Chapter 29

Aranya Kanda - Book Of Forest

VERSE 1

खरम् तु विरथम् रामो गदा पाणिम् अवस्थितम्
मृदु पूर्वम् महातेजाः परुषम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

kharam tu viratham rāmo gadā pāṇim avasthitam
mṛdu pūrvam mahātejāḥ paruṣam vākyam abravīt

SYNONYMS

mahātejāḥ rāmaḥ: great-resplendent, Rama | vi ratham: without chariot [lost it] | gadā pāṇim: with mace, in hand | avasthitam: who is staying before | kharam tu: to Khara, but | mṛdu pūrvam: soft [words,] firstly | paruṣam vākyam abravīt: forbidding, sentence, said. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, the great-resplendent, spoke these words forbiddingly albeit softly to Khara who lost his chariot but staying his course wielding a mace. [3-29-1]

PURPORT

Rama is said to have tested whether Khara is ready to surrender or not, at least at this stage of loosing all paraphernalia of war. Hence he is said to have talked softly but harshly to that demon.
VERSE 2

गज अश्व रथ संबाधे बले महति तिष्ठता
कृतम् सुदारुणम् कर्म सर्व लोक जुगुप्सितम्

gaja aśva ratha saṃbādhe bale mahati tiṣṭhatā
kṛtam sudāruṇam karma sarva loka jugupsitam

SYNONYMS

gaja aśva ratha: elephants, horses, chariots | sam bādhe: abounding with | mahati bale: with gigantic, forces | tiṣṭhatā = staying: you who hold sway | sarva loka jugupsitam karma = by all, vorlds, detestable: loathsome, deed | su dāruṇam: very, heinous one | kṛtam = is perpetrated: in Dandaka forests. |

TRANSLATION

"Although you hold sway over a gigantic force abounding with elephants horses and chariots, you have perpetrated heinous deeds in Dandaka forests that are loathsome to all the worlds, that is unseemliest to this soldiery. [3-29-2]

VERSE 3

उद्वेजनीयो भूतानाम् नृशंसः पाप कर्मकृत्
त्रयाणाम् अपि लोकानाम् ईश्वरो अपि न तिष्ठति

udvejanīyo bhūtānām nṛśaṃsaḥ pāpa karmakṛt
trayāṇām api lokānām īśvaro api na tiṣṭhati

SYNONYMS

bhūtānām udvejanīyaḥ: for living beings, causing suffering | pāpa karma kṛt = evil, dīd, doer: transgressor | nṛśamsaḥ: completely ruthless one | trayāṇām lokānām api: for three, worlds, even if | īśvaraḥ api: lord, may be | na tiṣṭhati: not, stand up for [himself.] |

TRANSLATION

"One who causes suffering to living beings, besides being a transgressor and completely ruthless, he does not stand up for himself even if he were to be the lord of all the three worlds. [3-29-3]

VERSE 4

कर्म लोक विरुद्धम् तु कुर्वाणम् क्षणदा चर
तीक्ष्णम् सर्व जनो हन्ति सर्पम् दुष्टम् इव आगतम्

karma loka viruddham tu kurvāṇam kṣaṇadā cara
tīkṣṇam sarva jano hanti sarpam duṣṭam iva āgatam

SYNONYMS

kṣaṇadā cara: oh, night-walker | loka viruddham karma kurvāṇam = to vorld, infringing, dīds, vho vill be doing: an infringer of worldly routine | tīkṣṇam: one who is imperious | sarva janaḥ: all, people | āgatam duṣṭam sarpam iva: that came, vicious, serpent, as with | hanti: will eradicate. |

TRANSLATION

"All people will eliminate him, oh, nightwalker, who is imperious and an infringer of worldly routine, as they would eradicate a vicious serpent, in the event of its running across them. [3-29-4]

VERSE 5

लोभात् पापानि कुर्वाणः कामात् वा यो न बुध्यते
हृष्टः पश्यति तस्य अन्तम् ब्राह्मणी करकात् इव

lobhāt pāpāni kurvāṇaḥ kāmāt vā yo na budhyate
hṛṣṭaḥ paśyati tasya antam brāhmaṇī karakāt iva

SYNONYMS

lobhāt: by selfishness | kāmāt vā: obsessively, or | yaḥ pāpāni kurvāṇaḥ: who, evils, while going on doing | na budhyate = vill not, knov: does not realise - heedless | hṛṣṭaḥ: delighted, [bhraSTaH = becomes decadent] | karakāt: hail [pellets on eating] | brāhmaṇī: a lizard [with red tail] | iva: as with | tasya = vhat has bīn done: evil deed | antam paśyati: end [result,] he sees. |

TRANSLATION

"He who goes on performing evils selfishly, obsessively, heedlessly, more so delightedly, he will see the results of his own doings, like red-tailed-lizard on its eating self-destructive hailstones, obsessively and delightedly. [3-29-5]

PURPORT

Hailstones are life-taking poisonous pellets to this particular red- tailed lizard, called brahmaNi . It is still called as 'bamaani' in Bhojpuri vernacular of Hindi. Parting with some parts of one's own accrual is lobha , and craving for that which is absolutely unavailable is moha . People tend to commit sin while protecting their own accruals as well as trying to acquire unavailable things. But any person, if goes on undertaking these evils, even after realizing that both are mistakes, it is an unpardonable crime. The metaphor of a red-tail-lizard is said to be unavailable in older scripts. There is another variation to this foot wherein the simile is with a Brahman bereft of his self-respect, and that foot reads as: bhrSTaH pashyati duHkham sa braahmaNa paravaan iva . Next, implying the prospective question of Khara, viz., 'What sin I have committed?' Rama answers it in the next verse.
VERSE 6

वसतो दण्डकारण्ये तापसान् धर्म चारिणः
किम् नु हत्वा महाभागान् फलम् प्राप्स्यसि राक्षस

vasato daṇḍakāraṇye tāpasān dharma cāriṇaḥ
kim nu hatvā mahābhāgān phalam prāpsyasi rākṣasa

SYNONYMS

rākṣasa: oh, demon | daṇḍaka araṇye vasataḥ: in Dandaka, forest, while living in | dharma cāriṇaḥ: virtue, treaders | mahā bhāgān: highly, propitious ones | tāpasān: sages | hatvā: on killing | kim nu phalam prāpsyasi: why [what], really, fruit [benefit,] you will gain. |

TRANSLATION

"The residents of Dandaka forest are the highly-propitious sages that tread the path of virtue, and oh, demon, what benefit you gain in killing them, really? [3-29-6]

PURPORT

Again Khara may ask, 'There are many more sinners, what will become of them, why holding me alone responsible?' For this Rama is saying that the sinners in general will get their punishment after their mortality when karmic cycle is over. But those that are not only sinners but cruel, and even abhorred by world, will ruin here only, because their merit accumulated in earlier births has come to a standstill on this earth itself. Those sinners will become like petrified trees trunks, they neither fall nor their boughs flower.
VERSE 7

न चिरम् पाप कर्माणः क्रूरा लोक जुगुप्सिताः
ऐश्वर्यम् प्राप्य तिष्ठन्ति शीर्ण मूला इव द्रुमाः

na ciram pāpa karmāṇaḥ krūrā loka jugupsitāḥ
aiśvaryam prāpya tiṣṭhanti śīrṇa mūlā iva drumāḥ

SYNONYMS

pāpa karmāṇaḥ: evil, doers | loka jugupsitāḥ: by world, abominated | krūrā: reprobates | aiśvaryam prāpya = a fortune, on getting: on making [for lavish living] | śīrṇa mūlā drumāḥ iva: petrified, base [trunk,] of tree, as with | ciram na tiṣṭhanti = long: lastingly, will not, sit tight - will not last long. |

TRANSLATION

"Even if a fortune is made for a lavish living with an iota of merit, the evildoers, that too reprobates, further more those that are abominated by world will not last long, no more that petrified tree trunks. [3-29-7]

VERSE 8

अवश्यम् लभते कर्ता फलम् पापस्य कर्मणः
घोरम् पर्यागते काले द्रुमः पुष्पम् इव आर्तवम्

avaśyam labhate kartā phalam pāpasya karmaṇaḥ
ghoram paryāgate kāle drumaḥ puṣpam iva ārtavam

SYNONYMS

kāle pari āgate: of time, upon, coming | kartā: doer [jantuH = people] | pāpasya karmaṇaḥ: of evil, doings | ghoram phalam: ghastly, result | drumaḥ: trees | ārtavam: seasonal | puṣpam iva: flower, as with | avaśyam labhate: definitely, reaps. |

TRANSLATION

"One who undertakes evildoings will definitely and seasonably reap their fruits, which in his case will be ghoulish, as with the flowering of trees according to season. [3-29-8]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: That fruit of sin will not be immediate alike the a crop that yields long after sowing. Moreover the fruit of sin will be venomous, for the greedy harvester of that sin alone will devour it.
VERSE 9

न चिरात् प्राप्यते लोके पापानाम् कर्मणाम् फलम्
स विषाणाम् इव अन्नानाम् भुक्तानाम् क्षणदाचर

na cirāt prāpyate loke pāpānām karmaṇām phalam
sa viṣāṇām iva annānām bhuktānām kṣaṇadācara

SYNONYMS

kṣaṇadācara: oh, nightwalker | loke: in world | pāpānām karmaṇām phalam: of profane, acts, fruit of | bhuktānām sa viṣāṇām annānām iva: devoured, with, venom, food, as with | na cirāt prāpyate: not, long after, is acquired. |

TRANSLATION

"In the world one acquires the fruit of profane acts not before long, oh, nightwalker, and it will be like venomous food devoured. [3-29-9]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: 'As one quickly acquires the results of the venomous food devoured, oh, nightwalker, the perpetrator of profane acts will acquire their fruits that quickly, in the world.' Eating food, or committing a sin is simply subjective. If one commits sin unknowingly, that will be as good as the intake of venomous food, unsuspectingly. Both the poisonous food, and committing sins will act internally and rapidly than any other ruinous inflictor. Then the sinner, or the consumer of poisonous food will acquire an inconsolable wretched state.
VERSE 10

पापम् आचरताम् घोरम् लोकस्य अप्रियम् इच्छ्हताम्
अहम् आसादितो राज्ञा प्राणान् हन्तुम् निशाचर

pāpam ācaratām ghoram lokasya apriyam icchhatām
aham āsādito rājñā prāṇān hantum niśācara

SYNONYMS

niśācara: oh nightwalker | ghoram pāpam ācaratām: hideous, evil, perpetrators | lokasya a priyam icchatām: world's, not, approbatory, those wishful of | prāṇān hantum: lives, to exterminate | [rājā] rājñā: [king] at the behest of king | aham āsāditaḥ: I, arrived. |

TRANSLATION

"I am the king who arrived to exterminate the lives of those that perpetrate hideous sins, and even of those that wish to do evils to the disapprobation of world. "I am the one who arrived at the behest of the king Dasharatha, or Bharata to exterminate the lives of those that perpetrate hideous sins, and even of those that wish to do evils to the disapprobation of world. [3-29-10]

PURPORT

The word 'raaj~na' is 'sent by some king' for it is in fifth case. Whereas the word 'raajaa' is 'as a king I have come...' This is as appearing in some mms. Dharmaakuutam uses 'raaj~naa' and says: : anena loka upadrava karaH raaj~naa avashyam shikShaNiiyam iti suucitam | and he goes on quoting vidura niiti Vidura's morals in Maha Bharata: gururaatmavataam shaastaa shaastaa duraatmanaam | antaH pracchanna paapaanaam shaastaa vaivasvato yamaH ||
VERSE 11

अद्य भित्वा मया मुक्ताः शराः कांचन भूषणाः
विदार्य अतिपतिष्यन्ति वल्मीकम् इव पन्नगाः

adya bhitvā mayā muktāḥ śarāḥ kāṃcana bhūṣaṇāḥ
vidārya atipatiṣyanti valmīkam iva pannagāḥ

SYNONYMS

adya: now | mayā muktāḥ kāncana bhūṣaṇāḥ: by me, released, in gold, decorated | śarāḥ: arrows | pannagāḥ valmīkam iva: snakes, from snake-pit, like | tvām: you | bhitvā: on tearing | vi dārya: verily, on riving | ati patiṣyanti = out, they fall: they go out, bounce back. |

TRANSLATION

"Now, my arrows that are decorated in gold will be released on you like snakes rebounding from a snake-pit, and they will tear you asunder, and on riving you they will bounce back into my quivers. [3-29-11]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: My arrows can pierce through your body, not only your body but to the core of earth, and they bounce back to re-enter my quivers like the snakes that emerge from snake pits and return to their pits when their task is over. Or, when these arrows enter your body that is akin to a snake pit, they will kill all the sins lying like snakes inside that body of yours, and return to my quivers.
VERSE 12

ये त्वया दण्डकारण्ये भक्षिता धर्म चारिणः
तान् अद्य निहतः संख्ये स सैन्यो अनुगमिष्यसि

ye tvayā daṇḍakāraṇye bhakṣitā dharma cāriṇaḥ
tān adya nihataḥ saṃkhye sa sainyo anugamiṣyasi

SYNONYMS

tvayā: by you | daṇḍakāraṇye: in Dandaka forest | ye: those are | dharma cāriṇaḥ = virtue, treaders: sages | bhakṣitā: are eaten | tān: them [the sages] | adya: now | sankhye nihataḥ: [you] eliminated, in war | sa sainyaḥ: with, your army | anu gamiṣyasi = in tov, you vill follov: tread behind. |

TRANSLATION

"Now eliminated in war, you along with your army will tread behind those sages that were treading the path of virtue, on whom you have so far feasted in Dandaka forest. [3-29-12]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion : A kind of assurance is sounded here by Rama's words in saying that Khara will be absolved of his sins. Those that are eliminated by Rama are sure to get salvation. Here not only Khara but also entire army is going to get that salvation, if Khara surrenders at least at this stage. In Skanda Purana it is said: raama vidDhaa nishaacaraa baaNaiH su taaDitaaH | raamam aasaadya samare saayujya padaviim gataaH || skaanda puraaNa But this saayujua , salvation or getting to heavens is of a variety. In war those that sacrifice themselves in the fire of arrows will get indra loka . Those that conduct warfare unhappily thinking that death is the only result of war they get gandharva loka . Those that retreat or go begging for their lives and yet killed, they get guhya loka , and those that are fully aware of Kshatriya dharma and conduct righteous warfare they go to brahma loka . So says Maha Bharata. The same is said Bhagavad Gita yam yam vaa api smaran bhaavam tyajatyante kalebaram | tam tam evaiti kaunteya sadaa tad bhaava bhaavitaH || Gita 8-6.
VERSE 13

अद्य त्वाम् निहतम् बाणैः पश्यन्तु परमर्षयः
निरयस्थम् विमानस्था ये त्वया निहता पुरा

adya tvām nihatam bāṇaiḥ paśyantu paramarṣayaḥ
nirayastham vimānasthā ye tvayā nihatā purā

SYNONYMS

purā tvayā ye nihatā: earlier, by you, who are, slain | paramarṣayaḥ: supreme-sages | vimāna sthā: abiding in aircrafts | adya: now | bāṇaiḥ nihatam = vith arrovs, slain: assaulted | nirayastham: [your] abidance in hell | tvām paśyantu: you, let them see. |

TRANSLATION

"Let the supreme sages who were earlier slain by you may now see abiding on their aircrafts, your abidance in hellish death pangs when assaulted with my arrows. [3-29-13]

PURPORT

The word nirayastham is literally 'in hell of Yama' but here it is the hell-like situation caused by Rama's arrows. If the literal meaning of 'in hell' is taken the above assurance of salvation etc., will be futile, hence, it is 'hellish pangs' by the hit of arrows.
VERSE 14

प्रहरस्व यथा कामम् कुरु यत्नम् कुलाधम
अद्य ते पातयिष्यामि शिरः ताल फलम् यथा

praharasva yathā kāmam kuru yatnam kulādhama
adya te pātayiṣyāmi śiraḥ tāla phalam yathā

SYNONYMS

kula adhama: clan's, knave of | yathā kāmam praharasva: as, you wish, you attack | yatnam kuru: an effort, you make | adya te śiraḥ: now, your, head | tāla phalam yathā: palm, fruit, as with | pātayiṣyāmi: I wish to toss down. |

TRANSLATION

"Attack me as you wish... make an effort... you the knave of your clan... now I am going to toss your head down like a palm-fruit..." Thus Rama addressed Khara. [3-29-14]

PURPORT

It is questioned whether Rama is self-eulogizing when talking this way to Khara. It is contradicted saying that yuddha kaale viira vaadasya sva paraakrama anusaareNa utsaaha abhivR^idhyartham para tiraskaara artham ca - aatma stuti - karaNe doSha abhaavaat | dk 'there is nothing wrong in foretelling how brave a warrior is and it will not come under self-praise, in war...' and the commentator goes on quoting many references, for e.g., Karna in Maha Bharata says: shuuraaH garjanbti satatam praavR^iShi iva balaahakaaH | 'brave ones will be regularly thundering like thundering clouds...'
VERSE 15

एवम् उक्तः तु रामेण क्रुद्धः संरक्त लोचनः
प्रति उवाच ततो रामम् प्रहसन् क्रोध मूर्चितः

evam uktaḥ tu rāmeṇa kruddhaḥ saṃrakta locanaḥ
prati uvāca tato rāmam prahasan krodha mūrcitaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmeṇa evam uktaḥ tu: by Rama, thus, [Khara is] said, but | [kharaḥ] kruddhaḥ: [Khara] is infuriated | samrakta locanaḥ: with bloodshot, eyes | tataḥ prahasan: thereupon, laughing at | krodha mūrcitaḥ: in anger, convulsed | rāmam: to Rama | prati uvāca: replied. |

TRANSLATION

But when Rama said thus, Khara is infuriated and convulsed in anger, and he replied Rama with bloodshot eyes, laughing boisterously. [3-29-15]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: Khara 'laughed at' Rama's words of self-praise means that even the Supreme Being untiringly does some self-praise like telling 'I am here to save you... seek refuge in me for I alone can save...' in order to make Himself known to the adamants. The whole concept of Bhagavad Gita in telling that 'I am here... Know me thus...' etc., is for the same purpose. Thus, this is a laughable situation to those who are already in the know of Being. Presently it is Khara who was great Vedic Brahman once, but became an ogre by curse. Contrariwise, it is a 'laughable talk' of the Supreme Being, to non-knowers or for the non-adherers.
VERSE 16

प्राकृतान् राक्षसान् हत्वा युद्धे दशरथ आत्मज
आत्मना कथम् आत्मानम् अप्रशस्यम् प्रशंससि

prākṛtān rākṣasān hatvā yuddhe daśaratha ātmaja
ātmanā katham ātmānam apraśasyam praśaṃsasi

SYNONYMS

daśaratha ātmaja: oh, Dasharatha's, son | yuddhe prākṛtān rākṣasān hatvā = in var, primitive: average, demons, on killing | a praśasyam: not, praiseworthy | ātmānam: about yourself | ātmanā: yourself | katham praśamsasi: how, you are praising. |

TRANSLATION

"On killing average demons in war, oh, son of Dasharatha, how you praise yourself when you yourself are un-praiseworthy?" Thus Khara started to speak to Rama. [3-29-16]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: For this self-praise it is said that Khara estimated Rama as an unworthy being in the parlance of mortals. kharaH tu kopaat asamartho raama iti bhraantaa uktavaan iti no ko api doShaH | dk But as a cursed Vedic Brahman who is in the know of Rama as Vishnu is retorting Rama saying 'you also need to self-eulogise, when I am fully aware of you and come hither to gain my salvation at your hand? You are not supposed to self-extol before small beings like us...'
VERSE 17

विक्रान्ता बलवन्तो वा ये भवन्ति नरर्षभाः
कथयन्ति न ते किंचित् तेजसा स्वेन गर्विताः

vikrāntā balavanto vā ye bhavanti nararṣabhāḥ
kathayanti na te kiṃcit tejasā svena garvitāḥ

SYNONYMS

ye nararṣabhāḥ: those, best of men | vikrāntā balavantaḥ vā: victorious, vigorous ones, either | bhavanti: will be there | te svena tejasā garvitāḥ: they, of their own, with valour, becoming proud | na kimcit kathayanti = not, anything, they say: boast. |

TRANSLATION

"Those best of men that are victorious and mighty will not boast anything, for they will be really proud of their own valour. [3-29-17]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: This is said otherwise: ye nararSabhaaH 'those best ones among men like you...' te 'by them...' [adhyaahaarya] evam 'elliptic: this way...' na kathayanti 'do not praise themselves...' tejasaa svena garvitaaH kathayanti some of 'those that are proud of their own valorous resplendence, they speak up their glory, vaingloriously...' 'So it is unapt of you to speak up for yourself, for we are in the know of it, and we are waiting for our release from our curse at your hand...' Tiirtha.
VERSE 18

प्राकृताः तु अकृत आत्मानो लोके क्षत्रिय पांसनाः
निरर्थकम् विकत्थन्ते यथा राम विकत्थसे

prākṛtāḥ tu akṛta ātmāno loke kṣatriya pāṃsanāḥ
nirarthakam vikatthante yathā rāma vikatthase

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | loke: in world | a kṛta ātmānaḥ = not, perfected, vith selves: irresolute in self-confidence | prākṛtāḥ tu: frivolous, but | kṣatriya pāmsanāḥ: Kshatriya, undignified one | yathā vikatthase: as to how, they are boasting | nir arthakam vi katthante = not, meaningful, verily, they speak up: you boast in a meaningless manner. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, as to how undignified Kshatriya-s that are frivolous and irresolute in self-confidence will boast in the world, likewise you too are boasting in a meaningless manner. [3-29-18]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: Khara's intent is: kSatriya paamsanaaH 'the Kshatriya, worthless... worthless Kshatriya-s...' yathaa nir arthakam vikatthase 'as to how they meaninglessly speak up for themselves...' raama tvam vikatthante 'oh, Rama, you are speaking like that...' 'It is unapt of you to talk vainly like any other average Kshatriya, as you are an incarnate in a best Kshatriya clan, and you do your duty righteously without much talk...' Tiirtha.
VERSE 19

कुलम् व्यपदिशन् वीरः समरे को अभिधास्यति
मृत्यु काले हि संप्राप्ते स्वयम् अप्रस्तवे स्तवम्

kulam vyapadiśan vīraḥ samare ko abhidhāsyati
mṛtyu kāle hi saṃprāpte svayam aprastave stavam

SYNONYMS

mṛtyu kāle samprāpte = at death, time, on arrival of: looming large | vīraḥ: valiant one | kaḥ samare kulam vyapadiśan: who, in wartime, his lineage, while speaking about | a prastave = not, appropriate time: inopportunely | svayam stavam: personally, self-extol | abhidhāsyati hi: broaches, is it! |

TRANSLATION

"Who will be that valiant that speaks about his lineage at wartime, that too, when the death-time is looming large! And, there will there be someone who broaches his self-extols in such an inopportune situation, is it! [3-29-19]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: Khara's saying is: samare 'in war...' [adhyaahaara]: shatru pakshe 'elliptic: on the enemy's side...' mR^ityu kaale sampraapte sati 'death time, while chancing, that being so...' stavam ko vaa abhidaasyati 'self-praise, who, either, speaks out...' Thus, Khara's saying is: 'where is the necessity for any warrior to self-eulogise when the death-time is hovering upon his enemy? And you, as Rama, are on the winning spree in this war, and there is no necessity to extol yourself...' Tiirtha.
VERSE 20

सर्वथा तु लघुत्वम् ते कत्थनेन विदर्शितम्
सुवर्ण प्रतिरूपेण तप्तेन इव कुश अग्निना

sarvathā tu laghutvam te katthanena vidarśitam
suvarṇa pratirūpeṇa taptena iva kuśa agninā

SYNONYMS

katthanena: by self-praise | taptena: burnt | suvarṇa prati rūpeṇa = golden, in reflection, aspect: having the aspect of gold | kuśa agninā iva: grass-blade, by fire, as with | sarvathā tu laghutvam te: howsoever, but, ignominy, yours | vi darśitam: well, shown. |

TRANSLATION

"Howsoever your ignominy is well shown by your self-praise, like the manifestation of gold on the tip of grass-blade burnt by fire, where the fire on grass-blade is no fire, and the bulb of fire appearing at the tip of grass-blade as a bulb of gold, is no gold. [3-29-20]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: A blade of grass when burnt, immediately glows and manifests a globe of golden flame, but it is too quick to evanish thus it can not burn the gold to refine it. katthanena 'by broaching...' te laghutvam 'your ignominy...' sarvathaiva vidarshitam ' in every way, well-shown...' and that ignominy is looking like taptena 'burnt...' kusha agninaa 'fire abiding the grass-blade...' suvarNa pratiruupeNa 'golden in hue...' laghutvam vidarshyate yathaa tathaa 'lowliness of fire proper will be shown by that fire on grass-blade, likewise... tava laghutvam eva vidarshitam bhavat 'so also your own lowliness is made evident...' 'A small fire on a small grass-blade quickly burns though with a golden hue, but it cannot sustain its flame to burn other things. It burns the grass-blade on which it sits. So, self-ruinous is your self-eulogy...' Govindaraja. kusha agninaa 'by grass-blade's fire...' that is used to purify golden material in rituals; suvarNa prati ruupeNa 'gold, equalling in aspect...' namely brass items; taptena 'if burnt to purify...'; laghutvam 'stain of blakishness...'; If brass items are put to the same small fire of grass-blade they immediately become smoky, however small the fire may be; Thus te 'by you...' katthanena 'by self-praising...' laghutvam vidarshitam 'your futility is well-shown...' Maheshvara Tiirtha. suvarNa prati ruupeNa tapyatena ashmanaa agninaa is another text. In this ashmanaa is 'stone...' If anyone touches a stone that is similar to fire outwardly, he does not feel the heat of the fire by the cold touch of stone. Thus, his 'foolishly mistaken identity' makes a fool of himself. Thus Khara is saying 'I was thinking that Rama is a very great valiant person, but by way of listening your self-eulogies, at an inopportune time, you appear to be a cold stone but not a firebrand... One who goes on self-eulogising without taking any action in a war is a coward but not a victor...' Thus Khara is quickening Rama to proceed with fighting so that the ensuing salvation can also be quickened.
VERSE 21

न तु माम् इह तिष्ठंतम् पश्यसि त्वम् गदा धरम्
धराधरम् इव अकंप्यम् पर्वतम् धातुभिः चितम्

na tu mām iha tiṣṭhaṃtam paśyasi tvam gadā dharam
dharādharam iva akaṃpyam parvatam dhātubhiḥ citam

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | gadā dharam: mace, wielding | iha tiṣṭhantam = here, staying: standing | dhātubhiḥ citam: by ores, laden | parvatam: having nubs, protuberances, jagged | dharā dharam iva = earth, borne by: mountain, like | a kampyam: not, shakeable | mām tu na paśyasi nanu: me, but, not, you see, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"But you are seeing me wielding a mace and standing before you like an unshakable and jagged mountain laden with ores, isn't it! [3-29-21]

VERSE 22

पर्याप्तो अहम् गदा पाणिर् हन्तुम् प्राणान् रणे तव
त्रयाणाम् अपि लोकानाम् पाश हस्त इव अंतकः

paryāpto aham gadā pāṇir hantum prāṇān raṇe tava
trayāṇām api lokānām pāśa hasta iva aṃtakaḥ

SYNONYMS

pāśa hasta antakaḥ: noose, wielder, terminator | trayāṇām lokānām api iva: for three, worlds, even for the [lives in those three worlds,] as with | raṇe tava prāṇān hantum = in var, your, lives, to destroy: to kill | gadā pāṇiḥ aham paryāptaḥ: with mace, in hand, I am, enough. |

TRANSLATION

"As to how the Terminator wielding noose is enough to take away all the lives in all the three worlds, handling my mace I am enough for detracting your life from you. [3-29-22]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: 'I am not competent enough to combat with you...' is the sense that is drawn out. gadaa dharam maam pashyasi nanu 'mace-wielder, me, you see, though...' 'Though you see me wielding this mace...' paasha hasta antaka iva 'noose-wielder Yama, Terminator, like...' 'Though I appear to be noose-wielding Terminator...' trayaNaam api lokaanaam praaNaan hantum paryaaptaH yadyapi tathaa api 'Though I can strike down the lives of all in all the three worlds with this single mace as Yama does so with only one noose...' raNe tava na paryaaptaH 'in war, with you, not, competent... 'I am not competent enough to fight with you in war, for I am an inferior being in comparison to you, oh, Supreme Being...'
VERSE 23

कामम् बहु अपि वक्तव्यम् त्वयि वक्ष्यामि न तु अहम्
अस्तम् प्राप्नोति सविता युद्ध विघ्नः ततो भवेत्

kāmam bahu api vaktavyam tvayi vakṣyāmi na tu aham
astam prāpnoti savitā yuddha vighnaḥ tato bhavet

SYNONYMS

tvayi: in your respect | bahu vaktavyam api kāmam: much, is to be said, though, really | tu: but | aham na vakṣyāmi = ī am, not, tell: I will not continue to say | savitā astam prāpnoti: sun, dusk, getting at | tataḥ yuddha vighnaḥ bhavet: thereby, for war, disruption, occurs. |

TRANSLATION

"Even though much is to be said in your respect I will not continue to say, for the sun is getting at the dusk thereby disruption to war occurs. [3-29-23]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: This is the devil's advocacy about dharma yuddha 'righteous warfare...' which righteous war is generally waged from morning till evening. Khara says that 'because the sun is dusking you humans cannot war with us, the nightwalkers who are adept in night-wars. Thus by killing you in nighttime does not prove my victory, for your warfare is from sunrise to sunset. Hence, this war is to be stalled. If you quicken now without self-extolling, I will kill you before sunset, proving my chivalry and then I can dab the eyes of the wives of the demons so far killed by you...'
VERSE 24

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि राक्षसानाम् हतानि ते
त्वत् विनाशात् करोमि अद्य तेषाम् अश्रु प्रमार्जनम्

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rākṣasānām hatāni te
tvat vināśāt karomi adya teṣām aśru pramārjanam

SYNONYMS

te = to you: by you | rākṣasānām caturdaśa sahasrāṇi hatāni: demons, fourteen, thousand, are killed | [eṣa: this me] | tvat vi nāśāt = on your, utter, eradication: on killing you | teṣām aśru pramārjanam: their [their wives,] tears, wiping | adya karomi: today itself, I will do. |

TRANSLATION

"You have killed fourteen thousand demons and on killing you I will wipe the tears of the wives of those dead demons today itself." Khara said so to Rama. [3-29-24]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: Khara cannot return to his place after sacrificing these many demons. Either he should win or be won over. So 'when these many demons are eliminated by you... tvad vinaashaat = tvattaH naashaat 'by you if I am eliminated...' eSaam ashru pramaarjanam karomi 'their tears I will wipe... 'For I sacrificed fourteen thousand kinsmen of mine, and if I am also killed by you, their wives do not find fault with me and my death will wipe their tears out... that is why, though you tried to pacify and avert me from warring with soft talk mR^idu puurva bhaaSaNena , as at 3-29-1. I can not but war, and you need not think that I am heedless of your words...' Tiirtha.
VERSE 25

इति उक्त्वा परम क्रुद्धः ताम् गदाम् परम अन्गदाम्
खरः चिक्षेप रामाय प्रदीप्ताम् अशनिम् यथा

iti uktvā parama kruddhaḥ tām gadām parama angadām
kharaḥ cikṣepa rāmāya pradīptām aśanim yathā

SYNONYMS

iti uktvā: thus, saying | kharaḥ: Khara | parama kruddhaḥ: highly, infuriated | parama angadām: [mace] with superb, [golden] cinctures | [parama angdaḥ: one who has superb bicep-lets, Khara] | pra ndīptām aśanim yathā: extremely glaring, thunderbolt, which is like | tām gadām: that, mace | rāmāya cikṣepa = for ṟama: towards Rama, hurled. |

TRANSLATION

Saying thus that highly infuriated Khara hurled his mace towards Rama, around which there are superb golden cinctures, and which is extremely glaring like a thunderbolt. [3-29-25]

VERSE 26

खर बाहु प्रमुक्ता सा प्रदीप्ता महती गदा
भस्म वृक्षाम् च गुल्माम् च कृत्वा अगात् तत् समीपतः

khara bāhu pramuktā sā pradīptā mahatī gadā
bhasma vṛkṣām ca gulmām ca kṛtvā agāt tat samīpataḥ

SYNONYMS

khara bāhu pra muktā: by Khara's, arms, forcefully discharged | pra dīptā mahatī gadā: highly, fiery, stupendous, mace | vṛkṣām ca gulmām ca: trees, also, shrubs, also | bhasma kṛtvā = to aśes, making: on rendering down | : that mace | tat samīpataḥ agāt = to his [ṟama's,] near, has gone: darted out. |

TRANSLATION

Forcefully discharged from Khara's hands that highly fiery and stupendous mace rendering trees and shrubs down to ashes darted towards Rama. [3-29-26]

VERSE 27

ताम् आपतन्तीम् महतीम् मृत्यु पाश उपमाम् गदाम्
अंतरिक्ष गताम् रामः चिच्छ्हेद बहुधा शरैः

tām āpatantīm mahatīm mṛtyu pāśa upamām gadām
aṃtarikṣa gatām rāmaḥ cicchheda bahudhā śaraiḥ

SYNONYMS

ā patantīm = coming, falling upon: swooping down | mahatīm: monstrous [mace] | mṛtyu pāśa upamām: Terminator, halter, in simile | tām gadām: that, mace | antarikṣa gatām: while sky, rocketing | rāmaḥ śaraiḥ bahudhā ciccheda = ṟama, vith arrovs, variously, smaśed: to smithereens. |

TRANSLATION

When that monstrous mace similar to the halter of the Terminator is swooping down, Rama smashed it to smithereens with his arrows while it is still sky rocketing. [3-29-27]

VERSE 28

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अरण्य काण्डे एकोन त्रिंश सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye araṇya kāṇḍe ekona triṃśa sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

śaraiḥ bhinnā: by arrows, splintered | sā gadā: that, mace | mantra auṣadhi balaiḥ: by spells, by nostrums, by the strengths of | vi ni pātitā: utterly, down, fallen came to naught | vyālī iva: female snake, as with | vi śīrṇā: absolutely, crumbled | dharaṇī tale: earth's, on surface | papāta: fell down. |

TRANSLATION

That mace splintered with arrows of Rama fell crumbling onto the surface of earth as a springing female snake would fall down by the strength of spells and nostrums. [3-29-28]

PURPORT

dhvani/allusion: The mention about Khara's mace may be noticed. In the text, its reference has come more often and at the end it is said to have burnt down the vegetation along its course of travel, which indicates that it has some radiation power. Without making it to touch the ground, Rama has splintered it in sky itself, and its destruction is metaphoric with a venomous serpent, and hymns and herbs can bring down that serpent. That is to say even if venomous missiles are used their antidotes are ready at hand. For this Dharmaakuutam says, without expanding: anena mantra auShadhi balaiH viSha aadi naasha ukto bhavati | dk 'any poison can be neutralised by antidotes, say spells and nostrums...'