Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 77

Meaning

Seeing his elder brother, Kumbha, struck down by Sugrīva, Nikumbha gazed on the (aforesaid) ruler of monkeys as though the ogre would consume him with his wrath. (1)

Meaning

The brave ogre forthwith took hold of his brilliant club, which was festooned with wreaths and provided with iron plates measuring five digits in breadth, nay, which resembled a peak of the Mahendra mountain in size, was further plated with gold and decked with diamonds and corals, was terrible as the rod of Yama, the god of retribution, and dispelled the fear of ogres. (2-3)

Meaning

Brandishing the weapon, which vied with the banner of Indra in splendour, Nikumbha of redoubtable prowess, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, roared with his mouth wide open. (4)

Meaning

With his jewels such as a golden ornament adorning his breast, also armlets encircling his arms as well as with charming earrings and a lovely garland, as also with that club, the aforesaid Nikumbha shone even as a cloud shot with lightning and accompanied by thunder looks bright with a rainbow. (5-6)

Meaning

The conjunction of the seven winds or bands of air (Pravaha, Āvaha and so on) burst on coming in contact with the tip of the club of the gigantic ogre and the club glowed like a smokeless flame with a crash. (7)

Meaning

The vault of heaven with the city of Viṭapāvatī (Alakā), the excellent mansions of the Gandharvas (the celestial musicians), the hosts of stars and lunar mansions, the moon and other major planets appeared to spin round as though it were caused to revolve by the motion of Nikumbha’s club. (8)

Meaning

Nay, having burst into flames like the fire at the end of the world-cycle, the fire in the shape of Nikumbha, which had the club and his ornaments for its flames and his wrath for its fuel, became difficult to assail. (9)

Meaning

In their terror neither the ogres nor the monkeys dared to move. Baring his bosom, the mighty Hanumān, however, stood in front of him. (10)

Meaning

The mighty ogre for his part, whose arms resembled iron bars in stiffness, struck his club, which shone like the sun, on the breast of the mighty monkey, Hanumān. (11)

Meaning

Split into a hundred splinters as soon as it impinged on his solid and broad chest, the club shone like a hundred meteors crumbling in the air all at once. (12)

Meaning

Though struck with the club, that great monkey did not shake under that blow any more than a mountain in an earthquake. (13)

Meaning

Struck as aforesaid by the ogre, the celebrated Hanumān, the foremost of the monkeys, who was endowed with exceeding might, clenched his fist with vehemence. (14)

Meaning

Raising it, the powerful and agile monkey, who was endowed with extraordinary energy and vied with the wind-god in prowess, dashed it with impetuosity on the chest of Nikumbha. (15)

Meaning

The armour of Nikumbha in that region got split up and blood shot forth under the impact of that fist. It appeared on his breast as lightning sprung from a cloud. (16)

Meaning

Nay, the notorious Nikumbha for his part staggered under that blow. Recovering himself, however, he caught hold of Hanumān, even though the latter was endowed with extraordinary might. (17)

Meaning

Seeing Hanumān, who was endowed with extraordinary strength, captured by Nikumbha on the field of battle, the inhabitants of Laṅkā terribly roared on that occasion. (18)

Meaning

Even while being carried off as aforesaid by that ogre, Hanumān, son of the wind-god, struck him with his fist, which was hard as adamant. (19)

Meaning

Disengaging himself from his grip, Hanumān, sprung from the loins of the wind-god, forthwith leapt to the ground and speedily struck Nikumbha down. (20)

Meaning

Having thrown Nikumbha down, Hanumān, who was supremely active, crushed him. Nay, springing up, the agile monkey jumped impetuously on his chest. (21)

Meaning

Taking hold of the ogre’s neck and twisting it, Hanumān tore off his huge head while the ogre continued to emit a terrible cry. (22)

Meaning

When Nikumbha, who was crying loudly, was killed in combat by the son of the wind-god, there ensued forthwith an exceedingly formidable struggle between Śrī Rāma (son of Emperor Daśaratha) and Makarākṣa (son of Khara, a ruler of ogres), who were seized with terrible anger. (23)

Meaning

When Nikumbha’s life had departed, the monkeys emitted loud cries of joy and the quarters resounded. Nay, the earth seemed to quake, the heavens appeared to crumble and fear took possession of the army of ogres. (24)