The Defeat of Pushkala and Shatrughna

Verse 1 (padma.5.43.1)

शेष उवाच हनूमान्वीरसिंहं तु समागत्याब्रवीद्वचः । तिष्ठ यासि कुतो वीर जेष्यामि त्वां क्षणादिह

śeṣa uvāca hanūmānvīrasiṁhaṁ tu samāgatyābravīdvacaḥ tiṣṭha yāsi kuto vīra jeṣyāmi tvāṁ kṣaṇādiha

Shesha said: Coming up to Virasimha, Hanuman spoke these words: "Stand — where will you go, O hero? I shall conquer you here in a moment."

Verse 2 (padma.5.43.2)

एवमुक्तं समाकर्ण्य प्लवगस्य वचो महत् । कोपपूरपरिप्लुष्टः कार्मुकं जलदस्वनम्

evamuktaṁ samākarṇya plavagasya vaco mahat kopapūraparipluṣṭaḥ kārmukaṁ jaladasvanam

Hearing these great words of the monkey, burning in a flood of rage, he took up his bow that roared like a raincloud —

Verse 3 (padma.5.43.3)

विनद्य घोरान्निशितान्बाणान्मुंचन्बभौ रणे । आषाढे जलदस्येव धारासारे मनोहरः

vinadya ghorānniśitānbāṇānmuṁcanbabhau raṇe āṣāḍhe jaladasyeva dhārāsāre manoharaḥ

— and, twanging it, loosing terrible sharp arrows, he shone in that battle like a lovely raincloud of the monsoon month pouring down its torrents.

Verse 4 (padma.5.43.4)

तान्दृष्ट्वा निशितान्बाणान्स्वदेहे सुविलग्नकान् । चुकोप हृदयेऽत्यतं हनूमानंजनी सुतः

tāndṛṣṭvā niśitānbāṇānsvadehe suvilagnakān cukopa hṛdaye'tyataṁ hanūmānaṁjanī sutaḥ

Seeing those sharp arrows firmly lodged in his own body, Hanuman, son of Anjani, grew intensely angry at heart.

Verse 5 (padma.5.43.5)

मुष्टिना ताडयामास हृदये वज्रसारिणा । समुष्टिना हतो वीरः पपात धरणीतले

muṣṭinā tāḍayāmāsa hṛdaye vajrasāriṇā samuṣṭinā hato vīraḥ papāta dharaṇītale

With a fist hard as a thunderbolt he struck him upon the chest; struck by that blow, the hero fell to the ground.

Verse 6 (padma.5.43.6)

मूर्च्छितं तं समालोक्य पितृव्यं स शुभांगदः । रुक्मांगदोऽपि संमूर्च्छां त्यक्त्वागाद्रणमंडलम्

mūrcchitaṁ taṁ samālokya pitṛvyaṁ sa śubhāṁgadaḥ rukmāṁgado'pi saṁmūrcchāṁ tyaktvāgādraṇamaṁḍalam

Seeing his uncle fallen in a swoon, Shubhangada rushed to him; Rukmangada too, casting off his own swoon, returned to the battlefield.

Verse 7 (padma.5.43.7)

बाणान्समभिवर्षंतौ मेघाविव महास्वनौ । कुर्वंतौ कदनं घोरं प्लवंगं प्रति जग्मतुः

bāṇānsamabhivarṣaṁtau meghāviva mahāsvanau kurvaṁtau kadanaṁ ghoraṁ plavaṁgaṁ prati jagmatuḥ

Both, raining down arrows like two great thundering clouds and wreaking terrible havoc, advanced together against the monkey.

Verse 8 (padma.5.43.8)

तौ दृष्ट्वा समरे वीरौ समायातौ कपीश्वरः । लांगूलेन च संवेष्ट्य सरथौ चापधारकौ

tau dṛṣṭvā samare vīrau samāyātau kapīśvaraḥ lāṁgūlena ca saṁveṣṭya sarathau cāpadhārakau

Seeing those two heroes coming together in battle, the lord of monkeys wound his tail about them both, bow-bearers and chariots together —

Verse 9 (padma.5.43.9)

स्फोटयामास भूदेशे तत्क्षणान्मूर्च्छितावुभौ । निश्चेष्टौ समभूतां तौ रुधिरारक्तदेहकौ

sphoṭayāmāsa bhūdeśe tatkṣaṇānmūrcchitāvubhau niśceṣṭau samabhūtāṁ tau rudhirāraktadehakau

— and dashed them upon the ground; in that instant both fell senseless into a swoon, their bodies reddened with blood.

Verse 10 (padma.5.43.10)

बलमित्रश्चिरं युद्धं विधाय सुमदेन हि । मूर्च्छामप्रापयत्तं वै बाणैः सुशितपर्वभिः

balamitraściraṁ yuddhaṁ vidhāya sumadena hi mūrcchāmaprāpayattaṁ vai bāṇaiḥ suśitaparvabhiḥ

Balamitra, after fighting long with Sumada, cast him into a swoon with sharp, well-jointed arrows.

Verse 11 (padma.5.43.11)

पुष्कलेन क्षणान्नीतो मूर्च्छां चैतन्यवर्जिताम् । जयमाप्तं तु कटकं शत्रुघ्नस्य भटार्दनम्

puṣkalena kṣaṇānnīto mūrcchāṁ caitanyavarjitām jayamāptaṁ tu kaṭakaṁ śatrughnasya bhaṭārdanam

And Pushkala, in a moment, cast down into a senseless swoon that very army — victorious till then, and harassing Shatrughna's warriors.

Verse 12 (padma.5.43.12)

एतस्मिन्समये सांबः स्यंदनं वरमास्थितः । विस्फारयन्धनुर्दिव्यमुपाधावद्भटानिमान्

etasminsamaye sāṁbaḥ syaṁdanaṁ varamāsthitaḥ visphārayandhanurdivyamupādhāvadbhaṭānimān

At this moment Samba, mounted upon an excellent chariot, drawing his divine bow, rushed upon these warriors.

Verse 13 (padma.5.43.13)

जटाजूटांतरगतां चंद्ररेखां वहन्महान् । सर्पाभूषां मनःस्पर्शां दधदाजगवं धनुः

jaṭājūṭāṁtaragatāṁ caṁdrarekhāṁ vahanmahān sarpābhūṣāṁ manaḥsparśāṁ dadhadājagavaṁ dhanuḥ

Bearing the crescent moon amid his matted locks, that great god, wearing serpents as his mind-captivating ornaments and holding his Ajagava bow —

Verse 14 (padma.5.43.14)

मूर्च्छितान्स्वजनान्दृष्ट्वा भक्तार्तिघ्नो महेश्वरः । योद्धुं प्रायान्महासैन्यैः शत्रुघ्नस्य भटानिमान्

mūrcchitānsvajanāndṛṣṭvā bhaktārtighno maheśvaraḥ yoddhuṁ prāyānmahāsainyaiḥ śatrughnasya bhaṭānimān

— Maheshvara, remover of his devotees' suffering, seeing his own people fallen in a swoon, advanced with his great hosts to fight these warriors of Shatrughna.

Verse 15 (padma.5.43.15)

सगणः सपरीवारः कंपयन्पृथिवीतलम् । भक्तरक्षार्थमागच्छंस्त्रिपुरं तु पुरा यथा

sagaṇaḥ saparīvāraḥ kaṁpayanpṛthivītalam bhaktarakṣārthamāgacchaṁstripuraṁ tu purā yathā

With his ganas and his whole retinue, making the surface of the earth tremble, he came to protect his devotees, just as of old he had come against Tripura.

Verse 16 (padma.5.43.16)

कोपाच्छोणतरे नेत्रे वहन्प्रलयकारकः । पश्यन्वीरान्बहुमतीन्पिनाकी देववंदितः

kopācchoṇatare netre vahanpralayakārakaḥ paśyanvīrānbahumatīnpinākī devavaṁditaḥ

His eyes reddened with fury, the very agent of the world's dissolution, beholding many proud warriors — that bearer of the Pinaka bow, worshipped by the gods —

Verse 17 (padma.5.43.17)

तमागतं महेशानं वीक्ष्य रामानुजो बली । जगाम समरे योद्धुं सर्वदेवशिरोमणिम्

tamāgataṁ maheśānaṁ vīkṣya rāmānujo balī jagāma samare yoddhuṁ sarvadevaśiromaṇim

Seeing Mahesha thus arriving, the mighty younger brother of Rama went forth to fight in battle that crown-jewel of all the gods.

Verse 18 (padma.5.43.18)

अथागतं तु शत्रुघ्नं रुद्रो वीक्ष्य पिनाकधृक् । उवाच परमापन्नः कोपं सगुणचापधृक्

athāgataṁ tu śatrughnaṁ rudro vīkṣya pinākadhṛk uvāca paramāpannaḥ kopaṁ saguṇacāpadhṛk

Then Rudra, the bearer of the Pinaka bow, seeing Shatrughna approaching, grew intensely angry, and, taking up his strung bow, spoke —

Verse 19 (padma.5.43.19)

पुष्कलेन महत्कर्म कृतं रामांघ्रिसेविना । मद्भक्तं यो रणे हत्वा गतः समरमंडलम्

puṣkalena mahatkarma kṛtaṁ rāmāṁghrisevinā madbhaktaṁ yo raṇe hatvā gataḥ samaramaṁḍalam

"Great indeed is the deed wrought by Pushkala, servant of Rama's feet, who slew my devotee in battle and then departed from the field."

Verse 20 (padma.5.43.20)

अद्य क्वास्ति परो वीरः पुष्कलः परमास्त्रवित् । तं हत्वा सुखमाप्स्यामि समरे भक्तपीडनम्

adya kvāsti paro vīraḥ puṣkalaḥ paramāstravit taṁ hatvā sukhamāpsyāmi samare bhaktapīḍanam

"Where today is that foremost hero, Pushkala, master of the supreme weapons? Having slain him, I shall gladly find relief from my devotee's affliction."

Verse 21 (padma.5.43.21)

शेष उवाच इत्युक्त्वा वीरभद्रं स प्रेषयामास पुष्कलम् । याहि त्वं समरे योद्धुं पुष्कलं सेवकार्दनम्

śeṣa uvāca ityuktvā vīrabhadraṁ sa preṣayāmāsa puṣkalam yāhi tvaṁ samare yoddhuṁ puṣkalaṁ sevakārdanam

Shesha said: Having spoken thus, he sent forth Virabhadra: "Go and fight in battle with Pushkala, tormentor of my servant."

Verse 22 (padma.5.43.22)

नंदिनं प्रेषयामास हनूमंतं महाबलम् । कुशध्वजं प्रचंडं तु भृंगिणं च सुबाहुकम्

naṁdinaṁ preṣayāmāsa hanūmaṁtaṁ mahābalam kuśadhvajaṁ pracaṁḍaṁ tu bhṛṁgiṇaṁ ca subāhukam

He sent Nandin against mighty Hanuman, and fierce Kushadhvaja together with Bhringin against Subahu.

Verse 23 (padma.5.43.23)

सुमदं चंडनामानं गणं स्वीयं समादिशत् । पुष्कलस्तु समायांतं वीरभद्रं महागणम्

sumadaṁ caṁḍanāmānaṁ gaṇaṁ svīyaṁ samādiśat puṣkalastu samāyāṁtaṁ vīrabhadraṁ mahāgaṇam

He directed his own gana named Chanda against Sumada. Meanwhile Pushkala saw the great gana Virabhadra advancing toward him —

Verse 24 (padma.5.43.24)

महारुद्रस्य संवीक्ष्य योद्धुं प्रायान्महामनाः । पुष्कलः पंचभिर्बाणैस्ताडयामास संयुगे

mahārudrasya saṁvīkṣya yoddhuṁ prāyānmahāmanāḥ puṣkalaḥ paṁcabhirbāṇaistāḍayāmāsa saṁyuge

— seeing that follower of great Rudra coming on to fight, the great-souled one advanced and struck him in battle with five arrows.

Verse 25 (padma.5.43.25)

तैर्बाणैः क्षतगात्रस्तु त्रिशूलं स समादिशत् । स त्रिशूलं क्षणाच्छित्त्वा व्यगर्जत महाबलः

tairbāṇaiḥ kṣatagātrastu triśūlaṁ sa samādiśat sa triśūlaṁ kṣaṇācchittvā vyagarjata mahābalaḥ

His body wounded by those arrows, Virabhadra hurled his trident at him; but that mighty one instantly cut the trident down and roared aloud.

Verse 26 (padma.5.43.26)

छिन्नं स्वीयं त्रिशूलं वै वीक्ष्य रुद्रानुगो बली । खट्वांगेन जघानाशु मस्तके भारतिं द्विज

chinnaṁ svīyaṁ triśūlaṁ vai vīkṣya rudrānugo balī khaṭvāṁgena jaghānāśu mastake bhāratiṁ dvija

O brahmin, seeing his own trident thus cut down, Rudra's mighty follower swiftly struck Bharati upon the head with his skull-topped club.

Verse 27 (padma.5.43.27)

खट्वांगाभिहतः सोऽथ मुमूर्च्छ क्षणमुद्भटः । विहाय मूर्च्छां सद्वीरः पुष्कलः परमास्त्रवित्

khaṭvāṁgābhihataḥ so'tha mumūrccha kṣaṇamudbhaṭaḥ vihāya mūrcchāṁ sadvīraḥ puṣkalaḥ paramāstravit

Struck by that club, the fierce Pushkala swooned for a moment; but that noble hero, master of the supreme weapons, casting off his swoon —

Verse 28 (padma.5.43.28)

शरैश्चिच्छेद खट्वांगं करस्थं तस्य तत्क्षणात् । वीरभद्रः स्वकेच्छिन्ने खट्वांगे करसंस्थिते

śaraiściccheda khaṭvāṁgaṁ karasthaṁ tasya tatkṣaṇāt vīrabhadraḥ svakecchinne khaṭvāṁge karasaṁsthite

— with his arrows instantly cut the club from Virabhadra's own hand; his club thus severed even as he held it —

Verse 29 (padma.5.43.29)

परमक्रोधमापन्नो बभंज रथिनो रथम् । भंक्त्वा रथं तु वीरस्य पदातिं च विधाय सः

paramakrodhamāpanno babhaṁja rathino ratham bhaṁktvā rathaṁ tu vīrasya padātiṁ ca vidhāya saḥ

— Virabhadra, filled with extreme fury, smashed the charioteer's chariot; having broken the hero's chariot and made him a foot-soldier —

Verse 30 (padma.5.43.30)

बाहुयुद्धेन युयुधे पुष्कलेन महात्मना । स पुष्कलो रथं त्यक्त्वा चूर्णितं तेन वेगतः

bāhuyuddhena yuyudhe puṣkalena mahātmanā sa puṣkalo rathaṁ tyaktvā cūrṇitaṁ tena vegataḥ

— he grappled hand-to-hand with the great-souled Pushkala; and Pushkala, too, having abandoned his own chariot which had been swiftly smashed by him —

Verse 31 (padma.5.43.31)

मुष्टिना ताडयामास वीरभद्रं महाबलः । अन्योन्यं मुष्टिभिर्घ्नंतावूरुभिर्जानुभिस्तथा

muṣṭinā tāḍayāmāsa vīrabhadraṁ mahābalaḥ anyonyaṁ muṣṭibhirghnaṁtāvūrubhirjānubhistathā

— that mighty one struck Virabhadra with his fist; both striking each other with fists, and with thighs and knees as well —

Verse 32 (padma.5.43.32)

परस्परवधोद्युक्तौ परस्परजयैषिणौ । एवं चतुर्दिनमभूद्रात्रिं दिवमपीशयोः

parasparavadhodyuktau parasparajayaiṣiṇau evaṁ caturdinamabhūdrātriṁ divamapīśayoḥ

— both intent upon slaying the other, both desiring victory over the other, this battle between the two lords continued thus for four days and nights —

Verse 33 (padma.5.43.33)

न कोपि तत्र हीयेत न जीयेत महाबलः । पंचमे तु दिने वृत्ते वीरभद्रो महाबलः

na kopi tatra hīyeta na jīyeta mahābalaḥ paṁcame tu dine vṛtte vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ

— and neither of those two mighty ones ever gave way, nor was either vanquished. But when the fifth day came, mighty Virabhadra —

Verse 34 (padma.5.43.34)

गृहीत्वा नभ उड्डीनो महावीरं तु पुष्कलम् । तत्र युद्धं तयोरासीद्देवासुरविमोहनम्

gṛhītvā nabha uḍḍīno mahāvīraṁ tu puṣkalam tatra yuddhaṁ tayorāsīddevāsuravimohanam

— seized the great hero Pushkala and flew up with him into the sky; there between the two of them ensued a battle that bewildered gods and demons alike.

Verse 35 (padma.5.43.35)

मुष्टिना चरणाघातैर्बाहुभिः सुखुरैर्महत् । तदात्यंतं प्रकुपितः पुष्कलो वीरभद्रकम्

muṣṭinā caraṇāghātairbāhubhiḥ sukhurairmahat tadātyaṁtaṁ prakupitaḥ puṣkalo vīrabhadrakam

With fists, with kicks, with mighty blows of arm and heel — then Pushkala, filled with extreme fury, seized Virabhadra —

Verse 36 (padma.5.43.36)

गृहीत्वा कंठदेशे तु ताडयामास भूतले । तत्प्रहारेण व्यथितो वीरभद्रो महाबलः

gṛhītvā kaṁṭhadeśe tu tāḍayāmāsa bhūtale tatprahāreṇa vyathito vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ

— by the neck and dashed him down upon the ground. Wounded by that blow, mighty Virabhadra —

Verse 37 (padma.5.43.37)

गृहीत्वा पुष्कलं पादे जघानास्फालयन्मुहुः । ताडयित्वा महीदेशे पुष्कलं सुमहाबलः

gṛhītvā puṣkalaṁ pāde jaghānāsphālayanmuhuḥ tāḍayitvā mahīdeśe puṣkalaṁ sumahābalaḥ

— seized Pushkala by the foot and dashed him down again and again, and, having struck him repeatedly upon the ground, that mighty one —

Verse 38 (padma.5.43.38)

त्रिशूलेन चकर्ताशु शिरो ज्वलितकुंडलम् । जगर्ज पुष्कलं हत्वा वीरभद्रो महाबलः

triśūlena cakartāśu śiro jvalitakuṁḍalam jagarja puṣkalaṁ hatvā vīrabhadro mahābalaḥ

— swiftly cut off with his trident his head, its earrings still blazing; having slain Pushkala, mighty Virabhadra roared aloud.

Verse 39 (padma.5.43.39)

गर्जता तेन शार्वेण प्रापितास्त्रा समुद्भटाः । हाहाकारो महानासीत्पुष्कले पतिते रणे

garjatā tena śārveṇa prāpitāstrā samudbhaṭāḥ hāhākāro mahānāsītpuṣkale patite raṇe

By that roaring gana of Shiva, formidable weapons were then unleashed upon the rest; a great cry of lamentation arose when Pushkala fell in battle.

Verse 40 (padma.5.43.40)

त्रासं प्रापुर्जनाः सर्वे रणमध्ये सुकोविदाः । ते शशंशुश्च शत्रुघ्नं पुष्कलं पतितं रणे

trāsaṁ prāpurjanāḥ sarve raṇamadhye sukovidāḥ te śaśaṁśuśca śatrughnaṁ puṣkalaṁ patitaṁ raṇe

All the people, well-versed in that battle, were struck with terror; they went and told Shatrughna that Pushkala had fallen there —

Verse 41 (padma.5.43.41)

निहतं वीरभद्रेण महेश्वरगणेन वै । इत्याश्रुत्य महावीरः पुष्कलस्य वधं तदा

nihataṁ vīrabhadreṇa maheśvaragaṇena vai ityāśrutya mahāvīraḥ puṣkalasya vadhaṁ tadā

— slain by Virabhadra, the gana of Maheshvara. Hearing thus of Pushkala's death, the great hero Shatrughna —

Verse 42 (padma.5.43.42)

दुःखं प्राप्तो रणेऽत्यतं कंपमानः शुचा महान् । तं दुःखितं च शत्रुघ्नं ज्ञात्वा रुद्रो ऽब्रवीद्वचः

duḥkhaṁ prāpto raṇe'tyataṁ kaṁpamānaḥ śucā mahān taṁ duḥkhitaṁ ca śatrughnaṁ jñātvā rudro 'bravīdvacaḥ

— fell into intense grief upon the battlefield, trembling, overwhelmed by great sorrow. Knowing Shatrughna thus grieved, Rudra spoke these words —

Verse 43 (padma.5.43.43)

शत्रुघ्नं समरे वीरं शोचंतं पुष्कले हते । रे शत्रुघ्न रणे शोकं मा कृथाः सुमहाबल

śatrughnaṁ samare vīraṁ śocaṁtaṁ puṣkale hate re śatrughna raṇe śokaṁ mā kṛthāḥ sumahābala

"O Shatrughna, mighty hero grieving here in battle over Pushkala's death — grieve not."

Verse 44 (padma.5.43.44)

वीराणां रणमध्ये तु पातनं कीर्तये स्मृतम् । धन्यो वीरः पुष्कलाख्यो यश्च वै दिनपंचकम्

vīrāṇāṁ raṇamadhye tu pātanaṁ kīrtaye smṛtam dhanyo vīraḥ puṣkalākhyo yaśca vai dinapaṁcakam

"For heroes, even to fall amid battle is reckoned as glory, so it is remembered. Blessed is that hero named Pushkala, who for five whole days —"

Verse 45 (padma.5.43.45)

युयुधे वीरभद्रेण महाप्रलयकारिणा । येन क्षणाद्विनिहतो दक्षो मदपमानकृत्

yuyudhe vīrabhadreṇa mahāpralayakāriṇā yena kṣaṇādvinihato dakṣo madapamānakṛt

"— fought with Virabhadra, that great agent of dissolution, by whom Daksha too, who once dishonored me in his pride, was slain in a moment —"

Verse 46 (padma.5.43.46)

क्षणाद्विनिहता येन दैत्यास्त्रिपुरसैनिकाः । तस्माद्युद्ध्स्व राजेंद्र शोकं त्यक्त्वा महाबल

kṣaṇādvinihatā yena daityāstripurasainikāḥ tasmādyuddhsva rājeṁdra śokaṁ tyaktvā mahābala

"— by whom the demon-soldiers of Tripura too were slain in a moment. Therefore, O lord of kings, O mighty one, cast off your grief and fight on."

Verse 47 (padma.5.43.47)

यत्नात्तिष्ठाद्य वीराग्र्य मयि योद्धरि संस्थिते । शोकं संत्यज्य शत्रुघ्नो वीरश्चुक्रोध शंकरम्

yatnāttiṣṭhādya vīrāgrya mayi yoddhari saṁsthite śokaṁ saṁtyajya śatrughno vīraścukrodha śaṁkaram

"Stand firm and watchful today, O foremost of heroes, for now I myself stand ready to fight you." Casting off his grief, the hero Shatrughna grew wrathful toward Shankara.

Verse 48 (padma.5.43.48)

आत्तसज्जधनुर्बाणैः प्रचच्छाद महेश्वरम् । ते बाणाः सुरशीर्षण्य वपुषं क्षतविक्षतम्

āttasajjadhanurbāṇaiḥ pracacchāda maheśvaram te bāṇāḥ suraśīrṣaṇya vapuṣaṁ kṣatavikṣatam

With his bow readied and strung with arrows, he covered Maheshvara entirely in shafts; those arrows, wounding the body of that foremost of gods —

Verse 49 (padma.5.43.49)

अकुर्वत महच्चित्रं भक्तरक्षार्थमागतम् । ते बाणाः शंकरस्यापि बाणा नभसि संस्थिताः

akurvata mahaccitraṁ bhaktarakṣārthamāgatam te bāṇāḥ śaṁkarasyāpi bāṇā nabhasi saṁsthitāḥ

— wrought a great wonder, though he himself had come there for the very protection of his devotee; and Shankara's own answering arrows too, remaining suspended in the sky —

Verse 50 (padma.5.43.50)

व्याप्यैतत्सकलं विश्वं चित्रकारि मुनेरपि । तद्बाणयोर्युद्धबलं वीक्ष्य सर्वत्र मेनिरे

vyāpyaitatsakalaṁ viśvaṁ citrakāri munerapi tadbāṇayoryuddhabalaṁ vīkṣya sarvatra menire

— pervading this whole universe, created a marvel even for the sages themselves. Seeing the sheer force of that battle of arrows between the two, people everywhere felt —

Verse 51 (padma.5.43.51)

प्रलयं लोकसंहारकारकं सर्वमोहकम् । आकाशे तु विमानानि संश्रित्य स्वपुरस्थिताः

pralayaṁ lokasaṁhārakārakaṁ sarvamohakam ākāśe tu vimānāni saṁśritya svapurasthitāḥ

— that this was truly the dissolution that destroys all the worlds and bewilders everyone. The gods, seated in their heavenly cars in the sky, each in his own celestial city —

Verse 52 (padma.5.43.52)

विलोकयितुमागत्य प्रशंसंति तयोर्भृशम् । अयं लोकत्रयस्यास्य प्रलयोत्पत्तिकारकः

vilokayitumāgatya praśaṁsaṁti tayorbhṛśam ayaṁ lokatrayasyāsya pralayotpattikārakaḥ

— came to watch, and greatly praised the two of them: "This one is the very cause of the dissolution and the origin of the three worlds —"

Verse 53 (padma.5.43.53)

असावपि महाराज रामचंद्रस्य चानुजः । किमिदं भविता को वा जेष्यति क्षितिमंडले

asāvapi mahārāja rāmacaṁdrasya cānujaḥ kimidaṁ bhavitā ko vā jeṣyati kṣitimaṁḍale

"— and this other, O great king, is himself the younger brother of Ramachandra. What now will come of this? Who will conquer this whole earth?"

Verse 54 (padma.5.43.54)

पराजयं वा को वीरः प्राप्स्यते रणमूर्धनि । एवमेकादशाहानि वृत्तं युद्धं परस्परम्

parājayaṁ vā ko vīraḥ prāpsyate raṇamūrdhani evamekādaśāhāni vṛttaṁ yuddhaṁ parasparam

"Which hero will meet defeat at the head of this battle?" Thus, for eleven days, this battle continued between the two of them.

Verse 55 (padma.5.43.55)

द्वादशे दिवसे प्राप्ते मुमोचास्त्रं नराधिपः । ब्रह्मसंज्ञं महादेवं हंतुं क्रोधसमन्वितः

dvādaśe divase prāpte mumocāstraṁ narādhipaḥ brahmasaṁjñaṁ mahādevaṁ haṁtuṁ krodhasamanvitaḥ

When the twelfth day arrived, the king, filled with fury, loosed the missile called Brahmastra to slay the great god.

Verse 56 (padma.5.43.56)

सविज्ञाय महास्त्रं तन्मुक्तं शत्रुघ्नवैरिणा । हसन्नप्यपिबत्तेन मुक्तं ब्रह्मशिरो महत्

savijñāya mahāstraṁ tanmuktaṁ śatrughnavairiṇā hasannapyapibattena muktaṁ brahmaśiro mahat

Recognizing that great missile the moment it was loosed, Shatrughna's rival, laughing even as he did so, swallowed that mighty Brahmashira weapon.

Verse 57 (padma.5.43.57)

अत्यंतं विस्मयं प्राप्य किं कर्तव्यमतः परम् । एवं विचारयुक्तस्य हृदये ज्वलनोपमम्

atyaṁtaṁ vismayaṁ prāpya kiṁ kartavyamataḥ param evaṁ vicārayuktasya hṛdaye jvalanopamam

Overcome with great astonishment — "what is now to be done?" — deliberating thus in a heart that burned like fire, that —

Verse 58 (padma.5.43.58)

शरं वै निचखानाशु देवदेव शिरोमणिः । तेन बाणेन शत्रुघ्नो मूर्च्छितो रणमंडले

śaraṁ vai nicakhānāśu devadeva śiromaṇiḥ tena bāṇena śatrughno mūrcchito raṇamaṁḍale

— crest-jewel of the gods of gods swiftly planted an arrow upon him; by that arrow Shatrughna fell into a swoon upon the battlefield.

Verse 59 (padma.5.43.59)

हाहाभूतमभूत्सर्वं कटकं भटसेवितम् । वीराः सर्वे रुद्रगणैः पातिताः पृथिवीतले

hāhābhūtamabhūtsarvaṁ kaṭakaṁ bhaṭasevitam vīrāḥ sarve rudragaṇaiḥ pātitāḥ pṛthivītale

The whole army, thronged with warriors, cried out in lamentation; the ganas of Rudra felled all the heroes to the earth.

Verse 60 (padma.5.43.60)

सुबाहुसुमदोन्मुख्याः स्वबाहुबलदर्पिताः । पतितं मूर्च्छया वीक्ष्य शत्रुघ्नं शरपीडितम्

subāhusumadonmukhyāḥ svabāhubaladarpitāḥ patitaṁ mūrcchayā vīkṣya śatrughnaṁ śarapīḍitam

Subahu, Sumada, and the other foremost warriors, proud of the strength of their own arms, seeing Shatrughna fallen in a swoon, afflicted by arrows —

Verse 61 (padma.5.43.61)

पुष्कलं तु रथे स्थाप्य सेवकैः परिरक्षितुम् । हनूमानागतो योद्धुं शिवं संहारकारकम्

puṣkalaṁ tu rathe sthāpya sevakaiḥ parirakṣitum hanūmānāgato yoddhuṁ śivaṁ saṁhārakārakam

— placed him upon a chariot to be guarded by his own attendants; then Hanuman advanced to give battle to Shiva the destroyer.

Verse 62 (padma.5.43.62)

श्रीरामस्मरणं योधान्स्वीयान्विप्र प्रहर्षितान् । प्रकुर्वन्रोषितस्तीव्रं लांगूलं च प्रकंपयन्

śrīrāmasmaraṇaṁ yodhānsvīyānvipra praharṣitān prakurvanroṣitastīvraṁ lāṁgūlaṁ ca prakaṁpayan

O brahmin, reminding his own warriors of Shri Rama and filling them with joy, greatly enraged, lashing his tail —