Lava's Swoon

Verse 1 (padma.5.62.1)

शेष उवाच। मूर्च्छितं मारुतिं श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नः शोकमाययौ । किंकर्तव्यं मया संख्ये बालकोऽयं महाबलः

śeṣa uvāca mūrcchitaṁ mārutiṁ śrutvā śatrughnaḥ śokamāyayau kiṁkartavyaṁ mayā saṁkhye bālako'yaṁ mahābalaḥ

Shesha said: Hearing that Maruti had fallen in a swoon, Shatrughna was filled with sorrow: "What am I to do in this battle against this boy of such mighty strength?"

Verse 2 (padma.5.62.2)

स्वयं रथे हेममये तिष्ठन्वीरवरैः सह । योद्धुं प्रागाल्लवो यत्र विचित्ररणकोविदः

svayaṁ rathe hemamaye tiṣṭhanvīravaraiḥ saha yoddhuṁ prāgāllavo yatra vicitraraṇakovidaḥ

Mounted himself upon his golden chariot, together with his finest heroes, he advanced to fight where Lava, skilled in wondrous warfare, stood.

Verse 3 (padma.5.62.3)

लवं ददर्श शिशुतां प्राप्तं राममिव क्षितौ । धनुर्बाणकरं वीरान्क्षिपंतं रणमूर्धनि

lavaṁ dadarśa śiśutāṁ prāptaṁ rāmamiva kṣitau dhanurbāṇakaraṁ vīrānkṣipaṁtaṁ raṇamūrdhani

He beheld Lava, still a mere child, like Rama himself upon this earth, bow and arrows in hand, felling heroes at the head of that battle.

Verse 4 (padma.5.62.4)

विचारयामास तदा कोऽयं रामस्वरूपधृक् । नीलोत्पलदलश्यामं वपुर्बिभ्रन्मनोहरम्

vicārayāmāsa tadā ko'yaṁ rāmasvarūpadhṛk nīlotpaladalaśyāmaṁ vapurbibhranmanoharam

He then pondered: "Who is this, bearing the very form of Rama, his lovely body dark as the petal of a blue lotus?"

Verse 5 (padma.5.62.5)

एष वै देहतनुजा सुतो भवति नान्यथा । अस्मान्विजित्य समरे यास्यते मृगराडिव

eṣa vai dehatanujā suto bhavati nānyathā asmānvijitya samare yāsyate mṛgarāḍiva

"This must surely be his own bodily son — none other; having conquered us in battle, he will depart like the very king of beasts."

Verse 6 (padma.5.62.6)

अस्माकं नो जयो भाव्यः शक्त्या विरहितात्मनाम् । अशक्ताः किं करिष्यामः समरे रणकोविदाः

asmākaṁ no jayo bhāvyaḥ śaktyā virahitātmanām aśaktāḥ kiṁ kariṣyāmaḥ samare raṇakovidāḥ

"There can be no victory for us, stripped as we are of strength; skilled in war though we are, what can we, now powerless, ever do?"

Verse 7 (padma.5.62.7)

इत्येवं स विचार्याथ बालकं तु वचोऽब्रवीत् । रणे कुतुककर्तारं वीरकोटिनिपातकम्

ityevaṁ sa vicāryātha bālakaṁ tu vaco'bravīt raṇe kutukakartāraṁ vīrakoṭinipātakam

Having thus reflected, he then said this word to that boy, who, working wonders in battle, was felling millions of heroes —

Verse 8 (padma.5.62.8)

कस्त्वं बाल रणेऽस्माकं वीरान्पातयसि क्षितौ । न जानीषे बलं राज्ञो रामस्य दनुजार्दिनः

kastvaṁ bāla raṇe'smākaṁ vīrānpātayasi kṣitau na jānīṣe balaṁ rājño rāmasya danujārdinaḥ

"Who are you, child, casting down our heroes to the earth in battle? Do you not know the might of King Rama, destroyer of demons?"

Verse 9 (padma.5.62.9)

का ते माता पिता कस्ते सुभाग्यो जयमाप्तवान् । नाम किं विश्रुतं लोके जानीयां ते महाबल

kā te mātā pitā kaste subhāgyo jayamāptavān nāma kiṁ viśrutaṁ loke jānīyāṁ te mahābala

"Who is your mother, who your father, and who that fortunate one who claims victory in your form? Tell me your name, renowned in the world, O mighty one."

Verse 10 (padma.5.62.10)

मुञ्च वाहः कथं बद्धः शिशुत्वात्तत्क्षमामि ते । आयाहि रामं वीक्षस्व दास्यते बहुलं तव

muñca vāhaḥ kathaṁ baddhaḥ śiśutvāttatkṣamāmi te āyāhi rāmaṁ vīkṣasva dāsyate bahulaṁ tava

"Release the horse — how have you come to bind it? For your youth's sake I forgive you this. Come, behold Rama — much shall be given to you."

Verse 11 (padma.5.62.11)

इत्युक्तो बालको वीरो वचः शत्रुघ्नमावदत् । किं ते नाम्नाथ पित्रा वा कुलेन वयसा तथा

ityukto bālako vīro vacaḥ śatrughnamāvadat kiṁ te nāmnātha pitrā vā kulena vayasā tathā

Thus addressed, that boy-hero said this word to Shatrughna: "What is your own name, your father's, your lineage, and your age as well?"

Verse 12 (padma.5.62.12)

युध्यस्व समरे वीर चेत्त्वं बलयुतो भवेः । कुशं वीरं नमस्कृत्य पादयोर्याहि नान्यथा

yudhyasva samare vīra cettvaṁ balayuto bhaveḥ kuśaṁ vīraṁ namaskṛtya pādayoryāhi nānyathā

"Fight in this battle, hero, if you are truly a man of strength; else bow to the hero Kusha and go to his very feet — there is no other way."

Verse 13 (padma.5.62.13)

भ्राता रामस्य वीरो भूर्नावयोर्बलिनां वरः । वाहं विमोचय बलाच्छक्तिस्ते विद्यते यदि

bhrātā rāmasya vīro bhūrnāvayorbalināṁ varaḥ vāhaṁ vimocaya balācchaktiste vidyate yadi

"You call yourself the brother of hero Rama, finest among the mighty — if you truly have the strength, then win the horse back by force."

Verse 14 (padma.5.62.14)

इत्युक्त्वा शरसंधानं कृत्वा प्राहरदुद्भटः । हृदये मस्तके चैव भुजयो रणमंडले

ityuktvā śarasaṁdhānaṁ kṛtvā prāharadudbhaṭaḥ hṛdaye mastake caiva bhujayo raṇamaṁḍale

Having spoken thus, that defiant one, fitting his arrows, struck him upon the chest, the head, and both arms, there upon the battlefield.

Verse 15 (padma.5.62.15)

तदा प्रकुपितो राजा धनुः सज्यमथाकरोत् । नादयन्मेघगंभीरं त्रासयन्निव बालकम्

tadā prakupito rājā dhanuḥ sajyamathākarot nādayanmeghagaṁbhīraṁ trāsayanniva bālakam

Then the enraged king strung his own bow, roaring deep as thunder, as though to strike terror into the boy.

Verse 16 (padma.5.62.16)

बाणानपरिसंख्यातान्मुमोच बलिनां वरः । बालो बलेन चिच्छेद सर्वांस्तान्सायकव्रजान्

bāṇānaparisaṁkhyātānmumoca balināṁ varaḥ bālo balena ciccheda sarvāṁstānsāyakavrajān

That finest of the mighty loosed countless arrows; and the boy, with his own strength, cut down the whole mass of shafts.

Verse 17 (padma.5.62.17)

लवस्यानेकधा मुक्तैर्बाणैर्व्याप्तं महीतलम् । व्यतीपाते प्रदत्तस्य दानस्येवाक्षयं गताः

lavasyānekadhā muktairbāṇairvyāptaṁ mahītalam vyatīpāte pradattasya dānasyevākṣayaṁ gatāḥ

The whole earth filled with the many arrows loosed by Lava — inexhaustible, like the merit of a gift given at the hour of a solar eclipse.

Verse 18 (padma.5.62.18)

ते बाणा व्योमसकलं व्याप्नुवँल्लवसंधिताः । सूर्यमंडलमासाद्य प्रवर्तंते समंततः

te bāṇā vyomasakalaṁ vyāpnuva~llavasaṁdhitāḥ sūryamaṁḍalamāsādya pravartaṁte samaṁtataḥ

Those arrows, fitted by Lava, spread out to fill the whole sky; reaching the very disc of the sun, they ranged about on every side.

Verse 19 (padma.5.62.19)

मारुतो नाविशद्यत्र बाणपंजरगोचरे । मनुष्याणां तु का वार्ता क्षणजीवितशंसिनाम्

māruto nāviśadyatra bāṇapaṁjaragocare manuṣyāṇāṁ tu kā vārtā kṣaṇajīvitaśaṁsinām

Not even the wind could enter that space filled with his cage of arrows; what then of men, whose lives, it is said, last no longer than an instant?

Verse 20 (padma.5.62.20)

तद्बाणान्विस्तृतान्दृष्ट्वा शत्रुघ्नो विस्मयं गतः । अच्छिनच्छतसाहस्रं बाणमोचनकोविदः

tadbāṇānvistṛtāndṛṣṭvā śatrughno vismayaṁ gataḥ acchinacchatasāhasraṁ bāṇamocanakovidaḥ

Seeing those arrows spread out so widely, filled with wonder, Shatrughna, skilled in the release of arrows, cut down a hundred thousand of them.

Verse 21 (padma.5.62.21)

ताञ्छिन्नान्सायकान्सर्वान्स्वीयान्दृष्ट्वा कुशानुजः । धनुश्चिच्छेद तरसा शत्रुघ्नस्य महीपतेः

tāñchinnānsāyakānsarvānsvīyāndṛṣṭvā kuśānujaḥ dhanuściccheda tarasā śatrughnasya mahīpateḥ

Seeing all his own arrows thus cut down, Kusha's younger brother swiftly cut through King Shatrughna's very bow.

Verse 22 (padma.5.62.22)

सोऽन्यद्धनुरुपादाय यावन्मुंचति सायकान् । तावद्बभंज सरथं सायकैः शितपर्वभिः

so'nyaddhanurupādāya yāvanmuṁcati sāyakān tāvadbabhaṁja sarathaṁ sāyakaiḥ śitaparvabhiḥ

Even as he took up another bow and loosed his arrows, Lava shattered his chariot too with sharp, well-jointed shafts.

Verse 23 (padma.5.62.23)

करस्थमच्छिनच्चापं सुदृढं गुणपूरितम् । तत्कर्मापूजयन्वीरा रणमंडलवर्तिनः

karasthamacchinaccāpaṁ sudṛḍhaṁ guṇapūritam tatkarmāpūjayanvīrā raṇamaṁḍalavartinaḥ

He cut the very bow held in his hand, sturdy and strung; and the heroes standing upon that battlefield praised this feat.

Verse 24 (padma.5.62.24)

सच्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । अन्यं रथं समास्थाय ययौ योद्धुं लवं बलात्

sacchinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ anyaṁ rathaṁ samāsthāya yayau yoddhuṁ lavaṁ balāt

His bow shattered, chariotless now, his horses and charioteer slain, he mounted another chariot and went by force to fight Lava again.

Verse 25 (padma.5.62.25)

अनेकबाणनिर्भिन्नः स्रवद्रक्तकलेवरः । पुष्पितः किंशुक इव शुशुभे रणमध्यगः

anekabāṇanirbhinnaḥ sravadraktakalevaraḥ puṣpitaḥ kiṁśuka iva śuśubhe raṇamadhyagaḥ

Pierced by many arrows, his body streaming with blood, he shone forth in the midst of that battle like a blossoming Kimshuka tree.

Verse 26 (padma.5.62.26)

शत्रुघ्नबाणप्रहतः परं कोपमुपागमत् । बाणसंधानचतुरः कुंडलीकृत चापवान्

śatrughnabāṇaprahataḥ paraṁ kopamupāgamat bāṇasaṁdhānacaturaḥ kuṁḍalīkṛta cāpavān

Struck by Shatrughna's arrows, he was filled with the greatest fury; skilled in fitting his shafts, he bent his bow into a full circle.

Verse 27 (padma.5.62.27)

विशीर्णकवचं देहं शिरोमुकुटवर्जितम् । स्रवद्रक्तपरिप्लुष्टं शत्रुघ्नस्य चकार सः

viśīrṇakavacaṁ dehaṁ śiromukuṭavarjitam sravadraktaparipluṣṭaṁ śatrughnasya cakāra saḥ

He left Shatrughna's very body, its armor shattered, its crown fallen from its head, drenched entirely in blood.

Verse 28 (padma.5.62.28)

तदा रामानुजः क्रुद्धो दशबाणाञ्छिताग्रकान् । मुमोच प्राणसंहारकारकान्कुपितो भृशम्

tadā rāmānujaḥ kruddho daśabāṇāñchitāgrakān mumoca prāṇasaṁhārakārakānkupito bhṛśam

Then Rama's younger brother, enraged, filled with the greatest fury, loosed ten arrows, sharp-tipped and capable of taking life.

Verse 29 (padma.5.62.29)

स तांस्तांस्तिलशः कृत्वा बाणैर्निशितपर्वभिः । ताडयामास हृदये शत्रुघ्नस्याष्टभिः शरैः

sa tāṁstāṁstilaśaḥ kṛtvā bāṇairniśitaparvabhiḥ tāḍayāmāsa hṛdaye śatrughnasyāṣṭabhiḥ śaraiḥ

Shattering every one of them with his own sharp, well-jointed arrows, he struck Shatrughna's chest with eight shafts in turn.

Verse 30 (padma.5.62.30)

अत्यंतं बाणपीडार्तो लवं बलिनमुत्स्मरन् । दुःसहं मन्यमानस्तं शरान्मुंचन्नभूत्तदा

atyaṁtaṁ bāṇapīḍārto lavaṁ balinamutsmaran duḥsahaṁ manyamānastaṁ śarānmuṁcannabhūttadā

Sorely afflicted by the pain of those arrows, calling mighty Lava to mind, finding it unbearable, he began then to loose his own shafts.

Verse 31 (padma.5.62.31)

तदा लवेन तीक्ष्णेन हृदि भिन्नो विशालके । अर्धचंद्रसमानेन तीक्ष्णपर्वसुशोभिना

tadā lavena tīkṣṇena hṛdi bhinno viśālake ardhacaṁdrasamānena tīkṣṇaparvasuśobhinā

Then, pierced in his broad chest by Lava's sharp, crescent-shaped arrow, resplendent with its keen point —

Verse 32 (padma.5.62.32)

स विद्धो हृदि बाणेन पीडां प्राप्तः सुदारुणाम् । पपात स्यंदनोपस्थे धनुःपाणिः सुशोभितः

sa viddho hṛdi bāṇena pīḍāṁ prāptaḥ sudāruṇām papāta syaṁdanopasthe dhanuḥpāṇiḥ suśobhitaḥ

— struck through the heart by that arrow, he was seized with the most terrible pain, and, bow still in hand, resplendent even so, fell upon his chariot.

Verse 33 (padma.5.62.33)

शत्रुघ्नं मूर्छितं दृष्ट्वा नृपाश्च सुरथादयः । दुद्रुवुर्लवमुद्युक्ता जयप्राप्त्यै रणे तदा

śatrughnaṁ mūrchitaṁ dṛṣṭvā nṛpāśca surathādayaḥ dudruvurlavamudyuktā jayaprāptyai raṇe tadā

Seeing Shatrughna in a swoon, kings such as Suratha and the others, eager now to win the victory, rushed then upon Lava in that battle.

Verse 34 (padma.5.62.34)

सुरथो विमलो वीरो राजा वीरमणिस्तथा । सुमदो रिपुतापाद्याः परिवव्रुश्च संयुगे

suratho vimalo vīro rājā vīramaṇistathā sumado riputāpādyāḥ parivavruśca saṁyuge

Suratha, the hero Vimala, King Viramani likewise, Sumada, Riputapa, and the others surrounded him there in that combat.

Verse 35 (padma.5.62.35)

केचित्क्षुरप्रैर्मुसलैः केचिद्बाणैः सुदारुणैः । प्रासैः परशुभिः केचित्सर्वतः प्राहरन्नृपाः

kecitkṣuraprairmusalaiḥ kecidbāṇaiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ prāsaiḥ paraśubhiḥ kecitsarvataḥ prāharannṛpāḥ

Some struck with crescent-headed arrows and maces, some with the most terrible arrows, some with spears and axes — those kings assailed him from every side.

Verse 36 (padma.5.62.36)

तानधर्मेण युद्धोत्कान्दृष्ट्वा वीरशिरोमणिः । दशभिर्दशभिर्बाणैस्ताडयामास संयुगे

tānadharmeṇa yuddhotkāndṛṣṭvā vīraśiromaṇiḥ daśabhirdaśabhirbāṇaistāḍayāmāsa saṁyuge

Seeing them so eager to fight in this unfair manner, that crest-jewel of heroes struck down each of them with ten arrows apiece in that combat.

Verse 37 (padma.5.62.37)

ते बाणवर्षविहता रणमध्ये सुकोपनाः । केचित्पलायिताः केचिन्मुमुहुर्युद्धमंडले

te bāṇavarṣavihatā raṇamadhye sukopanāḥ kecitpalāyitāḥ kecinmumuhuryuddhamaṁḍale

Struck by that very rain of arrows, filled with the greatest fury in the midst of that battle, some fled, and some fell senseless upon the field.

Verse 38 (padma.5.62.38)

तावत्स राजा शत्रुघ्नो मूर्च्छां संत्यज्य संगरे । लवं प्रायान्महावीरं योद्धुं बलसमन्वितः

tāvatsa rājā śatrughno mūrcchāṁ saṁtyajya saṁgare lavaṁ prāyānmahāvīraṁ yoddhuṁ balasamanvitaḥ

Meanwhile King Shatrughna, casting off his swoon in that battle, set out with all his remaining strength to fight great hero Lava once more.

Verse 39 (padma.5.62.39)

आगत्य तं लवं प्राह धन्योसि शिशुसन्निभः । न बालस्त्वं सुरः कश्चिच्छलितुं मां समागतः

āgatya taṁ lavaṁ prāha dhanyosi śiśusannibhaḥ na bālastvaṁ suraḥ kaścicchalituṁ māṁ samāgataḥ

Coming there, he said to Lava: "Blessed are you, though you look but a child; you are no ordinary boy — some god has come to deceive me."

Verse 40 (padma.5.62.40)

केनापि नहि वीरेण पातितो रणमंडले । त्वयाहं प्रापितो मूर्च्छां समक्षं मम पश्यतः

kenāpi nahi vīreṇa pātito raṇamaṁḍale tvayāhaṁ prāpito mūrcchāṁ samakṣaṁ mama paśyataḥ

"Never before, by any hero, have I been cast down upon a battlefield; by you alone, before my very own eyes, has this swoon come upon me."

Verse 41 (padma.5.62.41)

इदानीं पश्य मे वीर्यं त्वां संख्ये पातयाम्यहम् । सहस्व बाणमेकं त्वं मापलायस्व बालक

idānīṁ paśya me vīryaṁ tvāṁ saṁkhye pātayāmyaham sahasva bāṇamekaṁ tvaṁ māpalāyasva bālaka

"Now behold my own valor — I shall bring you down in this combat. Bear one arrow of mine, and do not flee, O child."

Verse 42 (padma.5.62.42)

इत्युक्त्वा समरे बालं शरमेकं समाददे । यमवक्त्रसमं घोरं लवणो येन घातितः

ityuktvā samare bālaṁ śaramekaṁ samādade yamavaktrasamaṁ ghoraṁ lavaṇo yena ghātitaḥ

Having spoken thus, in that battle he took up against the boy a single arrow, terrible as the very jaws of Yama, the same by which Lavana had once been slain.

Verse 43 (padma.5.62.43)

संधाय बाणं जाज्वल्यं हृदि भेत्तुं मनो दधत् । लवं वीरसहस्राणां वह्निवत्सर्वदाहकम्

saṁdhāya bāṇaṁ jājvalyaṁ hṛdi bhettuṁ mano dadhat lavaṁ vīrasahasrāṇāṁ vahnivatsarvadāhakam

Fitting that blazing arrow, resolved in his mind to pierce the boy's very heart — that fire capable of consuming a thousand heroes —

Verse 44 (padma.5.62.44)

तं बाणं प्रज्वलंतं स द्योतयंतं दिशो दश । दृष्ट्वा सस्मार बलिनं कुशं वैरिनिपातिनम्

taṁ bāṇaṁ prajvalaṁtaṁ sa dyotayaṁtaṁ diśo daśa dṛṣṭvā sasmāra balinaṁ kuśaṁ vairinipātinam

— seeing that blazing arrow illuminate all ten directions, Lava called to mind mighty Kusha, that destroyer of foes.

Verse 45 (padma.5.62.45)

यद्यस्मिन्समये वीरो भ्राता स्याद्बलवान्मम । तदा शत्रुघ्नवशता न मे स्याद्भयमुल्बणम्

yadyasminsamaye vīro bhrātā syādbalavānmama tadā śatrughnavaśatā na me syādbhayamulbaṇam

"If, at this hour, that hero, my own mighty brother, stood beside me, then, even under Shatrughna's power, no great fear would touch me."

Verse 46 (padma.5.62.46)

एवं तर्कयतस्तस्य लवस्य च महात्मनः । हृदि लग्नो महाबाणो घोरः कालानलोपमः

evaṁ tarkayatastasya lavasya ca mahātmanaḥ hṛdi lagno mahābāṇo ghoraḥ kālānalopamaḥ

Even as great-souled Lava reasoned thus, that mighty, terrible arrow, like the very fire of dissolution, lodged fast in his heart.

Verse 47 (padma.5.62.47)

मूर्च्छां प्राप तदा वीरो भूपसायकसंहतः । संगरे सर्ववीराणां शिरोभिः समलंकृते

mūrcchāṁ prāpa tadā vīro bhūpasāyakasaṁhataḥ saṁgare sarvavīrāṇāṁ śirobhiḥ samalaṁkṛte

Then, struck down by that very arrow of the king's, that hero fell into a swoon, there in that battle, adorned as it was with the heads of every fallen warrior.