एकेनास्य धनुष्मन्तं बाहुं देहादपातयत्। द्वितीयेन तु बाणेन भुजमन्यमपातयत्
With one arrow, he severed the bow-bearing arm from his body; with a second arrow, he cut off the other arm.
तृतीयेन तु बाणेन शितधारेण भास्वता। जहार सुनसं चापि शिरो ज्वलितकुण्डलम्
With a third arrow, sharp and shining, he took off the beautiful-nosed head, adorned with blazing earrings.
विनिकृत्तभुजस्कन्धः कबन्धाकृतिदर्शनः। `पपात वसुधायां तु छिन्नमूल इवद्रुमः
His arms and shoulders severed, taking on the form of Kabandha, he fell to the earth like a tree whose roots have been cut.
तं हत्वासूतमप्यस्त्रैर्जघान बलिनंवरः। लङ्कां प्रवेशयामासुस्तं रथं वाजिनस्तदा
Having slain him, though he was already lifeless, the mighty hero struck him with weapons, and then had the chariot brought into Lanka.
ददर्श रावणस्तं च रथं पुत्रविनाकृतम्। स पुत्रं निहतं श्रुत्वा त्रासात्संभ्रान्तमानसः
Ravana saw that chariot, now bereft of his son; hearing that his son was slain, his mind was seized with fear and confusion.
रावणः शोकमोहार्तो वैदेहीं हन्तुमुद्यतः ।। ङ्गमादाय दुष्टात्मा जवेनाभिपपात ह
Afflicted by grief and delusion, Ravana, of wicked intent, seized his weapon and rushed swiftly, intent on killing Vaidehī.
तं दृष्ट्वातस्य दुर्बुद्देरविन्ध्यः पापनिश्चयम्। शमयामास संक्रुद्धं श्रूयतां येन हेतुना
Seeing him, whose mind was evil and intent on sin, Avindhya restrained the enraged Ravana—listen to the reason why.
महाराज्येस्थितो दीप्ते न स्त्रियं हन्तुमर्हसि। हतैवैषा यदा स्त्री च कबन्धनस्था च ते वशे
Established in great sovereignty and blazing in glory, you should not kill a woman; she is already defeated, a captive, and under your control.
न चैषा दहभेदेन हतास्यादिति मे मतिः। जहि भर्तारमेवास्या हते तस्मिन्हता भवेत्
Nor, I think, has she been slain by fire or any other means; kill her husband instead—when he is dead, she too will be as good as dead.
न हि ते विक्रमे तुल्यः साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः। असकृद्धि त्वया सन्द्रास्त्रासितास्त्रिदसा युधि
Indeed, not even Indra himself is equal to you in prowess; many times have you terrified the gods in battle with your weapons.
एवं बहुविधैर्वाक्यैरविन्ध्यो रावणं तदा। क्रुद्धं संशमयामास जगृहे च स तद्वचः
Thus, with many such words, Avindhya calmed the enraged Ravana, and Ravana accepted his counsel.
निर्याणे स मतिं कृत्वा नियन्तारं क्षपाचरः। आज्ञापयामास तदारथो मे कल्प्यतामिति
Having resolved to go forth, the lord of the night-walkers ordered his charioteer, 'Prepare my chariot at once.'
ततः क्रुद्धो दशग्रीवः प्रिये पुत्रे निपातिते। निर्ययौ रथमास्थाय हेमरत्नविभूषितम्
Then the ten-headed Ravana, enraged at the death of his beloved son, mounted his chariot adorned with gold and jewels and set out.
संवृतोराक्षसैर्घेरैर्विविधायुधपाणिभिः। अभिदुद्राव रामं स पोथयन्हरियूथपान्
Surrounded by fierce Rakshasas bearing various weapons, he charged at Rama, striking down the leaders of the monkey troops.
तमाद्रवन्तं संक्रुद्ध मैन्दनीलनलाङ्गदाः। हनुमाञ्जाम्बवांश्चैव ससैन्याः पर्यवारयन्
Mainda, Nila, Angada, Hanuman, Jambavan, and their armies surrounded the furious Ravana as he advanced.
ते दशग्रीवसैन्यं तदृक्षवानरपुङ्गवाः। द्रुमैर्विध्वंसयांचक्रुर्दशग्रीवस्य पश्यतः
Those foremost among the bears and monkeys began to destroy Ravana's army with trees, as Ravana looked on.
ततः स्वसैन्यमालोक्य वध्यमानमरातिभिः। मायावी चासृजन्मायां रावणो राक्षसाधिपः
Seeing his own army being slaughtered by the enemy, Ravana, master of illusion and lord of the Rakshasas, unleashed his magic.
तस्य देहविनिष्क्रान्ताः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। राक्षसाः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त शरशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः
From his body emerged hundreds and thousands of Rakshasas, armed with arrows, spears, and lances.
तान्रामो जघ्निवान्सर्वान्दिव्येनास्त्रेण राक्षसान्। अथ भूयोपि मायां स व्यदधाद्राक्षसाधिपः
Rama slew all those Rakshasas with a divine weapon; then the lord of the Rakshasas again created another illusion.
कृत्वा रामस् रूपाणि लक्ष्मणस्य च भारत। अभिदुद्राव रामं च लक्ष्मणं च दशाननः
Assuming the forms of Rama and Lakshmana, Ravana, the ten-headed one, charged at both Rama and Lakshmana, O Bharata.
ततस्ते राममर्च्छन्तो लक्ष्मणं च क्षपाचराः। अभिपेतुस्तदा रामं प्रगृहीतशरासनाः
Then, as they worshipped Rama and Lakshmana, the night-dwelling demons rushed toward Rama, bows and arrows in hand.
तां दृष्ट्वाराक्षसेन्द्रस् मायामिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः। उवाच रामः सौमित्रिमसंभ्रान्तो बृहद्वचः
Seeing that illusion of the king of the rakshasas, the descendant of Ikshvaku, Rama, spoke to Saumitri, unperturbed, with great words.
जहीमान्राक्षसान्पापानात्मनः प्रतिरूपकान्। इत्युक्त्वाऽभ्यहनद्रामो लक्ष्मणश्चात्मरूपकान्
Destroy these wicked rakshasas, who are mere imitations of ourselves—so saying, Rama struck down the impostors, and Lakshmana too struck down those resembling himself.
ततो हर्यश्वयुक्तेन रथेनादित्यवर्चसा। उपतस्थे रणे रामं मातलिः शक्रसारथिः
Then Matali, charioteer of Shakra, approached Rama in battle with a chariot drawn by horses of greenish hue, radiant as the sun.
अयं हर्यश्वयुग्जैत्रो मघोनः स्यन्दनोत्तमः। `त्वदर्थमिह संप्राप्तः संदेशाद्वै शतक्रतोः
This victorious chariot, yoked with greenish horses, belonging to Maghavan, the best of chariots, has come here for you by the command of Shatakratu.
अनेन शक्रः काकुत्स्थ समरे दैत्यदानवान्। शतशः पुरुषव्याघ्र रथोदारेण जघ्निवान्
With this chariot, O descendant of Kakutstha, Shakra has slain hundreds of daityas and danavas in battle, O tiger among men.
तदनन नरव्याघ्र मया यत्तेन संयुगे। स्यन्दनेन जहिक्षिप्रं रावणं मा चिरं कृथाः
Therefore, O tiger among men, with my careful guidance in battle, swiftly slay Ravana with this chariot—do not delay.
इत्युक्तो राघवस्तथ्यं वचोऽशङ्कत मातलेः। मायैषाराक्षसस्येति तमुवाच विबीषणः
Thus addressed, Raghava trusted Matali's truthful words; 'This is the rakshasa's illusion,' said Vibhishana to him.
नेयं माया नरव्याघ्ररावणस् दुरात्मनः। तदातिष्ठ रथंशीघ्रमिमसैन्द्रं महाद्युते
This is not the illusion of Ravana, the evil-minded; so ascend the chariot quickly, this divine chariot of Indra, O one of great splendor.
ततः प्रहृष्टः काकुत्स्थस्तथेत्युक्त्वा विभीषणम्। रथेनाभिपपाताथ दशग्रीवं रुषाऽन्वितः
Then, delighted, Kakutstha replied 'So be it' to Vibhishana, and, mounting the chariot, rushed toward the ten-headed Ravana, filled with wrath.