Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 37

नरवानरराजानौ स तु वायुसुतः कपिः। जाम्बवानृक्षराजश्च राक्षसश्च विभीषणः॥ अङ्गदो बालिपुत्रश्च सौमित्रिः शरभः कपिः। सुषेणः सहदायादो मैन्दो द्विविद एव च॥ गजो गवाक्षः कुमुदो नलोऽथ पनसस्तथा। अमित्रविषयं प्राप्ताः समवेताः समर्थयन्॥
Those, kings, man and monkey, that monkey the Wind-god's son, Jāmbavān-sovereign of bears—the Rākşasa, Vibhīşaņa, the son of Vālī, Angada, Sumitrā's son, the monkey, Sarabha, Susena along with his friends, Kumuda, Nala, and Panasa, arriving at the dominions of the enemy, assembled together, began to deliberate.

इयं सा लक्ष्यते लङ्का पुरी रावणपालिता। सासुरोरगगन्धर्वैः सर्वैरपि सुदुर्जया॥
Yonder is that Lankā ruled by Rāvana, invincible even to the celestials, serpents and Gandharvas.

कार्यसिद्धिं पुरस्कृत्य मन्त्रयध्वं विनिर्णये। नित्यं संनिहितो यत्र रावणो राक्षसाधिपः॥
Let us, keeping before us success in the enterprise, consult together for the purpose of arriving at a decision.

अथ तेषु ब्रुवाणेषु रावणावरजोऽब्रवीत्। वाक्यमग्राम्यपदवत्पुष्कलार्थं बिभीषणः॥
We are here daily nearing Răvaņa, lord of Raksasas. As they were speaking thus, Ravana's younger brother, Vibhīşaņa, said in a pregnant speech free from provinicialism.

अनलः पनसश्चैव संपातिः प्रमतिस्तथा। गत्वा लङ्कां ममामात्या पुरी पुनरिहागताः॥
Anala, Panasa, Sampāti and Pramāti— all courtiers of mine-having gone up to Lanka, have come back here.

भूत्वा शकुनयः सर्वे प्रविष्टाश्च रिपोर्बलम्। विधानं विहितं यच्च तदृष्ट्वा समुपस्थिताः॥
Wearing the forms of birds, they entered into the hostile forces; and, having seen the measures that had been adopted (by them, have come (back).

संविधानं यथाहुस्ते रावणस्य दुरात्मनः। राम तब्रुवतः सर्वं याथातथ्येन मे शृणु॥
O Rāma, hearken to me as I tell you truly anent the provisions which they have related, made by the wicked-minded Ravana.

पूर्व प्रहस्तः सबलो द्वारमासाद्य तिष्ठति। दक्षिणं च महावीर्यो महापार्श्वमहोदरौ॥ इन्द्रजित्पश्चिमं द्वारं राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतः। पट्टिशासिधनुष्मद्भिः शूलमुद्गरपाणिभिः॥ नानाप्रहरणैः शूरैरावृतो रावणात्मजः।
In the Eastern gate stay Prahasta along with his forces; in the Southern, the exceedingly powerful Mahāpārsva and Mahodara, and in the Western. Ravana's son, Indrajit, supported by innumerable Räkşasas, equipped with pattiśas, swords and bows, and bearing darts and maces in their hands, surrounded by heroes carrying various weapons.

राक्षसानां सहस्रेस्तु बहुभिः शस्त्रपाणिभिः॥ युक्तः परमसंविग्नो राक्षसैः सह मन्त्रवित्। उत्तरं नगरद्वारं रावणः स्वयमास्थितः॥
And, backed by many thousands of Räkşasas wielding weapons, and accompanied by Rākşasas conversant with counsel, Rāvana himself, his heart agitated to the height, gaurd the Northern gate of the city.

विरूपाक्षस्तु महता शूलमुद्गधनुष्मता। बलेन राक्षसैः सार्धं मध्यमं गुल्ममाश्रितः॥
Virüpākṣa with a powerful force accoutred in javelins, clubs and bows, protects the garrison in the centre.

एतानेवंविधान् गुल्मॉल्लङ्कायां समुदीक्ष्य ते। मामका मन्त्रिणः सर्वे शीघ्रं पुनरिहागताः॥
Having seen these hosts thus disposed in Lankä, my counsellors have speedily come back here.

गजानां दशसाहस्रं रथानामयुतं तथा। हयानामयुते द्वे च साग्रां कोटिं च रक्षसाम्॥
There are ten thousand elephants, an Ayuta cars, two of horses, and abouta koti of Raksasas, powerful and strong, and equipped with arms in conflict.* *These are, remarks the commentator, the leader.

विक्रान्ता बलवन्तश्च संयुगेष्वाततायिनः। इष्टा राक्षसराजस्य नित्यमेते निशाचराः॥ एकैकस्यात्र युद्धार्थे राक्षसस्य विशांपते। परीवारः सहस्राणां सहस्रमुपतिष्ठति॥
These night-rangers are ever the favourites of the Raksasa ruler. And, O kine, a koti of forces accompany each of these Rākşasas in battle.

एतां प्रवृत्तिं लङ्कायां मन्त्रिप्रोक्तां बिभीषणः। एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहू राक्षसांस्तानदर्शयत्॥ लङ्कायां सचिवैः सर्वं रामाय प्रत्यवेदयत्।
Having conveyed this information concerning Lankā, which had been communicated by his counsellors, the mighty-armed Vibhīşaņa showed (to Rama) those Raksasas themselves.

रामं कमलपत्राक्षमिदमुत्तरमब्रवीत्॥ रावणावरजः श्रीमानरामप्रियचिकीर्षया।
In company with his counsellors, Ravana's graceful younger brother, ever striving for the welfare of Rama, by way of answer communicated everything that was going forward in Lankā to Räma, having eyes resembling lotus leaves.

कुबेरं तु यदा राम रावणः प्रतियुद्ध्यति॥ षष्टिः शतसहस्राणि तदा निर्यान्ति राक्षसाः। पराक्रमेण वीर्येण तेजसा सत्त्वगौरवात्।। सदृशा ह्यत्र दर्पण रावणस्य दुरात्मनः॥
O Răma, when Rāvana battled with Kuvera, sixty lacs of Raksasas marched forth (to meet him). In prowess, energy, vigour, exceeding fortitude, and hauteur, they resembled the wicked-minded Ravana himself.

अत्र मन्युर्न कर्तव्यः कोपये त्वां न भीषये। समर्थो ह्यसि वीर्येण सुराणामपि निग्रहे॥
In this matter, you ought not to grow wroth, I only arouse your wrath, and do not endeavour to frighten you. You can subdue even the celestials by your prowess. *i.e. You ought not to be angry with me; for I do not frighten you, but rouse your wrath against Ravana.

तद्भवांश्चतुरङ्गेण बलेन महता वृतम्। व्यूह्येदं वानरानीकं निर्मथिष्यसि रावणम्॥
Therefore you, environed by a mighty army, having arrayed the monkey-forces in order of battle, shall thrash Ravana (in battle)

रावणावरजे वाक्यमेवं ब्रुवति राघवः। शत्रूणां प्रतिघातार्थमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
When Rāvana's younger brother had spoken thus, Rāghava, said these words with reference to his beating the foe.

पूर्वद्वारं तु लङ्काया नीलो वानरपुंगवः। प्रहस्तं प्रतियोद्धा स्याद्वानरैर्बहुभिर्वृतः॥
Let that foremost of monkey, Nila, surrounded to by an immense number of monkeys, cope with Prahasta at the Eastern gate of Lankā.

अङ्गदो वालिपुत्रस्तु बलेन महता वृतः। दक्षिणे बाधतां द्वारे महापार्श्वमहोदरौ॥
And, engirt by a mighty force, let Angada, son of Válī, resist Mahăpărśva and Mahodara at the Southern gate (thereof).

हनूमान्पश्चिमद्वारं निष्पीड्य पवनात्मजः। प्रविशत्वप्रमेयात्मा बहुभिः कपिभिर्वृतः॥
And let that son of the Wind-god, Hanuman, backed by innumerable monkeys, (beating the host stationed) at the Western gate, find entrance (into the city).

दैत्यदानवसङ्घानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्। विप्रकारप्रियः क्षुद्रो वरदानबलान्वितः॥ परिक्रमति यः सर्वांल्लोकान्संतापयन्प्रजाः। तस्याहं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य स्वयमेव वधे धृतः॥ उत्तरं नगरद्वारमहं सौमित्रिणा सह । निपीड्याभिप्रवेक्ष्यामि सबलो यत्र रावणः॥
I myself, determined compass the destruction of the lord of Räkşasas, who, waxing powerful in consequence of the boon he has received, has brought about the destruction of high-souled saints resembling gods and Dänavas, and who goes round all regions, oppressing people, will, along with Sumitra's son, smiting (the foe), occupy the Northern entiuile., where Rāvana with his army is stationed.

वानरेन्द्रश्च बलवानृक्षराजश्च वीर्यवान्। राक्षसेन्द्रानुनश्चैव गुल्मे भवतु मध्यमे॥
And let the powerful king of monkeys, and the puissant sovereign of bears, and the younger brother of the Raksasa-chief, manage the soldiery posted in the centre.

न चैव मानुषं रूपं कार्य हरिभिराहवे। एषा भवतु नः संज्ञा युद्धेऽस्मिन्वानरे बले॥ वानरा एव नश्चिहूं स्वजनेऽस्मिन्भविष्यति। वयं तु मानुषेणेव सप्त योत्स्यामहे परान्॥
In this battle, the monkeys need not assume the forms of human being. And let this serve for a sign that the monkeys, in order to the recognition of our own forces, appear with their proper monkey-marks. We seven only shall battle with the foe in human shapes, viz.

अहमेव सह भ्रात्रा लक्ष्मणेन महौजसा। आत्मना पञ्चमश्चायं सखा मम बिभीषणः॥
I along with my brother, the exceedingly energetic Lakşmaņa, and my friend Vibhīşaņa counting for the fifth in company with his own following.

स रामः कृत्यसिद्ध्यर्थमेवमुक्त्वा बिभीषणम्। सुवेलारोहणे बुद्धिं चकार मतिमान्प्रभुः।। रमणीयतरं दृष्ट्वा सुवेलस्य गिरेस्तटम्॥
Having said this to Vibhísaņa for attaining success in the enterprise, that lord, the intelligent Rāma, seeing the sides of Suvela more beautiful (than other places), intended to ascend it.

ततस्तु रामो महता बलेन प्रच्छाद्य सर्वां पृथिवीं महात्मा। प्रहृष्टरूपोऽभिजगाम लङ्कां कृत्वा मतिं सोऽरिवधे महात्मा॥
Then, environed by a mighty host, the highsouled and magnanimous Rāma, his features mirroring forth high exultation, overshadowing the entire Earth (with his forces), set out for Lankā, determined upon destroying the enemy.