The Ill Omens

Shloka 1 (aranya.23.1)

तत् प्रयातम् बलम् घोरम् अशिवम् शोणित उदकम् | अभ्यवर्षत् महा मेघः तुमुलो गर्दभ अरुणः ॥ 3.23.1 ॥

tat prayātam balam ghoram aśivam śoṇita udakam | abhyavarṣat mahā meghaḥ tumulo gardabha aruṇaḥ || 23.1 ||

As that terrible army marched forth, a tumultuous cloud, ass-grey in hue, rained down inauspicious water red as blood.

Shloka 2 (aranya.23.2)

निपेतुः तुरगाः तस्य रथ युक्ता महाजवाः | समे पुष्पचिते देशे राजमार्गे यदृच्छ्हया ॥ 3.23.2 ॥

nipetuḥ turagāḥ tasya ratha yuktā mahājavāḥ | same puṣpacite deśe rājamārge yadṛcchhayā || 23.2 ||

His swift chariot-horses stumbled and fell of their own accord, even on the level, flower-strewn ground of the royal highway.

Shloka 3 (aranya.23.3)

श्यामम् रुधिर पर्यन्तम् बभूव परिवेषणम् | अलात चक्र प्रतिमम् प्रतिगृह्य दिवाकरम् ॥ 3.23.3 ॥

śyāmam rudhira paryantam babhūva pariveṣaṇam | alāta cakra pratimam pratigṛhya divākaram || 23.3 ||

A dark halo, rimmed with blood-red, formed around the sun, encircling it like a whirling firebrand.

Shloka 4 (aranya.23.4)

ततो ध्वजम् उपागम्य हेम दण्डम् समुच्छ्ह्रितम् | समाक्रम्य महाकायः तस्थौ गृध्रः सुदारुणः ॥ 3.23.4 ॥

tato dhvajam upāgamya hema daṇḍam samucchhritam | samākramya mahākāyaḥ tasthau gṛdhraḥ sudāruṇaḥ || 23.4 ||

Then a huge and terrible vulture came and perched upon the lofty golden staff of his standard.

Shloka 5 (aranya.23.5)

जनस्थान समीपे च समाक्रम्य खर स्वनाः | विस्वरान् विविधान् च चक्रुः मांस आदा मृग पक्षिणः ॥ 3.23.5 ॥

janasthāna samīpe ca samākramya khara svanāḥ | visvarān vividhān ca cakruḥ māṃsa ādā mṛga pakṣiṇaḥ || 23.5 ||

Flesh-eating beasts and birds, harsh-voiced, gathered near Janasthana and set up discordant cries of many kinds.

Shloka 6 (aranya.23.6)

व्याजह्रुः च पदीप्तायाम् दिशि वै भैरव स्वनम् | अशिवा यातुधानानाम् शिवा घोरा महास्वनाः ॥ 3.23.6 ॥

vyājahruḥ ca padīptāyām diśi vai bhairava svanam | aśivā yātudhānānām śivā ghorā mahāsvanāḥ || 23.6 ||

And, facing the direction ablaze with the setting sun, jackals - inauspicious for demons - howled a fearsome, tremendous cry.

Shloka 7 (aranya.23.7)

प्रभिन्नगजसंकाशतोयशोणितधारिणः | आकाशम् तत् अनाकाशम् चक्रुः भीम अंबु वाहकाः ॥ 3.23.7 ॥

prabhinnagajasaṃkāśatoyaśoṇitadhāriṇaḥ | ākāśam tat anākāśam cakruḥ bhīma aṃbu vāhakāḥ || 23.7 ||

Fearsome clouds, resembling rut-maddened elephants and bearing blood-red water, rendered the very sky unsky, choking it from view.

Shloka 8 (aranya.23.8)

बभूव तिमिरम् घोरम् उद्धतम् रोम हर्षणम् | दिशो वा प्रदिशो वा अपि सुव्यक्तम् न चकाशिरे ॥ 3.23.8 ॥

babhūva timiram ghoram uddhatam roma harṣaṇam | diśo vā pradiśo vā api suvyaktam na cakāśire || 23.8 ||

A dreadful, overwhelming, hair-raising darkness fell, so that neither the quarters nor the intermediate quarters shone clearly.

Shloka 9 (aranya.23.9)

क्षतज आर्द्र सवर्णाभा संध्या कालम् विना बभौ | खरम् च अभिमुखम् नेदुः तदा घोरा मृगाः खगाः ॥ 3.23.9 ॥

kṣataja ārdra savarṇābhā saṃdhyā kālam vinā babhau | kharam ca abhimukham neduḥ tadā ghorā mṛgāḥ khagāḥ || 23.9 ||

An untimely twilight glowed with the color of fresh, wet blood, and then terrible beasts and birds screamed, facing Khara directly.

Shloka 10 (aranya.23.10)

कंक गोमायु गृध्राः च चुक्रुशुः भय संशिनः | नित्या अशिव करा युद्धे शिवा घोर निदर्शनाः ॥ 3.23.10 ॥

kaṃka gomāyu gṛdhrāḥ ca cukruśuḥ bhaya saṃśinaḥ | nityā aśiva karā yuddhe śivā ghora nidarśanāḥ || 23.10 ||

Kanka-hawks, jackals, and vultures screeched, foretelling danger; and jackals - ever the bearers of ill omen in war, with dreadful portents...

Shloka 11 (aranya.23.11)

नेदुः बलस्य अभिमुखम् ज्वाल उद्गारिभिः आननैः | कबन्धः परिघ आभासो दृश्यते भास्कर अंतिके ॥ 3.23.11 ॥

neduḥ balasya abhimukham jvāla udgāribhiḥ ānanaiḥ | kabandhaḥ parigha ābhāso dṛśyate bhāskara aṃtike || 23.11 ||

...howled facing the army, their mouths belching flame; and a headless trunk, resembling an iron bar, was seen close to the sun.

Shloka 12 (aranya.23.12)

जग्राह सूर्यम् स्वर्भानुः अपर्वणि महाग्रहः | प्रवाति मारुतः शीघ्रम् निष्प्रभो अभूत् दिवाकरः ॥ 3.23.12 ॥

jagrāha sūryam svarbhānuḥ aparvaṇi mahāgrahaḥ | pravāti mārutaḥ śīghram niṣprabho abhūt divākaraḥ || 23.12 ||

Rahu, the great eclipsing planet, seized the sun though it was not the time for an eclipse; the wind blew violently, and the sun grew dim.

Shloka 13 (aranya.23.13)

उत्पेतुः च विना रात्रिम् ताराः खद्योतन प्रभाः | संलीन मीन विहगा नलिन्यः शुष्क पंकजाः ॥ 3.23.13 ॥

utpetuḥ ca vinā rātrim tārāḥ khadyotana prabhāḥ | saṃlīna mīna vihagā nalinyaḥ śuṣka paṃkajāḥ || 23.13 ||

Stars, glimmering like fireflies, appeared though it was not night; fish and waterfowl lay hidden still, and the lotuses of the ponds withered.

Shloka 14 (aranya.23.14)

तस्मिन् क्षणे बभूवुः च विना पुष्प फलैः द्रुमाः | उद्धूतः च विना वातम् रेणुः जलधर अरुणः ॥ 3.23.14 ॥

tasmin kṣaṇe babhūvuḥ ca vinā puṣpa phalaiḥ drumāḥ | uddhūtaḥ ca vinā vātam reṇuḥ jaladhara aruṇaḥ || 23.14 ||

In that moment the trees stood stripped of flower and fruit, and dust, red as a rain-cloud, rose up though no wind was blowing.

Shloka 15 (aranya.23.15)

चीची कूचि इति वाश्यन्तो बभूवुः तत्र सारिकाः | उल्काः च अपि स निर्घोषा निपेतुः घोर दर्शनाः ॥ 3.23.15 ॥

cīcī kūci iti vāśyanto babhūvuḥ tatra sārikāḥ | ulkāḥ ca api sa nirghoṣā nipetuḥ ghora darśanāḥ || 23.15 ||

There the myna-birds cried out ‘chee-chee, koo-chee’; and meteors, dreadful to see, fell down with a thunderous roar.

Shloka 16 (aranya.23.16)

प्रचचाल मही च अपि स शैल वन कानना | खरस्य च रथस्थस्य नर्दमानस्य धीमतः ॥ 3.23.16 ॥

pracacāla mahī ca api sa śaila vana kānanā | kharasya ca rathasthasya nardamānasya dhīmataḥ || 23.16 ||

The earth itself trembled, together with its mountains, woods, and forests. And of Khara - clever as he was, mounted on his chariot and roaring...

Shloka 17 (aranya.23.17)

प्राकंपत भुजः सव्यः स्वरः च अस्य अवसज्जत | स अस्रा संपद्यते दृष्टिः पश्यमानस्य सर्वतः ॥ 3.23.17 ॥

prākaṃpata bhujaḥ savyaḥ svaraḥ ca asya avasajjata | sa asrā saṃpadyate dṛṣṭiḥ paśyamānasya sarvataḥ || 23.17 ||

...left arm throbbed, and his voice faltered; and, as he gazed all about him, his eyes filled with tears.

Shloka 18 (aranya.23.18)

ललाटे च रुजो जाता न च मोहात् न्यवर्तत | तान् समीक्ष्य महोत्पातान् उत्थितान् रोम हर्षणान् ॥ 3.23.18 ॥

lalāṭe ca rujo jātā na ca mohāt nyavartata | tān samīkṣya mahotpātān utthitān roma harṣaṇān || 23.18 ||

A pain arose in his forehead, yet, blinded by pride, he did not turn back. Beholding those great, hair-raising portents that had arisen...

Shloka 19 (aranya.23.19)

अब्रवीत् राक्षसान् सर्वान् प्रहसन् स खरः तदा | महा उत्पातान् इमान् सर्वान् उत्थितान् घोर दर्शनान् ॥ 3.23.19 ॥

abravīt rākṣasān sarvān prahasan sa kharaḥ tadā | mahā utpātān imān sarvān utthitān ghora darśanān || 23.19 ||

...Khara then, laughing, spoke to all his demons: ‘All these great, dreadful-looking portents that have arisen...’

Shloka 20 (aranya.23.20)

न चिंतयामि अहम् वीर्यात् बलवान् दुर्बलान् इव | तारा अपि शरैः तीक्ष्णैः पातयेयम् नभः तलात् ॥ 3.23.20 ॥

na ciṃtayāmi aham vīryāt balavān durbalān iva | tārā api śaraiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ pātayeyam nabhaḥ talāt || 23.20 ||

‘...I, strong in my own valor, care nothing for them, as the mighty care nothing for the weak. With my sharp arrows I could bring down even the stars from the vault of the sky.’

Shloka 21 (aranya.23.21)

मृत्युम् मरण धर्मेण संक्रुद्धो योजयामि अहम् | राघवम् तम् बल उत्सिक्तम् भ्रातरम् च अस्य लक्ष्मणम् ॥ 3.23.21 ॥

mṛtyum maraṇa dharmeṇa saṃkruddho yojayāmi aham | rāghavam tam bala utsiktam bhrātaram ca asya lakṣmaṇam || 23.21 ||

‘If enraged, I could even yoke Death himself to his own mortal law. That Raghava, puffed up with his own strength, and his brother Lakshmana...’

Shloka 22 (aranya.23.22)

अहत्वा सायकैः तीक्ष्णैः न उपावर्तितुम् उत्सहे | यन् निमित्तम् तु रामस्य लक्ष्मणस्य विपर्ययः ॥ 3.23.22 ॥

ahatvā sāyakaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ na upāvartitum utsahe | yan nimittam tu rāmasya lakṣmaṇasya viparyayaḥ || 23.22 ||

‘...without slaying them with my sharp arrows, I have no wish to turn back. And she, on whose account this ruin has come upon Rama and Lakshmana...’

Shloka 23 (aranya.23.23)

सकामा भगिनी मे अस्तु पीत्वा तु रुधिरम् तयोः | न क्वचित् प्राप्त पूर्वो मे संयुगेषु पराजयः ॥ 3.23.23 ॥

sakāmā bhaginī me astu pītvā tu rudhiram tayoḥ | na kvacit prāpta pūrvo me saṃyugeṣu parājayaḥ || 23.23 ||

‘...let my sister have her wish fulfilled by drinking the blood of those two. Never before, anywhere, have I suffered defeat in combat...’

Shloka 24 (aranya.23.24)

युष्माकम् एतत् प्रत्यक्षम् न अनृतम् कथयामि अहम् | देव राजम् अपि क्रुद्धो मत्त ऐरावत गामिनम् ॥ 3.23.24 ॥

yuṣmākam etat pratyakṣam na anṛtam kathayāmi aham | deva rājam api kruddho matta airāvata gāminam || 23.24 ||

‘...this you have all witnessed yourselves; I speak no falsehood. Even the king of the gods, mounted on the rutting elephant Airavata, were I enraged...’

Shloka 25 (aranya.23.25)

वज्र हस्तम् रणे हन्याम् किम् पुनः तौ च मानुषौ | सा तस्य गर्जितम् श्रुत्वा राक्षसाअनाम् महा चमूः ॥ 3.23.25 ॥

vajra hastam raṇe hanyām kim punaḥ tau ca mānuṣau | sā tasya garjitam śrutvā rākṣasāanām mahā camūḥ || 23.25 ||

‘...thunderbolt in hand though he be, I could slay in battle; what then of these two mere men?’ Hearing his roaring boast, that great host of demons...

Shloka 26 (aranya.23.26)

प्रहर्षम् अतुलम् लेभे मृत्यु पाश अवपाशिता | समेयुः च महात्मानो युद्ध दर्शन कांक्षिणः ॥ 3.23.26 ॥

praharṣam atulam lebhe mṛtyu pāśa avapāśitā | sameyuḥ ca mahātmāno yuddha darśana kāṃkṣiṇaḥ || 23.26 ||

...though already snared in the noose of death, felt boundless delight. And great souls, eager to witness the battle, gathered together...

Shloka 27 (aranya.23.27)

ऋषयो देव गन्धर्वाः सिद्धाः च सह चारणैः | समेत्य च ऊचुः सहिताः ते अन्यायम् पुण्यकर्मणः ॥ 3.23.27 ॥

ṛṣayo deva gandharvāḥ siddhāḥ ca saha cāraṇaiḥ | sametya ca ūcuḥ sahitāḥ te anyāyam puṇyakarmaṇaḥ || 23.27 ||

Sages, gods, gandharvas, and siddhas together with charanas gathered together, and those of righteous deeds said to one another:

Shloka 28 (aranya.23.28)

स्वस्ति गो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो अस्तु लोकानाम् ये च सम्मताः | जयताम् राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनी चरान् ॥ 3.23.28 ॥

svasti go brāhmaṇebhyo astu lokānām ye ca sammatāḥ | jayatām rāghavo yuddhe paulastyān rajanī carān || 23.28 ||

‘May well-being be upon cows and brahmins, and upon all who are held in esteem by the worlds; may Raghava triumph in battle over these night-ranging sons of Pulastya -

Shloka 29 (aranya.23.29)

चक्रहस्तो यथा विष्णुः सर्वान् असुर सत्तमान् | एतत् च अन्यत् च बहुशो ब्रुवाणाः परम ऋषयः ॥ 3.23.29 ॥

cakrahasto yathā viṣṇuḥ sarvān asura sattamān | etat ca anyat ca bahuśo bruvāṇāḥ parama ṛṣayaḥ || 23.29 ||

-just as Vishnu, discus in hand, once vanquished all the mightiest asuras.’ Saying this and much else besides, the great sages...

Shloka 30 (aranya.23.30)

जात कौतूहलात् तत्र विमानस्थाः च देवताः | ददृशुर् वाहिनीम् तेषाम् राक्षसानाम् गत आयुषाम् ॥ 3.23.30 ॥

jāta kautūhalāt tatra vimānasthāḥ ca devatāḥ | dadṛśur vāhinīm teṣām rākṣasānām gata āyuṣām || 23.30 ||

...and the gods, seated in their celestial cars, moved by curiosity, watched the marching army of those demons whose lives were now already spent.

Shloka 31 (aranya.23.31)

रथेन तु खरो वेगात् सैन्यस्य अग्रात् विनिःसृतः | श्येनगामी पृथुग्रीवो यज्ञशत्रुः विहंगमः ॥ 3.23.31 ॥

rathena tu kharo vegāt sainyasya agrāt viniḥsṛtaḥ | śyenagāmī pṛthugrīvo yajñaśatruḥ vihaṃgamaḥ || 23.31 ||

Khara sped forth in his chariot ahead of his army; with him rushed Shyenagami, Prithugriva, Yajnashatru, Vihangama...

Shloka 32 (aranya.23.32)

दुर्जयः करवीराक्षः परुषः कालकार्मुकः | हेममाली महामाली सर्पाअस्यो रुधिराशनः ॥ 3.23.32 ॥

durjayaḥ karavīrākṣaḥ paruṣaḥ kālakārmukaḥ | hemamālī mahāmālī sarpāasyo rudhirāśanaḥ || 23.32 ||

...Durjaya, Karaviraksha, Parusha, Kalakarmuka, Hemamali, Mahamali, Sarpasya, and Rudhirashana -

Shloka 33 (aranya.23.33)

द्वादश एते महावीर्याः प्रतस्थुः अभितः खरम् | महाकपालः स्थूलाक्षः प्रमाथी त्रिशिराः तथा | चत्वार एते सेना अग्रे दूषणम् पृष्ठतो अन्वयुः ॥ 3.23.33 ॥

dvādaśa ete mahāvīryāḥ pratasthuḥ abhitaḥ kharam | mahākapālaḥ sthūlākṣaḥ pramāthī triśirāḥ tathā | catvāra ete senā agre dūṣaṇam pṛṣṭhato anvayuḥ || 23.33 ||

-these twelve demons of immense valor advanced around Khara on every side. And Mahakapala, Sthulaksha, Pramathi, and Trishira likewise - these four marched at the head of the army, following behind Dushana.

Shloka 34 (aranya.23.34)

सा भीम वेगा समर अभिकांक्षिणी सुदारुणा राक्षस वीर सेना | तौ राज पुत्रौ सहसा अभ्युपेता माला ग्रहाणाम् इव चन्द्र सूर्यौ ॥ 3.23.34 ॥

sā bhīma vegā samara abhikāṃkṣiṇī sudāruṇā rākṣasa vīra senā | tau rāja putrau sahasā abhyupetā mālā grahāṇām iva candra sūryau || 23.34 ||

That host of valiant demons - terrible, of fearsome speed, eager for battle - swiftly closed upon those two princes, as a garland of malignant planets might close upon the moon and the sun.