Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
Vibhishana laments a lot, after seeing Ravana lying dead on the battle-field. Rama comforts him, saying that a warrior killed in battle, need not be mourned. Vibhishana describes the personality of Ravana and his qualities to Rama and seeks permission of Rama to perform funeral rites to Ravana. Rama directs Vibhishana to perform the obsequies to Ravana, his deceased brother. |
bhraataraM nihataM dR^iShTvaa shayaanaM nirjitaM raNe |
shokavegapariitaatmaa vilalaapa vibhiiShaNaH || 6-109-1
1. dR^iShTvaa= seeing; bhraataram= his brother; shayaanam= lying down; nihatam= dead; nirjitam= after defeat; raNe= in battle; vibhiiShaNaH= Vibhishana; vilalaapa= lamented; shokavega pariitaatmaa= with his mind filled with an outburst of sorrow.
Seeing his brother lying down dead after defeat in battle, Vibhishana lamented, with his mind filled with an outburst of sorrow:
viira vikraanta vikhyaata praviiNa nayakovida |
mahaarhashayanopeta kiM sheShe nihato bhuvi || 6-109-2
2. kim= why; sheShe= are you lying; nihataH= killed; bhuvi= on the ground?; viira= O hero!; vikraanta= the valiant one!; vikhyaata= the celebrated one!; praviiNa= O the skillful one; nayakovida= prudent in polity!; mahaarhashayanopeta= though the highly worthy of turning towards lofty beds.
"Why are you lying killed on the ground, though you are highly worthy of turning towards lofty beds, O hero! The valiant one, the celebrated one, prudent in polity?"
nikShipya diirghau nishcheShTau bhujaavaN^gadabhuuShitau |
mukuTenaapavR^ittena bhaaskaraakaaravarchasaa || 6-109-3
3. dirghau bhuhau nikShipya= having thrown about your two long arms; aN^gada bhuuShitau= which though decked with armlets; nishcheShTau= are (now) motionless; mukuTena= and with your diadem; bhaaskaakaara varchasaa= brilliant as the sun; apavR^ittena= knocked down; (why are you lying killed on the ground?)
"Having thrown about your two long arms which though decked wit armlets, are now motionless and with your diadem brilliant as the sun, knocked down; why are you lying killed on the ground/"
tadidaM viira saMpraaptaM yanmayaa puurvamiiritam |
kaamamohapariitasya yattnna ruchitaM tava || 6-109-4
4. viira= O the valiat brother!; yat= that which; iiritam= was told; mayaa= by me; puurvam= earlier; yat= and that; na ruchitan= which was not liked; tava= by you; kaama moha pariitasya= overcome as you were with sensuality and infatuation; tat idam= that very fate; praaptam= has been obtained (by you).
"O the valiant brother! That which was told by me earlier and that which was not liked by you, as you were overcome with sensuality and infatuation; that very fate has been obtained by you."
yanna darpaat prahasto vaa nendrajinnaapare janaaH |
na kumbhakarNo.atiratho naatikaayo naraantakaH || 6-109-5
na svayaM tvamamanyethaastasyodarko.ayamaagataH |
5. yat= for that which; darpaat= because of arrogance; na prahato vaa= netither prahasta; indrajit na apare janaaH= nor Indrajit and others; na kumbhakarNaH= nor kumbhakarna; atirathaH= nor Atiratha; atikaayaH= nr Atikaya; na naraantakaH= nor Narantaka; na tvam svayam= nor you yourself; amanyethaaH= has agreed; tasya ayan udarkaH= this consequence of it; aagataH= has come.
"For that which, because of arrogance, neither Prahasta nor Indrajit and others, nor Kumbhakarna nor Atiratha nor Narantaka nor you yourself has agreed to my counsel, the consequence of it has come now."
gataH setuH suniitiinaaM gato dharmasya vigrahaH || 6-109-6
gataH sattvasya saMkShepah prastaavaanaaM gatirgataa |
aadityaH patito bhuumau magnastamasi chandramaaH || 6-109-7
6-7. asmin viire= as this hero; vare= the foremost; shastra bhR^itaam= among those who wield weapons; nipatite= has fallen; bhuumau= on the ground setuH= the established rule; suniitiinaam= of well-conducted persons; gataH= has gone; vigrahaH= the incarnation; dharmasya= of virtue; gataH= has departed; samkShepaH= the epitome; sattvasya= of strength; gataH= has gone; gatiH= the refuge; prastaavaanaam= enlogies; gataa= has gone out of sight; aadityaH= the sun; patitaH= has fallen; bhuumau= to the earth; chandramaaH= the moon; magnaH= has merged; tamasi= in darkness; chitrabhaanuH= fire; prashaantaarchiH= has extinguished its flames; vyavasaayaH= and a strennous; nirudyamaH= has become inactive.
"As this hero, the foremost of those who wield the weapons, has fallen on the ground, the established rule of well-conducted persons has gone. The incarnation of virtue has departed. The epitome of strength has gone. The refuge of enlogies has gone out of sight. The sun has fallen to the earth. The moon has merged in darkness. Fire has extinguished its flames and a strennous effort has become inactive."
chitrabhaanuH prashaantaarchirvyavasaayo nirudyamaH |
asminnipatite viire bhuumau shastrabhR^itaaM vare || 6-109-8
8. kim= what; sheSham= is remaining; lokasya= in this world; iha= now; raakShasashaarduule= while Ravana the foremost among demons; samprati= is now; prasupte iva= lying fast asleep; paamsuShu= in the dust?
"What is remaining in this world now, while Ravana the foremost of demons, is at present lying fast asleep in the dust?"
kiM sheShamiha lokasya gatasttvasya saMprati |
raNe raakShasashaarduule prasupta iva paaMsuShu || 6-109-9
9. dR^itipravaalaH= with firmness for its shoot; prasahaagryapuSpaH= endurance for its excellent bloossom; tapabalaH= asceticism for its strength; shauryanibaddha muulaH= and valour for its firm root; mahaan raakShasaraaja vR^ikShaH= the large tree in the shape of Ravana; sammarditaH= has been crsuhed; raNe= in the battle-field; raaghava maarutena= by the tempest in the shape of Rama.
"With firmness for its shoot, endurance for its excellent blossom, asceticism for its strength, and valour for its firm root, the large tree in the shape of Ravana has been crushed in the battle-field, by the tempest in the shape of Rama."
dhR^itipravaalaH prasahaagryapuShpa |
stapobalaH shauryanibaddhamuulaH |
raNe mahaan raakShasaraajavR^ikShaH |
saMmardito raaghavamaarutena || 6-109-10
10. tejoviShaNaH= with sharpness for its tusks; kula vamshavamshaH= the line of ancesters for its back-bone; kopa prasaadaapara gaatrahastaH= anger for its lower parts and graciousness for its proboscis; raavaNagandhahastii= the elephant in rut in the shape of suptaH= is lying asleep; kShitau= on the ground; ikShvaaku simhaavagR^ihiita dehaH= its body having been overthrown by a lion in the shape of Rama.
"With sharpness for its tusks, the line of ancestors for its back-bone, anger for its lower parts and graciousness for its proboscis, the elephant in rut in the shape of Ravana is lying asleep on the ground, its body having been overthrown by a lion in the shape of Rama."
tejoviShaaNaH kulavaMshavaMshaH |
kopaprasaadaaparagaatrahastaH |
ikShvaakusiMhaavagR^ihiitadehaH |
suptaH kShitau raavaNagandhahastii || 6-109-11
11. paraakramotsaahavijR^ibhitaarchiH= with prowess and power for its expanded flames; niHshvaasadhuumaH= sighs for its smoke; svabalaprataapaH= and his native strength for its glowing heat; agniH prataapavaan= the blazing fire; raakShasah= in the shape of Ravana, the demon; nirvaapitaH= has been extinguished; samyati= in the battle0field; raamapayodhareNa= by the rainy cloud in the shape of Rama.
"With prowess and power for its expanded flames, sighs for its smoke and his native strength for its glowing heat, the blazing fire in the shape of Ravana the demon has been extingushed in the battle-field by the rainy cloud in the shape of Rama."
paraakramotsaahavijR^imbhitaarchi |
rniHshvaasadhuumaH svabalaprataapaH |
prataapavaan saMyati raakShasaagni |
rnirvaapito raamapayodhareNa || 6-109-12
12. simharkSha laaN^guulaka kudviShaNaH= with the demons for its tail, hump and horns; chaapalakarNa chakShuH= and fickleness for its ears and eyes; rakSho vR^iShabhaH= the bull in the shape of Ravana, the demon; paraabhijit= the conqueror of its enemies; gandhanagandha vaaha= which vied with the wind in energy; avasannaH= is lying dead; kShitiishvaravyaaghra hataH= struck down by a tiger in the shape of Rama, the ruler of the earth.
"With the demons for its tail; hump and horn and fickleness for its ears and eyes, the bull in the shape of Ravana the demon, the conqueror of its enemies, which vied with the wind in energy, is lying dead, struck down by a tiger in the shape of Rama, the ruler of the earth."
siMharkShalaaN^guulakakudviShaaNaH |
paraabhijidgandhanagandhahastii |
rakShovR^iShashchaapalakarNachakShuH |
kShitiishvaravyaagrahato.avasannaH || 6-109-13
13. vibhiiShaNam= to Vibhishana; vadantam= who was speaking thus; shoka samaaviShTam= enveloped in sorrow; raamaH= Rama; uvaacha= spoke; iti vaakyam= the following words; hetumat= full of reason; paridR^iShTaarthanishchayam= and which revealed his determined view of the matter.
To Vibhishana, who was thus speaking; enveloped in sorrow, Rama spoke the following words, full of reason and which revealed his determined view of the matter.
vadantaM hetumadvaakyaM paridR^iShTarthanishchayam |
raamaH shokasamaaviShTamityuvaacha vibhiiShaNam || 6-109-14
14. ayam= He (Ravana); na vinaShTaH= did not die; samare= in battle; nishcheShTaH= without making an effort; ayam patitaH= He has fallen (in combat); chaN^Da vikramaH= eventhough he was endowed with terrible prowess; atyunnatamahotsaahaH= and exhibited extra ordinary enthusiasm of a very exalted type; ashaNkitaH= and remained confident (throughout).
"Ravana did not die in battle, without making an effort. He has fallen in combat, eventhough he was endowed with terrible prowess and exhibited extra ordinary enthusiasm of a very exalted type and remained confident throughout."
naayaM vinaShTo nishcheShTaH samare chaNDavikramaH |
atyunnatamahotsaahaH patito.ayamashaN^kitaH || 6-109-15
15. evam na shochyante= there is no occasion to grieve; nipatanti vinaShTaaH= raNaajire= for him having fallen into death in the battle-field; ye vR^iddhim aashamsamaanaaH= by whom the development was wished for; kShatra dharma vyavasthitaaH= while remaining steadfast in the duty of kshatriya, the warrior.
"There is no occasion to grieve for him having fallen into death in the battle-field and by whom the development of his country was wished for, while remaining steadfast in the duty of Kshatriya the warrior."
naivaM vinaShTaaH shochyante kShatradharmavyavasthitaaH |
vR^iddhimaashaMsamaanaa ye nipatanti raNaajire || 6-109-16
16. na kaalaH= there is no occasion; parishochitum= to grieve; tasmin kaala samaayukta= for his having been brought under the sway of death; yudhi= in battle; yena= by whom; dhiimataa= intelligent as he was; trayaH lokaaH= all the three worlds; sendraaH= including Indra; traasitaaH= were frightened.
"There is no occasion to grieve for his having been brought under the sway of death by whom intelligent as he was, all the three worlds including indra were frightened."
yena sendraastrayo lokaastraasitaa yudhi dhiimataa |
tasmin kaalasamaayukte na kaalaH parishochitum || 6-109-17
17. bhuuta puurvaH= in the past; na= none; kadaachana ekaanta vijayaH= has ever been exclusively victorius; yuddhe= in a combat; viiraH= A hero; hanyateNaa= has either been killed; paraiH= by his adversaries; hanti vaa= or has killed; paraan= the enemies; samyuge= in battle.
"In the past, none has ever been exclusively victorious in a combat. A hero either has been killed by his adversaries or had killed the enemies in battle."
naikaantavijayo yuddhe bhuutapuurvaH kadaachana |
parairvaa hanyate viiraH paraanvaa hanti saMyuge || 6-109-18
18. iyam gatiH= such is the destiny; samdiShTaa= proclaimed; puurvaiH= by the ancients; kShatriyasammataa= as highly esteemed for a warrior; kShatriyaH= a warrior; nihataH= killed; samkhye= in battle; na shochyaH= does not deserve to be mourned; iti nishchayaH= such is the ascertainment of the sacred scriptures.
"Such is the destiny proclaimed by the ancients, as highly esteemed for a warrior. A warrior killed in battle, does not deserve to be mourned. Such is the ascertainment of the sacred scriptures."
iyaM hi puurvaiH saMdiShTaa gatiH kShatriyasaMmataa |
kShatriyo nihataH saMkhye na shochya iti nishchayaH || 6-109-19
19. tat= therefore; dR^iShTvaa= seeing; evam nishchayam= this ascertainment; aasthaaya tattvam= understanding the true principle; vijvaraH= and free from grief; iha anuchintaya= think here of; yat= what; kaaryam= duty; tat kalpyam= that deserves to be performed; anantaram= thereafter.
"Therefore, seeing this ascertainment, understanding the true principle, and free from grief, think here of what duty that deserves to be performed."
tadevaM nishchayaM dR^iShTvaa tattvamaasthaaya vijvaraH |
yadihaanantaraM kaaryaM kalpyaM tadanuchintaya || 6-109-20
20. vikraantam tam raajaputram= to that valiant prince, Rama; uktavaakyam= by whom the aforesaid words were spoken; vibhiiShaNah= Vibhishana; shoka samtaptaH= who was tormented with grief; uvaacha= spoke; hitam= about the suitable action; anantaram= to be done next; bhraatuH= in relation to his brother.
To that valiant prince (Rama) by whom the aforesaid words were spoken, Vibhishana, who was tormented with grief, spoke (as follows) about the suitable action to be done next in relation to his brother.
yo.ayaM vimardeShvavibhagnapuurvaH |
suraiH samastairapi vaasavena |
bhavantamaasaadya raNe vibhagno |
velaamivaasaadya yathaa samudraH || 6-109-21
21. yaH ayam= this demon who; avibhagna puurvaH= had never been conquered before; vimardeShu= in battle; samastaiH surairapi= by even all the gods combined; vaasavena= or by Indra himself; vibhagnaH= has been conquered; aasaadya= on confronting; bhavantam= you; raNe= in the battle-field; samudraH yathaa= as the sea; (breaks up); aasaadya= on reaching; velaam= the shore.
"The demon, who had never been conquered before in battles, by even all the gods combined or by Indra himself, has been conquered, on confronting you in the battle-field, as the sea breaks up, on reaching the shore."
anena dattaani vaniipakeShu |
bhuktaashcha bhogaa nibhR^itaashcha bhR^ityaaH |
dhanaani mitreShu samarpitaani |
vairaaNyamitreShu nipaatitaani || 6-109-22
22. anena= by him; dattaani= gifts were endowed; vaniipakeShu= to mendicants; bhogaashcha= pleasures too; bhuktaaH= were enjoyed; bhR^ityaaH= the kings servents; nibhR^itaaH= were fully maintained; dhaanaani= riches; samarpitaani= were made over; mitreShu= to friends; vairaaNi= grudges; amitreShu= against enemies; nipaatitaani= were revenged.
"By him, gifts were endowed to to mendicents. Pleasures too were enjoyed. The king's servents were fully maintained. Rches were made over to friends. Grudges against enemiies were revenged."
eShohitaagnishcha mahaatapaashcha |
vedantagaH karmasu chaagryashuuraH |
etasya yatpretagatasya kR^ityaM |
tatkartumichchhaami tava prasaadaat || 6-109-23
23. eShaH= he; hitaagniH= (maintained) perpetually sacred fire; mahaatapaashcha= He practised great religious austerities; vedaantagaH= He completely mastered the Vedas, the sacred scriptures; agrashuuraH= he was highly proficient; karmasucha= in even the ritual acts; ichchhaami= i desire; kartum= to do; yat= that; tava prasaadaat= with your graciousness which; kR^itya= is to be done; pretagatasya etasya= to him, who has departed to the other world.
"He maintained a perpetually sacred fire. he practised great religious austerities. He completely mastered Vedas, the sacred scriptures. He was highly proficient even in the ritual acts. I desire to do, with you graciousness, that which is to be performed to him, who has departed to the other world."
sa tasya vaakyaiH karuNairmahaatmaa |
saMbodhitaH saadhu vibhiiShaNena |
aajJNaapayaamaasa narendrasuunuH |
svargiiyamaadhaanamadiinasattvaH || 6-109-24
24. saadhu sambodhitaH= thus getting the personality of Ravana well acquainted; vibhiShaNena= by Vibhishana; tasya karuNaiH vakyaiH= by his compassionate words; saH= that; narendrasuuH= Rama; adiina sattvaH= possessing unimpaired goodness; aaJNaapayaamaasa= directed; aadhaanam= to perform funeral rites; svargiiyam= which were intended to lead the departed soul to heaven.
Thus getting the personality of Ravana well-acquainted by vibhishana by his compassionate words, Rama possessing unimpaired goodness, directed Vibhishana to perfom funeral rites, which were intended to lead the departed soul to heaven:
maraNaantaani vairaaNi nirvR^ittaM naH prayojanam |
kriyataamasya saMskaaro mamaapyeSha yathaa tava || 6-109-25
25. vairaani= hostilities; maraNaantaani= end with death; naH= our; prayojanam= purpose; nirvR^ittam= has been accomplished; asya samskaaraH= let his funeral rites; kriyataam= be performed; eShaH= he; mamaapi= is as good mine even; yathaa tava= as yours.
"Hostilities end with death. Our purpose has been accomplished. Let his funeral rites be performed. He is even as good mine, as yours."
ityaarShe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe navaadhikashatatamaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 109th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© July 2009, K. M. K. Murthy