# Araṇya Kāṇḍa 26 — Triśiras loses his three heads *He takes Khara’s place in battle, Rāma wrecks his chariot and severs his heads, Khara advances himself* Portion: Khara’s march and the battle at Janasthāna · Verses: 20 · Ref format: 3.26. ## Sequence - Triśiras intercepts Khara and asks to fight first, swearing on his weapon that either he or Rāma will die → Khara can return victorious if Rāma falls, or fight afterward if Triśiras fails (26.1–5) - Khara gives permission, and Triśiras drives at Rāma, roaring and firing arrows (26.6–10) - three arrows strike Rāma's forehead → Rāma mocks their force and answers with fourteen arrows into Triśiras's chest (26.11–13) - he kills the four horses, brings down the charioteer, and cuts the standard (26.14–15) - as Triśiras jumps from the ruined chariot, Rāma strikes his heart, then severs all three heads with three arrows (26.16–18) - surviving troops who have sheltered near Khara flee again → Khara turns them back and charges Rāma himself (26.19–20). ## Verses **3.26.1** kharaṃ tu rāmābhimukhaṃ prayāntaṃ vāhinīpatiḥ rākṣasas triśirā nāma saṃnipatyedam abravīt As Khara was advancing toward Rāma, an army-commander, a rākṣasa named Triśiras, coming up to him, said this: **3.26.2** māṃ niyojaya vikrānta saṃnivartasva sāhasāt paśya rāmaṃ mahābāhuṃ saṃyuge vinipātitam “Appoint me to the task, O valiant one; desist from this rash venture; behold the mighty-armed Rāma struck down in battle. **3.26.3** pratijānāmi te satyam āyudhaṃ cāham ālabhe yathā rāmaṃ vadhiṣyāmi vadhārhaṃ sarvarakṣasām I promise you truly, and I lay my hand on my weapon in oath, that I shall slay Rāma, who deserves death for the sake of all the rākṣasas. **3.26.4** ahaṃ vāsya raṇe mṛtyur eṣa vā samare mama vinivartya raṇotsāhaṃ muhūrtaṃ prāśniko bhava Either I shall be his death in the fray, or he mine in battle; restraining your zeal for battle a moment, be the judge. **3.26.5** prahṛṣṭo vā hate rāme janasthānaṃ prayāsyasi mayi vā nihate rāmaṃ saṃyugāyopayāsyasi Either, delighted at Rāma's death, you will go back to Janasthāna; or, should I be slain, you will go against Rāma for battle. **3.26.6** kharas triśirasā tena mṛtyulobhāt prasāditaḥ gaccha yudhyety anujñāto rāghavābhimukho yayau Khara, won over by that Triśiras out of the latter's craving for death, gave leave with “Go, fight!”; and (Triśiras,) so permitted, went to face Rāghava. **3.26.7** triśirāś ca rathenaiva vājiyuktena bhāsvatā abhyadravad raṇe rāmaṃ triśṛṅga iva parvataḥ And Triśiras, on his gleaming chariot yoked with horses, rushed at Rāma in the battle, like a three-peaked mountain. **3.26.8** śaradhārā samūhān sa mahāmegha ivotsṛjan vyasṛjat sadṛśaṃ nādaṃ jalārdrasyeva dundubheḥ Pouring forth masses of arrow-streams like a great cloud, he uttered a roar like that of a rain-soaked kettle-drum. **3.26.9** āgacchantaṃ triśirasaṃ rākṣasaṃ prekṣya rāghavaḥ dhanuṣā pratijagrāha vidhunvan sāyakāñ śitān Seeing the rākṣasa Triśiras coming on, Rāghava received him with his bow, brandishing sharp arrows. **3.26.10** sa saṃprahāras tumulo rāma triśirasor mahān babhūvātīva balinoḥ siṃhakuñjarayor iva That tumultuous, mighty clash between Rāma and Triśiras grew exceedingly fierce, like a fight between a lion and an elephant, both strong. **3.26.11** tatas triśirasā bāṇair lalāṭe tāḍitas tribhiḥ amarṣī kupito rāmaḥ saṃrabdham idam abravīt Then, struck on the forehead by Triśiras with three arrows, the indignant Rāma, enraged, said this in fury: **3.26.12** aho vikramaśūrasya rākṣasasyedṛśaṃ balam puṣpair iva śarair yasya lalāṭe 'smi parikṣataḥ mamāpi pratigṛhṇīṣva śarāṃś cāpaguṇacyutān “Ah, such is the strength of this rākṣasa, valiant in prowess, by whose arrows — as if with flowers — I have been wounded on the forehead! Now receive my arrows too, sped from my bowstring. **3.26.13** evam uktvā tu saṃrabdhaḥ śarān āśīviṣopamān triśiro vakṣasi kruddho nijaghāna caturdaśa So saying, the furious one, enraged, struck fourteen arrows, like venomous serpents, into the breast of Triśiras. **3.26.14** caturbhis turagān asya śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ nyapātayata tejasvī caturas tasya vājinaḥ With four smooth-jointed arrows the resplendent one brought down his four horses. **3.26.15** aṣṭabhiḥ sāyakaiḥ sūtaṃ rathopasthe nyapātayat rāmaś ciccheda bāṇena dhvajaṃ cāsya samucchritam With eight arrows Rāma felled the charioteer from the chariot-seat, and with an arrow cut down his banner raised aloft. **3.26.16** tato hatarathāt tasmād utpatantaṃ niśācaram bibheda rāmas taṃ bāṇair hṛdaye so 'bhavaj jaḍaḥ Then, as the night-roamer leapt out from that ruined chariot, Rāma pierced him in the heart with arrows, and he became senseless. **3.26.17** sāyakaiś cāprameyātmā sāmarṣas tasya rakṣasaḥ śirāṃsy apātayat trīṇi vegavadbhis tribhiḥ śataiḥ And the one of immeasurable spirit, indignant, with three swift arrows brought down the three heads of that rākṣasa. **3.26.18** sa bhūmau śoṇitodgārī rāmabāṇābhipīḍitaḥ nyapatat patitaiḥ pūrvaṃ svaśirobhir niśācaraḥ Spewing blood, tormented by Rāma's arrows, the night-roamer fell to the ground, his own heads having fallen first. **3.26.19** hataśeṣās tato bhagnā rākṣasāḥ kharasaṃśrayāḥ dravanti sma na tiṣṭhanti vyāghratrastā mṛgā iva Then the rākṣasas who survived, routed, who had taken refuge with Khara, fled and did not stand their ground, like deer terrified by a tiger. **3.26.20** tān kharo dravato dṛṣṭvā nivartya ruṣitaḥ svayam rāmam evābhidudrāva rāhuś candramasaṃ yathā Seeing them fleeing, Khara, enraged, turned them back himself and rushed straight at Rāma, as Rāhu at the moon.