Sloka & Translation

[Khara gets angry seeing mutilated Surpanakha --Surpanakha's description of Rama and Lakshmana to Khara-- Khara sends fourteen demons to attack Rama.]

tāṅ tathā patitāṅ dṛṣṭvā virūpāṅ śōṇitōkṣitām.

bhaginīṅ krōdhasantaptaḥ kharaḥ papraccha rākṣasaḥ৷৷3.19.1৷৷


tathā in that way, patitām fallen down, virūpām disfigured, śōṇitōkṣitām drenched in blood, tāṅ bhaginīm that sister, dṛṣṭvā on seeing, rākṣasaḥ demons, kharaḥ Khara, krōdhasantaptaḥ burning with anger, papraccha enquired.

Burning with anger to see his sister fallen down disfigured and drenched in blood, Khara enquired:
uttiṣṭha tāvadākhyāhi pramōhaṅ jahi sambhramam.

vyaktamākhyāhi kēna tvamēvaṅ rūpā virūpitā৷৷3.19.2৷৷


uttiṣṭha get up, ākhyāhi tāvat you may speak, pramōham delusion, sambhramam confusion, jahi give up, tvam you, kēna by whom, ēvaṅrūpā by whom, virūpitā disfigured, vyaktam tell, ākhyāhi clearly.

Get up, give up your confusion and stupefaction. Tell me clearly by whom you have been disfigured like this ?
kaḥ kṛṣṇasarpamāsīnamāśīviṣamanāgasam.

tudatyabhisamāpannamaṅgulyagrēṇa līlayā৷৷3.19.3৷৷


abhisamāpannam staying away , āśīviṣam a snake, anāgasam innocent, āsīnam settled, kṛṣṇasarpam black snake, kaḥ who, līlayā playfully, aṅgulyagrēṇa with a finger tip, tudati hurts.

Who will hurt an innocent, venomous black serpent and stay away quietly close by for fun with his finger tip?
kaḥ kālapāśaṅ samāsajya kaṇṭhē mōhānna budhyatē.

yastvāmadya samāsādya pītavānviṣamuttamam৷৷3.19.4৷৷


yaḥ whoever, adya now, tvām you, samāsādya having approached, uttamam best, viṣam poison, pītavān has drunk, kaḥ who, kālapāśam noose of death, mōhāt out of ignorance, kaṇṭhē throat, samāsajya bound, na budhyatē has not understood.

Who is he who has tied has tied his throat with the noose of death out of ignorance and yet does not know the implications ? Who is he who has caused this injury to you, but does not understand that he has drunk deadly poison.
balavikramasampannā kāmagā kāmarūpiṇī.

imāmavasthāṅ nītā tvaṅ kēnāntakasamāgatā৷৷3.19.5৷৷


balavikramasampannā full of strength and courage, kāmagā able to move at will, kāmarūpiṇī who can take any form at free will, antakasamāgatā brought close to death, tvam you, kēna by whom, imām this kind of, avasthām situation, nītā is reduced.

You have sufficient strength and courage. You are capable of moving as you like and taking any form at your will. By whom have you been brought to this state and drawn close to death?
dēvagandharvabhūtānāmṛṣīṇāṅ ca mahātmanām.

kō.yamēvaṅ virūpāṅ tvāṅ mahāvīryaścakāra ha৷৷3.19.6৷৷


dēvagandharvabhūtānām among gods, gandharvas and other beings, mahātmanām among great people, ṛṣīṇāṅ ca and among sages, mahāvīryaḥ a valiant man, kaḥ who, tvām you, ēvam in this way, virūpām disfigured, cakāra ha has reduced verily.

Which valiant person among gods, gandharvas, sages and other great people, has disfigured you like this ?
na hi paśyāmyahaṅ lōkē yaḥ kuryānmama vipriyam.

amarēṣu sahasrākṣaṅ mahēndraṅ pākaśāsanam৷৷3.19.7৷৷


lōkē in the world, yaḥ who , vipriyam offensive action, kuryāt can do, amarēṣu among gods, sahasrākṣam thousand-eyed, pākaśāsanam Indra, mahēndram Indra, aham I, na hi paśyāmi I do not see.

I can see none in this world who can offend me, nor even the thousand-eyed Indra among the gods.
adyāhaṅ mārgaṇaiḥ prāṇānādāsyē jīvitāntakaiḥ.

salilē kṣīramāsaktaṅ niṣpibanniva sārasaḥ৷৷3.19.8৷৷


adya right now, aham I, salilē in waters, āsaktam mixed, kṣīram milk, niṣpiban drinking, sārasaḥ iva like the swan, jīvitāntakaiḥ that can put an end to life, mārgaṇaiḥ by arrows, prāṇān life, ādāsyē I will put out.

Just as the swan drinks only milk from water (mixed with milk), my arrows will (unerringly) drain the life from the enemy's body right now.
nihatasya mayā saṅkhyē śarasaṅkṛttamarmaṇaḥ.

saphēnaṅ rudhiraṅ raktaṅ mēdinī kasya pāsyati৷৷3.19.9৷৷


mayā by me, saṅkhyē in fight, nihatasya struck down, śarasaṅkṛttamarmaṇaḥ vital organs struck by arrows, kasya whose, saphēnam foamy, raktam red, rudhiram blood, mēdinī earth, pāsyati will drink.

Whose foamy, red blood will the earth drink while I strike his vital organs with my arrows in the fight ?
kasya patrarathāḥ kāyānmāṅsamutkṛtya saṅgatāḥ.

prahṛṣṭā bhakṣayiṣyanti nihatasya mayā raṇē৷৷3.19.10৷৷


mayā by me, raṇē in war, nihatasya having been killed, kasya whose, kāyāt from the body, patrarathāḥ birds (vultures), saṅgatāḥ in groups, prahṛṣṭāḥ with extreme joy, māṅsam flesh, utkṛtya biting and tearing, bhakṣayiṣyanti will eat.

Whose flesh will be eaten by cheerful flocks of (vultures), biting and tearing his body when he is killed by me in the battle ?
taṅ na dēvā na gandharvā na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ.

mayā.pakṛṣṭaṅ kṛpaṇaṅ śaktāstrātumihāhavē৷৷3.19.11৷৷


iha here, āhavē in the battle, mayā by me, apakṛṣṭam dragged, taṅ kṛpaṇam to that helpless man, trātum to rescue, dēvāḥ gods, na śaktāḥ will not be able, piśācāḥ devils, na not, gandharvāḥ gandharvas, na rākṣasāḥ not demons, na not.

Neither gods nor devils nor gandharvas nor even demons will have the power to rescue that hapless creature dragged by me ruthlessly in the battle.
upalabhya śanaissaṅjñāṅ taṅ mē śaṅsitumarhasi.

yēna tvaṅ durvinītēna vanē vikramya nirjitā৷৷3.19.12৷৷


durvinītēna which arrogant, yēna by whom, tvam you, vikramya showing prowess, vanē in the forest, nirjitā defeated, tam him, śanaiḥ slowly, saṅjñām consciousness, upalabhya recovered, mē to me, śaṅsitum till, arhasi you should.

You should tell me as you slowly regain your consciousness which bragart has overpowered you in the forest with his strength.
iti bhrāturvacaśśrutvā kruddhasya ca viśēṣataḥ.

tataśśūrpaṇakhā vākyaṅ sabāṣpamidamabravīt৷৷3.19.13৷৷


bhrātu: brothers, viśēṣataḥ specially, kruddhasya of an angry man, iti thus, vacaḥ words, śrutvā on hearing, tataḥ thereafter, śūrpaṇakhā Surpanakha, sabāṣpam with tears, idaṅ vākyam these words, abravīt spoke.

On hearing her angry brother, Surpanakha replied with words choked with tears:
taruṇau rūpasampannau sukumārau mahābalau.

puṇḍarīkaviśālākṣau cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarau৷৷3.19.14৷৷

phalamūlāśanau dāntau tāpasau dharmacāriṇau.

putrau daśarathasyāstāṅ bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau৷৷3.19.15৷৷


taruṇau two young men, rūpasampannau both very handsome, sukumārau delicate, mahābalau very strong, puṇḍarīkaviśālākṣau with eyes like white lotus, cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarau attired in bark robes and black deer skin, phalamūlāśanau living on fruits and roots, dāntau self-restrained, tāpasau ascetics, dharmacāriṇau both following righteous path, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, putrau sons, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, bhrātarau both brothers, āstām are here.

Here are two young sons of Dasaratha, Rama and Lakshmana, who are gentle, handsome, strong, with eyes like white lotus, wearing deer-skin and bark robes, living on fruits and roots, self-restrained like ascetics and following the righteous path.
gandharvarājapratimau pārthivavyañjanānvitau.

dēvau vā mānuṣau vā tau na tarkayitumutsahē৷৷3.19.16৷৷


gandharvarājapratimau looking like kings of the gandharvas, pārthivavyañjanānvitau having all royal insignia, tau they both, dēvau vā whether gods, mānuṣau vā or humans, tarkayitum to guess, na utsahē I am not inclined.

They are kings of the gandharvas with all royal insignia. I was not able to discern whether they are gods or humans.
taruṇī rūpasampannā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā.

dṛṣṭā tatra mayā nārī tayōrmadhyē sumadhyamā৷৷3.19.17৷৷


tatra there, tayōḥ of both, madhyē between, taruṇī young woman, rūpasampannā very beautiful lady, sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā adorned with all kinds of jewels, sumadhyamā a woman of slender waist, nārī lady, dṛṣṭā was seen.

I saw between them a young, beautiful woman of slender waist, adorned with all kinds of jewels.
tābhyāmubhābhyāṅ sambhūya pramadāmadhikṛtya tām.

imāmavasthāṅ nītāhaṅ yathānāthā.satī tathā৷৷3.19.18৷৷


tām her, pramadām lady, adhikṛtya pertaining to her, tābhyām by them, ubhābhyām both, aham I, anāthā asatī yathā like an orphan, unchaste woman, tathā likewise, imām this, avasthām state, nītā reduced I am.

I have been subjected to this state of an orphan unfaithful woman by both of them for the sake of that lady.
tasyāścānṛjuvṛttāyāstayōśca hatayōraham.

saphēnaṅ pātumicchāmi rudhiraṅ raṇamūrdhani৷৷3.19.19৷৷


aham I, raṇamūrdhani on the battle front, anṛjuvṛttāyāḥ of that crooked woman, tasyāḥ ca her, hatayōḥ slain, tayōśca their, saphēnam foamy, rudhiram blood, pātum to drink, icchāmi I desire.

I wish to drink the foamy blood of that crooked woman and of both the brothers slain on the battle front.
ēṣa mē prathamaḥ kāmaḥ kṛtastāta tvayā bhavēt.

tasyāstayōśca rudhiraṅ pibēyamahamāhavē৷৷3.19.20৷৷


tāta O dear one, mē my, ēṣaḥ this, prathamaḥ first, kāmaḥ wish, tvayā by you, kṛtaḥ fulfilled, bhavēt can be, aham I, āhavē in a battle, tasyāḥ her, tayōśca their, rudhiram blood, pibēyam be able to drink.

O dear ! this is my first wish and you must fulfil it. I will drink her blood and of the two brothers, in the battle.
iti tasyāṅ bruvāṇāyāṅ caturdaśa mahābalān.

vyādidēśa kharaḥ kruddhō rākṣasānantakōpamān৷৷3.19.21৷৷


tasyām as she, iti in that way, bruvāṇāyām while speaking, kharaḥ Khara, kruddhaḥ angry, mahābalān very strong ones, antakōpamān comparable to Yama (god of death), caturdaśa rākṣasān fourteen demons, vyādidēśa ordered.

As she was speaking, the inflamed Khara ordered fourteen very strong demons, comparable to Yama, the god of death, to proceed.
mānuṣau śastrasampannau cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarau.

praviṣṭau daṇḍakāraṇyaṅ ghōraṅ pramadayā saha৷৷3.19.22৷৷


śastrasampannau fully equipped with weapons, mānuṣau two human beings, cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarau robed in bark and deer skin, pramadayā saha, along with a young woman, ghōram dreadful, daṇḍakāraṇyam Dandaka forest, praviṣṭau have entered.

Two human beings equipped with weapons, clad in bark robes and deer-skin have entered the dreadful Dandaka forest along with a woman of bewitching beauty.
tau hatvā tāṅ ca durvṛttāmapāvartitumarhatha.

iyaṅ ca rudhiraṅ tēṣāṅ bhaginī mama pāsyati৷৷3.19.23৷৷


tau both of them, durvṛttām woman of bad behaviour, tāṅ ca her also, hatvā after slaying, apāvartitum get from there, arhatha you should, mama my, iyaṅ bhaginī this sister, tēṣām their, rudhiram blood, pāsyati will drink.

I want you to get both of them along with that notorious woman killed. This sister of mine will drink their blood.
manōrathō.yamiṣṭō.syā bhaginyā mama rākṣasāḥ.

śīghraṅ sampādyatāṅ tau ca pramathya svēna tējasā৷৷3.19.24৷৷


rākṣasāḥ O demons, svēna by your, tējasā power, tau both of them, śīghram quickly, pramathya after impounding, asyāḥ her, mama bhaginyāḥ my sister's, iṣṭaḥ very dear, manōrathaḥ desire, śīghram swiftly, sampādyatām be fulfiled.

O demons! quickly go and crush them with your power and fulfil my sister's sincere wish.
iti pratisamādiṣṭā rākṣasāstē caturdaśa.

tatra jagmustayā sārdhaṅ ghanā vātēritā yathā৷৷3.19.25৷৷


iti this way, pratisamādiṣṭāḥ having been ordered, tē they, caturdaśa fourteen, rākṣasāḥ demons, tayā sārdham together with Surpanakha, vātēritāḥ as if blown by wind, ghanāḥ yathā like clouds, tatra there, jagmuḥ went.

Thus commanded, the fourteen demons along with Surpanakha rushed there like wind-blown clouds.
tatastu tē taṅ samudagratējasaṅ tathāpi.tīkṣṇapradarā niśācarāḥ.

na śēkurēnaṅ sahasā pramardituṅ vanadvipā dīptamivāgnimutthitam৷৷3.19.26৷৷


tataḥ then, tathā like that, tīkṣṇapradarāḥ strike with sharp weapons, tē niśācarāḥ those night-rangers, vanadvipāḥ wild elephants, utthitam risen up, dīptam kindled, agnim iva like fire,
samudagratējasam glowing in front, tam him, ēnam this person, sahasā all at once, pramardhitum to crush, na śēkuḥ here not able to.

The night-rangers were unable to crush him(Rama) despite their sharp, glowing weapons just as wild elephants cannot face all at once the rising flame of the forest fire.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkōnaviṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the nineteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.