Aranya Kanda, Sarga 25

अवष्टब्धधनुं रामं क्रुद्धं च रिपुघातिनम्। ददर्शाऽश्रममागम्य खरस्सह पुरस्सरैः।।3.25.1।।

avaṣṭabdhadhanuṃ rāmaṃ kruddhaṃ ca ripughātinam| dadarśā'śramamāgamya kharassaha purassaraiḥ

Khara accompanied by his pilot party arrived at the hermitage of Rama, the destroyer of enemies and saw him in fury, standing ready with his bow.

तं दृष्ट्वा सशरं चापमुद्यम्य खरनिस्स्वनम्। रामस्याभिमुखं सूतं चोद्यतामित्यचोदयत्।।3.25.2।।

taṃ dṛṣṭvā saśaraṃ cāpamudyamya kharanissvanam| rāmasyābhimukhaṃ sūtaṃ codyatāmityacodayat

On seeing Rama, Khara held his terribly twanging bow and arrow, stood facing him, and ordered the charioteer to drive towards him.

स खरस्याज्ञया सूतस्तुरगान् समचोदयत्। यत्र रामो महाबाहुरेको चुन्वन्स्थितो धनुः।।3.25.3।।

sa kharasyājñayā sūtasturagān samacodayat| yatra rāmo mahābāhureko cunvansthito dhanuḥ

Commanded by Khara, the charioteer also urged the horses towards the mightyarmed Rama standing alone and wielding the bow.

तं तु निष्पतितं दृष्ट्वा सर्वे ते रजनीचराः। नर्दमाना महानादं सचिवाः पर्यवारयन्।।3.25.4।।

taṃ tu niṣpatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarve te rajanīcarāḥ| nardamānā mahānādaṃ sacivāḥ paryavārayan

Seeing Khara attacking (Rama) all the demon ministers surrounded him roaring.

स तेषां यातुधानानां मध्ये रथगतः खरः। बभूव मध्ये ताराणां लोहिताङ्ग इवोदितः।।3.25.5।।

sa teṣāṃ yātudhānānāṃ madhye rathagataḥ kharaḥ| babhūva madhye tārāṇāṃ lohitāṅga ivoditaḥ

Seated on a chariot in the midst of the demons, Khara looked like the rising Mars in the middle of the stars.

ततश्शरसहस्रेण राममप्रतिमौजसम्। अर्दयित्वा महानादं ननाद समरे खरः।।3.25.6।।

tataśśarasahasreṇa rāmamapratimaujasam| ardayitvā mahānādaṃ nanāda samare kharaḥ

Khara struck Rama of immeasurable prowess with a thousand arrows and roared loudly.

ततस्तं भीमधन्वानं क्रुद्धाः सर्वे निशाचराः। रामं नानाविधैः शस्स्रैरभ्यवर्षन्त दुर्जयम्।।3.25.7।।

tatastaṃ bhīmadhanvānaṃ kruddhāḥ sarve niśācarāḥ| rāmaṃ nānāvidhaiḥ śassrairabhyavarṣanta durjayam

Thereafter all the infuriated demons showered on invincible Rama, wielder of a fierce bow, many kinds of weapons.

मुद्गरैः पट्टसैश्शूलैः प्रासैः खङ्गै परश्वथैः। राक्षसास्समरे रामं निजघ्नू रोषतत्पराः।।3.25.8।।

mudgaraiḥ paṭṭasaiśśūlaiḥ prāsaiḥ khaṅgai paraśvathaiḥ| rākṣasāssamare rāmaṃ nijaghnū roṣatatparāḥ

Overtaken by anger, the demons continuously hurled at Rama hammers, spears, spikes, barbed missiles, swords and battleaxes.

ते वलाहसङ्काशा महानादा महौजसः। अभ्यधावन्त काकुत्स्थं रथैर्वाजिभिरेव च।।3.25.9।। गजैः पर्वतकूटाभै रामं युद्धे जिघांसवः।

te valāhasaṅkāśā mahānādā mahaujasaḥ| abhyadhāvanta kākutsthaṃ rathairvājibhireva ca gajaiḥ parvatakūṭābhai rāmaṃ yuddhe jighāṃsavaḥ|

Very powerful demons like huge clouds roared, eager to kill Rama in war. They ran forward on chariots, horses and tall elephants, looking like mountain tops.

ते रामे शरवर्षाणि व्यसृजन् रक्षसां गणाः।।3.25.10।। शैलेन्द्रमिव धाराभिर्वर्षमाणा वलाहकाः।

te rāme śaravarṣāṇi vyasṛjan rakṣasāṃ gaṇāḥ śailendramiva dhārābhirvarṣamāṇā valāhakāḥ|

The battalions of demons sent down streams of arrows on Rama just like clouds downpour on mountains.

स तैः परिवृतो घोरैः राघवो रक्षसां गणैः।।3.25.11।। तिथिष्वि महादेवो वृत परिषदाङ्गणै

sa taiḥ parivṛto ghoraiḥ rāghavo rakṣasāṃ gaṇaiḥ tithiṣvi mahādevo vṛta pariṣadāṅgaṇai

Surrounded by the terrible demons Rama appeared like Lord Siva at dusk with hosts of his retinues arounds.

तानि मुक्तानि शस्त्राणि यातुधानैस्सराघवः। प्रतिजग्राह विशिखैर्नद्योघानिव सागरः।।3.25.12।।

tāni muktāni śastrāṇi yātudhānaissarāghavaḥ| pratijagrāha viśikhairnadyoghāniva sāgaraḥ

Rama resisted the weapons released by the demons like the sea, the inflow of river waters.

स तैः प्रहरणैर्घोरैर्भिन्नगात्रो न विव्यथे। रामः प्रदीप्तैर्बहुभिर्वज्रैरिव महाचलः।।3.25.13।।

sa taiḥ praharaṇairghorairbhinnagātro na vivyathe| rāmaḥ pradīptairbahubhirvajrairiva mahācalaḥ

Rama remained unhurt like a great mountain struck by many glowing thunderbolts. He felt no pain even though his limbs were hit by the dreadful weapons.

स विद्धः क्षतजादिग्धः सर्वगात्रेषु राघवः। बभूव रामः सन्ध्याभ्रैर्दिवाकर इवावृतः।।3.25.14।।

sa viddhaḥ kṣatajādigdhaḥ sarvagātreṣu rāghavaḥ| babhūva rāmaḥ sandhyābhrairdivākara ivāvṛtaḥ

Wounded all over the body, bleeding through the wounds caused by weapons, Rama looked like the evening Sun covered with clouds.

विषेदुर्देवगन्धर्वास्सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। एकं सहस्रैर्भहुभिस्तदा दृष्ट्वा समावृतम्।।3.25.15।।

viṣedurdevagandharvāssiddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ| ekaṃ sahasrairbhahubhistadā dṛṣṭvā samāvṛtam

Seeing Rama left alone surrounded by many thousands of demons, the gods, ghandarvas and siddhas became very sad.

ततो रामस्सुसङ्कृद्धो मण्डलीकृतकार्मुकः। ससर्ज विशिखान्बाणाञ्छतशोऽथ सहस्रश।।3.25.16।।

tato rāmassusaṅkṛddho maṇḍalīkṛtakārmukaḥ| sasarja viśikhānbāṇāñchataśo'tha sahasraśa

Thereafter Rama, mighty angry, bent his bow and released hundreds and thousands of unfeathered arrows.

दुरावारान्दुर्विषहान्कालदण्डोपमान् रणे। मुमोच लीलया रामः कङ्कपत्रानजिह्मगान्।।3.25.17।।

durāvārāndurviṣahānkāladaṇḍopamān raṇe| mumoca līlayā rāmaḥ kaṅkapatrānajihmagān

As if sporting, Rama discharged the arrows attached with herons' feathers. The arrows were inescapable, unbearable like that of Yama's staff, that went straight without missing the target.

ते शराश्शत्रुसैन्येषु मुक्ता रामेण लीलया। अददू रक्षसां प्राणान्पाशाः कालकृता इव।।3.25.18।।

te śarāśśatrusainyeṣu muktā rāmeṇa līlayā| adadū rakṣasāṃ prāṇānpāśāḥ kālakṛtā iva

The arrows like the noose of the god of death released by Rama on the enemy army easily destroyed the lives of the demons.

भित्त्वा राक्षसदेहां स्तांस्ते शरा रुधिराप्लुताः। अन्तरिक्षगता रेजुर्दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसः।।3.25.19।।

bhittvā rākṣasadehāṃ stāṃste śarā rudhirāplutāḥ| antarikṣagatā rejurdīptāgnisamatejasaḥ

Rama's arrows pierced the bodies of the demons and drenched in blood, they, looking like burning fire, shone in the sky.

असङ्ख्येयास्तु रामस्य सायकाश्चापमण्डलात्। विनिष्पेतुरतीवोग्रा रक्षःप्राणापहारिणः।।3.25.20।।

asaṅkhyeyāstu rāmasya sāyakāścāpamaṇḍalāt| viniṣpeturatīvogrā rakṣaḥprāṇāpahāriṇaḥ

From Rama's bow bent into a cirle, countless fierce arrows able to take the lives of demons were released.

तैर्धनूंषि ध्वजाग्राणि वर्माणि च शिरांसि च। बाहून्सहस्ताभरणानूरून्करिकरोपमान्।।3.25.21।। चिच्छेद रामस्समरे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।

tairdhanūṃṣi dhvajāgrāṇi varmāṇi ca śirāṃsi ca| bāhūnsahastābharaṇānūrūnkarikaropamān ciccheda rāmassamare śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ|

In war Rama cut asunder the bows, flag tops, armour and heads of demons, their shoulders and thighs that were like the trunks of elephants, in their hundreds and thousands.

हयान्काञ्चनसन्नाहान्रथयुक्तान्ससारथीन्।।3.25.22।। गजांश्च सगजारोहान्सहयान्सादिनस्तथा। पदातीन्समरे हत्वा ह्यनयद्यमसादनम्।।3.25.23।।

hayānkāñcanasannāhānrathayuktānsasārathīn gajāṃśca sagajārohānsahayānsādinastathā| padātīnsamare hatvā hyanayadyamasādanam

He killed horses with golden armours yoked to the chariots along with charioteers, elephants along with riders, the cavalry along with their horses and infantry and sent them all to the abode of death.

हयान्काञ्चनसन्नाहान्रथयुक्तान्ससारथीन्।।3.25.22।। गजांश्च सगजारोहान्सहयान्सादिनस्तथा। पदातीन्समरे हत्वा ह्यनयद्यमसादनम्।।3.25.23।।

hayānkāñcanasannāhānrathayuktānsasārathīn gajāṃśca sagajārohānsahayānsādinastathā| padātīnsamare hatvā hyanayadyamasādanam

He killed horses with golden armours yoked to the chariots along with charioteers, elephants along with riders, the cavalry along with their horses and infantry and sent them all to the abode of death.

ततो नालीकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णाग्रैश्च विकर्णिभिः। भीममार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्भिद्यमाना निशाचराः।।3.25.24।।

tato nālīkanārācaistīkṣṇāgraiśca vikarṇibhiḥ| bhīmamārtasvaraṃ cakrurbhidyamānā niśācarāḥ

The bodies of the demons torn into pieces by the very sharp iron arrows and by the arrows called vikarni, they cried and shouted aloud in pitiable voices.

तत्सैन्यं निशितैर्बाणैरर्दितं मर्मभेदिभिः। रामेण न सुखं लेभे शुष्कं वनमिवाग्निना।।3.25.25।।

tatsainyaṃ niśitairbāṇairarditaṃ marmabhedibhiḥ| rāmeṇa na sukhaṃ lebhe śuṣkaṃ vanamivāgninā

Just like the dried up forest burnt by the fire, the army was totally destroyed by Rama's arrows that pierced into the vital parts of the soldiers.

केचिद्भीमबलाश्शूराश्शूलान्खङ्गान्परश्वधान्। रामस्याभिमुखं गत्वा चिक्षिपुः परमायुधान्।।3.25.26।।

kecidbhīmabalāśśūrāśśūlānkhaṅgānparaśvadhān| rāmasyābhimukhaṃ gatvā cikṣipuḥ paramāyudhān

A few warriors of fierce strength approached Rama and hurled at him very powerful weapons, spears, swords and axes.

तानि बाणैर्महाबाहुश्शस्त्राण्यावार्य राघवः। जहार समरे प्राणांश्चिच्छेद च शिरोधरान्।।3.25.27।।

tāni bāṇairmahābāhuśśastrāṇyāvārya rāghavaḥ| jahāra samare prāṇāṃściccheda ca śirodharān

Strongarmed Rama attacked them with his arrows and cut off their heads and took their lives.

ते छिन्नशिरसः पेतुश्चिन्नवर्मशरासनाः। सुपर्णवातविक्षिप्ता जगत्यां पादपा यथा।।3.25.28।।

te chinnaśirasaḥ petuścinnavarmaśarāsanāḥ| suparṇavātavikṣiptā jagatyāṃ pādapā yathā

The heads, armour and bows fell down broken on the ground like trees in the wind gererated by Garuda's wings.

अवशिष्टाश्च ये तत्र विषण्णाश्च निशाचराः। खरमेवाभ्यधावन्त शरणार्थं शरार्दिताः।।3.25.29।।

avaśiṣṭāśca ye tatra viṣaṇṇāśca niśācarāḥ| kharamevābhyadhāvanta śaraṇārthaṃ śarārditāḥ

The rest of the demons hit by the arrows ran desperate towards Khara for refuge.

तान्सर्वान्पुनरादाय समाश्वास्य च दूषणः। अभ्यधावत काकुत्स्थं क्रुद्धो रुद्रमिवान्तकः।।3.25.30।।

tānsarvānpunarādāya samāśvāsya ca dūṣaṇaḥ| abhyadhāvata kākutsthaṃ kruddho rudramivāntakaḥ

Pacifying them all, Dusana regathered them again and ran towards Rama like an angry Yama rushing towards Rudra.

निवृत्तास्तु पुनस्सर्वे दूषणाश्रयनिर्भयाः। राममेवाभ्यधावन्त सालतालशिलायुधाः।।3.25.31।।

nivṛttāstu punassarve dūṣaṇāśrayanirbhayāḥ| rāmamevābhyadhāvanta sālatālaśilāyudhāḥ

Under Dusana's protection, all of them felt relieved from fear and, carrying sal and palm trees and stones as weapons, advanced towards Rama again.

शूलमुद्गरहस्ताश्च चापहस्ता महाबलाः। सृजन्तश्शरवर्षाणि शस्त्रवर्षाणि संयुगे।।3.25.32।। द्रुमवर्षाणि मुञ्चन्तश्शिलावर्षाणि राक्षसाः।।

śūlamudgarahastāśca cāpahastā mahābalāḥ| sṛjantaśśaravarṣāṇi śastravarṣāṇi saṃyuge drumavarṣāṇi muñcantaśśilāvarṣāṇi rākṣasāḥ||

Holding spears, hammers and bows in their hands, the mighty demons rained on Rama weapons like arrows, trees and stones.

तद्बभूवाद्भुतं युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्। रामस्य च महाघोरं पुनस्तेषां च रक्षसाम्।।3.25.33।।

tadbabhūvādbhutaṃ yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam| rāmasya ca mahāghoraṃ punasteṣāṃ ca rakṣasām

The thrilling, fierce, horrifying and horripilating battle again ensued betwen Rama and the demons.

ते समन्तादतिक्रुद्धा राघवं पुनरभ्ययुः।।3.25.34।। तैश्च सर्वा दिशो दृष्ट्वा प्रदिशश्च समावृताः। राक्षसैरुद्यतप्रासैश्शरवर्षाभिवर्षिभिः।।3.25.35।। स कृत्वा भैरवं नादमस्त्रं परमभास्वरम्। संयोजयत गान्धर्वं राक्षसेषु महाबलः।।3.25.36।।

te samantādatikruddhā rāghavaṃ punarabhyayuḥ taiśca sarvā diśo dṛṣṭvā pradiśaśca samāvṛtāḥ| rākṣasairudyataprāsaiśśaravarṣābhivarṣibhiḥ sa kṛtvā bhairavaṃ nādamastraṃ paramabhāsvaram| saṃyojayata gāndharvaṃ rākṣaseṣu mahābalaḥ

As the infuriated demons again hurtled towards Rama, filling the quarters and the intermediate directions and raining missiles, Rama aimed at them dazzling gandharvastras, producing a frightening warcry.

ते समन्तादतिक्रुद्धा राघवं पुनरभ्ययुः।।3.25.34।। तैश्च सर्वा दिशो दृष्ट्वा प्रदिशश्च समावृताः। राक्षसैरुद्यतप्रासैश्शरवर्षाभिवर्षिभिः।।3.25.35।। स कृत्वा भैरवं नादमस्त्रं परमभास्वरम्। संयोजयत गान्धर्वं राक्षसेषु महाबलः।।3.25.36।।

te samantādatikruddhā rāghavaṃ punarabhyayuḥ taiśca sarvā diśo dṛṣṭvā pradiśaśca samāvṛtāḥ| rākṣasairudyataprāsaiśśaravarṣābhivarṣibhiḥ sa kṛtvā bhairavaṃ nādamastraṃ paramabhāsvaram| saṃyojayata gāndharvaṃ rākṣaseṣu mahābalaḥ

As the infuriated demons again hurtled towards Rama, filling the quarters and the intermediate directions and raining missiles, Rama aimed at them dazzling gandharvastras, producing a frightening warcry.

ते समन्तादतिक्रुद्धा राघवं पुनरभ्ययुः।।3.25.34।। तैश्च सर्वा दिशो दृष्ट्वा प्रदिशश्च समावृताः। राक्षसैरुद्यतप्रासैश्शरवर्षाभिवर्षिभिः।।3.25.35।। स कृत्वा भैरवं नादमस्त्रं परमभास्वरम्। संयोजयत गान्धर्वं राक्षसेषु महाबलः।।3.25.36।।

te samantādatikruddhā rāghavaṃ punarabhyayuḥ taiśca sarvā diśo dṛṣṭvā pradiśaśca samāvṛtāḥ| rākṣasairudyataprāsaiśśaravarṣābhivarṣibhiḥ sa kṛtvā bhairavaṃ nādamastraṃ paramabhāsvaram| saṃyojayata gāndharvaṃ rākṣaseṣu mahābalaḥ

As the infuriated demons again hurtled towards Rama, filling the quarters and the intermediate directions and raining missiles, Rama aimed at them dazzling gandharvastras, producing a frightening warcry.

ततश्शरसहस्राणि निर्ययुश्चापमण्डलात्। सर्वा दश दिशो बाणैरावार्यन्त समागतैः।।3.25.37।।

tataśśarasahasrāṇi niryayuścāpamaṇḍalāt| sarvā daśa diśo bāṇairāvāryanta samāgataiḥ

Rama then let out from his bow, stretched round, thousands of arrows that covered all the ten quarters.

नाददानं शरान्घोरान्नमुञ्चन्तं शिलीमुखान्। विकर्षमाणं पश्यन्ति राक्षसास्ते शरार्दिताः।।3.25.38।।

nādadānaṃ śarānghorānnamuñcantaṃ śilīmukhān| vikarṣamāṇaṃ paśyanti rākṣasāste śarārditāḥ

The demons, though wounded, could not see whereform the terrible arrows came. They only saw Rama shooting the arrows.

शरान्धकारमाकाशमावृणोत्सदिवाकरम्। बभूवावस्थितो रामः प्रवमन्निव ताञ्छरान्।।3.25.39।।

śarāndhakāramākāśamāvṛṇotsadivākaram| babhūvāvasthito rāmaḥ pravamanniva tāñcharān

Through the darkness created by the arrows that covered the sky and the Sun, Rama looked as though he was vomitting them.

युगपत्पतमानैश्च युगपच्च हतैर्भृशम्। युगपत्पतितैश्चैव विकीर्णा वसुधा भवत्।।3.25.40।।

yugapatpatamānaiśca yugapacca hatairbhṛśam| yugapatpatitaiścaiva vikīrṇā vasudhā bhavat

It seemed as if it all happened at the same time, the entire earth filling with demons seriously injured, slain and fallen down on the ground.

निहताः पतिताः क्षीणाश्छिन्ना भिन्ना विदारिताः। तत्र तत्र स्म दृश्यन्ते राक्षसास्ते सहस्रशः।।3.25.41।।

nihatāḥ patitāḥ kṣīṇāśchinnā bhinnā vidāritāḥ| tatra tatra sma dṛśyante rākṣasāste sahasraśaḥ

There were bodies of demons pierced and torn, thinned and fallen down, destroyed, broken and cut into pieces scattered in their thousands.

सोष्णीषैरुत्तमाङ्गैश्च साङ्गदैर्बाहुभिस्तथा। ऊरुभिर्जानुभिश्छिन्नैर्नानारूपैविभूषणैः।।3.25.42।। हयैश्च द्विपमुख्यैश्च रथैर्भिन्नैरनेकशः। चामरैर्व्यजनैश्छत्रैर्ध्वजैर्नानाविधैरपि।।3.25.43।। रामस्य बाणाभिहतैर्विचित्रैश्शूलपट्टिसैः। खङ्गै खण्डीकृतैः प्रासैर्विकीर्णैश्च परश्वधैः।।3.25.44।। चूर्णिताभिश्शिलाभिश्च शरैश्चित्रैरनेकशः। विच्छिन्नैस्समरे भूमिर्विकीर्णाऽभूद्भयङ्करा।।3.25.45।।

soṣṇīṣairuttamāṅgaiśca sāṅgadairbāhubhistathā| ūrubhirjānubhiśchinnairnānārūpaivibhūṣaṇaiḥ hayaiśca dvipamukhyaiśca rathairbhinnairanekaśaḥ| cāmarairvyajanaiśchatrairdhvajairnānāvidhairapi rāmasya bāṇābhihatairvicitraiśśūlapaṭṭisaiḥ| khaṅgai khaṇḍīkṛtaiḥ prāsairvikīrṇaiśca paraśvadhaiḥ cūrṇitābhiśśilābhiśca śaraiścitrairanekaśaḥ| vicchinnaissamare bhūmirvikīrṇā'bhūdbhayaṅkarā

Slain thus by Rama's arrows, the ground was littered with (bodies of) demons with limbs dismembered, headdresses and shoulders cut off, arms, thighs and knees decked with various ornaments amputated, chariots, horses, best of elephants, fans made of the tail of chamari deer (used as an insignia of royalty), umbrellas, several flags, and weapons like spears, swords, darts, battleaxes and stones crushed into pieces and arrows splintered and scattered all over. The ground looked frightening. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे पञ्चविंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the twentyfifth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.