Introduction
Rama perceives good omens of victory, but to safeguard Seetha he sends her away with Lakshmana to take shelter in a mountain’s cave till the war is over. Then he adopts a furious nature to annihilate demons. Gods and divinities watch from heavens as to how a war can occur between one against fourteen thousand demons.
आश्रमम् प्रति याते तु खरे खर पराक्रमे |
तान् एव औत्पातिकान् रामः सह भ्रात्रा ददर्श ह || ३-२४-१
taan eva autpaatikaan raamaH saha bhraatraa dadarsha ha || 3-24-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.1
While fiercely valorous Khara proceeded towards Rama’s hermitage, Rama along with his brother Lakshmana has indeed seen the very same auguries which have earlier appeared to Khara. [3-24-1] .
तान् उत्पातान् महाघोरान् रामो दृष्ट्वा अति अमर्षण |
प्रजानाम् अहितान् दृष्ट्वा वाक्यम् लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत् || ३-२४-२
prajaanaam ahitaan dR^iShTvaa vaakyam lakShmaNam abraviit || 3-24-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.2
On looking at those very gruesomely bad omens, and perceiving them to be unpropitious to people, Rama spoke this sentence to Lakshmana. [3-24-2] .
इमान् पश्य महाबाहो सर्व भूत अपहारिणः |
समुत्थितान् महा उत्पातान् संहर्तुम् सर्व राक्षसान् || ३-२४-३
samutthitaan mahaa utpaataan saMhartum sarva raakShasaan || 3-24-3
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.3
“Oh, dextrous Lakshmana, for the complete elimination of all the demons these great indications have arisen, as though betokening the annihilation of all beings. See them. [3-24-3] .
अमी रुधिर धाराः तु विसृजंतो खर स्वनाः |
व्योम्नि मेघा निवर्तन्ते परुषा गर्दभ अरुणाः || ३-२४-४
vyomni meghaa nivartante paruShaa gardabha aruNaaH || 3-24-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.4
“On their part these clouds are hovering on the sky with stark reddish-grey tint, thunderously braying and copiously showering streams of blood. [3-24-4] .
स धूमाः च शराः सर्वे मम युद्ध अभिनन्दिताः |
रुक्म पृष्ठानि चापानि विचेष्टन्ते विचक्षण || ३-२४-५
rukma pR^iShThaani caapaani viceShTante vicakshaNa || 3-24-5
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.5
“All my arrows too are incensed to fuming in an ecstasy towards a war, and dorsally gold-plated bows of mine are incessantly spurring to hook up those arrows, telling apart the impeding conflict. [3-24-5] .
यादृशा इह कूजन्ति पक्षिणो वन चारिणः |
अग्रतो नः भयम् प्राप्तम् संशयो जीवितस्य च || ३-२४-६
agrato naH bhayam praaptam saMshayo jiivitasya ca || 3-24-6
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.6
“Judging by the kind of wild birds that are shrieking here, danger is up ahead and coming upon us, along with uncertainty of our lives. [3-24-6] .
संप्रहारः तु सुमहान् भविष्यति न संशयः |
अयम् आख्याति मे बाहुः स्फुरमाणो मुहुर् मुहुः || ३-२४-७
संनिकर्षे तु नः शूर जयम् शत्रोः पराजयम् |
सुप्रभम् च प्रसन्नम् च तव वक्त्रम् हि लक्ष्यते || ३-२४-८
ayam aakhyaati me baahuH sphuramaaNo muhur muhuH || 3-24-7
sa.nnikarShe tu naH shuura jayam shatroH paraajayam |
suprabham ca prasannam ca tava vak.htram hi lakShyate || 3-24-8
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.7,3.24.8
“This right hand of mine is indicating by its repeated throbbing that a critical and riotous conflict is going to occur, no doubt, but oh brave one, our victory and defeat to the enemies are also in vicinity, and for sure, your face is also appearing brightish and aglow, which itself is a good omen. [3-24-8] [3-24-7, 8] .
उद्यतानाम् हि युद्धार्थम् येषाम् भवति लक्ष्मणः |
निष्प्रभम् वदनम् तेषाम् भवति आयुः परिक्षयः || ३-२४-९
niSh.hprabham vadanam teShaam bhavati aayuH parikShayaH || 3-24-9
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.9
“If the faces of those that are poised for a conflict loose lustre, deem that the death is looming large on their longevity too. [3-24-9] .
रक्षसाम् नर्दताम् घोरः श्रूयते अयम् महाध्वनिः |
आहतानाम् च भेरीणाम् राक्षसैः क्रूर कर्मभिः || ३-२४-१०
aahataanaam ca bheriiNaam raakshasaiH kruura karmabhiH || 3-24-10
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.10
“This nasty noise which we hear pertains to the uproar of demons, and even to the drumming of war drums by the demons of fiendish activities, and this is ear-splitting. [3-24-10] .
अनागत विधानम् तु कर्तव्यम् शुभम् इच्छ्हता |
आपदम् शंकमानेन पुरुषेण विपश्चिता || ३-२४-११
aapadam sha.nkamaanena puruSheNa vipashcitaa || 3-24-11
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.11
“Preventive measures are to be effectuated for any imminent situation by any well-wishing person, or by a person with misgivings about a danger, or by a person of talent. [3-24-11]
The meaning can otherwise be rendered as: ‘If any misgivings are caused by an imminent danger a well-wisher and intellectual person shall effectuate preventive measures…’ but this becomes more self-centred and cannot become a maxim or axiom. .
तस्मात् गृहीत्वा वैदेहीम् शर पाणिः धनुर् धरः |
गुहाम् आश्रय शैलस्य दुर्गाम् पादप संकुलाम् || ३-२४-१२
guhaam aashraya shailasya durgaam paadapa saMkulaam || 3-24-12
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.12
“Hence, wield your bow, keep arrows ready at hand, and taking Vaidehi with you seek shelter in a impassable cave of a mountain overgrown with trees. [3-24-12] .
प्रतिकूलितुम् इच्छ्हामि न हि वाक्यम् इदम् त्वया |
शापितो मम पादाभ्याम् गम्यताम् वत्स मा चिरम् || ३-२४-१३
shaapito mama paadaabhyaam gamyataam vatsa maa ciram || 3-24-13
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.13
“I wish you to gainsay me for this word of mine, my boy, have honour on my feet and be gone not before long. [3-24-13] .
त्वम् हि शूरः च बलवान् हन्या एतान् न संशयः |
स्वयम् निहन्तुम् इच्छ्हमि सर्वान् एव निशाचरान् || ३-२४-१४
svayam nihantum icchhhami sarvaan eva nishaacaraan || 3-24-14
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.14
“You are a stalwart, a forceful one, and for sure you can eliminate them all, it is doubtless, but I long to eliminate all of the nightwalkers, personally” Rama said thus to Lakshmana. [3-24-14] .
एवम् उक्तः तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया |
शरान् आदाय चापम् च गुहाम् दुर्गाम् समाश्रयत् || ३-२४-१५
sharaan aadaaya caapam ca guhaam durgaam samaashrayat || 3-24-15
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.15
When Rama said to him that way, Lakshmana picked up his bow and arrows, and together with Seetha he took shelter in an unreachable cave. [3-24-15]
This episode of sending away Seetha and Lakshmana has got three reasons in the complex of She-He-Me. 1] One is that this Seetha is to be sent away from that prospective battlefield, because Seetha is untrained for warfare like Rama’s third mother Kaikeyi. Secondly, whenever Seetha is present we see no killings or slayings in Ramayana, because she, as Goddess Lakshmi, condones any sinner and accords salvation. As such, there may be a probability of not only hindering war, but there may be her blessing to every demon with a free passage to heaven, of which Rama becomes a helpless onlooker. 2] Second reason is that this Lakshmana is intolerant of any assault on his brother or sister-in-law and colloids head-on with the aggressors, which may lead Lakshmana up to Lanka to confront even Ravana. That being the snakily aggressive nature of Lakshmana, Rama bids him to go away before any happening, or any further dialogue is given to Lakshmana. 3] Third is that Rama is the first one to promise the sages and saints to eradicate demons for himself, for which Seetha nags him not to wage a causeless war. Therefore, if Rama is going to hide in any cave camouflaged by trees along with Seetha, and Lakshmana goes on warring, the very character of Rama is at stake. Thus, as promised to sages and saints Rama alone wanted to trigger off the elimination process of demons. That is why Rama breathes fresh air saying “good riddance” in next verse. .
तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे तु गुहाम् लक्ष्मणे सह सीतया |
हन्त निर्युक्तम् इति उक्त्वा रामः कवचम् आविशत् || ३-२४-१६
hanta niryuk{}tam iti uk{}tvaa raamaH kavacam aavishat || 3-24-16
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.16
On Lakshmana’s entering into cave along with Seetha, Rama said to himself, “thank goodness, it is a good-idea!” and thus saying he donned his shield. [3-24-16] .
स तेन अग्नि निकाशेन कवचेन विभूषितः |
बभूव रामः तिमिरे महान् अग्निर् इव उत्थितः || ३-२४-१७
babhuuva raamaH timire mahaan agnir iva utthitaH || 3-24-17
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.17
Well bedecked in a shield that has fire-like brilliance that Rama shone forth like a fumeless conflagration up-shot in utter darkness. [3-24-17] .
स चापम् उद्यम्य महत् शरान् आदाय वीर्यवान् |
संबभूव अवस्थितः तत्र ज्या स्वनैः पूरयन् दिशः || ३-२४-१८
saMbabhuuva avasthitaH tatra jyaa svanaiH puurayan dishaH || 3-24-18
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.18
On raising his imposing bow and drawing arrows, that valorous Rama firmed up and stood there, filling all the directions with the tinny sounds of bowstring. [3-24-18] .
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाः च सह चारणैः |
समेयुः च महात्मनो युद्ध दर्शन कांक्षया || ३-२४-१९
sameyuH ca mahaatmano yuddha darshana kaa.nkshayaa || 3-24-19
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.19
Gods with gandharva-s and great-souled siddha-s along with carana-s have then met one another and came there aspiring to see the war. [3-24-19] .
ऋषयः च महात्मनो लोके ब्रह्मर्षि सत्तमाः |
समेत्य च ऊचुः सहिताः ते अन्योन्यम् पुण्य कर्मणः || ३-२४-२०
sametya ca uuchuH sahitaaH te anyonyam puNya karmaNaH || 3-24-20
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.20
The great-souled sages and those that are known in worlds as eminent Brahma-sages, on their coming together those beings of pious exploits spoke to one another, among themselves. [3-24-20] .
स्वस्ति गो ब्राह्मणानाम् च लोकानाम् च इति संस्थिताः |
जयताम् राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनी चरान् || ३-२४-२१
चक्र हस्तो यथा युद्धे सर्वान् असुर पु.ंगवान् |
jayataam raaghavo yuddhe paulastyaan rajanii caraan || 3-24-21
cakra hasto yathaa yuddhe sarvaan asura pu..ngavaan |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.21,3.24.22a
“Let good betide cows, Brahmans and those people that are abiding in all the worlds. Raghava shall be victorious in the war over the clansmen of Sage Paulastya, the nightwalkers.” Thus they talked among themselves. [3-24-21] .
एवम् उक्त्वा पुनः प्र ऊचुः आलोक्य च परस्परम् || ३-२४-२२
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसाम् भीम कर्मणाम् |
एकः च रामो धर्मात्मा कथम् युद्धम् भविष्यति || ३-२४-२३
caturdasha sahasraaNi rakShasaam bhiima karmaNaam |
ekaH ca raamo dharmaatmaa katham yuddham bhaviShyati || 3-24-23
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.22b,3.24.23
Thus speaking they also well-said again, looking at each other “the demons of fiendish deeds are fourteen thousand in number and this virtue-souled Rama is solitary… what would be the result of this war!” Thus the sages discussed among themselves. [3-24-22b, 23] .
इति राजर्षयः सिद्धाः स गणाः च द्विजर्षभाः |
जात कौतूहलात् तस्थुर् विमानस्थाः च देवता || ३-२४-२४
jaata kautuuhalaat tasthur vimaanasthaaH ca devataa || 3-24-24
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.24
Thus the assemblages of kingly-sages, siddha-s and the eminent Brahmans, along with gods that are staying in their aircrafts, tarried there in the firmament peering inquisitively at Rama. [3-24-24] .
आविष्टम् तेजसा रामम् स.ंग्राम शिरसि स्थितम् |
दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि भयात् विव्यथिरे तदा || ३-२४-२५
dR^iShTvaa sarvaaNi bhuutaani bhayaat vivyathire tadaa || 3-24-25
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.25
Immured in an aura of invincibility Rama is standing up to the war in its vanguard, and then on seeing at him all beings went into the throes of dread. [3-24-25] .
रूपम् अप्रतिमम् तस्य रामस्य अक्लिष्ट कर्मणः |
बभूव रूपम् क्रुद्धस्य रुद्रस्य इव महात्मनः || ३-२४-२६
babhuuva ruupam kruddhasya rudrasya iva mahaatmanaH || 3-24-26
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.26
That nonesuch aspect of Rama whose deeds are unharmful to any, has become the aspect of wrathful supreme-souled Rudra. [3-24-26]
The wrathful aspect of Rudra at the time of era ending has chanced on Rama to start the elimination of demonic clan and this is as observed by caaraNaa-s in firmament. caaraNaa-s are those divine beings that journey in heavens in their auspicious paths. Hanuma while jumping the ocean to Lanka treads the path of caaraNaa-s because their footpath is so auspicious. For this skaanda puraaNa has something to tell: rudra tejo vilasitam dR^iShTvaa raama kalebaram | sa~Nkham cakra shuulam ca pinaakam kheTam eva ca | khaTvaam ca ghanTaam Damaru baaNa paasha ankusham tathaa | caapam vajram khaDgam ca parashum traasa kaaraNam | jaya shriyam ca gangaam ca dadR^ishuH siddha caaraNaaH | skaandda puraaNa According to Maheshvara Tiirtha. .
इति संभाष्यमाणो तु देव गंधर्व चारणैः |
ततो गंभीर निर्ह्रादम् घोर चर्म आयुध ध्वजम् ||३-२४-२७
अनीकम् यातुधानानाम् समन्तात् प्रत्यदृश्यत |
वीर आलापान् विसृजताम् अन्योन्यम् अभिगच्छ्हताम् || ३-२४-२८
चापानि विस्फरयताम् जृंभताम् च अपि अभीक्ष्णशः |
विप्रघुष्ट स्वनानाम् च दुंदुभीम् च अपि निघ्नताम् || ३-२४-२९
tato gaMbhiira nir.hhraadam ghora carma aayudha dhvajam ||3-24-27
aniikam yaatudhaanaanaam samantaat pratyadR^ishyata |
viira aalaapaan visR^ijataam anyonyam abhigacchhhataam || 3-24-28
caapaani vispharayataam jR^iMbhataam ca api abhiikShNashaH |
vipraghuShTa svanaanaam ca du.ndubhiim ca api nighnataam || 3-24-29
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.27,3.24.28,3.24.29
While gods, gandharva-s, carana-s are conversing thus, then they have seen there the legions of the demons arriving from all over with boisterous noises, spouting cries of bravo, handling their grisly skins, shields, weaponry and war-flags, and onrushing at each other in disarray. With brassy twanging of bows, with the drumming of war drums, and even by their jumping, leaping and bouncing that area is filled with very loud and clamorous noise. [3-24-27, 28, 29] .
तेषाम् सुतुमुलः शब्दः पूरयामास तद् वनम् |
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ताः श्वापदा वन चारिणः || ३-२४-३०
दुद्रुवुः यत्र निःशब्दम् पृष्ठतो न अवलोकयन् |
tena shabdena vitrastaaH shvaapadaa vana caariNaH || 3-24-30
dudruvuH yatra niHshabdam pR^iShThato na avalokayan |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.30,3.24.31a
When highly brutish cacophony of demons started to fill the forest, that jangling even panicked the brutes ranging in that forest, and those beasts dashed off to other places where silence prevailed, without looking back. [3-24-30, 31a] .
तत् च अनीकम् महावेगम् रामम् समनुवर्तत || ३-२४-३१
घृत नाना प्रहरणम् गंभीरम् सागरोपमम् |
ghR^ita naanaa praharaNam gaMbhiiram saagaropamam |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.31b,3.24.32a
And that foolhardy army of demons which in simile is like an unnavigable ocean steered towards Rama handling many assault weapons. [3-24-31b, 32a] .
रामो अपि चारयन् चक्षुः सर्वतो रण पण्डितः || ३-२४-३२
ददर्श खर सैन्यम् तत् युद्ध अभिमुखो गतः |
dadarsha khara sainyam tat yuddha abhimukho gataH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.32b,3.24.33a
Casting his sight all-over even that war-expert Rama has seen that army of Khara lunging at a conflict. [3-24-32b, 33a] .
वितत्य च धनुर् भीमम् तूण्याः च उद्धृत्य सायकान् || ३-२४-३३
क्रोधम् आहारयत् तीव्रम् वधार्थम् सर्व रक्षसाम् |
krodham aahaarayat tiivram vadhaartham sarva rakShasaam |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.33b,3.24.34a
Rama stretched his awesome bow to examine the taut of bowstring, and even whipped arrows out of quiver, and then adopted a mask of extreme wrath to eliminate all the demons. [3-24-33b,34a]
Rama has no built-in feature of ire or wrath. He has to whip it up at times to show divine fury as a mask. From the start Vishnu is changing get-ups and when Milky Ocean was churned, He became Mohini, and from then on his role-play is continuous in al the incarnations. As said in Bala Kanda 1-1-18: kaalaagni sadR^ishaH krodhe ‘resembles like fierce fire in anger…’ thus it is a resemblance, not an actuality, even that is unbearable for a glance. atha yuddha samudyata yaatudhaanaanidhaanaaya satvaram udagra kopam aaviShTasya pracaNDa anila dodhuuyamaana jvaalaakalaapa yugaanta anala kalpasya sakala jana duShprekShyasya – – dharmaakuutam Even now, on seeing Rama’s unsightly aspect, should these demons fall prostrate before him, there would no loss to their lives. But Khara, as his name itself indicates that he has an asinine mentality, will not yield. .
दुष्प्रेक्ष्यश्चाभवत्क्रुद्धोयुगान्ताग्निरिवज्वलन् – यद्वा –
दुष्प्रेक्ष्यः च अभवत् क्रुद्धो युगान्त अग्निः इव ज्वलन् || ३-२४-३४
तम् दृष्ट्वा तेजसा आविष्टम् प्राव्यथन् वन देवताः |
duSh.hprekShyaH ca abhavat kruddho yugaanta agniH iva jvalan || 3-24-34
tam dR^iShTvaa tejasaa aaviShTam praavyathan vana devataaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.34b,3.24.34c
And when he is enraged and blazing he became frightful-looking like the blazing Fire at the end of era, and on seeing such a Rama when he is pervaded with conflagration like anger, the pastoral deities are very much annoyed. [3-24-34b,c] .
तस्य रुष्ट्स्य रूपम् तु रामस्य ददृशे तदा |
दक्षस्य इव क्रतुम् हन्तुम् उद्यतस्य पिनाकिनी || ३-२४-३५
dakshasya iva kratum hantum udyatasya pinaakinii || 3-24-35
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.35
The all-pacific aspect of that Rama then in his exasperation appeared to be like that of the all-ruinous Rudra, the wielder of bow called Pinaki, namely peaceful Shiva when enraged, at the time of Rudra’s embarking on to ruin the Vedic ritual of Daksha Prajaapati. [3-24-35] .
तत् कार्मुकैः आभरणैः रथैः च
तत् वर्माभिः च अग्नि समान वर्णैः |
बभूव सैन्यम् पिशित अशनिनाम्
सूर्य उदये नीलम् इव अभ्र जालम् || ३-२४-३६
tat var.hmaabhiH ca agni samaana varNaiH |
babhuuva sainyam pishita ashaninaam
suurya udaye niilam iva abhra jaalam || 3-24-36
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.24.36
That army of raw-flesh eaters with their bows, embellishments, and chariots, and also with their armours, all glittering with the dazzle of flaming fire, varied into a sky-blue coloured cluster of clouds on which the dazzling sunrays will be glittering at the dawning of the sun. [3-24-36]
The metaphor of cloud-clusters with the demons is to explain that the clouds will evaporate on the advent of fire-like sun at his dawn or rising of Rama to war. The night-walking demons have their powers increased in evening times and dwindled in morning. Thus their fire-like armours will cease to exist when the real Sun’s fire [or fire of Rama’s arrows] starts to flame, their bows cease to exits if the rainbow-giver comes in, and their flagging ensigns will cease with the ensigncy of raising sun in sky, and ill becomes of them, the evil-doers, after a short while.
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