Uttara Kanda, Sarga 28

सुमालिनं हतं दृष्ट्वा वसुना भस्मसात्कृतम् । स्वसैन्यं विद्रुतं चापि लक्षयित्वा ऽर्दितं सुरैः ।। 7.28.1 ।।

sumālinaṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā vasunā bhasmasātkṛtam | svasainyaṃ vidrutaṃ cāpi lakṣayitvā 'rditaṃ suraiḥ || 7.28.1 ||

Having seen Sumalin killed and reduced to ashes by Vasu, and observing his own army fleeing and tormented by the gods, (Meghanada reacted).

ततः स बलवान्क्रुद्धो रावणस्य सुतस्तदा । निवर्त्य राक्षसान्सर्वान्मेघनादो व्यवस्थितः ।। 7.28.2 ।।

tataḥ sa balavānkruddho rāvaṇasya sutastadā | nivartya rākṣasānsarvānmeghanādo vyavasthitaḥ || 7.28.2 ||

Then, that powerful son of Ravana, Meghanada, enraged, stopped all the fleeing rakshasas and stood firm.

सुरथेनाग्निवर्णेन कामगेन महारथः । अभिदुद्राव सेनां तां वनान्यग्निरिव ज्वलन् ।। 7.28.3 ।।

surathenāgnivarṇena kāmagena mahārathaḥ | abhidudrāva senāṃ tāṃ vanānyagniriva jvalan || 7.28.3 ||

The great charioteer, Meghanada, with his beautiful, fiery-colored chariot that moved at will, rushed towards that army, burning like a fire consuming forests.

ततः प्रविशतस्तस्य विविधायुधधारिणः । विदुद्रुवुर्दिशः सर्वा दर्शनादेव देवताः ।। 7.28.4 ।।

tataḥ praviśatastasya vividhāyudhadhāriṇaḥ | vidudruvurdiśaḥ sarvā darśanādeva devatāḥ || 7.28.4 ||

Then, as he, bearing various weapons, entered the battle, the gods fled in all directions merely at his sight.

न बभूव तदा कश्चिद्युयुत्सोरस्य सम्मुखे । सर्वानाविद्ध्य वित्रस्तांस्ततः शक्रो ऽब्रवीत्सुरान् ।। 7.28.5 ।।

na babhūva tadā kaścidyuyutsorasya sammukhe | sarvānāviddhya vitrastāṃstataḥ śakro 'bravītsurān || 7.28.5 ||

Then, no one dared to stand before him, who was eager to fight, and after he had wounded all the terrified gods, Indra spoke to them.

न भेतव्यं न गन्तव्यं निवर्तध्वं रणे सुराः । एष गच्छति पुत्रो मे युद्धार्थमपराजितः ।। 7.28.6 ।।

na bhetavyaṃ na gantavyaṃ nivartadhvaṃ raṇe surāḥ | eṣa gacchati putro me yuddhārthamaparājitaḥ || 7.28.6 ||

Indra instructs the gods not to fear or retreat from battle, as his unconquered son is now advancing to fight.

ततः शक्रसुतो देवो जयन्त इति विश्रुतः । रथेनाद्भुतकल्पेन सङ्ग्रामे सो ऽभ्यवर्तत ।। 7.28.7 ।।

tataḥ śakrasuto devo jayanta iti viśrutaḥ | rathenādbhutakalpena saṅgrāme so 'bhyavartata || 7.28.7 ||

Then, the renowned god Jayanta, son of Indra, advanced into battle with his wonderfully designed chariot.

ततस्ते त्रिदशाः सर्वे परिवार्य शचीसुतम् । रावणस्य सुतं युद्धे समासाद्य प्रजघ्निरे ।। 7.28.8 ।।

tataste tridaśāḥ sarve parivārya śacīsutam | rāvaṇasya sutaṃ yuddhe samāsādya prajaghnire || 7.28.8 ||

Then all the gods, surrounding Shachi's son Jayanta, approached Ravana's son in battle and attacked him.

तेषां युद्धं समभवत्सदृशं देवरक्षसाम् । महेन्द्रस्य च पुत्रस्य राक्षसेन्द्रसुतस्य च ।। 7.28.9 ।।

teṣāṃ yuddhaṃ samabhavatsadṛśaṃ devarakṣasām | mahendrasya ca putrasya rākṣasendrasutasya ca || 7.28.9 ||

A battle then ensued between them, resembling the conflicts of gods and Rakshasas, specifically between Mahendra's son (Jayanta) and the son of the lord of Rakshasas (Meghanada).

ततो मातलिपुत्रे तु गोमुखे राक्षसात्मजः । सारथौ पातयामास शरान्कनकभूषणान् ।। 7.28.10 ।।

tato mātaliputre tu gomukhe rākṣasātmajaḥ | sārathau pātayāmāsa śarānkanakabhūṣaṇān || 7.28.10 ||

Then, the son of the Rakshasa (Meghanada) shot gold-embellished arrows at Matali's son, Gomukha, who was the charioteer.

शचीसुतश्चापि तथा जयन्तस्तस्य सारथिम् । तं चापि रावणिः क्रुद्धः समन्तात्प्रत्यविध्यत ।। 7.28.11 ।।

śacīsutaścāpi tathā jayantastasya sārathim | taṃ cāpi rāvaṇiḥ kruddhaḥ samantātpratyavidhyata || 7.28.11 ||

Enraged, Ravana's son Indrajit pierced Jayanta, the son of Shachi, and also Indra's charioteer from all sides.

स हि क्रोधसमाविष्टो बली विस्फारितेक्षणः । रावणिः शक्रतनयं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् ।। 7.28.12 ।।

sa hi krodhasamāviṣṭo balī visphāritekṣaṇaḥ | rāvaṇiḥ śakratanayaṃ śaravarṣairavākirat || 7.28.12 ||

Indeed, that powerful son of Ravana, filled with rage and with wide-open eyes, showered Indra's son Jayanta with a volley of arrows.

ततो नानाप्रहरणाञ्छितधारान्सहस्रशः । पातयामास सङ्क्रुद्धः सुरसैन्येषु रावणिः ।। 7.28.13 ।।

tato nānāpraharaṇāñchitadhārānsahasraśaḥ | pātayāmāsa saṅkruddhaḥ surasainyeṣu rāvaṇiḥ || 7.28.13 ||

Then, greatly enraged, Ravana's son hurled thousands of various sharp-edged weapons upon the armies of the gods.

शतघ्नीमुसलप्रासगदाखड्गपरश्वधान् । महान्ति गिरिशृङ्गाणि पातयामास रावणिः ।। 7.28.14 ।।

śataghnīmusalaprāsagadākhaḍgaparaśvadhān | mahānti giriśṛṅgāṇi pātayāmāsa rāvaṇiḥ || 7.28.14 ||

Ravana's son hurled hundreds of weapons, maces, spears, clubs, swords, axes, and even huge mountain peaks.

ततः प्रव्यथिता लोकाः सञ्जज्ञे च तमो ऽभवत् । तस्य रावणपुत्रस्य शत्रुसैन्यानि निघ्नतः ।। 7.28.15 ।।

tataḥ pravyathitā lokāḥ sañjajñe ca tamo 'bhavat | tasya rāvaṇaputrasya śatrusainyāni nighnataḥ || 7.28.15 ||

Then, as Ravana's son destroyed the enemy armies, the worlds became greatly distressed, and darkness enveloped everything.

ततस्तद्दैवतबलं समन्तात्तं शचीसुतम् । बहुप्रकारमस्वस्थमभवच्छरपीडितम् ।। 7.28.16 ।।

tatastaddaivatabalaṃ samantāttaṃ śacīsutam | bahuprakāramasvasthamabhavaccharapīḍitam || 7.28.16 ||

Then, that divine army surrounding the son of Shachi became distressed in many ways, being afflicted by arrows.

नाभ्यजानन्त चान्योन्यं रक्षो वा देवता ऽथवा । तत्र तत्र विपर्यस्तं समन्तात्परिधावति ।। 7.28.17 ।।

nābhyajānanta cānyonyaṃ rakṣo vā devatā 'thavā | tatra tatra viparyastaṃ samantātparidhāvati || 7.28.17 ||

They could not recognize each other, whether they were demons or gods, and in their confusion, they ran about everywhere.

देवा देवान्निजघ्नुस्ते राक्षसान्राक्षसास्तथा । सम्मूढास्तमसाच्छन्ना व्यद्रवन्नपरे तथा ।। 7.28.18 ।।

devā devānnijaghnuste rākṣasānrākṣasāstathā | sammūḍhāstamasācchannā vyadravannapare tathā || 7.28.18 ||

The gods killed other gods, and similarly, the demons killed other demons, while others, utterly bewildered and enveloped in confusion, fled.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरः पुलोमा नाम वीर्यवान् । दैत्येन्द्रस्तेन सङ्गृह्य शचीपुत्रो ऽपवाहितः ।। 7.28.19 ।।

etasminnantare vīraḥ pulomā nāma vīryavān | daityendrastena saṅgṛhya śacīputro 'pavāhitaḥ || 7.28.19 ||

In this interval, the brave and powerful Daitya king named Puloma seized the son of Shachi and carried him away.

सङ्गृह्य तं तु दौहित्रं प्रविष्टः सागरं तदा । आर्यकः स हि तस्यासीत्पुलोमा येन सा शची ।। 7.28.20 ।।

saṅgṛhya taṃ tu dauhitraṃ praviṣṭaḥ sāgaraṃ tadā | āryakaḥ sa hi tasyāsītpulomā yena sā śacī || 7.28.20 ||

Having seized his grandson, Puloma then entered the ocean, for he was indeed the maternal grandfather of Jayanta, as Shachi was his daughter.

ज्ञात्वा प्रणाशं तु तदा जयन्तस्याथ देवताः । अप्रहृष्टास्ततः सर्वा व्यथिताः सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः ।। 7.28.21 ।।

jñātvā praṇāśaṃ tu tadā jayantasyātha devatāḥ | aprahṛṣṭāstataḥ sarvā vyathitāḥ sampradudruvuḥ || 7.28.21 ||

Knowing then of Jayanta's defeat, all the gods became unhappy and distressed, and then they fled.

रावणिस्त्वथ सङ्क्रुद्धो बलैः परिवृतः स्वकैः । अभ्यधावत देवांस्तान्मुमोच च महास्वनम् ।। 7.28.22 ।।

rāvaṇistvatha saṅkruddho balaiḥ parivṛtaḥ svakaiḥ | abhyadhāvata devāṃstānmumoca ca mahāsvanam || 7.28.22 ||

Then, Ravana's son, greatly enraged and surrounded by his own forces, rushed towards those gods and uttered a mighty roar.

दृष्ट्वा प्रणाशं पुत्रस्य दैवतेषु च विद्रुतम् । मातलिं चाह देवेशो रथः समुपनीयताम् ।। 7.28.23 ।।

dṛṣṭvā praṇāśaṃ putrasya daivateṣu ca vidrutam | mātaliṃ cāha deveśo rathaḥ samupanīyatām || 7.28.23 ||

Having seen the defeat of his son and the flight of the gods, the lord of gods then said to Matali, "Let the chariot be brought forth."

स तु दिव्यो महाभीमः सज्ज एव महारथः । उपस्थितो मातलिना वाह्यमानो महाजवः ।। 7.28.24 ।।

sa tu divyo mahābhīmaḥ sajja eva mahārathaḥ | upasthito mātalinā vāhyamāno mahājavaḥ || 7.28.24 ||

That divine, very formidable, and indeed ready great chariot, of immense speed, was then brought forth by Matali.

ततो मेघा रथे तस्मिंस्तडित्त्वन्तो महाबलाः । अग्रतो वायुचपला नेदुः परमनिःस्वनाः ।। 7.28.25 ।।

tato meghā rathe tasmiṃstaḍittvanto mahābalāḥ | agrato vāyucapalā neduḥ paramaniḥsvanāḥ || 7.28.25 ||

Then, very powerful clouds, bearing lightning and swift as the wind, roared with mighty sounds in front of that chariot.

नानावाद्यानि वाद्यन्त गन्धर्वाश्च समाहिताः । ननृतुश्चाप्सरःसङ्घा निर्याते त्रिदशेश्वरे ।। 7.28.26 ।।

nānāvādyāni vādyanta gandharvāśca samāhitāḥ | nanṛtuścāpsaraḥsaṅghā niryāte tridaśeśvare || 7.28.26 ||

As the lord of the gods, Indra, departed, various musical instruments were played, Gandharvas sang attentively, and groups of Apsaras danced.

रुद्रैर्वसुभिरादित्यैस्साध्यैश्च समरुद्गणैः । वृतो नानाप्रहरणैर्निर्ययौ त्रिदशाधिपः ।। 7.28.27 ।।

rudrairvasubhirādityaissādhyaiśca samarudgaṇaiḥ | vṛto nānāpraharaṇairniryayau tridaśādhipaḥ || 7.28.27 ||

The lord of the gods, surrounded by Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, Sadhyas, and groups of Maruts, all bearing various weapons, then departed.

निर्गच्छतस्तु शक्रस्य परुषं पवनो ववौ । भास्करो निष्प्रभश्चासीन्महोल्काश्च प्रपेदिरे ।। 7.28.28 ।।

nirgacchatastu śakrasya paruṣaṃ pavano vavau | bhāskaro niṣprabhaścāsīnmaholkāśca prapedire || 7.28.28 ||

However, as Shakra departed, a harsh wind blew, the sun became dim, and large meteors fell, indicating ill omens.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शूरो दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान् । आरुरोह रथं दिव्यं निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा ।। 7.28.29 ।।

etasminnantare śūro daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān | āruroha rathaṃ divyaṃ nirmitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā || 7.28.29 ||

At that very moment, the brave and mighty Dashagriva (Ravana) ascended a divine chariot that had been crafted by Vishvakarma.

पन्नगैः सुमहाकार्यैर्वेष्टितं रोमहर्षणैः । तेषां निःश्वासवातेन प्रदीप्तमिव संयुगे ।। 7.28.30 ।।

pannagaiḥ sumahākāryairveṣṭitaṃ romaharṣaṇaiḥ | teṣāṃ niḥśvāsavātena pradīptamiva saṃyuge || 7.28.30 ||

This chariot was entwined by terrifying serpents of immense size, whose breath-like wind made it appear as if blazing in battle.

दैत्यैर्निशाचरैश्चैव स रथः परिवारितः । समराभिमुखो दैत्यो महेन्द्रं सो ऽभ्यवर्तत ।। 7.28.31 ।।

daityairniśācaraiścaiva sa rathaḥ parivāritaḥ | samarābhimukho daityo mahendraṃ so 'bhyavartata || 7.28.31 ||

Surrounded by demons and night-wanderers, that chariot, with the demon facing the battle, advanced towards Mahendra.

पुत्रं तं वारयित्वा तु स्वयमेव व्यवस्थितः । सो ऽपि युद्धाद्विनिष्क्रम्य रावणिः समुपाविशत् ।। 7.28.32 ।।

putraṃ taṃ vārayitvā tu svayameva vyavasthitaḥ | so 'pi yuddhādviniṣkramya rāvaṇiḥ samupāviśat || 7.28.32 ||

Having restrained his son, he himself took his position, while Ravani, having exited the battle, also sat down.

ततो युद्धं प्रवृत्तं तु सुराणां राक्षसैः सह । शस्त्राणि वर्षतां घोरं मेघानामिव संयुगे ।। 7.28.33 ।।

tato yuddhaṃ pravṛttaṃ tu surāṇāṃ rākṣasaiḥ saha | śastrāṇi varṣatāṃ ghoraṃ meghānāmiva saṃyuge || 7.28.33 ||

Then, a terrible battle commenced between the gods and the rakshasas, with weapons showering down like clouds in a fight.

कुम्भकर्णस्तु दुष्टात्मा नानाप्रहरणोद्यतः । नाज्ञायत तदा युद्धे सह केनाप्ययुध्यत ।। 7.28.34 ।।

kumbhakarṇastu duṣṭātmā nānāpraharaṇodyataḥ | nājñāyata tadā yuddhe saha kenāpyayudhyata || 7.28.34 ||

The evil-minded Kumbhakarna, ready with various weapons, was then not known with whom he was fighting in the battle.

दन्तैः भुजाभ्यां पद्मां च शक्तितोमरसायकैः । येन केनैव संरब्धस्ताडयामास वै सुरान् ।। 7.28.35 ।।

dantaiḥ bhujābhyāṃ padmāṃ ca śaktitomarasāyakaiḥ | yena kenaiva saṃrabdhastāḍayāmāsa vai surān || 7.28.35 ||

Enraged, he indeed struck the gods with teeth, with two arms, a lotus, and with shaktis, tomaras, and arrows, by whatever means possible.

ततो रुद्रैर्महाघोरैः सङ्गम्याथ निशाचरः । प्रयुद्धस्तैश्च सङ्ग्रामे क्षतः शस्त्रैर्निरन्तरम् ।। 7.28.36 ।।

tato rudrairmahāghoraiḥ saṅgamyātha niśācaraḥ | prayuddhastaiśca saṅgrāme kṣataḥ śastrairnirantaram || 7.28.36 ||

Then, the night-wanderer Kumbhakarna, having encountered and fought with the extremely terrible Rudras in battle, was continuously wounded by their weapons.

बभौ शस्त्राचिततनुः कुम्भकर्णः क्षरन्नसृक् । विद्युत्स्तनितनिर्घोषो धारवानिव तोयदः ।। 7.28.37 ।।

babhau śastrācitatanuḥ kumbhakarṇaḥ kṣarannasṛk | vidyutstanitanirghoṣo dhāravāniva toyadaḥ || 7.28.37 ||

Kumbhakarna, with his body covered in weapons and oozing blood, appeared like a rain-bearing cloud accompanied by the roar of thunder and lightning.

ततस्तद्राक्षसं सैन्यं प्रयुद्धं समरुद्गणैः । रणे विद्रावितं सर्वं नानाप्रहरणैः शितैः ।। 7.28.38 ।।

tatastadrākṣasaṃ sainyaṃ prayuddhaṃ samarudgaṇaiḥ | raṇe vidrāvitaṃ sarvaṃ nānāpraharaṇaiḥ śitaiḥ || 7.28.38 ||

Then, that entire Rakshasa army, having fought with the Marut hosts, was routed in battle by their sharp and various weapons.

केचिद्विनिहताः कृत्ताश्चेष्टन्ति स्म महीतले । वाहनेष्ववसक्ताश्च स्थिता एवापरे रणे ।। 7.28.39 ।।

kecidvinihatāḥ kṛttāśceṣṭanti sma mahītale | vāhaneṣvavasaktāśca sthitā evāpare raṇe || 7.28.39 ||

Some were killed and cut down, writhing on the ground, while others remained stuck on their vehicles in the battle.

रथान्नागान्खरानुष्ट्रान्पन्नगांस्तुरगान् रणे । शिंशुमारान्वराहांश्च पिशाचवदनान्तथा ।। 7.28.40 ।।

rathānnāgānkharānuṣṭrānpannagāṃsturagān raṇe | śiṃśumārānvarāhāṃśca piśācavadanāntathā || 7.28.40 ||

In the battle, there were chariots, elephants, donkeys, camels, serpents, horses, porpoises, boars, and creatures with demon-like faces.

तान्समालिङ्ग्य बाहुभ्यां विष्टब्धाः केचिदुच्छ्रुताः । देवैस्तु शस्त्रसम्भिन्ना मम्रिरे च निशाचराः ।। 7.28.41 ।।

tānsamāliṅgya bāhubhyāṃ viṣṭabdhāḥ keciducchrutāḥ | devaistu śastrasambhinnā mamrire ca niśācarāḥ || 7.28.41 ||

Some night-wanderers, embracing others with their arms, were paralyzed and raised high, while others, pierced by the weapons of the gods, died.

चित्रकर्म इवाभाति स तेषां रणसम्प्लवः । निहतानां प्रमत्तानां राक्षसानां महीतले ।। 7.28.42 ।।

citrakarma ivābhāti sa teṣāṃ raṇasamplavaḥ | nihatānāṃ pramattānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ mahītale || 7.28.42 ||

That scene of the slain and heedless Rakshasas on the earth, amidst the battle's chaos, appeared like a painting.

शोणितोदकनिष्पन्दकङ्कगृध्रसमाकुला । प्रवृत्ता संयुगमुखे शस्त्रग्राहवती नदी ।। 7.28.43 ।।

śoṇitodakaniṣpandakaṅkagṛdhrasamākulā | pravṛttā saṃyugamukhe śastragrāhavatī nadī || 7.28.43 ||

At the forefront of the battle, a river flowed forth, its waters of blood, crowded with vultures and eagles, and having weapons as its alligators.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धो दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान् । निरीक्ष्य तद्बलं कृत्स्नं दैवतैर्विनिपातितम् ।। 7.28.44 ।।

etasminnantare kruddho daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān | nirīkṣya tadbalaṃ kṛtsnaṃ daivatairvinipātitam || 7.28.44 ||

In the meantime, the mighty Dashagriva, enraged upon seeing his entire army destroyed by the gods, reacted fiercely.

स तं प्रति विगाह्याशु प्रवृद्धं सैन्यसागरम् । त्रिदशान्समरे निघ्नञ्छक्रमेवाभ्यवर्तत ।। 7.28.45 ।।

sa taṃ prati vigāhyāśu pravṛddhaṃ sainyasāgaram | tridaśānsamare nighnañchakramevābhyavartata || 7.28.45 ||

He quickly plunged into that swollen ocean of the enemy army, striking down the gods in battle, and advanced directly towards Indra.

आगाच्छक्रो महच्चापं विस्फार्य सुमहास्वनम् । यस्य विस्फारघोषेण स्तनन्ति स्म दिशो दश ।। 7.28.46 ।।

āgācchakro mahaccāpaṃ visphārya sumahāsvanam | yasya visphāraghoṣeṇa stananti sma diśo daśa || 7.28.46 ||

Indra arrived, drawing his mighty bow with a tremendous sound, the reverberations of which caused the ten directions to thunder.

तद्विकृष्य महच्चापमिन्द्रो रावणमूर्धनि । निपातयामास शरान्पावकादित्यवर्चसः ।। 7.28.47 ।।

tadvikṛṣya mahaccāpamindro rāvaṇamūrdhani | nipātayāmāsa śarānpāvakādityavarcasaḥ || 7.28.47 ||

Drawing that great bow, Indra rained down arrows on Ravana's head, arrows that shone with the brilliance of fire and the sun.

तथैव च महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो व्यवस्थितः । शक्रं कार्मुकविभ्रष्टैः शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् ।। 7.28.48 ।।

tathaiva ca mahābāhurdaśagrīvo vyavasthitaḥ | śakraṃ kārmukavibhraṣṭaiḥ śaravarṣairavākirat || 7.28.48 ||

And similarly, the mighty-armed Dashagriva stood firm and covered Indra with showers of arrows released from his bow.

प्रयुध्यतोरथ तयोर्बाणवर्षैः समन्ततः । न ज्ञायते तदा किञ्चित्सर्वं हि तमसा वृतम् ।। 7.28.49 ।।

prayudhyatoratha tayorbāṇavarṣaiḥ samantataḥ | na jñāyate tadā kiñcitsarvaṃ hi tamasā vṛtam || 7.28.49 ||

As those two fought with showers of arrows all around, nothing could be discerned then, for everything was indeed covered by darkness. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टाविंशः सर्गः ।। 28 ।। Thus ends the twenty-eighth sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.