Indrajit's Invisible Assault

Shloka 1 (yuddha.80.1)

मकराक्षं हतं श्रुत्वा रावणः समितिंजयः। रोषेण महताविष्टो दन्तान् कटकटाय्य च ॥ 80.1 ॥

makarākṣaṃ hataṃ śrutvā rāvaṇaḥ samitiṃjayaḥ| roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo dantān kaṭakaṭāyya ca || 80.1 ||

Hearing that Makaraksha had been slain, Ravana, ever victorious in battle, was overcome with towering rage and gnashed his teeth,

Shloka 2 (yuddha.80.2)

कुपितश्च तदा तत्र किं कार्यमिति चिन्तयन्। आदिदेशाथ संक्रुद्धो रणायेन्द्रजितं सुतम् ॥ 80.2 ॥

kupitaśca tadā tatra kiṃ kāryamiti cintayan| ādideśātha saṃkruddho raṇāyendrajitaṃ sutam || 80.2 ||

and, enraged, pondering there what was to be done, that furious king then commanded his son Indrajit to go forth to battle.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.80.3)

जहि वीर महावीर्यौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। अदृश्यो दृश्यमानो वा सर्वथा त्वं बलाधिकः ॥ 80.3 ॥

jahi vīra mahāvīryau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau| adṛśyo dṛśyamāno vā sarvathā tvaṃ balādhikaḥ || 80.3 ||

"Kill, O hero, the two brothers of great valour, Rama and Lakshmana — whether seen or unseen, you surpass them in strength by every measure."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.80.4)

त्वमप्रतिमकर्माणमिन्द्रं जयसि संयुगे। किं पुनर्मानुषौ दृष्ट्वा न वधिष्यसि संयुगे ॥ 80.4 ॥

tvamapratimakarmāṇamindraṃ jayasi saṃyuge| kiṃ punarmānuṣau dṛṣṭvā na vadhiṣyasi saṃyuge || 80.4 ||

"You have conquered even Indra, of matchless deeds, in battle — how then, seeing these two mere men, could you fail to slay them in combat?"

Shloka 5 (yuddha.80.5)

तथोक्तो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रतिगृह्य पितुर्वचः। यज्ञभूमौ स विधिवत् पावकं जुहुवेन्द्रजित् ॥ 80.5 ॥

tathokto rākṣasendreṇa pratigṛhya piturvacaḥ| yajñabhūmau sa vidhivat pāvakaṃ juhuvendrajit || 80.5 ||

Thus addressed by the lord of the rakshasas, Indrajit, accepting his father's word, duly poured oblations into the fire upon the sacrificial ground.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.80.6)

जुह्वतश्चापि तत्राग्निं रक्तोष्णीषधराः स्त्रियः। आजग्मुस्तत्र सम्भ्रान्ता राक्षस्यो यत्र रावणिः ॥ 80.6 ॥

juhvataścāpi tatrāgniṃ raktoṣṇīṣadharāḥ striyaḥ| ājagmustatra sambhrāntā rākṣasyo yatra rāvaṇiḥ || 80.6 ||

While he was pouring oblations into the fire there, demon-women wearing red turbans came hurrying to the place where Ravana's son was.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.80.7)

शस्त्राणि शरपत्राणि समिधोऽथ बिभीतकाः। लोहितानि च वासांसि स्रुवं कार्ष्णायसं तथा ॥ 80.7 ॥

śastrāṇi śarapatrāṇi samidho'tha bibhītakāḥ| lohitāni ca vāsāṃsi sruvaṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ tathā || 80.7 ||

Weapons served there as sacred kusha-blades, sticks of the Vibhitaka tree as fuel, and there were red garments and an iron ladle as well.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.80.8)

सर्वतोऽग्निं समास्तीर्य शरपत्रैः सतोमरैः। छागस्य सर्वकृष्णस्य गलं जग्राह जीवतः ॥ 80.8 ॥

sarvato'gniṃ samāstīrya śarapatraiḥ satomaraiḥ| chāgasya sarvakṛṣṇasya galaṃ jagrāha jīvataḥ || 80.8 ||

Having strewn the fire all around with kusha-blades and lances, he seized by the throat a wholly black goat, still living.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.80.9)

सकृद्धोमसमिद्धस्य विधूमस्य महार्चिषः। बभूवुस्तानि लिङ्गानि विजयं दर्शयन्ति च ॥ 80.9 ॥

sakṛddhomasamiddhasya vidhūmasya mahārciṣaḥ| babhūvustāni liṅgāni vijayaṃ darśayanti ca || 80.9 ||

In that smokeless fire, blazing mightily as soon as it was kindled by a single offering, appeared those signs that portend victory.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.80.10)

प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखस्तप्तहाटकसंनिभः। हविस्तत् प्रतिजग्राह पावकः स्वयमुत्थितः ॥ 80.10 ॥

pradakṣiṇāvartaśikhastaptahāṭakasaṃnibhaḥ| havistat pratijagrāha pāvakaḥ svayamutthitaḥ || 80.10 ||

The fire-god himself rose up in visible form, his flame curling to the right, radiant as molten gold, and received that offering.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.80.11)

हुत्वाग्निं तर्पयित्वाथ देवदानवराक्षसान्। आरुरोह रथश्रेष्ठमन्तर्धानगतं शुभम् ॥ 80.11 ॥

hutvāgniṃ tarpayitvātha devadānavarākṣasān| āruroha rathaśreṣṭhamantardhānagataṃ śubham || 80.11 ||

Having offered oblations into the fire and thereby satisfied the gods, danavas, and rakshasas, he mounted a splendid, matchless chariot capable of vanishing from sight.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.80.12)

स वाजिभिश्चतुर्भिस्तु बाणैस्तु निशितैर्युतः। आरोपितमहाचापः शुशुभे स्यन्दनोत्तमः ॥ 80.12 ॥

sa vājibhiścaturbhistu bāṇaistu niśitairyutaḥ| āropitamahācāpaḥ śuśubhe syandanottamaḥ || 80.12 ||

Yoked to four steeds, fitted with sharp arrows and a mighty bow set upon it, that excellent chariot shone resplendent.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.80.13)

जाज्वल्यमानो वपुषा तपनीयपरिच्छदः। मृगैश्चन्द्रार्धचन्द्रैश्च स रथः समलंकृतः ॥ 80.13 ॥

jājvalyamāno vapuṣā tapanīyaparicchadaḥ| mṛgaiścandrārdhacandraiśca sa rathaḥ samalaṃkṛtaḥ || 80.13 ||

Gleaming in its very frame, decked with gold trappings, that chariot was adorned with figures of deer, full moons, and crescents.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.80.14)

जाम्बूनदमहाकम्बुर्दीप्तपावकसंनिभः। बभूवेन्द्रजितः केतुर्वैदूर्यसमलंकृतः ॥ 80.14 ॥

jāmbūnadamahākamburdīptapāvakasaṃnibhaḥ| babhūvendrajitaḥ keturvaidūryasamalaṃkṛtaḥ || 80.14 ||

Indrajit's banner, ringed with great bands of gold and set with beryl gems, shone like blazing fire.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.80.15)

तेन चादित्यकल्पेन ब्रह्मास्त्रेण च पालितः। स बभूव दुराधर्षो रावणिः सुमहाबलः ॥ 80.15 ॥

tena cādityakalpena brahmāstreṇa ca pālitaḥ| sa babhūva durādharṣo rāvaṇiḥ sumahābalaḥ || 80.15 ||

Guarded by that sun-bright Brahma-missile, Indrajit, already of immense strength, became now impossible to overcome.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.80.16)

सोऽभिनिर्याय नगरादिन्द्रजित् समितिंजयः। हुत्वाग्निं राक्षसैर्मन्त्रैरन्तर्धानगतोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 80.16 ॥

so'bhiniryāya nagarādindrajit samitiṃjayaḥ| hutvāgniṃ rākṣasairmantrairantardhānagato'bravīt || 80.16 ||

Coming forth from the city, Indrajit, ever victorious in war, having offered fire-oblations with rakshasa spells and become invisible, spoke thus:

Shloka 17 (yuddha.80.17)

अद्य हत्वा रणे यौ तौ मिथ्या प्रव्रजितौ वने। जयं पित्रे प्रदास्यामि रावणाय रणेऽधिकम् ॥ 80.17 ॥

adya hatvā raṇe yau tau mithyā pravrajitau vane| jayaṃ pitre pradāsyāmi rāvaṇāya raṇe'dhikam || 80.17 ||

"Today, slaying in battle those two who falsely took to wandering the forest as ascetics, I shall offer my father Ravana a supreme victory won in war."

Shloka 18 (yuddha.80.18)

अद्य निर्वानरामुर्वीं हत्वा रामं च लक्ष्मणम्। करिष्ये परमां प्रीतिमित्युक्त्वान्तरधीयत ॥ 80.18 ॥

adya nirvānarāmurvīṃ hatvā rāmaṃ ca lakṣmaṇam| kariṣye paramāṃ prītimityuktvāntaradhīyata || 80.18 ||

"Today, killing Rama and Lakshmana and making the earth free of monkeys, I shall bring myself the greatest joy." So saying, he vanished from sight.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.80.19)

आपपाताथ संक्रुद्धो दशग्रीवेण चोदितः। तीक्ष्णकार्मुकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णस्त्विन्द्ररिपू रणे ॥ 80.19 ॥

āpapātātha saṃkruddho daśagrīveṇa coditaḥ| tīkṣṇakārmukanārācaistīkṣṇastvindraripū raṇe || 80.19 ||

Then, urged on by the ten-necked Ravana, fierce Indrajit, foe of Indra, swept furiously into the battle with his fearsome bow and steel arrows.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.80.20)

स ददर्श महावीर्यौ नागौ त्रिशिरसाविव। सृजन्ताविषुजालानि वीरौ वानरमध्यगौ ॥ 80.20 ॥

sa dadarśa mahāvīryau nāgau triśirasāviva| sṛjantāviṣujālāni vīrau vānaramadhyagau || 80.20 ||

He saw those two heroes of immense valour, standing amidst the monkeys and loosing networks of arrows, like two three-headed serpents.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.80.21)

इमौ ताविति संचिन्त्य सज्यं कृत्वा च कार्मुकम्। संततानेषुधाराभिः पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान् ॥ 80.21 ॥

imau tāviti saṃcintya sajyaṃ kṛtvā ca kārmukam| saṃtatāneṣudhārābhiḥ parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān || 80.21 ||

Recognizing, "These are the two," and stringing his bow, he covered them with streams of arrows, like a rain-laden cloud pouring down its torrents.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.80.22)

स तु वैहायसरथो युधि तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। अचक्षुर्विषये तिष्ठन् विव्याध निशितैः शरैः ॥ 80.22 ॥

sa tu vaihāyasaratho yudhi tau rāmalakṣmaṇau| acakṣurviṣaye tiṣṭhan vivyādha niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 80.22 ||

With his chariot coursing through the sky, remaining beyond the reach of sight, he pierced Rama and Lakshmana in battle with his sharp arrows.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.80.23)

तौ तस्य शरवेगेन परीतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। धनुषी सशरे कृत्वा दिव्यमस्त्रं प्रचक्रतुः ॥ 80.23 ॥

tau tasya śaravegena parītau rāmalakṣmaṇau| dhanuṣī saśare kṛtvā divyamastraṃ pracakratuḥ || 80.23 ||

Enveloped by the speeding force of his arrows, Rama and Lakshmana fitted arrows to their bows and released divine missiles.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.80.24)

प्रच्छादयन्तौ गगनं शरजालैर्महाबलौ। तमस्त्रैः सूर्यसंकाशैर्नैव पस्पर्शतुः शरैः ॥ 80.24 ॥

pracchādayantau gaganaṃ śarajālairmahābalau| tamastraiḥ sūryasaṃkāśairnaiva pasparśatuḥ śaraiḥ || 80.24 ||

Though the two mighty princes covered the sky with a net of arrows, radiant as the sun, they could not so much as touch him with their missile-charged shafts.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.80.25)

स हि धूमान्धकारं च चक्रे प्रच्छादयन्नभः। दिशश्चान्तर्दधे श्रीमान् नीहारतमसा वृताः ॥ 80.25 ॥

sa hi dhūmāndhakāraṃ ca cakre pracchādayannabhaḥ| diśaścāntardadhe śrīmān nīhāratamasā vṛtāḥ || 80.25 ||

For that splendid Indrajit, covering the sky, wrapped it in smoke-like darkness, and hid the very quarters, shrouding them in mist-like gloom.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.80.26)

नैव ज्यातलनिर्घोषो न च नेमिखुरस्वनः। शुश्रुवे चरतस्तस्य न च रूपं प्रकाशते ॥ 80.26 ॥

naiva jyātalanirghoṣo na ca nemikhurasvanaḥ| śuśruve caratastasya na ca rūpaṃ prakāśate || 80.26 ||

As he moved about, neither the twang of his bowstring against his palm, nor the rumble of his wheels, nor the clatter of hooves could be heard — nor was his form to be seen at all.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.80.27)

घनान्धकारे तिमिरे शिलावर्षमिवाद्भुतम्। स ववर्ष महाबाहुर्नाराचशरवृष्टिभिः ॥ 80.27 ॥

ghanāndhakāre timire śilāvarṣamivādbhutam| sa vavarṣa mahābāhurnārācaśaravṛṣṭibhiḥ || 80.27 ||

In that dense and impenetrable darkness, that mighty-armed Indrajit rained down showers of steel arrows, like a wondrous storm of rocks.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.80.28)

स रामं सूर्यसंकाशैः शरैर्दत्तवरैर्भृशम्। विव्याध समरे क्रुद्धः सर्वगात्रेषु रावणिः ॥ 80.28 ॥

sa rāmaṃ sūryasaṃkāśaiḥ śarairdattavarairbhṛśam| vivyādha samare kruddhaḥ sarvagātreṣu rāvaṇiḥ || 80.28 ||

That enraged Indrajit pierced Rama grievously in every limb, in that battle, with sun-bright arrows granted to him as boons.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.80.29)

तौ हन्यमानौ नाराचैर्धाराभिरिव पर्वतौ। हेमपुङ्खान् नरव्याघ्रौ तिग्मान् मुमुचतुः शरान् ॥ 80.29 ॥

tau hanyamānau nārācairdhārābhiriva parvatau| hemapuṅkhān naravyāghrau tigmān mumucatuḥ śarān || 80.29 ||

Struck by those steel shafts as mountains are struck by torrents of rain, the two tigers among men loosed their own sharp, gold-shafted arrows in return.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.80.30)

अन्तरिक्षे समासाद्य रावणिं कङ्कपत्रिणः। निकृत्य पतगा भूमौ पेतुस्ते शोणिताप्लुताः ॥ 80.30 ॥

antarikṣe samāsādya rāvaṇiṃ kaṅkapatriṇaḥ| nikṛtya patagā bhūmau petuste śoṇitāplutāḥ || 80.30 ||

Those heron-feathered shafts, reaching Indrajit in the sky and wounding him, fell to the ground drenched in blood.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.80.31)

अतिमात्रं शरौघेण दीप्यमानौ नरोत्तमौ। तानिषून् पततो भल्लैरनेकैर्विचकर्ततुः ॥ 80.31 ॥

atimātraṃ śaraugheṇa dīpyamānau narottamau| tāniṣūn patato bhallairanekairvicakartatuḥ || 80.31 ||

Blazing beyond measure with their own flood of arrows, the two best of men, with many crescent-headed shafts, cut down those falling arrows.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.80.32)

यतो हि ददृशाते तौ शरान् निपतिताञ्छितान्। ततस्तु तौ दाशरथी ससृजातेऽस्त्रमुत्तमम् ॥ 80.32 ॥

yato hi dadṛśāte tau śarān nipatitāñchitān| tatastu tau dāśarathī sasṛjāte'stramuttamam || 80.32 ||

From whatever direction they saw those sharp arrows falling, from that same direction the two sons of Dasharatha loosed their own supreme missiles.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.80.33)

रावणिस्तु दिशः सर्वा रथेनातिरथोऽपतत्। विव्याध तौ दाशरथी लघ्वस्त्रो निशितैः शरैः ॥ 80.33 ॥

rāvaṇistu diśaḥ sarvā rathenātiratho'patat| vivyādha tau dāśarathī laghvastro niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 80.33 ||

But Indrajit, that supreme chariot-warrior swift in the use of weapons, swept through every quarter in his chariot and pierced both sons of Dasharatha with sharp arrows.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.80.34)

तेनातिविद्धौ तौ वीरौ रुक्मपुङ्खैः सुसंहतैः। बभूवतुर्दाशरथी पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ ॥ 80.34 ॥

tenātividdhau tau vīrau rukmapuṅkhaiḥ susaṃhataiḥ| babhūvaturdāśarathī puṣpitāviva kiṃśukau || 80.34 ||

Deeply pierced by his tightly-fitted, gold-shafted arrows, those two valiant sons of Dasharatha came to resemble two Kimshuka trees in full bloom.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.80.35)

नास्य वेगगतिं कश्चिन्न च रूपं धनुः शरान्। न चास्य विदितं किंचित् सूर्यस्येवाभ्रसम्प्लवे ॥ 80.35 ॥

nāsya vegagatiṃ kaścinna ca rūpaṃ dhanuḥ śarān| na cāsya viditaṃ kiṃcit sūryasyevābhrasamplave || 80.35 ||

No one could perceive the speed of his movement, nor his form, nor his bow and arrows — nothing about him at all could be discerned, as when the sun is lost in a mass of clouds.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.80.36)

तेन विद्धाश्च हरयो निहताश्च गतासवः। बभूवुः शतशस्तत्र पतिता धरणीतले ॥ 80.36 ॥

tena viddhāśca harayo nihatāśca gatāsavaḥ| babhūvuḥ śataśastatra patitā dharaṇītale || 80.36 ||

Struck down by him, the monkeys perished; hundreds of them lay there, lifeless, fallen upon the ground.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.80.37)

लक्ष्मणस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो भ्रातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। ब्राह्ममस्त्रं प्रयोक्ष्यामि वधार्थं सर्वरक्षसाम् ॥ 80.37 ॥

lakṣmaṇastu tataḥ kruddho bhrātaraṃ vākyamabravīt| brāhmamastraṃ prayokṣyāmi vadhārthaṃ sarvarakṣasām || 80.37 ||

Then Lakshmana, enraged, said to his brother, "I shall employ the Brahma-missile, to destroy all the rakshasas."

Shloka 38 (yuddha.80.38)

तमुवाच ततो रामो लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम्। नैकस्य हेतो रक्षांसि पृथिव्यां हन्तुमर्हसि ॥ 80.38 ॥

tamuvāca tato rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam| naikasya heto rakṣāṃsi pṛthivyāṃ hantumarhasi || 80.38 ||

Then Rama said to that Lakshmana of auspicious marks, "You ought not, for the sake of one demon, to kill all the rakshasas on this earth."

Shloka 39 (yuddha.80.39)

अयुध्यमानं प्रच्छन्नं प्राञ्जलिं शरणागतम्। पलायमानं मत्तं वा न हन्तुं त्वमिहार्हसि ॥ 80.39 ॥

ayudhyamānaṃ pracchannaṃ prāñjaliṃ śaraṇāgatam| palāyamānaṃ mattaṃ vā na hantuṃ tvamihārhasi || 80.39 ||

"One who is not fighting, one who is hidden, one who stands with joined palms seeking refuge, one who flees, or one who is intoxicated — none of these should you kill here."

Shloka 40 (yuddha.80.40)

तस्यैव तु वधे यत्नं करिष्यामि महाभुज। आदेक्ष्यावो महावेगानस्त्रानाशीविषोपमान् ॥ 80.40 ॥

tasyaiva tu vadhe yatnaṃ kariṣyāmi mahābhuja| ādekṣyāvo mahāvegānastrānāśīviṣopamān || 80.40 ||

"It is his death alone, O mighty-armed one, that I shall strive for. Let us both aim mystic missiles of great swiftness, like venomous serpents."

Shloka 41 (yuddha.80.41)

तमेनं मायिनं क्षुद्रमन्तर्हितरथं बलात्। राक्षसं निहनिष्यन्ति दृष्ट्वा वानरयूथपाः ॥ 80.41 ॥

tamenaṃ māyinaṃ kṣudramantarhitarathaṃ balāt| rākṣasaṃ nihaniṣyanti dṛṣṭvā vānarayūthapāḥ || 80.41 ||

"Seeing this vile demon, skilled in sorcery, his chariot hidden from sight, the monkey chieftains shall by force strike him down."

Shloka 42 (yuddha.80.42)

यद्येष भूमिं विशते दिवं वा रसातलं वापि नभस्तलं वा। एवं विगूढोऽपि ममास्त्रदग्धः पतिष्यते भूमितले गतासुः ॥ 80.42 ॥

yadyeṣa bhūmiṃ viśate divaṃ vā rasātalaṃ vāpi nabhastalaṃ vā| evaṃ vigūḍho'pi mamāstradagdhaḥ patiṣyate bhūmitale gatāsuḥ || 80.42 ||

"Even if he enters the earth, or the heavens, or the netherworld, or hides himself in the vault of the sky — thus concealed, still scorched by my missile, he shall fall lifeless upon the ground."

Shloka 43 (yuddha.80.43)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महार्थं रघुप्रवीरः प्लवगर्षभैर्वृतः। वधाय रौद्रस्य नृशंसकर्मण- स्तदा महात्मा त्वरितं निरीक्षते ॥ 80.43 ॥

ityevamuktvā vacanaṃ mahārthaṃ raghupravīraḥ plavagarṣabhairvṛtaḥ| vadhāya raudrasya nṛśaṃsakarmaṇa- stadā mahātmā tvaritaṃ nirīkṣate || 80.43 ||

Having spoken these weighty words, the great-souled hero of the Raghu line, surrounded by the foremost of monkeys, then began swiftly to consider how to bring about the speedy destruction of that fierce demon of cruel deeds.