's Āṡrama
and showed the Rākshasas
the two brothers and Seetā.
3.20.2 தே ராமம் பர்ணஸாலாயாம்
உபவிஷ்டம் மஹாபலம் ।
தத்ருஸுஸ்ஸீதயா ஸார்தம்
வைதேஹ்யா லக்ஷ்மணேந ச ॥
tē rāmaṃ parṇaṡālāyāṃ
upaviṣṭaṃ mahābalam ।
dadṛṡussītayā sārdhaṃ
vaidēhyā lakṣmaṇēna ca ॥
They saw Rāma of immense strength
seated in the thatched cottage along with
Vaidēhi and Lakshmaṇa.
3.20.3 தாந்த்ருஷ்ட்வா ராகவஸ்ஸ்ரீமாந்
ஆகதாம்ஸ்தாம் ச ராக்ஷஸீம் ।
அப்ரவீத்ப்ராதரம் ராமோ
லக்ஷ்மணம் தீப்ததேஜஸம் ॥
tāndṛṣṭvā rāghavaṡṡrīmān
āgatāṃstāṃ ca rākṣasīm ।
abravīdbhrātaraṃ rāmō
lakṣmaṇaṃ dīptatējasam ॥
On seeing them and the Rākshasi,
the blessed Rāghava said to his brother
Lakshmaṇa of fiery radiance:
3.20.4 முஹூர்தம் பவ ஸௌமித்ரே
ஸீதாயா: ப்ரத்யநந்தர: ।
இமாநஸ்யா வதிஷ்யாமி
பதவீமாகதாநிஹ ॥
muhūrtaṃ bhava saumitrē
sītāyāḥ pratyanantaraḥ ।
imānasyā vadhiṣyāmi
padavīmāgatāniha ॥
O Lakshmaṇa, stay here with Seetā for a moment.
I will kill these (Rākshasas) who have
treaded here following this (Rākshasi).
3.20.5 வாக்யமேதத்ததஸ்ஸ்ருத்வா
ராமஸ்ய விதிதாத்மந: ।
ததேதி லக்ஷ்மணோ வாக்யம்
ராமஸ்ய ப்ரத்யபூஜயத் ॥
vākyamētattataṡṡrutvā
rāmasya viditātmanaḥ ।
tathēti lakṣmaṇō vākyaṃ
rāmasya pratyapūjayat ॥
Hearing those words of Rāma,
who was fully aware of who he was,
Lakshmaṇa said the words,
'Certainly, I will!',
with all due regard.
3.20.6 ராகவோऽபி மஹச்சாபம்
சாமீகரவிபூஷிதம் ।
சகார ஸஜ்யம் தர்மாத்மா
தாநி ரக்ஷாம்ஸி சாப்ரவீத் ॥
rāghavō'pi mahaccāpaṃ
cāmīkaravibhūṣitam ।
cakāra sajyaṃ dharmātmā
tāni rakṣāṃsi cābravīt ॥
And Rāghava, the Dharmātma,
strung his massive bow adorned with gold,
and said to those Rākshasas:
3.20.7-8 புத்ரௌ தஸரதஸ்யாவாம்
ப்ராதரௌ ராமலக்ஷ்மணௌ ।
ப்ரவிஷ்டௌ ஸீதயா ஸார்தம்
துஸ்சரம் தண்டகாவநம் ॥
பலமூலாஸநௌ தாந்தௌ
தாபஸௌ தர்மசாரிணௌ ।
வஸந்தௌ தண்டகாரண்யே
கிமர்தமுபஹிம்ஸத ॥
putrau daṡarathasyāvāṃ
bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau ।
praviṣṭau sītayā sārdhaṃ
duṡcaraṃ daṇḍakāvanam ॥
phalamūlāṡanau dāntau
tāpasau dharmacāriṇau ।
vasantau daṇḍakāraṇyē
kimarthamupahiṃsatha ॥
We are Rāma and Lakshmaṇa,
the sons of Daṡaratha.
We have come with Seetā to this
Daṇḍaka Vana which is difficult to traverse.
We are leading a disciplined life, like a Tapasvi,
in this Daṇḍaka Araṇya
subsisting on fruits and roots.
Why do you harass us?
3.20.9-10 யுஷ்மாந்பாபாத்மகாந்ஹந்தும்
விப்ரகாராந்மஹாஹவே ।
ருஷீணாம் து நியோகேந
ப்ராப்தோऽஹம் ஸஸராயுத: ॥
திஷ்டதைவாத்ர ஸந்துஷ்டா
நோபாவர்திதுமர்ஹத ।
யதி ப்ராணைரிஹார்தோ வா
நிவர்தத்வம் நிஸாசரா: ॥
yuṣmānpāpātmakānhantuṃ
viprakārānmahāhavē ।
ṛṣīṇāṃ tu niyōgēna
prāptō'haṃ saṡarāyudhaḥ ॥
tiṣṭhataivātra sanduṣṭā
nōpāvartitumarhatha ।
yadi prāṇairihārthō vā
nivartadhvaṃ niṡācarāḥ ॥
I am here, armed with bow and arrow,
to put up a fierce fight with you.
I will kill you evil creatures,
as requested by the Ṛshis whom you molest!
You wicked night-rovers,
stay there, without turning back!
Or run away, if you value your lives!
3.20.11-12 தஸ்ய தத்வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா
ராக்ஷஸாஸ்தே சதுர்தஸ ।
ஊசுர்த்வாசம் ஸுஸம்க்ருத்தா
ப்ரஹ்மக்நாஸ்ஸூலபாணய: ।
ஸம்ரக்தநயநா கோரா
ராமம் ரக்தாந்தலோசநம் ।
பருஷா மதுராபாஷம்
ஹ்ருஷ்டாத்ருஷ்டபராக்ரமம் ॥
tasya tadvacanaṃ ṡrutvā
rākṣasāstē caturdaṡa ।
ūcurtvācaṃ susaṃkruddhā
brahmaghnāṡṡūlapāṇayaḥ ।
saṃraktanayanā ghōrā
rāmaṃ raktāntalōcanam ।
paruṣā madhurābhāṣaṃ
hṛṣṭādṛṣṭaparākramam ॥
The repulsive Rākshasas, murderers of Brāhmaṇas,
armed with spears, fourteen in all, were enraged.
They with bloodshot eyes and harsh voices,
said these words to the one who had
red streaks in his eyes and sweet voice,
blithely, not having seen his valor yet:
3.20.13 க்ரோதமுத்பாத்ய நோ பர்து:
கரஸ்ய ஸுமஹாத்மந: ।
த்வமேவ ஹாஸ்யஸே ப்ராணாந்
அத்யாஸ்மாபிர்ஹதோ யுதி ॥
krōdhamutpādya nō bhartuḥ
kharasya sumahātmanaḥ ।
tvamēva hāsyasē prāṇān
adyāsmābhirhatō yudhi ॥
Having provoked the wrath of
our lord Khara, the supreme Mahātma,
it is you who will lose your life today,
slain by us in the fight. In recent times the word Mahātma, known as a title to Mr. Gandhi, has acquired a very specific and slightly different meaning than it had during the times of Rāmāyaṇa, when it meant a person who is exceptional and distinct from common folk, in some way, at least from the eyes of the beholder, as is the case here.
3.20.14 கா ஹி தே ஸக்திரேகஸ்ய
பஹூநாம் ரணமூர்தநீ ।
அஸ்மாகமக்ரத: ஸ்தாதும்
கிம் புநர்யோத்துமாஹவே ॥
kā hi tē ṡaktirēkasya
bahūnāṃ raṇamūrdhanī ।
asmākamagrataḥ sthātuṃ
kiṃ punaryōddumāhavē ॥
How can you, a lone man,
even face us who are many,
in the battle line,
let alone fight with us?
3.20.15 ஏஹி பாஹுப்ரயுக்தைர்ந:
பரிகைஸ்ஸூலபட்டிஸை: ।
ப்ராணாம்ஸ்த்யக்ஷஸி வீர்யம் ச
தநுஸ்ச கரபீடிதம் ॥
ēhi bāhuprayuktairnaḥ
parighaiṡṡūlapaṭṭisaiḥ ।
prāṇāṃstyakṣasi vīryaṃ ca
dhanuṡca karapīḍitam ॥
Come on, you shall lose your
life, power and the bow
that you are holding on to,
assailed by the iron rods,
spears and tridents
hurled from our hands!
3.20.16 இத்யேவமுக்த்வா ஸங்க்ருத்தா
ராக்ஷஸாஸ்தே சதுர்தஸ ।
சிக்ஷிபுஸ்தாநி ஸூலாநி
ராகவம் ப்ரதி துர்ஜயம் ॥
ityēvamuktvā saṅkṛddhā
rākṣasāstē caturdaṡa ।
cikṣipustāni ṡūlāni
rāghavaṃ prati durjayam ॥
Saying this, the fourteen incensed Rākshasas
hurled those spears at Rāghava, the invincible.
To be continued
In this Sarga, the Rākshasas, fourteen in all, go to Rāma and Lakshmaṇa, led by Ṡūrpaṇakhā. Upon seeing them, Rāma tells Lakshmaṇa to stand guard for Seetā.
Rāma tells the Rākshasas who he is and asks them why they harass him. He warns them that he will kill them for their sin of harming the Ṛshis, unless they flee away. Quite unaware of the strength of Rāma, they mock at him saying that it would be him who would die, if at all he could stand against them in the fight. They hurl their spears at Rāma and Rāma shatters them with his arrows. Then with fourteen more arrows he kills everyone of them.
Ṡūrpaṇakhā runs again back to Khara and cries pitifully, narrating all that that has happened.
3.20.1 ததஸ்ஸூர்பணகா கோரா
ராகவாஸ்ரமமாகதா ।
ராக்ஷஸாநாசசக்ஷே தௌ
ப்ராதரௌ ஸஹ ஸீதயா ॥
tataṡṡūrpaṇakhā ghōrā
rāghavāṡramamāgatā ।
rākṣasānācacakṣē tau
bhrātarau saha sītayā ॥
Then the dreadful Ṡūrpaṇakhā,
came to Rāghava's Āṡrama
and showed the Rākshasas
the two brothers and Seetā.
3.20.2 தே ராமம் பர்ணஸாலாயாம்
உபவிஷ்டம் மஹாபலம் ।
தத்ருஸுஸ்ஸீதயா ஸார்தம்
வைதேஹ்யா லக்ஷ்மணேந ச ॥
tē rāmaṃ parṇaṡālāyāṃ
upaviṣṭaṃ mahābalam ।
dadṛṡussītayā sārdhaṃ
vaidēhyā lakṣmaṇēna ca ॥
They saw Rāma of immense strength
seated in the thatched cottage along with
Vaidēhi and Lakshmaṇa.
3.20.3 தாந்த்ருஷ்ட்வா ராகவஸ்ஸ்ரீமாந்
ஆகதாம்ஸ்தாம் ச ராக்ஷஸீம் ।
அப்ரவீத்ப்ராதரம் ராமோ
லக்ஷ்மணம் தீப்ததேஜஸம் ॥
tāndṛṣṭvā rāghavaṡṡrīmān
āgatāṃstāṃ ca rākṣasīm ।
abravīdbhrātaraṃ rāmō
lakṣmaṇaṃ dīptatējasam ॥
On seeing them and the Rākshasi,
the blessed Rāghava said to his brother
Lakshmaṇa of fiery radiance:
3.20.4 முஹூர்தம் பவ ஸௌமித்ரே
ஸீதாயா: ப்ரத்யநந்தர: ।
இமாநஸ்யா வதிஷ்யாமி
பதவீமாகதாநிஹ ॥
muhūrtaṃ bhava saumitrē
sītāyāḥ pratyanantaraḥ ।
imānasyā vadhiṣyāmi
padavīmāgatāniha ॥
O Lakshmaṇa, stay here with Seetā for a moment.
I will kill these (Rākshasas) who have
treaded here following this (Rākshasi).
3.20.5 வாக்யமேதத்ததஸ்ஸ்ருத்வா
ராமஸ்ய விதிதாத்மந: ।
ததேதி லக்ஷ்மணோ வாக்யம்
ராமஸ்ய ப்ரத்யபூஜயத் ॥
vākyamētattataṡṡrutvā
rāmasya viditātmanaḥ ।
tathēti lakṣmaṇō vākyaṃ
rāmasya pratyapūjayat ॥
Hearing those words of Rāma,
who was fully aware of who he was,
Lakshmaṇa said the words,
'Certainly, I will!',
with all due regard.
3.20.6 ராகவோऽபி மஹச்சாபம்
சாமீகரவிபூஷிதம் ।
சகார ஸஜ்யம் தர்மாத்மா
தாநி ரக்ஷாம்ஸி சாப்ரவீத் ॥
rāghavō'pi mahaccāpaṃ
cāmīkaravibhūṣitam ।
cakāra sajyaṃ dharmātmā
tāni rakṣāṃsi cābravīt ॥
And Rāghava, the Dharmātma,
strung his massive bow adorned with gold,
and said to those Rākshasas:
3.20.7-8 புத்ரௌ தஸரதஸ்யாவாம்
ப்ராதரௌ ராமலக்ஷ்மணௌ ।
ப்ரவிஷ்டௌ ஸீதயா ஸார்தம்
துஸ்சரம் தண்டகாவநம் ॥
பலமூலாஸநௌ தாந்தௌ
தாபஸௌ தர்மசாரிணௌ ।
வஸந்தௌ தண்டகாரண்யே
கிமர்தமுபஹிம்ஸத ॥
putrau daṡarathasyāvāṃ
bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau ।
praviṣṭau sītayā sārdhaṃ
duṡcaraṃ daṇḍakāvanam ॥
phalamūlāṡanau dāntau
tāpasau dharmacāriṇau ।
vasantau daṇḍakāraṇyē
kimarthamupahiṃsatha ॥
We are Rāma and Lakshmaṇa,
the sons of Daṡaratha.
We have come with Seetā to this
Daṇḍaka Vana which is difficult to traverse.
We are leading a disciplined life, like a Tapasvi,
in this Daṇḍaka Araṇya
subsisting on fruits and roots.
Why do you harass us?
3.20.9-10 யுஷ்மாந்பாபாத்மகாந்ஹந்தும்
விப்ரகாராந்மஹாஹவே ।
ருஷீணாம் து நியோகேந
ப்ராப்தோऽஹம் ஸஸராயுத: ॥
திஷ்டதைவாத்ர ஸந்துஷ்டா
நோபாவர்திதுமர்ஹத ।
யதி ப்ராணைரிஹார்தோ வா
நிவர்தத்வம் நிஸாசரா: ॥
yuṣmānpāpātmakānhantuṃ
viprakārānmahāhavē ।
ṛṣīṇāṃ tu niyōgēna
prāptō'haṃ saṡarāyudhaḥ ॥
tiṣṭhataivātra sanduṣṭā
nōpāvartitumarhatha ।
yadi prāṇairihārthō vā
nivartadhvaṃ niṡācarāḥ ॥
I am here, armed with bow and arrow,
to put up a fierce fight with you.
I will kill you evil creatures,
as requested by the Ṛshis whom you molest!
You wicked night-rovers,
stay there, without turning back!
Or run away, if you value your lives!
3.20.11-12 தஸ்ய தத்வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா
ராக்ஷஸாஸ்தே சதுர்தஸ ।
ஊசுர்த்வாசம் ஸுஸம்க்ருத்தா
ப்ரஹ்மக்நாஸ்ஸூலபாணய: ।
ஸம்ரக்தநயநா கோரா
ராமம் ரக்தாந்தலோசநம் ।
பருஷா மதுராபாஷம்
ஹ்ருஷ்டாத்ருஷ்டபராக்ரமம் ॥
tasya tadvacanaṃ ṡrutvā
rākṣasāstē caturdaṡa ।
ūcurtvācaṃ susaṃkruddhā
brahmaghnāṡṡūlapāṇayaḥ ।
saṃraktanayanā ghōrā
rāmaṃ raktāntalōcanam ।
paruṣā madhurābhāṣaṃ
hṛṣṭādṛṣṭaparākramam ॥
The repulsive Rākshasas, murderers of Brāhmaṇas,
armed with spears, fourteen in all, were enraged.
They with bloodshot eyes and harsh voices,
said these words to the one who had
red streaks in his eyes and sweet voice,
blithely, not having seen his valor yet:
3.20.13 க்ரோதமுத்பாத்ய நோ பர்து:
கரஸ்ய ஸுமஹாத்மந: ।
த்வமேவ ஹாஸ்யஸே ப்ராணாந்
அத்யாஸ்மாபிர்ஹதோ யுதி ॥
krōdhamutpādya nō bhartuḥ
kharasya sumahātmanaḥ ।
tvamēva hāsyasē prāṇān
adyāsmābhirhatō yudhi ॥
Having provoked the wrath of
our lord Khara, the supreme Mahātma,
it is you who will lose your life today,
slain by us in the fight. In recent times the word Mahātma, known as a title to Mr. Gandhi, has acquired a very specific and slightly different meaning than it had during the times of Rāmāyaṇa, when it meant a person who is exceptional and distinct from common folk, in some way, at least from the eyes of the beholder, as is the case here.
3.20.14 கா ஹி தே ஸக்திரேகஸ்ய
பஹூநாம் ரணமூர்தநீ ।
அஸ்மாகமக்ரத: ஸ்தாதும்
கிம் புநர்யோத்துமாஹவே ॥
kā hi tē ṡaktirēkasya
bahūnāṃ raṇamūrdhanī ।
asmākamagrataḥ sthātuṃ
kiṃ punaryōddumāhavē ॥
How can you, a lone man,
even face us who are many,
in the battle line,
let alone fight with us?
3.20.15 ஏஹி பாஹுப்ரயுக்தைர்ந:
பரிகைஸ்ஸூலபட்டிஸை: ।
ப்ராணாம்ஸ்த்யக்ஷஸி வீர்யம் ச
தநுஸ்ச கரபீடிதம் ॥
ēhi bāhuprayuktairnaḥ
parighaiṡṡūlapaṭṭisaiḥ ।
prāṇāṃstyakṣasi vīryaṃ ca
dhanuṡca karapīḍitam ॥
Come on, you shall lose your
life, power and the bow
that you are holding on to,
assailed by the iron rods,
spears and tridents
hurled from our hands!
3.20.16 இத்யேவமுக்த்வா ஸங்க்ருத்தா
ராக்ஷஸாஸ்தே சதுர்தஸ ।
சிக்ஷிபுஸ்தாநி ஸூலாநி
ராகவம் ப்ரதி துர்ஜயம் ॥
ityēvamuktvā saṅkṛddhā
rākṣasāstē caturdaṡa ।
cikṣipustāni ṡūlāni
rāghavaṃ prati durjayam ॥
Saying this, the fourteen incensed Rākshasas
hurled those spears at Rāghava, the invincible.
To be continued