Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 101

शक्त्या निपातितं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन बलीयसा। लक्ष्मणं समरे शूरं शोणितौधपरिप्लुतम् ॥ स दत्त्वा तुमुलं युद्ध रावणस्य दुरात्मनः। विसृजन्नेव बाणौघान्सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत्॥
Seeing the heroic Lakşmaņa brought down by the dart discharged by the powerful Rāvana and lying drenched in blood, he (Rama) after having fought furiously with the wicked-minded Ravana-and having showered vollies of shafts, addressed Susena, saying.

एष रावणवीर्येण लक्ष्मणः पतितो भुवि। सर्पवच्चेष्टते वीरो मम शोकमुदीरयन्॥
This heroic Lakşmaņa brought down to the earth by the prowess of Rāvana, Leith like a serpent, enhancing my sorrow.

शोणितामिमं वीरं प्राणैः प्रियतरं मम। पश्यतो मम का शक्तिर्योद्धं पर्याकुलात्मनः॥
Seeing this hero dearer to me that life, what power have I, with my soul overwhelmed with dole, to fight?

अयं स समरश्लाघी भ्राता मे शुभलक्षणः। यदि पञ्चत्वमापन्नः प्राणैर्मे किं सुखेन वा॥
If this brother of mine graced with auspicious marks, delighting in battle, breathe his last, what shall life avail me or happiness?

लज्जतीव हि मे वीर्यं भ्रश्यतीव कराद्धनुः। सायका व्यवसीदन्ति दृष्टिर्बाष्पवशं गता॥
My prowess is ashamed; my bow fall off from my hand; my arrows droop; my sight is dimmed with tears; my limbs weaken as do those of men in a dream; thought racks me; and I even desire death.

अवसीदन्ति गात्राणि स्वप्नयाने नृणामिव। चिन्ता में वर्तते तीव्रा मुमूर्षापि च जायते।७।। भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा रावणेन दुरात्मना। विष्टनन्तं तु दुःखार्तं मर्मण्यभिहतं भृशम्॥ परं विषादमापन्नो विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः।
Seeming his brother wounded by the wickedminded Rāvana, crying in preternatural accents and sore stricken in his vitals, (Rāma) overcome by a mighty sorrow, lamented with his senses wildered.

भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणं रणपांसुषु॥ विजयोऽपि हि मे शूर न प्रियायोपकल्पते। अचक्षुर्विषयश्चन्द्रः कां प्रीतिं जनयिष्यति॥
Seeing my brother, Laksmana, wounded, and laying over the dust of the field, even victory, O hero, does not seem to me sweet. If the Moon is hid from the sight, whom does he then delight?

किं मे युद्धेन किं प्राणैयुद्धकार्यं न विद्यते। यत्रायं निहतः शेते रणमूर्धनि लक्ष्मणः॥
What have I to do with battle? What have I to do with life? I have no more to do anything with fighting, seeing that this Laksmana wounded, Leith in the field of battle.

यथैव मां वनं यान्तमनुयाति महाद्युतिः। अहमप्यनुयास्यामि तथैवैनं यमक्षयम्॥
As this highly effulgent one had followed me into the forest, so will I in the same way follow him to the abode of Yama.

इष्टबन्धुजनो नित्यं मां स नित्यमनुव्रतः। इमामवस्थां गमितो राक्षसैः कूटयोधिभिः॥
Ever seeking my welfare and ever devoted to me, he has been reduced to this pass by Rākṣasas fighting in crooked ways.

देशे देशे कलत्राणि देशे देशे च बान्धवाः। तं तु देशं न पश्यामि यत्र भ्राता सहोदरः॥
In land after land one meets with wives, in land after land one meets with friends, but country find I none where a uterine brother may be met with.

किं नु राज्येन दुर्धर्ष लक्ष्मणेन विना मम। कथं वक्ष्याम्यहं त्वम्बां सुमित्रां पुत्रवत्सलाम्॥
What, О irrepressible one, shall I do with the kingdom without my Lakşmaņa? And what shall I say to mother Sumitra, fond of her son?

उपालम्भं न शक्ष्यामि सोढुं दत्तं सुमित्रया। किं नु वक्ष्यामि कौसल्यां मातरं किं नु कैकयीम्।।१६।
I shall never be able to bear the reproach Sumitrā shall cast upon me. And what shall I say to Kausalyā and what to mother Kaikei?

भरतं किं नु वक्ष्यामि शत्रुघ्नं च महाबलम्। सह तेन वनं यातो विना तेनागतः कथम्॥
What shall I say to Bharata, and what to the exceedingly powerful Satrughna? You had gone to the woods with him. Why then did you come (back) without him?

इहैव मरणं श्रेयो न तु बन्धुविगर्हणम्। किं मया दुष्कृतं कर्म कृतमन्यत्र जन्मनि॥ येन मे धार्मिको भ्राता निहतश्चाग्रतः स्थितः।
It is better (for me) to renounce my life here, instead of bearing the censure of friends. What a sin had I committed in another birth, seeing that my virtuous brother, staying before me, has been slain?

हा भ्रातर्मनुजश्रेष्ठ शूराणां प्रवर प्रभो॥ एकाकी किं नु मां त्यक्वा परलोकाय गच्छसि।
Ah, my brother! You best of me! O master, who were the foremost of heroes! Why, forsaking me, did you repair to the other regions.

विलपन्तं च मां भ्रातः किमर्ष नावभाषसे॥ उत्तिष्ठ पश्य किं शेषे दीनं मां पश्य चक्षुषा।
Wherefore brother, did you not speak to me, who am lamenting? Get up See! Why did you lie down? Look on me with your eyes.

शोकार्तस्य प्रमत्तस्य पर्वतेषु वनेषु च॥ विषण्णस्य महाबाहो समाश्वासयिता मम।
O mighty-armed one, in the woods and mountains you did ever use to cheer me, tried by grief and pining in despondency, with my mind overwhelmed (with woe).

राममेवं ब्रुवाणं तु शोकव्याकुलितेन्द्रियम्॥ आश्वासयनुवाचेदं सुषेणः परमं वचः।
As Rāma was speaking thus with his senses overwhelmed with emotion, Sușeņa, soothing him, spoke these pregnant words.

त्यजेमां नरशार्दूल बुद्धिं वैक्लव्यकारिणीम्॥ शोकसंजननीं चिन्तां तुल्यां बाणैश्चमूमुखे।
O foremost of men, cast off this train of thought tending to overwhelm your understanding, this anxiety giving birth to grief, and resembling the shafts of foes in the van of the embattled forces.

नैव पञ्चत्वमापन्नो लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः॥ नह्यस्य विकृतं वक्रं न च श्यामत्वमागतम्। सुप्रभं च प्रसन्नं च मुखमस्य निरीक्ष्यताम्॥
Lakşmaņa enhancer of auspiciousness is not dead. His face is not distorted or blackened. Do you look at his countenance, which is beautifully bright and cheerful.

पद्मपत्रतलौ हस्तौ सुप्रसन्ने च लोचने। नेदृशं दृश्यते रूपं गतासूनां विशां पते॥
His hands have palms resembling lotus-petals, and his eyes are pleasant. O king, one dead does not look thus.

विषादं मा कृथा वीर सप्राणोऽयमरिंदम। आख्याति तु प्रसुप्तस्य स्रस्तगात्रस्य भूतले॥ सोच्छ्वासं हृदयं वीर कम्पमानं मुहुर्मुहुः।
(Therefore,) O hero, do not grieve. O subduer of enemies this one is instinct with life. As he is lying down on the ground, stretched at length, his respiration.

एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः सुषेणो राघवं वचः॥ समीपस्थमुवाचेदं हनूमन्तं महाकपिम्।
Having spoken thus to Răghava, the highly wise Suşeņa thus addressed the mighty monkeys, Hanumān, saying.

सौम्य शीघ्रमितो गत्वा पर्वतं हि महोदयम्॥ पूर्व तु कथितो योऽसौ वीर जाम्बवता तव। दक्षिणे शिखरे जातां महौषधिमिहानयः॥ विशल्यकरणी नाम्ना सावर्ण्यकरणी तथा। संजीवकरणी वीर संधानी च महौषधीम्॥ संजीवनार्थं वीरस्य लक्ष्मणस्य त्वमानय।
O placid one hieing hence to the mountain, Mahodaya, which, O hero had formerly been mentioned to you by Jāmbavan bring hither the mighty drug sprung at it right summitVisalyakarani by name, and Savarnyakarani.* and Sañjīvakaraņi O hero, and the potent medicine-Sandhāni. Do you bring (these) in order that the hero-Laksmana-May be revived. *Lit.-that which restores the former complexion.

इत्येवमुक्तो हनुमान्गत्वा चौषधिपर्वतम्।। चिन्तामभ्यमच्छीमानजानंस्ता महौषधीः॥
Having been thus in strutted, Hanuman, repairing to the medicinal mountain, was wrought up with anxiety not knowing the drugs.

तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना मारुतेरमितौजसः। इदमेव गमिष्यामि गृहीत्वा शिखरं गिरेः॥
Then the thought sprang up in the mind of the Wind-god's offspring of immeasurabie prowess, I shall go, even taking this (entire) summit of the mountain.

अस्मिंस्तु शिखरे जातामोषधीं तां सुखावहाम्। प्रतर्केणावगच्छामि सुषेणो ह्येवमब्रवीत्॥
In this very summit must that delightful drug have sprung. This I inter, inasmuch as Susena had forsooth said so.

अगृह्य यदि गच्छामि विशल्यकरणीमहम्। कालात्ययेन दोषः स्याद्वैक्लव्यं च महद्भवेत्।।३५
If I fail to take Visalyakaraṇī, I shall come by disgrace, and if I spend much time (in thought), that would be fraught with evil.)* *Explains the commentator: 'If I take any other medicine by mistake, I shall make a fool of myself; if I spend much time in though, Laksmana may die.

इति संचिन्त्य हनुमान्गत्वा क्षिप्रं महाबलः। आसाद्य पर्वतश्रेष्ठं त्रिः प्रकम्प्य गिरेस्तटम्॥ फुल्लनानातरुगणं समुत्पाट्य महाबलः। गृहीत्वा हरिशार्दूलो हस्ताभ्यां समतोलयत्॥
Having reflected thus the exceedingly powerful Hanumăn, foremost of monkeysswiftly drawing up to that best of mountains and giving three shakes to the mountain filled with various flowering trees-raised it up with his hands.

स नीलमिव जीमूतं तोयपूर्ण नभस्तलात्। उत्पपात गृहीत्वा तु हनूमाशिखरं गिरेः॥
And taking that summit of the mountain resembling dark-blue clouds charged with rain, Hanumān from the earth bounded up in the sky.

समागम्य महावेगः संन्यस्य शिखरं गिरेः। विश्रम्य किंचिद्धनुमान्सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत् ॥
Arriving (at his quarters) that wondrous vehement one putting down the mountain-peak, and reposing for a while, spoke to Susena.

औषधी वगच्छामि ता अहं हरिपुङ्गव। तदिदं शिखरं कृत्स्नं गिरेस्तस्याहृतं मया॥
I did not find the drug, O best of monkeys; and therefore have I brought this entire summit of the mountain.

एवं कथयमानं तु प्रशस्य पवनात्मजम्। सुषेणो वानरश्रेष्ठो जग्राहोत्पाट्य चौषधीः।॥
When the Wind-god's offspring had spoken thus, that foremost of monkeys-Susena-praising him uprooted the herb and secured it.

विस्मितास्तु बभूवुस्ते सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः। दृष्ट्वा तु हनुमत्कर्म सुरैरपि सुदुष्करम्।॥
Seeing Hanuman's feat incapable of being done by even the celestials, the choice of the monkeys were amazed.

ततः संक्षोदयित्वा तामोषधीं वानरोत्तमः। लक्ष्मणस्य ददौ नस्तः सुषेणः सुमहाद्युतिः॥
Then crushing the healing herb, that best of monkeys-the exceedingly effulgent Sușeņa, made Laksmana smell the same.

सशल्यः स समाघ्राय लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। विशल्यो विरुनः शीघ्रमुदतिष्ठन्महीतलात्॥
Thereupon the wounded Lakşmana, slayer of hostile heroes-smelling it, curd of his wound and ailments, speedily rose up from the ground.

तमुत्थितं तु हरयो भूतलात्प्रेक्ष्य लक्ष्मणम्। साधुसाध्विति सुप्रीता लक्ष्मणं प्रत्यपूजयन्॥
Seeing Lakşmaņa rise up from the earth, the monkeys, exceedingly rejoiced, honouring Laks mana, exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!"

एोहीत्यब्रवीद्रामो लक्ष्मणं परवीरहा। सस्वजे गाढमालिङ्गय बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः॥
“Come!” said that slayer of hostile heroesRāma and with his eyes filled with tears, he deeply embraced Lakşmaņa.

अब्रवीच्च परिष्वज्य सौमित्रिं राघवस्तदा। दिष्ट्या त्वां वीर पश्यामि मरणात्पुनरागतम्।।४७
Having embraced Sumitra's son, Raghava then addressed him saying, “By good fortune it is that, O hero, I see you returned from (the mansion of ) Death.

न हि मे जीवितेनार्थः सीतया च जयेन वा। को हि मे जीवितेनार्थस्त्वयि पञ्चत्वमागते॥
Verily my life, or Sită, or Victory is worthless (without you). And you being dead what is my life worth?

इत्येवं ब्रुवतस्तस्य राघवस्य महात्मनः। खिनः शिथिलया वाचा लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
When the high-souled Raghava had spoken thus, Lakşmaņa, aggrieved on account of the words (of Rāghava) expressive of infirmity of purpose, said.

तां प्रतिज्ञा प्रतिज्ञाय पुरा सत्यपराक्रम। लघुः कश्चिदिवासत्त्वो नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥
Having bound yourself by that vow, it does not, O you having truth for prowess, behove you to speak like one fickle and feeble.

नहि प्रतिज्ञां कुर्वन्ति वितथा सत्यवादिनः। लक्षणं हि महत्त्वस्य प्रतिज्ञापरिपालनम्॥ नैराश्यमुपगन्तुं च नालं ते मत्कृतेऽनघ। वधेन रावणस्याद्य प्रतिज्ञामनुपालय॥
Those speaking the truth, never falsify their promise: the mark of a great one is even observance of vow. O sinless one, do not suffer yourself to be overcome by despair on my account. Do you today by slaying Rāvaņa, make your promise good.

न जीवन्यास्यते शत्रुस्तव बाणवशं गतः। नर्दतस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रस्य सिंहस्येव महागजः॥
Your foe coming within the sway of your shafts will not hence, living, even like a mighty elephant coming before a sharp-toothed roaring lion.

अहं तु वधमिच्छामि शीघ्रमस्य दुरात्मनः। यावदस्तं न यात्येष कृतकर्मा दिवाकरः॥
I wish the speedy destruction of this impious one, ere the maker of day, having performed his work, has ascended the Setting-hill.

यदि वधमिच्छसि रावणस्य संख्ये यदि च कृतां हि तवेच्छसि प्रतिज्ञाम्। यदि तव राजसुताभिलाष आर्य कुरु च वचो मम शीघ्रमद्य वीर॥
If you wish to slay Råvaņa in battle, if your desire to recover the princess, then, O noble one, O hero, today speedily set about what I say.

अहं तु वधमिच्छामि शीघ्रमस्य दुरात्मनः। यावदस्तं न यात्येष कृतकर्मा दिवाकरः॥
I wish the speedy destruction of this impious one, ere the maker of day, having performed his work, has ascended the Setting-hill.

यदि वधमिच्छसि रावणस्य संख्ये यदि च कृतां हि तवेच्छसि प्रतिज्ञाम्। यदि तव राजसुताभिलाष आर्य कुरु च वचो मम शीघ्रमद्य वीर॥
If you wish to slay Råvaņa in battle, if your desire to recover the princess, then, O noble one, O hero, today speedily set about what I say.