The Curse of Anaranya

Shloka 1 (uttara.19.1)

अथ जित्वा मरुत्तं स प्रययौ राक्षसाधिपः । नगराणि नरेन्द्राणां युद्धकाङ्क्षी दशाननः ॥ 19.1 ॥

atha jitvā maruttaṃ sa prayayau rākṣasādhipaḥ | nagarāṇi narendrāṇāṃ yuddhakāṅkṣī daśānanaḥ || 19.1 ||

Then, having thus conquered Marutta, that lord of rakshasas, Dashanana, eager for battle, went on to the cities of kings.

Shloka 2 (uttara.19.2)

समासाद्य तु राजेन्द्रान्महेन्द्रवरुणोपमान् । अब्रवीद्राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु युद्धं मे दीयतामिति ॥ 19.2 ॥

samāsādya tu rājendrānmahendravaruṇopamān | abravīdrākṣasendrastu yuddhaṃ me dīyatāmiti || 19.2 ||

Approaching kings as splendid as Mahendra and Varuna, that lord of rakshasas said, "Give me battle."

Shloka 3 (uttara.19.3)

निर्जिताः स्मेति वा ब्रूत एष मे हि सुनिश्चयः । अन्यथा कुर्वतामेवं मोक्षो नैवोपपद्यते ॥ 19.3 ॥

nirjitāḥ smeti vā brūta eṣa me hi suniścayaḥ | anyathā kurvatāmevaṃ mokṣo naivopapadyate || 19.3 ||

"Or say, 'We are defeated' -- this indeed is my firm resolve. For those who act otherwise, no escape shall be possible."

Shloka 4 (uttara.19.4)

ततस्त्वभीरवः प्राज्ञाः पार्थिवा धर्मनिश्चयाः । मन्त्रयित्वा ततो ऽन्योन्यं राजानः सुमहाबलाः । निर्जिताः स्मेत्यभाषन्त ज्ञात्वा वरबलं रिपोः ॥ 19.4 ॥

tatastvabhīravaḥ prājñāḥ pārthivā dharmaniścayāḥ | mantrayitvā tato 'nyonyaṃ rājānaḥ sumahābalāḥ | nirjitāḥ smetyabhāṣanta jñātvā varabalaṃ ripoḥ || 19.4 ||

Then those kings -- fearless, wise, firm in dharma, and possessed of very great strength -- having taken counsel with one another, and knowing the boon-granted strength of their foe --

Shloka 5 (uttara.19.5)

दुष्यन्तः सुरथो गाधिर्गयो राजा पुरूरवाः । एते सर्वे ऽब्रुवंस्तात निर्जिताः स्मेति पार्थिवाः ॥ 19.5 ॥

duṣyantaḥ suratho gādhirgayo rājā purūravāḥ | ete sarve 'bruvaṃstāta nirjitāḥ smeti pārthivāḥ || 19.5 ||

-- Dushyanta, Suratha, Gadhi, King Gaya, Pururavas -- all these kings, O dear one, said, "We are defeated."

Shloka 6 (uttara.19.6)

अथायोध्यां समासाद्य रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ॥ 19.6 ॥

athāyodhyāṃ samāsādya rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ || 19.6 ||

Then Ravana, lord of rakshasas, reached the city of Ayodhya,

Shloka 7 (uttara.19.7)

सुगुप्तामनरण्येन शक्रेणेवामरावतीम् । स तं पुरुषशार्दूलं पुरन्दरसमं बले ॥ 19.7 ॥

suguptāmanaraṇyena śakreṇevāmarāvatīm | sa taṃ puruṣaśārdūlaṃ purandarasamaṃ bale || 19.7 ||

well protected by Anaranya, as Amaravati is by Indra. Approaching that tiger among men, equal in strength to Purandara --

Shloka 8 (uttara.19.8)

प्राह राजानमासाद्य युद्धं देहीति रावणः । निर्जितो ऽस्मीति वा ब्रूहि त्वमेवं मम शासनम् ॥ 19.8 ॥

prāha rājānamāsādya yuddhaṃ dehīti rāvaṇaḥ | nirjito 'smīti vā brūhi tvamevaṃ mama śāsanam || 19.8 ||

-- Ravana said, "Give me battle, or say 'I am defeated' -- such is my command to you."

Shloka 9 (uttara.19.9)

अयोध्याधिपतिस्तस्य श्रुत्वा पापात्मनो वचः । अनरण्यस्तु सङ्क्रुद्धो राक्षसेन्द्रमथाब्रवीत् ॥ 19.9 ॥

ayodhyādhipatistasya śrutvā pāpātmano vacaḥ | anaraṇyastu saṅkruddho rākṣasendramathābravīt || 19.9 ||

Hearing the words of that evil-souled one, Anaranya, lord of Ayodhya, greatly enraged, said to the lord of rakshasas:

Shloka 10 (uttara.19.10)

दीयते द्वन्द्वयुद्धं ते राक्षसाधिपते मया । सन्तिष्ठ क्षिप्रमायत्तो भव चैवं भवाम्यहम् ॥ 19.10 ॥

dīyate dvandvayuddhaṃ te rākṣasādhipate mayā | santiṣṭha kṣipramāyatto bhava caivaṃ bhavāmyaham || 19.10 ||

"Single combat is granted to you by me, O lord of rakshasas. Stand your ground at once, make ready -- and so shall I."

Shloka 11 (uttara.19.11)

अथ पूर्वं श्रुतार्थेन निर्जितं सुमहद्बलम् । निष्क्रामत्तन्नरेन्द्रस्य बलं रक्षोवधोद्यतम् ॥ 19.11 ॥

atha pūrvaṃ śrutārthena nirjitaṃ sumahadbalam | niṣkrāmattannarendrasya balaṃ rakṣovadhodyatam || 19.11 ||

Then that vast, already-famed army [of Ravana], and that king's own army, eager for the rakshasa's destruction, both marched forth.

Shloka 12 (uttara.19.12)

नागानां दशसाहस्रं वाजिनां नियुतं तथा । रथानां बहुसाहस्रं पत्तीनां च नरोत्तम ॥ 19.12 ॥

nāgānāṃ daśasāhasraṃ vājināṃ niyutaṃ tathā | rathānāṃ bahusāhasraṃ pattīnāṃ ca narottama || 19.12 ||

O foremost of men, ten thousand elephants, ten hundred thousand horses, many thousands of chariots, and foot-soldiers --

Shloka 13 (uttara.19.13)

महीं सञ्छाद्य निष्क्रान्तं सपदातिरथं रणे । ततः प्रवृत्तं सुमहद्युद्धं युद्धविशारद ॥ 19.13 ॥

mahīṃ sañchādya niṣkrāntaṃ sapadātirathaṃ raṇe | tataḥ pravṛttaṃ sumahadyuddhaṃ yuddhaviśārada || 19.13 ||

-- covering the earth, marched out with chariots and foot-soldiers to the battlefield. Then, O one skilled in war, a most terrible battle broke out.

Shloka 14 (uttara.19.14)

अनरण्यस्य नृपते राक्षसेन्द्रस्य चाद्भुतम् । तद्रावणबलं प्राप्य बलं तस्य महीपतेः ॥ 19.14 ॥

anaraṇyasya nṛpate rākṣasendrasya cādbhutam | tadrāvaṇabalaṃ prāpya balaṃ tasya mahīpateḥ || 19.14 ||

O king, an astonishing battle raged between Anaranya and that lord of rakshasas. Upon encountering Ravana's army, the army of that lord of the earth --

Shloka 15 (uttara.19.15)

प्राणश्यत तदा सर्वं हव्यं हुतमिवानले । युद्ध्वा च सुचिरं कालं कृत्वा विक्रममुत्तमम् ॥ 19.15 ॥

prāṇaśyata tadā sarvaṃ havyaṃ hutamivānale | yuddhvā ca suciraṃ kālaṃ kṛtvā vikramamuttamam || 19.15 ||

-- perished entirely, like an oblation cast into fire. Having fought for a very long time, and having shown the utmost valour --

Shloka 16 (uttara.19.16)

प्रज्वलन्तं तमासाद्य क्षिप्रमेवावशेषितम् । प्राविशत्सङ्कुलं तत्र शलभा इव पावकम् । नश्यति स्म बलं तत्र हव्यं हुतमिवानले ॥ 19.16 ॥

prajvalantaṃ tamāsādya kṣipramevāvaśeṣitam | prāviśatsaṅkulaṃ tatra śalabhā iva pāvakam | naśyati sma balaṃ tatra havyaṃ hutamivānale || 19.16 ||

-- meeting that blazing Ravana, it was swiftly reduced to a bare remnant. Like moths, it plunged into that conflagration; there the army perished like an oblation offered into fire.

Shloka 17 (uttara.19.17)

सो ऽपश्यत्तन्नरेन्द्रस्तु नश्यमानं महाबलम् । महार्णवं समासाद्य वनापगशतं यथा ॥ 19.17 ॥

so 'paśyattannarendrastu naśyamānaṃ mahābalam | mahārṇavaṃ samāsādya vanāpagaśataṃ yathā || 19.17 ||

That king saw his mighty army perishing, as a hundred forest-streams vanish upon reaching the great ocean.

Shloka 18 (uttara.19.18)

ततः शक्रधनुःप्रख्यं धनुर्विस्फारयन्स्वयम् । आससाद नरेन्द्रस्तं रावणं क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥ 19.18 ॥

tataḥ śakradhanuḥprakhyaṃ dhanurvisphārayansvayam | āsasāda narendrastaṃ rāvaṇaṃ krodhamūrcchitaḥ || 19.18 ||

Then, himself drawing his bow that resembled Indra's own, that king, overcome with fury, advanced upon Ravana.

Shloka 19 (uttara.19.19)

अनरण्येन ते ऽमात्या मारीचशुकसारणाः । प्रहस्तसहिता भग्ना व्यद्रवन्त मृगा इव ॥ 19.19 ॥

anaraṇyena te 'mātyā mārīcaśukasāraṇāḥ | prahastasahitā bhagnā vyadravanta mṛgā iva || 19.19 ||

By Anaranya, his ministers -- Maricha, Shuka, Sarana, together with Prahasta -- were routed, and fled like deer.

Shloka 20 (uttara.19.20)

ततो बाणशतान्यष्टौ पातयामास मूर्धनि । तस्य राक्षसराजस्य इक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनः ॥ 19.20 ॥

tato bāṇaśatānyaṣṭau pātayāmāsa mūrdhani | tasya rākṣasarājasya ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ || 19.20 ||

Then that delight of the Ikshvaku lineage rained eight hundred arrows upon the head of that king of rakshasas.

Shloka 21 (uttara.19.21)

तस्य बाणाः पतन्तस्ते चक्रिरे न क्षतं क्वचित् । वारिधारा इवाभ्रेभ्यः पतन्त्यो गिरिमूर्धनि ॥ 19.21 ॥

tasya bāṇāḥ patantaste cakrire na kṣataṃ kvacit | vāridhārā ivābhrebhyaḥ patantyo girimūrdhani || 19.21 ||

Those falling arrows caused him no wound anywhere, like streams of rainwater falling from clouds upon a mountain-peak.

Shloka 22 (uttara.19.22)

ततो राक्षसराजेन क्रुद्धेन नृपतिस्तदा । तलेनाभिहतो मूर्ध्नि स रथान्निपपात ह ॥ 19.22 ॥

tato rākṣasarājena kruddhena nṛpatistadā | talenābhihato mūrdhni sa rathānnipapāta ha || 19.22 ||

Then that enraged king of rakshasas struck the king on the head with the flat of his hand and felled him from his chariot.

Shloka 23 (uttara.19.23)

स राजा पतितो भूमौ विह्वलाङ्गः प्रवेपितः । वज्रदग्ध इवारण्ये सालो निपतितो यथा ॥ 19.23 ॥

sa rājā patito bhūmau vihvalāṅgaḥ pravepitaḥ | vajradagdha ivāraṇye sālo nipatito yathā || 19.23 ||

That king, fallen to the ground, his limbs limp and trembling, was like a Sal tree in the forest struck down as though burnt by a thunderbolt.

Shloka 24 (uttara.19.24)

तं प्रहस्याब्रवीद्द्रक्ष इक्ष्वाकुं पृथिवीपतिम् । किमिदानीं फलं प्राप्तं त्वया मां प्रति युद्ध्यता ॥ 19.24 ॥

taṃ prahasyābravīddrakṣa ikṣvākuṃ pṛthivīpatim | kimidānīṃ phalaṃ prāptaṃ tvayā māṃ prati yuddhyatā || 19.24 ||

That rakshasa, laughing, said to the Ikshvaku king: "What fruit have you now gained by fighting against me?"

Shloka 25 (uttara.19.25)

त्रैलोक्ये नास्ति यो द्वन्द्वं मम दद्यान्नराधिप । शङ्के प्रसक्तो भोगेषु न शृणोषि बलं मम ॥ 19.25 ॥

trailokye nāsti yo dvandvaṃ mama dadyānnarādhipa | śaṅke prasakto bhogeṣu na śṛṇoṣi balaṃ mama || 19.25 ||

"There is no one in the three worlds, O king, who could offer me single combat. I suspect that, engrossed in pleasures, you never heard of my strength."

Shloka 26 (uttara.19.26)

तस्यैवं ब्रुवतो राजा मन्दासुर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् । किं शक्यमिह कर्तुं वै कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥ 19.26 ॥

tasyaivaṃ bruvato rājā mandāsurvākyamabravīt | kiṃ śakyamiha kartuṃ vai kālo hi duratikramaḥ || 19.26 ||

To him speaking thus, that king, his life ebbing away, said: "What indeed can be done now? For Time is truly impossible to overcome."

Shloka 27 (uttara.19.27)

नह्यहं निर्जितो रक्षस्त्वया चात्मप्रशंसिना । कालेनैव विपन्नो ऽहं हेतुभूतस्तु मे भवान् ॥ 19.27 ॥

nahyahaṃ nirjito rakṣastvayā cātmapraśaṃsinā | kālenaiva vipanno 'haṃ hetubhūtastu me bhavān || 19.27 ||

"I have not been defeated by you, O rakshasa, a mere self-praising boaster; I have perished by Time alone -- you are but the occasion for it."

Shloka 28 (uttara.19.28)

किं त्विदानीं मया शक्यं कर्तुं प्राणपरिक्षये । नह्यहं विमुखी रक्षो युध्यमानस्त्वया हतः ॥ 19.28 ॥

kiṃ tvidānīṃ mayā śakyaṃ kartuṃ prāṇaparikṣaye | nahyahaṃ vimukhī rakṣo yudhyamānastvayā hataḥ || 19.28 ||

"But now, with my life departing, what can I do? For, O rakshasa, I was not struck down while fighting you with my back turned."

Shloka 29 (uttara.19.29)

इक्ष्वाकुपरिभावित्वाद्वचो वक्ष्यामि राक्षस । यदि दत्तं यदि हुतं यदि मे सुकृतं तपः ।। यदि गुप्ताः प्रजाः सम्यक्तदा सत्यं वचो ऽस्तु मे ॥ 19.29 ॥

ikṣvākuparibhāvitvādvaco vakṣyāmi rākṣasa | yadi dattaṃ yadi hutaṃ yadi me sukṛtaṃ tapaḥ || yadi guptāḥ prajāḥ samyaktadā satyaṃ vaco 'stu me || 19.29 ||

"By virtue of being an Ikshvaku, O rakshasa, I speak this word: if I have given gifts, if I have offered oblations, if my penance has been rightly performed, if I have well protected my subjects -- then let this word of mine come true."

Shloka 30 (uttara.19.30)

उत्पत्स्यते कुले ह्यस्मिन्निक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम् । रामो दाशरथिर्नाम यस्ते प्राणान्हरिष्यति ॥ 19.30 ॥

utpatsyate kule hyasminnikṣvākūṇāṃ mahātmanām | rāmo dāśarathirnāma yaste prāṇānhariṣyati || 19.30 ||

"There shall arise in this very lineage of the great-souled Ikshvakus one named Rama, son of Dasharatha, who shall take away your very life."

Shloka 31 (uttara.19.31)

ततो जलधरोदग्रस्ताडितो देवदुन्दुभिः । तस्मिन्नुदाहृते शापे पुष्पवृष्टिश्च खाच्च्युता ॥ 19.31 ॥

tato jaladharodagrastāḍito devadundubhiḥ | tasminnudāhṛte śāpe puṣpavṛṣṭiśca khāccyutā || 19.31 ||

As soon as this curse was uttered, the drums of the gods, deep as thunderclouds, resounded, and a shower of flowers fell from the sky.

Shloka 32 (uttara.19.32)

ततः स राजा राजेन्द्र गतः स्थानं त्रिविष्टपम् । स्वर्गते च नृपे तस्मिन्राक्षसः सो ऽपसर्पत ॥ 19.32 ॥

tataḥ sa rājā rājendra gataḥ sthānaṃ triviṣṭapam | svargate ca nṛpe tasminrākṣasaḥ so 'pasarpata || 19.32 ||

Then, O foremost of kings, that king departed to the realm of heaven; and when that king had gone to heaven, that rakshasa withdrew from there.