Ravana Rides to War

Shloka 1 (yuddha.95.1)

आर्तानां राक्षसीनां तु लङ्कायां वै कुले कुले। रावणः करुणं शब्दं शुश्राव परिदेवितम् ॥ 95.1 ॥

ārtānāṃ rākṣasīnāṃ tu laṅkāyāṃ vai kule kule| rāvaṇaḥ karuṇaṃ śabdaṃ śuśrāva paridevitam || 95.1 ||

In every house throughout Lanka, Ravana heard the pitiful sound of the afflicted rakshasa women's lamentation.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.95.2)

स तु दीर्घं विनिःश्वस्य मुहूर्तं ध्यानमास्थितः। बभूव परमक्रुद्धो रावणो भीमदर्शनः ॥ 95.2 ॥

sa tu dīrghaṃ viniḥśvasya muhūrtaṃ dhyānamāsthitaḥ| babhūva paramakruddho rāvaṇo bhīmadarśanaḥ || 95.2 ||

Heaving a long sigh, and remaining absorbed in thought for a while, Ravana became supremely enraged, terrible to behold.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.95.3)

संदश्य दशनैरोष्ठं क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः। राक्षसैरपि दुर्दर्शः कालाग्निरिव मूर्तिमान् ॥ 95.3 ॥

saṃdaśya daśanairoṣṭhaṃ krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ| rākṣasairapi durdarśaḥ kālāgniriva mūrtimān || 95.3 ||

Biting his lip with his teeth, his eyes red with fury, unbearable to look upon even by rakshasas, he seemed the very fire of doomsday embodied.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.95.4)

उवाच च समीपस्थान् राक्षसान् राक्षसेश्वरः। क्रोधाव्यक्तकथस्तत्र निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा ॥ 95.4 ॥

uvāca ca samīpasthān rākṣasān rākṣaseśvaraḥ| krodhāvyaktakathastatra nirdahanniva cakṣuṣā || 95.4 ||

The lord of the rakshasas spoke to those standing near him, his words indistinct with rage, as though burning them with his very glance:

Shloka 5 (yuddha.95.5)

महोदरं महापार्श्वं विरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम्। शीघ्रं वदत सैन्यानि निर्यातेति ममाज्ञया ॥ 95.5 ॥

mahodaraṃ mahāpārśvaṃ virūpākṣaṃ ca rākṣasam| śīghraṃ vadata sainyāni niryāteti mamājñayā || 95.5 ||

"Mahodara, Mahaparshva, and the rakshasa Virupaksha—go quickly, tell the armies, by my command, to march forth at once!"

Shloka 6 (yuddha.95.6)

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षसास्ते भयार्दिताः। चोदयामासुरव्यग्रान् राक्षसांस्तान् नृपाज्ञया ॥ 95.6 ॥

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rākṣasāste bhayārditāḥ| codayāmāsuravyagrān rākṣasāṃstān nṛpājñayā || 95.6 ||

Hearing that command of his, those rakshasas, stricken with fear, went and roused the still-composed rakshasa troops in the king's name.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.95.7)

ते तु सर्वे तथेत्युक्त्वा राक्षसा भीमदर्शनाः। कृतस्वस्त्ययनाः सर्वे ते रणाभिमुखा ययुः ॥ 95.7 ॥

te tu sarve tathetyuktvā rākṣasā bhīmadarśanāḥ| kṛtasvastyayanāḥ sarve te raṇābhimukhā yayuḥ || 95.7 ||

All those fearsome-looking rakshasas, saying "So be it," and having performed protective rites, set out with their faces turned toward the battlefield.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.95.8)

प्रतिपूज्य यथान्यायं रावणं ते महारथाः। तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे भर्तुर्विजयकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ 95.8 ॥

pratipūjya yathānyāyaṃ rāvaṇaṃ te mahārathāḥ| tasthuḥ prāñjalayaḥ sarve bharturvijayakāṅkṣiṇaḥ || 95.8 ||

Those great chariot-warriors, having duly honored Ravana as was fitting, stood before him with joined palms, longing for their lord's victory.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.95.9)

ततोवाच प्रहस्यैतान् रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। महोदरमहापार्श्वौ विरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् ॥ 95.9 ॥

tatovāca prahasyaitān rāvaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ| mahodaramahāpārśvau virūpākṣaṃ ca rākṣasam || 95.9 ||

Then Ravana, stupefied with rage yet laughing aloud, spoke to Mahodara and Mahaparshva, and to the rakshasa Virupaksha:

Shloka 10 (yuddha.95.10)

अद्य बाणैर्धनुर्मुक्तैर्युगान्तादित्यसंनिभैः। राघवं लक्ष्मणं चैव नेष्यामि यमसादनम् ॥ 95.10 ॥

adya bāṇairdhanurmuktairyugāntādityasaṃnibhaiḥ| rāghavaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ caiva neṣyāmi yamasādanam || 95.10 ||

"Today, with arrows loosed from my bow, blazing like the sun at the end of an age, I shall send Raghava and Lakshmana both to the abode of Death."

Shloka 11 (yuddha.95.11)

खरस्य कुम्भकर्णस्य प्रहस्तेन्द्रजितोस्तथा। करिष्यामि प्रतीकारमद्य शत्रुवधादहम् ॥ 95.11 ॥

kharasya kumbhakarṇasya prahastendrajitostathā| kariṣyāmi pratīkāramadya śatruvadhādaham || 95.11 ||

"For Khara, for Kumbhakarna, for Prahasta and for Indrajit, today, by slaying the enemy, I shall exact my revenge."

Shloka 12 (yuddha.95.12)

नैवान्तरिक्षं न दिशो न च द्यौर्नापि सागराः। प्रकाशत्वं गमिष्यन्ति मद्बाणजलदावृताः ॥ 95.12 ॥

naivāntarikṣaṃ na diśo na ca dyaurnāpi sāgarāḥ| prakāśatvaṃ gamiṣyanti madbāṇajaladāvṛtāḥ || 95.12 ||

"Neither sky, nor the quarters, nor heaven, nor the seas shall remain visible, covered over by my arrows as by rain-clouds."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.95.13)

अद्य वानरमुख्यानां तानि यूथानि भागशः। धनुषा शरजालेन वधिष्यामि पतत्त्रिणा ॥ 95.13 ॥

adya vānaramukhyānāṃ tāni yūthāni bhāgaśaḥ| dhanuṣā śarajālena vadhiṣyāmi patattriṇā || 95.13 ||

"Today, with my bow and its net of winged arrows, I shall destroy, band by band, all those troops of monkey chiefs."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.95.14)

अद्य वानरसैन्यानि रथेन पवनौजसा। धनुःसमुद्रादुद्भूतैर्मथिष्यामि शरोर्मिभिः ॥ 95.14 ॥

adya vānarasainyāni rathena pavanaujasā| dhanuḥsamudrādudbhūtairmathiṣyāmi śarormibhiḥ || 95.14 ||

"Today, mounted on my chariot swift as the wind, I shall churn up the armies of monkeys with waves of arrows rising from the ocean of my bow."

Shloka 15 (yuddha.95.15)

व्याकोशपद्मवक्त्राणि पद्मकेसरवर्चसाम्। अद्य यूथतटाकानि गजवत् प्रमथाम्यहम् ॥ 95.15 ॥

vyākośapadmavaktrāṇi padmakesaravarcasām| adya yūthataṭākāni gajavat pramathāmyaham || 95.15 ||

"Today, like an elephant, I shall trample down those troops as one tramples ponds, their lotus-bright faces blooming like blossomed lotuses."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.95.16)

सशरैरद्य वदनैः संख्ये वानरयूथपाः। मण्डयिष्यन्ति वसुधां सनालैरिव पङ्कजैः ॥ 95.16 ॥

saśarairadya vadanaiḥ saṃkhye vānarayūthapāḥ| maṇḍayiṣyanti vasudhāṃ sanālairiva paṅkajaiḥ || 95.16 ||

"Today, on the battlefield, the monkey chieftains, their faces pierced with arrows, will adorn the earth as if with lotuses still on their stalks."

Shloka 17 (yuddha.95.17)

अद्य यूथप्रचण्डानां हरीणां द्रुमयोधिनाम्। मुक्तेनैकेषुणा युद्धे भेत्स्यामि च शतं शतम् ॥ 95.17 ॥

adya yūthapracaṇḍānāṃ harīṇāṃ drumayodhinām| muktenaikeṣuṇā yuddhe bhetsyāmi ca śataṃ śatam || 95.17 ||

"Today, with a single arrow released in battle, I shall pierce a hundred at a time of those fierce, tree-fighting troop-leaders among the monkeys."

Shloka 18 (yuddha.95.18)

हतो भ्राता च येषां वै येषां च तनयो हतः। वधेनाद्य रिपोस्तेषां करोम्यश्रुप्रमार्जनम् ॥ 95.18 ॥

hato bhrātā ca yeṣāṃ vai yeṣāṃ ca tanayo hataḥ| vadhenādya riposteṣāṃ karomyaśrupramārjanam || 95.18 ||

"Those whose brothers have been slain, and those whose sons have been slain—today, by killing the enemy, I shall wipe away their tears."

Shloka 19 (yuddha.95.19)

अद्य मद्बाणनिर्भिन्नैः प्रस्तीर्णैर्गतचेतनैः। करोमि वानरैर्युद्धे यत्नावेक्ष्यतलां महीम् ॥ 95.19 ॥

adya madbāṇanirbhinnaiḥ prastīrṇairgatacetanaiḥ| karomi vānarairyuddhe yatnāvekṣyatalāṃ mahīm || 95.19 ||

"Today, with monkeys pierced through by my arrows, strewn lifeless across the battlefield, I shall make the earth's surface visible only with effort."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.95.20)

अद्य काकाश्च गृध्राश्च ये च मांसाशिनोऽपरे। सर्वांस्तांस्तर्पयिष्यामि शत्रुमांसैः शराहतैः ॥ 95.20 ॥

adya kākāśca gṛdhrāśca ye ca māṃsāśino'pare| sarvāṃstāṃstarpayiṣyāmi śatrumāṃsaiḥ śarāhataiḥ || 95.20 ||

"Today, crows and vultures and all other flesh-eating creatures—I shall satisfy every one of them with the flesh of enemies felled by my arrows."

Shloka 21 (yuddha.95.21)

कल्प्यतां मे रथः शीघ्रं क्षिप्रमानीयतां धनुः। अनुप्रयान्तु मां युद्धे येऽत्र शिष्टा निशाचराः ॥ 95.21 ॥

kalpyatāṃ me rathaḥ śīghraṃ kṣipramānīyatāṃ dhanuḥ| anuprayāntu māṃ yuddhe ye'tra śiṣṭā niśācarāḥ || 95.21 ||

"Let my chariot be made ready at once; let my bow be brought quickly! Let whatever night-wanderers remain here follow me into battle!"

Shloka 22 (yuddha.95.22)

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा महापार्श्वोऽब्रवीद् वचः। बलाध्यक्षान् स्थितांस्तत्र बलं संत्वर्यतामिति ॥ 95.22 ॥

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā mahāpārśvo'bravīd vacaḥ| balādhyakṣān sthitāṃstatra balaṃ saṃtvaryatāmiti || 95.22 ||

Hearing those words of his, Mahaparshva spoke to the army-commanders standing there: "Let the army be made ready at once!"

Shloka 23 (yuddha.95.23)

बलाध्यक्षास्तु संयुक्ता राक्षसांस्तान् गृहे गृहे। चोदयन्तः परिययुर्लङ्कां लघुपराक्रमाः ॥ 95.23 ॥

balādhyakṣāstu saṃyuktā rākṣasāṃstān gṛhe gṛhe| codayantaḥ pariyayurlaṅkāṃ laghuparākramāḥ || 95.23 ||

The army-commanders, quick and vigorous, went about, rousing the rakshasas house by house, moving swiftly through all of Lanka.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.95.24)

ततो मुहूर्तान्निष्पेतू राक्षसा भीमदर्शनाः। नदन्तो भीमवदना नानाप्रहरणैर्भुजैः ॥ 95.24 ॥

tato muhūrtānniṣpetū rākṣasā bhīmadarśanāḥ| nadanto bhīmavadanā nānāpraharaṇairbhujaiḥ || 95.24 ||

Then, within moments, those fearsome rakshasas of terrifying faces rushed forth roaring, their arms bearing weapons of every kind—

Shloka 25 (yuddha.95.25)

असिभिः पट्टिशैः शूलैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैर्हलैः। शक्तिभिस्तीक्ष्णधाराभिर्महद्भिः कूटमुद्गरैः ॥ 95.25 ॥

asibhiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlairgadābhirmusalairhalaiḥ| śaktibhistīkṣṇadhārābhirmahadbhiḥ kūṭamudgaraiḥ || 95.25 ||

with swords, spiked clubs, spears, maces, pestles, ploughshares, sharp-edged javelins, and massive iron hammers,

Shloka 26 (yuddha.95.26)

यष्टिभिर्विविधैश्चक्रैर्निशितैश्च परश्वधैः। भिन्दिपालैः शतघ्नीभिरन्यैश्चापि वरायुधैः ॥ 95.26 ॥

yaṣṭibhirvividhaiścakrairniśitaiśca paraśvadhaiḥ| bhindipālaiḥ śataghnībhiranyaiścāpi varāyudhaiḥ || 95.26 ||

with staves, discuses of many kinds, sharpened axes, throwing-darts, shataghnis, and other excellent weapons besides.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.95.27)

अथानयन् बलाध्यक्षाश्चत्वारो रावणाज्ञया। रथानां नियुतं साग्रं नागानां नियुतत्रयम् ॥ 95.27 ॥

athānayan balādhyakṣāścatvāro rāvaṇājñayā| rathānāṃ niyutaṃ sāgraṃ nāgānāṃ niyutatrayam || 95.27 ||

Then, by Ravana's command, the four army-commanders brought forth a full ten hundred thousand chariots and more, three million elephants,

Shloka 28 (yuddha.95.28)

अश्वानां षष्टिकोट्यस्तु खरोष्ट्राणां तथैव च। पदातयस्त्वसंख्याता जग्मुस्ते राजशासनात् ॥ 95.28 ॥

aśvānāṃ ṣaṣṭikoṭyastu kharoṣṭrāṇāṃ tathaiva ca| padātayastvasaṃkhyātā jagmuste rājaśāsanāt || 95.28 ||

sixty crore horses, likewise donkeys and camels, and countless foot-soldiers besides—all marched out at the king's command.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.95.29)

बलाध्यक्षाश्च संस्थाप्य राज्ञः सेनां पुरःस्थिताम्। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे सूतः स्थापयामास तं रथम् ॥ 95.29 ॥

balādhyakṣāśca saṃsthāpya rājñaḥ senāṃ puraḥsthitām| etasminnantare sūtaḥ sthāpayāmāsa taṃ ratham || 95.29 ||

Having thus drawn up the king's army before him, the commanders stood ready; and meanwhile, the charioteer brought that chariot to a halt nearby.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.95.30)

दिव्यास्त्रवरसम्पन्नं नानालंकारभूषितम्। नानायुधसमाकीर्णं किङ्किणीजालसंयुतम् ॥ 95.30 ॥

divyāstravarasampannaṃ nānālaṃkārabhūṣitam| nānāyudhasamākīrṇaṃ kiṅkiṇījālasaṃyutam || 95.30 ||

That chariot, furnished with the finest celestial weapons, adorned with manifold ornaments, laden with weapons of every kind, strung with a net of tinkling bells,

Shloka 31 (yuddha.95.31)

नानारत्नपरिक्षिप्तं रत्नस्तम्भैर्विराजितम्। जाम्बूनदमयैश्चैव सहस्रकलशैर्वृतम् ॥ 95.31 ॥

nānāratnaparikṣiptaṃ ratnastambhairvirājitam| jāmbūnadamayaiścaiva sahasrakalaśairvṛtam || 95.31 ||

encrusted with countless gems, resplendent with jeweled pillars, and set about with a thousand pitchers wrought of pure gold.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.95.32)

तं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसाः सर्वे विस्मयं परमं गताः। तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ॥ 95.32 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasāḥ sarve vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ| taṃ dṛṣṭvā sahasotthāya rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ || 95.32 ||

Seeing it, all the rakshasas were struck with the greatest wonder; and Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, seeing it, rose up at once,

Shloka 33 (yuddha.95.33)

कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्। द्रुतं सूतसमायुक्तं युक्ताष्टतुरगं रथम्। आरुरोह तदा भीमं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ॥ 95.33 ॥

koṭisūryapratīkāśaṃ jvalantamiva pāvakam| drutaṃ sūtasamāyuktaṃ yuktāṣṭaturagaṃ ratham| āruroha tadā bhīmaṃ dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā || 95.33 ||

and mounted that terrible chariot, radiant with his own splendor, blazing like fire, resembling a crore suns, swiftly moving, complete with its charioteer, and yoked to eight steeds.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.95.34)

ततः प्रयातः सहसा राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः। रावणः सत्त्वगाम्भीर्याद् दारयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥ 95.34 ॥

tataḥ prayātaḥ sahasā rākṣasairbahubhirvṛtaḥ| rāvaṇaḥ sattvagāmbhīryād dārayanniva medinīm || 95.34 ||

Then Ravana set forth swiftly, surrounded by a multitude of rakshasas, seeming, in the profundity of his strength, to split the earth itself.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.95.35)

ततश्चासीन्महानादस्तूर्याणां च ततस्ततः। मृदङ्गैः पटहैः शङ्खैः कलहैः सह रक्षसाम् ॥ 95.35 ॥

tataścāsīnmahānādastūryāṇāṃ ca tatastataḥ| mṛdaṅgaiḥ paṭahaiḥ śaṅkhaiḥ kalahaiḥ saha rakṣasām || 95.35 ||

Then a mighty roar arose on every side—of trumpets, of mridangas, kettle-drums and conches, mingled with the clamor of the rakshasas.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.95.36)

आगतो रक्षसां राजा छत्रचामरसंयुतः। सीतापहारी दुर्वृत्तो ब्रह्मघ्नो देवकण्टकः। योद्धुं रघुवरेणेति शुश्रुवे कलहध्वनिः ॥ 95.36 ॥

āgato rakṣasāṃ rājā chatracāmarasaṃyutaḥ| sītāpahārī durvṛtto brahmaghno devakaṇṭakaḥ| yoddhuṃ raghuvareṇeti śuśruve kalahadhvaniḥ || 95.36 ||

"The king of the rakshasas has come, with his royal umbrella and whisks—the abductor of Sita, the wicked one, the slayer of Brahmins, the thorn in the side of the gods—come to do battle with the foremost of the Raghus!"—such was the clamor that was heard.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.95.37)

तेन नादेन महता पृथिवी समकम्पत। तं शब्दं सहसा श्रुत्वा वानरा दुद्रुवुर्भयात् ॥ 95.37 ॥

tena nādena mahatā pṛthivī samakampata| taṃ śabdaṃ sahasā śrutvā vānarā dudruvurbhayāt || 95.37 ||

At that mighty roar, the earth shook; and hearing that sound suddenly, the monkeys fled in terror.

Shloka 38 (yuddha.95.38)

रावणस्तु महाबाहुः सचिवैः परिवारितः। आजगाम महातेजा जयाय विजयं प्रति ॥ 95.38 ॥

rāvaṇastu mahābāhuḥ sacivaiḥ parivāritaḥ| ājagāma mahātejā jayāya vijayaṃ prati || 95.38 ||

But the mighty-armed, greatly radiant Ravana, surrounded by his ministers, advanced onward, seeking victory upon victory.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.95.39)

रावणेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ महापार्श्वमहोदरौ। विरूपाक्षश्च दुर्धर्षो रथानारुरुहुस्तदा ॥ 95.39 ॥

rāvaṇenābhyanujñātau mahāpārśvamahodarau| virūpākṣaśca durdharṣo rathānāruruhustadā || 95.39 ||

Given leave by Ravana, Mahaparshva and Mahodara, and the formidable Virupaksha, then mounted their own chariots.

Shloka 40 (yuddha.95.40)

ते तु हृष्टाभिनर्दन्तो भिन्दन्त इव मेदिनीम्। नादं घोरं विमुञ्चन्तो निर्ययुर्जयकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ 95.40 ॥

te tu hṛṣṭābhinardanto bhindanta iva medinīm| nādaṃ ghoraṃ vimuñcanto niryayurjayakāṅkṣiṇaḥ || 95.40 ||

Roaring with delight as though splitting the earth, sending up a terrible din, they marched forth, longing for victory.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.95.41)

ततो युद्धाय तेजस्वी रक्षोगणबलैर्वृतः। निर्ययावुद्यतधनुः कालान्तकयमोपमः ॥ 95.41 ॥

tato yuddhāya tejasvī rakṣogaṇabalairvṛtaḥ| niryayāvudyatadhanuḥ kālāntakayamopamaḥ || 95.41 ||

Then that radiant one, surrounded by the strength of his rakshasa hordes, his bow raised, set out for battle, resembling Death, the ender of even Time.

Shloka 42 (yuddha.95.42)

ततः प्रजविताश्वेन रथेन स महारथः। द्वारेण निर्ययौ तेन यत्र तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 95.42 ॥

tataḥ prajavitāśvena rathena sa mahārathaḥ| dvāreṇa niryayau tena yatra tau rāmalakṣmaṇau || 95.42 ||

Then that great chariot-warrior, upon his chariot drawn by swift horses, went forth by that gate, to where Rama and Lakshmana stood.

Shloka 43 (yuddha.95.43)

ततो नष्टप्रभः सूर्यो दिशश्च तिमिरावृताः। द्विजाश्च नेदुर्घोराश्च संचचाल च मेदिनी ॥ 95.43 ॥

tato naṣṭaprabhaḥ sūryo diśaśca timirāvṛtāḥ| dvijāśca nedurghorāśca saṃcacāla ca medinī || 95.43 ||

Then the sun lost its light, the quarters were wrapped in darkness, birds shrieked dreadfully, and the earth itself shook.

Shloka 44 (yuddha.95.44)

ववर्ष रुधिरं देवश्चस्खलुश्च तुरंगमाः। ध्वजाग्रे न्यपतद् गृध्रो विनेदुश्चाशिवं शिवाः ॥ 95.44 ॥

vavarṣa rudhiraṃ devaścaskhaluśca turaṃgamāḥ| dhvajāgre nyapatad gṛdhro vineduścāśivaṃ śivāḥ || 95.44 ||

The sky rained blood, the horses stumbled, a vulture came to perch on the tip of his banner, and jackals howled with an ominous cry.

Shloka 45 (yuddha.95.45)

नयनं चास्फुरद् वामं वामो बाहुरकम्पत। विवर्णवदनश्चासीत् किंचिदभ्रश्यत स्वनः ॥ 95.45 ॥

nayanaṃ cāsphurad vāmaṃ vāmo bāhurakampata| vivarṇavadanaścāsīt kiṃcidabhraśyata svanaḥ || 95.45 ||

His left eye twitched, his left arm trembled, his face turned pale, and his voice faltered somewhat.

Shloka 46 (yuddha.95.46)

ततो निष्पततो युद्धे दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः। रणे निधनशंसीनि रूपाण्येतानि जज्ञिरे ॥ 95.46 ॥

tato niṣpatato yuddhe daśagrīvasya rakṣasaḥ| raṇe nidhanaśaṃsīni rūpāṇyetāni jajñire || 95.46 ||

Thus, as the ten-necked rakshasa rushed forth to battle, these very signs, foretelling his death, appeared upon the battlefield.

Shloka 47 (yuddha.95.47)

अन्तरिक्षात् पपातोल्का निर्घातसमनिःस्वना। विनेदुरशिवा गृध्रा वायसैरभिमिश्रिताः ॥ 95.47 ॥

antarikṣāt papātolkā nirghātasamaniḥsvanā| vineduraśivā gṛdhrā vāyasairabhimiśritāḥ || 95.47 ||

A meteor fell from the sky with a sound like a thunderclap; ill-omened vultures, mingled with crows, screeched aloud.

Shloka 48 (yuddha.95.48)

एतानचिन्तयन् घोरानुत्पातान् समवस्थितान्। निर्ययौ रावणो मोहाद् वधार्थं कालचोदितः ॥ 95.48 ॥

etānacintayan ghorānutpātān samavasthitān| niryayau rāvaṇo mohād vadhārthaṃ kālacoditaḥ || 95.48 ||

Paying no heed to these terrible omens that had arisen before him, Ravana, driven by fate and blinded by delusion, marched out bent on slaughter.

Shloka 49 (yuddha.95.49)

तेषां तु रथघोषेण राक्षसानां महात्मनाम्। वानराणामपि चमूर्युद्धायैवाभ्यवर्तत ॥ 95.49 ॥

teṣāṃ tu rathaghoṣeṇa rākṣasānāṃ mahātmanām| vānarāṇāmapi camūryuddhāyaivābhyavartata || 95.49 ||

At the rumble of the chariots of those mighty rakshasas, the army of monkeys too turned back once more toward battle.

Shloka 50 (yuddha.95.50)

तेषां तु तुमुलं युद्धं बभूव कपिरक्षसाम्। अन्योन्यमाह्वयानानां क्रुद्धानां जयमिच्छताम् ॥ 95.50 ॥

teṣāṃ tu tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ babhūva kapirakṣasām| anyonyamāhvayānānāṃ kruddhānāṃ jayamicchatām || 95.50 ||

A tumultuous battle then broke out between those monkeys and rakshasas, challenging one another in fury, each desiring victory.

Shloka 51 (yuddha.95.51)

ततः क्रुद्धो दशग्रीवः शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः। वानराणामनीकेषु चकार कदनं महत् ॥ 95.51 ॥

tataḥ kruddho daśagrīvaḥ śaraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ| vānarāṇāmanīkeṣu cakāra kadanaṃ mahat || 95.51 ||

Then the furious ten-necked one, with arrows adorned in gold, wrought great havoc among the ranks of the monkeys.

Shloka 52 (yuddha.95.52)

निकृत्तशिरसः केचिद् रावणेन वलीमुखाः। केचिद् विच्छिन्नहृदयाः केचिच्छ्रोत्रविवर्जिताः ॥ 95.52 ॥

nikṛttaśirasaḥ kecid rāvaṇena valīmukhāḥ| kecid vicchinnahṛdayāḥ kecicchrotravivarjitāḥ || 95.52 ||

Some monkeys had their heads sliced off by Ravana; some had their hearts torn open; some were shorn of their ears.

Shloka 53 (yuddha.95.53)

निरुच्छ्वासा हताः केचित् केचित् पार्श्वेषु दारिताः। केचिद् विभिन्नशिरसः केचिच्चक्षुर्विनाकृताः ॥ 95.53 ॥

nirucchvāsā hatāḥ kecit kecit pārśveṣu dāritāḥ| kecid vibhinnaśirasaḥ keciccakṣurvinākṛtāḥ || 95.53 ||

Some were struck lifeless, their breath stopped; some were ripped open at the flanks; some had their skulls split; some were robbed of their eyes.

Shloka 54 (yuddha.95.54)

दशाननः क्रोधविवृत्तनेत्रो यतो यतोऽभ्येति रथेन संख्ये। ततस्ततस्तस्य शरप्रवेगं सोढुं न शेकुर्हरियूथपास्ते ॥ 95.54 ॥

daśānanaḥ krodhavivṛttanetro yato yato'bhyeti rathena saṃkhye| tatastatastasya śarapravegaṃ soḍhuṃ na śekurhariyūthapāste || 95.54 ||

Wherever the ten-headed one, his eyes rolling with rage, came bearing down in his chariot upon the battlefield, there, in that very place, those monkey-chiefs could not withstand the fury of his arrows' onslaught.