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Aranya Kaanda - Sarga 22
In this Sarga, Khara comforts and consoles Ṡūrpaṇakhā and assures her that she would surely drink the blood of those who misbehaved with her. Khara orders his chief of army Dūshaṇa to immediately make ready an army of fourteen thousand Rākshasas and a chariot for himself, for the battle. Khara gets on to the chariot, and the charioteer, knowing his intentions, spurs the swift horses on.
3.22.1 ஏவமாதர்ஷிதஸ்ஸூர:
ஸூர்பணக்யா கரஸ்தத: ।
உவாச ரக்ஷஸாம் மத்யே
கர: கரதரம் வச: ॥
ēvamādharṣitaṡṡūraḥ
ṡūrpaṇakhyā kharastataḥ ।
uvāca rakṣasāṃ madhyē
kharaḥ kharataraṃ vacaḥ ॥
Thus insulted by Ṡūrpaṇakhā
in the presence of Rākshasas,
Khara the valiant one became enraged
and said these ruthless words:
3.22.2 தவாவமாநப்ரபவ:
க்ரோதோऽயமதுலோ மம ।
ந ஸக்யதே தாரயிதும்
லவணாம்ப இவோல்பணம் ॥
tavāvamānaprabhavaḥ
krōdhō'yamatulō mama ।
na ṡakyatē dhārayituṃ
lavaṇāmbha ivōlbaṇam ॥
Your insult ignites measureless anger in me.
I am unable to hold this intense rage
any more than one can salty water.
3.22.3 ந ராமம் கணயே வீர்யாத்
மாநுஷம் க்ஷீணஜீவிதம் ।
ஆத்மதுஸ்சரிதை: ப்ராணாந்
ஹதோயோऽத்ய விமோக்ஷயதி ॥
na rāmaṃ gaṇayē vīryāt
mānuṣaṃ kṣīṇajīvitam ।
ātmaduṡcaritaiḥ prāṇān
hatōyō'dya vimōkṣayati ॥
Rāma, by no means, is a match for my valor.
The days of this human are numbered.
He was killed right when
he committed the wrong.
He will now be severed of his life.
3.22.4 பாஷ்பஸ்ஸம்ஹ்ரியதாமேஷ
ஸம்ப்ரமஸ்ச விமுச்யதாம் ।
அஹம் ராமம் ஸஹ ப்ராத்ரா
நயாமி யமஸாதநம் ॥
bāṣpassaṃhriyatāmēṣa
sambhramaṡca vimucyatām ।
ahaṃ rāmaṃ saha bhrātrā
nayāmi yamasādanam ॥
Give up the tears and fretting.
I will send Rāma and his brother
to the abode of Yama.
3.22.5 பரஸ்வதஹதஸ்யாத்ய
மந்தப்ராணஸ்ய ஸம்யுகே ।
ராமஸ்ய ருதிரம் ரக்தம்
உஷ்ணம் பாஸ்யஸி ராக்ஷஸி ॥
paraṡvathahatasyādya
mandaprāṇasya saṃyugē ।
rāmasya rudhiraṃ raktaṃ
uṣṇaṃ pāsyasi rākṣasi ॥
Not much is left of his life!
You shall, O Rākshasi,
drink on the battle-field today
the hot, red blood welling up from
Rāma's body, struck down by Paraṡu.
3.22.6 ஸா ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்டா வசஸ்ஸ்ருத்வா
கரஸ்ய வதநாச்ச்யுதம் ।
ப்ரஸஸம்ஸ புநர்மௌர்க்யாத்
ப்ராதரம் ரக்ஷஸாம் வரம் ॥
sā prahṛṣṭā vacaṡṡrutvā
kharasya vadanāccyutam ।
praṡaṡaṃsa punarmaurkhyāt
bhrātaraṃ rakṣasāṃ varam ॥
She was overjoyed hearing those
words that came out of Khara's mouth.
The witless creature then took to the praise of
her brother, a prominent one among the Rākshasas.
3.22.7 தயா பருஷித: பூர்வம்
புநரேவ ப்ரஸம்ஸித: ।
அப்ரவீத்தூஷணம் நாம
கரஸ்ஸேநாபதிம் ததா ॥
tayā paruṣitaḥ pūrvaṃ
punarēva praṡaṃsitaḥ ।
abravīddūṣaṇaṃ nāma
kharassēnāpatiṃ tadā ॥
Khara, who only a moment ago was a target of abuse,
received praise instead now,
and said these words to his
chief of army, by name Dūshaṇa:
3.22.8-9 சதுர்தஸ ஸஹஸ்ராணி
மம சித்தாநுவர்திநாம் ।
ரக்ஷஸாம் பீமவேகாநாம்
ஸமரேஷ்வநிவர்திநாம் ।
நீலஜீமூதவர்ணாநாம்
கோராணாம் க்ரூரகர்மணாம் ।
லோகஹிம்ஸாவிஹாராணாம்
பலிநாமுக்ரதேஜஸாம் ॥
caturdaṡa sahasrāṇi
mama cittānuvartinām ।
rakṣasāṃ bhīmavēgānāṃ
samarēṣvanivartinām ।
nīlajīmūtavarṇānāṃ
ghōrāṇāṃ krūrakarmaṇām ।
lōkahiṃsāvihārāṇāṃ
balināmugratējasām ॥
O obedient one! Make all the
fourteen thousand Rākshasas ready, who
do my bidding without fail,
rival wind in their speed,
never run away from battle,
are black like dark clouds,
look terrifying and are of proven cruelty,
habitually go about tormenting people and
possess overweening strength and intense power. The number fourteen seems to have held some significance in those days.
3.22.10 தேஷாம் ஸார்தூலதர்பாணாம்
மஹாஸ்யாநாம் மஹௌஜஸாம் ।
ஸர்வோத்யோக முதீர்ணாநாம்
ரக்ஷஸாம் ஸௌம்ய காரய ॥
tēṣāṃ ṡārdūladarpāṇāṃ
mahāsyānāṃ mahaujasām ।
sarvōdyōga mudīrṇānāṃ
rakṣasāṃ saumya kāraya ॥
O obedient one! Get those Rakshasas who are
prideful as tigers with huge mouths,
and immense power and aggressiveness,
all ready (for the fight).
3.22.11 உபஸ்தாபய மே க்ஷிப்ரம்
ரதம் ஸௌம்ய தநூம்ஷி ச ।
ஸராம்ஸ்சித்ராம்ஸ்ச கங்காம்ஸ்ச
ஸக்தீஸ்ச விவிதாஸ்ஸிதா: ॥
upasthāpaya mē kṣipraṃ
rathaṃ saumya dhanūṃṣi ca ।
ṡarāṃṡcitrāṃṡca khaṅgāṃṡca
ṡaktīṡca vividhāṡṡitāḥ ॥
O obedient one! Bring immediately
a chariot for me loaded with assorted
bows, arrows, swords and my sharp spears.
3.22.12 அக்ரே நிர்யாதுமிச்சாமி
பௌலஸ்த்யாநாம் மஹாத்மநாம் ।
வதார்தம் துர்விநீதஸ்ய
ராமஸ்ய ரணகோவித ॥
agrē niryātumicchāmi
paulastyānāṃ mahātmanām ।
vadhārthaṃ durvinītasya
rāmasya raṇakōvida ॥
O expert in warfare!
I would like to lead the
great descendants of Pulastya from the front,
to kill Rāma the idiot.
3.22.13 இதி தஸ்ய ப்ருவாணஸ்ய
ஸூர்யவர்ணம் மஹாரதம் ।
ஸதஸ்வைஸ்ஸபலைர்யுக்தம்
ஆசசக்ஷேऽத தூஷண: ॥
iti tasya bruvāṇasya
sūryavarṇaṃ mahāratham ।
sadaṡvaiṡṡabalairyuktam
ācacakṣē'tha dūṣaṇaḥ ॥
No sooner had he said this than
Dūshaṇa said that the great chariot dazzling like sun,
yoked with excellent horses of assorted colors was ready.
3.22.14-16 தம் மேருஸிகராகாரம்
தப்தகாஞ்சநபூஷணம் ।
ஹேமசக்ரமஸம்பாதம்
வைதூர்யமயகூபரம் ॥
மத்ஸ்யை: புஷ்பைர்த்ருமைஸ்ஸைலை:
சந்த்ரஸூர்யைஸ்ச காஞ்சநை: ।
மங்கலை: பக்ஷிஸங்கைஸ்ச
தாராபிரபிஸம்வ்ருதம் ॥
த்வஜநிஸ்த்ரிம்ஸஸம்பந்நம்
கிங்கிணீகவிராஜிதம் ।
ஸதஸ்வயுக்தம் ஸோऽமர்ஷாத்
ஆருரோஹ கரோ ரதம் ॥
taṃ mēruṡikharākāraṃ
taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇam ।
hēmacakramasambādhaṃ
vaidūryamayakūbaram ॥
matsyaiḥ puṣpairdrumaiṡṡailaiḥ
candrasūryaiṡca kāñcanaiḥ ।
maṅgalaiḥ pakṣisaṅghaiṡca
tārābhirabhisaṃvṛtam ॥
dhvajanistriṃṡasampannaṃ
kiṅkiṇīkavirājitam ।
sadaṡvayuktaṃ sō'marṣāt
ārurōha kharō ratham ॥
And impatient for the fray,
Khara got into that spacious chariot
which towered like Mount Mēru,
adorned by gold purified in fire,
its wheels inlaid with gold
and its yoke encrusted with gems.
It had images carved all over it,
of fish, flowering trees, mountains,
sun, moon and clusters of stars and
auspicious flocks of birds.
It was furnished with flags and swords,
embellished with bells
and was yoked with superb horses.
3.22.17 நிஸாம்ய து ரதஸ்தம் தம்
ராக்ஷஸா பீமவிக்ரமா: ।
தஸ்துஸ்ஸம்பரிவார்யைநம்
தூஷணம் ச மஹாபலம் ॥
niṡāmya tu rathasthaṃ taṃ
rākṣasā bhīmavikramāḥ ।
tasthussaṃparivāryainaṃ
dūṣaṇaṃ ca mahābalam ॥
Seeing him seated in the chariot,
the Rākshasas of fierce valor
stood in attention, gathering around
him and Dūshaṇa of immense strength. In this Ṡlōka, no adjective is given for Khara, but his lieutenant Dūshaṇa is mentioned to be of immense strength.
You might have noticed the same before; when Rāma and Lakshmaṇa were mentioned in the same Ṡlōka, Lakshmaṇa was given an adjective, such as of having immense strength.
Why is it that when a leader and his lieutenant are mentioned in the same Ṡlōka, the lieutenant is given an adjective but not the leader? It is to indicate that the leader is so capable a person, that he had a lieutenant who is so powerful!
3.22.18 கரஸ்து தாந்மஹேஷ்வாஸாந்
கோரவர்மாயுதத்வஜாந் ।
நிர்யாதேத்யப்ரவீத்த்ருஷ்ட்வா
ரதஸ்தஸ்ஸர்வராக்ஷஸாந் ॥
kharastu tānmahēṣvāsān
ghōravarmāyudhadhvajān ।
niryātētyabravīddṛṣṭvā
rathasthassarvarākṣasān ॥
Then Khara who was on the chariot said, 'March!'
to all of those Rākshasas, who were
wielding great bows and weapons,
wearing impenetrable armor and
holding fearsome pennants.
3.22.19 ததஸ்தத்ராக்ஷஸம் ஸைந்யம்
கோரவர்மாயுதத்வஜம் ।
நிர்ஜகாம ஜநஸ்தாநாந்
மஹாநாதம் மஹாஜவம் ॥
tatastadrākṣasaṃ sainyaṃ
ghōravarmāyudhadhvajam ।
nirjagāma janasthānān
mahānādaṃ mahājavam ॥
Then that army of Rākshasas
of fearsome weapons and pennants
and impenetrable armor
marched on with great speed
from Janasthāna making tumultuous sounds.
3.22.20-22 முத்கரை: பட்டிஸைஸ்ஸூலை:
ஸுதீக்ஷ்ணைஸ்ச பரஸ்வதை: ।
கங்கைஸ்சக்ரைஸ்ச ஹஸ்தஸ்தை:
ப்ராஜமாநைஸ்ச தோமரை: ॥
ஸக்திபி: பரிகைர்கோரை:
அதிமாத்ரைஸ்ச கார்முகை: ।
கதாஸிமுஸலைர்வஜ்ரை:
க்ருஹீதைர்பீமதர்ஸநை: ॥
ராக்ஷஸாநாம் ஸுகோராணாம்
ஸஹஸ்ராணி சதுர்தஸ ।
நிர்யாதாநி ஜநஸ்தாநாத்
கரசித்தாநுவர்திநாம் ॥
mudgaraiḥ paṭṭisaiṡṡūlaiḥ
sutīkṣṇaiṡca paraṡvadhaiḥ ।
khaṅgaiṡcakraiṡca hastasthaiḥ
bhrājamānaiṡca tōmaraiḥ ॥
ṡaktibhiḥ parighairghōraiḥ
atimātraiṡca kārmukaiḥ ।
gadāsimusalairvajraiḥ
gṛhītairbhīmadarṡanaiḥ ॥
rākṣasānāṃ sughōrāṇāṃ
sahasrāṇi caturdaṡa ।
niryātāni janasthānāt
kharacittānuvartinām ॥
Wielding in their hands,
Mudgaras, Paṭṭisas, Ṡūlas, sharp Paraṡus,
swords, Cakras, dazzling Tōmaras,
Ṡaktis, frightful Parighas,
outsized bows, clubs, knives,
pestles and fierce-looking Vajras,
an army of fourteen thousand Rākshasas
who complied with the bidding of Khara
marched forth from Janasthāna.
3.22.23 தாம்ஸ்த்வபித்ரவதோ த்ருஷ்ட்வா
ராக்ஷஸாந் பீமவிக்ரமாந் ।
கரஸ்யாபி ரத: கிஞ்சித்
ஜகாம ததநந்தரம் ॥
tāṃstvabhidravatō dṛṣṭvā
rākṣasān bhīmavikramān ।
kharasyāpi rathaḥ kiñcit
jagāma tadanantaram ॥
Once those Rākshasas of
fierce valor hastened forth,
Khara’s chariot followed them right after.
3.22.24 ததஸ்தாஞ்சபலாநஸ்வாந்
தப்தகாஞ்சநபூஷிதாந் ।
கரஸ்ய மதிமாஜ்ஞாய
ஸாரதிஸ்ஸமசோதயத் ॥
tatastāñchabalānaṡvān
taptakāñcanabhūṣitān ।
kharasya matimājñāya
sārathissamacōdayat ॥
Then the charioteer, knowing Khara’s mind,
spurred the roan horses
adorned with gold purified in fire.
3.22.25 ஸ சோதிதோ ரதஸ்ஸீக்ரம்
கரஸ்ய ரிபுகாதிந: ।
ஸப்தேநாபூரயாமாஸ
திஸஸ்ச ப்ரதிஸஸ்ததா ॥
sa cōditō rathaṡṡīghraṃ
kharasya ripughātinaḥ ।
ṡabdēnāpūrayāmāsa
diṡaṡca pradiṡastadā ॥
And the din from the chariot of
Khara, the slayer of the foe,
which was thus speeded,
quickly filled every direction and in between.
3.22.26 ப்ரவ்ருத்தமந்யுஸ்து கர: கரஸ்வநோ
ரிபோர்வதார்தம் த்வரிதோ யதாந்தக: ।
அசூசுதத்ஸாரதிமுந்நதந்கநம்
மஹாபலோ மேக இவாஸ்மவர்ஷவாந் ॥
pravṛddhamanyustu kharaḥ kharasvanō
ripōrvadhārthaṃ tvaritō yathāntakaḥ ।
acūcudatsārathimunnadanghanaṃ
mahābalō mēgha ivāṡmavarṣavān ॥
Khara, with mounting anger,
hurrying to kill the foe, like Yama,
hastened the charioteer,
roaring with the harsh rumble of a
powerful cloud raining hailstones.
இத்யார்ஷே வால்மீகீயே
ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அரண்யகாண்டே த்வாவிம்ஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē vālmīkīyē
ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē ādikāvyē
araṇyakāṇḍē dvāviṃṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the twenty second Sarga
in Araṇya Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Maharshi Vālmeeki.
You have completed reading 7240 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma.