---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 23"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-23"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 23

> ततो जित्वा दशग्रीवो यमं त्रिदशपुङ्गवम्।  
> रावणस्तु रणश्लाघी स्वसहायान् ददर्श ह॥ १॥

Having conquered Yama, the foremost of gods, Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, for his part who boasted of his fighting, then saw his associates in war : so the tradition goes. (1)

> ततो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्गं प्रहारैर्जर्जरीकृतम्।  
> रावणं राक्षसा दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं समुपागमन्॥ २॥

Thereupon the ogres felt amazed to see Rāvaṇa bathed all over with blood and shattered by blows. (2)

> जयेन वर्धयित्वा च मारीचप्रमुखास्ततः।  
> पुष्पकं भेजिरे सर्वे सान्त्विता रावणेन तु॥ ३॥

Having felicitated him on his victory, and reassured by him in their turn, all the ministers headed by Mārīca then remounted the Puṣpaka. (3)

> ततो रसातलं रक्षः प्रविष्टः पयसां निधिम्।  
> दैत्योरगगणाध्युष्टं वरुणेन सुरक्षितम्॥ ४॥

In order to reach Rasātala (the penultimate subterranean region) the ogre then entered the ocean (the repository of waters) inhabited by giants and the hosts of Nāgas (semi-divine beings having the face of a man and the tail of a serpent) and duly protected by Varuṇa (the god of water). (4)

> स तु भोगवतीं गत्वा पुरीं वासुकिपालिताम्।  
> कृत्वा नागान् वशे हृष्टो ययौ मणिमयीं पुरीम्॥ ५॥

Proceeding to the city of Bhogavatī, ruled by Vāsuki (the ruler of the Nāgas) and having subdued the Nāgas, he for his part joyously went to the city of Maṇimayī (made of gems). (5)

> निवातकवचास्तत्र दैत्या लब्धवरा वसन्।  
> राक्षसस्तान् समागम्य युद्धाय समुपाह्वयत्॥ ६॥

In that city lived a race of giants, known as the Nivātakavacas, who had obtained boons (from Brahmā). Approaching them, the ogre challenged them to a combat. (6)

> ते तु सर्वे सुविक्रान्ता दैतेया बलशालिनः।  
> नानाप्रहरणास्तत्र प्रहृष्टा युद्धदुर्मदाः॥ ७॥

The said mighty sons of Diti for their part, who were all exceedingly valiant, were armed with all sorts of weapons and were ferocious in combat, were transported with joy on getting this god-sent opportunity for fighting. (7)

> शूलैस्त्रिशूलैः कुलिशैः पट्टिशासिपरश्वधैः।  
> अन्योन्यं बिभिदुः क्रुद्धा राक्षसा दानवास्तथा॥ ८॥

Provoked to anger, the ogres as well as the Dānavas pierced each his opponent with pikes, tridents, thunderbolts, sharp-edged spears, swords and battle-axes. (8)

> तेषां तु युध्यमानानां साग्रः संवत्सरो गतः।  
> न चान्यतरतस्तत्र विजयो वा क्षयोऽपि वा॥ ९॥

When they were fighting thus, more then a year actually elapsed and there was neither victory nor defeat for any of the two sides. (9)

> ततः पितामहस्तत्र त्रैलोक्यगतिरव्ययः।  
> आजगाम द्रुतं देवो विमानवरमास्थितः॥ १०॥

Seated in his excellent aerial car, the immortal Lord Brahmā, the refuge of the three worlds, then hurriedly came there. (10)

> निवातकवचानां तु निवार्य रणकर्म तत्।  
> वृद्धः पितामहो वाक्यमुवाच विदितार्थवत्॥ ११॥

Stopping the said bellicose activity of the Nivātakavacas, the ancient grandfather (of the creation) for his part spoke the following explicit words to them: (11)

> नह्ययं रावणो युद्धे शक्यो जेतुं सुरासुरैः।  
> न भवन्तः क्षयं नेतुमपि सामरदानवैः॥ १२॥

“Neither can this Rāvaṇa be got the better of in a conflict jointly by the gods and the demons nor can you be exterminated by the Dānavas including the gods. (12)

> राक्षसस्य सखित्वं च भवद्भिः सह रोचते।  
> अविभक्ताश्च सर्वार्थाः सुहृदां नात्र संशयः॥ १३॥

“Nay, the friendship of the ogre with you finds favour with me. All blessings are held in common by friends : there is no doubt about it.” (13)

> ततोऽग्निसाक्षिकं सख्यं कृतवांस्तत्र रावणः।  
> निवातकवचैः सार्धं प्रीतिमानभवत् तदा॥ १४॥

Thereupon Rāvaṇa concluded an alliance with the Nivātakavacas in the presence of the sacred fire then and there and was much pleased. (14)

> अर्चितस्तैर्यथान्यायं संवत्सरमथोषितः।  
> स्वपुरान्निर्विशेषं च प्रियं प्राप्तो दशाननः॥ १५॥

Honoured by them according to the rules of propriety, Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed monster) then stayed there for a year and enjoyed pleasures indistinguishable from those of his own city. (15)

> तत्रोपधार्य मायानां शतमेकं समाप्तवान्।  
> सलिलेन्द्रपुरान्वेषी भ्रमति स्म रसातलम्॥ १६॥

There he duly learnt a hundred conjuring tricks after carefully observing them. Then he ranged Rasātala (the penultimate celestial region) in search of the city of Varuṇa. (16)

> ततोऽश्मनगरं नाम कालकेयैरधिष्ठितम्।  
> गत्वा तु कालकेयांश्च हत्वा तत्र बलोत्कटान्॥ १७॥  
> शूर्पणख्याश्च भर्तारमसिना प्राच्छिनत् तदा।  
> श्यालं च बलवन्तं च विद्युज्जिह्वं बलोत्कटम्॥ १८॥  
> जिह्वया संलिहन्तं च राक्षसं समरे तदा।  
> तं विजित्य मुहूर्तेन जघ्ने दैत्यांश्चतुःशतम्॥ १९॥

Reaching the city named Aśmanagara, inhabited by the Kālakeyas, and making short work there of the latter, who were proud of their might, Rāvaṇa for his part thereupon cut to pieces with his sword then and there, his mighty brother-in-law Vidyujjihva, the husband of his sister, Śūrpaṇakhā, who was proud of his strength and was going to lick the ogre to death then and there on the battlefield. Having conquered him, Rāvaṇa exterminated four hundred of the Daityas in less than an hour. (17—19)

> ततः पाण्डुरमेघाभं कैलासमिव भास्वरम्।  
> वरुणस्यालयं दिव्यमपश्यद् राक्षसाधिपः॥ २०॥

Thereupon the suzerain lord of the ogres saw the heavenly abode of Varuṇa (the god of water) which looked like a white cloud and shone like Mount Kailāsa. (20)

> क्षरन्तीं च पयस्तत्र सुरभिं गामवस्थिताम्।  
> यस्याः पयोऽभिनिष्पन्दात् क्षीरोदो नाम सागरः॥ २१॥  
> ददर्श रावणस्तत्र गोवृषेन्द्रवरारणिम्।  
> यस्माच्चन्द्रः प्रभवति शीतरश्मिर्निशाकरः॥ २२॥  
> यं समाश्रित्य जीवन्ति फेनपाः परमर्षयः।  
> अमृतं यत्र चोत्पन्नं स्वधा च स्वधभोजिनाम्॥ २३॥

Rāvaṇa also saw stationed there the cow of plenty pouring out milk (from her teats) called Surabhi, the mother of the foremost of bulls (the mount of Lord Śiva), from the flow of whose milk comes into existence the ocean named Kṣīroda (the ocean of milk) from which springs up the moon of cool rays—who ushers in the night—nay, on which depend the highest Ṛṣis (the seers of Vedic Mantras) living on the froth of milk and in which appears nectar (the food of the immortals) and Swadhā, the food of the manes. (21—23)

> यां ब्रुवन्ति नरा लोके सुरभिं नाम नामतः।  
> प्रदक्षिणं तु तां कृत्वा रावणः परमाद्भुताम्।  
> प्रविवेश महाघोरं गुप्तं बहुविधैर्बलैः॥ २४॥

Walking clockwise round that most wonderful cow, whom human beings on this mortal plane speak of by the name of Surabhi, Rāvaṇa for his part deeply penetrated into the exceedingly formidable domain of Varuṇa (the god of water), protected by troops of various kinds. (24)

> ततो धाराशताकीर्णं शारदाभ्रनिभं तदा।  
> नित्यप्रहृष्टं ददृशे वरुणस्य गृहोत्तमम्॥ २५॥

Thereupon he saw on that occasion the excellent dwelling of Varuṇa, surrounded by hundreds of waterfalls, shining like an autumnal cloud and always highly delightful. (25)

> ततो हत्वा बलाध्यक्षान् समरे तैश्च ताडितः।  
> अब्रवीच्च ततो योधान् राजा शीघ्रं निवेद्यताम्॥ २६॥

Having thereupon struck down the generals of Varuṇa’s army on the battlefield and struck in turn by them, Rāvaṇa then said to the former’s warriors: “Let your ruler be speedily notified (in the following words): (26)

> युद्धार्थी रावणः प्राप्तस्तस्य युद्धं प्रदीयताम्।  
> वद वा न भयं तेऽस्ति निर्जितोऽस्मीति साञ्जलिः॥ २७॥

‘Seeking an encounter, Rāvaṇa has arrived at your door; battle may be given to him or admit with joined palms that you stand defeated. Then there is no fear for you.’ (27)

> एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रुद्धा वरुणस्य महात्मनः।  
> पुत्राः पौत्राश्च निष्क्रामन् गौश्च पुष्कर एव च॥ २८॥

In the meantime provoked to anger, issued forth the sons and grandsons of the high-souled Varuṇa as well as their two generals, Gau and Puṣkara. (28)

> ते तु तत्र गुणोपेता बलैः परिवृताः स्वकैः।  
> युक्त्वा रथान् कामगमानुद्यद्भास्करवर्चसः॥ २९॥

Having harnessed their chariots, which were able to move wherever one liked and which shone like the rising sun, they, for their part, adorned as they were with all virtues appeared on the field of battle, surrounded by their troops. (29)

> ततो युद्धं समभवद् दारुणं रोमहर्षणम्।  
> सलिलेन्द्रस्य पुत्राणां रावणस्य च धीमतः॥ ३०॥

Then ensued a fierce struggle, which caused one’s hair to stand on end, between the sons of Varuṇa, the god of water, and the clever Rāvaṇa. (30)

> अमात्यैश्च महावीर्यैर्दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः।  
> वारुणं तद् बलं सर्वं क्षणेन विनिपातितम्॥ ३१॥

And the whole of that army of Varuṇa was exterminated in an instant by the ministers of the ten-headed ogre, who were endowed with extraordinary valour. (31)

> समीक्ष्य स्वबलं संख्ये वरुणस्य सुतास्तदा।  
> अर्दिताः शरजालेन निवृत्ता रणकर्मणः॥ ३२॥

Perceiving their army destroyed in battle, the sons of Varuṇa, who were overwhelmed by a shower of arrows, retreated from the conflict. (32)

> महीतलगतास्ते तु रावणं दृश्य पुष्पके।  
> आकाशमाशु विविशुः स्यन्दनैः शीघ्रगामिभिः॥ ३३॥

Seeing Rāvaṇa seated in the Puṣpaka car, even though they stood on the ground, they rose quickly to the skies in their fast-moving chariots. (33)

> महदासीत् ततस्तेषां तुल्यं स्थानमवाप्य तत्।  
> आकाशयुद्धं तुमुलं देवदानवयोरिव॥ ३४॥

On their attaining that position of equality, a tumultuous and fierce struggle then raged in the air between them, which resembled the fight between the gods and the Dānavas. (34)

> ततस्ते रावणं युद्धे शरैः पावकसंनिभैः।  
> विमुखीकृत्य संहृष्टा विनेदुर्विविधान् रवान्॥ ३५॥

Having forced Rāvaṇa by their fiery shafts to turn his face away from the battle, they (the sons of Varuṇa) thereupon felt transported with joy and raised various kinds of shouts. (35)

> ततो महोदरः क्रुद्धो राजानं वीक्ष्य धर्षितम्।  
> त्यक्त्वा मृत्युभयं वीरो युद्धाकांक्षी व्यलोकयत्॥ ३६॥

Provoked to anger on perceiving the king of ogres overpowered, and shedding all fear of death, the valiant Mahodara looked round, seeking an encounter. (36)

> तेन ते वारुणा युद्धे कामगाः पवनोपमाः।  
> महोदरेण गदया हयास्ते प्रययुः क्षितिम्॥ ३७॥

Struck by the said Mahodara with a mace, on the battlefield, those well-known steeds of Varuṇa (yoked to the chariot of his sons), who could move according to the will of their master and were fleet as the wind, came to the ground. (37)

> तेषां वरुणसूनूनां हत्वा योधान् हयांश्च तान्।  
> मुमोचाशु महानादं विरथान् प्रेक्ष्य तान् स्थितान्॥ ३८॥

Having killed the soldiers of the sons of Varuṇa as well as their aforesaid horses and perceiving them deprived of their chariots, he (Mahodara) soon raised a great roar. (38)

> ते तु तेषां रथाः साश्वाः सह सारथिभिर्वरैः।  
> महोदरेण निहताः पतिताः पृथिवीतले॥ ३९॥

Destroyed by Mahodara, the aforesaid chariots of the sons of Varuṇa for their part fell on the ground alongwith their horses and expert drivers. (39)

> ते तु त्यक्त्वा रथान् पुत्रा वरुणस्य महात्मनः।  
> आकाशे विष्ठिताः शूराः स्वप्रभावान्न विव्यथुः॥ ४०॥

Leaving their chariots, those heroic sons of the high-souled Varuṇa for their part stood firmly in the air by virtue of their divine power and did not feel afflicted. (40)

> धनूंषि कृत्वा सज्जानि विनिर्भिद्य महोदरम्।  
> रावणं समरे क्रुद्धाः सहिताः समवारयन्॥ ४१॥

Having strung their bows, and pierced Mahodara, they collectively surrounded Rāvaṇa on the field of battle, full of anger as they were. (41)

> सायकैश्चापविभ्रष्टैर्वज्रकल्पैः सुदारुणैः।  
> दारयन्ति स्म संक्रुद्धा मेघा इव महागिरिम्॥ ४२॥

Filled with rage, they began to pierce Rāvaṇa with fierce shafts, hard as adamant, shot from their bows, even as clouds would lash a hill. (42)

> ततः क्रुद्धो दशग्रीवः कालाग्निरिव मूर्च्छितः।  
> शरवर्षं महाघोरं तेषां मर्मस्वपातयत्॥ ४३॥

Provoked to anger, Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed monster), who resembled the swollen fire of dissolution, showered an exceedingly formidable hail of shafts on their vital parts. (43)

> मुसलानि विचित्राणि ततो भल्लशतानि च।  
> पट्टिशांश्चैव शक्तीश्च शतघ्नीर्महतीरपि॥ ४४॥  
> पातयामास दुर्धर्षस्तेषामुपरि विष्ठितः।  
> अपविद्धास्तु ते वीरा विनिष्पेतुः पदातयः॥ ४५॥  
> ततस्तेनैव सहसा सीदन्ति स्म पदातिनः।  
> महापङ्कमिवासाद्य कुञ्जराः षष्टिहायनाः॥ ४६॥

Firmly established in his chariot, Rāvaṇa (who was difficult to overpower) then hurled on them pestles of various kinds, hundreds of lances, sharp-edged spears and javelins too as well as huge Śataghnīs (stones studded with iron spikes and four Tālas in length).* Though pierced through and through, these valiant foot-soldiers rushed forth. The foot-soldiers, however, were reduced to straits due to that very hail of weapons as sixty-year old elephants would be on entering an extensive morass. (44—46)

> सीदमानान् सुतान् दृष्ट्वा विह्वलान् स महाबलः।  
> ननाद रावणो हर्षान्महानम्बुधरो यथा॥ ४७॥

Seeing those sons of Varuṇa suffering and distracted, the notorious Rāvaṇa, who was endowed with extraordinary might, thundered in joy like a huge cloud. (47)

> ततो रक्षो महानादान् मुक्त्वा हन्ति स्म वारुणान्।  
> नानाप्रहरणोपेतैर्धारापातैरिवाम्बुदः ॥ ४८॥

Emitting great shouts, the ogre thereupon began to strike the sons of Varuṇa with various weapons in hand as a cloud would lash trees with torrents. (48)

> ततस्ते विमुखाः सर्वे पतिता धरणीतले।  
> रणात् स्वपुरुषैः शीघ्रं गृहाण्येव प्रवेशिताः॥ ४९॥

They all thereupon fell to the ground and, thus they were speedily taken from the battlefield to their homes by their own men. (49)

> तानब्रवीत् ततो रक्षो वरुणाय निवेद्यताम्।  
> रावणं त्वब्रवीन्मन्त्री प्रहासो नाम वारुणः॥ ५०॥  
> गतः खलु महाराजो ब्रह्मलोकं जलेश्वरः।  
> गान्धर्वं वरुणः श्रोतुं यं त्वमाह्वयसे युधि॥ ५१॥

The ogre then said to them, “Let my presence be announced to Varuṇa.” A counsellor of Varuṇa, Prahāsa by name, however, made the following reply to Rāvaṇa: “The great king Varuṇa, the ruler of the waters, whom you are challenging to a combat, has, really speaking, gone to Brahmaloka (the domain of Brahmā) to listen to the music of Gandharvas (celestial musicians). (50-51)

> तत् किं तव यथा वीर परिश्रम्य गते नृपे।  
> ये तु संनिहिता वीराः कुमारास्ते पराजिताः॥ ५२॥

“When the king has gone out, O hero, what will you gain by exerting yourself in vain? As for his valiant sons, who were present here, they already stand vanquished by you.” (52)

> राक्षसेन्द्रस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः।  
> हर्षान्नादं विमुञ्चन् वै निष्क्रान्तो वरुणालयात्॥ ५३॥

Hearing this and proclaiming his name, Rāvaṇa, the king of ogres, for his part made good his exit from the domain of Varuṇa, shouting through joy. (53)

> आगतस्तु पथा येन तेनैव विनिवृत्य सः।  
> लङ्कामभिमुखो रक्षो नभस्तलगतो ययौ॥ ५४॥

Returning by the same route by which he had come, the said ogre rose into the heavens and proceeded towards Laṅkā.* (54)

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