ते बाणा राजपुत्रस्य ललाटे परिनिष्ठिताः । विराजंते स्म च मुने दशशाखास्तरोरिव
Those arrows were firmly fixed in the prince's forehead, O sage, and shone like the ten branches of a tree.
तेन बाणप्रहारेण विव्यथेन महामनाः । यष्टिकाप्रहतो यद्वत्कुंजरः सप्तवर्षकः
Struck by that volley of arrows, the great-minded one was distressed, like a seven-year-old elephant struck by a staff.
बाणान्धनुषि संधाय मुमोच त्रिशताञ्छुभान् । सुवर्णपुंखरचितान्महाकालानलोपमान्
Stringing arrows to his bow, he released three hundred splendid shafts, adorned with golden feathers and blazing like the fire of destruction.
ते बाणास्तु प्रतापाग्र्य वक्षो भित्त्वा गता ह्यधः । शोणिताक्ता यथा रामचंद्र भक्ति पराङ्मुखाः
Those arrows pierced the chest of the eminent warrior and passed through, stained with blood, like devotees turning away from Rama.
प्रतापाग्र्यः प्रकुपितः शरान्मुंचन्सहस्रशः । अकरोद्विरथं सूनुं सुबाहोस्तत्क्षणाद्द्रुतम्
The foremost in valor, enraged, released thousands of arrows and swiftly made Subahu's son lose his chariot in that very moment.
चतुर्भिश्च तुरो वाहान्द्वाभ्यां ध्वजमशातयत् । एकेन सारथेः कायाच्छिरो मह्यामपातयत्
With four arrows he struck down the four horses, with two he shattered the banner, and with one he struck the charioteer's head from his body onto the ground.
चतुर्भिस्ताडयामास तं सूनुं नृपतेः पुनः । तत्क्षणाच्चापमेकेन गुणयुक्तं तु चिच्छिदे
Again, with four arrows, he struck the king's son; and in that instant, with a single arrow fitted to the bow, he cut through his bowstring.
सोऽन्यरथं समारुह्य हयरत्नसुशोभितम् । धनुः करे समादाय सज्यं चक्रे महामनाः
Mounting another chariot adorned with excellent horses, the high-minded prince took up a bow in his hand and strung it.
प्रत्युवाच प्रतापाग्र्यं त्वया विक्रांतमद्भुतम् । पश्येदानीं पराक्रांतिं धनुषो मम सद्भट
He addressed the foremost in valor: 'Your display of courage is wondrous; now, noble warrior, behold the might of my bow.'
एवमुक्त्वा तु दमनो बाणान्दश समाददे । चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहान्निनाय यमसादनम्
Having spoken thus, Damana took up ten arrows; with four he sent the four horses to the abode of Yama.
चतुर्भिस्तिलशः कृत्तो रथश्चक्रसमन्वितः । एकेन हृदि विव्याध बाणेनैकेन सारथिम्
With four arrows he shattered the chariot with its wheels into fragments; with one arrow he pierced the heart, and with one he struck the charioteer.
जगर्ज शंखमापूर्य शंखशब्दसमन्वितः । तत्कर्म पूजयामास साधु वीर महाबल
He sounded his conch, filling the air with its roar; that mighty hero was honored for his deed, 'Well done, O valiant one of great strength!'
इति विक्रांतमालोक्य प्रतापाग्र्यो रुषान्वितः । अन्यं रथं समास्थाय ययौ योद्धुं नृपात्मजम्
Witnessing this valor, the foremost in prowess, filled with anger, mounted another chariot and advanced to fight the king's son.
उवाच वीर पश्य त्वं मम विक्रांतमद्भुतम् । इत्युक्त्वाशु मुमोचौघाञ्छराणां शितपर्वणाम्
He said, 'O hero, now behold my wondrous valor!' And having spoken thus, he swiftly released a torrent of sharp arrows.
शराः सर्वत्र दृश्यंते कुंजरेषु हयेषु च । परब्रह्मेव सर्वत्र व्याप्ताश्चांतरगोचराः
Arrows were seen everywhere—among elephants and horses; like the Supreme Brahman, they pervaded all, visible and invisible.
तं राजपुत्रं शितबाणकोटिभि -। र्व्याप्तं विधायाशु जगर्ज विक्रमी । संहर्षयन्स्वीयगणान्परान्महान् । कुर्वन्हृदा शून्यतमान्गतासुकान्
He quickly covered the prince with countless sharp-tipped arrows, roared mightily, gladdening his own forces and filling the hearts of his foes with utter emptiness, as if their life had departed.
स राजपुत्रः शितसायकव्रजैः । संपूर्णमात्मानमवेक्ष्य रोषितः । जग्राह शस्त्राणि दुरंतविक्रमो । धनुश्च धुन्वन्भुजदंडयोर्महान्
The prince, seeing himself enveloped by the volleys of sharp arrows, became enraged, seized his weapons—mighty in his unrestrainable valor—and brandished his great bow between his strong arms.
चकर्त सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि शस्त्राणि च महाबलः । रोषताम्रेक्षणो मुंचञ्छरान्वैरिविदारिणः
That mighty one cut down all the weapons and missiles, his eyes red with anger, releasing arrows that tore through his enemy.
तच्छस्त्रजालं निर्धूय राजपुत्रो जगाद तम् । क्षमस्वैकं प्रहारं मे यदि शूरोसि मारिष
Brushing aside that shower of weapons, the prince spoke to him: 'If you are truly a hero, O warrior, grant me a single blow.'
यद्यनेन भवंतं वै रथाच्चेत्पातयामि न । प्रतिज्ञां शृणु मे वीर मम गर्वेण निर्मिताम्
'If with this I do not cast you down from your chariot, then hear my vow, O hero, made out of my pride.'
वेदं निंदंति ये मत्ता हेतुवादविचक्षणाः । तेषां पापं ममैवास्तु नरकार्णवमज्जकम्
'Those intoxicated with argument, who disparage the Veda, let their sin be mine alone, sinking into the ocean of hell.'
इत्युक्त्वा बाणमासाद्य कोदंडे कालसन्निभम् । ज्वालामालाकुलं तीक्ष्णं निषंगादुद्धृतं वरम्
Having spoken thus, he took up an arrow on his bow, resembling death, blazing with a garland of flames, sharp, and the best drawn from his quiver.
स मुक्तो नृपवर्येण हृदि लक्ष्यीकृतः शरः । जगाम तरसा तं वै कालानलसमप्रभः
That arrow, released by the foremost king and fixed in his heart as its target, sped toward him with the brilliance of the fire of destruction.
प्रतापाग्र्यः शरं दृष्ट्वा स्वपातनसमुद्यतम् । बाणान्धनुष्यथाधत्त शरच्छेदायवै शितान्
Seeing the arrow, fierce in power and poised to strike him down, he fitted sharp arrows to his bow to cut down that shaft.
स बाणः सर्वबाणांस्तांश्छिंदन्मध्यत एव हि । जगाम वै प्रतापाग्र्यहृदयं धैर्यसंयुतम्
That arrow, cleaving through all those arrows in its path, went straight to the heart of the mighty warrior, steadfast in courage.
संलग्नो हृदि नालीकः प्रविवेश तदंतरम् । राजाकृतप्रहारस्तु पपात धरणीतले
The shaft, lodged in his heart, entered deep within; struck by the king, he fell to the ground.
मूर्च्छितं चेतनाहीनं रथोपस्थाद्गतं भुवि । सारथिस्तं समादायापोवाह रणमंडलात्
Unconscious, bereft of awareness, fallen from his chariot to the earth, his charioteer took him up and carried him away from the field of battle.
हाहाकारोमहानासीद्बलं भग्नं गतं ततः । यत्र शत्रुघ्ननामासौ वीरकोटिपरीवृतः
A great cry of lament arose; the army was broken and fled from the place where Śatrughna, surrounded by a host of heroes, stood.
राजात्मजो जयं प्राप्य प्रतापाग्र्यं विजित्य सः । प्रतीक्षां तु चकारास्य शत्रुघ्नस्य च भूपतेः
Having gained victory, the king's son defeated the mighty warrior and then awaited both him and King Śatrughna.
शेष उवाच। शत्रुघ्नस्तु क्रुधाविष्टो दंतान्दंतैर्विनिष्पिषन् । हस्तौ धुन्वंल्लेलिहानमधरं जिह्वया सकृत्
Śeṣa said: Śatrughna, seized by anger, ground his teeth together, shook his fists, and licked his lower lip once with his tongue.