Five commanders and a warning

हतान् मन्त्रिसुतान् बुद्‍ध्वा वानरेण महात्मना ।

hatān mantrisutān buddhvā vānareṇa mahātmanā |

Learning that the ministers’ sons had been slain by the great-hearted vanara,

रावणः संवृताकारश्चकार मतिमुत्तमाम् ॥

rāvaṇaḥ saṃvṛtākāraścakāra matimuttamām ||

Ravana concealed his reaction and carefully considered his next decision.

स विरूपाक्षयूपाक्षौ दुर्धरं चैव राक्षसम् ।

sa virūpākṣayūpākṣau durdharaṃ caiva rākṣasam |

He selected Virupaksha and Yupaksha, the rakshasa Durdhara,

प्रघसं भासकर्णं च पञ्च सेनाग्रनायकान् ॥

praghasaṃ bhāsakarṇaṃ ca pañca senāgranāyakān ||

Praghasa and Bhasakarna: five leading commanders of his army.

संदिदेश दशग्रीवो वीरान् नयविशारदान् ।

saṃdideśa daśagrīvo vīrān nayaviśāradān |

The ten-headed king commanded those heroes, skilled in strategy,

हनूमद्‍ग्रहणेऽव्यग्रान् वायुवेगसमान् युधि ॥

hanūmadgrahaṇe’vyagrān vāyuvegasamān yudhi ||

to capture Hanuman with steady attention, swift as the wind in battle.

यात सेनाग्रगाः सर्वे महाबलपरिग्रहाः ।

yāta senāgragāḥ sarve mahābalaparigrahāḥ |

Go, all you commanders, accompanied by a mighty force

सवाजिरथमातङ्गाः स कपिः शास्यतामिति ॥

savājirathamātaṅgāḥ sa kapiḥ śāsyatāmiti ||

with horses, chariots, and elephants; subdue that vanara.

यत्तैश्च खलु भाव्यं स्यात् तमासाद्य वनालयम् ।

yattaiśca khalu bhāvyaṃ syāt tamāsādya vanālayam |

When you encounter that forest-dweller, you must be watchful;

कर्म चापि समाधेयं देशकालाविरोधितम् ॥

karma cāpi samādheyaṃ deśakālāvirodhitam ||

carry out the task in a way suited to the place and time.

न ह्यहं तं कपिं मन्ये कर्मणा प्रति तर्कयन् ।

na hyahaṃ taṃ kapiṃ manye karmaṇā prati tarkayan |

Judging by his deeds, I do not consider him an ordinary vanara.

सर्वथा तन्महद् भूतं महाबलपरिग्रहम् ॥

sarvathā tanmahad bhūtaṃ mahābalaparigraham ||

In every way he is a great being endowed with tremendous strength.

वानरोऽयमिति ज्ञात्वा नहि शुद्ध्यति मे मनः ।

vānaro’yamiti jñātvā nahi śuddhyati me manaḥ |

My mind is not satisfied by the explanation that he is a vanara.

नैवाहं तं कपिं मन्ये यथेयं प्रस्तुता कथा ॥

naivāhaṃ taṃ kapiṃ manye yatheyaṃ prastutā kathā ||

From the account that has been given, I cannot take him for merely a vanara.

भवेदिन्द्रेण वा सृष्टमस्मदर्थं तपोबलात् ।

bhavedindreṇa vā sṛṣṭamasmadarthaṃ tapobalāt |

Perhaps Indra has created him through ascetic power to act against us.

सनागयक्षगन्धर्वदेवासुरमहर्षयः ॥

sanāgayakṣagandharvadevāsuramaharṣayaḥ ||

The nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, gods, asuras, and great sages—

युष्माभिः प्रहितैः सर्वैर्मया सह विनिर्जिताः ।

yuṣmābhiḥ prahitaiḥ sarvairmayā saha vinirjitāḥ |

have all been defeated by me together with you, whom I sent against them.

तैरवश्यं विधातव्यं व्यलीकं किंचिदेव नः ॥

tairavaśyaṃ vidhātavyaṃ vyalīkaṃ kiṃcideva naḥ ||

They must surely be arranging some harm against us.

तदेव नात्र संदेहः प्रसह्य परिगृह्यताम् ।

tadeva nātra saṃdehaḥ prasahya parigṛhyatām |

This must be it; there is no doubt here. Seize him by force.

यात सेनाग्रगाः सर्वे महाबलपरिग्रहाः ॥

yāta senāgragāḥ sarve mahābalaparigrahāḥ ||

Go, all you commanders, accompanied by a mighty force—

सवाजिरथमातङ्गाः स कपिः शास्यतामिति ।

savājirathamātaṅgāḥ sa kapiḥ śāsyatāmiti |

with horses, chariots, and elephants; that vanara must be subdued.

नावमन्यो भवद्भिश्च कपिर्धीरपराक्रमः ॥

nāvamanyo bhavadbhiśca kapirdhīraparākramaḥ ||

Yet you must not underestimate this vanara of steady courage.

दृष्टा हि हरयः पूर्वे मया विपुलविक्रमाः ।

dṛṣṭā hi harayaḥ pūrve mayā vipulavikramāḥ |

I have previously seen vanaras of immense prowess:

वाली च सह सुग्रीवो जाम्बवांश्च महाबलः ॥

vālī ca saha sugrīvo jāmbavāṃśca mahābalaḥ ||

Vali with Sugriva, and mighty Jambavan—

नीलः सेनापतिश्चैव ये चान्ये द्विविदादयः ।

nīlaḥ senāpatiścaiva ye cānye dvividādayaḥ |

also Nila the commander, and others such as Dvivida.

नैव तेषां गतिर्भीमा न तेजो न पराक्रमः ॥

naiva teṣāṃ gatirbhīmā na tejo na parākramaḥ ||

Yet theirs is not such dreadful speed, radiance, or prowess—

न मतिर्न बलोत्साहो न रूपपरिकल्पनम् ।

na matirna balotsāho na rūpaparikalpanam |

nor such intelligence, strength, spirit, or ability to assume forms.

महत्सत्त्वमिदं ज्ञेयं कपिरूपं व्यवस्थितम् ॥

mahatsattvamidaṃ jñeyaṃ kapirūpaṃ vyavasthitam ||

Know this to be a great being present in the form of a vanara.

प्रयत्नं महदास्थाय क्रियतामस्य निग्रहः ।

prayatnaṃ mahadāsthāya kriyatāmasya nigrahaḥ |

Make the greatest effort to capture him.

कामं लोकास्त्रयः सेन्द्राः ससुरासुरमानवाः ॥

kāmaṃ lokāstrayaḥ sendrāḥ sasurāsuramānavāḥ ||

Certainly, even the three worlds with Indra, gods, asuras, and humans—

भवतामग्रतः स्थातुं न पर्याप्ता रणाजिरे ।

bhavatāmagrataḥ sthātuṃ na paryāptā raṇājire |

would not be able to stand before you on the battlefield.

तथापि तु नयज्ञेन जयमाकाङ्क्षता रणे ॥

tathāpi tu nayajñena jayamākāṅkṣatā raṇe ||

Even so, someone who understands strategy and seeks victory in battle—

आत्मा रक्ष्यः प्रयत्नेन युद्धसिद्धिर्हि चञ्चला ।

ātmā rakṣyaḥ prayatnena yuddhasiddhirhi cañcalā |

must carefully protect himself, for success in war is uncertain.

ते स्वामिवचनं सर्वे प्रतिगृह्य महौजसः ॥

te svāmivacanaṃ sarve pratigṛhya mahaujasaḥ ||

All those immensely powerful warriors accepted their master’s words—

समुत्पेतुर्महावेगा हुताशसमतेजसः ।

samutpeturmahāvegā hutāśasamatejasaḥ |

and rushed out at great speed, shining like fire,

रथैश्च मत्तैर्नागैश्च वाजिभिश्च महाजवैः ॥

rathaiśca mattairnāgaiśca vājibhiśca mahājavaiḥ ||

with chariots, fierce elephants, and very swift horses—

शस्त्रैश्च विविधैस्तीक्ष्णैः सर्वैश्चोपहिता बलैः ।

śastraiśca vividhaistīkṣṇaiḥ sarvaiścopahitā balaiḥ |

equipped with many sharp weapons and every kind of troop.

ततस्तु ददृशुर्वीरा दीप्यमानं महाकपिम् ॥

tatastu dadṛśurvīrā dīpyamānaṃ mahākapim ||

Then those warriors saw the great vanara blazing with radiance—

रश्मिमन्तमिवोद्यन्तं स्वतेजोरश्मिमालिनम् ।

raśmimantamivodyantaṃ svatejoraśmimālinam |

like the rising sun, wreathed in rays of his own splendour,

तोरणस्थं महावेगं महासत्त्वं महाबलम् ॥

toraṇasthaṃ mahāvegaṃ mahāsattvaṃ mahābalam ||

standing on the gateway, immense in speed, courage, and strength—

महामतिं महोत्साहं महाकायं महाभुजम् ।

mahāmatiṃ mahotsāhaṃ mahākāyaṃ mahābhujam |

great in intelligence and spirit, huge in body and mighty-armed.

तं समीक्ष्यैव ते सर्वे दिक्षु सर्वास्ववस्थिताः ॥

taṃ samīkṣyaiva te sarve dikṣu sarvāsvavasthitāḥ ||

The moment they saw him, they took positions in every direction—

तैस्तैः प्रहरणैर्भीमैरभिपेतुस्ततस्ततः ।

taistaiḥ praharaṇairbhīmairabhipetustatastataḥ |

and rushed at him from all sides with their dreadful weapons.

तस्य पञ्चायसास्तीक्ष्णाः सिताः पीतमुखाः शराः ।

tasya pañcāyasāstīkṣṇāḥ sitāḥ pītamukhāḥ śarāḥ |

Five sharp iron arrows, pale with yellow tips,

शिरस्युत्पलपत्राभा दुर्धरेण निपातिताः ॥

śirasyutpalapatrābhā durdhareṇa nipātitāḥ ||

shaped like lotus petals, were driven into his head by Durdhara.

स तैः पञ्चभिराविद्धः शरैः शिरसि वानरः ।

sa taiḥ pañcabhirāviddhaḥ śaraiḥ śirasi vānaraḥ |

Struck in the head by those five arrows, the vanara

उत्पपात नदन् व्योम्नि दिशो दश विनादयन् ॥

utpapāta nadan vyomni diśo daśa vinādayan ||

leapt into the sky with a roar that resounded in all ten directions.

ततस्तु दुर्धरो वीरः सरथः सज्जकार्मुकः ।

tatastu durdharo vīraḥ sarathaḥ sajjakārmukaḥ |

Then mighty Durdhara, the warrior, with his chariot and ready bow,

किरन् शरशतैर्नैकैरभिपेदे महाबलः ॥

kiran śaraśatairnaikairabhipede mahābalaḥ ||

rushed forward, scattering many hundreds of arrows.

स कपिर्वारयामास तं व्योम्नि शरवर्षिणम् ।

sa kapirvārayāmāsa taṃ vyomni śaravarṣiṇam |

The vanara checked him as he rained arrows through the sky,

वृष्टिमन्तं पयोदान्ते पयोदमिव मारुतः ॥

vṛṣṭimantaṃ payodānte payodamiva mārutaḥ ||

as the wind checks a rain-bearing cloud at the end of the rainy season.

अर्द्यमानस्ततस्तेन दुर्धरेणानिलात्मजः ।

ardyamānastatastena durdhareṇānilātmajaḥ |

Harassed by Durdhara, the son of the Wind

चकार निनदं भूयो व्यवर्धत च वीर्यवान् ॥

cakāra ninadaṃ bhūyo vyavardhata ca vīryavān ||

roared again and, filled with power, enlarged his body.

स दूरं सहसोत्पत्य दुर्धरस्य रथे हरिः ।

sa dūraṃ sahasotpatya durdharasya rathe hariḥ |

Leaping far up, the vanara suddenly fell upon Durdhara’s chariot

निपपात महावेगो विद्युद्राशिर्गिराविव ॥

nipapāta mahāvego vidyudrāśirgirāviva ||

with tremendous speed, like a mass of lightning striking a mountain.

ततः स मथिताष्टाश्वं रथं भग्नाक्षकूबरम् ।

tataḥ sa mathitāṣṭāśvaṃ rathaṃ bhagnākṣakūbaram |

Its eight horses were crushed, and its axle and pole were broken.

विहाय न्यपतद् भूमौ दुर्धरस्त्यक्तजीवितः ॥

vihāya nyapatad bhūmau durdharastyaktajīvitaḥ ||

Durdhara fell from the ruined chariot to the ground, deprived of life.

तं विरूपाक्षयूपाक्षौ दृष्ट्वा निपतितं भुवि ।

taṃ virūpākṣayūpākṣau dṛṣṭvā nipatitaṃ bhuvi |

Seeing him fallen upon the ground, Virupaksha and Yupaksha,

तौ जातरोषौ दुर्धर्षावुत्पेततुररिंदमौ ॥

tau jātaroṣau durdharṣāvutpetaturariṃdamau ||

those formidable subduers of enemies, sprang up in anger.

स ताभ्यां सहसोत्प्लुत्य विष्ठितो विमलेऽम्बरे ।

sa tābhyāṃ sahasotplutya viṣṭhito vimale’mbare |

The two suddenly leapt up and struck the mighty-armed vanara,

मुद‍्गराभ्यां महाबाहुर्वक्षस्यभिहतः कपिः ॥

mudgarābhyāṃ mahābāhurvakṣasyabhihataḥ kapiḥ ||

who stood in the clear sky, upon the chest with their mallets.

तयोर्वेगवतोर्वेगं निहत्य स महाबलः ।

tayorvegavatorvegaṃ nihatya sa mahābalaḥ |

Checking the rush of those two swift warriors, the immensely strong hero

निपपात पुनर्भूमौ सुपर्ण इव वेगितः ॥

nipapāta punarbhūmau suparṇa iva vegitaḥ ||

descended again to the earth, swift as Garuda.

स सालवृक्षमासाद्य समुत्पाट्य च वानरः ।

sa sālavṛkṣamāsādya samutpāṭya ca vānaraḥ |

Finding a sala tree, the vanara uprooted it,

तावुभौ राक्षसौ वीरौ जघान पवनात्मजः ॥

tāvubhau rākṣasau vīrau jaghāna pavanātmajaḥ ||

and the son of the Wind killed both those heroic rakshasas with it.

ततस्तांस्त्रीन् हतान् ज्ञात्वा वानरेण तरस्विना ।

tatastāṃstrīn hatān jñātvā vānareṇa tarasvinā |

Knowing that the swift vanara had killed those three,

अभिपेदे महावेगः प्रहस्य प्रघसो बली ॥

abhipede mahāvegaḥ prahasya praghaso balī ||

mighty Praghasa laughed and rushed forward at great speed.

भासकर्णश्च संक्रुद्धः शूलमादाय वीर्यवान् ।

bhāsakarṇaśca saṃkruddhaḥ śūlamādāya vīryavān |

The powerful Bhasakarna, enraged, also took up his spear.

एकतः कपिशार्दूलं यशस्विनमवस्थितौ ॥

ekataḥ kapiśārdūlaṃ yaśasvinamavasthitau ||

Together they stood to one side of the renowned, foremost vanara.

पट्टिशेन शिताग्रेण प्रघसः प्रत्यपोथयत् ।

paṭṭiśena śitāgreṇa praghasaḥ pratyapothayat |

Praghasa struck with his sharp-pointed bladed weapon,

भासकर्णश्च शूलेन राक्षसः कपिकुञ्जरम् ॥

bhāsakarṇaśca śūlena rākṣasaḥ kapikuñjaram ||

and the rakshasa Bhasakarna struck the mighty vanara with his spear.

स ताभ्यां विक्षतैर्गात्रैरसृग्दिग्धतनूरुहः ।

sa tābhyāṃ vikṣatairgātrairasṛgdigdhatanūruhaḥ |

With his limbs wounded by them and his hair smeared with blood,

अभवद् वानरः क्रुद्धो बालसूर्यसमप्रभः ॥

abhavad vānaraḥ kruddho bālasūryasamaprabhaḥ ||

the angry vanara shone like the young rising sun.

समुत्पाट्य गिरेः शृङ्गं समृगव्यालपादपम् ।

samutpāṭya gireḥ śṛṅgaṃ samṛgavyālapādapam |

Uprooting a mountain peak with its beasts, serpents, and trees,

जघान हनुमान् वीरो राक्षसौ कपिकुञ्जरः ।

jaghāna hanumān vīro rākṣasau kapikuñjaraḥ |

the heroic Hanuman, foremost of vanaras, struck the two rakshasas.

गिरिशृङ्गसुनिष्पिष्टौ तिलशस्तौ बभूवतुः ॥

giriśṛṅgasuniṣpiṣṭau tilaśastau babhūvatuḥ ||

Crushed by the mountain peak, the two were broken into tiny pieces.

ततस्तेष्ववसन्नेषु सेनापतिषु पञ्चसु ।

tatasteṣvavasanneṣu senāpatiṣu pañcasu |

After those five commanders had fallen,

बलं तदवशेषं तु नाशयामास वानरः ॥

balaṃ tadavaśeṣaṃ tu nāśayāmāsa vānaraḥ ||

the vanara destroyed the remaining force.

अश्वैरश्वान् गजैर्नागान् योधैर्योधान् रथै रथान् ।

aśvairaśvān gajairnāgān yodhairyodhān rathai rathān |

Horses with horses, elephants with elephants, warriors with warriors, and chariots with chariots—

स कपिर्नाशयामास सहस्राक्ष इवासुरान् ॥

sa kapirnāśayāmāsa sahasrākṣa ivāsurān ||

the vanara destroyed them, like thousand-eyed Indra destroying the asuras.

हयैर्नागैस्तुरंगैश्च भग्नाक्षैश्च महारथैः ।

hayairnāgaisturaṃgaiśca bhagnākṣaiśca mahārathaiḥ |

With horses, elephants, steeds, great chariots with broken axles,

हतैश्च राक्षसैर्भूमी रुद्धमार्गा समन्ततः ॥

hataiśca rākṣasairbhūmī ruddhamārgā samantataḥ ||

and slain rakshasas, the ground was blocked on every side.

ततः कपिस्तान् ध्वजिनीपतीन् रणे

tataḥ kapistān dhvajinīpatīn raṇe

Having slain those heroic army commanders in battle,

निहत्य वीरान् सबलान् सवाहनान् ।

nihatya vīrān sabalān savāhanān |

together with their forces and vehicles,

तथैव वीरः परिगृह्य तोरणं

tathaiva vīraḥ parigṛhya toraṇaṃ

the vanara hero once again occupied the gateway,

कृतक्षणः काल इव प्रजाक्षये ॥

kṛtakṣaṇaḥ kāla iva prajākṣaye ||

waiting his moment like Time at the destruction of living beings.