Chapter 10

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

ततः प्रत्युषसि प्राप्ते प्राप्तधर्मार्थनिश्चयः
राक्षसाधिपतेर्वेश्म भीमकर्मा विभीषणः

tataḥ pratyuṣasi prāpte prāptadharmārthaniścayaḥ
rākṣasādhipaterveśma bhīmakarmā vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | prāpta dharmārtha niścayaḥ: who arrived at a settlement about virtue | bhīmakarmā: and who was terrible in his act | prāpte: on arrival of | pratyuṣasi: the dawn | veśma: (entered) the palace | rākṣasādhipateḥ: of Ravana. |

TRANSLATION

Vibhishana, who always arrived at a settlement in matters of virtue, pleasure and wealth and who was terrible in his act, on arrival of the dawn, entered the palace of Ravana.

VERSE 2

शैलाग्रचयसम्काशम् शैलशृज्ँगमिवोन्नतम्
सुविभक्तमहाकक्षम् महाजनपरिग्रहम्

śailāgracayasamkāśam śailaśṛj~gamivonnatam
suvibhaktamahākakṣam mahājanaparigraham

SYNONYMS

śailāgracayasankāśam: looking like a multitude of mountain-tops | unnatam: elevated | śaila śṛngamiva: like a mountain-peak | suvibhakta mahākakṣam: well-divided into large apartments mahaajana parigraham = occupied by eminent men. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana's palace was looking like a mass of rocks, elevated like a mountain-peak, well-divided into spacious apartments and occupied by eminent men.

VERSE 3

मतिमद्भिर्महामात्रैरनुरकैरधिष्ठितम्
राक्षसैराप्तपर्याप्तैह् सर्वतः परिरक्षितम्

matimadbhirmahāmātrairanurakairadhiṣṭhitam
rākṣasairāptaparyāptaih sarvataḥ parirakṣitam

SYNONYMS

adhiṣṭhitam: It was inhabited | mahāmatraiḥ: by prime ministers | matimadbhiḥ: who were intelligent | anuraktaiḥ: and beloved | parirakṣitam: It was guarded | sarvataḥ: on all sides | rākṣasaiḥ: by demons | āpta paryāptaiḥ: who were trust-worthy and efficient. |

TRANSLATION

It was inhabited by prime ministers, who were intelligent and beloved. It was guarded on all sides by demons, who were trust worthy and efficient.

VERSE 4

मत्तमातज्ँगनिःश्वासैर्व्याकुलीकृतमारुतम्
शज्ँखघोषमहाघोषम् तूर्यसम्बाधनादितम्

mattamātaj~ganiḥśvāsairvyākulīkṛtamārutam
śaj~khaghoṣamahāghoṣam tūryasambādhanāditam

SYNONYMS

matta mātamga niḥśvāsaiḥ: by the sighing breaths of elephants in rut | vyākulīkṛta mārutam: the air was filled | śaṇkha ghoṣa mahāghoṣam: with a tumultuous noise produced by the sounds of couches | tūrya sambādha nāditām: made to resound |

TRANSLATION

The air was filled with the sighing breaths of elephants in rut, with tumultuous noise produced by the blowing of conches and made to resound by an ensemble of musical instruments.

VERSE 5

प्रमदाजनसम्बाधम् प्रजल्पितमहापथम्
तप्तकाञ्चननिर्यूहम् भूषणोत्तमभूषितम्

pramadājanasambādham prajalpitamahāpatham
taptakāñcananiryūham bhūṣaṇottamabhūṣitam

SYNONYMS

pramadājana sambādhām: filled with women-folk | prajalpita mahāpatham: with principal pasaages having spoken words | taptakāṇcana niryūham: with turrets made of pure gold | bhūṣaṇottama bhūṣitam: adorned with excellent decorations. |

TRANSLATION

The palace was filled with a number of women-folk. It was having principal passages in which spoken words were heard. It was having turrets made of pure gold and adorned with excellent decors.

VERSE 6

गन्धर्वाणामिवावासमालयम् मरुतामिव
रत्नसंचयसम्बाधम् भवनम् भोगिनामिव

gandharvāṇāmivāvāsamālayam marutāmiva
ratnasaṃcayasambādham bhavanam bhogināmiva

SYNONYMS

āvāsam iva: It was like an abode | gandharvāṇām: of Gandharvas | ālayam iva: like a palace marutaam = of Marus | ratna samhaya sambādhām: filled with a collection of jewels | bhavanam iva: resembling a house | bhoginām: of serpents. |

TRANSLATION

The palace was like an abode of Gandharvas (celestial musicians) and of Maruts (strom-gods) filled with a collection of jewels resembling a house of Nagas (serpent-gods).

VERSE 7

तम् महाभ्रमिवादित्य स्तेजोविस्तृतरश्मिमान्
अग्रजस्यालयम् वीरः प्रविवेश महाद्युतिः

tam mahābhramivāditya stejovistṛtaraśmimān
agrajasyālayam vīraḥ praviveśa mahādyutiḥ

SYNONYMS

vīraḥ: the valiant Vbhishana | mahādyutiḥ: with great splendour | praviveśa: entered | tam ālayam: that mansion | agrajasya: of his elder brother | mahābhramiva: like a large cloud | ādityaḥ: by Sun | tejovistṛta raśmimān: with rays outstretched with splendour. |

TRANSLATION

The valiant Vibhishana with great splendour entered that mansion of his elder brother, Ravana, like the sun with rays outstretched with splendour entering a big cloud.

VERSE 8

पुण्यान् पुण्याहघोषांश्च वेदिविद्भिरुदाहृतान्
शुश्राव सुमहातेजा भ्रातुर्विजयसंश्रितान्

puṇyān puṇyāhaghoṣāṃśca vedividbhirudāhṛtān
śuśrāva sumahātejā bhrāturvijayasaṃśritān

SYNONYMS

sumahātejāḥ: Vibhishana | śuśrāva ca: heard | puṇyān: the auspicious | puṇyāha ghoṣān: sounds of felicitous recital of prayers | udāhṛtām: uttered | vedavidbhiḥ: by the knowers of Veda | vijaya samśritān: relating to victory | bhrātuḥ: of his brother. |

TRANSLATION

Vibhishana with great radiance, heard the auspicious sounds of felicitous recital of prayers uttered by the knowers of Vedas (scriptural texts), wishing for the victory of his brother.

VERSE 9

पूजितान् दधिपात्रैश्च सर्पिर्भिः सुमनोक्षतैः
मन्त्रवेदविदो विप्रान् ददर्श स महाबलः

pūjitān dadhipātraiśca sarpirbhiḥ sumanokṣataiḥ
mantravedavido viprān dadarśa sa mahābalaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: he | mahābalaḥ: with great strength | dadarśa: saw | viprān: Brahmins | mantra veda vidaḥ: who knew Mantras (sacred texts) and Brahmanas | pūjitān: respected and offered with | dadhipātraiśca: pots filled with curd | sarpirbhiḥ: with clarified butter | sumanokṣataiḥ: with flowers and unbroken grains of rice. |

TRANSLATION

Vibhishana of great strength, saw Brahmins who know Mantras (sacred texts) and Brahmanas, respected and offered with pots filled of curd, clarified butter as well as with flowers and unbroken rice.

VERSE 10

स पूज्यमानो रक्षोभिद्दीप्यमानम् स्वतेजसा
असवस्थम् महाबाहुर्ववन्दे धनदानुजम्

sa pūjyamāno rakṣobhiddīpyamānam svatejasā
asavastham mahābāhurvavande dhanadānujam

SYNONYMS

mahābāhuḥ: the mighty armed | saḥ: Vibhishana | pūjyamānaḥ: being adored | rakṣobhiḥ: by demons | dīpyamānam: and shining | svategasā: by his own splendour | vavande: offered salutation | dhanadānuham: to Ravana the younger brother Kubera (Lord of riches) | āsanastham: who was on the throne. |

TRANSLATION

The mighty armed Vibhishana, being adored by the deomons and shining by his own splendour, offered salutation to Ravana the younger brother of Kubera (the lord of riches), who occupied the throne.

VERSE 11

स राजदृष्टिसम्पन्नमासनम् हेमभूषितम्
जगाम समुदाचारम् प्रयुज्याचारकोविदः

sa rājadṛṣṭisampannamāsanam hemabhūṣitam
jagāma samudācāram prayujyācārakovidaḥ

SYNONYMS

prayujya: employing | samudācāram: customary formalities | saḥ: Vibhishana | ācara kovidaḥ: who knew the code of conduct | jagāma: obtained | āsanam: a seat | hemabhūṣitam: adorned with gold | rāja dṛṣṭi sampannam: endowed to him by a glance of the king. |

TRANSLATION

Practicing customary formalities, Vibhishana who knew the code of conduct, obtained a seat adorned with gold, as endowed to him by a glance of the king.

VERSE 12

स रावणम् महात्मानम् विजने मन्त्रिसम्निधौ
उवाच हितमत्यर्थम् वचनम् हेतुनिश्चितम्

sa rāvaṇam mahātmānam vijane mantrisamnidhau
uvāca hitamatyartham vacanam hetuniścitam

SYNONYMS

mantra samnidhau: in the presence of ministers | vijane: and in privation | saḥ: Vibhishana | uvāca: spoke | rāvaṇam: to Ravana | mahātmānam: the powerful | vacanam: the words | hetuniścitam: convinced of reason | atyartham: and very much | hitam: beneficial. |

TRANSLATION

In the presence of ministers and in privation, Vibhishana spoke to powerful Ravana the words convinced of reason and which were very much beneficial.

VERSE 13

प्रसाद्य भ्रातरम् ज्येष्ठम् सान्त्वेनोपस्थितक्रमः
देशकालार्थसम्वादि दृष्टलोकपरावः

prasādya bhrātaram jyeṣṭham sāntvenopasthitakramaḥ
deśakālārthasamvādi dṛṣṭalokaparāvaḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭa lokaparāparaḥ: Vibhishana | prasādya: having sought the favour | jyeṣṭham bhrātaram: from his elder (half-) brother | sāntvenā: by means of soothing words | upasthita kramaḥ: arranged in order | deśakālartha samvādi: spoke in consonance with place |

TRANSLATION

Vibhishana, who could discriminate between good and evil things in the world, having sought the favour from his eldest (half-) brother by means of soothing words arranged in an order, spoke in consonance with place, time and purpose.

VERSE 14

यदा प्रभृति वैदेही सम्प्राप्तेह परतप
तदा प्रभृति दृश्यन्ते निमित्तान्यशुभानि नः

yadā prabhṛti vaidehī samprāpteha paratapa
tadā prabhṛti dṛśyante nimittānyaśubhāni naḥ

SYNONYMS

paramtapa: O | yadā prabhṛti: since when | vaidehī: Seetha | samprāptā: came | iha: here | tadā prabhṛti: since then | aśubhāni: inauspicious | nimittāni: omnes | dṛśyante: are being seen | naḥ: by us. |

TRANSLATION

"O, annihilator of enemies! We are seeing inauspicious omens, since Seetha arrived here."

VERSE 15

सस्फुलिज्ँगः सधूमार्चिह् सधूमकलुषोदयः
मन्त्रसम्घहुतो।अप्यग्निर्न सम्यगभिवर्धते

sasphulij~gaḥ sadhūmārcih sadhūmakaluṣodayaḥ
mantrasamghahuto|apyagnirna samyagabhivardhate

SYNONYMS

mantra samghahutaḥ api: even if the sacrificial fire is fed with oblations while uttering a set of proper Mantras (scared texts) | agniḥ: the fire | nābhivardhate: is not flaring up | samyak: well | sasphuliṅgaḥ: with rising sparks | sadhūmārahiḥ: with flames containing smoke | sadhūmakaluṣodayaḥ: cming forth polluted with soot. |

TRANSLATION

"Even if the sacrificial fire is fed with oblations while uttering a proper set of Mantras (Spiritual texts), the fire is not flaring up well, emitting sparks, its flames are enveloped in smoke and are coming forth, polluted with soot."

VERSE 16

अग्निष्ठेष्वग्निशालासु तथा ब्रह्मस्थलीषु च
परीपृपाणि दृश्यन्ते हव्येषु च पिपीलिकाः

agniṣṭheṣvagniśālāsu tathā brahmasthalīṣu ca
parīpṛpāṇi dṛśyante havyeṣu ca pipīlikāḥ

SYNONYMS

sarīsṛpāṇi: serpents | dṛśyanti: are seen | agniṣṭheṣu: at the corner of the sacrificial post which is nearest the fires | agniśālāsu: in houses keeping sacrificial fire | tathā: and | brahma sthalīṣu ca: in places where sacred studies are made | pipīlikāḥ: ants (are seen) | havyeṣu: in things to be offered as oblations. |

TRANSLATION

"Serpents are seen at the corner of the sacrificial post which is nearest the fire, also in houses keeping sacrificial fire and in places where sacred studies are made. Ants are seen in things to be offered as oblations."

VERSE 17

गवाम् पयांसि स्कन्नानि विमदा वरकुञ्जराः
दीनमश्वाः प्रहेषन्ते न च ग्रासाभिनन्दिनः

gavām payāṃsi skannāni vimadā varakuñjarāḥ
dīnamaśvāḥ praheṣante na ca grāsābhinandinaḥ

SYNONYMS

payāmsi: milk | gavām: of cows | skannāni: is getting curdled | varakuṇjarāḥ: excellent elephants | vimadāḥ: are bereft of rut | aśrāḥ: horses | praheṣante: are neighing | dīnam: miserably | na ca: and not | grāsābhinanditaḥ: rejoicing at grass. |

TRANSLATION

"Cow's milk is getting curdled. Excellent elephants are bereft of rut. Horses are neighing miserably and are not rejoiced in eating grass."

VERSE 18

खरोष्ट्राश्वतरा राजन्भिन्न्रोमाः स्रवन्ति च
न स्वभावे।अवतिष्ठन्ते विधानैरपि चिन्तताः

kharoṣṭrāśvatarā rājanbhinnromāḥ sravanti ca
na svabhāve|avatiṣṭhante vidhānairapi cintatāḥ

SYNONYMS

rājan: O | kharoṣṭrāśvatarāḥ: donkeys | sravantica: shed tears | bhinna romāḥ: losing their hair | cintitāḥ'pi: and even if treated vidhaanaiH = as per medical procedures | na avatiṣṭhante: do not stand | svabhāve: to their nature. |

TRANSLATION

"O, king! Donkeys, camels and mules shed tears, losing their hair and even if treated asper medical procedures are not getting cured."

VERSE 19

वायसाः सघशः क्रूरा व्याहरन्ति समन्ततः
समवेताश्च दृश्यन्ते विमानाग्रेषु सम्घशः

vāyasāḥ saghaśaḥ krūrā vyāharanti samantataḥ
samavetāśca dṛśyante vimānāgreṣu samghaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

krūrāḥ vāyasāḥ: crows | samghaśaḥ: in crowds | vyāharanti: are crying | krūrāḥ: crudly | samastataḥ: from all sides | dṟ^śyante: are being seen | samavetāḥ: assembled together | vimanāgreṣu: on house-tops. |

TRANSLATION

"Crows in flocks are crying cruelly from all sides and are seen in crowds assembled together on house-tops."

VERSE 20

गृध्राश्च परिलीयन्ते पुरीमुपरि पिण्डिताः
उपपन्नाश्च संध्ये द्वे व्याहरन्त्यशिवम् शिवाः

gṛdhrāśca parilīyante purīmupari piṇḍitāḥ
upapannāśca saṃdhye dve vyāharantyaśivam śivāḥ

SYNONYMS

gṛdhrāśca: vultures | parilīyante: fly to and from paripiNDitaaH = in circles | purīmupari: over the city | śivāḥ: jackals | vyāharanti: are crying | aśivam: inauspiciously | upasannāḥ: at the approach | dve sandhye: of both dawn and dusk. |

TRANSLATION

"Vultures fly to and fro in circles over the city. Jackals are crying inauspiciously at the approach of both dawn and the dusk."

VERSE 21

क्रव्यादानाम् मृगाणाम् च पुरीद्वारेषु सज्ँघशः
श्रूयन्ते विपुला घोषाः सविस्फूर्जितनिःस्वनाः

kravyādānām mṛgāṇām ca purīdvāreṣu saj~ghaśaḥ
śrūyante vipulā ghoṣāḥ savisphūrjitaniḥsvanāḥ

SYNONYMS

purīdvāreṣu: at city-gates | śrūyante: are heard | vipulāḥ: loud | ghoṣāḥ: cries | kravyādānām: of carnivorons | mṛgāṇām: animals | saṇghaśaḥ: gathered in groups | savisphūrjita niḥsvanāḥ: with thundering noise. |

TRANSLATION

"At city-gates are heard loud cries of carnivorous animals gathered in groups, with thundering noise."

VERSE 22

तदेवम् प्रस्तुते कार्ते प्रायश्चित्तमिदम् क्षमम्
रोचये वीर वैदेही राघवाय प्रदीयताम्

tadevam prastute kārte prāyaścittamidam kṣamam
rocaye vīra vaidehī rāghavāya pradīyatām

SYNONYMS

vīra: O | tat: hence | kārye: (when) the actions of evil forces | prastute: are happening | evam: in this way | idam: this | prāyaścittam: atonement | kṣama: is appropriate | rocaye: I like it | vaidehi: (that) Seetha | pradīyatām: be given away | rāghavāya: to Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"O, brave man! Hence, when the actions of evil forces are happening in this way, this atonement is appropriate that Seetha be given away to Rama and I like it."

VERSE 23

इदम् च यदि वामोहाल्लोभाद्वा व्याहृतम् मया
तत्राप् च महाराज न दोषम् कर्तुमर्हसि

idam ca yadi vāmohāllobhādvā vyāhṛtam mayā
tatrāp ca mahārāja na doṣam kartumarhasi

SYNONYMS

mahāraja: O | mayā vyahṛtam yadi: if I am speaking | idam: this | mohādvā: because of infatuation | lobhādvā: or greed | tatrāpi: in that case also | nārhasi: you ought not | kartum: to find | doṣam: fault (with me). |

TRANSLATION

"O, emperor! If I am speaking this because of infatuation or greed, in that case also, you ought not to find fault with me."

VERSE 24

अयम् हि दोषः सर्वस्य जनस्याप्योपलक्ष्यते
रक्षसाम् राक्षसीनाम् च पुरस्यान्तः पुरस्य च

ayam hi doṣaḥ sarvasya janasyāpyopalakṣyate
rakṣasām rākṣasīnām ca purasyāntaḥ purasya ca

SYNONYMS

ayam: these | doṣaḥ: bad omens | upalakṣyate hi: are being seeing indeed | rakṣasām: by demons | rākṣasīnāmca: by lady-demons | purasya: of the city | antaḥpurāsya: and of the gynaeceum | sarvasya: and all | asya: these | janasya: people. |

TRANSLATION

"These bad omens are being seen indeed by demons and lady-demons of the city and of the gynaeceum as well as all these people here."

VERSE 25

प्रापणे चास्य मन्त्रस्य निवृत्ताः सर्वमन्त्रिणः
अवश्यम् च मया वाच्यम् यद्दृष्टमथवा श्रुतम्

prāpaṇe cāsya mantrasya nivṛttāḥ sarvamantriṇaḥ
avaśyam ca mayā vācyam yaddṛṣṭamathavā śrutam

SYNONYMS

sarva mantriṇaḥ: all the ministers | nivṛttāḥ: have abstained | prāpaṇe: to pass | asya: this | mantrasya: counsel | yat: whatever | dṛṣṭam: is seen | athavā: or | śrutam: heard (it) | vācyam: is to be told | avaśyam: surely | mayā: by me | tat: hence | bhavān: you | arhati: ought | kartum: to do | yathānyāyam: according to fitness of things | samvidhāya: for the occasion. |

TRANSLATION

"All your ministers have abstained to pass this counsel to you. Whatever is seen or heard, it is to be told certainly by me. Hence, you ought to do according to a justification of things for the occasion."

VERSE 26

इति स्वमन्त्रिणाम् मध्ये भ्राता भ्रातरमूचिवान्

iti svamantriṇām madhye bhrātā bhrātaramūcivān

SYNONYMS

vibhiśaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | bhrātā: (the half-)brother | ūcivān: spoke | iti: these | pathyam: beneficial | etat: words | rāvaṇam: to Ravana | rakṣasām śreṣṭham: the best among demons | svamantriṇām: in the midst of ministers | bhrātaram: of his (half-) brother |

TRANSLATION

Vibhishana, the half- bother spoke these beneficial words to Ravana, the best among demons in the midst of his half-brother's ministers.

VERSE 27

हितम् महार्थम् मऋदु हेतुसम्हितम्
व्यतीतकालायतिसम्प्रतिक्षमम्
निशम्य तद्वाक्यमुपस्थितज्वरः
प्रसज्ँगवानुत्तरमेत दब्रवीत्

hitam mahārtham maṛdu hetusamhitam
vyatītakālāyatisampratikṣamam
niśamya tadvākyamupasthitajvaraḥ
prasaj~gavānuttarameta dabravīt

SYNONYMS

prasaṇgavān: Ravana | niśamya: heard | tat: those | vākyam: words | hitam: which were beneficial | mahārtam: very well-meaning | mṛdu: soft | hetusamhitam: conformable to reason | vyatītakālāyati sampratikṣamam: and suitable for the past future and the present times | upasthitajvaraḥ: got enraged | abravīt: uttered | etat: this | uttaram: reply. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana, who had evil inclination, heard those words, which were beneficial very well-meant, soft, conformable to reason and suitable for the past future and present times, got enraged and uttered this reply.

VERSE 28

भयम् न पश्यामि कुतश्चिदप्यहम्
न राघवः प्राप्स्यति जातु मैथिलीम्
सुरैः सहेन्द्रैरपि सम्गरे कथम्
ममाग्रतः स्थास्यति लक्ष्मणाग्रजः

bhayam na paśyāmi kutaścidapyaham
na rāghavaḥ prāpsyati jātu maithilīm
suraiḥ sahendrairapi samgare katham
mamāgrataḥ sthāsyati lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ

SYNONYMS

na paśyāmi: I do not see | bhayam: fear | kutaścidapi: from whom so ever | rāmaḥ: Rama | naprāpsyati: cannot obtain | maithilīm: Seetha | jātu: by any means | katham: how | lakśmaṇāgrajaḥ: Rama | sthāsyati: can stand | agrataḥ: before me | sangare: in battle | śendraiḥ: even along with Indra | surairapi: together with celestials also? |

TRANSLATION

"I do not see any fear from whom so ever. Rama cannot obtain Seetha by any means. How Rama even along with Indra and the celestials can stand before me in battle?"

VERSE 29

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे दशमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe daśamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

dasgābabaḥ: Ravana | surasainya rāśanaḥ: who annihilates the army of celestials | mahābalaḥ: (and) very powerful | caṇḍavikramaḥ: with an impetuous valour | ityevam: thus | uktvā: spoke | tadā: then | visarjayāmāsa: sent away | vibhīṣaṇam: Vibhishana | āptavādinam: who spoke honestly. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana, who annihilated the army of celestials and who was very powerful with an impetuous valour, thus spoke and then sent away Vibhishana, who had spoken honestly.