Rama and Lakshmana come to know about the curse of Viradha. Viradha desires to die in then hands of Rama according to the amendment given by the cursing authority, and thus he will be killed and relieved of his curse by Rama, and his elimination of negative forces starts with the elimination of Viradha. At the time of release from his curse, Viradha advises Rama to go to Sage Sharabhanga, who can advise Rama properly.
Chapter [Sarga] 4 in Detail
hriyamaanau tu kaakutsthau dristwaa siitaa raghuuttamau |
uccaih swarena chukrosha pragrihya su mahaabhujau || 3-4-1
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]
esa daasharathii raamah satyavaan shiilavaan shuchih |
rakshasaa raudra ruupena hriyate saha lakshmanah || 3-4-2
"He that truth-abiding, virtuous, and the flawless Rama of Dasharatha is carried off along with Lakshmana by the demon with a ferocious look... [3-4-2]
maam rikaa bhaksha isyanti shaarduula dviipinah tathaa |
maam harah utsrijya kaakutsthau namaste raakshasottamah || 3-4-3
"Wild bears, tigers and panthers aspire to eat me away... oh, best demon, thieve me instead and release Kakutstha-s... Hail to thee..." [Said Seetha.] [3-4-3]
tasyaah tat vachanam shrutvaa vaidehyaah raama lakshmanau |
vegam prachakratur viirau vadhe tasya duraatmanah || 3-4-4
On hearing Vaidehi's that utterance those valorous ones Rama and Lakshmana speedily busied themselves in eliminating that evil-minded demon Viradha. [3-4-4]
tasya raudrasya soumitrih savyam baahum babhanja ha |
raamah tu dakshinam baahum tarasaa tasya rakshasah || 3-4-5
Soumitri indeed severed the left arm of that ferocious one, while Rama rend [to remove from place by violence] the right arm of that demon. [3-4-5]
sah bhagna bahuh sa.mvignah papaata aashu vimuurchitah |
dharanyaam megha sa.mkaasho vajra bhinna iva achalah || 3-4-6
When his arms are mutilated that demon similar to a dark-cloud is frustrated, fainted, and fell onto ground, like the mountain demolished by the Thunderbolt of Indra. [3-4-6]
mustibhir baahubhir padbhih suudayantau tu raakshasam |
udyamyodyamya cha api enam sthandile nispipesatuh || 3-4-7
They battered that demon 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]
sa viddho bahubhir baanaih khadgaabhyaam cha parikshatah |
nispisto bahudhaa bhuumau na mamaara sa raakshasah || 3-4-8
Though that demon 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]
tam prekshya raamah subhrisham avadhyam achala upamam |
bhayesu abhaya dah shriimaan idam vachanam abraviit || 3-4-9
On observing that the mountain-similar demon is ineradicable that easily, then Rama, the sublime one, and the bestower of shelter in fear, spoke this sentence to Lakshmana. [3-4-9]
tapasaa purusavyaaghra raakshaso.ayam na shakyate |
shastrena yudhi nirjetum raakshasam nikhanaavahe || 3-4-10
"Oh! Manly-tiger Lakshmana, it is impossible to overpower this demon with weapons in a confrontation, hence, let’s bury this demon... [3-4-10]
kunjarsya iva raudrasya raakshasasya asya lakshmana! |
vane asmin sumahad shwabhram khanyataam raudravarchasah || 3-4-11
"Lakshmana, a very deep pit be dug for this furious and ferocious reprobate in this forest, as though for an elephant... [3-4-11]
iti uktvaa lakshmanam raamah pradarah khanyataam iti |
tasthau viraadham aakrmya kanthe paadena viiryavaan || 3-4-12
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]
tat shrutvaa raaghavena uktam raakshasah prashritam vachah |
idam provaacha kaakutstham viraadhah purusarsabham || 3-4-13
On hearing that said by Raghava, demon Viradha sincerely spoke these humble words to Rama, the finest one from Kakutstha dynasty. [3-4-13]
hato.aham purusavyaaghrah shakra tulya balena vai |
mayaa tu puurvam twam mohaan na jnaatah purusarsabhah || 3-4-14
"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]
kausalyaa suprajaatah taata raamah twam vidito mayaa |
vaidehii cha mahaabhaagaa lakshmanah cha mahaayashaah || 3-4-15
"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]
abhi shaapaad aham ghoram pravisto raakshsiim tanum |
tu.mburuh naama gandharvah shapto vaishravanena hi || 4-3-16
"By curse I had to enter this ghoulish demon's body, but I am a celestial Gandharva, named Tumburu and Kubera cursed me... [3-4-16]
prasaadyamaanah cha mayaa so.abraviit maam mahaayashaah |
yadaa daasharathii ramah twaam vadhisyati sa.myuge || 3-4-17
tadaa prakritim aapanno bhavaan swargam gamisyati |
"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 celestial body and you will go to heavens...' [3-4-17, 18a]
anupasthiiyamaano maam sa kruddho vyaajahaara ha || 3-4-18
iti vaishravano raajaa ra.mbha aasaktam uvaaca ha |
"King Kubera thus cursed angrily me for not presenting myself in his service when I was interested in a celestial dancer Rambha, and indeed he alone said this curse-clearance to me... [3-4-18b, 19a]
tava prasaadaan mukto aham abhishaapaat su daarunaat || 3-4-19
bhuvanam swam gamisyaami swasti vo.astu para.mtapa |
"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]
ito vasati dharmaatmaa sharabhangah prataapavaan || 3-4-20
adhyartha yojane taatah maharsih suurya sa.nnibhah |
tam kshipram abhigaccha twam sa te shreyo abhidhaasyati || 3-4-21
”Oh, Sir, at 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]
avate cha api maam raama nikshipya kushalii vraja |
rakshasaam gata sattvaanaam esa dharmah sanaatanah || 3-4-22
avate ye nidhiiyante tesaam lokaah sanaatanaah |
"Rama you go safely on burying me in a pit... this is the age-old custom for those demons that lost vitality... those that are inhumed in pit; to them there will be the worlds of manes..." [3-4-22, 23a]
evam uktvaa tu kaakutstham viraadhah shara piiditah || 3-4-23
babhuuva swarga sa.mpraapto nyasta deho mahaabalah |
"And on saying thus to Rama that Viradha who is hurt by arrows became heaven-worthy on leaving his body. [3-4-23b, 24a]
tat shrutvaa raaghavah vaakyam lakshmanam vyaadidesha ha || 3-4-24
ku.njarsya iva raudrasya raakshasasya asya lakshmana! |
vane asmin sumahat shwabhram khanyataam raudrakarmanah|| 3-4-25
iti uktvaa lakshmanam raamah pradarah khanyataam iti |
tasthau viraadham aakramya kanthe paadena viiryavaan || 3-4-26
And Raghava on hearing those words of the demon 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]
tatah khanitram aadaaya lakshmanah shwabhram uttamam |
akhanat paarshvatah tasya viraadhasya mahaatmanah || 3-4-27
Then, on taking a digging tool Lakshmana dug a deep pit beside the great soul Viradha. [3-4-27]
tam mukta kantham utkshipya shanku karnam mahaaswanam |
viraadham praakshipat shwabhre nadantam bhairava swanam || 3-4-28
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]
tam aahave daarunam aashu vikramau
sthirau ubhau sa.myati raama lakshmanau |
mudaanvitau chikshipatur bhayaavaham
nadantam utkshipya bilena raakshsam || 3-4-29
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 demon who is still blaring, with all their might and hurled him into the pit. [3-4-29]
avadhyataam prekshya mahaasurasya tau
shitena shastrena tadaa nararsabhau |
samarthya cha atyartha vishaaradau ubhau
bile viradhasya vadham prachakratuh || 3-4-30
On observing the indestructibility of that demon 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 demon in a pit. [3-4-30]
swayam viraadhena hi mrityum aatmanah
prasahya raamena vadhaartham iipsitah |
niveditah kaanana chaarinaa swayam
na me vadhah shastra krito bhavet iti || 3-4-31
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]
tadeva raamena nishamya bhaasitam
kritaa matih tasya bila praveshane |
bilam cha tena ati balena rakshasaa
praveshyamaanena vanam vinaaditam || 3-4-32
On listening to that which is said by Viradha, Rama resolved his mind to cast him into pit, and when that mighty demon is being flung into the pit the whole forest blared with that demon's cries. [3-4-32]
prahrista ruupau iva raama lakshmanau
viraadham urvyaam pradare nipaatya tam |
nanandatuh viita bhayau mahaavane
shilaabhih antar dadhatuh cha raakshasam || 3-4-33
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]
tatah tu tau kaa.nchana chitra kaarmukau
nihatya rakshah parigrihya maithiliim |
vijahratuh tau muditau mahaavane
divi sthitau chandra divaakarau iva || 3-4-34
Then they two who have dazzling golden bows have eliminated that demon 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]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye aranya kaande caturthah sargah
Thus, this is the 4th chapter in Aranya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate