← 3.20 Śūrpaṇakhā challenges Khara · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.22 Omens on Khara’s march →

Araṇya Kāṇḍa, sarga 21: Khara’s army mobilizes

Summary. Dūṣaṇa assembles fourteen thousand rākṣasas, Khara mounts his chariot and the armed force marches from Janasthāna

Sequence

  1. Provoked by Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara declares that he cannot contain his anger and dismisses Rāma as a mere mortal (3.21.1–3)
  2. he promises to kill both brothers and let her drink Rāma's blood → reassured, she praises him again (3.21.4–6)
  3. Khara orders his commander Dūṣaṇa to mobilize fourteen thousand rākṣasas and prepare his chariot and weapons (3.21.7–12)
  4. Dūṣaṇa brings the gold-decorated chariot with its dappled horses → Khara mounts, the troops gather around him and Dūṣaṇa, and he gives the order to march (3.21.13–18)
  5. the army leaves Janasthāna carrying bows, swords, spears, axes, clubs, and other weapons (3.21.19–22)
  6. Khara's chariot follows the advancing force, and he urges his driver to hurry. (3.21.23–26)

Verses 3.21.1–26

3.21.1

evam ādharṣitaḥ śūraḥ śūrpaṇakhyā kharas tadā
uvāca rakṣasāṃ madhye kharaḥ kharataraṃ vacaḥ

Thus provoked by Śūrpaṇakhā, the brave Khara then spoke, in the midst of the rākṣasas, words harsher than harsh:

Words: evam — thus; ādharṣitaḥ — provoked, challenged; śūraḥ — the brave one; śūrpaṇakhyā — by Śūrpaṇakhā; kharas — Khara; tadā — then; uvāca — spoke; rakṣasāṃ — of the rākṣasas; madhye — in the midst; kharaḥ — Khara; kharataraṃ — harsher (than harsh; a pun on his name); vacaḥ — words

3.21.2

tavāpamānaprabhavaḥ krodho 'yam atulo mama
na śakyate dhārayituṃ lavaṇāmbha ivotthitam

“This unequalled anger of mine, arisen from the insult to you, cannot be held back, like the risen tide of the salt sea.

Words: tavāpamānaprabhavaḥ — arisen from the insult to you; krodho 'yam — this anger; atulo — unequalled; mama — my; na śakyate — it cannot be; dhārayituṃ — to be held back, restrained; lavaṇāmbha — the salt sea, salt water; ivotthitam — like the risen

3.21.3

na rāmaṃ gaṇaye vīryān mānuṣaṃ kṣīṇajīvitam
ātmā duścaritaiḥ prāṇān hato yo 'dya vimokṣyati

I reckon Rāma as nothing for his valour — a mere mortal, his life at its end, who, as good as slain by his own misdeeds, will today give up his life-breaths.

Words: na — not; rāmaṃ — Rāma; gaṇaye — I reckon, count; vīryān — for valour, on account of might; mānuṣaṃ — a mortal, human; kṣīṇajīvitam — whose life is spent; ātmā — (his) self; duścaritaiḥ — by (his own) misdeeds; prāṇān — life-breaths; hato — slain; yo — who; 'dya — today; vimokṣyati — will release, give up

3.21.4

bāṣpaḥ saṃhriyatām eṣa saṃbhramaś ca vimucyatām
ahaṃ rāmaḥ saha bhrātrā nayāmi yamasādanam

Let these tears be checked, and let your agitation be dismissed; I shall send Rāma, together with his brother, to the abode of Yama.

Words: bāṣpaḥ — tears; saṃhriyatām — let it be checked, withheld; eṣa — this; saṃbhramaś — agitation, flurry; ca — and; vimucyatām — let it be dismissed, released; ahaṃ — I; rāmaḥ — Rāma (as object); saha — with; bhrātrā — (his) brother; nayāmi — I shall lead, send; yamasādanam — to the abode of Yama

3.21.5

paraśvadhahatasyādya mandaprāṇasya bhūtale
rāmasya rudhiraṃ raktam uṣṇaṃ pāsyasi rākṣasi

Today, O rākṣasī, you shall drink the warm red blood of Rāma, struck down by my battle-axe, his life ebbing, upon the ground.

Words: paraśvadhahatasyādya — of (him) struck by the axe, today; mandaprāṇasya — whose life-breath is faint; bhūtale — upon the ground; rāmasya — of Rāma; rudhiraṃ — blood; raktam — red; uṣṇaṃ — warm, hot; pāsyasi — you shall drink; rākṣasi — O rākṣasī

3.21.6

sā prahṛṣṭvā vacaḥ śrutvā kharasya vadanāc cyutam
praśaśaṃsa punar maurkhyād bhrātaraṃ rakṣasāṃ varam

Delighted at hearing the words that fell from Khara's mouth, she, in her folly, once again praised her brother, the best of rākṣasas.

Words: sā — she; prahṛṣṭvā — delighted, rejoicing; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; kharasya — of Khara; vadanāc — from the mouth; cyutam — fallen, issued; praśaśaṃsa — praised; punar — again; maurkhyād — out of folly; bhrātaraṃ — brother; rakṣasāṃ — of the rākṣasas; varam — the best

3.21.7

tayā paruṣitaḥ pūrvaṃ punar eva praśaṃsitaḥ
abravīd dūṣaṇaṃ nāma kharaḥ senāpatiṃ tadā

Reviled by her before and now praised again, Khara then spoke to his commander named Dūṣaṇa:

Words: tayā — by her; paruṣitaḥ — reviled, abused; pūrvaṃ — before; punar eva — and now again; praśaṃsitaḥ — praised; abravīd — spoke; dūṣaṇaṃ — Dūṣaṇa; nāma — by name; kharaḥ — Khara; senāpatiṃ — the commander, general; tadā — then

3.21.8

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi mama cittānuvartinām
rakṣasīṃ bhīmavegānāṃ samareṣv anivartinām

“Fourteen thousand rākṣasas obedient to my will, of terrible speed, never retreating in battles,

Words: caturdaśa — fourteen; sahasrāṇi — thousand; mama — my; cittānuvartinām — obedient to my will; rakṣasīṃ — of the rākṣasas; bhīmavegānāṃ — of terrible speed; samareṣv — in battles; anivartinām — never retreating

3.21.9

nīlajīmūtavarṇānāṃ ghorāṇāṃ krūrakarmaṇām
lokasiṃhāvihārāṇāṃ balinām ugratejasām

dark as blue storm-clouds, dreadful, of cruel deeds, roaming fearless like lions in the world, strong, of fierce might —

Words: nīlajīmūtavarṇānāṃ — dark as blue storm-clouds; ghorāṇāṃ — dreadful; krūrakarmaṇām — of cruel deeds; lokasiṃhāvihārāṇāṃ — roaming like lions in the world; balinām — strong; ugratejasām — of fierce might

3.21.10

teṣāṃ śārdūladarpāṇāṃ mahāsyānāaṃ mahaujasām
sarvodyogam udīrṇānāṃ rakṣasāṃ saumya kāraya

of those rākṣasas, proud as tigers, huge-mouthed, of great vigour, aroused (for war) — bring about, gentle one, their full mobilization.

Words: teṣāṃ — of those; śārdūladarpāṇāṃ — proud as tigers; mahāsyānāaṃ — huge-mouthed; mahaujasām — of great vigour; sarvodyogam — full mobilization, complete effort; udīrṇānāṃ — roused, excited; rakṣasāṃ — of the rākṣasas; saumya — gentle one; kāraya — bring about, arrange

3.21.11

upasthāpaya me kṣipraṃ rathaṃ saumya dhanūṃṣi ca
śarāṃś ca citrān khaḍgāṃś ca śaktīś ca vividhāḥ śitāḥ

Bring up swiftly for me, gentle one, my chariot and bows, and gleaming arrows, and swords, and various sharp lances.

Words: upasthāpaya — bring up, make ready; me — for me; kṣipraṃ — swiftly; rathaṃ — chariot; saumya — gentle one; dhanūṃṣi — bows; ca — and; śarāṃś — arrows; ca — and; citrān — bright, variegated; khaḍgāṃś — swords; ca — and; śaktīś — lances, spears; ca — and; vividhāḥ — various; śitāḥ — sharp, whetted

3.21.12

agre niryātum icchāmi paulastyānāṃ mahātmanām
vadhārthaṃ durvinītasya rāmasya raṇakovidaḥ

Skilled in battle, I wish to march at the head of the great-souled descendants of Pulastya, for the slaying of the ill-mannered Rāma.

Words: agre — at the head, in front; niryātum — to march out, set forth; icchāmi — I wish; paulastyānāṃ — of the descendants of Pulastya (the rākṣasas); mahātmanām — of the great-souled; vadhārthaṃ — for the sake of slaying; durvinītasya — of the ill-mannered (Rāma); rāmasya — of Rāma; raṇakovidaḥ — skilled in battle

3.21.13

iti tasya bruvāṇasya sūryavarṇaṃ mahāratham
sadaśvaiḥ śabalair yuktam ācacakṣe 'tha dūṣaṇaḥ

As he spoke thus, Dūṣaṇa then presented the great chariot, sun-coloured, yoked with fine dappled horses.

Words: iti — thus; tasya bruvāṇasya — as he was speaking; sūryavarṇaṃ — sun-coloured; mahāratham — the great chariot; sadaśvaiḥ — with fine horses; śabalair — dappled, spotted; yuktam — yoked; ācacakṣe — presented, pointed out; 'tha — then; dūṣaṇaḥ — Dūṣaṇa

3.21.14

taṃ meruśikharākāraṃ taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇam
hemacakram asaṃbādhaṃ vaidūryamaya kūbaram

That chariot, shaped like the peak of Meru, adorned with refined gold, with golden wheels, roomy, its pole made of beryl,

Words: taṃ — that; meruśikharākāraṃ — shaped like Meru's peak; taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇam — adorned with refined gold; hemacakram — with golden wheels; asaṃbādhaṃ — roomy, unobstructed; vaidūryamaya — made of beryl; kūbaram — the pole (of the chariot)

3.21.15

matsyaiḥ puṣpair drumaiḥ śailaiś candrasūryaiś ca kāñcanaiḥ
māṅgalyaiḥ pakṣisaṃghaiś ca tārābhiś ca samāvṛtam

overspread with figures of fish, flowers, trees, mountains, and golden moons and suns, auspicious emblems, flocks of birds, and stars,

Words: matsyaiḥ — with fish; puṣpair — with flowers; drumaiḥ — with trees; śailaiś — with mountains; candrasūryaiś — with moons and suns; ca — and; kāñcanaiḥ — golden; māṅgalyaiḥ — auspicious (emblems); pakṣisaṃghaiś — with flocks of birds; ca — and; tārābhiś — with stars; ca — and; samāvṛtam — covered, overspread

3.21.16

dhvajanistriṃśasaṃpannaṃ kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitam
sadaśvayuktaṃ so 'marṣād āruroha rathaṃ kharaḥ

furnished with banner and sword, adorned with little bells, and yoked with fine horses — that chariot Khara mounted in fury.

Words: dhvajanistriṃśasaṃpannaṃ — furnished with banner and sword; kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitam — adorned with little bells; sadaśvayuktaṃ — yoked with fine horses; so 'marṣād — he, in fury; āruroha — mounted, ascended; rathaṃ — chariot; kharaḥ — Khara

3.21.17

niśāmya taṃ rathagataṃ rāakṣasā bhīmavikramāḥ
tasthuḥ saṃparivāryainaṃ dūṣaṇaṃ ca mahābalam

Seeing him mounted on the chariot, the rākṣasas of terrible valour stood surrounding him and the mighty Dūṣaṇa.

Words: niśāmya — having seen, beheld; taṃ — him; rathagataṃ — mounted on the chariot; rāakṣasā — the rākṣasas; bhīmavikramāḥ — of terrible valour; tasthuḥ — stood; saṃparivāryainaṃ — surrounding him; dūṣaṇaṃ — Dūṣaṇa; ca — and; mahābalam — the mighty one

3.21.18

kharas tu tān maheṣvāsān ghoracarmāyudhadhvajān
niryātety abravīd dṛṣṭvā rathasthaḥ sarvarākṣasān

And Khara, standing on his chariot, seeing all those rākṣasas — great archers with dreadful shields, weapons, and banners — said, “March forth!”

Words: kharas tu — and Khara; tān — those; maheṣvāsān — great archers; ghoracarmāyudhadhvajān — with dreadful shields, weapons, and banners; niryātety — 'march forth!'; abravīd — said; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rathasthaḥ — standing on the chariot; sarvarākṣasān — all the rākṣasas

3.21.19

tatas tad rākṣasaṃ sainyaṃ ghoracarmāyudhadhvajam
nirjagāma janasthānān mahānādaṃ mahājavam

Then that rākṣasa army, with dreadful shields, weapons, and banners, of mighty roar and great speed, marched forth from Janasthāna.

Words: tatas — then; tad — that; rākṣasaṃ — rākṣasa; sainyaṃ — army; ghoracarmāyudhadhvajam — with dreadful shields, weapons, and banners; nirjagāma — marched forth, went out; janasthānān — from Janasthāna; mahānādaṃ — of mighty roar; mahājavam — of great speed

3.21.20

mudgaraiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlaiḥ sutīkṣṇaiś ca paraśvadhaiḥ
khaḍgaiś cakraiś ca hastasthair bhrājamānaiś ca tomaraiḥ

with mallets, paṭṭiśas, spears, and very sharp battle-axes, with swords and discuses and gleaming lances held in their hands,

Words: mudgaraiḥ — with mallets, clubs; paṭṭiśaiḥ — with paṭṭiśas (spiked maces); śūlaiḥ — with spears; sutīkṣṇaiś — very sharp; ca — and; paraśvadhaiḥ — with battle-axes; khaḍgaiś — with swords; cakraiś — with discuses; ca — and; hastasthair — held in hand; bhrājamānaiś — gleaming; ca — and; tomaraiḥ — with lances, javelins

3.21.21

śaktibhiḥ patighair ghorair atimātraiś ca kārmukaiḥ
gadāsimusalair vajrair gṛhītair bhīmadarśanaiḥ

with lances, dreadful iron clubs, and huge bows, and with maces, swords, pestles, and thunderbolts grasped (in hand), fearful to behold —

Words: śaktibhiḥ — with lances, spears; patighair — with iron clubs; ghorair — dreadful; atimātraiś — huge, immense; ca — and; kārmukaiḥ — with bows; gadāsimusalair — with maces, swords, and pestles; vajrair — with thunderbolts; gṛhītair — grasped, held; bhīmadarśanaiḥ — fearful to behold

3.21.22

rākṣasānāṃ sughorāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
niryātāni janasthānāt kharacittānuvartinām

Fourteen thousand most dreadful rākṣasas, obedient to Khara's will, marched forth from Janasthāna.

Words: rākṣasānāṃ — of rākṣasas; sughorāṇāṃ — most dreadful; sahasrāṇi — thousand; caturdaśa — fourteen; niryātāni — marched forth, set out; janasthānāt — from Janasthāna; kharacittānuvartinām — obedient to Khara's will

3.21.23

tāṃs tv abhidravato dṛṣṭvā rākṣasān bhīmavikramān
kharasyāpi rathaḥ kiṃ cij jagāma tadanantaram

And seeing those rākṣasas of terrible valour rushing forward, Khara's chariot too then moved on somewhat after them.

Words: tāṃs — those; tv — and; abhidravato — rushing forward; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rākṣasān — the rākṣasas; bhīmavikramān — of terrible valour; kharasyāpi — of Khara too; rathaḥ — chariot; kiṃ cij — somewhat, a little; jagāma — moved, went; tadanantaram — thereupon, right after that

3.21.24

tatas tāñ śabalān aśvāṃs taptakāñcanabhūṣitān
kharasya matam ājñāya sārathiḥ samacodayat

Then the charioteer, understanding Khara's mind, urged on those dappled horses adorned with refined gold.

Words: tatas — then; tāñ — those; śabalān — dappled; aśvāṃs — horses; taptakāñcanabhūṣitān — adorned with refined gold; kharasya — of Khara; matam — the mind, intent; ājñāya — having understood, perceived; sārathiḥ — the charioteer; samacodayat — urged on, drove

3.21.25

sa codito rathaḥ śīghraṃ kharasya ripughātinaḥ
śabdenāpūrayām āsa diśaś ca pratiśas tathā

That chariot of Khara, slayer of foes, being driven swiftly, filled with its noise the quarters and every direction likewise.

Words: sa — that; codito — urged, driven; rathaḥ — chariot; śīghraṃ — swiftly; kharasya — of Khara; ripughātinaḥ — slayer of foes; śabdenāpūrayām āsa — filled with (its) noise; diśaś — the quarters, directions; ca — and; pratiśas — in each direction; tathā — likewise

3.21.26

pravṛddhamanyus tu kharaḥ kharasvano ripor vadhārthaṃ tvarito yathāntakaḥ
acūcudat sārathim unnadan punar mahābalo megha ivāśmavarṣavān

His wrath swollen, Khara of harsh voice, hastening like Death to slay his foe, roaring aloud once more, that mighty one, like a cloud raining down stones, urged on his charioteer.

Words: pravṛddhamanyus — his wrath swollen; tu — and; kharaḥ — Khara; kharasvano — of harsh voice; ripor — of the foe; vadhārthaṃ — for the slaying; tvarito — hastening; yathāntakaḥ — like Death; acūcudat — urged on, spurred; sārathim — the charioteer; unnadan — roaring aloud; punar — again; mahābalo — the mighty one; megha — a cloud; ivāśmavarṣavān — like (a cloud) raining down stones

← 3.20 Śūrpaṇakhā challenges Khara · Araṇya Kāṇḍa · 3.22 Omens on Khara’s march →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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