Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 42 of 128 · 47 verses
The Assault Begins
The rakshasas report that Rama and the monkeys have besieged the city. Ravana, angry, doubles the guard and climbs to his palace roof. He sees Lanka, its hills and woods, surrounded on all sides by countless monkeys eager for battle, the earth turned tawny with them, and wonders how they can be destroyed; then, steadying himself, he looks at Raghava and the monkey troops. Rama, joyful, advances with his army; seeing Lanka with its bright banners, he thinks of Sita, thin, sleeping on the bare ground, suffering for his sake, and quickly orders the monkeys to attack.
Roaring like lions, the monkeys resolve to scatter Lanka with peaks or with their fists. Raising mountain tops and uprooted trees, copper-faced and golden, ready to die for Rama, they swarm up the walls under Ravana’s eyes, smash the ramparts and gates with trees, rocks and fists, fill the clear moats with dust, rocks, grass and timber, crush the golden arches and the gate towers like the peaks of Kailasa, and storm the city shouting: “Victory to Rama of great strength and to mighty Lakshmana! Victory to King Sugriva, protected by Raghava!” Kumuda with ten crores blocks the eastern gate, supported by Praghasa and Panasa; Shatabali with twenty crores the southern; Sushena, Tara’s father, the western; Rama with Lakshmana and Sugriva the northern, with the golangula Gavaksha and the bear Dhumra each with a crore beside him, and Vibhishana, armed with a mace, with his ministers. Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadana range all round guarding the army.
Furious, Ravana orders all his forces out. Drums white as the moon are beaten with golden sticks; hundreds of thousands of conches blow; the dark rakshasas with their white conches look like clouds wreathed with lightning and cranes, and pour out like the ocean’s floods at high tide. The monkeys’ roar fills the Malaya mountains; conches, drums, lions’ roars, elephants’ trumpeting, horses’ neighing and chariot wheels echo over earth, sky and sea. A terrible battle begins between rakshasas and monkeys, like the old war of gods and asuras: the rakshasas strike with blazing maces, spears, tridents and axes, proclaiming their deeds; the monkeys strike with trees, peaks, nails and teeth, crying “Victory to King Sugriva!”; rakshasas on the walls pierce monkeys below with darts and spears, and monkeys leap up and drag them down with their arms. The fight becomes a wondrous, tumultuous mire of flesh and blood.
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ततस्ते राक्षसास्तत्र गत्वा रावणमन्दिरम् । न्यवेदयन् पुरीं रुद्धां रामेण सह वानरैः ॥ १ ॥
Then those rakshasas went to Ravana’s palace and reported that the city was besieged by Rama with the monkeys.
Commentary on the whole sarga
The Assault Begins 1 min read.
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रुद्धां तु नगरीं श्रुत्वा जातक्रोधो निशाचरः । विधानं द्विगुणं कृत्वा प्रासादं चाप्यरोहत ॥ २ ॥
Hearing that the city was besieged, the night-wanderer, his anger roused, doubled the arrangements and climbed up to his palace.
स ददर्श वृतां लङ्कां सशैलवनकाननाम् । असंख्येयैर्हरिगणैः सर्वतो युद्धकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥ ३ ॥
He saw Lanka, with its hills, woods and groves, surrounded on every side by countless troops of monkeys eager for battle.
स दृष्ट्वा वानरैः सर्वैर्वसुधां कपिलीकृताम् । कथं क्षपयितव्याः स्युरिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत् ॥ ४ ॥
Seeing the earth made tawny by all the monkeys, he became anxious: “How can they be destroyed?”
स चिन्तयित्वा सुचिरं धैर्यमालम्ब्य रावणः । राघवं हरियूथांश्च ददर्शायतलोचनः ॥ ५ ॥
Having thought a long time, Ravana took courage and, with wide eyes, looked at Raghava and the monkey troops.
राघवः सह सैन्येन मुदितो नाम पुप्लुवे । लङ्कां ददर्श गुप्तां वै सर्वतो राक्षसैर्वृताम् ॥ ६ ॥
Raghava, joyful, advanced with his army; he saw Lanka guarded and surrounded on all sides by rakshasas.
दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम् । जगाम सहसा सीतां दूयमानेन चेतसा ॥ ७ ॥
Seeing Lanka with its bright flags and banners, the son of Dasharatha went suddenly in his mind to Sita, with an aching heart:
अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी मत्कृते जनकात्मजा । पीड्यते शोकसंतप्ता कृशा स्थण्डिलशायिनी ॥ ८ ॥
“Here that fawn-eyed daughter of Janaka is tormented for my sake, burning with grief, thin, sleeping on the bare ground.”
निपीड्यमानां धर्मात्मा वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन् । क्षिप्रमाज्ञापयद् रामो वानरान् द्विषतां वधे ॥ ९ ॥
Thinking of Vaidehi being tormented, righteous Rama quickly ordered the monkeys to kill the enemy.
एवमुक्ते तु वचसि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । संघर्षमाणाः प्लवगाः सिंहनादैरनादयन् ॥ १० ॥
When these words had been spoken by Rama of untiring deeds, the leapers, vying with one another, made the air resound with lions’ roars.
शिखरैर्विकिरामैतां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा । इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरियूथपाः ॥ ११ ॥
“Let us scatter this Lanka with mountain tops, or even with our fists”: so all the leaders of the monkey troops set their minds.
उद्यम्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महान्ति शिखराणि च । तरूंश्चोत्पाट्य विविधांस्तिष्ठन्ति हरियूथपाः ॥ १२ ॥
Raising mountain peaks and great summits, and uprooting trees of many kinds, the leaders of the monkey troops stood ready.
प्रेक्षतो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य तान्यनीकानि भागशः । राघवप्रियकामार्थं लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा ॥ १३ ॥
While the king of the rakshasas watched, those divisions, part by part, climbed Lanka then, to do what Raghava wished.
ते ताम्रवक्त्रा हेमाभा रामार्थे त्यक्तजीविताः । लङ्कामेवाभ्यवर्तन्त सालभूधरयोधिनः ॥ १४ ॥
Copper-faced, golden in hue, who had given up their lives for Rama, fighting with salas and mountains, they advanced on Lanka.
ते द्रुमैः पर्वताग्रैश्च मुष्टिभिश्च प्लवंगमाः । प्राकाराग्राण्यसंख्यानि ममन्थुस्तोरणानि च ॥ १५ ॥
With trees, mountain tops and fists the leapers crushed countless rampart tops and arches.
परिखान् पूरयन्तश्च प्रसन्नसलिलाशयान् । पांसुभिः पर्वताग्रैश्च तृणैः काष्ठैश्च वानराः ॥ १६ ॥
And the monkeys filled the moats, the clear lakes of water, with dust, mountain tops, grass and timber.
ततः सहस्रयूथाश्च कोटियूथाश्च यूथपाः । कोटियूथशताश्चान्ये लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा ॥ १७ ॥
Then leaders with troops of thousands, with troops of crores, and others with hundreds of crores of troops, climbed Lanka.
काञ्चनानि प्रमर्दन्तस्तोरणानि प्लवंगमाः । कैलासशिखराग्राणि गोपुराणि प्रमथ्य च ॥ १८ ॥
Crushing the golden arches and smashing the gate towers like the peaks of Kailasa, the leapers,
आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः । लङ्कां तामभिधावन्ति महावारणसंनिभाः ॥ १९ ॥
springing, leaping and roaring, the leapers, like great elephants, rushed at that Lanka.
जयत्युरुबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः । राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः ॥ २० ॥
“Victory to Rama of great strength and to mighty Lakshmana! Victory to King Sugriva, protected by Raghava!”
इत्येवं घोषयन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः । अभ्यधावन्त लङ्कायाः प्राकारं कामरूपिणः ॥ २१ ॥
Proclaiming so and roaring, the leapers who take any form rushed at the wall of Lanka.
वीरबाहुः सुबाहुश्च नलश्च पनसस्तथा । निपीड्योपनिविष्टास्ते प्राकारं हरियूथपाः । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चक्रुः स्कन्धावारनिवेशनम् ॥ २२ ॥
Virabahu, Subahu, Nala and Panasa, leaders of monkey troops, pressing the wall, took up their stations. Meanwhile they set up a camp.
पूर्वद्वारं तु कुमुदः कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः । आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ हरिभिर्जितकाशिभिः ॥ २३ ॥
Mighty Kumuda, surrounded by ten crores of victorious monkeys, blocked the eastern gate and stood there.
सहायार्थे तु तस्यैव निविष्टः प्रघसो हरिः । पनसश्च महाबाहुर्वानरैरभिसंवृतः ॥ २४ ॥
To support him, the monkey Praghasa took his place, and mighty-armed Panasa, surrounded by monkeys.
दक्षिणद्वारमासाद्य वीरः शतबलिः कपिः । आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ विंशत्या कोटिभिर्वृतः ॥ २५ ॥
Reaching the southern gate, the heroic monkey Shatabali, mighty, surrounded by twenty crores, blocked it and stood.
सुषेणः पश्चिमद्वारं गत्वा तारापिता बली । आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ कोटिकोटिभिरावृतः ॥ २६ ॥
Sushena, mighty father of Tara, going to the western gate, mighty, surrounded by crores upon crores, blocked it and stood.
उत्तरद्वारमागम्य रामः सौमित्रिणा सह । आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ सुग्रीवश्च हरीश्वरः ॥ २७ ॥
Coming to the northern gate, Rama with Saumitri, the mighty one, blocked it and stood, and Sugriva, lord of the monkeys.
गोलाङ्गूलो महाकायो गवाक्षो भीमदर्शना । वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः ॥ २८ ॥
The huge golangula Gavaksha, terrible to see, of great valour, surrounded by a crore, stood at Rama’s side.
ऋक्षाणां भीमकोपानां धूम्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः । वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः ॥ २९ ॥
Dhumra, slayer of enemies, of the terribly angry bears, of great valour, surrounded by a crore, stood at Rama’s side.
संनद्धस्तु महावीर्यो गदापाणिर्विभीषणः । वृतो यत्तैस्तु सचिवैस्तस्थौ यत्र महाबलः ॥ ३० ॥
And very valiant Vibhishana, armoured, mace in hand, surrounded by his ministers, stood where the mighty one was.
गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः । समन्तात् परिधावन्तो ररक्षुर्हरिवाहिनीम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadana, running about on every side, guarded the monkey army.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । निर्याणं सर्वसैन्यानां द्रुतमाज्ञापयत् तदा ॥ ३२ ॥
Then Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, his mind seized by anger, quickly ordered the sally of all his armies.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यं रावणस्य मुखेरितम् । सहसा भीमनिर्घोषमुद्घुष्टं रजनीचरैः ॥ ३३ ॥
Hearing these words from Ravana’s mouth, the night-wanderers suddenly raised a terrible shout.
ततः प्रबोधिता भेर्यश्चन्द्रपाण्डुरपुष्कराः । हेमकोणैरभिहता राक्षसानां समन्ततः ॥ ३४ ॥
Then the drums, white as the moon in their skins, were roused, struck with golden sticks, on every side by the rakshasas.
विनेदुश्च महाघोषाः शङ्खाः शतसहस्रशः । राक्षसानां सुघोराणां मुखमारुतपूरिताः ॥ ३५ ॥
And conches with great sound roared by hundreds of thousands, filled with the breath of the mouths of the very terrible rakshasas.
ते बभुः शुभनीलाङ्गाः सशङ्खा रजनीचराः । विद्युन्मण्डलसंनद्धाः सबलाका इवाम्बुदाः ॥ ३६ ॥
Those night-wanderers, with lovely dark limbs and their conches, shone like clouds bound with circles of lightning and lines of cranes.
निष्पतन्ति ततः सैन्या हृष्टा रावणचोदिताः । समये पूर्यमाणस्य वेगा इव महोदधेः ॥ ३७ ॥
Then the armies poured out joyfully, urged on by Ravana, like the surges of the great ocean when it fills at the proper time.
ततो वानरसैन्येन मुक्तो नादः समन्ततः । मलयः पूरितो येन ससानुप्रस्थकन्दरः ॥ ३८ ॥
Then a roar was let loose on every side by the monkey army, with which Malaya was filled, with its slopes, plateaus and caves.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः सिंहनादस्तरस्विनाम् । पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं च सागरं चाभ्यनादयत् ॥ ३९ ॥
The sound of conches and drums, and the lions’ roars of the swift ones, made the earth, the sky and the ocean resound,
गजानां बृंहितैः सार्धं हयानां ह्रेषितैरपि । रथानां नेमिनिर्घोषै रक्षसां वदनस्वनैः ॥ ४० ॥
together with the trumpeting of elephants and the neighing of horses, the rumble of chariot wheels and the shouts of the rakshasas.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे घोरः संग्रामः समपद्यत । रक्षसां वानराणां च यथा देवासुरे पुरा ॥ ४१ ॥
Meanwhile a terrible battle arose between the rakshasas and the monkeys, as long ago between gods and asuras.
ते गदाभिः प्रदीप्ताभिः शक्तिशूलपरश्वधैः । निजघ्नुर्वानरान् सर्वान् कथयन्तः स्वविक्रमान् ॥ ४२ ॥
With blazing maces, spears, tridents and axes they struck down all the monkeys, proclaiming their own feats.
तथा वृक्षैर्महाकायाः पर्वताग्रैश्च वानराः । निजघ्नुस्तानि रक्षांसि नखैर्दन्तैश्च वेगिनः ॥ ४३ ॥
So too the huge monkeys, swift, struck down those rakshasas with trees and mountain tops, with nails and teeth.
राजा जयति सुग्रीव इति शब्दो महानभूत् । राजञ्जयजयेत्युक्त्वा स्वस्वनामकथां ततः ॥ ४४ ॥
There was a great cry: “Victory to King Sugriva!” And, saying “Victory, king, victory!”, each told his own name.
राक्षसास्त्वपरे भीमाः प्राकारस्था महीं गतान् । वानरान् भिन्दिपालैश्च शूलैश्चैव व्यदारयन् ॥ ४५ ॥
Other terrible rakshasas on the wall tore apart the monkeys who had reached the ground with javelins and spears.
वानराश्चापि संक्रुद्धाः प्राकारस्थान् महीं गताः । राक्षसान् पातयामासुः खमाप्लुत्य स्वबाहुभिः ॥ ४६ ॥
And the monkeys too, enraged, on the ground, leaping into the air, pulled down the rakshasas on the wall with their arms.
स सम्प्रहारस्तुमुलो मांसशोणितकर्दमः । रक्षसां वानराणां च सम्बभूवाद्भुतोपमः ॥ ४७ ॥
That tumultuous battle of rakshasas and monkeys, a mire of flesh and blood, became like a wonder.