Sloka & Translation

[Fierce combat takes place between Lakshmana and Indrajith challenging one another.]

vibhīṣaṇavacśrutvārāvaṇiḥkrōdhamūrchitaḥ .

abravītparuṣaṅvākyaṅvēgēnābhyutpapāta ca ।।6.88.1।।

vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ Vibheeshana's words, śrutvā hearing, rāvaṇiḥ Indrajith, krōdhamūrchitaḥ deluded with fury, paruṣam harsh, vākyam words, abravīt spoke, vēgēna swiftly, abhyutpapāta ca advanced.

Hearing Vibheeshana's words, Indrajith was deluded with fury, spoke harshly and advanced.

udyatāyudhanistriṅśōrathēsusamalaṅkṛtē .

kālāśvayuktēmahatisthitaḥkālāntakōpamaḥ ।।6.88.2।।

mahāpramāṇamudyamyavipulaṅvēgavaddhṛḍham .

dhanurbīmaṅparāmṛśyaśarāṅścāmitranāśanān ।।6.88.3।।

udyatāyudhanistriṅśaḥ lifting the strong bow, susamalaṅkṛtē well decorated, kālāśvayuktē yoked to black horses mahati greatrathē chariot, sthitaḥseated, kālāntakōpamaḥ like god of death, mahāpramāṇam long, vipulam huge, vēgavat endowed with great speed bhīmam terrific, dhanuḥ bow, udyamya holding amitranāśanān for the destruction of enemies, śarāṅśca arrows also, parāmṛśya drawing

Lifting his long, strong huge, great terrific bow endowed with high speed and holding it drawing arrows seated in a chariot well decorated, drawn by black horses, Indrajith looked like God of Death.

taṅdadarśamahēṣvāsōrathasthassamalaṅkṛtaḥ .

alaṅkṛtamamitraghnōrāghavasyānujaṅbalī ।।6.88.4।।

mahēṣvāsaḥ wielder of bow, rathē chariot, samalaṅkṛtaḥ decorated well, amitraghnaḥ one who is capable of destroying enemies, balī strong, alaṅkṛtam decorated, tam him, rāghavasya Raghava's, anujam brother, dadarśa saw

Wielding a bow, seated in a well decorated chariot, mighty destroyer of enemies (Indrajith) saw Raghava's brother.

hanumatpṛṣṭharūḍhamudastharaviprabham .

uvācainaṅsamārabdha: saumitriṅsavibhīṣaṇam ।।6.88.5।।

tāṅścavānaraśārdūlān paśyadhvaṅmēparākramam .

hanumatpṛṣṭham on the back of Hanuman, ārūḍham mounted, udayastharaviprabham like the sun on eastern mountain, savibhīṣaṇam that Vibheeshana, ēnaṅsaumitrim Saumithri, tān his, vānaraśārdūlān ca tiger among Vanaras, samārabdhaḥ mounted, uvāca spoke, mē my, parākramam valour, paśyadhvam saw

Lakshmana was like the Sun on the eastern mountain mounted on the back of Hanuman, the tiger among Vanaras. He saw Vibheeshana and spoke.

adyamatkārmukōtsṛṣṭaṅśaravarṣaṅdurāsadam ।।6.88.6।।

muktaṅvarṣamivākāśēvārayiṣyathasaṅyugē .

adya and then, saṅyugē in war, matkārmukōtsṛṣṭam see my valour and prowess, durāsadam difficult counter, ākāśē sky, muktam released, varṣam iva like rain, śaravarṣam shower of arrows, vārayiṣyatha will not able to stop.

"See my valour and prowess now. I will release shower of arrows from the sky like rain and it will be difficult for others to counter."

adyavōmāmakābāṇāmahākārmunissṛtāḥ ।।6.88.7।।

vidhamiṣyantigātrāṇitūlarāśimivānalaḥ .

adya and then, mahākārmulaniḥsṛtāḥ having been delivered from the great bow, māmakāḥ mine, bāṇāḥ arrows, vaḥ your, gātrāṇi limbs, analaḥ fire, tūlarāśimiva like bundle of cotton, vidhamiṣyanti will pierce

"Then my arrows delivered from the great bow will pierce the limbs and burn like a bundle of cotton by fire."

tīkṣaṇasāyakanirbhannānśūlaśaktyṛṣṭitōmaraiḥ ।।6.88.8।।

adyavōgamayiṣyāmisarvānēnayamakṣayam .

adya and now, tīkṣaṇasāyakanirbhinnān with sharp arrows, tridents, śūlaśaktyṛṣṭitōmaraiḥśūla pikes, spears, lances, vaḥ, sarvānēva all, yamakṣayam to the abode of Yama, gamayiṣyāmi will send

"Now I will send you to the abode of Yama with sharp arrows, tridents, pikes, spears and lances."

kṣipataśśaravarṣāṇikṣiprahastasyasamyugē ।।6.88.9।।

jīmūtasyēnanadataḥkaḥsthāsyatimamāgrataḥ .

kṣiprahastasya swift hand, samyugē in battle, śaravarṣāṇi rain of arrows, kṣipata: release, jīmūtasyēva like rain cloud, nadataḥ roar, mama my, agrataḥ front, kaḥ who sthāsyati can stand ?

"Who can stand in front of me if I release rain of arrows with my swift hand in the battle roaring like a rain cloud?"

rātriyuddhēmayāpūrvaṅvajrāśanisamaiḥśaraiḥ ।।6.88.10।।

śāyitausthōmayābhūmauvisaṅjñausapurassarau .

pūrvam earlier, mayā by me, rātriyuddhē in night war, sapurassarau you and your accomplice, vajrāśanisamaiḥresembling thunderbolt, śaraiḥ arrows, visaṅjñau released, bhūmau earth, śāyitau lay unconscious, sthaḥ laid low

"Earlier in the war at night, by the thunderbolt like arrows released by me on the Earth, you and your accomplice were made unconscious and laid low."

smṛtirnatē.stivāmanyēvyaktaṅvāyamasādanam ।।6.88.11।।

āśīviṣamivakruddhaṅyanmāṅyōddhuvyavatthita: .

tē you, smṛtiḥ lost memory, nāsti vā is it lost, āśīviṣamiva like poisonous serpent, kruddham enraged, mām I am, yōddhum to fight, yat that way, vyavatthitaḥ stood here, vyaktam said, yamakṣayam Yama's abode, vā or else, manyē I think

"I am like a poisonous serpent, enraged. Is it that you have lost memory, or you stood here on the way to Yama's abode, I think."

tacchrutvārākṣasēndrasyagarjitaṅlakṣmaṇastadā ।।6.88.12।।

abhītavadanaḥkruddhōrāvaṇiṅvākyamabravīt .

tadā then, lakṣmaṇa: Lakshmana, rākṣasēndrasya Indrajith's words, tat that, garjitam roaring, śrutvā hearing, abhītavadanaḥ fearless countenance, kruddhaḥ angry, rāvaṇim Indrajith, vākyam these words, abravīt spoken

On hearing Indrajith's words, Lakshmana spoke these words in anger with fearless countenance.

uktaścadurgamaḥpāraḥkāryāṇāṅrākṣasatvayā ।।6.88.13।।

kāryāṇāṅkarmaṇāṅpāraṅyōgacchati sa buddhimān .

rākṣasa Rakshasa, tyayā your, kāryāṇām undertakings, durgamaḥ difficult, pāraḥ proclaimed, uktaśca have spoken, yaḥ that which, kāryāṇā undertakings, karmaṇām tasks, pāram to the abode of Yama, gacchati will go, saḥ he who is, buddhimān intelligent one

"Rakshasa! You have proclaimed that you will send me to Yama's abode and about the success in your undertakings even though it is not possible. He who is intelligent will succeed in his tasks (not in words alone).

satvamarthasyahīnārthōduravāsasyakēnacit ।।6.88.14।।

vācāvyāhṛtyajānīṣēkṛtārthō.smītidurmatē .

durmatē evil minded, hīnārthaḥ meaningless, saḥtvam you are, kēnacit for any one, duravāpasya difficult to do, ardhasya capacity to do, vācā by words, vyāhṛtya talking, kṛtārthaḥ succeeded, asmi I am, iti thus, jānīṣē thinking

"O evil minded one! Your claim, in words that you have the capacity to do which is difficult for others is meaningless. Though you lack the capacity to succeed you are only thinking that you have succeeded."

antardhānagatēnājauyastvayācaritastadā ।।6.88.15।।

taskarācaritōmārgaḥnaiṣavīraniṣēvitaḥ .

tadā then, ājau in the battle, antardhānagatēna remaining invisible, tvayā by you, yaḥ that which, caritaḥ moving, mārgaḥ path, taskarācaritaḥ is a cheat's move, ēṣaḥ in that way, vīraniṣēvitaḥ not chosen by warriors, na not

"Remaining invisible and moving in the battle then is the path of a thief which is not chosen by warriors."

yathābāṇapathaṅprāpyasthitō.haṅtavarākṣasa ।।6.88.16।।

darśayasvādyatattējōvācātvaṅkiṅvikatthasē .

rākṣasa Rakshasa, tava your, bāṇapatham range of arrows, prāpya reaching, yathā there, sthitaḥ stood asmi me, tat that, tējaḥ power, adya now, darśayasva show, tvam you, vācā spoke, kim why, vikatthasē boasting

"Rakshasa! I have reached your range of arrows and stand before you. Show that power now about which you boasted."

ēvamuktōdhanurbhīmaṅparāmṛśyamahābalaḥ ।।6.88.17।।

sasarjaniśitānbāṇāniṅdrajitsamitiñjayaḥ .

ēvam in that way, uktaḥ having spoken, mahābalaḥ endowed with mighty prowess, samitiñjayaḥ victorious, indrajit Indrajith, bhīmam terrific, dhanuḥ bow, parāmṛśya seizing, niśitān pointed, śarān arrows, sasarja released

After Lakshmana had spoken that way, Indrajith, endowed with mighty prowess, and victorious in combat seized a terrific bow and released pointed arrows.

tēnisṛṣṭāmahāvēgāḥśarāḥsarpaviṣōpamāḥ ।।6.88.18।।

samprāpyalakṣmaṇaṅpētuḥśvasantaivapannagāḥ .

tē na, nisṛṣṭāḥ, mahāvēgāḥ great speed, sarpaviṣōpamāḥ deadly like serpent, śarāḥ shafts, lakṣmaṇam at Lakshmana, samprāpya reached, śasantaḥhissing, pannagāḥiva like serpents, pētuḥfell

The shafts like deadly poisonous serpents reached Lakshmana at great speed hissing and fell on Lakshmana.

rairatimahāvēgairvēgavānrāvaṇātmajaḥ ।।6.88.19।।

saumitrimindrajidyuddhēvivyādhaśubhalakṣaṇam .

vēgavān endowed with speed, rāvaṇātmajaḥ Ravana's son, indrajit Indrajith, yuddhē in war, atimahāvēgaiḥ at a much higher velocity, śaraiḥ shafts, śubhalakṣaṇam endowed with auspicious marks, saumitrim on Saumithri, vivyādha pained

Ravana's son Indrajith, who was endowed with great speed in war, pierced Lakshmana with shafts released at a much higher velocity.

saśarairatividdhāṅgōrudhirēṇasamukṣitaḥ ।।6.88.20।।

śuśubhēlakṣmaṇaḥśrīmānvidhūmaivapāvakaḥ .

śaraiḥ shafts, atividdhāṅgaḥ pierced all over, rudhirēṇa by blood, samukṣitaḥ bathed, śrīmān glorious, saḥlakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, vidhūmaḥ smokeless, pāvakaḥiva like fire, śuśubhē seemed

With shafts pierced all over, glorious Lakshmana was bathed in blood and shone like smokeless fire.

indrajittvātmanaḥkarmaprasamīkṣyādhigamya ca ।।6.88.21।।

vinadyasumahānādamidaṅvacanamabravīt .

indrajit Indrajith, ttvātmanaḥ his own, sramapīkṣya observing, adhigamya approaching, sumahānādam exceedingly loud cry, vinadya emitting, idam these, vacanam words, abravīt spoke

Indrajith observing his own action, approaching Lakshmana, emitted a loud cry and spoke these words.

patriṇaḥśitadhārāstēkarāmatkārmukacyutāḥ ।।6.88.22।।

ādāsyantē.dyasaumitrējīvitaṅjīvitāntakāḥ .

saumitrē Saumithri, patriṇaḥ with feathers, śitadhārāḥ sharp pointed arrows, matkārmukacyutāḥ released by me, jīvitāntakarāḥ which can destroy life, śarāḥ arrows, adya now, tējīvitam your life, ādyāsyastē putting down

"Saumithri, these sharp pointed arrows fixed to feathers, which can destroy life, released by me now will put an end to your life."

adyagōmāyusaṅghāścaśyēnasaṅghāścalakṣmaṇa ।।6.88.23।।

gṛdhrāścanipatantutvāṅgatāsuṅnihataṅmayā .

lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, adya today, mayā by me, nihatam struck down, gatāsum ceased of life, tvām you, gōmāyusaṅghāśca jackals descend, śyēnasaṅghāśca hawks descend, gṛdhrāśca and vultures, nipatantu fallen dead

"Lakshmana! Today let the jackals, hawks and vultures descend on your bodystruck down by me and ceased of life fallen dead."

kṣatrabandhuṅsadānāryaṅrāmaḥparamadurmatiḥ ।।6.88.24।।

bhaktambhrātaramadyaivatvāṅdrakṣyatihataṅmayā .

paramadurmatiḥ highly stupid, rāmaḥ Rama, kṣatrabandhum Kshatriya, sadā ever, anāryam ignoble, bhaktam devotee, bhrātaram brother, adyaiva so also, nihatam killed, tvām you, drakṣyati will see

"Highly stupid Rama will see you, a devoted brother, a true kshatriya ever ignoble, killed by me today."

viśastakavacaṅbhūmauvyapaviddhaśarāsasanam ।।6.88.25।।

hṛtōttamāṅgaṅsaumitratvāmadyanihataṅmayā .

saumitrē Saumithri, mayā by me, adya now, nihatam struck down, viśastakavacam shield broken and fallen, bhūmau on ground, vyapaviddhaśarāsanam bow thrown down, hṛtōttamāṅgaṅ trunk with head severed, tvām your

"Saumithri, he (Rama) will see you struck by me fallen on the ground, shield broken and fallen down, bow thrown down and trunk with severed head."

itibruvāṇaṅsaṅkṛddha: paruṣaṅrāvaṇātmajam ।।6.88.26।।

hētumadvākyamatyarthaṅlakṣmaṇaḥpratyuvāca ha .

iti thus, paruṣam harsh, bruvāṇam spoken, saṅkṛddha: enraged, rāvaṇātmajam Ravana's son, atyarthaṅ meaningful, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, hētumat with reason, vākyam words, pratyuvāca ha replied

When Indrajith was speaking harshly, enraged Lakshmana replied in a meaningful way with reason.

vāgbalaṅtyajadurbuddhēkrūrakarmāsirākṣasa ।।6.88.27।।

athakasmādvadasyētatsampādayasukarmaṇā .

durbuddhēevil minded, rākṣasa Rakshasa, vāgbalam power of speech, tyaja give up, krūrakarmā cruel action, atha now, ētat all this, tasmāt What use by that, vadasi talk, sukarmaṇā good deeds, sampādaya do good action

"Evil minded Rakshasa! Give up that wasteful power of speech. You are cruel in action. What is the use of all this now? Show by good deeds and not by talk."

kṛtvākatthasēkarmakimarthamiharākṣasa ।।6.88.28।।

kurutatkarmayēnāhaṅśraddhadhyāṅtavakatthanam .

rākṣasa Rakshasa, karma action, akṛtvā without performing, kimartham What is the use, katthasē praising yourself, yēna by that, aham I, tava your, katthanam by praising, śraddhadhyām create trust, tat that, karma action, kuru show that

Rakshasa! What is the use of praising without performing action? Show by action and create trust that you can perform.

anuktvāparuṣaṅvākyaṅkiñcidapyanavakṣipan ।।6.88.29।।

avikatthanvadhiṣyāmitvāṅpaśyapuruṣādhama .

puruṣādhama lowly person, paruṣam harsh, vākyam words, kiñcidapi indeed, anuktvā without commenting, anavakṣipan without interrupting, avikatthan without boasting, tvām you, vadhiṣyāmi will assail you, paśya see

"Lowly Rakshasa! without any harsh words, indeed without boasting, commenting, interrupting I will assail you. You may see."

ityuktvāpañcanārācānākarṇāpūritān śitān ।।6.88.30।।

nijaghānamahāvēgāllakṣmaṇōrākṣasōrasi .

lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, iti thus, uktvā having said, ākarṇam till the ear, pūritān stretching, pañcanārācān five sharp, śitān pointed, mahāvēgāt of high speed, rākṣasōrasi on the chest of Rakshasa, nijaghāna fixed

Having spoken like that, Lakshmana stretching his arrows till the ear fixed five sharp arrows of high speed on the chest of Rakshasa.

supatravājitābāṇājvalitāivapannagāḥ ।।6.88.31।।

nairṛtōrasyabhāsantasavitūraśmayōyathā .

jvalitāḥ glowing, pannagāḥiva like serpents, supatravājitāḥ tied to good feathers, bāṇāḥ arrows, nairṛtōrasi on the chest of Rakshasa, savituḥ sun, raśmayaḥyathā like the rays, abhāsanta glowed

The arrows being tied to good feathers glowing like serpents shone on the chest of Rakshasa like the rays of Sun.

saḥśarairāhatastēnasarōṣōrāvaṇātmajaḥ ।।6.88.32।।

suprayuktaistribhirbhāṇaiḥprativivyādhalakṣmaṇam .

tēna by that, śaraiḥ arrows, āhataḥ struck, saḥ he, rāvaṇātmajaḥ Indrajith, sarōṣaḥ furiously, suprayuktai: well aimed, tribhiḥ three, bāṇaiḥ arrows, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, prativivyādha in return

Struck by the arrows, Indrajith in return furiously released three well aimed arrows at Lakshmana.

saḥbabhūvamahābhīmōnararākṣasasiṅhayōḥ ।।6.88.33।।

vimardastumulōyuddhēparasparajayaiṣiṇōḥ .

yuddhē in combat, parasparajayaiṣiṇōḥ to win in fight over each other, nararākṣasasiṅhayōḥ Lakshmana and Indrajith, mahābhīmaḥ very frightening, saḥ he, vimarda: pounding each other, tumalaḥ very, babhūva appeared

In that combat both Lakshmana and Indrajith pounding to win against each other was frightening.

ubhauhibalasampannāvubhauvikramaśālinau ।।6.88.34।।

ubhauparamadurjñēyāvatulyabalatējasau .

ubhau both, balasampannau richly endowed with prowess, ubhau both, vikramaśālinau courageous, ubhau both, paramadurjñēyau exceedingly difficult to conquer, atulyabalatējasau peerless in might

Both were richly endowed with prowess, both were courageous, exceedingly difficult to conquer and peerless in might.

yuyudhātētadāvīraugrahāvivanabhōgatau ।।6.88.35।।

balavṛtrāvivābhītauyudhitauduṣpradharṣaṇau .

yudhi in combat, duṣpradharṣaṇau clashed displaying, tauvīrau both heroes, tadā then, nabhōgatau shining in heaven, grahāviva like planets, balavṛtrāviva like Indra and Vrta fought, abhītau difficult to overcome, yuyudhātē fought

In the combat both the heroes fought displaying their might, shone like two planets in the heaven and fought like Indra and Vrta and were difficult to overcome.

yuyudhātēmahātmānautadākēsariṇāviva ।।6.88.36।।

bahūnavasṛjantauhimārgaṇaughānavasthitau .

nararākṣasasimhōtauprahṛṣṭāvabhyayudhyatām ।।6.88.37।।

tadā then, avasthitau stayed resting, mahātmānau great souls, bahūn many, mārgaṇaughān seeking and looking out, avasṛjantau dropping and falling, kēsariṇāviva like lions, yuyudhātē fought, tau they, nararākṣasasimhō lions among humans and Rakshasas, prahṛṣṭau joyful, abhyayudhyatām one over the other

Then both the great warriors Lakshmana and Indrajith fought discharging many arrows, like lions among humans and Rakshasas respectively, looking out and seeking, dropping, and falling one over the other and stayed joyful.
।। ityārṣēvāmalīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēaṣṭā.śītitamassargaḥ ।।
This is the end of the eighty eighth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.