The Slaying of Lavana

Shloka 1 (uttara.69.1)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । क्रोधामाहारयत्तीव्रं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ।। 69.1 ।।

tacchrutvā bhāṣitaṃ tasya śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ | krodhāmāhārayattīvraṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt || 69.1 ||

Hearing this speech of the great-souled Shatrughna, he blazed up with fierce anger and cried, "Stand, stand!"

Shloka 2 (uttara.69.2)

पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान्कटकटाय्य च । लवणो रघुशार्दूलमाह्वयामास चासकृत् ।। 69.2 ।।

pāṇau pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantānkaṭakaṭāyya ca | lavaṇo raghuśārdūlamāhvayāmāsa cāsakṛt || 69.2 ||

Rubbing his palms together and gnashing his teeth, Lavana challenged that tiger among the Raghus again and again.

Shloka 3 (uttara.69.3)

तं ब्रुवाणं तथा वाक्यं लवणं घोरदर्शनम् । शत्रुघ्नो देवशत्रुघ्न इदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 69.3 ।।

taṃ bruvāṇaṃ tathā vākyaṃ lavaṇaṃ ghoradarśanam | śatrughno devaśatrughna idaṃ vacanamabravīt || 69.3 ||

To that terrifying Lavana, speaking thus, Shatrughna, destroyer of the enemies of the gods, spoke this word.

Shloka 4 (uttara.69.4)

न शत्रुघ्नस्तथा जातो यथा ऽन्ये निर्जितास्त्वया । तदद्य बाणाभिहतो व्रज त्वं यमसादनम् ।। 69.4 ।।

na śatrughnastathā jāto yathā 'nye nirjitāstvayā | tadadya bāṇābhihato vraja tvaṃ yamasādanam || 69.4 ||

"Shatrughna was not born as those others were, whom you have conquered before. So today, struck down by my arrows, go now to the abode of Yama.

Shloka 5 (uttara.69.5)

ऋषयो ऽप्यद्य पापात्मन्मया त्वां निहतं रणे । पश्यन्तु विप्रा विद्वांसस्त्रिदशा इव रावणम् ।। 69.5 ।।

ṛṣayo 'pyadya pāpātmanmayā tvāṃ nihataṃ raṇe | paśyantu viprā vidvāṃsastridaśā iva rāvaṇam || 69.5 ||

O evil-souled one, let the sages and learned brahmins today see you slain by me in battle, just as the gods once saw Ravana fall.

Shloka 6 (uttara.69.6)

त्वयि मद्बाणनिर्दग्धे पतिते ऽद्य निशाचर । पुरे जनपदे चापि क्षेममेव भविष्यति ।। 69.6 ।।

tvayi madbāṇanirdagdhe patite 'dya niśācara | pure janapade cāpi kṣemameva bhaviṣyati || 69.6 ||

O night-wanderer, when you fall today, burnt by my arrows, then peace and well-being alone shall reign, in this city and in the countryside.

Shloka 7 (uttara.69.7)

अद्य मद्बाहुनिष्क्रान्तः शरो वज्रनिभाननः । प्रवेक्ष्यते ते हृदयं पद्ममंशुरिवार्कजः ।। 69.7 ।।

adya madbāhuniṣkrāntaḥ śaro vajranibhānanaḥ | pravekṣyate te hṛdayaṃ padmamaṃśurivārkajaḥ || 69.7 ||

Today the arrow, loosed from my arm, its point like a thunderbolt, shall pierce your heart, as a ray born of the sun pierces into a lotus."

Shloka 8 (uttara.69.8)

एवमुक्तो महावृक्षं लवणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । शत्रुघ्नोरसि चिक्षेप स च तं शतधाच्छिनत् ।। 69.8 ।।

evamukto mahāvṛkṣaṃ lavaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | śatrughnorasi cikṣepa sa ca taṃ śatadhācchinat || 69.8 ||

Hearing this, Lavana, overwhelmed with rage, hurled a great tree at Shatrughna's chest; but he cut it into a hundred pieces.

Shloka 9 (uttara.69.9)

तद्दृष्ट्वा विफलं कर्म राक्षसः पुनरेव तु । पादपान्सुबहून्गृह्य शत्रुघ्नायासृजद्बली ।। 69.9 ।।

taddṛṣṭvā viphalaṃ karma rākṣasaḥ punareva tu | pādapānsubahūngṛhya śatrughnāyāsṛjadbalī || 69.9 ||

Seeing this attempt come to nothing, that mighty rakshasa again tore up many trees and hurled them at Shatrughna.

Shloka 10 (uttara.69.10)

शत्रुघ्नश्चापि तेजस्वी वृक्षानापततो बहून् । त्रिभिश्चतुर्भिरेकैकं चिच्छेद नतपर्वभिः ।। 69.10 ।।

śatrughnaścāpi tejasvī vṛkṣānāpatato bahūn | tribhiścaturbhirekaikaṃ ciccheda nataparvabhiḥ || 69.10 ||

The splendorous Shatrughna, too, cut down each of those many falling trees, with three or four curved-jointed arrows apiece.

Shloka 11 (uttara.69.11)

ततो बाणमयं वर्षं व्यसृजद्राक्षसोरसि । शत्रुघ्नो वीर्यसम्पन्नो विव्यथे न स राक्षसः ।। 69.11 ।।

tato bāṇamayaṃ varṣaṃ vyasṛjadrākṣasorasi | śatrughno vīryasampanno vivyathe na sa rākṣasaḥ || 69.11 ||

Then the valiant Shatrughna loosed a shower of arrows upon the rakshasa's chest, but the demon was not shaken by it.

Shloka 12 (uttara.69.12)

ततः प्रहस्य लवणो वृक्षमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान् । शिरस्यभ्यहनच्छूरं स्रस्ताङ्गः स मुमोह वै ।। 69.12 ।।

tataḥ prahasya lavaṇo vṛkṣamudyamya vīryavān | śirasyabhyahanacchūraṃ srastāṅgaḥ sa mumoha vai || 69.12 ||

Then the mighty Lavana, laughing, lifted a tree and struck that hero upon the head, and his limbs went slack as he sank into a swoon.

Shloka 13 (uttara.69.13)

तस्मिन्निपतिते वीरे हाहाकारो महानभूत् । ऋषीणां देवसङ्घानां गन्धर्वाप्सरसां तथा ।। 69.13 ।।

tasminnipatite vīre hāhākāro mahānabhūt | ṛṣīṇāṃ devasaṅghānāṃ gandharvāpsarasāṃ tathā || 69.13 ||

When that hero fell, a great cry of dismay rose up among the sages, the hosts of gods, and the Gandharvas and Apsaras.

Shloka 14 (uttara.69.14)

तमवज्ञाय तु हतं शत्रुघ्नं भुवि पातितम् । रक्षो लब्धान्तरमपि न विवेश स्वमालयम् ।। 69.14 ।।

tamavajñāya tu hataṃ śatrughnaṃ bhuvi pātitam | rakṣo labdhāntaramapi na viveśa svamālayam || 69.14 ||

Disdaining Shatrughna, thinking him slain and fallen to the ground, the rakshasa, even with the chance now his, did not go back into his home.

Shloka 15 (uttara.69.15)

नापि शूलं प्रजग्राह तं दृष्ट्वा भुवि पातितम् । ततो हत इति ज्ञात्वा तान्भक्षान्समुदावहत् ।। 69.15 ।।

nāpi śūlaṃ prajagrāha taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhuvi pātitam | tato hata iti jñātvā tānbhakṣānsamudāvahat || 69.15 ||

Seeing him fallen upon the ground, he did not even take up his trident. Thinking him already slain, he went on carrying that burden of food.

Shloka 16 (uttara.69.16)

मुहूर्ताल्लब्धसञ्ज्ञस्तु पुनस्तस्थौ धृतायुधः । शत्रुघ्नो वै पुरद्वारि ऋषिभिः सम्प्रपूजितः ।। 69.16 ।।

muhūrtāllabdhasañjñastu punastasthau dhṛtāyudhaḥ | śatrughno vai puradvāri ṛṣibhiḥ samprapūjitaḥ || 69.16 ||

But within a moment Shatrughna regained his senses, and, weapon in hand once more, stood again at the city gate, honored greatly by the sages.

Shloka 17 (uttara.69.17)

ततो दिव्यममोघं तं जग्राह शरमुत्तमम् । ज्वलन्तं तेजसा घोरं पूरयन्तं दिशो दश ।। 69.17 ।।

tato divyamamoghaṃ taṃ jagrāha śaramuttamam | jvalantaṃ tejasā ghoraṃ pūrayantaṃ diśo daśa || 69.17 ||

Then he took up that divine, unfailing, supreme arrow, blazing terribly with its own splendor, filling all ten directions.

Shloka 18 (uttara.69.18)

वज्राननं वज्रवेगं मेरुमन्दरसन्निभम् । नतं पर्वसु सर्वेषु संयुगेष्वपराजितम् ।। 69.18 ।।

vajrānanaṃ vajravegaṃ merumandarasannibham | nataṃ parvasu sarveṣu saṃyugeṣvaparājitam || 69.18 ||

Its point was like a thunderbolt, its speed like a thunderbolt's, its weight like Meru and Mandara; curved smooth at every joint, and never defeated in battle.

Shloka 19 (uttara.69.19)

असृक्चन्दनदिग्धाङ्गं चारुपत्रं पतत्रिणम् । दानवेन्द्राचलेन्द्राणामसुराणां च दारणम् ।। 69.19 ।।

asṛkcandanadigdhāṅgaṃ cārupatraṃ patatriṇam | dānavendrācalendrāṇāmasurāṇāṃ ca dāraṇam || 69.19 ||

Its shaft was smeared as if with blood-red sandal paste, its feathers were beautiful, and it was one that could rend even the lords of danavas, great mountains, and asuras.

Shloka 20 (uttara.69.20)

तं दीप्तमिव कालाग्निं युगान्ते समुपस्थिते । दृष्ट्वा सर्वाणि भूतानि परित्रासमुपागमन् ।। 69.20 ।।

taṃ dīptamiva kālāgniṃ yugānte samupasthite | dṛṣṭvā sarvāṇi bhūtāni paritrāsamupāgaman || 69.20 ||

Beholding that arrow, blazing like the fire of dissolution that rises at the end of an age, all beings were overcome with terror.

Shloka 21 (uttara.69.21)

सदेवासुरगन्धर्वं मुनिभिः साप्सरोगणम् । जगद्धि सर्वमस्वस्थं पितामहमुपस्थितम् ।। 69.21 ।।

sadevāsuragandharvaṃ munibhiḥ sāpsarogaṇam | jagaddhi sarvamasvasthaṃ pitāmahamupasthitam || 69.21 ||

The entire world, together with gods, asuras, Gandharvas, sages, and hosts of Apsaras, in great agitation, came before the Grandsire Brahma.

Shloka 22 (uttara.69.22)

उवाच देवदेवेशं वरदं प्रपितामहम् । देवानां भयसंमोहो लोकानां सङ्क्षयं प्रति ।। 69.22 ।।

uvāca devadeveśaṃ varadaṃ prapitāmaham | devānāṃ bhayasaṃmoho lokānāṃ saṅkṣayaṃ prati || 69.22 ||

They said to the granter of boons, the God of gods, the great Grandsire -- "Fear and confusion have overcome the gods, as though the worlds were about to be destroyed.

Shloka 23 (uttara.69.23)

नेदृशं दृष्टपूर्वं च न श्रुतं प्रपितामह । देवानां भयसम्मोहो लोकानां सङ्क्षयं प्रति ।। 69.23 ।।

nedṛśaṃ dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ ca na śrutaṃ prapitāmaha | devānāṃ bhayasammoho lokānāṃ saṅkṣayaṃ prati || 69.23 ||

O great Grandsire, never before have we seen or heard the like of this. Fear and confusion have overcome the gods, as though the worlds were about to be destroyed."

Shloka 24 (uttara.69.24)

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । भयकारणमाचष्ट लोकानामभयङ्करः । उवाच मधुरां वाणीं शृणुध्वं सर्वदेवताः ।। 69.24 ।।

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | bhayakāraṇamācaṣṭa lokānāmabhayaṅkaraḥ | uvāca madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ śṛṇudhvaṃ sarvadevatāḥ || 69.24 ||

Hearing their words, Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, the dispeller of fear, explained the cause of that terror, and spoke in a sweet voice: "Listen, all you gods.

Shloka 25 (uttara.69.25)

वधाय लवणस्याजौ शरः शत्रुघ्नधारितः । तेजसा तस्य सम्मूढाः सर्वे स्मः सुरसत्तमाः ।। 69.25 ।।

vadhāya lavaṇasyājau śaraḥ śatrughnadhāritaḥ | tejasā tasya sammūḍhāḥ sarve smaḥ surasattamāḥ || 69.25 ||

The arrow that Shatrughna has taken up in battle for the slaying of Lavana -- it is by its splendor, O best of gods, that all of us have been overwhelmed.

Shloka 26 (uttara.69.26)

एष पूर्वस्य देवस्य लोककर्तुः सनातनः । शरस्तेजोमयो वत्सा येन वै भयमागतम् ।। 69.26 ।।

eṣa pūrvasya devasya lokakartuḥ sanātanaḥ | śarastejomayo vatsā yena vai bhayamāgatam || 69.26 ||

O children, this arrow, the source of your fear, is the eternal, fiery weapon of the primeval God, the maker of the worlds.

Shloka 27 (uttara.69.27)

एष वै कैटभस्यार्थे मधुनश्च महाशरः । सृष्टो महात्मना तेन वधार्थे दैत्ययोस्तयोः ।। 69.27 ।।

eṣa vai kaiṭabhasyārthe madhunaśca mahāśaraḥ | sṛṣṭo mahātmanā tena vadhārthe daityayostayoḥ || 69.27 ||

This is that same great arrow which was created by that great-souled one (Vishnu) for the slaying of the two daityas, Madhu and Kaitabha.

Shloka 28 (uttara.69.28)

एक एव प्रजानाति विष्णुस्तेजोमयं शरम् । एषा एव तनुः पूर्वा विष्णोस्तस्य महात्मनः ।। 69.28 ।।

eka eva prajānāti viṣṇustejomayaṃ śaram | eṣā eva tanuḥ pūrvā viṣṇostasya mahātmanaḥ || 69.28 ||

Only Vishnu alone truly knows this fiery arrow. It is itself the primordial form of that great-souled Vishnu.

Shloka 29 (uttara.69.29)

इतो गच्छत पश्यध्वं वध्यमानं महात्मना । रामानुजेन वीरेण लवणं राक्षसोत्तमम् ।। 69.29 ।।

ito gacchata paśyadhvaṃ vadhyamānaṃ mahātmanā | rāmānujena vīreṇa lavaṇaṃ rākṣasottamam || 69.29 ||

Go from here, all of you, and watch as that great-souled hero, the younger brother of Rama, slays Lavana, foremost of rakshasas.

Shloka 30 (uttara.69.30)

तस्य ते देवदेवस्य निशम्य वचनं सुराः । आजग्मुर्यत्र युध्येते शत्रुघ्नलवणावुभौ ।। 69.30 ।।

tasya te devadevasya niśamya vacanaṃ surāḥ | ājagmuryatra yudhyete śatrughnalavaṇāvubhau || 69.30 ||

Hearing the word of that God of gods, the deities came to where Shatrughna and Lavana, both, were locked in battle.

Shloka 31 (uttara.69.31)

तं शरं दिव्यसङ्काशं शत्रुघ्नकरधारितम् । ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि युगान्ताग्निमिवोत्थितम् ।। 69.31 ।।

taṃ śaraṃ divyasaṅkāśaṃ śatrughnakaradhāritam | dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtāni yugāntāgnimivotthitam || 69.31 ||

All beings beheld that divinely radiant arrow, held in Shatrughna's hand, blazing up like the fire at the end of an age.

Shloka 32 (uttara.69.32)

अकाशमावृतं दृष्ट्वा देवैर्हि रघुनन्दनः । सिंहनादं भृशं कृत्वा ददर्श लक्षणं पुनः ।। 69.32 ।।

akāśamāvṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā devairhi raghunandanaḥ | siṃhanādaṃ bhṛśaṃ kṛtvā dadarśa lakṣaṇaṃ punaḥ || 69.32 ||

Seeing the sky covered by the gods, the delight of the Raghus, roaring again and again like a lion, looked once more upon that sign.

Shloka 33 (uttara.69.33)

आहूतश्च पुनस्तेन शत्रुघ्नेन महात्मना । लवणः क्रोधसंयुक्तो युद्धाय समुपस्थितः ।। 69.33 ।।

āhūtaśca punastena śatrughnena mahātmanā | lavaṇaḥ krodhasaṃyukto yuddhāya samupasthitaḥ || 69.33 ||

Called out to once more by the great-souled Shatrughna, Lavana, filled with fury, stood ready again for battle.

Shloka 34 (uttara.69.34)

आकर्णात्स विकृष्याथ तद्धनुर्धन्विनां वरः । तं मुमोच महाबाणं लवणस्य महोरसि ।। 69.34 ।।

ākarṇātsa vikṛṣyātha taddhanurdhanvināṃ varaḥ | taṃ mumoca mahābāṇaṃ lavaṇasya mahorasi || 69.34 ||

Then that foremost of archers drew his bow back to his ear, and loosed that mighty arrow straight into Lavana's great chest.

Shloka 35 (uttara.69.35)

उरस्तस्य विदार्याशु प्रविवेश रसातलम् ।। 69.35 ।।

urastasya vidāryāśu praviveśa rasātalam || 69.35 ||

It swiftly tore through his chest and plunged down into the netherworld.

Shloka 36 (uttara.69.36)

गत्वा रसातलं दिव्यः शरो विबुधपूजितः । पुनरेवागमत्तूर्णमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनम् ।। 69.36 ।।

gatvā rasātalaṃ divyaḥ śaro vibudhapūjitaḥ | punarevāgamattūrṇamikṣvākukulanandanam || 69.36 ||

Having gone down to the netherworld, that divine arrow, honored by the wise, swiftly returned again to the joy of the Ikshvaku line.

Shloka 37 (uttara.69.37)

शत्रुघ्नशरनिर्भिन्नो लवणः स निशाचरः । पपात सहसा भूमौ वज्राहत इवाचलः ।। 69.37 ।।

śatrughnaśaranirbhinno lavaṇaḥ sa niśācaraḥ | papāta sahasā bhūmau vajrāhata ivācalaḥ || 69.37 ||

Pierced by Shatrughna's arrow, that night-wanderer Lavana fell suddenly to the ground, like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.

Shloka 38 (uttara.69.38)

तच्च शूलं महत्तेन हते लवणराक्षसे । पश्यतां सर्वदेवानां रुद्रस्य वशमन्वगात् ।। 69.38 ।।

tacca śūlaṃ mahattena hate lavaṇarākṣase | paśyatāṃ sarvadevānāṃ rudrasya vaśamanvagāt || 69.38 ||

And when the rakshasa Lavana was slain, that great trident, before the eyes of all the gods, returned into the possession of Rudra.

Shloka 39 (uttara.69.39)

एकेषुपातेन भृशं निपात्य लोकत्रयस्यापि रघुप्रवीरः । विनिर्बभावुत्तमचापबाणस्तमः प्रणुद्येव सहस्ररश्मिः ।। 69.39 ।।

ekeṣupātena bhṛśaṃ nipātya lokatrayasyāpi raghupravīraḥ | vinirbabhāvuttamacāpabāṇastamaḥ praṇudyeva sahasraraśmiḥ || 69.39 ||

Having, with a single loosed arrow, struck down that great terror of the three worlds, that hero of the Raghus, bow and shaft still raised, shone forth like the thousand-rayed sun dispelling darkness.

Shloka 40 (uttara.69.40)

ततो हि देवा ऋषिपन्नगाश्च प्रपूजिरे ह्यप्सरसश्च सर्वाः । दिष्ट्या जयो दाशरथेरवाप्तस्त्यक्त्वा भयं सर्प इव प्रशान्तः ।। 69.40 ।।

tato hi devā ṛṣipannagāśca prapūjire hyapsarasaśca sarvāḥ | diṣṭyā jayo dāśaratheravāptastyaktvā bhayaṃ sarpa iva praśāntaḥ || 69.40 ||

Then the gods, the sages, the serpent-folk, and all the Apsaras praised him greatly -- "By good fortune, victory has come to the son of Dasharatha" -- and, their fear cast off, they grew calm again, like a serpent whose venom is spent.