Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 101 of 128 · 56 verses
Hanuman Brings the Peak; Lakshmana Revives
Seeing heroic Lakshmana struck down by mighty Ravana’s spear, drenched in blood, Rama, still fighting fiercely and loosing arrows, says to Sushena: here lies Lakshmana, felled by Ravana’s might, writhing like a snake, stirring my grief. Seeing this hero, dearer to me than life, wet with blood, how can I fight, distraught as I am? If my brother, of auspicious marks, who glories in battle, has met his death, what use are life and happiness to me? My valour seems ashamed; the bow seems to slip from my hand; my arrows sink; my sight is lost in tears; my limbs grow heavy as in a dream; fierce anxiety grows, and the wish to die rises in me. Seeing his dear brother, his own breath walking outside his body, struck in the vitals, groaning in pain, Raghava, plunged in grief and brooding, laments with confused senses: victory itself brings me no joy; what pleasure can a moon give that the eyes cannot see? What use are war and life to me when Lakshmana lies killed at the head of battle? As he followed me when I went to the forest, so I will follow him to Yama’s realm. He loved his kin and always followed me, and he has been brought to this by rakshasas who fight with tricks. In every land there are wives, and in every land kinsmen, but I see no land where there is a brother born of the same mother. What use is the kingdom to me without unconquerable Lakshmana? How will I speak to mother Sumitra, who loves her son? I could not bear her reproach. What will I say to my mother Kausalya, to Kaikeyi, to Bharata and mighty Shatrughna: “I went to the forest with him; how have I come back without him?” Better to die here than face my kin’s blame. What evil did I do in another birth, that my righteous brother, standing before me, has been killed? Alas, brother, best of men, foremost of heroes, lord, why do you leave me alone and go to the other world? Why do you not answer me as I lament? Rise and look; why do you lie there? Look at me in my misery with your eyes. You were my comforter, mighty-armed one, when I wandered grieving and distracted in mountains and forests.
Comforting Rama, whose senses are confused by grief, Sushena says: give up this thought that brings weakness, tiger among men, this grief-born anxiety, like arrows at the front of the army. Lakshmana, increaser of glory, has not died. His face is not changed, nor has it darkened; see how bright and clear it is; his palms are like lotus petals and his eyes very clear. Such is not the look of those whose life has gone, lord of men. Do not despair, hero; he is alive, tamer of foes. His heart, still breathing and trembling again and again as he lies asleep on the ground with limbs relaxed, tells it. Then the very wise Sushena says to the great monkey Hanuman standing near: gentle one, go quickly from here to Mount Mahodaya, which Jambavan told you of before, hero, and bring the great herb growing on its southern peak: the one called Vishalyakarani, and Savarnyakarani, Samjivakarani and the great herb Samdhani; bring them to revive heroic Lakshmana. Hanuman goes to the mountain of herbs, but, not recognising the great herbs, he is perplexed. Then the son of the Wind, of boundless strength, thinks: I will take this very peak of the mountain and go; I guess that the herb that brings well-being grows on this peak, for Sushena said so. If I go back without the Vishalyakarani, there will be fault in the loss of time and great distress. Thinking so, he quickly reaches the best of mountains, shakes its top three times, tears off the peak with its groves of flowering trees, balances it in his hands, and flies up from the earth holding it like a dark cloud full of water. Arriving at great speed, setting down the peak and resting a little, he tells Sushena: I did not recognise those herbs, bull among monkeys, so I have brought you the whole peak of that mountain. Praising the son of the Wind, Sushena plucks the herbs, and all the monkeys are amazed at Hanuman’s deed, hard even for the gods. Crushing the herb, radiant Sushena gives it to Lakshmana through the nose; smelling it, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, is freed of the dart and of pain and rises quickly from the ground. Delighted, the monkeys honour him, crying “Well done! Well done!” Rama says “Come, come!” and embraces Lakshmana tightly, eyes full of tears: by good fortune, hero, I see you come back from death. I have no use for life, or Sita, or victory; what use is life to me if you have died? Weary, in a faint voice, Lakshmana answers: having made that vow before, you of true valour, you should not speak like this, like some weak, spiritless man. Speakers of truth do not make their vows false; keeping one’s vow is the mark of greatness. You must not fall into despair on my account, sinless one; fulfil your vow today by killing Ravana. Your enemy, having come within the range of your arrows, will not go away alive, as a great elephant does not escape a roaring, sharp-toothed lion. I want this evil one killed quickly, before the sun, its work done, goes down. If you wish to kill Ravana in battle, if you wish your vow fulfilled, if you long for the king’s daughter, noble hero, do as I say quickly today.
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शक्त्या निपातितं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन बलीयसा । लक्ष्मणं समरे शूरं शोणितौघपरिप्लुतम् ॥ १ ॥
Seeing heroic Lakshmana struck down in battle by the spear of very mighty Ravana, flooded with streams of blood,
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Hanuman Brings the Peak; Lakshmana Revives 1 min read.
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स दत्त्वा तुमुलं युद्धं रावणस्य दुरात्मनः । विसृजन्नेव बाणौघान् सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ २ ॥
he, giving tumultuous battle to evil-souled Ravana and still loosing floods of arrows, said this to Sushena:
एष रावणवीर्येण लक्ष्मणः पतितो भुवि । सर्पवच्चेष्टते वीरो मम शोकमुदीरयन् ॥ ३ ॥
“This Lakshmana, fallen on the ground by Ravana’s might, the hero, writhes like a serpent, stirring my grief.
शोणितार्द्रमिमं वीरं प्राणैः प्रियतरं मम । पश्यतो मम का शक्तिर्योद्धुं पर्याकुलात्मनः ॥ ४ ॥
“Seeing this hero, dearer to me than life, wet with blood, what power have I to fight, my soul in turmoil?
अयं स समरश्लाघी भ्राता मे शुभलक्षणः । यदि पञ्चत्वमापन्नः प्राणैर्मे किं सुखेन वा ॥ ५ ॥
“If this brother of mine of auspicious marks, who glories in battle, has gone to death, what use to me are life or happiness?
लज्जतीव हि मे वीर्यं भ्रश्यतीव कराद् धनुः । सायका व्यवसीदन्ति दृष्टिर्बाष्पवशं गता ॥ ६ ॥
“My valour seems ashamed; the bow seems to slip from my hand; the arrows sink; my sight has fallen under the power of tears.
अवसीदन्ति गात्राणि स्वप्नयाने नृणामिव । चिन्ता मे वर्धते तीव्रा मुमूर्षापि च जायते ॥ ७ ॥
“My limbs sink as men’s do in a dream journey; fierce anxiety grows in me, and the wish to die arises.”
भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन दुरात्मना । विष्टनन्तं तु दुःखार्तं मर्मण्यभिहतं भृशम् ॥ ८ ॥
Seeing his brother struck down by evil-souled Ravana, groaning, afflicted with pain, struck hard in a vital place,
राघवो भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा प्रियं प्राणं बहिश्चरम् । दुःखेन महताविष्टो ध्यानशोकपरायणः ॥ ९ ॥
Raghava, seeing his dear brother, his breath walking outside him, filled with great grief, given over to brooding and sorrow,
परं विषादमापन्नो विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः । भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं रणपांसुषु ॥ १० ॥
fallen into the greatest despair, lamented with confused senses, seeing his brother Lakshmana struck down in the dust of battle:
विजयोऽपि हि मे शूर न प्रियायोपकल्पते । अचक्षुर्विषयश्चन्द्रः कां प्रीतिं जनयिष्यति ॥ ११ ॥
“Even victory, hero, does not serve for my pleasure; what delight will the moon give when it is out of the range of the eyes?
किं मे युद्धेन किं प्राणैर्युद्धकार्यं न विद्यते । यत्रायं निहतः शेते रणमूर्धनि लक्ष्मणः ॥ १२ ॥
“What use to me is battle, what use life? There is no work of battle left, where this Lakshmana lies killed at the head of the battle.
यथैव मां वनं यान्तमनुयाति महाद्युतिः । अहमप्यनुयास्यामि तथैवैनं यमक्षयम् ॥ १३ ॥
“Just as the radiant one followed me when I went to the forest, so I too will follow him to Yama’s dwelling.
इष्टबन्धुजनो नित्यं मां स नित्यमनुव्रतः । इमामवस्थां गमितो राक्षसैः कूटयोधिभिः ॥ १४ ॥
“Always loving to his kin, always devoted to me, he has been brought to this state by rakshasas who fight with tricks.
देशे देशे कलत्राणि देशे देशे च बान्धवाः । तं तु देशं न पश्यामि यत्र भ्राता सहोदरः ॥ १५ ॥
“In land after land there are wives, in land after land kinsmen; but I see no land where there is a brother born of the same womb.
किं नु राज्येन दुर्धर्षलक्ष्मणेन विना मम । कथं वक्ष्याम्यहं त्वम्बां सुमित्रां पुत्रवत्सलाम् ॥ १६ ॥
“What use is the kingdom to me without unassailable Lakshmana? How will I speak to mother Sumitra, who loves her son?
उपालम्भं न शक्ष्यामि सोढुं दत्तं सुमित्रया । किं नु वक्ष्यामि कौसल्यां मातरं किं नु कैकयीम् ॥ १७ ॥
“I will not be able to bear the reproach given by Sumitra. What will I say to my mother Kausalya, and what to Kaikeyi?
भरतं किं नु वक्ष्यामि शत्रुघ्नं च महाबलम् । सह तेन वनं यातो विना तेनागतः कथम् ॥ १८ ॥
“What will I say to Bharata, and to mighty Shatrughna? ‘I went to the forest with him; how have I come back without him?’
इहैव मरणं श्रेयो न तु बन्धुविगर्हणम् । किं मया दुष्कृतं कर्म कृतमन्यत्र जन्मनि ॥ १९ ॥
“Death here is better, not the reproach of kin. What evil deed did I do in another birth,
येन मे धार्मिको भ्राता निहतश्चाग्रतः स्थितः । हा भ्रातर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ शूराणां प्रवर प्रभो ॥ २० ॥
“by which my righteous brother, standing in front, has been killed? Alas, brother, best of men, foremost of heroes, lord!
एकाकी किं नु मां त्यक्त्वा परलोकाय गच्छसि । विलपन्तं च मां भ्रातः किमर्थं नावभाषसे ॥ २१ ॥
“Why do you leave me alone and go to the other world? And why, brother, do you not speak to me as I lament?
उत्तिष्ठ पश्य किं शेषे दीनं मां पश्य चक्षुषा । शोकार्तस्य प्रमत्तस्य पर्वतेषु वनेषु च ॥ २२ ॥
“Rise, look! Why do you lie there? Look at wretched me with your eyes. When I was afflicted with grief and distracted in the mountains and forests,
विषण्णस्य महाबाहो समाश्वासयिता मम । राममेवं ब्रुवाणं तु शोकव्याकुलितेन्द्रियम् ॥ २३ ॥
“downcast, mighty-armed one, you were my comforter.” To Rama speaking so, his senses confused by grief,
आश्वासयन्नुवाचेदं सुषेणः परमं वचः । त्यजेमां नरशार्दूल बुद्धिं वैक्लव्यकारिणीम् ॥ २४ ॥
Sushena, comforting him, said these supreme words: “Give up this thought, tiger among men, that causes weakness,
शोकसंजननीं चिन्तां तुल्यां बाणैश्चमूमुखे । नैव पञ्चत्वमापन्नो लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः ॥ २५ ॥
“this anxiety that brings forth grief, like arrows at the head of the army. Lakshmana, increaser of glory, has not gone to death.
नह्यस्य विकृतं वक्त्रं न च श्यामत्वमागतम् । सुप्रभं च प्रसन्नं च मुखमस्य निरीक्ष्यताम् ॥ २६ ॥
“For his face is not changed, nor has it gone dark; let his face be looked at, bright and clear.
पद्मपत्रतलौ हस्तौ सुप्रसन्ने च लोचने । नेदृशं दृश्यते रूपं गतासूनां विशां पते ॥ २७ ॥
“His hands have palms like lotus petals, and his eyes are very clear; such a form is not seen in those whose life has gone, lord of the people.
विषादं मा कृथा वीर सप्राणोऽयमरिंदम । आख्याति तु प्रसुप्तस्य स्रस्तगात्रस्य भूतले ॥ २८ ॥
“Do not despair, hero; he is alive, tamer of enemies. It is told by his heart, as he lies asleep on the ground with limbs relaxed,
सोच्छ्वासं हृदयं वीर कम्पमानं मुहुर्मुहुः । एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः सुषेणो राघवं वचः ॥ २९ ॥
“breathing, hero, trembling again and again.” Having said these words to Raghava, very wise Sushena
समीपस्थमुवाचेदं हनूमन्तं महाकपिम् । सौम्य शीघ्रमितो गत्वा पर्वतं हि महोदयम् ॥ ३० ॥
said this to the great monkey Hanuman, standing near: “Gentle one, go quickly from here to Mount Mahodaya,
पूर्वं तु कथितो योऽसौ वीर जाम्बवता तव । दक्षिणे शिखरे जातां महौषधिमिहानय ॥ ३१ ॥
“of which Jambavan told you before, hero, and bring here the great herb grown on its southern peak:
विशल्यकरणीं नाम्ना सावर्ण्यकरणीं तथा । संजीवकरणीं वीर संधानीं च महौषधीम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“Vishalyakarani by name, and Savarnyakarani, and Samjivakarani, hero, and the great herb Samdhani.
संजीवनार्थं वीरस्य लक्ष्मणस्य त्वमानय । इत्येवमुक्तो हनुमान् गत्वा चौषधिपर्वतम् । चिन्तामभ्यगमच्छ्रीमानजानंस्ता महौषधीः ॥ ३३ ॥
“Bring them for the reviving of heroic Lakshmana.” Spoken to so, Hanuman, going to the mountain of herbs, glorious, fell into anxiety, not knowing those great herbs.
तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना मारुतेरमितौजसः । इदमेव गमिष्यामि गृहीत्वा शिखरं गिरेः ॥ ३४ ॥
A thought arose in the son of the Wind, of boundless energy: “I will take this very peak of the mountain and go.
अस्मिंस्तु शिखरे जातामोषधीं तां सुखावहाम् । प्रतर्केणावगच्छामि सुषेणो ह्येवमब्रवीत् ॥ ३५ ॥
“I conclude by reasoning that the herb that brings well-being has grown on this peak, for Sushena said so.
अगृह्य यदि गच्छामि विशल्यकरणीमहम् । कालात्ययेन दोषः स्याद् वैक्लव्यं च महद्भवेत् ॥ ३६ ॥
“If I go without taking the Vishalyakarani, there would be fault through the passing of time, and great distress would arise.”
इति संचिन्त्य हनुमान् गत्वा क्षिप्रं महाबलः । आसाद्य पर्वतश्रेष्ठं त्रिः प्रकम्प्य गिरेः शिरः ॥ ३७ ॥
Thinking so, mighty Hanuman went quickly, reached the best of mountains, and shook the mountain’s top three times.
फुल्लनानातरुगणं समुत्पाट्य महाबलः । गृहीत्वा हरिशार्दूलो हस्ताभ्यां समतोलयत् ॥ ३८ ॥
Tearing it off with its groves of many flowering trees, the mighty tiger among monkeys took it and balanced it in his hands.
स नीलमिव जीमूतं तोयपूर्णं नभस्तलात् । उत्पपात गृहीत्वा तु हनूमान् शिखरं गिरेः ॥ ३९ ॥
Like a dark cloud full of water from the sky, Hanuman flew up, taking the mountain’s peak.
समागम्य महावेगः संन्यस्य शिखरं गिरेः । विश्रम्य किंचिद्धनुमान् सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ४० ॥
Arriving with great speed, setting down the mountain’s peak, resting a little, Hanuman said this to Sushena:
औषधीर्नावगच्छामि ता अहं हरिपुङ्गव । तदिदं शिखरं कृत्स्नं गिरेस्तस्याहृतं मया ॥ ४१ ॥
“I do not know those herbs, bull among monkeys; so I have brought this whole peak of that mountain.”
एवं कथयमानं तु प्रशस्य पवनात्मजम् । सुषेणो वानरश्रेष्ठो जग्राहोत्पाट्य चौषधीः ॥ ४२ ॥
Praising the son of the Wind as he spoke so, Sushena, best of monkeys, plucked and took the herbs.
विस्मितास्तु बभूवुस्ते सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः । दृष्ट्वा तु हनुमत्कर्म सुरैरपि सुदुष्करम् ॥ ४३ ॥
All those bulls among monkeys were amazed, seeing Hanuman’s deed, very hard even for the gods.
ततः संक्षोदयित्वा तामोषधीं वानरोत्तमः । लक्ष्मणस्य ददौ नस्तः सुषेणः सुमहाद्युतिः ॥ ४४ ॥
Then, crushing that herb, the best of monkeys, very radiant Sushena, gave it to Lakshmana through the nose.
सशल्यः स समाघ्राय लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा । विशल्यो विरुजः शीघ्रमुदतिष्ठन्महीतलात् ॥ ४५ ॥
Smelling it, Lakshmana, slayer of enemy heroes, who had the dart in him, freed of the dart, free of pain, quickly rose from the ground.
तमुत्थितं तु हरयो भूतलात् प्रेक्ष्य लक्ष्मणम् । साधुसाध्विति सुप्रीता लक्ष्मणं प्रत्यपूजयन् ॥ ४६ ॥
Seeing that Lakshmana risen from the ground, the monkeys, greatly pleased, honoured Lakshmana, saying “Well done! Well done!”
एह्येहीत्यब्रवीद् रामो लक्ष्मणं परवीरहा । सस्वजे गाढमालिङ्गय बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः ॥ ४७ ॥
“Come, come!” said Rama, slayer of enemy heroes, to Lakshmana; he embraced him, holding him tightly, his eyes clouded with tears.
अब्रवीच्च परिष्वज्य सौमित्रिं राघवस्तदा । दिष्ट्या त्वां वीर पश्यामि मरणात् पुनरागतम् ॥ ४८ ॥
And embracing Saumitri, Raghava then said: “By good fortune, hero, I see you come back again from death.
नहि मे जीवितेनार्थः सीतया च जयेन वा । को हि मे जीवितेनार्थस्त्वयि पञ्चत्वमागते ॥ ४९ ॥
“For I have no use for life, nor for Sita, nor for victory; what use is life to me if you have gone to death?”
इत्येवं ब्रुवतस्तस्य राघवस्य महात्मनः । खिन्नः शिथिलया वाचा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ५० ॥
As great-souled Raghava spoke so, Lakshmana, wearied, in a faint voice, said these words:
तां प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिज्ञाय पुरा सत्यपराक्रम । लघुः कश्चिदिवासत्त्वो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ ५१ ॥
“Having made that vow before, you of true valour, you should not speak like this, like some light, spiritless person.
नहि प्रतिज्ञां कुर्वन्ति वितथां सत्यवादिनः । लक्षणं हि महत्त्वस्य प्रतिज्ञापरिपालनम् ॥ ५२ ॥
“For speakers of truth do not make their vow false; keeping one’s vow is the mark of greatness.
नैराश्यमुपगन्तुं च नालं ते मत्कृतेऽनघ । वधेन रावणस्याद्य प्रतिज्ञामनुपालय ॥ ५३ ॥
“Nor is it fitting for you to fall into hopelessness on my account, sinless one; keep your vow today by the killing of Ravana.
न जीवन् यास्यते शत्रुस्तव बाणपथं गतः । नर्दतस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रस्य सिंहस्येव महागजः ॥ ५४ ॥
“Your enemy, having come within the path of your arrows, will not go away alive, as a great elephant does not escape a roaring, sharp-fanged lion.
अहं तु वधमच्छामि शीघ्रमस्य दुरात्मनः । यावदस्तं न यात्येष कृतकर्मा दिवाकरः ॥ ५५ ॥
“And I want the killing of this evil-souled one quickly, before this sun, its work done, goes to its setting.
यदि वधमिच्छसि रावणस्य संख्ये यदि च कृतां हि तवेच्छसि प्रतिज्ञाम् । यदि तव राजसुताभिलाष आर्य कुरु च वचो मम शीघ्रमद्य वीर ॥ ५६ ॥
“If you wish the killing of Ravana in battle, and if you wish your vow fulfilled, if you have longing for the king’s daughter, noble one, do my bidding quickly today, hero.”