Aranya Kanda — Sarga 22

एवमाधर्षितः शूरः शूर्पनख्या खरस्ततः। उवाच रक्षसां मध्ये खरः खरतरं वचः॥

On being thus taunted by Śūrpanakha, Khara spoke these sharp words in the midst of the Raksasas.

Aranya Kanda 22.1

तवापमानप्रभवः क्रोधोऽयमतुलो मम। न शक्यते धारयितुं लवणाम्भ इवोल्बणम्॥

Arising from this your humiliating censure, my wrath is beyond compare. I can not bear it, like salt-water cast on a sore.

Aranya Kanda 22.2

न रामं गणये वीर्यान्मानुषं क्षीणजीवितम्। आत्मदुश्चरितैः प्राणान् हतो योऽद्य विमोक्ष्यते॥

From my prowess I count not Rāma who is a human being possessed of a frail life him who slain by me shall to-day in consequence of his misdeed give up existence.

Aranya Kanda 22.3

वाष्पः संधार्यतामेष सम्भ्रमश्च विमुच्यताम्। अहं रामं सह भ्रात्रा नयामि यमसादनम्॥

Restrain your tears, and remove your fear. I shall despatch a Rāma along with his brother to the abode of Yama.

Aranya Kanda 22.4

परश्वधहतस्याद्य मन्दप्राणस्य भूतले। रामस्य रुधिरं रक्तमुष्णं पास्यसि राक्षसि ॥

You shall O Rākşasī, quaff on the ground the hot blood of Rāma of evil life, slain by my axe.

Aranya Kanda 22.5

सम्प्रहृष्टा वचः श्रुत्वा खरस्य वदनाच्च्युतम्। प्रशशंस पुनर्मोाद् भ्रातरं रक्षसां वरम्॥

Overjoyed on hearing the words that dropped from Khara's mouth, she again through fickleness extolled that foremost of Rākşasas, her brother.

Aranya Kanda 22.6

तया परुषितः पूर्वं पुनरेव प्रशंसितः। अब्रवीद् दूषणं नाम खरः सेनापति तदा॥

At first reprimanded by her and then praised, Khara spoke to is general, named Dusana.

Aranya Kanda 22.7

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि मम चित्तानुवर्तिनाम्। रक्षसां भीमवेगानां समरेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्॥ नीलजीमूतवर्णानां लोकहिंसाविहारिणाम्। सर्वोद्योगमुदीर्णानां रक्षसां सौम्य कारय॥

Do you, O gentle one, array fourteen thousand of those those Rākṣasas, gifted with furious vehemence, ever following my wish, who never turn away froin the field; who are hued like to purple clouds, who revel in cruelty*, and who are elated (in consequence of their prowess). *The North-West Province's text has some additional sloka:-Dreadful, wearing forms at will, possessing the pride of the lion, having large mouth, high-souled, revelling in cruelty, endued with strength, of fierce energy.

Aranya Kanda 22.8

उपस्थापय मे क्षिप्रं रथं सौम्य धनूंषि च। शरांश्च चित्रान् खङ्गांश्च शक्तीश्च विविधाः शिताः॥

And you gentle one, do you at once bring my car as well as my bows, and pasty coloured arrows and scimitars, and darts, and various whetted javelins.

Aranya Kanda 22.9

अग्रे निर्यातुमिच्छामि पौलस्त्यानां महात्मनाम्। वधार्थं दुर्विनीतस्य रामस्य रणकोविद ॥

O you versed in warfare, for slaying this haughty Rāma, I go in the very fore-front of the high-souled Paulastyas. Lit.-Pulastya's The Rākşasas commonly descended from Pulastya.

Aranya Kanda 22.10

इति तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य सूर्यवर्णं महारथम्। सदश्वैः शबलैर्युक्तमाचचक्षेऽथ दूषणः॥

As he said this, Dūşaņa brought his great car hued like the sun, yoked with excellent steeds of various colours. sons. were

Aranya Kanda 22.11

तं मेरुशिखराकारं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणम्। हेमंचक्रमसम्बाधं वैदूर्यमयकूवरम्॥ मत्स्यैः पुष्पैर्दुमैः शैलैश्चन्द्रकान्तैश्च काञ्चनैः। माङ्गल्यैः पक्षिसङ्घश्च ताराभिश्च समावृतम्॥ ध्वजनिस्त्रिशसम्पन्न किङ्किणीवरभूषितम्। सदश्वयुक्तं सोऽमर्षादारुरोह खरस्तदा॥

Thereupon in a passion Khara ascended that car resembling a peak of Meru, embellished with burnished-gold, furnished with golden wheels, open; having its pole studded with lapises; surrounded with fishes and flowers and trees and stones, and the sun and the moon and gold, and auspicious articles; and swarms of birds, and stars; having streamers and swords; garnished with bells; and yoked with superb coursers.

Aranya Kanda 22.12

खरस्तु तन्महत्सैन्यं रथचर्मायुधध्वजम्। निर्यातेत्यब्रवीत् प्रेक्ष्य दूषणः सर्वराक्षसान्॥

Beholding that mighty army consisting of cars and arms and pennons, Khara as well as Dūşana, said to that multitude of Rākşasas, March forth!

Aranya Kanda 22.13

ततस्तद् राक्षसं सैन्यं घोरचर्मायुधध्वजम्। निर्जगाम जनस्थानान्माहानादं महाजवम्॥ मुद्वरैः पट्टिशैः शूलैः सुतीक्ष्णैश्च परश्वधैः। खङ्गैश्चक्रैश्च हस्तस्थैभ्राजमानैः सतोमरैः॥ शक्तिभिः परिधैोरैरतिमात्रैश्च कार्मुकैः। गदासिमुसलैर्वज्रगृहीतैर्भीमदर्शनैः॥ राक्षसानां सुघोराणां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश । निर्यातानि जनस्थानात् खरचित्तानुवर्तिनाम्॥

Then uttering tremendous roars, rushed out with great vehemence four and ten thousand of those terrible Rākşasas equipped with clubs and parțiśas and darts and sharpened axes, and scimitars and discuses, shining beautifully in their hands and saktis and dreadful parighas and innumerable bows, and maces, and musalas and vajras fearful to behold, griped fast. And those following the will of Khara issued out of Janasthāna.

Aranya Kanda 22.14

सांस्तु निर्धावतो दृष्ट्वा राक्षसान् भीमदर्शनान्। खरस्याथ रथः किंचिज्जगाम तदनन्तरम्॥

Seeing those Rākṣasas of dreadful forms rushing out, Khara's car remaining a little away (from the press), proceeded after a short space.

Aranya Kanda 22.15

ततस्ताञ्छबलानश्वांस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितान्। खरस्य मतमाज्ञाय सारथिः पर्यचोदयत्॥

Then taking the perinission of Khara, the charioteer drove at speed those powerful steeds decked in shining gold.

Aranya Kanda 22.16

संचोदितो रथः शीघ्रं खरस्य रिपुघातिनः। शब्देनापूरयामास दिशः सप्रदिशस्तथा॥

And driven with speed, the car of Khara. slayer of foes, filled all directions with its rattle.

Aranya Kanda 22.17

प्रवृद्धमन्युस्तु खरः खरस्वरो रिपोर्वधार्थ त्वरितो यथान्तकः। महाबलो मेघ इवाश्मवर्षवान्॥

Khara, fired with wrath, and having piercing voice, hastening to destroy his enemy like the destroyer himself, again urged his charioteer with roars, like a mighty cloud showering down stones.

Aranya Kanda 22.18