कल्प्यतां मे रथः शीघ्रं क्षिप्रमानीयतां धनुः। अनुप्रयान्तु मां युद्धे येऽत्र शिष्टा निशाचराः
Let my chariot be made ready quickly, let my bow be brought at once; let all the night-dwellers who remain here follow me into battle.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा महापार्श्वोऽब्रवीद् वचः। बलाध्यक्षान् स्थितांस्तत्र बलं संत्वर्यतामिति
Hearing those words, Mahaparsva spoke: 'Let the commanders of the army, who are stationed here, urge the troops to hurry.'
बलाध्यक्षास्तु संयुक्ता राक्षसांस्तान् गृहे गृहे। चोदयन्तः परिययुर्लङ्कां लघुपराक्रमाः
Then the swift and valiant commanders, going from house to house, roused the rakshasas throughout Lanka.
ततो मुहूर्तान्निष्पेतू राक्षसा भीमदर्शनाः। नदन्तो भीमवदना नानाप्रहरणैर्भुजैः
After a short while, rakshasas of terrifying appearance, roaring with dreadful faces and bearing various weapons in their hands, emerged.
असिभिः पट्टिशैः शूलैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैर्हलैः। शक्तिभिस्तीक्ष्णधाराभिर्महद्भिः कूटमुद्गरैः
With swords, spears, tridents, maces, clubs, ploughs, sharp-bladed javelins, and great spiked hammers,
यष्टिभिर्विविधैश्चक्रैर्निशितैश्च परश्वधैः। भिन्दिपालैः शतघ्नीभिरन्यैश्चापि वरायुधैः
With staffs of various kinds, wheels, sharp axes, slings, machines for hurling stones, and other excellent weapons,
अथानयन् बलाध्यक्षाश्चत्वारो रावणाज्ञया। रथानां नियुतं साग्रं नागानां नियुतत्रयम्
Then, by Ravana's command, four commanders brought forth a full hundred thousand chariots and three hundred thousand elephants.
अश्वानां षष्टिकोट्यस्तु खरोष्ट्राणां तथैव च। पदातयस्त्वसंख्याता जग्मुस्ते राजशासनात्
There were sixty million horses, and likewise camels and mules; the foot soldiers were countless, all proceeding by the king's order.
बलाध्यक्षाश्च संस्थाप्य राज्ञः सेनां पुरःस्थिताम्। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे सूतः स्थापयामास तं रथम्
The commanders arranged the king's army in front, and at that moment the charioteer brought forth the chariot.
दिव्यास्त्रवरसम्पन्नं नानालंकारभूषितम्। नानायुधसमाकीर्णं किङ्किणीजालसंयुतम्
It was endowed with the best divine weapons, adorned with various ornaments, filled with many weapons, and fitted with a network of bells.
नानारत्नपरिक्षिप्तं रत्नस्तम्भैर्विराजितम्। जाम्बूनदमयैश्चैव सहस्रकलशैर्वृतम्
Encircled with various gems, shining with jewel-encrusted pillars, and covered with a thousand golden pitchers.
तं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसाः सर्वे विस्मयं परमं गताः। तं दृष्ट्वा सहसोत्थाय रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः
Seeing it, all the rakshasas were struck with utmost wonder; and seeing it, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, rose up at once.
कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्। द्रुतं सूतसमायुक्तं युक्ताष्टतुरगं रथम्। आरुरोह तदा भीमं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा
He mounted that formidable chariot, blazing with his own splendor, resembling a million suns, shining like fire, yoked with eight horses and joined with the charioteer.
ततः प्रयातः सहसा राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः। रावणः सत्त्वगाम्भीर्याद् दारयन्निव मेदिनीम्
Then Ravana, suddenly setting out, surrounded by many rakshasas, advanced with such gravity of spirit as if he were rending the earth.
ततश्चासीन्महानादस्तूर्याणां च ततस्ततः। मृदङ्गैः पटहैः शङ्खैः कलहैः सह रक्षसाम्
There arose a great tumult of drums, again and again, with mridangas, patahas, conches, and the clamor of the rakshasas.
आगतो रक्षसां राजा छत्रचामरसंयुतः। सीतापहारी दुर्वृत्तो ब्रह्मघ्नो देवकण्टकः। योद्धुं रघुवरेणेति शुश्रुवे कलहध्वनिः
The king of the rakshasas arrived, attended by parasol and fans—he who stole Sita, wicked in conduct, slayer of Brahmins, affliction of the gods; and the tumultuous sound was heard: 'He comes to fight with the best of the Raghus!'
तेन नादेन महता पृथिवी समकम्पत। तं शब्दं सहसा श्रुत्वा वानरा दुद्रुवुर्भयात्
By that great noise the earth trembled; and hearing that sound suddenly, the monkeys fled in fear.
रावणस्तु महाबाहुः सचिवैः परिवारितः। आजगाम महातेजा जयाय विजयं प्रति
But Ravana, mighty-armed and surrounded by his counselors, came forth, blazing in splendor, seeking victory in battle.
रावणेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौ महापार्श्वमहोदरौ। विरूपाक्षश्च दुर्धर्षो रथानारुरुहुस्तदा
Then, at Ravana's command, Mahaparsva and Mahodara, and the formidable Virupaksha, mounted their chariots.
ते तु हृष्टाभिनर्दन्तो भिन्दन्त इव मेदिनीम्। नादं घोरं विमुञ्चन्तो निर्ययुर्जयकाङ्क्षिणः
Those, exulting, roaring, as if splitting the earth, uttering dreadful sounds, sallied forth, eager for victory.
ततो युद्धाय तेजस्वी रक्षोगणबलैर्वृतः। निर्ययावुद्यतधनुः कालान्तकयमोपमः
Then he, radiant, surrounded by the forces of the rakshasa hosts, went out to battle, bow raised, resembling Death at the end of time.
ततः प्रजविताश्वेन रथेन स महारथः। द्वारेण निर्ययौ तेन यत्र तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
Then that great chariot-warrior, with his swift horses, went out by the gate where Rama and Lakshmana were.
ततो नष्टप्रभः सूर्यो दिशश्च तिमिरावृताः। द्विजाश्च नेदुर्घोराश्च संचचाल च मेदिनी
Then the sun lost its brilliance, the quarters were enveloped in darkness, the twice-born uttered ominous cries, and the earth trembled.
ववर्ष रुधिरं देवश्चस्खलुश्च तुरंगमाः। ध्वजाग्रे न्यपतद् गृध्रो विनेदुश्चाशिवं शिवाः
Blood rained from the sky, the horses stumbled, a vulture fell upon the banner's crest, and jackals howled inauspiciously.
नयनं चास्फुरद् वामं वामो बाहुरकम्पत। विवर्णवदनश्चासीत् किंचिदभ्रश्यत स्वनः
His left eye throbbed, his left arm quivered, his face became pale, and his voice faltered slightly.
ततो निष्पततो युद्धे दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः। रणे निधनशंसीनि रूपाण्येतानि जज्ञिरे
Then, as the ten-headed rakshasa went forth to battle, these omens appeared, foretelling death in the fight.
अन्तरिक्षात् पपातोल्का निर्घातसमनिःस्वना। विनेदुरशिवा गृध्रा वायसैरभिमिश्रिताः
A meteor fell from the sky with a thunderous sound; vultures, mingled with crows, howled ominously.
एतानचिन्तयन् घोरानुत्पातान् समवस्थितान्। निर्ययौ रावणो मोहाद् वधार्थं कालचोदितः
Disregarding these terrible omens that had arisen, Ravana, deluded and impelled by fate, went out to his death.
तेषां तु रथघोषेण राक्षसानां महात्मनाम्। वानराणामपि चमूर्युद्धायैवाभ्यवर्तत
At the sound of the chariots of those great rakshasas, the army of monkeys also advanced for battle.
तेषां तु तुमुलं युद्धं बभूव कपिरक्षसाम्। अन्योन्यमाह्वयानानां क्रुद्धानां जयमिच्छताम्
Then there was a tumultuous battle between the monkeys and rakshasas, as they, enraged and eager for victory, challenged each other.