--- title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-108" lang: "en" --- # Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 108 > अथ संस्मारयामास मातली राघवं तदा। > अजानन्निव किं वीर त्वमेनमनुवर्तसे॥ १॥ Mātali forthwith refreshed the memory of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) on that occasion and said, “How do you merely do as Rāvaṇa does (by acting on the defensive) as though you did not know how to dispose him of, O gallant prince? (1) > विसृजास्मै वधाय त्वमस्त्रं पैतामहं प्रभो। > विनाशकालः कथितो यः सुरैः सोऽद्य वर्तते॥ २॥ “With a view to his destruction discharge you on him the mystic missile presided over by Brahmā (the grandfather of the universe, which was created by the ten Prajāpatis or lords of creation, who were all his mind-born sons), my lord. The hour of his doom, which was foretold by the gods, has now arrived.” (2) > ततः संस्मारितो रामस्तेन वाक्येन मातलेः। > जग्राह स शरं दीप्तं निःश्वसन्तमिवोरगम्॥ ३॥ Reminded of that missile by the aforesaid suggestion of Mātali, Śrī Rāma then seized hold of a flaming arrow, which flew like a hissing serpent. (3) > यं तस्मै प्रथमं प्रादादगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः। > ब्रह्मदत्तं महद् बाणममोघं युधि वीर्यवान्॥ ४॥ The glorious and powerful Sage Agastya had already bestowed on him (while he was moving in the Daṇḍaka forest) that enormous arrow, gifted to him by Brahmā, the creator, which never missed its target. (4) > ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं पूर्वमिन्द्रार्थममितौजसा। > दत्तं सुरपतेः पूर्वं त्रिलोकजयकांक्षिणः॥ ५॥ Having been created of yore for the use of Indra, the ruler of gods, by Brahmā (the creator), whose strength was immeasurable, it was bestowed in the past on the ruler of gods, who was eager to conquer the three worlds. (5) > यस्य वाजेषु पवनः फले पावकभास्करौ। > शरीरमाकाशमयं गौरवे मेरुमन्दरौ॥ ६॥ The wind-god presided over its feathers; the god of fire (lit., the purifier) and the sun-god (the source of light) over its head; its shaft was made up of ether; while the Mandara and Meru mountains presided over its weight. (6) > जाज्वल्यमानं वपुषा सुपुङ्खं हेमभूषितम्। > तेजसा सर्वभूतानां कृतं भास्करवर्चसम्॥ ७॥ Provided with lovely feathers and decked with gold, the arrow, which emitted splendour from its body, had been made up of the essence of all the elements and shone like the sun. (7) > सधूममिव कालाग्निं दीप्तमाशीविषोपमम्। > नरनागाश्ववृन्दानां भेदनं क्षिप्रकारिणम्॥ ८॥ > द्वाराणां परिघाणां च गिरीणां चापि भेदनम्। > नानारुधिरदिग्धाङ्गं मेदोदिग्धं सुदारुणम्॥ ९॥ Flaming like the fire of universal dissolution enveloped in smoke, and resembling a venomous snake, it was quick in action and capable of splitting asunder hosts of men, elephants and horses and smashing gateways and iron bars and mountains too. Smeared with the blood of various victims and coated with their marrow, it presented a dreadful appearance. (8-9) > वज्रसारं महानादं नानासमितिदारुणम्। > सर्ववित्रासनं भीमं श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्॥ १०॥ Nay, hard as adamant and loud-sounding, it was capable of dispersing armies of every kind. Terrible to behold and hissing like a serpent, it frightened all. (10) > कङ्कगृध्रबकानां च गोमायुगणरक्षसाम्। > नित्यभक्षप्रदं युद्धे यमरूपं भयावहम्॥ ११॥ Providing lasting nourishment on the battlefield to buzzards, vultures and herons as well as to packs of jackals as also to ogres, it assumed the aspect of Yama (the god of retribution) and inspired terror. (11) > नन्दनं वानरेन्द्राणां रक्षसामवसादनम्। > वाजितं विविधैर्वाजैश्चारुचित्रैर्गरुत्मतः॥ १२॥ The delight of monkey chiefs and the scourge of ogres, it was provided with various kinds of lovely and picturesque plumes of Garuḍa. (12) > तमुत्तमेषुं लोकानामिक्ष्वाकुभयनाशनम्। > द्विषतां कीर्तिहरणं प्रहर्षकरमात्मनः॥ १३॥ > अभिमन्त्र्य ततो रामस्तं महेषुं महाबलः। > वेदप्रोक्तेन विधिना संदधे कार्मुके बली॥ १४॥ Charged with a mystic spell in accordance with the scriptural ordinance that great arrow which was supremely destructive, nay, capable of dispelling the fear of all the worlds in general and the Ikṣwākus in particular, taking away the glory of the enemies and delighting one’s own self, the mighty Śrī Rāma, who was endowed with extraordinary strength, then placed it on his bow. (13-14) > तस्मिन् संधीयमाने तु राघवेण शरोत्तमे। > सर्वभूतानि संत्रेसुश्चचाल च वसुंधरा॥ १५॥ While that excellent arrow was being set by Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) to his bow, all created being for their part felt terrified and the earth shook. (15) > स रावणाय संक्रुद्धो भृशमायम्य कार्मुकम्। > चिक्षेप परमायत्तः शरं मर्मविदारणम्॥ १६॥ Stretching his bow at full length, Śrī Rāma, who felt highly provoked and was supremely active, shot at Rāvaṇa the arrow, which was capable of tearing asunder his vital parts. (16) > स वज्र इव दुर्धर्षो वज्रिबाहुविसर्जितः। > कृतान्त इव चावार्यो न्यपतद् रावणोरसि॥ १७॥ Difficult to prevail against like the thunderbolt hurled by the arm of Indra (the wielder of the thunderbolt), nay, incapable of being warded off like Death, the arrow impinged on the breast of Rāvaṇa. (17) > स विसृष्टो महावेगः शरीरान्तकरः परः। > बिभेद हृदयं तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः॥ १८॥ As soon as discharged, the arrow, which was endowed with exceeding velocity and was supremely capable of putting an end to the enemy’s body, pierced the heart of the notorious and evil-minded Rāvaṇa. (18) > रुधिराक्तः स वेगेन शरीरान्तकरः शरः। > रावणस्य हरन् प्राणान् विवेश धरणीतलम्॥ १९॥ Taking the life of Rāvaṇa with all speed and stained with blood, that deadly shaft penetrated the earth’s surface. (19) > स शरो रावणं हत्वा रुधिरार्द्रकृतच्छविः। > कृतकर्मा निभृतवत् स तूणीं पुनराविशत्॥ २०॥ Soaked in blood on having killed Rāvaṇa, and thereby having accomplished its mission, nay, appearing graceful, that well-known arrow re-entered the quiver of Śrī Rāma like a meek servant. (20) > तस्य हस्ताद्धतस्याशु कार्मुकं तत् ससायकम्। > निपपात सह प्राणैर्भ्रश्यमानस्य जीवितात्॥ २१॥ The notorious bow of Rāvaṇa, when the latter was struck, immediately dropped down from his hand alongwith the arrow (set to it), synchronously with his life-breath even while he was being separated from his life. (21) > गतासुर्भीमवेगस्तु नैर्ऋतेन्द्रो महाद्युतिः। > पपात स्यन्दनाद् भूमौ वृत्रो वज्रहतो यथा॥ २२॥ His life having departed, the ruler of ogres (lit., the progeny of the ogre Nirṛti, the deity presiding over the south-west corner) for his part, who was (once) endowed with terrible impetuosity and invested with extraordinary splendour, fell from his chariot to the ground even like the demon Vṛtra when the latter was struck down by the thunderbolt of Indra. (22) > तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ हतशेषा निशाचराः। > हतनाथा भयत्रस्ताः सर्वतः सम्प्रदुद्रुवुः॥ २३॥ Seeing him fallen on the ground, the night-rangers, who had escaped the carnage, ran very fast in all directions panic-stricken, their lord having now been killed. (23) > नर्दन्तश्चाभिपेतुस्तान् वानरा द्रुमयोधिनः। > दशग्रीववधं दृष्ट्वा वानरा जितकाशिनः॥ २४॥ Nay, monkeys, who fought with trees, fell roaring upon them. Perceiving the destruction of Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed monster), the monkeys had assumed a triumphant air. (24) > अर्दिता वानरैर्हृष्टैर्लङ्कामभ्यपतन् भयात्। > हताश्रयत्वात् करुणैर्बाष्पप्रस्रवणैर्मुखैः॥ २५॥ Harassed by the jubilant monkeys, the ogres rushed back in panic towards Laṅkā, with faces exciting pity and raining tears, their mainstay having now been killed. (25) > ततो विनेदुः संहृष्टा वानरा जितकाशिनः। > वदन्तो राघवजयं रावणस्य च तद्वधम्॥ २६॥ Assuming a triumphant air, highly rejoiced as they were, and proclaiming the victory of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) and the death of Rāvaṇa at his hands, the monkeys thereupon shouted at the top of their voice. (26) > अथान्तरिक्षे व्यनदत् सौम्यस्त्रिदशदुन्दुभिः। > दिव्यगन्धवहस्तत्र मारुतः सुसुखो ववौ॥ २७॥ Presently there sounded loudly in the air the happy drums of the gods and a highly delightful breeze sprang up there, wafting heavenly odours. (27) > निपपातान्तरिक्षाच्च पुष्पवृष्टिस्तदा भुवि। > किरन्ती राघवरथं दुरावापा मनोहरा॥ २८॥ Nay, covering the chariot of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), a soul-ravishing shower of flowers, which was difficult to find elsewhere, fell from the heavens to the earth on that occasion. (28) > राघवस्तवसंयुक्ता गगने च विशुश्रुवे। > साधुसाध्विति वागग्र्या देवतानां महात्मनाम्॥ २९॥ Nay, the excellent utterance of the high-souled gods saying ‘Well done! Bravo!!’, combined with a panegyric in praise of Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), was distinctly heard in the heavens. (29) > आविवेश महान् हर्षो देवानां चारणैः सह। > रावणे निहते रौद्रे सर्वलोकभयंकरे॥ ३०॥ The fierce Rāvaṇa, the terror of all the worlds, having been killed, a great joy filled the heart of the gods, including the Cāraṇas, the celestial bards. (30) > ततः सकामं सुग्रीवमङ्गदं च विभीषणम्। > चकार राघवः प्रीतो हत्वा राक्षसपुंगवम्॥ ३१॥ Rejoiced on having dispatched the foremost of the ogres, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) then fulfilled the desire of Sugrīva, Aṅgada and Vibhīṣaṇa by seeing and felicitating them on the fall of Rāvaṇa. (31) > ततः प्रजग्मुः प्रशमं मरुद्गणा > दिशः प्रसेदुर्विमलं नभोऽभवत्। > मही चकम्पे न च मारुतो ववौ > स्थिरप्रभश्चाप्यभवद् दिवाकरः॥ ३२॥ Thereupon the hosts of gods attained great peace of mind, all the four quarters brightened up and the sky too became clear. The earth no longer shook, the wind blew gently and the sun shed a steady light. (32) > ततस्तु सुग्रीवविभीषणाङ्गदाः > सुहृद्विशिष्टाः सहलक्ष्मणस्तदा। > समेत्य हृष्टा विजयेन राघवं > रणेऽभिरामं विधिनाभ्यपूजयन्॥ ३३॥ Coming together, rejoiced as they were by the victory of Śrī Rāma, Sugrīva, Vibhīṣaṇa and Aṅgada for their part, who were supplemented by their friends and accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, then paid their homage with due ceremony to Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) who looked charming on the battlefield. (33) > स तु निहतरिपुः स्थिरप्रतिज्ञः > स्वजनबलाभिवृतो रणे बभूव। > रघुकुलनृपनन्दनो महौजा- > स्त्रिदशगणैरभिसंवृतो महेन्द्रः॥ ३४॥ Śrī Rāma, the delight of Daśaratha (the king of Raghu’s race), for his part, who had just killed his adversary, Rāvaṇa, and was thus steadfast in his vows, and who was endowed with extraordinary might, stood encompassed on the battlefield by his own people as well as by his army, even like the mighty Indra, the ruler of gods, surrounded by the celestial hosts. (34) 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.