Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
Hearing Hanuman’s words, Rama says that he cannot desert Vibhishana who is seeking a refuge in him. Initially Sugreeva disagrees with Rama’s opinion. But when Rama explains the different circumstances under which Vibhishana is acceptable, Sugreeva also agrees with that view. Finally Vibhishana joins as an associate in Rama’s side. |
atha raamaH prasanna aatmaa shrutvaa vaayu sutasya ha |
pratyabhaaSata durdharSaH shrutavaan aatmani sthitam ||6-18-1
1. atha= thereafter; raamaH= Rama; durdharshhaH= the inviolable; shrutavaan= and the one having sacred knowledge ; shrutvaa= after hearing; vaayusutasya= Hanuman’s words; pratyabhaashhata= spoke; prasannaatmaa= with a clear understanding; sthitam= that which was established; aatmani= in his mind.
Thereafter the inviolable Rama who possesses sacred knowledge, after hearing Hanuman’s words, spoke with a clear understanding, the following opinion that was firm in his mind:
mama api tu vivakSaa asti kaacit prati vibhiiSaNam |
shrutam icchaami tat sarvam bhavadbhiH shreyasi sthitaiH ||6-18-2
2. mamaapi= I also; asti= have; kaachit= a; vivakshhaa= desire to tell; vibhiishhaNam prati= about Vibhishana; ichchhaami= I want; tat= it; sarvam= all; shrotum= to be heard; bhavadbhih= by you; sthitaih= who stand firmly; shreyapi= in our welfare.
“I also wish to tell my opinion about Vibhishana. I want it to be heard by you, who are firmly established in our welfare.”
mitra bhaavena sampraaptam na tyajeyam kathamcana |
doSo yadi api tasya syaat sataam etad agarhitam ||6-18-3
3. kathamchana= by any means; naatyajeyam= I donot leave; tasya= him; sampraaptam= who comes; mitrabhaavena= with a friendly appearance; syaat yadyapi= even though he has; doshhah= a defect; etat= This; agarhitam=is irreproachable; sataam= by good men.
“By any means, I do not desert anyone who arrives with a friendly appearance, even if he has a defect. His acceptance is irreproachable in the eyes of good men”
sugriivastvatha tadvaakyamaabhaaSya ca vimR^ishya ca |
tataH shubhataram vaakyamuvaaca haripuN^gavaH ||6-18-4
4. atha=then; SugreevaH= Sugreeva; haripuNgavaH= the chief of monkeys; aabhaashhyacha= closely analysed; vimR^ishyacha= and examined; tadvaakyam= those words of Rama; tatah= and thereafter; uvaachaha= spoke; shubhataram= most auspicious; vaakyam= words:
Then, Sugreeva the chief of monkeys closely analyzed and examined the aforesaid words of Rama and thereafter spoke the following most auspicious words:
suduSTo vaapyaduSTo vaa kimmeSa rajaniicaraH |
iidR^isham vyasanam praaptam bhraataram yaH parityajet ||6-18-5
ko vaama sa bhavettasya yameSa na parityajet |
5. kim= what matters if; eshhaH=this; rajaniicharaH= ranger of night; (demon) sudushhTovaa= is very dangerous; yaH= he who; parityajet= can desert; bhraataram= his brother; praaptam= who get; iidR^isham= such; vyasanam= a calamity; tasya= for such a person; yam= who to;konaama=whom; saH= he; naparityajet= would not betray?
“What matters if this ranger of night is very dangerous or other wise, if he can desert his own brother at a time of peril? Whom will he not betray subsequently?”
vaanaraadhipate rvaakyam shrutvaa sarvaanudiiksya tu ||6-18-6
iiSadutsmayamaanastu laksmaNam puNyalakshaNam |
iti hovaaca kaakutthso vaakyam satyaparaakramaH ||6-18-7
6, 7. shrutvaa= hearing; vaakyam= the words; vaanaraadhipate= of Sugreeva; kakutthsaH= Rama; satyaparaakramaH= who was truly mighty; udiikshhyatu= looked round; sarvam= all of them; utsmyamaanaH= smiled; iishhat=a little; uvaachaha= and spoke; vaakyam= these words; iti= thus; lakshhmaNam= to Lakshmana; puNya lakshhaNam= of virtuous characteristics:
Hearing the words of Sugreeva, Rama who was truly mighty looked round all of them , smiled a little and spoke the following words to Lakshmana, of virtuous characteristics:
anadhiitya ca shaastraaNi vR^iddhaananupasevya ca |
na shakyamiidR^isham vaktum yaduvaaca hariishvaraH ||6-18-8
8. yat= which words; hariishvaraH= Sugreeva; uvaachaH= spoke; na shakyam= it is not possible; vaktum= to speak;iidR^isham=such words; anadhiitya= without studying; shaastraaNi= scriptures; anupasevyacha= and without serving; vR^iddhaan= elders.
“Without studying scriptures and without serving elders, it is not possible to speak such words as Sugreeva spoke.”
asti suukshmataram kimcidyadatra pratibhaati maa |
pratyaksham laukikam caapi vartate sarvaraajasu ||6-18-9
9. yat= which; vartate= is; pratyakshham=clearly to be seen; sarva raajasu= in all the kings; loukikamchaapi= and occurring in even ordinary life; kimchit=a somewhat; suukshhmataram= highly subtle thing; asti= is there; atra= Here; maa= to me; pratibhaati=it is appearing to the mind.
“It appears to my mind that there is however something peculiar in these circumstances which are clearly to be seen in all lives of kings and even occurring in ordinary life.”
amitraastatkuliinaashca praatideshyaashca kiirtitaa |
vyasaneSu prahartaarastasmaadayamihaagataH ||6-18-10
10. kiirtitaaH= it is told; tatkuliinaashcha=that persons of that family; praatideshyaashchcha= and rulers belonging to adjoining territory; amitraaH=are enemies; prahartaarah= and strike; vyasaneshhu= in adversities; tasmaat= for that reason; ayam=he; aagatam= came; iha= here.
“It is told that persons of the same family and rulers belonging to adjoining territories become enemies and strike in times of adversities. For this reason, he came here.”
apaapaastatkuliivaashca maanayanti svakaan hitaan |
eSa praayo narendraaNaam shaN^kaniiyastu shobhanaH ||6-18-11
11. tatkuliinaaH= persons belonging to the same family; apaapaaH= who are not sinful; maanayanti= respect; svakaan= their own; hitaan= well- wishers; praayaH= Generally; narendraaNaam= for kings; eshhaH= even the persons; shobhanaH= who are virtuous; shaNkaniiyaH= are to be apprehended.
“Even if belonging to the same family, persons who are virtuous do respect their own well wishers in that family. Generally among kings, even a virtuous person is apprehended.”
yastu doSastvayaa prokto hyaadaane.ribalasya ca |
tatra te kiirtayuSyaami yathaashaastramidam shR^iNu ||6-18-12
12. yathaasaastran= as per scriptures; kiirtayishhyaami= I will tell; te= you; shruNu= hear; idam= this; yaH= which; dashhaH= draw back; proktaH= is told; tvayaa= by you; tatra= in that matter; aadaane= of accepting; aribalasya= from the side of an adversary.
“With regard to the draw back you told me in the matter of accepting a person coming from the side of an adversary, hear from me what the scriptures say.”
na vayam tatkuliinaashca raajyakaamkshii ca raakshasaH |
paNDitaa hi bhaviSyanti tasmaadgraahyo vibhiiSaNaH ||6-18-13
13. vayam= we; na= do not; tatkuliinaaHcha= belong to the same family. raakshhasaH= The demon; raajya kaaNkshhiicha= is desirous of kingdom; (These demons also)bhavishhyanti= may be; paNDitaaH hi= rather learned; tasmaat= for that reason; vibhiishhaNaH= Vibhishana; graahyaH= is admissible.
“We do not belong to the same family. Further, Vibhishana the demon is desirous of acquiring the kingdom. A few of the demons also may be rather learned ones. That is why, Vibhishana is acceptable.”
avyagraashca prahR^iSTaashca na bhaviSyanti samgataaH |
praNaadashca mahaaneSa tato.asya bhayamaagatam ||6-18-14
iti bhedam gamiSyanti tasmaatpropto vibhiiSaNaH |
14. sangataaH= kinsfolk; na bhavishhyanti= do not live together; avyagraashcha= in a fearless mode; prahR^ishhTaashcha= and in a delightful manner; iti= hence; gamishhyanti= they get; bhedam= a split; ataH= for that reason; bhayam= a fear; aagatam= has come; asya= to him; eshhaH= This; praNaadashcha= loud appeal is also; mahaan= leading; tasmaat= for that reason; vibhiishhaNaH= Vibhishana; graahyaH=is acceptable.
“Kinsfolk do not live together in a fearless mode and in a delightful manner. Hence, they get a split among themselves. For this reason, a fear has come to him. This loud appeal is also major cause. That is why, Vibhishana can be accepted.”
na sarve bhraatarastaata bhavanti bharatopamaaH ||6-18-15
madvidhaa naa pituH putraaH suhR^ido vaa bhavadvidhaaH |
15. taata= my dear one! sarve=All; bhraataraH= brothers; na bhavanti= are not; bharatopamaaH= like bharata; putraH= sons; madvidhaaH= like me; pituH= to a father; suhR^ido vaa= or friends; bhavadvidhaaH= like you.
“My dear one! Neither all brothers are like Bharata, nor all sons of a father like me nor all friends are like you.”
evamuktastu raameNa sugriivaH sahalaksmaNaH ||6-18-16
utthaaayodam mahaapraajJNaH praNato vaakyamabraviit |
16. evam= thus; uktaH= spoken; raameNa= by Rama; sugriivaH= Sugreeva; saha lakshmaNaH=who was together with Lakshmana; mahaapraG^yaH= the highly wise man; utthaaya= stood up; praNataH= saluting; abraviit= and spoke; idam= these; vaakyam= words:
Hearing Rama’s words Sugreeva who was together with the highly wise Lakshmana stood up saluting and spoke these words:
raavaNena praNihitam tamavehi nishaacaram ||6-18-17
tasyaaham nigraham manye kshamam kshamavataam vara |
17. kShamavataamvara= O, Rama the excellent among those who are tolerant! avachi= Realiase; tam= that; nishaacharam= ranger in night(demon); praNihatam= to have been sent; raavaNena= by Ravana; manye= I think; tasya= of him; kshhamam= befitting; nigraham= to be taken as captive.”
“O, Rama the excellent among the tolerant! Realise that Ravana has sent Vibhishana, the demon. I think of him to be worthy of being taken as a captive.”
raakshaso jihmayaa buddhyaa samdiSTo.aya mihaagataH ||6-18-18
prahartum tvayi vishvaste vishvaste mayi vaanagha |
lakshmaNe vaa mahaabaaho sa badhyaH sacivaiH saha ||6-18-19
raavaNasya nR^ishamsasya bhraataa hyeSa vibhiiSaNaH |
18, 19. anagha= O, faultless one! mahaabaaho= O, mighty armed! ayam raakshhasaH= This demon; samdishhTaH= is been sent; prahartum= to strike; tvayi= you; vishvaste= who are unsuspecting; mayivaa= or me; lakshhmaNeva= or Lakshmana; vishvaste= in trust; aagataH= and came; iha= here; jihmayaa= with crooked; buddhyaa= mind; saH= he; sachivaiHsaha= with his counselors; badhyaH= are fit to be imprisoned; vibhiishhaNaH= Vibhishana; bhraata hi= is indeed brother; raavaNasya= of Ravana; nR^ishamsasya= the cruel demon.
“O, the mighty armed Rama! The faultless one! This demon is being sent to kill you who are unsuspecting, or to kill Lakshmana or me in trust. He came here with a crooked mind. He with his counselors is fit to be imprisoned. Is not Vibhishana the brother of cruel Ravana?”
evamuktvaa raghushreShTaM sugriivo vaahiniipatiH || 6-18-20
vaakyajJNo vaakyakushalaM tato maunamupaagamat |
20. uktvaa= speaking, evam= thus; raghushreshhTam= to Rama the best of Raghu dynasty; SugreevaH= Sugreeva; vaakyaG^yaH= who knew the mode of expression; tatah= thereafter; paagamat= obtained; mounam= silence.
Speaking thus to Rama, the best of Raghu dynasty, Sugreeva who knew the mode of expression, thereafter kept silent.
sa sugriivasya tad vaakyaym raamaH shrutvaa vimR^ishya ca ||6-18-21
tataH shubhataram vaakyam uvaaca hari pumgavam |
21. bhrutvaa= hearing; tat vaakyam= those words; sugriivasya= of Sugreeva; raamaH= Rama; vimR^ishyacha= pondered over them and; tataH= thereafter; uvaacha= spoke; subha taram= more auspicious; vaakyam= words; haripuNgavam= to Sugreeva.
Hearing those words of Sugreeva, Rama pondered over the words and thereafter spoke more auspicious words to Sugreeva as follows:
suduSTo vaa api aduSTo vaa kim eSa rajanii caraH ||6-18-22
suukSmam api ahitam kartum mama ashaktaH kathamcana |
22. kim= what if; eshhaH= this; rajaniicharaH= demon; sudushhTovaa= is very bad? asaktaH= He is incapable; kartum= of doing; kathamchana= scarcely; suukshhmam= a little; ahitamapi= harm ; mama= to me.
“What does it matter whether that demon is very bad or not bad? He is incapable of doing even a little harm to me.”
pishaacaan daanavaan yakSaan pR^ithivyaam caiva raakSasaan ||6-18-23
anguli agreNa taan hanyaam icchan hari gaNa iishvara |
23. harigaNeshvara= O, Sugreeva Lord of monkey troops! Ichchhan= If I wish; hanyaam= I will kill; taan= those; pishaachaan= devilish beings; daanavaan= demons; yakshhaan= supernatural beings; raakshhasanchaiva= and ogres; pR^ithivyaam= living on earth; aNgulyagreNa= with the tip of my finger.
“O, Sugreeva, Lord of monkey-troops! If I wish, I can kill those devilish beings, demons, supernatural beings and ogres living on earth with just a tip of my finger”
shruuyate hi kapotena shatruH sharaNam aagataH ||6-18-24
arcitaH ca yathaa nyaayam svaiH ca maamsair nimantritaH |
24. shruuyate hi=it is heard; kapotena;by a dove; shatruH= an enemy; aagataH= came; sharaNam= for a refuge; architashcha= was received; yathaanyaayam= according to rules of hospitality; nimantritashcha= and was invited for a feast; svaiH= with its own; maamsaiH= flesh.
“It is narrated how by a dove, its enemy ( a fowler) when it came for a refuge, was received according to rules of hospitality and was invited for a feast with its own flesh.”
sa hi tam pratijagraaha bhaaryaa hartaaram aagatam ||6-18-25
kapoto vaanara shreSTha kim punar mad vidho janaH |
25. saH kaptaH= that dove; pratijagraaha hi= indeed accepted as a guest; tam= the fowler; aagatam= as he came; bharyaahantaaram= although he killed its wife; kimpunaH= how much more; janaH= a man; madvidhaH= like me?
“O, the excellent of monkeys! The aforesaid dove indeed accepted as a guest, the fowler as he came, although he killed its wife .How much more a man like me has to do?”
R^iSeH kaNvasya putreNa kaNDunaa parama R^iSiNaa ||6-18-26
shR^iNu gaathaam puraa giitaam dharmiSThaam satya vaadinaa |
26. putreNa= the son; puraa= long ago; kanvasya R^ishhe= of a sage called Kanva; satyavaadinaa= a great sage; kaNDuunaa= and by Kandu by name; gathaa=verses; dharmishhThaa= inculcating virtue; giitaa= were sung; shruNu= hear them.
“Hear the verses inculcating virtue so long ago, by Kandu, the son of a sage called Kanva, a great sage and a speaker of truth.”
baddha anjali puTam diinam yaacantam sharaNa aagatam ||6-18-27
na hanyaad aanR^ishamsya artham api shatrum param pata |
27. paramtapa= O, king the torminator of enemies! Shatrum api= even an enemy; baddhaaNjalipuTram=who formed a cup with his hollowed hands; diinam; a miserable person; yaachantam= a person who is begging; sharaNaagatam= and who is seeking refuge; na hanyaat= should not be killed; anR^ishamsyaartham= with the aim of not being cruel.
“O, king the terminator of enemies! Even an enemy, who formed a cup with his hollowed hands, a miserable person, a person who is begging and who is seeking a refuge should not be killed with the aim of not being cruel.”
arto vaa yadi vaa dR^iptaH pareSaam sharaNam gataH ||6-18-28
ariH praaNaan parityajya rakSitavyaH kR^ita aatmanaa |
28. ariH= an enemy; gataH= who gets; sharaNam= a refuge; pareshhaam= from others; aartovaa= even if he is oppressed; yadivaa= or; dR^iptaH= arrogant; rakshhitavyaH= is to be protected; parityajya= by abandoning; praaNaan= even lives; kR^Itaatmanaa= by one who has a well-disciplined mind.
“An enemy who comes for protection against others, even if the aforesaid enemy is oppressed or arrogant, is to be protected by one who has a disciplined mind, even by abandoning one’s life.”
sa ced bhayaad vaa mohaad vaa kaamaad vaa api na rakSati ||6-18-29
svayaa shaktyaa yathaa tattvam tat paapam loka garhitam |
29. saH narakshhatichet= If he does not ; svayaa=by his; shaktyaa= strength; yathaanyaayam= rightly; bhayadvaa= by fear; mohaadvaa= or by ignorance; kamaadvaapi= by or desire; tat= it; paapam= is a sin; lokagarhitam= to be reproached by the world.
“If he does not protect rightly through his strength, by fear or by ignorance or by desire, it is a sin to be reproached by the world.”
vinaSTaH pashyatas tasya rakSiNaH sharaNa aagataH ||6-18-30
aadaaya sukR^itam tasya sarvam gacched arakSitaH |
30. arakshhitaH= having not been protected; gataH= being in; sharaNam= a refuge; tasya= and if that; rakshhiNaH= protector; pashyataH= while seeing; vinashhTaH= dies; tasya= his; sarvam= whole; sukR^itam= moral merit; aadaaya= having taken along, gachchhet= goes.
“If having not been protected, a refugee dies before the eyes of a man who is able to protect him, the former takes along all his moral merit and goes.”
evam doSo mahaan atra prapannaanaam arakSaNe ||6-18-31
asvargyam ca ayashasyam ca bala viirya vinaashanam
31. mahaan doshhaH= there is a great blemish; evam= thus; atra= in this; arakshhane= who take refuge; asvargyam= it does not bestow heaven; ayashasyamcha= it destroys reputation; balaviirya vinaashanam= it devastates strength and valor.”
“In not protecting thus the persons who take refuge, there is a great blemish involved in it. It does not bestow heaven. It destroys reputation. It devastates strength and valor”
kariSyaami yathaa artham tu kaNDor vacanam uttamam ||6-18-32
dharmiSTham ca yashasyam ca svargyam syaat tu phala udaye |
32. karishhyaami= I will make; yathaartham= real; uttamam= the excellent; vachanam= words; kaNDoH= of Kandu; syaat= It becomes; dharmishhTham=very righteous; yashasyam= gives a reputation; svargyam= leads to heaven; phalodayam= and rewards appear.
“I will follow the excellent words of Kandu. It becomes a very righteous thing, gives reputation, leads to heaven and the rewards appear consequently.”
sakR^id eva prapannaaya tava asmi iti ca yaacate ||6-18-33
abhayam sarva bhuutebhyo dadaami etad vratam mama |
33. yaachate= he who seeks; prapannaaya= refuge; sakR^ideva= just once; iti= saying that; asmi= I am; tava= yours; dadaami= I shall give; abhayam= assurance of safety; sarva bhuutebhyaH= against all types of beings; etat= this; mama= is my; vratam= pledge.
“He who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that ‘I am yours’, I shall give him assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge”
aanaya enam hari shreSTha dattam asya abhayam mayaa ||6-18-34
vibhiiSaNo vaa sugriiva yadi vaa raavaNaH svayam |
34. sugriiva= O, Sugreeva; harishreshhTha= the chief of monkeys! vibhiishhaNovaa= either he is Vibhishana; yadivaa= or; raavaNaH= Ravana; svayam= himself; abhayam= an assurance of safety; dattam= has been given; asya= to him; mayaa= by me; aanaya= bring; evam= him(here).
“O, Sugreeva, the chief of monkeys! Let him either be Vibhishana or even Ravana himself; I have given an assurance of safety to him. Bring him here.”
raamasya vacanam shrutvaa sugriivaH plavaga iishvaraH ||6-18-35
pratyabhaaSata kaakutstham sauhaardena abhicoditaH |
35. shrutvaa= hearing; raamasya;=Rama’s; vachanaH= words; SugreevaH= Sugreeva; plavageshvara= the Lord of monkeys; abhipuurita= overwhelmed; souhardena= with cordial friendship; pratyabhaashhata= replied; kaakutthsam= to Rama(as follows).
Hearing Rama’ s words, Sugreeva the lord of monkeys, overwhelmed as he was with cordial friendship, replied to Rama as follows:
kim atra citram dharmaj~na loka naatha shikhaa maNe ||6-18-36
yat tvam aaryam prabhaaSethaaH sattvavaan sapathe sthitaH |
36. dharmaJNa= O, the one who is aware of righteousness; lokanaathasikhaamaNe= the crest jewel among the lords of the world; kim= what; chitram surprise; atra= is there; iti yat= in thinking that; tvam= you; sattvavaan= endowed with true essence; athitaH= and established; satpathe= in right path; prabhaashhethaah= speak; aaryam= these venerable words?
“O, Rama, who knows righteousness, the crest jewel among lords of the world! What surprise is there in thinking that you, duly endowed with true essence of life and established in a right path, speak these venerable words?”
mama ca api antar aatmaa ayam shuddhim vetti vibhiiSaNam ||6-18-37
anumanaac ca bhaavaac ca sarvataH supariikSitaH |
37. ayam= this; mama= my; antaraatmaa cha= inmost spirit; vetti= feels; vibhiishhanam= Vibhishana; shuddham= to be genuine; supariikshhitaH=being well examined; sarvataH= from all angles; anumaanaat= by act of inference; bhaavaat= and by appearance.
“My inmost spirit also feels Vibhishana to be a genuine person, he being well examined from all angles, by act of inference and by his appearance.”
tasmaat kSipram saha asmaabhis tulyo bhavatu raaghava ||6-18-38
vibhiiSaNo mahaapraaj~naH sakhitvam ca abhyupaitu naH |
38. raaghavaa= O, Rama; Tasmaat= Hence; bhavatu= let; vhbhiishhhaNah= Vibhishana; maahaapraajJNaH= the highly wise; tulyaH= be equal; asmaabhiH cha= among us together; abhyupaitu= let him get; sakhitvamcha= friendship too; nah= with us.
“O, Rama! Hence, let the highly wise Vibhishana be equal among us soon together. Let him get our friendship too”
tatas tu sugriiva vaco nishamyata|
hari iishvareNa abhihitam nara iishvaraH |
vibhiiSaNena aashu jagaama samgamam |
patatri raajena yathaa puram daraH ||6-18-39
39. nishamya= hearing; tat sugriiva vachaH= those words of Sugreeva; nareshvaraH= Rama the king of men; abhihitam= as acknowledged; hariishvarena= by Sugreeva; jagaama= held; samgamam= meeting; vibhiiShaNena= with Vibhishana; puramdaraH yathaa= as Indra the lord of celestials; patattrirajena= had with Garuda the king of birds.
Hearing those words of Sugreeva, Rama the king of men, as acknowledged by Sugreeva, held meeting with Vibhishana, as Indra the lord of celestials once met Garuda the king of birds.
ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe aSTaadashaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 18th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2008, K. M. K. Murthy [Revised : August 08]