लक्ष्मणेन तु तद् वाक्यमुक्तं श्रुत्वा स राघवः। संदधे परवीरघ्नो धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्
Hearing those words spoken by Lakṣmaṇa, Rāghava, destroyer of enemy heroes, took up his bow, full of might.
रावणाय शरान् घोरान् विससर्ज चमूमुखे। अथान्यं रथमास्थाय रावणो राक्षसाधिपः
He released terrible arrows at Rāvaṇa in the midst of the army; then Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, mounted another chariot.
अभ्यधावत काकुत्स्थं स्वर्भानुरिव भास्करम्। दशग्रीवो रथस्थस्तु रामं वज्रोपमैः शरैः। आजघान महाशैलं धाराभिरिव तोयदः
He charged at Kakutstha like Rāhu at the sun; the ten-headed one, standing on his chariot, struck Rāma with arrows like thunderbolts, as a rain cloud strikes a great mountain with torrents.
दीप्तपावकसंकाशैः शरैः काञ्चनभूषणैः। अभ्यवर्षद् रणे रामो दशग्रीवं समाहितः
Rāma, intent, showered the ten-headed one in battle with arrows blazing like fire and adorned with gold.
भूमौ स्थितस्य रामस्य रथस्थस्य स रक्षसः। न समं युद्धमित्याहुर्देवगन्धर्वकिंनराः
The gods, gandharvas, and kinnaras said that the fight was not equal, as Rāma stood on the ground and the rākṣasa on his chariot.
ततो देववरः श्रीमान् श्रुत्वा तेषां वचोऽमृतम्। आहूय मातलिं शक्रो वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Then the illustrious lord of the gods, hearing their words, called Mātali and spoke these words.
रथेन मम भूमिष्ठं शीघ्रं याहि रघूत्तमम्। आहूय भूतलं यात कुरु देवहितं महत्
Go swiftly with my chariot to Rāghava, who stands on the earth; descend to the world and accomplish this great task for the gods.
इत्युक्तो देवराजेन मातलिर्देवसारथिः। प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं ततो वचनमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the king of the gods, Mātali, the divine charioteer, bowed his head to the god and then spoke these words.
शीघ्रं यास्यामि देवेन्द्र सारथ्यं च करोम्यहम्। ततो हयैश्च संयोज्य हरितैः स्यन्दनोत्तमम्
I will go swiftly, O Indra, and I will take up the reins; then, harnessing the excellent chariot with green horses—
ततः काञ्चनचित्राङ्गः किङ्किणीशतभूषितः। तरुणादित्यसंकाशो वैदूर्यमयकूबरः। सदश्वैः काञ्चनापीडैर्युक्तः श्वेतप्रकीर्णकैः
Then appeared a chariot adorned with gold and intricate designs, decorated with hundreds of tinkling bells, shining like the young sun, with a pole of pure beryl, yoked to excellent horses with golden headpieces and manes of white streaming down.
हरिभिः सूर्यसंकाशैर्हेमजालविभूषितैः। रुक्मवेणुध्वजः श्रीमान् देवराजरथो वरः
The splendid chariot of the king of the gods, marked with a golden banner and flute, was drawn by horses radiant as the sun, adorned with golden nets.
देवराजेन संदिष्टो रथमारुह्य मातलिः। अभ्यवर्तत काकुत्स्थमवतीर्य त्रिविष्टपात्
Commanded by the king of the gods, Mātali mounted the chariot and, descending from heaven, approached Kakutstha (Rāma).
अब्रवीच्च तदा रामं सप्रतोदो रथे स्थितः। प्राञ्जलिर्मातलिर्वाक्यं सहस्राक्षस्य सारथिः
Then, standing on the chariot with the goad in hand, Mātali, the charioteer of the thousand-eyed one, spoke to Rāma with joined palms.
सहस्राक्षेण काकुत्स्थ रथोऽयं विजयाय ते। दत्तस्तव महासत्त्व श्रीमन् शत्रुनिबर्हण
O Kakutstha, this chariot has been given to you for victory by the thousand-eyed Indra, O mighty and illustrious destroyer of enemies.
इदमैन्द्रं महच्चापं कवचं चाग्निसंनिभम्। शराश्चादित्यसंकाशाः शक्तिश्च विमला शिवा
Here is Indra’s great bow, and armor blazing like fire, and arrows shining like the sun, and a flawless, auspicious spear.
आरुह्येमं रथं वीर राक्षसं जहि रावणम्। मया सारथिना देव महेन्द्र इव दानवान्
Ascend this chariot, hero, and slay the demon Rāvaṇa, with me as your charioteer, just as Mahendra destroyed the Dānavas.
इत्युक्तः सम्परिक्रम्य रथं तमभिवाद्य च। आरुरोह तदा रामो लोकाँल्लक्ष्म्या विराजयन्
Thus addressed, Rāma circled the chariot and offered his respects, then mounted it, shining among the worlds with his glory.
तद् बभौ चाद्भुतं युद्धं द्वैरथं रोमहर्षणम्। रामस्य च महाबाहो रावणस्य च रक्षसः
That duel between Rāma, the mighty-armed, and Rāvaṇa, the demon, appeared wondrous and thrilling, a chariot-battle inspiring awe.
स गान्धर्वेण गान्धर्वं दैवं दैवेन राघवः। अस्त्रं राक्षसराजस्य जघान परमास्त्रवित्
Rāghava, the master of celestial weapons, countered the Gandharva missile with a Gandharva missile, and the divine weapon with a divine weapon, striking down the demon king’s missiles.
अस्त्रं तु परमं घोरं राक्षसं राक्षसाधिपः। ससर्ज परमक्रुद्धः पुनरेव निशाचरः
But then the lord of demons, enraged, unleashed again his supreme and terrible demonic weapon.
ते रावणधनुर्मुक्ताः शराः काञ्चनभूषणाः। अभ्यवर्तन्त काकुत्स्थं सर्पा भूत्वा महाविषाः
Those arrows released from Rāvaṇa’s bow, adorned with gold, rushed toward Kakutstha, transformed into great venomous serpents.
ते दीप्तवदना दीप्तं वमन्तो ज्वलनं मुखैः। राममेवाभ्यवर्तन्त व्यादितास्या भयानकाः
With blazing faces, spewing fire from their mouths, those fearsome, wide-mouthed serpents advanced upon Rāma.
तैर्वासुकिसमस्पर्शैर्दीप्तभोगैर्महाविषैः। दिशश्च संतताः सर्वा विदिशश्च समावृताः
With their burning coils and deadly venom, like Vāsuki, they filled all directions and quarters.
तान् दृष्ट्वा पन्नगान् रामः समापतत आहवे। अस्त्रं गारुत्मतं घोरं प्रादुश्चक्रे भयावहम्
Seeing those serpents rushing at him in battle, Rāma invoked the dreadful and terrifying Garuḍa weapon.
ते राघवधनुर्मुक्ता रुक्मपुङ्खाः शिखिप्रभाः। सुपर्णाः काञ्चना भूत्वा विचेरुः सर्पशत्रवः
Those arrows released from Rāghava’s bow, with golden feathers and the brilliance of peacocks, became golden Suparṇas, enemies of serpents, and flew forth.
ते तान् सर्वान् शराञ्जघ्नुः सर्परूपान् महाजवान्। सुपर्णरूपा रामस्य विशिखाः कामरूपिणः
Those arrows of Rāma, assuming the forms of Suparṇas at will, struck down all the swift, serpent-shaped arrows.
अस्त्रे प्रतिहते क्रुद्धो रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। अभ्यवर्षत् तदा रामं घोराभिः शरवृष्टिभिः
With his weapon repelled, Rāvaṇa, the enraged lord of demons, then showered Rāma with a terrible rain of arrows.
ततः शरसहस्रेण राममक्लिष्टकारिणम्। अर्दयित्वा शरौघेण मातलिं प्रत्यविध्यत
Then, with a thousand arrows, he assailed Rama, the doer of flawless deeds, and struck Matali with a torrent of shafts.
चिच्छेद केतुमुद्दिश्य शरेणैकेन रावणः। पातयित्वा रथोपस्थे रथात् केतुं च काञ्चनम्
Ravana, aiming at the banner, cut it down with a single arrow, causing the golden standard to fall onto the chariot's floor.
ऐन्द्रानपि जघानाश्वान् शरजालेन रावणः। विषेदुर्देवगन्धर्वचारणा दानवैः सह
Ravana also slew the horses of Indra with a shower of arrows; the gods, Gandharvas, Charanas, and Danavas were dismayed.