Chapter 57

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

अकम्पन वधम् श्रुत्वा क्रुद्धो वै राक्षस ईश्वरः
किंचिद् दीन मुखश् च अपि सचिवांस् तान् उदैक्षत

akampana vadham śrutvā kruddho vai rākṣasa īśvaraḥ
kiṃcid dīna mukhaś ca api sacivāṃs tān udaikṣata

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | akampana vadham: about the killing of Akampana | rākṣaseśvaraḥ: Ravana the Lord of demons | kruddhaḥ: was enraged | kimcit dīnamukhaḥ ca api: had a little depressed face | udaikṣata: and looked | tān sacivān: towards those ministers. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing of Akampana's killing, Ravana the Lord of demons, with a little depressed face, was enraged and looked towards his ministers.

VERSE 2

स तु ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तम् तु मन्त्रिभिह् सम्विचार्य च
ततस्तु रावणः पूर्वदिवसे राक्षसाधिपः

sa tu dhyātvā muhūrtam tu mantribhih samvicārya ca
tatastu rāvaṇaḥ pūrvadivase rākṣasādhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

dhyātvā: having reflected | muhūrtam: a while | samvicārya: and deliberated | mantribhiḥ: with his ministers | saḥ rāvaṇaḥ: that Ravana | rākṣasādhipaḥ: the king of Demons | tataḥ: then | yayau: went | laṅkām purīm: to the City of Lanka | avekṣitum: to inspect | sarvagulmān: all his defenses | pūrvadivasa: in the forenoon. |

TRANSLATION

Having reflected awhile and deliberated with his ministers, Ravana the king of Demons then passed that forenoon in inspecting his defenses in the City of Lanka.

VERSE 3

ताम् राक्षस गणैर् गुप्ताम् गुल्मैर् बहुभिर् आवृताम्

tām rākṣasa gaṇair guptām gulmair bahubhir āvṛtām

SYNONYMS

rājā: the king Ravana | dadarśa: saw | tām nagarīm: that city | guptām: protected | tām rākṣasagaṇaiḥ: by those groups of demons | āvṛtām: and surrounded | bahubhiḥ: by many | gulmaiḥ: bodies of troops | patāka dhvajamālinīm: decorated with banners and flags. |

TRANSLATION

The king Ravana saw that City, guarded by groups of demons, filled with innumerable troops and decorated with banners and flags.

VERSE 4

रुद्धाम् तु नगरीम् दृष्ट्वा रावणो राक्षस ईश्वरः

ruddhām tu nagarīm dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇo rākṣasa īśvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | nagarīm: the City | ruddhām: besieged | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | rākṣaseśvaraḥ: the Lord of Demons | uvāca: spoke | prahastam: to Prahasta | yuddha kovidam: who was skilled in war-fare | ātmahitam: and who wished well of him | kāle: even at a critical time. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing Lanka besieged, Ravana the Lord of Demons spoke as follows to Prahasta who was skilled in war-fare and who wished well of him even at a critical time.

VERSE 5

पुरस्य उपनिविष्टस्य सहसा पीडितस्य ह

purasya upaniviṣṭasya sahasā pīḍitasya ha

SYNONYMS

yuddha viśārada: O | na prapaśyāmi: I do not see | anyam: any other | mokṣam: deliverance | yuddhāt: than a battle | purasya: for this City | upaniviṣṭasya: which is beseiged | sahasā: suddenly | pīḍitasya: and being devastated. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Prahasta the proficient in war-free! I do not see any other deliverance than a battle for this city, which is besieged suddenly and being devastated."

VERSE 6

अहम् वा कुम्भ कर्णो वा त्वम् वा सेना पतिर् मम

aham vā kumbha karṇo vā tvam vā senā patir mama

SYNONYMS

aham vā: either I | kumbhakarṇovā: or Kumbhakarna | tvam vā: or you | mama: my | senāpatiḥ: army-chief | indrajit vā: or Indrajit | nikumbho vā: or Nikumbha | vaheyuḥ: can bear | īdṛśam: such | bhāram: a burden. |

TRANSLATION

"Either myself or Kumbhakarna or yourself my army-chief or Indrajit or Nikumbha and none else could undertake such a task!"

VERSE 7

स त्वम् बलम् इतह् शीघ्रम् आदाय परिगृह्य च

sa tvam balam itah śīghram ādāya parigṛhya ca

SYNONYMS

ataḥ: for that reason | saḥ tvam: you as such | ādāya: taking | balam: the army | śīghram: quickly | parigṛhyaca: and placing yourself in their midst | abhiniryāhi: set forth | vijayāya: for victory | yatra: to the place where | sarve: all | vanaukasaḥ: the monkeys (are stationed) |

TRANSLATION

"For that reason, taking a company of warriors, you quickly place yourself in their midst and set forth in order to triumph over all those monkeys."

VERSE 8

निर्याणाद् एव ते नूनम् चपला हरि वाहिनी

niryāṇād eva te nūnam capalā hari vāhinī

SYNONYMS

harivāhinī: the army of monkeys | calitā: becoming disturbed | tūrṇam: soon | nirṇayādeva: on (knowing) your decision (to go for the battle) | draviṣyati: will run away | śrutvā: on hearing | nādam: the sound | rākṣasendrāṇām: of the leaders of demons | nardatām: roaring. |

TRANSLATION

"Unsettled in no time on knowing your decision to enter the battle-field, the army of monkeys will run away on hearing the raring sound of the leaders of demons."

VERSE 9

चपला ह्य् अविनीताश् च चल चित्ताश् च वानराः

capalā hy avinītāś ca cala cittāś ca vānarāḥ

SYNONYMS

vānarāḥ: the monkeys | capalāḥ: are unsteady | avinītāśca: mis-behaved | calacittaśca: and fickle-minded | na sahiṣyanti: (They) do not tolerate | te: your | nādam: sound | dvipāḥ iva: as elephants | simhanādani: the lion's roar. |

TRANSLATION

"The monkeys are unsteady, mis-behaved and fickle-minded. They do not tolerate your sound, as elephants the lion's roar."

VERSE 10

विद्रुते च बले तस्मिन् रामह् सौमित्रिणा सह

vidrute ca bale tasmin rāmah saumitriṇā saha

SYNONYMS

prahasta: O | Prahsta! tasmin bale: (As) that army | vidrude: takes to its heels | rāmaḥ: Rama | saumitriṇā saha: along with Lakshmana | nirālambaḥ: without any support | avaśaḥ: unwillingly | eṣyati: will fall | vaśam: into your power. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Prahasta! As that army takes to its heels, Rama along with Lakshmana being supportless, will fall into your power though unwillingly."

VERSE 11

आपत् संशयिता श्रेयो न अत्र निह्संशयी कृता

āpat saṃśayitā śreyo na atra nihsaṃśayī kṛtā

SYNONYMS

samśayitā: A skeptical | āpat: misfortune | śreyaḥ: is preferable | na: and not | niḥ samśayīkṛtā: that which is certain | atra: here | tu: but | pratilomānu lomam vā: whether it is unpleasing to hear or no | manyase: you consider | yat: that which | hitam: is advantageous | naḥ: for us. |

TRANSLATION

"A skeptical misfortune is preferable to one that is certain! Whether it is unpleasing to hear or not, say what you consider as an advantage to us."

VERSE 12

रावणेन एवम् उक्तस् तु प्रहस्तो वाहिनी पतिः

rāvaṇena evam uktas tu prahasto vāhinī patiḥ

SYNONYMS

vāhinīpatiḥ: the army-general | prahastaḥ: Prahasta | evam: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | rāvaṇena: by Ravana | uvāca: spoke | idam: these words | rākṣasendram: to Ravana | uśanā: like Ushanaa = like Ushana (the preceptor of demons) asurendramiva = to Bali the king of Asuras. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of Ravana, Prahasta the Army-General spoke the following words to Ravana, like Ushana the preceptor of demons would speak to Bali, the king of demons.

VERSE 13

राजन् मन्त्रित पूर्वम् नह् कुशलैह् सह मन्त्रिभिः

rājan mantrita pūrvam nah kuśalaih saha mantribhiḥ

SYNONYMS

rājan: O | mantrita pūrvam: formerly it was deliberated | naḥ: between us. | mantribhiḥ saha: along with ministers | kuśalaiḥ: who were skilful | samavekṣya: having observed attentively | parasparam: with one another | vivādaśca: a disagreement | vṛttaḥ: arose |

TRANSLATION

O, king! Formerly, we deliberated this matter with our wise ministers and, after having a good dialogue with each other, a disagreement arose between us."

VERSE 14

प्रदानेन तु सीतायाह् श्रेयो व्यवसितम् मया

pradānena tu sītāyāh śreyo vyavasitam mayā

SYNONYMS

pradānena: to return | sītāyāḥ: Seetha | vyavasitam: was resolved | mayā: by me | śreyaḥ: as preferable | apradāne punaḥ: not to return Seetha | yuddham: (meant) war | tathaiva: dR^iSTameva = we foresaw this. |

TRANSLATION

"To return Seetha was what I considered preferable. Not to do so meant war; we foresaw this."

VERSE 15

सो अहम् दानैश् च मानैश् च सततम् पूजितस् त्वया

so aham dānaiś ca mānaiś ca satatam pūjitas tvayā

SYNONYMS

satatam: ever | pūjitaḥ: honoured | tvayā: by you | kāle: at appropriate time | dānaiśca: by gifts | mānaiśca: by felicitations | vividhaiḥ: by various | sānaiśca: nice words | kim: what | saḥ aham: I as such | na kuryām: cannot do | hitam: benefit | tava: to you? |

TRANSLATION

"I have ever been honoured by you at appropriate times by gifts, felicitations and nice words. When the opportunity arises, is it not for me to render you a service?"

VERSE 16

न हि मे जीवितम् रक्ष्यम् पुत्र दार धनानि वा

na hi me jīvitam rakṣyam putra dāra dhanāni vā

SYNONYMS

me: to me | jīvitam: my life | na hi: is indeed not | rakṣyam: to be spared | putra dāra dhanānica: (nor) sons | tvam: you | paśya: see | mām: me | juhūṣantam: who wish to sacrifice | tvadarthe: for your sake | yudhi: in the battle. |

TRANSLATION

"Neither wives nor sons nor riches are going to be spared by me. See you me, intending to sacrifice my life for your sake in the battle."

VERSE 17

एवम् उक्त्वा तु भर्तारम् रावणम् वाहिनी पतिः

evam uktvā tu bhartāram rāvaṇam vāhinī patiḥ

SYNONYMS

uktvā: having spoken | evam: thus | rāvaṇam: to Ravana | bhartāram: the lord | prahastaḥ: Prahasta | vāhinīpatiḥ: the Army-general | uvāca: spoke | idam: those words | balādhyakṣān: to his leading officers | sthitān: stationed | purataḥ: in front. |

TRANSLATION

Having spoken thus to Lord Ravana, the General Prahasta said to his leading officers who stood before him as follows:

VERSE 18

समानयत मे शीघ्रम् राक्षसानाम् महद् बलम्

samānayata me śīghram rākṣasānām mahad balam

SYNONYMS

19| samānayata: gather | mahābalam: a large army | rākṣasānām: of demons | me: for me | madbāṇānām: With my arrows | vegena: by their swiftness | rāṇājire: on the battle field | māmsādāḥ: the flesh-eating | pakṣiṇaḥ: birds | kānakausaḥ: and beasts | tṛpyantu: shall feed | hatānām: on the enemy that I stroke down | adya: today. |

TRANSLATION

"Gather a large army of demons together for me. Today, the flesh-eating birds and beasts shall feed on the enemy that I strike down on the battle-field with my swift arrows."

VERSE 20

तस्य तद्वचनम् श्रुत्वा बलाध्यक्षा महाबलाः
बलम् उद्योजयाम् आसुस् तस्मिन् राक्षस मन्दिरे

tasya tadvacanam śrutvā balādhyakṣā mahābalāḥ
balam udyojayām āsus tasmin rākṣasa mandire

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | tat: that | vacanam: command | tasya: of Prahasta | mahābalāh: the mighty | balādhyakṣāḥ: leaders of the army | udyojayāmāsuḥ: assembled | balam: the forces | tasmin rākṣasa mandire: in the abode of that demon. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing that command of Prahasta, the mighty leaders of the army assembled the forces in the abode of that demon.

VERSE 21

सा बभूव मुहूर्तेन तिग्म नाना विध आयुधैः
लन्का राक्षस वीरैस् तैर् गजैर् इव समाकुला

sā babhūva muhūrtena tigma nānā vidha āyudhaiḥ
lankā rākṣasa vīrais tair gajair iva samākulā

SYNONYMS

muhūrtena: within a short while | sā laṅkā: that City of Lanka | babhūva: became | samākulā: filled | tai: with those | bhīmaiḥ: terrific | rākṣasa vīraiḥ: demon-warriors | gajairiva: resembling elephants | nānā vidhāyudhaiḥ: wielding various types of weaponry. |

TRANSLATION

Within a short while, that City of Lanka was filled with those terrific demon-warriors, resembling elephants and wielding various types of weaponry.

VERSE 22

हुत अशनम् तर्पयताम् ब्राह्मणांश् च नमस्यताम्
आज्य गन्ध प्रतिवहह् सुरभिर् मारुतो ववौ

huta aśanam tarpayatām brāhmaṇāṃś ca namasyatām
ājya gandha prativahah surabhir māruto vavau

SYNONYMS

tarpayatām: propitiated | hutāśanam: the fire-god | namasyatām: and paid homage | brāhmaṇāmśca: to Brahmanas | surabhiḥ: a fragrant | mārutaḥ: freeze | ājyagandha prativahaḥ: bearing the scent of clarified butter vavou = began to blow. |

TRANSLATION

While some demons propitiated the fire-god with their offerings and paid homage to Brahmanas, a fragrant freeze bearing the scent of clarified butter, began to blow.

VERSE 23

स्रजस्ः च विविध आकारा जगृहुस् त्व् अभिमन्त्रिताः
सम्ग्राम सज्जाः सम्हृष्टा धारयन् राक्षसास् तदा

srajasḥ ca vividha ākārā jagṛhus tv abhimantritāḥ
samgrāma sajjāḥ samhṛṣṭā dhārayan rākṣasās tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | rākṣasāḥ: the demons | samgrāma sajjāḥ: ready for the battle | samhṛṣṭāḥ: delightedly | jagṛhuḥ: wore | srajaśca: garlands | vividhākārāḥ: of different shapes | abhimantritāḥ: consecrated by certain Mantras (sacred formulas). |

TRANSLATION

Then, the demons who were ready for the battle, delightedly wore garlands of different shapes, consecrated by certain Mantras (sacred formulas).

VERSE 24

सधनुष्काह् कवचिनो वेगाद् आप्लुत्य राक्षसाः
रावणम् प्रेक्ष्य राजानम् प्रहस्तम् पर्यवारयन्

sadhanuṣkāh kavacino vegād āplutya rākṣasāḥ
rāvaṇam prekṣya rājānam prahastam paryavārayan

SYNONYMS

rākṣasāḥ: the demons | sadhanuṣkāḥ: with their bows | kavacinaḥ: and armours | prekṣya: seeing | rājānam: the king | rāvaṇam: Ravana | āplutya: and jumping | vegāt: swiftly | paryavārayan: ranged themselves towards | prahastam: Prahasta. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, armed with bows and armours, the demons with their eyes turned towards their king Ravana, marched at a brisk pace and ranged themselves round Prahasta.

VERSE 25

अथ आमन्त्र्य च राजानम् भेरीम् आहत्य भैरवाम्
आरुरोह रथम् दिव्यम् प्रहस्तह् सज्ज कल्पितम्

atha āmantrya ca rājānam bherīm āhatya bhairavām
āruroha ratham divyam prahastah sajja kalpitam

SYNONYMS

27| atha: then | prahastaḥ: Prahasta | yuktaḥ: who got ready with his weapons and armour | āmantrya: taking leave | rājānam: of the king | āhatya: striking | bhairavām: the terrible | bhernīm: kettle-drum | āruroha: mounted | ratham: his chariot | sajjakalpitam: which was kept ready | yuktam: yoked | mahājavaiḥ: an extremely swift | hayaiḥ: horses | samyak sūta susamyatam: well-controlled by a charioteer | mahājalada ninghoṣam: with a noise resembling that of a large cloud | sākṣāt: actually | candrārka bhāsvaram: shining like moon-light | uraga dhvaja durdharṣam: inviolable | suvarūtham: with a good collision-guard | svavaskaram: having good wheels | suvarṇajāla samyuktam: decorated with a net of pure gold | prahastamiva: smiling as it were | śriyā: in its magnificence. |

TRANSLATION

Then, Prahasta who got ready with his weapons and armour, after bidding obeisance to the king and striking a terrible kettle-drum, mounted his chariot, which was kept ready, yoked to an extremely swift horses, well controlled by a charioteer, emanating a noise resembling that of a large cloud, actually shining like moon-light, inviolable with a flag bearing an ensign of snake, with a good collision-guard, with nice wheels and decorated with a net of pure gold smiling as it were in its magnificence.

VERSE 28

ततस् तम् रथम् आस्थाय रावण अर्पित शासनः
लन्काया निर्ययौ तूर्णम् बलेन महता वृतः

tatas tam ratham āsthāya rāvaṇa arpita śāsanaḥ
lankāyā niryayau tūrṇam balena mahatā vṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | rāvaṇārpita śāsanaḥ: Prahasta | āsthāya: mounted | ratham: his chariot | niryayau: set out | laṅkāyāḥ: from Lanka | tūrnam: quickly | vṛtaḥ: along with | mahatā: a huge | balena: army. |

TRANSLATION

Then, Prahasta the one who was commanded by Ravana, ascended his chariot and set out from Lanka soon along with a huge army.

VERSE 29

ततो दुंदुभि निर्घोषह् पर्जन्य निनद उपमः

tato duṃdubhi nirghoṣah parjanya ninada upamaḥ

SYNONYMS

vāhinīpatau: (While) Prahasta the General | prayāte: sallied forth | tataḥ: then | dundubhi nirghoṣaḥ: the sound of a kettle-drum | ninadaḥ ca: the sound | vāditrāṇām: of musical instruments | śṅkha śabdaśca: and the sound of couches | śuśruve: were heard | pūrayanniva: as though filling | medinīm: the earth | ninadopamaḥ: resembling the roar of a cloud. |

TRANSLATION

While Prahasta the general sallied forth, the sound of a kettle-drum, the resonance of musical instruments and the sound of conches were heard, as though filling the earth like the roar of a cloud.

VERSE 30

निनदन्तः स्वरान् घोरान् राक्षसा जग्मुर् अग्रतः

ninadantaḥ svarān ghorān rākṣasā jagmur agrataḥ

SYNONYMS

rākṣasāḥ: the demons | bhīmarūpāḥ: having terrific forms | mahākāyāḥ: and bulky bodies | ninadantaḥ: shouting | ghorān: with terrible | svarān: voices | jagmuḥ: went | agrataḥ: in front | puraḥ sarāḥ: as forerunners | prahastasya: of Prahasta. |

TRANSLATION

The demons with terrific forms and bulky bodies, shouting with dreadful voices, went in front, as forerunners of Prahasta.

VERSE 31

नरान्तकः कुम्भहनुर्महानादः समुन्नतः
६५७३१
प्रहस्तसचिवा ह्येते निर्ययुः परिवार्य तम्

narāntakaḥ kumbhahanurmahānādaḥ samunnataḥ
6-57-31
prahastasacivā hyete niryayuḥ parivārya tam

SYNONYMS

narāntakaḥ: Narantaka | kumbhahanuḥ: Kumbhahanu | mahānādaḥ: Mahanada | samunnataḥ: Samunnata | prahasta sacivāḥ: attendants of Prahasta | ete: they | niryayuḥ: sallied forth | parivārya: surrounding | tam: him. |

TRANSLATION

Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata, attendants of Prahasta sallied forth, surrounding him on all sides.

VERSE 32

व्यूढेन एव सुघोरेण पूर्व द्वारात् स निर्ययौ

vyūḍhena eva sughoreṇa pūrva dvārāt sa niryayau

SYNONYMS

saḥ: He | niryayau: emerged | pūrva dvārāt: from the eastern gate | vṛtaḥ: in the midst | mahatā: of an immense | sughoṣeṇa: formidable | vyūḍheneva: and orderly arranged | balena: army | gaja yūtha nikāśena: resembling a herd of elephants. |

TRANSLATION

He emerged from the eastern gate in the midst of an immense, formidable and orderly arranged army, resembling a herd of elephants.

VERSE 33

सागर प्रतिम ओघेन वृतस् तेन बलेन सः

sāgara pratima oghena vṛtas tena balena saḥ

SYNONYMS

vṛtaḥ: In the centre | tena: of that | balena: army | sāgara prati maughena: vast as the sea | saḥ prahastaḥ: that Prahasta | kruddhaḥ: in his fury | niryayau: came forth | kālāntakayamopamaḥ: appearing like Death at the end of the world. |

TRANSLATION

In the centre of that army, vast as the sea, that Prahasta in his fury, came forth appearing like Death at the end of the world.

VERSE 34

तस्य निर्याण घोषेण राक्षसानाम् च नर्दताम्

tasya niryāṇa ghoṣeṇa rākṣasānām ca nardatām

SYNONYMS

tasya niryāṇaghoṣeṇa: the uproar that arose on his setting forth | rākṣasānām ca: with his demons | nardatām: raising their war cries | vineduḥ: sounded forth | vikṛtaiḥ: sinister | svaraiḥ: answering calls | sarvabhūtāni: from all creatures | laṅkāyām: in Lanka. |

TRANSLATION

The uproar that arose on his setting forth with his demons raising the war-cries drew sinister answering calls from all creatures in Lanka.

VERSE 35

व्यभ्रम् आकाशम् आविश्य मांस शोणित भोजनाः

vyabhram ākāśam āviśya māṃsa śoṇita bhojanāḥ

SYNONYMS

khagāḥ: birds | māmsaśoṇitabhojanāḥ: eating flesh and blood | āviśya: entering | nyabhram: cloudless | ākāśam: sky | cakruḥ: flew | maṅḍalāni: in circles | apasvyāni: from left to right | rathamprati: towards the chariot. |

TRANSLATION

In a cloudless sky, birds of prey eating flesh and blood, flew in circles from left to right towards the chariot.

VERSE 36

वमन्त्यह् पावक ज्वालाह् शिवा घोरा ववाशिरे

vamantyah pāvaka jvālāh śivā ghorā vavāśire

SYNONYMS

ghorāḥ: fearful | śivāḥ: jackals | vamantyaḥ: vomited forth | pāvaka jvālāḥ: fire and flames | vavāśire: howling repeatedly | ulkā: a meteor | papāta: fell | antarikṣāt: from the sky | vāyuśca: and the wind | vavau: blew | paruṣam: harshly. |

TRANSLATION

Fearful jackals vomited forth fire and flames, howling repeatedly. A meteor fell from the sky and the wind blew harshly.

VERSE 37

अन्योन्यम् अभिसम्रब्धा ग्रहाश् च न चकाशिरे

anyonyam abhisamrabdhā grahāś ca na cakāśire

SYNONYMS

38| grahāśca: the planets | abhisamrabdhāḥ: were in opposition | anyonyam: to each other | na ca prakāśire: and lost their brilliance | meghāśca: the clouds | kharanirghoṣāḥ: made harsh sounds | vavarṣuḥ: and rained | rudhiram: blood | upari: above | rākṣasaḥ: the demons | rathasya: chariot | siṣicuśca: and dampened | puraḥ sarān: those who were walking in front. |

TRANSLATION

The plants, in opposition to each other, lost their brilliance. The clouds, with their raucous sound, showered blood on Prahasta's chariot and dampened those who were walking in front of it.

VERSE 39

केतु मूर्धनि गृध्रो अस्य विलीनो दक्षिणा मुखः
नदन्नुभयतः पार्श्वं समग्रामहरत्प्रभाम्

ketu mūrdhani gṛdhro asya vilīno dakṣiṇā mukhaḥ
nadannubhayataḥ pārśvaṃ samagrāmaharatprabhām

SYNONYMS

gṛdhraḥ: A vulture | dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ: facing the south | vilīnaḥ: alighted | mūrdhani: on the top | ketoḥ: of the standard | nadan: croaking | ubhayataḥ pārśvam: on its both the sides | aharat: and deprived | samagrām: of his entire | prabhām: lustre. |

TRANSLATION

A vulture facing the south alighted on the top of the standard, croaking towards both of its sides and deprived the demon of his entire lustre.

VERSE 40

सारथेर् बहुशस्ः च अस्य सम्ग्रामम् अवगाहतः
प्रतोदो न्यपतद्द् हस्तात् सूतस्य हय सादिनः

sārather bahuśasḥ ca asya samgrāmam avagāhataḥ
pratodo nyapatadd hastāt sūtasya haya sādinaḥ

SYNONYMS

pratodaḥ: the goad | nyapata: fell | bahuśaḥ: several times | atra: then | hastāt: from the hand | sārathaḥ: of the charioteer | sūtasya: a Suta (the son of a Kshastriya by a Brahmana woman) | avagāhataḥ: as he entered | samgrāmam: the battle-field. |

TRANSLATION

The goad fell several times then from the hand of the charioteer, himself a Suta (the son of a Kshatriya by a Brahamana woman) eventhough skilled in controlling the horses, as he entered the battle-field.

VERSE 41

निर्याण श्रीश् च या अस्य आसीद् भास्वरा च सुदुर्लभा
सा ननाश मुहूर्तेन समे च स्खलिता हयाः

niryāṇa śrīś ca yā asya āsīd bhāsvarā ca sudurlabhā
sā nanāśa muhūrtena same ca skhalitā hayāḥ

SYNONYMS

sudurlabhā: that rarely | bhāsvarā: splendour | : which (clothed) | niryāṇaśrīḥ: (Prahasta) at the time of his exit | : that one | nanāśa: vanished | muhūrtena: in an instant | hayāśca: and horses | sthalitāḥ: stumbled | same: on the even ground. |

TRANSLATION

That rarely splendour which clothed Prahasta at the time of his exit vanished in an instant and horses stumbled on the even ground.

VERSE 42

प्रहस्तम् त्व् अभिनिर्यान्तम् प्रख्यात बल पौरुषम्
युधि नाना प्रहरणा कपि सेना अभ्यवर्तत

prahastam tv abhiniryāntam prakhyāta bala pauruṣam
yudhi nānā praharaṇā kapi senā abhyavartata

SYNONYMS

tam prahastam: (Beholding) that Prahasta | prakhyāta guṇa pauruṣam: renowned for his excellences and martial valour | niryāntam: as he advanced to give battle | kapisenā: the army of monkeys | nāna praharaṇā: furnished with weapons of every kind | abhyavartata: turned towards | yudī: the battle. |

TRANSLATION

Beholding that Prahasta, renowned for his excellences and martial valour; as he advanced to give battle, the army of monkeys went forward to attack him.

VERSE 43

अथ घोषह् सुतुमुलो हरीणाम् समजायत
वृक्षान् आरुजताम् चैव गुर्वीश् च अगृह्णताम् शिलाः

atha ghoṣah sutumulo harīṇām samajāyata
vṛkṣān ārujatām caiva gurvīś ca agṛhṇatām śilāḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: thereafter | sutumulaḥ: an exceedingly tumultuous | ghoṣaḥ: clamour | samajayata: arose | harīṇām: among the monkeys | ārujatām caiva: as they tore up | vṛkṣān: the trees | gṛhṇatām: seized hold of | gurvīḥ: of huge | śilāḥ: rocks. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, an exceedingly tumultuous clamour arose among the monkeys as they tore up the trees and seized hold of huge rocks.

VERSE 44

नदताम् राक्षसानां च वानराणाम् च गर्जताम्
उभे प्रमुदिते सैन्ये रक्षो गण वन ओकसाम्

nadatām rākṣasānāṃ ca vānarāṇām ca garjatām
ubhe pramudite sainye rakṣo gaṇa vana okasām

SYNONYMS

45| nadatām: the yelling | rākṣasānāmca: demons | garjatām: and the roaring | vānarāṇāmca: monkeys | ubhau: both | sainye: the armies | pramudite: were delighted | vegitānām: impetuous | samarthānām: and powerful | anyonya vadhakāṇkṣiṇām: with impatience to slay each other | āhvayatām: challenging parasparam = each other | mahān: and tremendous | ninādaḥ: shouts | rakṣogaṇa vanaukasām: of troops of demons and monkeys | śrūyati: were heard. |

TRANSLATION

Both the armies of the yelling demons and the roaring monkeys were delighted, impetuous and powerful with impatience to slay each other and challenging each other with great shouts.

VERSE 46

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe saptapañcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | durmatiḥ: the evil-minded | prahastaḥ: Prahasta | pratasthe: sallied forth | vijayāya: for victor | kapirāja vāhinīm: towards the army of Sugreeva | mumurṣuḥ: whom in his folly imagined he would destroy vivR^iddha vegaH cha = with an accelerated speed | śalabhaḥ iva: as a grasshopper | vibhāvasum: falls into a flame. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, the evil-minded Prahasta sallied forth for victory towards the army of Sugreeva, whom in his folly, imagined he would destroy, with an accelerated speed as a grass-hopper rushes towards a flame.