Aranya Kanda, Sarga 21

स पुनः पतितां दृष्ट्वा क्रोधाच्छूर्पणखां खरः। उवाच व्यक्तया वाचा तामनर्थार्थमागताम्।।3.21.1।।

sa punaḥ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā krodhācchūrpaṇakhāṃ kharaḥ| uvāca vyaktayā vācā tāmanarthārthamāgatām

Seeing Surpanakha collapse, Khara said in clear terms about the unfortunate situation she had created:

मया त्विदानीं शूरास्ते राक्षसा रुधिराशनाः। त्वत्प्रियार्थं विनिर्दिष्टाः किमर्थं रुद्यते पुनः।।3.21.2।।

mayā tvidānīṃ śūrāste rākṣasā rudhirāśanāḥ| tvatpriyārthaṃ vinirdiṣṭāḥ kimarthaṃ rudyate punaḥ

The valiant demons who feed on blood have been commissioned for your pleasure. Why are you crying again?

भक्ताश्चैवानुरक्ताश्च हिताश्च मम नित्यशः। हन्यमाना न हन्यन्ते न न कुर्युर्वचो मम।।3.21.3।।

bhaktāścaivānuraktāśca hitāśca mama nityaśaḥ| hanyamānā na hanyante na na kuryurvaco mama

They are loyal and faithful to me. They are always my wellwishers. Even when attacked, they cannot be killed. They never fail to carry out my orders.

किमेतच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि कारणं यत्कृते पुनः। हा नाथेति विनर्दन्ती सर्पवल्लुठसि क्षितौ।।3.21.4।।

kimetacchrotumicchāmi kāraṇaṃ yatkṛte punaḥ| hā nātheti vinardantī sarpavalluṭhasi kṣitau

I wish to know what makes you lament and roll on the ground like a serpent and hissing?

अनाथवद्विलपसि नाथे तु मयि संस्थिते। उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ माभैषीर्वैक्लव्यं त्यज्यतामिह।।3.21.5।।

anāthavadvilapasi nāthe tu mayi saṃsthite| uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha mābhaiṣīrvaiklavyaṃ tyajyatāmiha

When I am here like a lord to protect you, why do you weep like an orphan? Get up. Give up your anxiety. Be not afraid.

इत्येवमुक्ता दुर्धर्षा खरेण परिसान्त्विता। विमृज्य नयने सास्रे खरं भ्रातरमब्रवीत्।।3.21.6।।

ityevamuktā durdharṣā khareṇa parisāntvitā| vimṛjya nayane sāsre kharaṃ bhrātaramabravīt

Thus consoled by Khara, invincible Surpanakha wiped her tearful eyes and said to her brother:

अस्मीदानीमहं प्राप्ता हृतश्रवणनासिका। शोणितौघपरिक्लिन्ना त्वया च परिसान्त्विता।।3.21.7।।

asmīdānīmahaṃ prāptā hṛtaśravaṇanāsikā| śoṇitaughapariklinnā tvayā ca parisāntvitā

My ears and nose sliced off, drenched with blood, I came to you and you pacified me.

प्रेषिताश्च त्वया वीर राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश। निहन्तुं राघवं क्रोधान्मत्प्रियार्थं सलक्षणम्।।3.21.8।।

preṣitāśca tvayā vīra rākṣasāste caturdaśa| nihantuṃ rāghavaṃ krodhānmatpriyārthaṃ salakṣaṇam

O warrior you had sent, out of anger, fourteen demons to put an end to Rama along with Lakshmana in order to please me.

ते तु रामेण सामर्षाः शूलपट्टसपाणयः। समरे निहतास्सर्वे सायकैर्मर्मभेदिभिः।।3.21.9।।

te tu rāmeṇa sāmarṣāḥ śūlapaṭṭasapāṇayaḥ| samare nihatāssarve sāyakairmarmabhedibhiḥ

The demons who went with spears in their hands were killed, their hearts pierced by Rama's arrows.

तान्दृष्ट्वा पतितान्भूमौ क्षणेनैव महाबलान्। रामस्य च महत्कर्म महांस्त्रासोऽभवन्मम।।3.21.10।।

tāndṛṣṭvā patitānbhūmau kṣaṇenaiva mahābalān| rāmasya ca mahatkarma mahāṃstrāso'bhavanmama

Seeing the powerful demons collapse on the ground in a moment's time through Rama's action, I was frightened.

अहमस्मि समुद्विग्ना विषण्णा च निशाचर। शरणं त्वां पुनः प्राप्ता सर्वतोभयदर्शिनी।।3.21.11।।

ahamasmi samudvignā viṣaṇṇā ca niśācara| śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ punaḥ prāptā sarvatobhayadarśinī

O demon I am scared and sad. To me everything looks frightening. I, therefore, seek refuge in you.

विषादनक्राध्युषिते परित्रासोर्मिमालिनि। किं मां न त्रायसे मग्नां विपुले शोकसागरे।।3.21.12।।

viṣādanakrādhyuṣite paritrāsormimālini| kiṃ māṃ na trāyase magnāṃ vipule śokasāgare

I am drowned in a vast sea of sorrow where crocodiles in the form of distress reside. It is full of rows of waves of fright. Why do you not save me?

एते च निहता भूमौ रामेण निशितैः शरैः। येऽपि मे पदवीं प्राप्ता राक्षसाः पिशिताशनाः।।3.21.13।।

ete ca nihatā bhūmau rāmeṇa niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ| ye'pi me padavīṃ prāptā rākṣasāḥ piśitāśanāḥ

The demons who live on flesh, who came following me fell down on earth and lay dead, shot by the sharp arrows of Rama.

मयि ते यद्यनुक्रोशो यदि रक्षस्सु तेषु च। रामेण यदि ते शक्तिस्तेजो वास्ति निशाचर।3.21.14।। दण्डकारण्यनिलयं जहि राक्षसकण्टकम्।

mayi te yadyanukrośo yadi rakṣassu teṣu ca| rāmeṇa yadi te śaktistejo vāsti niśācara|3.21.14|| daṇḍakāraṇyanilayaṃ jahi rākṣasakaṇṭakam|

O demon if you have compassion for me or for the demons, if you have the power and energy to face Rama, kill the enemy of the demons living in Dandaka forest.

यदि रामं ममामित्रं न त्वमद्यवधिष्यसि।।3.21.15।। तवैव चाग्रतः प्राणांस्त्यक्षामि निरपत्रप।

yadi rāmaṃ mamāmitraṃ na tvamadyavadhiṣyasi tavaiva cāgrataḥ prāṇāṃstyakṣāmi nirapatrapa|

If now you do not kill that Rama, my enemy, O shameless one, I will give up my life in your very presence.

बुद्ध्याहमनुपश्यामि न त्वं रामस्य संयुगे।।3.21.16।। स्थातुं प्रतिमुखे शक्तस्सबलश्च महात्मनः।

buddhyāhamanupaśyāmi na tvaṃ rāmasya saṃyuge sthātuṃ pratimukhe śaktassabalaśca mahātmanaḥ|

Instinctively I can foresee that you and your army do not have the capability to encounter that great Rama in a fight.

शूरमानी न शूरस्त्वं मिथ्यारोपितविक्रमः।।3.21.17।। मानुषौ यो न शक्नोषि हन्तुं तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।

śūramānī na śūrastvaṃ mithyāropitavikramaḥ mānuṣau yo na śaknoṣi hantuṃ tau rāmalakṣmaṇau|

You call yourself a hero, yet are not able to kill two humans like Rama and Lakshmana. Your claim to heroism is false. You are not a hero at all.

रामेण यदि ते शक्तिस्तेजो वास्ति निशाचर।।3.21.18।। दण्डकारण्यनिलयं जहि तं कुलपांसन।

rāmeṇa yadi te śaktistejo vāsti niśācara daṇḍakāraṇyanilayaṃ jahi taṃ kulapāṃsana|

O demon you are a disgrace to the family. If you have power or energy, kill that Rama dwelling in Dandaka forest.

निस्सत्वस्याल्प वीर्यस्य वासस्ते कीदृशस्त्विह।।3.21.19।। अपयाहि जनस्थानातत्वरितस्सहबान्धवः।

nissatvasyālpa vīryasya vāsaste kīdṛśastviha apayāhi janasthānātatvaritassahabāndhavaḥ|

You have little strength and less heroism. You with your relations should immediately leave Janasthana. What kind of position do you have here?

रामतेजोभिभूतो हि त्वं क्षिप्रं विनशिष्यसि।3.21.20।। स हि तेजस्समायुक्तो रामो दशरथात्मजः। भ्राता चास्य महावीर्यो येन चास्मि विरूपिता।।3.21.21।।

rāmatejobhibhūto hi tvaṃ kṣipraṃ vinaśiṣyasi|3.21.20|| sa hi tejassamāyukto rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ| bhrātā cāsya mahāvīryo yena cāsmi virūpitā

Let down by the brilliance of Rama, son of Dasaratha, you will be soon destroyed. He is mighty and his brother who has disfigured me is very valiant.

रामतेजोभिभूतो हि त्वं क्षिप्रं विनशिष्यसि।3.21.20।। स हि तेजस्समायुक्तो रामो दशरथात्मजः। भ्राता चास्य महावीर्यो येन चास्मि विरूपिता।।3.21.21।।

rāmatejobhibhūto hi tvaṃ kṣipraṃ vinaśiṣyasi|3.21.20|| sa hi tejassamāyukto rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ| bhrātā cāsya mahāvīryo yena cāsmi virūpitā

Let down by the brilliance of Rama, son of Dasaratha, you will be soon destroyed. He is mighty and his brother who has disfigured me is very valiant.

एवं विलप्य बहुशो राक्षसी विततोदरी। कराभ्यामुदरं हत्वा रुरोद भृशदुःखिता।।3.21.22।।

evaṃ vilapya bahuśo rākṣasī vitatodarī| karābhyāmudaraṃ hatvā ruroda bhṛśaduḥkhitā

Overcome by sorrow, the bigbellied demoness cried in several ways and being very sad started beating her chest with both hands. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे एकविंशस्सर्गः। Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.