ततः प्रवृत्तं सुक्रूरं रामरावणयोस्तदा। सुमहद्वैरथं युद्धं सर्वलोकभयावहम्॥
Thereupon there ensued a mighty and dreadful encounter of two cars between Rāma and Ravana, creating terror to all people.
ततो राक्षससैन्यं च हरीणां च महद्बलम्। प्रगृहीतप्रहरणं निश्चेष्टं समवर्तत॥
The army of Räkşasas and the mighty host of the monkeys although they had weapons in their hands, became stupefied (for the time being).
संप्रयुद्धौ तु तौ दृष्ट्वा बलवन्नरराक्षसौ। व्याक्षिप्तहृदयाः सर्वे परं विस्मयमागताः॥
And beholding them (Răma and Rāvana) fight, all the Rākşasas and monkeys, having their minds agitated, were greatly surprised.
नानाप्रहरणैर्व्यग्रैर्भुजैर्विस्मितबुद्धयः। तस्थुः प्रेक्ष्य च सर्वं ते नाभिजग्मुः परस्परम्॥
With various weapons and hands uplifted for fight, they, greatly wondered, stood there beholding them and did not address themselves to fight with each other.
रक्षसां रावणं चापि वानराणां च राघवम्। पश्यतां विस्मिताक्षाणां सैन्यं चित्रमिवाबभौ॥
The Rakşasas beholding Rāvana, and the monkeys beholding Rāma with wonder-stricken eyes, the whole army appeared like a picture.
तौ तु तत्र निमित्तानि दृष्ट्वा राघवरावणौ। कृतबुद्धी स्थिरामर्षों युयुधाते ह्यभीतवत्॥
And expieing all omens Rāghava and Rāvaņa began to fight undaunted, firm, resolute and unagitated by anger.
जेतव्यमिति काकुत्स्थो मर्तव्यमिति रावणः। धृतौ स्ववीर्यसर्वस्वं युद्धेऽदर्शयतां तदा॥
And determining that Käkutstha would win victory and Răvana would died, they began to display their own prowess.
ततः क्रोधाद्दशग्रीवः शरान्संधाय वीर्यवान्। मुमोच ध्वजमुद्दिश्य राघवस्य रथे स्थितम्।८।।
Thereupon the highly powerful Rāvana, setting his arrows in anger, discharged then at the pennon stationed on Rāghava's car.
ते शरास्तमनासाद्य पुरंदररथध्वजम्। रथशक्तिं परामृश्य निपेतुर्धरणीतले॥
Those arrows reaching the flag staff of the Purandara chariot and perceiving its might fell down on the earth.
ततो रामोऽपि संक्रुद्धश्चापमाकृष्य वीर्यवान्। कृतप्रतिकृतं कर्तुं मनसा संप्रचक्रमे॥ रावणध्वजमुद्दिश्य मुमोच निशितं शरम्। महासर्पमिवासा ज्वलन्तं स्वेन तेजसा॥
Thereupon the highly powerful Rama, wroth, stretching his bow, made up his mind to return the blow, And aiming at Rāvana's flag staff he discharged a sharpened shaft flaming unbearably by its own lustre like a huge serpent....
रामश्चिक्षेप तेजस्वी केतुमुद्दिश्य सायकम्। जगाम स महीं भित्त्वा दशग्रीवध्वजं शरः॥
The effulgent Rāma discharged a shaft aiming at (Ravana's) banner which, piercing the Tennecked demon's flag fell, down on the earth.
स निकृत्तोऽपतद्भूमौ रावणस्यन्दनध्वजः। ध्वजस्योन्मथनं दृष्ट्वा रावणः स महाबलः॥ संप्रदीप्तोऽभवत्क्रोधादमर्षात्प्रदहन्निव। स रोषवशमापन्नः शरवर्ष ववर्ष ह॥
Beholding his flag staff thus broken down the highly powerful Răvaņa became ablaze as if burning down the everything with his unbearable ire. And being possessed by wrath he began to make a downpour of shafts.
रामस्य तुरगान्दीप्तैः शरैर्विव्याध रावणः। ते दिव्या हरयस्तत्र नास्खलनापि बभ्रमुः॥ बभूवुः स्वस्थहृदयाः पद्मनालैरिवाहताः।
Ravana then, with flaming arrows, pierced Rāma's steeds. The celestial horses were not bewildered thereby nor their course was slackened. And they remained thoroughly unagitated as if they were stricken with lotus stalks.
तेषामसंभ्रमं दृष्ट्वा वाजिनां रावणस्तदा॥ भूय एव सुसंक्रुद्धः शरवर्षं मुमोच ह। गदाश्च परिघांश्चैव चक्राणि मुसलानि च ॥ गिरिशृङ्गाणि वृक्षांश्च तथा शूलपलवधान्। मायाविहितमेतत्तु शस्त्रवर्षमपातयत्।। सहस्रशस्तदा बाणानश्रान्तहृदयोद्यमः॥
Beholding the steeds thus unmoved Rāvana was again exercise with wrath and began to discharged afresh his various weapons-gadás parighas, chakras and musalas, mountain tops trees, darts and parashus and thousands of other shafts by virtue of his illusive powers. And unmoved was his energy.
तुमुलं त्रासजननं भीमं भीमप्रतिस्वनम्। तद्वर्षमभवद्युद्धे नैकशस्त्रमयं महत्॥
That downpour of various weapons became huge and terrible in the conflict creating terror and making a dreadful noise.
विमुच्य राघवरथं समन्ताद्वानरे बले। सायकैरन्तरिक्षं च चकार सुनिरन्तरम्॥ मुमोच च दशग्रीवो निःसङ्गेनान्तरात्मना।
Thereupon leaving aside Rāghava's car he began to assail the monkey-host and enveloped the sky with a continual discharge of arrows. The Ten-necked demon let loose many a weapon even at the risk of his own life.
व्यायच्छमानं तं दृष्ट्वा तत्परं रावणं रणे॥ प्रहसन्निव काकुत्स्थः संदधे निशिताञ्छरान्। स मुमोच ततो बाणाञ्छतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
Beholding Rāvana in the encounter thus actively engaged in the discharged of arrows, Kakuthstha, smiling set up pointed shafts, and discharged them by hundreds and thousands.
तान्दृष्ट्वा रावणश्चक्रे स्वशरैः खं निरन्तरम्। ताभ्यां नियुक्तेन तदा शरवर्षेण भास्वता ॥ शरबद्धमिवाभाति द्वितीयं भास्वदम्बरम्।
Beholding them Rāvaņa again filled the welkin with arrows-and thus with shafts discharged by them both another flaming sky was crated.
नानिमित्तोऽभवद्वाणो नानिर्भेत्ता न निष्फलः॥ अन्योन्यमभिसंहत्य निपेतुर्धरणीतले। तथा विसृजतोर्बाणान्रामरावणयोर्मधे॥
None (of the arrows) missed the aim, none of them failed to pierce another and none of them was fruitless. And the arrows discharged by Rāma and Rāvana striking each other fell down on the earth.
प्रायुद्ध्येतामविच्छिन्नमस्यन्तौ सव्यदक्षिणम्। चक्रतुश्च शरै।रैर्निरुच्छ्वासमिवाम्बरम्॥
They standing on their right and left began to make a continued downpour of Arrows and enveloped the sky entirely.
रावणस्य हयान्रामो हयान्रामस्य रावणः। जघ्नतुस्तौ तदान्योन्यं कृतानुकृतकारिणौ॥
They opposing each other, Rāvana slew Rāma's steeds and Rāma in his turn slew Rāvana's.
एवं तु तौ सुसंक्रुद्धौ चक्रतुयुद्धमुत्तमम्। मुहूर्तमभवद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्॥ तौ तथा युध्यमानौ तु समरे रामरावणौ। ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि विस्मितेनान्तरात्मना॥ अर्दयन्तौ तु समरे तयोस्तौ स्यन्दनोत्तमौ। परस्परमभिक्रुद्धौ परस्परमभिद्रुतौ ॥ परस्परवधे युक्तौ घोररूपौ बभूवतुः। मण्डलानि च वीथीश्च गतप्रत्यागतानि च॥ दर्शयन्तौ बहुविधां सूतौ सारथ्यजां गतिम्। अर्दयन्रावणं रामो राघवं चापि रावणः॥ गतिवेगं समापन्नौ प्रतिवेगनिवर्तने। क्षिपतोः शरजलानि तयोस्तौ स्यन्दनोत्तमौ॥ चेरतुः संयुगमहीं सासारौ जलदाविव।
They thus enraged fought with each other and for sometime there ensued an terrible encounter capable of making ones down stand on end. The highly powerful Rāvana and Rāma *fighting with each other in the conflict by means of sharpened arrows, the lord of Rākṣasas beholding his flag staff broken down became enraged with the foremost Raghus. Rāma and Rāvaņa thus opposing each other in battle all the animals beheld them, stricken with astonishment. And those two great heroes, highly angered, began to dash towards and assail each other; and being determined to slay each other they looked greatly dreadful. And their charioteers drove the cars on, displaying their skill by moving in circles, in rows and diverse other ways. and those two excellent heroes, discharging their shafts and influenced by illusions, assailed each other proceeding and receding, Rāma attacking Rāvana and Ravana withstanding him. And these two cars coursed the earth for sometime like clouds accompanied by showers. *The epithet in the text is Laksmana's elder brother.
दर्शयित्वा तदा तौ तु गतिं बहुविधां रणे॥ परस्परस्याभिमुखौ पुनरेव च तस्थतुः। धुरं धुरेण रथयोर्वकं वक्रेण वाजिनाम्॥ पताकाश्च पताकाभिः समीयुः स्थितयोस्तदा।
Displaying many a movement in the conflict they again stood facing each other, the forepart of one car touching that of the other and the heads of the steeds touching each other; and then pennons stationed on one touched those of the other.
रावणस्य ततो रामो धनुर्मुक्तैः शितैः शरैः॥ चतुर्भिश्चतुरो दीप्तान्हयान्प्रत्यपसर्पयत्।
Rāma with four sharpened arrows shot off his bow, removed the flaming horses of Rāvana to some distance.
स क्रोधवशमापन्नो हयानामपसर्पणे॥ मुमोच निशितान्बाणाराघवाय दशाननः।
And finding his steeds thus removed he was exercised with wrath. And the Ten-necked one discharged sharpened arrows at Raghava.
सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता दशग्रीवेण राघवः॥ जगाम न विकारं च न चापि व्यथितोऽभवत्। चिक्षेप च पुनर्बाणान्वज्रसारसमस्वनान्॥ सारथिं वज्रहस्तस्य समादिश्य दशाननः।
And he was pierced by those arrows coming from the powerful Ten-necked demon. He was neither overwhelmed nor pained therewith and he again discharged arrows resembling the thunder-bolts.
मातलेस्तु महावेगाः शरीरे पतिताः शराः॥ न सूक्ष्ममपि संमोहं व्यथां वा प्रददुर्युधि।
The Ten-necked demon again discharged arrows at the charioteer, which fell with great vehemence on the person of Mātalī. Mātali was not the least pained or overwhelmed in that encounter.
तया धर्षणया कुद्धो मातलेन तथात्मनः॥ चकार शरजालेन राघवो विमुखं रिपुम्।
Beholding his charioteer thus assailed Rāma was excited with wrath and overwhelmed his foe with a net of arrows.
विंशतिं त्रिंशतिं षष्टिं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥ मुमोच राघवो वीरः सायकान्स्यन्दने रिपोः।
The heroic Rāghava showered on his enemy's chariot shafts by twentys, thirtys, sixtys, hundreds and thousands.
रावणोऽपि ततः क्रुद्धो रथस्थो राक्षसेश्वरः।॥ गदामुसलवर्षेण रामं प्रत्यर्दयद्रणे।
The lord of Raksasas, Ravana, who was stationed on the car wroth, attacked Rāma in the conflict with maces and Musalas.
तत्प्रयुक्तं पुनयुद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्॥ गदानां मुसलानां च परिघाणां च निःस्वनैः। शराणां पुरवातैश्च क्षुभिताः सप्त सागराः॥
There again ensued a terrible conflict capable of making one's down stand on end. And the seven oceans were overwhelmed with the sound of maces, Musalas, Paraighas and gold feathered arrows.
क्षुब्धानां सागराणां च पातालतलवासिनः। व्यथिता दानवाः सर्वे पन्नगाश्च सहस्रशः॥
Those inhabiting the regions under the agitated oceans, all the Dănvas and thousands of Pannagas were greatly pained.
चकम्पे मेदिनी कृतस्ना सशैलवनकानना। भास्करो निष्प्रभश्चासीन ववौ चापि मारुतः॥
Greatly shook the earth with her mountains, forests and gardens. The Sun was shorn of its resplendence and the wind blew very rough.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। चिन्तामापेदिरे सर्वे सकिंनरमहोरगाः॥
Thereupon the celestials with Gandharvas, Siddhas, great saints, Kinnaras and serpents, were all worked up with anxiety.
स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु लोकास्तिष्ठन्तु शाश्वतः। जयतां राघवः संख्ये रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम्॥ एवं जपन्तोऽपश्यंस्ते देवाः सर्षिगणास्तदा। रामरावणयोर्युद्धं सुघोरं रोमहर्षणम् ॥
Beholding the dreadful encounter between Rāma and Rāvaņa capable of making people's down stand on end, the celestials with ascetics began to pray, May good betide the Brahmins and cows, may people live in peace and may Rāghava defeat Rāvana, the lord of Räkşasas, in the conflict.
गन्धर्वाप्सरसां सङ्घा दृष्ट्वा युद्धमनूपमम्। सागरं चाम्बरप्रख्यमम्बरं सागरोपमम्॥ रामरावणयोर्युद्धं रामरावणयोरिव। एवं ब्रुवन्तो ददृशुस्तद्युद्धं रामरावणम्॥
The crowd of Gandharvas and Apsaras beholding that wonderful battle between Rāma and Rāvana, said. The ocean resemble the sky and the sky resemble the ocean-forsooth this encounter between Rama and Rāvana befits them only.
ततः क्रोधान्महाबाहू रघूणां कीर्तिवर्धनः। संधाय धनुषा रामः शरमाशीविषोपमम्॥ रावणस्य शिरोऽच्छिदन्दच्छीमज्ज्वलितकुण्डलम्। तच्छिरः पतितं भूमौ दृष्टं लोकैस्त्रिभिस्तदा॥
Thereupon Råma of long arms, the enhancer of the glory of Raghu's race, enraged, set his arrow, resembling a serpent, on his bow, and cut asunder Rāvana's head wearing shinning Kundalas. And that head in the presence of the inhabitants of the three regions fell down on the earth.
तस्यैव सदृशं चान्यद्रावणस्योत्थितं शिरः। तत्क्षिप्रं क्षिप्रहस्तेन रामेण क्षिप्रकारिणा ॥ द्वितीयं रावणशिरश्छिन्नं संयति सायकैः।
Instantly there arose another head resembling the former; and it was speedily cut off by the light-handed Rāma.
छिन्नमात्रं च तच्छीषं पुनरेव प्रदृश्यते॥ तदप्यशनिसंकाशैश्छिन्नं रामस्य सायकैः।
As soon as the second head was chopped off in the encounter by means of shafts another appeared again. And that was again severed by Rāma's shafts resembling thunder-bolts.
एवमेव शतं छिन्नं शिरसां तुल्यवर्चसाम्॥ न चैव रावणस्यान्तो दृश्यते जीवितक्षये।
Thus were severed hundred heads all equal in brilliance. But the end of Ravana's life was not seen by him.
ततः सर्वास्त्रविद्वीरः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः॥ मार्गणैर्बहुभिर्युक्तश्चिन्तयामास राघवः।
Thereupon the heroic Rāghava conversant with the use of all weapons, the enhancer of Kausalya's joy, began to reason within himself in various ways.
मारीचो निहतो यैस्तु खरो यैस्तु सदूषणः॥ क्रौञ्चावटे विराधस्तु कबन्धो दण्डकावने। यैः साला गिरयो भग्ना वाली च क्षुभितोऽम्बुधिः।६०। त इमे सायकाः सर्वे युद्धे प्रात्ययिका मम। किं तु तत्कारणं येन रावणे मन्दतेजसः॥
Verily these are the arrows by which Mārīca was killed and Khara with Dūşaņa was slainVirādaha was destroyed in the forest of Krauñcathe headless demon in the forest of DandakaSālas and mountains were broken the ocean was agitated-and Vāli was killed; I do not perceive the reason, why they were becoming fruitless when discharged at Răvaņa.
इति चिन्तापरश्चासीदप्रमत्तश्च संयुगे। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि राघवो रावणोरसि ॥
Thinking thus Rāghava made himself ready in the conflict and began to shower arrows on Rāvana's breast.
रावणोऽपि ततः क्रुद्धो रथस्थो राक्षसेश्वरः। गदामुसलवर्षेण रामं प्रत्यर्दयद्रणे॥
Thereupon Rāvana too, the lord of Rākṣasas seated in car and highly enraged, assailed Răma in the conflict with a downpour of maces and Musalas.
तत्प्रवृत्तं महाद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम। अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च पुनश्च गिरिमूर्धनि ॥ देवदानवयक्षाणां पिशाचोरगरक्षसाम्। पश्यतां तन्महाद्धं सर्वरात्रमवर्तत॥
That dreadful and huge conflict, capable of making hairs stand on end, continued for seven nights before the eyes of the celestials, Dānavas, Yaksas, Piśācas, Uragas and serpents stationed in the sky, on the earth or on the mountain-tops.
नैव रात्रिं न दिवसं न मुहूर्तं न च क्षणम्। रामरावणयोर्युद्ध विराममुपगच्छति॥
Neither for the night nor for the day, nor for a moment did the fight between Rāma and Rāvaņa cease.
जयमनवेक्ष्य रणे स राघवस्य। सुरवररथसारथिर्महात्मा रणरतराममुवाच वाक्यमाशु॥
And beholding the conflict between Dasaratha's son and the lord of Raksasas, and Ragahava's victory, the high-souled charioteer of the lord of the celestials spade speedily to Rāma engaged in the conflict.