कुपितश्च तदा तत्र किं कार्यमिति चिन्तयन्। आदिदेशाथ संक्रुद्धो रणायेन्द्रजितं सुतम्
Enraged, pondering what should be done, he then commanded his son Indrajit, in anger, to go to battle.
जहि वीर महावीर्यौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। अदृश्यो दृश्यमानो वा सर्वथा त्वं बलाधिकः
Slay, O hero, the mighty Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, whether you are visible or invisible; in every way, you surpass them in strength.
त्वमप्रतिमकर्माणमिन्द्रं जयसि संयुगे। किं पुनर्मानुषौ दृष्ट्वा न वधिष्यसि संयुगे
You, whose deeds are unmatched, conquer Indra in battle; what need to say more—seeing these men, will you not slay them in battle?
तथोक्तो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रतिगृह्य पितुर्वचः। यज्ञभूमौ स विधिवत् पावकं जुहुवेन्द्रजित्
Thus addressed by the king of the Rākṣasas, Indrajit accepted his father's words and, in the sacrificial ground, duly offered oblations into the fire.
जुह्वतश्चापि तत्राग्निं रक्तोष्णीषधराः स्त्रियः। आजग्मुस्तत्र सम्भ्रान्ता राक्षस्यो यत्र रावणिः
And as he was offering oblations into the fire, Rākṣasa women, wearing red headbands, arrived there in a state of agitation, where Rāvaṇa's son was present.
शस्त्राणि शरपत्राणि समिधोऽथ बिभीतकाः। लोहितानि च वासांसि स्रुवं कार्ष्णायसं तथा
They brought weapons, arrow-feathered shafts, sacred firewood, bibhītaka fruits, blood-red garments, and a ladle made of black iron.
सर्वतोऽग्निं समास्तीर्य शरपत्रैः सतोमरैः। छागस्य सर्वकृष्णस्य गलं जग्राह जीवतः
All around the fire, he spread arrow-feathered shafts and spears, and then seized by the throat a living, entirely black goat.
सकृद्धोमसमिद्धस्य विधूमस्य महार्चिषः। बभूवुस्तानि लिङ्गानि विजयं दर्शयन्ति च
As soon as the oblation was offered and the smokeless, blazing fire flared up, auspicious signs appeared, indicating victory.
प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखस्तप्तहाटकसंनिभः। हविस्तत् प्रतिजग्राह पावकः स्वयमुत्थितः
The fire, with flames curling to the right and shining like molten gold, rose up on its own and accepted the offering.
हुत्वाग्निं तर्पयित्वाथ देवदानवराक्षसान्। आरुरोह रथश्रेष्ठमन्तर्धानगतं शुभम्
Having offered oblations to the fire and satisfied the gods, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas, he ascended the excellent, invisible, auspicious chariot.
स वाजिभिश्चतुर्भिस्तु बाणैस्तु निशितैर्युतः। आरोपितमहाचापः शुशुभे स्यन्दनोत्तमः
That supreme chariot, drawn by four horses and equipped with sharp arrows, with the great bow mounted, shone brilliantly.
जाज्वल्यमानो वपुषा तपनीयपरिच्छदः। मृगैश्चन्द्रार्धचन्द्रैश्च स रथः समलंकृतः
Radiant in appearance, adorned with gold trappings, and decorated with images of deer, crescent moons, and half-moons, that chariot was splendidly embellished.
जाम्बूनदमहाकम्बुर्दीप्तपावकसंनिभः। बभूवेन्द्रजितः केतुर्वैदूर्यसमलंकृतः
Indrajit's banner, with a great pole of gold, blazing like fire, and adorned with cat's-eye gems, shone brightly.
तेन चादित्यकल्पेन ब्रह्मास्त्रेण च पालितः। स बभूव दुराधर्षो रावणिः सुमहाबलः
Protected by the Brahmāstra and shining like the sun, that mighty son of Rāvaṇa became invincible.
सोऽभिनिर्याय नगरादिन्द्रजित् समितिंजयः। हुत्वाग्निं राक्षसैर्मन्त्रैरन्तर्धानगतोऽब्रवीत्
Then Indrajit, the conqueror in battle, having left the city, performed the fire offering with Rākṣasa mantras and, becoming invisible, spoke these words:
अद्य हत्वा रणे यौ तौ मिथ्या प्रव्रजितौ वने। जयं पित्रे प्रदास्यामि रावणाय रणेऽधिकम्
"Today, after killing those two who falsely dwell in the forest as ascetics, I will grant my father Rāvaṇa a greater victory in battle."
अद्य निर्वानरामुर्वीं हत्वा रामं च लक्ष्मणम्। करिष्ये परमां प्रीतिमित्युक्त्वान्तरधीयत
"Today, after killing Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa and making the earth free of enemies, I will attain the highest delight," so saying, he vanished.
आपपाताथ संक्रुद्धो दशग्रीवेण चोदितः। तीक्ष्णकार्मुकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णस्त्विन्द्ररिपू रणे
Then, urged on by the enraged ten-headed Rāvaṇa, Indrajit, fierce in battle, rushed forth with sharp bow and arrows.
स ददर्श महावीर्यौ नागौ त्रिशिरसाविव। सृजन्ताविषुजालानि वीरौ वानरमध्यगौ
He saw the two mighty heroes, like two three-headed serpents, releasing streams of arrows, standing among the foremost of the Vānaras.
इमौ ताविति संचिन्त्य सज्यं कृत्वा च कार्मुकम्। संततानेषुधाराभिः पर्जन्य इव वृष्टिमान्
Thinking, 'These are the two,' he strung his bow and, like a rain-filled cloud, showered a continuous stream of arrows.
स तु वैहायसरथो युधि तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। अचक्षुर्विषये तिष्ठन् विव्याध निशितैः शरैः
Then, riding his aerial chariot in battle, Indrajit, remaining out of sight, struck Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with sharp arrows.
तौ तस्य शरवेगेन परीतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। धनुषी सशरे कृत्वा दिव्यमस्त्रं प्रचक्रतुः
Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, overwhelmed by the force of his arrows, readied their bows with arrows and invoked a divine weapon.
प्रच्छादयन्तौ गगनं शरजालैर्महाबलौ। तमस्त्रैः सूर्यसंकाशैर्नैव पस्पर्शतुः शरैः
The mighty pair covered the sky with volleys of arrows; yet, with weapons shining like the sun, they were untouched by arrows.
स हि धूमान्धकारं च चक्रे प्रच्छादयन्नभः। दिशश्चान्तर्दधे श्रीमान् नीहारतमसा वृताः
He shrouded the heavens with smoke and darkness, and the illustrious one concealed the directions, veiled by mist and gloom.
नैव ज्यातलनिर्घोषो न च नेमिखुरस्वनः। शुश्रुवे चरतस्तस्य न च रूपं प्रकाशते
Neither the twang of the bowstring nor the sound of the wheels was heard as he moved, nor did his form become visible.
घनान्धकारे तिमिरे शिलावर्षमिवाद्भुतम्। स ववर्ष महाबाहुर्नाराचशरवृष्टिभिः
In the dense darkness, like a wondrous shower of stones, the mighty-armed one rained a torrent of nārāca arrows.
स रामं सूर्यसंकाशैः शरैर्दत्तवरैर्भृशम्। विव्याध समरे क्रुद्धः सर्वगात्रेषु रावणिः
Rāvaṇa, furious in battle, struck Rāma fiercely with arrows shining like the sun, granted as boons, piercing all his limbs.
तौ हन्यमानौ नाराचैर्धाराभिरिव पर्वतौ। हेमपुङ्खान् नरव्याघ्रौ तिग्मान् मुमुचतुः शरान्
Those two tiger-men, battered by nārāca arrows like mountains by streams, released sharp arrows with golden feathers.
अन्तरिक्षे समासाद्य रावणिं कङ्कपत्रिणः। निकृत्य पतगा भूमौ पेतुस्ते शोणिताप्लुताः
The winged arrows, meeting Rāvaṇa in the sky, were cut down and fell to the earth, drenched in blood.
अतिमात्रं शरौघेण दीप्यमानौ नरोत्तमौ। तानिषून् पततो भल्लैरनेकैर्विचकर्ततुः
The foremost men, blazing amid the excessive flood of arrows, cut down those falling shafts with numerous broad-headed arrows.