Rama and Lakshmana Fall, Bound by Indrajit's Shafts

Shloka 1 (yuddha.45.1)

स तस्य गतिमन्विच्छन् राजपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। दिदेशातिबलो रामो दश वानरयूथपान् ॥ 45.1 ॥

sa tasya gatimanvicchan rājaputraḥ pratāpavān| dideśātibalo rāmo daśa vānarayūthapān || 45.1 ||

That valorous prince Rama, wishing to track Indrajit's path, then commanded ten of his foremost monkey chiefs.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.45.2)

द्वौ सुषेणस्य दायादौ नीलं च प्लवगाधिपम्। अङ्गदं वालिपुत्रं च शरभं च तरस्विनम् ॥ 45.2 ॥

dvau suṣeṇasya dāyādau nīlaṃ ca plavagādhipam| aṅgadaṃ vāliputraṃ ca śarabhaṃ ca tarasvinam || 45.2 ||

He ordered Sushena's two sons, Nila the lord of monkeys, Angada the son of Vali, and the swift-footed Sharabha —

Shloka 3 (yuddha.45.3)

द्विविदं च हनूमन्तं सानुप्रस्थं महाबलम्। ऋषभं चर्षभस्कन्धमादिदेश परंतपः ॥ 45.3 ॥

dvividaṃ ca hanūmantaṃ sānuprasthaṃ mahābalam| ṛṣabhaṃ carṣabhaskandhamādideśa paraṃtapaḥ || 45.3 ||

— together with Dvivida, the mighty Hanuman, the ridge-ranging Rishabha and Rishabhaskandha; thus the scourge of enemies commanded them all.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.45.4)

ते सम्प्रहृष्टा हरयो भीमानुद्यम्य पादपान्। आकाशं विविशुः सर्वे मार्गमाणा दिशो दश ॥ 45.4 ॥

te samprahṛṣṭā harayo bhīmānudyamya pādapān| ākāśaṃ viviśuḥ sarve mārgamāṇā diśo daśa || 45.4 ||

Those delighted monkeys, hoisting massive trees, all took to the sky, searching through the ten directions.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.45.5)

तेषां वेगवतां वेगमिषुभिर्वेगवत्तरैः। अस्त्रवित् परमास्त्रस्तु वारयामास रावणिः ॥ 45.5 ॥

teṣāṃ vegavatāṃ vegamiṣubhirvegavattaraiḥ| astravit paramāstrastu vārayāmāsa rāvaṇiḥ || 45.5 ||

Ravani, that master of celestial weapons, checked their swift onrush with his own arrows, swifter still — the supreme astra held in reserve.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.45.6)

तं भीमवेगा हरयो नाराचैः क्षतविक्षताः। अन्धकारे न ददृशुर्मेघैः सूर्यमिवावृतम् ॥ 45.6 ॥

taṃ bhīmavegā harayo nārācaiḥ kṣatavikṣatāḥ| andhakāre na dadṛśurmeghaiḥ sūryamivāvṛtam || 45.6 ||

Those swift, mighty monkeys, wounded by his iron shafts, could not spy him out in that darkness, as one cannot see the sun veiled by clouds.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.45.7)

रामलक्ष्मणयोरेव सर्वदेहभिदः शरान्। भृशमावेशयामास रावणिः समितिंजयः ॥ 45.7 ॥

rāmalakṣmaṇayoreva sarvadehabhidaḥ śarān| bhṛśamāveśayāmāsa rāvaṇiḥ samitiṃjayaḥ || 45.7 ||

Ravani, ever victorious in battle, loosed with tremendous force arrows that pierced every vital point of both Rama and Lakshmana.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.45.8)

निरन्तरशरीरौ तु तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। क्रुद्धेनेन्द्रजिता वीरौ पन्नगैः शरतां गतैः ॥ 45.8 ॥

nirantaraśarīrau tu tāvubhau rāmalakṣmaṇau| kruddhenendrajitā vīrau pannagaiḥ śaratāṃ gataiḥ || 45.8 ||

Struck by the enraged Indrajit's serpent-like shafts, those two heroic brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, had not a spot on their bodies left untouched.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.45.9)

तयोः क्षतजमार्गेण सुस्राव रुधिरं बहु। तावुभौ च प्रकाशेते पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ ॥ 45.9 ॥

tayoḥ kṣatajamārgeṇa susrāva rudhiraṃ bahu| tāvubhau ca prakāśete puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau || 45.9 ||

Much blood flowed from their wounds along the paths of the arrow-cuts; and the two of them shone, red all over, like blossoming kimshuka trees.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.45.10)

ततः पर्यन्तरक्ताक्षो भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमः। रावणिर्भ्रातरौ वाक्यमन्तर्धानगतोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 45.10 ॥

tataḥ paryantaraktākṣo bhinnāñjanacayopamaḥ| rāvaṇirbhrātarau vākyamantardhānagato'bravīt || 45.10 ||

Then, his eyes red with fury all around, dark as a mass of collyrium, Ravani, remaining invisible, spoke this word to the two brothers —

Shloka 11 (yuddha.45.11)

युध्यमानमनालक्ष्यं शक्रोऽपि त्रिदशेश्वरः। द्रष्टुमासादितुं वापि न शक्तः किं पुनर्युवाम् ॥ 45.11 ॥

yudhyamānamanālakṣyaṃ śakro'pi tridaśeśvaraḥ| draṣṭumāsādituṃ vāpi na śaktaḥ kiṃ punaryuvām || 45.11 ||

"Even Indra, lord of the thirty gods, cannot see or lay hold of me when I fight unseen — what then of you two?"

Shloka 12 (yuddha.45.12)

प्रापिताविषुजालेन राघवौ कङ्कपत्रिणा। एष रोषपरीतात्मा नयामि यमसादनम् ॥ 45.12 ॥

prāpitāviṣujālena rāghavau kaṅkapatriṇā| eṣa roṣaparītātmā nayāmi yamasādanam || 45.12 ||

"Pierced through by this net of hawk-feathered shafts, O both Raghavas, I, filled with fury, now send you to the abode of Yama."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.45.13)

एवमुक्त्वा तु धर्मज्ञौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। निर्बिभेद शितैर्बाणैः प्रजहर्ष ननाद च ॥ 45.13 ॥

evamuktvā tu dharmajñau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau| nirbibheda śitairbāṇaiḥ prajaharṣa nanāda ca || 45.13 ||

Having spoken thus, he pierced both righteous brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, with his sharp arrows, and roared aloud in delight.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.45.14)

भिन्नाञ्जनचयश्यामो विस्फार्य विपुलं धनुः। भूय एव शरान् घोरान् विससर्ज महामृधे ॥ 45.14 ॥

bhinnāñjanacayaśyāmo visphārya vipulaṃ dhanuḥ| bhūya eva śarān ghorān visasarja mahāmṛdhe || 45.14 ||

Dark as a mass of collyrium, drawing his mighty bow to the full, he loosed dreadful arrows again and again in that great battle.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.45.15)

ततो मर्मसु मर्मज्ञो मज्जयन् निशितान् शरान्। रामलक्ष्मणयोर्वीरो ननाद च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ 45.15 ॥

tato marmasu marmajño majjayan niśitān śarān| rāmalakṣmaṇayorvīro nanāda ca muhurmuhuḥ || 45.15 ||

That hero, knowing well the vital points, sank his sharp arrows into the vital spots of Rama and Lakshmana again and again, roaring all the while.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.45.16)

बद्धौ तु शरबन्धेन तावुभौ रणमूर्धनि। निमेषान्तरमात्रेण न शेकतुरवेक्षितुम् ॥ 45.16 ॥

baddhau tu śarabandhena tāvubhau raṇamūrdhani| nimeṣāntaramātreṇa na śekaturavekṣitum || 45.16 ||

Bound fast by that net of arrows, the two of them, there at the crest of the battle, could not so much as glance at each other, in the mere blink of an eye.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.45.17)

ततो विभिन्नसर्वाङ्गौ शरशल्याचितौ कृतौ। ध्वजाविव महेन्द्रस्य रज्जुमुक्तौ प्रकम्पितौ ॥ 45.17 ॥

tato vibhinnasarvāṅgau śaraśalyācitau kṛtau| dhvajāviva mahendrasya rajjumuktau prakampitau || 45.17 ||

Then, studded all over with arrow-shafts, their bodies torn everywhere, the two of them became like Indra's banner-poles, loosed from their cords and trembling.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.45.18)

तौ सम्प्रचलितौ वीरौ मर्मभेदेन कर्शितौ। निपेततुर्महेष्वासौ जगत्यां जगतीपती ॥ 45.18 ॥

tau sampracalitau vīrau marmabhedena karśitau| nipetaturmaheṣvāsau jagatyāṃ jagatīpatī || 45.18 ||

Weakened by wounds to their vital points, those two great archer-heroes, staggering, fell to the earth — those two lords of the world.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.45.19)

तौ वीरशयने वीरौ शयानौ रुधिरोक्षितौ। शरवेष्टितसर्वाङ्गावार्तौ परमपीडितौ ॥ 45.19 ॥

tau vīraśayane vīrau śayānau rudhirokṣitau| śaraveṣṭitasarvāṅgāvārtau paramapīḍitau || 45.19 ||

Drenched in blood, those two heroes lay upon a hero's bed, their whole bodies wrapped in arrows, utterly stricken and afflicted.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.45.20)

नह्यविद्धं तयोर्गात्रे बभूवाङ्गुलमन्तरम्। नानिर्विण्णं न चाध्वस्तमाकराग्रादजिह्मगैः ॥ 45.20 ॥

nahyaviddhaṃ tayorgātre babhūvāṅgulamantaram| nānirviṇṇaṃ na cādhvastamākarāgrādajihmagaiḥ || 45.20 ||

On their bodies there was not so much as a finger's breadth left unpierced, unwounded, or untouched by those swift-flying shafts.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.45.21)

तौ तु क्रूरेण निहतौ रक्षसा कामरूपिणा। असृक् सुस्रुवतुस्तीव्रं जलं प्रस्रवणाविव ॥ 45.21 ॥

tau tu krūreṇa nihatau rakṣasā kāmarūpiṇā| asṛk susruvatustīvraṃ jalaṃ prasravaṇāviva || 45.21 ||

Struck down by that cruel, shape-shifting rakshasa, the two of them poured forth blood in a torrent, as swift as water gushing from a mountain-spring.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.45.22)

पपात प्रथमं रामो विद्धो मर्मसु मार्गणैः। क्रोधादिन्द्रजिता येन पुरा शक्रो विनिर्जितः ॥ 45.22 ॥

papāta prathamaṃ rāmo viddho marmasu mārgaṇaiḥ| krodhādindrajitā yena purā śakro vinirjitaḥ || 45.22 ||

Rama, pierced in his vital points, fell first to the ground — struck by the very arrows of Indrajit's wrath by which, long ago, even Indra was once vanquished.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.45.23)

रुक्मपुङ्खैः प्रसन्नाग्रै रजोगतिभिराशुगैः। नाराचैरर्धनाराचैर्भल्लैरञ्जलिकैरपि। विव्याध वत्सदन्तैश्च सिंहदंष्ट्रैः क्षुरैस्तथा ॥ 45.23 ॥

rukmapuṅkhaiḥ prasannāgrai rajogatibhirāśugaiḥ| nārācairardhanārācairbhallairañjalikairapi| vivyādha vatsadantaiśca siṃhadaṃṣṭraiḥ kṣuraistathā || 45.23 ||

With golden-feathered, keen-tipped, swift shafts — nāracas, ardha-nāracas, bhallas, añjalikas, vatsadanta, siṃhadaṃṣṭra and kṣura arrows — he pierced Rama through.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.45.24)

स वीरशयने शिश्येऽविज्यमाविध्य कार्मुकम्। भिन्नमुष्टिपरीणाहं त्रिनतं रुक्मभूषितम् ॥ 45.24 ॥

sa vīraśayane śiśye'vijyamāvidhya kārmukam| bhinnamuṣṭiparīṇāhaṃ trinataṃ rukmabhūṣitam || 45.24 ||

There, upon that hero's bed, he lay with his unstrung, gold-adorned bow — thrice-curved, thick as a clenched fist — still gripped in his hand.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.45.25)

बाणपातान्तरे रामं पतितं पुरुषर्षभम्। स तत्र लक्ष्मणो दृष्ट्वा निराशो जीविते अभवत् ॥ 45.25 ॥

bāṇapātāntare rāmaṃ patitaṃ puruṣarṣabham| sa tatra lakṣmaṇo dṛṣṭvā nirāśo jīvite abhavat || 45.25 ||

Seeing Rama, that bull among men, fallen amid that hail of arrows, Lakshmana lost all hope of his own life.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.45.26)

रामं कमलपत्राक्षं शरण्यं रणतोषिणम्। शुशोच भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा पतितं धरणीतले ॥ 45.26 ॥

rāmaṃ kamalapatrākṣaṃ śaraṇyaṃ raṇatoṣiṇam| śuśoca bhrātaraṃ dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ dharaṇītale || 45.26 ||

Seeing his lotus-eyed brother — that refuge of the afflicted, who delighted in righteous battle — lying upon the ground, he mourned bitterly.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.45.27)

हरयश्चापि तं दृष्ट्वा संतापं परमं गताः। शोकार्ताश्चुक्रुशुर्घोरमश्रुपूरितलोचनाः ॥ 45.27 ॥

harayaścāpi taṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃtāpaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ| śokārtāścukruśurghoramaśrupūritalocanāḥ || 45.27 ||

The monkeys too, seeing this, were overwhelmed with grief; stricken with sorrow, their eyes brimming with tears, they cried out in dreadful lamentation.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.45.28)

बद्धौ तु तौ वीरशये शयानौ ते वानराः सम्परिवार्य तस्थुः। समागता वायुसुतप्रमुख्या विषादमार्ताः परमं च जग्मुः ॥ 45.28 ॥

baddhau tu tau vīraśaye śayānau te vānarāḥ samparivārya tasthuḥ| samāgatā vāyusutapramukhyā viṣādamārtāḥ paramaṃ ca jagmuḥ || 45.28 ||

Around those two heroes, lying on their bed of arrows, the monkeys gathered and stood; assembling there with Hanuman foremost among them, they fell into the deepest anguish and grief.