--- title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-53" lang: "en" --- # Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 53 > धूम्राक्षं निहतं श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। > क्रोधेन महताऽऽविष्टो निःश्वसन्नुरगो यथा॥ १॥ Rāvaṇa, the lord of ogres, was filled with rage on hearing of Dhūmrākṣa having been killed, and stood hissing like a serpent. (1) > दीर्घमुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य क्रोधेन कलुषीकृतः। > अब्रवीद् राक्षसं क्रूरं वज्रदंष्ट्रं महाबलम्॥ २॥ Heaving a long and burning sigh, wrought up with anger as he was, he spoke as follows to the ferocious ogre, Vajradaṁṣṭra, who was endowed with extraordinary might: (2) > गच्छ त्वं वीर निर्याहि राक्षसैः परिवारितः। > जहि दाशरथिं रामं सुग्रीवं वानरैः सह॥ ३॥ “Proceed you, O champion! Sally forth, accompanied by other ogres and make short work of Rāma, son of Daśaratha, and Sugrīva, alongwith the monkeys.” (3) > तथेत्युक्त्वा द्रुततरं मायावी राक्षसेश्वरः। > निर्जगाम बलैः सार्धं बहुभिः परिवारितः॥ ४॥ Saying “Amen!”, the ogre chief, who was skilled in conjuring tricks, departed speedily with a number of troops and surrounded by many generals. (4) > नागैरश्वैः खरैरुष्ट्रैः संयुक्तः सुसमाहितः। > पताकाध्वजचित्रैश्च बहुभिः समलंकृतः॥ ५॥ He was accompanied by elephants, horses, donkeys and camels, was fully concentrated of mind and was rendered most charming by the presence of many generals distinguished by banners and pennons. (5) > ततो विचित्रकेयूरमुकुटेन विभूषितः। > तनुत्रं स समावृत्य सधनुर्निर्ययौ द्रुतम्॥ ६॥ Artistically decked with lovely armlets and a diadem, and donning a coat of mail, he then set out quickly with a bow in his hand. (6) > पताकालंकृतं दीप्तं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्। > रथं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा समारोहच्चमूपतिः॥ ७॥ Walking clockwise round his brilliant chariot, dressed with pennants and decorated with pure gold, the general ascended it. (7) > ऋष्टिभिस्तोमरैश्चित्रैः श्लक्ष्णैश्च मुसलैरपि। > भिन्दिपालैश्च चापैश्च शक्तिभिः पट्टिशैरपि॥ ८॥ > खड्गैश्चक्रैर्गदाभिश्च निशितैश्च परश्वधैः। > पदातयश्च निर्यान्ति विविधाः शस्त्रपाणयः॥ ९॥ Armed with double-edged swords, strange iron clubs, also polished mallets and slings as well as with bows, as also javelins and sharp-edged spears; swords, discuses and maces and sharp axes, foot soldiers of every description issued forth, weapons in hand. (8-9) > विचित्रवाससः सर्वे दीप्ता राक्षसपुङ्गवाः। > गजा महोत्कटाः शूराश्चलन्त इव पर्वताः॥ १०॥ Clad in lovely raiment, all the bulls among the ogres looked splendid. Intrepid elephants, forming part of the army of ogres, which were intoxicated with ichor and looked like moving hills also sallied forth. (10) > ते युद्धकुशला रूढास्तोमराङ् कुशपाणिभिः। > अन्ये लक्षणसंयुक्ताः शूरारूढा महाबलाः॥ ११॥ Mounted by mahouts carrying iron clubs and goads in their hands, they were skilled in warfare. Other animals, viz., horses, which were rich in noble characteristics and were mounted by gallant warriors and endowed with extraordinary might also took part in the conflict. (11) > तद् राक्षसबलं सर्वं विप्रस्थितमशोभत। > प्रावृट्काले यथा मेघा नर्दमानाः सविद्युतः॥ १२॥ Set out for a definite purpose, that entire army of ogres looked splendid like clouds thundering accompanied by flashes of lightning in the rainy season. (12) > निःसृता दक्षिणद्वारादङ्गदो यत्र यूथपः। > तेषां निष्क्रममाणानामशुभं समजायत॥ १३॥ The ogres issued forth through the southern gate at which the monkey general, Aṅgada, was stationed. Evil portents appeared even as they were filing out. (13) > आकाशाद् विघनात् तीव्रा उल्काश्चाभ्यपतंस्तदा। > वमन्तः पावकज्वालाः शिवा घोरा ववाशिरे॥ १४॥ Dazzling meteors fell on all sides from the cloudless sky at that juncture. Nay, belching forth tongues of fire, fearful she-jackals howled. (14) > व्याहरन्त मृगा घोरा रक्षसां निधनं तदा। > समापतन्तो योधास्तु प्रास्खलंस्तत्र दारुणम्॥ १५॥ Hideous beasts foretold the destruction of the ogres at that time; while the warriors stumbled miserably when pushing forward. (15) > एतानौत्पातिकान् दृष्ट्वा वज्रदंष्ट्रो महाबलः। > धैर्यमालम्ब्य तेजस्वी निर्जगाम रणोत्सुकः॥ १६॥ Taking recourse to firmness even on seeing these portentous phenomena, the heroic Vajradaṁṣṭra, who was endowed with extraordinary might, and was eager for fight, sallied forth. (16) > तांस्तु विद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा वानरा जितकाशिनः। > प्रणेदुः सुमहानादान् दिशः शब्देन पूरयन्॥ १७॥ Seeing them advancing rapidly, the monkeys, who had assumed a triumphant air, set up tremendous shouts and filled the quarters with their uproar. (17) > ततः प्रवृत्तं तुमुलं हरीणां राक्षसैः सह। > घोराणां भीमरूपाणामन्योन्यवधकाङ् क्षिणाम्॥ १८॥ Then followed a fierce encounter of the monkeys with the ogres, both of whom were formidable and fearful to look at and sought the destruction of the other party. (18) > निष्पतन्तो महोत्साहा भिन्नदेहशिरोधराः। > रुधिरोक्षितसर्वाङ्गा न्यपतन् धरणीतले॥ १९॥ Though rushing forward, full of martial ardour, they fell to the earth’s surface, all their limbs bathed in blood, their trunks and necks being severed. (19) > केचिदन्योन्यमासाद्य शूराः परिघबाहवः। > चिक्षिपुर्विविधान् शस्त्रान् समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः॥ २०॥ Approaching one another, some gallant warriors, whose arms resembled iron clubs, and who never turned their back on the field of battle, flung missiles of every kind on the adversary. (20) > द्रुमाणां च शिलानां च शस्त्राणां चापि निःस्वनः। > श्रूयते सुमहांस्तत्र घोरो हृदयभेदनः॥ २१॥ A very loud and fearful noise, which pierced the heart, produced by trees and rocks as well as by weapons used in the combat was heard on the field of battle. (21) > रथनेमिस्वनस्तत्र धनुषश्चापि घोरवत्। > शङ्खभेरीमृदङ्गानां बभूव तुमुलः स्वनः॥ २२॥ There followed on the battlefield the clatter of chariot wheels, the fearful twang of bows and the tumultuous noise of conches, kettledrums and clay tomtoms. (22) > केचिदस्त्राणि संत्यज्य बाहुयुद्धमकुर्वत॥ २३॥ > तलैश्च चरणैश्चापि मुष्टिभिश्च द्रुमैरपि। > जानुभिश्च हताः केचिद् भग्नदेहाश्च राक्षसाः। > शिलाभिश्चूर्णिताः केचिद् वानरैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः॥ २४॥ Abandoning their weapons, some warriors began to wrestle with one another, and struck with palms as well as with feet and fists as also with trees and knees, some ogres had their bodies smashed; while others were crushed under rocks by monkeys maddened by fight. (23-24) > वज्रदंष्ट्रो भृशं बाणै रणे वित्रासयन् हरीन्। > चचार लोकसंहारे पाशहस्त इवान्तकः॥ २५॥ Repeatedly striking the monkeys by his arrows, causing consternation, Vajradaṁṣṭra rode the battlefield as Death would, noose in hand, for the destruction of the world. (25) > बलवन्तोऽस्त्रविदुषो नानाप्रहरणा रणे। > जघ्नुर्वानरसैन्यानि राक्षसाः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः॥ २६॥ Distracted with anger, the mighty ogres, who knew the use of mystic missiles and were armed with weapons of every kind, destroyed the simian ranks in combat. (26) > जघ्ने तान् राक्षसान् सर्वान् धृष्टो वालिसुतो रणे। > क्रोधेन द्विगुणाविष्टः संवर्तक इवानलः॥ २७॥ Filled with redoubled anger, the fearless Aṅgada (son of Vālī) began to exterminate all the ogres on the battlefield like fire at the time of universal destruction. (27) > तान् राक्षसगणान् सर्वान् वृक्षमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्। > अङ्गदः क्रोधताम्राक्षः सिंहः क्षुद्रमृगानिव॥ २८॥ > चकार कदनं घोरं शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः। > अङ्गदाभिहतास्तत्र राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः॥ २९॥ > विभिन्नशिरसः पेतुर्निकृत्ता इव पादपाः। > रथैश्चित्रैर्ध्वजैरश्वैः शरीरैर्हरिरक्षसाम्॥ ३०॥ > रुधिरौघेण संछन्ना भूमिर्भयकरी तदा। > हारकेयूरवस्त्रैश्च शस्त्रैश्च समलंकृता॥ ३१॥ > भूमिर्भाति रणे तत्र शारदीव यथा निशा। > अङ्गदस्य च वेगेन तद् राक्षसबलं महत्। > प्राकम्पत तदा तत्र पवनेनाम्बुदो यथा॥ ३२॥ Lifting up a tree, his eyes red with anger, the valiant Aṅgada, the equal of Indra, the ruler of gods, in prowess, began to play havoc with all those hordes of ogres even as a lion would with the smaller beasts. Struck down by Aṅgada on the field of battle, the ogres of terrible prowess fell like trees that have been cut down, their skulls smashed. Covered all over with chariots, picturesque ensigns, horses, the bodies of monkeys and ogres, as also with a stream of blood the earth looked fearful at that time. Fully decorated with necklaces, armlets and raiment as well as with weapons, the earth on the site of that conflict glowed like an autumnal night. Nay, under the impetuosity of Aṅgada, that huge army of the ogres violently shook on that occasion at that spot even as a cloud would under the pressure of the wind. (28—32) 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.