Chapter 58

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तम् दृष्ट्वा रणकृतोद्यमम्
उवाच पस्मितं रामो विभीषणमरिंदमः

tataḥ prahastaṃ niryāntam dṛṣṭvā raṇakṛtodyamam
uvāca pasmitaṃ rāmo vibhīṣaṇamariṃdamaḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | prahastam: Prahasta | niryāntam: setting out | raṇakṛtodyamam: with a martial ardour | rāmaḥ: Rama arindamaH = the conqueror of enemies | sasmitam: with a smile | uvāca: spoke | vibhīṣaṇam: to Vibhishana (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Seeing Prahasta setting out with a martial ardour, Rama the conqueror of enemies, smiling, spoke to Vibhishana as follows:

VERSE 2

क एष सुमहाकायो बलेन महता वृतः
आगच्छति महावेगः किम्रूपबलपौरुषः

ka eṣa sumahākāyo balena mahatā vṛtaḥ
āgacchati mahāvegaḥ kimrūpabalapauruṣaḥ

SYNONYMS

kaḥ: who | eṣaḥ: is he | sumahākāyaḥ: with a very huge body | āgacchati: coming | mahāvegaḥ: with great speed | vṛtaḥ: along with | mahatā: a large | balena: army? | mahābāho: O | ācakṣva: tell | me: me | niśācaram: about this demon | vīryavantam: who is possessing vigour. |

TRANSLATION

"Who is he with a very huge body, coming with a great speed along with a large army? O, the mighty armed! Tell me about this strong demon."

VERSE 3

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

4| śrutvā: hearing | rāghavasya: Rama's vachaH = words | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | pratyuvāca: replied (as follows) | eṣaḥ: He | tribhāga samvṛtaḥ: who is guarded by two thirds of the army | laṅkāyām: in Lanka | vīryavān: a demon of prowess | astravit: skilled in the use of weapons | śūraḥ: strong | suprakhyāta parākramaḥ: with a highly excellent bravery | rākṣasaḥ: is a demon | prahasto nāma: called Prahasta | senāpatiḥ: the Army General | tasya rākṣasendrasya: of that Ravana. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing Rama's words, Vibhishana replied as follows "He is guarded by two-thirds of the army of Lanka. He is a demon of prowess, skilled in the use of mystic weapons and valiant. He is the demon named Prahasta, the Army general of Ravana."

VERSE 5

ततः प्रहस्तम् निर्यान्तम् भीमम् भीम पराक्रमम्

tataḥ prahastam niryāntam bhīmam bhīma parākramam

SYNONYMS

6| tataḥ: then | mahatī: the great | senā: army | vānarāṇām: of monkeys | balīyasām: the powerful | abhisamjāta roṣāṇām: giving rise to anger | abhigarjatām: raising ferocious cries | prahastam: at Prahasta | dadarśa: saw | prahasta: Prahasta | abhisamvṛtam: who was accompanied | rākṣasaiḥ: by demons | bhīmam: terrific | bhīma parākramam: having terrible prowess | niryāntam: coming forth | sumahākāyam: with his very huge body. |

TRANSLATION

That huge and powerful army of monkeys, who began to emit cries of defiance with fury, thereupon saw the terrible Prahasta of formidable exploits coming forth towards them.

VERSE 7

खड्ग शक्त्य् अष्टि बाणाश् च शूलानि मुसलानि च

khaḍga śakty aṣṭi bāṇāś ca śūlāni musalāni ca

SYNONYMS

8| khaḍga śaktyaṛṣṭibāṇāśca: swords | darts śūlāni: spears | musalāni: clubs | gadāśca: maces | parighāḥ: bars | prāsāḥ: barbed missiles | vividhāḥ: various kinds | paraśvadhāśca: of axes | vicitrāṇi: and many different | dhanūmṣi: bows | pragṛhītāni: in the hands | rākṣasānām: of demons | abhidhāvatām: who were running up | vānarān: towards the monkeys | jayaṣiṇām: and desirous of victory. |

TRANSLATION

Swords, lances, daggers, darts, spears, clubs, maces bars, barbed missiles, various kinds of axes and different bows glittered in the hands of demons, who were running up towards the monkeys and seeking victory.

VERSE 9

जगृहुः पादपांश् च अपि पुष्पितान् वानर ऋषभाः

jagṛhuḥ pādapāṃś ca api puṣpitān vānara ṛṣabhāḥ

SYNONYMS

plavaṅgamāḥ: the monkeys | yoddhukāmāḥ: who were burning to fight | jagṛhuḥ: seized | pādapāmścāpi: trees | puṣpitān: in flower | tathā: and | girīn: rocks | dīrghāḥ: lofty | vipulāh: and thick | śilāḥ ca: stones. |

TRANSLATION

The monkeys who were burning to fight took hold of trees in flower, rocks and lofty and thick stones.

VERSE 10

तेषाम् अन्योन्यम् आसाद्य सम्ग्रामह् सुमहान् अभूत्

teṣām anyonyam āsādya samgrāmah sumahān abhūt

SYNONYMS

āsādya: as they approached | anyonyam: each other | sumahān: a very great | samgrāmaḥ: battle | abhūt: arose | teṣām: between those | bahūnām: innumerable combatants | varṣatām: who showered down | śaravarṣamca: a hail of arrows | āśma vṛṣṭim: and bombardment of stones. |

TRANSLATION

As they approached each other, a very great battle arose between those combatants who showered down a hail of arrows and a bombardment of stones.

VERSE 11

बहवो राक्षसा युद्धे बहून् वानर यूथपान्

bahavo rākṣasā yuddhe bahūn vānara yūthapān

SYNONYMS

yuddhe: in the battle | bahavaḥ: and many | rākṣasāḥ: demons | nijaghnuḥ: killed | bahūn: many | vānara pungavān: excellent monkeys | vānarāḥ: monkeys | rākṣasāmścāpi: demons. |

TRANSLATION

In that battle, many of the demons killed several excellent monkeys and several monkeys killed many of the demons.

VERSE 12

शूलैः प्रमथिताह् केचित् केचित् तु परम आयुधैः

śūlaiḥ pramathitāh kecit kecit tu parama āyudhaiḥ

SYNONYMS

kecit: and some | pramathitāḥ: were smashed | śūlaiḥ: by spears | kecittu: and some others | paramāyudhaiḥ: by fine weapons | āhatāḥ: were struck | parighaiḥ: by iron bars | chinnāḥ: were slit parashvadhaiH = by axes. |

TRANSLATION

Some monkeys were smashed by spears and some others by finer weapons. Some were struck by iron bars and some others were slit by axes.

VERSE 13

निरुच्च्वासाह् पुनह् केचित् पतिता धरणी तले

niruccvāsāh punah kecit patitā dharaṇī tale

SYNONYMS

kecit punnaḥ: yet again some | patitāḥ: fell | jagatītale: on the surface of the earth | niruchvāsāḥ: breathless | kecit: some | iṣusamdhāna sāditāḥ: were destroyed by the arrows aimed at them | vibhinna hṛdayāḥ: with their hearts split asunder. |

TRANSLATION

Yet again, some fell breathlessly on the ground and some were destroyed by the arrows aimed at them with their hearts splits asunder.

VERSE 14

केचिद् द्विधा कृताह् खड्गैः स्फुरन्तः पतिता भुवि

kecid dvidhā kṛtāh khaḍgaiḥ sphurantaḥ patitā bhuvi

SYNONYMS

kṛtāḥ: cut | dvidhā: in two | khaḍgaiḥ: with (the strokes of) swords | śūraiḥ rākṣasaiḥ: by the powerful demons | decit: some | sphurantaḥ: trembling | vānarāḥ: monkeys | patitāḥ: fell | bhuvi: on the earth | pārśvataḥ: their sides | vidāritāḥ: torn open. |

TRANSLATION

Cut into two with the strokes of swords by those powerful demons, some monkeys, trembling, fell on the earth, their sides torn open.

VERSE 15

वानरैस्ः च अपि सम्क्रुद्धै राक्षस ओघाः समन्ततः

vānaraisḥ ca api samkruddhai rākṣasa oghāḥ samantataḥ

SYNONYMS

rākṣasaughāḥ ca api: even the flock of demons | sampiṣṭāḥ: were crushed | vasudhātale: on to the earth | samkruddhaiḥ: by the furious | vānaraiḥ: monkeys | samantataḥ: on all sides | pādapaiḥ: with trees | girśṛṅgaiśca: and mountain-peaks. |

TRANSLATION

Even the flock of demons on all sides were crushed on to the earth by the furious monkeys with tree and mountain-peaks.

VERSE 16

वज्र स्पर्श तलैर् हस्तैर् मुष्टिभिश् च हता भृशम्

vajra sparśa talair hastair muṣṭibhiś ca hatā bhṛśam

SYNONYMS

vajra sparśa talaiḥ hastaiḥ: having been administered thundering slaps with their hands | hatāḥ: and terrific blows | muṣṭibhiḥ: with their fists | vidīrṣa vadaekṣaṇāḥ: the faces and eyes of demons were lacerated | vaman: vomited | bhṛśam: plenty | śoṇitam: of blood | āsyebhyaḥ: from their months. |

TRANSLATION

Having been administered thundering slaps with their hands and terrific blows with their fists, the faces and eyes of demons were were lacerated. The demons vomited plenty of blood from their months.

VERSE 17

आर्त स्वरम् च स्वनताम् सिम्ह नादम् च नर्दताम्

ārta svaram ca svanatām simha nādam ca nardatām

SYNONYMS

tumulaḥ: A tumultuous | śabdaḥ: clamour | babhūva: arose | harīṇām: among monkeys | rakṣasāmapi: and demons | svanatām ārtasvanam: as cries of pain | simhanādam: and leonine roars | nardatām: were bellowed. |

TRANSLATION

A tumultuous clamour arose among monkeys and demons, as cries of pain and leonine roars were bellowed.

VERSE 18

वानरा राक्षसाह् क्रुद्धा वीर मार्गम् अनुव्रताः

vānarā rākṣasāh kruddhā vīra mārgam anuvratāḥ

SYNONYMS

vānarāḥ: the monkeys | rākṣasāḥ: and the demons | kruddhāh: with anger | anuvratāḥ: following | vīramārgam: the path of heroes | krūrāḥ: with cruelty | nivṛtta nayanāḥ: and hostile eyes | cakruḥ: conducted | karmāṇi: their tasks | abhītavat: with great courage. |

TRANSLATION

The monkeys and the demons with anger, following the path of heroes, with their cruel and hostile eyes, accomplished their deeds with great courage.

VERSE 19

नर अन्तकः कुम्भ हनुर् महा नादह् समुन्नतः

nara antakaḥ kumbha hanur mahā nādah samunnataḥ

SYNONYMS

narāntakaḥ: Narantaka | kumbha hanuḥ: Kumbhahanu | mahānādaḥ: Mahanada | samunnataḥ: Samunnata | prahasta sacivāḥ: Prahasta's companins | ete sarve: all these demons | jaghnuḥ: killed | venaukasaḥ: the monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

Narantaka Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata all these companions of Prahasta killed the monkeys.

VERSE 20

तेषाम् आपतताम् शीघ्रम् निघ्नताम् च अपि वानरान्

teṣām āpatatām śīghram nighnatām ca api vānarān

SYNONYMS

dvividaḥ: Dvivida | jaghāna: killed | giriśṛṅgeṇa: with a mountain-peak | narāntakam: Narantaka | ekam: the one | teṣam: among them | nipatatām: who was rushing upon | śīghram: quickly | nighnatāmcāpi: and killing | vānarān: the monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

Dvivida, with a mountain-peak, struck down Narantaka, the one among them who was rushing upon quickly and killing the monkeys.

VERSE 21

दुर्मुखः पुनर् उत्पाट्य कपिः स विपुल द्रुमम्

durmukhaḥ punar utpāṭya kapiḥ sa vipula drumam

SYNONYMS

durmakhaḥ punaḥ: On his part Durmakha | kapiḥ: the monkey | kṣiprahastam: with a ready hand | utthāya: uprooted | suvipula drumam: a very large tree | apothayat: and crushed | samunnatam: Samunnata | rākṣasam: the demon. |

TRANSLATION

The ape Durmukha on his part, with a ready hand, uprooted a very large tree and crushed the demon Samunnata.

VERSE 22

जाम्बवांस् तु सुसम्क्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य महतीम् शिलाम्

jāmbavāṃs tu susamkruddhaḥ pragṛhya mahatīm śilām

SYNONYMS

tejasvī: the energetic | jāmbavāmstu: Jambavan | susamkruddhaḥ: with a great fury | pragṛhya: seized | mahatīm: a huge | śilām: rock | pātayāmāsa: and threw | vakṣasi: on the chest-region | mahānādasya: of Mahanada. |

TRANSLATION

The energetic Jambavan with a great fury seized a huge rock and threw it on the chest-region of Mahanada.

VERSE 23

अथ कुम्भ हनुस् तत्र तारेण आसाद्य वीर्यवान्

atha kumbha hanus tatra tāreṇa āsādya vīryavān

SYNONYMS

atha: then | vīryavān: the valiant | kumbhahanuḥ: Kumbhahanu | tatra: there | raṇe: in the battle | āsādya: having attacked | tāreṇa: (the General) Tara | mahatā vṛkṣeṇa: (who was armed) with a huge tree | samtyājayat: that discharged | sadyaḥ: soon | prāṇān: his lives. |

TRANSLATION

Then, the valiant Kumbhahanu there in the battle, having attacked the General Tara, who was armed with a huge tree, received a blow immediately cost him his life.

VERSE 24

अमृष्यमाणस् तत् कर्म प्रहस्तो रथम् आस्थितः

amṛṣyamāṇas tat karma prahasto ratham āsthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

amṛṣyamāṇaḥ: not tolerating | tat: that | karma: act | prahastaḥ: Prahasta | āśritaḥ: having occupied | ratham: his chariot | dhanuṣpāṇiḥ: with the bow in his hand | cakāra: carried out | ghoram: a terrible | kadanam: destruction | vanaukasām: of the monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

Not tolerating the aforesaid act, Prahasta having occupied his chariot with bow in hand, caused a terrible havoc among the monkeys.

VERSE 25

आवर्त;इव सम्जज्ने;उभयोह् सेनयोस् तदा

āvarta;iva samjajne;ubhayoh senayos tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | kṣubhitasya: which was tempestuous | ubhayoḥ: of both | senayoḥ: the armies | samjañe: there arose | niḥsvanaḥ: a clamour | sāgarasya iva: resembling the roar of an ocean | aprameyasya: and unfathamable | āvarte: in a time of dissolution. |

TRANSLATION

Then, with the rapid movement of both the armies, there arose of clamour resembling the roar of an unfathomable and tempestuous ocean in a time of dissolution.

VERSE 26

महता हि शर ओघेण प्रहस्तो युद्ध कोविदः

mahatā hi śara ogheṇa prahasto yuddha kovidaḥ

SYNONYMS

rākṣasaḥ: the demon | raṇa durdamaḥ: who was hard to be subdued in battle | samkruddhaḥ: with full of anger | ardayāmāsa: tormented | vānarān: the monkeys | mahatā śaraugheṇa: by an immense avalanche of arrows | paramāhave: in that great combat. |

TRANSLATION

The demon Prahasta, who was hard to be subdued in battle, with full of anger, tormented the monkeys by an immense avalanche of arrows in that great combat.

VERSE 27

वानराणाम् शरीरैस् तु राक्षसानाम् च मेदिनी

vānarāṇām śarīrais tu rākṣasānām ca medinī

SYNONYMS

ghoraiḥ: by the frightening | śarīraiḥ: corpses | vānarāṇām: of monkeys | rākṣasānām ca: and demons | aticitā: a very extensive area | medinī: of the ground | samvṛtā: was covered | parvataiḥ iva: like (hideous) mountains. |

TRANSLATION

By the frightening corpses of monkeys and demons, appearing like hideous mountains, a very extensive area of the ground is covered.

VERSE 28

सा मही रुधिर ओघेण प्रच्चन्ना सम्प्रकाशते

sā mahī rudhira ogheṇa praccannā samprakāśate

SYNONYMS

sā mahī: that ground | prachannā: covered | rudhirougheṇa: by the stream of blood | samprakāśate: shone | mādhave māsi iva: as in the month of spring | samchannā: when covered | puṣpitaiḥ: by the blossoming | palāśaiḥ: crimson coloured Palasha flowers. |

TRANSLATION

That ground, covered by the stream of blood, shone as in the month of spring when overspread fully with the bloossoming crimson-coloured Palasa flowers.

VERSE 29

हरि वीर ओघ वप्राम् तु भग्न आयुध महा द्रुमाम्

hari vīra ogha vaprām tu bhagna āyudha mahā drumām

SYNONYMS

33| hata vīraughasravām: with the heaps of warriors for its banks | bhagnāyudhamahādrumām: the broken weapons its trees | śoṇitaugha mahātoyām: the torrents of blood its huge waves | yama sāgara gāminīm: death appeared like an ocean receiving its flood | yakṛtplīhamahāpaṇkām: livers and spleens its mire | vinikīrṇāntraśaivalām: the scattered entrails for its moss | bhinnakāyaśiromīnām: severed heads and trunks the fish | aṅgavaya śādvalām: morsels of flesh the grass | gṛdhra hamsavarākīrṇām: the innumerable vultures its lovely swans | kaṇka sārasā sevitām: herons visited for its geese | medaḥ phenasamākīrṇām: covered as it was with fat for the foam | āvarta svana nisvanām: the tumult the sound of its waters | tām: that | yuddha bhūmi mayīm: battle-field | nadīmiva: resembled a river | kāpuruṣadustārām: incapable of being crossed by cowards | hamsa sārasas sevitam: visited by swans and cranes | ghanāpāye: at the end of the rainy season | te rākṣasāḥ: those demons | kapimukhyāḥ: and the foremost of the monkeys | teruḥ: crossed over | tām dustarām: that impassable | nadīm: river | gajayūthapāḥ yathā: as elephants lead their herds | malinīm: across a lake | padmarajodhvastām: that the lotuses have covered with pollen.. |

TRANSLATION

With the heaps of warriors for its banks the broken weapons its trees, the torrents of blood its huge waves, death appeared like an ocean receiving its floods, livers and spleens its mire, entrails its moss, severed heads and trunks the fish, and morsels of flesh the grass, the innumerable vultures its lovely swans, herons its geese, covered as it was with fat for the foam, the tumult the sound of its waters, the battle field resembled a river, incapable of being crossed by cowards, visited by water-fowls at the end of the rainy season, those demons and the foremost of the monkeys crossed over that impassable river, as elephants lead their herds across a lake that the lotuses have covered with pollen.

VERSE 34

ततः सृजन्तम् बाण ओघान् प्रहस्तम् स्यन्दने स्थितम्

tataḥ sṛjantam bāṇa oghān prahastam syandane sthitam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | nīlaḥ: Nila | dadarśa: saw | prahastam: Prahasta | sṛjantam: who was employing | bāṇaughān: a multitude of arrows | sthitam: staying | syndane: in the chariot | vidhamantam: and annihilating | plavaṇgamān: the monkeys | tarasā: swiftly. |

TRANSLATION

Then, Nila saw Prahasta who was employing a multitude of arrows sitting in the chariot and annihilating the monkeys swiftly.

VERSE 35

उद्धूत इव वायुः खे महादभ्रबलं बलात्

uddhūta iva vāyuḥ khe mahādabhrabalaṃ balāt

SYNONYMS

36| samīkṣya: seeing abhidrutam = Nila who was running towards him | yuddhe: in the battle-field | uddhūtaḥ vāyuḥ: as a rocking wind | khe: in the sky | mahat: a large | abhrabalam: mass of clouds | prahastaḥ: Prahasta | vāhinīpatiḥ: the Army General | abhidudruve: attacked | nīlameva: Nila himself | rathena: with his chariot | āditya varṇena: having the sun's colour. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing Nila who was running towards him in the battle-field, as a rocking wind in the sky rushes towards a large massive clouds, Prahasta the Army general attacked Nila himself with his chariot having the sun's colour.

VERSE 37

स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो विकृष्य परमाहवे

sa dhanurdhanvināṃ śreṣṭho vikṛṣya paramāhave

SYNONYMS

saḥ prahastaḥ: that Prahasta | vāhinīpatiḥ: the Army general | śreṣṭaḥ: excellent | dhanvinām: among the wielders of bow | vikṛṣya: drew | dhanuh: the bow-string | vyasṛjat: and hurled | bāṇān: the arrows | nīlāya: towards Nila | paramāhave: in the great battle. |

TRANSLATION

That Prahasta the Army General, who was excellent among the wielders of bow, drew the bow-string and hurled the arrows towards Nila in that great battle.

VERSE 38

ते प्रेत्य निशिखा नीलं विनिर्भिद्य समाहिताः

te pretya niśikhā nīlaṃ vinirbhidya samāhitāḥ

SYNONYMS

te viśikhāaḥ: those arrows | pannagāḥ iva: appearing like furious snakes | mahāvegāḥ: and with a great speed | samāhitāḥ: employed (by Prahasta) pretya = proceeded towards | nīlam: Nila | vinibhidya: pierced (him) | jagmuḥ: and fell | mahīm: on the earth. |

TRANSLATION

Those arrows with a great speed resembling furious snakes employed by Prahasta proceeded towards Nila, pierced him and fell on the ground.

VERSE 39

नीलः शरैरभिहतो निशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः

nīlaḥ śarairabhihato niśitairjvalanopamaiḥ

SYNONYMS

40| saḥ: that | mahākapiḥ: great ape | nīlaḥ: Nila | vīryavān: of prowess | abhihataḥ: struck | niśitaiḥ: by sharp | śaraiḥ: arrows | jvalanopamaiḥ: resembling fire | utpāṭya: uprooted | vṛkṣam: a tree | tāḍayāmāsa: and thumped | tam prahastam: on that Prahast | parama durdharṣam: who was most difficult to be assaulted | āpatantam: descending on him. |

TRANSLATION

That great ape of prowess Nila, who was struck by sharp arrows resembling flames, uprooted a tree and thumped it on the descending Prahasta who was most difficult to be assaulted.

VERSE 41

तस्य बाणगणानेव राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः
अपारयन् वारयितुम् प्रत्यगृह्णान् निमीलितः

tasya bāṇagaṇāneva rākṣasasya durātmanaḥ
apārayan vārayitum pratyagṛhṇān nimīlitaḥ

SYNONYMS

apārayan: unable | varayitum: to restrain | bāṇagaṇāneva: the series of arrows | tasya rākṣasasya: of that demon | durātmanaḥ: the evil- mined | pratyagṛṇāt: received (them) | nimīlitaḥ: with closed eyes. |

TRANSLATION

Being unable to restrain the series of arrows hurled at him by that evil-minded demon, nila received them with closed eyes.

VERSE 42

यथैव गो वृषो वर्षम् शारदम् शीघ्रमागतम्
एवम् एव प्रहस्तस्य शर वर्षम् दुरासदम्

yathaiva go vṛṣo varṣam śāradam śīghramāgatam
evam eva prahastasya śara varṣam durāsadam

SYNONYMS

govṛṣaḥ yathaiva: like a bull | śāradam: an autumnal | varṣam: down-pour | āgatam: which came | śīghram: suddenly | evame eva: so | durāsadān: under that intolerable | sahasā: and sudden | śaravarṣān: rain of darts | prahastasya: of Prahasta | nīlaḥ: Nila | nimīlitākṣaḥ: with closed eyes | sehe: endured | durāsadran: though it was scarce to be endured. |

TRANSLATION

Like a bull standing under a sudden autumnal down-pour, so under that intolerable and sudden rain of darts released by Prahasta, Nila endured with closed eyes though it was scarce to be endured.

VERSE 43

रोषितः शर वर्षेण सालेन महता महान्
प्रजघान हयान् नीलह् प्रहस्तस्य मनो जवान्

roṣitaḥ śara varṣeṇa sālena mahatā mahān
prajaghāna hayān nīlah prahastasya mano javān

SYNONYMS

mahābalaḥ: the exceedingly strong | mahān: and the great | nīlaḥ: Nila | roṣitaḥ: enraged over | śaravarṣeṇa: the volley of darts | prajaghāna: killed | prahastasya: Prahasta's | hayān: horses | mahatā sālena: by a huge sala tree. |

TRANSLATION

The exceedingly strong and the great Nila, enraged over the volley of darts, killed Prahasta's horses by hurling a huge Sala tree on them.

VERSE 44

ततो रोषपरीतात्मा धनुस्तस्य दुरात्मनः
बभञ्ज तरसा नीलो ननाद च पुनः पुनः

tato roṣaparītātmā dhanustasya durātmanaḥ
babhañja tarasā nīlo nanāda ca punaḥ punaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | nīlaḥ: Nila | roṣaparītātmā: his mind filled with anger | tarasā: quickly | babhaṅja: broke | dhanuḥ: the bow | tasya: of Prahasta | durātmanaḥ: the evil-minded demon | nanāda ca: and shouted | punaḥ punaḥ: again and again. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter the greatly enraged Nila quickly broke the bow of Prahasta the evil-minded demon and shouted again and again.

VERSE 45

विधनुस् तु कृतस् तेन प्रहस्तो वाहिनी पतिः
प्रगृह्य मुसलम् घोरम् स्यन्दनाद् अवपुप्लुवे

vidhanus tu kṛtas tena prahasto vāhinī patiḥ
pragṛhya musalam ghoram syandanād avapupluve

SYNONYMS

kṛtaḥ: made | vidhanuḥ: deprived of his bow | tena: Nila | saḥ prahastaḥ: that Prahasta | vāhinīpatiḥ: the leader of the army | pragṛhya: seizing | ghoram: a formidable | musalam: mace | avapupluve: leapt down | syandanāt: from the chariot. |

TRANSLATION

Deprived of his bow, Prahasta the leader of the army, seizing a formidable mace, leapt down from the chariot.

VERSE 46

ताव् उभौ वाहिनी मुख्यौ जात रोषौ तरस्विनौ
स्थितौ क्षतज दिग्ध अन्गौ प्रभिन्नाव् इव कुन्जरौ

tāv ubhau vāhinī mukhyau jāta roṣau tarasvinau
sthitau kṣataja digdha angau prabhinnāv iva kunjarau

SYNONYMS

tau: those | ubhau: two | vāhinīmuhyau: army-chiefs | tāsvinau: who were courageous | jāta vairau: in whom enmity had sprung up | kṣata siktāṅgau: their limbs covered with blood | sthitau: were standing | kuṅjarau iva: like two elephants | prabhinnau: in rut. |

TRANSLATION

Those two army-chiefs, who were courageous and in whom enmity had sprung up, with their limbs covered with blood, wee standing like two elephants in rut.

VERSE 47

उल्लिखन्तौ सुतीक्ष्णाभिर् दम्ष्ट्राभिर् इतरेतरम्
सिम्ह शार्दूल सदृशौ सिम्ह शार्दूल चेष्टितौ

ullikhantau sutīkṣṇābhir damṣṭrābhir itaretaram
simha śārdūla sadṛśau simha śārdūla ceṣṭitau

SYNONYMS

48| simha śārdūla sadṛśau: lion and tiger in gait | simhaśārdūla ceṣṭitau: lion and tiger in gestures | vīrau: those two warriors | ullikhantau: tore | itaretaram: each other | sutīkṣṇābhiḥ: with their sharp | damṣṭrābhiḥ: teeth | vikrānta vijayau: vanquishers of other heroes | anivartinau: and those who did not flee | samareṣu: in battles | kāṇkṣa-māṇāviva: thirsting | prāptum: to obtain | yaśaḥ: fame | vṛtta vāsavayoḥ iva: like Vritra and Indra. |

TRANSLATION

Lion and tiger in gait, lion and tiger in gestures, those two warriors tore each other with their shap teeth. Vanquishers of other heroes and intrepid combatants, both of them, thirsting for fame, resembled Vritra and Indra.

VERSE 49

आजघान तदा नीलम् ललाटे मुसलेन सः
प्रहस्तः परम् आयस्तस् तस्य सुस्राव शोणितम्

ājaghāna tadā nīlam lalāṭe musalena saḥ
prahastaḥ param āyastas tasya susrāva śoṇitam

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | saḥ prahastaḥ: that Prahasta | paramāyattaḥ: exerting himself well | ājaghāna: struck | nīlena: Nila | musalena: with a mace | lalāte: on his forehead | śoṇitam: and blood | susrāva: oozed = tataH = from his forehead. |

TRANSLATION

Then, that Prahasta exerting himself well struck Nila on his forehead with a mace and blood oozed from his forehead.

VERSE 50

ततः शोणित दिग्ध अन्गह् प्रगृह्य सुमहा तरुम्
प्रहस्तस्य उरसि क्रुद्धो विससर्ज महा कपिः

tataḥ śoṇita digdha angah pragṛhya sumahā tarum
prahastasya urasi kruddho visasarja mahā kapiḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | śoṇitadigdhāṇ: with his limbed smeared with blood | mahākapiḥ: the great ape | kmddhaḥ: was angry | pragṛhyaca: seized | mahātarum: a huge tree | visasarja: and hurled it | urasi: on the chest-region | prahastasya: of Prahasta. |

TRANSLATION

Whereupon, that great ape, his limbs smeared with blood, seized a huge tree and struck Prahasta full in his chest with fury.

VERSE 51

तम् अचिन्त्य प्रहारम् स प्रगृह्य मुसलम् महत्
अभिदुद्राव बलिनम् बली नीलम् प्लवम् गमम्

tam acintya prahāram sa pragṛhya musalam mahat
abhidudrāva balinam balī nīlam plavam gamam

SYNONYMS

acintya: ignoring | tam: that | prahāram: blow | saḥ: he | pragṛhya: seized | mahat: a huge | musalam: mace | abhirudrāva: and ran | balāt: in strength | nīlam: towards Nila | balinam: the strong | plavaṅgamam: monkey. |

TRANSLATION

Ignoring that blow, he seized a huge mace and ran in strength towards Nila the strong monkey.

VERSE 52

तम् उग्र वेगम् सम्रब्धम् आपतन्तम् महा कपिः
ततः सम्प्रेक्ष्य जग्राह महा वेगो महा शिलाम्

tam ugra vegam samrabdham āpatantam mahā kapiḥ
tataḥ samprekṣya jagrāha mahā vego mahā śilām

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | mahākapiḥ: Nila the great monkey | samprekṣya: seeing | tam: Prahasta | ugra vegam: of terrible velocity | samrabdham: briskly | āpatantam: coming towards him | jagrāha: took | mahāśilām: a large rock | mahāvegaḥ: with a great swiftness. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing Prahasta of terrible velocity briskly rushing towards him, Nila the great monkey took a huge rock swiftly.

VERSE 53

तस्य युद्ध अभिकामस्य मृधे मुसल योधिनः
प्रहस्तस्य शिलाम् नीलो मूर्ध्नि तूर्णम् अपातयत्

tasya yuddha abhikāmasya mṛdhe musala yodhinaḥ
prahastasya śilām nīlo mūrdhni tūrṇam apātayat

SYNONYMS

nīlaḥ: Nila | tūrṇam: quickly | apātayat: hurled | mūrdhni: on the head | tasya prahastasya: of that Prahasta | yuddheabhikāmasya: who was longing for war | musalayodhinaḥ: and fighting with a mace | mṛdhe: in the battle. |

TRANSLATION

Nila quickly hurled that rock on the head of Prahasta who was longing for war and fighting with a mace in the battle.

VERSE 54

नीलेन कपिमुख्येन विमुक्ता महती शिला
बिभेद बहुधा घोरा प्रहस्तस्य शिरस् तदा

nīlena kapimukhyena vimuktā mahatī śilā
bibheda bahudhā ghorā prahastasya śiras tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | mahatī: (that) huge | ghorā: and terrible | śilā: rock | vimuktā: hurled | nīlena: by Nila | kapimukhyena: the leader of the monkeys | bibheda: broke | prahastasya: Prahasta's | śiraḥ: head | bahudhā: into myriad pieces. |

TRANSLATION

Then, that huge and terrific rock hurled by Nila the leader of the monkeys broke Prahasa's head into myriad pieces.

VERSE 55

स गत असुर् गत श्रीको गत सत्त्वो गत इन्द्रियः
पपात सहसा भूमौ चिन्न मूल;इव द्रुमः

sa gata asur gata śrīko gata sattvo gata indriyaḥ
papāta sahasā bhūmau cinna mūla;iva drumaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that Prahasta | gatāsuḥ: who lost his breath | gata śrīkaḥ: was disfigured | gatasattvaḥ: and dead | gatendriyah: bereft of his senses | papāta: and fell | bhūmau: on the ground | sahasā: at once | drumaḥ iva: like a tree | chinnamūlaḥ: cut up by the root. |

TRANSLATION

That Prahasta who lost his breath, was disfigured and dead, bereft of his senses and at once fell on the ground like a tree cut up by the root.

VERSE 56

विभिन्न शिरसस् तस्य बहु सुस्राव शोणितम्
शरीराद् अपि सुस्राव गिरेह् प्रस्रवणम् यथा

vibhinna śirasas tasya bahu susrāva śoṇitam
śarīrād api susrāva gireh prasravaṇam yathā

SYNONYMS

bahu: A lot of | śoṇitam: blood | susrāva: (blood) streamed forth | tasya vibhinna śirasaḥ: from his broken head | śarīrādapi: from his body too | prasravanam yathā: like a cascade | gireḥ: from a mountain. |

TRANSLATION

A lot of blood oozed from his broken head. From his body two, blood streamed forth like a cascade from a mountain.

VERSE 57

हते प्रहस्ते नीलेन तद् अकम्प्यम् महद् बलम्
रक्षसाम् अप्रहृष्टानाम् लन्काम् अभिजगाम ह

hate prahaste nīlena tad akampyam mahad balam
rakṣasām aprahṛṣṭānām lankām abhijagāma ha

SYNONYMS

prahaste: Prahasta | hate: having been killed | nīlena: by Nila | tam akampyam: that unshakable | matā balam: large army | rākṣasānām: of demons | ahṛṣṭānām: disconsolated | abhijagāmaha: withdrew | laṅkām: to Lanka. |

TRANSLATION

Thier leader having been slain by Nila that unshakable and large army of demons, becoming disconsolated, withdrew to Lanka.

VERSE 58

न शेकुः समवस्थातुम् निहते वाहिनी पतौ
सेतु बन्धम् समासाद्य विशीर्णम् सलिलम् यथा

na śekuḥ samavasthātum nihate vāhinī patau
setu bandham samāsādya viśīrṇam salilam yathā

SYNONYMS

vāhinīpate: the Army-chief | nihate: having been killed | na śekuḥ: could not | samavasthātum: continue to stand firmly there | salilam yathā: any more than water | samāsādya: on reaching | viśīrṇam: a breached setubandham = bridge. |

TRANSLATION

Thier chief of Army having been killed, those demons could not continue to stand firmy there, any more than water on reaching a breached bridge.

VERSE 59

हते तस्मिंस्ः चमू मुख्ये राक्षसस् ते निरुद्यमाः
रक्षः पति गृहम् गत्वा ध्यान मूकत्वम् आगताः

hate tasmiṃsḥ camū mukhye rākṣasas te nirudyamāḥ
rakṣaḥ pati gṛham gatvā dhyāna mūkatvam āgatāḥ

SYNONYMS

tasmin: that Prahaste | camūmukhye: the Chief of Army | hate: having been slain | te rākṣasāḥ: those demons | dhyāna mūkatvam: dull dumb | nirudyamāh: and inactive | gatvā: regained | rakṣaḥ patigṛham: the abode of Ravana | te: they | abhavan: became | visamjṅāḥ iva: unconscious as it were | prāptāḥ: plunged | śokārṇavam tīvram: in an ocean of burning grief. |

TRANSLATION

That Prahasta the chief of Army having been slain, those demons dumb dispirited and inactive, regained the abode of their king. They became unconscious as it were plunged in an ocean of burning grief.

VERSE 60

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe aṣṭapañcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

vijayī: the triumphant | yūthapaḥ: warrior | nīlaḥ: Nila | tataḥ: thereafter | praśasya mānaḥ: was honoured | rāmeṇa: by Rama | sametya: joined | salakṣmaṇena: with Lakshmana | karmaṇā: for his task | sukṛtena: accomplished well | babhūva: and experienced | prahṛṣṭa rūpaḥ: supreme joy. |

TRANSLATION

The triumphant Nila, however, was honoured by Rama and Lakshmana for his task well accomplished and experienced supreme joy.