ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तं दृष्ट्वा रणकृतोद्यमम्। उवाच सस्मितं रामो विभीषणमरिंदमः॥
Seeing Prahasta sally, ready for encounter that chastiser of foes-Rāma-with a smile said to Vibhisana.
क एष सुमहाकायो बलेन महता वृतः। आगच्छति महावेगः किंरूपबलपौरुषः॥ आचक्ष्व मे महाबाहो वीर्यवन्तं निशाचरम्।
Who is this huge-bodied one that armed with impetuosity, advance to the encounter And what is his power and prowess like O Mighty-armed one, tell me this concerning this powerful nightranger.
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः॥ एष सेनापतिस्तस्य प्रहस्तो नाम राक्षसः। लङ्कायां राक्षसेन्द्रस्य त्रिभागबलसंवृतः।। वीर्यवानस्त्रविच्छूरः सुप्रख्यातपराक्रमः॥
Hearing Raghava's words, Vibhîşana answered, In Laňkā this is the general of the lord of Rākşasas-the Rākşasa named Prahasta, surrounded by a third of the forces. He is possessed of prowess and is of distinguished gallantry.
ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्। गर्जन्तं सुमहाकायं राक्षसैरभिसंवृतम्॥ ददर्श महती सेना वानराणां बलीयसाम्। अभिसंजातघोषाणां प्रहस्तमभिगर्जताम्॥
That mighty army of strong monkeys, wrought up with wrath, and roaring at Prahasta, saw him dreadful and of terrific prowess and huge-bodied, surrounded on all sides by the Raksasas, and setting up roars, marching.
खङ्गशक्त्वृष्टिशूलाश्च बाणानि मुसलानि च। गदाश्च परिघाः प्रासा विविधाश्च परश्वधाः॥ धनूंषि च विचित्राणि राक्षसानां जयैषिणाम्। प्रगृहीतान्यराजन्त वानरानभिधावताम्॥
The Raksasas, eagerly desirous of victory, pursued the monkeys, wielding swords and darts and Rştis, and javelins and shafts and maces and clubs and bludgeons and práşas and various axes and curious bows.
जगृहुः पादपांश्चापि पुष्पितांस्तु गिरीस्तथा। शिलाश्च विपुला दीर्घा योद्धकामाः प्लवंगमाः।९।।
The monkeys on their part, eager for encounter, took up flowing trees and hills and huge and broad crags.
तेषामन्योन्यमासाद्य संग्रामः सुमहानभूत्। बहूनामश्मवृष्टिं च शरवर्ष च वर्षताम्॥
And each party approaching the other, great was the encounter that took place. And innumerable (monkeys and Rākṣasas) kept showering rocks and arrows.
बहवो राक्षसा युद्धे बहून्वानरपुंगवान्। वानरा राक्षसांश्चापि निजघ्नुर्बहवो बहून्॥
And many Rākşasas in conflict slew many a powerful monkey, and the monkeys on their part slaughtered many a Rākşasa.
शूलैः प्रमथिताः केचित्केचित्तु परमायुधैः । परिघेराहताः केचित्केचिच्छिन्नाः परश्वधैः॥
Some were pierced with darts and with (other) powerful weapons; and some were wounded with bludgeons; and some were hewn with axes.
निरुच्छ्वासाः पुनः केचित्पतिता जगतीतले। विभिन्नहृदयाः केचिदिषुसंधानसाधिताः॥
Some rendered senseless, dropped down to the earth, and some hit with weapons, had their breasts riven.
केचिद्विधा कृताः खङ्गैः स्फुरन्तः पतिता भुवि। वानरा राक्षसैः शूरैः पार्श्वतश्च विदारिताः॥
Some, severed in twain with swords, dropped to the earth lifeless, and monkeys were hewn in their sides by heroic Rākşasas.
वानरैश्चापि संक्रुद्धे राक्षसौघाः समन्ततः। पादपैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्च संपिष्टा वसुधातले॥
Numbers of Rākşasas all around were beaten to the ground by infuriated monkeys with trees and mountain-peaks.
वज्रस्पर्शतलैर्हस्तैर्मुष्टिभिश्च हता भृशम्। वमशोणितमास्येभ्यो विशीर्णवदनेक्षणाः॥
Some smitten sore with slaps having the touch of the thunder-bolt, began to vomit blood from their mouths, with faces and eyes turned pale.
आस्विनं च स्वनतां सिंहनादं च नर्दताम्। बभूव तुमुल: शब्दो हरीणां रक्षसामपि॥
And great was the uproar that arose in consequence of Rākṣasas and monkeys emitting distressful cries and sending forth leonine roars.
वानरा राक्षसाः क्रुद्धा वीरमार्गमनुव्रताः। विवृत्तवदनाः क्रूराश्चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत्॥
Monkeys and Rākṣasas wrought up with wrath, engaged in treading the path of heroes, looking terrific with their faces moving about, performed deeds of intrepid courage.
नरान्तकः कुम्भहनुर्महानादः समुन्नतः। एते प्रहस्तसचिवाः सर्वे जघ्नुर्वनौकसः॥
Narāntaka and Kambhahanu and Mahānand and Samunnata-all counsellors of Prahasta-set about slaughtering the rangers of the woods.
तेषां निपततां शीघ्रं निघ्नतां चापि वानरान्। द्विविदो गिरिशृङ्गेण जघानैकं नरान्तकम्॥
Of these doing swift execution among the monkeys, Dvivida, taking up a mountain-peak, slew one-namely Narāntaka.
दुर्मुखः पुनरुत्थाय कपिः सविपुलदुमम्। राक्षसं क्षिप्रहस्तं तु समुन्नतमपोथयत्॥
Then the monkey, Durmaukha, rising up afresh, armed with a mighty tree, killed the lighthanded Räksasa-Samunnata.
जाम्बवांस्तु सुसंक्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य महतीं शिलाम्। पातयामास तेजस्वी महानादस्य वक्षसि॥
Jāmbavān endowed with energy, waxing enraged, uplifting a giant crag brought the same down on Mahananda's breast.
अथ कुम्भहनुस्तत्र तारेणासाद्य वीर्यवान्। वृक्षेण महता सद्यः प्राणान्संत्याजयद्रणे॥
There speedily assailed by Tārā, with a mighty tree, the powerful Kumbhahanu gave up the ghost in the conflict.
अमृष्यमाणस्तत्कर्म प्रहस्तो रथमाश्रितः। चकार कदनं घोरं धनुष्पाणिर्वनौकसाम्॥
And not brooking that feat, Prahasta, mounted on a car, taking a bow in his hand, fell to spreading a dreadful havoc among the rangers of the woods.
आवर्त इव संजज्ञे सेनयोरुभयोस्तदा। क्षुभितस्याप्रमेमस्य सागरस्येव नि:स्वनः॥
Then there the two hosts mingled into almost a vortex; and the sounds that arose from those infuriated once of immeasurable might, resembled the roar of the ocean.
महता हि शरौघेण राक्षसो रणदुर्मदः। अर्दयामास संक्रुद्धो वानरान्परमाहवे॥
In terrific encounter the enraged Rākşasa irresistible in battle drove the monkeys to sore straits with showers of arrows.
वानराणां शरीरैस्तु राक्षसानां च मेदिनी। बभूवातिचिता घोरैः पर्वतैरिव संवृता॥
The earth was covered quite with the terrible bodies of monkeys and Rākşasas; and it looked as if covered with mountains.
सा मही रुधिरौधेण प्रच्छन्ना संप्रकाशते। संछन्ना माधवे मासि पलाशैरिव पुष्पितैः॥
The earth drenched with streams of gore looked as if swarming with blossoming palāśas in the month of spring.
हतवीरौघवप्रां तु भग्नायुधमहादुमाम्। शोणितौघमहातोयां यमसागरगामिनीम्॥ यकृत्प्लीहमहापदां विनिकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम्। भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम्॥ गृध्रहंसवराकीर्णा कङ्कसारससेविताम्। मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामावर्तस्वननिःस्वनाम्॥ तां कापुरुषदुस्तारां युद्धभूमिमयीं नदीम्। नदीमिव घनापाये हंससारससेविताम्॥ राक्षसाः कपिमुख्यास्ते तेरुस्तां दुस्तरां नदीम्। यथा पद्मग्जोध्वस्तां नलिनी गजयूथपाः॥
As leaders of elephant-herds cross a lotus-tank covered with lotus-dust, those Rākşasas and choice monkeys crossed that river flowing in the field of conflict incapable of being crossed; having for her banks hosts of heroic warriors slain; for her mighty trees broken arms; for her volume of waters showers of blood; coursing to Yama resembling the Ocean; with livers and spleens for her vast slime; with scattered entrails for her moss; with riven bodies and heads for her fish; limbs for her lawns; swarming with vultures for her swans; with Kankas for her cranes, filled with fat representing her foam; with the roars (of warriors) for her sounds, incapable of being crossed by cravens, and resembling a real river swarming at the end of the rains with cranes and swans.
ततः सृजन्तं बाणौघान्प्रहस्तं स्यन्दने स्थितम्। ददर्श तरसा नीलो विधमन्तं प्लवंगमान्॥
Then all of a sudden Nila saw Prahasta stationed on his car, discharging vollies of shafts and harassing the monkeys therewith.
उद्धृत इव वायुः खे महदभ्रबलं बलात्। समीक्ष्याभिद्रुतं युद्धे प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः॥ रथेनादित्यवर्णेन नीलमेवामेवाभिदुद्रुवे।
Mounted on a sun-bright vehicle, that leader of the army-Prahasta-seeing Nīla advance towards him a main in the encounter, like the wind in the sky scattering a mighty mass of clouds, rushed towards Nila.
स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो विकृष्य परमाहवे॥ नीलाय व्यसृजद्वाणान्प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः।
That leader of forces-Prahasta-foremost of bowmen, stretching his bow, began to shower arrows on Nila.
ते प्रेत्य विशिखा नीलं विनिर्भिद्य समाहिताः॥ महीं जग्मुर्महावेगा रोषिता इव पत्रगाः।
Having pierced Nīla sore and wounded him, those shafts sought the earth like enraged serpents.
नीलः शरैरभिहतो निशितैर्व्वलनोपमैः॥ स तं परमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तं महाकपिः। प्रहस्तं ताडयामास वृक्षमुत्पाट्य वीर्यवान्॥
That mighty monkey-Nila-endowed with energy, struck with those sharpened shafts resembling flames, uprooting a tree, assailed therewith the irrepressible Prahasta-who was rushing against him.
स तेनाभिहतः क्रुद्धो नर्दनराक्षसपुंगवः। ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि प्लवंगानां चमूपतौ॥
Thereat, that foremost of Raksasas, on being attacked, flaming up into fury and uttering roars, poured showers of arrows on the monkeyleader.
तस्य बाणगणानेव राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः। अपारयन्वारयितुं प्रत्यगृह्णानिमीलितः। यथैव गोवृषो वर्ष शारदं शीघ्रमागतम्।॥ एवमेव प्रहस्तस्य शरवर्षान्दुरासदान्। निमीलिताक्षः सहसा नीलः सेहे दुरासदान्।॥
And not being able to resist the arrowy vollies of that wicked-minded Raksasas, (Nila) bore them, even as a bull bear with closed eyes a fastdescending autumnal shower. And in the very same way did Nila with his eyes closed suddenly stand the mighty arrowy buffet of Prahasta incapable of being withstood.
रोषितः शरवर्षेण सालेन महता महान्। प्रजघान हयानीलः प्रहस्तस्य महाबलः।४३।।
And wrought up with rage, the exceedingly strong and mighty Nila with a giant Sala slew the steeds of Prahasta.
ततो रोषपरीतात्मा धनुस्तस्य दुरात्मनः। बभञ्ज तरसा नीलो ननाद च पुनः पुनः॥
Then his-soul surcharged with wrath, Nīla swiftly shattered the bow of that wicked-minded one, and then shouted again and again.
विधनुः स कृतस्तेन प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः। प्रगृह्य मुसलं घोरं स्यन्दनादवपुप्लुवे॥
On being bereft of his bow, Prahasta, general of forces, taking a terrible mace, leapt down from his car.
तावुभौ वाहिनीमुख्यौ जातवैरौ तरस्विनौ। स्थितौ क्षतजसिक्ताङ्गौ प्रभिन्नाविव कुञ्जरौ॥
The redoubtable leaders endowed with activity, bearing hostility to each other, their persons bathed in blood, stood (on the ground) like two elephants (with their temples) riven,
उल्लिखन्तौ सुतीक्ष्णाभिदंष्ट्राभिरितरेतरम्। सिंहशार्दूलसदृशौ सिंहशार्दूलचेष्टितौ॥
They kept tearing each other with their teeth like a lion and a tiger, and alsò striving like a lion and a tiger.
विक्रान्तविजयौ वीरौ समरेष्वनिवर्तिनौ। काङ्कमाणौ यशः प्राप्तुं वृत्रवासवयोरिव ॥
Endowed with victorious vigour, those heroes, never knowing to desist from fight, were eager for fame, even like Vrtra and Vasava (fighting).
आजघान तदा नीलं ललाटे मुसलेन सः। प्रहस्तः परमायत्तस्ततः सुस्राव शोणितम्॥
Then Prahasta putting forth his dearest effort, hit Nila on the temples with a mace; and the blood began to flow.
ततः शोणितदिग्धाङ्गः प्रगृह्य च महातरुम्। प्रहस्तस्योरसि क्रुद्धो विससर्ज महाकपिः॥
Then the mighty monkey, with his person drenched in blood, wrought up with passion, discharged a tall tree at Prahasta's breast.
तमचिन्त्य प्रहारं स प्रगृह्य मुसलं महत्। अभिदुद्राव बलिनं बलानीलं प्लवंगमम्।।
Without caring for that hit, he, taking up a mighty mace, furiously rushed against the monkey-Nila.
तमुग्रवेगं संरब्धमापतन्तं महाकपिः॥ ततः संप्रेक्ष्य जग्राह महावेगो महाशिलाम्।
Witnessing that enraged (hero) rushing against him with exceeding impetuosity, that redoubted monkey endowed with vehemence, took up a tremendous crag.
तस्य युद्धाभिकामस्य मृधे मुसलयोधिनः॥ प्रहस्तस्य शिलां नीलो मूर्ध्नि तूर्णमपातयत्। नीलेन कपिमुख्येन विमुक्ता महती शिला।। बिभेद बहुधा घोरा प्रहस्तस्य शिरस्तदा ॥
In the encounter Nila at once let that crag alight right on the head of Prahasta, eager for encounter and fighting with the mace. And hurled by that foremost of monkeys, that huge and terrific crag then shattered Prahasta's head in pieces.
स गतासुर्गतश्रीको गतसत्त्वो गतेन्द्रियः। पपात सहसा भूमौ छिन्नमूल इव दुमः। ५४॥
Then bereft of life and shorn of nerve and devoid of sense he suddenly dropped down to the earth like a tree whose roots have been severed.
विभिन्नशिरसस्तस्य बहु सुस्राव शोणितम्। शरीरादपि सुस्राव गिरेः प्रस्रवणो यथा॥
Even as fountains flow from the sides of a hill, blood flowed profusely from the person of that one, whose head had been riven.
हते प्रहस्ते नीलेन तदकम्प्यं महाबलम्। राक्षसानामहृष्टाना लङ्कामभिजगाम हा५६।।
On Prahasta being slain by Nila, that mighty army of Raksasas never trembling (from fear). retreated towards Larikā.
न शेकुः समवस्थातुं निहते वाहिनीपतौ। सेतुबन्धं समासाद्य विशीणं सलिलं यथा॥ हते तस्मिंश्चमूमुख्ये राक्षसास्ते निरुद्यमाः। रक्षःपतिगृहं गत्वा ध्यानमूकत्वमागताः।। प्राप्ताः शोकार्णवं तीव्र विसंज्ञा इव तेऽभवन्।५८।।
And like waters rushing (through a breach in) a dyke, the Rākşasas could not stand their ground, on their leader being slain. And on that head of the hosts being killed, the Rākşasas, growing dispirited, repairing to the residence of the lord of Rākşasa, remained plunged in thought, without speaking anything. And plunged in that sea of sorrow, they seemed as if they had been bereft of their senses.
ततस्तु नीलो विजयी महाबलः प्रशस्यमानः सुकृतेन कर्मणा। समेत्य रामेण सलक्ष्मणेन प्रहृष्टरूपस्तु बभूव यूथपः।५९।।
Then the highly powerful and victorious Nila, leader of forces, on being extolled with gracious offices, and on being joined by Rāma and Laks maņa looked exceedingly exhilarated.