काञ्चनाङ्गदनद्धाभ्यां भुजाभ्यामेष शोभते। शृङ्गाभ्यामिव तुङ्गाभ्यां हिमवान् पर्वतोत्तमः
With arms adorned with golden armlets, he shines like the lofty twin peaks of Himavat, the foremost of mountains.
कुण्डलाभ्यामुभाभ्यां च भाति वक्त्रं सुभीषणम्। पुनर्वस्वन्तरगतं परिपूर्णो निशाकरः
His terrifying face shines with two earrings, like the full moon enclosed within the Punarvasu constellation.
आचक्ष्व मे महाबाहो त्वमेनं राक्षसोत्तमम्। यं दृष्ट्वा वानराः सर्वे भयार्ता विद्रुता दिशः
O mighty-armed one, tell me who this foremost of rakshasas is, at the sight of whom all the monkeys, seized by fear, have scattered in every direction.
स पृष्टो राजपुत्रेण रामेणामिततेजसा। आचचक्षे महातेजा राघवाय विभीषणः
Thus questioned by the prince Rama, of boundless energy, the mighty Vibhishana spoke to the descendant of Raghu.
दशग्रीवो महातेजा राजा वैश्रवणानुजः। भीमकर्मा महात्मा हि रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः
That is Ravana, of great might, the ten-headed one, king and younger brother of Vaishravana, of tremendous deeds, great soul, and lord of the rakshasas.
तस्यासीद् वीर्यवान् पुत्रो रावणप्रतिमो बले। वृद्धसेवी श्रुतिधरः सर्वास्त्रविदुषां वरः
He had a son, powerful and equal to Ravana in strength, devoted to elders, learned in the scriptures, and foremost among those skilled in all weapons.
अश्वपृष्ठे नागपृष्ठे खड्गे धनुषि कर्षणे। भेदे सान्त्वे च दाने च नये मन्त्रे च सम्मतः
He was accomplished in riding horses and elephants, in wielding sword and bow, in breaking ranks, conciliation, giving gifts, strategy, and counsel.
यस्य बाहुं समाश्रित्य लङ्का भवति निर्भया। तनयं धान्यमालिन्या अतिकायमिमं विदुः
Relying on his arm, Lanka remains unafraid; this son of Dhanyamalin is known as Atikaya.
एतेनाराधितो ब्रह्मा तपसा भावितात्मना। अस्त्राणि चाप्यवाप्तानि रिपवश्च पराजिताः
By him, Brahma was propitiated through austerity and purified mind; he obtained weapons and defeated his enemies.
सुरासुरैरवध्यत्वं दत्तमस्मै स्वयंभुवा। एतच्च कवचं दिव्यं रथश्च रविभास्वरः
By the Self-born, he was granted invulnerability to gods and asuras, as well as this divine armor and a chariot shining like the sun.
एतेन शतशो देवा दानवाश्च पराजिताः। रक्षितानि च रक्षांसि यक्षाश्चापि निषूदिताः
With these, he has defeated hundreds of gods and danavas, protected rakshasas, and slain yakshas.
वज्रं विष्टम्भितं येन बाणैरिन्द्रस्य धीमता। पाशः सलिलराजस्य युद्धे प्रतिहतस्तथा
By him, the thunderbolt of wise Indra was checked with arrows, and the noose of the lord of waters was likewise repelled in battle.
एषोऽतिकायो बलवान् राक्षसानामथर्षभः। स रावणसुतो धीमान् देवदानवदर्पहा
This is Atikaya, strong and foremost among rakshasas, the wise son of Ravana, who has crushed the pride of gods and danavas.
तदस्मिन् क्रियतां यत्नः क्षिप्रं पुरुषपुङ्गव। पुरा वानरसैन्यानि क्षयं नयति सायकैः
Therefore, O best of men, make haste and exert yourself, before he destroys the monkey armies with his arrows.
ततोऽतिकायो बलवान् प्रविश्य हरिवाहिनीम्। विस्फारयामास धनुर्ननाद च पुनः पुनः
Then Atikaya, powerful, entered the monkey army, drew his bow, and repeatedly made it resound.
तं भीमवपुषं दृष्ट्वा रथस्थं रथिनां वरम्। अभिपेतुर्महात्मानः प्रधाना ये वनौकसः
Seeing him, of terrible form, standing on his chariot and foremost among warriors, the great leaders of the forest-dwellers rushed at him.
कुमुदो द्विविदो मैन्दो नीलः शरभ एव च। पादपैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्च युगपत् समभिद्रवन्
Kumuda, Dvivida, Mainda, Nila, and Sharabha all together charged at him with trees and mountain peaks.
तेषां वृक्षांश्च शैलांश्च शरैः कनकभूषणैः। अतिकायो महातेजाश्चिच्छेदास्त्रविदां वरः
Atikaya, of great energy and foremost among those skilled in weapons, cut down their trees and mountains with his golden-adorned arrows.
तांश्चैव सर्वान् स हरीन् शरैः सर्वायसैर्बली। विव्याधाभिमुखान् संख्ये भीमकायो निशाचरः
That mighty-bodied night-stalker struck all those monkeys, who faced him in battle, with iron-tipped arrows.
तेऽर्दिता बाणवर्षेण भिन्नगात्राः पराजिताः। न शेकुरतिकायस्य प्रतिकर्तुं महाहवे
Struck by a rain of arrows, their bodies wounded and defeated, they could not withstand Atikāya in the great battle.
तत् सैन्यं हरिवीराणां त्रासयामास राक्षसः। मृगयूथमिव क्रुद्धो हरिर्यौवनदर्पितः
That army of heroic monkeys was terrified by the rākṣasa, like a herd of deer frightened by an enraged, youthful lion.
स राक्षसेन्द्रो हरियूथमध्ये नायुध्यमानं निजघान कंचित्। उत्पत्य रामं स धनुःकलापी सगर्वितं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
The king of rākṣasas, in the midst of the monkey troops, slew some who did not fight; then, leaping up, he approached Rāma, bow in hand, and spoke these proud words.
रथे स्थितोऽहं शरचापपाणि- र्न प्राकृतं कंचन योधयामि। यस्यास्ति शक्तिर्व्यवसाययुक्तो ददातु मे शीघ्रमिहाद्य युद्धम्
Standing on my chariot, holding bow and arrows, I do not fight ordinary warriors; let whoever has strength and resolve quickly give me battle here today.
तत् तस्य वाक्यं ब्रुवतो निशम्य चुकोप सौमित्रिरमित्रहन्ता। अमृष्यमाणश्च समुत्पपात जग्राह चापं च ततः स्मयित्वा
Hearing those words spoken, Saumitri, the destroyer of enemies, grew angry; unable to endure, he sprang up, took his bow, and smiled.
क्रुद्धः सौमित्रिरुत्पत्य तूणादाक्षिप्य सायकम्। पुरस्तादतिकायस्य विचकर्ष महद्धनुः
Saumitri, enraged, leapt up, drew an arrow from his quiver, and, before Atikāya, stretched his great bow.
पूरयन् स महीं सर्वामाकाशं सागरं दिशः। ज्याशब्दो लक्ष्मणस्योग्रस्त्रासयन् रजनीचरान्
As Lakṣmaṇa filled the earth, sky, ocean, and directions with the sound of his bowstring, the fierce noise terrified the night-dwelling rākṣasas.
सौमित्रेश्चापनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा प्रतिभयं तदा। विसिस्मिये महातेजा राक्षसेन्द्रात्मजो बली
Hearing the formidable twang of Saumitri's bow, the mighty, radiant son of the rākṣasa king was astonished.
तदातिकायः कुपितो दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणमुत्थितम्। आदाय निशितं बाणमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then Atikāya, angered at seeing Lakṣmaṇa rise, took a sharp arrow and spoke these words.
बालस्त्वमसि सौमित्रे विक्रमेष्वविचक्षणः। गच्छ किं कालसंकाशं मां योधयितुमिच्छसि
You are but a boy, Saumitri, inexperienced in valor; go away—why do you wish to fight me, who is like Time itself?
नहि मद्बाहुसृष्टानां बाणानां हिमवानपि। सोढुमुत्सहते वेगमन्तरिक्षमथो मही
Not even Himavat, nor the sky nor the earth, can withstand the force of arrows released by my arms.