Shurpanakha's Intrigue, Her Appeal to Khara-Dushana, and Their Slaying
Shurpanakha's lust and malice ignite open conflict in the forest. Humiliated, she incites Khara and Dushana, and Rama ultimately destroys them along with their forces.
Aranya Kand · Episode 9 / 18
Episode Text
नाक कान बिनु भइ बिकरारा। जनु स्रव सैल गेरु कै धारा॥ खर दूषन पहिं गइ बिलपाता। धिग धिग तव पौरुष बल भ्राता॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāka kāna binu bhai bikarārā। janu srava saila geru kai dhārā॥ khara dūṣana pahiṃ gai bilapātā। dhiga dhiga tava pauruṣa bala bhrātā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Without nose and ears she became hideous. [Her blood began to flow] as though a stream of ochre were running down from a dark mountain. Wailing, she went to Khara and Dushana and said, 'Brother, shame on your manliness, shame on your strength.'
तेहिं पूछा सब कहेसि बुझाई। जातुधान सुनि सेन बनाई॥ धाए निसिचर निकर बरूथा। जनु सपच्छ कज्जल गिरि जूथा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehiṃ pūchā saba kaheси bujhāī। jātudhāna suni sena banāī॥ dhāe nisicara nikara barūthā। janu sapaccha kajjala giri jūthā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
They asked her; then Surpanakha explained everything. On hearing it, the demons assembled an army. The host of demons rushed in masses, like a flock of winged black mountains.
नाना बाहन नानाकारा। नानायुध धर घोर अपारा॥ सूपनखा आगें करि लीनी। असुभ रूप श्रुति नासा हीनी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nānā bāhana nānākārā। nānāyudha dhara ghora apārā॥ sūpanakhā āgeṃ kari līnī। asubha rūpa śruti nāsā hīnī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They were mounted on many kinds of vehicles, of many forms, countless and terrible, bearing many kinds of weapons. They placed the nose-and-ears-less, ugly-faced Surpanakha at the front.
असगुन अमित होहिं भयकारी। गनहिं न मृत्यु बिबस सब झारी॥ गर्जहिं तर्जहिं गगन उड़ाहीं। देखि कटकु भट अति हरषाहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asaguna amita hohiṃ bhayakārī। ganahiṃ na maṛtyu bibasa saba jhārī॥ garjahīṃ tarjahīṃ gagana uṛāhīṃ। dekhi kaṭaku bhaṭa ati haraṣāhīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Countless ominous signs appeared, yet being under the sway of death, they paid them no heed at all. They roar, threaten, and soar through the sky. Seeing the army, the warriors are greatly delighted.
कोउ कह जिअत धरहु द्वौ भाई। धरि मारहु तिय लेहु छड़ाई॥ धूरि पूरि नभ मंडल रहा। राम बोलाइ अनुज सन कहा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kou kaha jiat dharahu dvau bhāī। dhari mārahū tiya lehu chaṛāī॥ dhūrī pūri nabha maṇḍala rahā। rāma bolāi anuja sana kahā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Some said, 'Seize the two brothers alive; seize them, kill them, and carry off the woman.' The sky was filled with dust. Then Rama called Lakshmana and said:
लै जानकिहि जाहु गिरि कंदर। आवा निसिचर कटकु भयंकर॥ रहेहु सजग सुनि प्रभु कै बानी। चले सहित श्री सर धनु पानी॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lai jānakihi jāhu giri kandara। āvā nisicara kaṭaku bhayankara॥ rahehu sajaga suni prabhu kai bānī। cale sahita śrī sara dhanu pānī॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
‘Take Janaki and go into a mountain cave. A dreadful demon army has arrived. Be alert.’ Hearing the Lord's words, Lakshmana, with bow and arrows in hand, went away with Sita.
कोदंड कठिन चढ़ाइ सिर जट जूट बाँधत सोह क्यों। मरकत सयल पर लरत दामिनि कोटि सों जुग भुजग ज्यों॥ कटि कसि निषंग बिसाल भुज गहि चाप बिसिख सुधारि कै॥ चितवत मनहुँ मृगराज प्रभु गजराज घटा निहारि कै॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kodaṇḍa kaṭhina caṛhāi sira jaṭa jūṭa bāṃdhat soha kyoṃ। marakata sayala para larata dāmini koṭi soṃ juga bhujaga jyoṃ॥ kaṭi kasi niṣaṅga bisāla bhuja gahi cāpa bisikha sudhāri kai॥ citavata manahuṃ mṛgarāja prabhu gajarāja ghaṭā nihāri kai॥
Meaning:
How splendid the Lord looks, strung bow in hand and a crown of matted hair upon his head, like two serpents fighting amid millions of lightning flashes on a mountain of emerald. Girding the quiver at his waist, taking up the great bow in his arms, and readying an arrow, Lord Rama gazes forward like a lion watching a herd of elephants.
आइ गए बगमेल धरहु धरहु धावत सुभट। जथा बिलोकि अकेल बाल रबिहि घेरत दनुज॥ १८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āi gae bagamela dharahu dharahu dhāvata subhaṭa। jathā biloki akela bāla rabihi gherata danuja॥ 18 ॥
Meaning:
Crying, 'Catch him, catch him!' the demon warriors rushed out, as if a host of demons were surrounding the lone sun at dawn.
प्रभु बिलोकि सर सकहिं न डारी। थकित भई रजनीचर धारी॥ सचिव बोलि बोले खर दूषन। यह कोउ नृपबालक नर भूषन॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu biloki sara sakahiṃ na ḍārī। thakita bhaī rajanīcara dhārī॥ saciva boli bole khara dūṣana। yaha kou nṛpabālaka nara bhūṣana॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the Lord, the demon army grew weary and could not release its arrows. Calling a minister, Khara and Dushana said, 'This prince is a jewel among men.'
नाग असुर सुर नर मुनि जेते। देखे जिते हते हम केते॥ हम भरि जन्म सुनहु सब भाई। देखी नहिं असि सुंदरताई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāga asura sura nara muni jete। dekhe jite hate hama kete॥ hama bhari janma sunahu saba bhāī। dekhī nahiṃ asi sundaratāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Whatever Nagas, demons, gods, men, and sages there are, we have seen, conquered, and slain many of them. But listen, brothers: all our lives we have never seen such beauty.
जद्यपि भगिनी कीन्हि कुरूपा। बध लायक नहिं पुरुष अनूपा॥ देहु तुरत निज नारि दुराई। जीअत भवन जाहु द्वौ भाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jadyapi bhaginī kīnhi kurūpā। badha lāyaka nahiṃ puruṣa anūpā॥ dehu turata nija nāri durāī। jīvata bhavana jāhu dvau bhāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Though he has made our sister ugly, this incomparable man is not fit to be slain. 'Give us your hidden wife at once, and both of you brothers can go home alive.'
मोर कहा तुम्ह ताहि सुनावहु। तासु बचन सुनि आतुर आवहु॥ दूतन्ह कहा राम सन जाई। सुनत राम बोले मुसुकाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mora kahā tumha tāhi sunāvahu। tāsu bacana suni ātura āvahu॥ dūtanha kahā rāma sana jāī। sunata rāma bole musukāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Tell him these words of mine, and come back quickly after hearing his reply. The messengers went and gave this message to Rama. Hearing it, Rama smiled and said:
हम छत्री मृगया बन करहीं। तुम्ह से खल मृग खोजत फिरहीं॥ रिपु बलवंत देखि नहिं डरहीं। एक बार कालहु सन लरहीं॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hama chatrī mṛgayā bana karahīṃ। tumha se khala mṛga khojata pirahīṃ॥ ripu balavanta dekhi nahiṃ ḍarahīṃ। eka bāra kālahu sana larahīṃ॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
We are Kshatriyas; we hunt in the forest and keep roaming in search of wretches like you. We do not fear a mighty enemy. [If he comes to fight,] we can even contend with Death once.
जद्यपि मनुज दनुज कुल घालक। मुनि पालक खल सालक बालक॥ जौं न होइ बल घर फिरि जाहू। समर बिमुख मैं हतउँ न काहू॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jadyapi manuja danuja kula ghālaka। muni pālaka khala sālaka bālaka॥ jaun na hoi bala ghara phiri jāhū। samara bimukha maiṃ hatauṃ na kāhū॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
Though we are human, we are destroyers of the demon race, protectors of sages, and youthful chastisers of the wicked. If you have no strength, go back home. I do not slay anyone who turns away from battle.
रन चढ़ि करिअ कपट चतुराई। रिपु पर कृपा परम कदराई॥ दूतन्ह जाइ तुरत सब कहेऊ। सुनि खर दूषन उर अति दहेऊ॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rana chaṛhi kariā kapaṭa caturāī। ripu para kṛpā parama kadarāī॥ dūtanhaṃ jāi turata saba kaheū। suni khara dūṣana ura ati daheū॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
To come forward in battle and practice deceitful cleverness, or to show mercy to an enemy, is sheer cowardice. The messengers returned and promptly reported everything; hearing it, Khara and Dushana's hearts burned fiercely.
उर दहेउ कहेउ कि धरहु धाए बिकट भट रजनीचरा। सर चाप तोमर सक्ति सूल कृपान परिघ परसु धरा॥ प्रभु कीन्हि धनुष टकोर प्रथम कठोर घोर भयावहा। भए बधिर ब्याकुल जातुधान न ग्यान तेहि अवसर रहा॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ura daheu kaheu ki dharahu dhāe vikaṭa bhaṭa rajanīcarā। sara cāpa tomara sakti sūla kṛpāna parigha paraśu dharā॥ prabhu kīnhi dhanuṣa ṭakora prathama kaṭhora ghora bhayāvahā। bhae badhira byākula jātudhāna na gyāna tehi avasara rahā॥
Meaning:
[Khara-Dushana's] heart burned. Then he said, 'Seize them!' Hearing this, the fierce demon warriors rushed forward wielding arrows, bows, tomars, shaktis, spears, swords, clubs, and axes. Lord Rama first gave his bow a terrible, harsh twang; hearing it, the demons were rendered deaf and bewildered. At that moment they retained no awareness at all.
सावधान होइ धाए जानि सबल आराति। लागे बरषन राम पर अस्त्र सस्त्र बहुभाँति॥ १९ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sāvadhāna hoi dhāe jāni sabala ārāti। lāge baraṣana rāma para astra sastra bahubhānti॥ 19 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Then, knowing the enemy to be powerful, they rushed forward alertly and began showering Rama with all kinds of weapons and missiles.
तिन्ह के आयुध तिल सम करि काटे रघुबीर। तानि सरासन श्रवन लगि पुनि छाँड़े निज तीर॥ १९ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tinha ke āyudha tila sama kari kāṭe raghubīra। tāni sārāsana śravana lagi puni chāṛe nija tīra॥ 19 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Lord Raghubir cut their weapons to pieces, as small as sesame seeds. Then, drawing his bowstring back to his ear, he released his own arrows.
तब चले बान कराल। फुंकरत जनु बहु ब्याल॥ कोपेउ समर श्रीराम। चले बिसिख निसित निकाम॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba cale bāna karāla। phuṃkarata janu bahu byāla॥ kopeu samara śrīrāma। cale bisikha nisita nikāma॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Then the terrible arrows flew as if many serpents were hissing forward. In battle, Sri Rama grew angry and shot exceedingly sharp arrows.
अवलोकि खरतर तीर। मुरि चले निसिचर बीर॥ भए क्रुद्ध तीनिउ भाइ। जो भागि रन ते जाइ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
avaloki kharatara tīra। muri cale nisisara bīra॥ bhae kruddha tīniu bhāi। jo bhāgi rana te jāi॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the sharp arrows, the demon warriors turned their backs and fled. Then the three brothers Khara, Dushana, and Trishira became angry and said, 'Whoever runs away from the battlefield...'
तेहि बधब हम निज पानि। फिरे मरन मन महुँ ठानि॥ आयुध अनेक प्रकार। सनमुख ते करहिं प्रहार॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi badhaba hama nija pāni। phire marana mana mahũ ṭhāni॥ āyudha aneka prakāra। sanmukha te karahiṃ prahāra॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
We shall kill him with our own hands. Then, resolving in their hearts to die, the fleeing demons turned back and, facing the Lord, struck at Him with many kinds of weapons.
रिपु परम कोपे जानि। प्रभु धनुष सर संधानि॥ छाँड़े बिपुल नाराच। लगे कटन बिकट पिसाच॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ripu parama kope jāni। prabhu dhanuṣa sara sandhāni॥ chāṃḍe bipula nārāca। lage kaṭana bikaṭa pisāca॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Knowing the enemy to be deeply enraged, the Lord fitted His bow and released many arrows, by which the fearsome demons began to be cut down.
उर सीस भुज कर चरन। जहँ तहँ लगे महि परन॥ चिक्करत लागत बान। धर परत कुधर समान॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ura sīsa bhuja kara carana। jahã tahã lage mahi parana॥ cikkarata lāgata bāna। dhara parata kudhara samāna॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Their chests, heads, arms, hands, and feet fell here and there upon the earth. As soon as the arrows struck, they cried out. Their trunks fell like mountains.
भट कटत तन सत खंड। पुनि उठत करि पाषंड॥ नभ उड़त बहु भुज मुंड। बिनु मौलि धावत रुंड॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaṭa kaṭata tana sata khaṃḍa। puni uṭhata kari pāṣaṃḍa॥ nabha uḍata bahu bhuja muṃḍa। binu mauli dhāvata ruṃḍa॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
The warriors' bodies are cut into hundreds of pieces. Then they rise again through illusion. In the sky, many arms and heads fly about, and headless trunks run.
कटकटहिं जंबुक भूत प्रेत पिसाच खर्पर संचहीं। बेताल बीर कपाल ताल बजाइ जोगिनि नंचहीं॥ रघुबीर बान प्रचंड खंडहिं भटन्ह के उर भुज सिरा। जहँ तहँ परहिं उठि लरहिं धर धरु धरु करहिं भयकर गिरा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaṭakaṭahiṃ jambuka bhūta preta pisāca kharpara saṃcahīṃ। betāla bīra kapāla tāla bajāi jogini naṃcahīṃ॥ raghubīra bāna pracaṃḍa khaṃḍahiṃ bhaṭanha ke ura bhuja sirā। jahã tahã parahiṃ uṭhi larahiṃ dhara dharu dharu karahiṃ bhayakara girā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Jackals are clattering, while ghosts, spirits, and evil beings gather skulls [or fill their begging bowls]. Bold vetālas beat time on skulls, and yoginīs dance. Sri Raghubir's fierce arrows tear apart the warriors' chests, arms, and heads. They fall here and there, rise again, fight, and cry out in a भयावह call, 'Catch him, catch him!'
अंतावरीं गहि उड़त गीध पिसाच कर गहि धावहीं। संग्राम पुर बासी मनहुँ बहु बाल गुड़ी उड़ावहीं॥ मारे पछारे उर बिदारे बिपुल भट कहँरत परे। अवलोकि निज दल बिकल भट तिसिरादि खर दूषन फिरे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
antāvarīṃ gahi uḍata gīdha pisāca kara gahi dhāvahīṃ। saṃgrāma pura bāsī manahũ bahu bāla guḍī uḍāvahīṃ॥ māre pachāre ura bidāre bipula bhaṭa kah̃rata pare। avaloki nija dala bikala bhaṭa tisirādi khara dūṣana phire॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
It seems as though vultures, seizing one end of the entrails, fly away, while demons run holding the other end with their hands—like the inhabitants of the city of battle flying many kites. Many warriors are slain and thrown down. Many, with their hearts ripped open, lie groaning. Seeing their own army in distress, Trishira, Khara, Dushana, and the other warriors turned toward Sri Rama.
सर सक्ति तोमर परसु सूल कृपान एकहि बारहीं। करि कोप श्रीरघुबीर पर अगनित निसाचर डारहीं॥ प्रभु निमिष महुँ रिपु सर निवारि पचारि डारे सायका। दस दस बिसिख उर माझ मारे सकल निसिचर नायका॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sara saktī tomara parasu sūla kṛpāna ekahi bārahīṃ। kari kopa śrīraghubīra para aganita nisācara ḍārahīṃ॥ prabhu nimiṣa mahũ ripu sara nivāri pacāri ḍāre sāyakā। dasa dasa bisikha ura mājha māre sakala nisicara nāyakā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Countless demons, in anger, hurled arrows, śaktis, tomars, battle-axes, spears, and swords all at once toward Sri Raghubir. In a moment the Lord cut down the enemy arrows and countered them with His own shafts. He struck each of the demon commanders in the heart with ten arrows apiece.
महि परत उठि भट भिरत मरत न करत माया अति घनी। सुर डरत चौदह सहस प्रेत बिलोकि एक अवध धनी॥ सुर मुनि सभय प्रभु देखि मायानाथ अति कौतुक कर्यो। देखहिं परसपर राम करि संग्राम रिपु दल लरि मर्यो॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mahi parata uṭhi bhaṭa bhirata marata na karata māyā ati ghanī। sura ḍarata caudah sahasa preta biloki eka avadha dhanī॥ sura muni sabhaya prabhu dekhi māyānātha ati kautuka karyo। dekhahiṃ parasapara rāma kari saṃgrāma ripu dala lari maryo॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The warriors fall to the ground, rise again, and clash. They do not die, but create many kinds of dense illusion. The gods grow afraid at seeing fourteen thousand specters [demons] against one lord of Ayodhya, Sri Rama, alone. Seeing the gods and sages in fear, the Lord, master of illusion, wrought a wondrous marvel, so that the enemy host saw one another in the form of Rama and fought among themselves until they died.
राम राम कहि तनु तजहिं पावहिं पद निर्बान। करि उपाय रिपु मारे छन महुँ कृपानिधान॥ २० (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma rāma kahi tanu tajahiṃ pāvahīṃ pada nirbāna। kari upāya ripu māre chana mahũ kṛpānidhāna॥ 20 (a) ॥
Meaning:
All, saying 'Rama, Rama'—as if proclaiming, 'This is Rama, strike him'—leave the body and attain the state of liberation. The treasure of mercy, Sri Rama, used this device and destroyed the enemies in an instant.
हरषित बरषहिं सुमन सुर बाजहिं गगन निसान। अस्तुतिकरि करि सब चले सोभित बिबिध बिमान॥ २० (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haraṣita baraṣahiṃ sumana sura bājahiṃ gagana nisāna। astuti kari kari saba cale sobhita bibidha bimāna॥ 20 (b) ॥
Meaning:
The gods, rejoicing, shower flowers, and drums resound in the sky. Then, having offered praise, they all departed, gleaming in various celestial vehicles.
जब रघुनाथ समर रिपु जीते। सुर नर मुनि सब के भय बीते॥ तब लछिमन सीतहि लै आए। प्रभु पद परत हरषि उर लाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaba raghunātha samara ripu jīte। sura nara muni saba ke bhaya bīte॥ taba lachimana sītahi lai āe। prabhu pada parata haraṣi ura lāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When Sri Raghunath had defeated the enemy in battle and the fear of gods, men, and sages had all disappeared, Lakshman brought Sita. As she fell at His feet, the Lord joyfully lifted her and embraced her to His heart.
सीता चितव स्याम मृदु गाता। परम प्रेम लोचन न अघाता॥ पंचबटीं बसि श्रीरघुनायक। करत चरित सुर मुनि सुखदायक॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sītā citava syāma mṛdu gātā। parama prema locana na aghātā॥ pañcabatīṃ basi śrīraghunāyaka। karata carita sura muni sukhadāyaka॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Sita gazes upon Rama's dark, tender form with profound love; her eyes are never satisfied. Dwelling in Panchavati, Sri Raghunath began performing deeds that delight gods and sages.