राक्षसः प्रचकम्पेऽथ लक्ष्मणेषु प्रपीडितः। रुद्रबाणहतं घोरं यथा त्रिपुरगोपुरम्
The rākṣasa trembled, tormented by Lakṣmaṇa's arrows, like the dreadful fortress of Tripura struck by Rudra's shaft.
चिन्तयामास चाश्वास्य विमृश्य च महाबलः। साधु बाणनिपातेन श्लाघनीयोऽसि मे रिपुः
The mighty one, regaining his composure and reflecting, thought: 'Well done! By this shower of arrows, my enemy is worthy of praise.'
विधायैवं विदार्यास्यं नियम्य च महाभुजौ। स रथोपस्थमास्थाय रथेन प्रचचार ह
Having thus steadied himself, controlling his mighty arms and mounting the chariot platform, he moved about with his chariot.
एवं त्रीन् पञ्च सप्तेति सायकान् राक्षसर्षभः। आददे संदधे चापि विचकर्षोत्ससर्ज च
In this way, the foremost of rākṣasas took up, fitted, drew, and released three, five, and then seven arrows.
ते बाणाः कालसंकाशा राक्षसेन्द्रधनुश्च्युताः। हेमपुङ्खा रविप्रख्याश्चक्रुर्दीप्तमिवाम्बरम्
Those arrows, like the very embodiment of death, shot from the rākṣasa lord's bow, with golden feathers and shining like the sun, made the sky appear ablaze.
ततस्तान् राक्षसोत्सृष्टान् शरौघान् राघवानुजः। असम्भ्रान्तः प्रचिच्छेद निशितैर्बहुभिः शरैः
Then Rāghava’s younger brother, undisturbed, cut down those torrents of arrows released by the rākṣasa with many sharp arrows.
तान् शरान् युधि सम्प्रेक्ष्य निकृत्तान् रावणात्मजः। चुकोप त्रिदशेन्द्रारिर्जग्राह निशितं शरम्
Seeing his arrows cut down in battle, Rāvaṇa’s son, the enemy of the gods, grew enraged and seized a sharp arrow.
स संधाय महातेजास्तं बाणं सहसोत्सृजत्। तेन सौमित्रिमायान्तमाजघान स्तनान्तरे
That mighty and radiant warrior fitted the arrow to his bow and swiftly released it, striking Saumitri as he approached, in the chest.
अतिकायेन सौमित्रिस्ताडितो युधि वक्षसि। सुस्राव रुधिरं तीव्रं मदं मत्त इव द्विपः
Struck in the chest in battle by Atikāya, Saumitri shed a torrent of blood, like a maddened elephant exuding ichor.
स चकार तदात्मानं विशल्यं सहसा विभुः। जग्राह च शरं तीक्ष्णमस्त्रेणापि समाददे
At that moment, the great Saumitri quickly made himself arrowless, seized a sharp arrow, and invoked a missile weapon.
आग्नेयेन तदास्त्रेण योजयामास सायकम्। स जज्वाल तदा बाणो धनुष्यस्य महात्मनः
Then, with the missile of fire, he prepared his arrow; that arrow blazed forth on the bow of the great-souled one.
अतिकायोऽतितेजस्वी रौद्रमस्त्रं समाददे। तेन बाणं भुजङ्गाभं हेमपुङ्खमयोजयत्
Atikāya, of immense energy, took up a fierce missile and fitted to it an arrow like a serpent, with a golden shaft.
तदस्त्रं ज्वलितं घोरं लक्ष्मणः शरमाहितम्। अतिकायाय चिक्षेप कालदण्डमिवान्तकः
Lakṣmaṇa hurled that blazing, dreadful missile-charged arrow at Atikāya, like Death casting the rod of destruction.
आग्नेयास्त्राभिसंयुक्तं दृष्ट्वा बाणं निशाचरः। उत्ससर्ज तदा बाणं रौद्रं सूर्यास्त्रयोजितम्
Seeing the arrow charged with the missile of fire, the night-stalker then released a fierce arrow equipped with the missile of the sun.
तावुभावम्बरे बाणावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः। तेजसा सम्प्रदीप्ताग्रौ क्रुद्धाविव भुजङ्गमौ
Both those arrows clashed in the sky, striking each other, their tips blazing with energy, like two enraged serpents.
तावन्योन्यं विनिर्दह्य पेततुः पृथिवीतले
Burning each other up, the two fell to the earth.
निरर्चिषौ भस्मकृतौ न भ्राजेते शरोत्तमौ। तावुभौ दीप्यमानौ स्म न भ्राजेते महीतले
No longer flaming, reduced to ashes, those two excellent arrows did not shine; both, though blazing, did not gleam upon the earth.
ततोऽतिकायः संक्रुद्धस्त्वाष्ट्रमैषीकमुत्सृजत्। ततश्चिच्छेद सौमित्रिरस्त्रमैन्द्रेण वीर्यवान्
Then Atikāya, enraged, released the Tvaṣṭṛ’s reed missile; but Saumitri, strong in valor, cut it down with the Indra missile.
ऐषीकं निहतं दृष्ट्वा कुमारो रावणात्मजः। याम्येनास्त्रेण संक्रुद्धो योजयामास सायकम्
Seeing the reed missile destroyed, the prince, son of Rāvaṇa, furious, fitted an arrow with the Yama missile.
ततस्तदस्त्रं चिक्षेप लक्ष्मणाय निशाचरः। वायव्येन तदस्त्रेण निजघान स लक्ष्मणः
Then the night-stalker hurled that missile at Lakṣmaṇa, but Lakṣmaṇa struck it down with the wind missile.
अथैनं शरधाराभिर्धाराभिरिव तोयदः। अभ्यवर्षत संक्रुद्धो लक्ष्मणो रावणात्मजम्
Then, enraged, Lakṣmaṇa showered Rāvaṇa’s son with streams of arrows, as a rain-cloud pours down with streams of water.
तेऽतिकायं समासाद्य कवचे वज्रभूषिते। भग्नाग्रशल्याः सहसा पेतुर्बाणा महीतले
Those arrows, striking Atikāya’s armor adorned with diamonds, had their tips broken and suddenly fell to the ground.
तान्मोघानभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। अभ्यवर्षत बाणानां सहस्रेण महायशाः
Seeing those arrows rendered ineffective, Lakṣmaṇa, the destroyer of enemy heroes, renowned, showered a thousand more arrows.
स वृष्यमाणो बाणौघैरतिकायो महाबलः। अवध्यकवचः संख्ये राक्षसो नैव विव्यथे
Though struck by a torrent of arrows, the mighty and massive-bodied Rākṣasa, protected by an invincible armor in battle, was not shaken.
शरं चाशीविषाकारं लक्ष्मणाय व्यपासृजत्। स तेन विद्धः सौमित्रिर्मर्मदेशे शरेण ह
He released an arrow, shaped like a venomous serpent, at Lakṣmaṇa; struck by it in a vital spot, Saumitri was wounded by that arrow.
मुहूर्तमात्रं निःसंज्ञो ह्यभवच्छत्रुतापनः। ततः संज्ञामुपालभ्य चतुर्भिः सायकोत्तमैः
For just a moment, the tormentor of foes lost consciousness; then, regaining his senses, with four excellent arrows—
निजघान हयान् संख्ये सारथिं च महाबलः। ध्वजस्योन्मथनं कृत्वा शरवर्षैररिंदमः
The mighty one struck down the horses and the charioteer in battle; and, shattering the banner with a shower of arrows, the subduer of enemies—
असम्भ्रान्तः स सौमित्रिस्तान् शरानभिलक्षितान्। मुमोच लक्ष्मणो बाणान् वधार्थं तस्य रक्षसः
Unperturbed, Saumitri, aiming at those arrows, released shafts intended to slay that Rākṣasa.
न शशाक रुजं कर्तुं युधि तस्य नरोत्तमः। अथैनमभ्युपागम्य वायुर्वाक्यमुवाच ह
But the best of men was unable to inflict harm on him in battle; then, approaching him, Vāyu spoke these words—
ब्रह्मदत्तवरो ह्येष अवध्यकवचावृतः। ब्राह्मेणास्त्रेण भिन्ध्येनमेष वध्यो हि नान्यथा। अवध्य एष ह्यन्येषामस्त्राणां कवची बली
This one has a boon from Brahmā and is covered by invincible armor; pierce him with the Brahmāstra, for he is vulnerable only thus, not otherwise. He is invulnerable to all other weapons, being armored and powerful.