Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 14:29 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 14:29
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 3: ARANYA KANDA
SECTION 4
On seeing those two very dexterous scions of Kakutstha, and the best ones from Raghu dynasty, namely Rama and Lakshmana, grabbed and being carried off, Seetha screamed in a high pitched voice.(3 4 1) "He that truth abiding, virtuous, and the flawless Rama of Dasharatha is carried off along with Lakshmana by the Rakshasa with a ferocious look… (3 4 2)
"Wild Bears, Tigers and Panthers aspire to eat me away… oh, best Rakshasa, thieve me instead and release Kakutstha s… Hail to thee…" (Said Seetha.) (3 4 3) On hearing Vaidehi s that utterance those valorous ones Rama and Lakshmana speedily busied themselves in eliminating that evil minded Rakshasa Viradha. (3 4 4) Soumitri indeed severed the left arm of that ferocious one, while Rama rent the right arm of that Rakshasa. (3 4 5) When his arms are mutilated that Rakshasa similar to a dark cloud is frustrated, fainted, and fell onto ground, like the mountain demolished by the Thunderbolt of Indra. (3 4 6)
They battered that Rakshasa with their fists, hands and feet, and even by heaving and hurling him again and again they entirely pounded on him on the ground. (3 4 7) Though that Rakshasa is battered with many arrows, even sheared off with two swords, and even though he is entirely pounded on the ground he is not killed. (3 4 8) On observing that the mountain similar Rakshasa is ineradicable that easily, then Rama, the sublime one, and the bestower of shelter in fear, spoke this sentence to Lakshmana. (3 4 9)
"Oh! Manly tiger Lakshmana, it is impossible to overpower this Rakshasa with weapons in a confrontation, hence, lets bury this Rakshasa… (3 4 10) Lakshmana", a very deep pit be dug for this furious and ferocious reprobate in this forest, as though for an Elephant… (3 4 11) On saying to Lakshmana that a trench shall be dug… then Rama repressively placed his foot on the throat of Viradha, and stood by. (3 4 12)
On hearing that said by Raghava, Rakshasa Viradha sincerely spoke these humble words to Rama, the finest one from Kakutstha dynasty. (3 4 13) "Dead I am, oh! Manly tiger and a coequal of Indra in your strength… I have fallaciously not identified you earlier… oh, best one among men… (3 4 14) "Oh, sire, now I have known you to be Rama, the son of Kausalya… and even propitious Seetha and greatly renowned one Lakshmana are now known to me… (3 4 15) "By curse I had to enter this ghoulish Rakshasa s body, but I am a Gandharva, named Tumburu and Kubera cursed me… (3 4 16)
"When entreated by me, he that greatly renowned Kubera said to me, When Dasharatha s Rama kills you in a fight… then you will attain your nature of divine body and you will go to heavens… (3 4 17, 18a) King Kubera thus cursed angrily me for not presenting myself in his service when I was interested in an Apsara Rambha, and indeed he alone said this curse clearance to me… (3 4 18b, 19a) And by your grace I am released from this utterly hideous cruse, and now I wish to go to my own heavenly abode, oh, firestorm of enemies, let safety betide you all… (3 4 19b, 20a)
Oh, Sire, att one and half Yojana s of distance from here Sage Sharabhanga, a great saint of virtue, and an efficacious sage with sun like resplendence dwells, you shall quickly approach him for he advises you opportunely… (3 4 20 21) Rama" you go safely on burying me in a pit… this is the age old custom for those Rakshasas that lost vitality… those that are inhumed in pit, to them there will be the worlds of Pitris…" (3 4 22, 23a) "And on saying thus to Rama that Viradha who is hurt by arrows became heaven worthy on leaving his body. (3 4 23b, 24a)
And Raghava on hearing those words of the Rakshasa ordered Lakshmana, Lakshmana, a very deep pit be dug for this furious and ferocious reprobate in this forest, as though for an Elephant… On saying to Lakshmana that a trench shall be dug… then Rama repressively placed his foot on the throat of Viradha, and stood by. (3 4 24b, 25, 26) Then, on taking a digging tool Lakshmana dug a deep pit beside the great soul Viradha. (3 4 27) On releasing his throat from the stamping of Rama, he that long eared, lurid voiced Viradha is ensconced in that pit while he is still blaring with his horrific voice. (3 4 28) Those deftly victorious ones Rama and Lakshmana who compose themselves in a given fight, both have gladly raised that Viradha, a ghoulish one in fight, a terrifying Rakshasa who is still blaring, with all their might and hurled him into the pit. (3 4 29)
On observing the indestructibility of that Rakshasa with any weapon, however sharp it might be, those two best ones among men that are very expertly skilled have thought over well and undertook the elimination of that great Rakshasa in a pit. (3 4 30) Viradha himself preferred his death at the hands of Rama and desired for a long to be killed by Rama and that forest walker himself appraised that, "Killing me with any weapon is impossible…" (3 4 31) On listening to that which is said by Viradha, Rama resolved his mind to cast him into pit, and when that mighty Rakshasa is being flung into the pit the whole forest blared with that Rakshasa s cries. (3 4 32)
Rama and Lakshmana felt happy by way of their look in burying Viradha in the pit of the earth, and on burying him they two felt rejoiced for gone is the fear in that great forest, and within the pit they have also concealed him with boulders in order to make it a burial chamber to the departed soul. (3 4 33) Then they two who have dazzling golden bows have eliminated that Rakshasa and retrieved Seetha, and they gladly journeyed on in that great forest like the two entities abiding on the skies, namely the Sun and Moon. (3 4 34)
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