Sarga 94

Verse 6.94.1

स प्रविश्यसभांराजादीनःपरमदुःखितः ।निषपादासनेमुख्येसिंहःक्रुद्धइवश्वसन् ।।।।

King Rāvaṇa entered the council-hall, pitiable and overwhelmed with grief; sighing like an enraged lion, he sat down on the chief seat.

Verse 6.94.2

अब्रवीच्च स तान्सर्वान् बलमुख्यान् महाबलः ।रावणःप्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यंपुत्रव्यसनकर्शितः ।।।।

When Rāma entered then, even the most dreadful rākṣasas could not close in on him—just as clouds in the sky cannot draw near the sun—while he burned them with the fire of his arrows.

Verse 6.94.3

सर्वेभवन्तस्सर्वेणहस्त्यश्वेनसमावृताः ।निर्यान्तुरथसङ्घैश्चपादातैश्चोपशोभिताः ।।6.94.3।।

The people beheld that “Wheel of Rāma” cutting down the rākṣasas in battle: his body as the hub, his inner strength as its radiance, arrows as spokes, the bow as the rim, the twang of the bowstring as its roar, and his splendor, intelligence, and virtues as the force driving his divine weapons—like the very Wheel of Time.

Verse 6.94.4

एकंरामंपरिक्षिप्यसमरेहन्तुमर्हथ ।वर्षन्तश्शरवर्षाणिप्रावृट् कालइवाम्बुदाः ।।6.94.4।।

All of them hurled iron bars, heavy clubs, arrows, swords, and axes—deadly enough to end life—toward the vānaras; and the vānaras, in turn, hurled trees and rocks at the rākṣasas.

Verse 6.94.5

अथवाहंशरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भिन्नगात्रंमहाहवे ।भवद्भिःश्वोनिहन्तास्मिरामंलोकस्यपश्यतः ।।।।

At sunrise, that battle between rākṣasas and vānaras became exceedingly dreadful and tumultuous.

Verse 6.94.6

इत्येतद्वाक्यमादायरक्षसेन्द्रस्यराक्षसाः ।निर्ययुस्तेरथैःशीघ्रैर्नानानीकैश्चसंयुताः ।।।।

Then the vānaras and rākṣasas struck one another in battle with wondrous maces, spears, swords, and axes.

Verse 6.94.7

परिघान् पट्टसांश्चैवशरखङ्गपरश्वधान् ।शरीरान्तकरान् सर्वेचिक्षिपुर्वानरान् प्रति ।।।।वानराश्चद्रुमान्शैलान्राक्षसान्प्रतिचिक्षिपुः ।

Then righteous Rama spoke at once to Sugrīva—also to Vibhīṣaṇa, Hanūmān the vānara, Jāmbavān the foremost of the haris, and to Mainda and Dvivida: “This divine power of the weapon belongs to me—or to Tryambaka (Śiva) alone.”

Verse 6.94.8

स सङ्ग्रामोमहाभीमस्सूर्यस्यदयनंप्रति ।।।।रक्षसांवानराणां च तुमुलस्समपद्यत ।

Having destroyed that army of the rākṣasa-king, great-souled Rama—Indra’s equal—unwearied in the use of weapons and missiles, was praised by the jubilant hosts of devas.

Verse 6.94.9

तेगदाभिश्चचित्राभिःप्रासैःखडगैःपरश्वधैः ।।।।अन्योन्यंसमरेजघ्नुस्तदावानरराक्षसाः ।

Thousands upon thousands of chariots, bannered and yoked to horses the color of fire, and thousands of rākṣasa warriors who fought with maces and iron bars—whose standards shone with gold, heroic and able to assume forms at will—were slain by Rāma, tireless in action, with blazing, keen arrows adorned with heated gold: forces deployed by Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.94.10

एवंप्रवृत्तेसङ्ग्रामेह्यद्भुतंसुमहद्रजः ।।।।रक्षसांवानराणां च शान्तंशोणितविस्रवैः ।

As the battle raged on, a vast and astonishing cloud of dust rose up; it was then laid low by the streaming flow of blood from both rākṣasas and vānaras.

Verse 6.94.11

मातङ्गरथकूलाश्चवाजिमत्सास्यध्वजद्रुमाः ।।।।शरीरसङ्घाटवहाःप्रसस्रुःशोणितापगाः ।

Rivers of blood flowed forth—having elephants and chariots for their banks, horses as their fish, banners as their trees, and heaps of bodies borne along like logs.

Verse 6.94.12

ततस्तेवानराःसर्वेशोणितौघपरिप्लुताः ।।।।ध्वजवर्मरथानश्वान्नानाप्रहरणानि च ।आप्लुत्याप्लुत्यसमरेवानरेन्द्राबभञ्चिरे ।।।।

Then all the vānaras, drenched in streams of blood, leapt again and again in the battle; and the leaders of the vānaras smashed banners, armour, chariots, horses, and weapons of many kinds.

Verse 6.94.13

ततस्तेवानराःसर्वेशोणितौघपरिप्लुताः ।।6.94.12।।ध्वजवर्मरथानश्वान्नानाप्रहरणानि च ।आप्लुत्याप्लुत्यसमरेवानरेन्द्राबभञ्चिरे ।।6.94.13।।

This verse repeats the same sense: the blood-drenched vānaras leapt again and again in battle, and the vānaras’ leaders shattered banners, armour, chariots, horses, and diverse weapons.

Verse 6.94.14

केशान् कर्णललाटं च नासिकाश्चप्लवङ्गमाः ।रक्षसांदशनैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नखैश्चापिव्यकर्तयन् ।।।।

The monkeys, with their sharp teeth and claws, tore away the rākṣasas’ hair, ears, foreheads, and noses.

Verse 6.94.15

एकैकंराक्षसंसङ्ख्येशतंवानरपुङ्गवाः ।अभ्यधावन्तफलिनंवृक्षंशकुनयोयथा ।।।।

In the thick of battle, hundreds of mighty vānaras rushed at each single rākṣasa—just as birds swoop upon a fruit-laden tree.

Verse 6.94.16

तदागदाभिर्गुर्वीभिःप्रासैःखडगैःपरश्वधैः ।निर्जघ्नुर्वानरान्घोरान्राक्षसाःपर्वतोपमाः ।।।।

Then the rākṣasas, huge as mountains, struck down the fearsome vānaras with heavy maces, spears, swords, and axes.

Verse 6.94.17

राक्षसैर्वध्यमानानांवानराणांमहाचमूः ।शरण्यंशरणंयातारामंदशरथात्मजम् ।।।।

As the rākṣasas cut down the vānaras, their great host sought refuge in Rāma—Dasharatha’s son—the true protector of all who seek shelter.

Verse 6.94.18

ततोरामोमहातेजाधनुरादायवीर्यवान् ।प्रविश्यराक्षसंसैन्यंशरवर्षंववर्ष ह ।।।।

Then Rāma, radiant with great might and steadfast in valor, took up his bow, entered the rākṣasa ranks, and poured upon them a rain of arrows.

Verse 6.94.19

प्रविष्टंतुतदारामंमेघास्सूर्यमिवाम्बरे ।नाथिजग्मुर्महाघोरानिर्दहन्तंशराग्निना ।।।।

Then Rāvaṇa—mighty in power yet worn down by grief for his son—addressed all the chiefs of his forces, speaking with folded hands.

Verse 6.94.20

कृतान्येवसुघोराणिरामेणरजनीचराः ।ददृशुस्ते न वैरामंकर्माण्यसुकराणिते ।।।।

Those night-rangers beheld only Rāma’s terrible deeds once they were already done; they could not truly see Rāma himself, whose acts were impossible for others to match.

Verse 6.94.21

चालयन्तंमहासैन्यंविधमन्तंमहारथान् ।ददृशुस्ते न वैरामंवातंवनगतंयथा ।।।।

Though he shook the vast host and shattered mighty chariot-warriors, they still could not behold Rāma—like wind moving through a forest, felt by its force yet unseen.

Verse 6.94.22

छिन्नंभिन्नंशरैर्दग्धंप्रभन्नंशस्त्रपीडितम् ।बलंरामेणददृशुर्नरामंशीघ्रकारिणम् ।।।।

They saw the host cut down, split apart, scorched by arrows, torn open and tormented by weapons—yet Rāma himself, so swift in action, they could not make out.

Verse 6.94.23

प्रहरन्तंशरीरेषु न तेपश्यन्तिराघवम् ।इन्द्रियार्थेषुतिष्ठन्तंभूतात्मानमिवप्रजाः ।।।।

Though their bodies were being struck, they could not perceive Rāghava—just as people, absorbed in the objects of the senses, do not perceive the inner Self abiding within beings.

Verse 6.94.24

एषहन्तिगजानीकमेषहन्तिमहारथान् ।एषहन्तिशरैस्तीक्ष्णैःपदातीस्वाजिभिःसह ।।।।इतितेराक्षसास्सर्वेरामस्यसदृशान्रणे ।अन्योन्यंकुपिताजघ्नुस्सादृश्याद्राघवस्यते ।।।।

“This one is slaying the elephant-corps! This one is killing the great chariot-warriors! This one, with keen arrows, is striking down foot-soldiers along with their horses!”—so they cried out in confusion.

Verse 6.94.25

एषहन्तिगजानीकमेषहन्तिमहारथान् ।एषहन्तिशरैस्तीक्ष्णैःपदातीस्वाजिभिःसह ।।6.94.24।।इतितेराक्षसास्सर्वेरामस्यसदृशान्रणे ।अन्योन्यंकुपिताजघ्नुस्सादृश्याद्राघवस्यते ।।6.94.25।।

So all those rākṣasas, enraged in battle, struck one another, mistaking their own comrades for Rāma, because of the bewildering semblance cast around Rāghava.

Verse 6.94.26

न तेददृशिरेरामंदहन्तमपिवाहिनीम् ।मोहिताःपरमास्त्रणगान्धर्वेणमहात्मना ।।।।

Though Rāma was burning their host, they still could not see him, for they were bewildered by the supreme Gandharva-weapon released by the great-souled one.

Verse 6.94.27

तेतुरामसहस्राणिरणेपश्यन्तिराक्षसाः ।पुनःपश्यन्तिकाकुत्स्थमेकमेवमहाहवे ।।।।

In that great battle, the rākṣasas at one moment saw a thousand Rāmas in the field, and then again they saw only one Kakutstha.

Verse 6.94.28

भ्रमन्तीकाञ्चनींकोटिंकार्मुकस्यमहात्मनः ।अलातचक्रप्रतिमांददृशुस्ते न राघवम् ।।।।

“All of you—fully equipped with elephants and horses, adorned with companies of chariots and with foot-soldiers—march out!”

Verse 6.94.29

शरीरनाभिसत्त्वार्चिश्शरारंनेमिकार्मुकम् ।ज्याघोषतलनिर्घोषंतेजोबुधदिगुणप्रभम् ।।।।दिव्यास्त्रगुणपर्यन्तंनिघ्नन्तंयुधिराक्षसान् ।ददृशूरामचक्रंतत्कालचक्रमिवप्रजाः ।।।।

As the great-souled Rāghava moved in rapid circles with his bow, they saw only the bow’s golden tip—like a whirling firebrand—and could not make out Rāma himself.

Verse 6.94.30

शरीरनाभिसत्त्वार्चिश्शरारंनेमिकार्मुकम् ।ज्याघोषतलनिर्घोषंतेजोबुधदिगुणप्रभम् ।।6.94.29।।दिव्यास्त्रगुणपर्यन्तंनिघ्नन्तंयुधिराक्षसान् ।ददृशूरामचक्रंतत्कालचक्रमिवप्रजाः ।।6.94.30।।

Within an eighth part of a day, Rāma alone felled the shape-shifting Rākṣasas with arrows like tongues of fire—ten thousand swift chariots, eighteen thousand mighty elephants, fourteen thousand horses with riders, and a full two hundred thousand infantry.

Verse 6.94.31

अनीकंदशसाहस्रंरथानांवातरम्हसाम् ।अष्टादशसहस्राणिकुञ्जराणांतरस्विनाम् ।।।।चतुर्दशसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।पूर्णेशतसहस्रेद्वेराक्षसानांपदातिनाम् ।।।।दिवसस्याष्टभागेनशरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ।हतात्यान्येकेनरामेणरक्षसांकामरूपिणाम् ।।।।

Those night-roamers—horses slain, chariots ruined, and standards shattered—left only as remnants, fell back and fled into the city of Laṅkā.

Verse 6.94.32

अनीकंदशसाहस्रंरथानांवातरम्हसाम् ।अष्टादशसहस्राणिकुञ्जराणांतरस्विनाम् ।।6.94.31।।चतुर्दशसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।पूर्णेशतसहस्रेद्वेराक्षसानांपदातिनाम् ।।6.94.32।।दिवसस्याष्टभागेनशरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ।हतात्यान्येकेनरामेणरक्षसांकामरूपिणाम् ।।6.94.33।।

With elephants, infantry, and horses lying slain, that battlefield looked like the play-ground of the great Rudra when wrathful.

Verse 6.94.33

अनीकंदशसाहस्रंरथानांवातरम्हसाम् ।अष्टादशसहस्राणिकुञ्जराणांतरस्विनाम् ।।6.94.31।।चतुर्दशसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।पूर्णेशतसहस्रेद्वेराक्षसानांपदातिनाम् ।।6.94.32।।दिवसस्याष्टभागेनशरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ।हतात्यान्येकेनरामेणरक्षसांकामरूपिणाम् ।।6.94.33।।

Then the Devas, along with Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great Ṛṣis, honored that deed of Rāma, acclaiming, “Well done! Well done!”

Verse 6.94.34

तेहताश्वाहतरथाश्शान्ताविमथितध्वजाः ।अभिपेतुःपुरींलङ्कांहतशेषानिशाचराः ।।।।

Those night-rangers—horses slain, chariots destroyed, standards shattered, and themselves subdued—fled back into the city of Laṅkā, the few survivors after the slaughter.

Verse 6.94.35

हतैर्गजपदात्यश्वैस्तद्बभूवरणाजिरम् ।अक्रीडभूमिःक्रुद्धस्यरुद्रस्येवमहात्मनः ।।।।

Strewn with slain elephants, foot soldiers, and horses, that battlefield appeared like the sporting ground of the angry, great-souled Rudra.

Verse 6.94.36

ततोदेवास्कसगन्धर्वास्सिद्धाश्चपरमर्षयः ।साधुसावधितिरामस्यतत्कर्मसमपूजयन् ।।।।

Then the gods, along with the Gandharvas, the Siddhas, and the great sages, honored that deed of Rama, exclaiming, 'Excellent! Excellent!'

Verse 6.94.37

अब्रवीच्छतदारामःसुग्रीवंप्रत्यनन्तरम् ।विभीषणं च धर्मात्माहनूमन्तं च वानरम् ।।।।जाम्बवन्तंहरिश्रेष्ठंमैन्दंद्विविदमेव च ।एतदस्त्रबलंदिव्यंममवात्ऱ्यम्बकस्यवा ।।।।

“Surround Rama alone in battle and you should strike him down—pouring showers of arrows like clouds in the monsoon season.”

Verse 6.94.38

अब्रवीच्छतदारामःसुग्रीवंप्रत्यनन्तरम् ।विभीषणं च धर्मात्माहनूमन्तं च वानरम् ।।6.94.37।।जाम्बवन्तंहरिश्रेष्ठंमैन्दंद्विविदमेव च ।एतदस्त्रबलंदिव्यंममवात्ऱ्यम्बकस्यवा ।।6.94.38।।

“Or else, once you have pierced his limbs with sharp arrows in this great battle, tomorrow—before the world’s very eyes—I will kill Rama.”

Verse 6.94.39

निहत्यतांराक्षसराजवाहिनींरामस्तदाशक्रसमोमहात्मा ।अस्त्रषुशस्त्रषुजितक्लमश्चसंस्तूयतेदेवगणैःप्रहृष्टैः ।।।।

Having taken in those words of the lord of rākṣasas, the rākṣasas marched out swiftly in their chariots, joined with many different battalions.