Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 46 of 128 · 50 verses
Indrajit’s Triumph; Vibhishana Steadies Sugriva
Looking up and around, the monkeys see the brothers covered with arrows. When the rakshasa, like a rain god who has finished raining, has done his work, Sugriva, Vibhishana, Nila, Dvivida, Mainda, Sushena, Kumuda, Angada and Hanuman come and mourn the two Raghavas, lying motionless on their bed of arrows, breathing faintly like snakes, bloodied like golden banners. They scan the sky but cannot see Indrajit hidden by magic; only Vibhishana, by his own magic and by a boon, sees his brother’s son standing there.
Indrajit, delighted, tells the rakshasas: the brothers who killed Dushana and Khara have been brought down by my arrows; neither gods nor asuras nor sages together can free them from this bond. The cause of my father’s sleepless grief, the root of the trouble that has shaken all Lanka, is ended; the valour of Rama, Lakshmana and the monkeys is as fruitless as autumn clouds. He shoots Nila, Mainda, Dvivida, Jambavan, Hanuman, Gavaksha, Sharabha and Angada, laughs, and tells the rakshasas to see the brothers bound. The rakshasas roar and honour him, believing Rama dead; Indrajit, thinking them killed, enters Lanka in triumph.
Seeing the brothers’ bodies covered with arrows, Sugriva is afraid and weeps. Vibhishana comforts him: enough of fear; wars are like this; victory is never certain. If we have any luck left, these two great souls will shake off this stupor. Steady yourself, and me who have no other protector; those devoted to truth and dharma need not fear death. He wipes Sugriva’s eyes with water charmed by a spell and says: this is no time for weakness; even too much affection now leads to death. Think of the good of the army; guard Rama until he recovers; the two Kakutsthas will drive away our fear. This is nothing to Rama; he is not dying; good fortune, which does not stay with those whose life is spent, has not left him. Comfort yourself and your army while I rally the troops; the monkeys are whispering in terror, but seeing me running among them they will throw off their fear like a used garland. Then Vibhishana rallies the scattered army.
Indrajit enters Lanka with his army, bows to his father and tells him that Rama and Lakshmana are dead. Ravana leaps up and embraces his son, kisses his head and asks how it happened; hearing that the brothers lie bound, motionless and lifeless, his fever of fear of Dasharatha’s son leaves him, and he praises his son with joyful words.
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ततो द्यां पृथिवीं चैव वीक्षमाणा वनौकसः । ददृशुः संततौ बाणैर्भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ १ ॥
Then, looking at the sky and the earth, the forest-dwellers saw the brothers Rama and Lakshmana covered with arrows.
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Indrajit’s Triumph; Vibhishana Steadies Sugriva 1 min read.
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वृष्ट्वेवोपरते देवे कृतकर्मणि राक्षसे । आजगामाथ तं देशं ससुग्रीवो विभीषणः ॥ २ ॥
When the rakshasa had done his work, like the god ceasing after rain, Vibhishana came to that place with Sugriva.
नीलश्च द्विविदो मैन्दः सुषेणः कुमुदोऽङ्गदः । तूर्णं हनुमता सार्धमन्वशोचन्त राघवौ ॥ ३ ॥
Nila, Dvivida, Mainda, Sushena, Kumuda and Angada quickly, with Hanuman, mourned the two Raghavas,
अचेष्टौ मन्दनिःश्वासौ शोणितेन परिप्लुतौ । शरजालाचितौ स्तब्धौ शयानौ शरतल्पगौ ॥ ४ ॥
motionless, breathing faintly, drenched in blood, heaped with nets of arrows, stiff, lying on a bed of arrows,
निःश्वसन्तौ यथा सर्पौ निश्चेष्टौ मन्दविक्रमौ । रुधिरस्रावदिग्धाङ्गौ तपनीयाविव ध्वजौ ॥ ५ ॥
sighing like snakes, motionless, their valour faint, their limbs smeared with flowing blood, like two golden banners.
तौ वीरशयने वीरौ शयानौ मन्दचेष्टितौ । यूथपैः स्वैः परिवृतौ बाष्पव्याकुललोचनैः ॥ ६ ॥
Those two heroes, lying on a hero’s bed, moving faintly, were surrounded by their own troop leaders, their eyes troubled with tears.
राघवौ पतितौ दृष्ट्वा शरजालसमन्वितौ । बभूवुर्व्यथिताः सर्वे वानराः सविभीषणाः ॥ ७ ॥
Seeing the two Raghavas fallen, covered with nets of arrows, all the monkeys with Vibhishana were distressed.
अन्तरिक्षं निरीक्षन्तो दिशः सर्वाश्च वानराः । न चैनं मायया छन्नं ददृशू रावणिं रणे ॥ ८ ॥
Looking at the sky and all the directions, the monkeys could not see Ravana’s son in the battle, hidden by magic.
तं तु मायाप्रतिच्छन्नं माययैव विभीषणः । वीक्षमाणो ददर्शाग्रे भ्रातुः पुत्रमवस्थितम् । तमप्रतिमकर्माणमप्रतिद्वन्द्वमाहवे ॥ ९ ॥
But Vibhishana, looking by magic itself, saw him hidden by magic, his brother’s son, standing before him: him of incomparable deeds, unrivalled in battle,
ददर्शान्तर्हितं वीरं वरदानाद् विभीषणः । तेजसा यशसा चैव विक्रमेण च संयुतः ॥ १० ॥
Vibhishana saw, though he was invisible, through a boon; the hero joined with splendour, fame and valour.
इन्द्रजित् त्वात्मनः कर्म तौ शयानौ समीक्ष्य च । उवाच परमप्रीतो हर्षयन् सर्वराक्षसान् ॥ ११ ॥
And Indrajit, looking at his own work and at those two lying there, said, greatly pleased, delighting all the rakshasas:
दूषणस्य च हन्तारौ खरस्य च महाबलौ । सादितौ मामकैर्बाणैर्भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ १२ ॥
“The slayers of Dushana and of Khara, the mighty brothers Rama and Lakshmana, have been brought down by my arrows.
नेमौ मोक्षयितुं शक्यावेतस्मादिषुबन्धनात् । सर्वैरपि समागम्य सर्षिसङ्घैः सुरासुरैः ॥ १३ ॥
“These two cannot be freed from this bond of arrows by all the gods and asuras together, with the hosts of sages.
यत्कृते चिन्तयानस्य शोकार्तस्य पितुर्मम । अस्पृष्ट्वा शयनं गात्रैस्त्रियामा याति शर्वरी ॥ १४ ॥
“For whose sake my father, thinking and stricken with grief, passes the three-watched night without touching his bed with his limbs,
कृत्स्नेयं यत्कृते लङ्का नदी वर्षास्विवाकुला । सोऽयं मूलहरोऽनर्थः सर्वेषां शमितो मया ॥ १५ ॥
“for whose sake all this Lanka is troubled like a river in the rains: that root-destroying calamity of all has been quieted by me.
रामस्य लक्ष्मणस्यैव सर्वेषां च वनौकसाम् । विक्रमा निष्फलाः सर्वे यथा शरदि तोयदाः ॥ १६ ॥
“All the feats of Rama, of Lakshmana and of all the forest-dwellers are fruitless, like clouds in autumn.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु तान् सर्वान् राक्षसान् परिपश्यतः । यूथपानपि तान् सर्वांस्ताडयत् स च रावणिः ॥ १७ ॥
Having said this to all those rakshasas looking on, Ravana’s son also struck all those troop leaders.
नीलं नवभिराहत्य मैन्दं सद्विविदं तथा । त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरमित्रघ्नस्तताप परमेषुभिः ॥ १८ ॥
Having struck Nila with nine, and Mainda and Dvivida with three each, the slayer of enemies scorched them with superb arrows.
जाम्बवन्तं महेष्वासो विद्ध्वा बाणेन वक्षसि । हनूमतो वेगवतो विससर्ज शरान् दश ॥ १९ ॥
The great archer pierced Jambavan in the chest with an arrow, and loosed ten arrows at swift Hanuman.
गवाक्षं शरभं चैव तावप्यमितविक्रमौ । द्वाभ्यां द्वाभ्यां महावेगो विव्याध युधि रावणिः ॥ २० ॥
And Gavaksha and Sharabha, both of boundless valour, very swift Ravana’s son pierced in battle with two each.
गोलाङ्गूलेश्वरं चैव वालिपुत्रमथाङ्गदम् । विव्याध बहुभिर्बाणैस्त्वरमाणोऽथ रावणिः ॥ २१ ॥
And the lord of the golangulas, and Angada son of Vali, Ravana’s son, hurrying, pierced with many arrows.
तान् वानरवरान् भित्त्वा शरैरग्निशिखोपमैः । ननाद बलवांस्तत्र महासत्त्वः स रावणिः ॥ २२ ॥
Having pierced those best of monkeys with arrows like flames of fire, mighty Ravana’s son of great courage roared there.
तानर्दयित्वा बाणौघैस्त्रसयित्वा च वानरान् । प्रजहास महाबाहुर्वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ २३ ॥
Having tormented the monkeys with floods of arrows and terrified them, the mighty-armed one laughed and said this:
शरबन्धेन घोरेण मया बद्धौ चमूमुखे । सहितौ भ्रातरावेतौ निशामयत राक्षसाः ॥ २४ ॥
“Bound together by me with a terrible bond of arrows at the head of the army, rakshasas, look at these two brothers.”
एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे राक्षसाः कूटयोधिनः । परं विस्मयमापन्नाः कर्मणा तेन हर्षिताः ॥ २५ ॥
Spoken to so, all those rakshasas who fight by deceit were filled with great wonder and delighted by that deed.
विनेदुश्च महानादान् सर्वे ते जलदोपमाः । हतो राम इति ज्ञात्वा रावणिं समपूजयन् ॥ २६ ॥
And all of them, like clouds, roared great roars; knowing “Rama is killed,” they honoured Ravana’s son.
निष्पन्दौ तु तदा दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । वसुधायां निरुच्छ्वासौ हतावित्यन्वमन्यत ॥ २७ ॥
Seeing the brothers Rama and Lakshmana motionless then, without breath on the earth, he believed them killed.
हर्षेण तु समाविष्ट इन्द्रजित् समितिञ्जयः । प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां हर्षयन् सर्वनैर्ऋतान् ॥ २८ ॥
Filled with joy, Indrajit, conqueror in battle, entered the city of Lanka, delighting all the nairritas.
रामलक्ष्मणयोर्दृष्ट्वा शरीरे सायकैश्चिते । सर्वाणि चाङ्गोपाङ्गानि सुग्रीवं भयमाविशत् ॥ २९ ॥
Seeing all the limbs and parts of Rama’s and Lakshmana’s bodies covered with arrows, fear entered Sugriva.
तमुवाच परित्रस्तं वानरेन्द्रं विभीषणः । सबाष्पवदनं दीनं शोकव्याकुललोचनम् ॥ ३० ॥
To the frightened king of the monkeys, with his face in tears, wretched, his eyes troubled with grief, Vibhishana said:
अलं त्रासेन सुग्रीव बाष्पवेगो निगृह्यताम् । एवंप्रायाणि युद्धानि विजयो नास्ति नैष्ठिकः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Enough of fear, Sugriva; let the flood of tears be checked. Battles are generally like this; there is no certain victory.
सभाग्यशेषतास्माकं यदि वीर भविष्यति । मोहमेतौ प्रहास्येते महात्मानौ महाबलौ ॥ ३२ ॥
“If any remnant of good fortune is ours, hero, these two great-souled, mighty ones will throw off this stupor.
पर्यवस्थापयात्मानमनाथं मां च वानर । सत्यधर्माभिरक्तानां नास्ति मृत्युकृतं भयम् ॥ ३३ ॥
“Steady yourself, and me who have no protector, monkey. For those devoted to truth and dharma there is no fear caused by death.”
एवमुक्त्वा ततस्तस्य जलक्लिन्नेन पाणिना । सुग्रीवस्य शुभे नेत्रे प्रममार्ज विभीषणः ॥ ३४ ॥
Having said this, Vibhishana then wiped Sugriva’s lovely eyes with a hand wet with water.
ततः सलिलमादाय विद्यया परिजप्य च । सुग्रीवनेत्रे धर्मात्मा प्रममार्ज विभीषणः ॥ ३५ ॥
Then, taking water and charming it with a spell, righteous Vibhishana wiped Sugriva’s eyes.
विमृज्य वदनं तस्य कपिराजस्य धीमतः । अब्रवीत् कालसम्प्राप्तमसम्भ्रान्तमिदं वचः ॥ ३६ ॥
Having wiped the face of the wise king of the monkeys, he said these timely words, unflustered:
न कालः कपिराजेन्द्र वैक्लव्यमवलम्बितुम् । अतिस्नेहोऽपि कालेऽस्मिन् मरणायोपकल्पते ॥ ३७ ॥
“This is not the time, great king of the monkeys, to give way to weakness; at this time even excessive affection leads to death.
तस्मादुत्सृज्य वैक्लव्यं सर्वकार्यविनाशनम् । हितं रामपुरोगाणां सैन्यानामनुचिन्तय ॥ ३८ ॥
“So, giving up weakness, which destroys every undertaking, think of the good of the armies led by Rama.
अथ वा रक्ष्यतां रामो यावत्संज्ञाविपर्ययः । लब्धसंज्ञौ हि काकुत्स्थौ भयं नौ व्यपनेष्यतः ॥ ३९ ॥
“Or let Rama be guarded until his senses return; when the two Kakutsthas regain consciousness they will remove our fear.
नैतत् किंचन रामस्य न च रामो मुमूर्षति । नह्येनं हास्यते लक्ष्मीर्दुर्लभा या गतायुषाम् ॥ ४० ॥
“This is nothing to Rama, and Rama is not about to die; for Lakshmi, who is hard for those whose life is spent to keep, will not leave him.
तस्मादाश्वासयात्मानं बलं चाश्वासय स्वकम् । यावत् सैन्यानि सर्वाणि पुनः संस्थापयाम्यहम् ॥ ४१ ॥
“So comfort yourself and comfort your own army, while I rally all the troops again.
एते हि फुल्लनयनास्त्रासादागतसाध्वसाः । कर्णे कर्णे प्रकथिता हरयो हरिसत्तम ॥ ४२ ॥
“For these monkeys, best of monkeys, their eyes wide, struck with alarm from fear, are whispering from ear to ear.
मां तु दृष्ट्वा प्रधावन्तमनीकं सम्प्रहर्षितम् । त्यजन्तु हरयस्त्रासं भुक्तपूर्वामिव स्रजम् ॥ ४३ ॥
“Seeing me running about, and the army cheered, let the monkeys throw off their fear like a garland already worn.”
समाश्वास्य तु सुग्रीवं राक्षसेन्द्रो विभीषणः । विद्रुतं वानरानीकं तत् समाश्वासयत् पुनः ॥ ४४ ॥
Having comforted Sugriva, Vibhishana, king of the rakshasas, comforted again the monkey army that had fled.
इन्द्रजित् तु महामायः सर्वसैन्यसमावृतः । विवेश नगरीं लङ्कां पितरं चाभ्युपागमत् ॥ ४५ ॥
And Indrajit, the great magician, surrounded by all his army, entered the city of Lanka and went to his father.
तत्र रावणमासाद्य अभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः । आचचक्षे प्रियं पित्रे निहतौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ ४६ ॥
Reaching Ravana there, bowing with joined palms, he told his father the welcome news: Rama and Lakshmana were killed.
उत्पपात ततो हृष्टः पुत्रं च परिषस्वजे । रावणो रक्षसां मध्ये श्रुत्वा शत्रू निपातितौ ॥ ४७ ॥
Then Ravana leapt up delighted and embraced his son in the midst of the rakshasas, hearing that his enemies were struck down.
उपाघ्राय च तं मूर्ध्नि पप्रच्छ प्रीतमानसः । पृच्छते च यथावृत्तं पित्रे तस्मै न्यवेदयत् ॥ ४८ ॥
Kissing him on the head, he asked him, his heart pleased; and to his father asking, he reported what had happened:
यथा तौ शरबन्धेन निश्चेष्टौ निष्प्रभौ कृतौ ॥ ४९ ॥
how those two had been made motionless and lustreless by the bond of arrows.
स हर्षवेगानुगतान्तरात्मा श्रुत्वा गिरं तस्य महारथस्य । जहौ ज्वरं दाशरथेः समुत्थं प्रहृष्टवाचाभिननन्द पुत्रम् ॥ ५० ॥
His inner self carried away by the rush of joy, hearing the words of that great chariot-warrior, he gave up the fever that had arisen from Dasharatha’s son and praised his son with delighted words.