Sarga 89

Verse 6.89.1

ततश्शरान् दाशरथिस्सन्धायामित्रकर्शणः ।ससर्जराक्षसेन्द्रायकृद्धस्सर्पइवश्वसन् ।।6.89.1।।

Then Lakṣmaṇa, Daśaratha’s son and scourge of foes, set his arrows and loosed them at the lord of the Rākṣasas—seething with wrath, hissing like a serpent.

Verse 6.89.2

तस्यज्यातलनिर्घोषं स श्रुत्वाराक्षसाधिपः ।विवर्णवदनोभूत्वालक्ष्मणंसमुदैक्षत ।।6.89.2।।

Hearing the thunderous sound of that bowstring, the Lord of the Rakshasas turned pale and fixed his gaze intently upon Lakshmana.

Verse 6.89.3

विषण्णवदनंदृष्टवाराक्षसंरावणात्मजे ।सौमित्रिंयुद्धसंयुक्तंप्रत्युवाचविभीषणः ।।6.89.3।।

Seeing Rāvaṇa’s son among the rākṣasas, his face fallen and his spirit dispirited, Vibhīṣaṇa addressed Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa), who stood fully engaged and ready for battle.

Verse 6.89.4

निमित्तान्युपपश्यामियान्यस्मिन् रावणात्मजे ।त्वरतेनमहाबाहोभग्नएष न संशयः ।।6.89.4।।

Then Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), setting upon his bow arrows like tongues of fire, released them at him—keen and deadly, like great-venomed serpents.

Verse 6.89.5

ततस्सन्धायसौमित्रिश्शरानग्निशिखोपमान् ।मुमोचनिशितांस्तस्मिन् सर्पानिवमहाविषान् ।।6.89.5।।

Do you not recall my prowess in the first battle—when you and your brother, bound by me, lay writhing upon the ground?

Verse 6.89.6

शक्राशनिसमस्पर्शैर्लक्ष्मणेनाहतश्शरैः ।मुहूर्तमभवन्मूक्षःसर्वसंक्षुभितेन्द्रियः ।।6.89.6।।

Those two swift, mighty heroes—pierced deep by a net of arrows lodged in their bodies—still shone, like mountains thickly overgrown with trees.

Verse 6.89.7

उपलभ्यमुहूर्तेनसंज्ञांप्रत्यागतेन्द्रियः ।ददर्शावस्थितंवीरंवीरोदशरथात्मजम् ।।6.89.7।।

Both their bodies, drenched in blood and thickly covered with arrows, blazed with a terrible brilliance—like flames of fire.

Verse 6.89.8

सोऽभिचक्रामसौमित्रिंरोषात्संरक्तलोचनः ।अब्रवीच्चैनमासाद्यपुनस्सपरुषंवचः ।।6.89.8।।

A long time passed as those two fought; yet neither turned away from the battle, nor did they succumb to fatigue.

Verse 6.89.9

किं न स्मरसितद्युद्धेप्रथमेमत्पराक्रमम् । निबद्धस्त्वंसहभ्रात्रायदाभुविविचेष्टसे ।।6.89.9।।

Do you not remember, from that first battle, the might I displayed—when you, bound fast together with your brother, lay writhing upon the ground? Why do you now forget my prowess?

Verse 6.89.10

युवांखलुमहायुद्धेशक्रानिसमैश्शरैः ।शायितौप्रथमंभूमौविसंज्ञौसपुरस्सरौ ।।6.89.10।।

“Indeed, in that great battle before, you two were the first to be laid upon the earth, senseless, struck by my arrows—as though by Indra’s thunderbolt.”

Verse 6.89.11

स्मृतिर्वानास्तितेमन्येव्यक्तंवायमसादनम् ।गन्तुमिच्छसियस्मात्त्वमंधर्षयितुमिच्छसि ।।6.89.11।।

Hearing the sharp twang of Lakṣmaṇa’s bowstring, the lord of the rākṣasas turned pale and fixed his gaze upon Lakṣmaṇa.

Verse 6.89.12

यदितेप्रथमेयुद्धे न दृष्टोमत्पराक्रमः ।अद्यतेदर्शयिष्यामितिष्ठेदानींव्यवस्थितः ।।6.89.12।।

I think you have lost your sense and memory—or else you plainly wish to go to Yama’s abode—since you desire to challenge me.

Verse 6.89.13

इत्युक्त्वासप्तभिर्भाणैरभिविव्याथलक्ष्मणम् ।दशभिस्तुहनूमन्तंतीक्ष्णधाश्शरोत्तमैः ।।6.89.13।।

If in our first encounter you did not witness my prowess, today I shall show it to you—stand firm now, ready for battle.

Verse 6.89.14

ततःशरशतेनैवसुप्रयुक्तेनवीर्यवान् ।क्रोथाव्दिगुणसम्रब्धोनिर्बिभेदविभीषणम् ।।6.89.14।।

Having spoken thus, he struck Lakṣmaṇa with seven arrows, and Hanūmān with ten—keen-edged shafts of the finest kind.

Verse 6.89.15

तद्दष्टवेन्द्रजिताकर्मकृतंरामानुजस्तदा ।अचिन्तयित्वाप्रहसन्नैतत्किञ्चिदितिब्रुवन् ।।6.89.15।।मुमोच च शरान् घोरान् सम्गृह्यनरपुङ्गवः ।अभीतवदनःक्रुद्धोरावणिंलक्ष्मणोयुधि ।।6.89.16।।

Then the mighty one, his fury doubled, struck Vibhīṣaṇa with a full hundred arrows, well-aimed and forcefully loosed.

Verse 6.89.16

तद्दष्टवेन्द्रजिताकर्मकृतंरामानुजस्तदा ।अचिन्तयित्वाप्रहसन्नैतत्किञ्चिदितिब्रुवन् ।।6.89.15।।मुमोच च शरान् घोरान् सम्गृह्यनरपुङ्गवः ।अभीतवदनःक्रुद्धोरावणिंलक्ष्मणोयुधि ।।6.89.16।।

Seeing the deed done by Indrajit, Rāma’s younger brother paid it no heed; smiling, he said, “This is nothing.” Then Lakṣmaṇa—the best of men—his face unafraid and his anger kindled in battle, took up dreadful arrows and released them at Rāvaṇa’s son.

Verse 6.89.17

नैवंरणगताःशूराःप्रहरन्तिनिशाचर ।लघवश्चाल्पवीर्याश्चशरासुखास्तवहीमे ।।6.89.17।।

O night-roamer, true heroes engaged in war do not strike in such a manner. These arrows of yours are light and of little force—indeed, they feel almost pleasant.

Verse 6.89.18

नैवंशूरास्तुयुध्यन्तेसमरेजयकाङ्क्षिणः ।इत्येवंतंब्रुवाणस्तुधन्वीशरैरभिववर्ष ह ।।6.89.18।।

“Heroes who seek victory do not fight like this in battle.” Saying so, the bowman showered him with a rain of arrows.

Verse 6.89.19

स्यबाणैस्सुविध्वस्तंकवचंकाञ्चनंमहत् ।व्यशीर्यतरथोपस्थेताराजालमिव्बारात् ।।6.89.19।।

Shattered by his arrows, the great golden armor broke apart and fell upon the chariot-floor, like a cluster of stars dropping from the sky.

Verse 6.89.20

विधूतवर्मानाराचैर्भभूव स कृतव्रणः ।इन्द्रजित्समरेवीरःप्रत्यूषेभानुमानिव ।।6.89.20।।

With his armor and shield shattered by iron arrows, Indrajit—wounded in battle—stood forth like the sun at dawn, blazing amid the blood and dust of combat.

Verse 6.89.21

ततःशरसहस्रेणसङ्क्रुद्धोरावणात्मजः ।बिभेदसमरेवीरोलक्ष्मणंभीमविक्रमः ।।6.89.21।।

Then Ravana’s son, enraged and terrible in prowess, struck Lakṣmaṇa in the battle with a thousand arrows, piercing him again and again.

Verse 6.89.22

व्यशीर्यतमहद्धिव्यंकवचंलक्ष्मणस्य च ।कृतप्रतिकृतान्योन्यंबभूवतुरभिद्रुतौ ।।6.89.22।।

Lakṣmaṇa’s great and splendid armor too was shattered; and the two, rushing at one another, traded blow for blow—each assault answered at once by a counter-assault.

Verse 6.89.23

अभीक्ष्णंनिश्श्वसन्तौतौयुध्येतांतुमुलंयुधि ।शरसङ्कृत्तसर्वाङ्गौसर्वतोरुधिरोक्षितौ ।।6.89.23।।

Breathing hard again and again, the two fought fiercely in the war—limbs cut by arrows, their bodies drenched with blood on every side.

Verse 6.89.24

सुदीर्घकालंतौवीरावन्योन्यनिशितैःशरैः ।ततक्षतुर्महात्मानौरणकर्मविहारदौ ।।6.89.24।।

For a very long time those two heroes—great-souled and skilled in the arts of war—tore at one another with sharp arrows.

Verse 6.89.25

बभूवतुश्चात्मजयेयत्तौभीमपराक्रमौ ।तौशरौघैस्तदाकीर्णौनिकृत्तकवचध्वजौ ।।6.89.25।।सृजन्तौरुधिरंचोष्णंजलंप्रस्रवणाविव ।

Both, of dreadful prowess and intent on victory, pressed on; covered then with torrents of arrows, their armour and standards cut down, they poured forth hot blood like streams of water rushing from mountain springs.

Verse 6.89.26

शरवर्षंततोघोरंमुञ्चतोर्भीमनिःस्वनम् ।।6.89.26।।सासारयोरिवाकाशेनीलयोःकालमेघयोः ।तयोरथमहान्कालोव्यत्ययाद्युध्यमानयोः ।।6.89.27।।न च तौयुद्धवैमुख्यंश्रमंवाप्युपजग्मतुः ।

Then from the bows of the two came a dreadful rain of arrows with a terrifying roar—like dark storm-clouds in the sky pouring down at the world’s end.

Verse 6.89.27

शरवर्षंततोघोरंमुञ्चतोर्भीमनिःस्वनम् ।।6.89.26।।सासारयोरिवाकाशेनीलयोःकालमेघयोः ।तयोरथमहान्कालोव्यत्ययाद्युध्यमानयोः ।।6.89.27।।न च तौयुद्धवैमुख्यंश्रमंवाप्युपजग्मतुः ।

As they fought on, a long time passed; yet neither of the two turned away from the battle, nor did either succumb to fatigue.

Verse 6.89.28

अस्त्राण्यस्त्रविदांश्रेष्ठौदर्शयन्तौपुनःपुनः ।।6.89.28।।शरानुच्छावचाकारानन्तरिक्षेबबन्धतुः ।

Those two foremost masters of weapons again and again displayed their skill with the astras, and in the open sky they wove a net of arrows of many kinds and forms.

Verse 6.89.29

न्यपेतदोषमस्यन्तौलघुचित्रं च सुष्ठु च ।।6.89.29।।उभौतुतुमुलंघोरंचक्रतुर्नरराक्षसौ ।

The man and the rākṣasa both shot without a single misfire—swift, brilliant, and perfectly precise—making the battle tumultuous and dreadful.

Verse 6.89.30

तयोःपृथक् पृथभगीमश्शुश्रुवेतलनिस्स्वनः ।।6.89.30।।प्रकम्पयन्जनंघोरोनिर्घातइवदारुणः ।

From the two combatants, separately and distinctly, there was heard a fearsome sound like the clap of palms—grim and crushing, like a violent thunderclap, shaking the gathered host.

Verse 6.89.31

सतयोःभ्राजतेशब्दस्तदासमरयत्तयोः ।।6.89.31।।सुघोरयोर्निष्टनतोर्गगनेमेघयोरिव ।

As the two fought on, that resounding roar blazed forth—like the deep rumbling of two ominous clouds reverberating across the sky.

Verse 6.89.32

सुवर्णपुङ्खैर्नाराचैर्बलवन्तौकृतव्रणौ ।।6.89.32।।प्रसुस्रुवातेरुधिरंकीर्तिमन्तौजयेधृतौ ।

Wounded by nārāca arrows with golden fletching, the two mighty, fame-bearing heroes—steadfast in victory—began to bleed profusely.

Verse 6.89.33

तेगात्रयोर्निपतितारुक्मपुङ्खाःशरायुधि ।।6.89.33।।असृदगिग्धाविनिष्पेतुर्विविशुर्धरणीतलम् ।

In the battle, those gold-fletched arrows fell upon their limbs; smeared with blood, they slipped out again and bored into the surface of the earth.

Verse 6.89.34

अन्येसुनिशितैश्शस्त्रैराकाशेसञ्जघट्टिरे ।।6.89.34।।बभञ्जुश्चिच्छिदुश्चैवतयोर्बाणाःसहस्रशः ।

Meanwhile, thousands of other arrows from the two met and collided in the sky with razor-sharp weapons—shattering and splitting apart.

Verse 6.89.35

सबभूवरणेघोरस्तयोर्बाणमयश्चयः ।।6.89.35।।अग्निभ्यामिवदीप्ताभ्यांसत्रेकुशमयश्चयः ।

In that battle there arose between the two a dreadful heap and spread of arrows—appearing to the eyes like a mass of kuśa grass lit up by twin blazing fires in a sacrificial ground.

Verse 6.89.36

तयोःकृतव्रणौदेहौशुशुभातेमहात्मनोः ।।6.89.36।।सुपुष्पाविवनिष्पत्रौवनेशाल्मलिकिंशुकौ ।

The wounded bodies of those two great warriors shone—like the śālmali and kiṃśuka trees in a forest, heavy with blossoms yet stripped of leaves.

Verse 6.89.37

चक्रतुस्तुमुलंघोरंसन्निपातंमुहुर्मुहुः ।।6.89.37।।इन्द्रजिल्लक्ष्मणश्चैवपरस्परवधैषिणौ ।

Again and again, Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa—each seeking the other’s destruction—brought about a tumultuous and dreadful clash in battle.

Verse 6.89.38

लक्ष्मणोरावणिंयुद्धेरावणिश्चापिलक्ष्मणम् ।।6.89.38।।अन्योन्यंतावभिघ्नन्तौ न श्रमंप्रतिपद्यताम् ।

In the battle Lakṣmaṇa struck at Rāvaṇi, and Rāvaṇi likewise struck at Lakṣmaṇa; as they assailed each other, neither of the two gave way to fatigue.

Verse 6.89.39

बाणजालैश्शरीरस्थैरवगाढैस्तरस्विनौ ।।6.89.39।।शुशुभातेमहावीर्यौप्ररूढाविवपर्वतौ ।

I behold ominous signs in this son of Rāvaṇa; he is faltering. O mighty-armed one, his spirit is broken—there is no doubt.

Verse 6.89.40

तयोरुधिरसिक्तानिसम्वृतान्तिशरैर्भृशम् ।।6.89.40।।बभ्राजुःसर्वगात्राणिज्वलन्तइवपावकाः ।

Struck by Lakṣmaṇa’s arrows—whose touch was like Indra’s thunderbolt—he was stunned for a moment, all his senses thrown into turmoil.

Verse 6.89.41

तयोरथमहान् कालोव्यतीयाद्युध्यमानयोः ।।6.89.41।।न च तौयुद्धवैमुख्यंश्रमंवाप्युपजग्मतुः ।

Regaining consciousness in a short while, his senses restored, that hero beheld the steadfast hero—Daśaratha’s son—standing firm.

Verse 6.89.42

With eyes reddened in anger, he advanced toward Saumitri; approaching him again, he spoke harsh words.