Sarga 30: Maricha and Subahu
Maricha Subahu Vadha
Rama and Lakshmana guard Vishvamitra's six-day sacrifice; when Maricha and Subahu swoop down with their demon horde to defile it with blood, Rama blasts Maricha out to sea with the Manava missile and kills Subahu with the Agneya, completing the sacrifice unhindered.
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आवार्य गगनं मेघो यथा प्रावृषि निर्गत:। तथामायां विकुर्वाणौ राक्षसावभ्यधावताम्।।1.30.11।।
Meaning
Like a cloud covering the sky as it emerges in the rainy season, the two rakshasas rushed forth, working their magic.
मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च तयोरनुचराश्च ये। आगम्य भीमसङ्काशा रुधिरौघमवासृजन्।।1.30.12।।
Meaning
Maricha and Subahu, and their fearsome-looking followers, arrived and poured down streams of blood.
सा तेन रुधिरौघेण वेदिर्जज्वाल मण्डिता। सहसाऽभिद्रुतो रामस्तानपश्य त्ततो दिवि।।1.30.13।।
Meaning
The altar, drenched with that flood of blood, blazed on; Rama, rushing swiftly, then saw them in the sky.
तावापतन्तौ सहसा दृष्ट्वा राजीवलोचन:। लक्ष्मणं त्वभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य रामो वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.30.14।।
Meaning
Seeing the two swooping down suddenly, the lotus-eyed Rama, glancing at Lakshmana, spoke these words.
पश्य लक्ष्मण दुर्वृत्तान् राक्षसान् पिशिताशनान्। मानवास्त्रसमाधूताननिलेन यथा घनान्।।1.30.15।।
Meaning
See, Lakshmana, these ill-behaved, flesh-eating rakshasas — I shall scatter them with the Manava missile as wind scatters clouds.
करिष्यामि न संदेहो न उत्सहे हन्तुमीदृशान्। इत्युक्त्वा वचनं रामश्चापे संधाय वेगवान्।।1.30.16।।
Meaning
"I shall do it without doubt, though I am reluctant to kill such creatures." So saying, the swift Rama fitted the arrow to his bow.
मानवं परमोदारमस्त्रं परमभास्वरम्। चिक्षेप परमक्रुद्धो मारीचोरसि राघव:।।1.30.16।।
Meaning
Greatly enraged, Raghava hurled the excellent, most radiant Manava missile at Maricha's chest.
स तेन परमास्त्रेण मानवेन समाहित:। संपूर्णं योजनशतं क्षिप्तस्सागरसम्प्लवे।।1.30.17।।
Meaning
Struck cleanly by that supreme Manava missile, he was flung a full hundred yojanas away into the surging sea.
विचेतनं विघूर्णन्तं शीतेषु बलताडितम्। निरस्तं दृश्य मारीचं रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्।।1.30.18।।
Meaning
Seeing Maricha senseless, reeling, struck down by the force of the Shitesu, Rama said to Lakshmana.
पश्य लक्ष्मण शीतेषुं मानवं धर्मसंहितम्। मोहयित्वा नयत्येनं न च प्राणैर्व्ययुज्यत।।1.30.19।।
Meaning
See, Lakshmana, the Shitesu, the Manava missile taught by Manu — it dazes and carries him off, but does not take his life.