Aranya Kanda · Sarga 4 of 76 · 34 verses
The Death of Viradha
Seeing the two Kakutsthas, best of the Raghus, being carried off, Sita cries out loudly, raising her arms: “Rama son of Dasharatha, truthful, good and pure, is being carried off with Lakshmana by a terrible rakshasa! Bears, tigers and leopards will eat me. Take me, and let the Kakutsthas go! I bow to you, best of rakshasas.” Hearing Vaidehi, Rama and Lakshmana hurry to kill the wicked one. Saumitri breaks the terrible creature’s left arm, and Rama swiftly breaks his right. His arms broken, shaken, the cloud-like rakshasa falls fainting to the ground, like a mountain split by a thunderbolt. Pounding him with fists, arms and feet, lifting him again and again, they crush him on the ground. Though pierced by many arrows, wounded by swords and crushed many times on the ground, the rakshasa does not die. Seeing him, unkillable, like a mountain, glorious Rama, giver of safety in danger, says: “Tiger among men, by his austerity this rakshasa cannot be conquered by weapons in battle. Let us bury him. Lakshmana, dig a very large pit in this forest for this terrible rakshasa, as for a wild elephant.” Saying “Dig a pit,” mighty Rama stands on Viradha’s neck with his foot.
Hearing Raghava’s words, the rakshasa Viradha says humbly to Kakutstha, bull among men: “I am killed, tiger among men, by one with strength like Shakra’s. In my delusion I did not recognise you before. I know you now, dear one: you are Rama, Kausalya’s fine son; and this is fortunate Vaidehi, and glorious Lakshmana. Through a curse I entered this terrible rakshasa body. I am a gandharva named Tumburu, cursed by Vaishravana (Kubera). When I begged his favour, the glorious one said to me: ‘When Rama son of Dasharatha kills you in battle, you will regain your own nature and go to heaven.’ He cursed me in anger because I did not attend on him, being attached to Rambha. By your grace I am freed from that terrible curse. I will go to my own world. Blessings on you, scorcher of foes. A krosha and a half from here lives the righteous, mighty great seer Sharabhanga, bright as the sun. Go to him quickly; he will tell you what is good for you. Throw me into a pit, Rama, and go safely; this is the eternal dharma for rakshasas whose life is gone. Those who are placed in a pit have eternal worlds.” Saying this, Viradha, tormented by arrows, laying down his body, the mighty one reaches heaven. [Rama repeats his order to dig the pit, standing on Viradha’s neck.] Then Lakshmana takes a spade and digs a fine pit beside the great-souled Viradha. Freeing his neck and lifting him up, he throws Viradha, with ears like pegs and a great voice, roaring terribly, into the pit. The two steady brothers, swift in valour, joyfully lift the terrible, roaring rakshasa with force and throw him in. Seeing that the great asura could not be killed by sharp weapons, the two bulls among men, very skilful, having thought it through, killed Viradha in the pit. For Viradha himself, the forest-dweller, had told Rama the death he truly wanted: “Let my death not be made by weapons.” Hearing what he said, Rama decided to put him in the pit, and as the very mighty rakshasa was being put in, the forest echoed. Like men delighted, Rama and Lakshmana, having thrown Viradha into the pit in the earth, rejoice, free of fear, in the great forest, and cover the rakshasa with stones. Having killed the rakshasa, taking Maithili, the two with their gold-worked bows wander joyfully in the great forest, like the moon and sun standing in the sky.
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ह्रियमाणौ तु काकुत्स्थौ दृष्ट्वा सीता रघूत्तमौ । उच्चैः स्वरेण चुक्रोश प्रगृह्य सुमहाभुजौ ॥ १ ॥
Seeing the two Kakutsthas, best of the Raghus, being carried off, Sita, raising her arms, cried out in a loud voice:
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The Death of Viradha 1 min read.
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एष दाशरथी रामः सत्यवाञ्छीलवान् शुचिः । रक्षसा रौद्ररूपेण ह्रियते सहलक्ष्मणः ॥ २ ॥
“This Rama son of Dasharatha, truthful, of good character and pure, is being carried off with Lakshmana by a rakshasa of terrible form.
मामृक्षा भक्षयिष्यन्ति शार्दूलद्वीपिनस्तथा । मां हरोत्सृज काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तम ॥ ३ ॥
“Bears will eat me, and tigers and leopards too. Carry me off; let the Kakutsthas go! I bow to you, best of rakshasas.”
तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ । वेगं प्रचक्रतुर्वीरौ वधे तस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ ४ ॥
Hearing those words of Vaidehi, the heroes Rama and Lakshmana made haste to kill that wicked one.
तस्य रौद्रस्य सौमित्रिः सव्यं बाहुं बभञ्ज ह । रामस्तु दक्षिणं बाहुं तरसा तस्य रक्षसः ॥ ५ ॥
Saumitri broke the left arm of that terrible one, and Rama swiftly broke the right arm of that rakshasa.
स भग्नबाहुः संविग्नः पपाताशु विमूर्च्छितः । धरण्यां मेघसंकाशो वज्रभिन्न इवाचलः ॥ ६ ॥
His arms broken, shaken, he quickly fell fainting to the ground, cloud-like, like a mountain split by a thunderbolt.
मुष्टिभिर्बाहुभिः पद्भिः सूदयन्तौ तु राक्षसम् । उद्यम्योद्यम्य चाप्येनं स्थण्डिले निष्पिपेषतुः ॥ ७ ॥
Striking the rakshasa with fists, arms and feet, and lifting him up again and again, they crushed him on the bare ground.
स विद्धौ बहुभिर्बाणैः खड्गाभ्यां च परिक्षतः । निष्पिष्टो बहुधा भूमौ न ममार स राक्षसः ॥ ८ ॥
Pierced by many arrows, wounded by swords, crushed many times on the ground, that rakshasa did not die.
तं प्रेक्ष्य रामः सुभृशमवध्यमचलोपमम् । भयेष्वभयदः श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ९ ॥
Seeing him so utterly unkillable, like a mountain, glorious Rama, the giver of safety in dangers, said these words:
तपसा पुरुषव्याघ्र राक्षसोऽयं न शक्यते । शस्त्रेण युधि निर्जेतुं राक्षसं निखनावहे ॥ १० ॥
“Tiger among men, through austerity this rakshasa cannot be conquered by a weapon in battle. Let us bury the rakshasa.
कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण । वनेऽस्मिन् सुमहच्छ्वभ्रं खन्यतां रौद्रवर्चसः ॥ ११ ॥
“Lakshmana, let a very large pit be dug in this forest for this rakshasa of terrible splendour, as for a fierce elephant.”
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति । तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान् ॥ १२ ॥
Having said to Lakshmana, “Let a pit be dug,” mighty Rama stood, pressing Viradha’s neck with his foot.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं राक्षसः प्रश्रितं वचः । इदं प्रोवाच काकुत्स्थं विराधः पुरुषर्षभम् ॥ १३ ॥
Hearing what Raghava had said, the rakshasa Viradha spoke these humble words to Kakutstha, bull among men:
हतोऽहं पुरुषव्याघ्र शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै । मया तु पूर्वं त्वं मोहान्न ज्ञातः पुरुषर्षभ ॥ १४ ॥
“I am killed, tiger among men, by one with strength equal to Shakra’s. But before, out of delusion, I did not recognise you, bull among men.
कौसल्या सुप्रजास्तात रामस्त्वं विदितो मया । वैदेही च महाभागा लक्ष्मणश्च महायशाः ॥ १५ ॥
“Dear one, I know you: you are Rama, Kausalya’s good son; and fortunate Vaidehi, and greatly glorious Lakshmana.
अभिशापादहं घोरां प्रविष्टो राक्षसीं तनुम् । तुम्बुरुर्नाम गन्धर्वः शप्तो वैश्रवणेन हि ॥ १६ ॥
“Through a curse I entered this terrible rakshasa body. I am a gandharva named Tumburu, cursed by Vaishravana.
प्रसाद्यमानश्च मया सोऽब्रवीन्मां महायशाः । यदा दाशरथी रामस्त्वां वधिष्यति संयुगे ॥ १७ ॥
तदा प्रकृतिमापन्नो भवान् स्वर्गं गमिष्यति । अनुपस्थीयमानो मां स क्रुद्धो व्याजहार ह ॥ १८ ॥
“When I tried to win his favour, the greatly glorious one said to me: ‘When Rama son of Dasharatha kills you in battle, then, regaining your own nature, you will go to heaven.’ He spoke in anger because I did not attend on him.
इति वैश्रवणो राजा रम्भासक्तमुवाच ह । तव प्रसादान्मुक्तोऽहमभिशापात् सुदारुणात् ॥ १९ ॥
“So King Vaishravana spoke to me, who was attached to Rambha. By your grace I am freed from that very terrible curse.
भुवनं स्वं गमिष्यामि स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु परंतप । इतो वसति धर्मात्मा शरभङ्गः प्रतापवान् ॥ २० ॥
“I will go to my own world; blessings on you, scorcher of foes. From here the righteous, mighty Sharabhanga lives,
अध्यर्धयोजने तात महर्षिः सूर्यसंनिभः । तं क्षिप्रमभिगच्छ त्वं स ते श्रेयोऽभिधास्यति ॥ २१ ॥
“a krosha and a half away, dear one, a great seer bright as the sun. Go to him quickly; he will tell you what is good for you.
अवटे चापि मां राम निक्षिप्य कुशली व्रज । रक्षसां गतसत्त्वानामेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ २२ ॥
“Throw me into a pit, Rama, and go safely. This is the eternal dharma for rakshasas whose life is gone.
अवटे ये निधीयन्ते तेषां लोकाः सनातनाः । एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थं विराधः शरपीडितः ॥ २३ ॥
बभूव स्वर्गसम्प्राप्तो न्यस्तदेहो महाबलः । तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं व्यादिदेश ह ॥ २४ ॥
“Those who are placed in a pit have eternal worlds.” Having said this to Kakutstha, Viradha, tormented by arrows, laying down his body, the mighty one went to heaven. Hearing those words, Raghava instructed Lakshmana:
कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण । वनेऽस्मिन्सुमहान् श्वभ्रः खन्यतां रौद्रकर्मणः ॥ २५ ॥
“Lakshmana, let a very large pit be dug in this forest for this rakshasa of terrible deeds, as for a fierce elephant.”
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति । तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान् ॥ २६ ॥
Having said to Lakshmana, “Let a pit be dug,” mighty Rama stood, pressing Viradha’s neck with his foot.
ततः खनित्रमादाय लक्ष्मणः श्वभ्रमुत्तमम् । अखनत् पार्श्वतस्तस्य विराधस्य महात्मनः ॥ २७ ॥
Then Lakshmana, taking a spade, dug an excellent pit beside that great-souled Viradha.
तं मुक्तकण्ठमुत्क्षिप्य शङ्कुकर्णं महास्वनम् । विराधं प्राक्षिपच्छ्वभ्रे नदन्तं भैरवस्वनम् ॥ २८ ॥
Freeing his neck and lifting him up, he threw Viradha, with ears like pegs and a great voice, roaring with a terrible voice, into the pit.
तमाहवे दारुणमाशुविक्रमौ स्थिरावुभौ संयति रामलक्ष्मणौ । मुदान्वितौ चिक्षिपतुर्भयावहं नदन्तमुत्क्षिप्य बलेन राक्षसम् ॥ २९ ॥
Rama and Lakshmana, both swift in valour and steady in battle, joyfully lifted the terrible, fearsome rakshasa, roaring, with force, and threw him in.
अवध्यतां प्रेक्ष्य महासुरस्य तौ शितेन शस्त्रेण तदा नरर्षभौ । समर्थ्य चात्यर्थविशारदावुभौ बिले विराधस्य वधं प्रचक्रतुः ॥ ३० ॥
Seeing the great asura’s unkillability by sharp weapons, the two bulls among men, very skilled, having considered it fully, then accomplished Viradha’s killing in the pit.
स्वयं विराधेन हि मृत्युमात्मनः प्रसह्य रामेण यथार्थमीप्सितः । निवेदितः काननचारिणा स्वयं न मे वधः शस्त्रकृतो भवेदिति ॥ ३१ ॥
For Viradha himself, the forest-dweller, had told Rama the death he truly desired: “Let my death not be made by weapons.”
तदेव रामेण निशम्य भाषितं कृता मतिस्तस्य बिलप्रवेशने । बिलं च तेनातिबलेन रक्षसा प्रवेश्यमानेन वनं विनादितम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Hearing what he said, Rama made up his mind to put him into the pit; and as that very mighty rakshasa was being put into the pit, the forest resounded.
प्रहृष्टरूपाविव रामलक्ष्मणौ विराधमुर्व्यां प्रदरे निपात्य तम् । ननन्दतुर्वीतभयौ महावने शिलाभिरन्तर्दधतुश्च राक्षसम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Rama and Lakshmana, as if delighted, having thrown Viradha down into the pit in the earth, rejoiced, free of fear, in the great forest, and covered the rakshasa with stones.
ततस्तु तौ काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकौ निहत्य रक्षः परिगृह्य मैथिलीम् । विजह्रतुस्तौ मुदितौ महावने दिवि स्थितौ चन्द्रदिवाकराविव ॥ ३४ ॥
Then those two with their gold-worked bows, having killed the rakshasa and taken Maithili, wandered joyfully in the great forest, like the moon and the sun standing in the sky.