ततस्तु रक्षोऽधिपतिर्महात्मा हनूमताक्षे निहते कुमारे। मनः समाधाय स देवकल्पं समादिदेशेन्द्रजितं सरोषः॥
On prince Akşa having been slain by Hanumān, the magnanimous monarch of the Rākṣasas, wrought up by wrath, repressing his feelings, ordered Indrajit resembling a celestial, (to take the against the foe.)
त्वमस्त्रविच्छस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठः सुरासुराणामपि शोकदाता। सुरेषु सेन्द्रेषु च दृष्टकर्मा पितामहाराधनसंचितास्त्रः॥
You are the foremost of those bearing arms; and you had afflicted even the gods and Asuras (in bat .s); your deeds have been witnessed by the celestials with Indra; and you had procured a weapon (viz. the Brahma weapon) even from the Great-father.
त्वदस्त्रबलमासाद्य ससुराः समरुद्गणाः। न शेकुः समरे स्थातुं सुरेश्वरसमाश्रिताः॥
And coping (in conflict) with your might of arms, all the celestials with the Maruts, headed by the lord of celestials himself, could not stay in the field.
न कश्चित् त्रिषु लोकेषु संयुगेन गतश्रमः। भुजवीर्याभिगुप्तश्च तपसा चाभिरक्षितः। देशकालप्रधानश्च त्वमेव मतिसत्तमः॥
There is none in these three worlds (save yourself), who dose not come under the influence of fatigue in battle. And you are preserved by the prowess of your arms, and protected also by your ascetic merit; and being skilled in the knowledge of season and place, you, methinks, are the foremost of them all in intelligence.
न तेऽस्त्यशक्यं समरेषु कर्मणां न तेऽस्त्यकार्यं मतिपूर्वमन्त्रणे। न सोऽस्ति कश्चित् त्रिषु संग्रहेषु न वेद यस्तेऽस्त्रबलं बलं च॥
There is no deed which you cannot perform in the field; and there is nothing in counsel capable of being arrived at by arguing on the lines prescribed by the scriptures, which you are not equal to; and there is none in all the three worlds who dose not know your strength and prowess in arms.
ममानुरूपं तपसो बलं च ते पराक्रमश्चास्त्रबलं च संयुगे। न त्वां समासाद्य रणावम मनः श्रमं गच्छति निश्चितार्थम्॥
And your ascetic energy is like to mine, as well as your prowess and mighty in arms in battle. And having you in the conflict, my mind assured (of victory), dose not experience sorrow.
निहताः किंकराः सर्वे जम्बुमाली च राक्षसः। अमात्यपुत्रा वीराश्च पश्च सेनाग्रगामिनः॥
Slain have been all the servants, as also Jambumālī, and those five generals, the heroic sons of my councillors, and the swelling forces including steeds, elephants and cars.
बलानि सुसमृद्धानि साश्वनागरथानि च। सहोदरस्ते शयितः कुमारोऽक्षश्च सूदितः। न तु तेष्वेव मे सारो यस्त्वय्यरिनिषूदन ॥ इदं च दृष्ट्वा निहतं महद्बलं कपेः प्रभावं च पराक्रमं च। त्वमात्मनश्चापि निरीक्ष्य सारं कुरुष्व वेगं स्वबलानुरूपम्॥
And low Leith Sahodara, and prince Akşa has also been slain. O destroyer of foes, my mind did not feel the same confidence in them that I do in you. (According to another reading, the meaning would be:-"O best of warriors, do you, considering your own strength and that of the enemy, so exert yourself that he may no longer inflict terrible losses on our army.” (Tirtha)) And seeing this mighty host slain, as well as the prowess and energy of the monkey, and the taking into consideration your own strength, do you put forth your energy according to your strength.
बलावमर्दैस्त्वयि संनिकृष्टे यथागते शाम्यति शान्तशत्रुः। तथा समीक्ष्यात्मबलं परं च समारभस्वास्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठ॥
On nearing the scene (of conflict), do you, O foremost of those bearing arms, seeing yours own strength and that of the foe, so exert yourself that the latter, (now) resting quietly in consequence of having created a carnage-(on the hostile hosts), may wax enfeebled. (Another meaning is: Looking on yourself, and (not on my forces), as constituting my main stay, put forth your prowess.)
न वीर सेना गणशो च्यवन्ति न वज्रमादाय विशालसारम्। न मारुतस्यास्ति गतिप्रमाणं न चाग्निकल्पः करणेन हन्तुम्॥
O hero, army can serve no purpose here; for hosts fly (before) Hanumān or are reduced to nothing. Neither can it avail to use arms of terrific power and resembling the thunderbolt. Nothing can resist the rush of the Wind-god's offspring, and this one like to fire is incapable of being slain with weapons.
तमेवमर्थं प्रसमीक्ष्य सम्यक् स्वकर्मसाम्याद्धि समाहितात्मा। स्मरंश्च दिव्यं धनुषोऽस्य वीर्य व्रजाक्षतं कर्म समारभस्व॥
Revolving well in your mind what I have remarked), do you in order to the attainment of success, with an intent mind remember the divine virtue of this bow, and repairing (to battle) strive to vanquish the foe, baffling his attacks. (One should know in what branches of knowledge one's enemy is proficient, and, understanding this, one should strive for victory.)
न खल्वियं मतिश्रेष्ठ यत्त्वां सम्प्रेषयाम्यहम्। इयं च राजधर्माणां क्षत्रस्य च मतिर्मता॥
O foremost of intelligent ones, (that I send you to battle) is certainly not proper; yet this course of action is endorsed by Kșatriyas and those following the morality of kings.
नानाशास्त्रेषु संग्रामे वैशारद्यमरिंदम। अवश्यमेव बोद्धव्यं काम्यश्च विजयो रणे॥
O subduer of enemies, one should be versed in various branches of learning as well as be masterful in war. (According to a different reading, the meaning would be, “You are competent to fight agreeably to the rules.") He that craves victory in fight, should be acquainted with various branches of knowledge. (The śloka is very difficult and incapable of interpretation without at places meanings being read into it.)
ततः पितुस्तद्वचनं निशम्य प्रदक्षिणं दक्षसुतप्रभावः। चकार भर्तारमतित्वरेण रणाय वीरः प्रतिपन्नबुद्धिः॥
Hearing the words of his father, (Indrajit) gifted with celestial prowess, determined to fight, instantly circumambulated him.
ततस्तैः स्वगणैरिष्टैरिन्द्रजित् प्रतिपूजितः। युद्धोद्धतकृतोत्साहः संग्राम सम्प्रपद्यत॥
Excited with desire for fight and worked up with energy, Indrajit, eulogised by the friendly Rākşasas, set out for battle.
श्रीमान् पद्मविशालाक्षो राक्षसाधिपतेः सुतः। निर्जगाम महातेजाः समुद्र इव पर्वणि ॥
And that highly effulgent and graceful son of the lord of the Rākşasas, having expansive eyes resembling lotus-petals, issued out like to the rising of the ocean during a parva. (A name given to certain days in the lunar month at the full and change at the moon, and the 8th and 11th of each hall month.)
फ्लैश्चतुर्भिः स तु तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रैः। रथं समायुक्तमसह्यवेगः समारुरोहेन्द्रजिदिन्द्रकल्पः॥
Thereupon Indrajit of unbearable prowess, equal to the lord of the celestials, ascended a car drawn by four horses, having sharpened teeth and resembling Garuda in velocity.
स रथी धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः शस्त्रज्ञोऽस्त्रविदां वरः। रथेनाभिययौ क्षिपं हनूमान् यत्र सोऽभवत्॥
And that master of a car and foremost of bowmen, conversant with the use of all weapons-the best of those using swords proceeded soon in his car where Hanumān was.
स तस्य रथनिर्घोषं ज्यास्वनं कार्मुकस्य च। निशम्य हरिवीरोऽसौ सम्प्रहृष्टतरोऽभवत्॥
And hearing the sound of his car and the twang of his bow, that heroic monkey attained an excess of delight.
इन्द्रजिच्चापमादाय शितशल्यांश्च सायकान्। हनूमन्तमभिप्रेत्य जगाम रणपण्डितः॥
And taking up a bow and sharpened darts, Indrajit, versed in the rules of war, proceeded towards Hanumān.
तस्मिंस्तत: संयति जातहर्षे रणाय निर्गच्छति बाणपाणौ। मूंगाश्च रौद्रा बहुधा विनेदुः॥
And as he issued out for battle, greatly delighted, with arrows in his hands, all the quar'ers becai.e dark, and jackals began to set up terrible cries.
समागतासात्र तु नागयक्षा महर्षयश्चक्रचराश्च सिद्धाः। नभः समावृत्य च पक्षिसङ्घा विनेदुरुच्चैः परमप्रहृष्टाः॥
There arrived the Nāgas, the Yakşas, the Maharsis, the planets, and the Siddhās, and the birds, covering the the welkin, and, greatly delighted, began to make a noise.
आयान्तं स रथं दृष्ट्वा तूर्णमिन्द्रध्वजं कपिः। ननाद च महानादं व्यवर्धत च वेगवान्॥
Beholding that car having a flag like that of Indra, approach very quickly, the monkey began to emit terrible roars and increase himself.
इन्द्रजित्स रथं दिव्यमाश्रितश्चित्रकार्मुकः। धनुर्विस्फारयामास तडिदूर्जितनिः स्वनम्॥
And Indrajit too, seated on the celestial car and having a painted bow, began to stretch it, emitting a sound resembling that of thunder.
ततः समेतावतितीक्ष्णवेगौ महाबलौ तौ रणनिर्विशङ्कौ। कपिश्च रक्षोऽधिपतेस्तनूजः सुरासुरेन्द्राविव बद्धवैरौ॥
Thereupon closed in conflict those two greatly powerful (heroes)gifted with swift movements and fearless in battle—the monkey, and the son of the lord of Rākṣasas, like to the lords of celestials and Asuras.
स तस्य वीरस्य महारथस्य धनुष्मत: संयति सम्मतस्य। श्वचार मार्गे पितुरप्रमेयः॥
And baffling the shafts of that hero of a mighty car, an accomplished bowman and a finished warrior, the immeasurably powerful monkey increasing himself began to range in the welkin.
ततः शरानायततीक्ष्णशल्यान् सुपत्रिणः काञ्चनचित्रपुङ्खान्। मुमोच वीरः परवीरहन्ता सुसंततान् वज्रसमानवेगान्॥
Thereupon the heroic (Indrajit)-slayer of foes-began to discharge incessantly shafts, large, sharp, well-feathered, painted in gold and swift-coursing like to thunder.
ततः स तत्स्यन्दननिःस्वनं च मृदङ्गभेरीपटहस्वनं च। विकृष्यमाणस्य च कार्मुकस्य निशम्य घोषं पुनरुत्पपात ॥
And hearing again the noise of his car, the sounds of drums, bugles, and war-drums, and the twangs of the bow, he again leaped up in the sky).
शराणामन्तरेष्वाशु व्यावर्तत महाकपिः। हरिस्तस्याभिलक्ष्यस्य मोक्षयंल्लक्ष्यसंग्रहम्॥
And baffling the aim of (Indrajit), who had always an eye on it, that great monkey ranged at a distance from those shafts.
शराणामग्रतस्तस्य पुनः समभिवर्तत। प्रसार्य हस्तौ हनुमानुत्पपातानिलात्मजः॥
And again facing the arrows and stretching his hands, the Wind-god's son again leaped up.
तावुभौ वेगसम्पन्नौ रणकर्मविशारदौ। सर्वभूतमनोग्राहि चक्रतुयुद्धमुत्तमम्॥
And those two heroes, gifted with swift movements and versed in the art of war, engaged in a combat, admired by all beings.
हनूमतो वेद न राक्षसोऽन्तरं न मारुतिस्तस्य महात्मनोऽन्तरम्। परस्परं निर्विषहौ बभूवतुः समेत्य तौ देवसमानविक्रमौ॥
And Hanuman could not find out the shortcomings of the Rākşasa, nor could that highsouled one detect the weak points of the son of the Wind-god.
ततस्तु लक्ष्ये स विहन्यमाने शरेष्वमोघेषु च सम्पतत्सु। जगाम चिन्तां महती महात्मा समाधिसंयोगसमाहितात्मा॥
And these two gifted with celestial prowess, engaged in conflict, became unbearable to each other. And seeing him unhurt though aimed at with infallible arrows, the high-souled (Indrajit), controlling his senses, engaged in deep and devout meditation (According Hindu philosophy, one by virtue of yoga and selfcontrol can realise many great things which are beyond ordinary human conception. Beholding to Human unhurt though assailed incessantly with terrible shafts, Indrajit at once jumped at the conclusion that he must be a great spirit in a monkey-form. To realise who he in reality was, he gagged in yoga or devout meditation) (to realise the true identity of Hanumān).
श्चकार तस्मिन् हरिवीरमुख्ये। अवध्यतां तस्य कपेः समीक्ष्य कथं निगच्छेदिति निग्रहार्थम्॥
Thereupon, that son of the lord of Rākşasas pinned his thoughts upon that foremost of monkeys, and finding him incapable of being slain, he began to devise plans how he could be bound.
ततः पैतामहं वीरः सोऽस्त्रमस्त्रविदां वरः। संदधे सुमहातेजास्तं हरिप्रवरं प्रति॥
And that hero, foremost of those versed in the use of weapons, discharged at that best of monkeys the highly powerful weapon conferred on him by Brahmă, the Great-father of the celestials.
अवध्योऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा तमस्त्रेणास्त्रतत्त्ववित्। निजग्राह महाबाहुं मारुतात्मजमिन्द्रजित्॥
And knowing him incapable of being slain, Indrajit conversant with the use of weapons, bound that large-armed son of the Wind-god with that weapon.
तेन बद्धस्ततोऽस्त्रेण राक्षसेन स वानरः। अभवन्निर्विचेष्टश्च पपात च महीतले॥
And being bound up by that Rākşasa with the weapon, the monkey became motionless and fell down on the earth.
ततोऽथ बुद्ध्वा स तदस्त्रबन्धं प्रभोः प्रभावाद् विगताल्पवेग: :1 पितामहानुग्रहमात्मनश्च विचिन्तयामास हरिप्रवीरः॥
And thinking that he was bound up with a Brahma weapon, he did not feel the least pain in consequence of Brahmā's blessing.
ततः स्वायम्भुवैमन्त्रैर्ब्रह्मास्त्रं चाभिमन्त्रितम्। हनूमांश्चिन्तयामास वरदानं पितामहात्॥
And that heroic monkey began to think of the boons conferred on him by the Great-father of the celestials.
न मेऽस्य बन्धस्य च शक्तिरस्ति विमोक्षणे लोकगुरोः प्रभावात्। इत्येवमेवं विहितोऽस्त्रबन्धो मयाऽऽत्मयोनेरनुवर्तितव्यः॥ स वीर्यमस्त्रस्य कपिर्विचार्य पितामहानुग्रहमात्मनश्च। विमोक्षशक्तिं परिचिन्तयित्वा पितामहाज्ञामनुवर्तते स्म।॥
And thinking that the weapon was conferred by the Self-create and consecrated by sacred Mantras, Hanuman began to think of boons conferred by the Great-father. “In consequence of the power of the Lord of creation I am incapable of extricating myself from these bonds." (Knowing this by means of devout mediation, he reflected again)-“This has been ordained by Him, and I must put up with this pain for sometime.” Revolving well the power of the weapon, the boon of the Great-father, and his own prowess to extricate himself from bonds, the monkey followed the Great-father's behest.
अस्त्रेणापि हि बद्धस्य भयं मम न जायते। पितामहमहेन्द्राभ्यां रक्षितस्यानिलेन च।॥
I do not fear though bound by this weapon, since I am being protected by Brahmā, Indra and the Wind-god.
ग्रहणे चापि रक्षोभिर्महन्मे गणदर्शनम्। राक्षसेन्द्रेण संवादस्तस्माद् गृह्णन्तु मां परे॥
It will be better if I am carried off by the Rākşasas, for I shall reap very great benefit by my conversation with the lord of Rākşasas.
स निश्चितार्थः परवीरहन्ता समीक्ष्यकारी विनिवृत्तचेष्टः। परैः प्रसह्याभिगतैर्निगृह्य ननाद तैस्तैः परिभय॑मानः॥
"Therefore let the enemies carry me." Having resolved this, the considerate (monkey)-slayer of foes—remained motionless. And being ruthlessly bound by the foes and remonstrated with by them, he began to moan piteously.
ततस्ते राक्षसा दृष्ट्वा विनिश्चेष्टमरिंदमम्। बबन्धुः शणवल्कैश्च दुमचीरैश्च संहतैः॥
And beholding that slayer of foes motionless, the Rakşasas bound him up with cotton and bark.
स रोचयामास परैश्च बन्धं प्रसह्य वीरैरभिगर्हणं च। कौतूहलान्मां यदि राक्षसेन्द्रो द्रष्टुं व्यवस्येदिति निश्चितार्थः॥
And he gladly allowed himself to be tied up and rebuked by his enemies, thinking that he might converse with the lord of the Rākşasas, if he, out of curiosity, should like to see him.
स बद्धस्तेन वल्केन विमुक्तोऽस्त्रेण वीर्यवान्। अस्त्रबन्धः स चान्यं हि न बन्धमनुवर्तते॥
Being bound with bark, that powerful (monkey) got himself freed from the binding of the weapon, for the binding force of a Brahma weapon becomes null when there is any other binding.
अथेन्द्रजित्तं दुमचीरबद्धं विचार्य वीरः कपिसत्तमं तम्। मन्येन बद्धोऽप्यनुवर्ततेऽस्त्रम्॥ अहो महत्कर्म कृतं निरर्थं न राक्षसैर्मन्त्रगतिर्विमृष्टा। पुनश्च नास्त्रे विहतेऽस्त्रमन्यत् प्रवर्तते संशयिताः स्म सर्वे॥
Beholding that best of monkeys tied up with bark and liberated from the binding of the weapon Indrajit reflected that the binding force of the Brahma weapon became powerless when there was any other binding. “Alas, (those Räkşas) have rendered my mighty deed fruitless. They know not the action of Mantras. (That the action of a Brahma mantra upon one is multified if one is bound physically) And on the Brahma weapon being baffled, any other weapon cannot effect anything; and thus we thus we have all been placed in a critical predicament."
अस्त्रेण हनुमान् मुक्तो नात्मानमवबुध्यते। कृष्यमाणस्तु रक्षोभिस्तैश्च बन्धैर्निपीडितः॥ हन्यमानस्ततः क्रूरै राक्षसैः कालमुष्टिभिः। समीपं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य प्राकृष्यत स वानरः॥
On being released from the weapon, Hanumān did not betray any signs of his liberation, albeit he was pulled by the Rākşasas and pained by the bonds they had bound him with. And the monkey, Hanumān, was pulled by those cruel Rākṣasas having fatal boxes, in the direction of the lord of Rākşasas.
मस्त्रेण बद्धं दुमचीरसूत्रैः। व्यदर्शयत् तत्र महाबलं तं हरिप्रवीरं सगणाय राज्ञे॥
Seeing (Hanuman) freed from the (Brahma) weapon yet bound by the bark of trees, he (Indrajit) showed the exceedingly powerful and highly heroic monkey to the king along with his adherents.
तं मत्तमिव मातङ्गं बद्धं कपिवरोत्तमम्। राक्षसा राक्षसेन्द्राय रावणाय न्यवेदयन्॥
And the Rākṣasas related to the ruler of Rākșas everything touching that foremost of choice monkeys, resembling a mad elephant who was in bonds.
कोऽयं कस्य कुतो वापि किंकार्यं कोऽभ्युपाश्रयः। इति राक्षसवीराणां दृष्ट्वा संजज्ञिरे कथाः॥
“Who is he? And whose son? And where from? And what's his errand? And by whom is he backed?” Thus did the heroic Rākşasas converse on beholding Hanumān.
हन्यतां दह्यतां वापि भक्ष्यतामिति चापरे। राक्षसास्तत्र संक्रुद्धाः परस्परमथाब्रुवन्॥ अतीत्य मार्ग सहसा महात्मा स तत्र रक्षोधिपपादमूले। ददर्श राज्ञः परिचारवृद्धान् गृहं महारत्नविभूषितं च।५७।।
And others said, "Kill him," "Burn him," "Eat him up". The Raksasas, growing enraged, thus said to each other. Having passed some way, that magnanimous one saw there old servants sitting at the feet of the lord of Rākşasas, as well as a mansion embellished with countless jewels.
स ददर्श महातेजा रावणः कपिसत्तमम्। रक्षोभिर्विकृताकारैः कृष्यमाणमितस्ततः॥
And the exceedingly energetic Rāvana saw that foremost of monkeys dragged hither and thither by Rākṣasas of frightful forms.
राक्षसाधिपतिं चापि ददर्श कपिसत्तमः। तेजोबलसमायुक्तं तपन्तमिव भास्करम्॥
And that best of monkeys too saw that lord of Rākşasas, endowed with strength and energy and resembling the resplendent sun.
दशाननस्तं कपिमन्ववेक्ष्य। अथोपविष्टान् कुलशीलवृद्धन् समादिशत् तं प्रतिमुख्यमन्त्री॥
And with his reddened eyes rolling, the tennecked one, gazing at that monkey, ordered his principal counsellors, boasting of high pedigree and noble character, (to interrogate the incomer).
यथाक्रमं तैः स कपिश्च पृष्टः कार्यार्थमर्थस्य च मूलमादौ। निवेदयामास हरिश्वरस्य दूतः सकाशादहमागतोऽस्मि॥
And by turns questioned by them as to his mission and purpose, as well as the fundamental occasion (of his in road), that foremost of monkeys replied, “A messenger, I come (from Sugriva.)"