Sloka & Translation

[Rama kills all the fourteen demons -- Surpanakha describes the killing to Khara.]

ततश्शूर्पणखा घोरा राघवाश्रममागता।

राक्षसानाचचक्षे तौ भ्रातरौ सह सीतया।।3.20.1।।

ततः thereafter, घोरा frightful, शूर्पणखा Surpanakha, राघवाश्रमम् Rama's hermitage, आगता came, राक्षसान् to the demons, सह सीतया with Sita, भ्रातरौ brothers, तौ both, आचचक्षे spoke about.

The frightful Surpanakha came to the hermitage of Rama and showed both the brothers and Sita to the demons.

ते रामं पर्णशालायामुपविष्टं महाबलम्।

ददृशुस्सीतया सार्धं वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च।3.20.2।।

ते they, वैदेह्याः with Vaidehi, सार्धम् together with, लक्ष्मणेन च and with Lakshmana, पर्णशालायाम् in the leafthatched cottage, उपविष्टम् seated, महाबलम् a man of great strength, रामम् Rama, ददृशुः saw.

They saw mighty Rama together with Vaidehi and Lakshmana sitting in the leafthatched cottage.

तान्दृष्ट्वा राघवश्श्रीमानागतांस्तां च राक्षसीम्।

अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम्।।3.20.3।।

श्रीमान् handsome, राघवः scion of the Raghu dynasty, रामः Rama, आगतान् those who arrived, तान् them, तां राक्षसीम् to the demoness, दृष्ट्वा seeing, दीप्ततेजसम् blazing like fire, भ्रातरम् brother, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, अब्रवीत् said.

Seeing the demons along with Surpanakha arrive, said the handsome Rama, scion of the Raghu dynasty to his brother Lakshmana, who was blazing like fire :

मुहूर्तं भव सौमित्रे सीतायाः प्रत्यनन्तरः।

इमानस्या वधिष्यामि पदवीमागतानिह।।3.20.4।।

सौमित्रे O Lakshmana, मुहूर्तम् for a while, सीतायाः to Sita, प्रत्यनन्तरः stand by, भव you may be, अस्याः her, पदवीम् in the way, इह here, आगतान् those who came in, इमान् these to, वधिष्यामि will kill.

O Lakshmana stand by Sita for a while. I shall kill these demons who have come here.

वाक्यमेतत्ततश्श्रुत्वा रामस्य विदितात्मनः।

तथेति लक्ष्मणो वाक्यं रामस्य प्रत्यपूजयत्।।3.20.5।।

ततः then, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, विदितात्मनः knower of the self, रामस्य Rama's, एतत् this, वाक्यम् statement, श्रुत्वा after hearing, तथेति agreeing to, रामस्य Rama's, वाक्यम् statement, प्रत्यपूजयत् in turn honoured.

Lakshmana heard him and in turn honoured the word of Rama, knower of the self.

राघवोऽपि महच्चापं चामीकरविभूषितम्।

चकार सज्यं धर्मात्मा तानि रक्षांसि चाब्रवीत्।।3.20.6।।

धर्मात्मा righteous man, राघवोऽपि Rama too, चामीकरविभूषितम् decked with gold, महत् great, चापम् bow, सज्यम् stringed, चकार made, तानि those, रक्षांसि to the demons, अब्रवीत् च said.

Righteous Rama too, lifted up his great bow decked with gold and fastened the string and then said to the demons:

पुत्रौ दशरथस्यावां भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।

प्रविष्टौ सीतया सार्धं दुश्चरं दण्डकावनम्।।3.20.7।।

आवाम् we both are, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, पुत्रौ two sons, भ्रातरौ two brothers, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, सीतया सार्धम् along with Sita, दुश्चरम् inaccessible, दण्डकावनम् Dandaka forest, प्रविष्ठौ both have entered.

We, Rama and Lakshmana, sons of Dasaratha, are brothers, who have entered the inaccessible Dandaka forest along with Sita.

फलमूलाशनौ दान्तौ तापसौ धर्मचारिणौ।

वसन्तौ दण्डकारण्ये किमर्थमुपहिंसथ।।3.20.8।।

फलमूलाशिनौ both survive on fruits and roots etc, दान्तौ both are selfrestrained, धर्मचारिणौ both follow the righteous path, दण्डकारण्ये in Dandaka forest, वसन्तौ living, तापसौ ascetics, किमर्थम् why, उपहिंसथ torment.

Feeding on fruits and roots and following the righteous path, we are living in Dandaka forest like ascetics. Why are you torturing us?

युष्मान्पापात्मकान्हन्तुं विप्रकारान्महाहवे।

ऋषीणां तु नियोगेन प्राप्तोऽहं सशरायुधः।।3.20.9।।

अहम् I, पापात्मकान् sinners, विप्रकारान् offenders, युष्मान् you, आहवे in war, हन्तुम् to kill, सशरायुधः equipped with bows, arrows and weapons, ऋषीणाम् of ascetics, नियोगेन by their order, प्राप्तः came.

I came here equipped with bows, arrows and weapons, asked by ascetics to kill in the battle sinners like you who are offending them.

तिष्ठतैवात्र सन्तुष्टा नोपावर्तितुमर्हथ।

यदि प्राणैरिहार्थो वा निवर्तध्वं निशाचराः।।3.20.10।।

सन्तुष्टाः satisfied, निशाचराः demons, अत्रैव here only, तिष्ठतः you may stay, उपावर्तितुम् to return, न अर्हथ you should not, यदि वा or else, प्राणैः with life, अर्थः purpose, निवर्तध्वम् you may return.

If you care for your life, you may return, or else, if you please you may remain (die) here, O demons.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश।

ऊचुर्वाचं सुसंक्रुद्धा ब्रह्मघ्नाश्शूलपाणयः।।3.20.11।।

तस्य his, तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, ब्रह्मघ्नाः destroyers of brahmins, शूलपाणयः spears in hand, ते those, चतुर्दश राक्षसाः fourteen demons, सुसङ्क्रुद्धाः very angry, वाचम् words, ऊचुः spoke.

At these words, the destroyers of brahmins, the fourteen demons were inflamed. They lifted their spears and spoke:

क्रोधमुत्पाद्य नो भर्तुः खरस्य सुमहात्मनः।

त्वमेव हास्यसे प्राणानद्यास्माभिर्हतो युधि।।3.20.12।।

नः our, भर्तुः lord's, सुमहात्मनः of great, खरस्य Khara's, क्रोधम् wrath, उत्पाद्य causing, अद्य now, अस्माभिः by us, युधि in the fight, हतः killed, त्वमेव you alone, प्राणान् life, हास्यसे will give up.

You have incited the wrath of Khara, our great master for which you will now pay with your life in the fight.

का हि ते शक्तिरेकस्य बहूनां रणमूर्धनी।

अस्माकमग्रतः स्थातुं किं पुनर्योद्दुमाहवे।।3.20.13।।

बहूनाम् by many, अस्माकम् of us, अग्रतः in front of, रणमूर्धनि at the head of the battle, स्थातुम् to stand, एकस्य of one, ते to you, का शक्तिः where is the power, आहवे in war, योद्धुम् to fight, किं पुनः why again.

How can you face us alone? We outnumber you? Leave alone fighting, you cannot even stand in front of us.

एहि बाहुप्रयुक्तैर्नः परिघैश्शूलपट्टिसैः।

प्राणांस्त्यक्षसि वीर्यं च धनुश्च करपीडितम्।।3.20.14।।

एहि come on, नः us, बाहुप्रयुक्तैः by those dicharged by our arms, परिघैः by daggers, शूलपट्टिशै spears with sharp, प्राणान् your life, वीर्यं च prowess, करपीडितम् held by hand, धनुश्च the bow aslo, त्यक्षसि will shun.

Come on with daggers and sharpedged spears hurled, you will give up your life,your prowess as well as the bow held in your hand.

इत्येवमुक्त्वा सङ्कृद्धा राक्षसास्ते चतुर्दश।

चिक्षिपुस्तानि शूलानि राघवं प्रति दुर्जयम्।।3.20.15।।

सङ्कृद्धाः mighty angry, ते those , राक्षसाः demons, इत्येवम् thus, उक्त्वा after saying, तानि शूलानि those spears, दुर्जयम् invincible, राघवं प्रति on Rama, चिक्षिपुः hurled.

Saying these words, the fourteen infuriated demons hurled their spears at invincible Rama.

तानि शूलानि काकुत्स्थस्समस्तानि चतुर्दश।

तावद्भिरेव चिच्छेद शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः।।3.20.16।।

काकुत्स्थ Rama, चतुर्दश fourteen, तानि शूलानि their spears, समस्तानि all of them, तावद्भि: by equal number, एव only, काञ्चनभूषणैः decorated with gold, शरैः with arrows, चिच्छेद cut to pieces.

All the fourteen spears hurled turned into splinters by the same number of golden arrows released by Rama.

ततः पश्चान्महातेजा नाराचान्सूर्यसन्निभान्।

जग्राह परमक्रुद्धश्चतुर्दश शिलाशितान्।।3.20.17।।

ततः then, महातेजाः effulgent, परमक्रुद्धः enraged, शिलाशितान् sharpened by stone, सूर्यसन्निभान् glowing like the Sun, चतुर्दश fourteen, नाराचान् arrows, जग्राह took.

Then the effulgent Rama, mighty angry, took fourteen arrows sharpened by stones and glowing like the Sun.

गृहीत्वा धनुरायम्य लक्ष्यानुद्दिश्य राक्षसान्।

मुमोच राघवो बाणान्वज्रानिव शतक्रतुः।।3.20.18।।

राघवः Rama, धनुः bow, गृहीत्वा on taking, आयम्य after stretching, लक्ष्यान् the target, राक्षसान् the demons, उद्दिश्य aiming at, शतक्रतुः like Indra, वज्रानिव like thunderbolt, बाणान् arrows, मुमोच released.

Rama took the bow, stretched it and aimed at his target, the demons and sent the arrows as Indra would release the thunderbolt.

रुक्मपुङ्खाश्च विशिखा दीप्ता हेमविभूषिताः।

ते भित्त्वा रक्षसां वेगाद्वक्षांसि रुधिराप्लुताः।3.20.19।।

विनिष्पेतुस्तदा भूमौ न्यमज्जन्ताशनिस्वनाः।

रुक्मपुङ्खाः feathered with gold, दीप्ताः blazing, हेमविभूषिताः decorated with gold, ते those, विशिखाः arrows, वेगात् speedily, रक्षसाम् the demons, वक्षांसि their chests, भित्त्वा piercing, रुधिराप्लुताः drenched in blood, तदा then, विनिष्पेतुः fell down, अशनिस्वनाः creating sounds like thunder, भूमौ on earth, न्यमज्जन्त pierced into.

Goldfeathered blazing arrows decorated with gold, released by Rama flew fast and pierced the chests of the demons. Drenched in blood they (the arrows) thundered (out of their chests) and plunged into the earth.

ते भिन्नहृदया भूमौ छिन्नमूला इव द्रुमाः।।3.20.20।।

निपेतुश्शोणितार्द्राङ्गा विकृता विगतासवः।

ते they, भिन्नहृदयाः with pierced hearts, शोणितार्द्राङ्गाः bodies drenched in blood, विकृताः disfigured, विगतासवः with their life gone, छिन्नमूलाः cut at the roots, द्रुमाः इव like trees, भूमौ on earth, निपेतुः fell down.

With their hearts split, their bodies drenched in blood, disfigured and lifeless, the demons fell down on earth like trees cut at the roots.

तान् दृष्ट्वा पतितान्भूमौ राक्षसी क्रोधमूर्छिता।।3.20.21।।

परित्रस्ता पुनस्तत्र व्यसृजद्भैरवस्वनान्।

भूमौ on the ground, पतितान् fell down, तान् those, दृष्ट्वा seeing, राक्षसी the demoness, (Surpanakha), क्रोधमूर्छिता wild with anger, परित्रस्ता frightened, तत्र there, पुनः again, भैरवस्वनान् frihghtening sound, व्यसृजत् released.

Seeing the demons fallen on the ground, the demoness wild with anger and fear roared.

उपगम्य खरं सा तु किञ्चित्संशुष्कशोणिता।।3.20.22।।

पपात पुनरेवार्ता सनिर्यासेव सल्लकी।

किञ्चित् slightly, संशुष्कशोणिता blood dried up, सनिर्यासा juice exuded, सल्लकी इव like a sallaki tree, सा she, तु but, आर्ता afflicted, खरम् to Khara, उपगम्य coming, पुनरेव again, पपात fell down.

Her blood slightly dried up, she came back afflicted to Khara and fell down like a sallaki tree, its sap oozing.

पपात पुनरेवार्ता सनिर्यासेव सल्लकी ।।3.20.23 ।।

Missing

भ्रातुस्समीपे शोकार्ता ससर्ज निनदं मुहुः।।3.20.24।।

सस्वरं मुमुचे बाष्पं विषण्णवदना तदा।

तदा then, शोकार्ता afflicted with tears, भ्रातुः of the brother, समीपे presence, मुहुः again and again, निनदम् sound, ससर्ज released, विषण्णवदना with a sad face, सस्वरम् making loud noise, बाष्पम् tears, मुमुचे shed.

Then desperately screaming and shedding tears with a sad face beside her brother, she roared again and again.

निपातितान् दृश्य रणे तु राक्षसान् प्रधाविता शूर्पणखा पुनस्ततः।

वधं च तेषां निखिलेन रक्षसां शशंस सर्वं भगिनी खरस्य सा।।3.20.25।।

शूर्पणखा Surpanakha, रणे in the fight, निपातितान् fallen, राक्षसान् demons, दृश्य seeing, पुनः ततः then, प्रधाविता she ran, भगिनी sister, रक्षसाम् of demons, वधम् about the death, सर्वम् all, निखिलेन in detail, खरस्य to Khara, शशंस told.

When Surpanakha saw the demons fall dead on the battleground, she ran to Khara,her brother and told in detail about the death of the demons.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे विंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the twentieth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.