Chapter 12
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
स ताम् परिषदम् कृत्स्नाम् समीक्ष्य समितिम्जयः
प्रबोधयामास तदा प्रहस्तम् वाहिनीपतिम्
sa tām pariṣadam kṛtsnām samīkṣya samitimjayaḥ
prabodhayāmāsa tadā prahastam vāhinīpatim
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Ravana an eminent person in the assembly, having seen all that gathering, instructed Prahasta the chief of his army (as follows):
सेनापते यथा ते स्युः कृतविद्याश्चतुर्विधाः
योधा नगररक्षायाम् तथा व्यादेष्टुमर्हसि
senāpate yathā te syuḥ kṛtavidyāścaturvidhāḥ
yodhā nagararakṣāyām tathā vyādeṣṭumarhasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, commander! You are allowed to issue an order to see that well-trained warriors belonging to the four divisions of the army (viz.cavalry, infantry, chariots and elephants) are entrusted with the defense of the city."
स प्रहस्तः प्रतीतात्मा चिकीर्षन् राजशासनम्
विनिक्षिपद् बलम् सर्वम् बहिरन्तश्च मन्दिरे
sa prahastaḥ pratītātmā cikīrṣan rājaśāsanam
vinikṣipad balam sarvam bahirantaśca mandire
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Prahasta, resolute in his mind to follow the king's orders stationed the whole army both outside as well as inside the city.
ततो विनिक्षिप्य बलम् सर्वम् नगरगुप्तये
प्रहस्तः प्रमुखे राज्ञो निषसाद जगाद च
tato vinikṣipya balam sarvam nagaraguptaye
prahastaḥ pramukhe rājño niṣasāda jagāda ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Prahasta after keeping the whole army in defence of the city, sat in front of the king and spoke (as follows):
विहितम् बहिरन्तश्च बलम् बलवतस्तव
कुरुष्वाविमनाः क्षिप्रम् यदभिप्रेतमस्ति ते
vihitam bahirantaśca balam balavatastava
kuruṣvāvimanāḥ kṣipram yadabhipretamasti te
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Your army, as strong as you are, has been positioned both outside and inside the city. Pray do quickly, with an undistracted mind, whatever is preferable to you."
प्रहस्तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राजा राज्यहितैषिणः
सुखेप्सुः सुहृदाम् मध्ये व्याजहार स रावणः
prahastasya vacaḥ śrutvā rājā rājyahitaiṣiṇaḥ
sukhepsuḥ suhṛdām madhye vyājahāra sa rāvaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Prahasta, who wished the welfare of the kingdom, king Ravana, with a desire to obtain happiness, spoke in the desire midst of his friends as follows:
प्रियाप्रिये सुख दुःखम् लाभालाभे सिताहिते
धर्मकामार्थकृच्च्रेषु यूयमार्हथ वेदितुम्
priyāpriye sukha duḥkham lābhālābhe sitāhite
dharmakāmārthakṛccreṣu yūyamārhatha veditum
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When you are in difficult situations regarding virtue pleasure and wealth, you are able to have a correct notion of pleasant and unpleasant things, happiness and sorrow, gain and detriment as well as advantages and disadvantages."
सर्वकृत्यानि युष्माभिः समारब्धनि सर्वदा
मन्त्रकर्मनियुक्तानि न जातु विफलानि मे
sarvakṛtyāni yuṣmābhiḥ samārabdhani sarvadā
mantrakarmaniyuktāni na jātu viphalāni me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All of my works undertaken by you with an act of attention, were never in vain."
ससोमग्रहनक्षत्रैर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवः
भवद्भिरहमत्यर्थम् वृतः श्रियमवाप्नुयाम्
sasomagrahanakṣatrairmarudbhiriva vāsavaḥ
bhavadbhirahamatyartham vṛtaḥ śriyamavāpnuyām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I will obtain maximum prosperity, while abiding with you, as Indra obtains properity while abiding with moon, planets, stars and celestials."
अहम् तु खलु सर्वन्वः समर्थयुतुमुद्यतः
कुमभकर्णस्य तु स्वप्नान्नेममर्थमचोदयम्
aham tu khalu sarvanvaḥ samarthayutumudyataḥ
kumabhakarṇasya tu svapnānnemamarthamacodayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I am intent on reminding all of you again. But I could not inform this matter earlier to Kumbhakarna because of his sleep."
अयम् हि सुप्तः ष्ण्मासान् कुम्भकर्णो महाबलः
सर्वशस्त्रभृतम् मुख्यः स इदानीम् समुत्थितः
ayam hi suptaḥ ṣṇmāsān kumbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ
sarvaśastrabhṛtam mukhyaḥ sa idānīm samutthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This most powerful Kumbhakarna, the chief among all the wielders of weapons, was indeed sleeping for the last six months and now, he woke up."
इयम् च दण्डकारद्रामस्य महिषी प्रिया
रक्षोभिश्चरितोद्देशादानीता जनकात्मजा
iyam ca daṇḍakāradrāmasya mahiṣī priyā
rakṣobhiścaritoddeśādānītā janakātmajā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Seetha the beloved wife of Rama was brought from the forest of Dandaka, the place frequented by demons."
सा मे न शय्यामारोढुमिच्चत्यलसगामिनी
त्रिषुलोकेषु चान्या मे न सीतासदृशी मता
sā me na śayyāmāroḍhumiccatyalasagāminī
triṣulokeṣu cānyā me na sītāsadṛśī matā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha of languid pace, does not like to reach my bed. I do not imagine any other woman similar to Seetha existing in the three worlds."
तनुमध्या पृथुश्रोणी शरदिन्दुनिभानना
हेमबिम्बनिभा सौम्यामायेव मयनिर्मिता
tanumadhyā pṛthuśroṇī śaradindunibhānanā
hemabimbanibhā saumyāmāyeva mayanirmitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"She has a slim waist, well-developed hips, and a face similar to an autumnal moon. Looking like an idol of gold and being placid She appears like an illusory image created by Maya.
PURPORT
सुलोहिततलौ श्लक्क्षणौ चरणौ सुप्रतिष्ठतौ
दृष्ट्वा ताम्रनखौ तस्या दीप्यते मे शरीरजः
sulohitatalau ślakkṣaṇau caraṇau supratiṣṭhatau
dṛṣṭvā tāmranakhau tasyā dīpyate me śarīrajaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Seeing Her feet with rose-coloured soles, smooth and evenly resting on ground with the rosy soles, my lust is kindled."
हुताग्निरर्चिःसम्काशामेनाम् सौरीमिव प्रभाम्
उन्नसम् विमलम् वल्गु वदनम् चारुलोचनम्
hutāgnirarciḥsamkāśāmenām saurīmiva prabhām
unnasam vimalam valgu vadanam cārulocanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Seeing her countenance similar to the flame of a sacrificial fire and looking like the radiance of the sun, with her prominent nose and the pretty clear and handsome eyes, I became unrestrained, having submitted to the will of my passion."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I have been polluted by lust and equally by anger and pleasure thus making me pale and I have been ever since in grief and anguish."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Looking forward Rama, her husband, that longish large eyed Seetha, requested me to give time for one year. I accepted the auspicious words of the charmingly eyed Seetha. I am wearied of this lust, like a horse galloping along a path continuously."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
How the monkeys or even Rama and Lakshmana can cross the unassailable ocean, completely infested as it was with sea-animals?"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"on the other hand, a huge destruction was done to us, by a single monkey. The consequences of their acts are unpredictable. Tell me what is there in your mind, according to your own understanding."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"We have no fear with human beings. Even so, the matter can be discussed. Earlier, together with you, I conquered the celestials in a battle between the celestials and demons. You also conquered them. Knowing the whereabouts of Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana together with Sugreeva and other monkeys reached the other shore of the ocean."
अदेया च यथा सीता वध्यौ दशरथात्मजौ
भवद्भिर्मन्त्य्रताम् मन्त्रः सुनीतम् चाभिधीयताम्
adeyā ca yathā sītā vadhyau daśarathātmajau
bhavadbhirmantyratām mantraḥ sunītam cābhidhīyatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let a consultation be held by you and a judicious line of course suggested, so that Seetha may not have to be handed -over to them back and Rama and Lakshmana may be killed."
न हि शक्तिम् प्रपश्यामि जगत्यन्यस्य कस्यचित्
सागरम् वानरैस्तीर्त्वा विश्चयेन जयो मम
na hi śaktim prapaśyāmi jagatyanyasya kasyacit
sāgaram vānaraistīrtvā viścayena jayo mama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not see any other's capability to cross the ocean even so with the monkeys. Victory is surely mine."
तस्य कामपरीतस्य निशम्य परिदेवितम्
कुम्भकर्णः प्रचुक्रोध वचनम् चेदमब्रवीत्
tasya kāmaparītasya niśamya paridevitam
kumbhakarṇaḥ pracukrodha vacanam cedamabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the lamentation of Ravana who was captivated by lust, Kumbhakarana became angry and spoke the following words:
यदा तु रामस्य सलक्ष्मणस्य
प्रसह्य सीता खलु पा इहा।अहृता
सकृत्समीक्षैव सुनिश्चितम् तदा
भजेत चित्तम् यमुनेव यामुनम्
yadā tu rāmasya salakṣmaṇasya
prasahya sītā khalu pā ihā|ahṛtā
sakṛtsamīkṣaiva suniścitam tadā
bhajeta cittam yamuneva yāmunam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You should have contemplated thoroughly that very moment when Seetha was brought here forcibly only after a single impulsive thought from the hermitage of Rama, who was accompanied by Lakshmana, even like the river Yamuna fills the depression at its source the moment it descends on earth."
सर्वमेतन्महाराज कृतमप्रतिमम् तव
विधीयेत सहास्माभिरादावेवास्य कर्मणः
sarvametanmahārāja kṛtamapratimam tava
vidhīyeta sahāsmābhirādāvevāsya karmaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, emperor! If all this act of consultation with us was done at the beginning of this action itself (of bringing Seetha here), it would have been worthy of you."
न्यायेन राजकार्याणि यः करोति दशानन
न स सम्तप्यते पश्चान्निश्चतार्थमतिर्नृपः
nyāyena rājakāryāṇi yaḥ karoti daśānana
na sa samtapyate paścānniścatārthamatirnṛpaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Ravana! A king who performs king's functions with a mind duly ascertained by justice, will not repent thereafter."
अनुपायेन कर्माणि विपरीतानि यानि च
क्रियमाणानि दुष्यन्ति हवीम्ष्यप्रयतेष्विन
anupāyena karmāṇi viparītāni yāni ca
kriyamāṇāni duṣyanti havīmṣyaprayateṣvina
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Actions done pervertedly without use of any stratagem get spoiled, even as oblations not intent on devotion got spoiled.
यः पश्चात्पूर्वकार्याणि कर्माण्यभिचिकीर्षति
पूर्वम् चापरकर्याणि न स वेद नयानयौ
yaḥ paścātpūrvakāryāṇi karmāṇyabhicikīrṣati
pūrvam cāparakaryāṇi na sa veda nayānayau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He who is not aware of prudence and imprudence, wants to do actions which are to be done before at a later stage and actions which are to be done later at a stage before."
चपलस्य तु कृत्येषु प्रसमीक्स्याधिकम् बलम्
चिद्रमन्ये प्रपद्यन्ते क्रौञ्चस्य खमिव द्विजाः
capalasya tu kṛtyeṣu prasamīksyādhikam balam
cidramanye prapadyante krauñcasya khamiva dvijāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Seeing superior strength in a hasteful enemy, some look for his weak point, even as swans seek the cleavage in the Kraunca mountain."
PURPORT
त्वयेदम् महादारभम् कार्य मप्रतिचिन्तितम्
दिष्ट्या त्वाम् नावधीद्रामो विषमिश्रमिवामृतम्
tvayedam mahādārabham kārya mapraticintitam
diṣṭyā tvām nāvadhīdrāmo viṣamiśramivāmṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This great act was undertaken by you without proper thinking. By good fortune, Rama did not kill you even as the meat mixed with poison would kill the consumer."
तस्मात्त्वया समारब्धम् कर्म ह्यप्रतिमम् परैः
अहम् समीकरिष्यामि हत्वा शत्रूम् स्तनानघ
tasmāttvayā samārabdham karma hyapratimam paraiḥ
aham samīkariṣyāmi hatvā śatrūm stanānagha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, irreproachable brother! Therefore by killing your enemies, I shall neutralize the dishonourable act undertaken by you in relation to your enemies."
अहमुत्सादयिष्यामि शत्रूंस्तव निशाचर
यदि शक्रविवस्वन्तौ यदि पावकमारुतौ
ahamutsādayiṣyāmi śatrūṃstava niśācara
yadi śakravivasvantau yadi pāvakamārutau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, ranger of night! I shall destroy your enemies. I shall do battle with the two brothers, even if they are Indra and the sun-god or the god of fire and the wind-god or Kubera (the god of riches) and Varuna (the god of water).
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Entering the combat with a mountain-sized body and fiery teeth, roaring the while and attacking with an immense bludgeon, I shall strike terror in Indra himself!"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even before Rama strikes me once more with a second arrow, I shall drink his blood. Cheer up freely.
वधेव वै दाशरथेह् सुखावहम्
जयम् तवाहर्तुमहम् तयिष्ये
हत्वा च रामम् सह लक्ष्मणेन
खादामि सर्वान् हरियूथमुख्यान्
vadheva vai dāśaratheh sukhāvaham
jayam tavāhartumaham tayiṣye
hatvā ca rāmam saha lakṣmaṇena
khādāmi sarvān hariyūthamukhyān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I shall try to fetch victory, which brings pleasure to you, by the killing of Rama. By exterminating Rama along with Lakshmana, I shall devour all the leaders of monkey-troops."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे द्वादशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe dvādaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Enjoy yourself freely. Drink excellent of wines to the extent of your desire without any anxiety. Rama, having been dispatched by me to the abode of death, Seetha will be at your disposal forever."