Chapter 42

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

ततस् ते राक्षसास् तत्र गत्वा रावण मन्दिरम्
न्यवेदयन् पुरीम् रुद्धाम् रामेण सह वानरैः

tatas te rākṣasās tatra gatvā rāvaṇa mandiram
nyavedayan purīm ruddhām rāmeṇa saha vānaraiḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | rākṣasāḥ: the demons | tatra: there | gatvā: having gone | rāvaṇamandiram: to the house of Ravana | nyavedayan: informed (that) | purīm: the city of Lanka | ruddhām: has been besieged | rāmeṇa: by Rama | vānaraiḥ saha: along with his monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

Then, the demons there, approached Ravana and informed him that the city had been besieged by Rama along with his monkeys.

VERSE 2

रुद्धाम् तु नगरीम् ज़्रुत्वा जात क्रोधो निज़ा चरः
विधानम् द्विगुणम् ज़्रुत्वा प्रासादम् सो अध्यरोहत

ruddhām tu nagarīm zrutvā jāta krodho nizā caraḥ
vidhānam dviguṇam zrutvā prāsādam so adhyarohata

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | nagarīm: that the city | ruddhām: has been attacked | niśācaraḥ: Ravana | jātakrodhaḥ: exhibiting his anger | dviguṇam: doubly | kṛtvā: made | vidhānam: his arrangements | ārohataca: and ascended | prāsādam: his mansion. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing that the city has been attacked, Ravana exhibiting his anger, doubly made the necessary arrangements for the war and ascended his mansion.

VERSE 3

स ददर्ज़ आवृताम् लन्काम् सज़ैल वन काननाम्
असम्ख्येयैर् हरि गणैः सर्वतो युद्ध कान्क्षिभिः

sa dadarza āvṛtām lankām sazaila vana kānanām
asamkhyeyair hari gaṇaiḥ sarvato yuddha kānkṣibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that Ravana | dadarśa: saw | laṅkām: the city of Lanka | saśailavanakānanām: with its mountains | vṛtām: being covered | sarvataḥ: on all sides | asamkhyeyaiḥ: by innumerable | harigaṇaiḥ: troops of monkeys | yuddha kāṇkṣibhiḥ: looking for war. |

TRANSLATION

That Ravana caught a glimpse of the city of Lanka, with its mountains, groves and forests all being covered by innumerable troops of monkeys, waiting for war.

VERSE 4

स दृष्ट्वा वानरैह् सर्वाम् वसुधाम् कवली कृताम्
कथम् क्षपयितव्याह् स्युर् इति चिन्ता परो अभवत्

sa dṛṣṭvā vānaraih sarvām vasudhām kavalī kṛtām
katham kṣapayitavyāh syur iti cintā paro abhavat

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | vasudhām: the earth | kapilīkṛtām: made brown in colour | sarvaiḥ: with all | vanarāḥ: monkeys | saḥ: Ravana | abhavat: became | cintāparaḥ: lost in thought | iti: as to | katham: how | syuḥ: (they) can be | kṣapayitavyā: exterminated. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing the earth made all brown with innumerable monkeys, Ravana in great perplexity reflected: "How can they be exterminated?"

VERSE 5

स चिन्तयित्वा सुचिरम् धैर्यम् आलम्ब्य रावणः
राघवम् हरि यूथाम्ज़् च ददर्ज़ आयत लोचनः

sa cintayitvā suciram dhairyam ālambya rāvaṇaḥ
rāghavam hari yūthāmz ca dadarza āyata locanaḥ

SYNONYMS

cintayitvā: having pondered | suciram: for long | ālambya: regaining | dhairyam: his confidence | āyata locanaḥ: and with his eyes widened by surprise | saḥ: that Ravana | dadarśa: saw | rāghavam: Rama | hariyūthāmśca: and his troops of monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

Having pondered for long, regaining his confidence and with his eyes widened by surprise, Ravana gazed on Rama and his troops of monkeys.

VERSE 6

राघवः सहसैन्येन मुदितो नाम पुप्लुवे
लङ्काम् ददर्श गुप्ताम् वै सर्वतो राक्षसैर्वृताम्

rāghavaḥ sahasainyena mudito nāma pupluve
laṅkām dadarśa guptām vai sarvato rākṣasairvṛtām

SYNONYMS

rāghavaḥ: Rama | muditaḥ: delightful | saha sainyena: along with the army | pupluve nāma: pressed forward (on the back of a monkey) | dadarśa: and saw | laṅk͟hām: Lanka | guptām: being guarded | sarvataḥ: on all sides | vṛtām: and thronged | rākṣasaiḥ: with demons. |

TRANSLATION

Full of delight, Rama passed forward (on the back of a monkey) along with his army and saw Lanka being guarded on all sides and thronged with demons.

VERSE 7

दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्काम् चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम्
जगाम मनसा सीताम् दूयमानेन चेतसा

dṛṣṭvā dāśarathirlaṅkām citradhvajapatākinīm
jagāma manasā sītām dūyamānena cetasā

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | laṅkām: Lanka | citra dhvaja patākinīm: decorated with banners and flags | dāśarathiḥ: Rama | jagāma: recollected | manasā: in his mind | sītām: about Seetha | dūyamānena: with a distressed chetasaa = heart. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing that city of Lanka duly decorated with banners and flags, Rama remembered Seetha with a distressed heart.

VERSE 8

अत्र सा मृगशाबाक्षी मत्कृते जनकात्मजा
पीड्यते शोकसंतप्ता कृशा स्थण्डिलशायिनी

atra sā mṛgaśābākṣī matkṛte janakātmajā
pīḍyate śokasaṃtaptā kṛśā sthaṇḍilaśāyinī

SYNONYMS

sā jankātmajā: here is that Seetha | mṛga śābākṣī: whose eyes resemble those of a fawn | śoka samtaptā: tormented with grief | kṛśā: emaciated | sthaṇḍila śāyinī: with a bare ground as her bed | pīḍyate: and suffereing matkR^ite = on my account | atra: here. |

TRANSLATION

He said to himself, "Here is that daughter of Janaka, whose eyes resemble those of a fawn, tormented with grief, emacitated, with a bare ground as her bed and suffering here on my account."

VERSE 9

निपीड्यमानां धर्मात्मा वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन्
क्षिप्रमाज्ञापयद्रामो वानरान् द्विषताम् वधे

nipīḍyamānāṃ dharmātmā vaidehīmanucintayan
kṣipramājñāpayadrāmo vānarān dviṣatām vadhe

SYNONYMS

anucintayan: reflecting on | vaidehīm: Seetha | nipīḍyamānām: being troubled | dharmātmā: the virtuous | rāmaḥ: Rama | kṣipram: speedily | ājñāpayat: issued a command | vānarām: to the monkeys | vadhe: to destroy | dviṣatām: the enemies. |

TRANSLATION

Reflecting on Seetha being troubled, the virtuous Rama speedily issued a command to the monkeys to destroy the enemies forthwith.

VERSE 10

एवमुक्ते तु वचसि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
संघर्षमाणाः प्लवगाः सिम्हनादै रपूर्यन्

evamukte tu vacasi rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā
saṃgharṣamāṇāḥ plavagāḥ simhanādai rapūryan

SYNONYMS

vacasi: (While) the aforesaid words | uktesati: were spoken | evam: thus | rameṇa: by Rama | akliṣṭakarmaṇā: who was unwearied in action | plavagāḥ: the monkeys | samgharṣamāṇāḥ: vying with one another | āpūrayan: filled the air | simhanādaiḥ: with their roaring |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those words of Rama, who was unwearied in action, the monkeys vying with one another filled the air with their roaring resembling those of lion.

VERSE 11

शिखरैर्विकिरामैतां लङ्काम् मुष्टिभिरेव वा
इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरियूथपाः

śikharairvikirāmaitāṃ laṅkām muṣṭibhireva vā
iti sma dadhire sarve manāṃsi hariyūthapāḥ

SYNONYMS

vikirāma: we shall tear asunder | etām laṇkām: this Lanka | śikharaiḥ: with mountain = peaks | muṣṭibhireva vā: or with fists alone | iti: thus | dadhire manāmsi: resolved | sarve: all | hariyūthapāḥ: the monkey- generals. |

TRANSLATION

"We shall tear asunder this Lanka with mountain-peaks or with fists alone." - thus resolved all the monkey- generals.

VERSE 12

उद्यम्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महान्ति शिखराणि च
तरूंश्चोत्पाट्य विविधांस्तिष्ठन्ति हरियूथपाः

udyamya giriśṛṅgāṇi mahānti śikharāṇi ca
tarūṃścotpāṭya vividhāṃstiṣṭhanti hariyūthapāḥ

SYNONYMS

hariyūthapāḥ: the monkey- generals | udyamya: having lifted | giriśṛṇgāṇi: the mountain-peaks | mahānti: and huge | śikharāṇi: rocks | utpāṭya: and having plucked up | vividhān: varius kinds | tarūmśca: of trees | tiṣṭhanti: stood prepared (for the attack). |

TRANSLATION

Lifting up mountain peaks and huge rocks and plucking up various kinds of trees, the monkey-generals stood prepared (for the attack).

VERSE 13

प्रेक्षतो राक्षस इन्द्रस्य तान्य् अनीकानि भागज़ः
राघव प्रिय काम अर्थम् लन्काम् आरुरुहुस् तदा

prekṣato rākṣasa indrasya tāny anīkāni bhāgazaḥ
rāghava priya kāma artham lankām āruruhus tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | tāni anīkāi: those troops | bhāgaśaḥ: forming into columns aaruruhuH = began to scale the heights | laṅkām: of Lanka | rākṣasendrasya: (while) Ravana | prekṣataḥ: stood gazing | rāghava priya kāmārtham: in order to fulfill Rama's cherished desire. |

TRANSLATION

In order to fulfill Rama's cherished desire, those troops, forming themselves into columns, began to scale the heights of Lanka, while Ravana stood gazing.

VERSE 14

ते ताम्र वक्त्रा हेम आभा राम अर्थे त्यक्त जीविताः
लन्काम् एव अह्यवर्तन्त साल ताल ज़िला आयुधाः

te tāmra vaktrā hema ābhā rāma arthe tyakta jīvitāḥ
lankām eva ahyavartanta sāla tāla zilā āyudhāḥ

SYNONYMS

te: those monkeys | hemābhāḥ: of golden hue | tāmra vaktrāḥ: with coppery countenance | sāla bhūdhara yodhinaḥ: fighting with sala trees and mountain- peaks | abhyavartanta: marched ahead | laṅkam: towards Lanka | tyakta jīvitāḥ: ready to lay down their lives | rāmārthe: in Rama's sevice. |

TRANSLATION

Those monkeys, of golden hue with coppery countenance, fighting with Sala trees and mountain-peaks, marched ahead towards the city of Lanka, ready as they were to lay down their lives in Rama's service.

VERSE 15

ते द्रुमैः पर्वत अग्रैज़् च मुष्टिभिज़् च प्लवम् गमाः
प्रासाद अग्राणि च उच्चानि ममन्तुस् तोरणानि च

te drumaiḥ parvata agraiz ca muṣṭibhiz ca plavam gamāḥ
prāsāda agrāṇi ca uccāni mamantus toraṇāni ca

SYNONYMS

te plavaṅgamāḥ: those monkeys | mamanthuḥ: demolished | asamkhyāni: innumerable | prākārāṇi: defensive walls | toraṇānica: and arches | drumaiḥ: (with blows) from trees | parvatāgraiḥ: mountain-tops | muṣṭibhiśca: an fists. |

TRANSLATION

Those monkeys demolished innumerable defensive walls and arches with blows from trees, mountain-tops and fists.

VERSE 16

पारिखाः पूरयन्ति स्म प्रसन्न सलिल आयुताः
पांसुभिह् पर्वत अग्रैज़् च तृणैः काष्ठैज़् च वानराः

pārikhāḥ pūrayanti sma prasanna salila āyutāḥ
pāṃsubhih parvata agraiz ca tṛṇaiḥ kāṣṭhaiz ca vānarāḥ

SYNONYMS

vānarāḥ: the monkeys | pūrayantisma: filled | parikhaiḥ: the moats | prasanna salilāyutāḥ: containing clear water | pāmsubhiḥ: with sands | parvatāgraiḥ: mountain-tops | tṛṇaiḥ: grasses | kāṣṭhaiśca: and logs of woods. |

TRANSLATION

The monkeys filled the moats containing clear water with sands, mountain-tops, grasses and logs of wood.

VERSE 17

ततः सहस्र यूथाज़् च कोटि यूथाज़् च यूथपाः
कोटी ज़त युताज़् च अन्ये लन्काम् आरुरुहुस् तदा

tataḥ sahasra yūthāz ca koṭi yūthāz ca yūthapāḥ
koṭī zata yutāz ca anye lankām āruruhus tadā

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | yūthapāḥ: the commanders | āruruhuḥ: scaled (the walls) | laṅkām: of Lanka | sahasrayūthāśca: battalions of monkeys in thousands | koṭiyūthāśca: in crores | koṭiyūtha śatāśca: (and even) hundreds of crores | anye ca: along with other. |

TRANSLATION

The commanders scaled the walls of Lanks, taking with them battalions of monkeys in thousands, in crores and even hundreds of crores.

VERSE 18

कान्चनानि प्रम्र्द्नन्तस् तोरणानि प्लवम् गमाः
कैलास ज़िखर आभानि गोपुराणि प्रमथ्य च

kāncanāni pramrdnantas toraṇāni plavam gamāḥ
kailāsa zikhara ābhāni gopurāṇi pramathya ca

SYNONYMS

pramardantaḥ: tearing up | kāṇcanāni: the golden | toraṇāni: arches | pramathyaca: and breaking down | gopurāṇi: the gates | kailāsa śikharābhāṇi: that equaled the peak of Kailasa the mountainous abode of Shiva the god of destruction | plavaṇgamāḥ: the monkeys (attacked Lanka). |

TRANSLATION

The monkeys stood tearing up the golden arches and breaking down the gates that equaled the peak of Kailasa the mountainous abode of Shiva the Lord of Destruction.

VERSE 19

आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तज़् च गर्जन्तज़् च प्लवम् गमाः
लन्काम् ताम् अभ्यवर्तन्त महा वारण सम्निभाः

āplavantaḥ plavantaz ca garjantaz ca plavam gamāḥ
lankām tām abhyavartanta mahā vāraṇa samnibhāḥ

SYNONYMS

plavaṇgamāḥ: the monkeys | mahā vāraṇa samnibhāḥ: who resembled great elephants | abhidhāvanti: rushed | tām laṅkām: towards that Lanka | āplavanta: sprining | plavantaśca: leaping | garjantaśca: and roaring. |

TRANSLATION

The monkeys who resembled great elephants hurled themselves towards that Lanka, springing, leaping and roaring.

VERSE 20

जयत्य् अतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणज़् च महा बलः
राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेण अभिपालितः

jayaty atibalo rāmo lakṣmaṇaz ca mahā balaḥ
rājā jayati sugrīvo rāghaveṇa abhipālitaḥ

SYNONYMS

21| plavaṇgamāḥ: the monkeys | kāma rūpiṇaḥ: who were able to change their form at will | ghoṣayantasca: shouting thus | jayati: victory | urubalaḥ: to the mighty | rāmaḥ: Rma | mahābalaḥ: and the valiant | lakṣmaṇaśca: Lakshmana | rājā: to the king | sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | abhipālitaḥ: protected | rāghaveṇa: by Rama | garjantaśca: and roaring | abhyadhāvanta: rushed | prākāram: towards the defensive walls | laṅkāyāḥ: of Lanka. |

TRANSLATION

The monkeys, who were able to change their form at will, shouting - "Victory to the mighty Rama and the valiant Lakshmana!" "Victory of Sugreeva protected by Raghava!" and roaring, rushed towards the defensive walls of Lanka.

VERSE 22

वीर बाहुः सुबाहुज़् च नलज़् च वन गोचरः
निपीड्य उपनिविष्टास् ते प्राकारम् हरि यूथपाः

vīra bāhuḥ subāhuz ca nalaz ca vana gocaraḥ
nipīḍya upaniviṣṭās te prākāram hari yūthapāḥ

SYNONYMS

te: those | hariyūthapāḥ: monkey-generals | vīrabāhuḥ: Virabhabu | subāśca: Subahu | nalaśca: Nala | tathā: and panasaH = Panasa | nipīḍya: having stormed | prākāram: the defensive walls | upaniviṣṭāḥ: took up position on them | etasmin antare: meanwhile | cakre: (they) | skandhāvāraniveśanam: an encampment of a multitude of military divisions. |

TRANSLATION

Those monkey-generals Virabahu, Subahu, Nala and Panasa, having position on them. Meanwhile, they formed an encampment of a multitude of military divisions there.

VERSE 23

पूर्व द्वारम् तु कुमुदह् कोटिभिर् दज़भिर् वृतः

pūrva dvāram tu kumudah koṭibhir dazabhir vṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

balavān: the mighty | kumudaḥ: Kumuda | vṛtaḥ: surrounded | koṭibhiḥ: by a crore | haribhiḥ: of monkeys | jita kāśibhiḥ: who behaved like conquerors | tasthau: stood | āvṛtya: beseizing | pūrva dvāram: the eastern gate (while remaining stationed in north-east). |

TRANSLATION

The mighty Kumuda, surrounded by a crore of monkeys, who behaved like conquerors, stood besieging the eastern gate (while remaining stationed in north-east).

VERSE 24

सहायार्थे तु तस्येव निविष्टः प्रसभो हरिः

sahāyārthe tu tasyeva niviṣṭaḥ prasabho hariḥ

SYNONYMS

prasabhaḥ hariḥ: A monkey called Prasabha | mahābāhuḥ: and the mighty armed | panasaśca: panasa | abhisamvṛtaḥ: surrounded | vānaraiḥ: by (other) monkeys | sahāyārthe: in order toa ssist | tasyaiva: Kumuda himself. |

TRANSLATION

Surrounded by other monkeys, a monkey called Prasabha and the mighty armed Panasa too up their position, in order to assist Kumuda himself.

VERSE 25

दक्षिण द्वारम् आगम्य वीरह् ज़त बलिह् कपिः

dakṣiṇa dvāram āgamya vīrah zata balih kapiḥ

SYNONYMS

balavān: the strong | vīraḥ: and valiant | śatabaliḥ kapiḥ: monkey | vṛtaḥ: surrounded | vimśatyā koṭibhiḥ: by twenty crores (of monkeys) | āsādya: approached | dakṣiṇa dvāram: the southern gate (while remaining stationed in south-east) | tasthau: and stood | āvṛtya: surrounding it. |

TRANSLATION

The strong and valiant monkey, Shatabali accompanied by twenty crores of monkeys, approached the southern gate (while remaining stationed in south-east) and stood there, to obstruct the exit.

VERSE 26

सुषेणह् पज़्चिम द्वारम् गतस् तारा पिता हरिः

suṣeṇah pazcima dvāram gatas tārā pitā hariḥ

SYNONYMS

balavān: the mighty | suṣeṇaḥ: Sushena | tārapitā: the father of Tara | hariḥ: and a monkey | gatvā: going | paścima dvāram: to the western gate (while remaining stationed in the south-west) | āvṛtaḥ: surrounded | koṭi koṭibhiḥ: by crores and crores of monkeys | tasthau: stood | āvṛtya: besieging |

TRANSLATION

The mighty monkey named Sushena, the father of Tara (Vali's wife), going to the western gate (while remaining stationed in the south-west) surrounded by crores and croes of monkeys, stood besieging that gate.

VERSE 27

उत्तर द्वारम् आसाद्य रामह् सौमित्रिणा सह

uttara dvāram āsādya rāmah saumitriṇā saha

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | saumitreṇā saha: along with Lakshmana | sugrīvaśca: and Sugreeva | balavān: the mighty | harīśvaraḥ: lord of the monkeys | āgamya: seeking uttara dvaaram = the northern gate (while remaining stationed in the north-west) | tasthau: stood | āvṛtya: besieging (that gate) |

TRANSLATION

Rama along with Lakshmana and Sugreeva the mighty lord of the monkeys, seeking the northern gate (while remaining stationed in the north west) stood besieging that gate.

VERSE 28

ऋष्काणाम् भीम वेगानाम् धूम्रह् ज़त्रु निबर्हणः

ṛṣkāṇām bhīma vegānām dhūmrah zatru nibarhaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

dhūmraḥ: Dhumra | mahāvīryaḥ: of great prowess | śatrunibarhaṇaḥ: and annihilator of enemies | vṛtaḥ: accompanied | koṭyā: R^ikSaaNaam = by a crore of bears | bhīma kopānām: having terrific rage | tasthau: stood | pārśvataḥ: by the side | rāmsya: of Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Accompanied by a crore of bears having terrific rage, Dhumra (brother of Jambavan, the king of bears) of great prowess and the annihilator of enemies, took up his position by the side of Rama.

VERSE 29

सम्नद्धस् तु महा वीर्यो गदा पाणिर् विभीषणः

samnaddhas tu mahā vīryo gadā pāṇir vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

vibhiṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | mahāvīryaḥ: of great energy | gadā pāṇiḥ: with mace in hand | samnaddhaḥ: clad in defensive armour | vṛtaḥ: and accompanied | yattaiḥ: by his watchful | sacivaiḥ: ministers | tasthau: took his position | yatra: where | mahābalaḥ: the mighty Rama (was stationed). |

TRANSLATION

Vibhishana of great energy with mace in hand, clad in defensive armour and accompanied by his watchful ministers, took his position where the mighty Rama is stationed.

VERSE 30

गजो गव अक्षो गवयह् ज़रभो गन्ध मादनः

gajo gava akṣo gavayah zarabho gandha mādanaḥ

SYNONYMS

gajaḥ: Gaja | gavākṣaḥ: Gavaksha | gavayaḥ: GavayaH = Gavaya | śarabhaḥ: sharabha | gandhamādanaḥ: and Gadhamdana | paridhāvantaḥ: galloping | samantāt: on every side | rarakṣuḥ: defended | hari vāhinīm: the army of monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadana, galloping on all sides, defended the army of monkeys.

VERSE 31

ततः कोप परीत आत्मा रावणो राक्षस ईज़्वरः

tataḥ kopa parīta ātmā rāvaṇo rākṣasa īzvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | rākṣaśvaraḥ: the lord of demons | kopa parītātmā: with his mind filled in anger | tadā: then | ājñāpayat: commanded | sarva seinyānām: of all the army | drutam: immediately. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana the lord of demons with his mind filled in anger, then commanded for the decamping of the entire army immediately.

VERSE 32

एतच्च्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यं रावणस्य मुखेरितम्

etaccrutvā tadā vākyaṃ rāvaṇasya mukheritam

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | etat: vaakyam = these words | mukheritam: uttered from the mouth | rāvaṇasya: of Ravana | udghuṣṭam: a sound | bhīma nirghoṣam: rattling terribly | rajani caraiḥ: by the demons | sahasā: immediately | tadā: then. |

TRANSLATION

At this command coming from Ravana lips, a tremendous clamour arose among the demons.

VERSE 33

ततः प्रबोधिता भेर्यश्चन्द्रपाण्डुरपुष्कराः

tataḥ prabodhitā bheryaścandrapāṇḍurapuṣkarāḥ

SYNONYMS

bheryaḥ: kettle-drums | chandra pāṇḍu puṣkarāḥ: their discs white as the moon | abhihatāḥ: on which are beaten | rākṣasānām: by the demons | hemakoṇaiḥ: with sticks of gold | samantataḥ: on all sides | prabodhitāḥ: were stirred up. |

TRANSLATION

By beating with sticks of gold, the demons stirred up on every side, kettle drums whose discs were white as the moon.

VERSE 34

विनेदुश्च महाघोषाः शङ्खः शतसहस्रशः

vineduśca mahāghoṣāḥ śaṅkhaḥ śatasahasraśaḥ

SYNONYMS

śata sahasraśaḥ: hundres and thousands | śaṇkhāḥ: of couches | mahāghoṣāḥ: with great noise | vineduśca: blared for the | mukha māruta pūritāḥ: blown with their cheeks extended to the full | rākṣasānām: by the demons | sughorāṇām: the most ghastly ones. |

TRANSLATION

Hundreds and thousands of sonorous couches blared forth, blown with their cheeks extended to the full, by the most ghastly demons.

VERSE 35

ते बभुः शुभनीलाङ्गाः सशङ्खा रजनीचराः

te babhuḥ śubhanīlāṅgāḥ saśaṅkhā rajanīcarāḥ

SYNONYMS

śubhanīlāṇgāḥ: with their handsome dark limbs | sa śaṇkhāḥ: equipped with couches | rajanīcarāḥ: those rangers of the night | babhūḥ ambudāḥ iva: shone like clouds | vidynmaṇḍala samnaddhāḥ: bored with lightning | sabalākāḥ: accompanied by rows of cranes. |

TRANSLATION

With their handsome limbs equipped with couches, those rangers of night shone like clouds bordered with lightning accompanied by rows of cranes.

VERSE 36

निष्पतन्ति ततः सैन्या हृष्टा रावण चोदिताः

niṣpatanti tataḥ sainyā hṛṣṭā rāvaṇa coditāḥ

SYNONYMS

niṣpatanti: rushed forth | sainyāḥ: the battalions | hṛṣṭāḥ: gaily | tataḥ: thereafter | rāvaṇa coditāḥ: under Ravana's directions | sanuye iva: as | vegā: the rushing forth | mahodadhaḥ: of the ocean | pūryamāṇasya: which is swollen (by clouds). |

TRANSLATION

The battalions rushed forth under Ravana's instructions like the rushing forth of the ocean, which is swollen by the clouds, at the time of universal dissolution.

VERSE 37

ततो वानरसैन्येन मुक्तो नादः समन्ततः

tato vānarasainyena mukto nādaḥ samantataḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | samantataḥ: from every side | nādaḥ: a clamour | muktaḥ: arose | vānara sainyena: from the army of monkeys | pūritaḥ: which filled | malayaḥ: Malaya mountain | sa sānu prastha kandaraḥ: with its ridger plains and caves. |

TRANSLATION

Then, from every side a clamour, arose from the army of monkeys, which filled Malaya mountain with its ridges, plains and caves.

VERSE 38

शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः सिम्हनादस्तरस्विनाम्

śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaḥ simhanādastarasvinām

SYNONYMS

śaṇkha du ndubhi nirghoṣaḥ: the sound of couches and drums | simhanādaḥ: and the lionine roars | tarasvinām: of those warriors | abhyanādayat: reechoed | pṛthivīm: over the earth | antarikṣamca: sky | sāgaramca: and sea. |

TRANSLATION

The sound of couches and drums made by the demons and the leouine roars of those monkey- warriors re-echoed over the earth, sky and sea.

VERSE 39

गजानां बृंहितैः सार्धं हयानां हेषितैरपि

gajānāṃ bṛṃhitaiḥ sārdhaṃ hayānāṃ heṣitairapi

SYNONYMS

bṛhitaiḥ sārtham: with the trumpeting | gajānām: of elephants | heṣitairapi: the neighing | hayānām: of the horses | nemi nirghoṣaiḥ: the clatters of wheels | rathānām: of the chariots | pada niḥsvanaiḥ: and the sounds of the couches re-echoed over the earth |

TRANSLATION

With the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of the horses, the clattering of the chariot-wheels and the sounds of the foot-steps, the sound of the couches reechoed over the earth, sky and sea.

VERSE 40

एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे घोरह् सम्ग्रामह् समपद्यत

etasminn antare ghorah samgrāmah samapadyata

SYNONYMS

etasmin antare: in the meantime | ghoraḥ: a terrible | samgrāmaḥ: struggle | samapadyata: ensued | rakṣasām: between the demons | vānarāṇām: and the monkeys | purā yathā: as | devāsure: between celestials and demons. |

TRANSLATION

In the meantime, a terrible struggle ensued between the demons and the monkeys, as in the former times between celestials and demons.

VERSE 41

ते गदाभिह् प्रदीप्ताभिह् ज़क्ति ज़ूल परज़्वधैः

te gadābhih pradīptābhih zakti zūla parazvadhaiḥ

SYNONYMS

kathayantaḥ: exhibiting | svavikramān: their native prowess | te: those demons | nijaghnuḥ: struck | sarvān: all | vānarān: the monkeys | gadābhiḥ: with their maces | śaktiśūla parasvadhaiḥ: spears | pradīptābhiḥ: which were flaming. |

TRANSLATION

Exhibiting their native prowess, the demons began to strike all the monkeys with their flaming maces, spears, harpoons and axes.

VERSE 42

तथो वृक्षैर् महा कायाः पर्वत अग्रैज़् च वानराः

tatho vṛkṣair mahā kāyāḥ parvata agraiz ca vānarāḥ

SYNONYMS

43| tataḥ: then | vānarāḥ: the monkeys | mahākāyāḥ: with huge bodies | veginaḥ: swiftly | nijaghnuḥ: struck | tāni rakṣāmsi: those demons | vṛkṣaiḥ: with trees | parvatāgraiśca: mountain-tops | nakhaiḥ: nails | dantaiśca: and teeth | jayati: victorious | rājā: is king | sugrīvaḥ: Sugreeva | iti: thus | abhūt: arose | mahān: a loud | śabdaḥ: war-cry. |

TRANSLATION

Then, the gigantic monkeys swiftly struck those demons with trees, mountain-tops, nails and teeth "Victorious is king Sugreeva" - thus arose a loud war-cry.

VERSE 44

राजन् जय जयेत्युक्त्वा स्वस्वनामकथां ततः
राक्षसास्त्वपरे भीमाः प्राकारस्थामहीं गतान्

rājan jaya jayetyuktvā svasvanāmakathāṃ tataḥ
rākṣasāstvapare bhīmāḥ prākārasthāmahīṃ gatān

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | apre: some other | bhīmāḥ: terrifying | rākṣasāstu: demons on their part | uktvā: uttering | iti: thus | jaya jaya: "Be winsome! Be victorious" sva sva naama kathaam = proclaimed their own respective names | prākārasthāḥ: (while some) standing on walls | vyadārayan: hacked | vānarān: at the monkeys | gatān mahīm: standing on the ground (below) | bhindi palāiśca: with hooks and harpoons. |

TRANSLATION

Then, some other terrifying demons on their part, shouting "Be winsome! Be victorious!", proclaimed their own respective names. While some demons standing on walls hacked at the monkeys standing on the ground (below) with hooks and harpoons.

VERSE 45

वानराचापि सम्क्रुद्धाह् प्राकारस्थान् मही गताः

vānarācāpi samkruddhāh prākārasthān mahī gatāḥ

SYNONYMS

samkruddhāḥ: the enraged | vānarāścāpi: monkeys too | mahīm gatāḥ: who were standing on the ground | āplutya: leapt | kham: into the air | pātayāmāsuḥ: and dragged down | rākṣasān: those demons | prākārastāḥ: stationed on the walls | svabāhubhiḥ: (by seizing them) with their arms. |

TRANSLATION

The enraged monkeys, who wee standing on the ground, leapt into the air and dragged down the demons stationed on the walls by seizing them with their arms.

VERSE 46

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्येयुद्धकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvyeyuddhakāṇḍe dvicatvāriṃśaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | tumulaḥ: tumultuous | samprahāraḥ: combat | rakṣasām: between demons | vānarāṇām ca: and monkeys | sambadhūvaḥ: became | adbhutopamaḥ: resembling a wonder | māmsa śoṇita kardamaḥ: leaving a mire of flesh and blood. |

TRANSLATION

That tumultuous combat between demons and monkeys transformed into a wonder, leaving a mire of flesh and blood.