Chapter 9

Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

VERSE 1

ततो निकुम्भो रभसः सूर्य शत्रुर् महाबलः
सुप्तघ्नो यज्ञ कोपः च महापार्श्वो महाउअरः

tato nikumbho rabhasaḥ sūrya śatrur mahābalaḥ
suptaghno yajña kopaḥ ca mahāpārśvo mahāuaraḥ

SYNONYMS

-5| tataḥ: then | nikumbhaḥ: Nikumbha | rabhasaḥ: Rabhasa | mahābalaḥ: the extraordinarily strong | sūrya śatruḥ: Suryasatru | suptaghnaḥ: Suptaghna | yajña kopaḥ: Yajnakopa | mahāpārsva mahodarau: Mahaparsva and Mahodara | durdharṣaḥ: the unconquerable raakSasaaH = demons | agniketuḥ ca: Agniketu and | raśmiketuḥ ca: Rasmiketu | tataḥ: then | balavān: pweful | mahātejā: and endowed with great energy | rāvaṇātmajaḥ: son of Ravana | indrajicya: Indrajit | athaḥ: and | prahasthaḥ: Prahasta | vajradamṣṭraḥ: Vajradamstra | dhūmrākṣaśca: Dhumraksha | atikāyaśca: Atikaya | rākṣasaḥ: and the demon | durmukhaścaiva: named Durmukha | pragṛhya: carrying | pathiśān: iron clubs | parighān: sharp-edged spears | śūlān: spikes | prāsān: darts | śaktiparaśvathān: javelins and axes | cāpāni: bows | sabāṇāni: with excellent arrows | khadgāmśca: and swords | vipulāmbubhān: shining like a vast expanse of water | sarve: who were all | parama kruddhāḥ: extremely enraged | pradīptāḥ iva: flaming as it were | tejasāḥ: with glory | rākṣasāḥ: (those)demons | samutpatya: rose up abruvan = (and) spoke | rāvaṇam: to Ravana (as follows). |

TRANSLATION

Then, Nikumbha, Rabhasa, the exceedingly strong Surya satru, Suptaghna, Yaj~akopa, Mahaparsva and Mahodara, the unconquerable demons Agniketu and Rasmiketu, then the powerful son of Ravana named Indrajit endowed with great energy, Prahasta and Virupaksha, Vajradamstra who was extraordinarily strong, Dhumarksha and Atikaya and the demon by name Durmukha, carrying iron clubs, sharp-edged spears, spikes, darts, javelins and axes, bows with excellent arrows and swords shining like a vast expanse of water, and who were all extremely enraged, and flaming as it were with glory, those demons rose up and spoke to Ravana (as follows).

VERSE 6

अद्य रामम् वधिष्यामः सुग्रीवम् च सलक्ष्मणम्
कृपणम् च हनूमन्तम् लंका येन प्रधर्षिता

adya rāmam vadhiṣyāmaḥ sugrīvam ca salakṣmaṇam
kṛpaṇam ca hanūmantam laṃkā yena pradharṣitā

SYNONYMS

adya: now itself | vadhiṣyāmaḥ: we shall kill | rāmam: Rama | sahalakṣmaṇam: along with Lakshmana | sugrīvam ca: and Sugreeva | kṛpaṇam: and the pitiable | hanūmantam: Hanuma | yena: by whom | laṃkā: Lanka | pradharṣitā: was attacked. |

TRANSLATION

"Now itself, we shall kill Rama along with Lakshmana and Sugreeva as well as the pitiable Hanuma by whom Lanka was attacked."

VERSE 7

तान् गृहीत आयुधान् सर्वान् वारयित्वा विभीषणः
अब्रवीत् प्रान्जलिर् वाक्यम् पुनः प्रत्युपवेश्य तान्

tān gṛhīta āyudhān sarvān vārayitvā vibhīṣaṇaḥ
abravīt prānjalir vākyam punaḥ pratyupaveśya tān

SYNONYMS

vibhīṣaṇaḥ: Vibhishana | vārayitvā: restraining | tān sarvān: all those | gṛhīta āyudhān: who were made to seize weapons | pratyupaveśya: were made to sit again | abravīt: and spoke | vākyam: (these) words | prānjaliḥ: with joined palms. |

TRANSLATION

Vibhishana (Ravana's youngest half-brother) restraining all those who were made to seize weapons, were made to sit again by saluting them with joined palms and spoke as follows:

VERSE 8

अपि उपायैस् त्रिभिस् तात यो अर्थः प्राप्तुम् न शक्यते
तस्य विक्रम कालांस् तान् युक्तान् आहुर् मनीषिणः

api upāyais tribhis tāta yo arthaḥ prāptum na śakyate
tasya vikrama kālāṃs tān yuktān āhur manīṣiṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

tāta: dear brother | yaḥ: which | arthaḥ: act | na śakyate: cannot | prāptum: be accomplished | tribhiḥ: by three | upāyais api: strategies too | tasya: that act | āhuḥ: is said | yuktān: to be suitable | nikramakālān: occasion for displaying prowess maniiSiNaH = by wise men. |

TRANSLATION

"Dear brother! That act which cannot be accomplished by three well-known strategies (viz . conciliation, gift and sowing dissention) , is only then to be accomplished by exhibiting prowess, as stated by wise men."

VERSE 9

प्रमत्तेष्व् अभियुक्तेषु दैवेन प्रहतेषु च
विक्रमास् तात सिध्यन्ति परीक्ष्य विधिना कृताः

pramatteṣv abhiyukteṣu daivena prahateṣu ca
vikramās tāta sidhyanti parīkṣya vidhinā kṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

tāta: Oh | pramatteṣu: in respect of indifferent people | abhiyukteṣu: in those who have been attacked by an enemy | prahateṣu ca: in those who were struck down | daivena: by fate | vikramāḥ: the gallantries | kṛtaḥ: performed | vidhinā: according to precept | parīkṣya: after being examined carefully | sidhyanti: succeed. |

TRANSLATION

"The gallantries performed according to the prescribed precept, after being tested, O dear brother, only succeed against those who are indifferent, who have been already attacked by an enemy or who stand struck down by fate."

VERSE 10

अप्रमत्तम् कथम् तम् तु विजिगीषुम् बले स्थितम्
जित रोषम् दुराधर्षम् प्रधर्षयितुम् इच्चथ

apramattam katham tam tu vijigīṣum bale sthitam
jita roṣam durādharṣam pradharṣayitum iccatha

SYNONYMS

katham: how | iccatha: do you wish | dharṣayitum: to attack | tam: Rama | apramattam: who is attentive | vijigīṣum: who has subdued his anger | durādharṣam: and who is difficult to be conquered. |

TRANSLATION

"How do you wish to attack that famous Rama, who is always attentive, who has a will to conquer, who is established in strength, who has subdued his anger and who is difficult to be conquered."

VERSE 11

समुद्रम् लन्घयित्वा तु घोरम् नद नदी पतिम्
कृतम् हनुमता कर्म दुष्करम् तर्कयेत कः

samudram langhayitvā tu ghoram nada nadī patim
kṛtam hanumatā karma duṣkaram tarkayeta kaḥ

SYNONYMS

kaḥ: who | vidyāt: can know | tarkayeta vā: or even imagine | loke: in the world | hanumataḥ: Hanuma's | gatim: speed | langhayitvā: in crossing | ghoram: the formidable | samudram: ocean | nada nadī patim: the lord of streams and rivers? |

TRANSLATION

"Who can conceive or even imagine in this world, that Hanuma's speed in crossing the formidable ocean, which is the lord of streams and rivers?"

VERSE 12

बलानि अपरिमेयानि वीर्याणि च निशा चराः
परेषाम् सहसा अवज्ञा न कर्तव्या कथंचन

balāni aparimeyāni vīryāṇi ca niśā carāḥ
pareṣām sahasā avajñā na kartavyā kathaṃcana

SYNONYMS

niśācarāḥ: O | balāni: the strength | vīryāṇi ca: and the abilities | pareṣām: of the enemies | aparimeyāni: are difficult to be measured | na kartavyā: they cannot be treated | avajñyā: with contempt | sahasā: hastily | kathamcana: by any means. |

TRANSLATION

"O, demons! The strength and the abilities of the enemies are difficult to be measured. They cannot be treated with contempt hastily by any means."

VERSE 13

किम् च राक्षस राजस्य रामेण अपकृतम् पुरा
आजहार जन स्थानाद् यस्य भार्याम् यशस्विनः

kim ca rākṣasa rājasya rāmeṇa apakṛtam purā
ājahāra jana sthānād yasya bhāryām yaśasvinaḥ

SYNONYMS

kim: what | apakṛtam: offence (was done) | purā: earlier | rākṣasarājasya: to the king of demons | yaśaśvinaḥ: by the illustrious | rāmeṇa: Rama | yasya: whose | bhāryām: wife | ājahāra: (he) bore away | janasthānāt: firm janasthana?" |

TRANSLATION

"What offence was done earlier to the king of demons by the illustrious Rama, whose wife that he bore away from Janasthana?"

VERSE 14

खरो यदि अतिवृत्तस् तु रामेण निहतो रणे
अवश्यम् प्राणिनाम् प्राणा रक्षितव्या यथा बलम्

kharo yadi ativṛttas tu rāmeṇa nihato raṇe
avaśyam prāṇinām prāṇā rakṣitavyā yathā balam

SYNONYMS

kharaḥ: Khara | ativṛttaḥ: who has gone beyond his limits | nihataḥ yadi: was of course killed | rāmeṇa: by Rama | raṇe: in an encounter | prāṇāḥ: lives | avaśyam: certainly | rakṣitavyāḥ: are to be protected | yathā balam: according to one's own strength | prāṇinām: by living beings." |

TRANSLATION

"Khara, who has gone beyond limits, was of course killed by Rama in an encounter. Lives are certainly to be protected, according to one's own strength, by living beings."

VERSE 15

एतन् निमित्तम् वैदेही भयम् नः सुमहद् भवेत्
आहृता सा परित्याज्या कलह अर्थे क्र्ते न किम्

etan nimittam vaidehī bhayam naḥ sumahad bhavet
āhṛtā sā parityājyā kalaha arthe krte na kim

SYNONYMS

etan nimittam: for this reason | sumahat: a very great | vaidehī bhayam: danger because of Seetha | bhavet: will occur | naḥ: to us | : she | āhṛtā: who was brought | parityājyā: is to be given up | kim: what is the use | kṛte na: in doing anything | kalaha arthe: with an animosity as an end?. |

TRANSLATION

"For this reason, a very great danger because of Seetha will occur to us. She, who was brought here, is to be given away. What is the use in doing anything, with an animosity as an end?"

VERSE 16

न नः क्षमम् वीर्यवता तेन धर्म अनुवर्तिना
वैरम् निरर्थकम् कर्तुम् दीयताम् अस्य मैथिली

na naḥ kṣamam vīryavatā tena dharma anuvartinā
vairam nirarthakam kartum dīyatām asya maithilī

SYNONYMS

na naḥ kṣamam: It is not appropriate | kartum: to make | vairam: enmity | nirarthakam: uselessly | tena: with Rama | vīryavatā: who is valiant | dharma anuvartinā: and who follows | righteousness: maithilii = (let) Seetha | dīyatām: be given away | asya: to him. |

TRANSLATION

"It is not appropriate to make enmity uselessly with Rama, who is valiant and who follows righteousness. Let Seetha be given away to him."

VERSE 17

यावन् सगजाम् साश्वाम् बहु रत्न समाकुलाम्
पुरीम् दारयते बाणैर् दीयताम् अस्य मैथिली

yāvan sagajām sāśvām bahu ratna samākulām
purīm dārayate bāṇair dīyatām asya maithilī

SYNONYMS

yāvan: before | purīm: the city of Lanka | sagajām: along with elephants | sāśvām: with horses | bahu ratna samākulām: and filled with many riches | dārayate: are shattered | maithilī: (let) Seetha | dīyatām: be given away | asya: to him. |

TRANSLATION

Before the City of Lanka with its elephants, horses and many riches are shattered by arrows, let Seetha be given away to him."

VERSE 18

यावत् सुघोरा महती दुर्धर्षा हरि वाहिनी
न अवस्कन्दति नो लंकाम् तावत् सीता प्रदीयताम्

yāvat sughorā mahatī durdharṣā hari vāhinī
na avaskandati no laṃkām tāvat sītā pradīyatām

SYNONYMS

na yāvat tāvat: not so long as | mahatī: the huge | harivāhinī: army of monkeys | sughorā: which is very dangerous | durdharṣā: and unconquerable | nāvaskandati: attacks | naḥ: our | laṃkām: Lanka | sītā: (let) Seetha | pradīyatām: be given away. |

TRANSLATION

"Not so long as the huge army of monkeys which is very dangerous and unconquerable attacks our Lanka, let Seetha be given away."

VERSE 19

विनश्येद्द् हि पुरी लंका शूराः सर्वे च आक्षसाः
रामस्य दयिता पत्नी न स्वयम् यदि दीयते

vinaśyedd hi purī laṃkā śūrāḥ sarve ca ākṣasāḥ
rāmasya dayitā patnī na svayam yadi dīyate

SYNONYMS

dayitā: (If) the beloved | patnī: wife | rāmasya: of Rama | na dīyate yadi: is not given away | svayam: of your own accord | laṃkā purī: the City of Lanka | vinśyet hi: will indeed | sarve: all | śūrāḥ: the valiant | rākṣasāśca: demons too(will perish). |

TRANSLATION

"If the beloved wife of Rama is not given away of your own accord, the city of Lanka will indeed perish. All our valiant demons too will Perish."

VERSE 20

प्रसादये त्वाम् बन्धुत्वात् कुरुष्व वचनम् मम
हितम् पथ्यम् त्व् अहम् ब्रूमि दीयताम् अस्य मैथिली

prasādaye tvām bandhutvāt kuruṣva vacanam mama
hitam pathyam tv aham brūmi dīyatām asya maithilī

SYNONYMS

prasādaye: I am propitiating | tvām: you | bandhutvāt: because of my relationship | kuruṣva: act on | mama: my | vacanam: words | aham: I | brūmi: am telling | hitam: the beneficial | tvaham tu: and the truthful (word) | maithilī: (let) Seetha | dīyatām: be given away | asya: to him. |

TRANSLATION

"I am propitiating you because of my relationship. Act on my words. I am telling you beneficial as well as truthful word. Let Seetha be given away to him."

VERSE 21

पुरा शरत् सूर्य मरीच्चि सम्निभान्
नव अग्र पुन्खान् सुदृढान् नृप आत्मजः
सृजति अमोघान् विशिखान् वधाय ते
प्रदीयताम् दाशरथाय मैथिली

purā śarat sūrya marīcci samnibhān
nava agra punkhān sudṛḍhān nṛpa ātmajaḥ
sṛjati amoghān viśikhān vadhāya te
pradīyatām dāśarathāya maithilī

SYNONYMS

purā: before | nṛpa ātmajaḥ: Rama the prince | sṛjati: discharges | te vadhāya te: for your destruction | sudṛḍhān: very strong | viśikhān: arrows | śarat sūrya marīcci samnibhān: equal to the rays of autumnal sun | amoghān: which are unfailing | maithilī: (let) Seetha | pradīyatām: be given away | dāśarathāya: to Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"Before Rama the prince discharges for your destruction, very strong and unfailing arrows equal to the rays of autumnal sun and provided with new heads and shafts, let Seetha be given away to Rama."

VERSE 22

त्यजस्व कोपम् सुख धर्म नाशनम्
भजस्व धर्मम् रति कीर्ति वर्धनम्
प्रसीद जीवेम सपुत्र बान्धवाः
प्रदीयताम् दाशरथाय मैथिली

tyajasva kopam sukha dharma nāśanam
bhajasva dharmam rati kīrti vardhanam
prasīda jīvema saputra bāndhavāḥ
pradīyatām dāśarathāya maithilī

SYNONYMS

tyaja: abandon | āśu: soon | kopam: anger | sukha dharma nāśanam: which destroys | bhajasva: resort to | dharmam: righteousness | rati kīrti vardhanam: which augments joy and fame | prasīda: become placid | jīvema: we shall live | saputra bāndhavāḥ: with our sons and relatives | maithilī: (let) Seetha | pradīyatām: be given away | dāśarathāya: to Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"Abandon soon your anger, which destroys happiness and piety. Resort to righteousness, which augments joy and fame. Become placid so that we may live with our sons and relatives. Let Seetha be given away to Rama."

VERSE 23

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामयणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे नवमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmayaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe navamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: having | vibhīṣaṇaḥ vacaḥ: Vibhishana's words | rāvaṇaḥ: Ravana | rākṣaseśvaraḥ: the king of demons | visarjayitvā: left | sarvān: all | tān: of them | praviveśa: and entered | svakam: his own | gṛham: house. |

TRANSLATION

After hearing Vibhishana's words, Ravana the king of demons left all of them and entered his own palace.