रावणस्तु ततः स्वस्थः शरवर्षं मुमोच ह । तस्मिन्वैवस्वतरथे तोयवर्षमिवाम्बुदः ।। ७.२२.
But Rāvaṇa, undisturbed, released a shower of arrows upon Vaivasvata's chariot, like a cloud pouring rain.
ततो महाशक्तिशरैः पात्यमानैर्महोरसि (पात्यमानो) । नाशक्नोत्प्रतिकर्तुं स राक्षसः शल्यपीडितः ।। ७.२२.
Then, struck by those mighty, spear-like arrows upon his broad chest, the Rākṣasa, tormented by the darts, could not retaliate.
एवं नानाप्रहरणैर्यमेनामित्रकर्षिणा । सप्तरात्रं कृतः सङ्ख्ये विसञ्ज्ञो विमुखो रिपुः ।। ७.२२.
Thus, by Yama, the destroyer of enemies, with various weapons, the foe was rendered senseless and turned away in battle for seven nights.
तदासीत्तुमुलं युद्धं यमराक्षसयोर्द्वयोः । जयमाकाङ्क्षतोर्वीर समरेष्वनिवर्तिनोः ।। ७.२२.
At that time, a tumultuous battle took place between Yama and the Rākṣasa, both heroes longing for victory and unyielding in combat.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । प्रजापतिं पुरस्कृत्य समेतास्तद्रणाजिरम् ।। ७.२२.
Then the gods, along with the Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great seers, gathered at that battlefield, led by the Lord of Creatures.
संवर्त इव लोकानां क्रुध्यतोरभवत्तदा । राक्षसानां च मुख्यस्य प्रेतानामीश्वरस्य च ।। ७.२२.
Then, as if at the end of the world, the chief of the Rākṣasas and the Lord of the dead became enraged.
राक्षसेन्द्रो ऽपि विस्फार्य चापमिन्द्राशनिप्रभम् । निरन्तरमिवाकाशं कुर्वन्बाणांस्ततो ऽसृजत् ।। ७.२२.
The king of the Rākṣasas, drawing his bow shining like Indra’s thunderbolt, released arrows, filling the sky without interruption.
मृत्युं चतुर्भिर्विशिखैः सूतं सप्तभिरार्दयत् । यमं शतसहस्रेण शीघ्रं मर्मस्वताडयत् ।। ७.२२.
With four arrows he wounded Mṛtyu, with seven he struck Sūta, and with a hundred thousand swift arrows he hit Yama in his vital points.
ततः क्रुद्धस्य वदनाद्यमस्य समजायत । ज्वालामाली सनिःश्वासः सधूमः कोपपावकः ।। ७.२२.
Then, from the mouth of the enraged Yama, there arose a blazing fire of wrath, wreathed in flames, smoke, and fierce breath.
तदाश्चर्यमथो दृष्ट्वा देवदानवसन्निधौ । प्रहर्षितौ सुसंरब्धौ मृत्युकालौ बभूवतुः ।। ७.२२.
Seeing this wonder in the presence of gods and Dānavas, Mṛtyu and Kāla became delighted and fiercely agitated.
ततो मृत्युः क्रुद्धतरो वैवस्वतमभाषत । मुञ्च मां समरे यावद्धन्मीमं पापराक्षसम् । नैषा रक्षो भवेदद्य मर्यादा हि निसर्गतः ।। ७.२२.
Then Mṛtyu, even more enraged, spoke to Vaivasvata: 'Release me in battle so I may slay this wicked Rākṣasa; for by nature, this Rākṣasa cannot survive today, for the limit has been reached.'
हिरण्यकशिपुः श्रीमान्नमुचिः शम्बरस्तथा । विसन्धिर्धूमकेतुश्च बलिर्वैरोचनो ऽपि च ।। ७.२२.
Hiraṇyakaśipu, glorious Namuci, Śambara, Visandhi, Dhūmaketu, and Bali, son of Virocana,
दम्भुर्दैत्यमहाराजो वृत्रो बाणस्तथैव च । राजर्षयः शास्त्रविदो गन्धर्वाः समहोरगाः ।। ७.२२.
Dambhu, the great Daitya king, Vṛtra, Bāṇa as well, royal sages learned in scripture, Gandharvas with mighty serpents,
ऋषयः पन्नगा दैत्या यक्षाश्चाप्यप्सरोगणाः । युगान्तपरिवर्ते च पृथिवी समहार्णवा ।। ७.२२.
Sages, serpents, Daityas, Yakṣas, and hosts of Apsarases, and at the turning of the ages, the earth with its oceans,
क्षयं नीता महाराज सपर्वतसरिद्द्रुमा । एते चान्ये च बहवो बलवन्तो दुरासदाः ।। ७.२२.
All have been brought to destruction, O great king, along with mountains, rivers, and trees; these and many other powerful, formidable beings.
विनिपन्ना मया दृष्टाः किमुतायं निशाचरः ।। ७.२२.
I have seen them all fall—what then of this night-wanderer?
मुञ्चं मां साधु धर्मज्ञ यावदेनं निहन्म्यहम् । नहि कश्चिन्मया दृष्टो बलवानपि जीवति ।। ७.२२.
Release me, O righteous one, so that I may slay him; for none whom I have seen, however strong, survives.
बलं मम न खल्वेतन्मर्यादैषा निसर्गतः । स दृष्टो न मया कालं मुहुर्तमापि जीवति ।। ७.२२.
This is not my own strength, but the natural order; one whom I have seen does not live even for a moment.
तस्यैवं वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मराजः प्रतापवान् । अब्रवीत्तत्र तं मुत्युं त्वं तिष्ठैनं निहन्म्यहम् ।। ७.२२.
Hearing these words, the mighty Lord of Dharma said to Mṛtyu there: 'You wait; I shall slay him.'
ततः संरक्तनयनः क्रुद्धो वैवस्वतः प्रभुः । कालदण्डममोघं तु तोलयामास पाणिना ।। ७.२२.
Then Vaivasvata, the lord, his eyes reddened in anger, raised with his hand the infallible staff of Time.
यस्य पार्श्वेषु निखिला कालपाशाः प्रतिष्ठिताः । पावकाशनिसङ्काशो मुद्गरो मूर्तिमान्स्थितः ।। ७.२२.
At his sides were all the nooses of Time arrayed; a mace, blazing like fire and lightning, stood there in embodied form.
दर्शनादेव यः प्राणान्प्राणिनामपकर्षति । किं पुनः स्पृश्यमानस्य पात्यमानस्य वा पुनः ।। ७.२२.
By his very sight he draws out the life of living beings—how much more so when touched or struck by him?
स ज्वालापरिवारस्तु निर्दहन्निव राक्षसम् । तेन स्पृष्टो बलवता महाप्रहरणो ऽस्फुरत् ।। ७.२२.
Surrounded by flames, he seemed to burn the Rākṣasa; when struck by that mighty weapon, the great foe shuddered.
ततो विदुद्रुवुः सर्वे तस्मात्रस्ता रणाजिरे । सुराश्च क्षुभिताः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा दण्डोद्यतं यमम् ।। ७.२२.
Then all those present on the battlefield, terrified, fled from there; and all the gods were shaken when they saw Yama raising his staff.
तस्मिन्प्रहर्तुकामे तु यमे दण्डेन रावणम् । यमं पितामहः साक्षाद्दर्शयित्वेदमब्रवीत् ।। ७.२२.
As Yama prepared to strike Ravana with his staff, Brahma himself appeared before Yama and spoke these words.
वैवस्वत महाबाहो न खल्वमितविक्रम । न हन्तव्यस्त्वया तेन दण्डेनैव निशाचरः ।। ७.२२.
O Vaivasvata, mighty-armed one, this night-wanderer is not to be slain by you with that staff, for he is not within your power.
वरः खलु मयैतस्मै दत्तस्त्रिदशपुङ्गव । स त्वया नानृतः कार्यो यन्मया व्याहृतं वचः ।। ७.२२.
Indeed, I have granted him a boon, O foremost of the gods; therefore, you must not make false what I have declared.
यो हि मामनृतं कुर्याद्देवो वा मानुषो ऽपि वा । त्रैलोक्यमनृतं तेन कृतं स्यान्नात्र संशयः ।। ७.२२.
For whoever, whether god or human, would make my word false, would thereby make all three worlds false—of this there is no doubt.
क्रुद्धेन विप्रमुक्तो ऽयं निर्विशेषं प्रियाप्रिये । प्रजाः संहरते रौद्रो लोकत्रयभयावहः ।। ७.२२.
When released in anger, this fierce staff, making no distinction between friend and foe, destroys beings and brings fear to the three worlds.
अमोघो ह्येष सर्वेषां प्राणिनाममितप्रभः । कालदण्डो मया सृष्टः पूर्वं मृत्युपुरस्कृतः ।। ७.२२.
This staff of Time, unfailing and of immeasurable power for all beings, was created by me in the beginning, with Death as its forerunner.