Sarga 95

Verse 1

तानितानिसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।रथानांत्वग्निवर्णानांसध्वजानांसहस्रशः ।।।।राक्षसानांसहस्राणिगदापरिघयोधिनाम् ।काञ्चनध्वजचित्राणांशूराणांकामरूपिणाम् ।।।।निहतानिशरैर्दीस्तीक्ष्णैस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।रावणेनप्रयुक्तानिरामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ।।।।

Thousands upon thousands of chariots—bannered and yoked to horses the color of fire—along with thousands of rākṣasa warriors who fought with maces and iron bars, whose banners gleamed with gold, heroic and able to assume forms at will, were slain by Rama of untiring action, with blazing, sharp arrows adorned with heated gold—forces that had been deployed by Rāvaṇa.

Verse 2

तानितानिसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।रथानांत्वग्निवर्णानांसध्वजानांसहस्रशः ।।6.95.1।।राक्षसानांसहस्राणिगदापरिघयोधिनाम् ।काञ्चनध्वजचित्राणांशूराणांकामरूपिणाम् ।।6.95.2।।निहतानिशरैर्दीस्तीक्ष्णैस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।रावणेनप्रयुक्तानिरामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ।।6.95.3।।

Thousands of Rākṣasa warriors—fighters wielding maces and iron bars, splendid with golden banners and ornamented emblems—those brave ones, able to assume forms at will, were struck down in the battle.

Verse 3

तानितानिसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।रथानांत्वग्निवर्णानांसध्वजानांसहस्रशः ।।6.95.1।।राक्षसानांसहस्राणिगदापरिघयोधिनाम् ।काञ्चनध्वजचित्राणांशूराणांकामरूपिणाम् ।।6.95.2।।निहतानिशरैर्दीस्तीक्ष्णैस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।रावणेनप्रयुक्तानिरामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ।।6.95.3।।

Those forces dispatched by Rāvaṇa were cut down by Rāma—unceasing in action—using blazing, razor-sharp arrows adorned with heated gold.

Verse 4

दृष्टवाश्रुत्वा च सम्भ्रान्ताहतशेषानिशाचराः ।राक्षसीश्चसमागम्यदीनाश्चिन्तापरिप्लुताः ।।।।विधवाहतपुत्राश्चक्रोशन्त्योहतबान्दवाः ।राक्षस्यःसहसङ्गम्यदुःखार्ताःपर्यदेवयन् ।।।।

Seeing and hearing what had happened, the surviving night-rangers were shaken. The rākṣasī women gathered together—wretched and flooded with anguish. Widowed, with sons and kinsmen slain, they cried out and, assembling in groups, lamented in grief.

Verse 5

दृष्टवाश्रुत्वा च सम्भ्रान्ताहतशेषानिशाचराः ।राक्षसीश्चसमागम्यदीनाश्चिन्तापरिप्लुताः ।।6.95.4।।विधवाहतपुत्राश्चक्रोशन्त्योहतबान्दवाः ।राक्षस्यःसहसङ्गम्यदुःखार्ताःपर्यदेवयन् ।।6.95.5।।

How did the aged Śūrpaṇakhā—dreadful and hideous—approach Rāma in the forest, he whose beauty was like Kāma himself?

Verse 6

कथंशूर्पणखावृद्धाकरालानिर्णतोदरी ।आससादवनेरामंकन्दर्पमिवरूपिणम् ।।।।

How did the aged Śūrpaṇakhā—dreadful and hideous—approach Rāma in the forest, he whose beauty was like Kāma himself?

Verse 7

सुकुमारंमहासत्त्वंसर्वभूतहितेरतम् ।तंदृष्टवालोकनिन्द्यासाहीनरूपाप्रकामिता ।।।।

Seeing him—gentle, noble in spirit, and devoted to the welfare of all beings—that ugly woman, blameworthy in the eyes of the world, was inflamed with passion.

Verse 8

कथंसर्वगुणैर्हीनागुणवन्तंमहौजसम् ।सुमुखंदुर्मुखीरामंकामयामासराक्षसी ।।।।

How did that rākṣasī—bereft of virtues and foul-faced—dare to desire Rāma, who was virtuous, mighty in splendor, and fair of countenance?

Verse 9

जनस्यास्याल्पभाग्यत्वाद्वलिनीश्वेतमूर्धजा ।अकार्यमपहास्यं च सर्वलोकविगर्हितम् ।।।।राक्षसानांविनाशायदूषणस्यखरस्य च ।चकाराप्रतिरूपासाराघवस्यप्रधर्षणम् ।।।।

Because this people’s fortune was small, that wrinkled, grey-haired, misshapen woman committed a wrongful act—ridiculous and condemned by all. By assaulting Rāghava, she became the cause of destruction for the rākṣasas, and for Dūṣaṇa and Khara as well.

Verse 10

जनस्यास्याल्पभाग्यत्वाद्वलिनीश्वेतमूर्धजा ।अकार्यमपहास्यं च सर्वलोकविगर्हितम् ।।6.95.9।।राक्षसानांविनाशायदूषणस्यखरस्य च ।चकाराप्रतिरूपासाराघवस्यप्रधर्षणम् ।।6.95.10।।

That misshapen (Śūrpaṇakhā), by her reckless assault on Rāghava, became the very cause of the destruction of the rākṣasas—of Khara and Dūṣaṇa as well.

Verse 11

तन्निमित्तमिदंवैरंरावणेनकृतंमहत् ।वधायसीतासासीतादशग्रीवेणरक्षसा ।।।।

For that very reason, Rāvaṇa has brought about this great enmity; and that Sītā—Janaka’s daughter—was carried off by the ten-necked rākṣasa, sealing the way to his own destruction.

Verse 12

न च सीतांदशग्रीवःप्राप्नोतिजनकात्मजाम् ।बद्धंबलवतावैरमक्षयंराघवेण च ।।।।

And Daśagrīva shall not have Sītā, Janaka’s daughter; for by this forcible act an undying enmity has been bound fast with Rāghava.

Verse 13

वैदेहींप्रार्थयानंतंविराधंप्रेक्षयराक्षसम् ।हतमेकेनरामेणपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।

Seeing that rākṣasa Virādha pursuing Vaidehī, Rāma slew him single-handed; that alone is proof enough (of his power).

Verse 14

चतुर्धशसहस्राणिरक्षसांभीमकर्मणाम् ।निहतानिजनस्थानेशरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ।।।।

At Janasthāna, fourteen thousand rākṣasas of dreadful deeds were destroyed by his arrows, like tongues of fire.

Verse 15

खरश्चनिहतःसङ्ख्येदूषणस्त्रिशिरास्तथा ।शरैरादितसङ्काशैःपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।

In battle, Khara was slain—and so too Dūṣaṇa and Triśiras—by arrows radiant as the sun; that is proof enough.

Verse 16

हतोयोजनबाहुश्चकबन्दोरुदिराशनः ।क्रोधान्नादंनदन् सोऽथपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।

And Kabandha too—blood-eating, with arms a yojana long—came roaring in wrath, yet was slain; that also is proof enough.

Verse 17

जघानबलिनंरामस्सहस्रनयनात्मजम् ।वालिनंमेरुसङ्काशंपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।

Rāma slew the mighty Vālin, son of Sahasranayana (Indra), who was like Mount Meru; that is proof enough.

Verse 18

ऋष्यमूकेवसंश्चैवदीनोभग्नमनोरथः ।सुग्रीवःप्रापितोराज्यंपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।

Sugrīva—dwelling on Ṛṣyamūka, dejected and with hopes shattered—was restored to his kingdom; that is proof enough.

Verse 19

धर्मार्थसहितंवाक्यंसर्वेषांरक्षसांहितम् ।युक्तंविभीषणेनोक्तंमोहत्तस्य न रोचते ।।।।

Though Vibhīṣaṇa spoke words grounded in dharma and sound policy—words beneficial to all the rākṣasas—Rāvaṇa, deluded, took no delight in them and would not accept them.

Verse 20

विभीषणवचःकुर्याद्यदिस्मधनदानुजः ।श्मशानभूतादुःखार्तानेयंलङ्काभविष्यति ।।।।

Had the younger brother of Kubera truly heeded Vibhīṣaṇa’s counsel, this Lanka would not have become a cremation-ground, afflicted with grief.

Verse 21

कुम्भकर्णंहतंश्रुत्वाराघवेणमहाबलम् ।अतिकायं च दुर्मर्षंलक्ष्मणेनहतंतदा ।।।।प्रियंचेन्द्रजितंपुत्रंरावणोनावबुध्यते ।

Even after hearing that mighty Kumbhakarṇa was slain by Rāghava, and that Atikāya—hard to withstand—was then killed by Lakṣmaṇa, and that his beloved son Indrajit too had fallen, Rāvaṇa still did not come to his senses.

Verse 22

ममपुत्रोममभ्राताममभर्तारणेहतः ।।।।इत्येषश्रूयतेशब्दोराक्षसीनांकुलेकुले ।

“My son is slain; my brother is slain; my husband is slain in battle”—such cries were heard, in family after family, among the Rākṣasa women.

Verse 23

रथश्चाश्वाश्चनागाश्चहताःशतसहस्रशः ।।।।रणेरामेणशूरेणहताश्चापिपदातयः ।

Chariots, horses, and elephants were destroyed in hundreds and thousands; and in that battle, even the foot-soldiers were slain by the heroic Rāma.

Verse 24

रुद्रोवायदिवाविष्णुर्महेन्द्रोवाशतक्रतुः ।।।।हन्तिनोरामरूपेणयदिवास्वयमन्तकः ।

Is it Rudra, or Viṣṇu, or great Indra of a hundred sacrifices—or is it Death itself—that, in the form of Rāma, is slaying us?

Verse 25

हतप्रवीरारामेणनिराशाजीवितेवयम् ।।।।अपश्य्नत्योभयस्यान्तमनाथाविलपामहे ।

With our foremost heroes slain by Rāma, we have lost hope of life; unable to see any end to this terror, we wail like the unprotected.

Verse 26

रामहस्ताद्धशग्रीवश्शूरोदत्तमहावरः ।।।।इदंभयंमहाघोरंसमुत्पन्नं न बुध्यते ।

Daśagrīva—though a famed warrior, though fortified by mighty boons—does not recognize the most dreadful danger that has arisen from the hand of Rāma.

Verse 27

तं न देवा न गन्धर्वा न पिशाचा न राक्षसाः ।।।।उपसृष्टंपरित्रातुंशक्तारामेणसम्युगे ।

When he is assailed by Rāma in battle, neither gods nor Gandharvas, neither Piśācas nor even Rākṣasas are able to protect him.

Verse 28

त्पताश्चापिदृश्यन्तेरावणस्यरणेरणे ।।।।कथयन्तिहिरामेणरावणस्यनिबर्हणम् ।

In battle after battle, ominous portents are seen for Rāvaṇa; indeed, they foretell Rāvaṇa’s destruction at the hands of Rāma.

Verse 29

पितामहेनप्रीतेनदेवदानवराक्षसैः ।।।।रावणस्याभयंदत्तंमनुष्येभ्यो न याचितम् ।

Brahmā, being pleased, granted Rāvaṇa immunity from the Devas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas; but protection from human beings was not asked for.

Verse 30

तदिदंमानुषंमन्येप्राप्तंनिःसंशयंभयम् ।।।।जीवितान्तकंघोरंरक्षसांरावणस्य च ।

Therefore, I think this fear arising from a human has surely come—terrible, ending life—for the Rākṣasas and for Rāvaṇa as well.

Verse 31

पीड्यमानास्तुबलिनावरदानेनरक्षसा ।।।।दीप्स्सैस्तपोभिर्विबुधाःपितामहमपूजयन् ।

Oppressed by the mighty Rākṣasa empowered by a boon, the wise gods worshipped Brahmā with blazing austerities.

Verse 32

देवतानांहितार्थायमहात्मावैपितामहः ।।।।उवाचदेवताःसर्वाइदंतुष्टोमहद्वचः ।

For the welfare of the gods, the great-souled Brahmā—gratified—addressed all the deities with these weighty words.

Verse 33

अद्यप्रभृतिलोकांस्त्रीन् सर्वेदानवराक्षसाः ।।।।भयेनप्रावृतानित्यंविचरिष्यन्तिशाश्वतम् ।

From this day onward, all Dānavas and Rākṣasas will roam the three worlds, ever enveloped in fear, for a long time to come.

Verse 34

दैवतैस्तुसमागम्यसर्वैश्चेन्द्रपुरोगमैः ।।।।वृषध्वजस्त्रिपुरहामहादेवःप्रसादितः ।

Then all the gods, with Indra at their head, assembled and propitiated Mahādeva—bull-bannered, the slayer of Tripura.

Verse 35

प्रसन्नस्तुमहादेवोदेवानेतद्वचोऽब्रवीत् ।।।।उत्पत्स्यतिहितार्थंवोनारीरक्षःक्षयावहा ।

Pleased, Mahādeva spoke to the gods: “For your welfare, a woman will be born—one who will bring about the destruction of the Rākṣasas.”

Verse 36

एषादेवैःप्रयुक्तातुक्षुद्यथादानवान् पुरा ।।।।भक्षयिष्यतिनःसीताराक्षसघ्नीसरावणान् ।

This Sītā—set in motion by the gods—will consume the Rākṣasas along with Rāvaṇa, just as hunger once consumed the Dānavas.

Verse 37

रावणस्यापनीतेनदुर्विनीतस्यदुर्मतेः ।।।।अयंनिष्टानकोघोरंशोकेनसमभिप्लुतः ।

Because of the wicked deed of Rāvaṇa—ill-disciplined and evil-minded—this dreadful catastrophe, flooded with grief, now looms upon us.

Verse 38

तंन पश्यामहेलोकेयोनःशरणदोभवेत् ।।।।राघवेणोपसृष्टानां कालेनेव युगक्षये ।

Assailed by Rāghava, we see no one in this world who could now grant us refuge—just as, at the end of an age, beings are overwhelmed by Time itself.

Verse 39

नास्तिनःशरणंकश्चिद्भयेमहतितिष्ठताम् ।।।।दावाग्निवेष्टितानांहिकरेणूनांयथावने ।

For us who stand amid this great terror, there is truly no refuge—like female elephants in a forest surrounded by a raging wildfire.

Verse 40

प्राप्तकालंकृतंतेनपौलस्त्येनमहात्मना ।।।।यतएवंभयंदृष्टंतमेवशरणंगतः ।

That great-souled one of the Paulastya line, seeing fear in this form and judging the time to be ripe, went to him alone for refuge.

Verse 41

इतीवसर्वारजनीचरस्त्रियःपरस्परंसम्परिरभ्यबाहुभिः ।विषेदुरार्तातिभयाभिपीडिताविनेदुरुच्चैश्चतदासुदारुणम् ।।।।

Thus, all the women of the night-rangers, clasping one another in their arms, sank into despair; tormented by extreme fear, they then wailed loudly in a dreadsome manner.