Chapter 19

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

राघवेन अभये दत्ते सम्नतो रावण अनुजः
विभीषणो महाप्राज्ञो भूमिम् समवलोकयत्

rāghavena abhaye datte samnato rāvaṇa anujaḥ
vibhīṣaṇo mahāprājño bhūmim samavalokayat

SYNONYMS

abhaye: (while) | datte: having given | rāghaveṇa: by Rama | mahāprāġ^yaḥ: the highly sagacious | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | rāvaṇānuje: the brother of Ravana | samnataḥ: bent down | samavalokayat: and glanced towards | bhūmim: the earth. |

TRANSLATION

While the assurance of protection having been given to Rama, the highly sagacious Vibhishana the brother of Ravana bent down and glanced towards the earth.

VERSE 2

खात् पपात अवनिम् हृष्टो भक्तैर् अनुचरैः सह
स तु रामस्य धर्म आत्मा निपपात विभीषणः

khāt papāta avanim hṛṣṭo bhaktair anucaraiḥ saha
sa tu rāmasya dharma ātmā nipapāta vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | dharmātmā: virtuous | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | papāta: descended | hṛṣṭaḥ: joyously | khāt: from the sky | avanim: to the ground | bhaktaiḥ anucaraiḥ saha: along with his faithful companions | nipapāta: and alighted | rāmasya: near Rama. |

TRANSLATION

The virtuous Vibhishana descended joyously from the sky to the ground along with his faithful companions and alighted in the vicinity of Rama.

VERSE 3

पादयोः शरण अन्वेषी चतुर्भिः सह राक्षसैः
अब्रवीच् च तदा रामम् वाक्यम् तत्र विभीषणः

pādayoḥ śaraṇa anveṣī caturbhiḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ
abravīc ca tadā rāmam vākyam tatra vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: thereafter | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | caturbhiḥ rākṣasaiḥ saha: along with four demons | nipapāta: fell prostrate | abravicca: and spoke | rāmam prati: to Rama | vākyam: the following words | yuktamca: which were right | sāpratam: suitable | sampraharṣaṇam: and joyful. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Vibhishana along with the four demons fell prostrate and spoke to Rama the following words which were equitable suitable and delightful.

VERSE 4

अनुजो रावणस्य अहम् तेन च अस्मि अवमानितः

anujo rāvaṇasya aham tena ca asmi avamānitaḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | anujaḥ: an younger brother | rāvaṇasya: of Ravana | avamāniteśca: and was humiliated | tena: by him | śaraṇam gataḥ: I sought refuge | bhavantam: in you | śaraṇyam: who are the refuge | sarvabhūtānām: for all the beings. |

TRANSLATION

"I am the younger brother of Ravana and was humiliated by him. I sought refuge in you, who are the refuge for all the beings."

VERSE 5

परित्यक्ता मया लंका मित्राणि च धनानि च

parityaktā mayā laṃkā mitrāṇi ca dhanāni ca

SYNONYMS

laṇkā: Lanka | parityakta: who was abandoned | mayā: by me | mitrāṇi: the friends | dhanānica: and the possessions too | me: my | rājyam: kingdom | bhavadgatamhi: is indeed | jīvitam: my life | sukhānica: and happiness too. |

TRANSLATION

"Abandoning Lanka, friends and possessions, I place my kingdom, life and happiness at your disposal."

VERSE 6

तस्य तद्वचनम् श्रुत्वा रामो वचनमब्रवीत्

tasya tadvacanam śrutvā rāmo vacanamabravīt

SYNONYMS

7| śrutvā: hearing | tatvacanam: those words | tasya: of Vibhishana | rāmaḥ: Rama | sāntvayitvā: in soothing tone | pibanniva: while soothing to refresh | locanābhyām: with his eyes | abravīt: spoke | vacanam: words | ākhyāhi: Tell | mama: me | tattvena: really | balābalam: the strengths and weaknesses | rākṣasānām: of the demons." |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those words of Vibhishana, Rama in a soothing tone and with a refreshing look in his eyes, spoke these words: "Tell me really the strengths and weaknesses of the demons."

VERSE 8

एवमुक्तम् तदा रक्षो रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
रावणस्य बलम् सर्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे

evamuktam tadā rakṣo rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā
rāvaṇasya balam sarvamākhyātumupacakrame

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktam: a word | tadā: then | rāmeṇa: by Rama | akliṣṭakarmaṇā: who was unwearied in action | rakṣaḥ: Vibhishana | upacakrame: started | ākhyātum: telling | sarvam: about the entire | balam: strength | rāvaṇasaya: of Ravana. |

TRANSLATION

Thus asked then by Rama who was unwearied in action, Vibhishana started telling about the detailed strength of Ravana.

VERSE 9

अवध्यः सर्वभूतानाम् गन्धर्वोरगपक्षिणाम्
राजपुत्र दशग्रीवो वरदानात्स्वयम्भुवः

avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānām gandharvoragapakṣiṇām
rājaputra daśagrīvo varadānātsvayambhuvaḥ

SYNONYMS

rājaputra: O | prince! Varadānāt: because of a special boon given | svayambhuvaḥ: by Brahma (the lord of celestials) | daśagrīvaḥ: Ravana | avadhyaḥ: cannot be killed | gandharvoragapakṣiṇām: by Gandharvas |

TRANSLATION

"O, prince! Because of a special boon given by Brahma (lord of creation), Ravana can not be killed by all beings, Gandharvas (celestial musicians), serpents, and birds."

VERSE 10

रावणानन्तरो भ्राता मम ज्येष्ठश्च वीर्यवान्
कुम्भकर्णो महातेजाः शक्रप्रतिबलो युधि

rāvaṇānantaro bhrātā mama jyeṣṭhaśca vīryavān
kumbhakarṇo mahātejāḥ śakrapratibalo yudhi

SYNONYMS

kumbhakarṇaḥ: Kumbhakarna | bhrātā: a brother | rāvaṇānantaraḥ: born after Ravana | mama jyeṣṭhaśca: and my elder brother | vīryavān: who is valiant | mahātejā: and highly powerful | śakrapratibalaḥ: has a strength to fight against Indra (the lord of celestials) | ẏuddhi: in battle. |

TRANSLATION

Kumbhakarna, my elder brother born after Ravana, who is valiant and highly powerful, has enough strength to fight against Indra (Lord of celestials) in battle.

VERSE 11

राम सेनापतिस्तस्य प्रहस्तो यदि ते श्रुतः
कैलासे येन सम मणिभद्रः पराजितः

rāma senāpatistasya prahasto yadi te śrutaḥ
kailāse yena sama maṇibhadraḥ parājitaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāma: O | yena: by whom | maṇibhadraḥ: Manibhadra | parājitaḥ: was defeated | samare: in battle | kailāse: on the mountain of Kailasa | tasyasenāpatiḥ: that chief of army | prahastaḥ: Prahasta | śrutaḥyadi: is it mentioned | te: to you? |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama! You might have heard about Prahasta, his chief of army. He defeated Manibhadra in a battle on the mountain of Kailasa."

VERSE 12

बद्दगोधाङ्गुलित्रश्च अवध्यकवचो युधि
धनुरादाय यस्तिष्ठन्नदृश्यो भवतीन्द्रजित्

baddagodhāṅgulitraśca avadhyakavaco yudhi
dhanurādāya yastiṣṭhannadṛśyo bhavatīndrajit

SYNONYMS

baddha jodhāṇgulitraśca: when furnished with gloves made of the skin of an Iguana (to prevent injury from the bow string) | avadhyakavacaḥ: and when clad in armor that no arrow can pierce | yaḥ: that | īndrajit: Indrajit | ādāya: wielding | dhanuḥ: his bow | bhavati: becomes | adhṛśyaḥ: invisible | tiṣṭhan: standing | yudhi: in battle field. |

TRANSLATION

"When furnished with gloves made of the skin of Iguana (to prevent injury from the bowstring) and when clad in armor that no arrow can pierce, that Indrajit (son of Ravana) standing in battle wielding a bow, becomes invisible."

VERSE 13

सम्ग्रामे सुमहद्व्यूहे तर्पयित्वा हुताशनम्
अन्तर्धानगतः श्रीमानिन्द्रजिद्धन्ति राघव

samgrāme sumahadvyūhe tarpayitvā hutāśanam
antardhānagataḥ śrīmānindrajiddhanti rāghava

SYNONYMS

rāghava: O | ṟama! ṣrīmān: the glorious | īndrajit: Indrajit | tarpayitvā: having propitiated | hutāśanam: the God of Fire | hanti: strikes | (the enemy) antardhānegataḥ: while remaining invisible | sangrāme: in the battle field | sumahadvyūhe: with a huge battle array (on both sides) |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama! The glorious Indrajit, having propitiated the God of Fire, strikes his enemy while remaining invisible in the battle field with a huge battle array (on both sides)"

VERSE 14

महोदरमहापार्स्वौ राक्षसश्चाप्यकम्पनः
अवीकपास्तु तप्यैते लोकपालसमा युधि

mahodaramahāpārsvau rākṣasaścāpyakampanaḥ
avīkapāstu tapyaite lokapālasamā yudhi

SYNONYMS

mahodara: Mahodara | mahāpārśvā: and Mahaparshva | rākṣasaśca: along with a demon | akampanaḥ: called Akampana | lokapālasamāḥ: who are equal to the guardians of the world | yudhi: in battle | ete: they are | tasya: his | anīkapāḥ: commanders of army. |

TRANSLATION

"Mahodara and Mahaparsva along with a demon called Akampana who are equal to the guardians of the world in battle - they are the commanders of his army."

VERSE 15

दशकोटिसहस्राणि रक्षसाम् कामरूपिणाम्
मांसशोणितभक्ष्याणाम् लङ्कापुरनिवासिनाम्

daśakoṭisahasrāṇi rakṣasām kāmarūpiṇām
māṃsaśoṇitabhakṣyāṇām laṅkāpuranivāsinām

SYNONYMS

daśakoti sahasrāṇi: ten thousand crores | rakṣasām: of demons | laṇkāpuranivāsinām: who reside in the city of Lanka | kāmarūpiṇām: can assume any form at will | māmsa śoṇita bhakṣyāṇām: and eat flesh and blood as their staple food. |

TRANSLATION

"In the city of Lanka, are residing ten thousand crore demons, who can assume any form at will and who consume flesh and blood as their staple food"

VERSE 16

स तैस्तु सहितो राजा लोकपालानयोधयत्
सह देवैस्तु ते भग्ना रावणेन दुरात्मना

sa taistu sahito rājā lokapālānayodhayat
saha devaistu te bhagnā rāvaṇena durātmanā

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that | rājā: king Ravana | saha: along with | tataiḥ: those demons | ayodhayat: made war | lokapālān: against the guardians of the earth | devaiḥsaha: along with celestials | bhagnāḥ: were defeated | rāvaṇena: by Ravana | durātmanā: the wicked one. |

TRANSLATION

"King Ravana along with those demons made war against the guardians of the earth. Those guardians of the earth along with the celestials were defeated by the wicked Ravana."

VERSE 17

विभीषणस्य तु वचस्तछ्रुत्वा रघुसत्तमः
अन्वीक्ष्य मनसा सर्वमिदम् वचनमब्रवीत्

vibhīṣaṇasya tu vacastachrutvā raghusattamaḥ
anvīkṣya manasā sarvamidam vacanamabravīt

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | tat: those | vacaḥ: words | vibhīṣaṇasya: of Vibhishana | raghusattamaḥ: Rama | anvīkṣya: examined | sarvam: all | manasā: attentively | abravīt: and spoke | idam: those | vacanam: words. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the aforesaid words of Vibhishana, Rama scrutinized them all attentively and spoke the following words:

VERSE 18

यानि कर्मापदानानि रावणस्य विभीषण
अख्यातानि च तत्त्वेन ह्यवगच्चामि तान्यहम्

yāni karmāpadānāni rāvaṇasya vibhīṣaṇa
akhyātāni ca tattvena hyavagaccāmi tānyaham

SYNONYMS

vibhīṣaṇa: O | aham: I | avagacchāmi hi: indeed know | tāni: those | karmāpadāni: feats | rāvanasya: of Ravana | yāni: which | ākhyātāmi: were told | tattena: really (by you). |

TRANSLATION

"O, Vibhishana! I indeed know those feats standing to the credit of Ravana, which were told by you, as true."

VERSE 19

अहम् हत्वा दशग्रीवम् सप्रहस्तम् सहात्मजम्
राजानम् त्वाम् करिष्यामि सत्यमेतच्छृणोतु मे

aham hatvā daśagrīvam saprahastam sahātmajam
rājānam tvām kariṣyāmi satyametacchṛṇotu me

SYNONYMS

hatvā: after killing | daśagrīvam: Ravana | sahātmajam: and his son(Indrajit) | kariṣyāmi: I will make | tvām: you | rājānam: the king | śruṇotu: here | etat: this | satyam: truth | me: from me. |

TRANSLATION

"After killing Ravana along with Prahasta and his son (Indrajit), I will make you the king. Hear this truth from me."

VERSE 20

रसातलम् वा प्रविशेत्पातालम् वापि रावणः
पितामहसकाशम् वा न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यते

rasātalam vā praviśetpātālam vāpi rāvaṇaḥ
pitāmahasakāśam vā na me jīvanvimokṣyate

SYNONYMS

rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | praviśet: may well enter | rasātalam: Rasaatala | pātālamvāpi: or even Paataala | pitāmaha sakāśam vā: or seek the presence of Brahma | na vimokṣyate: he will not be left | jīvan: alive | me: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"Ravana may well plunge into Rasaatala (the penultimate subterranean region) or even Paataala (the nethermost subterranean region) or seek the presence of Brahma and he will not be left alive by me."

VERSE 21

अहत्वा रावणम् सम्ख्ये सपुत्रजनबान्धवम्
अयोध्याम् न प्रवेक्ष्यामि त्रिभिस्तैर्भ्रतृभिः शपेः

ahatvā rāvaṇam samkhye saputrajanabāndhavam
ayodhyām na pravekṣyāmi tribhistairbhratṛbhiḥ śapeḥ

SYNONYMS

na pravekṣyāmi: I will not enter | ayodhyām: Ayodhya | ahatvā: without killing | rāvaṇām: Ravana | saputra jana bāndhavam: together with his sons | samkhye: in battle | śape: I swear | taiḥ: on those | tribhiḥ: three | bhrātṛbhiḥ: brothers. |

TRANSLATION

"I will not enter Ayodhya without killing Ravana together with his sons, companions and relatives in battle. I take oath on my three brothers."

VERSE 22

श्रुत्वा तु वचनम् तस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः
शिरसा वन्द्य धर्मात्मा वक्तुमेव प्रचक्रमे

śrutvā tu vacanam tasya rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ
śirasā vandya dharmātmā vaktumeva pracakrame

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | vacanam: the words | tasya rāmasya: of that Rama | akliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ: who was unwearied in action | dharmātmā: Vibhishana | āvandya: saluted | śivasā: (by bowing) his mind | pracakrama: and started | vaktumeva: to tell |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of that Rama, who was unwearied in action, the right minded Vibhishana saluted him by bowing his head and started telling as follows:

VERSE 23

राक्षसानाम् वधे साह्यम् लंकायाः च प्रधर्षणे
करिष्यामि यथा प्राणम् प्रवेक्ष्यामि च वाहिनीम्

rākṣasānām vadhe sāhyam laṃkāyāḥ ca pradharṣaṇe
kariṣyāmi yathā prāṇam pravekṣyāmi ca vāhinīm

SYNONYMS

kariṣyāmi: I will do | sāhyam: help | vadhe: in killing | rākṣasānām: the demons | pradharṣane: and in the attack | laṇkāyāḥ: against Lanka | yathāprāṇam: according to my strength | pravekṣyāmi: I will also enter | vāhinīm: the army. |

TRANSLATION

"I will extend my help in killing the demons and in attacking the city of Lanka. According to my strength, I will also penetrate into the army of the adversary to fight."

VERSE 24

इति ब्रुवाणम् रामस् तु परिष्वज्य विभीषणम्
अब्रवील् लक्ष्मणम् प्रीतः समुद्राज् जलम् आनय

iti bruvāṇam rāmas tu pariṣvajya vibhīṣaṇam
abravīl lakṣmaṇam prītaḥ samudrāj jalam ānaya

SYNONYMS

rāmastu: Rama on his part | prītaḥ: duly delighted | pariṣvaṇga: embraced | vibhīṣaṇam: Vibhishana | brūvāṇam: speaking | iti: as aforesaid | abravīt: and spoke | lakśmaṇam: to Lakshmana (as follows) | "ānaya: Bring | jalam: water | samudrāt: from the sea" |

TRANSLATION

Rama on his part, duly delighted, embraced Vibhishana who was speaking as aforesaid and spoke to Lakshmana as follows: "Bring some water from the ocean."

VERSE 25

तेन च इमम् महाप्राज्ञम् अभिषिन्च विभीषणम्
राजानम् रक्षसाम् क्षिप्रम् प्रसन्ने मयि मानद

tena ca imam mahāprājñam abhiṣinca vibhīṣaṇam
rājānam rakṣasām kṣipram prasanne mayi mānada

SYNONYMS

mānada: O | vho gives respect to others! k͟hṣipram: quickly | abhiṣiṇca: consecrate | tena: with that water | imam: this | vibhīṣaṇam: who is greatly intelligent | rājānam: as a king | rakṣasām: of demons | mayi: I am | prasanne: pleased. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana who bestows honor on others! Quickly consecrate as a king of demons this greatly intelligent Vibhishana with that water, so that I am pleased."

VERSE 26

एवम् उक्तस् तु सौमित्रिर् अभ्यषिन्चद् विभीषणम्
मध्ये वानर मुख्यानाम् राजानम् राम शासनात्

evam uktas tu saumitrir abhyaṣincad vibhīṣaṇam
madhye vānara mukhyānām rājānam rāma śāsanāt

SYNONYMS

uktvaḥ: having been spoken | evam: thus | soumitriḥ: Lakshmana | abhiṣiṇcat: as per the royal instructions | madhye: amidst | vānara mukhyānām: the leaders of monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing Rama's words, Lakshmana consecrated Vibhishana as a king, as per the royal instructions, amidst the leaders of monkeys.

VERSE 27

तम् प्रसादम् तु रामस्य दृष्ट्वा सद्यः प्लवम् गमाः
प्रचुक्रुशुर् महानादान् साधु साध्व् इति च अब्रुवन्

tam prasādam tu rāmasya dṛṣṭvā sadyaḥ plavam gamāḥ
pracukruśur mahānādān sādhu sādhv iti ca abruvan

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | tam: that | sadyaḥ: instant | prasādam: graciousness | rāmasya: of Rama | plavaṇgamāḥ: the monkeys | pracukruśuḥ: cried | abruvanca: proclaiming | sādhu sādhu: Excellent | ekṣcellent" mahātmanām: about the high soled Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Perceiving that instant graciousness in Rama, the monkeys cried, proclaiming "excellent, excellent" about the high soled Rama.

VERSE 28

अब्रवीच् च हनूमाम्ः च सुग्रीवः च विभीषणम्
कथम् सागरम् अक्षोभ्यम् तराम वरुण आलयम्

abravīc ca hanūmāmḥ ca sugrīvaḥ ca vibhīṣaṇam
katham sāgaram akṣobhyam tarāma varuṇa ālayam

SYNONYMS

hanūmānśca: Hanuman | sugrīvevaśca: and Sugriva | abravīt: spoke | vibhīṣaṇam: to Vibhishana | katham: how | tarena: can we cross | sāgaram: the ocean | akṣobhyam: which is imperturbable | varuṇālayam: the habitation of Varuna | sarve: by all of us | parivṛte: surrounded | sainyaiḥ: with the army | vānarānam: of monkeys | mahoujasām: possessing a great splendor? |

TRANSLATION

Hanuman and Sugreeva asked Vibhishana as follows: " How can we cross the imperturbable ocean, the habitation of Varuna, the god of water by all of us along with our army of monkeys possessing a great splendor?"

VERSE 29

उपायैर् अभिगच्चामो यथा नद नदी पतिम्

upāyair abhigaccāmo yathā nada nadī patim

SYNONYMS

yathā: In what manner | tarena: shall we | tarasā: swiftly | varuṇālayam: the sea | nadanadīpatim: the lord of streams and rivers | abhigachāma: we will arrive | upāyaiḥ: at the strategy. |

TRANSLATION

"In what manner shall we along with the army swiftly cross the sea, the lord of streams and rivers, and arrive at that strategy?"

VERSE 30

एवम् उक्तस् तु धर्मज्ञः प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः

evam uktas tu dharmajñaḥ pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | dharmātmā: the rightminded | vibhīśaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | pratyuvāca: replied | as follovs): rājā: the prince | rāghavaḥ: Rama | arhati: is apt | gantum: to obtain | śaraṇam: refuge | samudram: from the sea." |

TRANSLATION

Hearing their words, the right minded Vibhishana replied as follows: "It is apt if prince Rama seeks ocean as his refuge"

VERSE 31

खानितः सगरेण अयम् अप्रमेयो महाउदधिः

khānitaḥ sagareṇa ayam aprameyo mahāudadhiḥ

SYNONYMS

ayam: this | mahodadhiḥ: great ocean | aprameyaḥ: the immesurable | khanitaḥ: was excavated | sagareṇa: by Sagara | mahodabhiḥ: this great ocean | arhati: will be inclined | kartum: to do | kāryam: the act | rāmasya: for Rama | j^ṇāte: his kinsman. |

TRANSLATION

"This immeasurable great ocean was excavated by Sagara*. Hence, this great ocean will be inclined to do the act for Rama, his kinsman".

PURPORT

*Sagara was one of Rama's ancestors. His story is told in Balakanda.
VERSE 32

एवम् विभीषणेन उक्ते राक्षसेन विपश्चिता

evam vibhīṣaṇena ukte rākṣasena vipaścitā

SYNONYMS

atha: then | uktaḥ: after being spoken | evam: thus | rākṣasena: by the demon | vibhīṣaṇena: Vibhishana | vipaścitā: the learned | sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva | ājagāma: came | yatra: where | rāmaḥ: Rama | salakṣmaṇaḥ: along with Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the aforesaid words of the learned demon Vibhishana, Sugreeva came to the place where Rama and Lakshmana were there.

VERSE 33

ततश्चाख्यातुमारेभे विभीषणवचः शुभम्

tataścākhyātumārebhe vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śubham

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | sugrīvaḥ: Sugriva | vipulagrīvaḥ: the long necked | ārebhe: startred | ākhyātum: to tell | śubham: the auspicious | vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ: words of Vibhishana | upaveśanam: advising Rama to approach | sāgarasya: the ocean (to allow him a passage). |

TRANSLATION

The long necked Sugreeva then started to tell the auspicious words of Vibhishana, advising Rama to approach the ocean (to allow him a passage).

VERSE 34

प्रकृत्या धर्म शीलस्य राघवस्य अपि अरोचत

prakṛtyā dharma śīlasya rāghavasya api arocata

SYNONYMS

35| asya rāmasyāpi: to even this Rama | prakṛtyā: who by his nature | dharmaśīlasya: is of pious attitude | ārocata: that advice was agreeable | mahātejāḥ: the highly splendorous | saḥ: rama | abhāṣeta: spoke | smitapūrvam: smilingly | satkriyārtham: with an intention to honor Vibhishana words | lakṣmaṇam: to Lakshmana | sugrivamca: and to Sugriva | kriyādakṣam: who was skilled in action | harīśvaram: and the ruler of monkeys. |

TRANSLATION

That advice found favor with Rama who by nature is of pious attitude. Then that highly illustrious Rama replied to Sugreeva, the ruler of monkeys who was skillful in action and who was accompanied by Lakshmana. Full of respect for Vibhishana's words, he told him as also his brother Lakshmana smilingly as follows:

VERSE 36

विभीषणस्य मन्त्रो अयम् मम लक्ष्मण रोचते
सुग्रीवः पण्डितो नित्यम् भवान् मन्त्र विचक्षणः

vibhīṣaṇasya mantro ayam mama lakṣmaṇa rocate
sugrīvaḥ paṇḍito nityam bhavān mantra vicakṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: O | ayam mantraḥ: this thought | vibhīṣaṇasya: of Vibhishana | rocate: is agreeable. | mama: to me | sugrivaḥ: Sugriva | paṇditaḥ: is a learned person | bhavām: you | nityam: are ever | mantra vicakṣaṇaḥ: wise in your thoughts | artham: the matter | sampradhārya: be decided | ubhābhyām: by both of you | ucayatām: and tell | tat: that | yat: which |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! This idea of Vibhishana is agreeable to me. Sugreeva is a learned person. You are ever wise in your thoughts. Both of you decide on the matter and inform whichever is agreeable to you."

VERSE 37

एवम् उक्तौ तु तौ वीराव् उभौ सुग्रीव लक्ष्मणौ

evam uktau tu tau vīrāv ubhau sugrīva lakṣmaṇau

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | uktou: having been spoken | evam: thus | ubhou sugrīva lakṣmaṇah: both Sugriva and Lakshmana | vīrou: the valiant | ūcutuḥ: spoke | idam: these | vacanam: words | samudācārasamyuktam: with proper courtesy. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing Rama's words, Sugreeva and Lakshmana both, valiant as they were, spoke with proper courtesy, the following words: .

VERSE 38

किम् अर्थम् नो नर व्याघ्र न रोचिष्यति राघव

kim artham no nara vyāghra na rociṣyati rāghava

SYNONYMS

rāghava: O | naravyāghra: the tiger among men! Na kimartham = why not | vibhīṣaṇena: Vibhishana's | uktam: words | sukhāvaham: which are soothing | asmin: at this | kale: time | rociṣyati: be agreeable | nou: to us? |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama the tiger among men! Why not Vibhishana's words, which are soothing at this time of crisis be agreeable also to us?"

VERSE 39

अबद्ध्वा सागरे सेतुम् घोरे अस्मिन् वरुण आलये

abaddhvā sāgare setum ghore asmin varuṇa ālaye

SYNONYMS

abaddhvā: without constructing | setum: a bridge | asmin: saagare ghore = across the fiery ocean | varuṇālaye: which is an abode of Lord Varuna | surāsurairapi: even the celestials and demons | na śakyā: can not | āsāditum: reach | laṇkā: the city of Lanka. |

TRANSLATION

"Without constructing a bridge across this fiery ocean, which is an abode of Lord Varuna, even the celestials and demons along with Indra cannot reach the city of Lanka."

VERSE 40

विभीषणस्य शूरस्य यथा अर्थम् क्रियताम् वचः

vibhīṣaṇasya śūrasya yathā artham kriyatām vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

41| śūrasya: the valiant | vbhīṣaṇāsya: Vibhishana's | vacaḥ: advice | kriyatām: be followed | yathārtham: suitably | alam: It is enough | kṛtvā: of having done | kālātyayam: a waste of time | niyujyatāya sāgarāya: Let the ocean be commanded | yathā: how | gacchāma: to go | sainyena: with the army | purīm: to the city | rāvaṇapālitām: being ruled by Ravana. |

TRANSLATION

"Let the valiant Vibhishana's words be followed suitably. It is enough that we have already wasted our time. Let the ocean be commanded to yield a passage for the army to reach the city being ruled by Ravana."

VERSE 42

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाम्डे एकोनविंशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāmḍe ekonaviṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktaḥ: having been spoken | rāmaḥ: Rama | tadā: then | samviveśa: sat | tire: on the shore | nadanadīpate: of the ocean | kuśāstīrṇe: covered with blades of kusha grass | vedyāmiva: as ascending an altar | hutāśanaḥ: by the god fire. |

TRANSLATION

Having been thus exhorted, Rama then sat on the shore of the ocean covered with blades of Kusha grass, as the God of Fire ascends the altar.