Chapter 55
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
वज्रदम्र अक्षम् निहतम् श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षस ईश्वरः
बल अध्यक्षम् उवाच इदम् कृत अन्जलिम् उपस्थितम्
vajradamra akṣam nihatam śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣasa īśvaraḥ
bala adhyakṣam uvāca idam kṛta anjalim upasthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing that Vajradamshtra was killed by Angada, Ravana spoke the following words to the General of his forces who, with joined palms, stood near him.
शीघ्रम् निर्यान्तु दुर्धर्षा राक्षसा भीम विक्रमाः
अकम्पनम् पुरस् कृत्य सर्व शस्त्र प्रकोविदम्
śīghram niryāntu durdharṣā rākṣasā bhīma vikramāḥ
akampanam puras kṛtya sarva śastra prakovidam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let the invincible demons of irresistible courage go forth soon, with Akampana as their head, who is skilled in the use of every weapon and missile."
एष शास्ता च गोप्ता च नेता च युधि सत्तमः
भूतिकामश्च मे नित्यं नित्यम् च समरप्रियः
eṣa śāstā ca goptā ca netā ca yudhi sattamaḥ
bhūtikāmaśca me nityaṃ nityam ca samarapriyaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This excellent demon is a chastiser, a protector and a leader in battle. He ever desired my welfare and always loved war."
एष जेष्यति काकत्थ्सौ सुग्रीवं च महाबलम्
वानरांश्चापरान् घोरान् हनिष्यति न संशयः
eṣa jeṣyati kākatthsau sugrīvaṃ ca mahābalam
vānarāṃścāparān ghorān haniṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"There is no doubt that he will prove victorious and Rama, Lakshmana, the mighty Sugreeva and the other terrible monkeys."
परिगृह्य स तामाज्ञाम् रावणस्य महाबलः
बलं सम्प्रेरयामास तदा लघुपराक्रमः
parigṛhya sa tāmājñām rāvaṇasya mahābalaḥ
balaṃ samprerayāmāsa tadā laghuparākramaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Taking that command of Ravana, the mighty Akampana of quick resolution then mobilized the army.
ततो नानाप्रहरणा भीमाक्षा भीमदर्शनाः
निष्पेतू राक्षसा मुख्या बलाध्यक्षप्रचोदिताः
tato nānāpraharaṇā bhīmākṣā bhīmadarśanāḥ
niṣpetū rākṣasā mukhyā balādhyakṣapracoditāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those foremost of demons of terrifying appearance, furnished with every kind of weapon and fearful to look upon, rushed into the fray where their general had dispatched them.
रथमास्थाय विपुलं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणम्
मेघाभो मेघवर्णश्च मेघस्वनमहास्वनः
rathamāsthāya vipulaṃ taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇam
meghābho meghavarṇaśca meghasvanamahāsvanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Akampana of the stature and colour of a cloud, whose voice resembled a thunder, ascended his great chariot, decorated with fine gold and set out, surrounded by dreadful demons.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Even celestials were indeed unable to upset Akampana in a great battle. Hence, among the demons, he was shining like the sun, by his splendour.
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TRANSLATION
As he sped on his way, hastened and eager to enter the battle, the horses drawing his chariot were suddenly deprived of their energy.
व्यस्फुरन् नयनम् च अस्य सव्यम् युद्ध अभिनन्दिनः
vyasphuran nayanam ca asya savyam yuddha abhinandinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The left eye of Akampana, who delighted in warfare, began to twitch. His countenance grew pale and his voice trembled.
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TRANSLATION
At a time of a good day, marked by fine weather, it turned into a day of bad weather with a bitter wind beginning to blow. Birds and beasts uttered cruel and fearful cries.
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TRANSLATION
That demon, who had the shoulders of a lion and the agility of a tiger, disregarding those portents, rushed towards the battle-field.
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TRANSLATION
While Akampana advanced thus with his troops, an immense tumult arose that seemed to convulse the ocean.
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TRANSLATION
By hearing that clamour of the demons coming for the battle, the huge army of the monkeys, brandishing trees and rocks, was frightened.
तेषाम् युद्धम् महा रौद्रम् सम्जज्ने कपि रक्षसाम्
teṣām yuddham mahā raudram samjajne kapi rakṣasām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A highly fierce battle ensued between those monkeys and demons, who were ready to lose their lives for the sake of Rama and Ravana.
सर्वे ह्य् अतिबलाह् शूराह् सर्वे पर्वत सम्निभाः
sarve hy atibalāh śūrāh sarve parvata samnibhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All the monkeys and demons, who were willing to kill each other, were very strong and valiant. All were resembling mountains.
तेषाम् विनर्दाताम् शब्दह् सम्युगे अतितरस्विनाम्
teṣām vinardātām śabdah samyuge atitarasvinām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The tremendous clamour of the aforesaid warriors, yelling in their rage and strength, making savage cries, were distinctly heard on the battle-field.
रजस्ः च अरुण वर्ण आभम् सुभीमम् अभवद् भृशम्
rajasḥ ca aruṇa varṇa ābham subhīmam abhavad bhṛśam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A highly terrific dust, in a thick coppery colour, raised by the monkeys and demons enveloped all the ten quarters.
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TRANSLATION
The combatants, enveloped by that dust, which was whitish like a piece of silk shaken by the wind, could no longer distinguish each other on the battle-field.
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TRANSLATION
Neither standard, banner and shield, nor horse, weapon and chariot could be discerned in that pall of dust.
शब्दस्ः च सुमहांस् तेषाम् नर्दताम् अभिधावताम्
śabdasḥ ca sumahāṃs teṣām nardatām abhidhāvatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A great tumultuous clamour, of warriors, making challenging cries and rushing upon each other, was heard on the battle-field, yet in that confusion, no form was visible.
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TRANSLATION
In the darkness, the greatly enraged monkeys killed the monkeys themselves and the demons killed the demons themselves in battle.
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TRANSLATION
Those monkeys and demons killing other and their own people then made the earth dampened with blood, anointing its body with mud.
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TRANSLATION
Under the stream of blood being sprinkled, the dust was laid, revealing the earth covered with bodies and corpses.
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TRANSLATION
The demons and the monkeys vigorously struck each other swiftly with blows from trees, spears, maces, javelins, stones, bars and picks.
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TRANSLATION
The monkeys of dreadful deeds, resembling mountains, fighting with their arms appearing like iron bars, killed the demons in battle.
राक्षसास्ः च अपि सम्क्रुद्धाह् प्रास तोमर पाणयः
rākṣasāsḥ ca api samkruddhāh prāsa tomara pāṇayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The enraged demons with darts and javelins in their hands, struck the monkeys there with their cruel weapons.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The extremely enraged Akampana, the general of the army of demons, cheered all those demons by his terrible prowess.
हरयस् त्व् अपि रक्षांसि महा द्रुम महा अश्मभिः
harayas tv api rakṣāṃsi mahā druma mahā aśmabhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The monkeys however leaping upon them and snatching their weapons through their strength, crushed those demons with blows from large trees and stones.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Meanwhile Kumuda, Nala and Mainda the courageous monkeys in an outburst of anger, displayed unsuprassed rashness.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे पञ्चपञ्चशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe pañcapañcaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those exceedingly valiant chiefs of monkeys, as in sport, in the battle-front, with mighty blows of trees, created a great carnage among the demons. All of them repeatedly crushed the demons with every kind of weapon.
