Sloka & Translation

[Rama sees signs of war -- asks Sita and Lakshmana to stay in the cave and proceeds to meet Khara.]

āśramaṅ prati yātē tu kharē kharaparākramē.

tānēvautpātikānrāmassaha bhrātrā dadarśa ha৷৷3.24.1৷৷


kharaparākramē endowed with malicious might, kharē when Khara, āśramaṅ prati towards the hermitage, yātē marched, rāmaḥ Rama, bhrātrā saha with his brother, autpātikān phenomena boding calamity, tānēva dadarśa ha he also saw.

When Khara endowed with malicious might was marching towards the hermitage, Rama and his brother saw the same omens of impending calamity the demon had seen.
tānutpātānmahōghōrānutthitānrōmaharṣaṇān.

prajānāmahitāndṛṣṭvā rāmō lakṣmaṇamabravīt৷৷3.24.2৷৷


mahāghōrān most dreadful, rōmaharṣaṇāna horripilation, prajānām to people, ahitān harmful, tān those, utpātān calamitous, dṛṣṭvā seeing, rāmaḥ Rama, lakṣmaṇam Lakshmana, abravīt said.

When Rama saw the most dreadful, horripilating phenomena foreboding calamity, he said to Lakshmana:
imānpaśya mahābāhō sarvabhūtāpahāriṇaḥ.

samutthitānmahōtpātānsaṅhartuṅ sarvarākṣasān৷৷3.24.3৷৷


mahābāhō long-armed, sarvabhūtāpahāriṇaḥ all-destructive, sarvarākṣasān all demons, saṅhartum to kill, samutthitān present, imān these, mahōtpātān great calamitous events, paśya see.

O long-armed Lakshmana! see these calamitous phenomena that forebode mass destruction of men and demons.
amī rudhiradhārāstu visṛjantaḥ kharasvanāḥ.

vyōmni mēghā vivartantē paruṣā gardabhāruṇāḥ৷৷3.24.4৷৷


rudhiradhārāḥ flow of blood, visṛjantaḥ showering, kharasvanāḥ harsh sounds, paruṣāḥ rough, gardabhāruṇāḥ brownish-red like the colour of donkeys, amī these, mēghāḥ clouds, vyōmni in the sky, vivartantē are moving about.

These rumbling clouds, brownish-red like the colour of a donkey, are moving about in the sky showering streams of blood.
sadhūmāśca śarāssarvē mama yuddhābhinandinaḥ.

rukmapṛṣṭhāni cāpāni vicēṣṭantē ca lakṣmaṇa৷৷3.24.5৷৷


yuddhābhinandinaḥ welcome me to war, sarvē all, mama śarāḥ my arrows, sadhūmāśca smoking, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, rukmapṛṣṭhāni coated with gold, cāpāni ca and bows, vicēṣṭantē are trying.

O Lakshmana! all my arrows are smoking and this gold-plated bow welcomes me to war.
yādṛśā iha kūjanti pakṣiṇaḥ vanacāriṇaḥ.

agratō nō bhayaṅ prāptaṅ saṅśayō jīvitasya ca৷৷3.24.6৷৷


iha here, vanacāriṇaḥ moving in the forest, pakṣiṇaḥ birds, yādṛśāḥ in such way, kūjanti screeching, naḥ for us, agrataḥ in future, bhayam fear, prāptam is foreseen, jīvitasya of life, saṅśayaḥ ca also doubtful.

The way the forest-birds are screeching makes me foresee danger and makes survival doubtful.
samprahārastu sumahānbhaviṣyati na saṅśayaḥ.

ayamākhyāti mē bāhussphuramāṇō muhurmuhuḥ৷৷3.24.7৷৷

sannikarṣē tu na śśūra jayaṅ śatrōḥ parājayam.

saprabhaṅ ca prasannaṅ ca tava vaktraṅ hi lakṣyatē৷৷3.24.8৷৷


sumahān very great, samprahārastu destruction of life, bhaviṣyati will take place, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na no, śūra O brave one!, muhuḥ muhuḥ again and again, sphuramāṇaḥ shivering, ayam this, mē bāhuḥ my (right) shoulder, sannikarṣē in near future, naḥ our, jayam success, śatrōḥ enemy's, parājayam defeat, ākhyāti indicating, tava your, vaktram face, saprabhaṅ ca is bright, prasannaṅ ca cheerful too, lakṣyatē hi appears indeed.

A mass destruction of life is going to take place. There is no doubt about it. O brave Lakshmana! my right shoulder trembles again and again, indicating the defeat of the enemy. Your beaming visage presages victory.
udyatānāṅ hi yuddhārthaṅ yēṣāṅ bhavati lakṣmaṇa.

niṣprabhaṅ vadanaṅ tēṣāṅ bhavatyāyuḥ parikṣayaḥ৷৷3.24.9৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, yuddhārtham for war, udyatānām of those making effort, yēṣām of those, vadanam face, niṣprabham pale, bhavati becomes, tēṣām their, āyuḥ life, parikṣayaḥ shortened, bhavati become.

O Lakshmana, while preparing for war, those whose faces look pale are, for sure, going to die.
rakṣasāṅ nardatāṅ ghōraśśrūyatē ca mahādhvaniḥ.

āhatānāṅ ca bhērīṇāṅ rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ৷৷3.24.10৷৷


nardatām of the roaring ones, rakṣasām of the demons, krūrakarmabhiḥ doing cruel deeds, rākṣasaiḥ by the demons, āhatānām of the beaten (drums), bhērīṇāṅ ca of kettle drums, ghōraḥ dreadful, mahādhvaniḥ very loud sound, śrūyatē ca is heard.

A dreadful roar of demons and the loud sound of wardrums beaten by the wicked demons are heard.
anāgatavidhānaṅ tu kartavyaṅ śubhamicchatā.

āpadaṅ śaṅkamānēna puruṣēṇa vipaścitā৷৷3.24.11৷৷


āpadam danger, śaṅkamānēna by a person apprehending, śubham good, icchatā by one desirous of, vipaścitā by a learned one, puruṣēṇa by a man, anāgatavidhānam defence before the onset of danger, kartavyaṅ hi should be planned.

A wise man who apprehends danger or one who desires his own good should plan his defence even before the onset of danger.
tasmādgṛhītvā vaidēhīṅ śarapāṇirdhanurdharaḥ.

guhāmāśraya śailasya durgāṅ pādapasaṅkulām৷৷3.24.12৷৷


tasmāt therefore, vaidēhīm to Sita, gṛhītvā taking, śarapāṇiḥ with arrows in hand, dhanurdharaḥ wielding bow, śailasya mountains, durgām inaccessible, pādapasaṅkulām crowded with trees, guhām cave, āśraya take shelter.

Therefore, take shelter along with Sita in the inaccessible mountain cave, overgrown with trees, ready with your bow and arrows.
pratikūlitumicchāmi na hi vākyamidaṅ tvayā.

śāpitō mama pādābhyāṅ gamyatāṅ vatsa mā ciram৷৷3.24.13৷৷


idaṅ vākyam these words, tvayā you, pratikūlitum to oppose, na icchāmi I do not desire, vatsa dear one, mama pādābhyām my word of honour on my feet, śāpitaḥ asi you are bound, gamyatām go, ciram mā without delay.

O dear, I do not like you to oppose this word of honour. You must touch my feet and
go without delay.
tvaṅ hi śūraśca balavānhanyāhyētānna saṅśayaḥ.

svayaṅ tu hantumicchāmi sarvānēva niśācarān৷৷3.24.14৷৷


tvam you, śūraśca valiant too, balavān strong man, ētān these demons, hanyāḥ hi you can kill them, tu sarvānēva all of them, niśācarān demons, svayam myself, hantum to kill, icchāmi wish.

You are valiant and strong. There is no doubt that you can kill all these demons. But I desire to kill them.
ēvamuktastu rāmēṇa lakṣmaṇassaha sītāyā.

śarānādāya cāpaṅ ca guhāṅ durgāṅ samāśrayat৷৷3.24.15৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ was bid, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, śarān arrows, cāpaṅ ca bow too, ādāya taking, sītayā saha with Sita, durgām inaccessible, guhām cave, samāśrayat took shelter.

Thus ordered by Rama, Lakshmana took the arrows and the bow and accompanied by Sita took shelter in the inaccessible cave.
tasminpraviṣṭē tu guhāṅ lakṣmaṇē saha sītayā.

hanta niryuktamityuktvā rāmaḥ kavacamāviśat৷৷3.24.16৷৷


tasmin when he, lakṣmaṇē Lakshmana, sītayā saha with Sita, guhām into the cave, praviṣṭē entered, rāmaḥ Rama, hanta oh!, niryuktam work is accomplished, iti this, uktvā having spoken, kavacam shield, āviśat put on.

With Lakshmana and Sita inside the cave, Rama heaved his shield, saying, Oh! the work is accomplished.
sa tēnāgni nikāśēna kavacēna vibhūṣitaḥ.

babhūva rāma stimirē vidhūmō.gnirivōtthitaḥ৷৷3.24.17৷৷


agninikāśēna blazing like fire, tēna by that, kavacēna by the shield, vibhūṣitaḥ well-decorated, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, timirē in darkness, utthitaḥ arising, vidhūmaḥ smokeless, agniriva like fire, babhūva looked.

Adorned with the shield, Rama shone like smokeless fire rising in darkness.
sa cāpamudyamya mahaccharānādāya vīryavān.

babhūvāvasthitastatra jyāsvanaiḥ pūrayandiśaḥ৷৷3.24.18৷৷


vīryavān valiant, saḥ he, mahat huge, cāpam bow, udyamya lifting, jyāsvanaiḥ by the twangs of the bow-string, diśaḥ all directions, pūrayan filling, tatra there, avasthitaḥ babhūva stayed.

Valiant Rama lifted the huge bow and arrows and stood there, filling the directions with the twangs of his bow.
tatō dēvāssagandharvāssiddhāśca saha cāraṇaiḥ.

samēyuśca mahātmānō yuddhadarśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ৷৷3.24.19৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, sagandharvāḥ along with the celestial muscians, dēvāḥ gods, mahātmanaḥ great souls, siddhāśca siddhas, cāraṇaiḥ with bards, saha along with, yuddhadarśanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ desiring to see the war, samēyuḥ assembled.

Then the gods along with gandharvas, siddhas, and celestial bards assembled there, wishing to witness the war.
ṛṣayaśca mahātmānō lōkē brahmarṣisattamāḥ.

samētya cōcussahitā anyōnyaṅ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ৷৷3.24.20৷৷


mahātmānaḥ high-souled, ṛṣayaśca ascetics, lōkē in the world, brahmarṣisattamāḥ brahmarsis, puṇyakarmaṇaḥ pious, samētya assembling, anyōnyam to one another, sahitāḥ collectively, ūcuḥ said.

Great ascetics of the world, distinguished brahmarsis, accomplishers of pious deeds assembled and said to one another:
svasti gōbrāhmaṇēbhyō.stu lōkānāṅ yē.bhisaṅgatāḥ.

jayatāṅ rāghavō yuddhē paulastyān rajanīcarān৷৷3.24.21৷৷

cakrahastō yathā yuddhē sarvānasura puṅgavān.


gōbrāhmaṇēbhyaḥ to cows and brahmins, lōkānāṅ of all the world, (sarvaśaḥ by all means), svasti auspicious, astu let it be, (ūcuḥ spoke), cakrahastaḥ Visnu, yuddhē in war, sarvān all, asurapaṅgavān powerful demons, yathā likewise, rāghavaḥ Rama, saṅkhyē paulastyān all members of the Paulastya race in the battle, rajanīcarān night-rangers (demons), jayatām let him win.

'Let there be well-being for the cows, brahmins, and all the worlds. Let Rama, the scion of the Raghu race, conquer the Paulastyas (demons) in war like lord Visnu, wielder of the disc, who defeated the most powerful demons'.
ēvamuktvā punaḥ prōcurālōkya ca parasparam৷৷3.24.22৷৷

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṅ bhīmakarmaṇām.

ēkaśca rāmō dharmātmā kathaṅ yuddhaṅ bhaviṣyati৷৷3.24.23৷৷


ēvam in that way, uktvā having spoken, ālōkya ca and after looking at, parasparam to one another, punaḥ again, prōcuḥ spoke, bhīmakarmaṇām of those of terrific deeds, rakṣasām of demons, caturdaśa fourteen, sahasrāṇi thousands, dharmātmā righteous self, rāmaśca Rama, ēkaḥ all alone, yuddham war, katham how, bhaviṣyati will it be?

Thus looking at one another they discussed among themselves how there can be war between the righteous Rama fighting single-handed on the one hand and the fourteen thousand demons, performers of terrific deeds, on the other.
iti rājarṣayassiddhāssagaṇāśca dvijarṣabhāḥ.

jātakautūhalāstasthurvimānasthāśca dēvatāḥ৷৷3.24.24৷৷


rājarṣayaḥ rajarsis, sagaṇāḥ along with their groups, siddhāḥ siddhas, dvijarṣabhāḥ great brahmins, vimānasthāḥ on the celestial chariots, dēvatāśca gods also, iti this way, jātakaukūhalāḥ with curiosity born, tasthuḥ waited.

Rajarsis, siddhas, great brahmins with their clan and gods on the celestial chariots waited to see the war whetted with curiosity.
āviṣṭaṅ tējasā rāmaṅ saṅgrāmaśirasi sthitam.

dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni bhayādvivyathirē tadā৷৷3.24.25৷৷


tadā then, saṅgrāmaśirasi on the war front, sthitam standing, tējasā with heroic lustre, āviṣṭham engrossed, rāmam Rama, dṛṣṭvā seeing, sarvāṇi all, bhūtāni beings, bhayāt out of fear, vivyathirē were alarmed.

Seeing Rama standing on the war front, engrossed and radiating heroic lustre, all beings were alarmed.
rūpamapratimaṅ tasya rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ.

babhūva rūpaṅ kruddhasya rudrasyēva pinākinaḥ৷৷3.24.26৷৷


akliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ of one who is unwearied in action, tasya his, rāmasya Rama's, apratimam incomparable, rūpam form, kruddhasya of an angry one, pinākinaḥ wielder of Pinaka, rudrasya Rudra's, rūpamiva like the form, babhūva appeared.

Rama, who is unwearied in action and who is of an incomparable (lovely) form, looked ferocious like the wielder of Pinaka (Lord Siva).
tatō gambhīranirhrādaṅ ghōravarmāyudhadhvajam.

anīkaṅ yātudhānānāṅ samantātpratyadṛśyata৷৷3.24.27৷৷


tataḥ then, gambhīranirhrādam deep sound, ghōravarmāyudhadhvajam having dreadful shields, weapons and banners, yātudhānānām of the demons, anīkam army, samantāt on all sides, pratyadṛśyata appeared before.

Then appeared on all sides the well-equipped army of demons raising deep sounds with dreadful shields, weapons and banners.
siṅhanādaṅ visṛjatāmanyōnyamabhigarjatām.

cāpāni visphaārayatāṅ jṛmbhatāmapyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ৷৷3.24.28৷৷

vipraghuṣṭasvanānāṅ ca dundhubhīṅścāpi nighnatām.

tēṣāṅ sutumulaśśabdaḥ pūrayāmāsa tadvanam৷৷3.24.29৷৷


siṅhanādam roar of lion, visṛjatām released, anyōnyam at one another, abhigarjatām shouting loudly, cāpāni bows, visphaārayatām stretching the bows, abhīkṣṇaśaḥ constantly, jṛmbhatāmapi yawning, vipraghuṣṭasvanānāṅ ca proclaiming loudly, dundhubhīṅśca api even drums, nighnatām beating, tēṣām of them, sutumulaḥ tumultuous, śabdaḥ sound, tadvanam that forest, pūrayāmāsa filled.

The forest was filled with tumultuous sounds of the warriors roaring like lions, shouting at one another, stretching the bow-strings constantly, yawning, proclaiming loudly and beating the drums.
tēna śabdēna vitrastāśvāpadā vanacāriṇaḥ.

dudruvuryatra niśśabdaṅ pṛṣṭhatō na vyalōkayan৷৷3.24.30৷৷


tēna śabdēna by that sound, vitrastāḥ alarmed, vanacāriṇaḥ roaming the forest, śvāpadāḥ animals, yatra whereever, niśśabdam silence, dudruvuḥ ran, pṛṣṭhataḥ at the back, na vyalōkayan did not look back.

The ferocious animals of the forest got frightened and ran away to silent spots without looking back.
tattvanīkaṅ mahāghōraṅ rāmaṅ samupasarpata.

dhṛtanānāpraharaṇaṅ gambhīraṅ sāgarōpamam৷৷3.24.31৷৷


mahāghōram extremely frightening, dhṛtanānāpraharaṇam equipped with different kinds of missiles, gambhīram deep, sāgarōpamam like the sea, tat anīkam that army, rāmam to Rama, samupasarpata came near.

The fierce army, deep like the sea, equipped with various missiles approached Rama.
rāmō.pi cārayaṅścakṣussarvatō raṇapaṇḍitaḥ.

dadarśa kharasainyaṅ tadyuddhābhimukhamutthitam৷৷3.24.32৷৷


raṇapaṇḍitaḥ well-versed in warfare, rāmō.pi even Rama, cakṣuḥ his eyes, sarvataḥ on all sides, cārayan while casting, yuddhābhimukham facing war, utthitam was standing, tat that, kharasainyam army of Khara, dadarśa he saw.

Rama, well-versed in warfare, cast his eyes on all sides to see the army of Khara that had come prepared for war.
vitatya ca dhanurbhīmaṅ tūṇyāścōddhṛtya sāyakān.

krōdhamāhārayattīvraṅ vadhārthaṅ sarvarakṣasām৷৷3.24.33৷৷


bhīmam formidable, dhanuḥ bow, vitatya stretched, tūṇyāḥ from the quiver, sāyakān arrows, uddhṛtya took out, sarva rakṣasām to all the demons, vadhārtham to kill, tīvram intense, krōdham anger, āhārayat gathered.

Rama stretched the formidable bow and lifted the arrows from his quiver to kill the demons and assumed intense anger.
duṣprēkṣyassō.bhavatkṛddhō yugāntāgniriva jvalan.

taṅ dṛṣṭvā tējasāviṣṭaṅ prādravanvanadēvatāḥ৷৷3.24.34৷৷


kruddhaḥ angry, saḥ Rama, jvalan while burning, yugāntāgniriva like fire rising at the end of the creation, duṣprēkṣya: difficult even to look at abhavat became, tējasā glow, āviṣṭam filled with, tam him, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, vanadēvatāḥ sylvan deities, prādravan ran away.

Rama stood burning in anger like the fire of the doom's day. It was difficult even to look at him. Seeing him full of glow even the sylvan deities ran away.
tasya kruddhasya rūpaṅ tu rāmasya dadṛśē tadā.

dakṣasyēva kratuṅ hantumudyatasya pinākinaḥ৷৷3.24.35৷৷


tadā then, kruddhasya of an angry one, tasya his, rūpam face, dakṣasya Daksha's, kratum sacrifice, hantum to destroy, udyatasya ready to, pinākinaḥ iva like that of Siva, dadṛśē looked.

Rama in anger looked like Lord Siva ready to destroy the sacrifice of Daksha.
āviṣṭaṅ tējasā rāmaṅ saṅgrāmaśirasi sthitam.

dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni bhayārtāni pradudruvuḥ৷৷3.24.36৷৷


tējasā with splendour, āviṣṭam occupied, saṅgrāmaśirasi at the head of the battle, sthitam stood, rāmam Rama, dṛṣṭvā seeing, sarvāṇi all, bhūtāni beings, bhayārtāni frightened, pradudruvuḥ ran away.

Seeing Rama flashing (in anger) and standing on the warfront all creatures ran away frightened.
tatkārmukairābharaṇairdhvajaiśca tairvarmabhiścāgnisamānavarṇaiḥ.

babhūva sainyaṅ piśitāśanānāṅ sūryōdayē nīlamivābhrabṛndam৷৷3.24.37৷৷


piśitāśanānām of the demons, tat that, sainyam army, kārmukaiḥ with bows, ābharaṇaiḥ with armour, dhvajaiśca with flags, agnisamānavarṇaiḥ the colour of fire, taiḥ by them, varmabhiḥ by armours, sūryōdayē at Sunrise, nīlam blue, abhravṛndamiva like a mass of cloud, babhūva looked.

The army of demons equipped with blazing armour, bows and banners appeared like a mass of blue clouds at Sunrise.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē caturviṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.