---
title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 36"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-36"
lang: "en"
---

# Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 36

> तत् तु माल्यवतो वाक्यं हितमुक्तं दशाननः।  
> न मर्षयति दुष्टात्मा कालस्य वशमागतः॥ १॥

The evil-minded Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed monster), who had fallen under the sway of Death could not for his part brook the salutary advice tendered by Mālyavān. (1)

> स बद्ध्वा भ्रुकुटिं वक्त्रे क्रोधस्य वशमागतः।  
> अमर्षात् परिवृत्ताक्षो माल्यवन्तमथाब्रवीत्॥ २॥

Knitting his brows on his face, Rāvaṇa, who had fallen a prey to anger, presently spoke as follows to Mālyavān, his eyes rolling through anger: (2)

> हितबुद्ध्या यदहितं वचः परुषमुच्यते।  
> परपक्षं प्रविश्यैव नैतच्छ्रोत्रगतं मम॥ ३॥

“This noxious and harsh utterance, which has been made by you, taking it to be salutary for me and taking sides with the enemy, has not caught my ears. (3)

> मानुषं कृपणं राममेकं शाखामृगाश्रयम्।  
> समर्थं मन्यसे केन त्यक्तं पित्रा वनाश्रयम्॥ ४॥  
> रक्षसामीश्वरं मां च देवानां च भयंकरम्।  
> हीनं मां मन्यसे केन अहीनं सर्वविक्रमैः॥ ५॥

“On what grounds do you hold as powerful Rāma, a forlorn, wretched human being, who, having been forsaken by his father, has sought the protection of monkeys and has found his asylum in the forest? And how do you consider as deficient me, the ruler of ogres, the terror of gods, and endowed with all kinds of prowess? (4-5)

> वीरद्वेषेण वा शङ्के पक्षपातेन वा रिपोः।  
> त्वयाहं परुषाण्युक्तो परप्रोत्साहनेन वा॥ ६॥

“I fear I have been told such harsh words by you either because of spitefulness to me, an illustrious warrior, or because of your predilection to the foe or because you were incited by the enemy to do so. (6)

> प्रभवन्तं पदस्थं हि परुषं कोऽभिभाषते।  
> पण्डितः शास्त्रतत्त्वज्ञो विना प्रोत्साहनेन वा॥ ७॥

“Indeed without such instigation what learned man, who has grasped the truth of the scriptures would address harsh words to a mighty man still in power? (7)

> आनीय च वनात् सीतां पद्महीनामिव श्रियम्।  
> किमर्थं प्रतिदास्यामि राघवस्य भयादहम्॥ ८॥

“Nay, having borne away from the forest Sītā, who is like Lakṣmī (the goddess of fortune) without the lotus, wherefore shall I give her back through fear of Rāma (a scion of Raghu)? (8)

> वृतं वानरकोटीभिः ससुग्रीवं सलक्ष्मणम्।  
> पश्य कैश्चिदहोभिश्च राघवं निहतं मया॥ ९॥

“Nay, see Rāma (a scion of Raghu) killed by me in a few days alongwith Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa in the midst of crores of monkeys. (9)

> द्वन्द्वे यस्य न तिष्ठन्ति दैवतान्यपि संयुगे।  
> स कस्माद् रावणो युद्धे भयमाहारयिष्यति॥ १०॥

“Of whom will Rāvaṇa entertain fear in an encounter—Rāvaṇa, whom even gods dare not withstand in a duel? (10)

> द्विधा भज्येयमप्येवं न नमेयं तु कस्यचित्।  
> एष मे सहजो दोषः स्वभावो दुरतिक्रमः॥ ११॥

“I would fain break into two but would never bend before anyone. This is my inherent weakness. Nature is hard to overcome. (11)

> यदि तावत् समुद्रे तु सेतुर्बद्धो यदृच्छया।  
> रामेण विस्मयः कोऽत्र येन ते भयमागतम्॥ १२॥

“If at all by chance a bridge has been thrown over the sea by Rāma, what marvel is there in it due to which fear has taken possession of you ? (12)

> स तु तीर्त्वार्णवं रामः सह वानरसेनया।  
> प्रतिजानामि ते सत्यं न जीवन् प्रतियास्यति॥ १३॥

“Having crossed the sea alongwith an army of monkeys, Rāma, however, will not be able to return alive: I truly promise to you.” (13)

> एवं ब्रुवाणं संरब्धं रुष्टं विज्ञाय रावणम्।  
> व्रीडितो माल्यवान् वाक्यं नोत्तरं प्रत्यपद्यत॥ १४॥

Abashed to find Rāvaṇa full of keenness for war and offended while speaking, as aforesaid, Mālyavān made no reply. (14)

> जयाशिषा तु राजानं वर्धयित्वा यथोचितम्।  
> माल्यवानभ्यनुज्ञातो जगाम स्वं निवेशनम्॥ १५॥

Having cheered the king with benedictions of triumph in accordance with the rules of propriety, and duly permitted by him, Mālyavān for his part withdrew to his own residence. (15)

> रावणस्तु सहामात्यो मन्त्रयित्वा विमृश्य च।  
> लङ्कायास्तु तदा गुप्तिं कारयामास राक्षसः॥ १६॥

Having deliberated with his ministers and reflected awhile, the ogre Rāvaṇa for his part then actually made adequate arrangements for the defence of Laṅkā. (16)

> व्यादिदेश च पूर्वस्यां प्रहस्तं द्वारि राक्षसम्।  
> दक्षिणस्यां महावीर्यौ महापार्श्वमहोदरौ॥ १७॥  
> पश्चिमायामथ द्वारि पुत्रमिन्द्रजितं तदा।  
> व्यादिदेश महामायं राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतम्॥ १८॥

He then posted the ogre Prahasta at the eastern gate, Mahāpārśwa and Mahodara, who were both endowed with extraordinary virility, at the southern and posted his eldest son, Indrajit, who was a great conjurer and was surrounded by numerous ogres, at the western gate at that juncture. (17-18)

> उत्तरस्यां पुरद्वारि व्यादिश्य शुकसारणौ।  
> स्वयं चात्र गमिष्यामि मन्त्रिणस्तानुवाच ह॥ १९॥

Nay, having placed Śuka and Sāraṇa at the northern gate of the city, he said to the aforesaid counsellors, “I shall personally visit and take up my position at the northern gate. (19)

> राक्षसं तु विरूपाक्षं महावीर्यपराक्रमम्।  
> मध्यमेऽस्थापयद गल्मेबहभिः सह राक्षसैः॥ २०॥

Again at the central military post he placed the ogre Virūpākṣa, who was endowed with extraordinary virility and prowess, alongwith numerous other ogres. (20)

> एवं विधानं लङ्कायां कृत्वा राक्षसपुंगवः।  
> कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यते कालचोदितः॥ २१॥

Having made arrangements as aforesaid in Laṅkā, Rāvaṇa (a bull among the ogres), under the sway of destiny, deemed his purpose accomplished, as it were. (21)

> विसर्जयामास ततः स मन्त्रिणो  
> विधानमाज्ञाप्य पुरस्य पुष्कलम्।  
> जयाशिषा मन्त्रिगणेन पूजितो  
> विवेश सोऽन्तःपुरमृद्धिमन्महत्॥ २२॥

Having ordered adequate arrangements for the defence of the city of Laṅkā, he then let his counsellors depart. Nay, acclaimed by the body of counsellors with benedictions of triumph, he entered his sumptuous and extensive gynaeceum. (22)

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

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