Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 35 of 128 · 37 verses
Malyavan’s Counsel
As Rama approaches to the sound of drums and conches, Ravana thinks for a moment and addresses his ministers: he has heard what they said of Rama’s crossing, his valour and strength, and knows their own true valour. They look at one another in silence, knowing Rama’s power.
Then Malyavan, Ravana’s very wise maternal grandfather, speaks. A king trained in learning who follows policy rules long and subdues his enemies; by making peace and war at the proper times and strengthening his own side, he gains great power. A king who is weaker or equal should make peace; only a stronger one should make war, and he should never despise the enemy. So I favour peace with Rama: give him Sita, for whose sake you are being attacked. All the divine sages and gandharvas want him to win. Brahma created two sides, gods and asuras, resting on dharma and adharma; dharma is the side of the gods, adharma of the rakshasas and asuras. In the Krita age dharma swallows adharma; in the Tishya age adharma swallows dharma. Roaming the worlds, you have struck down great dharma and embraced adharma, so our enemies are stronger. That adharma, grown through your carelessness, is a snake devouring us, while the gods’ side grows. Given to pleasures and acting as you pleased, you have alarmed the sages, who are like fire; their power, born of austerity, is irresistible. Their sacrifices, fire-offerings and Vedic chanting have driven off the rakshasas; the smoke of their sacred fires covers the ten directions and saps our strength; their austerities scorch us.
You won your boon against gods, danavas and yakshas, but now men, monkeys, bears and mighty golangulas come here roaring. I see terrible omens of the destruction of all the rakshasas: clouds raining hot blood on Lanka, tears falling from weeping horses and elephants, beasts of prey and vultures howling and gathering in the gardens, dark women with white teeth laughing in dreams and plundering houses, dogs eating the household offerings, donkeys born of cows and rats of mongooses, cats mating with leopards, pigs with dogs, kinnaras with rakshasas and men; white, red-footed doves roaming, mynas fighting and falling, beasts and birds crying toward the sun, and Time, a grim, bald, black-and-yellow man, looking into every house at dusk. We think Rama is Vishnu in human form; no mere man could build that bridge. Make peace with Rama, Ravana; consider his deeds and do what is good for the future. Having spoken, Malyavan looks at Ravana, reads his mind, and falls silent.
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तेन शङ्खविमिश्रेण भेरीशब्देन नादिना । उपयाति महाबाहू रामः परपुरंजयः ॥ १ ॥
With that sound of drums mixed with conches, mighty-armed Rama, the conqueror of enemy cities, was approaching.
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Malyavan’s Counsel 1 min read.
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तं निनादं निशम्याथ रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । मुहूर्तं ध्यानमास्थाय सचिवानभ्युदैक्षत ॥ २ ॥
Hearing that sound, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, fell into thought for a moment and looked up at his ministers.
अथ तान् सचिवांस्तत्र सर्वानाभाष्य रावणः । सभां संनादयन् सर्वामित्युवाच महाबलः ॥ ३ ॥
Then, addressing all those ministers there, mighty Ravana, making the whole hall resound, said this,
जगत्संतापनः क्रूरोऽगर्हयन् राक्षसेश्वरः । तरणं सागरस्यास्य विक्रमं बलपौरुषम् ॥ ४ ॥
the cruel lord of the rakshasas, tormentor of the world, not deprecating: “The crossing of this ocean, the valour, strength and manliness
यदुक्तवन्तो रामस्य भवन्तस्तन्मया श्रुतम् । भवतश्चाप्यहं वेद्मि युद्धे सत्यपराक्रमान् । तूष्णीकानीक्षतोऽन्योन्यं विदित्वा रामविक्रमम् ॥ ५ ॥
“of Rama that you described, I have heard; and I know you too to be of true valour in battle.” They, knowing Rama’s valour, looked at each other in silence.
ततस्तु सुमहाप्राज्ञो माल्यवान् नाम राक्षसः । रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा इति मातामहोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ६ ॥
Then a very wise rakshasa named Malyavan, his maternal grandfather, hearing Ravana’s words, said this:
विद्यास्वभिविनीतो यो राजा राजन् नयानुगः । स शास्ति चिरमैश्वर्यमरींश्च कुरुते वशे ॥ ७ ॥
“A king, king, who is trained in learning and follows policy rules over his kingdom long and brings his enemies under his power.
संदधानो हि कालेन विगृह्णंश्चारिभिः सह । स्वपक्षे वर्धनं कुर्वन्महदैश्वर्यमश्नुते ॥ ८ ॥
“Making peace and making war with enemies at the proper time, and increasing his own side, he enjoys great lordship.
हीयमानेन कर्तव्यो राज्ञा संधिः समेन च । न शत्रुमवमन्येत ज्यायान् कुर्वीत विग्रहम् ॥ ९ ॥
“A king who is declining or equal should make peace; he should not despise the enemy; only the stronger should make war.
तन्मह्यं रोचते संधिः सह रामेण रावण । यदर्थमभियुक्तोऽसि सीता तस्मै प्रदीयताम् ॥ १० ॥
“So peace with Rama pleases me, Ravana. Let Sita, for whose sake you are attacked, be given to him.
तस्य देवर्षयः सर्वे गन्धर्वाश्च जयैषिणः । विरोधं मा गमस्तेन संधिस्ते तेन रोचताम् ॥ ११ ॥
“All the divine sages and gandharvas want his victory. Do not go into conflict with him; let peace with him please you.
असृजद् भगवान् पक्षौ द्वावेव हि पितामहः । सुराणामसुराणां च धर्माधर्मौ तदाश्रयौ ॥ १२ ॥
“The blessed Grandsire created only two sides, of the gods and of the asuras, resting on dharma and adharma.
धर्मो हि श्रूयते पक्ष अमराणां महात्मनाम् । अधर्मो रक्षसां पक्षो ह्यसुराणां च राक्षस ॥ १३ ॥
“Dharma is said to be the side of the great-souled immortals; adharma is the side of the rakshasas and asuras, rakshasa.
धर्मो वै ग्रसतेऽधर्मं यदा कृतमभूद् युगम् । अधर्मो ग्रसते धर्मं यदा तिष्यः प्रवर्तते ॥ १४ ॥
“Dharma swallows adharma when the Krita age has come; adharma swallows dharma when the Tishya age goes on.
तत् त्वया चरता लोकान् धर्मोऽपि निहतो महान् । अधर्मः प्रगृहीतश्च तेनास्मद् बलिनः परे ॥ १५ ॥
“So, as you roamed the worlds, great dharma was struck down by you, and adharma embraced; so the enemies are stronger than we.
स प्रमादात् प्रवृद्धस्तेऽधर्मोऽहिर्ग्रसते हि नः । विवर्धयति पक्षं च सुराणां सुरभावनः ॥ १६ ॥
“That adharma, grown through your carelessness, like a snake, devours us, and the gods’ side grows, nourished by the gods.
विषयेषु प्रसक्तेन यत्किंचित्कारिणा त्वया । ऋषीणामग्निकल्पानामुद्वेगो जनितो महान् ॥ १७ ॥
“By you, attached to sense objects and doing whatever you pleased, great alarm was caused to the sages, who are like fire.
तेषां प्रभावो दुर्धर्षः प्रदीप्त इव पावकः । तपसा भावितात्मानो धर्मस्यानुग्रहे रताः ॥ १८ ॥
“Their power, like a blazing fire, is irresistible; their selves made pure by austerity, they delight in favouring dharma.
मुख्यैर्यज्ञैर्यजन्त्येते तैस्तैर्यत्ते द्विजातयः । जुह्वत्यग्नींश्च विधिवद् वेदांश्चोच्चैरधीयते ॥ १९ ॥
“These twice-born sacrifice with the chief sacrifices, offer in the fires duly, and recite the Vedas aloud.
अभिभूय च रक्षांसि ब्रह्मघोषानुदीरयन् । दिशो विप्रद्रुताः सर्वाः स्तनयित्नुरिवोष्णगे ॥ २० ॥
“Overpowering the rakshasas, they raise the sound of the Veda; and the rakshasas have fled in all directions, like clouds in summer.
ऋषीणामग्निकल्पानामग्निहोत्रसमुत्थितः । आदत्ते रक्षसां तेजो धूमो व्याप्य दिशो दश ॥ २१ ॥
“The smoke rising from the fire-offerings of the sages, who are like fire, spreading through the ten directions, takes away the rakshasas’ strength.
तेषु तेषु च देशेषु पुण्येष्वेव दृढव्रतैः । चर्यमाणं तपस्तीव्रं संतापयति राक्षसान् ॥ २२ ॥
“And the fierce austerity practised by those firm in their vows in all those holy places scorches the rakshasas.
देवदानवयक्षेभ्यो गृहीतश्च वरस्त्वया । मनुष्या वानरा ऋक्षा गोलाङ्गूला महाबलाः । बलवन्त इहागम्य गर्जन्ति दृढविक्रमाः ॥ २३ ॥
“You took a boon against gods, danavas and yakshas; but men, monkeys, bears and mighty golangulas have come here and roar, mighty and firm in valour.
उत्पातान् विविधान् दृष्ट्वा घोरान् बहुविधान् बहून् । विनाशमनुपश्यामि सर्वेषां रक्षसामहम् ॥ २४ ॥
“Seeing many kinds of terrible portents, I foresee the destruction of all the rakshasas.
खराभिस्तनिता घोरा मेघाः प्रतिभयंकराः । शोणितेनाभिवर्षन्ति लङ्कामुष्णेन सर्वतः ॥ २५ ॥
“Terrible clouds, frightening, with harsh thunder, rain hot blood on Lanka on every side.
रुदतां वाहनानां च प्रपतन्त्यश्रुबिन्दवः । रजोध्वस्ता विवर्णाश्च न प्रभान्ति यथापुरम् ॥ २६ ॥
“Drops of tears fall from the weeping horses and elephants; covered with dust and pale, they do not shine as before.
व्याला गोमायवो गृध्रा वाश्यन्ति च सुभैरवम् । प्रविश्य लङ्कामारामे समवायांश्च कुर्वते ॥ २७ ॥
“Beasts of prey, jackals and vultures howl very dreadfully; entering Lanka, they gather in the gardens.
कालिकाः पाण्डुरैर्दन्तैः प्रहसन्त्यग्रतः स्थिताः । स्त्रियः स्वप्नेषु मुष्णन्त्यो गृहाणि प्रतिभाष्य च ॥ २८ ॥
“Dark women with white teeth stand in front laughing, and in dreams women plunder the houses, talking back.
गृहाणां बलिकर्माणि श्वानः पर्युपभुञ्जते । खरा गोषु प्रजायन्ते मूषका नकुलेषु च ॥ २९ ॥
“Dogs devour the household offerings; donkeys are born of cows and rats of mongooses.
मार्जारा द्वीपिभिः सार्धं सूकराः शुनकैः सह । किंनरा राक्षसैश्चापि समेयुर्मानुषैः सह ॥ ३० ॥
“Cats mate with leopards, pigs with dogs, and kinnaras with rakshasas and with men.
पाण्डुरा रक्तपादाश्च विहगाः कालचोदिताः । राक्षसानां विनाशाय कपोता विचरन्ति च ॥ ३१ ॥
“Pale, red-footed birds, doves driven by Time, roam about for the destruction of the rakshasas.
चीचीकूचीति वाशन्त्यः शारिका वेश्मसु स्थिताः । पतन्ति ग्रथिताश्चापि निर्जिताः कलहैषिभिः ॥ ३२ ॥
“Mynas kept in the houses, crying ‘chichi kuchi’, fall entangled, beaten by those seeking quarrels.
पक्षिणश्च मृगाः सर्वे प्रत्यादित्यं रुदन्ति ते । करालो विकटो मुण्डः पुरुषः कृष्णपिङ्गलः ॥ ३३ ॥
“And all the birds and beasts cry toward the sun. A grim, misshapen, bald man, black and yellow,
कालो गृहाणि सर्वेषां काले कालेऽन्ववेक्षते । एतान्यन्यानि दुष्टानि निमित्तान्युत्पतन्ति च ॥ ३४ ॥
“Time, looks into everyone’s houses at each twilight. These and other evil omens are appearing.
विष्णुं मन्यामहे रामं मानुषं रूपमास्थितम् । नहि मानुषमात्रोऽसौ राघवो दृढविक्रमः ॥ ३५ ॥
“We think Rama is Vishnu who has taken a human form; for this Raghava, firm in valour, is no mere man,
येन बद्धः समुद्रे च सेतुः स परमाद्भुतः । कुरुष्व नरराजेन संधिं रामेण रावण । ज्ञात्वावधार्य कर्माणि क्रियतामायतिक्षमम् ॥ ३६ ॥
“by whom that most wonderful bridge was built in the ocean. Make peace with Rama, the king of men, Ravana. Knowing and weighing his deeds, let what is good for the future be done.”
इदं वचस्तस्य निगद्य माल्यवान् परीक्ष्य रक्षोधिपतेर्मनः पुनः । अनुत्तमेषूत्तमपौरुषो बली बभूव तूष्णीं समवेक्ष्य रावणम् ॥ ३७ ॥
Having said these words, Malyavan, mighty, of the highest manliness among the unsurpassed, having tested the mind of the lord of the rakshasas again, looked at Ravana and fell silent.