Chapter 31
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलम् लङ्कायां नृपतेश्चराः
सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन्
tatastamakṣobhyabalam laṅkāyāṃ nṛpateścarāḥ
suvele rāghavaṃ śaile niviṣṭaṃ pratyavedayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The spies of king Ravana informed him that Rama with his imperturbable army was encamped at Mount Suvela in Lanka.
चाराणाम् रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तम् रामम् महाबलम्
जातोद्वेगो।अभवत्किंचित्सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्
cārāṇām rāvaṇaḥ śrutvā prāptam rāmam mahābalam
jātodvego|abhavatkiṃcitsacivānidamabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing through his spies that Rama with his mighty army had arrived to Lanka, Ravana was a little agitated and spoke to his counsellors as follows:
मन्त्रिणः शीघ्रमायान्तु सर्वे वै सु समाहिताः
अयम् नो मन्त्रकालो हि सम्प्रास्त इति राक्षसाः
mantriṇaḥ śīghramāyāntu sarve vai su samāhitāḥ
ayam no mantrakālo hi samprāsta iti rākṣasāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The time for deliberation has come to us. Let our ministerial colleagues come quickly with their keenly attentive minds."
तस्य तच्चासनम् श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणो।अभ्यागमन् द्रुतम्
ततः स मन्त्रयामास राक्षसैः सचिवैः सह
tasya taccāsanam śrutvā mantriṇo|abhyāgaman drutam
tataḥ sa mantrayāmāsa rākṣasaiḥ sacivaiḥ saha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
As per his command, the ministers came instantly. Ravana conferred with the ogres, his ministers.
मन्त्रयित्वा तु दुर्धर्षः क्षमं यत्तदन्न्तरम्
विसर्जयित्वा सचिवान् प्रविवेश स्वमालयम्
mantrayitvā tu durdharṣaḥ kṣamaṃ yattadanntaram
visarjayitvā sacivān praviveśa svamālayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The dreadful Ravana discussed about the ensuing things to be done immediately. He sent away the ministers and entered his palace.
ततो राक्षसमादाय विद्युज्जिह्वम् महाबलम्
मायाविदम् महामायः प्रविशद्यत्र मैथिली
tato rākṣasamādāya vidyujjihvam mahābalam
māyāvidam mahāmāyaḥ praviśadyatra maithilī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Ravana the practiser of conjuring tricks, took the exceedingly strong Vidyujjihva who was a great sourcerer along with him and went to Seetha's place.
विद्युज्जिह्वम् च मायाज्ञ्मब्रवीद्राक्षसाधिपः
मोहयिष्यावहे सीताम् मायया जनकात्मजाम्
vidyujjihvam ca māyājñmabravīdrākṣasādhipaḥ
mohayiṣyāvahe sītām māyayā janakātmajām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana the lord of demons spoke to Vidyujjihva, who was a knower of conjuring tricks as follows: "With your spells, create an illusion in order to deceive Seetha, daughter of Janaka."
शिरो मायामयम् गृह्य राघवस्य विशाचर
मां त्वं समुपतिष्ठस्व महच्च सशरम् धनुः
śiro māyāmayam gṛhya rāghavasya viśācara
māṃ tvaṃ samupatiṣṭhasva mahacca saśaram dhanuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, demon! Produce a head resembling Rama's along with a great bow and arrows created deceptively and present yourself before me."
एवमुक्त स्तथेत्याह विद्युज्जिह्वो निशाचतः
दर्शयामास ताम् मायाम् सुप्रयुक्ताम् स रावणे
evamukta stathetyāha vidyujjihvo niśācataḥ
darśayāmāsa tām māyām suprayuktām sa rāvaṇe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing Ravana's words, the demon Vidyujjihva said, "Be it so". He showed to Ravana those things of his conjuring trick, well-performed. The king became satisfied of his work and gave him an ornament (as a gift).
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The exceedingly strong Ravana the suzerain lord of demons, duly entered the Ashoka grove, eagerly longing for the sight of Seetha.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Ravana the younger brother of Kubera ( the god of riches) saw Seetha the unfortunate one, who did not deserve that fate, seated on the ground with her head bent down in the Ashoka grove plunged in grief as she was and absorbed in the thought of her husband.
उपास्यमानाम् घोराभी राक्षसीभिरदूरतः
उपसृत्य ततः सीताम् प्रहर्षं नाम कीर्तयन्
upāsyamānām ghorābhī rākṣasībhiradūrataḥ
upasṛtya tataḥ sītām praharṣaṃ nāma kīrtayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, approaching Seetha who was attended upon by ghastly ogresses seated not far distance from her and mentioning his own name with great delight, Ravana spoke the following audacious words to Seetha.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Beautiful one! He in whom you trusted and repelled me when I sought to console you - that murderer of Khara, your husband Rama has been killed in battle."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Seetha! Your root has been cut off in all ways by me and your pride has been slain. By your present evil predicament, you will become my wife."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Foolish one! Give up this resolution. What will you do with one dead. O, beautiful one! Become the Chief Queen over all my consorts."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Foolish one, with scant virtue and failed purpose! You think yourself as wise! O, Seetha! Hear about the dreadful killing of your husband in battle, as the killing of the demon Vritra (at the hands of Indra)"
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Rama, encircled by an extensive army led forward by Sugreeva, is said to have arrived at the sea-shore, to kill me."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"While sun was going to set, Rama with his mighty army was encamped there, encroaching upon the northern shore of the sea."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Their army stationed there, comfortably asleep at the middle of the night and completely fatigued in the course of the journey, was approached first and espied by our spies."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By my great army, which was led by Prahasta, Rama's army was killed in the night at the place where Rama and Lakshmana were there."
पट्टिशान् परिघांश्चक्रानृष्टीर्दण्डान्महायुधान्
paṭṭiśān parighāṃścakrānṛṣṭīrdaṇḍānmahāyudhān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The demons wielding harpoons, maces, discus, daggers, sticks, great arrows spears, shining maces with spikes, picks lances, darts, massed weapons, clubs and circular missiles, made use of them again and again in order to strike down the monkeys."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The impetuous Prahasta, with his steady hand, severed the head of Rama sleeping there, with his mighty sword without a resistance from any one."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Fortunately, Vibhishana was over leaped and held captive. Lakshmana along with the monkeys were made to run away in all directions."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Seetha! Sugreeva the king of monkeys with his neck broken and Hanuman with his jaw removed were laid down and killed by the demons."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thereafter Jambavan who was rising up on his knees was killed in the battle. His body was cut off with many sharp-edged spears, like a tree is cut off."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Mainda and Dvivida - those two great scourgers of their foes, the long bodied and the foremost of the monkeys, groaning and breathless, their limbs bathed in blood-were cut to pieces at the waist-level, by a sword."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Panasa, crying for help was stretched on the earth under a tree of the same name. Pierced by lying in a pit. The exceedingly valiant kumuda on his part, shrieking, was killed by a hail of missiles."
अङ्गदो बहुभिश्छ्न्नः शरैरासाद्य राक्षसैः
परितो रुधिरोद्गारी क्षितौ निपतिताङ्गदः
aṅgado bahubhiśchnnaḥ śarairāsādya rākṣasaiḥ
parito rudhirodgārī kṣitau nipatitāṅgadaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Angada, who was adorned with bracelets lies fallen down, emitting blood on all sides, as he was pierced by the demons with many arrows, after approaching him."
हरयो मथिता वागैरथ जालैस्तथापरे
शयाना मृदितास्तत्र वायुवेगैरिवाम्बुदाः
harayo mathitā vāgairatha jālaistathāpare
śayānā mṛditāstatra vāyuvegairivāmbudāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The monkeys sleeping there were crushed by elephants and multitude of chariots, like clouds are crushed to pieces by the velocity of wind."
प्रसृताश्च परे त्रस्ताः हन्यमाना जघन्यतः
अनुद्रुतास्तु रक्षोभिः सिम्हैरिव महाद्विपाः
prasṛtāśca pare trastāḥ hanyamānā jaghanyataḥ
anudrutāstu rakṣobhiḥ simhairiva mahādvipāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The enemy fled in terror, pursued by demons, while being struck on the bak, like lions pursuing great elephants."
सागरे पतिताः केचित्केचिद्गगनमाश्रिताः
ऋक्षा वृक्षामपारूढा वानरैर्व्यतिमिश्रिताः
sāgare patitāḥ kecitkecidgaganamāśritāḥ
ṛkṣā vṛkṣāmapārūḍhā vānarairvyatimiśritāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Some monkeys fell in the sea and some sought shelter in the sky. The bears with the monkeys climbed the trees."
सागरस्य च तीरेषु शैलेषु च वनेषु च
पिङ्गलास्ते विरूपाक्षे राक्षसैर्बहवो हताः
sāgarasya ca tīreṣu śaileṣu ca vaneṣu ca
piṅgalāste virūpākṣe rākṣasairbahavo hatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By the demons with monstrous eyes, were killed a multitude of monkeys, at the shores of the sea, in the mountains an in the woods."
एवम् तव हतो भर्ता ससैन्यो मम सेवया
क्षतजार्द्रं रजोध्वस्तमिदं चाप्याहृतम् शिरः
evam tava hato bhartā sasainyo mama sevayā
kṣatajārdraṃ rajodhvastamidaṃ cāpyāhṛtam śiraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thus, your husband together with his army was killed by my troops. This head, drenched in his blood and besmeared with dust has been gathered up."
ततः परमदुर्धर्षो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः
सीतायामुपशृण्वत्यां राक्षसीमिद मब्रवीत्
tataḥ paramadurdharṣo rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ
sītāyāmupaśṛṇvatyāṃ rākṣasīmida mabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, Ravana the Lord of demons who was very much difficult to be attacked, spoke the following words to an ogress, while Seetha was overhearing them.
राक्षसम् क्रूरकर्माणम् विद्युज्जिह्वम् समानय
येन तद्रघनशिरः सङ्ग्रमात्स्वयमाहृतम्
rākṣasam krūrakarmāṇam vidyujjihvam samānaya
yena tadraghanaśiraḥ saṅgramātsvayamāhṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Bring Vidyujjihva, the demon of the cruel deed, by whom himself Raghava's head was brought back from the battle-field."
विद्युज्जिह्व स्तदा गृह्य शिरस्तत्सशरासनम्
प्रणामम् शिरसा कृत्वा रावणस्याग्रतः स्थितः
vidyujjihva stadā gṛhya śirastatsaśarāsanam
praṇāmam śirasā kṛtvā rāvaṇasyāgrataḥ sthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Holding that head along with a bow, Vidyujjihva making a respectful salute with his head bent low, stood in front of Ravana.
तमब्रवीत्ततो राजा रावणो राक्षसम् स्थितम्
विद्युज्जिह्वम् महाजिह्वम् समीपपरिवर्तिनम्
tamabravīttato rājā rāvaṇo rākṣasam sthitam
vidyujjihvam mahājihvam samīpaparivartinam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, the king Ravana spoke the following words to Vidyujjihva, the demon who had a large tongue and who was standing and moving closely.
अग्रतः कुरु सीतायाः श्रीघ्रं दाशरथेः शिरः
अवस्थां पशिचमां भर्तुः कृपणा साधु पश्यतु
agrataḥ kuru sītāyāḥ śrīghraṃ dāśaratheḥ śiraḥ
avasthāṃ paśicamāṃ bhartuḥ kṛpaṇā sādhu paśyatu
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Keep Rama's head immediately in front of Seetha. Let the miserable Seetha see well the final condition of her husband.
एवमुक्तं तु तद्रक्षः शिरस्तत्प्रियदर्शनम्
उपनिक्षिप्य सीतायाः क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत
evamuktaṃ tu tadrakṣaḥ śirastatpriyadarśanam
upanikṣipya sītāyāḥ kṣipramantaradhīyata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing Ravana's words, that demon deposited the cherished head in the vicinity of Seetha and soon disappeared from the site.
रावणश्चापि चिक्षेप भास्वरम् कार्मुकम् महत्
त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातम् रामस्यैतदिति ब्रुवन्
rāvaṇaścāpi cikṣepa bhāsvaram kārmukam mahat
triṣu lokeṣu vikhyātam rāmasyaitaditi bruvan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Here is Rama's bow famous in the three worlds!" - saying thus, Ravana threw a great shining bow in front of Seetha.
इदम् तत्तव रामस्य कार्मुकं ज्यासमाव्र्६इतम्
इह प्रहस्तेवानीतम् तम् हत्वा निशि मानुषम्
idam tattava rāmasya kārmukaṃ jyāsamāvr6itam
iha prahastevānītam tam hatvā niśi mānuṣam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This is the bow with its cord stretched, belonging to Rama, that was brought back by Prahasta here, after killing that hero in the night."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ekatriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Rama's head and bow on the ground in front of Seetha the illustrious daughter of Janaka, saying: "You now become submissive to my desire."