Summary
Rama orders ten of the monkey-generals to search for the whereabouts of Indrajit. But Indrajit arrested the approach of those monkeys, by means of his arrows. Both Rama and Lakshmana were transfixed by Indrajit with a net work of serpentine arrows into the vital parts of Rama and Lakshmana and they fall down on the battle-ground in a bath of blood. Seeing those two scions of Raghu in that state, the monkeys give way to utter despondence.
Chapter [Sarga] 45 in Detail
sa tasya gatim anvicchan raaja putrah prataapavaan |
didesha atibalo raamo dasha vaanara yuuthapaan || 6-45-1
That very strong and powerful Rama the son of Dasaratha ordered ten monkey-generals to search for the whereabouts of Indrajit.
dvau susenasya daayaadau niilam ca plavaga risabham |
angadam vaali putram ca sharabham ca tarasvinam || 6-45-2
dvinatam jaambavantam ca saanuprastham mahaa balam |
risabham ca risabha skandham aadidesha param tapah || 6-45-3
Rama the scourger of his enemies ordered both the sons of Sushena, Nila the chief of monkeys, Angada the son of Vali, the strong Sharabha, Dvivida, Hanuman, the very strong Sanuprastha, Rishabha and Rishabha Skanda.
te samprahristaa harayo bhiimaan udyamya paadapaan |
aakaasham vivishuh sarve maargaamaanaa disho dasha || 6-45-4
All those monkeys, thrilled with enthusiasm, flung into the air brandishing huge trunks of trees in order to explore the ten regions.
tesaam vegavataam vegam isubhir vegavattaraih |
astravit parama astrena vaarayaam aasa raavanih || 6-45-5
Indrajit, the son of Ravana, who was skilled in the use of magic weapons, by means of his arrows with great speed, released from his most excellent of bows, arrested the impetuous outbreak of the monkeys.
tam bhiima vegaa harayo naaraacaih ksata viksataah |
andha kaare na dadrishur meghaih suuryam iva aavritam || 6-45-6
Those monkeys of terrific bound, whose bodes were cruelly pierced by those shafts, were unable to see Indrajit in the darkness, as the sun is obscured when veiled in clouds.
raama laksmanayor eva sarva marma bhidah sharaan |
bhrisham aaveshayaam aasa raavanih samitim jayah || 6-45-7
Indrajit, the victorious in battle, transfixed Rama and Lakshmana with those arrows that lacerated their flesh in great measure.
nirantara shariirau tu bhraatarau raama laksmanau |
kruddhena indrajotaa viirau pannagaih sharataam gataih || 6-45-8
The bodies of both those warriors, Rama and Lakshmana were densely transfixed with serpentine arrows by the enraged Indrajit.
tayoh ksataja maargena susraava rudhiram bahu |
taav ubhau ca prakaashete puspitaav iva kimshukau || 6-45-9
Blood flowed from the wound-marks of both Rama and Lakshmana and both of them shone like Kimshuka trees in flowering.
tatah paryanta rakta akso bhinna anjana caya upamah |
raavanir bhraatarau vaakyam antardhaana gato abraviit || 6-45-10
At that instant, though still invisible, Indrajit, Ravana’s son, with his inflamed eyes, which resembled a mass of collyrium mixed with oil, spoke the following words to those two brothers.
yudhyamaanam anaalaksyam shakro api tridasha iishvarah |
drastum aasaaditum vaa api na shaktah kim punar yuvaam || 6-45-11
“When I enter into combat, making myself invisible, even Indra the lord of celestials is not able to see or approach me. How much less, you two!”
praavritaav isu jaalena raaghavaukanka patrinaa |
esa rosa pariita aatmaa nayaami yama saadanam || 6-45-12
“O, Descendents of Raghu! Having imprisoned you in this net work of arrows furnished with heron’s feathers, I, yielding myself up to the violence of my wrath, am about to dispatch you to the region of Yama the Lord of Death.”
evam uktvaa tu dharmajnau bhraatarau raama laksmanau |
nirbibheda shitair baanaih prajaharsa nanaada ca || 6-45-13
Speaking thus to the brothers Rama and Lakshmana, who were aware of righteousness, Indrajit pierced them with pointed arrows and shouted too exultantly.
bhinna anjana caya shyaamo visphaarya vipulam dhanuh |
bhuuyo bhuuyah sharaan ghoraan visasarja mahaa mridhe || 6-45-14
Indrajit, who was as black as a heap of shattered collyrium, stretching his immense bow, discharged formidable arrows even once more, in that great fight.
tato marmasu marmajno majjayan nishitaan sharaan |
raama laksmanayor viiro nanaada ca muhur muhuh || 6-45-15
That warrior, Indrajit, who was aware of their vital parts, set up a continual shouting, digging sharp arrows into the vital parts of Rama and Lakshmana.
baddhau tu shara bandhena taav ubhau rana muurdhani |
nimesa antara maatrena na shekatur udiiksitum || 6-45-16
Those two princes, in the forefront of battle, bounded by that net work of arrows in the twinkling of an eye, became incapable of even looking up.
tato vibhinna sarva angau shara shalya aacitaav ubhau |
dhvajaav iva mahaa indrasya rajju muktau prakampitau || 6-45-17
tau sampracalitau viirau marma bhedena karshitau |
nipetatur mahaa isvaasau jagatyaam jagatii patii || 6-45-18
Pierced in their vital parts, exhausted, and covered all over with heads of arrows, those two mighty and courageous archers fell to the earth, they who were the lords of the earth, shaking violently like a pair of flag-staffs in honor of Indra the Lord celestials and freed from their raised of chords.
tau viira shayane viirau shayaanau rudhira uksitau |
shara vestita sarva angaav aartau parama piiditau || 6-45-19
Those warriors, Rama and Lakshmana, lying on that heroes’ bed (on the battle-ground), bathed in blood, all their limbs bristling with arrows and extremely injured, felt distressed.
na hy aviddham tayor gaatram babhuuva angulam antaram |
na anirbhinnam na ca astabdham aa kara agraad ajihmagaih || 6-45-20
There was not a finger’s breadth on their bodies form the tips of their fingers to the end of their feet that was not lacerated, implanted and pierced by those arrows.
tau tu kruurena nihatau raksasaa kaama ruupinaa |
asrik susruvatus tiivram jalam prasravanaav iva || 6-45-21
Struck down by that ferocious demon, who was able to change his shape at will, the hot blood gushed forth from both Rama and Lakshmana, as water from a spring.
papaata prathamam raamo viddho marmasu maarganaih |
krodhaad indrajitaa yena puraa shakro vinirjitah || 6-45-22
Rama fell first, his vital parts pierced by arrows of the wrathful Indrajit, who had formerly vanquished Indra the Lord of celestials.
rukmapunkheh prasannaagrairadhogatibhiraashugaih |
naaracair ardha naaraacair bhallair anjalikair api || 6-45-23
vivyaadha vatsa dantaish ca simha damstraih ksurais tathaa |
Indrajit pierced Rama by arrows with golden shafts, with sharp points, which had downward movement, which go fast, Narchas, Demi-Narachas, Bhallas (with wide tips), Anjalis, Vatsa Dantas, Simha Dantas and those shafts like unto razors.
sa viira shayane shishye vijyam aadaaya kaarmukam || 6-45-24
bhinna musti pariinaaham trinatam rukma bhuusitam |
Throwing asunder his bow bent at three places, adorned with gold, with its string loosened away and detached from the hold of his fist, Rama lied down on the battle-ground.
baana paata antare raamam patitam purusa risabham || 6-45-25
sa tatra laksmano dristvaa niraasho jiivite abhavat |
Seeing Rama the excellent man fallen, at a distance of an arrows range, Lakshmana became hopeless about his own life.
raamam kamalapatraaksam sharabandhapariksatam || 6-45-26
shushocha bhraataram dristvaa patitam dharaniitale |
Seeing his elder brother Rama, with his eyes resembling lotus-leaves, having fallen on the ground, wounded as he was by a network of arrows, Lakshmana felt sad.
harayashchaapi tam dristvaa samtaapam paramam gataah || 6-45-27
shokaartaashchukrushurghoramashrupuuritalochanaah |
Beholding that Rama, the monkeys too were in great grief and wept terribly, with their eyes filled in tears, being afflicted as they were by sorrow.
baddhau tu viirau patitau shayaanau |
tau vaanaraah samparivaarya tasthuh |
samaagataa vaayu suta pramukhyaa |
visadam aartaah paramam ca jagmuh || 6-45-28
Those monkeys with Hanuman in first place gathered at a place and stood surrounding Rama and Lakshmana, who wee bound by a network of arrows and lying down on the battle ground. They were disturbed and afflicted sorrow.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye yuddhakaande pajnchachatvaarimshah sargah
Thus completes 45th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate