Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 30

ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलं लङ्काधिपतये चराः। सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन्॥
Then the spies communicated to Lankā's lord news concerning Rāghava and his host stationed at the mount Suvela.

चाराणां रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं रामं महाबलम्। जातोद्वेगोऽभवत्किचिच्छार्दूलं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
Hearing the words of the spies, that Rama, accompanied by a mighty army, had arrived (there), Rāvana was a little agitated and spoke to Sardula.

अयथावच्च ते वर्णो दीनश्चासि निशाचर। नासि कच्चिदमित्राणां क्रुद्धानां वशमागतः॥
Your colour has changed its natural aspect, and O ranger of the night, you look poorly. Did not come under the control of the wrathful foes?

इति ते नानुशिष्टस्तु वाचं मन्दमुदीरयन्। तदा राक्षसशार्दूलं शार्दूलो भयविक्लवः॥
Thus ordered by him, then (Sārdula), bewildered by fear, addressed that tiger of a Raksasa, saying.

न ते चारयितुं शक्या राजन्वानरपुंगवाः। विक्रान्ता बलवन्तश्च राघवेण च रक्षिताः॥
Those powerful monkeys, o king, puissant, strong, and protected by Rāghava, are incapable of being ranged (by us). or

नापि संभाषितुं शक्याः संप्रश्नोऽत्र न लभ्यते। सर्वतो रक्ष्यते पन्था वानरैः पर्वतोपमैः॥
They cannot be conversed with interrogated. All around, the courses are kept by monkeys resembling hills.

प्रविष्टमात्रे ज्ञातोऽहं बले तस्मिन्विचारिते। बलादृहीतो रक्षोभिर्बहुधास्मि विचारितः॥
As soon as I entered, and was scanning that host, I was discovered. And forcibly taken by the Rākşasa, I was pulled by them hither and thither.

जानुभिर्मुष्टिभिर्दन्तैस्तलैश्चाभिहतो भृशम्। परिणीतोऽस्मि हरिभिर्बलमध्ये अमर्षणैः॥
And furiously assailed by the monkeys with thighs, clenched fists, teeth, and palms, I was dragged in the midst of the army by the enraged monkeys.

परिणीय च सर्वत्र नीतोऽहं रामसंसदि। रुधिरस्राविदीनाङ्गो विह्वलश्चलितेन्द्रियः॥
And, after having been taken all about, I was (at length) taken before Rāma, bleeding, with my limbs showing sorry work, and my senses swimming and paralysed.

हरिभिर्वध्यमानश्च याचमानः कृताञ्जलिः। राघवेण परित्रातो मामेति च यदृच्छया॥
And, having been belaboured by the monkeys, I, on craving his kindness with joined hands, was, at his pleasure, rescued by Rāghava, with, Don't, don't!

एष शैलशिलाभिस्तु पूरयित्वा महार्णवम्। द्वारमाश्रित्य लङ्काया रामस्तिष्ठति सायुधः।।११
Having filled up the deep with rocks and crags, Rāma equipped with weapons, stay, occupying the gate of Lanka.

गरुडव्यूहमास्थाय सर्वतो हरिभिर्वृतः। मां विसृज्य महातेजा लङ्कामेवातिवर्तते॥
And, letting me off, that one of suspassing vigour, surrounded by monkeys, and, arranging his forces in the Garuda fashion, advance upon Lanka.

पुरा प्राकारमायाति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु। सीतां वापि प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम्॥
He draw nigh to the wall. Therefore, do one of these things in preference to the other, either render back Sītā, or give him battle.

मनसा तत्तदा प्रेक्ष्य तच्छुत्वा राक्षसाधिपः। शार्दूलं सुमहद्वाक्यमथोवाच स रावणः॥
Hearing this, Ravana, lord of Raksasas, then reflecting in his mind, spoke to Sārdula these pregnant words.

यदि मां प्रतियुद्ध्यन्ते देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। नैव सीता प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि॥
Even if the gods, Gandharvas, and Dānavas should array themselves against me, Sītā I shall not give, from fear of all creatures.

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा रावणः पुनरब्रवीत्। चरिता भवता सेना केऽत्र शूराः प्लवंगमाः॥
Having said this, that exceedingly energetic one again said,You have ranged this army. Who here among the monkeys are heroic?

किंप्रभाः कीदृशाः सौम्य वानरा ये दुरासदाः। कस्य पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तत्त्वमाख्याहि सुव्रत॥
O amiable one, what is their potency? And what are those monkeys that are hard to approach, like? And, O you of fair vows, whose sons and grandsons are they? Truly relate all this (to me).

तथात्र प्रतिपत्स्यापि ज्ञात्वा तेषां बलाबलम्। अवश्यं खलु संख्यानं कर्तव्यं युद्धमिच्छता।।१८
Having ascertained their strength and weakness, I shall in this matter adopt my course. Those who wish for fight, certainly take account of all this.

अथैवमुक्तः शार्दूलो रावणेनोत्तमश्चरः। इदं वचनमारेभे वक्तुं रावणसंनिधौ॥
Thus addressed by Rāvana, Sārdula—best of spies-thus began to speak in the presence of Ravana.

अथर्भरजसः पुत्रो युधि राजन्सुदुर्जयः। गद्गदस्याथ पुत्रोऽत्र जाम्बवानिति विश्रुतः॥
O king, that unconquerable one in fight, Jāmbavān, is well known as the son Gadgada, king of bears.

गद्गदस्याथ पुत्रोऽन्यो गुरुपुत्रः शतक्रतोः। कदनं यस्य पुत्रेण कृतमेकेन रक्षसाम्॥
The other son of Gadgada is the son of Śakra's preceptor. By which son, single-handed, was done immense oppression to the Rākṣasa.

सुषेणश्चात्र धर्मात्मा पुत्रो धर्मस्य वीर्यवान्। सौम्यः सोमात्मजश्चात्र राजन्दधिमुखः कपिः॥
The righteous and puissant Sușeņa is the son of Dharma. And the mild monkey, Dadhimukha, O king, is the son of Soma. 1. Righteousness. 2. Moon.

सुमुखो दुर्मुखश्चात्र वेगदर्शी च वानरः। मृत्युर्वानररूपेण नूनं सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा॥
And Sumukha, Durmukha and the monkey, vegadarcin (resembling) Death himself, were for certain begot by the Self-create in the shape of a monkey.* *Another meaning is, “The monkey, Vegadarsi who is death himself in the shape of a monkey." But I give the acceptable sense.

पुत्रो हुतवहस्यात्र नीलः सेनापतिः स्वयम्। अनिलस्य तु पुत्रोऽत्र हनूमानिति विश्रुतः॥
Nīla himself is the son of the bearer of sacrificial oblations;* and Hanumán is famed as the son of the Wind-god. * Fire.

नप्ता शक्रस्य दुर्धर्षो बलवानङ्गदो युवा। मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभौ बलिनावश्विसंभवौ॥
The irrepressible and youthful Angada is the grandson of Śakra. And the lusty Mainda and Dvivida are sprung from Aśvi.

पुत्रा वैवस्वतस्याथ पञ्च कालान्तकोपमाः। गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः॥
And five are the sons of Vaivasvata, resembling the Reaper himself, Gaya, Gavāks a, gavaya, Sarabha and Gandhamādana.

दश वानरकोट्यश्च शूराणां युद्धकाक्षिणाम्। श्रीमतां देवपुत्राणां शेष नाख्यातुमुत्सहे॥
But I can not enumerate the rest, ten koțis of heroic monkeys-all sons of deities—burning for battle.

पुत्रो दशरथस्यैष सिंहसंहननो युवा। दूषणो निहतो येन स्वरश्च त्रिशिरास्तथा॥
And this is Dasaratha's son—this you resembling a lion, who slew Düşana and Khara and Triſiras.

नास्ति रामस्य सदृशो विक्रमे भुवि कश्चन। विराधो निहतो येन कबन्धश्चान्तकोपमः॥
There breathes none on Earth that is like to Rāma in prowess, by whom was slain Virādha and Kabandha, resembling the Destroyer.

वक्तुं न शक्तो रामस्य गुणान्कश्चिन्नरः क्षितौ। जनस्थानगता येन तावन्तो राक्षसा हताः॥
No person can on earth describe the virtues of Rāma; by whom have been slain all those Rākşasas that had gone to Janasthāna.

लक्ष्मणश्चात्र धर्मात्मा मातङ्गानामिवर्षभः। यस्य बाणपथं प्राप्य न जीवेदपि वासवः॥
Here also is the virtuous Lakşmaņa, like to the foremost of elephants, coming in the way of whose shafts, even Vasava does not live.

श्वेतो ज्योतिर्मुखश्चात्र भास्करस्यात्मसंभवौ। वरुणस्याथ पुत्रोऽथ हेमकूटः प्लवंगमः॥
And here are ſveta and Jyotirmukha, sprung from Vāskara's self; and the monkey Hemakūta is the son of Varuna.

विश्वकर्मसुतो वीरो नलः प्लवगसत्तमः। विक्रान्तो वेगवानत्र वसुपुत्रः स दुर्धरः॥
The heroic Nalabest of monkeys, is the son of Viśvakarmă. And powerful and impetuous, Durdhara is the son of Vasu.

राक्षसानां वरिष्ठश्च तव भ्राता विभीषणः। प्रतिगृह्य पुरीं लङ्कां राघवस्य हिते रतः॥
That foremost of Rāksasas, Vibhisana, your brother, engaged in the welfare of Raghava, has laid seige to Lankā.

इति सर्वं समाख्यातं तथा वै वानरं बलम्। सुवेलेऽधिष्ठितं शैले शेषकार्ये भवान्गतिः॥
Thus have I described to you the entire monkey host stationed in mount Suvela. As for what remain to be done, you are the master.