Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 58
The Death of Prahasta
Shloka 1 (yuddha.58.1)
ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तं दृष्ट्वा रणकृतोद्यमम्। उवाच सस्मितं रामो विभीषणमरिंदमः ॥ 58.1 ॥
tataḥ prahastaṃ niryāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā raṇakṛtodyamam| uvāca sasmitaṃ rāmo vibhīṣaṇamariṃdamaḥ || 58.1 ||
Then, seeing Prahasta marching out, resolved on battle, Rama, subduer of foes, spoke smilingly to Vibhishana.
Shloka 2 (yuddha.58.2)
क एष सुमहाकायो बलेन महता वृतः। आगच्छति महावेगः किंरूपबलपौरुषः ॥ 58.2 ॥
ka eṣa sumahākāyo balena mahatā vṛtaḥ| āgacchati mahāvegaḥ kiṃrūpabalapauruṣaḥ || 58.2 ||
"Who is this, of such huge frame, surrounded by a mighty host, advancing with tremendous speed -- what is his form, strength, and valor?"
Shloka 3 (yuddha.58.3)
आचक्ष्व मे महाबाहो वीर्यवन्तं निशाचरम्। राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः ॥ 58.3 ॥
ācakṣva me mahābāho vīryavantaṃ niśācaram| rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 58.3 ||
"Tell me, O mighty-armed one, of this valiant night-ranger." Hearing Raghava's words, Vibhishana replied.
Shloka 4 (yuddha.58.4)
एष सेनापतिस्तस्य प्रहस्तो नाम राक्षसः। लङ्कायां राक्षसेन्द्रस्य त्रिभागबलसंवृतः। वीर्यवानस्त्रविच्छूरः सुप्रख्यातपराक्रमः ॥ 58.4 ॥
eṣa senāpatistasya prahasto nāma rākṣasaḥ| laṅkāyāṃ rākṣasendrasya tribhāgabalasaṃvṛtaḥ| vīryavānastravicchūraḥ suprakhyātaparākramaḥ || 58.4 ||
"This is that rakshasa's army-commander, named Prahasta, surrounded here in Lanka by a third part of the demon-lord's forces -- valiant, skilled in weaponry, heroic, and of widely renowned prowess."
Shloka 5 (yuddha.58.5)
ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्। गर्जन्तं सुमहाकायं राक्षसैरभिसंवृतम् ॥ 58.5 ॥
tataḥ prahastaṃ niryāntaṃ bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramam| garjantaṃ sumahākāyaṃ rākṣasairabhisaṃvṛtam || 58.5 ||
Then, as Prahasta marched forth, terrible and of terrible prowess, roaring, huge of body, surrounded by rakshasas --
Shloka 6 (yuddha.58.6)
ददर्श महती सेना वानराणां बलीयसाम्। अभिसंजातघोषाणां प्रहस्तमभिगर्जताम् ॥ 58.6 ॥
dadarśa mahatī senā vānarāṇāṃ balīyasām| abhisaṃjātaghoṣāṇāṃ prahastamabhigarjatām || 58.6 ||
-- the mighty army of powerful monkeys, whose roar had already arisen, saw Prahasta, and roared back at him.
Shloka 7 (yuddha.58.7)
खड्गशक्त्यृष्टिशूलाश्च बाणानि मुसलानि च। गदाश्च परिघाः प्रासा विविधाश्च परश्वधाः ॥ 58.7 ॥
khaḍgaśaktyṛṣṭiśūlāśca bāṇāni musalāni ca| gadāśca parighāḥ prāsā vividhāśca paraśvadhāḥ || 58.7 ||
Swords, spears, javelins and tridents, arrows and clubs, maces, iron bars, lances, and axes of every kind --
Shloka 8 (yuddha.58.8)
धनूंषि च विचित्राणि राक्षसानां जयैषिणाम्। प्रगृहीतान्यराजन्त वानरानभिधावताम् ॥ 58.8 ॥
dhanūṃṣi ca vicitrāṇi rākṣasānāṃ jayaiṣiṇām| pragṛhītānyarājanta vānarānabhidhāvatām || 58.8 ||
-- and richly wrought bows, held aloft by the victory-seeking rakshasas as they charged at the monkeys, gleamed brightly.
Shloka 9 (yuddha.58.9)
जगृहुः पादपांश्चापि पुष्पितांस्तु गिरींस्तथा। शिलाश्च विपुला दीर्घा योद्धुकामाः प्लवंगमाः ॥ 58.9 ॥
jagṛhuḥ pādapāṃścāpi puṣpitāṃstu girīṃstathā| śilāśca vipulā dīrghā yodadhukāmāḥ plavaṃgamāḥ || 58.9 ||
The monkeys, eager to fight, seized flowering trees, mountain-peaks, and vast, massive boulders.
Shloka 10 (yuddha.58.10)
तेषामन्योन्यमासाद्य संग्रामः सुमहानभूत्। बहूनामश्मवृष्टिं च शरवर्षं च वर्षताम् ॥ 58.10 ॥
teṣāmanyonyamāsādya saṃgrāmaḥ sumahānabhūt| bahūnāmaśmavṛṣṭiṃ ca śaravarṣaṃ ca varṣatām || 58.10 ||
As they closed upon one another, a tremendous battle arose, with showers of stones and showers of arrows raining down.
Shloka 11 (yuddha.58.11)
बहवो राक्षसा युद्धे बहून् वानरपुङ्गवान्। वानरा राक्षसांश्चापि निजघ्नुर्बहवो बहून् ॥ 58.11 ॥
bahavo rākṣasā yuddhe bahūn vānarapuṅgavān| vānarā rākṣasāṃścāpi nijaghnurbahavo bahūn || 58.11 ||
In that battle many rakshasas slew many excellent monkeys, and many monkeys likewise slew many rakshasas.
Shloka 12 (yuddha.58.12)
शूलैः प्रमथिताः केचित् केचित् तु परमायुधैः। परिघैराहताः केचित् केचिच्छिन्नाः परश्वधैः ॥ 58.12 ॥
śūlaiḥ pramathitāḥ kecit kecit tu paramāyudhaiḥ| parighairāhatāḥ kecit kecicchinnāḥ paraśvadhaiḥ || 58.12 ||
Some were crushed by tridents, some by other mighty weapons; some were struck down by iron bars, some cut apart by axes.
Shloka 13 (yuddha.58.13)
निरुच्छ्वासाः पुनः केचित् पतिता जगतीतले। विभिन्नहृदयाः केचिदिषुसंधानसाधिताः ॥ 58.13 ॥
nirucchvāsāḥ punaḥ kecit patitā jagatītale| vibhinnahṛdayāḥ kecidiṣusaṃdhānasādhitāḥ || 58.13 ||
Some, breath gone, fell upon the ground; some, their hearts pierced through by well-aimed arrows.
Shloka 14 (yuddha.58.14)
केचिद् द्विधा कृताः खड्गैः स्फुरन्तः पतिता भुवि। वानरा राक्षसैः शूरैः पार्श्वतश्च विदारिताः ॥ 58.14 ॥
kecid dvidhā kṛtāḥ khaḍgaiḥ sphurantaḥ patitā bhuvi| vānarā rākṣasaiḥ śūraiḥ pārśvataśca vidāritāḥ || 58.14 ||
Some, cut in two by swords, fell writhing to the ground; monkeys were torn open at the sides by the valiant rakshasas.
Shloka 15 (yuddha.58.15)
वानरैश्चापि संक्रुद्धै राक्षसौघाः समन्ततः। पादपैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्च सम्पिष्टा वसुधातले ॥ 58.15 ॥
vānaraiścāpi saṃkruddhai rākṣasaughāḥ samantataḥ| pādapairgiriśṛṅgaiśca sampiṣṭā vasudhātale || 58.15 ||
And by the enraged monkeys too, hosts of rakshasas were, on every side, pounded into the earth with trees and mountain-crags.
Shloka 16 (yuddha.58.16)
वज्रस्पर्शतलैर्हस्तैर्मुष्टिभिश्च हता भृशम्। वमन् शोणितमास्येभ्यो विशीर्णदशनेक्षणाः ॥ 58.16 ॥
vajrasparśatalairhastairmuṣṭibhiśca hatā bhṛśam| vaman śoṇitamāsyebhyo viśīrṇadaśanekṣaṇāḥ || 58.16 ||
Struck violently with hands as hard as thunderbolts and with fists, they vomited blood from their mouths, their teeth and eyes shattered.
Shloka 17 (yuddha.58.17)
आर्तस्वनं च स्वनतां सिंहनादं च नर्दताम्। बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो हरीणां रक्षसामपि ॥ 58.17 ॥
ārtasvanaṃ ca svanatāṃ siṃhanādaṃ ca nardatām| babhūva tumulaḥ śabdo harīṇāṃ rakṣasāmapi || 58.17 ||
A tumultuous noise arose, of cries of anguish and of lion-like roars, from both the monkeys and the rakshasas.
Shloka 18 (yuddha.58.18)
वानरा राक्षसाः क्रुद्धा वीरमार्गमनुव्रताः। विवृत्तवदनाः क्रूराश्चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत् ॥ 58.18 ॥
vānarā rākṣasāḥ kruddhā vīramārgamanuvratāḥ| vivṛttavadanāḥ krūrāścakruḥ karmāṇyabhītavat || 58.18 ||
The monkeys and the enraged rakshasas, following the path of heroes, their faces contorted and fierce, performed deeds without fear.
Shloka 19 (yuddha.58.19)
नरान्तकः कुम्भहनुर्महानादः समुन्नतः। एते प्रहस्तसचिवाः सर्वे जघ्नुर्वनौकसः ॥ 58.19 ॥
narāntakaḥ kumbhahanurmahānādaḥ samunnataḥ| ete prahastasacivāḥ sarve jaghnurvanaukasaḥ || 58.19 ||
Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, and lofty Mahanada -- these companions of Prahasta, all together, struck down the forest-dwellers.
Shloka 20 (yuddha.58.20)
तेषां निपततां शीघ्रं निघ्नतां चापि वानरान्। द्विविदो गिरिशृङ्गेण जघानैकं नरान्तकम् ॥ 58.20 ॥
teṣāṃ nipatatāṃ śīghraṃ nighnatāṃ cāpi vānarān| dvivido giriśṛṅgeṇa jaghānaikaṃ narāntakam || 58.20 ||
As they swiftly fell upon and struck down the monkeys, Dvivida struck down Narantaka alone with a mountain-peak.
Shloka 21 (yuddha.58.21)
दुर्मुखः पुनरुत्थाय कपिः सविपुलद्रुमम्। राक्षसं क्षिप्रहस्तं तु समुन्नतमपोथयत् ॥ 58.21 ॥
durmukhaḥ punarutthāya kapiḥ savipuladrumam| rākṣasaṃ kṣiprahastaṃ tu samunnatamapothayat || 58.21 ||
Durmukha the monkey, rising up with a great tree, crushed that tall, swift-handed rakshasa.
Shloka 22 (yuddha.58.22)
जाम्बवांस्तु सुसंक्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य महतीं शिलाम्। पातयामास तेजस्वी महानादस्य वक्षसि ॥ 58.22 ॥
jāmbavāṃstu susaṃkruddhaḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ śilām| pātayāmāsa tejasvī mahānādasya vakṣasi || 58.22 ||
And Jambavan, greatly enraged, seizing a huge rock, the mighty one hurled it upon the chest of Mahanada.
Shloka 23 (yuddha.58.23)
अथ कुम्भहनुस्तत्र तारेणासाद्य वीर्यवान्। वृक्षेण महता सद्यः प्राणान् संत्याजयद् रणे ॥ 58.23 ॥
atha kumbhahanustatra tāreṇāsādya vīryavān| vṛkṣeṇa mahatā sadyaḥ prāṇān saṃtyājayad raṇe || 58.23 ||
Then the valiant Tara, closing with Kumbhahanu there, at once deprived him of life in that battle with a mighty tree.
Shloka 24 (yuddha.58.24)
अमृष्यमाणस्तत्कर्म प्रहस्तो रथमास्थितः। चकार कदनं घोरं धनुष्पाणिर्वनौकसाम् ॥ 58.24 ॥
amṛṣyamāṇastatkarma prahasto rathamāsthitaḥ| cakāra kadanaṃ ghoraṃ dhanuṣpāṇirvanaukasām || 58.24 ||
Unable to bear this, Prahasta, mounted on his chariot, bow in hand, wrought terrible carnage among the forest-dwellers.
Shloka 25 (yuddha.58.25)
आवर्त इव संजज्ञे सेनयोरुभयोस्तदा। क्षुभितस्याप्रमेयस्य सागरस्येव निःस्वनः ॥ 58.25 ॥
āvarta iva saṃjajñe senayorubhayostadā| kṣubhitasyāprameyasya sāgarasyeva niḥsvanaḥ || 58.25 ||
A whirlpool seemed to arise then between the two armies, with a roar like that of the boundless, agitated ocean.
Shloka 26 (yuddha.58.26)
महता हि शरौघेण राक्षसो रणदुर्मदः। अर्दयामास संक्रुद्धो वानरान् परमाहवे ॥ 58.26 ॥
mahatā hi śaraugheṇa rākṣaso raṇadurmadaḥ| ardayāmāsa saṃkruddho vānarān paramāhave || 58.26 ||
With a mighty flood of arrows, that rakshasa, intoxicated with battle-fury, enraged, tormented the monkeys in that great encounter.
Shloka 27 (yuddha.58.27)
वानराणां शरीरैस्तु राक्षसानां च मेदिनी। बभूवातिचिता घोरैः पर्वतैरिव संवृता ॥ 58.27 ॥
vānarāṇāṃ śarīraistu rākṣasānāṃ ca medinī| babhūvāticitā ghoraiḥ parvatairiva saṃvṛtā || 58.27 ||
The earth became densely strewn with the bodies of monkeys and rakshasas, as if covered over with terrible mountains.
Shloka 28 (yuddha.58.28)
सा मही रुधिरौघेण प्रच्छन्ना सम्प्रकाशते। संछन्ना माधवे मासि पलाशैरिव पुष्पितैः ॥ 58.28 ॥
sā mahī rudhiraugheṇa pracchannā samprakāśate| saṃchannā mādhave māsi palāśairiva puṣpitaiḥ || 58.28 ||
That earth, covered by a flood of blood, shone forth as if covered, in the month of Madhava, with blossoming palasha flowers.
Shloka 29 (yuddha.58.29)
हतवीरौघवप्रां तु भग्नायुधमहाद्रुमाम्। शोणितौघमहातोयां यमसागरगामिनीम् ॥ 58.29 ॥
hatavīraughavaprāṃ tu bhagnāyudhamahādrumām| śoṇitaughamahātoyāṃ yamasāgaragāminīm || 58.29 ||
[The battlefield became like a river] whose banks were the fallen host of heroes, whose great trees were the broken weapons, whose great waters were the flood of blood, flowing on toward the ocean of Yama --
Shloka 30 (yuddha.58.30)
यकृत् प्लीहमहापङ्कां विनिकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम्। भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम् ॥ 58.30 ॥
yakṛt plīhamahāpaṅkāṃ vinikīrṇāntraśaivalām| bhinnakāyaśiromīnāmaṅgāvayavaśādvalām || 58.30 ||
-- whose great mire was liver and spleen, whose moss was scattered entrails, whose fish were severed bodies and heads, whose grass was scattered limbs --
Shloka 31 (yuddha.58.31)
गृध्रहंसवराकीर्णां कङ्कसारससेविताम्। मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामार्तस्तनितनिःस्वनाम् ॥ 58.31 ॥
gṛdhrahaṃsavarākīrṇāṃ kaṅkasārasasevitām| medaḥphenasamākīrṇāmārtastanitaniḥsvanām || 58.31 ||
-- thronged with vultures instead of swans, frequented by herons and cranes, foaming with fat, and resounding with cries of anguish instead of thunder --
Shloka 32 (yuddha.58.32)
तां कापुरुषदुस्तारां युद्धभूमिमयीं नदीम्। नदीमिव घनापाये हंससारससेविताम् ॥ 58.32 ॥
tāṃ kāpuruṣadustārāṃ yuddhabhūmimayīṃ nadīm| nadīmiva ghanāpāye haṃsasārasasevitām || 58.32 ||
-- that river which was the battlefield, impassable for cowards, frequented by swans and cranes like a river when the rains have passed --
Shloka 33 (yuddha.58.33)
राक्षसाः कपिमुख्यास्ते तेरुस्तां दुस्तरां नदीम्। यथा पद्मरजोध्वस्तां नलिनीं गजयूथपाः ॥ 58.33 ॥
rākṣasāḥ kapimukhyāste terustāṃ dustarāṃ nadīm| yathā padmarajodhvastāṃ nalinīṃ gajayūthapāḥ || 58.33 ||
-- the rakshasas and the foremost monkeys crossed that hard-to-cross river, as lordly elephants cross a lotus-pond churned up with lotus-pollen.
Shloka 34 (yuddha.58.34)
ततः सृजन्तं बाणौघान् प्रहस्तं स्यन्दने स्थितम्। ददर्श तरसा नीलो विधमन्तं प्लवंगमान् ॥ 58.34 ॥
tataḥ sṛjantaṃ bāṇaughān prahastaṃ syandane sthitam| dadarśa tarasā nīlo vidhamantaṃ plavaṃgamān || 58.34 ||
Then Nila swiftly saw Prahasta, stationed on his chariot, discharging floods of arrows and scattering the monkeys.
Shloka 35 (yuddha.58.35)
उद्धूत इव वायुः खे महदभ्रबलं बलात्। समीक्ष्याभिद्रुतं युद्धे प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः ॥ 58.35 ॥
uddhūta iva vāyuḥ khe mahadabhrabalaṃ balāt| samīkṣyābhidrutaṃ yuddhe prahasto vāhinīpatiḥ || 58.35 ||
Like wind violently scattering a mass of clouds in the sky, Prahasta, commander of the army, seeing him rushing forward in that fight --
Shloka 36 (yuddha.58.36)
रथेनादित्यवर्णेन नीलमेवाभिदुद्रुवे। स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो विकृष्य परमाहवे ॥ 58.36 ॥
rathenādityavarṇena nīlamevābhidudruve| sa dhanurdhanvināṃ śreṣṭho vikṛṣya paramāhave || 58.36 ||
-- charged straight at Nila with his sun-hued chariot; he, the foremost of bowmen, having drawn his bow in that great battle --
Shloka 37 (yuddha.58.37)
नीलाय व्यसृजद् बाणान् प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः। ते प्राप्य विशिखा नीलं विनिर्भिद्य समाहिताः ॥ 58.37 ॥
nīlāya vyasṛjad bāṇān prahasto vāhinīpatiḥ| te prāpya viśikhā nīlaṃ vinirbhidya samāhitāḥ || 58.37 ||
-- Prahasta, the army's commander, loosed his arrows at Nila; and those well-aimed shafts, reaching Nila, pierced through him --
Shloka 38 (yuddha.58.38)
महीं जग्मुर्महावेगा रोषिता इव पन्नगाः। नीलः शरैरभिहतो निशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः ॥ 58.38 ॥
mahīṃ jagmurmahāvegā roṣitā iva pannagāḥ| nīlaḥ śarairabhihato niśitairjvalanopamaiḥ || 58.38 ||
-- sped on into the earth with great force, like angered serpents. Nila, struck by those sharp, fire-like arrows --
Shloka 39 (yuddha.58.39)
स तं परमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तं महाकपिः। प्रहस्तं ताडयामास वृक्षमुत्पाट्य वीर्यवान् ॥ 58.39 ॥
sa taṃ paramadurdharṣamāpatantaṃ mahākapiḥ| prahastaṃ tāḍayāmāsa vṛkṣamutpāṭya vīryavān || 58.39 ||
-- that valiant great monkey, uprooting a tree, struck the very redoubtable Prahasta as he came rushing on.
Shloka 40 (yuddha.58.40)
स तेनाभिहतः क्रुद्धो नर्दन् राक्षसपुंगवः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि प्लवंगानां चमूपतौ ॥ 58.40 ॥
sa tenābhihataḥ kruddho nardan rākṣasapuṃgavaḥ| vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi plavaṃgānāṃ camūpatau || 58.40 ||
Struck by that, the enraged bull among rakshasas, roaring, rained showers of arrows upon the commander of the monkey host.
Shloka 41 (yuddha.58.41)
तस्य बाणगणानेव राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः। अपारयन् वारयितुं प्रत्यगृह्णान्निमीलितः। यथैव गोवृषो वर्षं शारदं शीघ्रमागतम् ॥ 58.41 ॥
tasya bāṇagaṇāneva rākṣasasya durātmanaḥ| apārayan vārayituṃ pratyagṛhṇānnimīlitaḥ| yathaiva govṛṣo varṣaṃ śāradaṃ śīghramāgatam || 58.41 ||
Unable to ward off the multitude of that evil-souled rakshasa's arrows, he received them with eyes closed, as a bull endures a sudden autumn downpour.
Shloka 42 (yuddha.58.42)
एवमेव प्रहस्तस्य शरवर्षान् दुरासदान्। निमीलिताक्षः सहसा नीलः सेहे दुरासदान् ॥ 58.42 ॥
evameva prahastasya śaravarṣān durāsadān| nimīlitākṣaḥ sahasā nīlaḥ sehe durāsadān || 58.42 ||
In just this way Nila, his eyes closed, suddenly endured Prahasta's unbearable, unassailable showers of arrows.
Shloka 43 (yuddha.58.43)
रोषितः शरवर्षेण सालेन महता महान्। प्रजघान हयान् नीलः प्रहस्तस्य महाबलः ॥ 58.43 ॥
roṣitaḥ śaravarṣeṇa sālena mahatā mahān| prajaghāna hayān nīlaḥ prahastasya mahābalaḥ || 58.43 ||
Enraged by that shower of arrows, the mighty and powerful Nila struck down Prahasta's horses with a great sal tree.
Shloka 44 (yuddha.58.44)
ततो रोषपरीतात्मा धनुस्तस्य दुरात्मनः। बभञ्ज तरसा नीलो ननाद च पुनः पुनः ॥ 58.44 ॥
tato roṣaparītātmā dhanustasya durātmanaḥ| babhañja tarasā nīlo nanāda ca punaḥ punaḥ || 58.44 ||
Then, overcome with fury, Nila swiftly broke that evil-souled one's bow, and roared again and again.
Shloka 45 (yuddha.58.45)
विधनुः स कृतस्तेन प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः। प्रगृह्य मुसलं घोरं स्यन्दनादवपुप्लुवे ॥ 58.45 ॥
vidhanuḥ sa kṛtastena prahasto vāhinīpatiḥ| pragṛhya musalaṃ ghoraṃ syandanādavapupluve || 58.45 ||
Thus rendered bowless, Prahasta, commander of the army, seizing a terrible mace, leapt down from his chariot.
Shloka 46 (yuddha.58.46)
तावुभौ वाहिनीमुख्यौ जातवैरौ तरस्विनौ। स्थितौ क्षतजसिक्ताङ्गौ प्रभिन्नाविव कुञ्जरौ ॥ 58.46 ॥
tāvubhau vāhinīmukhyau jātavairau tarasvinau| sthitau kṣatajasiktāṅgau prabhinnāviva kuñjarau || 58.46 ||
Those two chiefs of their armies, now sworn enemies and both swift, stood there, their bodies drenched in blood, like two rutting elephants.
Shloka 47 (yuddha.58.47)
उल्लिखन्तौ सुतीक्ष्णाभिर्दंष्ट्राभिरितरेतरम्। सिंहशार्दूलसदृशौ सिंहशार्दूलचेष्टितौ ॥ 58.47 ॥
ullikhantau sutīkṣṇābhirdaṃṣṭrābhiritaretaram| siṃhaśārdūlasadṛśau siṃhaśārdūlaceṣṭitau || 58.47 ||
Goring one another with sharp tusks, they resembled a lion and a tiger, acting as a lion and a tiger act.
Shloka 48 (yuddha.58.48)
विक्रान्तविजयौ वीरौ समरेष्वनिवर्तिनौ। काङ्क्षमाणौ यशः प्राप्तुं वृत्रवासवयोरिव ॥ 58.48 ॥
vikrāntavijayau vīrau samareṣvanivartinau| kāṅkṣamāṇau yaśaḥ prāptuṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva || 58.48 ||
Both heroes, whose victories came through valor, who never retreated in battle, longed for fame, like Vritra and Vasava of old.
Shloka 49 (yuddha.58.49)
आजघान तदा नीलं ललाटे मुसलेन सः। प्रहस्तः परमायत्तस्ततः सुस्राव शोणितम् ॥ 58.49 ॥
ājaghāna tadā nīlaṃ lalāṭe musalena saḥ| prahastaḥ paramāyattastataḥ susrāva śoṇitam || 58.49 ||
Then Prahasta, exerting himself to the utmost, struck Nila on the forehead with his mace, and blood flowed forth.
Shloka 50 (yuddha.58.50)
ततः शोणितदिग्धाङ्गः प्रगृह्य च महातरुम्। प्रहस्तस्योरसि क्रुद्धो विससर्ज महाकपिः ॥ 58.50 ॥
tataḥ śoṇitadigdhāṅgaḥ pragṛhya ca mahātarum| prahastasyorasi kruddho visasarja mahākapiḥ || 58.50 ||
Then the great monkey, his body smeared with blood, seizing a huge tree, hurled it in fury upon Prahasta's chest.
Shloka 51 (yuddha.58.51)
तमचिन्त्यप्रहारं स प्रगृह्य मुसलं महत्। अभिदुद्राव बलिनं बलान्नीलं प्लवङ्गमम् ॥ 58.51 ॥
tamacintyaprahāraṃ sa pragṛhya musalaṃ mahat| abhidudrāva balinaṃ balānnīlaṃ plavaṅgamam || 58.51 ||
He, of inconceivable blows, seizing his great mace, forcibly rushed at the powerful monkey Nila.
Shloka 52 (yuddha.58.52)
तमुग्रवेगं संरब्धमापतन्तं महाकपिः। ततः सम्प्रेक्ष्य जग्राह महावेगो महाशिलाम् ॥ 58.52 ॥
tamugravegaṃ saṃrabdhamāpatantaṃ mahākapiḥ| tataḥ samprekṣya jagrāha mahāvego mahāśilām || 58.52 ||
The great monkey, seeing him rushing on with fierce speed and fury, then, himself of great speed, seized a huge boulder.
Shloka 53 (yuddha.58.53)
तस्य युद्धाभिकामस्य मृधे मुसलयोधिनः। प्रहस्तस्य शिलां नीलो मूर्ध्नि तूर्णमपातयत् ॥ 58.53 ॥
tasya yuddhābhikāmasya mṛdhe musalayodhinaḥ| prahastasya śilāṃ nīlo mūrdhni tūrṇamapātayat || 58.53 ||
Nila swiftly hurled that boulder upon the head of Prahasta, the mace-warrior, who was so eager for battle in that combat.
Shloka 54 (yuddha.58.54)
नीलेन कपिमुख्येन विमुक्ता महती शिला। बिभेद बहुधा घोरा प्रहस्तस्य शिरस्तदा ॥ 58.54 ॥
nīlena kapimukhyena vimuktā mahatī śilā| bibheda bahudhā ghorā prahastasya śirastadā || 58.54 ||
That terrible, huge boulder, released by Nila, chief of monkeys, shattered Prahasta's head into many pieces.
Shloka 55 (yuddha.58.55)
स गतासुर्गतश्रीको गतसत्त्वो गतेन्द्रियः। पपात सहसा भूमौ छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः ॥ 58.55 ॥
sa gatāsurgataśrīko gatasattvo gatendriyaḥ| papāta sahasā bhūmau chinnamūla iva drumaḥ || 58.55 ||
Bereft of life, of glory, of vigor, and of his senses, he fell suddenly to the ground, like a tree severed at its roots.
Shloka 56 (yuddha.58.56)
विभिन्नशिरसस्तस्य बहु सुस्राव शोणितम्। शरीरादपि सुस्राव गिरेः प्रस्रवणं यथा ॥ 58.56 ॥
vibhinnaśirasastasya bahu susrāva śoṇitam| śarīrādapi susrāva gireḥ prasravaṇaṃ yathā || 58.56 ||
From his shattered head much blood flowed, and from his body too it flowed, like a mountain stream.
Shloka 57 (yuddha.58.57)
हते प्रहस्ते नीलेन तदकम्प्यं महाबलम्। राक्षसानामहृष्टानां लङ्कामभिजगाम ह ॥ 58.57 ॥
hate prahaste nīlena tadakampyaṃ mahābalam| rākṣasānāmahṛṣṭānāṃ laṅkāmabhijagāma ha || 58.57 ||
When Prahasta was slain by Nila, that mighty, once-immovable host of rakshasas, now dejected, returned toward Lanka.
Shloka 58 (yuddha.58.58)
न शेकुः समवस्थातुं निहते वाहिनीपतौ। सेतुबन्धं समासाद्य विशीर्णं सलिलं यथा ॥ 58.58 ॥
na śekuḥ samavasthātuṃ nihate vāhinīpatau| setubandhaṃ samāsādya viśīrṇaṃ salilaṃ yathā || 58.58 ||
With their commander slain, they could not hold their ground, like a flood of water that scatters when it reaches a broken dam.
Shloka 59 (yuddha.58.59)
हते तस्मिंश्चमूमुख्ये राक्षसास्ते निरुद्यमाः। रक्षःपतिगृहं गत्वा ध्यानमूकत्वमागताः ॥ 58.59 ॥
hate tasmiṃścamūmukhye rākṣasāste nirudyamāḥ| rakṣaḥpatigṛhaṃ gatvā dhyānamūkatvamāgatāḥ || 58.59 ||
With that army-chief slain, those rakshasas, all energy spent, went to the demon-lord's palace and fell into silent, brooding thought.
Shloka 60 (yuddha.58.60)
प्राप्ताः शोकार्णवं तीव्रं विसंज्ञा इव तेऽभवन् ततस्तु नीलो विजयी महाबलः प्रशस्यमानः सुकृतेन कर्मणा। समेत्य रामेण सलक्ष्मणेन प्रहृष्टरूपस्तु बभूव यूथपः ॥ 58.60 ॥
prāptāḥ śokārṇavaṃ tīvraṃ visaṃjñā iva te'bhavan tatastu nīlo vijayī mahābalaḥ praśasyamānaḥ sukṛtena karmaṇā| sametya rāmeṇa salakṣmaṇena prahṛṣṭarūpastu babhūva yūthapaḥ || 58.60 ||
Plunged into a sea of intense grief, they became as if senseless. Then the mighty and victorious Nila, praised for his valorous deed, met with Rama and Lakshmana, and that troop-leader's countenance filled with joy.