Triśirás

Also known as: Triśirá · Family: Rákshases · Role: fiend · First appears: Book I, Canto 3 · The Argument

In Book III, Canto 27, Khara sent Triśirás to fight Ráma, who slew him in battle. The canto says, “The headless trunk bedrenched with gore / Fell to the ground and moved no more.” Later cantos in Book III recount his death alongside Khara and Dúshaṇ.

In Book VI, Canto 69, Rávaṇ sent Triśirás and his brothers Devántak, Narántak, and Atikáya to fight the Vánars. In Canto 70, Triśirás fought Angad, Hanumán, and Níla; Hanumán killed him by striking off his three heads.

Relationship record

Life events

• Khara sent Triśirás to battle Ráma.(Book III, Canto 27 · The Death Of Trisirás)
  • With: Khara
  • “‘Go forth to battle,’ Khara cried; And toward his foe the giant hied.”
• Ráma slew Triśirás in battle.(Book III, Canto 27 · The Death Of Trisirás)
  • With: Ráma
  • “Then yielding to each deadly stroke, Forth spouting streams of blood and smoke, The headless trunk bedrenched with gore Fell to the ground and moved no more.”
• Ráma slew the fourteen thousand fiends, including Triśirás and Dúshaṇ.(Book III, Canto 30 · Khara’s Death)
  • With: Ráma Dúshaṇ
  • “For three short hours had scarcely flown, And by his pointed shafts o’erthrown The twice seven thousand fiends, whose will Could change their shapes, in death were still, With Triśirás and Dúshaṇ slain, And Khara, leader of the train.”
• Ráma slew Triśirás, Dúshaṇ, and Khara.(Book III, Canto 32 · Rávan Roused)
  • With: Ráma Dúshaṇ Khara
  • “Add Triśirás and Dúshaṇ dead, And Khara, with the hosts they led.”
• Ráma slew Triśirás and Dúshaṇ and killed Khara.(Book III, Canto 34 · Súrpanakhá’s Speech)
  • With: Ráma Dúshaṇ Khara
  • “And Triśirás and Dúshaṇ lay Low on the earth, and Khara slay?”
• Ráma defeated Khara’s forces and slew Khara, Dúshaṇ, and Triśirás.(Book III, Canto 36 · Rávan’s Speech · 📍 Janasthán)
  • With: Ráma Khara Dúshaṇ
  • “The twice seven thousand fell o’erthrown By him, a man, on foot, alone. Khara the army’s chief and pride, And Dúshaṇ, fearless warrior, died, And Triśirás the fierce was slain,”
• Rávaṇ sent his sons forth to fight the Vánars.(Book VI, Canto 69 · Narántak’s Death)
  • With: Rávaṇ Devántak Narántak Atikáya
  • “The joyous king his sons embraced, With gold and chains and jewels graced, And sent them forth with stirring speech Of benison and praise to each.”
• Hanúmán killed Triśirás by striking off his three heads.(Book VI, Canto 70 · The Death Of Trisirás)
  • With: Hanumán
  • “And from the monster triple-necked Smote his huge heads with crowns bedecked.”
• Ráma defeated Khara, Triśirás, and Dúshaṇ.(Book VI, Canto 128 · Hanumán’s Story)
  • With: Ráma Khara Dúshaṇ
  • “How Khara with the troops he led And Triśirás and Dúshaṇ bled:”

Book I, Canto 3 · The Argument

• enemies with Ráma “Of Triśirá’s and Khara’s fall,”

Book III, Canto 27 · The Death Of Trisirás

• lord: Khara (Khara orders Triśirás to go into battle.) “‘Go forth to battle,’ Khara cried;”
• enemies with Ráma “Then yielding to each deadly stroke, Forth spouting streams of blood and smoke, The headless trunk bedrenched with gore Fell to the ground and moved no more.”

Book III, Canto 28 · Khara Dismounted

• enemies with Ráma “But when he turned his eye where bled Both Triśirás and Dúshaṇ dead,”

Book III, Canto 30 · Khara’s Death

• enemies with Ráma “With Triśirás and Dúshaṇ slain, And Khara, leader of the train.”

Book III, Canto 32 · Rávan Roused

• enemies with Ráma “Add Triśirás and Dúshaṇ dead,”

Book III, Canto 34 · Súrpanakhá’s Speech

• enemies with Ráma “And Triśirás and Dúshaṇ lay Low on the earth, and Khara slay?”

Book III, Canto 36 · Rávan’s Speech

• enemies with Ráma “Khara the army’s chief and pride, And Dúshaṇ, fearless warrior, died, And Triśirás the fierce was slain,”

Book VI, Canto 69 · Narántak’s Death

• parent: Rávaṇ “Yea, father, he has fought and died, Our bravest: and the loss is sore:”
• siblings with Devántak “The joyous king his sons embraced, With gold and chains and jewels graced, And sent them forth with stirring speech Of benison and praise to each.”
• siblings with Narántak “The joyous king his sons embraced, With gold and chains and jewels graced, And sent them forth with stirring speech Of benison and praise to each.”
• siblings with Atikáya “The joyous king his sons embraced, With gold and chains and jewels graced, And sent them forth with stirring speech Of benison and praise to each.”

Book VI, Canto 70 · The Death Of Trisirás

• enemies with Angad “There Angad stood to fight with three: High o’er his head he waved a tree, And at Devántak, swift and true As Indra’s flaming bolt, it flew.”
• enemies with Hanumán “The giant drew his glittering blade: Dire was the wound the weapon made Deep in the Vánar’s ample chest, Who, for a moment sore oppressed, Raised his broad hand, regaining might, And struck the rover of the night.”
• enemies with Níla “Hanúmán saw, nor long delayed To speed with Níla to his aid, Who at the three-faced giant sent A peak from Lanká’s mountain rent.”

Book VI, Canto 128 · Hanumán’s Story

• enemies with Ráma “How Khara with the troops he led And Triśirás and Dúshaṇ bled:”

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Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.