The Duels Begin

Shloka 1 (yuddha.43.1)

युध्यतां तु ततस्तेषां वानराणां महात्मनाम्। रक्षसां सम्बभूवाथ बलरोषः सुदारुणः ॥ 43.1 ॥

yudhyatāṃ tu tatasteṣāṃ vānarāṇāṃ mahātmanām| rakṣasāṃ sambabhūvātha balaroṣaḥ sudāruṇaḥ || 43.1 ||

Then, as those great-souled monkeys fought on, a most dreadful fury of strength and rage flared up among the rakshasas.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.43.2)

ते हयैः काञ्चनापीडैर्गजैश्चाग्निशिखोपमैः। रथैश्चादित्यसंकाशैः कवचैश्च मनोरमैः ॥ 43.2 ॥

te hayaiḥ kāñcanāpīḍairgajaiścāgniśikhopamaiḥ| rathaiścādityasaṃkāśaiḥ kavacaiśca manoramaiḥ || 43.2 ||

With horses decked in golden headgear, elephants like tongues of fire, chariots bright as the sun, and lovely suits of armor —

Shloka 3 (yuddha.43.3)

निर्ययू राक्षसा वीरा नादयन्तो दिशो दश। राक्षसा भीमकर्माणो रावणस्य जयैषिणः ॥ 43.3 ॥

niryayū rākṣasā vīrā nādayanto diśo daśa| rākṣasā bhīmakarmāṇo rāvaṇasya jayaiṣiṇaḥ || 43.3 ||

— the heroic rakshasas, terrible in deed, desiring Ravana's victory, sallied forth, filling all ten directions with their roar.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.43.4)

वानराणामपि चमूर्बृहती जयमिच्छताम्। अभ्यधावत तां सेनां रक्षसां घोरकर्मणाम् ॥ 43.4 ॥

vānarāṇāmapi camūrbṛhatī jayamicchatām| abhyadhāvata tāṃ senāṃ rakṣasāṃ ghorakarmaṇām || 43.4 ||

The vast army of monkeys, likewise desiring victory, rushed forth to meet that host of fierce-deed rakshasas.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.43.5)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तेषामन्योन्यमभिधावताम्। रक्षसां वानराणां च द्वन्द्वयुद्धमवर्तत ॥ 43.5 ॥

etasminnantare teṣāmanyonyamabhidhāvatām| rakṣasāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca dvandvayuddhamavartata || 43.5 ||

Meanwhile, as they charged toward one another, single combats broke out between the rakshasas and the monkeys.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.43.6)

अङ्गदेनेन्द्रजित्सार्धं वालिपुत्रेण राक्षसः। अयुध्यत महातेजास्त्र्यम्बकेण यथान्धकः ॥ 43.6 ॥

aṅgadenendrajitsārdhaṃ vāliputreṇa rākṣasaḥ| ayudhyata mahātejāstryambakeṇa yathāndhakaḥ || 43.6 ||

Angada, son of Vali, fought with the mighty Indrajit, as once Andhaka fought against Tryambaka, the three-eyed Shiva.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.43.7)

प्रजङ्घेन च सम्पातिर्नित्यं दुर्धर्षणो रणे। जम्बुमालिनमारब्धो हनूमानपि वानरः ॥ 43.7 ॥

prajaṅghena ca sampātirnityaṃ durdharṣaṇo raṇe| jambumālinamārabdho hanūmānapi vānaraḥ || 43.7 ||

Sampati engaged Prajangha, ever unassailable in battle; the monkey Hanuman too closed in combat with Jambumali.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.43.8)

संगतस्तु महाक्रोधो राक्षसो रावणानुजः। समरे तीक्ष्णवेगेन शत्रुघ्नेन विभीषणः ॥ 43.8 ॥

saṃgatastu mahākrodho rākṣaso rāvaṇānujaḥ| samare tīkṣṇavegena śatrughnena vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 43.8 ||

Vibhishana, Ravana's younger brother, filled with fierce anger, joined battle with the swift-paced rakshasa named Shatrughna.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.43.9)

तपनेन गजः सार्धं राक्षसेन महाबलः। निकुम्भेन महातेजा नीलोऽपि समयुध्यत ॥ 43.9 ॥

tapanena gajaḥ sārdhaṃ rākṣasena mahābalaḥ| nikumbhena mahātejā nīlo'pi samayudhyata || 43.9 ||

The mighty Gaja fought with the rakshasa named Tapana; the splendid Nila too engaged in combat with Nikumbha.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.43.10)

वानरेन्द्रस्तु सुग्रीवः प्रघसेन सुसंगतः। संगतः समरे श्रीमान् विरूपाक्षेण लक्ष्मणः ॥ 43.10 ॥

vānarendrastu sugrīvaḥ praghasena susaṃgataḥ| saṃgataḥ samare śrīmān virūpākṣeṇa lakṣmaṇaḥ || 43.10 ||

Sugriva, lord of monkeys, was well matched against Praghasa; the glorious Lakshmana engaged in battle with Virupaksha.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.43.11)

अग्निकेतुः सुदुर्धर्षो रश्मिकेतुश्च राक्षसः। सुप्तघ्नो यज्ञकोपश्च रामेण सह संगताः ॥ 43.11 ॥

agniketuḥ sudurdharṣo raśmiketuśca rākṣasaḥ| suptaghno yajñakopaśca rāmeṇa saha saṃgatāḥ || 43.11 ||

The formidable Agniketu, the rakshasa Rashmiketu, Suptaghna and Yajnakopa — all these together engaged with Rama.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.43.12)

वज्रमुष्टिश्च मैन्देन द्विविदेनाशनिप्रभः। राक्षसाभ्यां सुघोराभ्यां कपिमुख्यौ समागतौ ॥ 43.12 ॥

vajramuṣṭiśca maindena dvividenāśaniprabhaḥ| rākṣasābhyāṃ sughorābhyāṃ kapimukhyau samāgatau || 43.12 ||

Vajramushti met Mainda, and Ashaniprabha met Dvivida — those two dreadful rakshasas came face to face with those two foremost monkeys.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.43.13)

वीरः प्रतपनो घोरो राक्षसो रणदुर्धरः। समरे तीक्ष्णवेगेन नलेन समयुध्यत ॥ 43.13 ॥

vīraḥ pratapano ghoro rākṣaso raṇadurdharaḥ| samare tīkṣṇavegena nalena samayudhyata || 43.13 ||

The dreadful hero Pratapana, unbearable in battle, fought against the swift-paced Nala.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.43.14)

धर्मस्य पुत्रो बलवान् सुषेण इति विश्रुतः। स विद्युन्मालिना सार्धमयुध्यत महाकपिः ॥ 43.14 ॥

dharmasya putro balavān suṣeṇa iti viśrutaḥ| sa vidyunmālinā sārdhamayudhyata mahākapiḥ || 43.14 ||

Sushena, the mighty son of Dharma, renowned by that name — that great monkey fought against Vidyunmali.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.43.15)

वानराश्चापरे घोरा राक्षसैरपरैः सह। द्वन्द्वं समीयुः सहसा युद्ध्वा च बहुभिः सह ॥ 43.15 ॥

vānarāścāpare ghorā rākṣasairaparaiḥ saha| dvandvaṃ samīyuḥ sahasā yuddhvā ca bahubhiḥ saha || 43.15 ||

Other fierce monkeys likewise, with other rakshasas, suddenly fell into single combats, fighting even against many at once.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.43.16)

तत्रासीत् सुमहद् युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्। रक्षसां वानराणां च वीराणां जयमिच्छताम् ॥ 43.16 ॥

tatrāsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam| rakṣasāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca vīrāṇāṃ jayamicchatām || 43.16 ||

There a mighty, tumultuous, hair-raising battle raged between the rakshasas and the victory-seeking monkey heroes.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.43.17)

हरिराक्षसदेहेभ्यः प्रभूताः केशशाद्वलाः। शरीरसंघाटवहाः प्रसुस्रुः शोणतापगाः ॥ 43.17 ॥

harirākṣasadehebhyaḥ prabhūtāḥ keśaśādvalāḥ| śarīrasaṃghāṭavahāḥ prasusruḥ śoṇatāpagāḥ || 43.17 ||

From the bodies of monkeys and rakshasas there streamed forth many rivers of blood, matted with hair, carrying along shreds of flesh.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.43.18)

आजघानेन्द्रजित् क्रुद्धो वज्रेणेव शतक्रतुः। अङ्गदं गदया वीरं शत्रुसैन्यविदारणम् ॥ 43.18 ॥

ājaghānendrajit kruddho vajreṇeva śatakratuḥ| aṅgadaṃ gadayā vīraṃ śatrusainyavidāraṇam || 43.18 ||

The enraged Indrajit struck the heroic Angada, that destroyer of the enemy host, with his mace, as once Indra struck with the thunderbolt.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.43.19)

तस्य काञ्चनचित्राङ्गं रथं साश्वं ससारथिम्। जघान गदया श्रीमानङ्गदो वेगवान् हरिः ॥ 43.19 ॥

tasya kāñcanacitrāṅgaṃ rathaṃ sāśvaṃ sasārathim| jaghāna gadayā śrīmānaṅgado vegavān hariḥ || 43.19 ||

But the swift, splendid monkey Angada in turn smashed his golden, richly-wrought chariot, along with its horses and charioteer, with his mace.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.43.20)

सम्पातिस्तु प्रजङ्घेन त्रिभिर्बाणैः समाहतः। निजघानाश्वकर्णेन प्रजङ्घं रणमूर्धनि ॥ 43.20 ॥

sampātistu prajaṅghena tribhirbāṇaiḥ samāhataḥ| nijaghānāśvakarṇena prajaṅghaṃ raṇamūrdhani || 43.20 ||

Sampati, though pierced by three arrows from Prajangha, in turn slew Prajangha with the Ashvakarna arrow, in the very midst of the battlefield.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.43.21)

जम्बुमाली रथस्थस्तु रथशक्त्या महाबलः। बिभेद समरे क्रुद्धो हनूमन्तं स्तनान्तरे ॥ 43.21 ॥

jambumālī rathasthastu rathaśaktyā mahābalaḥ| bibheda samare kruddho hanūmantaṃ stanāntare || 43.21 ||

Jambumali, mounted upon his chariot, mighty and enraged, pierced Hanuman's chest in battle with the chariot-spear.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.43.22)

तस्य तं रथमास्थाय हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। प्रममाथ तलेनाशु सह तेनैव रक्षसा ॥ 43.22 ॥

tasya taṃ rathamāsthāya hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ| pramamātha talenāśu saha tenaiva rakṣasā || 43.22 ||

Then Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, mounting that very chariot, swiftly crushed that rakshasa with a single blow of his palm.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.43.23)

नदन् प्रतपनो घोरो नलं सोऽभ्यनुधावत। नलः प्रतपनस्याशु पातयामास चक्षुषी ॥ 43.23 ॥

nadan pratapano ghoro nalaṃ so'bhyanudhāvata| nalaḥ pratapanasyāśu pātayāmāsa cakṣuṣī || 43.23 ||

Roaring, the dreadful Pratapana charged toward Nala; Nala swiftly struck out both of Pratapana's eyes.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.43.24)

भिन्नगात्रः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः क्षिप्रहस्तेन रक्षसा। ग्रसन्तमिव सैन्यानि प्रघसं वानराधिपः ॥ 43.24 ॥

bhinnagātraḥ śaraistīkṣṇaiḥ kṣiprahastena rakṣasā| grasantamiva sainyāni praghasaṃ vānarādhipaḥ || 43.24 ||

His whole body wounded by the sharp arrows of that swift-handed rakshasa, the lord of monkeys, as if he would swallow whole armies —

Shloka 25 (yuddha.43.25)

सुग्रीवः सप्तपर्णेन निजघान जवेन च। प्रपीड्य शरवर्षेण राक्षसं भीमदर्शनम् ॥ 43.25 ॥

sugrīvaḥ saptaparṇena nijaghāna javena ca| prapīḍya śaravarṣeṇa rākṣasaṃ bhīmadarśanam || 43.25 ||

— Sugriva swiftly struck down Praghasa with a saptaparna-tree, overwhelming that fearsome rakshasa with a shower of arrows.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.43.26)

निजघान विरूपाक्षं शरेणैकेन लक्ष्मणः। अग्निकेतुश्च दुर्धर्षो रश्मिकेतुश्च राक्षसः ॥ 43.26 ॥

nijaghāna virūpākṣaṃ śareṇaikena lakṣmaṇaḥ| agniketuśca durdharṣo raśmiketuśca rākṣasaḥ || 43.26 ||

Lakshmana slew Virupaksha with a single arrow. The formidable Agniketu and the rakshasa Rashmiketu —

Shloka 27 (yuddha.43.27)

सुप्तघ्नो यज्ञकोपश्च रामं निर्बिभिदुः शरैः। तेषां चतुर्णां रामस्तु शिरांसि समरे शरैः ॥ 43.27 ॥

suptaghno yajñakopaśca rāmaṃ nirbibhiduḥ śaraiḥ| teṣāṃ caturṇāṃ rāmastu śirāṃsi samare śaraiḥ || 43.27 ||

— along with Suptaghna and Yajnakopa, pierced Rama with their arrows; but Rama, enraged, in that battle —

Shloka 28 (yuddha.43.28)

क्रुद्धश्चतुर्भिश्चिच्छेद घोरैरग्निशिखोपमैः। वज्रमुष्टिस्तु मैन्देन मुष्टिना निहतो रणे ॥ 43.28 ॥

kruddhaścaturbhiściccheda ghorairagniśikhopamaiḥ| vajramuṣṭistu maindena muṣṭinā nihato raṇe || 43.28 ||

— cut off the heads of all four of them at once with four dreadful, fire-like arrows. Vajramushti, struck down in battle by Mainda's fist —

Shloka 29 (yuddha.43.29)

पपात सरथः साश्वः पुराट्ट इव भूतले। निकुम्भस्तु रणे नीलं नीलाञ्जनचयप्रभम् ॥ 43.29 ॥

papāta sarathaḥ sāśvaḥ purāṭṭa iva bhūtale| nikumbhastu raṇe nīlaṃ nīlāñjanacayaprabham || 43.29 ||

— fell, chariot and horses together, to the ground like a shattered ancient fortress. Nikumbha, in battle, pierced Nila, dark as a mass of collyrium —

Shloka 30 (yuddha.43.30)

निर्बिभेद शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः करैर्मेघमिवांशुमान्। पुनः शरशतेनाथ क्षिप्रहस्तो निशाचरः ॥ 43.30 ॥

nirbibheda śaraistīkṣṇaiḥ karairmeghamivāṃśumān| punaḥ śaraśatenātha kṣiprahasto niśācaraḥ || 43.30 ||

— with sharp arrows, just as rays pierce through a cloud. Then that swift-handed night-ranger, with a hundred more arrows —

Shloka 31 (yuddha.43.31)

बिभेद समरे नीलं निकुम्भः प्रजहास च। तस्यैव रथचक्रेण नीलो विष्णुरिवाहवे ॥ 43.31 ॥

bibheda samare nīlaṃ nikumbhaḥ prajahāsa ca| tasyaiva rathacakreṇa nīlo viṣṇurivāhave || 43.31 ||

— pierced Nila again in battle, and Nikumbha burst out laughing. But with that very rakshasa's own chariot-wheel, Nila, like Vishnu in battle —

Shloka 32 (yuddha.43.32)

शिरश्चिच्छेद समरे निकुम्भस्य च सारथेः। वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शो द्विविदोऽप्यशनिप्रभम् ॥ 43.32 ॥

śiraściccheda samare nikumbhasya ca sāratheḥ| vajrāśanisamasparśo dvivido'pyaśaniprabham || 43.32 ||

— cut off, in that combat, the heads of Nikumbha and his charioteer both. Dvivida, whose touch matched thunder and lightning, struck Ashaniprabha —

Shloka 33 (yuddha.43.33)

जघान गिरिशृङ्गेण मिषतां सर्वरक्षसाम्। द्विविदं वानरेन्द्रं तु द्रुमयोधिनमाहवे ॥ 43.33 ॥

jaghāna giriśṛṅgeṇa miṣatāṃ sarvarakṣasām| dvividaṃ vānarendraṃ tu drumayodhinamāhave || 43.33 ||

— with a mountain-crest, before the very eyes of all the rakshasas. But that lord of monkeys, Dvivida, fighting with trees —

Shloka 34 (yuddha.43.34)

शरैरशनिसंकाशैः स विव्याधाशनिप्रभः। स शरैरभिविद्धाङ्गो द्विविदः क्रोधर्मूच्छितः ॥ 43.34 ॥

śarairaśanisaṃkāśaiḥ sa vivyādhāśaniprabhaḥ| sa śarairabhividdhāṅgo dvividaḥ krodharmūcchitaḥ || 43.34 ||

— was struck by Ashaniprabha with lightning-like arrows; and Dvivida, his whole body wounded, maddened with fury —

Shloka 35 (yuddha.43.35)

सालेन सरथं साश्वं निजघानाशनिप्रभम्। विद्युन्माली रथस्थस्तु शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः ॥ 43.35 ॥

sālena sarathaṃ sāśvaṃ nijaghānāśaniprabham| vidyunmālī rathasthastu śaraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ || 43.35 ||

— struck down Ashaniprabha, chariot and horses together, with a sala-tree. Vidyunmali, mounted on his chariot, with golden-adorned arrows —

Shloka 36 (yuddha.43.36)

सुषेणं ताडयामास ननाद च मुहुर्मुहुः। तं रथस्थमथो दृष्ट्वा सुषेणो वानरोत्तमः ॥ 43.36 ॥

suṣeṇaṃ tāḍayāmāsa nanāda ca muhurmuhuḥ| taṃ rathasthamatho dṛṣṭvā suṣeṇo vānarottamaḥ || 43.36 ||

— struck Sushena again and again, roaring all the while. Seeing him thus mounted on his chariot, Sushena, foremost of monkeys —

Shloka 37 (yuddha.43.37)

गिरिशृङ्गेण महता रथमाशु न्यपातयत्। लाघवेन तु संयुक्तो विद्युन्माली निशाचरः ॥ 43.37 ॥

giriśṛṅgeṇa mahatā rathamāśu nyapātayat| lāghavena tu saṃyukto vidyunmālī niśācaraḥ || 43.37 ||

— swiftly felled his chariot with a great mountain-crest. The deft, agile night-ranger Vidyunmali —

Shloka 38 (yuddha.43.38)

अपक्रम्य रथात् तूर्णं गदापाणिः क्षितौ स्थितः। ततः क्रोधसमाविष्टः सुषेणो हरिपुङ्गवः ॥ 43.38 ॥

apakramya rathāt tūrṇaṃ gadāpāṇiḥ kṣitau sthitaḥ| tataḥ krodhasamāviṣṭaḥ suṣeṇo haripuṅgavaḥ || 43.38 ||

— leapt swiftly from his chariot and stood on the ground, mace in hand. Then, filled with fury, Sushena, bull among monkeys —

Shloka 39 (yuddha.43.39)

शिलां सुमहतीं गृह्य निशाचरमभिद्रवत्। तमापतन्तं गदया विद्युन्माली निशाचरः ॥ 43.39 ॥

śilāṃ sumahatīṃ gṛhya niśācaramabhidravat| tamāpatantaṃ gadayā vidyunmālī niśācaraḥ || 43.39 ||

— seized a huge boulder and charged at that night-ranger. As he rushed at him, Vidyunmali the night-ranger —

Shloka 40 (yuddha.43.40)

वक्षस्यभिजघानाशु सुषेणं हरिपुङ्गवम्। गदाप्रहारं तं घोरमचिन्त्य प्लवगोत्तमः ॥ 43.40 ॥

vakṣasyabhijaghānāśu suṣeṇaṃ haripuṅgavam| gadāprahāraṃ taṃ ghoramacintya plavagottamaḥ || 43.40 ||

— swiftly struck a blow of the mace upon Sushena's chest. But that foremost of monkeys, ignoring the terrible blow of the mace —

Shloka 41 (yuddha.43.41)

तां तूष्णीं पातयामास तस्योरसि महामृधे। शिलाप्रहाराभिहतो विद्युन्माली निशाचरः ॥ 43.41 ॥

tāṃ tūṣṇīṃ pātayāmāsa tasyorasi mahāmṛdhe| śilāprahārābhihato vidyunmālī niśācaraḥ || 43.41 ||

— silently let that boulder fall upon his chest, in that great battle. Struck by the blow of that boulder, the night-ranger Vidyunmali —

Shloka 42 (yuddha.43.42)

निष्पिष्टहृदयो भूमौ गतासुर्निपपात ह। एवं तैर्वानरैः शूरैः शूरास्ते रजनीचराः ॥ 43.42 ॥

niṣpiṣṭahṛdayo bhūmau gatāsurnipapāta ha| evaṃ tairvānaraiḥ śūraiḥ śūrāste rajanīcarāḥ || 43.42 ||

— his heart shattered, fell lifeless to the ground. Thus were those valiant night-rangers, at the hands of those valiant monkeys —

Shloka 43 (yuddha.43.43)

द्वन्द्वे विमथितास्तत्र दैत्या इव दिवौकसैः। भल्लैश्चान्यैर्गदाभिश्च शक्तितोमरसायकैः ॥ 43.43 ॥

dvandve vimathitāstatra daityā iva divaukasaiḥ| bhallaiścānyairgadābhiśca śaktitomarasāyakaiḥ || 43.43 ||

— worsted in single combat, as the daityas once were by the gods. With other arrows, swords, maces, javelins, lances and spears —

Shloka 44 (yuddha.43.44)

अपविद्धैश्चापि रथैस्तथा सांग्रामिकैर्हयैः। निहतैः कुञ्जरैर्मत्तैस्तथा वानरराक्षसैः ॥ 43.44 ॥

apaviddhaiścāpi rathaistathā sāṃgrāmikairhayaiḥ| nihataiḥ kuñjarairmattaistathā vānararākṣasaiḥ || 43.44 ||

— with shattered chariots, slain war-horses, and dead, maddened elephants, together with fallen monkeys and rakshasas —

Shloka 45 (yuddha.43.45)

चक्राक्षयुगदण्डैश्च भग्नैर्धरणिसंश्रितैः। बभूवायोधनं घोरं गोमायुगणसेवितम् ॥ 43.45 ॥

cakrākṣayugadaṇḍaiśca bhagnairdharaṇisaṃśritaiḥ| babhūvāyodhanaṃ ghoraṃ gomāyugaṇasevitam || 43.45 ||

— strewn with broken wheels, axles, yokes and shafts, that battlefield, haunted by packs of jackals, grew altogether dreadful.

Shloka 46 (yuddha.43.46)

कबन्धानि समुत्पेतुर्दिक्षु वानररक्षसाम्। विमर्दे तुमुले तस्मिन् देवासुररणोपमे। निहन्यमाना हरिपुङ्गवैस्तदा निशाचराः शोणितगन्धमूर्च्छिताः। पुनः सुयुद्धं तरसा समाश्रिता दिवाकरस्यास्तमयाभिकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ 43.46 ॥

kabandhāni samutpeturdikṣu vānararakṣasām| vimarde tumule tasmin devāsuraraṇopame| nihanyamānā haripuṅgavaistadā niśācarāḥ śoṇitagandhamūrcchitāḥ| punaḥ suyuddhaṃ tarasā samāśritā divākarasyāstamayābhikāṅkṣiṇaḥ || 43.46 ||

In that tumultuous, god-versus-demon-like carnage, the headless trunks of monkeys and rakshasas leapt up on every side; the night-rangers, struck down by the monkey-lords and reeking of blood, once again threw themselves into fresh battle with vigor, longing only for the sun to set.