---
title: "Aranya Kanda, Sarga 24"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/aranya-kanda/sarga-24"
lang: "en"
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# Aranya Kanda, Sarga 24

> आश्रमं प्रतियाते तु खरे खरपराक्रमे।  
> तानेवौत्पातिकान् रामः सह भ्रात्रा ददर्श ह॥ १॥

When Khara of terrible prowess arrived at the hermitage, Rāma, they say, with his brother perceived the same evil portents. (1)

> तानुत्पातान् महाघोरान् रामो दृष्ट्वात्यमर्षणः।  
> प्रजानामहितान् दृष्ट्वा वाक्यं लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्॥ २॥

Filled with great indignation to see those most ominous portents, harmful to the people (viz., the Rākṣasas), Śrī Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa: (2)

> इमान् पश्य महाबाहो सर्वभूतापहारिणः।  
> समुत्थितान् महोत्पातान् संहर्तुं सर्वराक्षसान्॥ ३॥

“Behold, O mighty-armed brother, these evil portents of a major type, foreboding universal destruction, that have appeared for the destruction of all the ogres. (3)

> अमी रुधिरधारास्तु विसृजन्ते खरस्वनाः।  
> व्योम्नि मेघा निवर्तन्ते परुषा गर्दभारुणाः॥ ४॥

“Those clouds, greyish like a donkey, which float in the heavens, are for their part raining torrents of blood with a violent crash. (4)

> सधूमाश्च शराः सर्वे मम युद्धाभिनन्दिताः।  
> रुक्मपृष्ठानि चापानि विचेष्टन्ते विचक्षण॥ ५॥

“In reference to the smoke arising, as an evil portent all my arrows feel transported with joy at the prospect of a conflict, while my gold-plated bows too are bestirring, as it were, in their endeavour to get strung of themselves, O clever brother ! (5)

> यादृशा इह कूजन्ति पक्षिणो वनचारिणः।  
> अग्रतो नोऽभयं प्राप्तं संशयो जीवितस्य च॥ ६॥

“The type of wild birds which are crying here proclaim that security stands ahead for us and risk of life for the ogres. (6)

> सम्प्रहारस्तु सुमहान् भविष्यति न संशयः।  
> अयमाख्याति मे बाहुः स्फुरमाणो मुहुर्मुहुः॥ ७॥  
> संनिकर्षे तु नः शूर जयं शत्रोः पराजयम्।  
> सुप्रभं च प्रसन्नं च तव वक्त्रं हि लक्ष्यते॥ ८॥

“A very great conflict will take place : there is no doubt about it. Throbbing again and again, this right arm of mine foretells victory for us and defeat for the enemy in the immediate future. Moreover, your face is undoubtedly perceived to be extremely radiant and cheerful, O valiant brother ! (7-8)

> उद्यतानां हि युद्धार्थं येषां भवति लक्ष्मण।  
> निष्प्रभं वदनं तेषां भवत्यायुः परिक्षयः॥ ९॥

“Loss of life surely awaits those, O Lakṣmaṇa, whose face is bereft of lustre at the time they are ready for a combat. (9)

> रक्षसां नर्दतां घोरः श्रूयतेऽयं महाध्वनिः।  
> आहतानां च भेरीणां राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः॥ १०॥

“Here is the terrible roar of the thundering ogres as also the crash of kettledrums beaten by the ogres of cruel deeds. (10)

> अनागतविधानं तु कर्तव्यं शुभमिच्छता।  
> आपदं शङ्कमानेन पुरुषेण विपश्चिता॥ ११॥

“A calamity that has not yet arrived must at all events be provided against by a wise man seeking his welfare and apprehending danger. (11)

> तस्माद् गृहीत्वा वैदेहीं शरपाणिर्धनुर्धरः।  
> गुहामाश्रय शैलस्य दुर्गां पादपसंकुलाम्॥ १२॥

“Therefore, taking Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory) and carrying your bow, arrow in hand, take cover in a mountain cave, difficult of access and surrounded by trees. (12)

> प्रतिकूलितुमिच्छामि न हि वाक्यमिदं त्वया।  
> शापितो मम पादाभ्यां गम्यतां वत्स मा चिरम्॥ १३॥

“Surely I don’t want this command of mine to be opposed by you. Conjured by me in the name of my feet, let you be gone without delay, my darling ! (13)

> त्वं हि शूरश्च बलवान् हन्या एतान् न संशयः।  
> स्वयं निहन्तुमिच्छामि सर्वानेव निशाचरान्॥ १४॥

“You are valiant and mighty indeed and can kill these : there is no doubt about it. I, however, wish to kill all the ogres myself.”(14)

> एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया।  
> शरानादाय चापं च गुहां दुर्गां समाश्रयत्॥ १५॥

Seizing his arrows and bow, when commanded thus by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa with Sītā sought for protection a cave which was difficult of access. (15)

> तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे तु गुहां लक्ष्मणे सह सीतया।  
> हन्त निर्युक्तमित्युक्त्वा रामः कवचमाविशत्॥ १६॥

Saying “I am glad my command has been promptly carried out”, when the said Lakṣmaṇa had duly entered the cave with Sītā, Śrī Rāma for his part donned his coat of mail. (16)

> स तेनाग्निनिकाशेन कवचेन विभूषितः।  
> बभूव रामस्तिमिरे महानग्निरिवोत्थितः॥ १७॥

Highly adorned with that armour, resplendent as fire, Śrī Rāma looked like a great flame appeared suddenly in darkness. (17)

> स चापमुद्यम्य महच्छरानादाय वीर्यवान्।  
> सम्बभूवास्थितस्तत्र ज्यास्वनैः पूरयन् दिशः॥ १८॥

Lifting his great bow and picking up arrows, the valiant Śrī Rāma stood rooted there filling the quarters with the twangs of his bow-string. (18)

> ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः।  
> समेयुश्च महात्मानो युद्धदर्शनकांक्षया॥ १९॥

Then high-souled gods accompanied by Gandharvas, as well as Siddhas with Cāraṇas too gathered together with intent to witness the combat. (19)

> ऋषयश्च महात्मानो लोके ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमाः।  
> समेत्य चोचुः सहितास्तेऽन्योन्यं पुण्यकर्मणः॥ २०॥

Coming together, high-souled Ṛṣis too, as well as those recognized as the foremost of Brahman sages in the world, who had performed virtuous deeds, said to one another in a body : (20)

> स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणानां च लोकानां चेति संस्थिताः।  
> जयतां राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनीचरान्॥ २१॥  
> चक्रहस्तो यथा युद्धे सर्वानसुरपुंगवान्।  
> एवमुक्त्वा पुनः प्रोचुरालोक्य च परस्परम्॥ २२॥

“Good luck to the cows and the Brāhmaṇas, as well as to people who are well-established ! May Rāghava conquer the night-stalkers, born in the line of Sage Pulastya, as did Viṣṇu, discus in hand, conquer the foremost of all demons on the battlefield”. Saying so and looking at one another, they exclaimed again : (21-22)

> चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्।  
> एकश्च रामो धर्मात्मा कथं युद्धं भविष्यति॥ २३॥

“Here are fourteen thousand ogres of terrible deeds, while the pious-minded Rāma is alone. How will there be a conflict under such circumstances?” (23)

> इति राजर्षयः सिद्धाः सगणाश्च द्विजर्षभाः।  
> जातकौतूहलास्तस्थुर्विमानस्थाश्च देवताः॥ २४॥

Speaking thus, royal sages and Siddhas accompanied by their entourage, as also gods, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas seated in their aerial cars stood filled with curiosity. (24)

> आविष्टं तेजसा रामं संग्रामशिरसि स्थितम्।  
> दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि भयाद् विव्यथिरे तदा॥ २५॥

All living beings, who were ignorant of Śrī Rāma’s greatness, felt stricken with fear at that time to behold Rāma invested with martial glory, standing in the van of fight. (25)

> रूपमप्रतिमं तस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः।  
> बभूव रूपं क्रुद्धस्य रुद्रस्येव महात्मनः॥ २६॥

The peerless form of the celebrated Rāma, who was unwearied in action, resembled the form of the high-minded Rudra in fury. (26)

> इति सम्भाष्यमाणे तु देवगन्धर्वचारणैः।  
> ततो गम्भीरनिर्ह्रादं घोरचर्मायुधध्वजम्॥ २७॥  
> अनीकं यातुधानानां समन्तात् प्रत्यपद्यत।  
> वीरालापान् विसृजतामन्योन्यमभिगच्छताम्॥ २८॥  
> चापानि विस्फारयतां जृम्भतां चाप्यभीक्ष्णशः।  
> विप्रघुष्टस्वनानां च दुन्दुभींश्चापि निघ्नताम्॥ २९॥  
> तेषां सुतुमुलः शब्दः पूरयामास तद् वनम्।  
> तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ताः श्वापदा वनचारिणः॥ ३०॥  
> दुद्रुवुर्यत्र निःशब्दं पृष्ठतो नावलोकयन्।  
> तच्चानीकं महावेगं रामं समनुवर्तत॥ ३१॥  
> धृतनानाप्रहरणं गम्भीरं सागरोपमम्।  
> रामोऽपि चारयंश्चक्षुः सर्वतो रणपण्डितः॥ ३२॥  
> ददर्श खरसैन्यं तद् युद्धायाभिमुखो गतः।  
> वितत्य च धनुर्भीमं तूण्याश्चोद्धृत्य सायकान्॥ ३३॥  
> क्रोधमाहारयत् तीव्रं वधार्थं सर्वरक्षसाम्।  
> दुष्प्रेक्ष्यश्चाभवत् क्रुद्धो युगान्ताग्निरिव ज्वलन्॥ ३४॥

While the foregoing words (vide verses 21—23) were being sympathetically uttered by the gods, Gandharvas and Cāraṇas, the army of the ogres, armed with fearful shields and weapons and distinguished by equally fearful ensigns, closed in on all sides, making a deep roar. The highly tumultuous noise of those ogres—who were uttering heroic slogans, approaching one another to give instructions in tactics of war, twanging their bows and bounding again and again in their drunkenness, making clamorous sounds and also beating their drums—filled that forest. Terribly frightened by that noise, the wild beasts of prey ran away to a far-off place where the sound could not be heard, and did not look behind. Nay, wielding various weapons, that army of great impetuosity, deep like the ocean, headed towards Rāma. Casting his eyes on all sides, and moving forward to give battle, Śrī Rāma too, who was skilled in warfare, surveyed that army of Khara. Nay, drawing at full length his terrible bow and pulling out arrows from his quiver, he summoned (to his aid) violent anger for the destruction of the ogres; and burning with anger, he was dreadful to look at like fire at the time of universal dissolution. (27—34)

> तं दृष्ट्वा तेजसाऽऽविष्टं प्राव्यथन् वनदेवताः।  
> तस्य रुष्टस्य रूपं तु रामस्य ददृशे तदा।  
> दक्षस्येव क्रतुं हन्तुमुद्यतस्य पिनाकिनः॥ ३५॥

Seeing him invested with martial glory, the sylvan deities felt sore distressed. The form of angry Śrī Rāma then looked like that of Lord Rudra (the Wielder of the Pināka bow) out to wreck the sacrificial performance of Dakṣa. (35)

> तत्कार्मुकैराभरणै रथैश्च  
> तद्वर्मभिश्चाग्निसमानवर्णैः।  
> बभूव सैन्यं पिशिताशनानां  
> सूर्योदये नीलमिवाभ्रजालम्॥ ३६॥

With their bows, ornaments and chariots, as well as with their coats of mail shining like fire, the army of the flesh-eating ogres looked like a blue mass of clouds at sunrise. (36)

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