Summary
The pomp and pageantry of Ravana is portrayed along with his idiosyncrasy and individuality, his triumphs and victories, his jalousies and covetousness. Shuurpanakha approaches him to inform of her fate at the hand of Lakshmana.
Chapter [Sarga] 32 in Detail
tatah shuurpanakhaa dristvaa sahasraani caturdasha |
hataani ekena raamena raksasaam bhiima karmanaam || 3-32-1
duusanam ca kharam caiva hatam trishirasam rane |
dristvaa punar mahaanaadam nanaada jalada upamaa || 3-32-2
On seeing the fourteen thousands demons of heinous crimes, and even on seeing Trishira, Duushana, and even Khara, who are all exterminated by lone Rama, then Shuurpanakha emitted a thunderous blare like a thundercloud. [3-32-1, 2]
saa dristvaa karma raamasya kritam anyaih suduskaram |
jagaama parama udvignaa la.nkaam raavana paalitaam || 3-32-3
Highly agitated to witness the deed done by Rama, which deed is highly impossible for others, she hurried Lanka ruled by Ravana. [3-32-3]
saa dadarsha vimaana agre raavanam diipta tejasam |
upopavistam sacivaih marudbhih iva vaasavam || 3-32-4
She saw Ravana who is fulgent with his own radiance, seated with ministers at his nearby in the midst of the divine aircraft Pushpaka, as with Indra who will be sitting amidst wind-gods. [3-32-4]
aasiinam suurya sa.mkaashe kaa.ncane paramaasane |
rukma vedi gatam praajyam jvala.ntam iva paavakam || 3-32-5
Seated similar to the Sun in firmament on a supreme golden throne, which resembles a golden Altar of Fire, and he himself resembling the blazing Ritual-fire spurting out of it when that Golden-Fire-Altar is drenched with plentiful ghee, she saw such a Ravana. [3-32-5]
deva gandharva bhuutaanaam risiinaam ca mahaatmanaam |
ajeyam samare ghoram vyaatta aananam iva antakam || 3-32-6
An invincible one either for gods or Gandharva-s, or to sages with exalted souls, or even to any other entity worth its name, whose appearance itself is catastrophic, and who is sitting identical to the Terminator, as though that Terminator himself is sitting with a wide gaped mouth, at such a Ravana Shuurpanakha saw. [3-32-6]
deva asura vimardesu vajra ashani krita vranam |
airaavata visaana agraih utkrista kina vaksasam || 3-32-7
One who is severally bruised in several combats of gods and demons with the thunderbolts from the Vajra weapon of Indra, and one who is severally blotched on his chest when the prongs of the tusks of Airavata, the lordly elephant of Indra, gored his chest, at such a Ravana Shuurpanakha saw. [3-32-7]
vimshat bhujam dasha griivam darshaniiya paricchadam |
vishaala vaksasam viiram raaja laksmana laksitam || 3-32-8
One who has twenty arms, ten faces and a broad chest, and a possessor of all regalia of Indra like white parasol, white fanning instruments, colors and the like insigne, and at that brave one who is attributed with all of the kingly attributes, Shuurpanakha saw. [3-32-8]
naddha vaiduurya sa.nkaasham tapta kaancana kundalam |
subhujam shukla dashanam mahaa aasyam parvatopamam || 3-32-9
Blend [mixed] with the gleam of the Lapis [a semiprecious stone] gems studded in his ornaments his glisten is alike that gem, while his ear-knobs are made out of refined gold, and his arms strongish, teeth whitish, mouth wideish and he is mountainous, and Shuurpanakha saw such a Ravana. [3-32-9]
visnu cakra nipaataih ca shatasho deva sa.myuge |
anyaih shastraih prahaaraih ca mahaayuddhesu taaditam || 3-32-10
His body bears hundreds of welts caused when assaulted with Vishnu-disc for hundreds of times in wars with gods, and when assaulted for hundreds of times with the other assaults-missiles in other gruesome wars as well, and Shuurpanakha saw at such a Ravana. [3-32-10]
aahata angam samastaih ca deva praharanaih tathaa |
aksobhyaanaam samudraanaam ksobhanam ksipra kaarinam || 3-32-11
Likewise, whose limbs are thrashed with thrashing missilery of all gods, whereby his body and soul have become harsh, thus he can perpetrate anything swiftly at his will, and he who can capably roil [disturb] an un-perturb [quite] ocean at his wish, at such Ravana, Shuurpanakha saw. [3-32-11]
kseptaaram parvata agraanaam suraanaam ca pramardanam |
ucchettaaram ca dharmaanaam para daara abhimarshanam || 3-32-12
At him who is a volleyer [to toss in the air] of mountain peaks, a repressor of gods, an extirpator of ethical values, and a molester of others wives, Shuurpanakha saw. [3-32-12]
sarva divya astra yoktaaram yajna vighna karam sadaa |
puriim bhogavatiim gatvaa paraajitya ca vaasukim || 3-32-13
taksakasya priyaam bhaaryaam paraajitya jahaara yah |
He who is a marksman of every divine missile, and an ever interdictor of Vedic-rituals, and who on going to the city named Bhogavati, the capital of Naaga-s, and on defeating Vasuki, the King of Serpents, has abducted the dear wife of Taksha on molesting her, and Shuurpanakha saw such a molester of others wives. [3-32-13, 14a]
kailaasam parvatam gatvaa vijitya nara vaahanam || 3-32-14
vimaanam puspakam tasya kaamagam vai jahaara yah |
On going to Mt. Kailash he who has defeated the god who uses humans as his vehicle, namely Kubera, and snatched away his aircraft, namely Pushpaka, which aircraft transits at the wish of its steersman, and Shuurpanakha saw such a grabber of others possessions. [3-32-14b, 15a]
vanam caitraratham divyam naliniim na.ndanam vanam || 3-32-15
vinaashayati yah krodhaat deva udyaanaani viiryavaan |
He who enviously devastated the divine gardens of Kubera, called Caitraratha, along with a divine Lake of Lotuses pertaining to the same Kubera, called Pushkarini, and the gardens of Indra, called Nandana, along with other paradisiacal gardens of gods, Shuurpanakha saw such an envious demon. [3-32-15b, 16a]
candra suuryau mahaa bhaagau uttisthantau para.ntapau || 3-32-16
nivaarayati baahubhyaam yah shaila shikharopamah |
Shuurpanakha saw him who is similar to the pinnacle of a mountain, and who with his two hands forestalls the highly propitious ones and stifler [to kill by depriving of oxygen] of their enemies, namely the Sun and Moon, when they tend to rise. [3-32-16b, 17a]
dasha varsa sahasraani tapah taptvaa mahaavane || 3-32-17
puraa svayambhuve dhiirah shiraa.msi upajahaara yah |
That courageous one who in early times has practiced ascesis for ten thousand years in a great-forest, and who on accomplishing it has dedicated ten of his heads to the Self-Created Brahma, she saw such a Ravana with such ten heads. [3-32-17b, 18a]
deva daanava gadharva pishaaca pataga uragaih || 3-32-18
abhayam yasya sa.ngraame mrityuto maanusaad rite |
Whereby, to whom there is an indemnity against death in war at the hand of gods, demons, Gandharva-s, devils, birds, or reptiles, excepting humans, and Shuurpanakha saw such an unimperilled [not in danger] Ravana. [3-32-18b, 19a]
mantraih abhitustam punyam adhvaresu dvijaatibhih || 3-32-19
havirdhaanesu yah somam upahanti mahaabalah |
He who is an extreme-ultraist that expropriates the Soma-juice-oblation form the vessels of oblation in Vedic-rituals, which Soma juice-oblation is blest with Vedic-hymns and kept separately by Vedic Brahmans, since it is intended and shall belong to Indra and other divinities, and she saw such a plunderer. [3-32-19b, 20a]
praapta yajna haram dustam brahma ghnam kruura kaarinam || 3-32-20
karkasham niranukrosham prajaanaam ahite ratam |
He who is such an embezzler of the Vedic-rituals at the time of their culmination, a malicious one, and one with cruel acts, a hinderer of Vedic-rituals, or, the slayer of those Brahmans that conduct Vedic-rituals contrary to his wishes, and one who is heartless and a rampant demon, who is a delighter in the iniquity to the people, at him Shuurpanakha saw. [3-32-20b, 21a]
raavanam sarva bhuutaanaam sarva loka bhayaavaham || 3-32-21
raaksasii bhraataram kruuram saa dadarsha mahaabalam |
She that demoness Shuurpanakha saw her brother who makes all beings to wail, an alarming one to all the worlds, an atrocious one and highly formidable Ravana. [3-32-21b, 22a]
tam divya vastra aabharanam divya maalya upashobhitam || 3-32-22
aasane suupavistam tam kaale kaalam iva udyatam |
And at him who is conspicuously sitting on a throne, attired and bejewelled in excellent apparels and jewels, shining forth with marvelous garlands, and who is like the Ultimate-Time on the rise destined for the Eventual-Time. [3-32-22b, 23a]
raaksasendram mahaabhaagam paulastya kula nandanam || 3-32-23
upagamya abraviit vaakyam raakshasii bhaya vihvalaa |
raavanam shatru hantaaram ma.ntribhih parivaaritam || 3-32-24
Demoness Shuurpanakha nearing Ravana, who is the highly fortunate king of demons, an enemy-destroyer and a felicity of the dynasty of Sage Pulasta, and who is now surrounded by his ministers, she spoke this sentence. [3-32-23b, 24]
tam abraviit diipta vishaala locanam
pradar.hshayitvaa bhaya lobha mohitaa |
sudaarunam vaakyam abhiita caarinii
mahaatmanaa shuurpanakhaa viruupitaa || 3-32-25
She who is disfigured by the high souled Lakshmana, and who is still perplexed with the fear of Lakshmana and her own craving for Rama as well, on displaying her misfortune to everybody that fearless rover Shuurpanakha spoke this very caustic sentence to Ravana, whose eyes are broad and burning. [3-32-25]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande dvaa tri.mshah sargah
Thus, this is the 32nd chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate