# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 21 — Khara’s army mobilizes *Dūṣaṇa assembles fourteen thousand rākṣasas, Khara mounts his chariot and the armed force marches from Janasthāna* Portion: Khara’s march and the battle at Janasthāna · Verses: 26 · Ref format: 3.21. ## Sequence - Provoked by Śūrpaṇakhā, Khara declares that he cannot contain his anger and dismisses Rāma as a mere mortal (21.1–3) - he promises to kill both brothers and let her drink Rāma's blood → reassured, she praises him again (21.4–6) - Khara orders his commander Dūṣaṇa to mobilize fourteen thousand rākṣasas and prepare his chariot and weapons (21.7–12) - 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 (21.13–18) - the army leaves Janasthāna carrying bows, swords, spears, axes, clubs, and other weapons (21.19–22) - Khara's chariot follows the advancing force, and he urges his driver to hurry (21.23–26). ## Verses **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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, **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 — **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. **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. **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. **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. **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, **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, **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. **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. **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!” **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. **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, **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 — **3.21.22** rākṣasānāṃ sughorāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa niryātāni janasthānāt kharacittānuvartinām Fourteen thousand most dreadful rākṣasas, obedient to Khara's will, marched forth from Janasthāna. **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. **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. **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. **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.