Ravana Storms Kailasa

Shloka 1 (uttara.14.1)

ततस्तु सचिवैः सार्धं षड्भिर्नित्यं बलोद्धतैः । महोदरप्रहस्ताभ्यां मारीचशुकसारणैः ।। १४.१ ।।

tatas tu sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ ṣaḍbhir nityaṃ baloddhataiḥ | mahodaraprahastābhyāṃ mārīcaśukasāraṇaiḥ || 14.1 ||

Then, together with six ministers, ever formidable in strength — Mahodara, Prahasta, Maricha, Shuka, and Sarana —

Shloka 2 (uttara.14.2)

धूम्राक्षेण च वीरेण नित्यं समरगृध्नुना । वृतः संप्रययौ श्रीमान्क्रोधाल्लोकान्दहन्निव ।। १४.२ ।।

dhūmrākṣeṇa ca vīreṇa nityaṃ samaragṛdhninā | vṛtaḥ sampraprayau śrīmān krodhāl lokān dahann iva || 14.2 ||

and with the heroic Dhumraksha, ever eager for battle, that glorious one, surrounded by them, set forth in wrath, as though scorching the worlds.

Shloka 3 (uttara.14.3)

पुराणि स नदीः शैलान्वनान्युपवनानि च । अतिक्रम्य मुहूर्तेन कैलासं गिरिमागमत् ।। १४.३ ।।

purāṇi sa nadīḥ śailān vanāny upavanāni ca | atikramya muhūrtena kailāsaṃ girim āgamat || 14.3 ||

Crossing over cities, rivers, mountains, forests, and groves, he reached Mount Kailasa within a single moment.

Shloka 4 (uttara.14.4)

सन्निविष्टं गिरौ तस्मिन्राक्षसेन्द्रं निशम्य तु । युद्धे ऽत्यर्थकृतोत्साहं दुरात्मानं समन्त्रिणम् ।। १४.४ ।।

sanniviṣṭaṃ girau tasmin rākṣasendraṃ niśamya tu | yuddhe 'tyarthakṛtotsāhaṃ durātmānaṃ samantriṇam || 14.4 ||

Learning that the lord of the rakshasas had settled upon that mountain, that evil-minded one, filled with fierce eagerness for battle, together with his ministers —

Shloka 5 (uttara.14.5)

यक्षा न शेकुः संस्थातुं प्रमुखे तस्य रक्षसः । राज्ञो भ्रातेति विज्ञाय गता यत्र धनेश्वरः ।। १४.५ ।।

yakṣā na śekuḥ saṃsthātuṃ pramukhe tasya rakṣasaḥ | rājño bhrāteti vijñāya gatā yatra dhaneśvaraḥ || 14.5 ||

the Yakshas were unable to stand before that rakshasa; and knowing him to be the king's own brother, they went to where the Lord of Wealth was.

Shloka 6 (uttara.14.6)

ते गत्वा सर्वमाचख्युर्भ्रातुस्तस्य चिकीर्षितम् । अनुज्ञाता ययुर्हष्टा युद्धाय धनदेन ते ।। १४.६ ।।

te gatvā sarvam ācakhyur bhrātus tasya cikīrṣitam | anujñātā yayur hṛṣṭā yuddhāya dhanadena te || 14.6 ||

Going there, they reported all of that brother's intent; given leave by Dhanada, they went forth joyfully to battle.

Shloka 7 (uttara.14.7)

ततो बलानां सङ्क्षोभो व्यवर्धत महोदधेः । तस्य नैर्ऋतराजस्य शैलं सञ्चालयन्निव ।। १४.७ ।।

tato balānāṃ saṅkṣobho vyavardhata mahodadheḥ | tasya nairṛtarājasya śailaṃ sañcālayann iva || 14.7 ||

Then the tumult of that rakshasa-king's forces swelled like the great ocean, as though it would shake the very mountain.

Shloka 8 (uttara.14.8)

ततो युद्धं समभवद्यक्षराक्षससङ्कुलम् । व्यथिताश्चाभवंस्तत्र सचिवा राक्षसस्य ते ।। १४.८ ।।

tato yuddhaṃ samabhavad yakṣarākṣasasaṅkulam | vyathitāś cābhavaṃs tatra sacivā rākṣasasya te || 14.8 ||

Then a fierce battle broke out, thick with Yakshas and rakshasas, and there those ministers of the rakshasa grew distressed.

Shloka 9 (uttara.14.9)

स दृष्ट्वा तादृशं सैन्यं दशग्रीवो निशाचरः । हर्षनादान्बहून्कृत्वा स क्रोधादभ्यधावत ।। १४.९ ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṃ sainyaṃ daśagrīvo niśācaraḥ | harṣanādān bahūn kṛtvā sa krodhād abhyadhāvat || 14.9 ||

Seeing such an army, Dashagriva the night-ranger, raising many shouts of delight, charged forward in fury.

Shloka 10 (uttara.14.10)

ये तु ते राक्षसेन्द्रस्य सचिवा घोरविक्रमाः । तेषां सहस्रमेकैकं यक्षाणां समयोधयन् ।। १४.१० ।।

ye tu te rākṣasendrasya sacivā ghoravikramāḥ | teṣāṃ sahasram ekaikaṃ yakṣāṇāṃ samayodhayan || 14.10 ||

As for those ministers of the rakshasa-lord, of terrible prowess, each one of them fought against a thousand Yakshas at once.

Shloka 11 (uttara.14.11)

ततो गदाभिर्मुसलैरसिभिः शक्तितोमरैः । हन्यमानो दशग्रीवस्तत्सैन्यं समगाहत ।। १४.११ ।।

tato gadābhir musalair asibhiḥ śaktitomaraiḥ | hanyamāno daśagrīvas tat sainyaṃ samagāhata || 14.11 ||

Then, though struck by maces, clubs, swords, spears, and javelins, Dashagriva plunged deep into that army.

Shloka 12 (uttara.14.12)

स निरुच्छ्वासवत्तत्र वध्यमानो दशाननः । वर्षद्भिरिव जीमूतैर्धाराभिरवरुध्यत ।। १४.१२ ।।

sa nirucchvāsavat tatra vadhyamāno daśānanaḥ | varṣadbhir iva jīmūtair dhārābhir avarudhyata || 14.12 ||

There, though being struck down again and again, Dashanana stood as if without pause, hemmed in as by the streaming torrents of rain-laden clouds.

Shloka 13 (uttara.14.13)

न चकार व्यथां चैव यक्षशस्त्रैः समाहतः । महीधर इवाम्भोदैर्धाराशतसमुक्षितः ।। १४.१३ ।।

na cakāra vyathāṃ caiva yakṣaśastraiḥ samāhataḥ | mahīdhara ivāmbhodair dhārāśatasamukṣitaḥ || 14.13 ||

Though struck by the Yakshas' weapons, he showed no distress at all, like a mountain drenched by a hundred streams of water from the clouds.

Shloka 14 (uttara.14.14)

स दुरात्मा समुद्यम्य कालदण्डोपमां गदाम् । प्रविवेश ततः सैन्यं नयन्यक्षान्यमक्षयम् ।। १४.१४ ।।

sa durātmā samudyamya kāladaṇḍopamāṃ gadām | praviveśa tataḥ sainyaṃ nayan yakṣān yamakṣayam || 14.14 ||

That evil-souled one, lifting up his mace resembling the staff of Death, then plunged into that army, sending the Yakshas to the abode of Yama.

Shloka 15 (uttara.14.15)

स कक्षमिव विस्तीर्णं शुष्केन्धनमिवाकुलम् । वातेनाग्निरिवायत्तो यक्षसैन्यं ददाह तत् ।। १४.१५ ।।

sa kakṣam iva vistīrṇaṃ śuṣkendhanam ivākulam | vātenāgnir ivāyatto yakṣasainyaṃ dadāha tat || 14.15 ||

He consumed that army of the Yakshas as fire, driven by the wind, consumes a vast tract of dry grass, or a tangled heap of dry firewood.

Shloka 16 (uttara.14.16)

तैस्तु तत्र महामात्यैर्महोदरशुकादिभिः । अल्पावशेषास्ते यक्षाः कृता वातैरिवाम्बुदाः ।। १४.१६ ।।

tais tu tatra mahāmātyair mahodaraśukādibhiḥ | alpāvaśeṣās te yakṣāḥ kṛtā vātair ivāmbudāḥ || 14.16 ||

And by those great ministers there — Mahodara, Shuka, and the rest — the Yakshas were reduced to a mere remnant, as clouds are scattered by the winds.

Shloka 17 (uttara.14.17)

केचित्समाहता भग्नाः पतिताः समरक्षितौ । ओष्ठांश्च दशनैस्तीक्ष्णैरदशन्कुपिता रणे ।। १४.१७ ।।

kecit samāhatā bhagnāḥ patitāḥ samarakṣitau | oṣṭhāṃś ca daśanais tīkṣṇair adaśan kupitā raṇe || 14.17 ||

Some, struck down and broken, fell upon the field of battle, and in their fury bit their own lips with sharp teeth.

Shloka 18 (uttara.14.18)

श्रान्ताश्चान्योन्यमालिङ्ग्य भ्रष्टशस्त्रा रणाजिरे । सीदन्ति च तदा यक्षाः कूला इव जलेन ह ।। १४.१८ ।।

śrāntāś cānyonyam āliṅgya bhraṣṭaśastrā raṇājire | sīdanti ca tadā yakṣāḥ kūlā iva jalena ha || 14.18 ||

Exhausted, their weapons fallen away, embracing one another on the field of battle, the Yakshas then sank down, like riverbanks crumbling before the current.

Shloka 19 (uttara.14.19)

हतानां गच्छतां स्वर्गं युध्यतां पृथिवीतले । प्रेक्षतामृषिसङ्घानां न बभूवान्तरं दिवि ।। १४.१९ ।।

hatānāṃ gacchatāṃ svargaṃ yudhyatāṃ pṛthivītale | prekṣatām ṛṣisaṅghānāṃ na babhūvāntaraṃ divi || 14.19 ||

Between those slain who were ascending to heaven, those still fighting upon the earth, and the hosts of sages watching from above, there remained no gap left in the sky.

Shloka 20 (uttara.14.20)

भग्नांस्तु तान्समालक्ष्य यक्षेन्द्रांस्तु महाबलान् । धनाध्यक्षो महाबाहुः प्रेषयामास यक्षकान् ।। १४.२० ।।

bhagnāṃs tu tān samālakṣya yakṣendrāṃs tu mahābalān | dhanādhyakṣo mahābāhuḥ preṣayāmāsa yakṣakān || 14.20 ||

Seeing those mighty yaksha-chiefs broken, the mighty-armed Lord of Wealth sent forth more Yakshas.

Shloka 21 (uttara.14.21)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राम विस्तीर्णबलवाहनः । प्रेषितो न्यपतद्यक्षो नाम्ना संयोधकण्टकः ।। १४.२१ ।।

etasminn antare rāma vistīrṇabalavāhanaḥ | preṣito nyapatad yakṣo nāmnā saṃyodhakaṇṭakaḥ || 14.21 ||

Meanwhile, O Rama, a yaksha named Sanyodhakantaka, with a vast force and mounts, was sent and fell upon the field.

Shloka 22 (uttara.14.22)

तेन चक्रेण मारीचो विष्णुनेव रणे हतः । पतितो भूतले शैलात्क्षीणपुण्य इव ग्रहः ।। १४.२२ ।।

tena cakreṇa mārīco viṣṇuneva raṇe hataḥ | patito bhūtale śailāt kṣīṇapuṇya iva grahaḥ || 14.22 ||

With his discus, he struck down Maricha in battle as though he were Vishnu; he fell to the ground from the mountain like a planet whose merit is exhausted, falling from the sky.

Shloka 23 (uttara.14.23)

ससञ्ज्ञस्तु मुहूर्तेन स विश्रम्य निशाचरः । तं यक्षं योधयामास स च भग्नः प्रदुद्रुवे ।। १४.२३ ।।

sasañjñas tu muhūrtena sa viśramya niśācaraḥ | taṃ yakṣaṃ yodhayāmāsa sa ca bhagnaḥ pradudruve || 14.23 ||

Regaining his senses after a moment's rest, that night-ranger fought with the yaksha, and the yaksha, broken, fled away.

Shloka 24 (uttara.14.24)

ततः काञ्चनचित्राङ्गं वैडूर्यरजसोक्षितम् । मर्यादां प्रतिहाराणां तोरणान्तरमाविशत् ।। १४.२४ ।।

tataḥ kāñcanacitrāṅgaṃ vaiḍūryarajasokṣitam | maryādāṃ pratihārāṇāṃ toraṇāntaram āviśat || 14.24 ||

Then he passed the boundary set by the door-guards and entered within the gate-arch, adorned with golden traceries and strewn with beryl-dust.

Shloka 25 (uttara.14.25)

तं तु राजन्दशग्रीवं प्रविशन्तं निशाचरम् । सूर्यभानुरिति ख्यातो द्वारपालो न्यवारयत् ।। १४.२५ ।।

taṃ tu rājan daśagrīvaṃ praviśantaṃ niśācaram | sūryabhānur iti khyāto dvārapālo nyavārayat || 14.25 ||

O king, that night-ranger Dashagriva, as he entered, was blocked by the door-guard known as Suryabhanu.

Shloka 26 (uttara.14.26)

स वार्यमाणो यक्षेण प्रविवेश निशाचरः । यदा तु वारितो राम न व्यतिष्ठत्स राक्षसः ।। १४.२६ ।।

sa vāryamāṇo yakṣeṇa praviveśa niśācaraḥ | yadā tu vārito rāma na vyatiṣṭhat sa rākṣasaḥ || 14.26 ||

Though obstructed by that yaksha, the night-ranger still forced his way in; O Rama, even when blocked, that rakshasa would not stop.

Shloka 27 (uttara.14.27)

ततस्तोरणमुत्पाट्य तेन यक्षेण ताडितः । रुधिरं प्रस्रवन्भाति शैलो धातुस्रवैरिव ।। १४.२७ ।।

tatas toraṇam utpāṭya tena yakṣeṇa tāḍitaḥ | rudhiraṃ prasravan bhāti śailo dhātusravair iva || 14.27 ||

Then, tearing out the gate-arch, that yaksha struck him with it; and streaming with blood, he shone like a mountain streaked with flowing ores.

Shloka 28 (uttara.14.28)

स शैलशिखराभेण तोरणेन समाहतः । जगाम न क्षतिं वीरो वरदानात्स्वयम्भुवः ।। १४.२८ ।।

sa śailaśikharābheṇa toraṇena samāhataḥ | jagāma na kṣatiṃ vīro varadānāt svayambhuvaḥ || 14.28 ||

Struck by that gate-arch resembling a mountain peak, the hero took no real harm, owing to the boon granted him by the Self-born.

Shloka 29 (uttara.14.29)

तेनैव तोरणेनाथ यक्षस्तेनाभिताडितः । नादृश्यत तदा यक्षो भस्मीकृततनुस्तदा ।। १४.२९ ।।

tenaiva toraṇenātha yakṣas tenābhitāḍitaḥ | nādṛśyata tadā yakṣo bhasmīkṛtatanus tadā || 14.29 ||

Then, with that very gate-arch, he struck that yaksha in turn; and that yaksha, his body reduced to ashes, vanished from sight.

Shloka 30 (uttara.14.30)

ततः प्रदुद्रुवुः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा रक्षःपराक्रमम् । ततो नदीर्गुहाश्चैव विविशुर्भयपीडिताः । त्यक्तप्रहरणाः श्रान्ता विवर्णवदनास्तदा ।। १४.३० ।।

tataḥ pradudruvuḥ sarve dṛṣṭvā rakṣaḥparākramam | tato nadīr guhāś caiva viviśur bhayapīḍitāḥ | tyaktapraharaṇāḥ śrāntā vivarṇavadanās tadā || 14.30 ||

Seeing that display of the rakshasa's might, all of them fled; then, oppressed by fear, they took refuge in rivers and caves, having cast aside their weapons, exhausted, their faces pale.