parigrihya sa taamaajjnaam raavanasya mahaabalah |

balam samprerayaamaasa tadaa laghuparaakramah || 6-55-5

Taking that command of Ravana, the mighty Akampana of quick resolution then mobilized the army.

tato naanaapraharanaa bhiimaaksaa bhiimadarshanaah |

nispetuu raaksasaa mukhyaa balaadhyaksaprachoditaah || 6-55-6

Those foremost of demons of terrifying appearance, furnished with every kind of weapon and fearful to look upon, rushed into the fray where their general had dispatched them.

rathamaasthaaya vipulam taptakaajnchanabhuusanam |

meghaabho meghavarnashca meghasvanamahaasvanah || 6-55-7

Then, Akampana of the stature and color of a cloud, whose voice resembled a thunder, ascended his great chariot, decorated with fine gold and set out, surrounded by dreadful demons.

na hi kampayitum shakyah surairiapi mahaa mridhe || 6-55-8

akampanas tatas tesaam aaditya;iva tejasaa |

Even celestials were indeed unable to upset Akampana in a great battle. Hence, among the demons, he was shining like the sun, by his splendor.

tasya nidhaavamaanasya samrabdhasya yuyutsayaa || 6-55-9

akasmaad dainyam aagacchadd hayaanaam ratha vaahinaam |

As he sped on his way, hastened and eager to enter the battle, the horses drawing his chariot were suddenly deprived of their energy.

vyasphuran nayanam ca asya savyam yuddha abhinandinah || 6-55-10

vivarno mukha varnash ca gadgadash ca abhavat svarah |

The left eye of Akampana, who delighted in warfare, began to twitch. His countenance grew pale and his voice trembled.

abhavat sudine ca api durdine ruuksa maarutam || 6-55-11

uucuh khagaa mrigaah sarve vaacah kruuraa bhaya aavahaah |

At a time of a good day, marked by fine weather, it turned into a day of bad weather with a bitter wind beginning to blow. Birds and beasts uttered cruel and fearful cries.

sa simha upacita skandhah shaarduula sama vikramah || 6-55-12

taan utpaataan acintya eva nirjagaama rana aajiram |

That demon, who had the shoulders of a lion and the agility of a tiger, disregarding those portents, rushed towards the battle-field.

tadaa nirgacchatas tasya raksasah saha raaksasaih || 6-55-13

babhuuva sumahaan naadah ksobhayann iva saagaram |

While Akampana advanced thus with his troops, an immense tumult arose that seemed to convulse the ocean.

tena shabdena vitrastaa vaanaraanaam mahaa camuuh || 6-55-14

druma shaila praharanaa yoddhum samavatisthata |

By hearing that clamor [noisy shouting] of the demons coming for the battle, the huge army of the monkeys, brandishing trees and rocks, was frightened.

tesaam yuddham mahaa raudram samjajne kapi raksasaam || 6-55-15

raama raavanayoriarthe samabhityakta jiivinaam |

A highly fierce battle ensued between those monkeys and demons, who were ready to lose their lives for the sake of Rama and Ravana.

sarve hy atibalaah shuuraah sarve parvata samnibhaah || 6-55-16

harayo raaksasaash caiva paraspara jighamsavah |

All the monkeys and demons, who were willing to kill each other, were very strong and valiant. All resembled mountains.

tesaam vinardaataam shabdah samyuge atitarasvinaam || 6-55-17

shushruve sumahaan krodhaad anyonyam abhigarjataam |

The tremendous clamor of the aforesaid warriors, yelling in their rage and strength, making savage cries, were distinctly heard on the battle-field.

rajash ca aruna varna aabham subhiimam abhavad bhrisham || 6-55-18

uddhuutam hari raksobhih samrurodha disho dasha |

A highly terrific dust, in a thick coppery color, raised by the monkeys and demons enveloped all the ten quarters.

anyonyam rajasaa tena kausheya uddhuuta paandunaa || 6-55-19

samvritaani ca bhuutaani dadrishurina rana ajire |

The combatants, enveloped by that dust, which was whitish like a piece of silk shaken by the wind, could no longer distinguish each other on the battle-field.

na dhvajo na pataakaa vaa varma vaa turago api vaa || 6-55-20

aayudham syandanam vaa api dadrishe tena renunaa |

Neither standard, banner and shield, nor horse, weapon and chariot could be discerned in that pall of dust.

shabdash ca sumahaams tesaam nardataam abhidhaavataam || 6-55-21

shruuyate tumule yuddhe na ruupaani cakaashire |

A great tumultuous clamor, of warriors, making challenging cries and rushing upon each other, was heard on the battle-field, yet in that confusion, no form was visible.

hariin eva susamkruddhaa harayo jaghnuriaahave || 6-55-22

raaksasaash ca api raksaamsi nijaghnus timire tadaa |

In the darkness, the greatly enraged monkeys killed the monkeys themselves and the demons killed the demons themselves in battle.

te paraamshcha vinighnantah svaamshcha vaanararaaksasaah || 6-55-23

rudhiraardraam tadaa chakrurma hiim pankaanulepanaam |

Those monkeys and demons killing other and their own people then made the earth dampened with blood, anointing its body with mud.

tatas tu rudhira oghena siktam vyapagatam rajah || 6-55-24

shariira shava samkiirnaa babhuuva ca vasum dharaa |

Under the stream of blood being sprinkled, the dust was laid, revealing the earth covered with bodies and corpses.

druma shakti shilaa praasairigadaa parigha tomaraih || 6-55-25

harayo raaksasaas tuurnam jaghnurianyonyam ojasaa |

The demons and the monkeys vigorously struck each other swiftly with blows from trees, spears, maces, javelins, stones, bars and picks.

baahubhih parighaa aakaarairiyudhyantah parvata upamaah || 6-55-26

harayo bhiima karmaano raaksasaan jaghnuriaahave |

The monkeys of dreadful deeds, resembling mountains, fighting with their arms appearing like iron bars, killed the demons in battle.

raaksasaash ca api samkruddhaah praasa tomara paanayah || 6-55-27

kapiin nijaghnire tatra shastraih parama daarunaih |

The enraged demons with darts and javelins in their hands, struck the monkeys there with their cruel weapons.

akampanah susamkruddho raaksasaanaam chamuupatih || 6-55-28

samharsayati taansarvaanraaksasaan bhiimavikramaan |

The extremely enraged Akampana, the general of the army of demons, cheered all those demons by his terrible prowess.

harayas tv api raksaamsi mahaa druma mahaa ashmabhih || 6-55-29

vidaarayanty abhikramya shastraany aacchidya viiryatah |

The monkeys however leaping upon them and snatching their weapons through their strength, crushed those demons with blows from large trees and stones.

etasminn antare viiraa harayah kumudo nalah || 6-55-30

maindash ca parama kruddhash cakrurivegam anuttamam |

Meanwhile Kumuda, Nala and Mainda the courageous monkeys in an outburst of anger, displayed unsurpassed rashness.

te tu vriksairimahaa vegaa raaksasaanaam camuu mukhe || 6-55-31

kadanam sumaha cakrur liilayaa hari yuuthapaah |

mamanthuu raaksasaan sarve naanaapraharanairbhrisham || 6-55-32

Those exceedingly valiant chiefs of monkeys, as in sport, in the battle-front, with mighty blows of trees, created a great carnage among the demons. All of them repeatedly crushed the demons with every kind of weapon.

ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye yuddhakaande pajnchapajnchashah sargah

Thus completes 55th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

References

K. M. K. Murthy. (2002). Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.