Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
The powerful demon Vajradamshtra penetrated the army of monkeys, sowing terror among them. The monkeys then sought refuge with Angada the monkey-leader. A fierce battle ensues between Vajradamshtra and Angada. Angada assaults Vajradamshtra with a sword and Vajradamshtra's head falls on the ground. |
svabalasya cha ghaatena aN^gadasya balena cha |
raaSasaH krodhamaaviSTo vajradaMSTro mahaabalaH || 6-54-1
1. mahaabalaH= the mighty; raakSasaH= demon; vajradamSTraH= Vajradamshtra; aaviSTaH= got; krodham= angry; ghaatena= by the devastation; svabalasya= of his own army; balenacha= by the prowess; aN^gadasya= of Angada.
The devastation of his army through Angada's prowess filled the mighty Vajradamstra with anger.
visphaarya cha dhanurghoraM shakraashanisamaprabham |
vaanaraaNaamaniikaani praakirachchharavR^iSTibhiH || 6-54-2
2. visphaarya= stretching; ghoram= his terrific; dhanuH= bow; shakraashani= samaprabham= which had a spledour equal to that of the thunderbolt of Indra the Lord of celestials; praakirat= (he) hurled; shara vR^iSTibhiH= a flood of arrows; aniikaani= on the army; vaanaraNaam= of monkeys.
Stretching his terrific bow, like unto Indra's thunder bolt, he assailed the monkey battalions with a flood of arrows.
raakSasaashcaapi mukhyaaste rathaishcha samavasthitaaH |
naanaapraharaNaaH shuuraaH praayudhyanta tadaa raNe || 6-54-3
3. te= those; shuuraaH= valiant; mukhyaaH= leaders; raakSasashchaapi= of demons also; samavasthitaaH= coming rathaiH= in chariots; tadaa= then; praayudhyanta= fought; raNe= in the battle; naanaapracharaNaaH= with many types of weapons.
Then, the foremost of the demons mounted on chariots, fought the battle with every kind of weapon.
vaanaraaNaam cha shuuraastu te sarve plavagarSabhaaH |
aayudhyanta shilaahastaH samavetaaH samantataH || 6-54-4
4. sarve= all; te plavagottamaaH= those best among the monkeys; samavetaaH= assembled; samantataH= on all sides; ayudhyanta= fought; shilaahastaaH= with rocks in their hands.
The monkeys, those valiant bulls among the Plavagas, assembling on all sides, fought with rocks.
tatraayudhasahasraaNi tasminnaayodhane bhR^isham |
raakSasaaH kapimukhyeSu paatayaaMchakrire tadaa || 6-54-5
5. tadaa= then; tasmin= in that; ayodhane= battle; tatra= there; raakSasaaH= the demons; paatayaam chakrire= hurled; bhR^isham= abundantly; aayudha sahasraaNi= thousands of weapons; kapimukhyeSu= on the foremost of monkeys.
Then in that battle there, the demons abundantly hurled thousands of weapons on the foremost of monkeys.
vaanaraashcaiva rakSasu girivR^ikSaan mahaashilaaH |
praviiraaH paatayaamaasurmattavaaraNasamnibhaaH || 6-54-6
6. vaanaraashchaiva= the monkeys too; praviiraaH= of mighty prowess; matta vaaraNa samnibhaaH= resembling elephants in rut; paatayaamaasuH= hurled; girivR^ikSaan= mountains, trees; mahaashilaaH= and great rocks; rakSaH su= on the demons.
The monkeys of mighty prowess, resembling elephants in rut, showered down giant trees and huge lumps of rock on the demons.
shuuraaNaam yudhyamaanaanaam samareSvanivartnaam |
tadrakSasagaNaanaam cha syuddhaM samavartata || 6-54-7
7. shuuraaNaam= between those courageous warriors; raakSasagaNaanaam= troops of demons and monkeys; yuddhamaanaam= who were performing battle; anivartinaam= who never retreated; samareSu= in battle; tat= that; suyuddham= tremendous struggle; samavartate= ensued.
Between those courageous warriors, the demons and the monkeys, who never retreated in battle, a tremendous struggle ensued.
prabhagnashirasaH kechichhinnaiH paadaishcha baahubhiH |
sastrairarditadehaastu rudhireNa samukSitaaH || 6-54-8
harayo raakSasaashchaina sherate gaam samaashritaaH |
kaN^kagR^idhraabalaaDhyashcha gomaayukulasaMkulaaH || 6-54-9
8, 9. kechit= some; harayaH= monkeys; raakSasaashchaiva= and demons; prabhagna shirasaH= with shattered heads; chhinnaiH paadaiH= cut feet baahubhiH= and hands ardita dehaaH= bodies wounded; shastraiH= by weapons; samukSitaaH= dampened; rudhireNa= with blood; kaN^ka gR^idhhraa baaDhyaashcha= surrounded by groups of herons vultures and crows; gomaayukula samkulaaH= as also surrounded by groups of jackals; sherate= lied down; samaashritaaH= taking refuge; gaam= on the earth.
Some monkeys and demons, with their shattered heads, but bereft of arms and legs, lay on the earth bathed in blood with their bodies wounded by weapons, a prey to herons vultures and crows or devoured by troops of jackals.
kabandhaani samutpeturbhiimaaNaam bhiiSaNaani vai |
bhujapaaNishirashchhinnaashchhinnakaayaashcha bhuutale || 6-54-10
vaanaraa raakSasaashcaapi nipetustatra bhuutale |
10. vaanaraaH= monkeys; raakSasashchaapi= and demons; nipetuH= fell; bhuutale= on the surface of the earth; bhujapaaNi shirashchhinnaaH= with their arms, hands and heads severed; chhinna kaayaashcha= and their limbs hacked to pieces.
Monkeys and demons fell on the battle-field; headless trunks leaps up to the terror of all the fearful, their limbs hacked to pieces in the combat.
tato vaanarasainyena hanyamaanam nishaacharam || 6-54-11
praabhajyata balaM sarvaM vajradaMSTrasya pashyata |
11. tataH= thereafter; sarvam balam= all the army; nishaacharam= of demons; hanyamaanam= was killed; vaanara sainyena= by the monkey troops; praabhajyata= and broken up; (while) vajradamSTrasya= Vajradamshtra; pushyataH= was witnessing.
Thereafter, under the eyes of Vajradamshtra, all his army of demons were killed and broken up by the monkey-troops.
raakSasaan bhayavitrastaan hanyamaanaan plavaN^gamaiH || 6-54-12
dR^iSTvaa sa roSataamraakSo vajradaMSTraH prataapavaan |
pravivesha dhanuSpaaNi straasayan harivaahiniim || 6-54-13
12, 13. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; raakSasaan= the demons; bhaya vitrastaan= terrified with fear; plavaN^gamaiH= by the monkeys, saH= that; prataapavaan= powerful; vajradamSTraH= Vajradamshtra; roSa taamraakSaH= his eyes becoming red with anger; dhanuSpaaNiH= and wielding a bow in his hands; pravivesha= penetrated into; harivaahiniim= the army of monkeys; traasayan= frightening them.
Seeing the demons terrified with fear and decimated by the monkeys, that powerful Vajradamshtra, his eyes red with anger, bow in hand, penetrated the army of monkeys, sowing panic among them.
sharairvidaarayaamaasa kaN^kapatrairajihmagaiH |
bibheda vaanaraamstatra saptaSTau nava paJNcha cha || 6-54-14
vivyaadha paramakruddho vajradaMSTraH prataapavaan |
14. paramakruddhaH= getting very angry; prataapavaan= the vigorous; vajradamSTraH= Vajradamshtra; sharaiH= with his arrows; ajihmagaiH= going straight; kaN^kapatraiH= like wings of an eagle; vivyaadha= struck; vidarayaamaasa= and tore asunder; tatra= there; sapta= in sevens; aSTau= in eights; nava= in nines; paNchacha= and in fives.
Thereafter, in his fury, the vigorous Vajradamshtra dispatched those monkeys with arrows resembling wings of an eagle that flew straight to their target and pierced seven, eight, nine or five of his opponents simultaneously, thus destroying them.
trastaaH sarve harigaNaaH sharaiH saMkR^ittadehinaH || 6-54-15
aN^gadaM sampradhaavanti prajaapatimiva prajaaH |
15. trastaaH= frightened; samkR^itta dehinaH= with their severed limbs; sharaiH= due to arrows; sarve= all; harigaNaaH= the monkey troops; sampradhaavanti= ran towards; aN^gadam= Angada; prajaaH iva= as creatures; prajaapati= towards Brahma the Lord of creation.
With their limbs crippled by those arrows and frightened, those monkey battalions sought refuge with Angada, as all creatures with Brahma the Lord of Creation.
tato harigaNaan bhagnaan dR^iSTvaa vaalisutastadaa || 6-54-16
krodhena vajradaMSTram ta mudiikSantamudaikSata |
16. tataH= thereafter; dR^iSTvaa= seeing; bhagnaan= the defeated; harigaNaan= monkey-troops; vaalisutaH= Angada the son of Vali; tadaa= then; udaikSata= beheld; vajradamSTram= Vajradamshtra; udiikSantam= who was seeing; krodhena= with anger.
When he beheld those monkey troops fleeing in disorder, Angada the son Vali exchanged glances of hatred with Vajradamshtra.
vajradamSTro.aN^gadaschobhau yoyudhyete parasparam || 6-54-17
cheratuH paramakruddhau harimattagajaaviva |
17. ubhau= both; vajradamSTraH= Vajradamshtra; aN^gadashcha= and Angada; yoyudhyete= fought; parasparam= against each other; harimattagajaamiva= like a lion and an elephant in rut; cheratuH= and strolled; paramakruddhau= in a tremendous fury.
Both Vajradamshtra and Angada fought against each other like a lion and an elephant in rut. They strolled din a tremendous fury.
tataH shatasahasreNa hariputraM mahaabalam || 6-54-18
jaghaana marmadesheSu sharairagnishikhopamaiH |
18. tataH= thereafter; (that Vajradamshtra); jaghaana= knocked; mahaabalam= the mighty; hariputram= Angada; marmadesheSu= at his vulnerable places; sharaiH= with his arrows; shata sahasreNa agni shikhopamaiH= resembling a hundred thousand flames of fire.
Thereafter, that Vajradamshtra knocked the mighty Angada at his vital organs with his arrows resembling hundred thousand flames of fire.
rudhirokSitasarvaaN^go vaalisuunurmahaabalaH || 6-54-19
chikSepa vajradaMSTraya vR^ikSaM bhiimaparaakramaH |
19. rudhirokSita sarvaaNgaH= with all his limbs drenched in blood; mahaabalaH= the mighty; vaalisuunuH= Angada; bhiima paraakramaH= with a terrific prowess; chikSepa= thre; vR^ikSam= a tree; vajradamSTraaya= a Vajradamshtra.
With all his limbs drenched in blood, the mighty Angada having a terrific prowess threw a tree on Vajradamshtra.
dR^iSTvaapatantaM tam vR^ikSamasaMbhraantashcha raakSasaH || 6-54-20
chichheda bahudhaa so.api mathitaH praapatadbhuvi |
20. dR^iSTvaa= beholding; tam= that; aapatantam= befalling; vR^ikSam= tree; raakSasaH= (that) demon; asambharaantaH= unperplexed; chichchhesa= eat (it) off; bahudhaa= in many ways; so.api= It too; madhitaH= being cut off; praapatat= fell; bhuvi= on the ground.
That unperplexed demon, seeing that tree falling on him, cut it into innumerable pieces which fell in heaps on earth.
taM dR^iSTvaa sa rathaadaaplutya viiryavaan || 6-54-21
gadaapaaNirasaMbhraantaH pR^ithivyaaM samatiSThata |
21. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; tam vikramam= that strength; vajradamSTrasya= of Vajradamshtra; plavagarSabhaH= Angada that lion among the monkeys; pragR^ihya= taking; vipulam= a large; shailam= mountain; chikSepa cha= threw (on him); nanaada cha= and made a loud noise.
Witnessing the strength of Vajradamshtra, Angada that lion among the monkeys seized hold of a large rock and emitting a shout, threw it on him.
tamaapatantaM dR^iSTvaa sa rathaadaaplutya viiryavaan || 6-54-22
gadaapaaNirasaMbhraantaH pR^ithivyaaM samatiSThata |
22. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; tam= that rock; aapatabtan= coming and falling; saH= Vajradamshtra; viiryavaan= possessing vigour; asambhraantaH= not perplexed; gadaapaaNiH= having mace in his hand; aaplutya= jumping down; rathaat= from his chariot; samatiSThata= stood (there); pR^ithivyaam= on the battle-field.
As the rock descended, that vigorous Vajradamshtra leaping down from his chariot, armed with his mace, stood waiting unperplexed, on the battle-field.
aN^gadena shilaa kSiptaa gatvaa tu raNamuurdhani || 6-54-23
sachakrakuubaraM saashvaM pramamaatha rathaM tadaa |
23. shilaa= the rock; kSiptaa= thrown; aN^gadena= by Angada; gatvaa= going; raNamuurdhani= into the forefront of the battle; tadaa= then; pramamaatha= crushed; ratham= the chariot; sachakra kuubaram= with its wheels, shafts; saashvam= together with horses.
Meanwhile, the rock thrown by Angada, falling into the forefront of the battle, then crushed the chariot with its wheels shafts and horses
tato.anyachchhikharaM gR^ihya vipulaM drumabhuuSitam || 6-54-24
vajradaMSTrasya shirasi paatayaamaasa vaanaraH |
24. tataH= thereafter; vaanaraH= Angada the monkey; gR^ihya= seizing; anyat= another; vipulam= large; shikharam= peak of a mountain; druma bhuuSitam= adorned with trees; paatayaamaasa= threw; shirasi= on the head; vajradamSTrasya= of Vajradamshtra.
Thereafter, Angada the monkey, seizing another large peak of a mountain adorned with trees, threw it on Vajradamshtra's head.
abhavachchhoNitodgaarii vajradaMSTraH sa muurchhitaH || 6-54-25
muuhuurtamabhavanmuuDho gadaamaaliN^gya niHshvasan |
25. shoNitodgaarii= Vomiting the blood; saH vajradamSTraH= that Vajradamshtra; abhavat= became; muurchitaH= fainted; aaliN^gya= clasping; gadaam= his mace; niHshvasan= and breathing out; abhavat= became; muuDhaH= unconscious; muhuurtam= for a moment.
Beginning to vomit blood, Vajradamshtra became fainted, clenching his mace convulsively and breathing heavily for a moment.
saMlabdhasaMjJNo gadayaa vaaliputramavasthitam || 6-54-26
jaghaana paramakruddho vakSodeshe nishaacharaH |
26. sam labdha samjJNaH= regaining his consciousness; nishaacharaH= Vajradamshtra= the demon; parama kR^iddhaH= was very much enraged; jaghaana= and struck; vaaliputram= Angada; avasthitam= standing there; vakSodeshe= on his chest area; gadayaa= with his mace.
Regaining his consciousness, Vajradamshtra the demon was very much enraged and hit Angada full on the chest with his mace.
gadaaM tyaktvaa tatastatra muSTiyuddhamakurvata || 6-54-27
anyonyaM jaghnatustatra taavubhau hariraakSasau |
27. tataH= thereafter; tyaktvaa= leaving; dagaam= his mace; akurvata= (he) performed; muSTiyuddham= a pugilistic encounter; tatra= there; ubhau= both; tau= those; hariraakSasau= monkey and demon; jaghnatuH= hit; anyonyan= each other.
Leaving his mace, he performed a pugilistic encounter there. Both the monkey and the demon thus hit each other in that combat.
rudhirodgaariNau tau tu prahaarairjanitashamau || 6-54-28
babhuuvatuH suvikrantaavaN^gaaraka budhaaviva |
28. janitashramau= exhausted; prahaaraiH= by the blows; rudhirodgaariNau= spitting blood; tau suvikraantau= those valiant warriors; babhuuvatuH= were; aN^gaaraka budhaaviva= like the planets Mars and Mercury.
Exhausted by the blows, spitting blood, those valiant warriors were like the planets Mars and Mercury.
tataH paramatejasvii aN^gadaH plavagarSabhaH || 6-54-29
utpaaTya vR^ikSaM sthitavaan bahupuSpa phalaachitam |
29. tataH= then; aN^gada= Angada; plavaN^ga rSabha= the lion among; paramatejasvii= possessing a great splendour; utpaaTya= uprooted; vR^ikSam= a tree; bahupuSpa phalaachitam= full with many flowers and fruits; sthitavaan= stood waiting.
Then, Angada the lion among the monkeys, possessing a great splendour, uprooted a tree full with many flowers and fruits and stood waiting.
jagraaha chaarSabhaM charma khaDgaM cha vipulaM shubham || 6-54-30
kiN^kiNaajaalasaMbhannam charmaNaa cha pariSkR^itam |
30. jagraaha= (the demon too) seized hold of; charmaNaa= a shield; aarSabham charma= covered with the hide of a bull; vipulam= and a great; shubham= and beautiful; khaDgamcha= sword; pariSkR^itam= decorated; kiNkiNii jaala sampannam= richly with a multitude with a multitude of golden bells.
The demon too seized hold of a shield covered with the hide of a bull as well as a great beautiful sword decorated richly with a multitude of golden bells.
chitraaMshcha ruchiraanmaargaamshceratuH kapiraakSasau || 6-54-31
jaghnatushcha tadaanyonyam nardantau jayaakaaN^ikSiNau |
31. jayaN^kSiNau= with a desire to win; kapiraakSasau= the monkeys and the demons; nardantau= making roaring sounds; tadaa= then; cheratuH= roamed about; chitraan= in different; maargaan= ways; jaghnatushcha= and collided with; anyonyam= each other.
Thirsting for victory, the monkeys and the demons, making roaring sounds, roamed about in different ways and collided with each other.
vraNaiH samuthaiH shobhetaaM puSpitaaviva kimshukau || 6-54-32
yudhyamaanau parishraanau jaanubhyaamavaniim gatau |
32. samutthaiH= with their gaping; vraNaiH= wounds; shobhe taam= (they) shone; kimshukaaviva= like a pair of kimshuka trees; puSpitau= in blossom; yuddhamaanau= while fighting; parishraantau= exhausted they were; gatau= (they) sank; jaanubhyaam= their knees; avaniim= on the earth.
With their gaping wounds, they shone like a pair of kimshuka trees in blossom. Exhausted were both of them while fighting and they sank their knees on the earth.
nimeSaantaramaatreNa aN^gadah kapikuJNjaraH || 6-54-33
udatiSThata diiptaakSo daNDaahata ivoragaH |
33. aN^gadaH= Angada; kapikuN^jaraH= the foremost of the monkeys; nimSaantara maatreNa= just after a moment; diiptaakSaH= with his glittering eyes; udatiSThata= rose up; uragaH iva= like a serpent; daN^DaahataH= struck with a stick.
Angada, the foremost of the monkeys, just after a moment, with his glittering eyes, rose up like a serpent struck with a stick.
nirmalena sudhautena khaDgenaasya mahachchhiraH || 6-54-34
jaghaana vajradaMSTrasya vaalisuunurmahaabalaH |
34. mahaabalaH= the mighty; vaalisuumuH= Angada; jaghaana= assaulted; mahat= the giant; shiraH= head; vajradamSTrasya= of Vajradamshtra; khaDgena= by a sword; sudhautena= well-sharpened; nirmalena= and stainless.
The mighty Angada assaulted the giant head of Vajradamshtra with a well-sharpened and stainless sword.
rudhirokSitagaatrasya babhuuva patitam dvidhaa || 6-54-35
tachcha tasya pariitaakSaM shubham khaDgahatam shiraH |
35. khaDga hatam= hit by the sword; tat= that; shubham= charming; shiraH= head; tasya= of Vajradamshtra; rudhirokSita gaatrasya= with his limbs drenched with blood; pariitaakSam= and his eyes rolling; babhuuva patitam= fell; dvidhaa= into two pieces.
Struck by the sword, that charming head of Vajradamshtra, with his limbs drenched in blood and eyes rolling, fell into two pieces.
vajradaMSTram hatam dR^iSTvaa raakSasaa bhayamohitaaH || 6-54-36
trastahyabhyadravan laN^kaam vadhyamaanaaH plavaN^gamaiH |
viSaNLavadanaa diinaa hriyaa kimchidavaaN^mukhaaH || 6-54-37
36, 37. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; vajradamSTram= Vajradamshtra; hatam= killed; raakSasaaH= the the demons; bhaya mohitaaH= deluded with fear; vadhyamaanaaH= and being herassed; plavaN^gamaiH= by the monkeys; viSaNNavadanaiH= looking dejected; avaaN^gamaiH= and with their down-east faces; kimchit hriyaaH= due to a little of shame; abhyadvavan= made their escape; laN^kaam= to Lanka.
Seeing Vajradamshtra having been slain, the demons, deluded with fear, fled panic-stricken towards Lanka, harassed by the monkeys with their down-cast faces, their heads bowed in shame.
nihatya tam vajradharaprataapaH |
sa vaalisuunuH kapisainyamadhye |
jagaama harSam mahito mahaabalaH |
sahasranetrastridashairivaavR^itaH || 6-54-38
38. mahaabalaH= the mighty; saaH vaali suunuH= that Angada; vajradhara prataapavaan= with a strength of Indra the Lord of celestials; nihatya= having killed; tam= him; mahitaH= and being honoured; kapi sainya madhya= amidst the monkey-forces; jagama= obtained; harSam= joy; sahasranetraHiva= like Lord of a thousand eyes; aavR^itaH= surrounded; tridashaiH= by celestials.
The mighty Angada experienced a great joy amidst the monkey forces, honoured by them for his high courage and he resembled the Lord of a Thousand Eyes surrounded by the celestials.
ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe chatuHpachaashaH sargaH
Thus completes 54th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
© January 2006, K. M. K. Murthy