Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 45

Meaning

Seeking to find out the whereabouts of Indrajit, that glorious prince, Śrī Rāma, who was endowed with exceeding might, detailed ten monkey generals for the prupose. (1)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma (the scourge of his enemies) deputed on this errand the two sons of Suṣena and the monkey chief, Nīla, as also Aṅgada, son of Vālī, as well as the agile Śarabha, also Dwivida and Hanumān, Sānuprastha, who was endowed with extraordinary might, Ṛṣabha and Ṛṣabhaskandha. (2-3)

Meaning

Lifting up formidable trees, all the aforesaid monkeys, who were feeling excessively rejoiced, sprang in the air, exploring all the ten directions. (4)

Meaning

Indrajit, son of Rāvaṇa, however, who was skilled in the use of mystic weapons, arrested the onrush of those impetuous monkeys by means of his very swift arrows charged with the potency of the supreme mystic weapon (presided over by Brahmā). (5)

Meaning

Even though pierced and lacerated by steel arrows, the monkeys, who were endowed with terrific impetuosity, could not discern him in the darkness any more than one would perceive the sun veiled by clouds. (6)

Meaning

Indrajit (son of Rāvaṇa), who held the field of battle, repeatedly dug into the person of Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa alone shafts which pierced the whole body. (7)

Meaning

Both the aforesaid gallant princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, were, for their part, pierced by the furious Indrajit with serpents used as arrows in such a way that no part of their bodies remained unpierced. (8)

Meaning

Blood flowed profusely from their wounds and they both appeared like two Kiṁśuka trees in flower. (9)

Meaning

Thereupon Indrajit (son of Rāvaṇa), the outer corners of whose eyes had turned red through rage and looked like a mass of collyrium, spoke as follows to the two brothers, while remaining still invisible: (10)

Meaning

“Even Indra, the ruler of gods, will not be able even to discern me, much less approach me, while I am fighting imperceptibly, how much less you two! (11)

Meaning

“My mind seized with anger, I hereby dispatch to the abode of Yama you two scions of Raghu, who have been enmeshed in a network of darts provided with the plumes of buzzards.” (12)

Meaning

Having spoken as aforesaid, Indrajit, for his part, was exulted and roared and began to pierce with his pointed arrows the two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇ, who knew what is right. (13)

Meaning

Stretching his huge bow, Indrajit, who was dark as a mass of collyrium, let fly once more formidable arrows in that major conflict. (14)

Meaning

Nay, digging sharp arrows into the vital parts of Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇ, roared again and again. (15)

Meaning

Enmeshed in a net of arrows in the forefront of battle, both the princes for their part became incapable, in the mere twinkling of an eye, even of looking up. (16)

Meaning

Pierced in all their limbs and covered all over with the heads of arrows (transfixed in their bodies). the two princes then began to shake violently like a pair of banners raised in honour of the mighty Indra (the ruler of gods) and freed from their cords. (17)

Meaning

Staggered and enfeebled on account of being pierced in their vital parts, the two gallant princes, who were sovereigns of the globe and wielded mighty bows, fell to the ground. (18)

Meaning

Laying on the heroes’ bed (in the form of the battle-ground), bathed in blood with all their limbs enmeshed by arrows (in the form of serpents) the aforesaid two heroes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, felt distressed and exceedingly afflicted. (19)

Meaning

Not a finger’s breadth of space was left on their person, which was not actually pierced: and there was no organ from the tips of their fingers which remained unlacerated and unshaken by arrows. (20)

Meaning

Struck down by that cruel ogre, who was able to change his form at will, the two princes for their part emitted blood copiously even as a pair of springs would pour forth water. (21)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma fell first, pierced as he was in his vital parts with shafts discharged in fury by Indrajit, by whom Indra (the ruler of gods) was utterly vanquished of yore. (22)

Meaning

Indrajit pierced him with arrows known as Nārācas (with even and circular heads), Ardhanārācas (shaped as Nārācas only one-half their length), Bhallas (with axe-like heads), also Añjalikas (with heads shaped like joined palms), Vatsadantas (with heads resembling the teeth of a calf), Siṁhadaṁṣṭras (with heads resembling a lion’s teeth) and also Kṣuras (with heads sharp as the edge of a razor), furnished with gold feathers, those with polished heads and those descending (unobstructed) like dust. (23)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma lay on the heroes’ bed, leaving his gold-plated bow, which was still strung and bent at three places (viz., the two ends and the middle), in that the grip of his fist had now relaxed due to his feebleness. (24)

Meaning

Beholding Śrī Rāma, the foremost of human beings, fallen at an arrow’s throw from him on the field of battle, the celebrated Lakṣmaṇa became despondent about his own life. (25)

Meaning

He gave way to grief on seeing his eldest brother, Śrī Rāma, whose eyes resembled the petals of a lotus, who afforded shelter to all and whoever rejoiced in fighting. (26)

Meaning

Nay, the monkeys too gave way to extreme agony on beholding him in that sad plight. Stricken with grief, they shrieked in agony, their eyes filled with tears. (27)

Meaning

The aforesaid monkeys for their part, who had collected there with Hanumān (son of the wind-god) as their foremost leader, stood completely surrounding the two princes lying bound in a net of snakes on the heroes’ bed and gave way to extreme despondency, distressed as they were. (28)