Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 24
सा वीरसमिती राज्ञा विरराज व्यवस्थिता। शशिना शुभनक्षत्रा पौर्णमासीव शारदी॥ १॥
Meaning
Drawn up in battle array by the king, Sugrīva, that army of heroes looked exceptionally charming like an autumnal full-moon night presided over by the moon and illumined by bright stars. (1)
प्रचचाल च वेगेन त्रस्ता चैव वसुंधरा। पीड्यमाना बलौघेन तेन सागरवर्चसा॥ २॥
Meaning
Nay, being pressed under foot by that multitude of troops—glorious like a sea, and alarmed too, the earth violently shook because of the swift movement of the army. (2)
ततः शुश्रुवुराक्रुष्टं लङ्कायां काननौकसः। भेरीमृदङ्गसंघुष्टं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्॥ ३॥
Meaning
The monkeys, (lit., the denizens of the woods) now heard in Laṅkā a clamour as well as the tumultuous and deafening sound of kettledrums, and clay tomtoms, which made one’s hair stand on end. (3)
बभूवुस्तेन घोषेण संहृष्टा हरियूथपाः। अमृष्यमाणास्तद् घोषं विनेदुर्घोषवत्तरम्॥ ४॥
Meaning
The commanders of monkey-troops felt highly rejoiced at that sound. Nay, not bearing that uproar, they roared at a still higher pitch. (4)
राक्षसास्तत् प्लवंगानां शुश्रुवुस्तेऽपि गर्जितम्। नर्दतामिव दृप्तानां मेघानामम्बरे स्वनम्॥ ५॥
Meaning
Those ogres too heard that roar of the monkeys, which resembled the thundering of overbearing clouds rumbling in space.(5)
दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम्। जगाम मनसा सीतां दूयमानेन चेतसा॥ ६॥
Meaning
Seeing Laṅkā dressed with multicoloured flags and buntings, Śrī Rāma (son of Daśaratha) mentally sought Sītā with an afflicted mind. (6)
अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी रावणेनोपरुध्यते। अभिभूता ग्रहेणेव लोहिताङ्गेन रोहिणी॥ ७॥
Meaning
He said to himself: “Here is that lady with eyes resembling those of a fawn, detained by Rāvaṇa even as (the lunar mansion) Rohiṇī is overshadowed by the red-bodied planet, Mars.” (7)
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य समुद्वीक्ष्य च लक्ष्मणम्। उवाच वचनं वीरस्तत्कालहितमात्मनः॥ ८॥
Meaning
Heaving long and burning sighs and gazing at Lakṣmaṇa, the hero spoke the following words, which were conducive to his own good for the occasion: (8)
आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थितां पश्य लक्ष्मण। मनसेव कृतां लङ्कां नगाग्रे विश्वकर्मणा॥ ९॥
Meaning
“Behold on the summit of a mountain the elevated city of Laṅkā, evolved as though with his own mind by Viśwakarmā, the architect of gods, and scraping the skies, as it were, O Lakṣmaṇa! (9)
विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्का संकीर्णा रचिता पुरा। विष्णोः पदमिवाकाशं छादितं पाण्डुभिर्घनैः॥ १०॥
Meaning
“Laṅka was brought into existence in the past, thick with numerous seven-storeyed mansions. It presents the appearance of the sky (lit., the orbit of the all-pervading Lord Viṣṇu, who traversed the heaven in a single stride) covered with white clouds. (10)
पुष्पितैः शोभिता लङ्का वनैश्चित्ररथोपमैः। नानापतगसंघुष्टफलपुष्पोपगैः शुभैः॥ ११॥
Meaning
“Laṅkā stands embellished with charming groves in blosson vying with Caitraratha, the garden of Kubera, the god of riches, and supplying fruits and flowers to the royal palace and filled with the songs of birds of all species. (11)
पश्य मत्तविहंगानि प्रलीनभ्रमराणि च। कोकिलाकुलखण्डानि दोधवीति शिवोऽनिलः॥ १२॥
Meaning
“Lo! The delightful breeze shakes again and again the clusters of trees which are inhabited by birds in heat, nay, in which bees remain hidden and which are crowded with cuckoos.” (12)
इति दाशरथी रामो लक्ष्मणं समभाषत। बलं च तत्र विभजच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥ १३॥
Meaning
So did Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, speak in confidence to Lakṣmaṇa to divide the army camping there according to the rules found in the scriptures. (13)
शशास कपिसेनां तां बलादादाय वीर्यवान्। अङ्गदः सह नीलेन तिष्ठेदुरसि दुर्जयः॥ १४॥
Meaning
Śrī Rāma issued the following directions to that army of monkeys: “Taking his troops out of the army, the valiant Aṅgada, who is difficult to conquer, should take up his position alongwith Nīla at the bosom of the (human-shaped) formation in which the troops are going to be deployed. (14)
तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्या वानरौघसमावृतः। आश्रितो दक्षिणं पार्श्वमृषभो नाम वानरः॥ १५॥
Meaning
“Surrounded by a battalion of monkeys, the monkey Rṣabha by name should remain stationed on the right wing of the simian army. (15)
गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः। तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यं पार्श्वमधिष्ठितः॥ १६॥
Meaning
“Let Gandhamādana, who is difficult to overpower and agile like an elephant in rut, remain stationed at the head of the left flank of the simian army. (16)
मूर्ध्नि स्थास्याम्यहं यत्तो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः। जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः॥ १७॥ ऋक्षमुख्या महात्मानः कुक्षिं रक्षन्तु ते त्रयः। जघनं कपिसेनायाः कपिराजोऽभिरक्षतु। पश्चार्धमिव लोकस्य प्रचेतास्तेजसा वृतः॥ १८॥
Meaning
“Accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, I shall remain alert at the head of the formation. And let Jāmbavān and Suṣeṇa as well as the monkey Vegadarśī—these three highly intelligent leaders of bears and monkeys protect the belly. Let Sugrīva, the ruler of monkeys, protect on all sides the hips and lions even as Varuṇa, the god of water, who remains enveloped with glory, guards the western quarter of the earth.” (17-18)
सुविभक्तमहाव्यूहा महावानररक्षिता। अनीकिनी सा विबभौ यथा द्यौः साभ्रसम्प्लवा॥ १९॥
Meaning
Systematically disposed in the form of a huge formation and protected by eminent monkeys, that army looked exceptionally charming like the heavens with their mass of clouds. (19)
प्रगृह्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महतश्च महीरुहान्। आसेदुर्वानरा लङ्कां मिमर्दयिषवो रणे॥ २०॥
Meaning
Seizing peaks of mountains and gigantic trees, the monkeys reached Laṅkā, which they were keen to crush in the course of a combat. (20)
शिखरैर्विकिरामैनां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा। इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरिपुङ्गवाः॥ २१॥
Meaning
“Let us dash yonder Laṅkā to pieces with the peaks of mountains or with our bare fists,” so did all the leaders of monkeys resolve. (21)
ततो रामो महातेजाः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत्। सुविभक्तानि सैन्यानि शुक एष विमुच्यताम्॥ २२॥
Meaning
Śrī Rāma, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, then spoke as follows to Sugrīva: “The troops have been marshalled thoroughly well. Let yonder Śuka be set free.” (22)
रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रो महाबलः। मोचयामास तं दूतं शुकं रामस्य शासनात्॥ २३॥
Meaning
Hearing the words of Śrī Rāma, Sugrīva (the lord of monkeys) for his part, who was endowed with extraordinary might, set at liberty the well-known envoy, Śuka, in obedience to the command of Śrī Rāma. (23)
मोचितो रामवाक्येन वानरैश्च निपीडितः। शुकः परमसंत्रस्तो रक्षोधिपमुपागमत्॥ २४॥
Meaning
Released under orders of Śrī Rāma and molested by the monkeys, Śuka, who was exceedingly terrified, sought the presence of Rāvaṇa, the suzerain lord of ogres. (24)
रावणः प्रहसन्नेव शुकं वाक्यमुवाच ह। किमिमौ ते सितौ पक्षौ लूनपक्षश्च दृश्यसे॥ २५॥
Meaning
Rāvaṇa, they say, put the following questions to Śuka, even while laughing to his heart’s content: “How have these wings of yours been fastened? Nay, it looks as though they have been clipped. (25)
कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानां तेषां त्वं वशमागतः। ततः स भयसंविग्नस्तेन राज्ञाभिचोदितः। वचनं प्रत्युवाचेदं राक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम्॥ २६॥
Meaning
“I hope you did nof fall into the dutches of those capricious monkeys.” Interrogated by king Rāvaṇa, Śuka, who was wrought up with fear, then replied as follows to the suzerain lord of ogres: (26)
सागरस्योत्तरे तीरेऽब्रुवं ते वचनं तथा। यथा संदेशमक्लिष्टं सान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णया गिरा॥ २७॥
Meaning
“Standing in the airspace over the northern seashore, I faithfully delivered, as enjoined, your message in an unembarrassed manner, reassuring the monkeys by means of gentle words. (27)
क्रुद्धैस्तैरहमुत्प्लुत्य दृष्टमात्रः प्लवंगमैः। गृहीतोऽस्म्यपि चारब्धो हन्तुं लोप्तुं च मुष्टिभिः॥ २८॥
Meaning
“Having been barely caught sight of by monkeys, who were seized with fury at my very sight, I was caught hold of with a jump and began to be smitten with fists and shorn of my wings. (28)
न ते संभाषितुं शक्याः सम्प्रश्नोऽत्र न विद्यते। प्रकृत्या कोपनास्तीक्ष्णा वानरा राक्षसाधिप॥ २९॥
Meaning
“The monkeys are furious and violent by nature, O suzerain lord of ogres! They are not wont to being negotiated with. Nor was there any occasion at that time for asking them (as to why they had started pummelling me). (29)
स च हन्ता विराधस्य कबन्धस्य खरस्य च। सुग्रीवसहितो रामः सीतायाः पदमागतः॥ ३०॥
Meaning
“Nay, accompanied by Sugrīva, the celebrated Rāma, the slayer of Virādha, Kabandha and Khara, has come to rescue Sītā after ascertaining her whereabouts.(30)
स कृत्वा सागरे सेतुं तीर्त्वा च लवणोदधिम्। एष रक्षांसि निर्धूय धन्वी तिष्ठति राघवः॥ ३१॥
Meaning
“Having thrown a bridge across the sea and crossed the salt sea and setting the ogres at nought, here stands Rāma (a scion of Raghu) armed with a bow. (31)
ऋक्षवानरसङ्घानामनीकानि सहस्रशः। गिरिमेघनिकाशानां छादयन्ति वसुंधराम्॥ ३२॥
Meaning
“Companies in thousands of hordes of bears and monkeys, resembling mountains and clouds, cover the earth. (32)
राक्षसानां बलौघस्य वानरेन्द्रबलस्य च। नैतयोर्विद्यते संधिर्देवदानवयोरिव॥ ३३॥
Meaning
“No alliance is possible between these two armies—the multitude of ogre troops and the army of Sugrīva (the lord of monkeys) any more than between the gods and the demons. (33)
पुरा प्राकारमायान्ति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु। सीतां चास्मै प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम्॥ ३४॥
Meaning
“Before they are able to reach the defensive wall, quickly follow either of the two courses being suggested. Restore Sītā to him without delay or battle may be given to him.” (34)
शुकस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। रोषसंरक्तनयनो निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा॥ ३५॥
Meaning
Hearing the submission of Śuka, Rāvaṇa replied as follows, his eyes blood-red with agner, as though he would consume him with his glance: (35)
यदि मां प्रति युद्धेरन् देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। नैव सीतां प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि॥ ३६॥
Meaning
“I would not give back Sītā in any case even if gods, Gandharvas (celestial musicians) and demons were to contend with me, nay, not even through fear of the whole world. (36)
कदा समभिधावन्ति मामका राघवं शराः। वसन्ते पुष्पितं मत्ता भ्रमरा इव पादपम्॥ ३७॥
Meaning
“O, when will my shafts dart towards Rāma (a scion of Raghu) as intoxicated bees rush towards a flowered tree in the vernal season? (37)
कदा शोणितदिग्धाङ्गं दीप्तैः कार्मुकविच्युतैः। शरैरादीपयिष्यामि उल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम्॥ ३८॥
Meaning
“O, when shall I consume with flaming arrows discharged from my bow, Rāma, whose body, pierced with my arrows, is stained with blood—even as they goad an elephant with firebrands. (38)
तच्चास्य बलमादास्ये बलेन महता वृतः। ज्योतिषामिव सर्वेषां प्रभामुद्यन् दिवाकरः॥ ३९॥
Meaning
“Surrounded by a huge army, I shall eclipse the aforesaid army of Rāma as the sun, even while rising, obscures the brilliance of all the other luminaries in the sky. (39)
सागरस्येव मे वेगो मारुतस्येव मे बलम्। न च दाशरथिर्वेद तेन मां योद्धुमिच्छति॥ ४०॥
Meaning
“My impetuosity resembles the fury of the sea and my strength is like that of the wind. Rāma (son of Daśaratha), however, does not know this; hence he seeks to meet me in combat. (40)
न मे तूणीशयान् बाणान् सविषानिव पन्नगान्। रामः पश्यति संग्रामे तेन मां योद्धुमिच्छति॥ ४१॥
Meaning
“Rāma has not seen on a field of battle the arrows reposing in my quiver like venomous serpents. Hence he desires to fight with me. (41)
न जानाति पुरा वीर्यं मम युद्धे स राघवः। मम चापमयीं वीणां शरकोणैः प्रवादिताम्॥ ४२॥ ज्याशब्दतुमुलां घोरामार्तगीतमहास्वनाम्। नाराचतलसंनादां नदीमहितवाहिनीम्। अवगाह्य महारङ्गं वादयिष्याम्यहं रणे॥ ४३॥
Meaning
“He has not yet known my prowess in combat ever before. Nor does he know of my formidable Vīṇā in the form of a bow, which is played on with the heads of arrows, nay, which strikes a mild note in the form of a twang of the bowstring, a moderate note in the form of cries of anguish (uttered by the victims of those arrows) and a high-pitched note in the form of the sound produced by the base of steel arrows, and which I shall play on in the course of a conflict after entering a vast stage in the form of the enemy ranks advancing like a river. (42-43)
न वासवेनापि सहस्रचक्षुषा युद्धेऽस्मि शक्यो वरुणेन वा स्वयम्। यमेन वा धर्षयितुं शराग्निना महाहवे वैश्रवणेन वा पुनः॥ ४४॥
Meaning
“I am not prone to being overcome in a combat even by the thousand-eyed Indra (the deity presiding over the eastern quarter) or by Varuṇa (the deity presiding over the water) himself or by Yama (the deity presiding over the south) with the fire of his arrows or again by Kubera (the deity presiding over the north) in a major conflict.” (44)
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