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

# Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 23

> निमित्तानि निमित्तज्ञो दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।  
> सौमित्रिं सम्परिष्वज्य इदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ १॥

Perceiving portents and closely embracing Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā), Śrī Rāma, the eldest brother of Lakṣmaṇa who had knowledge of portents, spoke as follows: (1)

> परिगृह्योदकं शीतं वनानि फलवन्ति च।  
> बलौघं संविभज्येमं व्यूह्य तिष्ठेम लक्ष्मण॥ २॥

“Occupying a region provided with fresh water and woods, rich in fruit, nay, dividing this multitude of troops into battalions and drawing it up in battle-array, we should remain alert, O Lakṣmaṇa! (2)

> लोकक्षयकरं भीमं भयं पश्याम्युपस्थितम्।  
> प्रबर्हणं प्रवीराणामृक्षवानररक्षसाम्॥ ३॥

“I perceive a formidable danger imminent, which bodes destruction to the world and the extermination of eminent heroes among the bears, monkeys and ogres. (3)

> वाताश्च कलुषा वान्ति कम्पते च वसुंधरा।  
> पर्वताग्राणि वेपन्ते पतन्ति च महीरुहाः॥ ४॥

“Winds are blowing full of dust and the earth is quaking. Nay, mountain-peaks are shaking and trees are falling. (4)

> मेघाः क्रव्यादसंकाशाः परुषाः परुषस्वनाः।  
> क्रूराः क्रूरं प्रवर्षन्ति मिश्रं शोणितबिन्दुभिः॥ ५॥

“Fierce and unkind clouds closely resembling carnivorous animals and emitting a harsh sound are cruelly letting loose showers mingled with drops of blood. (5)

> रक्तचन्दनसंकाशा संध्या परमदारुणा।  
> ज्वलतः प्रपतत्येतदादित्यादग्निमण्डलम्॥ ६॥

“The evening twilight, resembling red sandalwood in colour, appears most lurid. From the blazing sun is falling a roundish mass of fire. (6)

> दीना दीनस्वराः क्रूराः सर्वतो मृगपक्षिणः।  
> प्रत्यादित्यं विनर्दन्ति जनयन्तो महद्भयम्॥ ७॥

“Wretched looking ferocious beasts and birds are crying on all sides in pitiful tones facing the sun, causing great fear. (7)

> रजन्यामप्रकाशस्तु संतापयति चन्द्रमाः।  
> कृष्णरक्तांशुपर्यन्तो लोकक्षय इवोदितः॥ ८॥

“Bereft of splendour even at night, the moon is radiating heat contrary to her nature. Invested with a black and red halo, she has risen as though at the time of universal dissolution. (8)

> ह्रस्वो रूक्षोऽप्रशस्तश्च परिवेषस्तु लोहितः।  
> आदित्ये विमले नीलं लक्ष्म लक्ष्मण दृश्यते॥ ९॥

“A short, dreary, inauspicious and coppery halo is actually seen round the sun and a blue spot appears in the cloudless sun, O Lakṣmaṇa! (9)

> रजसा महता चापि नक्षत्राणि हतानि च।  
> युगान्तमिव लोकानां पश्य शंसन्ति लक्ष्मण॥ १०॥

“Lo! Obscured by a thick coat of dust, the stars too forebode, as it were, the destruction of all the world, O Lakṣmaṇa!(10)

> काकाः श्येनास्तथा नीचा गृध्राः परिपतन्ति च।  
> शिवाश्चाप्यशुभान् नादान् नदन्ति सुमहाभयान्॥ ११॥

“Crows, hawks and vile vultures also are falling on Laṅkā. And she-jackals too are emitting sinister howls, which instil great terror. (11)

> शैलैः शूलैश्च खड्गैश्च विमुक्तैः कपिराक्षसैः।  
> भविष्यत्यावृता भूमिर्मांसशोणितकर्दमा॥ १२॥

“The earth, it appears, will be covered with rocks, darts and swords hurled by monkeys and ogres and will be thick with a morass of flesh and blood. (12)

> क्षिप्रमद्यैव दुर्धर्षां पुरीं रावणपालिताम्।  
> अभियाम जवेनैव सर्वैर्हरिभिरावृताः॥ १३॥

“Accompanied by all the monkeys, we should without delay march with all speed this very day towards the city of Laṅkā, ruled over by Rāvaṇa, which is difficult to assail.” (13)

> इत्येवमुक्त्वा धन्वी स रामः संग्रामधर्षणः।  
> प्रतस्थे पुरतो रामो लङ्कामभिमुखो विभुः॥ १४॥

Having spoken as aforesaid, the celebrated and powerful archer, Śrī Rāma, the delight of the people and the subduer of his foes on the field of battle, set forth in the van in the direction of Laṅkā. (14)

> सविभीषणसुग्रीवाः सर्वे ते वानरर्षभाः।  
> प्रतस्थिरे विनर्दन्तो धृतानां द्विषतां वधे॥ १५॥

Accompanied by Vibhīṣaṇa and Sugrīva, all the well-known jewels among the monkeys sallied forth, roaring for the destruction of their foes, the ogres, who were determined to fight. (15)

> राघवस्य प्रियार्थं तु सुतरां वीर्यशालिनाम्।  
> हरीणां कर्मचेष्टाभिस्तुतोष रघुनन्दनः॥ १६॥

Śrī Rāma (the delight of the Raghus) for his part felt gratified by the actions and movements of the exceedingly powerful monkeys, who all intended to please Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu. (16)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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