---
title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 37"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-37"
lang: "en"
---

# Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 37

> नरवानरराजानौ स तु वायुसुतः कपिः।  
> जाम्बवानृक्षराजश्च राक्षसश्च विभीषणः॥ १॥  
> अङ्गदो वालिपुत्रश्च सौमित्रिः शरभः कपिः।  
> सुषेणः सहदायादो मैन्दो द्विविद एव च॥ २॥  
> गजो गवाक्षः कुमुदो नलोऽथ पनसस्तथा।  
> अमित्रविषयं प्राप्ताः समवेताः समर्थयन्॥ ३॥

Arrived in the enemy’s territory and gathered together, Śrī Rāma and Sugrīva, the rulers of men and monkeys, respectively as also the celebrated monkey, Hanumān, son of the wind-god, also Jāmbavān, the king of bears, as well as the ogre Vibhīṣaṇa, nay, Aṅgada, son of Vāli, Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā), the monkey Śarabha, Suṣeṇa accompanied by his kinsfolk, Mainda as well as Dwivida, Gaja, Gavākṣa, Kumuda and Nala as also Panasa said to one another: (1—3)

> इयं सा लक्ष्यते लङ्का पुरी रावणपालिता।  
> सासुरोरगगन्धर्वैरमरैरपि दुर्जया॥ ४॥  
> कार्यसिद्धिं पुरस्कृत्य मन्त्रयध्वं विनिर्णये।  
> नित्यं संनिहितो यत्र रावणो राक्षसाधिपः॥ ५॥

“Here is to be seen the city of Laṅkā, protected by Rāvaṇa, which is hard to conquer even for the immortals accompanied by the demons, the Nāgas (serpent-demons) and Gandharvas (celestial musicians) and in which Rāvaṇa, the suzerain lord of ogres, is ever present. Now take counsel for determining our duty with a view to achieving success in our mission (viz., the overthrow of Rāvaṇa and the recovery of Sītā).” (4-5)

> अथ तेषु ब्रुवाणेषु रावणावरजोऽब्रवीत्।  
> वाक्यमग्राम्यपदवत् पुष्कलार्थं विभीषणः॥ ६॥

While they were speaking as aforesaid, Vibhīṣaṇa, the youngest brother of Rāvaṇa, made the following submission, consisting of polished words and full of ample meaning: (6)

> अनलः पनसश्चैव सम्पातिः प्रमतिस्तथा।  
> गत्वा लङ्कां ममामात्याः पुरीं पुनरिहागताः॥ ७॥

“Having gone to the city of Laṅkā, my four ministers, Anala as well as Panasa, Sampāti and Pramati, have returned to this place. (7)

> भूत्वा शकुनयः सर्वे प्रविष्टाश्च रिपोर्बलम्।  
> विधानं विहितं यच्च तद् दृष्ट्वा समुपस्थिताः॥ ८॥

“Nay, assuming the semblance of birds, they all penetrated deep into the enemy’s ranks, and have duly turned up after seeing with their own eyes the arrangements which have been made for the defence of Laṅkā. (8)

> संविधानं यथाहुस्ते रावणस्य दुरात्मनः।  
> राम तद् ब्रुवतः सर्वं याथातथ्येन मे शृणु॥ ९॥

“Hear from me, O Rāma, as I speak in accordance with facts of all the defences organized by the evil-minded Rāvaṇa even as my ministers have described them to me. (9)

> पूर्वं प्रहस्तः सबलो द्वारमासाद्य तिष्ठति।  
> दक्षिणं च महावीर्यौ महापार्श्वमहोदरौ॥ १०॥

“Having reached the eastern gate with a division of the army, Prahasta (the Commander-in-Chief) stands there; while Mahāpārśwa and Mahodara, who are endowed with extraordinary virility, stand at the southern gate. (10)

> इन्द्रजित् पश्चिमं द्वारं राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः।  
> पट्टिशासिधनुष्मद्भिः शूलमुद्गरपाणिभिः॥ ११॥  
> नानाप्रहरणैः शूरैरावृतो रावणात्मजः।  
> राक्षसानां सहस्रैस्तु बहुभिः शस्त्रपाणिभिः॥ १२॥  
> युक्तः परमसंविग्नो राक्षसैः सह मन्त्रवित्।  
> उत्तरं नगरद्वारं रावणः स्वयमास्थितः॥ १३॥

“Surrounded by numerous ogres wielding sharp-edged spears, swords and bows and carrying darts and mallets in their hands, nay, accompanied by champions wielding various weapons, Indrajit, the eldest son of Rāvaṇa, is stationed at the western gate. Nay, accompanied by many thousands of ogres, bearing weapons in their hands, and extremely agitated, Rāvaṇa himself, who is skilled in counsel, has taken up his position at the northern gate. (11—13)

> विरूपाक्षस्तु महता शूलखड्गधनुष्मता।  
> बलेन राक्षसैः सार्धं मध्यमं गुल्ममाश्रितः॥ १४॥

“Virūpākṣa for his part is stationed with a huge force armed with pikes, swords and bows, as well as with other ogres at the central military post. (14)

> एतानेवं विधान् गुल्माँल्लङ्कायां समुदीक्ष्य ते।  
> मामका मन्त्रिणः सर्वे शीघ्रं पुनरिहागताः॥ १५॥

“Having keenly observed these garrisons of the aforesaid description at Laṅkā, all my ministers returned apace to this place. (15)

> गजानां दशसाहस्रं रथानामयुतं तथा।  
> हयानामयुते द्वे च साग्रकोटिश्च रक्षसाम्॥ १६॥

“The strength of elephants in the army of Rāvaṇa is ten thousand, that of chariots is also ten thousand; nay, that of horses is twenty thousand, while that of ogre-foot soldiers is over one crore. (16)

> विक्रान्ता बलवन्तश्च संयुगेष्वाततायिनः।  
> इष्टा राक्षसराजस्य नित्यमेते निशाचराः॥ १७॥

“These rangers of the night, viz., Prahasta and others, are all valiant and mighty, cruel on the field of battle and are ever beloved of Rāvaṇa, the ruler of ogres. (17)

> एकैकस्यात्र युद्धार्थे राक्षसस्य विशाम्पते।  
> परीवारः सहस्राणां सहस्रमुपतिष्ठते॥ १८॥

“A body of adherents consisting of ten lakhs stands at the beck and call of each ogre of the afore-mentioned generals, O protector of the people!” (18)

> एतां प्रवृत्तिं लङ्कायां मन्त्रिप्रोक्तां विभीषणः।  
> एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहू राक्षसांस्तानदर्शयत्॥ १९॥  
> लङ्कायां सचिवैः सर्वं रामाय प्रत्यवेदयत्।  
> रामं कमलपत्राक्षमिदमुत्तरमब्रवीत्॥ २०॥  
> रावणावरजः श्रीमान् रामप्रियचिकीर्षया।  
> कुबेरं तु यदा राम रावणः प्रतियुद्ध्यति॥ २१॥  
> षष्टिः शतसहस्राणि तदा निर्यान्ति राक्षसाः।  
> पराक्रमेण वीर्येण तेजसा सत्त्वगौरवात्।  
> सदृशा ह्यत्र दर्पेण रावणस्य दुरात्मनः॥ २२॥

Having conveyed as above the aforesaid information concerning Laṅkā, furnished by his ministers, the mighty-armed Vibhīṣaṇa produced the said ogres before Śrī Rāma and caused everything concerning Laṅkā to be made known to Śrī Rāma by his ministers themselves. With intent to please Śrī Rāma, the glorious Vibhīṣaṇa (the youngest half-brother of Rāvaṇa) further submitted as follows to Śrī Rāma, whose eyes resembled the petals of a lotus: “When Rāvaṇa for his part, O Rāma, launched an offensive against (his own half-brother) Kubera (the god of riches), sixty lakh ogres sallied forth with him at that time—ogres who were actually compeers of the evil-minded Rāvaṇa in prowess, virility, energy, abundance of courage and steadfastness in battle. (19—22)

> अत्र मन्युर्न कर्तव्यः कोपये त्वां न भीषये।  
> समर्थो ह्यसि वीर्येण सुराणामपि निग्रहे॥ २३॥

“No depression or indignation should be resorted to by you on this report. I do not mean to terrify you but am simply rousing your wrath; for, I know, you are capable of subduing even gods by virtue of your valour. (23)

> तद्भवांश्चतुरङ्गेण बलेन महता वृतम्।  
> व्यूह्येदं वानरानीकं निर्मथिष्यसि रावणम्॥ २४॥

“Disposing the yonder simian army in battle array in the same way as has been done by Rāvaṇa, you shall be able to crush Rāvaṇa who is surrounded by a huge army consisting of four limbs viz., elephants, chariots, cavalry and foot soldiers.” (24)

> रावणावरजे वाक्यमेवं ब्रुवति राघवः।  
> शत्रूणां प्रतिघातार्थमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ २५॥

When Vibhīṣaṇa (the youngest half-brother of Rāvaṇa) made the foregoing speech, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) issued orders as follows for attacking the enemy: (25)

> पूर्वद्वारं तु लङ्काया नीलो वानरपुङ्गवः।  
> प्रहस्तं प्रतियोद्धा स्याद् वानरैर्बहुभिर्वृतः॥ २६॥

“Making his way to the eastern gate, surrounded by numerous monkeys, Nīla, a veritable bull among the monkeys, for his part should fight against Prahasta. (26)

> अङ्गदो वालिपुत्रस्तु बलेन महता वृतः।  
> दक्षिणे बाधतां द्वारे महापार्श्वमहोदरौ॥ २७॥

“Nay, surrounded by a large army, Aṅgada, son of Vāli, should press and drive away Mahāpārśwa and Mahodara posted at the southern gate. (27)

> हनूमान् पश्चिमद्वारं निष्पीड्य पवनात्मजः।  
> प्रविशत्वप्रमेयात्मा बहुभिः कपिभिर्वृतः॥ २८॥

“Pressing against the western gate, surrounded by numerous monkeys, Hanumān, an offspring of the wind-god, who is endowed with immeasurable firmness and sturdiness, should make good his entry into it. (28)

> दैत्यदानवसङ्घानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्।  
> विप्रकारप्रियः क्षुद्रो वरदानबलान्वितः॥ २९॥  
> परिक्रमति यः सर्वान् लोकान् संतापयन् प्रजाः।  
> तस्याहं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य स्वयमेव वधे धृतः॥ ३०॥  
> उत्तरं नगरद्वारमहं सौमित्रिणा सह।  
> निपीड्याभिप्रवेक्ष्यामि सबलो यत्र रावणः॥ ३१॥

“Pressing against the northern gate of the city of Laṅkā alongwith Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā), personally bent as I am on the destruction of that petty-minded ruler of ogres—who is fond of oppressing multitudes of Daityas (giants) and Dānavas (demons) as well as the high-souled Ṛṣis, nay, who is armed with power derived from boons (conferred on him by Brahmā and others) and who ranges all the worlds persecuting created beings—I shall force my entry into that gate, where Rāvaṇa himself is stationed with his army. (29—31)

> वानरेन्द्रश्च बलवानृक्षराजश्च वीर्यवान्।  
> राक्षसेन्द्रानुजश्चैव गुल्मे भवतु मध्यमे॥ ३२॥

“Nay, let the mighty Sugrīva, the ruler of monkeys and the powerful Jāmbavān, the king of bears, as well as Vibhīṣaṇa (the youngest half-brother of Rāvaṇa) be stationed at the central post. (32)

> न चैव मानुषं रूपं कार्यं हरिभिराहवे।  
> एषा भवतु नः संज्ञा युद्धेऽस्मिन् वानरे बले॥ ३३॥

“No human semblance should be assumed at any event by the monkeys on the field of battle. In the simian ranks let this serve as our distinctive mark in this battle. (33)

> वानरा एव नश्चिह्नं स्वजनेऽस्मिन् भविष्यति।  
> वयं तु मानुषेणैव सप्त योत्स्यामहे परान्॥ ३४॥

“The monkeys alone will be the sign of recognition in distinguishing our ranks in this conflict. Only we seven shall, however, fight the enemies in a human form. (34)

> अहमेव सह भ्रात्रा लक्ष्मणेन महौजसा।  
> आत्मना पञ्चमश्चायं सखा मम विभीषणः॥ ३५॥

“I myself will be one, with my younger brother, Lakṣmaṇa, who is endowed with extraordinary energy and who will be the second; while, of the other five, this friend of mine, Vibhīṣaṇa, in his own person will be the fifth over and above his four ministers.” (35)

> स रामः कृत्यसिद्ध्यर्थमेवमुक्त्वा विभीषणम्।  
> सुवेलारोहणे बुद्धिं चकार मतिमान् प्रभुः।  
> रमणीयतरं दृष्ट्वा सुवेलस्य गिरेस्तटम्॥ ३६॥

Having spoken to Vibhīṣaṇa as aforesaid with a view to the success of his undertaking, and beholding the excessively charming slopes of the Suvela mountain, the aforesaid sagacious and powerful Śrī Rāma made up his mind to climb up the Suvela mountain. (36)

> ततस्तु रामो महता बलेन  
> प्रच्छाद्य सर्वां पृथिवीं महात्मा।  
> प्रहृष्टरूपोऽभिजगाम लङ्कां  
> कृत्वा मतिं सोऽरिवधे महात्मा॥ ३७॥

Having fully covered the entire land of that region with his huge army and having resolved upon the destruction of his foes, that high-souled Śrī Rāma for his part, who was endowed with great firmness, then sallied forth towards Laṅkā with an exultant air. (37)

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