Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 24

सावीरसमितीराज्ञाविरराजव्यवस्थिता । शशिनाशुभनक्षत्रापौर्णमासीवशारदी ।।6.24.1।।

sāvīrasamitīrājñāvirarājavyavasthitā | śaśināśubhanakṣatrāpaurṇamāsīvaśāradī

The army of Vanaras settled that way by Rama's command shone like the autumnal full moon with auspicious stars.

प्रचचालचवेगेनत्रस्ताचैववसुन्धरा । पीड्यमानाबलौघेनतेनसागरवर्चसा ।।6.24.2।।

pracacālacavegenatrastācaivavasundharā | pīḍyamānābalaughenatenasāgaravarcasā

The frightened army (of Vanaras) that was like a tormented ocean started moving swiftly, shaking like the earth.

ततश्शुश्रुवुराक्रुष्टंलङ्कायांकाननौकसः । भेरीमृदङ्गसङ्घुष्टंतुमुलंरोमहर्षणम् ।।6.24.3।।

tataśśuśruvurākruṣṭaṃlaṅkāyāṃkānanaukasaḥ | bherīmṛdaṅgasaṅghuṣṭaṃtumulaṃromaharṣaṇam

There upon having settled down, the army hordes heard from Lanka terrific and tumultuous noise of drums and percussion instruments that caused horripilation.

बभूवुस्तेनघोषेणसंहृष्टाहरियूथपाः । अमृष्यमाणास्तंघोषंविनेदुर्घोषवत्तरम् ।।6.24.4।।

babhūvustenaghoṣeṇasaṃhṛṣṭāhariyūthapāḥ | amṛṣyamāṇāstaṃghoṣaṃvinedurghoṣavattaram

The leaders of Vanara troops felt very happy at the noise from (Lanka) which they were unable to tolerate and roared louder (than that in joy).

राक्षसास्तुप्लवङ्गानांशुश्रुवुश्चाऽपिगर्जितम् । नर्दतामिवदृप्तानांमेघानामम्बरेस्वनम् ।।6.24.5।।

rākṣasāstuplavaṅgānāṃśuśruvuścā'pigarjitam | nardatāmivadṛptānāṃmeghānāmambaresvanam

Even the Rakshasas heard the roaring of Vanaras in their pride that was bellowing like that of clouds in the sky.

दृष्टवादाशरथिर्लङ्कांचित्रध्वजपताकिनीम् । जगाममनसासीतंदूयमानेनचेतसा ।।6.24.6।।

dṛṣṭavādāśarathirlaṅkāṃcitradhvajapatākinīm | jagāmamanasāsītaṃdūyamānenacetasā

Afflicted by sorrow upon seeing the colourful flags and posts of Lanka even Rama's thoughts went about thinking of Sita.

अत्रसामृगशाबाक्षीरावणेनोपरुध्यते । अभिभूताग्रहेणेवलोहिताङ्गेनरोहिणी ।।6.24.7।।

atrasāmṛgaśābākṣīrāvaṇenoparudhyate | abhibhūtāgraheṇevalohitāṅgenarohiṇī

The doveeyed Sita is obstructed by Ravana there (at Lanka) like the planet Rohini is caught by the red coloured planet (Mars).

दीर्घमुष्णंचनिश्वस्यसमुद्वीक्ष्यचलक्ष्मणम् । उवाचवचनंवीरस्तत्कालहितमात्मनः ।।6.24.8।।

dīrghamuṣṇaṃcaniśvasyasamudvīkṣyacalakṣmaṇam | uvācavacanaṃvīrastatkālahitamātmanaḥ

Heroic Rama heaving hot and long breath looking at Lakshmana spoke these words that were good for him at that time.

आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थितांपश्यलक्ष्मण । मनसेवकृतांलङ्कांनगाग्रेविश्वकर्मणा ।।6.24.9।।

ālikhantīmivākāśamutthitāṃpaśyalakṣmaṇa | manasevakṛtāṃlaṅkāṃnagāgreviśvakarmaṇā

"Lakshmana, you may see the city of Lanka elevated on top of the mountain as though clasping the sky, like the one created in the mind of Vishwakarma."

विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्कासङ्कीर्णाभुविराजते । विष्णोःपदमिवाकाशंछादितंपाण्डुभिर्घनैः ।।6.24.10।।

vimānairbahubhirlaṅkāsaṅkīrṇābhuvirājate | viṣṇoḥpadamivākāśaṃchāditaṃpāṇḍubhirghanaiḥ

"This Lanka appears splendid with a mass of skyscrapers like white clouds covering the path of Vishnu in the sky."

पुष्पितैश्शोभितालङ्कावनैश्चत्ररथोपमैः । नानापतगसङ्घुष्टै: फलपुष्पोपगैश्शुभैः ।।6.24.11।।

puṣpitaiśśobhitālaṅkāvanaiścatrarathopamaiḥ | nānāpatagasaṅghuṣṭai: phalapuṣpopagaiśśubhaiḥ

"Lanka is filled with flocks of birds of several kinds singing sweetly, the gardens with charming flowers and fruits are delighting like auspicious gardens of Chaitrara, the garden of Kubera, the god of wealth."

पश्यमत्तविहाङ्गानिप्रलीनभ्रमराणिच । कोकिलाकुलषण्डानिदोधवीतिशिवोऽनिलः ।।6.24.12।।

paśyamattavihāṅgānipralīnabhramarāṇica | kokilākulaṣaṇḍānidodhavītiśivo'nilaḥ

"You may see the trees shaking violently by the pleasant breeze, inhabited by proud birds, drunken honeybees and crowded with cuckoos and other birds (Rama said to Lakshmana)."

इतिदाशरथीरामोलक्ष्मणंसमभाषत । बलंचतद्वैविभजन् शास्त्रदृष्टेनकर्मणा ।।6.24.13।।

itidāśarathīrāmolakṣmaṇaṃsamabhāṣata | balaṃcatadvaivibhajan śāstradṛṣṭenakarmaṇā

Dasaratha's son Rama thus talked to Lakshmana in that manner and asked to divide the task of the army in accordance with what is said in sastras.

शशासकपिसेनायांबलमादायवीर्यवान् । अङ्गदस्सहनीलेनतिष्ठेदुरसिदुर्जयः ।।6.24.14।।

śaśāsakapisenāyāṃbalamādāyavīryavān | aṅgadassahanīlenatiṣṭhedurasidurjayaḥ

Let the valiant Angada who is difficult to win over, who is a terror to the enemies, take the army along with Nila and remain at the centre (of the army structure).

तिष्ठेद्वानरवाहिन्यावानरौघसमावृतः । आश्रित्यदक्षिणंपार्श्वमृषभोवानरर्षभ:।। 6.24.15।।

tiṣṭhedvānaravāhinyāvānaraughasamāvṛtaḥ | āśrityadakṣiṇaṃpārśvamṛṣabhovānararṣabha:

Let Rshaba the bull among Vanaras approach the south side of the army accompanied by his troop of Vanara contingent and remain there.

गन्धहस्तीवदुर्धर्षस्तरस्वीगन्धमादनः । तिष्ठेद्वानरवाहिन्यास्सव्यंपार्श्वंसमाश्रित:।। 6.24.16।।

gandhahastīvadurdharṣastarasvīgandhamādanaḥ | tiṣṭhedvānaravāhinyāssavyaṃpārśvaṃsamāśrita:

"Let the mighty Gandhamadana, a difficult one to conquer like a proud elephant, take the battalion of army and stay on the right side"

मूर्ध्निस्थास्याम्यहंयुक्तोलक्ष्मणेनसमन्वितः । जाम्बवांश्चसुषेणश्चवेगदर्शीचवानरः ।।6.24.17।। ऋक्षमुख्यामहात्मानःकुक्षिंरक्षन्तुतेत्रयः ।

mūrdhnisthāsyāmyahaṃyuktolakṣmaṇenasamanvitaḥ | jāmbavāṃścasuṣeṇaścavegadarśīcavānaraḥ ṛkṣamukhyāmahātmānaḥkukṣiṃrakṣantutetrayaḥ |

"I and Lakshmana will be alert at the head side. Let Jambavan Sushena and the three chiefs of Bears who are strong and quick at sighting remain protecting the belly of the army."

जघनंकपिसेनायाःकपिराजोऽभिरक्षतु । पश्चार्धमिवलोकस्यप्रचेतास्तेजसावृतः ।।6.24.18।।

jaghanaṃkapisenāyāḥkapirājo'bhirakṣatu | paścārdhamivalokasyapracetāstejasāvṛtaḥ

"Just as Pracheta who is covered by brilliance, rules the western side of the world, let the king of Vanaras protect the hips and loin portion of the Vanara army."

सुविभक्तमहाव्यूहामहावानररक्षिता । अनीकिनीसाविबभौयथाद्यौस्साभ्रसम्प्लवा ।।6.24.19।।

suvibhaktamahāvyūhāmahāvānararakṣitā | anīkinīsāvibabhauyathādyaussābhrasamplavā

The Vanara army force organized that way to protect the Vanaras, shone like the mass of clouds in heaven.

प्रगृह्यगिरिशृङ्गाणिमहातश्चमहीरुहन् । लङ्कांविमर्दयिषवोरणे ।।6.24.20।।

pragṛhyagiriśṛṅgāṇimahātaścamahīruhan | laṅkāṃvimardayiṣavoraṇe

Vanaras resolved to go taking peaks of mountains and huge trees to smash Lanka in war.

शिखरैर्विकिरामैनांलङ्कांमुष्टभिरेववा । इतिस्मदधिरेसर्वेमनांसिहरिपुङ्गवाः ।।6.24.21।।

śikharairvikirāmaināṃlaṅkāṃmuṣṭabhirevavā | itismadadhiresarvemanāṃsiharipuṅgavāḥ

Thus resolved the Vanara leaders in their mind to crush Lanka with its mountain peaks into powder with their bare fists, indeed.

ततोरामोमहातेजास्सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत् । सुविभक्तानिसैन्यानिशुकएषविमुच्यताम् ।।6.24.22।।

tatorāmomahātejāssugrīvamidamabravīt | suvibhaktānisainyāniśukaeṣavimucyatām

Having heard Sugriva, there after splendid Rama spoke thus. "The army is divided (placed in position). Suka may be relieved."

रामस्यतुवचश्श्रुत्वावानरेन्द्रोमहाबलः । मोचयामासतंदूतंशुकंरामस्यशासनात् ।।6.24.23।।

rāmasyatuvacaśśrutvāvānarendromahābalaḥ | mocayāmāsataṃdūtaṃśukaṃrāmasyaśāsanāt

Having heard Rama's words Sugriva, the mighty king of Vanaras was happy and relieved the envoy on the instruction of Rama.

मोचितोरामवाक्येनवानरैश्चनिपीडितः । शुकःपरमसन्त्रस्तोरक्षोधिपमुपागमत् ।।6.24.24।।

mocitorāmavākyenavānaraiścanipīḍitaḥ | śukaḥparamasantrastorakṣodhipamupāgamat

Relieved by the word of Rama, tormented Suka who was highly terrified returned to the king of Rakshasas.

रावणःप्रहसन्नेवशुकंवाक्यमुवाचह ।।6.24.25।। किमिमौतेसितौपक्षौलूनपक्षश्चदृश्यसे । कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानांतेषांत्वंवशमागतः ।।6.24.26।।

rāvaṇaḥprahasannevaśukaṃvākyamuvācaha kimimautesitaupakṣaulūnapakṣaścadṛśyase | kaccinnānekacittānāṃteṣāṃtvaṃvaśamāgataḥ

Laughing at Suka, Ravana spoke these words. "Why are your wings fastened? Your wings have been clipped, it appears!. I suppose you have not fallen under the clutches of the fickle minded Vanaras!"

रावणःप्रहसन्नेवशुकंवाक्यमुवाचह ।।6.24.25।। किमिमौतेसितौपक्षौलूनपक्षश्चदृश्यसे । कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानांतेषांत्वंवशमागतः ।।6.24.26।।

rāvaṇaḥprahasannevaśukaṃvākyamuvācaha kimimautesitaupakṣaulūnapakṣaścadṛśyase | kaccinnānekacittānāṃteṣāṃtvaṃvaśamāgataḥ

Laughing at Suka, Ravana spoke these words. "Why are your wings fastened? Your wings have been clipped, it appears!. I suppose you have not fallen under the clutches of the fickle minded Vanaras!"

ततस्सभयसंविग्नस्तदाराज्ञाभिचोदितः । वचनंप्रत्युवाचेदंराक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम् ।।6.24.27।। सागरस्योत्तरेतीरेऽब्रवंतेवचनंतथा । यथासन्धेशमक्लिष्टंसान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णयागिरा ।।6.24.28।।

tatassabhayasaṃvignastadārājñābhicoditaḥ | vacanaṃpratyuvācedaṃrākṣasādhipamuttamam sāgarasyottaretīre'bravaṃtevacanaṃtathā | yathāsandheśamakliṣṭaṃsāntvayan ślakṣṇayāgirā

Then Suka who was caught by fear, having been asked by the king, trembling away thus replied to the Rakshasa king. "I went to the northern shore of the ocean and delivered gently the speech just as it was conveyed by you."

ततस्सभयसंविग्नस्तदाराज्ञाभिचोदितः । वचनंप्रत्युवाचेदंराक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम् ।।6.24.27।। सागरस्योत्तरेतीरेऽब्रवंतेवचनंतथा । यथासन्धेशमक्लिष्टंसान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णयागिरा ।।6.24.28।।

tatassabhayasaṃvignastadārājñābhicoditaḥ | vacanaṃpratyuvācedaṃrākṣasādhipamuttamam sāgarasyottaretīre'bravaṃtevacanaṃtathā | yathāsandheśamakliṣṭaṃsāntvayan ślakṣṇayāgirā

Then Suka who was caught by fear, having been asked by the king, trembling away thus replied to the Rakshasa king. "I went to the northern shore of the ocean and delivered gently the speech just as it was conveyed by you."

क्रुद्धैस्सैरहमुत्प्लुतदृष्टमात्रःप्लवङ्गमैः । गृहीतोऽस्म्यपिचारब्दोहन्तुंलोप्तुंचमुष्टिभि ।।6.24.29।।

kruddhaissairahamutplutadṛṣṭamātraḥplavaṅgamaiḥ | gṛhīto'smyapicārabdohantuṃloptuṃcamuṣṭibhi

As soon as they saw me, the enraged Vanaras rising up (into the sky) took hold of me and started injuring me and slaying me.

नैवसम्भाषितुंशक्यास्सम्प्रश्नोऽत्रनलभ्यते । प्रकृत्याकोपनास्तीक्ष्णानानराराक्षसाधिप ।।6.24.30।।

naivasambhāṣituṃśakyāssampraśno'tranalabhyate | prakṛtyākopanāstīkṣṇānānarārākṣasādhipa

"O king of Rakshasas! It was not possible to negotiate there with the Vanaras). I had no opportunity to interrogate with them. By nature, Vanaras are violent and are highly furious."

सचहन्ताविराधस्यकबन्धस्यखरस्यच । सुग्रीवसहितोरामस्सीताया: पदमागतः ।।6.24.31।।

sacahantāvirādhasyakabandhasyakharasyaca | sugrīvasahitorāmassītāyā: padamāgataḥ

"The life of Viradha, Kabhanda and Khara has been taken away by Rama. Accompanied by Sugriva they have set their foot into Lanka for Sita's sake."

सकृत्वासागरेसेतुंतीर्त्वाचलवणोदधिम् । एषरक्षांसिनिर्दूयधन्वीतिष्ठतिराघवः ।।6.24.32।।

sakṛtvāsāgaresetuṃtīrtvācalavaṇodadhim | eṣarakṣāṃsinirdūyadhanvītiṣṭhatirāghavaḥ

"Mighty Raghava having crossed the salt sea and reached the shore of Rakshasas, organized them (Vanaras) and stood wielding a bow."

ऋक्षवानरसङ्घानामनीकानिसहस्रशः । गिरिमेघनिकाशानांछादयन्तिवसुन्धराम् ।।6.24.33।।

ṛkṣavānarasaṅghānāmanīkānisahasraśaḥ | girimeghanikāśānāṃchādayantivasundharām

"Thousands of army forces of monkeys and Bears resembling mountains and clouds have settled on the ground."

राक्षसानांबलौघस्यवानरेन्द्रबलस्यच । नैतयोर्विद्यतेसन्धिर्देवदानवयोरिव ।।6.24.34।।

rākṣasānāṃbalaughasyavānarendrabalasyaca | naitayorvidyatesandhirdevadānavayoriva

Alliance is not possible between Rakshasas and army of Bears and Vanaras, just as alliance is not possible between gods and demons.

पुराप्राकारमायान्तिक्षिप्रमेकतरंकुरु । सीतांवास्मैप्रयच्छाशुसुयुद्धंवापिप्रदीयताम् ।।6.24.35।।

purāprākāramāyāntikṣipramekataraṃkuru | sītāṃvāsmaiprayacchāśusuyuddhaṃvāpipradīyatām

"They will reach the boundary wall. At once you may do one of the two that I suggest you do. I implore you either to give away Sita or give good battle."

शुकस्यवचनंश्रुत्वारावणोवाक्यमब्रवीत् । रोषसंरक्तनयनोनिर्दहन्निनचक्षुषा ।।6.24.36।।

śukasyavacanaṃśrutvārāvaṇovākyamabravīt | roṣasaṃraktanayanonirdahanninacakṣuṣā

Angry, redeyed Ravana, having heard Suka's words spoke as though he would burn him with his glance.

यदिमांप्रतियुध्येरन् देवगन्धर्वदानवाः । नैवसीतांप्रदास्यामिसर्वलोकभयादपि ।।6.24.37।।

yadimāṃpratiyudhyeran devagandharvadānavāḥ | naivasītāṃpradāsyāmisarvalokabhayādapi

"Even if gods, Gandharvas and demons come to wage war with me, even if all the worlds threaten me, I shall not give away Sita."

कदासमभिधावन्तिराघवंमामकाश्शराः । वसन्तेपुष्पितंमत्ताभ्रमराइवपादपम् ।।6.24.38।।

kadāsamabhidhāvantirāghavaṃmāmakāśśarāḥ | vasantepuṣpitaṃmattābhramarāivapādapam

"Just as drunken bees reach the trees with blossoms in spring when will my arrows attack Rama?"

कदातूणीयशैर्दीप्तैर्गणश: कार्मुकच्युतैः । शरैरादीपयाम्येनमुल्काभिरिवकुञ्जरम् ।।6.24.39।।

kadātūṇīyaśairdīptairgaṇaśa: kārmukacyutaiḥ | śarairādīpayāmyenamulkābhirivakuñjaram

"When will the glowing arrows from my quiver, that are fit to pierce in thousands, be able to goad Rama like the burning fire sticks goad the elephants?"

तच्चास्यबलमादास्येबलेनमहतावृतः । ज्योतिषामिवसर्वेषांप्रभामुद्यन्दिवाकरः ।।6.24.40।।

taccāsyabalamādāsyebalenamahatāvṛtaḥ | jyotiṣāmivasarveṣāṃprabhāmudyandivākaraḥ

"Just as the rising Sun light obscures the radiance of all (other stars) when will I obscure him surrounded by his army?"

सागरस्येवमेवेगोमारुतस्येवमेगति: । नहिदाशरथिर्वेदतेनमांयोद्धुमिच्छति ।।6.24.41।।

sāgarasyevamevegomārutasyevamegati: | nahidāśarathirvedatenamāṃyoddhumicchati

"I have the speed of the ocean and swiftness like the WindGod. Rama does not know this and desires to wage war with me."

नमेतूणीशयान्बाणान् सविषानिवपन्नगान् । रामःपश्यतिसङ्ग्रामेतेनमांयोध्दुमिच्छति ।।6.24.42।।

nametūṇīśayānbāṇān saviṣānivapannagān | rāmaḥpaśyatisaṅgrāmetenamāṃyodhdumicchati

"Rama has not seen the poisonous arrows in my quiver in battle. Therefore, he is desiring comb at with me."

नजानातिपुरावीर्यममयुद्धेसराघवः । ममचापमयींवीणांशरकोणैःप्रवादिताम् ।।6.24.43।। ज्याशब्दतुमुलांघोरामार्तभीतमहास्वनाम् । नाराचतलसन्नादांतांममाहितवाहिनीम् ।।6.24.44।। अवगाह्यमहारङ्गंवादयिष्याम्यहंरणे ।

najānātipurāvīryamamayuddhesarāghavaḥ | mamacāpamayīṃvīṇāṃśarakoṇaiḥpravāditām jyāśabdatumulāṃghorāmārtabhītamahāsvanām | nārācatalasannādāṃtāṃmamāhitavāhinīm avagāhyamahāraṅgaṃvādayiṣyāmyahaṃraṇe |

"He has not known my valour in war. Entering the enemy's army holding my formidable Veena, making challenging sounds with the sharp heads of arrows, causing tumultuous noise like the sound of cry of destitute and frightened ones with iron arrows, I will play the Veena of my bow in hand."

नजानातिपुरावीर्यममयुद्धेसराघवः । ममचापमयींवीणांशरकोणैःप्रवादिताम् ।।6.24.43।। ज्याशब्दतुमुलांघोरामार्तभीतमहास्वनाम् । नाराचतलसन्नादांतांममाहितवाहिनीम् ।।6.24.44।। अवगाह्यमहारङ्गंवादयिष्याम्यहंरणे ।

najānātipurāvīryamamayuddhesarāghavaḥ | mamacāpamayīṃvīṇāṃśarakoṇaiḥpravāditām jyāśabdatumulāṃghorāmārtabhītamahāsvanām | nārācatalasannādāṃtāṃmamāhitavāhinīm avagāhyamahāraṅgaṃvādayiṣyāmyahaṃraṇe |

"He has not known my valour in war. Entering the enemy's army holding my formidable Veena, making challenging sounds with the sharp heads of arrows, causing tumultuous noise like the sound of cry of destitute and frightened ones with iron arrows, I will play the Veena of my bow in hand."

नवासवेनापिसहस्रचक्षुषायथास्मिशक्योवरुणेनवास्वयम् । यमेनवाधर्षयितुंशराग्निनामहाहवेवैश्रवणेनवापुन: ।। 6.24.45।।

navāsavenāpisahasracakṣuṣāyathāsmiśakyovaruṇenavāsvayam | yamenavādharṣayituṃśarāgnināmahāhavevaiśravaṇenavāpuna:

"It is not possible (to win over) for the thousand eyed Indra, or even Varuna, the god presiding over water, or even for Yama, the god of death and again even for Kubera the god of wealth to face the fire of my arrows (said Ravana to Suka)." ।। इत्यार्षेवाल्मीकीयेश्रीमद्रामायणेआदिकावेयुध्दकाण्डेचतुर्विंशस्सर्गः ।। This is the end of the twenty fourth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic, the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.