Chapter 32
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
सा सीता तच्चिरो दृष्ट्वा तच् च कार्मुकम् उत्तमम्
सुग्रीव प्रतिसंसर्गम् आख्यातम् च हनूमता
sā sītā tacciro dṛṣṭvā tac ca kārmukam uttamam
sugrīva pratisaṃsargam ākhyātam ca hanūmatā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seetha saw the illusory head and bow. She heard Ravana narrating about Rama's friendly relationship with Sugreeva, as earlier apprised by Hanuman. Recognizing that head as that of Rama, with a proof resembling her husband's eyes, facial complexion, hair, expanse of his forehead and the beautiful jewel worn on the top of his head, she was very much afflicted with sorrow, cried like an osprey and abused Kaikeyi who was the originator of the present calamity (as follows):
सकामा भव कैकेयि हतो अयम् कुल नन्दनः
कुलम् उत्सादितम् सर्वम् त्वया कलह शीलया
sakāmā bhava kaikeyi hato ayam kula nandanaḥ
kulam utsāditam sarvam tvayā kalaha śīlayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Kaikeyi! Be a fulfiller of your craving! This Rama, causing a joy to the family, has been slain. The entire race has been destroyed by a woman of squabbling nature.
आर्येण किम् नु कैकेय्याः कृतम् रामेण विप्रियम्
यन्मया चीर वसनस् तया प्रस्थापितो वनम्
āryeṇa kim nu kaikeyyāḥ kṛtam rāmeṇa vipriyam
yanmayā cīra vasanas tayā prasthāpito vanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You gave clothes made of bark to the venerable Rama and sent him on exile to the forest along with me. What harm has he done to you?"
एवम् उक्त्वा तु वैदेही वेपमाना तपस्विनी
जगाम जगतीम् बाला चिन्ना तु कदली यथा
evam uktvā tu vaidehī vepamānā tapasvinī
jagāma jagatīm bālā cinnā tu kadalī yathā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus speaking, Seetha the miserable girl was trembling and fell on the ground like a plantain tree that was cut off. Thus speaking, Seetha the miserable girl was trembling and fell on the ground like a plantain tree that was cut off.
सा मुहूर्तात् समाश्वस्य प्रतिलभ्य च चेतनाम्
तत् शिरह् समुपाघ्राय विललाप आयत ईक्षणा
sā muhūrtāt samāśvasya pratilabhya ca cetanām
tat śirah samupāghrāya vilalāpa āyata īkṣaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The wide eyed Seetha thereafter was consoled in a moment, regained consciousness, approached near that illusory head and lamented as follows:
हा हता अस्मि महा बाहो वीर व्रतम् अनुव्रता
इमाम् ते पश्चिम अवस्थाम् गता अस्मि विधवा कृता
hā hatā asmi mahā bāho vīra vratam anuvratā
imām te paścima avasthām gatā asmi vidhavā kṛtā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, the long armed Rama! The pursuer of a strong will! Alas, you have been killed! I have become a witness to your last fate. I have been made a widow."
प्रथमम् मरणम् नार्या भर्तुर् वैगुण्यम् उच्यते
सुवृत्तः साधु वृत्तायाः सम्वृत्तस् त्वम् मम अग्रतः
prathamam maraṇam nāryā bhartur vaiguṇyam ucyate
suvṛttaḥ sādhu vṛttāyāḥ samvṛttas tvam mama agrataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"It is said that the early death of a husband is the misfortune of a wife. You, having good conduct, have preceded me in death."
दुह्खाद् दुह्क्ःअम् प्रपन्नाया मग्नायाः शोक सागरे
यो हि माम् उद्यतस् त्रातुम् सो अपि त्वम् विनिपातितः
duhkhād duhkḥam prapannāyā magnāyāḥ śoka sāgare
yo hi mām udyatas trātum so api tvam vinipātitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even you who were actually intent on protecting me, fallen in great affliction and immersed in an ocean of grief, have been killed by the enemies"
सा श्वश्रूर् मम कौसल्या त्वया पुत्रेण राघव
वत्सेन इव यथा धेनुर् विवत्सा वत्सला कृता
sā śvaśrūr mama kausalyā tvayā putreṇa rāghava
vatsena iva yathā dhenur vivatsā vatsalā kṛtā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! My mother- in-law Kausalya who cherished you tenderly has been left without a son and resembles a cow that has lost its calf."
उदिष्टम् दीर्घम् आयुस् ते यैर् अचिन्त्य पराक्रम
अनृतम् वचनम् तेषाम् अल्प आयुर् असि राघव
udiṣṭam dīrgham āyus te yair acintya parākrama
anṛtam vacanam teṣām alpa āyur asi rāghava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! It was mentioned even by astrologers that your life span is lengthy. O, Rama! Their words are wrong. You are short lived."
अथ वा नश्यति प्रज्ना प्राज्नस्य अपि सतस् तव
पचत्य् एनम् तथा कालो भूतानाम् प्रभवो ह्ययम्
atha vā naśyati prajnā prājnasya api satas tava
pacaty enam tathā kālo bhūtānām prabhavo hyayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Otherwise, your prudence might have disappeared even though you were sagacious, for, Time the master of all beings has brought you to an end."
अदृष्टम् मृत्युम् आपन्नः कस्मात् त्वम् नय शास्त्रवित्
व्यसनानाम् उपायज्नः कुशलो ह्यसि वर्जने
adṛṣṭam mṛtyum āpannaḥ kasmāt tvam naya śāstravit
vyasanānām upāyajnaḥ kuśalo hyasi varjane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"How is it possible that you, who knew the doctrine of political ethics obtained an unforeseen death? You, who knew the science of expediency, were indeed skilled in warding off calamities"
तथा त्वम् सम्परिष्वज्य रौद्रया अतिनृशंसया
काल रात्र्या मया आच्चिद्य हृतः कमल लोचन
tathā tvam sampariṣvajya raudrayā atinṛśaṃsayā
kāla rātryā mayā āccidya hṛtaḥ kamala locana
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama, the lotus eyed! The night of destroying time which was very much cruel and terrible thus has encircled you, embezzled you and snatched you away from me."
उपशेषे महा बाहो माम् विहाय तपस्विनीम्
प्रियाम् इव शुभाम् नारीम् पृथिवीम् पुरुष ऋषभ
upaśeṣe mahā bāho mām vihāya tapasvinīm
priyām iva śubhām nārīm pṛthivīm puruṣa ṛṣabha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, the mighty armed! O, the best of men! Leaving the miserable me, you lied down here, embracing the earth as your beloved"
अर्चितम् सततम् यत्नाद् गन्ध माल्यैर् मया तव
इदम् ते मत् प्रियम् वीर धनुः कान्चन भूषितम्
arcitam satatam yatnād gandha mālyair mayā tava
idam te mat priyam vīra dhanuḥ kāncana bhūṣitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, valiant Rama! Here is your bow which was decorated with gold, dear to me and worshipped diligently by you with sandal paste and wreath of flowers."
पित्रा दशरथेन त्वम् श्वशुरेण मम अनघ
पूर्वैस्ः च पितृभिः सार्धम् नूनम् स्वर्गे समागतः
pitrā daśarathena tvam śvaśureṇa mama anagha
pūrvaisḥ ca pitṛbhiḥ sārdham nūnam svarge samāgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, the faultless Rama! Surely, you must have met in heaven your father and my father-in- law Dasaratha as well as all the multitude of manes."
दिवि नक्षत्र भूतस् त्वम् महत् कर्म कृतम् प्रियम्
पुण्यम् राज ऋषि वंशम् त्वम् आत्मनः समुपेक्षसे
divi nakṣatra bhūtas tvam mahat karma kṛtam priyam
puṇyam rāja ṛṣi vaṃśam tvam ātmanaḥ samupekṣase
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You have abandoned your own pious lineage of royal sages but whereas you performed a great act, which illuminated the heaven like a luminary."
किम् मान् न प्रेक्षसे राजन् किम् माम् न प्रतिभाषसे
बालाम् बालेन सम्प्राप्ताम् भार्याम् माम् सह चारिणीम्
kim mān na prekṣase rājan kim mām na pratibhāṣase
bālām bālena samprāptām bhāryām mām saha cāriṇīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, prince! Why don't you look at me? Why don't you reply me, a wife who lived with you together since the time of obtaining me as a girl by you as a boy."
संश्रुतम् गृह्णता पाणिम् चरिष्यामि इति यत् त्वया
स्मर तन् मम काकुत्स्थ नय माम् अपि दुह्खिताम्
saṃśrutam gṛhṇatā pāṇim cariṣyāmi iti yat tvayā
smara tan mama kākutstha naya mām api duhkhitām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! Remember your solemn promise at the time of our marriage, saying I shall have righteous conduct with you' Take me also with you, wretched as I Am."
कस्मान् माम् अपहाय त्वम् गतो गतिमताम् वर
अस्माल् लोकाद् अमुम् लोकम् त्यक्त्वा माम् इह दुह्खिताम्
kasmān mām apahāya tvam gato gatimatām vara
asmāl lokād amum lokam tyaktvā mām iha duhkhitām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama the best of beings! Why have you gone away, quitting me like this? Leaving me, the miserable woman, why have you gone to the other world from this world?"
कल्याणैर् उचितम् यत् तत् परिष्वक्तम् मया एव तु
क्रव्य अदैस् तत् शरीरम् ते नूनम् विपरिकृष्यते
kalyāṇair ucitam yat tat pariṣvaktam mayā eva tu
kravya adais tat śarīram te nūnam viparikṛṣyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That beautiful body, which was cuddled by me with divine essences, is now being dragged about by wild beasts."
अग्निष्तोम आदिभिर् यज्नैर् इष्टवान् आप्त दक्षिणैः
अग्नि होत्रेण संस्कारम् केन त्वम् तु न लप्स्यसे
agniṣtoma ādibhir yajnair iṣṭavān āpta dakṣiṇaiḥ
agni hotreṇa saṃskāram kena tvam tu na lapsyase
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Why are you not securing the privilege of being cremated with a sacrificial fire, even though you have worshipped the Lord through sacrificial performances such as Agnishtoma, duly furnished with abundant gifts?".
प्रव्रज्याम् उपपन्नानाम् त्रयाणाम् एकम् आगतम्
परिप्रक्ष्यति कौसल्या लक्ष्मणम् शोक लालसा
pravrajyām upapannānām trayāṇām ekam āgatam
pariprakṣyati kausalyā lakṣmaṇam śoka lālasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Kausalya absorbed as she was with grief can only see Lakshmana alone returned out of the three who attained exile."
स तस्याः परिपृच्चन्त्या वधम् मित्र बलस्य ते
तव च आख्यास्यते नूनम् निशायाम् राक्षसैर् वधम्
sa tasyāḥ paripṛccantyā vadham mitra balasya te
tava ca ākhyāsyate nūnam niśāyām rākṣasair vadham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He will narrate surely to her when enquired, about your slaughter as also the killing of the army of your alley, by demons at night."
सा त्वाम् सुप्तम् हतम् श्रुत्वा माम् च रक्षो गृहम् गताम्
हृदयेन विदीर्णेन न भविष्यति राघव
sā tvām suptam hatam śrutvā mām ca rakṣo gṛham gatām
hṛdayena vidīrṇena na bhaviṣyati rāghava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! Hearing that you were killed while sleeping and that I was kept in the house of ogres, she will be no more, as her heart will be broken."
मम हेतोरनार्याया अवघः पार्थिवात्मजः
रामः सागमुत्तीर्य वीर्यवान् गोष्पदे हतः
mama hetoranāryāyā avaghaḥ pārthivātmajaḥ
rāmaḥ sāgamuttīrya vīryavān goṣpade hataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The strong and faultless prince Rama was killed in a small puddle, after crossing the ocean, for the cause of me, an unworthy woman."
अहम् दाशरथेनोढा मोहात्स्वकुपांसनी
आर्यपुत्रस्य रामस्य भार्या मृत्युरजायत
aham dāśarathenoḍhā mohātsvakupāṃsanī
āryaputrasya rāmasya bhāryā mṛtyurajāyata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I, the obloquy of my race, was wedded by Rama due to ignorance. Thus, a wife herself has eventually proved to be the cause for death of Rama, an honorable man."
मानमाव्याम् मया जातिम् वारितम् दानमुत्तमम्
याहमद्येह शोचामि भार्या सर्वातिथेरपि
mānamāvyām mayā jātim vāritam dānamuttamam
yāhamadyeha śocāmi bhāryā sarvātitherapi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Even though I was a wife of Rama who showed hospitality to all the guests, it is I, that very person, who is weeping here and now, because without doubt, in a previous existence, an excellent gift was refused by me (to an eligible person)."
साधु पातय माम् क्षिप्रम् रामस्य उपरि रावणः
समानय पतिम् पत्न्या कुरु कल्याणम् उत्तमम्
sādhu pātaya mām kṣipram rāmasya upari rāvaṇaḥ
samānaya patim patnyā kuru kalyāṇam uttamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Unite the wife with the husband and without delay, arrange to kill me right at the head of Rama. Thus, you will perform an admirable and auspicious act."
शिरसा मे शिरस्ः च अस्य कायम् कायेन योजय
रावण अनुगमिष्यामि गतिम् भर्तुर् महात्मनः
śirasā me śirasḥ ca asya kāyam kāyena yojaya
rāvaṇa anugamiṣyāmi gatim bhartur mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Ravana! Join my head with his head and my body with his body. I shall go along the path of my magnanimous Lord."
इति सा दुह्ख सम्तप्ता विललाप आयत ईक्षणा
भर्तुः शिरो धनुस् तत्र समीक्ष्य जनक आत्मजा
iti sā duhkha samtaptā vilalāpa āyata īkṣaṇā
bhartuḥ śiro dhanus tatra samīkṣya janaka ātmajā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The wide-eyed Sita, seeing her husband's head and bow there again and again, was tormented with grief and lamented as aforesaid.
एवम् लालप्यमानायाम् सीतायाम् तत्र राक्षसः
अभिचक्राम भर्तारम् अनीकस्थः क्र्त अन्जलिः
evam lālapyamānāyām sītāyām tatra rākṣasaḥ
abhicakrāma bhartāram anīkasthaḥ krta anjaliḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While Seetha was lamenting thus, a demon who was a royal guard approached his Lord there with his joined palms in salutation (and cried as follows):
विजयस्व आर्य पुत्र इति सो अभिवाद्य प्रसाद्य च
न्यवेदयद् अनुप्राप्तम् प्रहस्तम् वाहिनी पतिम्
vijayasva ārya putra iti so abhivādya prasādya ca
nyavedayad anuprāptam prahastam vāhinī patim
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"May you be victorious, O noble Lord!" he respectfully announced thus, thereby winning his pleasure and informed that Prahasta the army chief had come.
अमात्यैः स हितः सर्वैः प्रहस्तस्त्वामुपस्थितः
तेन दर्शनकामेन अहम् प्रस्थापितः प्रभो
amātyaiḥ sa hitaḥ sarvaiḥ prahastastvāmupasthitaḥ
tena darśanakāmena aham prasthāpitaḥ prabho
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Lord! Prahasta has come with all ministers. He has sent me, eager as he is, to see you."
मानमस्ति महारा ज राजभावात् क्षमान्वित
किंचिद् आत्ययिकम् कार्यम् तेषाम् त्वम् दर्शनम् कुरु
mānamasti mahārā ja rājabhāvāt kṣamānvita
kiṃcid ātyayikam kāryam teṣām tvam darśanam kuru
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, king, endowed with patience! There is a little urgent work by way of king's duty. Please accord them your audience now."
एतत् श्रुत्वा दशग्रीवो राक्षस प्रतिवेदितम्
अशोक वनिकाम् त्यक्त्वा मन्त्रिणाम् दर्शनम् ययौ
etat śrutvā daśagrīvo rākṣasa prativeditam
aśoka vanikām tyaktvā mantriṇām darśanam yayau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the aforesaid communication of the demon, Ravana left the garden of Ashoka and bestowed audience to his ministers.
स तु सर्वम् समर्थ्य एव मन्त्रिभिः क्र्त्यम् आत्मनः
सभाम् प्रविश्य विदधे विदित्वा राम विक्रमम्
sa tu sarvam samarthya eva mantribhiḥ krtyam ātmanaḥ
sabhām praviśya vidadhe viditvā rāma vikramam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He deliberated with his ministers as to what action in its entirety to be pursued and entered the council-chamber and issued his commands in accordance with the knowledge he possessed of Rama's forces.
अन्तर्धानम् तु तत् शीर्षम् तच् च कार्मुकम् उत्तमम्
जगाम रावणस्य एव निर्याण समनन्तरम्
antardhānam tu tat śīrṣam tac ca kārmukam uttamam
jagāma rāvaṇasya eva niryāṇa samanantaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Soon after the departure of Ravana, the illusory head and bow had vanished.
राक्षस इन्द्रस् तु तैः सार्धम् मन्त्रिभिर् भीम विक्रमैः
समर्थयाम् आस तदा राम कार्य विनिश्चयम्
rākṣasa indras tu taiḥ sārdham mantribhir bhīma vikramaiḥ
samarthayām āsa tadā rāma kārya viniścayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Ravana the king of demons in consultation with his highly powerful ministers, decided on the measures he would adopt against Rama.
अविदूर स्थितान् सर्वान् बल अध्यक्षान् हित एषिणः
अब्रवीत् काल सद्र्शो रावणो राक्षस अधिपः
avidūra sthitān sarvān bala adhyakṣān hita eṣiṇaḥ
abravīt kāla sadrśo rāvaṇo rākṣasa adhipaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana the king of demons, resembling Yama the god of death, addressed all the generals standing nearby, devoted to his interests as follows:
शीघ्रम् भेरी निनादेन स्फुट कोण आहतेन मे
समानयध्वम् सैन्यानि वक्तव्यम् च न कारणम्
śīghram bherī ninādena sphuṭa koṇa āhatena me
samānayadhvam sainyāni vaktavyam ca na kāraṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By a sound of a drum beaten audibly with a drum stick, immediately summon all my forces. Do not tell them the reason for which I am calling."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे द्व्त्रिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe dvtriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the messengers answered, "So be it" obedient as they were to his words and instantly gathered a huge army together and informed their lord longing for fight, that they had since assembled the army.
