स खरस्याज्ञया सूतस्तुरगान् समचोदयत्। यत्र रामो महाबाहुरेको धुन्वन् धनुः स्थितः
By Khara's command, the charioteer urged on the horses to where Rama, mighty-armed, stood alone, wielding his bow.
तं तु निष्पतितं दृष्ट्वा सर्वतो रजनीचराः। मुञ्चमाना महानादं सचिवाः पर्यवारयन्
Seeing him advancing, all the night-dwellers, his ministers, surrounded him, making a great noise.
स तेषां यातुधानानां मध्ये रथगतः खरः। बभूव मध्ये ताराणां लोहिताङ्ग इवोदितः
Khara, standing in his chariot among those night-demons, appeared in their midst like the red planet Mars rising among the stars.
ततः शरसहस्रेण राममप्रतिमौजसम्। अर्दयित्वा महानादं ननाद समरे खरः
Then Khara, with a thousand arrows, assailed Rama, whose strength is unmatched, and roared loudly in the battle.
ततस्तं भीमधन्वानं क्रुद्धाः सर्वे निशाचराः। रामं नानाविधैः शस्त्रैरभ्यवर्षन्त दुर्जयम्
Then all the enraged night-dwellers showered upon Rama, who was unconquerable and wielded a terrible bow, with weapons of many kinds.
मुद्गरैरायसैः शूलैः प्रासैः खड्गैः परश्वधैः। राक्षसाः समरे शूरं निजघ्नू रोषतत्पराः
The Rakshasas, intent on wrath, struck the valiant one in battle with maces, iron spears, javelins, swords, and axes.
ते बलाहकसंकाशा महाकाया महाबलाः। अभ्यधावन्त काकुत्स्थं रथैर्वाजिभिरेव च
Those of great size and strength, resembling masses of clouds, charged at Kakutstha with chariots and horses.
गजैः पर्वतकूटाभै रामं युद्धे जिघांसवः। ते रामे शरवर्षाणि व्यसृजन् रक्षसां गणाः
Desiring to kill Rama in battle, they advanced with elephants like mountain peaks; those hosts of Rakshasas released showers of arrows at Rama.
शैलेन्द्रमिव धाराभिर्वर्षमाणा महाघनाः। सर्वैः परिवृतो रामो राक्षसैः क्रूरदर्शनैः
Surrounded on all sides by Rakshasas of fierce appearance, Rama was like a mountain lord enveloped by great clouds pouring down rain.
तिथिष्विव महादेवो वृतः पारिषदां गणैः। तानि मुक्तानि शस्त्राणि यातुधानैः स राघवः
Like the great god surrounded by hosts of attendants on festival days, Raghava received those weapons released by the Yatudhanas.
प्रतिजग्राह विशिखैर्नद्योघानिव सागरः। स तैः प्रहरणैर्घोरैर्भिन्नगात्रो न विव्यथे
He repelled them with arrows, as the ocean receives floods of rivers; though his body was struck by those dreadful weapons, he did not waver.
रामः प्रदीप्तैर्बहुभिर्वज्रैरिव महाचलः। स विद्धः क्षतजादिग्धः सर्वगात्रेषु राघवः
Rama, his entire body pierced and smeared with blood, was like a great mountain struck by many blazing thunderbolts.
बभूव रामः संध्याभ्रैर्दिवाकर इवावृतः। विषेदुर्देवगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः
Rama appeared like the sun veiled by evening clouds; the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great sages became despondent.
एकं सहस्रैर्बहुभिस्तदा दृष्ट्वा समावृतम्। ततो रामस्तु संक्रुद्धो मण्डलीकृतकार्मुकः
Seeing him alone surrounded by many thousands, then Rama, enraged, readied his bow in a circular stance.
ससर्ज निशितान् बाणान् शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। दुरावारान् दुर्विषहान् कालपाशोपमान् रणे
He released sharp arrows by the hundreds and thousands in battle, irresistible and unbearable, like nooses of death.
मुमोच लीलया कङ्कपत्रान् काञ्चनभूषणान्। ते शराः शत्रुसैन्येषु मुक्ता रामेण लीलया
With ease, he let fly feathered arrows adorned with gold; those arrows, released playfully by Rama, fell upon the enemy forces.
आददू रक्षसां प्राणान् पाशाः कालकृता इव। भित्त्वा राक्षसदेहांस्तांस्ते शरा रुधिराप्लुताः
Like nooses fashioned by Death, they seized the lives of the Rakshasas; piercing those Rakshasa bodies, the arrows became drenched in blood.
अन्तरिक्षगता रेजुर्दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसः। असंख्येयास्तु रामस्य सायकाश्चापमण्डलात्
Ascending into the sky, they shone with the brilliance of blazing fire; countless were Rama’s arrows issuing from the circle of his bow.
विनिष्पेतुरतीवोग्रा रक्षःप्राणापहारिणः। तैर्धनूंषि ध्वजाग्राणि चर्माणि कवचानि च
They emerged exceedingly fierce, taking the lives of the Rakshasas; with them, he cut down bows, banner-tops, shields, and armor.
बाहून् सहस्ताभरणानूरून् करिकरोपमान्। चिच्छेद रामः समरे शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
In battle, Rama severed by the hundreds and thousands arms adorned with bracelets and thighs like elephant trunks.
हयान् काञ्चनसंनाहान् रथयुक्तान् ससारथीन्। गजांश्च सगजारोहान् सहयान् सादिनस्तदा
He struck down horses with golden harnesses yoked to chariots along with their charioteers, and elephants with their riders, as well as cavalrymen.
चिच्छिदुर्बिभिदुश्चैव रामबाणा गुणच्युताः। पदातीन् समरे हत्वा ह्यनयद् यमसादनम्
Rama’s arrows, released from the string, shattered and broke them; having slain the foot soldiers in battle, he sent them to the abode of Yama.
तत्सैन्यं विविधैर्बाणैरर्दितं मर्मभेदिभिः। न रामेण सुखं लेभे शुष्कं वनमिवाग्निना
That army, struck by various arrows that pierced their vital points, found no comfort from Rāma, just as a dry forest finds none from fire.
केचिद् भीमबलाः शूराः प्रासान् शूलान् परश्वधान्। चिक्षिपुः परमक्रुद्धा रामाय रजनीचराः
Some, mighty and heroic, hurled spears, lances, and axes in extreme rage at Rāma, those night-dwellers.
तेषां बाणैर्महाबाहुः शस्त्राण्यावार्य वीर्यवान्। जहार समरे प्राणांश्चिच्छेद च शिरोधरान्
The great-armed, valiant Rāma, blocking their weapons with arrows, took their lives in battle and severed their heads and necks.
ते छिन्नशिरसः पेतुश्छिन्नचर्मशरासनाः। सुपर्णवातविक्षिप्ता जगत्यां पादपा यथा
Those with severed heads, broken shields, and shattered bows fell, scattered by the wind like trees on the earth.
अवशिष्टाश्च ये तत्र विषण्णास्ते निशाचराः। खरमेवाभ्यधावन्त शरणार्थं शराहताः
Those who remained there, disheartened, the night-dwellers wounded by arrows, fled to Khara seeking refuge.
तान् सर्वान् धनुरादाय समाश्वास्य च दूषणः। अभ्यधावत् सुसंक्रुद्धः क्रुद्धं क्रुद्ध इवान्तकः
Dūṣaṇa, taking up his bow and encouraging them all, charged forward in great fury, like Death himself enraged.
निवृत्तास्तु पुनः सर्वे दूषणाश्रयनिर्भयाः। राममेवाभ्यधावन्त सालतालशिलायुधाः
All, restored by Dūṣaṇa's support and fearless, turned back and rushed at Rāma, wielding sala, tāla trees, and stones as weapons.
शूलमुद्गरहस्ताश्च पाशहस्ता महाबलाः। सृजन्तः शरवर्षाणि शस्त्रवर्षाणि संयुगे
With spears and maces in hand, ropes in hand, those of great strength unleashed showers of arrows and weapons in battle.