The Night Battle and the Binding by the Serpent-Shafts

Shloka 1 (yuddha.44.1)

युध्यतामेव तेषां तु तदा वानररक्षसाम्। रविरस्तं गतो रात्रिः प्रवृत्ता प्राणहारिणी ॥ 44.1 ॥

yudhyatāmeva teṣāṃ tu tadā vānararakṣasām| ravirastaṃ gato rātriḥ pravṛttā prāṇahāriṇī || 44.1 ||

While those monkeys and rakshasas were still locked in battle, the sun set, and the life-devouring night began.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.44.2)

अन्योन्यं बद्धवैराणां घोराणं जयमिच्छताम्। सम्प्रवृत्तं निशायुद्धं तदा वानररक्षसाम् ॥ 44.2 ॥

anyonyaṃ baddhavairāṇāṃ ghorāṇaṃ jayamicchatām| sampravṛttaṃ niśāyuddhaṃ tadā vānararakṣasām || 44.2 ||

Between those dreadful monkeys and rakshasas, locked in mutual enmity and each desiring victory, a night-battle then broke out.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.44.3)

राक्षसोऽसीति हरयो वानरोऽसीति राक्षसाः। अन्योन्यं समरे जघ्नुस्तस्मिंस्तमसि दारुणे ॥ 44.3 ॥

rākṣaso'sīti harayo vānaro'sīti rākṣasāḥ| anyonyaṃ samare jaghnustasmiṃstamasi dāruṇe || 44.3 ||

"You are a rakshasa!" cried the monkeys, and "You are a monkey!" cried the rakshasas — in that terrible darkness they fell upon one another.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.44.4)

हत दारय चैहीति कथं विद्रवसीति च। एवं सुतुमुलः शब्दस्तस्मिन् सैन्ये तु शुश्रुवे ॥ 44.4 ॥

hata dāraya caihīti kathaṃ vidravasīti ca| evaṃ sutumulaḥ śabdastasmin sainye tu śuśruve || 44.4 ||

"Kill him! Tear him apart! Come here! Why do you flee!" — such was the tumultuous clamour heard through that army.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.44.5)

कालाः काञ्चनसंनाहास्तस्मिंस्तमसि राक्षसाः। सम्प्रदृश्यन्त शैलेन्द्रा दीप्तौषधिवना इव ॥ 44.5 ॥

kālāḥ kāñcanasaṃnāhāstasmiṃstamasi rākṣasāḥ| sampradṛśyanta śailendrā dīptauṣadhivanā iva || 44.5 ||

In that darkness the dark-hued rakshasas, clad in golden armor, appeared like mountain-kings ablaze with luminous herbs.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.44.6)

तस्मिंस्तमसि दुष्पारे राक्षसाः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः। परिपेतुर्महावेगा भक्षयन्तः प्लवङ्गमान् ॥ 44.6 ॥

tasmiṃstamasi duṣpāre rākṣasāḥ krodhamūrcchitāḥ| paripeturmahāvegā bhakṣayantaḥ plavaṅgamān || 44.6 ||

In that impenetrable darkness the rakshasas, maddened with fury, rushed about with tremendous force, devouring the monkeys.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.44.7)

ते हयान् काञ्चनापीडान् ध्वजांश्चाशीविषोपमान्। आप्लुत्य दशनैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भीमकोपा व्यदारयन् ॥ 44.7 ॥

te hayān kāñcanāpīḍān dhvajāṃścāśīviṣopamān| āplutya daśanaistīkṣṇairbhīmakopā vyadārayan || 44.7 ||

Golden-decked horses, and banners like venomous serpents, they tore apart with their sharp teeth, leaping upon them in furious rage.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.44.8)

वानरा बलिनो युद्धेऽक्षोभयन् राक्षसीं चमूम्। कुञ्जरान् कुञ्जरारोहान् पताकाध्वजिनो रथान् ॥ 44.8 ॥

vānarā balino yuddhe'kṣobhayan rākṣasīṃ camūm| kuñjarān kuñjarārohān patākādhvajino rathān || 44.8 ||

The mighty monkeys, in that battle, threw the rakshasa host into disarray — striking down elephants, their riders, and banner-decked chariots —

Shloka 9 (yuddha.44.9)

चकर्षुश्च ददंशुश्च दशनैः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः। लक्ष्मणश्चापि रामश्च शरैराशीविषोपमैः ॥ 44.9 ॥

cakarṣuśca dadaṃśuśca daśanaiḥ krodhamūrcchitāḥ| lakṣmaṇaścāpi rāmaśca śarairāśīviṣopamaiḥ || 44.9 ||

— dragging them down, maddened with fury, biting with their teeth; and Lakshmana and Rama too, with venom-serpent arrows —

Shloka 10 (yuddha.44.10)

दृश्यादृश्यानि रक्षांसि प्रवराणि निजघ्नतुः। तुरंगखुरविध्वस्तं रथनेमिसमुत्थितम् ॥ 44.10 ॥

dṛśyādṛśyāni rakṣāṃsi pravarāṇi nijaghnatuḥ| turaṃgakhuravidhvastaṃ rathanemisamutthitam || 44.10 ||

— were destroying rakshasas whether seen or unseen. The dust raised by horses' hooves and stirred up by chariot-wheels —

Shloka 11 (yuddha.44.11)

रुरोध कर्णनेत्राणि युध्यतां धरणीरजः। वर्तमाने तथा घोरे संग्रामे लोमहर्षणे ॥ 44.11 ॥

rurodha karṇanetrāṇi yudhyatāṃ dharaṇīrajaḥ| vartamāne tathā ghore saṃgrāme lomaharṣaṇe || 44.11 ||

— clogged the ears and eyes of those still fighting. Thus, as that dreadful, hair-raising battle went on —

Shloka 12 (yuddha.44.12)

रुधिरौघा महाघोरा नद्यस्तत्र विसुस्रुवुः। ततो भेरीमृदङ्गानां पणवानां च निःस्वनः ॥ 44.12 ॥

rudhiraughā mahāghorā nadyastatra visusruvuḥ| tato bherīmṛdaṅgānāṃ paṇavānāṃ ca niḥsvanaḥ || 44.12 ||

— dreadful rivers of blood flowed there. Then the sound of war-drums, kettle-drums and small drums —

Shloka 13 (yuddha.44.13)

शङ्खनेमिस्वनोन्मिश्रः सम्बभूवाद्भुतोपमः। हतानां स्तनमानानां राक्षसानां च निःस्वनः ॥ 44.13 ॥

śaṅkhanemisvanonmiśraḥ sambabhūvādbhutopamaḥ| hatānāṃ stanamānānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca niḥsvanaḥ || 44.13 ||

— mingled with the blast of conches and the rumble of wheels, becoming a sound of wonder; and the groans of slain, dying rakshasas —

Shloka 14 (yuddha.44.14)

शस्तानां वानराणां च सम्बभूवात्र दारुणः। हतैर्वानरमुख्यैश्च शक्तिशूलपरश्वधैः ॥ 44.14 ॥

śastānāṃ vānarāṇāṃ ca sambabhūvātra dāruṇaḥ| hatairvānaramukhyaiśca śaktiśūlaparaśvadhaiḥ || 44.14 ||

— along with the cries of wounded monkeys, grew utterly dreadful. Struck down by javelins, tridents and axes, the finest of monkeys, together with —

Shloka 15 (yuddha.44.15)

निहतैः पर्वताकारै राक्षसैः कामरूपिभिः। शस्त्रपुष्पोपहारा च तत्रासीद् युद्धमेदिनी ॥ 44.15 ॥

nihataiḥ parvatākārai rākṣasaiḥ kāmarūpibhiḥ| śastrapuṣpopahārā ca tatrāsīd yuddhamedinī || 44.15 ||

— shape-shifting, mountain-like rakshasas fallen there, that battlefield seemed decked as if with a strange offering of flowers made of weapons.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.44.16)

दुर्ज्ञेया दुर्निवेशा च शोणितास्त्रावकर्दमा। सा बभूव निशा घोरा हरिराक्षसहारिणी ॥ 44.16 ॥

durjñeyā durniveśā ca śoṇitāstrāvakardamā| sā babhūva niśā ghorā harirākṣasahāriṇī || 44.16 ||

Hard to fathom, hard to traverse, mired in blood and weapons, that dreadful night became a devourer of both monkeys and rakshasas alike.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.44.17)

कालरात्रीव भूतानां सर्वेषां दुरतिक्रमा। ततस्ते राक्षसास्तत्र तस्मिंस्तमसि दारुणे ॥ 44.17 ॥

kālarātrīva bhūtānāṃ sarveṣāṃ duratikramā| tataste rākṣasāstatra tasmiṃstamasi dāruṇe || 44.17 ||

To all beings alike it became insurmountable, like the very night of universal dissolution. In that dreadful darkness those rakshasas —

Shloka 18 (yuddha.44.18)

राममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त संहृष्टाः शरवृष्टिभिः। तेषामापततां शब्दः क्रुद्धानामपि गर्जताम् ॥ 44.18 ॥

rāmamevābhyavartanta saṃhṛṣṭāḥ śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ| teṣāmāpatatāṃ śabdaḥ kruddhānāmapi garjatām || 44.18 ||

— exultant, showering arrows, rushed straight toward Rama. The sound of their onrush, roaring in fury —

Shloka 19 (yuddha.44.19)

उद्वर्त इव सप्तानां समुद्राणामभूत् स्वनः। तेषां रामः शरैः षड्भिः षड् जघान निशाचरान् ॥ 44.19 ॥

udvarta iva saptānāṃ samudrāṇāmabhūt svanaḥ| teṣāṃ rāmaḥ śaraiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ ṣaḍ jaghāna niśācarān || 44.19 ||

— resounded like the surging of the seven seas at once. Rama, with six arrows, struck down six of those night-rangers —

Shloka 20 (yuddha.44.20)

निमेषान्तरमात्रेण शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः। यज्ञशत्रुश्च दुर्धर्षो महापार्श्वमहोदरौ ॥ 44.20 ॥

nimeṣāntaramātreṇa śarairagniśikhopamaiḥ| yajñaśatruśca durdharṣo mahāpārśvamahodarau || 44.20 ||

— in the mere blink of an eye, with arrows terrible as tongues of flame. The formidable Yajnashatru, Mahaparshva, Mahodara —

Shloka 21 (yuddha.44.21)

वज्रदंष्ट्रो महाकायस्तौ चोभौ शुकसारणौ। ते तु रामेण बाणौघैः सर्वमर्मसु ताडिताः ॥ 44.21 ॥

vajradaṃṣṭro mahākāyastau cobhau śukasāraṇau| te tu rāmeṇa bāṇaughaiḥ sarvamarmasu tāḍitāḥ || 44.21 ||

— the huge-bodied Vajradamshtra, and both Shuka and Sarana — all of them were wounded in every limb by Rama's showering arrows.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.44.22)

युद्धादपसृतास्तत्र सावशेषायुषोऽभवन्। निमेषान्तरमात्रेण घोरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ॥ 44.22 ॥

yuddhādapasṛtāstatra sāvaśeṣāyuṣo'bhavan| nimeṣāntaramātreṇa ghorairagniśikhopamaiḥ || 44.22 ||

They withdrew from the battle, surviving only by a thread of remaining life. That great warrior, in the mere blink of an eye, with fire-like, dreadful arrows —

Shloka 23 (yuddha.44.23)

दिशश्चकार विमलाः प्रदिशश्च महारथः। ये त्वन्ये राक्षसा वीरा रामस्याभिमुखे स्थिताः ॥ 44.23 ॥

diśaścakāra vimalāḥ pradiśaśca mahārathaḥ| ye tvanye rākṣasā vīrā rāmasyābhimukhe sthitāḥ || 44.23 ||

— cleared every direction and quarter of the sky. And those other heroic rakshasas who still stood before Rama —

Shloka 24 (yuddha.44.24)

तेऽपि नष्टाः समासाद्य पतङ्गा इव पावकम्। सुवर्णपुङ्खैर्विशिखैः सम्पतद्भिः समन्ततः ॥ 44.24 ॥

te'pi naṣṭāḥ samāsādya pataṅgā iva pāvakam| suvarṇapuṅkhairviśikhaiḥ sampatadbhiḥ samantataḥ || 44.24 ||

— they too perished, like moths flying into a flame, before those gold-feathered arrows falling upon them from every side.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.44.25)

बभूव रजनी चित्रा खद्योतैरिव शारदी। राक्षसानां च निनदैर्भेरीणां चैव निःस्वनैः ॥ 44.25 ॥

babhūva rajanī citrā khadyotairiva śāradī| rākṣasānāṃ ca ninadairbherīṇāṃ caiva niḥsvanaiḥ || 44.25 ||

That night grew strange and wondrous, like an autumn night ablaze with fireflies — filled with the cries of rakshasas and the resounding of war-drums.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.44.26)

सा बभूव निशा घोरा भूयो घोरतराभवत्। तेन शब्देन महता प्रवृद्धेन समन्ततः ॥ 44.26 ॥

sā babhūva niśā ghorā bhūyo ghoratarābhavat| tena śabdena mahatā pravṛddhena samantataḥ || 44.26 ||

That dreadful night grew ever more terrible still. By that mighty, ever-swelling sound spreading on every side —

Shloka 27 (yuddha.44.27)

त्रिकूटः कंदराकीर्णः प्रव्याहरदिवाचलः। गोलाङ्गूला महाकायास्तमसा तुल्यवर्चसः ॥ 44.27 ॥

trikūṭaḥ kaṃdarākīrṇaḥ pravyāharadivācalaḥ| golāṅgūlā mahākāyāstamasā tulyavarcasaḥ || 44.27 ||

— Mount Trikuta, riddled with caverns, seemed to echo it back like a living, speaking mountain. The huge-bodied Golangula monkeys, dark as the night itself —

Shloka 28 (yuddha.44.28)

सम्परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां भक्षयन् रजनीचरान्। अङ्गदस्तु रणे शत्रून् निहन्तुं समुपस्थितः ॥ 44.28 ॥

sampariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ bhakṣayan rajanīcarān| aṅgadastu raṇe śatrūn nihantuṃ samupasthitaḥ || 44.28 ||

— clasped the night-rangers in their arms and devoured them. Meanwhile Angada came forward in the battlefield to destroy the enemy —

Shloka 29 (yuddha.44.29)

रावणिं निजघानाशु सारथिं च हयानपि। इन्द्रजित् तु रथं त्यक्त्वा हताश्वो हतसारथिः ॥ 44.29 ॥

rāvaṇiṃ nijaghānāśu sārathiṃ ca hayānapi| indrajit tu rathaṃ tyaktvā hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ || 44.29 ||

— and swiftly slew the charioteer and horses of Ravani, Indrajit. Indrajit, abandoning his chariot, his horses and charioteer both lost —

Shloka 30 (yuddha.44.30)

अङ्गदेन महाकायस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। तत् कर्म वालिपुत्रस्य सर्वे देवाः सहर्षिभिः ॥ 44.30 ॥

aṅgadena mahākāyastatraivāntaradhīyata| tat karma vāliputrasya sarve devāḥ saharṣibhiḥ || 44.30 ||

— vanished from sight there, in fear of Vali's son. All the gods, together with the sages, extolled that feat of Vali's son —

Shloka 31 (yuddha.44.31)

तुष्टुवुः पूजनार्हस्य तौ चोभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। प्रभावं सर्वभूतानि विदुरिन्द्रजितो युधि ॥ 44.31 ॥

tuṣṭuvuḥ pūjanārhasya tau cobhau rāmalakṣmaṇau| prabhāvaṃ sarvabhūtāni vidurindrajito yudhi || 44.31 ||

— worthy as it was of worship; and both Rama and Lakshmana too knew well what power Indrajit possessed in battle among all beings.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.44.32)

ततस्ते तं महात्मानं दृष्ट्वा तुष्टाः प्रधर्षितम्। ततः प्रहृष्टाः कपयः ससुग्रीवविभीषणाः ॥ 44.32 ॥

tataste taṃ mahātmānaṃ dṛṣṭvā tuṣṭāḥ pradharṣitam| tataḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ kapayaḥ sasugrīvavibhīṣaṇāḥ || 44.32 ||

Then, seeing that great-souled foe thus worsted, they were satisfied; and the monkeys, delighted, along with Sugriva and Vibhishana —

Shloka 33 (yuddha.44.33)

साधुसाध्विति नेदुश्च दृष्ट्वा शत्रुं पराजितम्। इन्द्रजित् तु तदानेन निर्जितो भीमकर्मणा ॥ 44.33 ॥

sādhusādhviti neduśca dṛṣṭvā śatruṃ parājitam| indrajit tu tadānena nirjito bhīmakarmaṇā || 44.33 ||

— cried out "Well done, well done!", acclaiming the vanquished foe. Indrajit, terrible in deed, thus worsted by Vali's son —

Shloka 34 (yuddha.44.34)

संयुगे वालिपुत्रेण क्रोधं चक्रे सुदारुणम्। सोऽन्तर्धानगतः पापो रावणी रणकर्शितः ॥ 44.34 ॥

saṃyuge vāliputreṇa krodhaṃ cakre sudāruṇam| so'ntardhānagataḥ pāpo rāvaṇī raṇakarśitaḥ || 44.34 ||

— was filled in that combat with a most dreadful rage. Then the sinful, battle-worn Ravani, vanishing from sight —

Shloka 35 (yuddha.44.35)

ब्रह्मदत्तवरो वीरो रावणिः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। अदृश्यो निशितान् बाणान् मुमोचाशनिवर्चसः ॥ 44.35 ॥

brahmadattavaro vīro rāvaṇiḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ| adṛśyo niśitān bāṇān mumocāśanivarcasaḥ || 44.35 ||

— that hero boon-blessed by Brahma, maddened with rage, remaining invisible, began to loose sharp arrows terrible as the thunderbolt —

Shloka 36 (yuddha.44.36)

रामं च लक्ष्मणं चैव घोरैर्नागमयैः शरैः। बिभेद समरे क्रुद्धः सर्वगात्रेषु राक्षसः ॥ 44.36 ॥

rāmaṃ ca lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva ghorairnāgamayaiḥ śaraiḥ| bibheda samare kruddhaḥ sarvagātreṣu rākṣasaḥ || 44.36 ||

— raining down dreadful serpent-like shafts upon both Rama and Lakshmana; that enraged rakshasa pierced their every limb in that battle.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.44.37)

मायया संवृतस्तत्र मोहयन् राघवौ युधि। अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां कूटयोधी निशाचरः ॥ 44.37 ॥

māyayā saṃvṛtastatra mohayan rāghavau yudhi| adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ kūṭayodhī niśācaraḥ || 44.37 ||

Cloaked in his magic, bewildering the two Raghavas in that combat, that deceitful warrior, invisible to all beings —

Shloka 38 (yuddha.44.38)

बबन्ध शरबन्धेन भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। तौ तेन पुरुषव्याघ्रौ क्रुद्धेनाशीविषैः शरैः ॥ 44.38 ॥

babandha śarabandhena bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau| tau tena puruṣavyāghrau kruddhenāśīviṣaiḥ śaraiḥ || 44.38 ||

— enraged, with arrows venomous as serpents, bound those two lion-like brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, in a net of shafts.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.44.39)

सहसाभिहतौ वीरौ तदा प्रेक्षन्त वानराः। प्रकाशरूपस्तु यदा न शक्तस्तौ बाधितुं राक्षसराजपुत्रः। मायां प्रयोक्तुं समुपाजगाम बबन्ध तौ राजसुतौ दुरात्मा ॥ 44.39 ॥

sahasābhihatau vīrau tadā prekṣanta vānarāḥ| prakāśarūpastu yadā na śaktastau bādhituṃ rākṣasarājaputraḥ| māyāṃ prayoktuṃ samupājagāma babandha tau rājasutau durātmā || 44.39 ||

The monkeys watched, dumbstruck, as those two heroes were suddenly struck down thus; and when, in open form, he found himself unable to subdue them, that wicked son of the rakshasa king resorted to his magic and, through it alone, bound both princes fast.