The Rakshasas Extol Ravana's Might

Shloka 1 (yuddha.7.1)

इत्युक्ता राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसास्ते महाबलाः । ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम् ॥ 7.1 ॥

ityuktā rākṣasendreṇa rākṣasāste mahābalāḥ | ūcuḥ prāñjalayaḥ sarve rāvaṇaṃ rākṣaseśvaram || 7.1 ||

Thus addressed by the lord of the rakshasas, those mighty rakshasas, all with joined palms, spoke to Ravana, the king of the rakshasas.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.7.2)

द्विषत्पक्षमविज्ञाय नीतिबाह्यास्त्वबुद्धयः । राजन् परिघशक्त्यृष्टिशूलपट्टिशकुन्तलम् ॥ 7.2 ॥

dviṣatpakṣamavijñāya nītibāhyāstvabuddhayaḥ | rājan parighaśaktyṛṣṭiśūlapaṭṭiśakuntalam || 7.2 ||

Without knowing the strength of the enemy's side, those unwise ones, devoid of sound policy, said: 'O king, our army, armed with iron clubs, javelins, spears, tridents, and pointed lances,

Shloka 3 (yuddha.7.3)

सुमहन्नो बलं कस्माद् विषादं भजते भवान् । त्वया भोगवतीं गत्वा निर्जिताः पन्नगा युधि ॥ 7.3 ॥

sumahanno balaṃ kasmād viṣādaṃ bhajate bhavān | tvayā bhogavatīṃ gatvā nirjitāḥ pannagā yudhi || 7.3 ||

is exceedingly vast — why then do you fall into despair? You went to Bhogavati and conquered the serpent-folk there in battle.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.7.4)

कैलासशिखरावासी यक्षैर्बहुभिरावृतः । सुमहत्कदनं कृत्वा वश्यस्ते धनदः कृतः ॥ 7.4 ॥

kailāsaśikharāvāsī yakṣairbahubhirāvṛtaḥ | sumahatkadanaṃ kṛtvā vaśyaste dhanadaḥ kṛtaḥ || 7.4 ||

Kubera, the bestower of wealth, who dwells on the peak of Kailasa surrounded by many yakshas, was also brought under your sway after a mighty battle.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.7.5)

स महेश्वरसख्येन श्लाघमानस्त्वया विभो । निर्जितः समरे रोषाल्लोकपालो महाबलः ॥ 7.5 ॥

sa maheśvarasakhyena ślāghamānastvayā vibho | nirjitaḥ samare roṣāllokapālo mahābalaḥ || 7.5 ||

O lord, that mighty guardian of the world, who boasted of his friendship with Maheshvara, was overpowered in battle by your wrath.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.7.6)

विनिपात्य च यक्षौघान् विक्षोभ्य विनिगृह्य च । त्वया कैलासशिखराद् विमानमिदमाहृतम् ॥ 7.6 ॥

vinipātya ca yakṣaughān vikṣobhya vinigṛhya ca | tvayā kailāsaśikharād vimānamidamāhṛtam || 7.6 ||

Having felled the hosts of yakshas, thrown them into confusion and subdued them, you carried off this very aerial chariot from the peak of Kailasa.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.7.7)

मयेन दानवेन्द्रेण त्वद्भयात् सख्यमिच्छता । दुहिता तव भार्यार्थे दत्ता राक्षसपुङ्गव ॥ 7.7 ॥

mayena dānavendreṇa tvadbhayāt sakhyamicchatā | duhitā tava bhāryārthe dattā rākṣasapuṅgava || 7.7 ||

O bull among rakshasas, the danava-lord Maya, fearing you and desiring your friendship, gave you his own daughter in marriage.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.7.8)

दानवेन्द्रो महाबाहो वीर्योत्सिक्तो दुरासदः । विगृह्य वशमानीतः कुम्भीनस्याः सुखावहः ॥ 7.8 ॥

dānavendro mahābāho vīryotsikto durāsadaḥ | vigṛhya vaśamānītaḥ kumbhīnasyāḥ sukhāvahaḥ || 7.8 ||

O mighty-armed one, that lord of danavas — the bringer of joy to Kumbhinasi, proud of his valour and hard to subdue — was likewise brought under your sway after battle.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.7.9)

निर्जितास्ते महाबाहो नागा गत्वा रसातलम् । वासुकिस्तक्षकः शङ्खो जटी च वशमाहृताः ॥ 7.9 ॥

nirjitāste mahābāho nāgā gatvā rasātalam | vāsukistakṣakaḥ śaṅkho jaṭī ca vaśamāhṛtāḥ || 7.9 ||

O mighty-armed one, descending to Rasatala, you conquered the serpent-lords Vasuki, Takshaka, Shankha, and Jati, and brought them under your sway.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.7.10)

अक्षया बलवन्तश्च शूरा लब्धवराः पुनः । त्वया संवत्सरं युद्ध्वा समरे दानवा विभो ॥ 7.10 ॥

akṣayā balavantaśca śūrā labdhavarāḥ punaḥ | tvayā saṃvatsaraṃ yuddhvā samare dānavā vibho || 7.10 ||

O lord, against danavas who were undying, mighty, valiant, and armed with boons, you fought for a whole year,

Shloka 11 (yuddha.7.11)

स्वबलं समुपाश्रित्य नीता वशमरिंदम । मायाश्चाधिगतास्तत्र बह्व्यो वै राक्षसाधिप ॥ 7.11 ॥

svabalaṃ samupāśritya nītā vaśamariṃdama | māyāścādhigatāstatra bahvyo vai rākṣasādhipa || 7.11 ||

and, O tamer of foes, O lord of rakshasas, relying solely on your own strength, brought them into submission — and there you also mastered their many magical powers.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.7.12)

शूराश्च बलवन्तश्च वरुणस्य सुता रणे । निर्जितास्ते महाभाग चतुर्विधबलानुगाः ॥ 7.12 ॥

śūrāśca balavantaśca varuṇasya sutā raṇe | nirjitāste mahābhāga caturvidhabalānugāḥ || 7.12 ||

O illustrious one, Varuna's sons too, valiant and mighty, attended by an army of four divisions, were vanquished by you in battle.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.7.13)

मृत्युदण्डमहाग्राहं शाल्मलीद्रुममण्डितम् । कालपाशमहावीचिं यमकिंकरपन्नगम् ॥ 7.13 ॥

mṛtyudaṇḍamahāgrāhaṃ śālmalīdrumamaṇḍitam | kālapāśamahāvīciṃ yamakiṃkarapannagam || 7.13 ||

With its huge alligator in the form of Death's own rod of punishment, adorned with silk-cotton trees, its mighty billow the very noose of Time, and its serpents the attendants of Yama —

Shloka 14 (yuddha.7.14)

महाज्वरेण दुर्धर्षं यमलोकमहार्णवम् । अवगाह्य त्वया राजन् यमस्य बलसागरम् ॥ 7.14 ॥

mahājvareṇa durdharṣaṃ yamalokamahārṇavam | avagāhya tvayā rājan yamasya balasāgaram || 7.14 ||

having plunged, O king, into that ocean of Yama's forces, the realm of Yama itself, made forbidding by its terrible fever —

Shloka 15 (yuddha.7.15)

जयश्च विपुलः प्राप्तो मृत्युश्च प्रतिषेधितः । सुयुद्धेन च ते सर्वे लोकस्तत्र सुतोषिताः ॥ 7.15 ॥

jayaśca vipulaḥ prāpto mṛtyuśca pratiṣedhitaḥ | suyuddhena ca te sarve lokastatra sutoṣitāḥ || 7.15 ||

you won there a vast victory and drove back Death itself; and by that splendid battle, all the worlds there were greatly delighted.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.7.16)

क्षत्रियैर्बहुभिर्वीरैः शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमैः । आसीद् वसुमती पूर्णा महद्भिरिव पादपैः ॥ 7.16 ॥

kṣatriyairbahubhirvīraiḥ śakratulyaparākramaiḥ | āsīd vasumatī pūrṇā mahadbhiriva pādapaiḥ || 7.16 ||

The earth was filled with many valiant kshatriyas of prowess equal to Indra's, as though thickly covered with great trees.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.7.17)

तेषां वीर्यगुणोत्साहैर्न समो राघवो रणे । प्रसह्य ते त्वया राजन् हताः समरदुर्जयाः ॥ 7.17 ॥

teṣāṃ vīryaguṇotsāhairna samo rāghavo raṇe | prasahya te tvayā rājan hatāḥ samaradurjayāḥ || 7.17 ||

Rama is no match for them in valour, virtue, and vigour in battle; yet those very warriors, unconquerable in war, were overpowered and slain by you, O king.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.7.18)

तिष्ठ वा किं महाराज श्रमेण तव वानरान् । अयमेको महाबाहुरिन्द्रजित् क्षपयिष्यति ॥ 7.18 ॥

tiṣṭha vā kiṃ mahārāja śrameṇa tava vānarān | ayameko mahābāhurindrajit kṣapayiṣyati || 7.18 ||

Remain at ease, great king — why should you trouble yourself? This mighty-armed Indrajit alone will destroy the monkeys.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.7.19)

अनेन च महाराज माहेश्वरमनुत्तमम् । इष्ट्वा यज्ञं वरो लब्धो लोके परमदुर्लभः ॥ 7.19 ॥

anena ca mahārāja māheśvaramanuttamam | iṣṭvā yajñaṃ varo labdho loke paramadurlabhaḥ || 7.19 ||

Great king, this very son of yours, having performed a supreme sacrifice to Maheshvara, obtained a boon most rare to find in this world.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.7.20)

शक्तितोमरमीनं च विनिकीर्णान्त्रशैवलम् । गजकच्छपसम्बाधमश्वमण्डूकसंकुलम् ॥ 7.20 ॥

śaktitomaramīnaṃ ca vinikīrṇāntraśaivalam | gajakacchapasambādhamaśvamaṇḍūkasaṃkulam || 7.20 ||

with javelins and lances for fish, scattered entrails for its water-weeds, crowded with elephants for tortoises, teeming with horses for frogs,

Shloka 21 (yuddha.7.21)

रुद्रादित्यमहाग्राहं मरुद्वसुमहोरगम् । रथाश्वगजतोयौघं पदातिपुलिनं महत् ॥ 7.21 ॥

rudrādityamahāgrāhaṃ marudvasumahoragam | rathāśvagajatoyaughaṃ padātipulinaṃ mahat || 7.21 ||

with the Rudras and Adityas as its great alligators, the Maruts and Vasus as its huge serpents, chariots, horses, and elephants as its flood of waters, and a vast shore of infantry —

Shloka 22 (yuddha.7.22)

अनेन हि समासाद्य देवानां बलसागरम् । गृहीतो दैवतपतिर्लङ्कां चापि प्रवेशितः ॥ 7.22 ॥

anena hi samāsādya devānāṃ balasāgaram | gṛhīto daivatapatirlaṅkāṃ cāpi praveśitaḥ || 7.22 ||

approaching that very ocean of the army of the gods, it was he who seized the lord of the gods and brought him into Lanka.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.7.23)

पितामहनियोगाच्च मुक्तः शम्बरवृत्रहा । गतस्त्रिविष्टपं राजन् सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः ॥ 7.23 ॥

pitāmahaniyogācca muktaḥ śambaravṛtrahā | gatastriviṣṭapaṃ rājan sarvadevanamaskṛtaḥ || 7.23 ||

O king, it was only by grandfather Brahma's command that Indra, the slayer of Shambara and Vritra, was released; then, revered by all the gods, he returned to heaven.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.7.24)

तमेव त्वं महाराज विसृजेन्द्रजितं सुतम् । यावद् वानरसेनां तां सरामां नयति क्षयम् ॥ 7.24 ॥

tameva tvaṃ mahārāja visṛjendrajitaṃ sutam | yāvad vānarasenāṃ tāṃ sarāmāṃ nayati kṣayam || 7.24 ||

Send forth, great king, that same son Indrajit, that he may bring that army of monkeys, together with Rama, to destruction.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.7.25)

राजन्नापदयुक्तेयमागता प्राकृताज्जनात् । हृदि नैव त्वया कार्या त्वं वधिष्यसि राघवम् ॥ 7.25 ॥

rājannāpadayukteyamāgatā prākṛtājjanāt | hṛdi naiva tvayā kāryā tvaṃ vadhiṣyasi rāghavam || 7.25 ||

O king, this trouble that has come is from a mere ordinary man — do not take it to heart. You yourself will slay Raghava.