The Kinkara warriors

ततः पक्षिनिनादेन वृक्षभङ्गस्वनेन च ।

tataḥ pakṣininādena vṛkṣabhaṅgasvanena ca |

Then, at the cries of birds and the sound of breaking trees,

बभूवुस्त्राससम्भ्रान्ताः सर्वे लङ्कानिवासिनः ॥

babhūvustrāsasambhrāntāḥ sarve laṅkānivāsinaḥ ||

all the inhabitants of Lanka were thrown into terrified confusion.

विद्रुताश्च भयत्रस्ता विनेदुर्मृगपक्षिणः ।

vidrutāśca bhayatrastā vinedurmṛgapakṣiṇaḥ |

Beasts and birds fled in fear, crying out,

रक्षसां च निमित्तानि क्रूराणि प्रतिपेदिरे ॥

rakṣasāṃ ca nimittāni krūrāṇi pratipedire ||

and dreadful omens appeared for the rakshasas.

ततो गतायां निद्रायां राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः ।

tato gatāyāṃ nidrāyāṃ rākṣasyo vikṛtānanāḥ |

The rakshasi guards, with their fearsome faces, awoke

तद् वनं ददृशुर्भग्नं तं च वीरं महाकपिम् ॥

tad vanaṃ dadṛśurbhagnaṃ taṃ ca vīraṃ mahākapim ||

and saw the broken grove and the heroic great vanara.

स ता दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुर्महासत्त्वो महाबलः ।

sa tā dṛṣṭvā mahābāhurmahāsattvo mahābalaḥ |

Seeing them, the mighty-armed hero, strong in courage and strength,

चकार सुमहद्रूपं राक्षसीनां भयावहम् ॥

cakāra sumahadrūpaṃ rākṣasīnāṃ bhayāvaham ||

assumed an enormous form that terrified the rakshasi guards.

ततस्तु गिरिसंकाशमतिकायं महाबलम् ।

tatastu girisaṃkāśamatikāyaṃ mahābalam |

Seeing that immensely strong vanara, huge as a mountain,

राक्षस्यो वानरं दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छुर्जनकात्मजाम् ॥

rākṣasyo vānaraṃ dṛṣṭvā papracchurjanakātmajām ||

the rakshasi guards questioned Janaka’s daughter.

कोऽयं कस्य कुतो वायं किंनिमित्तमिहागतः ।

ko’yaṃ kasya kuto vāyaṃ kiṃnimittamihāgataḥ |

Who is this? Whose follower is he? Where has he come from, and why is he here?

कथं त्वया सहानेन संवादः कृत इत्युत ॥

kathaṃ tvayā sahānena saṃvādaḥ kṛta ityuta ||

How did you come to speak with him?

आचक्ष्व नो विशालाक्षि मा भूत्ते सुभगे भयम् ।

ācakṣva no viśālākṣi mā bhūtte subhage bhayam |

Tell us, wide-eyed, fortunate lady; do not be afraid.

संवादमसितापाङ्गि त्वया किं कृतवानयम् ॥

saṃvādamasitāpāṅgi tvayā kiṃ kṛtavānayam ||

Dark-eyed one, what conversation did he have with you?

अथाब्रवीत् तदा साध्वी सीता सर्वाङ्गशोभना ।

athābravīt tadā sādhvī sītā sarvāṅgaśobhanā |

Then the virtuous Sita, graceful in every limb, replied:

रक्षसां कामरूपाणां विज्ञाने का गतिर्मम ॥

rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpāṇāṃ vijñāne kā gatirmama ||

How could I recognise rakshasas who can take any form they wish?

यूयमेवास्य जानीत योऽयं यद् वा करिष्यति ।

yūyamevāsya jānīta yo’yaṃ yad vā kariṣyati |

You yourselves must know who he is and what he will do.

अहिरेव ह्यहेः पादान् विजानाति न संशयः ॥

ahireva hyaheḥ pādān vijānāti na saṃśayaḥ ||

Only a serpent knows another serpent’s feet: there is no doubt of that.

अहमप्यतिभीतास्मि नैव जानामि को ह्ययम् ।

ahamapyatibhītāsmi naiva jānāmi ko hyayam |

I too am very frightened; I do not know who he is.

वेद्मि राक्षसमेवैनं कामरूपिणमागतम् ॥

vedmi rākṣasamevainaṃ kāmarūpiṇamāgatam ||

I take him to be a rakshasa who has come in a form of his choosing.

वैदेह्या वचनं श्रुत्वा राक्षस्यो विद्रुता द्रुतम् ।

vaidehyā vacanaṃ śrutvā rākṣasyo vidrutā drutam |

Hearing Vaidehi’s words, the rakshasi guards hurried away;

स्थिताः काश्चिद‍्गताः काश्चिद् रावणाय निवेदितुम् ॥

sthitāḥ kāścidgatāḥ kāścid rāvaṇāya niveditum ||

some remained, while others went to report to Ravana.

रावणस्य समीपे तु राक्षस्यो विकृताननाः ।

rāvaṇasya samīpe tu rākṣasyo vikṛtānanāḥ |

Coming before Ravana, the fearsome-faced guards

विरूपं वानरं भीमं रावणाय न्यवेदिषुः ॥

virūpaṃ vānaraṃ bhīmaṃ rāvaṇāya nyavediṣuḥ ||

reported the strange and terrifying vanara to him.

अशोकवनिकामध्ये राजन् भीमवपुः कपिः ।

aśokavanikāmadhye rājan bhīmavapuḥ kapiḥ |

O king, in the middle of the ashoka grove stands a vanara of fearful size,

सीतया कृतसंवादस्तिष्ठत्यमितविक्रमः ॥

sītayā kṛtasaṃvādastiṣṭhatyamitavikramaḥ ||

of boundless prowess, who has spoken with Sita.

न च तं जानकी सीता हरिं हरिणलोचना ।

na ca taṃ jānakī sītā hariṃ hariṇalocanā |

Though we questioned Janaka’s deer-eyed daughter Sita in many ways,

अस्माभिर्बहुधा पृष्टा निवेदयितुमिच्छति ॥

asmābhirbahudhā pṛṣṭā nivedayitumicchati ||

she refuses to tell us about that vanara.

वासवस्य भवेद् दूतो दूतो वैश्रवणस्य वा ।

vāsavasya bhaved dūto dūto vaiśravaṇasya vā |

He might be a messenger of Indra, or a messenger of Kubera,

प्रेषितो वापि रामेण सीतान्वेषणकाङ्क्षया ॥

preṣito vāpi rāmeṇa sītānveṣaṇakāṅkṣayā ||

or someone sent by Rama in his desire to search for Sita.

तेनैवाद्भुतरूपेण यत्तत्तव मनोहरम् ।

tenaivādbhutarūpeṇa yattattava manoharam |

That being of astonishing form has laid waste

नानामृगगणाकीर्णं प्रमृष्टं प्रमदावनम् ॥

nānāmṛgagaṇākīrṇaṃ pramṛṣṭaṃ pramadāvanam ||

your delightful pleasure grove, once filled with many kinds of animals.

न तत्र कश्चिदुद्देशो यस्तेन न विनाशितः ।

na tatra kaściduddeśo yastena na vināśitaḥ |

There is no part there that he has not destroyed,

यत्र सा जानकी देवी स तेन न विनाशितः ॥

yatra sā jānakī devī sa tena na vināśitaḥ ||

except the place where Lady Janaki is staying.

जानकीरक्षणार्थं वा श्रमाद् वा नोपलक्ष्यते ।

jānakīrakṣaṇārthaṃ vā śramād vā nopalakṣyate |

We cannot tell whether he left it to protect Janaki or because he was tired.

अथवा कः श्रमस्तस्य सैव तेनाभिरक्षिता ॥

athavā kaḥ śramastasya saiva tenābhirakṣitā ||

But how could he be tired? Surely he deliberately protected her.

चारुपल्लवपत्राढ्यं यं सीता स्वयमास्थिता ।

cārupallavapatrāḍhyaṃ yaṃ sītā svayamāsthitā |

He has also protected the great shimshapa tree,

प्रवृद्धः शिंशपावृक्षः स च तेनाभिरक्षितः ॥

pravṛddhaḥ śiṃśapāvṛkṣaḥ sa ca tenābhirakṣitaḥ ||

rich in lovely leaves and shoots, beneath which Sita herself has taken shelter.

तस्योग्ररूपस्योग्रं त्वं दण्डमाज्ञातुमर्हसि ।

tasyograrūpasyograṃ tvaṃ daṇḍamājñātumarhasi |

You should order a severe punishment for that creature of terrible appearance,

सीता सम्भाषिता येन वनं तेन विनाशितम् ॥

sītā sambhāṣitā yena vanaṃ tena vināśitam ||

who has spoken with Sita and destroyed the grove.

मनःपरिगृहीतां तां तव रक्षोगणेश्वर ।

manaḥparigṛhītāṃ tāṃ tava rakṣogaṇeśvara |

Who would speak to Sita, whom you have taken into your thoughts,

कः सीतामभिभाषेत यो न स्यात् त्यक्तजीवितः ॥

kaḥ sītāmabhibhāṣeta yo na syāt tyaktajīvitaḥ ||

lord of the rakshasa hosts, unless he had abandoned all concern for his life?

राक्षसीनां वचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः ।

rākṣasīnāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ |

Hearing the guards’ words, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas,

चिताग्निरिव जज्वाल कोपसंवर्तितेक्षणः ॥

citāgniriva jajvāla kopasaṃvartitekṣaṇaḥ ||

blazed like a funeral fire, his eyes rolling with rage.

तस्य क्रुद्धस्य नेत्राभ्यां प्रापतन्नश्रुबिन्दवः ।

tasya kruddhasya netrābhyāṃ prāpatannaśrubindavaḥ |

Drops of tears fell from his enraged eyes,

दीप्ताभ्यामिव दीपाभ्यां सार्चिषः स्नेहबिन्दवः ॥

dīptābhyāmiva dīpābhyāṃ sārciṣaḥ snehabindavaḥ ||

like burning drops of oil falling from two blazing lamps.

आत्मनः सदृशान् वीरान् किंकरान्नाम राक्षसान् ।

ātmanaḥ sadṛśān vīrān kiṃkarānnāma rākṣasān |

The powerful king ordered heroic rakshasas called Kinkaras,

व्यादिदेश महातेजा निग्रहार्थं हनूमतः ॥

vyādideśa mahātejā nigrahārthaṃ hanūmataḥ ||

comparable to himself, to seize Hanuman.

तेषामशीतिसाहस्रं किंकराणां तरस्विनाम् ।

teṣāmaśītisāhasraṃ kiṃkarāṇāṃ tarasvinām |

Eighty thousand of those swift Kinkaras

निर्ययुर्भवनात् तस्मात् कूटमुद‍्गरपाणयः ॥

niryayurbhavanāt tasmāt kūṭamudgarapāṇayaḥ ||

came out of the palace holding heavy clubs and mallets.

महोदरा महादंष्ट्रा घोररूपा महाबलाः ।

mahodarā mahādaṃṣṭrā ghorarūpā mahābalāḥ |

Huge-bellied, great-fanged, terrible in appearance and mighty in strength,

युद्धाभिमनसः सर्वे हनूमद्‍ग्रहणोन्मुखाः ॥

yuddhābhimanasaḥ sarve hanūmadgrahaṇonmukhāḥ ||

they all wanted battle and were intent on capturing Hanuman.

ते कपिं तं समासाद्य तोरणस्थमवस्थितम् ।

te kapiṃ taṃ samāsādya toraṇasthamavasthitam |

Reaching the vanara who stood upon the gateway,

अभिपेतुर्महावेगाः पतंगा इव पावकम् ॥

abhipeturmahāvegāḥ pataṃgā iva pāvakam ||

they rushed at him with great speed, like moths towards a flame.

ते गदाभिर्विचित्राभिः परिघैः काञ्चनाङ्गदैः ।

te gadābhirvicitrābhiḥ parighaiḥ kāñcanāṅgadaiḥ |

They attacked with decorated maces and iron bars banded with gold,

आजग्मुर्वानरश्रेष्ठं शरैरादित्यसंनिभैः ॥

ājagmurvānaraśreṣṭhaṃ śarairādityasaṃnibhaiḥ ||

and with arrows bright as the sun they assailed the foremost vanara.

मुद‍्गरैः पट्टिशैः शूलैः प्रासतोमरपाणयः ।

mudgaraiḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlaiḥ prāsatomarapāṇayaḥ |

With mallets, bladed spears, tridents, javelins, and lances in hand,

परिवार्य हनूमन्तं सहसा तस्थुरग्रतः ॥

parivārya hanūmantaṃ sahasā tasthuragrataḥ ||

they surrounded Hanuman and suddenly stood before him.

हनूमानपि तेजस्वी श्रीमान् पर्वतसंनिभः ।

hanūmānapi tejasvī śrīmān parvatasaṃnibhaḥ |

But the radiant, splendid Hanuman, mountain-like in stature,

क्षितावाविद्ध्य लाङ्गूलं ननाद च महाध्वनिम् ॥

kṣitāvāviddhya lāṅgūlaṃ nanāda ca mahādhvanim ||

struck his tail against the earth and gave a mighty roar.

स भूत्वा तु महाकायो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

sa bhūtvā tu mahākāyo hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |

Hanuman, son of the Wind, assumed a gigantic body

पुच्छमास्फोटयामास लङ्कां शब्देन पूरयन् ॥

pucchamāsphoṭayāmāsa laṅkāṃ śabdena pūrayan ||

and lashed his tail, filling Lanka with the sound.

तस्यास्फोटितशब्देन महता चानुनादिना ।

tasyāsphoṭitaśabdena mahatā cānunādinā |

At the tremendous echoing sound of that blow,

पेतुर्विहङ्गा गगनादुच्चैश्चेदमघोषयत् ॥

peturvihaṅgā gaganāduccaiścedamaghoṣayat ||

birds fell from the sky; and he loudly proclaimed these words.

जयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः ।

jayatyatibalo rāmo lakṣmaṇaśca mahābalaḥ |

Victory to mighty Rama and to Lakshmana of great strength!

राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः ॥

rājā jayati sugrīvo rāghaveṇābhipālitaḥ ||

Victory to King Sugriva, protected by the descendant of Raghu!

दासोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ।

dāso’haṃ kosalendrasya rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ |

I am the servant of Rama, lord of Kosala, whose deeds are accomplished without weariness.

हनूमान् शत्रुसैन्यानां निहन्ता मारुतात्मजः ॥

hanūmān śatrusainyānāṃ nihantā mārutātmajaḥ ||

I am Hanuman, son of the Wind, destroyer of enemy armies.

न रावणसहस्रं मे युद्धे प्रतिबलं भवेत् ।

na rāvaṇasahasraṃ me yuddhe pratibalaṃ bhavet |

Not even a thousand Ravanas could match me in battle

शिलाभिश्च प्रहरतः पादपैश्च सहस्रशः ॥

śilābhiśca praharataḥ pādapaiśca sahasraśaḥ ||

as I strike with rocks and trees by the thousand.

अर्दयित्वा पुरीं लङ्कामभिवाद्य च मैथिलीम् ।

ardayitvā purīṃ laṅkāmabhivādya ca maithilīm |

After devastating Lanka and bowing to Maithili,

समृद्धार्थो गमिष्यामि मिषतां सर्वरक्षसाम् ॥

samṛddhārtho gamiṣyāmi miṣatāṃ sarvarakṣasām ||

I shall depart with my purpose achieved, while all the rakshasas look on.

तस्य संनादशब्देन तेऽभवन् भयशङ्किताः ।

tasya saṃnādaśabdena te’bhavan bhayaśaṅkitāḥ |

At the sound of his mighty proclamation they became fearful and uneasy,

ददृशुश्च हनूमन्तं संध्यामेघमिवोन्नतम् ॥

dadṛśuśca hanūmantaṃ saṃdhyāmeghamivonnatam ||

and saw Hanuman towering like a cloud at dusk.

स्वामिसंदेशनिःशङ्कास्ततस्ते राक्षसाः कपिम् ।

svāmisaṃdeśaniḥśaṅkāstataste rākṣasāḥ kapim |

Then, emboldened by their master’s command, the rakshasas

चित्रैः प्रहरणैर्भीमैरभिपेतुस्ततस्ततः ॥

citraiḥ praharaṇairbhīmairabhipetustatastataḥ ||

rushed upon the vanara from every side with various dreadful weapons.

स तैः परिवृतः शूरैः सर्वतः स महाबलः ।

sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śūraiḥ sarvataḥ sa mahābalaḥ |

Surrounded on all sides by those warriors, the immensely strong Hanuman

आससादायसं भीमं परिघं तोरणाश्रितम् ॥

āsasādāyasaṃ bhīmaṃ parighaṃ toraṇāśritam ||

found a formidable iron bar fixed at the gateway.

स तं परिघमादाय जघान रजनीचरान् ।

sa taṃ parighamādāya jaghāna rajanīcarān |

Taking that bar, he struck the night-roaming rakshasas,

सपन्नगमिवादाय स्फुरन्तं विनतासुतः ॥

sapannagamivādāya sphurantaṃ vinatāsutaḥ ||

as the son of Vinata might seize a writhing serpent.

विचचाराम्बरे वीरः परिगृह्य च मारुतिः ।

vicacārāmbare vīraḥ parigṛhya ca mārutiḥ |

Holding it, the heroic son of the Wind ranged through the air

सूदयामास वज्रेण दैत्यानिव सहस्रदृक् ॥

sūdayāmāsa vajreṇa daityāniva sahasradṛk ||

and destroyed them as thousand-eyed Indra destroys the daityas with his thunderbolt.

स हत्वा राक्षसान् वीरः किंकरान् मारुतात्मजः ।

sa hatvā rākṣasān vīraḥ kiṃkarān mārutātmajaḥ |

After slaying the rakshasa Kinkaras, the heroic son of the Wind,

युद्धाकाङ्क्षी महावीरस्तोरणं समवस्थितः ॥

yuddhākāṅkṣī mahāvīrastoraṇaṃ samavasthitaḥ ||

still eager for battle, took his stand again upon the gateway.

ततस्तस्माद् भयान्मुक्ताः कतिचित्तत्र राक्षसाः ।

tatastasmād bhayānmuktāḥ katicittatra rākṣasāḥ |

A few rakshasas escaped that terror

निहतान् किंकरान् सर्वान् रावणाय न्यवेदयन् ॥

nihatān kiṃkarān sarvān rāvaṇāya nyavedayan ||

and reported to Ravana that the Kinkara force had been slain.

स राक्षसानां निहतं महाबलं

sa rākṣasānāṃ nihataṃ mahābalaṃ

Hearing that the great rakshasa force had been destroyed,

निशम्य राजा परिवृत्तलोचनः ।

niśamya rājā parivṛttalocanaḥ |

the king, his eyes rolling in anger,

समादिदेशाप्रतिमं पराक्रमे

samādideśāpratimaṃ parākrame

commanded one unrivalled in prowess:

प्रहस्तपुत्रं समरे सुदुर्जयम् ॥

prahastaputraṃ samare sudurjayam ||

Prahasta’s son, exceedingly difficult to defeat in battle.