Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 25

Meaning

Śrī Rāma, an offspring of Emperor Daśaratha having traversed the sea with his army, the glorious Rāvaṇa spoke (as follows) to his ministers, Śuka and Sāraṇa: (1)

Meaning

“The entire army of monkeys has crossed the sea, which was difficult to cross, and a bridge has been thrown across the sea by Rāma, which is something unprecedented. (2)

Meaning

“I could not believe under any circumstances the aforesaid story of a bridge having been constructed across the sea. Nevertheless the numerical strength of that army of monkeys needs must be ascertained by me. (3)

Meaning

“Entering the army of monkeys unperceived, you two ought to ascertain in reality the magnitude as well as the strength of the army as also who are the leading monkeys and who are the counsellors highly esteemed by Rāma and Sugrīva, again, who march in the front line and who are the heroic monkeys, how that bridge was thrown across the sea of salt water associated with the name of King Sagara, who excavated it, nay, how those high-spirited monkeys have been encamped, as also the resolve and prowess of Rāma as well as of the heroic Lakṣmaṇa and the weapons used by them. (4—7)

Meaning

“Nay, also ascertaining in accordance with facts who is the commander-in-chief of those high-spirited monkeys, you two ought to return apace.” (8)

Meaning

Assuming the semblance of monkeys, when commanded thus, the two heroic ogres, Śuka and Sāraṇa, penetrated deep into the simian ranks. (9)

Meaning

The aforesaid Śuka and Sāraṇa did not, however, know at that time how to count from that place that simian army, whose number could not even be conceived, much less correctly known and which made one’s hair stand on end. (10)

Meaning

It was stationed on the summits of mountains, round about waterfalls as well as in caves, as also on the seashores as well as in woodlands and gardens. It was either in the process of traversing the sea or had traversed it or was intending to traverse it in its entirety. (11)

Meaning

Emitting a terrible roar, that huge army had either encamped or was still encamping. The two ogres beheld that imperturbable sea of an army. (12)

Meaning

Vibhīṣaṇa, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, saw Śuka and Sāraṇa in disguise and, capturing them, he submitted as follows to Śrī Rāma: (13)

Meaning

“Here are two ministers of Rāvaṇa the ruler of ogres, Śuka and Sāraṇa, duly arrived from Laṅkā as spies, O conqueror of hostile citadels!” (14)

Meaning

Having joined their palms, the two ogres, who were perturbed to see Śrī Rāma and had lost hope about their life, nay, who were seized with fear, spoke as follows: (15)

Meaning

“Sent by Rāvaṇa, O good Sir, we both have come here to know everything about the whole army of yours, O delight of the Raghus!” (16)

Meaning

Laughing heartily to hear the aforesaid submission of the two ogres, Śrī Rāma, an offspring of Emperor Daśaratha, replied as follows, devoted as he was to the welfare of all created beings: (17)

Meaning

“If the entire army has been seen by you, if we too have been carefully observed and if your mission has been accomplished, as directed by your master, you may return according to your sweet will. (18)

Meaning

“If, however, anything has remained uninvestigated, you ought to see it over again. Vibhīṣaṇa will once more show it to you fully. (19)

Meaning

“Nor, having suffered this arrest, should you have any apprehension about your life. Having laid aside your arms, having been taken captive, and you two, envoys that you are, do not merit death. (20)

Meaning

(Turning to the monkeys) nay, fully set free both these rangers of the night, who have come in disguise as spies, even though they have been constantly seeking to create dissidence in the hostile (opposite) ranks.(21)

Meaning

(Addressing the ogres again) “On returning to the great city of Laṅkā, Rāvaṇa (a younger half-brother of Kubera), the ruler of ogres, should be spoken to by you in my words as actually uttered by me: (22)

Meaning

“ ‘Display at will with your troops and kinsmen the strength relying on which you stole away my Sītā. (23)

Meaning

“ ‘Tomorrow at break of day behold the city of Laṅkā, with its defensive walls and arches, as well as the army of ogres completely destroyed by me with arrows. (24)

Meaning

“ ‘Tomorrow at daybreak I shall let loose my terrible wrath on you, including your forces, O Rāvaṇa, even as Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, discharges his thunderbolt on the demons.’ ” (25)

Meaning

Hailing the aforesaid Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, a lover of piety, in the words “Be victorious!” when commanded by Śrī Rāma as above and returning to the city of Laṅkā, the two ogres, Śuka and Sāraṇa submitted as follows to Rāvaṇa, the suzerain lord of ogres: “On seeing us taken captive by Vibhīṣaṇa for killing us, O lord of ogres, we, for our part, were set free by Rāma, whose mind is given to piety and who is endowed with immense energy. Since these four jewels among men, who are valiant like the guardians of the world, skilled in archery and unyielding in prowess, viz., the glorious Rāma, son of Daśaratha, and Lakṣmaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa, and Sugrīva, who is endowed with great energy and is equal to the mighty Indra in prowess, are at one place, they are able to transplant elsewhere, the city of Laṅkā with its protective walls and arches, after tearing up its foundations, even if all the monkeys keep aloof. Surely, he who possesses charm as well as weapons, the like of which are possessed by Śrī Rāma, would destroy the city of Laṅkā single-handed, even if the other three stand by. Protected by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa as well as by Sugrīva, that army of monkeys has become exceedingly difficult to overcome even for all the gods and demons combined. (26—32)

Meaning

“The army of the gigantic monkeys (lit., the denizens of the woods), who are keen to fight just now, consists of warriors who feel highly rejoiced to get this opportunity of fighting. Therefore, have done with antagonism. Let peace be concluded with Rāma and let Sītā, a princess of Mithilā, be restored to Rāma (son of Daśaratha).” (33)