धृष्टं भवन्तो युध्यन्तु हरीणां मोहनाय वै। अहं तु रथमास्थाय आगमिष्यामि संयुगे
Let you all fight boldly, to bewilder the monkeys; I will mount my chariot and come to the battle.
तथा भवन्तः कुर्वन्तु यथेमे हि वनौकसः। न युध्येयुर्महात्मानः प्रविष्टे नगरं मयि
Act in such a way, for these forest-dwellers of great soul would not fight if I entered the city.
इत्युक्त्वा रावणसुतो वञ्चयित्वा वनौकसः। प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां रथहेतोरमित्रहा
Having spoken thus, Ravana's son, deceiving the forest-dwellers, entered the city of Lanka for the sake of his chariot, the destroyer of enemies.
स रथं भूषयित्वाथ रुचिरं हेमभूषितम्। प्रासासिशरसंयुक्तं युक्तं परमवाजिभिः
Then, having adorned a splendid chariot, decorated with gold, equipped with spears and arrows, and yoked to excellent horses—
अधिष्ठितं हयज्ञेन सूतेनाप्तोपदेशिना। आरुरोह महातेजा रावणिः समितिंजयः
That chariot, presided over by a skilled charioteer versed in the horse-sacrifice, was mounted by Ravani, the victorious in battle, of great brilliance.
स राक्षसगणैर्मुख्यैर्वृतो मन्दोदरीसुतः। निर्ययौ नगराद् वीरः कृतान्तबलचोदितः
Surrounded by leading hosts of demons, the heroic son of Mandodari departed from the city, impelled by the force of fate.
सोऽभिनिष्क्रम्य नगरादिन्द्रजित् परमौजसा। अभ्ययाज्जवनैरश्वैर्लक्ष्मणं सविभीषणम्
Having left the city, Indrajit, of supreme energy, approached Lakshmana and Vibhishana with his swift horses.
ततो रथस्थमालोक्य सौमित्री रावणात्मजम्। वानराश्च महावीर्या राक्षसश्च विभीषणः
Then, seeing Ravana's son standing on his chariot, Saumitri, the mighty monkeys, and the demon Vibhishana—
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुर्लाघवात् तस्य धीमतः। रावणिश्चापि संक्रुद्धो रणे वानरयूथपान्
They were all seized with great wonder at his extraordinary swiftness; and Ravani, enraged in battle, attacked the chiefs of the monkey army.
पातयामास बाणौघैः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। स मण्डलीकृतधनू रावणिः समितिंजयः
He struck down the monkey leaders with showers of arrows by the hundreds and thousands; Ravani, the victor in battle, wielding his bow in circles—
हरीनभ्यहनत् क्रुद्धः परं लाघवमास्थितः। ते वध्यमाना हरयो नाराचैर्भीमविक्रमाः
In great anger, displaying supreme agility, he struck the monkeys; those mighty warriors, being slain by his sharp arrows—
सौमित्रिं शरणं प्राप्ताः प्रजापतिमिव प्रजाः। ततः समरकोपेन ज्वलितो रघुनन्दनः। चिच्छेद कार्मुकं तस्य दर्शयन् पाणिलाघवम्
Sought refuge with Saumitri, as creatures with the Creator; then, blazing with battle-fury, the descendant of Raghu cut down his bow, displaying skill with his hand.
सोऽन्यत्कार्मुकमादाय सज्यं चक्रे त्वरन्निव। तदप्यस्य त्रिभिर्बाणैर्लक्ष्मणो निरकृन्तत
He quickly took up another bow and strung it; but Lakshmana cut that too with three arrows.
अथैनं छिन्नधन्वानमाशीविषविषोपमैः। विव्याधोरसि सौमित्री रावणिं पञ्चभिः शरैः
Then Saumitri pierced Ravani, whose bow had been cut, in the chest with five arrows, sharp as the venom of serpents.
ते तस्य कायं निर्भिद्य महाकार्मुकनिःसृताः। निपेतुर्धरणीं बाणा रक्ता इव महोरगाः
Those arrows, shot from the great bow, pierced his body and fell to the earth, red as mighty serpents.
स च्छिन्नधन्वा रुधिरं वमन् वक्त्रेण रावणिः। जग्राह कार्मुकश्रेष्ठं दृढज्यं बलवत्तरम्
Rāvaṇa’s son, his armor shattered and blood pouring from his mouth, seized a mighty bow with a strong string, surpassing all others.
स लक्ष्मणं समुद्दिश्य परं लाघवमास्थितः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि वर्षाणीव पुरंदरः
Aiming at Lakṣmaṇa, he adopted supreme agility and showered volleys of arrows, like Indra pouring rain.
मुक्तमिन्द्रजिता तत्तु शरवर्षमरिंदमः। आवारयदसम्भ्रान्तो लक्ष्मणः सुदुरासदम्
Lakṣmaṇa, undisturbed and formidable, blocked that rain of arrows released by Indrajit, the subduer of foes.
संदर्शयामास तदा रावणिं रघुनन्दनः। असम्भ्रान्तो महातेजास्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
Then, Raghunandana, unwavering and radiant, revealed himself to Rāvaṇa’s son; it appeared wondrous.
ततस्तान् राक्षसान् सर्वांस्त्रिभिरेकैकमाहवे। अविध्यत् परमक्रुद्धः शीघ्रास्त्रं सम्प्रदर्शयन्। राक्षसेन्द्रसुतं चापि बाणौघैः समताडयत्
Then, in battle, the supremely enraged Lakṣmaṇa pierced each of the rākṣasas three times, swiftly displaying his weapon skill, and struck the rākṣasa king’s son with showers of arrows.
सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता शत्रुणा शत्रुघातिना। असक्तं प्रेषयामास लक्ष्मणाय बहून् शरान्
Indrajit, heavily wounded by the powerful enemy, the destroyer of foes, sent many arrows at Lakṣmaṇa without pause.
तानप्राप्तान् शितैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद परवीरहा। सारथेरस्य च रणे रथिनो रथसत्तमः
Lakṣmaṇa, the slayer of hostile heroes, cut down those incoming arrows with sharp shafts, and in battle, the best of charioteers struck the enemy’s charioteer.
शिरो जहार धर्मात्मा भल्लेनानतपर्वणा। असूतास्ते हयास्तत्र रथमूहुरविक्लवाः
The righteous Lakṣmaṇa severed the head of the charioteer with a broad-headed arrow; yet the horses there remained unshaken, standing by the chariot.
मण्डलान्यभिधावन्ति तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्। अमर्षवशमापन्नः सौमित्रिर्दृढविक्रमः
They began to run in circles; it seemed wondrous. Saumitri, seized by wrath and firm in valor, pressed on.
प्रत्यविध्यद्धयांस्तस्य शरैर्वित्रासयन् रणे। अमर्षमाणस्तत्कर्म रावणस्य सुतो रणे
He struck Indrajit’s horses with arrows, terrifying them in battle; Indrajit, enraged by this act, fought on in the field.
विव्याध दशभिर्बाणैः सौमित्रिं तममर्षणम्। ते तस्य वज्रप्रतिमाः शराः सर्पविषोपमाः। विलयं जग्मुरागत्य कवचं काञ्चनप्रभम्
Indrajit pierced Saumitri, the wrathful one, with ten arrows; those arrows, like thunderbolts and venomous serpents, reached his golden armor and vanished.
अभेद्यकवचं मत्वा लक्ष्मणं रावणात्मजः। ललाटे लक्ष्मणं बाणैः सुपुङ्खैस्त्रिभिरिन्द्रजित्
Thinking Lakṣmaṇa’s armor impenetrable, Rāvaṇa’s son, Indrajit, struck Lakṣmaṇa’s forehead with three well-feathered arrows.
अविध्यत् परमक्रुद्धः शीघ्रमस्त्रं प्रदर्शयन्। तैः पृषत्कैर्ललाटस्थैः शुशुभे रघुनन्दनः
Supremely enraged, Indrajit swiftly displayed his weapon skill, piercing Lakṣmaṇa’s forehead; with those arrows, Raghunandana shone.
रणाग्रे समरश्लाघी त्रिशृङ्ग इव पर्वतः। स तथाप्यर्दितो बाणै राक्षसेन तदा मृधे
In the forefront of battle, the renowned warrior stood like a three-peaked mountain; though assailed by the rākṣasa’s arrows, he endured.
तमाशु प्रतिविव्याध लक्ष्मणः पञ्चभिः शरैः। विकृष्येन्द्रजितो युद्धे वदने शुभकुण्डले
Lakṣmaṇa quickly retaliated, drawing his bow and striking Indrajit in the face, near his splendid earrings, with five arrows.