Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ कृष्णद्वितीयायामिन्द्रजिद्धोरनिःस्वनः। प्राप्तो रथस्थितो योद्धुं महावीर्यमदोद्धतः॥१॥
Brahmā said: “On the second lunar day of the dark fortnight, Indrajit arrived to fight, standing in his chariot, thundering terribly, and swollen with pride in his immense valor.
Passage 2
तमायान्तमभिप्रेक्ष्य रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः। इदमाहानुजं वीरस्तस्य विक्रमसारवित्॥२॥
“Seeing him approach, heroic Rāma, foremost of weapon-bearers and well aware of the essence of his prowess, spoke to his younger brother.
Passage 3
पश्य लक्ष्मण साटोपमयमेति महेन्द्रजित्। रथस्थो घोषयन्नाशाः शस्त्रपूगप्रवर्षणः॥३॥
“‘Look, Lakṣmaṇa! Here comes mighty Indrajit in proud display, standing in his chariot, filling the directions with sound and pouring down hosts of weapons.
Passage 4
अनेन खलु सौमित्रे देवतोपास्तिशालिना। लब्धो रथोऽयं शस्त्रास्त्रदिव्यवर्मविभूषितः॥४॥
“‘Son of Sumitrā, through his powerful worship of a deity he has obtained this chariot, adorned with divine weapons, missiles, and armor.
Passage 5
अशक्योऽयं रणे जेतुमद्य वानरकोटिभिः। पश्य कौतुकं युद्धे युक्तैर्हनुमदादिभिः॥५॥
“‘Millions of monkeys cannot defeat him in battle today. Watch the marvel of his combat with Hanumān and the other assembled warriors.
Passage 6
अथ त्वयैव वध्योऽयं समरे रावणाङ्गजः। सुलोचना यस्य वधूः शेषनागसुता सती॥६॥
“‘Yet you alone must kill this son of Rāvaṇa in battle. His faithful wife is Sulochanā, daughter of the serpent Śeṣa.’ The Monkey Leaders Are Routed
Passage 7
अथैनं दीर्घनिर्घोषस्यन्दनोपस्थमास्थितम्। सुग्रीवहनुमन्मुखाः कोटिशः कपियूथपाः॥७॥
“Then millions of monkey leaders headed by Sugrīva and Hanumān surrounded Indrajit, who stood aboard his long-thundering chariot.
Passage 8
आवेष्टयन् शैलतरुनखदन्तायुधोद्यताः। सुरेन्द्रजिच्छरैर्दिव्यैश्चकार वितथोद्यमान्॥८॥
“They closed around him, raising mountains, trees, nails, and teeth as weapons, but Indrajit rendered their efforts fruitless with divine arrows.
Passage 9
कपिवीरकरोन्मुक्तांस्तुङ्गपर्वतपादपान्। अपातयद् द्विधा कृत्वा ततस्ते परिचुक्रुधुः॥९॥
“He split in two and brought down the lofty mountains and trees hurled from the monkey heroes' hands. They then grew furious.
Passage 10
निपेतुर्युगपत्कीशा अभिशक्रजितं रणे। तानेष निशितैर्बाणैराजघान समन्ततः॥१०॥
“The monkeys fell upon Indrajit all at once in battle, but he struck them from every side with sharp arrows.
Passage 11
तस्य वज्राधिकरयैः शरैर्वह्निशिखोपमैः। भिद्यन्ते स्म कपीन्द्राणामङ्गानि प्रसभं रणे॥११॥
“His arrows were fiercer than thunderbolts and resembled tongues of fire; they violently pierced the limbs of the monkey chiefs in battle.
Passage 12
रथादविरलस्रोतोविनिपातिभिरुद्धतैः। शरवर्षैः शक्रजितो विद्रुताः कपयोऽखिलाः॥१२॥
“All the monkeys were driven away by Indrajit's fierce rains of arrows, which poured from his chariot in an unbroken stream.
Passage 13
कुर्वन्तोऽपि महाघोरं विक्रमं कपिपुङ्गवाः। रणाङ्गणे पदं किंचिन्नारोपयितुमीशते॥१३॥
“Although the foremost monkeys displayed fearsome valor, they could not establish even the slightest foothold upon the battlefield.
Passage 14
विद्राविताः शरैराशु भग्नयानाः कपीश्वराः। आवासस्थानमाजग्मुर्यत्र रामोऽनुजान्वितः॥१४॥
“Quickly routed by arrows and their assault broken, the monkey lords returned to the encampment where Rāma stood with his younger brother. Rāma Sees Their Broken Confidence
Passage 15
आगच्छतः कपिकुलप्रवरान् समन्ताद्भग्नोद्यमान्मलिनवक्त्ररुचीन् विषण्णान्। सम्भग्नदर्पनिवहानधिकं विवर्णान् भूरिक्षरत्क्षतजदिग्धतनून् ददर्श॥१५॥
“Rāma saw the foremost monkeys approaching from every side—their effort broken, their faces dim, their spirits dejected, their massed pride utterly shattered, their color gone, and their bodies smeared with blood flowing freely from wounds.
Passage 16
अथाह लक्ष्मणं रामः पश्य लक्ष्मण सम्प्रति। आगच्छतां कपीन्द्राणामवस्थां विषमामिमाम्॥१६॥
“Rāma then said, ‘Lakṣmaṇa, look now at the grievous condition of these monkey chiefs as they return.
Passage 17
नास्फोटयन्ति दोर्दण्डान् नाटोपं कुर्वते मुहुः। न बिभ्रति प्रसन्नानि मुखानि च यथा पुरा॥१७॥
“‘They do not slap their massive arms or repeatedly make proud displays. Their faces no longer bear the brightness they once did.
Passage 18
अधोमुखा भग्नमानास्तूष्णींभूय स्थिताः अपि। न गर्जन्ति न वल्गन्ते नोत्क्षिपन्ति शिरोधरान्॥१८॥
“‘Their heads lowered and their pride broken, they stand in silence. They do not roar or leap, nor do they raise their necks.
Passage 19
क्षरत्क्षतजदिग्धाङ्गाः स्तब्धा इव सवेदनाः। सशोका इव लक्ष्यन्ते कपयोऽद्य महाबलाः॥१९॥
“‘Their bodies are smeared with flowing blood. The mighty monkeys appear rigid with pain and stricken by grief.
Passage 20
तत्किमेषामभूदद्य भग्नं शीलं नु केनचित्। भग्नव्रता वा नितरां किं वा भग्नपराक्रमाः॥२०॥
“‘What has happened to them today? Has someone broken their character? Have their vows been utterly broken, or has their valor been crushed?
Passage 21
न पूर्ववदहंकारं कपयो हृदि बिभ्रति। न संरम्भं च नोत्साहं न वा जयमहारवम्॥२१॥
“‘The monkeys no longer carry their former pride in their hearts—neither fury nor enthusiasm, nor the mighty cry of victory.
Passage 22
रुदन्त इव चक्षुर्भिः स्खलन्त इव विग्रहैः। विचलन्त इवात्यन्तं स्वान्तेऽतुच्छशुचापिते॥२२॥
“‘Their eyes seem to weep, their bodies seem to stumble, and they appear profoundly shaken within, tormented by no small sorrow.
Passage 23
जिज्ञासस्व किलामीषामवस्थामद्य लक्ष्मण। कथं नु मम वीराणामियं कश्मलताभवत्॥२३॥
“‘Lakṣmaṇa, learn what has brought them to this condition today. How has such dejection overtaken my warriors?’
Passage 24
इति वदति रघूद्वहे कपीन्द्राः सरभसमेत्य ततः प्रभुं प्रणेमुः। अवनतवदनाः प्रभूतलज्जावशविवशार्तहृदश्चिराय तस्थुः॥२४॥
“As the scion of Raghu spoke, the monkey chiefs hurried forward and bowed to their lord. Their faces lowered and their hearts pained and helpless beneath overwhelming shame, they remained standing there for a long time.”