--- title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 11" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-11" lang: "en" --- # Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 11 > स बभूव कृशो राजा मैथिलीकाममोहितः। > असन्मानाच्च सुहृदां पापः पापेन कर्मणा॥ १॥ King Rāvaṇa, who was infatuated with passion for Sītā (a princess of Mithilā) and had begun to be looked upon as sinful because of his evil doing in the shape of Sītā’s abduction, grew emaciated through disrespect shown to him by his near and dear ones and his consuming passion for Sītā. (1) > अतीव कामसम्पन्नो वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन्। > अतीतसमये काले तस्मिन् वै युधि रावणः। > अमात्यैश्च सुहृद्भिश्च प्राप्तकालममन्यत॥ २॥ The time for holding consultation having elapsed, war being actually imminent, Rāvaṇa, who was exceedingly full of longing for Sītā and was constantly thinking of Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory), thought consultation with his ministers and well-wishers to be opportune. (2) > स हेमजालविततं मणिविद्रुमभूषितम्। > उपगम्य विनीताश्वमारुरोह महारथम्॥ ३॥ Approaching a huge chariot overlaid with a lattice-work of gold, decked with gems and corals and drawn by trained horses, he ascended it. (3) > तमास्थाय रथश्रेष्ठं महामेघसमस्वनम्। > प्रययौ रक्षसां श्रेष्ठो दशग्रीवः सभां प्रति॥ ४॥ Taking his seat in that excellent chariot, which produced a rattling sound resembling the rumbling of a large cloud, Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, the foremost of ogres, drove towards the assembly hall. (4) > असिचर्मधरा योधाः सर्वायुधधरास्ततः। > राक्षसा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पुरस्तात् सम्प्रतस्थिरे॥ ५॥ At that time ogre troops carrying swords and bucklers and all kinds of weapons marched in order at the head of the ruler of ogres. (5) > नानाविकृतवेषाश्च नानाभूषणभूषिताः। > पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चैनं परिवार्य ययुस्तदा॥ ६॥ Nay, ogres attired in various strange robes and adorned with all kinds of jewels, marched giving cover to him at his sides as well as at his back at that time. (6) > रथैश्चातिरथाः शीघ्रं मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः। > अनूत्पेतुर्दशग्रीवमाक्रीडद्भिश्च वाजिभिः॥ ७॥ Car-warriors of a superior order* also rushed apace in the wake of Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed monster) in chariots as well as on excellent elephants in rut as also on (the back of) horses sportively following in different gaits. (7) > गदापरिघहस्ताश्च शक्तितोमरपाणयः। > परश्वधधराश्चान्ये तथान्ये शूलपाणयः। > ततस्तूर्यसहस्राणां संजज्ञे निःस्वनो महान्॥ ८॥ Some had maces and iron bars in their hands, while others followed with javelins and iron clubs. Nay, still others carried axes, while some had darts in their hands. Then broke forth a loud blare of thousands of trumpets. (8) > तुमुलः शङ्खशब्दश्च सभां गच्छति रावणे। > स नेमिघोषेण महान् सहसाभिनिनादयन्॥ ९॥ > राजमार्गं श्रिया जुष्टं प्रतिपेदे महारथः। > विमलं चातपत्रं च प्रगृहीतमशोभत॥ १०॥ > पाण्डुरं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पूर्णस्ताराधिपो यथा। > हेममञ्जरिगर्भे च शुद्धस्फटिकविग्रहे॥ ११॥ > चामरव्यजने तस्य रेजतुः सव्यदक्षिणे। > ते कृताञ्जलयः सर्वे रथस्थं पृथिवीस्थिताः॥ १२॥ > राक्षसा राक्षसश्रेष्ठं शिरोभिस्तं ववन्दिरे। > राक्षसैः स्तूयमानः सञ्जयाशीर्भिररिंदमः॥ १३॥ > आससाद महातेजाः सभां विरचितां तदा। > सुवर्णरजतास्तीर्णां विशुद्धस्फटिकान्तराम्॥ १४॥ > विराजमानो वपुषा रुक्मपट्टोत्तरच्छदाम्। > तां पिशाचशतैः षड्भिरभिगुप्तां सदाप्रभाम्॥ १५॥ > प्रविवेश महातेजाः सुकृतां विश्वकर्मणा। > तस्यां तु वैदूर्यमयं प्रियकाजिनसंवृतम्॥ १६॥ > महत्सोपाश्रयं भेजे रावणः परमासनम्। > ततः शशासेश्वरवद्दूताँल्लघुपराक्रमान्॥ १७॥ As Rāvaṇa drove to the assembly hall, a tumultuous blast of conches also followed. * An Atiratha has been defined thus: That eminent and great car-warrior presently reached the splendid highway, causing it to echo with the rattling of the felloes of his chariot. Nay, held over the head of Rāvaṇa (the ruler of ogres), a spotless white canopy shone like the full moon (lit., the suzerain lord of stars). On his left and right shone a pair of whisks with handles of pure crystal and having bunches of golden threads in the middle. Standing on the ground (on the way) with joined palms, all the aforesaid ogres saluted Rāvaṇa, the foremost of ogres, with their heads bent low. Being hailed by ogres by means of shouts of victory and benedictions, Rāvaṇa (the scourge of his foes), who was endowed with extraordinary energy, presently reached the assembly hall constructed by Viśwakarmā (the architect of gods). With his body shining brightly, Rāvaṇa, who was endowed with extraordinary splendour, made his solemn entry into that assembly hall, which was paved with gold and silver, whose interior was wrought in pure crystal, whose floor was carpeted with silk, interwoven with threads of gold, and which was guarded on all sides by six hundred fiends, was full of perennial splendour and had been beautifully constructed by Viśwakarmā. Rāvaṇa for his part occupied in that hall a big and excellent throne made of cat’s-eye, nay, covered with the skin of Priyakas (a species of deer) and provided with cushions, and forthwith authoritatively commanded fleet-footed messengers as follows: (9—17) > समानयत मे क्षिप्रमिहैतान् राक्षसानिति। > कृत्यमस्ति महज्जाने कर्तव्यमिति शत्रुभिः॥ १८॥ “Duly bring hither with all speed the well-known ogres to my presence. I know that momentous action has to be taken with regard to the enemies.” (18) > राक्षसास्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा लङ्कायां परिचक्रमुः। > अनुगेहमवस्थाय विहारशयनेषु च। > उद्यानेषु च रक्षांसि चोदयन्तो ह्यभीतवत्॥ १९॥ Hearing his command, the ogres coursed through Laṅkā, making their way into every single house, nay, penetrating into places of recreation and bedrooms as well as into gardens, and actually calling upon the ogres in an undaunted way to proceed to the assembly hall. (19) > ते रथान्तचरा एके दृप्तानेके दृढान् हयान्। > नागानेकेऽधिरुरुहुर्जग्मुश्चैके पदातयः॥ २०॥ Some of the invited ogres sallied forth in the foremost of chariots, others rode on proud elephants, still others on sturdy horses, while yet others proceeded on foot. (20) > सा पुरी परमाकीर्णा रथकुञ्जरवाजिभिः। > सम्पतद्भिर्विरुरुचे गरुत्मद्भिरिवाम्बरम्॥ २१॥ Fully crowded with chariots, elephants and horses running in a line, that city looked very charming like the sky crowded with birds flying in a row. (21) > ते वाहनान्यवस्थाय यानानि विविधानि च। > सभां पद्भिः प्रविविशुः सिंहा गिरिगुहामिव॥ २२॥ Leaving their mounts as well as conveyances of every description outside, they made their way into the assembly hall on foot as lions would enter a rocky cave. (22) > राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु राज्ञा ते प्रतिपूजिताः। > पीठेष्वन्ये बृसीष्वन्ये भूमौ केचिदुपाविशन्॥ २३॥ Touching the king’s feet (as an act of submission) and greeted in their turn by the king, they, for their part, took their seat, some on seats of gold, others on mats of Kuśa grass and still others on the carpeted ground. (23) > ते समेत्य सभायां वै राक्षसा राजशासनात्। > यथार्हमुपतस्थुस्ते रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्॥ २४॥ Gathering in the assembly hall at the king’s command, the aforesaid ogres actually took their position round Rāvaṇa, their suzerain lord, each according to his rank. (24) > मन्त्रिणश्च यथामुख्या निश्चितार्थेषु पण्डिताः। > अमात्याश्च गुणोपेताः सर्वज्ञा बुद्धिदर्शनाः॥ २५॥ > समीयुस्तत्र शतशः शूराश्च बहवस्तथा। > सभायां हेमवर्णायां सर्वार्थस्य सुखाय वै॥ २६॥ Counsellors foremost in their own sphere and clever in deciding affairs and qualified ministers, well-versed in all subjects and capable of viewing things with their understanding and likewise numerous warriors too actually gathered in hundreds in that assembly hall sparkling with gold for discussing all matters for a happy conclusion. (25-26) > ततो महात्मा विपुलं सुयुग्यं > रथं वरं हेमविचित्रिताङ्गम्। > शुभं समास्थाय ययौ यशस्वी > विभीषणः संसदमग्रजस्य॥ २७॥ Then arrived the high-souled and illustrious Vibhīṣaṇa in the assembly presided over by his eldest (half-) brother, Rāvaṇa, mounting a huge, bright and excellent chariot drawn by peerless horses, its various parts decked with gold. (27) > स पूर्वजायावरजः शशंस > नामाथ पश्चाच्चरणौ ववन्दे। > शुकः प्रहस्तश्च तथैव तेभ्यो > ददौ यथार्हं पृथगासनानि॥ २८॥ Younger as he was, he mentioned his name by way of courtesy to his eldest (half-) brother and then bowed at the latter’s feet. Śuka and Prahasta too did just the same. Rāvaṇa, for his part, offered them separate seats according to their respective rank. (28) > सुवर्णनानामणिभूषणानां > सुवाससां संसदि राक्षसानाम्। > तेषां परार्घ्यागुरुचन्दनानां > स्रजां च गन्धाः प्रववुः समन्तात्॥ २९॥ The fragrance of most excellent aloe and sandal-paste painted on the persons, and garlands worn round the necks of those ogres adorned with ornaments of gold as well as of various gems and attired in excellent robes, spread all round. (29) > न चुक्रुशुर्नानृतमाह कश्चित् > सभासदो नापि जजल्पुरुच्चैः। > संसिद्धार्थाः सर्व एवोग्रवीर्या > भर्तुः सर्वे ददृशुश्चाननं ते॥ ३०॥ Those present in the assembly did not make noise nor did they talk loudly nor (again) did any of them tell a lie. They were all fully accomplished of purpose and endowed with terrible prowess and all gazed on the face of their ruler. (30) > स रावणः शस्त्रभृतां मनस्विनां > महाबलानां समितौ मनस्वी। > तस्यां सभायां प्रभया चकाशे > मध्ये वसूनामिव वज्रहस्तः॥ ३१॥ In the gathering of armed heroes, who were endowed with extraordinary might, in that assembly hall, the aforesaid heroic Rāvaṇa shone with his lustre like Indra, who holds the thunderbolt in his hand, in the midst of the Vasus (a class of gods). (31) Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana --- Source: Gita Press, Gorakhpur editions. Buy the book: https://gitapress.org/product/sri-ramcharitmanas-special-edition Ramayana.com, a free, ad-free project of Ved Vyas Foundation.