Yuddha Kanda — Sarga 53

धूम्राक्षं निहतं श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। क्रोधेन महताविष्टो निःश्वसनुरगो यथा॥

Hearing Dhūmrākṣa slain, Rāvana-lord of the Raksasas-overwhelmed with a mighty rage, began to sigh like a serpent.

Yuddha Kanda 53.1

दीर्घमुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य क्रोधेन कलुषीकृतः। अब्रवीद्राक्षसं क्रूरं वज्रदंष्ट्र महाबलम्॥

And collide with passion, and sighing hot for a long time, he addressed a cruel Rākşasa-the exceedingly strong Vajradanșrta. *Lit-the thunder-toothed.

Yuddha Kanda 53.2

गच्छ त्वं वीर निर्याहि राक्षसैः परिवारितः। जहि दाशरथिं रामं सुग्रीवं वानरैः सह॥

Go you, O hero. Go out, environed by the Rākşasa. Slay Daśaratha's son-Rāma and Sugrīva along with the monkeys.

Yuddha Kanda 53.3

तथेत्युक्त्वा द्रुततरं मायावी राक्षसेश्वरः। निर्जगाम बलैः सार्द्ध बहुभिः परिवारितः॥ नागैरश्वैः खरष्ट्रैः संयुक्तः सुसमाहितः। पताकाध्वजचित्रैश्च बहुभिः समलंकृतः॥

Thereupon hastily answering “So be it,” that foremost of the Rákşasas skilled in illusion, marched forth surrounded by many a leader* of armies, furnished with elephants and steeds, mules and camels, with his mind concentrated; and adorned with innumerable variegated flags and banners. *Valai-forces-is interpreted leaders by the commentator.

Yuddha Kanda 53.4

ततो विचित्रकेयूरमुकुटेन विभूषितः। तनुत्रं च समावृत्य सधनुर्निर्ययौ द्रुतम्॥

Then decked out with curious keyūras and a tiara, and wearing armour, he rushed out with his bow in his hand.

Yuddha Kanda 53.5

पताकालंकृतं दीप्तं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्। रथं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा समारोहच्चमूपतिः॥

Then going round his flaming vehicle, adorn with pennons and garnished with gold, the king* ascended the same. *Vajradanstra.

Yuddha Kanda 53.6

ऋष्टिभिस्तोमरैश्चित्रैः श्लक्ष्णैश्च मुसलैरपि। भिन्दिपालैश्च चापैश्च शक्तिभिः पट्टिशैरपि॥ खङ्गैश्चक्रैर्गदाभिश्च निशितैश्च परश्वधैः। पदातयश्च नियन्ति विविधाः शस्त्रपाणयः॥

And equipped with slender swords and curious Tomaras and smooth maces and bhindipālas and bows and darts and pattiśa and scimitars and discuses and clubs and sharpened axes, the multiform infantry march bearing arms in their hands.

Yuddha Kanda 53.7

विचित्रवाससः सर्वे दीप्ता राक्षसपुंगवाः। गजा मदोत्कटाः शूराश्चलन्त इव पर्वताः॥ ते युद्धकुशला रूढास्तोमराङ्कुशपाणिभिः। अन्ये लक्षणसंयुक्ताः शूरारूढा महाबलाः॥

All those powerful and flaming Rākşasas wore variegated raiments. And heroic elephants in rut resembling mountains in motion, marched, being led by those well-skilled in battle carrying Tomaras and hooks in their hands. And mighty steeds bearing auspicious marks, marched ridden by heroes.

Yuddha Kanda 53.8

तद्राक्षसबलं सर्वं विप्रस्थितमशोभत। प्रावृट्काले यथा मेघा नर्दमानाः सविद्युतः॥

That entire Rākşasa army. as it marched forth, resemble clouds in summer roaring with lightning.

Yuddha Kanda 53.9

निःसृता दक्षिणद्वारादङ्गदो यत्र यूथपः। तेषां निष्क्रममाणानामशुभं समजायत ॥

And (the Raksasa) sallied forth through the Southern Entrance, where that leader of herdsAngads-was stationed. And as they went out, evil omens appeared.

Yuddha Kanda 53.10

आकाशाद्विधनात्तीव्रादुल्मुकान्यपतंस्तदा। वमन्तः पावकज्वालाः शिवा घोरा ववाशिरे॥

From the cloudless yet fierce sky meteors began to shoot. and throwing up flames from their mouths, dreadful jackals began to emit cries.

Yuddha Kanda 53.11

व्याहरन्त मृगा घोरा रक्षसां निधनं तदा। समापतन्तो योधास्तु प्रास्खलंस्तत्र दारुणम्॥

And frightful beasts betokened the destruction of the Räkşasa in battle. And warriors began to tumble down in an ominous way.

Yuddha Kanda 53.12

एतानौत्पातिकान्दृष्ट्वा वज्रदंष्ट्रो महाबलः। धैर्यमालम्ब्य तेजस्वी निर्जगाम रणोत्सुकः॥

Witnessing these evil omens, the exceedingly powerful and energetic Vajradanșțra, assuming patience, set out, eager for encounter.

Yuddha Kanda 53.13

तांस्तु विद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा वानरा जितकाशिनः। प्रणेदुः सुमहानादान्दिशः शब्देन पूरयन्॥

Seeing them flee away, the monkeys burning for victory, set up tremendous shouts, filling all the ten cardinal points.

Yuddha Kanda 53.14

ततः प्रवृत्तं तुमुलं हरीणां राक्षसैः सह। घोराणां भीमरूपाणामन्योन्यवधकाक्षिणाम्॥

Then there came on a terrific encounter of the monkeys and the Räksasas, dreadful, of terrific deeds, and wishing for each other' death.

Yuddha Kanda 53.15

निष्पतन्तो महोत्साहा भिन्नदेहशिरोधराः। रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गा न्यपतन्धरणीतले॥

And warriors fraught with high spirits, springing up, dropped down to the earth their bodies and hands riven and all their person bathed in blood.

Yuddha Kanda 53.16

केचिदन्योन्यमासाद्य शूराः परिघबाहवः। चिक्षिपुर्विविधाशस्त्रान्समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः॥

And some approaching each other, with bludgeons in their hands, with turning away from the field, discharged various weapons at each other.

Yuddha Kanda 53.17

दुमाणां च शिलानां च शस्त्राणां चापि निस्वनः। श्रूयते सुमहांस्तत्र घोरो हृदयभेदनः॥

There were heard sounds of trees and rocks and weapons, mighty and dreadful and capable of striking terror into the heart.

Yuddha Kanda 53.18

रथनेमिस्वनस्तत्र धनुषश्चापि घोरवत्। शङ्खभेरीमृदङ्गानां बभूव तुमुलः स्वनः॥

And dreadful and mighty were the sounds of car-weapons, mighty and dreadful and capable of string terror into the heart. And dreadful and mighty were the sounds of car-wheels, and conchs and trumpets and drums.

Yuddha Kanda 53.19

केचिदस्त्राणि संत्यज्य बाहुयुद्धमकुर्वत । तलैश्च चरणैश्चापि मुष्टिभिश्च दुमैरपि॥ जानुभिश्च हताः केचिद्भग्नदेहाश्च राक्षसाः। शिलाभिश्चूर्णिताः केचिद्वानरैयुद्धदुर्मदैः॥

Some, casting off weapons, engaged in a hand to hand combat by means of slaps, and kicks, and bones, and trees. And some Raksasa, having their bodies broken, were killed by means of thighs. And some were crushed with crags by Dänavas invincible in battle.

Yuddha Kanda 53.20

वज्रदंष्ट्रोऽथ तं दृष्ट्वा रणे वित्रासयन्हरीन्। चचार लोकसंहारे पाशहस्त इवान्तकः॥

Vajradanșțra, resembling the noose, handed Destroyer, frightening the monkeys, ranged in that field fatal to people.

Yuddha Kanda 53.21

बलवन्तोऽस्त्रविदुषो नानाप्रहरणा रणे। जघ्नुर्वानरसैन्यानि राक्षसाः क्रोधमूर्छिताः॥

Raksasas, possessed of strength; equipped with various weapons, transported with passion, slew the monkey-forces.

Yuddha Kanda 53.22

जघ्ने ताराक्षसान्सर्वान्धृष्टो वायुसुतो रणे। क्रोधेन द्विगुणाविष्टः संवर्तक इवानलः॥

Then in the conflict the proud Wind-god's son, influenced by twofold wrath, spread havoc among the Rākşasa ranks, like the Fire at the universal dissolution.

Yuddha Kanda 53.23

ताराक्षसगणान्सर्वान्वृक्षमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। अङ्गदः क्रोधताम्राक्षः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव॥ चकार कदनं घोरं शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः।

The energetic Angada possessed of the prowess of a lion, with his eyes coppery with wrath, upraising a tree, began to spread terrible destruction among the Rākşasa, even as a lion destroys tiny deer.

Yuddha Kanda 53.24

अङ्गदाभिहतास्तत्र राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः॥ विभिन्नशिरस: पेतुर्निकृता इव पादपाः।

And attacked by Angada there, the Raksasas of dreadful vigour, with their heads riven, fell down like to trees that have been uprooted.

Yuddha Kanda 53.25

रथैश्चित्रैर्ध्वजैरश्वैः शरीरैर्हरिरक्षसाम्॥ रुधिरौघेण संछन्ना भूमिर्भयकरी तदा। हारकेयूरवस्त्रैश्च छत्रैश्च समलंकृता॥ भूमि ति रणे तत्र शारदीव यथा निशा।

The earth became frightful (to behold), being covered with variegated cars and standards and steeds and the bodies of monkeys and of Rāks asas and streams of blood. And adorned with chains, and Keyūras, and attires, and umbrellas, the field of battle looked like an autumnal night.

Yuddha Kanda 53.26

अङ्गदस्य च वेगेन तद्राक्षसबलं महत्।। प्राकम्पत तदा तत्र पवनेनाम्बुदो यथा॥

And agitated by Angada's impetuosity, that mighty army of Rākṣasas began to shake, even as water tremble, moved by the wind.

Yuddha Kanda 53.27