त्वया वै निहतो दैत्यो देवदानवदुःखदः । लवणो नाम लोकेश मधुपुत्रो महाबलः
By you was slain the demon Lavaṇa, son of Madhu, mighty and a bringer of suffering to gods and Dānavas alike, O lord of the world.
कोयं वै राक्षसो दुष्टः क्व चास्य बलमल्पकम् । करिष्यसि क्षणादेव तस्य नाशं महामते
Who is this wicked Rākṣasa, and where is his meager strength? In but a moment, O wise one, you will bring about his destruction.
इत्युक्त्वा ते महावीराः सज्जीभूता रणांगणे । प्रतिज्ञां स्वामृतां कर्तुं ययुस्ते राक्षसं मुदा
Thus speaking, those great heroes, ready on the battlefield, joyfully set out to fulfill their vow and confront the Rākṣasa.
शेष उवाच। रथैः सदश्वैः शोभाढ्यैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूरितैः । नानारत्नसमायुक्तैर्ययुस्ते राक्षसाधमम्
Śeṣa said: With chariots adorned with excellent horses, filled with all weapons and missiles, and set with various gems, they advanced toward the wicked Rākṣasa.
तान्दृष्ट्वा कामगे याने स्थितः प्रोवाच राक्षसः । मेघगंभीरया वाचा तर्जयन्निव भूरिशः
Seeing them, the Rākṣasa, standing in his desired vehicle, spoke with a voice deep as a cloud, threatening them repeatedly.
मायां तु सुभटा योद्धुं गच्छंतु निजमंदिरम् । मा त्यजंतु स्वकान्प्राणान्न मोक्ष्ये वाजिनं वरम्
Let the valiant go to their own homes, for I will fight by means of illusion; let them not abandon their lives, nor will I release my excellent horse.
विद्युन्मालीति विख्यातो रावणस्य सुहृत्सखा । मत्सख्युः प्रेतभूतस्य निष्कृतिं कर्तुमेयिवान्
Known as Vidyunmālī, a close friend of Rāvaṇa, I have come to perform the funeral rites for my companion who has become a spirit.
क्वासौ रामो य आहत्य सखायं रावणं गतः । तस्य भ्रातापि कुत्रास्ते सर्वशूरशिरोमणिः
Where is that Rāma who, having struck down my friend, sent Rāvaṇa away? And where is his brother, the foremost of all heroes?
तं हत्वा निष्कृतिं तस्य प्राप्स्ये रामस्य चानुजम् । पिबन्रुधिरमुद्भूतं कंठनालस्य बुद्बुदैः
Having slain him, I shall gain recompense for him and for Rama's younger brother, drinking the blood that rises with bubbles from his throat.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य योधानां प्रवरोत्तमः । पुष्कलो निजगादैनं वीर्यशौर्यसमन्वितम्
Hearing these words, the foremost among warriors, Pushkala, addressed him, endowed with valor and heroism.
पुष्कल उवाच। विकत्थनं न कुर्वंति संग्रामे सुभटा नराः । पराक्रमं दर्शयंति निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षणैः
Pushkala said: True warriors do not boast in battle; they display their prowess by the shower of their own weapons and missiles.
रावणो निहतो येन ससुहृत्स्वजनैर्वृतः । तस्य वाजिनमाहृत्य कुत्र गंतासि दुर्मद
By whom Ravana was slain, surrounded by his friends and kin—having brought his horse, where will you go, O arrogant one?
पतिष्यसि त्वं शत्रुघ्नबाणैः कोदंडनिर्गतैः । त्वामत्स्यंति शिवा भूमौ पतितं प्राणवर्जितम्
You will fall by the arrows of Shatrughna, released from his bow; the virtuous will see you lying on the ground, devoid of life.
मा गर्ज दुष्ट रामस्य सेवके मयि संस्थिते । गर्जंति सुभटा युद्धे शत्रुं जित्वा महोदयात्
Do not roar, wicked one, while I, a servant of Rama, stand here; warriors roar in battle only after conquering the enemy, with great glory.
शेष उवाच। एवं ब्रुवंतं तं वीरं पुष्कलं रणदुर्मदम् । जघान शक्त्या सुभृशं हृदि राक्षससत्तमः
Shesha said: As Pushkala, the fierce warrior, spoke thus, the foremost rakshasa struck him forcefully in the heart with a spear.
आयांतीं तां महाशक्तिमायसीं कांचनाश्रिताम् । चिच्छेद त्रिभिरत्युग्रैः शितैर्बाणैः स पुष्कलः
As that mighty, magical, gold-adorned spear approached, Pushkala cut it with three exceedingly sharp arrows.
सा त्रिधा ह्यपतद्भूमौ विशिखैर्निष्प्रभीकृता । पतंती विरराजासौ विष्णोः शक्तित्रयीव किम्
Split by the arrows, it fell to the ground in three parts, its brilliance lost; as it fell, it shone like Vishnu's triple power.
तां छिन्नां शक्तिकां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसः परतापनः । जग्राह शूलं तरसा त्रिशिखं लोहनिर्मितम्
Seeing his broken spear, the rakshasa, tormentor of foes, swiftly seized a trident made of iron.
तीक्ष्णाग्रं ज्वलनप्रख्यं राक्षसेंद्रो व्यमोचयत् । आयांतं तिलशश्चक्रे बाणैः पुष्कलसंज्ञितः
The rakshasa king released the trident, its sharp tip blazing like fire; Pushkala shattered it to pieces with arrows as it approached.
छित्त्वा त्रिशूलं तरसा राघवस्य हि सेवकः । पुष्कलश्चाप आधत्त बाणांस्तीक्ष्णान्मनोजवान्
Having cut the trident with force, Pushkala, servant of Raghava, took up his bow and set swift, sharp arrows.
ते बाणा हृदि तस्याशु लग्ना रागं बतासृजन् । वैष्णवस्य यथा स्वांते गुणा विष्णोर्मनोहराः
Those arrows quickly lodged in his heart, producing a redness, just as Vishnu's enchanting qualities reside in the heart of the Vaishnava.
तद्बाणवेधदुःखार्तो विद्युन्माली सुदुर्मदः । जग्राह मुद्गरं घोरं पुष्कलं हंतुमुद्यतः
Afflicted by the pain of those arrow wounds, Vidyunmali, exceedingly arrogant, seized a dreadful mace, intent on killing Pushkala.
मुद्गरः प्रहितस्तेन विद्युन्माल्यभिधेन हि । हृदि लग्नोसृजच्छीघ्रं कश्मलं तदकारयत्
The mace, hurled by Vidyunmali, struck his heart and swiftly caused distress, making him faint.
मुद्गरप्रहतो वीरः कंपमानः सवेपथुः । पपात स्यंदनोपस्थे पुष्कलः शत्रुतापनः
Struck by the mace, the hero Pushkala, trembling and shaking, fell onto the seat of his chariot, tormentor of foes.
उग्रदंष्ट्रोऽथ तद्भ्राता लक्ष्मीनिधिमयोधयत् । शस्त्रास्त्रैर्बहुधा मुक्तैर्वीरप्राणहृतिंकरैः
Then, Ugradamshtra, his brother, fought with Lakshminidhi, releasing many weapons and missiles, taking the lives of heroes.
पुष्कलस्तत्क्षणात्प्राप्य संज्ञां राक्षसमब्रवीत् । धन्योसि राक्षसश्रेष्ठ महीयांस्ते पराक्रमः
Pushkala, regaining consciousness at that moment, spoke to the rakshasa: 'You are blessed, O foremost rakshasa; your valor is truly great.'
पश्येदानीं ममाप्युच्चैः प्रतिज्ञां शूरमानिताम् । विमानात्पातयाम्यद्य भूमौ त्वां शितसायकैः
Now behold my solemn vow, honored by the brave; today I will cast you down from your flying chariot to the earth with sharp arrows.
इत्युक्त्वा निशितं बाणं समगृह्णाद्दुरासदम् । ज्वलंतमग्नितेजस्कं महौदार्यसमन्वितम्
Having spoken thus, he took up a fierce arrow, difficult to withstand, blazing with the radiance of fire, endowed with great nobility.
स यावत्तत्प्रतीकर्तुं विधत्ते स्वपराक्रमम् । तावद्धृदिगतोऽत्युग्रस्तीक्ष्णधारः ससायकः
As he prepared to counter it with his own might, that exceedingly sharp, heart-piercing arrow, together with its shaft, struck him.
तेन बाणेन विभ्रांतो भ्रमच्चित्तः स राक्षसः । पपात कामगोपस्थाद्भूमौ विगतचेतनः
Struck by that arrow, the demon became bewildered, his mind reeling; he fell senseless from the seat of his desire to the ground.