Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 52 of 128 · 38 verses
Hanuman Kills Dhumraksha
Seeing Dhumraksha come out, the monkeys roar with joy. A tumultuous battle begins, monkeys with trees against rakshasas with tridents and hammers. Rakshasas cut down monkeys; monkeys flatten rakshasas with trees; rakshasas shoot heron-feathered arrows and strike with maces, spears, hammers, iron bars and tridents; the monkeys, roused to fury, fearlessly grab trees and rocks, crush the rakshasas and shout their own names. Some rakshasas vomit blood, some are torn in the side, piled under trees, crushed by rocks or bitten; banners, swords and chariots lie broken, and the ground is strewn with elephants, horses and riders. Some rakshasas, faces gashed by the monkeys’ claws, faint at the smell of blood; others fight back with palms like thunderbolts and are beaten down with fists, feet, teeth and trees. The battle is like a concert, the bowstrings its lutes, the death-rattles its rhythm, the groans its song.
Seeing his army routed, Dhumraksha slaughters the monkeys in rage: some pierced with lances and bleeding, some struck down with hammers, crushed with iron bars, torn with javelins, cut open with tridents. Bow in hand, laughing, he scatters the monkeys with showers of arrows. Seeing the army in distress, Hanuman, eyes copper with anger, as mighty as his father, hurls a huge rock at Dhumraksha’s chariot; Dhumraksha leaps down with his mace just in time, and the rock smashes chariot, wheels, pole, horses, banner and bow. Hanuman then slaughters the rakshasas with trees, branches and all, and, having driven off their army, rushes at Dhumraksha with a mountain peak. Dhumraksha, roaring, charges him and brings his spiked mace down on Hanuman’s head; ignoring the blow, Hanuman, strong as the Wind, brings the peak down on the middle of Dhumraksha’s head, and he falls dead like a scattered mountain. The surviving rakshasas flee into Lanka, harried by the monkeys. Having killed his enemies and spread rivers of blood, the son of the Wind, weary from the slaughter, rejoices, honoured by the monkeys.
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धूम्राक्षं प्रेक्ष्य निर्यान्तं राक्षसं भीमविक्रमम् । विनेदुर्वानराः सर्वे प्रहृष्टा युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः ॥ १ ॥
Seeing the rakshasa Dhumraksha, of terrible valour, coming out, all the monkeys roared, delighted, eager for battle.
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Hanuman Kills Dhumraksha 1 min read.
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तेषां सुतुमुलं युद्धं संजज्ञे कपिरक्षसाम् । अन्योन्यं पादपैर्घोरैर्निघ्नतां शूलमुद्गरैः ॥ २ ॥
A very tumultuous battle arose between them, monkeys and rakshasas, striking one another with terrible trees, tridents and hammers.
राक्षसैर्वानरा घोरा विनिकृत्ताः समन्ततः । वानरै राक्षसाश्चापि द्रुमैर्भूमिसमीकृताः ॥ ३ ॥
Terrible monkeys were cut down on every side by the rakshasas, and rakshasas too were laid level with the ground by the monkeys with trees.
राक्षसास्त्वभिसंक्रुद्धा वानरान् निशितैः शरैः । विव्यधुर्घोरसंकाशैः कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः ॥ ४ ॥
The rakshasas, enraged, pierced the monkeys with sharp, terrible-looking, heron-feathered, straight-flying arrows.
ते गदाभिश्च भीमाभिः पट्टिशैः कूटमुद्गरैः । घोरैश्च परिघैश्चित्रैस्त्रिशूलैश्चापि संश्रितैः ॥ ५ ॥
With terrible maces, javelins and hammers, with fearsome, wonderful iron bars and tridents too,
विदार्यमाणा रक्षोभिर्वानरास्ते महाबलाः । अमर्षजनितोद्धर्षाश्चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत् ॥ ६ ॥
those mighty monkeys, being torn by the rakshasas, roused to excitement born of indignation, did deeds as if without fear.
शरनिर्भिन्नगात्रास्ते शूलनिर्भिन्नदेहिनः । जगृहुस्ते द्रुमांस्तत्र शिलाश्च हरियूथपाः ॥ ७ ॥
Their limbs split by arrows, their bodies split by tridents, those leaders of monkey troops seized trees and rocks there.
ते भीमवेगा हरयो नर्दमानास्ततस्ततः । ममन्थू राक्षसान् वीरान् नामानि च बभाषिरे ॥ ८ ॥
Those monkeys of terrible speed, roaring here and there, crushed the heroic rakshasas and proclaimed their names.
तद् बभूवाद्भुतं घोरं युद्धं वानररक्षसाम् । शिलाभिर्विविधाभिश्च बहुशाखैश्च पादपैः ॥ ९ ॥
That battle of monkeys and rakshasas became wondrous and terrible, with rocks of many kinds and trees of many branches.
राक्षसा मथिताः केचिद् वानरैर्जितकाशिभिः । प्रवेमू रुधिरं केचिन्मुखै रुधिरभोजनाः ॥ १० ॥
Some rakshasas were crushed by the victorious monkeys; some, the blood-eaters, vomited blood from their mouths.
पार्श्वेषु दारिताः केचित् केचिद् राशीकृता द्रुमैः । शिलाभिश्चूर्णिताः केचित् केचिद् दन्तैर्विदारिताः ॥ ११ ॥
Some were torn in their sides, some heaped up by trees, some ground to powder by rocks, some torn by teeth.
ध्वजैर्विमथितैर्भग्नैः खड्गैश्च विनिपातितैः । रथैर्विध्वंसितैः केचिद् व्यथिता रजनीचराः ॥ १२ ॥
With banners crushed and broken, swords struck down, chariots destroyed, some night-wanderers were in agony.
गजेन्द्रैः पर्वताकारैः पर्वताग्रैर्वनौकसाम् । मथितैर्वाजिभिः कीर्णं सारोहैर्वसुधातलम् ॥ १३ ॥
The ground was strewn with lordly elephants like mountains, crushed by the forest-dwellers’ mountain peaks, and with horses with their riders.
वानरैर्भीमविक्रान्तैराप्लुत्योत्प्लुत्य वेगितैः । राक्षसाः करजैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मुखेषु विनिदारिताः ॥ १४ ॥
By monkeys of terrible valour, swift, leaping and leaping up again, rakshasas were torn in the face with sharp claws.
विषण्णवदना भूयो विप्रकीर्णशिरोरुहाः । मूढाः शोणितगन्धेन निपेतुर्धरणीतले ॥ १५ ॥
Their faces dejected, their hair scattered, dazed by the smell of blood, they fell again on the ground.
अन्ये तु परमक्रुद्धा राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः । तलैरेवाभिधावन्ति वज्रस्पर्शसमैर्हरीन् ॥ १६ ॥
Others, very angry rakshasas of terrible valour, rushed at the monkeys with just their palms, whose touch was like the thunderbolt.
वानरैः पातयन्तस्ते वेगिता वेगवत्तरैः । मुष्टिभिश्चरणैर्दन्तैः पादपैश्चावपोथिताः ॥ १७ ॥
Swift as they were, trying to bring the monkeys down, they were beaten down by the swifter monkeys with fists, feet, teeth and trees.
सैन्यं तु विद्रुतं दृष्ट्वा धूम्राक्षो राक्षसर्षभः । रोषेण कदनं चक्रे वानराणां युयुत्सताम् ॥ १८ ॥
Seeing his army routed, Dhumraksha, bull among rakshasas, in fury made slaughter of the monkeys eager to fight.
प्रासैः प्रमथिताः केचिद् वानराः शोणितस्रवाः । मुद्गरैराहताः केचित् पतिता धरणीतले ॥ १९ ॥
Some monkeys, crushed by lances, streamed blood; some, struck by hammers, fell on the ground.
परिघैर्मथिताः केचिद् भिन्दिपालैश्च दारिताः । पट्टिशैर्मथिताः केचिद् विह्वलन्तो गतासवः ॥ २० ॥
Some were crushed by iron bars, some torn by javelins; some, crushed by spears, writhing, lost their lives.
केचिद् विनिहता भूमौ रुधिरार्द्रा वनौकसः । केचिद् विद्राविता नष्टाः संक्रुद्धै राक्षसैर्युधि ॥ २१ ॥
Some forest-dwellers were killed on the ground, wet with blood; some were routed and lost by the angry rakshasas in battle.
विभिन्नहृदयाः केचिदेकपार्श्वेन शायिताः । विदारितास्त्रिशूलैश्च केचिदान्त्रैर्विनिःसृताः ॥ २२ ॥
Some, their hearts split, were laid on one side; some, torn by tridents, had their entrails come out.
तत् सुभीमं महद्युद्धं हरिराक्षससंकुलम् । प्रबभौ शस्त्रबहुलं शिलापादपसंकुलम् ॥ २३ ॥
That very terrible great battle, crowded with monkeys and rakshasas, full of weapons and crowded with rocks and trees, shone forth.
धनुर्ज्यातन्त्रिमधुरं हिक्कातालसमन्वितम् । मन्दस्तनितगीतं तद् युद्धगान्धर्वमाबभौ ॥ २४ ॥
Sweet with the strings of the bows’ bowstrings, with gasps for its rhythm, with soft groans for its song, it seemed a concert of battle.
धूम्राक्षस्तु धनुष्पाणिर्वानरान् रणमूर्धनि । हसन् विद्रावयामास दिशस्ताञ्छरवृष्टिभिः ॥ २५ ॥
And Dhumraksha, bow in hand, at the head of the battle, laughing, scattered those monkeys to the directions with showers of arrows.
धूम्राक्षेणार्दितं सैन्यं व्यथितं प्रेक्ष्य मारुतिः । अभ्यवर्तत संक्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य विपुलां शिलाम् ॥ २६ ॥
Seeing the army tormented and distressed by Dhumraksha, the son of the Wind, enraged, advanced, taking up a huge rock.
क्रोधाद् द्विगुणताम्राक्षः पितुस्तुल्यपराक्रमः । शिलां तां पातयामास धूम्राक्षस्य रथं प्रति ॥ २७ ॥
His copper eyes doubled in redness with anger, equal to his father in valour, he hurled that rock at Dhumraksha’s chariot.
आपतन्तीं शिलां दृष्ट्वा गदामुद्यम्य सम्भ्रमात् । रथादाप्लुत्य वेगेन वसुधायां व्यतिष्ठत ॥ २८ ॥
Seeing the rock coming, raising his mace in alarm, he leapt swiftly from the chariot and stood on the ground.
सा प्रमथ्य रथं तस्य निपपात शिला भुवि । सचक्रकूबरं साश्वं सध्वजं सशरासनम् ॥ २९ ॥
That rock, crushing his chariot, fell to the ground, with its wheels and pole, its horses, flag and bow.
स भङ्क्त्वा तु रथं तस्य हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । रक्षसां कदनं चक्रे सस्कन्धविटपैर्द्रुमैः ॥ ३० ॥
Having broken his chariot, Hanuman, son of the Wind, made slaughter of the rakshasas with trees with their trunks and branches.
विभिन्नशिरसो भूत्वा राक्षसा रुधिरोक्षिताः । द्रुमैः प्रमथिताश्चान्ये निपेतुर्धरणीतले ॥ ३१ ॥
With their heads split, drenched in blood, rakshasas, and others crushed by trees, fell on the ground.
विद्राव्य राक्षसं सैन्यं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । गिरेः शिखरमादाय धूम्राक्षमभिदुद्रुवे ॥ ३२ ॥
Having routed the rakshasa army, Hanuman, son of the Wind, taking a mountain peak, rushed at Dhumraksha.
तमापतन्तं धूम्राक्षो गदामुद्यम्य वीर्यवान् । विनर्दमानः सहसा हनूमन्तमभिद्रवत् ॥ ३३ ॥
As he came on, valiant Dhumraksha, raising his mace, roaring, suddenly rushed at Hanuman.
तस्य क्रुद्धस्य रोषेण गदां तां बहुकण्टकाम् । पातयामास धूम्राक्षो मस्तकेऽथ हनूमतः ॥ ३४ ॥
In fury, Dhumraksha brought that mace with many spikes down on the head of the angry Hanuman.
ताडितः स तया तत्र गदया भीमवेगया । स कपिर्मारुतबलस्तं प्रहारमचिन्तयन् ॥ ३५ ॥
Struck there by that mace of terrible force, the monkey, with the strength of the Wind, disregarding the blow,
धूम्राक्षस्य शिरोमध्ये गिरिशृङ्गमपातयत् । स विस्फारितसर्वाङ्गो गिरिशृङ्गेण ताडितः ॥ ३६ ॥
brought the mountain peak down on the middle of Dhumraksha’s head. Struck by the mountain peak, all his limbs flung out,
पपात सहसा भूमौ विकीर्ण इव पर्वतः । धूम्राक्षं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हतशेषा निशाचराः । त्रस्ताः प्रविविशुर्लङ्कां वध्यमानाः प्लवंगमैः ॥ ३७ ॥
he suddenly fell on the ground like a scattered mountain. Seeing Dhumraksha killed, the night-wanderers left from the slaughter, terrified, entered Lanka, being struck by the leapers.
स तु पवनसुतो निहत्य शत्रून् क्षतजवहाः सरितश्च संविकीर्य । रिपुवधजनितश्रमो महात्मा मुदमगमत् कपिभिः सुपूज्यमानः ॥ ३८ ॥
And the great-souled son of the Wind, having killed his enemies and spread rivers carrying blood, weary from the slaying of enemies, felt joy, well honoured by the monkeys.