Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 7

Meaning

Not knowing in full about the strength of the enemy’s army, all the aforesaid ogres, who, though endowed with extraordinary might, were unaware of political wisdom and lacked intelligence, submitted, when commanded thus by Rāvaṇa, the lord of ogres, with joined palms as follows: “There exists with us, O king, a huge army equipped with iron bars, javelins, double-edged swords, darts, sharp-edged spears and lances. Why then do you give way to despondency. After proceeding to Bhogavatī (the city of the Nāgas in Pātāla), the Nāgas were completely subdued by you in combat. (1—3)

Meaning

“Nay, after waging a terrible conflict, even Kubera, the bestower of riches, who dwells on a peak of Mount Kailāsa and remains surrounded by numerous Yakṣas (a class of demigods), was reduced to submission by you. (4)

Meaning

“Priding, as he did, on his friendship with Lord Śiva, the Supreme Lord, the aforesaid Kubera (a guardian of the world), who is endowed with extraordinary might, was utterly subdued by you on the field of battle in indignation, O powerful king! (5)

Meaning

“After causing a stir among the Yakṣa hordes, nay, taking them as prisoners and overthrowing them—this aerial car (Puṣpaka) was taken away by you from the peak of Mount Kailāsa. (6)

Meaning

“By Maya (मय), a ruler of the Dānavas (the son of Dānu), who sought an alliance with you out of fear of you, O bull among ogres, his daughter, Mandodarī, was given to you in marraige as your wife. (7)

Meaning

“Madhu (another ruler of the Dānavas), the husband (lit., the joy) of Kumbhīnasī, your beloved sister, who was proud of his virility and was difficult to approach, was subjugated by you by offering battle to him, O mighty-armed one! (8)

Meaning

“After descending into Rasātala (the penultimate subterranean region) the serpent-demons Vāsuki, Takṣaka, Śaṅkha and Jaṭī were completely subdued and reduced to submission by you, O mighty-armed one! (9)

Meaning

“After carrying on a struggle for a whole year on the field of battle, O powerful suzerain lord of ogres, Dānavas (sons of Kālakā) who were beyond destruction, mighty and valiant and had obtained boons (of immortality), were reduced to submission by you by resorting to your own strength, O tamer of foes, and many conjuring tricks were learnt from them. (10-11)

Meaning

Those heroic and mighty sons of Varuṇa, who were followed by an army consisting of four limbs, viz., elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry, were completely subdued by you, O highly blessed one! (12)

Meaning

“After plunging into the ocean in the shape of Yama’s realm with an enormous alligator in the form of Death’s rod of punishment, nay, adorned with Śālmalī (silk cotton) trees (bristling with thorns to tear the bodies of damned sinners with), turbulent with a huge billow in the shape of the noose of Kāla (the Time-Spirit) infested with serpents in the form of Yama’s servants and difficult to overcome on account of the mighty Jwara (the spirit presiding over fevers), and churning the sea in the shape of Yama’s forces, a momentous victory was scored and Death repulsed by you; nay, all those people there were highly gratified through your excellent fighting skill. (13—15)

Meaning

“The earth was formerly filled with numerous Kṣatriya heroes, equal in prowess to Indra (the ruler of gods), as with gigantic trees. (16)

Meaning

“Rāma, a scion of Raghu, is not equal to them on the battlefield in point of prowess, martial qualities and bellicose spirit. Even though difficult to conquer in an encounter, they were violently made short work of by you at once. (17)

Meaning

“Or, remain where you are, O king! What is the use of your exerting yourself? This mighty-armed Indrajit, your eldest son, will extirpate all the monkeys, single-handed. (18)

Meaning

“Nay, after performing a sacrifice intended to propitiate Lord Śiva (the Supreme Lord), a boon, which was supremely difficult to win in the world, was secured by him from Lord Śiva, O mighty sovereign! (19)

Meaning

“After assailing the sea in the form of the celestial army with javelins and spears for its fish and entrails thrown asunder for duck-weeds, nay, full of turtles in the form of elephants, teeming with frogs in the form of horses, infested with alligators in the form of the eleven Rudras (gods of destruction) and twelve Ādityas (sons of Aditi), and with huge serpents in the form of the forty-nine Maruts (wind-gods) and the eight Vasus, and having chariots, horses and elephants for its volume of water and foot-soldiers for its sandy beach, Indra, the ruler of gods, was actually captured by him and thrust into Laṅkā as a detenu. (20—22)

Meaning

“Nay, liberated by the command of Brahmā (the grandfather of all created beings, the whole creation having been brought into existence by his ten mind-born sons, the Prajāpatis), Indra (the destroyer of the demons Śambara and Vṛtra), who is adored by all the gods, returned to heaven, O king! (23)

Meaning

“Therefore, dispatch, O mighty ruler, your aforesaid son, Indrajit, alone, so that he may bring to an end the said army of the monkeys, including Rāma (even before it dares to cross the sea). (24)

Meaning

“This adversity, which has come from ordinary beings (like human beings and monkeys), O king, does not deserve your concern. It should not at all be given any corner in your heart; for, you shall kill Rāma without doubt.” (25)