Uttara Kanda, Sarga 8

Meaning

“When the aforesaid forces were fleeing and were being chased and destroyed from behind by Padmanābha, Lord Viṣṇu, Mālyavān forthwith returned to the field as does the sea after touching the shore. (1)

Meaning

With blood-shot eyes and shaking his head with wrath, the ogre addressed the following words to Padmanābha, also known as Puruṣottama: (2)

Meaning

‘O Nārāyaṇa, you do not know the ancient rules of warfare; like any other ignorant person you are killing us, frightened souls who have given up all thought of war. (3)

Meaning

‘O Lord of gods, the slayer who commits the sin of killing those who have given up fighting, does not go to heaven, which is reserved for those who have done meritorious deeds. (4)

Meaning

‘O bearer of the conch, the discus and the club, if you are keen on fighting, here I stand; show your prowess, so that I may witness it.’ (5)

Meaning

Seeing Mālyavān, the chief of the Rākṣasas, standing firm like Mount Mālyavān, the mighty younger brother of Indra spoke to him as follows: (6)

Meaning

‘I am implementing the assurance of safety and the pledge of exterminating the Rākṣasas given by me to the gods, who are afraid of you. (7)

Meaning

‘Service must always be done to the gods by me even at the cost of my life hence I will kill you all even though you enter the nether world.’ (8)

Meaning

The enraged Rākṣasa chieftain struck with his Śakti (javelin) the breast of the Lord of gods, whose eyes were like a red lotus, even while He was speaking as above. (9)

Meaning

Hurled by the arm of Mālyavān, the Śakti, with jingling bells, shone on Hari’s breast like a streak of lightning athwart a cloud. (10)

Meaning

Pulling out that very Śakti, Hari, the lotus-eyed, the Beloved of Lord Skanda (the bearer of a lance), hurled it back at Mālyavān. (11)

Meaning

As though shot by Skanda, that Śakti shot by the hands of Govinda, went in search of Mālyavān like a large meteor would proceed towards a hill of antimony. (12)

Meaning

On the broad chest of that Rākṣasa chieftain, which was illumined with necklaces, the Śakti descended even as the thunderbolt on a mountain-peak. (13)

Meaning

With his armour broken to pieces by the Śakti, Mālyavān fell into a deep swoon; pulling himself up, however, he stood unshaken like a mountain. (14)

Meaning

Then he violently struck Śrī Hari in the centre of the chest with a pike made of iron and covered with many spikes. (15)

Meaning

Likewise, striking the younger brother of Indra, Śrī Hari, with his fist, the Rākṣasa, keen on fighting, then withdrew to a bow’s length. (16)

Meaning

A loud cry of ‘Bravo, Bravo!’ then arose in the skies. Having struck Viṣṇu, the Rākṣasa struck Garuḍa also. (17)

Meaning

Provoked to anger, Garuḍa thereupon drove off the Rākṣasa with the blast (arising from the flapping) of his wings even as a strong wind would scatter a heap of dried leaves. (18)

Meaning

Seeing his elder brother driven off by the blast arising from the wings of Garuḍa, Sumālī made for Laṅkā, accompanied by his forces. (19)

Meaning

Blown away by the wind arising from the wings of Garuḍa, and covered with shame, the Rākṣasa, Mālyavān too, fled to Laṅkā, joined by his forces. (20)

Meaning

“O lotus-eyed Rāma, in this manner those Rākṣasas were repeatedly worsted in battle by Śrī Hari and their foremost leaders were killed. (21)

Meaning

“Tormented by His might, the Rākṣasas, being unable to fight Viṣṇu in return, left Laṅkā and went to the nether world with their wives to reside there. (22)

Meaning

“Those warriors well-known for their bravery, lived there under the protection of Sumālī who was born in the line of Sālakaṭaṅkaṭā. (23)

Meaning

“Sumālī, Mālyavān and Mālī and those who marched at their head, were all highly blessed and stronger than Rāvaṇa; while the other Rākṣasas who were killed by You, came in the line of Pulastya, O jewel among the Raghus! (24)

Meaning

“None other than Lord Nārāyaṇa, the bearer of the conch, the discus and the club, could have killed the Rākṣasas, the enemies and tormentors of gods. (25)

Meaning

“You are indeed Lord Nārāyaṇa, the four-armed, the ancient one; You are the invincible and imperishable Lord! You were born to destroy the Rākṣasas. (26)

Meaning

“You, the creator, who are fond of those who have taken refuge in You, appear from time to time to destroy the barbarians (Dasyus) who violate all the bounds of Dharma. (27)

Meaning

“O king, I have thus related in detail to you today all about the origin of the Rākṣasas. Learn from me further, O jewel among the Raghus, the origin of Rāvaṇa and his son, as also all about their immeasurable powers. (28)

Meaning

“Tormented by the fear of Viṣṇu, that mighty ogre, Sumālī wandered for long in the nether world with his sons and grandsons. Meanwhile, Vaiśravaṇa took up his abode in Laṅkā.” (29)