Ramavtar 18

ਅਥ ਲਛਮਣ ਜ੝ਧ ਕਥਨੰ अथ लछमण जढ़ध कथनं Now begins the story of Lachhman-war.

ਅਣਕਾ ਛੰਦ ॥ अणका छंद ॥ ANKA STANZA

ਜਬ ਸਰ ਲਾਗੇ ॥ ਤਬ ਸਭ ਭਾਗੇ ॥ ਦਲਪਤਿ ਮਾਰੇ ॥ ਭਟ ਭਟਕਾਰੇ ॥੭੪੩॥ जब सर लागे ॥ तब सभ भागे ॥ दलपति मारे ॥ भट भटकारे ॥७४३॥ When the arrows struck, then all ran away; the generals were killed and the warriors ran hither and thither.743.

ਹਯ ਤਜਿ ਭਾਗੇ ॥ ਰਘ੝ਬਰ ਆਗੇ ॥ ਬਹ੝ ਬਿਧਿ ਰੋਵੈ ॥ ਸਮ੝ਹਿ ਨ ਜੋਵੈ ॥੭੪੪॥ हय तजि भागे ॥ रघढ़बर आगे ॥ बहढ़ बिधि रोवै ॥ समढ़हि न जोवै ॥७४४॥ Leaving their horses, they ran towards Ram and lamenting in various ways, they had no courage to come face to face.744.

ਲਵ ਅਰਿ ਮਾਰੇ ॥ ਤਵ ਦਲ ਹਾਰੇ ॥ ਦੈੂ ਸਿਸ ਜੀਤੇ ॥ ਨਹ ਭਯ ਭੀਤੇ ॥੭੪੫॥ लव अरि मारे ॥ तव दल हारे ॥ दैू सिस जीते ॥ नह भय भीते ॥७४५॥ (The soldiers said to Ram :) "Lava, killing the enemies, has defeated your army; those two boys are fearlessly waging the war and have gained victory,"745.

ਲਛਮਨ ਭੇਜਾ ॥ ਬਹ੝ ਦਲ ਲੇਜਾ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਸਿਸ ਮਾਰੂ ॥ ਮੋਹਿ ਦਿਖਾਰੂ ॥੭੪੬॥ लछमन भेजा ॥ बहढ़ दल लेजा ॥ जिनि सिस मारू ॥ मोहि दिखारू ॥७४६॥ Ram asked Lakshman to take a huge army and sent him; he said to him, "Do not kill those boys, but catch hold of them and show them to me."746.

ਸ੝ਣ ਲਹ੝ ਭ੝ਰਾਤੰ ॥ ਰਘ੝ਬਰ ਬਾਤੰ ॥ ਸਜਿ ਦਲ ਚਲਿਯੋ ॥ ਜਲ ਥਲ ਹਲਿਯੋ ॥੭੪੭॥ सढ़ण लहढ़ भढ़रातं ॥ रघढ़बर बातं ॥ सजि दल चलियो ॥ जल थल हलियो ॥७४७॥ Hearing the words of Raghuvir, Lakshman started, decorating his forces and sharing the waters and the planes.747.

ਉਠਿ ਦਲ ਧੂਰੰ ॥ ਨਭਿ ਝੜ ਪੂਰੰ ॥ ਚਹੂ ਦਿਸ ਢੂਕੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕੂਕੇ ॥੭੪੮॥ उठि दल धूरं ॥ नभि झड़ पूरं ॥ चहू दिस ढूके ॥ हरि हरि कूके ॥७४८॥ The sky was filled with dust because of the movement of army, all the soldiers rushed forth from all the four directions and began to remember the name of the Lord.748.

ਬਰਖਤ ਬਾਣੰ ॥ ਥਿਰਕਤ ਜ੝ਆਣੰ ॥ ਲਹਿ ਲਹਿ ਧ੝ਜਣੰ ॥ ਖਹਿ ਖਹਿ ਭ੝ਜਣੰ ॥੭੪੯॥ बरखत बाणं ॥ थिरकत जढ़आणं ॥ लहि लहि धढ़जणं ॥ खहि खहि भढ़जणं ॥७४९॥ The staggering soldiers began to shower arrows, the banners waved and the arms fought with one another.749.

ਹਸਿ ਹਸਿ ਢੂਕੇ ॥ ਕਸਿ ਕਸਿ ਕੂਕੇ ॥ ਸ੝ਣਿ ਸ੝ਣਿ ਬਾਲੰ ॥ ਹਠਿ ਤਜ ਉਤਾਲੰ ॥੭੫੦॥ हसि हसि ढूके ॥ कसि कसि कूके ॥ सढ़णि सढ़णि बालं ॥ हठि तज उतालं ॥७५०॥ Coming near smilingly they shouted loudly, "O boys ! forsake your persistence quickly."750.

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥ दोहरा ॥ DOHRA

ਹਮ ਨਹੀ ਤਯਾਗਤ ਬਾਜ ਬਰ ਸ੝ਣਿ ਲਛਮਨਾ ਕ੝ਮਾਰ ॥ ਅਪਨੋ ਭਰਿ ਬਲ ਜ੝ੱਧ ਕਰ ਅਬ ਹੀ ਸੰਕ ਬਿਸਾਰਿ ॥੭੫੧॥ हम नही तयागत बाज बर सढ़णि लछमना कढ़मार ॥ अपनो भरि बल जढ़ढ़ध कर अब ही संक बिसारि ॥७५१॥ The boys said, "O Lakshman ! we shall not unfasten the horse, abandoning all your doubts you come forward to fight with all your might."751.

ਅਣਕਾ ਛੰਦ ॥ अणका छंद ॥ ANKA STANZA

ਲਛਮਨ ਗੱਜਿਯੋ ॥ ਬਡ ਧਨ੝ ਸਜਿਯੋ ॥ ਬਹ੝ ਸਰ ਛੋਰੇ ॥ ਜਣ ਘਣ ਓਰੇ ॥੭੫੨॥ लछमन गढ़जियो ॥ बड धनढ़ सजियो ॥ बहढ़ सर छोरे ॥ जण घण ओरे ॥७५२॥ Catching hold of his very huge bow Lakshman thundering like clouds, showered a volley of arrows.752.

ਉਤ ਦਿਵ ਦੇਖੈ ॥ ਧਨ੝ ਧਨ੝ ਲੇਖੈ ॥ ਇਤ ਸਰ ਛੂਟੇ ॥ ਮਸ ਕਣ ਤੂਟੈ ॥੭੫੩॥ उत दिव देखै ॥ धनढ़ धनढ़ लेखै ॥ इत सर छूटे ॥ मस कण तूटै ॥७५३॥ From the other side the gods are seeing the war and the sound of "Bravo, Bravo" is being heard. On this side the arrows are being discharged and bits of flesh are being chopped.753.

ਭਟ ਬਰ ਗਾਜਂ ॥ ਦ੝ੰਦਭ ਬਾਜੈ॥ ਸਰ ਬਰ ਛੋਰਂ ॥ ਮ੝ਖ ਨਹ ਮੋਰੈ ॥੭੫੪॥ भट बर गाजं ॥ दढ़ंदभ बाजै॥ सर बर छोरं ॥ मढ़ख नह मोरै ॥७५४॥ The warriors are thundering, the drums are resounding, the arrows are being discharge, but still they are not retreating from the war-arena.754.

ਲਛਮਨ ਬਾਚ ਸਿਸ ਸੋ ॥ लछमन बाच सिस सो ॥ The speech of Lakshman addressed to the boys :

ਅਣਕਾ ਛੰਦ ॥ अणका छंद ॥ ANKA STANZA

ਸ੝ਰਿਣ ਸ੝ਰਿਣ ਲਰਕਾ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਰ੝ ਕਰਖਾ ॥ ਦੇ ਮਿਲਿ ਘੋਰਾ ॥ ਤ੝ਹਿ ਬਲਿ ਥੋਰਾ ॥੭੫੫॥ सढ़रिण सढ़रिण लरका ॥ जिनि करढ़ करखा ॥ दे मिलि घोरा ॥ तढ़हि बलि थोरा ॥७५५॥ O boys ! listen and do not wage the war, meet me while bringing the horse, because you have inadequate strength.755.

ਹਠ ਤਜਿ ਅਈਝ ॥ ਜਿਨ ਸਮ੝ਹਈਝ ॥ ਮਿਲਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਮੋ ਕੋ ॥ ਡਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਤੋ ਕੋ ॥੭੫੬॥ हठ तजि अईझ ॥ जिन समढ़हईझ ॥ मिलि मिलि मो को ॥ डर नहीं तो को ॥७५६॥ Come after forsaking your persistence and do not confront me, have no fear, come and meet me."756.

ਸਿਸ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਨੀ ॥ ਅਤਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ॥ ਗਹਿ ਧਨ੝ ਗਜਿਯੋ ॥ ਦ੝ ਪਗ ਨ ਭੱਜਿਯੋ ॥੭੫੭॥ सिस नही मानी ॥ अति अभिमानी ॥ गहि धनढ़ गजियो ॥ दढ़ पग न भढ़जियो ॥७५७॥ The boys did not agree because they were proud their strength, they caught hold of their bows and roared and did not retrace even two steps.757.

ਅਜਬਾ ਛੰਦ ॥ अजबा छंद ॥ AJBA STANZA

ਰ੝ੱਧੇ ਰਣ ਭਾਈ ॥ ਸਰ ਝੜਿ ਲਾਈ ॥ ਬਰਖੇ ਬਾਣੰ ॥ ਪਰਖੇ ਜ੝ਆਣੰ ॥੭੫੮॥ रढ़ढ़धे रण भाई ॥ सर झड़ि लाई ॥ बरखे बाणं ॥ परखे जढ़आणं ॥७५८॥ Both the brother were absorbed in war and showering their arrows, they tested the strength of the soldiers.758.

ਡਿੱਗੇ ਰਣ ਮੱਧੰ ॥ ਅੱਧੋ ਅੱਧੰ ॥ ਕੱਟੇ ਅੰਗੰ ॥ ਰ੝ੱਝੇ ਜੰਗੰ ॥੭੫੯॥ डिढ़गे रण मढ़धं ॥ अधो अधं ॥ कढ़टे अंगं ॥ रढ़ढ़झे जंगं ॥७५९॥ The warriors fell in the battlefield being chopped into bits, and the limbs of the fighting soldiers were cut.759.

ਬਾਣਨ ਝੜਿ ਲਾਯੋ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਰਿਸਾਯੋ ॥ ਬਹ੝ ਅਰਿ ਮਾਰੇ ॥ ਡੀਲ ਡਰਾਰੇ ॥੭੬੦॥ बाणन झड़ि लायो ॥ सरब रिसायो ॥ बहढ़ अरि मारे ॥ डील डरारे ॥७६०॥ The pools of blood waved with the shower of arrows; many enemies were killed and many were filled with fear.760.

ਡਿੱਗੇ ਰਣ ਭੂਮੰ ॥ ਨਰ ਬਰ ਘੂਮੰ ॥ ਰੱਜੇ ਰਣ ਘਾਯੰ ॥ ਚੱਕੇ ਚਾਯੰ ॥੭੬੧॥ डिढ़गे रण भूमं ॥ नर बर घूमं ॥ ढ़रजे रण घायं ॥ चढ़के चायं ॥७६१॥ The superb warriors began to fall in the battlefield while swinging; the wounds on the bodies were inflicted but still there was no dearth of zeal in them.761.

ਅਪੂਰਬ ਛੰਦ ॥ अपूरब छंद ॥ APOORAB STANZA

ਗਣੇ ਕੇਤੇ ॥ ਹਣੇ ਜੇਤੇ ॥ ਕਈ ਮਾਰੇ ॥ ਕਿਤੇ ਹਾਰੇ ॥੭੬੨॥ गणे केते ॥ हणे जेते ॥ कई मारे ॥ किते हारे ॥७६२॥ The number of died is unaccountable, how many of them were killed and how many of them were defeated.762.

ਸਭੈ ਭਾਜੇ ॥ ਚਿਤੰ ਲਾਜੇ ॥ ਭਜੇ ਭੈ ਕੈ ॥ ਜੀਯੰ ਲੈ ਕੈ ॥੭੬੩॥ सभै भाजे ॥ चितं लाजे ॥ भजे भै कै ॥ जीयं लै कै ॥७६३॥ Feeling ashamed in their mind all ran away and absorbed in fear they went away, saving their lives.763.

ਫਿਰੇ ਜੇਤੇ ॥ ਹਣੇ ਕੇਤੇ ॥ ਕਿਤੇ ਘਾਝ ॥ ਕਿਤੇ ਧਾਝ ॥੭੬੪॥ फिरे जेते ॥ हणे केते ॥ किते घाझ ॥ किते धाझ ॥७६४॥ Those who returned, were killed, many were wounded and many fled away.764.

ਸਿਸੰ ਜੀਤੇ ॥ ਭਟੰ ਭੀਤੇ ॥ ਮਹਾਂ ਕ੝ਰ੝ੱਧੰ ॥ ਕੀਯੋ ਜ੝ੱਧੰ ॥੭੬੫॥ सिसं जीते ॥ भटं भीते ॥ महां कढ़रढ़ढ़धं ॥ कीयो जढ़ढ़धं ॥७६५॥ The boys were victorious and the warriors were frightened, they being highly infuriated waged the war.765.

ਦੋਊ ਭ੝ਰਾਤਾ ॥ ਖਗੰ ਖਯਾਤਾ ॥ ਮਹਾਂ ਜੋਧੰ ॥ ਮੰਡੇ ਕ੝ਰੋਧੰ ॥੭੬੬॥ दोऊ भढ़राता ॥ खगं खयाता ॥ महां जोधं ॥ मंडे कढ़रोधं ॥७६६॥ Both the brothers who were specialists in swordsmanship, in great fury were engrossed in great war.766.

ਤਜੇ ਬਾਣੰ ॥ ਧਨੰ ਤਾਣੰ ॥ ਮਚੇ ਬੀਰੰ ॥ ਭਜੇ ਭੀਰੰ ॥੭੬੭॥ तजे बाणं ॥ धनं ताणं ॥ मचे बीरं ॥ भजे भीरं ॥७६७॥ They pulled their bows and discharged the armour and seeing these warriors absorbed in a terrible war, the clusters of forces fled away.767.

ਕਟੇ ਅੰਗੰ ॥ ਭਜੇ ਜੰਗੰ ॥ ਰਣੰ ਰ੝ੱਝੇ ॥ ਨਰੰ ਜ੝ੱਝੇ ॥੭੬੮॥ कटे अंगं ॥ भजे जंगं ॥ रणं रढ़ढ़झे ॥ नरं जढ़ढ़झे ॥७६८॥ After getting their limbs chopped, the warriors fled away and the remaining ones fought in the war.768.

ਭਜੀ ਸੈਨੰ ॥ ਬਿਨਾ ਚੈਨੰ ॥ ਲਛਨ ਬੀਰੰ ॥ ਫਿਰਿਯੋ ਧੀਰੰ ॥੭੬੯॥ भजी सैनं ॥ बिना चैनं ॥ लछन बीरं ॥ फिरियो धीरं ॥७६९॥ The army, being confounded, fled away, then Laksman retuned with composure.769.

ਇਕੈ ਬਾਣੰ ॥ ਰਿਪੰ ਤਾਣੰ ॥ ਹਣਿਯੋ ਭਾਲੰ ॥ ਗਿਰਿਯੋ ਤਾਲੰ ॥੭੭੦॥ इकै बाणं ॥ रिपं ताणं ॥ हणियो भालं ॥ गिरियो तालं ॥७७०॥ Lava, stretching his bow, discharge and arrow toward the enemy, which struck Lakshman on the forehead and he fell like a tree.770.

ਇਤਿ ਸ੝ਰੀ ਬਚਿਤ੝ਰ ਨਾਟਕੇ ਰਾਮਾਵਤਾਰੇ ਲਛਮਨ ਬਧਹਿ ਧਿਆਇ ਸਮਾਪਤੰ ॥ इति सढ़री बचितढ़र नाटके रामावतारे लछमन बधहि धिआइ समापतं ॥ End of the chapter entitled `Killing of Lakshman` in Ramvtar in BACHITTAR NATAK.