Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 75 of 128 · 69 verses
The Monkeys Burn Lanka
Sugriva tells Hanuman: since Kumbhakarna and the princes are dead, Ravana cannot now hold out; let all the swift, strong monkeys take torches and attack Lanka. After sunset, at the terrible onset of night, the monkeys rush on the city with torches; the ugly-eyed guards flee. They set fire to the gate towers, terraces, streets, shrines and palaces; thousands of houses burn, and palaces like mountains crash to the ground. Aloe and sandal burn, and pearls, gems, diamonds and coral; linen and silk, wool, gold vessels and weapons; horses’ trappings, elephants’ neck-chains and girths, chariot fittings, armour of men and beasts, swords, bows, bowstrings, arrows, lances, goads and spears; furs and hides of tigers and birds, and palaces decorated with pearls and jewels. Hundreds of thousands of Lanka’s people burn: rakshasas in golden armour, garlanded and dressed, with eyes rolling from drink, staggering, with their loved ones’ clothes clinging to them, those eating and drinking, those asleep with their lovers on costly beds, those fleeing in fear with their children. The fire burns houses solid and deep, with golden half-moon roofs and lofty moon-terraces, painted windows and gem-and-coral inlays that seem to touch the sun, ringing with herons, peacocks, vinas and ornaments. Burning gates look like clouds wreathed in lightning; houses look like mountain peaks in a forest fire; fine women, asleep in the palaces and burning, throw off their ornaments and scream; buildings collapse like peaks struck by Indra’s thunderbolt. At night Lanka, with its blazing towers, looks like a grove of flowering kimshukas; with loose elephants and horses running in terror, it is like the ocean at the end of the world with its monsters thrashing; the sea, reflecting the fire, looks like a sea of blood. The cries of the women, choking in the smoke, are heard a hundred leagues away. Rakshasas who run out with burnt bodies are attacked by the waiting monkeys.
Healed, Rama and Lakshmana take up their bows; Rama twangs his like Shiva drawing his bow made of the Veda, and the sound terrifies the rakshasas above the shouts of monkeys and rakshasas; his arrows bring down the city’s gate tower like a peak of Kailasa. The rakshasa lords arm themselves; Sugriva orders the monkeys to hold the nearest gates and to kill anyone who disobeys. Ravana, furious, his rage visible in his limbs like Rudra’s, sends Kumbha and Nikumbha, Kumbhakarna’s sons, with Yupaksha, Shonitaksha, Prajangha and Kampana and many rakshasas. The light of their ornaments, the monkeys’ torches, the moon, the stars and the burning houses lights up the armies and the restless sea. The rakshasa army comes out with banners, swords, axes, terrible horses, chariots and elephants, blazing spears, maces and bows, ringing with bells, fragrant with perfume, garlands and wine, roaring like great clouds. The monkey army roars back and charges like moths into fire. A very fierce battle follows: monkeys strike with trees, rocks and fists; rakshasas cut off heads with arrows and swords; rakshasas go about with ears bitten off, heads split by fists and limbs broken by rocks. One kills a killer, one fells a feller, one abuses an abuser, one bites a biter; “Give!” “I give!” “Why torment me? Stand!” Rakshasas kill monkeys by tens and sevens, and monkeys kill rakshasas by tens and sevens, and surround the rakshasa army, its clothes torn and armour and banners cast off.
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ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजाः सुग्रीवो वानरेश्वरः । अर्थ्यं विज्ञापयंश्चापि हनूमन्तमिदं वचः ॥ १ ॥
Then radiant Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, making known the purpose, said these words to Hanuman:
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The Monkeys Burn Lanka 1 min read.
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यतो हतः कुम्भकर्णः कुमाराश्च निषूदिताः । नेदानीमुपनिर्हारं रावणो दातुमर्हति ॥ २ ॥
“Since Kumbhakarna has been killed and the princes slain, Ravana cannot now make a sally.
ये ये महाबलाः सन्ति लघवश्च प्लवंगमाः । लङ्कामभिपतन्त्वाशु गृह्योल्काः प्लवगर्षभाः ॥ ३ ॥
“Let all the leapers who are strong and quick, the bulls among leapers, take torches and rush quickly on Lanka.”
ततोऽस्तं गत आदित्ये रौद्रे तस्मिन् निशामुखे । लङ्कामभिमुखाः सोल्का जग्मुस्ते प्लवगर्षभाः ॥ ४ ॥
Then, when the sun had set, at that terrible beginning of the night, those bulls among leapers went with torches toward Lanka.
उल्काहस्तैर्हरिगणैः सर्वतः समभिद्रुताः । आरक्षस्था विरूपाक्षाः सहसा विप्रदुद्रुवुः ॥ ५ ॥
Rushed at on every side by hosts of monkeys with torches in their hands, the ugly-eyed guards suddenly fled.
गोपुराट्टप्रतोलीषु चर्यासु विविधासु च । प्रासादेषु च संहृष्टाः ससृजुस्ते हुताशनम् ॥ ६ ॥
At the gate towers, terraces and streets, in the various courtyards and in the palaces, delighted, they set fire.
तेषां गृहसहस्राणि ददाह हुतभुक् तदा । प्रासादाः पर्वताकाराः पतन्ति धरणीतले ॥ ७ ॥
The eater of offerings burned their thousands of houses then; palaces like mountains fell to the ground.
अगुरुर्दह्यते तत्र परं चैव सुचन्दनम् । मौक्तिका मणयः स्निग्धा वज्रं चापि प्रवालकम् ॥ ८ ॥
Aloe burned there, and the finest sandal, pearls and glossy gems, diamond and coral,
क्षौमं च दह्यते तत्र कौशेयं चापि शोभनम् । आविकं विविधं चौर्णं काञ्चनं भाण्डमायुधम् ॥ ९ ॥
linen burned there, and lovely silk, wool of many kinds, powders, gold vessels and weapons,
नानाविकृतसंस्थानं वाजिभाण्डपरिच्छदम् । गजग्रैवेयकक्ष्याश्च रथभाण्डांश्च संस्कृतान् ॥ १० ॥
horse trappings of many shapes and harness, elephants’ neck-chains and girths, and finished chariot fittings,
तनुत्राणि च योधानां हस्त्यश्वानां च वर्म च । खड्गा धनूंषि ज्याबाणास्तोमराङ्कुशशक्तयः ॥ ११ ॥
the armour of warriors and the mail of elephants and horses, swords, bows, bowstrings and arrows, lances, goads and spears,
रोमजं वालजं चर्म व्याघ्रजं चाण्डजं बहु । मुक्तामणिविचित्रांश्च प्रासादांश्च समन्ततः ॥ १२ ॥
things of hair, of horsetail, of hide, of tiger skin, many of birds, and palaces decorated with pearls and gems on every side:
विविधानस्त्रसंघातानग्निर्दहति तत्र वै । नानाविधान् गृहांश्चित्रान् ददाह हुतभुक् तदा ॥ १३ ॥
the fire burned there many kinds of collections of weapons; the eater of offerings burned many kinds of wonderful houses then,
आवासान् राक्षसानां च सर्वेषां गृहगृध्नुनाम् । हेमचित्रतनुत्राणां स्रग्भाण्डाम्बरधारिणाम् ॥ १४ ॥
and the dwellings of all the rakshasas, greedy for houses, wearing armour decorated with gold, wearing garlands, vessels and clothes,
सीधुपानचलाक्षाणां मदविह्वलगामिनाम् । कान्तालम्बितवस्त्राणां शत्रुसंजातमन्युनाम् ॥ १५ ॥
their eyes rolling from drinking liquor, walking unsteadily from drunkenness, their clothes held by their lovers, their anger born of their enemies,
गदाशूलासिहस्तानां खादतां पिबतामपि । शयनेषु महार्हेषु प्रसुप्तानां प्रियैः सह ॥ १६ ॥
with maces, tridents and swords in their hands, eating and drinking, asleep on costly beds with their loved ones,
त्रस्तानां गच्छतां तूर्णं पुत्रानादाय सर्वतः । तेषां शतसहस्राणि तदा लङ्कानिवासिनाम् ॥ १७ ॥
terrified, going quickly, taking their sons, on every side: hundreds of thousands of those who lived in Lanka
अदहत् पावकस्तत्र जज्वाल च पुनः पुनः । सारवन्ति महार्हाणि गम्भीरगुणवन्ति च ॥ १८ ॥
the fire burned there, and blazed again and again. Solid, costly, deep, full of qualities,
हेमचन्द्रार्धचन्द्राणि चन्द्रशालोन्नतानि च । तत्र चित्रगवाक्षाणि साधिष्ठानानि सर्वशः ॥ १९ ॥
with golden moons and half-moons, lofty with moon-terraces, with painted windows there, with foundations all round,
मणिविद्रुमचित्राणि स्पृशन्तीव दिवाकरम् । क्रौञ्चबर्हिणवीणानां भूषणानां च निःस्वनैः ॥ २० ॥
decorated with gems and coral, as if touching the sun, resounding with the cries of herons, peacocks and vinas, and of ornaments,
नादितान्यचलाभानि वेश्मान्यग्निर्ददाह सः । ज्वलनेन परीतानि तोरणानि चकाशिरे ॥ २१ ॥
houses like mountains, the fire burned. Surrounded by fire, the gates shone
विद्युद्भिरिव नद्धानि मेघजालानि घर्मगे । ज्वलनेन परीतानि गृहाणि प्रचकाशिरे ॥ २२ ॥
like masses of cloud bound with lightning at the end of summer. Surrounded by fire, the houses shone
दावाग्निदीप्तानि यथा शिखराणि महागिरेः । विमानेषु प्रसुप्ताश्च दह्यमाना वराङ्गनाः ॥ २३ ॥
like the peaks of a great mountain ablaze with forest fire. And fine women, asleep in the mansions, burning,
त्यक्ताभरणसंयोगा हाहेत्युच्चैर्विचुक्रुशुः । तत्र चाग्निपरीतानि निपेतुर्भवनान्यपि ॥ २४ ॥
throwing off the clasps of their ornaments, cried out loudly, “Alas!” And houses there, surrounded by fire, fell,
वज्रिवज्रहतानीव शिखराणि महागिरेः । तानि निर्दह्यमानानि दूरतः प्रचकाशिरे ॥ २५ ॥
like the peaks of a great mountain struck by the thunderbolt of the thunderbolt-wielder. Those houses, burning, shone from far off
हिमवच्छिखराणीव दह्यमानानि सर्वशः । हर्म्याग्रैर्दह्यमानैश्च ज्वालाप्रज्वलितैरपि ॥ २६ ॥
like the peaks of Himavat burning on every side. With the tops of the mansions burning and blazing with flames,
रात्रौ सा दृश्यते लङ्का पुष्पितैरिव किंशुकैः । हस्त्यध्यक्षैर्गजैर्मुक्तैर्मुक्तैश्च तुरगैरपि । बभूव लङ्का लोकान्ते भ्रान्तग्राह इवार्णवः ॥ २७ ॥
at night that Lanka looked like a grove of flowering kimshukas. With elephants let loose by their keepers and horses let loose too, Lanka became like the ocean at the end of the world with its monsters whirling.
अश्वं मुक्तं गजो दृष्ट्वा क्वचिद् भीतोऽपसर्पति । भीतो भीतं गजं दृष्ट्वा क्वचिदश्वो निवर्तते ॥ २८ ॥
Somewhere an elephant, seeing a horse let loose, moves away in fear; somewhere a frightened horse, seeing a frightened elephant, turns back.
लङ्कायां दह्यमानायां शुशुभे च महोदधिः । छायासंसक्तसलिलो लोहितोद इवार्णवः ॥ २९ ॥
As Lanka burned, the great ocean shone, its water caught by the reflection, like a sea of red water.
सा बभूव मुहूर्तेन हरिभिर्दीपिता पुरी । लोकस्यास्य क्षये घोरे प्रदीप्तेव वसुन्धरा ॥ ३० ॥
In a moment that city, set on fire by the monkeys, became like the earth ablaze at the terrible destruction of this world.
नारीजनस्य धूमेन व्याप्तस्योच्चैर्विनेदुषः । स्वनो ज्वलनतप्तस्य शुश्रुवे शतयोजनम् ॥ ३१ ॥
The sound of the women, filled with smoke, crying loudly, scorched by the fire, was heard a hundred leagues away.
प्रदग्धकायानपरान् राक्षसान् निर्गतान् बहिः । सहसा ह्युत्पतन्ति स्म हरयोऽथ युयुत्सवः ॥ ३२ ॥
As other rakshasas came out with their bodies burned, the monkeys, eager to fight, suddenly leapt on them.
उद्घुष्टं वानराणां च राक्षसानां च निःस्वनम् । दिशो दश समुद्रं च पृथिवीं च व्यनादयत् ॥ ३३ ॥
The shouting of the monkeys and the noise of the rakshasas made the ten directions, the ocean and the earth resound.
विशल्यौ च महात्मानौ तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ । असम्भ्रान्तौ जगृहतुस्ते उभे धनुषी वरे ॥ ३४ ॥
And those two great souls, Rama and Lakshmana, freed of the darts, unflustered, took up their two fine bows.
ततो विस्फारयामास रामश्च धनुरुत्तमम् । बभूव तुमुलः शब्दो राक्षसानां भयावहः ॥ ३५ ॥
Then Rama twanged his excellent bow; there was a tumultuous sound, frightening to the rakshasas.
अशोभत तदा रामो धनुर्विस्फारयन् महत् । भगवानिव संक्रुद्धो भवो वेदमयं धनुः ॥ ३६ ॥
Rama shone then, twanging his great bow, like the blessed Bhava, enraged, his bow made of the Veda.
उद्घुष्टं वानराणां च राक्षसानां च निःस्वनम् । ज्याशब्दस्तावुभौ शब्दावति रामस्य शुश्रुवे ॥ ३७ ॥
Above both sounds, the shouting of the monkeys and the noise of the rakshasas, the sound of Rama’s bowstring was heard.
वानरोद्घुष्टघोषश्च राक्षसानां च निःस्वनः । ज्याशब्दश्चापि रामस्य त्रयं व्याप दिशो दश ॥ ३८ ॥
The shouting of the monkeys, the noise of the rakshasas and the sound of Rama’s bowstring: these three filled the ten directions.
तस्य कार्मुकनिर्मुक्तैः शरैस्तत्पुरगोपुरम् । कैलासशृङ्गप्रतिमं विकीर्णमभवद् भुवि ॥ ३९ ॥
With arrows loosed from his bow, that gate tower of the city, like a peak of Kailasa, was scattered on the ground.
ततो रामशरान् दृष्ट्वा विमानेषु गृहेषु च । संनाहो राक्षसेन्द्राणां तुमुलः समपद्यत ॥ ४० ॥
Then, seeing Rama’s arrows in the mansions and houses, a tumultuous arming of the rakshasa lords took place.
तेषां संनह्यमानानां सिंहनादं च कुर्वताम् । शर्वरी राक्षसेन्द्राणां रौद्रीव समपद्यत ॥ ४१ ॥
As they armed and roared lions’ roars, the night became like a night of Rudra for the rakshasa lords.
आदिष्टा वानरेन्द्रास्ते सुग्रीवेण महात्मना । आसन्नं द्वारमासाद्य युध्यध्वं च प्लवंगमाः ॥ ४२ ॥
Those monkey lords were ordered by great-souled Sugriva: “Go to the nearest gate and fight, leapers.
यश्च वो वितथं कुर्यात् तत्र तत्राप्युपस्थितः । स हन्तव्योऽभिसम्प्लुत्य राजशासनदूषकः ॥ ४३ ॥
“And whoever among you does not do so, wherever he is, should be leapt on and killed as a violator of the king’s command.”
तेषु वानरमुख्येषु दीप्तोल्कोज्ज्वलपाणिषु । स्थितेषु द्वारमाश्रित्य रावणं क्रोध आविशत् ॥ ४४ ॥
As those chief monkeys, their hands bright with blazing torches, stood holding the gates, anger entered Ravana.
तस्य जृम्भितविक्षेपाद् व्यामिश्रा वै दिशो दश । रूपवानिव रुद्रस्य मन्युर्गात्रेष्वदृश्यत ॥ ४५ ॥
From the flinging of his yawning, the ten directions were confused; like Rudra’s wrath in bodily form, it was seen in his limbs.
स कुम्भं च निकुम्भं च कुम्भकर्णात्मजावुभौ । प्रेषयामास संक्रुद्धो राक्षसैर्बहुभिः सह ॥ ४६ ॥
Enraged, he sent Kumbha and Nikumbha, the two sons of Kumbhakarna, with many rakshasas.
यूपाक्षः शोणिताक्षश्च प्रजङ्घः कम्पनस्तथा । निर्ययुः कौम्भकर्णिभ्यां सह रावणशासनात् ॥ ४७ ॥
Yupaksha, Shonitaksha, Prajangha and Kampana went out with Kumbhakarna’s two sons at Ravana’s command.
शशास चैव तान् सर्वान् राक्षसान् स महाबलान् । राक्षसा गच्छताद्यैव सिंहनादं च नादयन् ॥ ४८ ॥
And the mighty one commanded all those rakshasas: “Rakshasas, go now, roaring lions’ roars.”
ततस्तु चोदितास्तेन राक्षसा ज्वलितायुधाः । लङ्काया निर्ययुर्वीराः प्रणदन्तः पुनः पुनः ॥ ४९ ॥
Then, urged by him, the heroic rakshasas with blazing weapons went out of Lanka, roaring again and again.
रक्षसां भूषणस्थाभिर्भाभिः स्वाभिश्च सर्वशः । चक्रुस्ते सप्रभं व्योम हरयश्चाग्निभिः सह ॥ ५० ॥
With the light of the rakshasas’ ornaments and their own, and the monkeys with their fires, they made the sky full of light on every side.
तत्र ताराधिपस्याभा ताराणां भा तथैव च । तयोराभरणाभा च ज्वलिता द्यामभासयत् ॥ ५१ ॥
There the light of the lord of stars, and likewise the light of the stars, and the light of the ornaments of those two armies, blazing, lit up the sky.
चन्द्राभा भूषणाभा च ग्रहाणां ज्वलतां च भा । हरिराक्षससैन्यानि भ्राजयामास सर्वतः ॥ ५२ ॥
The light of the moon, the light of the ornaments and the light of the blazing planets lit up the armies of monkeys and rakshasas on every side.
तत्र चार्धप्रदीप्तानां गृहाणां सागरः पुनः । भाभिः संसक्तसलिलश्चलोर्मिः शुशुभेऽधिकम् ॥ ५३ ॥
And there the ocean, its water caught again by the lights of the half-burnt houses, with its moving waves, shone all the more.
पताकाध्वजसंयुक्तमुत्तमासिपरश्वधम् । भीमाश्वरथमातङ्गं नानापत्तिसमाकुलम् ॥ ५४ ॥
With flags and banners, with the finest swords and axes, with terrible horses, chariots and elephants, crowded with many foot soldiers,
दीप्तशूलगदाखड्गप्रासतोमरकार्मुकम् । तद् राक्षसबलं भीमं घोरविक्रमपौरुषम् ॥ ५५ ॥
with blazing tridents, maces, swords, lances, darts and bows, that terrible rakshasa army, of fierce valour and manliness,
ददृशे ज्वलितप्रासं किङ्किणीशतनादितम् । हेमजालाचितभुजं व्यावेष्टितपरश्वधम् ॥ ५६ ॥
was seen with blazing lances, ringing with hundreds of little bells, its arms covered with nets of gold, its axes wrapped,
व्याघूर्णितमहाशस्त्रं बाणसंसक्तकार्मुकम् । गन्धमाल्यमधूत्सेकसम्मोदितमहानिलम् ॥ ५७ ॥
its great weapons whirling, its bows fitted with arrows, its great wind gladdened by the sprinkling of perfume, garlands and wine,
घोरं शूरजनाकीर्णं महाम्बुधरनिःस्वनम् । तद् दृष्ट्वा बलमायातं राक्षसानां दुरासदम् ॥ ५८ ॥
terrible, crowded with heroes, roaring like great clouds. Seeing that unassailable army of the rakshasas come,
संचचाल प्लवंगानां बलमुच्चैर्ननाद च । जवेनाप्लुत्य च पुनस्तद् बलं रक्षसां महत् ॥ ५९ ॥
the army of the leapers moved and roared loudly; and leaping again with speed, against that great army of the rakshasas,
अभ्ययात् प्रत्यरिबलं पतंगा इव पावकम् । तेषां भुजपरामर्शव्यामृष्टपरिघाशनि ॥ ६० ॥
it advanced against the enemy army like moths into a fire. With iron bars and thunderbolts stroked by the touch of their arms,
राक्षसानां बलं श्रेष्ठं भूयः परमशोभत । तत्रोन्मत्ता इवोत्पेतुर्हरयोऽथ युयुत्सवः ॥ ६१ ॥
the fine army of the rakshasas shone all the more. Then the monkeys, eager to fight, sprang up as if mad,
तरुशैलैरभिघ्नन्तो मुष्टिभिश्च निशाचरान् । तथैवापततां तेषां हरीणां निशितैः शरैः ॥ ६२ ॥
striking the night-wanderers with trees and rocks and fists; and likewise, as those monkeys came on, with sharp arrows
शिरांसि सहसा जह्रू राक्षसा भीमविक्रमाः । दशनैर्हतकर्णाश्च मुष्टिभिर्भिन्नमस्तकाः । शिलाप्रहारभग्नाङ्गा विचेरुस्तत्र राक्षसाः ॥ ६३ ॥
the rakshasas of terrible valour suddenly took their heads. With ears bitten off by teeth, heads split by fists, limbs broken by blows of rocks, the rakshasas went about there.
तथैवाप्यपरे तेषां कपीनामसिभिः शितैः । प्रवरानभितो जघ्नुर्घोररूपा निशाचराः ॥ ६४ ॥
And likewise other terrible-looking night-wanderers struck down the best of those monkeys on every side with sharp swords.
घ्नन्तमन्यं जघानान्यः पातयन्तमपातयत् । गर्हमाणं जगर्हान्यो दशन्तमपरोऽदशत् ॥ ६५ ॥
One struck another who was striking; one felled another who was felling; one abused another who was abusing; another bit one who was biting.
देहीत्यन्यो ददात्यन्यो ददामीत्यपरः पुनः । किं क्लेशयसि तिष्ठेति तत्रान्योन्यं बभाषिरे ॥ ६६ ॥
“Give!” said one; another gives; “I give,” said another again; “Why do you torment me? Stand!” they said to one another there.
विप्रलम्भितशस्त्रं च विमुक्तकवचायुधम् । समुद्यतमहाप्रासं मुष्टिशूलासिकुन्तलम् ॥ ६७ ॥
With weapons deceived, armour and weapons cast off, great lances raised, with fists, tridents, swords and lances,
प्रावर्तत महारौद्रं युद्धं वानररक्षसाम् । वानरान् दश सप्तेति राक्षसा जघ्नुराहवे ॥ ६८ ॥
a very terrible battle of monkeys and rakshasas went on; rakshasas killed monkeys by tens and sevens in battle,
राक्षसान् दश सप्तेति वानराश्चाभ्यपातयन् । विप्रलम्भितवस्त्रं च विमुक्तकवचध्वजम् । बलं राक्षसमालम्ब्य वानराः पर्यवारयन् ॥ ६९ ॥
and the monkeys struck down rakshasas by tens and sevens. The monkeys surrounded the rakshasa army, its clothes torn, its armour and banners cast off.