Chapter 103

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

स तु तेन तदा क्रोधात्काकुत्स्थेनार्दितो रणे
रावणः समरश्लाघी महाक्रोधमुपागमत्

sa tu tena tadā krodhātkākutsthenārdito raṇe
rāvaṇaḥ samaraślāghī mahākrodhamupāgamat

SYNONYMS

saḥ rāvaṇaḥ: that Ravana | samara ślāghī: boasting of his fight | arditaḥ: who was tormented | bhṛśam: much | kākutsthena: by Rama | krodhāt: in fury | tadā: then | upāgamat: flew into | mahākrodhāt: a highly enraged state. |

TRANSLATION

Tormented by Rama in fury, that Ravana then for his part, who was boasting of his fight, flew into a great rage.

VERSE 2

स दीप्तनयनो रोषाच्चापमायम्य वीर्यवान्
अभ्यर्दयत्सुसङ्क्रुद्धो राघवं परमाहवे

sa dīptanayano roṣāccāpamāyamya vīryavān
abhyardayatsusaṅkruddho rāghavaṃ paramāhave

SYNONYMS

3| ūdyamya: raising | cāpam: his bow | dīptanayanaḥ: his eyes blazing | amarṣāt: with rage | rāghavam samkruddhaḥ: extremely enraged with Rama as he was | paramāhave: in that great battle | vīraḥ: the valiant Ravana | vīryavān: of prowess | abhyardayat: continued to oppress | pūrayan: by covering | rāghavam: Rama | bāṇadhāvāsahasraiḥ: with thousands of streams of arrows | saḥ toyadaḥ iva: as a rainy cloud | (vould fill) taṭākam: a pond | ambarāt: from the sky. |

TRANSLATION

Raising his bow, his eyes blazing with anger, extremely enraged as he was with Rama in that great battle, the valiant Ravana of prowess continued to oppress, by covering Rama with thousands of streams of arrows, as a rainy cloud would fill a pond with thousands of arrow-like torrents from the sky.

VERSE 4

पूरितः शरजालेन धनुर्मुक्तेन सन्युगे
महागिरिरिवाकम्प्यः काकुस्थो न प्रकम्पते

pūritaḥ śarajālena dhanurmuktena sanyuge
mahāgiririvākampyaḥ kākustho na prakampate

SYNONYMS

pūritaḥ: covered | śarajālena: by a multitude = of arrows | dhanurmuktena: discharged from the bow | samyuge: in battle | kākutsthaḥ: Rama | na kampate: did not wince | mahāgiririva: like a large mountain | akampyaḥ: which was unshakable. |

TRANSLATION

Covered by a multitude of arrows discharged from Ravana's bow in battle, Rama did not wince, like a large mountain which was unshakable.

VERSE 5

स शरैः शरजालानि वारयन्समरे स्थितः
गभस्तीनिव सूर्यस्य प्रतिजग्राह वीर्यवान्

sa śaraiḥ śarajālāni vārayansamare sthitaḥ
gabhastīniva sūryasya pratijagrāha vīryavān

SYNONYMS

vīryavān: The valiant | saḥ: Rama | sthitaḥ: stood | vārayan: interrupting | śarajālāni: the torrents of arrows | śaraiḥ: with his own arrows | samyuge: in the battle-field | pratjagrāha: and accepted them | gabhastīniva: as rays | sūrya: of the sun. |

TRANSLATION

The valiant Rama stood interrupting the torrents of arrows with his own arrows in the battle-field and endured them as rays of the sun.

VERSE 6

ततः शरसहस्राणि क्षिप्रहस्तो निशाचरः
निजघानोरसि क्रुद्धो राघवस्य महात्मनः

tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi kṣiprahasto niśācaraḥ
nijaghānorasi kruddho rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | kruddhaḥ: the enraged | niśācaiaḥ: Ravana | kṣipra hastaḥ: of brisk hand | nijaghāna: struck | śara sahasrāṇi: thousands of arrows | urasi: into the breast | mahātmanaḥ: of the great souled Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Then, the enraged Ravana of brisk hand, struck thousands of arrows into the breast of the great-souled Rama.

VERSE 7

स शोणित समादिग्धः समरे लक्ष्मणाग्रजः
दृष्टः फुल्ल इवारण्ये सुमहान्किंशुकद्रुमः

sa śoṇita samādigdhaḥ samare lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ
dṛṣṭaḥ phulla ivāraṇye sumahānkiṃśukadrumaḥ

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ: Rama | śoṇita samādigdhaḥ: bathed in blood | samare: in the battle-field | dṛṣṭaḥ: appeared | sumahān kimśuka drumaḥ: like a very big Kimshuka tree | phullaḥ: with bloom | araṇye: in a forest. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, bathed in blood in the battle-field, appeared like a very big Kimshuka tree with bloom in a forest.

VERSE 8

शराभिघातसन्रब्धः सोअपि जग्राह सायकान्
काकुत्स्थः सुमहातेजा युगान्तादित्यवर्चसः

śarābhighātasanrabdhaḥ soapi jagrāha sāyakān
kākutsthaḥ sumahātejā yugāntādityavarcasaḥ

SYNONYMS

śarābhighāta samrabdhaḥ: enraged at the impact of the arrows | saḥ kākutsthaḥ: that Rama | sumahātejaḥ: of very great splendour | abhijagrāha: took hold of | sāyakān: arrows | yugāntāditya tejasaḥ: which shone like the sun at the time of the dissolution of the world. |

TRANSLATION

Enraged at the impact of the arrows, that Rama of very great splendour , took hold of arrows which shone like the sun at the time of dissolution of the world.

VERSE 9

ततोअन्योन्यन् सुसन्रब्धावुभौ तौ रामरावणौ
शरान्धकारे समरे नोपालक्षयतान् तदा

tatoanyonyan susanrabdhāvubhau tau rāmarāvaṇau
śarāndhakāre samare nopālakṣayatān tadā

SYNONYMS

tau ubhau rāma rāvaṇau: Rama and Ravana | susamrabdhau: who were quite enraged | tataḥ anyonyam nopalakṣayatām: could not thereupon see each other | tadā: at that time | samara: in the battle-field | śarāndhakāre: which was shrouded in darkness by the arrows. |

TRANSLATION

Both Rama and Ravana who were see each other at that time in the battle-field, which was shrouded in darkness by the arrows.

VERSE 10

ततः क्रोधसमाविष्टो रामो दशरथात्मजः
उवाच रावणन् वीरः प्रहस्य परुषं वचः

tataḥ krodhasamāviṣṭo rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ
uvāca rāvaṇan vīraḥ prahasya paruṣaṃ vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

prahasya: bursting into laughter | krodhasamāriṣṭaḥ: though filled with anger | vīraḥ: the valiant | rāmaḥ: Rama | daśarathātmajaḥ: the son of Dasaratha | uvāca: spoke | paruṣam vacaḥ: the following harsh words | rāvaṇam: to Ravana. |

TRANSLATION

Bursting into laughter, though filled with anger, the valiant Rama, the son of Dasaratha spoke the following harsh words to Ravana.

VERSE 11

मम भार्या जनस्थानादज्ञानाद्राक्षसाधम
हृता ते विवशा यस्मात्तस्मात्त्वं नासि वीर्यवान्

mama bhāryā janasthānādajñānādrākṣasādhama
hṛtā te vivaśā yasmāttasmāttvaṃ nāsi vīryavān

SYNONYMS

rākṣasādhama: O the worst of demons! | yasmāt: since | mama bhāryā: my wife | hṛtā: was taken away | te: by you | janasthānāt: from Janasthana | vivaśā: helpless as she was | ajṇānāt: when I was unaware | tasmāt: hence | tvam: you | nāsi: are not | vīryavān: a person of prowess. |

TRANSLATION

"O the worst of demons! Since you took away my helpless wife without my notice from Janasthana, hence you are not a person of prowess."

VERSE 12

मया विरहितान् दीनान् वर्तमानां महावने
वैदेहीं प्रसभन् हृत्वा शूरोअहमिति मन्यसे

mayā virahitān dīnān vartamānāṃ mahāvane
vaidehīṃ prasabhan hṛtvā śūroahamiti manyase

SYNONYMS

hṛtvā: having taken away | prasabham: by force | dīnām: the miserable | vaidehīm: Seetha | vartamānām: while she was staying | mahāvane: in the great forest | virahitām: away from me | manyase: am a champion." |

TRANSLATION

"Having taken away by force the miserable Seetha while she was staying in the forest away from me, you think: �I am a champion'."

VERSE 13

स्त्रीषु शूर विनाथासु परदाराभिमर्शके
कृत्वा कापुरुषन् कर्म शूरोअहमिति मन्यसे

strīṣu śūra vināthāsu paradārābhimarśake
kṛtvā kāpuruṣan karma śūroahamiti manyase

SYNONYMS

kṛtvā: having done | karma: an act | kāpuruṣam: of cowardly persons | paradārābhimarśaka: of laying your hands on another's wife | śūra: posing as a hero | strīṣu: in relation to women | vināthāsu: without a protector | manyase: you think | iti: that | aham: I | śūraḥ: am a champion. |

TRANSLATION

"Having done an act of cowardly persons of laying your hands on another's wife, posing as a hero in relation to women without a protector, you think: "I am a champion'."

VERSE 14

भिन्नमर्याद निर्लज्ज चारित्रेष्वनवस्थित
दर्पान्मृत्युमुपादाय शूरोअहमिति मन्यसे

bhinnamaryāda nirlajja cāritreṣvanavasthita
darpānmṛtyumupādāya śūroahamiti manyase

SYNONYMS

nirlajja: O shameless person | bhinna maryāda: who have broken the bounds of morality | anavasthita: and are unstable | cāritreṣu: of customs | upādāya: having laid hold | darpāt mṛtyum: through vanity of death (in the form of Seetha) | manasye: you think | iti: that | aham śūraḥ: �I am a champion'. |

TRANSLATION

"O shameless person, who have broken the bounds of morality and are unstable of customs, having laid hold through vanity of death (in the form of Seetha) you think �I am a champion'."

VERSE 15

शूरेण धनदभ्रात्रा बलैः समुदितेन च
श्लाघनीयन् यशस्यन् च कृतं कर्म महत्त्वया

śūreṇa dhanadabhrātrā balaiḥ samuditena ca
ślāghanīyan yaśasyan ca kṛtaṃ karma mahattvayā

SYNONYMS

ślāghanīyam: indeed a praise worthy | mahat: great | yaśasyam ca: and glorious | karma: act | kṛtam: has been performed | tvayā: by you shuureNa dhanada bhraatraa = a valiant brother of Kubera | balaiḥ samuditena: rich in strength!. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed a praiseworthy, great and glorious act has been performed by you, a valiant brother of Kubera, the god of wealth, rich in strength!"

VERSE 16

उत्सेकेनाभिपन्नस्य गर्हितस्याहितस्य च
कर्मणः प्राप्नुहीदानीन् तस्याद्य सुमहत्फलम्

utsekenābhipannasya garhitasyāhitasya ca
karmaṇaḥ prāpnuhīdānīn tasyādya sumahatphalam

SYNONYMS

prāpnuhi: reap | sumahat: a stupendous | phalam: fruit | idānīm: now | adya: today | tasya karmaṇaḥ: for that act | abhipannasya: done | utsekena: with vanity | garhitasya: which is contemptible | ahitasya: and noxious. |

TRANSLATION

"Reap now and today the stupendous fruit of that noxious and contemptible act, perpetrated through sheer vanity."

VERSE 17

शूरो।अहमिति चात्मानमवगच्छसि दुर्मते
नैव लज्जास्ति ते सीतान् चोरवद्व्यपकर्षतः

śūro|ahamiti cātmānamavagacchasi durmate
naiva lajjāsti te sītān coravadvyapakarṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

durmate: O evil minded one! | avagacchasi: you think | iti: that | aham: �I | śūraḥ: am a champion | ātmānām: yourself! | naiva asti lajjā: there is no shame | te: to you | vyapakarṣataḥ: for having taken away | sītām: Seetha | cauravat: like a thief. |

TRANSLATION

"O evil-minded one! You think: �I am a champion' yourself! Shame did not stand in your way at all, for having taken away Seetha like a thief."

VERSE 18

यदि मत्संनिधौ सीता धर्षिता स्यात्त्वया बलात्
भ्रातरन् तु खरं पश्येस्तदा मत्सायकैर्हतः

yadi matsaṃnidhau sītā dharṣitā syāttvayā balāt
bhrātaran tu kharaṃ paśyestadā matsāyakairhataḥ

SYNONYMS

syādyadi sītā: If Seetha were | dharṣitā: laid hands upon | tvayā: by you | matsammidhau: in my presence | paśyeḥ: you would have surely seen | bhrātaram: your brother | kharam: Khara | tadā: then | hataḥ: when killed | matsāyakaiḥ: with my arrows. |

TRANSLATION

"If Seetha were laid hands upon by you in my presence, you would have surely seen your brother Khara at that very moment when killed with my arrows."

VERSE 19

दिष्ट्यासि मम दुष्टात्मंश्चक्षुर्विषयमागतः
अद्य त्वान् सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नयामि यमसादनम्

diṣṭyāsi mama duṣṭātmaṃścakṣurviṣayamāgataḥ
adya tvān sāyakaistīkṣṇairnayāmi yamasādanam

SYNONYMS

mandātman: O stupid fellow! | diṣṭyā: thank heaven! | āgataḥ asi: you have come | cakṣurviṣayam: within the range of my sight | nayāmi: I will dispatch | tvām: you | yamasādanam: to the world of Death | tīkṣṇaiḥ sāyakaiḥ: by my sharp arrows | adya: today. |

TRANSLATION

"Thank heaven, O stupid fellow, you have come within the range of my sight. I will dispatch you to the world of Death, by my sharp arrows, today."

VERSE 20

अद्य ते मच्छरैश्छिन्नन् शिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम्
क्रव्यादा व्यपकर्षन्तु विकीर्णन् रणपान्सुषु

adya te maccharaiśchinnan śiro jvalitakuṇḍalam
kravyādā vyapakarṣantu vikīrṇan raṇapānsuṣu

SYNONYMS

jvalitakuṅḍalam: with blazing ear-rings | te śiraḥ: let your head | raṇapāmsuṣu: lying on the dust-laden battlefield | vyapakarṣantu: be carried away | kravyādāḥ: by beasts of prey | chinnam: after having been chopped off | macharaiḥ: by my arrows | adya: today. |

TRANSLATION

"Let your head, having blazing ear-rings lying on the dust-laden battle-field, be carried away by beasts of prey, after being chopped off by my arrows today."

VERSE 21

निपत्योरसि गृध्रास्ते क्षितौ क्षिप्तस्य रावण
पिबन्तु रुधिरन् तर्षाद्बाणशल्यान्तरोथितम्

nipatyorasi gṛdhrāste kṣitau kṣiptasya rāvaṇa
pibantu rudhiran tarṣādbāṇaśalyāntarothitam

SYNONYMS

rāvaṇa: O Ravana! | gṛdhrās: (Let) vultures | nipatya: fly down | te urasi: on your breast | kṣiptasya: when wounded by shooting with my arrows and fallen | kṣitau: on the ground | pibantu: and drink | rudhiram: the blood | bāṇaśalyāntotthitam: oozing out from the orifices caused by the impact of pointed arrow-tips. |

TRANSLATION

"O Ravana! Let vultures fly down on your wounded breast when you have been thrown down on the ground and oozing out from the orifices caused by the impact of my pointed arrow-tips."

VERSE 22

अद्य मद्बाणाभिन्नस्य गतासोः पतितस्य ते
कर्षन्त्वन्त्राणि पतगा गरुत्मन्त इवोरगान्

adya madbāṇābhinnasya gatāsoḥ patitasya te
karṣantvantrāṇi patagā garutmanta ivoragān

SYNONYMS

te antrāṇi: (let) your bowels | patitasya: when you have fallen down | gatāsoḥ: dead | madbāṇa bhinnasya: when torn out by my arrows | adya: today | karṣantu: be dragged | patagāḥ garutmanaḥ: by birds and vultures | uragāmiva: as serpents are dragged. |

TRANSLATION

"Let birds (such as crows and vultures) tear out your bowels, as eagles would drag serpents when you fall down dead when pierced by my arrows today."

VERSE 23

इत्येवन् स वदन्वीरो रामः शत्रुनिबर्हणः
राक्षसेन्द्रन् समीपस्थं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्

ityevan sa vadanvīro rāmaḥ śatrunibarhaṇaḥ
rākṣasendran samīpasthaṃ śaravarṣairavākirat

SYNONYMS

ityevam vadan: thus speaking | vīraḥ: the valiant | rāmaḥ: Rama | śatrunibarhaṇaḥ: the annihilator of enemies | avākirat: poured out | śaravarṣaiḥ: streams of arrows | rākṣasendram: on Ravana | samīpastham: who was in the vicinity. |

TRANSLATION

Thus speaking, the valiant Rama, the annihilator of enemies, poured out streams of arrows on Ravana, who was in the vicinity.

VERSE 24

बभूव द्विगुणन् वीर्यं बलं हर्षश्च सन्युगे
रामस्यास्त्रबलन् चैव शत्रोर्निधनकाङ्क्षिणः

babhūva dviguṇan vīryaṃ balaṃ harṣaśca sanyuge
rāmasyāstrabalan caiva śatrornidhanakāṅkṣiṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

vīryam: the prowess | balam: the strength | harṣaśca: the enthusiasm | astrabalam caiva: and the stamina of the arms | rāmasya: of Rama | babhūva dviguṇam: became two-fold | śatroḥ nidhana kāṇkṣiṇaḥ: when he longed for the death of his enemy | samyuge: in battle. |

TRANSLATION

The prowess, the strength, the enthusiasm and the stamina of arms of Rama became two-fold, when he longed for the death of his enemy in battle.

VERSE 25

प्रादुर्बभूवुरस्त्राणि सर्वाणि विदितात्मनः
प्रहर्षाच्च महातेजाः शीघ्रहस्ततरोअभवत्

prādurbabhūvurastrāṇi sarvāṇi viditātmanaḥ
praharṣācca mahātejāḥ śīghrahastataroabhavat

SYNONYMS

viditātmanaḥ: to Rama | sarvāṇi: all kinds | astrāṇi: of mystic missiles | prādurbhūvuḥ: came to light in his mind | praharṣāt: from his excessive enthusiasm | mahātejāḥ: Rama of extra ordinary energy | abhūt: became | śīghrahasta taraḥ: all the more swift-handed. |

TRANSLATION

All kinds of mystic missiles came to light in the mind of Rama the learned self and in his excessive enthusiasm, Rama of extra-ordinary energy became all the more swift-handed.

VERSE 26

शुभान्येतानि चिह्नानि विज्ञायात्मगतानि सः
भूय एवार्दयद्रामो रावणन् राक्षसान्तकृत्

śubhānyetāni cihnāni vijñāyātmagatāni saḥ
bhūya evārdayadrāmo rāvaṇan rākṣasāntakṛt

SYNONYMS

vijṅāyā: recognizing | etāni: these | śubhāni cihnāni: good omens | saḥ rāmaḥ: that Rama | rākṣasāntakṛt: the destroyer of demons | ārdayan: tormented | rāvaṇam: Ravana | bhūyatteva: even more vehemently. |

TRANSLATION

Recognizing those good omens, Rama, the destroyer of demons, tormented Ravana even more vehemently.

VERSE 27

हरीणान् चाश्मनिकरैः शरवर्षैश्च राघवात्
हन्यमानो दशग्रीवो विघूर्णहृदयोअभवत्

harīṇān cāśmanikaraiḥ śaravarṣaiśca rāghavāt
hanyamāno daśagrīvo vighūrṇahṛdayoabhavat

SYNONYMS

hanyamānaḥ: struck | aśmanikaraiḥ: by volleys of stones | harīṇām: of the monkeys | śaravarṣāt: and the showers of arrows | rāghavāt: of Rama | daśagrīvaḥ: Ravana | abhavat: felt | vighūrṇa hṛdayaḥ: bewildered at heart. |

TRANSLATION

While being struck by volleys of stones hurled by the monkeys and the showers of arrows coming from Rama, Ravana felt bewildered at heart.

VERSE 28

यदा च शस्त्रं नारेभे न व्यकर्षच्छरासनम्
नास्य प्रत्यकरोद्वीर्यन् विक्लवेनान्तरात्मना

yadā ca śastraṃ nārebhe na vyakarṣaccharāsanam
nāsya pratyakarodvīryan viklavenāntarātmanā

SYNONYMS

yadā śastram nārabhe: he could no longer take up weapons | na cakarṣa śarāsanam: nor stretch his bow | na pratyakarot: nor reacted | asya vīryam: to Rama's prowess | viklabena antarātmanā: on account of his mind being confused. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana could no longer take up weapons, nor stretch his bow, nor reacted to Rama's prowess - on account of his mind being confused.

VERSE 29

क्षिप्ताश्चापि शरास्तेन शस्त्राणि विविधानि च
न रणार्थाय वर्तन्ते मृत्युकालेअभिवर्ततः

kṣiptāścāpi śarāstena śastrāṇi vividhāni ca
na raṇārthāya vartante mṛtyukāleabhivartataḥ

SYNONYMS

śarāḥ: the arrows | āśu: swiftly | kṣiptāḥ: hurled | tena: by him | śastrāṇica: and the mystic missiles | vividhāni: of different kinds (employed by him) | na vartante: did not turn to be | raṇāthāya: of any use in battle | mṛtyu kālaḥ: (as) his time of death abhyavartata = approached. |

TRANSLATION

As the time of his death approached, the arrows swiftly hurled and the various kinds of missiles employed by Ravana did not turn to be of any use in battle.

VERSE 30

सूतस्तु रथनेतास्य तदवस्थं निरीक्ष्य तम्
शनैर्युद्धादसम्भान्तो रथन् तस्यापवाहयत्

sūtastu rathanetāsya tadavasthaṃ nirīkṣya tam
śanairyuddhādasambhānto rathan tasyāpavāhayat

SYNONYMS

sūtastu: the charioteer for his part | rathanetā: driving the chariot | asya: of Ravana | nirīkṣya: seeing | tam: him | asambhrāntaḥ: without getting excited | apavāhayat: carried off | tasya: his | ratham: chariot | śanaiḥ: slowly | yuddhāt: from the battle-front. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing Ravana reduced to such a plight, the charioteer driving the chariot, for his part, without getting excited, calmly and slowly carried off his chariot away from the battle-front.

VERSE 31

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे त्र्यधिकशततमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe tryadhikaśatatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: thereupon | samīkṣya: seeing | mahīpatim: Ravana | nirastavīryam: having hopelessly dropped his energy | patitam: and looked sunken | sārathiḥ: the charioteer | tadā: then | nivārya: diverting | bhīmam ratham: his terrific chariot | javena: with speed | jaladasvanam: which was rumbling like a cloud | jagāma: went | samarāt: from the battle-filed | bhītya: in dismay. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing Ravana, the king sunk down; hopelessly bereft of energy, the charioteer diverting in haste the chariot of Ravana, which was rumbling like a cloud, thereupon sneaked away from the battle-field in dismay.