Chapter 34

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

अथ ताम् जात सम्तापाम् तेन वाक्येन मोदिताम्
सरमा ह्लादयाम् आस महीं दग्धामिवाम्भसा

atha tām jāta samtāpām tena vākyena moditām
saramā hlādayām āsa mahīṃ dagdhāmivāmbhasā

SYNONYMS

atha: then | tām: to that Seetha | jātā samtāpam: who was overwhelmed with anguish | moditām: was made delighted | tena vākyena: by those words | saramā: Sarama | samāhlādayāmāsa: conferred delight | ambhasā iva: like by rain | dagdhām: the parched | mahīm: earth. |

TRANSLATION

Seetha, who was overwhelmed with anguish on hearing Ravana's words, was comforted and rendered happy by Sarama, as parched earth is solaced by rain.

VERSE 2

ततस् तस्या हितम् सख्याश् चिकीर्षन्ती सखी वचः
उवाच काले कालज्ना स्मित पूर्व अभिभाषिणी

tatas tasyā hitam sakhyāś cikīrṣantī sakhī vacaḥ
uvāca kāle kālajnā smita pūrva abhibhāṣiṇī

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: there after | cikīrṣanti: wishing to be | tasyāḥ: to that Seetha | sakhyāḥ: her friend | sakhī: the affectionate Sarama | kālajṇā: skilled in the knowledge of time | smita pūrva bhāṣiṇī: who smiled before talking | uvāca: spoke | vacaḥ: (the following ) words | kāle: at the proper time. |

TRANSLATION

Desiring to be of further service to her friend Seetha, the affectionate Sarama, skilled in the knowledge of time, smiling while talking, spoke the following words at that appropriate time.

VERSE 3

उत्सहेयम् अहम् गत्वा त्वद् वाक्यम् असित ईक्षणे
निवेद्य कुशलम् रामे प्रतिच्चन्ना निवर्तितुम्

utsaheyam aham gatvā tvad vākyam asita īkṣaṇe
nivedya kuśalam rāme praticcannā nivartitum

SYNONYMS

asitekṣaṇe: O | aham utsaheyam: I am able | nivedya: to carry a message | kuśalam: of good will | tvadvākyam: and your words | rāme: to Rama | gatvā: by going to him | praticchannā: secretly | nivartitum: and to return. |

TRANSLATION

"O, black eyed lady! I am capable of carrying a message of your words and good will to Rama and to return secretly."

VERSE 4

न हि मे क्रममाणाया निरालम्बे विहायसि
समर्थो गतिम् अन्वेतुम् पवनो गरुडो अपि वा

na hi me kramamāṇāyā nirālambe vihāyasi
samartho gatim anvetum pavano garuḍo api vā

SYNONYMS

kramamāṇāyāḥ: when I am journeying | vihāyasi: in the sky | nirālambe: self-supported | pavanaḥ: the god of wind | garuḍo api vā: or even Garuda the eagle | na samarthaḥ: is not capable | anvetum: to follow | me: my | gatim: movement |

TRANSLATION

"When I am journeying in the sky self -supported, neither the god of wind nor Garuda the eagle can follow my movement."

VERSE 5

एवम् ब्रुवाणाम् ताम् सीता सरमाम् पुनर् अब्रवीत्
मधुरम् श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पूर्व शोक अभिपन्नया

evam bruvāṇām tām sītā saramām punar abravīt
madhuram ślakṣṇayā vācā pūrva śoka abhipannayā

SYNONYMS

tām saramām: to Sarama | bruvāṇām: who was speaking | evam: as aforesaid | sītā: Seetha | vācā: her voice | pūrvaśokābhi pannayā: no longer charged with grief | abravīt: replied | idam: in these words | ślakṣṇayā: gently | madhuram: and sweetly (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

To Sarama, who was speaking as aforesaid, Seetha her voice no longer charged with grief, gently and sweetly replied in the following words:

VERSE 6

समर्था गगनम् गन्तुम् अपि वा त्वम् रसा तलम्
अवगच्चाम्य् अकर्तव्यम् कर्तव्यम् ते मद् अन्तरे

samarthā gaganam gantum api vā tvam rasā talam
avagaccāmy akartavyam kartavyam te mad antare

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | samarthā: are able | gantum: to go | gaganam: to heaven | apica: and | rasātalam: to the penultimate subterranean region | avagaccha: know (from me) | adya: today | kartavyam: that has got to be performed | te: by you | medantare: for my sake. |

TRANSLATION

"You are capable of going to heaven or to the penultimate subterranean region. Know from me today the duty that has got to be performed by you for my sake."

VERSE 7

मत् प्रियम् यदि कर्तव्यम् यदि बुद्धिः स्थिरा तव
ज्नातुम् इच्चामि तम् गत्वा किम् करोति इति रावणः

mat priyam yadi kartavyam yadi buddhiḥ sthirā tava
jnātum iccāmi tam gatvā kim karoti iti rāvaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

yadi: If | tava: and your resolve | buddhiḥ: intention | kartavyam: is to act | matpriyam: kindly towards me | sthirā yadi: is fixed | icchāmi: I wish(you) | gattvā: to go | jṅātum: and to know | kim: what | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | karotīti: is doing. |

TRANSLATION

"If your intention is to act kindly towards me and your resolve is firm , I wish you to go and know what Ravana is doing now."

VERSE 8

स हि माया बलः क्रूरो रावणः शत्रु रावणः
माम् मोहयति दुष्ट आत्मा पीत मात्रा इव वारुणी

sa hi māyā balaḥ krūro rāvaṇaḥ śatru rāvaṇaḥ
mām mohayati duṣṭa ātmā pīta mātrā iva vāruṇī

SYNONYMS

saḥ: raavaNaH = that Ravana | māyābalaḥ: equipped with strength in the shape of conjuring tricks | śatru rāvaṇaḥ: who makes his enemies cry | krūraḥ: is cruel | duṣṭātmā: and evil minded | mohayati: has bemused | mām: me | vāruṇīva: as spirituous liquor(bemuses one) | pīta mātrā: the moment it is imbibed. |

TRANSLATION

"That cruel and evil minded Ravana, equipped with strength in the shape of conjuring tricks, who makes his enemies cry has bemused me, as spirituous liquor bemuses one, the moment it is imbibed."

VERSE 9

तर्जापयति माम् नित्यम् भर्त्सापयति च असक्र्त्
राक्षसीभिः सुघोराभिर् या माम् रक्षन्ति नित्यशः

tarjāpayati mām nityam bhartsāpayati ca asakrt
rākṣasībhiḥ sughorābhir yā mām rakṣanti nityaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhartsāpayati: he causes me to be threatened by words | nityam: all the time | sughorābhiḥ: by the most frightful | rākṣasībhiḥ: ogresses | yāḥ: who | nityaśaḥ: always | rakṣanti: surround me | tarjāpayati: insult me by their acts | asakṛt: repeatedly. |

TRANSLATION

"He causes me to be threatened by words all the time by the most frightful ogresses, who always surround me and insult me by their act repeatedly."

VERSE 10

उद्विग्ना शन्किता च अस्मि न च स्वस्थम् मनो मम
तद् भयाच् च अहम् उद्विग्ना;अशोक वनिकाम् गताः

udvignā śankitā ca asmi na ca svastham mano mama
tad bhayāc ca aham udvignā;aśoka vanikām gatāḥ

SYNONYMS

aham: I | asmi: am | udvignā: am distressed | śaṅkitāca: and distrustful | mama: My | manaḥ: mind | na svastham: is not in its natural state | gatā: being in | aśoka vanakām: Ashoka grove | tadbhayāt: because of his fear. |

TRANSLATION

"I am depressed in mind and distrustful. My mind is not in its natural state. Staying in Ashoka grove, I am distressed because of his fear."

VERSE 11

यदि नाम कथा तस्य निश्चितम् वा अपि यद् भवेत्
निवेदयेथाः सर्वम् तत् परो मे स्याद् अनुग्रहः

yadi nāma kathā tasya niścitam vā api yad bhavet
nivedayethāḥ sarvam tat paro me syād anugrahaḥ

SYNONYMS

nivedayathāḥ: if you inform | tat sarvam: all that | yat: which | bhavet: becomes | niścitam vāpi: decision | (or) tasya: his | kathā: talk | yadināma: if ever | tat: it | syāt: will be | paraḥ: a great | anugrahaḥ: service | me: to me. |

TRANSLATION

"Report to me, all that is decided by him during his talk going on with his ministers about the matter of releasing me or keeping me captive. It will be of great service to me."

VERSE 12

साप्येवम् ब्रुवतीम् सीताम् सरमा वल्गु भाषिणी
उवाच वचनम् तस्याः स्पृशन्ती बाष्प विक्लवम्

sāpyevam bruvatīm sītām saramā valgu bhāṣiṇī
uvāca vacanam tasyāḥ spṛśantī bāṣpa viklavam

SYNONYMS

: that | saramāpi: Sarama also | mṛdu bhāśiṇī: who speaks kindly words | spṛśantī: touching (wiping) | tasyāḥ: her | vadanam: face | baṣpaviklabam: which got moist with tears | uvāca: replied | sītām: to Seetha | brūvatīm: who was speaking | evam: as aforesaid: |

TRANSLATION

The soft spoken Sarama, wiping her face, which got moist with tears, replied as follows to Seetha who was speaking as aforesaid:

VERSE 13

एष ते यद्य् अभिप्रायस् तस्माद् गच्चामि जानकि
गृह्य शत्रोर् अभिप्रायम् उपाव्र्त्ताम् च पश्य माम्

eṣa te yady abhiprāyas tasmād gaccāmi jānaki
gṛhya śatror abhiprāyam upāvrttām ca paśya mām

SYNONYMS

yadi: if | te: your | abhiprāyah: opinion | eṣaḥ: is this | gacchāmi: I shall go | tasmāt: on that account | jānaki: O | gṛhya: having grasped | abhiprāyam: the feeling | śatroḥ: of the enemies | upāvartāmi: I shall return | maithili: O |

TRANSLATION

"If your opinion is like this, I shall go on that account, O, Seetha! Having grasped the feeling of the enemies, I shall return O, Seetha!"

VERSE 14

एवम् उक्त्वा ततो गत्वा समीपम् तस्य रक्षसः
शुश्राव कथितम् तस्य रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः

evam uktvā tato gatvā samīpam tasya rakṣasaḥ
śuśrāva kathitam tasya rāvaṇasya samantriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

uktvā: speaking | evam: thus | gatvā: (she) | tataḥ: thereafter | samīpam: to the vicinity | tasya rakṣasaḥ: of that demon | śuśrāva: and heard | kathitam: the conversation | tasya: of that | rāvaṇasya: Ravana | samantriṇaḥ: who was with his ministers. |

TRANSLATION

Speaking thus, Surama thereafter went to the vicinity of that demon and heard the conversation of Ravana who was with his ministers.

VERSE 15

सा श्रुत्वा निश्चयम् तस्य निश्चयज्ना दुरात्मनः
पुनर् एव अगमत् क्षिप्रम् अशोक वनिकाम् तदा

sā śrutvā niścayam tasya niścayajnā durātmanaḥ
punar eva agamat kṣipram aśoka vanikām tadā

SYNONYMS

: she | niścayajṇā: who knew how to investigate | śrutvā: having heard | durātmanaḥ: the wicked | tasya: Ravana's | niścayam: resolve | kṣipram: soon | āgamat: came | punareva: again | śubhām: to the beautiful | aśokavanikām: Ashoka grove. |

TRANSLATION

Sarama, who knew how to investigate could hear the wicked Ravana's resolve and soon returned to Ashoka grove.

VERSE 16

सा प्रविष्टा पुनस् तत्र ददर्श जनक आत्मजाम्
प्रतीक्षमाणाम् स्वाम् एव भ्रष्ट पद्माम् इव श्रियम्

sā praviṣṭā punas tatra dadarśa janaka ātmajām
pratīkṣamāṇām svām eva bhraṣṭa padmām iva śriyam

SYNONYMS

: she | praviṣṭā: who entered | tatra: there | dadarśa: saw | tataḥ: then | janakātmajam: Seetha | śriyam iva: who looked like Lakshmi | bhraṣṭa padmām: bereft of the lotus | pratīkṣamāṇām: who was waiting | svāmeva: for her alone. |

TRANSLATION

Sarama, who entered the Ashoka grove, saw Seetha who looked like Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity (and the wife of Vishnu); bereft of the lotus and waiting for her only.

VERSE 17

ताम् तु सीता पुनः प्राप्ताम् सरमाम् वल्गु भाषिणीम्
परिष्वज्य च सुस्निग्धम् ददौ च स्वयम् आसनम्

tām tu sītā punaḥ prāptām saramām valgu bhāṣiṇīm
pariṣvajya ca susnigdham dadau ca svayam āsanam

SYNONYMS

sītā: Seetha | susnigdham: affectionately | pariṣvajya: embraced | priyabhāṣiṇīm: the kindly speaking | saramām: Sarama | punaḥ prāptām: who returned | dadou: and offered | svayam: personally | āsanam: a seat(to her). |

TRANSLATION

Seetha affectionately embraced the kindly speaking Surama who returned there and offered personally a seat to her.

VERSE 18

इह आसीना सुखम् सर्वम् आख्याहि मम तत्त्वतः
क्रूरस्य निश्चयम् तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः

iha āsīnā sukham sarvam ākhyāhi mama tattvataḥ
krūrasya niścayam tasya rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

āsīnā: sitting | iha: here | sukham: comfortably | ākhyāhi: tell | mama: me | tattvataḥ: really | sarvam: about all | niścayam: the design | tasya rāvaṇasya: of that Ravana | krūrasya: the cruel | durātmanaḥ: and the wicked demon. |

TRANSLATION

"Sitting here comfortably, tell me about the real design of that cruel and wicked Ravana"

VERSE 19

एवम् उक्ता तु सरमा सीतया वेपमानया
कथितम् सर्वम् आचष्त रावणस्य समन्त्रिणः

evam uktā tu saramā sītayā vepamānayā
kathitam sarvam ācaṣta rāvaṇasya samantriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

saramā: (while) Sarama | uktā: was enquired | evam: thus | sītasya: by Seetha | vepamānayā: tremblingwith fear | ācaśṭa: narrated | sarvam: all | kathitam: the conversation | rāvaṇasya: of Ravana | samantriṇaḥ: together with his ministers. |

TRANSLATION

When Seetha trembling with fear enquired thus, Sarama narrated all the conversation of Ravana together with his ministers.

VERSE 20

जनन्या राक्षस इन्द्रो वै त्वन् मोक्ष अर्थम् बृहद् वचः
अविद्धेन च वैदेहि मन्त्रि वृद्धेन बोधितः

jananyā rākṣasa indro vai tvan mokṣa artham bṛhad vacaḥ
aviddhena ca vaidehi mantri vṛddhena bodhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

vaidehi: O | jananyā: by the mother | rākṣasendraḥ: of Ravana | aviddhena: and by Aviddha | mantri vṛddhena: his aged minister | bṛhat: excellent | vacaḥ: words | uditaḥ: were spoken | tvanmokṣārtham: with the aim of your release. |

TRANSLATION

"Excellent words were spoken by Kaikasi, the mother of Ravana as well as Aviddha the aged minister asking for your release, O Seetha!"

VERSE 21

दीयताम् अभिसत्क्र्त्य मनुज इन्द्राय मैथिली
निदर्शनम् ते पर्याप्तम् जन स्थाने यद् अद्भुतम्

dīyatām abhisatkrtya manuja indrāya maithilī
nidarśanam te paryāptam jana sthāne yad adbhutam

SYNONYMS

maithilī: (let) Seetha | dīyatām: be restored | abhisatkṛtya: honorably | manujendrāya: to Rama the lord of men | adbhutam: the wonderful thing | yat: which | (happened) janasthāne: in Janasthana | paryāptam: is an enough | midarśam: eye opener | te: to you. |

TRANSLATION

"Let Seetha, be restored honorably to Rama the Lord of men. That wonderful** thing happened in Janasthana is an enough eye- opener to you."

PURPORT

** Rama exterminated fourteen thousand demons led by such great warriors as Khara and Dushana at Janastana.
VERSE 22

लन्घनम् च समुद्रस्य दर्शनम् च हनूमतः
वधम् च रक्षसाम् युद्धे कः कुर्यान् मानुषो भुवि

langhanam ca samudrasya darśanam ca hanūmataḥ
vadham ca rakṣasām yuddhe kaḥ kuryān mānuṣo bhuvi

SYNONYMS

kaḥ: what | mānuṣaḥ: mortal | kuryāt: could accomplish | laṅghanam: the crossing | samudrasya: of the ocean | hanūmataḥ: by Hanuman | vadhamca: and the carnage | rakṣasām: of the demons | yuddhe: in combat | bhuvi: on the earth? |

TRANSLATION

"Which mortal would accomplish the crossing of the ocean, the discovery of Seetha by Hanuman, and the carnage of the demons in combat on this earth?"

VERSE 23

एवम् स मन्त्रि वृद्धैश्च मात्रा च बहु भाषितः
न त्वाम् उत्सहते मोक्तुम् अर्तह्म् अर्थ परो यथा

evam sa mantri vṛddhaiśca mātrā ca bahu bhāṣitaḥ
na tvām utsahate moktum artahm artha paro yathā

SYNONYMS

bodhitaḥ: though admonished | bahu: in many ways | evam: thus | mantrivṛddhaiśca: by the aged ministers | mātrāca: and by his mother | saḥ: he | na utsahate: does not want | moktum: to release | tvām: you | arthamiva: as with riches | arthaparaḥ: by a miser. |

TRANSLATION

"Though admonished in many ways by the aged ministers and his mother he is not inclined to set you free, any more than a miser would leave his hold on his riches.

VERSE 24

न उत्सहत्य् अम्र्तो मोक्तुम् युद्धे त्वाम् इति मैथिलि
सामात्यस्य नृशंसस्य निश्चयो ह्य् एष वर्तते

na utsahaty amrto moktum yuddhe tvām iti maithili
sāmātyasya nṛśaṃsasya niścayo hy eṣa vartate

SYNONYMS

maithili: O | notsahati: he does not want | moktum: to release | tvām: you | amṛtaḥ: without dying | yuddho: in battle | iti: in this manner | eṣaḥ: this | vartate: is | niścayaḥ: the resolve | nṛśamsasya: of the cruel Ravana | sāmātyasya: along with his ministers. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Seetha! He does not want to release you, without dying himself in a battle. This is the resolve of the cruel Ravana along with his ministers."

VERSE 25

तद् एषा सुस्थिरा बुद्धिर्मृत्यु लोभाद् उपस्थिता
भयान् न शक्तस् त्वाम् मोक्तुम् अनिरस्तस् तु सम्युगे

tad eṣā susthirā buddhirmṛtyu lobhād upasthitā
bhayān na śaktas tvām moktum anirastas tu samyuge

TRANSLATION

-"Thereafter, due to infatuation caused by his impending death, his aforesaid determination is very firm .He is not in a position to release you, not through sheer fear, but until he is actually defeated in battle through the carnage of all the demons and of himself."

VERSE 26

निहत्य रावणम् सम्ख्ये सर्वथा निशितैः शरैः

nihatya rāvaṇam samkhye sarvathā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ

SYNONYMS

asitekṣaṇe: O | nihatya: killing | rāvaṇam: Ravana | niśitaiḥ: by his sharp | śaraiḥ: arrows | samkhye: in combat | rāmaḥ: Rama | tvām prati neṣyati: will take you back | ayodhyām: to Ayodhya | sarvathā: by all means. |

TRANSLATION

"O, dark eyed Seetha! Killing Ravana by his sharp arrows in combat, Rama will take you back to Ayodhya by all means."

VERSE 27

एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे शब्दो भेरी शन्ख समाकुलः

etasminn antare śabdo bherī śankha samākulaḥ

SYNONYMS

causing earth to śake| v|vṃ-etasmin antare: in the mean time | śrutovai: was heard | śabdoḥ: the sound | sarva sainyānām: of all the monkey troops | bherīśabda samākulaḥ: blended with the sound of kettle drums | dharaṇītalam: causing earth | kampayam: to shake. |

TRANSLATION

In the meantime was heard the sound of all the monkey troops blended with the sound of kettle drums, causing earth to shake.

VERSE 28

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे चतुस्त्रिंशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe catustriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

oving to the fault of their king| vṃ-śrutvā: hearing | tvam: that | vānara sainya nādam: sound of the monkey troops | rākṣasa rājabhṛtyāḥ: the servants of Ravana | laṅkāgatāḥ: employed in Lanka | hatoujasaḥ: were bereft of luster | dainyaparītaceṣṭāḥ: with their movements overcome by depression | na paśyanti: they did not see | śreyaḥ: anything salutary | doṣāt: owing to the fault | nṛpaśya: of their king. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing that sound of that monkey troops, the servants of Ravana stationed in Lanka were lack- luster with their movements, overcome by depression. They did not see anything salutary in it, owing to the fault of their king.