The Slaying of Viradha

Shloka 1 (aranya.4.1)

ह्रियमाणौ तु काकुत्स्थौ दृष्ट्वा सीता रघूत्तमौ । उच्चैः स्वरेण चुक्रोश प्रगृह्य सुमहाभुजौ ॥ 4.1 ॥

hriyamāṇau tu kākutsthau dṛṣṭvā sītā raghūttamau | uccaiḥ svareṇa cukrośa pragṛhya sumahābhujau || 4.1 ||

Seeing those two scions of Kakutstha, the finest of the house of Raghu, being carried off, Sita cried out in a piercing voice.

Shloka 2 (aranya.4.2)

एष दाशरथी रामः सत्यवाञ्छीलवान् शुचिः । रक्षसा रौद्ररूपेण ह्रियते सहलक्ष्मणः ॥ 4.2 ॥

eṣa dāśarathī rāmaḥ satyavāñchīlavān śuciḥ | rakṣasā raudrarūpeṇa hriyate sahalakṣmaṇaḥ || 4.2 ||

"This is Dasharathi Rama — truthful, virtuous, and pure — being carried off, together with Lakshmana, by a demon of dreadful form!

Shloka 3 (aranya.4.3)

मामृक्षा भक्षयिष्यन्ति शार्दूलद्वीपिनस्तथा । मां हरोत्सृज काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तम ॥ 4.3 ॥

māmṛkṣā bhakṣayiṣyanti śārdūladvīpinastathā | māṃ harotsṛja kākutsthau namaste rākṣasottama || 4.3 ||

Let bears and tigers and panthers rather devour me! O best of demons, seize me instead, and release these two sons of Kakutstha — I bow to you!"

Shloka 4 (aranya.4.4)

तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ । वेगं प्रचक्रतुर्वीरौ वधे तस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 4.4 ॥

tasyāstad vacanaṃ śrutvā vaidehyā rāmalakṣmaṇau | vegaṃ pracakraturvīrau vadhe tasya durātmanaḥ || 4.4 ||

Hearing Vaidehi's words, the two valiant brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, moved swiftly to bring about the death of that evil-souled demon.

Shloka 5 (aranya.4.5)

तस्य रौद्रस्य सौमित्रिः सव्यं बाहुं बभञ्ज ह । रामस्तु दक्षिणं बाहुं तरसा तस्य रक्षसः ॥ 4.5 ॥

tasya raudrasya saumitriḥ savyaṃ bāhuṃ babhañja ha | rāmastu dakṣiṇaṃ bāhuṃ tarasā tasya rakṣasaḥ || 4.5 ||

Saumitri broke the left arm of that fearsome demon, while Rama with great force wrenched off his right.

Shloka 6 (aranya.4.6)

स भग्नबाहुः संविग्नः पपाताशु विमूर्च्छितः । धरण्यां मेघसंकाशो वज्रभिन्न इवाचलः ॥ 4.6 ॥

sa bhagnabāhuḥ saṃvignaḥ papātāśu vimūrcchitaḥ | dharaṇyāṃ meghasaṃkāśo vajrabhinna ivācalaḥ || 4.6 ||

His arms broken, dismayed, that demon, dark and huge as a storm-cloud, at once fainted and fell to the earth, like a mountain split by a thunderbolt.

Shloka 7 (aranya.4.7)

मुष्टिभिर्बाहुभिः पद्भिः सूदयन्तौ तु राक्षसम् । उद्यम्योद्यम्य चाप्येनं स्थण्डिले निष्पिपेषतुः ॥ 4.7 ॥

muṣṭibhirbāhubhiḥ padbhiḥ sūdayantau tu rākṣasam | udyamyodyamya cāpyenaṃ sthaṇḍile niṣpipeṣatuḥ || 4.7 ||

The two brothers battered the demon with fists, arms, and feet, and again and again, heaving him up, dashed and crushed him upon the bare earth.

Shloka 8 (aranya.4.8)

स विद्धौ बहुभिर्बाणैः खड्गाभ्यां च परिक्षतः । निष्पिष्टो बहुधा भूमौ न ममार स राक्षसः ॥ 4.8 ॥

sa viddhau bahubhirbāṇaiḥ khaḍgābhyāṃ ca parikṣataḥ | niṣpiṣṭo bahudhā bhūmau na mamāra sa rākṣasaḥ || 4.8 ||

Though pierced through with many arrows, gashed by both their swords, and pounded again and again upon the ground, that demon did not die.

Shloka 9 (aranya.4.9)

तं प्रेक्ष्य रामः सुभृशमवध्यमचलोपमम् । भयेष्वभयदः श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 4.9 ॥

taṃ prekṣya rāmaḥ subhṛśamavadhyamacalopamam | bhayeṣvabhayadaḥ śrīmānidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 4.9 ||

Seeing that demon, mountain-like, utterly unslayable, Rama — glorious, giver of refuge in times of fear — spoke these words:

Shloka 10 (aranya.4.10)

तपसा पुरुषव्याघ्र राक्षसोऽयं न शक्यते । शस्त्रेण युधि निर्जेतुं राक्षसं निखनावहे ॥ 4.10 ॥

tapasā puruṣavyāghra rākṣaso'yaṃ na śakyate | śastreṇa yudhi nirjetuṃ rākṣasaṃ nikhanāvahe || 4.10 ||

"O tiger among men, by the power of his austerities this demon cannot be conquered in battle by any weapon. Let us bury him instead.

Shloka 11 (aranya.4.11)

कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण । वनेऽस्मिन् सुमहच्छ्वभ्रं खन्यतां रौद्रवर्चसः ॥ 4.11 ॥

kuñjarasyeva raudrasya rākṣasasyāsya lakṣmaṇa | vane'smin sumahacchvabhraṃ khanyatāṃ raudravarcasaḥ || 4.11 ||

O Lakshmana, let a great pit be dug in this forest for this fierce, elephant-like demon of terrible power."

Shloka 12 (aranya.4.12)

इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति । तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान् ॥ 4.12 ॥

ityuktvā lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmaḥ pradaraḥ khanyatāmiti | tasthau virādhamākramya kaṇṭhe pādena vīryavān || 4.12 ||

Having thus told Lakshmana that a pit should be dug, the valiant Rama planted his foot upon Viradha's throat and stood there, holding him down.

Shloka 13 (aranya.4.13)

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं राक्षसः प्रश्रितं वचः । इदं प्रोवाच काकुत्स्थं विराधः पुरुषर्षभम् ॥ 4.13 ॥

tacchrutvā rāghaveṇoktaṃ rākṣasaḥ praśritaṃ vacaḥ | idaṃ provāca kākutsthaṃ virādhaḥ puruṣarṣabham || 4.13 ||

Hearing what Raghava had said, the demon Viradha spoke these humble words to Kakutstha, that bull among men:

Shloka 14 (aranya.4.14)

हतोऽहं पुरुषव्याघ्र शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै । मया तु पूर्वं त्वं मोहान्न ज्ञातः पुरुषर्षभ ॥ 4.14 ॥

hato'haṃ puruṣavyāghra śakratulyabalena vai | mayā tu pūrvaṃ tvaṃ mohānna jñātaḥ puruṣarṣabha || 4.14 ||

"O tiger among men, I am slain by one whose strength equals Indra's! In my delusion I failed to recognise you earlier, O foremost of men.

Shloka 15 (aranya.4.15)

कौसल्या सुप्रजास्तात रामस्त्वं विदितो मया । वैदेही च महाभागा लक्ष्मणश्च महायशाः ॥ 4.15 ॥

kausalyā suprajāstāta rāmastvaṃ vidito mayā | vaidehī ca mahābhāgā lakṣmaṇaśca mahāyaśāḥ || 4.15 ||

Now, dear one, I know you to be Rama, the good son of Kausalya, and I know this illustrious Vaidehi, and Lakshmana of great renown.

Shloka 16 (aranya.4.16)

अभिशापादहं घोरां प्रविष्टो राक्षसीं तनुम् । तुम्बुरुर्नाम गन्धर्वः शप्तो वैश्रवणेन हि ॥ 4.16 ॥

abhiśāpādahaṃ ghorāṃ praviṣṭo rākṣasīṃ tanum | tumbururnāma gandharvaḥ śapto vaiśravaṇena hi || 4.16 ||

By a curse I was made to enter this terrible demon-body; I am in truth a gandharva named Tumburu, cursed by Vaishravana, Kubera.

Shloka 17 (aranya.4.17)

प्रसाद्यमानश्च मया सोऽब्रवीन्मां महायशाः । यदा दाशरथी रामस्त्वां वधिष्यति संयुगे ॥ 4.17 ॥

prasādyamānaśca mayā so'bravīnmāṃ mahāyaśāḥ | yadā dāśarathī rāmastvāṃ vadhiṣyati saṃyuge || 4.17 ||

When I entreated him, that illustrious Kubera said to me: 'When Dasharathi Rama slays you in battle,

Shloka 18 (aranya.4.18)

तदा प्रकृतिमापन्नो भवान् स्वर्गं गमिष्यति । अनुपस्थीयमानो मां स क्रुद्धो व्याजहार ह ॥ 4.18 ॥

tadā prakṛtimāpanno bhavān svargaṃ gamiṣyati | anupasthīyamāno māṃ sa kruddho vyājahāra ha || 4.18 ||

then, restored to your true nature, you shall go to heaven.' He had spoken this curse in anger, because I had failed to attend upon him,

Shloka 19 (aranya.4.19)

इति वैश्रवणो राजा रम्भासक्तमुवाच ह । तव प्रसादान्मुक्तोऽहमभिशापात् सुदारुणात् ॥ 4.19 ॥

iti vaiśravaṇo rājā rambhāsaktamuvāca ha | tava prasādānmukto'hamabhiśāpāt sudāruṇāt || 4.19 ||

being enamoured of Rambha — thus spoke King Vaishravana. By your grace, O Rama, I am now released from that most terrible curse.

Shloka 20 (aranya.4.20)

भुवनं स्वं गमिष्यामि स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु परंतप । इतो वसति धर्मात्मा शरभङ्गः प्रतापवान् ॥ 4.20 ॥

bhuvanaṃ svaṃ gamiṣyāmi svasti vo'stu paraṃtapa | ito vasati dharmātmā śarabhaṅgaḥ pratāpavān || 4.20 ||

I shall now go to my own world; may all be well with you, O scourge of your foes! From here, at no great distance, dwells the righteous and glorious sage Sharabhanga.

Shloka 21 (aranya.4.21)

अध्यर्धयोजने तात महर्षिः सूर्यसंनिभः । तं क्षिप्रमभिगच्छ त्वं स ते श्रेयोऽभिधास्यति ॥ 4.21 ॥

adhyardhayojane tāta maharṣiḥ sūryasaṃnibhaḥ | taṃ kṣipramabhigaccha tvaṃ sa te śreyo'bhidhāsyati || 4.21 ||

That great sage, radiant as the sun, lives a league and a half from here, dear one; go to him quickly, for he will counsel you on what is best.

Shloka 22 (aranya.4.22)

अवटे चापि मां राम निक्षिप्य कुशली व्रज । रक्षसां गतसत्त्वानामेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ 4.22 ॥

avaṭe cāpi māṃ rāma nikṣipya kuśalī vraja | rakṣasāṃ gatasattvānāmeṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || 4.22 ||

But first, Rama, cast me into this pit, and then go on your way in safety; for this is the age-old custom for demons whose life has fled —

Shloka 23 (aranya.4.23)

अवटे ये निधीयन्ते तेषां लोकाः सनातनाः । एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्स्थं विराधः शरपीडितः ॥ 4.23 ॥

avaṭe ye nidhīyante teṣāṃ lokāḥ sanātanāḥ | evamuktvā tu kākutsthaṃ virādhaḥ śarapīḍitaḥ || 4.23 ||

those who are laid in a pit attain the eternal worlds." Having spoken thus to Kakutstha, Viradha, wounded by the arrows—

Shloka 24 (aranya.4.24)

बभूव स्वर्गसम्प्राप्तो न्यस्तदेहो महाबलः । तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं व्यादिदेश ह ॥ 4.24 ॥

babhūva svargasamprāpto nyastadeho mahābalaḥ | tacchrutvā rāghavo vākyaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ vyādideśa ha || 4.24 ||

—that mighty demon, casting off his body, attained the heavens. Hearing his words, Raghava then instructed Lakshmana:

Shloka 25 (aranya.4.25)

कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण । वनेऽस्मिन्सुमहान् श्वभ्रः खन्यतां रौद्रकर्मणः ॥ 4.25 ॥

kuñjarasyeva raudrasya rākṣasasyāsya lakṣmaṇa | vane'sminsumahān śvabhraḥ khanyatāṃ raudrakarmaṇaḥ || 4.25 ||

"O Lakshmana, let a very great pit be dug in this forest for this savage, elephant-like demon of cruel deeds."

Shloka 26 (aranya.4.26)

इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति । तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान् ॥ 4.26 ॥

ityuktvā lakṣmaṇaṃ rāmaḥ pradaraḥ khanyatāmiti | tasthau virādhamākramya kaṇṭhe pādena vīryavān || 4.26 ||

Having thus told Lakshmana that a pit should be dug, the valiant Rama stood on, his foot still planted upon Viradha's throat.

Shloka 27 (aranya.4.27)

ततः खनित्रमादाय लक्ष्मणः श्वभ्रमुत्तमम् । अखनत् पार्श्वतस्तस्य विराधस्य महात्मनः ॥ 4.27 ॥

tataḥ khanitramādāya lakṣmaṇaḥ śvabhramuttamam | akhanat pārśvatastasya virādhasya mahātmanaḥ || 4.27 ||

Then, taking up a digging tool, Lakshmana dug a great pit close beside that noble-souled Viradha.

Shloka 28 (aranya.4.28)

तं मुक्तकण्ठमुत्क्षिप्य शङ्कुकर्णं महास्वनम् । विराधं प्राक्षिपच्छ्वभ्रे नदन्तं भैरवस्वनम् ॥ 4.28 ॥

taṃ muktakaṇṭhamutkṣipya śaṅkukarṇaṃ mahāsvanam | virādhaṃ prākṣipacchvabhre nadantaṃ bhairavasvanam || 4.28 ||

Then, releasing his throat and lifting him up — that demon with ears like pegs, roaring with a terrible voice — they cast Viradha, still bellowing his fearsome cry, into the pit.

Shloka 29 (aranya.4.29)

तमाहवे दारुणमाशुविक्रमौ । स्थिरावुभौ संयति रामलक्ष्मणौ । मुदान्वितौ चिक्षिपतुर्भयावहं । नदन्तमुत्क्षिप्य बलेन राक्षसम् ॥ 4.29 ॥

tamāhave dāruṇamāśuvikramau | sthirāvubhau saṃyati rāmalakṣmaṇau | mudānvitau cikṣipaturbhayāvahaṃ | nadantamutkṣipya balena rākṣasam || 4.29 ||

Swift in valour and steadfast in battle, Rama and Lakshmana, both filled with joy, hoisted up that terrifying, still-roaring demon with all their strength and flung him down.

Shloka 30 (aranya.4.30)

अवध्यतां प्रेक्ष्य महासुरस्य तौ । शितेन शस्त्रेण तदा नरर्षभौ । समर्थ्य चात्यर्थविशारदावुभौ । बिले विराधस्य वधं प्रचक्रतुः ॥ 4.30 ॥

avadhyatāṃ prekṣya mahāsurasya tau | śitena śastreṇa tadā nararṣabhau | samarthya cātyarthaviśāradāvubhau | bile virādhasya vadhaṃ pracakratuḥ || 4.30 ||

Seeing the great demon's invulnerability even to the sharpest of weapons, those two bulls among men, most skilled in counsel, resolved together upon his destruction within the pit.

Shloka 31 (aranya.4.31)

स्वयं विराधेन हि मृत्युमात्मनः । प्रसह्य रामेण यथार्थमीप्सितः । निवेदितः काननचारिणा स्वयं । न मे वधः शस्त्रकृतो भवेदिति ॥ 4.31 ॥

svayaṃ virādhena hi mṛtyumātmanaḥ | prasahya rāmeṇa yathārthamīpsitaḥ | niveditaḥ kānanacāriṇā svayaṃ | na me vadhaḥ śastrakṛto bhavediti || 4.31 ||

Viradha himself had truly desired his death to be forced by Rama's own hand, and that forest-roaming demon had himself declared: "My death cannot be brought about by any weapon."

Shloka 32 (aranya.4.32)

तदेव रामेण निशम्य भाषितं । कृता मतिस्तस्य बिलप्रवेशने । बिलं च तेनातिबलेन रक्षसा । प्रवेश्यमानेन वनं विनादितम् ॥ 4.32 ॥

tadeva rāmeṇa niśamya bhāṣitaṃ | kṛtā matistasya bilapraveśane | bilaṃ ca tenātibalena rakṣasā | praveśyamānena vanaṃ vināditam || 4.32 ||

It was on hearing just those words that Rama had resolved to put him into the pit; and as that immensely powerful demon was thrust in, the whole forest rang with the din.

Shloka 33 (aranya.4.33)

प्रहृष्टरूपाविव रामलक्ष्मणौ । विराधमुर्व्यां प्रदरे निपात्य तम् । ननन्दतुर्वीतभयौ महावने । शिलाभिरन्तर्दधतुश्च राक्षसम् ॥ 4.33 ॥

prahṛṣṭarūpāviva rāmalakṣmaṇau | virādhamurvyāṃ pradare nipātya tam | nanandaturvītabhayau mahāvane | śilābhirantardadhatuśca rākṣasam || 4.33 ||

Having cast Viradha down into that pit in the earth, Rama and Lakshmana, their faces alight with joy and their fear now gone, rejoiced in that great forest, and sealed the demon within with boulders.

Shloka 34 (aranya.4.34)

ततस्तु तौ काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकौ । निहत्य रक्षः परिगृह्य मैथिलीम् । विजह्रतुस्तौ मुदितौ महावने । दिवि स्थितौ चन्द्रदिवाकराविव ॥ 4.34 ॥

tatastu tau kāñcanacitrakārmukau | nihatya rakṣaḥ parigṛhya maithilīm | vijahratustau muditau mahāvane | divi sthitau candradivākarāviva || 4.34 ||

Then those two, bearing their bright golden bows, having slain the demon and reclaimed Maithili, roamed on joyfully through that great forest, like the moon and the sun set together in the sky.