Chapter 16

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

सुनिविष्टम् हितम् वाक्यम् उक्तवन्तम् विभीषणम्
अब्रवीत् परुषम् वाक्यम् रावणः काल चोदितः

suniviṣṭam hitam vākyam uktavantam vibhīṣaṇam
abravīt paruṣam vākyam rāvaṇaḥ kāla coditaḥ

SYNONYMS

vibhiṣaṇam: to Vibhishana | sunuviṣṭam: who was very stable | uktavantam: and who spoke | hitam: wholesome | vākyam: words | rāvanṇaḥ: Ravana | kālacoditaḥ: goaded by death | abravīt: spoke | paruṣam: harsh |

TRANSLATION

Ravana, goaded by death, spoke the following harsh words to Vibhishana, who was very stable and who had spoken wholesome words:

VERSE 2

वसेत् सह सपत्नेन क्रुद्धेन आशी विषेण च
न तु मित्र प्रवादेन सम्वस्च्चत्रुणा सह

vaset saha sapatnena kruddhena āśī viṣeṇa ca
na tu mitra pravādena samvasccatruṇā saha

SYNONYMS

vaset: one can stay | sapatnena saha: with an enemy | aśīviṣeṇa: or with a snake | kruddhena: which is enraged | tu: but | na samvaset: one cannot stay | śatruṇāsaha: with an enemy | mitrapravādena: talking as a friend." |

TRANSLATION

"One can stay together with an enemy or even with a furious snake, but one cannot stay together with an adversary yet avowing himself as a friend"

VERSE 3

जानामि शीलम् ज्ञातीनाम् सर्व लोकेषु राक्षस
हृष्यन्ति व्यसनेष्वेते ज्ञातीनाम् ज्ञातयः सदा

jānāmi śīlam jñātīnām sarva lokeṣu rākṣasa
hṛṣyanti vyasaneṣvete jñātīnām jñātayaḥ sadā

SYNONYMS

demon! jñāmi: I know shiilam = the conduct | gyātīnām: of kinsmen | sadā: always | hṛṣyanti: are rejoiced | vyasaneṣu: at the calamities | g^yātīnām: of their kinsmen." |

TRANSLATION

"O, demon! I know the conduct of kinsmen in all the worlds. These kinsmen always are rejoiced at the calamities of their kinsmen"

VERSE 4

प्रधानम् साधकम् वैद्यम् धर्म शीलम् च राक्षस
ज्ञातयो ह्यनमन्यन्ते शूरम् परिभवन्ति च

pradhānam sādhakam vaidyam dharma śīlam ca rākṣasa
jñātayo hyanamanyante śūram paribhavanti ca

SYNONYMS

rākṣasa: O | n^yātayaḥ: kinsmen | avamanyante hi: indeed insult | paribhavantica: and even humiliate | sādhakam: an effective | pradhānam: leader | vaidyam: an educated person | dharmaśīlāmca: a person of right conduct | śūram: and a valiant man." |

TRANSLATION

"O, demon! The kinsmen indeed insult and even humiliate their kinsman, who is an effective leader, a person of education and right conduct and a valiant man."

VERSE 5

नित्यम् अन्योन्य सम्हृष्टा व्यसनेष्वाततायिनः
प्रच्चन्न हृदया घोरा ज्ञातयस् तु भय आवहाः

nityam anyonya samhṛṣṭā vyasaneṣvātatāyinaḥ
praccanna hṛdayā ghorā jñātayas tu bhaya āvahāḥ

SYNONYMS

ghorāḥ: the horrible | ġ^yātaḥ: kinsmen | pracchanna hṛdayāḥ: with their concealed thoughts | ātatāyinaḥ: and treacherous minds | bhayāvahāḥ: terrific ones as they are | nityam: always | anyonyasamhṛṣṭāḥ: rejoice each other | vyasaneṣu: in adversities." |

TRANSLATION

"The horrible kinsmen with their concealed thoughts and treacherous minds, terrific ones as they are, always rejoice each other in adversities."

VERSE 6

श्रूयन्ते हस्तिभिर् गीताः श्लोकाः पद्म वने पुरा
पाश हस्तान् नरान् दृष्ट्वा शृणु तान् गदतो मम

śrūyante hastibhir gītāḥ ślokāḥ padma vane purā
pāśa hastān narān dṛṣṭvā śṛṇu tān gadato mama

SYNONYMS

padmavane: In a forest called Padmavana | purāḥ: previously | ślokaḥ: maxims | gītaḥ: were spoken | hastibhiḥ: by elephants | dṛṣṭvā: after seeing | narān: men | pāśa hastān: with nooses in hand | śṛṇuṣva: Hear | gadataḥ: as told | mama: to me." |

TRANSLATION

"Previously in a forest called Padmavana, some maxims were spoken by elephants, which saw men with nooses in hand. Hear and I shall tell them."

VERSE 7

नाग्निर्नान्यानि शस्त्राणि न नः पाशा भयावहाः
घोराः स्वार्थप्रयुक्तास्तु ज्ञातयो नो भयावहाः

nāgnirnānyāni śastrāṇi na naḥ pāśā bhayāvahāḥ
ghorāḥ svārthaprayuktāstu jñātayo no bhayāvahāḥ

SYNONYMS

naḥ: to us." | na: they are not | agniḥ: fire | anyāni: after | śastrāṇi: weapons | pāśāḥ: nooses | bhayāvahāḥ: are begetting fear | ghoraḥ: the terrific | jñātayaḥ: kinsmen | svārthaprayuktāḥ: incited by selfishness |

TRANSLATION

"For us, fire or weapons or nooses are not begetting fear. The terrific kinsmen, incited by selfishness are begetting fear to us."

VERSE 8

उपायमेते वक्ष्यन्ति ग्रहणे नात्रसंशयः
कृत्स्नाद् भयाज्ज्ञातिभयम् सुकष्टम् विदितम् च नः

upāyamete vakṣyanti grahaṇe nātrasaṃśayaḥ
kṛtsnād bhayājjñātibhayam sukaṣṭam viditam ca naḥ

SYNONYMS

ete: these kinsmen | vakṣyanti: will inform | upāyam: the strategy | grahaṇe: to seize us | na: there is no | samśayaḥ: doubt | atra: in this | bhayāt: fears | ġ^yātibhayam: the fear of kinsmen | sukaṣṭam: is very troublesome | naḥ: for us | viditam: It is known thing." |

TRANSLATION

"These kinsmen will inform the strategy to our enemies to seize us. There is no doubt about this. Out of all fears, the fear of kinsmen is very much troublesome for us. It is a well known thing."

VERSE 9

विद्यते गोषु सम्पन्नम् विद्यते ज्ञातितो भयम्
विद्यते स्त्रीषु चापल्यम् विद्यते ज्ञातितो भयम्

vidyate goṣu sampannam vidyate jñātito bhayam
vidyate strīṣu cāpalyam vidyate jñātito bhayam

SYNONYMS

vidyate: there is | sampannam: wealth | goṣu: in cows | bhayam: fear | ġ^yātitaḥ: for kinsmen | cāpalyam: fickleness | strīṣu: in women | tapaḥ: austerity | brāhmaṇe: in brahmins." |

TRANSLATION

"There is wealth in cows. There is fear for kinsmen. There is fickleness in women. There is austerity in Brahmins."

VERSE 10

ततो नेष्टम् इदम् सौम्य यदहम् लोक सत्कृतः
ऐश्वर्यम् अभिजातः च रिपूणाम् मूर्ध्नि च स्थितः

tato neṣṭam idam saumya yadaham loka satkṛtaḥ
aiśvaryam abhijātaḥ ca ripūṇām mūrdhni ca sthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

saumya: O | gentleman! ṭataḥ: hence | idam: this | na iṣṭam: is not of liking to you | iti yat: that | aham: I | loka satkṛtaḥ: am venerated by the people | abhijātaḥca: that I obtained | aiśvaryam: riches | sthitaḥca: and that I am sitting tight | mūrdhni: in the head | ripuṇām: of enemies." |

TRANSLATION

"O, gentleman! Hence, it is not of liking to you that the people are venerating me, that I obtained riches and that I am sitting tight in the heads of enemies".

VERSE 11

यथा पुष्करपत्रेषु पतितास्तोयबिन्दवः
न श्लेषमभिगच्चन्ति तथानार्येषु सौहृदम्

yathā puṣkarapatreṣu patitāstoyabindavaḥ
na śleṣamabhigaccanti tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam

SYNONYMS

yathā: how | toyabindavaḥ: drops of water | palitāḥ: fallen | puṣkarapatreṣu: on lotus leaves | na abhigacchanti: do not get | śleṣam: clinging | tathā: in the same manner. SouhR^idam = friendship | anāryeṣu: in vulgar ones." |

TRANSLATION

"As drops of water fallen on lotus leaves do not get clung to those leaves, so also a friendship does not cling to vulgar ones."

VERSE 12

यथा शरदि मेघानाम् सिञ्चातामपि गर्जताम्
न भवत्यमुबसम्क्लेदस्तथानार्येषु सौहृदम्

yathā śaradi meghānām siñcātāmapi garjatām
na bhavatyamubasamkledastathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam

SYNONYMS

yathā: how | piṇcatām: raining | meghānām: clouds | garjatāmapi: even if thundering | na bhaveti: cannot | ambusamsamkledaḥ: give excessive wetness with water | tathā: in the same manner | souhṛdam: friendship | anāryeṣu: in vulgar people." |

TRANSLATION

"As rainy clouds in autumn, even though thundering, cannot get the earth saturated with water, so also friendship does not have tenderness of heart in vulgar people."

VERSE 13

यथा मधुकरस्तर्षाद्रासम् विन्दन्न तिष्ठति
तथा त्वमपि तत्रैव तथानार्येषु सौहृदम्

yathā madhukarastarṣādrāsam vindanna tiṣṭhati
tathā tvamapi tatraiva tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam

SYNONYMS

yathā: how | madhukaraḥ: a honey bee | vindan: getting | rasam: nectar (from a flower) | na tiṣṭhati: does not stick on (that flower) | tarṣāt: due to eager desire (for more) | tathā: in the same manner | tvamapi: you also | tatraiva: in that(category) only | souhṛdam: friendship | anāryeṣu: in vulgar people." |

TRANSLATION

"As a honey bee, even though getting nectar from a flower, does not stick on to that flower due to its eager desire for more, you also belong to that category as friendship does not stick on to vulgar people."

VERSE 14

यथा मधुकर्स्तराषात्काशपुष्पम् पिबन्नपि
रसमत्र न विन्देत तथानार्येषु सौहृदम्

yathā madhukarstarāṣātkāśapuṣpam pibannapi
rasamatra na vindeta tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam

SYNONYMS

yathā: how | madhukaraḥ: a honey bee | na vindeta: cannot get | rasam: nectar | atra: in it | pibannapi: even though trying to drink | kāśapuṣpam: on a flower of grass | tathā: in the same manner | sauhṛdam: friendship | anāryeṣu: from vulgar persons." |

TRANSLATION

"As even though trying to drink nectar from a flower of grass, a honey bee cannot get it, so also friendship cannot be extracted from vulgar persons."

VERSE 15

यथा पूर्वम् गजः स्नात्वा गृह्य हस्तेन वै रजः
दूषयत्यात्मनो देहम् तथानार्येषु सौहृदम्

yathā pūrvam gajaḥ snātvā gṛhya hastena vai rajaḥ
dūṣayatyātmano deham tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam

SYNONYMS

yathā: how | gajaḥ: an elephants | dūṣayati: abuses | ātmanaḥ: its | deham: body | gṛhya: by helping itself | rajah: with dust | snātvā: after taking bath | pūrvā: earlier | hastena: with its trunk | tathā: in the same manner | souhṛdam: friendship | anaryeṣu: in vulgar persons" |

TRANSLATION

"How an elephant abuses its body by helping itself with dust after taking bath earlier with its trunk, friendship gets an abuse in vulgar persons in the same manner."

VERSE 16

यो।अन्यस्त्वेवम्विधम् ब्रूयाद् वाक्यमेतन्निशाचर
अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते न भवेत् त्वाम् तु धिक् कुलपांसनम्

yo|anyastvevamvidham brūyād vākyametanniśācara
asmin muhūrte na bhavet tvām tu dhik kulapāṃsanam

SYNONYMS

niśācara: O | valking about by night! yaḥ: Whoever | anyaḥ: other one | evamvidham: in this manner | brūyāt: utters | etat: these | vākyam: words | na bhavet: he will not be present | asmin: at this | muhūrte: moment | kula pāmsana: O | destroyer of race! dhik: A curse | tvām tu: upon you." |

TRANSLATION

"O, demon, walking about by night! If any other person utters these words in this manner, he will be ceasing to exit at this moment. O, destroyer of race! A curse upon you!"

VERSE 17

इतिउक्तः परुषम् वाक्यम् न्यायवादी विभीषणः
उत्पपात गदापाणिःचतुर्भिः सह राक्षसैः

itiuktaḥ paruṣam vākyam nyāyavādī vibhīṣaṇaḥ
utpapāta gadāpāṇiḥcaturbhiḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ

SYNONYMS

paruṣam: harsh | vākyam: words | iti: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | nyāyavādī: who advocates justice | gadāpāṇiḥ: having a mace in his hand | utpapāta: soared into the sky | caturbhiḥ rākṣasaiḥ saha: along with four demons. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those harsh words from Ravana, Vibhishana who advocates justice, wielding a mace in his hand, soared high into the sky, along with four other demons.

VERSE 18

अब्रवीच्च तदा वाक्यम् जातक्रोधो विभीषणः
अन्तरिक्षगतः श्रीमान् भ्रातरम् राक्षस अधिपम्

abravīcca tadā vākyam jātakrodho vibhīṣaṇaḥ
antarikṣagataḥ śrīmān bhrātaram rākṣasa adhipam

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | śrīmān: the illustrious | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | jātakrodhaḥ: for whom angry was arisen | antarikṣagataḥ: after moving into the sky | abravīcca: spoke also | rākṣasādhipam: to the king of demons | bhrātaram: his brother. |

TRANSLATION

Then, the illustrious Vibhishana who became angry also spoke these words to king Ravana, his brother after moving into the sky.

VERSE 19

स त्वम् भ्राता असि मे राजन् ब्रूहि माम् यद् यद् इच्चसि
ज्येष्ठो मान्यः पितृसमो न च धर्मपथे स्थितः

sa tvam bhrātā asi me rājan brūhi mām yad yad iccasi
jyeṣṭho mānyaḥ pitṛsamo na ca dharmapathe sthitaḥ

SYNONYMS

rājan: O | king! ṣaḥ tvam: you as such | asi: are | bhrātā: brother | me: to me | brūhi: speak | mām: to me | yadyat: whatever | icchasi: you like | jyeṣṭhaḥ: elder brother | pitṛsamaḥ: is equal to father | mānyaḥ: he is to be respected | nacasthitaḥ: even though not staying | dharmapathe: in right path | na kṣamāpi: I cannot forbear | idam: these | te: your | paruṣam: harsh | vākyamtu: words." |

TRANSLATION

"O, king! You are a brother to me. You utter whatever you like. Elder brother is like a father. Even if he is not staying in a right path, he is to be respected. But I cannot forbear these harsh words from you."

VERSE 20

सुनीतम् हित कामेन वाक्यम् उक्तम् दश आनन

sunītam hita kāmena vākyam uktam daśa ānana

SYNONYMS

akṛtātmenaḥ: those who have an ill composed mind | āgatāh: and get | vaśam: conceded | kālasya: to the occasion | na gṛhṇanti: do not assimilate | sunītam vākyam: the words of prudence | uktam: spoken | hitakāmena: by a well wisher." |

TRANSLATION

"Those who have an ill composed mind and who get conceded to the occasion do not assimilate the words of prudence, spoken by a well wisher."

VERSE 21

सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततम् प्रिय वादिनः

sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājan satatam priya vādinaḥ

SYNONYMS

rājan: O | king! puruśāḥ: men | priyavādinaḥ: who speak pleasing words | satatam: forever | sulabhāḥ: are easy to be obtained | vaktā: (But) one who speaks | pathyasya: of useful | apriyasya: but unpleasing words | śrotāca: and also one listens to them | durlabhāḥ: are rare to be obtained." |

TRANSLATION

"O, king! Men who forever speak pleasing words are easy to be obtained. But one who speaks of useful but unpleasing words as also the one who listens to them, are rare to be obtained"

VERSE 22

बद्धम् कालस्य पाशेन सर्व भूत अपहारिणा

baddham kālasya pāśena sarva bhūta apahāriṇā

SYNONYMS

naupekṣe: I could not ignore | tvām: you | naśyantam: being destroyed | pāśena: by the noose | kālasya: of Yama | baddham: being tied | sarva bhūtāpahāriṇaḥ: which takes away all beings | śaraṇamyathā: as a house | pradīptam: which is burning." |

TRANSLATION

"I could not ignore you, being destroyed by the noose of Yama (god of death); tied around you and which snatches away all beings, as none can ignore a burning house."

VERSE 23

दीप्त पावक सम्काशैः शितैः कान्चन भूषणैः

dīpta pāvaka samkāśaiḥ śitaiḥ kāncana bhūṣaṇaiḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | naicchāmi: do not wish | draṣṭum: to see | tvām: you | nihatam: killed | rāmeṇa: by Rama | śaraiḥ: by his arrows | śitāḥ: sharp as they are | kāṇcana bhūṣaṇaiḥ: = adorned with gold | dīptapāvaka samkāśaiḥ: and resembling like blazing fire." |

TRANSLATION

"I do not wish to see you, being killed by Rama with his sharp arrows, adorned with gold and each resembling like a blazing fire."

VERSE 24

शूराः च बलवन्तः च कृत अस्त्राः च नर आजिरे

śūrāḥ ca balavantaḥ ca kṛta astrāḥ ca nara ājire

SYNONYMS

narāḥ: persons | śūrāḥ: who are valiant | balavantaśca: who are strong | kṛtāśca: and who are skilled in weaponry | kālābhipannāḥ: overpowered by Time | sīdanti: sink down = (ruin) vaaluka setuvaH yathaa = like a dam constructed with sand." |

TRANSLATION

"Persons who are valiant, strong and skilled in weaponry, when time comes, sink down (ruin) as a dam constructed with sand sinks down."

VERSE 25

तनर्षयतु यच्चोक्तम् गुरुत्वाद्धितमिच्चता

tanarṣayatu yaccoktam gurutvāddhitamiccatā

SYNONYMS

26| gurutrāt: as an elder brother | marṣayatu: be patient | tat: with that | uktam: spoken | yat: by which | hitam: welfare | icchatā: was desired by me | rakṣa: guard | ātmānam: yourself | sarāksṣasām: along with demons | imām: and this | purīmca: city | sarvathā: by all means | asti: Let (all) be | savasti: well | te: to you | gamiṣyāmi: I am departing | bhava: Be | sukhī: happy person | mayā vinā: without me." |

TRANSLATION

"As an elder brother, bear the words spoken by me, who desire your welfare. Guard this city and yourself along with demons, by all means. Let all be well with you. I am departing. Be a happy person without me."

VERSE 27

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे षोडशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ṣoḍaśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

niśācara: O | the ranger of the night! vacanam: my words | narocate: are not relishing | te: to you | nivāryanāṇasya: who are being restrained | mayā: by me | hitāiṣiṇā: desiring welfare | narāḥ: persons | gatāyuṣaḥ: whose duration of life is ended | na gṛhṇanti: do not accept | hitam: the beneficial words | īritam: spoken | suhṛdbhiḥ: by well wishers." |

TRANSLATION

"O, Ravana the ranger of the night! My words are not relishing to you, who are being restrained by me duly desiring your welfare. Persons whose duration of life is to end, do not accept the salutary words spoken by their well wishers"