---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 28"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-28"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 28

> सुमालिनं हतं दृष्ट्वा वसुना भस्मसात्कृतम्।  
> स्वसैन्यं विद्रुतं चापि लक्षयित्वार्दितं सुरैः॥ १॥  
> ततः स बलवान् क्रुद्धो रावणस्य सुतस्तदा।  
> निवर्त्य राक्षसान् सर्वान् मेघनादो व्यवस्थितः॥ २॥

Provoked to anger on seeing Sumālī killed and reduced to ashes by the Vasu, and on perceiving his army, too, put to flight when hard-pressed by the gods, nay, rallying all the ogres, the notorious Meghanāda, the mighty son of Rāvaṇa, firmly thereupon took his stand on the battlefield at that time. (1-2)

> स रथेनाग्निवर्णेन कामगेन महारथः।  
> अभिदुद्राव सेनां तां वनान्यग्निरिव ज्वलन्॥ ३॥

Seated in his chariot which shone like fire and which coursed according to his will, that great car-warrior darted towards that army of gods as a blazing fire would rush towards forests. (3)

> ततः प्रविशतस्तस्य विविधायुधधारिणः।  
> विदुद्रुवुर्दिशः सर्वा दर्शनादेव देवताः॥ ४॥

At his very sight, as he entered the field carrying every kind of weapon on his person, the gods then fled in all directions. (4)

> न बभूव तदा कश्चिद् युयुत्सोरस्य सम्मुखे।  
> सर्वानाविद्ध्य वित्रस्तांस्ततः शक्रोऽब्रवीत् सुरान्॥ ५॥

None could stand before him at that time, pugnacious as he was. Admonishing all the terrified gods, Indra then said to them: (5)

> न भेतव्यं न गन्तव्यं निवर्तध्वं रणे सुराः।  
> एष गच्छति पुत्रो मे युद्धार्थमपराजितः॥ ६॥

“You should not be afraid, nor should you run away; return to the battlefield, O gods! Here goes my son, who is invincible, for an encounter.” (6)

> ततः शक्रसुतो देवो जयन्त इति विश्रुतः।  
> रथेनाद्भुतकल्पेन संग्रामे सोऽभ्यवर्तत॥ ७॥

The celebrated son of Indra, the god widely known by the name of Jayanta, thereupon appeared on the battlefield in a chariot of marvellous workmanship. (7)

> ततस्ते त्रिदशाः सर्वे परिवार्य शचीसुतम्।  
> रावणस्य सुतं युद्धे समासाद्य प्रजघ्निरे॥ ८॥

Surrounding Jayanta (Śacī’s son) and duly approaching Meghanāda (son of Rāvaṇa) on the battlefield, all the aforesaid gods thereupon began to strike him with violence. (8)

> तेषां युद्धं समभवत् सदृशं देवरक्षसाम्।  
> महेन्द्रस्य च पुत्रस्य राक्षसेन्द्रसुतस्य च॥ ९॥

A well-matched contest now ensued between the aforesaid gods and ogres as well as between the son of the mighty Indra and the son of Rāvaṇa, the ruler of ogres. (9)

> ततो मातलिपुत्रस्य गोमुखस्य स रावणिः।  
> सारथेः पातयामास शरान् कनकभूषणान्॥ १०॥

Thereupon the said son of Rāvaṇa shot shafts decked with gold on the charioteer, Gomukha, son of Mātali, Indra’s charioteer. (10)

> शचीसुतश्चापि तथा जयन्तस्तस्य सारथिम्।  
> तं चापि रावणिः क्रुद्धः समन्तात् प्रत्यविध्यत॥ ११॥

Nay, the son of Śacī, Jayanta, too likewise wounded the charioteer of Meghanāda and, provoked to anger, the son of Rāvaṇa too wounded Jayanta on every side. (11)

> स हि क्रोधसमाविष्टो बली विस्फारितेक्षणः।  
> रावणिः शक्रतनयं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्॥ १२॥

Possessed with anger, that mighty son of Rāvaṇa, with dilated eyes actually covered the son of Indra with showers of shafts. (12)

> ततो नानाप्रहरणाञ्छितधारान् सहस्रशः।  
> पातयामास संक्रुद्धः सुरसैन्येषु रावणिः॥ १३॥

Filled with rage, the son of Rāvaṇa then let fly on the celestial troops every kind of sharp-edged weapon in thousands. (13)

> शतघ्नीमुसलप्रासगदाखड्गपरश्वधान्।  
> महान्ति गिरिशृङ्गाणि पातयामास रावणिः॥ १४॥

The son of Rāvaṇa also hurled Śataghnīs, pestles, spears, clubs, swords and battle-axes and huge crags on the celestial army. (14)

> ततः प्रव्यथिताः लोकाः संजज्ञे च तमस्ततः।  
> तस्य रावणपुत्रस्य शत्रुसैन्यानि निघ्नतः॥ १५॥

As a result of the conjuring tricks of Meghanāda (son of Rāvaṇa) who was busy exterminating enemy battalions, darkness then prevailed on all sides and the worlds, including their inhabitants, felt greatly distressed in consequence. (15)

> ततस्तद् दैवतबलं समन्तात् तं शचीसुतम्।  
> बहुप्रकारमस्वस्थमभवच्छरपीडितम् ॥ १६॥

Afflicted by the arrows, the said army of the gods, rallying round the celebrated son of Śacī felt ill at ease in many ways. (16)

> नाभ्यजानन्त चान्योन्यं रक्षो वा देवताथवा।  
> तत्र तत्र विपर्यस्तं समन्तात् परिधावत॥ १७॥

The belligerents could not distinguish one from the other; be it an ogre or a god, everyone was thrown into disorder on every side, everyone ran helter-skelter. (17)

> देवा देवान् निजघ्नुस्ते राक्षसान् राक्षसास्तथा।  
> सम्मूढास्तमसाच्छन्ना व्यद्रवन्नपरे तथा॥ १८॥

Getting confounded, enveloped as they were in darkness, the gods struck the gods and the ogres struck the ogres, while others took to their heels. (18)

> एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरः पुलोमा नाम वीर्यवान्।  
> दैत्येन्द्रस्तेन संगृह्य शचीपुत्रोऽपवाहितः॥ १९॥

In the meantime there appeared on the battlefield a powerful hero, Pulomā by name, a ruler of the Daityas. Seizing hold of Jayanta, he for his part bore him away from the battle-field. (19)

> संगृह्य तं तु दौहित्रं प्रविष्टः सागरं तदा।  
> आर्यकः स हि तस्यासीत् पुलोमा येन सा शची॥ २०॥

Taking hold of his aforesaid daughter’s son, he for his part then dived into the sea (in the depths of which he lived); for Pulomā, by whom (Jayanta’s mother) Śacī had been begotten, was Jayanta’s maternal grandfather. (20)

> ज्ञात्वा प्रणाशं तु तदा जयन्तस्याथ देवताः।  
> अप्रहृष्टास्ततः सर्वा व्यथिताः सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः॥ २१॥

Coming to know of Jayanta’s disappearance, on that occasion, the gods for their part forthwith felt cheerless and, stricken with affliction, all then took to their heels. (21)

> रावणिस्त्वथ संक्रुद्धो बलैः परिवृतः स्वकैः।  
> अभ्यधावत देवांस्तान् मुमोच च महास्वनम्॥ २२॥

Surrounded by his forces, the son of Rāvaṇa full of rage, for his part forthwith rushed on the aforesaid gods and raised a loud cry. (22)

> दृष्ट्वा प्रणाशं पुत्रस्य दैवतेषु च विद्रुतम्।  
> मातलिं चाह देवेशो रथः समुपनीयताम्॥ २३॥

Nay, seeing the disappearance of his son and the stampede among the gods, the ruler of the gods said to his charioteer, Mātali: “Let my chariot be brought near.” (23)

> स तु दिव्यो महाभीमः सज्ज एव महारथः।  
> उपस्थितो मातलिना वाह्यमानो महाजवः॥ २४॥

Being driven by Mātali for its part, that celestial, exceedingly formidable, and duly equipped huge chariot, which moved very fast, stood near. (24)

> ततो मेघा रथे तस्मिंस्तडित्त्वन्तो महाबलाः।  
> अग्रतो वायुचपला नेदुः परमनिःस्वनाः॥ २५॥

Thereupon above that chariot and at its head very powerful clouds riven by lightning and set in motion by the wind thundered with a great noise. (25)

> नानावाद्यानि वाद्यन्त गन्धर्वाश्च समाहिताः।  
> ननृतुश्चाप्सरःसङ्घा निर्याते त्रिदशेश्वरे॥ २६॥

When the ruler of gods sallied forth, Gandharvas (celestial musicians) played on different kinds of musical instruments in a chorus and bevies of celestial nymphs danced. (26)

> रुद्रैर्वसुभिरादित्यैरश्विभ्यां समरुद्गणैः।  
> वृतो नानाप्रहरणैर्निर्ययौ त्रिदशाधिपः॥ २७॥

The suzerain lord of the gods sallied forth, surrounded by the eleven Rudras, the eight Vasus, the twelve sons of Aditi, accompanied by the hosts of the wind-gods, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and the two Aświns. (27)

> निर्गच्छतस्तु शक्रस्य परुषः पवनो ववौ।  
> भास्करो निष्प्रभश्चैव महोल्काश्च प्रपेदिरे॥ २८॥

As Indra set out, a piercing wind began to blow, the sun too was shorn of its splendour and huge meteors fell. (28)

> एतस्मिन्नन्तरे शूरो दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान्।  
> आरुरोह रथं दिव्यं निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा॥ २९॥  
> पन्नगैः सुमहाकायैर्वेष्टितं लोमहर्षणैः।  
> येषां निःश्वासवातेन प्रदीप्तमिव संयुगे॥ ३०॥

In the meantime the heroic and mighty Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, ascended his heavenly chariot, fashioned by Viśwakarmā (the artisan of heaven) and hung about by exceptionally gigantic serpents which caused one’s hair to stand on end and due to the wind of whose exhalations the chariot appeared on the battlefield to be in flames. (29-30)

> दैत्यैर्निशाचरैश्चैव स रथः परिवारितः।  
> समराभिमुखो दिव्यो महेन्द्रं सोऽभ्यवर्तत॥ ३१॥

The chariot in question was surrounded by Daityas and night-stalkers. Advancing towards the battlefield, that celestial car stood in front of the mighty Indra. (31)

> पुत्रं तं वारयित्वा तु स्वयमेव व्यवस्थितः।  
> सोऽपि युद्धाद् विनिष्क्रम्य रावणिः समुपाविशत्॥ ३२॥

Keeping back his notorious son, Rāvaṇa for his part firmly took his stand on the field of battle himself. Issuing out of the battlefield, the said son of Rāvaṇa too sat quietly in his chariot. (32)

> ततो युद्धं प्रवृत्तं तु सुराणां राक्षसैः सह।  
> शस्त्राणि वर्षतां तेषां मेघानामिव संयुगे॥ ३३॥

Then started anew the struggle with the ogres of the aforesaid gods, raining weapons on the battlefield like clouds pouring rain. (33)

> कुम्भकर्णस्तु दुष्टात्मा नानाप्रहरणोद्यतः।  
> नाज्ञायत तदा राजन् युद्धं केनाभ्यपद्यत॥ ३४॥

The evil-minded Kumbhakarṇa for his part, who carried various uplifted weapons, did not know at that moment with whom he entered into combat, O king! (34)

> दन्तैः पादैर्भुजैर्हस्तैः शक्तितोमरमुद्गरैः।  
> येन तेनैव संक्रुद्धस्ताडयामास देवताः॥ ३५॥

Full of rage he struck the gods with any weapon that came to hand—with his teeth, feet, arms, hands, javelins, iron clubs and mallets. (35)

> स तु रुद्रैर्महाघोरैः संगम्याथ निशाचरः।  
> प्रयुद्धस्तैश्च संग्रामे क्षतः शस्त्रैर्निरन्तरम्॥ ३६॥

Standing at close quarters with the fierce Rudras, the said ogre, Kumbhakarṇa, forthwith entered into a hard struggle with them on the battlefield and was wounded by them with weapons so as to leave no space intact. (36)

> बभौ शस्त्राचिततनुः कुम्भकर्णः क्षरन्नसृक्।  
> विद्युत्स्तनितनिर्घोषो धारावानिव तोयदः॥ ३७॥

Covered all over with arrows and dripping with blood, Kumbhakarṇa shone like a cloud accompanied by lightning and thunder and raining torrentially. (37)

> ततस्तद् राक्षसं सैन्यं प्रयुद्धं समरुद्गणैः।  
> रणे विद्रावितं सर्वं नानाप्रहरणैस्तदा॥ ३८॥

Engaged in a hard struggle with the gods armed with all kinds of weapons and assisted by the wind-gods, the whole of that army of the ogres was put to flight on the battlefield. (38)

> केचिद् विनिहताः कृत्ताश्चेष्टन्ति स्म महीतले।  
> वाहनेष्ववसक्ताश्च स्थिता एवापरे रणे॥ ३९॥

Some were killed, while others, who had been cut down, rolled about on the ground; while still others remained stuck to their mounts on the field of battle. (39)

> रथान् नागान् खरानुष्ट्रान् पन्नगांस्तुरगांस्तथा।  
> शिशुमारान् वराहांश्च पिशाचवदनानपि॥ ४०॥  
> तान् समालिङ्ग्य बाहुभ्यां विष्टब्धाः केचिदुत्थिताः।  
> देवैस्तु शस्त्रसंभिन्ना मम्रिरे च निशाचराः॥ ४१॥

Some rangers of the night lay motionless clasping firmly with their arms their respective chariots, elephants, donkeys, camels, serpents and horses, dolphins and boars as well as other animals with heads of goblins; while others, who had recovered from their unconsciousness, were torn asunder by the gods and died. (40-41)

> चित्रकर्म इवाभाति सर्वेषां रणसम्प्लवः।  
> निहतानां प्रसुप्तानां राक्षसानां महीतले॥ ४२॥

The slaughter on the battlefield of all the ogres who lay killed on the earth’s surface, appeared like a marvel. (42)

> शोणितोदकनिष्पन्दा काकगृध्रसमाकुला।  
> प्रवृत्ता संयुगमुखे शस्त्रग्राहवती नदी॥ ४३॥

At the forefront of the battle flowed a river which carried blood for water, was crowded with crows and vultures and had weapons which had the appearance of alligators. (43)

> एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धो दशग्रीवः प्रतापवान्।  
> निरीक्ष्य तु बलं सर्वं दैवतैर्विनिपातितम्॥ ४४॥

In the meantime the glorious Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed monster) for his part was provoked to anger on perceiving his entire army destroyed by the gods. (44)

> स तं प्रतिविगाह्याशु प्रवृद्धं सैन्यसागरम्।  
> त्रिदशान् समरे निघ्नन् शक्रमेवाभ्यवर्तत॥ ४५॥

Diving deep in no time into that swollen sea of the army of the gods, he ran up to Indra himself, killing the gods in combat on the way. (45)

> ततः शक्रो महच्चापं विस्फार्य सुमहास्वनम्।  
> यस्य विस्फारनिर्घोषैः स्तनन्ति स्म दिशो दश॥ ४६॥

Indra thereupon stood pulling the string of his mighty bow, which gave forth a thunderous sound and with the twang of which resounded all the ten directions.(46)

> तद् विकृष्य महच्चापमिन्द्रो रावणमूर्धनि।  
> पातयामास स शरान् पावकादित्यवर्चसः॥ ४७॥

Bending that great bow, the aforesaid Indra let fall on the head of Rāvaṇa arrows vying with fire and the sun in respect of brilliance. (47)

> तथैव च महाबाहुर्दशग्रीवो निशाचरः।  
> शक्रं कार्मुकविभ्रष्टैः शरवर्षैरवाकिरत्॥ ४८॥

The mighty-armed ogre, Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, too covered Indra with showers of arrows shot from his bow. (48)

> प्रयुध्यतोरथ तयोर्बाणवर्षैः समन्ततः।  
> नाज्ञायत तदा किंचित् सर्वं हि तमसा वृतम्॥ ४९॥

When the two warriors were fighting hard in this manner, raining arrows on all sides, everything was actually enveloped in darkness forthwith and nothing could be seen at that moment. (49)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

---

Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition

Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.