Sloka & Translation

[Rama and Lakshmana kill Viradha -- Viradha narrates his story and ascends to heaven.]

hriyamāṇau tu tau dṛṣṭvā vaidēhī rāmalakṣmaṇau.

uccaissvarēṇa cukrōśa pragṛhya sumahājābhujau৷৷3.4.1৷৷


vaidēhī Sita, pragṛhya holding, hriyamāṇau the two being abducted, sumahābhujau two huge arms, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, dṛṣṭvā seeing, uccai svarēṇa at the top of her voice, cukrōśa shouted.

Seeing those two mighty-armed Rama and Lakshmana being carried away by Viradha, Sita started crying loudly:
ēṣa dāśarathī rāmaḥ satyavān śīlavān śuciḥ.

rakṣasā raudrarūpēṇa hriyatē sahalakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷3.4.2৷৷


satyavān truthful , śīlavān of good conduct, śuciḥ pure, ēṣaḥ this person, dāśarathiḥ son of Dasaratha, rāmaḥ Rama, sahalakṣmaṇaḥ with Lakshmana, raudrarūpēṇa dreadful in appearance, rakṣasā by The demon, hriyatē is whisked away.

māmṛkā bhakṣayiṣyanti śārdūlādvīpinastathā.

māṅ harōtsṛja kākutsthau namastē rākṣasōttama৷৷3.4.3৷৷


mām me, ṛkā wild bears, tathā in the same way, śārdūlādvīpinaḥ tigers and panthers, bhakṣayiṣyanti will eat me, rākṣasōttama O best of demons, mām me, hara take away, kākutsthau Rama and Lakshmana, utsṛja spare them, tē to you, namaḥ I salute.

The wild bears, tigers and panthers will eat me up here. O best among demons, pray take me and leave both the Kakutsthas.
tasyāstadvacanaṅ śrutvā vaidēhyā rāmalakṣmaṇau.

vēgaṅ pracakraturvīrau vadhē tasya durātmanaḥ৷৷3.4.4৷৷


vīrau heroic, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, tasyāḥ vaidēhyāḥ that Sita's, tat vacanam those words, śrutvā on hearing, durātmanaḥ of the wicked one, tasya his, vadhē to kill, vēgam haste, pracakratuḥ began.

On hearing those words of Sita, both the heroes, Rama and Lakshmana hastened to kill the wicked Viradha.
tasya raudrasya saumitriḥ savyaṅ bāhuṅ babhañja ha.

rāmastu dakṣiṇaṅ bāhuṅ tarasā tasya rakṣasaḥ৷৷3.4.5৷৷


saumitriḥ Lakshmana, raudrasya of that dreadful demon tasya his, savyaṅ bāhum left shoulder, babhañja ha broke down, rāmaḥ Rama, tu too, tasya rakṣasaḥ that demon's, dakṣiṇam right, bāhum shoulder, tarasā quickly.

Lakshmana quickly broke the left and Rama the right shoulder of that dreadful demon.
sa bhagnabāhussavignō nipapātāśu rākṣasaḥ.

dharaṇyāṅ mēghasaṅkāśō vajrabhinna ivācalaḥ৷৷3.4.6৷৷


bhagnabāhuḥ broken shoulders, mēgha saṅkāśaḥ resembling cloud, saḥ he, saṅvignaḥ anxious, rākṣasaḥ demon, nipapātaḥ fell down, vajrabhinnaḥ split by a thunderbolt, acalaḥ iva like a mountain, āśu fell at once, dharaṇyām on the ground.

With both shoulders broken, the demon, looking like a cloud (huge and dark) fell at once on the ground like a mountain split by a thunderbolt.
muṣṭibhirjānubhiḥ padbhiḥ sūdayantau tu rākṣasam.

udyamyōdyamya cāpyēnaṅ sthaṇḍilē niṣpipēṣatuḥ৷৷3.4.7৷৷


rākṣasam to the demon, muṣṭibhiḥ with fists, jānubhiḥ with knees, padbhi: with feet, sūdayantau striking, ēnam him, udyamyōdyamya by lifting him again and again, sthaṇḍilē on the bare ground, niṣpipēṣatuḥ pulverized .

Striking the demon with fists, knees and feet, both of them smit him on the bare ground and pulverized him.
sa viddhō bahubhirbāṇaiḥ khaṅgābhyāṅ ca parikṣataḥ.

niṣpiṣṭō bahudhā bhūmau na mamāra sa rākṣasaḥ৷৷3.4.8৷৷


bahubhiḥ by many, bāṇaiḥ by arrows, viddhaḥ pierced, khaṅgābhyām with two swords, parikṣataḥ wounded, bahudhā in many ways, bhūmau on the ground, niṣpiṣṭaḥ pulverized, saḥ rākṣasaḥ that demon, na mamāra was not killed.

Although pierced by arrows, and wounded by the two swords, and pulverized on the ground, the demon did not die.
taṅ prēkṣya rāmaḥ subhṛśamavadhyamacalōpamam.

bhayēṣvabhayadaśśrīmānidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷3.4.9৷৷


bhayēṣu from fear, abhayadaḥ guaranter of safety, (who promises deliverance from fear), śrīmān illustrious, rāmaḥ Rama, acalōpamam mountain-like, tam him, subhṛśam very much, avadhyam could not be killed, prēkṣya after seeing, idam these, vacanam words, abravīt said.

Seeing the mountain-like Viradha not dying though seriously wounded, illustrious Rama, guaranter of safety from fear said to Lakshmana:
tapasā puruṣavyāghra! rākṣasō.yaṅ na śakyatē.

śastrēṇa yudhi nirjētuṅ rākṣasaṅ nikhanāvahē৷৷3.4.10৷৷


puruṣavyāghra! O tiger among men, tapasā by penance, ayaṅ rākṣasaḥ this demon, yudhi in war, śastrēṇa by weapons, nirjētum to conquer, na śakyatē is not possible, rākṣasam this demon, nikhanāvahē shall bury him.

O Lakshmana, best among men, this demon by virtue of his penance cannot be killed with any weapon in war. Therefore, let us bury him.
kuñjarasyēva raudrasya rākṣasasyāsya lakṣmaṇa.

vanē.smin sumahacchvabhraṅ khanyatāṅ raudravarcasaḥ৷৷3.4.11৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, raudrasya of the dreadful one, asya rakṣasaḥ of this demon, kuñjarasyēva like an elephant, raudravarcasaḥ one who emits a fearful glow, asmin in this, vanē forest, sumahat very great, śvabhram a pit, khanyatām dig.

Dig a deep pit to bury this demon, dreadful like an elephant and emitting a fearful glow.
ityuktvā lakṣmaṇaṅ rāmaḥ pradaraḥ khanyatāmiti.

tasthau virādhamākramya kaṇṭhē pādēna vīryavān৷৷3.4.12৷৷


vīryavān courageous one, rāmaḥ Rama, lakṣmaṇam to Lakshmana, iti thus, pradaraḥ crevice, khanyatām may be dug up, iti thus, uktvā having said, virādham Viradha, pādēna with his foot, kaṇṭhē on his neck, ākramya holding firmly there, tasthau stood.

Courageous Rama standing there put his foot firmly on the neck of Viradha and said to Lakshmana,' Dig up a crevice'.
tacchrutvā rāghavēṇōktaṅ rākṣasaḥ praśritaṅ vacaḥ.

idaṅ prōvāca kākutthsaṅ virādhaḥ puruṣarṣabham৷৷3.4.13৷৷


rākṣasaḥ the demon, virādhaḥ Viradha, rāghavēṇa by Rama, uktam instructed, tat that, śrutvā on hearing, puruṣarṣabham best among men, kākutthsam to Lakshmana, idam thus, praśritam humble, vacaḥ words, prōvāca uttered.

When the demon Viradha heard Rama saying so, he said these humble words to the scion of the Kakutsthas and the best of men :
hatō.smi puruṣavyāghra! śakratulyabalēna vai.

mayā tu pūrvaṅ tvaṅ mōhānna jñātaḥ puruṣarṣabha৷৷3.4.14৷৷


puruṣavyāghra! O tiger among men, śakratulyabalēna equal to Indra in prowess, hataḥ asmi I am killed, puruṣarṣabha bull among men, mayā by me, mōhāt due to delusion, tvam you, pūrvam earlier, na jñātaḥ was not realised.

You have killed me, O Rama, a tiger among men. You are equal to Indra in prowess. O best of men, out of delusion I could not recognise you earlier.
kausalyāsuprajā rāma tātastvaṅ viditō mayā.

vaidēhī ca mahābhāgā lakṣmaṇaśca mahāyaśāḥ৷৷3.4.15৷৷


tāta O dear one, tvam you, kausalyāsuprajāḥ the good son of Kausalya, rāmaḥ Rama, viditaḥ are known now, mahābhāgā a great lady, vaidēhī ca Sita too, mahāyaśāḥ a man of great fame, lakṣmaṇaśca and Lakshmana too.

O dear Rama, I know now you are the blessed son of Kausalya, Sita is a noble lady and a glorious soul.
abhiśāpādahaṅ ghōrāṅ praviṣṭō rākṣasīṅ tanum.

tumbururnāma gandharvaḥ śaptō vaiśravaṇēna ha৷৷3.4.16৷৷


aham I, abhiśāpāt by a curse, ghōrām this terrible, rākṣasīm demoniac, tanum body, praviṣṭaḥ I have entered, vaiśravaṇēna by Kubera, śaptaḥ I am cursed, tumburuḥ nāma by name Tumburu, gandharvaḥ celestial musician.

I am Tumburu by name, a celestial singer of the gandharva clan. Cursed by Kubera, I got this dreadful body of a demon.
prasādyamānaśca mayā sō.bravīnmāṅ mahāyaśāḥ.

yadā dāśarathī rāmastvāṅ vadhiṣyati saṅyugē.

tadā prakṛtimāpannō bhavānsvargaṅ gamiṣyati৷৷3.4.17৷৷


mayā by me, prasādyamānaḥ while being appeased, mahāyaśā: illustrious, saḥ he, mām me, abravīt said, dāśarathiḥ son of Dasaratha, rāmaḥ Rama, yadā when, tvām you, saṅyugē at war, vadhiṣyati will kill, tadā then, prakṛtim your original form, āpannaḥ you will get back, bhavān you, svargam to heaven, gamiṣyati you will go.

When I appealed to him, that lord of great fame (Kubera) said that I would get back my original form and ascend to heaven when Rama, son of Dasaratha, would kill me in a duel.
anupasthīyamānō māṅ sa kruddhō vyājahāra ha.

iti vaiśravaṇō rājā rambhāsaktamuvāca ha৷৷3.4.18৷৷


saḥ that, anupasthīyamānaḥ not being attended to, kruddhaḥ angry, mām me, vyājahāra said, rājā king, vaiśravaṇaḥ Kubera, rambhāsaktam passionately attached to Rambha, iti like this, uvāca ha cursed.

When king Kubera saw me absent (from duty) as I was infatuated with Rambha, he got angry and cursed me.
tava prasādānmuktō.hamihaśāpātsudāruṇāt.

bhuvanaṅ svaṅ gamiṣyāmi svasti vō.stu parantapa৷৷3.4.19৷৷


tava your, prasādāt by grace blessing, sudāruṇāt from the dreadful form, abhiśāpāt from the curse, parantapa scorcher of enemies aham I, muktaḥ am relieved, svam my own, bhuvanam abode, gamiṣyāmi I will go, vaḥ to you both, svasti wish you well, astu may be.

O scorcher of enemies! by your grace I am rid of the curse. Delivered from my dreadful form, I will now go to my world. May both of you fare well.
itō vasati dharmātmā śarabhaṅgaḥ pratāpavān৷৷3.4.20৷৷

adhyardhayōjanē tāta maharṣissūryasannibhaḥ.

taṅ kṣipramadhigaccha tvaṅ sa tē śrēyō.bhidhāsyati৷৷3.4.21৷৷


tāta O dear, itaḥ from here, adhyardhayōjanē one and half yojanas away, (a yojana = about 8 miles) dharmātmā a righteous self, pratāpavān of great power, sūryasannibhaḥ comparable to the Sun, śarabhaṅgaḥ Sarabhanga, maharṣiḥ sage, vasati lives, tvam you, kṣipram quickly, tam him, adhigaccha approach, saḥ he, tē to you, śrēyaḥ welfare, abhidhāsyati bestow on you.

O dear, there lives Sarabhanga, a righteous sage, comparable to the Sun, at a distance of one and a half yojanas from here. Go to him at once. He will bless you with your well-being.
avaṭē cāpi māṅ rāma prakṣipya kuśalī vraja.

rakṣasāṅ gatasattvānāmēṣa dharmassasanātanaḥ.

avaṭē yē nidhīyantē tēṣāṅ lōkāssanātanāḥ৷৷3.4.22৷৷


rāma Rama, mām me, avaṭē in the pit, prakṣipya on burying, kuśalī proper, vraja you may go, gatasattvām who are dead, rakṣasām of the demons, ēṣaḥ this one, sanātanaḥ eternal, dharmaḥ justice, yē those, avaṭē vinikṣipyantē buried in a pit, tēṣām to them, sanātanāḥ eternal, lōkāḥ in other worlds (heaven)

Bury me in the pit, O Rama, and proceed happily. This is a great tradition for the dead
demons. Those who are buried in the pit attain heaven.
ēvamuktvā tu kākutthsaṅ virādhaśśarapīḍitaḥ.

babhūva svargasamprāptō nyastadēhō mahābalaḥ৷৷3.4.23৷৷


mahābalaḥ mighty strong, virādhaḥ Viradha, kākutthsam to the scion of the Kakutstha race, ēvam in that way, uktvā having said, śarapīḍitaḥ hit by the arrows, nyastadēhaḥ casting his body, svargasamprāptaḥ babhūva attained heaven.

Having said so to Rama, the mighty Viradha, hit by the arrows left his body and attained heaven.
tacchrutvā rāghavō vākyaṅ lakṣmaṇaṅ vyādidēśa ha.

kuñjarasyēva raudrasya rākṣasasyāsya lakṣmaṇa!৷৷3.4.24৷৷

vanē.smin sumahacchvabhraṅ khanyatāṅ raudakarmaṇaḥ.

ityuktvā lakṣmaṇaṅ rāmaḥ pradaraḥ khanyatāmiti.

tasthau virādhamākramya kaṇṭhē pādēna vīryavān৷৷3.4.25৷৷


rāghavaḥ Rama, tat vākyam those words, śrutvā heard, lakṣmaṇam Lakshmana, vyādidēśa ordered, asyarākṣasasya for this demon, raudrasya of the dreadful, kuñjarasyēva like an elephant vanē.smin in this forest, raudrakarmaṇaḥ of dreadful acts, sumahat wide, śvabhraḥ pit, khanyatām dig, rāmaḥ Rama, lakṣmaṇam Lakshmana, pradaraḥ a pit, khanyatām dig, iti in this way, vīryavān valiant, pādēna by his foot, kaṇṭhē on the neck, virādham to Viradha, ākramya occupying, tasthau stood firmly.

When Rama heard those words, he said, O Lakshmana! dig for this elephant-like demon of dreadful acts, a big pit. Having said so the mighty Rama stood firmly stamping the neck of Viradha with his foot.
tataḥ khanitramādāya lakṣmaṇaśśvabhramuttamam.

akhanatpārśvatastasya virādhasya mahātmanaḥ৷৷3.4.26৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, khanitram spade, ādāya fetched, mahātmanaḥ of the great soul, tasyavirādhasya that Viradha's, pārśvata: by his side, uttamam sufficiently big, śvabhram pit, akhanat dug.

Then Lakshmana fetched a spade and dug a sufficiently big pit by the side of the great soul Viradha.
taṅ muktakaṇṭhaṅnikṣipya śaṅkukarṇaṅ mahāsvanam.

virādhaṅ prākṣipacchvabhrē nadantaṅ bhairavasvanam৷৷3.4.27৷৷


muktakaṇṭhanikṣipya released pressure on the neck, mahāsvanam with loud voice, śaṅkukarṇam of pointed ears as an iron peg, bhairavasvanam fearful sound nadantam making, taṅ virādham that Viradha, śvabhrē in the pit, prākṣipat dropped.

Rama took his foot off Viradha's neck and dropped his body with pointed ears into the pit while Viradha was groaning fearfully৷৷
tamāhavē dāruṇamāśuvikramau sthirāvubhau saṅyati rāmalakṣmaṇau.

mudānvitau cikṣipaturbhayāvahaṅ nadantamutkṣipya bilē tu rākṣasam৷৷3.4.28৷৷


āśuvikramau both warriors of quick and brave action, saṅyati in this battle, sthirau stable, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, ubhau both, mudā joy, anvitau both endowed, āhavē in the war, dāruṇam dreadful, bhayāvaham frightening, nadantam was roaring taṅ rākṣasam that demon, balēna forcefully, utkṣipya lifted, cikṣipatuḥ both of them threw him down .

Rama and Lakshmana, stable and firm, brave and quick, together lifted the body of Viradha who was fierce in battle and roaring and forcibly threw it into the pit with joy.
avadhyatāṅ prēkṣya mahāsurasya tau śitēna śastrēṇa tadā nararṣabhau.

samarthya cātyarthaviśāradāvubhau bilē virādhasya vadhaṅ pracakratuḥ৷৷3.4.29৷৷


tadā then, nararṣabhau both bulls among men, atyarthaviśāradau very efficient, tau ubhau both of them, śitēna with sharp, śastrēṇa weapons, mahāsurasya of that mighty demon, tasya virādhasya of that Viradha, avadhyatām not to be killed in any other way, prēkṣya having seen, samarthya after reflecting over the issue, bilē in hole, vadhaṅ killed, pracakratuḥ both undertook.

The two princes, bulls among men, who were adept in archery saw that the great demon could not be killed by any other means. They reflected over the issue and undertook the task of killing him with sharp weapons and buried him in a pit.
svayaṅ virādhēna hi mṛtyurātmanaḥ prasahya rāmēṇa yathārthamīpsitaḥ.

nivēditaḥ kānanacāriṇā svayaṅ na mē vadhaḥ śastrakṛtō bhavēditi৷৷3.4.30৷৷


virādhēna by Viradha, svayam himself, ātmanaḥ for him, mṛtyuḥ death, yathārtham truly, prasahya forcibly, rāmēṇa by Rama, īpsitaḥ wished to, kānanacāriṇā one by the forest-ranger, mē for me, śastra kṛtaḥ by the weapons, vadhaḥ kill, na bhavēt not possible for you, iti thus, svayam he himself, nivēditaḥ was revealed.

Rama deliberately wanted to kill Viradha with weapons. Viradha the forest-ranger himself revealed that it was not possible to kill him with weapons and asked Rama to bury him in a pit.
tadēva rāmēṇa niśamya bhāṣitaṅ kṛtā matistasya bilapravēśanē.

bilaṅ ca rāmēṇātibalēna rakṣasā pravēśyamānēna vanaṅ vināditam৷৷3.4.31৷৷


tat then, bhāṣitamēva words spoken, niśamya hearing, rāmēṇa by Rama, tasya his, bilapravēśanē putting him in the pit, matiḥ mind, kṛtā determined, bilam pit, pravēśyamānēna while placing, atibalēna mighty, rāmēṇa by Rama, rakṣasā by the demons, vanam forest, vināditam echoed.

While Rama, who had made up his mind after hearing him, was putting the mighty demon in the pit, the forest rang with his roar.
prahṛṣṭarūpāviva rāmalakṣmaṇau virādhamurvyā pradarē nihatya tau.

nanandaturvītabhayau mahāvanē śilābhirantardadhatuśca rākṣasam৷৷3.4.32৷৷


prahṛṣṭarūpāviva both joyful, rāmalakṣmaṇau Rama and Lakshmana, taṅ virādham that Viradha, urvyāḥ earth's, pradarē in the crevice, nihatya after killing, vītabhayau both fearlessly, mahāvanē in the great forest, nanandatuḥ both rejoiced, rākṣasam to the demon, śilābhiḥ with rocks, antardadhatuśca covered him.

Rama and Lakshmana were happy to consign Viradha's body to the pit after killing him. They filled the pit with rocks in the great forest without fear.
tatastu tau kāñcanacitrakārmukau nihatya rakṣaḥ parigṛhya maithilīm.

vijahratu stau muditau mahāvanē divi sthitau candradivākarāviva৷৷3.4.33৷৷


tataḥ then, kāñcanacitrakārmukau with brilliant bows adorned with molten gold, tau both of them, rakṣaḥ the demon, nihatya killing, maithilīm Sita, parigṛhya taking, mahāvanē in that huge forest, muditau joyfully, divi in the sky, sthitau remaining stable, tau both Rama and Lakshmana, candradivākarāviva like the Moon and Sun, vijahratuḥ wandered.

With Viradha killed, they, accompanied by Sita, wandered happily in the dense forest, carrying their brilliant bows adorned with molten gold. They looked like Moon and Sun shining in the sky.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē araṇyakāṇḍē caturthassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.