Chapter 30
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
ततस्तमक्षोभ्य बलम् लंका अधिपतये चराः
सुवेले राघवम् शैले निविष्टम् प्रत्यवेदयन्
tatastamakṣobhya balam laṃkā adhipataye carāḥ
suvele rāghavam śaile niviṣṭam pratyavedayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, the spies informed Ravana about Rama, with his unperturbable army, having encamped on Suvela Mountain.
चाराणाम् रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तम् रामम् महाबलम्
जात उद्वेगो अभवत् किंचित् शार्दूलम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
cārāṇām rāvaṇaḥ śrutvā prāptam rāmam mahābalam
jāta udvego abhavat kiṃcit śārdūlam vākyam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing from the spies about the arrival of Rama, the exceedingly strong man, Ravana became a little perturbed and spoke to Shardula as follows:
अयथावच् च ते वर्णो दीनः च असि निशा चर
न असि कच्चिद् अमित्राणाम् क्रुद्धानाम् वशम् आगतः
ayathāvac ca te varṇo dīnaḥ ca asi niśā cara
na asi kaccid amitrāṇām kruddhānām vaśam āgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O, demon! Your complexion is not so as it should be. You look miserable too. I hope that you have not fallen a victim to the enraged monkeys."
इति तेन अनुशिष्टस् तु वाचम् मन्दम् उदीरयत्
तदा राक्षस शार्दूलम् शार्दूलो भय विह्वलः
iti tena anuśiṣṭas tu vācam mandam udīrayat
tadā rākṣasa śārdūlam śārdūlo bhaya vihvalaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus questioned by Ravana, Shardula afflicted with fear, then sluggishly spoke the following words to Ravana the tiger among demons:
न ते चारयितुम् शक्या राजन् वानर पुम्गवाः
विक्रान्ता बलवन्तः च राघवेण च रक्षिताः
na te cārayitum śakyā rājan vānara pumgavāḥ
vikrāntā balavantaḥ ca rāghaveṇa ca rakṣitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, king! Those strong, bold and excellent monkeys protected by Rama are not capable of being spied upon."
न अपि सम्भाषितुम् शक्याः सम्प्रश्नो अत्र न लभ्यते
सर्वतो रक्ष्यते पन्था वानरैः पर्वत उपमैः
na api sambhāṣitum śakyāḥ sampraśno atra na labhyate
sarvato rakṣyate panthā vānaraiḥ parvata upamaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"They are not capable of being talked with and nothing can be found in interrogating with them. The entire path is being protected by the monkeys looking like mountains."
प्रविष्ट मात्रे ज्ञातो अहम् बले तस्मिन्न् अचारिते
बलाद् गृहीतो बहुभिर् बहुधा अस्मि विदारितः
praviṣṭa mātre jñāto aham bale tasminn acārite
balād gṛhīto bahubhir bahudhā asmi vidāritaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I was identified when that army was merely penetrated into (by me) and began to be examined. I was seized forcibly by the demons (forming the retinue of Vibhishana), who investigated me in various ways."
जानुभिर् मुष्टिभिर् दन्तैस् तलैः च अभिहतो भृशम्
परिणीतो अस्मि हरिभिर् बलवद्भिर् अमर्षणैः
jānubhir muṣṭibhir dantais talaiḥ ca abhihato bhṛśam
pariṇīto asmi haribhir balavadbhir amarṣaṇaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I was beaten on all sides with knees, fists, teeth and palms by the enraged monkeys. I was also paraded round in the midst of their army."
परिणीय च सर्वत्र नीतो अहम् राम संसदम्
रुधिर आदिग्ध सर्व अन्गो विह्वलः चलित इन्द्रियः
pariṇīya ca sarvatra nīto aham rāma saṃsadam
rudhira ādigdha sarva ango vihvalaḥ calita indriyaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Having been paraded all around thus, I was finally taken to the court of Rama. All my limbs were bleeding and Rama. All my limbs were bleeding and I was trembling, with my senses disturbed."
हरिभिर् वध्यमानः च याचमानः कृत अन्जलिः
राघवेण परित्रातो जीवामि ह यदृच्चया
haribhir vadhyamānaḥ ca yācamānaḥ kṛta anjaliḥ
rāghaveṇa paritrāto jīvāmi ha yadṛccayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"While being plagued by the monkeys and asked for protection with joined palms, I was saved fortunately by Rama, saying �stay!stay!'
एष शैलैः शिलाभिः च पूरयित्वा महाअर्णवम्
द्वारम् आश्रित्य लंकाया रामस् तिष्ठति सायुधः
eṣa śailaiḥ śilābhiḥ ca pūrayitvā mahāarṇavam
dvāram āśritya laṃkāyā rāmas tiṣṭhati sāyudhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama has filled the sea with boulders and rocks, taking up his position at the gates of Lanka and stands there, well-equipped with weapons."
गरुड व्यूहम् आस्थाय सर्वतो हरिभिर् वृतः
माम् विसृज्य महातेजा लंकाम् एव अभिवर्तते
garuḍa vyūham āsthāya sarvato haribhir vṛtaḥ
mām visṛjya mahātejā laṃkām eva abhivartate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Having released me, Rama of great splendour arranged the army in the form of Garuda (an eagle). He is encircled on all sides by the monkeys and is approaching towards Lanka."
पुरा प्राकारम् आयाति क्षिप्रम् एकतरम् कुरु
सीताम् च अस्मै प्रयच्च आशु सुयुद्धम् वा प्रदीयताम्
purā prākāram āyāti kṣipram ekataram kuru
sītām ca asmai prayacca āśu suyuddham vā pradīyatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Before he reaches the ramparts, do one thing or the other quickly or give away Seetha immediately or even offer him battle."
मनसा सम्तताप अथ तत् श्रुत्वा राक्षस अधिपः
शार्दूलस्य महद् वाक्यम् अथ उवाच स रावणः
manasā samtatāpa atha tat śrutvā rākṣasa adhipaḥ
śārdūlasya mahad vākyam atha uvāca sa rāvaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having heard those words, Ravana the lord of demons reflected on it and thereafter spoke the following significant words to Shardula.
यदि माम् प्रतियुध्येरन् देव गन्धर्व दानवाः
न एव सीताम् प्रदास्यामि सर्व लोक भयाद् अपि
yadi mām pratiyudhyeran deva gandharva dānavāḥ
na eva sītām pradāsyāmi sarva loka bhayād api
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I will not give away Seetha even if the celestials or Gandharvas the celestial musicians or the demons were to fight against me or even under danger from all beings."
एवम् उक्त्वा महातेजा रावणः पुनर् अब्रवीत्
चारिता भवता सेना के अत्र शूराः प्लवम् गमाः
evam uktvā mahātejā rāvaṇaḥ punar abravīt
cāritā bhavatā senā ke atra śūrāḥ plavam gamāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
After uttering the aforesaid words, the heroic Ravana again spoke as follows: "Has the army been espied by you? Who are the valiant monkeys among them?"
कीदृशाः किम् प्रभावाः च वानरा ये दुरासदाः
कस्य पुत्राः च पौत्राः च तत्त्वम् आख्याहि राक्षस
kīdṛśāḥ kim prabhāvāḥ ca vānarā ye durāsadāḥ
kasya putrāḥ ca pautrāḥ ca tattvam ākhyāhi rākṣasa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, the virtuous gentle Shardula! What radiance do the monkeys, who are difficult to be conquered possess of? what kind? Whose sons and grandsons are they? You tell me that information."
तथात्र प्रतिपत्स्यामि ज्ञात्वा तेषाम् बल अबलम्
अवश्यम् बल सम्ख्यानम् कर्तव्यम् युद्धम् इच्चता
tathātra pratipatsyāmi jñātvā teṣām bala abalam
avaśyam bala samkhyānam kartavyam yuddham iccatā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"After knowing their strengths and weakness, I will decide in this matter accordingly. Is it not necessary to count clearly those who are really yearning to fight the battle?"
अथ एवम् उक्तः शार्दूलो रावणेन उत्तमः चरः
इदम् वचनम् आरेभे वक्तुम् रावण सम्निधौ
atha evam uktaḥ śārdūlo rāvaṇena uttamaḥ caraḥ
idam vacanam ārebhe vaktum rāvaṇa samnidhau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing Ravana's words, Shardula the excellent spy then started to narrate these words for Ravana's information:
अथ ऋक्ष रजसः पुत्रो युधि राजन् सुदुर्जयः
गद्गदस्य अथ पुत्रो अत्र जाम्बवान् इति विश्रुतः
atha ṛkṣa rajasaḥ putro yudhi rājan sudurjayaḥ
gadgadasya atha putro atra jāmbavān iti viśrutaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Certainly, king Sugreeva, the son of Riksharajasa, is difficult to be conquered in battle. Here is the son of Gadgada, famously called as Jambavan."
गद्गदस्य एव पुत्रो अन्यो गुरु पुत्रः शत क्रतोः
कदनम् यस्य पुत्रेण कृतम् एकेन रक्षसाम्
gadgadasya eva putro anyo guru putraḥ śata kratoḥ
kadanam yasya putreṇa kṛtam ekena rakṣasām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The other one is the son of the same Gadgada. Another one is the son of Brihaspati the teacher of Indra the lord of celestials, called Kesari by whose son Hanuman the demons were destroyed."
सुषेणः च अपि धर्म आत्मा पुत्रो धर्मस्य वीर्यवान्
सौम्यः सोम आत्मजः च अत्र राजन् दधि मुखः कपिः
suṣeṇaḥ ca api dharma ātmā putro dharmasya vīryavān
saumyaḥ soma ātmajaḥ ca atra rājan dadhi mukhaḥ kapiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, king! Here is Sushena the son of Yama the Lord of Death who is valiant and virtuous, as well as a monkey called Dadhimukha, the cool-minded, who is the son of moon."
सुमुखो दुर्मुखः च अत्र वेग दर्शी च वानरः
मृत्युर् वानर रूपेण नूनम् सृष्टः स्वयम्भुवा
sumukho durmukhaḥ ca atra vega darśī ca vānaraḥ
mṛtyur vānara rūpeṇa nūnam sṛṣṭaḥ svayambhuvā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sumukha, Durmukha and a monkey called Vegadarshi are surely the personifications of death in the form of monkeys, created by Brahma, the Lord of creation."
पुत्रो हुत वहस्य अथ नीलः सेना पतिः स्वयम्
अनिलस्य च पुत्रो अत्र हनूमान् इति विश्रुतः
putro huta vahasya atha nīlaḥ senā patiḥ svayam
anilasya ca putro atra hanūmān iti viśrutaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Here is Nila the army-general himself, the son of Agni the Lord of Fire. Here is the son of Vayu the Lord of Wind well- known as Hanuman."
नप्ता शक्रस्य दुर्धर्षो बलवान् अन्गदो युवा
मैन्दः च द्विविदः च उभौ बलिनाव् अश्वि सम्भवौ
naptā śakrasya durdharṣo balavān angado yuvā
maindaḥ ca dvividaḥ ca ubhau balināv aśvi sambhavau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The young Angada, Indra's grandson, the strong and invincible one, both the mighty Mainda and Dvinda born of the two divinties of Ashvin* as well as Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadhana the five sons of Yama the God of Death all of them resembling Yama at the time of dissolution of the world, the valiant ten crores of monkeys who are yearning for battle are all here. I cannot venture to tell about the remaining glorious sons of god."
PURPORT
पुत्रो दशरथस्येष सिम्हसम्हननो युवा
दूषणो निहतो येन खरश्च त्रिशिरास्तथा
putro daśarathasyeṣa simhasamhanano yuvā
dūṣaṇo nihato yena kharaśca triśirāstathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This young man is Rama, Dasartha's son, who is well-built like a lion, by whom Dushana ws killed as also Khara and Trishana.
नास्ति रामस्य सदृशो विक्रमे भुवि कश्चन
विराधो निहतो येन कबन्धश्चान्तकोपमः
nāsti rāmasya sadṛśo vikrame bhuvi kaścana
virādho nihato yena kabandhaścāntakopamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"There is no one on earth who is equal in prowess to Rama, by whom Viradha was killed as also Kabandha who was equal to Yama."
वक्तुम् न शक्तो रामस्य गुणान् कश्चिन्नरः क्षितौ
जनस्थानगता येन तावन्तो राक्षसा हताः
vaktum na śakto rāmasya guṇān kaścinnaraḥ kṣitau
janasthānagatā yena tāvanto rākṣasā hatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"No man on this earth is able to narrate the qualities of Rama, by whom all the demons staying in Janasthana were killed."
लक्ष्मणश्चात्र धर्मात्मा मातङ्गवामिवर्षभः
यस्य बाणपथम् प्राप्य व जीवेदपि वासवः
lakṣmaṇaścātra dharmātmā mātaṅgavāmivarṣabhaḥ
yasya bāṇapatham prāpya va jīvedapi vāsavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Here too is the virtuous Lakshamana, resembling the most excellent elephant among elephants, in the path of whose arrows, even Indra the Lord of celestials himself could not survive
श्वेतो ज्योतिर् मुखः च अत्र भास्करस्य आत्म सम्भवौ
वरुणस्य च पुत्रो अथ हेम कूटः प्लवम् गमः
śveto jyotir mukhaḥ ca atra bhāskarasya ātma sambhavau
varuṇasya ca putro atha hema kūṭaḥ plavam gamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Sweta and Jyotirmukha, the sons of the sun-god, a monkey called Hemakuta, another son of Varuna, Nila the son of Visvakarma the strong and the best of monkeys, as well as that mighty and swift Durdhara the son of Vasus are all here."
राक्षसानाम् वरिष्ठः च तव भ्राता विभीषणः
परिगृह्य पुरीम् लंकाम् राघवस्य हिते रतः
rākṣasānām variṣṭhaḥ ca tava bhrātā vibhīṣaṇaḥ
parigṛhya purīm laṃkām rāghavasya hite rataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"There is the prince of demons Vibhishana, your brother, who having secured the city of Lanka (as a prospective gift from Rama) remains devoted to the good of Rama."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे त्रिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe triṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thus, I have described about the entire army of monkeys stationed on the Mount Suvela. Now, it is for you to decide what remains to be done!"