Chapter 219
Sarga 23
तस्मिन्याते बले घोरमशिवं शोणितोदकम्। अभ्यवर्षन्महामेघस्तुमुलो गर्दभारुणः।।3.23.1।।
As the army marched from there (Janasthana) a huge dark cloud of the colour of an ass rained dreadfu...
निपेतुस्तुरगास्तस्य रथयुक्ता महाजवाः। समे पुष्पचिते देशे राजमार्गे यदृच्छया।।3.23.2।।
The swift horses yoked to the chariot stumbled casually while galloping on the plane highway sprinkl...
श्यामं रुधिरपर्यन्तं बभूव परिवेषणम्। अलातचक्रप्रतिमं परिगृह्य दिवाकरम्।।3.23.3।।
A dark ring, bloodred in colour appeared on the border of the Sun's orb, dark in the middle. This ph...
ततो ध्वजमुपागम्य हेमदण्डं समुच्छ्रितम्। समाक्रम्य महाकायस्तस्थौ गृध्रस्सुदारुणः।।3.23.4।।
A huge vulture, frightening to look at flew up and sat on top of the flag on the staff of gold.
जनस्थानसमीपे तु समागम्य खरस्वनाः। विस्वरान्विविधांश्चक्रुर्मांसादा मृगपक्षिणः।।3.23.5।।
Flesheating beasts and birds flocked at Janasthana producing a cacophony.
व्याजह्रुश्च प्रदीप्तायां दिशि वै भैरवस्वनम्। अशिवं यातुधानानां शिवा घोरा महास्वनाः।।3.23.6।।
The dreadful jackals making ghastly howls turning towards the illuminated direction and produced fri...
प्रभिन्नगिरिसङ्काशास्तोयशोणितधारिणः। आकाशं तदनाकाशं चक्रुर्भीमा वलाहकाः।।3.23.7।।
The clouds looked like shattered mountains pouring down bloodlike rain which filled the sky and made...
बभूव तिमिरं घोरमुद्धतं रोमहर्षणम्। दिशो वा विदिशो वापि न च व्यक्तं चकाशिरे।।3.23.8।।
A terrific darkness, spread all over, produced frightening horripilation. Even the four quarters and...
क्षतजार्द्रसवर्णाभा सन्ध्याकालं विना बभौ। खरस्याभिमुखा नेदुस्तदा घोरमृगाः खगाः।।3.23.9।। कङ्कगोमायुग...
Even before Sunset the twilight looked like a fresh wound. Then wild animals, birds, kankas, jackals...
नित्याशुभकरा युद्धे शिवा घोरनिदर्शनाः।।3.23.10।। नेदुर्बलस्याभिमुखं ज्वालोद्गारिभिराननैः।
Bad omens that always bring inauspiciousness were a dreadful evidence of what is going to happen. Ja...
कबन्धः परिघाभासो दृश्यते भास्करान्तिके।।3.23.11।। जग्राह सूर्यं स्वर्भानुरपर्वणि महाग्रहः। प्रवाति म...
The planet Ketu appeared like an iron beam near the Sun. Although it was not the fullmoon or newmoo...
कबन्धः परिघाभासो दृश्यते भास्करान्तिके।।3.23.11।। जग्राह सूर्यं स्वर्भानुरपर्वणि महाग्रहः। प्रवाति म...
The planet Ketu appeared like an iron beam near the Sun. Although it was not the fullmoon or newmoo...
उत्पेतुश्च विना रात्रिं ताराः खद्योतसप्रभाः। संलीनमीनविहगा नलिन्यश्शुष्कपङ्कजाः।।3.23.13।। तस्मिन् क...
The stars rose in the sky and glittered like fireflies even before night arrived. The fishes and the...
उद्धूतश्च विना वातं रेणुर्जलधरारुणः।।3.23.14।। वीचीकूचीति वाश्यन्त्यो बभूवुस्तत्र शारिकाः।
Although there was no wind, dust rose like a brown cloud and the sarika birds sang (vichi kuchi) tho...
उल्काश्चापि सनिर्घाता निपेतुर्घोरदर्शनाः।।3.23.15।। प्रचचाल मही सर्वा सशैलवनकानना।
Dreadful to watch were the thunderstorms and the meteors that dropped down from the sky. The earth t...
खरस्य च रथस्थस्य नर्दमानस्य धीमतः।।3.23.16।। प्राकम्पत भुजस्सव्यस्स्वरश्चास्यावसज्जत।
While the intelligent and courageous Khara was seated on the chariot and shouting, his left shoulder...
सास्रा सम्पद्यते दृष्टिः पश्यमानस्य सर्वतः।।3.23.17।। ललाटे च रुजा जाता न च मोहान्यवर्तत।
While watching all this, his eyes brimmed with tears. His forehead ached. Yet he was too deluded to ...
तान्समीक्षय महोत्पातानुत्थितान्रोमहर्षणान्।।3.23.18।। अब्रवीद्राक्षसान्सर्वान्प्रहसन्सखरस्तदा।
Looking at these dreadful, horripilating occurrences Khara laughed and said to the demons:
महोत्पातानिमान्सर्वानुत्थितान्घोरदर्शनान्।।3.23.19।। न चिन्तयाम्यहं वीर्याद्बलवान्दुर्बलानिव।
Valiant and strong, I do not take seriously these terrifying omens boding calamity just as a strong...
तारा अपि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पातयामि नभस्स्थलात्।।3.23.20।। मृत्युं मरणधर्मेण सङ्क्रुद्धो योजयाम्यहम्।
With my sharp arrows I can even bring down the stars from the sky. If angered, I can cause mortality...
राघवं तं बलोत्सिक्तं भ्रातरं चास्य लक्ष्मणम्।।3.23.21।। अहत्वा सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नोपावर्तितुमुत्सहे।
I do not wish to return, without killing with my sharp arrows that Rama who is proud of his strength...
सकामा भगिनी मेऽस्तु पीत्वा तु रुधिरं तयोः।।3.23.22।। यन्निमित्तस्तु रामस्य लक्ष्मणस्य विपर्ययः।
Let my sister be satisfied by drinking the blood of both Rama and Lakshmana on whose account this ad...
न क्वचित्प्राप्तपूर्वो मे संयुगेषु पराजयः।।3.23.23।। युष्माकमेतत्प्रत्यक्षं नानृतं कथयाम्यहम्।
I have never faced defeat in wars, and all of you have seen it with your eyes. I am not telling you ...
देवराजमपि क्रुद्धो मत्तैरावतयायिनम्।।3.23.24।। वज्रहस्तं रणे हन्यां किं पुनस्तौ कुमानुषौ।
When angry, I can kill even (Indra) the wielder of the thunderbolt, rider of the intoxicated Airavat...
सा तस्य गर्जितं श्रुत्वा राक्षसस्य महाचमूः।।3.23.25।। प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मृत्युपाशावपाशिता।
Fallen into the deathtrap, the great army of the demon, felt very happy on hearing Khara roaring.
समीयुश्च महात्मानो युद्धदर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः।।3.23.26।। ऋषयो देवगन्दर्वास्सिद्धाश्च सहचारणैः।
Great souls like sages, gods, gandharvas, and siddhas including celestial bards assembled to see the...
समेत्य चोचुस्सहितास्तेऽन्योन्यं पुण्यकर्मणः। स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणेभ्योऽस्तु लोकानां येऽभिसङ्गताः।।3.23...
Holy men assembled and uttered benedictions, saying, 'let there be wellbeing for the cows and brahmi...
जयतां राघवस्संख्ये पौलस्त्यान् रजनीचरान्।।3.23.28।। चक्रहस्तो यथा युद्धे सर्वानसुरपुङ्गवान्।
'Let Rama conquer the descendants of Paulasthya in the war like Visnu, the wielder of the wheel had ...
एतच्चान्यच्च बहुशो ब्रुवाणाः परमर्षयः।।3.23.29।। जातकौतूहलास्तत्र विमानस्थाश्च देवताः। ददृशुर्वाहिनी...
The great ascetics were talking thus and more. The gods waiting eagerly on heavenly chariots saw the...
एतच्चान्यच्च बहुशो ब्रुवाणाः परमर्षयः।।3.23.29।। जातकौतूहलास्तत्र विमानस्थाश्च देवताः। ददृशुर्वाहिनी...
The great ascetics were talking thus and more. The gods waiting eagerly on heavenly chariots saw the...
रथेन तु खरो वेगादुग्रसैन्यो विनिस्सृतः। तं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं भूयो राक्षसाश्च विनिस्सृताः।।3.23.31।।
Seeing Khara, their chief on the chariot driving fast, the army of demons too marched forward.
श्येनगामी पृथुग्रीवो यज्ञशत्रुर्विहङ्गमः। दुर्जयः करवीराक्षः परुषः कालकार्मुकः।।3.23.32।। मेघमाली मह...
Surrounded by twelve valiant warriors like Syenagami, Pruthugreeva, Yagnasatru, Vihangama, Durjaya, ...
श्येनगामी पृथुग्रीवो यज्ञशत्रुर्विहङ्गमः। दुर्जयः करवीराक्षः परुषः कालकार्मुकः।।3.23.32।। मेघमाली मह...
Surrounded by twelve valiant warriors like Syenagami, Pruthugreeva, Yagnasatru, Vihangama, Durjaya, ...
महाकपालिस्स्थूलाक्षः प्रमाथी त्रिशिरास्तथा। चत्वार एते सेनान्यो दूषणं पृष्ठतो ययुः।।3.23.34।।
Similarly Dusana proceeded with four Mahakapali, Sthulaksha, Pramathi and Trisira around him.
सा भीमवेगा समराभिकामा महाबला राक्षसवीरसेना। तौ राजपुत्रौ सहसाभ्युपेता माला ग्रहाणामिव चन्द्रसूर्यौ।।...
The mighty, swiftfooted army of valiant demons surrounded the princes (Rama and Lakshmana) all on a ...