Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 31 of 128 · 45 verses
The Illusory Head
Hearing that Rama has arrived with an unshakeable army and camped on Suvela, Ravana, somewhat alarmed, calls his ministers, takes counsel, dismisses them and goes to his palace. Then he takes with him the mighty rakshasa Vidyujjihva, a master of illusion, and orders him: make an illusory head of Raghava, and bring it to me with a great bow and arrows; we will deceive Sita with this magic. Vidyujjihva does so skilfully, and the king, pleased, rewards him with an ornament.
Ravana goes to the Ashoka grove, where Sita sits on the ground, face down, thinking of her husband, guarded by terrible rakshasis. Announcing joyful news, he speaks boldly: the husband you rely on to scorn me, Raghava, killer of Khara, has been killed in battle; your root is cut and your pride destroyed. Now, in your misfortune, you will be my wife; give up this foolishness; what will you do with a dead man? Hear of your husband’s death, terrible as Vritra’s. He came to the sea with a great army to kill me and camped on the northern shore. At midnight, when the army was tired and asleep, my spies found it, and Prahasta led my army in. They slaughtered the monkeys with every kind of weapon. Prahasta cut off Rama’s head with a great sword as he slept. Vibhishana was captured, Lakshmana fled with the monkeys. Sugriva’s neck was broken, Hanuman’s jaw smashed; Jambavan was cut down like a tree; Mainda and Dvivida were split in two; Panasa lies gasping, Darimukha in a cave, Kumuda groaning, Angada fallen bleeding. Monkeys were crushed by elephants and chariots like clouds by the wind; others fled into the sea or the sky, and the bears climbed trees. So your husband has been killed with his army by mine; here is his head, wet with blood and covered with dust.
Then, as Sita listens, Ravana calls a rakshasi: bring Vidyujjihva, who brought Raghava’s head from the battle himself. Vidyujjihva comes with the head and the bow, bows, and at Ravana’s order sets the lovely head before Sita, so that she may see her husband’s last state, and vanishes. Ravana throws down the great shining bow, famous in the three worlds: “This is your Rama’s bow, strung, brought here by Prahasta after killing that man in the night.” And, throwing down the head and bow, he says to the glorious daughter of the king of Videha: “Now be subject to my will.”
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ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलं लङ्कायां नृपतेश्चराः । सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन् ॥ १ ॥
Then the king’s spies in Lanka reported that Raghava, with his unshakeable army, was camped on Mount Suvela.
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चाराणां रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं रामं महाबलम् । जातोद्वेगोऽभवत् किंचित् सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ २ ॥
Hearing from the spies that mighty Rama had arrived, Ravana, somewhat alarmed, said this to his ministers:
मन्त्रिणः शीघ्रमायान्तु सर्वे वै सुसमाहिताः । अयं नो मन्त्रकालो हि सम्प्राप्त इति राक्षसाः ॥ ३ ॥
“Let all the ministers come quickly, well collected; for the time for counsel has come for us, rakshasas.”
तस्य तच्छासनं श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणोऽभ्यागमन् द्रुतम् । ततः स मन्त्रयामास राक्षसैः सचिवैः सह ॥ ४ ॥
Hearing his command, the ministers came quickly; then he took counsel with the rakshasa ministers.
मन्त्रयित्वा तु दुर्धर्षः क्षमं यत् तदनन्तरम् । विसर्जयित्वा सचिवान् प्रविवेश स्वमालयम् ॥ ५ ॥
Having consulted about what was fitting next, the unassailable one dismissed the ministers and entered his own dwelling.
ततो राक्षसमादाय विद्युज्जिह्वं महाबलम् । मायाविनं महामायं प्राविशद् यत्र मैथिली ॥ ६ ॥
Then, taking the mighty rakshasa Vidyujjihva, a magician of great illusion, he went to where Maithili was.
विद्युज्जिह्वं च मायाज्ञमब्रवीद् राक्षसाधिपः । मोहयिष्यावहे सीतां मायया जनकात्मजाम् ॥ ७ ॥
And the king of the rakshasas said to Vidyujjihva, who knew magic: “We two will delude Sita, Janaka’s daughter, with magic.
शिरो मायामयं गृह्य राघवस्य निशाचर । मां त्वं समुपतिष्ठस्व महच्च सशरं धनुः ॥ ८ ॥
“Take an illusory head of Raghava, night-wanderer, and come to me with it, and a great bow with arrows.”
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्याह विद्युज्जिह्वो निशाचरः । दर्शयामास तां मायां सुप्रयुक्तां स रावणे ॥ ९ ॥
Spoken to so, the night-wanderer Vidyujjihva said, “So be it,” and showed that well-made illusion to Ravana.
तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद् राजा प्रददौ च विभूषणम् । अशोकवनिकायां च सीतादर्शनलालसः ॥ १० ॥
The king was pleased with him and gave him an ornament. And, longing to see Sita, in the Ashoka grove
नैर्ऋतानामधिपतिः संविवेश महाबलः । ततो दीनामदैन्यार्हां ददर्श धनदानुजः ॥ ११ ॥
the mighty lord of the nairritas entered. Then Kubera’s younger brother saw her, wretched though she did not deserve wretchedness,
अधोमुखीं शोकपरामुपविष्टां महीतले । भर्तारं समनुध्यान्तीमशोकवनिकां गताम् ॥ १२ ॥
her face downcast, given over to grief, seated on the ground, thinking of her husband, in the Ashoka grove,
उपास्यमानां घोराभी राक्षसीभिरदूरतः । उपसृत्य ततः सीतां प्रहर्षं नाम कीर्तयन् ॥ १३ ॥
attended not far off by terrible rakshasis. Then, approaching Sita, proclaiming joyful news,
इदं च वचनं धृष्टमुवाच जनकात्मजाम् । सान्त्व्यमाना मया भद्रे यमाश्रित्य विमन्यसे ॥ १४ ॥
he said these bold words to Janaka’s daughter: “He on whom you rely, good lady, when you scorn me as I coax you,
खरहन्ता स ते भर्ता राघवः समरे हतः । छिन्नं ते सर्वथा मूलं दर्पश्च निहतो मया ॥ १५ ॥
“your husband Raghava, the slayer of Khara, has been killed in battle. Your root has been cut in every way, and your pride destroyed by me.
व्यसनेनात्मनः सीते मम भार्या भविष्यसि । विसृजैतां मतिं मूढे किं मृतेन करिष्यसि ॥ १६ ॥
“Through your own misfortune, Sita, you will become my wife. Give up this idea, foolish one; what will you do with a dead man?
भवस्व भद्रे भार्याणां सर्वासामीश्वरी मम । अल्पपुण्ये निवृत्तार्थे मूढे पण्डितमानिनि । शृणु भर्तृवधं सीते घोरं वृत्रवधं यथा ॥ १७ ॥
“Be, good lady, the mistress of all my wives. You of little merit, whose purpose is ended, foolish, thinking yourself wise: hear, Sita, of your husband’s death, terrible as the killing of Vritra.
समायातः समुद्रान्तं हन्तुं मां किल राघवः । वानरेन्द्रप्रणीतेन बलेन महता वृतः ॥ १८ ॥
“Raghava, they say, came to the edge of the ocean to kill me, surrounded by a great army led by the king of the monkeys.
संनिविष्टः समुद्रस्य पीड्य तीरमथोत्तरम् । बलेन महता रामो व्रजत्यस्तं दिवाकरे ॥ १९ ॥
“Pressing on the northern shore of the ocean, Rama camped with a great army as the sun set.
अथाध्वनि परिश्रान्तमर्धरात्रे स्थितं बलम् । सुखसुप्तं समासाद्य चरितं प्रथमं चरैः ॥ २० ॥
“Then, coming upon that army, tired from the road, halted at midnight, sleeping soundly, first scouted by spies,
तत्प्रहस्तप्रणीतेन बलेन महता मम । बलमस्य हतं रात्रौ यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः ॥ २१ ॥
“a great army of mine, led by Prahasta, destroyed his army in the night, where Rama was with Lakshmana.
पट्टिशान् परिघांश्चक्रानृष्टीन् दण्डान् महायुधान् । बाणजालानि शूलानि भास्वरान् कूटमुद्गरान् ॥ २२ ॥
“Spears, iron bars, discuses, swords, staves and great weapons, nets of arrows, tridents, shining hammers,
यष्टीश्च तोमरान् प्रासांश्चक्राणि मुसलानि च । उद्यम्योद्यम्य रक्षोभिर्वानरेषु निपातिताः ॥ २३ ॥
“sticks, lances, darts, discs and pestles, raised again and again by the rakshasas, were brought down on the monkeys.
अथ सुप्तस्य रामस्य प्रहस्तेन प्रमाथिना । असक्तं कृतहस्तेन शिरश्छिन्नं महासिना ॥ २४ ॥
“Then, as Rama slept, Prahasta the crusher, with a practised hand, cut off his head cleanly with a great sword.
विभीषणः समुत्पत्य निगृहीतो यदृच्छया । दिशः प्रव्राजितः सैन्यैर्लक्ष्मणः प्लवगैः सह ॥ २५ ॥
“Vibhishana, leaping up, was captured by chance; Lakshmana was driven off to the quarters with the leapers by the armies.
सुग्रीवो ग्रीवया सीते भग्नया प्लवगाधिपः । निरस्तहनुकः सीते हनूमान् राक्षसैर्हतः ॥ २६ ॥
“Sugriva, lord of the leapers, Sita, with his neck broken; Hanuman, Sita, his jaw smashed, killed by the rakshasas.
जाम्बवानथ जानुभ्यामुत्पतन् निहतो युधि । पट्टिशैर्बहुभिश्छिन्नो निकृत्तः पादपो यथा ॥ २७ ॥
“And Jambavan, leaping up on his knees, was killed in battle, cut by many spears, felled like a tree.
मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभौ तौ वानरवरर्षभौ । निःश्वसन्तौ रुदन्तौ च रुधिरेण परिप्लुतौ ॥ २८ ॥
“Mainda and Dvivida, those two bulls among the best of monkeys, gasping, weeping, drenched in blood,
असिना व्यायतौ छिन्नौ मध्ये ह्यरिनिषूदनौ । अनुश्वसिति मेदिन्यां पनसः पनसो यथा ॥ २९ ॥
“the destroyers of enemies, cut through the middle with a sword, stretched out. Panasa breathes his last on the earth like a jackfruit tree.
नाराचैर्बहुभिश्छिन्नः शेते दर्यां दरीमुखः । कुमुदस्तु महातेजा निष्कूजन् सायकैर्हतः ॥ ३० ॥
“Cut by many iron arrows, Darimukha lies in a cave. Kumuda, of great splendour, groaning, was killed by arrows.
अङ्गदो बहुभिश्छिन्नः शरैरासाद्य राक्षसैः । परितो रुधिरोद्गारी क्षितौ निपतितोऽङ्गदः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Angada, cut by many arrows, attacked by rakshasas, bleeding all over, Angada has fallen on the ground.
हरयो मथिता नागै रथजालैस्तथापरे । शयाना मृदितास्तत्र वायुवेगैरिवाम्बुदाः ॥ ३२ ॥
“Monkeys were crushed by elephants, others by masses of chariots, lying trampled there like clouds by the force of the wind.
प्रसृताश्च परे त्रस्ता हन्यमाना जघन्यतः । अनुद्रुतास्तु रक्षोभिः सिंहैरिव महाद्विपाः ॥ ३३ ॥
“And others fled in terror, struck from behind, pursued by the rakshasas like great elephants by lions.
सागरे पतिताः केचित् केचिद् गगनमाश्रिताः । ऋक्षा वृक्षानुपारूढा वानरीं वृत्तिमाश्रिताः ॥ ३४ ॥
“Some fell into the ocean, some took to the sky; the bears climbed trees, taking to the ways of monkeys.
सागरस्य च तीरेषु शैलेषु च वनेषु च । पिङ्गलास्ते विरूपाक्षै राक्षसैर्बहवो हताः ॥ ३५ ॥
“On the shores of the ocean, on the mountains and in the woods, many of those tawny ones were killed by the ugly-eyed rakshasas.
एवं तव हतो भर्ता ससैन्यो मम सेनया । क्षतजार्द्रं रजोध्वस्तमिदं चास्याहृतं शिरः ॥ ३६ ॥
“So your husband has been killed with his army by my army; and this head of his, wet with blood and smeared with dust, has been brought here.”
ततः परमदुर्धर्षो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । सीतायामुपशृण्वन्त्यां राक्षसीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३७ ॥
Then the most unassailable Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, said this to a rakshasi while Sita listened:
राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं विद्युज्जिह्वं समानय । येन तद्राघवशिरः संग्रामात् स्वयमाहृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥
“Bring the rakshasa of cruel deeds, Vidyujjihva, who himself brought Raghava’s head from the battle.”
विद्युज्जिह्वस्तदा गृह्य शिरस्तत्सशरासनम् । प्रणामं शिरसा कृत्वा रावणस्याग्रतः स्थितः ॥ ३९ ॥
Then Vidyujjihva, taking that head with the bow, bowed his head and stood before Ravana.
तमब्रवीत् ततो राजा रावणो राक्षसं स्थितम् । विद्युज्जिह्वं महाजिह्वं समीपपरिवर्तिनम् ॥ ४० ॥
Then King Ravana said to the rakshasa standing there, Vidyujjihva, with his great tongue, who stood near him:
अग्रतः कुरु सीतायाः शीघ्रं दाशरथेः शिरः । अवस्थां पश्चिमां भर्तुः कृपणा साधु पश्यतु ॥ ४१ ॥
“Quickly put the head of Dasharatha’s son in front of Sita; let the wretched woman see well her husband’s last state.”
एवमुक्तं तु तद् रक्षः शिरस्तत् प्रियदर्शनम् । उपनिक्षिप्य सीतायाः क्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत ॥ ४२ ॥
So told, that rakshasa set down that lovely head near Sita and quickly vanished.
रावणश्चापि चिक्षेप भास्वरं कार्मुकं महत् । त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातं रामस्यैतदिति ब्रुवन् ॥ ४३ ॥
And Ravana threw down the great shining bow, famous in the three worlds, saying: “This is Rama’s.
इदं तत् तव रामस्य कार्मुकं ज्यासमावृतम् । इह प्रहस्तेनानीतं तं हत्वा निशि मानुषम् ॥ ४४ ॥
“This is that bow of your Rama, fitted with its string, brought here by Prahasta after killing that man in the night.”
स विद्युज्जिह्वेन सहैव तच्छिरो धनुश्च भूमौ विनिकीर्यमाणः । विदेहराजस्य सुतां यशस्विनीं ततोऽब्रवीत् तां भव मे वशानुगा ॥ ४५ ॥
Throwing down on the ground that head and the bow, together with Vidyujjihva, he then said to the glorious daughter of the king of Videha: “Be subject to my will.”