श्यामं रुधिरपर्यन्तं बभूव परिवेषणम्। अलातचक्रप्रतिमं प्रतिगृह्य दिवाकरम्
A dark, blood-red circle, like a blazing wheel, appeared around the sun.
ततो ध्वजमुपागम्य हेमदण्डं समुच्छ्रितम्। समाक्रम्य महाकायस्तस्थौ गृध्रः सुदारुणः
Then, approaching the raised golden banner, a great-bodied, dreadful vulture perched upon it.
जनस्थानसमीपे च समाक्रम्य खरस्वनाः। विस्वरान् विविधान् नादान् मांसादा मृगपक्षिणः
Near Janasthāna, the carnivorous beasts and birds, uttering the cries of Kharas, approached and made various dreadful sounds.
व्याजह्रुरभिदीप्तायां दिशि वै भैरवस्वनम्। अशिवं यातुधानानां शिवा घोरा महास्वनाः
In the blazing direction, the fierce and terrifying ones, auspicious yet dreadful, uttered the ghastly cries of the night-dwellers.
प्रभिन्नगजसंकाशास्तोयशोणितधारिणः। आकाशं तदनाकाशं चक्रुर्भीमाम्बुवाहकाः
Massive clouds, resembling split elephants and bearing streams of blood and water, covered the sky, making it appear as though there was no sky at all.
बभूव तिमिरं घोरमुद्धतं रोमहर्षणम्। दिशो वा प्रदिशो वापि सुव्यक्तं न चकाशिरे
A terrible, tumultuous darkness arose, causing the hair to stand on end; neither the directions nor the intermediate quarters were clearly visible.
क्षतजार्द्रसवर्णाभा संध्या कालं विना बभौ। खरं चाभिमुखं नेदुस्तदा घोरा मृगाः खगाः
The twilight, without the time of day, shone with the hue of fresh blood; then, dreadful beasts and birds cried out facing Khara.
कङ्कगोमायुगृध्राश्च चुक्रुशुर्भयशंसिनः। नित्याशिवकरा युद्धे शिवा घोरनिदर्शनाः
Herons, jackals, and vultures gave forth ominous cries, always portending evil in battle, yet appearing as dreadful omens.
नेदुर्बलस्याभिमुखं ज्वालोद्गारिभिराननैः। कबन्धः परिघाभासो दृश्यते भास्करान्तिके
Facing Bala, with mouths emitting flames, a Kabandha, resembling an iron club, was seen near the sun.
जग्राह सूर्यं स्वर्भानुरपर्वणि महाग्रहः। प्रवाति मारुतः शीघ्रं निष्प्रभोऽभूद् दिवाकरः
The great demon Svarbhānu seized the sun during the wrong phase; the wind blew fiercely, and the sun lost its brilliance.
उत्पेतुश्च विना रात्रिं ताराः खद्योतसप्रभाः। संलीनमीनविहगा नलिन्यः शुष्कपङ्कजाः
Stars, shining like fireflies, appeared without night; lotuses, with their fish and birds hidden, became withered and dry.
तस्मिन् क्षणे बभूवुश्च विना पुष्पफलैर्द्रुमाः। उद्धूतश्च विना वातं रेणुर्जलधरारुणः
At that moment, the trees became devoid of flowers and fruits; dust, red as clouds, was stirred up without wind.
चीचीकूचीति वाश्यन्त्यो बभूवुस्तत्र सारिकाः। उल्काश्चापि सनिर्घोषा निपेतुर्घोरदर्शनाः
There, the starlings began to cry out with 'cīcī' and 'kūcī' sounds; and dreadful meteors, resounding, fell down.
प्रचचाल मही चापि सशैलवनकानना। खरस्य च रथस्थस्य नर्दमानस्य धीमतः
The earth, along with its mountains, forests, and groves, trembled; as Khara, the wise one, roared from his chariot.
प्राकम्पत भुजः सव्यः स्वरश्चास्यावसज्जत। सास्रा सम्पद्यते दृष्टिः पश्यमानस्य सर्वतः
His left arm quivered, his voice faltered, and tears filled his eyes as he looked all around.
ललाटे च रुजो जाता न च मोहान्न्यवर्तत। तान् समीक्ष्य महोत्पातानुत्थितान् रोमहर्षणान्
Pain arose on his forehead, yet he did not turn back out of confusion; seeing those great, hair-raising omens.
अब्रवीद् राक्षसान् सर्वान् प्रहसन् स खरस्तदा। महोत्पातानिमान् सर्वानुत्थितान् घोरदर्शनान्
Then Khara, laughing, addressed all the Rākṣasas: 'All these great and dreadful omens have arisen.'
न चिन्तयाम्यहं वीर्याद् बलवान् दुर्बलानिव। तारा अपि शरैस्तीक्ष्णैः पातयेयं नभस्तलात्
I do not worry about them; by my strength, I consider the strong and the weak alike. Even the stars I could bring down from the sky with sharp arrows.
मृत्युं मरणधर्मेण संक्रुद्धो योजयाम्यहम्। राघवं तं बलोत्सिक्तं भ्रातरं चापि लक्ष्मणम्
Enraged, I will bring death, in accordance with the law of mortality, upon that Rāghava, proud of his strength, and his brother Lakṣmaṇa.
अहत्वा सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नोपावर्तितुमुत्सहे। यन्निमित्तं तु रामस्य लक्ष्मणस्य विपर्ययः
Without slaying them with sharp arrows, I cannot turn back; for the downfall of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa is my purpose.
युष्माकमेतत् प्रत्यक्षं नानृतं कथयाम्यहम्। देवराजमपि क्रुद्धो मत्तैरावतगामिनम्
This is evident before you; I do not speak falsely. Even if enraged, I could slay the king of the gods, who rides the intoxicated Airavata.
वज्रहस्तं रणे हन्यां किं पुनस्तौ च मानवौ। सा तस्य गर्जितं श्रुत्वा राक्षसानां महाचमूः
He who wields the thunderbolt in battle could be slain by me—what then of those two men? Hearing his roar, the great army of the Rākṣasas
प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे मृत्युपाशावपाशिता। समेयुश्च महात्मानो युद्धदर्शनकांक्षिणः
felt incomparable delight, though bound by the noose of death; and the great souls, eager to witness the battle, assembled.
ऋषयो देवगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च सह चारणैः। समेत्य चोचुः सहितास्तेऽन्योन्यं पुण्यकर्मणः
The seers, gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Cāraṇas gathered together and spoke among themselves about the one of virtuous deeds.
स्वस्ति गोब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु लोकानां ये च सम्मताः। जयतां राघवो युद्धे पौलस्त्यान् रजनीचरान्
"May there be well-being for cows and Brāhmaṇas, and for those esteemed in the worlds. May Rāghava conquer in battle the Paulastyas, the night-roaming demons.
चक्रहस्तो यथा विष्णुः सर्वानसुरसत्तमान्। एतच्चान्यच्च बहुशो ब्रुवाणाः परमर्षयः
As Viṣṇu, bearing the discus, destroyed all the foremost Asuras, so may he." Thus, and in many other ways, the supreme seers spoke.
जातकौतूहलास्तत्र विमानस्थाश्च देवताः। ददृशुर्वाहिनीं तेषां राक्षसानां गतायुषाम्
Filled with curiosity, the gods stationed in their aerial chariots watched the army of the Rākṣasas, whose life-force was spent.
रथेन तु खरो वेगात् सैन्यस्याग्राद् विनिःसृतः। श्येनगामी पृथुग्रीवो यज्ञशत्रुर्विहंगमः
Then Khara, swift as a hawk, emerged rapidly at the head of the army in his chariot; Pṛthugrīva, Yajñaśatru, Vihaṃgama,
दुर्जयः करवीराक्षः परुषः कालकार्मुकः। हेममाली महामाली सर्पास्यो रुधिराशनः
Durjaya, Karavīrākṣa, Paruṣa, Kālakārmuka, Hemamālī, Mahāmālī, Sarpāsya, and Rudhirāśana—
द्वादशैते महावीर्याः प्रतस्थुरभितः खरम्। महाकपालः स्थूलाक्षः प्रमाथस्त्रिशिरास्तथा। चत्वार एते सेनाग्रे दूषणं पृष्ठतोऽन्वयुः
these twelve of great valor advanced around Khara; Mahākapāla, Sthūlākṣa, Pramātha, and Triśiras—these four followed Dūṣaṇa at the rear of the army.