Tweet
Yuddha Kaanda - Sarga 59
In this Sarga, Rāvaṇa gains a better sense of the power of his enemy forces after he hears that Prahasta, the commander-in-chief, is slain. He then decides that he himself should go to the battlefront. Rāvaṇa orders his army to take position at the vital points of the city, so that the city, unprotected, is not ransacked by the Vānara army.
Rāma asks Vibheeshaṇa who the chief warriors are, among that army following Rāvaṇa. Vibheeshaṇa shows him Akampana, Indrajit, Atikāya, Mahōdara, Piṡāca, Triṡira, Kumbha, Nikumbha, Narāntaka, and finally Rāvaṇa himself. Rāma is mesmerized by the brilliance of Rāvaṇa.
Sugreeva takes the first shot at Rāvaṇa, by hurling a mountain peak, which Rāvaṇa shivers into pieces. Struck by another arrow Sugreeva falls unconscious. Thereupon Gavāksha, Gavaya, Sushēṇa, Ṛshabha, Jyōtirmukha and Nala, pursue Rāvaṇa, but tumble down on to the ground hit by the arrows of Rāvaṇa.
Seeing Vānaras fall down, Rama, Lakshmaṇa and Hanumān come to the forefront to tackle Rāvaṇa. Hanumān and Rāvaṇa exchange blows, each sending the other into a swoon. Seeing Hanumān fallen dazed, Neela attacks Rāvaṇa. A fierce fight breaks out between Neela and Rāvaṇa. Neela shrinks himself and alights on the chariot of Rāvaṇa, and jumps from the flagstaff to the bow to the crown of Rāvaṇa, amusing everyone. Rāvaṇa then hurls the Astra presided by Agni at Neela and Neela falls down to the ground.
Then Rāvaṇa goes after Lakshmaṇa and a fight breaks out between them. Rāvaṇa's bow gets broken and he gets shaken by the arrows of Lakshmaṇa, and in response he hurls Ṡakti at Lakshmaṇa. Struck by Ṡakti, Lakshmaṇa falls down. Rāvaṇa tries to crush him, but in vain. Seeing this, Hanumān delivers a deadly blow to Rāvaṇa, which sends him reeling. Hanumān then lifts and takes Lakshmaṇa to Rāma.
Then Rāma himself, with Hanumān as his mount, rushes to the forefront to fight with Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa then strikes Hanumān, inflicting a wound on him, which infuriates Rāma. Rāma smashes the chariot of Rāvaṇa along with its horses, charioteer, and the armory on it. He then strikes Rāvaṇa with an arrow that shakes him to the core. Rāma tells him to go back to Laṅkā, take rest and come prepared to resume the fight later. Rāvaṇa goes back to Laṅkā with his pride and spirits flogged out of him.
Yuddha Kaanda - Sarga 59
In this Sarga, Rāvaṇa gains a better sense of the power of his enemy forces after he hears that Prahasta, the commander-in-chief, is slain. He then decides that he himself should go to the battlefront. Rāvaṇa orders his army to take position at the vital points of the city, so that the city, unprotected, is not ransacked by the Vānara army.
Rāma asks Vibheeshaṇa who the chief warriors are, among that army following Rāvaṇa. Vibheeshaṇa shows him Akampana, Indrajit, Atikāya, Mahōdara, Piṡāca, Triṡira, Kumbha, Nikumbha, Narāntaka, and finally Rāvaṇa himself. Rāma is mesmerized by the brilliance of Rāvaṇa.
Sugreeva takes the first shot at Rāvaṇa, by hurling a mountain peak, which Rāvaṇa shivers into pieces. Struck by another arrow Sugreeva falls unconscious. Thereupon Gavāksha, Gavaya, Sushēṇa, Ṛshabha, Jyōtirmukha and Nala, pursue Rāvaṇa, but tumble down on to the ground hit by the arrows of Rāvaṇa.
Seeing Vānaras fall down, Rama, Lakshmaṇa and Hanumān come to the forefront to tackle Rāvaṇa. Hanumān and Rāvaṇa exchange blows, each sending the other into a swoon. Seeing Hanumān fallen dazed, Neela attacks Rāvaṇa. A fierce fight breaks out between Neela and Rāvaṇa. Neela shrinks himself and alights on the chariot of Rāvaṇa, and jumps from the flagstaff to the bow to the crown of Rāvaṇa, amusing everyone. Rāvaṇa then hurls the Astra presided by Agni at Neela and Neela falls down to the ground.
Then Rāvaṇa goes after Lakshmaṇa and a fight breaks out between them. Rāvaṇa's bow gets broken and he gets shaken by the arrows of Lakshmaṇa, and in response he hurls Ṡakti at Lakshmaṇa. Struck by Ṡakti, Lakshmaṇa falls down. Rāvaṇa tries to crush him, but in vain. Seeing this, Hanumān delivers a deadly blow to Rāvaṇa, which sends him reeling. Hanumān then lifts and takes Lakshmaṇa to Rāma.
Then Rāma himself, with Hanumān as his mount, rushes to the forefront to fight with Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa then strikes Hanumān, inflicting a wound on him, which infuriates Rāma. Rāma smashes the chariot of Rāvaṇa along with its horses, charioteer, and the armory on it. He then strikes Rāvaṇa with an arrow that shakes him to the core. Rāma tells him to go back to Laṅkā, take rest and come prepared to resume the fight later. Rāvaṇa goes back to Laṅkā with his pride and spirits flogged out of him.
தஸ்மிந் ஹதே ராக்ஷஸஸைந்யபாலே
ப்லவங்கமாநாம்ருஷபேண யுத்தே ।
பீமாயுதம் ஸாகரதுல்யவேகம்
விதுத்ருவே ராக்ஷஸராஜஸைந்யம் ॥
With the Commander-in-Chief of the Rākshasa army
slain by that bull among Vānaras in battle,
the forces of the Rākshasa King,
possessing the swiftness of the surging ocean,
and armed with a formidable array of weapons
could do nothing but flee.
கத்வாऽத ரக்ஷோதிபதே: ஸஸம்ஸு:
ஸேநாபதிம் பாவகஸூநுஸஸ்தம் ।
தச்சாபி தேஷாம் வசநம் நிஸம்ய
ரக்ஷோதிப: க்ரோதவஸம் ஜகாம ॥
They went and told the King
of the Commander-in-Chief’s death
at the hands of the son of Agni.
Hearing those words from them,
The lord of Rākshasas was taken over by rage.
ஸங்க்யே ப்ரஹஸ்தம் நிஹதம் நிஸம்ய
ஸோகார்தித: க்ரோதபரீதசேதா: ।
உவாச தாந்நைர்ருதயோதமுக்யாந்
இந்த்ரோ யதா நிர்ஜரயூதமுக்யாந் ॥
Hearing that Prahasta was killed in the battle,
distressed by grief and his mind filled with rage,
he addressed the great Rākshasa Captains as
Indra might, the chiefs among the immortals.
நாவஜ்ஞா ரிபவே கார்யா
யைரிந்த்ரபலஸூதந: ।
ஸூதித: ஸைந்யபாலோ மே
ஸாநுயாத்ர: ஸகுஞ்ஜர: ॥
What the enemy has done,
by slaying my commander-in-chief
who had killed even the forces of Indra,
along with all his elephants and warriors,
cannot be dismissed as a trifle.
ஸோऽஹம் ரிபுவிநாஸாய
விஜயாயாவிசாரயந் ।
ஸ்வயமேவ கமிஷ்யாமி
ரணஸீர்ஷம் ததத்புதம் ॥
Hence, I myself will head to
that amazing battle-front
with no hesitation whatsoever,
to destroy the enemy.
அத்ய தத்வாநராநீகம்
ராமம் ச ஸஹலக்ஷ்மணம் ।
நிர்தஹிஷ்யாமி வாணௌகை:
வநம் தீப்தைரிவாக்நிபி: ॥
I shall burn up this very day
that Vānara army and Rāma and Lakshmaṇa
with a spate of arrows
like a wildfire does a forest.
ஸ ஏவமுக்த்வா ஜ்வலநப்ரகாஸம்
ரதம் துரங்கோத்தமராஜயுக்தம் ।
ப்ரகாஸமாநம் வபுஷா ஜ்வலந்தம்
ஸமாருரோஹாமரராஜஸத்ரு: ॥
Having said this, the foe of the King of the Dēvas
whose body was glowing
with the dazzle of fire
got into his chariot to which
the best of royal steeds were yoked.
ஸ ஸங்கபைரீபணவப்ரணாதை:
ஆஸ்போடிதக்ஷ்வேலிதஸிம்ஹநாதை: ।
புண்யை: ஸ்தவைஸ்சாப்யபிபூஜ்யமாந:
ததா யயௌ ராக்ஷஸராஜமுக்ய: ॥
And that eminent king of Rākshasas proceeded,
honored by the blare of conch,
beating of the kettle drum and Paṇava,
the sounds of slapping shoulders,
lion-like war-whoops and
the singing of holy hymns.
ஸ நீலஜீமூதநிகாஸரூபை:
மாம்ஸாஸநை: பாவகதீப்தநேத்ரே: ।
பபௌ வ்ருதோ ராக்ஷஸராஜமுக்யோ
பூதைர்வ்ருதோ ருத்ர இவாமரேஸ: ॥
The eminent king of Rākshasas
followed by (the Rākshasas)
who looked like black clouds,
who gorged on flesh and
whose eyes blazed red like fire,
looked like Rudra, the overlord
of the Dēvas surrounded by elementals.
ததோ நகர்யா: ஸஹஸா மஹௌஜா
நிஷ்க்ரம்ய தத்வாநரஸைந்யமுக்ரம் ।
மஹார்ணவாப்ரஸ்தநிதம் ததர்ஸம்
ஸமுத்யதம் பாதபஸைலஹஸ்தம் ॥
Quickly emerging from the city,
he of immense strength
beheld the fierce Vānara army ready
armed with trees and rocks,
making a mighty din like that of
the roar of the ocean and the thundering of clouds.
தத்ராக்ஷஸாநீகமதிப்ரசண்டம்
ஆலோக்ய ராமோ புஜகேந்த்ரபாஹு: ।
விபீஷணம் ஸஸ்த்ரப்ருதாம் வரிஷ்டம்
உவாச ஸேநாநுகத: ப்ருதுஸ்ரீ: ॥
Rāma, whose arms resembled
the king of the serpents and
who glowed with his innate splendor
and who was followed by his own army,
saw the infuriated Rākshasa army come out,
and asked Vibheeshaṇa, the foremost
among those who wield weapons:
நாநாபதாகாத்வஜஸஸ்த்ரஜுஷ்டம்
ப்ராஸாஸிஸூலாயுதஸஸ்த்ரஜுஷ்டம் ।
ஸைந்யம் மஹேந்த்ரோபமநாகஜுஷ்டம்
கஸ்யேதமக்ஷோப்யமபீருஜுஷ்டம் ॥
Who leads this army which,
with its multitude of banners and buntings,
Prāsas, swords, spears and
other weapons of every kind and
elephants as huge as the Mahēndra mountain,
seems imperturbable and has no room for cowards?
ததஸ்து ராமஸ்ய நிஸம்ய வாக்யம்
விபீஷண: ஸக்ரஸமாநவீர்ய: ।
ஸஸம்ஸ ராமஸ்ய பலப்ரவேகம்
மஹாத்மநாம் ராக்ஷஸபுங்கவாநாம் ॥
Hearing those words of Rāma,
Vibheeshaṇa, an equal to Ṡakra in valor,
told him about that eminent army
consisting of great bulls among Rākshasas.
யோऽஸௌ கஜஸ்கந்தகதோ மஹாத்மா
நவோதிதார்கோபமதாம்ரவக்த்ர: ।
ப்ரகம்பயந்நாகஸிரோऽப்யுபைதி
ஹ்யகம்பநம் த்வேநமவேஹி ராஜந் ॥
The majestic one with
face ruddy as the rising sun,
riding on the back of the elephant
making its head wobble under his weight,
is Akampana, O King.
யோऽஸௌ ரதஸ்தோ ம்ருகராஜகேது:
துந்வந்தநு: ஸக்ரதநு:ப்ரகாஸம் ।
கரீவ பாத்யுக்ரவிவ்ருத்ததம்ஷ்ட்ர:
ஸ இந்த்ரஜிந்நாம வரப்ரதாந: ॥
The one who rides on that chariot
with the lion as mascot on the flag,
shaking the bow that gleams like a rainbow,
his curved and fierce fangs
resembling the tusks of an elephant
is Indrajit, who is endowed
with the power of many boons.
யஸ்சைஷ விந்த்யாஸ்தமஹேந்த்ரகல்போ
தந்வீ ரதஸ்தோऽதிரதோऽதிவீர: ।
விஸ்பாரயம்ஸ்சாபமதுல்யமாநம்
நாம்நாऽதிகாயோऽதிவிவ்ருத்தகாய: ॥
The super-charioter of surpassing valor,
riding on that chariot,
twanging his bow of giant dimensions,
whose over-sized body reminds one of
Vindhya and Mahēndra mountains
and the mountain of the setting sun,
is known to fame as Atikāya.
யோऽஸௌ நவார்கோதிததாம்ரசக்ஷு:
ஆருஹ்ய கண்டாநிநதப்ரணாதம் ।
கஜம் கரம் கர்ஜதி வை மஹாத்மா
மஹோதரோ நாம ஸ ஏஷ வீர: ॥
The one who shouts raucously,
riding on an elephant
whose bells also makes a mighty din,
and whose eyes are red like the rising sun
is the warrior known as Mahōdara.
யோऽஸௌ ஹயம் காஞ்சநசித்ரபாண்டம்
ஆருஹ்ய ஸந்த்யாப்ரகிரிப்ரகாஸ: ।
ப்ராஸம் ஸமுத்யம்ய மரீசிநத்தம்
பிஸாச ஏஷோऽஸநிதுல்யவேக: ॥
The one riding on the horse
which is caparisoned all over with gold,
imposing like a mountain covered by clouds at sunset,
holding up a glittering Prāsa is Piṡāca,
who is as fast as lightning.
யஸ்சைஷ ஸூலம் நிஸிதம் ப்ரக்ருஹ்ய
வித்யுத்ப்ரபம் கிங்கரவஜ்ரவேகம் ।
வ்ருஷேந்த்ரமாஸ்தாய ஸஸிப்ரகாஸம்
ஆயாதி ஸோऽஸௌ த்ரிஸிரா யஸஸ்வீ ॥
The one riding on the great bull
that shines white like the moon,
and holds in his hand a trident
that is as swift in striking and
as obedient to his will as Indra’s thunderbolt,
is the famous Triṡira.
அஸௌ ச ஜீமூதநிகாஸரூப:
கும்ப: ப்ருதுவ்யூடஸுஜாதவக்ஷா: ।
ஸமாஹித: பந்நகராஜகேது:
விஸ்பாரயந்யாதி தநுர்விதூந்வந் ॥
The one who looks like a black cloud,
whose broad and well-padded chest is comely,
who has the king of serpents for a mascot and
who comes twanging and shaking his bow, is Kumbha.
யஸ்சைஷ ஜாம்பூநதவஜ்ரஜுஷ்டம்
தீப்தம் ஸதூமம் பரிகம் ப்ரக்ருஹ்ய ।
ஆயாதி ரக்ஷோபலகேதுபூத:
ஸோऽஸௌ நிகும்போऽத்புதகோரகர்மா ॥
He who comes armed with a Parigha that is
decked with gold and set with brilliant gems,
whose dazzle seems to rise like smoke,
who has many a marvelous and
terrible deed to his credit, is Nikumbha,
a poster boy of the Rākshasa forces.
யஸ்சைஷ சாபாஸிஸரௌகஜுஷ்டம்
பதாகிநம் பாவகதீப்தரூபம் ।
ரதம் ஸமாஸ்தாய விபாத்யுதக்ரோ
நராந்தகோऽஸௌ நகஸ்ருங்கயோதீ ॥
The intense one who stands out,
riding on the chariot that is
packed with bows, swords and arrows,
and adorned with flags is Narāntaka
who duels with mountain peaks
(for lack of an opponent to fight with
who is worthy of his steel).
யஸ்சைஷ நாநாவிதகோரரூபை:
வ்யாக்ரோஷ்ட்ரநாகேந்த்ரம்ருகாஸ்வவக்த்ரை: ।
பூதைர்வ்ருதோ பாதி விவ்ருத்தநேத்ரை:
ஸோऽஸௌ ஸுராணாமபி தர்பஹந்தா ।
யத்ரைததிந்துப்ரதிமம் விபாதி:
சத்ரம் ஸிதம் ஸூக்ஷ்மஸலாகமக்ர்யம் ।
அத்ரைஷ ரக்ஷோதிபதிர்மஹாத்மா
பூதைர்வ்ருதோ ருத்ர இவாவபாதி ॥
And the one who is surrounded by many goblins
of horrible shapes, with their rolling eyes
and faces that resemble those of
tigers, camels, tuskers, deer and horses,
is the king of the Rākshasas,
who vanquished the pride of even the Dēvas.
He, a Mahātma, who resembles
Rudra surrounded by the hosts of elementals,
dazzles the eye under that
slender-ribbed white umbrella
that shines like the moon.
அஸௌ கிரீடீ சலுகுண்டலாஸ்யோ
நகேந்த்ரவிந்த்யோபமபீமகாய: ।
மஹேந்த்ரவைவஸ்வததர்பஹந்தா
ரக்ஷோதிப: ஸூர்ய இவாவபாதி ॥
With his crown and dangling ear-pendants,
his body as formidable as
Vindhya, the king of mountains,
the ruler of the Rākshasas,
who has humbled the pride
of Mahēndra and Vaivaswata,
blazes like the sun.
ப்ரத்யுவாச ததோ ராமோ
விபீஷணமரிந்தமம் ॥
Then Rāma responded to
Vibheeshaṇa, subduer of the foe:
அஹோ தீப்தோ மஹாதேஜா
ராவணோ ராக்ஷஸேஸ்வர: ।
ஆதித்ய இவ துஷ்ப்ரேக்ஷோ
ரஸ்மிபிர்பாதி ராவண: ।
ந வ்யக்தம் லக்ஷயே ஹ்யஸ்ய
ரூபம் தேஜஸ்ஸமாவ்ருதம் ॥
What brilliance and what
immense power does Rāvaṇa,
the ruler of the Rākshasas, possess!
Rāvaṇa is difficult to behold
like the rays of blazing sun!
His true form cannot be seen clearly,
covered in his dazzling radiance!
தேவதாநவவீராணாம்
வபுர்நைவம்விதம் பவேத் ।
யாத்ருஸம் ராக்ஷஸேந்த்ரஸ்ய
வபுரேதத்விராஜதே ॥
The body of no Dēva or Dānava Veera
radiates with such a brilliance
as that of the Rākshasa king.
ஸர்வே பர்வதஸங்காஸா:
ஸர்வே பர்வதயோதிந: ।
ஸர்வே தீப்தாயுததரா
யோதாஸ்சாஸ்ய மஹௌஜஸ: ॥
And all the fighters whom
he of extraordinary power
commands are huge like mountains.
Armed with shining weapons,
they can subdue even mountains in fight.
விபாதி ரக்ஷோராஜோऽஸௌ
ப்ரதீப்தைர்பீமதர்ஸநை: ।
பூதை: பரிவ்ருதஸ்தீக்ஷ்ணை:
தேஹவத்பிரிவாந்தக: ॥
The ruler of the Rākshasas,
surrounded by warriors who are
dazzling with intensity and who
look fierce with huge bodies,
looks like Yama himself.
திஷ்ட்யாऽயமத்ய பாபாத்மா
மம த்ருஷ்டிபதம் கத: ।
அத்ய க்ரோதம் விமோக்ஷ்யாமி
ஸீதாஹரணஸம்பவம் ॥
By the grace of Providence,
this sinner has fallen in the line of my sight.
And today I shall vent my wrath
that was engendered by the abduction of Seetā.
ஏவமுக்த்வா ததோ ராமோ
தநுராதாய வீர்யவாந் ।
லக்ஷ்மணாநுசரஸ்தஸ்தௌ
ஸமுத்த்ருத்ய ஸரோத்தமம் ॥
Saying this, the valiant Rāma,
with Lakshmaṇa by his side,
stood ready with bow in hand
and holding a mighty arrow up.
தத: ஸ ரக்ஷோதிபதிர்மஹாத்மா
ரக்ஷாம்ஸி தாந்யாஹ மஹாபலாநி ॥
Meanwhile, the mighty ruler of the Rākshasas told
the great Rākshasa army:
த்வாரேஷு சர்யாக்ருஹகோபுரேஷு
ஸுநிர்வ்ருதாஸ்திஷ்டத நிர்விஸங்கா: ।
இஹாகதம் மாம் ஸஹிதம் பவத்பி:
வநௌகஸஸ்சித்ரமிதம் விதித்வா ।
ஸூந்யாம் புரீம் துஷ்ப்ரஸஹாம் ப்ரமத்ய
ப்ரதர்ஷயேயு: ஸஹஸா ஸமேதா: ॥
Take positions comfortably
on the gateways and on the towers of
the houses lining the major pathways,
with nothing else for you to worry about.
If the Vānaras come to know that you
have accompanied me here, they might
take advantage of the opportunity
and ransack the city in your absence,
whose defenses are otherwise formidable.
விஸர்ஜயித்வா ஸஹிதாம்ஸ்ததஸ்தாந்
கதேஷு ரக்ஷஸ்ஸு யதாநியோகம் ।
வ்யதாரயத்வாநஸாகரௌகம்
மஹாஜஷ: பூர்ணமிவார்ணவௌகம் ॥
Having thus dismissed the large contingents,
and after those Rākshasas took positions as ordered,
he tore his path through that vast ocean of Vānaras,
like a whale tearing its way through the surging ocean.
தமாபதந்தம் ஸஹஸா ஸமீக்ஷ்ய
தீப்தேஷுசாபம் யுதி ராக்ஷஸேந்த்ரம் ।
மஹத் ஸமுத்பாட்ய மஹீதராக்ரம்
துத்ராவ ரக்ஷோதிபதிம் ஹரீஸ: ॥
On seeing the King of Rākshasas
attack suddenly, thus armed with
dazzling bow and arrows,
the King of the Vānaras grabbed a
huge mountain-peak and rushed upon him.
தச்சைலஸ்ருங்கம் பஹுவ்ருக்ஷஸாநும்
ப்ரக்ருஹ்ய சிக்ஷேப நிஸாசராய ।
தமாபதந்தம் ஸஹஸா ஸமீக்ஷ்ய
பிபேத பாணைஸ்தபநீயபுங்கை: ॥
And taking that crest with the many trees on its flanks,
he hurled it at the Night-Rover;
who seeing it coming cut it down instantly
with his arrows with golden rings on their shafts.
தஸ்மிந் ப்ரவ்ருத்தோத்தமஸாநுவ்ருக்ஷே
ஸ்ருங்கே விகீர்ணே பதிதே ப்ருதிவ்யாம் ।
மஹாஹிகல்பம் ஸரமந்தகாபம்
ஸமாததே ராக்ஷஸலோகநாத: ॥
And just as that peak with the
full-grown trees on it was shivered to bits
and fell down on the ground,
the overlord of the Rākshasa world
mounted another arrow (on his bow) that
was like a great serpent and was like Yama himself.
ஸ தம் க்ருஹீத்வாऽநிலதுல்யவேகம்
ஸவிஸ்புலிங்கஜ்வலநப்ரகாஸம் ।
பாணம் மஹேந்த்ராஸநிதுல்யவேகம்
சிக்ஷேப ஸுக்ரீவவதாய ருஷ்ட: ॥
And he, the furious one, shot that arrow,
which flew at the speed of the wind and
that of Mahēndra’s thunderbolt, and
which glowed like fire emitting sparks,
to slay Sugreeva.
ஸ ஸாயகோ ராவணபாஹுமுக்த:
ஸக்ராஸநிப்ரக்யவபு: ஸிதாக்ர: ।
ஸுக்ரீவமாஸாத்ய பிபேத வேகாத்
குஹேரிதா க்ரௌஞ்சமிவோக்ரஸக்தி: ॥
Leaving the hand of Rāvaṇa, that sharp-edged arrow
with a body that recalled Indra’s thunderbolt
fell on Sugreeva and clove him,
like the fierce Ṡakti hurled
by Guha did the Krounca mountain.
ஸ ஸாயகார்தோ விபரீதசேதா:
கூஜந் ப்ருதிவ்யாம் நிபபாத வீர: ।
தம் ப்ரேக்ஷ்ய பூமௌ பதிதம் விஸஞ்ஜ்ஞம்
நேது: ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்டா யுதி யாதுதாநா: ॥
The valiant warrior uttered a
distressed cry afflicted by that arrow,
and fell down senseless on the ground.
Seeing him fallen unconscious
on the ground in the fight
the Rākshasas shouted in delight.
ததோ கவாக்ஷோ கவய: ஸுஷேண:
த்வதர்ஷபோ ஜ்யோதிமுகோ நலஸ்ச ।
ஸைலாந் ஸமுத்யம்ய விவ்ருத்தகாயா:
ப்ரதுத்ருவுஸ்தம் ப்ரதி ராக்ஷஸேந்த்ரம் ॥
Thereupon Gavāksha, Gavaya, Sushēṇa,
Ṛshabha, Jyōtirmukha and Nala,
all of them of gigantic bodies,
pursued the King of Rākshasas
holding boulders high in their hands.
தேஷாம் ப்ரஹாராந் ஸ சகார மோகாந்
ரக்ஷோதிபோ பாணகணை: ஸிதாக்ரை: ।
தாந் வாநரேந்த்ராநபி பாணஜாலை:
விபேத ஜாம்பூநதசித்ரபுங்கை: ॥
The Rākshasa King brought
the impact of their assault to naught
with torrents of sharp-edged arrows,
and he tore apart the great Vānaras themselves
with arrows having golden rings on their shafts.
தே வாநரேந்த்ராஸ்த்ரிதஸாரிபாணை:
பிந்நா விபேதுர்புவி பீமகாயா: ।
ததஸ்து தத்வாநரஸைந்யமுக்ரம்
ப்ரச்சாதயாமாஸ ஸ பாணஜாலை: ॥
Those great Vānaras with frightful bodies,
tumbled down on the ground pierced by
the arrows of the foe of the Dēvas.
And then he blotted that fierce army of Vānaras
out from view with a torrent of arrows.
தே வத்யமாநா: பதிதாஸ்ச வீரா
நாநத்யமாநா பயஸல்யவித்தா: ।
ஸாகாம்ருகா ராவணஸாயகார்தா
ஜக்மு: ஸரண்யம் ஸரணம் ஸ்ம ராமம் ॥
Thus beaten and struck down,
those Vānara Veeras screamed,
gripped by terror that bit like an arrow.
The beasts of the branches,
sore and distraught by those arrows of Rāvaṇa,
went seeking refuge with Rāma, the savior in need.
ததோ மஹாத்மா ஸ தநுர்தநுஷ்மாந்
ஆதாய ராம: ஸஹஸா ஜகாம ।
தம் லக்ஷ்மண: ப்ராஞ்ஜலிரப்யுபேத்ய
உவாச வாக்யம் பரமார்தயுக்தம் ॥
Then, Rāma, a Mahātma and a great bowman
rushed immediately, taking a bow.
Lakshmaṇa approached him with palms joined in reverence,
and said these words that served the ultimate purpose:
காமமார்ய: ஸுபர்யாப்தோ
வதாயாஸ்ய துராத்மந: ।
விதமிஷ்யாம்யஹம் சைதம்
அநுஜாநீஹி மாம் விபோ ॥
O noble one! I should suffice to slay this evil one.
My lord! Please allow me, I shall make a pulp out of him!
தமப்ரவீந்மஹதேஜா
ராம: ஸத்யபராக்ரம: ॥
Rāma, of extraordinary power and true valor, said to him:
கச்ச யத்நபரஸ்சாபி
பவ லக்ஷ்மண ஸம்யுகே ।
ராவணோ ஹி மஹாவீர்யோ
ரணேऽத்புதபராக்ரம: ।
த்ரைலோக்யேநாபி ஸங்க்ருத்தோ
துஷ்ப்ரஸஹ்யோ ந ஸம்ஸய: ॥
Go, but make sure, O Lakshmaṇa,
you watch out carefully.
Rāvaṇa is a great Veera, and
his prowess in battle is nothing short of amazing.
Let there be no misgiving;
when he is roused to wrath,
not even all the three worlds
coming together can stand against him.
தஸ்ய ச்சித்ராணி மார்கஸ்வ
ஸ்வச்சித்ராணி ச லக்ஷய ।
சக்ஷுஷா தநுஷாத்மாநம்
கோபாயஸ்வ ஸமாஹித: ॥
Try to find out his vulnerabilities,
while being cognizant of your own.
Guard yourself in rapt attention
with your vigilant eye and your bow.
ராகவஸ்ய வச: ஸ்ருத்வா
பரிஷ்வஜ்யாபிபூஜ்ய ச ।
அபிவாத்ய ச ராமாய
யயௌ ஸௌமித்ரிராஹவம் ॥
Hearing those words of Rāghava,
Sowmitri proceeded to the battle field, after
embracing him, saluting him, and paying him respects.
ஸ ராவணம் வாரணஹஸ்தபாஹும்
ததர்ஸ பீமோத்யததீப்தசாபம் ।
ப்ரச்சாதயந்தம் ஸரவ்ருஷ்டிஜாலை:
தாந்வாநராந் பிந்நவிகீர்ணதேஹாந் ॥
He then saw Rāvaṇa whose arms resembled
the trunks of elephants and who
held up a frightful and dazzling bow in his hand
and who blotted out from view
the Vānaras of torn and mangled bodies
with his shoals of arrows.
தமாலோக்ய மஹாதேஜா
ஹநுமாந்மாருதாத்மஜ: ।
நிவார்ய ஸரஜாலாநி
விதுர்த்ராவ ஸ ராவணம் ॥
(Meanwhile), the immensely powerful
Hanumān, the son of Vāyu,
saw Rāvaṇa and rushed on to him,
stemming the tide of arrows.
ரதம் தஸ்ய ஸமாஸாத்ய
புஜமுத்யம்ய தக்ஷிணம் ।
த்ராஸயந் ராவணம் தீமாந்
ஹநுமாந் வாக்யமப்ரவீத் ॥
Reaching his chariot, Hanumān raised his right hand,
and said these words, threatening Rāvaṇa, confidently:
தேவதாநவகந்தர்வை:
யக்ஷைஸ்ச ஸஹ ராக்ஷஸை: ।
அவத்யத்வம் த்வயா ப்ராப்தம்
வாநரேப்யஸ்து தே பயம் ॥
You obtained immunity from death
at the hands of the Dēvas, the Dānavas,
Gandharvas, Yakshas and the Rākshasas,
but you do have cause to fear the Vānaras.
ஏஷ மே தக்ஷிணோ பாஹு:
பஞ்சஸாக: ஸமுத்யத: ।
விதமிஷ்யதி தே தேஹே
பூதாத்மாநம் சிரோஷிதம் ॥
This right hand of mine, raised
and with its five fingers stretched,
will smash the life force that has been
inhabiting your body for a long while.
ஸ்ருத்வா ஹநுமதோ வாக்யம்
ராவணோ பீமவிக்ரம: ।
ஸம்ரக்தநயந: க்ரோதாத்
இதம் வசநமப்ரவீத் ॥
On hearing those words of Hanumān,
Rāvaṇa of formidable prowess,
said these words, his eyes red with anger:
க்ஷிப்ரம் ப்ரஹர நிஸ்ஸங்கம்
ஸ்திராம் கீர்திமவாப்நுஹி ।
ததஸ்த்வாம் ஜ்ஞாதவிக்ராந்தம்
நாஸயிஷ்யாமி வாநர ॥
Go for it without any hesitation and
strike quickly so you might gain a lasting reputation.
I will then know how great your prowess is
before I destroy you, O Vānara!
ராவணஸ்ய வச: ஸ்ருத்வா
வாயுஸூநுர்வசோऽப்ரவீத் ।
ப்ரஹ்ருதம் ஹி மயா பூர்வம்
அக்ஷம் ஸ்மர ஸுதம் தவ ॥
Hearing those words of Rāvaṇa,
the son of Vāyu said these words:
'(It might serve you better to) recall
how I struck down your son Aksha in the past!'
ஏவமுக்தோ மஹாதேஜா
ராவணோ ராக்ஷஸேஸ்வர: ।
ஆஜகாநாநிலஸுதம்
தலேநோரஸி வீர்யவாந் ॥
Having thus been rebutted, Rāvaṇa,
the Rākshasa King of immense power and valor,
struck the son of Vāyu on the chest, with his open palm.
ஸ தலாபிஹதஸ்தேந
சசால ச முஹுர்முஹு: ।
ஸ்தித்வா முஹூர்தம் தேஜஸ்வீ
ஸ்தைர்யம் க்ருத்வா மஹாமதி: ।
ஆஜகாநாபிஸம்க்ருத்த:
தலேநைவாமரத்விஷம் ॥
He reeled under that blow, shaking repeatedly.
Steadying and gathering himself up after a while,
the powerful, extremely self-assured and enraged one
responded in kind, delivering a mighty blow
with his open palm on the chest of the enemy of the Dēvas.
ததஸ்தலேநாபிஹதோ
வாநரேண மஹாத்மநா ।
தஸக்ரீவ: ஸமாதூதோ
யதா பூமிசலேऽசல: ॥
Struck thus by the open palm of the mighty Vānara,
the Ten-necked tottered like a mountain in an earth-quake.
ஸங்க்ராமே தம் ததா த்ருஷ்ட்வா
ராவணம் தலதாடிதம் ।
ருஷயோ வாநரா: ஸித்தா
நேதுர்தேவா: ஸஹாஸுரை: ॥
On seeing Rāvaṇa struck down thus in battle,
the Ṛshis, the Vānaras, the Siddhas, the Dēvas
and the Asuras shouted in excitement.
அதாஸ்வாஸ்ய மஹாதேஜா
ராவணோ வாக்யமப்ரவீத் ।
ஸாது வாநர வீர்யேண
ஸ்லாகநீயோऽஸி மே ரிபு: ॥
Gathering himself together,
the powerful Rāvaṇa said these words:
'Well done, O Vānara! You deserve my esteem
as a foe, for the valor you showed!'
ராவணேநைவமுக்தஸ்து
மாருதிர்வாக்யமப்ரவீத் ॥
When Rāvaṇa spoke thus,
Māruti responded with these words:
திகஸ்து மம வீர்யேண
யஸ்த்வம் ஜீவஸி ராவண ।
ஸக்ருத்து ப்ரஹரேதாநீம்
துர்புத்தே கிம் விகத்தஸே ।
ததஸ்த்வாம் மாமிகா முஷ்டி:
நயிஷ்யதி யமக்ஷயம் ॥
Damn my prowess, O Rāvaṇa,
for you are still alive!
Stop blustering, you evil one!
You strike one more time now and
you will be sent to the abode of Yama
by this fist of mine!
To be continued