Chapter 24
Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest
आश्रमम् प्रति याते तु खरे खर पराक्रमे
तान् एव औत्पातिकान् रामः सह भ्रात्रा ददर्श ह
āśramam prati yāte tu khare khara parākrame
tān eva autpātikān rāmaḥ saha bhrātrā dadarśa ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While fiercely valorous Khara proceeded towards Rama's hermitage, Rama along with his brother Lakshmana has indeed seen the very same auguries which have earlier appeared to Khara. [3-24-1]
तान् उत्पातान् महाघोरान् रामो दृष्ट्वा अति अमर्षण
प्रजानाम् अहितान् दृष्ट्वा वाक्यम् लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत्
tān utpātān mahāghorān rāmo dṛṣṭvā ati amarṣaṇa
prajānām ahitān dṛṣṭvā vākyam lakṣmaṇam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On looking at those very gruesomely bad omens, and perceiving them to be unpropitious to people, Rama spoke this sentence to Lakshmana. [3-24-2]
इमान् पश्य महाबाहो सर्व भूत अपहारिणः
समुत्थितान् महा उत्पातान् संहर्तुम् सर्व राक्षसान्
imān paśya mahābāho sarva bhūta apahāriṇaḥ
samutthitān mahā utpātān saṃhartum sarva rākṣasān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, dextrous Lakshmana, for the complete elimination of all the demons these great indications have arisen, as though betokening the annihilation of all beings. See them. [3-24-3]
अमी रुधिर धाराः तु विसृजंतो खर स्वनाः
व्योम्नि मेघा निवर्तन्ते परुषा गर्दभ अरुणाः
amī rudhira dhārāḥ tu visṛjaṃto khara svanāḥ
vyomni meghā nivartante paruṣā gardabha aruṇāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On their part these clouds are hovering on the sky with stark reddish-grey tint, thunderously braying and copiously showering streams of blood. [3-24-4]
स धूमाः च शराः सर्वे मम युद्ध अभिनन्दिताः
रुक्म पृष्ठानि चापानि विचेष्टन्ते विचक्षण
sa dhūmāḥ ca śarāḥ sarve mama yuddha abhinanditāḥ
rukma pṛṣṭhāni cāpāni viceṣṭante vicakṣaṇa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All my arrows too are incensed to fuming in an ecstasy towards a war, and dorsally gold-plated bows of mine are incessantly spurring to hook up those arrows, telling apart the impeding conflict. [3-24-5]
यादृशा इह कूजन्ति पक्षिणो वन चारिणः
अग्रतो नः भयम् प्राप्तम् संशयो जीवितस्य च
yādṛśā iha kūjanti pakṣiṇo vana cāriṇaḥ
agrato naḥ bhayam prāptam saṃśayo jīvitasya ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Judging by the kind of wild birds that are shrieking here, danger is up ahead and coming upon us, along with uncertainty of our lives. [3-24-6]
संप्रहारः तु सुमहान् भविष्यति न संशयः
अयम् आख्याति मे बाहुः स्फुरमाणो मुहुर् मुहुः
saṃprahāraḥ tu sumahān bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
ayam ākhyāti me bāhuḥ sphuramāṇo muhur muhuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This right hand of mine is indicating by its repeated throbbing that a critical and riotous conflict is going to occur, no doubt, but oh brave one, our victory and defeat to the enemies are also in vicinity, and for sure, your face is also appearing brightish and aglow, which itself is a good omen. [3-24-8] [3-24-7, 8]
उद्यतानाम् हि युद्धार्थम् येषाम् भवति लक्ष्मणः
निष्प्रभम् वदनम् तेषाम् भवति आयुः परिक्षयः
udyatānām hi yuddhārtham yeṣām bhavati lakṣmaṇaḥ
niṣprabham vadanam teṣām bhavati āyuḥ parikṣayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If the faces of those that are poised for a conflict loose lustre, deem that the death is looming large on their longevity too. [3-24-9]
रक्षसाम् नर्दताम् घोरः श्रूयते अयम् महाध्वनिः
आहतानाम् च भेरीणाम् राक्षसैः क्रूर कर्मभिः
rakṣasām nardatām ghoraḥ śrūyate ayam mahādhvaniḥ
āhatānām ca bherīṇām rākṣasaiḥ krūra karmabhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This nasty noise which we hear pertains to the uproar of demons, and even to the drumming of war drums by the demons of fiendish activities, and this is ear-splitting. [3-24-10]
अनागत विधानम् तु कर्तव्यम् शुभम् इच्छ्हता
आपदम् शंकमानेन पुरुषेण विपश्चिता
anāgata vidhānam tu kartavyam śubham icchhatā
āpadam śaṃkamānena puruṣeṇa vipaścitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Preventive measures are to be effectuated for any imminent situation by any well-wishing person, or by a person with misgivings about a danger, or by a person of talent. [3-24-11]
PURPORT
तस्मात् गृहीत्वा वैदेहीम् शर पाणिः धनुर् धरः
गुहाम् आश्रय शैलस्य दुर्गाम् पादप संकुलाम्
tasmāt gṛhītvā vaidehīm śara pāṇiḥ dhanur dharaḥ
guhām āśraya śailasya durgām pādapa saṃkulām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Hence, wield your bow, keep arrows ready at hand, and taking Vaidehi with you seek shelter in a impassable cave of a mountain overgrown with trees. [3-24-12]
प्रतिकूलितुम् इच्छ्हामि न हि वाक्यम् इदम् त्वया
शापितो मम पादाभ्याम् गम्यताम् वत्स मा चिरम्
pratikūlitum icchhāmi na hi vākyam idam tvayā
śāpito mama pādābhyām gamyatām vatsa mā ciram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I wish you to gainsay me for this word of mine, my boy, have honour on my feet and be gone not before long. [3-24-13]
त्वम् हि शूरः च बलवान् हन्या एतान् न संशयः
स्वयम् निहन्तुम् इच्छ्हमि सर्वान् एव निशाचरान्
tvam hi śūraḥ ca balavān hanyā etān na saṃśayaḥ
svayam nihantum icchhami sarvān eva niśācarān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are a stalwart, a forceful one, and for sure you can eliminate them all, it is doubtless, but I long to eliminate all of the nightwalkers, personally" Rama said thus to Lakshmana. [3-24-14]
एवम् उक्तः तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया
शरान् आदाय चापम् च गुहाम् दुर्गाम् समाश्रयत्
evam uktaḥ tu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ saha sītayā
śarān ādāya cāpam ca guhām durgām samāśrayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When Rama said to him that way, Lakshmana picked up his bow and arrows, and together with Seetha he took shelter in an unreachable cave. [3-24-15]
PURPORT
तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे तु गुहाम् लक्ष्मणे सह सीतया
हन्त निर्युक्तम् इति उक्त्वा रामः कवचम् आविशत्
tasmin praviṣṭe tu guhām lakṣmaṇe saha sītayā
hanta niryuktam iti uktvā rāmaḥ kavacam āviśat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On Lakshmana's entering into cave along with Seetha, Rama said to himself, "thank goodness, it is a good-idea!" and thus saying he donned his shield. [3-24-16]
स तेन अग्नि निकाशेन कवचेन विभूषितः
बभूव रामः तिमिरे महान् अग्निर् इव उत्थितः
sa tena agni nikāśena kavacena vibhūṣitaḥ
babhūva rāmaḥ timire mahān agnir iva utthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Well bedecked in a shield that has fire-like brilliance that Rama shone forth like a fumeless conflagration up-shot in utter darkness. [3-24-17]
स चापम् उद्यम्य महत् शरान् आदाय वीर्यवान्
संबभूव अवस्थितः तत्र ज्या स्वनैः पूरयन् दिशः
sa cāpam udyamya mahat śarān ādāya vīryavān
saṃbabhūva avasthitaḥ tatra jyā svanaiḥ pūrayan diśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On raising his imposing bow and drawing arrows, that valorous Rama firmed up and stood there, filling all the directions with the tinny sounds of bowstring. [3-24-18]
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाः च सह चारणैः
समेयुः च महात्मनो युद्ध दर्शन कांक्षया
tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāḥ ca saha cāraṇaiḥ
sameyuḥ ca mahātmano yuddha darśana kāṃkṣayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Gods with gandharva-s and great-souled siddha-s along with carana-s have then met one another and came there aspiring to see the war. [3-24-19]
ऋषयः च महात्मनो लोके ब्रह्मर्षि सत्तमाः
समेत्य च ऊचुः सहिताः ते अन्योन्यम् पुण्य कर्मणः
ṛṣayaḥ ca mahātmano loke brahmarṣi sattamāḥ
sametya ca ūcuḥ sahitāḥ te anyonyam puṇya karmaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The great-souled sages and those that are known in worlds as eminent Brahma-sages, on their coming together those beings of pious exploits spoke to one another, among themselves. [3-24-20]
स्वस्ति गो ब्राह्मणानाम् च लोकानाम् च इति संस्थिताः
जयताम् राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनी चरान्
svasti go brāhmaṇānām ca lokānām ca iti saṃsthitāḥ
jayatām rāghavo yuddhe paulastyān rajanī carān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let good betide cows, Brahmans and those people that are abiding in all the worlds. Raghava shall be victorious in the war over the clansmen of Sage Paulastya, the nightwalkers." Thus they talked among themselves. [3-24-21]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus speaking they also well-said again, looking at each other "the demons of fiendish deeds are fourteen thousand in number and this virtue-souled Rama is solitary... what would be the result of this war!" Thus the sages discussed among themselves. [3-24-22b, 23]
इति राजर्षयः सिद्धाः स गणाः च द्विजर्षभाः
जात कौतूहलात् तस्थुर् विमानस्थाः च देवता
iti rājarṣayaḥ siddhāḥ sa gaṇāḥ ca dvijarṣabhāḥ
jāta kautūhalāt tasthur vimānasthāḥ ca devatā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus the assemblages of kingly-sages, siddha-s and the eminent Brahmans, along with gods that are staying in their aircrafts, tarried there in the firmament peering inquisitively at Rama. [3-24-24]
आविष्टम् तेजसा रामम् स।ंग्राम शिरसि स्थितम्
दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि भयात् विव्यथिरे तदा
āviṣṭam tejasā rāmam sa|ṃgrāma śirasi sthitam
dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni bhayāt vivyathire tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Immured in an aura of invincibility Rama is standing up to the war in its vanguard, and then on seeing at him all beings went into the throes of dread. [3-24-25]
रूपम् अप्रतिमम् तस्य रामस्य अक्लिष्ट कर्मणः
बभूव रूपम् क्रुद्धस्य रुद्रस्य इव महात्मनः
rūpam apratimam tasya rāmasya akliṣṭa karmaṇaḥ
babhūva rūpam kruddhasya rudrasya iva mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That nonesuch aspect of Rama whose deeds are unharmful to any, has become the aspect of wrathful supreme-souled Rudra. [3-24-26]
PURPORT
इति संभाष्यमाणो तु देव गंधर्व चारणैः
ततो गंभीर निर्ह्रादम् घोर चर्म आयुध ध्वजम्
iti saṃbhāṣyamāṇo tu deva gaṃdharva cāraṇaiḥ
tato gaṃbhīra nirhrādam ghora carma āyudha dhvajam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While gods, gandharva-s, carana-s are conversing thus, then they have seen there the legions of the demons arriving from all over with boisterous noises, spouting cries of bravo, handling their grisly skins, shields, weaponry and war-flags, and onrushing at each other in disarray. With brassy twanging of bows, with the drumming of war drums, and even by their jumping, leaping and bouncing that area is filled with very loud and clamorous noise. [3-24-27, 28, 29]
तेषाम् सुतुमुलः शब्दः पूरयामास तद् वनम्
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ताः श्वापदा वन चारिणः
teṣām sutumulaḥ śabdaḥ pūrayāmāsa tad vanam
tena śabdena vitrastāḥ śvāpadā vana cāriṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When highly brutish cacophony of demons started to fill the forest, that jangling even panicked the brutes ranging in that forest, and those beasts dashed off to other places where silence prevailed, without looking back. [3-24-30, 31a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
And that foolhardy army of demons which in simile is like an unnavigable ocean steered towards Rama handling many assault weapons. [3-24-31b, 32a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Casting his sight all-over even that war-expert Rama has seen that army of Khara lunging at a conflict. [3-24-32b, 33a]
वितत्य च धनुर् भीमम् तूण्याः च उद्धृत्य सायकान्
vitatya ca dhanur bhīmam tūṇyāḥ ca uddhṛtya sāyakān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama stretched his awesome bow to examine the taut of bowstring, and even whipped arrows out of quiver, and then adopted a mask of extreme wrath to eliminate all the demons. [3-24-33]
PURPORT
दुष्प्रेक्ष्यश्चाभवत्क्रुद्धोयुगान्ताग्निरिवज्वलन् यद्वा
दुष्प्रेक्ष्यः च अभवत् क्रुद्धो युगान्त अग्निः
इव ज्वलन्
duṣprekṣyaścābhavatkruddhoyugāntāgnirivajvalan - yadvā -
duṣprekṣyaḥ ca abhavat kruddho yugānta agniḥ
iva jvalan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
And when he is enraged and blazing he became frightful-looking like the blazing Fire at the end of era, and on seeing such a Rama when he is pervaded with conflagration like anger, the pastoral deities are very much annoyed. [3-24-34]
तस्य रुष्ट्स्य रूपम् तु रामस्य ददृशे तदा
दक्षस्य इव क्रतुम् हन्तुम् उद्यतस्य पिनाकिनी
tasya ruṣṭsya rūpam tu rāmasya dadṛśe tadā
dakṣasya iva kratum hantum udyatasya pinākinī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The all-pacific aspect of that Rama then in his exasperation appeared to be like that of the all-ruinous Rudra, the wielder of bow called Pinaki, namely peaceful Shiva when enraged, at the time of Rudra's embarking on to ruin the Vedic ritual of Daksha Prajaapati. [3-24-35]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे चतुर् विंशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe catur viṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That army of raw-flesh eaters with their bows, embellishments, and chariots, and also with their armours, all glittering with the dazzle of flaming fire, varied into a sky-blue coloured cluster of clouds on which the dazzling sunrays will be glittering at the dawning of the sun. [3-24-36]