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.
तमुत्तमेषुं लोकानामिक्ष्वाकुभयनाशनम्। द्विषतां कीर्तिहरणं प्रहर्षकरमात्मनः
That supreme arrow, the destroyer of the worlds' fear of the Ikshvaku line, the remover of enemies' fame, and the bringer of great joy to himself—
अभिमन्त्र्य ततो रामस्तं महेषुं महाबलः। वेदप्रोक्तेन विधिना संदधे कार्मुके बली
Then Rama, mighty in strength, consecrated that great arrow with Vedic mantras, and, following the prescribed rite, set it to his bow.
तस्मिन् संधीयमाने तु राघवेण शरोत्तमे। सर्वभूतानि संत्रेसुश्चचाल च वसुंधरा
As that excellent arrow was being fitted by Raghava, all beings were seized with terror, and the earth itself trembled.
स रावणाय संक्रुद्धो भृशमायम्य कार्मुकम्। चिक्षेप परमायत्तः शरं मर्मविदारणम्
Then, greatly enraged at Ravana, Rama drew his bow to its utmost and released the deadly arrow, aimed to pierce the vital organs.
स वज्र इव दुर्धर्षो वज्रिबाहुविसर्जितः। कृतान्त इव चावार्यो न्यपतद् रावणोरसि
That irresistible arrow, like a thunderbolt hurled by Indra, unstoppable as Death himself, fell upon Ravana's chest.
स विसृष्टो महावेगः शरीरान्तकरः परः। बिभेद हृदयं तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः
That arrow, released with immense force and capable of ending life, pierced the heart of Ravana, that evil-minded one.
रुधिराक्तः स वेगेन शरीरान्तकरः शरः। रावणस्य हरन् प्राणान् विवेश धरणीतलम्
Stained with blood and swift in its course, that life-ending arrow, taking Ravana's life, entered the earth.
स शरो रावणं हत्वा रुधिरार्द्रकृतच्छविः। कृतकर्मा निभृतवत् स तूणीं पुनराविशत्
Having slain Ravana, that arrow, its surface wet with blood, having accomplished its task, quietly returned to the quiver.
तस्य हस्ताद्धतस्याशु कार्मुकं तत् ससायकम्। निपपात सह प्राणैर्भ्रश्यमानस्य जीवितात्
From the hand of the slain Ravana, his bow with its arrow swiftly fell to the ground, together with his departing life.
गतासुर्भीमवेगस्तु नैर्ऋतेन्द्रो महाद्युतिः। पपात स्यन्दनाद् भूमौ वृत्रो वज्रहतो यथा
The lord of the rakshasas, of great splendor, his life gone and his force terrible, fell from his chariot to the earth, like Vritra struck down by the thunderbolt.
तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ हतशेषा निशाचराः। हतनाथा भयत्रस्ताः सर्वतः सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः
Seeing him fallen to the ground, the surviving night-stalkers, now leaderless and terrified, fled in all directions.
नर्दन्तश्चाभिपेतुस्तान् वानरा द्रुमयोधिनः। दशग्रीववधं दृष्ट्वा वानरा जितकाशिनः
The monkeys, wielding trees as weapons, roared and charged at them, having witnessed the death of the ten-headed one, their pride now victorious.
अर्दिता वानरैर्हृष्टैर्लङ्कामभ्यपतन् भयात्। हताश्रयत्वात् करुणैर्बाष्पप्रस्रवणैर्मुखैः
Assailed by the jubilant monkeys, they fled toward Lanka in fear, their faces streaming with tears, bereft of support.
ततो विनेदुः संहृष्टा वानरा जितकाशिनः। वदन्तो राघवजयं रावणस्य च तद्वधम्
Then the triumphant monkeys, filled with joy, raised a great shout, proclaiming Rama's victory and Ravana's death.
अथान्तरिक्षे व्यनदत् सौम्यस्त्रिदशदुन्दुभिः। दिव्यगन्धवहस्तत्र मारुतः सुसुखो ववौ
Then, in the sky, the celestial drums of the gods resounded sweetly, and a gentle wind carrying divine fragrance blew there.
निपपातान्तरिक्षाच्च पुष्पवृष्टिस्तदा भुवि। किरन्ती राघवरथं दुरावापा मनोहरा
From the sky, a rain of flowers fell upon the earth, showering the chariot of Raghava, lovely and hard to obtain.
राघवस्तवसंयुक्ता गगने च विशुश्रुवे। साधुसाध्विति वागग्र्या देवतानां महात्मनाम्
In the sky, the voices of the great-souled gods were heard, exclaiming, 'Well done! Well done!' in praise of Raghava.
आविवेश महान् हर्षो देवानां चारणैः सह। रावणे निहते रौद्रे सर्वलोकभयंकरे
A great joy entered the gods together with the celestial sages, when the fierce Rāvaṇa, who terrified all the worlds, was slain.
ततः सकामं सुग्रीवमङ्गदं च विभीषणम्। चकार राघवः प्रीतो हत्वा राक्षसपुंगवम्
Then Rāghava, pleased after slaying the foremost of rākṣasas, graciously fulfilled the wishes of Sugrīva, Aṅgada, and Vibhīṣaṇa.
ततः प्रजग्मुः प्रशमं मरुद्गणा दिशः प्रसेदुर्विमलं नभोऽभवत्। मही चकम्पे न च मारुतो ववौ स्थिरप्रभश्चाप्यभवद् दिवाकरः
Then the hosts of wind-gods found peace; the quarters became clear; the sky turned spotless; the earth ceased to tremble, the wind no longer blew, and the sun shone with steady brilliance.