Final encounter between Śrī Rāma and Rāvaṇa; end of Rāvaṇa; shouts of victory everywhere

Chhands

dhāē jō markaṭa bikaṭa bhālu karāla kara bhūdhara dharā.

ati kōpa karahiṃ prahāra mārata bhaji calē rajanīcarā..

bicalāi dala balavaṃta kīsanha ghēri puni rāvanu liyō.

cahu disi capēṭanhi māri nakhanhi bidāri tanu byākula kiyō..

The fierce monkeys and terrible bears darted with mountains in their hands, which they hurled forth with the utmost fury. The demons, who were unable to resist the onslaught, turned and fled. Having thus scattered the enemy ranks, the powerful monkeys next closed around Rāvaṇa and discomfited him by buffeting him on every side and tearing his body with their claws.

Dohas

dēkhi mahā markaṭa prabala rāvana kīnha bicāra.

aṃtarahita hōi nimiṣa mahu kṛta māyā bistāra..100.. [6-100]

Finding the monkeys most powerful, Rāvaṇa took thought. Consequently he became invisible and in a moment revealed his illusive power.

Chhands

jaba kīnha tēhiṃ pāṣaṃḍa. bhaē pragaṭa jaṃtu pracaṃḍa..

bētāla bhūta pisāca. kara dharēṃ dhanu nārāca..1.. [6-100-1]

jōgini gahēṃ karabāla. ēka hātha manuja kapāla..

kari sadya sōnita pāna. nācahiṃ karahiṃ bahu gāna..2.. [6-100-2]

dharu māru bōlahiṃ ghōra. rahi pūri dhuni cahu ōra..

mukha bāi dhāvahiṃ khāna. taba lagē kīsa parāna..3.. [6-100-3]

jahaom jāhiṃ markaṭa bhāgi. tahaom barata dēkhahiṃ āgi..

bhaē bikala bānara bhālu. puni lāga baraṣai bālu..4.. [6-100-4]

jahaom tahaom thakita kari kīsa. garjēu bahuri dasasīsa..

lachimana kapīsa samēta. bhaē sakala bīra acēta..5.. [6-100-5]

hā rāma hā raghunātha. kahi subhaṭa mījahiṃ hātha..

ēhi bidhi sakala bala tōri. tēhiṃ kīnha kapaṭa bahōri..6.. [6-100-6]

pragaṭēsi bipula hanumāna. dhāē gahē pāṣāna..

tinha rāmu ghērē jāi. cahu disi barūtha banāi..7.. [6-100-7]

mārahu dharahu jani jāi. kaṭakaṭahiṃ pūomcha uṭhāi..

dahaom disi laomgūra birāja. tēhiṃ madhya kōsalarāja..8.. [6-100-8]

As he let loose his illusive power terrible beings appeared on the scene-goblins, ghosts and ghouls with bows and arrows in their hands. Yoginis holding a sword in one hand and a human skull in another, from which they quaffed draughts of fresh blood, danced and sang many a song. They uttered horrible cries of “Seize and kill !”, which echoed all round. With their mouths wide open they rushed to devour the monkeys, who then took to their heels. But whithersoever they turned in their flight they saw a blazing fire. The monkeys and bears were thus in a quandary. Then Rāvaṇa began raining on them a shower of sand. Having thus flabbergasted the monkeys on all sides, the ten- headed monster roared again. All the heroes, including Lakṣmaṇa and Sugrīva (the king of the monkeys), fainted. The bravest of them wrung their hands, crying “Ah, Rāma ! Alas, Raghunātha (Lord of the Raghus)!” Having thus crushed the might of all, he wrought another delusion. He manifested a host of Hanumāns, who rushed forward with rocks in their hands and encircled Śrī Rāma in a dense cordon on every side. With uplifted tails and gnashing their teeth they shouted, “Seize and kill him; let him not escape!” Surrounded by their tails on every side, the Lord of Kosala shone in their midst. (1-8)

Chhands

tēhiṃ madhya kōsalarāja suṃdara syāma tana sōbhā lahī.

janu iṃdradhanuṣa anēka kī bara bāri tuṃga tamālahī..

prabhu dēkhi haraṣa biṣāda ura sura badata jaya jaya jaya karī.

raghubīra ēkahi tīra kōpi nimēṣa mahu māyā harī..1.. [6-100-1]

māyā bigata kapi bhālu haraṣē biṭapa giri gahi saba phirē.

sara nikara chāḍaē rāma rāvana bāhu sira puni mahi girē..

śrīrāma rāvana samara carita anēka kalpa jō gāvahīṃ.

sata sēṣa sārada nigama kabi tēu tadapi pāra na pāvahīṃ..2.. [6-100-2]

In their midst the King of Kosala with His dark-hued body shone forth as resplendent as a lofty Tamāla tree encircled by a magnificent hedge of multitudinous rainbows. The gods experienced in their heart a mixed feeling of joy and sorrow and raised the cries of “Victory ! Victory !! Victory !!!” The Hero of Raghu’s line now flew into a rage and with a single arrow instantly dispersed the delusion. The delusion having vanished, the monkeys and bears rejoiced and all turned back with trees and rocks in their hands. Śrī Rāma shot forth a volley of arrows, which once more cut off Rāvaṇa’s arms and heads to the ground. If hundreds of Śeṣas (serpent-gods), Śāradās (goddesses of speech), the Vedas and bards were to recite the story of the battle between Śrī Rāma and Rāvaṇa and that too for many cycles together, even they would never be able to do justice to it. (1-2)

Dohas

tākē guna gana kachu kahē jaḍamati tulasīdāsa.

jimi nija bala anurūpa tē māchī uḍai akāsa..101ka.. [6-101(A)]

kāṭē sira bhuja bāra bahu marata na bhaṭa laṃkēsa.

prabhu krīḍata sura siddha muni byākula dēkhi kalēsa..101kha.. [6-101(B)]

The dull-witted Tulasīdāsa has described only a few salient features of that combat just as a fly wings the sky according to its own capacity. The valiant lord of Laṅkā could not be killed even though his heads and arms were struck off many times over. It was simply a pastime for the Lord; while the gods, the Siddhas and the sages fidgeted to see the Lord struggling (with him).

Chaupais

kāṭata baḍhahiṃ sīsa samudāī. jimi prati lābha lōbha adhikāī..

marai na ripu śrama bhayau bisēṣā. rāma bibhīṣana tana taba dēkhā.. [6-101(B)-1]

umā kāla mara jākīṃ īchā. sō prabhu jana kara prīti parīchā..

sunu sarabagya carācara nāyaka. pranatapāla sura muni sukhadāyaka.. [6-101(B)-2]

nābhikuṃḍa piyūṣa basa yākēṃ. nātha jiata rāvanu bala tākēṃ..

sunata bibhīṣana bacana kṛpālā. haraṣi gahē kara bāna karālā.. [6-101(B)-3]

asubha hōna lāgē taba nānā. rōvahiṃ khara sṛkāla bahu svānā..

bōlahi khaga jaga ārati hētū. pragaṭa bhaē nabha jahaom tahaom kētū.. [6-101(B)-4]

dasa disi dāha hōna ati lāgā. bhayau paraba binu rabi uparāgā..

maṃdōdari ura kaṃpati bhārī. pratimā stravahiṃ nayana maga bārī.. [6-101(B)-5]

No sooner were Rāvaṇa’s heads cut off than a fresh crop grew like covetousness, which increases with every new gain. The enemy could not be killed in spite of the prolonged struggle; Śrī Rāma then looked at Vibhīṣaṇa. Umā, (continues Lord Śiva,) the Lord whose will causes the death of Death himself thereby tested the devotion of His servant. “Listen, all-wise Ruler of the animate and inanimate creation, Protector of the suppliant, delight of the gods and sages : nectar abides in the depth of his navel; by virtue of it, my lord, Rāvaṇa survives.” The All-merciful rejoiced to hear the words of Vibhīṣaṇa and took terrible shafts in His hands. Many ill-omens manifested themselves at that time. Donkeys, jackals and dogs howled in large numbers. Birds too screamed, and thereby portended a world calamity: and comets appeared in every quarter of the heavens. There was a preternatural and unusual glow in the horizon on all sides and a solar eclipse occurred even without the day of the new moon (when the sun and the moon are in conjunction). Mandodarī’s heart beat wildly and idols shed tears from their eyes. (1-5)

Chhands

pratimā rudahiṃ pabipāta nabha ati bāta baha ḍōlati mahī.

baraṣahiṃ balāhaka rudhira kaca raja asubha ati saka kō kahī..

utapāta amita bilōki nabha sura bikala bōlahi jaya jaē.

sura sabhaya jāni kṛpāla raghupati cāpa sara jōrata bhaē..

Idols wept, lightning flashed with thunderclap in the air, furious winds blew, the earth quaked and the clouds dropped blood, hair and dust; who could recount the great ill-omens? The gods in heaven were dismayed at the sight of the boundless portentous phenomena and shouted “Victory ! Victory !!” And perceiving the distress of the gods the gracious Lord of the Raghus set an arrow to His bow.

Dohas

khaici sarāsana śravana lagi chāḍaē sara ēkatīsa.

raghunāyaka sāyaka calē mānahu kāla phanīsa..102.. [6-102]

Drawing the bow-string right up to His ear the Lord of the Raghus let fly thirty-one shafts, which flew forth like the serpents of Death.

Chaupais

sāyaka ēka nābhi sara sōṣā. apara lagē bhuja sira kari rōṣā..

lai sira bāhu calē nārācā. sira bhuja hīna ruṃḍa mahi nācā.. [6-102-1]

dharani dhasai dhara dhāva pracaṃḍā. taba sara hati prabhu kṛta dui khaṃḍā..

garjēu marata ghōra rava bhārī. kahāom rāmu rana hatauṃ pacārī.. [6-102-2]

ḍōlī bhūmi girata dasakaṃdhara. chubhita siṃdhu sari diggaja bhūdhara..

dharani parēu dvau khaṃḍa baḍhaāī. cāpi bhālu markaṭa samudāī.. [6-102-3]

maṃdōdari āgēṃ bhuja sīsā. dhari sara calē jahāom jagadīsā..

prabisē saba niṣaṃga mahu jāī. dēkhi suranha duṃdubhīṃ bajāī.. [6-102-4]

tāsu tēja samāna prabhu ānana. haraṣē dēkhi saṃbhu caturānana..

jaya jaya dhuni pūrī brahmaṃḍā. jaya raghubīra prabala bhujadaṃḍā.. [6-102-5]

baraṣahi sumana dēva muni bṛṃdā. jaya kṛpāla jaya jayati mukuṃdā.. [6-102-6]

One arrow sucked up the depths of the navel, while the rest struck his ten heads and twenty arms with impetuosity. The arrows carried off with them all his heads and arms, while the headless and armless trunk danced on the battle-field. The earth sunk under the weight of the trunk as it rushed violently on, till the Lord struck it with His arrow and split it in two. While dying he shouted with a loud and terrible roar: “Where is Rāma, that I may challenge and slay him in battle?” The earth reeled as the ten- headed monster fell; the ocean, the rivers, the elephants guarding the quarters, and the mountains were shaken. Expanding the two halves he dropped to the ground, crushing under their weight a host of bears and monkeys. After depositing the arms and heads before Mandodarī, the darts returned to the Lord of the universe and all found their way back into the quiver. Seeing this, the gods sounded their kettle-drums. His soul entered the Lord’s mouth in the form of effulgence. Lord Śambhu and the four-faced Brahmā (the Creator) rejoiced to see the spectacle. The whole universe resounded with cries of “Victory ! Victory !! Glory to the Hero of Raghu’s line, mighty of arm !!!” Gods and sages rained down flowers, shouting “Glory, glory to the All-merciful ! Glory to Mukunda (the Bestower of liberation) !!”

Chhands

jaya kṛpā kaṃda mukaṃda dvaṃda harana sarana sukhaprada prabhō.

khala dala bidārana parama kārana kārunīka sadā bibhō..

sura sumana baraṣahiṃ haraṣa saṃkula bāja duṃdubhi gahagahī.

saṃgrāma aṃgana rāma aṃga anaṃga bahu sōbhā lahī.. [6-102-1]

sira jaṭā mukuṭa prasūna bica bica ati manōhara rājahīṃ.

janu nīlagiri para taḍaita paṭala samēta uḍaugana bhrājahīṃ..

bhujadaṃḍa sara kōdaṃḍa phērata rudhira kana tana ati banē.

janu rāyamunīṃ tamāla para baiṭhīṃ bipula sukha āpanē.. [6-102-2]

“Glory to You, O Mukunda (the Bestower of liberation), the fountain of mercy, the dispeller of all fear of pairs of opposites, the delight of those who take refuge in You, the torment of the ranks of the wicked, the Prime Cause, the ever compassionate and omnipresent Ruler of all.” Full of joy, the gods rained down flowers; their kettle-drums sounded with a crash. On the battle-field Śrī Rāma’s limbs displayed the beauty of a number of Cupids. The crown of matted hair on His head, interspersed with most beautiful flowers, gleamed like flashes of lightning on the star-lit peak of a dark mountain. As He stood turning His bow and arrow between His arms, specks of blood adorned His person, like a swarm of Raimuni* birds perched on a Tamāla tree absorbed in their delight.

• * A tiny bird deep red in colour.

Dohas

kṛpādṛṣṭi kari prabhu abhaya kiē sura bṛṃda.

bhālu kīsa saba haraṣē jaya sukha dhāma mukaṃda..103.. [6-103]

With a shower of His gracious glances the Lord dispelled the fears of the gods; and the bears and monkeys all shouted in their joy : “Glory to Mukunda, the abode of Bliss!”