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.
त इमे सायकाः सर्वे युद्धे प्रात्ययिका मम। किं नु तत् कारणं येन रावणे मन्दतेजसः
All these arrows of mine have been unfailing in battle; what, then, is the reason that against Ravana, whose brilliance is feeble, they are ineffective?
इति चिन्तापरश्चासीदप्रमत्तश्च संयुगे। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि राघवो रावणोरसि
Thus, absorbed in thought and vigilant in battle, Rāghava poured showers of arrows upon Rāvaṇa’s chest.
रावणोऽपि ततः क्रुद्धो रथस्थो राक्षसेश्वरः। गदामुसलवर्षेण रामं प्रत्यर्दयद् रणे
Rāvaṇa too, enraged, standing on his chariot as lord of the rākṣasas, assailed Rāma in combat with a rain of maces and clubs.
तत् प्रवृत्तं महद् युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्। अन्तरिक्षे च भूमौ च पुनश्च गिरिमूर्धनि
Then a great battle began, tumultuous and hair-raising, fought in the sky, on the earth, and again atop the mountain.
देवदानवयक्षाणां पिशाचोरगरक्षसाम्। पश्यतां तन्महद् युद्धं सर्वरात्रमवर्तत
That immense battle continued throughout the night, witnessed by gods, dānavas, yakṣas, piśācas, serpents, and rākṣasas.
नैव रात्रिं न दिवसं न मुहूर्तं न च क्षणम्। रामरावणयोर्युद्धं विराममुपगच्छति
Neither night nor day, nor even a moment or instant, brought any pause to the battle between Rāma and Rāvaṇa.
दशरथसुतराक्षसेन्द्रयोस्तयो- र्जयमनवेक्ष्य रणे स राघवस्य। सुरवररथसारथिर्महात्मा रणरतराममुवाच वाक्यमाशु
Seeing neither side gaining victory in the fight between Daśaratha’s son and the rākṣasa king, the noble charioteer of the gods swiftly spoke to Rāma, eager for battle.
thumb|अष्टाधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे अष्टाधिकशततमः सर्गः ॥६-
Let the one hundred and eighth sarga be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa.
अथ संस्मारयामास मातली राघवं तदा। अजानन्निव किं वीर त्वमेनमनुवर्तसे
Then Mātalī reminded Rāghava at that moment, as if unaware, saying: 'Hero, why do you follow him?'
विसृजास्मै वधाय त्वमस्त्रं पैतामहं प्रभो। विनाशकालः कथितो यः सुरैः सोऽद्य वर्तते
Release upon him, for his destruction, the ancestral weapon, O lord; the time of his end foretold by the gods has now arrived.
ततः संस्मारितो रामस्तेन वाक्येन मातलेः। जग्राह स शरं दीप्तं निःश्वसन्तमिवोरगम्
Thus reminded by Mātalī’s words, Rāma took up a blazing arrow, hissing like a serpent.
यं तस्मै प्रथमं प्रादादगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। ब्रह्मदत्तं महद् बाणममोघं युधि वीर्यवान्
That arrow, which the venerable sage Agastya had first given him, mighty and unfailing in battle, bestowed by Brahmā.
ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं पूर्वमिन्द्रार्थममितौजसा। दत्तं सुरपतेः पूर्वं त्रिलोकजयकांक्षिणः
Created by Brahmā of old for Indra, of immense power, it was previously given to the lord of the gods, desiring victory over the three worlds.
यस्य वाजेषु पवनः फले पावकभास्करौ। शरीरमाकाशमयं गौरवे मेरुमन्दरौ
In its shaft is the wind; in its tip, fire and the sun; its body is made of sky, its weight is that of Meru and Mandara.
जाज्वल्यमानं वपुषा सुपुङ्खं हेमभूषितम्। तेजसा सर्वभूतानां कृतं भास्करवर्चसम्
Radiant in form, with a perfect feather, adorned with gold, its brilliance rivals the sun, forged from the energy of all beings.
सधूममिव कालाग्निं दीप्तमाशीविषोपमम्। नरनागाश्ववृन्दानां भेदनं क्षिप्रकारिणम्
Blazing like the fire of time, smoky, resembling a venomous serpent, swift to pierce hosts of men, elephants, and horses.
द्वाराणां परिघाणां च गिरीणां चापि भेदनम्। नानारुधिरदिग्धाङ्गं मेदोदिग्धं सुदारुणम्
Capable of breaking gates, bars, and mountains, its body smeared with various bloods and fat, exceedingly fierce.
वज्रसारं महानादं नानासमितिदारुणम्। सर्ववित्रासनं भीमं श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्
Hard as diamond, resounding greatly, dreadful with many kinds of fuel, terrifying all, hissing like a serpent.
कङ्कगृध्रबकानां च गोमायुगणरक्षसाम्। नित्यभक्षप्रदं युद्धे यमरूपं भयावहम्
In battle, it brings death and terror, always providing food for crows, vultures, cranes, jackals, and rākṣasas.
नन्दनं वानरेन्द्राणां रक्षसामवसादनम्। वाजितं विविधैर्वाजैश्चारुचित्रैर्गरुत्मतः
The Nandana grove of the monkey lords, the destruction of the rakshasas, was adorned with splendid, variously decorated, and beautiful horses of Garuda-like swiftness.