Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 54
Angada Slays Vajradamshtra
Shloka 1 (yuddha.54.1)
स्वबलस्य च घातेन अङ्गदस्य बलेन च। राक्षसः क्रोधमाविष्टो वज्रदंष्ट्रो महाबलः ॥ 54.1 ॥
svabalasya ca ghātena aṅgadasya balena ca| rākṣasaḥ krodhamāviṣṭo vajradaṃṣṭro mahābalaḥ || 54.1 ||
At the devastation of his own army and by the might of Angada, the mighty demon Vajradamshtra was filled with rage.
Shloka 2 (yuddha.54.2)
विस्फार्य च धनुर्घोरं शक्राशनिसमप्रभम्। वानराणामनीकानि प्राकिरच्छरवृष्टिभिः ॥ 54.2 ॥
visphārya ca dhanurghoraṃ śakrāśanisamaprabham| vānarāṇāmanīkāni prākiraccharavṛṣṭibhiḥ || 54.2 ||
Drawing his terrible bow, its splendor equal to Indra’s thunderbolt, he let loose a shower of arrows upon the monkey battalions.
Shloka 3 (yuddha.54.3)
राक्षसाश्चापि मुख्यास्ते रथेषु समवस्थिताः। नानाप्रहरणाः शूराः प्रायुध्यन्त तदा रणे ॥ 54.3 ॥
rākṣasāścāpi mukhyāste ratheṣu samavasthitāḥ| nānāpraharaṇāḥ śūrāḥ prāyudhyanta tadā raṇe || 54.3 ||
Those chief demons too, stationed on their chariots, brave and armed with weapons of every description, fought on there in that battle.
Shloka 4 (yuddha.54.4)
वानराणां च शूरास्तु ते सर्वे प्लवगर्षभाः। अयुध्यन्त शिलाहस्ताः समवेताः समन्ततः ॥ 54.4 ॥
vānarāṇāṃ ca śūrāstu te sarve plavagarṣabhāḥ| ayudhyanta śilāhastāḥ samavetāḥ samantataḥ || 54.4 ||
And all those valiant bulls among the monkeys, massing together on every side, fought on with boulders in hand.
Shloka 5 (yuddha.54.5)
तत्रायुधसहस्राणि तस्मिन्नायोधने भृशम्। राक्षसाः कपिमुख्येषु पातयांचक्रिरे तदा ॥ 54.5 ॥
tatrāyudhasahasrāṇi tasminnāyodhane bhṛśam| rākṣasāḥ kapimukhyeṣu pātayāṃcakrire tadā || 54.5 ||
There in that battle, the demons rained down thousands of weapons, again and again, upon the leading monkeys.
Shloka 6 (yuddha.54.6)
वानराश्चैव रक्षःसु गिरिवृक्षान् महाशिलाः। प्रवीराः पातयामासुर्मत्तवारणसंनिभाः ॥ 54.6 ॥
vānarāścaiva rakṣaḥsu girivṛkṣān mahāśilāḥ| pravīrāḥ pātayāmāsurmattavāraṇasaṃnibhāḥ || 54.6 ||
And those valiant monkeys too, like elephants in rut, hurled mountain-peaks, trees, and huge boulders down upon the demons.
Shloka 7 (yuddha.54.7)
शूराणां युध्यमानानां समरेष्वनिवर्तिनाम्। तद् राक्षसगणानां च सुयुद्धं समवर्तत ॥ 54.7 ॥
śūrāṇāṃ yudhyamānānāṃ samareṣvanivartinām| tad rākṣasagaṇānāṃ ca suyuddhaṃ samavartata || 54.7 ||
Between those valiant warriors — hosts of demons and monkeys who never once retreated in combat — a fierce and mighty battle raged on.
Shloka 8 (yuddha.54.8)
प्रभिन्नशिरसः केचिच्छिन्नैः पादैश्च बाहुभिः। शस्त्रैरर्दितदेहास्तु रुधिरेण समुक्षिताः ॥ 54.8 ॥
prabhinnaśirasaḥ kecicchinnaiḥ pādaiśca bāhubhiḥ| śastrairarditadehāstu rudhireṇa samukṣitāḥ || 54.8 ||
Some, their heads shattered, feet and arms severed, their bodies wounded by weapons and drenched with blood,
Shloka 9 (yuddha.54.9)
हरयो राक्षसाश्चैव शेरते गां समाश्रिताः। कङ्कगृध्रबलाढ्याश्च गोमायुकुलसंकुलाः ॥ 54.9 ॥
harayo rākṣasāścaiva śerate gāṃ samāśritāḥ| kaṅkagṛdhrabalāḍhyāśca gomāyukulasaṃkulāḥ || 54.9 ||
lay stretched upon the earth, surrounded by flocks of herons and vultures and packs of jackals.
Shloka 10 (yuddha.54.10)
कबन्धानि समुत्पेतुर्भीरूणां भीषणानि वै। भुजपाणिशिरश्छिन्नाश्छिन्नकायाश्च भूतले ॥ 54.10 ॥
kabandhāni samutpeturbhīrūṇāṃ bhīṣaṇāni vai| bhujapāṇiśiraśchinnāśchinnakāyāśca bhūtale || 54.10 ||
Headless trunks leapt up on every side, terrible to behold; monkeys and demons alike, their arms, hands, and heads severed, their bodies hacked to pieces, fell upon the ground.
Shloka 11 (yuddha.54.11)
वानरा राक्षसाश्चापि निपेतुस्तत्र भूतले। ततो वानरसैन्येन हन्यमानं निशाचरम् ॥ 54.11 ॥
vānarā rākṣasāścāpi nipetustatra bhūtale| tato vānarasainyena hanyamānaṃ niśācaram || 54.11 ||
Both monkeys and demons fell there upon the ground; and then, before Vajradamshtra’s very eyes,
Shloka 12 (yuddha.54.12)
प्राभज्यत बलं सर्वं वज्रदंष्ट्रस्य पश्यतः। राक्षसान् भयवित्रस्तान् हन्यमानान् प्लवंगमैः ॥ 54.12 ॥
prābhajyata balaṃ sarvaṃ vajradaṃṣṭrasya paśyataḥ| rākṣasān bhayavitrastān hanyamānān plavaṃgamaiḥ || 54.12 ||
his whole army of night-rangers was broken and shattered by the monkey host.
Shloka 13 (yuddha.54.13)
दृष्ट्वा स रोषताम्राक्षो वज्रदंष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्। प्रविवेश धनुष्पाणिस्त्रासयन् हरिवाहिनीम् ॥ 54.13 ॥
dṛṣṭvā sa roṣatāmrākṣo vajradaṃṣṭraḥ pratāpavān| praviveśa dhanuṣpāṇistrāsayan harivāhinīm || 54.13 ||
Seeing the demons, terror-stricken, being slain by the monkeys, that powerful and glorious Vajradamshtra, his eyes reddened with fury, bow in hand, plunged into the monkey army, striking terror through its ranks.
Shloka 14 (yuddha.54.14)
शरैर्विदारयामास कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः। बिभेद वानरांस्तत्र सप्ताष्टौ नव पञ्च च ॥ 54.14 ॥
śarairvidārayāmāsa kaṅkapatrairajihmagaiḥ| bibheda vānarāṃstatra saptāṣṭau nava pañca ca || 54.14 ||
With arrows fledged like the wings of a hawk, flying straight to their mark, he pierced and tore through the monkeys there, seven, eight, nine, and five at a single stroke.
Shloka 15 (yuddha.54.15)
विव्याध परमक्रुद्धो वज्रदंष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्। त्रस्ताः सर्वे हरिगणाः शरैः संकृत्तदेहिनः। अङ्गदं सम्प्रधावन्ति प्रजापतिमिव प्रजाः ॥ 54.15 ॥
vivyādha paramakruddho vajradaṃṣṭraḥ pratāpavān| trastāḥ sarve harigaṇāḥ śaraiḥ saṃkṛttadehinaḥ| aṅgadaṃ sampradhāvanti prajāpatimiva prajāḥ || 54.15 ||
Vajradamshtra, exceedingly enraged and powerful, pierced them through; and all the monkey hosts, their limbs torn by his arrows, terrified, fled to Angada for refuge, as creatures flee to Prajapati, the Lord of Beings.
Shloka 16 (yuddha.54.16)
ततो हरिगणान् भग्नान् दृष्ट्वा वालिसुतस्तदा। क्रोधेन वज्रदंष्ट्रं तमुदीक्षन्तमुदैक्षत ॥ 54.16 ॥
tato harigaṇān bhagnān dṛṣṭvā vālisutastadā| krodhena vajradaṃṣṭraṃ tamudīkṣantamudaikṣata || 54.16 ||
Then, seeing his monkey troops broken and scattered, the son of Vali turned a furious glance upon Vajradamshtra, who met it with his own.
Shloka 17 (yuddha.54.17)
वज्रदंष्ट्रोऽङ्गदश्चोभौ योयुध्येते परस्परम्। चेरतुः परमक्रुद्धौ हरिमत्तगजाविव ॥ 54.17 ॥
vajradaṃṣṭro'ṅgadaścobhau yoyudhyete parasparam| ceratuḥ paramakruddhau harimattagajāviva || 54.17 ||
Vajradamshtra and Angada, both in a towering fury, fought against each other like a lion pitted against a rutting elephant.
Shloka 18 (yuddha.54.18)
ततः शतसहस्रेण हरिपुत्रं महाबलम्। जघान मर्मदेशेषु शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ॥ 54.18 ॥
tataḥ śatasahasreṇa hariputraṃ mahābalam| jaghāna marmadeśeṣu śarairagniśikhopamaiḥ || 54.18 ||
Then, with a hundred thousand arrows blazing like tongues of fire, he struck that mighty son of the monkey-lord at his vital points.
Shloka 19 (yuddha.54.19)
रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गो वालिसूनुर्महाबलः। चिक्षेप वज्रदंष्ट्राय वृक्षं भीमपराक्रमः ॥ 54.19 ॥
rudhirokṣitasarvāṅgo vālisūnurmahābalaḥ| cikṣepa vajradaṃṣṭrāya vṛkṣaṃ bhīmaparākramaḥ || 54.19 ||
His whole body drenched in blood, that mighty son of Vali, of terrible prowess, hurled a tree at Vajradamshtra.
Shloka 20 (yuddha.54.20)
दृष्ट्वा पतन्तं तं वृक्षमसम्भ्रान्तश्च राक्षसः। चिच्छेद बहुधा सोऽपि मथितः प्रापतद् भुवि ॥ 54.20 ॥
dṛṣṭvā patantaṃ taṃ vṛkṣamasambhrāntaśca rākṣasaḥ| ciccheda bahudhā so'pi mathitaḥ prāpatad bhuvi || 54.20 ||
Seeing that tree hurtling toward him, the demon, quite unperturbed, hacked it into countless pieces, and it too, cut asunder, crashed to the ground.
Shloka 21 (yuddha.54.21)
तं दृष्ट्वा वज्रदंष्ट्रस्य विक्रमं प्लवगर्षभः। प्रगृह्य विपुलं शैलं चिक्षेप च ननाद च ॥ 54.21 ॥
taṃ dṛṣṭvā vajradaṃṣṭrasya vikramaṃ plavagarṣabhaḥ| pragṛhya vipulaṃ śailaṃ cikṣepa ca nanāda ca || 54.21 ||
Beholding that display of Vajradamshtra’s prowess, that lion among the monkeys seized a vast mountain crag, hurled it at him, and roared aloud.
Shloka 22 (yuddha.54.22)
तमापतन्तं दृष्ट्वा स रथादाप्लुत्य वीर्यवान्। गदापाणिरसम्भ्रान्तः पृथिव्यां समतिष्ठत ॥ 54.22 ॥
tamāpatantaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa rathādāplutya vīryavān| gadāpāṇirasambhrāntaḥ pṛthivyāṃ samatiṣṭhata || 54.22 ||
Seeing it hurtling toward him, that valiant one, quite unshaken, leapt down from his chariot and, mace in hand, stood firm upon the ground.
Shloka 23 (yuddha.54.23)
अङ्गदेन शिला क्षिप्ता गत्वा तु रणमूर्धनि। सचक्रकूबरं साश्वं प्रममाथ रथं तदा ॥ 54.23 ॥
aṅgadena śilā kṣiptā gatvā tu raṇamūrdhani| sacakrakūbaraṃ sāśvaṃ pramamātha rathaṃ tadā || 54.23 ||
The boulder that Angada had flung struck into the forefront of the battle and there shattered his chariot to pieces, wheels, pole, horses and all.
Shloka 24 (yuddha.54.24)
ततोऽन्यच्छिखरं गृह्य विपुलं द्रुमभूषितम्। वज्रदंष्ट्रस्य शिरसि पातयामास वानरः ॥ 54.24 ॥
tato'nyacchikharaṃ gṛhya vipulaṃ drumabhūṣitam| vajradaṃṣṭrasya śirasi pātayāmāsa vānaraḥ || 54.24 ||
Then, seizing yet another massive peak, thick with trees, the monkey Angada hurled it down upon Vajradamshtra’s head.
Shloka 25 (yuddha.54.25)
अभवच्छोणितोद्गारी वज्रदंष्ट्रः सुमूर्च्छितः। मुहूर्तमभवन्मूढो गदामालिङ्ग्य निःश्वसन् ॥ 54.25 ॥
abhavacchoṇitodagārī vajradaṃṣṭraḥ sumūrcchitaḥ| muhūrtamabhavanmūḍho gadāmāliṅgya niḥśvasan || 54.25 ||
Vajradamshtra, vomiting blood, became utterly stunned; for a moment he lay senseless, clutching his mace, gasping for breath.
Shloka 26 (yuddha.54.26)
स लब्धसंज्ञो गदया वालिपुत्रमवस्थितम्। जघान परमक्रुद्धो वक्षोदेशे निशाचरः ॥ 54.26 ॥
sa labdhasaṃjño gadayā vāliputramavasthitam| jaghāna paramakruddho vakṣodeśe niśācaraḥ || 54.26 ||
That night-ranger, regaining his senses, in utmost fury, struck Angada, who stood before him, full upon the chest with his mace.
Shloka 27 (yuddha.54.27)
गदां त्यक्त्वा ततस्तत्र मुष्टियुद्धमकुर्वत। अन्योन्यं जघ्नतुस्तत्र तावुभौ हरिराक्षसौ ॥ 54.27 ॥
gadāṃ tyaktvā tatastatra muṣṭiyuddhamakurvata| anyonyaṃ jaghnatustatra tāvubhau harirākṣasau || 54.27 ||
Then, casting their maces aside, both monkey and demon fell to fighting there with their fists, each raining blows upon the other.
Shloka 28 (yuddha.54.28)
रुधिरोद्गारिणौ तौ तु प्रहारैर्जनितश्रमौ। बभूवतुः सुविक्रान्तावङ्गारकबुधाविव ॥ 54.28 ॥
rudhirodagāriṇau tau tu prahārairjanitaśramau| babhūvatuḥ suvikrāntāvaṅgārakabudhāviva || 54.28 ||
Vomiting blood, wearied by the force of their own blows, those two valiant warriors seemed like the planets Mars and Mercury.
Shloka 29 (yuddha.54.29)
ततः परमतेजस्वी अङ्गदः प्लवगर्षभः। उत्पाट्य वृक्षं स्थितवानासीत् पुष्पफलैर्युतः ॥ 54.29 ॥
tataḥ paramatejasvī aṅgadaḥ plavagarṣabhaḥ| utpāṭya vṛkṣaṃ sthitavānāsīt puṣpaphalairyutaḥ || 54.29 ||
Then Angada, that lion among the monkeys, most resplendent, tore loose a tree heavy with flowers and fruit and stood ready.
Shloka 30 (yuddha.54.30)
जग्राह चार्षभं चर्म खड्गं च विपुलं शुभम्। किङ्किणीजालसंछन्नं चर्मणा च परिष्कृतम् ॥ 54.30 ॥
jagrāha cārṣabhaṃ carma khaḍgaṃ ca vipulaṃ śubham| kiṅkiṇījālasaṃchannaṃ carmaṇā ca pariṣkṛtam || 54.30 ||
And the demon too took up a fine bull’s-hide shield and a broad, beautiful sword, richly adorned with a net of jingling bells.
Shloka 31 (yuddha.54.31)
चित्रांश्च रुचिरान् मार्गांश्चेरतुः कपिराक्षसौ। जघ्नतुश्च तदान्योन्यं नर्दन्तौ जयकांक्षिणौ ॥ 54.31 ॥
citrāṃśca rucirān mārgāṃśceratuḥ kapirākṣasau| jaghnatuśca tadānyonyaṃ nardantau jayakāṃkṣiṇau || 54.31 ||
The monkey and the demon then circled each other along strange and shifting paths, roaring, each hungry for victory, striking at one another again and again.
Shloka 32 (yuddha.54.32)
व्रणैः सास्रैरशोभेतां पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ। युध्यमानौ परिश्रान्तौ जानुभ्यामवनीं गतौ ॥ 54.32 ॥
vraṇaiḥ sāsrairaśobhetāṃ puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau| yudhyamānau pariśrāntau jānubhyāmavanīṃ gatau || 54.32 ||
Bleeding from their wounds, they shone like a pair of kimshuka trees in full blossom; wearied by the fight, both sank down to the earth upon their knees.
Shloka 33 (yuddha.54.33)
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण अङ्गदः कपिकुञ्जरः। उदतिष्ठत दीप्ताक्षो दण्डाहत इवोरगः ॥ 54.33 ॥
nimeṣāntaramātreṇa aṅgadaḥ kapikuñjaraḥ| udatiṣṭhata dīptākṣo daṇḍāhata ivoragaḥ || 54.33 ||
In a mere instant, Angada, elephant among the monkeys, his eyes blazing, rose up again, like a serpent struck by a rod.
Shloka 34 (yuddha.54.34)
निर्मलेन सुधौतेन खड्गेनास्य महच्छिरः। जघान वज्रदंष्ट्रस्य वालिसूनुर्महाबलः ॥ 54.34 ॥
nirmalena sudhautena khaḍgenāsya mahacchiraḥ| jaghāna vajradaṃṣṭrasya vālisūnurmahābalaḥ || 54.34 ||
With a stainless, keenly sharpened sword, the mighty son of Vali struck at Vajradamshtra’s massive head.
Shloka 35 (yuddha.54.35)
रुधिरोक्षितगात्रस्य बभूव पतितं द्विधा। तच्च तस्य परीताक्षं शुभं खड्गहतं शिरः ॥ 54.35 ॥
rudhirokṣitagātrasya babhūva patitaṃ dvidhā| tacca tasya parītākṣaṃ śubhaṃ khaḍgahataṃ śiraḥ || 54.35 ||
And that handsome head, struck by the sword, its eyes rolling, fell split in two, his body drenched in blood.
Shloka 36 (yuddha.54.36)
वज्रदंष्ट्रं हतं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसा भयमोहिताः। त्रस्ता ह्यभ्यद्रवँल्लङ्कां वध्यमानाः प्लवङ्गमैः। विषण्णवदना दीना ह्रिया किंचिदवाङ्मुखाः ॥ 54.36 ॥
vajradaṃṣṭraṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasā bhayamohitāḥ| trastā hyabhyadrava~llaṅkāṃ vadhyamānāḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ| viṣaṇṇavadanā dīnā hriyā kiṃcidavāṅmukhāḥ || 54.36 ||
Seeing Vajradamshtra slain, the demons, overwhelmed with terror, fled panic-stricken toward Lanka, harried by the monkeys, their faces downcast, a little bowed in shame.
Shloka 37 (yuddha.54.37)
निहत्य तं वज्रधरः प्रतापवान् स वालिसूनुः कपिसैन्यमध्ये। जगाम हर्षं महितो महाबलः सहस्रनेत्रस्त्रिदशैरिवावृतः ॥ 54.37 ॥
nihatya taṃ vajradharaḥ pratāpavān sa vālisūnuḥ kapisainyamadhye| jagāma harṣaṃ mahito mahābalaḥ sahasranetrastridaśairivāvṛtaḥ || 54.37 ||
Having slain him, that glorious and mighty son of Vali, of thunderbolt-like might, honored in the midst of the monkey host, was filled with joy, like thousand-eyed Indra surrounded by the gods.