Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 52

धूम्राक्षं प्रेक्ष्य निर्यान्तं राक्षसं भीमविक्रमम्। विनेदुर्वानराः सर्वे प्रहृष्टा युद्धकाङ्गिणः॥
Seeing the Rākṣasa-Dhūmrākṣa of dreadful prowess-issue out, the monkeys, rejoicing greatly, eager for encounter, set up roars.

तेषां सुतुमुलं युद्धं संजज्ञे कपिरक्षसाम्। अन्योन्यं पादपैोरैनिघ्नतां शूलमुद्गरैः॥
Then there took place a terrific conflict between the monkeys and the Rākşasas, charging each other with fearful trees, and darts, and maces.

राक्षसैर्वानरा घोरा विनिकृत्ताः समन्ततः। वानरै राक्षसाश्चापि दुमैर्भूमिसमीकृताः॥
The Rākşasas began to scatter the dreadful monkeys on all sides; and the monkeys (on their parts) felled the Raksasas with trees.

राक्षसास्त्वभिसंक्रुद्धा वानरानिशितैः शरैः। विव्यधु_रसंकाशैः कङ्कपत्रैरजिह्मगैः॥
The Raksasas, growing enraged, began to pierce that monkeys with straight speeding sharp shafts winged with Kanka plumes.

ते गदाभिश्च भीमाभिः पट्टिशैः कूटमुद्गरैः। घौरैश्च परिधैश्चिस्त्रिशूलैश्चापि संश्रितैः॥ विदार्यमाणा रक्षोभिर्वानरास्ते महाबलाः। अमर्षजनितोद्धर्षाश्चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत्॥
And riven by the Rākşasa with drcadful clubs and bearded darts, daggers and maces and terrible and curious bludgeons and grasped javelins, the exceedingly powerful (monkeys), their anger aroused, began with alacrity to perform deeds of intrepid valour.

शरनिर्भिन्नगात्रास्ते शूलनिर्भिन्नदेहिनः। जगृहुस्ते द्रुमांस्तत्र शिलाश्च हरियूथपाः॥
Those monkey-leaders, their bodies pierced with shafts and their persons riven with darts, took up trees and crags.

ते भीमवेगा हरयो नर्दमानास्ततस्ततः। ममन्थुराक्षसान्वीरान्नामानि च बभाषिरे॥
Those monkeys, endowed with terrific vehemence, sending up shouts, and proclaiming their respective names, set about tossing the brave Rākşasa rank,

तद्बभूवाद्भुतं घोरं युद्धं वानररक्षसाम्। शिलाभिर्विविधाभिश्च बहुशाखैश्च पादपैः॥
The monkeys, waged with diverse rocks and innumerable trees, waxed exceedingly furious.

राक्षसा मथिताः केचिद्वानरैर्जितकाशिभिः। प्रवेमू रुधिरं केचिन्मुखै रुधिरभोजनाः॥
Sparkling in the glory of victory, the monkeys crushed the Rākşasas and some among them feeding on gore began to vomit blood.

पार्श्वेषु दारिताः केचित्केचिद्राशीकृता दुमैः। शिलाभिश्चूर्णिताः केचित्केचिद्दन्तैर्विदारिताः॥
And some were severed along their flanks; and, some, slain with trees, were heaped up; and some were crushed with crags; and some were torn with teeth.

ध्वजैविमथितैर्भग्नैः खङ्गैश्च विनिपातितैः। रथैविध्वंसिताः केचिद्व्यथिता रजनीचराः॥
Some being broken down by means of broken standards, and some by means of fallen swords, and some crushed down by cars, the rangers of the night suffered sorely.

गजेन्द्रैः पर्वताकारैः पर्वताग्रैर्वनौकसाम्। मथितैर्वाजिभिः कीर्णं सारोहैर्वसुधातलम्॥
And (anon) the earth was covered with huge elephants measuring mountains, and mountaintops, and steeds crushed and the riders thereof, all borne down by the monkeys.

वानरैर्भीमविक्रान्तैराप्लुत्योत्प्लुत्य वेगितैः। राक्षसाः करजैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मुखेषु विनिदारिताः॥
Bounding again and again, the vehement monkeys endowed with terrific prowess, with their finger-nails tore up the Rākṣasas by the mouths.

विषण्णवदना भूयो विप्रकीर्णशिरोरुहाः। मूढाः शोणितगन्धेन निपेतुर्धरणीतले॥
With woebegone faces, and with hair dishevelled, (the Raksasas), stupified with the smell of blood, saught the earth.

अन्ये तु परमक्रुद्धा राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः। तलैरेवाभिधावन्ति वज्रस्पर्शसमैर्हरीन्॥
Other Rākşasas endowed with dreadful vigour, waxing wondrous wroth, dealt the monkeys slaps with hands having the touch of the thunder-bolt.

वानरैः पातयन्तस्ते वेगिता वेगवत्तरैः। मुष्टिभिश्चरणैर्दन्तैः पादपैश्चावपोथिताः॥
Gift with greater impetuosity, the monkeys felled the impetuous (Raksasas) with blows, and feet and teeth; and some were slain with trees.

सैन्यं तु विद्रुतं दृष्ट्वा धूम्राक्षो राक्षसर्षभः। रोषेण कदनं चक्रे वानराणां युयुत्सताम्॥
Seeing the forces fleeing away, that foremost of Raksasas-Dhumraksa-flying into fury, began a terrific conflict with the monkeys desirous of encounter.

प्रासैः प्रमाथिताः केचिद्वानराः शोणितस्त्रवाः। मुद्गरैराहताः केचित्पतिता धरणीतले॥
Some of the monkeys, sore assailed with prāśas, began to bleed; and some, wounded with maces, dropped down to the ground.

परिधैर्मथिताः केचिद्भिन्दिपालैश्च दारिताः। पट्टिशैर्मथिताः केचिद्विह्वलन्तो गतासवः॥
Some were beaten hard with bludgeons; and some were cleft with bhindipālas. And some, on being assailed with bearded darts, became insensible and lost their lives.

केचिद्विनिहता भूमौ रुधिरार्दा वनौकसः। केचिद्विद्राविता नष्टाः संक्रुद्धै राक्षसैर्युधि ॥
Some among the monkeys lay slain on the ground, drenched in blood. and some, fleeing away from the field, were slaughtered by the infuriated Rākşasas.

विभिन्नहृदयाः केचिदेकपार्श्वेन शायिताः। विदारितास्त्रिशूलैश्च केचिदान्त्रैर्विनिःसृताः॥
Some, having their breasts pierced, lay on their sides. and some were riven with tridents; and the entrails of some had come out.

तत्सुभीमं महाद्धं हरिराक्षससंकुलम्। प्रबभौ शस्त्रबहुलं शिलापादपसंकुलम्॥
That mighty and dreadful encounter of the Räksasas and the monkeys, was waged with countless weapons and rocks and trees.

धनुातन्त्रिमधुरं हिमतालसमन्वितम्। मन्दस्तनितगी तं तद्युद्धगान्धर्वमाबभौ॥
That battle he come a musical entertainment' mellifluous with bow-string for Vina, having the neighing of chargers for its measure, and with the cries of Maindas' for its strains. 1. The reader has already perceived that the carrying out of a simile to a number of details is a characteristic as much of Vālmīki as of his rival in the epic sphere-Vyāsa, but the comparisons are never on all fours, as in the case before us. 2. A classical Hindu musical instrument, having metallic strings, with a pair of gourds at one end for the sounding-board. Vide Yantra-Kosa by Sir Saurindra Mohan Tagore, Mus-Doc. 3. A species of elephants.

धूम्राक्षस्तु धनुष्पाणिनिरारणमूर्धनि। हसन्विद्रावयामास दिशस्ताञ्छरवृष्टिभिः॥
Then in the field, Dhūmrākṣa bow in hand, laughing, pursued the monkeys in all directions with showers of shafts.

धूम्राक्षेणार्दितं सैन्यं व्यथितं प्रेक्ष्य मारुतिः। अभ्यवर्तत संक्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य विपुलां शिलाम्॥
Seeing the forces hard beset by Dhūmrākşa and distressed thereat, the Windgod's offspring, waxing enraged, seizing a huge crag, approached (the Rākşasa).

क्रोधाद्द्विगुणताम्राक्षः पितुरतुल्यपराक्रमः। शिलां तां पातयामास धूम्राक्षस्य रथं प्रति॥
And with his eyes double reddened in wrath, the one, like to his sire himself in prowess, brought down the crag upon Dhūmrākṣa's car.

आपतन्तीं शिलां दृष्ट्वा गदामुद्यम्य संभ्रमात्। रथादाप्लुत्य वेगेन वसुधायां व्यतिष्ठत॥ सा प्रमथ्य रथं तस्य निपपात शिला भुवि।
Seeing the crag, (Dhumraksa) upraising his mace hurriedly, leapt down in vehemence, and stood on the ground. And having shattered his car, that crag fell down to the earth.

सचक्रकूबरमुखं सध्वजं सशरासनम्॥ स त्यक्त्वा तु रथं तस्य हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। रक्षसां कदनं चक्रे सस्कन्धविटपैर्दुमैः॥
Thereat letting go the car furnished with wheels, Kuvaras and a face, as well as a banner; in which Dhūmrākṣa had left his bow, Hanuman-son to the Wind-god-laid about him right lustily for destroying the Rākşasas, with trees having branches long and short.

विभिन्नशिरसो भूत्वा राक्षसा रुधिरोक्षिताः। दुमैः प्रमथिताश्चान्ये निपेतुर्धरणीतले॥
Thereat some Rākşasas with their heads shattered, lay drenched in blood; and others, struck with trees, dropped down to the earth.

विद्राव्य राक्षसं सैन्यं हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। गिरेः शिखरमादाय धूम्राक्षमभिदुद्रुवे॥
Then Hanumān-son to the Wind-god-charged in full career against the Räkşasa army; and, taking a mountain-peak, he rushed against Dhumraksa.

तमापतन्तं धूम्राक्षो गदामुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। विनर्दमानः सहसा हनूमन्तमभिद्रवत्॥
As Hanumān was descending, the powerful Dhūmrākşa, upraising a mace and giving out a shout, made towards him speedily.

तस्य क्रुद्धस्य रोषेण गदां तां बहुकण्टकाम्। पातयामास धूम्राक्षो मस्तकेऽथ हनूमतः॥
Then Dhūmrākṣa enraged, brought down that mace studded with innumerable pricks, on the head of Hanumān fired with wrath.

ताडितः स तया तत्र गदया भीमवेगया। स कपिर्मारुतबलस्तं प्रहारमचिन्तयन्॥ धूम्राक्षस्य शिरोमध्ये गिरिशृङ्गमपातयत्।
Thus assailed with the mace of fearful impetuosity, the monkey endowed with he mace of fearful impetuosity, the monkey endowed with the strength of the wind without at all heeding that blow, let fall a mountain-top right against Dhumraksa's head.

स विस्फारितसर्वाङ्गो गिरिशृङ्गेण ताडितः॥ पपात सहसा भूमौ विकीर्ण इव पर्वतः।
On being assailed with the mountain-peak, Dhūmrākşa, having his entire body mangled, suddenly fell to the earth, like to a toppling hill.

धूम्राक्षं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हतशेषा निशाचराः।। त्रस्ताः प्रविविशुर्लङ्कां वध्यमानाः प्लवंगमैः॥
Seeing Dhūmrākṣa slain, those night-rangers that survived the carnage, in extreme agitation began to pour into Lankā, attacked by the monkeys.

स तु पवनसुतो निहत्य शत्रून् क्षतजवहाः सरितश्च संविकीर्य। रिपुवधजनितश्रमो महात्मा मुदमगमत्कपिभिः सुपूज्यमानः॥
That high-souled offspring of the Wind-god, having slain his foes, and come under the influence of fatigue incident to his slaughtering his enemies, having caused rivers of gore to flow (in the field), experienced the excess of joy on being honoured of the monkeys.

धूम्राक्षं निहतं दृष्ट्वा हतशेषा निशाचराः।। त्रस्ताः प्रविविशुर्लङ्कां वध्यमानाः प्लवंगमैः॥
Seeing Dhūmrākṣa slain, those night-rangers that survived the carnage, in extreme agitation began to pour into Lankā, attacked by the monkeys.

स तु पवनसुतो निहत्य शत्रून् क्षतजवहाः सरितश्च संविकीर्य। रिपुवधजनितश्रमो महात्मा मुदमगमत्कपिभिः सुपूज्यमानः॥
That high-souled offspring of the Wind-god, having slain his foes, and come under the influence of fatigue incident to his slaughtering his enemies, having caused rivers of gore to flow (in the field), experienced the excess of joy on being honoured of the monkeys.