Sarga 78

Verse 1

निकुम्भंनिहतंश्रुत्वाकुम्भं च विनिपातितम् ।रावणःपरमामर्षीप्रजज्वालानलोयथा ।।।।

Hearing that Nikumbha had been slain and that Kumbha too had fallen, Rāvaṇa—seized by fierce wrath—blazed like a fire kindled to a roar.

Verse 2

नैरृतःक्रोधशोकाभ्यांद्वाभ्यांतुपरिमूर्छितः ।खरपुत्रंविशालाक्षंमकराक्षमचोदयत् ।।।।

Rāvaṇa, overwhelmed and almost senseless with both anger and grief, summoned Makarākṣa, the broad-eyed son of Khara.

Verse 3

गच्छपुत्रऽमयाऽजाज्ञप्तोबलेनाभिसमवनितः ।राघवंलक्ष्मणंचैवजहितांश्चवनौकसः ।।।।

“Go, my son—by my command, and supported by an army. Slay Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa, and those forest-dwelling Vānara hosts as well.”

Verse 4

रावणस्यवचश्श्रुत्वाशूरमानीखरात्मजः ।बाढमित्यब्रवीद्धृष्टोमकराक्षोनिशाचरम् ।।।।

Hearing Rāvaṇa’s words, Makarākṣa—Khara’s son, proud of his valor—boldly replied to the lord of the Rākṣasas, “Bāḍham—so be it.”

Verse 5

सोऽभिवाद्यदशग्रीवंकृत्वाचापिप्रदक्षिणम् ।निर्जगामगृहाच्छुभ्राद्रावणस्याज्ञयाबली ।।।।

Having saluted Daśagrīva (Rāvaṇa) and duly circumambulated him, the mighty warrior, acting on Rāvaṇa’s command, went forth from the radiant palace.

Verse 6

समीपस्थंबलाध्यक्षंखरपुत्रोऽब्रवीदिदम् ।रथश्चानीयतांशीघ्रंसैन्यंत्वानीयतांत्वरात् ।।।।

Khara’s son said to the commander of forces nearby: “Bring the chariot at once, and assemble the army without delay.”

Verse 7

तस्यतद्वचनंश्रुत्वाबलाध्यक्षोनिशाचरः ।स्यन्दनं च बलंचैवसमीपंप्रत्यपादयत् ।।।

Hearing his words, the rākṣasa commander of the host brought the chariot and the troops and stationed them close at hand.

Verse 8

प्रदक्षिणंरथंकृत्वाआरुरोहनिशाचरः ।सूतंसञ्चोदयामासशीघ्रंमेरथमावह ।।।।

Having reverently circumambulated the chariot, the rākṣasa mounted it and urged the charioteer: “Bring my chariot swiftly!”

Verse 9

अथतान्राक्षसान्सर्वान्मकराक्षोऽब्रवीदिदम् ।यूयंसर्वेप्रयुध्यध्वंपुरस्तान्ममराक्षसाः ।।।।

Then Makarākṣa said to all those rākṣasas: “All of you, my rākṣasas, fight on ahead of me!”

Verse 10

अहंराक्षसराजेनरावणेनमहात्मना ।आज्ञप्तःसमरेहन्तुंतावुभौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।।।

I have been commanded by Rāvaṇa, the great king of the Rākṣasas, to slay in battle those two—Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Verse 11

अद्यरामंवधिष्यामिलक्ष्मणं च निशाचराः ।शाखामृगं च सुग्रीवंवानरांश्चशरोत्तमैः ।।।।

Today I will kill Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—and Sugrīva, that branch-roaming monkey—as well as the Vānara hosts, with my finest arrows.

Verse 12

अद्यशूलनिपातैश्चवानराणांमहाचमूम् ।प्रदहिष्यामिसम्प्राप्तांशुष्केन्धनमिवानलः ।।।।

Today, with volleys of pikes, I will burn down the great Vānara army as it approaches—just as fire consumes dry fuel.

Verse 13

मकराक्षस्यतच्छ्रुत्वावचनंतेनिशाचराः ।सर्वेनानायुधोपेताबलवन्तःसमाहिताः ।।।।

Having heard Makarākṣa’s words, those night-ranging Rākṣasas—all strong, focused, and equipped with many kinds of weapons—assembled and advanced.

Verse 14

तेकामरूपिणस्सरेदंष्ट्रिणःपिङ्गलेक्षणा ।मातङ्गाइवनर्दन्तोध्वस्तकेशाभयावहाः ।।।।परिवार्यमहाकायामहाकायंखरात्मजम् ।अभिजघ्नुस्ततोहृष्टाश्चालयन्तोवसुन्धराम् ।।।।

Those cruel Rākṣasas—shape-shifters with protruding fangs and tawny eyes, roaring like elephants, their hair dishevelled and their forms terrifying—surrounded the huge-bodied son of Khara. Then, exulting, they surged forth, shaking the earth beneath them.

Verse 15

तेकामरूपिणस्सरेदंष्ट्रिणःपिङ्गलेक्षणा ।मातङ्गाइवनर्दन्तोध्वस्तकेशाभयावहाः ।।6.78.14।।परिवार्यमहाकायामहाकायंखरात्मजम् ।अभिजघ्नुस्ततोहृष्टाश्चालयन्तोवसुन्धराम् ।।6.78.15।।

Those cruel, shape-shifting Rākṣasas, fanged and yellow-eyed, with disheveled hair, roared like elephants, dreadful to behold. They surrounded the mighty Makarākṣa, Khara’s son, and, exulting, surged forward, making the earth tremble.

Verse 16

शङ्खभेरीसहस्राणामाहतानांसमन्ततः ।क्ष्येळितास्फोटितानां च तत्रशब्दोमहानभूत् ।।।।

Then on every side a tremendous din arose: conches and war-drums by the thousand were sounded, along with warriors’ whoops and the sharp cracking-claps of their arms.

Verse 17

प्रभ्रष्टोऽथकरात्तस्यप्रतोदस्सारथेस्तदा ।पपातसहसादैवाद्ध्वजस्तस्यतुरक्षसः ।।।।

Then the charioteer’s goad slipped from his hand and fell at once; and that rākṣasa’s banner, by a sudden turn of fate, toppled down—an ominous sign.

Verse 18

तस्यतेरथसंयुक्ताहयाविक्रमवर्जिताः ।चरणैराकुलैर्गत्वादीनाःसास्रमुखाययुः ।।।।

His horses, yoked to the chariot, lost their mettle; with faltering, unsteady steps they moved on, dejected, their faces wet with tears.

Verse 19

प्रवातिपवनस्तस्मिन् सपांसुःखरदारुणः ।निर्याणेतस्यरौद्रस्यमकराक्षस्यदुर्मतेः ।।।।

As the fierce and evil-minded Makarākṣa set forth, a harsh and dreadful wind arose, driving dust in every direction.

Verse 20

तानिदृष्टवानिमित्तानिराक्षसावीर्यवत्तमाः ।अचिन्त्यनिर्गतास्सर्वेयत्रतौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।।।

Though they beheld those portents, the most valiant of the rākṣasas gave them no heed; and all marched forth to where Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa stood.

Verse 21

घनगजमहिषाङ्गतुल्यवर्णास्समरमखेष्वसकृद्गदासिभिन्नाः ।अहमहमितियुद्धकौशलास्तेरजनीचराःपरिबभ्रमुर्नदन्तः ।।।।

Those night-ranging warriors—dark-hued like storm-clouds, elephants, and buffaloes—skilled in battle and again and again gashed by maces and swords, roamed about roaring, crying, “I, I!”