Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ भूतादिना नीलः प्रहस्तं वासरैस्त्रिभिः। विक्रमन्तं रणे घोरमवधीन्मल्लयुद्धकृत्॥१॥
Brahmā said: “Then Nīla, fighting like a wrestler, killed Prahasta after the latter had battled fiercely for three days.
Passage 2
इत्थं विक्रमतो वीक्ष्य कपीन् रक्षःक्षयंकरान्। महाबलो दशमुखः स्वयं योद्धुमुपागमत्॥२॥
“Seeing the monkeys display such prowess and bring destruction upon the rākṣasas, mighty ten-headed Rāvaṇa came to fight in person.
Passage 3
तस्मिन् विनिःसृते योद्धुं लङ्कातो भूरिराक्षसैः। पुरोगैः पृष्ठगैश्चापि सार्धं बहुमदोद्धते॥३॥
“Swollen with immense pride, he left Laṅkā for battle accompanied by multitudes of rākṣasas marching before and behind him.
Passage 4
जयनिःसानपटहभेरीदुन्दुभिगोमुखैः। समभूत् काहलः शब्दो व्याप्नुवन् रोदसी दिशः॥४॥
“Victory drums, paṭahas, kettledrums, dundubhis, and horn-shaped instruments raised a tumultuous sound that filled heaven, earth, and every direction.
Passage 5
स दधद्विंशतिं दोष्णां महाधन्वा महाबलः। पङ्क्त्या शिरोभिः शैलस्य कूटैरिव भयानकः॥५॥
“That immensely powerful bearer of a great bow possessed twenty arms and appeared terrifying with his row of heads, like a mountain crowned by many peaks.
Passage 6
क्रोधादग्निकणान् मुञ्चन् विंशत्यालोचनैरपि। कम्पयन् धरणीं कृत्स्नां पादन्यासैर्मदोद्धतः॥६॥
“His twenty eyes cast sparks of fire in anger. Inflated with arrogance, his every footfall made the whole earth tremble.
Passage 7
शस्त्रास्त्रमन्त्रनिपुणो हेलानिर्जितवासवः। मेघनिर्घोषया वाचा तत्तत्स्थानेषु राक्षसान्॥७॥
“Skilled in weapons, missiles, and their mantras, and one who had effortlessly defeated Indra, he addressed the rākṣasas at their respective stations in a voice like the crash of clouds.
Passage 8
आज्ञया स्थापयन् क्रुद्धः सामन्तांश्च च भूपतीन्। प्रसभं निर्दिशन् युद्धे स्थेमानमपलायनम्॥८॥
“In fury he posted his feudatories and allied kings by command, sternly ordering them to stand firm in battle and never flee.
Passage 9
इदमूचे महावीर्यो नगरान्निःसृतो बहिः। अहो रे राक्षसभटा अद्याहं योद्धुमुद्यतः॥९॥
“Once the immensely valiant king had passed beyond the city, he said, ‘Listen, rākṣasa warriors! Today I myself am prepared to fight.
Passage 10
ममाप्रतिबलेनापि रामेण युधि तिष्ठता। अहो मे घातिता येन बहवो राक्षसा भटाः॥१०॥
“‘Though Rāma is no match for me, he has remained upon the battlefield and killed a great many of my rākṣasa warriors.
Passage 11
अतो द्रष्टव्य एवायं मया समितिं राघवः। बद्धो येन च पाथोधिर्दृशा कोपकषायया॥११॥
“‘Therefore I must see this Rāghava in battle—the man who, with a glance reddened by anger, caused even the ocean to be bridged.
Passage 12
तमहं विशिखैरद्य मम बाहुबलेरितैः। सर्वथा छिन्नभिन्नाङ्गं दर्शयिष्यामि रक्षसाम्॥१२॥
“‘Today I shall display him before the rākṣasas with his body utterly cut and shattered by arrows launched through the strength of my arms.
Passage 13
अद्य पश्यत मे बाहुबलं तस्मिन् विघातके। अथवा किं बलेनास्मिन् मर्त्यमात्रे लघीयसि॥१३॥
“‘Today behold the strength of my arms against this destroyer! Or why speak of strength at all against such a paltry mortal?
Passage 14
आनेष्यामि जवाद्बद्ध्वा तमहं शरजालगम्। इत्थं विकत्थमानोऽसौ निश्चक्राम पुराद्बहिः॥१४॥
“‘I shall quickly ensnare him in a net of arrows, bind him, and bring him here.’ Boasting in this way, Rāvaṇa passed beyond the city.
Passage 15
सहैव रक्षसां यूथैर्नानाशस्त्रास्त्रपाणिभिः। जयनिर्घोषसहितो नानाशस्त्रास्त्रसंयुतः॥१५॥
“He went with hosts of rākṣasas bearing many kinds of weapons and missiles, surrounded by cries of victory and equipped with every manner of armament.
Passage 16
स आगत्य रणेऽतिष्ठत् कपिसैन्यैर्निरीक्षितः। दशभिः शिखरैर्युक्तो महानद्रिरिवोन्नतः॥१६॥
“He arrived and stood upon the battlefield under the gaze of the monkey army, towering like a great mountain with ten peaks. Rāvaṇa's Form Terrifies the Monkeys
Passage 17
दोर्दण्डनिबहोद्धतसरलद्रुमदण्डभृत्। विंशद्दृष्टिस्त्विषा दीप्तो ज्वलन्तीरौषधीरिव॥१७॥
“His mass of mighty arms resembled a stand of lofty, straight tree trunks. His twenty eyes blazed with radiance like luminous herbs burning upon a mountain.
Passage 18
उत्तुङ्गस्कन्धकूटोच्चः पादशैलभयानकः। उरःपृथुशिलाशाली पृष्ठाधित्यकयाञ्चितः॥१८॥
“His high shoulder-peaks rose aloft, his mountain-like feet inspired terror, his broad chest seemed built of stone, and his back formed a vast tableland.
Passage 19
मुखनासाश्रुतिदरीगह्वरद्वारभीषणः। अदृश्यत रणे साक्षाद्भीमकर्मा दशाननः॥१९॥
“His mouths, noses, and ears were dreadful cavern entrances. Thus the ten-headed doer of terrible deeds appeared embodied upon the battlefield.
Passage 20
तं वीक्ष्य केचित् कपयो वित्रस्ता इव तत्क्षणात्। विस्मिताश्चाभवन् केचिदहो एष स रावणः॥२०॥
“At the sight of him some monkeys were instantly terrified, while others stared in astonishment: ‘So this is Rāvaṇa!’
Passage 21
भीताः केचिच्च परितो दिङ्मुखेषु पलायितुम्। समादधे तानाश्वास्य भगवान् रघुपुङ्गवः॥२१॥
“Some, overcome by fear, prepared to flee in every direction, but the blessed scion of Raghu reassured them and restored their composure.
Passage 22
अहो अस्मान्न भेतव्यं दुःसत्त्वान्मे महाभटाः। मयि तिष्ठति संग्रामे का वो भीतिरितो भवेत्॥२२॥
“Rāma said, ‘My great warriors, do not fear this evil creature. While I stand here in battle, what fear could he possibly cause you?
Passage 23
पश्यतैनं रणमुखाद् द्रावयामि शरैरहम्। बाणैर्वह्निशिखादीप्तैर्नासौ स्थास्यति मत्पुरः॥२३॥
“‘Watch me drive him from the front of battle with my arrows. He will not remain before me when my shafts blaze like tongues of fire.’
Passage 24
इत्युक्ताः कपयो रामवीरेण धृतधन्वना। समाहितान्तराः सर्वे तस्थुर्युधि रिपोः पुरः॥२४॥
“Thus addressed by heroic Rāma, who stood with bow in hand, all the monkeys steadied their hearts and remained in battle before the enemy. Three Days of Arrow-War
Passage 25
सोऽभिवीक्ष्य रणे रामं तिष्ठन्तं सज्यकार्मुकम्। मुमोच वीरः पञ्चभ्यो धनुर्भ्यः पञ्चसायकान्॥२५॥
“Seeing Rāma standing in battle with his bow strung, the rākṣasa hero released five arrows from five bows.
Passage 26
स तानापततो घोरान् पञ्चभिः सायकैर्निजैः। चकर्त मध्ये गगनं तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥२६॥
“Rāma met those five terrible oncoming shafts with five of his own and cut them apart in midair. The sight was wondrous.
Passage 27
भूयो मुमोच रघुपेः सायकान् दशकन्धरः। तानप्यसौ द्विधा चक्रे मध्ये मार्गं निजैः शरैः॥२७॥
“The ten-necked king again discharged arrows at the lord of Raghu's line, but Rāma's own shafts split them in two midway along their course.
Passage 28
इत्थं स तेन बलिना विनिर्मुक्ताञ्छरोत्करान्। बिभेद सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्ततश्चुक्रोध रावणः॥२८॥
“In this way mighty Rāma broke every mass of arrows Rāvaṇa released with his own keen shafts. Rāvaṇa then flew into a rage.
Passage 29
राक्षस्या मायया भूत्वा शतधा च सहस्रधा। आवृणोत् परितो रामं मायावी राक्षसेश्वरः॥२९॥
“By rākṣasa magic the illusionist king of the rākṣasas multiplied himself a hundredfold and a thousandfold, surrounding Rāma on every side.
Passage 30
ववर्ष च शरव्रातान् सानुजे रघुपुङ्गवे। महानीलगिरौ वारिवृष्टीरिव पुरन्दरः॥३०॥
“He showered masses of arrows upon Rāma and his younger brother, like Indra pouring torrents of rain upon a great blue mountain.
Passage 31
जवेन शरवृष्टिं तां रामो निर्धूय सायकैः। उदस्थाद्भानुमालीव रश्मिवृन्दैः कुहेलिकाम्॥३१॥
“Rāma swiftly swept aside that rain of arrows with his own shafts and emerged like the radiant sun dispersing a bank of mist with its rays.
Passage 32
स शरैस्ताडयामास यावद्प्रतिकृतिद्विषम्। रावणस्तं चाभ्यवर्षच्छतधा च सहस्रधा॥३२॥
“Rāma struck every replicated form of his enemy with arrows, while Rāvaṇa, appearing in hundreds and thousands of forms, continued to rain shafts upon him.
Passage 33
ततस्तयोरभूद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्। पश्यद्विबुधगन्धर्वनरविस्मयवर्धनम्॥३३॥
“A tumultuous, hair-raising battle then arose between them, increasing the wonder of the gods, gandharvas, and men who watched.
Passage 34
यावद्दिनत्रयं नित्यं निरन्तरशरोत्करम्। शिञ्जमानधनुर्जीवारवपूरितदिङ्मुखम्॥३४॥
“For three full days the uninterrupted torrent of arrows continued, while the twanging of bowstrings filled every quarter.
Passage 35
आच्छादितनभोभूमिपथं घोरतरारवम्। अन्योन्यजयवाञ्छाढ्यं मेघयोरिव गर्जतोः॥३५॥
“It covered the sky, earth, and every path with a dreadful roar. Each combatant burned to conquer the other, like two clouds thundering against one another.
Passage 36
उभयोर्धनुषी ते तु मण्डलाकारतां गते। सृजन्ती इव दृश्येते निरन्तरशरोत्करान्॥३६॥
“Their two bows appeared as perfect circles, seeming to generate unbroken streams of arrows.
Passage 37
तूणात् समभ्युद्धरणं रोपणं चापि धन्वनि। क्षेपणं लक्ष्यहननं पुनरुद्धरणं तथा॥३७॥
“Drawing a shaft from the quiver, setting it to the bow, releasing it, striking the target, and drawing yet another—
Passage 38
बह्वीरपि क्रिया राम एकरूपा व्यदृश्यत। रक्षोधिपोऽपि समरे तद्वद्विक्रममातनोत्॥३८॥
“—though Rāma performed many separate actions, they appeared as one. The lord of the rākṣasas displayed equal speed upon the field. Rāma Breaks Rāvaṇa's Bows and Weapons
Passage 39
चतुर्थीदिवसे रामो रावणस्य निजेषुणा। धनुर्मौर्वीं बभञ्जाजौ सोऽन्यां धनुषि संदधे॥३९॥
“On the fourth day Rāma broke Rāvaṇa's bowstring with one of his own arrows. Rāvaṇa fitted another string to his bow.
Passage 40
ततो मौर्वीं धनुश्चापि तस्य रामो व्यखण्डयत्। शरेणैकेन चान्येन मध्यशीर्षावतंसकम्॥४०॥
“Rāma then cut apart both the string and the bow, and with another single arrow struck away the ornament crowning Rāvaṇa's central head.
Passage 41
ततः स क्षुब्धहृदयो धनुरन्यदुपाददे। ततः करान् सधनुषः समाहत्य दृढैः शरैः॥४१॥
“His heart convulsed, Rāvaṇa seized another bow. Rāma then assailed with powerful arrows each of the hands that held a bow—
Passage 42
धनूंषि पातयामास करेभ्यस्तस्य राघवः। एकेन चातिगाढेन शरेणोरस्यताडयत्॥४२॥
“—and made the bows fall from Rāvaṇa's hands. With one exceedingly forceful shaft, Rāghava struck him in the chest.
Passage 43
स शरस्तस्य हृदयं प्रविवेश जवेरितः। अपसारयितुं तस्मान्मोहमानमदानिव॥४३॥
“Driven with tremendous speed, the arrow entered his heart as though to expel his delusion, pride, and arrogance.
Passage 44
पपौ च रुधिरं तत्र ततो मूर्छामवाप सः। पुनश्चैतन्यमासाद्य घूर्णमानः स संयुगे॥४४॥
“There it drank his blood, and Rāvaṇa fainted. Regaining consciousness, he reeled upon the battlefield.
Passage 45
भुशुण्डीं प्राहिणोद्रामे ज्वलन्तीं तडिदुज्ज्वलाम्। तामप्यर्धपथप्राप्तां चकर्त रघुपुङ्गवः॥४५॥
“He hurled at Rāma a blazing bhuśuṇḍī missile, brilliant as lightning, but the scion of Raghu cut it apart halfway through its flight.
Passage 46
शतधा निजबाणेन ततः शक्तिं मुमोच सः। तामप्यस्य द्विधा मध्ये व्योमाभिमुखपातुकीम्॥४६॥
“Rāma's arrow shattered it into a hundred pieces. Rāvaṇa next released a spear, but Rāma split that too in midair as it plunged toward him.
Passage 47
ततः खड्गांश्च मुशलान् मुद्गरप्रासतोमरान्। शक्तीः परश्वधाञ्छूलान् परिघान् कुन्तपट्टिशान्॥४७॥
“Rāvaṇa then sent swords, clubs, hammers, javelins, lances, spears, battle-axes, tridents, iron bars, pikes, and long-edged weapons—
Passage 48
मुमोच घोरमायावी परितो रघुपुङ्गवे। अप्राप्तानेव तान् रामः शस्त्रपुगान् सहस्रशः॥४८॥
“—the fearsome illusionist launching them from every side at Rāma. Before those thousands of masses of weapons could reach him, Rāma—
Passage 49
सहमध्यधनुर्मुक्तैर्निजबाणैरखण्डयत्। रामस्य मार्गणैरित्थं शस्त्रास्त्राणि च विद्विषः॥४९॥
“—shattered them with his own arrows released from his bow. Thus the enemy's weapons and missiles, cut apart by Rāma's shafts—
Passage 50
परावृत्तनिकृन्तानि तमेव समताडयन्। ततो वह्निशिखादीप्तैर्बाणैर्बाहुजवेरितैः॥५०॥
“—turned back and struck Rāvaṇa himself. Rāma then attacked with arrows that blazed like tongues of fire and flew with all the force of his arms. Rāvaṇa Flees in Shame
Passage 51
जघान रावणं रामस्तेषु चैकेन वक्षसि। दशभिश्च भ्रुवोर्मध्ये दशभिश्चिबुकेषु च॥५१॥
“Of these arrows, Rāma drove one into Rāvaṇa's chest, ten between his brows, and ten into his chins.
Passage 52
दशभिश्चास्य दीप्तानि चूडारत्नान्यपाहरत्। शराणां विंशतिं चास्य दोर्मूलेषु स मर्मसु॥५२॥
“With ten more he struck away the radiant jewels from Rāvaṇa's crowns, and at the vulnerable roots of his arms Rāma planted twenty arrows—
Passage 53
निचखान रघुश्रेष्ठस्तत्क्षणात् करलाघवात्। प्रक्षरद्रुधिरौघोऽसौ प्रत्येकक्षतविक्षतः॥५३॥
“—the finest of Raghus embedding them in an instant through the lightness of his hand. Wounded at every point, Rāvaṇa streamed torrents of blood.
Passage 54
महेन्द्रवज्रप्रहृतस्खलद्धातुरिवाचलः। आघूर्णमानो भूयस्या शरवेदनया खलः॥५४॥
“He reeled like a mountain struck by Indra's thunderbolt and shedding streams of mineral ore, overwhelmed by the tremendous agony of the arrows.
Passage 55
न स्थातुमशकत्तत्र पुरो रामस्य संयुगे। ताड्यमानस्ततश्चासून् समादाय त्वरान्वितः॥५५॥
“The wicked king could no longer stand before Rāma in battle. Still being struck, he gathered up his remaining life-breaths and fled in haste.
Passage 56
स्रवद्रुधिरदिग्धाङ्गः पलायत रणाङ्गणात्। ततो जयजयेत्त्युच्चैः कपयो राममब्रुवन्॥५६॥
“His body drenched in flowing blood, he ran from the battlefield. The monkeys then cried aloud to Rāma, ‘Victory! Victory!’
Passage 57
इत्थं खलु त्रिभिरहोभिरुदग्रदर्पो लङ्केश्वरः समिति वीरवरेण तेन। रामेण दीप्ततरवह्निशिखोपमानैर्विद्रावितो निजशरैः समरात्सलज्जम्॥५७॥
“Thus the lord of Laṅkā, his arrogance towering, fought that supreme hero for three days; but Rāma, with his own arrows resembling the brightest tongues of fire, drove him shamefully from the battle.”