Sugriva Slays Virupaksha

Shloka 1 (yuddha.96.1)

तथा तैः कृत्तगात्रैस्तु दशग्रीवेण मार्गणैः। बभूव वसुधा तत्र प्रकीर्णा हरिभिस्तदा ॥ 96.1 ॥

tathā taiḥ kṛttagātraistu daśagrīveṇa mārgaṇaiḥ| babhūva vasudhā tatra prakīrṇā haribhistadā || 96.1 ||

Thus the earth there was strewn at that time with those monkeys whose limbs had been torn apart by the ten-necked Ravana's arrows.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.96.2)

रावणस्याप्रसह्यं तं शरसम्पातमेकतः। न शेकुः सहितुं दीप्तं पतङ्गा ज्वलनं यथा ॥ 96.2 ॥

rāvaṇasyāprasahyaṃ taṃ śarasampātamekataḥ| na śekuḥ sahituṃ dīptaṃ pataṅgā jvalanaṃ yathā || 96.2 ||

Those monkeys could not bear that irresistible single onrush of Ravana's arrows, just as moths cannot bear a blazing flame.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.96.3)

तेऽर्दिता निशितैर्बाणैः क्रोशन्तो विप्रदुद्रुवुः। पावकार्चिः समाविष्टा दह्यमाना यथा गजाः ॥ 96.3 ॥

te'rditā niśitairbāṇaiḥ krośanto vipradudruvuḥ| pāvakārciḥ samāviṣṭā dahyamānā yathā gajāḥ || 96.3 ||

Tormented by those sharp arrows, they fled away screaming in every direction, like elephants that flee when caught and scorched in the flames of a fire.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.96.4)

प्लवंगानामनीकानि महाभ्राणीव मारुतः। संययौ समरे तस्मिन् विधमन् रावणः शरैः ॥ 96.4 ॥

plavaṃgānāmanīkāni mahābhrāṇīva mārutaḥ| saṃyayau samare tasmin vidhaman rāvaṇaḥ śaraiḥ || 96.4 ||

In that battle Ravana advanced, scattering the ranks of monkeys with his arrows as the wind scatters great banks of cloud.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.96.5)

कदनं तरसा कृत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रो वनौकसाम्। आससाद ततो युद्धे त्वरितं राघवं रणे ॥ 96.5 ॥

kadanaṃ tarasā kṛtvā rākṣasendro vanaukasām| āsasāda tato yuddhe tvaritaṃ rāghavaṃ raṇe || 96.5 ||

Having thus swiftly wrought slaughter among the forest-dwelling monkeys, the lord of rakshasas then quickly bore down upon Raghava in that battle.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.96.6)

सुग्रीवस्तान् कपीन् दृष्ट्वा भग्नान् विद्रावितान् रणे। गुल्मे सुषेणं निक्षिप्य चक्रे युद्धे द्रुतं मनः ॥ 96.6 ॥

sugrīvastān kapīn dṛṣṭvā bhagnān vidrāvitān raṇe| gulme suṣeṇaṃ nikṣipya cakre yuddhe drutaṃ manaḥ || 96.6 ||

Seeing those monkeys broken and fleeing in the battle, Sugriva placed Sushena in charge of guarding the host and swiftly turned his own mind to the fight.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.96.7)

आत्मनः सदृशं वीरं स तं निक्षिप्य वानरम्। सुग्रीवोऽभिमुखं शत्रुं प्रतस्थे पादपायुधः ॥ 96.7 ॥

ātmanaḥ sadṛśaṃ vīraṃ sa taṃ nikṣipya vānaram| sugrīvo'bhimukhaṃ śatruṃ pratasthe pādapāyudhaḥ || 96.7 ||

Having stationed there that hero, a monkey equal to himself, Sugriva, armed with a tree, set out to face the enemy.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.96.8)

पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चास्य सर्वे वानरयूथपाः। अनुजग्मुर्महाशैलान् विविधांश्च वनस्पतीन् ॥ 96.8 ॥

pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataścāsya sarve vānarayūthapāḥ| anujagmurmahāśailān vividhāṃśca vanaspatīn || 96.8 ||

At his sides and behind him, all the monkey chieftains followed, carrying great boulders and trees of every kind.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.96.9)

ननर्द युधि सुग्रीवः स्वरेण महता महान्। पोथयन् विविधांश्चान्यान् ममन्थोत्तमराक्षसान् ॥ 96.9 ॥

nanarda yudhi sugrīvaḥ svareṇa mahatā mahān| pothayan vividhāṃścānyān mamanthottamarākṣasān || 96.9 ||

The mighty Sugriva roared in battle with a great voice, and, dealing blows all around, crushed many other foremost rakshasas.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.96.10)

ममर्द च महाकायो राक्षसान् वानरेश्वरः। युगान्तसमये वायुः प्रवृद्धानगमानिव ॥ 96.10 ॥

mamarda ca mahākāyo rākṣasān vānareśvaraḥ| yugāntasamaye vāyuḥ pravṛddhānagamāniva || 96.10 ||

That colossal lord of monkeys crushed the rakshasas as the wind, at the hour of cosmic dissolution, crushes tall-grown trees.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.96.11)

राक्षसानामनीकेषु शैलवर्षं ववर्ष ह। अश्मवर्षं यथा मेघः पक्षिसङ्घेषु कानने ॥ 96.11 ॥

rākṣasānāmanīkeṣu śailavarṣaṃ vavarṣa ha| aśmavarṣaṃ yathā meghaḥ pakṣisaṅgheṣu kānane || 96.11 ||

He rained down a shower of boulders upon the ranks of the rakshasas, as a cloud rains a shower of hailstones upon flocks of birds in the forest.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.96.12)

कपिराजविमुक्तैस्तैः शैलवर्षैस्तु राक्षसाः। विकीर्णशिरसः पेतुर्विकीर्णा इव पर्वताः ॥ 96.12 ॥

kapirājavimuktaistaiḥ śailavarṣaistu rākṣasāḥ| vikīrṇaśirasaḥ peturvikīrṇā iva parvatāḥ || 96.12 ||

Struck by that shower of boulders hurled by the king of monkeys, the rakshasas fell with their heads shattered, like mountains crumbling apart.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.96.13)

अथ संक्षीयमाणेषु राक्षसेषु समन्ततः। सुग्रीवेण प्रभग्नेषु नदत्सु च पतत्सु च ॥ 96.13 ॥

atha saṃkṣīyamāṇeṣu rākṣaseṣu samantataḥ| sugrīveṇa prabhagneṣu nadatsu ca patatsu ca || 96.13 ||

Then, as the rakshasas, broken by Sugriva, dwindled on every side, crying out and falling,

Shloka 14 (yuddha.96.14)

विरूपाक्षः स्वकं नाम धन्वी विश्राव्य राक्षसः। रथादाप्लुत्य दुर्धर्षो गजस्कन्धमुपारुहत् ॥ 96.14 ॥

virūpākṣaḥ svakaṃ nāma dhanvī viśrāvya rākṣasaḥ| rathādāplutya durdharṣo gajaskandhamupāruhat || 96.14 ||

the bow-bearing, indomitable rakshasa Virupaksha, proclaiming his own name aloud, leapt down from his chariot and mounted the back of an elephant.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.96.15)

स तं द्विपमथारुह्य विरूपाक्षो महाबलः। ननर्द भीमनिर्ह्रादं वानरानभ्यधावत ॥ 96.15 ॥

sa taṃ dvipamathāruhya virūpākṣo mahābalaḥ| nanarda bhīmanirhrādaṃ vānarānabhyadhāvata || 96.15 ||

Mounting that elephant, the mighty Virupaksha let out a terrifying roar and charged at the monkeys.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.96.16)

सुग्रीवे स शरान् घोरान् विससर्ज चमूमुखे। स्थापयामास चोद्विग्नान् राक्षसान् सम्प्रहर्षयन् ॥ 96.16 ॥

sugrīve sa śarān ghorān visasarja camūmukhe| sthāpayāmāsa codvignān rākṣasān sampraharṣayan || 96.16 ||

He loosed terrible arrows at Sugriva, who stood at the front of the army, and, cheering the disheartened rakshasas, rallied them once more.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.96.17)

सोऽतिविद्धः शितैर्बाणैः कपीन्द्रस्तेन रक्षसा। चुक्रोश च महाक्रोधो वधे चास्य मनो दधे ॥ 96.17 ॥

so'tividdhaḥ śitairbāṇaiḥ kapīndrastena rakṣasā| cukrośa ca mahākrodho vadhe cāsya mano dadhe || 96.17 ||

Deeply wounded by that rakshasa's sharp arrows, the monkey-lord Sugriva cried out, and, filled with mighty rage, resolved in his mind upon killing him.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.96.18)

ततः पादपमुद्धृत्य शूरः सम्प्रधनो हरिः। अभिपत्य जघानास्य प्रमुखे तं महागजम् ॥ 96.18 ॥

tataḥ pādapamuddhṛtya śūraḥ sampradhano hariḥ| abhipatya jaghānāsya pramukhe taṃ mahāgajam || 96.18 ||

Then that valiant, battle-tested monkey tore up a tree and, rushing forward, struck that huge elephant full upon its face.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.96.19)

स तु प्रहाराभिहतः सुग्रीवेण महागजः। अपासर्पद् धनुर्मात्रं निषसाद ननाद च ॥ 96.19 ॥

sa tu prahārābhihataḥ sugrīveṇa mahāgajaḥ| apāsarpad dhanurmātraṃ niṣasāda nanāda ca || 96.19 ||

Struck by Sugriva's blow, that great elephant recoiled a bow's length, sank down upon its haunches, and bellowed aloud.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.96.20)

गजात् तु मथितात् तूर्णमपक्रम्य स वीर्यवान्। राक्षसोऽभिमुखः शत्रुं प्रत्युद्गम्य ततः कपिम् ॥ 96.20 ॥

gajāt tu mathitāt tūrṇamapakramya sa vīryavān| rākṣaso'bhimukhaḥ śatruṃ pratyudgamya tataḥ kapim || 96.20 ||

Quickly descending from that battered elephant, that mighty rakshasa then advanced to confront his enemy, the monkey,

Shloka 21 (yuddha.96.21)

आर्षभं चर्म खड्गं च प्रगृह्य लघुविक्रमः। भर्त्सयन्निव सुग्रीवमाससाद व्यवस्थितम् ॥ 96.21 ॥

ārṣabhaṃ carma khaḍgaṃ ca pragṛhya laghuvikramaḥ| bhartsayanniva sugrīvamāsasāda vyavasthitam || 96.21 ||

and, seizing a shield of bull's hide and a sword, advancing with swift steps, he came up to Sugriva, who stood firm, as though menacing him.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.96.22)

स हि तस्याभिसंक्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य विपुलां शिलाम्। विरूपाक्षस्य चिक्षेप सुग्रीवो जलदोपमाम् ॥ 96.22 ॥

sa hi tasyābhisaṃkruddhaḥ pragṛhya vipulāṃ śilām| virūpākṣasya cikṣepa sugrīvo jaladopamām || 96.22 ||

Enraged at him, Sugriva seized a vast boulder, huge as a raincloud, and hurled it at Virupaksha.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.96.23)

स तां शिलामापतन्तीं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसपुंगवः। अपक्रम्य सुविक्रान्तः खड्गेन प्राहरत् तदा ॥ 96.23 ॥

sa tāṃ śilāmāpatantīṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasapuṃgavaḥ| apakramya suvikrāntaḥ khaḍgena prāharat tadā || 96.23 ||

Seeing that boulder hurtling toward him, that mighty foremost of rakshasas dodged aside and then struck with his sword.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.96.24)

तेन खड्गप्रहारेण रक्षसा बलिना हतः। मुहूर्तमभवद् भूमौ विसंज्ञ इव वानरः ॥ 96.24 ॥

tena khaḍgaprahāreṇa rakṣasā balinā hataḥ| muhūrtamabhavad bhūmau visaṃjña iva vānaraḥ || 96.24 ||

Struck by that mighty rakshasa's sword-blow, the monkey lay upon the ground for a moment as though senseless.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.96.25)

सहसा स तदोत्पत्य राक्षसस्य महाहवे। मुष्टिं संवर्त्य वेगेन पातयामास वक्षसि ॥ 96.25 ॥

sahasā sa tadotpatya rākṣasasya mahāhave| muṣṭiṃ saṃvartya vegena pātayāmāsa vakṣasi || 96.25 ||

Then, springing up all at once in that mighty battle, he clenched his fist and brought it down violently upon the rakshasa's chest.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.96.26)

मुष्टिप्रहाराभिहतो विरूपाक्षो निशाचरः। तेन खड्गेन संक्रुद्धः सुग्रीवस्य चमूमुखे ॥ 96.26 ॥

muṣṭiprahārābhihato virūpākṣo niśācaraḥ| tena khaḍgena saṃkruddhaḥ sugrīvasya camūmukhe || 96.26 ||

Struck by that blow of the fist, the enraged night-wanderer Virupaksha, there at the front of the host, struck at Sugriva with that same sword,

Shloka 27 (yuddha.96.27)

कवचं पातयामास पद्भ्यामभिहतोऽपतत्। स समुत्थाय पतितः कपिस्तस्य व्यसर्जयत् ॥ 96.27 ॥

kavacaṃ pātayāmāsa padbhyāmabhihato'patat| sa samutthāya patitaḥ kapistasya vyasarjayat || 96.27 ||

and cut down his armour; struck, the monkey fell from his feet. But rising up at once after falling, the monkey dealt him a resounding slap,

Shloka 28 (yuddha.96.28)

तलप्रहारमशनेः समानं भीमनिःस्वनम्। तलप्रहारं तद् रक्षः सुग्रीवेण समुद्यतम् ॥ 96.28 ॥

talaprahāramaśaneḥ samānaṃ bhīmaniḥsvanam| talaprahāraṃ tad rakṣaḥ sugrīveṇa samudyatam || 96.28 ||

a slap whose terrible sound was like a thunderbolt. But that blow raised by Sugriva, that rakshasa,

Shloka 29 (yuddha.96.29)

नैपुण्यान्मोचयित्वैनं मुष्टिनोरसि ताडयत्। ततस्तु संक्रुद्धतरः सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः ॥ 96.29 ॥

naipuṇyānmocayitvainaṃ muṣṭinorasi tāḍayat| tatastu saṃkruddhataraḥ sugrīvo vānareśvaraḥ || 96.29 ||

skillfully evaded, and struck him on the chest with his fist. Then Sugriva, lord of monkeys, grew still more enraged,

Shloka 30 (yuddha.96.30)

मोक्षितं चात्मनो दृष्ट्वा प्रहारं तेन रक्षसा। स ददर्शान्तरं तस्य विरूपाक्षस्य वानरः ॥ 96.30 ॥

mokṣitaṃ cātmano dṛṣṭvā prahāraṃ tena rakṣasā| sa dadarśāntaraṃ tasya virūpākṣasya vānaraḥ || 96.30 ||

and, seeing his own blow thus evaded by that rakshasa, the monkey caught sight of an opening in Virupaksha's guard.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.96.31)

ततोऽन्यं पातयत् क्रोधाच्छङ्खदेशे महातलम्। महेन्द्राशनिकल्पेन तलेनाभिहतः क्षितौ ॥ 96.31 ॥

tato'nyaṃ pātayat krodhācchaṅkhadeśe mahātalam| mahendrāśanikalpena talenābhihataḥ kṣitau || 96.31 ||

Then, in fury, he dealt him yet another mighty slap upon the temple. Struck by that blow, like the thunderbolt of Indra, he fell to the ground,

Shloka 32 (yuddha.96.32)

पपात रुधिरक्लिन्नः शोणितं हि समुद्गिरन्। स्रोतोभ्यस्तु विरूपाक्षो जलं प्रस्रवणादिव ॥ 96.32 ॥

papāta rudhiraklinnaḥ śoṇitaṃ hi samudgiran| srotobhyastu virūpākṣo jalaṃ prasravaṇādiva || 96.32 ||

drenched in blood, and Virupaksha spewed forth blood from every aperture of his body, as water gushes from a mountain spring.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.96.33)

विवृत्तनयनं क्रोधात् सफेनं रुधिराप्लुतम्। ददृशुस्ते विरूपाक्षं विरूपाक्षतरं कृतम् ॥ 96.33 ॥

vivṛttanayanaṃ krodhāt saphenaṃ rudhirāplutam| dadṛśuste virūpākṣaṃ virūpākṣataraṃ kṛtam || 96.33 ||

The monkeys saw Virupaksha, his eyes rolling in fury, drenched in foaming blood, rendered more mis-shapen of eye than ever his name implied.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.96.34)

स्फुरन्तं परिवर्तन्तं पार्श्वेन रुधिरोक्षितम्। करुणं च विनर्दन्तं ददृशुः कपयो रिपुम् ॥ 96.34 ॥

sphurantaṃ parivartantaṃ pārśvena rudhirokṣitam| karuṇaṃ ca vinardantaṃ dadṛśuḥ kapayo ripum || 96.34 ||

The monkeys watched their blood-soaked foe twitching, rolling upon his side, and wailing piteously.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.96.35)

तथा तु तौ संयति सम्प्रयुक्तौ तरस्विनौ वानरराक्षसानाम्। बलार्णवौ सस्वनतुश्च भीमौ महार्णवौ द्वाविव भिन्नसेतू ॥ 96.35 ॥

tathā tu tau saṃyati samprayuktau tarasvinau vānararākṣasānām| balārṇavau sasvanatuśca bhīmau mahārṇavau dvāviva bhinnasetū || 96.35 ||

So those two swift, ocean-vast armies of monkeys and rakshasas, locked together in that battle, roared terribly, like two great seas that had burst their bounds and met.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.96.36)

विनाशितं प्रेक्ष्य विरूपनेत्रं महाबलं तं हरिपार्थिवेन। बलं समेतं कपिराक्षसाना- मुद्वृत्तगङ्गाप्रतिमं बभूव ॥ 96.36 ॥

vināśitaṃ prekṣya virūpanetraṃ mahābalaṃ taṃ haripārthivena| balaṃ sametaṃ kapirākṣasānā- mudvṛttagaṅgāpratimaṃ babhūva || 96.36 ||

Beholding that mighty, deformed-eyed one destroyed by the monkey-king, the combined host of monkeys and rakshasas surged like the swollen river Ganga.