Uttara Kanda, Sarga 24

निवर्तमानः संहृष्टो रावणस्सुदुरात्मवान् । जह्रे पथि नरेन्द्रर्षिदेवगन्धर्वकन्यकाः ।। 7.24.1 ।।

nivartamānaḥ saṃhṛṣṭo rāvaṇassudurātmavān | jahre pathi narendrarṣidevagandharvakanyakāḥ || 7.24.1 ||

While returning, the exceedingly wicked Ravana, greatly delighted, abducted maidens of kings, sages, gods, and gandharvas along his path.

दर्शनीयां हि रक्षः स कन्यां स्त्रीं वापि पश्यति । हत्वा बन्धुजनं तस्या विमाने तां रुरोध ह ।। 7.24.2 ।।

darśanīyāṃ hi rakṣaḥ sa kanyāṃ strīṃ vāpi paśyati | hatvā bandhujanaṃ tasyā vimāne tāṃ rurodha ha || 7.24.2 ||

Whenever that demon saw a beautiful maiden or woman, he would kill her relatives and then confine her in his aerial car.

एवं पन्नगकन्याश्च राक्षसासुरमानुषीः । यक्षदानवकन्याश्च विमाने सो ऽध्यरोपयत् ।। 7.24.3 ।।

evaṃ pannagakanyāśca rākṣasāsuramānuṣīḥ | yakṣadānavakanyāśca vimāne so 'dhyaropayat || 7.24.3 ||

In this manner, he also made serpent-maidens, demonesses, asura women, human women, and yaksha and danava maidens ascend into his aerial car.

ताश्च सर्वाः समं दुःखान्मुमुचुर्बाष्पजं जलम् । तुल्यमग्न्यर्चिषां तत्र शोकाग्निभयसम्भवम् ।। 7.24.4 ।।

tāśca sarvāḥ samaṃ duḥkhānmumucurbāṣpajaṃ jalam | tulyamagnyarciṣāṃ tatra śokāgnibhayasambhavam || 7.24.4 ||

All of them simultaneously shed tears born of sorrow, which resembled flames of fire, arising from the intense sorrow and fear they experienced.

ताभिः सर्वानवद्याभिर्नदीभिरिव सागरः । आपूरितं विमानं तद्भयशोकाशिवाश्रुभिः ।। 7.24.5 ।।

tābhiḥ sarvānavadyābhirnadībhiriva sāgaraḥ | āpūritaṃ vimānaṃ tadbhayaśokāśivāśrubhiḥ || 7.24.5 ||

That aerial car was filled with the tears of fear, sorrow, and inauspiciousness from those blameless women, just as the ocean is filled by rivers.

नागगन्धर्वकन्याश्च महर्षितनयाश्च याः । दैत्यदानवकन्याश्च विमाने शतशो ऽरुदन् ।। 7.24.6 ।।

nāgagandharvakanyāśca maharṣitanayāśca yāḥ | daityadānavakanyāśca vimāne śataśo 'rudan || 7.24.6 ||

Hundreds of daughters of Nagas, Gandharvas, great sages, Daityas, and Danavas were weeping in the aerial car.

दीर्घकेश्यः सुचार्वङ्ग्यः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः । पीनस्तन्यस्तथा वज्रवेदिमध्यसमप्रभाः ।। 7.24.7 ।।

dīrghakeśyaḥ sucārvaṅgyaḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanāḥ | pīnastanyastathā vajravedimadhyasamaprabhāḥ || 7.24.7 ||

These women possessed long hair, very beautiful limbs, faces like the full moon, full breasts, and waists slender like the middle of a sacrificial altar.

रथकूबरसङ्काशैः श्रोणिदेशैर्मनोहराः । स्त्रियः सुराङ्गनाप्रख्या निष्टप्तकनकप्रभाः ।। 7.24.8 ।।

rathakūbarasaṅkāśaiḥ śroṇideśairmanoharāḥ | striyaḥ surāṅganāprakhyā niṣṭaptakanakaprabhāḥ || 7.24.8 ||

These charming women, resembling celestial nymphs, had hip regions broad like chariot poles and shone with the radiance of refined gold.

शोकदुःखभयत्रस्ता विह्वलाश्च सुमध्यमाः । तासां निश्वासवातेन सर्वतः सम्प्रदीपितम् ।। 7.24.9 ।।

śokaduḥkhabhayatrastā vihvalāśca sumadhyamāḥ | tāsāṃ niśvāsavātena sarvataḥ sampradīpitam || 7.24.9 ||

These slender-waisted women, distressed by sorrow, misery, and fear, were so agitated that the very atmosphere around them was inflamed by the wind of their sighs.

अग्निहोत्रमिवाभाति सन्निरुद्धाग्निपुष्पकम् । दशग्रीववशं प्राप्तास्तास्तु शोकाकुलाः स्त्रियः ।। 7.24.10 ।।

agnihotramivābhāti sanniruddhāgnipuṣpakam | daśagrīvavaśaṃ prāptāstāstu śokākulāḥ striyaḥ || 7.24.10 ||

Those women, having fallen under the sway of Daśagrīva, appeared like an Agnihotra ritual whose fire and flowers have been extinguished, overwhelmed by sorrow.

दीनवक्रेक्षणाः श्यामा मृग्यः सिंहवशा इव । काचिच्चिन्तयती तत्र किं नु मां भक्षयिष्यति ।। 7.24.11 ।।

dīnavakrekṣaṇāḥ śyāmā mṛgyaḥ siṃhavaśā iva | kāciccintayatī tatra kiṃ nu māṃ bhakṣayiṣyati || 7.24.11 ||

These young women, with their sad, curved glances, were like does under the control of a lion, and some among them wondered if he would devour them.

काचिद्दध्यौ सुदुःखार्ता अपि मां मारयेदयम् । इति मातृपितऽन्स्मृत्वा भर्तऽन्भ्रातऽंस्तथैव च । दुःखशोकसमाविष्टा विलेपुः सहिताः स्त्रियः ।। 7.24.12 ।।

kāciddadhyau suduḥkhārtā api māṃ mārayedayam | iti mātṛpita'nsmṛtvā bharta'nbhrāta'ṃstathaiva ca | duḥkhaśokasamāviṣṭā vilepuḥ sahitāḥ striyaḥ || 7.24.12 ||

Some, greatly distressed, wondered if Rāvaṇa would kill them, and thus, remembering their mothers, fathers, husbands, and brothers, all the women together lamented, overcome by pain and sorrow.

कथं नु खलु मे पुत्रो भविष्यति मया विना । कथं माता कथं भ्राता निमग्नाः शोकसागरे ।। 7.24.13 ।। ।

kathaṃ nu khalu me putro bhaviṣyati mayā vinā | kathaṃ mātā kathaṃ bhrātā nimagnāḥ śokasāgare || 7.24.13 || |

They lamented, "How will my son fare without me? How will my mother and brother, immersed in an ocean of sorrow, endure?"

हा कथं नु करिष्यामि भर्तुस्तस्मादहं विना । मृत्यो प्रसादयामि त्वां नय मां दुःखभागिनीम् ।। 7.24.14 ।।

hā kathaṃ nu kariṣyāmi bhartustasmādahaṃ vinā | mṛtyo prasādayāmi tvāṃ naya māṃ duḥkhabhāginīm || 7.24.14 ||

"Alas, how shall I live without that husband? O Death, I implore you, take me, who am burdened with such sorrow."

किन्नु तद्दुष्कृतं कर्म पुरा देहान्तरे कृतम् ।। 7.24.15 ।।

kinnu tadduṣkṛtaṃ karma purā dehāntare kṛtam || 7.24.15 ||

What evil deed did we indeed commit in a previous life?

एवं स्म दुःखिताः सर्वाः पतिताः शोकसागरे । न खल्विदानीं पश्यामो दुःखस्यास्यान्तमात्मनः ।। 7.24.16 ।।

evaṃ sma duḥkhitāḥ sarvāḥ patitāḥ śokasāgare | na khalvidānīṃ paśyāmo duḥkhasyāsyāntamātmanaḥ || 7.24.16 ||

Thus, all of us are distressed and fallen into an ocean of sorrow, and we indeed see no end to this suffering of ours now.

अहो धिङ्मानुषं लोकं नास्ति खल्वधमः परः । यद्दुर्बला बलवता भर्तारो रावणेन नः ।। 7.24.17 ।।

aho dhiṅmānuṣaṃ lokaṃ nāsti khalvadhamaḥ paraḥ | yaddurbalā balavatā bhartāro rāvaṇena naḥ || 7.24.17 ||

Alas, shame upon the human race, for there is indeed nothing lower than this, that our husbands are weak before the mighty Ravana.

सूर्येणोदयता काले नक्षत्राणीव नाशिताः । अहो सुबलवद्रक्षो वधोपायेषु युज्यते ।। 7.24.18 ।।

sūryeṇodayatā kāle nakṣatrāṇīva nāśitāḥ | aho subalavadrakṣo vadhopāyeṣu yujyate || 7.24.18 ||

Just as stars are destroyed by the rising sun, so too are our husbands, and alas, the very strong demon Ravana is engaged in means of killing.

अहो दुर्वृत्तमास्थाय नात्मानं वैजुगुप्सते । सर्वथा सदृशस्तावद्विक्रमो ऽस्य दुरात्मनः ।। 7.24.19 ।।

aho durvṛttamāsthāya nātmānaṃ vaijugupsate | sarvathā sadṛśastāvadvikramo 'sya durātmanaḥ || 7.24.19 ||

Alas, having resorted to evil conduct, he indeed does not despise himself, and in every way, the valor of this wicked one is indeed fitting.

इदं त्वसदृशं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । यस्मादेष परक्यासु रमते राक्षसाधमः ।। 7.24.20 ।।

idaṃ tvasadṛśaṃ karma paradārābhimarśanam | yasmādeṣa parakyāsu ramate rākṣasādhamaḥ || 7.24.20 ||

This act of molesting other men's wives is indeed unseemly, because this vilest of Rākṣasas delights in other women.

तस्माद्वै स्त्रीकृतेनैव प्राप्स्यते दुर्मतिर्वधम् । सतीभिर्वरनारीभिरेवं वाक्ये ऽभ्युदीरिते ।। 7.24.21 ।।

tasmādvai strīkṛtenaiva prāpsyate durmatirvadham | satībhirvaranārībhirevaṃ vākye 'bhyudīrite || 7.24.21 ||

Therefore, this evil-minded one will indeed meet his death only on account of a woman, thus spoke the chaste and excellent women.

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः खस्थाः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात च । शप्तः स्त्रीभिः स तु समं हतौजा इव निष्प्रभः ।। 7.24.22 ।।

nedurdundubhayaḥ khasthāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta ca | śaptaḥ strībhiḥ sa tu samaṃ hataujā iva niṣprabhaḥ || 7.24.22 ||

Celestial drums resounded and a shower of flowers fell, and he, cursed by the women, became lusterless as if his vigor was lost.

पतिव्रताभिः साध्वीभिर्बभूव विमना इव । एवं विलपितं तासां शृण्वन्राक्षसपुङ्गवः । प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः ।। 7.24.23 ।।

pativratābhiḥ sādhvībhirbabhūva vimanā iva | evaṃ vilapitaṃ tāsāṃ śṛṇvanrākṣasapuṅgavaḥ | praviveśa purīṃ laṅkāṃ pūjyamāno niśācaraiḥ || 7.24.23 ||

He became as if disheartened by the chaste and virtuous women; listening to their lamentation, the foremost of Rākṣasas entered the city of Lanka, being honored by the night-wanderers.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे घोरा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी । सहसा पतिता भूमौ भगिनी रावणस्य सा ।। 7.24.24 ।।

etasminnantare ghorā rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī | sahasā patitā bhūmau bhaginī rāvaṇasya sā || 7.24.24 ||

In the meantime, that terrible Rākṣasī, Rāvaṇa's sister, who could assume any form at will, suddenly fell on the ground.

तां स्वसारं समुत्थाप्य रावणः परिसान्त्वयन् । अब्रवीत्किमिदं भद्रे वक्तुकामा ऽसि मे द्रुतम् ।। 7.24.25 ।।

tāṃ svasāraṃ samutthāpya rāvaṇaḥ parisāntvayan | abravītkimidaṃ bhadre vaktukāmā 'si me drutam || 7.24.25 ||

Ravana, having raised his sister up and consoled her, asked her what she quickly wished to tell him.

सा बाष्पपरिरुद्धाक्षी रक्ताक्षी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । कृता ऽस्मि विधवा राजंस्त्वया बलवता बलात् ।। 7.24.26 ।।

sā bāṣpapariruddhākṣī raktākṣī vākyamabravīt | kṛtā 'smi vidhavā rājaṃstvayā balavatā balāt || 7.24.26 ||

With her eyes red and obstructed by tears, she spoke, saying, "O king, I have been forcibly made a widow by you, the powerful one."

एते राजंस्त्वया वीरा दैत्या विनिहता रणे । कालकेया इति ख्याताः सहस्राणि चतुर्दश ।। 7.24.27 ।।

ete rājaṃstvayā vīrā daityā vinihatā raṇe | kālakeyā iti khyātāḥ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa || 7.24.27 ||

O king, these brave Daityas, known as the fourteen thousand Kalakeyas, were killed by you in battle.

प्राणेभ्यो ऽपि गरीयान्मे तत्र भर्ता महाबलः ।। 7.24.28 ।।

prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyānme tatra bhartā mahābalaḥ || 7.24.28 ||

Among them was my mighty-armed husband, who was dearer to me even than my own life.

सो ऽपि त्वया हतस्तात रिपुणा भ्रातृगृध्नुना । त्वया ऽस्मि निहता राजन्स्वयमेव हि बन्धुना ।। 7.24.29 ।।

so 'pi tvayā hatastāta ripuṇā bhrātṛgṛdhnunā | tvayā 'smi nihatā rājansvayameva hi bandhunā || 7.24.29 ||

O dear one, even he was killed by you, an enemy hostile to your own kin; O king, I myself have certainly been destroyed by you, my own kinsman.

राजन्वैधव्यशब्दं च भोक्ष्यामि त्वत्कृते ह्यहम् । ननु नाम त्वया रक्ष्यो जामाता समरेष्वपि । स त्वया निहतो युद्धे स्वयमेव न लज्जसे ।। 7.24.30 ।।

rājanvaidhavyaśabdaṃ ca bhokṣyāmi tvatkṛte hyaham | nanu nāma tvayā rakṣyo jāmātā samareṣvapi | sa tvayā nihato yuddhe svayameva na lajjase || 7.24.30 ||

The speaker laments that she will become a widow because of the king's actions, questioning how he could kill his own son-in-law in battle, whom he was supposed to protect, without any shame.

एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवो भगिन्या क्रोशमानया । अब्रवीत्सान्त्वयित्वा तां सामपूर्वमिदं वचः ।। 7.24.31 ।।

evamukto daśagrīvo bhaginyā krośamānayā | abravītsāntvayitvā tāṃ sāmapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ || 7.24.31 ||

Thus addressed by his wailing sister, Ravana consoled her and spoke these soothing words.

अलं वत्से रुदित्वा ते न भेतव्यं च सर्वशः । दानमानप्रसादैस्त्वां तोषयिष्यामि यत्नतः ।। 7.24.32 ।।

alaṃ vatse ruditvā te na bhetavyaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | dānamānaprasādaistvāṃ toṣayiṣyāmi yatnataḥ || 7.24.32 ||

Ravana told her to stop weeping and not to fear, promising to satisfy her with great effort through gifts, honors, and favors.

युद्धप्रमत्तो व्याक्षिप्तो जयाकाङ्क्षी क्षिपञ्छरान् । नावगच्छामि युद्धेषु स्वान्परान्वाप्यहं शुभे ।। 7.24.33 ।।

yuddhapramatto vyākṣipto jayākāṅkṣī kṣipañcharān | nāvagacchāmi yuddheṣu svānparānvāpyahaṃ śubhe || 7.24.33 ||

Ravana explained that in the heat of battle, intoxicated and distracted by the desire for victory while showering arrows, he cannot distinguish between his own people and enemies.

जामातरं न जाने स्म प्रहरन्युद्धदुर्मदः । तेनासौ निहतः सङ्ख्ये मया भर्ता तव स्वसः ।। 7.24.34 ।।

jāmātaraṃ na jāne sma praharanyuddhadurmadaḥ | tenāsau nihataḥ saṅkhye mayā bhartā tava svasaḥ || 7.24.34 ||

Ravana confessed that, maddened by the battle, he did not recognize his son-in-law while striking and thus inadvertently killed her husband in the conflict.

अस्मिन्काले तु यत्प्राप्तं तत्करिष्यामि ते हितम् । भ्रातुरैश्वर्ययुक्तस्य खरस्य वस पार्श्वतः ।। 7.24.35 ।।

asminkāle tu yatprāptaṃ tatkariṣyāmi te hitam | bhrāturaiśvaryayuktasya kharasya vasa pārśvataḥ || 7.24.35 ||

At this time, I will do what is beneficial for you; dwell by the side of your brother Khara, who is endowed with power.

चतुर्दशानां भ्राता ते सहस्राणां भविष्यति । प्रभुः प्रयाणे दाने च राक्षसानां महाबलः ।। 7.24.36 ।।

caturdaśānāṃ bhrātā te sahasrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati | prabhuḥ prayāṇe dāne ca rākṣasānāṃ mahābalaḥ || 7.24.36 ||

Your brother will be the lord of fourteen thousand very powerful Rakshasas, commanding them in expeditions and bestowing gifts.

तत्र मातृष्वसेयस्ते भ्राता ऽयं वै खरः प्रभुः । भविष्यति तवादेशं सदा कुर्वन्निशाचरः ।। 7.24.37 ।।

tatra mātṛṣvaseyaste bhrātā 'yaṃ vai kharaḥ prabhuḥ | bhaviṣyati tavādeśaṃ sadā kurvanniśācaraḥ || 7.24.37 ||

There, your cousin and brother Khara, the lordly night-wanderer, will always execute your commands.

शीघ्रं गच्छत्वयं वीरो दण्डकान्परिरक्षितुम् । दूषणो ऽस्य बलाध्यक्षो भविष्यति महाबलः ।। 7.24.38 ।।

śīghraṃ gacchatvayaṃ vīro daṇḍakānparirakṣitum | dūṣaṇo 'sya balādhyakṣo bhaviṣyati mahābalaḥ || 7.24.38 ||

Let this hero quickly go to protect the Dandaka forest, and the very powerful Dushana will be his commander of forces.

तत्र ते वचनं शूरः करिष्यति सदा खरः । रक्षसां कामरूपाणां प्रभुरेष भविष्यति ।। 7.24.39 ।।

tatra te vacanaṃ śūraḥ kariṣyati sadā kharaḥ | rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpāṇāṃ prabhureṣa bhaviṣyati || 7.24.39 ||

There, the brave Khara will always execute your commands, and he will be the lord of the Rakshasas who can change their form at will.

एवमुक्त्वा दशग्रीवः सैन्यमस्यादिदेश ह । चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां वीर्यशालिनाम् ।। 7.24.40 ।।

evamuktvā daśagrīvaḥ sainyamasyādideśa ha | caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ vīryaśālinām || 7.24.40 ||

Having spoken thus, Dashagriva (Ravana) indeed ordered an army of fourteen thousand valorous Rakshasas for Khara.

स तैः परिवृतस्सर्वै राक्षसैर्घोरदर्शनैः । आगच्छत खरः शीघ्रं दण्डकानकुतोभयः ।। 7.24.41 ।।

sa taiḥ parivṛtassarvai rākṣasairghoradarśanaiḥ | āgacchata kharaḥ śīghraṃ daṇḍakānakutobhayaḥ || 7.24.41 ||

Surrounded by all those Rakshasas of terrible appearance, Khara quickly and fearlessly came to the Dandaka forest.

स तत्र कारयामास राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् । सा च शूर्पणखा तत्र न्यवसद्दण्डकावने ।। 7.24.42 ।।

sa tatra kārayāmāsa rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam | sā ca śūrpaṇakhā tatra nyavasaddaṇḍakāvane || 7.24.42 ||

Khara established a kingdom free from enemies there, and Shurpanakha also resided in the Dandaka forest. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः ।। 24 ।। Thus ends the twenty-fourth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.