Uttara Kanda, Sarga 71

Meaning

Hearing these words of the noble Śatrughna, Lavaṇa became extremely angry and said: ‘Wait for a moment’. (1)

Meaning

Rubbing his one hand with the other, and making a rattling sound with his teeth, Lavaṇa challenged the lion among Raghus many times. (2)

Meaning

To that Lavaṇa of fearful appearance, speaking thus, Śatrughna, the killer of the enemies of the gods, said these words: (3)

Meaning

‘Śatrughna was not born, when others were conquered by you in battle, so go to the abode of Yama today, killed by my arrow. (4)

Meaning

‘O sinful one, may the sages too see you killed in encounter today, also the learned Brāhmaṇas, as the gods saw Rāvaṇa killed. (5)

Meaning

‘Today there will be peace indeed in the city and province, as you, the demon roaming about at night are slain by my arrow and lie prostrate on the ground and burnt. (6)

Meaning

‘Today, the arrow, whose fore-point resembles the thunderbolt, released by my hand, shall enter your heart as the ray of the sun enters in the lotus.’ (7)

Meaning

Being thus spoken, Lavaṇa enraged with anger threw a mightly tree on the breast of Śatrughna; but Śatrughna cut it thousandfold with arrows. (8)

Meaning

Thus seeing his action fruitless, the powerful Rākṣasa again taking hold of many trees hurled them at Śatrughna. (9)

Meaning

The brave Śatrughna too, tore asunder each one coming upon him, by three or four arrows of flatterend ends. (10)

Meaning

Thus, Śatrughna then possessed of great might, let loose a shower of arrows on the Rākṣasa; however, the Rākṣasa was not troubled. (11)

Meaning

Then the powerful Lavaṇa laughed, and lifting a tree attacked the brave one, Śatrughna, on the head; Śatrughna went into a swoon with the bodily joints loosened. (12)

Meaning

So, as the brave Śatrughna fell, long cries of ‘Hā’ emanated from the sages, the host of the gods, the Gandharvas and Apsarās (the celestial beings). (13)

Meaning

Ignoring Śatrughna, fallen on the ground whom he took killed, the Rākṣasa did not enter his residence, although given time to do so. (14)

Meaning

Nor even did he, Lavaṇa, take up the trident seeing him (Śatrughna) lying on the ground, and then considering him, Śatrughna, dead, carried again his provisions. (15)

Meaning

Gaining consciousness in a moment, Śatrughna, adored by the sages, stood up and waited at the door of the city of Madhu, weapon in his hand. (16)

Meaning

Then Śatrughna took hold of the arrow: the divine and excelling others, flaming with brilliance and filling the ten quarters with its brilliance, shaped like the thunderbolt in front, resembling the thunderbolt in speed, equalling Meru and Mandara mountains, flat shaped, invincible in all encounters, smeared with red sandal-like blood, beautiful as the winged bird, dreadful for the lord of the Dānavas and also the mountains, resembling as if the fire of destruction kindled at the time of final dissolution. Seeing it, all beings were very much frightened. (17—20)

Meaning

The whole world, together with the Devas, Asuras and Gandharvas and the sages, was in discomfort and all approached Pitāmaha (Brahmā). (21)

Meaning

They narrated to the god of the gods, Prapitāmaha Brahmā, the bewilderment of the gods with fear regarding the security of the worlds. (22)

Meaning

‘O lord ! is the destruction of the world at hand or has the end of the universe approached? O grand sire, never before has such a condition of the world been seen or heard.’ (23)

Meaning

Hearing their words, Brahmā the grandfather of the worlds, protector of the gods, revealed the cause of the fear of the gods. (24)

Meaning

He said in a sweet voice: ‘All the gods listen to me; the arrow has been held by Śatrughna for the slaying of Lavaṇa in encounter. (25)

Meaning

‘All the great gods are bewildered at the power of that arrow ! O my children, this is the eternal powerful arrow of the former God, the creator of the world, Viṣṇu, due to which the gods are in fear; this mighty arrow was created for the destruction of those two sons of Diti, Madhu and Kaiṭabha; Viṣṇu alone knows well about this powerful arrow. (26—28)

Meaning

‘This arrow is the ancient form of the noble Viṣṇu; go from here, O my children, and witness Lavaṇa being killed by the noble and heroic Śatrughna, the younger brother of Śrī Rāma.’ The gods hearing the words of the God of gods, came to the place where both Śatrughna and Lavaṇa were engaged in fighting; all beings witnessed that divine arrow borne by Śatrughna in his hand, as if it was the fire that broke out at the time of universal destruction. Seeing the sky filled with the gods, Śatrughna, again having roared like a loin, looked at Lavaṇa; he (Lavaṇa) was again challenged by the noble Śatrughna.(29—33)

Meaning

Lavaṇa filled with anger appeared to give him (Śatrughna) the fight. He, Śatrughna, the best among archers, then having stretched that bow up to his ear, shot the arrow at the mighty chest of Lavaṇa. That divine arrow descended to the nether-world breaking open Lavaṇa’s chest, and having gone there, being worshipped by the gods, came back quickly again to Śatrughna, the descendant of the family of Ikṣvāku. (34—36)

Meaning

That demon Lavaṇa being struck by the arrow of Śatrughna, fell on the ground all at once like the mountain struck by the thunderbolt. (37)

Meaning

On the Rākṣasa Lavaṇa being killed, that mighty divine arrow too, came back to the quiver of Rudra as all the gods looked on. (38)

Meaning

Then the champion of Raghus, Śatrughna, felled with one arrow the terror of three worlds, shone forth as the sun dispelling the darkness. All gods, sages, serpents paid homage to him and Apsarās hailed the fearless victory of the son of Śrī Daśaratha, the serpent laid to rest. (39-40)