Chapter 49

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

घोरेण शर बन्धेन बद्धौ दशरथ आत्मजौ
निश्वसन्तौ यथा नागौ शयानौ रुधिर उक्षितौ

ghoreṇa śara bandhena baddhau daśaratha ātmajau
niśvasantau yathā nāgau śayānau rudhira ukṣitau

SYNONYMS

2| baddhau: bound | ghoreṇa: by that formidable | śarabandhena: net work of arrows | mahātmanau: the high-souled | daśarātmajau: sons of Dasaratha (Rama and lakshmana) | śayānau: lay | rudhirokṣitau: bathed in blood | niḥśvasantau: breething | nāgau yathau: like serpants | sarve: all | te vānaraśreṣṭhaḥ: those foremost of monkeys | mahābalāh: who were exceedingly stron | sa sugrīvāḥ: including Sugreeva | śokapariplutāḥ: plunged in grief | tasthuḥ: were standing | parivārya: round |

TRANSLATION

Bound by that formidable network of arrows, the two high-souled sons of dasaratha lay bathed in blood, breathing like serpants. All those foremost of monkeys who were exceedingly strong, including Sugreeva, plunged in grief, were standing around those two illustrious warriors.

VERSE 3

एतस्मिन्न् अन्तेरे रामह् प्रत्यबुध्यत वीर्यवान्
स्थिरत्वात् सत्त्व योगाच् च शरैह् संदानितो अपि सन्

etasminn antere rāmah pratyabudhyata vīryavān
sthiratvāt sattva yogāc ca śaraih saṃdānito api san

SYNONYMS

etasmin antare: in the meanwhile | vīryavān: the mighty | rāmaḥ: Rama | sthiratvāt sattvayogāt ca: by virtue of his hardihood and native strength | pratyabuddhata: awoke from his sworn | samdānito'pi śāiḥ: despite the shifts that held him captive. |

TRANSLATION

In the meanwhile, the mighty Rama by virtue of his hardihood and native strength, awoke from his swwon, despite the shafts that held him captive.

VERSE 4

ततो दृष्ट्वा सरुधिरम् विषण्णम् गाढम् अर्पितम्
भ्रातरम् दीन वदनम् पर्यदेवयद् आतुरः

tato dṛṣṭvā sarudhiram viṣaṇṇam gāḍham arpitam
bhrātaram dīna vadanam paryadevayad āturaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | dṛṣṭvā: beholding | bhrātaram: his brother | sarudhiram: discharging blood | niṣaṇṇam: unconcious | gāḍham: firmly | arpitam: thrown on the floor | dīnavadanam: and with a melancholic face | paryadevayat: (Rama) lamented | āturaḥ: full of grief (thus): |

TRANSLATION

Then, beholding his brother, bleeding unconscious, firmly thrown on teh floor, and his features changed, Rama full of grief lamented thus:

VERSE 5

किम् नु मे सीतया कार्यम् किम् कार्यम् जीवितेन वा
शयानम् यो अद्य पश्यामि भ्रातरम् युधि निर्जितम्

kim nu me sītayā kāryam kim kāryam jīvitena vā
śayānam yo adya paśyāmi bhrātaram yudhi nirjitam

SYNONYMS

kim nu kāryam: of what use | sītayā: is the recovery of Seetha | kim kāryam vā: or of what use | jīvitena: is even life itself | me: to me | yaḥ: since | paśyāmi: I am seeing | bhrātaram: my brother | adya: now | śayānam: lying | nirjitam: subdued | yudhi: in the fihgt. |

TRANSLATION

"Of what use to me is the recovery of Seetha or even life itself, since my brother now lying, before my eyes, has been struck down in teh fight?"

VERSE 6

शक्या सीता समा नारी प्राप्तुम् लोके विचिन्वता
न लक्ष्मण समो भ्राता सचिवह् साम्परायिकः

śakyā sītā samā nārī prāptum loke vicinvatā
na lakṣmaṇa samo bhrātā sacivah sāmparāyikaḥ

SYNONYMS

śakyā: It can be possible | vicinvatā: if I were to look for her | nārī: a consort | sītāsamā: equal to Seetha | martyaloke: in the world of mortals | na: but not | bhrātā: a brother | sacivaḥ: a friend | sāmparāyikaḥ: and a comrade in a hostile war | lakṣmaṇaḥ samaḥ: such as Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

"It can be possible, if I were to look for her, to find a consort equal to Seetha in this world of mortals but not a brother, a friend and a comrade in a hostile war, such as Lakshmana!"

VERSE 7

परित्यक्ष्याम्य् अहम् प्राणान् वानराणाम् तु पश्यताम्
यदि पन्चत्वम् आपन्नह् सुमित्र आनन्द वर्धनः

parityakṣyāmy aham prāṇān vānarāṇām tu paśyatām
yadi pancatvam āpannah sumitra ānanda vardhanaḥ

SYNONYMS

āpannaḥ yadi: If he has returned | paṇcatvam: to the five elements | sumitrānanda vardhanaḥ: he | aham: I | parityakṣyāmi: will yield up | prāṇān: my life-breaths | vānaraṇām: (while) the monkeys | paśyatām: stand looking on. |

TRANSLATION

"If Lakshmana returned to the five elements, he the increaser of Sumitra's joy, I will yield up my life-breaths while the monkeys stand looking on."

VERSE 8

किम् नु वक्ष्यामि कौसल्याम् मातरम् किम् नु कैकयीम्
कथम् अम्बाम् सुमित्रांच पुत्र दर्शन लालसाम्

kim nu vakṣyāmi kausalyām mātaram kim nu kaikayīm
katham ambām sumitrāṃca putra darśana lālasām

SYNONYMS

kim nu vakṣyāmi: what shall I say | mātaram: to my mother | kausalyām: Kausalya? | kim nu: what shall I tell | kaikeyīm: to Kaikeyi?' katham = and how can I talk | ambām: to my mother | sumitrām: Sumitra | putra darśanalālasām: who is keenly sighing for the sight of her son. |

TRANSLATION

"What shall I say to my mother, Kausalya or to Kaikeyi? How can I talk to my mother Sumitra, sighing for the sight of her son?"

VERSE 9

विवत्साम् वेपमानाम् च क्रोशन्तीम् कुररीम् इव
कथम् आश्वासयिष्यामि यदि यास्यामि तम् विना

vivatsām vepamānām ca krośantīm kurarīm iva
katham āśvāsayiṣyāmi yadi yāsyāmi tam vinā

SYNONYMS

katham: How | āśvāsayiṣyāmi: shall I console | vepamānām ca: trembling | krośantīm: and crying out | kurarīmiva: like an osprey | vivatsām: bereft of her son | yāsyāmi yadi: if I return (to Ayodhya) | tam vinā: without Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

"How shall I console Sumitra, trembling and crying out like an osprey, bereft of her son, if I return to Ayodhya without lakshmana?"

VERSE 10

कथम् वक्ष्यामि शत्रुघ्नम् भरतम् च यशस्विनम्
मया सह वनम् यातो विना तेन आगतह् पुनः

katham vakṣyāmi śatrughnam bharatam ca yaśasvinam
mayā saha vanam yāto vinā tena āgatah punaḥ

SYNONYMS

katham: how | vakṣyāmi: shall I tell shatrughnam = Shatrughna | yaśaśvinam: and the illustrious | bharatam: Bharata | aham: (when) I | āgataḥ: return | tena vinā: without Lakshmana | yātaḥ: who followed | vanam: to the forest | mayasaha: along with me? |

TRANSLATION

"How shall I tell Shatrughna and the illustrious Bharata when I return without Lakshmana, who followed to the forest along with me?"

VERSE 11

उपालम्भम् न शक्ष्यामि सोढुम् बत सुमित्रया
इह एव देहम् त्यक्ष्यामि न हि जीवितुम् उत्सहे

upālambham na śakṣyāmi soḍhum bata sumitrayā
iha eva deham tyakṣyāmi na hi jīvitum utsahe

SYNONYMS

bata: Alas! | na śakṣyāmi: I should not be able | soḍhum: to endure | upālambham: the reproaches | sumitrayā: of Sumitra | tyakṣyāmi: I will leave | deham: my body | ihaiva: here itself | na utsahe: I do not wish | jīvitum: to live. |

TRANSLATION

"Alas! I should not be able to endure Sumitra's reproaches. I will leave my body here itself. I do not wish to continue living."

VERSE 12

धिग् माम् दुष्कृत कर्माणम् अनार्यम् यत् कृते ह्य् असौ
लक्ष्मणह् पतितह् शेते शर तल्पे गत असुवत्

dhig mām duṣkṛta karmāṇam anāryam yat kṛte hy asau
lakṣmaṇah patitah śete śara talpe gata asuvat

SYNONYMS

dhik: woe | mām: unto me | duṣkṛta karmāṇam: to my wicked deed anaaryam = and to my lack of nobility | matkṛte: through my fault | asau: this | lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | pātitaḥ: was befallen | śete hi: and lies indeed | śaratalpe: on a bed of arrows | gatāsuvat: as me who has yielded up his life! |

TRANSLATION

"Woe unto me to my wicked deed and to my lack of nobility. Through my fault, Lakshmana has fallen and lies indeed on a bed of arrows as on who has yielded up his life!"

VERSE 13

त्वम् नित्यम् सुविषण्णम् माम् आश्वासयसि लक्ष्मण
गत असुर् न अद्य शक्नोषि माम् आर्तम् अभिभाषितुम्

tvam nityam suviṣaṇṇam mām āśvāsayasi lakṣmaṇa
gata asur na adya śaknoṣi mām ārtam abhibhāṣitum

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇa: O | tvam: you aashvaasayasi = used to console | mām: to me | nityam: always | suviṣaṇṇam: whenever I was in a great sorrow | gatāsuḥ: you | nāsi: are not | śaktaḥ: able | abhibhāṣitum: to talk | ārtam: afflicted with grief. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Lakshmana! You always used to consoe me whenever I was in a great sorrow. You, having lost your life now are not able to allay my sufferings with your words."

VERSE 14

येन अद्य बहवो युद्धे राक्षसा निहताह् क्षितौ
तस्याम् एव क्षितौ वीरह् स शेते निहतह् परैः

yena adya bahavo yuddhe rākṣasā nihatāh kṣitau
tasyām eva kṣitau vīrah sa śete nihatah paraiḥ

SYNONYMS

tvam yena: You | yuddhe: in this battle | adya: today | nihatāḥ: struck down | bahavaḥ: innumerable | rākṣasāaḥ: demons | kṣitau: to the earth | śeṣe: are fallen | nihataḥ: pierced | śaraiḥ: by darts | śūraḥ: like a hero | tasyāmeva: on the self same field. |

TRANSLATION

"You, who in this battle today, struck down inummerable demons to the earth, are fallen, pierced by darts, like a hero on the self same field."

VERSE 15

शयानह् शर तल्पे अस्मिन् स्व शोणित परिप्लुतः
शर जालैश् चितो भाति भास्करो अस्तम् इव व्रजन्

śayānah śara talpe asmin sva śoṇita pariplutaḥ
śara jālaiś cito bhāti bhāskaro astam iva vrajan

SYNONYMS

śayānaḥ: lying | asmin śaratalpe: on this bed of arrows | śoṇitapariplutaḥ: bathed in blood | citaḥ: you are piled up | śarajālaiḥ: in a heap of arrows | saḥ: you | bhāsi: look | bhāskaraḥ iva: like the sun | vrajan: setting behind | astam: the horizon. |

TRANSLATION

"Lying on this bed of arrows, bathed in blood, you are piled up; sharajaalaiH= in a heap of arrows; saH= you, as such; bhaasi= look; bhaaskaraH= iva= like the sun; vrajan= setting behind; astam= the horizon.

VERSE 16

बाण अभिहत मर्मत्वान् न शक्नोत्य् अभिवीक्षितुम्
रुजा च अब्रुवतो ह्य् अस्य दृष्टि रागेण सूच्यते

bāṇa abhihata marmatvān na śaknoty abhivīkṣitum
rujā ca abruvato hy asya dṛṣṭi rāgeṇa sūcyate

SYNONYMS

bāṇābhihata marmatvāt: your vital parts having been pierced with arrows | na śaknoti: you are not able even | abhibhāṣitum: to speak (now) | abruvato'pi: eventhough you are not speaking | asya rujā: your agony | sūcyate: is disclosed | dṛṣṭirāgeṇa: by the redness of your eyes. |

TRANSLATION

"Your vital parts having been pierced with arrows, you are not able even to speak now. Eventhough you not speaking, your agony is disclosed by the redness of your eyes."

VERSE 17

यथा एव माम् वनम् यान्तम् अनुयातो महा द्युतिः
अहम् अप्य् अनुयास्यामि तथैव एनम् यम क्षयम्

yathā eva mām vanam yāntam anuyāto mahā dyutiḥ
aham apy anuyāsyāmi tathaiva enam yama kṣayam

SYNONYMS

anuyāsyāmi: I shall follow | enam: him | yamakṣayam: to the region of Yama | yathaiva: as | mahadyutuḥ: that illustrious warrior anuyaataH = accompanied | mām: me | ahamapi: when I | yāntam: retired | vanam: to the forest. |

TRANSLATION

"I shall follow him to the region of Yama, as that illustrious warrior accompanied me when I retired to the forest."

VERSE 18

इष्ट बन्धु जनो नित्यम् माम् च नित्यम् अनुव्रतः
इमाम् अद्य गतो अवस्थाम् मम अनार्यस्य दुर्नयैः

iṣṭa bandhu jano nityam mām ca nityam anuvrataḥ
imām adya gato avasthām mama anāryasya durnayaiḥ

SYNONYMS

nityam: He who ever | iṣṭa bandhu janaḥ: loved his own kinsfolk | anuvrataḥ: and was filled with devotion | mām: for me | gataḥ: got | imām: this | avasthām: state | durnayaiḥ: to which the misdeeds | mama: of me |

TRANSLATION

"He who loved his own kinsfolk and was filled iwth devotion for me, got this state to which my misdeeds have brought him, wretched that I am!"

VERSE 19

सुरुष्टेन अपि वीरेण लक्ष्मणेना न संस्मरे
परुषम् विप्रियम् वा अपि श्रावितम् न कदाचन

suruṣṭena api vīreṇa lakṣmaṇenā na saṃsmare
paruṣam vipriyam vā api śrāvitam na kadācana

SYNONYMS

na samsmare: I do not remember | śrāvitam: to have heard | kadācana: at any time | paruṣam: harsh | vipriyam: and hateful words | lakṣmaṇena: by lakshmana | vīreṇa: the valiant man | suruṣṭenāpi: even if he is deeply provoked. |

TRANSLATION

"I do not remember to have heard any harsh or hateful words from that valiant Lakshmana, even if he is deeply provoked."

VERSE 20

विससर्ज एक वेगेन पन्च बाण शतानि यः
इष्व् अस्त्रेष्व् अधिकस् तस्मात् कार्तवीर्याच् च लक्ष्मणः

visasarja eka vegena panca bāṇa śatāni yaḥ
iṣv astreṣv adhikas tasmāt kārtavīryāc ca lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

yaḥ: he who | visasarja: was able to loose | paṇca bāṇa śatāni: five hundred arrows | eka vegena: in one shot | tasmāt: such | lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | adhikaḥ: was surpassing | kārtavīryāt ca: Kartavirya himself | iṣvastreṣu: in the science of archery. |

TRANSLATION

"Lakshmana, who was able to loose five hundred arrows in one shot, was surpassing kartavirya himself in the science of archery."

VERSE 21

अस्त्रैर् अस्त्राणि यो हन्यात् शक्रस्य अपि महात्मनः
सो अयम् उर्व्याम्हतह् शेते महा अर्ह शयन उचितः

astrair astrāṇi yo hanyāt śakrasya api mahātmanaḥ
so ayam urvyāmhatah śete mahā arha śayana ucitaḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ ayam: this Lakshmana | yaḥ: who | mahārha śayanocitaḥ: was accustomed to a rich couch | astraiḥ: and who by his arrows | hanyāt: severe | astrānapi: the weapons even | śakrasya: of Indra | mahātmanaḥ: the mighty one | śete: is lying | hataḥ: slain | urvyām: on the earth. |

TRANSLATION

"This Lakshmana, who was accustomed to a rich couch and who by his arrows severe the weapons the mighty Indra the Lord of celestials, is lying slain on the ground."

VERSE 22

तच् च मिथ्या प्रलप्तम् माम् प्रधक्ष्यति न संशयः
यन् मया न कृतो राजा राक्षसानाम् विभीषणः

tac ca mithyā pralaptam mām pradhakṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
yan mayā na kṛto rājā rākṣasānām vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

mithyā pralaptam: (Those) vain words | na samśayaḥ: without doubt | pradhakṣyati: will consume | mām: me | yat tat: since | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | na kṛtaḥ: was not made | rajā: the king | rākṣasānām: of demons | mayā: by me. |

TRANSLATION

"Those vain words uttered by me, will ndoubtedly consume me since I have not made Vibhishana the king of demons."

VERSE 23

अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते सुग्रीव प्रतियातुम् इतो अर्हसि
मत्वा हीनम् मया राजन् रावणो अभिद्रवेद् बली

asmin muhūrte sugrīva pratiyātum ito arhasi
matvā hīnam mayā rājan rāvaṇo abhidraved balī

SYNONYMS

sugrīva: O | arhasi: you ought | pratiyātum: to return | asmin: this | muhūrte: moment | itaḥ: from here | matvā: knowing (you are) | hīnam: without | mayā: me | rāvanaḥ: Ravana | abhibhaviṣyat: will overcome (you) | rājan: O |

TRANSLATION

"O, Sugreeva! You ought to return at once from here since knowing that you are bereft of my support, Ravana will overcome you, O king!"

VERSE 24

अन्गदम् तु पुरस् कृत्य ससैन्यह् ससुहृज् जनः
सागरम् तर सुग्रीव पुनस् तेन एव सेतुना

angadam tu puras kṛtya sasainyah sasuhṛj janaḥ
sāgaram tara sugrīva punas tena eva setunā

SYNONYMS

sugrīva: O | tara: re-cross | samudram: the sea | sasainyam: with you army | puraskṛtya: keeping Angada in front | aṇgadam puraskṛtya: keeping Angada in front | paricchadam: with your followers | nīlena ca: Nila | nalenaca: and Nala. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Sugreeva! Recross the sea with your army, keeping Angada in front and with your followers, Nila and Nala."

VERSE 25

कृतम् हनुमता कार्यम् यद् अन्यैर् दुष्करम् रणे
ऋक्ष राजेन तुष्यामि गो लान्गूल अधिपेन च

kṛtam hanumatā kāryam yad anyair duṣkaram raṇe
ṛkṣa rājena tuṣyāmi go lāngūla adhipena ca

SYNONYMS

tuṣyāmi: I am fully satisfied | sumahat: by the great | karma: military exploit | kṛtam hi: acccomplished indeed | ṛkṣarajena: by Jambavan | golāṇgūladhipena: and the general of the monkeys | yat: which | duṣkaram: was impossible | anyaiḥ: to any other | raṇe: in battle. |

TRANSLATION

"I am fully satisfied by the great military exploit, done by Jambavan the king of Bears and the General of the Monkeys, which was impossible to any other in battle."

VERSE 26

अन्गदेन कृतम् कर्म मैन्देन द्विविदेन च
युद्धम् केसरिणा सम्ख्ये घोरम् सम्पातिना कृतम्

angadena kṛtam karma maindena dvividena ca
yuddham kesariṇā samkhye ghoram sampātinā kṛtam

SYNONYMS

karma: A (great) act | kṛtam: was done | aṅgadena: by Angada | maindena: Mainda | dvividena: and Dvivida | ghoram: A terrible | yuddham: combat | kesariṇā: by Kesari | sampātinā: and Sampati | samkhye: in the battle-field. |

TRANSLATION

"A great act was done by Angada, Mainda and Dvivida. A terrible combat was done by Kesari and Sampati in the battle-field."

VERSE 27

गवयेन गव अक्षेण शरभेण गजेन च
अन्यैश् च हरिभिर् युद्धम् मद् आर्थे त्यक्त जीवितैः

gavayena gava akṣeṇa śarabheṇa gajena ca
anyaiś ca haribhir yuddham mad ārthe tyakta jīvitaiḥ

SYNONYMS

gavayena: by Gavaya | gavākṣeṇa: Gavaksha | śarabheṇa: Sharabha | gajena: Gaja | anyaiḥ: and other | haribhiśca: mokeys | tyakta jīvitaiḥ: who are willing to sacrifice their lives | madarthe: for me | yuddham: the battle was carried on. |

TRANSLATION

"By Gavaya, Gavaksha, Sharabha, Gaja and other monkeys, who are willing to sacrifice their lives for me, the battle was carried on."

VERSE 28

न च अतिक्रमितुम् शक्यम् दैवम् सुग्रीव मानुषैः
यत् तु शक्यम् वयस्येन सुहृदा वा परम् तप

na ca atikramitum śakyam daivam sugrīva mānuṣaiḥ
yat tu śakyam vayasyena suhṛdā vā param tapa

SYNONYMS

sugrīva: O | na ca śakyam: It is not possible | mānuśaiḥ: for mortals | atikramitum: to avoid | daivam: their destiny | paramtapa: the tormentator of enemies! | dharma bhīruṇā: fearing to fail in your duty | kṛtam: it was done | tvayā: by you | sarvam: all | tat: that | yatha: which suhR^idaa = a friend | vayasyena: and a comrade | śakyam: could do. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Sugreeva! It is not possible for mortals to avoid their destiny. O, Sugreeva the tormentat of enemies! Fearing to fail in your duty, you have done all that which a friend and a comrade could do."

VERSE 29

मित्र कार्यम् कृतम् इदम् भवद्भिर् वानर ऋषभाः

mitra kāryam kṛtam idam bhavadbhir vānara ṛṣabhāḥ

SYNONYMS

vānararṣabhāḥ: O | idam: this | mitra kāryam: friendly act | kṛtam: has been done | bharadbhiḥ: by you | sarve: all of you | anujñātāḥ: are being permitted mayaa = by me | arhatha: you ought | gantum: to go | yatheṣṭam: where it seems best to you!. |

TRANSLATION

"O. foremost of Monkyes! You have accomplished all this due to your friendship. I take leave of you all; go where it seems best to you!"

VERSE 30

शुश्रुवुस् तस्य ते सर्वे वानराह् परिदेवितम्

śuśruvus tasya te sarve vānarāh paridevitam

SYNONYMS

sarve: all | vānarāḥ: the monkeys | kṛṣṇatarekṣaṇāḥ: the tawny eyed one | ye: who | śuśruvaḥ: heard | tasya: that Rama's | paridevitam: lamentation | aśrūṇi vartayām cakrire: allowed tears to fall netraiH = from their eyes. |

TRANSLATION

All the tawny eyed monkeys, who heard Rama's lament thus, allowed tears to fall from their eyes.

VERSE 31

ततः सर्वाण्य् अनीकानि स्थापयित्वा विभीषणः

tataḥ sarvāṇy anīkāni sthāpayitvā vibhīṣaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | sthāpayitvā: having establied order | sarvāṇi: in all | a nīkāni: the ranks | gadā pāṇih: mace in his land | ājagāma: come | tvaritam: quickly | yatra: where | rāghava: Rama (was then). |

TRANSLATION

Meanwhile, Vibhishana having established order in all the ranks, with mace in his hand, came quickly to Rama.

VERSE 32

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ekonapañcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | tam: him | nīlāṇjana cayopamam: who resembled a mass of collyrium | tvaritam yāntam: hastening | sarve: all | vānarāḥ: the monkeys | manyamānāḥ: thinking | (him) rāvaṇim: to be Indrajit | dudruvuḥ: fled away. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing him, who resembled a mass of collyrium, hastening towards them thus, all the monkeys thinking him to be Indrajit the son of Ravana, fled away.