मुखसंस्थं सुकेतुं तं लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच ह । लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच। जनकस्य सुतं विद्धि लक्ष्मीनिधिरिति स्मृतम्
Lakshminidhi, the treasury of fortune, spoke to Suketu, who stood before him: 'Know that I am Lakshminidhi, remembered as the son of Janaka.'
सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकुशलं सर्वयुद्धविशारदम् । मुंचाश्वं रामचंद्रस्य सर्वदानवदंशितुः
Skilled in all weapons and missiles, expert in every kind of battle, release the horse of Ramachandra, the destroyer of all demons.
नोचेन्मद्बाणनिर्भिन्नो यास्यसे यमसादनम् । इति ब्रुवंतं वीराग्र्यं सुकेतुः सहसा त्वरन्
Otherwise, pierced by my arrows, you will go to the abode of Yama; thus, as the foremost hero spoke, Suketu swiftly hastened.
सज्यं चापं विधायाशु बाणान्मुंचन्स्थिरोऽभवत् । ते बाणाः शितपर्वाणः स्वर्णपुंखाः समंततः
He quickly readied his bow, strung it, and released arrows, standing firm; those arrows, with sharp tips and golden shafts, flew everywhere.
दृश्यंते व्यापिनस्तत्र रणमध्ये सुदुर्भराः । तद्बाणजालं तरसा निहत्य । लक्ष्मीनिधिश्चापमथा ततज्यम् । विधाय तस्योरसि बाणषट्कं । मुमोच तीक्ष्णं शितपर्वशोभितम्
Those arrows, spreading in the midst of battle, were exceedingly difficult to withstand; Lakshminidhi, breaking through that stream of arrows with force, then strung his bow, and released six sharp, gleaming arrows at Suketu's chest.
तद्बाणाः सुभुजभ्रातुर्हृदयं संविदार्य च । गतास्ते भुवि दृश्यंते रुधिराक्ता मलीमसाः
Those arrows, tearing the heart of Suketu, the strong-armed brother, fell to the earth, seen covered in blood and filth.
तद्बाणभिन्नहृदयः सुकेतुः कोपपूरितः । जघानशरविंशत्या तीक्ष्णया नतपर्वया
Suketu, his heart pierced by those arrows and filled with rage, struck back with twenty sharp, curved arrows.
उभौ बाणविभिन्नांगावुभौ क्षतजविप्लुतौ । सैनिकैः परिदृश्यंते किंशुकाविव पुष्पितौ
Both, their limbs pierced by arrows, both drenched in blood, were seen by the soldiers like blossoming kimshuka trees.
मुंचंतौ बाणकोटीश्च संदधंतौ त्वरा शरान् । न केनापि विलक्ष्येते लघुहस्तौ महाबलौ
As they released countless arrows and swiftly prepared more, neither could be distinguished by anyone, for their hands were light and their strength immense.
कुंडलीकृत सच्चापौ वर्षंतौ बाणधारया । नवांबुदाविव दिवि शक्रनिर्देशकारिणौ
With bows curved and ready, they rained streams of arrows, like two fresh clouds in the sky, acting as if directed by Indra.
तयोर्बाणा गजान्वाहान्नराञ्छूरान्विमस्तकान् । कुर्वंतः केवलं दृष्टा न च संधानमोक्षयोः
Their arrows struck elephants, horses, men, and valiant warriors, but only the arrows were seen, not the drawing or releasing of the bows.
पृथिवी सुभटैः पूर्णा सकिरीटैः सकुंडलैः । धनुर्बाणकरै रोषसंदष्टाधरयुग्मकैः
The earth was filled with mighty warriors, adorned with crowns and earrings, wielding bows and arrows, their lips bitten in anger.
तयोः प्रयुद्ध्यतोर्दर्पात्सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रवेदिनोः । युद्धं समभवद्घोरं देवविस्मापनं महत्
As those two, proud and skilled in all weapons and missiles, fought, a fierce battle arose, astonishing even the gods.
संमर्दोऽभवदत्यंतं वीरकोटिविदारणः । न केनचित्क्वचिद्दृष्टं शरजालांतरेंऽबरम्
The clash became extreme, tearing apart the ranks of heroes; nowhere could anyone see the sky between the streams of arrows.
तस्मिंस्तु समये लक्ष्मीनिधिर्वीरोऽरिमर्दनः । बाणांश्चापे समाधत्त वसुसंख्यान्दृढाञ्छितान्
At that moment, Lakshminidhi, the heroic crusher of enemies, placed countless strong, sharp arrows upon his bow.
चतुर्भिस्तुरगान्वीरः सुकेतोरनयत्क्षयम् । एकेन ध्वजमत्युग्रं चिच्छेद तरसा हसन्
With four arrows, the hero Suketu destroyed the horses, and with one, laughing, swiftly cut down the fierce banner.
एकेन सारथेः कायाच्छिरोभूमावपातयत् । एकेन चापं सगुणमच्छिनद्रोषपूरितः
With one arrow he struck down the charioteer's head to the ground; with another, he shattered the bow, its string drawn and arrow fixed.
एकेन हृदि विव्याध सुकेतोर्वेगवान्नृपः । तत्कर्माद्भुतमुद्वीक्ष्य वीरा विस्मयमाययुः
With a third, the swift king pierced Suketu in the heart; seeing this astonishing feat, the warriors were filled with wonder.
सच्छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः । महतीं स गदां धृत्वा योद्घुकामोऽभ्युपेयिवान्
Deprived of his bow, chariot, horses, and charioteer, he seized a great mace and, eager for combat, advanced.
तमायांतं समालक्ष्य गदायुद्धविशारदम् । महत्या गदया युक्तं रथादवततार सः
Seeing him approach, skilled in mace-fighting and armed with a mighty mace, he too descended from his chariot.
गदामादाय महतीं सर्वायसविनिर्मिताम् । जातरूपविचित्रांगीं सर्वशोभापुरस्कृताम्
He took up a great mace, made entirely of iron, adorned with gold, and radiant with every splendor.
लक्ष्मीनिधिर्भृशं क्रुद्धः सुकेतोर्वक्षसि त्वरन् । ताडयामास हृदये गदां वज्राग्निसन्निभाम्
Lakshminidhi, greatly enraged, swiftly struck Suketu on the chest with his mace, blazing like thunder and fire.
गदया ताडितो वीरो नाकंपत महामुने । मदोन्मत्तो यथा दंती बालेन स्रग्भिराहतः
Struck by the mace, the hero did not waver, O great sage, like a maddened elephant hit by a child with garlands.
उवाच तं स वीराग्र्यो नृपं लक्ष्मीनिधिं तदा । सहस्वैकं प्रहारं मे यदि शूरः परंतप
Then that foremost of warriors spoke to King Lakshminidhi: 'Endure a single blow from me, if you are truly a hero and subduer of foes.'
इत्युक्त्वा ताडयामास ललाटे गदया भृशम् । गदया ताडितो भालेऽसृग्वमन्कुपितो भृशम्
So saying, he struck him forcefully on the forehead with his mace; struck thus, blood flowed from his brow as he grew fiercely enraged.
मूर्ध्नि तं ताडयामास गदया कालरूपया । सुकेतुरपि तं स्कंधे ताडयामास धर्मवित्
He struck him on the head with his death-like mace; Suketu, righteous, struck him in turn on the shoulder.
एवं भृशं प्रकुपितौ गदायुद्धविशारदौ । गदायुद्धं प्रकुर्वाणौ परस्परजयैषिणौ
Thus, both deeply enraged and skilled in mace-fighting, engaged in battle, each striving for victory over the other.
अन्योन्याघातविमतौ परस्परवधोद्यतौ । न कोपि तत्र हीयेत न को जीयेत संयुगे
Intent on striking each other, both determined to kill, neither yielded nor prevailed in that combat.
मूर्ध्नि भाले तथा स्कंधे हृदि गात्रेषु सर्वतः । रुधिरौघ परिक्लिन्नौ महाबलपराक्रमौ
On their heads, foreheads, shoulders, hearts, and all over their bodies, streams of blood flowed, as the mighty warriors fought on.
तदा लक्ष्मीनिधिः क्रुद्धो गदामुद्यम्य वेगवान् । जगाम प्रबलं हंतुं हृदि राजानुजं बली
Then Lakshminidhi, enraged and swift, raised his mace and advanced powerfully to strike the king's younger brother in the heart.