Sloka & Translation

[Rama and Lakshmana kill Viradha -- Viradha narrates his story and ascends to heaven.]

ह्रियमाणौ तु तौ दृष्ट्वा वैदेही रामलक्ष्मणौ।

उच्चैस्स्वरेण चुक्रोश प्रगृह्य सुमहाजाभुजौ।।3.4.1।।


वैदेही Sita, प्रगृह्य holding, ह्रियमाणौ the two being abducted, सुमहाभुजौ two huge arms, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, दृष्ट्वा seeing, उच्चै स्वरेण at the top of her voice, चुक्रोश shouted.

Seeing those two mightyarmed Rama and Lakshmana being carried away by Viradha, Sita started crying loudly:
एष दाशरथी रामः सत्यवान् शीलवान् शुचिः।

रक्षसा रौद्ररूपेण ह्रियते सहलक्ष्मणः।।3.4.2।।


सत्यवान् truthful , शीलवान् of good conduct, शुचिः pure, एषः this person, दाशरथिः son of Dasaratha, रामः Rama, सहलक्ष्मणः with Lakshmana, रौद्ररूपेण dreadful in appearance, रक्षसा by The demon, ह्रियते is whisked away.

मामृका भक्षयिष्यन्ति शार्दूलाद्वीपिनस्तथा।

मां हरोत्सृज काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तम।।3.4.3।।


माम् me, ऋका wild bears, तथा in the same way, शार्दूलाद्वीपिनः tigers and panthers, भक्षयिष्यन्ति will eat me, राक्षसोत्तम O best of demons, माम् me, हर take away, काकुत्स्थौ Rama and Lakshmana, उत्सृज spare them, ते to you, नमः I salute.

The wild bears, tigers and panthers will eat me up here. O best among demons, pray take me and leave both the Kakutsthas.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वैदेह्या रामलक्ष्मणौ।

वेगं प्रचक्रतुर्वीरौ वधे तस्य दुरात्मनः।।3.4.4।।


वीरौ heroic, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, तस्याः वैदेह्याः that Sita's, तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, दुरात्मनः of the wicked one, तस्य his, वधे to kill, वेगम् haste, प्रचक्रतुः began.

On hearing those words of Sita, both the heroes, Rama and Lakshmana hastened to kill the wicked Viradha.
तस्य रौद्रस्य सौमित्रिः सव्यं बाहुं बभञ्ज ह।

रामस्तु दक्षिणं बाहुं तरसा तस्य रक्षसः।।3.4.5।।


सौमित्रिः Lakshmana, रौद्रस्य of that dreadful demon तस्य his, सव्यं बाहुम् left shoulder, बभञ्ज ह broke down, रामः Rama, तु too, तस्य रक्षसः that demon's, दक्षिणम् right, बाहुम् shoulder, तरसा quickly.

Lakshmana quickly broke the left and Rama the right shoulder of that dreadful demon.
स भग्नबाहुस्सविग्नो निपपाताशु राक्षसः।

धरण्यां मेघसङ्काशो वज्रभिन्न इवाचलः।।3.4.6।।


भग्नबाहुः broken shoulders, मेघ सङ्काशः resembling cloud, सः he, संविग्नः anxious, राक्षसः demon, निपपातः fell down, वज्रभिन्नः split by a thunderbolt, अचलः इव like a mountain, आशु fell at once, धरण्याम् on the ground.

With both shoulders broken, the demon, looking like a cloud (huge and dark) fell at once on the ground like a mountain split by a thunderbolt.
मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिः पद्भिः सूदयन्तौ तु राक्षसम्।

उद्यम्योद्यम्य चाप्येनं स्थण्डिले निष्पिपेषतुः।।3.4.7।।


राक्षसम् to the demon, मुष्टिभिः with fists, जानुभिः with knees, पद्भि: with feet, सूदयन्तौ striking, एनम् him, उद्यम्योद्यम्य by lifting him again and again, स्थण्डिले on the bare ground, निष्पिपेषतुः pulverized .

Striking the demon with fists, knees and feet, both of them smit him on the bare ground and pulverized him.
स विद्धो बहुभिर्बाणैः खङ्गाभ्यां च परिक्षतः।

निष्पिष्टो बहुधा भूमौ न ममार स राक्षसः।।3.4.8।।


बहुभिः by many, बाणैः by arrows, विद्धः pierced, खङ्गाभ्याम् with two swords, परिक्षतः wounded, बहुधा in many ways, भूमौ on the ground, निष्पिष्टः pulverized, सः राक्षसः that demon, न ममार was not killed.

Although pierced by arrows, and wounded by the two swords, and pulverized on the ground, the demon did not die.
तं प्रेक्ष्य रामः सुभृशमवध्यमचलोपमम्।

भयेष्वभयदश्श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।3.4.9।।


भयेषु from fear, अभयदः guaranter of safety, (who promises deliverance from fear), श्रीमान् illustrious, रामः Rama, अचलोपमम् mountainlike, तम् him, सुभृशम् very much, अवध्यम् could not be killed, प्रेक्ष्य after seeing, इदम् these, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Seeing the mountainlike Viradha not dying though seriously wounded, illustrious Rama, guaranter of safety from fear said to Lakshmana:
तपसा पुरुषव्याघ्र राक्षसोऽयं न शक्यते।

शस्त्रेण युधि निर्जेतुं राक्षसं निखनावहे।।3.4.10।।


पुरुषव्याघ्र O tiger among men, तपसा by penance, अयं राक्षसः this demon, युधि in war, शस्त्रेण by weapons, निर्जेतुम् to conquer, न शक्यते is not possible, राक्षसम् this demon, निखनावहे shall bury him.

O Lakshmana, best among men, this demon by virtue of his penance cannot be killed with any weapon in war. Therefore, let us bury him.
कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण।

वनेऽस्मिन् सुमहच्छ्वभ्रं खन्यतां रौद्रवर्चसः।।3.4.11।।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, रौद्रस्य of the dreadful one, अस्य रक्षसः of this demon, कुञ्जरस्येव like an elephant, रौद्रवर्चसः one who emits a fearful glow, अस्मिन् in this, वने forest, सुमहत् very great, श्वभ्रम् a pit, खन्यताम् dig.

Dig a deep pit to bury this demon, dreadful like an elephant and emitting a fearful glow.
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति।

तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान्।।3.4.12।।


वीर्यवान् courageous one, रामः Rama, लक्ष्मणम् to Lakshmana, इति thus, प्रदरः crevice, खन्यताम् may be dug up, इति thus, उक्त्वा having said, विराधम् Viradha, पादेन with his foot, कण्ठे on his neck, आक्रम्य holding firmly there, तस्थौ stood.

Courageous Rama standing there put his foot firmly on the neck of Viradha and said to Lakshmana,' Dig up a crevice'.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं राक्षसः प्रश्रितं वचः।

इदं प्रोवाच काकुत्थ्सं विराधः पुरुषर्षभम्।।3.4.13।।


राक्षसः the demon, विराधः Viradha, राघवेण by Rama, उक्तम् instructed, तत् that, श्रुत्वा on hearing, पुरुषर्षभम् best among men, काकुत्थ्सम् to Lakshmana, इदम् thus, प्रश्रितम् humble, वचः words, प्रोवाच uttered.

When the demon Viradha heard Rama saying so, he said these humble words to the scion of the Kakutsthas and the best of men :
हतोऽस्मि पुरुषव्याघ्र शक्रतुल्यबलेन वै।

मया तु पूर्वं त्वं मोहान्न ज्ञातः पुरुषर्षभ।।3.4.14।।


पुरुषव्याघ्र O tiger among men, शक्रतुल्यबलेन equal to Indra in prowess, हतः अस्मि I am killed, पुरुषर्षभ bull among men, मया by me, मोहात् due to delusion, त्वम् you, पूर्वम् earlier, न ज्ञातः was not realised.

You have killed me, O Rama, a tiger among men. You are equal to Indra in prowess. O best of men, out of delusion I could not recognise you earlier.
कौसल्यासुप्रजा राम तातस्त्वं विदितो मया।

वैदेही च महाभागा लक्ष्मणश्च महायशाः।।3.4.15।।


तात O dear one, त्वम् you, कौसल्यासुप्रजाः the good son of Kausalya, रामः Rama, विदितः are known now, महाभागा a great lady, वैदेही च Sita too, महायशाः a man of great fame, लक्ष्मणश्च and Lakshmana too.

O dear Rama, I know now you are the blessed son of Kausalya, Sita is a noble lady and a glorious soul.
अभिशापादहं घोरां प्रविष्टो राक्षसीं तनुम्।

तुम्बुरुर्नाम गन्धर्वः शप्तो वैश्रवणेन ह।।3.4.16।।


अहम् I, अभिशापात् by a curse, घोराम् this terrible, राक्षसीम् demoniac, तनुम् body, प्रविष्टः I have entered, वैश्रवणेन by Kubera, शप्तः I am cursed, तुम्बुरुः नाम by name Tumburu, गन्धर्वः celestial musician.

I am Tumburu by name, a celestial singer of the gandharva clan. Cursed by Kubera, I got this dreadful body of a demon.
प्रसाद्यमानश्च मया सोऽब्रवीन्मां महायशाः।

यदा दाशरथी रामस्त्वां वधिष्यति संयुगे।

तदा प्रकृतिमापन्नो भवान्स्वर्गं गमिष्यति।।3.4.17।।


मया by me, प्रसाद्यमानः while being appeased, महायशा: illustrious, सः he, माम् me, अब्रवीत् said, दाशरथिः son of Dasaratha, रामः Rama, यदा when, त्वाम् you, संयुगे at war, वधिष्यति will kill, तदा then, प्रकृतिम् your original form, आपन्नः you will get back, भवान् you, स्वर्गम् to heaven, गमिष्यति you will go.

When I appealed to him, that lord of great fame (Kubera) said that I would get back my original form and ascend to heaven when Rama, son of Dasaratha, would kill me in a duel.
अनुपस्थीयमानो मां स क्रुद्धो व्याजहार ह।

इति वैश्रवणो राजा रम्भासक्तमुवाच ह।।3.4.18।।


सः that, अनुपस्थीयमानः not being attended to, क्रुद्धः angry, माम् me, व्याजहार said, राजा king, वैश्रवणः Kubera, रम्भासक्तम् passionately attached to Rambha, इति like this, उवाच ह cursed.

When king Kubera saw me absent (from duty) as I was infatuated with Rambha, he got angry and cursed me.
तव प्रसादान्मुक्तोऽहमिहशापात्सुदारुणात्।

भुवनं स्वं गमिष्यामि स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु परन्तप।।3.4.19।।


तव your, प्रसादात् by grace blessing, सुदारुणात् from the dreadful form, अभिशापात् from the curse, परन्तप scorcher of enemies अहम् I, मुक्तः am relieved, स्वम् my own, भुवनम् abode, गमिष्यामि I will go, वः to you both, स्वस्ति wish you well, अस्तु may be.

O scorcher of enemies by your grace I am rid of the curse. Delivered from my dreadful form, I will now go to my world. May both of you fare well.
इतो वसति धर्मात्मा शरभङ्गः प्रतापवान्।।3.4.20।।

अध्यर्धयोजने तात महर्षिस्सूर्यसन्निभः।

तं क्षिप्रमधिगच्छ त्वं स ते श्रेयोऽभिधास्यति।।3.4.21।।


तात O dear, इतः from here, अध्यर्धयोजने one and half yojanas away, (a yojana about 8 miles) धर्मात्मा a righteous self, प्रतापवान् of great power, सूर्यसन्निभः comparable to the Sun, शरभङ्गः Sarabhanga, महर्षिः sage, वसति lives, त्वम् you, क्षिप्रम् quickly, तम् him, अधिगच्छ approach, सः he, ते to you, श्रेयः welfare, अभिधास्यति bestow on you.

O dear, there lives Sarabhanga, a righteous sage, comparable to the Sun, at a distance of one and a half yojanas from here. Go to him at once. He will bless you with your wellbeing.
अवटे चापि मां राम प्रक्षिप्य कुशली व्रज।

रक्षसां गतसत्त्वानामेष धर्मस्ससनातनः।

अवटे ये निधीयन्ते तेषां लोकास्सनातनाः।।3.4.22।।


राम Rama, माम् me, अवटे in the pit, प्रक्षिप्य on burying, कुशली proper, व्रज you may go, गतसत्त्वाम् who are dead, रक्षसाम् of the demons, एषः this one, सनातनः eternal, धर्मः justice, ये those, अवटे विनिक्षिप्यन्ते buried in a pit, तेषाम् to them, सनातनाः eternal, लोकाः in other worlds (heaven)

Bury me in the pit, O Rama, and proceed happily. This is a great tradition for the dead
demons. Those who are buried in the pit attain heaven.
एवमुक्त्वा तु काकुत्थ्सं विराधश्शरपीडितः।

बभूव स्वर्गसम्प्राप्तो न्यस्तदेहो महाबलः।।3.4.23।।


महाबलः mighty strong, विराधः Viradha, काकुत्थ्सम् to the scion of the Kakutstha race, एवम् in that way, उक्त्वा having said, शरपीडितः hit by the arrows, न्यस्तदेहः casting his body, स्वर्गसम्प्राप्तः बभूव attained heaven.

Having said so to Rama, the mighty Viradha, hit by the arrows left his body and attained heaven.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यं लक्ष्मणं व्यादिदेश ह।

कुञ्जरस्येव रौद्रस्य राक्षसस्यास्य लक्ष्मण।।3.4.24।।

वनेऽस्मिन् सुमहच्छ्वभ्रं खन्यतां रौदकर्मणः।

इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं रामः प्रदरः खन्यतामिति।

तस्थौ विराधमाक्रम्य कण्ठे पादेन वीर्यवान्।।3.4.25।।


राघवः Rama, तत् वाक्यम् those words, श्रुत्वा heard, लक्ष्मणम् Lakshmana, व्यादिदेश ordered, अस्यराक्षसस्य for this demon, रौद्रस्य of the dreadful, कुञ्जरस्येव like an elephant वनेऽस्मिन् in this forest, रौद्रकर्मणः of dreadful acts, सुमहत् wide, श्वभ्रः pit, खन्यताम् dig, रामः Rama, लक्ष्मणम् Lakshmana, प्रदरः a pit, खन्यताम् dig, इति in this way, वीर्यवान् valiant, पादेन by his foot, कण्ठे on the neck, विराधम् to Viradha, आक्रम्य occupying, तस्थौ stood firmly.

When Rama heard those words, he said, O Lakshmana dig for this elephantlike demon of dreadful acts, a big pit. Having said so the mighty Rama stood firmly stamping the neck of Viradha with his foot.
ततः खनित्रमादाय लक्ष्मणश्श्वभ्रमुत्तमम्।

अखनत्पार्श्वतस्तस्य विराधस्य महात्मनः।।3.4.26।।


ततः thereafter, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, खनित्रम् spade, आदाय fetched, महात्मनः of the great soul, तस्यविराधस्य that Viradha's, पार्श्वत: by his side, उत्तमम् sufficiently big, श्वभ्रम् pit, अखनत् dug.

Then Lakshmana fetched a spade and dug a sufficiently big pit by the side of the great soul Viradha.
तं मुक्तकण्ठंनिक्षिप्य शङ्कुकर्णं महास्वनम्।

विराधं प्राक्षिपच्छ्वभ्रे नदन्तं भैरवस्वनम्।।3.4.27।।


मुक्तकण्ठनिक्षिप्य released pressure on the neck, महास्वनम् with loud voice, शङ्कुकर्णम् of pointed ears as an iron peg, भैरवस्वनम् fearful sound नदन्तम् making, तं विराधम् that Viradha, श्वभ्रे in the pit, प्राक्षिपत् dropped.

Rama took his foot off Viradha's neck and dropped his body with pointed ears into the pit while Viradha was groaning fearfully৷৷
तमाहवे दारुणमाशुविक्रमौ स्थिरावुभौ संयति रामलक्ष्मणौ।

मुदान्वितौ चिक्षिपतुर्भयावहं नदन्तमुत्क्षिप्य बिले तु राक्षसम्।।3.4.28।।


आशुविक्रमौ both warriors of quick and brave action, संयति in this battle, स्थिरौ stable, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, उभौ both, मुदा joy, अन्वितौ both endowed, आहवे in the war, दारुणम् dreadful, भयावहम् frightening, नदन्तम् was roaring तं राक्षसम् that demon, बलेन forcefully, उत्क्षिप्य lifted, चिक्षिपतुः both of them threw him down .

Rama and Lakshmana, stable and firm, brave and quick, together lifted the body of Viradha who was fierce in battle and roaring and forcibly threw it into the pit with joy.
अवध्यतां प्रेक्ष्य महासुरस्य तौ शितेन शस्त्रेण तदा नरर्षभौ।

समर्थ्य चात्यर्थविशारदावुभौ बिले विराधस्य वधं प्रचक्रतुः।।3.4.29।।


तदा then, नरर्षभौ both bulls among men, अत्यर्थविशारदौ very efficient, तौ उभौ both of them, शितेन with sharp, शस्त्रेण weapons, महासुरस्य of that mighty demon, तस्य विराधस्य of that Viradha, अवध्यताम् not to be killed in any other way, प्रेक्ष्य having seen, समर्थ्य after reflecting over the issue, बिले in hole, वधं killed, प्रचक्रतुः both undertook.

The two princes, bulls among men, who were adept in archery saw that the great demon could not be killed by any other means. They reflected over the issue and undertook the task of killing him with sharp weapons and buried him in a pit.
स्वयं विराधेन हि मृत्युरात्मनः प्रसह्य रामेण यथार्थमीप्सितः।

निवेदितः काननचारिणा स्वयं न मे वधः शस्त्रकृतो भवेदिति।।3.4.30।।


विराधेन by Viradha, स्वयम् himself, आत्मनः for him, मृत्युः death, यथार्थम् truly, प्रसह्य forcibly, रामेण by Rama, ईप्सितः wished to, काननचारिणा one by the forestranger, मे for me, शस्त्र कृतः by the weapons, वधः kill, न भवेत् not possible for you, इति thus, स्वयम् he himself, निवेदितः was revealed.

Rama deliberately wanted to kill Viradha with weapons. Viradha the forestranger himself revealed that it was not possible to kill him with weapons and asked Rama to bury him in a pit.
तदेव रामेण निशम्य भाषितं कृता मतिस्तस्य बिलप्रवेशने।

बिलं च रामेणातिबलेन रक्षसा प्रवेश्यमानेन वनं विनादितम्।।3.4.31।।


तत् then, भाषितमेव words spoken, निशम्य hearing, रामेण by Rama, तस्य his, बिलप्रवेशने putting him in the pit, मतिः mind, कृता determined, बिलम् pit, प्रवेश्यमानेन while placing, अतिबलेन mighty, रामेण by Rama, रक्षसा by the demons, वनम् forest, विनादितम् echoed.

While Rama, who had made up his mind after hearing him, was putting the mighty demon in the pit, the forest rang with his roar.
प्रहृष्टरूपाविव रामलक्ष्मणौ विराधमुर्व्या प्रदरे निहत्य तौ।

ननन्दतुर्वीतभयौ महावने शिलाभिरन्तर्दधतुश्च राक्षसम्।।3.4.32।।


प्रहृष्टरूपाविव both joyful, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, तं विराधम् that Viradha, उर्व्याः earth's, प्रदरे in the crevice, निहत्य after killing, वीतभयौ both fearlessly, महावने in the great forest, ननन्दतुः both rejoiced, राक्षसम् to the demon, शिलाभिः with rocks, अन्तर्दधतुश्च covered him.

Rama and Lakshmana were happy to consign Viradha's body to the pit after killing him. They filled the pit with rocks in the great forest without fear.
ततस्तु तौ काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकौ निहत्य रक्षः परिगृह्य मैथिलीम्।

विजह्रतु स्तौ मुदितौ महावने दिवि स्थितौ चन्द्रदिवाकराविव।।3.4.33।।


ततः then, काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकौ with brilliant bows adorned with molten gold, तौ both of them, रक्षः the demon, निहत्य killing, मैथिलीम् Sita, परिगृह्य taking, महावने in that huge forest, मुदितौ joyfully, दिवि in the sky, स्थितौ remaining stable, तौ both Rama and Lakshmana, चन्द्रदिवाकराविव like the Moon and Sun, विजह्रतुः wandered.

With Viradha killed, they, accompanied by Sita, wandered happily in the dense forest, carrying their brilliant bows adorned with molten gold. They looked like Moon and Sun shining in the sky.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे चतुर्थस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fourth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.