Ravana Sends Vajradamshtra to Battle

Shloka 1 (yuddha.53.1)

धूम्राक्षं निहतं श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। क्रोधेन महताऽऽविष्टो निःश्वसन्नुरगो यथा ॥ 53.1 ॥

dhūmrākṣaṃ nihataṃ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ| krodhena mahatā''viṣṭo niḥśvasannurago yathā || 53.1 ||

Hearing that Dhumraksha had been slain, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, was seized with towering rage and began to hiss like a serpent.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.53.2)

दीर्घमुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य क्रोधेन कलुषीकृतः। अब्रवीद् राक्षसं क्रूरं वज्रदंष्ट्रं महाबलम् ॥ 53.2 ॥

dīrghamuṣṇaṃ viniḥśvasya krodhena kaluṣīkṛtaḥ| abravīd rākṣasaṃ krūraṃ vajradaṃṣṭraṃ mahābalam || 53.2 ||

Drawing long, burning breaths, his mind darkened with fury, he spoke to the cruel and mighty demon Vajradamshtra:

Shloka 3 (yuddha.53.3)

गच्छ त्वं वीर निर्याहि राक्षसैः परिवारितः। जहि दाशरथिं रामं सुग्रीवं वानरैः सह ॥ 53.3 ॥

gaccha tvaṃ vīra niryāhi rākṣasaiḥ parivāritaḥ| jahi dāśarathiṃ rāmaṃ sugrīvaṃ vānaraiḥ saha || 53.3 ||

"Go forth, O hero, surrounded by the rakshasas, and slay Rama, the son of Dasharatha, together with Sugriva and his monkeys."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.53.4)

तथेत्युक्त्वा द्रुततरं मायावी राक्षसेश्वरः। निर्जगाम बलैः सार्धं बहुभिः परिवारितः ॥ 53.4 ॥

tathetyuktvā drutataraṃ māyāvī rākṣaseśvaraḥ| nirjagāma balaiḥ sārdhaṃ bahubhiḥ parivāritaḥ || 53.4 ||

"So be it," said that illusion-wielding lord among the rakshasas, and swiftly he set out, surrounded and accompanied by his numerous forces.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.53.5)

नागैरश्वैः खरैरुष्ट्रैः संयुक्तः सुसमाहितः। पताकाध्वजचित्रैश्च बहुभिः समलंकृतः ॥ 53.5 ॥

nāgairaśvaiḥ kharairuṣṭraiḥ saṃyuktaḥ susamāhitaḥ| patākādhvajacitraiśca bahubhiḥ samalaṃkṛtaḥ || 53.5 ||

joined with elephants, horses, mules, and camels, carefully arrayed and richly adorned with many banners and flags.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.53.6)

ततो विचित्रकेयूरमुकुटेन विभूषितः। तनुत्रं स समावृत्य सधनुर्निर्ययौ द्रुतम् ॥ 53.6 ॥

tato vicitrakeyūramukuṭena vibhūṣitaḥ| tanutraṃ sa samāvṛtya sadhanurniryayau drutam || 53.6 ||

Then, adorned with a resplendent armlet and diadem, he clad himself in armor and, bow in hand, set forth swiftly.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.53.7)

पताकालंकृतं दीप्तं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्। रथं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा समारोहच्चमूपतिः ॥ 53.7 ॥

patākālaṃkṛtaṃ dīptaṃ taptakāñcanabhūṣitam| rathaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā samārohaccamūpatiḥ || 53.7 ||

Circling that blazing chariot, decked with banners and adorned with wrought gold, the general of that army mounted it.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.53.8)

ऋष्टिभिस्तोमरैश्चित्रैः श्लक्ष्णैश्च मुसलैरपि। भिन्दिपालैश्च चापैश्च शक्तिभिः पट्टिशैरपि ॥ 53.8 ॥

ṛṣṭibhistomaraiścitraiḥ ślakṣṇaiśca musalairapi| bhindipālaiśca cāpaiśca śaktibhiḥ paṭṭiśairapi || 53.8 ||

With spears, splendid javelins, smooth clubs, harpoons and bows, lances and pikes,

Shloka 9 (yuddha.53.9)

खड्गैश्चक्रैर्गदाभिश्च निशितैश्च परश्वधैः। पदातयश्च निर्यान्ति विविधाः शस्त्रपाणयः ॥ 53.9 ॥

khaḍgaiścakrairgadābhiśca niśitaiśca paraśvadhaiḥ| padātayaśca niryānti vividhāḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ || 53.9 ||

with swords, discuses, maces, and sharp axes, the foot-soldiers marched forth, weapons of every kind in hand.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.53.10)

विचित्रवाससः सर्वे दीप्ता राक्षसपुङ्गवाः। गजा महोत्कटाः शूराश्चलन्त इव पर्वताः ॥ 53.10 ॥

vicitravāsasaḥ sarve dīptā rākṣasapuṅgavāḥ| gajā mahotkaṭāḥ śūrāścalanta iva parvatāḥ || 53.10 ||

All those splendid, foremost rakshasas, resplendent in richly-colored garments, valiant warriors mounted on mighty rutting elephants, moved like walking mountains.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.53.11)

ते युद्धकुशला रूढास्तोमराङ्कुशपाणिभिः। अन्ये लक्षणसंयुक्ताः शूरारूढा महाबलाः ॥ 53.11 ॥

te yuddhakuśalā rūḍhāstomarāṅkuśapāṇibhiḥ| anye lakṣaṇasaṃyuktāḥ śūrārūḍhā mahābalāḥ || 53.11 ||

Those war-trained mounts bore riders armed with lances and goads; others, of fine and auspicious build, carried mighty, valiant warriors upon them.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.53.12)

तद् राक्षसबलं सर्वं विप्रस्थितमशोभत। प्रावृट्काले यथा मेघा नर्दमानाः सविद्युतः ॥ 53.12 ॥

tad rākṣasabalaṃ sarvaṃ viprasthitamaśobhata| prāvṛṭkāle yathā meghā nardamānāḥ savidyutaḥ || 53.12 ||

That entire army of rakshasas, marching forth, shone as splendidly as the thunderclouds of the rainy season, roaring with lightning.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.53.13)

निःसृता दक्षिणद्वारादङ्गदो यत्र यूथपः। तेषां निष्क्रममाणानामशुभं समजायत ॥ 53.13 ॥

niḥsṛtā dakṣiṇadvārādaṅgado yatra yūthapaḥ| teṣāṃ niṣkramamāṇānāmaśubhaṃ samajāyata || 53.13 ||

It marched out through the southern gate, where Angada the troop-leader stood; and even as they issued forth, an evil omen arose among them.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.53.14)

आकाशाद् विघनात् तीव्रा उल्काश्चाभ्यपतंस्तदा। वमन्तः पावकज्वालाः शिवा घोरा ववाशिरे ॥ 53.14 ॥

ākāśād vighanāt tīvrā ulkāścābhyapataṃstadā| vamantaḥ pāvakajvālāḥ śivā ghorā vavāśire || 53.14 ||

From a cloudless yet fierce sky, blazing meteors fell at once; and jackals, belching forth flames of fire, howled with dreadful cries.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.53.15)

व्याहरन्त मृगा घोरा रक्षसां निधनं तदा। समापतन्तो योधास्तु प्रास्खलंस्तत्र दारुणम् ॥ 53.15 ॥

vyāharanta mṛgā ghorā rakṣasāṃ nidhanaṃ tadā| samāpatanto yodhāstu prāskhalaṃstatra dāruṇam || 53.15 ||

Fearsome beasts cried out, portending the doom of the rakshasas; and the warriors, surging forward together, stumbled grievously there.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.53.16)

एतानौत्पातिकान् दृष्ट्वा वज्रदंष्ट्रो महाबलः। धैर्यमालम्ब्य तेजस्वी निर्जगाम रणोत्सुकः ॥ 53.16 ॥

etānautpātikān dṛṣṭvā vajradaṃṣṭro mahābalaḥ| dhairyamālambya tejasvī nirjagāma raṇotsukaḥ || 53.16 ||

Beholding these omens, Vajradamshtra of great strength and brilliance, steadying his resolve, went forth eager for battle nonetheless.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.53.17)

तांस्तु विद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा वानरा जितकाशिनः। प्रणेदुः सुमहानादान् दिशः शब्देन पूरयन् ॥ 53.17 ॥

tāṃstu vidravato dṛṣṭvā vānarā jitakāśinaḥ| praṇeduḥ sumahānādān diśaḥ śabdena pūrayan || 53.17 ||

But the monkeys, already savoring victory, seeing them advance, roared out with tremendous shouts that filled every quarter with sound.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.53.18)

ततः प्रवृत्तं तुमुलं हरीणां राक्षसैः सह। घोराणां भीमरूपाणामन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणाम् ॥ 53.18 ॥

tataḥ pravṛttaṃ tumulaṃ harīṇāṃ rākṣasaiḥ saha| ghorāṇāṃ bhīmarūpāṇāmanyonyavadhakāṅkṣiṇām || 53.18 ||

Then a tumultuous battle broke out between the monkeys and the rakshasas, terrible and fearsome in form, each side bent on destroying the other.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.53.19)

निष्पतन्तो महोत्साहा भिन्नदेहशिरोधराः। रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गा न्यपतन् धरणीतले ॥ 53.19 ॥

niṣpatanto mahotsāhā bhinnadehaśirodharāḥ| rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgā nyapatan dharaṇītale || 53.19 ||

Charging forward with great fervor, their bodies and necks torn open, their whole frames drenched in blood, they fell to the surface of the earth.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.53.20)

केचिदन्योन्यमासाद्य शूराः परिघबाहवः। चिक्षिपुर्विविधान् शस्त्रान् समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः ॥ 53.20 ॥

kecidanyonyamāsādya śūrāḥ parighabāhavaḥ| cikṣipurvividhān śastrān samareṣvanivartinaḥ || 53.20 ||

Some heroes, their arms like iron bars, closing upon one another, hurled weapons of every kind, never once turning back in the fight.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.53.21)

द्रुमाणां च शिलानां च शस्त्राणां चापि निःस्वनः। श्रूयते सुमहांस्तत्र घोरो हृदयभेदनः ॥ 53.21 ॥

drumāṇāṃ ca śilānāṃ ca śastrāṇāṃ cāpi niḥsvanaḥ| śrūyate sumahāṃstatra ghoro hṛdayabhedanaḥ || 53.21 ||

There arose a tremendous, terrible, heart-rending din — the clash of trees, of boulders, and of weapons alike.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.53.22)

रथनेमिस्वनस्तत्र धनुषश्चापि घोरवत्। शङ्खभेरीमृदङ्गानां बभूव तुमुलः स्वनः ॥ 53.22 ॥

rathanemisvanastatra dhanuṣaścāpi ghoravat| śaṅkhabherīmṛdaṅgānāṃ babhūva tumulaḥ svanaḥ || 53.22 ||

The rumble of chariot-rims and the twang of bows there mingled fearfully with the tumultuous din of conches, war-drums, and tabors.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.53.23)

केचिदस्त्राणि संत्यज्य बाहुयुद्धमकुर्वत ॥ 53.23 ॥

kecidastrāṇi saṃtyajya bāhuyuddhamakurvata || 53.23 ||

Some, casting their weapons aside, fell to fighting with their bare arms.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.53.24)

तलैश्च चरणैश्चापि मुष्टिभिश्च द्रुमैरपि। जानुभिश्च हताः केचिद् भग्नदेहाश्च राक्षसाः। शिलाभिश्चूर्णिताः केचिद् वानरैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः ॥ 53.24 ॥

talaiśca caraṇaiścāpi muṣṭibhiśca drumairapi| jānubhiśca hatāḥ kecid bhagnadehāśca rākṣasāḥ| śilābhiścūrṇitāḥ kecid vānarairyuddhadurmadaiḥ || 53.24 ||

Struck by palms, feet, and fists, by trees and even by knees, some rakshasas fell with their bodies broken; others, at the hands of monkeys crazed with the fury of battle, were pounded to powder with rocks.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.53.25)

वज्रदंष्ट्रो भृशं बाणै रणे वित्रासयन् हरीन्। चचार लोकसंहारे पाशहस्त इवान्तकः ॥ 53.25 ॥

vajradaṃṣṭro bhṛśaṃ bāṇai raṇe vitrāsayan harīn| cacāra lokasaṃhāre pāśahasta ivāntakaḥ || 53.25 ||

Vajradamshtra, terrifying the monkeys grievously with his arrows in the fight, ranged across the field like Death himself, noose in hand, at the dissolution of the worlds.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.53.26)

बलवन्तोऽस्त्रविदुषो नानाप्रहरणा रणे। जघ्नुर्वानरसैन्यानि राक्षसाः क्रोधर्मूच्छिताः ॥ 53.26 ॥

balavanto'straviduṣo nānāpraharaṇā raṇe| jaghnurvānarasainyāni rākṣasāḥ krodharmūcchitāḥ || 53.26 ||

The mighty rakshasas, skilled in weaponry and armed with weapons of every kind, their anger redoubled, cut down the ranks of the monkey army in that battle.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.53.27)

जघ्ने तान् राक्षसान् सर्वान् धृष्टो वालिसुतो रणे। क्रोधेन द्विगुणाविष्टः संवर्तक इवानलः ॥ 53.27 ॥

jaghne tān rākṣasān sarvān dhṛṣṭo vālisuto raṇe| krodhena dviguṇāviṣṭaḥ saṃvartaka ivānalaḥ || 53.27 ||

But the bold son of Vali slew all those rakshasas in the fight, his rage doubling and redoubling, like the fire that consumes the world at the end of time.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.53.28)

तान् राक्षसगणान् सर्वान् वृक्षमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। अङ्गदः क्रोधताम्राक्षः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव ॥ 53.28 ॥

tān rākṣasagaṇān sarvān vṛkṣamudyamya vīryavān| aṅgadaḥ krodhatāmrākṣaḥ siṃhaḥ kṣudramṛgāniva || 53.28 ||

Lifting up a tree, that valiant Angada, his eyes reddened with fury, fell upon the whole host of rakshasas as a lion falls upon lesser beasts.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.53.29)

चकार कदनं घोरं शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः। अङ्गदाभिहतास्तत्र राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः ॥ 53.29 ॥

cakāra kadanaṃ ghoraṃ śakratulyaparākramaḥ| aṅgadābhihatāstatra rākṣasā bhīmavikramāḥ || 53.29 ||

Matching Indra in prowess, he wrought there a terrible slaughter; and those rakshasas of fearsome might, struck down by Angada,

Shloka 30 (yuddha.53.30)

विभिन्नशिरसः पेतुर्निकृत्ता इव पादपाः। रथैश्चित्रैर्ध्वजैरश्वैः शरीरैर्हरिरक्षसाम् ॥ 53.30 ॥

vibhinnaśirasaḥ peturnikṛttā iva pādapāḥ| rathaiścitrairdhvajairaśvaiḥ śarīrairharirakṣasām || 53.30 ||

fell, their heads shattered, like trees hewn down, amid splendid chariots, banners, horses, and the fallen bodies of monkeys and rakshasas alike.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.53.31)

रुधिरौघेण संछन्ना भूमिर्भयकरी तदा। हारकेयूरवस्त्रैश्च शस्त्रैश्च समलंकृता ॥ 53.31 ॥

rudhiraugheṇa saṃchannā bhūmirbhayakarī tadā| hārakeyūravastraiśca śastraiśca samalaṃkṛtā || 53.31 ||

The earth, covered by that flood of blood, then wore a fearful aspect, yet was strewn and adorned with necklaces, armlets, garments, and weapons.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.53.32)

भूमिर्भाति रणे तत्र शारदीव यथा निशा। अङ्गदस्य च वेगेन तद् राक्षसबलं महत्। प्राकम्पत तदा तत्र पवनेनाम्बुदो यथा ॥ 53.32 ॥

bhūmirbhāti raṇe tatra śāradīva yathā niśā| aṅgadasya ca vegena tad rākṣasabalaṃ mahat| prākampata tadā tatra pavanenāmbudo yathā || 53.32 ||

There on that battlefield, the ground gleamed like an autumn night; and beneath the onslaught of Angada, that vast host of rakshasas trembled, as a mass of cloud trembles before the wind.