Rama's Rebuke and Khara's Mace

Shloka 1 (aranya.29.1)

खरं तु विरथं रामो गदापाणिमवस्थितम्। मृदुपूर्वं महातेजाः परुषं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 29.1 ॥

kharaṃ tu virathaṃ rāmo gadāpāṇimavasthitam | mṛdupūrvaṃ mahātejāḥ paruṣaṃ vākyamabravīt || 29.1 ||

Then to Khara, now chariotless and standing before him mace in hand, the resplendent Rama, mild at first, spoke these stern words.

Shloka 2 (aranya.29.2)

गजाश्वरथसम्बाधे बले महति तिष्ठता। कृतं ते दारुणं कर्म सर्वलोकजुगुप्सितम् ॥ 29.2 ॥

gajāśvarathasambādhe bale mahati tiṣṭhatā | kṛtaṃ te dāruṇaṃ karma sarvalokajugupsitam || 29.2 ||

"Though you commanded a mighty army teeming with elephants, horses, and chariots, you have committed a terrible deed, abhorred by all the worlds.

Shloka 3 (aranya.29.3)

उद्वेजनीयो भूतानां नृशंसः पापकर्मकृत् । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामीश्वरोऽपि न तिष्ठति ॥ 29.3 ॥

udvejanīyo bhūtānāṃ nṛśaṃsaḥ pāpakarmakṛt | trayāṇāmapi lokānāmīśvaro'pi na tiṣṭhati || 29.3 ||

"One who torments all beings, cruel and steeped in sin, cannot endure - even were he the very lord of all three worlds.

Shloka 4 (aranya.29.4)

कर्म लोकविरुद्धं तु कुर्वाणं क्षणदाचर। तीक्ष्णं सर्वजनो हन्ति सर्पं दुष्टमिवागतम् ॥ 29.4 ॥

karma lokaviruddhaṃ tu kurvāṇaṃ kṣaṇadācara | tīkṣṇaṃ sarvajano hanti sarpaṃ duṣṭamivāgatam || 29.4 ||

"O night-ranger, all people will destroy one who acts against the good of the world and is cruel by nature, just as they would kill a vicious serpent that crosses their path.

Shloka 5 (aranya.29.5)

लोभात् पापानि कुर्वाणः कामाद् वा यो न बुध्यते। हृष्टः पश्यति तस्यान्तं ब्राह्मणी करकादिव ॥ 29.5 ॥

lobhāt pāpāni kurvāṇaḥ kāmād vā yo na budhyate | hṛṣṭaḥ paśyati tasyāntaṃ brāhmaṇī karakādiva || 29.5 ||

"He who commits sin out of greed or desire, heedless and even delighting in it, will in the end meet its consequence, as the lizard that delights in swallowing hailstones meets its own death.

Shloka 6 (aranya.29.6)

वसतो दण्डकारण्ये तापसान् धर्मचारिणः। किं नु हत्वा महाभागान् फलं प्राप्स्यसि राक्षस ॥ 29.6 ॥

vasato daṇḍakāraṇye tāpasān dharmacāriṇaḥ | kiṃ nu hatvā mahābhāgān phalaṃ prāpsyasi rākṣasa || 29.6 ||

"What benefit, O rakshasa, will you truly gain by killing the greatly blessed ascetics who dwell in the Dandaka forest, treading the path of virtue?

Shloka 7 (aranya.29.7)

न चिरं पापकर्माणः क्रूरा लोकजुगुप्सिताः। ऐश्वर्यं प्राप्य तिष्ठन्ति शीर्णमूला इव द्रुमाः ॥ 29.7 ॥

na ciraṃ pāpakarmāṇaḥ krūrā lokajugupsitāḥ | aiśvaryaṃ prāpya tiṣṭhanti śīrṇamūlā iva drumāḥ || 29.7 ||

"Sinners - cruel men abhorred by the world - do not long endure even in their prosperity, like trees whose roots have rotted away.

Shloka 8 (aranya.29.8)

अवश्यं लभते कर्ता फलं पापस्य कर्मणः। घोरं पर्यागते काले द्रुमः पुष्पमिवार्तवम् ॥ 29.8 ॥

avaśyaṃ labhate kartā phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ | ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle drumaḥ puṣpamivārtavam || 29.8 ||

"The doer of an evil deed shall surely reap its terrible fruit when the time comes, just as a tree bears its flower in its proper season.

Shloka 9 (aranya.29.9)

नचिरात् प्राप्यते लोके पापानां कर्मणां फलम्। सविषाणामिवान्नानां भुक्तानां क्षणदाचर ॥ 29.9 ॥

nacirāt prāpyate loke pāpānāṃ karmaṇāṃ phalam | saviṣāṇāmivānnānāṃ bhuktānāṃ kṣaṇadācara || 29.9 ||

"In this world, O night-ranger, the fruit of sinful deeds is reaped before long, like poisoned food once it is eaten.

Shloka 10 (aranya.29.10)

पापमाचरतां घोरं लोकस्याप्रियमिच्छताम्। अहमासादितो राज्ञा प्राणान् हन्तुं निशाचर ॥ 29.10 ॥

pāpamācaratāṃ ghoraṃ lokasyāpriyamicchatām | ahamāsādito rājñā prāṇān hantuṃ niśācara || 29.10 ||

"O night-ranger, I have come, bound by royal duty, to destroy the lives of those who commit dreadful sin and wish evil upon the world.

Shloka 11 (aranya.29.11)

अद्य भित्त्वा मया मुक्ताः शराः काञ्चनभूषणाः। विदार्यातिपतिष्यन्ति वल्मीकमिव पन्नगाः ॥ 29.11 ॥

adya bhittvā mayā muktāḥ śarāḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ | vidāryātipatiṣyanti valmīkamiva pannagāḥ || 29.11 ||

"Today, these gold-adorned arrows loosed by me will pierce and rend you, bursting forth as serpents burst from an anthill.

Shloka 12 (aranya.29.12)

ये त्वया दण्डकारण्ये भक्षिता धर्मचारिणः। तानद्य निहतः संख्ये ससैन्योऽनुगमिष्यसि ॥ 29.12 ॥

ye tvayā daṇḍakāraṇye bhakṣitā dharmacāriṇaḥ | tānadya nihataḥ saṃkhye sasainyo'nugamiṣyasi || 29.12 ||

"Those righteous ascetics you have devoured in the Dandaka forest - slain today in battle, you, together with your army, shall follow after them.

Shloka 13 (aranya.29.13)

अद्य त्वां निहतं बाणैः पश्यन्तु परमर्षयः। निरयस्थं विमानस्था ये त्वया निहताः पुरा ॥ 29.13 ॥

adya tvāṃ nihataṃ bāṇaiḥ paśyantu paramarṣayaḥ | nirayasthaṃ vimānasthā ye tvayā nihatāḥ purā || 29.13 ||

"Today let the great sages whom you once slew, now dwelling in their heavenly chariots, look upon you struck down by my arrows and cast into hell.

Shloka 14 (aranya.29.14)

प्रहरस्व यथाकामं कुरु यत्नं कुलाधम। अद्य ते पातयिष्यामि शिरस्तालफलं यथा ॥ 29.14 ॥

praharasva yathākāmaṃ kuru yatnaṃ kulādhama | adya te pātayiṣyāmi śirastālaphalaṃ yathā || 29.14 ||

"Strike as you please, make your best effort, O disgrace of your lineage - today I shall bring your head down, as one fells a palm-fruit."

Shloka 15 (aranya.29.15)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण क्रुद्धः संरक्तलोचनः। प्रत्युवाच ततो रामं प्रहसन् क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥ 29.15 ॥

evamuktastu rāmeṇa kruddhaḥ saṃraktalocanaḥ | pratyuvāca tato rāmaṃ prahasan krodhamūrcchitaḥ || 29.15 ||

Thus addressed by Rama, Khara, enraged and red-eyed, overcome with fury, laughed mockingly and replied to him -

Shloka 16 (aranya.29.16)

प्राकृतान् राक्षसान् हत्वा युद्धे दशरथात्मज। आत्मना कथमात्मानमप्रशस्यं प्रशंससि ॥ 29.16 ॥

prākṛtān rākṣasān hatvā yuddhe daśarathātmaja | ātmanā kathamātmānamapraśasyaṃ praśaṃsasi || 29.16 ||

"O son of Dasharatha, having slain mere ordinary rakshasas in battle, how do you praise yourself, though you deserve no such praise?

Shloka 17 (aranya.29.17)

विक्रान्ता बलवन्तो वा ये भवन्ति नरर्षभाः। कथयन्ति न ते किंचित् तेजसा चातिगर्विताः ॥ 29.17 ॥

vikrāntā balavanto vā ye bhavanti nararṣabhāḥ | kathayanti na te kiṃcit tejasā cātigarvitāḥ || 29.17 ||

"Those who are truly valiant and mighty among men speak no boast of themselves, however greatly proud they may be of their own splendor.

Shloka 18 (aranya.29.18)

प्राकृतास्त्वकृतात्मानो लोके क्षत्रियपांसनाः। निरर्थकं विकत्थन्ते यथा राम विकत्थसे ॥ 29.18 ॥

prākṛtāstvakṛtātmāno loke kṣatriyapāṃsanāḥ | nirarthakaṃ vikatthante yathā rāma vikatthase || 29.18 ||

"O Rama, it is only the common, undisciplined disgraces of the Kshatriya race who boast pointlessly in this world - just as you are boasting now.

Shloka 19 (aranya.29.19)

कुलं व्यपदिशन् वीरः समरे कोऽभिधास्यति। मृत्युकाले तु सम्प्राप्ते स्वयमप्रस्तवे स्तवम् ॥ 29.19 ॥

kulaṃ vyapadiśan vīraḥ samare ko'bhidhāsyati | mṛtyukāle tu samprāpte svayamaprastave stavam || 29.19 ||

"What true hero, with the hour of death upon him, speaks of his own lineage in battle, or utters self-praise at so unfitting a moment?

Shloka 20 (aranya.29.20)

सर्वथा तु लघुत्वं ते कत्थनेन विदर्शितम्। सुवर्णप्रतिरूपेण तप्तेनेव कुशाग्निना ॥ 29.20 ॥

sarvathā tu laghutvaṃ te katthanena vidarśitam | suvarṇapratirūpeṇa tapteneva kuśāgninā || 29.20 ||

"In every way your boasting has only revealed your own pettiness - like the false gleam of gold seen in a burning blade of grass.

Shloka 21 (aranya.29.21)

न तु मामिह तिष्ठन्तं पश्यसि त्वं गदाधरम्। धराधरमिवाकम्प्यं पर्वतं धातुभिश्चितम् ॥ 29.21 ॥

na tu māmiha tiṣṭhantaṃ paśyasi tvaṃ gadādharam | dharādharamivākampyaṃ parvataṃ dhātubhiścitam || 29.21 ||

"Do you not see me standing here, mace in hand, as unshaken as a mountain rich with ore, one who bears up the earth itself?

Shloka 22 (aranya.29.22)

पर्याप्तोऽहं गदापाणिर्हन्तुं प्राणान् रणे तव। त्रयाणामपि लोकानां पाशहस्त इवान्तकः ॥ 29.22 ॥

paryāpto'haṃ gadāpāṇirhantuṃ prāṇān raṇe tava | trayāṇāmapi lokānāṃ pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ || 29.22 ||

"Mace in hand, I alone am enough to take your life in this battle, as Death with his noose is enough to claim all three worlds.

Shloka 23 (aranya.29.23)

कामं बह्वपि वक्तव्यं त्वयि वक्ष्यामि न त्वहम्। अस्तं प्राप्नोति सविता युद्धविघ्नस्ततो भवेत् ॥ 29.23 ॥

kāmaṃ bahvapi vaktavyaṃ tvayi vakṣyāmi na tvaham | astaṃ prāpnoti savitā yuddhavighnastato bhavet || 29.23 ||

"Much more could still be said of you, but I shall not say it - the sun is nearing its setting, and further words would only delay our battle.

Shloka 24 (aranya.29.24)

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि राक्षसानां हतानि ते। त्वद्विनाशात् करोम्यद्य तेषामश्रुप्रमार्जनम् ॥ 29.24 ॥

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rākṣasānāṃ hatāni te | tvadvināśāt karomyadya teṣāmaśrupramārjanam || 29.24 ||

"Fourteen thousand of your rakshasas have already been slain; today, by destroying you, I shall wipe away the tears of their kindred."

Shloka 25 (aranya.29.25)

इत्युक्त्वा परमक्रुद्धः स गदां परमाङ्गदाम्। खरश्चिक्षेप रामाय प्रदीप्तामशनिं यथा ॥ 29.25 ॥

ityuktvā paramakruddhaḥ sa gadāṃ paramāṅgadām | kharaścikṣepa rāmāya pradīptāmaśaniṃ yathā || 29.25 ||

So saying, Khara, in towering rage, hurled at Rama his mace, girt with fine golden bands and blazing like a thunderbolt.

Shloka 26 (aranya.29.26)

खरबाहुप्रमुक्ता सा प्रदीप्ता महती गदा। भस्म वृक्षांश्च गुल्मांश्च कृत्वागात् तत्समीपतः ॥ 29.26 ॥

kharabāhupramuktā sā pradīptā mahatī gadā | bhasma vṛkṣāṃśca gulmāṃśca kṛtvāgāt tatsamīpataḥ || 29.26 ||

That great, blazing mace, launched from Khara's arm, turned trees and thickets to ashes as it sped straight toward Rama.

Shloka 27 (aranya.29.27)

तामापतन्तीं महतीं मृत्युपाशोपमां गदाम्। अन्तरिक्षगतां रामश्चिच्छेद बहुधा शरैः ॥ 29.27 ॥

tāmāpatantīṃ mahatīṃ mṛtyupāśopamāṃ gadām | antarikṣagatāṃ rāmaściccheda bahudhā śaraiḥ || 29.27 ||

As that huge mace, resembling the noose of Death, came hurtling through the sky, Rama shattered it into many fragments with his arrows.

Shloka 28 (aranya.29.28)

सा विशीर्णा शरैर्भिन्ना पपात धरणीतले। गदा मन्त्रौषधिबलैर्व्यालीव विनिपातिता ॥ 29.28 ॥

sā viśīrṇā śarairbhinnā papāta dharaṇītale | gadā mantrauṣadhibalairvyālīva vinipātitā || 29.28 ||

Shattered and rent by his arrows, the mace crashed to the ground, like a serpent felled by the power of spells and herbs.