Rama Slays Makaraksha

Shloka 1 (yuddha.79.1)

निर्गतं मकराक्षं ते दृष्ट्वा वानरपुंगवाः। आप्लुत्य सहसा सर्वे योद्धुकामा व्यवस्थिताः ॥ 79.1 ॥

nirgataṃ makarākṣaṃ te dṛṣṭvā vānarapuṃgavāḥ| āplutya sahasā sarve yoddhukāmā vyavasthitāḥ || 79.1 ||

Seeing Makaraksha advance, all those bulls among monkeys leapt up at once and took their stand, eager for battle.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.79.2)

ततः प्रवृत्तं सुमहत् तद् युद्धं लोमहर्षणम्। निशाचरैः प्लवंगानां देवानां दानवैरिव ॥ 79.2 ॥

tataḥ pravṛttaṃ sumahat tad yuddhaṃ lomaharṣaṇam| niśācaraiḥ plavaṃgānāṃ devānāṃ dānavairiva || 79.2 ||

Then that vast, hair-raising battle broke out between the monkeys and the night-rangers, like the encounter of the gods with the danavas.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.79.3)

वृक्षशूलनिपातैश्च गदापरिघपातनैः। अन्योन्यं मर्दयन्ति स्म तदा कपिनिशाचराः ॥ 79.3 ॥

vṛkṣaśūlanipātaiśca gadāparighapātanaiḥ| anyonyaṃ mardayanti sma tadā kapiniśācarāḥ || 79.3 ||

With trees and spikes hurled down, with maces and iron clubs crashing, the monkeys and demons then crushed one another.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.79.4)

शक्तिखड्गगदाकुन्तैस्तोमरैश्च निशाचराः। पट्टिशैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च बाणपातैः समन्ततः ॥ 79.4 ॥

śaktikhaḍgagadākuntaistomaraiśca niśācarāḥ| paṭṭiśairbhindipālaiśca bāṇapātaiḥ samantataḥ || 79.4 ||

With javelins, swords, maces, lances, and spears, with broadswords and slings, and with a downpour of arrows from every side,

Shloka 5 (yuddha.79.5)

पाशमुद्गरदण्डैश्च निर्घातैश्चापरैस्तथा। कदनं कपिसिंहानां चक्रुस्ते रजनीचराः ॥ 79.5 ॥

pāśamuda‍्garadaṇḍaiśca nirghātaiścāparaistathā| kadanaṃ kapisiṃhānāṃ cakruste rajanīcarāḥ || 79.5 ||

and with nooses, mallets, clubs, and other crushing weapons besides — those night-rangers wrought havoc among the lion-like monkeys.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.79.6)

बाणौघैरर्दिताश्चापि खरपुत्रेण वानराः। सम्भ्रान्तमनसः सर्वे दुद्रुवुर्भयपीडिताः ॥ 79.6 ॥

bāṇaughairarditāścāpi kharaputreṇa vānarāḥ| sambhrāntamanasaḥ sarve dudruvurbhayapīḍitāḥ || 79.6 ||

Tormented by Makaraksha's flood of arrows, all the monkeys, their minds thrown into confusion and stricken with fear, fled.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.79.7)

तान् दृष्ट्वा राक्षसाः सर्वे द्रवमाणान् वनौकसः। नेदुस्ते सिंहवद् दृप्ता राक्षसा जितकाशिनः ॥ 79.7 ॥

tān dṛṣṭvā rākṣasāḥ sarve dravamāṇān vanaukasaḥ| neduste siṃhavad dṛptā rākṣasā jitakāśinaḥ || 79.7 ||

Seeing the forest-dwellers fleeing, all those proud demons, feeling victorious, roared like lions.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.79.8)

विद्रवत्सु तदा तेषु वानरेषु समन्ततः। रामस्तान् वारयामास शरवर्षेण राक्षसान् ॥ 79.8 ॥

vidravatsu tadā teṣu vānareṣu samantataḥ| rāmastān vārayāmāsa śaravarṣeṇa rākṣasān || 79.8 ||

As those monkeys fled on every side, Rama then checked the demons with a shower of arrows.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.79.9)

वारितान् राक्षसान् दृष्ट्वा मकराक्षो निशाचरः। कोपानलसमाविष्टो वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 79.9 ॥

vāritān rākṣasān dṛṣṭvā makarākṣo niśācaraḥ| kopānalasamāviṣṭo vacanaṃ cedamabravīt || 79.9 ||

Seeing the demons thus checked, Makaraksha the night-ranger, consumed by the fire of his anger, spoke these words:

Shloka 10 (yuddha.79.10)

तिष्ठ राम मया सार्धं द्वन्द्वयुद्धं भविष्यति। त्याजयिष्यामि ते प्राणान् धनुर्मुक्तैः शितैः शरैः ॥ 79.10 ॥

tiṣṭha rāma mayā sārdhaṃ dvandvayuddhaṃ bhaviṣyati| tyājayiṣyāmi te prāṇān dhanurmuktaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 79.10 ||

"Stand, Rama! A single combat shall now take place between us. I will take your life with the sharp arrows loosed from my bow."

Shloka 11 (yuddha.79.11)

यत् तदा दण्डकारण्ये पितरं हतवान् मम। तदग्रतः स्वकर्मस्थं स्मृत्वा रोषोऽभिवर्धते ॥ 79.11 ॥

yat tadā daṇḍakāraṇye pitaraṃ hatavān mama| tadagrataḥ svakarmasthaṃ smṛtvā roṣo'bhivardhate || 79.11 ||

"Because you once slew my father in the Dandaka forest, my rage only grows, seeing you before me now, engaged in that same deed."

Shloka 12 (yuddha.79.12)

दह्यन्ते भृशमङ्गानि दुरात्मन् मम राघव। यन्मयासि न दृष्टस्त्वं तस्मिन् काले महावने ॥ 79.12 ॥

dahyante bhṛśamaṅgāni durātman mama rāghava| yanmayāsi na dṛṣṭastvaṃ tasmin kāle mahāvane || 79.12 ||

"O evil-minded Raghava! My limbs have burned fiercely all this while, ever since that day in the great forest when you escaped my sight."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.79.13)

दिष्ट्यासि दर्शनं राम मम त्वं प्राप्तवानिह। कांक्षितोऽसि क्षुधार्तस्य सिंहस्येवेतरो मृगः ॥ 79.13 ॥

diṣṭyāsi darśanaṃ rāma mama tvaṃ prāptavāniha| kāṃkṣito'si kṣudhārtasya siṃhasyevetaro mṛgaḥ || 79.13 ||

"By good fortune, Rama, you have come before my eyes here at last. I have longed for you as a lion, tormented by hunger, longs for its prey."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.79.14)

अद्य मद्बाणवेगेन प्रेतराड्विषयं गतः। ये त्वया निहताः शूराः सह तैश्च वसिष्यसि ॥ 79.14 ॥

adya mada‍्bāṇavegena pretarāḍa‍‍्viṣayaṃ gataḥ| ye tvayā nihatāḥ śūrāḥ saha taiśca vasiṣyasi || 79.14 ||

"Today, sped by the force of my arrows, you shall go to the realm of the Lord of the Dead, and dwell there with those very warriors you once slew."

Shloka 15 (yuddha.79.15)

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन शृणु राम वचो मम। पश्यन्तु सकला लोकास्त्वां मां चैव रणाजिरे ॥ 79.15 ॥

bahunātra kimuktena śṛṇu rāma vaco mama| paśyantu sakalā lokāstvāṃ māṃ caiva raṇājire || 79.15 ||

"What use is there in saying more, O Rama? Hear my words: let all the worlds behold you and me here on this battlefield."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.79.16)

अस्त्रैर्वा गदया वापि बाहुभ्यां वा रणाजिरे। अभ्यस्तं येन वा राम वर्ततां तेन वा मृधम् ॥ 79.16 ॥

astrairvā gadayā vāpi bāhubhyāṃ vā raṇājire| abhyastaṃ yena vā rāma vartatāṃ tena vā mṛdham || 79.16 ||

"Whether with weapons, or with the mace, or bare-armed, O Rama — let the fight proceed in this field by whatever means you are practiced in."

Shloka 17 (yuddha.79.17)

मकराक्षवचः श्रुत्वा रामो दशरथात्मजः। अब्रवीत् प्रहसन् वाक्यमुत्तरोत्तरवादिनम् ॥ 79.17 ॥

makarākṣavacaḥ śrutvā rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ| abravīt prahasan vākyamuttarottaravādinam || 79.17 ||

Hearing Makaraksha's words, Rama, son of Dasharatha, laughed and answered him as he went on boasting endlessly.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.79.18)

कत्थसे किं वृथा रक्षो बहून्यसदृशानि ते। न रणे शक्यते जेतुं विना युद्धेन वाग्बलात् ॥ 79.18 ॥

katthase kiṃ vṛthā rakṣo bahūnyasadṛśāni te| na raṇe śakyate jetuṃ vinā yuddhena vāgbalāt || 79.18 ||

"Why do you boast so vainly, demon, with so many empty words? Victory in battle cannot be won by the strength of speech, without actually fighting."

Shloka 19 (yuddha.79.19)

चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां त्वत्पिता च यः। त्रिशिरा दूषणश्चापि दण्डके निहतो मया ॥ 79.19 ॥

caturdaśa sahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ tvatpitā ca yaḥ| triśirā dūṣaṇaścāpi daṇḍake nihato mayā || 79.19 ||

"Fourteen thousand demons, along with your father, and Trishira, and Dushana too — all were slain by me in Dandaka."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.79.20)

स्वाशिताश्चापि मांसेन गृध्रगोमायुवायसाः। भविष्यन्त्यद्य वै पाप तीक्ष्णतुण्डनखाङ्कुशाः ॥ 79.20 ॥

svāśitāścāpi māṃsena gṛdhragomāyuvāyasāḥ| bhaviṣyantyadya vai pāpa tīkṣṇatuṇḍanakhāṅkuśāḥ || 79.20 ||

"Today, sinner, the vultures, jackals, and crows, with their sharp beaks and hook-like claws, shall be gorged full on your flesh."

Shloka 21 (yuddha.79.21)

राघवेणैवमुक्तस्तु मकराक्षो महाबलः। बाणौघानमुचत् तस्मै राघवाय रणाजिरे ॥ 79.21 ॥

rāghaveṇaivamuktastu makarākṣo mahābalaḥ| bāṇaughānamucat tasmai rāghavāya raṇājire || 79.21 ||

Thus addressed by Raghava, the mighty Makaraksha released a flood of arrows at Rama on the battlefield.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.79.22)

ताञ्छराञ्छरवर्षेण रामश्चिच्छेद नैकधा। निपेतुर्भुवि विच्छिन्ना रुक्मपुङ्खाः सहस्रशः ॥ 79.22 ॥

tāñcharāñcharavarṣeṇa rāmaściccheda naikadhā| nipeturbhuvi vicchinnā rukmapuṅkhāḥ sahasraśaḥ || 79.22 ||

Rama shattered those arrows into many pieces with his own shower of arrows; those gold-shafted arrows fell shredded to the ground by the thousand.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.79.23)

तद् युद्धमभवत् तत्र समेत्यान्योन्यमोजसा। खरराक्षसपुत्रस्य सूनोर्दशरथस्य च ॥ 79.23 ॥

tad yuddhamabhavat tatra sametyānyonyamojasā| khararākṣasaputrasya sūnordaśarathasya ca || 79.23 ||

There the two met with all their might, and a fierce battle raged between the son of the demon Khara and the son of Dasharatha.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.79.24)

जीमूतयोरिवाकाशे शब्दो ज्यातलयोरिव। धनुर्मुक्तः स्वनोऽन्योन्यं श्रूयते च रणाजिरे ॥ 79.24 ॥

jīmūtayorivākāśe śabdo jyātalayoriva| dhanurmuktaḥ svano'nyonyaṃ śrūyate ca raṇājire || 79.24 ||

On that battlefield the twang of their bowstrings against their palms resounded like the roar of two thunderclouds colliding in the sky.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.79.25)

देवदानवगन्धर्वाः किंनराश्च महोरगाः। अन्तरिक्षगताः सर्वे द्रष्टुकामास्तदद्भुतम् ॥ 79.25 ॥

devadānavagandharvāḥ kiṃnarāśca mahoragāḥ| antarikṣagatāḥ sarve draṣṭukāmāstadadbhutam || 79.25 ||

Gods, danavas, gandharvas, kinnaras, and great serpents all gathered in the sky, eager to witness that wondrous battle.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.79.26)

विद्धमन्योन्यगात्रेषु द्विगुणं वर्धते बलम्। कृतप्रतिकृतान्योन्यं कुरुतां तौ रणाजिरे ॥ 79.26 ॥

viddhamanyonyagātreṣu dviguṇaṃ vardhate balam| kṛtapratikṛtānyonyaṃ kurutāṃ tau raṇājire || 79.26 ||

Though their bodies were pierced again and again by each other, their strength only redoubled; blow for blow, the two matched each other on that field.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.79.27)

राममुक्तांस्तु बाणौघान् राक्षसस्त्वच्छिनद् रणे। रक्षोमुक्तांस्तु रामो वै नैकधा प्राच्छिनच्छरैः ॥ 79.27 ॥

rāmamuktāṃstu bāṇaughān rākṣasastvacchinad raṇe| rakṣomuktāṃstu rāmo vai naikadhā prācchinaccharaiḥ || 79.27 ||

In that battle the demon cut down the flood of arrows loosed by Rama, while Rama, with his own arrows, shattered into many pieces those released by the demon.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.79.28)

बाणौघवितताः सर्वा दिशश्च प्रदिशस्तथा। संछन्ना वसुधा चैव समन्तान्न प्रकाशते ॥ 79.28 ॥

bāṇaughavitatāḥ sarvā diśaśca pradiśastathā| saṃchannā vasudhā caiva samantānna prakāśate || 79.28 ||

All the directions and intermediate quarters were filled with the spread of arrows; the very earth lay hidden beneath them, invisible on every side.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.79.29)

ततः क्रुद्धो महाबाहुर्धनुश्चिच्छेद संयुगे। अष्टाभिरथ नाराचैः सूतं विव्याध राघवः ॥ 79.29 ॥

tataḥ kruddho mahābāhurdhanuściccheda saṃyuge| aṣṭābhiratha nārācaiḥ sūtaṃ vivyādha rāghavaḥ || 79.29 ||

Then the mighty-armed Rama, enraged, shattered the demon's bow in that combat, and with eight iron arrows struck down his charioteer.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.79.30)

भित्त्वा रथं शरै रामो हत्वा अश्वानपातयत्। विरथो वसुधास्थः स मकराक्षो निशाचरः ॥ 79.30 ॥

bhittvā rathaṃ śarai rāmo hatvā aśvānapātayat| viratho vasudhāsthaḥ sa makarākṣo niśācaraḥ || 79.30 ||

Rama then split his chariot apart with arrows and slew his horses, felling them; that night-ranger Makaraksha stood chariot-less upon the ground.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.79.31)

तत्तिष्ठद् वसुधां रक्षः शूलं जग्राह पाणिना। त्रासनं सर्वभूतानां युगान्ताग्निसमप्रभम् ॥ 79.31 ॥

tattiṣṭhad vasudhāṃ rakṣaḥ śūlaṃ jagrāha pāṇinā| trāsanaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ yugāntāgnisamaprabham || 79.31 ||

Standing thus upon the ground, the demon seized in his hand a spike that struck terror into every being, its splendour like the fire that blazes at the end of an age.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.79.32)

दुरवापं महच्छूलं रुद्रदत्तं भयंकरम्। जाज्वल्यमानमाकाशे संहारास्त्रमिवापरम् ॥ 79.32 ॥

duravāpaṃ mahacchūlaṃ rudradattaṃ bhayaṃkaram| jājvalyamānamākāśe saṃhārāstramivāparam || 79.32 ||

That great spike, hard to obtain, a fearsome gift bestowed by Rudra, blazed fiercely in the sky, like another weapon of universal destruction.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.79.33)

यं दृष्ट्वा देवताः सर्वा भयार्ता विद्रुता दिशः। विभ्राम्य च महच्छूलं प्रज्वलन्तं निशाचरः ॥ 79.33 ॥

yaṃ dṛṣṭvā devatāḥ sarvā bhayārtā vidrutā diśaḥ| vibhrāmya ca mahacchūlaṃ prajvalantaṃ niśācaraḥ || 79.33 ||

At the sight of it, all the gods, stricken with fear, fled in every direction; and that night-ranger, brandishing the great blazing spike—

Shloka 34 (yuddha.79.34)

स क्रोधात् प्राहिणोत् तस्मै राघवाय महाहवे। तमापतन्तं ज्वलितं खरपुत्रकराच्च्युतम् ॥ 79.34 ॥

sa krodhāt prāhiṇot tasmai rāghavāya mahāhave| tamāpatantaṃ jvalitaṃ kharaputrakarāccyutam || 79.34 ||

—hurled it in fury at Raghava in that great battle. As it came flying, ablaze, loosed from Khara's son's hand,

Shloka 35 (yuddha.79.35)

बाणैश्चतुर्भिराकाशे शूलं चिच्छेद राघवः। स भिन्नो नैकधा शूलो दिव्यहाटकमण्डितः। व्यशीर्यत महोल्केव रामबाणार्दितो भुवि ॥ 79.35 ॥

bāṇaiścaturbhirākāśe śūlaṃ ciccheda rāghavaḥ| sa bhinno naikadhā śūlo divyahāṭakamaṇḍitaḥ| vyaśīryata maholkeva rāmabāṇārdito bhuvi || 79.35 ||

Raghava cut that spike apart in the sky with four arrows; and that spike, adorned with celestial gold, shattered into many pieces and, torn by Rama's arrows, fell scattered upon the earth like a great meteor.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.79.36)

तच्छूलं निहतं दृष्ट्वा रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। साधु साध्विति भूतानि व्याहरन्ति नभोगताः ॥ 79.36 ॥

tacchūlaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā| sādhu sādhviti bhūtāni vyāharanti nabhogatāḥ || 79.36 ||

Seeing that spike destroyed by Rama, whose deeds are never in vain, the beings gathered in the sky cried out, "Excellent! Excellent!"

Shloka 37 (yuddha.79.37)

तं दृष्ट्वा निहतं शूलं मकराक्षो निशाचरः। मुष्टिमुद्यम्य काकुत्स्थं तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥ 79.37 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ śūlaṃ makarākṣo niśācaraḥ| muṣṭimudyamya kākutsthaṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt || 79.37 ||

Seeing his spike destroyed, Makaraksha the night-ranger raised his fist and cried out to the descendant of Kakutstha, "Stand! Stand and fight!"

Shloka 38 (yuddha.79.38)

स तं दृष्ट्वा पतन्तं तु प्रहस्य रघुनन्दनः। पावकास्त्रं ततो रामः संदधे तु शरासने ॥ 79.38 ॥

sa taṃ dṛṣṭvā patantaṃ tu prahasya raghunandanaḥ| pāvakāstraṃ tato rāmaḥ saṃdadhe tu śarāsane || 79.38 ||

Seeing him rushing forward, the delight of the Raghu line smiled, and Rama then fitted to his bow the fire-missile.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.79.39)

तेनास्त्रेण हतं रक्षः काकुत्स्थेन तदा रणे। संछिन्नहृदयं तत्र पपात च ममार च ॥ 79.39 ॥

tenāstreṇa hataṃ rakṣaḥ kākutsthena tadā raṇe| saṃchinnahṛdayaṃ tatra papāta ca mamāra ca || 79.39 ||

Struck by that missile of Kakutstha in that battle, the demon, his heart torn asunder, fell there and died.

Shloka 40 (yuddha.79.40)

दृष्ट्वा ते राक्षसाः सर्वे मकराक्षस्य पातनम्। लङ्कामेव प्रधावन्त रामबाणभयार्दिताः ॥ 79.40 ॥

dṛṣṭvā te rākṣasāḥ sarve makarākṣasya pātanam| laṅkāmeva pradhāvanta rāmabāṇabhayārditāḥ || 79.40 ||

Seeing Makaraksha fall, all those demons, terrified by fear of Rama's arrows, fled straight back to Lanka.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.79.41)

दशरथनृपसूनुबाणवेगै रजनिचरं निहतं खरात्मजं तम्। प्रददृशुरथ देवताः प्रहृष्टा गिरिमिव वज्रहतं यथा विकीर्णम् ॥ 79.41 ॥

daśarathanṛpasūnubāṇavegai rajanicaraṃ nihataṃ kharātmajaṃ tam| pradadṛśuratha devatāḥ prahṛṣṭā girimiva vajrahataṃ yathā vikīrṇam || 79.41 ||

Then the gods, filled with delight, beheld that night-ranger, Khara's son, slain by the force of King Dasharatha's son's arrows, lying shattered like a mountain struck and split apart by a thunderbolt.