The War Begins
The Vanara and Rakshasa armies finally meet in open battle. The great war of Lanka begins with tumult, courage, and fierce combat.
Lanka Kand · Episode 11 / 37
Episode Text
लंकाँ भयउ कोलाहल भारी। सुना दसानन अति अहँकारी॥ देखहु बनरन्ह केरि ढिठाई। बिहँसि निसाचर सेन बोलाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
laṃkāṃ bhayau kolāhala bhārī। sunā dasānana ati ahaṃkārī॥ dekhahu banaranha keri ḍhiṭhāī। bihiṃsi nisācara sena bolāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
A great uproar arose in Lanka. Hearing it, the exceedingly arrogant Ravana said, Look at the monkeys' insolence! Laughing, he summoned the demon army.
आए कीस काल के प्रेरे। छुधावंत सब निसिचर मेरे॥ अस कहि अट्टहास सठ कीन्हा। गृह बैठें अहार बिधि दीन्हा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āe kīsa kāla ke prere। chudhāvanta saba nisicara mere॥ asa kahi aṭṭahāsa saṭha kīnhā। gṛha baiṭheṃ ahāra bidhi dīnhā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys have come driven by Time itself. My demons are all hungry. The Creator has sent them food right to their doors. So saying, the fool burst into loud laughter.
सुभट सकल चारिहुँ दिसि जाहू। धरि धरि भालु कीस सब खाहू॥ उमा रावनहि अस अभिमाना। जिमि टिट्टिभ खग सूत उताना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
subhaṭa sakala cārihum̐ disi jāhū। dhari dhari bhālu kīsa saba khāhū॥ umā rāvanahi asa abhimānā। jimi ṭiṭṭibha khaga sūta utānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
And he said, O warriors, all of you go in the four directions and seize the bears and monkeys one by one and devour them. O Uma, Ravana was so arrogant that he was like the tittibha bird sleeping with its feet upward, as though it could hold up the sky.
चले निसाचर आयसु मागी। गहि कर भिंडिपाल बर साँगी॥ तोमर मुद्गर परसु प्रचंडा। सूल कृपान परिघ गिरिखंडा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cale nisācara āyasu māgī। gahi kara bhiṇḍipāla bara sāṅgī॥ tomara mudgara parasu pracaṇḍā। sūla kṛpāna parigha girikhaṇḍā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The demons set out after receiving orders, taking up excellent bhindipals and spears in their hands. They also carried tomars, maces, terrible axes, spears, swords, pikes, and fragments of mountains.
जिमि अरुनोपल निकर निहारी। धावहिं सठ खग मांस अहारी॥ चोंच भंग दुख तिन्हहि न सूझा। तिमि धाए मनुजाद अबूझा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jimi arunopala nikara nihārī। dhāvahim saṭha khaga māṃsa ahārī॥ coṃca bhaṃga dukha tinhahi na sūjhā। timi dhāe manujāda abūjhā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Like foolish flesh-eating birds that rush at a cluster of red stones, not realizing the pain of having their beaks broken on them, so these senseless demons rushed forward.
नानायुध सर चाप धर जातुधान बल बीर। कोट कँगूरन्हि चढ़ि गए कोटि कोटि रनधीर॥ ४० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nānāyudha sara cāpa dhara jātudhāna bala bīra। koṭa kaṅgūranhi caṛhi gae koṭi koṭi ranadhīra॥ 40 ॥
Meaning:
Armed with many kinds of weapons, bows, and arrows, millions upon millions of strong and battle-hardened demon warriors climbed up onto the battlements.
कोट कँगूरन्हि सोहहिं कैसे। मेरु के सृंगनि जनु घन बैसे॥ बाजहिं ढोल निसान जुझाऊ। सुनि धुनि होइ भटन्हि मन चाऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
koṭa kaṅgūranhi sohahim kaise। meru ke sṛṅgani janu ghana baisesa॥ bājahim ḍhola nisāna jujhāū। suni dhuni hoi bhaṭanhi mana cāū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
How splendid they look on the battlements, like clouds sitting on the peaks of Mount Meru. Drums and war-kettledrums resound, and hearing the sound, the warriors' hearts are filled with eagerness.
बाजहिं भेरि नफीरि अपारा। सुनि कादर उर जाहिं दरारा॥ देखिन्ह जाइ कपिन्ह के ठट्टा। अति बिसाल तनु भालु सुभट्टा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bājahim bheri nafīri apārā। suni kādara ura jāhim darārā॥ dekhinha jāi kapinha ke ṭhaṭṭā। ati bisāla tanu bhālu subhaṭṭā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Countless trumpets and kettledrums are sounding; hearing them, cowards' hearts are split apart. Going there, they saw the crowd of monkeys and bears, with their immense bodies and valiant strength.
धावहिं गनहिं न अवघट घाटा। पर्बत फोरि करहिं गहि बाटा॥ कटकटाहिं कोटिन्ह भट गर्जहिं। दसन ओठ काटहिं अति तर्जहिं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhāvahim ganahim na avaghaṭa ghāṭā। parbata phori karahim gahi bāṭā॥ kaṭakaṭāhim koṭinha bhaṭa garjahim। dasana oṭha kāṭahim ati tarjahim॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They run, paying no heed to steep and difficult passes. Seizing the mountains, they split them open to make a road. Millions of warriors clatter and roar, biting their lips with their teeth and threatening fiercely.
उत रावन इत राम दोहाई। जयति जयति जय परी लराई॥ निसिचर सिखर समूह ढहावहिं। कूदि धरहिं कपि फेरि चलावहिं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
uta rāvana ita Rāma dohāī। jayati jayati jaya parī larāī॥ nisicara sikhara samūha ḍhahāvahim। kūdi darahim kapi pheri calāvahim॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Here the cry is Ravana, and there the cry is Rama. As the shout of Victory rose, the battle broke out. The demons hurl heaps of mountain peaks; the monkeys leap up, seize them, and throw them back at them.
धरि कुधर खंड प्रचंड मर्कट भालु गढ़ पर डारहीं। झपटहिं चरन गहि पटकि महि भजि चलत बहुरि पचारहीं॥ अति तरल तरुन प्रताप तरपहिं तमकि गढ़ चढ़ि चढ़ि गए। कपि भालु चढ़ि मंदिरन्ह जहँ तहँ राम जसु गावत भए॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dhari kudhara khaṇḍa pracaṇḍa markaṭa bhālu gaṛha para ḍārahīm̐। jhapatahim carana gahi paṭaki mahi bhaji calata bahuri pacārahīm̐॥ ati tarala taruna pratāpa tarpahim tamaki gaṛha caṛhi caṛhi gae। kapi bhālu caṛhi mandiranha jaham̐ taham̐ Rāma jasu gāvata bhae॥
Meaning:
The mighty monkeys and bears lift chunks of mountains and hurl them onto the fortress. They spring at the demons, seize their feet, fling them to the ground, and then flee and taunt them again. Agile and brilliant with power, they leap up swiftly and scale the fortress; monkeys and bears climb into the palaces wherever they can and begin singing the glory of Rama.
एकु एकु निसिचर गहि पुनि कपि चले पराइ। ऊपर आपु हेठ भट गिरहिं धरनि पर आइ॥ ४१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eku eku nisicara gahi puni kapi cale parāi। ūpara āpu heṭha bhaṭa girahim dharani para āi॥ 41 ॥
Meaning:
Then, seizing the demons one by one, the monkeys run off. Above them and below them, the warriors come crashing down onto the earth.
राम प्रताप प्रबल कपिजूथा। मर्दहिं निसिचर सुभट बरूथा॥ चढ़े दुर्ग पुनि जहँ तहँ बानर। जय रघुबीर प्रताप दिवाकर॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Rāma pratāpa prabala kapijūthā। mardahim nisicara subhaṭa barūthā॥ caṛhe durga puni jaham̐ taham̐ bānara। jaya raghubīra pratāpa divākara॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
By Rama's power, the mighty bands of monkeys were crushing the ranks of demon warriors. The monkeys then climbed everywhere on the fortress, crying, Victory to Raghubir, the sun of glory.
चले निसाचर निकर पराई। प्रबल पवन जिमि घन समुदाई॥ हाहाकार भयउ पुर भारी। रोवहिं बालक आतुर नारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cale nisācara nikara parāī। prabala pavana jimi ghana samudāī॥ hāhākāra bhayau pura bhārī। rovahim bālaka ātura nārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The hosts of demons fled in all directions, like masses of clouds scattered by a strong wind. Great uproar filled the city of Lanka. Children, women, and the afflicted began to weep in distress.
सब मिलि देहिं रावनहि गारी। राज करत एहिं मृत्यु हँकारी॥ निज दल बिचल सुनी तेहिं काना। फेरि सुभट लंकेस रिसाना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba mili dehim rāvanahi gārī। rāja karata ehiṃ mṛtyu haṃkārī॥ nija dala bicala sunī tehim̐ kānā। pheri subhaṭa laṃkesa risānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
All together they began abusing Ravana, saying that in ruling, he had summoned death upon himself. When Ravana heard with his own ears of his army's disorder, he turned the fleeing warriors back and, enraged, said—
जो रन बिमुख सुना मैं काना। सो मैं हतब कराल कृपाना॥ सर्बसु खाइ भोग करि नाना। समर भूमि भए बल्लभ प्राना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jo rana bimukha sunā maiṃ kānā। so maiṃ hataba karāla kṛpānā॥ sarabasu khāi bhoga kari nānā। samara bhūmi bhae ballabha prānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Whoever I hear has turned his back in battle and fled, I shall myself strike him down with my terrible sword. He has consumed all my wealth, enjoyed every kind of pleasure, and now his life has become dear to him on the battlefield.
उग्र बचन सुनि सकल डेराने। चले क्रोध करि सुभट लजाने॥ सन्मुख मरन बीर कै सोभा। तब तिन्ह तजा प्रान कर लोभा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ugra bacana suni sakala ḍerāne। cale krodha kari subhaṭa lajāne॥ sanmukha marana bīra kai sobhā। taba tinh taja prāna kara lobhā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Ravana's harsh words, all were terrified and, though ashamed, turned back in anger for battle. To die face to face is a warrior's glory. Thinking thus, they gave up their attachment to life.
बहु आयुध धर सुभट सब भिरहिं पचारि पचारि। ब्याकुल किए भालु कपि परिघ त्रिसूलन्हि मारि॥ ४२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bahu āyudha dhara subhaṭa saba bhirahim pacāri pacāri। byākula kie bhālu kapi parigha trisūlanhi māri॥ 42 ॥
Meaning:
Armed with many weapons, all the warriors rushed to clash again and again, issuing challenges. Striking with pikes and tridents, they left the bears and monkeys in distress.
भय आतुर कपि भागन लागे। जद्यपि उमा जीतिहहिं आगे॥ कोउ कह कहँ अंगद हनुमंता। कहँ नल नील दुबिद बलवंता॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaya ātura kapi bhāgana lāge। jadyapi umā jītihahiṃ āge॥ kou kah kahṃ aṃgada hanumaṃtā। kahṃ nala nīla dubida balavaṃtā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
[Shiva says—] The monkeys, filled with fear and panic, began to flee, though, O Uma, they will prevail in the end. Some ask: Where are Angad and Hanuman? Where are the mighty Nal, Neel, and Dwivid?
निज दल बिकल सुना हनुमाना। पच्छिम द्वार रहा बलवाना॥ मेघनाद तहँ करइ लराई। टूट न द्वार परम कठिनाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nija dala bikal sunā hanumānā। pacchima dvāra rahā balavānā॥ meghanāda tahaṃ karai larāī। tūṭa na dvāra parama kaṭhināī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
When Hanuman heard that his own army had become distressed and disheartened, that mighty hero was at the western gate. There Meghnad was fighting him. The gate would not break; the struggle was extremely difficult.
पवनतनय मन भा अति क्रोधा। गर्जेउ प्रबल काल सम जोधा॥ कूदि लंक गढ़ ऊपर आवा। गहि गिरि मेघनाद कहुँ धावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pavanatanaya mana bhā ati krodhā। garjeu prabala kāla sama jodhā॥ kūdi laṃka gaṛha ūpara āvā। gahi giri meghanāda kahuṃ dhāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then great anger arose in the mind of Hanuman, the son of the Wind. Roaring fiercely like Death itself, that warrior leapt up onto the fortress of Lanka and rushed at Meghnad, mountain in hand.
भंजेउ रथ सारथी निपाता। ताहि हृदय महुँ मारेसि लाता॥ दुसरें सूत बिकल तेहि जाना। स्यंदन घालि तुरत गृह आना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaṃjeu ratha sāraphī nipātā। tāhi hṛdaya mahuṃ māresi lātā॥ dusareṃ sūta bikal tehi jānā। syandana ghāli turata gṛha ānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He smashed the chariot and struck down the charioteer, then kicked Meghnad in the chest. The other charioteer, seeing him distressed, lifted him into the chariot and quickly took him home.
अंगद सुना पवनसुत गढ़ पर गयउ अकेल। रन बाँकुरा बालिसुत तरकि चढ़ेउ कपि खेल॥ ४३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aṃgada sunā pavanasuta gaṛha para gayau akela। rana bāṃkurā bālisuta taraki chaṛheu kapi khela॥ 43 ॥
Meaning:
Meanwhile Angad heard that Hanuman, son of the Wind, had gone alone to the fort, so the brave son of Bali sprang up as if in a monkey's sport and climbed onto the fort.
जुद्ध बिरुद्ध क्रुद्ध द्वौ बंदर। राम प्रताप सुमिरि उर अंतर॥ रावन भवन चढ़े द्वौ धाई। करहिं कोसलाधीस दोहाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
juddha biruddha kruddha dvau baṃdara। rāma pratāpa sumiri ura antara॥ rāvana bhavana chaṛhe dvau dhāī। karahiṃ kosalādhīsa dohāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
In battle, both monkeys became furious against the foes. Remembering the glory of Rama in their hearts, they rushed to Ravana's palace and cried out the name of the Lord of Kosala.
कलस सहित गहि भवनु ढहावा। देखि निसाचरपति भय पावा॥ नारि बृंद कर पीटहिं छाती। अब दुइ कपि आए उतपाती॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kalasa sahita gahi bhavanu ḍhahāvā। dekhi nisācarapati bhaya pāvā॥ nāri bṛnda kara pīṭahiṃ chātī। aba dui kapi āe utapātī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
They seized the building along with its finial and brought it down. Seeing this, the king of the demons grew frightened. The women beat their breasts and said, 'Now two troublesome monkeys have come together.'
कपिलीला करि तिन्हहि डेरावहिं। रामचंद्र कर सुजसु सुनावहिं॥ पुनि कर गहि कंचन के खंभा। कहेन्हि करिअ उतपात अरंभा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kapilīlā kari tinhahi derāvahiṃ। rāmacandra kara sujasa sunāvahiṃ॥ puni kara gahi kaṃcana ke khaṃbhā। kaheṃhi kariya utapāta araṃbhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
By performing monkey-like antics and issuing threats, the two frightened them and proclaimed the glorious fame of Rama. Then, grasping the golden pillars, they said to one another, 'Now let us begin the havoc.'
गर्जि परे रिपु कटक मझारी। लागे मर्दै भुज बल भारी॥ काहुहि लात चपेटन्हि केहू। भजहु न रामहि सो फल लेहू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
garji pare ripu kaṭaka majhārī। lāge mardai bhuja bala bhārī॥ kāhuhī lāta capeṭanhi kehū। bhajahu na rāmahi so phala lehū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Roaring, they leapt into the midst of the enemy army and began crushing it with their mighty arms. Some they struck with kicks, others with slaps, saying, 'You do not worship Rama—take the fruit of that now.'
एक एक सों मर्दहिं तोरि चलावहिं मुंड। रावन आगें परहिं ते जनु फूटहिं दधि कुंड॥ ४४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka eka soṃ mardahiṃ tori calāvahiṃ muṃḍa। rāvana āgeṃ parahiṃ te janu phūṭahiṃ dadhi kuṃḍa॥ 44 ॥
Meaning:
They crush one head against another and hurl them away after breaking them. Those heads fall before Ravana and burst like pots of curd.
महा महा मुखिआ जे पावहिं। ते पद गहि प्रभु पास चलावहिं॥ कहइ बिभीषनु तिन्ह के नामा। देहिं राम तिन्हहू निज धामा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mahā mahā mukhiā je pāvahiṃ। te pada gahi prabhu pāsa calāvahiṃ॥ kahai bibhīṣanu tinha ke nāmā। dehiṃ rāma tinhahū nija dhāmā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
They seize even the great leaders and, holding their feet, bring them before the Lord. Vibhishan tells their names, and Rama grants them His own abode as well.
खल मनुजाद द्विजामिष भोगी। पावहिं गति जो जाचत जोगी। उमा राम मृदुचित करुनाकर। बयर भाव सुमिरत मोहि निसिचर॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khala manujāda dvijāmiṣa bhogī। pāvahiṃ gati jo jācata jogī। umā rāma mṛducita karuṇākara। bayara bhāva sumirata mohi nisichara॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Even those wicked man-eating demons who eat the flesh of Brahmins attain the state for which even yogis pray. [Shiva says—] O Uma, Rama is exceedingly gentle of heart and full of compassion. He thinks, 'Even if the demons remember Me with hostility, they do remember Me.'
देहिं परम गति सो जियँ जानी। अस कृपाल को कहहु भवानी॥ अस प्रभु सुनि न भजहिं भ्रम त्यागी। नर मतिमंद ते परम अभागी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dehiṃ parama gati so jiyaṃ jānī। asa kṛpāla ko kahahu bhavānī॥ asa prabhu suni na bhajahiṃ bhrama tyāgī। nara matimaṃda te parama abhāgī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Knowing this in His heart, He grants them the highest state. O Bhavani, tell me—who else is so compassionate? Even after hearing of the Lord's nature, those who do not give up delusion and worship Him are utterly dull-witted and profoundly unfortunate.
अंगद अरु हनुमंत प्रबेसा। कीन्ह दुर्ग अस कह अवधेसा॥ लंका द्वौ कपि सोहहिं कैसें। मथहिं सिंधु दुइ मंदर जैसें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aṃgada aru hanumaṃta prabesā। kīnh durga asa kah avadhesā॥ laṃkā dvau kapi sohahiṃ kaisẽ। mathahiṃ sindhu dui mandara jaisẽ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Rama said that Angad and Hanuman had entered the fortress. How splendid the two monkeys appear in Lanka, as if two Mandara mountains were churning the ocean.
भुज बल रिपु दल दलमलि देखि दिवस कर अंत। कूदे जुगल बिगत श्रम आए जहँ भगवंत॥ ४५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhuja bala ripu dala dalamali dekhi divasa kara anta। kūde jugala bigata śrama āe jahaṃ bhagavaṃta॥ 45 ॥
Meaning:
Having crushed and pulverized the enemy ranks by the power of their arms and seeing the day draw to a close, the two leapt away and, free from fatigue, came to where the Lord was.
प्रभु पद कमल सीस तिन्ह नाए। देखि सुभट रघुपति मन भाए॥ राम कृपा करि जुगल निहारे। भए बिगतश्रम परम सुखारे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu pada kamala sīsa tinha nāe। dekhi subhaṭa raghupati mana bhāe॥ rāma kṛpā kari jugala nihāre। bhae bigataśrama parama sukhāre॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
They bowed their heads at the Lord's lotus feet. Seeing such noble warriors, Raghu's Lord was pleased in His heart. By Rama's grace, He looked upon both, and they became free of fatigue and supremely blissful.
गए जानि अंगद हनुमाना। फिरे भालु मर्कट भट नाना॥ जातुधान प्रदोष बल पाई। धाए करि दससीस दोहाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gae jāni aṃgada hanumānā। phire bhālu markaṭa bhaṭa nānā॥ jātudhāna pradoṣa bala pāī। dhāe kari dasasīsa dohāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
When Angad and Hanuman were known to have gone, the bears and many monkey-warriors returned. The demons, empowered by the dusk hour, rushed forward crying the name of Ravana.
निसिचर अनी देखि कपि फिरे। जहँ तहँ कटकटाइ भट भिरे॥ द्वौ दल प्रबल पचारि पचारी। लरत सुभट नहिं मानहिं हारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nisichara anī dekhi kapi phire। jahaṃ tahaṃ kaṭakaṭāi bhaṭa bhire॥ dvau dala prabala pacāri pacārī। larata subhaṭa nahiṃ mānahiṃ hārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the army of demons advance, the monkeys turned back, and the warriors clashed here and there with gritted teeth. Both armies are mighty. The heroes fight, challenging one another again and again, and none admits defeat.
महाबीर निसिचर सब कारे। नाना बरन बलीमुख भारे॥ सबल जुगल दल समबल जोधा। कौतुक करत लरत करि क्रोधा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mahāvīra nisichara saba kāre। nānā barana balīmukha bhāre॥ sabala jugala dala samabala jodhā। kautuka karata larata kari krodhā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
All the demons are mighty heroes and very dark in color, while the monkeys are huge and of many colors. Both armies are strong, and the warriors are evenly matched. They fight in anger and also in playful display of valor.
प्राबिट सरद पयोद घनेरे। लरत मनहु मारुत के प्रेरे॥ अनिप अकंपन अरु अतिकाया। बिचलत सेन कीन्हि इन्ह माया॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prābiṭa sarada payoda ghanere। larata manahu māruta ke prēre॥ anipa akaṃpana aru atikāyā। bicalata sena kīnhī inha māyā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
(The demons and monkeys battling thus seem) as though the many clouds of the rainy season and the autumn season were fighting, driven by the wind. Seeing their army become unsettled, the commanders Akampan and Atikaya employed their illusion.
देखि निबिड़ तम दसहुँ दिसि कपिदल भयउ खभार। एकहि एक न देखई जहँ तहँ करहिं पुकार॥ ४६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi nibiḍa tama dasahuṃ disi kapidala bhayau khabhāra। ekahi eka na dekhai jahaṃ tahaṃ karahiṃ pukāra॥ 46 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the dense darkness in all ten directions, confusion arose in the monkey army. One could not see another, and everyone was calling out from here and there.
सकल मरमु रघुनायक जाना। लिए बोलि अंगद हनुमाना॥ समाचार सब कहि समुझाए। सुनत कोपि कपिकुंजर धाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakala maramu raghunāyaka jānā। līe boli aṃgada hanumānā॥ samācāra saba kahi samujhāe। sunata kopi kapikuṃjara dhāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Raghunatha knew all the secret truth. He called Angada and Hanuman, told them everything, and explained the news. Hearing it, those two foremost among the monkeys rushed off in anger.
पुनि कृपाल हँसि चाप चढ़ावा। पावक सायक सपदि चलावा॥ भयउ प्रकास कतहुँ तम नाहीं। ग्यान उदयँ जिमि संसय जाहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni kṛpāla haṃsi cāpa caṛhāvā। pāvaka sāyaka sapadi calāvā॥ bhayau prakāsa katahuṃ tama nāhīṃ। gyāna udayaṃ jimi saṃsaya jāhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then the compassionate Lord smiled, drew His bow, and swiftly released the fire-arrow. Light arose; there was darkness nowhere, just as doubts vanish when knowledge dawns.
भालु बलीमुख पाइ प्रकासा। धाए हरष बिगत श्रम त्रासा॥ हनूमान अंगद रन गाजे। हाँक सुनत रजनीचर भाजे॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhālu balīmukha pāi prakāsā। dhāe haraṣa bigata śrama trāsā॥ hanūmāna aṃgada rana gāje। hāṅka sunata rajanīcara bhāje॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The bears and monkeys, seeing the light, ran on joyfully, free from fatigue and fear. Hanuman and Angada roared on the battlefield. Hearing their shout, the demons fled.
भागत भट पटकहिं धरि धरनी। करहिं भालु कपि अद्भुत करनी॥ गहि पद डारहिं सागर माहीं। मकर उरग झष धरि धरि खाहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhāgata bhaṭa paṭakahīṃ dhari dharanī। karahīṃ bhālu kapi adbhuta karanī॥ gahi pada ḍārahīṃ sāgara māhīṃ। makara uraga jhaṣa dhari dhari khāhīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The fleeing demon warriors were seized by the monkeys and bears and hurled to the ground. They performed marvelous feats in battle. Seizing them by the feet, they threw them into the sea, where crocodiles, snakes, and fish kept seizing and devouring them.
कछु मारे कछु घायल कछु गढ़ चढ़े पराइ। गर्जहिं भालु बलीमुख रिपु दल बल बिचलाइ॥ ४७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kachu māre kachu ghāyala kachu gaṛha caṛhe parāi। garjahīṃ bhālu balīmukha ripu dala bala bicalāi॥ 47 ॥
Meaning:
Some were killed, some wounded, and some fled and climbed onto the fort. The bears and monkeys, shaking the enemy ranks by their might, were roaring.