Chapter 117

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

ततो हि दुर्मना रामः श्रुत्वैवम् वदतां गिरः
दध्यौ मुहूर्तं धर्मात्मा बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः

tato hi durmanā rāmaḥ śrutvaivam vadatāṃ giraḥ
dadhyau muhūrtaṃ dharmātmā bāṣpavyākulalocanaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | giraḥ: the cries | vadatām: of those who were wailing | evam: in that way | dharmātmā: the virtuous minded | rāmaḥ: Rama | tataḥ: then | dadhyau: became thoughtfu | mūurtam: for a while | durmanāḥ: afflicted as he was in melancholy | bāṣpa vyākula locanoḥ: his eyes filled with tears. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the cries of these who were thus wailing, the virtuous minded Rama then became thoughtful for a while, afflicted as he was with melancholy, his eyes filled with tears.

VERSE 2

ततो वैश्रवणो राजा यमश्च पृभिः सह
सहस्राक्षश्च देवेशो वरुणश्च जलेश्वरः

tato vaiśravaṇo rājā yamaśca pṛbhiḥ saha
sahasrākṣaśca deveśo varuṇaśca jaleśvaraḥ

SYNONYMS

-4| tataḥ: thereupon | vaiśravaṇaḥ: Kubera | rājā: the king of Yakshas | yamaśca: Yama the lord of death | pitṛbhiḥ saha: along with the deceased ancestors | sahasrākṣaḥ: Indra | deveśaḥ: the lord of celestials | varuṇaśca: Varuna | jaleśvaraḥ: the lord of waters | śrīmān mahā devaḥ: the illustrious Shiva the great deity | śaḍardhanayanaḥ: having three eyes | brahmā: brahma | kartā: the creator | sarvasya lokasya: of all the worlds | brahmavidām varaḥ: and the best among the knowers of sacred knowledge | sarve: all | ete: these | samāgamya: together | āgamya: reaching | laṅkām nagarīm: the City of Lanka | sūrya samnibhaiḥ vimānaiḥ: in aerial cars | abhijagmuḥ: and approached | rāghavam: Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Thereupon, Kubera the King of Yakshas, Yama the lord of death together with the deceased ancestors, Indra the lord of celestials Varuna the lord of waters, the illustrious Shiva the great deity who bears the device of a bull as his banner and having three eyes, Brahma the creator of all the worlds and the best among the knowers of sacred knowledge all these together reaching the City of Lanka in aerial cars, shining like the sun approached Rama.

VERSE 5

ततः सहस्ताभरणान् प्रगृह्य विपुलान् भुजान्
अब्रुवंस्त्रिदशश्रेष्ठा राघवं प्राञ्जलिं स्थितम्

tataḥ sahastābharaṇān pragṛhya vipulān bhujān
abruvaṃstridaśaśreṣṭhā rāghavaṃ prāñjaliṃ sthitam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereupon | tridaśa śreṣṭhāḥ: those excellent gods | pragṛhya: lifting | vipulān bhujān: their long arms | śastābharaṇām: their hands decked with ornaments (as follows) | abruvan: spoke | rāghavam: to Rama | sthitam: who stood (there) | sahastābharaṇān: making a respectful salutation with folded hands. |

TRANSLATION

Lifting their long arms, their hands decked with ornaments, those excellent gods thereupon, spoke (as follows) to Rama who stood there, making a respectful salutation to them with his folded hands.

VERSE 6

कर्ता सर्वस्य लोकस्य श्रेष्ठो ज्ञानवतां प्रभुः
उपेक्षसे कथं सीतां पतन्तीं हव्यवाहने

kartā sarvasya lokasya śreṣṭho jñānavatāṃ prabhuḥ
upekṣase kathaṃ sītāṃ patantīṃ havyavāhane

SYNONYMS

katham: how | upekṣase: are you looking at | sītām: Seetha | patantīm: who is falling | havyavāhane: into the fire | samsta lokasya kartā: (you) who are the maker of the entire cosmons | jñānavatām śreṣṭhaḥ: and the foremost among those endowed with knowledge | prabhuḥ: and an all-capable person | nāvabuddhyase: do you not know | ātmānam: yourself | devagaṇaśreṣṭham: as the foremost among the troop of gods. |

TRANSLATION

"How do you, the maker of the entire cosmos, the foremost among those endowed with knowledge and an all-capable person, ignore Seetha who is falling into the fire? How do you not recognize yourself to be the foremost of the troop of gods?"

VERSE 7

ऋतधामा वसुः पूर्वं वसूनां च प्रजापतिः

ṛtadhāmā vasuḥ pūrvaṃ vasūnāṃ ca prajāpatiḥ

SYNONYMS

vasūnām: among the Vasus (a class of gods | vasuḥ: you are the Vasu | ṛtadhāma: R^itadhaama (one whose abode is Truth or the Divine law) | pūrvam: who was formerly | svayam prabhuḥ: self-constituted ruler | ādikartā: the first creator | trayāṇāmapi: lokaanaam = of all the three worlds | prajāpatiḥ: and the lord of creatures. |

TRANSLATION

"Among the Vasus (a class of gods, eight in number), you are the Vasu, named R^itadhama (one whose abode is Truth or the Divine Law) who was formerly the self-constituted ruler, the first creator of all the three worlds and the lord of creatures."

VERSE 8

रुद्राणामष्टमो रुद्रः साध्यानामपि पञ्चमः

rudrāṇāmaṣṭamo rudraḥ sādhyānāmapi pañcamaḥ

SYNONYMS

aṣṭamaḥ rudraḥ: you are the eight Rudra | rudrāṇām: among (eleven) Rudras | paṅcamaḥ: and the fifth (viryavaan by name) saadhyaanaam api = among the Sadhyas (a particular class of celestial beings belonging to Gana Devata) | aśvinau: the twin = Aswinis (the physicians of gods) | te karṇau: are your ears | sūrya candrau: the sun and the moon | dṛśau: constitute your eyes. |

TRANSLATION

"You are the eighth Rudra among (eleven) Rudras and the fifth (Viryavan by name) among the Sadhyas (a particular class of celestials belonging to Gana Devata). The twin Aswinis are your ears. The sun and the moon constitute your eyes."

VERSE 9

अन्ते चादौ च लोकानां दृश्यसे च परंतप

ante cādau ca lokānāṃ dṛśyase ca paraṃtapa

SYNONYMS

paramtapa: O the destroyer of adversaries! | dṛśyase: you are seen | ādau: at the beginning | ante ca: and at the end | lokānām: of the created beings | prākṛtaḥ mānuṣo yathā: just like a common man | upekṣase: you are ignoring | vaidehīm: Seetha. |

TRANSLATION

"O the destroyer of the adversaries. You are seen (to exist) at the beginning and at the end of creation. Yet, you ignore Seetha, just like a common man."

VERSE 10

इत्युक्तो लोकपालैस्तैः स्वामी लोकस्य राघवः

ityukto lokapālaistaiḥ svāmī lokasya rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

iti uktaḥ: thus spoken | taiḥ lokapālaiḥ: by those guardians | rāmaḥ: Rama | lokasya svāmī: the lord of creation | rāghavaḥ: who was born in Raghu dynasty | dharma bhṛtām varaḥ: and the foremost one among the protectors of righteousness | abravīt: spoke | tridaśaśreṣṭhān: to those god-chiefs (as follows) |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of those guardians of the world, Rama, the lord of creation, who was born in Raghu dynasty and the foremost one among protectors of righteousness, spoke to those god-chiefs as follows:

VERSE 11

आत्मानं मानुषं मन्ये रामं दशरथात्मजम्

ātmānaṃ mānuṣaṃ manye rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam

SYNONYMS

manye: I think | ātmānam: of myself | mānuṣam: to be a human being | rāmam: called Rama | daśarathātmajam: the son of Dasaratha | bhagavān: you | bravītu: tell | me: me | tat: that | saḥ aham yasya: which I as such really am | aham yaśca: and why I am like this. |

TRANSLATION

"I think of myself to be a human being, by name Rama, the son of Dasaratha. You, as a gracious Divinity, tell me that which I as such really am like this."

VERSE 12

इति ब्रुवाणं काकुत्थ्सं ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां वरः

iti bruvāṇaṃ kākutthsaṃ brahmā brahmavidāṃ varaḥ

SYNONYMS

kākutthsam: to Rama | iti bruvāṇām: thus speaking | brahmā: Brahma | varaḥ: the foremost | brahma vidām: among the knowers of Brahma the Absolute | abravīt: spoke (as follows) | śruṇu: listen | me satyam vākyam: to my true word | satyaparākrama: O the truly brave lord!" |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of Rama, Brahma (the creator), the foremost among the knowers of Brahma the Absolute, spoke as follows: "Listen to my true word, O the truly brave lord!"

VERSE 13

भवान्नारायणो देवः श्रीमांश्चक्रायुधः प्रभुः

bhavānnārāyaṇo devaḥ śrīmāṃścakrāyudhaḥ prabhuḥ

SYNONYMS

bhavān: you | prabhuḥ nārāyaṇaḥ: are the Lord Narayaa himself | śrīmān devaḥ: the glorious god | cakrāyudhaḥ: who wields the discus | tvam: you | varāhaḥ: are the divine Boar | eka śṛṅgaḥ: with a single tusk | bhūta bhavya sapatnajit: the conqueror of your past and future enemies. |

TRANSLATION

"You are the Lord Narayana himself the glorious god, who wields the discus. You are the Divine Boar with a single tusk, the conqueror of your past and future enemies."

VERSE 14

अक्षरं ब्रह्म सत्यं च मध्ये चान्ते च राघव

akṣaraṃ brahma satyaṃ ca madhye cānte ca rāghava

SYNONYMS

brahma: (you are) Brahma | akṣaram: the imperishable | satyamca: and the Truth | madhye ca antyeca: in the Middle and at the end | tvam: you are paraH dharmaH = the Supreme righteousness | lokānām: of people | viṣvaksenaḥ: whose pwers go everywhere | caturbhujaḥ: and the four-armed one. |

TRANSLATION

"You are Brahma, the imperishable, the Truth abiding in the middle as well as at the end of the universe. You are the supreme righteousness of people, whose powers go everywhere. You are the four-armed."

VERSE 15

शार्ङ्गधन्वा हृषीकेशः पुरुषः पुरुषोत्तमः

śārṅgadhanvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ puruṣaḥ puruṣottamaḥ

SYNONYMS

śārṅgadhanvā: you are the wielder of a bow | called ṣarnga hṛśīkeśaḥ: the lord of the senses | puruṣaḥ: the supreme soul of the universe | puruṣottamaḥ: the best of men | ajitaḥ: the invincible | khaḍgadhṛk: the wielder of a sword named Nandaka | viṣṇuḥ: the all-pervader | kṛṣṇaścaiva: the bestower of happiness to the earth | mahābalaḥ: and endowed with great might. |

TRANSLATION

"You are the wielder of a bow called Sarnga, the lord of the senses, the supreme soul of the universe, the best of men, the invincible, the wielder of a sword named Nandaka, the all-pervader, the bestower of happiness to the earth and endowed with great might."

VERSE 16

सेनानीर्ग्रामणीश्च त्वं त्वं बुद्धि स्त्वं क्षमा दमः

senānīrgrāmaṇīśca tvaṃ tvaṃ buddhi stvaṃ kṣamā damaḥ

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | senānīḥ: are the leader of the army | grāmaṇīśca: and the village headman | buddhiḥ: are the intellect | kṣamā: are the endurance | damaḥ: the subduer of the senses | prabhavaḥ: are the origin | apyayaśca: and the dissolution | upendraḥ: the Divine Dwarf (the younger brother of Indra) | madhusūdanaḥ: and the destroyer of Madhu |

TRANSLATION

"You are the leader of the army and the village headman. You are the intellect. You are the endurance and the subduer of the senses. You are the origin and the dissolution of all, Upendra the Divine Dwarf and (the younger brother of Indra) as also the destroyer Madhu, the demon."

VERSE 17

इन्द्रकर्मा महेन्द्रस्त्वं पद्मनाभो रणान्तकृत्

indrakarmā mahendrastvaṃ padmanābho raṇāntakṛt

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | indrakarmā: perform action for Indra the lord of celestials | mahendraḥ: the Supreme Ruler | padmanābhaḥ: and the one having a lotus in one's navel | raṇāntakṛt: and who puts an end to all in battle | divyāḥ maharṣayaḥ: the divine sages | āhuḥ: pronounce | tvām: you | śaraṇyam: to be fit to afford protection toa ll | śaraṇam: and the refuge (for all). |

TRANSLATION

"You perform action for Indra the lord of celestials, the Supreme Ruler, the one having a lotus in one's navel and who puts an end to all in battle. The divine sages pronounce you to be fit to afford protection to all and the refuge for all."

VERSE 18

सहस्रशृङ्गो वेदात्मा शतशीर्षो महर्षभः

sahasraśṛṅgo vedātmā śataśīrṣo maharṣabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

-19| vedātmā: In the form of the Vedas | maharṣabhaḥ: you are the great bull | śataśīrṣaḥ: with hundred heads (rules) | sahasra śṛṇgaḥ: and thousand horns (precepts) | tvam: you | ādikartā: are the first creator of all | trayāṇām lokām: three worlds | svayamprabhuḥ: the self constituted Lord of all | asi: you are | āśrayaḥ ca: the refuge | pūrvajaḥ: and the for bear | siddhānām: of Siddhas (a class of demi-gods endowed with mystic powers by virtue of their very birth) and Sadhyas (a class of celestial beings). |

TRANSLATION

"In the form of the Vedas, you are the great Bull with hundred heads (rules) and thousand horns (precepts). You are the first creator of all, the three worlds, and the self constituted Lord of all. You are the refuge and the forbear of Siddhas (a class of demi-gods endowed with mystic powers by virtue of their very birth) and Sadhyas (a class of celestial beings.)"

VERSE 20

त्वं यज्ञ्स्त्वं वषट्कारस्त्वम्ॐकारः परात्परः

tvaṃ yajñstvaṃ vaṣaṭkārastvamoṃkāraḥ parātparaḥ

SYNONYMS

tvam: you are | yajñaḥ: are the sacrificial performance | vaṣaṭkāraḥ: are the sacred syllable 'Vasat' (on hearing which the Adhvaryu priest casts the oblation to a deity into the sacrificial fire) | omkāraḥ: the mysitic syllable "OM' | paraḥ: and higher | parāt: than the highest | na bhavān kaḥ iti: nor who you are in reality. |

TRANSLATION

"You are the sacrificial performance. You are the sacred syllable 'Vashat' (on hearing which the Adhvaryu priest casts the oblation to a deity into the sacrificial fire). You are the mystic syllable 'OM'. You are higher than the highest. People neither know your end nor your origin nor who you are in reality."

VERSE 21

दृश्यसे सर्वभूतेषु गोषु च ब्राह्मणेषु च

dṛśyase sarvabhūteṣu goṣu ca brāhmaṇeṣu ca

SYNONYMS

dṛśyase: you appear | sarvabhūteṣu: in all created beings | goṣuca: in the cattle | brāhmaṇeṣu ca: in brahmanas | gagane: in the sky | parvateṣu: in mountains | nadīṣu ca: and in rivers. |

TRANSLATION

"You appear in all created beings in the cattle and in brahmanas. You exist in all quarters, in the sky, in mountains and in rivers."

VERSE 22

सहस्रचरणः श्रीमान् शतशीर्षः सहस्रदृक्

sahasracaraṇaḥ śrīmān śataśīrṣaḥ sahasradṛk

SYNONYMS

sahasracaraṇaḥ: with thousand feet | śrīmān: along with Lakshmi the goddess of wealth | śata śīrṣaḥ: with hundred heads | sahasra dṛk: and with thousand eyes | tvam dhārayasi: you bear | pṛthivīmca: the earth | bhūtāni: with all its created beings | saparvatām: along with the mountains. |

TRANSLATION

"With thousand feet, with hundred heads and with thousand eyes along with Lakshmi the goddess of wealth, you bear the earth with all its created beings along with its mountains."

VERSE 23

अन्ते पृथिव्याः सलिले दृश्यसे त्वं महोरगः

ante pṛthivyāḥ salile dṛśyase tvaṃ mahoragaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāma: O Rama! | tvam: you | dṛśyase: appear | mahoragaḥ: as Sesha | salile: in water | ante pṛthivyāḥ: at the earth's bottom | dhārayan: bearing | trīn lokān: the three worlds | devagandharva dānavān: gods |

TRANSLATION

"O Rama! You appear as Sesha, a large serpent in water, at the earth's bottom, bearing the three worlds, gods, Gandharvas, the celestial musicians and the demons."

VERSE 24

अहं ते हृदयं राम जिह्वा देवी सरस्वती

ahaṃ te hṛdayaṃ rāma jihvā devī sarasvatī

SYNONYMS

rāma: O Rama! | aham: I (Brahma) | te hṛdayam: am your heart | sarasvatī: Sarasvathi | devī: the goddess (of learning) | jihvā: is your tongue | prabho: O Lord! | sarvagātreṣu: In all your limbs | devāḥ: the gods | nirmitāḥ: have been created | brahmaṇā: by me | romāṇi: int eh form of hair. |

TRANSLATION

"O Rama! I (brahma) am your heart. Saraswathi, the goddess (of learning) is your tongue. O lord! The gods created by Brahma are the hair on all your limbs."

VERSE 25

निमेषस्ते स्मृता रात्रिरुन्मेषो दिवसस्तथा

nimeṣaste smṛtā rātrirunmeṣo divasastathā

SYNONYMS

rātriḥ: Night | smṛtā: has been recognized | te nimeṣaḥ: as the closing of your eye-lids | tathā: and | divasaḥ: the day | unmeṣaḥ: as the opening of your eye-lids | tva samskārāḥ: the correct usages of your words | vedāḥ: are the Vedas | tvayā vinā: bereft of you | etat: this (the visible universe) | nāsti bhavan: does not exist. |

TRANSLATION

"Night has been recognized as the closing of your eye-lids and the day, as the opening of eye-lids. The correct usages of your words are the Vedas. Bereft of you, this visible universe does not exist."

VERSE 26

जगत्सर्वं शरीरं ते स्थैर्यं ते वसुधातलम्

jagatsarvaṃ śarīraṃ te sthairyaṃ te vasudhātalam

SYNONYMS

sarvam jagat: the entire cosmos | te śarīram: is your body | vasudhātalam: the earth | te sthairyam: constitutes your firmness | agniḥ: fire | kopaḥ: is your anger | somaḥ: the moon (constitutes) te prasaadaH = your placidity | śrīvatsa lakṣmaṇaḥ: you are Lord Vishnu (who bears the mark Srivatsa = a curl of white hair on his breast). |

TRANSLATION

"The entire cosmos is your body. The earth constitutes your firmness. Fire is your anger. The moon constitutes your placidity. You are Lord Vishnu (who bears the mark Srivatsa - a curl of white hair on his breast)."

VERSE 27

त्वया लोकास्त्रयः क्रान्ताः पुरा स्वैर्विक्रमैस्त्रिभिः

tvayā lokāstrayaḥ krāntāḥ purā svairvikramaistribhiḥ

SYNONYMS

purā: in the past | trayaḥ: the three | lokāḥ: worlds | krāntāḥ: were occupied | tvayā: by you | svaiḥ tribhiḥ vikramaiḥ: in your three strides | baddhvā: after binding | sudāruṇam: the exceptionally formidable | balim: Bali | mahendraḥ: and Indra | kṛtaḥ rājā: was made king. |

TRANSLATION

"In the past, the three worlds were occupied by you in your three strides, after binding the exceptionally formidable Bali (the ruler of the three worlds) and Indra was made the king (by you)."

VERSE 28

सीता लक्ष्मीर्भवान् विष्णुर्देवः कृष्णः प्रजापतिः

sītā lakṣmīrbhavān viṣṇurdevaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ prajāpatiḥ

SYNONYMS

sītā: Seetha | lakṣmī: is (no other than) Goddess Lakshmi (the divine consort of Lord Vishnu) | bhavān: you | viṣṇuḥ: Lord Vishnu | kṛṣṇaḥ: are having a dark blue hue | devaḥ: and a shining one | prajāpatiḥ: you are the Lord of created beings | rāvaṇasya vadhārtham: for the destruction of Ravana | praviṣṭaḥ: you entered | mānuṣaṃ tanum: a human body | iha: here (on this earth). |

TRANSLATION

"Seetha is no other than Goddess Lakshmi (the divine consort of Lord Vishnu), while you are Lord Vishnu. You are having a shining dark-blue hue. You are the Lord of created beings. For the destruction of Ravana, you entered a human body here, on this earth."

VERSE 29

तदिदं नस्त्वया कार्यं कृतं धर्मभृतां वर

tadidaṃ nastvayā kāryaṃ kṛtaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ vara

SYNONYMS

rāma: O Rama | vara: the foremost | dharmabhṛtām: among the supporters of righteousness! | tat: that | idam: this | naḥ kāryam: purpose of ours | kṛtam: has been fulfilled | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | nihataḥ: has been killed | ākrama: approach | divam: your divine abode | prahṛṣṭaḥ: with a rejoice. |

TRANSLATION

"O Rama, the foremost among the supporters of righteousness! The aforesaid purpose of ours has been fulfilled. Ravana has been killed. Return to your divine abode, with a rejoice."

VERSE 30

अमोघं देव वीर्यं ते न ते मोघाः पराक्रमाः

amoghaṃ deva vīryaṃ te na te moghāḥ parākramāḥ

SYNONYMS

deva: O Lord! | amogham: is powerful | vīryam: is your valour | te: your | parākramāḥ: exploits | na moghāḥ: are never in vain | rāma: O Rama! | darśanam: your blessed sight | tava samstvaḥ: the songs | amoghaḥ: never go in vain. |

TRANSLATION

"O Lord! Unerring is your valour. Your exploits are never in vain. O Rama! Your blessed sight is powerful. The songs in praise of you never go in vain."

VERSE 31

अमोघास्ते भविष्यन्ति भक्तिमन्तो नरा भुवि

amoghāste bhaviṣyanti bhaktimanto narā bhuvi

SYNONYMS

-32| bhuvi: On this earth | narāḥ: the humans | te bhaktimantaḥ: with devotion towards you | bhavanti: will | amoghāḥ: never be unsuccessful | ye: those who | bhaktāḥ: are devoted | tvām: to you | devam: the preimeval Lord | dhruvam: and the eternal | purāṇam: who belongs to ancient times | puruṣottamam: and the Supreme person | sadā prāpnuvanti: will forever attain kaamaam = their desired objects | iha loke: in this world | paratra ca: and in the next world. |

TRANSLATION

"Those humans who are full of devotion to you will never be unsuccessful on this earth. Those who are devoted to you, the primeval and the eternal lord, belonging to ancient times and the Supreme Person, will forever attain their desired objects here as well as hereafter."

VERSE 33

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे सप्तदशाधिकश्ततमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe saptadaśādhikaśtatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

parābhavaḥ: Humiliation | nāsti: will never be the plight | teṣām ye narāḥ: of those humans | kīrtayiṣyanti: who will recite | imam stavam: this hymn | divyam: divine | purātanam: ancient | itihāsam: history | ārṣam: sung by Brahma |

TRANSLATION

"Humiliation will never be the plight of those humans who will recite this hymn in a divine ancient history, sung by Brahma, the foremost seer."