सावधानो भवानत्र भवतु प्रधनांगणे । पातयामि क्षितौ सद्य इत्युक्त्वा स्वशरासने
Be attentive here in the main arena of battle; I will bring you down to the ground at once—so saying, he took up his bow.
शरं संरोपयामास घोरं कालानलप्रभम् । लक्षीकृत्य रिपोर्वक्षो विपुलं कठिनं महत्
He fitted a terrible arrow, blazing like the fire of destruction, aiming at the broad, hard, and mighty chest of his enemy.
तं संधितं शरं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुघ्नः कोपमूर्च्छितः । मुमोच बाणान्निशितान्कुशत्वग्भेदकारकान्
Seeing that arrow fitted, Śatrughna, overcome with anger, released sharp arrows capable of piercing Kuśa's skin.
स बाणो हृदयं तस्य भेत्तुं तत्प्रचचाल वै । घोररूपो वह्निसमआशीविषवदुच्छ्वसन्
That arrow moved forward to pierce his heart, terrifying in form, blazing like fire, hissing like a venomous serpent.
स बाणो नृपवर्येण रामं स्मृत्वाशुलक्षितः । चिच्छेद कुशमुक्तं स सायकं शितपर्वकम्
Then the foremost king, remembering Rāma and taking aim, cut down that sharp-feathered arrow released by Kuśa.
तदात्यंतं प्रकुपितः कुशो बाणस्य कृंतनात् । अपरं सायकं चापे दधार शितपर्वकम्
Then Kuśa, extremely enraged by the cutting of his arrow, placed another sharp-feathered arrow on his bow.
स यावत्तदुरो भेत्तुं करोति च बलोद्धुरः । तं तावदच्छिनत्तस्य शरं कालानलप्रभम्
As the powerful Kuśa was about to release it to pierce his foe, that blazing arrow was cut down at once.
तदा कुशो मातृपादौ स्मृत्वा रोषसमन्वितः । तृतीयं चापके स्वीये दधार शरमद्भुतम्
Then Kuśa, filled with anger and remembering his mother's feet, placed a wondrous third arrow on his own bow.
शत्रुघ्नस्तमपि क्षिप्रं च्छेत्तुं बाणं समाददे । तावद्विद्धः शरेणासौ पपात धरणीतले
Śatrughna quickly took up an arrow to cut that one as well, but he was struck by the arrow and fell to the ground.
हाहाकारो महानासीच्छत्रुघ्ने विनिपातिते । जयमापकुशस्तत्र स्वबाहुबलदर्पितः
A great cry of 'Alas!' arose when Śatrughna fell; there Kuśa, proud of the strength of his own arms, claimed victory.
शेष उवाच। शत्रुघ्नं पतितं वीक्ष्य सुरथः प्रवरो नृपः । प्रययौ मणिना सृष्टे रथे तिष्ठन्महाद्भुते
Śeṣa said: Seeing Śatrughna fallen, Suratha, the foremost king, advanced, standing upon a wondrous chariot adorned with jewels.
पुष्कलस्तु रणे पूर्वं पातितः स विचारयन् । लवं ययौ तदा योद्धुं महावीरबलोन्नतम्
Puṣkala, who had previously been struck down in battle, considered his course and then went to fight Lava, who was endowed with great heroic strength.
सुरथः कुशमासाद्य बाणान्मुंचन्ननेकधा । व्यथयामास समरे महावीरशिरोमणिः
Suratha, approaching Kuśa, released many arrows, causing distress in battle to the crown-jewel among great heroes.
सुरथं विरथं चक्रे बाणैर्दशभिरुच्छिखैः । धनुश्चिच्छेद तरसा सुदृढं गुणपूरितम्
With ten sharp-tipped arrows, Kuśa rendered Suratha chariotless, and swiftly cut his strong, well-strung bow.
अस्त्रप्रत्यस्त्रसंहारैः क्षैपणैः प्रतिक्षेपणैः । अभवत्तुमुलं युद्धं वीराणां रोमहर्षणम्
Through the exchange and countering of weapons and missiles, there arose a fierce battle among the heroes, thrilling to the very hair.
अत्यंतं समरोद्युक्ते सुरथे दुर्जये नृपे । कुशः संचिंतयामास किंकर्तव्यं रणे मया
When Suratha, the king difficult to defeat, was exceedingly eager for battle, Kuśa began to ponder what should be done by him in the fight.
विचार्य निशितं घोरं सायकं समुपाददे । हननाय नृपस्यास्य महाबलसमन्वितः
Having considered, he took up a sharp and dreadful arrow, intent on slaying this king, who possessed immense strength.
तमागतं शरं दृष्ट्वा कालानलसमप्रभम् । छेत्तुं मतिं चकाराशु तावल्लग्नो महाशरः
Seeing that arrow approaching, blazing like the fire of time, Suratha quickly resolved to cut it, but meanwhile the mighty arrow struck.
मुमूर्च्छ समरे वीरो महावीरबलस्ततः । पपात स्यंदनोपस्थे सारथिस्तमुपाहरत्
Then the hero, endowed with great valor, fainted in battle and fell upon the seat of his chariot; his charioteer carried him away.
सुरथे पतिते दृष्ट्वा कुशं जयसमन्वितम् । त्रासयंतं वीरगणानियाय पवनात्मजः
Seeing Suratha fallen and Kuśa victorious, Hanuman, son of the wind, came forth, terrifying the hosts of heroes.
समीरसूनुं प्रबलमायांतं वीक्ष्य वानरम् । जहास दर्शयन्दंतान्कोपयन्निव तं क्रुधा
Beholding the powerful son of the wind approaching in the form of a monkey, Kuśa laughed, displaying his teeth, as if provoking him in anger.
उवाच च हनूमंतमेहि त्वं मम संमुखम् । भेत्स्ये बाणसहस्रेण मृतो यास्यसि यामिनीम्
He said to Hanuman: 'Come before me. I will shatter you with a thousand arrows; slain, you will depart to the realm of night.'
इत्युक्तो हनुमाञ्ज्ञात्वा रामसूनुं महाबलम् । स्वामिकार्यं प्रकर्तव्यमिति कृत्वा प्रधावितः
Thus addressed, Hanuman, recognizing the mighty son of Rāma, resolved to fulfill his master's purpose and rushed forward.
शालमुत्पाट्य तरसा विशालं शतशाखिनम् । कुशं वक्षसि संलक्ष्य ययौ योद्धुं महाबलः
Uprooting with force a great śāla tree with a hundred branches, Hanuman, of immense strength, advanced to fight, aiming at Kuśa's chest.
शालहस्तं समायांतं हनूमंतं महाबलम् । त्रिभिः क्षुरप्रैर्विव्याध हृदि चंद्रोपमैर्बली
As Hanuman, mighty and bearing the śāla tree, approached, Kuśa, powerful as he was, pierced his heart with three razor-edged arrows, shining like the moon.
स बाणविद्धस्तरसा कुशेन बलशालिना । शालेन हृदि संजघ्ने दंतान्निष्पिष्य मारुतिः
Struck swiftly by Kuśa, strong in might, Hanuman crushed his teeth and struck Kuśa in the chest with the śāla tree.
शालाहतस्तदा बालः किंचिन्नाकंपत स्मयात् । तदा वीराः प्रशंसां तु प्रचक्रुस्तस्य बाल्यतः
Though struck by the śāla tree, the boy barely moved, smiling; then the heroes praised him for his youthful resilience.
स शालेन हतो वीरः संहारास्त्रं समाददे । संहन्तुं वैरिणं कोपात्कुशः स परमास्त्रवित्
Struck by the śāla tree, the hero Kuśa, skilled in supreme weapons, took up a weapon of destruction in anger to annihilate his enemy.
संहारास्त्रं समालोक्य दुर्जयं कुशमोचितम् । दध्यौ रामं स्वमनसा भक्तविघ्नविनाशकम्
Beholding the formidable weapon of destruction, difficult to overcome and released by Kuśa, he meditated upon Rāma in his mind, the remover of obstacles for devotees.
तदा मुक्तं कुशेनाशु तदस्त्रं हृदि मारुतेः । लग्नं महाव्यथाकारि तेन मूर्च्छामितः पुनः
Then that weapon, swiftly released by Kuśa, struck the heart of the Wind-god’s son, causing great agony, and because of it he again fell unconscious.