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.
ततस्तु वायोर्वचनं निशम्य सौमित्रिरिन्द्रप्रतिमानवीर्यः। समादधे बाणमथोग्रवेगं तद्ब्राह्ममस्त्रं सहसा नियुज्य
Then, hearing Vāyu’s words, Saumitri, whose valor rivaled Indra’s, took up a swift and powerful arrow, and at once invoked the Brahmāstra upon it.
तस्मिन् वरास्त्रे तु नियुज्यमाने सौमित्रिणा बाणवरे शिताग्रे। दिशश्च चन्द्रार्कमहाग्रहाश्च नभश्च तत्रास ररास चोर्वी
As Saumitri fitted that supreme weapon to his sharp-pointed arrow, the directions, the moon, the sun, the great planets, the sky, and the earth all trembled there.
तं ब्रह्मणोऽस्त्रेण नियुज्य चापे शरं सपुङ्खं यमदूतकल्पम्। सौमित्रिरिन्द्रारिसुतस्य तस्य ससर्ज बाणं युधि वज्रकल्पम्
Having invoked the Brahmāstra upon the feathered arrow, which was like the messenger of Yama, Saumitri released that thunderbolt-like shaft in battle at the son of Indra’s foe.
तं लक्ष्मणोत्सृष्टविवृद्धवेगं समापतन्तं श्वसनोग्रवेगम्। सुपर्णवज्रोत्तमचित्रपुङ्खं तदातिकायः समरे ददर्श
That arrow, released by Lakṣmaṇa with increasing speed, rushing forward with the force of a fierce wind, adorned with fine feathers like Garuḍa’s, Atikāya saw it in battle.
तं प्रेक्षमाणः सहसातिकायो जघान बाणैर्निशितैरनेकैः। स सायकस्तस्य सुपर्णवेग- स्तथातिवेगेन जगाम पार्श्वम्
Seeing it suddenly, Atikāya struck it with many sharp arrows; yet that arrow, with the speed of Garuḍa, pressed on with great force toward his side.
तमागतं प्रेक्ष्य तदातिकायो बाणं प्रदीप्तान्तककालकल्पम्। जघान शक्त्यृष्टिगदाकुठारैः शूलैः शरैश्चाप्यविपन्नचेष्टः
Seeing that arrow approaching, blazing like the fire of death, Atikāya, undaunted, struck at it with spears, javelins, maces, axes, pikes, and arrows.
तान्यायुधान्यद्भुतविग्रहाणि मोघानि कृत्वा स शरोऽग्निदीप्तः। प्रगृह्य तस्यैव किरीटजुष्टं तदातिकायस्य शिरो जहार
All those wondrous weapons, having been rendered ineffective, that arrow, blazing like fire, seized Atikāya’s crested head and cut it off.
तच्छिरः सशिरस्त्राणं लक्ष्मणेषुप्रमर्दितम्। पपात सहसा भूमौ शृङ्गं हिमवतो यथा
That head, with its helmet and armor, shattered by Lakṣmaṇa’s arrow, fell suddenly to the ground like a peak of Himavat.
तं भूमौ पतितं दृष्ट्वा विक्षिप्ताम्बरभूषणम्। बभूवुर्व्यथिताः सर्वे हतशेषा निशाचराः
Seeing him fallen to the ground, his garments and ornaments scattered, all the surviving night-stalkers were seized with fear.
ते विषण्णमुखा दीनाः प्रहारजनितश्रमाः। विनेदुरुच्चैर्बहवः सहसा विस्वरैः स्वरैः
Their faces downcast, dejected, exhausted by the blows, many of them wailed aloud at once, their voices breaking in distress.