Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
On Rama's enquiry, Vibhishana explains the prowess of Prahasta who entered the battle-field. The demons with their arrows and the monkeys with their stones combat each other. Both the monkeys and demons were killed in the battle. Prahasta the demon and Nila the monkey come face to face to fight. Prahasta hurls a volley of darts over Nila. Nila kills Prahasta's horses by hurling a huge tree and breaks his bow. Finally a huge rock hurled by Nila breaks Prahasta's head into myriad pieces and dies. All the other demons abandon the battle-field and return to Lanka. |
tataH prahastaM niryaantam dR^iSTvaa raNakR^itodyamam |
uvaacha pasmitaM raamo vibhiiSaNamarimdamaH || 6-58-1
1. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; prahastam= Prahasta; niryaantam= setting out; raNakR^itodyamam= with a martial ardour; raamaH= Rama arindamaH= the conqueror of enemies; sasmitam= with a smile; uvaacha= spoke; vibhiiSaNam= to Vibhishana (as follows):
Seeing Prahasta setting out with a martial ardour, Rama the conqueror of enemies, smiling, spoke to Vibhishana as follows:
ka eSa sumahaakaayo balena mahataa vR^itaH |
aagacchhati mahaavegaH kimruupabalapauruSaH || 6-58-2
aachakSva me mahaabaaho viiryavantam nishaacharam |
2. kaH= who; eSaH= is he; sumahaakaayaH= with a very huge body; aagachchhati= coming; mahaavegaH= with great speed; vR^itaH= along with; mahataa= a large; balena= army?; mahaabaaho= O, the mighty armed!; aachakSva= tell; me= me; nishaacharam= about this demon; viiryavantam= who is possessing vigour.
"Who is he with a very huge body, coming with a great speed along with a large army? O, the mighty armed! Tell me about this strong demon."
raaghavasya vachaH shrutvaa pratyuvaacha vibhiiSaNaH || 6-58-3
eSa senaapatistasya prahasto naama raaksasaH |
laN^kaayaam raakSasendrasya tribhaagabalasaMvR^itaH || 6-58-4
viiryavaanastravichchhuuraH suprakhyaataparaakramaH |
3, 4. shrutvaa= hearing; raaghavasya= Rama's vachaH= words; vibhiiSaNaH= Vibhishana; pratyuvaacha= replied (as follows); eSaH= He; tribhaaga samvR^itaH= who is guarded by two thirds of the army; laN^kaayaam= in Lanka; viiryavaan= a demon of prowess; astravit= skilled in the use of weapons; shuuraH= strong; suprakhyaata paraakramaH= with a highly excellent bravery; raakSasaH= is a demon; prahasto naama= called Prahasta; senaapatiH= the Army General; tasya raakSasendrasya= of that Ravana.
Hearing Rama's words, Vibhishana replied as follows "He is guarded by two-thirds of the army of Lanka. He is a demon of prowess, skilled in the use of mystic weapons and valiant. He is the demon named Prahasta, the Army general of Ravana."
tataH prahastam niryaantam bhiimam bhiima paraakramam || 6-58-5
garjantam sumahaa kaayam raakSasair abhisamvR^itam |
dadarsha mahatii senaa vaanaraaNaam baliiyasaam || 6-58-6
abhisamjaata roSaaNaam prahastam abhigarjataam |
5, 6. tataH= then; mahatii= the great; senaa= army; vaanaraaNaam= of monkeys; baliiyasaam= the powerful; abhisamjaata roSaaNaam= giving rise to anger; abhigarjataam= raising ferocious cries; prahastam= at Prahasta; dadarsha= saw; prahasta= Prahasta; abhisamvR^itam= who was accompanied; raakSasaiH= by demons; bhiimam= terrific; bhiima paraakramam= having terrible prowess; niryaantam= coming forth; sumahaakaayam= with his very huge body.
That huge and powerful army of monkeys, who began to emit cries of defiance with fury, thereupon saw the terrible Prahasta of formidable exploits coming forth towards them.
khaDga shakty aSTi baaNaash ca shuulaani musalaani ca || 6-58-7
gadaashca parighaah praasaa vividhaash ca parashvadhaaH |
dhanuumSi ca vicitraaNi raakSasaanaam jaya eSiNaam || 6-58-8
pragR^ihiitaany ashobhanta vaanaraan abhidhaavataam |
7, 8. khaDga shaktyaR^iSTibaaNaashcha= swords, lances, daggers, darts shuulaani= spears; musalaani= clubs; gadaashcha= maces; parighaaH= bars; praasaaH= barbed missiles; vividhaaH= various kinds; parashvadhaashcha= of axes; vichitraaNi= and many different; dhanuumSi= bows; pragR^ihiitaani= in the hands; raakSasaanaam= of demons; abhidhaavataam= who were running up; vaanaraan= towards the monkeys; jayaSiNaam= and desirous of victory.
Swords, lances, daggers, darts, spears, clubs, maces bars, barbed missiles, various kinds of axes and different bows glittered in the hands of demons, who were running up towards the monkeys and seeking victory.
jagR^ihuH paadapaamsh ca api puSpitaan vaanara R^iSabhaaH || 6-58-9
shilaashca vipulaa diirghaa yoddhu kaamaah plavam gamaaH |
9. plavaN^gamaaH= the monkeys; yoddhukaamaaH= who were burning to fight; jagR^ihuH= seized; paadapaamshchaapi= trees; puSpitaan= in flower; tathaa= and; giriin= rocks; diirghaaH= lofty; vipulaah= and thick; shilaaH cha= stones.
The monkeys who were burning to fight took hold of trees in flower, rocks and lofty and thick stones.
teSaam anyonyam aasaadya samgraamah sumahaan abhuut || 6-58-10
bahuunaam ashma vR^iSTim ca shara vR^iSTim ca varSataam |
10. aasaadya= as they approached; anyonyam= each other; sumahaan= a very great; samgraamaH= battle; abhuut= arose; teSaam= between those; bahuunaam= innumerable combatants; varSataam= who showered down; sharavarSamcha= a hail of arrows; aashma vR^iSTim= and bombardment of stones.
As they approached each other, a very great battle arose between those combatants who showered down a hail of arrows and a bombardment of stones.
bahavo raakSasaa yuddhe bahuun vaanara yuuthapaan || 6-58-11
vaanaraa raakSasaamsh ca api nijaghnur bahavo bahuun |
11. yuddhe= in the battle; bahavaH= many; raakSasaaH= demons; nijaghnuH= killed; bahuun= many; vaanara pungavaan= excellent monkeys; bahavaH= and many; vaanaraaH= monkeys; (killed); bahuun= many; raakSasaamshchaapi= demons.
In that battle, many of the demons killed several excellent monkeys and several monkeys killed many of the demons.
shuulaiH pramathitaah kecit kecit tu parama aayudhaiH || 6-58-12
parighair aahataah kecit kecic chinnaah parashvadhaiH |
12. kechit= some monkeys; pramathitaaH= were smashed; shuulaiH= by spears; kechittu= and some others; paramaayudhaiH= by fine weapons; kechit= some; aahataaH= were struck; parighaiH= by iron bars; kechit= and some; chhinnaaH= were slit parashvadhaiH= by axes.
Some monkeys were smashed by spears and some others by finer weapons. Some were struck by iron bars and some others were slit by axes.
nirucchvaasaah punah kecit patitaa dharaNii tale || 6-58-13
vibhinna hR^idayaah kecid iSu samtaana samditaaH |
13. kechit punnaH= yet again some; patitaaH= fell; jagatiitale= on the surface of the earth; niruchhvaasaaH= breathless; kechit= some; iSusamdhaana saaditaaH= were destroyed by the arrows aimed at them, vibhinna hR^idayaaH= with their hearts split asunder.
Yet again, some fell breathlessly on the ground and some were destroyed by the arrows aimed at them with their hearts splits asunder.
kecid dvidhaa kR^itaah khaDgaiH sphurantaH patitaa bhuvi || 6-58-14
vaanaraa raakSasaiH shuulaiH paarshvatash ca vidaaritaaH |
14. kR^itaaH= cut; dvidhaa= in two; khaDgaiH= with (the strokes of) swords; shuuraiH raakSasaiH= by the powerful demons; dechit= some; sphurantaH= trembling; vaanaraaH= monkeys; patitaaH= fell; bhuvi= on the earth; paarshvataH= their sides; vidaaritaaH= torn open.
Cut into two with the strokes of swords by those powerful demons, some monkeys, trembling, fell on the earth, their sides torn open.
vaanaraisH ca api samkruddhai raakSasa oghaaH samantataH || 6-58-15
paadapair giri shR^ingaish ca sampiSTaa vasudhaa tale |
15. raakSasaughaaH cha api= even the flock of demons; sampiSTaaH= were crushed; vasudhaatale= on to the earth; samkruddhaiH= by the furious; vaanaraiH= monkeys; samantataH= on all sides; paadapaiH= with trees; girshR^iN^gaishcha= and mountain-peaks.
Even the flock of demons on all sides were crushed on to the earth by the furious monkeys with tree and mountain-peaks.
vajra sparsha talair hastair muSTibhish ca hataa bhR^isham || 6-58-16
vaman shoNitam aasyebhyo vishiirNa dashana iikSaNaH |
16. vajra sparsha talaiH hastaiH= having been administered thundering slaps with their hands; hataaH= and terrific blows; muSTibhiH= with their fists; vidiirSa vadaekSaNaaH= the faces and eyes of demons were lacerated; (the demons); vaman= vomited; bhR^isham= plenty; shoNitam= of blood; aasyebhyaH= from their months.
Having been administered thundering slaps with their hands and terrific blows with their fists, the faces and eyes of demons were were lacerated. The demons vomited plenty of blood from their months.
aarta svaram ca svanataam simha naadam ca nardataam || 6-58-17
babhuuva tumulaH shabdo hariiNaam rakSasaam yudhi |
17. tumulaH= A tumultuous; shabdaH= clamour; babhuuva= arose; hariiNaam= among monkeys; rakSasaamapi= and demons; svanataam aartasvanam= as cries of pain; simhanaadam= and leonine roars; nardataam= were bellowed.
A tumultuous clamour arose among monkeys and demons, as cries of pain and leonine roars were bellowed.
vaanaraa raakSasaah kruddhaa viira maargam anuvrataaH || 6-58-18
vivR^itta nayanaah kruuraash cakruh karmaaNy abhiitavat |
18. vaanaraaH= the monkeys; raakSasaaH= and the demons; kruddhaah= with anger; anuvrataaH= following; viiramaargam= the path of heroes; kruuraaH= with cruelty; nivR^itta nayanaaH= and hostile eyes; chakruH= conducted; karmaaNi= their tasks; abhiitavat= with great courage.
The monkeys and the demons with anger, following the path of heroes, with their cruel and hostile eyes, accomplished their deeds with great courage.
nara antakaH kumbha hanur mahaa naadah samunnataH || 6-58-19
ete prahasta sacivaah sarve jaghnur vana okasaH |
19. naraantakaH= Narantaka; kumbha hanuH= Kumbhahanu; mahaanaadaH= Mahanada; samunnataH= Samunnata; prahasta sachivaaH= Prahasta's companins; ete sarve= all these demons; jaghnuH= killed; venaukasaH= the monkeys.
Narantaka Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata all these companions of Prahasta killed the monkeys.
teSaam aapatataam shiighram nighnataam ca api vaanaraan || 6-58-20
dvivido giri shR^ingeNa jaghaana ekam nara antakam |
20. dvividaH= Dvivida; jaghaana= killed; girishR^iN^geNa= with a mountain-peak; naraantakam= Narantaka; ekam= the one; teSam= among them; nipatataam= who was rushing upon; shiighram= quickly; nighnataamchaapi= and killing; vaanaraan= the monkeys.
Dvivida, with a mountain-peak, struck down Narantaka, the one among them who was rushing upon quickly and killing the monkeys.
durmukhaH punar utpaaTya kapiH sa vipula drumam || 6-58-21
raakSasam kSipra hastas tu samunnatam apothayat |
21. durmakhaH punaH= On his part Durmakha; kapiH= the monkey; kSiprahastam= with a ready hand; utthaaya= uprooted; suvipula drumam= a very large tree; apothayat= and crushed; samunnatam= Samunnata; raakSasam= the demon.
The ape Durmukha on his part, with a ready hand, uprooted a very large tree and crushed the demon Samunnata.
jaambavaams tu susamkruddhaH pragR^ihya mahatiim shilaam || 6-58-22
paatayaam aasa tejasvii mahaa naadasya vakSasi |
22. tejasvii= the energetic; jaambavaamstu= Jambavan; susamkruddhaH= with a great fury; pragR^ihya= seized; mahatiim= a huge; shilaam= rock; paatayaamaasa= and threw; vakSasi= on the chest-region; mahaanaadasya= of Mahanada.
The energetic Jambavan with a great fury seized a huge rock and threw it on the chest-region of Mahanada.
atha kumbha hanus tatra taareNa aasaadya viiryavaan || 6-58-23
vR^ikSeNa abhihato muurdhni praaNaams tatyaaja raakSasaH |
23. atha= then; viiryavaan= the valiant; kumbhahanuH= Kumbhahanu; tatra= there; raNe= in the battle; aasaadya= having attacked; taareNa= (the General) Tara; mahataa vR^ikSeNa= (who was armed) with a huge tree; (received a blow); samtyaajayat= that discharged; sadyaH= soon; praaNaan= his lives.
Then, the valiant Kumbhahanu there in the battle, having attacked the General Tara, who was armed with a huge tree, received a blow immediately cost him his life.
amR^iSyamaaNas tat karma prahasto ratham aasthitaH || 6-58-24
cakaara kadanam ghoram dhanuS paaNir vana okasaam |
24. amR^iSyamaaNaH= not tolerating; tat= that; karma= act; prahastaH= Prahasta; aashritaH= having occupied; ratham= his chariot; dhanuSpaaNiH= with the bow in his hand; chakaara= carried out; ghoram= a terrible; kadanam= destruction; vanaukasaam= of the monkeys.
Not tolerating the aforesaid act, Prahasta having occupied his chariot with bow in hand, caused a terrible havoc among the monkeys.
aavarta;iva samjajne;ubhayoh senayos tadaa || 6-58-25
kSubhitasya aprameyasya saagarasya iva nisvanaH |
25. tadaa= then; kSubhitasya= with the rapid movement; ubhayoH= of both; senayoH= the armies; samjaJNe= there arose; niHsvanaH= a clamour; saagarasya iva= resembling the roar of an ocean; kSubhitasya= which was tempestuous; aprameyasya= and unfathamable; aavarte= in a time of dissolution.
Then, with the rapid movement of both the armies, there arose of clamour resembling the roar of an unfathomable and tempestuous ocean in a time of dissolution.
mahataa hi shara ogheNa prahasto yuddha kovidaH || 6-58-26
ardayaam aasa samkruddho vaanaraan parama aahave |
26. raakSasaH= the demon, Prahasta; raNa durdamaH= who was hard to be subdued in battle; samkruddhaH= with full of anger; ardayaamaasa= tormented; vaanaraan= the monkeys; mahataa sharaugheNa= by an immense avalanche of arrows; paramaahave= in that great combat.
The demon Prahasta, who was hard to be subdued in battle, with full of anger, tormented the monkeys by an immense avalanche of arrows in that great combat.
vaanaraaNaam shariirais tu raakSasaanaam ca medinii || 6-58-27
babhuuva nicitaa ghoraa patitair iva parvataiH |
27. ghoraiH= by the frightening; shariiraiH= corpses; vaanaraaNaam= of monkeys; raakSasaanaam cha= and demons; atichitaa= a very extensive area; medinii= of the ground; samvR^itaa= was covered; parvataiH iva= like (hideous) mountains.
By the frightening corpses of monkeys and demons, appearing like hideous mountains, a very extensive area of the ground is covered.
saa mahii rudhira ogheNa pracchannaa samprakaashate || 6-58-28
samchannaa maadhave maasi palaashair iva puSpitaiH |
28. saa mahii= that ground; prachhannaa= covered; rudhirougheNa= by the stream of blood; samprakaashate= shone; maadhave maasi iva= as in the month of spring; samchhannaa= when covered; puSpitaiH= by the blossoming; palaashaiH= crimson coloured Palasha flowers.
That ground, covered by the stream of blood, shone as in the month of spring when overspread fully with the bloossoming crimson-coloured Palasa flowers.
hari viira ogha vapraam tu bhagna aayudha mahaa drumaam || 6-58-29
shoNita ogha mahaa toyaam yama saagara gaaminiim |
yakR^it pliiha mahaa pankaam vinikiirNa antra shaibalaam || 6-58-30
bhinna kaaya shiro miinaam anga avayava shaaDvalaam |
gR^idhra hamsa gaNa aakiirNaam kanka saarasa sevitaam || 6-58-31
medhaH phena samaakiirNaam aarta stanita nisvanaam |
taam kaapuruSa dustaaraam yuddha bhuumimayiim nadiim || 6-58-32
nadiim iva ghana apaaye hamsa saarasa sevitaam |
raakSasaah kapi mukhyaash ca terus taam dustaraam nadiim || 6-58-33
yathaa padma rajo dhvastaam naliniim gaja yuuthapaaH |
29, 30, 31, 32, 33. hata viiraughasravaam= with the heaps of warriors for its banks; bhagnaayudhamahaadrumaam= the broken weapons its trees; shoNitaugha mahaatoyaam= the torrents of blood its huge waves; yama saagara gaaminiim= death appeared like an ocean receiving its flood; yakR^itpliihamahaapaNkaam= livers and spleens its mire; vinikiirNaantrashaivalaam= the scattered entrails for its moss; bhinnakaayashiromiinaam= severed heads and trunks the fish; aN^gavaya shaadvalaam= morsels of flesh the grass; gR^idhra hamsavaraakiirNaam= the innumerable vultures its lovely swans; kaNka saarasaa sevitaam= herons visited for its geese; medaH phenasamaakiirNaam= covered as it was with fat for the foam; aavarta svana nisvanaam= the tumult the sound of its waters; taam= that; yuddha bhuumi mayiim= battle-field; nadiimiva= resembled a river; kaapuruSadustaaraam= incapable of being crossed by cowards; hamsa saarasas sevitam= visited by swans and cranes; ghanaapaaye= at the end of the rainy season; te raakSasaaH= those demons; kapimukhyaaH= and the foremost of the monkeys; teruH= crossed over; taam dustaraam= that impassable; nadiim= river; gajayuuthapaaH yathaa= as elephants lead their herds; maliniim= across a lake; padmarajodhvastaam= that the lotuses have covered with pollen..
With the heaps of warriors for its banks the broken weapons its trees, the torrents of blood its huge waves, death appeared like an ocean receiving its floods, livers and spleens its mire, entrails its moss, severed heads and trunks the fish, and morsels of flesh the grass, the innumerable vultures its lovely swans, herons its geese, covered as it was with fat for the foam, the tumult the sound of its waters, the battle field resembled a river, incapable of being crossed by cowards, visited by water-fowls at the end of the rainy season, those demons and the foremost of the monkeys crossed over that impassable river, as elephants lead their herds across a lake that the lotuses have covered with pollen.
tataH sR^ijantam baaNa oghaan prahastam syandane sthitam || 6-58-34
dadarsha tarasaa niilo vinighnantam plavam gamaan |
34. tataH= thereafter; niilaH= Nila; dadarsha= saw; prahastam= Prahasta; sR^ijantam= who was employing; baaNaughaan= a multitude of arrows; sthitam= staying; syndane= in the chariot; vidhamantam= and annihilating; plavaNgamaan= the monkeys; tarasaa= swiftly.
Then, Nila saw Prahasta who was employing a multitude of arrows sitting in the chariot and annihilating the monkeys swiftly.
uddhuuta iva vaayuH khe mahaadabhrabalaM balaat || 6-58-35
samiikSyaabhidrutam yuddhe prahasto vaahiniipatiH |
rathenaadityavarNena niilamevaabhidudruve || 6-58-36
35, 36. samiikSya= seeing abhidrutam= Nila who was running towards him; yuddhe= in the battle-field; uddhuutaH vaayuH= as a rocking wind; khe= in the sky; (rushed towards); mahat= a large; abhrabalam= mass of clouds; prahastaH= Prahasta; vaahiniipatiH= the Army General; abhidudruve= attacked; niilameva= Nila himself; rathena= with his chariot; aaditya varNena= having the sun's colour.
Seeing Nila who was running towards him in the battle-field, as a rocking wind in the sky rushes towards a large massive clouds, Prahasta the Army general attacked Nila himself with his chariot having the sun's colour.
sa dhanurdhanvinaaM shreSTho vikR^iSya paramaahave || 6-58-37
niilaaya vyasR^ijadbaaNaan prahasto vaahiniipatiH |
37. saH prahastaH= that Prahasta; vaahiniipatiH= the Army general; shreSTaH= excellent; dhanvinaam= among the wielders of bow; vikR^iSya= drew; dhanuh= the bow-string; vyasR^ijat= and hurled; baaNaan= the arrows; niilaaya= towards Nila; paramaahave= in the great battle.
That Prahasta the Army General, who was excellent among the wielders of bow, drew the bow-string and hurled the arrows towards Nila in that great battle.
te pretya nishikhaa niilaM vinirbhidya samaahitaaH || 6-58-38
mahiim jagmurmahaavegaa roSitaa iva pannagaaH |
38. te vishikhaaaH= those arrows; roSitaaH; pannagaaH iva= appearing like furious snakes; mahaavegaaH= and with a great speed; samaahitaaH= employed (by Prahasta) pretya= proceeded towards; niilam= Nila; vinibhidya= pierced (him); jagmuH= and fell; mahiim= on the earth.
Those arrows with a great speed resembling furious snakes employed by Prahasta proceeded towards Nila, pierced him and fell on the ground.
niilaH sharairabhihato nishitairjvalanopamaiH || 6-58-39
sa tam parama durdharSam aapatantam mahaa kapiH |
prahastam taaDayaam aasa vR^ikSam utpaaTya viiryavaan || 6-58-40
39, 40. saH= that; mahaakapiH= great ape; niilaH= Nila; viiryavaan= of prowess; abhihataH= struck; nishitaiH= by sharp; sharaiH= arrows; jvalanopamaiH= resembling fire; utpaaTya= uprooted; vR^ikSam= a tree; taaDayaamaasa= and thumped; tam prahastam= on that Prahast; parama durdharSam= who was most difficult to be assaulted; aapatantam= descending on him.
That great ape of prowess Nila, who was struck by sharp arrows resembling flames, uprooted a tree and thumped it on the descending Prahasta who was most difficult to be assaulted.
tasya baaNagaNaaneva raakSasasya duraatmanaH |
apaarayan vaarayitum pratyagR^ihNaan nimiilitaH || 6-58-41
41. apaarayan= unable; varayitum= to restrain; baaNagaNaaneva= the series of arrows; tasya raakSasasya= of that demon; duraatmanaH= the evil- mined; (Nila); pratyagR^iNaat= received (them); nimiilitaH= with closed eyes.
Being unable to restrain the series of arrows hurled at him by that evil-minded demon, nila received them with closed eyes.
yathaiva go vR^iSo varSam shaaradam shiighramaagatam |
evam eva prahastasya shara varSam duraasadam || 6-58-42
nimiilita akSaH sahasaa niilaH sehe sudaaruNam |
42. govR^iSaH yathaiva= like a bull; (standing under); shaaradam= an autumnal; varSam= down-pour; aagatam= which came; shiighram= suddenly; evame eva= so; duraasadaan= under that intolerable; sahasaa= and sudden; sharavarSaan= rain of darts; prahastasya= of Prahasta; niilaH= Nila; nimiilitaakSaH= with closed eyes; sehe= endured; duraasadran= though it was scarce to be endured.
Like a bull standing under a sudden autumnal down-pour, so under that intolerable and sudden rain of darts released by Prahasta, Nila endured with closed eyes though it was scarce to be endured.
roSitaH shara varSeNa saalena mahataa mahaan |
prajaghaana hayaan niilah prahastasya mano javaan || 6-58-43
43. mahaabalaH= the exceedingly strong; mahaan= and the great; niilaH= Nila; roSitaH= enraged over; sharavarSeNa= the volley of darts; prajaghaana= killed; prahastasya= Prahasta's; hayaan= horses; mahataa saalena= by a huge sala tree.
The exceedingly strong and the great Nila, enraged over the volley of darts, killed Prahasta's horses by hurling a huge Sala tree on them.
tato roSapariitaatmaa dhanustasya duraatmanaH |
babhaJNja tarasaa niilo nanaada cha punaH punaH || 6-58-44
44. tataH= thereafter; niilaH= Nila; roSapariitaatmaa= his mind filled with anger; tarasaa= quickly; babhaN^ja= broke; dhanuH= the bow; tasya= of Prahasta; duraatmanaH= the evil-minded demon; nanaada cha= and shouted; punaH punaH= again and again.
Thereafter the greatly enraged Nila quickly broke the bow of Prahasta the evil-minded demon and shouted again and again.
vidhanus tu kR^itas tena prahasto vaahinii patiH |
pragR^ihya musalam ghoram syandanaad avapupluve || 6-58-45
45. kR^itaH= made; vidhanuH= deprived of his bow; tena= Nila; saH prahastaH= that Prahasta; vaahiniipatiH= the leader of the army; pragR^ihya= seizing; ghoram= a formidable; musalam= mace; avapupluve= leapt down; syandanaat= from the chariot.
Deprived of his bow, Prahasta the leader of the army, seizing a formidable mace, leapt down from the chariot.
taav ubhau vaahinii mukhyau jaata roSau tarasvinau |
sthitau kSataja digdha angau prabhinnaav iva kunjarau || 6-58-46
46. tau= those, ubhau= two; vaahiniimuhyau= army-chiefs; taasvinau= who were courageous; jaata vairau= in whom enmity had sprung up; kSata siktaaN^gau= their limbs covered with blood; sthitau= were standing; kuN^jarau iva= like two elephants; prabhinnau= in rut.
Those two army-chiefs, who were courageous and in whom enmity had sprung up, with their limbs covered with blood, wee standing like two elephants in rut.
ullikhantau sutiikSNaabhir damSTraabhir itaretaram |
simha shaarduula sadR^ishau simha shaarduula ceSTitau || 6-58-47
vikraanta vijayau viirau samareSv anivartinau |
kaankSamaaNau yashaH praaptum vR^itra vaasavayoH samau || 6-58-48
47, 48. simha shaarduula sadR^ishau= lion and tiger in gait; simhashaarduula cheSTitau= lion and tiger in gestures; viirau= those two warriors; ullikhantau= tore; itaretaram= each other; sutiikSNaabhiH= with their sharp; damSTraabhiH= teeth; vikraanta vijayau= vanquishers of other heroes; anivartinau= and those who did not flee; samareSu= in battles; (they); kaaNkSa-maaNaaviva= thirsting; praaptum= to obtain; yashaH= fame; vR^itta vaasavayoH iva= like Vritra and Indra.
Lion and tiger in gait, lion and tiger in gestures, those two warriors tore each other with their shap teeth. Vanquishers of other heroes and intrepid combatants, both of them, thirsting for fame, resembled Vritra and Indra.
aajaghaana tadaa niilam lalaaTe musalena saH |
prahastaH param aayastas tasya susraava shoNitam || 6-58-49
49. tadaa= then; saH prahastaH= that Prahasta; paramaayattaH= exerting himself well; aajaghaana= struck; niilena= Nila; musalena= with a mace; lalaate= on his forehead; shoNitam= and blood; susraava= oozed= tataH= from his forehead.
Then, that Prahasta exerting himself well struck Nila on his forehead with a mace and blood oozed from his forehead.
tataH shoNita digdha angah pragR^ihya sumahaa tarum |
prahastasya urasi kruddho visasarja mahaa kapiH || 6-58-50
50. tataH= thereafter; shoNitadigdhaaN= with his limbed smeared with blood; mahaakapiH= the great ape; kmddhaH= was angry; pragR^ihyacha= seized; mahaatarum= a huge tree; visasarja= and hurled it; urasi= on the chest-region; prahastasya= of Prahasta.
Whereupon, that great ape, his limbs smeared with blood, seized a huge tree and struck Prahasta full in his chest with fury.
tam acintya prahaaram sa pragR^ihya musalam mahat |
abhidudraava balinam balii niilam plavam gamam || 6-58-51
51. achintya= ignoring; tam= that; prahaaram= blow; saH= he; pragR^ihya= seized; mahat= a huge; musalam= mace; abhirudraava= and ran; balaat= in strength; niilam= towards Nila; balinam= the strong; plavaN^gamam= monkey.
Ignoring that blow, he seized a huge mace and ran in strength towards Nila the strong monkey.
tam ugra vegam samrabdham aapatantam mahaa kapiH |
tataH samprekSya jagraaha mahaa vego mahaa shilaam || 6-58-52
52. tataH= then; mahaakapiH= Nila the great monkey; samprekSya= seeing; tam= Prahasta; ugra vegam= of terrible velocity; samrabdham= briskly; aapatantam= coming towards him; jagraaha= took; mahaashilaam= a large rock; mahaavegaH= with a great swiftness.
Seeing Prahasta of terrible velocity briskly rushing towards him, Nila the great monkey took a huge rock swiftly.
tasya yuddha abhikaamasya mR^idhe musala yodhinaH |
prahastasya shilaam niilo muurdhni tuurNam apaatayat || 6-58-53
53. niilaH= Nila; tuurNam= quickly; apaatayat= hurled; shilaam- that rock; muurdhni= on the head; tasya prahastasya= of that Prahasta; yuddheabhikaamasya= who was longing for war; musalayodhinaH= and fighting with a mace; mR^idhe= in the battle.
Nila quickly hurled that rock on the head of Prahasta who was longing for war and fighting with a mace in the battle.
niilena kapimukhyena vimuktaa mahatii shilaa |
bibheda bahudhaa ghoraa prahastasya shiras tadaa || 6-58-54
54. tadaa= then; mahatii= (that) huge; ghoraa= and terrible; shilaa= rock; vimuktaa= hurled; niilena= by Nila; kapimukhyena= the leader of the monkeys; bibheda= broke; prahastasya= Prahasta's; shiraH= head; bahudhaa= into myriad pieces.
Then, that huge and terrific rock hurled by Nila the leader of the monkeys broke Prahasa's head into myriad pieces.
sa gata asur gata shriiko gata sattvo gata indriyaH |
papaata sahasaa bhuumau chinna muula;iva drumaH || 6-58-55
55. saH= that Prahasta; gataasuH= who lost his breath; gata shriikaH= was disfigured; gatasattvaH= and dead; gatendriyah= bereft of his senses; papaata= and fell; bhuumau= on the ground; sahasaa= at once; drumaH iva= like a tree; chhinnamuulaH= cut up by the root.
That Prahasta who lost his breath, was disfigured and dead, bereft of his senses and at once fell on the ground like a tree cut up by the root.
vibhinna shirasas tasya bahu susraava shoNitam |
shariiraad api susraava gireh prasravaNam yathaa || 6-58-56
56. bahu= A lot of; shoNitam= blood; susraava= oozed; tasya vibhinna shirasaH= from his broken head; shariiraadapi= from his body too; susraava= (blood) streamed forth; prasravanam yathaa= like a cascade; gireH= from a mountain.
A lot of blood oozed from his broken head. From his body two, blood streamed forth like a cascade from a mountain.
hate prahaste niilena tad akampyam mahad balam |
rakSasaam aprahR^iSTaanaam lankaam abhijagaama ha || 6-58-57
57. prahaste= Prahasta; hate= having been killed; niilena= by Nila; tam akampyam= that unshakable; mataa balam= large army; raakSasaanaam= of demons; ahR^iSTaanaam= disconsolated; abhijagaamaha= withdrew; laN^kaam= to Lanka.
Thier leader having been slain by Nila that unshakable and large army of demons, becoming disconsolated, withdrew to Lanka.
na shekuH samavasthaatum nihate vaahinii patau |
setu bandham samaasaadya vishiirNam salilam yathaa || 6-58-58
58. vaahiniipate= the Army-chief; nihate= having been killed; (those demons); na shekuH= could not; samavasthaatum= continue to stand firmly there; salilam yathaa= any more than water; samaasaadya= on reaching; vishiirNam= a breached setubandham= bridge.
Thier chief of Army having been killed, those demons could not continue to stand firmy there, any more than water on reaching a breached bridge.
hate tasmimsH camuu mukhye raakSasas te nirudyamaaH |
rakSaH pati gR^iham gatvaa dhyaana muukatvam aagataaH || 6-58-59
praptaaH shokaarNaavam tiivram visamjJNaa iva te.bhavan |
59. tasmin= that Prahaste; chamuumukhye= the Chief of Army; hate= having been slain; te raakSasaaH= those demons; dhyaana muukatvam= dull dumb; nirudyamaah= and inactive; gatvaa= regained; rakSaH patigR^iham= the abode of Ravana; te= they; abhavan= became; visamjN^aaH iva= unconscious as it were; praaptaaH= plunged; shokaarNavam tiivram= in an ocean of burning grief.
That Prahasta the chief of Army having been slain, those demons dumb dispirited and inactive, regained the abode of their king. They became unconscious as it were plunged in an ocean of burning grief.
tatas tu niilo vijayii mahaa balaH |
prashasyamaanaH svakR^itena karmaNaa |
sametya raameNa salakSmaNena |
prahR^iSTa ruupas tu babhuuva yuuthapaH || 6-58-60
60. vijayii= the triumphant; yuuthapaH= warrior; niilaH= Nila; tataH= thereafter; prashasya maanaH= was honoured; raameNa= by Rama; sametya= joined; salakSmaNena= with Lakshmana; karmaNaa= for his task; sukR^itena= accomplished well; babhuuva= and experienced; prahR^iSTa ruupaH= supreme joy.
The triumphant Nila, however, was honoured by Rama and Lakshmana for his task well accomplished and experienced supreme joy.
ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe aSTapaJNchaashaH sargaH
Thus completes 58th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
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© May 2006, K. M. K. Murthy