Sarga 4

Verse 3.4.1

ह्रियमाणौ तु तौ दृष्ट्वा वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ।उच्चैस्स्वरेण चुक्रोश प्रगृह्य सुमहाजाभुजौ।।।।

O tiger among men, this rākṣasa cannot be overcome in battle by weapons, for he is fortified by austerities; therefore let us bury this demon.

Verse 3.4.2

एष दाशरथी रामः सत्यवान् शीलवान् शुचिः।रक्षसा रौद्ररूपेण ह्रियते सहलक्ष्मणः।।3.4.2।।

This is Rāma, Daśaratha’s son—truthful, well-conducted, and pure—being carried off by a rākṣasa of dreadful form, along with Lakṣmaṇa.

Verse 3.4.3

मामृका भक्षयिष्यन्ति शार्दूलाद्वीपिनस्तथा।मां हरोत्सृज काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तम।।।।

“Here wild bears will devour me, and likewise tigers and panthers. O scions of Kakutstha, release me; I bow to you, O best among rākṣasas.”

Verse 3.4.4

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ।वेगं प्रचक्रतुर्वीरौ वधे तस्य दुरात्मनः।।।।

Though pierced by many arrows, slashed by two swords, and crushed in many ways upon the ground, that rākṣasa still did not die.

Verse 3.4.5

तस्य रौद्रस्य सौमित्रिः सव्यं बाहुं बभञ्ज ह।रामस्तु दक्षिणं बाहुं तरसा तस्य रक्षसः।।।।

Indeed, Virādha himself—the wanderer of the forest—revealed the truth: though Rāma sought to bring about his death by force, “my killing by weapons will not be possible.”

Verse 3.4.6

स भग्नबाहुस्सविग्नो निपपाताशु राक्षसः।धरण्यां मेघसङ्काशो वज्रभिन्न इवाचलः।।।।

Hearing those very words, Rāma resolved to consign him into a pit; and as the exceedingly strong rākṣasa was being forced into it by Rāma, the forest rang out with his cries.

Verse 3.4.7

मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिः पद्भिः सूदयन्तौ तु राक्षसम्।उद्यम्योद्यम्य चाप्येनं स्थण्डिले निष्पिपेषतुः।।।।

Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, as though radiant with joy, slew Virādha and cast him into a cleft of the earth; fearless in that great forest, they covered the rākṣasa with rocks.

Verse 3.4.8

स विद्धो बहुभिर्बाणैः खङ्गाभ्यां च परिक्षतः।निष्पिष्टो बहुधा भूमौ न ममार स राक्षसः।।।।

Then, after slaying the rākṣasa, the two—bearing splendid bows adorned with gold—took Maithilī with them and wandered joyfully in the great forest, like the Moon and the Sun standing in the sky.

Verse 3.4.9

तं प्रेक्ष्य रामः सुभृशमवध्यमचलोपमम्।भयेष्वभयदश्श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Seeing him—mountain-like and seemingly unkillable even after being grievously wounded—illustrious Rāma, a giver of fearlessness amid dangers, spoke these words.

Verse 3.4.10

तपसा पुरुषव्याघ्र राक्षसोऽयं न शक्यते।शस्त्रेण युधि निर्जेतुं राक्षसं निखनावहे।।।।

O tiger among men, this demon cannot be conquered in battle with weapons due to the power of his penance; therefore let us bury him.

Verse 3.4.11

कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण।वनेऽस्मिन् सुमहच्छ्वभ्रं खन्यतां रौद्रवर्चसः।।।।

Lakṣmaṇa, dig in this forest a very deep pit for this rākṣasa—fierce like an elephant, blazing with a dreadful radiance.

Verse 3.4.12

इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति।तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान्।।।।

Having thus spoken to Lakṣmaṇa—“Let a cleft be dug”—the mighty Rāma stood with his foot pressed upon Virādha’s neck, holding him down.

Verse 3.4.13

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं राक्षसः प्रश्रितं वचः।इदं प्रोवाच काकुत्थ्सं विराधः पुरुषर्षभम्।।।।

Hearing what Rāghava had said, the rākṣasa Virādha addressed the Kakutstha—best among men—with words of humility.

Verse 3.4.14

हतोऽस्मि पुरुषव्याघ्र शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै।मया तु पूर्वं त्वं मोहान्न ज्ञातः पुरुषर्षभ।।।।

I am slain, O tiger among men; your strength is truly like Indra’s. O best of men, through delusion I did not recognize you earlier.

Verse 3.4.15

कौसल्यासुप्रजा राम तातस्त्वं विदितो मया।वैदेही च महाभागा लक्ष्मणश्च महायशाः।।।।

O Rāma, noble son of Kausalyā—dear one—I now know you. And Vaidehī is a great lady; Lakṣmaṇa too is of great renown.

Verse 3.4.16

अभिशापादहं घोरां प्रविष्टो राक्षसीं तनुम्।तुम्बुरुर्नाम गन्धर्वः शप्तो वैश्रवणेन ह।।।।

Through a curse I entered this terrible rākṣasa body. I am the Gandharva named Tumburu, cursed by Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera).

Verse 3.4.17

प्रसाद्यमानश्च मया सोऽब्रवीन्मां महायशाः।यदा दाशरथी रामस्त्वां वधिष्यति संयुगे।तदा प्रकृतिमापन्नो भवान्स्वर्गं गमिष्यति।।।।

When I tried to appease him, that illustrious lord told me: ‘When Rāma, son of Daśaratha, kills you in battle, then restored to your true nature you will go to heaven.’

Verse 3.4.18

अनुपस्थीयमानो मां स क्रुद्धो व्याजहार ह।इति वैश्रवणो राजा रम्भासक्तमुवाच ह।।।।

When I failed to attend upon him, he grew angry and spoke thus—King Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera) addressed me, for I was infatuated with Rambhā.

Verse 3.4.19

तव प्रसादान्मुक्तोऽहमिहशापात्सुदारुणात्।भुवनं स्वं गमिष्यामि स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु परन्तप।।।।

By your grace I am freed here from this most dreadful curse. I shall go to my own abode; may well-being be yours, O scorcher of foes.

Verse 3.4.20

इतो वसति धर्मात्मा शरभङ्गः प्रतापवान्।।।।अध्यर्धयोजने तात महर्षिस्सूर्यसन्निभः।तं क्षिप्रमधिगच्छ त्वं स ते श्रेयोऽभिधास्यति।।।।

Not far from here dwells Śarabhaṅga—righteous in spirit and mighty in ascetic power.

Verse 3.4.21

इतो वसति धर्मात्मा शरभङ्गः प्रतापवान्।।3.4.20।।अध्यर्धयोजने तात महर्षिस्सूर्यसन्निभः।तं क्षिप्रमधिगच्छ त्वं स ते श्रेयोऽभिधास्यति।।3.4.21।।

Dear one, that great seer—radiant like the Sun—dwells a yojana and a half from here. Go to him quickly; he will declare to you what is truly for your welfare.

Verse 3.4.22

अवटे चापि मां राम प्रक्षिप्य कुशली व्रज।रक्षसां गतसत्त्वानामेष धर्मस्ससनातनः।अवटे ये निधीयन्ते तेषां लोकास्सनातनाः।।।।

Rāma, cast me into a pit and go on in safety. For dead rākṣasas this is the ancient ordinance: those who are placed in a pit attain lasting worlds beyond.

Verse 3.4.23

एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्थ्सं विराधश्शरपीडितः।बभूव स्वर्गसम्प्राप्तो न्यस्तदेहो महाबलः।।।।

Having spoken thus to the Kakutstha prince, the mighty Virādha—pierced by arrows—cast off his body and attained heaven.

Verse 3.4.24

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं व्यादिदेश ह।कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण।।।।वनेऽस्मिन् सुमहच्छ्वभ्रं खन्यतां रौदकर्मणः।इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति।तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान्।।।।

Hearing those words, Rāghava instructed Lakṣmaṇa: “Lakṣmaṇa, for this dread rākṣasa—like a raging elephant—…”

Verse 3.4.25

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं व्यादिदेश ह।कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण।।3.4.24।।वनेऽस्मिन् सुमहच्छ्वभ्रं खन्यतां रौदकर्मणः।इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति।तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान्।।3.4.25।।

“In this forest, dig a very large pit for this doer of dreadful deeds.” Saying so to Lakṣmaṇa, the valiant Rāma stood firm, pressing Virādha down with his foot upon the neck.

Verse 3.4.26

ततः खनित्रमादाय लक्ष्मणश्श्वभ्रमुत्तमम्।अखनत्पार्श्वतस्तस्य विराधस्य महात्मनः।।।।

Then Lakṣmaṇa, taking up a spade, dug an excellent pit beside that great-souled Virādha.

Verse 3.4.27

तं मुक्तकण्ठंनिक्षिप्य शङ्कुकर्णं महास्वनम्।विराधं प्राक्षिपच्छ्वभ्रे नदन्तं भैरवस्वनम्।।।।

Releasing the pressure from his neck, they cast Virādha—sharp-eared, loud-voiced—into the pit, as he roared with a terrifying sound.

Verse 3.4.28

तमाहवे दारुणमाशुविक्रमौ स्थिरावुभौ संयति रामलक्ष्मणौ।मुदान्वितौ चिक्षिपतुर्भयावहं नदन्तमुत्क्षिप्य बिले तु राक्षसम्।।।।

Steady in battle and swift in deed, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—both unwavering in the fray—lifted with grim joy that fearsome rākṣasa, roaring in combat, and hurled him into the pit.

Verse 3.4.29

अवध्यतां प्रेक्ष्य महासुरस्य तौ शितेन शस्त्रेण तदा नरर्षभौ।समर्थ्य चात्यर्थविशारदावुभौ बिले विराधस्य वधं प्रचक्रतुः।।।।

Seeing that the mighty asura could not be slain by ordinary means, those two bulls among men—supremely skilled—considered well, and within the pit brought about Virādha’s death with keen weapons.

Verse 3.4.30

स्वयं विराधेन हि मृत्युरात्मनः प्रसह्य रामेण यथार्थमीप्सितः।निवेदितः काननचारिणा स्वयं न मे वधः शस्त्रकृतो भवेदिति।।।।

Hearing those words of Vaidehī, the heroic Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa at once sprang into swift action to slay that wicked one.

Verse 3.4.31

तदेव रामेण निशम्य भाषितं कृता मतिस्तस्य बिलप्रवेशने।बिलं च रामेणातिबलेन रक्षसा प्रवेश्यमानेन वनं विनादितम्।।।।

Saumitrī shattered the dreadful rākṣasa’s left arm, and Rāma, with swift force, broke his right.

Verse 3.4.32

प्रहृष्टरूपाविव रामलक्ष्मणौ विराधमुर्व्या प्रदरे निहत्य तौ।ननन्दतुर्वीतभयौ महावने शिलाभिरन्तर्दधतुश्च राक्षसम्।।।।

With his arms broken, the rākṣasa, shaken with dread, fell at once upon the earth—dark as a cloud and massive, like a mountain split by a thunderbolt.

Verse 3.4.33

ततस्तु तौ काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकौ निहत्य रक्षः परिगृह्य मैथिलीम्।विजह्रतु स्तौ मुदितौ महावने दिवि स्थितौ चन्द्रदिवाकराविव।।।।

Striking the rākṣasa with fists, knees, and feet, they lifted him again and again and crushed him down upon the bare ground.