Shurpanakha Widowed; Khara Sent to Dandaka

Shloka 1 (uttara.24.1)

निवर्तमानः संहृष्टो रावणस्सुदुरात्मवान् । जह्रे पथि नरेन्द्रर्षिदेवगन्धर्वकन्यकाः ।। २४.१ ।।

nivartamānaḥ saṃhṛṣṭo rāvaṇas sudurātmavān | jahre pathi narendrarṣidevagandharvakanyakāḥ ||

Returning, greatly elated, that wicked-souled Ravana abducted along the way the daughters of kings, sages, gods, and gandharvas.

Shloka 2 (uttara.24.2)

दर्शनीयां हि रक्षः स कन्यां स्त्रीं वापि पश्यति । हत्वा बन्धुजनं तस्या विमाने तां रुरोध ह ।। २४.२ ।।

darśanīyāṃ hi rakṣaḥ sa kanyāṃ strīṃ vāpi paśyati | hatvā bandhujanaṃ tasyā vimāne tāṃ rurodha ha ||

Whatever lovely maiden or woman that rakshasa saw, he would slay her kinsfolk and shut her up within the chariot.

Shloka 3 (uttara.24.3)

एवं पन्नगकन्याश्च राक्षसासुरमानुषीः । यक्षदानवकन्याश्च विमाने सो ऽध्यरोपयत् ।। २४.३ ।।

evaṃ pannagakanyāś ca rākṣasāsuramānuṣīḥ | yakṣadānavakanyāś ca vimāne so 'dhyaropayat ||

Thus he made maidens of the serpents, of rakshasas, asuras, and men, and of yakshas and danavas, board the chariot.

Shloka 4 (uttara.24.4)

ताश्च सर्वाः समं दुःखान्मुमुचुर्बाष्पजं जलम् । तुल्यमग्न्यर्चिषां तत्र शोकाग्निभयसम्भवम् ।। २४.४ ।।

tāś ca sarvāḥ samaṃ duḥkhān mumucur bāṣpajaṃ jalam | tulyam agnyarciṣāṃ tatra śokāgnibhayasambhavam ||

All those women, in equal grief, shed streams of tears, like the flames of a fire born of sorrow and terror.

Shloka 5 (uttara.24.5)

ताभिः सर्वानवद्याभिर्नदीभिरिव सागरः । आपूरितं विमानं तद्भयशोकाशिवाश्रुभिः ।। २४.५ ।।

tābhiḥ sarvānavadyābhir nadībhir iva sāgaraḥ | āpūritaṃ vimānaṃ tad bhayaśokāśivāśrubhiḥ ||

With the inauspicious tears of fear and grief from all those blameless women, that chariot filled up, as the ocean fills with rivers.

Shloka 6 (uttara.24.6)

नागगन्धर्वकन्याश्च महर्षितनयाश्च याः । दैत्यदानवकन्याश्च विमाने शतशो ऽरुदन् ।। २४.६ ।।

nāgagandharvakanyāś ca maharṣitanayāś ca yāḥ | daityadānavakanyāś ca vimāne śataśo 'rudan ||

The daughters of serpents and gandharvas, the daughters of great sages, and the daughters of daityas and danavas — hundreds of them wept there in the chariot.

Shloka 7 (uttara.24.7)

दीर्घकेश्यः सुचार्वङ्ग्यः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः । पीनस्तन्यस्तथा वज्रवेदिमध्यसमप्रभाः ।। २४.७ ।।

dīrghakeśyaḥ sucārvaṅgyaḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanāḥ | pīnastanyas tathā vajravedimadhyasamaprabhāḥ ||

Long-haired, of lovely limbs, faces like the full moon, full-breasted, their waists slender as the altar's narrow center —

Shloka 8 (uttara.24.8)

रथकूबरसङ्काशैः श्रोणिदेशैर्मनोहराः । स्त्रियः सुराङ्गनाप्रख्या निष्टप्तकनकप्रभाः ।। २४.८ ।।

rathakūbarasaṅkāśaiḥ śroṇideśair manoharāḥ | striyaḥ surāṅganāprakhyā niṣṭaptakanakaprabhāḥ ||

their hips shapely as a chariot-pole, altogether captivating, resembling the women of the gods, with the luster of refined gold.

Shloka 9 (uttara.24.9)

शोकदुःखभयत्रस्ता विह्वलाश्च सुमध्यमाः । तासां निश्वासवातेन सर्वतः सम्प्रदीपितम् ।। २४.९ ।।

śokaduḥkhabhayatrastā vihvalāś ca sumadhyamāḥ | tāsāṃ niśvāsavātena sarvataḥ sampradīpitam ||

Terrified by grief, sorrow, and fear, distraught, slender-waisted, their long sighs seemed to kindle fire on every side.

Shloka 10 (uttara.24.10)

अग्निहोत्रमिवाभाति सन्निरुद्धाग्निपुष्पकम् । दशग्रीववशं प्राप्तास्तास्तु शोकाकुलाः स्त्रियः ।। २४.१० ।।

agnihotram ivābhāti sanniruddhāgnipuṣpakam | daśagrīvavaśaṃ prāptās tās tu śokākulāḥ striyaḥ ||

The Pushpaka seemed like a fire-sacrifice with contained flames. Such were those grief-stricken women who had fallen under Dashagriva's power.

Shloka 11 (uttara.24.11)

दीनवक्रेक्षणाः श्यामा मृग्यः सिंहवशा इव । काचिच्चिन्तयती तत्र किं नु मां भक्षयिष्यति ।। २४.११ ।।

dīnavakrekṣaṇāḥ śyāmā mṛgyaḥ siṃhavaśā iva | kācic cintayatī tatra kiṃ nu māṃ bhakṣayiṣyati ||

Wretched, downcast in gaze, dusky, like does fallen under a lion's power. One of them thought, "Will he perhaps devour me?"

Shloka 12 (uttara.24.12)

काचिद्दध्यौ सुदुःखार्ता अपि मां मारयेदयम् । इति मातृपितॄन्स्मृत्वा भर्तॄन्भ्रातॄंस्तथैव च । दुःखशोकसमाविष्टा विलेपुः सहिताः स्त्रियः ।। २४.१२ ।।

kācid dadhyau suduḥkhārtā api māṃ mārayed ayam | iti mātṛpitṝn smṛtvā bhartṝn bhrātṝṃs tathaiva ca | duḥkhaśokasamāviṣṭā vilepuḥ sahitāḥ striyaḥ ||

Another, deeply anguished, thought, "Perhaps he will kill me." Thus remembering their parents, husbands, and brothers, those women, overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, wept together.

Shloka 13 (uttara.24.13)

कथं नु खलु मे पुत्रो भविष्यति मया विना । कथं माता कथं भ्राता निमग्नाः शोकसागरे ।। २४.१३ ।।

kathaṃ nu khalu me putro bhaviṣyati mayā vinā | kathaṃ mātā kathaṃ bhrātā nimagnāḥ śokasāgare ||

"What will become of my son without me? What of my mother, what of my brother?" - so they cried, sunk in an ocean of grief.

Shloka 14 (uttara.24.14)

हा कथं नु करिष्यामि भर्तुस्तस्मादहं विना । मृत्यो प्रसादयामि त्वां नय मां दुःखभागिनीम् ।। २४.१४ ।।

hā kathaṃ nu kariṣyāmi bhartus tasmād ahaṃ vinā | mṛtyo prasādayāmi tvāṃ naya māṃ duḥkhabhāginīm ||

"Alas, what shall I do without my husband? O Death, I beseech you, take me too, this woman fated to sorrow."

Shloka 15 (uttara.24.15)

किन्नु तद्दुष्कृतं कर्म पुरा देहान्तरे कृतम् ।। २४.१५ ।।

kin nu tad duṣkṛtaṃ karma purā dehāntare kṛtam ||

"What evil deed did I commit in a former life?"

Shloka 16 (uttara.24.16)

एवं स्म दुःखिताः सर्वाः पतिताः शोकसागरे । न खल्विदानीं पश्यामो दुःखस्यास्यान्तमात्मनः ।। २४.१६ ।।

evaṃ sma duḥkhitāḥ sarvāḥ patitāḥ śokasāgare | na khalv idānīṃ paśyāmo duḥkhasyāsyāntam ātmanaḥ ||

Thus all of them, grieving, sank into an ocean of sorrow - "We can see no end now to this our suffering."

Shloka 17 (uttara.24.17)

अहो धिङ्मानुषं लोकं नास्ति खल्वधमः परः । यद्दुर्बला बलवता भर्तारो रावणेन नः ।। २४.१७ ।।

aho dhiṅ mānuṣaṃ lokaṃ nāsti khalv adhamaḥ paraḥ | yad durbalā balavatā bhartāro rāvaṇena naḥ ||

"Fie upon this world! There is none more base than this — that the mighty Ravana, upon our helpless husbands —

Shloka 18 (uttara.24.18)

सूर्येणोदयता काले नक्षत्राणीव नाशिताः । अहो सुबलवद्रक्षो वधोपायेषु युज्यते ।। २४.१८ ।।

sūryeṇodayatā kāle nakṣatrāṇīva nāśitāḥ | aho subalavad rakṣo vadhopāyeṣu yujyate ||

— like the rising sun destroying the stars, brought destruction. Ah, how this exceedingly mighty rakshasa devotes himself to schemes of slaughter!

Shloka 19 (uttara.24.19)

अहो दुर्वृत्तमास्थाय नात्मानं वैजुगुप्सते । सर्वथा सदृशस्तावद्विक्रमो ऽस्य दुरात्मनः ।। २४.१९ ।।

aho durvṛttam āsthāya nātmānaṃ vaijugupsate | sarvathā sadṛśas tāvad vikramo 'sya durātmanaḥ ||

Ah, engaging in such wickedness, he feels no self-reproach! Truly, this wicked one's prowess suits him well in every way.

Shloka 20 (uttara.24.20)

इदं त्वसदृशं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । यस्मादेष परक्यासु रमते राक्षसाधमः ।। २४.२० ।।

idaṃ tv asadṛśaṃ karma paradārābhimarśanam | yasmād eṣa parakyāsu ramate rākṣasādhamaḥ ||

But this act - laying hands on other men's wives - befits him not. Since this basest of rakshasas delights in women belonging to others -

Shloka 21 (uttara.24.21)

तस्माद्वै स्त्रीकृतेनैव प्राप्स्यते दुर्मतिर्वधम् । सतीभिर्वरनारीभिरेवं वाक्ये ऽभ्युदीरिते ।। २४.२१ ।।

tasmād vai strīkṛtenaiva prāpsyate durmatir vadham | satībhir varanārībhir evaṃ vākye 'bhyudīrite ||

- therefore that ill-minded one shall meet his death precisely on account of a woman. When these virtuous, noble women had thus uttered these words -

Shloka 22 (uttara.24.22)

नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः खस्थाः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात च । शप्तः स्त्रीभिः स तु समं हतौजा इव निष्प्रभः ।। २४.२२ ।।

nedur dundubhayaḥ khasthāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta ca | śaptaḥ strībhiḥ sa tu samaṃ hataujā iva niṣprabhaḥ ||

Drums resounded in the sky, and a shower of flowers fell. Cursed thus by the women, he seemed, all at once, to lose his splendor and become dimmed.

Shloka 23 (uttara.24.23)

पतिव्रताभिः साध्वीभिर्बभूव विमना इव । एवं विलपितं तासां शृण्वन्राक्षसपुङ्गवः । प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः ।। २४.२३ ।।

pativratābhiḥ sādhvībhir babhūva vimanā iva | evaṃ vilapitaṃ tāsāṃ śṛṇvan rākṣasapuṅgavaḥ | praviveśa purīṃ laṅkāṃ pūjyamāno niśācaraiḥ ||

Because of those chaste, devoted women, he seemed as if dispirited. Hearing their lament, that foremost of rakshasas entered the city of Lanka, honored by the night-wanderers.

Shloka 24 (uttara.24.24)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे घोरा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी । सहसा पतिता भूमौ भगिनी रावणस्य सा ।। २४.२४ ।।

etasminn antare ghorā rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī | sahasā patitā bhūmau bhaginī rāvaṇasya sā ||

Meanwhile, Ravana's sister, a fearsome rakshasi capable of assuming any form at will, suddenly fell to the ground.

Shloka 25 (uttara.24.25)

तां स्वसारं समुत्थाप्य रावणः परिसान्त्वयन् । अब्रवीत्किमिदं भद्रे वक्तुकामा ऽसि मे द्रुतम् ।। २४.२५ ।।

tāṃ svasāraṃ samutthāpya rāvaṇaḥ parisāntvayan | abravīt kim idaṃ bhadre vaktukāmā 'si me drutam ||

Raising up his sister and consoling her, Ravana said, "What is this, dear one? Tell me quickly what you wish to say."

Shloka 26 (uttara.24.26)

सा बाष्पपरिरुद्धाक्षी रक्ताक्षी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । कृता ऽस्मि विधवा राजंस्त्वया बलवता बलात् ।। २४.२६ ।।

sā bāṣpaparirudhākṣī raktākṣī vākyam abravīt | kṛtā 'smi vidhavā rājaṃs tvayā balavatā balāt ||

With eyes brimming with tears and red with weeping, she spoke: "O king, by your might I have forcibly been made a widow.

Shloka 27 (uttara.24.27)

एते राजंस्त्वया वीरा दैत्या विनिहता रणे । कालकेया इति ख्याताः सहस्राणि चतुर्दश ।। २४.२७ ।।

ete rājaṃs tvayā vīrā daityā vinihatā raṇe | kālakeyā iti khyātāḥ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa ||

O king, you slew in battle those fourteen thousand valiant daityas, known as the Kalakeyas.

Shloka 28 (uttara.24.28)

प्राणेभ्यो ऽपि गरीयान्मे तत्र भर्ता महाबलः ।। २४.२८ ।।

prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyān me tatra bhartā mahābalaḥ ||

Among them was my husband, mightier than the rest, dearer to me than my very life.

Shloka 29 (uttara.24.29)

सो ऽपि त्वया हतस्तात रिपुणा भ्रातृगृध्नुना । त्वया ऽस्मि निहता राजन्स्वयमेव हि बन्धुना ।। २४.२९ ।।

so 'pi tvayā hatas tāta ripuṇā bhrātṛgṛdhnunā | tvayā 'smi nihatā rājan svayam eva hi bandhunā ||

Him too, O father, you slew as an enemy, grasping at your brother-in-law's due. O king, I have been struck down by my own kinsman himself.

Shloka 30 (uttara.24.30)

राजन्वैधव्यशब्दं च भोक्ष्यामि त्वत्कृते ह्यहम् । ननु नाम त्वया रक्ष्यो जामाता समरेष्वपि । स त्वया निहतो युद्धे स्वयमेव न लज्जसे ।। २४.३० ।।

rājan vaidhavyaśabdaṃ ca bhokṣyāmi tvatkṛte hy aham | nanu nāma tvayā rakṣyo jāmātā samareṣv api | sa tvayā nihato yuddhe svayam eva na lajjase ||

O king, because of you I shall now bear the very name of widow. Should you not have protected your own son-in-law even in battle? You yourself slew him in war, and feel no shame for it!

Shloka 31 (uttara.24.31)

एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवो भगिन्या क्रोशमानया । अब्रवीत्सान्त्वयित्वा तां सामपूर्वमिदं वचः ।। २४.३१ ।।

evam ukto daśagrīvo bhaginyā krośamānayā | abravīt sāntvayitvā tāṃ sāmapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ ||

Hearing these words from his wailing sister, Dashagriva, consoling her, spoke these gentle words.

Shloka 32 (uttara.24.32)

अलं वत्से रुदित्वा ते न भेतव्यं च सर्वशः । दानमानप्रसादैस्त्वां तोषयिष्यामि यत्नतः ।। २४.३२ ।।

alaṃ vatse ruditvā te na bhetavyaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | dānamānaprasādais tvāṃ toṣayiṣyāmi yatnataḥ ||

"Enough, my child, cease your weeping; you need have no fear at all. I shall diligently please you with gifts, honor, and favor.

Shloka 33 (uttara.24.33)

युद्धप्रमत्तो व्याक्षिप्तो जयाकाङ्क्षी क्षिपञ्छरान् । नावगच्छामि युद्धेषु स्वान्परान्वाप्यहं शुभे ।। २४.३३ ।।

yuddhapramatto vyākṣipto jayākāṅkṣī kṣipañ charān | nāvagacchāmi yuddheṣu svān parān vāpy ahaṃ śubhe ||

O gracious one, engrossed in battle, distracted, longing for victory as I loose my arrows, in the heat of war I cannot tell friend from foe.

Shloka 34 (uttara.24.34)

जामातरं न जाने स्म प्रहरन्युद्धदुर्मदः । तेनासौ निहतः सङ्ख्ये मया भर्ता तव स्वसः ।। २४.३४ ।।

jāmātaraṃ na jāne sma praharan yuddhadurmadaḥ | tenāsau nihataḥ saṅkhye mayā bhartā tava svasaḥ ||

Intoxicated with battle-fury, striking as I fought, I did not recognize him as my son-in-law. That is why, O sister, your husband was slain by me in that combat.

Shloka 35 (uttara.24.35)

अस्मिन्काले तु यत्प्राप्तं तत्करिष्यामि ते हितम् । भ्रातुरैश्वर्ययुक्तस्य खरस्य वस पार्श्वतः ।। २४.३५ ।।

asmin kāle tu yat prāptaṃ tat kariṣyāmi te hitam | bhrātur aiśvaryayuktasya kharasya vasa pārśvataḥ ||

For now, I shall do whatever good I can for you. Go and dwell beside your brother Khara, who is endowed with lordship.

Shloka 36 (uttara.24.36)

चतुर्दशानां भ्राता ते सहस्राणां भविष्यति । प्रभुः प्रयाणे दाने च राक्षसानां महाबलः ।। २४.३६ ।।

caturdaśānāṃ bhrātā te sahasrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati | prabhuḥ prayāṇe dāne ca rākṣasānāṃ mahābalaḥ ||

Your brother shall become the mighty lord of fourteen thousand rakshasas, able to command their march and their provision.

Shloka 37 (uttara.24.37)

तत्र मातृष्वसेयस्ते भ्राता ऽयं वै खरः प्रभुः । भविष्यति तवादेशं सदा कुर्वन्निशाचरः ।। २४.३७ ।।

tatra mātṛsvaseyas te bhrātā 'yaṃ vai kharaḥ prabhuḥ | bhaviṣyati tavādeśaṃ sadā kurvan niśācaraḥ ||

There this Khara, your maternal aunt's son and thus your brother, shall become the lord, a night-wanderer ever carrying out your commands.

Shloka 38 (uttara.24.38)

शीघ्रं गच्छत्वयं वीरो दण्डकान्परिरक्षितुम् । दूषणो ऽस्य बलाध्यक्षो भविष्यति महाबलः ।। २४.३८ ।।

śīghraṃ gacchatv ayaṃ vīro daṇḍakān parirakṣitum | dūṣaṇo 'sya balādhyakṣo bhaviṣyati mahābalaḥ ||

Let this hero go swiftly to guard the Dandaka forest; the mighty Dushana shall be his army-commander.

Shloka 39 (uttara.24.39)

तत्र ते वचनं शूरः करिष्यति सदा खरः । रक्षसां कामरूपाणां प्रभुरेष भविष्यति ।। २४.३९ ।।

tatra te vacanaṃ śūraḥ kariṣyati sadā kharaḥ | rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpāṇāṃ prabhur eṣa bhaviṣyati ||

There the valiant Khara shall ever act upon your word; he shall be lord of the rakshasas who can assume any form at will.

Shloka 40 (uttara.24.40)

एवमुक्त्वा दशग्रीवः सैन्यमस्यादिदेश ह । चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां वीर्यशालिनाम् ।। २४.४० ।।

evam uktvā daśagrīvaḥ sainyam asyādideśa ha | caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ vīryaśālinām ||

Having said this, Dashagriva assigned to him fourteen thousand valorous rakshasas as his army.

Shloka 41 (uttara.24.41)

स तैः परिवृतस्सर्वै राक्षसैर्घोरदर्शनैः । आगच्छत खरः शीघ्रं दण्डकानकुतोभयः ।। २४.४१ ।।

sa taiḥ parivṛtas sarvai rākṣasair ghoradarśanaiḥ | āgacchat kharaḥ śīghraṃ daṇḍakān akutobhayaḥ ||

Surrounded by all those terrible-looking rakshasas, Khara, fearless, swiftly set off toward the Dandaka forest.

Shloka 42 (uttara.24.42)

स तत्र कारयामास राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् । सा च शूर्पणखा तत्र न्यवसद्दण्डकावने ।। २४.४२ ।।

sa tatra kārayām āsa rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam | sā ca śūrpaṇakhā tatra nyavasad daṇḍakāvane ||

There he established his kingdom, cleared of thorny foes, and Shurpanakha too came to dwell in that Dandaka forest.