जानामि वीर्यं तव राक्षसेन्द्र बलं प्रतापं च पराक्रमं च। अवस्थितोऽहं शरचापपाणि- रागच्छ किं मोघविकत्थनेन
I know your strength, O lord of the Rākṣasas—your might, your energy, and your valor. Here I stand, bow and arrows in hand; come, why waste words on empty boasting?
स एवमुक्तः कुपितः ससर्ज रक्षोधिपः सप्त शरान् सुपुङ्खान्। ताँल्लक्ष्मणः काञ्चनचित्रपुङ्खै- श्चिच्छेद बाणैर्निशिताग्रधारैः
Thus addressed, the enraged lord of the Rākṣasas released seven well-feathered arrows; but Lakṣmaṇa cut them down with his own sharp, gold-adorned arrows.
तान् प्रेक्षमाणः सहसा निकृत्तान् निकृत्तभोगानिव पन्नगेन्द्रान्। लङ्केश्वरः क्रोधवशं जगाम ससर्ज चान्यान् निशितान् पृषत्कान्
Seeing his arrows suddenly severed, like great serpents with their hoods cut off, the lord of Laṅkā, overcome by anger, launched more sharp shafts.
स बाणवर्षं तु ववर्ष तीव्रं रामानुजः कार्मुकसम्प्रयुक्तम्। क्षुरार्धचन्द्रोत्तमकर्णिभल्लैः शरांश्च चिच्छेद न चुक्षुभे च
Then Rāma's younger brother unleashed a fierce rain of arrows from his bow; with razor, crescent, and broad-headed shafts, he cut down those arrows and did not waver.
स बाणजालान्यपि तानि तानि मोघानि पश्यंस्त्रिदशारिराजः। विसिस्मिये लक्ष्मणलाघवेन पुनश्च बाणान् निशितान् मुमोच
The king of the Rākṣasas, witnessing his volleys rendered useless again and again, marveled at Lakṣmaṇa's swiftness, and once more released sharp arrows.
स लक्ष्मणश्चापि शिताञ् शिताग्रान् महेन्द्रतुल्योऽशनिभीमवेगान्। संधाय चापे ज्वलनप्रकाशान् ससर्ज रक्षोधिपतेर्वधाय
And Lakṣmaṇa, equal to Mahendra in might, fitted blazing, sharp-tipped arrows to his bow—arrows swift as thunderbolts—to slay the lord of the Rākṣasas.
स तान् प्रचिच्छेद हि राक्षसेन्द्रः शिताञ् शराल्ँ लक्ष्मणमाजघान। शरेण कालाग्निसमप्रभेण स्वयंभुदत्तेन ललाटदेशे
But the lord of the Rākṣasas cut down those sharp arrows and struck Lakṣmaṇa with a shaft, bright as the fire of destruction, given by the Self-born, on his forehead.
स लक्ष्मणो रावणसायकार्त- श्चचाल चापं शिथिलं प्रगृह्य। पुनश्च संज्ञां प्रतिलभ्य कृच्छ्रा- च्चिच्छेद चापं त्रिदशेन्द्रशत्रोः
Lakṣmaṇa, wounded by Rāvaṇa's arrow, staggered, gripping his slackened bow; regaining consciousness with effort, he cut down the bow of the foe of the gods.
निकृत्तचापं त्रिभिराजघान बाणैस्तदा दाशरथिः शिताग्रैः। स सायकार्तो विचचाल राजा कृच्छ्राच्च संज्ञां पुनराससाद
Then the son of Daśaratha struck the one with the severed bow with three sharp arrows; wounded by those shafts, the king reeled, but with difficulty regained his senses.
स कृत्तचापः शरताडितश्च मेदार्द्रगात्रो रुधिरावसिक्तः। जग्राह शक्तिं स्वयमुग्रशक्तिः स्वयंभुदत्तां युधि देवशत्रुः
His bow cut, struck by arrows, his body wet with blood and sweat, the enemy of the gods, fierce in his own might, seized a spear given by the Self-born on the battlefield.
स तां सधूमानलसंनिकाशां वित्रासनां संयति वानराणाम्। चिक्षेप शक्तिं तरसा ज्वलन्तीं सौमित्रये राक्षसराष्ट्रनाथः
That lord of the Rākṣasas, terrifying the monkeys in battle, hurled with force the blazing spear, wreathed in smoke and fire, at Saumitri.
तामापतन्तीं भरतानुजोऽस्त्रै- र्जघान बाणैश्च हुताग्निकल्पैः। तथापि सा तस्य विवेश शक्ति- र्भुजान्तरं दाशरथेर्विशालम्
As it sped toward him, Rāma's younger brother struck it with weapons and arrows like sacrificial fire; yet that spear entered the broad chest of the son of Daśaratha.
स शक्तिमाञ् शक्तिसमाहतः सन् जज्वाल भूमौ स रघुप्रवीरः। तं विह्वलन्तं सहसाभ्युपेत्य जग्राह राजा तरसा भुजाभ्याम्
Struck by the spear, that mighty scion of Raghu blazed on the ground; as he writhed in pain, the king swiftly seized him with his arms.
हिमवान् मन्दरो मेरुस्त्रैलोक्यं वा सहामरैः। शक्यं भुजाभ्यामुद्धर्तुं न शक्यो भरतानुजः
Even Himavat, Mandara, or Meru, or the three worlds with the gods, could be lifted by arms; but not the son of Bharata.
शक्त्या ब्राह्म्या तु सौमित्रिस्ताडितोऽपि स्तनान्तरे। विष्णोरमीमांस्यभागमात्मानं प्रत्यनुस्मरत्
Though struck in the chest by the divine spear, Saumitri remembered himself to be a portion of Viṣṇu.
ततो दानवदर्पघ्नं सौमित्रिं देवकण्टकः। तं पीडयित्वा बाहुभ्यां न प्रभुर्लङ्घनेऽभवत्
Then the tormentor of the gods, having pressed Saumitri—destroyer of demon pride—with his arms, found himself unable to lift him.
ततः क्रुद्धो वायुसुतो रावणं समभिद्रवत्। आजघानोरसि क्रुद्धो वज्रकल्पेन मुष्टिना
Then the enraged son of Vāyu rushed at Rāvaṇa and struck his chest with a fist like a thunderbolt.
तेन मुष्टिप्रहारेण रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। जानुभ्यामगमद् भूमौ चचाल च पपात च
By that blow of the fist, Rāvaṇa, the lord of the rākṣasas, fell to his knees on the ground, staggered, and collapsed.
आस्यैश्च नेत्रैः श्रवणैः पपात रुधिरं बहु। विघूर्णमानो निश्चेष्टो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्
From his mouth, eyes, and ears, much blood flowed; reeling and motionless, he sat down in the chariot.
विसंज्ञो मूर्च्छितश्चासीन्न च स्थानं समालभत्। विसंज्ञं रावणं दृष्ट्वा समरे भीमविक्रमम्
He was unconscious and fainted, unable to regain his composure; seeing Rāvaṇa, of terrible valor, insensible in battle—
ऋषयो वानराश्चैव नेदुर्देवाश्च सासुराः। हनूमानथ तेजस्वी लक्ष्मणं रावणार्दितम्
The sages, the monkeys, and the gods together with the asuras all shouted in triumph; then Hanumān, the illustrious one, seeing Lakṣmaṇa struck down by Rāvaṇa—
आनयद् राघवाभ्याशं बाहुभ्यां परिगृह्य तम्। वायुसूनोः सुहृत्त्वेन भक्त्या परमया च सः। शत्रूणामप्यकम्प्योऽपि लघुत्वमगमत् कपेः
He lifted him up in his arms and brought him near to Rāma, out of deep friendship and supreme devotion, and though unshakable even by enemies, he became light for the monkey's sake.
तं समुत्सृज्य सा शक्तिः सौमित्रिं युधि निर्जितम्। रावणस्य रथे तस्मिन् स्थानं पुनरुपागमत्
That weapon, having struck down Saumitri in battle, returned again to its place in Rāvaṇa's chariot.
रावणोऽपि महातेजाः प्राप्य संज्ञां महाहवे। आददे निशितान् बाणाञ्जग्राह च महद्धनुः
Rāvaṇa, of great splendor, regaining consciousness in the great battle, took up sharp arrows and seized his mighty bow.
आश्वस्तश्च विशल्यश्च लक्ष्मणः शत्रुसूदनः। विष्णोर्भागममीमांस्यमात्मानं प्रत्यनुस्मरन्
Lakṣmaṇa, destroyer of enemies, reassured and freed from the weapon, recollected himself, remembering his own share of Viṣṇu's essence.
निपातितमहावीरां वानराणां महाचमूम्। राघवस्तु रणे दृष्ट्वा रावणं समभिद्रवत्
Rāma, seeing the great army of monkeys with mighty warriors struck down in battle, charged at Rāvaṇa.
अथैनमनुसंक्रम्य हनूमान् वाक्यमब्रवीत्। मम पृष्ठं समारुह्य राक्षसं शास्तुमर्हसि
Then Hanumān approached him and spoke these words: 'Climb onto my back; you should subdue the rākṣasa.'
विष्णुर्यथा गरुत्मन्तमारुह्यामरवैरिणम्। तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवो वाक्यं वायुपुत्रेण भाषितम्
'Just as Viṣṇu, mounting Garuḍa, subdued the foe of the gods.' Hearing these words spoken by the son of the wind,
अथारुरोह सहसा हनूमन्तं महाकपिम्। रथस्थं रावणं संख्ये ददर्श मनुजाधिपः
Then Rāghava swiftly mounted Hanumān, the great monkey, and the lord of men beheld Rāvaṇa standing in his chariot on the battlefield.
तमालोक्य महातेजाः प्रदुद्राव स रावणम्। वैरोचनमिव क्रुद्धो विष्णुरभ्युद्यतायुधः
Seeing him, the mighty Rāma rushed at Rāvaṇa, like Viṣṇu, weapons raised, charging at Vairochana in anger.