Indra Sends His Chariot for Rama
Indra sends his celestial chariot and charioteer for Rama. Mounted upon it, Rama presses the war against Ravana with even greater force.
Lanka Kand · Episode 24 / 37
Episode Text
देवन्ह प्रभुहि पयादें देखा। उपजा उर अति छोभ बिसेषा॥ सुरपति निज रथ तुरत पठावा। हरष सहित मातलि लै आवा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
devanha prabhui payādeṃ dekhā। upajā ura ati chobha biseshā॥ surapati nija ratha turata paṭhāvā। haraṣa sahita mātali lai āvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When the gods saw the Lord fighting on foot, great grief arose in their hearts. Then Indra immediately sent his chariot, and the charioteer Matali brought it joyfully.
तेज पुंज रथ दिब्य अनूपा। हरषि चढ़े कोसलपुर भूपा॥ चंचल तुरग मनोहर चारी। अजर अमर मन सम गतिकारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
teja puṃja ratha dibya anūpā। haraṣi caṛhe kosalapura bhūpā॥ caṃcala turaga manohara cārī। ajara amara mana sama gatikārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Rama, the king of Kosala, joyfully mounted that divine, incomparable chariot, a blazing mass of radiance. Four lively, beautiful horses, ageless and deathless, swift as the mind, were harnessed to it.
रथारूढ़ रघुनाथहि देखी। धाए कपि बलु पाइ बिसेषी॥ सही न जाइ कपिन्ह कै मारी। तब रावन माया बिस्तारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rathārūḍha raghunāthahi dekhī। dhāe kapi balu pāi biśeṣī॥ sahī na jāi kapinha kai mārī। taba rāvana māyā bistārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Raghunath mounted on the chariot, the monkeys rushed forward with renewed strength. The blows of the monkeys could not be endured, so Ravana spread his illusion.
सो माया रघुबीरहि बाँची। लछिमन कपिन्ह सो मानी साँची॥ देखी कपिन्ह निसाचर अनी। अनुज सहित बहु कोसलधनी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so māyā raghubīrahi bām̐cī। lachimana kapinha so mānī sāṃcī॥ dekhī kapinha nisācara anī। anuja sahita bahu kosaladhanī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Only Raghubir was unaffected by that illusion. Lakshmana and the monkeys took it as real. In the demon host the monkeys saw many forms of Rama together with Lakshmana.
बहु राम लछिमन देखि मर्कट भालु मन अति अपडरे। जनु चित्र लिखित समेत लछिमन जहँ सो तहँ चितवहिं खरे॥ निज सेन चकित बिलोकि हँसि सर चाप सजि कोसलधनी। माया हरी हरि निमिष महुँ हरषी सकल मर्कट अनी॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bahu rāma lachimana dekhī markaṭa bhālu mana ati apaḍare। janu citra likhita sameta lachimana jahaṃ so tahaṃ citavahim̐ khare॥ nija sena cakita biloki haṃsi sara cāpa saji kosaladhanī। māyā harī hari nimiṣa mahuṃ haraṣī sakala markaṭa anī॥
Meaning:
Seeing many forms of Rama and Lakshmana, the monkeys and bears were greatly bewildered in their minds. Together with Lakshmana, they stood gazing here and there as if painted figures. Seeing his army stunned, the Lord of Kosala smiled, strung an arrow on his bow, and in a moment dispelled the whole illusion. The entire monkey host rejoiced.
बहुरि राम सब तन चितइ बोले बचन गँभीर। द्वंदजुद्ध देखहु सकल श्रमित भए अति बीर॥ ८९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bahuri rāma saba tana citai bole bacana gambhīra। dvandajuddha dekhahu sakala śramita bhae ati bīra॥ 89 ॥
Meaning:
Then Rama looked at them all and spoke grave words: 'O warriors, you are all very tired; now watch the single combat.'
अस कहि रथ रघुनाथ चलावा। बिप्र चरन पंकज सिरु नावा॥ तब लंकेस क्रोध उर छावा। गर्जत तर्जत सन्मुख धावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi ratha raghunātha calāvā। bipra carana paṃkaja sira nāvā॥ taba laṃkesa krodha ura chāvā। garjata tarjata sanmukha dhāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Saying this, Shri Raghunathji bowed his head at the Brahmins’ lotus feet and then drove the chariot onward. Then anger rose in Lanka’s lord’s heart, and he rushed forward roaring and threatening.
जीतेहु जे भट संजुग माहीं। सुनु तापस मैं तिन्ह सम नाहीं॥ रावन नाम जगत जस जाना। लोकप जाकें बंदीखाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jītehu je bhaṭa saṃjuga māhīṃ। sunu tāpasa maiṃ tinha sama nāhīṃ॥ rāvana nāma jagata jasa jānā। lokapa jākeṃ bandīkhanā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
[He said—] O ascetic, listen. I am not like those warriors whom you have conquered in battle. My name is Ravana; my fame is known throughout the world, and even the guardians of the worlds are in my prison.
खर दूषन बिराध तुम्ह मारा। बधेहु ब्याध इव बालि बिचारा॥ निसिचर निकर सुभट संघारेहु। कुंभकरन घननादहि मारेहु॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khara dūṣana birādha tumha mārā। badhehu byādha iva bāli bicārā॥ nisi cara nikara subhaṭa saṅghārehu। kumbhakarana ghananādahi mārehu॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
You killed Khara, Dushana, and Viradha. You slew poor Bali like a hunter. You destroyed hosts of mighty demon-warriors, and you also killed Kumbhakarna and Ghananada.
आजु बयरु सबु लेउँ निबाही। जौं रन भूप भाजि नहिं जाही॥ आजु करउँ खलु काल हवाले। परेहु कठिन रावन के पाले॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āju bayaru sabu leuṃ nibāhī। jauṃ rana bhūpa bhāji nahim jāhī॥ āju karauṃ khalu kāla havāle। parehu kaṭhina rāvana ke pāle॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O king, if you do not flee from the battlefield, today I will settle all my enmity. Today I shall surely deliver you to Death. You have fallen into the grip of fierce Ravana.
सुनि दुर्बचन कालबस जाना। बिहँसि बचन कह कृपानिधाना॥ सत्य सत्य सब तव प्रभुताई। जल्पसि जनि देखाउ मनुसाई॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni durbacana kālabasa jānā। bihaṃsi bacana kaha kṛpā nidhānā॥ satya satya saba tava prabhutāī। jalpasi jani dekhāu manusāī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Ravana’s harsh words and knowing him to be under the sway of Death, the treasure of compassion, Shri Ramji, smiled and said: “Indeed, indeed, all your might is true as you claim. But now do not waste words; show your manliness.”
जनि जल्पना करि सुजसु नासहि नीति सुनहि करहि छमा। संसार महँ पूरुष त्रिबिध पाटल रसाल पनस समा॥ एक सुमनप्रद एक सुमन फल एक फलइ केवल लागहीं। एक कहहिं कहहिं करहिं अपर एक करहिं कहत न बागहीं॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jani jalpana kari sujasu nāsahi nīti sunahi karahi chamā। saṃsāra mahaṃ pūruṣa tribidha pāṭala rasāla panasa samā॥ eka sumanaprada eka sumana phala eka phalai kevala lāgahīṃ। eka kahahiṃ kahahiṃ karahiṃ apara eka karahiṃ kahata na bāgahīṃ॥
Meaning:
Do not destroy your good name by idle chatter. Forgive me; I am teaching you a lesson in policy, so listen. In the world there are three kinds of men, like the pātal flower, the mango, and the jackfruit. One gives only flowers, one gives both flowers and fruit, and one bears only fruit. Likewise, one only speaks, another speaks and acts, and another acts without speaking.
राम बचन सुनि बिहँसा मोहि सिखावत ग्यान। बयरु करत नहिं तब डरे अब लागे प्रिय प्रान॥ ९० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bacana suni bihaṃsā mohi sikhāvata gyāna। bayaru karata nahim taba ḍare aba lāge priya prāna॥ 90 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Shri Ramji’s words, he laughed heartily and said, “You are teaching me wisdom? You did not fear then, when you were opposing me in enmity; now your life is dear to you.”
कहि दुर्बचन क्रुद्ध दसकंधर। कुलिस समान लाग छाँड़ै सर॥ नानाकार सिलीमुख धाए। दिसि अरु बिदिसि गगन महि छाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahi durbacana kruddha dasakaṃdhara। kulisa samāna lāga chāṃḍai sara॥ nānākāra silīmukha dhāe। disi aru bidisi gagana mahi chāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
After uttering those harsh words, Ravana grew furious and began hurling arrows like thunderbolts. Arrows of many kinds rushed forth and filled every direction—front, back, the sky, and the earth.
पावक सर छाँड़ेउ रघुबीरा। छन महुँ जरे निसाचर तीरा॥ छाड़िसि तीब्र सक्ति खिसिआई। बान संग प्रभु फेरि चलाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pāvaka sara chāṃḍeu raghubīrā। chana mahuṃ jare nisācara tīrā॥ chāḍisi tībra sakti khisiāī। bāna saṅga prabhu feri calāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Shri Raghubir released a fire-arrow, and in an instant the demon’s arrows were burnt up. Then, in anger, Ravana launched a fierce sakti. But the Lord sent it back along with an arrow.
कोटिन्ह चक्र त्रिसूल पबारै। बिनु प्रयास प्रभु काटि निवारै॥ निफल होहिं रावन सर कैसें। खल के सकल मनोरथ जैसें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
koṭinha cakra trisūla pabārai। binu prayāsa prabhu kāṭi nivārai॥ niphala hohiṃ rāvana sara kaisẽ। khala ke sakala manoratha jaisẽ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
He hurls millions of discs and tridents, but the Lord cuts them down and wards them off without effort. How can Ravana’s arrows succeed? They fail just like the desires of wicked people.
तब सत बान सारथी मारेसि। परेउ भूमि जय राम पुकारेसि॥ राम कृपा करि सूत उठावा। तब प्रभु परम क्रोध कहुँ पावा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba sata bāna sārathī māresi। pareu bhūmi jaya rāma pukāresi॥ rāma kṛpā kari sūta uṭhāvā। taba prabhu parama krodha kahuṃ pāvā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then he shot a hundred arrows at Shri Ramji’s charioteer. Crying, “Victory to Ram,” the charioteer fell to the ground. Shri Ramji, in compassion, raised him up. Then the Lord became exceedingly wrathful.
भए क्रुद्ध जुद्ध बिरुद्ध रघुपति त्रोन सायक कसमसे। कोदंड धुनि अति चंड सुनि मनुजाद सब मारुत ग्रसे॥ मंदोदरी उर कंप कंपति कमठ भू भूधर त्रसे। चिक्करहिं दिग्गज दसन गहि महि देखि कौतुक सुर हँसे॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhae kruddha juddha biruddha raghupati trona sāyaka kasamase। kodaṃḍa dhuni ati caṃḍa suni manujāda saba māruta grase॥ maṃdodarī ura kaṃpa kaṃpati kamaṭha bhū bhūdhara trase। cikkarahim diggaja dasana gahi mahi dekhi kautuka sura haṃse॥
Meaning:
When Shri Raghupati grew furious in battle against his foe, the arrows in the quiver seemed to quiver with eagerness. Hearing the fierce roar of the bow, all the man-eating demons were gripped by terror. Mandodari’s heart trembled; the tortoise, the earth, and the mountains shook. The elephants of the directions clutched the earth with their tusks and trumpeted. Seeing this wonder, the gods laughed.
तानेउ चाप श्रवन लगि छाँड़े बिसिख कराल। राम मारगन गन चले लहलहात जनु ब्याल॥ ९१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāneu cāpa śravana lagi chāṃḍe bisikha karāla। rāma māragana gana cale lahalahāta janu byāla॥ 91 ॥
Meaning:
Drawing the bowstring to his ear, Shri Ramchandra released dreadful arrows. Rama’s volleys flew on like serpents gliding and swaying.
चले बान सपच्छ जनु उरगा। प्रथमहिं हतेउ सारथी तुरगा॥ रथ बिभंजि हति केतु पताका। गर्जा अति अंतर बल थाका॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cale bāna sapaccha janu urugā। prathamahiṃ hateu sārathī turgā॥ ratha bibhaṃji hati ketu patākā। garjā ati antara bala thākā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The arrows flew like winged serpents. First they struck down the charioteer and the horses. Then they smashed the chariot, bringing down its banner and pennants. Ravana roared loudly, but inwardly his strength was exhausted.
तुरत आन रथ चढ़ि खिसिआना। अस्त्र सस्त्र छाँड़ेसि बिधि नाना॥ बिफल होहिं सब उद्यम ताके। जिमि परद्रोह निरत मनसा के॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
turata āna ratha caḍhi khisiānā। astra sastra chāṃḍesi bidhi nānā॥ biphal hohiṃ saba udyama tāke। jimi paradroha nirata manasā ke॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Immediately, mounting another chariot in anger, he released many kinds of weapons and missiles. All his efforts were becoming futile, just like the efforts of those whose minds are set on harming others.
तब रावन दस सूल चलावा। बाजि चारि महि मारि गिरावा॥ तुरग उठाइ कोपि रघुनायक। खैंचि सरासन छाँड़े सायक॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba rāvana dasa sūla calāvā। bāji cāri mahi māri girāvā॥ turaga uṭhāi kopi raghunāyaka। khaiṃci sarāsana chāṃḍe sāyaka॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then Ravana hurled ten tridents and struck down all four of Shri Ramji’s horses. The Lord of Raghu, lifting the horses up, grew angry, drew his bow, and released arrows.
रावन सिर सरोज बनचारी। चलि रघुबीर सिलीमुख धारी॥ दस दस बान भाल दस मारे। निसरि गए चले रुधिर पनारे॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāvana sira saroja banacārī। cali raghubīra silīmukha dhārī॥ dasa dasa bāna bhāla dasa māre। nisari gae cale rudhira panāre॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The line of arrows of Shri Raghubir, like bees roaming in the lotus-garden of Ravana’s heads, flew forth. Shri Ramchandra struck each of his ten heads with ten arrows each; they passed through, and streams of blood flowed from the wounds.
स्रवत रुधिर धायउ बलवाना। प्रभु पुनि कृत धनु सर संधाना॥ तीस तीर रघुबीर पबारे। भुजन्हि समेत सीस महि पारे॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sravata rudhira dhāya u balavānā। prabhu puni kṛta dhanu sara sandhānā॥ tīsa tīra raghubīra pabāre। bhujanhi sameta sīsa mahi pāre॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Still bleeding, the mighty Ravana charged again. The Lord then fitted another arrow to the bow. Shri Raghubir shot thirty arrows and cut down the heads together with the arms, casting them to the ground.
काटतहीं पुनि भए नबीने। राम बहोरि भुजा सिर छीने॥ प्रभु बहु बार बाहु सिर हए। कटत झटिति पुनि नूतन भए॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāṭatahīṃ puni bhae nabīne। rāma bahori bhujā sira chīne॥ prabhu bahu bāra bāhu sira hae। kaṭata jhaṭiti puni nūtana bhae॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
As soon as they were cut off, they appeared new again. Rama again cut down the arms and heads. Many times the Lord severed his arms and heads, but each time they were cut, they instantly became fresh again.
पुनि पुनि प्रभु काटत भुज सीसा। अति कौतुकी कोसलाधीसा॥ रहे छाइ नभ सिर अरु बाहू। मानहुँ अमित केतु अरु राहू॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni puni prabhu kāṭata bhuja sīsā। ati kautukī kosalādhīsā॥ rahe chāi nabha sira aru bāhū। mānahuṃ amita ketu aru rāhū॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
Again and again the Lord cut off his arms and heads, for the Lord of Kosala is full of wondrous sport. Heads and arms filled the sky, as though countless Ketu and Rahu were spread there.
जनु राहु केतु अनेक नभ पथ स्रवत सोनित धावहीं। रघुबीर तीर प्रचंड लागहिं भूमि गिरन न पावहीं॥ एक एक सर सिर निकर छेदे नभ उड़त इमि सोहहीं। जनु कोपि दिनकर कर निकर जहँ तहँ बिधुंतुद पोहहीं॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janu rāhu ketu aneka nabha patha sravata sonita dhāvahīṃ। raghubīra tīra pracaṃḍa lāgahiṃ bhūmi girana na pāvahīṃ॥ eka eka sara sira nikara chede nabha uḍata imi sohahīṃ। janu kopi dinakara kara nikara jahaṃ tahaṃ bidhuṃtuda pohahīṃ॥
Meaning:
It was as though countless Rahus and Ketus were rushing along the sky-roads, streaming blood. Even when Shri Raghubir’s fierce arrows struck them, they could not fall to the earth. Heads pierced by one arrow after another flew in the sky with such beauty, as though the angry rays of the sun were piercing the Rahu-like heads here and there.
जिमि जिमि प्रभु हर तासु सिर तिमि तिमि होहिं अपार। सेवत बिषय बिबर्ध जिमि नित नित नूतन मार॥ ९२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jimi jimi prabhu hara tāsu sira tima tima hohiṃ apāra। sevata biṣaya bibardha jimi nita nita nūtana māra॥ 92 ॥
Meaning:
The more and more the Lord cuts off his heads, the more and more they become countless. Just as indulgence in worldly pleasures increases desire day by day, ever fresh and ever stronger.
दसमुख देखि सिरन्ह कै बाढ़ी। बिसरा मरन भई रिस गाढ़ी॥ गर्जेउ मूढ़ महा अभिमानी। धायउ दसहु सरासन तानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dasamukha dekhi siranha kai bāṛhī। bisarā marana bhaī risa gāṛhī॥ garjeu mūḍha mahā abhimānī। dhāyau dasahu sarāsana tānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the flood of heads, Ravana forgot death and was seized by a deep rage. The great fool, full of pride, roared and rushed forward, drawing all ten bows.
समर भूमि दसकंधर कोप्यो। बरषि बान रघुपति रथ तोप्यो॥ दंड एक रथ देखि न परेऊ। जनु निहार महुँ दिनकर दुरेऊ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samarabhūmi dasakaṃdhara kopyo। baraṣi bāna raghupati ratha topyo॥ \ndaṃḍa eka ratha dekhi na pareū। janu nihāra mahuṃ dinakara dureū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In the battlefield Ravana grew angry and showered arrows, covering Lord Raghunatha's chariot. For a moment the chariot could not be seen, as though the sun had vanished into fog.
हाहाकार सुरन्ह जब कीन्हा। तब प्रभु कोपि कारमुक लीन्हा॥ सर निवारि रिपु के सिर काटे। ते दिसि बिदिसि गगन महि पाटे॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hāhākāra suranha jaba kīnhā। taba prabhu kopi kāramuka līnhā॥ sara nivāri ripu ke sira kāṭe। te disi bidisi gagana mahi pāṭe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
When the gods cried out in alarm, the Lord took up His bow in wrath. Repelling the enemy's shafts, He cut off the enemy's heads and filled the directions, the sky, and the earth with them.
काटे सिर नभ मारग धावहिं। जय जय धुनि करि भय उपजावहिं॥ कहँ लछिमन सुग्रीव कपीसा। कहँ रघुबीर कोसलाधीसा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāṭe sira nabha māraga dhāvahiṃ। jaya jaya dhuni kari bhaya upajāvahiṃ॥ kahaṃ lachimana sugrīva kapīsā। kahaṃ raghubīra kosalādhīsā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The severed heads rush through the sky, raising cries of victory and spreading fear. Where are Lakshmana and Sugriva, lord of the monkeys? Where is Rama, lord of Kosala?
कहँ रामु कहि सिर निकर धाए देखि मर्कट भजि चले। संधानि धनु रघुबंसमनि हँसि सरन्हि सिर बेधे भले॥ सिर मालिका कर कालिका गहि बृंद बृंदन्हि बहु मिलीं। करि रुधिर सरि मज्जनु मनहुँ संग्राम बट पूजन चलीं॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahaṃ rāmu kahi sira nikara dhāe dekhi markaṭa bhaji cale। saṃdhāni dhanu raghubaṃsamani haṃsi saranhi sira bedhe bhale॥ sira mālikā kara kālikā gahi bṛnda bṛndanhi bahu milīṃ। kari rudhira sari majjanu manahuṃ saṃgrāma baṭa pūjana calīṃ॥
Meaning:
Crying, 'Where is Rama?' the heads surged forward, and seeing them the monkeys fled. Then the jewel of the Raghu line, Lord Rama, drew His bow and, smiling, pierced those heads well with His arrows. Holding garlands of skulls in their hands, many Kālīs gathered in groups and bathed in the river of blood, as though they were going to worship the banyan tree of battle.