Ravana's Swoon, the Destruction of His Yagya, and Battle with Rama
Ravana is struck into a swoon, and his attempt to secure victory through ritual is destroyed. Then the climactic battle between Rama and Ravana surges forth again.
Lanka Kand · Episode 23 / 37
Episode Text
जानु टेकि कपि भूमि न गिरा। उठा सँभारि बहुत रिस भरा॥ मुठिका एक ताहि कपि मारा। परेउ सैल जनु बज्र प्रहारा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jānu ṭeki kapi bhūmi na girā। uṭhā saṃbhāri bahuta ris bharā॥ muṭhikā eka tāhi kapi mārā। pareu saila janu bajra prahārā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hanuman, with one knee bent, did not fall to the ground. He rose again, brimming with anger. Hanuman struck him with one blow of his fist, and Ravana fell like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt.
मुरुछा गै बहोरि सो जागा। कपि बल बिपुल सराहन लागा॥ धिग धिग मम पौरुष धिग मोही। जौं तैं जिअत रहेसि सुरद्रोही॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muruchā gai bahori so jāgā। kapi bala bipula sarāhana lāgā॥ dhiga dhiga mama pauruṣa dhiga mohī। jauṃ taiṃ jiat rahesi suradrohī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
When the swoon passed, he awoke again and began to praise Hanuman’s great strength. [Hanuman said:] 'Shame on my valor, shame on me! O enemy of the gods, so you still remain alive!'
अस कहि लछिमन कहुँ कपि ल्यायो। देखि दसानन बिसमय पायो॥ कह रघुबीर समुझु जियँ भ्राता। तुम्ह कृतांत भच्छक सुर त्राता॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi lachimana kahuṃ kapi lyāyo। dekhi dasānana bismaya pāyo॥ kaha raghubīra samujhu jiyaṃ bhrātā। tumha kṛtāṃta bhacchaka sura trātā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Saying this, Hanuman carried Lakshmana back to Rama. Ravana was astonished at the sight. Lord Raghubir said, 'Brother, understand this in your heart: you are the devourer even of Death and the protector of the gods.'
सुनत बचन उठि बैठ कृपाला। गई गगन सो सकति कराला॥ पुनि कोदंड बान गहि धाए। रिपु सन्मुख अति आतुर आए॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunata bacana uṭhi baiṭha kṛpālā। gaī gagana so sakati karālā॥ puni kodaṇḍa bāna gahi dhāe। ripu sanmukha ati ātura āe॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing these words, the compassionate Lakshmana rose and sat up. The terrible weapon flew back into the sky. Then Lakshmana seized his bow and arrows and hurried toward the enemy with great eagerness.
आतुर बहोरि बिभंजि स्यंदन सूत हति ब्याकुल कियो। गिर्यो धरनि दसकंधर बिकलतर बान सत बेध्यो हियो॥ सारथी दूसर घालि रथ तेहि तुरत लंका लै गयो। रघुबीर बंधु प्रताप पुंज बहोरि प्रभु चरनन्हि नयो॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ātura bahori bibhañji syandana sūta hati byākula kiyo। giryo dharani dasakandhara bikalatara bāna sata bedhyo hiyo॥ sārathī dūsara ghāli ratha tehi turata laṅkā lai gayo। raghubīra bandhu pratāpa puñja bahori prabhu carananhi nayo॥
Meaning:
In haste, he shattered the chariot again, killed the charioteer, and threw Ravana into distress. A hundred arrows pierced his heart, and the ten-headed one fell to the ground in anguish. Another charioteer placed him in the chariot and quickly carried him back to Lanka. Lakshmana, the treasure-house of Raghubir’s glory, again bowed at the Lord’s feet.
उहाँ दसानन जागि करि करै लाग कछु जग्य। राम बिरोध बिजय चह सठ हठ बस अति अग्य॥ ८४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
uhāṃ dasānana jāgi kari karai lāga kachu jagya। rāma birodha bijaya caha saṭha haṭha basa ati agya॥ 84 ॥
Meaning:
There in Lanka, Ravana awoke from his swoon and began some ritual sacrifice. That fool, utterly ignorant and stubborn, still sought victory by opposing Rama.
इहाँ बिभीषन सब सुधि पाई। सपदि जाइ रघुपतिहि सुनाई॥ नाथ करइ रावन एक जागा। सिद्ध भएँ नहिं मरिहि अभागा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ihāṃ bibhīṣana saba sudhi pāī। sapadi jāi raghupatihī sunāī॥ nātha karai rāvana eka jāgā। siddha bhaeṃ nahiṃ marihi abhāgā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Here, Vibhishana learned all the news and went at once to inform Lord Raghupati: 'Lord, Ravana is performing a sacrifice. If it succeeds, that wretch will not die easily.'
पठवहु नाथ बेगि भट बंदर। करहिं बिधंस आव दसकंधर॥ प्रात होत प्रभु सुभट पठाए। हनुमदादि अंगद सब धाए॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
paṭhavahu nātha begi bhaṭa bandara। karahiṃ bidhaṃsa āva dasakandhara॥ prāta hota prabhu subhaṭa paṭhāe। hanumadādi aṅgada saba dhāe॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
'Lord, quickly send the monkey warriors so they may destroy the sacrifice and bring Ravana into battle.' At daybreak the Lord sent brave warriors; Hanuman, Angada, and all the rest rushed forth.
कौतुक कूदि चढ़े कपि लंका। पैठे रावन भवन असंका॥ जग्य करत जबहीं सो देखा। सकल कपिन्ह भा क्रोध बिसेषा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kautuka kūdi chaḍhe kapi laṅkā। paiṭhe rāvana bhavana asaṅkā॥ jagya karata jabahīṃ so dekhā। sakala kapinha bhā krodha biśeṣā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys, in a playful leap, sprang onto Lanka and entered Ravana’s palace without fear. As soon as they saw him performing the sacrifice, all the monkeys were filled with intense anger.
रन ते निलज भाजि गृह आवा। इहाँ आइ बक ध्यान लगावा॥ अस कहि अंगद मारा लाता। चितव न सठ स्वारथ मन राता॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rana te nilaja bhāji gṛha āvā। ihāṃ āi baka dhyāna lagāvā॥ asa kahi aṅgada mārā lātā। citava na saṭha svāratha mana rātā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They said, 'O shameless one! You fled the battlefield and came home, and now here you sit absorbed like a heron in meditation?' Saying this, Angada kicked him. But the wretch did not even look; his mind was fixed on selfish gain.
नहिं चितव जब करि कोप कपि गहि दसन लातन्ह मारहीं। धरि केस नारि निकारि बाहेर तेऽतिदीन पुकारहीं॥ तब उठेउ क्रुद्ध कृतांत सम गहि चरन बानर डारई। एहि बीच कपिन्ह बिधंस कृत मख देखि मन महुँ हारई॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nahiṃ citava jaba kari kopa kapi gahi dasana lātanha mārahīṃ। dhari kesa nāri nikāri bāhera te'tidīna pukārahīṃ॥ taba uṭheu kruddha kṛtāṃta sama gahi carana bānara ḍāraī। ehi bīca kapinha bidhaṃsa kṛta makha dekhi mana mahuṃ hāraī॥
Meaning:
When he would not even look, the monkeys, enraged, seized him with their teeth and beat him with kicks. They dragged women outside by the hair, and those women cried out in deep distress. Then Ravana rose, wrathful like Death itself, grabbing the monkeys by the feet and throwing them about. In the meantime the monkeys destroyed the sacrifice, and seeing this, he lost heart.
जग्य बिधंसि कुसल कपि आए रघुपति पास। चलेउ निसाचर क्रुद्ध होइ त्यागि जिवन कै आस॥ ८५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jagya bidhaṃsi kusala kapi āe raghupati pāsa। caleu nisācara kruddha hoi tyāgi jivana kai āsa॥ 85 ॥
Meaning:
After destroying the sacrifice, the capable monkeys came to Lord Raghupati. Then the night-demon Ravana, abandoning all hope of life, departed in fury.
चलत होहिं अति असुभ भयंकर। बैठहिं गीध उड़ाइ सिरन्ह पर॥ भयउ कालबस काहु न माना। कहेसि बजावहु जुद्ध निसाना॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
calata hohiṃ ati asubha bhayaṃkara। baiṭhahiṃ gīdha uḍāi siranha para॥ bhayau kālabasa kāhu na mānā। kahesi bajāvahu juddha nisānā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
As he marched, many inauspicious and terrifying omens appeared. Vultures flew about and perched on his heads. But being under the sway of Death, he paid no heed to any omen. He said, 'Sound the war trumpet.'
चली तमीचर अनी अपारा। बहु गज रथ पदाति असवारा॥ प्रभु सन्मुख धाए खल कैसें। सलभ समूह अनल कहँ जैसें॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
calī tamīcara anī apārā। bahu gaja ratha padāti asavārā॥ prabhu sanmukha dhāe khala kaisaiṃ। salabha samūha anala kahaṃ jaisaiṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
An immense army of demons advanced, with many elephants, chariots, foot soldiers, and horsemen. How could those wicked ones stand before the Lord? They rushed toward Him like a swarm of moths toward a flame.
इहाँ देवतन्ह अस्तुति कीन्ही। दारुन बिपति हमहि एहिं दीन्ही॥ अब जनि राम खेलावहु एही। अतिसय दुखित होति बैदेही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ihāṃ devatanha stuti kīnhī। dāruna bipati hamahi ehiṃ dīnhī॥ aba jani rāma khelāvahu ehī। atisaya dukhita hoti baidehī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Meanwhile, the gods prayed, 'O Rama, this one has brought us terrible suffering. Now do not toy with him any more; Sita is becoming exceedingly distressed.'
देव बचन सुनि प्रभु मुसुकाना। उठि रघुबीर सुधारे बाना॥ जटा जूट दृढ़ बाँधें माथे। सोहहिं सुमन बीच बिच गाथे॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
deva bacana suni prabhu musukānā। uṭhi raghubīra sudhāre bānā॥ jaṭā jūṭa dṛḍha bāṃdheṃ māthe। sohahiṃ sumana bīca bica gāthe॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the gods’ words, the Lord smiled. Raghubir then rose and straightened His arrows. His matted hair was tightly bound on His head, and flowers were woven among the locks, adding to His beauty.
अरुन नयन बारिद तनु स्यामा। अखिल लोक लोचनाभिरामा॥ कटितट परिकर कस्यो निषंगा। कर कोदंड कठिन सारंगा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aruna nayana bārida tanu syāmā। akhila loka locanābhirāmā॥ kaṭiṭaṭa parikara kasyo niṣaṅgā। kara kodaṇḍa kaṭhina sāraṅgā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
With red eyes and a dark body like a cloud, He is the delight of the eyes of all the worlds. The Lord tightened His waistband and quiver at His waist and took up the hard Saranga bow in His hand.
सारंग कर सुंदर निषंग सिलीमुखाकर कटि कस्यो। भुजदंड पीन मनोहरायत उर धरासुर पद लस्यो॥ कह दास तुलसी जबहिं प्रभु सर चाप कर फेरन लगे। ब्रह्मांड दिग्गज कमठ अहि महि सिंधु भूधर डगमगे॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sāraṅga kara sundara niṣaṅga silīmukhākara kaṭi kasyo। bhujadaṇḍa pīna manoharāyata ura dharāsura pada lasyo॥ kaha dāsa tulasī jabahiṃ prabhu sara cāpa kara pherana lage। brahmāṇḍa diggaja kamaṭha ahi mahi sindhu bhūdhar ḍagamage॥
Meaning:
He took the beautiful Saranga bow in His hand and fastened the splendid quiver of arrows at His waist. His arms are strong and beautiful, and on His broad chest shines the mark of the feet (an auspicious divine sign). Tulsi Das says that as soon as the Lord began to twirl the bow and arrows in His hands, the whole cosmos trembled—its elephants, tortoise, serpents, earth, ocean, and mountains all shook.
सोभा देखि हरषि सुर बरषहिं सुमन अपार। जय जय जय करुनानिधि छबि बल गुन आगार॥ ८६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sobhā dekhi harṣi sura baraṣahiṃ sumana apāra। jaya jaya jaya karuṇānidhi chabi bala guna āgāra॥ 86 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing His splendor, the gods rejoiced and showered down countless flowers. 'Victory, victory, victory to the ocean of compassion, the Lord who is the abode of beauty, strength, and virtues!'
एहीं बीच निसाचर अनी। कसमसात आई अति घनी॥ देखि चले सन्मुख कपि भट्टा। प्रलयकाल के जनु घन घट्टा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehīṃ bīca nisācara anī। kasamasāta āī ati ghanī॥ dekhi cale sanmukha kapi bhaṭṭā। pralayakāla ke janu ghana ghaṭṭā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Meanwhile, a very dense army of demons came surging forward, jostling together. Seeing them, the monkey warriors advanced to face them like masses of clouds at the time of cosmic dissolution.
बहु कृपान तरवारि चमंकहिं। जनु दहँ दिसि दामिनीं दमंकहिं॥ गज रथ तुरग चिकार कठोरा। गर्जहिं मनहुँ बलाहक घोरा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bahu kṛpāna taravāri camaṃkahim̐। janu dahaṃ disi ḍāminīṃ ḍamaṃkahim̐॥ gaja ratha turaga cikāra kaṭhorā। garjahim̐ manahuṃ balāhaka ghorā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Many daggers and swords are flashing, as if lightning were flashing in all ten directions. The harsh trumpeting of elephants, chariots, and horses sounds like terrible thunder from storm clouds.
कपि लंगूर बिपुल नभ छाए। मनहुँ इंद्रधनु उए सुहाए॥ उठइ धूरि मानहुँ जलधारा। बान बुंद भै बृष्टि अपारा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kapi lagūra bipula nabha chāe। manahuṃ iṃdradhanu ue suhāe॥ uṭhai dhūri mānahuṃ jaladhārā। bāna buṃda bhai bṛṣṭi apārā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys' many tails fill the sky, seeming like beautiful rainbows risen up. Dust rises as if it were a stream of water. An immense shower of arrow-like drops falls.
दुहुँ दिसि पर्बत करहिं प्रहारा। बज्रपात जनु बारहिं बारा॥ रघुपति कोपि बान झरि लाई। घायल भै निसिचर समुदाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
duhuṃ disi parbata karahim̐ prahārā। vajrapāta janu bārahim̐ bārā॥ raghupati kopi bāna jhari lāī। ghāyala bhai nisicara samudāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
From both sides the warriors hurl mountains at one another, as if thunderbolts were falling again and again. Lord Raghunath, in anger, showered arrows, and the demon host was wounded.
लागत बान बीर चिक्करहीं। घुर्मि घुर्मि जहँ तहँ महि परहीं॥ स्रवहिं सैल जनु निर्झर भारी। सोनित सरि कादर भयकारी॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lāgata bāna bīra cikkarahīṃ। ghurmi ghurmi jahaṃ tahaṃ mahi parahīṃ॥ sravahim̐ saila janu nirjhara bhārī। sonita sari kādara bhayakārī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
As arrows strike, the warriors cry out and, reeling again and again, fall to the ground here and there. Blood flows from them as if from heavy mountain waterfalls. Thus a river of blood, dreadful to the faint-hearted, begins to flow.
कादर भयंकर रुधिर सरिता चली परम अपावनी। दोउ कूल दल रथ रेत चक्र अबर्त बहति भयावनी॥ जलजंतु गज पदचर तुरग खर बिबिध बाहन को गने। सर सक्ति तोमर सर्प चाप तरंग चर्म कमठ घने॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kādara bhayaṃkara rudhira saritā calī parama apāvanī। do'u kūla dala ratha reta cakra abarta bahati bhayāvanī॥ jalajantu gaja padacara turaga khara bibidha vāhana ko gane। sara saktī tomara sarpa cāpa taraṃga carma kamaṭha ghane॥
Meaning:
A dread-inspiring river of blood, utterly impure, has begun to flow. Its two banks are the two armies; chariots are its sand, and wheels are its whirlpools. It flows in a terrifying way. Elephants, foot soldiers, horses, donkeys, and countless other mounts and conveyances are its water-creatures. Arrows, spears, and lances are serpents; bows are waves, and shields are many tortoises.
बीर परहिं जनु तीर तरु मज्जा बहु बह फेन। कादर देखि डरहिं तहँ सुभटन्ह के मन चेन॥ ८७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bīra parahim̐ janu tīra taru majjā bahu baha phena। kādara dekhi ḍarahim̐ tahaṃ subhaṭanha ke mana cena॥ 87 ॥
Meaning:
The warriors are falling to the ground as if trees on a riverbank were being uprooted. Much marrow is flowing; that is the foam. The cowards are frightened by it, but the hearts of brave warriors find delight there.
मज्जहिं भूत पिसाच बेताला। प्रमथ महा झोटिंग कराला॥ काक कंक लै भुजा उड़ाहीं। एक ते छीनि एक लै खाहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
majjahim̐ bhūta pisāca betālā। pramatha mahā jhoṭiṃga karālā॥ kāka kaṃka lai bhujā uḍāhīṃ। eka te chīni eka lai khāhīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Ghosts, goblins, and spirits, along with the terrible great Pramathas (Shiva's attendants), bathe in that river. Crows and vultures seize arms and fly off with them, snatching them from one another and devouring them.
एक कहहिं ऐसिउ सौंघाई। सठहु तुम्हार दरिद्र न जाई॥ कहँरत भट घायल तट गिरे। जहँ तहँ मनहुँ अर्धजल परे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka kahahim̐ aisiu saṃghāī। saṭhahu tumhāra daridra na jāī॥ kahaṃrata bhaṭa ghāyala taṭa gire। jahaṃ tahaṃ manahuṃ ardhajala pare॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
One says, 'O fools, there is such abundance here, and still your poverty does not leave you?' Wounded warriors lie moaning on the bank, as if half-submerged bodies were lying everywhere.
खैंचहिं गीध आँत तट भए। जनु बंसी खेलत चित दए॥ बहु भट बहहिं चढ़े खग जाहीं। जनु नावरि खेलहिं सरि माहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khaim̐cahim̐ gīdha āṃta taṭa bhae। janu baṃsī khelata cita dae॥ bahu bhaṭa bahahim̐ caṛhe khaga jāhīṃ। janu nāvari khelahim̐ sari māhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Vultures are pulling out entrails, as if anglers were sitting on the riverbank, intent on fishing with a rod. Many warriors are being carried away, while birds swoop upon them, as if they were playing in the river in boats.
जोगिनि भरि भरि खप्पर संचहिं। भूत पिसाच बधू नभ नंचहिं॥ भट कपाल करताल बजावहिं। चामुंडा नाना बिधि गावहिं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jogini bhari bhari khappara sanchahim̐। bhūta pisāca badhū nabha naṃcahim̐॥ bhaṭa kapāla karatāla bajāvahim̐। cāmuṇḍā nānā bidhi gāvahim̐॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The yoginis fill and collect their skull-bowls again and again. The women of ghosts and goblins dance in the sky. The Chamundas beat rhythm on the warriors' skulls and sing in many ways.
जंबुक निकर कटक्कट कट्टहिं। खाहिं हुआहिं अघाहिं दपट्टहिं॥ कोटिन्ह रुंड मुंड बिनु डोल्लहिं। सीस परे महि जय जय बोल्लहिं॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaṃbuka nikara kaṭakkaṭa kaṭṭahim̐। khāhim̐ huāhim̐ aghāhim̐ dapaṭṭahim̐॥ koṭinha ruṃḍa muṃḍa binu dollahim̐। sīsa pare mahi jaya jaya bollahim̐॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Hosts of jackals make a clattering sound and gnaw, eat, howl, and growl in irritation after becoming full. Crores of trunks move about without heads, while the heads, fallen on the ground, cry out 'Victory, victory!'
बोल्लहिं जो जय जय मुंड रुंड प्रचंड सिर बिनु धावहीं। खप्परिन्ह खग्ग अलुज्झि जुज्झहिं सुभट भटन्ह ढहावहीं॥ बानर निसाचर निकर मर्दहिं राम बल दर्पित भए। संग्राम अंगन सुभट सोवहिं राम सर निकरन्हि हए॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bollahim̐ jo jaya jaya muṇḍa ruṇḍa pracaṇḍa sira binu dhāvahīṃ। khapparinha khagga alujjhi jujjhahim̐ subhaṭa bhaṭanha ḍhahāvahīṃ॥ bānara nisācara nikara mardahim̐ rāma bala darpita bhae। saṃgrāma aṃgana subhaṭa sovahim̐ rāma sara nikaranhi hae॥
Meaning:
The severed heads shout 'Victory, victory,' and the fierce trunks race about without heads. Tangled in skulls and swords, warriors fight one another and strike down brave foes. The monkeys crush the demon hordes, empowered by Rama's strength. In the battlefield, warriors lie as if asleep, struck down by Rama's arrows.
रावन हृदयँ बिचारा भा निसिचर संघार। मैं अकेल कपि भालु बहु माया करौं अपार॥ ८८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāvana hṛdayam̐ bicārā bhā nisichara saṃghāra। maiṃ akela kapi bhālu bahu māyā karauṃ apāra॥ 88 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana reflected in his heart: 'The demons are being destroyed. I am alone, while the monkeys and bears are many; therefore I shall now create an immense illusion.'