The Defeat of Rukmangada, Victory of Pushkala

Verse 1 (padma.5.41.1)

शेष उवाच युद्धाय ते सुसंनद्धाः शत्रुघ्नस्य महाबलाः । ययुर्वीरमणेः सैन्यमध्ये शौर्यसमन्विताः

śeṣa uvāca yuddhāya te susaṁnaddhāḥ śatrughnasya mahābalāḥ yayurvīramaṇeḥ sainyamadhye śauryasamanvitāḥ

Shesha said: Fully armed for battle, those mighty warriors of Shatrughna, filled with valor, advanced into the midst of Viramani's army.

Verse 2 (padma.5.41.2)

शरान्विमुंचमानास्ते भिंदंतः सैनिकान्बहून् । व्यदृश्यंत रणांतःस्थाः शरासनधरा नराः

śarānvimuṁcamānāste bhiṁdaṁtaḥ sainikānbahūn vyadṛśyaṁta raṇāṁtaḥsthāḥ śarāsanadharā narāḥ

Loosing their arrows and piercing many soldiers, those bow-bearing warriors were seen standing amid the battle.

Verse 3 (padma.5.41.3)

अनेके निहतास्तत्र गजा मणिमया रथाः । भग्ना वाहसमेताश्च दृश्यंते रणमंडले

aneke nihatāstatra gajā maṇimayā rathāḥ bhagnā vāhasametāśca dṛśyaṁte raṇamaṁḍale

Many elephants lay slain there, and jewel-adorned chariots, broken along with their teams of horses, could be seen upon the battlefield.

Verse 4 (padma.5.41.4)

विहितं कदनं तेषां श्रुत्वा रुक्मांगदो बली । रथे मणिमये तिष्ठन्ययौ योद्धुं ससैनिकान्

vihitaṁ kadanaṁ teṣāṁ śrutvā rukmāṁgado balī rathe maṇimaye tiṣṭhanyayau yoddhuṁ sasainikān

Hearing of the slaughter wrought upon his men, mighty Rukmangada mounted his jewelled chariot and advanced to fight, together with his soldiers.

Verse 5 (padma.5.41.5)

शरासने शरान्धास्यन्निषुधी अक्षयौ दधत् । शोणनेत्रांतरो भीमो महाकोपसमन्वितः

śarāsane śarāndhāsyanniṣudhī akṣayau dadhat śoṇanetrāṁtaro bhīmo mahākopasamanvitaḥ

Fitting arrows to his bow, bearing his two inexhaustible quivers, his eyes reddened, he was terrible to behold and filled with towering fury.

Verse 6 (padma.5.41.6)

अनेकबाणसंविग्नान्कुर्वञ्छूरान्सहस्रशः । हाहाकारं कारयंस्तद्ययौ रुक्मांगदो बली

anekabāṇasaṁvignānkurvañchūrānsahasraśaḥ hāhākāraṁ kārayaṁstadyayau rukmāṁgado balī

Making thousands of warriors reel under his countless arrows, raising cries of lamentation on every side, mighty Rukmangada advanced.

Verse 7 (padma.5.41.7)

राजपुत्रः स्वसदृशं बलेन यशसा श्रिया । आह्वयामास शत्रुघ्नं भारतिं पुष्कलं बली

rājaputraḥ svasadṛśaṁ balena yaśasā śriyā āhvayāmāsa śatrughnaṁ bhāratiṁ puṣkalaṁ balī

The prince challenged to battle one equal to himself in strength, fame and splendor — mighty Pushkala, son of Shatrughna of Bharata's line.

Verse 8 (padma.5.41.8)

रुक्मांगद उवाच आगच्छ वीरकर्मा त्वं महाबलपराक्रम । मया योद्धुं तु बलिना राजपुत्रेण भास्वता

rukmāṁgada uvāca āgaccha vīrakarmā tvaṁ mahābalaparākrama mayā yoddhuṁ tu balinā rājaputreṇa bhāsvatā

Rukmangada said: "Come, O doer of heroic deeds, mighty in strength and valor — come and fight with me, the powerful and radiant prince."

Verse 9 (padma.5.41.9)

किमन्यैस्त्रासितैर्वीर निहतैः कोटिभिर्नरैः । मया समं महायुद्धं विधाय जयमाप्नुहि

kimanyaistrāsitairvīra nihataiḥ koṭibhirnaraiḥ mayā samaṁ mahāyuddhaṁ vidhāya jayamāpnuhi

"What use is it, O hero, to frighten and slay countless other men? Wage great battle with me alone, and win your victory."

Verse 10 (padma.5.41.10)

इत्युक्तवं तं तरसा प्रहसन्पुष्कलो बली । जघान विपुले मध्ये वक्षसस्तीक्ष्णपर्वभिः

ityuktavaṁ taṁ tarasā prahasanpuṣkalo balī jaghāna vipule madhye vakṣasastīkṣṇaparvabhiḥ

Having heard this, mighty Pushkala laughed and swiftly struck him in the broad middle of his chest with sharp, jointed arrows.

Verse 11 (padma.5.41.11)

तदमृष्यन्राजपुत्रो महाचापे दधच्छरान् । जघान दशभिर्वीरं पुष्कलं वक्षसोंऽतरे

tadamṛṣyanrājaputro mahācāpe dadhaccharān jaghāna daśabhirvīraṁ puṣkalaṁ vakṣasoṁ'tare

Unable to bear that, the prince fitted arrows to his great bow and struck the hero Pushkala in the chest with ten arrows.

Verse 12 (padma.5.41.12)

उभौ समरसंरब्धावुभावपि जयैषिणौ । रेजाते समरे तौ हि कुमारतारकौ यथा

ubhau samarasaṁrabdhāvubhāvapi jayaiṣiṇau rejāte samare tau hi kumāratārakau yathā

Both, locked in fierce combat and both desiring victory, shone in that battle like Kumara and Taraka in their famous fight.

Verse 13 (padma.5.41.13)

बाणान्धनुषि संधाय दशसंख्यान्महाशितान् । अकरोत्पुष्कलो वीरो विरथं राजपुत्रकम्

bāṇāndhanuṣi saṁdhāya daśasaṁkhyānmahāśitān akarotpuṣkalo vīro virathaṁ rājaputrakam

Fitting ten sharply-honed arrows to his bow, the hero Pushkala rendered the young prince chariotless.

Verse 14 (padma.5.41.14)

चतुर्भिश्चतुरोवाहान्द्वाभ्यां सूतमपातयत् । एकेन ध्वजमेतस्य द्वाभ्यां स्यंदनरक्षकौ

caturbhiścaturovāhāndvābhyāṁ sūtamapātayat ekena dhvajametasya dvābhyāṁ syaṁdanarakṣakau

With four arrows he felled the four horses, with two he brought down the charioteer; with one he cut down the banner, and with two the two guards of the chariot.

Verse 15 (padma.5.41.15)

एकेन हृदि विव्याध राजपुत्रस्य वेगवान् । तदद्भुतं कर्म दृष्ट्वा सर्वे वीराः प्रतोषिताः

ekena hṛdi vivyādha rājaputrasya vegavān tadadbhutaṁ karma dṛṣṭvā sarve vīrāḥ pratoṣitāḥ

With one swift arrow he pierced the prince's chest. Seeing this astonishing feat, all the warriors were delighted.

Verse 16 (padma.5.41.16)

सच्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । अत्यंतं कोपमापन्नः स्यंदनं परमाविशत्

sacchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ atyaṁtaṁ kopamāpannaḥ syaṁdanaṁ paramāviśat

His bow shattered, chariotless, his horses and charioteer slain, filled with intense fury, he mounted another excellent chariot.

Verse 17 (padma.5.41.17)

स स्थित्वा स्यंदनवरे हयरत्नेन भूषिते । शरासनं महद्धृत्वा सुदृढं गुणपूरितम्

sa sthitvā syaṁdanavare hayaratnena bhūṣite śarāsanaṁ mahaddhṛtvā sudṛḍhaṁ guṇapūritam

Standing upon that excellent chariot adorned with fine horses, holding a great, sturdy bow fitted with its string —

Verse 18 (padma.5.41.18)

उवाच पुष्कलं वीरं रुक्मांगद इदं वचः । महत्पराक्रमं कृत्वा क्व यास्यसि परंतप

uvāca puṣkalaṁ vīraṁ rukmāṁgada idaṁ vacaḥ mahatparākramaṁ kṛtvā kva yāsyasi paraṁtapa

— Rukmangada spoke this to the hero Pushkala: "Having wrought such great valor, where will you go now, O scorcher of foes?"

Verse 19 (padma.5.41.19)

पश्य मेऽद्यपराक्रांतिं यद्बलेन विनिर्मिताम् । यत्नात्तिष्ठस्व भो वीर नयामि त्वद्रथं नभः

paśya me'dyaparākrāṁtiṁ yadbalena vinirmitām yatnāttiṣṭhasva bho vīra nayāmi tvadrathaṁ nabhaḥ

"Now behold my own prowess, wrought by my strength. Stand firm and take care, O hero — I shall send your very chariot into the sky."

Verse 20 (padma.5.41.20)

इत्युक्त्वा शरमत्युग्रं दधार स्वशरासने । मंत्रयित्वा ततश्चास्त्रं भ्रामकं पौष्कले रथे

ityuktvā śaramatyugraṁ dadhāra svaśarāsane maṁtrayitvā tataścāstraṁ bhrāmakaṁ pauṣkale rathe

Having spoken thus, he set an extremely fierce arrow upon his bow, and having invoked its mantra, he loosed the whirling Bhramaka missile at Pushkala's chariot.

Verse 21 (padma.5.41.21)

मुमोच निशितं बाणं स्वर्णपंखैकशोभितम् । तेन बाणेन नीतोऽस्य रथो योजनमात्रकम्

mumoca niśitaṁ bāṇaṁ svarṇapaṁkhaikaśobhitam tena bāṇena nīto'sya ratho yojanamātrakam

He loosed a sharp arrow adorned with golden feathers; by the force of that arrow his chariot was swept a full yojana away.

Verse 22 (padma.5.41.22)

धृतः कृच्छ्रेण सूतेन रथो बभ्राम भूतले । कृच्छ्रेण प्राप्य स्वस्थानं पुष्कलः परमास्त्रवित्

dhṛtaḥ kṛcchreṇa sūtena ratho babhrāma bhūtale kṛcchreṇa prāpya svasthānaṁ puṣkalaḥ paramāstravit

With great difficulty the charioteer held the whirling chariot upon the ground; with great difficulty Pushkala, master of the supreme weapons, regained his own place.

Verse 23 (padma.5.41.23)

जगाद वचनं तं वै बाणं बिभ्रच्छरासने । स्वर्गं प्राप्नुहि वीराग्र्य सर्वदेवैश्च सेवितम्

jagāda vacanaṁ taṁ vai bāṇaṁ bibhraccharāsane svargaṁ prāpnuhi vīrāgrya sarvadevaiśca sevitam

Holding an arrow upon his bow, he spoke these words to him: "Attain heaven, O foremost of heroes, that realm served by all the gods."

Verse 24 (padma.5.41.24)

त्वादृशाः पृथिवीयोग्या न भवंति नृपोत्तम । शतक्रतुसभायोग्यास्तद्गच्छ त्वं सुरालयम्

tvādṛśāḥ pṛthivīyogyā na bhavaṁti nṛpottama śatakratusabhāyogyāstadgaccha tvaṁ surālayam

"Ones such as you, O best of kings, are not fit for this earth — you are fit only for the assembly of Indra of a hundred sacrifices. Therefore go now to the abode of the gods."

Verse 25 (padma.5.41.25)

इत्युक्त्वा स मुमोचास्त्रमाकाशप्रापकं महत् । तेन बाणेन सरथो ययौ खमनुलोमतः

ityuktvā sa mumocāstramākāśaprāpakaṁ mahat tena bāṇena saratho yayau khamanulomataḥ

Having spoken thus, he released the great missile that carries one to the sky; by that arrow, Pushkala together with his chariot rose straight into the sky.

Verse 26 (padma.5.41.26)

सर्वांल्लोकानतिक्रामन्ययौ सूर्यस्य मंडलम् । तज्ज्वालया रथो दग्धो हयसूतसमन्वितः

sarvāṁllokānatikrāmanyayau sūryasya maṁḍalam tajjvālayā ratho dagdho hayasūtasamanvitaḥ

Passing beyond all the worlds, he reached the very disc of the sun; by its blazing heat the chariot, together with its horses and charioteer, was set ablaze.

Verse 27 (padma.5.41.27)

तत्करैर्दग्धभूयिष्ठ कलेवरः सुदुःखितः । पपात चंद्रचूडं स धृत्वा हृद्यसुखार्दनम्

tatkarairdagdhabhūyiṣṭha kalevaraḥ suduḥkhitaḥ papāta caṁdracūḍaṁ sa dhṛtvā hṛdyasukhārdanam

His body, mostly scorched by those rays, in great agony, he fell, calling to mind Chandrachuda — Shiva who wears the crescent moon — to ease the burning in his heart.

Verse 28 (padma.5.41.28)

भूमौ निपतितस्तत्र करदग्धकलेवरः । अत्यंतं दुःखमापन्नो मुमूर्च्छ रणमंडले

bhūmau nipatitastatra karadagdhakalevaraḥ atyaṁtaṁ duḥkhamāpanno mumūrccha raṇamaṁḍale

Fallen to the ground there, his body scorched by those rays, overwhelmed with intense suffering, he swooned upon the battlefield.

Verse 29 (padma.5.41.29)

तस्मिन्निपतिते भूमौ मूर्च्छिते राजपुत्रके । हाहाकारो महानासीत्तत्र संग्राममूर्धनि

tasminnipatite bhūmau mūrcchite rājaputrake hāhākāro mahānāsīttatra saṁgrāmamūrdhani

When that prince fell to the ground in a swoon, a great cry of lamentation arose there at the forefront of the battle.

Verse 30 (padma.5.41.30)

वैरिणो जयलक्ष्मीं ते प्रापुः पुष्कलमुख्यकाः । पलायनपरा जाता वैरिणो हयरक्षकाः

vairiṇo jayalakṣmīṁ te prāpuḥ puṣkalamukhyakāḥ palāyanaparā jātā vairiṇo hayarakṣakāḥ

Pushkala's forces seized the glory of victory, and the rival king's horse-guards turned to flight.

Verse 31 (padma.5.41.31)

तदा पुत्रस्य वै मूर्च्छां दृष्ट्वा वीरमणिर्नृपः । प्रायात्समरमध्यस्थं पुष्कलं कोपपूरितः

tadā putrasya vai mūrcchāṁ dṛṣṭvā vīramaṇirnṛpaḥ prāyātsamaramadhyasthaṁ puṣkalaṁ kopapūritaḥ

Then, seeing his son's swoon, King Viramani, filled with fury, advanced toward Pushkala who stood in the midst of the battle.

Verse 32 (padma.5.41.32)

तदा भूमिश्चचालेयं सपर्वतवनोत्तमा । शूरा वै हर्षमापन्नाः कातरा भयपीडिताः

tadā bhūmiścacāleyaṁ saparvatavanottamā śūrā vai harṣamāpannāḥ kātarā bhayapīḍitāḥ

Then this earth, with its mountains and finest forests, trembled; the brave were filled with joy, and the cowardly were stricken with fear.

Verse 33 (padma.5.41.33)

चापं महद्दधानः स इषुधी अक्षयावपि । रोषान्निःश्वासमामुंचन्नाह्वयामास वैरिणम्

cāpaṁ mahaddadhānaḥ sa iṣudhī akṣayāvapi roṣānniḥśvāsamāmuṁcannāhvayāmāsa vairiṇam

Bearing his great bow and his two inexhaustible quivers, breathing heavily in rage, he challenged his foe to battle.