युध्यस्व यदि शूरोऽसि मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ रावण। शयिष्यसे हतो भूमौ यथा पूर्वं खरस्तथा
If you are truly a hero, fight! Stay for a moment, Rāvaṇa; you will lie slain on the ground, just as Khara did before.
असकृत्संयुगे येन निहता दैत्यदानवाः। न चिराच्चीरवासास्त्वां रामो युधि वधिष्यति
By him who has slain Daityas and Dānavas many times in battle, by that Rāma in ascetic garb, you will soon be killed in combat.
किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुं गतौ दूरं नृपात्मजौ। क्षिप्रं त्वं नश्यसे नीच तयोर्भीतो न संशयः
What can I do, since the princes have gone far away? You, vile one, will soon perish out of fear of them—of that there is no doubt.
नहि मे जीवमानस्य नयिष्यसि शुभामिमाम्। सीतां कमलपत्राक्षीं रामस्य महिषीं प्रियाम्
As long as I live, you will not take this auspicious lady, Sītā, lotus-eyed and beloved queen of Rāma.
अवश्यं तु मया कार्यं प्रियं तस्य महात्मनः। जीवितेनापि रामस्य तथा दशरथस्य च
Yet I must surely do what is dear to that great-souled one, for Rāma’s sake—even at the cost of my life—and for Daśaratha as well.
तिष्ठ तिष्ठ दशग्रीव मुहूर्तं पश्य रावण। वृन्तादिव फलं त्वां तु पातयेयं रथोत्तमात्। युद्धातिथ्यं प्रदास्यामि यथाप्राणं निशाचर
Stay, stay, ten-headed one! Wait a moment, Rāvaṇa. I would strike you down from your excellent chariot like a fruit from its stalk. I will offer you the hospitality of battle, as best I can, O night-wanderer.
thumb|एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अरण्यकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥३-
Hear now the fifty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakaṇḍa.
इत्युक्तः क्रोधताम्राक्षस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः। राक्षसेन्द्रोऽभिदुद्राव पतगेन्द्रममर्षणः
Thus addressed, the king of the Rākṣasas, his eyes reddened with anger and wearing blazing golden earrings, rushed furiously at the king of birds.
स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलस्तयोस्तस्मिन् महामृधे। बभूव वातोद्धुतयोर्मेघयोर्गगने यथा
A tumultuous and fierce clash arose between the two in that great battle, like clouds driven together by the wind in the sky.
तद् बभूवाद्भुतं युद्धं गृध्रराक्षसयोस्तदा। सपक्षयोर्माल्यवतोर्महापर्वतयोरिव
Then there occurred a wondrous fight between the vulture and the Rākṣasa, both winged and garlanded, like two great mountains.
ततो नालीकनाराचैस्तीक्ष्णाग्रैश्च विकर्णिभिः। अभ्यवर्षन्महाघोरैर्गृध्रराजं महाबलम्
Then, with sharp-tipped arrows and barbed darts, Rāvaṇa showered the mighty king of vultures with a terrible rain.
स तानि शरजालानि गृध्रः पत्ररथेश्वरः। जटायुः प्रतिजग्राह रावणास्त्राणि संयुगे
That lord of the feathered race, Jaṭāyu, received those volleys of arrows from Rāvaṇa in the battle.
तस्य तीक्ष्णनखाभ्यां तु चरणाभ्यां महाबलः। चकार बहुधा गात्रे व्रणान् पतगसत्तमः
With his powerful, sharp-clawed feet, the noble bird inflicted many wounds on Rāvaṇa’s body.
अथ क्रोधाद् दशग्रीवो जग्राह दश मार्गणान्। मृत्युदण्डनिभान् घोरान् शत्रोर्निधनकांक्षया
Then, enraged, the ten-headed one seized ten dreadful arrows, resembling the rods of death, desiring the destruction of his enemy.
स तैर्बाणैर्महावीर्यः पूर्णमुक्तैरजिह्मगैः। बिभेद निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्गृध्रं घोरैः शिलीमुखैः
With those arrows, fully released and straight-flying, sharp and terrible as stone-tipped weapons, the mighty Rāvaṇa pierced the vulture.
स राक्षसरथे पश्यञ्जानकीं बाष्पलोचनाम्। अचिन्तयित्वा बाणांस्तान् राक्षसं समभिद्रवत्
Seeing Jānakī with tear-filled eyes on the Rākṣasa’s chariot, Jaṭāyu, disregarding those arrows, rushed at the demon.
ततोऽस्य सशरं चापं मुक्तामणिविभूषितम्। चरणाभ्यां महातेजा बभञ्ज पतगोत्तमः
Then the great bird of immense brilliance broke his bow, adorned with jewels and arrows, using his feet.
ततोऽन्यद् धनुरादाय रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Rāvaṇa, overwhelmed by anger, took up another bow and showered hundreds and thousands of arrows.
शरैरावारितस्तस्य संयुगे पतगेश्वरः। कुलायमभिसम्प्राप्तः पक्षिवच्च बभौ तदा
Covered by arrows in battle, the lord of birds appeared as if he had reached his nest, like a bird.
स तानि शरजालानि पक्षाभ्यां तु विधूय ह। चरणाभ्यां महातेजा बभञ्जास्य महद् धनुः
He shook off those clusters of arrows with his wings, and with his mighty feet broke Rāvaṇa’s great bow.
तच्चाग्निसदृशं दीप्तं रावणस्य शरावरम्। पक्षाभ्यां च महातेजा व्यधुनोत् पतगेश्वरः
The king of birds, of great brilliance, shook off Rāvaṇa’s blazing, fire-like shower of arrows with his wings.
काञ्चनोरश्छदान् दिव्यान् पिशाचवदनान् खरान्। तांश्चास्य जवसम्पन्नाञ्जघान समरे बली
He struck down Rāvaṇa’s swift, divine horses, covered in golden armor and bearing faces like demons, in battle.
अथ त्रिवेणुसम्पन्नं कामगं पावकार्चिषम्। मणिसोपानचित्राङ्गं बभञ्ज च महारथम्
Then he broke the magnificent chariot, adorned with three banners, moving at will, blazing like fire, and decorated with jeweled steps.
पूर्णचन्द्रप्रतीकाशं छत्रं च व्यजनैः सह। पातयामास वेगेन ग्राहिभी राक्षसैः सह
He swiftly knocked down the umbrella, shining like the full moon, along with the fans and the rakṣasas who held them.
सारथेश्चास्य वेगेन तुण्डेन च महच्छिरः। पुनर्व्यपहनच्छ्रीमान् पक्षिराजो महाबलः
With his beak, the mighty king of birds struck and again tore off the large, splendid head of Rāvaṇa’s charioteer.
स भग्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः। अङ्केनादाय वैदेहीं पपात भुवि रावणः
His bow broken, chariot lost, horses and charioteer slain, Rāvaṇa fell to the ground, holding Vaidehī in his arms.
दृष्ट्वा निपतितं भूमौ रावणं भग्नवाहनम्। साधु साध्विति भूतानि गृध्रराजमपूजयन्
Seeing Rāvaṇa fallen on the earth, his vehicle destroyed, the beings praised the king of vultures, saying, 'Well done, well done!'
परिश्रान्तं तु तं दृष्ट्वा जरया पक्षियूथपम्। उत्पपात पुनर्हृष्टो मैथिलीं गृह्य रावणः
Seeing the bird chief exhausted and aged, Rāvaṇa, delighted, seized Maithilī and sprang up again.
तं प्रहृष्टं निधायाङ्के रावणं जनकात्मजाम्। गच्छन्तं खड्गशेषं च प्रणष्टहतसाधनम्
Placing Janaka’s daughter on his lap, Rāvaṇa, with only his sword left and all his means lost and destroyed, began to depart.
गृध्रराजः समुत्पत्य रावणं समभिद्रवत्। समावार्य महातेजा जटायुरिदमब्रवीत्
The king of vultures, Jatāyu, rose up and rushed at Rāvaṇa, blocking him, and spoke these words with great brilliance.