शम्बरो देवराजेन नरको विष्णुना यथा। तथाद्य शयिता रामो मया युधि निपातितः
Just as Shambara was struck down by the king of gods, and Naraka by Vishnu, so today Rama shall lie slain by me in battle.
श्रुत्वा त्रिशिरसो वाक्यं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। पुनर्जातमिवात्मानं मन्यते कालचोदितः
Hearing Triśiras's words, Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, felt as if he had been reborn, impelled by fate.
श्रुत्वा त्रिशिरसो वाक्यं देवान्तकनरान्तकौ। अतिकायश्च तेजस्वी बभूवुर्युद्धहर्षिताः
Hearing Triśiras's words, Devāntaka, Narāntaka, and the radiant Atikāya became filled with joy for battle.
ततोऽहमहमित्येवं गर्जन्तो नैर्ऋतर्षभाः। रावणस्य सुता वीराः शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमाः
Then, proclaiming 'I am foremost!' with mighty roars, the heroic sons of Rāvaṇa, equal in valor to Indra, bellowed forth.
अन्तरिक्षगताः सर्वे सर्वे मायाविशारदाः। सर्वे त्रिदशदर्पघ्नाः सर्वे समरदुर्मदाः
All of them moved through the sky, all skilled in magical arts, all destroyers of the pride of the gods, all intoxicated by battle.
सर्वे सुबलसम्पन्नाः सर्वे विस्तीर्णकीर्तयः। सर्वे समरमासाद्य न श्रूयन्ते स्म निर्जिताः
All were endowed with great strength, all possessed widespread fame; never were any of them heard to be defeated in battle.
देवैरपि सगन्धर्वैः सकिंनरमहोरगैः। सर्वेऽस्त्रविदुषो वीराः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः। सर्वे प्रवरविज्ञानाः सर्वे लब्धवरास्तथा
Even by the gods, gandharvas, kinnaras, and mighty serpents, all these heroes, skilled in weapons and battle, of supreme knowledge and granted boons, could not be overcome.
स तैस्तथा भास्करतुल्यवर्चसैः सुतैर्वृतः शत्रुबलश्रियार्दनैः। रराज राजा मघवान् यथामरै- र्वृतो महादानवदर्पनाशनैः
Surrounded by his sons, radiant as the sun, destroyers of the splendor of enemy forces, the king shone like Indra among the gods, encircled by those who broke the pride of great dānavas.
स पुत्रान् सम्परिष्वज्य भूषयित्वा च भूषणैः। आशीर्भिश्च प्रशस्ताभिः प्रेषयामास वै रणे
He embraced his sons, adorned them with ornaments, and, with auspicious blessings, sent them forth to battle.
युद्धोन्मत्तं च मत्तं च भ्रातरौ चापि रावणः। रक्षणार्थं कुमाराणां प्रेषयामास संयुगे
Rāvaṇa also sent his brothers, maddened and wild for battle, to protect his sons in the conflict.
तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं रावणं लोकरावणम्। कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं चैव महाकायाः प्रतस्थिरे
Those great-bodied ones, having saluted the mighty Rāvaṇa, lord of the worlds, and circumambulated him, set out.
सर्वौषधीभिर्गन्धैश्च समालभ्य महाबलाः। निर्जग्मुर्नैर्ऋतश्रेष्ठाः षडेते युद्धकाङ्क्षिणः
Anointed with all kinds of herbs and fragrant scents, these six foremost of the night-walkers, eager for battle, departed.
त्रिशिराश्चातिकायश्च देवान्तकनरान्तकौ। महोदरमहापार्श्वौ निर्जग्मुः कालचोदिताः
Triśiras, Atikāya, Devāntaka, Narāntaka, Mahodara, and Mahāpārśva set out, impelled by fate.
ततः सुदर्शनं नागं नीलजीमूतसंनिभम्। ऐरावतकुले जातमारुरोह महोदरः
Then Mahodara mounted the splendid elephant Sudarśana, dark as a rain cloud, born in the lineage of Airāvata.
सर्वायुधसमायुक्तस्तूणीभिश्चाप्यलंकृतः। रराज गजमास्थाय सवितेवास्तमूर्धनि
Equipped with all weapons and adorned with quivers, he shone atop the elephant like the sun on the summit at dusk.
हयोत्तमसमायुक्तं सर्वायुधसमाकुलम्। आरुरोह रथश्रेष्ठं त्रिशिरा रावणात्मजः
Triśiras, son of Rāvaṇa, mounted the finest chariot, yoked with excellent horses and filled with all kinds of weapons.
त्रिशिरा रथमास्थाय विरराज धनुर्धरः। सविद्युदुल्कः सज्वालः सेन्द्रचाप इवाम्बुदः
Triśiras, the archer, mounted his chariot and shone like a rain cloud with lightning, meteors, and blazing fire, adorned with Indra's bow.
त्रिभिः किरीटैस्त्रिशिराः शुशुभे स रथोत्तमे। हिमवानिव शैलेन्द्रस्त्रिभिः काञ्चनपर्वतैः
Triśiras, with his three crowns, shone on his splendid chariot like Himavat, king of mountains, with three golden peaks.
अतिकायोऽतितेजस्वी राक्षसेन्द्रसुतस्तदा। आरुरोह रथश्रेष्ठं श्रेष्ठः सर्वधनुष्मताम्
Then Atikāya, supremely radiant, son of the lord of rākṣasas, the best of all archers, mounted the finest chariot.
सुचक्राक्षं सुसंयुक्तं स्वनुकर्षं सुकूबरम्। तूणीबाणासनैर्दीप्तं प्रासासिपरिघाकुलम्
It was equipped with excellent wheels, well-joined, with its own sound, a fine pole, adorned with quivers, arrows, and bows, and crowded with spears, swords, and maces.
स काञ्चनविचित्रेण किरीटेन विराजता। भूषणैश्च बभौ मेरुः प्रभाभिरिव भासयन्
He shone with a crown beautifully decorated with gold, and with ornaments, he glowed like Mount Meru illuminated by radiance.
स रराज रथे तस्मिन् राजसूनुर्महाबलः। वृतो नैर्ऋतशार्दूलैर्वज्रपाणिरिवामरैः
That mighty prince, surrounded by the tiger-like leaders of the night-dwellers, shone on that chariot like Indra with the gods.
हयमुच्चैःश्रवःप्रख्यं श्वेतं कनकभूषणम्। मनोजवं महाकायमारुरोह नरान्तकः
Narāntaka mounted a white horse, resembling Uccaiḥśravas, adorned with gold, swift as the mind, and of great size.
गृहीत्वा प्रासमुल्काभं विरराज नरान्तकः। शक्तिमादाय तेजस्वी गुहः शिखिगतो यथा
Narāntaka, taking a spear bright as fire, shone forth, and the radiant Guha, taking a weapon, was like a peacock on a mountain.
देवान्तकः समादाय परिघं हेमभूषणम्। परिगृह्य गिरिं दोर्भ्यां वपुर्विष्णोर्विडम्बयन्
Devāntaka, taking a mace adorned with gold, grasped a mountain with his arms, imitating the form of Vishnu.
महापार्श्वो महातेजा गदामादाय वीर्यवान्। विरराज गदापाणिः कुबेर इव संयुगे
Mahāpārśva, of great energy and valor, took up a mace and shone with it in his hand, like Kubera in battle.
ते प्रतस्थुर्महात्मानोऽमरावत्याः सुरा इव। तान् गजैश्च तुरङ्गैश्च रथैश्चाम्बुदनिःस्वनैः
Those great souls advanced like the gods in Amaravati; with elephants, horses, and chariots, their thunderous sounds echoed.
अनूत्पेतुर्महात्मानो राक्षसाः प्रवरायुधाः। ते विरेजुर्महात्मानः कुमाराः सूर्यवर्चसः
The mighty rakṣasas, armed with excellent weapons, rushed forth; those radiant princes shone with the brilliance of the sun.
किरीटिनः श्रिया जुष्टा ग्रहा दीप्ता इवाम्बरे। प्रगृहीता बभौ तेषां शस्त्राणामवलिः सिता
Crowned and adorned with splendor, they were like bright planets in the sky; the array of their weapons gleamed white.
शरदभ्रप्रतीकाशा हंसावलिरिवाम्बरे। मरणं वापि निश्चित्य शत्रूणां वा पराजयम्
Like a flock of swans in the sky, resembling autumn clouds, they resolved either to die or to defeat their enemies.