Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 103

103. Rāvaṇa's Charioteer Takes Rāvaṇa Away

[The fierce war continues. Rāma tells Rāvaṇa that he is a coward. He moves near him and showers him with arrows. Seeing him weakening and not able to respond, his charioteer takes the chariot away from the battle field.]

Rāvaṇa who was proud of his skills of war, when greatly tormented by the angry Rāma, became greatly angry. 103.1

With burning eyes, raising his bow in great anger, that valorous Rāvaṇa who was greatly heroic continued to trouble Rāma by covering him with thousands of arrow streams, just like a rainy cloud fills up a pond by thousands of rays of rain. 103.2-103.3

Though he was covered by a great network of arrows released from the bow of the enemy, the son of Kākutstha clan did not flutter, just like a large unshakeable mountain. 103.4

The greatly valorous Rāma stood in the battle field preventing those torrents of arrows, with his own arrows, and suffered them just like they were rays of the sun. 103.5

Then that Rākṣasa with a very speedy hand, becoming angry struck the chest of that great soul Rāma with thousands of arrows. 103.6

That elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa bathed in blood in that battle field appeared like the very big Kimśuka tree in bloom in the forest. 103.7

Becoming very angry by the effect of those arrows, the greatly lustrous Rāma took hold of arrows which shined like the sun at the time of final deluge. 103.8

Both Rāma and Rāvaṇa who were greatly angry could not see each other clearly in that battle field which was dark being shrouded by arrows. 103.9

Filled with great anger that Rāma, the son of Dasaratha burst out in laughter and told the following harsh words to Rāvaṇa. 103.10

"Oh basest of the Rākṣasas, since you had abducted my wife from Janasṭhāna, when she was helpless when I was not there to protect her, you are not a person of valour." 103.11

"In spite of abducting Sītā was in a miserable condition in that great forest and without me, you think you are a great champion." 103.12

"Having acted like a coward, by laying your arms on another person's wife and posing as a hero in relation to ladies without protection, you think you are a great champion. 103.13

"Oh person without shame, who has broken the tenets of respectability, who is of loose morality having laid your hand on death [Sītā], you think you are a great champion." 103.14

"For having done this glorious and famous act, you who are the valorous brother of Kubera are indeed rich in your valour and strength." 103.15

"You are now going to reap now the great fruit noxious and contemptible act, which was done by you just for vanity." 103.16

"Oh evil minded person, though you think you are a great champion there is no shame in you for abducting Sītā, just like an ordinary thief." 103.17

"Had you dared to touch Sītā in my presence, you would have gone and met your brother Khara at that very moment, when I killed you by my arrows." 103.18

"See, oh stupid fellow, you have now come within my sight and so I would send you to the world of death with my sharp arrows today itself." 103.19

"Let your head adorned with shining ear rings which lies on this dust laden battle field be carried away by the beasts of prey, after I chop it off by my arrows today." 103.20

"Oh Rāvaṇa, let vultures fly down on your breast after you fall on earth, wounded by my arrows with blood oozing out of the wounds caused by my sharp arrows." 103.21

"Let birds tear out your bowels similar to eagles dragging serpents when you fall down dead when pierced by my arrows today." 103.22

After telling like this the valorous Rāma, who was the destroyer of enemies moved near the king of Rākṣasas and started raining arrows at him. 103.23

The valour, strength and joy of Rāma increased two fold when he longed for the death of this enemy in that battle. 103.24

The memories of various mystic arrows came to the mind of the very learned Rāma and from his excessive enthusiasm, that greatly lustrous one became swift handed. 103.25

Recognizing these good omens, Rāma, the destroyer of Rākṣasas tormented that Rāvaṇa even more fiercely. 103.26

Hit by the volley of stones thrown by the monkeys and rain of arrows sent by Rāma, the ten necked one felt greatly scared at heart. 103.27

Rāvaṇa could no longer take up the weapons, nor stretch his bow, nor was he able to react to the valour of Rāma on account of his mind being confused. 103.28

As the time of his death drew near, the arrows that he sent with speed nor the mystic arrows employed him had any effect in that battle. 103.29

Observing that Rāvaṇa had been reduced to such a plight, the charioteer driving the chariot, for his part, without getting excited, calmly and slowly carried off his chariot away from the battle-front. 103.30

After that seeing that his king has lost his energy and valour and was seen as miserable, the charioteer diverted his very huge chariot, which was rumbling like a cloud and sneaked away from the battle front in fear. 103.31

This is the end of One Hundred and Third Sarga of Yuddha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.