Introduction
On the starting out of Khara’s demonic forces to wage a war with Rama, many bad omens are foreboded by vultures, animals, and even by nature. Though in the know of the portent evil, Khara proceeds with his army vaingloriously messaging his army that he can overcome these auguries or even Indra, and Rama is nothing before him.
तत् प्रयातम् बलम् घोरम् अशिवम् शोणित उदकम् |
अभ्यवर्षत् महा मेघः तुमुलो गर्दभ अरुणः || ३-२३-१
abhyavarShat mahaa meghaH tumulo gardabha aruNaH || 3-23-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.1
A massy and tumultuous ass-coloured cloud rained ill-omened bloody water while that fiendish force is advancing. [3-23-1] .
निपेतुः तुरगाः तस्य रथ युक्ता महाजवाः |
समे पुष्पचिते देशे राजमार्गे यदृच्छ्हया || ३-२३-२
same puShpacite deshe raajamaarge yadR^icchhhayaa || 3-23-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.2
The highly speedy horses paired to Khara’s chariot have tottered in a trice, even though that place on the highway is with even surface and spread with flowers. [3-23-2] .
श्यामम् रुधिर पर्यन्तम् बभूव परिवेषणम् |
अलात चक्र प्रतिमम् प्रतिगृह्य दिवाकरम् || ३-२३-३
alaata cakra pratimam pratigR^ihya divaakaram || 3-23-3
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.3
Capturing the sun a blackish corona with blood-red outer circle has formed and nested around it like the fiery ring formed by circling a fireball. [3-23-3]
This sort of corona can be seen during the total eclipse of sun where a black corona with red tinged glow forms around the eclipsed sun. This circling of fireball handheld on a sling is there even today, and it is performed before marriage processions or such other events as a daring sport. .
ततो ध्वजम् उपागम्य हेम दण्डम् समुच्छ्ह्रितम् |
समाक्रम्य महाकायः तस्थौ गृध्रः सुदारुणः || ३-२३-४
samaakramya mahaakaayaH tasthau gR^idhraH sudaaruNaH || 3-23-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.4
Then, nearing the golden shaft of the flag of the chariot with a very lofty flagstaff, an awful eagle with massive body occupied and perched atop of that golden shaft. [3-23-4] .
जनस्थान समीपे च समाक्रम्य खर स्वनाः |
विस्वरान् विविधान् च चक्रुः मांस आदा मृग पक्षिणः || ३-२३-५
visvaraan vividhaan ca cakruH maaMsa aadaa mR^iga pakShiNaH || 3-23-5
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.5
Cacophonous and carnivorous predators and vultures took over the nearby places of Janasthaana and they made raucous sounds of many kinds. [3-23-5] .
व्याजह्रुः च पदीप्तायाम् दिशि वै भैरव स्वनम् |
अशिवा यातुधानानाम् शिवा घोरा महास्वनाः || ३-२३-६
ashivaa yaatudhaanaanaam shivaa ghoraa mahaasvanaaH || 3-23-6
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.6
Turning towards the stretch scorched by the sun, fearsome and loud noised jackals have howled emitting awful sounds, that which is inauspicious to the demons. [3-23-6] .
प्रभिन्नगजसंकाशतोयशोणितधारिणः | – यद्वा –
प्रभिन्न गज संकाश तोय शोणित धारिणः |
आकाशम् तत् अनाकाशम् चक्रुः भीम अंबु वाहकाः|| ३-२३-७
prabhinna gaja saMkaasha toya shoNita dhaariNaH |
aakaasham tat anaakaasham cakruH bhiima aMbu vaahakaaH|| 3-23-7
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.7
Then frightening clouds similar to bursting mountains carrying bloodlike water have rendered the firmament less of leeway. [3-23-7] .
बभूव तिमिरम् घोरम् उद्धतम् रोम हर्षणम् |
दिशो वा प्रदिशो वा अपि सुव्यक्तम् न चकाशिरे || ३-२३-८
disho vaa pradisho vaa api suvyak{}tam na cakaashire || 3-23-8
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.8
There chanced an abominable, cataclysmic, hair-raising darkness whereby the milieus or inter-milieus are not very clearly brightened. [3-23-8] .
क्षतज आर्द्र सवर्णाभा संध्या कालम् विना बभौ |
खरम् च अभिमुखम् नेदुः तदा घोरा मृगाः खगाः || ३-२३-९
कंक गोमायु गृध्राः च चुक्रुशुः भय संशिनः |
kharam ca abhimukham neduH tadaa ghoraa mR^igaaH khagaaH || 3-23-9
ka.nka gomaayu gR^idhraaH ca cukrushuH bhaya saMshinaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.9,3.23.10a
An untimely eventide glistened with a colour similar to the one drenched in blood, and then horrendous brutes and birds have clamoured facing Khara directly, and the vultures, jackals and eagles too have screamed portending danger. [3-23-9, 10a] .
नित्या अशिव करा युद्धे शिवा घोर निदर्शनाः || ३-२३-१०
नेदुः बलस्य अभिमुखम् ज्वाल उद्गारिभिः आननैः |
neduH balasya abhimukham jvaala udgaaribhiH aananaiH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.10b,3.23.11a
Jackals, that too female jackals, are always the agents of inauspiciousness in wars with demonstrable calamities brought forth by their portending howling, and such jackals have now howled in front of Khara’s army with their snouts spewing blazes. [3-23-10] .
कबन्धः परिघ आभासो दृश्यते भास्कर अंतिके || ३-२३-११
जग्राह सूर्यम् स्वर्भानुः अपर्वणि महाग्रहः |
प्रवाति मारुतः शीघ्रम् निष्प्रभो अभूत् दिवाकरः || ३-२३-१२
jagraaha suuryam svarbhaanuH aparvaNi mahaagrahaH |
pravaati maarutaH shiighram niSh.hprabho abhuut divaakaraH || 3-23-12
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.11b,3.23.12
A spherical object like that of a human trunk is revealed near at the sun, while the sun is rendered shineless as though Rahu, the great eclipsing-planet, has eclipsed him inopportunely, and the wind too whirled frantically. [3-23-11b, 12] .
उत्पेतुः च विना रात्रिम् ताराः खद्योतन प्रभाः |
संलीन मीन विहगा नलिन्यः शुष्क पंकजाः || ३-२३-१३
तस्मिन् क्षणे बभूवुः च विना पुष्प फलैः द्रुमाः |
saMliina miina vihagaa nalinyaH shuShka pa.nkajaaH || 3-23-13
tasmin kShaNe babhuuvuH ca vinaa puShpa phalaiH drumaaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.13,3.23.14a
Stars sprang up with the brilliance of fireflies though it is not night, and at that moment fishes and waterfowls stood still in lakes, lotuses have dried up, flowers and fruits have dropped from trees as though it is night. [3-23-13, 14a] .
उद्धूतः च विना वातम् रेणुः जलधर अरुणः || ३-२३-१४
चीची कूचि इति वाश्यन्तो बभूवुः तत्र सारिकाः |
ciicii kuuci iti vaashyanto babhuuvuH tatra saarikaaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.14b,3.23.15a
Without any puffing of wind dust in brownish-red colour is heaved up, and there the songbirds like Maina started to twitter as ‘cii cii kuu cii’. [3-23-14b, 15a]
The expression cii cii kuu cii is an onomatopoetic expression for the twittering of birds. .
उल्काः च अपि स निर्घोषा निपेतुः घोर दर्शनाः || ३-२३-१५
प्रचचाल मही च अपि स शैल वन कानना |
pracacaala mahii ca api sa shaila vana kaananaa |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.15b,3.23.16a
Meteors horrible in their look have fallen down thunderously, and even the earth together with its mountains, woods and forests quaked shakily. [3-23-15b, 16a] .
खरस्य च रथस्थस्य नर्दमानस्य धीमतः || ३-२३-१६
प्राकंपत भुजः सव्यः स्वरः च अस्य अवसज्जत |
praakaMpata bhujaH savyaH svaraH ca asya avasajjata |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.16b,3.23.17a
He who is raving while sitting in his chariot that clever Khara’s left shoulder thrilled excessively, and his voice too quavered. [3-23-16b, 17a] .
स अस्रा संपद्यते दृष्टिः पश्यमानस्य सर्वतः || ३-२३-१७
ललाटे च रुजो जाता न च मोहात् न्यवर्तत |
lalaaTe ca rujo jaataa na ca mohaat nyavartata |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.17b,3.23.18a
While he is seeing everywhere his eyes spawned tears for no good reason, his forehead ached, but he did not retrace his steps owing to his own vanity. [3-23-17b, 18a] .
तान् समीक्ष्य महोत्पातान् उत्थितान् रोम हर्षणान् || ३-२३-१८
अब्रवीत् राक्षसान् सर्वान् प्रहसन् स खरः तदा |
abraviit raakShasaan sarvaan prahasan sa kharaH tadaa |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.18b,3.23.19a
On observing those worst auguries stemming up at that moment with hair-raising nature, Khara laughed them off and said this to all of the demons. [3-23-18b, 19a] .
महा उत्पातान् इमान् सर्वान् उत्थितान् घोर दर्शनान् || ३-२३-१९
न चिंतयामि अहम् वीर्यात् बलवान् दुर्बलान् इव |
na ci.ntayaami aham viiryaat balavaan durbalaan iva |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.19b,3.23.20a
“These awful auguries with their horrible nature have arisen, but owing to my own valour I am unbothered about all of them as with a mighty one unworried of the mightless. [3-23-19b, 20a] .
तारा अपि शरैः तीक्ष्णैः पातयेयम् नभः तलात् || ३-२३-२०
मृत्युम् मरण धर्मेण संक्रुद्धो योजयामि अहम् |
mR^ityum maraNa dharmeNa saMkruddho yojayaami aham |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.20b,3.23.21a
“With the excruciating arrows of mine I can hurtle stars from the face of sky, and if highly infuriated, I can even enjoin mortality to Death himself. [3-23-20b, 21a] .
राघवम् तम् बल उत्सिक्तम् भ्रातरम् च अस्य लक्ष्मणम् || ३-२३-२१
अहत्वा सायकैः तीक्ष्णैः न उपावर्तितुम् उत्सहे |
ahatvaa saayakaiH tiikShNaiH na upaavartitum utsahe |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.21b,3.23.22a
“I am reluctant to return without killing that Rama, a haughty one by his might, together with his brother Lakshmana, with my incisive arrows. [3-23-21b, 22a] .
यन् निमित्तम् तु रामस्य लक्ष्मणस्य विपर्ययः || ३-२३-२२
सकामा भगिनी मे अस्तु पीत्वा तु रुधिरम् तयोः |
sakaamaa bhaginii me astu piitvaa tu rudhiram tayoH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.22b,3.23.23a
“In whose respect both Rama and Lakshmana behaved perversely, let that sister of mine be contented in drinking the blood of those two. [3-23-22b, 23a] .
न क्वचित् प्राप्त पूर्वो मे संयुगेषु पराजयः || ३-२३-२३
युष्माकम् एतत् प्रत्यक्षम् न अनृतम् कथयामि अहम् |
yuShmaakam etat pratyakSham na anR^itam kathayaami aham |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.23b,3.23.24a
“No defeat has chanced on me in combats at anytime and anywhere, that to you all is obvious and I tell no untruth. [3-23-23b, 24a] .
देव राजम् अपि क्रुद्धो मत्त ऐरावत गामिनम् || ३-२३-२४
वज्र हस्तम् रणे हन्याम् किम् पुनः तौ च मानुषौ |
vajra hastam raNe hanyaam kim punaH tau ca maanuShau |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.24b,3.23.25a
“If I am infuriated I can eliminate even the king of gods, wielder of Thunderbolt and a trekker on ruttish elephant Iravata, namely Indra in a war, then why talk about these two humans.” Thus Khara addressed his troops. [3-23-24b, 25a] .
सा तस्य गर्जितम् श्रुत्वा राक्षसाअनाम् महा चमूः || ३-२३-२५
प्रहर्षम् अतुलम् लेभे मृत्यु पाश अवपाशिता |
praharSham atulam lebhe mR^ityu paasha avapaashitaa |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.25b,3.23.26a
On hearing that thundering speech of Khara that sizeable army of demons which is tied down by the noose of death obtained an incomparable rejoice. [3-23-25b, 26a] .
समेयुः च महात्मानो युद्ध दर्शन कांक्षिणः || ३-२३-२६
ऋषयो देव गन्धर्वाः सिद्धाः च सह चारणैः |
R^iShayo deva gandharvaaH siddhaaH ca saha caaraNaiH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.26b,3.23.27a
Then desiring to see the war of Khara with Rama, great-souls like sages, gods, gandharva-s along with carana-s and siddha-s have come together in firmament. [3-23-26b, 27a] .
समेत्य च ऊचुः सहिताः ते अन्यायम् पुण्यकर्मणः || ३-२३-२७
स्वस्ति गो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो अस्तु लोकानाम् ये च सम्मताः |
svasti go braahmaNebhyo astu lokaanaam ye ca sammataaH |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.27b,3.23.28a
On gathering at a place those great souls met one another and said, “let good betide cows, Brahmans and those that are held respectful by the people at large.” [3-23-27b, 28a] .
जयताम् राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनी चरान् || ३-२३-२८
चक्रहस्तो यथा विष्णुः सर्वान् असुर सत्तमान् |
cakrahasto yathaa viShNuH sarvaan asura sattamaan |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.28b,3.23.29a
“Let Raghava triumph over these mighty night walkers from the lineage of Pulastya, as with Vishnu who once conquered all the mighty demons in war.” So said celestials to one another. [3-23-28b,29a] .
एतत् च अन्यत् च बहुशो ब्रुवाणाः परम ऋषयः || ३-२३-२९
जात कौतूहलात् तत्र विमानस्थाः च देवताः |
ददृशुर् वाहिनीम् तेषाम् राक्षसानाम् गत आयुषाम् || ३-२३-३०
jaata kautuuhalaat tatra vimaanasthaaH ca devataaH |
dadR^ishur vaahiniim teShaam raakShasaanaam gata aayuShaam || 3-23-30
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.29b,3.23.30
While the great sages are speaking about this and many other topics, they and the gods abiding in their aircrafts have inquisitively seen the flow of army of demons, whose longevity is now beyond hope. [3-23-29b, 30] .
रथेन तु खरो वेगात् सैन्यस्य अग्रात् विनिःसृतः |
श्येनगामी पृथुग्रीवो यज्ञशत्रुः विहंगमः || ३-२३-३१
दुर्जयः करवीराक्षः परुषः कालकार्मुकः |
हेममाली महामाली सर्पाअस्यो रुधिराशनः || ३-२३-३२
द्वादश एते महावीर्याः प्रतस्थुः अभितः खरम् |
shyenagaamii pR^ithugriivo yaGYashatruH vihaMgamaH || 3-23-31
durjayaH karaviiraakShaH paruShaH kaalakaarmukaH |
hemamaalii mahaamaalii sarpaaasyo rudhiraashanaH || 3-23-32
dvaadasha ete mahaaviiryaaH pratasthuH abhitaH kharam |
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.31,3.23.32
Khara speedily bolted in his chariot to the van of his legions, and on seeing that demon Khara going in front other important demons too rushed to fore. They are Shyenagaami, Prithugviira, Yajnashatru, Vihamgama and also Durjaya, Karaviiraaksha, Parusha, Kaalakaarmuka, Hemamaali, Mahaamaali, Sarpaasya, Rudhiraaksha. These twelve highly valorous demons cruised in a semicircle around Khara. [3-23-31,32] .
महाकपालः स्थूलाक्षः प्रमाथी त्रिशिराः तथा |
चत्वार एते सेना अग्रे दूषणम् पृष्ठतो अन्वयुः || ३-२३-३३
catvaara ete senaa agre duuShaNam pR^iShThato anvayuH || 3-23-33
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.33
Likewsie Mahakapaala, Stuulaaksha, Pramaathii, Trishira are the four commanders of demonic forces and they followed Duushana marching at his behind. [3-23-33] .
सा भीम वेगा समर अभिकांक्षिणी
सुदारुणा राक्षस वीर सेना |
तौ राज पुत्रौ सहसा अभ्युपेता
माला ग्रहाणाम् इव चन्द्र सूर्यौ || ३-२३-३४
sudaaruNaa raakShasa viira senaa |
tau raaja putrau sahasaa abhyupetaa
maalaa grahaaNaam iva candra suuryau || 3-23-34
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 3.23.34
That army of valiant demons which is highly execrable, infernally speedy, and readily inspirited for a battle quickly rushed towards those two princes, Rama and Lakshmana, as though a festoon of planets would rush towards the Moon and Sun so as to put them to rout. [3-23-34] .
No comments yet.