प्रहस्तवधः (The Slaying of Prahasta)
युद्धकाण्ड
Sarga 58 opens with Rama observing the formidable rākṣasa general Prahasta advancing with a large force and, with composed confidence, asking Vibhīṣaṇa to identify him. Vibhīṣaṇa replies that Prahasta is Ravana’s senāpati, famed for prowess and weapon-mastery, commanding a substantial portion of Lanka’s army. A massive mêlée follows: both sides close in with showers of rocks and arrows, and the battlefield becomes a catalogue of weapons (swords, spears, pikes, mallets, iron bars) and casualties. The narration intensifies into a grim extended simile portraying the war-ground as a “river” of blood, bodies, and broken arms, emphasizing the epic’s realism about war’s cost. Prahasta then enters direct combat, causing havoc among the vānaras with arrow-storms. Nīla confronts him; despite being pierced by arrows, Nīla strikes back with uprooted trees, breaks Prahasta’s bow, and forces him into close-quarters fighting with a heavy mallet. In the culminating exchange, Nīla drops a massive rock onto Prahasta’s head, shattering it and killing him. The rākṣasa troops, demoralized by the fall of their commander, withdraw toward Lanka and become speechless with grief, while Nīla is praised by Rama and Lakshmana and the vānaras rejoice at the strategic victory.
Verse 6.58.1
ततःप्रहस्तंनिर्यान्तंदृष्टवाभीमपराक्रमम् ।उवाचसस्मितंरामोविभीषणमरिन्दमः ।।।।
For the Vānaras are fickle, undisciplined, and unstable in mind; they will not withstand your roar—just as elephants cannot endure a lion’s roar.
Verse 6.58.2
कएषस्सुमहाकायोबलेनमहतावृतः ।आचक्ष्वमेमहाबाहो वीर्यवन्तंनिशाचरम् ।।।।
Who is this mighty giant, encompassed by a great host? Tell me, O strong-armed one, of that valiant night-roaming Rākṣasa.
Verse 6.58.3
राघवस्यवचश्श्रुत्वाप्रत्युवाचविभीषणः ।।।।एषसेनापतिस्तस्यप्रहस्तोनामराक्षसः ।लङ्कायांराक्षसेन्द्रस्यत्रिभागबलसम्वृतः ।।।।वीर्यवानस्त्रविच्छूरःसुप्रख्याश्चपराक्रमे ।
Hearing Rāghava’s words, Vibhīṣaṇa replied: “This is the rākṣasa named Prahasta, commander of that king’s army. In Laṅkā he is backed by a third part of the rākṣasa host—valiant, skilled in weapons, heroic, and famed for his prowess.”
Verse 6.58.4
राघवस्यवचश्श्रुत्वाप्रत्युवाचविभीषणः ।।6.58.3।।एषसेनापतिस्तस्यप्रहस्तोनामराक्षसः ।लङ्कायांराक्षसेन्द्रस्यत्रिभागबलसम्वृतः ।।6.58.4।।वीर्यवानस्त्रविच्छूरःसुप्रख्याश्चपराक्रमे ।
“This is the rākṣasa named Prahasta—commander of the rākṣasa-king’s forces in Laṅkā—surrounded by a third part of the army. He is powerful, skilled in weapons, heroic, and widely famed for his valor.”
Verse 6.58.5
ततःप्रहस्तंनिर्यान्तंभीमंभीमपराक्रमम् ।।।।गर्जन्तंसुमहाकायंराक्षसैरभिसम्वृतम् ।ददर्शमहतीसेनावानराणांबलीयसाम् ।।।।अभिसञ्जातरोषाणांप्रहस्तमभिगर्जताम् ।
Those two heroes—bold and victorious—never turning back in battle, longed to win fame, like Vṛtra and Vāsava (Indra) contending together.
Verse 6.58.6
ततःप्रहस्तंनिर्यान्तंभीमंभीमपराक्रमम् ।।6.58.5।।गर्जन्तंसुमहाकायंराक्षसैरभिसम्वृतम् ।ददर्शमहतीसेनावानराणांबलीयसाम् ।।6.58.6।।अभिसञ्जातरोषाणांप्रहस्तमभिगर्जताम् ।
Then the mighty Vanara host beheld Prahasta advancing—terrible, roaring, huge-bodied, and surrounded by Rakshasas—and they roared back in rage.
Verse 6.58.7
खडगशक्त्यृष्णिबाणाश्चशूलानिमुसलानिच ।।।।गदाश्चपरिघाःप्रासाविविधाश्चपरिश्वधाः ।नूंषिचविचित्राणिराक्षसानांजयैषिणाम् ।।।।प्रगृहीतान्यशोभन्तवानरानभिधावताम् ।
Seeking victory, the Rakshasas rushed upon the Vanaras; weapons of many kinds—swords, javelins, spears, arrows, tridents, mallets, maces, iron bars, and axes—were seized and gleamed as they charged.
Verse 6.58.8
खडगशक्त्यृष्णिबाणाश्चशूलानिमुसलानिच ।।6.58.7।।गदाश्चपरिघाःप्रासाविविधाश्चपरिश्वधाः ।नूंषिचविचित्राणिराक्षसानांजयैषिणाम् ।।6.58.8।।प्रगृहीतान्यशोभन्तवानरानभिधावताम् ।
Eager to fight, the best of the Vanaras seized flowering trees, and the Plavangamas, longing for battle, also took up huge, long rocks.
Verse 6.58.9
जगृहुःपादपांश्चापिपुष्पितान्वानरर्षभाः ।।।।शिलाश्चविपुलादीर्घायोद्धुकामाःप्लवङ्गमाः ।
When the commander of the Rakshasa army was slain in battle by the bull among the Vanaras, the Rakshasa king’s forces—bearing dreadful weapons and surging like the ocean—broke and fled.
Verse 6.58.10
तेषामन्योन्यमासाद्यसङ्ग्रामःसुमहानभूत् ।।।।बहूनामश्मवृष्टिंचशरवर्षंचवर्षताम् ।
Then Rāma, tamer of foes, seeing Prahasta advance—terrible in prowess—spoke to Vibhīṣaṇa with a gentle smile.
Verse 6.58.11
बहवोराक्षसायुद्धेबहून्वानरयूधपान् ।।।।वानराराक्षसांश्चापिनिजघ्नुर्बहवोबहून् ।
When they closed upon one another, a vast battle erupted, as many on both sides rained down showers of stones and torrents of arrows.
Verse 6.58.12
शूलैःप्रमथिताःकेचित्केचिच्चपरमायुधैः ।।।।परिघैराहताःकेचित्केचिच्छिन्नाःपरश्वधैः ।
Some were crushed by pikes; some were struck by supreme weapons; some were beaten with iron bars; and some were hewn apart with axes.
Verse 6.58.13
निरुच्छवासाःकृता: केचित्पतिताधरणीतले ।।।।विभिन्नहृदयाःकेचिदिषुसन्धानसन्दिताः ।
Some were left without breath and fell upon the ground; others, pierced by well-aimed arrows, had their hearts split apart.
Verse 6.58.14
केचिव्दिधाकृताःखडगैःस्फुरन्तःपतिताभुवि ।।।।वानराराक्षसैश्शूलैपार्श्वतश्चावदारिताः ।
Some were cleft in two by swords and fell twitching upon the earth; and some Vānaras, ripped open at the sides by Rākṣasas with pikes, collapsed.
Verse 6.58.15
वानरैश्चापिसङ्क्रुद्धैराक्षसौघाःसमन्ततः ।।।।पादपैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्चसम्पिष्टावसुधातले ।
And the Vānaras, inflamed with wrath, on every side crushed the hosts of Rākṣasas upon the earth, striking them with trees and with mountain-peaks.
Verse 6.58.16
वज्रस्पर्शतलैर्हस्स्सैर्मुष्टिभिश्चहताभृशम् ।।।।वेमुश्शोणितमास्येभ्योविशीर्णदशनेक्षणाः ।
Smitten fiercely by hands whose touch was like a thunderbolt, and by fists as well, they spewed blood from their mouths, their teeth and eyes shattered.
Verse 6.58.17
आर्तस्वनंचस्वनतांसिंहनादंचनर्दताम् ।।।।बभूवतुमुलश्शब्दोहरीणांरक्षसांयुधि ।
In that battle there arose a tumultuous roar—cries of anguish, clamouring shouts, and lion-like bellows—from both the Vānaras and the Rākṣasas.
Verse 6.58.18
वानराराक्षसाःक्रुद्धावीरमार्गमनुव्रताः ।।।।विवृत्तनयनाःक्रूराश्चक्रुःकर्माण्यभीतवत् ।
Enraged and treading the hero’s path, Vānaras and Rākṣasas—eyes rolling, fierce in aspect—performed their war-deeds without fear.
Verse 6.58.19
नरान्तकःकुम्भहनुर्महानादस्समुन्नतः ।।।।एतेप्रहस्तसचिवास्सर्वेजघ्नुर्वनौकसः ।
Nārāntaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahānāda, and Samunnata—these all, ministers and companions of Prahasta—slew the Vānara warriors.
Verse 6.58.20
तेषामापततांशीघ्रंनिघ्नतांचापिवानरान् ।।।।द्विविदोगिरिशृङ्गेणजघानैकंनरान्तकम् ।
As those Rākṣasas charged swiftly and struck down the Vānaras, Dwivida, alone, felled Narāntaka with a mountain-peak.
Verse 6.58.21
दुर्मुखःपुनरुत्थायकपिस्सविपुलद्रुमम् ।।।।राक्षसंक्षिप्रहस्तस्तुसमुन्नतमपोथयत् ।
Rising again, the monkey Durmukha uprooted a massive tree; with swift hands he struck down the Rākṣasa Samunnata, who stood raised for battle.
Verse 6.58.22
जाम्बवांस्तुसुसङ्क्रुद्धःप्रगृह्यमहतींशिलाम् ।।।।पातयामासतेजस्वीमहानादस्यवक्षसि ।
Then the radiant Jāmbavān, fiercely enraged, seized a great rock and brought it crashing down upon the chest of Mahānāda.
Verse 6.58.23
अथकुम्भहनुस्तत्रतारेणासाद्यवीर्यवान् ।।।।वृक्षेणाभिहतोमूर्ध्निप्राणान्सन्त्याजयद्रणे ।
Then, on that battlefield, the valiant Kumbhahanu was confronted by Tārā; struck on the head with a tree, he gave up his life in the fight.
Verse 6.58.24
अमृष्यमाणस्तत्कर्मप्रहस्तोरथमाश्रितः ।।।।चकारकदनंघोरंधनुष्पाणिर्वनौकसाम् ।
Unable to endure that deed, Prahasta mounted his chariot; bow in hand, he unleashed dreadful slaughter among the forest-dwellers—the vānaras.
Verse 6.58.25
आवर्तइवसञ्जज्ञेसेनयोरुभयोस्तदा ।।।।क्षुभितस्याप्रमेयस्यसागरस्येवनिस्स्वनः ।
Then the roar of the two armies arose like the whirl and thunder of a boundless ocean, churned into tumult.
Verse 6.58.26
महताहिशरौघेणप्रहस्तोयुद्धकोविदः ।।।।अर्दयामाससङ्क्रुद्धोवानरान् परमाहवे ।
In that great clash, Prahasta—skilled in warfare—furiously harried the vānaras with a heavy torrent of arrows.
Verse 6.58.27
वानराणांशरीरैश्चराक्षसानांचमेदिनी ।।।।बभून्विचिताघोराःपतितैरिवपर्वतै ।
The earth lay strewn with the dreadful bodies of vānaras and rākṣasas, as though fallen mountains had been scattered upon it.
Verse 6.58.28
सामहीरुधिरौघेणप्रच्छन्नासम्प्रकाशते ।।।।सञ्छन्नामाधवेमासिपलाशैरिवपुष्पितैः ।
That earth, covered in torrents of blood, seemed to gleam—like the ground in the month of Māgha veiled by blossoming palāśa flowers.
Verse 6.58.29
हतवीरौघवस्रांतुभग्नायुधमहाद्रुमाम् ।।।।शोणितौघमहातोयांयमसागरगामिनीम् ।यकृत् प्लीहमहापङ्कान्वििकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम् ।।।।भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम् ।गृध्रहंसगणाकीर्णांकङ्कसारससेविताम् ।।।।मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामार्तस्न्तितस्वनाम् ।तांकापुरषुदुस्तारांयुद्धभूमिमयींनदीम् ।।।।नदीमिवघनापायेहंससारससेविताम् ।राक्षसाःकपिमुख्याश्चतेरुस्तांदुस्तरांनदीम् ।।।।यथापद्मरजोध्वस्तांनळिनींगजयूथपाः ।
The battlefield became like a river: its banks were heaps of fallen heroes; shattered weapons were its great trees; torrents of blood its vast waters rushing toward Yama’s ocean. Livers and spleens formed its mire; scattered entrails its water-plants; severed trunks and heads its fish; limbs and body-parts its grass. Vultures gathered like swans, and carrion-birds moved like cranes; fat spread like foam, and the cries of the wounded became its murmur. Hard for cowards to cross, it was like a river at monsoon’s end frequented by swans and cranes. Yet the rākṣasas and the foremost monkeys crossed that difficult river—like leaders of elephant herds crossing a lotus-pond dusted with lotus pollen.
Verse 6.58.30
हतवीरौघवस्रांतुभग्नायुधमहाद्रुमाम् ।।6.58.29।।शोणितौघमहातोयांयमसागरगामिनीम् ।यकृत् प्लीहमहापङ्कान्वििकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम् ।।6.58.30।।भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम् ।गृध्रहंसगणाकीर्णांकङ्कसारससेविताम् ।।6.58.31।।मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामार्तस्न्तितस्वनाम् ।तांकापुरषुदुस्तारांयुद्धभूमिमयींनदीम् ।।6.58.32।।नदीमिवघनापायेहंससारससेविताम् ।राक्षसाःकपिमुख्याश्चतेरुस्तांदुस्तरांनदीम् ।।6.58.33।।यथापद्मरजोध्वस्तांनळिनींगजयूथपाः ।
It was like a river whose vast waters were torrents of blood, flowing toward the ocean of Yama (death)—with liver and spleen as its deep mire, and scattered entrails drifting like water-weeds.
Verse 6.58.31
हतवीरौघवस्रांतुभग्नायुधमहाद्रुमाम् ।।6.58.29।।शोणितौघमहातोयांयमसागरगामिनीम् ।यकृत् प्लीहमहापङ्कान्वििकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम् ।।6.58.30।।भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम् ।गृध्रहंसगणाकीर्णांकङ्कसारससेविताम् ।।6.58.31।।मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामार्तस्न्तितस्वनाम् ।तांकापुरषुदुस्तारांयुद्धभूमिमयींनदीम् ।।6.58.32।।नदीमिवघनापायेहंससारससेविताम् ।राक्षसाःकपिमुख्याश्चतेरुस्तांदुस्तरांनदीम् ।।6.58.33।।यथापद्मरजोध्वस्तांनळिनींगजयूथपाः ।
In that ‘river,’ severed bodies and heads were the fish; torn limbs formed its grassy banks—crowded with ‘swans’ that were vultures, and frequented by cranes that were carrion-birds.
Verse 6.58.32
हतवीरौघवस्रांतुभग्नायुधमहाद्रुमाम् ।।6.58.29।।शोणितौघमहातोयांयमसागरगामिनीम् ।यकृत् प्लीहमहापङ्कान्वििकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम् ।।6.58.30।।भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम् ।गृध्रहंसगणाकीर्णांकङ्कसारससेविताम् ।।6.58.31।।मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामार्तस्न्तितस्वनाम् ।तांकापुरषुदुस्तारांयुद्धभूमिमयींनदीम् ।।6.58.32।।नदीमिवघनापायेहंससारससेविताम् ।राक्षसाःकपिमुख्याश्चतेरुस्तांदुस्तरांनदीम् ।।6.58.33।।यथापद्मरजोध्वस्तांनळिनींगजयूथपाः ।
Foam-like fat covered it everywhere, and the groans of the wounded became its rumbling sound. That river made of the battlefield was hard to cross for the cowardly.
Verse 6.58.33
हतवीरौघवस्रांतुभग्नायुधमहाद्रुमाम् ।।6.58.29।।शोणितौघमहातोयांयमसागरगामिनीम् ।यकृत् प्लीहमहापङ्कान्वििकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम् ।।6.58.30।।भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम् ।गृध्रहंसगणाकीर्णांकङ्कसारससेविताम् ।।6.58.31।।मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामार्तस्न्तितस्वनाम् ।तांकापुरषुदुस्तारांयुद्धभूमिमयींनदीम् ।।6.58.32।।नदीमिवघनापायेहंससारससेविताम् ।राक्षसाःकपिमुख्याश्चतेरुस्तांदुस्तरांनदीम् ।।6.58.33।।यथापद्मरजोध्वस्तांनळिनींगजयूथपाः ।
Like a river at the waning of the rainy season, visited by swans and cranes, the Rākṣasas and the foremost of the Vānara host crossed that hard-to-ford river—the battlefield.
Verse 6.58.34
ततःसृजन्तंबाणौघान्प्रहस्तंस्यन्दनेस्थितम् ।।।।ददर्शतरसानीलोनिघ्नन्तंप्लवङ्गमान् ।
Then Nīla saw Prahasta, stationed upon his chariot, pouring forth volleys of arrows and cutting down the Vānara warriors with fierce speed.
Verse 6.58.35
उद्धूतइववायुःखेमहदभ्रबलंबलात् ।।।।समीक्ष्याभिद्रुतंयुद्धेप्रहस्तोवाहिनीपतिः ।रथेनादित्यवर्णेननीलमेवाभिदुद्रुवे ।।।।
As a fierce wind in the sky drives off a great mass of clouds by sheer force, so Prahasta, commander of the host—seeing Nīla rushing forward in battle—charged straight at him in a chariot radiant like the sun.
Verse 6.58.36
उद्धूतइववायुःखेमहदभ्रबलंबलात् ।।6.58.35।।समीक्ष्याभिद्रुतंयुद्धेप्रहस्तोवाहिनीपतिः ।रथेनादित्यवर्णेननीलमेवाभिदुद्रुवे ।।6.58.36।।
Prahasta, commander of the host—foremost among bowmen—drew his bow in that fierce combat and loosed arrows at Nīla.
Verse 6.58.37
सधनुर्धन्विनांश्रेष्ठोविकृष्यपरमाहवे ।।।।नीलायव्यसृजद्बाणान्प्रहस्तोवाहिनीपतिः ।
Those well-aimed arrows reached Nīla, pierced him through, and—rushing with great speed like enraged serpents—drove on into the earth.
Verse 6.58.38
तेप्राप्यविशिखानीलंविनिर्भिद्यसमाहिताः ।।।।महींजग्मुर्महावेगारुषिताइवपन्नगाः ।
Nīla, struck by sharp arrows blazing like fire, the mighty great Vānara uprooted a tree and smote Prahasta as he charged—Prahasta being exceedingly hard to withstand.
Verse 6.58.39
नीलःशरैरभिहतोनिशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः ।।।।सतंपरमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।प्रहस्तंताडयामासवृक्षमुत्पाट्यवीर्यवान् ।।।।
Nīla, struck by sharp arrows blazing like fire, the mighty and valiant great ape, uprooted a tree and struck Prahasta as he charged—an adversary exceedingly hard to face.
Verse 6.58.40
नीलःशरैरभिहतोनिशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः ।।6.58.39।।सतंपरमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।प्रहस्तंताडयामासवृक्षमुत्पाट्यवीर्यवान् ।।6.58.40।।
Then the valiant great Vānara struck Prahasta—most difficult to resist—as he charged forward, uprooting a tree and using it as a weapon.
Verse 6.58.41
सतेनाभिहतःक्रुद्धोनदन्राक्षसपुङ्गवः ।ववर्षशरवर्षाणिप्लवङ्गानांचमूपतौ ।।।।
Struck by him, the foremost of rākṣasas grew enraged; roaring, he poured down volleys of arrows upon the Vānara host and its leader.
Verse 6.58.42
तस्यबाणगणान्घारान्राक्षसस्यमहाबलः ।अपारयन्वारयितुंप्रत्यगृह्णान्निमीलितः ।।।।
Unable to ward off the dreadful volleys of arrows from that rākṣasa, the mighty one endured them, receiving the blows with eyes closed.
Verse 6.58.43
यथैवगोवृषोवर्षंशारदंशीघ्रमागतम् ।एवमेवप्रहस्तस्यशरवर्षंदुरासदम् ।।।।निमीलिताक्षस्सहसानीलस्सेहेदुरासदान् ।
As a strong bull withstands a sudden autumn downpour, so did Nīla—eyes closed—endure Prahastha’s fierce, hard-to-face rain of arrows.
Verse 6.58.44
रोषितश्शरवर्षेणसालेनमहतामहान् ।प्रजघानहयाननीलःप्रहस्तस्यमहाबलः ।।।।
Enraged by the storm of arrows, the mighty Nīla struck down Prahastha’s horses with a huge sāla tree.
Verse 6.58.45
ततन्सचापमुद्गृह्यप्रहस्तस्यमहाबलः ।बभञ्जतरसानीलोननादचपुनःपुनः ।।।।
Then Nīla seized the mighty Prahastha’s drawn bow and broke it with force, roaring again and again.
Verse 6.58.46
विधनुस्तुकृतस्तेनप्रहस्तोवाहिनीपतिः ।प्रगृह्यमुसलंघोरंस्यन्दनादवपुप्लुवे ।।।।
Made bowless by him, Prahastha—the army commander—grasped a dreadful mallet and leapt down from his chariot.
Verse 6.58.47
तावुभौवाहिनीमुख्यौजातवैरौतरस्विनौ ।स्थितौक्षतजगदिग्धाङ्गौप्रभिन्नाविवकुञ्जरौ ।।।।
Those two mighty leaders of their armies, now sworn enemies, stood with limbs smeared in blood—like wounded elephants facing each other.
Verse 6.58.48
उल्लिखन्तौसुतीक्ष्णाभिर्दंष्ट्राभिरितरेतरम् ।सिंहशार्दूलसदृशौसिंहशार्दूलचेष्टितौ ।।।।विक्रान्तविजयौवीरौसमरेष्न्विवर्तिनौ ।काङ्क्षमाणौयशःप्राप्तुंवृत्रवासवयोस्सह ।।।।
Tearing at each other with razor-sharp fangs, they moved like a lion and a tiger. Both were heroes of proven victories, never turning back in battle, striving for fame like Vṛtra and Vāsava in their clash.
Verse 6.58.49
उल्लिखन्तौसुतीक्ष्णाभिर्दंष्ट्राभिरितरेतरम् ।सिंहशार्दूलसदृशौसिंहशार्दूलचेष्टितौ ।।6.58.48।।विक्रान्तविजयौवीरौसमरेष्न्विवर्तिनौ ।काङ्क्षमाणौयशःप्राप्तुंवृत्रवासवयोस्सह ।।6.58.49।।
Then the mighty army of the Vānara warriors saw Prahasta advancing—terrible in form and terrible in prowess—roaring loudly, of enormous body, and surrounded by Rākṣasas.
Verse 6.58.50
आजघानतदानीलंललाटेमुसलेनसः ।प्रहस्तःपरमायत्तस्ततस्सुस्रावशोणितम् ।।।।
Then Prahasta, striking swiftly, smote Nīla on the forehead with a mallet; at once blood streamed forth.
Verse 6.58.51
ततःशोणितदिग्धाङ्गःप्रगृह्यसुमहातरुम् ।प्रहस्तस्योरसिक्रुद्धोविससर्जमहाकपिः ।।।।
Then the great Vānara, his body smeared with blood, seized a mighty tree in wrath and hurled it upon Prahasta’s chest.
Verse 6.58.52
तमचिन्त्यप्रहारंसप्रगृह्यमुसलंमहत् ।अभिदुद्रावबलिनंबलाननीलंप्लवङ्गमम् ।।।।
Ignoring that blow, he seized his great mallet and, with force, charged straight at the mighty Nīla, the monkey-warrior.
Verse 6.58.53
तमुग्रवेगंसंरब्धमापतन्तंमहाकपिः ।ततस्सम्प्रेक्ष्यजग्राहमहावेगोमहाशिलाम् ।।।।
Seeing him rush in with fierce, impetuous speed, the great monkey, swift in action, seized a massive rock.
Verse 6.58.54
तस्ययुद्धाभिकामस्यमृथेमुसलयोधिन ।प्रहस्तस्यशिलांनीलोमूर्ध्नितूर्णमपातयत् ।।।।
As Prahasta, the mallet-fighter, pressed eagerly for battle, Nīla swiftly brought the rock down upon his head.
Verse 6.58.55
सातेनकपिमुख्येनविमुक्तामहतीशिला ।बिभेदबहुधाघोराप्रहस्तस्यशिरस्तदा ।।।।
That dreadful, enormous rock, released by the foremost of monkeys, shattered Prahasta’s head into many pieces.
Verse 6.58.56
सगतासुर्गतश्रीकोगतसत्त्वोगतेन्द्रियः ।पपातसहसाभूमौछिन्नमूलइवद्रुमः ।।।।
With life, splendor, strength, and senses gone, he suddenly fell to the earth like a tree severed at the root.
Verse 6.58.57
विभिन्नशिरसस्तस्यबहुसुस्रावशोणितम् ।शरीरादपिसुस्रावगिरेःप्रस्रवणंयथा ।।।।
From his shattered head, much blood flowed; indeed, it streamed from his body like a spring issuing from a mountain.
Verse 6.58.58
हतेप्रहस्तेनीलेनतदकम्प्यंमहाबलम् ।राक्षसानामहृष्टानांलङ्कामभिजगामह ।।।।
When Prahasta was slain by Nila, the cheerless Rakshasas could no longer hold their ground and retreated towards Lanka.
Verse 6.58.59
नशेकुस्समवस्थातुंनिहतेवाहिनीपतौ ।सेतुबन्धंसमासाद्यविशीर्णंसलिलंयथा ।।।।
With their commander-in-chief slain, they could not remain steady, just as water cannot be held back when it reaches a breached dam.
Verse 6.58.60
हतेतस्मिंश्चमूमुख्येराक्षसास्तेनिरुद्यमाः ।रक्षःपतिगृहंगत्वाध्यानमूकत्वमास्थिताः ।।।।प्राप्ताश्शोकार्णवंतीव्रंनिस्सज्ञौइवतेऽभवन् ।
When that foremost leader of the host was slain, those Rakshasas, their resolve broken, went to the dwelling of their lord. Struck by a fierce ocean of grief, they fell into mute stillness, as though bereft of sense.
Verse 6.58.61
ततस्तुनीलोविजयीमहाबलःप्रशस्यमानःसुकृतेनकर्मणा ।समेत्यरामेणसलक्ष्मणेनप्रहृष्टरूपस्तुबभूवयूथपः ।।।।
Then Nīla, victorious and of great might, came to Rāma together with Lakṣmaṇa. Praised for his well-accomplished deed, the troop-leader shone with gladness.