Sloka & Translation

[Encounter between Rama and Khara.]

kharaṅ tu virathaṅ rāmō gadāpāṇimavasthitam.

mṛdupūrvaṅ mahātējāḥ paruṣaṅ vākyamabravīt৷৷3.29.1৷৷


mahātējā: briliant, rāmaḥ Rama, viratham: deprived of chariot, gadāpāṇim wielding a mace, avasthitam stood, kharam Khara, mṛdupūrvam gentle first, paruṣam harsh vākyam words, abravīt said.

Effulgent Rama looked at Khara who stood with a mace in hand minus his chariot and said to him first in a gentle voice and then harshly :
gajāśvarathasambādhē balē mahati tiṣṭhatā.

kṛtaṅ sudāruṇaṅ karma sarvalōkajugupsitam৷৷3.29.2৷৷


gajāśvarathasambādhē elephants, horses, chariots etc. mahati in a great, balē army, tiṣṭhatā standing, sarvalōkajugupsitam despised by the entire world, sudāruṇam very cruel, karma deed, kṛtam done.

Although you command a huge army with many elephants, horses, chariots, etc. you have done such cruel deeds that the entire world despises you.
udvējanīyō bhūtānāṅ nṛśaṅsaḥ pāpakarmakṛt.

trayāṇāmapi lōkānāmīśvarō.pi na tiṣṭhati৷৷3.29.3৷৷


bhūtānām of all beings, udvējanīyaḥ causing distress, pāpakarmakṛt doer of sinful deeds, nṛśaṅsaḥ wicked, trayāṇām of the three, lōkānām worlds, īśvarō.pi even if he is the lord, na tiṣṭhati not survive.

One who is wicked, does sinful deeds and causes distress to all beings, will not
survive even if he is the lord of the three worlds.
karma lōkaviruddhaṅ tu kurvāṇaṅ kṣaṇadācara.

tīkṣṇaṅ sarvajanō hanti sarpaṅ duṣṭamivāgatam৷৷3.29.4৷৷


kṣaṇadācara O night-ranger ! lōkaviruddham that which is against the world, karma deeds, kurvāṇam who does, tīkṣṇam a terrific, sarvajanaḥ all people, āgatam befallen, duṣṭam cruel, sarpamiva like a serpent, hanti will kill.

O night-ranger, one who does a horrific deed which is against the world will be killed like an evil serpent come near.
lōbhātpāpāni kurvāṇaḥ kāmādvā yō na budhyatē.

bhraṣṭaḥ paśyati tasyāntaṅ brāhmaṇī karakādiva৷৷3.29.5৷৷


lōbhāt out of greed, kāmādvā out of passion, yaḥ whoever, pāpāni sinful deeds, kurvāṇaḥ commits, na budhyatē not realise, bhraṣṭhaḥ ruined, karakāt by a hailstone, brāhmaṇīva like a lizard, tasya his, antam end, paśyati will see.

Whoever commits sinful deeds out of greed or passion and without realisation will be ruined at the end like a lizard that eats hailstone (and dies).
vasatō daṇḍakāraṇyē tāpasāndharmacāriṇaḥ.

kinnu hatvā mahābhāgānphalaṅ prāpsyasi rākṣasa৷৷3.29.6৷৷


rākṣasa O demon !, daṇḍakāraṇyē in Dandaka forest, vasataḥ while residing, dharmacāriṇaḥ those followers of righteous path, mahābhāgān venerable ones , tāpasān ascetics, hatvā after killing, kiṅ nu what kind, phalam fruit, prāpsyasi will you get.

O demon ! what benefit will you get by killing the venerable ascetics, followers of righteous path residing in Dandaka forest?
na ciraṅ pāpakarmāṇaḥ krūrā lōkajugupsitāḥ.

aiśvaryaṅ prāpya tiṣṭhanti śīrṇamūlā iva drumāḥ৷৷3.29.7৷৷


pāpakarmāṇaḥ who do sinful deeds, lōkajugupsitāḥ despised by the world, krūrāḥ cruel, aiśvaryam prosperity, prāpya after obtaining, śīrṇamūlāḥ decayed at the roots, drumāḥ iva like trees, ciram long time, na tiṣṭanti will not stand.

Cruel people, who are despised by the world for their sinful deeds, will not be prosperous for long just like trees with decayed roots.
avaśyaṅ labhatē jantuḥ phalaṅ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ.

ghōraṅ paryāgatē kālē drumāḥ puṣpamivārtavam৷৷3.29.8৷৷


kālē (at the right) time, paryāgatē comes in, jantuḥ people, pāpasya karmaṇaḥ of sinful deeds, ghōram terrific, phalam fruit, drumāḥ trees, ārtavam in proper season, puṣpamiva like the flowers, avaśyam certainly, labhatē will get.

Just as the trees bear flowers at the proper season, so also people will certainly reap the fruits of their terrible, sinful deeds at appropriate time.
nacirātprāpyatē lōkē pāpānāṅ karmaṇāṅ phalam.

saviṣāṇāmivānnānāṅ bhuktānāṅ kṣaṇadācara৷৷3.29.9৷৷


kṣaṇadācara O night ranger ! lōkē in the world, pāpānām of sinful, karmaṇām of actions, phalam result, bhuktānām eaten, saviṣāṇām poisonous, annānāmiva like the food, nacirāt soon, prāpyatē will obtain.

O night-ranger ! people will reap the result of their sinful actions in this world soon like one eating poisonous food.
pāpamācaratāṅ ghōraṅ lōkasyāpriyamicchatām.

ahamāsāditō rājā prāṇānhantuṅ niśācara৷৷3.29.10৷৷


niśācara night-ranger, ghōram terrific, pāpam sin, ācaratām doers, lōkasya in this world, apriyam offensive actions, icchatām who like to do, prāṇān life, hantum to put an end, rājā king, aham I, āsāditaḥ I have come.

O night-ranger ! I have come with the orders of the king to put an end to the lives of the perpetrators of dreadful, sinful and offensive deeds in this world.
adya hi tvāṅ mayā muktāśśarāḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ.

vidāryātipatiṣyanti valmīkamiva pannagāḥ৷৷3.29.11৷৷


adya now, mayā by me, muktāḥ unleashed, kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ adorned with gold ornaments, śarāḥ arrows, pannagāḥ like serpent, valmīkamiva like the anthill, tvā you, vidārya after piercing the body, atipatiṣyatani will come out.

Now when I unleash the golden arrows, they will pierce through your body and come out like serpents emerging from the anthill.
yē tvayā daṇḍakāraṇyē bhakṣitā dharmacāriṇaḥ.

tānadya nihatassaṅkhyē sasainyō.nugamiṣyasi৷৷3.29.12৷৷


tvayā by you, daṇḍakāraṇyē in Dandaka forest, yē those, dharmacāriṇaḥ righteous people, bhakṣitāḥ are eaten, tān those, adya now, saṅkhyē in the war, nihataḥ killed, sasainyaḥ along with your army, anugamiṣyasi will be following.

Slain by me in the battle today, you and your army will follow the righteous men eaten by you in Dandaka forest.
adya tvāṅ nihataṅ bāṇaiḥ paśyantu paramarṣayaḥ.

nirayasthaṅ vimānasthā yē tvayā hiṅsitāḥ purā৷৷3.29.13৷৷


purā earlier, tvayā by you, yē whom, hiṅsitāḥ tortured, paramarṣayaḥ great seers, vimānasthāḥ seated in the aerial vehicles, adya now, bāṇaiḥ with arrows, nihatam killed, nirayastham fallen into hell, tvām you, paśyantu see you.

The great seers whom you have earlier tortured and killed will, from their aerial vehicles, see you fallen into hell.
prahara tvaṅ yathākāmaṅ kuru yatnaṅ kulādhama.

adya tē pātayiṣyāmi śirastālaphalaṅ yathā৷৷3.29.14৷৷


kulādhama O Nile of the race, tvam you, yathākāmam as you wish, prahara freely strike at me, yatnam effort, kuru you may do, adya now, tē your, śiraḥ head, tālaphalaṅ yathā like a palm fruit, pātayiṣyāmi will strike you down.

O vile fellow, now you may strike at me as you please. I will make your head fall down like a palm fruit.
ēvamuktastu rāmēṇa kṛddhassaṅraktalōcanaḥ.

pratyuvāca kharō rāmaṅ prahasankrōdhamūrchitaḥ৷৷3.29.15৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having said, kharaḥ Khara, saṅraktalōcanaḥ eyes turned red, (tataḥ then), prahasan laughed, krōdhamūrchitaḥ lost his senses in anger, rāmam to Rama, pratyuvāca replied.

Challenged by Rama in that manner, Khara, his senses switched off, eyes turned red due to anger, replied laughing :
prākṛtānrākṣasānhatvā yuddhē daśarathātmaja.

ātmanā kathamātmānamapraśasyaṅ praśaṅsasi৷৷3.29.16৷৷


daśarathātmaja O Rama, son of Dasaratha, yuddhē in war, prākṛtān ordinary ( people), rākṣasān
demons, hatvā killing, apraśasyam not praiseworthy, ātmānam yourself, ātmanā by yourself, katham why, praśaṅsasi praising.

O son of Dasaratha, it is not praiseworthy to kill ordinary demons in war. Why do you praise yourself for it?
vikrāntā balavantō vā yē bhavanti nararṣabhāḥ.

kathayanti na tē kiñcittējasā svēna garvitāḥ৷৷3.29.17৷৷


yē those, nararṣabhāḥ best of men, vikrāntāḥ valiant, balavantō vā strong, bhavanti they are, tē they, svēna by their own, tējasā by valour, garvitāḥ proud of, kiñcit even a little, na kathayanti do not speak of.

The valiant, strong and the best of men do not at all speak proudly of themselves and their valour.
prākṛtāstvakṛtātmānō lōkē kṣatriyapāṅsanāḥ.

nirarthakaṅ vikatthantē yathā rāma vikatthasē৷৷3.29.18৷৷


rāma Rama, lōkē in the world, akṛtātmānaḥ having no control over self, prākṛtāstu common people, kṣatriyapāṅsanāḥ lowest of kshatriyas, yathā as, vikatthantē they boast, nirarthakam in a meaningless, vikatthasē you boast yourself.

O Rama! common people, having no control over themselves and the lowest of kshatriyas boast of themselves in the world in a meaningless way as you are doing (now).
kulaṅ vyapadiśanvīrassamarē kō.bhidhāsyati.

mṛtyukālē hi samprāptē svayamaprastavē stavam৷৷3.29.19৷৷


mṛtyukālē when death, samprāptē comes, vīraḥ hero, kaḥ who, samarē in war, kulam his race, vyapadiśan naming, aprastavē unnecessarily, svayam himself, stavam praise, abhidhāsyati will talk
of.

When death comes in a battle no hero will name his race and boast of himself unnessarily.
sarvathaiva laghutvaṅ tē katthanēna vidarśitam.

suvarṇapratirūpēṇa taptēnēva kuśāgninā৷৷3.29.20৷৷


katthanēna by boasting, taptēna heated, suvarṇapratirūpēṇa looking like gold, kuśāgninā iva by the fire of kusa grass, sarvathaiva by all means, tē your, laghutvam meanness, vidarśitam is exhibited.

All your meanness is exhibited by your boasting just as the kusa grass caught by fire appears like gold.
na tu māmiha tiṣṭhantaṅ paśyasi tvaṅ gadādharam.

dharādharamivākampyaṅ parvataṅ dhātubhiścitam৷৷3.29.21৷৷


tvam you, gadādharam holding a mace, iha here, tiṣṭhantam while standing, dhātubhiḥ with minerals, citam inlaid, parvatam mountain, dharādharamiva like supporter of earth, akampyam unshakeable, mām me, paśyasi you are seeing, nanu indeed.

Indeed, (it is strange that) you do not see me holding a mace and standing here like an unshakeable mountain which contains minerals and supports the earth.
paryāptō.haṅ gadāpāṇirhantuṅ prāṇānraṇē tava.

trayāṇāmapi lōkānāṅ pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ৷৷3.29.22৷৷


pāśahastaḥ holding the noose of death, antakaḥ Yama, trayāṇām for the three, lōkānāmapi iva worlds also, raṇē in war, tava your, prāṇān life, hantum to kill, gadāpāṇiḥ weilding mace, aham I, paryāptaḥ enough.

Just like lord Yama, holding a noose of death is alone enough to destroy the three
worlds, I am alone sufficient to take away your life in war, a mace in hand.
kāmaṅ bahvapi vaktavyaṅ tvayi vakṣyāmi na tvaham.

astaṅ gacchēddhi savitā yuddhavighnastatō bhavēt৷৷3.29.23৷৷


tvayi on you, bahu much, vaktavyamapi has to be said, kāmam indeed, tu but, aham I, na vakṣyāmi not speak any more, savitā Sun, astaṅ gacchēt will set, tataḥ thereafter, yuddhavighnaḥ obstacle to wage war, bhavēt will be.

Indeed, I shall not speak any more even though a lot can be said on you. But the Sun is about to set and it will be improper to wage war thereafter.
caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rākṣasānāṅ hatāni tē.

tvadvināśātkarōmyēṣāṅ tēṣāmaśrupramārjanam৷৷3.29.24৷৷


tē for you, ēṣāṅ these, rākṣasānām of demons, caturdaśa fourteen, sahasrāṇi thousand, hatāni killed, tvadvināśāt by their destruction, tēṣām their, aśrupramārjanam wiping their tears, karōmi I shall carry out.

You have killed these fourteen thousand demons. Therefore, I will wipe their tears by destroying you.
ityuktvā paramakruddhastāṅ gadāṅ paramāṅgadaḥ.

kharaścikṣēpa rāmāya pradīptāmaśaniṅ yathā৷৷3.29.25৷৷


paramāṅgadaḥ adorned with large shoulder bands, kharaḥ Khara, iti thus, uktvā having said, paramakruddhaḥ highly enraged, pradīptām blazing, aśaniṅ yathā like a thunderbolt, tāṅ gadām that mace, rāmāya at Rama, cikṣēva hurled.

Having said this, highly enraged Khara adorned with large shoulder bands, hurled at Rama, his mace glowing like a thunderbolt.
kharabāhuprayuktā sā pradīptā mahatī gadā.

bhasmavṛkṣāṅśca gulmāṅśca kṛtvāgāttatsamīpataḥ৷৷3.29.26৷৷


kharabāhuprayuktā unleashed by Khara's arms, pradīptā blazing, mahatī huge, gadā mace, vṛkṣāṅśca trees, gulmāṅśca shrubs, bhasma ashes, kṛtvā reduced into, tatsamīpataḥ close to him, agāt reached.

The huge, blazing mace hurled by Khara's arms reduced the trees and shrubs into ashes and came close to Rama.
tāmāpatantīṅ jvalatāṅ mṛtyupāśōpamāṅ gadām.

antarikṣagatāṅ rāmacaśicchēda bahudhā śaraiḥ৷৷3.29.27৷৷


āpatantī falling down, jvalatām burning, mṛtyupāśōpamām like the noose of death, tāṅ gadām that mace, antarikṣagatām in the sky, rāmaḥ Rama, śaraiḥ arrows, bahudhā several pieces, cicchēda shattered.

The mace, which moved in the sky burning like the noose of death was shattered to pieces by Rama.
sā vikīrṇā śarairbhagnā papāta dharaṇītalē.

gadā mantrauṣadhabalairvyālīva vinipātitā৷৷3.29.28৷৷


śaraiḥ arrows, bhagnā broken, sā gadā the mace, mantrauṣadhabalaiḥ on the strength of mantras and medicines, vinipātitā fell down, vyālīva like a female serpent, vikīrṇā scattered, dharaṇītalē on the ground, papāta fell down.

The mace shattered by the arrows of Rama , fell down scattered to pieces on the ground like a female serpent subdued by the force of mantras and medicine.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē ēkōnatriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyninth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.