Aranya Kanda · Sarga 30 of 76 · 41 verses
The Death of Khara
Having broken the mace with arrows, Raghava, who loves dharma, says with a smile and in anger: “This is the whole of your strength that you have shown, lowest of rakshasas. You are far weaker than I am, and you roar for nothing. Broken by arrows, this mace has fallen to the ground, destroying your credibility, you who are bold only with names. What you said, that you would wipe away the tears of the dead rakshasas, is also false. I will take the life of this low, petty-natured, false rakshasa, as Garuda took the nectar. Today the earth will drink your blood, adorned with bubbles of foam, your throat split, torn apart by my arrows. Your limbs grey with dust, your two arms fallen loose, you will sleep embracing the earth, like a woman hard to win. When you, disgrace of the rakshasas, lie in the long sleep, these Dandakas will become a refuge for those who need refuge. With your Janasthana destroyed by my arrows, the sages will roam the forest everywhere without fear. Today the rakshasis, who once frightened others, will flee in fear, their kin killed, their faces wet with tears, wretched. Today your wives, of families like yours, who have such a husband, will know the taste of grief and lose their purpose. Cruel by nature, petty-souled, always a thorn to brahmanas: because of you the sages offer oblations into the fire in fear.” Khara, his voice harsher still, rebukes Raghava angrily: “You are certainly very proud, fearless even in danger. Under the power of death, you do not know what should and should not be said. Men caught in the noose of Time, their six senses gone, do not know right from wrong.” Saying this, frowning, the night-ranger sees a great sala tree not far off; looking everywhere for a weapon in the battle, biting his lip, he uproots it. Lifting it with both arms and roaring, the mighty one hurls it at Rama, saying: “You are dead.”
Cutting it with floods of arrows as it falls, powerful Rama summons fierce anger to kill Khara in battle. Sweating, his eyes red at the corners with fury, Rama pierces Khara with a thousand arrows in battle. From the gaps between the arrows much foaming blood flows from him, like streams pouring from a mountain spring. Disabled by Rama’s arrows in battle, maddened by the smell of blood, Khara rushes swiftly at him. As he rushes on, angry, drenched in blood, Rama, master of weapons, quick in his steps, moves back two or three paces. Then, to kill Khara in battle, Rama takes an arrow like fire, like a second rod of Brahma. That arrow given by wise Maghavan, king of the gods, the righteous one fits and releases at Khara. Released by Rama drawing his bow, the great arrow, with a sound like a thunderclap, falls on Khara’s chest. Burned by the fire of the arrow, Khara falls to the ground, as Andhaka was burned by Rudra in the White Forest; like Vritra struck by the thunderbolt, like Namuci by the foam, like Bala struck by Indra’s thunderbolt, Khara falls dead. Meanwhile the gods, gathered with the charanas, beating drums, rain flowers all round on Rama, delighted and amazed: “In little more than half an hour, Rama with sharp arrows has killed fourteen thousand rakshasas who take any form at will, led by Khara and Dushana, in a great battle. Ah, the great deed of self-knowing Rama! Ah, the valour, ah, the firmness, like Vishnu’s!” Saying this, all the gods go back as they came. Then all the royal seers and supreme seers, with Agastya, gather, honour Rama joyfully and say: “This is why the very splendid great Indra, chastiser of Paka, Purandara, came to Sharabhanga’s holy hermitage; you were brought to this region by the great seers by design, to kill these enemies, the rakshasas of evil deeds. You have done this work for us, son of Dasharatha. The great seers will now practise their own dharma in the Dandakas.” Meanwhile heroic Lakshmana, with Sita, comes out of the mountain cave and enters the hermitage happily. Then victorious Rama, honoured by the great seers, enters the hermitage, honoured by Lakshmana. Seeing him, the slayer of enemies, bringer of happiness to the great seers, Vaidehi is delighted and embraces her husband. Filled with supreme joy, seeing the hosts of rakshasas killed and Rama unharmed, Janaka’s daughter is content. Then, as the crusher of the hosts of rakshasas is honoured by the joyful great souls, she embraces him again, her face full of joy, and Janaka’s daughter is delighted.
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भित्त्वा तु तां गदां बाणै राघवो धर्मवत्सलः । स्मयमान इदं वाक्यं संरब्धमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Having broken that mace with arrows, Raghava, who loves dharma, smiling, said these words in anger:
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एतत् ते बलसर्वस्वं दर्शितं राक्षसाधम । शक्तिहीनतरो मत्तो वृथा त्वमुपगर्जसि ॥ २ ॥
“This is the whole of your strength that you have shown, lowest of rakshasas. Weaker in power than I am, you roar in vain.
एषा बाणविनिर्भिन्ना गदा भूमितलं गता । अभिधानप्रगल्भस्य तव प्रत्ययघातिनी ॥ ३ ॥
“This mace, broken by arrows, has gone to the ground, destroying the trust in you who are bold only in names.
यत् त्वयोक्तं विनष्टानामिदमश्रुप्रमार्जनम् । राक्षसानां करोमीति मिथ्या तदपि ते वचः ॥ ४ ॥
“What you said, ‘This is the wiping of tears of the destroyed rakshasas; I will do it’: that word of yours too is false.
नीचस्य क्षुद्रशीलस्य मिथ्यावृत्तस्य रक्षसः । प्राणानपहरिष्यामि गरुत्मानमृतं यथा ॥ ५ ॥
“I will take away the life of this low, petty-natured rakshasa of false conduct, as Garutman took the nectar.
अद्य ते भिन्नकण्ठस्य फेनबुद्बुदभूषितम् । विदारितस्य मद्बाणैर्मही पास्यति शोणितम् ॥ ६ ॥
“Today the earth will drink your blood, adorned with foam and bubbles, your throat split, torn apart by my arrows.
पांसुरूषितसर्वाङ्गः स्रस्तन्यस्तभुजद्वयः । स्वप्स्यसे गां समाश्लिष्य दुर्लभां प्रमदामिव ॥ ७ ॥
“Your limbs grey with dust, your two arms fallen and thrown down, you will sleep embracing the earth, like a woman hard to win.
प्रवृद्धनिद्रे शयिते त्वयि राक्षसपांसने । भविष्यन्ति शरण्यानां शरण्या दण्डका इमे ॥ ८ ॥
“When you, disgrace of the rakshasas, lie in deepened sleep, these Dandakas will be a refuge for those who need refuge.
जनस्थाने हतस्थाने तव राक्षस मच्छरैः । निर्भया विचरिष्यन्ति सर्वतो मुनयो वने ॥ ९ ॥
“With Janasthana, your stronghold, destroyed by my arrows, rakshasa, the sages will roam fearless everywhere in the forest.
अद्य विप्रसरिष्यन्ति राक्षस्यो हतबान्धवाः । बाष्पार्द्रवदना दीना भयादन्यभयावहाः ॥ १० ॥
“Today the rakshasis, their kin killed, will scatter, their faces wet with tears, wretched, from fear, who brought fear to others.
अद्य शोकरसज्ञास्ता भविष्यन्ति निरर्थिकाः । अनुरूपकुलाः पत्न्यो यासां त्वं पतिरीदृशः ॥ ११ ॥
“Today they will know the taste of grief and become purposeless, the wives of families like yours, whose husband is such as you.
नृशंसशील क्षुद्रात्मन् नित्यं ब्राह्मणकण्टक । त्वत्कृते शङ्कितैरग्नौ मुनिभिः पात्यते हविः ॥ १२ ॥
“Cruel of nature, petty-souled, always a thorn to brahmanas: because of you oblations are thrown into the fire by sages in fear.”
तमेवमभिसंरब्धं ब्रुवाणं राघवं वने । खरो निर्भर्त्सयामास रोषात् खरतरस्वरः ॥ १३ ॥
To Raghava, speaking so angrily in the forest, Khara, in a harsher voice, replied with rebukes in his rage:
दृढं खल्ववलिप्तोऽसि भयेष्वपि च निर्भयः । वाच्यावाच्यं ततो हि त्वं मृत्योर्वश्यो न बुध्यसे ॥ १४ ॥
“You are certainly very proud, and fearless even in dangers. So you, under the power of death, do not know what should and should not be said.
कालपाशपरिक्षिप्ता भवन्ति पुरुषा हि ये । कार्याकार्यं न जानन्ति ते निरस्तषडिन्द्रियाः ॥ १५ ॥
“For men who are caught in the noose of Time do not know what should and should not be done; their six senses are gone.”
एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामं संरुध्य भृकुटिं ततः । स ददर्श महासालमविदूरे निशाचरः ॥ १६ ॥
Having said this to Rama, then frowning, the night-ranger saw a great sala tree not far off.
रणे प्रहरणस्यार्थे सर्वतो ह्यवलोकयन् । स तमुत्पाटयामास संदष्टदशनच्छदम् ॥ १७ ॥
Looking everywhere in the battle for a weapon, he uprooted it, biting his lip.
तं समुत्क्षिप्य बाहुभ्यां विनर्दित्वा महाबलः । राममुद्दिश्य चिक्षेप हतस्त्वमिति चाब्रवीत् ॥ १८ ॥
Lifting it with both arms and roaring, the very mighty one hurled it at Rama and said, “You are killed.”
तमापतन्तं बाणौघैश्छित्त्वा रामः प्रतापवान् । रोषमाहारयत् तीव्रं निहन्तुं समरे खरम् ॥ १९ ॥
Cutting it as it fell with floods of arrows, powerful Rama summoned fierce anger to kill Khara in battle.
जातस्वेदस्ततो रामो रोषरक्तान्तलोचनः । निर्बिभेद सहस्रेण बाणानां समरे खरम् ॥ २० ॥
Then Rama, sweating, his eyes red at the corners with anger, pierced Khara in battle with a thousand arrows.
तस्य बाणान्तराद् रक्तं बहु सुस्राव फेनिलम् । गिरेः प्रस्रवणस्येव धाराणां च परिस्रवः ॥ २१ ॥
From the gaps between the arrows much foaming blood flowed from him, like the flow of streams from a mountain spring.
विकलः स कृतो बाणैः खरो रामेण संयुगे । मत्तो रुधिरगन्धेन तमेवाभ्यद्रवद् द्रुतम् ॥ २२ ॥
Disabled by Rama’s arrows in battle, maddened by the smell of blood, Khara rushed swiftly at him himself.
तमापतन्तं संक्रुद्धं कृतास्त्रो रुधिराप्लुतम् । अपासर्पद् द्वित्रिपदं किंचित्त्वरितविक्रमः ॥ २३ ॥
As he rushed on, very angry, drenched in blood, the master of weapons, swift in his steps, moved back two or three paces.
ततः पावकसंकाशं वधाय समरे शरम् । खरस्य रामो जग्राह ब्रह्मदण्डमिवापरम् ॥ २४ ॥
Then, to kill Khara in battle, Rama took an arrow like fire, like another rod of Brahma.
स तद् दत्तं मघवता सुरराजेन धीमता । संदधे च स धर्मात्मा मुमोच च खरं प्रति ॥ २५ ॥
That arrow, given by wise Maghavan, king of the gods, the righteous one fitted and released at Khara.
स विमुक्तो महाबाणो निर्घातसमनिःस्वनः । रामेण धनुरायम्य खरस्योरसि चापतत् ॥ २६ ॥
That great arrow, released by Rama drawing his bow, with a sound like a thunderclap, fell on Khara’s chest.
स पपात खरो भूमौ दह्यमानः शराग्निना । रुद्रेणेव विनिर्दग्धः श्वेतारण्ये यथान्धकः ॥ २७ ॥
Burned by the fire of the arrow, Khara fell to the ground, as Andhaka was burned by Rudra in the White Forest.
स वृत्र इव वज्रेण फेनेन नमुचिर्यथा । बलो वेन्द्राशनिहतो निपपात हतः खरः ॥ २८ ॥
Like Vritra by the thunderbolt, like Namuci by the foam, or like Bala struck by Indra’s thunderbolt, Khara fell, killed.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवाश्चारणैः सह संगताः । दुन्दुभींश्चाभिनिघ्नन्तः पुष्पवर्षं समन्ततः ॥ २९ ॥
रामस्योपरि संहृष्टा ववर्षुर्विस्मितास्तदा । अर्धाधिकमुहूर्तेन रामेण निशितैः शरैः ॥ ३० ॥
Meanwhile the gods, gathered with the charanas, beating drums, delighted and amazed, then rained a shower of flowers all round on Rama: “In little more than half an hour, by Rama with sharp arrows,
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां कामरूपिणाम् । खरदूषणमुख्यानां निहतानि महामृधे ॥ ३१ ॥
“fourteen thousand rakshasas who take any form at will, led by Khara and Dushana, have been killed in a great battle.
अहो बत महत्कर्म रामस्य विदितात्मनः । अहो वीर्यमहो दार्ढ्यं विष्णोरिव हि दृश्यते ॥ ३२ ॥
“Ah, the great deed of self-knowing Rama! Ah, the valour, ah, the firmness! It is seen to be like Vishnu’s.”
इत्येवमुक्त्वा ते सर्वे ययुर्देवा यथागतम् । ततो राजर्षयः सर्वे संगताः परमर्षयः ॥ ३३ ॥
Having said this, all those gods went as they had come. Then all the royal seers, the supreme seers, gathered,
सभाज्य मुदिता रामं सागस्त्या इदमब्रुवन् । एतदर्थं महातेजा महेन्द्रः पाकशासनः ॥ ३४ ॥
with Agastya, having honoured Rama joyfully, said this: “For this purpose the very splendid great Indra, chastiser of Paka,
शरभङ्गाश्रमं पुण्यमाजगाम पुरंदरः । आनीतस्त्वमिमं देशमुपायेन महर्षिभिः ॥ ३५ ॥
“Purandara, came to Sharabhanga’s holy hermitage. You were brought to this region by the great seers by a stratagem,
एषां वधार्थं शत्रूणां रक्षसां पापकर्मणाम् । तदिदं नः कृतं कार्यं त्वया दशरथात्मज ॥ ३६ ॥
“for the killing of these enemies, the rakshasas of evil deeds. So this work of ours has been done by you, son of Dasharatha.
स्वधर्मं प्रचरिष्यन्ति दण्डकेषु महर्षयः । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरो लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया ॥ ३७ ॥
“The great seers will practise their own dharma in the Dandakas.” Meanwhile heroic Lakshmana, with Sita,
गिरिदुर्गाद् विनिष्क्रम्य संविवेशाश्रमे सुखी । ततो रामस्तु विजयी पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ॥ ३८ ॥
coming out of the mountain cave, entered the hermitage happily. Then victorious Rama, honoured by the great seers,
प्रविवेशाश्रमं वीरो लक्ष्मणेनाभिपूजितः । तं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुहन्तारं महर्षीणां सुखावहम् ॥ ३९ ॥
the hero, entered the hermitage, honoured by Lakshmana. Seeing him, the slayer of enemies, the bringer of happiness to the great seers,
बभूव हृष्टा वैदेही भर्तारं परिषस्वजे । मुदा परमया युक्ता दृष्ट्वा रक्षोगणान् हतान् । रामं चैवाव्ययं दृष्ट्वा तुतोष जनकात्मजा ॥ ४० ॥
Vaidehi was delighted and embraced her husband. Filled with supreme joy, seeing the hosts of rakshasas killed, and seeing Rama unharmed, Janaka’s daughter was content.
ततस्तु तं राक्षससङ्घमर्दनं सम्पूज्यमानं मुदितैर्महात्मभिः । पुनः परिष्वज्य मुदान्वितानना बभूव हृष्टा जनकात्मजा तदा ॥ ४१ ॥
Then, as the crusher of the hosts of rakshasas was being honoured by the joyful great souls, embracing him again, her face filled with joy, Janaka’s daughter was delighted.