बलानि सुसमृद्धानि साश्वनागरथानि च। सहोदरस्ते दयितः कुमारोऽक्षश्च सूदितः। न तु तेष्वेव मे सारो यस्त्वय्यरिनिषूदन
Fully equipped forces, with horses, elephants, and chariots, have been destroyed; your dear brother, the prince Aksha, has also been killed. Yet, among all these, my concern is only for you, O destroyer of enemies.
इदं च दृष्ट्वा निहतं महद् बलं कपेः प्रभावं च पराक्रमं च। त्वमात्मनश्चापि निरीक्ष्य सारं कुरुष्व वेगं स्वबलानुरूपम्
Seeing this great army destroyed, and the monkey's power and valor, and considering your own true strength, unleash your force in accordance with your own might.
बलावमर्दस्त्वयि संनिकृष्टे यथा गते शाम्यति शान्तशत्रौ। तथा समीक्ष्यात्मबलं परं च समारभस्वास्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठ
When you are present, the force of battle subsides, as when the enemy is pacified. Therefore, carefully assess both your own strength and that of the foe, and then engage, O best among wielders of weapons.
न वीर सेना गणशो च्यवन्ति न वज्रमादाय विशालसारम्। न मारुतस्यास्ति गतिप्रमाणं न चाग्निकल्पः करणेन हन्तुम्
O hero, armies do not fall in groups even when struck by the mighty thunderbolt; there is no measure for the speed of the wind, nor can one destroy with mere effort what is like fire.
तमेवमर्थं प्रसमीक्ष्य सम्यक् स्वकर्मसाम्याद्धि समाहितात्मा। स्मरंश्च दिव्यं धनुषोऽस्य वीर्यं व्रजाक्षतं कर्म समारभस्व
Thus, having thoroughly considered this matter, with your mind steady in your own duty, and recalling the divine power of your bow, undertake the task that remains unaccomplished.
न खल्वियं मतिश्रेष्ठ यत्त्वां सम्प्रेषयाम्यहम्। इयं च राजधर्माणां क्षत्रस्य च मतिर्मता
Indeed, it is not out of preference that I send you; this is the way of royal and kshatriya duty, and such is my considered judgment.
नानाशस्त्रेषु संग्रामे वैशारद्यमरिंदम। अवश्यमेव बोद्धव्यं काम्यश्च विजयो रणे
Mastery in the use of various weapons in battle must certainly be known, O subduer of foes, and victory in war is always to be desired.
ततः पितुस्तद्वचनं निशम्य प्रदक्षिणं दक्षसुतप्रभावः। चकार भर्तारमतित्वरेण रणाय वीरः प्रतिपन्नबुद्धिः
Then, hearing his father's words, the illustrious son of the skilled one quickly circumambulated his lord, the hero whose mind was set on battle.
ततस्तैः स्वगणैरिष्टैरिन्द्रजित् प्रतिपूजितः। युद्धोद्धतकृतोत्साहः संग्रामं सम्प्रपद्यत
Then, honored by his chosen followers, Indrajit, his enthusiasm aroused for war, entered the battlefield.
श्रीमान् पद्मविशालाक्षो राक्षसाधिपतेः सुतः। निर्जगाम महातेजाः समुद्र इव पर्वणि
The glorious, lotus-eyed son of the lord of the rakshasas, radiant in energy, emerged like the ocean at the time of the full moon.
स पक्षिराजोपमतुल्यवेगै- र्व्याघ्रैश्चतुर्भिः स तु तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रैः। रथं समायुक्तमसह्यवेगः समारुरोहेन्द्रजिदिन्द्रकल्पः
He, Indrajit, equal to Indra, mounted his chariot, which was yoked to four tigers with speed like the king of birds, and whose fangs were sharp and terrible.
स रथी धन्विनां श्रेष्ठः शस्त्रज्ञोऽस्त्रविदां वरः। रथेनाभिययौ क्षिप्रं हनूमान् यत्र सोऽभवत्
That charioteer, foremost among archers and best among those skilled in weapons, swiftly advanced in his chariot to where Hanuman was.
स तस्य रथनिर्घोषं ज्यास्वनं कार्मुकस्य च। निशम्य हरिवीरोऽसौ सम्प्रहृष्टतरोऽभवत्
Hearing the roar of his chariot and the twang of his bowstring, the heroic monkey became even more exhilarated.
इन्द्रजिच्चापमादाय शितशल्यांश्च सायकान्। हनूमन्तमभिप्रेत्य जगाम रणपण्डितः
Indrajit, master of battle, taking up his bow and sharp arrows, approached Hanuman.
तस्मिंस्ततः संयति जातहर्षे रणाय निर्गच्छति बाणपाणौ। दिशश्च सर्वाः कलुषा बभूवु- र्मृगाश्च रौद्रा बहुधा विनेदुः
Then, as he, delighted at the prospect of battle and armed with arrows, went forth to fight, all directions became ominous, and many fierce beasts howled in many ways.
समागतास्तत्र तु नागयक्षा महर्षयश्चक्रचराश्च सिद्धाः। नभः समावृत्य च पक्षिसङ्घा विनेदुरुच्चैः परमप्रहृष्टाः
There gathered there the nāgas, yakṣas, great sages, siddhas who move through the sky, and flocks of birds, filling the heavens, all uttering loud cries in utmost delight.
आयान्तं स रथं दृष्ट्वा तूर्णमिन्द्रध्वजं कपिः। ननाद च महानादं व्यवर्धत च वेगवान्
Seeing that chariot, swift as the banner of Indra, approaching, the monkey let out a great roar and increased his speed.
इन्द्रजित् स रथं दिव्यमाश्रितश्चित्रकार्मुकः। धनुर्विस्फारयामास तडिदूर्जितनिःस्वनम्
Indrajit, mounted on his divine chariot, with his splendid bow, drew his bowstring, which resounded like the roar of thunder.
ततः समेतावतितीक्ष्णवेगौ महाबलौ तौ रणनिर्विशङ्कौ। कपिश्च रक्षोऽधिपतेस्तनूजः सुरासुरेन्द्राविव बद्धवैरौ
Then those two, both possessing fierce speed and great strength, fearless in battle—the monkey and the son of the lord of the rākṣasas—stood opposed like Indra and the lord of the asuras, bound in enmity.
स तस्य वीरस्य महारथस्य धनुष्मतः संयति सम्मतस्य। शरप्रवेगं व्यहनत् प्रवृद्ध- श्चचार मार्गे पितुरप्रमेयः
That mighty son of the wind, immeasurable in prowess, struck down the torrent of arrows of that heroic, chariot-borne archer, renowned in battle, and moved along his path.
ततः शरानायततीक्ष्णशल्यान् सुपत्रिणः काञ्चनचित्रपुङ्खान्। मुमोच वीरः परवीरहन्ता सुसंततान् वज्रसमानवेगान्
Then the hero, destroyer of enemy warriors, released sharp, well-feathered arrows with golden, variegated shafts, closely arrayed and swift as thunderbolts.
ततः स तत्स्यन्दननिःस्वनं च मृदङ्गभेरीपटहस्वनं च। विकृष्यमाणस्य च कार्मुकस्य निशम्य घोषं पुनरुत्पपात
Then, hearing the sound of that chariot, and the drums, kettledrums, and tabors, and the twang of the drawn bow, he leapt up again.
शराणामन्तरेष्वाशु व्यावर्तत महाकपिः। हरिस्तस्याभिलक्ष्यस्य मोक्षयँल्लक्ष्यसंग्रहम्
The great monkey swiftly moved among the arrows, evading the aim of the archer, disrupting his marksmanship.
शराणामग्रतस्तस्य पुनः समभिवर्तत। प्रसार्य हस्तौ हनुमानुत्पपातानिलात्मजः
Again Hanuman, son of the wind, spreading out his arms, leapt up before the flight of those arrows.
तावुभौ वेगसम्पन्नौ रणकर्मविशारदौ। सर्वभूतमनोग्राहि चक्रतुर्युद्धमुत्तमम्
Both, endowed with speed and skilled in the art of war, performed a supreme battle that captivated the minds of all beings.
हनूमतो वेद न राक्षसोऽन्तरं न मारुतिस्तस्य महात्मनोऽन्तरम्। परस्परं निर्विषहौ बभूवतुः समेत्य तौ देवसमानविक्रमौ
The rākṣasa could not discern any weakness in Hanuman, nor could the wind-god in that great soul; the two, equal to the gods in might, met and became irresistible to each other.
ततस्तु लक्ष्ये स विहन्यमाने शरेष्वमोघेषु च सम्पतत्सु। जगाम चिन्तां महतीं महात्मा समाधिसंयोगसमाहितात्मा
Then, as his target was being struck and the unfailing arrows kept coming, the great-souled one entered into deep thought, his mind composed in concentration.
ततो मतिं राक्षसराजसूनु- श्चकार तस्मिन् हरिवीरमुख्ये। अवध्यतां तस्य कपेः समीक्ष्य कथं निगच्छेदिति निग्रहार्थम्
Then the son of the king of the rākṣasas considered, seeing the monkey's invulnerability, how he might subdue him.
ततः पैतामहं वीरः सोऽस्त्रमस्त्रविदां वरः। संदधे सुमहातेजास्तं हरिप्रवरं प्रति
Then the valiant one, foremost among those skilled in weapons, invoked the weapon of Brahmā, inherited from his grandfather, against that foremost of monkeys.
अवध्योऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा तमस्त्रेणास्त्रतत्त्ववित्। निजग्राह महाबाहुं मारुतात्मजमिन्द्रजित्
Knowing him to be invulnerable, Indrajit, master of weapons, bound the mighty-armed son of the wind with that weapon.