Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 42

ततस्ते राक्षसास्तत्र गत्वा रावणमन्दिरम्। न्यवेदयन्पुरीं रुद्धां रामेण सह वानरैः॥
Then those Rākşasas, going to that subduer of enemies, Rāvana, informed him that Rāma along with the monkeys had laid siege to the city.

रुद्धां तु नगरी श्रुत्वा जातक्रोधो निशाचरः। विधानं द्विगुणं श्रुत्वा प्रासादं चाप्यरोहत॥
Hearing the city besieged, the night-ranger was enraged. And, hearing that double arrangements had been made (by Rāma) in guarding the gateways (Råvaņa) ascended the palace.

स ददर्श वृतां लङ्कां सशैलवनकाननाम्। असंख्येयैर्हरिंगणैः सर्वतो युद्धकाटिभिः॥
He saw Lanka with her hills, woods, and forests, covered everywhere with innumerable monkeys eager for encounter.

स दृष्ट्वा वानरैः सर्वैर्वसुधां कपिलीकृताम्। कथं क्षपयितव्याः स्युरिति चिन्तापरोऽभवत्॥
He saw the entire Earth tawneyed with the monkeys; and he reflected within himself how he could destroy these.

स चिन्तयित्वा सुचिरं धैर्यमालम्ब्य रावणः। राघवं हरियूथांश्च ददर्शायतलोचनः॥
And reflecting for long, Rāvana having expansive eyes, Assuming patience, gazed at Rāghava and the leader of monkeys.

राघवः सह सैन्येन मुदितो नाम पुप्लुवे। लङ्कां ददर्श गुप्तां वै सर्वतो राक्षसैर्वृताम्॥
Rāghava with his host was fast approaching (the wall); and Ravana saw Lanka defended on all sides by Rākşasas.

दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम्। जगाम मनसा सीतां दूयमानेन चेतसा॥
Dasaratha's son, seeing Lankā crowned with variegated ensigns and standards, mentally went to Sītā, with a sad heart.

अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी मत्कृते जनकात्मजा। पीड्यते शोकसंतप्ता कृशा स्थण्डिलशायिनी॥
For my sake, here that one. Janaka's daughter, having eyes resembling those of a young deer, is undergoing affliction; and Leith down on the ground.

निपीड्यमानां धर्मात्मा वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन्। क्षिप्रमाज्ञापयद्रामो वानरान्द्विषतां वधे॥
And aggrieved at the thought of Vaidehī; the righteous Rāma speedily commanded the monkeys to compass the destruction of the enemies.

एवमुक्ते तु वचसि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। संघर्षमाणाः प्लवगाः सिंहनादैरपूरयन्॥
As Rāma of untiring deeds said this, the monkeys, filling (The air) with leonine roars, began to press forward furiously.

शिखरैर्विकिरामैतां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा। इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरियूथपाः॥
"We shall cleave Lankā with mountainpeaks, or with our blows" thus thought the leaders within themselves.

उद्यम्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महान्ति शिखराणि च। तरूंश्चोत्पाट्य विविधांस्तिष्ठन्ति हरियूथपाः॥
The monkey-leaders stood, raising up gigantic mountain peaks and tops of mountains, and rooting up various trees.

प्रेक्षतो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य तान्यनीकानि भागशः। राघवप्रियकामार्थ लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा॥
And for doing what was dear to Rāma, that army, divided into separate parties, in the presence of the Raksasa chief commenced scaling Lanka.

ते ताम्रवक्त्रा हेमाभा रामार्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। लङ्कामेवाभ्यवर्तन्त सालभूधरयोधिनः॥
Those copper-faced once of golden sheen, who had consecrated their lives to the service of Rāma, equipped with trees and rocks, began to throng upon Lankā.

ते दुमैः पर्वतायैश्च मुष्टिभिश्च प्लवंगमाः। प्राकाराग्राण्यसंख्यानि ममन्थुस्तोरणानि च ॥ परिखान्पूरयन्तश्च प्रसनसलिलाशयान्। पांसुभिः पर्वतायैश्च तृणैः काष्ठैश्च वानराः॥
The monkeys with trees and hill-tops and blows crushed countless gates and tops of walls; and they filled the moat containing crystal water with dust, tops of crags, straw, and wood.

ततः सहस्रयूथाश्च कोटियूथाश्च यूथपाः। कोटियूथशताश्चान्ये लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा॥
Then leader of thousands and koțis and hundreds of koțis began to scale Lanka.

काञ्चनानि प्रमर्दन्तस्तोरणानि प्लवंगमाः। कैलासशिखराग्राणि गोपुराणि प्रमथ्य च॥ आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः। लङ्कां तामभिधावन्ति महावारणसंनिभाः॥
The monkeys crushed golden gateways; and, breaking down gates resembling the tops of the summits of Kailasa, bounded roaring, some towards the wall and some all around. And resembling gigantic elephants, they rushed towards Lankā.

जयत्युरुबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः॥ इत्येवं घोषयन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः। अभ्यधावन्त लङ्कायाः प्राकारं कामरूपिणः॥
Victory to the mighty Rāma, and victory to the exceedingly powerful Lakşmaņa, and Victory to king Sugriva, who is protected by Rāghava.' Thus shouting, those monkeys, wearing forms at will, sending up roars, rushed amain towards the wall of Lankā.

वीरबाहुः सुबाहुश्च नलश्च पनसस्तथा। निपीड्योपनिविष्टास्ते प्राकारं हरियूथपाः।। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चक्रुः स्कन्धावारनिवेशनम्॥
And Virabăhu, Subāhu, Nala and Panasaleader of monkeys-breaking (a portion of) the wall, took up their post there. In the meantime, (they) arranged the forces in order of battle.

पूर्वद्वारं तु कुमुदः कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ हरिभिर्जितकाशिभिः॥
The strong Kumuda, surrounded by ten kotis of victorious monkeys, stood obstruction the Estern gate.

सहायार्थे तु तस्यैव निविष्टः प्रसभो हरिः। पनसश्च महाबाहुर्वानरैरभिसंवृतः॥
For backing him, there remained the monkey, Prasabha, as also the long-armed Panasa, surrounded by monkeys.

दक्षिणद्वारमासाद्य वीरः शतबलिः कपिः। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ विंशत्या कोटिभिर्वृतः॥
And obstruction the Southern entrance stood the strong and gallant monkey, Śatabali surrounded by twenty koțis.

सुषेण: पश्चिमद्वारं गत्वा तारापिता बली। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ कटिकोटिभिरावृतः॥
The strong sire of Tārā the powerful Sus ena, obstructed the Western gate, backed by kot is upon kotis (of monkeys).

उत्तरद्वारमागम्य रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ सुग्रीवश्च हरीश्वरः॥
Obstructing the Northern gate, remained the puissant Răma himself along with Sumitrā's son, as well as the king of monkeys-Sugriva.

गोलाङ्गुलो महाकायो गवाक्षो भीमदर्शनः। वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः॥
That huge-bodied and dreadful Golangula-the mighty and powerful Gavākşa-surrounded by a koti, remained by the side of Rama.

ऋक्षाणां भीमकोपानां धूम्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः॥ संनद्धस्तु महावीर्यो गदापाणिविभीषणः। वृतो यत्तैस्तु सचिवैस्तस्थौ यत्र महाबलः॥
That destroyer of foes-the exceedingly mighty Dhūmra of the bears of terrific wrath, remained by the side of Rāma-where, surrounded by vigilant counsellors, and bearing a mace in his hand stood the exceedingly strong Vibhīşana, endowed with wonderful powers, in complete panoply.

गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः। समन्तात्परिधावन्तो ररक्षुहरिवाहिनीम्॥
And Gaya, and Gavāksa, and Gavaya, and Śarabha, and Gandhamādana, protected the monkey-army, coursing all around.

ततः कोपपरीतात्मा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। निर्याणं सर्वसैन्यानां द्रुतमाज्ञापयत्तदा॥
Then, his soul wrought up with wrath, Rāvaņa-lord of Rākşasas-speedily ordered the whole host to sally out.

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यं रावणस्य मुखेरितम्। सहसा भीमनिर्घोषमुद्धष्टं रजनीचरैः॥
Hearing those words, which came out from Ravana's mouth, all of a sudden the nightrangers sent up a dreadful yell.

ततः प्रबोधिता भेर्यञ्चन्द्रपाण्डुरपुष्कराः। हेमकोणैरभिहता राक्षसानां समन्ततः॥
Then awoke the kettle-drums, having moonlike pale faces-sounded by means of golden sticks.

विनेदुश्च महाघोषाः शङ्खाः शतसहस्रशः। राक्षसानां सुघोराणां मुखमारुतपूरिताः॥
And conchs by hundreds and by thousands, capable of producing loud blares, filled with air proceeding from the mouths of dreadful Rāks asas-were winded.

ते बभुः शुकनीलाङ्गाः सशला रजनीचरः। विद्युन्मण्डलसंनद्धाः सबलाक इवाम्बुदाः॥
With conchs placed in their mouths, those night-rangers, having bodies blue like those of Śukas, resembled masses of clouds, with lightning and cranes.

निष्पतन्ति ततः सैन्या हृष्टा रावणचोदिताः। समये पूर्यमाणस्य वेगा इव महोदधेः॥
And commanded by Råvana, the troops cheerfully issued forth like the onrushing of the mighty main filling all at the time of the universal dissolution.

ततो वानरसैन्येन मुक्तो नादः समन्ततः। मलयः पूरितो येन ससानुप्रस्थकंदरः॥
Then the monkeys-army gave roar, spreading all around, and it seemed as if the sound filled all Malaya with its sides and caves.

शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः सिंहनादस्तरस्विनाम्। पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं स सागरं चाभ्यनादयत्॥ गजानां बृंहितैः सार्धं हयानां हेषितैरपि। रथानां नेमिनिर्घोषै रक्षसां पदनिःस्वनैः॥
And sounds of conchs, and drums as well as the leonine shouts of the impetuous (warriors), made the earth, air, and ocean, resound: and these mixed with the roars of elephants, the neighing of steeds, the rattle of the car-wheels, ant the tread of the Rākşasa' feet.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे घोरः संग्रामः समपद्यत। रक्षसां वानराणां च यथा देवासुरे पुरा॥
In the meantime there commenced a mighty a encounter between the Raksasas and the monkey, like that which took place of yore between the gods and the Asuras.

ते गदाभिः प्रदीप्ताभिः शक्तिशूलपरश्वधैः। निजघ्नुर्वानरान्सर्वान्कथयन्तः स्वविक्रमान्॥
And displaying their prowess, They* began to slaughter monkeys with maces, and darts, and adzes. *Raksasas.

तथा वृक्षैर्महाकायाः पर्वताग्रेश्च वानराः। निजघ्नुस्तानि रक्षांसि नखैर्दन्तैश्च वेगिनः॥
The vehement monkeys (on their side) slaughtered Rākşasa with trees and tops of crags as well as with their nails and teeth.

राजा जयति सुग्रीव इति शब्दो महानभूत्। राजञ्जयजयेत्युक्त्वा स्वस्वनामकथां ततः॥
A mighty sound arose of 'Victory to king Sugrīva!' and 'Victory to you, O king,' each army taking the name of its king.

राक्षसास्त्वपरे भीमाः प्राकारस्था महीं गतान्। वानरान्भिन्दिपालैश्च शूलैश्चैव व्यदारयन् ॥
Then other dreadful Rākṣasa that were stationed upon the wall, dropping down, pierced the monkeys with darts and bhindipālas.

वानराश्चापि संक्रुद्धाः प्राकारस्थान्महीं गताः। राक्षसान्पातयामासुः खमाप्लुत्य स्वबाहुभिः॥
And (thereat) the monkeys, flying into fury, descending to the earth and bounding, brought down the Rākşasas with their arms.

स संप्रहारस्तुमुलो मांसशोणितकर्दमः। रक्षसां वानराणां च संबभूवाद्भुतोपमः।॥
That encounter of the Rākşasas and the monkeys was mighty and wonderful, and the ground became wet with flesh and gore.