1, 2. saH saarathiH= that charioteer; hR^iShTaH= thrilling with rapture; kShipram= quickly; chodayaamaasa= drove forward; raavaNasya ratham= Ravana’s chariot; para sainya pradharShaNam= which attacked the army of enemies; gandharva nagaraakaaram= which was in form of Gandharva-city, an imaginary city in the sky; samuchchhrita pataakinam= mounted with flags; yuktam= yoked; vaajibhiH= with horses; parama sampannaiH= of excellent quality; hema maalibhiH= having golden necklaces; puurNam= filled; yuddhopakaraNaiH= with war-implements; patakaadhvajamaalinam= garlanded with flags and banners; grasantamiva= as though devouring the sky; naadayantam vasundharaam= making the earth, resound; praNaasham= which destroyed; parasainyaanaam= the army of adversaries; para sainyaanaam= the army of adversaries; pracharShaNam= and caused delight; sva sainyasya= to its own army.

3, 4, 5, 6. nararaajaH= Rama; dadarshaha= saw; tam= that; raakShasa raajasya ratham= Ravana’s chariot; aapatantam= which was coming; sahasaa= speedily; svanavantam= with a noise; mahaa dhvajam= with a large flag-staff; kR^iShNa raajisamaayuktam= yoked with black horses; yuktam= endowed; raudreNa varchasaa= with a terrific luster; vimaanamiva= like an aerial car; diipyamaanam= blazing; aakaashe= in the sky; suuryavarchasam= with a luster of the sun; taDitpataakaagahanam= filled with lightning-like flags; darshitendraayudhaprabham= and with a beautiful appearance of a rain-bow.

7, 8. dR^iShTvaa= seeing; vimuNchantam= (that chariot) releasing; sharadharaaH= streams of arrows; ambudamiva= like a cloud; (releasing) dharaasaaram= streams of rain; sadR^isha svanam= with a noise equal to that; diiryataH gireH= of a bursting mountain; vajraabhimR^iShTasya= struck with a diamond; raamaH= Rama; vegena= quickly; visphaarayan= after stretching; dhanuH= his bow; baalachandraanatam= in a crescent shape; uvaacha= spoke; maatalim= to Matali; sahasraakShasya saarathin= Indra’s charioteer (as follows):

9, 10. Maatale= O Matali!; pashya= look at; ripoh ratham= this chariot of the enemy; aapatantam= coming forward; samrabdham= furiously; yathaa= as; anena= by him; punaH= once more; patataa= comng; mahataa vegena= with a great speed; apasavyam= from the right to the left; tathaa= therefore; matikR^itaa= heart has been set; hantum= upon destroying; aatmaanam= himself samara= in the battle.

11. tat= therefore; aatiShTha apramaadam= take care; pratyudgachchha= and go opposite to; ripoH ratham= the chariot of the enemy; ichchhaami= I wish; vidhvamsayitum= to destroy (it); vaayuH iva= even as the wind; utthitam= would blow; megham= a cloud.

12. aviklabam= without fear; asambhraantam= and without flurry; avyagrahR^idayekShaNam and with a steady heart and vision; rashmi samchaara niyatam= and the move of the reins fully controlled; prachodaya= drive; ratham= the chariot; drutam= swiftly.

13. tvam= you; na samaadheya= need not be instructed (by me); purandara rathochitaH= accustomed as you are to drive the chariot of Indra the lord of celestials; aham yuyutsuH= keen as I am to fight; ekaagraH= with a close attention smaaraye= I am just reminding; tvaam= you; na shikShaye= and not teaching you.

14. parituShTaH= extremely gratified; tena vaakyena= with those words; raamasya= of Rama; saH maataliH= that Matali; uttamaH= the excellent; sura saarathiH= charioteer of gods; prachodayaamaase= drove on; ratham= the chariot.

15. kurvan= passing; mahaa ratham= the huge chariot; raavaNasya= of Ravana; apasavyam= on the right; tataH= (the charioteer) then; raavaNam= (set) Ravana; vyavadhuunayam= shaking; chakra sambhuuta rajasaa= by the dust risen from the wheels (of his own chariot).

16. kruddhaH= the enraged; dashagriivaH= Ravana; tataH= then; taamra visphaaritekShaNaH= with his coppery eyes wide open; avadhuunayat= trembled; raamam= Rama; rathapramukhan= who stood facing his chariot; saayakaiH= with arrows.

17. lambhayan dhairyam= meeting fortitude; roSheNa= with anger; dharShaNaamarShitaH= though provoked with assault; raamaH= Rama; jagraaha= took hold; aindram sharaasanam= of Indra’s bow; sumahaavegam= which was possessed of extra ordinary impulse; yudhi= in the battle-field.

18. sharaan cha= he also seized hold of arrows; sumahaavegaan= of exceeding swiftness; suurya rashmi samaprabhaan= which were shining like sun-beams; upoDham= (Then) began; tat mahat= that great; yuddham= battle; anyonya vadrakaaNkShiNau= between the two warriors (Rama and Ravana) who wee desirous of killing each other; parasparaabhimukhayoH= and who were facing each other; dR^iptayoH simhayoriva= like two proud lions.

19. tataH= then; devaah= the gods; sagandharvaaH= along with Gandharvas the celestial musicians; siddhaashcha= Siddhas, the demigods; paramarShayaH= and great sages; raavaNa kShayakaaNkShiNaiH= desirous of Ravana’s ruin; samiiyuH= arrived; draShTum= to see; dvairatham= the battle of both the chariot-warriors.

20. atha= thereupon; daaruNaaH= terrific; utpaataaH= portents; romaharShaNaaH= that caused one’s hair to stand on end; samutpetuH= appeared; raavaNasya vinaashaaya= giving an augury of doom to Ravana; raaghavasya udayaaaya cha= and prosperity to Rama.

21. devaH= the god of rains; vavarSha= poured; rudhiram= blood; raavaNasya rathopari= on Ravana’s chariot; tiivraaH- horrible; vaataaH= winds; rachakramuH= blew; apasavyam= from right to the left; maN^DalinaH= forming circles.

22. mahat= a large; gR^idhrakulam= flock of vultures; bhramamaaNam= roaming about; nabhastale= in the sky; pradhaavati= was flying forward; tena tena= in the same way; yena yena= in which; asya rathaH= Ravana’s chariot; yaati= was going.

23. laN^kaa= Lanka; aavR^itaa= was overcast; samdhyayaa= with dusk; japaapuShpanikaashayaa= resembling a (red) Japa flower; vasumdharaa= the land (in Lanka); divase.api= as also the day; dR^ishyate= appeared; sampradiipteva= as if, they were blazing.

24. maholkaashcha= Large meteors; sanirghaataaH= along with lightnings; samprapetuH= fell; mahaasvanaaH= with great noise; te= those entities ahitaaH= inimical; raavaNasya= to Ravana; rakShaamsi viShaadayan= made demons to lament.

25. vasumdharaa= the earth; yataH= on which; raavaNaH= Ravana; tatra= was there; prachachaala= trembled; baahavaH= the arms; rakShasaamcha= of demons; praharataam= who were fighting; gR^ihiitaa iva= were like as if they were clasped.

26. patitaaH= fallen; agre= before; raavaNasya= Ravana; suurya rashmayaH= the rays of the sun; dR^ishyante taamraaH= appeared coppery; piitaaH= yellow; sitaashvetaaH= white and dark; dhaatavaH iva= like mineral-ores on a mountain.

27. shiraaH= the she-jackals; anugataaH= followed; gR^idhraiH= by vultures; samrabanam= hastily; praNeduH= uttered; ashivam= inauspicious howls; iikShyantaH= on beholding; asya mukham= Ravana’s face; vamantyaH= (as also) vomiting; jvalanam= fire; mukhaiH= from their mouths.

28. kurvan dR^iShTivilopanam= clouding the vision; tasya raavaNasya= fo that Ravana, vaayuH= the wind; samutkiran paamsuun= scattering dust upwards; vavau= blew; pratikuulam= in an inverted order.

29. jala dharodayam vinaa= even without the appearance of clouds; ghoram= terrific; indraashanayaH= thunderbolts; nipetuH= fell; asya sainye= on his army; samantataH= on all sides; durviShahya svanaaH= with a noise; which was hard to endure.

30. sarvaah= all; dishaH cha= the quarters; pradishashcha= and intermediate points of the compass; babhuuvaH= became; timiraavR^itaaH= covered with darkness; mahataa paamsu varSheNa= and due to outpourings of dust; nabhaH= the sky; abhavat= became; durdarsham= difficult to be seen.

31. shatashaH= hundreds of; daaruNaah= dreadful, saarikaaH*= Sarika birds; daaruNaarutaaH= with awful howls; kurvantyaH kalaham= fighting, ghoram= terribly; tatra= there; nipetuH= fell; tadratham prati= down upon Ravana’s chariot.

32. tasya= his; turagaaH= horses; mumuchuH= discharged; sphuliN^gaan= sparks of fire; jaghanebhyaH= from their hips and loins; ashruuNicha= tears; netrebhyaH= from their eyes; vaaricha= and water; agnimcha= as also fire; tulyam= equally; samtatam= and continuously.

33. daaruNaaH= frightful; samutpaataaH= portents; baharaH= in multitude; samprajaJNire= sprang up; evamprakaaraaH= in the way; bhayaavahaaH= bringing danger; vinaashaaya= and destruction; raavaNasya= of Ravana.

34. saumyaani shivaani cha= pleasant and auspicious; jaya shamsiini= depicting victory; raamasya= of Rama; babhuuvuH= arose; praadurbhuutaani= and appeared; sarvashaH= on all sides.

35. dR^iShTvaa= seeing; saumyaani nimittaani= the pleasant omens; svajayaaya= depicting his victory; raaghavaH= Rama; param asamhR^iShTaH= was very much pleased; mane= and considered; raavaNam= Ravana; hatam= as (already) dead.

36. tataH= then; raaghavaH= Rama; nimitta kovidaH= having a knowledge of the omens; niriikShya= having seen; nimittaani= the portents; aatmagatani= in his own way; raNe= in the battle-field; jagaama= got; harShamcha= rejoice; paraam nirvR^itim= and extreme happiness; chakaara adhikam vikramamcha= as also shown enhanced prowess; yuddhe= in combat.