Chapter 18
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
अथ रामः प्रसन्न आत्मा श्रुत्वा वायु सुतस्य ह
प्रत्यभाषत दुर्धर्षः श्रुतवान् आत्मनि स्थितम्
atha rāmaḥ prasanna ātmā śrutvā vāyu sutasya ha
pratyabhāṣata durdharṣaḥ śrutavān ātmani sthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter the inviolable Rama who possesses sacred knowledge, after hearing Hanuman's words, spoke with a clear understanding, the following opinion that was firm in his mind:
मम अपि तु विवक्षा अस्ति काचित् प्रति विभीषणम्
श्रुतम् इच्चामि तत् सर्वम् भवद्भिः श्रेयसि स्थितैः
mama api tu vivakṣā asti kācit prati vibhīṣaṇam
śrutam iccāmi tat sarvam bhavadbhiḥ śreyasi sthitaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I also wish to tell my opinion about Vibhishana. I want it to be heard by you, who are firmly established in our welfare."
मित्र भावेन सम्प्राप्तम् न त्यजेयम् कथंचन
दोषो यदि अपि तस्य स्यात् सताम् एतद् अगर्हितम्
mitra bhāvena samprāptam na tyajeyam kathaṃcana
doṣo yadi api tasya syāt satām etad agarhitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By any means, I do not desert anyone who arrives with a friendly appearance, even if he has a defect. His acceptance is irreproachable in the eyes of good men"
सुग्रीवस्त्वथ तद्वाक्यमाभाष्य च विमृश्य च
ततः शुभतरम् वाक्यमुवाच हरिपुङ्गवः
sugrīvastvatha tadvākyamābhāṣya ca vimṛśya ca
tataḥ śubhataram vākyamuvāca haripuṅgavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Sugreeva the chief of monkeys closely analyzed and examined the aforesaid words of Rama and thereafter spoke the following most auspicious words:
सुदुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किम्मेष रजनीचरः
ईदृशम् व्यसनम् प्राप्तम् भ्रातरम् यः परित्यजेत्
suduṣṭo vāpyaduṣṭo vā kimmeṣa rajanīcaraḥ
īdṛśam vyasanam prāptam bhrātaram yaḥ parityajet
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"What matters if this ranger of night is very dangerous or other wise, if he can desert his own brother at a time of peril? Whom will he not betray subsequently?"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Sugreeva, Rama who was truly mighty looked round all of them , smiled a little and spoke the following words to Lakshmana, of virtuous characteristics:
अनधीत्य च शास्त्राणि वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च
न शक्यमीदृशम् वक्तुम् यदुवाच हरीश्वरः
anadhītya ca śāstrāṇi vṛddhānanupasevya ca
na śakyamīdṛśam vaktum yaduvāca harīśvaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Without studying scriptures and without serving elders, it is not possible to speak such words as Sugreeva spoke."
अस्ति सूक्ष्मतरम् किंचिद्यदत्र प्रतिभाति मा
प्रत्यक्षम् लौकिकम् चापि वर्तते सर्वराजसु
asti sūkṣmataram kiṃcidyadatra pratibhāti mā
pratyakṣam laukikam cāpi vartate sarvarājasu
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It appears to my mind that there is however something peculiar in these circumstances which are clearly to be seen in all lives of kings and even occurring in ordinary life."
अमित्रास्तत्कुलीनाश्च प्रातिदेश्याश्च कीर्तिता
व्यसनेषु प्रहर्तारस्तस्मादयमिहागतः
amitrāstatkulīnāśca prātideśyāśca kīrtitā
vyasaneṣu prahartārastasmādayamihāgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It is told that persons of the same family and rulers belonging to adjoining territories become enemies and strike in times of adversities. For this reason, he came here."
अपापास्तत्कुलीवाश्च मानयन्ति स्वकान् हितान्
एष प्रायो नरेन्द्राणाम् शङ्कनीयस्तु शोभनः
apāpāstatkulīvāśca mānayanti svakān hitān
eṣa prāyo narendrāṇām śaṅkanīyastu śobhanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even if belonging to the same family, persons who are virtuous do respect their own well wishers in that family. Generally among kings, even a virtuous person is apprehended."
यस्तु दोषस्त्वया प्रोक्तो ह्यादाने^^रिबलस्य च
तत्र ते कीर्तयुष्यामि यथाशास्त्रमिदम् शृणु
yastu doṣastvayā prokto hyādāne^^ribalasya ca
tatra te kīrtayuṣyāmi yathāśāstramidam śṛṇu
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"With regard to the draw back you told me in the matter of accepting a person coming from the side of an adversary, hear from me what the scriptures say."
न वयम् तत्कुलीनाश्च राज्यकाम्क्षी च राक्षसः
पण्डिता हि भविष्यन्ति तस्माद्ग्राह्यो विभीषणः
na vayam tatkulīnāśca rājyakāmkṣī ca rākṣasaḥ
paṇḍitā hi bhaviṣyanti tasmādgrāhyo vibhīṣaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"We do not belong to the same family. Further, Vibhishana the demon is desirous of acquiring the kingdom. A few of the demons also may be rather learned ones. That is why, Vibhishana is acceptable."
अव्यग्राश्च प्रहृष्टाश्च न भविष्यन्ति सम्गताः
प्रणादश्च महानेष ततो।अस्य भयमागतम्
avyagrāśca prahṛṣṭāśca na bhaviṣyanti samgatāḥ
praṇādaśca mahāneṣa tato|asya bhayamāgatam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Kinsfolk do not live together in a fearless mode and in a delightful manner. Hence, they get a split among themselves. For this reason, a fear has come to him. This loud appeal is also major cause. That is why, Vibhishana can be accepted."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My dear one! Neither all brothers are like Bharata, nor all sons of a father like me nor all friends are like you."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing Rama's words Sugreeva who was together with the highly wise Lakshmana stood up saluting and spoke these words:
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama the excellent among the tolerant! Realise that Ravana has sent Vibhishana, the demon. I think of him to be worthy of being taken as a captive."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, the mighty armed Rama! The faultless one! This demon is being sent to kill you who are unsuspecting, or to kill Lakshmana or me in trust. He came here with a crooked mind. He with his counselors is fit to be imprisoned. Is not Vibhishana the brother of cruel Ravana?"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Speaking thus to Rama, the best of Raghu dynasty, Sugreeva who knew the mode of expression, thereafter kept silent.
स सुग्रीवस्य तद् वाक्यय्म् रामः श्रुत्वा विमृश्य च
sa sugrīvasya tad vākyaym rāmaḥ śrutvā vimṛśya ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words of Sugreeva, Rama pondered over the words and thereafter spoke more auspicious words to Sugreeva as follows:
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"What does it matter whether that demon is very bad or not bad? He is incapable of doing even a little harm to me."
पिशाचान् दानवान् यक्षान् पृथिव्याम् चैव राक्षसान्
piśācān dānavān yakṣān pṛthivyām caiva rākṣasān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Sugreeva, Lord of monkey-troops! If I wish, I can kill those devilish beings, demons, supernatural beings and ogres living on earth with just a tip of my finger"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It is narrated how by a dove, its enemy ( a fowler) when it came for a refuge, was received according to rules of hospitality and was invited for a feast with its own flesh."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, the excellent of monkeys! The aforesaid dove indeed accepted as a guest, the fowler as he came, although he killed its wife .How much more a man like me has to do?"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Hear the verses inculcating virtue so long ago, by Kandu, the son of a sage called Kanva, a great sage and a speaker of truth."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, king the terminator of enemies! Even an enemy, who formed a cup with his hollowed hands, a miserable person, a person who is begging and who is seeking a refuge should not be killed with the aim of not being cruel."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"An enemy who comes for protection against others, even if the aforesaid enemy is oppressed or arrogant, is to be protected by one who has a disciplined mind, even by abandoning one's life."
स चेद् भयाद् वा मोहाद् वा कामाद् वा अपि न रक्षति
sa ced bhayād vā mohād vā kāmād vā api na rakṣati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If he does not protect rightly through his strength, by fear or by ignorance or by desire, it is a sin to be reproached by the world."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"If having not been protected, a refugee dies before the eyes of a man who is able to protect him, the former takes along all his moral merit and goes."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In not protecting thus the persons who take refuge, there is a great blemish involved in it. It does not bestow heaven. It destroys reputation. It devastates strength and valor"
करिष्यामि यथा अर्थम् तु कण्डोर् वचनम् उत्तमम्
kariṣyāmi yathā artham tu kaṇḍor vacanam uttamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I will follow the excellent words of Kandu. It becomes a very righteous thing, gives reputation, leads to heaven and the rewards appear consequently."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that �I am yours', I shall give him assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Sugreeva, the chief of monkeys! Let him either be Vibhishana or even Ravana himself; I have given an assurance of safety to him. Bring him here."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing Rama' s words, Sugreeva the lord of monkeys, overwhelmed as he was with cordial friendship, replied to Rama as follows:
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama, who knows righteousness, the crest jewel among lords of the world! What surprise is there in thinking that you, duly endowed with true essence of life and established in a right path, speak these venerable words?"
मम च अपि अन्तर् आत्मा अयम् शुद्धिम् वेत्ति विभीषणम्
mama ca api antar ātmā ayam śuddhim vetti vibhīṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My inmost spirit also feels Vibhishana to be a genuine person, he being well examined from all angles, by act of inference and by his appearance."
तस्मात् क्षिप्रम् सह अस्माभिस् तुल्यो भवतु राघव
tasmāt kṣipram saha asmābhis tulyo bhavatu rāghava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! Hence, let the highly wise Vibhishana be equal among us soon together. Let him get our friendship too"
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे अष्टादशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe aṣṭādaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words of Sugreeva, Rama the king of men, as acknowledged by Sugreeva, held meeting with Vibhishana, as Indra the lord of celestials once met Garuda the king of birds. Thus, this is the 18th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India. Verse Locator for Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War : Chapter 18 Top of Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 © 2008, K. M. K. Murthy [Revised : August 08] World Wide view of who and verse The Fastest SFTP on the planet FREE Go FTP Client