Shloka 2
जम्बुमालिवधः
The Slaying of Jambumali
सन्दिष्टो राक्षसेन्द्रेण प्रहस्तस्य सुतो बली।जम्बुमाली महादंष्ट्रो निर्जगाम धनुर्धरः।।5.44.1।।रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरस्स्रग्वी रुचिरकुण्डलः।महान्विवृत्तनयनश्चण्डस्समरदुर्जयः।।5.44.2।।धनुश्शक्रधनुः प्रख्यं महद्रुचिरसायकम्।विष्फारयाणो वेगेन वज्राशनिसमस्वनम्।।5.44.3।।
sandiṣṭo rākṣasendreṇa prahastasya suto balī | jambumālī mahādaṃṣṭro nirjagāma dhanurdharaḥ || 5.44.1 ||
raktamālyāmbaradharaḥ sragvī rucirakuṇḍalaḥ | mahān vivṛttanayanaś caṇḍaḥ samaradurjayaḥ || 5.44.2 ||
dhanuḥ śakradhanuḥ-prakhyaṃ mahad rucira-sāyakam | viṣphārayāṇo vegena vajrāśani-samasvanaḥ || 5.44.3 ||
Sur l’ordre du seigneur des Rākṣasas, sortit le vaillant Jāmbumālin, fils de Prahasta, aux grandes défenses, portant l’arc. Il était vêtu de rouge, paré d’une guirlande rouge, couronné de fleurs et orné de boucles d’oreilles éclatantes ; ses yeux, larges et roulants, le rendaient farouche, et nul ne le vainquait au combat. Son arc, semblable à l’arc-en-ciel d’Indra, il le fit résonner d’un geste rapide, avec un fracas pareil au tonnerre de la foudre, tandis que ses grandes flèches étincelaient.
Commanded by the demon king, Jambumali the invincible son of Prahasta, who had large teeth in front, big rolling eyes, red flower garland, red robes and a chaplet with beautiful earrings. He went round twanging his producing thunderous sound. His arrows were huge, shining and beautiful.
FAQs
It shows how valor can be morally ambiguous: martial excellence and splendor, when placed in service of adharma (Rāvaṇa’s cause), become instruments of wrongdoing rather than righteousness.
Rāvaṇa dispatches Jāmbumālin (son of Prahasta). The verse introduces his appearance, weapons, and terrifying battle-readiness.
Jāmbumālin’s warrior prowess and intimidation—yet framed as power aligned to an unrighteous command, contrasting later with Hanumān’s dhārmic strength.