Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 55

वज्रदंष्ट्रंहतंश्रुत्वावालिपुत्रेणरावणः । बलाध्यक्षमुवाचेदंकृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम् ।।6.55.1।।

vajradaṃṣṭraṃhataṃśrutvāvāliputreṇarāvaṇaḥ | balādhyakṣamuvācedaṃkṛtāñjalimupasthitam

On hearing about Vajradamshtra being killed by Vali's son, Ravana spoke to the chief of the army who stood with folded hands.

शीघ्रंनिर्यान्तुदुर्धर्षाराक्षसाभीमविक्रमाः । अकम्पनंपुरस्कृत्यसर्वशस्त्रप्रकोविदम् ।।6.55.2।।

śīghraṃniryāntudurdharṣārākṣasābhīmavikramāḥ | akampanaṃpuraskṛtyasarvaśastraprakovidam

"Send for Akampana quickly, who is of terrific valour, difficult to encounter and skilled in all sastras."

एषशास्ताचगोप्ताचनेताचयुधिसत्तमः । भूतिकामश्चमेनित्यंनित्यंचसमरप्रियः ।।6.55.3।।

eṣaśāstācagoptācanetācayudhisattamaḥ | bhūtikāmaścamenityaṃnityaṃcasamarapriyaḥ

Akampana is a tamer of foes, protector of people, in that way capable, always desirous of welfare, lover of war.

एषजेष्यतिकाकत्स्थौसुग्रीवंचमहाबलम् । वानरांश्चापरान् घोरान् हनिष्यतिपरन्तपः ।।6.55.4।।

eṣajeṣyatikākatsthausugrīvaṃcamahābalam | vānarāṃścāparān ghorān haniṣyatiparantapaḥ

"Scorcher of enemies, this Akampana will win Sugriva of terrific might, Rama and Lakshmana, dreadful Vanaras, and put an end to enemies."

परिगृह्यसःताम् I ज्ञाम् रावणस्यमहाबल । बलम् सम्प्रेरयामासःतदालघुपराक्रमः।। 6.55.5।।

parigṛhyasaḥtām I jñām rāvaṇasyamahābala | balam samprerayāmāsaḥtadālaghuparākramaḥ

Then accepting Ravana's order, accordingly, taking hold of the army dispatched them.

ततोनानाप्रहरणाभीमाक्षाभीमदर्शनाः । निष्पेतूराक्षसामुख्याबलाध्यक्षप्रचोदिताः ।।6.55.6।।

tatonānāpraharaṇābhīmākṣābhīmadarśanāḥ | niṣpetūrākṣasāmukhyābalādhyakṣapracoditāḥ

Thereafter taking different weapons, Rakshasas of fearful eyes and terrific appearance rushed forward ordered by CommanderinChief of the army.

रथमास्थायविपुलंतप्तकाञ्चनभूषणम् । मेघाभोमेघवर्णश्चमेघस्वनमहास्वनः ।।6.55.7।। राक्षसैःसम्वृतोघोरैस्तदानिर्यात्यकम्पनः ।

rathamāsthāyavipulaṃtaptakāñcanabhūṣaṇam | meghābhomeghavarṇaścameghasvanamahāsvanaḥ rākṣasaiḥsamvṛtoghoraistadāniryātyakampanaḥ |

Mounted on a huge chariot, Akampana, decked in pure gold jewels, like cloud in form and complexion, whose loud voice resembled thunder, surrounded by Rakshasas went forward.

नहिकम्पयितुंशक्यःसुरैरपिमहामृधे ।।6.55.8।। अकम्पनस्ततस्तेषामादित्यइवतेजसा ।

nahikampayituṃśakyaḥsurairapimahāmṛdhe akampanastatasteṣāmādityaivatejasā |

Akampana who, possibly could not be shaken in war by suras shone like the sun in that manner.

तस्यनिर्धावमानस्यसम्रब्धस्ययुयुत्सया ।।6.55.9।। अकस्माद्दैन्यमागच्छद्धयानांरथवाहिनाम् ।

tasyanirdhāvamānasyasamrabdhasyayuyutsayā akasmāddainyamāgacchaddhayānāṃrathavāhinām |

As Akampana was going forth excited to wage war, an expression of desperation developed suddenly in the horses drawing the chariots and an experience of depression in him.

व्यस्फुरन्नयनंचास्यसव्यंयुद्धाभिनदनिनः ।।6.55.10।। विवर्णोमुखवर्णश्चगद्गदश्चाभवत्स्वनः ।

vyasphurannayanaṃcāsyasavyaṃyuddhābhinadaninaḥ vivarṇomukhavarṇaścagadgadaścābhavatsvanaḥ |

Himself being a lover of war, became pale with his countenance changed, voice choked, and his eyes lost its lustre.

अभवत्सुदिनेकालेदुर्दिनंरूक्षमारुतम् ।।6.55.11।। ऊचुःखगमृगाःसर्वेवाचःक्रूराभयावहाः ।

abhavatsudinekāledurdinaṃrūkṣamārutam ūcuḥkhagamṛgāḥsarvevācaḥkrūrābhayāvahāḥ |

At a time on a good day of fine weather, it became cloudy, birds and beasts were making frightening cries all over.

ससिंहापचित्कन्धःशार्दूलसमविक्रमः ।।6.55.12।। तानुत्पातानचिन्स्सैवनिर्जगामरणाजिरम् ।

sasiṃhāpacitkandhaḥśārdūlasamavikramaḥ tānutpātānacinssaivanirjagāmaraṇājiram |

He whose shoulders were developed like that of a lion, who equalled tiger in valour, went forth not minding the evil portents.

तथानिर्गच्छतस्तस्यरक्षसस्सहराक्षसैः ।।6.55.13।। बभूवसुमहान्नादःक्षोभयन्निवसागरम् ।

tathānirgacchatastasyarakṣasassaharākṣasaiḥ babhūvasumahānnādaḥkṣobhayannivasāgaram |

While that Akampana was going like that along with Rakshasas huge noise that arose was as if the ocean was agitated.

तेनशब्देनवित्रस्तावानराणांमहाचमूः ।।6.55.14।। द्रुमशैलप्रहाराणांयोद्धुंसमुपतिष्ठतं ।

tenaśabdenavitrastāvānarāṇāṃmahācamūḥ drumaśailaprahārāṇāṃyoddhuṃsamupatiṣṭhataṃ |

Huge troops of Vanaras holding trees and hillocks stood prepared for waging and by that the noise that arose expanded.

तेषांयुद्धंमहारौद्रंसञ्जज्ञेकपिरक्षसाम् ।।6.55.15।। रामरावणयोरर्धेसमभित्यक्तजीविनाम् ।

teṣāṃyuddhaṃmahāraudraṃsañjajñekapirakṣasām rāmarāvaṇayorardhesamabhityaktajīvinām |

Vanaras and Rakshasas dedicated their lives for Rama and Ravana, respectively in that way were enraged and battle took place.

सर्वेह्यतिबलाःशूराःसर्वेपर्वतसन्निभाः ।।6.55.16।। हरयोराक्षसाश्चैवपरस्परजिघांसवः ।

sarvehyatibalāḥśūrāḥsarveparvatasannibhāḥ harayorākṣasāścaivaparasparajighāṃsavaḥ |

Intending to kill one another both Vanaras and Rakshasas who resembled hills, also of extraordinary might and heroic fighting.

तेषांविवर्धतांशब्दःसंयुगेऽतितरस्विनाम् ।।6.55.17।। शुश्रुवेसुमहान् कोपादन्योन्यमभिगर्जताम् ।

teṣāṃvivardhatāṃśabdaḥsaṃyuge'titarasvinām śuśruvesumahān kopādanyonyamabhigarjatām |

A tremendous sound thundered in that war when they fought with exceeding impetuosity with one another and yelled at each other.

रजश्चारुणवर्णाभंसुभीममभवद् भृशम् ।।6.55.18।। उद्धतंहरिरक्षोभिःसंरुरोधदिशोदश ।

rajaścāruṇavarṇābhaṃsubhīmamabhavad bhṛśam uddhataṃharirakṣobhiḥsaṃrurodhadiśodaśa |

Terrific dust of red colour arose instantly in all the ten directions by the Vanaras, and Rakshasas and it enveloped all over.

अन्योन्यंरजसातेनकौशेयोद्धूतपाण्डुना ।।6.55.19।। सम्वृतानिचभूतानिददृशुर्नरणाजिरे ।

anyonyaṃrajasātenakauśeyoddhūtapāṇḍunā samvṛtānicabhūtānidadṛśurnaraṇājire |

The combatants could not see one another in the battlefield, and it seemed as though white silk piece was shaken by the wind by the appearance of the surrounding dust.

नध्वजोनपताकावाचर्मवातुरगोऽपिवा ।।6.55.20।। आयुधंस्यन्दनोवापिददृशेतेनरेणुना ।

nadhvajonapatākāvācarmavāturago'pivā āyudhaṃsyandanovāpidadṛśetenareṇunā |

By the dust raised, the posts, flags, shields and not even horses, weapons and chariots were visible.

शब्दश्चसुमहांस्तेषांनर्दतामभिधावताम् ।।6.55.21।। श्रूयतेतुमुलोयुद्धेनरूपाणिचकाशिरे ।

śabdaścasumahāṃsteṣāṃnardatāmabhidhāvatām śrūyatetumuloyuddhenarūpāṇicakāśire |

As they were rushing over one another, terrific noise was heard, and no form was discernible.

हरीनेवसुसंरुष्टाहरयोजघ्नुराहवे ।।6.55.22।। राक्षसाराक्षसांश्चापिनिजघ्नुस्तिमिरेतदा ।

harīnevasusaṃruṣṭāharayojaghnurāhave rākṣasārākṣasāṃścāpinijaghnustimiretadā |

Then in that darkness and in anger Vanaras went attacking Vanaras and Rakshasas also attacked Rakshasas (not knowing).

तेपरांश्चविनिघ्नन्तःस्वांश्चवानरराक्षसाः ।।6.55.23।। रुधिरार्द्रांतदाचक्रुर्महींपङ्कानुलेपनाम् ।

teparāṃścavinighnantaḥsvāṃścavānararākṣasāḥ rudhirārdrāṃtadācakrurmahīṃpaṅkānulepanām |

Not knowing enemies and own people the Vanaras and Rakshasas terminating drenched the mud with their blood and covered the earth.

ततस्तुरुधिरौघेणसिक्तंह्यपगतंरजः ।।6.55.24।। शरीरशवसङ्कीर्णाबभूवचवसुन्धरा ।

tatasturudhiraugheṇasiktaṃhyapagataṃrajaḥ śarīraśavasaṅkīrṇābabhūvacavasundharā |

Then moistened with blood, the dust settled on the ground was seen covered with bodies and limbs.

द्रुमशक्तिगदाप्रासैश्शिलापरिघतोमरैः ।।6.55.25।। हरयोराक्षसाश्चैवस्तूर्णंजघ्नुरन्योन्यमोजसा ।

drumaśaktigadāprāsaiśśilāparighatomaraiḥ harayorākṣasāścaivastūrṇaṃjaghnuranyonyamojasā |

Then Rakshasas and Vanaras fought one another vigorously with trees, javelins, maces, darts, rocks, and peaks.

बाहुभिःपरिघाकारैर्युध्यन्तःपर्वतोपमाः ।।6.55.26।। हरयोभीमकर्माणोराक्षसान्झघ्नुराहवे ।

bāhubhiḥparighākārairyudhyantaḥparvatopamāḥ harayobhīmakarmāṇorākṣasānjhaghnurāhave |

The Vanaras of terrific deeds, like hills in form, resembling iron bars attacked many Rakshasas in the battle.

राक्षसास्त्वभिसङ्क्रुद्धाःप्रासतोमरपाणयः ।।6.55.27।। कपीन्निजघ्निरेतत्रशस्त्रःपरमदारुणैः ।

rākṣasāstvabhisaṅkruddhāḥprāsatomarapāṇayaḥ kapīnnijaghniretatraśastraḥparamadāruṇaiḥ |

There, the highly furious Rakshasas also exterminated the Vanaras with their weapons and darts.

अकम्पनस्सुसङ्क्रुद्धोराक्षसानांचमूपतिः ।।6.55.28।। सम्हर्षयतितान्सर्वान्राक्षसाभनिमविक्रमान् ।

akampanassusaṅkruddhorākṣasānāṃcamūpatiḥ samharṣayatitānsarvānrākṣasābhanimavikramān |

Highly enraged Akampana of fierce valour cheered all the Rakshasa troops.

हरयस्त्वपिरक्षांसिमहाद्रुममहाश्मभिः ।।6.55.29।। विदारयन्त्यभिक्रम्यशस्त्राण्याच्छिद्यवीर्यतः ।

harayastvapirakṣāṃsimahādrumamahāśmabhiḥ vidārayantyabhikramyaśastrāṇyācchidyavīryataḥ |

Even the Vanaras mangled Rakshasas countering with weapons, huge rocks and trees and destroyed them.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरेवीराहरयःकुमुदोनलः ।।6.55.30।। मैन्दश्चपरमक्रुद्धाश्चक्रुर्वेगमनुत्तमम् ।

etasminnantarevīrāharayaḥkumudonalaḥ maindaścaparamakruddhāścakrurvegamanuttamam |

In the meantime, in the midst Kumuda, Nala, Mainda, heroic vanaras became furious and went

तेतुवृक्षैर्महावीराराक्षसानांचमूमुखे ।।6.55.31।। कदनंसुमहच्चक्रुर्लीलयाहरिपुङ्गवाः । ममन्थूराक्षसान् सर्वेवानरागणशोभृशम् ।।6.55.32।।

tetuvṛkṣairmahāvīrārākṣasānāṃcamūmukhe kadanaṃsumahaccakrurlīlayāharipuṅgavāḥ | mamanthūrākṣasān sarvevānarāgaṇaśobhṛśam

Great heroes of the Vanara leaders, chiefs of army sportively waged a great battle and crushed Rakshasas repeatedly. ।। इत्यार्षेवाल्मीकीयेश्रीमद्रामायणेआदिकाव्येयुद्धकाण्डेपञ्चपञ्चाशस्सर्गः ।। This is the end of the fifty fifth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.