Chapter 24
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
सा वीरसमिती राज्ञा विरराज व्यवस्थिता
शशिना शुभिनक्षत्रा पौर्णमासीव शारदी
sā vīrasamitī rājñā virarāja vyavasthitā
śaśinā śubhinakṣatrā paurṇamāsīva śāradī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That army of valiant monkeys along with the king Sugriva looked charming like a full moon night in autumn presided over by the moon and illuminated by bright stars.
प्रचचाल च वेगेन त्रस्ता चैव वसुन्धरा
पीड्यमाना बलौ घेन तेन सागरवर्चसा
pracacāla ca vegena trastā caiva vasundharā
pīḍyamānā balau ghena tena sāgaravarcasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The earth pressed under foot by that multitude of army which was energetic like a sea, was trembled with fear by the rapid movement of that army.
ततः शुश्रुपुराक्रुष्टम् लङ्कायाः काननौकसः
भेरीमृदङ्गसम्घुष्टम् तुमुलम् रोमहर्षणम्
tataḥ śuśrupurākruṣṭam laṅkāyāḥ kānanaukasaḥ
bherīmṛdaṅgasamghuṣṭam tumulam romaharṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then the monkeys heard a great tumult arising in Lanka and noisy sounds of kettledrums and tabours, which caused their hair to stand on end.
बभूवुस्तेन घोषेण सम्हृष्टा हरियूथपाः
अमृष्यमाणास्तम् घोषम् विनेदुर्घोषवत्तरम्
babhūvustena ghoṣeṇa samhṛṣṭā hariyūthapāḥ
amṛṣyamāṇāstam ghoṣam vinedurghoṣavattaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The leaders of monkeys were rejoiced by that sound. But by not tolerating that sound, they emitted shouts, which surpassed that uproar.
राक्षसास्तम् प्लवङ्गानाम् शुश्रुवुस्ते।अपि गर्जितम्
वर्दतामिव दृप्तानाम् मेघानामम्बरे स्वनम्
rākṣasāstam plavaṅgānām śuśruvuste|api garjitam
vardatāmiva dṛptānām meghānāmambare svanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those demons too heard the roaring of the wildly delighted monkeys, which roar sounded like thundering of clouds in the sky.
दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्काम् चित्रध्वजपताकिनिम्म्
जगाम मनसा सीताम् दूयमानेन चेतसा
dṛṣṭvā dāśarathirlaṅkām citradhvajapatākinimm
jagāma manasā sītām dūyamānena cetasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Lanka dressed with multi colored flags and buntings, Rama bethought himself of Sita and his heart was filled with grief.
अत्र सा मृगशाबाक्षी रावणेनोपरुध्यते
अभिभूता ग्रहेणेव लोहिताङ्गेन रोहिणी
atra sā mṛgaśābākṣī rāvaṇenoparudhyate
abhibhūtā graheṇeva lohitāṅgena rohiṇī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sita whose eyes resemble those of a young deer, was detained by Ravana there, as Rohini star is overshadowed by the red bodied planet (mars)."
दीर्घमुष्णम् च निःश्वस्य समुद्वीक्ष्य च लक्ष्मणम्
उवाच वचनम् वीरस्तत्कालहितमात्मनः
dīrghamuṣṇam ca niḥśvasya samudvīkṣya ca lakṣmaṇam
uvāca vacanam vīrastatkālahitamātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Lakshmana after a warm and deep sigh, the heroic Rama spoke the following words, which were beneficial for him at that time :-
आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थिताम् पश्य लक्ष्मण
मन्सेव कृताम् लङ्काम् नगाग्रे विश्वकर्मणा
ālikhantīmivākāśamutthitām paśya lakṣmaṇa
manseva kṛtām laṅkām nagāgre viśvakarmaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Lakshmana! Look at this Lanka, which appears as though constructed on a hilltop by Visvakarma with his imagination and so elevated scraping the sky."
विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्क सम्कीर्णा रचिता पुरा
विष्णोः पदमिवाकाशम् चादितम् पाण्डुभिर्घनैः
vimānairbahubhirlaṅka samkīrṇā racitā purā
viṣṇoḥ padamivākāśam cāditam pāṇḍubhirghanaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The city of Lanka was constructed densely with many seven storied buildings and appears like a sky the abode of Vishnu (the all pervaded), covered with white clouds."
पुष्पितैः शोभिता लङ्का वनैश्चत्ररथोपमैः
नानापतगसम्घुष्टफलपुष्पोपगैः शुभैः
puṣpitaiḥ śobhitā laṅkā vanaiścatrarathopamaiḥ
nānāpatagasamghuṣṭaphalapuṣpopagaiḥ śubhaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Lanka is made beautiful by the garden vying with chaitraratha (the garden of Kubera the god of riches) with songs of birds of various species, with fruit bearing flowers and charms in bloom.
पश्य मत्तविहङ्गनि प्रलीनभ्रमराणि च
कोकिलाकुलखण्डानि दोधवीति शिवो।अविलः
paśya mattavihaṅgani pralīnabhramarāṇi ca
kokilākulakhaṇḍāni dodhavīti śivo|avilaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"See how a gentle breeze sways the branches where the cuckoos abound where bees swarm and where the birds are excited with joy."
इति दाशरथीरमो लक्ष्मणम् समभाषत
बलम् च तत्र विभजच्चास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा
iti dāśarathīramo lakṣmaṇam samabhāṣata
balam ca tatra vibhajaccāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama the son of Dasaratha spoke as aforesaid to Lakshmana. The army there was divided into battalions according to the procedure found in scriptures.
शशास कपिसेमाम् ताम् बलादादाय वीर्यवान्
अङ्गदः सह नीलेन तिष्ठे दुरपि दुर्जयः
śaśāsa kapisemām tām balādādāya vīryavān
aṅgadaḥ saha nīlena tiṣṭhe durapi durjayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He issued the following commands: --"Taking these troops of monkeys from the army, let the valiant and the invincible Angada take up his position with Nila at the center of the formation.
तिष्ठेद्वानरवाहिन्या वानरौघसमावृतः
आशिर्तो दक्षिणम् पार्श्वमृषभो नाम वानरः
tiṣṭhedvānaravāhinyā vānaraughasamāvṛtaḥ
āśirto dakṣiṇam pārśvamṛṣabho nāma vānaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Let Rishabha along with the multitude of monkeys take up his position, having recourse to the right side of the army."
गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः
तिष्ठेद्वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यम् पक्षमधिष्ठतः
gandhahastīva durdharṣastarasvī gandhamādanaḥ
tiṣṭhedvānaravāhinyāḥ savyam pakṣamadhiṣṭhataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let Gandhamadana, the strong and unconquerable, resembling an elephant in rut, take his position superintending the left side of the monkey troops."
मूर्ध्नि स्थास्याम्यहम् यत्तो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः
जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः
mūrdhni sthāsyāmyaham yatto lakṣmaṇena samanvitaḥ
jāmbavāṃśca suṣeṇaśca vegadarśī ca vānaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I shall stand alert in the forefront of the army along with Lakshmana. Let Jambavan, Sushena and Vegadarshi the monkey - those three exceeding wise leaders of bears and monkeys- protest the belly portion of the army."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let Sugriva the king of monkeys protect the rear guard of the army, resembling Varuna (the god of water) who remains enveloped with splendor protects the western quarter of the earth."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That army with innumerable divisions, being skillfully distributed led by the foremost of monkeys, resembled heavens with their mass of clouds.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With a desire to crush the demons in battle, the monkeys, seizing peaks of mountains and gigantic trees, reached Lanka.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All the heroic monkeys held the following resolve in their minds, "It is with peak of mountains or with our bare fists even, we shall shatter this Lanka into pieces."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Rama with great splendor spoke the following words to Sugriva, "Our forces are properly marshaled. Let this Shuka be released."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Rama, Sugriva the lord of monkeys released Shuka the messenger, as per the order of Rama.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Shuka who was harassed by the monkeys and released then as per the words of Rama, was trembling with great fear and reached Ravana.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana, even while laughing, enquired Shuka with the following words: " why were your wings tied up? You appear with your wings plucked up. Have you not fallen as a victim to their various fickle minds?"
ततस्प भयसम्विग्न स्तदा राज्ञाभिचोदितः
वचनम् प्रत्युवाचेदम् राक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम्
tataspa bhayasamvigna stadā rājñābhicoditaḥ
vacanam pratyuvācedam rākṣasādhipamuttamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Asked as aforesaid by the king Ravana, Shuka agitated as he was with fear, gave him the following excellent reply: "On the northern shore of the ocean, I conveyed your message in a smooth tone, conciliating and without any ambiguity exactly as per your instructions."
क्रुद्धैस्तेरहमुत्प्लुत्य दृष्टमात्रः प्लवङ्गमैः
गृहितो।अस्म्यपि चारब्धो हन्तुम् लोप्तुम् च मुष्टिभिः
kruddhaisterahamutplutya dṛṣṭamātraḥ plavaṅgamaiḥ
gṛhito|asmyapi cārabdho hantum loptum ca muṣṭibhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Just on seeing me, the enraged monkeys jumped on me and seized me. They soon started beating and plucking me with their fists."
न ते सम्भाषितुम् शक्याः सम्प्रश्नो।अत्र न विद्यते
प्रकृत्या कोपनास्तीक्षिणा वानरा राक्षसाधिप
na te sambhāṣitum śakyāḥ sampraśno|atra na vidyate
prakṛtyā kopanāstīkṣiṇā vānarā rākṣasādhipa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Lord of demons! Those monkeys are not capable of being spoken to, or possible of being questioned in this matter. Monkeys, by their very nature, are angry and ferocious."
स च हन्ता विराधस्य कबन्धस्य खरस्य च
सुग्रीवसहितो रामः सीतायाः पदमागतः
sa ca hantā virādhasya kabandhasya kharasya ca
sugrīvasahito rāmaḥ sītāyāḥ padamāgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That Rama the killer of Viraadha, Kabandha and Khara came along with Sugriva to the place of Sita."
स कृत्वा सागरे सेतुम् तीर्त्वा च लवणोदधिम्
एष रक्षासि निर्धूय धन्वी तिष्ठति राघवः
sa kṛtvā sāgare setum tīrtvā ca lavaṇodadhim
eṣa rakṣāsi nirdhūya dhanvī tiṣṭhati rāghavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Having constructed a bridge across the sea and crossed the salty ocean and expelling the demons, here stands Rama wielding a bow."
ऋक्षवानरसम्घानामनीकानि सहस्रशः
गिरिमेघनिकाशानाम् चादयन्ति वसुन्धराम्
ṛkṣavānarasamghānāmanīkāni sahasraśaḥ
girimeghanikāśānām cādayanti vasundharām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thousands of divisions of hordes of bears and monkeys resembling mountains and clouds, cover the earth."
राक्षसानाम् बलौघस्य वानरेन्द्रबलस्य च
नैतयोर्विद्यते संधिर्देवदानवयोरिव
rākṣasānām balaughasya vānarendrabalasya ca
naitayorvidyate saṃdhirdevadānavayoriva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"There is no more possibility of an alliance between these two armies - the army of demons and the army of monkeys- than between a God and a demon."
पुरा प्राकारमायान्ति क्षिप्रमेकतरम् कुरु
सीताम् वास्मै प्रयच्चाशु युद्धम् वापि प्रदीयताम्
purā prākāramāyānti kṣipramekataram kuru
sītām vāsmai prayaccāśu yuddham vāpi pradīyatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Very soon they will come to our rampart. Immediately, do any one of these two acts- either to restore Sita or to offer a combat to him."
शुकस्य वचनम् श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्य मब्रवीत्
रोषसम्रक्तनयनो निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा
śukasya vacanam śrutvā rāvaṇo vākya mabravīt
roṣasamraktanayano nirdahanniva cakṣuṣā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Shuka, Ravana with his eyes becoming blood red in anger, as if he would consume him with his glance, said as follows:
यदि माम् प्रतियुध्येरन् देवगन्धर्वदानवाः
नैव सीताम् प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि
yadi mām pratiyudhyeran devagandharvadānavāḥ
naiva sītām pradāsyāmi sarvalokabhayādapi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even if I were frightened by all the worlds or even if I were to face a battle with celestials or Gandharvas (celestial singers) or demons, I would not give back Sita."
कदा समभिधानन्ति मामका राघवम् शराः
वसन्ते पुष्पितम् मत्ता भ्रमरा इव पादपम्
kadā samabhidhānanti māmakā rāghavam śarāḥ
vasante puṣpitam mattā bhramarā iva pādapam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When will my arrows soon fall upon Rama, as large black bees excited with joy fall upon a tree in bloom at spring time?"
कदा शोणितदिग्धाङ्गम् दीपैः कार्मुकविच्युतैः
शरैरादीपयिष्यामि उल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम्
kadā śoṇitadigdhāṅgam dīpaiḥ kārmukavicyutaiḥ
śarairādīpayiṣyāmi ulkābhiriva kuñjaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When shall I consume his body flowing with blood, by the blazing arrows released from my bow, as flaming torches destroy an elephant?"
तच्चास्य बलमादास्ये बलेन महता वृतः
ज्योतिषामिव सर्वेषाम् प्रभामुद्यन्दिवाकरः
taccāsya balamādāsye balena mahatā vṛtaḥ
jyotiṣāmiva sarveṣām prabhāmudyandivākaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Endowed with a huge army I shall eclipse the aforesaid army of Rama, as the brilliance of all stars is obscured at the rising of the sun."
सागरस्येव मे वेगो मारुतस्येव मे बलम्
न च दाशरथिर्वेद तेन माम् योद्धुमिच्चति
sāgarasyeva me vego mārutasyeva me balam
na ca dāśarathirveda tena mām yoddhumiccati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My rashness is like that of the sea and my strength is like that of the wind. Rama is not aware of it. That is why, he is desirous of meeting me in a combat."
न मे तूणीशयान् बाणान् सनिषानिव पन्नगान्
रामः पश्यति सम्ग्रामे तेन माम् योद्धुमिच्चति
na me tūṇīśayān bāṇān saniṣāniva pannagān
rāmaḥ paśyati samgrāme tena mām yoddhumiccati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama has not seen my arrows resembling venomous serpents lying in my quiver. That is why, he desires to fight with me."
न जानाति पुरा वीर्यम् मम युद्धे स राघवः
मम चापमयीम् वीणाम् शरकोणैः प्रवादिताम्
na jānāti purā vīryam mama yuddhe sa rāghavaḥ
mama cāpamayīm vīṇām śarakoṇaiḥ pravāditām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama was not formerly aware of my prowess in battle. I shall cause to resound Vina (a musical instrument) in the form of my bow, which is played on with the heads of my arrows, the bow string producing a tumultuous sound, the huge cries of the wounded its terrible accompaniment, the darts sounding its innumerable notes, when I enter a vast stage in the form of my enemy ranks in that battle."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe caturviṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Neither by the thousand eyed Indra the god of celestials nor by Varuna the God of waters in person in a combat, nor by Yama the god of death with the fire of his arrows, nor by Kubera the lord of riches in person, can I be able to be attacked in a great battle."