Rama's Rebuke of Ravana

Shloka 1 (yuddha.103.1)

स तु तेन तदा क्रोधात्काकुत्स्थेनार्दितो रणे। रावणः समरश्लाघी महाक्रोधमुपागमत् ॥ 103.1 ॥

sa tu tena tadā krodhātkākutsthenārdito raṇe| rāvaṇaḥ samaraślāghī mahākrodhamupāgamat || 103.1 ||

Tormented thus in that battle by the furious Kakutstha, Ravana, who boasted so of his prowess in war, flew into towering rage.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.103.2)

स दीप्तनयनो रोषाच्चापमायम्य वीर्यवान्। अभ्यर्दयत्सुसंक्रुद्धो राघवं परमाहवे ॥ 103.2 ॥

sa dīptanayano roṣāccāpamāyamya vīryavān| abhyardayatsusaṃkruddho rāghavaṃ paramāhave || 103.2 ||

His eyes blazing with rage, that mighty Ravana, in extreme fury, drew his bow and set upon oppressing Raghava in that great battle,

Shloka 3 (yuddha.103.3)

बाणधारा सहस्रैस्तु स तोयद इवाम्बरात्। राघवं रावणो बाणैस्तटाकमिव पूरयत् ॥ 103.3 ॥

bāṇadhārā sahasraistu sa toyada ivāmbarāt| rāghavaṃ rāvaṇo bāṇaistaṭākamiva pūrayat || 103.3 ||

and, as a rain-cloud fills a pond with thousand streams of water from the sky, Ravana covered Raghava with a flood of arrows.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.103.4)

पूरितः शरजालेन धनुर्मुक्तेन संयुगे। महागिरिरिवाकम्प्यः काकुत्स्थो न प्रकम्पते ॥ 103.4 ॥

pūritaḥ śarajālena dhanurmuktena saṃyuge| mahāgiririvākampyaḥ kākutstho na prakampate || 103.4 ||

Though covered by that net of arrows loosed from his bow in the fight, Kakutstha did not waver, unshakable as a great mountain.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.103.5)

स शरैः शरजालानि वारयन्समरे स्थितः। गभस्तीनिव सूर्यस्य प्रतिजग्राह वीर्यवान् ॥ 103.5 ॥

sa śaraiḥ śarajālāni vārayansamare sthitaḥ| gabhastīniva sūryasya pratijagrāha vīryavān || 103.5 ||

That valiant one stood his ground in the battle, warding off those showers of arrows with his own, and receiving them as one receives the sun's own rays.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.103.6)

ततः शरसहस्राणि क्षिप्रहस्तो निशाचरः। निजघानोरसि क्रुद्धो राघवस्य महात्मनः ॥ 103.6 ॥

tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi kṣiprahasto niśācaraḥ| nijaghānorasi kruddho rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ || 103.6 ||

Then that quick-handed night-wanderer, in fury, struck thousands of arrows into the breast of the great-souled Raghava.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.103.7)

स शोणित समादिग्धः समरे लक्ष्मणाग्रजः। दृष्टः फुल्ल इवारण्ये सुमहान्किंशुकद्रुमः ॥ 103.7 ॥

sa śoṇita samādigdhaḥ samare lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ| dṛṣṭaḥ phulla ivāraṇye sumahānkiṃśukadrumaḥ || 103.7 ||

Lakshmana's elder brother, thus smeared with blood on the battlefield, appeared like some great Kimshuka tree in full bloom in the forest.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.103.8)

शराभिघातसंरब्धः सोऽपि जग्राह सायकान्। काकुत्स्थः सुमहातेजा युगान्तादित्यवर्चसः ॥ 103.8 ॥

śarābhighātasaṃrabdhaḥ so'pi jagrāha sāyakān| kākutsthaḥ sumahātejā yugāntādityavarcasaḥ || 103.8 ||

Enraged by the impact of those arrow-blows, that Kakutstha of immense splendour in turn took up shafts as radiant as the sun at the end of an age.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.103.9)

ततोऽन्योन्यं सुसंरब्धावुभौ तौ रामरावणौ। शरान्धकारे समरे नोपालक्षयतां तदा ॥ 103.9 ॥

tato'nyonyaṃ susaṃrabdhāvubhau tau rāmarāvaṇau| śarāndhakāre samare nopālakṣayatāṃ tadā || 103.9 ||

Then those two, Rama and Ravana, both greatly enraged, could no longer even make each other out in that battle, so thick was the darkness of arrows.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.103.10)

ततः क्रोधसमाविष्टो रामो दशरथात्मजः। उवाच रावणं वीरः प्रहस्य परुषं वचः ॥ 103.10 ॥

tataḥ krodhasamāviṣṭo rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ| uvāca rāvaṇaṃ vīraḥ prahasya paruṣaṃ vacaḥ || 103.10 ||

Then Rama, son of Dasharatha, filled with wrath, laughed and spoke these harsh words to Ravana:

Shloka 11 (yuddha.103.11)

मम भार्या जनस्थानादज्ञानाद्राक्षसाधम। हृता ते विवशा यस्मात्तस्मात्त्वं नासि वीर्यवान् ॥ 103.11 ॥

mama bhāryā janasthānādajñānādrākṣasādhama| hṛtā te vivaśā yasmāttasmāttvaṃ nāsi vīryavān || 103.11 ||

"O vilest of demons, since you carried off my helpless wife from Janasthana while I was unaware, it follows that you are no man of true valour.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.103.12)

मया विरहितां दीनां वर्तमानां महावने। वैदेहीं प्रसभं हृत्वा शूरोऽहमिति मन्यसे ॥ 103.12 ॥

mayā virahitāṃ dīnāṃ vartamānāṃ mahāvane| vaidehīṃ prasabhaṃ hṛtvā śūro'hamiti manyase || 103.12 ||

Having forcibly seized the wretched Vaidehi while she dwelt alone in that great forest, cut off from me, you think yourself a hero!

Shloka 13 (yuddha.103.13)

स्त्रीषु शूर विनाथासु परदाराभिमर्शके। कृत्वा कापुरुषं कर्म शूरोऽहमिति मन्यसे ॥ 103.13 ॥

strīṣu śūra vināthāsu paradārābhimarśake| kṛtvā kāpuruṣaṃ karma śūro'hamiti manyase || 103.13 ||

O 'hero' who lays hands on another man's wife — having done so cowardly a deed against defenceless women, you still think yourself a hero!

Shloka 14 (yuddha.103.14)

भिन्नमर्याद निर्लज्ज चारित्रेष्वनवस्थित। दर्पान्मृत्युमुपादाय शूरोऽहमिति मन्यसे ॥ 103.14 ॥

bhinnamaryāda nirlajja cāritreṣvanavasthita| darpānmṛtyumupādāya śūro'hamiti manyase || 103.14 ||

O breaker of all bounds, shameless one, unsteady in your conduct — having through sheer arrogance laid hold of death itself, you still think yourself a hero!

Shloka 15 (yuddha.103.15)

शूरेण धनदभ्रात्रा बलैः समुदितेन च। श्लाघनीयं यशस्यं च कृतं कर्म महत्त्वया ॥ 103.15 ॥

śūreṇa dhanadabhrātrā balaiḥ samuditena ca| ślāghanīyaṃ yaśasyaṃ ca kṛtaṃ karma mahattvayā || 103.15 ||

A truly praiseworthy and glorious deed indeed you have done, O valiant brother of Kubera, lord of wealth, so rich in strength!

Shloka 16 (yuddha.103.16)

उत्सेकेनाभिपन्नस्य गर्हितस्याहितस्य च। कर्मणः प्राप्नुहीदानीं तस्याद्य सुमहत्फलम् ॥ 103.16 ॥

utsekenābhipannasya garhitasyāhitasya ca| karmaṇaḥ prāpnuhīdānīṃ tasyādya sumahatphalam || 103.16 ||

Reap now, this very day, the towering fruit of that contemptible, ruinous deed you committed out of sheer arrogance!

Shloka 17 (yuddha.103.17)

शूरोऽहमिति चात्मानमवगच्छसि दुर्मते। नैव लज्जास्ति ते सीतां चोरवद्व्यपकर्षतः ॥ 103.17 ॥

śūro'hamiti cātmānamavagacchasi durmate| naiva lajjāsti te sītāṃ coravadvyapakarṣataḥ || 103.17 ||

O evil-minded one, you deem yourself a hero, and yet felt no shame at all in dragging Sita away like a common thief!

Shloka 18 (yuddha.103.18)

यदि मत्संनिधौ सीता धर्षिता स्यात्त्वया बलात्। भ्रातरं तु खरं पश्येस्तदा मत्सायकैर्हतः ॥ 103.18 ॥

yadi matsaṃnidhau sītā dharṣitā syāttvayā balāt| bhrātaraṃ tu kharaṃ paśyestadā matsāyakairhataḥ || 103.18 ||

Had you dared to lay a violent hand on Sita in my presence, you would have seen your brother Khara — as you were then — struck down by my very arrows.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.103.19)

दिष्ट्यासि मम दुष्टात्मंश्चक्षुर्विषयमागतः। अद्य त्वां सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नयामि यमसादनम् ॥ 103.19 ॥

diṣṭyāsi mama duṣṭātmaṃścakṣurviṣayamāgataḥ| adya tvāṃ sāyakaistīkṣṇairnayāmi yamasādanam || 103.19 ||

By good fortune, O evil-souled one, you have come within the range of my sight. Today I shall send you, with my sharp arrows, to the abode of Yama.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.103.20)

अद्य ते मच्छरैश्छिन्नं शिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम्। क्रव्यादा व्यपकर्षन्तु विकीर्णं रणपांसुषु ॥ 103.20 ॥

adya te maccharaiśchinnaṃ śiro jvalitakuṇḍalam| kravyādā vyapakarṣantu vikīrṇaṃ raṇapāṃsuṣu || 103.20 ||

Today, may your head, its bright earrings ablaze, once severed by my arrows, lie scattered in the dust of the battlefield, and may flesh-eating beasts drag it away.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.103.21)

निपत्योरसि गृध्रास्ते क्षितौ क्षिप्तस्य रावण। पिबन्तु रुधिरं तर्षाद्बाणशल्यान्तरोत्थितम् ॥ 103.21 ॥

nipatyorasi gṛdhrāste kṣitau kṣiptasya rāvaṇa| pibantu rudhiraṃ tarṣādbāṇaśalyāntarotthitam || 103.21 ||

O Ravana, may vultures swoop down upon your breast as you lie flung upon the ground, and drink, in their thirst, the blood welling up from the wounds of my arrows.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.103.22)

अद्य मद्बाणाभिन्नस्य गतासोः पतितस्य ते। कर्षन्त्वन्त्राणि पतगा गरुत्मन्त इवोरगान् ॥ 103.22 ॥

adya madbāṇābhinnasya gatāsoḥ patitasya te| karṣantvantrāṇi patagā garutmanta ivoragān || 103.22 ||

Today, as you lie fallen and lifeless, torn by my arrows, may birds drag out your entrails, as eagles drag out serpents.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.103.23)

इत्येवं स वदन्वीरो रामः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। राक्षसेन्द्रं समीपस्थं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् ॥ 103.23 ॥

ityevaṃ sa vadanvīro rāmaḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ| rākṣasendraṃ samīpasthaṃ śaravarṣairavākirat || 103.23 ||

So speaking, the valiant Rama, destroyer of foes, showered that lord of demons, standing near him, with torrents of arrows.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.103.24)

बभूव द्विगुणं वीर्यं बलं हर्षश्च संयुगे। रामस्यास्त्रबलं चैव शत्रोर्निधनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ 103.24 ॥

babhūva dviguṇaṃ vīryaṃ balaṃ harṣaśca saṃyuge| rāmasyāstrabalaṃ caiva śatrornidhanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ || 103.24 ||

Rama's valour, strength, delight, and the power of his weapons all grew twofold in that battle, so intent was he now on his enemy's death.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.103.25)

प्रादुर्बभूवुरस्त्राणि सर्वाणि विदितात्मनः। प्रहर्षाच्च महातेजाः शीघ्रहस्ततरोऽभवत् ॥ 103.25 ॥

prādurbabhūvurastrāṇi sarvāṇi viditātmanaḥ| praharṣācca mahātejāḥ śīghrahastataro'bhavat || 103.25 ||

All the mystic missiles manifested themselves in the mind of that self-realized Rama, and in his elation, that being of great splendour grew even swifter of hand.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.103.26)

शुभान्येतानि चिह्नानि विज्ञायात्मगतानि सः। भूय एवार्दयद्रामो रावणं राक्षसान्तकृत् ॥ 103.26 ॥

śubhānyetāni cihnāni vijñāyātmagatāni saḥ| bhūya evārdayadrāmo rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasāntakṛt || 103.26 ||

Recognizing these auspicious signs arisen within himself, Rama, the ender of demons, tormented Ravana yet more fiercely.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.103.27)

हरीणां चाश्मनिकरैः शरवर्षैश्च राघवात्। हन्यमानो दशग्रीवो विघूर्णहृदयोऽभवत् ॥ 103.27 ॥

harīṇāṃ cāśmanikaraiḥ śaravarṣaiśca rāghavāt| hanyamāno daśagrīvo vighūrṇahṛdayo'bhavat || 103.27 ||

Struck by the volleys of stones hurled by the monkeys and by the rain of arrows from Raghava, ten-necked Ravana's heart began to reel.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.103.28)

यदा च शस्त्रं नारेभे न व्यकर्षच्छरासनम्। नास्य प्रत्यकरोद्वीर्यं विक्लवेनान्तरात्मना ॥ 103.28 ॥

yadā ca śastraṃ nārebhe na vyakarṣaccharāsanam| nāsya pratyakarodvīryaṃ viklavenāntarātmanā || 103.28 ||

So bewildered had his inmost spirit become that he could no longer take up a weapon, nor draw his bow, nor make any answer to Rama's prowess.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.103.29)

क्षिप्ताश्चापि शरास्तेन शस्त्राणि विविधानि च। न रणार्थाय वर्तन्ते मृत्युकालेऽभिवर्तति ॥ 103.29 ॥

kṣiptāścāpi śarāstena śastrāṇi vividhāni ca| na raṇārthāya vartante mṛtyukāle'bhivartati || 103.29 ||

Even the arrows he loosed and the various weapons he wielded proved of no avail in that battle, for the hour of his death was now drawing near.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.103.30)

सूतस्तु रथनेतास्य तदवस्थं निरीक्ष्य तम्। शनैर्युद्धादसंभ्रान्तो रथं तस्यापवाहयत् ॥ 103.30 ॥

sūtastu rathanetāsya tadavasthaṃ nirīkṣya tam| śanairyuddhādasaṃbhrānto rathaṃ tasyāpavāhayat || 103.30 ||

But his charioteer, seeing him reduced to that plight, without losing his composure, quietly and slowly drove his chariot away from the battle.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.103.31)

रथं च तस्याथ जवेन सारथिः। निवार्य भीमं जलदस्वनं तदा। जगाम भीत्या समरान्महीपतिं। निरस्तवीर्यं पतितं समीक्ष्य ॥ 103.31 ॥

rathaṃ ca tasyātha javena sārathiḥ| nivārya bhīmaṃ jaladasvanaṃ tadā| jagāma bhītyā samarānmahīpatiṃ| nirastavīryaṃ patitaṃ samīkṣya || 103.31 ||

Then that charioteer, seeing the king thus stripped of all his valour, as though fallen, swiftly turned back that terrible chariot, which rumbled like a storm-cloud, and in fear withdrew from the battlefield.