Chapter 37
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
नर वानर राजौ तौ स च वायु सुतः कपिः
जाम्बवान् ऋक्ष राजस्ः च राक्षसस्ः च विभीषणः
nara vānara rājau tau sa ca vāyu sutaḥ kapiḥ
jāmbavān ṛkṣa rājasḥ ca rākṣasasḥ ca vibhīṣaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Meanwhile, Rama the king of men and Sugreeva the Sovereign of monkeys, Hanuman the son of the wind, Jambavan the king of the Bears, Vibhishana the demon, Angada the son of Vali, Lakshmana, Sushena along with his kinsfolk, Mainda, Dvivida, Gaja, Gavaksha, Kumuda, Nala and Panasa, all having reached the enemy's territory, assembled to take counsel together.
इयम् सा लक्ष्यते लन्का पुरी रावण पालिता
सासुर उरग गन्धर्वैर् अमरैर् अपि दुर्जया
iyam sā lakṣyate lankā purī rāvaṇa pālitā
sāsura uraga gandharvair amarair api durjayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Observe this city of Lanka, ruled by Ravana, impregnable both to celestials and the demons together, or the uragas (the serpent-demons) and Gandharvas (celestial musicians)."
कार्य सिद्धिम् पुरस् क्र्त्य मन्त्रयध्वम् विनिर्णये
नित्यम् सम्निहितो ह्य् अत्र रावणो राक्षस अधिपः
kārya siddhim puras krtya mantrayadhvam vinirṇaye
nityam samnihito hy atra rāvaṇo rākṣasa adhipaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Ravana, the lord of demons always stays in the City. Think of the ways and means for the success of our expedition."
तथा तेषु ब्रुवाणेषु रावण अवरजो अब्रवीत्
वाक्यम् अग्राम्य पदवत् पुष्कल अर्थम् विभीषणः
tathā teṣu bruvāṇeṣu rāvaṇa avarajo abravīt
vākyam agrāmya padavat puṣkala artham vibhīṣaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While they were talking thus, Vibhishana the younger brother of Ravana spoke the following meaningful and polished words:
अनलः शरभस्ः चैव सम्पातिः प्रघसस् तथा
गत्वा लन्काम् मम अमात्याः पुरीम् पुनर् इह आगताः
analaḥ śarabhasḥ caiva sampātiḥ praghasas tathā
gatvā lankām mama amātyāḥ purīm punar iha āgatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My counsellors named Anala, Panasa, Sampati and Pramati went to the City of Lanka and returned here."
भूत्वा शकुनयः सर्वे प्रविष्टास्ः च रिपोर् बलम्
विधानम् विहितम् यच् च तद् द्र्ष्ट्वा समुपस्थिताः
bhūtvā śakunayaḥ sarve praviṣṭāsḥ ca ripor balam
vidhānam vihitam yac ca tad drṣṭvā samupasthitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Assuming the form of birds, all the four entered that enemy's citadel and observed the measures taken by Ravana closely."
सम्विधानम् यथा आहुस् ते रावणस्य दुरात्मनः
राम तद् ब्रुवतः सर्वम् यथातथ्येन मे शृणु
samvidhānam yathā āhus te rāvaṇasya durātmanaḥ
rāma tad bruvataḥ sarvam yathātathyena me śṛṇu
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! I give a detailed report as it was given to me of the defence-arrangements made by tha evil-minded Ravana, hear me."
पूर्वम् प्रहस्तः सबलो द्वारम् आसाद्य तिष्ठति
दक्षिणम् च महा वीर्यौ महा पार्श्व महा उदरौ
pūrvam prahastaḥ sabalo dvāram āsādya tiṣṭhati
dakṣiṇam ca mahā vīryau mahā pārśva mahā udarau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The very strong Prashata is standing near the eastern gate. Mahaparshva and Mahodara of mighty prowess are at the southern gate."
इन्द्रजित् पश्चिम द्वारम् राक्षसैर् बहुभिर् वृतः
पट्टस असि धनुष्मद्भिः शूल मुद्गर पाणिभिः
indrajit paścima dvāram rākṣasair bahubhir vṛtaḥ
paṭṭasa asi dhanuṣmadbhiḥ śūla mudgara pāṇibhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Indragit, the son of Ravana is at the western gate along with many demons armed with harpoons, swords, bows, spears and hammers together with warriors furnished with weapons of various kinds."
राक्षसानाम् सहस्रैस् तु बहुभिः शस्त्र पाणिभिः
rākṣasānām sahasrais tu bahubhiḥ śastra pāṇibhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"A prey to great anxiety, Ravana knower of magical formulas, is himself stationed at the northern gate, along with several thousands of demons holding lances in their hand."
विरूप अक्षस् तु महता शूल खड्ग धनुष्मता
बलेन राक्षसैः सार्धम् मध्यमम् गुल्मम् आस्थितः
virūpa akṣas tu mahatā śūla khaḍga dhanuṣmatā
balena rākṣasaiḥ sārdham madhyamam gulmam āsthitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As for Virupaksha he with mighty army carrying spears, clubs and bows along with other demons, occupies the center of the fort."
एतान् एवम् विधान् गुल्माम्ल् लन्कायाम् समुदीक्ष्य ते
मामकाः सचिवाः सर्वे शीघ्रम् पुनर् इह आगताः
etān evam vidhān gulmāml lankāyām samudīkṣya te
māmakāḥ sacivāḥ sarve śīghram punar iha āgatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All these counsellors of mine watched those groups of troops arranged in Lanka in this manner and immediately returned here."
गजानाम् च सहस्रम् च रथानाम् अयुतम् पुरे
हयानाम् अयुते द्वे च साग्र कोटी च रक्षसाम्
gajānām ca sahasram ca rathānām ayutam pure
hayānām ayute dve ca sāgra koṭī ca rakṣasām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The elephants and chariots number some ten thousand each, the cavalry twenty thousand and there are more than a crore foot soldiers. These strong and intrepid demons endeavouring to kill someone in battle have ever been their sovereign's favourites."
एक एकस्य अत्र युद्ध अर्थे राक्षसस्य विशाम् पते
परिवारः सहस्राणाम् सहस्रम् उपतिष्ठते
eka ekasya atra yuddha arthe rākṣasasya viśām pate
parivāraḥ sahasrāṇām sahasram upatiṣṭhate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! In these demons, a retinue of ten lacs each is near at hand for each demon."
एताम् प्रवृत्तिम् लन्कायाम् मन्त्रि प्रोक्तम् विभीषणः
रामम् कमल पत्र अक्षम् इदम् उत्तरम् अब्रवीत्
etām pravṛttim lankāyām mantri proktam vibhīṣaṇaḥ
rāmam kamala patra akṣam idam uttaram abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The mighty armed Vibhishana showed those counsellors to Rama after reporting the aforesaid news pertaining to Lanka, thus informed by his counsellors.
लङ्कायाम् सचिवैः रामाय प्रत्यवेदयत्
रामं कमलपत्राक्षमिदमुत्तरमब्रवीत्
laṅkāyām sacivaiḥ rāmāya pratyavedayat
rāmaṃ kamalapatrākṣamidamuttaramabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The counsellors of Vibhishana themselves confirmed all that was known regarding Lanka. Thereafter, the illustrious Vibhishana, in his desire to please Rama, addressed that lotus-eyed one, further with the following words:
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Rama! When Ravana attacked Kubera in battle, sixty lacs of demons sallied forth with him. All of them were akin to the evil-minded Ravana in prowess, in strength, in courage and in pride."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Indignation need not be resorted to (by you) based on this report. I am not terrifying you, bt only arousing your wrath. You are indeed capable of overpowering even celestials by your valour."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Having set out these monkey-forces in battle-array, you shall destryoy Ravana with this great army of monkeys, composed of four divisions, which surround you."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Vibhishana having spoken thus Rama gave the following orders for the attack of the adversaries.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"At the eastern gate of Lanka, Nila that lion among monkeys for his part, surrounded by many monkeys, should attack Prahasta."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"At the southern gate, Angada the son of Vali, surrounded by his mighty army, should oppose Mahaparshva and Mahodara."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let Hanuman that son of the Wind and of inscrutable spirit, surrounded by a multitude of monkeys, enter the City through the western gate."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I am myself determined to slay that wicked who owing to the boon he has received, enjoys oppressing multitudes of Daityas (gaints) and Daanavas (demons), as also the magnanimous sages and who ranges the world, persenting all being. With the aid of Lakshmana, I shall forcibly enter the northern gate where Ravana is stationed along with his army."
वानर इन्द्रस्ः च बलवान् ऋक्ष राजस्ः च जाम्बवान्
vānara indrasḥ ca balavān ṛkṣa rājasḥ ca jāmbavān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let the mighty Sugreeva the king of monkeys, the valiant Jambavan the king of bears and Vibhishana, the younger brother of the Lord of demons occupy the central position of the army."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Monkeys should not assume human form in the battle, for, in the army of monkeys, this monkey-shape should serve as a sign of recognition among us."
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Among our own people also, the form of monkeys will become a sign of recognition for us. Seven of us will attack the foe in our human form, I, my brother Lakshmana, who is full of valour, my friend Vibhishana and his four companions."
स रामः कार्य सिद्ध्य् अर्थम् एवम् उक्त्वा विभीषणम्
sa rāmaḥ kārya siddhy artham evam uktvā vibhīṣaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having said thus to Vibhishana for the success of the enterprise, Rama in the role of a wise leader, decided to stay on Mount Suvela, after observing its charming slopes.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्ध कान्दे सप्तत्रिंशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddha kānde saptatriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, having covered the entire filed with his great army and having made up his mind to destroy the enemies, that high-souled Rama of great courage, set out for Lanka with a joyous and exultant air.
