Garuda Frees Rama and Lakshmana

Shloka 1 (yuddha.50.1)

अथोवाच महातेजा हरिराजो महाबलः। किमियं व्यथिता सेना मूढवातेव नौर्जले ॥ 50.1 ॥

athovāca mahātejā harirājo mahābalaḥ| kimiyaṃ vyathitā senā mūḍhavāteva naurjale || 50.1 ||

Then the greatly resplendent and mighty king of monkeys spoke: “Why is this army so distressed, like a ship driven off course by a wild wind upon the water?”

Shloka 2 (yuddha.50.2)

सुग्रीवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वालिपुत्रोऽङ्गदोऽब्रवीत्। न त्वं पश्यसि रामं च लक्ष्मणं च महारथम् ॥ 50.2 ॥

sugrīvasya vacaḥ śrutvā vāliputro'ṅgado'bravīt| na tvaṃ paśyasi rāmaṃ ca lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahāratham || 50.2 ||

Hearing Sugriva's words, Angada, the son of Vali, replied: “Do you not see Rama, and the great charioteer Lakshmana --

Shloka 3 (yuddha.50.3)

शरजालाचितौ वीरावुभौ दशरथात्मजौ। शरतल्पे महात्मानौ शयानौ रुधिरोक्षितौ ॥ 50.3 ॥

śarajālācitau vīrāvubhau daśarathātmajau| śaratalpe mahātmānau śayānau rudhirokṣitau || 50.3 ||

-- those two heroic sons of Dasharatha, riddled with a net of arrows, those great souls lying on a bed of shafts, drenched in blood?”

Shloka 4 (yuddha.50.4)

अथाब्रवीद् वानरेन्द्रः सुग्रीवः पुत्रमङ्गदम्। नानिमित्तमिदं मन्ये भवितव्यं भयेन तु ॥ 50.4 ॥

athābravīd vānarendraḥ sugrīvaḥ putramaṅgadam| nānimittamidaṃ manye bhavitavyaṃ bhayena tu || 50.4 ||

Then Sugriva, lord of monkeys, said to his son Angada: “I do not think this is without cause; there must be some danger at hand.”

Shloka 5 (yuddha.50.5)

विषण्णवदना ह्येते त्यक्तप्रहरणा दिशः। पलायन्तेऽत्र हरयस्त्रासादुत्फुल्ललोचनाः ॥ 50.5 ॥

viṣaṇṇavadanā hyete tyaktapraharaṇā diśaḥ| palāyante'tra harayastrāsādutphullalocanāḥ || 50.5 ||

“For see, these monkeys, their faces downcast, having flung down their weapons, their eyes wide with terror, are fleeing here in every direction.”

Shloka 6 (yuddha.50.6)

अन्योन्यस्य न लज्जन्ते न निरीक्षन्ति पृष्ठतः। विप्रकर्षन्ति चान्योन्यं पतितं लङ्घयन्ति च ॥ 50.6 ॥

anyonyasya na lajjante na nirīkṣanti pṛṣṭhataḥ| viprakarṣanti cānyonyaṃ patitaṃ laṅghayanti ca || 50.6 ||

“They feel no shame before one another, nor do they look behind them; they drag each other along, and leap over those who have fallen.”

Shloka 7 (yuddha.50.7)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरो गदापाणिर्विभीषणः। सुग्रीवं वर्धयामास राघवं च जयाशिषा ॥ 50.7 ॥

etasminnantare vīro gadāpāṇirvibhīṣaṇaḥ| sugrīvaṃ vardhayāmāsa rāghavaṃ ca jayāśiṣā || 50.7 ||

Meanwhile, the valiant Vibhishana, mace in hand, greeted Sugriva and Raghava with a blessing of victory.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.50.8)

विभीषणं च सुग्रीवो दृष्ट्वा वानरभीषणम्। ऋक्षराजं महात्मानं समीपस्थमुवाच ह ॥ 50.8 ॥

vibhīṣaṇaṃ ca sugrīvo dṛṣṭvā vānarabhīṣaṇam| ṛkṣarājaṃ mahātmānaṃ samīpasthamuvāca ha || 50.8 ||

But Sugriva, seeing Vibhishana -- who was striking terror among the monkeys -- spoke to the great-souled king of bears standing nearby:

Shloka 9 (yuddha.50.9)

विभीषणोऽयं सम्प्राप्तो यं दृष्ट्वा वानरर्षभाः। द्रवन्त्यायतसंत्रासा रावणात्मजशङ्कया ॥ 50.9 ॥

vibhīṣaṇo'yaṃ samprāpto yaṃ dṛṣṭvā vānararṣabhāḥ| dravantyāyatasaṃtrāsā rāvaṇātmajaśaṅkayā || 50.9 ||

“This is Vibhishana who has arrived; seeing him, our foremost monkeys, seized with a lasting terror, are fleeing, taking him for Ravana's son.”

Shloka 10 (yuddha.50.10)

शीघ्रमेतान् सुसंत्रस्तान् बहुधा विप्रधावितान्। पर्यवस्थापयाख्याहि विभीषणमुपस्थितम् ॥ 50.10 ॥

śīghrametān susaṃtrastān bahudhā vipradhāvitān| paryavasthāpayākhyāhi vibhīṣaṇamupasthitam || 50.10 ||

“Go quickly, rally these terror-stricken monkeys who have scattered in all directions, and tell them: it is Vibhishana who has come.”

Shloka 11 (yuddha.50.11)

सुग्रीवेणैवमुक्तस्तु जाम्बवानृक्षपार्थिवः। वानरान् सान्त्वयामास संनिवर्त्य प्रधावतः ॥ 50.11 ॥

sugrīveṇaivamuktastu jāmbavānṛkṣapārthivaḥ| vānarān sāntvayāmāsa saṃnivartya pradhāvataḥ || 50.11 ||

Thus addressed by Sugriva, Jambavan, king of the bears, brought back the fleeing monkeys and comforted them.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.50.12)

ते निवृत्ताः पुनः सर्वे वानरास्त्यक्तसाध्वसाः। ऋक्षराजवचः श्रुत्वा तं च दृष्ट्वा विभीषणम् ॥ 50.12 ॥

te nivṛttāḥ punaḥ sarve vānarāstyaktasādhvasāḥ| ṛkṣarājavacaḥ śrutvā taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā vibhīṣaṇam || 50.12 ||

All those monkeys, hearing the words of the king of bears and seeing Vibhishana himself, cast off their fear and turned back once more.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.50.13)

विभीषणस्तु रामस्य दृष्ट्वा गात्रं शरैश्चितम्। लक्ष्मणस्य तु धर्मात्मा बभूव व्यथितस्तदा ॥ 50.13 ॥

vibhīṣaṇastu rāmasya dṛṣṭvā gātraṃ śaraiścitam| lakṣmaṇasya tu dharmātmā babhūva vyathitastadā || 50.13 ||

But Vibhishana, that righteous soul, seeing Rama's body -- and Lakshmana's -- covered with arrows, was overcome with anguish.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.50.14)

जलक्लिन्नेन हस्तेन तयोर्नेत्रे विमृज्य च। शोकसम्पीडितमना रुरोद विललाप च ॥ 50.14 ॥

jalaklinnena hastena tayornetre vimṛjya ca| śokasampīḍitamanā ruroda vilalāpa ca || 50.14 ||

Wiping their eyes with a hand moistened in water, his heart crushed with grief, he wept and gave way to lament:

Shloka 15 (yuddha.50.15)

इमौ तौ सत्त्वसम्पन्नौ विक्रान्तौ प्रियसंयुगौ। इमामवस्थां गमितौ राक्षसैः कूटयोधिभिः ॥ 50.15 ॥

imau tau sattvasampannau vikrāntau priyasaṃyugau| imāmavasthāṃ gamitau rākṣasaiḥ kūṭayodhibhiḥ || 50.15 ||

“These two, so full of native strength, so valiant, ever eager for battle -- have been brought to this state by rakshasas, treacherous fighters --

Shloka 16 (yuddha.50.16)

भ्रातृपुत्रेण चैतेन दुष्पुत्रेण दुरात्मना। राक्षस्या जिह्मया बुद्ध्या वञ्चितावृजुविक्रमौ ॥ 50.16 ॥

bhrātṛputreṇa caitena duṣputreṇa durātmanā| rākṣasyā jihmayā buddhyā vañcitāvṛjuvikramau || 50.16 ||

-- by this very nephew of mine, that wicked, evil-souled son, who through his rakshasa cunning has deceived these two of straightforward valour.”

Shloka 17 (yuddha.50.17)

शरैरिमावलं विद्धौ रुधिरेण समुक्षितौ। वसुधायामिमौ सुप्तौ दृश्येते शल्यकाविव ॥ 50.17 ॥

śarairimāvalaṃ viddhau rudhireṇa samukṣitau| vasudhāyāmimau suptau dṛśyete śalyakāviva || 50.17 ||

“Pierced through and through with arrows, drenched in blood, lying on the bare earth, they appear like two porcupines.”

Shloka 18 (yuddha.50.18)

ययोर्वीर्यमुपाश्रित्य प्रतिष्ठा काङ्क्षिता मया। ताविमौ देहनाशाय प्रसुप्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ ॥ 50.18 ॥

yayorvīryamupāśritya pratiṣṭhā kāṅkṣitā mayā| tāvimau dehanāśāya prasuptau puruṣarṣabhau || 50.18 ||

“On whose valour, relying, I had hoped for my own restoration -- those very two foremost of men lie now, sunk in sleep unto the body's destruction.”

Shloka 19 (yuddha.50.19)

जीवन्नद्य विपन्नोऽस्मि नष्टराज्यमनोरथः। प्राप्तप्रतिज्ञश्च रिपुः सकामो रावणः कृतः ॥ 50.19 ॥

jīvannadya vipanno'smi naṣṭarājyamanorathaḥ| prāptapratijñaśca ripuḥ sakāmo rāvaṇaḥ kṛtaḥ || 50.19 ||

“Today, though living, I am as one destroyed, my hope of a kingdom lost; while Ravana my enemy has seen his vow fulfilled and his desire attained.”

Shloka 20 (yuddha.50.20)

एवं विलपमानं तं परिष्वज्य विभीषणम्। सुग्रीवः सत्त्वसम्पन्नो हरिराजोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ 50.20 ॥

evaṃ vilapamānaṃ taṃ pariṣvajya vibhīṣaṇam| sugrīvaḥ sattvasampanno harirājo'bravīdidam || 50.20 ||

Embracing Vibhishana, thus lamenting, Sugriva, that magnanimous king of monkeys, spoke these words:

Shloka 21 (yuddha.50.21)

राज्यं प्राप्स्यसि धर्मज्ञ लङ्कायां नेह संशयः। रावणः सह पुत्रेण स्वकामं नेह लप्स्यते ॥ 50.21 ॥

rājyaṃ prāpsyasi dharmajña laṅkāyāṃ neha saṃśayaḥ| rāvaṇaḥ saha putreṇa svakāmaṃ neha lapsyate || 50.21 ||

“You shall obtain the kingdom of Lanka, O knower of dharma -- there is no doubt in this. Ravana, together with his son, shall not attain his desire here.”

Shloka 22 (yuddha.50.22)

गरुडाधिष्ठितावेतावुभौ राघवलक्ष्मणौ। त्यक्त्वा मोहं वधिष्येते सगणं रावणं रणे ॥ 50.22 ॥

garuḍādhiṣṭhitāvetāvubhau rāghavalakṣmaṇau| tyaktvā mohaṃ vadhiṣyete sagaṇaṃ rāvaṇaṃ raṇe || 50.22 ||

“These two, Raghava and Lakshmana, watched over by Garuda, will cast off their swoon and slay Ravana together with his host in battle.”

Shloka 23 (yuddha.50.23)

तमेवं सान्त्वयित्वा तु समाश्वास्य तु राक्षसम्। सुषेणं श्वशुरं पार्श्वे सुग्रीवस्तमुवाच ह ॥ 50.23 ॥

tamevaṃ sāntvayitvā tu samāśvāsya tu rākṣasam| suṣeṇaṃ śvaśuraṃ pārśve sugrīvastamuvāca ha || 50.23 ||

Having thus comforted and reassured that rakshasa, Sugriva then turned to Sushena, his father-in-law, standing at his side, and said:

Shloka 24 (yuddha.50.24)

सह शूरैर्हरिगणैर्लब्धसंज्ञावरिंदमौ। गच्छ त्वं भ्रातरौ गृह्य किष्किन्धां रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 50.24 ॥

saha śūrairharigaṇairlabdhasaṃjñāvariṃdamau| gaccha tvaṃ bhrātarau gṛhya kiṣkindhāṃ rāmalakṣmaṇau || 50.24 ||

“Take these two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, tamers of foes, together with our valiant monkey troops, and go to Kishkindha once they have regained their senses.”

Shloka 25 (yuddha.50.25)

अहं तु रावणं हत्वा सपुत्रं सहबान्धवम्। मैथिलीमानयिष्यामि शक्रो नष्टामिव श्रियम् ॥ 50.25 ॥

ahaṃ tu rāvaṇaṃ hatvā saputraṃ sahabāndhavam| maithilīmānayiṣyāmi śakro naṣṭāmiva śriyam || 50.25 ||

“As for me, having slain Ravana with his sons and kinsmen, I shall bring back Maithili, as Indra once recovered his lost fortune.”

Shloka 26 (yuddha.50.26)

श्रुत्वैतद् वानरेन्द्रस्य सुषेणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। देवासुरं महायुद्धमनुभूतं पुरातनम् ॥ 50.26 ॥

śrutvaitad vānarendrasya suṣeṇo vākyamabravīt| devāsuraṃ mahāyuddhamanubhūtaṃ purātanam || 50.26 ||

Hearing this speech of the lord of monkeys, Sushena replied: “I myself witnessed, long ago, the great war between the gods and demons.”

Shloka 27 (yuddha.50.27)

तदा स्म दानवा देवान् शरसंस्पर्शकोविदान्। निजघ्नुः शस्त्रविदुषश्छादयन्तो मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ 50.27 ॥

tadā sma dānavā devān śarasaṃsparśakovidān| nijaghnuḥ śastraviduṣaśchādayanto muhurmuhuḥ || 50.27 ||

“At that time the danavas, again and again veiling themselves, struck down the gods -- skilled as those gods were in the touch of arrows and versed in weaponry.”

Shloka 28 (yuddha.50.28)

तानार्तान् नष्टसंज्ञांश्च गतासूंश्च बृहस्पतिः। विद्याभिर्मन्त्रयुक्ताभिरोषधीभिश्चिकित्सति ॥ 50.28 ॥

tānārtān naṣṭasaṃjñāṃśca gatāsūṃśca bṛhaspatiḥ| vidyābhirmantrayuktābhiroṣadhībhiścikitsati || 50.28 ||

“Those gods, tormented, senseless, and near death, Brihaspati treated with spells joined to sacred mantras, and with herbs.”

Shloka 29 (yuddha.50.29)

तान्यौषधान्यानयितुं क्षीरोदं यान्तु सागरम्। जवेन वानराः शीघ्रं सम्पातिपनसादयः ॥ 50.29 ॥

tānyauṣadhānyānayituṃ kṣīrodaṃ yāntu sāgaram| javena vānarāḥ śīghraṃ sampātipanasādayaḥ || 50.29 ||

“To fetch those very herbs, let the monkeys -- Sampati, Panasa, and the rest -- go swiftly, with all speed, to the Ocean of Milk.”

Shloka 30 (yuddha.50.30)

हरयस्तु विजानन्ति पार्वती ते महौषधी। संजीवकरणीं दिव्यां विशल्यां देवनिर्मिताम् ॥ 50.30 ॥

harayastu vijānanti pārvatī te mahauṣadhī| saṃjīvakaraṇīṃ divyāṃ viśalyāṃ devanirmitām || 50.30 ||

“For the monkeys well know that mountain-born, divine, great herb -- Sanjivakarani, and Vishalya, fashioned by the gods.”

Shloka 31 (yuddha.50.31)

चन्द्रश्च नाम द्रोणश्च क्षीरोदे सागरोत्तमे। अमृतं यत्र मथितं तत्र ते परमौषधी ॥ 50.31 ॥

candraśca nāma droṇaśca kṣīrode sāgarottame| amṛtaṃ yatra mathitaṃ tatra te paramauṣadhī || 50.31 ||

“In the Ocean of Milk, that most excellent of oceans, are the two peaks named Chandra and Drona -- there, where the ambrosia was once churned, those supreme herbs are found.”

Shloka 32 (yuddha.50.32)

तौ तत्र विहितौ देवैः पर्वतौ तौ महोदधौ। अयं वायुसुतो राजन् हनूमांस्तत्र गच्छतु ॥ 50.32 ॥

tau tatra vihitau devaiḥ parvatau tau mahodadhau| ayaṃ vāyusuto rājan hanūmāṃstatra gacchatu || 50.32 ||

“Those two mountains were placed there by the gods, in that great ocean. O king, let this son of the Wind, Hanuman, go there.”

Shloka 33 (yuddha.50.33)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वायुर्मेघाश्चापि सविद्युतः। पर्यस्य सागरे तोयं कम्पयन्निव पर्वतान् ॥ 50.33 ॥

etasminnantare vāyurmeghāścāpi savidyutaḥ| paryasya sāgare toyaṃ kampayanniva parvatān || 50.33 ||

In that very moment, a mighty wind arose, and clouds too, laced with lightning, churned the waters of the ocean until the mountains seemed to tremble --

Shloka 34 (yuddha.50.34)

महता पक्षवातेन सर्वद्वीपमहाद्रुमाः। निपेतुर्भग्नविटपाः सलिले लवणाम्भसि ॥ 50.34 ॥

mahatā pakṣavātena sarvadvīpamahādrumāḥ| nipeturbhagnaviṭapāḥ salile lavaṇāmbhasi || 50.34 ||

-- and by the mighty gust of his wings, the great trees of every island, their boughs shattered, fell into the salt waters of the sea.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.50.35)

अभवन् पन्नगास्त्रस्ता भोगिनस्तत्रवासिनः। शीघ्रं सर्वाणि यादांसि जग्मुश्च लवणार्णवम् ॥ 50.35 ॥

abhavan pannagāstrastā bhoginastatravāsinaḥ| śīghraṃ sarvāṇi yādāṃsi jagmuśca lavaṇārṇavam || 50.35 ||

The serpents dwelling there were struck with terror, and all the creatures of the sea swiftly plunged deeper into the salt ocean.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.50.36)

ततो मुहूर्ताद् गरुडं वैनतेयं महाबलम्। वानरा ददृशुः सर्वे ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् ॥ 50.36 ॥

tato muhūrtād garuḍaṃ vainateyaṃ mahābalam| vānarā dadṛśuḥ sarve jvalantamiva pāvakam || 50.36 ||

Then, in an instant, all the monkeys beheld the mighty Garuda, son of Vinata, blazing like fire itself.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.50.37)

तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य नागास्ते विप्रदुद्रुवुः। यैस्तु तौ पुरुषौ बद्धौ शरभूतैर्महाबलैः ॥ 50.37 ॥

tamāgatamabhiprekṣya nāgāste vipradudruvuḥ| yaistu tau puruṣau baddhau śarabhūtairmahābalaiḥ || 50.37 ||

Seeing him arrive, those mighty serpents, who in the form of arrows had bound the two warriors, fled away in terror.

Shloka 38 (yuddha.50.38)

ततः सुपर्णः काकुत्स्थौ स्पृष्ट्वा प्रत्यभिनन्द्य च। विममर्श च पाणिभ्यां मुखे चन्द्रसमप्रभे ॥ 50.38 ॥

tataḥ suparṇaḥ kākutsthau spṛṣṭvā pratyabhinandya ca| vimamarśa ca pāṇibhyāṃ mukhe candrasamaprabhe || 50.38 ||

Then Garuda, touching the two Kakutsthas and greeting them warmly, stroked with his two hands their faces, radiant as the moon.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.50.39)

वैनतेयेन संस्पृष्टास्तयोः संरुरुहुर्व्रणाः। सुवर्णे च तनू स्निग्धे तयोराशु बभूवतुः ॥ 50.39 ॥

vainateyena saṃspṛṣṭāstayoḥ saṃruruhurvraṇāḥ| suvarṇe ca tanū snigdhe tayorāśu babhūvatuḥ || 50.39 ||

Touched by the son of Vinata, their wounds closed up at once; their bodies swiftly became golden and lustrous.

Shloka 40 (yuddha.50.40)

तेजो वीर्यं बलं चौज उत्साहश्च महागुणाः। प्रदर्शनं च बुद्धिश्च स्मृतिश्च द्विगुणा तयोः ॥ 50.40 ॥

tejo vīryaṃ balaṃ cauja utsāhaśca mahāguṇāḥ| pradarśanaṃ ca buddhiśca smṛtiśca dviguṇā tayoḥ || 50.40 ||

Their splendour, valour, strength, vigour, and zeal -- those great qualities -- and their perception, intellect, and memory too, were all doubled.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.50.41)

तावुत्थाप्य महातेजा गरुडो वासवोपमौ। उभौ च सस्वजे हृष्टो रामश्चैनमुवाच ह ॥ 50.41 ॥

tāvutthāpya mahātejā garuḍo vāsavopamau| ubhau ca sasvaje hṛṣṭo rāmaścainamuvāca ha || 50.41 ||

The greatly resplendent Garuda raised up those two, who now resembled Indra, and embraced them both with joy; then Rama spoke to him:

Shloka 42 (yuddha.50.42)

भवत्प्रसादाद् व्यसनं रावणिप्रभवं महत्। उपायेन व्यतिक्रान्तौ शीघ्रं च बलिनौ कृतौ ॥ 50.42 ॥

bhavatprasādād vyasanaṃ rāvaṇiprabhavaṃ mahat| upāyena vyatikrāntau śīghraṃ ca balinau kṛtau || 50.42 ||

“By your grace, we have overcome that great calamity brought about by Ravani, and by this timely remedy have swiftly been made strong once more.”

Shloka 43 (yuddha.50.43)

यथा तातं दशरथं यथाजं च पितामहम्। तथा भवन्तमासाद्य हृदयं मे प्रसीदति ॥ 50.43 ॥

yathā tātaṃ daśarathaṃ yathājaṃ ca pitāmaham| tathā bhavantamāsādya hṛdayaṃ me prasīdati || 50.43 ||

“As I would feel on meeting my father Dasharatha, or my grandfather Aja, so my heart is gladdened in meeting you.”

Shloka 44 (yuddha.50.44)

को भवान् रूपसम्पन्नो दिव्यस्रगनुलेपनः। वसानो विरजे वस्त्रे दिव्याभरणभूषितः ॥ 50.44 ॥

ko bhavān rūpasampanno divyasraganulepanaḥ| vasāno viraje vastre divyābharaṇabhūṣitaḥ || 50.44 ||

“Who are you, so richly endowed with beauty, wearing celestial garlands and sandal-paste, clad in spotless robes, adorned with divine ornaments?”

Shloka 45 (yuddha.50.45)

तमुवाच महातेजा वैनतेयो महाबलः। पतत्त्रिराजः प्रीतात्मा हर्षपर्याकुलेक्षणम् ॥ 50.45 ॥

tamuvāca mahātejā vainateyo mahābalaḥ| patattrirājaḥ prītātmā harṣaparyākulekṣaṇam || 50.45 ||

To him -- his eyes brimming with joy -- the greatly resplendent and mighty Garuda, king of birds, his heart full of affection, replied:

Shloka 46 (yuddha.50.46)

अहं सखा ते काकुत्स्थ प्रियः प्राणो बहिश्चरः। गरुत्मानिह सम्प्राप्तो युवयोः साह्यकारणात् ॥ 50.46 ॥

ahaṃ sakhā te kākutstha priyaḥ prāṇo bahiścaraḥ| garutmāniha samprāpto yuvayoḥ sāhyakāraṇāt || 50.46 ||

“I am your friend, O Kakutstha -- your own dear life-breath, moving outside your body. I, Garutman, have come here for the sake of helping you two.”

Shloka 47 (yuddha.50.47)

असुरा वा महावीर्या दानवा वा महाबलाः। सुराश्चापि सगन्धर्वाः पुरस्कृत्य शतक्रतुम् ॥ 50.47 ॥

asurā vā mahāvīryā dānavā vā mahābalāḥ| surāścāpi sagandharvāḥ puraskṛtya śatakratum || 50.47 ||

“Neither the asuras of great might, nor the danavas of great strength, nor even the gods together with the gandharvas, with Indra himself at their head --

Shloka 48 (yuddha.50.48)

नेमं मोक्षयितुं शक्ताः शरबन्धं सुदारुणम्। मायाबलादिन्द्रजिता निर्मितं क्रूरकर्मणा ॥ 50.48 ॥

nemaṃ mokṣayituṃ śaktāḥ śarabandhaṃ sudāruṇam| māyābalādindrajitā nirmitaṃ krūrakarmaṇā || 50.48 ||

-- none could have freed you from this most terrible bondage of arrows, wrought by the power of illusion of the cruel-acting Indrajit.”

Shloka 49 (yuddha.50.49)

एते नागाः काद्रवेयास्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रा विषोल्बणाः। रक्षोमायाप्रभावेण शरभूतास्त्वदाश्रयाः ॥ 50.49 ॥

ete nāgāḥ kādraveyāstīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrā viṣolbaṇāḥ| rakṣomāyāprabhāveṇa śarabhūtāstvadāśrayāḥ || 50.49 ||

“These were serpents, sons of Kadru, sharp-fanged and rife with venom, who by the power of the demon's magic took the form of arrows and fastened upon you.”

Shloka 50 (yuddha.50.50)

सभाग्यश्चासि धर्मज्ञ राम सत्यपराक्रम। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा समरे रिपुघातिना ॥ 50.50 ॥

sabhāgyaścāsi dharmajña rāma satyaparākrama| lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā samare ripughātinā || 50.50 ||

“You are truly fortunate, O Rama, knower of dharma and true in valour, together with your brother Lakshmana, slayer of foes in battle.”

Shloka 51 (yuddha.50.51)

इमं श्रुत्वा तु वृत्तान्तं त्वरमाणोऽहमागतः। सहसैवावयोः स्नेहात् सखित्वमनुपालयन् ॥ 50.51 ॥

imaṃ śrutvā tu vṛttāntaṃ tvaramāṇo'hamāgataḥ| sahasaivāvayoḥ snehāt sakhitvamanupālayan || 50.51 ||

“Hearing of this happening, I came here in haste at once, upholding out of love the friendship between us.”

Shloka 52 (yuddha.50.52)

मोक्षितौ च महाघोरादस्मात् सायकबन्धनात्। अप्रमादश्च कर्तव्यो युवाभ्यां नित्यमेव हि ॥ 50.52 ॥

mokṣitau ca mahāghorādasmāt sāyakabandhanāt| apramādaśca kartavyo yuvābhyāṃ nityameva hi || 50.52 ||

“You two are now freed from this most terrible bondage of arrows; yet you must both remain ever vigilant, without fail.”

Shloka 53 (yuddha.50.53)

प्रकृत्या राक्षसाः सर्वे संग्रामे कूटयोधिनः। शूराणां शुद्धभावानां भवतामार्जवं बलम् ॥ 50.53 ॥

prakṛtyā rākṣasāḥ sarve saṃgrāme kūṭayodhinaḥ| śūrāṇāṃ śuddhabhāvānāṃ bhavatāmārjavaṃ balam || 50.53 ||

“By nature, all rakshasas fight treacherously in war; for heroes of pure heart such as you, straightforwardness is your strength.”

Shloka 54 (yuddha.50.54)

तन्न विश्वसनीयं वो राक्षसानां रणाजिरे। एतेनैवोपमानेन नित्यं जिह्मा हि राक्षसाः ॥ 50.54 ॥

tanna viśvasanīyaṃ vo rākṣasānāṃ raṇājire| etenaivopamānena nityaṃ jihmā hi rākṣasāḥ || 50.54 ||

“Therefore the rakshasas are not to be trusted by you upon the field of battle; by this very example you may know that rakshasas are ever crooked.”

Shloka 55 (yuddha.50.55)

एवमुक्त्वा तदा रामं सुपर्णः स महाबलः। परिष्वज्य च सुस्निग्धमाप्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे ॥ 50.55 ॥

evamuktvā tadā rāmaṃ suparṇaḥ sa mahābalaḥ| pariṣvajya ca susnigdhamāpraṣṭumupacakrame || 50.55 ||

Having spoken thus to Rama, that mighty Garuda embraced him with deep affection, and began to take his leave:

Shloka 56 (yuddha.50.56)

सखे राघव धर्मज्ञ रिपूणामपि वत्सल। अभ्यनुज्ञातुमिच्छामि गमिष्यामि यथासुखम् ॥ 50.56 ॥

sakhe rāghava dharmajña ripūṇāmapi vatsala| abhyanujñātumicchāmi gamiṣyāmi yathāsukham || 50.56 ||

“O friend Raghava, knower of dharma, gentle even toward your foes -- I wish now to take your leave; I shall go on my way in peace.”

Shloka 57 (yuddha.50.57)

न च कौतूहलं कार्यं सखित्वं प्रति राघव। कृतकर्मा रणे वीर सखित्वं प्रतिवेत्स्यसि ॥ 50.57 ॥

na ca kautūhalaṃ kāryaṃ sakhitvaṃ prati rāghava| kṛtakarmā raṇe vīra sakhitvaṃ prativetsyasi || 50.57 ||

“And do not, O Raghava, be curious about the nature of our friendship; once your task in battle is accomplished, O hero, you shall come to know it.”

Shloka 58 (yuddha.50.58)

बालवृद्धावशेषां तु लङ्कां कृत्वा शरोर्मिभिः। रावणं तु रिपुं हत्वा सीतां त्वमुपलप्स्यसे ॥ 50.58 ॥

bālavṛddhāvaśeṣāṃ tu laṅkāṃ kṛtvā śarormibhiḥ| rāvaṇaṃ tu ripuṃ hatvā sītāṃ tvamupalapsyase || 50.58 ||

“When, with waves of your arrows, you have left Lanka bereft but for its children and its old, and have slain your enemy Ravana, you shall then recover Sita.”

Shloka 59 (yuddha.50.59)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं सुपर्णः शीघ्रविक्रमः। रामं च नीरुजं कृत्वा मध्ये तेषां वनौकसाम् ॥ 50.59 ॥

ityevamuktvā vacanaṃ suparṇaḥ śīghravikramaḥ| rāmaṃ ca nīrujaṃ kṛtvā madhye teṣāṃ vanaukasām || 50.59 ||

Having spoken these words, Garuda, swift in his flight, having healed Rama of all injury there in the midst of the forest-dwellers --

Shloka 60 (yuddha.50.60)

प्रदक्षिणं ततः कृत्वा परिष्वज्य च वीर्यवान्। जगामाकाशमाविश्य सुपर्णः पवनो यथा ॥ 50.60 ॥

pradakṣiṇaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā pariṣvajya ca vīryavān| jagāmākāśamāviśya suparṇaḥ pavano yathā || 50.60 ||

-- then, that mighty one, having circled him in reverence and embraced him once more, rose into the sky and departed, swift as the wind.

Shloka 61 (yuddha.50.61)

नीरुजौ राघवौ दृष्ट्वा ततो वानरयूथपाः। सिंहनादं तदा नेदुर्लाङ्गूलं दुधुवुश्च ते ॥ 50.61 ॥

nīrujau rāghavau dṛṣṭvā tato vānarayūthapāḥ| siṃhanādaṃ tadā nedurlāṅgūlaṃ dudhuvuśca te || 50.61 ||

Then, seeing the two Raghavas free of all hurt, the leaders of the monkey troops roared aloud like lions and lashed their tails.

Shloka 62 (yuddha.50.62)

ततो भेरीः समाजघ्नुर्मृदङ्गांश्चाप्यवादयन्। दध्मुः शङ्खान् सम्प्रहृष्टाः क्ष्वेलन्त्यपि यथापुरम् ॥ 50.62 ॥

tato bherīḥ samājaghnurmṛdaṅgāṃścāpyavādayan| dadhmuḥ śaṅkhān samprahṛṣṭāḥ kṣvelantyapi yathāpuram || 50.62 ||

Then they struck up their kettledrums, sounded the mridangas too, blew their conches in delight, and shouted their war-cries as before.

Shloka 63 (yuddha.50.63)

अपरे स्फोट्य विक्रान्ता वानरा नगयोधिनः। द्रुमानुत्पाट्य विविधांस्तस्थुः शतसहस्रशः ॥ 50.63 ॥

apare sphoṭya vikrāntā vānarā nagayodhinaḥ| drumānutpāṭya vividhāṃstasthuḥ śatasahasraśaḥ || 50.63 ||

Other valiant monkeys, warriors who fight with trees, cracked their arms in challenge, tore up trees of every kind, and stood there by the hundred thousand.

Shloka 64 (yuddha.50.64)

विसृजन्तो महानादांस्त्रासयन्तो निशाचरान्। लङ्काद्वाराण्युपाजग्मुर्योद्धुकामाः प्लवंगमाः ॥ 50.64 ॥

visṛjanto mahānādāṃstrāsayanto niśācarān| laṅkādvārāṇyupājagmuryoddhukāmāḥ plavaṃgamāḥ || 50.64 ||

Letting out great war-cries, striking terror into the night-roamers, the monkeys, eager for battle, advanced upon the gates of Lanka.

Shloka 65 (yuddha.50.65)

तेषां सुभीमस्तुमुलो निनादो। बभूव शाखामृगयूथपानाम्। क्षये निदाघस्य यथा घनानां। नादः सुभीमो नदतां निशीथे ॥ 50.65 ॥

teṣāṃ subhīmastumulo ninādo| babhūva śākhāmṛgayūthapānām| kṣaye nidāghasya yathā ghanānāṃ| nādaḥ subhīmo nadatāṃ niśīthe || 50.65 ||

The dreadful, tumultuous roar of those leaders of the tree-dwelling host arose, like the terrifying roar of thunderclouds bellowing at midnight, at the ending of summer.