Sloka & Translation

[Combat between Rama and Khara---- wounded Khara gets down the chariot to fight-- deities assemble-- worship great Rama.]

nihataṅ dūṣaṇaṅ dṛṣṭvā raṇē triśirasā saha.

kharasyāpyabhavattrāsō dṛṣṭvā rāmasya vikramam৷৷3.28.1৷৷


raṇē in combat, triśirasā saha with Trisira, nihatam killed, dūṣaṇam Dusana, dṛṣṭvā seeing, rāmasya Rama's, vikramam prowess, dṛṣṭvā seeing, kharasyāpi to Khara also, trāsaḥ fear, abhavat overcame.

Khara was overtaken by fear at the prowess of Rama, when he saw Dusana and Trisira killed.
sa dṛṣṭvā rākṣasaṅ sainyamavisahyaṅ mahābalaḥ.

hatamēkēna rāmēṇa triśirōdūṣaṇāvapi৷৷3.28.2৷৷

tadbalaṅ hatabhūyiṣṭhaṅ vimanāḥ prēkṣya rākṣasaḥ.

āsasāda kharō rāmaṅ namucirvāsavaṅ yathā৷৷3.28.3৷৷


mahābalaḥ extremely strong, rākṣasaḥ demon, kharaḥ Khara, avisahyam irrepressible, rākṣasam demon, sainyam army, ēkēna alone, rāmēṇa by Rama, hatam killed, triśirōdūṣaṇāvapi Trisira and Dusana also, dṛṣṭvā seeing, hatabhūyiṣṭam very many killed, tat balam the strength, vimanāḥ nervous prēkṣya witnessing, namuciḥ Namuchi, vāsavaṅ yathā similar to Indra, rāmam Rama, āsasāda went towards.

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

kharaścikṣēpa rāmāya kruddhānāśīviṣāniva৷৷3.28.4৷৷


kharaḥ Khara, balavat strong, cāpam bow-string, vikṛṣya drawing, kruddhān angry, āśīviṣāniva like venom of a poisonous serpent, raktabhōjanān whose food is blood, nārācān arrows, rāmāya at Rama, cikṣēpa sent forth.

Khara drew his strong bow-string in anger and released the blood-hungry arrows, which appeared like venomous snakes.
jyāṅ vidhūnvaṅsubahuśaśśikṣayāstrāṇi darśayan.

cacāra samarē mārgāñcharai rathagataḥ kharaḥ৷৷3.28.5৷৷


rathagataḥ sittting on the chariot, kharaḥ Khara, subahuśaḥ in many ways, jyām bow-string, vidhūnvan while making a twang, śikṣayā with training, astrāṇi weapons, darśayan while exhibiting, samarē in war, śaraiḥ arrows, mārgāṇi in all directions, cacāra released.

Khara, sat on the chariot, and with a twang of his bow-string released arrows in all directions, exhibiting his skill in the use of weapons.
sa sarvāśca diśō bāṇaiḥ pradiśaśca mahārathaḥ.

pūrayāmāsa taṅ dṛṣṭvā rāmō.pi sumahaddhanuḥ৷৷3.28.6৷৷


mahārathaḥ great warrior, saḥ he, sarvāḥ all, diśaḥ sides, pradiśaśca intermediate directions, bāṇaiḥ arrows, pūrayāmāsa filled, tam him, dṛṣṭvā saw, rāmō.pi even Rama, sumahat powerful, dhanuḥ bow, pūrayāmāsa started filling.

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.
sa sāyakairdurvisahaissasphuliṅgairivāgnibhiḥ.

nabhaścakārāvivaraṅ parjanya iva vṛṣṭibhiḥ৷৷3.28.7৷৷


saḥ he, durvisahaiḥ by irresistible, sasphuliṅgaiḥ with sparkling, agnibhiḥ iva like fire, sāyakaiḥ with arrows, parjanyaḥ cloud, vṛṣṭibhiḥ iva with showers like, nabhaḥ the sky, avivaram not leaving any space, cakāra filled.

He rained sparkling arrows which were irresistible. He filled the sky with arrows just as the rain-god fills it with rain without leaving any space.
tadbabhūva śitairbāṇaiḥ khararāmavisarjitaiḥ.

paryākāśamanākāśaṅ sarvataśśarasaṅkulam৷৷3.28.8৷৷


khararāmavisarjitaiḥ released by Khara and Rama, śitaiḥ by sharp, bāṇaiḥ with arrows, tat that, paryākāśam surrounding sky, sarvataḥ all over, śarasaṅkulam filled with arrows, anākāśam as though there is no sky, babhūva appeared.

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

anyōnyavadhasaṅrambhādubhayōssaṅprayudhyatōḥ৷৷3.28.9৷৷


anyōnyavadhasaṅrambhāt eager to kill each other, ubhayōḥ both, samprayudhyatōḥ of those waging (fighting), tadā then, śarajālāvṛtaḥ covered with arrows, sūryaḥ Sun, na prakāśatē sma not seen.

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.
tatō nālīkanārācaistīkṣṇāgraiśca vikarṇibhiḥ.

ājaghāna kharō rāmaṅ tōtrairiva mahādvipam৷৷3.28.10৷৷


tataḥ then, kharaḥ Khara, nālīkanārācaiḥ by Nalika darts, tīkṣṇāgraiḥ pointed, vikarṇibhiḥ with darts
called Vikarni, rāmam Rama, tōtraiḥ with goads, mahādvipamiva like a mighty elephant, ājaghāna shot.

Then Khara shot Rama with Nalika darts and darts called Vikarni like goads hit a mighty elephant.
taṅ rathasthaṅ dhanuṣpāṇiṅ rākṣasaṅ paryavasthitam.

dadṛśussarvabhūtāni pāśahastamivāntakam৷৷3.28.11৷৷


rathastham on the chariot, dhanuṣpāṇim holding the bow in hand, paryavasthitam seated, taṅ rākṣasam that demon, pāśahastam holding the noose, antakam iva like the god of death (Yama), sarvabhūtāni all beings, dadṛśuḥ observed.

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

pariśrāntaṅ mahāsatvaṅ mēnē rāmaṅ kharastadā৷৷3.28.12৷৷


kharaḥ Khara, sarvasainyasya of the whole army, hantāram destroyer, pauruṣē in valour, paryavasthitam staying, mahāsattvam a very strong one, rāmam Rama, tadā then, pariśrāntam exhausted, mēnē thought.

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

dṛṣṭvā nōdvijatē rāmaḥ siṅhaḥ kṣudramṛgaṅ yathā৷৷3.28.13৷৷


siṅhamiva like a lion, vikrāntam aggressive, siṅha vikrāntagāminam advancing to attack, tam him, dṛṣṭvā seeing, rāmaḥ Rama, siṅhaḥ lion, kṣudramṛgaṅ yathā just like a fawn, nōdvijatē not perturbed.

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).
tataḥ sūryanikāśēna rathēna mahatā kharaḥ.

āsasāda raṇē rāmaṅ pataṅga iva pāvakam৷৷3.28.14৷৷


tataḥ then, kharaḥ Khara, sūryanikāśēna glowing like the Sun, mahatā great, rathēna on a chariot, rāmam to Rama, pataṅga insect, pāvakam iva like going towards fire, raṇē war, āsasāda went forward.

Then Khara mounting a great chariot which was glowing like the Sun, advanced towards Rama just as an insect hurtles towards fire.
tatō.sya saśaraṅ cāpaṅ muṣṭidēśē mahātmanaḥ.

kharaścicchēda rāmasya darśayanpāṇilāghavam৷৷3.28.15৷৷


tataḥ then, kharaḥ Khara, pāṇilāghavam agility of the hand, darśayan exhibiting, mahātmanaḥ of the great self, asya rāmasya Rama's, saśaram along with the arrow, cāpam bow, muṣṭidēśē at the grip, cicchēda shattered.

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

nijaghāna kharaḥ kruddhaśśakrāśanisamaprabhān৷৷3.28.16৷৷


saḥ that, kharaḥ Khara, kruddhaḥ angry, punaḥ again, śakrāśanisamaprabhān blazing like Indra's thunderbolt, aparān others, sapta seven, śarān arrows, ādāya taking up, varmaṇi at the armour, nijaghāna hit.

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

papāta kavacaṅ bhūmau rāmasyādityavarcasaḥ৷৷3.28.17৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, kharamuktaiḥ shot by Khara, suparvabhiḥ by the well-jointed, bāṇaiḥ with darts, prahatam struck, ādityavarcasaḥ a man radiant like the Sun, rāmasya Rama's, tat that, kavacam armour, bhūmau on the ground, papāta fell down.

The armour of Rama who looked radiant like the Sun fell on the ground, struck by the well-jointed darts released by Khara.
tataśśarasahasrēṇa rāmamapratimaujasam.

ardayitvā mahānādaṅ nanāda samarē kharaḥ৷৷3.28.18৷৷


tataḥ then, kharaḥ Khara, apratimaujasam of unequal strength, rāmam to Rama, śarasahasrēṇa with a thousand darts, ardayitvā attacking, samarē in war, mahānādam great sound, nanāda produced.

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

rarāja samarē rāmō vidhūmō.gniriva jvalan৷৷3.28.19৷৷


śaraiḥ with darts, sarvagātrēṣu in all limbs, arditaḥ afflicted, rāghavaḥ a scion of Raghu race, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, kruddhaḥ angry, vidhūmaḥ without smoke, jvalan while burning, agniriva like fire, samarē in fight, rarāja glowed.

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

cakārāntāya sa ripōssajyamanyanmahaddhanuḥ৷৷3.28.20৷৷


tataḥ then, śatrunibarhaṇaḥ destroyer of foes, rāmaḥ Rama, ripōḥ enemy, antāya to put an end to, gambhīranirhrādam deep sound, anyat another one, mahat great, dhanuḥ bow, sajyam string, cakāra did.

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

varaṅ taddhanurudyamya kharaṅ samabhidhāvata৷৷3.28.21৷৷


tat thereafter, yat that, sumahat very powerful, vaiṣṇavam Vaishnava, dhanuḥ bow, maharṣiṇā by the sage, atisṛṣṭam given, varam best, tat that, udyamya aiming, kharam Khara, samabhidhāvata advanced.

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

bibhēda rāmassaṅkruddhaḥ kharasya samarē dhvajam৷৷3.28.22৷৷


tataḥ then, rāmaḥ Rama, saṅkruddhaḥ enraged, kanakapuṅkhaiḥ with golden feathers, sannataparvabhiḥ well-jointed and smooth, śaraiḥ darts, samarē in war, kharasya of Khara, dhvajam flag on the chariot, bibhēda broken to pieces.

Rama took up in a rage the well-jointed, smooth darts with golden feathers and broke the flag post of the chariot of Khara to pieces.
sa darśanīyō bahudhā vikīrṇaḥ kāñcanadhvajaḥ.

jagāma dharaṇīṅ sūryō dēvatānāmivājñayā৷৷3.28.23৷৷


bahudhā many ways, vikīrṇaḥ broken, darśanīyaḥ a beautiful one, saḥ that, kāñcanadhvajaḥ golden flag
post, dēvatānām of deities, ājñayā by order, sūryaḥ iva like Sun, dharaṇīm on the ground, jagāma fell down.

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.
taṅ caturbhiḥ kharaḥ kruddhō rāmaṅ gātrēṣu mārgaṇaiḥ.

vivyādha yudhi marmajñō mātaṅgamiva tōmaraiḥ৷৷3.28.24৷৷


kruddhaḥ enraged, marmajñaḥ one who knows the tender parts of the body, kharaḥ Khara, yudhi in war, taṅ rāmam that Rama, caturbhiḥ four, mārgaṇaiḥ with arrows, mātaṅgam elephant, tōmarairiva like with a javelin, gātrēṣu on his limbs, vivyādha hit.

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.
sa rāmō bahubhirbāṇaiḥ kharakārmukanissṛtaiḥ.

viddhō rudhirasiktāṅgō babhūva ruṣitō bhṛśam৷৷3.28.25৷৷


saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, kharakārmukanissṛtaiḥ by those arrows released from the bow of Khara, bahubhiḥ several, bāṇaiḥ arrows, viddhaḥ hit, rudhirasiktāṅgaḥ one whose limbs were drenched in blood, bhṛśam very, ruṣitaḥ furious, babhūva became.

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

mumōca paramēṣvāsaṣṣaṭcharānabhilakṣitān৷৷3.28.26৷৷


paramāhavē in that great war, dhanvinām among archers, śrēṣṭhaḥ best one, paramēṣvāsaḥ supreme shooter of arrows, saḥ he, dhanuḥ bow, pragṛhya lifting, abhilakṣitān setting his goal, ṣaṭ six, śarān
arrows, mumōca released.

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

tribhiścandrārdhavaktraiśca vakṣasyabhijaghāna ha৷৷3.28.27৷৷


ēkēna with one, bāṇēna with an arrow, śirasi on head, atha and, dvābhyām with two, bāhvōḥ on shoulders, ardayat hit, tribhiḥ three, candrārdhavaktraiḥ Moon shaped, vakṣasi on the chest, abhijaghāna ha struck.

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).
tataḥ paścānmahātējā nārācānbhāskarōpamān.

jighāṅsū rākṣasaṅkṛddhastrayōdaśa samādadē৷৷3.28.28৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, paścāt later, mahātējāḥ effulgent, kṛddhaḥ enraged, rākṣasam to the demon, jighāṅsuḥ wishing to kill, bhāskarōpamān radiant like the Sun, trayōdaśa thirteen, nārācān arrows, samādadē took up.

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

ṣaṣṭhēna tu śirassaṅkhyē kharasya rathasārathēḥ৷৷3.28.29৷৷

tribhistrivēṇuṅ balavāndvābhyāmakṣaṅ mahābalaḥ.

dvādaśēna tu bāṇēna kharasya saśaraṅ dhanuḥ৷৷3.28.30৷৷

chitvā vajranikāśēna rāghavaḥ prahasanniva.

trayōdaśēnēndrasamō bibhēda samarē kharam৷৷3.28.31৷৷


indrasamaḥ like Indra, balavān strong, mahābalaḥ powerful, rāghavaḥ Rama, saṅkhyē in war, ēkēna with one, asya his, rathasya chariot's, yugam yoke, caturbhiḥ with four, caturaḥ four, hayān horses, ṣaṣṭhēna with the sixth one, kharasya Khara's, rathasārathēḥ charioteer, śiraḥ head, tribhiḥ with three, trivēṇum main pole, dvābhyām with two, akṣam axle, dvādaśēna twelfth, bāṇēna arrow, kharasya Khara's, saśaram along with arrow, dhanuḥ bow, chitvā made into pieces, prahasanniva as if laughing at, samarē in the fight, vajranikāśēna diamond like arrow, trayōdaśēna with the thirteenth, kharam to Khara, bibhēda pierced.

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.
prabhagnadhanvā virathō hatāśvō hatasārathiḥ.

gadāpāṇiravaplutya tasthau bhūmau kharastadā৷৷3.28.32৷৷


tadā then, prabhagnadhanvā with bow broken, virathaḥ without chariot, hatāśvaḥ horses killed, hatasāradhiḥ with charioteer dead, kharaḥ Khara, gadāpāṇiḥ holding a mace in hand, avaplutya jumping down the chariot, bhūmau on the ground, tasthau stood.

Then, with bow broken, chariot destroyed, horses and charioteer dead, Khara jumped down the chariot and stood on the ground holding a mace.
tatkarma rāmasya mahārathasya samētya dēvāśca maharṣayaśca.

apūjayanprāñjalayaḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ tadā vimānāgragatāssamētāḥ৷৷3.28.33৷৷


tadā then, dēvāśca gods, maharṣayaśca great sages, samētāḥ collected together, vimānāgragatāḥ standing on the aerial chariots, samētya assembled, prahṛṣṭāḥ delighted, prāñjalayaḥ with folded palms, mahārathasya of the great warrior, rāmasya Rama's, tat that, karma task, apūjayan adored.

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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkiya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē aṣṭāviṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyeigth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.