Sloka & Translation

[Ravana beholds evil portents over Lanka and his chariot indicating his fall. Rama alerts Matali to be on guard. Rama and Ravana fight facing each other releasing powerful arrows. Celestial bodies and sages watch the fight eager to see the end of Ravana.]

sa rathaṅsārathiḥhṛṣaṭaṅparasainayaparadharaṣaṇama .

ganadharavanagarākāraṅsamucacharitapātākinama ।।6.108.1।।

yukataṅparamasamapananairavajibhirahēmamālibhiḥ .

yudadhōpakaraṇaiḥpūraṇaṅpatākādhavajamālinīma ।।6.108.2।।

garasanatamivacākāśaṅnādayanataṅvasunadharāma .

paraṇāśaṅparanainayānāṅsavanainayasayaparaharaṣaṇama ।।6.108.3।।

rāvaṇasayarathaṅkaṣiparaṅcōdayāmāsasārathiḥ .

sārathiḥ charioteer, hṛṣaṭaḥ delighted, parasainayadhararaṣaṇama which can destroy enemy's army, ganadharavanagarākārama like the shape of the abode of Gandharvas, samucacharitapatākinama with rows of excellent flags, paramasamapananaiḥ richly endowed, hēmamālibhiḥ gold chains, vājibhiḥ horses, yukatama best at work, yudadhōpakaraṇaiḥ well equipped with implements for war, pūraṇama round, patākādhavajamālinama flag posts as if touching ākāśama the sky, garasanatamiva as if filling space, vasunadharāma earth, nādayanatama resounding, parasainayānāma enemy army, paraṇāśama crushing, savasainayasaya own army, paraharaṣaṇama happy, rāvaṇasayarathama Ravana's chariot, kaṣiparama with speed, cōdayāmāsa drove

Delighted charioteer drove the chariot of Ravana with speed. It was of the shape of the abode of Gandharvas, capable of destroying enemy's army. It had rows of excellent flags, richly endowed, like the best piece of artwork. It was fixed with flag posts in rows touching the sky and filling space. It was yoked to excellent horses adorned with gold chains and equipped with implements for war. The earth was resounding as it was driven as if to crush the enemy's army and its own army was happy.

samāpatanataṅsahasāsavanavanataṅmahādhavajama ।।6.108.4।।

rathaṅrākaṣasarājasayanararājōdadaraśa ha .

kṛṣaṇavājisamāyukataṅyukataṅraudarēṇavaracasā ।।6.108.5।।

dīpayamānamivākāśēvimānaṅsūrayavaracasaṅ .

taḍitapatākāgahanaṅdaraśitēnadarāyudhaparabhama ।।6.108.6।।

savanavanatama bells making sounds, mahādhavajama huge flag post, kṛṣaṇavājisamāyukatama yoked to dark horses, raudarēṇa enraged, varacasā splendor, yukatama fixed, ākāśē sky, dīpayamānama glowing, vimānamiva like the aerial chariot, sūrayavaracasama bright like sun, taḍitapatākāgahanama shining in the sky, daraśitēnadarāyuthaparabhama displaying its splendor, sahasā with force, āpatanatama cloud with water, tama from, rākaṣasarājasaya Rakshasa king's, rathama chariot, nararājaḥ king of humans, dadaraśa ha saw

The chariot bells fixed to the huge flag post were making sounds, yoked to dark horses, and was shining with splendor with rage. It was glowing like a bright sun in the sky displaying its splendor, like the aerial chariot. It looked like a cloud holding water, releasing water of arrows from Rakshasa king's bow. The king of humans saw this chariot.

śarādhārāvimuñacanataṅdhārāsāramivāmabudama .

taṅdṛṣaṭavāmēghasaṅakāśamāpatanataṅrathaṅripōḥ ।।6.108.7।।

girēravajarābhimṛṣaṭasayadīrayatasasadṛśasavanama .

visapārayanavaivēgēnabālacanadarānataṅdhanuḥ ।।6.108.8।।

uvācasārathiṅrāmaṅsahasarākaṣasayamātalima .

śaradhārāḥ flow of arrows, vimuñacanatama released from, dhārāsāramivā like the flow of water, amabudamiva like rain water cloud, mēghasaṅakāśama from the clouds, vajarābhimṛṣaṭasaya struck by thunderbolt, dīrayataḥ broken, girēḥ mountain, sadṛśasavanama like sound of mountain, āpatanatama cloud, tama him, rathama chariot, dṛṣaṭavā seeing, rāmaḥ Rama, bālacanadarānatama crescent shaped like the young moon, dhanuḥ bow, vēgēna with speed, visaphārayana stretching, sahasarākaṣasayasārathima Indra's charioteer, mātalima Matali, uvāca spoke

The flow of arrows (from Ravana) released from the chariot were seen by Rama like the flow of water from rain clouds. Seeing that, Sri Rama made terrific sounds by stretching his bow to crescent shape, and it was as if a mountain struck by thunderbolt had broken and resounding and seeing Matali, charioteer of Indra, Sri Rama spoke as follows.

mātalēpaśayasamaradadhamāpatanataṅrathaṅripōḥ ।।6.108.9।।

yathāpasavayaṅpatatāvēgēnamahatāpunaḥ .

samarēhanatumātamānaṅtathānēnakṛtāmatiḥ ।।6.108.10।।

mātalē Matali, samaradadhama hurrying, āpatanatama darting forward, ripōḥ enemy, rathama chariot, paśaya seeing, apasavayama in reverse direction, mahatā great, vēgēna with speed, punaḥ once again, patatā causing a fall, samarē in war, ātamānama himself, hanatuma to kill, yathā that way, tathānēna like that, matiḥ mind, kṛtā strikes me

"Matali! the enemy's chariot is darting forward hurriedly. See him coming in the reverse direction with great speed once again. It strikes my mind that he is surely causing his fall."

tadaparamādamātiṣaṭhanaparatayudagacacharathaṅripōḥ .

vidhavaṅsayitumicachāmivāyuramēghamivōtathitama ।।6.108.11।।

tata then, aparamādama being alert, atiṣaṭha staying, ripōḥ enemy, rathama chariot, paratayudagacacha towards him, vāyuḥ wind, utathitama excessively rising, mēghamiva like cloud, vidhavaṅsayituma destroy him, i cachāmi wish to

"Being alert, you drive the chariot towards Ravana, just as wind drives the cloud in the sky, as I wish to destroy him."

avikalabamasamabharānatamavayagarahṛdayēkaṣaṇama .

ramaśisañacāraniyaṅparacōdayarathaṅdarutama ।।6.108.12।।

avikalabama without confusion, asamabharānatama without agitation, avayagarahṛdayēkaṣaṇama with steady heart and vision, ramaśisañacāraniyatama movement of reins controlled, rathama chariot, darutama determined, paracōdaya drive swiftly

"Drive the chariot swiftly without confusion, without any agitation, with steady heart and vision, controlling the movement of reins and determination.

kāmaṅ na tavaṅsamādhēyaḥpuranadararathōcitaḥ .

yuyutasurahamēkāgaraḥsamārayētavāṅ na śikaṣayē ।।6.108.13।।

puranadararathōcitaḥ driver of the chariot of one like Indra, tavama you, kāmama desire, na samādhēyaḥ not required to be told, ahama by me, ēkāgaraḥ single pointed, yuyutasuḥ wishing to fight, tavāma you, samārayē remind you, na śikaṣayē not instruct

"You are a driver of great Indra's chariot. You are not required to be told. Wishing to fight with rapt attention, I will remind you now and then not instruct you", said Rama to Matali."

parituṣaṭaḥ sa rāmasayatēnavākayēnamātaliḥ .

paracōdayāmāsarathaṅsurasārathirutatamaḥ ।।6.108.14।।

utatamaḥ best, surasārathiḥ charioteer of Devatas, saḥ he, mātaliḥ Matali, rāmasaya Rama's, tēnavākayēna by his words, parituṣaṭaḥ highly delighted, rathama chariot, paracōdayāmāsa started driving.

Matali, the best charioteer of the Devatas, was highly delighted at Rama's words and started driving.

apasavayaṅtataḥkuravana rāvaṇasayamahārathama .

cakarasamabhūtarasārāvaṇaṅvayavadūnayana ।।6.108.15।।

tataḥ then, rāvaṇasaya Ravana's, rathama chariot, apasavayama turned, kuravana done, cakarasamabhūtarajasā dust arising out of rolling wheels, rāvaṇama Ravana, vayavadhūnayana shaken

Then Matali made the chariot turn round and by the dust rising from the rolling wheels of the chariot, Ravana was shaken.

tataḥkarudadhōdaśagarīvasatāmaravisaphāritēkaṣaṇaḥ .

rathaparatimukhaṅrāmaṅsāyakairavadhūnayata ।।6.108.16।।

tataḥ then, karudadhaḥfurious, daśagarīvaḥ ten headed, tāmaravisaphāritēkaṣaṇaḥ coppery eyes open widely, rāmama Rama, sāyakaiḥ arrows, avadhūnayata struck

Then furious Ravana, the ten headed Rakshasa, whose eyes turned coppery in anger, struck Rama with arrows.

dharaṣaṇāmaraṣitōrāmōdhairayaṅrōṣēṇalamabhayana .

jagarāhasumahāvēgamainadaraṅyudhiśarāsanama ।।6.108.17।।

dharaṣaṇāmaraṣitaḥ provoked by the assault, rāmaḥ Rama, sainayama army, rōṣēṇa perturbed, lamabhayana of extraordinary impulse, yudhi bow, sumahāvēgama at high speed, ainadarama Indra's, śarāsanama like sunbeams, jagarāha took up

Rama who was provoked by the assault and army was perturbed. He took up Indra's bow of extraordinary impulse and of high speed like sunbeams.

śarāṅśacasumahāvēgānasūrayaraśamisamaparabhāna .

tadupōḍhuṅmahadayudadhamanayōnayavadhakāṅakaṣiṇōḥ ।।6.108.18।।

parasaparābhimukhayōradṛpatayōrivasiṅhayōḥ .

sumahāvēgāna of very high speed, sūrayaraśamisamaparabhāna glowing in radiance like the sun's rays, śarāna ca arrows, anayōnayavadhakāṅakaṣiṇōḥ each one desirous killing the other, tata then, mahata great, yudadhama war, parasaparābhimukhayōḥ who stood facing each other, dṛpatayōḥ ensued, siṅhayōriva like lions, upōḍhama come near

The arrows endowed with very high speed, glowing in radiance like the sun's radiance, holding the arrows, each one desirous of killing the other stood facing each other, came near, and started fighting like lions in the great war.

tatōdēvāsasaganadharavāsasidadhāśacaparamaraṣayaḥ ।।6.108.19।।

samīyuradavairathaṅdaraṣaṭuṅrāvaṇakaṣayakāṅakaṣiṇaḥ .

tataḥ thereafter, saganadharavāḥ the Gandharvas, dēvāḥ Devas, sidadhāśaca Siddhas, paramaraṣayaḥ sages, rāvaṇakaṣaya kāṅakaṣiṇaḥ longing for destruction of Ravana, dhavairathama duel, daraṣaṭuma witness, samīyuḥcame

Thereafter, the Gandharvas, Devas, Siddhas and sages longing for the end of Ravana came there to witness the duel.

varaṣarudhiraṅdēvōrāvaṇasayaradhōpari ।।6.108.20।।

vātāmaṇaḍalinasatarīvarāhayapasavayaṅparacakaramuḥ .

rāvaṇasaya Ravana's, rathōpari on the chariot, dēvaḥ Devas, rudhirama blood, vavaraṣa rained, maṇaḍalinaḥ in circles, tīvarāḥ intense, vātāḥ wind, apasavayama left to right, paracakaramuḥ blew

Devas rained blood on Ravana's chariot, wind blew in circles intensely from left to right.

mahata gṛdharakulaṅcāsayabharamamāṇaṅnabhasatalē ।।6.108.21।।

yēnayēnarathōyātitēnatēnaparadhāvati

sabhasatalē in the sky, bharamamāṇama hovering, mahata huge, gṛdharakulama flock of eagles, asaya on his, rathaḥ chariot, yēnayēna whatever path, yāti went, tēnatēna there and there, paradhāvati followed

In the sky, a huge flock of eagles hovering on the chariot of Ravana went following the chariot wherever it went.

sanadhayayācāvṛtālaṅakājapāpuṣapanikāśayā ।।6.108.22।।

dṛśayatēsamaparadīpatēvadivasē.pivasunadharā .

laṅakā Lanka, japāpuṣapanikāśayā as though filled with japa flowers, sanadhayayā like dusk, āvṛtā enshrouded, vasunadharā earth surface, divasē.pi even though day time, samaparadīpatēva, glowing, dṛśayatē seemed

Lanka seemed glowing in red colour like at dusk, and as though the earth was burning, shrouded with Japa flowers, even though it was daytime.

saniraghātāmahōlakāśacasamaparapēturamahāsavanāḥ ।।6.108.23।।

viṣādayaṅsatērakaṣāṅsirāvaṇasayatadāhitāḥ .

saniraghātāḥ meteors, mahāsavanāḥ with great sound, mahōlakāśaca huge fire, samaparapētuḥ dropped, rāvaṇasaya Ravana's, ahitāḥ end, tē they, rakaṣāṅsi Rakshasas, viṣādayana were sad

Meteors and huge fire dropped there indicating Ravana's end. Seeing them, Rakshasas were sad.

rāvaṇaśacayatasatataraparacacālavasunadharā ।।6.108.25।।

rakaṣasāṅ ca paraharatāṅgṛhītāivabāhavaḥ .

rāvaṇaḥ Ravana yataḥ where, tatara he was, vasunadharā earth, paracacāla shook, paraharatāma moving, rakaṣasāṅ ca Rakshasas, bāhavaḥ many, gṛhītāiva as if clasped

Wherever Ravana went, the earth shook. Many Rakshasas felt their hands clasped.

tāmarāḥpītāsasitāśavētāḥpatitāsasūrayaraśamayaḥ ।।6.108.26।।

dṛśayanatērāvaṇasayāgarēparavatasayēvadhātavaḥ .

rāvaṇasaya Ravana's, agarē front, tāmarāḥ red, pītāḥ yellow, sitāśavētāḥ white and dark, sūrayaraśamayaḥ sun rays, patitāḥ fallen, paravatasaya mountain's, dhātavaḥiva minerals, dṛśayanatē appeared

The rays of the Sun fell in front of Ravana, in red, yellow, white, and dark like minerals on the mountain.

gṛdharairanugatāśacāsayavamanatayōjavalanaṅmukhaiḥ ।।6.108.27।।

paraṇēduramukhamīkaṣanatayaḥsamaradadhamaśivaṅśivāḥ .

gṛdharaiḥ vultures, anugatāḥ followed, śivāḥ she-jackals, mukhaiḥ mouth, javalanama burning fire, vamanatayaḥ vomitted, asaya from there, mukhama mouth, īkaṣanatayaḥindicating, samaradadhama agitated, aśivama inauspicious, paraṇēduḥ screamed

The vultures followed by she-jackals vomited, burning fire from their mouths indicating inauspiciousness and screamed.

paratikūlaṅvavēvāyūraṇēpāṅsūna samukatirana ।।6.108.28।।

tasayarākaṣasarājasayakuravanadṛṣaṭivilōpanama .

vāyuḥ wind, tasayarākaṣasarājasaya that Rakshasa king's, dṛṣaṭivilōpanama clouding the sight, kuravana made, raṇē in war, pāṅsūna close by, samukatirana to, paratikūlama unfavourable, vavau blew

The unfavourable wind that blew in war, clouded the sight of Rakshasa king.

nipēturinadarāśanayasasainayēcāpayasamanatataḥ ।।6.108.29।।

duraviṣahayasavanāghōraṅvinājaladharōdayama .

jaladharōdayaṅvinā without clouds, ghōrama terrific, duraviṣahayasavanāḥ unbearable sound, inadarāśanayaḥ thunderbolts of Indra, asaya on his, sainayē army, samanatataḥall over, nipētuḥdropped

Without clouds, terrific thunderbolts of Indra (rain) dropped on his (Ravana's) army all over causing unbearable sound.

diśaśacaparadiśasasaravābabhūvusatimirāvṛtāḥ ।।6.108.30।।

pāṅsuvaraṣēṇamahatāduradaraśaṅ ca nabhō.bhavata .

saravāḥ all, diśaḥ ca directions, paradiśaśaca intermediate points, timirāvṛtāḥ enveloped by darkness, babhūvuḥ remained, nabhaḥ sky, mahatā huge, pāṅsuvaraṣēṇa shower of dust, duradaraśama to see, abhavata obscure

All directions and intermediate points were enveloped by darkness by the shower of dust and the huge sky was obscure.

kuravanata: kalahaṅghōraṅśārikāsatadarathaṅparati ।।6.108.31।।

nipētuśaśataśasatataradāruṇādāruṇārutāḥ .

dāruṇārutāḥ fighting in terrific way, dāruṇāḥ frightening, śataśaḥ in hundreds, śārikāḥ minas, ghōrama dreadful, kalahama cries, kuravanata: emitting, tatara there, tadarathaṅparati on the chariot, nipētuḥ fallen

Hundreds of minas making frightening sounds, fighting in terrific manner emitting dreadful cries had fallen on the chariot there.

jaghanēbhayaḥsaphuliṅagāṅśacanētarēbhayō.śarūṇisanatatama ।।6.108.32।।

mumucusatasayaturagāsatulayamagani ca vāri ca .

tasaya his, turagāḥ horses, jaghanēbhayaḥ from hips, saphuliṅagāna fire sparks, nētarēbhayaḥ from eyes, aśarūṇica tears, aganiṅ ca fire, vāri ca water, tulayama equally, sanatatama at a time, mumucuḥlet out

His (Ravana's) horses were letting out fire sparks from their hips, tears, water, and fire from their eyes at a time, continuously.

ēvaṅparakārābahavasasamutapātābhayāpahāḥ ।।6.108.33।।

rāvaṇasayavināśāyadāruṇāḥsamaparajajañirē .

ēvaṅparakārāḥ in that manner, bahavaḥ many, bhayāvahāḥ frightful, dāruṇāḥ dreadful, samutapātāḥ falling, rāvaṇasaya Ravana's, vināśāya destruction, samaparajajañirē indicated

In that manner, many frightful and dreadful objects falling indicated destruction of Ravana.

rāmasayāpinimitatānisaumayāni ca śivāni ca ।।6.108.34।।

babhūvurajayaśaṅsīniparādurabhūtānisaravaśaḥ .

saravaśaḥon all sides, parādurabhūtāni displaying beings, saumayāni delightful, śivāni auspicious, rāmasaya Rama's, jayaśaṅsīni signs of victory, nimitatāni indications, babhūvuḥ appeared

On all sides appeared indications of signs of victory for Rama, displaying beings delightful and auspicious.

nimitatāni ca saumayānirāghavaḥsavajayāyavai ।।6.108.35।।

dṛṣaṭavāparamasamahṛṣaṭōhataṅmēnē ca rāvaṇama .

rāghavaḥRaghava, savajayāya his own victory, saumayāni good, nimitatāni indications, dṛṣaṭavā seeing, paramasamahṛṣaṭaḥ very delighted rāvaṇama Ravana, hatama destroyed, mēnē by me

Sri Rama was very delighted over the appearance of good signs of his own victory and thought 'Ravana is destroyed by me'.

tatōnirīkaṣayātamagatānirāghavōraṇēnimitatāninimitatakōvidaḥ .

jagāmaharaṣaṅ ca parāṅ ca niravṛtiṅcakārayudadhēhayadhika ca vikaramama ।।6.108.36।।

tataḥ there upon, nimitatakōvidaḥ knowledgeable of the indications, rāghavaḥRaghava, raṇē in war, ātamagatāni his own past experience, nimitatāni portents, nirīkaṣaya observing, haraṣaṅ ca felt joyful, parāma enemy, niravṛtiṅ ca end, jagāma proceeded, yudadhē for war, adhikama greater, vikaramaṅ ca prowess, cakāra exhibit

Thereafter, Raghava, knower of the signs of victory in war and his own self experience felt joyful and proceeded to put an end to the enemy, exhibiting greater prowess.
।। itayāraṣēvālamīkīyēśarīmadarāmāyaṇēādikāvayēyudadhakāṇaḍēaṣaṭōtataraśatatamasasaragaḥ ।।
This is the end of one hundred and eighth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.