सृजतः शरवर्षाणि क्षिप्रहस्तस्य संयुगे। जीमूतस्येव नदतः कः स्थास्यति ममाग्रतः
As I release showers of arrows with swift hands in battle, who will stand before me, like thunder before a roaring cloud?
रात्रियुद्धे तदा पूर्वं वज्राशनिसमैः शरैः। शायितौ तौ मया भूयो विसंज्ञौ सपुरःसरौ
In that earlier night battle, with arrows like thunderbolts and lightning, I struck down those two leaders and their followers, rendering them unconscious.
स्मृतिर्न तेऽस्ति वा मन्ये व्यक्तं यातो यमक्षयम्। आशीविषसमं क्रुद्धं यन्मां योद्धुमुपस्थितः
It seems you have no memory, for surely you have gone to the realm of Yama, since you have come to fight me, who am as furious as a venomous serpent.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य गर्जितं राघवस्तदा। अभीतवदनः क्रुद्धो रावणिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing the roar of the king of the Rākṣasas, Rāghava, his face fearless and filled with anger, spoke these words to Rāvaṇa's son.
उक्तश्च दुर्गमः पारः कार्याणां राक्षस त्वया। कार्याणां कर्मणा पारं यो गच्छति स बुद्धिमान्
You have said, O Rākṣasa, that the far shore of deeds is difficult to reach; but he who attains the end of his tasks through action is truly wise.
स त्वमर्थस्य हीनार्थो दुरवापस्य केनचित्। वाचा व्याहृत्य जानीषे कृतार्थोऽस्मीति दुर्मते
You, lacking in true wealth and unable to attain what is difficult, imagine yourself accomplished just by uttering words, O misguided one.
अन्तर्धानगतेनाजौ यत्त्वया चरितस्तदा। तस्कराचरितो मार्गो नैष वीरनिषेवितः
That conduct of yours on the battlefield, vanishing from sight, is the way of thieves, not the path followed by heroes.
यथा बाणपथं प्राप्य स्थितोऽस्मि तव राक्षस। दर्शयस्वाद्य तत्तेजो वाचा त्वं किं विकत्थसे
Now that I stand within the range of your arrows, O Rākṣasa, show your prowess today—why do you boast with words?
एवमुक्तो धनुर्भीमं परामृश्य महाबलः। ससर्ज निशितान् बाणानिन्द्रजित् समितिंजयः
Thus addressed, the mighty Indrajit, grasping his formidable bow, released sharp arrows, victorious in battle.
तेन सृष्टा महावेगाः शराः सर्पविषोपमाः। सम्प्राप्य लक्ष्मणं पेतुः श्वसन्त इव पन्नगाः
Those arrows, unleashed with great speed and likened to serpent venom, reached Lakṣmaṇa and fell upon him like hissing serpents.
शरैरतिमहावेगैर्वेगवान् रावणात्मजः। सौमित्रिमिन्द्रजिद् युद्धे विव्याध शुभलक्षणम्
With those extremely swift arrows, the son of Rāvaṇa, Indrajit, wounded the auspicious Saumitri in battle.
स शरैरतिविद्धाङ्गो रुधिरेण समुक्षितः। शुशुभे लक्ष्मणः श्रीमान् विधूम इव पावकः
His body pierced by arrows and drenched in blood, the illustrious Lakṣmaṇa shone like a smokeless fire.
इन्द्रजित् त्वात्मनः कर्म प्रसमीक्ष्याभिगम्य च। विनद्य सुमहानादमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Indrajit, observing his own deeds and drawing near, roared a great sound and spoke these words.
पत्रिणः शितधारास्ते शरा मत्कार्मुकच्युताः। आदास्यन्तेऽद्य सौमित्रे जीवितं जीवितान्तकाः
These feathered, sharp-edged arrows released from my bow, O Saumitri, will today take your life—they are the enders of life.
अद्य गोमायुसङ्घाश्च श्येनसङ्घाश्च लक्ष्मण। गृध्राश्च निपतन्तु त्वां गतासुं निहतं मया
Today, Lakṣmaṇa, packs of jackals, flocks of hawks, and vultures will fall upon you, lifeless and slain by me.
क्षत्रबन्धुं सदानार्यं रामः परमदुर्मतिः। भक्तं भ्रातरमद्यैव त्वां द्रक्ष्यति हतं मया
Today, Rāma, that most wicked one, will see you—his devoted brother—slain by me, lying dead, a disgrace to the warrior class and ever unworthy.
विस्रस्तकवचं भूमौ व्यपविद्धशरासनम्। हृतोत्तमाङ्गं सौमित्रे त्वामद्य निहतं मया
Saumitri, today I will slay you, your armor fallen, your bow cast aside on the ground, your head severed.
इति ब्रुवाणं संक्रुद्धः परुषं रावणात्मजम्। हेतुमद् वाक्यमर्थज्ञो लक्ष्मणः प्रत्युवाच ह
As Rāvaṇa's son spoke these harsh words in anger, Lakṣmaṇa, understanding the meaning, replied with reasoned speech.
वाग्बलं त्यज दुर्बुद्धे क्रूरकर्मन् हि राक्षस। अथ कस्माद् वदस्येतत् सम्पादय सुकर्मणा
Abandon your reliance on words, O evil-minded one, for you are cruel in deed, Rākṣasa; why do you speak thus? Accomplish it through noble action.
अकृत्वा कत्थसे कर्म किमर्थमिह राक्षस। कुरु तत् कर्म येनाहं श्रद्धेयं तव कत्थनम्
Why do you boast here, O Rākṣasa, without having acted? Do that deed by which your boasting will be worthy of belief.
अनुक्त्वा परुषं वाक्यं किंचिदप्यनवक्षिपन्। अविकत्थन् वधिष्यामि त्वां पश्य पुरुषादन
Without uttering any harsh word, without insulting you in any way, and without boasting, I will slay you—see for yourself, man-eater.
इत्युक्त्वा पञ्च नाराचानाकर्णापूरितान् शरान्। विजघान महावेगाल्लक्ष्मणो राक्षसोरसि
So saying, Lakṣmaṇa, with great speed, struck the Rākṣasa in the chest with five nārāca arrows drawn to the ear.
सुपत्रवाजिता बाणा ज्वलिता इव पन्नगाः। नैर्ऋतोरस्यभासन्त सवितू रश्मयो यथा
The arrows, feathered and swift, shone on the chest of the offspring of Nirṛti like the rays of the sun, blazing like serpents.
स शरैराहतस्तेन सरोषो रावणात्मजः। सुप्रयुक्तैस्त्रिभिर्बाणैः प्रतिविव्याध लक्ष्मणम्
Struck by those arrows, the enraged son of Rāvaṇa pierced Lakṣmaṇa in return with three well-aimed arrows.
स बभूव महाभीमो नरराक्षससिंहयोः। विमर्दस्तुमुलो युद्धे परस्परजयैषिणोः
Then there arose a tremendous and terrifying clash between the lion-like man and Rākṣasa, each striving for victory over the other.
विक्रान्तौ बलसम्पन्नावुभौ विक्रमशालिनौ। उभौ परमदुर्जेयावतुल्यबलतेजसौ
Both were valiant, endowed with strength, accomplished in prowess, exceedingly hard to conquer, and equal in might and brilliance.
युयुधाते तदा वीरौ ग्रहाविव नभोगतौ। बलवृत्राविव हि तौ युधि वै दुष्प्रधर्षणौ
Those two heroes fought then like planets moving in the sky, or like Indra and Vṛtra, both difficult to withstand in battle.
युयुधाते महात्मानौ तदा केसरिणाविव। बहूनवसृजन्तौ हि मार्गणौघानवस्थितौ। नरराक्षसमुख्यौ तौ प्रहृष्टावभ्ययुध्यताम्
Those two great-souled ones fought like lions, releasing many streams of arrows, standing firm, the foremost among men and Rākṣasas, joyfully battling each other.
ततः शरान् दाशरथिः संधायामित्रकर्षणः। ससर्ज राक्षसेन्द्राय क्रुद्धः सर्प इव श्वसन्
Then the son of Daśaratha, destroyer of enemies, fitted arrows to his bow and, enraged, released them at the lord of Rākṣasas, like a serpent hissing.
तस्य ज्यातलनिर्घोषं स श्रुत्वा राक्षसाधिपः। विवर्णवदनो भूत्वा लक्ष्मणं समुदैक्षत
Hearing the thunderous twang of the bowstring, the Rākṣasa lord became pale-faced and gazed intently at Lakṣmaṇa.