Ravana Sends Akampana to Battle

Shloka 1 (yuddha.55.1)

वज्रदंष्ट्रं हतं श्रुत्वा वालिपुत्रेण रावणः। बलाध्यक्षमुवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम् ॥ 55.1 ॥

vajradaṃṣṭraṃ hataṃ śrutvā vāliputreṇa rāvaṇaḥ| balādhyakṣamuvācedaṃ kṛtāñjalimupasthitam || 55.1 ||

Hearing that Vajradamshtra had been slain by the son of Vali, Ravana spoke thus to the general of his forces, who stood before him, palms joined in reverence.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.55.2)

शीघ्रं निर्यान्तुदुर्धर्षा राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः। अकम्पनं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदम् ॥ 55.2 ॥

śīghraṃ niryāntudurdharṣā rākṣasā bhīmavikramāḥ| akampanaṃ puraskṛtya sarvaśastrāstrakovidam || 55.2 ||

"Let the invincible rakshasas of terrible prowess set out at once, with Akampana, skilled in every weapon and missile, placed at their head.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.55.3)

एष शास्ता च गोप्ता च नेता च युधि सत्तमः। भूतिकामश्च मे नित्यं नित्यं च समरप्रियः ॥ 55.3 ॥

eṣa śāstā ca goptā ca netā ca yudhi sattamaḥ| bhūtikāmaśca me nityaṃ nityaṃ ca samarapriyaḥ || 55.3 ||

This most excellent one is a chastiser, a guardian, and a leader in war; he ever desires my welfare, and always delights in battle.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.55.4)

एष जेष्यति काकुत्स्थौ सुग्रीवं च महाबलम्। वानरांश्चापरान् घोरान् हनिष्यति न संशयः ॥ 55.4 ॥

eṣa jeṣyati kākutsthau sugrīvaṃ ca mahābalam| vānarāṃścāparān ghorān haniṣyati na saṃśayaḥ || 55.4 ||

He will surely conquer the two Kakutsthas and mighty Sugriva; and he will slay the other terrible monkeys too — of this there is no doubt."

Shloka 5 (yuddha.55.5)

परिगृह्य स तामाज्ञां रावणस्य महाबलः। बलं सम्प्रेरयामास तदा लघुपराक्रमः ॥ 55.5 ॥

parigṛhya sa tāmājñāṃ rāvaṇasya mahābalaḥ| balaṃ samprerayāmāsa tadā laghuparākramaḥ || 55.5 ||

Accepting that command of Ravana, the mighty Akampana, swift of resolve, then set his army in motion.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.55.6)

ततो नानाप्रहरणा भीमाक्षा भीमदर्शनाः। निष्पेतू राक्षसा मुख्या बलाध्यक्षप्रचोदिताः ॥ 55.6 ॥

tato nānāpraharaṇā bhīmākṣā bhīmadarśanāḥ| niṣpetū rākṣasā mukhyā balādhyakṣapracoditāḥ || 55.6 ||

Then those foremost rakshasas, terrible of eye and terrible to behold, armed with weapons of every kind, rushed forth, urged onward by their general.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.55.7)

रथमास्थाय विपुलं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणम्। मेघाभो मेघवर्णश्च मेघस्वनमहास्वनः ॥ 55.7 ॥

rathamāsthāya vipulaṃ taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇam| meghābho meghavarṇaśca meghasvanamahāsvanaḥ || 55.7 ||

Mounting a vast chariot adorned with wrought gold, Akampana — cloud-hued, cloud-colored, his voice as deep and mighty as thunder —

Shloka 8 (yuddha.55.8)

राक्षसैः संवृतो घोरैस्तदा निर्यात्यकम्पनः। नहि कम्पयितुं शक्यः सुरैरपि महामृधे ॥ 55.8 ॥

rākṣasaiḥ saṃvṛto ghoraistadā niryātyakampanaḥ| nahi kampayituṃ śakyaḥ surairapi mahāmṛdhe || 55.8 ||

set out, encircled by fearsome rakshasas; for not even the gods could shake Akampana in the fiercest of battles.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.55.9)

अकम्पनस्ततस्तेषामादित्य इव तेजसा। तस्य निर्धावमानस्य संरब्धस्य युयुत्सया ॥ 55.9 ॥

akampanastatasteṣāmāditya iva tejasā| tasya nirdhāvamānasya saṃrabdhasya yuyutsayā || 55.9 ||

As he pressed forward eagerly, restless and longing for the fray, the horses drawing his chariot were suddenly overcome with faintness.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.55.10)

अकस्माद् दैन्यमागच्छद्धयानां रथवाहिनाम्। व्यस्फुरन्नयनं चास्य सव्यं युद्धाभिनन्दिनः ॥ 55.10 ॥

akasmād dainyamāgacchaddhayānāṃ rathavāhinām| vyasphurannayanaṃ cāsya savyaṃ yuddhābhinandinaḥ || 55.10 ||

The left eye of that Akampana, who so delighted in war, began to twitch;

Shloka 11 (yuddha.55.11)

विवर्णो मुखवर्णश्च गद्गदश्चाभवत् स्वनः। अभवत् सुदिने काले दुर्दिनं रूक्षमारुतम् ॥ 55.11 ॥

vivarṇo mukhavarṇaśca gada‍gadaścābhavat svanaḥ| abhavat sudine kāle durdinaṃ rūkṣamārutam || 55.11 ||

his complexion grew pale, and his voice grew choked; a day of fair weather turned suddenly foul, with a harsh wind beginning to blow.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.55.12)

ऊचुः खगमृगाः सर्वे वाचः क्रूरा भयावहाः। स सिंहोपचितस्कन्धः शार्दूलसमविक्रमः ॥ 55.12 ॥

ūcuḥ khagamṛgāḥ sarve vācaḥ krūrā bhayāvahāḥ| sa siṃhopacitaskandhaḥ śārdūlasamavikramaḥ || 55.12 ||

Birds and beasts, every one of them, gave voice to cries that were cruel and full of dread.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.55.13)

तानुत्पातानचिन्त्यैव निर्जगाम रणाजिरम्। तथा निर्गच्छतस्तस्य रक्षसः सह राक्षसैः ॥ 55.13 ॥

tānutpātānacintyaiva nirjagāma raṇājiram| tathā nirgacchatastasya rakṣasaḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ || 55.13 ||

That demon, his shoulders like a lion’s, his valor equal to a tiger’s, giving no heed to those omens, marched forth toward the field of battle.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.55.14)

बभूव सुमहान् नादः क्षोभयन्निव सागरम्। तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ता वानराणां महाचमूः ॥ 55.14 ॥

babhūva sumahān nādaḥ kṣobhayanniva sāgaram| tena śabdena vitrastā vānarāṇāṃ mahācamūḥ || 55.14 ||

As that rakshasa set out thus, together with his fellow demons, an immense roar arose, as though it were convulsing the very ocean.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.55.15)

द्रुमशैलप्रहाराणां योद्धुं समुपतिष्ठताम्। तेषां युद्धं महारौद्रं संजज्ञे कपिरक्षसाम् ॥ 55.15 ॥

drumaśailaprahārāṇāṃ yoddhuṃ samupatiṣṭhatām| teṣāṃ yuddhaṃ mahāraudraṃ saṃjajñe kapirakṣasām || 55.15 ||

At that sound, the vast army of the monkeys, poised to strike with trees and boulders, was seized with fear.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.55.16)

रामरावणयोरर्थे समभित्यक्तदेहिनः। सर्वे ह्यतिबलाः शूराः सर्वे पर्वतसंनिभाः ॥ 55.16 ॥

rāmarāvaṇayorarthe samabhityaktadehinaḥ| sarve hyatibalāḥ śūrāḥ sarve parvatasaṃnibhāḥ || 55.16 ||

Then a most fearsome battle broke out between those monkeys and demons, who, for the sake of Rama and Ravana, had wholly abandoned all care for their own lives.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.55.17)

हरयो राक्षसाश्चैव परस्परजिघांसया। तेषां विनर्दतां शब्दः संयुगेऽतितरस्विनाम् ॥ 55.17 ॥

harayo rākṣasāścaiva parasparajighāṃsayā| teṣāṃ vinardatāṃ śabdaḥ saṃyuge'titarasvinām || 55.17 ||

All of them were exceedingly strong and valiant, every one resembling a mountain — the monkeys and the demons alike, each eager for the other’s destruction.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.55.18)

शुश्रुवे सुमहान् कोपादन्योन्यमभिगर्जताम्। रजश्चारुणवर्णाभं सुभीममभवद् भृशम् ॥ 55.18 ॥

śuśruve sumahān kopādanyonyamabhigarjatām| rajaścāruṇavarṇābhaṃ subhīmamabhavad bhṛśam || 55.18 ||

In that battle, the din of those swift warriors, roaring at one another, could be heard far and wide.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.55.19)

उद्धृतं हरिरक्षोभिः संरुरोध दिशो दश। अन्योन्यं रजसा तेन कौशेयोद्धतपाण्डुना ॥ 55.19 ॥

uda‍dhṛtaṃ harirakṣobhiḥ saṃrurodha diśo daśa| anyonyaṃ rajasā tena kauśeyoddhatapāṇḍunā || 55.19 ||

A most terrible dust, tawny-red in color, rose up in fury and shrouded all ten directions.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.55.20)

संवृतानि च भूतानि ददृशुर्न रणाजिरे। न ध्वजो न पताका वा चर्म वा तुरगोऽपि वा ॥ 55.20 ॥

saṃvṛtāni ca bhūtāni dadṛśurna raṇājire| na dhvajo na patākā vā carma vā turago'pi vā || 55.20 ||

Raised by monkeys and demons alike, it closed off the ten quarters; and by that dust, pale as silk fluttering in the wind, none could make out another.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.55.21)

आयुधं स्यन्दनो वापि ददृशे तेन रेणुना। शब्दश्च सुमहांस्तेषां नर्दतामभिधावताम् ॥ 55.21 ॥

āyudhaṃ syandano vāpi dadṛśe tena reṇunā| śabdaśca sumahāṃsteṣāṃ nardatāmabhidhāvatām || 55.21 ||

Upon that battlefield, the combatants, thus concealed, could not see one another; no standard, no banner, no shield, no horse —

Shloka 22 (yuddha.55.22)

श्रूयते तुमुलो युद्धे न रूपाणि चकाशिरे। हरीनेव सुसंरुष्टा हरयो जघ्नुराहवे ॥ 55.22 ॥

śrūyate tumulo yuddhe na rūpāṇi cakāśire| harīneva susaṃruṣṭā harayo jaghnurāhave || 55.22 ||

nor weapon nor chariot could be discerned through that dust; only the tremendous tumult of warriors, roaring and charging upon one another, could be heard.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.55.23)

राक्षसा राक्षसांश्चापि निजघ्नुस्तिमिरे तदा। ते परांश्च विनिघ्नन्तः स्वांश्च वानरराक्षसाः ॥ 55.23 ॥

rākṣasā rākṣasāṃścāpi nijaghnustimire tadā| te parāṃśca vinighnantaḥ svāṃśca vānararākṣasāḥ || 55.23 ||

In that battle no form could any longer be told apart; and the monkeys, in their fury, struck down fellow monkeys, while the demons struck down fellow demons.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.55.24)

रुधिरार्द्रां तदा चक्रुर्महीं पङ्कानुलेपनाम्। ततस्तु रुधिरौघेण सिक्तं ह्यपगतं रजः ॥ 55.24 ॥

rudhirārdrāṃ tadā cakrurmahīṃ paṅkānulepanām| tatastu rudhiraugheṇa siktaṃ hyapagataṃ rajaḥ || 55.24 ||

In that darkness, the monkeys and demons, cutting down foe and kin alike, drenched the earth with blood and smeared it with mire.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.55.25)

शरीरशवसंकीर्णा बभूव च वसुंधरा। द्रुमशक्तिगदाप्रासैः शिलापरिघतोमरैः ॥ 55.25 ॥

śarīraśavasaṃkīrṇā babhūva ca vasuṃdharā| drumaśaktigadāprāsaiḥ śilāparighatomaraiḥ || 55.25 ||

Then, as the dust was quenched by that flood of blood, the earth lay strewn with fallen bodies and corpses.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.55.26)

राक्षसा हरयस्तूर्णं जघ्नुरन्योन्यमोजसा। बाहुभिः परिघाकारैर्युध्यन्तः पर्वतोपमान् ॥ 55.26 ॥

rākṣasā harayastūrṇaṃ jaghnuranyonyamojasā| bāhubhiḥ parighākārairyudhyantaḥ parvatopamān || 55.26 ||

With trees, spears, maces, javelins, boulders, iron bars, and lances, the rakshasas and the monkeys struck at one another swiftly and with great force.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.55.27)

हरयो भीमकर्माणो राक्षसाञ्जघ्नुराहवे। राक्षसास्त्वभिसंक्रुद्धाः प्रासतोमरपाणयः ॥ 55.27 ॥

harayo bhīmakarmāṇo rākṣasāñjaghnurāhave| rākṣasāstvabhisaṃkruddhāḥ prāsatomarapāṇayaḥ || 55.27 ||

The monkeys, battling mountain-like foes with arms like bars of iron, cut down the rakshasas in that combat.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.55.28)

कपीन् निजघ्निरे तत्र शस्त्रैः परमदारुणैः। अकम्पनः सुसंक्रुद्धो राक्षसानां चमूपतिः ॥ 55.28 ॥

kapīn nijaghnire tatra śastraiḥ paramadāruṇaiḥ| akampanaḥ susaṃkruddho rākṣasānāṃ camūpatiḥ || 55.28 ||

The monkeys of terrible deeds cut down the demons in that fray; and the enraged demons, darts and javelins in hand,

Shloka 29 (yuddha.55.29)

संहर्षयति तान् सर्वान् राक्षसान् भीमविक्रमान्। हरयस्त्वपि रक्षांसि महाद्रुममहाश्मभिः ॥ 55.29 ॥

saṃharṣayati tān sarvān rākṣasān bhīmavikramān| harayastvapi rakṣāṃsi mahādrumamahāśmabhiḥ || 55.29 ||

struck down the monkeys there with most cruel weapons. Akampana, the general of the rakshasa host, in an utmost fury,

Shloka 30 (yuddha.55.30)

विदारयन्त्यभिक्रम्य शस्त्राण्याच्छिद्य वीर्यतः। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरा हरयः कुमुदो नलः ॥ 55.30 ॥

vidārayantyabhikramya śastrāṇyācchidya vīryataḥ| etasminnantare vīrā harayaḥ kumudo nalaḥ || 55.30 ||

filled all those rakshasas of terrible prowess with fresh spirit; while the monkeys, wielding mighty trees and mighty stones,

Shloka 31 (yuddha.55.31)

मैन्दश्च द्विविदः क्रुद्धाश्चक्रुर्वेगमनुत्तमम्। ते तु वृक्षैर्महावीरा राक्षसानां चमूमुखे ॥ 55.31 ॥

maindaśca dvividaḥ kruddhāścakrurvegamanuttamam| te tu vṛkṣairmahāvīrā rākṣasānāṃ camūmukhe || 55.31 ||

fell upon them, wrenched away their weapons by sheer might, and tore them asunder. Meanwhile, the valiant monkeys Kumuda and Nala,

Shloka 32 (yuddha.55.32)

कदनं सुमहच्चक्रुर्लीलया हरिपुंगवाः। ममन्थू राक्षसान् सर्वे नानाप्रहरणैर्भृशम् ॥ 55.32 ॥

kadanaṃ sumahaccakrurlīlayā haripuṃgavāḥ| mamanthū rākṣasān sarve nānāpraharaṇairbhṛśam || 55.32 ||

and Mainda and Dvivida, enraged, showed unmatched speed; those great heroes advanced, trees in hand, to the very front of the rakshasa army.