रावणध्वजमुद्दिश्य मुमोच निशितं शरम्। महासर्पमिवासह्यं ज्वलन्तं स्वेन तेजसा
Aiming at Ravana’s banner, he released a sharp arrow, blazing with his own radiance, like a great, irresistible serpent.
रामश्चिक्षेप तेजस्वी केतुमुद्दिश्य सायकम्। जगाम स महीं छित्त्वा दशग्रीवध्वजं शरः
The radiant Rāma shot an arrow at the banner, and that arrow, cleaving Ravana’s banner, fell to the ground.
स निकृत्तोऽपतद् भूमौ रावणस्यन्दनध्वजः। ध्वजस्योन्मथनं दृष्ट्वा रावणः स महाबलः
Thus, Ravana’s chariot-banner, cut down, fell to the earth; seeing his banner destroyed, Ravana, that mighty one—
सम्प्रदीप्तोऽभवत् क्रोधादमर्षात् प्रदहन्निव। स रोषवशमापन्नः शरवर्षं ववर्ष ह
—became inflamed with anger and, burning with indignation, seemed to blaze; overcome by wrath, he showered a rain of arrows.
रामस्य तुरगान् दीप्तैः शरैर्विव्याध रावणः। ते दिव्या हरयस्तत्र नास्खलन्नापि बभ्रमुः
Ravana struck Rāma’s horses with blazing arrows, but those divine steeds did not falter or turn away.
बभूवुः स्वस्थहृदयाः पद्मनालैरिवाहताः। तेषामसम्भ्रमं दृष्ट्वा वाजिनां रावणस्तदा
They remained steady at heart, as if struck by lotus stalks; seeing the horses undisturbed, Ravana then—
भूय एव सुसंक्रुद्धः शरवर्षं मुमोच ह। गदाश्च परिघांश्चैव चक्राणि मुसलानि च
—became even more enraged and released another shower of arrows, along with maces, iron clubs, discs, and pestles.
गिरिशृङ्गाणि वृक्षांश्च तथा शूलपरश्वधान्। मायाविहितमेतत् तु शस्त्रवर्षमपातयत्। सहस्रशस्तदा बाणानश्रान्तहृदयोद्यमः
He hurled mountain peaks, trees, spears, and axes as well; this rain of weapons, conjured by magic, he sent down in thousands, his heart tireless in effort.
तुमुलं त्रासजननं भीमं भीमप्रतिस्वनम्। तद् वर्षमभवद् युद्धे नैकशस्त्रमयं महत्
That great storm of many weapons in battle was tumultuous, terrifying, and dreadful, echoing with a fearsome roar.
विमुच्य राघवरथं समन्ताद् वानरे बले। सायकैरन्तरिक्षं च चकार सुनिरन्तरम्
He surrounded Rāghava’s chariot and the army of monkeys on all sides with arrows, making the sky densely filled.
मुमोच च दशग्रीवो निःसङ्गेनान्तरात्मना। व्यायच्छमानं तं दृष्ट्वा तत्परं रावणं रणे
And the ten-headed Ravana, without hesitation and with all his might, released his weapons, seeing Rāma striving in battle.
प्रहसन्निव काकुत्स्थः संदधे निशितान् शरान्। स मुमोच ततो बाणान् शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Kākutstha, as if laughing, set sharp arrows to his bow and then released hundreds and thousands of arrows.
तान् दृष्ट्वा रावणश्चक्रे स्वशरैः खं निरन्तरम्। ताभ्यां नियुक्तेन तदा शरवर्षेण भास्वता
Seeing this, Ravana filled the sky with his own arrows; then, by the two, a radiant shower of arrows was unleashed.
शरबद्धमिवाभाति द्वितीयं भास्वदम्बरम्। नानिमित्तोऽभवद् बाणो नानिर्भेत्ता न निष्फलः
The sky appeared as if bound by arrows, a second blazing firmament; not a single arrow was without cause, nor did any fail or go astray.
अन्योन्यमभिसंहत्य निपेतुर्धरणीतले। तथा विसृजतोर्बाणान् रामरावणयोर्मृधे
The arrows, striking one another, fell to the earth, as Rāma and Ravana released their weapons thus in battle.
प्रायुध्येतामविच्छिन्नमस्यन्तौ सव्यदक्षिणम्। चक्रतुश्च शरैर्घोरैर्निरुच्छ्वासमिवाम्बरम्
They fought on without interruption, moving to the left and right, and with their terrible arrows they made the sky seem as if it had lost its breath.
रावणस्य हयान् रामो हयान् रामस्य रावणः। जघ्नतुस्तौ तदान्योन्यं कृतानुकृतकारिणौ
Rāma struck Rāvaṇa’s horses, and Rāvaṇa struck Rāma’s horses; each imitated the other’s actions as they attacked one another.
एवं तु तौ सुसंक्रुद्धौ चक्रतुर्युद्धमुत्तमम्। मुहूर्तमभवद् युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्
Thus, those two, deeply enraged, engaged in a supreme battle; for a moment, the fight was tumultuous and hair-raising.
तौ तथा युध्यमानौ तु समरे रामरावणौ। ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि विस्मितेनान्तरात्मना
As Rāma and Rāvaṇa fought in that way on the battlefield, all beings watched them in astonishment, their hearts filled with wonder.
अर्दयन्तौ तु समरे तयोस्तौ स्यन्दनोत्तमौ। परस्परमभिक्रुद्धौ परस्परमभिद्रुतौ
Assaulting each other in battle, those two, in their excellent chariots, rushed at one another, each burning with anger toward the other.
परस्परवधे युक्तौ घोररूपौ बभूवतुः। मण्डलानि च वीथीश्च गतप्रत्यागतानि च
Intent on each other’s destruction, they became fearsome in appearance, moving in circles and lines, advancing and retreating.
दर्शयन्तौ बहुविधां सूतौ सारथ्यजां गतिम्। अर्दयन् रावणं रामो राघवं चापि रावणः
Demonstrating many kinds of maneuvers born of charioteering skill, Rāma harassed Rāvaṇa, and Rāvaṇa likewise harassed Rāma.
गतिवेगं समापन्नौ प्रवर्तननिवर्तने। क्षिपतोः शरजालानि तयोस्तौ स्यन्दनोत्तमौ
Both matched each other in speed and force, advancing and withdrawing, as their excellent chariots hurled volleys of arrows at one another.
चेरतुः संयुगमहीं सासारौ जलदाविव। दर्शयित्वा तदा तौ तु गतिं बहुविधां रणे
They moved across the battlefield like rain-filled clouds, showing many kinds of movement in combat.
परस्परस्याभिमुखौ पुनरेव च तस्थतुः। धुरं धुरेण रथयोर्वक्त्रं वक्त्रेण वाजिनाम्
Once again, facing each other, they stood with the yokes of their chariots aligned, and the faces of their horses directly opposed.
पताकाश्च पताकाभिः समीयुः स्थितयोस्तदा। रावणस्य ततो रामो धनुर्मुक्तैः शितैः शरैः
At that moment, their flags met each other as they stood; then Rāma released sharp arrows from his bow at Rāvaṇa.
चतुर्भिश्चतुरो दीप्तान् हयान् प्रत्यपसर्पयत्। स क्रोधवशमापन्नो हयानामपसर्पणे
With four blazing arrows, he drove back Rāvaṇa’s four horses; overcome by anger at the retreat of his horses—
मुमोच निशितान् बाणान् राघवाय दशाननः। सोऽतिविद्धो बलवता दशग्रीवेण राघवः
The ten-headed Rāvaṇa released sharp arrows at Rāghava; though struck forcefully by Rāvaṇa, Rāghava—
जगाम न विकारं च न चापि व्यथितोऽभवत्। चिक्षेप च पुनर्बाणान् वज्रसारसमस्वनान्
Did not show any change, nor was he disturbed; again he shot arrows that rang with the sound of thunderbolts.
सारथिं वज्रहस्तस्य समुद्दिश्य दशाननः। मातलेस्तु महावेगाः शरीरे पतिताः शराः
Aiming at the charioteer of the thunderbolt-wielding one, the ten-headed Rāvaṇa shot arrows at Mātali’s body with great speed.