Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 57 of 128 · 44 verses
Prahasta Marches Out
Hearing of Akampana’s death, Ravana, angry and somewhat downcast, looks at his ministers. After a moment’s thought and consultation he goes round Lanka (on the previous day he had inspected the camps), sees it guarded by many rakshasa posts and hung with banners, and, seeing it besieged, speaks to Prahasta, the expert in war. The city is suddenly under siege; I see no release except through battle. Only I, Kumbhakarna, you my commander, Indrajit or Nikumbha can bear such a burden. Take the army quickly and go out for victory to where the monkeys are. As soon as you sally, the monkey army will waver; hearing the roar of the rakshasa lords it will run, for monkeys are fickle, undisciplined and unsteady, and will not bear the roar any more than elephants a lion’s. When their army flees, Rama and Lakshmana, helpless and without support, will fall into your power. A danger that is uncertain is better than one that is certain; or do whatever you think best.
Prahasta answers as Ushanas might answer the king of the asuras: we discussed this before with able ministers and argued it out. I judged it best to give back Sita, and that if we did not, war would follow, as it has. You have always honoured me with gifts, respect and kind words; what would I not do for your good? I do not guard my life, my sons, wives or wealth; see me offer my life for you in battle. He orders the commanders to bring a great army quickly; let the flesh-eating birds be sated today on the forest-dwellers struck down by my arrows. The army is made ready; Lanka fills with rakshasa warriors like elephants; as they feed the sacred fire and bow to brahmanas, a fragrant breeze carries the smell of ghee, and they take consecrated garlands. Armed and armoured, they surround Prahasta. Taking leave of the king and sounding a terrible drum, Prahasta mounts his well-prepared chariot, drawn by swift horses, rumbling like a great cloud, bright as sun and moon, with a serpent banner and a net of gold, and goes out by the eastern gate with a great army like a herd of elephants, like Death the destroyer, preceded by his ministers Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata.
Evil omens surround him: birds of prey circle his chariot anticlockwise in a cloudless sky; jackals vomit fire and howl; a meteor falls; the wind blows harsh; the planets clash and lose their light; clouds rain blood on his chariot and his vanguard; a vulture perches on his flag facing south; the whip falls from his charioteer’s hand; the radiance of his setting out vanishes in a moment and his horses stumble on level ground. As Prahasta, famed for virtue and manliness, comes out, the monkey army advances with every kind of weapon, roaring, uprooting trees and grasping heavy rocks; both armies rejoice and challenge each other. And evil-minded Prahasta plunges into the monkey army as a moth bent on death flies into a fire.
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अकम्पनवधं श्रुत्वा क्रुद्धो वै राक्षसेश्वरः । किंचिद् दीनमुखश्चापि सचिवांस्तानुदैक्षत ॥ १ ॥
Hearing of Akampana’s death, the lord of the rakshasas, angry, and somewhat downcast in face, looked at his ministers.
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स तु ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं तु मन्त्रिभिः संविचार्य च । ततस्तु रावणः पूर्वदिवसे राक्षसाधिपः । पुरीं परिययौ लङ्कां सर्वान् गुल्मानवेक्षितुम् ॥ २ ॥
Having thought for a moment and deliberated with his ministers, Ravana, king of the rakshasas, who on the previous day had gone round the city of Lanka to inspect all the posts,
तां राक्षसगणैर्गुप्तां गुल्मैर्बहुभिरावृताम् । ददर्श नगरीं राजा पताकाध्वजमालिनीम् ॥ ३ ॥
saw the city, guarded by hosts of rakshasas, surrounded by many posts, garlanded with flags and banners.
रुद्धां तु नगरीं दृष्ट्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः । उवाचात्महितं काले प्रहस्तं युद्धकोविदम् ॥ ४ ॥
Seeing the city besieged, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, spoke at the right time words for his own good to Prahasta, skilled in war:
पुरस्योपनिविष्टस्य सहसा पीडितस्य ह । नान्ययुद्धात् प्रपश्यामि मोक्षं युद्धविशारद ॥ ५ ॥
“For the city, besieged and suddenly pressed, I see no release except through battle, you who are skilled in war.
अहं वा कुम्भकर्णो वा त्वं वा सेनापतिर्मम । इन्द्रजिद् वा निकुम्भो वा वहेयुर्भारमीदृशम् ॥ ६ ॥
“I, or Kumbhakarna, or you, my commander, or Indrajit, or Nikumbha, could bear such a burden.
स त्वं बलमतः शीघ्रमादाय परिगृह्य च । विजयायाभिनिर्याहि यत्र सर्वे वनौकसः ॥ ७ ॥
“So you, taking the army from here quickly and gathering it, go out for victory to where all the forest-dwellers are.
निर्याणादेव तूर्णं च चलिता हरिवाहिनी । नर्दतां राक्षसेन्द्राणां श्रुत्वा नादं द्रविष्यति ॥ ८ ॥
“At your very sally the monkey army will quickly waver; hearing the roar of the roaring rakshasa lords, it will run.
चपला ह्यविनीताश्च चलचित्ताश्च वानराः । न सहिष्यन्ति ते नादं सिंहनादमिव द्विपाः ॥ ९ ॥
“For monkeys are fickle, undisciplined and unsteady in mind; they will not bear that roar, as elephants do not bear a lion’s roar.
विद्रुते च बले तस्मिन् रामः सौमित्रिणा सह । अवशस्ते निरालम्बः प्रहस्त वशमेष्यति ॥ १० ॥
“And when that army flees, Rama with Saumitri, helpless, without support, will come into your power, Prahasta.
आपत्संशयिता श्रेयो नात्र निःसंशयीकृता । प्रतिलोमानुलोमं वा यत् तु नो मन्यसे हितम् ॥ ११ ॥
“A danger that is uncertain is better; here there is no certainty. Or whatever, for or against, you think is good for us.”
रावणेनैवमुक्तस्तु प्रहस्तो वाहिनीपतिः । राक्षसेन्द्रमुवाचेदमसुरेन्द्रमिवोशना ॥ १२ ॥
Spoken to so by Ravana, Prahasta, commander of the army, said this to the king of the rakshasas, as Ushanas to the king of the asuras:
राजन् मन्त्रितपूर्वं नः कुशलैः सह मन्त्रिभिः । विवादश्चापि नो वृत्तः समवेक्ष्य परस्परम् ॥ १३ ॥
“King, this was discussed before by us with able ministers, and a dispute arose among us as we considered it together.
प्रदानेन तु सीतायाः श्रेयो व्यवसितं मया । अप्रदाने पुनर्युद्धं दृष्टमेव तथैव नः ॥ १४ ॥
“I decided that the better course was to give back Sita; if she was not given back, war, as we have seen, would come to us.
सोऽहं दानैश्च मानैश्च सततं पूजितस्त्वया । सान्त्वैश्च विविधैः काले किं न कुर्यां हितं तव ॥ १५ ॥
“I have always been honoured by you with gifts and honours and with many kind words at the right time; what good would I not do for you?
नहि मे जीवितं रक्ष्यं पुत्रदारधनानि च । त्वं पश्य मां जुहूषन्तं त्वदर्थे जीवितं युधि ॥ १६ ॥
“My life is not to be guarded, nor my sons, wives and wealth; see me ready to offer my life in battle for your sake.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु भर्तारं रावणं वाहिनीपतिः । उवाचेदं बलाध्यक्षान् प्रहस्तः पुरतः स्थितान् ॥ १७ ॥
Having said this to his master Ravana, Prahasta, commander of the army, said this to the army chiefs standing before him:
समानयत मे शीघ्रं राक्षसानां महाबलम् । मद्बाणानां तु वेगेन हतानां च रणाजिरे ॥ १८ ॥
“Bring me quickly the great army of the rakshasas. Struck down on the battlefield by the force of my arrows,
अद्य तृप्यन्तु मांसादाः पक्षिणः काननौकसाम् । तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा बलाध्यक्षा महाबलाः ॥ १९ ॥
“let the flesh-eating birds be sated today with the forest-dwellers.” Hearing his words, the mighty army chiefs
बलमुद्योजयामासुस्तस्मिन् राक्षसमन्दिरे । सा बभूव मुहूर्तेन भीमैर्नानाविधायुधैः ॥ २० ॥
made the army ready in that palace of the rakshasas. In a moment Lanka became crowded with those rakshasa heroes, terrible, with many kinds of weapons,
लङ्का राक्षसवीरैस्तैर्गजैरिव समाकुला । हुताशनं तर्पयतां ब्राह्मणांश्च नमस्यताम् ॥ २१ ॥
as with elephants. As they satisfied the fire and bowed to the brahmanas,
आज्यगन्धप्रतिवहः सुरभिर्मारुतो ववौ । स्रजश्च विविधाकारा जगृहुस्त्वभिमन्त्रिताः ॥ २२ ॥
a fragrant breeze blew, carrying the scent of ghee; and they took garlands of many shapes, consecrated with mantras.
संग्रामसज्जाः संहृष्टा धारयन् राक्षसास्तदा । सधनुष्काः कवचिनो वेगादाप्लुत्य राक्षसाः ॥ २३ ॥
Ready for battle, delighted, the rakshasas then wore them. With bows and armour, the rakshasas leaping up swiftly,
रावणं प्रेक्ष्य राजानं प्रहस्तं पर्यवारयन् । अथामन्त्र्य तु राजानं भेरीमाहत्य भैरवाम् ॥ २४ ॥
looking at King Ravana, surrounded Prahasta. Then, taking leave of the king and beating a terrible drum,
आरुरोह रथं युक्तः प्रहस्तः सज्जकल्पितम् । हयैर्महाजवैर्युक्तं सम्यक्सूतं सुसंयतम् ॥ २५ ॥
Prahasta, equipped, mounted his chariot, made ready and equipped, yoked with very swift horses, with a skilled, well-controlled charioteer,
महाजलदनिर्घोषं साक्षाच्चन्द्रार्कभास्वरम् । उरगध्वजदुर्धर्षं सुवरूथं स्वपस्करम् ॥ २६ ॥
rumbling like a great cloud, bright as the moon and sun themselves, unassailable with its serpent banner, with a fine fender and good equipment,
सुवर्णजालसंयुक्तं प्रहसन्तमिव श्रिया । ततस्तं रथमास्थाय रावणार्पितशासनः ॥ २७ ॥
fitted with a net of gold, as if laughing with splendour. Then, mounting that chariot, charged with Ravana’s command,
लङ्काया निर्ययौ तूर्णं बलेन महता वृतः । ततो दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः पर्जन्यनिनदोपमः । वादित्राणां च निनदः पूरयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥ २८ ॥
he went quickly out of Lanka surrounded by a great army. Then the sound of kettledrums, like the roar of the rain god, and the sound of instruments, as if filling the earth,
शुश्रुवे शङ्खशब्दश्च प्रयाते वाहिनीपतौ । निनदन्तः स्वरान् घोरान् राक्षसा जग्मुरग्रतः ॥ २९ ॥
and the sound of conches were heard as the commander set out. Roaring terrible cries, the rakshasas went in front,
भीमरूपा महाकायाः प्रहस्तस्य पुरःसराः । नरान्तकः कुम्भहनुर्महानादः समुन्नतः । प्रहस्तसचिवा ह्येते निर्ययुः परिवार्य तम् ॥ ३० ॥
terrible in form, huge, going before Prahasta: Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata, Prahasta’s ministers, went out surrounding him.
व्यूढेनैव सुघोरेण पूर्वद्वारात् स निर्ययौ । गजयूथनिकाशेन बलेन महता वृतः ॥ ३१ ॥
In a very terrible array he went out by the eastern gate, surrounded by a great army like a herd of elephants.
सागरप्रतिमौघेन वृतस्तेन बलेन सः । प्रहस्तो निर्ययौ क्रुद्धः कालान्तकयमोपमः ॥ ३२ ॥
Surrounded by that army, with a flood like the ocean, Prahasta went out, angry, like Yama, the ender at the end of time.
तस्य निर्याणघोषेण राक्षसानां च नर्दताम् । लङ्कायां सर्वभूतानि विनेदुर्विकृतैः स्वरैः ॥ ३३ ॥
At the noise of his going out and of the roaring rakshasas, all the creatures in Lanka cried out with distorted voices.
व्यभ्रमाकाशमाविश्य मांसशोणितभोजनाः । मण्डलान्यपसव्यानि खगाश्चक्रू रथं प्रति ॥ ३४ ॥
Entering the cloudless sky, the eaters of flesh and blood, the birds, made anticlockwise circles toward the chariot.
वमन्त्यः पावकज्वालाः शिवा घोरा ववाशिरे । अन्तरिक्षात् पपातोल्का वायुश्च परुषं ववौ ॥ ३५ ॥
Terrible jackals howled, vomiting flames of fire; a meteor fell from the sky, and the wind blew harshly.
अन्योन्यमभिसंरब्धा ग्रहाश्च न चकाशिरे । मेघाश्च खरनिर्घोषा रथस्योपरि रक्षसः ॥ ३६ ॥
The planets, enraged with one another, did not shine; and clouds with harsh thunder over the rakshasa’s chariot
ववर्षू रुधिरं चास्य सिषिचुश्च पुरःसरान् । केतुमूर्धनि गृध्रस्तु विलीनो दक्षिणामुखः ॥ ३७ ॥
rained blood and drenched his vanguard. A vulture perched on the top of his banner, facing south,
नदन्नुभयतः पार्श्वं समग्रां श्रियमाहरत् । सारथेर्बहुशश्चास्य संग्राममवगाहतः ॥ ३८ ॥
crying on both sides, took away all his splendour. And again and again, as his charioteer plunged into the battle,
प्रतोदो न्यपतद्धस्तात् सूतस्य हयसादिनः । निर्याणश्रीश्च या च स्याद् भास्वरा च सुदुर्लभा ॥ ३९ ॥
the whip fell from the hand of the charioteer who drove the horses; and the radiance of his setting out, which is so hard to win and shining,
सा ननाश मुहूर्तेन समे च स्खलिता हयाः । प्रहस्तं तं हि निर्यान्तं प्रख्यातगुणपौरुषम् । युधि नानाप्रहरणा कपिसेनाभ्यवर्तत ॥ ४० ॥
was lost in a moment, and the horses stumbled on level ground. As Prahasta, famous for virtue and manliness, came out, the monkey army with many weapons advanced against him in battle.
अथ घोषः सुतुमुलो हरीणां समजायत । वृक्षानारुजतां चैव गुर्वीर्वै गृह्णतां शिलाः ॥ ४१ ॥
Then a very tumultuous cry arose from the monkeys, uprooting trees and grasping heavy rocks,
नदतां राक्षसानां च वानराणां च गर्जताम् । उभे प्रमुदिते सैन्ये रक्षोगणवनौकसाम् ॥ ४२ ॥
of rakshasas roaring and monkeys bellowing; both armies of rakshasa hosts and forest-dwellers rejoiced.
वेगितानां समर्थानामन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणाम् । परस्परं चाह्वयतां निनादः श्रूयते महान् ॥ ४३ ॥
The great noise of the swift, able ones, eager to kill each other, challenging each other, is heard.
ततः प्रहस्तः कपिराजवाहिनी- मभिप्रतस्थे विजयाय दुर्मतिः । विवृद्धवेगां च विवेश तां चमूं यथा मुमूर्षुः शलभो विभावसुम् ॥ ४४ ॥
Then evil-minded Prahasta set out against the army of the king of monkeys for victory, and entered that army of growing force as a moth that wishes to die enters a fire.