Chapter 58
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तम् दृष्ट्वा रणकृतोद्यमम्
उवाच पस्मितं रामो विभीषणमरिंदमः
tataḥ prahastaṃ niryāntam dṛṣṭvā raṇakṛtodyamam
uvāca pasmitaṃ rāmo vibhīṣaṇamariṃdamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Prahasta setting out with a martial ardour, Rama the conqueror of enemies, smiling, spoke to Vibhishana as follows:
क एष सुमहाकायो बलेन महता वृतः
आगच्छति महावेगः किम्रूपबलपौरुषः
ka eṣa sumahākāyo balena mahatā vṛtaḥ
āgacchati mahāvegaḥ kimrūpabalapauruṣaḥ
SYNONYMS
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."
SYNONYMS
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."
ततः प्रहस्तम् निर्यान्तम् भीमम् भीम पराक्रमम्
tataḥ prahastam niryāntam bhīmam bhīma parākramam
SYNONYMS
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.
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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.
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TRANSLATION
The monkeys who were burning to fight took hold of trees in flower, rocks and lofty and thick stones.
तेषाम् अन्योन्यम् आसाद्य सम्ग्रामह् सुमहान् अभूत्
teṣām anyonyam āsādya samgrāmah sumahān abhūt
SYNONYMS
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.
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TRANSLATION
In that battle, many of the demons killed several excellent monkeys and several monkeys killed many of the demons.
शूलैः प्रमथिताह् केचित् केचित् तु परम आयुधैः
śūlaiḥ pramathitāh kecit kecit tu parama āyudhaiḥ
SYNONYMS
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.
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TRANSLATION
Yet again, some fell breathlessly on the ground and some were destroyed by the arrows aimed at them with their hearts splits asunder.
केचिद् द्विधा कृताह् खड्गैः स्फुरन्तः पतिता भुवि
kecid dvidhā kṛtāh khaḍgaiḥ sphurantaḥ patitā bhuvi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Cut into two with the strokes of swords by those powerful demons, some monkeys, trembling, fell on the earth, their sides torn open.
वानरैस्ः च अपि सम्क्रुद्धै राक्षस ओघाः समन्ततः
vānaraisḥ ca api samkruddhai rākṣasa oghāḥ samantataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Even the flock of demons on all sides were crushed on to the earth by the furious monkeys with tree and mountain-peaks.
वज्र स्पर्श तलैर् हस्तैर् मुष्टिभिश् च हता भृशम्
vajra sparśa talair hastair muṣṭibhiś ca hatā bhṛśam
SYNONYMS
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.
आर्त स्वरम् च स्वनताम् सिम्ह नादम् च नर्दताम्
ārta svaram ca svanatām simha nādam ca nardatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A tumultuous clamour arose among monkeys and demons, as cries of pain and leonine roars were bellowed.
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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.
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TRANSLATION
Narantaka Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata all these companions of Prahasta killed the monkeys.
तेषाम् आपतताम् शीघ्रम् निघ्नताम् च अपि वानरान्
teṣām āpatatām śīghram nighnatām ca api vānarān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Dvivida, with a mountain-peak, struck down Narantaka, the one among them who was rushing upon quickly and killing the monkeys.
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TRANSLATION
The ape Durmukha on his part, with a ready hand, uprooted a very large tree and crushed the demon Samunnata.
जाम्बवांस् तु सुसम्क्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य महतीम् शिलाम्
jāmbavāṃs tu susamkruddhaḥ pragṛhya mahatīm śilām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The energetic Jambavan with a great fury seized a huge rock and threw it on the chest-region of Mahanada.
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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.
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TRANSLATION
Not tolerating the aforesaid act, Prahasta having occupied his chariot with bow in hand, caused a terrible havoc among the monkeys.
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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.
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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.
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TRANSLATION
By the frightening corpses of monkeys and demons, appearing like hideous mountains, a very extensive area of the ground is covered.
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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.
हरि वीर ओघ वप्राम् तु भग्न आयुध महा द्रुमाम्
hari vīra ogha vaprām tu bhagna āyudha mahā drumām
SYNONYMS
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.
ततः सृजन्तम् बाण ओघान् प्रहस्तम् स्यन्दने स्थितम्
tataḥ sṛjantam bāṇa oghān prahastam syandane sthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Nila saw Prahasta who was employing a multitude of arrows sitting in the chariot and annihilating the monkeys swiftly.
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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.
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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.
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TRANSLATION
Those arrows with a great speed resembling furious snakes employed by Prahasta proceeded towards Nila, pierced him and fell on the ground.
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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.
तस्य बाणगणानेव राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः
अपारयन् वारयितुम् प्रत्यगृह्णान् निमीलितः
tasya bāṇagaṇāneva rākṣasasya durātmanaḥ
apārayan vārayitum pratyagṛhṇān nimīlitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Being unable to restrain the series of arrows hurled at him by that evil-minded demon, nila received them with closed eyes.
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
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.
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
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.
ततो रोषपरीतात्मा धनुस्तस्य दुरात्मनः
बभञ्ज तरसा नीलो ननाद च पुनः पुनः
tato roṣaparītātmā dhanustasya durātmanaḥ
babhañja tarasā nīlo nanāda ca punaḥ punaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter the greatly enraged Nila quickly broke the bow of Prahasta the evil-minded demon and shouted again and again.
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
TRANSLATION
Deprived of his bow, Prahasta the leader of the army, seizing a formidable mace, leapt down from the chariot.
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
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.
उल्लिखन्तौ सुतीक्ष्णाभिर् दम्ष्ट्राभिर् इतरेतरम्
सिम्ह शार्दूल सदृशौ सिम्ह शार्दूल चेष्टितौ
ullikhantau sutīkṣṇābhir damṣṭrābhir itaretaram
simha śārdūla sadṛśau simha śārdūla ceṣṭitau
SYNONYMS
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.
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
TRANSLATION
Then, that Prahasta exerting himself well struck Nila on his forehead with a mace and blood oozed from his forehead.
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
TRANSLATION
Whereupon, that great ape, his limbs smeared with blood, seized a huge tree and struck Prahasta full in his chest with fury.
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
TRANSLATION
Ignoring that blow, he seized a huge mace and ran in strength towards Nila the strong monkey.
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
TRANSLATION
Seeing Prahasta of terrible velocity briskly rushing towards him, Nila the great monkey took a huge rock swiftly.
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
TRANSLATION
Nila quickly hurled that rock on the head of Prahasta who was longing for war and fighting with a mace in the battle.
नीलेन कपिमुख्येन विमुक्ता महती शिला
बिभेद बहुधा घोरा प्रहस्तस्य शिरस् तदा
nīlena kapimukhyena vimuktā mahatī śilā
bibheda bahudhā ghorā prahastasya śiras tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, that huge and terrific rock hurled by Nila the leader of the monkeys broke Prahasa's head into myriad pieces.
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
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.
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
TRANSLATION
A lot of blood oozed from his broken head. From his body two, blood streamed forth like a cascade from a mountain.
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
TRANSLATION
Thier leader having been slain by Nila that unshakable and large army of demons, becoming disconsolated, withdrew to Lanka.
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
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.
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
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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe aṣṭapañcāśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The triumphant Nila, however, was honoured by Rama and Lakshmana for his task well accomplished and experienced supreme joy.