Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28

निहतं दूषणं दृष्ट्वा रणे त्रिशिरसा सह। खरस्याप्यभवत्त्रासो दृष्ट्वा रामस्य विक्रमम्।।3.28.1।।

nihataṃ dūṣaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā raṇe triśirasā saha| kharasyāpyabhavattrāso dṛṣṭvā rāmasya vikramam

Khara was overtaken by fear at the prowess of Rama, when he saw Dusana and Trisira killed.

स दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं सैन्यमविसह्यं महाबलः। हतमेकेन रामेण त्रिशिरोदूषणावपि।।3.28.2।। तद्बलं हतभूयिष्ठं विमनाः प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसः। आससाद खरो रामं नमुचिर्वासवं यथा।।3.28.3।।

sa dṛṣṭvā rākṣasaṃ sainyamavisahyaṃ mahābalaḥ| hatamekena rāmeṇa triśirodūṣaṇāvapi tadbalaṃ hatabhūyiṣṭhaṃ vimanāḥ prekṣya rākṣasaḥ| āsasāda kharo rāmaṃ namucirvāsavaṃ yathā

Khara, the mighty demon, saw his large, irrepressible army killed. He saw Trisira and Dusana slain singlehanded by Rama. Nervous, he advanced towards Rama wage war just as Namuchi approached Indra.

स दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं सैन्यमविसह्यं महाबलः। हतमेकेन रामेण त्रिशिरोदूषणावपि।।3.28.2।। तद्बलं हतभूयिष्ठं विमनाः प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसः। आससाद खरो रामं नमुचिर्वासवं यथा।।3.28.3।।

sa dṛṣṭvā rākṣasaṃ sainyamavisahyaṃ mahābalaḥ| hatamekena rāmeṇa triśirodūṣaṇāvapi tadbalaṃ hatabhūyiṣṭhaṃ vimanāḥ prekṣya rākṣasaḥ| āsasāda kharo rāmaṃ namucirvāsavaṃ yathā

Khara, the mighty demon, saw his large, irrepressible army killed. He saw Trisira and Dusana slain singlehanded by Rama. Nervous, he advanced towards Rama wage war just as Namuchi approached Indra.

विकृष्य बलवच्चापं नाराचान्रक्तभोजनान्। खरश्चिक्षेप रामाय क्रुद्धानाशीविषानिव।।3.28.4।।

vikṛṣya balavaccāpaṃ nārācānraktabhojanān| kharaścikṣepa rāmāya kruddhānāśīviṣāniva

Khara drew his strong bowstring in anger and released the bloodhungry arrows, which appeared like venomous snakes.

ज्यां विधून्वंसुबहुशश्शिक्षयास्त्राणि दर्शयन्। चचार समरे मार्गाञ्छरै रथगतः खरः।।3.28.5।।

jyāṃ vidhūnvaṃsubahuśaśśikṣayāstrāṇi darśayan| cacāra samare mārgāñcharai rathagataḥ kharaḥ

Khara, sat on the chariot, and with a twang of his bowstring released arrows in all directions, exhibiting his skill in the use of weapons.

स सर्वाश्च दिशो बाणैः प्रदिशश्च महारथः। पूरयामास तं दृष्ट्वा रामोऽपि सुमहद्धनुः।।3.28.6।।

sa sarvāśca diśo bāṇaiḥ pradiśaśca mahārathaḥ| pūrayāmāsa taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmo'pi sumahaddhanuḥ

When Rama, the great warrior, saw Khara approaching him, he fixed powerful arrows on his bow and covered all directions and intermediate quarters with his arrows.

स सायकैर्दुर्विसहैस्सस्फुलिङ्गैरिवाग्निभिः। नभश्चकाराविवरं पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिभिः।।3.28.7।।

sa sāyakairdurvisahaissasphuliṅgairivāgnibhiḥ| nabhaścakārāvivaraṃ parjanya iva vṛṣṭibhiḥ

He rained sparkling arrows which were irresistible. He filled the sky with arrows just as the raingod fills it with rain without leaving any space.

तद्बभूव शितैर्बाणैः खररामविसर्जितैः। पर्याकाशमनाकाशं सर्वतश्शरसङ्कुलम्।।3.28.8।।

tadbabhūva śitairbāṇaiḥ khararāmavisarjitaiḥ| paryākāśamanākāśaṃ sarvataśśarasaṅkulam

The arrows released by Khara and Rama on one another filled the entire sky. Everywhere only arrows and no sky could be seen.

शरजालावृतस्सूर्यो न तदा स्म प्रकाशते। अन्योन्यवधसंरम्भादुभयोस्संप्रयुध्यतोः।।3.28.9।।

śarajālāvṛtassūryo na tadā sma prakāśate| anyonyavadhasaṃrambhādubhayossaṃprayudhyatoḥ

While they were engaged in the battle, eager to kill each other the sky was covered with arrow and the Sun could not be seen.

ततो नालीकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णाग्रैश्च विकर्णिभिः। आजघान खरो रामं तोत्रैरिव महाद्विपम्।।3.28.10।।

tato nālīkanārācaistīkṣṇāgraiśca vikarṇibhiḥ| ājaghāna kharo rāmaṃ totrairiva mahādvipam

Then Khara shot Rama with Nalika darts and darts called Vikarni like goads hit a mighty elephant.

तं रथस्थं धनुष्पाणिं राक्षसं पर्यवस्थितम्। ददृशुस्सर्वभूतानि पाशहस्तमिवान्तकम्।।3.28.11।।

taṃ rathasthaṃ dhanuṣpāṇiṃ rākṣasaṃ paryavasthitam| dadṛśussarvabhūtāni pāśahastamivāntakam

Demon Khara positioned on the chariot, bow in hand, appeared to all beings like Yama, god of death holding the noose.

हन्तारं सर्वसैन्यस्य पौरुषे पर्यवस्थितम्। परिश्रान्तं महासत्वं मेने रामं खरस्तदा।।3.28.12।।

hantāraṃ sarvasainyasya pauruṣe paryavasthitam| pariśrāntaṃ mahāsatvaṃ mene rāmaṃ kharastadā

Khara thought valiant Rama who had destroyed his whole army might be exhausted by now.

तं सिंहमिव विक्रान्तं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम्। दृष्ट्वा नोद्विजते रामः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगं यथा।।3.28.13।।

taṃ siṃhamiva vikrāntaṃ siṃhavikrāntagāminam| dṛṣṭvā nodvijate rāmaḥ siṃhaḥ kṣudramṛgaṃ yathā

When Rama saw Khara aggressively advancing like a lion to attack him, he was not perturbed, for he knew he was a fawn before a lion (which Rama was).

ततः सूर्यनिकाशेन रथेन महता खरः। आससाद रणे रामं पतङ्ग इव पावकम्।।3.28.14।।

tataḥ sūryanikāśena rathena mahatā kharaḥ| āsasāda raṇe rāmaṃ pataṅga iva pāvakam

Then Khara mounting a great chariot which was glowing like the Sun, advanced towards Rama just as an insect hurtles towards fire.

ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुष्टिदेशे महात्मनः। खरश्चिच्छेद रामस्य दर्शयन्पाणिलाघवम्।।3.28.15।।

tato'sya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ muṣṭideśe mahātmanaḥ| kharaściccheda rāmasya darśayanpāṇilāghavam

Exhibiting his agility of the hand, Khara shattered the bow and the arrow in the grip of Rama ,the great soul.

स पुनस्त्वपरान्सप्त शरानादाय वर्मणि। निजघान खरः क्रुद्धश्शक्राशनिसमप्रभान्।।3.28.16।।

sa punastvaparānsapta śarānādāya varmaṇi| nijaghāna kharaḥ kruddhaśśakrāśanisamaprabhān

The influriated Khara this time took up seven arrows blazing like Indra's thunderbolt and hit his armour.

ततस्तत्प्रहतं बाणैः खरमुक्तैस्सुपर्वभिः। पपात कवचं भूमौ रामस्यादित्यवर्चसः।।3.28.17।।

tatastatprahataṃ bāṇaiḥ kharamuktaissuparvabhiḥ| papāta kavacaṃ bhūmau rāmasyādityavarcasaḥ

The armour of Rama who looked radiant like the Sun fell on the ground, struck by the welljointed darts released by Khara.

ततश्शरसहस्रेण राममप्रतिमौजसम्। अर्दयित्वा महानादं ननाद समरे खरः।।3.28.18।।

tataśśarasahasreṇa rāmamapratimaujasam| ardayitvā mahānādaṃ nanāda samare kharaḥ

Khara then attacked Rama of unequal strength in fight, with a thousand darts and roared loudly.

स शरैरर्दितः क्रुद्धस्सर्वगात्रेषु राघवः। रराज समरे रामो विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन्।।3.28.19।।

sa śarairarditaḥ kruddhassarvagātreṣu rāghavaḥ| rarāja samare rāmo vidhūmo'gniriva jvalan

Rama, scion of the Raghu race, afflicted by the darts in all parts of the body, glowed in his anger like smokeless fire burning.

ततो गम्भीरनिर्ह्रादं रामश्शत्रुनिबर्हणः। चकारान्ताय स रिपोस्सज्यमन्यन्महद्धनुः।।3.28.20।।

tato gambhīranirhrādaṃ rāmaśśatrunibarhaṇaḥ| cakārāntāya sa ripossajyamanyanmahaddhanuḥ

Then Rama, destroyer of foes, strung another great bow of fearful sound in order to put an end to the enemy.

सुमहद्वैष्णवं यत्तदतिसृष्टं महर्षिणा। वरं तद्धनुरुद्यम्य खरं समभिधावत।।3.28.21।।

sumahadvaiṣṇavaṃ yattadatisṛṣṭaṃ maharṣiṇā| varaṃ taddhanurudyamya kharaṃ samabhidhāvata

Thereafter Rama advanced, aiming at Khara the superior Vaishnava bow given by sage Agastya.

ततः कनकपुङ्खैस्तु शरैस्सन्नतपर्वभिः। बिभेद रामस्सङ्क्रुद्धः खरस्य समरे ध्वजम्।।3.28.22।।

tataḥ kanakapuṅkhaistu śaraissannataparvabhiḥ| bibheda rāmassaṅkruddhaḥ kharasya samare dhvajam

Rama took up in a rage the welljointed, smooth darts with golden feathers and broke the flag post of the chariot of Khara to pieces.

स दर्शनीयो बहुधा विकीर्णः काञ्चनध्वजः। जगाम धरणीं सूर्यो देवतानामिवाज्ञया।।3.28.23।।

sa darśanīyo bahudhā vikīrṇaḥ kāñcanadhvajaḥ| jagāma dharaṇīṃ sūryo devatānāmivājñayā

The beautiful, golden flag post, broken into several pieces, fell down on earth.It appeared as if the Sun had come down to earth at the behest of the gods.

तं चतुर्भिः खरः क्रुद्धो रामं गात्रेषु मार्गणैः। विव्याध युधि मर्मज्ञो मातङ्गमिव तोमरैः।।3.28.24।।

taṃ caturbhiḥ kharaḥ kruddho rāmaṃ gātreṣu mārgaṇaiḥ| vivyādha yudhi marmajño mātaṅgamiva tomaraiḥ

Quite enraged, Khara who knew how to hit the tender parts (of the body) in an encounter sent out four arrows on Rama. It was like poking an elephant's limbs with a javelin.

स रामो बहुभिर्बाणैः खरकार्मुकनिस्सृतैः। विद्धो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गो बभूव रुषितो भृशम्।।3.28.25।।

sa rāmo bahubhirbāṇaiḥ kharakārmukanissṛtaiḥ| viddho rudhirasiktāṅgo babhūva ruṣito bhṛśam

Rama, hit by the arrows released from the bow of Khara, all his limbs drenched in blood, became very furious.

स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः प्रगृह्य परमाहवे। मुमोच परमेष्वासष्षट्छरानभिलक्षितान्।।3.28.26।।

sa dhanurdhanvināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pragṛhya paramāhave| mumoca parameṣvāsaṣṣaṭcharānabhilakṣitān

The best among archers and a supreme shooter, he lifted the bow, fixed his target and released six arrows in the great fight.

शिरस्येकेन बाणेन द्वाभ्यां बह्वोरथार्दयत्। त्रिभिश्चन्द्रार्धवक्त्रैश्च वक्षस्यभिजघान ह।।3.28.27।।

śirasyekena bāṇena dvābhyāṃ bahvorathārdayat| tribhiścandrārdhavaktraiśca vakṣasyabhijaghāna ha

Rama hit one arrow on the head, two on the shoulders and three of the shape of the crescent moon on the chest (of the enemy).

ततः पश्चान्महातेजा नाराचान्भास्करोपमान्। जिघांसू राक्षसङ्कृद्धस्त्रयोदश समाददे।।3.28.28।।

tataḥ paścānmahātejā nārācānbhāskaropamān| jighāṃsū rākṣasaṅkṛddhastrayodaśa samādade

Enraged and effulgent Rama took up thirteen darts, radiant like the Sun, with a wish to kill the demon.

ततोऽस्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्। षष्ठेन तु शिरस्सङ्ख्ये खरस्य रथसारथेः।।3.28.29।। त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः। द्वादशेन तु बाणेन खरस्य सशरं धनुः।।3.28.30।। छित्वा वज्रनिकाशेन राघवः प्रहसन्निव। त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमो बिभेद समरे खरम्।।3.28.31।।

tato'sya yugamekena caturbhiścaturo hayān| ṣaṣṭhena tu śirassaṅkhye kharasya rathasāratheḥ tribhistriveṇuṃ balavāndvābhyāmakṣaṃ mahābalaḥ| dvādaśena tu bāṇena kharasya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ chitvā vajranikāśena rāghavaḥ prahasanniva| trayodaśenendrasamo bibheda samare kharam

Rama, like Indra, strong and mighty, broke the yoke of Khara's chariot with one arrow, the four horses with four arrows, and with the sixth the charioteer's head, with three others the main pole of the chariot, with two the axle of the chariot, and with the twelfth Khara's bow and arrows were splintered. As if laughing at him, he pierced Khara's body with the thirteenth arrow.

ततोऽस्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्। षष्ठेन तु शिरस्सङ्ख्ये खरस्य रथसारथेः।।3.28.29।। त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः। द्वादशेन तु बाणेन खरस्य सशरं धनुः।।3.28.30।। छित्वा वज्रनिकाशेन राघवः प्रहसन्निव। त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमो बिभेद समरे खरम्।।3.28.31।।

tato'sya yugamekena caturbhiścaturo hayān| ṣaṣṭhena tu śirassaṅkhye kharasya rathasāratheḥ tribhistriveṇuṃ balavāndvābhyāmakṣaṃ mahābalaḥ| dvādaśena tu bāṇena kharasya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ chitvā vajranikāśena rāghavaḥ prahasanniva| trayodaśenendrasamo bibheda samare kharam

Rama, like Indra, strong and mighty, broke the yoke of Khara's chariot with one arrow, the four horses with four arrows, and with the sixth the charioteer's head, with three others the main pole of the chariot, with two the axle of the chariot, and with the twelfth Khara's bow and arrows were splintered. As if laughing at him, he pierced Khara's body with the thirteenth arrow.

ततोऽस्य युगमेकेन चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्। षष्ठेन तु शिरस्सङ्ख्ये खरस्य रथसारथेः।।3.28.29।। त्रिभिस्त्रिवेणुं बलवान्द्वाभ्यामक्षं महाबलः। द्वादशेन तु बाणेन खरस्य सशरं धनुः।।3.28.30।। छित्वा वज्रनिकाशेन राघवः प्रहसन्निव। त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसमो बिभेद समरे खरम्।।3.28.31।।

tato'sya yugamekena caturbhiścaturo hayān| ṣaṣṭhena tu śirassaṅkhye kharasya rathasāratheḥ tribhistriveṇuṃ balavāndvābhyāmakṣaṃ mahābalaḥ| dvādaśena tu bāṇena kharasya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ chitvā vajranikāśena rāghavaḥ prahasanniva| trayodaśenendrasamo bibheda samare kharam

Rama, like Indra, strong and mighty, broke the yoke of Khara's chariot with one arrow, the four horses with four arrows, and with the sixth the charioteer's head, with three others the main pole of the chariot, with two the axle of the chariot, and with the twelfth Khara's bow and arrows were splintered. As if laughing at him, he pierced Khara's body with the thirteenth arrow.

प्रभग्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः। गदापाणिरवप्लुत्य तस्थौ भूमौ खरस्तदा।।3.28.32।।

prabhagnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ| gadāpāṇiravaplutya tasthau bhūmau kharastadā

Then, with bow broken, chariot destroyed, horses and charioteer dead, Khara jumped down the chariot and stood on the ground holding a mace.

तत्कर्म रामस्य महारथस्य समेत्य देवाश्च महर्षयश्च। अपूजयन्प्राञ्जलयः प्रहृष्टाः तदा विमानाग्रगतास्समेताः।।3.28.33।।

tatkarma rāmasya mahārathasya sametya devāśca maharṣayaśca| apūjayanprāñjalayaḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ tadā vimānāgragatāssametāḥ

Then the gods, along with great sages came down in aerial chariots and assembled there. Delighted, they adored Rama, the great warrior, with folded hands for the work done. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकिय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे अष्टाविंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the twentyeigth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.