Sarga 24

आश्रमं प्रति याते तु खरे खरपराक्रमे। तानेवौत्पातिकान्रामस्सह भ्रात्रा ददर्श ह।।3.24.1।।

When Khara endowed with malicious might was marching towards the hermitage, Rama and his brother saw...

तानुत्पातान्महोघोरानुत्थितान्रोमहर्षणान्। प्रजानामहितान्दृष्ट्वा रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।3.24.2।।

When Rama saw the most dreadful, horripilating phenomena foreboding calamity, he said to Lakshmana:

इमान्पश्य महाबाहो सर्वभूतापहारिणः। समुत्थितान्महोत्पातान्संहर्तुं सर्वराक्षसान्।।3.24.3।।

O longarmed Lakshmana see these calamitous phenomena that forebode mass destruction of men and demon...

अमी रुधिरधारास्तु विसृजन्तः खरस्वनाः। व्योम्नि मेघा विवर्तन्ते परुषा गर्दभारुणाः।।3.24.4।।

These rumbling clouds, brownishred like the colour of a donkey, are moving about in the sky showeri...

सधूमाश्च शरास्सर्वे मम युद्धाभिनन्दिनः। रुक्मपृष्ठानि चापानि विचेष्टन्ते च लक्ष्मण।।3.24.5।।

O Lakshmana all my arrows are smoking and this goldplated bow welcomes me to war.

यादृशा इह कूजन्ति पक्षिणः वनचारिणः। अग्रतो नो भयं प्राप्तं संशयो जीवितस्य च।।3.24.6।।

The way the forestbirds are screeching makes me foresee danger and makes survival doubtful.

सम्प्रहारस्तु सुमहान्भविष्यति न संशयः। अयमाख्याति मे बाहुस्स्फुरमाणो मुहुर्मुहुः।।3.24.7।। सन्निकर्ष...

A mass destruction of life is going to take place. There is no doubt about it. O brave Lakshmana my ...

सम्प्रहारस्तु सुमहान्भविष्यति न संशयः। अयमाख्याति मे बाहुस्स्फुरमाणो मुहुर्मुहुः।।3.24.7।। सन्निकर्ष...

A mass destruction of life is going to take place. There is no doubt about it. O brave Lakshmana my ...

उद्यतानां हि युद्धार्थं येषां भवति लक्ष्मण। निष्प्रभं वदनं तेषां भवत्यायुः परिक्षयः।।3.24.9।।

O Lakshmana, while preparing for war, those whose faces look pale are, for sure, going to die.

रक्षसां नर्दतां घोरश्श्रूयते च महाध्वनिः। आहतानां च भेरीणां राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः।।3.24.10।।

A dreadful roar of demons and the loud sound of wardrums beaten by the wicked demons are heard.

अनागतविधानं तु कर्तव्यं शुभमिच्छता। आपदं शङ्कमानेन पुरुषेण विपश्चिता।।3.24.11।।

A wise man who apprehends danger or one who desires his own good should plan his defence even before...

तस्माद्गृहीत्वा वैदेहीं शरपाणिर्धनुर्धरः। गुहामाश्रय शैलस्य दुर्गां पादपसङ्कुलाम्।।3.24.12।।

Therefore, take shelter along with Sita in the inaccessible mountain cave, overgrown with trees, rea...

प्रतिकूलितुमिच्छामि न हि वाक्यमिदं त्वया। शापितो मम पादाभ्यां गम्यतां वत्स मा चिरम्।।3.24.13।।

O dear, I do not like you to oppose this word of honour. You must touch my feet and go without delay...

त्वं हि शूरश्च बलवान्हन्याह्येतान्न संशयः। स्वयं तु हन्तुमिच्छामि सर्वानेव निशाचरान्।।3.24.14।।

You are valiant and strong. There is no doubt that you can kill all these demons. But I desire to ki...

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणस्सह सीताया। शरानादाय चापं च गुहां दुर्गां समाश्रयत्।।3.24.15।।

Thus ordered by Rama, Lakshmana took the arrows and the bow and accompanied by Sita took shelter in ...

तस्मिन्प्रविष्टे तु गुहां लक्ष्मणे सह सीतया। हन्त निर्युक्तमित्युक्त्वा रामः कवचमाविशत्।।3.24.16।।

With Lakshmana and Sita inside the cave, Rama heaved his shield, saying, Oh the work is accomplished...

स तेनाग्नि निकाशेन कवचेन विभूषितः। बभूव राम स्तिमिरे विधूमोऽग्निरिवोत्थितः।।3.24.17।।

Adorned with the shield, Rama shone like smokeless fire rising in darkness.

स चापमुद्यम्य महच्छरानादाय वीर्यवान्। बभूवावस्थितस्तत्र ज्यास्वनैः पूरयन्दिशः।।3.24.18।।

Valiant Rama lifted the huge bow and arrows and stood there, filling the directions with the twangs ...

ततो देवास्सगन्धर्वास्सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः। समेयुश्च महात्मानो युद्धदर्शनकाङ्क्षिणः।।3.24.19।।

Then the gods along with gandharvas, siddhas, and celestial bards assembled there, wishing to witnes...

ऋषयश्च महात्मानो लोके ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमाः। समेत्य चोचुस्सहिता अन्योन्यं पुण्यकर्मणः।।3.24.20।।

Great ascetics of the world, distinguished brahmarsis, accomplishers of pious deeds assembled and sa...

स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणेभ्योऽस्तु लोकानां येऽभिसङ्गताः। जयतां राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनीचरान्।।3.24.21...

'Let there be wellbeing for the cows, brahmins, and all the worlds. Let Rama, the scion of the Raghu...

एवमुक्त्वा पुनः प्रोचुरालोक्य च परस्परम्।।3.24.22।। चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। एकश्च रामो...

Thus looking at one another they discussed among themselves how there can be war between the righteo...

एवमुक्त्वा पुनः प्रोचुरालोक्य च परस्परम्।।3.24.22।। चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्। एकश्च रामो...

Thus looking at one another they discussed among themselves how there can be war between the righteo...

इति राजर्षयस्सिद्धास्सगणाश्च द्विजर्षभाः। जातकौतूहलास्तस्थुर्विमानस्थाश्च देवताः।।3.24.24।।

Rajarsis, siddhas, great brahmins with their clan and gods on the celestial chariots waited to see t...

आविष्टं तेजसा रामं सङ्ग्रामशिरसि स्थितम्। दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि भयाद्विव्यथिरे तदा।।3.24.25।।

Seeing Rama standing on the war front, engrossed and radiating heroic lustre, all beings were alarme...

रूपमप्रतिमं तस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। बभूव रूपं क्रुद्धस्य रुद्रस्येव पिनाकिनः।।3.24.26।।

Rama, who is unwearied in action and who is of an incomparable (lovely) form, looked ferocious like ...

ततो गम्भीरनिर्ह्रादं घोरवर्मायुधध्वजम्। अनीकं यातुधानानां समन्तात्प्रत्यदृश्यत।।3.24.27।।

Then appeared on all sides the wellequipped army of demons raising deep sounds with dreadful shields...

सिंहनादं विसृजतामन्योन्यमभिगर्जताम्। चापानि विस्फ़ारयतां जृम्भतामप्यभीक्ष्णशः।।3.24.28।। विप्रघुष्टस...

The forest was filled with tumultuous sounds of the warriors roaring like lions, shouting at one an...

सिंहनादं विसृजतामन्योन्यमभिगर्जताम्। चापानि विस्फ़ारयतां जृम्भतामप्यभीक्ष्णशः।।3.24.28।। विप्रघुष्टस...

The forest was filled with tumultuous sounds of the warriors roaring like lions, shouting at one an...

तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ताश्वापदा वनचारिणः। दुद्रुवुर्यत्र निश्शब्दं पृष्ठतो न व्यलोकयन्।।3.24.30।।

The ferocious animals of the forest got frightened and ran away to silent spots without looking back...

तत्त्वनीकं महाघोरं रामं समुपसर्पत। धृतनानाप्रहरणं गम्भीरं सागरोपमम्।।3.24.31।।

The fierce army, deep like the sea, equipped with various missiles approached Rama.

रामोऽपि चारयंश्चक्षुस्सर्वतो रणपण्डितः। ददर्श खरसैन्यं तद्युद्धाभिमुखमुत्थितम्।।3.24.32।।

Rama, wellversed in warfare, cast his eyes on all sides to see the army of Khara that had come prepa...

वितत्य च धनुर्भीमं तूण्याश्चोद्धृत्य सायकान्। क्रोधमाहारयत्तीव्रं वधार्थं सर्वरक्षसाम्।।3.24.33।।

Rama stretched the formidable bow and lifted the arrows from his quiver to kill the demons and assum...

दुष्प्रेक्ष्यस्सोऽभवत्कृद्धो युगान्ताग्निरिव ज्वलन्। तं दृष्ट्वा तेजसाविष्टं प्राद्रवन्वनदेवताः।।3.2...

Rama stood burning in anger like the fire of the doom's day. It was difficult even to look at him. S...

तस्य क्रुद्धस्य रूपं तु रामस्य ददृशे तदा। दक्षस्येव क्रतुं हन्तुमुद्यतस्य पिनाकिनः।।3.24.35।।

Rama in anger looked like Lord Siva ready to destroy the sacrifice of Daksha.

आविष्टं तेजसा रामं सङ्ग्रामशिरसि स्थितम्। दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि भयार्तानि प्रदुद्रुवुः।।3.24.36।।

Seeing Rama flashing (in anger) and standing on the warfront all creatures ran away frightened.

तत्कार्मुकैराभरणैर्ध्वजैश्च तैर्वर्मभिश्चाग्निसमानवर्णैः। बभूव सैन्यं पिशिताशनानां सूर्योदये नीलमिवा...

The army of demons equipped with blazing armour, bows and banners appeared like a mass of blue cloud...