43 shlokas
निवर्तमानः संहृष्टो रावणस्सुदुरात्मवान् । जह्रे पथि नरेन्द्रर्षिदेवगन्धर्वकन्यकाः ।। 7.24.1 ।।
nivartamānaḥ saṃhṛṣṭo rāvaṇassudurātmavān | jahre pathi narendrarṣidevagandharvakanyakāḥ || 7.24.1 ||
Translation
As he returned, the exceedingly wicked-souled Ravana, exulting, carried off along the way the maiden daughters of kings, sages, gods, and gandharvas.
दर्शनीयां हि रक्षः स कन्यां स्त्रीं वापि पश्यति । हत्वा बन्धुजनं तस्या विमाने तां रुरोध ह ।। 7.24.2 ।।
darśanīyāṃ hi rakṣaḥ sa kanyāṃ strīṃ vāpi paśyati | hatvā bandhujanaṃ tasyā vimāne tāṃ rurodha ha || 7.24.2 ||
Translation
Indeed, whenever that rakshasa beheld a beautiful maiden, or a married woman, he slew her kinsfolk and confined her within his aerial chariot.
एवं पन्नगकन्याश्च राक्षसासुरमानुषीः । यक्षदानवकन्याश्च विमाने सो ऽध्यरोपयत् ।। 7.24.3 ।।
evaṃ pannagakanyāśca rākṣasāsuramānuṣīḥ | yakṣadānavakanyāśca vimāne so 'dhyaropayat || 7.24.3 ||
Translation
In this manner he set up within his chariot the daughters of the serpents, of the rakshasas, of the asuras, of humankind, and the daughters of the yakshas and the danavas.
ताश्च सर्वाः समं दुःखान्मुमुचुर्बाष्पजं जलम् । तुल्यमग्न्यर्चिषां तत्र शोकाग्निभयसम्भवम् ।। 7.24.4 ।।
tāśca sarvāḥ samaṃ duḥkhānmumucurbāṣpajaṃ jalam | tulyamagnyarciṣāṃ tatra śokāgnibhayasambhavam || 7.24.4 ||
Translation
And all of them together, out of their grief, shed water born of tears, there as scorching as the flames of fire, sprung from the fire of sorrow and from fear.
ताभिः सर्वानवद्याभिर्नदीभिरिव सागरः । आपूरितं विमानं तद्भयशोकाशिवाश्रुभिः ।। 7.24.5 ।।
tābhiḥ sarvānavadyābhirnadībhiriva sāgaraḥ | āpūritaṃ vimānaṃ tadbhayaśokāśivāśrubhiḥ || 7.24.5 ||
Translation
By all those faultless women, that chariot was filled with the tears born of fear and sorrow, as the ocean is filled by the rivers.
नागगन्धर्वकन्याश्च महर्षितनयाश्च याः । दैत्यदानवकन्याश्च विमाने शतशो ऽरुदन् ।। 7.24.6 ।।
nāgagandharvakanyāśca maharṣitanayāśca yāḥ | daityadānavakanyāśca vimāne śataśo 'rudan || 7.24.6 ||
Translation
The daughters of the nagas and the gandharvas, the daughters of the great sages, and the daughters of the daityas and the danavas wept by the hundreds within the chariot.
दीर्घकेश्यः सुचार्वङ्ग्यः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः । पीनस्तन्यस्तथा वज्रवेदिमध्यसमप्रभाः ।। 7.24.7 ।।
dīrghakeśyaḥ sucārvaṅgyaḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanāḥ | pīnastanyastathā vajravedimadhyasamaprabhāḥ || 7.24.7 ||
Translation
They were long-haired, with exceedingly lovely limbs, their faces resembling the full moon, full-breasted, and radiant alike with slender waists firm as a sacrificial altar of diamond.
रथकूबरसङ्काशैः श्रोणिदेशैर्मनोहराः । स्त्रियः सुराङ्गनाप्रख्या निष्टप्तकनकप्रभाः ।। 7.24.8 ।।
rathakūbarasaṅkāśaiḥ śroṇideśairmanoharāḥ | striyaḥ surāṅganāprakhyā niṣṭaptakanakaprabhāḥ || 7.24.8 ||
Translation
Those women, charming with their hips that resembled the pole of a chariot, like the celestial nymphs of the gods, had the luster of refined gold.
शोकदुःखभयत्रस्ता विह्वलाश्च सुमध्यमाः । तासां निश्वासवातेन सर्वतः सम्प्रदीपितम् ।। 7.24.9 ।।
śokaduḥkhabhayatrastā vihvalāśca sumadhyamāḥ | tāsāṃ niśvāsavātena sarvataḥ sampradīpitam || 7.24.9 ||
Translation
Trembling with grief, sorrow, and fear, and overwhelmed, those fair-waisted women, by the wind of their sighs, set everything ablaze all around.
अग्निहोत्रमिवाभाति सन्निरुद्धाग्निपुष्पकम् । दशग्रीववशं प्राप्तास्तास्तु शोकाकुलाः स्त्रियः ।। 7.24.10 ।।
agnihotramivābhāti sanniruddhāgnipuṣpakam | daśagrīvavaśaṃ prāptāstāstu śokākulāḥ striyaḥ || 7.24.10 ||
Translation
The Pushpaka chariot, with its sighing-fire pent up within, shone like an agnihotra sacrifice; and those women, fallen under the power of Dashagriva, were stricken with grief.
दीनवक्रेक्षणाः श्यामा मृग्यः सिंहवशा इव । काचिच्चिन्तयती तत्र किं नु मां भक्षयिष्यति ।। 7.24.11 ।।
dīnavakrekṣaṇāḥ śyāmā mṛgyaḥ siṃhavaśā iva | kāciccintayatī tatra kiṃ nu māṃ bhakṣayiṣyati || 7.24.11 ||
Translation
With piteous faces and downcast eyes, the dark-hued women were like does fallen under the power of a lion. One of them, brooding there, thought: 'Will he now devour me?'
काचिद्दध्यौ सुदुःखार्ता अपि मां मारयेदयम् । इति मातृपितऽन्स्मृत्वा भर्तऽन्भ्रातऽंस्तथैव च । दुःखशोकसमाविष्टा विलेपुः सहिताः स्त्रियः ।। 7.24.12 ।।
kāciddadhyau suduḥkhārtā api māṃ mārayedayam | iti mātṛpita'nsmṛtvā bharta'nbhrāta'ṃstathaiva ca | duḥkhaśokasamāviṣṭā vilepuḥ sahitāḥ striyaḥ || 7.24.12 ||
Translation
Another, sorely afflicted with grief, thought: 'He may even slay me.' Thus remembering their mothers and fathers, their husbands and likewise their brothers, the women, overcome with grief and sorrow, wailed together.
कथं नु खलु मे पुत्रो भविष्यति मया विना । कथं माता कथं भ्राता निमग्नाः शोकसागरे ।। 7.24.13 ।। ।
kathaṃ nu khalu me putro bhaviṣyati mayā vinā | kathaṃ mātā kathaṃ bhrātā nimagnāḥ śokasāgare || 7.24.13 || |
Translation
'How indeed shall my son fare without me? How shall my mother fare, how my brother, sunk in an ocean of grief?'
हा कथं नु करिष्यामि भर्तुस्तस्मादहं विना । मृत्यो प्रसादयामि त्वां नय मां दुःखभागिनीम् ।। 7.24.14 ।।
hā kathaṃ nu kariṣyāmi bhartustasmādahaṃ vinā | mṛtyo prasādayāmi tvāṃ naya māṃ duḥkhabhāginīm || 7.24.14 ||
Translation
'Alas, how shall I live without that husband of mine? O Death, I entreat you: take me, who am a sharer in sorrow.'
किन्नु तद्दुष्कृतं कर्म पुरा देहान्तरे कृतम् ।। 7.24.15 ।।
kinnu tadduṣkṛtaṃ karma purā dehāntare kṛtam || 7.24.15 ||
Translation
'What evil deed was it that I committed long ago in another body?'
एवं स्म दुःखिताः सर्वाः पतिताः शोकसागरे । न खल्विदानीं पश्यामो दुःखस्यास्यान्तमात्मनः ।। 7.24.16 ।।
evaṃ sma duḥkhitāḥ sarvāḥ patitāḥ śokasāgare | na khalvidānīṃ paśyāmo duḥkhasyāsyāntamātmanaḥ || 7.24.16 ||
Translation
Thus all of them, stricken with grief, were sunk in an ocean of sorrow: 'Indeed we see no end now to this our affliction.'
अहो धिङ्मानुषं लोकं नास्ति खल्वधमः परः । यद्दुर्बला बलवता भर्तारो रावणेन नः ।। 7.24.17 ।।
aho dhiṅmānuṣaṃ lokaṃ nāsti khalvadhamaḥ paraḥ | yaddurbalā balavatā bhartāro rāvaṇena naḥ || 7.24.17 ||
Translation
'Alas, shame upon the world of men! Surely there is none baser than this — that we, our husbands being weak, are made widows by the mighty Ravana.'
सूर्येणोदयता काले नक्षत्राणीव नाशिताः । अहो सुबलवद्रक्षो वधोपायेषु युज्यते ।। 7.24.18 ।।
sūryeṇodayatā kāle nakṣatrāṇīva nāśitāḥ | aho subalavadrakṣo vadhopāyeṣu yujyate || 7.24.18 ||
Translation
'They have been destroyed like the stars by the sun rising in its season. Ah, the rakshasa, being exceedingly strong, applies himself to the means of slaughter.'
अहो दुर्वृत्तमास्थाय नात्मानं वैजुगुप्सते । सर्वथा सदृशस्तावद्विक्रमो ऽस्य दुरात्मनः ।। 7.24.19 ।।
aho durvṛttamāsthāya nātmānaṃ vaijugupsate | sarvathā sadṛśastāvadvikramo 'sya durātmanaḥ || 7.24.19 ||
Translation
'Alas, having resorted to wicked conduct, he feels no loathing for himself. In every way the valor of this evil-souled one is indeed fitting to such conduct.'
इदं त्वसदृशं कर्म परदाराभिमर्शनम् । यस्मादेष परक्यासु रमते राक्षसाधमः ।। 7.24.20 ।।
idaṃ tvasadṛśaṃ karma paradārābhimarśanam | yasmādeṣa parakyāsu ramate rākṣasādhamaḥ || 7.24.20 ||
Translation
'But this is an unseemly deed — the laying of hands upon others' wives — since this basest of rakshasas takes his pleasure in women belonging to others.'
तस्माद्वै स्त्रीकृतेनैव प्राप्स्यते दुर्मतिर्वधम् । सतीभिर्वरनारीभिरेवं वाक्ये ऽभ्युदीरिते ।। 7.24.21 ।।
tasmādvai strīkṛtenaiva prāpsyate durmatirvadham | satībhirvaranārībhirevaṃ vākye 'bhyudīrite || 7.24.21 ||
Translation
'Therefore, surely, by reason of a woman the wicked-minded one shall meet his death.' When this speech had been uttered thus by the chaste and noble women,
नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः खस्थाः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात च । शप्तः स्त्रीभिः स तु समं हतौजा इव निष्प्रभः ।। 7.24.22 ।।
nedurdundubhayaḥ khasthāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta ca | śaptaḥ strībhiḥ sa tu samaṃ hataujā iva niṣprabhaḥ || 7.24.22 ||
Translation
the kettledrums in the sky resounded and a rain of flowers fell. Cursed thus by the women together, he became, as it were, robbed of his vigor and bereft of luster.
पतिव्रताभिः साध्वीभिर्बभूव विमना इव । एवं विलपितं तासां शृण्वन्राक्षसपुङ्गवः । प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां पूज्यमानो निशाचरैः ।। 7.24.23 ।।
pativratābhiḥ sādhvībhirbabhūva vimanā iva | evaṃ vilapitaṃ tāsāṃ śṛṇvanrākṣasapuṅgavaḥ | praviveśa purīṃ laṅkāṃ pūjyamāno niśācaraiḥ || 7.24.23 ||
Translation
Cursed by those devoted and virtuous wives, he became as one despondent. Hearing this lamentation of theirs, that bull among rakshasas entered the city of Lanka, honored by the night-rangers.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे घोरा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी । सहसा पतिता भूमौ भगिनी रावणस्य सा ।। 7.24.24 ।।
etasminnantare ghorā rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī | sahasā patitā bhūmau bhaginī rāvaṇasya sā || 7.24.24 ||
Translation
In that interval a terrible rakshasi, able to assume any form at will — she who was the sister of Ravana — suddenly fell to the ground.
तां स्वसारं समुत्थाप्य रावणः परिसान्त्वयन् । अब्रवीत्किमिदं भद्रे वक्तुकामा ऽसि मे द्रुतम् ।। 7.24.25 ।।
tāṃ svasāraṃ samutthāpya rāvaṇaḥ parisāntvayan | abravītkimidaṃ bhadre vaktukāmā 'si me drutam || 7.24.25 ||
Translation
Raising up his sister and consoling her, Ravana said: 'What is this, gentle lady? You wish to speak to me — say it quickly.'
सा बाष्पपरिरुद्धाक्षी रक्ताक्षी वाक्यमब्रवीत् । कृता ऽस्मि विधवा राजंस्त्वया बलवता बलात् ।। 7.24.26 ।।
sā bāṣpapariruddhākṣī raktākṣī vākyamabravīt | kṛtā 'smi vidhavā rājaṃstvayā balavatā balāt || 7.24.26 ||
Translation
She, her eyes choked with tears and reddened, spoke these words: 'I have been made a widow, O king, by you who are mighty, by force.'
एते राजंस्त्वया वीरा दैत्या विनिहता रणे । कालकेया इति ख्याताः सहस्राणि चतुर्दश ।। 7.24.27 ।।
ete rājaṃstvayā vīrā daityā vinihatā raṇe | kālakeyā iti khyātāḥ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa || 7.24.27 ||
Translation
'These heroic Daityas, O king, were slain by you in battle — those renowned as the Kalakeyas, fourteen thousand of them.'
प्राणेभ्यो ऽपि गरीयान्मे तत्र भर्ता महाबलः ।। 7.24.28 ।।
prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyānme tatra bhartā mahābalaḥ || 7.24.28 ||
Translation
'Among them was my husband, of great strength, dearer to me even than my life.'
सो ऽपि त्वया हतस्तात रिपुणा भ्रातृगृध्नुना । त्वया ऽस्मि निहता राजन्स्वयमेव हि बन्धुना ।। 7.24.29 ।।
so 'pi tvayā hatastāta ripuṇā bhrātṛgṛdhnunā | tvayā 'smi nihatā rājansvayameva hi bandhunā || 7.24.29 ||
Translation
'He too was slain by you, dear one — by an enemy greedy on his brother's behalf. By you I have been undone, O king — by my own kinsman.'
राजन्वैधव्यशब्दं च भोक्ष्यामि त्वत्कृते ह्यहम् । ननु नाम त्वया रक्ष्यो जामाता समरेष्वपि । स त्वया निहतो युद्धे स्वयमेव न लज्जसे ।। 7.24.30 ।।
rājanvaidhavyaśabdaṃ ca bhokṣyāmi tvatkṛte hyaham | nanu nāma tvayā rakṣyo jāmātā samareṣvapi | sa tvayā nihato yuddhe svayameva na lajjase || 7.24.30 ||
Translation
'O king, on your account I shall bear the name of widow. Surely a son-in-law ought to be protected by you even in battles; yet he was slain by you in combat — and you yourself feel no shame.'
एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवो भगिन्या क्रोशमानया । अब्रवीत्सान्त्वयित्वा तां सामपूर्वमिदं वचः ।। 7.24.31 ।।
evamukto daśagrīvo bhaginyā krośamānayā | abravītsāntvayitvā tāṃ sāmapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ || 7.24.31 ||
Translation
Thus addressed by his wailing sister, Dashagriva consoled her and spoke these words to her, beginning with conciliation.
अलं वत्से रुदित्वा ते न भेतव्यं च सर्वशः । दानमानप्रसादैस्त्वां तोषयिष्यामि यत्नतः ।। 7.24.32 ।।
alaṃ vatse ruditvā te na bhetavyaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | dānamānaprasādaistvāṃ toṣayiṣyāmi yatnataḥ || 7.24.32 ||
Translation
"Enough of weeping, my dear; you need have no fear at all. With gifts, honors, and favors I shall strive to make you content.
युद्धप्रमत्तो व्याक्षिप्तो जयाकाङ्क्षी क्षिपञ्छरान् । नावगच्छामि युद्धेषु स्वान्परान्वाप्यहं शुभे ।। 7.24.33 ।।
yuddhapramatto vyākṣipto jayākāṅkṣī kṣipañcharān | nāvagacchāmi yuddheṣu svānparānvāpyahaṃ śubhe || 7.24.33 ||
Translation
"Intent upon the battle, distracted, eager for victory and hurling my arrows, I did not, O auspicious one, distinguish in the fighting between my own men and the enemy.
जामातरं न जाने स्म प्रहरन्युद्धदुर्मदः । तेनासौ निहतः सङ्ख्ये मया भर्ता तव स्वसः ।। 7.24.34 ।।
jāmātaraṃ na jāne sma praharanyuddhadurmadaḥ | tenāsau nihataḥ saṅkhye mayā bhartā tava svasaḥ || 7.24.34 ||
Translation
"Maddened with the frenzy of war as I struck, I did not recognize my son-in-law; and so, O sister, your husband was slain by me in the conflict.
अस्मिन्काले तु यत्प्राप्तं तत्करिष्यामि ते हितम् । भ्रातुरैश्वर्ययुक्तस्य खरस्य वस पार्श्वतः ।। 7.24.35 ।।
asminkāle tu yatprāptaṃ tatkariṣyāmi te hitam | bhrāturaiśvaryayuktasya kharasya vasa pārśvataḥ || 7.24.35 ||
Translation
"But at this present time I shall do for you whatever may be of benefit. Dwell at the side of your brother Khara, who is endowed with lordly power.
चतुर्दशानां भ्राता ते सहस्राणां भविष्यति । प्रभुः प्रयाणे दाने च राक्षसानां महाबलः ।। 7.24.36 ।।
caturdaśānāṃ bhrātā te sahasrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati | prabhuḥ prayāṇe dāne ca rākṣasānāṃ mahābalaḥ || 7.24.36 ||
Translation
"Your brother, mighty in strength, shall become the lord of fourteen thousand rakshasas, their commander in marching forth and in the bestowing of gifts.
तत्र मातृष्वसेयस्ते भ्राता ऽयं वै खरः प्रभुः । भविष्यति तवादेशं सदा कुर्वन्निशाचरः ।। 7.24.37 ।।
tatra mātṛṣvaseyaste bhrātā 'yaṃ vai kharaḥ prabhuḥ | bhaviṣyati tavādeśaṃ sadā kurvanniśācaraḥ || 7.24.37 ||
Translation
"There this Khara, your maternal cousin and your brother, a night-roaming rakshasa, shall be lord, ever carrying out your command.
शीघ्रं गच्छत्वयं वीरो दण्डकान्परिरक्षितुम् । दूषणो ऽस्य बलाध्यक्षो भविष्यति महाबलः ।। 7.24.38 ।।
śīghraṃ gacchatvayaṃ vīro daṇḍakānparirakṣitum | dūṣaṇo 'sya balādhyakṣo bhaviṣyati mahābalaḥ || 7.24.38 ||
Translation
"Let this hero go quickly to guard the Dandaka regions; and Dushana, mighty in strength, shall be the commander of his army.
तत्र ते वचनं शूरः करिष्यति सदा खरः । रक्षसां कामरूपाणां प्रभुरेष भविष्यति ।। 7.24.39 ।।
tatra te vacanaṃ śūraḥ kariṣyati sadā kharaḥ | rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpāṇāṃ prabhureṣa bhaviṣyati || 7.24.39 ||
Translation
"There the valiant Khara shall always do your bidding; he shall become the lord of these rakshasas who can take any form at will."
एवमुक्त्वा दशग्रीवः सैन्यमस्यादिदेश ह । चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां वीर्यशालिनाम् ।। 7.24.40 ।।
evamuktvā daśagrīvaḥ sainyamasyādideśa ha | caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ vīryaśālinām || 7.24.40 ||
Translation
Having spoken thus, Dashagriva assigned to him an army of fourteen thousand rakshasas endowed with valor.
स तैः परिवृतस्सर्वै राक्षसैर्घोरदर्शनैः । आगच्छत खरः शीघ्रं दण्डकानकुतोभयः ।। 7.24.41 ।।
sa taiḥ parivṛtassarvai rākṣasairghoradarśanaiḥ | āgacchata kharaḥ śīghraṃ daṇḍakānakutobhayaḥ || 7.24.41 ||
Translation
Surrounded by all those rakshasas of terrible aspect, Khara, fearing nothing from any quarter, swiftly came to the Dandaka regions.
स तत्र कारयामास राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् । सा च शूर्पणखा तत्र न्यवसद्दण्डकावने ।। 7.24.42 ।।
sa tatra kārayāmāsa rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam | sā ca śūrpaṇakhā tatra nyavasaddaṇḍakāvane || 7.24.42 ||
Translation
There he made his kingship free of all thorns; and Shurpanakha too took up her dwelling there in the Dandaka forest.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः ।। 24 ।।
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye śrīmaduttarakāṇḍe caturviṃśaḥ sargaḥ || 24 ||
Translation
Thus ends the twenty-fourth canto of the venerable Uttara Kanda in the holy Ramayana, the first poem, composed by the seer Valmiki.