The Death of Ravana

Shloka 1 (yuddha.108.1)

अथ संस्मारयामास मातली राघवं तदा। अजानन्निव किं वीर त्वमेनमनुवर्तसे॥॥ 108.1 ॥

atha saṃsmārayāmāsa mātalī rāghavaṃ tadā| ajānanniva kiṃ vīra tvamenamanuvartase|||| 108.1 ||

Then Matali spoke, as though to jog Rama's memory: "O hero, why do you keep fighting him as though you do not know how to finish this?

Shloka 2 (yuddha.108.2)

विसृजास्मै वधाय त्वमस्त्रं पैतामहं प्रभो। विनाशकालः कथितो यः सुरैः सोऽद्य वर्तते॥॥ 108.2 ॥

visṛjāsmai vadhāya tvamastraṃ paitāmahaṃ prabho| vināśakālaḥ kathito yaḥ suraiḥ so'dya vartate|||| 108.2 ||

O lord, release upon him the missile presided over by grandsire Brahma, for his destruction; the hour of his doom, foretold by the gods, is now at hand."

Shloka 3 (yuddha.108.3)

ततः संस्मारितो रामस्तेन वाक्येन मातलेः। जग्राह स शरं दीप्तं निःश्वसन्तमिवोरगम्॥॥ 108.3 ॥

tataḥ saṃsmārito rāmastena vākyena mātaleḥ| jagrāha sa śaraṃ dīptaṃ niḥśvasantamivoragam|||| 108.3 ||

Thus reminded by Matali's words, Rama took up that blazing arrow, which seemed to hiss like a serpent.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.108.4)

यं तस्मै प्रथमं प्रादादगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। ब्रह्मदत्तं महद् बाणममोघं युधि वीर्यवान्॥॥ 108.4 ॥

yaṃ tasmai prathamaṃ prādādagastyo bhagavānṛṣiḥ| brahmadattaṃ mahad bāṇamamoghaṃ yudhi vīryavān|||| 108.4 ||

It was the great, unerring arrow given by Brahma, which the blessed sage Agastya had first bestowed upon him, the valiant one, earlier in the battle.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.108.5)

ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं पूर्वमिन्द्रार्थममितौजसा। दत्तं सुरपतेः पूर्वं त्रिलोकजयकांक्षिणः॥॥ 108.5 ॥

brahmaṇā nirmitaṃ pūrvamindrārthamamitaujasā| dattaṃ surapateḥ pūrvaṃ trilokajayakāṃkṣiṇaḥ|||| 108.5 ||

It had been fashioned long ago by Brahma of measureless might, for Indra's sake, and given in ancient times to the lord of the gods, who then desired to conquer the three worlds.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.108.6)

यस्य वाजेषु पवनः फले पावकभास्करौ। शरीरमाकाशमयं गौरवे मेरुमन्दरौ॥॥ 108.6 ॥

yasya vājeṣu pavanaḥ phale pāvakabhāskarau| śarīramākāśamayaṃ gaurave merumandarau|||| 108.6 ||

In its feathers dwelt the wind, in its point the fire and the sun; its shaft was made of the ether, and in its weight lay Mount Meru and Mount Mandara.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.108.7)

जाज्वल्यमानं वपुषा सुपुङ्खं हेमभूषितम्। तेजसा सर्वभूतानां कृतं भास्करवर्चसम्॥॥ 108.7 ॥

jājvalyamānaṃ vapuṣā supuṅkhaṃ hemabhūṣitam| tejasā sarvabhūtānāṃ kṛtaṃ bhāskaravarcasam|||| 108.7 ||

Blazing in its very form, well-feathered and adorned with gold, it had been forged from the splendour of all living beings and shone with the radiance of the sun.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.108.8)

सधूममिव कालाग्निं दीप्तमाशीविषोपमम्। नरनागाश्ववृन्दानां भेदनं क्षिप्रकारिणम्॥॥ 108.8 ॥

sadhūmamiva kālāgniṃ dīptamāśīviṣopamam| naranāgāśvavṛndānāṃ bhedanaṃ kṣiprakāriṇam|||| 108.8 ||

Blazing like the smoking fire of universal dissolution, resembling a venomous serpent, swift to act, capable of rending through hosts of men, elephants and horses,

Shloka 9 (yuddha.108.9)

द्वाराणां परिघाणां च गिरीणां चापि भेदनम्। नानारुधिरदिग्धाङ्गं मेदोदिग्धं सुदारुणम्॥॥ 108.9 ॥

dvārāṇāṃ parighāṇāṃ ca girīṇāṃ cāpi bhedanam| nānārudhiradigdhāṅgaṃ medodigdhaṃ sudāruṇam|||| 108.9 ||

able to shatter gateways, iron bars and even mountains, its shaft smeared with the blood of countless victims and coated with their marrow, most terrible to behold,

Shloka 10 (yuddha.108.10)

वज्रसारं महानादं नानासमितिदारुणम्। सर्ववित्रासनं भीमं श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्॥॥ 108.10 ॥

vajrasāraṃ mahānādaṃ nānāsamitidāruṇam| sarvavitrāsanaṃ bhīmaṃ śvasantamiva pannagam|||| 108.10 ||

hard as the thunderbolt's very core, thundering loudly, dreadful in many a battle, terrifying to all, fearsome as a hissing serpent,

Shloka 11 (yuddha.108.11)

कङ्कगृध्रबकानां च गोमायुगणरक्षसाम्। नित्यभक्षप्रदं युद्धे यमरूपं भयावहम्॥॥ 108.11 ॥

kaṅkagṛdhrabakānāṃ ca gomāyugaṇarakṣasām| nityabhakṣapradaṃ yuddhe yamarūpaṃ bhayāvaham|||| 108.11 ||

ever furnishing food in battle to herons and vultures and cranes, to troops of jackals and to demons, terrible in the very form of Death himself,

Shloka 12 (yuddha.108.12)

नन्दनं वानरेन्द्राणां रक्षसामवसादनम्। वाजितं विविधैर्वाजैश्चारुचित्रैर्गरुत्मतः॥॥ 108.12 ॥

nandanaṃ vānarendrāṇāṃ rakṣasāmavasādanam| vājitaṃ vividhairvājaiścārucitrairgarutmataḥ|||| 108.12 ||

a joy to the lords of the monkeys and the ruin of the demons, made swift with the many beautiful, brightly-coloured feathers of Garuda —

Shloka 13 (yuddha.108.13)

तमुत्तमेषुं लोकानामिक्ष्वाकुभयनाशनम्। द्विषतां कीर्तिहरणं प्रहर्षकरमात्मनः॥॥ 108.13 ॥

tamuttameṣuṃ lokānāmikṣvākubhayanāśanam| dviṣatāṃ kīrtiharaṇaṃ praharṣakaramātmanaḥ|||| 108.13 ||

that foremost of arrows in all the worlds, dispeller of the Ikshvaku line's fears, stripper of the enemy's glory, and a source of joy to himself —

Shloka 14 (yuddha.108.14)

अभिमन्त्र्य ततो रामस्तं महेषुं महाबलः। वेदप्रोक्तेन विधिना संदधे कार्मुके बली॥॥ 108.14 ॥

abhimantrya tato rāmastaṃ maheṣuṃ mahābalaḥ| vedaproktena vidhinā saṃdadhe kārmuke balī|||| 108.14 ||

the mighty, powerful Rama, consecrating that great arrow with a formula in the manner prescribed by the Vedas, fitted it to his bow.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.108.15)

तस्मिन् संधीयमाने तु राघवेण शरोत्तमे। सर्वभूतानि संत्रेसुश्चचाल च वसुंधरा॥॥ 108.15 ॥

tasmin saṃdhīyamāne tu rāghaveṇa śarottame| sarvabhūtāni saṃtresuścacāla ca vasuṃdharā|||| 108.15 ||

As Rama fitted that supreme arrow to his bow, all living beings trembled with fear, and the earth itself shook.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.108.16)

स रावणाय संक्रुद्धो भृशमायम्य कार्मुकम्। चिक्षेप परमायत्तः शरं मर्मविदारणम्॥॥ 108.16 ॥

sa rāvaṇāya saṃkruddho bhṛśamāyamya kārmukam| cikṣepa paramāyattaḥ śaraṃ marmavidāraṇam|||| 108.16 ||

Then, enraged, drawing his bow to its fullest, and with his mind wholly gathered, he loosed at Ravana that arrow which could tear through the vitals.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.108.17)

स वज्र इव दुर्धर्षो वज्रिबाहुविसर्जितः। कृतान्त इव चावार्यो न्यपतद् रावणोरसि॥॥ 108.17 ॥

sa vajra iva durdharṣo vajribāhuvisarjitaḥ| kṛtānta iva cāvāryo nyapatad rāvaṇorasi|||| 108.17 ||

That arrow, unassailable as the thunderbolt hurled by Indra's own arm, irresistible as Death itself, fell upon Ravana's breast.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.108.18)

स विसृष्टो महावेगः शरीरान्तकरः शरः। बिभेद हृदयं तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः॥॥ 108.18 ॥

sa visṛṣṭo mahāvegaḥ śarīrāntakaraḥ śaraḥ| bibheda hṛdayaṃ tasya rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ|||| 108.18 ||

Loosed with tremendous speed, that arrow, bringer of death to the body, split open the heart of that evil-souled Ravana.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.108.19)

रुधिराक्तः स वेगेन शरीरान्तकरः शरः। रावणस्य हरन् प्राणान् विवेश धरणीतलम्॥॥ 108.19 ॥

rudhirāktaḥ sa vegena śarīrāntakaraḥ śaraḥ| rāvaṇasya haran prāṇān viveśa dharaṇītalam|||| 108.19 ||

That arrow, bringer of death to the body, now stained with blood, having taken away Ravana's life-breath, plunged with its own speed into the earth.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.108.20)

स शरो रावणं हत्वा रुधिरार्द्रकृतच्छविः। कृतकर्मा निभृतवत् स तूणीं पुनराविशत्॥॥ 108.20 ॥

sa śaro rāvaṇaṃ hatvā rudhirārdrakṛtacchaviḥ| kṛtakarmā nibhṛtavat sa tūṇīṃ punarāviśat|||| 108.20 ||

That arrow, its brightness now dimmed with wet blood, having slain Ravana and thus accomplished its task, silently returned to its quiver.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.108.21)

तस्य हस्ताद्धतस्याशु कार्मुकं तत् ससायकम्। निपपात सह प्राणैर्भ्रश्यमानस्य जीवितात्॥॥ 108.21 ॥

tasya hastāddhatasyāśu kārmukaṃ tat sasāyakam| nipapāta saha prāṇairbhraśyamānasya jīvitāt|||| 108.21 ||

From the hand of that slain Ravana, as his life was slipping away, his bow with its arrow fell at once, together with his last breath.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.108.22)

गतासुर्भीमवेगस्तु नैर्ऋतेन्द्रो महाद्युतिः। पपात स्यन्दनाद् भूमौ वृत्रो वज्रहतो यथा॥॥ 108.22 ॥

gatāsurbhīmavegastu nairṛtendro mahādyutiḥ| papāta syandanād bhūmau vṛtro vajrahato yathā|||| 108.22 ||

Then that lord of demons, of terrible speed and great splendour, his life gone, fell from his chariot to the ground, as Vritra fell when struck by the thunderbolt.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.108.23)

तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ हतशेषा निशाचराः। हतनाथा भयत्रस्ताः सर्वतः सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः॥॥ 108.23 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ bhūmau hataśeṣā niśācarāḥ| hatanāthā bhayatrastāḥ sarvataḥ sampradudruvuḥ|||| 108.23 ||

Seeing him fallen to the ground, the surviving demons, their lord now slain, fled in terror in every direction.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.108.24)

नर्दन्तश्चाभिपेतुस्तान् वानरा द्रुमयोधिनः। दशग्रीववधं दृष्ट्वा वानरा जितकाशिनः॥॥ 108.24 ॥

nardantaścābhipetustān vānarā drumayodhinaḥ| daśagrīvavadhaṃ dṛṣṭvā vānarā jitakāśinaḥ|||| 108.24 ||

Roaring aloud, the monkeys who fought with trees fell upon them; and seeing Ravana slain, the monkeys took on the look of conquerors.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.108.25)

अर्दिता वानरैर्हृष्टैर्लङ्कामभ्यपतन् भयात्। हताश्रयत्वात् करुणैर्बाष्पप्रस्रवणैर्मुखैः॥॥ 108.25 ॥

arditā vānarairhṛṣṭairlaṅkāmabhyapatan bhayāt| hatāśrayatvāt karuṇairbāṣpaprasravaṇairmukhaiḥ|||| 108.25 ||

Harried by the exultant monkeys, the demons fled in terror towards Lanka, their support now slain, their faces piteous and streaming with tears.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.108.26)

ततो विनेदुः संहृष्टा वानरा जितकाशिनः। वदन्तो राघवजयं रावणस्य च तद्वधम्॥॥ 108.26 ॥

tato vineduḥ saṃhṛṣṭā vānarā jitakāśinaḥ| vadanto rāghavajayaṃ rāvaṇasya ca tadvadham|||| 108.26 ||

Then the monkeys, greatly rejoicing and bearing themselves as conquerors, roared aloud, proclaiming Rama's victory and Ravana's death.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.108.27)

अथान्तरिक्षे व्यनदत् सौम्यस्त्रिदशदुन्दुभिः। दिव्यगन्धवहस्तत्र मारुतः सुसुखो ववौ॥॥ 108.27 ॥

athāntarikṣe vyanadat saumyastridaśadundubhiḥ| divyagandhavahastatra mārutaḥ susukho vavau|||| 108.27 ||

Then in the sky the gentle kettle-drum of the gods resounded, and a most pleasant breeze, bearing a heavenly fragrance, began to blow.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.108.28)

निपपातान्तरिक्षाच्च पुष्पवृष्टिस्तदा भुवि। किरन्ती राघवरथं दुरावापा मनोहरा॥॥ 108.28 ॥

nipapātāntarikṣācca puṣpavṛṣṭistadā bhuvi| kirantī rāghavarathaṃ durāvāpā manoharā|||| 108.28 ||

A shower of flowers, rare and enchanting, fell then from the sky to the earth, scattering itself over Rama's chariot.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.108.29)

राघवस्तवसंयुक्ता गगने च विशुश्रुवे। साधुसाध्विति वागग्र्या देवतानां महात्मनाम्॥॥ 108.29 ॥

rāghavastavasaṃyuktā gagane ca viśuśruve| sādhusādhviti vāgagryā devatānāṃ mahātmanām|||| 108.29 ||

And in the sky was clearly heard the foremost of voices, that of the great-souled gods, mingled with praise of Rama, crying, "Well done! Well done!"

Shloka 30 (yuddha.108.30)

आविवेश महान् हर्षो देवानां चारणैः सह। रावणे निहते रौद्रे सर्वलोकभयंकरे॥॥ 108.30 ॥

āviveśa mahān harṣo devānāṃ cāraṇaiḥ saha| rāvaṇe nihate raudre sarvalokabhayaṃkare|||| 108.30 ||

A great joy filled the gods, together with the Charanas, now that the terrible Ravana, the terror of all the worlds, had been slain.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.108.31)

ततः सकामं सुग्रीवमङ्गदं च विभीषणम्। चकार राघवः प्रीतो हत्वा राक्षसपुंगवम्॥॥ 108.31 ॥

tataḥ sakāmaṃ sugrīvamaṅgadaṃ ca vibhīṣaṇam| cakāra rāghavaḥ prīto hatvā rākṣasapuṃgavam|||| 108.31 ||

Then Rama, well pleased at having slain that bull among demons, fulfilled the heart's desire of Sugriva, Angada and Vibhishana.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.108.32)

ततः प्रजग्मुः प्रशमं मरुद्गणा दिशः प्रसेदुर्विमलं नभोऽभवत्। मही चकम्पे न च मारुतो ववौ स्थिरप्रभश्चाप्यभवद् दिवाकरः॥॥ 108.32 ॥

tataḥ prajagmuḥ praśamaṃ marudgaṇā diśaḥ prasedurvimalaṃ nabho'bhavat| mahī cakampe na ca māruto vavau sthiraprabhaścāpyabhavad divākaraḥ|||| 108.32 ||

Then the hosts of the winds grew calm, the quarters brightened, the sky turned clear, the earth ceased to tremble, no gale blew, and the sun's light shone steady once more.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.108.33)

ततस्तु सुग्रीवविभीषणाङ्गदाः सुहृद्विशिष्टाः सहलक्ष्मणस्तदा। समेत्य हृष्टा विजयेन राघवं रणेऽभिरामं विधिनाभ्यपूजयन्॥॥ 108.33 ॥

tatastu sugrīvavibhīṣaṇāṅgadāḥ suhṛdviśiṣṭāḥ sahalakṣmaṇastadā| sametya hṛṣṭā vijayena rāghavaṃ raṇe'bhirāmaṃ vidhinābhyapūjayan|||| 108.33 ||

Then Sugriva, Vibhishana and Angada, together with their choicest friends and with Lakshmana, rejoicing in the victory, gathered and duly honoured Rama, who stood resplendent on the battlefield.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.108.34)

स तु निहतरिपुः स्थिरप्रतिज्ञः स्वजनबलाभिवृतो रणे बभूव। रघुकुलनृपनन्दनो महौजा- स्त्रिदशगणैरभिसंवृतो महेन्द्रः॥॥ 108.34 ॥

sa tu nihataripuḥ sthirapratijñaḥ svajanabalābhivṛto raṇe babhūva| raghukulanṛpanandano mahaujā- stridaśagaṇairabhisaṃvṛto mahendraḥ|||| 108.34 ||

And he, his enemy now slain, his vow fulfilled, the delight of the Raghu line's king, of immense splendour, stood there on the battlefield surrounded by his own people and army — like the great Indra encircled by the hosts of the gods.