संरक्तनयनो यत्नान्मुष्टिमावृत्य दक्षिणम्। पातयामास वेगेन वानरोरसि वीर्यवान्
His eyes bloodshot, he clenched his right fist with effort and struck the mighty monkey's chest with great force.
हनूमान् वक्षसि व्यूढे संचचाल पुनः पुनः। विह्वलं तु तदा दृष्ट्वा हनूमन्तं महाबलम्
Hanuman, with his broad chest, staggered again and again; seeing the mighty Hanuman thus reeling—
रथेनातिरथः शीघ्रं नीलं प्रति समभ्यगात्। राक्षसानामधिपतिर्दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान्
The great chariot-warrior, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, swiftly advanced in his chariot against Nila.
पन्नगप्रतिमैर्भीमैः परमर्माभिभेदनैः। शरैरादीपयामास नीलं हरिचमूपतिम्
With dreadful, serpent-like, supremely piercing arrows, he set ablaze Nila, the leader of the monkey army.
स शरौघसमायस्तो नीलो हरिचमूपतिः। करेणैकेन शैलाग्रं रक्षोधिपतयेऽसृजत्
Assailed by a torrent of arrows, Nila, the monkey commander, with one hand hurled a mountain peak at the lord of the rakshasas.
हनूमानपि तेजस्वी समाश्वस्तो महामनाः। विप्रेक्षमाणो युद्धेप्सुः सरोषमिदमब्रवीत्
Hanuman too, radiant and resolute, regaining his composure, eager for battle, looked on and spoke these angry words—
नीलेन सह संयुक्तं रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम्। अन्येन युध्यमानस्य न युक्तमभिधावनम्
"It is not fitting to attack Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, while he is engaged in combat with Nila and another."
रावणोऽथ महातेजास्तं शृङ्गं सप्तभिः शरैः। आजघान सुतीक्ष्णाग्रैस्तद् विकीर्णं पपात ह
Then Ravana, of great splendor, struck that peak with seven arrows, their tips exceedingly sharp, and it shattered and fell.
तद् विकीर्णं गिरेः शृङ्गं दृष्ट्वा हरिचमूपतिः। कालाग्निरिव जज्वाल कोपेन परवीरहा
Seeing that shattered mountain peak, the monkey commander blazed with anger like the fire of destruction, slayer of enemy heroes.
सोऽश्वकर्णद्रुमान् शालांश्चूतांश्चापि सुपुष्पितान्। अन्यांश्च विविधान् वृक्षान् नीलश्चिक्षेप संयुगे
Nila hurled in battle Ashvakarna trees, shala trees, mango trees in full bloom, and many other kinds of trees.
स तान् वृक्षान् समासाद्य प्रतिचिच्छेद रावणः। अभ्यवर्षच्च घोरेण शरवर्षेण पावकिम्
Ravana met those trees and cut them down, and then showered a terrible, blazing rain of arrows.
अभिवृष्टः शरौघेण मेघेनेव महाचलः। ह्रस्वं कृत्वा ततो रूपं ध्वजाग्रे निपपात ह
Struck by a torrent of arrows, like a great mountain by a raincloud, he then made his form small and fell upon the tip of the banner.
पावकात्मजमालोक्य ध्वजाग्रे समवस्थितम्। जज्वाल रावणः क्रोधात् ततो नीलो ननाद च
Seeing the son of the Fire-god standing on the tip of the banner, Ravana blazed with anger, and then Nila roared.
ध्वजाग्रे धनुषश्चाग्रे किरीटाग्रे च तं हरिम्। लक्ष्मणोऽथ हनूमांश्च रामश्चापि सुविस्मिताः
Lakshmana, Hanuman, and even Rama were greatly astonished to see that Vanara on the tip of the banner, the tip of the bow, and the crest of the crown.
रावणोऽपि महातेजाः कपिलाघवविस्मितः। अस्त्रमाहारयामास दीप्तमाग्नेयमद्भुतम्
Ravana, of great splendor, amazed by the agility of the monkey, then invoked a blazing, wondrous missile of fire.
ततस्ते चुक्रुशुर्हृष्टा लब्धलक्षाः प्लवंगमाः। नीललाघवसम्भ्रान्तं दृष्ट्वा रावणमाहवे
Then the monkeys, having found their mark, shouted in delight, seeing Ravana in the battle bewildered by Nila's agility.
वानराणां च नादेन संरब्धो रावणस्तदा। सम्भ्रमाविष्टहृदयो न किंचित् प्रत्यपद्यत
At that time, Ravana, agitated by the cries of the monkeys, his heart seized by confusion, could not take any action.
आग्नेयेनापि संयुक्तं गृहीत्वा रावणः शरम्। ध्वजशीर्षस्थितं नीलमुदैक्षत निशाचरः
Ravana, the night-wanderer, taking an arrow charged with the fire-missile, looked at Nila, who stood on the banner's crest.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। कपे लाघवयुक्तोऽसि मायया परया सह
Then Ravana, lord of the Rakshasas and of great might, said: 'Monkey, you are endowed with agility and supreme illusion.'
जीवितं खलु रक्षस्व यदि शक्तोऽसि वानर। तानि तान्यात्मरूपाणि सृजसि त्वमनेकशः
'If you are able, O monkey, protect your life; you create these various forms of yourself again and again.'
तथापि त्वां मया मुक्तः सायकोऽस्त्रप्रयोजितः। जीवितं परिरक्षन्तं जीविताद् भ्रंशयिष्यति
'Nevertheless, the arrow released by me, empowered by a missile, will take your life, even as you strive to preserve it.'
एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहू रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। संधाय बाणमस्त्रेण चमूपतिमताडयत्
Having spoken thus, Ravana, lord of the Rakshasas and mighty-armed, fitted the arrow to his missile and struck the army-leader.
सोऽस्त्रमुक्तेन बाणेन नीलो वक्षसि ताडितः। निर्दह्यमानः सहसा स पपात महीतले
Struck on the chest by the arrow released with the missile, Nila was suddenly scorched and fell to the ground.
पितृमाहात्म्यसंयोगादात्मनश्चापि तेजसा। जानुभ्यामपतद् भूमौ न तु प्राणैर्वियुज्यत
By the power of his father's greatness and his own energy, he fell to the earth on his knees, but did not lose his life.
विसंज्ञं वानरं दृष्ट्वा दशग्रीवो रणोत्सुकः। रथेनाम्बुदनादेन सौमित्रिमभिदुद्रुवे
Seeing the monkey unconscious, Ravana, eager for battle, rushed toward Saumitri in his chariot, which roared like a cloud.
आसाद्य रणमध्ये तं वारयित्वा स्थितो ज्वलन्। धनुर्विस्फारयामास राक्षसेन्द्रः प्रतापवान्
Reaching him in the midst of battle, the mighty Rakshasa king, standing before the blazing Saumitri, drew his bow.
तमाह सौमित्रिरदीनसत्त्वो विस्फारयन्तं धनुरप्रमेयम्। अवेहि मामद्य निशाचरेन्द्र न वानरांस्त्वं प्रतियोद्धुमर्हसि
Saumitri, undaunted in spirit, said to him as he drew his unfathomable bow: 'Know me now, O king of night-wanderers; you should not fight with monkeys.'
स तस्य वाक्यं प्रतिपूर्णघोषं ज्याशब्दमुग्रं च निशम्य राजा। आसाद्य सौमित्रिमुपस्थितं तं रोषान्वितं वाचमुवाच रक्षः
Hearing his words, full of deep resonance, and the fierce twang of the bowstring, the king, approaching the steadfast Saumitri, spoke these words in anger.
दिष्ट्यासि मे राघव दृष्टिमार्गं प्राप्तोऽन्तगामी विपरीतबुद्धिः। अस्मिन् क्षणे यास्यसि मृत्युलोकं संसाद्यमानो मम बाणजालैः
'By fortune, O Raghava, you have come within my sight, you whose mind is perverse and whose end is near. In this very moment, you will go to the world of death, struck down by my shower of arrows.'
तमाह सौमित्रिरविस्मयानो गर्जन्तमुद्वृत्तशिताग्रदंष्ट्रम्। राजन् न गर्जन्ति महाप्रभावा विकत्थसे पापकृतां वरिष्ठ
Unmoved, Saumitri spoke to him as he roared, baring his upturned, sharp fangs: 'O king, those of great power do not boast; you brag in vain, chief among evildoers.'