Chapter 4 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 4

Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda

Verse 4.9

तं प्रेक्ष्य रामः सुभृशमवध्यम च लोपमम्। भयेष्वभयदः श्रीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ तपसा पुरुषव्याघ्र राक्षसोऽयं न शक्यते। शस्त्रेण युधि निर्जेतुं राक्षसं निखनावहे॥

taṃ prekṣya rāmaḥ subhṛśamavadhyama ca lopamam| bhayeṣvabhayadaḥ śrīmānidaṃ vacanamabravīt|| tapasā puruṣavyāghra rākṣaso'yaṃ na śakyate| śastreṇa yudhi nirjetuṃ rākṣasaṃ nikhanāvahe||

English Meaning

Seeing him utterly incapable of being killed, and resembling a hill, that inspirer of hope in times of peril, the graceful (Rama), said, O foreinost of men, in consequence of his austerities, yon Rākşasa cannot be vanquished with weapons in conflict. Therefore, let us cast him into a pit.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)