---
title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 58"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-58"
lang: "en"
---

# Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 58

> ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तं दृष्ट्वा रणकृतोद्यमम्।  
> उवाच सस्मितं रामो विभीषणमरिंदमः॥ १॥

Seeing Prahasta sallying forth, duly prepared for war, Śrī Rāma, the tamer of his enemies, forthwith spoke with a smile to Vibhīṣaṇa as follows: (1)

> क एष सुमहाकायो बलेन महता वृतः।  
> आगच्छति महावेगः किंरूपबलपौरुषः॥ २॥

“Who comes this colossus, surrounded by a huge army and endowed with great impetuosity? What are his might and manliness like? (2)

> आचक्ष्व मे महाबाहो वीर्यवन्तं निशाचरम्।  
> राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः॥ ३॥

“Make known to me this powerful ranger of the night, O mighty-armed ogre (Vibhīṣaṇa).” Hearing the question of Śrī Rāma, Vibhīṣaṇa replied as follows: (3)

> एष सेनापतिस्तस्य प्रहस्तो नाम राक्षसः।  
> लङ्कायां राक्षसेन्द्रस्य त्रिभागबलसंवृतः।  
> वीर्यवानस्त्रविच्छूरः सुप्रख्यातपराक्रमः॥ ४॥

“He is an ogre, Prahasta by name, the Commander-in-Chief of Rāvaṇa’s army. Surrounded by a third of the army of Rāvaṇa (the ruler of ogres), in Laṅkā, he is powerful, conversant with the use of mystic weapons and valiant. His prowess is very widely known.” (4)

> ततः प्रहस्तं निर्यान्तं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्।  
> गर्जन्तं सुमहाकायं राक्षसैरभिसंवृतम्॥ ५॥  
> ददर्श महती सेना वानराणां बलीयसाम्।  
> अभिसंजातघोषाणां प्रहस्तमभिगर्जताम्॥ ६॥

The huge army of the exeedingly mighty monkeys, thereupon saw the terrible and gigantic Prahasta of redoubtable prowess sallying forth roaring, surrounded on all sides by ogres. An uproar arose among them and they began to roar at Prahasta. (5-6)

> खड्गशक्त्यृष्टिशूलाश्च बाणानि मुसलानि च।  
> गदाश्च परिघाः प्रासा विविधाश्च परश्वधाः॥ ७॥  
> धनूंषि च विचित्राणि राक्षसानां जयैषिणाम्।  
> प्रगृहीतान्यराजन्त वानरानभिधावताम्॥ ८॥

Swords, javelins, double-edged swords and pikes, arrows and mallets, nay, maces, iron bars, sharp-edged spears, axes of various kinds and bows of every variety, borne by the ogres rushing towards the monkeys and seeking victory, shone brightly. (7-8)

> जगृहुः पादपांश्चापि पुष्पितांस्तु गिरींस्तथा।  
> शिलाश्च विपुला दीर्घा योद्धुकामाः प्लवंगमाः॥ ९॥

The monkeys for their part, who were burning to fight, seized trees in flower as well as peaks of mountains as also huge and lofty rocks. (9)

> तेषामन्योन्यमासाद्य संग्रामः सुमहानभूत्।  
> बहूनामश्मवृष्टिं च शरवर्षं च वर्षताम्॥ १०॥

A major conflict ensued between the vast number of monkeys and ogres, who, approaching each other, showered down a hail of stones and shafts. (10)

> बहवो राक्षसा युद्धे बहून् वानरपुङ्गवान्।  
> वानरा राक्षसांश्चापि निजघ्नुर्बहवो बहून्॥ ११॥

In the course of the struggle numerous ogres exterminated numerous bulls among monkeys and many monkeys killed many ogres too. (11)

> शूलैः प्रमथिताः केचित् केचित् तु परमायुधैः।  
> परिघैराहताः केचित् केचिच्छिन्नाः परश्वधैः॥ १२॥

Some monkeys were exterminated with pikes, while others were cut down with discuses. Others were smashed with iron bars, while still others were hacked with axes. (12)

> निरुच्छ्वासाः पुनः केचित् पतिता जगतीतले।  
> विभिन्नहृदयाः केचिदिषुसंधानसाधिताः॥ १३॥

Deprived of their life and breath, some fell down to the ground; while others who were struck down with the discharge of arrows, had their heart split into pieces. (13)

> केचिद् द्विधा कृताः खड्गैः स्फुरन्तः पतिता भुवि।  
> वानरा राक्षसैः शूरैः पार्श्वतश्च विदारिताः॥ १४॥

Cut into two with swords, some monkeys fell bounding to the ground, while others were cleft in their sides by valiant ogres. (14)

> वानरैश्चापि संक्रुद्धै राक्षसौघाः समन्ततः।  
> पादपैर्गिरिशृङ्गैश्च सम्पिष्टा वसुधातले॥ १५॥

Nay, multitudes of ogres too were completely crushed on all sides against the earth’s surface by the infuriated monkeys with trees and mountain tops. (15)

> वज्रस्पर्शतलैर्हस्तैर्मुष्टिभिश्च हता भृशम्।  
> वमन् शोणितमास्येभ्यो विशीर्णदशनेक्षणाः॥ १६॥

Struck again and again with hands, whose palms had the impact of the thunderbolt, as well as with fists, the ogres vomited blood from their mouths, their teeth and eyes having been smashed. (16)

> आर्तस्वनं च स्वनतां सिंहनादं च नर्दताम्।  
> बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो हरीणां रक्षसामपि॥ १७॥

A tumultuous clamour arose among the monkeys and ogres too while they emitted cries of distress or roared like lions. (17)

> वानरा राक्षसाः क्रुद्धा वीरमार्गमनुव्रताः।  
> विवृत्तवदनाः क्रूराश्चक्रुः कर्माण्यभीतवत्॥ १८॥

Following the path of heroes, their mouths distended, the infuriated and hard-hearted monkeys and ogres alike accomplished deeds of valour fearlessly. (18)

> नरान्तकः कुम्भहनुर्महानादः समुन्नतः।  
> एते प्रहस्तसचिवाः सर्वे जघ्नुर्वनौकसः॥ १९॥

Narāntaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahānāda and Samunnata all these four adjutants of Prahasta made short work of the monkeys (lit., dwellers in the woods). (19)

> तेषां निपततां शीघ्रं निघ्नतां चापि वानरान्।  
> द्विविदो गिरिशृङ्गेण जघानैकं नरान्तकम्॥ २०॥

Of the aforesaid four ogres, who were rushing with speed and also killing the monkeys, Dwivida struck down with a mountain peak one viz., Narāntaka. (20)

> दुर्मुखः पुनरुत्थाय कपिः सविपुलद्रुमम्।  
> राक्षसं क्षिप्रहस्तं तु समुन्नतमपोथयत्॥ २१॥

Springing on his feet with a giant tree in his hand, the monkey Durmukha for his part then killed the quick-handed Samunnata. (21)

> जाम्बवांस्तु सुसंक्रुद्धः प्रगृह्य महतीं शिलाम्।  
> पातयामास तेजस्वी महानादस्य वक्षसि॥ २२॥

Firmly seizing hold of a huge rock, the energetic Jāmbavān for his part, who was highly enraged, hurled it on the chest of Mahānāda. (22)

> अथ कुम्भहनुस्तत्र तारेणासाद्य वीर्यवान्।  
> वृक्षेण महता सद्यः प्राणान् संत्याजयद् रणे॥ २३॥

Meeting with Tāra, the powerful Kumbhahanu closed with him; and the former deprived him of his life with a huge tree. (23)

> अमृष्यमाणस्तत्कर्म प्रहस्तो रथमास्थितः।  
> चकार कदनं घोरं धनुष्पाणिर्वनौकसाम्॥ २४॥

Intolerant of this exploit, and mounted on his chariot, bow in hand, Prahasta caused a dreadful havoc among the monkeys (lit., dwellers in the woods). (24)

> आवर्त इव संजज्ञे सेनयोरुभयोस्तदा।  
> क्षुभितस्याप्रमेयस्य सागरस्येव निःस्वनः॥ २५॥

With the rapid manoeuvring of both the armies there arose at that time an uproar resembling the roar of a vast tempestuous sea. (25)

> महता हि शरौघेण राक्षसो रणदुर्मदः।  
> अर्दयामास संक्रुद्धो वानरान् परमाहवे॥ २६॥

Getting infuriated, the ogre, Prahasta, who was maddened by combat, actually began to torment the monkeys with an immense stream of arrows in that major conflict. (26)

> वानराणां शरीरैस्तु राक्षसानां च मेदिनी।  
> बभूवातिचिता घोरैः पर्वतैरिव संवृता॥ २७॥

Strewn excessively with the heaps of dead bodies of monkeys and ogres, the earth was covered with fearful mountains, as it were. (27)

> सा मही रुधिरौघेण प्रच्छन्ना सम्प्रकाशते।  
> संछन्ना माधवे मासि पलाशैरिव पुष्पितैः॥ २८॥

Veiled by torrents of blood, the earth shone brightly as if it were fully clothed with Palāśa trees in blossom in the month of Vaiśākha (the second month of the vernal season). (28)

> हतवीरौघवप्रां तु भग्नायुधमहाद्रुमाम्।  
> शोणितौघमहातोयां यमसागरगामिनीम्॥ २९॥  
> यकृत्प्लीहमहापङ्कां विनिकीर्णान्त्रशैवलाम्।  
> भिन्नकायशिरोमीनामङ्गावयवशाद्वलाम् ॥ ३०॥  
> गृध्रहंसवराकीर्णां कङ्कसारससेविताम्।  
> मेदःफेनसमाकीर्णामार्तस्तनितनिःस्वनाम् ॥ ३१॥  
> तां कापुरुषदुस्तारां युद्धभूमिमयीं नदीम्।  
> नदीमिव घनापाये हंससारससेविताम्॥ ३२॥  
> राक्षसाः कपिमुख्यास्ते तेरुस्तां दुस्तरां नदीम्।  
> यथा पद्मरजोध्वस्तां नलिनीं गजयूथपाः॥ ३३॥

The ogres as well as the foremost of monkeys for their part crossed the river in the shape of the battle-field, which had heaps of slain warriors for its banks, broken weapons for large trees (standing on its banks) and the torrents of blood for its vast sheet of water; which was rushing towards the sea of Death; which had livers and spleens for its vast mire, the scattered entrails for its duckweeds, severed trunks and heads for its fish and fingers etc., (parts of limbs of the body) for the grass growing on its banks; which was crowded with the foremost of swans in the shape of vultures, and frequented by cranes in the shape of buzzards; which was overspread with foam in the shape of fat, and had the groans of the wounded for its murmur, and which was difficult to cross for cowards—even as they would cross a river frequented by swans and cranes at the end of the monsoon, when they become fordable. Nay, they swam across that river, even though it was difficult to cross as easily as leaders of herds of elephants would cross a lotus-pond covered with the pollen of lotuses. (29—33)

> ततः सृजन्तं बाणौघान् प्रहस्तं स्यन्दने स्थितम्।  
> ददर्श तरसा नीलो विधमन्तं प्लवंगमान्॥ ३४॥

Presently Nīla (the Commander-in-Chief of the simian army) saw Prahasta discharging volleys of shafts and exterminating the monkeys with impetuosity while seated in his chariot. He, therefore, began to exterminate with vehemence the army of the ogres even as a tempestuous wind would blow away a huge mass of clouds in the sky. (34)

> उद्धूत इव वायुः खे महदभ्रबलं बलात्।  
> समीक्ष्याभिद्रुतं युद्धे प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः॥ ३५॥  
> रथेनादित्यवर्णेन नीलमेवाभिदुद्रुवे।  
> स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो विकृष्य परमाहवे॥ ३६॥  
> नीलाय व्यसृजद् बाणान् प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः।  
> ते प्राप्य विशिखा नीलं विनिर्भिद्य समाहिताः॥ ३७॥  
> महीं जग्मुर्महावेगा रोषिता इव पन्नगाः।  
> नीलः शरैरभिहतो निशितैर्ज्वलनोपमैः॥ ३८॥  
> स तं परमदुर्धर्षमापतन्तं महाकपिः।  
> प्रहस्तं ताडयामास वृक्षमुत्पाट्य वीर्यवान्॥ ३९॥

Perceiving Nīla rushing with violence towards him for an engagement, Prahasta, the Commander-in-Chief, darted towards Nīla alone in his chariot, bright as the sun. Stretching his bow fully in that supreme struggle, that prince of archers, General Prahasta, began to aim arrows a Nīla. Reaching Nīla and piercing him right through, the aforesaid arrows went straight into the earth with great rapidity like infuriated serpents. Uprooting a tree, when wounded by the pointed arrows, resembling tongues of fire, that mighty and valiant monkey struck the said Prahasta, who was most difficult to overpower, and was rushing towards him. (35—39)

> स तेनाभिहतः क्रुद्धो नर्दन् राक्षसपुंगवः।  
> ववर्ष शरवर्षाणि प्लवंगानां चमूपतौ॥ ४०॥

Roaring when struck by Nīla, that furious bull among the ogres began to rain down showers of arrows on the Commander-in-Chief of the monkeys. (40)

> तस्य बाणगणानेव राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः।  
> अपारयन् वारयितुं प्रत्यगृह्णान्निमीलितः।  
> यथैव गोवृषो वर्षं शारदं शीघ्रमागतम्॥ ४१॥  
> एवमेव प्रहस्तस्य शरवर्षान् दुरासदान्।  
> निमीलिताक्षः सहसा नीलः सेहे दुरासदान्॥ ४२॥

Not being able to check the streams of arrows of that evil-minded ogre, Nīla received them with closed eyes. Even as a bull would receive an autumnal shower come all of a sudden, precisely in the same way Nīla suffered with closed eyes the shower of shafts discharged by Prahasta, which were difficult to endure, nay, difficult to meet. (41-42)

> रोषितः शरवर्षेण सालेन महता महान्।  
> प्रजघान हयान् नीलः प्रहस्तस्य महाबलः॥ ४३॥

Provoked by that hail of arrows, the great Nīla, who was endowed with extraordinary might, struck down the horses of Prahasta with a huge sal tree. (43)

> ततो रोषपरीतात्मा धनुस्तस्य दुरात्मनः।  
> बभञ्ज तरसा नीलो ननाद च पुनः पुनः॥ ४४॥

With a mind seized with anger, Nīla then shattered with violence the bow of that evil-minded Prahasta and roared again and again. (44)

> विधनुः स कृतस्तेन प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः।  
> प्रगृह्य मुसलं घोरं स्यन्दनादवपुप्लुवे॥ ४५॥

Firmly seizing hold of a formidable mallet, when rendered bowless by him, the said Prahasta, the Commander-in-Chief, leapt down from his chariot. (45)

> तावुभौ वाहिनीमुख्यौ जातवैरौ तरस्विनौ।  
> स्थितौ क्षतजसिक्ताङ्गौ प्रभिन्नाविव कुञ्जरौ॥ ४६॥

Both the Commanders-in-Chief, who were full of impetuosity and in whom enmity had sprung up for each other, stood bathed all over in blood like two elephants in rut.(46)

> उल्लिखन्तौ सुतीक्ष्णाभिर्दंष्ट्राभिरितरेतरम्।  
> सिंहशार्दूलसदृशौ सिंहशार्दूलचेष्टितौ॥ ४७॥

Tearing each other with their exceedingly sharp teeth they looked like a lion and an elephant and also behaved like a lion and an elephant, respectively. (47)

> विक्रान्तविजयौ वीरौ समरेष्वनिवर्तिनौ।  
> काङ्क्षमाणौ यशः प्राप्तुं वृत्रवासवयोरिव॥ ४८॥

The two heroes had well-nigh scored a victory, they never turned their back on the field of battle and sought to attain the glory which had fallen to the lot of the demon Vṛtra and Indra, the ruler of gods. (48)

> आजघान तदा नीलं ललाटे मुसलेन सः।  
> प्रहस्तः परमायत्तस्ततः सुस्राव शोणितम्॥ ४९॥

At that time Prahasta, who was supremely active, struck Nīla with a mallet on the forehead, from which blood began to flow. (49)

> ततः शोणितदिग्धाङ्गः प्रगृह्य च महातरुम्।  
> प्रहस्तस्योरसि क्रुद्धो विससर्ज महाकपिः॥ ५०॥

Firmly seizing hold of a huge tree, the great monkey, Nīla, his limbs covered with gore, angrily flung it on Prahasta chest. (50)

> तमचिन्त्यप्रहारं स प्रगृह्य मुसलं महत्।  
> अभिदुद्राव बलिनं बलान्नीलं प्लवङ्गमम्॥ ५१॥

Not minding that blow and firmly grasping an enormous mallet, the latter violently rushed towards the mighty monkey, Nīla. (51)

> तमुग्रवेगं संरब्धमापतन्तं महाकपिः।  
> ततः सम्पे्रक्ष्य जग्राह महावेगो महाशिलाम्॥ ५२॥

Perceiving the furious ogre advancing with terrible rapidity towards him, the great monkey, Nīla, who was endowed with extraordinary impetuosity, then pulled up a mighty rock. (52)

> तस्य युद्धाभिकामस्य मृधे मुसलयोधिनः।  
> प्रहस्तस्य शिलां नीलो मूर्ध्नि तूर्णमपातयत्॥ ५३॥

Nīla quickly flung the rock on the head of Prahasta, who courted war and fought with a mallet on the field of battle. (53)

> नीलेन कपिमुख्येन विमुक्ता महती शिला।  
> बिभेद बहुधा घोरा प्रहस्तस्य शिरस्तदा॥ ५४॥

Hurled at that moment by Nīla, the foremost of monkeys, the huge and formidable rock broke the head of Prahasta into many pieces. (54)

> स गतासुर्गतश्रीको गतसत्त्वो गतेन्द्रियः।  
> पपात सहसा भूमौ छिन्नमूल इव द्रुमः॥ ५५॥

His life as well as his splendour, strength and senses having departed, he fell precipitately to the ground like a tree cut at the root. (55)

> विभिन्नशिरसस्तस्य बहु सुस्राव शोणितम्।  
> शरीरादपि सुस्राव गिरेः प्रस्रवणं यथा॥ ५६॥

Like a spring from a mountain, blood flowed copiously from his shattered head as also from his body. (56)

> हते प्रहस्ते नीलेन तदकम्प्यं महाबलम्।  
> राक्षसानामहृष्टानां लङ्कामभिजगाम ह॥ ५७॥

Prahasta having been made short work of by Nīla, that huge and unshakable army of ogres, who had grown cheerless, withdrew to Laṅkā: so the tradition goes. (57)

> न शेकुः समवस्थातुं निहते वाहिनीपतौ।  
> सेतुबन्धं समासाद्य विशीर्णं सलिलं यथा॥ ५८॥

Their Commander-in-Chief having been killed, the troops could not remain stationary any more than water on reaching a breached dam. (58)

> हते तस्मिंश्चमूमुख्ये राक्षसास्ते निरुद्यमाः।  
> रक्षःपतिगृहं गत्वा ध्यानमूकत्वमागताः॥ ५९॥

Marching to the abode of Rāvaṇa, the lord of ogres, devoid of all effort, the commander of their army having been killed, the aforesaid ogres were reduced to speechlessness due to worry. (59)

> प्राप्ताः शोकार्णवं तीव्रं विसंज्ञा इव तेऽभवन्॥ ६०॥

Nay, fallen into a burning ocean of grief, they became unconscious, as it were. (60)

> ततस्तु नीलो विजयी महाबलः  
> प्रशस्यमानः सुकृतेन कर्मणा।  
> समेत्य रामेण सलक्ष्मणेन  
> प्रहृष्टरूपस्तु बभूव यूथपः॥ ६१॥

Getting (re-) united with Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, while being acclaimed for his well-accomplished deed, the victorious commander, Nīla, for his part, who was endowed with extraordinary might, thereupon actually felt highly exultant. (61)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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