Chapter 104

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

स तु मोहात्सुसङ्क्रुद्धः कृतान्तबलचोदितः
क्रोधसन्रक्तनयनो रावणो सूतमब्रवीत्

sa tu mohātsusaṅkruddhaḥ kṛtāntabalacoditaḥ
krodhasanraktanayano rāvaṇo sūtamabravīt

SYNONYMS

saḥ rāvaṇaḥ: that Ravana | kṛtānta bala coditaḥ: impelled by strength of Destiny | krodha samraktanayanaḥ: with his red-blood eyes through anger | mohāt: due to infatnation | abravīt: spoke | sūtam: to his charioteer (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Impelled by force of Destiny and with his red-blood eyes through anger due to infatuation, that Ravana spoke to his charioteer as follows:

VERSE 2

हीनवीर्यमिवाशक्तं पौरुषेण विवर्जितम्
भीरुन् लघुमिवासत्त्वं विहीनमिव तेजसा

hīnavīryamivāśaktaṃ pauruṣeṇa vivarjitam
bhīrun laghumivāsattvaṃ vihīnamiva tejasā

SYNONYMS

3| durbuddhe: O evil-minded fellow! | avajñā: despising | mām: me | vivarjitam: as though I were bereft | pauruṣeṇa: of manliness | aśaktam: incapable | hīna vīryamiva: deficient in prowess | bhīrum: cowardly | laghumiva: petty-minded | asattvam: devoid of energy | vihīnamiva tejasā: deserted of conjuring tricks | bahiṣkṛtam iva astraiḥ: and abandoned by mystic missiles | viceṣṭase: you are acting | svayā buddhyā: as per your discretion! |

TRANSLATION

"O evil-minded fellow! Despising me as though I were bereft of manliness, incapable, deficient in prowess, cowardly, petty-minded, devoid of energy, bereft of brilliance, deserted of conjuring tricks and abandoned by mystic missiles, you are acting as per your discretion!"

VERSE 4

किमर्थं मामवज्ञाय मच्छन्दमनवेक्ष्य च
त्वया शत्रुसमक्षं मे रथोअयमपवाहितः

kimarthaṃ māmavajñāya macchandamanavekṣya ca
tvayā śatrusamakṣaṃ me rathoayamapavāhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

kimartham: why have you | apavāhitaḥ: carried away | me ayam rathaḥ: this chariot of mine | avajṇāya: humiliating | mām: me | śatrusamakṣam: before my enemies | anavekṣya ca: and overlooking | macchandam: my will? |

TRANSLATION

"Why have you carried away this chariot of mine, thus humiliating me in the presence of my enemies and overlooking my will?"

VERSE 5

त्वयाद्य हि ममानार्य चिरकालसमार्जितम्
यशो वीर्यन् च तेजश्च प्रत्ययश्च विनाशिथ

tvayādya hi mamānārya cirakālasamārjitam
yaśo vīryan ca tejaśca pratyayaśca vināśitha

SYNONYMS

anārya: O vulgar fellow! | mama: my | yaśaḥ: fame | cirakāla samārjitam: which was earned through a long period | tejaśca: vital power | pratyayaśca: and trust | vināśitaḥ: have been destroyed | tvayā: by you | adya: today. |

TRANSLATION

"O vulgar fellow! You have destroyed my fame which was earned through a long period, prowess, vital power and the trust of people today."

VERSE 6

शत्रोः प्रख्यातवीर्यस्य रञ्जनीयस्य विक्रमैः
पश्यतो युद्धलुब्धोअहन् कृतः कापुरुषस्त्वया

śatroḥ prakhyātavīryasya rañjanīyasya vikramaiḥ
paśyato yuddhalubdhoahan kṛtaḥ kāpuruṣastvayā

SYNONYMS

aham: I | yuddha lubdhaḥ: having an ardent desire for battle | kṛtaḥ: was made | kāpuruṣaḥ: a contemptible person | tvayā: by you | śatroḥ: while my enemy | prakhyāta vīrasya: having an illustrious prowess | raṅjanīyasya: making others delightful | vikramaiḥ: through feats of his | paśyataḥ: stood looking on. |

TRANSLATION

"While my adversary, having an illustrious prowess and making others delightful through feats of his valour, stood looking on, myself, who has an ardent desire for fighting and who was made contemptible by you!"

VERSE 7

यस्त्वन् रथमिमं मोहान्न चोद्वहसि दुर्मते
सत्योअयं प्रतितर्को मे परेण त्वमुपस्कृतः

yastvan rathamimaṃ mohānna codvahasi durmate
satyoayaṃ pratitarko me pareṇa tvamupaskṛtaḥ

SYNONYMS

durmate: O evil-minded fellow! | yaḥ tvam: in case you | na: do not | mohāt: by perversity | vahasi: carry away | idam cariot: this chariot | cet: at any event | ayam pratitarkaḥ: this expectation of mine | tvam: that you | upaskṛtaḥ: stand corrupted | pareṇa: by the enemy | satyaḥ: will be a fact. |

TRANSLATION

"O evil-minded fellow! In case you do not, by perversity, carry away this chariot at any event, this expectation of mine that you stand corrupted by the enemy, will be a fact."

VERSE 8

न हीदन् विद्यते कर्म सुहृदो हितकाङ्क्षिणः
रिपूणान् सदृशन् चैतन्न त्वयैतत्स्वनुष्ठितम्

na hīdan vidyate karma suhṛdo hitakāṅkṣiṇaḥ
ripūṇān sadṛśan caitanna tvayaitatsvanuṣṭhitam

SYNONYMS

etat: this | yat: which | anuṣṭhitam: has been done | tvayā: by you | sadṛśam: is befitting | ripūṇām: of enemies | tat: that | na vidyate hi: is indeed not | karma: the work | suhṛdaḥ: of a friend | hitakāṅkṣiṇaḥ: who wishes me well. |

TRANSLATION

"This act, which has been done by you, is only befitting of enemies. This is indeed not the work of a friend, who wishes me well."

VERSE 9

निवर्तय रथन् शीघ्रं यावन्नापैति मे रिपुः
यदि वाप्युषितोअसि त्वन् स्मर्यन्ते यदि वा गुणाः

nivartaya rathan śīghraṃ yāvannāpaiti me ripuḥ
yadi vāpyuṣitoasi tvan smaryante yadi vā guṇāḥ

SYNONYMS

asi yadi tvam: If you | adhyuṣitaḥ: inhabited with me for a long time | yadismaryate: and if you remember | me: my | guṇah: merit | nivartaya: drive back | ratham: the chariot | śīghram: swiftly | yāvat: till | me ripuḥ: my enemy | nāpaiti: does not withdraw. |

TRANSLATION

"If you inhabited with me in Lanka for a long time and if you remember my merit, drive back the chariot swiftly till my enemy does not withdraw."

VERSE 10

एवं परुषमुक्तस्तु हितबुद्धिरबुद्धिना
अब्रवीद्रावणन् सूतो हितं सानुनयं वचः

evaṃ paruṣamuktastu hitabuddhirabuddhinā
abravīdrāvaṇan sūto hitaṃ sānunayaṃ vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

evam uktaḥ: thus spoken | paruṣam: harshly | abuddhinā: by the foolish Ravana | hita buddhiḥ: the friendly-minded | sūtaḥ: charioteer | abravīt: spoke | sānnyam vacaḥ: conciliatory words | rāvaṇam: to Ravana (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those harsh words of the foolish Ravana, the friendly-minded charioteer spoke the following conciliatory words of Ravana:

VERSE 11

न भीतोअस्मि न मूढोअस्मि नोपजप्तोअस्मि शत्रुभिः
न प्रमत्तो न निःस्नेहो विस्मृता न च सत्क्रिया

na bhītoasmi na mūḍhoasmi nopajaptoasmi śatrubhiḥ
na pramatto na niḥsneho vismṛtā na ca satkriyā

SYNONYMS

nāsmi: I was not | bhītaḥ: frightened | na asmi: I was not | mūḍhaḥ: stupid | upajaptaḥ: bribed | śatrubhiḥ: by the enemies | pramattaḥ: a blunderer | na niḥ snehaḥ: I was not disloyal | satkriyāca: your good | na vismṛtā: was not forgotten. |

TRANSLATION

"I was neither frightened nor I was stupid. I was not bribed by the enemies, nor was I a blunderer. I was not disloyal to you. I have not forgotten the benefits conferred by you."

VERSE 12

मया तु हितकामेन यशश्च परिरक्षता
स्नेहप्रस्कन्नमनसा प्रियमित्यप्रियन् कृतम्

mayā tu hitakāmena yaśaśca parirakṣatā
snehapraskannamanasā priyamityapriyan kṛtam

SYNONYMS

mayā: by me | hita kāmena: who wish well to you | parikṣatā: who protect | yaśaśca: your honour | sneha prasanna manasā: with a mind affectionately disposed towards you through attachment | apriyam: an act which was not to your liking | kṛtam: was done | hitam iti: as something conducive to your interest. |

TRANSLATION

"An act which was not to your taste was done by me as something conducive to your interest, by wishing well of you, for protecting your honour and with mind affectionately disposed towards you through attachment."

VERSE 13

नास्मिन्नर्थे महाराज त्वं मां प्रियहिते रतम्
कश्चिल्लघुरिवानार्यो दोषतो गन्तुमर्हसि

nāsminnarthe mahārāja tvaṃ māṃ priyahite ratam
kaścillaghurivānāryo doṣato gantumarhasi

SYNONYMS

mahārāja: O monarch! | kaścit laghuḥ anāryaḥ iva: like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy | tvam na arhasi: you ought not | mām gantum: to hold me | priyahite ratam: devoted as I am to your pleasure and good | doṣataḥ: guilty | asmin arthe: in this matter. |

TRANSLATION

"O monarch! Like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy, you ought not to hold me, devoted as I am to your pleasure and good, quilty in this matter."

VERSE 14

श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि यन्निमित्तं मया रथः
नदीवेग इवाम्भोभिः सन्युगे विनिवर्तितः

śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi yannimittaṃ mayā rathaḥ
nadīvega ivāmbhobhiḥ sanyuge vinivartitaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahārāja: O monarch! | kaścit laghuḥ anāryaḥ iva: like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy | tvam na arhasi: you ought not | mām gantum: to hold me | priyahite ratam: devoted as I am to your pleasure and good | doṣataḥ: guilty | asmin arthe: in this matter. |

TRANSLATION

"O monarch! Like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy, you ought not to hold me, devoted as I am to your pleasure and good, guilty in this matter."

VERSE 15

श्रमन् तवावगच्छामि महता रणकर्मणा
न हि ते वीर सौमुख्यं प्रहर्षन् वोपधारये

śraman tavāvagacchāmi mahatā raṇakarmaṇā
na hi te vīra saumukhyaṃ praharṣan vopadhāraye

SYNONYMS

pratidāsyāmi: I am giving a reply | śrūyatām: let it be listened (by you) | yannimittam: why | rathaḥ: the chariot | vinivartitam: was carried away | samyuge: in the battle-field | nadīvegaḥ iva: as the onrush of a stream | ābhoge: (is pushed back) by a tide. |

TRANSLATION

"I understand your exhaustion, due to your strenuous fighting in the great battle. I am not reflecting on the inclination of your valour or on your superiority over your enemy."

VERSE 16

रथोद्वहनखिन्नाश्च त इमे रथवाजिनः
दीना घर्मपरिश्रान्ता गावो वर्षहता इव

rathodvahanakhinnāśca ta ime rathavājinaḥ
dīnā gharmapariśrāntā gāvo varṣahatā iva

SYNONYMS

me rathavājinaḥ: the horses of my chariot | bhagnāḥ: were broken down | rathodvahanakhinnāḥ: and were exhausted by drawing the chariot | dīnāḥ: they became miserable | gharmapariśrāntāḥ: and thoroughly fatigued | gāvaḥ iva: like the cows | varṣa hatāḥ: lashed by rain. |

TRANSLATION

"The horses of my chariot were broken down and were exhausted by drawing the chariot. They became miserable and thoroughly fatigued, like the cows lashed by heavy rain."

VERSE 17

निमित्तानि च भूयिष्ठन् यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति नः
तेषु तेष्वभिपन्नेषु लक्षयाम्यप्रदक्षिणम्

nimittāni ca bhūyiṣṭhan yāni prādurbhavanti naḥ
teṣu teṣvabhipanneṣu lakṣayāmyapradakṣiṇam

SYNONYMS

lakṣayāmi: I am seeing | apradakṣiṇam: inauspiciousness | yāni nimittāni: in those portents | prādurbhavanti: which appear | naḥ: to us | bhūyiṣṭham: in large numbers | abhipanneṣu: and examined | teṣu teṣu: in all of them. |

TRANSLATION

"I am seeing inauspiciousness in all the portents, which appear to us in large numbers and duly examined by me."

VERSE 18

देशकालौ च विज्ञेयौ लक्ष्मणानीङ्गितानि च
दैन्यन् हर्षश्च खेदश्च रथिनश्च बलाबलम्

deśakālau ca vijñeyau lakṣmaṇānīṅgitāni ca
dainyan harṣaśca khedaśca rathinaśca balābalam

SYNONYMS

deśa kālauca: (propitious and unpropitious) time and place | lakṣaṇāni: (good and bad) omens | inṅgitāni: facial expressions | dainyam harṣaśca: depression and liveliness | khedaśca: the measure of fatigue | balābalam: as also the strength andweakness | rathinaḥ: of the warrior occupying the chariot | viñeyau: must be ascertained (by a charioteer). |

TRANSLATION

"(Propitious and unpropitious) time and place, (good and bad) omens, facial as also the strength and weakness of the warrior occupying the chariot must be ascertained (by a charioteer)."

VERSE 19

स्थलनिम्नानि भूमेश्च समानि विषमाणि च
युद्धकालश्च विज्ञेयः परस्यान्तरदर्शनम्

sthalanimnāni bhūmeśca samāni viṣamāṇi ca
yuddhakālaśca vijñeyaḥ parasyāntaradarśanam

SYNONYMS

sthala nimnāni: the eminences and depressions | bhūmeḥ: of the ground | samāni viṣamānica: as well as the parts which are level and rugged | yuddhakālāśca: the time appropriate for the combat | antaradarśanam: and the visible weak points | parasya: of the enemy | viñeya: must be known (by a charioteer). |

TRANSLATION

"The eminences and depressions of the ground as well as the parts which are level and rugged, the time appropriate for the combat and the visible weak points of the enemy must be known (by a charioteer)."

VERSE 20

उपयानापयाने च स्थानं प्रत्यपसर्पणम्
सर्वमेतद्रथस्थेन ज्ञेयन् रथकुटुम्बिना

upayānāpayāne ca sthānaṃ pratyapasarpaṇam
sarvametadrathasthena jñeyan rathakuṭumbinā

SYNONYMS

upayānāpayāne: arrival and retreat | sthānam pratyapasarpaṇam: how to hold one's position and how to recede | etat sarvam: all this | ñeyam: must be known | rathakuṭumbinā: by charioteer | rathasthena: seated in the chariot. |

TRANSLATION

"How to arrive and retreat, how to hold one's position and to recede all this must be known by a charioteer, seated in the chariot."

VERSE 21

तव विश्रामहेतोस्तु तथैषान् रथवाजिनाम्
रौद्रन् वर्जयता खेदन् क्षमं कृतमिदं मया

tava viśrāmahetostu tathaiṣān rathavājinām
raudran varjayatā khedan kṣamaṃ kṛtamidaṃ mayā

SYNONYMS

idam: this | kṣamam: appropriate action | kṛtam: was taken | mayā: by me | tava viśrānta hetoḥ: in order to give rest to you | tathā: and | eṣām rathavājinām: to these horses of the chariot | varjayatā: and to relieve | raudram khedam: your terrible fatigue. |

TRANSLATION

"This action appropriate was taken by me in order to give rest to you and to these horses of the chariot as also to relieve your terrible fatigue."

VERSE 22

न मया स्वेच्छया वीर रथोअयमपवाहितः
भर्तृस्नेहपरीतेन मयेदन् यत्कृतं विभो

na mayā svecchayā vīra rathoayamapavāhitaḥ
bhartṛsnehaparītena mayedan yatkṛtaṃ vibho

SYNONYMS

vīra prabho: O the valiant lord! | ayam: this | rathaḥ: chariot | na apavāhitaḥ: was not removed | mayā: by me | svecchayā: arbitrarily | idam yat kṛtam: that which was done | (vas) bhartṛsneha paritena: because I was overwhelmed with affection for my master. |

TRANSLATION

"O the valiant lord! This chariot was not removed by me arbitrarily. That which was done by me was because I was overwhelmed with affection for my master."

VERSE 23

आज्ञापय यथातत्त्वन् वक्ष्यस्यरिनिषूदन
तत्करिष्याम्यहन् वीरन् गतानृण्येन चेतसा

ājñāpaya yathātattvan vakṣyasyariniṣūdana
tatkariṣyāmyahan vīran gatānṛṇyena cetasā

SYNONYMS

ariṣudana: O annihilator of enemies! | vīra: O hero! | ājñāpaya: give a command! | yathā: how | tvam: you | vakṣyasi: tell me | tat: that | aham: I | kariṣyāmi: will do | cetasā: with attention | gatānṛṇyena: with a mind which feels relieved of all that is due. |

TRANSLATION

"O annihilator of enemies! O hero! Give me a command! I will do that which you will enjoin me to do, with due attention and with a mind which feels relieved of all that is due."

VERSE 24

सन्तुष्टस्तेन वाक्येन रावणस्तस्य सारथेः
प्रशस्यैनं बहुविधन् युद्धलुब्धोअब्रवीदिदम्

santuṣṭastena vākyena rāvaṇastasya sāratheḥ
praśasyainaṃ bahuvidhan yuddhalubdhoabravīdidam

SYNONYMS

samtuśṭaḥ: satisfied | tena vākyena: with the explanation | tasya sāratheḥ: of that charioteer | praśasya: applauding | enam: him | bahuvidham: in many ways | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | yuddha labdthaḥ: who was avaricious of fighting | abravīt: spoke | idam: the following words: |

TRANSLATION

Satisfied with the explanation given by his charioteer and applauding him in many ways, Ravana who was avaricious of fighting, spoke the following words:

VERSE 25

रथन् शीघ्रमिमं सूत राघवाभिमुखन् कुरु
नाहत्वा समरे शत्रून्निवर्तिष्यति रावणः

rathan śīghramimaṃ sūta rāghavābhimukhan kuru
nāhatvā samare śatrūnnivartiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

sūta: O charioteer! | maya: take | imam: this | ratham: chariot | śīghram: quickly | rāghavābhimukham: towards Rama | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | na nivartiṣyati: does not turn back | samare: in battle | ahatvā: without killing | śatrūn: his enemies. |

TRANSLATION

"O charioteer! Take this chariot quickly towards Rama. Ravana does not turn back in battle, without killing his enemies."

VERSE 26

एवमुक्त्वा ततस्तुष्टो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः
ददौ तस्य शुभन् ह्येकं हस्ताभरणमुत्तमम्

evamuktvā tatastuṣṭo rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ
dadau tasya śubhan hyekaṃ hastābharaṇamuttamam

SYNONYMS

evam uktvā: thus speaking | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | rākṣaseśvaraḥ: the lord of demons | tuṣṭaḥ: was pleased | tataḥ: and then | dadau: presented | ekam: one | śubham: beautiful | uttamam: and excellent | hastābharaṇam: ornament for the land | tasyam: to him | saḥ sārathiḥ: that charioteer | śrutvā: after hearing | rāvaṇavākyāmi: the instructions of Ravana | nyavartata: drove the chariot back to the battle-field. |

TRANSLATION

Thus speaking Ravna the lord of demons was pleased and then presented a beautiful and excellent ornament for the hand to him. That charioteer, after hearing Ravana's instruction,s drove the chariot back to the battle-field.

VERSE 27

इत्यर्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे चतुरधिकशततमः सर्गः

ityarṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe caturadhikaśatatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | rāvaṇavākya coditaḥ: impelled by Ravana's command | saḥ sārathiḥ: that charioteer | drutam: quickly | pracodayāmāsa: drove forward | hayān: the horses | rākṣasendrasya saḥ mahārathaḥ: that chariot of Ravana | kṣaṇena: within a moment | abhavat: stood | rāmasya rathāgrataḥ: in front of Rama's chariot. |

TRANSLATION

Impelled by Ravana's command, that charioteer thereupon quickly drove the horses forward. Then, that chariot of Ravana stood within a moment, before Rama's chariot on the battle-field.