The Death of Khara

Shloka 1 (aranya.30.1)

भित्त्वा तु तां गदां बाणै राघवो धर्मवत्सलः। स्मयमान इदं वाक्यं संरब्धमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ 30.1 ॥

bhittvā tu tāṃ gadāṃ bāṇai rāghavo dharmavatsalaḥ | smayamāna idaṃ vākyaṃ saṃrabdhamidamabravīt || 30.1 ||

Having shattered that mace with his arrows, Raghava, ever devoted to virtue, spoke with a smile these words to the enraged Khara -

Shloka 2 (aranya.30.2)

एतत् ते बलसर्वस्वं दर्शितं राक्षसाधम। शक्तिहीनतरो मत्तो वृथा त्वमुपगर्जसि ॥ 30.2 ॥

etat te balasarvasvaṃ darśitaṃ rākṣasādhama | śaktihīnataro matto vṛthā tvamupagarjasi || 30.2 ||

"So this is the entire strength you possess, wretched demon, now on full display! Far weaker than I, you roar in vain.

Shloka 3 (aranya.30.3)

एषा बाणविनिर्भिन्ना गदा भूमितलं गता। अभिधानप्रगल्भस्य तव प्रत्ययघातिनी ॥ 30.3 ॥

eṣā bāṇavinirbhinnā gadā bhūmitalaṃ gatā | abhidhānapragalbhasya tava pratyayaghātinī || 30.3 ||

"This mace of yours, in which you placed such boastful confidence, lies shattered by my arrows on the ground, along with your vain conceit.

Shloka 4 (aranya.30.4)

यत् त्वयोक्तं विनष्टानामिदमश्रुप्रमार्जनम्। राक्षसानां करोमीति मिथ्या तदपि ते वचः ॥ 30.4 ॥

yat tvayoktaṃ vinaṣṭānāmidamaśrupramārjanam | rākṣasānāṃ karomīti mithyā tadapi te vacaḥ || 30.4 ||

"Even that boast of yours - 'I shall wipe away the tears of the slain demons' kin' - is also a lie.

Shloka 5 (aranya.30.5)

नीचस्य क्षुद्रशीलस्य मिथ्यावृत्तस्य रक्षसः। प्राणानपहरिष्यामि गरुत्मानमृतं यथा ॥ 30.5 ॥

nīcasya kṣudraśīlasya mithyāvṛttasya rakṣasaḥ | prāṇānapahariṣyāmi garutmānamṛtaṃ yathā || 30.5 ||

"From you, a base, mean-natured, deceitful rakshasa, I shall snatch away your life, as Garuda once snatched away the nectar of immortality.

Shloka 6 (aranya.30.6)

अद्य ते भिन्नकण्ठस्य फेनबुद्बुदभूषितम्। विदारितस्य मद्बाणैर्मही पास्यति शोणितम् ॥ 30.6 ॥

adya te bhinnakaṇṭhasya phenabudbudabhūṣitam | vidāritasya madbāṇairmahī pāsyati śoṇitam || 30.6 ||

"Today, my arrows will tear your throat asunder, and the earth shall drink your blood, frothing with foam and bubbles.

Shloka 7 (aranya.30.7)

पांसुरूषितसर्वाङ्गः स्रस्तन्यस्तभुजद्वयः। स्वप्स्यसे गां समाश्लिष्य दुर्लभां प्रमदामिव ॥ 30.7 ॥

pāṃsurūṣitasarvāṅgaḥ srastanyastabhujadvayaḥ | svapsyase gāṃ samāśliṣya durlabhāṃ pramadāmiva || 30.7 ||

"With your whole body smeared in dust and both your arms flung out limp, you shall sleep, embracing the earth, as one embraces a hard-won beloved.

Shloka 8 (aranya.30.8)

प्रवृद्धनिद्रे शयिते त्वयि राक्षसपांसने। भविष्यन्ति शरण्यानां शरण्या दण्डका इमे ॥ 30.8 ॥

pravṛddhanidre śayite tvayi rākṣasapāṃsane | bhaviṣyanti śaraṇyānāṃ śaraṇyā daṇḍakā ime || 30.8 ||

"O disgrace of the rakshasas, when you lie sunk in that deep and unending sleep, this Dandaka forest shall once again become a true refuge for those deserving refuge.

Shloka 9 (aranya.30.9)

जनस्थाने हतस्थाने तव राक्षस मच्छरैः। निर्भया विचरिष्यन्ति सर्वतो मुनयो वने ॥ 30.9 ॥

janasthāne hatasthāne tava rākṣasa maccharaiḥ | nirbhayā vicariṣyanti sarvato munayo vane || 30.9 ||

"O rakshasa, once your stronghold at Janasthana lies destroyed by my arrows, sages shall wander this forest everywhere, without fear.

Shloka 10 (aranya.30.10)

अद्य विप्रसरिष्यन्ति राक्षस्यो हतबान्धवाः। बाष्पार्द्रवदना दीना भयादन्यभयावहाः ॥ 30.10 ॥

adya viprasariṣyanti rākṣasyo hatabāndhavāḥ | bāṣpārdravadanā dīnā bhayādanyabhayāvahāḥ || 30.10 ||

"Today those very rakshasa-women who once struck terror into others shall flee about in misery, their kinsmen slain, faces wet with tears, themselves now overcome by fear.

Shloka 11 (aranya.30.11)

अद्य शोकरसज्ञास्ता भविष्यन्ति निरर्थिकाः। अनुरूपकुलाः पत्न्यो यासां त्वं पतिरीदृशः ॥ 30.11 ॥

adya śokarasajñāstā bhaviṣyanti nirarthikāḥ | anurūpakulāḥ patnyo yāsāṃ tvaṃ patirīdṛśaḥ || 30.11 ||

"Today those wives of yours, so fittingly matched in birth to a husband such as you, will taste the flavor of grief - their lives from now on made meaningless.

Shloka 12 (aranya.30.12)

नृशंसशील क्षुद्रात्मन् नित्यं ब्राह्मणकण्टक। त्वत्कृते शङ्कितैरग्नौ मुनिभिः पात्यते हविः ॥ 30.12 ॥

nṛśaṃsaśīla kṣudrātman nityaṃ brāhmaṇakaṇṭaka | tvatkṛte śaṅkitairagnau munibhiḥ pātyate haviḥ || 30.12 ||

"O cruel-natured, base-souled thorn ever pricking the Brahmins - because of you, the sages, fearful, must drop their oblations hastily into the sacred fire."

Shloka 13 (aranya.30.13)

तमेवमभिसंरब्धं ब्रुवाणं राघवं वने। खरो निर्भर्त्सयामास रोषात् खरतरस्वरः ॥ 30.13 ॥

tamevamabhisaṃrabdhaṃ bruvāṇaṃ rāghavaṃ vane | kharo nirbhartsayāmāsa roṣāt kharatarasvaraḥ || 30.13 ||

As Raghava spoke thus with such vehemence in the forest, Khara, his voice grown even harsher in rage, began to revile him in turn.

Shloka 14 (aranya.30.14)

दृढं खल्ववलिप्तोऽसि भयेष्वपि च निर्भयः। वाच्यावाच्यं ततो हि त्वं मृत्योर्वश्यो न बुध्यसे ॥ 30.14 ॥

dṛḍhaṃ khalvavalipto'si bhayeṣvapi ca nirbhayaḥ | vācyāvācyaṃ tato hi tvaṃ mṛtyorvaśyo na budhyase || 30.14 ||

"Truly you are steeped in arrogance, unafraid even where fear is warranted; that is why, already fallen under Death's sway, you no longer know what should and should not be said.

Shloka 15 (aranya.30.15)

कालपाशपरिक्षिप्ता भवन्ति पुरुषा हि ये। कार्याकार्यं न जानन्ति ते निरस्तषडिन्द्रियाः ॥ 30.15 ॥

kālapāśaparikṣiptā bhavanti puruṣā hi ye | kāryākāryaṃ na jānanti te nirastaṣaḍindriyāḥ || 30.15 ||

"Those men who are already caught in the noose of Time no longer know what ought to be done and what ought not, for all their six senses have been struck senseless."

Shloka 16 (aranya.30.16)

एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामं संरुध्य भृकुटिं ततः। स ददर्श महासालमविदूरे निशाचरः ॥ 30.16 ॥

evamuktvā tato rāmaṃ saṃrudhya bhṛkuṭiṃ tataḥ | sa dadarśa mahāsālamavidūre niśācaraḥ || 30.16 ||

Having said this to Rama, that night-ranger, knitting his brow, then caught sight of a huge sala tree not far away.

Shloka 17 (aranya.30.17)

रणे प्रहरणस्यार्थे सर्वतो ह्यवलोकयन्। स तमुत्पाटयामास संदष्टदशनच्छदम् ॥ 30.17 ॥

raṇe praharaṇasyārthe sarvato hyavalokayan | sa tamutpāṭayāmāsa saṃdaṣṭadaśanacchadam || 30.17 ||

Searching all around for a weapon to strike with in that battle, he, biting down hard on his own lip, set about tearing it up by the roots.

Shloka 18 (aranya.30.18)

तं समुत्क्षिप्य बाहुभ्यां विनर्दित्वा महाबलः। राममुद्दिश्य चिक्षेप हतस्त्वमिति चाब्रवीत् ॥ 30.18 ॥

taṃ samutkṣipya bāhubhyāṃ vinarditvā mahābalaḥ | rāmamuddiśya cikṣepa hatastvamiti cābravīt || 30.18 ||

Lifting it up with both arms, that mighty one, roaring aloud, hurled it straight at Rama, shouting, "You are dead!"

Shloka 19 (aranya.30.19)

तमापतन्तं बाणौघैश्छित्त्वा रामः प्रतापवान्। रोषमाहारयत् तीव्रं निहन्तुं समरे खरम् ॥ 30.19 ॥

tamāpatantaṃ bāṇaughaiśchittvā rāmaḥ pratāpavān | roṣamāhārayat tīvraṃ nihantuṃ samare kharam || 30.19 ||

The valiant Rama shattered that oncoming tree with a torrent of arrows, and now his anger blazed fierce, resolved to slay Khara there in that battle.

Shloka 20 (aranya.30.20)

जातस्वेदस्ततो रामो रोषरक्तान्तलोचनः। निर्बिभेद सहस्रेण बाणानां समरे खरम् ॥ 30.20 ॥

jātasvedastato rāmo roṣaraktāntalocanaḥ | nirbibheda sahasreṇa bāṇānāṃ samare kharam || 30.20 ||

Then Rama, sweat breaking upon his brow, the corners of his eyes reddened with fury, pierced Khara through and through with a thousand arrows in that battle.

Shloka 21 (aranya.30.21)

तस्य बाणान्तराद् रक्तं बहु सुस्राव फेनिलम्। गिरेः प्रस्रवणस्येव धाराणां च परिस्रवः ॥ 30.21 ॥

tasya bāṇāntarād raktaṃ bahu susrāva phenilam | gireḥ prasravaṇasyeva dhārāṇāṃ ca parisravaḥ || 30.21 ||

From the gaps torn by those arrows, copious frothing blood streamed forth, like torrents cascading down the slopes of a mountain.

Shloka 22 (aranya.30.22)

विकलः स कृतो बाणैः खरो रामेण संयुगे। मत्तो रुधिरगन्धेन तमेवाभ्यद्रवद् द्रुतम् ॥ 30.22 ॥

vikalaḥ sa kṛto bāṇaiḥ kharo rāmeṇa saṃyuge | matto rudhiragandhena tamevābhyadravad drutam || 30.22 ||

Rendered helpless by Rama's arrows in that encounter, and maddened by the reek of his own blood, Khara nonetheless charged straight at him.

Shloka 23 (aranya.30.23)

तमापतन्तं संक्रुद्धं कृतास्त्रो रुधिराप्लुतम्। अपासर्पद् द्वित्रिपदं किंचित्त्वरितविक्रमः ॥ 30.23 ॥

tamāpatantaṃ saṃkruddhaṃ kṛtāstro rudhirāplutam | apāsarpad dvitripadaṃ kiṃcittvaritavikramaḥ || 30.23 ||

Seeing him, drenched in blood and furious, charging upon him, that master of missiles, swift Rama, stepped back a pace or two.

Shloka 24 (aranya.30.24)

ततः पावकसंकाशं वधाय समरे शरम्। खरस्य रामो जग्राह ब्रह्मदण्डमिवापरम् ॥ 30.24 ॥

tataḥ pāvakasaṃkāśaṃ vadhāya samare śaram | kharasya rāmo jagrāha brahmadaṇḍamivāparam || 30.24 ||

Then, to slay Khara, Rama took up in that battle an arrow bright as fire, like a second staff of Brahma.

Shloka 25 (aranya.30.25)

स तद् दत्तं मघवता सुरराजेन धीमता। संदधे च स धर्मात्मा मुमोच च खरं प्रति ॥ 30.25 ॥

sa tad dattaṃ maghavatā surarājena dhīmatā | saṃdadhe ca sa dharmātmā mumoca ca kharaṃ prati || 30.25 ||

That righteous Rama fitted to his bow that very arrow, once given by the wise Maghavan, lord of the gods, and loosed it straight at Khara.

Shloka 26 (aranya.30.26)

स विमुक्तो महाबाणो निर्घातसमनिःस्वनः। रामेण धनुरायम्य खरस्योरसि चापतत् ॥ 30.26 ॥

sa vimukto mahābāṇo nirghātasamaniḥsvanaḥ | rāmeṇa dhanurāyamya kharasyorasi cāpatat || 30.26 ||

Drawing his bow to its fullest, Rama released that great arrow, and with a roar like a thunderclap it struck Khara full in the chest.

Shloka 27 (aranya.30.27)

स पपात खरो भूमौ दह्यमानः शराग्निना। रुद्रेणेव विनिर्दग्धः श्वेतारण्ये यथान्धकः ॥ 30.27 ॥

sa papāta kharo bhūmau dahyamānaḥ śarāgninā | rudreṇeva vinirdagdhaḥ śvetāraṇye yathāndhakaḥ || 30.27 ||

Khara fell to the earth, consumed by the fire of that arrow, as once the demon Andhaka fell, utterly burned by Rudra in the White Forest.

Shloka 28 (aranya.30.28)

स वृत्र इव वज्रेण फेनेन नमुचिर्यथा। बलो वेन्द्राशनिहतो निपपात हतः खरः ॥ 30.28 ॥

sa vṛtra iva vajreṇa phenena namuciryathā | balo vendrāśanihato nipapāta hataḥ kharaḥ || 30.28 ||

Slain, Khara collapsed and fell, as Vritra fell to the thunderbolt, as Namuchi fell to foam, or as Bala fell, struck down by Indra's bolt.

Shloka 29 (aranya.30.29)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवाश्चारणैः सह संगताः। दुन्दुभींश्चाभिनिघ्नन्तः पुष्पवर्षं समन्ततः ॥ 30.29 ॥

etasminnantare devāścāraṇaiḥ saha saṃgatāḥ | dundubhīṃścābhinighnantaḥ puṣpavarṣaṃ samantataḥ || 30.29 ||

At that moment the gods, gathering together with the celestial charanas, sounded their drums on every side and rained down a shower of flowers.

Shloka 30 (aranya.30.30)

रामस्योपरि संहृष्टा ववर्षुर्विस्मितास्तदा। अर्धाधिकमुहूर्तेन रामेण निशितैः शरैः ॥ 30.30 ॥

rāmasyopari saṃhṛṣṭā vavarṣurvismitāstadā | ardhādhikamuhūrtena rāmeṇa niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 30.30 ||

Filled with joy and wonder, they showered it down upon Rama - amazed that in barely one and a half muhurtas, with his sharp arrows,

Shloka 31 (aranya.30.31)

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां कामरूपिणाम्। खरदूषणमुख्यानां निहतानि महामृधे ॥ 30.31 ॥

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpiṇām | kharadūṣaṇamukhyānāṃ nihatāni mahāmṛdhe || 30.31 ||

Rama had slain fourteen thousand shape-shifting rakshasas, foremost among them Khara and Dushana, in that mighty battle.

Shloka 32 (aranya.30.32)

अहो बत महत्कर्म रामस्य विदितात्मनः। अहो वीर्यमहो दार्ढ्यं विष्णोरिव हि दृश्यते ॥ 30.32 ॥

aho bata mahatkarma rāmasya viditātmanaḥ | aho vīryamaho dārḍhyaṃ viṣṇoriva hi dṛśyate || 30.32 ||

"Ah, what a mighty deed by the wise-souled Rama! Ah, what valor, what steadfastness - truly it seems the very valor of Vishnu himself!"

Shloka 33 (aranya.30.33)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा ते सर्वे ययुर्देवा यथागतम्। ततो राजर्षयः सर्वे संगताः परमर्षयः ॥ 30.33 ॥

ityevamuktvā te sarve yayurdevā yathāgatam | tato rājarṣayaḥ sarve saṃgatāḥ paramarṣayaḥ || 30.33 ||

So saying, all the gods departed as they had come. Then all the royal sages and the great supreme seers, who had gathered there, together with Agastya,

Shloka 34 (aranya.30.34)

सभाज्य मुदिता रामं सागस्त्या इदमब्रुवन्। एतदर्थं महातेजा महेन्द्रः पाकशासनः ॥ 30.34 ॥

sabhājya muditā rāmaṃ sāgastyā idamabruvan | etadarthaṃ mahātejā mahendraḥ pākaśāsanaḥ || 30.34 ||

joyfully honored Rama and spoke thus: "It was for this very purpose that the greatly resplendent Mahendra, chastiser of the demon Paka and destroyer of citadels,

Shloka 35 (aranya.30.35)

शरभङ्गाश्रमं पुण्यमाजगाम पुरंदरः। आनीतस्त्वमिमं देशमुपायेन महर्षिभिः ॥ 30.35 ॥

śarabhaṅgāśramaṃ puṇyamājagāma puraṃdaraḥ | ānītastvamimaṃ deśamupāyena maharṣibhiḥ || 30.35 ||

once came to the sacred hermitage of Sharabhanga. You have been brought to this land through the design of the great sages,

Shloka 36 (aranya.30.36)

एषां वधार्थं शत्रूणां रक्षसां पापकर्मणाम्। तदिदं नः कृतं कार्यं त्वया दशरथात्मज ॥ 30.36 ॥

eṣāṃ vadhārthaṃ śatrūṇāṃ rakṣasāṃ pāpakarmaṇām | tadidaṃ naḥ kṛtaṃ kāryaṃ tvayā daśarathātmaja || 30.36 ||

for the very purpose of slaying these sinful rakshasa enemies. And that task of ours, O son of Dasharatha, has now been accomplished by you.

Shloka 37 (aranya.30.37)

स्वधर्मं प्रचरिष्यन्ति दण्डकेषु महर्षयः। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरो लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया ॥ 30.37 ॥

svadharmaṃ pracariṣyanti daṇḍakeṣu maharṣayaḥ | etasminnantare vīro lakṣmaṇaḥ saha sītayā || 30.37 ||

"The great sages will now freely pursue their sacred duties throughout Dandaka." Meanwhile, the valiant Lakshmana, together with Sita,

Shloka 38 (aranya.30.38)

गिरिदुर्गाद् विनिष्क्रम्य संविवेशाश्रमे सुखी ततो रामस्तु विजयी पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ॥ 30.38 ॥

giridurgād viniṣkramya saṃviveśāśrame sukhī tato rāmastu vijayī pūjyamāno maharṣibhiḥ || 30.38 ||

emerged from the mountain fastness and, joyful, re-entered the hermitage. Then the victorious Rama too, honored by the great sages,

Shloka 39 (aranya.30.39)

प्रविवेशाश्रमं वीरो लक्ष्मणेनाभिपूजितः। तं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुहन्तारं महर्षीणां सुखावहम् ॥ 30.39 ॥

praviveśāśramaṃ vīro lakṣmaṇenābhipūjitaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā śatruhantāraṃ maharṣīṇāṃ sukhāvaham || 30.39 ||

entered the hermitage, that valiant one greeted warmly by Lakshmana. Seeing him, the destroyer of enemies and bringer of joy to the great sages,

Shloka 40 (aranya.30.40)

बभूव हृष्टा वैदेही भर्तारं परिषस्वजे। मुदा परमया युक्ता दृष्ट्वा रक्षोगणान् हतान्। रामं चैवाव्ययं दृष्ट्वा तुतोष जनकात्मजा ॥ 30.40 ॥

babhūva hṛṣṭā vaidehī bhartāraṃ pariṣasvaje | mudā paramayā yuktā dṛṣṭvā rakṣogaṇān hatān | rāmaṃ caivāvyayaṃ dṛṣṭvā tutoṣa janakātmajā || 30.40 ||

Vaidehi was overjoyed and embraced her husband. Filled with supreme delight at seeing the hordes of rakshasas slain, and seeing Rama himself unscathed, Janaka's daughter was truly content.

Shloka 41 (aranya.30.41)

ततस्तु तं राक्षससङ्घमर्दनं सम्पूज्यमानं मुदितैर्महात्मभिः। पुनः परिष्वज्य मुदान्वितानना बभूव हृष्टा जनकात्मजा तदा ॥ 30.41 ॥

tatastu taṃ rākṣasasaṅghamardanaṃ sampūjyamānaṃ muditairmahātmabhiḥ | punaḥ pariṣvajya mudānvitānanā babhūva hṛṣṭā janakātmajā tadā || 30.41 ||

Then, once again, Janaka's daughter, her face alight with joy, embraced that crusher of the rakshasa hordes, who was being honored by the delighted great souls, and she became truly joyful.