Chapter 52
Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा वानरस्य महात्मनः
आज्ञापयत् वधम् तस्य रावणः क्रोध मूर्चितः
tasya tat vacanam śrutvā vānarasya mahātmanaḥ
ājñāpayat vadham tasya rāvaṇaḥ krodha mūrcitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words of the high=souled Hanuma, Ravana duly excited with anger, ordered for the killing of Hanuma.
वधे तस्य समाज्ञप्ते रावणेन दुरात्मना
निवेदितवतो दौत्यम् न अनुमेने विभीषणः
vadhe tasya samājñapte rāvaṇena durātmanā
niveditavato dautyam na anumene vibhīṣaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While it was ordered by the evil-natured Ravana for the killing of Hanuma, Vibhishana did not agree to the killing of Hanuma, who was entrusted with the functions of a messenger.
तम् रक्षो अधिपतिम् क्रुद्धम् तच् च कार्यम् उपस्थितम्
विदित्वा चिन्तयामास कार्यम् कार्य विधौ स्थितः
tam rakṣo adhipatim kruddham tac ca kāryam upasthitam
viditvā cintayāmāsa kāryam kārya vidhau sthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Ravana getting enraged and looking to that affair (of killing of an envoy) that has arisen, Vibhishana who was firm in accompanying any object, reflected upon an appropriate action to be done.
निश्चित अर्थः ततः साम्ना आपूज्य शत्रुजित् अग्रजम्
उवाच हितम् अत्यर्थम् वाक्यम् वाक्य विशारदः
niścita arthaḥ tataḥ sāmnā āpūjya śatrujit agrajam
uvāca hitam atyartham vākyam vākya viśāradaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, deciding about a right action, Vibhishna, who was silled in communication and a conqueror of enemies, spoke softly the following very meaningful and useful words to Ravana, his venerable borther.
क्षमस्व रोषम् त्यज राक्षसेन्द्र
प्रसीद मद्वाक्यमिदम् शृणुष्व
वधम् न कुर्वन्ति परावरज्ञा
दूतस्य सन्तो वसुधाधिपेन्द्राः
kṣamasva roṣam tyaja rākṣasendra
prasīda madvākyamidam śṛṇuṣva
vadham na kurvanti parāvarajñā
dūtasya santo vasudhādhipendrāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O king of demons! Forgive and give up your anger. Be gracious and hear my words. Virtuous kings of excellence, knowing the distant and the near, do not cause killing of an envoy."
राजन् धर्म विरुद्धम् च लोक वृत्तेः च गर्हितम्
तव च असदृशम् वीर कपेः अस्य प्रमापणम्
rājan dharma viruddham ca loka vṛtteḥ ca garhitam
tava ca asadṛśam vīra kapeḥ asya pramāpaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O hero! Killing of this monkey is against a royal virtue and any universal custom condemns it. Hence, it is improper for you also to do it."
धर्मज्ञ्श्च कृतज्ञ्श्च राजधर्मविशारदः
परावरज्ञो भूतानाम् त्वमेव परमार्थवित्
dharmajñśca kṛtajñśca rājadharmaviśāradaḥ
parāvarajño bhūtānām tvameva paramārthavit
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You are indeed the knower of what is right. You are a person of gratitude. You are well-versed in royal virtues. You know both the distant and the near in beings. You know the highest truth."
गृह्यन्ते यदि रोषेण त्वादृशो।अपि विपश्चितः
ततः शास्त्रविपश्चित्त्वम् श्रम एव हि केवलम्
gṛhyante yadi roṣeṇa tvādṛśo|api vipaścitaḥ
tataḥ śāstravipaścittvam śrama eva hi kevalam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If even learned persons like you are seized by anger, then the knowledge of scriptures is indeed just a labour in vain."
तस्मात्प्रसीद शत्रुघ्न राक्षसेन्द्र दुरासद
ततः शास्त्रविपश्चित्त्वम् श्रम एव हि केवल्म्
tasmātprasīda śatrughna rākṣasendra durāsada
tataḥ śāstravipaścittvam śrama eva hi kevalm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O king of demons! O annihilator of enemies, dangerous to be approached! Therefore, be graceful. After ascertaining about right and wrong, let appropriate punishment be ordered to the envoy."
विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः
रोषेण महताविष्टो वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत्
vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ
roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo vākyamuttaramabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Vibhishana, Ravana the lord of demons was greatly enraged and replied in the following words:
न पापानाम् वधे पापम् विद्यते शत्रुसूदन
तस्मादेनम् वधिष्यामि वानरम् पापचारिणम्
na pāpānām vadhe pāpam vidyate śatrusūdana
tasmādenam vadhiṣyāmi vānaram pāpacāriṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Vibhishana, the annihilator of enemies! There is no sin, even if the sinners are killed. So, I shall kill this monkey, who performed sins."
अधर्ममूलम् बहुदोषयुक्त
मनार्यजुष्टम् वचनम् निशम्य
उवाच वाक्यम् परमार्थतत्त्वम्
विभीषणो बुद्धिमताम् वरिष्ठः
adharmamūlam bahudoṣayukta
manāryajuṣṭam vacanam niśamya
uvāca vākyam paramārthatattvam
vibhīṣaṇo buddhimatām variṣṭhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words, rooted in unrighteousness, enveloped in a great anger and accepted by the dishonourable, Vibhishana the best among those who weer endowed with understanding, spoke the following words, comprising of the highest truth.
प्रसीद लङ्केश्वर राक्षसेन्द्र
धर्मार्थयुक्तम् वचनम् शृणुष्व
दूतानवध्यान् समयेषु राजन्
सर्वेषु सर्वत्र वदन्ति सन्तः
prasīda laṅkeśvara rākṣasendra
dharmārthayuktam vacanam śṛṇuṣva
dūtānavadhyān samayeṣu rājan
sarveṣu sarvatra vadanti santaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O king of demons! O lord of Lanka! Be gracious enough. Hear my words endowed with righteousness and significance. O king! Sages say that messengers should not be killed at all places and at all times."
असंशयम् शत्रुः अयम् प्रवृद्धः
कृतम् हि अनेन अप्रियम् अप्रमेयम्
न दूत वध्याम् प्रवदन्ति
सन्तो
दूतस्य दृष्टा बहवो हि दण्डाः
asaṃśayam śatruḥ ayam pravṛddhaḥ
kṛtam hi anena apriyam aprameyam
na dūta vadhyām pravadanti
santo
dūtasya dṛṣṭā bahavo hi daṇḍāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"There is no doubt that this enemy is arrogant. He has created an unlimited displeasure to us. But, sages do not talk about the killing of an envoy There are indeed severeal punishments, intended for an envoy."
वैरूप्याम् अन्गेषु कश अभिघातो
मौण्ड्यम् तथा लक्ष्मण सम्निपातः
एतान् हि दूते प्रवदन्ति
दण्डान्
वधः तु दूतस्य न नः श्रुतो अपि
vairūpyām angeṣu kaśa abhighāto
mauṇḍyam tathā lakṣmaṇa samnipātaḥ
etān hi dūte pravadanti
daṇḍān
vadhaḥ tu dūtasya na naḥ śruto api
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Some of the punishments to an envoy are-deforming the limbs, striking with a whip, shaving the head and impressing marks on the body. Indeed, we have not heard at any time of killing a messenger."
कथम् च धर्म अर्थ विनीत बुद्धिः
पर अवर प्रत्यय निश्चित अर्थः
भवत् विधः कोप
वशे हि तिष्ठेत्
कोपम् नियच्छन्ति हि सत्त्ववन्तः
katham ca dharma artha vinīta buddhiḥ
para avara pratyaya niścita arthaḥ
bhavat vidhaḥ kopa
vaśe hi tiṣṭhet
kopam niyacchanti hi sattvavantaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"How can a person like you, holding an intellect trained in religious merit and purpose and a right judgement on cause and effect, subject to anger? Wise people indeed contain their anger."
न धर्म वादे न च लोक वृत्ते
न शास्त्र बुद्धि ग्रहणेषु वा अपि
विद्येत कश्चित् तव वीर
तुल्यः
त्वम् हि उत्तमः सर्व सुर असुराणाम्
na dharma vāde na ca loka vṛtte
na śāstra buddhi grahaṇeṣu vā api
vidyeta kaścit tava vīra
tulyaḥ
tvam hi uttamaḥ sarva sura asurāṇām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O hero! There is no one equal to you, who can discuss about the law or duty, none about universal custom and none in capturing the essence of scriptures. You are indeed excellent among all the celestials and demons in these matter."
शूरेण वीरेण निशाचरेन्द्र
सुरासुराणामपि दुर्जयेन
त्वया प्रगल्भाः सुरदैत्यसम्घा
जिताश्च युद्धेष्वसकृन्नरेन्द्राः
śūreṇa vīreṇa niśācarendra
surāsurāṇāmapi durjayena
tvayā pragalbhāḥ suradaityasamghā
jitāśca yuddheṣvasakṛnnarendrāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O king of demons! You are valiant. You are heroic. Even celestials and demons cannot conquer you. You conquered a multitude of proud celestials and demons together with their kings in battles several times"
न च अपि अस्य कपेः घाते कंचित् पश्यामि अहम् गुणम्
तेष्व् अयम् पात्यताम् दण्डो यैः अयम् प्रेषितः
कपिः
na ca api asya kapeḥ ghāte kaṃcit paśyāmi aham guṇam
teṣv ayam pātyatām daṇḍo yaiḥ ayam preṣitaḥ
kapiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not see any merit in killing this monkey. Let this carnal punishment be employed on those by whom this monkey was sent."
साधुः वा यदि वा असाधुः परैः एष समर्पितः
ब्रुवन् पर अर्थम् परवान् न दूतो वधम् अर्हति
sādhuḥ vā yadi vā asādhuḥ paraiḥ eṣa samarpitaḥ
bruvan para artham paravān na dūto vadham arhati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He is a person, sent by our enemies, whether he is good or bad. It is not worthy of killing him, who is an envoy, who is dependent on others and who talks for the cause of others."
अपि च अस्मिन् हते राजन् न अन्यम् पश्यामि खे चरम्
इह यः पुनः आगच्छेत् परम् पारम् महाउदधिः
api ca asmin hate rājan na anyam paśyāmi khe caram
iha yaḥ punaḥ āgacchet param pāram mahāudadhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O king! Moreover, If he is killed, I do not find any other person, who can travel through the sky and come here again to this shore of the great ocean."
तस्मान् न अस्य वधे यत्नः कार्यः पर पुरम् जय
भवान् स इन्द्रेषु देवेषु यत्नम् आस्थातुम् अर्हति
tasmān na asya vadhe yatnaḥ kāryaḥ para puram jaya
bhavān sa indreṣu deveṣu yatnam āsthātum arhati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O conqueror of enemies! Therefore, do not make efforts to kill him. On the other hand, you ought to strengthen such effort on celestials including indra."
अस्मिन् विनष्टे न हि दूतम् अन्यम्
पश्यामि यः तौ नर राज पुत्रौ
युद्धाय युद्ध प्रिय दुर्विनीताव्
उद्योजयेत् दीर्घ पथ अवरुद्धौ
asmin vinaṣṭe na hi dūtam anyam
paśyāmi yaḥ tau nara rāja putrau
yuddhāya yuddha priya durvinītāv
udyojayet dīrgha patha avaruddhau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Ravana, who is fond of war! If he is dead, I do not find any other hero, who can incite those two arrogant princes, who are hindered by a long distance, for war."
पराक्रम उत्साह मनस्विनाम् च
सुर असुराणाम् अपि दुर्जयेन
त्वया मनो नन्दन नैरृतानाम्
युद्ध आयतिः नाशयितुम् न युक्ता
parākrama utsāha manasvinām ca
sura asurāṇām api durjayena
tvayā mano nandana nairṛtānām
yuddha āyatiḥ nāśayitum na yuktā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Ravana who can gladden the hearts of demons! It is not proper for you, who are difficult to be conquered by even celestials and demons having sufficient prowess energy and courage, to crush the arrival of a war."
हिताः च शूराः च समाहिताः च
कुलेषु जाताः च महागुणेषु
मनस्विनः शस्त्रभृताम् वरिष्ठाः
कोटि अग्र शस्ते सुभृताः च योधाः
hitāḥ ca śūrāḥ ca samāhitāḥ ca
kuleṣu jātāḥ ca mahāguṇeṣu
manasvinaḥ śastrabhṛtām variṣṭhāḥ
koṭi agra śaste subhṛtāḥ ca yodhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"There are more than a crore of valiant warriors in your charge, well-maintained, who desire your welfare, quite devoted, having colossal merits, born in a good tribe, holding high spirits and excellent wielders of weapons."
तत् एक देशेन बलस्य तावत्
केचित् तव आदेश कृतो अपयान्तु
तौ राज पुत्रौ विनिगृह्य मूढौ
परेषु ते भावयितुम् प्रभावम्
tat eka deśena balasya tāvat
kecit tava ādeśa kṛto apayāntu
tau rāja putrau vinigṛhya mūḍhau
pareṣu te bhāvayitum prabhāvam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Therefore, let some who follow your command, by talking a portion of your army, subjugate those two stupid princes, in order to make your power known to your adversaries."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये सुन्दरकाण्डे द्विपञ्चाशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye sundarakāṇḍe dvipañcāśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana, the mighty and the eminent king of demons as also the lord of ogres and the adversary of the world of celestials, understood the cherished and excellent message of Vibhishana his brother with his due presence of mind."