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.
न सूक्ष्ममपि सम्मोहं व्यथां वा प्रददुर्युधि। तया धर्षणया क्रुद्धो मातलेर्न तथाऽऽत्मनः
But even as those arrows struck, Mātali did not experience the slightest confusion or pain in battle; angered by that attack, not so much for himself—
चकार शरजालेन राघवो विमुखं रिपुम्। विंशतिं त्रिंशतिं षष्टिं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Rāghava made his enemy turn away with a hail of arrows—twenty, thirty, sixty, by the hundreds and thousands.
मुमोच राघवो वीरः सायकान् स्यन्दने रिपोः। रावणोऽपि ततः क्रुद्धो रथस्थो राक्षसेश्वरः
The heroic Rāghava released arrows by the hundreds at his enemy’s chariot; then Rāvaṇa, enraged, standing in his chariot, lord of the rākṣasas—
गदामुसलवर्षेण रामं प्रत्यर्दयद् रणे। तत् प्रवृत्तं पुनर्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्
With a rain of maces and clubs, he assailed Rama in battle; then again arose a tumultuous and hair-raising combat.
गदानां मुसलानां च परिघाणां च निःस्वनैः। शराणां पुङ्खवातैश्च क्षुभिताः सप्त सागराः
By the crashing sounds of maces, clubs, and iron bars, and by the wind of feathered arrows, the seven oceans were agitated.
क्षुब्धानां सागराणां च पातालतलवासिनः। व्यथिता दानवाः सर्वे पन्नगाश्च सहस्रशः
And as the oceans were disturbed, all the Danavas dwelling in the netherworld, and thousands of serpents, were afflicted.
चकम्पे मेदिनी कृत्स्ना सशैलवनकानना। भास्करो निष्प्रभश्चासीन्न ववौ चापि मारुतः
The entire earth trembled, with its mountains, forests, and groves; the sun lost its brilliance, and the wind did not blow.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। चिन्तामापेदिरे सर्वे सकिंनरमहोरगाः
Then all the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great sages, together with Kinnaras and mighty serpents, were seized by anxiety.
स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु लोकास्तिष्ठन्तु शाश्वताः। जयतां राघवः संख्ये रावणं राक्षसेश्वरम्
"May there be welfare for cows and Brahmins, may the worlds endure forever; let Raghava be victorious in battle over Ravana, lord of the Rakshasas."
एवं जपन्तोऽपश्यंस्ते देवाः सर्षिगणास्तदा। रामरावणयोर्युद्धं सुघोरं रोमहर्षणम्
Thus chanting, the gods and hosts of sages beheld that dreadful and hair-raising battle between Rama and Ravana.
गन्धर्वाप्सरसां सङ्घा दृष्ट्वा युद्धमनूपमम्। गगनं गगनाकारं सागरः सागरोपमः
The hosts of Gandharvas and Apsaras, seeing that unparalleled battle, saw the sky like the sky, and the ocean like the ocean.
रामरावणयोर्युद्धं रामरावणयोरिव। एवं ब्रुवन्तो ददृशुस्तद् युद्धं रामरावणम्
Speaking thus, they watched that battle of Rama and Ravana, as if it were a battle between Rama and Ravana themselves.
ततः क्रोधान्महाबाहू रघूणां कीर्तिवर्धनः। संधाय धनुषा रामः शरमाशीविषोपमम्
Then, in anger, the mighty-armed Rama, enhancer of the glory of the Raghus, fitted to his bow an arrow like a venomous serpent.
रावणस्य शिरोऽच्छिन्दच्छ्रीमज्ज्वलितकुण्डलम्। तच्छिरः पतितं भूमौ दृष्टं लोकैस्त्रिभिस्तदा
He struck off Ravana's head, adorned with shining earrings; that head, severed, fell to the ground, witnessed by the three worlds.
तस्यैव सदृशं चान्यद् रावणस्योत्थितं शिरः। तत् क्षिप्तं क्षिप्रहस्तेन रामेण क्षिप्रकारिणा
Yet another head, just like it, arose from Ravana; that too was swiftly struck down by Rama, who acts with speed.
द्वितीयं रावणशिरश्छिन्नं संयति सायकैः। छिन्नमात्रं च तच्छीर्षं पुनरेव प्रदृश्यते
A second head of Ravana was cut off in battle by arrows; but as soon as it was severed, it appeared again.
तदप्यशनिसंकाशैश्छिन्नं रामस्य सायकैः। एवमेव शतं छिन्नं शिरसां तुल्यवर्चसाम्
That too, struck down by Rama's arrows, which were like thunderbolts, was severed; thus a hundred heads of equal splendor were cut off.
न चैव रावणस्यान्तो दृश्यते जीवितक्षये। ततः सर्वास्त्रविद् वीरः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः
Yet no end was seen to Ravana, nor any sign of his life being extinguished; then the hero, master of all weapons, the joy of Kausalya,
मार्गणैर्बहुभिर्युक्तश्चिन्तयामास राघवः। मारीचो निहतो यैस्तु खरो यैस्तु सदूषणः
Raghava, equipped with many arrows, began to reflect: by these arrows Maricha was slain, as were Khara and Dushana.
क्रौञ्चावटे विराधस्तु कबन्धो दण्डकावने। यैः साला गिरयो भग्ना वाली च क्षुभितोऽम्बुधिः
Viradha at Krauncha's pass, Kabandha in the Dandaka forest, the Sala trees and mountains were shattered by them, and even Vali and the agitated ocean.