Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 97 of 128 · 38 verses
Sugriva Kills Mahodara
As the two armies kill each other swiftly in the great battle, they shrink like ponds in a great summer heat. With his army destroyed and Virupaksha killed, Ravana grows twice as angry; seeing his forces wasting away under the monkeys, he is pained at this reversal of fate. He tells Mahodara, standing beside him: at this moment, mighty-armed one, my hope of victory rests on you. Kill the enemy army, hero; show your valour today; now is the time to repay your master’s bread; fight well. Mahodara agrees and plunges into the enemy army like a moth into fire, making slaughter of the monkeys, spurred by his master’s words and his own valour, while the monkeys, taking great rocks, kill rakshasas. Enraged, Mahodara cuts off monkeys’ hands, feet and thighs with gold-adorned arrows; some flee in all directions, some take refuge with Sugriva.
Seeing the great monkey army broken, Sugriva rushes at Mahodara and hurls a huge rock like a mountain; Mahodara, unflustered, splits it into a thousand pieces with floods of arrows, and it falls like a wheeling flock of vultures. Sugriva, mad with anger, tears up a sala and hurls it; Mahodara cuts it to pieces and tears into Sugriva with arrows. Seeing an iron bar lying on the ground, Sugriva whirls it, shows it to him and with a fierce blow kills his fine horses. Mahodara leaps from his great chariot and takes up a mace. Mace and bar in hand, the two heroes meet, roaring like bulls, like clouds with lightning. Mahodara hurls his blazing, sun-bright mace; Sugriva, eyes red with anger, raises his bar and strikes the mace, and the bar, broken, falls to the ground. Sugriva picks up an iron pestle, terrible, gold-adorned all over, and hurls it; Mahodara hurls his mace; they meet, break and fall. Their weapons broken, the two meet with fists, blazing with energy like two fires; they strike each other, roar again and again, strike with open hands, fall to the ground, spring up quickly, strike again and throw each other with their arms, undefeated. Wearied in the arm-fight, the two scorchers of enemies find weapons: mighty Mahodara grabs a sword lying near, with a shield, and Sugriva, still swifter, grabs a great sword and shield that have fallen. Their bodies filled with rage, the two, skilled in weapons, rush at each other roaring with raised swords, circling swiftly to the right, each intent on victory. The brave, swift, boastful, evil-minded Mahodara brings his sword down on Sugriva’s great armour; as he pulls out the stuck blade, the elephant among monkeys strikes off with his sword Mahodara’s head, with its helmet and earrings. With him fallen headless on the ground, the rakshasa king’s army there vanishes from sight. The monkey roars with joy with the monkeys; Ten-necked is enraged, and Raghava rejoices. All the rakshasas, downcast and wretched, flee in terror. Having laid Mahodara on the ground like a fallen part of a great mountain, the son of the Sun shines there with splendour, unassailable as the sun with its own rays; having won the victory at the front of the battle, the monkey king is watched by hosts of gods, siddhas and yakshas and by the beings on the earth, filled with joy.
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हन्यमाने बले तूर्णमन्योन्यं ते महामृधे । सरसीव महाघर्मे सूपक्षीणे बभूवतुः ॥ १ ॥
As the two armies were swiftly killing each other in the great battle, they became like ponds in great heat, very much wasted.
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स्वबलस्य तु घातेन विरूपाक्षवधेन च । बभूव द्विगुणं क्रुद्धो रावणो राक्षसाधिपः ॥ २ ॥
By the slaughter of his own army and the killing of Virupaksha, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, became twice as angry.
प्रक्षीणं स्वबलं दृष्ट्वा वध्यमानं वलीमुखैः । बभूवास्य व्यथा युद्धे दृष्ट्वा दैवविपर्ययम् ॥ ३ ॥
Seeing his own army wasted away, being killed by the monkeys, he was pained in battle, seeing the reversal of fate.
उवाच च समीपस्थं महोदरमनन्तरम् । अस्मिन् काले महाबाहो जयाशा त्वयि मे स्थिता ॥ ४ ॥
And he said at once to Mahodara standing near: “At this time, mighty-armed one, my hope of victory rests on you.
जहि शत्रुचमूं वीर दर्शयाद्य पराक्रमम् । भर्तृपिण्डस्य कालोऽयं निर्वेष्टुं साधु युध्यताम् ॥ ५ ॥
“Kill the enemy army, hero; show your valour today. This is the time to repay your master’s food; fight well.”
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा राक्षसेन्द्रो महोदरः । प्रविवेशारिसेनां स पतङ्ग इव पावकम् ॥ ६ ॥
Spoken to so, Mahodara, the rakshasa lord, saying “So be it”, entered the enemy army like a moth entering fire.
ततः स कदनं चक्रे वानराणां महाबलः । भर्तृवाक्येन तेजस्वी स्वेन वीर्येण चोदितः ॥ ७ ॥
Then the mighty one made slaughter of the monkeys, the radiant one, urged by his master’s word and by his own valour.
वानराश्च महासत्त्वाः प्रगृह्य विपुलाः शिलाः । प्रविश्यारिबलं भीमं जघ्नुस्ते सर्वराक्षसान् ॥ ८ ॥
And the monkeys, of great courage, taking huge rocks, entering the terrible enemy army, killed all the rakshasas.
महोदरः सुसंक्रुद्धः शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः । चिच्छेद पाणिपादोरु वानराणां महाहवे ॥ ९ ॥
Mahodara, greatly enraged, with gold-adorned arrows cut the hands, feet and thighs of the monkeys in the great battle.
ततस्ते वानराः सर्वे राक्षसैरर्दिता भृशम् । दिशो दश द्रुताः केचित् केचित् सुग्रीवमाश्रिताः ॥ १० ॥
Then all those monkeys, badly tormented by the rakshasas, some fled to the ten directions, some took refuge with Sugriva.
प्रभग्नं समरे दृष्ट्वा वानराणां महाबलम् । अभिदुद्राव सुग्रीवो महोदरमनन्तरम् ॥ ११ ॥
Seeing the great army of the monkeys broken in battle, Sugriva at once rushed at Mahodara.
प्रगृह्य विपुलां घोरां महीधरसमां शिलाम् । चिक्षेप च महातेजास्तद्वधाय हरीश्वरः ॥ १२ ॥
Taking a huge, terrible rock like a mountain, the radiant lord of the monkeys hurled it to kill him.
तामापतन्तीं सहसा शिलां दृष्ट्वा महोदरः । असम्भ्रान्तस्ततो बाणैर्निर्बिभेद दुरासदाम् ॥ १३ ॥
Seeing that rock suddenly falling, Mahodara, unflustered, then split the unassailable one with arrows.
रक्षसा तेन बाणौघैर्निकृत्ता सा सहस्रधा । निपपात तदा भूमौ गृध्रचक्रमिवाकुलम् ॥ १४ ॥
Cut into a thousand pieces by that rakshasa with floods of arrows, it fell then on the ground like a confused circle of vultures.
तां तु भिन्नां शिलां दृष्ट्वा सुग्रीवः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । सालमुत्पाट्य चिक्षेप तं स चिच्छेद नैकधा ॥ १५ ॥
Seeing that rock split, Sugriva, overcome with anger, tore up a sala and hurled it; he cut it into many pieces.
शरैश्च विददारैनं शूरः परबलार्दनः । स ददर्श ततः क्रुद्धः परिघं पतितं भुवि ॥ १६ ॥
And the hero, tormentor of enemy armies, tore him with arrows. Then, enraged, he saw an iron bar fallen on the ground.
आविध्य तु स तं दीप्तं परिघं तस्य दर्शयन् । परिघेणोग्रवेगेन जघानास्य हयोत्तमान् ॥ १७ ॥
Whirling that blazing bar, showing it to him, with the bar of fierce force he killed his fine horses.
तस्माद्धतहयाद् वीरः सोऽवप्लुत्य महारथात् । गदां जग्राह संक्रुद्धो राक्षसोऽथ महोदरः ॥ १८ ॥
Then, leaping down from that great chariot whose horses were killed, the hero, the rakshasa Mahodara, enraged, took up a mace.
गदापरिघहस्तौ तौ युधि वीरौ समीयतुः । नर्दन्तौ गोवृषप्रख्यौ घनाविव सविद्युतौ ॥ १९ ॥
With mace and bar in hand, the two heroes met in battle, roaring, like two bulls, like two clouds with lightning.
ततः क्रुद्धो गदां तस्मै चिक्षेप रजनीचरः । ज्वलन्तीं भास्कराभासां सुग्रीवाय महोदरः ॥ २० ॥
Then, enraged, the night-wanderer Mahodara hurled at Sugriva a blazing mace with the splendour of the sun.
गदां तां सुमहाघोरामापतन्तीं महाबलः । सुग्रीवो रोषताम्राक्षः समुद्यम्य महाहवे ॥ २१ ॥
That very terrible mace falling, mighty Sugriva, his eyes copper-red with rage, raising his bar in the great battle,
आजघान गदां तस्य परिघेण हरीश्वरः । पपात तरसा भिन्नः परिघस्तस्य भूतले ॥ २२ ॥
the lord of the monkeys struck his mace with the bar; split by the force, his bar fell to the ground.
ततो जग्राह तेजस्वी सुग्रीवो वसुधातलात् । आयसं मुसलं घोरं सर्वतो हेमभूषितम् ॥ २३ ॥
Then radiant Sugriva took from the ground a terrible iron pestle, adorned with gold all over.
स तमुद्यम्य चिक्षेप सोऽप्यस्य प्राक्षिपद् गदाम् । भिन्नावन्योन्यमासाद्य पेततुस्तौ महीतले ॥ २४ ॥
Raising it, he hurled it; and the other hurled his mace at him; split, meeting each other, they fell on the ground.
ततो भिन्नप्रहरणौ मुष्टिभ्यां तौ समीयतुः । तेजोबलसमाविष्टौ दीप्ताविव हुताशनौ ॥ २५ ॥
Then, their weapons broken, the two met with fists, filled with energy and strength, like two blazing fires.
जघ्नतुस्तौ तदान्योन्यं नदन्तौ च पुनः पुनः । तलैश्चान्योन्यमासाद्य पेततुश्च महीतले ॥ २६ ॥
They struck each other then and roared again and again; and meeting each other with their palms, they fell on the ground.
उत्पेततुस्तदा तूर्णं जघ्नतुश्च परस्परम् । भुजैश्चिक्षिपतुर्वीरावन्योन्यमपराजितौ ॥ २७ ॥
They sprang up quickly then and struck each other; the two heroes, undefeated, threw each other with their arms.
जग्मतुस्तौ श्रमं वीरौ बाहुयुद्धे परंतपौ । आजहार तदा खड्गमदूरपरिवर्तिनम् ॥ २८ ॥
The two heroes, scorchers of enemies, grew weary in the arm-fight. Then he seized a sword lying not far off,
राक्षसश्चर्मणा सार्धं महावेगो महोदरः । तथैव च महाखड्गं चर्मणा पतितं सह । जग्राह वानरश्रेष्ठः सुग्रीवो वेगवत्तरः ॥ २९ ॥
the rakshasa Mahodara, of great speed, with a shield; and likewise a great sword fallen with a shield the best of monkeys, Sugriva, seized, being swifter.
ततो रोषपरीताङ्गौ नदन्तावभ्यधावताम् । उद्यतासी रणे हृष्टौ युधि शस्त्रविशारदौ ॥ ३० ॥
Then, their limbs filled with rage, roaring, they rushed at each other, swords raised, delighted in battle, skilled in weapons in war.
दक्षिणं मण्डलं चोभौ सुतूर्णं सम्परीयतुः । अन्योन्यमभिसंक्रुद्धौ जये प्रणिहितावुभौ ॥ ३१ ॥
Both circled swiftly in a rightward round, enraged at each other, both intent on victory.
स तु शूरो महावेगो वीर्यश्लाघी महोदरः । महावर्मणि तं खड्गं पातयामास दुर्मतिः ॥ ३२ ॥
But that brave one of great speed, boasting of his valour, Mahodara the evil-minded, brought his sword down on the great armour.
लग्नमुत्कर्षतः खड्गं खड्गेन कपिकुञ्जरः । जहार सशिरस्त्राणं कुण्डलोपगतं शिरः ॥ ३३ ॥
As he drew out the stuck sword, the elephant among monkeys with his sword took off his head, with its helmet, joined to its earrings.
निकृत्तशिरसस्तस्य पतितस्य महीतले । तद् बलं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य दृष्ट्वा तत्र न दृश्यते ॥ ३४ ॥
When he had fallen on the ground with his head cut off, that army of the rakshasa lord, seeing it, was not to be seen there.
हत्वा तं वानरैः सार्धं ननाद मुदितो हरिः । चुक्रोध च दशग्रीवो बभौ हृष्टश्च राघवः ॥ ३५ ॥
Having killed him, the monkey, glad, roared with the monkeys; and Ten-necked was enraged, and Raghava shone with joy.
विषण्णवदनाः सर्वे राक्षसा दीनचेतसः । विद्रवन्ति ततः सर्वे भयवित्रस्तचेतसः ॥ ३६ ॥
All the rakshasas, downcast in face, wretched in mind, then all fled, their minds terrified with fear.
महोदरं तं विनिपात्य भूमौ महागिरेः कीर्णमिवैकदेशम् । सूर्यात्मजस्तत्र रराज लक्ष्म्या सूर्यः स्वतेजोभिरिवाप्रधृष्यः ॥ ३७ ॥
Having laid Mahodara on the ground, like a scattered part of a great mountain, the son of the Sun shone there with splendour, like the sun, unassailable with its own rays.
अथ विजयमवाप्य वानरेन्द्रः समरमुखे सुरसिद्धयक्षसङ्घैः । अवनितलगतैश्च भूतसङ्घै- र्हरुषसमाकुलितैर्निरीक्ष्यमाणः ॥ ३८ ॥
Then, having won victory at the head of battle, the lord of the monkeys was watched by hosts of gods, siddhas and yakshas, and by the hosts of beings on the earth, filled with joy.