Chapter 107
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
ततः प्रवृत्तं सुक्रूरं रामरावणयोस्तदा
सुमहद्द्वैरथं युद्धं सर्वलोकभयावहम्
tataḥ pravṛttaṃ sukrūraṃ rāmarāvaṇayostadā
sumahaddvairathaṃ yuddhaṃ sarvalokabhayāvaham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then ensued a fierce and a prolonged chariot-duel between Rama and Ravana, which was frightful to all the worlds.
ततो राक्षससैन्यं च हरीणां च महद्बलम्
प्रगृहीतप्रहरणं निश्चेष्टं समतिष्ठत
tato rākṣasasainyaṃ ca harīṇāṃ ca mahadbalam
pragṛhītapraharaṇaṃ niśceṣṭaṃ samatiṣṭhata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the army of demons and the huge army of mokeys, stood motionless with their weapons held fast in their hands.
सम्प्रयुद्धौ ततो दृष्ट्वा बलवन्नरराक्षसौ
व्याक्षिप्तहृदयाः सर्वे परं विस्मयमागताः
samprayuddhau tato dṛṣṭvā balavannararākṣasau
vyākṣiptahṛdayāḥ sarve paraṃ vismayamāgatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having their hearts captivated in seeing those two warriors, a human being and a demon, both in full strength engaged in a fight, all for their part experienced a great wonder.
नानाप्रहरणैर्व्यग्रैर्भुजैर्विस्मितबुद्धयः
तस्थुः प्रेक्ष्य च सङ्ग्रामं नाभिजघ्नुः परस्परम्
nānāpraharaṇairvyagrairbhujairvismitabuddhayaḥ
tasthuḥ prekṣya ca saṅgrāmaṃ nābhijaghnuḥ parasparam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having their hands occupied with various kinds of weapons, all those warriors stood amazed in mind in beholding that duel. They did not go for war on each other.
रक्षसां रावणं चापि वानराणां च राघवम्
पश्यतां विस्मिताक्षाणां सैन्यं चित्रमिवाबभौ
rakṣasāṃ rāvaṇaṃ cāpi vānarāṇāṃ ca rāghavam
paśyatāṃ vismitākṣāṇāṃ sainyaṃ citramivābabhau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The demons beholding Ravana and the army of monkeys seeing Rama with their eyes in amazement appeared as though they were paintings.
ते तु तत्र निमित्तानि दृष्ट्वा राघवरावणौ
कृतबुद्धी स्थिरामर्षौ युयुधाते अभीतवत्
te tu tatra nimittāni dṛṣṭvā rāghavarāvaṇau
kṛtabuddhī sthirāmarṣau yuyudhāte abhītavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having made up their minds and being firm in their anger, those two warriors for their part, Rama and Ravana fought fearlessly, as it were, on seeing the portents in the battle.
जेतव्यमिति काकुत्स्थो मर्तव्यमिति रावणः
धृतौ स्ववीर्यसर्वस्वं युद्धे।अदर्शयतां तदा
jetavyamiti kākutstho martavyamiti rāvaṇaḥ
dhṛtau svavīryasarvasvaṃ yuddhe|adarśayatāṃ tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama, who was convinced that he was going to win and Ravana who was firmly persuaded that he would die, then demonstrated the entire wealth of their prowess in battle on that occasion.
ततः क्रोधाद्दशग्रीवः शरान्सन्धाय वीर्यवान्
मुमोच ध्वजमुद्दिश्य राघवस्य रथे स्थितम्
tataḥ krodhāddaśagrīvaḥ śarānsandhāya vīryavān
mumoca dhvajamuddiśya rāghavasya rathe sthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, the valiant Ravana, fitting his arrows with anger, released them, directing them towards the flag-staff fixed on Rama's chariot.
ते शरास्तमनासाद्य पुरन्दररथध्वजम्
रक्तशक्तिं परामृश्य निपेतुर्धरणीतले
te śarāstamanāsādya purandararathadhvajam
raktaśaktiṃ parāmṛśya nipeturdharaṇītale
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Without even reaching the ensign on Indra's chariot and touching off the staff which supported the banner of the chariot, the arrows fell on the ground.
ततो रामो।अभिसङ्क्रुद्धश्चापमायम्य वीर्यवान्
कृतप्रतिकृतं कर्तुं मनसा सम्प्रचक्रमे
tato rāmo|abhisaṅkruddhaścāpamāyamya vīryavān
kṛtapratikṛtaṃ kartuṃ manasā sampracakrame
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, the valiant Rama too, in great anger, stretching his bow, proceeded with his mind, to return blow for blow.
रावणध्वजमुद्दिश्य मुमोच निशितं शरम्
महासर्पमिवासह्यं ज्वलन्तं स्वेन तेजसा
rāvaṇadhvajamuddiśya mumoca niśitaṃ śaram
mahāsarpamivāsahyaṃ jvalantaṃ svena tejasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama released a sharp arrow, looking like a huge serpent and which was unbearable, as though blazing with its own splendour, directing towards Ravana's flag-staff.
रामश्चिक्षेप तेजस्वी केतुमुद्दिश्य सायकम्
जगाम स महीं भित्त्वा दशग्रीवध्वजं शरः
rāmaścikṣepa tejasvī ketumuddiśya sāyakam
jagāma sa mahīṃ bhittvā daśagrīvadhvajaṃ śaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As the brilliant Rama released the arrow towards the flag-staff, that arrow, tearing asunder Ravana's flag-staf, entered the earth.
स निकृत्तो।अपतद्भूमौ रावणस्य रथध्वजः
ध्वजस्योन्मथनं दृष्ट्वा रावणः सुमहाबलः
sa nikṛtto|apatadbhūmau rāvaṇasya rathadhvajaḥ
dhvajasyonmathanaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇaḥ sumahābalaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That standard, mounted on Ravana's chariot, having been torn off, fell on the ground. Seeing the thrown-down piece of his flag-staff, that mighty Ravana stood blazing as though he was laughing with intolerance. Flaming up with anger, he showered a stream of arrows afflicted as he was, with the power of wrath.
रामस्य तुरगान्दिव्याञ्शरैर्विव्याध रावणः
ते विद्धा हरयस्तस्य नास्खलन्नापि बभ्रमुः
rāmasya turagāndivyāñśarairvivyādha rāvaṇaḥ
te viddhā harayastasya nāskhalannāpi babhramuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana struck Rama's horses with blazing arrows. Those divine horses were neither shaken nor stumbled in the battle-field. They were indeed healthy at heart and felt as though they were just struck with lotus-stalks.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing those horses unstumbled, Ravana then was very much enraged and released showers of arrows.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He also hurled maces, iron bludgeons, discs, iron clubs, mountain-tops, trees, spikes and axes.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Unwearied as he was in his heart and in effort, Ravana then employed streams of missiles as a creation of magic and also thousands of arrows.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In that battle, abundant rain of various missiles, which were tumultuous, generating fear, terrific and attended with a terrible echo, descended.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Leaving alone Rama's chariot, Ravana released arrows on the army of monkeys on all sides, thus wholly covering the sky.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana released arrows with a mind, which had given up all hope of survival. Seeing that Ravana, who was interested in the battle, putting forth his great effort, Rama fitted Sharp arrows to his bow, as though laughing and thereupon he loosed the arrows in hundreds and thousands.
तान् दृष्ट्वा रावणश्चक्रे स्वशरैः खं निरन्तरम्
tān dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇaścakre svaśaraiḥ khaṃ nirantaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing those arrows, Ravana completely covered the sky with his own arrows. Due to that dazzling shower of arrows then employed by the two warriors, the shining sky looked like a second sky built with arrows.
नानिमित्तो।अभवद्बाणो नातिभेत्ता न निष्फलः
अन्योन्यमभिसंहत्य निपेतुर्धरणीतले
nānimitto|abhavadbāṇo nātibhettā na niṣphalaḥ
anyonyamabhisaṃhatya nipeturdharaṇītale
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While Rama and Ravana were discharging the arrows thus in the battle0field, no arrow missed the target, no one failed to pierce the target and none had gone in vain. Colliding with each other, they fell on the ground.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Releasing the arrows left and right continually, they fought at each other. With their terrific arrows, they made the sky, bereft of even a breathing space.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama struck Ravana's horses. Ravana struck Rama's horses. Both the warriors then struck at each other, doing anything before and after.
एवं तु तौ सुसंक्रुद्धौ चक्रतुर्युद्धमुत्तमम्
evaṃ tu tau susaṃkruddhau cakraturyuddhamuttamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those two extremely enraged warriors in this way, carried out are excellent combat. A tumultuous battle ensued for an hour or so, causing the hair to stand erect.
प्रयुध्यमानौ समरे महाबलौ
शितैः शरै रावणलक्ष्मणाग्रजौ
ध्वजावपातेन स राक्षसाधिपो
भृशं प्रचुक्रोध तदा रघूत्तमे
prayudhyamānau samare mahābalau
śitaiḥ śarai rāvaṇalakṣmaṇāgrajau
dhvajāvapātena sa rākṣasādhipo
bhṛśaṃ pracukrodha tadā raghūttame
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The mighty Ravana and Rama carried out the fight well with sharp arrows in the battle-field. That Ravana at that time was very much enraged with Rama, as his flag-staff was thrown down.
तौ तथा युध्यमानौ तु समरे रामरावणौ
ददृशुः सर्वभूतान्नि विस्मितेनान्तरात्मना
tau tathā yudhyamānau tu samare rāmarāvaṇau
dadṛśuḥ sarvabhūtānni vismitenāntarātmanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All the created beings for their part gazed with an astonished mind on Rama and Ravana, who thus were fighting at each other in the battle-field.
अर्दयन्तौ तु समरे तयोस्तौ स्यन्दनोत्तमौ
परस्परमभिक्रुद्धौ परस्परमभिद्रुतौ
ardayantau tu samare tayostau syandanottamau
parasparamabhikruddhau parasparamabhidrutau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Furiously attacking each other in the battle-field, those excellent chariots of the two warriors ran towards each other.
परस्परवधे युक्तौ घोररूपौ बभूवतुः
मण्डलानि च वीथीश्च गतप्रत्यागतानि च
parasparavadhe yuktau ghorarūpau babhūvatuḥ
maṇḍalāni ca vīthīśca gatapratyāgatāni ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Intent on destroying each other, those chariots, displaying various types of movements such as, moving in circles, moving straight and darting forward as also receding forthwith, originated from the capabilities of those charioteers, assumed a terrible aspect.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama wounding Ravana and Ravana too wounding Rama, both of them had recourse to speed in movement in their forward and backward motions.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those excellent chariots, casting streams of arrows, strolled in the battle-field, like two clouds pouring showers.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Showing various kinds of movement in the battle-field, those chariots then again stood facing each other.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The shaft of the two chariots even as they stood at that moment, met one with the other shaft the muzzle of the horses met the one with the other and the flags met the one with the other flags.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Rama, with his four sharp arrows discharged from his bow, drove back the four splendid horses of Ravana.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Ravana, falling a prey to anger for retreating his horses, discharged sharp arrows on Rama.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama, who was severely struck by the mighty Ravana, did not get upset nor was even tottered.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Directing towards Matali, Indra's charioteer, Ravana hurled arrows with a sound similar to that of a thunder-bolt.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Arrows of great speed, fallen on Matali's body, did not cause even a pretty little of bewilderment or hurt on him in that battle.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Enraged at that daring attack on Matali, Rama who for his part did not feel provoked by the attack on himself, made his enemy turn away by hurling a net work of arrows on him.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The valiant Rama discharged twenty, thirty, sixty and hundreds and thousands of arrows on the enemy's chariot.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, even Ravana, the enraged king of demons, who was seated in the chariot, tormented Rama, by showering maces and mallets on him in the battle.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The battle thus started again by then, was tumultuous, causing one's hair to stand erect. With the sounds of maces, mallets and iron rods and with the gusts raised by the plumes adorning the flying arrows, the seven agitated oceans felt disquieted.
क्षुब्धानां सागराणां च पातालतलवासिनः
व्यथिता दानवाः सर्वे पन्नगाश्च सहस्रशः
kṣubdhānāṃ sāgarāṇāṃ ca pātālatalavāsinaḥ
vyathitā dānavāḥ sarve pannagāśca sahasraśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thousands of all the demons and serpents, inhabiting in the nethermost subterranean region of the agitated oceans, felt disturbed.
चकम्पे मेदिनी कृत्स्ना सशैलवनकानना
भास्करो निष्प्रभश्चासीन्न ववौ चापि मारुतः
cakampe medinī kṛtsnā saśailavanakānanā
bhāskaro niṣprabhaścāsīnna vavau cāpi mārutaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The entire earth, including mountains, groves and forests trembled. The sun too became gloomy even the wind did not blow.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः
चिन्तामापेदिरे सर्वे सकिंनरमहोरगाः
tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ
cintāmāpedire sarve sakiṃnaramahoragāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the gods along with Gandharvas the celestial musicians, Siddhas the semi-divine beings, great sages and all including Kinnaras the mythical beings and great serpents became disquieted.
स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणेभ्यो।अस्तु लोकास्तिष्ठन्तु शाश्वताः
जयतां राघवः संख्ये रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम्
svasti gobrāhmaṇebhyo|astu lokāstiṣṭhantu śāśvatāḥ
jayatāṃ rāghavaḥ saṃkhye rāvaṇaṃ rākṣaseśvaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
At that time, those gods along with troops of sages, saying "May all be well with the cows and Brahmanas, May all the worlds endure forever, May Rama conquer Ravana!", saw a terrific battle between Rama and Ravana, which caused one's hair to stand on end.
गन्धर्वाप्सरसां संघा दृष्ट्वा युद्धमनूपमम्
गगनं गगनाकारं सागरः सागरोपमः
gandharvāpsarasāṃ saṃghā dṛṣṭvā yuddhamanūpamam
gaganaṃ gaganākāraṃ sāgaraḥ sāgaropamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing that matchless struggle and observing that the sky is its own compeer and the ocean is its own analogue, the battle between Rama and Ravana can be likened only to the battle between Rama and Ravana, the hosts of Gandharvas the celestial musicians and Apsaras, the heavenly lymphs, looked on that battle between Rama and Ravana.
ततः क्रोधान्महाबाहू रघूणां कीर्तिवर्धनः
संधाय धनुषा रामः शरमाशीविषोपमम्
tataḥ krodhānmahābāhū raghūṇāṃ kīrtivardhanaḥ
saṃdhāya dhanuṣā rāmaḥ śaramāśīviṣopamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, the great-armed Rama who augmented the fame of the kings born in Raghu dynasty, stretching with anger, the serpent-like arrow with his bow, chopped off the glorious head of Ravana, which was graced with blazing ear-rings. Then, all the three worlds saw that head, fallen on the ground.
तस्यैव सदृशं चान्यद्रावणस्योत्थितं शिरः
तत् क्षिप्तं क्षिप्रहस्तेन रामेण क्षिप्रकारिणा
tasyaiva sadṛśaṃ cānyadrāvaṇasyotthitaṃ śiraḥ
tat kṣiptaṃ kṣiprahastena rāmeṇa kṣiprakāriṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Another head, exactly similar to that head, cropped up on the shoulders of Ravana. That second head was again chopped off by Rama, possessing a swift hand and who was swift in his act.
द्वितीयं रावणशिरश्चिन्नं संयति सायकैः
चिन्नमात्रं च तच्छीर्षं पुनरेव प्रद्श्यते
dvitīyaṃ rāvaṇaśiraścinnaṃ saṃyati sāyakaiḥ
cinnamātraṃ ca tacchīrṣaṃ punareva pradśyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The second head of Ravana was cut off by arrows in that battle. Soon after that head was chopped off, it again rose into view.
तदप्यशनिसंकाशैश्छिन्नं रामस्य सायकैः
एवमेव शतं चिन्नं शिरसां तुल्यवर्चसाम्
tadapyaśanisaṃkāśaiśchinnaṃ rāmasya sāyakaiḥ
evameva śataṃ cinnaṃ śirasāṃ tulyavarcasām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama chopped off that head too with his arrows looking like thunderbolts. In the same manner, a hundred of Ravana's heads of equal splendour were chopped off by Rama.
न चैव रावणस्यान्तो दृश्यते जीवितक्षये
ततः सर्वास्त्रविद्वीरः करुसल्यानन्दवर्धनः
na caiva rāvaṇasyānto dṛśyate jīvitakṣaye
tataḥ sarvāstravidvīraḥ karusalyānandavardhanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Yet, no certainty about Ravana's death could be seen. Thought equipped with many arrows and well-versed with all kinds of missiles, the valiant Rama, the augmentor of Kausalya's joy, then became thoughtful (said to himself as follows):
मारीचो निहतो यैस्तु खरो यैस्तु सदूषणः
क्रौञ्चावने विराधस्तु कबन्दो दण्डके वने
यैः साला गिरयो भग्ना वाली च क्षुभितो।अम्बुधिः
mārīco nihato yaistu kharo yaistu sadūṣaṇaḥ
krauñcāvane virādhastu kabando daṇḍake vane
yaiḥ sālā girayo bhagnā vālī ca kṣubhito|ambudhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"What is the reason, these arrows by which Mareecha, Khara, Dushana, Kabandha in Kroucha-forest, and Viradha in Dandaka-forest were killed, by which seven Sala trees and the mountains were burst, by which Vali was killed and the ocean shaken up all these arrows which provided immediate succour to me in battle, have proved of little efficacy in the case of Ravana."
इति चिन्तापरश्चासी दप्रमत्तश्च संयुगे
ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि राघवो रावणोरसि
iti cintāparaścāsī dapramattaśca saṃyuge
vavarṣa śaravarṣāṇi rāghavo rāvaṇorasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus absorbed in thought, Rama remained vigilant in the battle-field. He showered streams of arrows in Ravana's chest.
रावणो।अपि ततः क्रुद्धो रथस्थो राक्षसेश्वरः
गदामुसलवर्षेण रामं प्रत्यर्दयद्रणे
rāvaṇo|api tataḥ kruddho rathastho rākṣaseśvaraḥ
gadāmusalavarṣeṇa rāmaṃ pratyardayadraṇe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, even Ravana, the enraged king of demons, who was seated in his chariot, tormented Rama by showering maces and mallets on him in the combat.
तत्प्रवृत्तं महद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्
अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च पुनश्च गिरिमूर्धनि
tatpravṛttaṃ mahadyuddhaṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam
antarikṣe ca bhūmau ca punaśca girimūrdhani
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That great tumultuous battle, which caused one's hair to stand on end, took place in the sky, on the ground and furthermore on the mountain.
देवदानवयक्षाणां पिशाचोरगरक्षसाम्
पश्यतां तन्महायुद्धं सप्तरात्रमवर्तत
devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ piśācoragarakṣasām
paśyatāṃ tanmahāyuddhaṃ saptarātramavartata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While the gods, the demons, Yakshas the super-natural beings, the devils, the serpents and the ogres were witnessing, that great battle occurred for seven days.
नैव रात्रिं न दिवसं न मुहूर्तं न च क्षणम्
रामरावणयोर्युद्धं विराममुपगच्छति
naiva rātriṃ na divasaṃ na muhūrtaṃ na ca kṣaṇam
rāmarāvaṇayoryuddhaṃ virāmamupagacchati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
There was no respite in battle between Rama and Ravana, either in the might or in the day-time or for an hour or even for a instant.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे सप्तोत्तरशततमः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe saptottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Not beholding the victory of Rama in the combat between Rama and Ravana that great-souled Matali, the charioteer of Indra quickly spoke the following words to Rama, who was still engaged in fighting.