Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 43 of 128 · 46 verses
Single Combats
As the fighting rages, the rakshasas pour out on gold-bridled horses, elephants like flames and chariots like the sun, and the monkey army charges them. The battle breaks into single combats. Angada fights Indrajit like Shiva fighting Andhaka; Sampati fights Prajangha; Hanuman fights Jambumali; Vibhishana fights the rakshasa Shatrughna; Gaja fights Tapana; Nila fights Nikumbha; Sugriva fights Praghasa; Lakshmana fights Virupaksha; Rama faces Agniketu, Rashmiketu, Suptaghna and Yajnakopa; Mainda fights Vajramushti and Dvivida Ashaniprabha; Nala fights Pratapana; Sushena, son of Dharma, fights Vidyunmali. Rivers of blood flow, carrying bodies, their weeds the hair of the fallen.
Indrajit strikes Angada with his mace; Angada smashes Indrajit’s golden chariot with its horses and driver. Sampati kills Prajangha with an ashvakarna tree. Hanuman leaps onto Jambumali’s chariot and crushes it and him with his palm. Nala tears out Pratapana’s eyes. Sugriva kills Praghasa with a saptaparna tree. Lakshmana kills Virupaksha with one arrow. Rama cuts off the heads of his four opponents with four fiery arrows. Mainda kills Vajramushti with his fist, and he falls with chariot and horses like a city tower. Nikumbha pierces Nila with a hundred arrows and laughs, but Nila cuts off his and his driver’s heads with his own chariot wheel, like Vishnu. Dvivida kills Ashaniprabha with a sala tree. Vidyunmali strikes Sushena with arrows and with his mace; Sushena smashes his chariot with a mountain peak and crushes him with a huge rock. So the heroic night-wanderers are crushed in single combat as the daityas by the gods. The field is littered with broken weapons, chariots, horses, elephants, monkeys and rakshasas, haunted by jackals; headless trunks rise. Still the rakshasas, maddened by the smell of blood, fight on fiercely, longing for the sun to set.
Press › to begin with verse 1.
युध्यतां तु ततस्तेषां वानराणां महात्मनाम् । रक्षसां सम्बभूवाथ बलरोषः सुदारुणः ॥ १ ॥
As those great-souled monkeys fought, the rakshasas’ anger at the monkeys’ strength grew very fierce.
Commentary on the whole sarga
Single Combats 1 min read.
Read the commentary
ते हयैः काञ्चनापीडैर्गजैश्चाग्निशिखोपमैः । रथैश्चादित्यसंकाशैः कवचैश्च मनोरमैः ॥ २ ॥
With horses with golden crests, elephants like flames of fire, chariots like the sun and lovely armour,
निर्ययू राक्षसा वीरा नादयन्तो दिशो दश । राक्षसा भीमकर्माणो रावणस्य जयैषिणः ॥ ३ ॥
the heroic rakshasas came out, making the ten directions resound, rakshasas of terrible deeds, wanting victory for Ravana.
वानराणामपि चमूर्बृहती जयमिच्छताम् । अभ्यधावत तां सेनां रक्षसां घोरकर्मणाम् ॥ ४ ॥
And the great army of monkeys, wanting victory, rushed at that army of rakshasas of terrible deeds.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तेषामन्योन्यमभिधावताम् । रक्षसां वानराणां च द्वन्द्वयुद्धमवर्तत ॥ ५ ॥
Meanwhile, as they rushed at one another, single combat began between rakshasas and monkeys.
अङ्गदेनेन्द्रजित्सार्धं वालिपुत्रेण राक्षसः । अयुध्यत महातेजास्त्र्यम्बकेण यथान्धकः ॥ ६ ॥
The radiant rakshasa Indrajit fought with Angada, son of Vali, as Andhaka fought the Three-eyed one.
प्रजङ्घेन च सम्पातिर्नित्यं दुर्धर्षणो रणे । जम्बुमालिनमारब्धो हनूमानपि वानरः ॥ ७ ॥
Sampati, always hard to overcome in battle, fought with Prajangha, and the monkey Hanuman too engaged Jambumali.
संगतस्तु महाक्रोधो राक्षसो रावणानुजः । समरे तीक्ष्णवेगेन शत्रुघ्नेन विभीषणः ॥ ८ ॥
The very angry rakshasa, Ravana’s younger brother Vibhishana, met in battle Shatrughna of sharp speed.
तपनेन गजः सार्धं राक्षसेन महाबलः । निकुम्भेन महातेजा नीलोऽपि समयुध्यत ॥ ९ ॥
Mighty Gaja fought with the rakshasa Tapana, and radiant Nila too fought with Nikumbha.
वानरेन्द्रस्तु सुग्रीवः प्रघसेन सुसंगतः । संगतः समरे श्रीमान् विरूपाक्षेण लक्ष्मणः ॥ १० ॥
Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, met Praghasa; glorious Lakshmana met Virupaksha in battle.
अग्निकेतुः सुदुर्धर्षो रश्मिकेतुश्च राक्षसः । सुप्तघ्नो यज्ञकोपश्च रामेण सह संगताः ॥ ११ ॥
Very unassailable Agniketu, the rakshasa Rashmiketu, Suptaghna and Yajnakopa met Rama.
वज्रमुष्टिश्च मैन्देन द्विविदेनाशनिप्रभः । राक्षसाभ्यां सुघोराभ्यां कपिमुख्यौ समागतौ ॥ १२ ॥
Vajramushti with Mainda, Ashaniprabha with Dvivida: the two chief monkeys met two very terrible rakshasas.
वीरः प्रतपनो घोरो राक्षसो रणदुर्धरः । समरे तीक्ष्णवेगेन नलेन समयुध्यत ॥ १३ ॥
The heroic, terrible rakshasa Pratapana, hard to withstand in battle, fought Nala of sharp speed in battle.
धर्मस्य पुत्रो बलवान् सुषेण इति विश्रुतः । स विद्युन्मालिना सार्धमयुध्यत महाकपिः ॥ १४ ॥
The mighty son of Dharma, famous as Sushena, the great monkey, fought with Vidyunmali.
वानराश्चापरे घोरा राक्षसैरपरैः सह । द्वन्द्वं समीयुः सहसा युद्ध्वा च बहुभिः सह ॥ १५ ॥
And other terrible monkeys met other rakshasas in single combat suddenly, and fought with many.
तत्रासीत् सुमहद् युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । रक्षसां वानराणां च वीराणां जयमिच्छताम् ॥ १६ ॥
There was a very great, tumultuous, hair-raising battle there between rakshasas and monkeys, heroes wanting victory.
हरिराक्षसदेहेभ्यः प्रभूताः केशशाद्वलाः । शरीरसंघाटवहाः प्रसुस्रुः शोणतापगाः ॥ १७ ॥
From the bodies of monkeys and rakshasas flowed rivers of blood, abundant, with hair for grass, carrying masses of bodies.
आजघानेन्द्रजित् क्रुद्धो वज्रेणेव शतक्रतुः । अङ्गदं गदया वीरं शत्रुसैन्यविदारणम् ॥ १८ ॥
Angry Indrajit struck heroic Angada, breaker of enemy armies, with his mace, as Shatakratu strikes with the thunderbolt.
तस्य काञ्चनचित्राङ्गं रथं साश्वं ससारथिम् । जघान गदया श्रीमानङ्गदो वेगवान् हरिः ॥ १९ ॥
Glorious Angada, the swift monkey, struck with his mace Indrajit’s chariot, with its gold-decorated parts, with its horses and its driver.
सम्पातिस्तु प्रजङ्घेन त्रिभिर्बाणैः समाहतः । निजघानाश्वकर्णेन प्रजङ्घं रणमूर्धनि ॥ २० ॥
Sampati, struck by Prajangha with three arrows, killed Prajangha with an ashvakarna tree at the head of the battle.
जम्बुमाली रथस्थस्तु रथशक्त्या महाबलः । बिभेद समरे क्रुद्धो हनूमन्तं स्तनान्तरे ॥ २१ ॥
Mighty Jambumali, standing in his chariot, angry, pierced Hanuman in the chest with a chariot spear in battle.
तस्य तं रथमास्थाय हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । प्रममाथ तलेनाशु सह तेनैव रक्षसा ॥ २२ ॥
Hanuman, son of the Wind, mounting that chariot of his, quickly crushed it with his palm, together with that rakshasa.
नदन् प्रतपनो घोरो नलं सोऽभ्यनुधावत । नलः प्रतपनस्याशु पातयामास चक्षुषी ॥ २३ ॥
Terrible Pratapana, roaring, rushed at Nala; Nala quickly knocked out Pratapana’s eyes.
भिन्नगात्रः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः क्षिप्रहस्तेन रक्षसा । ग्रसन्तमिव सैन्यानि प्रघसं वानराधिपः ॥ २४ ॥
His limbs pierced with sharp arrows by the quick-handed rakshasa, the lord of monkeys struck Praghasa, who seemed to swallow armies:
सुग्रीवः सप्तपर्णेन निजघान जवेन च । प्रपीड्य शरवर्षेण राक्षसं भीमदर्शनम् ॥ २५ ॥
Sugriva struck down the terrible-looking rakshasa with a saptaparna tree, quickly, after he had pressed him with a rain of arrows.
निजघान विरूपाक्षं शरेणैकेन लक्ष्मणः । अग्निकेतुश्च दुर्धर्षो रश्मिकेतुश्च राक्षसः । सुप्तघ्नो यज्ञकोपश्च रामं निर्बिभिदुः शरैः ॥ २६ ॥
Lakshmana killed Virupaksha with a single arrow. Unassailable Agniketu, the rakshasa Rashmiketu, Suptaghna and Yajnakopa pierced Rama with arrows.
तेषां चतुर्णां रामस्तु शिरांसि समरे शरैः । क्रुद्धश्चतुर्भिश्चिच्छेद घोरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ॥ २७ ॥
Rama, angry, cut off the heads of those four in battle with four terrible arrows like flames of fire.
वज्रमुष्टिस्तु मैन्देन मुष्टिना निहतो रणे । पपात सरथः साश्वः पुराट्ट इव भूतले ॥ २८ ॥
Vajramushti, struck by Mainda with his fist in battle, fell to the ground with his chariot and horses, like a city tower.
निकुम्भस्तु रणे नीलं नीलाञ्जनचयप्रभम् । निर्बिभेद शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः करैर्मेघमिवांशुमान् ॥ २९ ॥
Nikumbha pierced Nila, bright as a heap of dark collyrium, with sharp arrows in battle, as the sun pierces a cloud with its rays.
पुनः शरशतेनाथ क्षिप्रहस्तो निशाचरः । बिभेद समरे नीलं निकुम्भः प्रजहास च ॥ ३० ॥
Again with a hundred arrows the quick-handed night-wanderer Nikumbha pierced Nila in battle and laughed.
तस्यैव रथचक्रेण नीलो विष्णुरिवाहवे । शिरश्चिच्छेद समरे निकुम्भस्य च सारथेः ॥ ३१ ॥
With the wheel of his own chariot Nila, like Vishnu in battle, cut off the head of Nikumbha and of his driver.
वज्राशनिसमस्पर्शो द्विविदोऽप्यशनिप्रभम् । जघान गिरिशृङ्गेण मिषतां सर्वरक्षसाम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Dvivida, whose touch was like the thunderbolt, struck Ashaniprabha with a mountain peak while all the rakshasas watched.
द्विविदं वानरेन्द्रं तु द्रुमयोधिनमाहवे । शरैरशनिसंकाशैः स विव्याधाशनिप्रभः ॥ ३३ ॥
Ashaniprabha pierced Dvivida, lord of monkeys, who fought with trees in battle, with arrows like thunderbolts.
स शरैरभिविद्धाङ्गो द्विविदः क्रोधर्मूच्छितः । सालेन सरथं साश्वं निजघानाशनिप्रभम् ॥ ३४ ॥
His limbs pierced with arrows, Dvivida, swooning with anger, struck down Ashaniprabha with his chariot and horses with a sala tree.
विद्युन्माली रथस्थस्तु शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः । सुषेणं ताडयामास ननाद च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ ३५ ॥
Vidyunmali, standing in his chariot, struck Sushena with arrows adorned with gold and roared again and again.
तं रथस्थमथो दृष्ट्वा सुषेणो वानरोत्तमः । गिरिशृङ्गेण महता रथमाशु न्यपातयत् ॥ ३६ ॥
Seeing him standing in his chariot, Sushena, best of monkeys, quickly brought down his chariot with a great mountain peak.
लाघवेन तु संयुक्तो विद्युन्माली निशाचरः । अपक्रम्य रथात् तूर्णं गदापाणिः क्षितौ स्थितः ॥ ३७ ॥
Nimble, the night-wanderer Vidyunmali quickly stepped down from the chariot and stood on the ground, mace in hand.
ततः क्रोधसमाविष्टः सुषेणो हरिपुङ्गवः । शिलां सुमहतीं गृह्य निशाचरमभिद्रवत् ॥ ३८ ॥
Then Sushena, bull among monkeys, filled with anger, seizing a very great rock, rushed at the night-wanderer.
तमापतन्तं गदया विद्युन्माली निशाचरः । वक्षस्यभिजघानाशु सुषेणं हरिपुङ्गवम् ॥ ३९ ॥
As he came on, the night-wanderer Vidyunmali quickly struck Sushena, bull among monkeys, on the chest with his mace.
गदाप्रहारं तं घोरमचिन्त्य प्लवगोत्तमः । तां तूष्णीं पातयामास तस्योरसि महामृधे ॥ ४० ॥
Paying no heed to that terrible blow of the mace, the best of leapers silently brought the rock down on his chest in that great battle.
शिलाप्रहाराभिहतो विद्युन्माली निशाचरः । निष्पिष्टहृदयो भूमौ गतासुर्निपपात ह ॥ ४१ ॥
Struck by the blow of the rock, the night-wanderer Vidyunmali, his heart crushed, fell lifeless on the ground.
एवं तैर्वानरैः शूरैः शूरास्ते रजनीचराः । द्वन्द्वे विमथितास्तत्र दैत्या इव दिवौकसैः ॥ ४२ ॥
So those heroic night-wanderers were crushed there in single combat by those heroic monkeys, like daityas by the heaven-dwellers.
भल्लैश्चान्यैर्गदाभिश्च शक्तितोमरसायकैः । अपविद्धैश्चापि रथैस्तथा सांग्रामिकैर्हयैः ॥ ४३ ॥
With javelins and other weapons, maces, spears, lances and arrows, with chariots thrown aside and war horses,
निहतैः कुञ्जरैर्मत्तैस्तथा वानरराक्षसैः । चक्राक्षयुगदण्डैश्च भग्नैर्धरणिसंश्रितैः ॥ ४४ ॥
with slain rutting elephants, with monkeys and rakshasas, with broken wheels, axles, yokes and poles lying on the ground,
बभूवायोधनं घोरं गोमायुगणसेवितम् । कबन्धानि समुत्पेतुर्दिक्षु वानररक्षसाम् । विमर्दे तुमुले तस्मिन् देवासुररणोपमे ॥ ४५ ॥
the battlefield became terrible, frequented by packs of jackals; headless trunks of monkeys and rakshasas rose up in all directions in that tumultuous crush, like the battle of gods and asuras.
निहन्यमाना हरिपुङ्गवैस्तदा निशाचराः शोणितगन्धमूर्च्छिताः । पुनः सुयुद्धं तरसा समाश्रिता दिवाकरस्यास्तमयाभिकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ ४६ ॥
Being killed by the bulls among monkeys then, the night-wanderers, maddened by the smell of blood, again took up fierce fighting, longing for the setting of the sun.