Critical Edition
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः क्रुद्धो दशग्रीवः प्रिये पुत्रे निपातिते निर्ययौ रथमास्थाय हेमरत्नविभूषितम्
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : Then, angry at the death of his dear son, the ten-necked, ascending his car, studded with gems and gold set out (for the field of battle).
संवृतो राक्षसैर्घोरैर्विविधायुधपाणिभिः अभिदुद्राव रामं स पोथयन्हरियूथपान्
M. N. Dutt: Surrounded by dreadful Rakshasas holding in their hands various weapons, he fighting with the monkey-chiefs rushed upon Rama.
तमाद्रवन्तं संक्रुद्धं मैन्दनीलनलाङ्गदाः हनूमाञ्जाम्बवांश्चैव ससैन्याः पर्यवारयन्
M. N. Dutt: As he (Ravana) was furiously advancing, Mainda, Nala, Nila, Angada, Hanuman and Jambavan together with their forces surrounded him.
ते दशग्रीवसैन्यं तदृक्षवानरयूथपाः द्रुमैर्विध्वंसयां चक्रुर्दशग्रीवस्य पश्यतः
M. N. Dutt: Those foremost of bears and monkeys destroyed, with trees, the forces of the tennecked in his (very) presence.
ततः स्वसैन्यमालोक्य वध्यमानमरातिभिः मायावी व्यदधान्मायां रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: Then, seeing that his troops were being destroyed by the enemy, Ravana, the king of the Rakshasas began to create illusions with which he was gifted.
तस्य देहाद्विनिष्क्रान्ताः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः राक्षसाः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त शरशक्त्यृष्टिपाणयः
M. N. Dutt: (Thereupon) hundreds and thousands of Rakshasas, armed with arrows, lances and double-edged swords, issuing out of his body appeared (on the scene).
तान्रामो जघ्निवान्सर्वान्दिव्येनास्त्रेण राक्षसान् अथ भूयोऽपि मायां स व्यदधाद्राक्षसाधिपः
M. N. Dutt: (But) Rama destroyed all those Rakshasas with celestials weapons. There at the lord of the Rakshasas created (new) illusions again.
कृत्वा रामस्य रूपाणि लक्ष्मणस्य च भारत अभिदुद्राव रामं च लक्ष्मणं च दशाननः
M. N. Dutt: (And) O Bharata, the ten-headed creating several Rakshasas wearing the shape of Rama and Lakshmana, rushed upon them.
ततस्ते राममर्छन्तो लक्ष्मणं च क्षपाचराः अभिपेतुस्तदा राजन्प्रगृहीतोच्चकार्मुकाः
M. N. Dutt: Then those night-rangers adverse to Rama and Lakshmana, armed with bows rushed against Rama.
तां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य मायामिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः उवाच रामं सौमित्रिरसंभ्रान्तो बृहद्वचः
M. N. Dutt: (Then) the dauntless son of Sumitra, the descendant of Ikshvaku said to Rama these heroic words.
जहीमान्राक्षसान्पापानात्मनः प्रतिरूपकान् जघान रामस्तांश्चान्यानात्मनः प्रतिरूपकान्
M. N. Dutt: "Kill those wicked-souled Rakshasas wearing your shape.” (Thereupon) Rama destroyed those Rakshasas resembling him in shape and (various) others also.
Supplementary Passages:
3.274.11 After 11ab, G1.2 ins.: *1295 इत्युक्तो लक्ष्मणं पार्थ तदा गन्तुं समुद्यतः
ततो हर्यश्वयुक्तेन रथेनादित्यवर्चसा उपतस्थे रणे रामं मातलिः शक्रसारथिः
M. N. Dutt: Then, Matali, the charioteer of Shakra, came to Rama with a car, of sun-like splendour and yoked with tawny-coloured horses.
मातलिरुवाच अयं हर्यश्वयुग्जैत्रो मघोनः स्यन्दनोत्तमः अनेन शक्रः काकुत्स्थ समरे दैत्यदानवान् शतशः पुरुषव्याघ्र रथोदारेण जघ्निवान्
M. N. Dutt: Matali said: "This excellent and victorious car yoked with this team of tawny horses belongs to Maghavana (Indra). O descendant of Kakustha, O foremost of men, riding on this splendid car Shakra slew in battle numerous Daityas and Danavas. Therefore, O most valiant of men, ascending this car guided by me, do you soon kill Ravana in battle. Do not make any delay."
Supplementary Passages:
3.274.13 After 13ab, S (except G3) ins.: *1296 त्वदर्थमिह संप्राप्तः संदेशाद्वै शतक्रतोः
तदनेन नरव्याघ्र मया यत्तेन संयुगे स्यन्दनेन जहि क्षिप्रं रावणं मा चिरं कृथाः
AI Translation: Therefore, O tiger among men, with that chariot of mine, quickly defeat Ravana in battle, and do not delay.
इत्युक्तो राघवस्तथ्यं वचोऽशङ्कत मातलेः मायेयं राक्षसस्येति तमुवाच विभीषणः
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed, the descendant of Raghu, suspecting that this might be another illusion produced by the Rakshasas, doubted the truthful words of Matali. Vibhishana then said to him “O foremost of men, this is no illusion of the wicked-souled Ravana.
नेयं माया नरव्याघ्र रावणस्य दुरात्मनः तदातिष्ठ रथं शीघ्रमिममैन्द्रं महाद्युते
AI Translation: This is not the magic of the wicked-minded Ravana, the tiger among men. Then quickly mount this great chariot of Indra, O greatly radiant one.
ततः प्रहृष्टः काकुत्स्थस्तथेत्युक्त्वा विभीषणम् रथेनाभिपपाताशु दशग्रीवं रुषान्वितः
AI Translation: Then Kakutstha, delighted, said "So be it" to Vibhishana, and angrily attacked Dasharatha with his chariot.
हाहाकृतानि भूतानि रावणे समभिद्रुते सिंहनादाः सपटहा दिवि दिव्याश्च नानदन्
AI Translation: The creatures were crying out "Alas!" when Ravana was attacked. The divine drums in the sky were sounding with lion-like roars.
Supplementary Passages:
3.274.18 After 18, B1.3.4 Dc D2 ins.: *1297 ततः प्रववृते युद्धं रामरावणयोर्महत् B4 cont.: B2 Dn D3.4.6 G3 ins. after 18: *1298 दशकन्धरराजसून्वोस्तथा युद्धमभून्महत् B1.3 Dc D2 ins. after 1297*: B2.4 Dn D3.4.6 G3, after 1298*: *1299 अलब्धोपममन्यत्र तयोरेव तथाभवत्
स रामाय महाघोरं विससर्ज निशाचरः शूलमिन्द्राशनिप्रख्यं ब्रह्मदण्डमिवोद्यतम्
AI Translation: The night-walker released a very terrible spear towards Rama, like Indra's thunderbolt, like the staff of Brahma raised up.
तच्छूलमन्तरा रामश्चिच्छेद निशितैः शरैः तद्दृष्ट्वा दुष्करं कर्म रावणं भयमाविशत्
AI Translation: Rama cut that spear in two with sharp arrows. Seeing that difficult deed, Rāvaṇa was filled with fear.
ततः क्रुद्धः ससर्जाशु दशग्रीवः शिताञ्शरान् सहस्रायुतशो रामे शस्त्राणि विविधानि च
AI Translation: Then, angry, Dashagriva quickly shot sharp arrows at Rama in thousands and tens of thousands, and various weapons.
ततो भुशुण्डीः शूलांश्च मुसलानि परश्वधान् शक्तीश्च विविधाकाराः शतघ्नीश्च शितक्षुराः
AI Translation: Then (he saw) spears, tridents, clubs, axes, Various kinds of javelins, and sharp-edged arrows,
तां मायां विकृतां दृष्ट्वा दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः भयात्प्रदुद्रुवुः सर्वे वानराः सर्वतोदिशम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the terrible illusions spread by the ten-necked Rakshasa, the monkeys got alarmed and ran away in all directions.
ततः सुपत्रं सुमुखं हेमपुङ्खं शरोत्तमम् तूणादादाय काकुत्स्थो ब्रह्मास्त्रेण युयोज ह
AI Translation: Then, taking the best arrow, well-feathered, well-pointed, with a golden tuft, from the quiver, Kakutstha fitted it with the Brahma missile.
तं बाणवर्यं रामेण ब्रह्मास्त्रेणाभिमन्त्रितम् जहृषुर्देवगन्धर्वा दृष्ट्वा शक्रपुरोगमाः
AI Translation: That best of arrows, enchanted with the Brahma missile by Rama, The gods and gandharvas, led by Indra, rejoiced on seeing it.
अल्पावशेषमायुश्च ततोऽमन्यन्त रक्षसः ब्रह्मास्त्रोदीरणाच्छत्रोर्देवगन्धर्वकिंनराः
AI Translation: The demons then thought that his life was almost over. Because of the raising of the Brahma missile, the gods, gandharvas, and kinnaras,
ततः ससर्ज तं रामः शरमप्रतिमौजसम् रावणान्तकरं घोरं ब्रह्मदण्डमिवोद्यतम्
M. N. Dutt: Rama then discharged that of unrivalled splendour, dreadful, resembling the upraised Brahmadanda and destined to slay Ravana.
Supplementary Passages:
3.274.27 After 27, B2-4 D (except Dc1 D3; D4 missing) G3 ins.: *1300 मुक्तमात्रेण रामेण दूराकृष्टेन भारत On the other hand, G1 ins. after 27: *1301 अमोघमविषह्यं च स देवासुरपन्नगैः भासयन्तं दिशः सर्वाः स्वया दीप्त्या महाप्रभा
स तेन राक्षसश्रेष्ठः सरथः साश्वसारथिः प्रजज्वाल महाज्वालेनाग्निनाभिपरिष्कृतः
M. N. Dutt: And O Bharata, soon as Rama discharged it by drawing to a great length (his bowstring), the lord of the Rakshasas together with his horses and charioteer, enveloped in a great and blazing fire was burnt up.
ततः प्रहृष्टास्त्रिदशाः सगन्धर्वाः सचारणाः निहतं रावणं दृष्ट्वा रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: Then the celestials accompanied by the Gandharvas and the Charanas, beholding Ravana slain by Rama. of untiring exertions were highly delighted.
तत्यजुस्तं महाभागं पञ्च भूतानि रावणम् भ्रंशितः सर्वलोकेषु स हि ब्रह्मास्त्रतेजसा
M. N. Dutt: Then the five elements (i.e., earth water, air, fire and space) forsook Ravana; and he was deprived all of the worlds by the energy of the Brahma weapon.
शरीरधातवो ह्यस्य मांसं रुधिरमेव च नेशुर्ब्रह्मास्त्रनिर्दग्धा न च भस्माप्यदृश्यत
M. N. Dutt: The ingredients of his body together with his flesh and blood were all so totally consumed by the Brahma weapon that the ashes even could not be seen.