Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 89 of 128 · 53 verses
Lakshmana Kills Indrajit’s Charioteer
Seeing the man and the rakshasa locked in battle like two elephants in rut, each seeking victory, mighty Vibhishana, Ravana’s brother, takes his stand at the head of the battle with his fine bow, twangs it and looses sharp arrows among the rakshasas, which fall like fire and scatter them as thunderbolts shatter mountains; his followers cut down rakshasa heroes with spears, swords and axes. Among them he looks like an elephant among frisking calves. At the right moment he urges on the monkeys: this one alone is left as the rakshasa king’s last refuge; this is the remnant of his strength; why do you stand still, lords of the monkeys? When this evil rakshasa is killed at the head of battle, all Ravana’s strength except himself is gone. Heroic Prahasta has been killed, and mighty Nikumbha, Kumbhakarna, Kumbha and Dhumraksha, Jambumali, Mahamali, Tikshnavega, Ashaniprabha, Suptaghna, Yajnakopa, Vajradamshtra, Samhradi, Vikata, Arighna, Tapana, Manda, Praghasa, Praghasa, Prajangha, Jangha, Agniketu, Rashmiketu, Vidyujjihva, Dvijihva, Suryashatru, Akampana, Suparshva, Chakramali, Kampana, and the strong Devantaka and Narantaka. Having killed so many very mighty rakshasas, you have swum the ocean with your arms; leap now this little cow’s hoofprint. This is all that is left for you to conquer, monkeys; all the rakshasas proud of their strength have been killed. It is not right for me to kill the son of my own father’s line; but casting off pity, for Rama’s sake I would kill my brother’s son; yet when I want to kill him, tears block my eyes. Mighty-armed Lakshmana will finish him. Monkeys, join together and kill the attendants near him.
Roused, the monkey lords rejoice, lash their tails and shriek and roar like peacocks seeing clouds. Jambavan with his own troops strikes the rakshasas with stones, claws and teeth; the rakshasas surround him, fearless, with arrows, axes, javelins, staves and lances, and a tumultuous fight arises like that of gods and asuras. Hanuman, setting Lakshmana down from his back, tears up a sala tree and slaughters rakshasas by thousands. Indrajit, having given his uncle a fierce fight, rushes at Lakshmana again. The two shower arrows, hiding each other again and again like the moon and sun behind clouds at summer’s end. So swift are their hands that no one sees them take arrows, fit them, hold the bow, loose, draw, grip or aim. The sky is so filled with arrows from their bows that no forms can be seen; it becomes dark as if solid, and the directions are crowded with arrows. When the sun sets and darkness covers everything, great rivers of blood flow by thousands; terrible flesh-eaters howl; no wind blows, no fire burns; great sages murmur “May it be well with the worlds”; gandharvas and charanas gather in distress.
Then Saumitri pierces the four black, gold-adorned horses of the lion among rakshasas with four arrows, and with another broad-headed, sharp, yellow, well-feathered arrow, like great Indra’s thunderbolt, drawn full and loosed with the sound of his palm, he swiftly strikes the head of the moving charioteer from his body. With his driver dead, the radiant son of Mandodari takes the reins himself and grips his bow again; those who watch are amazed by his charioteering; but whenever his hands are busy with the horses, Lakshmana pierces him with sharp arrows, and whenever they are busy with the bow, he shoots the horses, harassing him without fear in those openings. Seeing his driver killed, Ravana’s son loses his eagerness for battle and grows despondent; the monkey leaders, seeing his face fall, honour Lakshmana with delight. Then four monkey lords, Pramathi, Rabhasa, Sharabha and Gandhamadana, unable to bear it, leap quickly onto his four chief horses; under those mountain-like monkeys the horses pour blood from their mouths and fall dead, crushed; the monkeys smash the great chariot and leap back to Lakshmana’s side. Leaping down from the chariot whose horses and driver are dead, Indrajit rushes at Saumitri with a rain of arrows; and Lakshmana, like great Indra, tears him deeply with hosts of arrows as he stands on foot, his fine horses killed, loosing sharp arrows in battle.
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युध्यमानौ ततो दृष्ट्वा प्रसक्तौ नरराक्षसौ । प्रभिन्नाविव मातङ्गौ परस्परजयैषिणौ ॥ १ ॥
Then, seeing the man and the rakshasa locked in battle like two elephants in rut, each seeking victory over the other,
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Lakshmana Kills Indrajit’s Charioteer 1 min read.
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तयोर्युद्धं द्रष्टुकामो वरचापधरो बली । शूरः स रावणभ्राता तस्थौ संग्राममूर्धनि ॥ २ ॥
wishing to see their battle, the mighty hero, Ravana’s brother, bearing a fine bow, stood at the head of the battle.
ततो विस्फारयामास महद् धनुरवस्थितः । उत्ससर्ज च तीक्ष्णाग्रान् राक्षसेषु महाशरान् ॥ ३ ॥
Then, standing there, he twanged his great bow and loosed sharp-pointed great arrows among the rakshasas.
ते शराः शिखिसंस्पर्शा निपतन्तः समाहिताः । राक्षसान् द्रावयामासुर्वज्राणीव महागिरीन् ॥ ४ ॥
Those arrows, with the touch of fire, falling well aimed, drove the rakshasas back, as thunderbolts drive great mountains.
विभीषणस्यानुचरास्तेऽपि शूलासिपट्टिशैः । चिच्छिदुः समरे वीरान् राक्षसान् राक्षसोत्तमाः ॥ ५ ॥
And Vibhishana’s followers too, the best of rakshasas, cut down heroic rakshasas in battle with spears, swords and axes.
राक्षसैस्तैः परिवृतः स तदा तु विभीषणः । बभौ मध्ये प्रधृष्टानां कलभानामिव द्विपः ॥ ६ ॥
Surrounded by those rakshasas, Vibhishana shone then like an elephant among frisking elephant calves.
ततः संचोदमानो वै हरीन् रक्षोवधप्रियान् । उवाच वचनं काले कालज्ञो रक्षसां वरः ॥ ७ ॥
Then, urging on the monkeys, who delighted in killing rakshasas, the best of rakshasas, knowing the right time, said at the right time:
एकोऽयं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य परायणमवस्थितः । एतच्छेषं बलं तस्य किं तिष्ठत हरीश्वराः ॥ ८ ॥
“This one alone stands as the last refuge of the rakshasa king; this is the remnant of his strength. Why do you stand still, lords of the monkeys?
अस्मिंश्च निहते पापे राक्षसे रणमूर्धनि । रावणं वर्जयित्वा तु शेषमस्य बलं हतम् ॥ ९ ॥
“And when this evil rakshasa is killed at the head of battle, except for Ravana, the rest of his strength is killed.
प्रहस्तो निहतो वीरो निकुम्भश्च महाबलः । कुम्भकर्णश्च कुम्भश्च धूम्राक्षश्च निशाचरः ॥ १० ॥
“Heroic Prahasta has been killed, and mighty Nikumbha, Kumbhakarna and Kumbha, and the night-wanderer Dhumraksha,
जम्बुमाली महामाली तीक्ष्णवेगोऽशनिप्रभः । सुप्तघ्नो यज्ञकोपश्च वज्रदंष्ट्रश्च राक्षसः ॥ ११ ॥
“Jambumali, Mahamali, Tikshnavega, Ashaniprabha, Suptaghna, Yajnakopa and the rakshasa Vajradamshtra,
संह्रादी विकटोऽरिघ्नस्तपनो मन्द एव च । प्रघासः प्रघसश्चैव प्रजङ्घो जङ्घ एव च ॥ १२ ॥
“Samhradi, Vikata, Arighna, Tapana and Manda, Praghasa and Praghasa, Prajangha and Jangha,
अग्निकेतुश्च दुर्धर्षो रश्मिकेतुश्च वीर्यवान् । विद्युज्जिह्वो द्विजिह्वश्च सूर्यशत्रुश्च राक्षसः ॥ १३ ॥
“unassailable Agniketu and valiant Rashmiketu, Vidyujjihva, Dvijihva and the rakshasa Suryashatru,
अकम्पनः सुपार्श्वश्च चक्रमाली च राक्षसः । कम्पनः सत्त्ववन्तौ तौ देवान्तकनरान्तकौ ॥ १४ ॥
“Akampana, Suparshva and the rakshasa Chakramali, Kampana, and those two strong ones, Devantaka and Narantaka.
एतान् निहत्यातिबलान् बहून् राक्षससत्तमान् । बाहुभ्यां सागरं तीर्त्वा लङ्घ्यतां गोष्पदं लघु ॥ १५ ॥
“Having killed these many very mighty, foremost rakshasas, having crossed the ocean with your arms, leap lightly over this cow’s hoofprint.
एतावदेव शेषं वो जेतव्यमिति वानराः । हताः सर्वे समागम्य राक्षसा बलदर्पिताः ॥ १६ ॥
“Only this much is left for you to conquer, monkeys; all the rakshasas proud of their strength who came against you have been killed.
अयुक्तं निधनं कर्तुं पुत्रस्य जनितुर्मम । घृणामपास्य रामार्थे निहन्यां भ्रातुरात्मजम् ॥ १७ ॥
“It is not right for me to bring about the death of the son of my begetter’s line; casting off pity, for Rama’s sake, I would kill my brother’s son.
हन्तुकामस्य मे बाष्पं चक्षुश्चैव निरुध्यति । तमेवैष महाबाहुर्लक्ष्मणः शमयिष्यति ॥ १८ ॥
“But as I wish to kill him, tears block my eyes. This mighty-armed Lakshmana will put an end to him.
वानरा घ्नत सम्भूय भृत्यानस्य समीपगान् । इति तेनातियशसा राक्षसेनाभिचोदिताः ॥ १९ ॥
“Monkeys, join together and kill the servants near him.” Urged on so by that very famous rakshasa,
वानरेन्द्रा जहृषिरे लाङ्गूलानि च विव्यधुः । ततस्तु कपिशार्दूलाः क्ष्वेडन्तश्च पुनः पुनः । मुमुचुर्विविधान् नादान् मेघान् दृष्ट्वेव बर्हिणः ॥ २० ॥
the monkey lords rejoiced and lashed their tails. Then the tigers among monkeys, shrieking again and again, let out many kinds of cries, like peacocks seeing clouds.
जाम्बवानपि तैः सर्वैः स्वयूथ्यैरभिसंवृतः । तेऽश्मभिस्ताडयामासुर्नखैर्दन्तैश्च राक्षसान् ॥ २१ ॥
Jambavan too, surrounded by all his own troops: they struck the rakshasas with stones, with claws and teeth.
निघ्नन्तमृक्षाधिपतिं राक्षसास्ते महाबलाः । परिवव्रुर्भयं त्यक्त्वा तमनेकविधायुधाः ॥ २२ ॥
Those very mighty rakshasas, casting off fear, with many kinds of weapons, surrounded the lord of the bears as he struck.
शरैः परशुभिस्तीक्ष्णैः पट्टिशैर्यष्टितोमरैः । जाम्बवन्तं मृधे जघ्नुर्निघ्नन्तं राक्षसीं चमूम् ॥ २३ ॥
With arrows, sharp axes, javelins, staves and lances, they struck Jambavan in battle as he slaughtered the rakshasa army.
स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलः संजज्ञे कपिरक्षसाम् । देवासुराणां क्रुद्धानां यथा भीमो महास्वनः ॥ २४ ॥
That tumultuous clash of monkeys and rakshasas arose, terrible and very loud, like that of angry gods and asuras.
हनूमानपि संक्रुद्धः सालमुत्पाट्य पर्वतात् । स लक्ष्मणं स्वयं पृष्ठादवरोप्य महामनाः ॥ २५ ॥
Hanuman too, enraged, tearing up a sala from the mountain, the great-minded one, setting Lakshmana down himself from his back,
रक्षसां कदनं चक्रे दुरासादः सहस्रशः । स दत्त्वा तुमुलं युद्धं पितृव्यस्येन्द्रजिद् बली ॥ २६ ॥
the unassailable one, made slaughter of the rakshasas by thousands. Having given his uncle a tumultuous fight, mighty Indrajit,
लक्ष्मणं परवीरघ्नः पुनरेवाभ्यधावत । तौ प्रयुद्धौ तदा वीरौ मृधे लक्ष्मणराक्षसौ ॥ २७ ॥
slayer of enemy heroes, rushed at Lakshmana again. Then those two heroes, Lakshmana and the rakshasa, fought in battle;
शरौघानभिवर्षन्तौ जघ्नतुस्तौ परस्परम् । अभीक्ष्णमन्तर्दधतुः शरजालैर्महाबलौ ॥ २८ ॥
raining floods of arrows, they struck each other; the two mighty ones hid themselves again and again with nets of arrows,
चन्द्रादित्याविवोष्णान्ते यथा मेघैस्तरस्विनौ । नह्यादानं न संधानं धनुषो वा परिग्रहः ॥ २९ ॥
like the swift moon and sun by clouds at the end of the hot season. Neither the taking, nor the fitting, nor the gripping of the bow,
न विप्रमोक्षो बाणानां न विकर्षो न विग्रहः । न मुष्टिप्रतिसंधानं न लक्ष्यप्रतिपादनम् ॥ ३० ॥
nor the loosing of arrows, nor the drawing, nor the stance, nor the setting of the fist, nor the finding of the target
अदृश्यत तयोस्तत्र युध्यतोः पाणिलाघवात् । चापवेगप्रयुक्तैश्च बाणजालैः समन्ततः ॥ ३१ ॥
was seen in them as they fought there, from the swiftness of their hands. With nets of arrows loosed by the force of their bows on every side,
अन्तरिक्षेऽभिसम्पन्ने न रूपाणि चकाशिरे । लक्ष्मणो रावणिं प्राप्य रावणिश्चापि लक्ष्मणम् ॥ ३२ ॥
the sky being filled, no forms appeared. Lakshmana reaching Ravana’s son, and Ravana’s son reaching Lakshmana,
अव्यवस्था भवत्युग्रा ताभ्यामन्योन्यविग्रहे । ताभ्यामुभाभ्यां तरसा प्रसृष्टैर्विशिखैः शितैः ॥ ३३ ॥
fierce confusion arose in their struggle with each other. With sharp arrows loosed by both of them with force,
निरन्तरमिवाकाशं बभूव तमसा वृतम् । तैः पतद्भिश्च बहुभिस्तयोः शरशतैः शितैः ॥ ३४ ॥
the sky became as if solid, covered with darkness. With those many hundreds of sharp arrows of theirs falling,
दिशश्च प्रदिशश्चैव बभूवुः शरसंकुलाः । तमसा पिहितं सर्वमासीत् प्रतिभयं महत् ॥ ३५ ॥
the directions and intermediate directions were crowded with arrows; everything was covered with darkness; there was great fear.
अस्तं गते सहस्रांशौ संवृते तमसा च वै । रुधिरौघा महानद्यः प्रावर्तन्त सहस्रशः ॥ ३६ ॥
When the thousand-rayed sun had set and all was covered with darkness, great rivers of streams of blood flowed by thousands.
क्रव्यादा दारुणा वाग्भिश्चिक्षिपुर्भीमनिःस्वनान् । न तदानीं ववौ वायुर्न च जज्वाल पावकः ॥ ३७ ॥
Fierce flesh-eaters threw out terrible cries with their voices; no wind blew then, and no fire burned.
स्वस्त्यस्तु लोकेभ्य इति जजल्पुस्ते महर्षयः । सम्पेतुश्चात्र संतप्ता गन्धर्वाः सह चारणैः ॥ ३८ ॥
The great sages murmured, “May it be well with the worlds”; and the gandharvas, distressed, gathered there with the charanas.
अथ राक्षससिंहस्य कृष्णान् कनकभूषणान् । शरैश्चतुर्भिः सौमित्रिर्विव्याध चतुरो हयान् ॥ ३९ ॥
Then Saumitri pierced with four arrows the four black, gold-adorned horses of the lion among rakshasas.
ततोऽपरेण भल्लेन पीतेन निशितेन च । सम्पूर्णायतमुक्तेन सुपत्रेण सुवर्चसा ॥ ४० ॥
Then, with another broad-headed arrow, yellow and sharp, loosed at full stretch, well feathered, very bright,
महेन्द्राशनिकल्पेन सूतस्य विचरिष्यतः । स तेन बाणाशनिना तलशब्दानुनादिना ॥ ४१ ॥
like great Indra’s thunderbolt, at the charioteer as he moved about, with that thunderbolt of an arrow, resounding with the sound of his palm,
लाघवाद् राघवः श्रीमान् शिरः कायादपाहरत् । स यन्तरि महातेजा हते मन्दोदरीसुतः ॥ ४२ ॥
glorious Raghava, from swiftness, took the head from the body. When the driver was killed, the radiant son of Mandodari
स्वयं सारथ्यमकरोत् पुनश्च धनुरस्पृशत् । तदद्भुतमभूत् तत्र सारथ्यं पश्यतां युधि ॥ ४३ ॥
himself did the charioteer’s work and grasped his bow again. That charioteering was a wonder there to those who watched in battle.
हयेषु व्यग्रहस्तं तं विव्याध निशितैः शरैः । धनुष्यथ पुनर्व्यग्रं हयेषु मुमुचे शरान् ॥ ४४ ॥
When his hand was busy with the horses, he pierced him with sharp arrows; when it was busy again with the bow, he loosed arrows at the horses.
छिद्रेषु तेषु बाणौघैर्विचरन्तमभीतवत् । अर्दयामास समरे सौमित्रिः शीघ्रकृत्तमः ॥ ४५ ॥
In those openings Saumitri, swiftest of doers, harassed him in battle with floods of arrows as he moved about as if fearless.
निहतं सारथिं दृष्ट्वा समरे रावणात्मजः । प्रजहौ समरोद्धर्षं विषण्णः स बभूव ह ॥ ४६ ॥
Seeing his charioteer killed in battle, Ravana’s son gave up his eagerness for battle and became despondent.
विषण्णवदनं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसं हरियूथपाः । ततः परमसंहृष्टा लक्ष्मणं चाभ्यपूजयन् ॥ ४७ ॥
Seeing the rakshasa downcast in face, the monkey troop leaders, then greatly delighted, honoured Lakshmana.
ततः प्रमाथी रभसः शरभो गन्धमादनः । अमृष्यमाणाश्चत्वारश्चक्रुर्वेगं हरीश्वराः ॥ ४८ ॥
Then Pramathi, Rabhasa, Sharabha and Gandhamadana, the four monkey lords, not bearing it, made a rush.
ते चास्य हयमुख्येषु तूर्णमुत्पत्य वानराः । चतुर्षु सुमहावीर्या निपेतुर्भीमविक्रमाः ॥ ४९ ॥
Leaping quickly, those monkeys of very great valour and terrible prowess fell on his four chief horses.
तेषामधिष्ठितानां तैर्वानरैः पर्वतोपमैः । मुखेभ्यो रुधिरं व्यक्तं हयानां समवर्तत ॥ ५० ॥
As they were mounted by those monkeys like mountains, blood plainly poured from the mouths of the horses.
ते हया मथिता भग्ना व्यसवो धरणीं गताः । ते निहत्य हयांस्तस्य प्रमथ्य च महारथम् । पुनरुत्पत्य वेगेन तस्थुर्लक्ष्मणपार्श्वतः ॥ ५१ ॥
Those horses, crushed and broken, lifeless, went to the ground. Having killed his horses and crushed the great chariot, they leapt back again with speed and stood at Lakshmana’s side.
स हताश्वादवप्लुत्य रथान्मथितसारथिः । शरवर्षेण सौमित्रिमभ्यधावत रावणिः ॥ ५२ ॥
Leaping down from the chariot whose horses were killed and whose driver was crushed, Ravana’s son rushed at Saumitri with a rain of arrows.
ततो महेन्द्रप्रतिमः स लक्ष्मणः पदातिनं तं निहतैर्हयोत्तमैः । सृजन्तमाजौ निशितान् शरोत्तमान् भृशं तदा बाणगणैर्व्यदारयत् ॥ ५३ ॥
Then that Lakshmana, like great Indra, tore him deeply with hosts of arrows, as he stood on foot, his fine horses killed, loosing sharp, excellent arrows in battle.