Chapter 85
Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
तत्तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवः शोककश्मितः
नोपधारयते व्यक्तं यदुक्तं तेन रक्षसा
tattasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rāghavaḥ śokakaśmitaḥ
nopadhārayate vyaktaṃ yaduktaṃ tena rakṣasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words of Vibhishana, Rama, agonized as he was with grief, could not understand clearly what was spoken by that demon.
ततो धैर्यमवष्टभ्य रामः परपुरंजयः
विभीषणमुपासीनमुवाच कपिसंनिधौ
tato dhairyamavaṣṭabhya rāmaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
vibhīṣaṇamupāsīnamuvāca kapisaṃnidhau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Rama the conqueror of the cities of enemies, leaning upon his courage, spoke to Vibhishana who was sitting nearby and in front of the monkeys (as follows):
नैरृताधिपते वाक्यं यदुक्तं ते विभीषण
भूयस्तच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम्
nairṛtādhipate vākyaṃ yaduktaṃ te vibhīṣaṇa
bhūyastacchrotumicchāmi brūhi yatte vivakṣitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O lord of demons! I wish to hear again those of the words spoken by you. I desire to hear again, whatever you intend to tell me."
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः
यत्तत्पुनरिदं वाक्यं बभाषे।अथ विभीषणः
rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ
yattatpunaridaṃ vākyaṃ babhāṣe|atha vibhīṣaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing those words of Rama, spoken very sadly, that Vibhishana who was skilled in expression, again spoke his words gently as follows:
यथाज्ञप्तं महाबाहो त्वया गुल्मनिवेशनम्
तत्तथानुष्ठितं वीर त्वद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम्
yathājñaptaṃ mahābāho tvayā gulmaniveśanam
tattathānuṣṭhitaṃ vīra tvadvākyasamanantaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O the long armed hero! Immediately after your orders, the marshalling of the troops was done by me in the manner as enjoined by you."
तान्यनीकानि सर्वाणि विभक्तानि समन्ततः
विन्यस्ता यूथपाश्चैव यथाअन्यायं विभागशः
tānyanīkāni sarvāṇi vibhaktāni samantataḥ
vinyastā yūthapāścaiva yathāanyāyaṃ vibhāgaśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All those armies were divided and positioned at all places. Even the commanders of those divisions were arrayed and distributed according to their ranks."
भूयस्तु मम विज्ञाप्यं तच्छृणुष्व महाप्रभो
त्वय्यकारणसम्तप्ते सम्तप्तह्रिदया वयम्
bhūyastu mama vijñāpyaṃ tacchṛṇuṣva mahāprabho
tvayyakāraṇasamtapte samtaptahridayā vayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O great lord! I have to report to you something further. Listen to it. While you are lamenting without any cause, we feel painful at our hearts."
त्यज राजन्निमं शोकं मिथ्यासंतापमागतम्
तदियं त्यज्यतां चिन्ता शत्रुहर्षविवर्धिनी
tyaja rājannimaṃ śokaṃ mithyāsaṃtāpamāgatam
tadiyaṃ tyajyatāṃ cintā śatruharṣavivardhinī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O king! Abandon this lamentation and false grief which came to you. Let your worry, which augments the pleasure of your adversaries be therefore abandoned."
उद्यमः क्रियतां वीर हर्षः समुपसेव्यताम्
प्राप्तव्या यदि ते सीता हन्तव्याश्च निशाचराः
udyamaḥ kriyatāṃ vīra harṣaḥ samupasevyatām
prāptavyā yadi te sītā hantavyāśca niśācarāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O hero! If you want to get back Seetha and if the demons are to be destroyed, raise up for the occasion. Keep yourself cheerful."
रघुनन्दन वक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां मे हितं वचः
साध्वयं यातु सौमित्रिर्बलेन महता वृतः
raghunandana vakṣyāmi śrūyatāṃ me hitaṃ vacaḥ
sādhvayaṃ yātu saumitrirbalena mahatā vṛtaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Rama! Listen to my benign words I tell you. This Lakshmana together with a large army should go soon to kill Indrajit, who reached Nikumbhila, with arrows as deadly as the serpentine poison released from his snake-like bow in battle."
तेन वीरेण तपसा वरदानात्स्वयंभुवः
अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरः प्राप्तं कामगाश्च तुरंगमाः
tena vīreṇa tapasā varadānātsvayaṃbhuvaḥ
astraṃ brahmaśiraḥ prāptaṃ kāmagāśca turaṃgamāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By his penance, Indrajit obtained a weapon called Brahmashira, by way of a gift from Brahma and also horses, which are coursing at his will."
स एष सह सैन्येन प्राप्तः किल निकुम्भिलाम्
यद्युत्तिष्ठेत्कृतं कर्म हतान्सर्वांश्च विद्धि नः
sa eṣa saha sainyena prāptaḥ kila nikumbhilām
yadyuttiṣṭhetkṛtaṃ karma hatānsarvāṃśca viddhi naḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That Indrajit, as such along with his army, is reported to have reached Nikumbhila. If he comes forth after completing his sacrificial act, know that all of us as killed."
निकुम्भिलामसंप्राप्तमहुताग्निं च यो रिपुः
त्वामातायिनं हन्यादिन्द्रशत्रो स ते वधः
nikumbhilāmasaṃprāptamahutāgniṃ ca yo ripuḥ
tvāmātāyinaṃ hanyādindraśatro sa te vadhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"A boon was given by Brahma to that intelligent demon as follows: "O Indrajit! That enemy of yours, who strikes while you are marching with your bow drawn, and while you have not arrived at Nikumbhila, or even while you have not offered oblations to the sacred fire, will prove to be the cause of your killing."
वधायेन्द्रजितो राम संदिशस्व महाबल
हते तस्मिन् हतं विद्धि रावणम् ससुहृद्गणं
vadhāyendrajito rāma saṃdiśasva mahābala
hate tasmin hataṃ viddhi rāvaṇam sasuhṛdgaṇaṃ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O mighty Rama! Give your command for killing of Indrajit. When he is killed, know that Ravana along with his associate troops also as killed."
विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा रामो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
जानामि तस्य रौद्रस्य मायां सत्यपराक्रम
vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāmo vākyamathābravīt
jānāmi tasya raudrasya māyāṃ satyaparākrama
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Indrajit, Rama then spoke the following words:"O Vibhishana of true prowess! I know the conjuring trick of that terrific demon."
स हि ब्रह्मस्त्रवित्प्राज्ञो महामायो महाबलः
करोत्यसम्ज्ञान् संग्रामे देवान्सवरुणानपि
sa hi brahmastravitprājño mahāmāyo mahābalaḥ
karotyasamjñān saṃgrāme devānsavaruṇānapi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That Indrajit is skilled in the use of the mystic missile presided over by Brahma. He is intelligent. He is a master of several conjuring tricks. He is so mighty that he can render unconscious in battle even the gods along with Varuna the king of gods."
तस्यान्तरिक्षे चरतः सरथस्य महायशः
न गतिर्ज्ञायते वीर सूर्यस्येवाभ्रसंप्लवे
tasyāntarikṣe carataḥ sarathasya mahāyaśaḥ
na gatirjñāyate vīra sūryasyevābhrasaṃplave
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O highly illustrious hero! While he drifts in the sky, ascending his chariot, his movement is not known to others, as the sun is not seen beneath a dense mass of clouds."
राघवस्तु रिपोर्ज्ञत्वा मायावीर्यं दुरात्मनः
लक्ष्मणं कीर्तिसंपन्नमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
rāghavastu riporjñatvā māyāvīryaṃ durātmanaḥ
lakṣmaṇaṃ kīrtisaṃpannamidaṃ vacanamabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having known the toughness of the conjuring tricks of the evil-minded adversary, Rama spoke to the illustrious Lakshmana as follows:
यद्वानरेन्द्रस्य बलं तेन सर्वेण संवृतः
हनूमत्प्रमुखैश्चैव यूथपैः सह लक्ष्मण
yadvānarendrasya balaṃ tena sarveṇa saṃvṛtaḥ
hanūmatpramukhaiścaiva yūthapaiḥ saha lakṣmaṇa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O Lakshmana! You, accompanied by that entire army which stands at the disposal of Sugreeva, along with troop-commanders with Hanuma as their head; and protected by Jambavan the lord of bears, who will be accompanied by his army, kill that Indrajit the prince of demons, rich in the power of conjuring tricks."
अयं त्वां सचिवैः सार्धं महात्मा रजनीचरः
अभिज्ञस्तस्य मायानां पृष्ठतो।अनुगमिष्यति
ayaṃ tvāṃ sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ mahātmā rajanīcaraḥ
abhijñastasya māyānāṃ pṛṣṭhato|anugamiṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The great souled Vibhishana, who knows all the conjuring tricks of Indrajit, along with his counsellors, will follow behind you."
राघवस्य वचं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः सविभीषणः
जग्राह कार्मुकश्रेष्ठमत्यद्भुतपराक्रमः
rāghavasya vacaṃ śrutvā lakṣmaṇaḥ savibhīṣaṇaḥ
jagrāha kārmukaśreṣṭhamatyadbhutaparākramaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of Rama, Lakshmana of highly wonderful prowess, along with Vibhishana, took hold of his excellent bow.
संनद्धः कवची खड्गी सशरो वामचापभृत्
रामपादावुपस्पृश्य हृष्टः सौमित्रिरब्रवीत्
saṃnaddhaḥ kavacī khaḍgī saśaro vāmacāpabhṛt
rāmapādāvupaspṛśya hṛṣṭaḥ saumitrirabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The rejoiced Lakshmana who was prepared for the combat, clad in an armour, wielding a sword and arrows, wearing his bow in his left hand and having touched Rama's feet in salutation, spoke as follows:
अद्य मत्कार्मुकोन्मुक्ताः शरा निर्भिद्य रावणिम्
लङ्कामभिपतिष्यन्ति हंसाः पुष्करिणीमिव
adya matkārmukonmuktāḥ śarā nirbhidya rāvaṇim
laṅkāmabhipatiṣyanti haṃsāḥ puṣkariṇīmiva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Today, the arrows released from my bow, piercing Indrajit, will drop into the City of Lanka, as swans descend into a louts-pond.
अद्येव तस्य रौद्रस्य शरीरं मामकाः शराः
विधमिष्यन्ति भित्त्वा तं महाचापगुणच्युताः
adyeva tasya raudrasya śarīraṃ māmakāḥ śarāḥ
vidhamiṣyanti bhittvā taṃ mahācāpaguṇacyutāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Now itself, my arrows discharged from the bow-string of this great bow, duly splitting his terrific body, will blow him away."
एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनम् द्युतिमान् भ्रातुरग्रतः
स रावणिवधाकाङ्क्षी लक्ष्मणस्त्वरितं ययौ
evamuktvā tu vacanam dyutimān bhrāturagrataḥ
sa rāvaṇivadhākāṅkṣī lakṣmaṇastvaritaṃ yayau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus speaking in front of his brother, that resplendent Lakshmana, quickly marched forward, with an intent to kill Indrajit.
सो।अभिवाद्य गुरोः पादौ कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणं
निकुम्भिलामभिययौ चैत्यं रावणिपालितम्
so|abhivādya guroḥ pādau kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇaṃ
nikumbhilāmabhiyayau caityaṃ rāvaṇipālitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Offering salutation to the feet of his brother and doing circumambulation too, that Lakshmana went to the sanctuary named Nikumbhila, which was protected by Indrajit.
विभीषणेन सहितो राजपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
कृतस्वस्त्ययनो भ्रात्रा लक्ष्मणस्त्वरितो ययौ
vibhīṣaṇena sahito rājaputraḥ pratāpavān
kṛtasvastyayano bhrātrā lakṣmaṇastvarito yayau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Having obtained the blessings from his brother, the glorious Lakshmana, the prince, quickly sallied forth along with Vibhishana.
वानराणाम् सास्रैस्तु हनुमान् बहुभिर्वऋतः
विभीषणश्च सामात्यो तदा लक्ष्मणमन्वगात्
vānarāṇām sāsraistu hanumān bahubhirvaṛtaḥ
vibhīṣaṇaśca sāmātyo tadā lakṣmaṇamanvagāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, Hanuma accompanied by many a thousand of monkeys and Vibhishana along with his counsellors went behind Lakshmana.
महता हरिसैन्येन सवेगमभिसंवृतः
ऋक्षराजबलं चैव ददर्श पथि विष्ठितम्
mahatā harisainyena savegamabhisaṃvṛtaḥ
ṛkṣarājabalaṃ caiva dadarśa pathi viṣṭhitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Lakshmana, quickly surrounded by a large army of monkeys, saw the army of Jambavan also stationed in the way.
स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं सौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः
राक्षसेन्द्रबलं दूरादपश्यद्व्यूहमाश्रितम्
sa gatvā dūramadhvānaṃ saumitrirmitranandanaḥ
rākṣasendrabalaṃ dūrādapaśyadvyūhamāśritam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
After covering a long distance, that Lakshmana, the delight to his friends, saw the army of Ravana, ranged in battle-array, from a distance.
स तं प्राप्य धनुष्पाणिर्मायायोगमरिंदमः
तस्थौ ब्रह्मविधानेन विजेतुं रघुनन्दनः
sa taṃ prāpya dhanuṣpāṇirmāyāyogamariṃdamaḥ
tasthau brahmavidhānena vijetuṃ raghunandanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Duly arriving at Nikumbhila, that foe-conquering Lakshmana stood, bow in hand, to conquer that Indrajit, the possessor of conjuring tricks, in conformity with Brahma's ordinance.
विभीषणेन सहितो राजपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
अङ्गदेन च वीरेण तथानिलसुतेन च
vibhīṣaṇena sahito rājaputraḥ pratāpavān
aṅgadena ca vīreṇa tathānilasutena ca
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The valiant Lakshmana stood there along with Vibhishana, the heroic Angada and Hanuma, the son of wind-god.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे पञ्चाशीतितमः सर्गः
ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe pañcāśītitamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lakshmana penetrated that heterogeneous army of enemies, resplendent with spotless weapons, thick with ensigns and abounded with huge chariots, exceedingly impenetrable, very terrific, with unimaginable swiftness, even as one would enter a thick veil of darkness.