--- title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 29" canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-29" lang: "en" --- # Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 29 > शुकेन तु समादिष्टान् दृष्ट्वा स हरियूथपान्। > लक्ष्मणं च महावीर्यं भुजं रामस्य दक्षिणम्॥ १॥ > समीपस्थं च रामस्य भ्रातरं च विभीषणम्। > सर्ववानरराजं च सुग्रीवं भीमविक्रमम्॥ २॥ > अङ्गदं चापि बलिनं वज्रहस्तात्मजात्मजम्। > हनूमन्तं च विक्रान्तं जाम्बवन्तं च दुर्जयम्॥ ३॥ > सुषेणं कुमुदं नीलं नलं च प्लवगर्षभम्। > गजं गवाक्षं शरभं मैन्दं च द्विविदं तथा॥ ४॥ > किंचिदाविग्नहृदयो जातक्रोधश्च रावणः। > भर्त्सयामास तौ वीरौ कथान्ते शुकसारणौ॥ ५॥ A bit agitated at heart and enraged to behold the monkey leaders, duly pointed out by Śuka, as also Lakṣmaṇa, who was endowed with extraordinary valour and was the right arm of Śrī Rāma, as well as his (own half-) brother Vibhīṣaṇa, standing close to Śrī Rāma, also Sugrīva of terrific prowess, the ruler of all the monkeys, and the mighty Aṅgada, sprung from the loins of Vālī (an offspring of Indra, who carries the thunderbolt in his hand), nay, the valiant Hanūmān as well as Jāmbavān, who was difficult to conquer, Suṣeṇa, Kumuda, Nīla, Nala, the foremost of monkeys, and Gaja, Gavākṣa, Śarabha, Mainda and Dwivida too, Rāvaṇa for his part rebuked the aforesaid two heroes, Śuka and Sāraṇa, at the conclusion of their submission. (1—5) > अधोमुखौ तौ प्रणतावब्रवीच्छुकसारणौ। > रोषगद्गदया वाचा संरब्धं परुषं तथा॥ ६॥ In a voice strangled with fury he spoke indignantly and harshly as follows to the said Śuka and Sāraṇa, who stood with their heads bent low in supplication: (6) > न तावत् सदृशं नाम सचिवैरुपजीविभिः। > विप्रियं नृपतेर्वक्तुं निग्रहे प्रग्रहे प्रभोः॥ ७॥ “Really speaking, it is not at all fitting that unpalatable words should be uttered by dependent ministers in the presence of a ruler of men who has the power to mete out punishment or reward. (7) > रिपूणां प्रतिकूलानां युद्धार्थमभिवर्तताम्। > उभाभ्यां सदृशं नाम वक्तुमप्रस्तवे स्तवम्॥ ८॥ “Was it really becoming of you both to utter out of season the praises of enemies who are antagonistic to us and are advancing to wage war? (8) > आचार्या गुरवो वृद्धा वृथा वां पर्युपासिताः। > सारं यद् राजशास्त्राणामनुजीव्यं न गृह्यते॥ ९॥ “In vain have preceptors, parents and elders been waited upon by you in that the essence of scriptures on political wisdom, which deserved to be acted upon in your life, has not been imbibed by you. (9) > गृहीतो वा न विज्ञातो भारोऽज्ञानस्य वाह्यते। > ईदृशैः सचिवैर्युक्तो मूर्खैर्दिष्ट्या धराम्यहम्॥ १०॥ “Even if it was grasped by you, it has not been retained in memory. The load of ignorance alone is being borne by you. Through sheer good luck I am able to retain my sovereignty even though conjoined with stupid ministers like these. (10) > किं नु मृत्योर्भयं नास्ति मां वक्तुं परुषं वचः। > यस्य मे शासतो जिह्वा प्रयच्छति शुभाशुभम्॥ ११॥ “Did no fear of death really haunt you when you made bold to speak such insolent words to me, your ruler, whose mere tongue can dispense good and evil to you? (11) > अप्येव दहनं स्पृष्ट्वा वने तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः। > राजदण्डपरामृष्टास्तिष्ठन्ते नापराधिनः॥ १२॥ “Trees in a forest may remain standing unscathed even on touching a forest conflagration. No evil-doers can, however, remain unpunished when made the target of a ruler’s punishment. (12) > हन्यामहं त्विमौ पापौ शत्रुपक्षप्रशंसिनौ। > यदि पूर्वोपकारैर्मे क्रोधो न मृदुतां व्रजेत्॥ १३॥ “I should undoubtedly put to death these two sinful ogres hymning the praises of the hostile ranks, had my anger not been moderated by the thought of their past services. (13) > अपध्वंसत नश्यध्वं संनिकर्षादितो मम। > नहि वां हन्तुमिच्छामि स्मराम्युपकृतानि वाम्। > हतावेव कृतघ्नौ द्वौ मयि स्नेहपराङ् मुखौ॥ १४॥ “Get out of my court for good and disappear from my presence. I do not wish to kill you since I am cognizant of your past services. You two stand killed all the same, ungrateful as you are and devoid of devotion to me.” (14) > एवमुक्तौ तु सव्रीडौ तौ दृष्ट्वा शुकसारणौ। > रावणं जयशब्देन प्रतिनन्द्याभिनिःसृतौ॥ १५॥ Feeling abashed when admonished in these words by Rāvaṇa, nay, looking at Rāvaṇa and cheering him in the words “Be victorious!”, Śuka and Sāraṇa, for their part, withdrew. (15) > अब्रवीच्च दशग्रीवः समीपस्थं महोदरम्। > उपस्थापय मे शीघ्रं चारानिति निशाचरः। > महोदरस्तथोक्तस्तु शीघ्रमाज्ञापयच्चरान्॥ १६॥ Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, further said to Mahodara, standing close to him, “Bring me other spies quickly.” Commanded thus, the ranger of the night, Mahodara, for his part speedily ordered spies to be present before the king. (16) > ततश्चाराः संत्वरिताः प्राप्ताः पार्थिवशासनात्। > उपस्थिताः प्राञ्जलयो वर्धयित्वा जयाशिषः॥ १७॥ Arrived posthaste in obedience to the royal command, spies thereupon stood in waiting before the king with joined palms, pronouncing benedictions wishing him victory. (17) > तानब्रवीत् ततो वाक्यं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। > चारान् प्रत्यायिकाञ्शूरान् धीरान् विगतसाध्वसान्॥ १८॥ Rāvaṇa, the suzerain lord of ogres, then spoke as follows to those spies, who were trustworthy, brave, resolute and fearless: (18) > इतो गच्छत रामस्य व्यवसायं परीक्षितुम्। > मन्त्रेष्वभ्यन्तरा येऽस्य प्रीत्या तेन समागताः॥ १९॥ “Proceed from this place to ascertain the plans of Rāma as well as of those who are nearest to him in deliberations and who have got united with him through love. (19) > कथं स्वपिति जागर्ति किमद्य च करिष्यति। > विज्ञाय निपुणं सर्वमागन्तव्यमशेषतः॥ २०॥ “Finding out definitely everything thoroughly as to how he goes to bed, how again he wakes up and what he intends to do today, you should come back. (20) > चारेण विदितः शत्रुः पण्डितैर्वसुधाधिपैः। > युद्धे स्वल्पेन यत्नेन समासाद्य निरस्यते॥ २१॥ “An enemy whose movements and strength have come to be known through a spy is repulsed by wise monarchs with very little effort after being assailed.” (21) > चारास्तु ते तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रहृष्टा राक्षसेश्वरम्। > शार्दूलमग्रतः कृत्वा ततश्चक्रुः प्रदक्षिणम्॥ २२॥ Saying “Amen!” to Rāvaṇa (the king of ogres) and placing Śārdūla at their head, the aforesaid spies for their part thereupon went round Rāvaṇa clockwise, highly rejoiced. (22) > ततस्तं तु महात्मानं चारा राक्षससत्तमम्। > कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं जग्मुर्यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः॥ २३॥ Having gone round the gigantic Rāvaṇa, the foremost of ogres, clockwise, the spies for their part then left for the place where Śrī Rāma accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa was. (23) > ते सुवेलस्य शैलस्य समीपे रामलक्ष्मणौ। > प्रच्छन्ना ददृशुर्गत्वा ससुग्रीवविभीषणौ॥ २४॥ Approaching the Suvela mountain in disguise, they saw Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, accompanied by Sugrīva and Vibhīṣaṇa. (24) > प्रेक्षमाणाश्चमूं तां च बभूवुर्भयविह्वलाः। > ते तु धर्मात्मना दृष्टा राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसाः॥ २५॥ Nay, they were beside themselves with fear as they were observing the aforesaid army of monkeys. Meanwhile the said ogres were detected by Vibhīṣaṇa (the lord of ogres), whose mind was given to piety. (25) > विभीषणेन तत्रस्था निगृहीता यदृच्छया। > शार्दूलो ग्राहितस्त्वेकः पापोऽयमिति राक्षसः॥ २६॥ Standing unexpectedly there, the ogres were scolded by Vibhīṣaṇa. The ogre Śārdūla alone was, however, pointed out by name on the plea that he was a sinner. (26) > मोचितः सोऽपि रामेण वध्यमानः प्लवंगमैः। > आनृशंस्येन रामेण मोचिता राक्षसाः परे॥ २७॥ He too was, however, set free by Śrī Rāma, even while he was being smitten by the monkeys. Nay, the other ogres too were given their freedom by the humane, Śrī Rāma. (27) > वानरैरर्दितास्ते तु विक्रान्तैर्लघुविक्रमैः। > पुनर्लङ्कामनुप्राप्ताः श्वसन्तो नष्टचेतसः॥ २८॥ Harassed all the same by the monkeys, who were all valiant and swift-footed, they returned to Laṅkā panting and stupefied. (28) > ततो दशग्रीवमुपस्थितास्ते > चारा बहिर्नित्यचरा निशाचराः। > गिरेः सुवेलस्य समीपवासिनं > न्यवेदयन् रामबलं महाबलाः॥ २९॥ Arrived in the presence of Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed monster, the aforesaid ogres, who were always ranging outside as spies and who were endowed with extraordinary might, reported the army of Śrī Rāma to be camping in the vicinity of the Suvela mountain. (29) 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.