Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 11 of 128 · 31 verses
The Great Assembly
Ravana has grown thin, infatuated with Maithili and disregarding his well-wishers. Now that the time he set has passed and war is near, he decides the moment has come to consult his ministers and friends. He mounts his great chariot, netted with gold and adorned with jewels and coral, and rides to the assembly hall, preceded by armed rakshasas with swords and shields, flanked by warriors in strange costumes, followed by chariots, rutting elephants and prancing horses, with a thousand instruments and conches sounding. A white umbrella like the full moon is held over him; yak-tail fans of crystal and gold wave at his sides; the rakshasas on the ground bow their heads to him and bless him with victory.
The hall, built by Vishvakarman, floored with gold and silver, lined with crystal, guarded by six hundred pishachas, shines always. Ravana takes his lapis throne covered with deerskin and sends swift messengers to summon the rakshasas: there is great business to discuss concerning the enemy. They come from houses, pleasure grounds and gardens, by chariot, elephant, horse and on foot, leave their mounts, enter the hall like lions entering a mountain cave, touch the king’s feet and sit on stools, cushions or the floor. Ministers expert in policy and capable counsellors gather by the hundred. Vibhishana arrives in his chariot, gives his name and bows at his elder brother’s feet; Shuka and Prahasta give each their proper seats. The hall is fragrant with aloe, sandal and garlands; no one shouts, no one speaks falsely or loudly; all, fierce and successful, look at their master’s face. Ravana shines among them like Indra among the Vasus.
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स बभूव कृशो राजा मैथिलीकाममोहितः । असन्मानाच्च सुहृदां पापः पापेन कर्मणा ॥ १ ॥
The king had grown thin, deluded by desire for Maithili; through disregard of his friends, the evil one by his evil deed.
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The Great Assembly 1 min read.
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अतीव कामसम्पन्नो वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन् । अतीतसमये काले तस्मिन् वै युधि रावणः । अमात्यैश्च सुहृद्भिश्च प्राप्तकालममन्यत ॥ २ ॥
Overcome by desire, thinking only of Vaidehi, when the time had passed and war was at hand, Ravana thought the time had come to consult his ministers and friends.
स हेमजालविततं मणिविद्रुमभूषितम् । उपगम्य विनीताश्वमारुरोह महारथम् ॥ ३ ॥
He went up to his great chariot, hung with nets of gold, adorned with gems and coral, its horses well trained, and mounted it.
तमास्थाय रथश्रेष्ठं महामेघसमस्वनम् । प्रययौ रक्षसां श्रेष्ठो दशग्रीवः सभां प्रति ॥ ४ ॥
Mounting that best of chariots, rumbling like a great cloud, Ten-necked, best of rakshasas, set out for the assembly.
असिचर्मधरा योधाः सर्वायुधधरास्ततः । राक्षसा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पुरस्तात् सम्प्रतस्थिरे ॥ ५ ॥
Warriors bearing swords and shields, bearing every kind of weapon, rakshasas, went in front of the king of the rakshasas.
नानाविकृतवेषाश्च नानाभूषणभूषिताः । पार्श्वतः पृष्ठतश्चैनं परिवार्य ययुस्तदा ॥ ६ ॥
In many strange costumes, adorned with many ornaments, they surrounded him at the sides and behind as he went.
रथैश्चातिरथाः शीघ्रं मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः । अनूत्पेतुर्दशग्रीवमाक्रीडद्भिश्च वाजिभिः ॥ ७ ॥
Great chariot-warriors in chariots, and on fine rutting elephants and prancing horses, quickly followed Ten-necked.
गदापरिघहस्ताश्च शक्तितोमरपाणयः । परश्वधधराश्चान्ये तथान्ये शूलपाणयः । ततस्तूर्यसहस्राणं संजज्ञे निःस्वनो महान् ॥ ८ ॥
With maces and iron bars in their hands, with spears and lances in their hands, others bearing axes and others tridents. Then a great noise of thousands of instruments arose,
तुमुलः शङ्खशब्दश्च सभां गच्छति रावणे । स नेमिघोषेण महान् सहसाभिनिनादयन् ॥ ९ ॥
and a tumultuous sound of conches, as Ravana went to the assembly. The great chariot, suddenly resounding with the rumble of its wheels,
राजमार्गं श्रिया जुष्टं प्रतिपेदे महारथः । विमलं चातपत्रं च प्रगृहीतमशोभत ॥ १० ॥
reached the royal road, rich in splendour. And the spotless umbrella held over him shone,
पाण्डुरं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पूर्णस्ताराधिपो यथा । हेममञ्जरिगर्भे च शुद्धस्फटिकविग्रहे ॥ ११ ॥
white, over the king of the rakshasas, like the full lord of stars. And the two yak-tail fans, with golden sprays inside, their handles of pure crystal,
चामरव्यजने तस्य रेजतुः सव्यदक्षिणे । ते कृताञ्जलयः सर्वे रथस्थं पृथिवीस्थिताः ॥ १२ ॥
shone on his left and right. All the rakshasas standing on the ground with joined palms
राक्षसा राक्षसश्रेष्ठं शिरोभिस्तं ववन्दिरे । राक्षसैः स्तूयमानः सञ्जयाशीर्भिररिंदमः ॥ १३ ॥
bowed their heads to that best of rakshasas standing in his chariot. Praised by the rakshasas with blessings of victory, the tamer of enemies,
आससाद महातेजाः सभां विरचितां तदा । सुवर्णरजतास्तीर्णां विशुद्धस्फटिकान्तराम् ॥ १४ ॥
radiant, came then to the well-built assembly hall, spread with gold and silver, its interior of pure crystal,
विराजमानो वपुषा रुक्मपट्टोत्तरच्छदाम् । तां पिशाचशतैः षड्भिरभिगुप्तां सदाप्रभाम् ॥ १५ ॥
shining with beauty, its upper hangings of golden cloth, guarded by six hundred pishachas, always shining:
प्रविवेश महातेजाः सुकृतां विश्वकर्मणा । तस्यां तु वैदूर्यमयं प्रियकाजिनसंवृतम् ॥ १६ ॥
the radiant one entered that hall, well made by Vishvakarman. In it, made of lapis, covered with fine antelope skin,
महत्सोपाश्रयं भेजे रावणः परमासनम् । ततः शशासेश्वरवद्दूताँल्लघुपराक्रमान् ॥ १७ ॥
a great throne with a back-rest: Ravana took that highest seat. Then he commanded, like a lord, his swift messengers:
समानयत मे क्षिप्रमिहैतान् राक्षसानिति । कृत्यमस्ति महज्जाने कर्तव्यमिति शत्रुभिः ॥ १८ ॥
“Quickly bring these rakshasas here to me. I know there is great business to be done concerning the enemy.”
राक्षसास्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा लङ्कायां परिचक्रमुः । अनुगेहमवस्थाय विहारशयनेषु च । उद्यानेषु च रक्षांसि चोदयन्तो ह्यभीतवत् ॥ १९ ॥
Hearing his words, the rakshasas went round Lanka, going to each house, to pleasure grounds and bedrooms, and to gardens, urging the rakshasas fearlessly.
ते रथान्तचरा एके दृप्तानेके दृढान् हयान् । नागानेकेऽधिरुरुहुर्जग्मुश्चैके पदातयः ॥ २० ॥
Some of them went in chariots, some on proud, strong horses, some mounted elephants, and some went on foot.
सा पुरी परमाकीर्णा रथकुञ्जरवाजिभिः । सम्पतद्भिर्विरुरुचे गरुत्मद्भिरिवाम्बरम् ॥ २१ ॥
That city, thronged with chariots, elephants and horses rushing along, shone like the sky with birds flying.
ते वाहनान्यवस्थाय यानानि विविधानि च । सभां पद्भिः प्रविविशुः सिंहा गिरिगुहामिव ॥ २२ ॥
Leaving their mounts and vehicles of many kinds, they entered the hall on foot, like lions a mountain cave.
राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु राज्ञा ते प्रतिपूजिताः । पीठेष्वन्ये बृसीष्वन्ये भूमौ केचिदुपाविशन् ॥ २३ ॥
Touching the king’s feet and honoured in turn by the king, some sat on stools, some on cushions, some on the ground.
ते समेत्य सभायां वै राक्षसा राजशासनात् । यथार्हमुपतस्थुस्ते रावणं राक्षसाधिपम् ॥ २४ ॥
Gathered in the assembly at the king’s command, the rakshasas attended on Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, each as was fitting.
मन्त्रिणश्च यथामुख्या निश्चितार्थेषु पण्डिताः । अमात्याश्च गुणोपेताः सर्वज्ञा बुद्धिदर्शनाः ॥ २५ ॥
And the ministers, in order of rank, learned in settled matters, and counsellors endowed with virtues, all-knowing, of clear understanding,
समीयुस्तत्र शतशः शूराश्च बहवस्तथा । सभायां हेमवर्णायां सर्वार्थस्य सुखाय वै ॥ २६ ॥
gathered there by the hundred, and many heroes too, in the golden hall, for the good of every cause.
ततो महात्मा विपुलं सुयुग्यं रथं वरं हेमविचित्रिताङ्गम् । शुभं समास्थाय ययौ यशस्वी विभीषणः संसदमग्रजस्य ॥ २७ ॥
Then the great-souled, glorious Vibhishana, mounting a great, well-yoked, fine chariot, its parts decorated with gold, went to his elder brother’s assembly.
स पूर्वजायावरजः शशंस नामाथ पश्चाच्चरणौ ववन्दे । शुकः प्रहस्तश्च तथैव तेभ्यो ददौ यथार्हं पृथगासनानि ॥ २८ ॥
The younger announced his name to the elder and then bowed at his feet. Shuka and Prahasta likewise gave them separate seats, as each deserved.
सुवर्णनानामणिभूषणानां सुवाससां संसदि राक्षसानाम् । तेषां परार्घ्यागुरुचन्दनानां स्रजां च गन्धाः प्रववुः समन्तात् ॥ २९ ॥
In that assembly of rakshasas, adorned with gold and many gems, finely dressed, the scents of their costly aloe and sandal and of their garlands spread all round.
न चुक्रुशुर्नानृतमाह कश्चित् सभासदो नापि जजल्पुरुच्चैः । संसिद्धार्थाः सर्व एवोग्रवीर्या भर्तुः सर्वे ददृशुश्चाननं ते ॥ ३० ॥
The members of the assembly did not shout, nor did anyone speak falsely, nor did they talk loudly; all of them, fierce in valour, their purposes accomplished, gazed at their master’s face.
स रावणः शस्त्रभृतां मनस्विनां महाबलानां समितौ मनस्वी । तस्यां सभायां प्रभया चकाशे मध्ये वसूनामिव वज्रहस्तः ॥ ३१ ॥
In that gathering of high-minded, mighty bearers of arms, high-minded Ravana shone in that hall with his splendour, like the wielder of the thunderbolt in the midst of the Vasus.