Chapter 57
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
अकम्पन वधम् श्रुत्वा क्रुद्धो वै राक्षस ईश्वरः
किंचिद् दीन मुखश् च अपि सचिवांस् तान् उदैक्षत
akampana vadham śrutvā kruddho vai rākṣasa īśvaraḥ
kiṃcid dīna mukhaś ca api sacivāṃs tān udaikṣata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing of Akampana's killing, Ravana the Lord of demons, with a little depressed face, was enraged and looked towards his ministers.
स तु ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तम् तु मन्त्रिभिह् सम्विचार्य च
ततस्तु रावणः पूर्वदिवसे राक्षसाधिपः
sa tu dhyātvā muhūrtam tu mantribhih samvicārya ca
tatastu rāvaṇaḥ pūrvadivase rākṣasādhipaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having reflected awhile and deliberated with his ministers, Ravana the king of Demons then passed that forenoon in inspecting his defenses in the City of Lanka.
ताम् राक्षस गणैर् गुप्ताम् गुल्मैर् बहुभिर् आवृताम्
tām rākṣasa gaṇair guptām gulmair bahubhir āvṛtām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The king Ravana saw that City, guarded by groups of demons, filled with innumerable troops and decorated with banners and flags.
रुद्धाम् तु नगरीम् दृष्ट्वा रावणो राक्षस ईश्वरः
ruddhām tu nagarīm dṛṣṭvā rāvaṇo rākṣasa īśvaraḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Seeing Lanka besieged, Ravana the Lord of Demons spoke as follows to Prahasta who was skilled in war-fare and who wished well of him even at a critical time.
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"O, Prahasta the proficient in war-free! I do not see any other deliverance than a battle for this city, which is besieged suddenly and being devastated."
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"Either myself or Kumbhakarna or yourself my army-chief or Indrajit or Nikumbha and none else could undertake such a task!"
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"For that reason, taking a company of warriors, you quickly place yourself in their midst and set forth in order to triumph over all those monkeys."
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"Unsettled in no time on knowing your decision to enter the battle-field, the army of monkeys will run away on hearing the raring sound of the leaders of demons."
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"The monkeys are unsteady, mis-behaved and fickle-minded. They do not tolerate your sound, as elephants the lion's roar."
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"O, Prahasta! As that army takes to its heels, Rama along with Lakshmana being supportless, will fall into your power though unwillingly."
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"A skeptical misfortune is preferable to one that is certain! Whether it is unpleasing to hear or not, say what you consider as an advantage to us."
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Hearing the words of Ravana, Prahasta the Army-General spoke the following words to Ravana, like Ushana the preceptor of demons would speak to Bali, the king of demons.
राजन् मन्त्रित पूर्वम् नह् कुशलैह् सह मन्त्रिभिः
rājan mantrita pūrvam nah kuśalaih saha mantribhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O, king! Formerly, we deliberated this matter with our wise ministers and, after having a good dialogue with each other, a disagreement arose between us."
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"To return Seetha was what I considered preferable. Not to do so meant war; we foresaw this."
सो अहम् दानैश् च मानैश् च सततम् पूजितस् त्वया
so aham dānaiś ca mānaiś ca satatam pūjitas tvayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I have ever been honoured by you at appropriate times by gifts, felicitations and nice words. When the opportunity arises, is it not for me to render you a service?"
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"Neither wives nor sons nor riches are going to be spared by me. See you me, intending to sacrifice my life for your sake in the battle."
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Having spoken thus to Lord Ravana, the General Prahasta said to his leading officers who stood before him as follows:
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"Gather a large army of demons together for me. Today, the flesh-eating birds and beasts shall feed on the enemy that I strike down on the battle-field with my swift arrows."
तस्य तद्वचनम् श्रुत्वा बलाध्यक्षा महाबलाः
बलम् उद्योजयाम् आसुस् तस्मिन् राक्षस मन्दिरे
tasya tadvacanam śrutvā balādhyakṣā mahābalāḥ
balam udyojayām āsus tasmin rākṣasa mandire
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing that command of Prahasta, the mighty leaders of the army assembled the forces in the abode of that demon.
सा बभूव मुहूर्तेन तिग्म नाना विध आयुधैः
लन्का राक्षस वीरैस् तैर् गजैर् इव समाकुला
sā babhūva muhūrtena tigma nānā vidha āyudhaiḥ
lankā rākṣasa vīrais tair gajair iva samākulā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Within a short while, that City of Lanka was filled with those terrific demon-warriors, resembling elephants and wielding various types of weaponry.
हुत अशनम् तर्पयताम् ब्राह्मणांश् च नमस्यताम्
आज्य गन्ध प्रतिवहह् सुरभिर् मारुतो ववौ
huta aśanam tarpayatām brāhmaṇāṃś ca namasyatām
ājya gandha prativahah surabhir māruto vavau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While some demons propitiated the fire-god with their offerings and paid homage to Brahmanas, a fragrant freeze bearing the scent of clarified butter, began to blow.
स्रजस्ः च विविध आकारा जगृहुस् त्व् अभिमन्त्रिताः
सम्ग्राम सज्जाः सम्हृष्टा धारयन् राक्षसास् तदा
srajasḥ ca vividha ākārā jagṛhus tv abhimantritāḥ
samgrāma sajjāḥ samhṛṣṭā dhārayan rākṣasās tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, the demons who were ready for the battle, delightedly wore garlands of different shapes, consecrated by certain Mantras (sacred formulas).
सधनुष्काह् कवचिनो वेगाद् आप्लुत्य राक्षसाः
रावणम् प्रेक्ष्य राजानम् प्रहस्तम् पर्यवारयन्
sadhanuṣkāh kavacino vegād āplutya rākṣasāḥ
rāvaṇam prekṣya rājānam prahastam paryavārayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, armed with bows and armours, the demons with their eyes turned towards their king Ravana, marched at a brisk pace and ranged themselves round Prahasta.
अथ आमन्त्र्य च राजानम् भेरीम् आहत्य भैरवाम्
आरुरोह रथम् दिव्यम् प्रहस्तह् सज्ज कल्पितम्
atha āmantrya ca rājānam bherīm āhatya bhairavām
āruroha ratham divyam prahastah sajja kalpitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Prahasta who got ready with his weapons and armour, after bidding obeisance to the king and striking a terrible kettle-drum, mounted his chariot, which was kept ready, yoked to an extremely swift horses, well controlled by a charioteer, emanating a noise resembling that of a large cloud, actually shining like moon-light, inviolable with a flag bearing an ensign of snake, with a good collision-guard, with nice wheels and decorated with a net of pure gold smiling as it were in its magnificence.
ततस् तम् रथम् आस्थाय रावण अर्पित शासनः
लन्काया निर्ययौ तूर्णम् बलेन महता वृतः
tatas tam ratham āsthāya rāvaṇa arpita śāsanaḥ
lankāyā niryayau tūrṇam balena mahatā vṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Prahasta the one who was commanded by Ravana, ascended his chariot and set out from Lanka soon along with a huge army.
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While Prahasta the general sallied forth, the sound of a kettle-drum, the resonance of musical instruments and the sound of conches were heard, as though filling the earth like the roar of a cloud.
निनदन्तः स्वरान् घोरान् राक्षसा जग्मुर् अग्रतः
ninadantaḥ svarān ghorān rākṣasā jagmur agrataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The demons with terrific forms and bulky bodies, shouting with dreadful voices, went in front, as forerunners of Prahasta.
नरान्तकः कुम्भहनुर्महानादः समुन्नतः
६५७३१
प्रहस्तसचिवा ह्येते निर्ययुः परिवार्य तम्
narāntakaḥ kumbhahanurmahānādaḥ samunnataḥ
6-57-31
prahastasacivā hyete niryayuḥ parivārya tam
SYNONYMS
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Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata, attendants of Prahasta sallied forth, surrounding him on all sides.
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He emerged from the eastern gate in the midst of an immense, formidable and orderly arranged army, resembling a herd of elephants.
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In the centre of that army, vast as the sea, that Prahasta in his fury, came forth appearing like Death at the end of the world.
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The uproar that arose on his setting forth with his demons raising the war-cries drew sinister answering calls from all creatures in Lanka.
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In a cloudless sky, birds of prey eating flesh and blood, flew in circles from left to right towards the chariot.
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Fearful jackals vomited forth fire and flames, howling repeatedly. A meteor fell from the sky and the wind blew harshly.
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The plants, in opposition to each other, lost their brilliance. The clouds, with their raucous sound, showered blood on Prahasta's chariot and dampened those who were walking in front of it.
केतु मूर्धनि गृध्रो अस्य विलीनो दक्षिणा मुखः
नदन्नुभयतः पार्श्वं समग्रामहरत्प्रभाम्
ketu mūrdhani gṛdhro asya vilīno dakṣiṇā mukhaḥ
nadannubhayataḥ pārśvaṃ samagrāmaharatprabhām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
A vulture facing the south alighted on the top of the standard, croaking towards both of its sides and deprived the demon of his entire lustre.
सारथेर् बहुशस्ः च अस्य सम्ग्रामम् अवगाहतः
प्रतोदो न्यपतद्द् हस्तात् सूतस्य हय सादिनः
sārather bahuśasḥ ca asya samgrāmam avagāhataḥ
pratodo nyapatadd hastāt sūtasya haya sādinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The goad fell several times then from the hand of the charioteer, himself a Suta (the son of a Kshatriya by a Brahamana woman) eventhough skilled in controlling the horses, as he entered the battle-field.
निर्याण श्रीश् च या अस्य आसीद् भास्वरा च सुदुर्लभा
सा ननाश मुहूर्तेन समे च स्खलिता हयाः
niryāṇa śrīś ca yā asya āsīd bhāsvarā ca sudurlabhā
sā nanāśa muhūrtena same ca skhalitā hayāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That rarely splendour which clothed Prahasta at the time of his exit vanished in an instant and horses stumbled on the even ground.
प्रहस्तम् त्व् अभिनिर्यान्तम् प्रख्यात बल पौरुषम्
युधि नाना प्रहरणा कपि सेना अभ्यवर्तत
prahastam tv abhiniryāntam prakhyāta bala pauruṣam
yudhi nānā praharaṇā kapi senā abhyavartata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Beholding that Prahasta, renowned for his excellences and martial valour; as he advanced to give battle, the army of monkeys went forward to attack him.
अथ घोषह् सुतुमुलो हरीणाम् समजायत
वृक्षान् आरुजताम् चैव गुर्वीश् च अगृह्णताम् शिलाः
atha ghoṣah sutumulo harīṇām samajāyata
vṛkṣān ārujatām caiva gurvīś ca agṛhṇatām śilāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, an exceedingly tumultuous clamour arose among the monkeys as they tore up the trees and seized hold of huge rocks.
नदताम् राक्षसानां च वानराणाम् च गर्जताम्
उभे प्रमुदिते सैन्ये रक्षो गण वन ओकसाम्
nadatām rākṣasānāṃ ca vānarāṇām ca garjatām
ubhe pramudite sainye rakṣo gaṇa vana okasām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Both the armies of the yelling demons and the roaring monkeys were delighted, impetuous and powerful with impatience to slay each other and challenging each other with great shouts.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे सप्तपञ्चाशः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe saptapañcāśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter, the evil-minded Prahasta sallied forth for victory towards the army of Sugreeva, whom in his folly, imagined he would destroy, with an accelerated speed as a grass-hopper rushes towards a flame.