Sarga 24

तत: प्रभाते विमले कृताह्निकमरिन्दमौ। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य नद्यास्तीरमुपागतौ।।1.24.1।।

Thereafter the destroyers of foes, Rama and Lakshmana offering their morning oblations on that brigh...

ते च सर्वे महात्मानो मुनयस्संश्रितव्रता:। उपस्थाप्य शुभां नावं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन्।।1.24.2।।

All the highminded ascetics and strict followers of vows secured an auspicious boat for them and add...

आरोहतु भवान्नावं राजपुत्रपुरस्कृत:। अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं मा भूत्कालविपर्यय:।।1.24.3।।

With the princes ahead of you, board the boat. Tread the safe path. Let there be no loss of time.

विश्वामित्रस्तथेत्युक्तवा तानृषीनभिपूज्य च। ततार सहितस्ताभ्यां सरितं सागरङ्गमाम्।।1.24.4।।

"Be it so", said Viswamitra and paid respect to all those sages. And accompanied by them (Rama and L...

ततश्शुश्राव वै शब्दमतिसंरम्भवर्धितम्। मध्यमागम्य तोयस्य सह राम:कनीयसा।।1.24.5।।

As they reached the midstream, Rama and his younger brother heard a sound greatly augmented by the ...

अथ रामस्सरिन्मध्ये पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्। वारिणो भिद्यमानस्य किमयं तुमुलो ध्वनि:।।1.24.6।।

Rama enquired of Viswamitra, the best of sages, "What is this tumultuous sound bursting out of the ...

राघवस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा कौतूहलसमन्वित:। कथयामास धर्मात्मा तस्य शब्दस्य निश्चयम्।।1.24.7।।

At the words of Rama filled with curiosity, the righteous (Viswamitra) narrated the true nature of t...

कैलासपर्वते राम मनसा निर्मितं सर:। ब्रह्मणा नरशार्दूल तेनेदं मानसं सर:।।1.24.8।।

"O tiger among men, Rama. Brahma created out of his mind a lake on mount Kailas and so that lake is ...

तस्मात्सुस्राव सरसस्सायोध्यामुपगूहते । सर प्रवृत्ता सरयू: पुण्या ब्रह्मसरश्च्युता।।1.24.9।।

This river which flows from Manasa Sarovara is, therefore, known as 'Sarayu'. It surrounds Ayodhya....

तस्यायमतुलश्शब्दो जाह्नवीमभिवर्तते। वारिसङ्क्षोभजो राम प्रणामं नियत:कुरु।।1.24.10।।

When Ganga approaches this river (Sarayu), there is a clash of waters and this great noise is produc...

ताभ्यां तु तावुभौ कृत्वा प्रणाममतिधार्मिकौ। तीरं दक्षिणमासाद्य जग्मतुर्लघुविक्रमौ।।1.24.11।।

Deeply religious (in nature) they both made obeisance to the two rivers and reached the southern ban...

स वनं घोरसङ्काशं दृष्ट्वा नृपवरात्मज:। अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाक: पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.24.12।।

He who was a descendent of Ikshvaku and son of the best of kings, (Dasaratha) having seen that untro...

अहो वनमिदं दुर्गं झिल्लिकागणनादितम्। भैरवैश्शपदै: पूर्णं शकुन्तैर्दारुणारुतै:।।1.24.13।।

"What a wonder This inaccessible forest echoes with the (shrill) chirpings of crickets It is filled ...

नानाप्रकारैश्शकुनै र्वाश्यद्भिर्भैरवस्वनै:। सिंहव्याघ्रवराहैश्च वारणैश्चोपशोभितम्।।1.24.14।।

"It resounds with the frightful shricks of various kinds of birds. Lions, tigers, boars and elephant...

धवाश्वकर्णककुभैर्बिल्वतिन्दुकपाटलै:। सङ्कीर्णं बदरीभिश्च किन्न्वेतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.15।।

This forest jampacked with dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, patala and badari trees, how ...

तमुवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:। श्रूयतां वत्स काकुत्स्थ यस्यैतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.16।।

Viswamitra, the great sage radiating energy addressing Rama said, "O child of kakusthsa dynasty I sh...

एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ पूर्वमास्तां नरोत्तम। मलदाश्च करूशाश्च देवनिर्माणनिर्मितौ।।1.24.17।।

O best among men, formerly these two large and prosperous cities called Malada and Karusha built by ...

पुरा वृत्रवधे राम मलेन समभिप्लुतम्। क्षुधा चैव सहस्राक्षं ब्रह्महत्या समाविशत्।।1.24.18।।

O Rama, in ancient times after killing Vritrasura, Indra was overpowered by the sin of slaying a bra...

तमिन्द्रं स्नापयन् देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधना:। कलशैस्स्नापयामासुर्मलं चास्य प्रमोचयन्।।1.24.19।।

Devas and rishis endowed with the wealth of asceticism bathed Indra with the (consecrated) waters (b...

इह भूम्यां मलं दत्वा दत्वा कारूशमेव च। शरीरजं महेन्द्रस्य ततो हर्षं प्रपेदिरे।।1.24.20।।

With the hunger and the taint and impurity from the body of Mahendra removed at this place, the deva...

निर्मलो निष्करूशश्च शुचिरिंन्द्रो यदाभवत्। ददौ देशस्य सुप्रीतो वरं प्रभुरनुत्तमम्।।1.24.21।।

Cleansed of his impurities and his hunger gone, Indra once again became pure. Allpowerful Indra high...

इमौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यत:। मलदाश्च करूशाश्च ममाङ्गमलधारिणौ।।1.24.22।।

Indra blessed the place saying, 'Having absorbed impurities of my body, let these places be extremel...

साधु साध्विति तं देवा: पाकशासनमब्रुवन्। देशस्य पूजां तां दृष्ट्वा कृतां शक्रेण धीमता।।1.24.23।।

Having seen the honour bestowed on that land by the wise Indra, the gods said to him, 'Well done, We...

एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ दीर्घकालमरिन्दम। मलदाश्च करूशाश्च मुदितौ धनधान्यत:।।1.24.24।।

O Destroyers of enemies these prosperous townships, Malada and Karusha looked cheerful with (bumper)...

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी वै कामरूपिणी। बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्ती तदा ह्यभूत्।।1.24.25।। ताटका नाम भद...

Then, after a lapse of several years, O gentle one a terrible yakshini by name Tataka, wife of intel...

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी वै कामरूपिणी। बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्ती तदा ह्यभूत्।।1.24.25।। ताटका नाम भद...

Then, after a lapse of several years, O gentle one a terrible yakshini by name Tataka, wife of intel...

वृत्तबाहुर्महावीर्यो विपुलास्य तनुर्महान्। राक्षसो भैरवाकारो नित्यं त्रासयते प्रजा:।।1.24.27।।

The arms (of Maricha) are round and strong. He is highly energetic. He has a large face and a huge b...

इमौ जनपदौ नित्यं विनाशयति राघव। मलदांश्च करूशांश्च ताटका दुष्टचारिणी।।1.24.28।।

"O Rama that wicked than Tataka carried on her depredations at regular intervals in these locations,...

सेयं पन्थानमावृत्य वसत्यध्यर्धयोजने। अत एव न गन्तव्यं ताटकाया वनं यत:।।1.24.29।।

Tataka lives at a distance of one and a half yojanas from here obstructing the path. Since Tataka dw...

स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य जहीमां दुष्टचारिणीम्। मन्नियोगादिमं देशं कुरु निष्कण्टकं पुन:।।1.24.30।।

"By the strength of your arms slay this one of wicked deeds. Comply with my orders and make this co...

न हि कश्चिदिमं देशं शक्नोत्यागन्तुमीदृशम्। यक्षिण्या घोरया राम उत्सादितमसह्यया।।1.24.31।।

O Rama none dare approach this country ravaged by such dreadful, intolerable yakshini.

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथैतद्दारुणं वनम्। यक्ष्या चोत्सादितं सर्वमद्यापि न निवर्तते।।1.24.32।।

You have been told the manner in which this fierce forest is entirely ruined by that cruel yakshini....