Chapter 42
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
ततस् ते राक्षसास् तत्र गत्वा रावण मन्दिरम्
न्यवेदयन् पुरीम् रुद्धाम् रामेण सह वानरैः
tatas te rākṣasās tatra gatvā rāvaṇa mandiram
nyavedayan purīm ruddhām rāmeṇa saha vānaraiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the demons there, approached Ravana and informed him that the city had been besieged by Rama along with his monkeys.
रुद्धाम् तु नगरीम् ज़्रुत्वा जात क्रोधो निज़ा चरः
विधानम् द्विगुणम् ज़्रुत्वा प्रासादम् सो अध्यरोहत
ruddhām tu nagarīm zrutvā jāta krodho nizā caraḥ
vidhānam dviguṇam zrutvā prāsādam so adhyarohata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing that the city has been attacked, Ravana exhibiting his anger, doubly made the necessary arrangements for the war and ascended his mansion.
स ददर्ज़ आवृताम् लन्काम् सज़ैल वन काननाम्
असम्ख्येयैर् हरि गणैः सर्वतो युद्ध कान्क्षिभिः
sa dadarza āvṛtām lankām sazaila vana kānanām
asamkhyeyair hari gaṇaiḥ sarvato yuddha kānkṣibhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Ravana caught a glimpse of the city of Lanka, with its mountains, groves and forests all being covered by innumerable troops of monkeys, waiting for war.
स दृष्ट्वा वानरैह् सर्वाम् वसुधाम् कवली कृताम्
कथम् क्षपयितव्याह् स्युर् इति चिन्ता परो अभवत्
sa dṛṣṭvā vānaraih sarvām vasudhām kavalī kṛtām
katham kṣapayitavyāh syur iti cintā paro abhavat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing the earth made all brown with innumerable monkeys, Ravana in great perplexity reflected: "How can they be exterminated?"
स चिन्तयित्वा सुचिरम् धैर्यम् आलम्ब्य रावणः
राघवम् हरि यूथाम्ज़् च ददर्ज़ आयत लोचनः
sa cintayitvā suciram dhairyam ālambya rāvaṇaḥ
rāghavam hari yūthāmz ca dadarza āyata locanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having pondered for long, regaining his confidence and with his eyes widened by surprise, Ravana gazed on Rama and his troops of monkeys.
राघवः सहसैन्येन मुदितो नाम पुप्लुवे
लङ्काम् ददर्श गुप्ताम् वै सर्वतो राक्षसैर्वृताम्
rāghavaḥ sahasainyena mudito nāma pupluve
laṅkām dadarśa guptām vai sarvato rākṣasairvṛtām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Full of delight, Rama passed forward (on the back of a monkey) along with his army and saw Lanka being guarded on all sides and thronged with demons.
दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्काम् चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम्
जगाम मनसा सीताम् दूयमानेन चेतसा
dṛṣṭvā dāśarathirlaṅkām citradhvajapatākinīm
jagāma manasā sītām dūyamānena cetasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing that city of Lanka duly decorated with banners and flags, Rama remembered Seetha with a distressed heart.
अत्र सा मृगशाबाक्षी मत्कृते जनकात्मजा
पीड्यते शोकसंतप्ता कृशा स्थण्डिलशायिनी
atra sā mṛgaśābākṣī matkṛte janakātmajā
pīḍyate śokasaṃtaptā kṛśā sthaṇḍilaśāyinī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He said to himself, "Here is that daughter of Janaka, whose eyes resemble those of a fawn, tormented with grief, emacitated, with a bare ground as her bed and suffering here on my account."
निपीड्यमानां धर्मात्मा वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन्
क्षिप्रमाज्ञापयद्रामो वानरान् द्विषताम् वधे
nipīḍyamānāṃ dharmātmā vaidehīmanucintayan
kṣipramājñāpayadrāmo vānarān dviṣatām vadhe
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Reflecting on Seetha being troubled, the virtuous Rama speedily issued a command to the monkeys to destroy the enemies forthwith.
एवमुक्ते तु वचसि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
संघर्षमाणाः प्लवगाः सिम्हनादै रपूर्यन्
evamukte tu vacasi rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā
saṃgharṣamāṇāḥ plavagāḥ simhanādai rapūryan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words of Rama, who was unwearied in action, the monkeys vying with one another filled the air with their roaring resembling those of lion.
शिखरैर्विकिरामैतां लङ्काम् मुष्टिभिरेव वा
इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरियूथपाः
śikharairvikirāmaitāṃ laṅkām muṣṭibhireva vā
iti sma dadhire sarve manāṃsi hariyūthapāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"We shall tear asunder this Lanka with mountain-peaks or with fists alone." - thus resolved all the monkey- generals.
उद्यम्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महान्ति शिखराणि च
तरूंश्चोत्पाट्य विविधांस्तिष्ठन्ति हरियूथपाः
udyamya giriśṛṅgāṇi mahānti śikharāṇi ca
tarūṃścotpāṭya vividhāṃstiṣṭhanti hariyūthapāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lifting up mountain peaks and huge rocks and plucking up various kinds of trees, the monkey-generals stood prepared (for the attack).
प्रेक्षतो राक्षस इन्द्रस्य तान्य् अनीकानि भागज़ः
राघव प्रिय काम अर्थम् लन्काम् आरुरुहुस् तदा
prekṣato rākṣasa indrasya tāny anīkāni bhāgazaḥ
rāghava priya kāma artham lankām āruruhus tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In order to fulfill Rama's cherished desire, those troops, forming themselves into columns, began to scale the heights of Lanka, while Ravana stood gazing.
ते ताम्र वक्त्रा हेम आभा राम अर्थे त्यक्त जीविताः
लन्काम् एव अह्यवर्तन्त साल ताल ज़िला आयुधाः
te tāmra vaktrā hema ābhā rāma arthe tyakta jīvitāḥ
lankām eva ahyavartanta sāla tāla zilā āyudhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those monkeys, of golden hue with coppery countenance, fighting with Sala trees and mountain-peaks, marched ahead towards the city of Lanka, ready as they were to lay down their lives in Rama's service.
ते द्रुमैः पर्वत अग्रैज़् च मुष्टिभिज़् च प्लवम् गमाः
प्रासाद अग्राणि च उच्चानि ममन्तुस् तोरणानि च
te drumaiḥ parvata agraiz ca muṣṭibhiz ca plavam gamāḥ
prāsāda agrāṇi ca uccāni mamantus toraṇāni ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those monkeys demolished innumerable defensive walls and arches with blows from trees, mountain-tops and fists.
पारिखाः पूरयन्ति स्म प्रसन्न सलिल आयुताः
पांसुभिह् पर्वत अग्रैज़् च तृणैः काष्ठैज़् च वानराः
pārikhāḥ pūrayanti sma prasanna salila āyutāḥ
pāṃsubhih parvata agraiz ca tṛṇaiḥ kāṣṭhaiz ca vānarāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The monkeys filled the moats containing clear water with sands, mountain-tops, grasses and logs of wood.
ततः सहस्र यूथाज़् च कोटि यूथाज़् च यूथपाः
कोटी ज़त युताज़् च अन्ये लन्काम् आरुरुहुस् तदा
tataḥ sahasra yūthāz ca koṭi yūthāz ca yūthapāḥ
koṭī zata yutāz ca anye lankām āruruhus tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The commanders scaled the walls of Lanks, taking with them battalions of monkeys in thousands, in crores and even hundreds of crores.
कान्चनानि प्रम्र्द्नन्तस् तोरणानि प्लवम् गमाः
कैलास ज़िखर आभानि गोपुराणि प्रमथ्य च
kāncanāni pramrdnantas toraṇāni plavam gamāḥ
kailāsa zikhara ābhāni gopurāṇi pramathya ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The monkeys stood tearing up the golden arches and breaking down the gates that equaled the peak of Kailasa the mountainous abode of Shiva the Lord of Destruction.
आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तज़् च गर्जन्तज़् च प्लवम् गमाः
लन्काम् ताम् अभ्यवर्तन्त महा वारण सम्निभाः
āplavantaḥ plavantaz ca garjantaz ca plavam gamāḥ
lankām tām abhyavartanta mahā vāraṇa samnibhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The monkeys who resembled great elephants hurled themselves towards that Lanka, springing, leaping and roaring.
जयत्य् अतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणज़् च महा बलः
राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेण अभिपालितः
jayaty atibalo rāmo lakṣmaṇaz ca mahā balaḥ
rājā jayati sugrīvo rāghaveṇa abhipālitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The monkeys, who were able to change their form at will, shouting - "Victory to the mighty Rama and the valiant Lakshmana!" "Victory of Sugreeva protected by Raghava!" and roaring, rushed towards the defensive walls of Lanka.
वीर बाहुः सुबाहुज़् च नलज़् च वन गोचरः
निपीड्य उपनिविष्टास् ते प्राकारम् हरि यूथपाः
vīra bāhuḥ subāhuz ca nalaz ca vana gocaraḥ
nipīḍya upaniviṣṭās te prākāram hari yūthapāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those monkey-generals Virabahu, Subahu, Nala and Panasa, having position on them. Meanwhile, they formed an encampment of a multitude of military divisions there.
पूर्व द्वारम् तु कुमुदह् कोटिभिर् दज़भिर् वृतः
pūrva dvāram tu kumudah koṭibhir dazabhir vṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The mighty Kumuda, surrounded by a crore of monkeys, who behaved like conquerors, stood besieging the eastern gate (while remaining stationed in north-east).
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Surrounded by other monkeys, a monkey called Prasabha and the mighty armed Panasa too up their position, in order to assist Kumuda himself.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The strong and valiant monkey, Shatabali accompanied by twenty crores of monkeys, approached the southern gate (while remaining stationed in south-east) and stood there, to obstruct the exit.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The mighty monkey named Sushena, the father of Tara (Vali's wife), going to the western gate (while remaining stationed in the south-west) surrounded by crores and croes of monkeys, stood besieging that gate.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama along with Lakshmana and Sugreeva the mighty lord of the monkeys, seeking the northern gate (while remaining stationed in the north west) stood besieging that gate.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Accompanied by a crore of bears having terrific rage, Dhumra (brother of Jambavan, the king of bears) of great prowess and the annihilator of enemies, took up his position by the side of Rama.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Vibhishana of great energy with mace in hand, clad in defensive armour and accompanied by his watchful ministers, took his position where the mighty Rama is stationed.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadana, galloping on all sides, defended the army of monkeys.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Ravana the lord of demons with his mind filled in anger, then commanded for the decamping of the entire army immediately.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
At this command coming from Ravana lips, a tremendous clamour arose among the demons.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
By beating with sticks of gold, the demons stirred up on every side, kettle drums whose discs were white as the moon.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hundreds and thousands of sonorous couches blared forth, blown with their cheeks extended to the full, by the most ghastly demons.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With their handsome limbs equipped with couches, those rangers of night shone like clouds bordered with lightning accompanied by rows of cranes.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The battalions rushed forth under Ravana's instructions like the rushing forth of the ocean, which is swollen by the clouds, at the time of universal dissolution.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, from every side a clamour, arose from the army of monkeys, which filled Malaya mountain with its ridges, plains and caves.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The sound of couches and drums made by the demons and the leouine roars of those monkey- warriors re-echoed over the earth, sky and sea.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of the horses, the clattering of the chariot-wheels and the sounds of the foot-steps, the sound of the couches reechoed over the earth, sky and sea.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In the meantime, a terrible struggle ensued between the demons and the monkeys, as in the former times between celestials and demons.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Exhibiting their native prowess, the demons began to strike all the monkeys with their flaming maces, spears, harpoons and axes.
तथो वृक्षैर् महा कायाः पर्वत अग्रैज़् च वानराः
tatho vṛkṣair mahā kāyāḥ parvata agraiz ca vānarāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the gigantic monkeys swiftly struck those demons with trees, mountain-tops, nails and teeth "Victorious is king Sugreeva" - thus arose a loud war-cry.
राजन् जय जयेत्युक्त्वा स्वस्वनामकथां ततः
राक्षसास्त्वपरे भीमाः प्राकारस्थामहीं गतान्
rājan jaya jayetyuktvā svasvanāmakathāṃ tataḥ
rākṣasāstvapare bhīmāḥ prākārasthāmahīṃ gatān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, some other terrifying demons on their part, shouting "Be winsome! Be victorious!", proclaimed their own respective names. While some demons standing on walls hacked at the monkeys standing on the ground (below) with hooks and harpoons.
वानराचापि सम्क्रुद्धाह् प्राकारस्थान् मही गताः
vānarācāpi samkruddhāh prākārasthān mahī gatāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The enraged monkeys, who wee standing on the ground, leapt into the air and dragged down the demons stationed on the walls by seizing them with their arms.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्येयुद्धकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvyeyuddhakāṇḍe dvicatvāriṃśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That tumultuous combat between demons and monkeys transformed into a wonder, leaving a mire of flesh and blood.