Indrajit's Sacrifice and the Rout of the Monkey Army

Shloka 1 (yuddha.73.1)

ततो हतान्राक्षसपुङ्गवांस्तान् । देवान्तकादित्रिशिरोऽतिकायान् । रक्षोगणास्तत्र हतावशिष्टास् । ते रावणाय त्वरितं शशंसुः ॥ 73.1 ॥

tato hatānrākṣasapuṅgavāṃstān | devāntakāditriśiro'tikāyān | rakṣogaṇāstatra hatāvaśiṣṭās | te rāvaṇāya tvaritaṃ śaśaṃsuḥ || 73.1 ||

Then the surviving rakshasa troops swiftly reported to Ravana that those bulls among rakshasas -- Devantaka, Trishira, Atikaya, and the others -- had been slain.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.73.2)

ततो हतांस्तान्सहसा निशम्य । राजा मुमोहाश्रुपरिप्लुताक्षः । पुत्रक्षयं भ्रातृवधं च घोरं । विचिन्त्य राजा विपुलं प्रदध्यौ ॥ 73.2 ॥

tato hatāṃstānsahasā niśamya | rājā mumohāśrupariplutākṣaḥ | putrakṣayaṃ bhrātṛvadhaṃ ca ghoraṃ | vicintya rājā vipulaṃ pradadhyau || 73.2 ||

Suddenly hearing of their deaths, the king swooned, his eyes streaming with tears; brooding on the loss of his son and the terrible slaying of his brothers, the king fell into deep and prolonged thought.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.73.3)

ततस्तु राजानमुदीक्ष्य दीनं । शोकार्णवे सम्परिपुप्लुवानम् । अथर्षभो राक्षसराजसूनुर् । अथेन्द्रजिद्वाक्यमिदं बभाषे ॥ 73.3 ॥

tatastu rājānamudīkṣya dīnaṃ | śokārṇave samparipupluvānam | atharṣabho rākṣasarājasūnur | athendrajidvākyamidaṃ babhāṣe || 73.3 ||

Then, seeing the king wretched, wholly submerged in a sea of grief, that bull among the sons of the demon-king, Indrajit, spoke these words:

Shloka 4 (yuddha.73.4)

न तात मोहं प्रतिगन्तुमर्हसि । यत्रेन्द्रजिज्जीवति राक्षसेन्द्र । नेन्द्रारिबाणाभिहतो हि कश् चित् । प्राणान्समर्थः समरेऽभिधर्तुम् ॥ 73.4 ॥

na tāta mohaṃ pratigantumarhasi | yatrendrajijjīvati rākṣasendra | nendrāribāṇābhihato hi kaś cit | prāṇānsamarthaḥ samare'bhidhartum || 73.4 ||

'Father, O king of demons! You need not fall into despair while Indrajit yet lives. For no one struck by the arrows of Indra's foe can hold on to his life in battle.'

Shloka 5 (yuddha.73.5)

पश्याद्य रामं सहलक्ष्मणेन । मद्बाणनिर्भिन्नविकीर्णदेहम् । गतायुषं भूमितले शयानं । शरैः शितैराचितसर्वगात्रम् ॥ 73.5 ॥

paśyādya rāmaṃ sahalakṣmaṇena | madbāṇanirbhinnavikīrṇadeham | gatāyuṣaṃ bhūmitale śayānaṃ | śaraiḥ śitairācitasarvagātram || 73.5 ||

'This day you shall see Rama, together with Lakshmana, their bodies torn and scattered by my arrows, lifeless, lying upon the ground, every limb pierced with my sharp shafts.'

Shloka 6 (yuddha.73.6)

इमां प्रतिज्ञां शृणु शक्रशत्रोः । सुनिश्चितां पौरुषदैवयुक्ताम् । अद्यैव रामं सहलक्ष्मणेन । सन्तापयिष्यामि शरैरमोघैः ॥ 73.6 ॥

imāṃ pratijñāṃ śṛṇu śakraśatroḥ | suniścitāṃ pauruṣadaivayuktām | adyaiva rāmaṃ sahalakṣmaṇena | santāpayiṣyāmi śarairamoghaiḥ || 73.6 ||

'Hear this firm resolve of Indra's foe, backed by both valour and destiny: this very day I shall torment Rama, together with Lakshmana, with my unerring arrows.'

Shloka 7 (yuddha.73.7)

अद्येन्द्रवैवस्वतविष्णुमित्र । साध्याश्विवैश्वानरचन्द्रसूर्याः । द्रक्ष्यन्ति मे विक्रममप्रमेयं । विष्णोरिवोग्रं बलियज्ञवाटे ॥ 73.7 ॥

adyendravaivasvataviṣṇumitra | sādhyāśvivaiśvānaracandrasūryāḥ | drakṣyanti me vikramamaprameyaṃ | viṣṇorivograṃ baliyajñavāṭe || 73.7 ||

'This day Indra, Yama, Vishnu, Mitra, the Sadhyas, the Ashvins, Agni, the moon and the sun shall behold my measureless valour, terrible as Vishnu's in Bali's sacrificial enclosure.'

Shloka 8 (yuddha.73.8)

स एवमुक्त्वा त्रिदशेन्द्रशत्रुर् । आपृच्छ्य राजानमदीनसत्त्वः । समारुरोहानिलतुल्यवेगं । रथं खरश्रेष्ठसमाधियुक्तम् ॥ 73.8 ॥

sa evamuktvā tridaśendraśatrur | āpṛcchya rājānamadīnasattvaḥ | samārurohānilatulyavegaṃ | rathaṃ kharaśreṣṭhasamādhiyuktam || 73.8 ||

So saying, that foe of the lord of the thirty gods, undaunted in spirit, took leave of the king, and mounted his chariot, swift as the wind, yoked with the finest of donkeys.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.73.9)

समास्थाय महातेजा रथं हरिरथोपमम् । जगाम सहसा तत्र यत्र युद्धमरिन्दम ॥ 73.9 ॥

samāsthāya mahātejā rathaṃ harirathopamam | jagāma sahasā tatra yatra yuddhamarindama || 73.9 ||

Mounted on that chariot, resembling the chariot of the sun, that mighty-splendoured tamer of foes went swiftly to where the battle raged.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.73.10)

तं प्रस्थितं महात्मानमनुजग्मुर्महाबलाः । संहर्षमाणा बहवो धनुःप्रवरपाणयः ॥ 73.10 ॥

taṃ prasthitaṃ mahātmānamanujagmurmahābalāḥ | saṃharṣamāṇā bahavo dhanuḥpravarapāṇayaḥ || 73.10 ||

As that great one set forth, many mighty demons followed him, exulting, excellent bows in hand,

Shloka 11 (yuddha.73.11)

गजस्कन्धगताः के चित्के चित्परमवाजिभिः । व्याघ्रवृश्चिकमार्जारखरोष्ट्ट्रैश्च भुजम्गमैः ॥ 73.11 ॥

gajaskandhagatāḥ ke citke citparamavājibhiḥ | vyāghravṛścikamārjārakharoṣṭṭraiśca bhujamgamaiḥ || 73.11 ||

some mounted on the shoulders of elephants, some on splendid horses, and others upon tigers, scorpions, cats, donkeys, camels, and serpents,

Shloka 12 (yuddha.73.12)

वराहैः श्वापदैः सिम्हैर्जम्बुकैः पर्वतोपमैः । काकहंसमयूरैश्च राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः ॥ 73.12 ॥

varāhaiḥ śvāpadaiḥ simhairjambukaiḥ parvatopamaiḥ | kākahaṃsamayūraiśca rākṣasā bhīmavikramāḥ || 73.12 ||

those rakshasas of terrible prowess rode too on boars, wild beasts, lions, jackals huge as mountains, and on crows, swans, and peacocks,

Shloka 13 (yuddha.73.13)

प्रासमुद्गरनिस्त्रिंश परश्वधगदाधराः । भुशुण्डिमुद्गरायष्टिशतग्नीपरिघायुधाः ॥ 73.13 ॥

prāsamudgaranistriṃśa paraśvadhagadādharāḥ | bhuśuṇḍimudgarāyaṣṭiśatagnīparighāyudhāḥ || 73.13 ||

bearing lances, hammers, swords, axes and maces, armed with bhushundis, clubs, staves, shataghnis, and iron bars.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.73.14)

स शङ्खनिनदैर्भीमैर्भेरीणां च महास्वनैः । जगाम त्रिदशेन्द्रारिः स्तूयमानो निशाचरैः ॥ 73.14 ॥

sa śaṅkhaninadairbhīmairbherīṇāṃ ca mahāsvanaiḥ | jagāma tridaśendrāriḥ stūyamāno niśācaraiḥ || 73.14 ||

Amid the fearsome blare of conches and the mighty roar of kettle-drums, that foe of Indra advanced, extolled by the night-rangers.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.73.15)

स शङ्खशशिवर्णेन छत्रेण रिपुसादनः । रराज परिपूर्णेन नभश्चन्द्रमसा यथा ॥ 73.15 ॥

sa śaṅkhaśaśivarṇena chatreṇa ripusādanaḥ | rarāja paripūrṇena nabhaścandramasā yathā || 73.15 ||

That tormentor of foes, shaded by a parasol white as a conch or the moon, shone like the sky graced by the full moon.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.73.16)

अवीज्यत ततो वीरो हैमैर्हेमविभूषितैः । चारुचामरमुख्यैश्च मुख्यः सर्वधनुष्मताम् ॥ 73.16 ॥

avījyata tato vīro haimairhemavibhūṣitaiḥ | cārucāmaramukhyaiśca mukhyaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām || 73.16 ||

That hero, foremost among all wielders of the bow, was fanned with lovely golden whisks, gold-adorned and supreme.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.73.17)

स तु दृष्ट्वा विनिर्यान्तम् बलेन महता वृतम् । राक्षसाधिपतिः श्रीमान् रावणः पुत्रमब्रवीत् ॥ 73.17 ॥

sa tu dṛṣṭvā viniryāntam balena mahatā vṛtam | rākṣasādhipatiḥ śrīmān rāvaṇaḥ putramabravīt || 73.17 ||

Seeing him setting forth, surrounded by a mighty army, the glorious Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, spoke to his son:

Shloka 18 (yuddha.73.18)

त्वमप्रतिरथः पुत्र त्वया वै वासवो जितः । किम्पुनर्मानुषम् धृष्यम् निहनिष्यसि राघवम् ॥ तथोक्तो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रत्यगृह्णान्महाश्षः ॥ 73.18 ॥

tvamapratirathaḥ putra tvayā vai vāsavo jitaḥ | kimpunarmānuṣam dhṛṣyam nihaniṣyasi rāghavam || tathokto rākṣasendreṇa pratyagṛhṇānmahāśṣaḥ || 73.18 ||

'You are without equal in combat, my son; by you even Vasava was conquered. How much more easily, then, will you slay this assailable human, Raghava?' Thus addressed by the lord of the rakshasas, that mighty archer accepted his blessing.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.73.19)

ततस्त्विन्द्रजिता लङ्का सूर्यप्रतिमतेजसा ॥ रराजाप्रतिवीर्येण द्यौरिवार्केण भास्वता ॥ 73.19 ॥

tatastvindrajitā laṅkā sūryapratimatejasā || rarājāprativīryeṇa dyaurivārkeṇa bhāsvatā || 73.19 ||

Then Lanka shone with Indrajit, of sun-like splendour and unequalled valour, as the sky shines with the radiant sun.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.73.20)

स सम्प्राप्य महातेजा युद्धभूमिमरिन्दमः ॥ स्थापयामास रक्षांसि रथं प्रति समन्ततः ॥ 73.20 ॥

sa samprāpya mahātejā yuddhabhūmimarindamaḥ || sthāpayāmāsa rakṣāṃsi rathaṃ prati samantataḥ || 73.20 ||

Reaching the battlefield, that mighty tamer of foes stationed his rakshasas all around his chariot.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.73.21)

ततस्तु हुतभोक्तारं हुतभुक्सदृशप्रभः ॥ जुहुवे राक्षसश्रेष्ठो मन्त्रवद्विधिवत्तदा ॥ 73.21 ॥

tatastu hutabhoktāraṃ hutabhuksadṛśaprabhaḥ || juhuve rākṣasaśreṣṭho mantravadvidhivattadā || 73.21 ||

Then that foremost of rakshasas, radiant as fire itself, offered oblation to the eater of oblations, in due form, with sacred formulas.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.73.22)

स हविर्जालसंस्कारैर्माल्यगन्धपुरस्कृतैः ॥ जुहुवे पावकं तत्र राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान् ॥ 73.22 ॥

sa havirjālasaṃskārairmālyagandhapuraskṛtaiḥ || juhuve pāvakaṃ tatra rākṣasendraḥ pratāpavān || 73.22 ||

That valiant lord of the rakshasas offered oblations to the fire there, the offerings prepared and set forth with garlands and fragrant unguents.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.73.23)

शस्त्राणि शरपत्राणि समिधोऽथ विभीतकः ॥ लोहितानि च वासांसि स्रुवं कार्ष्णायसं तथा ॥ 73.23 ॥

śastrāṇi śarapatrāṇi samidho'tha vibhītakaḥ || lohitāni ca vāsāṃsi sruvaṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ tathā || 73.23 ||

His weapons served as the reed-offerings, chips of the Vibhitaka tree as fuel, red garments were offered, and his sacrificial ladle was made of black iron.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.73.24)

स तत्राग्निं समास्तीर्य शरपत्रैः सतोमरैः ॥ छागस्य सर्वकृष्णस्य गलं जग्राह जीवतः ॥ 73.24 ॥

sa tatrāgniṃ samāstīrya śarapatraiḥ satomaraiḥ || chāgasya sarvakṛṣṇasya galaṃ jagrāha jīvataḥ || 73.24 ||

Having spread the sacrificial fire there with reed-offerings and lances, he seized the throat of a living goat, wholly black.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.73.25)

सकृदेव समिद्धस्य विधूमस्य महार्चिषः ॥ बभूवुस्तानि लिङ्गानि विजयं यान्यदर्शयन् ॥ 73.25 ॥

sakṛdeva samiddhasya vidhūmasya mahārciṣaḥ || babhūvustāni liṅgāni vijayaṃ yānyadarśayan || 73.25 ||

As soon as the great flame blazed up, smokeless, those signs appeared which foretold victory.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.73.26)

प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखस्तप्तकाञ्चनसंनिभः ॥ हविस्तत्प्रतिजग्राह पावकः स्वयमुत्थितः ॥ 73.26 ॥

pradakṣiṇāvartaśikhastaptakāñcanasaṃnibhaḥ || havistatpratijagrāha pāvakaḥ svayamutthitaḥ || 73.26 ||

The fire, resembling molten gold, its flame curling clockwise, rose up of itself and received that offering.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.73.27)

सोऽस्त्रमाहारयामास ब्राह्ममस्त्रविदां वरः ॥ धनुश्चात्मरथं चैव सर्वं तत्राभ्यमन्त्रयत् ॥ 73.27 ॥

so'stramāhārayāmāsa brāhmamastravidāṃ varaḥ || dhanuścātmarathaṃ caiva sarvaṃ tatrābhyamantrayat || 73.27 ||

He, foremost among those versed in mystic missiles, invoked the missile of Brahma, and charged with it his bow, his chariot, and all else.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.73.28)

तस्मिन्नाहूयमानेऽस्त्रे हूयमाने च पावके ॥ सार्कग्रहेन्दु नक्षत्रं वितत्रास नभस्तलम् ॥ 73.28 ॥

tasminnāhūyamāne'stre hūyamāne ca pāvake || sārkagrahendu nakṣatraṃ vitatrāsa nabhastalam || 73.28 ||

As that missile was being invoked and the fire was receiving oblation, the vault of heaven, with sun, planets, moon and stars, trembled in fear.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.73.29)

स पावकं पावकदीप्ततेजा । हुत्वा महेन्द्रप्रतिमप्रभावः । स चापबाणासिरथाश्वसूतः । खेऽन्तर्दध आत्मानमचिन्त्यरूपः ॥ 73.29 ॥

sa pāvakaṃ pāvakadīptatejā | hutvā mahendrapratimaprabhāvaḥ | sa cāpabāṇāsirathāśvasūtaḥ | khe'ntardadha ātmānamacintyarūpaḥ || 73.29 ||

Having made the offering to the fire, he -- blazing with a splendour like fire itself, his might equal to great Indra's -- vanished into the sky, of inconceivable form, along with his bow, arrows, sword, chariot, horses and charioteer.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.73.30)

ततो हयरथाकीर्णं पताकाध्वजशोभितम् । निर्ययौ राक्षसबलम् नर्दमानम् युयुत्सया ॥ 73.30 ॥

tato hayarathākīrṇaṃ patākādhvajaśobhitam | niryayau rākṣasabalam nardamānam yuyutsayā || 73.30 ||

Then that army of rakshasas, thronged with horses and chariots, adorned with flags and banners, roaring, marched forth eager for battle.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.73.31)

ते शरैर्बहुभिश्चित्रैस्तीक्षणवेगैरलङ्कृतैः । तोमरैरङ्कुशश्चापि वानरान् जघ्नुराहवे ॥ 73.31 ॥

te śarairbahubhiścitraistīkṣaṇavegairalaṅkṛtaiḥ | tomarairaṅkuśaścāpi vānarān jaghnurāhave || 73.31 ||

With many wondrous, sharp and swift arrows, and with lances and goads too, they struck down the monkeys in that battle.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.73.32)

रावणिस्तु सुसम्क्रुद्धस्तान्निरीक्ष्य निशाचरान् । हृष्टा भवन्तो युध्यन्तु वानराणां जिघांसया ॥ 73.32 ॥

rāvaṇistu susamkruddhastānnirīkṣya niśācarān | hṛṣṭā bhavanto yudhyantu vānarāṇāṃ jighāṃsayā || 73.32 ||

Ravana's son, greatly enraged, seeing those night-rangers, said: 'Fight joyfully, with the intent to slay the monkeys.'

Shloka 33 (yuddha.73.33)

ततस्ते राक्षसाः सर्वे गर्जन्तो जयकाङिक्षिणः । अभ्यवर्षंस्ततो घोरं वानरान् शरवृष्टिभिः ॥ 73.33 ॥

tataste rākṣasāḥ sarve garjanto jayakāṅikṣiṇaḥ | abhyavarṣaṃstato ghoraṃ vānarān śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ || 73.33 ||

Then all those rakshasas, roaring, longing for victory, rained down a terrible shower of arrows upon the monkeys.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.73.34)

स तु नालीकनाराचैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैरपि । रक्षोभिः संवृतः संख्ये वानरान् विचकर्त ह ॥ 73.34 ॥

sa tu nālīkanārācairgadābhirmusalairapi | rakṣobhiḥ saṃvṛtaḥ saṃkhye vānarān vicakarta ha || 73.34 ||

He, surrounded by his rakshasas, tore at the monkeys in that battle with broad-headed and iron arrows, with maces and clubs.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.73.35)

ते वध्यमानाः समरे वानराः पादपायुधाः । अभ्यवर्षन्त सहसा रावणिं शैलपादपैः ॥ 73.35 ॥

te vadhyamānāḥ samare vānarāḥ pādapāyudhāḥ | abhyavarṣanta sahasā rāvaṇiṃ śailapādapaiḥ || 73.35 ||

Those monkeys, being slain in battle, tree-armed, at once rained down mountains and trees upon Ravana's son.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.73.36)

इन्द्रजित्तु तदा क्रुद्धो महातेजा महाबलः । वानराणां शरीराणि व्यधमद्रावणात्मजः ॥ 73.36 ॥

indrajittu tadā kruddho mahātejā mahābalaḥ | vānarāṇāṃ śarīrāṇi vyadhamadrāvaṇātmajaḥ || 73.36 ||

Then Indrajit, of great splendour and mighty strength, Ravana's son, growing furious, tore apart the bodies of the monkeys.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.73.37)

शरेणैकेन च हरीन्नव पञ्च च सप्त च । बिभेद समरे क्रुद्धो राक्षसान् संप्रहर्षयन् ॥ 73.37 ॥

śareṇaikena ca harīnnava pañca ca sapta ca | bibheda samare kruddho rākṣasān saṃpraharṣayan || 73.37 ||

With a single arrow he pierced nine, five, or seven monkeys at once in that battle, enraged, filling the rakshasas with delight.

Shloka 38 (yuddha.73.38)

स शरैः सूर्यसम्काशैः शातकुम्भविभूषणैः । वानरान् समरे वीरः प्रममाथ सुदुर्जयः ॥ 73.38 ॥

sa śaraiḥ sūryasamkāśaiḥ śātakumbhavibhūṣaṇaiḥ | vānarān samare vīraḥ pramamātha sudurjayaḥ || 73.38 ||

That hero, well-nigh invincible, with arrows bright as the sun and adorned with gold, crushed the monkeys in that battle.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.73.39)

ते भिन्नगात्राः समरे वानराः शरपीडिताः । पेतुर्मथितसंकल्पाः सुरैरिव महासुराः ॥ 73.39 ॥

te bhinnagātrāḥ samare vānarāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ | peturmathitasaṃkalpāḥ surairiva mahāsurāḥ || 73.39 ||

Those monkeys, their bodies torn, tormented by his arrows in that battle, fell with their resolve shattered, as the great asuras once fell before the gods.

Shloka 40 (yuddha.73.40)

ते तपन्तमिवादित्यं घोरैर्बाणगभस्तिभिः । अभ्याधावन्त सम्क्रुद्धाः सम्युगे वानरर्षभाः ॥ 73.40 ॥

te tapantamivādityaṃ ghorairbāṇagabhastibhiḥ | abhyādhāvanta samkruddhāḥ samyuge vānararṣabhāḥ || 73.40 ||

Those bull-like monkeys, enraged, charged in that battle at him who scorched them with his terrible arrows, like rays of a burning sun.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.73.41)

ततस्तु वानराः सर्वे भिन्नदेहा विचेतसः । व्यथिता विद्रवन्ति स्म रुधिरेण समुक्षिताः ॥ 73.41 ॥

tatastu vānarāḥ sarve bhinnadehā vicetasaḥ | vyathitā vidravanti sma rudhireṇa samukṣitāḥ || 73.41 ||

Then all the monkeys, their bodies torn, senseless, distressed, drenched in blood, fled away.

Shloka 42 (yuddha.73.42)

तामस्यार्थे पराक्रम्य वानरास्त्यक्तजीविताः । नर्दन्तस्तेऽनिवृत्तास्तु समरे सशिलायुधाः ॥ 73.42 ॥

tāmasyārthe parākramya vānarāstyaktajīvitāḥ | nardantaste'nivṛttāstu samare saśilāyudhāḥ || 73.42 ||

Yet, striving for Rama's sake, those monkeys, having abandoned thought of their lives, roaring, unyielding, armed with rocks, continued in that battle.

Shloka 43 (yuddha.73.43)

ते द्रुमैः पर्वताग्रैश्च शिलाभिश्च प्लवंगमाः । अभ्यवर्षन्त समरे रावणिं समवस्थिताः ॥ 73.43 ॥

te drumaiḥ parvatāgraiśca śilābhiśca plavaṃgamāḥ | abhyavarṣanta samare rāvaṇiṃ samavasthitāḥ || 73.43 ||

Standing firm in that battle, those monkeys rained down trees, mountain-peaks and boulders upon Ravana's son.

Shloka 44 (yuddha.73.44)

तं द्रुमाणाम् शिलानां च वर्षं प्राणहरं महत् । व्यपोहत महातेजा रावणिः समितिंजयः ॥ 73.44 ॥

taṃ drumāṇām śilānāṃ ca varṣaṃ prāṇaharaṃ mahat | vyapohata mahātejā rāvaṇiḥ samitiṃjayaḥ || 73.44 ||

That mighty, splendid conqueror of battles, Ravana's son, warded off that great, life-destroying rain of trees and boulders.

Shloka 45 (yuddha.73.45)

ततः पावकसंकाशैः शरैराशीविषोपमैः । वानराणामनीकानि बिभेद समरे प्रभुः ॥ 73.45 ॥

tataḥ pāvakasaṃkāśaiḥ śarairāśīviṣopamaiḥ | vānarāṇāmanīkāni bibheda samare prabhuḥ || 73.45 ||

Then that mighty lord split apart the ranks of the monkeys in that battle with arrows bright as fire and deadly as venomous serpents.

Shloka 46 (yuddha.73.46)

अष्टादशशरैस्तीक्षणैः स विद्ध्वा गन्धमादनम् । विव्याध नवभिश्चैव नलं दूरादवस्थितम् ॥ 73.46 ॥

aṣṭādaśaśaraistīkṣaṇaiḥ sa viddhvā gandhamādanam | vivyādha navabhiścaiva nalaṃ dūrādavasthitam || 73.46 ||

Piercing Gandhamadana with eighteen sharp arrows, he pierced Nala too, standing far off, with nine.

Shloka 47 (yuddha.73.47)

सप्तभिस्तु महावीर्यो मैन्दं मर्मविदारणैः । पञ्चभिर्विशिखैश्चैव गजम् विव्याध संयुगे ॥ 73.47 ॥

saptabhistu mahāvīryo maindaṃ marmavidāraṇaiḥ | pañcabhirviśikhaiścaiva gajam vivyādha saṃyuge || 73.47 ||

That one of great valour pierced Mainda with seven vital-piercing arrows, and Gaja too, with five shafts, in that battle.

Shloka 48 (yuddha.73.48)

जाम्बवन्तं तु दशभिर्नीलं त्रिंशद्भिरेव च । सुग्रीवमृषभं चैव सोऽङ्गदम् द्विविदं तथा ॥ घोरैर्दत्तवरैस्तीक्षणैर्निष्प्राणानकरोत्तदा ॥ 73.48 ॥

jāmbavantaṃ tu daśabhirnīlaṃ triṃśadbhireva ca | sugrīvamṛṣabhaṃ caiva so'ṅgadam dvividaṃ tathā || ghorairdattavaraistīkṣaṇairniṣprāṇānakarottadā || 73.48 ||

Jambavan he struck with ten arrows, Nila with thirty; and Sugriva, Rishabha, Angada and Dvivida too he made breathless then, with his terrible, boon-granted, sharp arrows.

Shloka 49 (yuddha.73.49)

अन्यानपि तदा मुख्यान्वानरान् बहुभिः शरैः ॥ अर्दयामास सम्क्रुद्धः कालाग्निरिव मूर्च्छितः ॥ 73.49 ॥

anyānapi tadā mukhyānvānarān bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ || ardayāmāsa samkruddhaḥ kālāgniriva mūrcchitaḥ || 73.49 ||

Enraged, blazing like the fire of universal dissolution, he then tormented other leading monkeys too with many arrows.

Shloka 50 (yuddha.73.50)

स शरैः सूर्यसम्काशैः सुमुखैः शीग्रगामिभिः ॥ वानराणामनीकानि निर्ममन्थ महारणे ॥ 73.50 ॥

sa śaraiḥ sūryasamkāśaiḥ sumukhaiḥ śīgragāmibhiḥ || vānarāṇāmanīkāni nirmamantha mahāraṇe || 73.50 ||

With arrows bright as the sun, keen-pointed and swift-flying, he ground down the ranks of the monkeys in that great battle.

Shloka 51 (yuddha.73.51)

आकुलां वानरीम् सेनां शरजालेन पीडिताम् ॥ हृष्टः स परया प्रीत्या ददर्श क्षतजोक्षिताम् ॥ 73.51 ॥

ākulāṃ vānarīm senāṃ śarajālena pīḍitām || hṛṣṭaḥ sa parayā prītyā dadarśa kṣatajokṣitām || 73.51 ||

With great delight he beheld the monkey army in disarray, drenched in blood, tormented by his web of arrows.

Shloka 52 (yuddha.73.52)

पुनरेव महातेजा राक्षसेन्द्रात्मजो बली ॥ 73.52 ॥

punareva mahātejā rākṣasendrātmajo balī || 73.52 ||

Then again that mighty, splendid son of the rakshasa-king,

Shloka 53 (yuddha.73.53)

संसृज्य बाणवर्षं च शस्त्रवर्षं च दारुणम् । ममर्द वानरानीकं परितस्त्विन्द्रजिद्बली ॥ 73.53 ॥

saṃsṛjya bāṇavarṣaṃ ca śastravarṣaṃ ca dāruṇam | mamarda vānarānīkaṃ paritastvindrajidbalī || 73.53 ||

letting loose a terrible rain of arrows and weapons together, that mighty Indrajit crushed the monkey ranks on every side.

Shloka 54 (yuddha.73.54)

स सैन्यमुत्सृज्य समेत्य तूर्णं । महारणे वानरवाहिनीषु । अदृश्यमानः शरजालमुग्रं । ववर्ष नीलाम्बुधरो यथाम्बु ॥ 73.54 ॥

sa sainyamutsṛjya sametya tūrṇaṃ | mahāraṇe vānaravāhinīṣu | adṛśyamānaḥ śarajālamugraṃ | vavarṣa nīlāmbudharo yathāmbu || 73.54 ||

Leaving his own army, swiftly approaching the ranks of monkeys in that great battle, invisible, he rained down a fierce net of arrows, as a dark rain-cloud pours down water.

Shloka 55 (yuddha.73.55)

ते शक्रजिद्बाणविशीर्णदेहा । मायाहता विस्वरमुन्नदन्तः । रणे निपेतुर्हरयोऽद्रिकल्पा । यथेन्द्रवज्राभिहता नगेन्द्राः ॥ 73.55 ॥

te śakrajidbāṇaviśīrṇadehā | māyāhatā visvaramunnadantaḥ | raṇe nipeturharayo'drikalpā | yathendravajrābhihatā nagendrāḥ || 73.55 ||

Those monkeys, mountain-like, their bodies shattered by Indrajit's arrows, struck down by his sorcery, crying out in discordant tones, fell in that battle, as great mountains fall when struck by Indra's thunderbolt.

Shloka 56 (yuddha.73.56)

ते केवलं सन्ददृशुः शिताग्रान् । बाणान्रणे वानरवाहिनीषु । माया निगूढं च सुरेन्द्रशत्रुं । न चात्र तं राक्षसमभ्यपश्यन् ॥ 73.56 ॥

te kevalaṃ sandadṛśuḥ śitāgrān | bāṇānraṇe vānaravāhinīṣu | māyā nigūḍhaṃ ca surendraśatruṃ | na cātra taṃ rākṣasamabhyapaśyan || 73.56 ||

In that battle they saw only sharp-pointed arrows falling upon the monkey ranks; that foe of Indra's lord, hidden by his sorcery, that rakshasa, they could not see at all.

Shloka 57 (yuddha.73.57)

ततः स रक्षोऽधिपतिर्महात्मा । सर्वा दिशो बाणगणैः शिताग्रैः । प्रच्छादयामास रविप्रकाशैर् । विषादयामास च वानरेन्द्रान् ॥ 73.57 ॥

tataḥ sa rakṣo'dhipatirmahātmā | sarvā diśo bāṇagaṇaiḥ śitāgraiḥ | pracchādayāmāsa raviprakāśair | viṣādayāmāsa ca vānarendrān || 73.57 ||

Then that noble lord of the rakshasas covered every quarter with hosts of sharp-pointed, sun-bright arrows, and cast the monkey-chiefs into despair.

Shloka 58 (yuddha.73.58)

स शूलनिस्त्रिंश परश्वधानि । व्याविध्य दीप्तानलसंनिभानि । सविस्फुलिङ्गोज्ज्वलपावकानि । ववर्ष तीव्रं प्लवगेन्द्रसैन्ये ॥ 73.58 ॥

sa śūlanistriṃśa paraśvadhāni | vyāvidhya dīptānalasaṃnibhāni | savisphuliṅgojjvalapāvakāni | vavarṣa tīvraṃ plavagendrasainye || 73.58 ||

Whirling tridents, swords and axes, blazing like fire, ablaze with sparks and flame, he rained them fiercely upon the army of the monkey-lords.

Shloka 59 (yuddha.73.59)

ततो ज्वलनसङ्काशैः शितैर्वानरयूथपाः । ताडिताः शक्रजिद्बाणैः प्रफुल्ला इव किंशुकाः ॥ 73.59 ॥

tato jvalanasaṅkāśaiḥ śitairvānarayūthapāḥ | tāḍitāḥ śakrajidbāṇaiḥ praphullā iva kiṃśukāḥ || 73.59 ||

Then the monkey-commanders, struck by Indrajit's sharp, fire-bright arrows, looked like Kimshuka trees in full crimson bloom.

Shloka 60 (yuddha.73.60)

तेऽन्योन्यमभिसर्पन्तो निनदन्तश् च विस्वरम् । राक्षसेन्द्रास्त्रनिर्भिन्ना निपेतुर्वानरर्षभाः ॥ 73.60 ॥

te'nyonyamabhisarpanto ninadantaś ca visvaram | rākṣasendrāstranirbhinnā nipeturvānararṣabhāḥ || 73.60 ||

Those bull-like monkeys, pierced by the demon-lord's missiles, crawling toward one another, crying out in discordant voices, fell to the ground.

Shloka 61 (yuddha.73.61)

उदीक्षमाणा गगनं के चिन्नेत्रेषु ताडिताः । शरैर्विविशुरन्योन्यं पेतुश्च जगतीतले ॥ 73.61 ॥

udīkṣamāṇā gaganaṃ ke cinnetreṣu tāḍitāḥ | śarairviviśuranyonyaṃ petuśca jagatītale || 73.61 ||

Some, gazing up at the sky, struck in the eyes by arrows, pierced into one another and fell to the earth.

Shloka 62 (yuddha.73.62)

हनूमन्तं च सुग्रीवमङ्गदं गन्धमादनम् । जाम्बवन्तं सुषेणं च वेगदर्शिनमेव च ॥ 73.62 ॥

hanūmantaṃ ca sugrīvamaṅgadaṃ gandhamādanam | jāmbavantaṃ suṣeṇaṃ ca vegadarśinameva ca || 73.62 ||

Hanuman, Sugriva, Angada, Gandhamadana, Jambavan, Sushena, and Vegadarshin --

Shloka 63 (yuddha.73.63)

मैन्दं च द्विविदं नीलं गवाक्षं गजगोमुखौ । केसरिं हरिलोमानं विद्युद्दंष्ट्रं च वानरम् ॥ 73.63 ॥

maindaṃ ca dvividaṃ nīlaṃ gavākṣaṃ gajagomukhau | kesariṃ harilomānaṃ vidyuddaṃṣṭraṃ ca vānaram || 73.63 ||

Mainda, Dvivida, Nila, Gavaksha, Gaja and Gomukha, Kesari, Hariloman, and the monkey Vidyuddamshtra --

Shloka 64 (yuddha.73.64)

सूर्याननं ज्योतिमुखं तथा दधिमुखं हरिम् । पावकाक्षं नलं चैव कुमुदं चैव वानरम् ॥ 73.64 ॥

sūryānanaṃ jyotimukhaṃ tathā dadhimukhaṃ harim | pāvakākṣaṃ nalaṃ caiva kumudaṃ caiva vānaram || 73.64 ||

Suryanana, Jyotimukha, and the monkey Dadhimukha, Pavakaksha, Nala, and the monkey Kumuda --

Shloka 65 (yuddha.73.65)

प्रासैः शूलैः शितैर्बाणैरिन्द्रजिन्मन्त्रसंहितैः । विव्याध हरिशार्दूलान्सर्वांस्तान्राक्षसोत्तमः ॥ 73.65 ॥

prāsaiḥ śūlaiḥ śitairbāṇairindrajinmantrasaṃhitaiḥ | vivyādha hariśārdūlānsarvāṃstānrākṣasottamaḥ || 73.65 ||

with lances, tridents, and sharp mantra-charged arrows, that foremost of rakshasas, Indrajit, pierced all those tigers among monkeys.

Shloka 66 (yuddha.73.66)

स वै गदाभिर्हरियूथमुख्यान् । निर्भिद्य बाणैस्तपनीयपुङ्खैः । ववर्ष रामं शरवृष्टिजालैः । सलक्ष्मणं भास्कररश्मिकल्पैः ॥ 73.66 ॥

sa vai gadābhirhariyūthamukhyān | nirbhidya bāṇaistapanīyapuṅkhaiḥ | vavarṣa rāmaṃ śaravṛṣṭijālaiḥ | salakṣmaṇaṃ bhāskararaśmikalpaiḥ || 73.66 ||

Piercing the chief monkey-warriors with his maces and gold-shafted arrows, he then rained down upon Rama and Lakshmana a net of arrows like the rays of the sun.

Shloka 67 (yuddha.73.67)

स बाणवर्षैरभिवर्ष्यमाणो । धारानिपातानिव तान्विचिन्त्य । समीक्षमाणः परमाद्भुतश्री । रामस्तदा लक्ष्मणमित्युवाच ॥ 73.67 ॥

sa bāṇavarṣairabhivarṣyamāṇo | dhārānipātāniva tānvicintya | samīkṣamāṇaḥ paramādbhutaśrī | rāmastadā lakṣmaṇamityuvāca || 73.67 ||

Being showered with that rain of arrows, thinking of them as mere falling raindrops, Rama, of most wondrous splendour, looking about, then spoke thus to Lakshmana:

Shloka 68 (yuddha.73.68)

असौ पुनर्लक्ष्मण राक्षसेन्द्रो । ब्रह्मास्त्रमाश्रित्य सुरेन्द्रशत्रुः । निपातयित्वा हरिसैन्यमुग्रम् । अस्माञ्शरैरर्दयति प्रसक्तम् ॥ 73.68 ॥

asau punarlakṣmaṇa rākṣasendro | brahmāstramāśritya surendraśatruḥ | nipātayitvā harisainyamugram | asmāñśarairardayati prasaktam || 73.68 ||

'Lakshmana, this lord of the rakshasas, that foe of the lord of the gods, resorting to the missile of Brahma, having struck down the fierce monkey army, now torments us relentlessly with his arrows.'

Shloka 69 (yuddha.73.69)

स्वयम्भुवा दत्तवरो महात्मा । खमास्थितोऽन्तर्हितभीमकायः । कथं नु शक्यो युधि नष्टदेहो । निहन्तुमद्येन्द्रजिदुद्यतास्त्रः ॥ 73.69 ॥

svayambhuvā dattavaro mahātmā | khamāsthito'ntarhitabhīmakāyaḥ | kathaṃ nu śakyo yudhi naṣṭadeho | nihantumadyendrajidudyatāstraḥ || 73.69 ||

'That noble one, boon-granted by the Self-born, stationed in the sky, his terrible form concealed -- how, today, can Indrajit, his body invisible, his weapon raised, be slain in battle?'

Shloka 70 (yuddha.73.70)

मन्ये स्वयम्भूर्भगवानचिन्त्यो । यस्यैतदस्त्रं प्रभवश् च योऽस्य । बाणावपातांस्त्वमिहाद्य धीमन् । मया सहाव्यग्रमनाः सहस्व ॥ 73.70 ॥

manye svayambhūrbhagavānacintyo | yasyaitadastraṃ prabhavaś ca yo'sya | bāṇāvapātāṃstvamihādya dhīman | mayā sahāvyagramanāḥ sahasva || 73.70 ||

'I think the Self-born, the inconceivable lord, is the source and master of this missile. O wise one, remain undistracted here today and endure with me the fall of his arrows.'

Shloka 71 (yuddha.73.71)

प्रच्छादयत्येष हि राक्षसेन्द्रः । सर्वा दिशः सायकवृष्टिजालैः । एतच्च सर्वं पतिताग्र्यवीरं । न भ्राजते वानरराजसैन्यम् ॥ 73.71 ॥

pracchādayatyeṣa hi rākṣasendraḥ | sarvā diśaḥ sāyakavṛṣṭijālaiḥ | etacca sarvaṃ patitāgryavīraṃ | na bhrājate vānararājasainyam || 73.71 ||

'This lord of the rakshasas is covering every quarter with hosts of sharp-pointed arrows; and this whole army of the monkey-king, its foremost heroes fallen, no longer shines as before.'

Shloka 72 (yuddha.73.72)

आवां तु दृष्ट्वा पतितौ विसंज्ञौ । निवृत्तयुद्धौ हतरोषहर्षौ । ध्रुवं प्रवेक्ष्यत्यमरारिवासं । असौ समादाय रणाग्रलक्ष्मीम् ॥ 73.72 ॥

āvāṃ tu dṛṣṭvā patitau visaṃjñau | nivṛttayuddhau hataroṣaharṣau | dhruvaṃ pravekṣyatyamarārivāsaṃ | asau samādāya raṇāgralakṣmīm || 73.72 ||

'Seeing the two of us fallen, unconscious, ceased from fighting, our anger and joy alike gone still, he will surely retire to the abode of the foe of the immortals, bearing away the glory of the field.'

Shloka 73 (yuddha.73.73)

ततस्तु ताविन्द्रजिदस्त्रजालैर् । बभूवतुस्तत्र तदा विशस्तौ । स चापि तौ तत्र विषादयित्वा । ननाद हर्षाद्युधि राक्षसेन्द्रः ॥ 73.73 ॥

tatastu tāvindrajidastrajālair | babhūvatustatra tadā viśastau | sa cāpi tau tatra viṣādayitvā | nanāda harṣādyudhi rākṣasendraḥ || 73.73 ||

Then those two were there struck down by Indrajit's net of missiles; and that lord of the rakshasas, having thus afflicted them there, roared aloud in battle with delight.

Shloka 74 (yuddha.73.74)

ततस्तदा वानरराजसैन्यं । रामं च सङ्ख्ये सहलक्ष्मणेन । विषादयित्वा सहसा विवेश । पुरीं दशग्रीवभुजाभिगुप्ताम् ॥ 73.74 ॥

tatastadā vānararājasainyaṃ | rāmaṃ ca saṅkhye sahalakṣmaṇena | viṣādayitvā sahasā viveśa | purīṃ daśagrīvabhujābhiguptām || 73.74 ||

Then, having thus cast into despair the army of the monkey-king and Rama, together with Lakshmana, in that battle, he swiftly entered the city guarded by the arms of the ten-necked one.

Shloka 75 (yuddha.73.75)

संस्तूयमानः स तु यातुधानैः । पित्रे च सर्वं हृषितोऽभ्युवाच ॥ 73.75 ॥

saṃstūyamānaḥ sa tu yātudhānaiḥ | pitre ca sarvaṃ hṛṣito'bhyuvāca || 73.75 ||

Praised by the rakshasas, he, filled with joy, related everything to his father.