Chapter 88
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा रावणिः क्रोधमूर्चितः
अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं वेगेनाभ्युत्पपात च
vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇiḥ krodhamūrcitaḥ
abravīt paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ vegenābhyutpapāta ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Vibhishana, Indrajit was excited with rage, spoke harsh words and rushed forward in fury.
उद्यतायुधनिस्त्रिंशो रथे सुसमलंकृते
कालाश्वयुक्ते महति स्थितः कालान्तकोपमः
udyatāyudhanistriṃśo rathe susamalaṃkṛte
kālāśvayukte mahati sthitaḥ kālāntakopamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Indrajit was looking like Yama the lord of Death at the time of dissolution of the world, sitting in a well-decorated and distinguished chariot yoked with black horses, having upraised sword and weapons, raising a big terrific enormous strong and swift bow and laying hold of arrows which can torment the enemies.
तं ददर्श महेष्वासो रथस्थः समलंकृतः
अलंकृतममित्रघ्नो राघवस्यानुजं बली
taṃ dadarśa maheṣvāso rathasthaḥ samalaṃkṛtaḥ
alaṃkṛtamamitraghno rāghavasyānujaṃ balī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The mighty the destroyer of adversaries, wielding a large bow, fully adorned, and seated in a chariot saw that Lakshmana who was embellished with his own splendor.
हनुमत्पृष्ठमारूढमुदयस्थरविप्रभम्
उवाचैनं सुसंरब्धः सौमित्रिं सविभीषणम्
hanumatpṛṣṭhamārūḍhamudayastharaviprabham
uvācainaṃ susaṃrabdhaḥ saumitriṃ savibhīṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Indrajit hurriedly spoke to those foremost of monkeys and to this Lakshmana, who ascended Hanuma's back with a splendor of the sun shining on Mount Udaya and also with Vibhishana as follows: "You behold my prowess now."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Now, you can face an unconquerable stream of arrows, like rain, released in the sky, as discharged from my bow in the battle-field."
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"Today my arrows released from my large bow will destroy your bodies, as fire consumes a pile of cotton."
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"Today, I will send all of you to the world of Yama the lord of Death, by piercing you with my sharp arrows and hurling the pikes, javelins and lances on you."
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"Who can stand before me, while I release streams of arrows with my swift-hand in battle, thundering like a cloud?"
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TRANSLATION
"Earlier on that day, in a nocturnal battle, both of you along with Sugreeva and other followers, were made unconscious by my arrows which were like thunderbolts and tips of missiles as also you were made to fall down on the floor."
स्मृतिर्न ते।अस्ति वा मन्ये व्यक्तं यातो यमक्षयम्
smṛtirna te|asti vā manye vyaktaṃ yāto yamakṣayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Do you not have that remembrance? I presume clearly that you are on the road to Yama the lord of Death, since you have come to give battle to me, enraged as I am, like a venomous serpent."
तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य गर्जितं राघवस्तदा
tacchrutvā rākṣasendrasya garjitaṃ rāghavastadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Enraged in hearing that roaring of Indrajit, Lakshmana then spoke the following words, with a courageous countenance.
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TRANSLATION
"O demon! It has been proclaimed by you about the successful conclusion of your tasks, eventhough it is difficult to achieve them. He alone is clever, whoever carries through his undertakings in practice."
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TRANSLATION
"O evil-minded one! You are thinking that you have accomplished your end, by proclaiming through word alone, the achievement of your end, which is difficult to attain for anyone, though you, as such, lack in capacity to achieve your purpose."
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"The path, which was followed on that day by you, becoming invisible in the battle-field, is the one trodden by thieves and is not the path followed by valiant ones."
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"O demon! Having reached the range of your arrows, I am standing before you. Therefore show your prowess today. Why should you brag with your words?
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Hearing those words, the mighty Indrajit, victorious in battle, reaching his terrific bow, released sharp arrows from it.
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TRANSLATION
Duly reaching Lakshmana, the arrows released by Indrajit, which rushed with great speed and were as deadly as the venom of serpents, fell like the hissing of snakes.
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TRANSLATION
The swift Indrajit, the son of Ravana, with his arrows of very great velocity, in that battle, struck Lakshmana who was endowed with auspicious body-marks.
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That glorious Lakshmana, drenched in blood, with his body very much wounded by arrows, shone like a smokeless flame.
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Mulling over his own feat, Indrajit for his part, approaching Lakshmana and emitting an exceedingly loud roar, spoke the following words:
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"The sharp-edged and deadly arrows, with their wings, released from my bow, will now take your life, O Lakshmana!"
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"O Lakshmana! Let a number of Jackals, multitude of hawks and vultures descend upon you, when struck down by me, you are dead."
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"The exceedingly evil-minded Rama now itself can see you, a mere kshatriya (military class only for a name sake), ever ignoble and his devoted brother, killed by me."
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"O Lakshmana! Rama will see you, struck down by me today, with your armour dropped down, bow thrown about and head dismantled."
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Lakshmana, understanding the sense of the word, replied in the following logical words to the enraged Indrajit thus speaking harshly.
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"O evil-minded one! Give up strength of speech in your empty words. O demons! You are doing cruel acts. Why do you indulge in such idle talk? Make it active with your good work."
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"O demon! Without performing that act, why do you boast yourself here? Perform that act by which I can believe your brag."
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"O the worst of persons! Without speaking even a few harsh words, without abusing you and without bragging myself, Lo! I will kill you."
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Thus speaking, Lakshmana stretching five steel arrows upto the ear, dug them into the demon's chest with a great speed.
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The arrows, blazing like serpents and feathered with fine plumes, shone like sun-rays in that demon's chest.
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Struck with arrows by Lakshmana, that enraged Indrajit pierced in return three arrows well-directed towards Lakshmana.
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That fight between Lakshmana, the foremost among men and Indrajit, the formost among demons, who wished to conquer one over the other in battle, was most terrific and tumultuous.
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Both were endowed with strength. Both were distinguished for their prowess. Both were exceedingly difficult to conquer and peerless in strength and courage.
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Those two heroes, who were difficult to overcome in battle, fought at that moment like two plants figuring in the sky and like Indra and Vritra, the demon.
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TRANSLATION
Then, the two warriors, who were engaged in releasing several streams of arrows, fought like two lions. Lakshmana the foremost among humans and Indrajit the foremost among demons fought with rejoice.
ततश्श्रान् दाशरथिः संधायामित्रकर्षणः
ससर्ज राक्षसेन्द्रय कृद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन्
tataśśrān dāśarathiḥ saṃdhāyāmitrakarṣaṇaḥ
sasarja rākṣasendraya kṛddhaḥ sarpa iva śvasan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, Lakshmana the tormentator of enemies, fitting his arrows to his bow, released arrows on Indrajit, hissing like an enraged serpent.
तस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं स श्रुत्वा राक्षसाधिपः
विवर्णवदनो भूत्वा लक्ष्मणं समुदैक्षत
tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ sa śrutvā rākṣasādhipaḥ
vivarṇavadano bhūtvā lakṣmaṇaṃ samudaikṣata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the twang of the bow-string of Lakshmana, Indrajit the Chief of demons became pale-faced and fixed his gaze on Lakshmana.
विषण्णवदनं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं रावणात्मजम्
सौमित्रिं युद्धसंयुक्तं प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः
viṣaṇṇavadanaṃ dṛṣṭvā rākṣasaṃ rāvaṇātmajam
saumitriṃ yuddhasaṃyuktaṃ pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Indrajit (the son of Ravana) pale-faced, Vibhishana spoke as follows to Lakshmana, who was fully absorbed in the fight.
निमित्तान्युपपश्यामि यान्यस्मिन् रावणात्मजे
त्वर तेन महाबाहो भग्न एष न संशयः
nimittānyupapaśyāmi yānyasmin rāvaṇātmaje
tvara tena mahābāho bhagna eṣa na saṃśayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O the long-armed Lakshmana! I infer on the strength of the indications which I see in Indrajit, that he is disappointed. There is no doubt about it. Make haste."
ततस्संधाय सौमित्रिः शरानाशीविषोपमान्
मुमोच निशितांस्तस्मिन् सर्पानिव विषोल्बणान्
tatassaṃdhāya saumitriḥ śarānāśīviṣopamān
mumoca niśitāṃstasmin sarpāniva viṣolbaṇān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereupon, fitting to his bow sharp arrows, resembling poisonous snakes, Lakshmana discharged those arrows which looked like serpents full of venom to him.
शक्राशनिसमस्पर्शैर्लक्षमणेनाहतः शरैः
मुहूर्तमभवन्मूढः सर्वसंक्षुभितेन्द्रियः
śakrāśanisamasparśairlakṣamaṇenāhataḥ śaraiḥ
muhūrtamabhavanmūḍhaḥ sarvasaṃkṣubhitendriyaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hit by Lakshmana with arrows, which invaded all his senses, like the hit of Indra's thunderbolt, Indrajit became stupefied for a moment.
उपलभ्य मुहूर्तेन संज्ञाम् प्रत्यागतेन्द्रियः
ददर्शावस्थितं वीरमाजौ दशरथात्मजम्
upalabhya muhūrtena saṃjñām pratyāgatendriyaḥ
dadarśāvasthitaṃ vīramājau daśarathātmajam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Regaining his consciousness within a moment, with his senses restored, that Indrajit saw the valiant Lakshmana engaged in the battle.
सो।अभिचक्राम सौमित्रिं रोषात्संरक्तलोचनः
अब्रवीछैनमासाद्य पुनः स परुषं वचः
so|abhicakrāma saumitriṃ roṣātsaṃraktalocanaḥ
abravīchainamāsādya punaḥ sa paruṣaṃ vacaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With blood-red eyes in anger, Indrajit walked towards Lakshmana. Approaching Lakshmana, he again spoke the following harsh words to him:
किं न स्मरसि तद्युद्धे प्रथमे यत्पराक्रमम्
निबद्धस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा यदा भुवि विचेष्टसे
kiṃ na smarasi tadyuddhe prathame yatparākramam
nibaddhastvaṃ saha bhrātrā yadā bhuvi viceṣṭase
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Don't you remember my prowess in the first encounter, when you along with your brother, was bound by me and you wriggled on the floor?"
युवां खलु महायुद्धे शक्रानिसमैः शरैः
शायितौ प्रथमम् भूमौ विसंज्ञौ सपुरःसरौ
yuvāṃ khalu mahāyuddhe śakrānisamaiḥ śaraiḥ
śāyitau prathamam bhūmau visaṃjñau sapuraḥsarau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"At first, both of you along with your foremost warriors in a major encounter, were indeed laid down unconscious on the ground, by my arrows which were equal to Indra's thunderbolt."
स्मृतिर्वा नास्ति ते मन्ये व्यक्तं वा यमसादनम्
गन्तुमिच्छसि यन्मां त्वमाधर्षयितुमिच्छसि
smṛtirvā nāsti te manye vyaktaṃ vā yamasādanam
gantumicchasi yanmāṃ tvamādharṣayitumicchasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The fact that you desire to attack me means that either the remembrance of it no longer exists in you or I presume you desire to go clearly to the abode of Yama the lord of Death."
यदि ते प्रथमे युद्धे न दृष्टो मत्पराक्रमः
अद्य त्वां दर्शयिष्यामि तिषेदानीं व्यवस्थितः
yadi te prathame yuddhe na dṛṣṭo matparākramaḥ
adya tvāṃ darśayiṣyāmi tiṣedānīṃ vyavasthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If my prowess was not witnessed by you in the first encounter, I will show it today. Stand ready for it now."
इत्युक्त्वा सप्तभिर्बाणैरभिविव्याध लक्ष्मणम्
दशभिस्तु हनूमन्तं तीक्षणधारैः शरोत्तमैः
ityuktvā saptabhirbāṇairabhivivyādha lakṣmaṇam
daśabhistu hanūmantaṃ tīkṣaṇadhāraiḥ śarottamaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus speaking, he struck Lakshmana with seven arrows and Hanuma with ten excellent sharp-edged arrows.
ततः शरशतेनैव सुप्रयुक्तेन वीर्यवान्
क्रोधाद्द्विगुणसंरब्धो निर्बिभेद विभीषणम्
tataḥ śaraśatenaiva suprayuktena vīryavān
krodhāddviguṇasaṃrabdho nirbibheda vibhīṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the valiant Idnrajit with anger and with twice as much vehemence, wounded Vibhishana with a hundred well-aimed arrows.
तद्दृष्ट्वेन्द्रजिता कर्म कृतं रामानुजस्तदा
अचिन्तयित्वा प्रहसन्नैतत्किंचिदिति ब्रुवन्
taddṛṣṭvendrajitā karma kṛtaṃ rāmānujastadā
acintayitvā prahasannaitatkiṃciditi bruvan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing that feat accomplished by Indrajit, yet disregarding it, deriding it by saying "This is noting" and taking up terrific arrows, the fearless and enraged Lakshmana the younger brother of Rama and foremost among men, then discharged them against Indrajit in battle.
नैवं रणगताः शूराः प्रहरन्ति निशाचर
लघुवश्चाल्पवीर्याश्च शरा हीमे सुखास्तव
naivaṃ raṇagatāḥ śūrāḥ praharanti niśācara
laghuvaścālpavīryāśca śarā hīme sukhāstava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O demon! Heroes who come to battle do not strike like this. These arrows of yours are light, weak and mild indeed."
नैवं शूरास्तु युध्यन्ते समरे जयकांक्षिणः
इत्येवं तं ब्रुवन् धन्वी शरैरभिववर्ष ह
naivaṃ śūrāstu yudhyante samare jayakāṃkṣiṇaḥ
ityevaṃ taṃ bruvan dhanvī śarairabhivavarṣa ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Warriors, who wish to win in battle, do not fight like this." Thus speaking, Lakshmana the wielder of a bow, streamed forth arrows on him.
तस्य बाणैः सुविध्वस्तं कवचं काञ्चनं महत्
व्यशीर्यत रथोपस्थे ताराजालमिवाम्बरात्
tasya bāṇaiḥ suvidhvastaṃ kavacaṃ kāñcanaṃ mahat
vyaśīryata rathopasthe tārājālamivāmbarāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A large golden armour, broken to pieces by Lakshmana's arrows, slipped down in the middle of chariot, like a cob-web of stars falling from the sky.
विधूतवर्मा नाराचैर्बभूव स कृतव्रणः
इन्द्रजित्समरे वीरः प्रत्यूषे भानुमानिव
vidhūtavarmā nārācairbabhūva sa kṛtavraṇaḥ
indrajitsamare vīraḥ pratyūṣe bhānumāniva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The valiant Indrajit, with his armour disheveled by the steel arrows, was wounded in battle and looked like the sun at dawn.
ततः शरसहस्रेण संक्रुद्धो रावणात्मजः
बिभेद समरे वीरो लक्ष्मणं भीमविद्रमः
tataḥ śarasahasreṇa saṃkruddho rāvaṇātmajaḥ
bibheda samare vīro lakṣmaṇaṃ bhīmavidramaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, the valiant Indrajit of terrific prowess was enraged and wounded Lakshmana with a thousand arrows in battle.
व्यशीर्यत महद्दिव्यं कवचम् लक्ष्मणस्य तु
कृतप्रतिकृतान्योन्यं बभूवतुरभिद्रुतौ
vyaśīryata mahaddivyaṃ kavacam lakṣmaṇasya tu
kṛtapratikṛtānyonyaṃ babhūvaturabhidrutau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The large celestial armour of Lakshmana broke into pieces. The two warriors vied with each other in offence and retaliation in their attack.
अभीक्षणम् निःश्वसन्तौ तौ युध्येतां तुमुलं युधि
शरसंकृत्तसर्वाङ्गौ सर्वतो रुधिरोक्षितौ
abhīkṣaṇam niḥśvasantau tau yudhyetāṃ tumulaṃ yudhi
śarasaṃkṛttasarvāṅgau sarvato rudhirokṣitau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those two warriors, with their entire bodies lacerated in combat, smeared with blood all around and breathing heavily, fought the battle tumultuously.
सुदीर्घकालं तौ वीरावन्योन्यं निशितैः शरैः
ततक्षतुर्महत्मानौ रणकर्मविशारदौ
sudīrghakālaṃ tau vīrāvanyonyaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
tatakṣaturmahatmānau raṇakarmaviśāradau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thos mighty warriors, skilled in warfare, were cutting through each other, for a long time, with sharp arrows.
बभूवतुश्चात्मजये यतौ भीमपराक्रमौ
तौ शरौघै स्तथाकीर्णौ निकृत्तकवचध्वजौ
babhūvatuścātmajaye yatau bhīmaparākramau
tau śaraughai stathākīrṇau nikṛttakavacadhvajau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those two heroes f terrific prowess stay on strenuously trying to secure their own victory, covered as they were, all over with a multitude of arrows as also their armour and standards torn to pieces. They stood emitting hot blood, as two water-falls gushing hot water.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Much of a time lapsed while the two warriors fought loosing terrific stream of arrows, then with an awful clamour, like two dark destructive clouds raining from the sky. They neither trned their back from the battle, nor experienced any fatigue.
अस्त्राण्यस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठौ दर्शयन्त् पुनः पुनः
astrāṇyastravidāṃ śreṣṭhau darśayant punaḥ punaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Displaying their missiles again and again, the two warriors, who were excellent among those skilled in the use missiles, fastened a net work of arrows both large and small, in the sky.
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Loosing their arrows faultlessly, gracefully and easily in a wonderful way, both the man and the demon carried on a tumultuous and terrific war.
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Their terrific and tumultuous sound could be heard one by one repeatedly. That sound created a tremble in people, like a violent thunder-storm.
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That clamour of those two warriors, who were engaged thus in that martial act, resembled the rumbling of two dreadful thundering clouds in the sky.
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Those two mighty and glorious warriors, who were determined to gain victory over one another, wounded with golden-shafted steel arrows, were profusely giving out blood.
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Fallen on their limbs, the golden-shafted arrows, dropped on the battle-field, smeared with blood and pierced into the surface of the earth.
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Some more arrows released by those two warriors clashed in thousands with sharp weapons in the sky and shattered and tore them.
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The terrific pile of arrows in battle appeared like a mass of sacred Kusha grass by the side of two blazing fires at a sacrifice.
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The wounded bodies of those two mighty warriors shone like Kimshuka and Shalmali (silk-cotton) trees in full blossom, deprived of leaves.
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Indrajit and Lakshmana who were time and again wishing to attain victory one over the other, carried out tumultuous and terrific battle.
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In the combat, Lakshmana was striking Indrajit and Indrajit too was striking Lakshmana. Both of them were striking each other and did not experience any weariness.
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With a multitude of arrows dug deep into their bodies, those two warriors, of great prowess and swiftness, shone like two mountains shooting forth plants from them.
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At that time, all their limbs, dampened with blood and thickly covered with arrows shone very much like blazing fires.
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A lot of time lapsed in the meanwhile past the two warriors. They neither turned their back from the battle nor experienced any fatigue.
इतार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे अष्टाशीतितमः सर्गः
itārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe aṣṭāśītitamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, to relieve martial weariness of Lakshmana, who did not experience defeat in any facet of war, the great-souled Vibhishana, offering agreeable and salutary words, took up his position, on reaching the battle-field.