Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 88 of 128 · 77 verses
Lakshmana and Indrajit Fight
Stung by Vibhishana’s words, Ravana’s son, mad with anger, speaks harshly and leaps forward. Standing in his great, adorned chariot yoked with black horses, sword raised, like Death the ender, raising his huge, swift, strong bow and his foe-destroying arrows, he sees Lakshmana riding on Hanuman’s back, bright as the rising sun, and says angrily to him, to Vibhishana and to the monkeys: see my valour. Today you will bear in battle the unbearable rain of arrows from my bow, like rain from the sky; today my arrows will scatter your limbs as fire scatters a heap of cotton; I will send you all to Yama’s realm. Who will stand before me as I rain arrows with swift hands, roaring like a cloud? Before, in the night battle, I laid you two down senseless with your leaders, with arrows like thunderbolts; you do not remember, or you are plainly bound for Yama’s realm, to come to fight me, angry as a serpent.
Fearless, Lakshmana answers angrily: you have announced the far shore of tasks hard to cross, rakshasa; the wise man is he who reaches the end of his tasks by action. Lacking the means to a thing no one can easily gain, you speak it and think it done, fool. What you did in battle, hidden from sight, was a thief’s way, not the way of heroes. Now I stand in range of your arrows; show your power today; why boast with words? Indrajit grasps his terrible bow and looses sharp arrows like serpents’ venom; they reach Lakshmana and fall like hissing snakes; he wounds Lakshmana, who, drenched in blood, shines like smokeless fire. Indrajit roars and says: today my sharp feathered arrows will take your life, Saumitri; today jackals, hawks and vultures will fall on you, killed by me; today Rama, the foolish one, will see you, his devoted brother, a low kshatriya, always ignoble, killed by me, your armour loosened, your bow flung away, your head struck off. Lakshmana replies with reason: give up the strength of words, cruel rakshasa; why talk? Do it by deed. Why boast here of what you have not done? Do the deed that would make your boasting credible. Without harsh words, without insult, without boasting, I will kill you; watch, eater of men. He drives five iron arrows drawn to the ear into the rakshasa’s chest, where they shine like the sun’s rays; Indrajit pierces him with three.
A terrible, tumultuous fight follows between the lion among men and the lion among rakshasas, each seeking victory, both valiant, both hard to conquer, fighting like two planets in the sky, like Bali and Vritra, like two lions. Lakshmana looses arrows hissing like an angry serpent; at the sound of his bowstring the rakshasa lord turns pale. Vibhishana tells Lakshmana: I see signs in Ravana’s son; hurry, mighty-armed one; he is broken, no doubt. Lakshmana looses arrows like venomous serpents; struck by them, Indrajit is stunned for a moment, all his senses shaken. Recovering, he sees the hero standing there and rushes at him, eyes red with rage, and taunts him again: do you not remember my valour in the first battle, when you and your brother lay bound and writhing? I laid you both on the ground senseless with your leaders; either you have no memory or you plainly want to go to Yama’s abode. If you did not see my valour in the first battle, I will show it to you today; stand firm now. He pierces Lakshmana with seven arrows, Hanuman with ten, and in redoubled fury Vibhishana with a hundred. Rama’s younger brother laughs, saying “This is nothing”, and looses terrible arrows: heroes do not strike like this, night-wanderer; these arrows of yours are light, weak and pleasant; heroes who want battle do not fight like this. He rains arrows, and Indrajit’s great golden armour falls apart in the chariot like a net of stars from the sky; wounded, his armour stripped, Indrajit looks like the sun at dawn. In rage he pierces Lakshmana with a thousand arrows, and Lakshmana’s great divine armour falls apart. They give blow for blow, panting, fighting tumultuously, every limb cut by arrows and drenched in blood; for a very long time those great souls, skilled in war, cut each other with sharp arrows, each bent on victory; covered with arrows, armour and banners cut away, they pour out warm blood like springs pour water, and loose a terrible rain of arrows like two dark clouds in the rainy season. A long time passes, and neither turns from battle nor tires. Displaying weapon after weapon, they weave arrows of every shape in the sky, shooting flawlessly, lightly, wonderfully and well; the sound of their palms, heard separately, makes all tremble like a thunderclap, like two clouds roaring in the sky. Their gold-feathered arrows, falling on their bodies, come out smeared with blood and enter the earth; others clash with weapons in the sky, and thousands of their arrows break and split one another. The heap of arrows from their battle grows like the heap of kusha grass between two blazing fires at a sacrifice; their wounded bodies shine like flowering, leafless kimshuka and shalmali trees in a forest; pierced with deep-set arrows, they shine like mountains overgrown. Still neither tires. Then great-souled Vibhishana, to relieve the weariness of Lakshmana, never defeated at the head of battles, and to do what is dear and good, comes into the fight and takes his stand.
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विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा रावणिः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं क्रोधेनाभ्युत्पपात च ॥ १ ॥
Hearing Vibhishana’s words, Ravana’s son, overcome with anger, spoke harsh words and leapt forward in anger.
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Lakshmana and Indrajit Fight 1 min read.
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उद्यतायुधनिस्त्रिंशो रथे सुसमलंकृते । कालाश्वयुक्ते महति स्थितः कालान्तकोपमः ॥ २ ॥
With weapons and sword raised, standing in his great, well-adorned chariot yoked with black horses, like Death the ender,
महाप्रमाणमुद्यम्य विपुलं वेगवद् दृढम् । धनुर्भीमबलो भीमं शरांश्चामित्रनाशनान् ॥ ३ ॥
raising his huge, broad, swift, strong bow, terrible, the one of terrible strength, and arrows that destroy enemies,
तं ददर्श महेष्वासो रथस्थः समलंकृतः । अलंकृतममित्रघ्नो रावणस्यात्मजो बली ॥ ४ ॥
the great archer, standing in his chariot, adorned, mighty son of Ravana, slayer of enemies, saw him, adorned,
हनूमत्पृष्ठमारूढमुदयस्थरविप्रभम् । उवाचैनं सुसंरब्धः सौमित्रिं सविभीषणम् ॥ ५ ॥
mounted on Hanuman’s back, bright as the sun on the eastern mountain; very angry, he said to Saumitri with Vibhishana,
तांश्च वानरशार्दूलान् पश्यध्वं मे पराक्रमम् । अद्य मत्कार्मुकोत्सृष्टं शरवर्षं दुरासदम् ॥ ६ ॥
and to those tigers among monkeys: “See my valour. Today the unassailable rain of arrows loosed from my bow
मुक्तवर्षमिवाकाशे धारयिष्यथ संयुगे । अद्य वो मामका बाणा महाकार्मुकनिःसृताः । विधमिष्यन्ति गात्राणि तूलराशिमिवानलः ॥ ७ ॥
“you will bear in battle like rain loosed in the sky. Today my arrows, loosed from my great bow, will scatter your limbs as fire scatters a heap of cotton.
तीक्ष्णसायकनिर्भिन्नान् शूलशक्त्यृष्टितोमरैः । अद्य वो गमयिष्यामि सर्वानेव यमक्षयम् ॥ ८ ॥
“Today I will send all of you, split by sharp arrows, by tridents, spears, swords and lances, to Yama’s realm.
सृजतः शरवर्षाणि क्षिप्रहस्तस्य संयुगे । जीमूतस्येव नदतः कः स्थास्यति ममाग्रतः ॥ ९ ॥
“As I loose rains of arrows in battle with swift hands, roaring like a cloud, who will stand before me?
रात्रियुद्धे तदा पूर्वं वज्राशनिसमैः शरैः । शायितौ तौ मया भूयो विसंज्ञौ सपुरःसरौ ॥ १० ॥
“In the night battle before, with arrows like thunderbolts, I laid you two down again, senseless, with your leaders.
स्मृतिर्न तेऽस्ति वा मन्ये व्यक्तं यातो यमक्षयम् । आशीविषसमं क्रुद्धं यन्मां योद्धुमुपस्थितः ॥ ११ ॥
“You do not remember, or, I think, you have plainly gone to Yama’s realm, since you have come to fight me, angry like a poisonous snake.”
तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य गर्जितं राघवस्तदा । अभीतवदनः क्रुद्धो रावणिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ १२ ॥
Hearing that roaring of the rakshasa lord’s son, Raghava then, with fearless face, angry, said to Ravana’s son:
उक्तश्च दुर्गमः पारः कार्याणां राक्षस त्वया । कार्याणां कर्मणा पारं यो गच्छति स बुद्धिमान् ॥ १३ ॥
“You have proclaimed the far shore of tasks hard to reach, rakshasa; he who reaches the end of tasks by action is wise.
स त्वमर्थस्य हीनार्थो दुरवापस्य केनचित् । वाचा व्याहृत्य जानीषे कृतार्थोऽस्मीति दुर्मते ॥ १४ ॥
“Lacking the means to a thing hard for anyone to obtain, having merely said it in words, you think ‘I have achieved it’, fool.
अन्तर्धानगतेनाजौ यत्त्वया चरितस्तदा । तस्कराचरितो मार्गो नैष वीरनिषेवितः ॥ १५ ॥
“What you did in battle then, gone invisible, was the path of thieves, not one followed by heroes.
यथा बाणपथं प्राप्य स्थितोऽस्मि तव राक्षस । दर्शयस्वाद्य तत्तेजो वाचा त्वं किं विकत्थसे ॥ १६ ॥
“Now that I stand within range of your arrows, rakshasa, show that power today; why do you boast with words?”
एवमुक्तो धनुर्भीमं परामृश्य महाबलः । ससर्ज निशितान् बाणानिन्द्रजित् समितिंजयः ॥ १७ ॥
Spoken to so, mighty Indrajit, conqueror in battle, grasping his terrible bow, loosed sharp arrows.
तेन सृष्टा महावेगाः शराः सर्पविषोपमाः । सम्प्राप्य लक्ष्मणं पेतुः श्वसन्त इव पन्नगाः ॥ १८ ॥
Loosed by him, the very swift arrows, like serpents’ venom, reaching Lakshmana, fell like hissing snakes.
शरैरतिमहावेगैर्वेगवान् रावणात्मजः । सौमित्रिमिन्द्रजिद् युद्धे विव्याध शुभलक्षणम् ॥ १९ ॥
With very swift arrows the swift son of Ravana, Indrajit, pierced Saumitri of auspicious marks in battle.
स शरैरतिविद्धाङ्गो रुधिरेण समुक्षितः । शुशुभे लक्ष्मणः श्रीमान् विधूम इव पावकः ॥ २० ॥
His limbs deeply pierced by arrows, drenched with blood, glorious Lakshmana shone like a smokeless fire.
इन्द्रजित् त्वात्मनः कर्म प्रसमीक्ष्याभिगम्य च । विनद्य सुमहानादमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ २१ ॥
But Indrajit, looking at his own deed and coming up, roaring a very great roar, said these words:
पत्रिणः शितधारास्ते शरा मत्कार्मुकच्युताः । आदास्यन्तेऽद्य सौमित्रे जीवितं जीवितान्तकाः ॥ २२ ॥
“These feathered, sharp-edged arrows loosed from my bow, ending life, will take your life today, Saumitri.
अद्य गोमायुसङ्घाश्च श्येनसङ्घाश्च लक्ष्मण । गृध्राश्च निपतन्तु त्वां गतासुं निहतं मया ॥ २३ ॥
“Today let packs of jackals and flocks of hawks and vultures fall on you, Lakshmana, lifeless, killed by me.
क्षत्रबन्धुं सदानार्यं रामः परमदुर्मतिः । भक्तं भ्रातरमद्यैव त्वां द्रक्ष्यति हतं मया ॥ २४ ॥
“This very day Rama, the most foolish one, will see you, his devoted brother, a low kshatriya, always ignoble, killed by me,
विस्रस्तकवचं भूमौ व्यपविद्धशरासनम् । हृतोत्तमाङ्गं सौमित्रे त्वामद्य निहतं मया ॥ २५ ॥
“your armour loosened on the ground, your bow flung away, your head struck off, Saumitri, killed by me today.”
इति ब्रुवाणं संक्रुद्धः परुषं रावणात्मजम् । हेतुमद् वाक्यमर्थज्ञो लक्ष्मणः प्रत्युवाच ह ॥ २६ ॥
To Ravana’s son speaking so harshly, Lakshmana, knower of meaning, very angry, replied with words full of reason:
वाग्बलं त्यज दुर्बुद्धे क्रूरकर्मन् हि राक्षस । अथ कस्माद् वदस्येतत् सम्पादय सुकर्मणा ॥ २७ ॥
“Give up the strength of words, fool, rakshasa of cruel deeds. Why do you say this? Accomplish it by a good deed.
अकृत्वा कत्थसे कर्म किमर्थमिह राक्षस । कुरु तत् कर्म येनाहं श्रद्धेयं तव कत्थनम् ॥ २८ ॥
“Why do you boast here, rakshasa, of a deed not done? Do that deed by which your boasting could be believed.
अनुक्त्वा परुषं वाक्यं किंचिदप्यनवक्षिपन् । अविकत्थन् वधिष्यामि त्वां पश्य पुरुषादन ॥ २९ ॥
“Without speaking harsh words, without insulting you at all, without boasting, I will kill you; watch, eater of men.”
इत्युक्त्वा पञ्च नाराचानाकर्णापूरितान् शरान् । विजघान महावेगाल्लक्ष्मणो राक्षसोरसि ॥ ३० ॥
Having said this, Lakshmana drove five iron arrows, drawn to the ear, with great force into the rakshasa’s chest.
सुपत्रवाजिता बाणा ज्वलिता इव पन्नगाः । नैर्ऋतोरस्यभासन्त सवितू रश्मयो यथा ॥ ३१ ॥
The arrows, well feathered and swift, like blazing serpents, shone on the nairrita’s chest like the rays of the sun.
स शरैराहतस्तेन सरोषो रावणात्मजः । सुप्रयुक्तैस्त्रिभिर्बाणैः प्रतिविव्याध लक्ष्मणम् ॥ ३२ ॥
Struck by his arrows, Ravana’s son, enraged, pierced Lakshmana in return with three well-aimed arrows.
स बभूव महाभीमो नरराक्षससिंहयोः । विमर्दस्तुमुलो युद्धे परस्परजयैषिणोः ॥ ३३ ॥
There was a very terrible, tumultuous clash in battle between the lion among men and the lion among rakshasas, each seeking victory over the other.
विक्रान्तौ बलसम्पन्नावुभौ विक्रमशालिनौ । उभौ परमदुर्जेयावतुल्यबलतेजसौ ॥ ३४ ॥
Both valiant, endowed with strength, both full of courage, both very hard to conquer, of unequalled strength and splendour,
युयुधाते तदा वीरौ ग्रहाविव नभोगतौ । बलवृत्राविव हि तौ युधि वै दुष्प्रधर्षणौ ॥ ३५ ॥
the two heroes fought then like two planets in the sky; like Bali and Vritra they were in battle, hard to assail.
युयुधाते महात्मानौ तदा केसरिणाविव । बहूनवसृजन्तौ हि मार्गणौघानवस्थितौ । नरराक्षसमुख्यौ तौ प्रहृष्टावभ्ययुध्यताम् ॥ ३६ ॥
The great souls fought then like two lions; standing firm, loosing many floods of arrows, those two chiefs of men and rakshasas fought with delight.
ततः शरान् दाशरथिः संधायामित्रकर्षणः । ससर्ज राक्षसेन्द्राय क्रुद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन् ॥ ३७ ॥
Then the son of Dasharatha, tamer of enemies, fitting arrows, loosed them at the rakshasa lord in anger, hissing like a snake.
तस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं स श्रुत्वा राक्षसाधिपः । विवर्णवदनो भूत्वा लक्ष्मणं समुदैक्षत ॥ ३८ ॥
Hearing the sound of his bowstring and palm, that lord of the rakshasas turned pale in the face and looked at Lakshmana.
विवर्णवदनं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं रावणात्मजम् । सौमित्रिं युद्धसंयुक्तं प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः ॥ ३९ ॥
Seeing the rakshasa, Ravana’s son, pale in the face, Vibhishana said to Saumitri, engaged in battle:
निमित्तान्युपपश्यामि यान्यस्मिन् रावणात्मजे । त्वर तेन महाबाहो भग्न एष न संशयः ॥ ४० ॥
“I see signs in this son of Ravana; hurry, therefore, mighty-armed one; he is broken, there is no doubt.”
ततः संधाय सौमित्रिः शरानाशीविषोपमान् । मुमोच विशिखांस्तस्मिन् सर्पानिव विषोल्बणान् ॥ ४१ ॥
Then Saumitri, fitting arrows like poisonous snakes, loosed at him shafts like serpents fierce with venom.
शक्राशनिसमस्पर्शैर्लक्ष्मणेनाहतः शरैः । मुहूर्तमभवन्मूढः सर्वसंक्षुभितेन्द्रियः ॥ ४२ ॥
Struck by Lakshmana’s arrows, whose touch was like Shakra’s thunderbolt, he was stunned for a moment, all his senses shaken.
उपलभ्य मुहूर्तेन संज्ञां प्रत्यागतेन्द्रियः । ददर्शावस्थितं वीरमाजौ दशरथात्मजम् । सोऽभिचक्राम सौमित्रिं रोषात् संरक्तलोचनः ॥ ४३ ॥
Regaining consciousness in a moment, his senses restored, he saw the hero, Dasharatha’s son, standing in battle; he advanced on Saumitri, his eyes reddened with rage,
अब्रवीच्चैनमासाद्य पुनः स परुषं वचः । किं न स्मरसि तद् युद्धे प्रथमे मत्पराक्रमम् । निबद्धस्त्वं सह भ्रात्रा यदा युधि विचेष्टसे ॥ ४४ ॥
and coming up to him, he spoke harsh words again: “Do you not remember my valour in that first battle, when you were bound with your brother and writhed in battle?
युवां खलु महायुद्धे वज्राशनिसमैः शरैः । शायितौ प्रथमं भूमौ विसंज्ञौ सपुरःसरौ ॥ ४५ ॥
“You two, surely, in the great battle, were first laid on the ground senseless with your leaders, by arrows like thunderbolts.
स्मृतिर्वा नास्ति ते मन्ये व्यक्तं वा यमसादनम् । गन्तुमिच्छसि यन्मां त्वमाधर्षयितुमिच्छसि ॥ ४६ ॥
“Either you have no memory, I think, or you plainly wish to go to Yama’s abode, since you wish to assail me.
यदि ते प्रथमे युद्धे न दृष्टो मत्पराक्रमः । अद्य त्वां दर्शयिष्यामि तिष्ठेदानीं व्यवस्थितः ॥ ४७ ॥
“If my valour was not seen by you in the first battle, I will show it to you today; stand firm now.”
इत्युक्त्वा सप्तभिर्बाणैरभिविव्याध लक्ष्मणम् । दशभिस्तु हनूमन्तं तीक्ष्णधारैः शरोत्तमैः ॥ ४८ ॥
Having said this, he pierced Lakshmana with seven arrows, and Hanuman with ten fine, sharp-edged arrows.
ततः शरशतेनैव सुप्रयुक्तेन वीर्यवान् । क्रोधाद् द्विगुणसंरब्धो निर्बिभेद विभीषणम् ॥ ४९ ॥
Then, with a hundred well-aimed arrows, the valiant one, doubly enraged in anger, pierced Vibhishana.
तद् दृष्ट्वेन्द्रजिता कर्म कृतं रामानुजस्तदा । अचिन्तयित्वा प्रहसन्नैतत् किंचिदिति ब्रुवन् ॥ ५० ॥
Seeing that deed done by Indrajit, Rama’s younger brother then, paying no heed, laughing, saying “This is nothing”,
मुमोच च शरान् घोरान् संगृह्य नरपुंगवः । अभीतवदनः क्रुद्धो रावणिं लक्ष्मणो युधि ॥ ५१ ॥
took and loosed terrible arrows, the bull among men, Lakshmana, fearless in face, angry, at Ravana’s son in battle:
नैवं रणगताः शूराः प्रहरन्ति निशाचर । लघवश्चाल्पवीर्याश्च शरा हीमे सुखास्तव ॥ ५२ ॥
“Heroes gone to battle do not strike like this, night-wanderer; these arrows of yours are light, of little force, and pleasant.
नैवं शूरास्तु युध्यन्ते समरे युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः । इत्येवं तं ब्रुवन् धन्वी शरैरभिववर्ष ह ॥ ५३ ॥
“Heroes eager for battle do not fight like this in war.” Saying this to him, the bowman rained arrows on him.
तस्य बाणैः सुविध्वस्तं कवचं काञ्चनं महत् । व्यशीर्यत रथोपस्थे ताराजालमिवाम्बरात् ॥ ५४ ॥
His great golden armour, well shattered by his arrows, fell apart on the floor of the chariot like a net of stars from the sky.
विधूतवर्मा नाराचैर्बभूव स कृतव्रणः । इन्द्रजित् समरे वीरः प्रत्यूषे भानुमानिव ॥ ५५ ॥
His armour shaken off by the iron arrows, wounded, Indrajit, the hero, was in battle like the sun at dawn.
ततः शरसहस्रेण संक्रुद्धो रावणात्मजः । बिभेद समरे वीरो लक्ष्मणं भीमविक्रमः ॥ ५६ ॥
Then, very angry, Ravana’s son, the hero of terrible valour, split Lakshmana in battle with a thousand arrows.
व्यशीर्यत महद्दिव्यं कवचं लक्ष्मणस्य तु । कृतप्रतिकृतान्योन्यं बभूवतुररिंदमौ ॥ ५७ ॥
Lakshmana’s great divine armour fell apart; the two tamers of enemies gave blow for blow to each other.
अभीक्ष्णं निःश्वसन्तौ तौ युध्येतां तुमुलं युधि । शरसंकृत्तसर्वाङ्गौ सर्वतो रुधिरोक्षितौ ॥ ५८ ॥
Panting again and again, the two fought tumultuously in battle, all their limbs cut by arrows, drenched with blood on every side.
सुदीर्घकालं तौ वीरावन्योन्यं निशितैः शरैः । ततक्षतुर्महात्मानौ रणकर्मविशारदौ । बभूवतुश्चात्मजये यत्तौ भीमपराक्रमौ ॥ ५९ ॥
For a very long time the two heroes, great souls skilled in the work of battle, cut each other with sharp arrows; and the two of terrible valour were intent on victory for themselves.
तौ शरौघैस्तथाकीर्णौ निकृत्तकवचध्वजौ । सृजन्तौ रुधिरं चोष्णं जलं प्रस्रवणाविव ॥ ६० ॥
Covered so with floods of arrows, their armour and banners cut away, they poured out warm blood, as two springs pour water.
शरवर्षं ततो घोरं मुञ्चतोर्भीमनिःस्वनम् । सासारयोरिवाकाशे नीलयोः कालमेघयोः ॥ ६१ ॥
Then, loosing a terrible rain of arrows with a terrible sound, they were like two dark clouds of the rainy season in the sky, with their downpour.
तयोरथ महान् कालो व्यतीयाद् युध्यमानयोः । न च तौ युद्धवैमुख्यं क्लमं चाप्युपजग्मतुः ॥ ६२ ॥
Then a long time passed as they fought, and they came neither to turning from battle nor to weariness.
अस्त्राण्यस्त्रविदां श्रेष्ठौ दर्शयन्तौ पुनः पुनः । शरानुच्चावचाकारानन्तरिक्षे बबन्धतुः ॥ ६३ ॥
The two best of weapon-knowers, displaying weapons again and again, bound arrows of high and low shapes in the sky.
व्यपेतदोषमस्यन्तौ लघु चित्रं च सुष्ठु च । उभौ तु तुमुलं घोरं चक्रतुर्नरराक्षसौ ॥ ६४ ॥
Shooting free of fault, lightly, wonderfully and well, both the man and the rakshasa made a tumultuous, terrible fight.
तयोः पृथक् पृथग् भीमः शुश्रुवे तलनिस्वनः । स कम्पं जनयामास निर्घात इव दारुणः ॥ ६५ ॥
The terrible sound of their palms was heard separately; it caused trembling, like a dreadful thunderclap.
तयोः स भ्राजते शब्दस्तथा समरमत्तयोः । सुघोरयोर्निष्टनतोर्गगने मेघयोरिव ॥ ६६ ॥
That sound of the two, mad with battle, rang out like that of two very terrible clouds thundering in the sky.
सुवर्णपुंखैर्नाराचैर्बलवन्तौ कृतव्रणौ । प्रसुस्रुवाते रुधिरं कीर्तिमन्तौ जये धृतौ ॥ ६७ ॥
Wounded by gold-feathered iron arrows, the two mighty ones poured out blood, famous, set on victory.
ते गात्रयोर्निपतिता रुक्मपुंखाः शरा युधि । असृग्दिग्धा विनिष्पेतुर्विविशुर्धरणीतलम् ॥ ६८ ॥
Falling on their bodies in battle, the gold-feathered arrows came out smeared with blood and entered the ground.
अन्ये सुनिशितैः शस्त्रैराकाशे संजघट्टिरे । बभञ्जुश्चिच्छिदुश्चैव तयोर्बाणाः सहस्रशः ॥ ६९ ॥
Others clashed in the sky with very sharp weapons; their arrows broke and cut one another by thousands.
स बभूव रणो घोरस्तयोर्बाणमयश्चयः । अग्निभ्यामिव दीप्ताभ्यां सत्रे कुशमयश्चयः ॥ ७० ॥
That terrible heap made of arrows in their battle was like the heap of kusha grass between two blazing fires at a sacrifice.
तयोः कृतव्रणौ देहौ शुशुभाते महात्मनोः । सुपुष्पाविव निष्पत्रौ वने किंशुकशाल्मली ॥ ७१ ॥
The wounded bodies of those two great souls shone like a flowering kimshuka and shalmali, leafless, in a forest.
चक्रतुस्तुमुलं घोरं संनिपातं मुहुर्मुहुः । इन्द्रजिल्लक्ष्मणश्चैव परस्परजयैषिणौ ॥ ७२ ॥
They made a tumultuous, terrible clash again and again, Indrajit and Lakshmana, each seeking victory over the other.
लक्ष्मणो रावणिं युद्धे रावणिश्चापि लक्ष्मणम् । अन्योन्यं तावभिघ्नन्तौ न श्रमं प्रतिपद्यताम् ॥ ७३ ॥
Lakshmana striking Ravana’s son in battle and Ravana’s son striking Lakshmana, striking each other, the two did not grow weary.
बाणजालैः शरीरस्थैरवगाढैस्तरस्विनौ । शुशुभाते महावीर्यौ प्ररूढाविव पर्वतौ ॥ ७४ ॥
With nets of arrows lodged deep in their bodies, the two swift ones of great valour shone like two mountains grown over.
तयो रुधिरसिक्तानि संवृतानि शरैर्भृशम् । बभ्राजुः सर्वगात्राणि ज्वलन्त इव पावकाः ॥ ७५ ॥
All their limbs, sprinkled with blood and thickly covered with arrows, shone like blazing fires.
तयोरथ महान् कालो व्यतीयाद् युध्यमानयोः । न च तौ युद्धवैमुख्यं श्रमं चाप्यभिजग्मतुः ॥ ७६ ॥
Then a long time passed as they fought, and they came neither to turning from battle nor to weariness.
अथ समरपरिश्रमं निहन्तुं समरमुखेष्वजितस्य लक्ष्मणस्य । प्रियहितमुपपादयन् महात्मा समरमुपेत्य विभीषणोऽवतस्थे ॥ ७७ ॥
Then, to remove the weariness of battle of Lakshmana, unconquered at the heads of battles, doing what was dear and good, great-souled Vibhishana came into the battle and took his stand.