Introduction
Kabandha’s overlong arms are cut off when he wanted to devour Rama and Lakshmana as godsend dainty morsels. Then Kabandha wishes to know who these two are and when Lakshmana informs him of Rama, that demon feels elated for his accursed state is over at the hands of Rama.
तौ तु तत्र स्थितौ दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरौ राम लक्ष्मणौ |
बाहु पाश परिक्षिप्तौ कबन्धो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् || ३-७०-१
baahu paasha parikShiptau kabandho vaakyam abraviit || 3-70-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.1
On prying at those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, who are completely stowed in the hangman’s halter-like arms of the demon, and who are enduring within it, Kabandha said this sentence to them. [3-70-1] .
तिष्ठतः किम् नु माम् दृष्ट्वा क्षुधा आर्तम् क्षत्रिय ऋषभौ |
आहार अर्थम् तु सन्दिष्टौ दैवेन गत चेतसौ || ३-७०-२
aahaara artham tu sandiShTau daivena gata cetasau || 3-70-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.2
“Oh, excellent Kshatriya-s, on seeing me who am miserably famished, really what for you stay cool? You are the godsend gobs of mine, and hence now you are almost dead…” So said Kabandha to brothers. [3-70-2] .
तत् श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यम् प्राप्त कालम् हितम् तदा |
उवाच आर्तिम् समापन्नो विक्रमे कृत निश्चयः || ३-७०-३
uvaaca aartim samaapanno vikrame kR^ita nishcayaH || 3-70-3
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.3
Lakshmana who is possessed by anguish, and who is determined to wreck revenge on that demon, said these expedient and advisable words to Rama on hearing that demon’s word. [3-70-3] .
त्वाम् च माम् च पुरा तूर्णम् आदत्ते राक्षस अधमः |
तस्मात् असिभ्याम् अस्य आशु बाहू चिन्दावहे गुरू || ३-७०-४
tasmaat asibhyaam asya aashu baahuu chindaavahe guruu || 3-70-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.4
“This scurrilous demon quickly hauled in you and me to his face level, and he will quickly take us in, therefore, we will have to swiftly hack off his lengthy arms at his shoulder level… [3-70-4] .
भिषणो अयम् महाकायो राक्षसो भुज विक्रमः |
लोकम् हि अति जितम् कृत्वा हि अवाम् हन्तुम् इह इच्छति || ३-७०-५
lokam hi ati jitam kR^itvaa hi avaam hantum iha icchhati || 3-70-5
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.5
“Gruesome is this gargantuan bodied demon, and triumphing over just with his arms he has utterly devastated this province, and he now wishes to end us… [3-70-5] .
निश्चेष्टानाम् वधो राजन् कुत्स्तितो जगती पतेः |
क्रतु मध्य उपनीतानाम् पशूनाम् इव राघव || ३-७०-६
kratu madhya upaniitaanaam pashuunaam iva raaghava || 3-70-6
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.6
“Oh, king Raghava, killing the non-aggressive is tantamount to the killing of animals that are led into Vedic-ritual in its midst is despicable to the kings… [3-70-6]
The text varies with other mms. kratu madhye upa niitaam will change to kratu madhye apa niitaam in Maheshvara Tiirtha’s version, then it translates as ‘an animal led out of the ritual half way through the ritual…’ meaning that ‘the animal unbefitting for sacrifice…’ And that is to say 1] an animal not prearranged and sanctified right from the beginning, but brought in the middle of ritual; 2] or, one that is brought for ritual which has to yield without being aggressive pratikaara hiina shakti; 3] or, paryagni kR^itaa na araNyaam utsR^ijyam a himsaayaa ‘unsanctified or wild animals brought from wilds are to be let off, unhurt…’ 4] or, one that which is not at the sacrificial post – it is not to be sacrificed…’ and Lakshmana says addressing Rama as ‘oh, king, you have to let off those beasts, but not this beastly demon who is aggressive and contemplating a regicide…’ .
एतत् संजल्पितम् श्रुत्वा तयोः क्रुद्धः तु राक्षसः |
विदार्य आस्यम् ततो रौद्रम् तौ भक्षयितुम् आरभत् || ३-७०-७
vidaarya aasyam tato raudram tau bhakshayitum aarabhat || 3-70-7
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.7
On hearing all of their conversation that demon is infuriated, and then widely opening his ferocious mouth he started to wolf down both of them. [3-70-7] .
ततः तौ देश कालज्ञौ खड्गाभ्याम् एव राघवौ |
अच्छिन्दताम् सुसंहृष्टौ बाहू तस्य अंस देशतः || ३-७०-८
acchhindataam susaMhR^iShTau baahuu tasya aMsa deshataH || 3-70-8
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.8
Then both the Raghava-s are very highly gladdened as the demon is hauling them towards his eye at shoulder level, and as they are the brothers with circumspection, they instantly mutilated his arms right at their shoulder joints only with two swords. [3-70-8]
This compound su sam hR^iSTau is as per the text of Govindaraja and Maheshvara Tiirtha states this as su sam vignau meaning ‘very highly agitated…’ agitated at the short time available to cut off his hands, before falling into his well-head like mouth. And this expression ‘very highly gladdened’ is for the righteous advice given by Lakshmana, circumspectly. .
दक्षिणो दक्षिणम् बाहुम् असक्तम् असिना ततः |
चिच्छेद रामो वेगेन सव्यम् वीरः तु लक्ष्मणः || ३-७०-९
cicchheda raamo vegena savyam viiraH tu lakShmaNaH || 3-70-9
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.9
Then that dextrous Rama with an unrestrained speed hacked off the right arm, and valiant Lakshmana on his part hewed down the left arm that speedily. [3-70-9] .
स पपात महाबाहुः चिन्न बाहुः महा स्वनः |
खम् च गाम् च दिशः चैव नादयन् जलदो यथा || ३-७०-१०
kham ca gaam ca dishaH caiva naadayan jalado yathaa || 3-70-10
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.10
He that overlong-armed Kabandha fell down with mangled arms, reverberated the sky, earth, and all of the ten points of horizon with a cacophonous voice, like a black-thunderous-cloud. [3-70-10] .
स निकृत्तौ भुजौ दृष्ट्वा शोणित ओघ परिप्लुतः |
दीनः पप्रच्छ तौ वीरौ कौ युवाम् इति दानवः || ३-७०-११
diinaH papracchha tau viirau kau yuvaam iti daanavaH || 3-70-11
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.11
That demon on seeing at his dissevered shoulders on which the gushes of blood are overflowing, he self-piteously asked those two bold ones thus as, “who are you…” [3-70-11] .
इति तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य लक्ष्मणः शुभ लक्षणः |
शशंस तस्य काकुत्स्थम् कबंधस्य महाबलः || ३-७०-१२
shashaMsa tasya kaakutstham kaba.ndhasya mahaabalaH || 3-70-12
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.12
When that great mighty Kabandha is asking thus, Lakshmana who has prosperous characteristics has informed him about Rama of Kakutstha, an unremitting dynasty. [3-70-12] .
अयम् इक्ष्वाकु दायादो रामो नाम जनैः श्रुतः |
तस्य एव अवरजम् विद्धि भ्रातरम् माम् च लक्ष्मणम् || ३-७०-१३
tasya eva avarajam viddhi bhraataram maam ca lakShmaNam || 3-70-13
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.13
“He is known to people by the name of Rama, the legatee of Ikshvaku dynasty, and you know me as his younger brother, Lakshmana, by my name… [3-70-13] .
मात्रा प्रतिहतो राज्ये रामः प्रवाजितो वनम् |
मया सह चरति एष भार्यया च महत् वनम् || ३-७०-१४
mayaa saha carati eSha bhaaryayaa ca mahat vanam || 3-70-14
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.14
“Countervailed from kingdom by mother this Rama is bluntly sent to forests, and he is on the rove in great forests along with me ad his wife… [3-70-14] .
अस्य देव प्रभावस्य वसतो विजने वने |
रक्षसा अपहृता भार्या याम् इच्छन्तौ इह आगतौ || ३-७०-१५
rakShasaa apahR^itaa bhaaryaa yaam icchhantau iha aagatau || 3-70-15
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.15
“A demon stole his wife while he whose leverage is like that of god is living in the unpopulated forest… and wishing to retrieve her we came here… [3-70-15] .
त्वम् तु को वा किम् अर्थम् वा कबन्ध सदृशो वने |
आस्येन उरसि दीप्तेन भग्न जन्घो विचेष्टसे || ३-७०-१६
aasyena urasi diiptena bhagna jangho viceShTase || 3-70-16
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.16
“But who are you? Your legs are broken, and your mouth is infernal, yet it is on your chest, and alike a topless, rootless tree trunk you are sprawling in the forest, how so, or, for what reason?” Lakshmana asked the demon thus. [3-70-16] .
एवम् उक्तः कबंधः तु लक्ष्मणेन उत्तरम् वचः |
उवाच परम प्रीतः तत् इन्द्र वचनम् स्मरन् || ३-७०-१७
uvaaca parama priitaH tat indra vacanam smaran || 3-70-17
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.17
But Kabandha is highly delighted when Lakshmana spoke that way, as the words of Indra came to his memory, and he said these words in reply. [3-70-17] .
स्वागतम् वाम् नरव्याघ्रौ दिष्ट्या पश्यामि वाम् अहम् |
दिष्ट्या च इमौ निकृत्तौ मे युवाभ्याम् बाहु बन्धनौ || ३-७०-१८
diShTyaa ca imau nikR^ittau me yuvaabhyaam baahu bandhanau || 3-70-18
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.18
“Oh, manly tigers, by my providence you are revealed to me… welcome to you… and providentially sheared are these shackles, called my two arms, by you… [3-70-18]
The arms, mouth-to-stomach, and another organ are the epitomes of mortals. A mortal does everything with arms and devours anything with mouth. martyaa kartaa bhoktaa ca Now those shackles of mortality are severed and he is ready for immortality. .
विरूपम् यत् च मे रूपम् प्राप्तम् हि अविनयात् यथा |
तत् मे शृणु नरव्याघ्र तत्त्वतः शंसतः तव || ३-७०-१९
tat me shR^iNu naravyaaghra tattvataH shaMsataH tava || 3-70-19
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.70.19
“Oh, manly tiger, actually how this form of mine is disfigured, of course owing to my distrustful behaviour, that you may listen while I narrate it to you. [3-70-19] .
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