The Fall of Mahodara

Shloka 1 (yuddha.97.1)

हन्यमाने बले तूर्णमन्योन्यं ते महामृधे। सरसीव महाघर्मे सूपक्षीणे बभूवतुः ॥ 97.1 ॥

hanyamāne bale tūrṇamanyonyaṃ te mahāmṛdhe| sarasīva mahāgharme sūpakṣīṇe babhūvatuḥ || 97.1 ||

As they swiftly slew one another's forces in that great battle, the two armies dwindled away like two lakes shrinking in the height of summer.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.97.2)

स्वबलस्य तु घातेन विरूपाक्षवधेन च। बभूव द्विगुणं क्रुद्धो रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ॥ 97.2 ॥

svabalasya tu ghātena virūpākṣavadhena ca| babhūva dviguṇaṃ kruddho rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ || 97.2 ||

At the slaughter of his own army and the death of Virupaksha, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, grew doubly enraged.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.97.3)

प्रक्षीणं स्वबलं दृष्ट्वा वध्यमानं वलीमुखैः। बभूवास्य व्यथा युद्धे दृष्ट्वा दैवविपर्ययम् ॥ 97.3 ॥

prakṣīṇaṃ svabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā vadhyamānaṃ valīmukhaiḥ| babhūvāsya vyathā yuddhe dṛṣṭvā daivaviparyayam || 97.3 ||

Seeing his own army being slaughtered and worn thin by the monkeys, and seeing the reversal of fortune in the battle, he was stricken with anguish.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.97.4)

उवाच च समीपस्थं महोदरमनन्तरम्। अस्मिन् काले महाबाहो जयाशा त्वयि मे स्थिता ॥ 97.4 ॥

uvāca ca samīpasthaṃ mahodaramanantaram| asmin kāle mahābāho jayāśā tvayi me sthitā || 97.4 ||

He then spoke at once to Mahodara, who stood nearby: "O mighty-armed one, at this moment my hope of victory rests upon you."

Shloka 5 (yuddha.97.5)

जहि शत्रुचमूं वीर दर्शयाद्य पराक्रमम्। भर्तृपिण्डस्य कालोऽयं निर्वेष्टुं साधु युध्यताम् ॥ 97.5 ॥

jahi śatrucamūṃ vīra darśayādya parākramam| bhartṛpiṇḍasya kālo'yaṃ nirveṣṭuṃ sādhu yudhyatām || 97.5 ||

"Slay the enemy host, O hero, show your prowess today. This is the hour to repay the debt of your master's bread — fight well."

Shloka 6 (yuddha.97.6)

एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा राक्षसेन्द्रो महोदरः। प्रविवेशारिसेनां स पतङ्ग इव पावकम् ॥ 97.6 ॥

evamuktastathetyuktvā rākṣasendro mahodaraḥ| praviveśārisenāṃ sa pataṅga iva pāvakam || 97.6 ||

Thus addressed, the rakshasa lord Mahodara answered, "So be it," and plunged into the enemy host as a moth plunges into a flame.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.97.7)

ततः स कदनं चक्रे वानराणां महाबलः। भर्तृवाक्येन तेजस्वी स्वेन वीर्येण चोदितः ॥ 97.7 ॥

tataḥ sa kadanaṃ cakre vānarāṇāṃ mahābalaḥ| bhartṛvākyena tejasvī svena vīryeṇa coditaḥ || 97.7 ||

Then, spurred on both by his master's words and by his own valour, that mighty and radiant one wrought slaughter among the monkeys.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.97.8)

वानराश्च महासत्त्वाः प्रगृह्य विपुलाः शिलाः। प्रविश्यारिबलं भीमं जघ्नुस्ते सर्वराक्षसान् ॥ 97.8 ॥

vānarāśca mahāsattvāḥ pragṛhya vipulāḥ śilāḥ| praviśyāribalaṃ bhīmaṃ jaghnuste sarvarākṣasān || 97.8 ||

The mighty monkeys, for their part, seized great boulders, plunged into that terrible enemy host, and struck down the rakshasas on every side.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.97.9)

महोदरः सुसंक्रुद्धः शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः। चिच्छेद पाणिपादोरु वानराणां महाहवे ॥ 97.9 ॥

mahodaraḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ śaraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣaṇaiḥ| ciccheda pāṇipādoru vānarāṇāṃ mahāhave || 97.9 ||

Mahodara, in towering rage, with his gold-decked arrows sheared off the hands, feet, and thighs of the monkeys in that great battle.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.97.10)

ततस्ते वानराः सर्वे राक्षसैरर्दिता भृशम्। दिशो दश द्रुताः केचित् केचित् सुग्रीवमाश्रिताः ॥ 97.10 ॥

tataste vānarāḥ sarve rākṣasairarditā bhṛśam| diśo daśa drutāḥ kecit kecit sugrīvamāśritāḥ || 97.10 ||

Sorely tormented by the rakshasas, all those monkeys fled — some in every one of the ten directions, others taking refuge with Sugriva.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.97.11)

प्रभग्नं समरे दृष्ट्वा वानराणां महाबलम्। अभिदुद्राव सुग्रीवो महोदरमनन्तरम् ॥ 97.11 ॥

prabhagnaṃ samare dṛṣṭvā vānarāṇāṃ mahābalam| abhidudrāva sugrīvo mahodaramanantaram || 97.11 ||

Seeing the great host of monkeys broken in the battle, Sugriva at once rushed straight at Mahodara.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.97.12)

प्रगृह्य विपुलां घोरां महीधरसमां शिलाम्। चिक्षेप च महातेजास्तद्वधाय हरीश्वरः ॥ 97.12 ॥

pragṛhya vipulāṃ ghorāṃ mahīdharasamāṃ śilām| cikṣepa ca mahātejāstadvadhāya harīśvaraḥ || 97.12 ||

Seizing a vast, terrible boulder like a mountain, that resplendent lord of monkeys hurled it at him, meaning to kill him.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.97.13)

तामापतन्तीं सहसा शिलां दृष्ट्वा महोदरः। असम्भ्रान्तस्ततो बाणैर्निर्बिभेद दुरासदाम् ॥ 97.13 ॥

tāmāpatantīṃ sahasā śilāṃ dṛṣṭvā mahodaraḥ| asambhrāntastato bāṇairnirbibheda durāsadām || 97.13 ||

Seeing that boulder hurtling suddenly toward him, Mahodara, quite unshaken, shattered that formidable rock with his arrows.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.97.14)

रक्षसा तेन बाणौघैर्निकृत्ता सा सहस्रधा। निपपात तदा भूमौ गृध्रचक्रमिवाकुलम् ॥ 97.14 ॥

rakṣasā tena bāṇaughairnikṛttā sā sahasradhā| nipapāta tadā bhūmau gṛdhracakramivākulam || 97.14 ||

Cut by that rakshasa's flood of arrows into a thousand pieces, it fell to the ground like a scattered, panicked flock of vultures.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.97.15)

तां तु भिन्नां शिलां दृष्ट्वा सुग्रीवः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। सालमुत्पाट्य चिक्षेप तं स चिच्छेद नैकधा ॥ 97.15 ॥

tāṃ tu bhinnāṃ śilāṃ dṛṣṭvā sugrīvaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ| sālamutpāṭya cikṣepa taṃ sa ciccheda naikadhā || 97.15 ||

Seeing that boulder shattered, Sugriva, beside himself with fury, tore up a Sala tree and flung it — but Mahodara cut that too into many pieces.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.97.16)

शरैश्च विददारैनं शूरः परबलार्दनः। स ददर्श ततः क्रुद्धः परिघं पतितं भुवि ॥ 97.16 ॥

śaraiśca vidadārainaṃ śūraḥ parabalārdanaḥ| sa dadarśa tataḥ kruddhaḥ parighaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi || 97.16 ||

Then that hero who crushed hostile armies tore into Sugriva with his arrows. Enraged, Sugriva then caught sight of an iron bar lying on the ground.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.97.17)

आविध्य तु स तं दीप्तं परिघं तस्य दर्शयन्। परिघेणोग्रवेगेन जघानास्य हयोत्तमान् ॥ 97.17 ॥

āvidhya tu sa taṃ dīptaṃ parighaṃ tasya darśayan| parigheṇogravegena jaghānāsya hayottamān || 97.17 ||

Whirling that gleaming iron bar and brandishing it before him, Sugriva, with terrible force, struck down Mahodara's splendid horses with it.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.97.18)

तस्माद्धतहयाद् वीरः सोऽवप्लुत्य महारथात्। गदां जग्राह संक्रुद्धो राक्षसोऽथ महोदरः ॥ 97.18 ॥

tasmāddhatahayād vīraḥ so'vaplutya mahārathāt| gadāṃ jagrāha saṃkruddho rākṣaso'tha mahodaraḥ || 97.18 ||

Leaping down from that great chariot whose horses were now slain, the valiant rakshasa Mahodara, enraged, seized a mace.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.97.19)

गदापरिघहस्तौ तौ युधि वीरौ समीयतुः। नर्दन्तौ गोवृषप्रख्यौ घनाविव सविद्युतौ ॥ 97.19 ॥

gadāparighahastau tau yudhi vīrau samīyatuḥ| nardantau govṛṣaprakhyau ghanāviva savidyutau || 97.19 ||

With mace and iron bar in hand, the two heroes closed with each other in battle, bellowing like two bulls, like two thunderclouds flashing with lightning.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.97.20)

ततः क्रुद्धो गदां तस्मै चिक्षेप रजनीचरः। ज्वलन्तीं भास्कराभासां सुग्रीवाय महोदरः ॥ 97.20 ॥

tataḥ kruddho gadāṃ tasmai cikṣepa rajanīcaraḥ| jvalantīṃ bhāskarābhāsāṃ sugrīvāya mahodaraḥ || 97.20 ||

Then the enraged night-wanderer Mahodara hurled his blazing mace, radiant as the sun, at Sugriva.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.97.21)

गदां तां सुमहाघोरामापतन्तीं महाबलः। सुग्रीवो रोषताम्राक्षः समुद्यम्य महाहवे ॥ 97.21 ॥

gadāṃ tāṃ sumahāghorāmāpatantīṃ mahābalaḥ| sugrīvo roṣatāmrākṣaḥ samudyamya mahāhave || 97.21 ||

Seeing that most terrible mace hurtling toward him in that great battle, the mighty Sugriva, his eyes red with fury, raised up his iron bar,

Shloka 22 (yuddha.97.22)

आजघान गदां तस्य परिघेण हरीश्वरः। पपात तरसा भिन्नः परिघस्तस्य भूतले ॥ 97.22 ॥

ājaghāna gadāṃ tasya parigheṇa harīśvaraḥ| papāta tarasā bhinnaḥ parighastasya bhūtale || 97.22 ||

and struck at his mace with it. But the force of the blow shattered his own iron bar, which fell broken to the ground.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.97.23)

ततो जग्राह तेजस्वी सुग्रीवो वसुधातलात्। आयसं मुसलं घोरं सर्वतो हेमभूषितम् ॥ 97.23 ॥

tato jagrāha tejasvī sugrīvo vasudhātalāt| āyasaṃ musalaṃ ghoraṃ sarvato hemabhūṣitam || 97.23 ||

Then the radiant Sugriva picked up from the ground a fearsome iron club, gold-encrusted all over.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.97.24)

स तमुद्यम्य चिक्षेप सोऽप्यस्य प्राक्षिपद् गदाम्। भिन्नावन्योन्यमासाद्य पेततुस्तौ महीतले ॥ 97.24 ॥

sa tamudyamya cikṣepa so'pyasya prākṣipad gadām| bhinnāvanyonyamāsādya petatustau mahītale || 97.24 ||

He raised it and hurled it; and Mahodara too hurled his mace at him. The two weapons met, shattered each other, and fell to the ground.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.97.25)

ततो भिन्नप्रहरणौ मुष्टिभ्यां तौ समीयतुः। तेजोबलसमाविष्टौ दीप्ताविव हुताशनौ ॥ 97.25 ॥

tato bhinnapraharaṇau muṣṭibhyāṃ tau samīyatuḥ| tejobalasamāviṣṭau dīptāviva hutāśanau || 97.25 ||

Their weapons now broken, the two of them, blazing with power and might like two flaming fires, grappled with their fists.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.97.26)

जघ्नतुस्तौ तदान्योन्यं नदन्तौ च पुनः पुनः। तलैश्चान्योन्यमासाद्य पेततुश्च महीतले ॥ 97.26 ॥

jaghnatustau tadānyonyaṃ nadantau ca punaḥ punaḥ| talaiścānyonyamāsādya petatuśca mahītale || 97.26 ||

Roaring again and again, they struck at each other, and, grappling with slaps of their palms, both fell together to the ground.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.97.27)

उत्पेततुस्तदा तूर्णं जघ्नतुश्च परस्परम्। भुजैश्चिक्षिपतुर्वीरावन्योन्यमपराजितौ ॥ 97.27 ॥

utpetatustadā tūrṇaṃ jaghnatuśca parasparam| bhujaiścikṣipaturvīrāvanyonyamaparājitau || 97.27 ||

Then springing up at once, they struck at one another again, and, neither yielding, the two heroes flung each other about with their arms.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.97.28)

जग्मतुस्तौ श्रमं वीरौ बाहुयुद्धे परंतपौ। आजहार तदा खड्गमदूरपरिवर्तिनम् ॥ 97.28 ॥

jagmatustau śramaṃ vīrau bāhuyuddhe paraṃtapau| ājahāra tadā khaḍgamadūraparivartinam || 97.28 ||

Wearied at last by that hand-to-hand struggle, those two scorchers of the foe paused; then Mahodara snatched up a sword lying not far off.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.97.29)

राक्षसश्चर्मणा सार्धं महावेगो महोदरः। तथैव च महाखड्गं चर्मणा पतितं सह। जग्राह वानरश्रेष्ठः सुग्रीवो वेगवत्तरः ॥ 97.29 ॥

rākṣasaścarmaṇā sārdhaṃ mahāvego mahodaraḥ| tathaiva ca mahākhaḍgaṃ carmaṇā patitaṃ saha| jagrāha vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ sugrīvo vegavattaraḥ || 97.29 ||

That most swift rakshasa Mahodara took up sword and shield together; and the even swifter Sugriva, foremost of monkeys, likewise seized a great sword lying there with its shield.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.97.30)

ततो रोषपरीताङ्गौ नदन्तावभ्यधावताम्। उद्यतासी रणे हृष्टौ युधि शस्त्रविशारदौ ॥ 97.30 ॥

tato roṣaparītāṅgau nadantāvabhyadhāvatām| udyatāsī raṇe hṛṣṭau yudhi śastraviśāradau || 97.30 ||

Then, their limbs seized with rage, the two of them, skilled in weaponry, charged at each other roaring, swords upraised, exulting in the fight.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.97.31)

दक्षिणं मण्डलं चोभौ सुतूर्णं सम्परीयतुः। अन्योन्यमभिसंक्रुद्धौ जये प्रणिहितावुभौ ॥ 97.31 ॥

dakṣiṇaṃ maṇḍalaṃ cobhau sutūrṇaṃ samparīyatuḥ| anyonyamabhisaṃkruddhau jaye praṇihitāvubhau || 97.31 ||

Both, enraged at each other and their minds fixed only on victory, wheeled swiftly about each other in a circling movement to the right.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.97.32)

स तु शूरो महावेगो वीर्यश्लाघी महोदरः। महावर्मणि तं खड्गं पातयामास दुर्मतिः ॥ 97.32 ॥

sa tu śūro mahāvego vīryaślāghī mahodaraḥ| mahāvarmaṇi taṃ khaḍgaṃ pātayāmāsa durmatiḥ || 97.32 ||

That valiant, exceedingly swift Mahodara, proud of his own prowess but ill-counselled, brought his sword crashing down upon Sugriva's great shield.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.97.33)

लग्नमुत्कर्षतः खड्गं खड्गेन कपिकुञ्जरः। जहार सशिरस्त्राणं कुण्डलोपगतं शिरः ॥ 97.33 ॥

lagnamutkarṣataḥ khaḍgaṃ khaḍgena kapikuñjaraḥ| jahāra saśirastrāṇaṃ kuṇḍalopagataṃ śiraḥ || 97.33 ||

And while he was still tugging to free his sword, wedged fast in the shield, that elephant among monkeys, with his own sword, cut off his head, helmet, earrings and all.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.97.34)

निकृत्तशिरसस्तस्य पतितस्य महीतले। तद् बलं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य दृष्ट्वा तत्र न दृश्यते ॥ 97.34 ॥

nikṛttaśirasastasya patitasya mahītale| tad balaṃ rākṣasendrasya dṛṣṭvā tatra na dṛśyate || 97.34 ||

The moment his severed head fell to the ground, the rakshasa lord's army, seeing it, was nowhere to be seen there any longer.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.97.35)

हत्वा तं वानरैः सार्धं ननाद मुदितो हरिः। चुक्रोध च दशग्रीवो बभौ हृष्टश्च राघवः ॥ 97.35 ॥

hatvā taṃ vānaraiḥ sārdhaṃ nanāda mudito hariḥ| cukrodha ca daśagrīvo babhau hṛṣṭaśca rāghavaḥ || 97.35 ||

Having slain him, Sugriva roared out in joy together with the monkeys; the ten-necked Ravana was enraged, while Raghava shone with delight.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.97.36)

विषण्णवदनाः सर्वे राक्षसा दीनचेतसः। विद्रवन्ति ततः सर्वे भयवित्रस्तचेतसः ॥ 97.36 ॥

viṣaṇṇavadanāḥ sarve rākṣasā dīnacetasaḥ| vidravanti tataḥ sarve bhayavitrastacetasaḥ || 97.36 ||

All the rakshasas, their faces downcast and their hearts wretched, their minds shaking with terror, fled from that place.

Shloka 37 (yuddha.97.37)

महोदरं तं विनिपात्य भूमौ महागिरेः कीर्णमिवैकदेशम्। सूर्यात्मजस्तत्र रराज लक्ष्म्या सूर्यः स्वतेजोभिरिवाप्रधृष्यः ॥ 97.37 ॥

mahodaraṃ taṃ vinipātya bhūmau mahāgireḥ kīrṇamivaikadeśam| sūryātmajastatra rarāja lakṣmyā sūryaḥ svatejobhirivāpradhṛṣyaḥ || 97.37 ||

Having thus felled Mahodara to the ground, like a fragment broken away from a great mountain, the sun's son Sugriva shone there in splendour, unassailable in his own radiance, like the sun itself.

Shloka 38 (yuddha.97.38)

अथ विजयमवाप्य वानरेन्द्रः समरमुखे सुरसिद्धयक्षसङ्घैः। अवनितलगतैश्च भूतसङ्घै- र्हरुषसमाकुलितैर्निरीक्ष्यमाणः ॥ 97.38 ॥

atha vijayamavāpya vānarendraḥ samaramukhe surasiddhayakṣasaṅghaiḥ| avanitalagataiśca bhūtasaṅghai- rharuṣasamākulitairnirīkṣyamāṇaḥ || 97.38 ||

Having thus won victory at the forefront of battle, the lord of monkeys was gazed upon, filled with joy, by hosts of gods, siddhas and yakshas, and by throngs of beings standing upon the earth.