Ravana Sends Dhumraksha to Battle

Shloka 1 (yuddha.51.1)

तेषां तु तुमुलं शब्दं वानराणां महौजसाम्। नर्दतां राक्षसैः सार्धं तदा शुश्राव रावणः ॥ 51.1 ॥

teṣāṃ tu tumulaṃ śabdaṃ vānarāṇāṃ mahaujasām| nardatāṃ rākṣasaiḥ sārdhaṃ tadā śuśrāva rāvaṇaḥ || 51.1 ||

Then Ravana heard that tumultuous uproar of the mighty monkeys, roaring together with his demons.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.51.2)

स्निग्धगम्भीरनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा तं निनदं भृशम्। सचिवानां ततस्तेषां मध्ये वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 51.2 ॥

snigdhagambhīranirghoṣaṃ śrutvā taṃ ninadaṃ bhṛśam| sacivānāṃ tatasteṣāṃ madhye vacanamabravīt || 51.2 ||

Hearing that deep, resonant, and mighty roar, Ravana then spoke these words amid his ministers.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.51.3)

यथासौ सम्प्रहृष्टानां वानराणामुपस्थितः। बहूनां सुमहान् नादो मेघानामिव गर्जताम् ॥ 51.3 ॥

yathāsau samprahṛṣṭānāṃ vānarāṇāmupasthitaḥ| bahūnāṃ sumahān nādo meghānāmiva garjatām || 51.3 ||

"Just as this mighty roar has arisen from those exultant monkeys, thundering like banks of clouds—

Shloka 4 (yuddha.51.4)

सुव्यक्तं महती प्रीतिरेतेषां नात्र संशयः। तथाहि विपुलैर्नादैश्चुक्षुभे लवणार्णवः ॥ 51.4 ॥

suvyaktaṃ mahatī prītireteṣāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ| tathāhi vipulairnādaiścukṣubhe lavaṇārṇavaḥ || 51.4 ||

it is quite clear their joy is immense, beyond doubt; indeed their vast clamor has set even the salt ocean churning.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.51.5)

तौ तु बद्धौ शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। अयं च सुमहान् नादः शङ्कां जनयतीव मे ॥ 51.5 ॥

tau tu baddhau śaraistīkṣṇairbhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau| ayaṃ ca sumahān nādaḥ śaṅkāṃ janayatīva me || 51.5 ||

"Those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, lay bound by sharp arrows — yet this tremendous sound now stirs a misgiving in me."

Shloka 6 (yuddha.51.6)

एवं च वचनं चोक्त्वा मन्त्रिणो राक्षसेश्वरः। उवाच नैर्ऋतांस्तत्र समीपपरिवर्तिनः ॥ 51.6 ॥

evaṃ ca vacanaṃ coktvā mantriṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ| uvāca nairṛtāṃstatra samīpaparivartinaḥ || 51.6 ||

Having said this to his ministers, the lord of the rakshasas then addressed the demons standing close by.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.51.7)

ज्ञायतां तूर्णमेतेषां सर्वेषां च वनौकसाम्। शोककाले समुत्पन्ने हर्षकारणमुत्थितम् ॥ 51.7 ॥

jñāyatāṃ tūrṇameteṣāṃ sarveṣāṃ ca vanaukasām| śokakāle samutpanne harṣakāraṇamutthitam || 51.7 ||

"Find out at once what cause has stirred such joy among all these forest-dwelling monkeys, at a time that should be one of grief."

Shloka 8 (yuddha.51.8)

तथोक्तास्ते सुसम्भ्रान्ताः प्राकारमधिरुह्य च। ददृशुः पालितां सेनां सुग्रीवेण महात्मना ॥ 51.8 ॥

tathoktāste susambhrāntāḥ prākāramadhiruhya ca| dadṛśuḥ pālitāṃ senāṃ sugrīveṇa mahātmanā || 51.8 ||

So commanded, they climbed the ramparts in great agitation and beheld the army guarded by the great-souled Sugriva,

Shloka 9 (yuddha.51.9)

तौ च मुक्तौ सुघोरेण शरबन्धेन राघवौ। समुत्थितौ महाभागौ विषेदुः सर्वराक्षसाः ॥ 51.9 ॥

tau ca muktau sughoreṇa śarabandhena rāghavau| samutthitau mahābhāgau viṣeduḥ sarvarākṣasāḥ || 51.9 ||

and those two illustrious sons of Raghu, freed from that most terrible shackle of arrows, risen up together — seeing this, every one of the rakshasas was overcome with dismay.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.51.10)

संत्रस्तहृदयाः सर्वे प्राकारादवरुह्य ते। विवर्णा राक्षसा घोरा राक्षसेन्द्रमुपस्थिताः ॥ 51.10 ॥

saṃtrastahṛdayāḥ sarve prākārādavaruhya te| vivarṇā rākṣasā ghorā rākṣasendramupasthitāḥ || 51.10 ||

With hearts trembling in terror and faces turned pale, all those fearsome demons climbed down from the rampart and came before the lord of the rakshasas.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.51.11)

तदप्रियं दीनमुखा रावणस्य च राक्षसाः। कृत्स्नं निवेदयामासुर्यथावद् वाक्यकोविदाः ॥ 51.11 ॥

tadapriyaṃ dīnamukhā rāvaṇasya ca rākṣasāḥ| kṛtsnaṃ nivedayāmāsuryathāvad vākyakovidāḥ || 51.11 ||

With their faces downcast, those rakshasas skilled in speech faithfully reported to Ravana the whole of that unwelcome news:

Shloka 12 (yuddha.51.12)

यौ ताविन्द्रजिता युद्धे भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। निबद्धौ शरबन्धेन निष्प्रकम्पभुजौ कृतौ ॥ 51.12 ॥

yau tāvindrajitā yuddhe bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau| nibaddhau śarabandhena niṣprakampabhujau kṛtau || 51.12 ||

"Those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, whom Indrajit had bound in battle with his shafts, their arms rendered still—

Shloka 13 (yuddha.51.13)

विमुक्तौ शरबन्धेन दृश्येते तौ रणाजिरे। पाशानिव गजौ छित्त्वा गजेन्द्रसमविक्रमौ ॥ 51.13 ॥

vimuktau śarabandhena dṛśyete tau raṇājire| pāśāniva gajau chittvā gajendrasamavikramau || 51.13 ||

freed now from that shackle of arrows, they stand upon the field of battle like two mighty elephants that have snapped their fetters, matching the foremost tuskers in strength."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.51.14)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां राक्षसेन्द्रो महाबलः। चिन्ताशोकसमाक्रान्तो विवर्णवदनोऽभवत् ॥ 51.14 ॥

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ teṣāṃ rākṣasendro mahābalaḥ| cintāśokasamākrānto vivarṇavadano'bhavat || 51.14 ||

Hearing their words, the mighty lord of the rakshasas, overwhelmed with anxiety and grief, turned pale.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.51.15)

घोरैर्दत्तवरैर्बद्धौ शरैराशीविषोपमैः। अमोघैः सूर्यसंकाशैः प्रमथ्येन्द्रजिता युधि ॥ 51.15 ॥

ghorairdattavarairbaddhau śarairāśīviṣopamaiḥ| amoghaiḥ sūryasaṃkāśaiḥ pramathyendrajitā yudhi || 51.15 ||

"If, though overpowered and bound in battle by Indrajit with those terrible, boon-granted arrows — resembling venomous serpents, unfailing, radiant as the sun —

Shloka 16 (yuddha.51.16)

तदस्त्रबन्धमासाद्य यदि मुक्तौ रिपू मम। संशयस्थमिदं सर्वमनुपश्याम्यहं बलम् ॥ 51.16 ॥

tadastrabandhamāsādya yadi muktau ripū mama| saṃśayasthamidaṃ sarvamanupaśyāmyahaṃ balam || 51.16 ||

my two enemies have nonetheless broken free of that weapon’s bondage, then I see this entire army of mine standing in peril."

Shloka 17 (yuddha.51.17)

निष्फलाः खलु संवृत्ताः शराः पावकतेजसः। आदत्तं यैस्तु संग्रामे रिपूणां जीवितं मम ॥ 51.17 ॥

niṣphalāḥ khalu saṃvṛttāḥ śarāḥ pāvakatejasaḥ| ādattaṃ yaistu saṃgrāme ripūṇāṃ jīvitaṃ mama || 51.17 ||

"Those very arrows, blazing like fire, which in battle had claimed the lives of my enemies — they have indeed now proved fruitless!"

Shloka 18 (yuddha.51.18)

एवमुक्त्वा तु संक्रुद्धो निःश्वसन्नुरगो यथा। अब्रवीद् रक्षसां मध्ये धूम्राक्षं नाम राक्षसम् ॥ 51.18 ॥

evamuktvā tu saṃkruddho niḥśvasannurago yathā| abravīd rakṣasāṃ madhye dhūmrākṣaṃ nāma rākṣasam || 51.18 ||

Having spoken thus, enraged and hissing like a serpent, he addressed, among the assembled rakshasas, a demon named Dhumraksha:

Shloka 19 (yuddha.51.19)

बलेन महता युक्तो रक्षसां भीमविक्रम। त्वं वधायाशु निर्याहि रामस्य सह वानरैः ॥ 51.19 ॥

balena mahatā yukto rakṣasāṃ bhīmavikrama| tvaṃ vadhāyāśu niryāhi rāmasya saha vānaraiḥ || 51.19 ||

"O you of terrible prowess, joined with a mighty force of rakshasas, go forth at once to slay Rama, together with his monkeys."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.51.20)

एवमुक्तस्तु धूम्राक्षो राक्षसेन्द्रेण धीमता। परिक्रम्य ततः शीघ्रं निर्जगाम नृपालयात् ॥ 51.20 ॥

evamuktastu dhūmrākṣo rākṣasendreṇa dhīmatā| parikramya tataḥ śīghraṃ nirjagāma nṛpālayāt || 51.20 ||

So commanded by the wise lord of the rakshasas, Dhumraksha circled him in salutation and then swiftly set out from the royal palace.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.51.21)

अभिनिष्क्रम्य तद् द्वारं बलाध्यक्षमुवाच ह। त्वरयस्व बलं शीघ्रं किं चिरेण युयुत्सतः ॥ 51.21 ॥

abhiniṣkramya tad dvāraṃ balādhyakṣamuvāca ha| tvarayasva balaṃ śīghraṃ kiṃ cireṇa yuyutsataḥ || 51.21 ||

Coming out through that gate, he said to the general of the army, "Hasten the troops at once — why this delay, when we are eager for battle?"

Shloka 22 (yuddha.51.22)

धूम्राक्षवचनं श्रुत्वा बलाध्यक्षो बलानुगः। बलमुद्योजयामास रावणस्याज्ञया भृशम् ॥ 51.22 ॥

dhūmrākṣavacanaṃ śrutvā balādhyakṣo balānugaḥ| balamudyojayāmāsa rāvaṇasyājñayā bhṛśam || 51.22 ||

Hearing Dhumraksha’s words, the commander, together with the troops under him, swiftly readied the army at Ravana’s bidding.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.51.23)

ते बद्धघण्टा बलिनो घोररूपा निशाचराः। विनद्यमानाः संहृष्टा धूम्राक्षं पर्यवारयन् ॥ 51.23 ॥

te baddhaghaṇṭā balino ghorarūpā niśācarāḥ| vinadyamānāḥ saṃhṛṣṭā dhūmrākṣaṃ paryavārayan || 51.23 ||

Those powerful, terrible-formed demons, bells bound about them, roaring aloud in joy, gathered close around Dhumraksha.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.51.24)

विविधायुधहस्ताश्च शूलमुद्गरपाणयः। गदाभिः पट्टिशैर्दण्डैरायसैर्मुसलैरपि ॥ 51.24 ॥

vividhāyudhahastāśca śūlamuda‍ga‍rapāṇayaḥ| gadābhiḥ paṭṭiśairdaṇḍairāyasairmusalairapi || 51.24 ||

Armed with every kind of weapon, wielding spears and hammers, equipped with maces, pikes, iron staves, and bludgeons,

Shloka 25 (yuddha.51.25)

परिघैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च भल्लैः पाशैः परश्वधैः। निर्ययू राक्षसा घोरा नर्दन्तो जलदा यथा ॥ 51.25 ॥

parighairbhindipālaiśca bhallaiḥ pāśaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ| niryayū rākṣasā ghorā nardanto jaladā yathā || 51.25 ||

and with clubs, javelins, missiles, nooses, and axes, those terrible rakshasas marched forth, roaring like thunderclouds.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.51.26)

रथैः कवचिनस्त्वन्ये ध्वजैश्च समलंकृतैः। सुवर्णजालविहितैः खरैश्च विविधाननैः ॥ 51.26 ॥

rathaiḥ kavacinastvanye dhvajaiśca samalaṃkṛtaiḥ| suvarṇajālavihitaiḥ kharaiśca vividhānanaiḥ || 51.26 ||

Others, clad in mail, riding chariots adorned with banners and nets of gold, drawn by many-headed mules,

Shloka 27 (yuddha.51.27)

हयैः परमशीघ्रैश्च गजैश्चैव मदोत्कटैः। निर्ययुर्नैर्ऋतव्याघ्रा व्याघ्रा इव दुरासदाः ॥ 51.27 ॥

hayaiḥ paramaśīghraiśca gajaiścaiva madotkaṭaiḥ| niryayurnairṛtavyāghrā vyāghrā iva durāsadāḥ || 51.27 ||

or mounted on swiftest horses or rutting elephants — those tiger-like demons issued forth, as unassailable as very tigers.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.51.28)

वृकसिंहमुखैर्युक्तं खरैः कनकभूषितैः। आरुरोह रथं दिव्यं धूम्राक्षः खरनिःस्वनः ॥ 51.28 ॥

vṛkasiṃhamukhairyuktaṃ kharaiḥ kanakabhūṣitaiḥ| āruroha rathaṃ divyaṃ dhūmrākṣaḥ kharaniḥsvanaḥ || 51.28 ||

Dhumraksha, his voice harsh as a mule’s bray, mounted that resplendent chariot, yoked with gold-adorned mules whose faces resembled wolves and lions.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.51.29)

स निर्यातो महावीर्यो धूम्राक्षो राक्षसैर्वृतः। हसन् वै पश्चिमद्वाराद्धनूमान् यत्र तिष्ठति ॥ 51.29 ॥

sa niryāto mahāvīryo dhūmrākṣo rākṣasairvṛtaḥ| hasan vai paścimadvārāddhanūmān yatra tiṣṭhati || 51.29 ||

Thus that Dhumraksha of mighty valor, surrounded by rakshasas, set out laughing through the western gate, where Hanuman stood on guard.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.51.30)

रथप्रवरमास्थाय खरयुक्तं खरस्वनम्। प्रयान्तं तु महाघोरं राक्षसं भीमदर्शनम् ॥ 51.30 ॥

rathapravaramāsthāya kharayuktaṃ kharasvanam| prayāntaṃ tu mahāghoraṃ rākṣasaṃ bhīmadarśanam || 51.30 ||

As that most terrible, fearsome-looking demon advanced, mounted upon his splendid mule-drawn chariot that rasped with the braying of mules,

Shloka 31 (yuddha.51.31)

अन्तरिक्षगताः क्रूराः शकुनाः प्रत्यषेधयन्। रथशीर्षे महाभीमो गृध्रश्च निपपात ह ॥ 51.31 ॥

antarikṣagatāḥ krūrāḥ śakunāḥ pratyaṣedhayan| rathaśīrṣe mahābhīmo gṛdhraśca nipapāta ha || 51.31 ||

cruel birds wheeling in the sky sought to obstruct him; upon the very crest of his chariot a huge and terrible vulture came to perch.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.51.32)

ध्वजाग्रे ग्रथिताश्चैव निपेतुः कुणपाशनाः। रुधिरार्द्रो महान् श्वेतः कबन्धः पतितो भुवि ॥ 51.32 ॥

dhvajāgre grathitāścaiva nipetuḥ kuṇapāśanāḥ| rudhirārdro mahān śvetaḥ kabandhaḥ patito bhuvi || 51.32 ||

corpse-devouring birds clustered upon the tip of his standard; a huge, blood-drenched, pale headless trunk fell to earth,

Shloka 33 (yuddha.51.33)

विस्वरं चोत्सृजन्नादान् धूम्राक्षस्य निपातितः। ववर्ष रुधिरं देवः संचचाल च मेदिनी ॥ 51.33 ॥

visvaraṃ cotsṛjannādān dhūmrākṣasya nipātitaḥ| vavarṣa rudhiraṃ devaḥ saṃcacāla ca medinī || 51.33 ||

crying out with a harsh, discordant sound as it fell near Dhumraksha — the sky rained blood, and the earth shook.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.51.34)

प्रतिलोमं ववौ वायुर्निर्घातसमनिःस्वनः। तिमिरौघावृतास्तत्र दिशश्च न चकाशिरे ॥ 51.34 ॥

pratilomaṃ vavau vāyurnirghātasamaniḥsvanaḥ| timiraughāvṛtāstatra diśaśca na cakāśire || 51.34 ||

A contrary wind arose, howling like a thunderbolt; the directions, shrouded in dense darkness, gave forth no light.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.51.35)

स तूत्पातांस्ततो दृष्ट्वा राक्षसानां भयावहान्। प्रादुर्भूतान् सुघोरांश्च धूम्राक्षो व्यथितोऽभवत्। मुमुहू राक्षसाः सर्वे धूम्राक्षस्य पुरःसराः ॥ 51.35 ॥

sa tūtpātāṃstato dṛṣṭvā rākṣasānāṃ bhayāvahān| prādurbhūtān sughorāṃśca dhūmrākṣo vyathito'bhavat| mumuhū rākṣasāḥ sarve dhūmrākṣasya puraḥsarāḥ || 51.35 ||

Beholding those terrible, fear-inspiring omens that had arisen, Dhumraksha grew troubled; and all the rakshasas marching before him were seized with bewilderment.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.51.36)

ततः सुभीमो बहुभिर्निशाचरै- र्वृतोऽभिनिष्क्रम्य रणोत्सुको बली। ददर्श तां राघवबाहुपालितां महौघकल्पां बहु वानरीं चमूम् ॥ 51.36 ॥

tataḥ subhīmo bahubhirniśācarai- rvṛto'bhiniṣkramya raṇotsuko balī| dadarśa tāṃ rāghavabāhupālitāṃ mahaughakalpāṃ bahu vānarīṃ camūm || 51.36 ||

Then that most terrible and mighty demon, surrounded by a host of night-rangers, eager for battle, advanced and beheld that vast host of monkeys, guarded by the arms of Raghava, vast as a great flood.