Chapter 11
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
स बभुव कृशो राजा मैथिलीकाममोहितः
असन्मानाच्च सुहृदाम् पापः पापेन कर्मणाः
sa babhuva kṛśo rājā maithilīkāmamohitaḥ
asanmānācca suhṛdām pāpaḥ pāpena karmaṇāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That sinful Ravana, infatuated by his desire for Seetha, became emaciated by his sinful action and by his despising of well-disposed people like Vibhishana.
अतीतसमये काले तस्मिन्वे युधि रावणः
अमात्यैश्च सुहृद्भिश्च प्राप्तकालममन्यत
atītasamaye kāle tasminve yudhi rāvaṇaḥ
amātyaiśca suhṛdbhiśca prāptakālamamanyata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Though the occasion for war was lacking Ravana thought of consulting with his ministers and well-wishers then to be a fit time.
स हेमजालविततम् मणिविद्रुमभूषितम्
उपगम्य विनीताश्वमारुरोह महार्थम्
sa hemajālavitatam maṇividrumabhūṣitam
upagamya vinītāśvamāruroha mahārtham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Approaching a great chariot, covered by a golden net, adorned with gems and corals and yoked with trained horses, Ravana mounted on it.
तमास्थाय रथश्रेष्ठो महामेघसमस्वनम्
प्रययौ रक्षसाम् श्रेष्ठो दशग्रीवः सभाम् प्रति
tamāsthāya rathaśreṣṭho mahāmeghasamasvanam
prayayau rakṣasām śreṣṭho daśagrīvaḥ sabhām prati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana the excellent among demons ascended that most beautiful chariot, with a rattling sound resembling the rumbling of a large cloud and then proceeded towards the assembly-hall.
असिचर्मधरा योधाः सर्वायुधधरास्ततः
राक्षसा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पुरस्तात्सम्प्रतस्थिरे
asicarmadharā yodhāḥ sarvāyudhadharāstataḥ
rākṣasā rākṣasendrasya purastātsampratasthire
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Warriors holding swords and shield as well as demons wearing all types of weapons, marched in front of Ravana.
नानाविकृतवेषाश्च नानाभूषणभूषिताः
पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चैनम् परिवार्य ययुस्तदा
nānāvikṛtaveṣāśca nānābhūṣaṇabhūṣitāḥ
pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataścainam parivārya yayustadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Demons wearing all types of unusual dresses and adoring various kinds of jewellery then marched, duly surrounding him from sides and even behind.
रथैश्चातिरथा शीघ्रम् मतैश्च वरवारणैः
अमात्पेतुर्दशग्रीवमाक्रीडद्भिश्च वाजिभिः
rathaiścātirathā śīghram mataiśca varavāraṇaiḥ
amātpeturdaśagrīvamākrīḍadbhiśca vājibhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Great chariot-warriors in chariots, on excellent elephants in rut and horses supportively coming in different gaits, rushed after Ravana quickly.
गदापरिघहस्ताश्च शक्तितोमरपाणयः
परश्वथधराश्चान्ये तथान्ये शूलपाणयः
gadāparighahastāśca śaktitomarapāṇayaḥ
paraśvathadharāścānye tathānye śūlapāṇayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Some had maces and iron bars in their hands. Some had javelins and iron clubs. Some were holding axes. Some others had darts in their hands.
ततस्तूर्यसहस्राणाम् सम्जज्ञे निःस्वनो महान्
तुमुलः शङ्खशब्दश्च सभाम् गच्चति रवणे
tatastūryasahasrāṇām samjajñe niḥsvano mahān
tumulaḥ śaṅkhaśabdaśca sabhām gaccati ravaṇe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As Ravana was proceeding to the assembly-hall, loud blare of thousands of trumpets along with tumultuous noise of conches were produced.
स नेमिघोषेण महान्सहसाभिनिनादयन्
राजमार्गम् श्रिया जुष्टम् प्रतिपेदे महारथः
sa nemighoṣeṇa mahānsahasābhininādayan
rājamārgam śriyā juṣṭam pratipede mahārathaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That excellently great chariot, making noise of the sound of its wheels, soon entered the beautiful royal high-way.
विमलम् चातपत्रम् च पगृहीतमशोभत
पाण्डुरम् राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पूर्णस्तारधिपो यथा
vimalam cātapatram ca pagṛhītamaśobhata
pāṇḍuram rākṣasendrasya pūrṇastāradhipo yathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The spotlessly white umbrella, held on Ravana's head, shone like a full-moon.
हेमञ्जरिगर्भे च शुद्धस्फटिकविग्रहे
चामरव्यजने तस्य रेजतुः सव्यदक्षिणे
hemañjarigarbhe ca śuddhasphaṭikavigrahe
cāmaravyajane tasya rejatuḥ savyadakṣiṇe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On his left and right sides, two fans of yak's tails with crystal handles and golden fringes were shining.
ते कृताञ्जलयः सर्वे रथस्थम् पृथिवीस्थिताः
राक्ष्सा राक्षसश्रेष्ठम् शिरोभिस्तम् ववन्दिरे
te kṛtāñjalayaḥ sarve rathastham pṛthivīsthitāḥ
rākṣsā rākṣasaśreṣṭham śirobhistam vavandire
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All those demons standing on ground offered their salutation by bending their heads and joining their palms to his the best of demons, mounted on the chariot.
राक्षनैः स्तूयमानः सन् जयाशीर्भिररिंदमः
अससाद महातेजाः सभाम् विरचिताम् तदा
rākṣanaiḥ stūyamānaḥ san jayāśīrbhirariṃdamaḥ
asasāda mahātejāḥ sabhām viracitām tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana the harasser of enemies, possessing great splendor, while being praised by demons through cheers of victory, approached that organized assembly.
सुवर्णरजतास्तीर्णाम् विशुद्धस्फटिकान्तराम्
विराजमानो वपुषा रुक्मपट्टोत्तरच्चदाम्
suvarṇarajatāstīrṇām viśuddhasphaṭikāntarām
virājamāno vapuṣā rukmapaṭṭottaraccadām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana with great splendour, with his body shining brightly, entered that assembly hall, which was paved with gold and silver, whose interior was wrought with pure crystal, carpeted with skins of deer, guarded by six hundred evil spirits, ever shining and well-constructed by Visvakarma.
तस्याम् स वैदूर्यमयम् प्रियाकाजिनसम्वृतम्
महत्सोपाश्रयम् भेजे रावणः परमासनम्
tasyām sa vaidūryamayam priyākājinasamvṛtam
mahatsopāśrayam bheje rāvaṇaḥ paramāsanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana, that hall, occupied a big and excellent throne embedded with jewels (cat's eye gems), covered with skin of deer called Priyaka and furnished with pillows.
ततः शशासेश्वरवद्दूतान् लघुपराक्रमान्
समानयत मे क्षिप्रमिहैतान् राक्षसानिति
tataḥ śaśāseśvaravaddūtān laghuparākramān
samānayata me kṣipramihaitān rākṣasāniti
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter Ravana, as a king, ordered his messengers, who were moving fast as follows: "There is a gigantic work before us. I know what the enemies are doing. Therefore, bring all the demons here quickly."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words, the messenger impelled the demons staying in entertainment places, in bedrooms or in gardens and went without fear to every house in Lanka.
ते रथान् रुचिरानेके दृप्तानेके दृढान् हयान्
नागनेके।अधिरुरुहुर्जग्मुश्चैके पदातयः
te rathān rucirāneke dṛptāneke dṛḍhān hayān
nāganeke|adhiruruhurjagmuścaike padātayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Some of the demons mounted beautiful chariots; some mounted wild and strong horses and some mounted on elephants. Some others went on foot.
सा पुरी परमाकीर्णा रथकुञ्जरवाजिभिः
सम्पतद्भिर्विरुरुचे गरुत्मद्चिरिवामबरम्
sā purī paramākīrṇā rathakuñjaravājibhiḥ
sampatadbhirviruruce garutmadcirivāmabaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That city, extremely crowded with chariots elephants and horses rushing fast together, appeared like birds rushing fast in the sky.
ते वाहनान्यवस्थाप्य यानानि विविधानि च
सभाम् पद्भिः प्रविविशुः सिम्हा गिरिगुहामिव
te vāhanānyavasthāpya yānāni vividhāni ca
sabhām padbhiḥ praviviśuḥ simhā giriguhāmiva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Parking horses, elephants and various kinds vehicles like chariots, they entered by foot the assembly-hall as a mountain-cave is entered by lions.
राज्ञ्ः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु राज्ञा ते प्रतिपूजिताः
पीठेष्वन्ये बृसीष्वन्ये भूमौ केचिदुपाविशन्
rājñḥ pādau gṛhītvā tu rājñā te pratipūjitāḥ
pīṭheṣvanye bṛsīṣvanye bhūmau kecidupāviśan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Touching the feet of the king and greeted in turn by the king, some sat down on seats, some others on mats (of Kusa grass) and others on the ground.
ते समेत्य सभायाम् वै राक्षसा राजशासनात्
यथार्हमुपतस्थुस्ते रावणम् राक्षसाधिपम्
te sametya sabhāyām vai rākṣasā rājaśāsanāt
yathārhamupatasthuste rāvaṇam rākṣasādhipam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Congregating in the assembly hall at the king's command, those demons took their position round Ravana the king of demons, each according to their rank.
मन्त्रिणश्च यथामुख्या निश्चितार्थेषु पण्डिताः
अमात्याश्च गुणोपेताः सर्वज्ञा बुद्धिदर्शनाः
mantriṇaśca yathāmukhyā niścitārtheṣu paṇḍitāḥ
amātyāśca guṇopetāḥ sarvajñā buddhidarśanāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ministers who were scholars well versed in deciding action those endowed with good qualities, those who were all-knowing, king's ministers who could perceive things by their power of intellect and many warriors in hundreds, gathered according to their importance in that assembly hall, wrapped with gold, for providing felicity in all actions.
ततो महात्मा विपुलम् सुयुग्यम्
रथम् वरम् हेमविचित्रिताङ्गम्
शुभम् समास्थाय ययौ यशस्वी
विभीषणः संसदमग्रजस्य
tato mahātmā vipulam suyugyam
ratham varam hemavicitritāṅgam
śubham samāsthāya yayau yaśasvī
vibhīṣaṇaḥ saṃsadamagrajasya
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The high-souled and illustrious VibhiShana ascended an excellent auspicious and spacious chariot yoked with good horses with its various parts decked in gold and drove towards the assembly-hall of Ravana his elder brother.
स पूर्वजायावरजः शशंस
ना माथ पश्चाच्चरणौ ववन्दे
शुकः प्रहस्तश्च तथैव तेभ्यो
ददौ यथार्हम् प्र्^थगासनानि
sa pūrvajāyāvarajaḥ śaśaṃsa
nā mātha paścāccaraṇau vavande
śukaḥ prahastaśca tathaiva tebhyo
dadau yathārham pr^thagāsanāni
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, that younger brother Vibhishana told Ravana his name and offered salutation to the feet. Suka and Prahasta followed suit. Ravana gave them suitable seats separately.
सुवर्णनानामणिभुषणानाम्
सुवाससाम् संसदि राक्षसानाम्
तेषाम् परार्थ्यगुरुचन्दनानाम्
स्रजाम् च गन्धाः प्रववुः समन्तात्
suvarṇanānāmaṇibhuṣaṇānām
suvāsasām saṃsadi rākṣasānām
teṣām parārthyagurucandanānām
srajām ca gandhāḥ pravavuḥ samantāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The aroma of the best aloe and sandal paste painted on the persons as also of garlands worn round the necks of those demons duly adorned with ornaments of gold and gems and attired in excellent clothes diffused all round in the assembly-hall.
न चुक्रुशुर्नानृतमाह कश्चि
त्सभासदो नापि जजल्पुरुच्चैः
संसिद्धार्थः सर्व एवोग्रवीर्या
भर्तुः सर्वे ददृशुश्चाननम् ते
na cukruśurnānṛtamāha kaści
tsabhāsado nāpi jajalpuruccaiḥ
saṃsiddhārthaḥ sarva evogravīryā
bhartuḥ sarve dadṛśuścānanam te
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The assembled persons there did not yell loudly. None uttered untruth or even talked vociferously. All of them were ready for action and were endowed with terrible energy. All of them sat, perceiving their lord's face.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे एकादशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ekādaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In that assembly, that Ravana, full of mind, shone with brilliance among the assemblage of those demons possessing great strength, like Devendra (the Lord of heaven) amidst Vasus (a class of gods)