Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 80 of 128 · 43 verses
Indrajit Attacks from Hiding Again
Hearing that Makaraksha has been killed, Ravana, grinding his teeth in rage, wonders what to do and orders his son Indrajit to battle: kill those two mighty brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, hero, seen or unseen; you are stronger in every way; you defeat Indra himself; how much more will you kill two men. Indrajit accepts and offers into the fire on the sacrificial ground according to rule; rakshasi women in red turbans come hurrying. Weapons, reed leaves, vibhitaka kindling, red cloths and a black-iron ladle are used; he spreads the fire with reed leaves and lances and seizes the throat of a living, all-black goat. The smokeless fire, fed once, blazes up with signs of victory, its flame turning to the right like molten gold, and Fire himself rises to take the offering. Having pleased gods, danavas and rakshasas, he mounts his fine chariot that can become invisible, with four horses, sharp arrows and a great bow, golden, decorated with deer, moons and half-moons, with a gold-ringed banner set with beryl, protected by the Brahma weapon. Leaving the city, having offered to the fire with rakshasa mantras, he says, invisible: today I will kill in battle those two who went falsely into the forest as ascetics, and give my father Ravana victory; today I will rid the earth of monkeys, kill Rama and Lakshmana, and give him the highest joy. He vanishes.
Spurred on by Ten-necked, he swoops down on the battlefield and sees the two mighty heroes among the monkeys, like three-headed serpents, loosing nets of arrows. Thinking “these are the two”, he strings his bow and pours arrows on them like a rain cloud; from his chariot in the sky, out of sight, he pierces Rama and Lakshmana. They fit divine weapons to their bows and cover the sky with arrows like the sun, but cannot touch him; he spreads smoke and darkness over the sky, hiding the directions in mist; neither the sound of his bowstring nor of his wheels and hooves is heard, nor is his form seen. In thick darkness he rains iron arrows like a wondrous shower of stones, wounding Rama all over with sun-bright, boon-given arrows. Struck like mountains by streams of rain, the two shoot sharp golden-feathered arrows; reaching Indrajit in the sky, the heron-feathered shafts cut him and fall to earth drenched in blood. Blazing with the arrow-storm, they cut his falling arrows with many broad-headed shafts and send their best weapons wherever they see the arrows come from; but he, a peerless chariot-fighter, flies everywhere in his chariot and pierces them with well-aimed golden-feathered arrows until they look like flowering kimshuka trees. No one can see his speed, his form, his bow or his arrows, as one cannot see the sun in a mass of clouds; monkeys fall dead by hundreds.
Lakshmana, enraged, says: I will use the Brahma weapon to kill all the rakshasas. Rama tells him: you must not kill all the rakshasas on earth for the sake of one. You must not kill one who is not fighting, who is hidden, who joins his palms, who comes for refuge, who is fleeing or who is out of his mind. Let us strive to kill this one alone; we will use swift weapons like poisonous snakes; the monkey leaders will kill this petty sorcerer with the hidden chariot once they see him. Even if he enters the earth, heaven, the underworld or the sky, hidden as he is, burned by my weapons he will fall lifeless on the ground. Having said these words full of meaning, the great hero of the Raghus, surrounded by the monkeys, looks about quickly to find a way to kill that fierce, cruel one.
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मकराक्षं हतं श्रुत्वा रावणः समितिंजयः । रोषेण महताविष्टो दन्तान् कटकटाय्य च ॥ १ ॥
Hearing that Makaraksha had been killed, Ravana, conqueror in battle, filled with great rage and grinding his teeth,
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Indrajit Attacks from Hiding Again 1 min read.
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कुपितश्च तदा तत्र किं कार्यमिति चिन्तयन् । आदिदेशाथ संक्रुद्धो रणायेन्द्रजितं सुतम् ॥ २ ॥
angry then, thinking there “What must be done?”, enraged, ordered his son Indrajit to battle:
जहि वीर महावीर्यौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । अदृश्यो दृश्यमानो वा सर्वथा त्वं बलाधिकः ॥ ३ ॥
“Kill, hero, the two very valiant brothers Rama and Lakshmana, unseen or seen; in every way you are greater in strength.
त्वमप्रतिमकर्माणमिन्द्रं जयसि संयुगे । किं पुनर्मानुषौ दृष्ट्वा न वधिष्यसि संयुगे ॥ ४ ॥
“You conquer Indra of unequalled deeds in battle; how much more, seeing two men, will you not kill them in battle?”
तथोक्तो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रतिगृह्य पितुर्वचः । यज्ञभूमौ स विधिवत् पावकं जुहुवेन्द्रजित् ॥ ५ ॥
Spoken to so by the king of the rakshasas, accepting his father’s words, Indrajit offered to the fire according to rule on the sacrificial ground.
जुह्वतश्चापि तत्राग्निं रक्तोष्णीषधराः स्त्रियः । आजग्मुस्तत्र सम्भ्रान्ता राक्षस्यो यत्र रावणिः ॥ ६ ॥
And as he was offering to the fire there, women wearing red turbans, rakshasis, came hurrying there where Ravana’s son was.
शस्त्राणि शरपत्राणि समिधोऽथ बिभीतकाः । लोहितानि च वासांसि स्रुवं कार्ष्णायसं तथा ॥ ७ ॥
Weapons, reed leaves for kindling, and vibhitaka wood, and red garments, and likewise a ladle of black iron:
सर्वतोऽग्निं समास्तीर्य शरपत्रैः सतोमरैः । छागस्य सर्वकृष्णस्य गलं जग्राह जीवतः ॥ ८ ॥
spreading the fire all round with reed leaves and lances, he seized the throat of a living, all-black goat.
सकृद्धोमसमिद्धस्य विधूमस्य महार्चिषः । बभूवुस्तानि लिङ्गानि विजयं दर्शयन्ति च ॥ ९ ॥
Of the smokeless fire with great flames, kindled by a single offering, there appeared the signs that showed victory:
प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखस्तप्तहाटकसंनिभः । हविस्तत् प्रतिजग्राह पावकः स्वयमुत्थितः ॥ १० ॥
its flame turning to the right, like molten gold, the fire, risen of itself, accepted that offering.
हुत्वाग्निं तर्पयित्वाथ देवदानवराक्षसान् । आरुरोह रथश्रेष्ठमन्तर्धानगतं शुभम् ॥ ११ ॥
Having offered to the fire and satisfied gods, danavas and rakshasas, he mounted the best of chariots, lovely, able to go invisible.
स वाजिभिश्चतुर्भिस्तु बाणैस्तु निशितैर्युतः । आरोपितमहाचापः शुशुभे स्यन्दनोत्तमः ॥ १२ ॥
With four horses and sharp arrows, with a great bow set up, that best of chariots shone,
जाज्वल्यमानो वपुषा तपनीयपरिच्छदः । मृगैश्चन्द्रार्धचन्द्रैश्च स रथः समलंकृतः ॥ १३ ॥
blazing in its form, with golden fittings; that chariot was adorned with deer, moons and half-moons.
जाम्बूनदमहाकम्बुर्दीप्तपावकसंनिभः । बभूवेन्द्रजितः केतुर्वैदूर्यसमलंकृतः ॥ १४ ॥
Indrajit’s banner, with a great ring of gold, like a blazing fire, was adorned with beryl.
तेन चादित्यकल्पेन ब्रह्मास्त्रेण च पालितः । स बभूव दुराधर्षो रावणिः सुमहाबलः ॥ १५ ॥
And protected by that Brahma weapon, like the sun, Ravana’s very mighty son became unassailable.
सोऽभिनिर्याय नगरादिन्द्रजित् समितिंजयः । हुत्वाग्निं राक्षसैर्मन्त्रैरन्तर्धानगतोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १६ ॥
Going out from the city, Indrajit, conqueror in battle, having offered to the fire with rakshasa mantras, having become invisible, said:
अद्य हत्वा रणे यौ तौ मिथ्या प्रव्रजितौ वने । जयं पित्रे प्रदास्यामि रावणाय रणेऽधिकम् ॥ १७ ॥
“Today, having killed in battle those two who went falsely as ascetics to the forest, I will give my father Ravana victory, greater in battle.
अद्य निर्वानरामुर्वीं हत्वा रामं च लक्ष्मणम् । करिष्ये परमां प्रीतिमित्युक्त्वान्तरधीयत ॥ १८ ॥
“Today, having made the earth free of monkeys and killed Rama and Lakshmana, I will give him the highest joy.” Saying this, he vanished.
आपपाताथ संक्रुद्धो दशग्रीवेण चोदितः । तीक्ष्णकार्मुकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णस्त्विन्द्ररिपू रणे ॥ १९ ॥
Then, enraged, urged by Ten-necked, the fierce enemy of Indra swooped down in battle with sharp bows and iron arrows.
स ददर्श महावीर्यौ नागौ त्रिशिरसाविव । सृजन्ताविषुजालानि वीरौ वानरमध्यगौ ॥ २० ॥
He saw the two very valiant heroes, like three-headed serpents, loosing nets of arrows in the midst of the monkeys.
इमौ ताविति संचिन्त्य सज्यं कृत्वा च कार्मुकम् । संततानेषुधाराभिः पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान् ॥ २१ ॥
Thinking “These are the two”, stringing his bow, he spread streams of arrows over them like a raining cloud.
स तु वैहायसरथो युधि तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । अचक्षुर्विषये तिष्ठन् विव्याध निशितैः शरैः ॥ २२ ॥
He, with his chariot in the sky, standing out of the range of sight, pierced those two, Rama and Lakshmana, in battle with sharp arrows.
तौ तस्य शरवेगेन परीतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । धनुषी सशरे कृत्वा दिव्यमस्त्रं प्रचक्रतुः ॥ २३ ॥
Surrounded by the force of his arrows, Rama and Lakshmana, setting arrows to their bows, brought forth a divine weapon.
प्रच्छादयन्तौ गगनं शरजालैर्महाबलौ । तमस्त्रैः सूर्यसंकाशैर्नैव पस्पर्शतुः शरैः ॥ २४ ॥
Covering the sky with nets of arrows, the mighty pair, with weapons like the sun, could not touch him with arrows.
स हि धूमान्धकारं च चक्रे प्रच्छादयन्नभः । दिशश्चान्तर्दधे श्रीमान् नीहारतमसा वृताः ॥ २५ ॥
For he made a smoky darkness, covering the sky, and the glorious one hid the directions, which were wrapped in a darkness of mist.
नैव ज्यातलनिर्घोषो न च नेमिखुरस्वनः । शुश्रुवे चरतस्तस्य न च रूपं प्रकाशते ॥ २६ ॥
Neither the sound of his bowstring and palm nor the sound of wheel-rims and hooves was heard as he moved, nor did his form appear.
घनान्धकारे तिमिरे शिलावर्षमिवाद्भुतम् । स ववर्ष महाबाहुर्नाराचशरवृष्टिभिः ॥ २७ ॥
In the thick darkness, the gloom, the mighty-armed one rained showers of iron arrows like a wondrous shower of stones.
स रामं सूर्यसंकाशैः शरैर्दत्तवरैर्भृशम् । विव्याध समरे क्रुद्धः सर्वगात्रेषु रावणिः ॥ २८ ॥
Enraged in battle, Ravana’s son pierced Rama deeply in every limb with sun-like, boon-given arrows.
तौ हन्यमानौ नाराचैर्धाराभिरिव पर्वतौ । हेमपुङ्खान् नरव्याघ्रौ तिग्मान् मुमुचतुः शरान् ॥ २९ ॥
Being struck by iron arrows like two mountains by streams of rain, the two tigers among men loosed sharp golden-feathered arrows.
अन्तरिक्षे समासाद्य रावणिं कङ्कपत्रिणः । निकृत्य पतगा भूमौ पेतुस्ते शोणिताप्लुताः ॥ ३० ॥
Reaching Ravana’s son in the sky, the heron-feathered birds cut him and fell to the ground drenched in blood.
अतिमात्रं शरौघेण दीप्यमानौ नरोत्तमौ । तानिषून् पततो भल्लैरनेकैर्विचकर्ततुः ॥ ३१ ॥
Blazing greatly with the flood of arrows, the two best of men cut those falling arrows with many broad-headed shafts.
यतो हि ददृशाते तौ शरान् निपतिताञ्छितान् । ततस्तु तौ दाशरथी ससृजातेऽस्त्रमुत्तमम् ॥ ३२ ॥
From wherever they saw the sharp arrows falling, from there the two sons of Dasharatha loosed the finest weapon.
रावणिस्तु दिशः सर्वा रथेनातिरथोऽपतत् । विव्याध तौ दाशरथी लघ्वस्त्रो निशितैः शरैः ॥ ३३ ॥
But Ravana’s son, a great chariot-fighter, flew in all directions in his chariot; with light weapons he pierced the two sons of Dasharatha with sharp arrows.
तेनातिविद्धौ तौ वीरौ रुक्मपुङ्खैः सुसंहतैः । बभूवतुर्दाशरथी पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ ॥ ३४ ॥
Deeply pierced by him with well-joined golden-feathered arrows, the two heroes, sons of Dasharatha, became like flowering kimshukas.
नास्य वेगगतिं कश्चिन्न च रूपं धनुः शरान् । न चास्य विदितं किंचित् सूर्यस्येवाभ्रसम्प्लवे ॥ ३५ ॥
No one knew the speed of his movement, nor his form, bow or arrows, nor anything of him, as of the sun in a mass of clouds.
तेन विद्धाश्च हरयो निहताश्च गतासवः । बभूवुः शतशस्तत्र पतिता धरणीतले ॥ ३६ ॥
Pierced and struck down by him, the monkeys, lifeless, lay fallen on the ground there by hundreds.
लक्ष्मणस्तु ततः क्रुद्धो भ्रातरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । ब्राह्ममस्त्रं प्रयोक्ष्यामि वधार्थं सर्वरक्षसाम् ॥ ३७ ॥
Then Lakshmana, angry, said to his brother: “I will use the Brahma weapon for the killing of all the rakshasas.”
तमुवाच ततो रामो लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम् । नैकस्य हेतो रक्षांसि पृथिव्यां हन्तुमर्हसि ॥ ३८ ॥
Then Rama said to Lakshmana of auspicious marks: “For the sake of one you should not kill the rakshasas on the earth.
अयुध्यमानं प्रच्छन्नं प्राञ्जलिं शरणागतम् । पलायमानं मत्तं वा न हन्तुं त्वमिहार्हसि ॥ ३९ ॥
“One who is not fighting, one hidden, one with joined palms, one come for refuge, one fleeing or one out of his mind, you should not kill here.
तस्यैव तु वधे यत्नं करिष्यामि महाभुज । आदेक्ष्यावो महावेगानस्त्रानाशीविषोपमान् ॥ ४० ॥
“I will make an effort for the killing of him alone, mighty-armed one; we will order very swift weapons, like poisonous snakes.
तमेनं मायिनं क्षुद्रमन्तर्हितरथं बलात् । राक्षसं निहनिष्यन्ति दृष्ट्वा वानरयूथपाः ॥ ४१ ॥
“This petty sorcerer, the rakshasa with the hidden chariot, the monkey troop leaders will kill by force when they see him.
यद्येष भूमिं विशते दिवं वा रसातलं वापि नभस्तलं वा । एवं विगूढोऽपि ममास्त्रदग्धः पतिष्यते भूमितले गतासुः ॥ ४२ ॥
“If he enters the earth, or heaven, or the underworld, or the sky, even hidden so, burned by my weapons, he will fall lifeless on the ground.”
इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनं महार्थं रघुप्रवीरः प्लवगर्षभैर्वृतः । वधाय रौद्रस्य नृशंसकर्मण- स्तदा महात्मा त्वरितं निरीक्षते ॥ ४३ ॥
Having spoken these words of great meaning, the hero of the Raghus, surrounded by the bulls among leapers, the great soul, then looked about quickly for the killing of that fierce one of cruel deeds.