Chapter 11

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

स बभुव कृशो राजा मैथिलीकाममोहितः
असन्मानाच्च सुहृदाम् पापः पापेन कर्मणाः

sa babhuva kṛśo rājā maithilīkāmamohitaḥ
asanmānācca suhṛdām pāpaḥ pāpena karmaṇāḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | pāpaḥ: sinful | rājā: king of demons | maithilīkāmamohitaḥ: infatuated by his desire for Seetha | babhūva: became | kṛśaḥ: emaciated | asanmānācca: despising | suhṛdām: the kind-hearted | pāpena karmaṇā: and by his sinful action. |

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.

VERSE 2

अतीतसमये काले तस्मिन्वे युधि रावणः
अमात्यैश्च सुहृद्भिश्च प्राप्तकालममन्यत

atītasamaye kāle tasminve yudhi rāvaṇaḥ
amātyaiśca suhṛdbhiśca prāptakālamamanyata

SYNONYMS

tasmi: that | kāle: occasion | yudhi: for war | vai: indeed | atīta samaye: having gone by | rāvama: Ravana | amanyata: thought of consultation with | amātyaiśca: his ministers and | suhṛdbhiśca: well-wishers | prāpta kāle: to be a fit-time. |

TRANSLATION

Though the occasion for war was lacking Ravana thought of consulting with his ministers and well-wishers then to be a fit time.

VERSE 3

स हेमजालविततम् मणिविद्रुमभूषितम्
उपगम्य विनीताश्वमारुरोह महार्थम्

sa hemajālavitatam maṇividrumabhūṣitam
upagamya vinītāśvamāruroha mahārtham

SYNONYMS

upagamya: approaching | mahāratham: a great chariot | hemajālavitatam: covered by a golden net | maṇividruma bhūṣitam: adorned with gems and corals | vinītāśvam: and tied with trained horses | saḥ: he | āruruha: ascended (it). |

TRANSLATION

Approaching a great chariot, covered by a golden net, adorned with gems and corals and yoked with trained horses, Ravana mounted on it.

VERSE 4

तमास्थाय रथश्रेष्ठो महामेघसमस्वनम्
प्रययौ रक्षसाम् श्रेष्ठो दशग्रीवः सभाम् प्रति

tamāsthāya rathaśreṣṭho mahāmeghasamasvanam
prayayau rakṣasām śreṣṭho daśagrīvaḥ sabhām prati

SYNONYMS

daśagrīvaḥ: Ravana | śreṣṭhaḥ: the excellent | rakṣasām: among demons | āsthāya: mounted | tam: that | rathaśreṣṭham: most beautiful chariot | mahāmeghasmasvanam: with a rattling sound resembling the rumbling of a large cloud | prayayau: and preceeded | sabhām prati: towards the assembling hall. |

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.

VERSE 5

असिचर्मधरा योधाः सर्वायुधधरास्ततः
राक्षसा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पुरस्तात्सम्प्रतस्थिरे

asicarmadharā yodhāḥ sarvāyudhadharāstataḥ
rākṣasā rākṣasendrasya purastātsampratasthire

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | yodhāḥ: warriors | as carmadharāḥ: holding swords and shields | rākṣasāḥ: and demons | sarvāyudhadharāḥ: wearing all tpes of weapons | sampratasthire: marched | purastāt: in front | rākṣasendrasya: of that king of demons. |

TRANSLATION

Warriors holding swords and shield as well as demons wearing all types of weapons, marched in front of Ravana.

VERSE 6

नानाविकृतवेषाश्च नानाभूषणभूषिताः
पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चैनम् परिवार्य ययुस्तदा

nānāvikṛtaveṣāśca nānābhūṣaṇabhūṣitāḥ
pārśvataḥ pṛṣṭhataścainam parivārya yayustadā

SYNONYMS

nānā vikṛta veṣāśca: 9demons) wearing all types of unusual dresses | nānābharaṇa bhūṣitāḥ: and adoring various kinds of jewellery | tadā: then | yayuḥ: marched | parivārya: surrounding | enam: him | pārśvataḥ: from sides | pṛṣṭhataścaiva: and even from behind. |

TRANSLATION

Demons wearing all types of unusual dresses and adoring various kinds of jewellery then marched, duly surrounding him from sides and even behind.

VERSE 7

रथैश्चातिरथा शीघ्रम् मतैश्च वरवारणैः
अमात्पेतुर्दशग्रीवमाक्रीडद्भिश्च वाजिभिः

rathaiścātirathā śīghram mataiśca varavāraṇaiḥ
amātpeturdaśagrīvamākrīḍadbhiśca vājibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

atirathāḥ: great chariot-warriors | rathaiḥ: in chariots | varavāraṇaiḥ: on excellent elephants | mattaiḥ: in rut | vājibhiśca: and horses | ākrīḍadbhiḥ: sportively coming in different gaits | anūtpetuḥ daśagrīvam: rushed after Ravana | śīghram: quickly. |

TRANSLATION

Great chariot-warriors in chariots, on excellent elephants in rut and horses supportively coming in different gaits, rushed after Ravana quickly.

VERSE 8

गदापरिघहस्ताश्च शक्तितोमरपाणयः
परश्वथधराश्चान्ये तथान्ये शूलपाणयः

gadāparighahastāśca śaktitomarapāṇayaḥ
paraśvathadharāścānye tathānye śūlapāṇayaḥ

SYNONYMS

gadāparigha hastāśca: with maces and iron bars in their hands | śaktitomarapāṇayaḥ: with javelins and iron clubs in their hands | pariśvathadharāḥ: wearing axes | anye: some others | śūlapāṇayaḥ: with darts in theirs hands. |

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.

VERSE 9

ततस्तूर्यसहस्राणाम् सम्जज्ञे निःस्वनो महान्
तुमुलः शङ्खशब्दश्च सभाम् गच्चति रवणे

tatastūryasahasrāṇām samjajñe niḥsvano mahān
tumulaḥ śaṅkhaśabdaśca sabhām gaccati ravaṇe

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | rāvaṇe: as Ravana | gacchati: was going | sabhām: to the assembly hall | mahān: loud | niḥsvanaḥ: blare | tūryasahasrāṇām: of thousands of trumpets = tumulaH = and tumultuous | śaṇkhaśabdaśca: noise of couches | samjaṅe: were produced. |

TRANSLATION

As Ravana was proceeding to the assembly-hall, loud blare of thousands of trumpets along with tumultuous noise of conches were produced.

VERSE 10

स नेमिघोषेण महान्सहसाभिनिनादयन्
राजमार्गम् श्रिया जुष्टम् प्रतिपेदे महारथः

sa nemighoṣeṇa mahānsahasābhininādayan
rājamārgam śriyā juṣṭam pratipede mahārathaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | mahān: excellently | mahārathaḥ: great chariot | abhininādayau: making noise | nemighoṣeṇa: of the sound of the wheels | sahasā: soon | pratipade: obtained | rājamārgam: the royal high way | juṣṭam: possessed | śriyā: of beauty. |

TRANSLATION

That excellently great chariot, making noise of the sound of its wheels, soon entered the beautiful royal high-way.

VERSE 11

विमलम् चातपत्रम् च पगृहीतमशोभत
पाण्डुरम् राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पूर्णस्तारधिपो यथा

vimalam cātapatram ca pagṛhītamaśobhata
pāṇḍuram rākṣasendrasya pūrṇastāradhipo yathā

SYNONYMS

ātapatram: the umbrella | vimalam: which was spot-lessly | pāṇḍuram: white | aśobhata: shone | pūrṇa tārādhipoyathā: like a full moon | pragṛhītam: was held | rākṣasandraya: (on the head) of Ravana. |

TRANSLATION

The spotlessly white umbrella, held on Ravana's head, shone like a full-moon.

VERSE 12

हेमञ्जरिगर्भे च शुद्धस्फटिकविग्रहे
चामरव्यजने तस्य रेजतुः सव्यदक्षिणे

hemañjarigarbhe ca śuddhasphaṭikavigrahe
cāmaravyajane tasya rejatuḥ savyadakṣiṇe

SYNONYMS

tasya savyadakṣiṇe: on his left and right sides | cāmaravyajane: two fans of yak's tails | śuddha sphaṭika vigrahe: with crystal handles | hemamaṇjarigarbhe: and golden fringes | regatuḥ: were shining. |

TRANSLATION

On his left and right sides, two fans of yak's tails with crystal handles and golden fringes were shining.

VERSE 13

ते कृताञ्जलयः सर्वे रथस्थम् पृथिवीस्थिताः
राक्ष्सा राक्षसश्रेष्ठम् शिरोभिस्तम् ववन्दिरे

te kṛtāñjalayaḥ sarve rathastham pṛthivīsthitāḥ
rākṣsā rākṣasaśreṣṭham śirobhistam vavandire

SYNONYMS

sarve: all | te rākṣasāḥ: those demons | vavandire: offered theri salutation | śirobhiḥ: (by bending) their heads | kṛtāṇjalayaḥ: and by joining their palsm | tam: to him | rākṣasaśreṣṭam: the best of demons | rathastham: mounted on the chariot. |

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.

VERSE 14

राक्षनैः स्तूयमानः सन् जयाशीर्भिररिंदमः
अससाद महातेजाः सभाम् विरचिताम् तदा

rākṣanaiḥ stūyamānaḥ san jayāśīrbhirariṃdamaḥ
asasāda mahātejāḥ sabhām viracitām tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | arindamaḥ: Ravana the harasser of enemies | san: possessing | mahātejaḥ: great splendour | stūyamānaḥ: while being praised | rākṣasaiḥ: by demons | jayaśīrbhiḥ: throught cheers of victory | āsasāda: approached | viracitām: the arranged | sabhām: assembly. |

TRANSLATION

Ravana the harasser of enemies, possessing great splendor, while being praised by demons through cheers of victory, approached that organized assembly.

VERSE 15

सुवर्णरजतास्तीर्णाम् विशुद्धस्फटिकान्तराम्
विराजमानो वपुषा रुक्मपट्टोत्तरच्चदाम्

suvarṇarajatāstīrṇām viśuddhasphaṭikāntarām
virājamāno vapuṣā rukmapaṭṭottaraccadām

SYNONYMS

16| mahātejāḥ: Ravana with great splendour | virājamānaḥ: with shining brightly | napuṣā: body | praviveśa: entered | tām: that assembly hall | suvarṇarajatāstīrṇām: viSuddhasphaTikaantaraam = whose intereior was wrought with pure crystal | rukmapaṭṭottaraccadām: carpeted with skins of deer | abhiguptām: guarded by shaaDbhiH pishaaca shataiH = six hundred evil spirits | sadāprabhām: ever shining | sukṛtām: and well- build | viśvakarmaṇā: by Visvakarma. |

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.

VERSE 17

तस्याम् स वैदूर्यमयम् प्रियाकाजिनसम्वृतम्
महत्सोपाश्रयम् भेजे रावणः परमासनम्

tasyām sa vaidūryamayam priyākājinasamvṛtam
mahatsopāśrayam bheje rāvaṇaḥ paramāsanam

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | tasyām: in that hall | bheje: occupied | mahat: big | paramāsanam: (and) excellent throne | vaidūryamayam: embedded with jewels (cat's eye gems) | priyakājinasamvṛtam: covered with skin of deer called Priyaka | sopāśrayam: (and) furnished with pillows. |

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.

VERSE 18

ततः शशासेश्वरवद्दूतान् लघुपराक्रमान्
समानयत मे क्षिप्रमिहैतान् राक्षसानिति

tataḥ śaśāseśvaravaddūtān laghuparākramān
samānayata me kṣipramihaitān rākṣasāniti

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | īśvaravat: as a king | iti: thus | dūtān: his messengers | laghuparākramān: who were mering fast | asti: there is | mahat: a gigantic | kṛtyam: work | jāne: I know | kartvayam iti: what is being done | śatrubhiḥ: by enemies | samānayata: bring | iha: here | etān: these | rākṣasān: demons | kṣipram: quickly. |

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."

VERSE 19

राक्षसास्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा लङ्कायाम् परिचक्रमुः

rākṣasāstadvacaḥ śrutvā laṅkāyām paricakramuḥ

SYNONYMS

20| śrutvā: hearing | tadvacaḥ: those words | rākṣasāḥ: the (messenger) demons | codayantaḥ: impelling | rakṣāmsi: the demons | avasthāya: staying | vihāra śayaneṣu: in entertainment or in places bed-rooms | udyāneṣuca: or in gardens | paricakramuḥ: went | abhītavat: without fear | anugcām: to every house | laṅkāyām: in Lanka. |

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.

VERSE 21

ते रथान् रुचिरानेके दृप्तानेके दृढान् हयान्
नागनेके।अधिरुरुहुर्जग्मुश्चैके पदातयः

te rathān rucirāneke dṛptāneke dṛḍhān hayān
nāganeke|adhiruruhurjagmuścaike padātayaḥ

SYNONYMS

adhiruruhuḥ: mounted | te: those demons | eke: some | rucirān: beautiful | rathān: chariots | dṛptān: wild | dṛḍhān: and strong hayaan = horses | nāgān: elephants | jagmuh: wnet | padātayaḥ: by foot. |

TRANSLATION

Some of the demons mounted beautiful chariots; some mounted wild and strong horses and some mounted on elephants. Some others went on foot.

VERSE 22

सा पुरी परमाकीर्णा रथकुञ्जरवाजिभिः
सम्पतद्भिर्विरुरुचे गरुत्मद्चिरिवामबरम्

sā purī paramākīrṇā rathakuñjaravājibhiḥ
sampatadbhirviruruce garutmadcirivāmabaram

SYNONYMS

sā purī: that city | paramākīrṇā: extremely crowded | rathā kuṇjara vājibhiḥ: with chariots | sampatadbhiḥ: rushing togeher fast | viruruce: appeared | ambaramiva: like the sky | garutmadbhiḥ: by the birds. |

TRANSLATION

That city, extremely crowded with chariots elephants and horses rushing fast together, appeared like birds rushing fast in the sky.

VERSE 23

ते वाहनान्यवस्थाप्य यानानि विविधानि च
सभाम् पद्भिः प्रविविशुः सिम्हा गिरिगुहामिव

te vāhanānyavasthāpya yānāni vividhāni ca
sabhām padbhiḥ praviviśuḥ simhā giriguhāmiva

SYNONYMS

avasthāpya: parking | vāhanāni: horses | vividhāni: and various | yānānica: kinds of vehicles like chariots | te: they | praviviśuḥ: entered | padbhiḥ: by foot | sabhām: the assembly-hall | giriguhāmiva: like a mountain-cave | simhāḥ: by lions. |

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.

VERSE 24

राज्ञ्ः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु राज्ञा ते प्रतिपूजिताः
पीठेष्वन्ये बृसीष्वन्ये भूमौ केचिदुपाविशन्

rājñḥ pādau gṛhītvā tu rājñā te pratipūjitāḥ
pīṭheṣvanye bṛsīṣvanye bhūmau kecidupāviśan

SYNONYMS

gṛhītvā: touching | pādau: the feet | rāṅaḥ: of the king | pratipūjitāḥ: and being greeted in turn | rājñā: by the king | anye: some others | upāviśan: sat down | pīṭheṣu: on seats | bṛiṣu: on mats(of Kusa grass) | kecit: and others | bhūmau: on the ground. |

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.

VERSE 25

ते समेत्य सभायाम् वै राक्षसा राजशासनात्
यथार्हमुपतस्थुस्ते रावणम् राक्षसाधिपम्

te sametya sabhāyām vai rākṣasā rājaśāsanāt
yathārhamupatasthuste rāvaṇam rākṣasādhipam

SYNONYMS

sametya: congregating | sabhāyām: in the assembly-hall | rāja śāsanāt: at the king's command | te rākṣasāḥ: those demons | te: they | upasthuḥ: took their position | yathārham: (each) according to their rank | rākṣasādhipam: the king of demons. |

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.

VERSE 26

मन्त्रिणश्च यथामुख्या निश्चितार्थेषु पण्डिताः
अमात्याश्च गुणोपेताः सर्वज्ञा बुद्धिदर्शनाः

mantriṇaśca yathāmukhyā niścitārtheṣu paṇḍitāḥ
amātyāśca guṇopetāḥ sarvajñā buddhidarśanāḥ

SYNONYMS

27| mantriṇaśca: ministers | paṇditāḥ: who were scholars | niścitārtheṣu: well-versed in deciding actions | guṇopetāḥ: those endowed with good qualities | sarvajñāḥ: those who were all-knowing | amātyāśca: king's ministers | buddhidarśanāḥ: who could perceive things by their power of intellect | tathā: and | bahuvaḥ: many | śūrāḥ: warriors | śataśaḥ: in hundreds | samīyuḥ: gathered | yathāmukhyāḥ: according to their importance | sabhāyām: in assembly hall | sukhāyavai: for felicity | sarvārthasya: of all actions. |

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.

VERSE 28

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

tataḥ: then | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | mahātmā: the hight-souled | yaśasvī: and the inllustrious | āsthāya: ascended | varam: the excellent | ratham: chariot | vipulam: which was spacious | suyugyam: yoked with good horses | hemavicitritāṅgam: its various parts decked with gold | śubham: and auspicious | yayau: and drove | samsadam: towards assembly-hall | agrajasya: of his elder brother |

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.

VERSE 29

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

atha: thereafter | saḥ: that | avarajaḥ: younger brogher | śaśamsa: told | nāma: his name | paścāt: then | vavande: saluted | caraṇau: the feet | śukaḥ: Suka | prahastaśca: and Prahasta | dadau: gave | āsanāni: seats | tebhyaḥ: to them | pṛthak: separately | yathārham: according to their rank. |

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.

VERSE 30

सुवर्णनानामणिभुषणानाम्
सुवाससाम् संसदि राक्षसानाम्
तेषाम् परार्थ्यगुरुचन्दनानाम्
स्रजाम् च गन्धाः प्रववुः समन्तात्

suvarṇanānāmaṇibhuṣaṇānām
suvāsasām saṃsadi rākṣasānām
teṣām parārthyagurucandanānām
srajām ca gandhāḥ pravavuḥ samantāt

SYNONYMS

gandhāḥ: the aroma | parārthyāguru candanānām: of the best aloe and sandal paste | teṣām rakṣasānām: painted on those demons | srajāmca: and of garlands | suvarṇanānāmaṇi: of gold and gems | suvāsasām: and attired in good clothes | pravavuḥ: diffused | samantāt: all round | samsadi: in the assembly-hall. |

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.

VERSE 31

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

sabhāsadaḥ: the assembled persons | na cukruśuḥ: did not yell loudly | na kaścit: No one | āha: uttered | anṛtam: untruth | na jajulpuḥ api: not even talked | uccaiḥ: loudly | sarve: all of them | samsiddhārthāḥ: were ready for action | ugravīryāḥ: and were endowed with terrible energy | te sarve: all of them | dadṛśuḥ: perceived | bhartuḥ: their lord's aanaam = face. |

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.

VERSE 32

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे एकादशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ekādaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasyām sabhāyām: In that assembly | saḥ rāvaṇaḥ: that Ravana | manasvī: full of mind | cakaśe: shone | samitau: among the assmeblage | mahābalānām: of those demons possessing great strength | vajrahastaḥ iva: like Devendra (the Lord of heaven) | madhye: amidst | vasūnām: Vasus (a class of gods) |

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)