The Slaying of the Five Generals

Shloka 1 (sundara.46.1)

हतान् मन्त्रिसुतान् बुद्ध्वा वानरेण महात्मना। रावणः संवृताकारश्चकार मतिमुत्तमाम् ॥ 46.1 ॥

hatān mantrisutān buddhvā vānareṇa mahātmanā| rāvaṇaḥ saṃvṛtākāraścakāra matimuttamām || 46.1 ||

Learning that the ministers' sons had been slain by the great-souled monkey, Ravana, concealing the expression on his face, formed an excellent resolve.

Shloka 2 (sundara.46.2)

स विरूपाक्षयूपाक्षौ दुर्धरं चैव राक्षसम्। प्रघसं भासकर्णं च पञ्च सेनाग्रनायकान् ॥ 46.2 ॥

sa virūpākṣayūpākṣau durdharaṃ caiva rākṣasam| praghasaṃ bhāsakarṇaṃ ca pañca senāgranāyakān || 46.2 ||

He summoned Virupaksha and Yupaksha, the rakshasa Durdhara, and Praghasa and Bhasakarna — five foremost leaders of the army,

Shloka 3 (sundara.46.3)

संदिदेश दशग्रीवो वीरान् नयविशारदान्। हनूमद्ग्रहणेऽव्यग्रान् वायुवेगसमान् युधि ॥ 46.3 ॥

saṃdideśa daśagrīvo vīrān nayaviśāradān| hanūmadgrahaṇe'vyagrān vāyuvegasamān yudhi || 46.3 ||

and the ten-necked Ravana commanded those valiant heroes, skilled in strategy, intent on capturing Hanuman, equal to the wind's speed in battle.

Shloka 4 (sundara.46.4)

यात सेनाग्रगाः सर्वे महाबलपरिग्रहाः। सवाजिरथमातङ्गाः स कपिः शास्यतामिति ॥ 46.4 ॥

yāta senāgragāḥ sarve mahābalaparigrahāḥ| savājirathamātaṅgāḥ sa kapiḥ śāsyatāmiti || 46.4 ||

"Go, all of you foremost of the army, taking with you your mighty forces, with horses, chariots and elephants, and let that monkey be chastised!"

Shloka 5 (sundara.46.5)

यत्तैश्च खलु भाव्यं स्यात् तमासाद्य वनालयम्। कर्म चापि समाधेयं देशकालाविरोधितम् ॥ 46.5 ॥

yattaiśca khalu bhāvyaṃ syāt tamāsādya vanālayam| karma cāpi samādheyaṃ deśakālāvirodhitam || 46.5 ||

"Whatever you must do on reaching that dweller of the grove, let that action be undertaken in a manner not at odds with the place and the time."

Shloka 6 (sundara.46.6)

न ह्यहं तं कपिं मन्ये कर्मणा प्रति तर्कयन्। सर्वथा तन्महद् भूतं महाबलपरिग्रहम् ॥ 46.6 ॥

na hyahaṃ taṃ kapiṃ manye karmaṇā prati tarkayan| sarvathā tanmahad bhūtaṃ mahābalaparigraham || 46.6 ||

"For, judging him by his deeds, I do not think him a mere monkey — in every way he seems some mighty being possessed of great strength."

Shloka 7 (sundara.46.7)

वानरोऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा नहि शुद्ध्यति मे मनः। नैवाहं तं कपिं मन्ये यथेयं प्रस्तुता कथा ॥ 46.7 ॥

vānaro'yamiti jñātvā nahi śuddhyati me manaḥ| naivāhaṃ taṃ kapiṃ manye yatheyaṃ prastutā kathā || 46.7 ||

"Knowing merely that 'this is a monkey' does not settle my mind at all; going by the very story that has come to light, I do not think of him as a mere monkey."

Shloka 8 (sundara.46.8)

भवेदिन्द्रेण वा सृष्टमस्मदर्थं तपोबलात्। सनागयक्षगन्धर्वदेवासुरमहर्षयः ॥ 46.8 ॥

bhavedindreṇa vā sṛṣṭamasmadarthaṃ tapobalāt| sanāgayakṣagandharvadevāsuramaharṣayaḥ || 46.8 ||

"He might well be something created by Indra, through the power of penance, for our destruction — together with the Nagas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, gods, demons and great sages,"

Shloka 9 (sundara.46.9)

युष्माभिः प्रहितैः सर्वैर्मया सह विनिर्जिताः। तैरवश्यं विधातव्यं व्यलीकं किंचिदेव नः ॥ 46.9 ॥

yuṣmābhiḥ prahitaiḥ sarvairmayā saha vinirjitāḥ| tairavaśyaṃ vidhātavyaṃ vyalīkaṃ kiṃcideva naḥ || 46.9 ||

"— all of whom, sent by you into battle, were together with me utterly vanquished; by them some harm is surely now destined for us."

Shloka 10 (sundara.46.10)

तदेव नात्र संदेहः प्रसह्य परिगृह्यताम्। यात सेनाग्रगाः सर्वे महाबलपरिग्रहाः ॥ 46.10 ॥

tadeva nātra saṃdehaḥ prasahya parigṛhyatām| yāta senāgragāḥ sarve mahābalaparigrahāḥ || 46.10 ||

"This is indeed so, there is no doubt of it — let him be seized by force! Go, all of you foremost of the army, with your great forces mustered,"

Shloka 11 (sundara.46.11)

सवाजिरथमातङ्गाः स कपिः शास्यतामिति। नावमन्यो भवद्भिश्च कपिर्धीरपराक्रमः ॥ 46.11 ॥

savājirathamātaṅgāḥ sa kapiḥ śāsyatāmiti| nāvamanyo bhavadbhiśca kapirdhīraparākramaḥ || 46.11 ||

"— with horses, chariots and elephants, and let that monkey be chastised. Yet he should not be underestimated by you, for that monkey is of steady valour."

Shloka 12 (sundara.46.12)

दृष्टा हि हरयः पूर्वे मया विपुलविक्रमाः। वाली च सह सुग्रीवो जाम्बवांश्च महाबलः ॥ 46.12 ॥

dṛṣṭā hi harayaḥ pūrve mayā vipulavikramāḥ| vālī ca saha sugrīvo jāmbavāṃśca mahābalaḥ || 46.12 ||

"For I have seen before monkeys of vast prowess — Vali, and Sugriva along with him, and the mighty Jambavan,"

Shloka 13 (sundara.46.13)

नीलः सेनापतिश्चैव ये चान्ये द्विविदादयः। नैव तेषां गतिर्भीमा न तेजो न पराक्रमः ॥ 46.13 ॥

nīlaḥ senāpatiścaiva ye cānye dvividādayaḥ| naiva teṣāṃ gatirbhīmā na tejo na parākramaḥ || 46.13 ||

"and Nila the army commander, and others such as Dvivida — but never was their speed so fearsome, nor their splendour, nor their valour, as this one's."

Shloka 14 (sundara.46.14)

न मतिर्न बलोत्साहो न रूपपरिकल्पनम्। महत्सत्त्वमिदं ज्ञेयं कपिरूपं व्यवस्थितम् ॥ 46.14 ॥

na matirna balotsāho na rūparikalpanam| mahatsattvamidaṃ jñeyaṃ kapirūpaṃ vyavasthitam || 46.14 ||

"Neither their intellect nor their strength and vigour nor their power of transformation compares to his — this should be known as some mighty being, established in the form of a monkey."

Shloka 15 (sundara.46.15)

प्रयत्नं महदास्थाय क्रियतामस्य निग्रहः। कामं लोकास्त्रयः सेन्द्राः ससुरासुरमानवाः ॥ 46.15 ॥

prayatnaṃ mahadāsthāya kriyatāmasya nigrahaḥ| kāmaṃ lokāstrayaḥ sendrāḥ sasurāsuramānavāḥ || 46.15 ||

"So let his capture be achieved with a great effort. Though indeed the three worlds together with Indra, the gods, the demons and men"

Shloka 16 (sundara.46.16)

भवतामग्रतः स्थातुं न पर्याप्ता रणाजिरे। तथापि तु नयज्ञेन जयमाकाङ्क्षता रणे ॥ 46.16 ॥

bhavatāmagrataḥ sthātuṃ na paryāptā raṇājire| tathāpi tu nayajñena jayamākāṅkṣatā raṇe || 46.16 ||

"are not sufficient to stand before you on the field of battle, even so, one skilled in strategy and desiring victory in battle"

Shloka 17 (sundara.46.17)

आत्मा रक्ष्यः प्रयत्नेन युद्धसिद्धिर्हि चञ्चला। ते स्वामिवचनं सर्वे प्रतिगृह्य महौजसः ॥ 46.17 ॥

ātmā rakṣyaḥ prayatnena yuddhasiddhirhi cañcalā| te svāmivacanaṃ sarve pratigṛhya mahaujasaḥ || 46.17 ||

"must guard himself with effort, for success in battle is indeed fickle." All those of great might, having accepted their lord's command,

Shloka 18 (sundara.46.18)

समुत्पेतुर्महावेगा हुताशसमतेजसः। रथैश्च मत्तैर्नागैश्च वाजिभिश्च महाजवैः ॥ 46.18 ॥

samutpeturmahāvegā hutāśasamatejasaḥ| rathaiśca mattairnāgaiśca vājibhiśca mahājavaiḥ || 46.18 ||

sallied forth with great speed, blazing like fire, together with chariots, rutting elephants and swift-coursing horses,

Shloka 19 (sundara.46.19)

शस्त्रैश्च विविधैस्तीक्ष्णैः सर्वैश्चोपहिता बलैः। ततस्तु ददृशुर्वीरा दीप्यमानं महाकपिम् ॥ 46.19 ॥

śastraiśca vividhaistīkṣṇaiḥ sarvaiścopahitā balaiḥ| tatastu dadṛśurvīrā dīpyamānaṃ mahākapim || 46.19 ||

equipped with various sharp weapons and with every kind of force. Then those heroes beheld the great monkey, blazing,

Shloka 20 (sundara.46.20)

रश्मिमन्तमिवोद्यन्तं स्वतेजोरश्मिमालिनम्। तोरणस्थं महावेगं महासत्त्वं महाबलम् ॥ 46.20 ॥

raśmimantamivodyantaṃ svatejoraśmimālinam| toraṇasthaṃ mahāvegaṃ mahāsattvaṃ mahābalam || 46.20 ||

like the rising sun garlanded with rays of his own splendour, standing at the archway — of great speed, great might and great strength,

Shloka 21 (sundara.46.21)

महामतिं महोत्साहं महाकायं महाभुजम्। तं समीक्ष्यैव ते सर्वे दिक्षु सर्वास्ववस्थिताः ॥ 46.21 ॥

mahāmatiṃ mahotsāhaṃ mahākāyaṃ mahābhujam| taṃ samīkṣyaiva te sarve dikṣu sarvāsvavasthitāḥ || 46.21 ||

of great intellect, great vigour, great body and great arms. Beholding him, all of them, stationed in every direction,

Shloka 22 (sundara.46.22)

तैस्तैः प्रहरणैर्भीमैरभिपेतुस्ततस्ततः। तस्य पञ्चायसास्तीक्ष्णाः सिताः पीतमुखाः शराः। शिरस्युत्पलपत्राभा दुर्धरेण निपातिताः ॥ 46.22 ॥

taistaiḥ praharaṇairbhīmairabhipetustatastataḥ| tasya pañcāyasāstīkṣṇāḥ sitāḥ pītamukhāḥ śarāḥ| śirasyutpalapatrābhā durdhareṇa nipātitāḥ || 46.22 ||

fell upon him from every side with those various terrible weapons. And Durdhara loosed at his head five sharp iron arrows, white-shafted with yellow tips, gleaming like the petals of the blue lotus.

Shloka 23 (sundara.46.23)

स तैः पञ्चभिराविद्धः शरैः शिरसि वानरः। उत्पपात नदन् व्योम्नि दिशो दश विनादयन् ॥ 46.23 ॥

sa taiḥ pañcabhirāviddhaḥ śaraiḥ śirasi vānaraḥ| utpapāta nadan vyomni diśo daśa vinādayan || 46.23 ||

Struck in the head by those five arrows, the monkey leapt up roaring into the sky, making all ten directions resound.

Shloka 24 (sundara.46.24)

ततस्तु दुर्धरो वीरः सरथः सज्जकार्मुकः। किरन् शरशतैर्नैकैरभिपेदे महाबलः ॥ 46.24 ॥

tatastu durdharo vīraḥ sarathaḥ sajjakārmukaḥ| kiran śaraśatairnaikairabhipede mahābalaḥ || 46.24 ||

Then the valiant Durdhara, on his chariot with bow readied, mighty, showered countless hundreds of arrows and pressed his attack.

Shloka 25 (sundara.46.25)

स कपिर्वारयामास तं व्योम्नि शरवर्षिणम्। वृष्टिमन्तं पयोदान्ते पयोदमिव मारुतः ॥ 46.25 ॥

sa kapirvārayāmāsa taṃ vyomni śaravarṣiṇam| vṛṣṭimantaṃ payodānte payodamiva mārutaḥ || 46.25 ||

That monkey warded him off in the sky, showering his arrows, as the wind wards off a rain-laden cloud at the end of the rains.

Shloka 26 (sundara.46.26)

अर्द्यमानस्ततस्तेन दुर्धरेणानिलात्मजः। चकार निनदं भूयो व्यवर्धत च वीर्यवान् ॥ 46.26 ॥

ardyamānastatastena durdhareṇānilātmajaḥ| cakāra ninadaṃ bhūyo vyavardhata ca vīryavān || 46.26 ||

Then, harassed by that Durdhara, the son of the Wind roared again, and, mighty as he was, grew larger still.

Shloka 27 (sundara.46.27)

स दूरं सहसोत्पत्य दुर्धरस्य रथे हरिः। निपपात महावेगो विद्युद्राशिर्गिराविव ॥ 46.27 ॥

sa dūraṃ sahasotpatya durdharasya rathe hariḥ| nipapāta mahāvego vidyudrāśirgirāviva || 46.27 ||

Leaping up suddenly from afar, that monkey fell upon Durdhara's chariot with great speed, like a mass of lightning falling upon a mountain.

Shloka 28 (sundara.46.28)

ततः स मथिताष्टाश्वं रथं भग्नाक्षकूबरम्। विहाय न्यपतद् भूमौ दुर्धरस्त्यक्तजीवितः ॥ 46.28 ॥

tataḥ sa mathitāṣṭāśvaṃ rathaṃ bhagnākṣakūbaram| vihāya nyapatad bhūmau durdharastyaktajīvitaḥ || 46.28 ||

Then, his chariot's eight horses crushed and its axle and pole broken, Durdhara abandoned it and fell to the ground, his life gone.

Shloka 29 (sundara.46.29)

तं विरूपाक्षयूपाक्षौ दृष्ट्वा निपतितं भुवि। तौ जातरोषौ दुर्धर्षावुत्पेततुररिंदमौ ॥ 46.29 ॥

taṃ virūpākṣayūpākṣau dṛṣṭvā nipatitaṃ bhuvi| tau jātaroṣau durdharṣāvutpetaturariṃdamau || 46.29 ||

Seeing him fallen to the ground, Virupaksha and Yupaksha, those two unassailable subduers of foes, sprang up filled with rage.

Shloka 30 (sundara.46.30)

स ताभ्यां सहसोत्प्लुत्य विष्ठितो विमलेऽम्बरे। मुद्गराभ्यां महाबाहुर्वक्षस्यभिहतः कपिः ॥ 46.30 ॥

sa tābhyāṃ sahasotplutya viṣṭhito vimale'mbare| mudgarābhyāṃ mahābāhurvakṣasyabhihataḥ kapiḥ || 46.30 ||

Leaping up suddenly, those two struck that mighty-armed monkey, standing in the clear sky, on the chest with their maces.

Shloka 31 (sundara.46.31)

तयोर्वेगवतोर्वेगं निहत्य स महाबलः। निपपात पुनर्भूमौ सुपर्ण इव वेगितः ॥ 46.31 ॥

tayorvegavatorvegaṃ nihatya sa mahābalaḥ| nipapāta punarbhūmau suparṇa iva vegitaḥ || 46.31 ||

Breaking the onrush of those two swift ones, that mighty one swiftly descended again to the ground, like Garuda.

Shloka 32 (sundara.46.32)

स सालवृक्षमासाद्य समुत्पाट्य च वानरः। तावुभौ राक्षसौ वीरौ जघान पवनात्मजः ॥ 46.32 ॥

sa sālavṛkṣamāsādya samutpāṭya ca vānaraḥ| tāvubhau rākṣasau vīrau jaghāna pavanātmajaḥ || 46.32 ||

That monkey, the son of the Wind, going up to a sala tree and uprooting it, slew both those valiant demons.

Shloka 33 (sundara.46.33)

ततस्तांस्त्रीन् हतान् ज्ञात्वा वानरेण तरस्विना। अभिपेदे महावेगः प्रहस्य प्रघसो बली ॥ 46.33 ॥

tatastāṃstrīn hatān jñātvā vānareṇa tarasvinā| abhipede mahāvegaḥ prahasya praghaso balī || 46.33 ||

Then, learning that those three had been slain by the swift monkey, the strong and mighty-swift Praghasa, laughing, pressed his attack.

Shloka 34 (sundara.46.34)

भासकर्णश्च संक्रुद्धः शूलमादाय वीर्यवान्। एकतः कपिशार्दूलं यशस्विनमवस्थितौ ॥ 46.34 ॥

bhāsakarṇaśca saṃkruddhaḥ śūlamādāya vīryavān| ekataḥ kapiśārdūlaṃ yaśasvinamavasthitau || 46.34 ||

And Bhasakarna, greatly enraged and mighty, taking up a trident — the two of them together stationed themselves to one side of that illustrious tiger among monkeys.

Shloka 35 (sundara.46.35)

पट्टिशेन शिताग्रेण प्रघसः प्रत्यपोथयत्। भासकर्णश्च शूलेन राक्षसः कपिकुञ्जरम् ॥ 46.35 ॥

paṭṭiśena śitāgreṇa praghasaḥ pratyapothayat| bhāsakarṇaśca śūlena rākṣasaḥ kapikuñjaram || 46.35 ||

Praghasa struck that elephant among monkeys with his sharp-edged spear, and the demon Bhasakarna struck him with his trident.

Shloka 36 (sundara.46.36)

स ताभ्यां विक्षतैर्गात्रैरसृग्दिग्धतनूरुहः। अभवद् वानरः क्रुद्धो बालसूर्यसमप्रभः ॥ 46.36 ॥

sa tābhyāṃ vikṣatairgātrairasṛgdigdhatanūruhaḥ| abhavad vānaraḥ kruddho bālasūryasamaprabhaḥ || 46.36 ||

With his limbs wounded by those two, his body-hair smeared with blood, the monkey grew enraged, blazing like the newly risen sun.

Shloka 37 (sundara.46.37)

समुत्पाट्य गिरेः शृङ्गं समृगव्यालपादपम्। जघान हनुमान् वीरो राक्षसौ कपिकुञ्जरः। गिरिशृङ्गसुनिष्पिष्टौ तिलशस्तौ बभूवतुः ॥ 46.37 ॥

samutpāṭya gireḥ śṛṅgaṃ samṛgavyālapādapam| jaghāna hanumān vīro rākṣasau kapikuñjaraḥ| giriśṛṅgasuniṣpiṣṭau tilaśastau babhūvatuḥ || 46.37 ||

Tearing up a mountain peak complete with its beasts, serpents and trees, the valiant Hanuman, that elephant among monkeys, struck down both demons — crushed by the mountain peak, they were ground fine as sesame seeds.

Shloka 38 (sundara.46.38)

ततस्तेष्ववसन्नेषु सेनापतिषु पञ्चसु। बलं तदवशेषं तु नाशयामास वानरः ॥ 46.38 ॥

tatasteṣvavasanneṣu senāpatiṣu pañcasu| balaṃ tadavaśeṣaṃ tu nāśayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 46.38 ||

Then, when those five army-commanders had thus perished, the monkey went on to destroy the remaining army.

Shloka 39 (sundara.46.39)

अश्वैरश्वान् गजैर्नागान् योधैर्योधान् रथै रथान्। स कपिर्नाशयामास सहस्राक्ष इवासुरान् ॥ 46.39 ॥

aśvairaśvān gajairnāgān yodhairyodhān rathai rathān| sa kapirnāśayāmāsa sahasrākṣa ivāsurān || 46.39 ||

With horses he destroyed horses, with elephants elephants, with warriors warriors, with chariots chariots — that monkey destroyed them thus, like thousand-eyed Indra destroying demons.

Shloka 40 (sundara.46.40)

हयैर्नागैस्तुरंगैश्च भग्नाक्षैश्च महारथैः। हतैश्च राक्षसैर्भूमी रुद्धमार्गा समन्ततः ॥ 46.40 ॥

hayairnāgaisturaṃgaiśca bhagnākṣaiśca mahārathaiḥ| hataiśca rākṣasairbhūmī ruddhamārgā samantataḥ || 46.40 ||

With horses, elephants and steeds, with great chariots whose axles were broken, and with slain demons, the earth's pathways were blocked on every side.

Shloka 41 (sundara.46.41)

ततः कपिस्तान् ध्वजिनीपतीन् रणे निहत्य वीरान् सबलान् सवाहनान्। तथैव वीरः परिगृह्य तोरणं कृतक्षणः काल इव प्रजाक्षये ॥ 46.41 ॥

tataḥ kapistān dhvajinīpatīn raṇe nihatya vīrān sabalān savāhanān| tathaiva vīraḥ parigṛhya toraṇaṃ kṛtakṣaṇaḥ kāla iva prajākṣaye || 46.41 ||

Then, having slain in battle those army-commanders, valiant with their forces and mounts, the hero took hold of the archway once more, like Time itself, its moment come, awaiting the destruction of all creatures.