Hanuman's Duel and the Sighting of Indrajit

Shloka 1 (yuddha.86.1)

अथ तस्यामवस्थायां लक्ष्मणं रावणानुजः। परेषामहितं वाक्यमर्थसाधकमब्रवीत् ॥ 86.1 ॥

atha tasyāmavasthāyāṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ rāvaṇānujaḥ| pareṣāmahitaṃ vākyamarthasādhakamabravīt || 86.1 ||

Then, in that situation, Vibhishana, Ravana's younger brother, spoke to Lakshmana words that were harmful to the enemy and served their purpose.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.86.2)

यदेतद् राक्षसानीकं मेघश्यामं विलोक्यते। एतदायोध्यतां शीघ्रं कपिभिश्च शिलायुधैः ॥ 86.2 ॥

yadetad rākṣasānīkaṃ meghaśyāmaṃ vilokyate| etadāyodhyatāṃ śīghraṃ kapibhiśca śilāyudhaiḥ || 86.2 ||

"Let this army of demons, dark as a rain cloud, that is seen here, be swiftly engaged in battle by the monkeys armed with boulders."

Shloka 3 (yuddha.86.3)

तस्यानीकस्य महतो भेदने यत लक्ष्मण। राक्षसेन्द्रसुतोऽप्यत्र भिन्ने दृश्यो भविष्यति ॥ 86.3 ॥

tasyānīkasya mahato bhedane yata lakṣmaṇa| rākṣasendrasuto'pyatra bhinne dṛśyo bhaviṣyati || 86.3 ||

"O Lakshmana, strive to break this mighty army. Once it is broken, Indrajit too will become visible here."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.86.4)

स त्वमिन्द्राशनिप्रख्यैः शरैरवकिरन् परान्। अभिद्रवाशु यावद् वै नैतत् कर्म समाप्यते ॥ 86.4 ॥

sa tvamindrāśaniprakhyaiḥ śarairavakiran parān| abhidravāśu yāvad vai naitat karma samāpyate || 86.4 ||

"So, while this rite of his remains uncompleted, rush upon the enemy at once, showering down arrows equal to Indra's thunderbolt."

Shloka 5 (yuddha.86.5)

जहि वीर दुरात्मानं मायापरमधार्मिकम्। रावणिं क्रूरकर्माणं सर्वलोकभयावहम् ॥ 86.5 ॥

jahi vīra durātmānaṃ māyāparamadhārmikam| rāvaṇiṃ krūrakarmāṇaṃ sarvalokabhayāvaham || 86.5 ||

"O hero, slay that evil-souled Indrajit, devoted to sorcery, unrighteous, cruel in his deeds, and a terror to all the worlds."

Shloka 6 (yuddha.86.6)

विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः शुभलक्षणः। ववर्ष शरवर्षेण राक्षसेन्द्रसुतं प्रति ॥ 86.6 ॥

vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā lakṣmaṇaḥ śubhalakṣaṇaḥ| vavarṣa śaravarṣeṇa rākṣasendrasutaṃ prati || 86.6 ||

Hearing Vibhishana's words, Lakshmana of auspicious marks let loose a shower of arrows towards Indrajit.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.86.7)

ऋक्षाः शाखामृगाश्चैव द्रुमप्रवरयोधिनः। अभ्यधावन्त सहितास्तदनीकमवस्थितम् ॥ 86.7 ॥

ṛkṣāḥ śākhāmṛgāścaiva drumapravarayodhinaḥ| abhyadhāvanta sahitāstadanīkamavasthitam || 86.7 ||

Bears and monkeys, mighty fighters armed with trees, rushed together upon that army standing arrayed before them.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.86.8)

राक्षसाश्च शितैर्बाणैरसिभिः शक्तितोमरैः। अभ्यवर्तन्त समरे कपिसैन्यजिघांसवः ॥ 86.8 ॥

rākṣasāśca śitairbāṇairasibhiḥ śaktitomaraiḥ| abhyavartanta samare kapisainyajighāṃsavaḥ || 86.8 ||

And the demons, eager to kill the monkey army, met them in that battle with sharp arrows, swords, spears and javelins.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.86.9)

स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलः संजज्ञे कपिरक्षसाम्। शब्देन महता लङ्कां नादयन् वै समन्ततः ॥ 86.9 ॥

sa samprahārastumulaḥ saṃjajñe kapirakṣasām| śabdena mahatā laṅkāṃ nādayan vai samantataḥ || 86.9 ||

That tumultuous clash between the monkeys and demons broke out, filling Lanka on every side with its mighty roar.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.86.10)

शस्त्रैश्च विविधाकारैः शितैर्बाणैश्च पादपैः। उद्यतैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्च घोरैराकाशमावृतम् ॥ 86.10 ॥

śastraiśca vividhākāraiḥ śitairbāṇaiśca pādapaiḥ| udyatairgiriśṛṅgaiśca ghorairākāśamāvṛtam || 86.10 ||

The sky was covered over with weapons of every shape, with sharp arrows, with trees, and with dreadful mountain-peaks hurled aloft.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.86.11)

राक्षसा वानरेन्द्रेषु विकृताननबाहवः। निवेशयन्तः शस्त्राणि चक्रुस्ते सुमहद्भयम् ॥ 86.11 ॥

rākṣasā vānarendreṣu vikṛtānanabāhavaḥ| niveśayantaḥ śastrāṇi cakruste sumahadbhayam || 86.11 ||

The demons, of hideous faces and arms, hurling their weapons upon the foremost monkeys, spread great terror.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.86.12)

तथैव सकलैर्वृक्षैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्च वानराः। अभिजघ्नुर्निजघ्नुश्च समरे सर्वराक्षसान् ॥ 86.12 ॥

tathaiva sakalairvṛkṣairgiriśṛṅgaiśca vānarāḥ| abhijaghnurnijaghnuśca samare sarvarākṣasān || 86.12 ||

In the same way the monkeys, with every kind of tree and mountain-peak, struck at and slew the demons in that battle.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.86.13)

ऋक्षवानरमुख्यैश्च महाकायैर्महाबलैः। रक्षसां युध्यमानानां महद्भयमजायत ॥ 86.13 ॥

ṛkṣavānaramukhyaiśca mahākāyairmahābalaiḥ| rakṣasāṃ yudhyamānānāṃ mahadbhayamajāyata || 86.13 ||

Great terror arose among the demons who fought against those mighty, colossal-bodied chiefs of the bears and monkeys.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.86.14)

स्वमनीकं विषण्णं तु श्रुत्वा शत्रुभिरर्दितम्। उदतिष्ठत दुर्धर्षः स कर्मण्यननुष्ठिते ॥ 86.14 ॥

svamanīkaṃ viṣaṇṇaṃ tu śrutvā śatrubhirarditam| udatiṣṭhata durdharṣaḥ sa karmaṇyananuṣṭhite || 86.14 ||

Hearing that his own army was in distress, harassed by the enemy, the unassailable Indrajit rose up, leaving his sacrificial rite unfinished.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.86.15)

वृक्षान्धकारान्निर्गत्य जातक्रोधः स रावणिः। आरुरोह रथं सज्जं पूर्वयुक्तं सुसंयतम् ॥ 86.15 ॥

vṛkṣāndhakārānnirgatya jātakrodhaḥ sa rāvaṇiḥ| āruroha rathaṃ sajjaṃ pūrvayuktaṃ susaṃyatam || 86.15 ||

Coming out from the darkness of the trees, Indrajit, now filled with rage, mounted his chariot, which stood ready, already yoked and well-fastened beforehand.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.86.16)

स भीमकार्मुकशरः कृष्णाञ्जनचयोपमः। रक्तास्यनयनो भीमो बभौ मृत्युरिवान्तकः ॥ 86.16 ॥

sa bhīmakārmukaśaraḥ kṛṣṇāñjanacayopamaḥ| raktāsyanayano bhīmo babhau mṛtyurivāntakaḥ || 86.16 ||

Armed with his terrible bow and arrows, dark as a mass of collyrium, his mouth and eyes red, that dreadful being shone forth like Death, the ender of all.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.86.17)

दृष्ट्वैव तु रथस्थं तं पर्यवर्तत तद् बलम्। रक्षसां भीमवेगानां लक्ष्मणेन युयुत्सताम् ॥ 86.17 ॥

dṛṣṭvaiva tu rathasthaṃ taṃ paryavartata tad balam| rakṣasāṃ bhīmavegānāṃ lakṣmaṇena yuyutsatām || 86.17 ||

The very moment they saw him mounted on his chariot, that army of demons, of terrific speed, wheeled about again, eager now to fight with Lakshmana.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.86.18)

तस्मिंस्तु काले हनुमानरुजत् स दुरासदम्। धरणीधरसंकाशो महावृक्षमरिंदमः ॥ 86.18 ॥

tasmiṃstu kāle hanumānarujat sa durāsadam| dharaṇīdharasaṃkāśo mahāvṛkṣamariṃdamaḥ || 86.18 ||

At that moment Hanuman, the destroyer of foes, who resembled a mountain in stature, tore up a mighty and matchless tree,

Shloka 19 (yuddha.86.19)

स राक्षसानां तत् सैन्यं कालाग्निरिव निर्दहन्। चकार बहुभिर्वृक्षैर्निःसंज्ञं युधि वानरः ॥ 86.19 ॥

sa rākṣasānāṃ tat sainyaṃ kālāgniriva nirdahan| cakāra bahubhirvṛkṣairniḥsaṃjñaṃ yudhi vānaraḥ || 86.19 ||

and, consuming that army of demons as the fire of dissolution consumes the world, that monkey, with tree after tree, left it senseless upon the field of battle.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.86.20)

विध्वंसयन्तं तरसा दृष्ट्वैव पवनात्मजम्। राक्षसानां सहस्राणि हनूमन्तमवाकिरन् ॥ 86.20 ॥

vidhvaṃsayantaṃ tarasā dṛṣṭvaiva pavanātmajam| rākṣasānāṃ sahasrāṇi hanūmantamavākiran || 86.20 ||

The moment they saw the son of the Wind-god thus swiftly destroying them, thousands of demons showered their weapons upon Hanuman.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.86.21)

शितशूलधराः शूलैरसिभिश्चासिपाणयः। शक्तिहस्ताश्च शक्तीभिः पट्टिशैः पट्टिशायुधाः ॥ 86.21 ॥

śitaśūladharāḥ śūlairasibhiścāsipāṇayaḥ| śaktihastāśca śaktībhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ paṭṭiśāyudhāḥ || 86.21 ||

Those bearing sharp pikes struck him with pikes, those with swords in hand struck with swords, those wielding javelins struck with javelins, and those armed with spears struck with spears;

Shloka 22 (yuddha.86.22)

परिघैश्च गदाभिश्च कुन्तैश्च शुभदर्शनैः। शतशश्च शतघ्नीभिरायसैरपि मुद्गरैः ॥ 86.22 ॥

parighaiśca gadābhiśca kuntaiśca śubhadarśanaiḥ| śataśaśca śataghnībhirāyasairapi muda‍garaiḥ || 86.22 ||

with iron bars and maces, with handsome-looking lances, and by hundreds with spiked cylinders and iron hammers as well;

Shloka 23 (yuddha.86.23)

घोरैः परशुभिश्चैव भिन्दिपालैश्च राक्षसाः। मुष्टिभिर्वज्रकल्पैश्च तलैरशनिसंनिभैः ॥ 86.23 ॥

ghoraiḥ paraśubhiścaiva bhindipālaiśca rākṣasāḥ| muṣṭibhirvajrakalpaiśca talairaśanisaṃnibhaiḥ || 86.23 ||

the demons struck him with dreadful axes, with hurling-clubs, with fists hard as thunderbolts, and with slaps that fell like lightning-bolts;

Shloka 24 (yuddha.86.24)

अभिजघ्नुः समासाद्य समन्तात् पर्वतोपमम्। तेषामपि च संक्रुद्धश्चकार कदनं महत् ॥ 86.24 ॥

abhijaghnuḥ samāsādya samantāt parvatopamam| teṣāmapi ca saṃkruddhaścakāra kadanaṃ mahat || 86.24 ||

closing in from every side upon him who stood like a mountain. And Hanuman, enraged in turn, wrought great slaughter among them.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.86.25)

स ददर्श कपिश्रेष्ठमचलोपममिन्द्रजित्। सूदमानमसंत्रस्तममित्रान् पवनात्मजम् ॥ 86.25 ॥

sa dadarśa kapiśreṣṭhamacalopamamindrajit| sūdamānamasaṃtrastamamitrān pavanātmajam || 86.25 ||

Then Indrajit beheld that foremost of monkeys, the son of the Wind, mountain-like, fearlessly slaying his enemies.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.86.26)

स सारथिमुवाचेदं याहि यत्रैष वानरः। क्षयमेव हि नः कुर्याद् राक्षसानामुपेक्षितः ॥ 86.26 ॥

sa sārathimuvācedaṃ yāhi yatraiṣa vānaraḥ| kṣayameva hi naḥ kuryād rākṣasānāmupekṣitaḥ || 86.26 ||

He said to his charioteer, "Drive to where this monkey stands; if we leave him unopposed, he will surely bring about the destruction of our demons."

Shloka 27 (yuddha.86.27)

इत्युक्तः सारथिस्तेन ययौ यत्र स मारुतिः। वहन् परमदुर्धर्षं स्थितमिन्द्रजितं रथे ॥ 86.27 ॥

ityuktaḥ sārathistena yayau yatra sa mārutiḥ| vahan paramadurdharṣaṃ sthitamindrajitaṃ rathe || 86.27 ||

So addressed, the charioteer drove on to where Hanuman stood, bearing the utterly unassailable Indrajit in his chariot.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.86.28)

सोऽभ्युपेत्य शरान् खड्गान् पट्टिशांश्च परश्वधान्। अभ्यवर्षत दुर्धर्षः कपिमूर्धनि राक्षसः ॥ 86.28 ॥

so'bhyupetya śarān khaḍgān paṭṭiśāṃśca paraśvadhān| abhyavarṣata durdharṣaḥ kapimūrdhani rākṣasaḥ || 86.28 ||

Drawing near, that unassailable demon rained down arrows, swords, spears and axes upon Hanuman's head.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.86.29)

तानि शस्त्राणि घोराणि प्रतिगृह्य स मारुतिः। रोषेण महताविष्टो वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥ 86.29 ॥

tāni śastrāṇi ghorāṇi pratigṛhya sa mārutiḥ| roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo vākyaṃ cedamuvāca ha || 86.29 ||

Receiving those dreadful weapons, Hanuman, filled with towering rage, spoke these words:

Shloka 30 (yuddha.86.30)

युध्यस्व यदि शूरोऽसि रावणात्मज दुर्मते। वायुपुत्रं समासाद्य न जीवन् प्रतियास्यसि ॥ 86.30 ॥

yudhyasva yadi śūro'si rāvaṇātmaja durmate| vāyuputraṃ samāsādya na jīvan pratiyāsyasi || 86.30 ||

"Fight, O evil-minded son of Ravana, if you are truly brave -- once you have faced the son of the Wind, you shall not return alive."

Shloka 31 (yuddha.86.31)

बाहुभ्यां सम्प्रयुध्यस्व यदि मे द्वन्द्वमाहवे। वेगं सहस्व दुर्बुद्धे ततस्त्वं रक्षसां वरः ॥ 86.31 ॥

bāhubhyāṃ samprayudhyasva yadi me dvandvamāhave| vegaṃ sahasva durbuddhe tatastvaṃ rakṣasāṃ varaḥ || 86.31 ||

"If you would meet me in single combat, fight with your bare arms; withstand my onslaught in this battle, O foolish one -- then indeed shall you be counted the best among the demons."

Shloka 32 (yuddha.86.32)

हनूमन्तं जिघांसन्तं समुद्यतशरासनम्। रावणात्मजमाचष्टे लक्ष्मणाय विभीषणः ॥ 86.32 ॥

hanūmantaṃ jighāṃsantaṃ samudyataśarāsanam| rāvaṇātmajamācaṣṭe lakṣmaṇāya vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 86.32 ||

Then Vibhishana pointed out to Lakshmana that Indrajit, bow raised, bent on killing Hanuman.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.86.33)

यः स वासवनिर्जेता रावणस्यात्मसम्भवः। स एष रथमास्थाय हनूमन्तं जिघांसति ॥ 86.33 ॥

yaḥ sa vāsavanirjetā rāvaṇasyātmasambhavaḥ| sa eṣa rathamāsthāya hanūmantaṃ jighāṃsati || 86.33 ||

"That very Indrajit, Ravana's own son, who conquered Indra -- see, mounted on his chariot, he now seeks to kill Hanuman."

Shloka 34 (yuddha.86.34)

तमप्रतिमसंस्थानैः शरैः शत्रुनिवारणैः। जीवितान्तकरैर्घोरैः सौमित्रे रावणिं जहि ॥ 86.34 ॥

tamapratimasaṃsthānaiḥ śaraiḥ śatrunivāraṇaiḥ| jīvitāntakarairghoraiḥ saumitre rāvaṇiṃ jahi || 86.34 ||

"O Lakshmana, slay this Indrajit with your terrible, matchless arrows, which repel the enemy and put an end to life itself."

Shloka 35 (yuddha.86.35)

इत्येवमुक्तस्तु तदा महात्मा विभीषणेनारिविभीषणेन। ददर्श तं पर्वतसंनिकाशं रथस्थितं भीमबलं दुरासदम् ॥ 86.35 ॥

ityevamuktastu tadā mahātmā vibhīṣaṇenārivibhīṣaṇena| dadarśa taṃ parvatasaṃnikāśaṃ rathasthitaṃ bhīmabalaṃ durāsadam || 86.35 ||

Thus addressed by Vibhishana, who was the terror of his foes, the great-souled Lakshmana then beheld him -- mountain-like, seated in his chariot, of terrific strength, and hard to approach.