Sundara Kanda · Sarga 47 of 68 · 38 verses
The Death of Prince Aksha
When the five generals fall, Ravana looks at his young son Aksha, eager for battle, and the prince springs up like a fire fed with ghee. He rides out in a chariot won by austerity, bright as the young sun, netted with gold, drawn by eight horses swift as thought, able to fly, armed with quivers, swords, spears and lances. With an army whose noise fills earth and sky, he comes to the monkey on the gateway.
Aksha looks at Hanuman with respect, measures his strength against him, and shoots three arrows into his head. Bleeding, Hanuman shines like the rising sun with arrows for rays, and rejoices to see such an opponent. Their duel shakes the world: the earth groans, the sun loses its heat, the wind stops, mountains tremble, the sea churns. Aksha, proud with youth, charges in like an elephant into a pit hidden by grass; Hanuman leaps and dodges his arrows through the sky.
Then Hanuman thinks: this young prince does great deeds, unlike a boy; he is steady and able, honoured by nagas, yakshas and sages; I have no wish to kill him. But his valour is growing, and a growing fire cannot be ignored. So he kills Aksha’s eight horses with blows of his palm, and the chariot falls from the sky. Aksha leaps up, sword and bow in hand; Hanuman catches him by the feet, whirls him a thousand times like Garuda whirling a serpent, and dashes him to the ground. Aksha dies, his limbs broken. The gods, sages, yakshas and serpents gather to look at the monkey in wonder; Ravana is struck with fear. Hanuman takes his place on the gateway again, like Time waiting at the end of creatures.
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सेनापतीन् पञ्च स तु प्रमापितान् हनूमता सानुचरान् सवाहनान् । निशम्य राजा समरोद्धतोन्मुखं कुमारमक्षं प्रसमैक्षताक्षम् ॥ १ ॥
Hearing that the five commanders had been killed by Hanuman with their followers and mounts, the king looked at Prince Aksha, who stood before him, eager for battle.
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स तस्य दृष्ट्यर्पणसम्प्रचोदितः प्रतापवान् काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकः । समुत्पपाताथ सदस्युदीरितो द्विजातिमुख्यैर्हविषेव पावकः ॥ २ ॥
Urged on by that glance, the powerful one, with his bow decorated with gold, sprang up in the assembly like a fire raised by the chief brahmanas with an oblation.
ततो महान् बालदिवाकरप्रभं प्रतप्तजाम्बूनदजालसंततम् । रथं समास्थाय ययौ स वीर्यवान् महाहरिं तं प्रति नैर्ऋतर्षभः ॥ ३ ॥
Then the valiant bull among nairritas mounted a great chariot, bright as the young sun, covered with nets of refined gold, and went against that great monkey.
ततस्तपःसंग्रहसंचयार्जितं प्रतप्तजाम्बूनदजालचित्रितम् । पताकिनं रत्नविभूषितध्वजं मनोजवाष्टाश्ववरैः सुयोजितम् ॥ ४ ॥
Then, in the chariot won by the accumulated store of austerity, decorated with nets of refined gold, with banners and a jewelled flag, well yoked with eight fine horses swift as thought,
सुरासुराधृष्यमसङ्गचारिणं तडित्प्रभं व्योमचरं समाहितम् । सतूणमष्टासिनिबद्धबन्धुरं यथाक्रमावेशितशक्तितोमरम् ॥ ५ ॥
unassailable by gods and asuras, moving without hindrance, bright as lightning, travelling through the sky, well equipped, with quivers, fitted with eight swords, with spears and lances set in their order,
विराजमानं प्रतिपूर्णवस्तुना सहेमदाम्ना शशिसूर्यवर्चसा । दिवाकराभं रथमास्थितस्ततः स निर्जगामामरतुल्यविक्रमः ॥ ६ ॥
shining with all its gear complete, with golden garlands, with the splendour of moon and sun: mounted on that chariot bright as the sun, he went out, equal to the immortals in valour.
स पूरयन् खं च महीं च साचलां तुरङ्गमातङ्गमहारथस्वनैः । बलैः समेतैः सहतोरणस्थितं समर्थमासीनमुपागमत् कपिम् ॥ ७ ॥
Filling the sky and the earth with its mountains with the noise of horses, elephants and great chariots, he came with his assembled forces to the monkey sitting able on the gateway.
स तं समासाद्य हरिं हरीक्षणो युगान्तकालाग्निमिव प्रजाक्षये । अवस्थितं विस्मितजातसम्भ्रमं समैक्षताक्षो बहुमानचक्षुषा ॥ ८ ॥
Coming upon that monkey, the lion-eyed Aksha looked with eyes full of respect at him, standing there like the fire of the end of an age at the destruction of creatures, amazed and alarmed.
स तस्य वेगं च कपेर्महात्मनः पराक्रमं चारिषु रावणात्मजः । विचारयन् स्वं च बलं महाबलो युगक्षये सूर्य इवाभिवर्धत ॥ ९ ॥
Considering the speed of that great-souled monkey, his valour against enemies, and his own strength, the mighty son of Ravana grew like the sun at the end of an age.
स जातमन्युः प्रसमीक्ष्य विक्रमं स्थितः स्थिरः संयति दुर्निवारणम् । समाहितात्मा हनुमन्तमाहवे प्रचोदयामास शितैः शरैस्त्रिभिः ॥ १० ॥
His anger roused, seeing that valour, hard to check in battle, he stood firm, his mind collected, and urged Hanuman on in battle with three sharp arrows.
ततः कपिं तं प्रसमीक्ष्य गर्वितं जितश्रमं शत्रुपराजयोचितम् । अवैक्षताक्षः समुदीर्णमानसं सबाणपाणिः प्रगृहीतकार्मुकः ॥ ११ ॥
Then, looking at that proud monkey, who had conquered weariness, used to defeating enemies, his mind elated, Aksha watched him, arrows in hand, bow grasped.
स हेमनिष्काङ्गदचारुकुण्डलः समाससादाशुपराक्रमः कपिम् । तयोर्बभूवाप्रतिमः समागमः सुरासुराणामपि सम्भ्रमप्रदः ॥ १२ ॥
With golden necklace, armlets and lovely earrings, quick in valour, he came at the monkey. Their meeting was unequalled, alarming even to gods and asuras.
ररास भूमिर्न तताप भानुमान् ववौ न वायुः प्रचचाल चाचलः । कपेः कुमारस्य च वीर्यसंयुगं ननाद च द्यौरुदधिश्च चुक्षुभे ॥ १३ ॥
The earth groaned, the sun did not burn, the wind did not blow, the mountain shook, at the valiant battle of the monkey and the prince; and the sky roared and the ocean was churned.
स तस्य वीरः सुमुखान् पतत्रिणः सुवर्णपुङ्खान् सविषानिवोरगान् । समाधिसंयोगविमोक्षतत्त्ववि- च्छरानथ त्रीन् कपिमूर्ध्न्यताडयत् ॥ १४ ॥
Then the hero, who knew the true art of aiming, fitting and releasing, struck the monkey on the head with three fine-headed arrows, golden-feathered, like poisonous snakes.
स तैः शरैर्मूर्ध्नि समं निपातितैः क्षरन्नसृग्दिग्धविवृत्तनेत्रः । नवोदितादित्यनिभः शरांशुमान् व्यराजतादित्य इवांशुमालिकः ॥ १५ ॥
Struck on the head by those arrows falling together, bleeding, his eyes smeared with blood and rolling, he shone like the newly risen sun, with arrows for rays, like the sun garlanded with rays.
ततः प्लवङ्गाधिपमन्त्रिसत्तमः समीक्ष्य तं राजवरात्मजं रणे । उदग्रचित्रायुधचित्रकार्मुकं जहर्ष चापूर्यत चाहवोन्मुखः ॥ १६ ॥
Then the best minister of the lord of monkeys, looking at that son of the best of kings in battle, with his raised, wonderful weapons and wonderful bow, rejoiced and was filled with eagerness for battle.
स मन्दराग्रस्थ इवांशुमाली विवृद्धकोपो बलवीर्यसंवृतः । कुमारमक्षं सबलं सवाहनं ददाह नेत्राग्निमरीचिभिस्तदा ॥ १७ ॥
Like the sun standing on the top of Mandara, his anger grown, filled with strength and valour, he burned Prince Aksha with his army and mounts with the rays of the fire of his eyes.
ततः स बाणासनशक्रकार्मुकः शरप्रवर्षो युधि राक्षसाम्बुदः । शरान् मुमोचाशु हरीश्वराचले बलाहको वृष्टिमिवाचलोत्तमे ॥ १८ ॥
Then the rakshasa cloud, his bow for Indra’s rainbow, rained arrows in battle, quickly releasing them on the monkey-lord mountain, as a cloud pours rain on the best of mountains.
कपिस्ततस्तं रणचण्डविक्रमं प्रवृद्धतेजोबलवीर्यसायकम् । कुमारमक्षं प्रसमीक्ष्य संयुगे ननाद हर्षाद् घनतुल्यनिःस्वनः ॥ १९ ॥
Then the monkey, seeing Prince Aksha, fierce in valour in battle, his splendour, strength, valour and arrows grown, roared with joy, with a sound like a cloud.
स बालभावाद् युधि वीर्यदर्पितः प्रवृद्धमन्युः क्षतजोपमेक्षणः । समाससादाप्रतिमं रणे कपिं गजो महाकूपमिवावृतं तृणैः ॥ २० ॥
Proud of his valour in battle out of boyishness, his anger grown, his eyes like blood, he came against the matchless monkey in battle, like an elephant at a great well covered with grass.
स तेन बाणैः प्रसभं निपातितै- श्चकार नादं घननादनिःस्वनः । समुत्सहेनाशु नभः समारुजन् भुजोरुविक्षेपणघोरदर्शनः ॥ २१ ॥
Struck by his arrows forcefully loosed, the monkey roared with a sound like thunder, and leapt quickly into the sky, as if splitting it, terrible to see as he flung out his arms and thighs.
तमुत्पतन्तं समभिद्रवद् बली स राक्षसानां प्रवरः प्रतापवान् । रथी रथश्रेष्ठतरः किरन् शरैः पयोधरः शैलमिवाश्मवृष्टिभिः ॥ २२ ॥
As he flew up, the mighty, powerful best of rakshasas, chariot-warrior, best of chariot-fighters, rushed at him, scattering arrows, like a cloud raining stones on a mountain.
स ताञ्छरांस्तस्य हरिर्विमोक्षयं- श्चचार वीरः पथि वायुसेविते । शरान्तरे मारुतवद् विनिष्पतन् मनोजवः संयति भीमविक्रमः ॥ २३ ॥
Evading his arrows, the hero monkey ranged the path frequented by the wind, darting between the arrows like the wind, swift as thought, of terrible valour in battle.
तमात्तबाणासनमाहवोन्मुखं खमास्तृणन्तं विविधैः शरोत्तमैः । अवैक्षताक्षं बहुमानचक्षुषा जगाम चिन्तां स च मारुतात्मजः ॥ २४ ॥
The son of the Wind looked with eyes full of respect at Aksha, his bow raised, eager for battle, covering the sky with fine arrows of every kind, and fell to thinking.
ततः शरैर्भिन्नभुजान्तरः कपिः कुमारवर्येण महात्मना नदन् । महाभुजः कर्मविशेषतत्त्वविद् विचिन्तयामास रणे पराक्रमम् ॥ २५ ॥
Then, his chest pierced by arrows from that great-souled finest of princes, roaring, the mighty-armed monkey, who knew the special truth of actions, considered how to act in battle:
अबालवद् बालदिवाकरप्रभः करोत्ययं कर्म महन्महाबलः । न चास्य सर्वाहवकर्मशालिनः प्रमापणे मे मतिरत्र जायते ॥ २६ ॥
“Shining like the young sun, this mighty one does great deeds unlike a boy. Seeing him so skilled in all the work of war, no wish arises in me to kill him.
अयं महात्मा च महांश्च वीर्यतः समाहितश्चातिसहश्च संयुगे । असंशयं कर्मगुणोदयादयं सनागयक्षैर्मुनिभिश्च पूजितः ॥ २७ ॥
“He is great-souled, great in valour, collected, and very enduring in battle. Without doubt, by the rise of his merit in deeds, he is honoured by nagas, yakshas and sages.
पराक्रमोत्साहविवृद्धमानसः- समीक्षते मां प्रमुखोऽग्रतः स्थितः । पराक्रमो ह्यस्य मनांसि कम्पयेत् सुरासुराणामपि शीघ्रकारिणः ॥ २८ ॥
“His mind swelling with valour and energy, he stands in front facing me and looks at me. The valour of this swift actor could shake the minds even of gods and asuras.
न खल्वयं नाभिभवेदुपेक्षितः पराक्रमो ह्यस्य रणे विवर्धते । प्रमापणं ह्यस्य ममाद्य रोचते न वर्धमानोऽग्निरुपेक्षितुं क्षमः ॥ २९ ॥
“Surely, if ignored, he will overpower me, for his valour grows in battle. Killing him is what I now prefer; a growing fire cannot be ignored.”
इति प्रवेगं तु परस्य तर्कयन् स्वकर्मयोगं च विधाय वीर्यवान् । चकार वेगं तु महाबलस्तदा मतिं च चक्रेऽस्य वधे तदानीम् ॥ ३० ॥
So weighing his opponent’s force, and planning his own course of action, the valiant, mighty one then put on speed and made up his mind to kill him.
स तस्य तानष्ट वरान् महाहयान् समाहितान् भारसहान् विवर्तने । जघान वीरः पथि वायुसेविते तलप्रहारैः पवनात्मजः कपिः ॥ ३१ ॥
The hero, the monkey son of the Wind, killed with blows of his palm his eight fine great horses, well trained, able to bear the burden in turning, on the path frequented by the wind.
ततस्तलेनाभिहतो महारथः स तस्य पिङ्गाधिपमन्त्रिनिर्जितः । स भग्ननीडः परिवृत्तकूबरः पपात भूमौ हतवाजिरम्बरात् ॥ ३२ ॥
Then, struck by the palm and conquered by the minister of the lord of tawny monkeys, his great chariot, its seat broken, its pole turned over, its horses killed, fell from the sky to the ground.
स तं परित्यज्य महारथो रथं सकार्मुकः खड्गधरः खमुत्पतन् । ततोऽभियोगादृषिरुग्रवीर्यवान् विहाय देहं मरुतामिवालयम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Leaving that chariot, the great chariot-warrior, with bow and sword, leapt up into the sky, as a sage of fierce power, by his practice, leaves his body for the realm of the Maruts.
कपिस्ततस्तं विचरन्तमम्बरे पतत्त्रिराजानिलसिद्धसेविते । समेत्य तं मारुतवेगविक्रमः क्रमेण जग्राह च पादयोर्दृढम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Then the monkey, of the speed and valour of the wind, came up to him as he roamed the sky frequented by the king of birds, the wind and the siddhas, and in turn caught him firmly by the feet.
स तं समाविध्य सहस्रशः कपि- र्महोरगं गृह्य इवाण्डजेश्वरः । मुमोच वेगात् पितृतुल्यविक्रमो महीतले संयति वानरोत्तमः ॥ ३५ ॥
Whirling him round a thousand times, as the lord of birds seizes a great serpent, the best of monkeys, equal to his father in valour, flung him with force onto the ground in battle.
स भग्नबाहूरुकटीपयोधरः क्षरन्नसृङ्निर्मथितास्थिलोचनः । सम्भिन्नसंधिः प्रविकीर्णबन्धनो हतः क्षितौ वायुसुतेन राक्षसः ॥ ३६ ॥
His arms, thighs, hips and chest broken, bleeding, his bones and eyes crushed, his joints shattered, his sinews scattered, the rakshasa was killed on the ground by the son of the Wind.
महाकपिर्भूमितले निपीड्य तं चकार रक्षोऽधिपतेर्महद्भयम् । महर्षिभिश्चक्रचरैः समागतैः समेत्य भूतैश्च सयक्षपन्नगैः । सुरैश्च सेन्द्रैर्भृशजातविस्मयै- र्हते कुमारे स कपिर्निरीक्षितः ॥ ३७ ॥
By crushing him on the ground the great monkey caused great fear to the lord of the rakshasas. The great sages who move in the circle of the stars, gathered with the beings, with yakshas and serpents, and the gods with Indra, filled with wonder, gazed at that monkey when the prince was killed.
निहत्य तं वज्रिसुतोपमं रणे कुमारमक्षं क्षतजोपमेक्षणम् । तदेव वीरोऽभिजगाम तोरणं कृतक्षणः काल इव प्रजाक्षये ॥ ३८ ॥
Having killed in battle Prince Aksha, like a son of the thunderbolt-wielder, with eyes like blood, the hero went back to that same gateway, like Time waiting for its moment at the destruction of creatures.