Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 24 of 128 · 44 verses
Before Lanka; Shuka’s Report
The army, arranged by the king, shines like an autumn full-moon night with its stars; the earth shakes under its weight. From Lanka come the sounds of drums and kettledrums; the monkeys roar back louder, and the rakshasas hear them like thundering clouds. Seeing Lanka with its bright banners, Rama thinks of Sita with an aching heart: here the fawn-eyed one is held by Ravana, like Rohini afflicted by the red planet. He points the city out to Lakshmana: built on the mountain top by Vishvakarman as if by thought, crowded with mansions like the sky with white clouds, adorned with flowering woods loud with birds.
He divides the army by the rules of the treatises: Angada and Nila at the centre, Rishabha on the right flank, Gandhamadana on the left, Rama himself with Lakshmana at the head, Jambavan, Sushena and Vegadarshi guarding the middle, and Sugriva the rear, as Varuna guards the west. The monkeys come up to Lanka carrying peaks and trees, resolved to scatter it with peaks or even with their fists. Rama has Shuka released.
Battered and terrified, Shuka returns to Ravana, who laughs: why are your wings tied? Did you fall into their hands? Shuka reports: he spoke the message gently on the northern shore, but the monkeys seized him at once and began to beat him; they cannot be talked to, being angry and fierce by nature. Rama, slayer of Viradha, Kabandha and Khara, has come with Sugriva on Sita’s track, built a bridge over the sea, crossed it, and stands bow in hand; thousands of divisions of bears and monkeys, like mountains and clouds, cover the earth. There can be no peace between the two armies, any more than between gods and danavas. Before they reach the walls, choose quickly: give Sita back, or give battle. Ravana, eyes red with rage, answers: even if gods, gandharvas and danavas fight me, I will not give up Sita, even for fear of all the worlds. When will my arrows swarm on Raghava like bees on a flowering tree in spring? I will burn him with blazing arrows as one burns an elephant with torches. Rama does not know my speed or strength, or my arrows like poisonous snakes; that is why he wants to fight me. I will play on the great stage of battle the vina of my bow, its strings the bowstring, its music the cries of the wounded. Neither Indra, nor Varuna, nor Yama, nor Kubera can overcome me.
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सा वीरसमिती राज्ञा विरराज व्यवस्थिता । शशिना शुभनक्षत्रा पौर्णमासीव शारदी ॥ १ ॥
That assembly of heroes, arranged by the king, shone like an autumn full-moon night with the moon and lovely stars.
Commentary on the whole sarga
Before Lanka; Shuka’s Report 1 min read.
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प्रचचाल च वेगेन त्रस्ता चैव वसुंधरा । पीड्यमाना बलौघेन तेन सागरवर्चसा ॥ २ ॥
And the earth shook with force, frightened, pressed by that mass of troops, with the splendour of the ocean.
ततः शुश्रुवुराक्रुष्टं लङ्कायां काननौकसः । भेरीमृदङ्गसंघुष्टं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ॥ ३ ॥
Then the forest-dwellers heard from Lanka a tumultuous, hair-raising clamour, sounding with kettledrums and drums.
बभूवुस्तेन घोषेण संहृष्टा हरियूथपाः । अमृष्यमाणास्तद् घोषं विनेदुर्घोषवत्तरम् ॥ ४ ॥
At that sound the leaders of the monkey troops were thrilled; not bearing that sound, they roared with a louder sound.
राक्षसास्तत् प्लवंगानां शुश्रुवुस्तेऽपि गर्जितम् । नर्दतामिव दृप्तानां मेघानामम्बरे स्वनम् ॥ ५ ॥
And the rakshasas heard that roaring of the leapers, like the sound of proud clouds thundering in the sky.
दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम् । जगाम मनसा सीतां दूूयमानेन चेतसा ॥ ६ ॥
Seeing Lanka with its bright flags and banners, the son of Dasharatha went in his mind to Sita with an aching heart:
अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी रावणेनोपरुध्यते । अभिभूता ग्रहेणेव लोहिताङ्गेन रोहिणी ॥ ७ ॥
“Here that fawn-eyed one is held captive by Ravana, like Rohini overpowered by the red-bodied planet.”
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य समुद्वीक्ष्य च लक्ष्मणम् । उवाच वचनं वीरस्तत्कालहितमात्मनः ॥ ८ ॥
Sighing long and hot and looking at Lakshmana, the hero spoke words timely for himself:
आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थितां पश्य लक्ष्मण । मनसेव कृतां लङ्कां नगाग्रे विश्वकर्मणा ॥ ९ ॥
“See, Lakshmana, Lanka rising as if scratching the sky, as if made by Vishvakarman with his mind on the mountain top.
विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्का संकीर्णा रचिता पुरा । विष्णोः पदमिवाकाशं छादितं पाण्डुभिर्घनैः ॥ १० ॥
“Lanka was built long ago crowded with many mansions, like the sky, the footstep of Vishnu, covered with white clouds.
पुष्पितैः शोभिता लङ्का वनैश्चित्ररथोपमैः । नानापतगसंघुष्टफलपुष्पोपगैः शुभैः ॥ ११ ॥
“Lanka is adorned with flowering woods like Citraratha’s, loud with many birds, lovely, full of fruit and flowers.
पश्य मत्तविहंगानि प्रलीनभ्रमराणि च । कोकिलाकुलखण्डानि दोधवीति शिवोऽनिलः ॥ १२ ॥
“See: the birds are excited, the bees hidden in the blossoms, the groves full of cuckoos; a kind wind is shaking them.”
इति दाशरथी रामो लक्ष्मणं समभाषत । बलं च तत्र विभजच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥ १३ ॥
So Rama, son of Dasharatha, spoke to Lakshmana, and divided the army there by the method seen in the treatises.
शशास कपिसेनां तां बलादादाय वीर्यवान् । अङ्गदः सह नीलेन तिष्ठेदुरसि दुर्जयः ॥ १४ ॥
The valiant one, taking command of the monkey army, directed: “Let unconquerable Angada stand at the chest with Nila.
तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्या वानरौघसमावृतः । आश्रितो दक्षिणं पार्श्वमृषभो नाम वानरः ॥ १५ ॥
“Let the monkey named Rishabha stand, surrounded by a flood of monkeys, keeping to the right flank of the monkey army.
गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः । तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यं पार्श्वमधिष्ठितः ॥ १६ ॥
“Let swift Gandhamadana, unassailable as a scent-elephant, stand stationed on the left flank of the monkey army.
मूर्ध्नि स्थास्याम्यहं यत्तो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः । जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः ॥ १७ ॥
“I will stand at the head, alert, accompanied by Lakshmana. Jambavan, Sushena and the monkey Vegadarshi,
ऋक्षमुख्या महात्मानः कुक्षिं रक्षन्तु ते त्रयः । जघनं कपिसेनायाः कपिराजोऽभिरक्षतु । पश्चार्धमिव लोकस्य प्रचेतास्तेजसा वृतः ॥ १८ ॥
“the great-souled chiefs of the bears, let those three guard the middle. Let the king of the monkeys guard the rear of the monkey army, as Pracetas, wrapped in splendour, guards the western half of the world.”
सुविभक्तमहाव्यूहा महावानररक्षिता । अनीकिनी सा विबभौ यथा द्यौः साभ्रसम्प्लवा ॥ १९ ॥
Its great array well divided, guarded by great monkeys, that army shone like the sky with a flood of clouds.
प्रगृह्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महतश्च महीरुहान् । आसेदुर्वानरा लङ्कां मिमर्दयिषवो रणे ॥ २० ॥
Taking mountain peaks and great trees, the monkeys came up to Lanka, wanting to crush it in battle.
शिखरैर्विकिरामैनां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा । इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरिपुङ्गवाः ॥ २१ ॥
“Let us scatter this Lanka with peaks, or even with our fists”: so all the bulls among monkeys set their minds.
ततो रामो महातेजाः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत् । सुविभक्तानि सैन्यानि शुक एष विमुच्यताम् ॥ २२ ॥
Then radiant Rama said to Sugriva: “The armies are well divided; let Shuka be released.”
रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रो महाबलः । मोचयामास तं दूतं शुकं रामस्य शासनात् ॥ २३ ॥
Hearing Rama’s words, the mighty king of the monkeys released the messenger Shuka at Rama’s command.
मोचितो रामवाक्येन वानरैश्च निपीडितः । शुकः परमसंत्रस्तो रक्षोधिपमुपागमत् ॥ २४ ॥
Released at Rama’s word, and battered by the monkeys, Shuka, greatly terrified, went to the lord of the rakshasas.
रावणः प्रहसन्नेव शुकं वाक्यमुवाच ह । किमिमौ ते सितौ पक्षौ लूनपक्षश्च दृश्यसे ॥ २५ ॥
Ravana, laughing, said to Shuka: “Why are these wings of yours tied? You look as if your wings were torn.
कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानां तेषां त्वं वशमागतः । ततः स भयसंविग्नस्तेन राज्ञाभिचोदितः । वचनं प्रत्युवाचेदं राक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम् ॥ २६ ॥
“I hope you did not fall into the power of those fickle-minded ones?” Then, shaking with fear, urged by the king, he gave this excellent reply to the lord of the rakshasas:
सागरस्योत्तरे तीरेऽब्रुवं ते वचनं तथा । यथा संदेशमक्लिष्टं सान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥ २७ ॥
“On the northern shore of the ocean I spoke your words just as instructed, unflustered, soothing them with a gentle voice.
क्रुद्धैस्तैरहमुत्प्लुत्य दृष्टमात्रः प्लवंगमैः । गृहीतोऽस्म्यपि चारब्धो हन्तुं लोप्तुं च मुष्टिभिः ॥ २८ ॥
“As soon as I was seen, the angry leapers sprang up, seized me, and began to beat me and tear me with their fists.
न ते संभाषितुं शक्याः सम्प्रश्नोऽत्र न विद्यते । प्रकृत्या कोपनास्तीक्ष्णा वानरा राक्षसाधिप ॥ २९ ॥
“They cannot be spoken with; there is no questioning here. Monkeys are irritable and fierce by nature, lord of the rakshasas.
स च हन्ता विराधस्य कबन्धस्य खरस्य च । सुग्रीवसहितो रामः सीतायाः पदमागतः ॥ ३० ॥
“And he who killed Viradha, Kabandha and Khara, Rama, with Sugriva, has come on Sita’s track.
स कृत्वा सागरे सेतुं तीर्त्वा च लवणोदधिम् । एष रक्षांसि निर्धूय धन्वी तिष्ठति राघवः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Having built a bridge in the ocean and crossed the salt sea, Raghava stands here, bow in hand, having shaken off the rakshasas.
ऋक्षवानरसङ्घानामनीकानि सहस्रशः । गिरिमेघनिकाशानां छादयन्ति वसुंधराम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“Thousands of divisions of the hosts of bears and monkeys, like mountains and clouds, are covering the earth.
राक्षसानां बलौघस्य वानरेन्द्रबलस्य च । नैतयोर्विद्यते संधिर्देवदानवयोरिव ॥ ३३ ॥
“Between the mass of the rakshasas’ forces and the forces of the lord of monkeys there can be no peace, as between gods and danavas.
पुरा प्राकारमायान्ति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु । सीतां चास्मै प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम् ॥ ३४ ॥
“Before they come to the wall, quickly do one of two things: give Sita to him at once, or let battle be given.”
शुकस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । रोषसंरक्तनयनो निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा ॥ ३५ ॥
Hearing Shuka’s words, Ravana, his eyes red with rage, said, as if burning with his gaze:
यदि मां प्रति युद्धेरन् देवगन्धर्वदानवाः । नैव सीतां प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि ॥ ३६ ॥
“Even if gods, gandharvas and danavas fought against me, I would not give up Sita, even for fear of all the worlds.
कदा समभिधावन्त मामका राघवं शराः । वसन्ते पुष्पितं मत्ता भ्रमरा इव पादपम् ॥ ३७ ॥
“When will my arrows rush on Raghava, like bees drunk with honey on a flowering tree in spring?
कदा शोणितदिग्धाङ्गं दीप्तैः कार्मुकविच्युतैः । शरैरादीपयिष्यामि उल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम् ॥ ३८ ॥
“When will I set him ablaze, his body smeared with blood, with blazing arrows loosed from my bow, as one sets an elephant ablaze with torches?
तच्चास्य बलमादास्ये बलेन महता वृतः । ज्योतिषामिव सर्वेषां प्रभामुद्यन् दिवाकरः ॥ ३९ ॥
“Surrounded by a great army, I will take away his army, as the rising sun takes away the light of all the stars.
सागरस्येव मे वेगो मारुतस्येव मे बलम् । न च दाशरथिर्वेद तेन मां योद्धुमिच्छति ॥ ४० ॥
“My speed is like the ocean’s, my strength like the wind’s; and Dasharatha’s son does not know it; that is why he wants to fight me.
न मे तूणीशयान् बाणान् सविषानिव पन्नगान् । रामः पश्यति संग्रामे तेन मां योद्धुमिच्छति ॥ ४१ ॥
“Rama does not see in battle my arrows lying in their quivers like venomous snakes; that is why he wants to fight me.
न जानाति पुरा वीर्यं मम युद्धे स राघवः । मम चापमयीं वीणां शरकोणैः प्रवादिताम् ॥ ४२ ॥
“That Raghava does not yet know my valour in battle. My vina made of the bow, played with the plectrums of my arrows,
ज्याशब्दतुमुलां घोरामार्तगीतमहास्वनाम् । नाराचतलसंनादां नदीमहितवाहिनीम् । अवगाह्य महारङ्गं वादयिष्याम्यहं रणे ॥ ४३ ॥
“tumultuous with the sound of the bowstring, terrible, with the great sound of the songs of the wounded, with the resounding of iron arrows on the palm, a river carrying the enemy: plunging into that great stage, I will play it in battle.
न वासवेनापि सहस्रचक्षुषा युद्धेऽस्मि शक्यो वरुणेन वा स्वयम् । यमेन वा धर्षयितुं शराग्निना महाहवे वैश्रवणेन वा पुनः ॥ ४४ ॥
“Not by thousand-eyed Vasava, nor by Varuna himself, nor by Yama with his fire of arrows, nor again by Vaishravana, can I be overcome in battle in the great war.”