---
title: "Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/yuddha-kanda/sarga-42"
lang: "en"
---

# Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 42

> ततस्ते राक्षसास्तत्र गत्वा रावणमन्दिरम्।  
> न्यवेदयन् पुरीं रुद्धां रामेण सह वानरैः॥ १॥

Proceeding to the palace of Rāvaṇa in Laṅkā, the said ogres thereupon broke the news to him about the city having been laid siege to by Śrī Rāma, accompanied by the monkeys. (1)

> रुद्धां तु नगरीं श्रुत्वा जातक्रोधो निशाचरः।  
> विधानं द्विगुणं कृत्वा प्रासादं चाप्यरोहत॥ २॥

Enraged to hear of the city having been besieged by the monkeys, nay, doubling the arrangements already made for the defence of the capital, the ranger of the night for his part ascended the palace. (2)

> स ददर्श वृतां लङ्कां सशैलवनकाननाम्।  
> असंख्येयैर्हरिगणैः सर्वतो युद्धकाङ्क्षिभिः॥ ३॥

He saw Laṅkā with its mountains, woods and forests, besieged on all sides by innumerable monkeys, who were all eager to fight. (3)

> स दृष्ट्वा वानरैः सर्वैर्वसुधां कपिलीकृताम्।  
> कथं क्षपयितव्याः स्युरिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्॥ ४॥

Beholding the earth round about Laṅkā, rendered brown by all the monkeys gathered there, he became thoughtful as to how they were to be exterminated. (4)

> स चिन्तयित्वा सुचिरं धैर्यमालम्ब्य रावणः।  
> राघवं हरियूथांश्च ददर्शायतलोचनः॥ ५॥

Having pondered for a pretty long time and embracing firmness, the notorious Rāvaṇa with dilated eyes gazed on Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) and the simian troops. (5)

> राघवः सह सैन्येन मुदितो नाम पुप्लुवे।  
> लङ्कां ददर्श गुप्तां वै सर्वतो राक्षसैर्वृताम्॥ ६॥

Full of delight, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, pressed forward with his army and saw Laṅkā surrounded on all sides and guarded by ogres. (6)

> दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम्।  
> जगाम सहसा सीतां दूयमानेन चेतसा॥ ७॥

Seeing Laṅkā, which was dressed with picturesque flags and buntings, Śrī Rāma (son of Daśaratha) suddenly thought of Sītā with a mind which was being consumed with affliction. (7)

> अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी मत्कृते जनकात्मजा।  
> पीड्यते शोकसंतप्ता कृशा स्थण्डिलशायिनी॥ ८॥

He said to himself: “Here is that daughter of Janaka, with eyes resembling those of a fawn, undergoing suffering on my account, tormented, as she is, with grief, emaciated and reposing, as she does, on the ground.” (8)

> निपीड्यमानां धर्मात्मा वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन्।  
> क्षिप्रमाज्ञापयद् रामो वानरान् द्विषतां वधे॥ ९॥

Thinking again and again of Sītā (a princess of the Videha territory), who was being sore oppressed by ogresses, Śrī Rāma, whose mind was set on virtue, speedily commanded the monkeys to make short work of the enemy. (9)

> एवमुक्ते तु वचसि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा।  
> संघर्षमाणाः प्लवगाः सिंहनादैरनादयन्॥ १०॥

When the aforesaid command was issued by Śrī Rāma, who was unwearied in action, the monkeys, who were struggling hard to outdo one another in advancing against the enemy, made Laṅkā resound with their shouts, resembling the roar of a lion. (10)

> शिखरैर्विकिरामैतां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा।  
> इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरियूथपाः॥ ११॥

All the monkey-generals made the following resolve: ‘Let us crush this Laṅkā with mountain-peaks or with our fists alone.’ (11)

> उद्यम्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महान्ति शिखराणि च।  
> तरूंश्चोत्पाट्य विविधांस्तिष्ठन्ति हरियूथपाः॥ १२॥

Lifting up mountain-peaks as well as huge rocks, and uprooting trees of various kinds, the commanders of monkey troops stood prepared to launch an attack on Laṅkā. (12)

> प्रेक्षतो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य तान्यनीकानि भागशः।  
> राघवप्रियकामार्थं लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा॥ १३॥

In order to accomplish Śrī Rāma’s cherished desire, the aforesaid simian troops then began to scale the walls of Laṅkā in various parts, while Rāvaṇa, the ruler of ogres, stood gazing. (13)

> ते ताम्रवक्त्रा हेमाभा रामार्थे त्यक्तजीविताः।  
> लङ्कामेवाभ्यवर्तन्त सालभूधरयोधिनः॥ १४॥

Contending with sal trees and mountain-peaks for weapons, those monkeys of golden hue with coppery faces, who had dedicated their lives to the cause of Śrī Rāma, advanced towards Laṅkā itself. (14)

> ते द्रुमैः पर्वताग्रैश्च मुष्टिभिश्च प्लवंगमाः।  
> प्राकाराग्राण्यसंख्यानि ममन्थुस्तोरणानि च॥ १५॥

By means of trees and mountain-tops as well as with their fists the said monkeys demolished the tops of countless defensive walls as well as archways. (15)

> परिखान् पूरयन्तश्च प्रसन्नसलिलाशयान्।  
> पांसुभिः पर्वताग्रैश्च तृणैः काष्ठैश्च वानराः॥ १६॥

The monkeys stood filling the moats containing translucent water with sands, mountain-tops, grass and logs of wood. (16)

> ततः सहस्रयूथाश्च कोटियूथाश्च यूथपाः।  
> कोटियूथशताश्चान्ये लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा॥ १७॥

The leaders of monkey troops then scaled the walls of Laṅkā taking with them battalions of monkeys in thousands, crores and even hundreds of crores. (17)

> काञ्चनानि प्रमर्दन्तस्तोरणानि प्लवङ्गमाः।  
> कैलासशिखराग्राणि गोपुराणि प्रमथ्य च॥ १८॥  
> आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवङ्गमाः।  
> लङ्कां तामभिधावन्ति महावारणसंनिभाः॥ १९॥

The monkeys stood demolishing the archways of gold. Nay, having razed to the ground the gates with their tops resembling the peaks of Mount Kailāsa, the monkeys, who closely resembled huge elephants, rushed towards the said Laṅkā, springing on all sides and leaping the walls, nay, roaring all the time. (18-19)

> जयत्युरुबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः।  
> राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः॥ २०॥

“Victorious is Śrī Rāma, who is possessed of surpassing strength, and Lakṣmaṇa, who is endowed with extraordinary might! Victorious too is King Sugrīva, protected on all sides by Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu!” (20)

> इत्येवं घोषयन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः।  
> अभ्यधावन्त लङ्कायाः प्राकारं कामरूपिणः॥ २१॥

Shouting thus, the monkeys, who were all able to change their form at will, rushed roaring towards the defensive walls of Laṅkā. (21)

> वीरबाहुः सुबाहुश्च नलश्च पनसस्तथा।  
> निपीड्योपनिविष्टास्ते प्राकारं हरियूथपाः।  
> एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चक्रुः स्कन्धावारनिवेशनम्॥ २२॥

Storming the defensive walls, the monkey generals, Vīrabāhu and Subāhu, as also Nala and Panasa, took up their position on them. In the meantime they settled the beleaguering army in camps. (22)

> पूर्वद्वारं तु कुमुदः कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः।  
> आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ हरिभिर्जितकाशिभिः॥ २३॥

Surrounded by monkeys, numbering ten crores, who all behaved like conquerors, the mighty Kumuda for his part stood besieging the eastern gate, while remaining stationed in north-east. (23)

> सहायार्थे तु तस्यैव निविष्टः प्रघसो हरिः।  
> पनसश्च महाबाहुर्वानरैरभिसंवृतः॥ २४॥

Surrounded by other monkeys, the monkey Praghasa and the mighty-armed Panasa for their part took up their position by his side in order to assist Kumuda himself. (24)

> दक्षिणद्वारमासाद्य वीरः शतबलिः कपिः।  
> आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ विंशत्या कोटिभिर्वृतः॥ २५॥

Reaching the southern gate (while remaining stationed in the south-east), the valiant and mighty monkey Śatabali, who was accompanied by monkeys numbering twenty crores, stood besieging the aforesaid gate. (25)

> सुषेणः पश्चिमद्वारं गत्वा तारापिता बली।  
> आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ कोटिकोटिभिरावृतः॥ २६॥

Seeking the western gate (while remaining stationed in the south-west), Suṣeṇa, the mighty father of Tārā (Vālī’swife), who was surrounded by crores and crores of monkeys, stood besieging that gate. (26)

> उत्तरद्वारमागम्य रामः सौमित्रिणा सह।  
> आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ सुग्रीवश्च हरीश्वरः॥ २७॥

Making his way to the northern gate alongwith Lakṣmaṇa (son of Sumitrā), (while remaining stationed in the north-west) the mighty Śrī Rāma as also Sugrīva, the king of monkeys, stood blockading that gate. (27)

> गोलाङ्गूलो महाकायो गवाक्षो भीमदर्शना।  
> वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः॥ २८॥

Surrounded by a crore of monkeys, Gavākṣa of gigantic proportions and grim aspect, who belonged to the Golāṅgūla species of monkeys and was endowed with extraordinary virility, stood by the side of Śrī Rāma. (28)

> ऋक्षाणां भीमकोपानां धूम्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः।  
> वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः॥ २९॥

Accompanied by a crore of bears of redoubtable fury, Dhūmra, brother of Jāmbavān, the king of bears, the exterminator of his foes, nay, who was endowed with extraordinary valour, also took up his position by the side of Śrī Rāma. (29)

> संनद्धस्तु महावीर्यो गदापाणिर्विभीषणः।  
> वृतो यत्तैस्तु सचिवैस्तस्थौ यत्र महाबलः॥ ३०॥

Clad in defensive armour and accompanied by his watchful ministers, Vibhīṣaṇa for his part, who was endowed with extraordinary virility, stood, mace in hand, where Śrī Rāma, who was possessed of great might, had taken up his position.(30)

> गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः।  
> समन्तात् परिधावन्तो ररक्षुर्हरिवाहिनीम्॥ ३१॥

Rushing on all sides, Gaja, Gavākṣa, Gavaya, Śarabha and Gandhamādana defended the simian army. (31)

> ततः कोपपरीतात्मा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः।  
> निर्याणं सर्वसैन्यानां द्रुतमाज्ञापयत् तदा॥ ३२॥

With a mind possessed by anger on that score, Rāvaṇa the ruler of ogres, forthwith ordered a quick sally of all his forces. (32)

> एतच्छ्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यं रावणस्य मुखेरितम्।  
> सहसा भीमनिर्घोषमुद्घुष्टं रजनीचरैः॥ ३३॥

Hearing this command issued from the lips of Rāvaṇa, a clamour was raised all of a sudden by the rangers of the night with a terrible roar. (33)

> ततः प्रबोधिता भेर्यश्चन्द्रपाण्डुरपुष्कराः।  
> हेमकोणैरभिहता राक्षसानां समन्ततः॥ ३४॥

Beaten with sticks of gold then sounded on every side the kettledrums of the ogres, with discs white as the moon. (34)

> विनेदुश्च महाघोषाः शङ्खाः शतसहस्रशः।  
> राक्षसानां सुघोराणां मुखमारुतपूरिताः॥ ३५॥

Blown with the wind from the mouth of most hideous ogres, sonorous conches also blared forth in their hundreds and thousands. (35)

> ते बभुः शुभनीलाङ्गाः सशङ्खा रजनीचराः।  
> विद्युन्मण्डलसंनद्धाः सबलाका इवाम्बुदाः॥ ३६॥

With their brilliant dark limbs decked with jewels, the aforesaid rangers of the night, who were equipped with conches, shone like dark clouds provided with armour in the shape of flashes of lightning and accompanied by rows of herons. (36)

> निष्पतन्ति ततः सैन्या हृष्टा रावणचोदिताः।  
> समये पूर्यमाणस्य वेगा इव महोदधेः॥ ३७॥

Urged by Rāvaṇa, the troops of ogres thereupon joyfully rushed forth like the waves of the ocean which is being swollen by clouds at the time of universal destruction. (37)

> ततो वानरसैन्येन मुक्तो नादः समन्ततः।  
> मलयः पूरितो येन ससानुप्रस्थकन्दरः॥ ३८॥

A roar was then shouted on all sides by the simian army—a roar which filled the Malaya (Trikūṭa) mountain with its major and minor peaks and caves. (38)

> शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः सिंहनादस्तरस्विनाम्।  
> पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं च सागरं चाभ्यनादयत्॥ ३९॥  
> गजानां बृंहितैः सार्धं हयानां ह्रेषितैरपि।  
> रथानां नेमिनिर्घोषै रक्षसां वदनस्वनैः॥ ४०॥

The blast of conches and the roll of drums as well as the leonine roar of monkey heroes, accompanied by the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of horses, the clatter of chariot wheels and the shout of ogres, made the earth and the air as well as the sea resound. (39-40)

> एतस्मिन्नन्तरे घोरः संग्रामः समपद्यत।  
> रक्षसां वानराणां च यथा देवासुरे पुरा॥ ४१॥

In the meantime there ensued a terrible fight between the ogres and the monkeys as between the gods and the demons in the olden days. (41)

> ते गदाभिः प्रदीप्ताभिः शक्तिशूलपरश्वधैः।  
> निजघ्नुर्वानरान् सर्वान् कथयन्तः स्वविक्रमान्॥ ४२॥

Vaunting their own prowess, the ogres began to strike all the monkeys with their flaming maces as well as with javelins, pikes and axes. (42)

> तथा वृक्षैर्महाकायाः पर्वताग्रैश्च वानराः।  
> निजघ्नुस्तानि रक्षांसि नखैर्दन्तैश्च वेगिनः॥ ४३॥

Full of impetuosity the gigantic monkeys likewise struck those ogres with trees and mountain-tops as well as with their nails and teeth. (43)

> राजा जयति सुग्रीव इति शब्दो महानभूत्।  
> राजञ्जयजयेत्युक्त्वा स्वस्वनामकथां ततः॥ ४४॥

There arose (in the simian ranks) a loud war-cry: “Victorious is King Sugrīva!” Shouting “Be tirumphant! Be victorious, O king!” the ogres then proclaimed their own respective names. (44)

> राक्षसास्त्वपरे भीमाः प्राकारस्था महीं गतान्।  
> वानरान् भिन्दिपालैश्च शूलैश्चैव व्यदारयन्॥ ४५॥

Standing on the walls, other redoubtable ogres for thier part pierced the monkeys standing on the ground below with their Bhindipālas (a jeveline-like weapon) as well as with pikes. (45)

> वानराश्चापि संक्रुद्धाः प्राकारस्थान् महीं गताः।  
> राक्षसान् पातयामासुः खमाप्लुत्य स्वबाहुभिः॥ ४६॥

Bounding into the air highly enraged, the monkeys too, who stood on the ground, dragged down the ogres stationed on the walls with their arms. (46)

> स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलो मांसशोणितकर्दमः।  
> रक्षसां वानराणां च सम्बभूवाद्भुतोपमः॥ ४७॥

The aforesaid fight between the ogres and the monkeys, confused as it was, could not be easily compared to any other conflict and left a mire of flesh and blood. (47)

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