Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
Rama together with Sugreeva and others mount to the top of Suvela mountain and see the city of Lanka. There, above a gate-way of the City, stands Ravana. Seeing Ravana, Sugreeva springs to the top of the gate where Ravana is bounces on him, pulls his thrown and throws it away on the ground. thereafter, Ravana and Sugreeva carry on duel for a long time without any fatigue. They wrestle endlessly in different postures. Finally, after reducing Ravana to exhaustion, Sugreeva comes back and rejoins his monkey-troops. |
tato raamaH suvelaagraM yojanadvayamaNDalam |
upaarohatsasugriivo hariyuuthaiH samanvitaH || 6-40-1
1. tataH= thereafter; raamaH= Rama; sasugriivaH= along with Sugreeva; samanvitaH= together with; hariyuuthapaiH= the troop-leaders of monkeys; upaarohat= ascended; suvelaagram= the top of Suvela mountain; yojanadvaya maNDalam= having a circumference of sixteen miles (Two yojanas).
Then, Rama along with Sugreeva, together with the troop leaders of monkeys, ascended the top of Suvela mountain which was having a circumference of sixteen miles.
sthitvaa muhuurtaM tatraiva disho dasha vilokayan |
triKuuTashikhare ramye nirmitaaM vishvakarmaNaa || 6-40-2
dadarsha laN^kaaM sunyastaaM ramyakaananashobhitaam |
2. sthitvaa= halting; tatraiva= there just; muhuurtam= for a while; vilokayan= and looking towards; dasha= ten; dishaH= directions; (Rama); dadarsha= saw; laN^kaam= Lanka; ramye= which was beautifully; nirmitaam= constructed; vishvakarmaNaa= by Visvakarma, the divine architecttrikuuTa shikhare= on the top of Trikuta Mountain; sunyastaam= with nice arrangements; ramya kaanana shobhitaam= and ravishing with enchanting groves.
Halting there just for a while and surveying the ten cardinal points, Rama saw the city of Lanka, which was beautifully constructed by Visvakarma, the divine architect on the top of Trikuta Mountain with nice arrangements and ravishing with enchanting groves.
tasyaaM gopurashR^iN^gasthaM raakshasendraM duraasadam || 6-40-3
shvetachaamaraparyantaM vijayachchatrashobhitam |
raktachandanasaMliptaM raktaabharaNabhuuSitam || 6-40-4
viilajiimuutasaMkaashaM hemasaMchaaditaambaram |
airaavataviSaaNaagrairutkR^iSTakiNavakshasam || 6-40-5
shashalohitaraageNa samviitaM raktavaasasaa |
saMdhyaatapena saMchannaM megharaashimivaambare || 6-40-6
3, 4, 5, 6. tasyaam= there; gopura shR^iN^gastham= above a gate way stood; duraasadam= the invincible raakSasendram= the Lord of demons; shvetachaamara paryantam= who was being famed with white whisks on both sides; vijayachchhatra shobhitam= was graced with a triumphal parasol; raktachandana samliptam= was smeared with red sandal paste; raktaa bharaNa bhuuSitam= adorned with scarlet ornaments; niilajumuuta samkaasham= resembling a dark cloud; hema samchhaaditaambaram= as he was attired in raiment embroidered in gold; utkR^iSTakiNavakSasam= who bore on his breast scars of wounds; airaavata viSaaNaagraiH= inflicted on his by Airavata (the elephant who carries Indra, the Lord of Celestials, on his back) with his tusks; samviitam= wrapped; raktavaasasaa= in a cloak of red colour; shasha lohita raageNa= resembling the colour of hare's blood megharaashim iva= looked like a mass of clouds; ambare= in the sky; samchhannam= enveloped with samdhyaa tapena= sunshine at sunset.
There above a gateway, stood the invincible Ravana the lord of demons, who was being fanned with white whisks on both sides, was graced with a triumphal parasol, was smeared with red sandal paste, adorned with scarlet ornaments, attired in raiment embroidered in gold, resembling a dark cloud, who bore on his breast scars of wounds inflicted on him by Airavata (the elephant who carries Indra the Lord of celestials, on his back) with his tusks, wrapped in a cloak of red colour resembling the colour of hare's blood and looked like a mass of clouds in the sky enveloped with sunshine at sunset.
pashyataaM vaanarendraaNaam raaghavasyaapi pashyataH |
darshanaadraakshasendrasya sugriivaH sahasotthitaH || 6-40-7
7. darshanaat= on seeing; raakSasendrasya= Ravana; sugriivaH= Sugreeva; utthitaH= got up; sahasaa= all at once; (while); vaanarendraaNaam= the chiefs of monkeys; pashyataam= were looking on; raaghavasyaapi= and even Rama; pashyataH= was looking on.
On seeing Ravana, Sugreeva got up all at once, while Rama and the chiefs of the army of monkeys were looking on.
krodhavegena saM yuktaH sattvena cha balena cha |
achalaagraadathotthaaya pupluve gopurasthale || 6-40-8
8. samyuktaH= gathering up; sattvema cha= his courage; balena cha= and strength; (Sugreeva); krodha vegena= in an impulse of feery; utthaaya= bounded; achalaagraat= from the summit of the mountain; atha= and then; pupluve= sprang; gopura sthale= to the top of the gate (Where Ravana was).
Gathering up his strength and courage, Sugreeva, in an impulse of fury, bounded from the summit of the mountain and then sprang to the top of the gate (where Ravana was).
sthitvaa muhuurtaM samprekshya nirbhayenaantaraatmanaa |
tR^iNiikR^itya cha tadrakshaH so.abraviitparuSaM vachaH || 6-40-9
9. muhuurtam= for a moment; saH= he; sthitvaa= paused; (then); nirbhayena= with a fearless; antaraatmanaa= soul; samprakSya= (he) saw; tat= that; rakSaH= demon; tR^iNiiR^itya= whom he regarded as a mere straw; (and thereafter); abraviit= spoke; vachaH= (the following) words; parusham= harshly.
For a moment, he paused and then with a fearless soul, he saw that demon, whom he regarded as a mere straw and thereafter spoke the following words harshly:
lokanaathasya raamasya sakhaa daaso.asmi raakshasa |
na mayaa mokyase.dya tvaM paarthivendrasya tejasaa || 6-40-10
10. raakSasa= O, demon!; asmi= I am; sakhaa= friend; daasaH= and a servant; raamasya= of Rama; lokanaathasya= the Lord of the world; tvam= you; na mokSyase= will not be spared; adya= today; mayaa= by me; tejasaa= by the inspiring grace; paarthivendrasya= of Rama, the king of kings.
"O, demon! I am a friend and a servant of Rama, the Lord of the world. You will not be spared by me today, by the inspiring grace of Rama."
ityuktvaa sahasotpatya plupluve tasya chopari |
aakR^iSya mukuTaM chitraM paatayaamaasa tadbhuvi || 6-40-11
11. iti= thus; uktvaa= speaking; (Sugreeva); utpatya= jumped up; sahasaa= all at once; pupluve= bounced; upari= over; tasya= on him; aakR^iSya= pulled; chitram= the brightly coloured; mukuTam= crown; paatayaamaasa= and threw; tat= it; bhuvi= on the ground.
Thus speaking, Sugreeva jumped up all at once, bounced over on ravana, pulled his brightly coloured crown from his head and threw it away on the ground.
samiiksya tuurNamaayaantaM babhaaSe taM nishaacharaH |
sugriivastvaM parokshe me hiinagriivo bhaviSyasi || 6-40-12
12. samiikSya= seeing; tam= him; aayaantam= coming; tuurNam= quickly (once again); nishaacharaH= Ravana; babhaache= spoke (as follows); tvam= you; sugreeva= were Sugreeva (one who has a handsome neck); me parokSe= when you were not present before my eyes; bhaviSyasi= you will (now) become; hiinagrivaH= bereft of your neck.
Seeing Sugreeva about to rush upon him again, Ravana spoke as follows: "You were Sugreeva (one who has a handsome neck), when your were not present before my eyes. But now, you will now become Hinagriva bereft of your neck."
ityuktvotthaaya taM kShipraM baahubhyaamaakshipattale |
kanduvatsa samutthaaya baahubhyaamaakshipaddhariH || 6-40-13
13. iti= thus; uktvaa= speaking; utthaaya= having raised up; (Ravana); baahubhyaam= with his two arms; kSipram= quickly; aakSipat= flung Sugreeva; tale= to the ground; saH= that; hariH= monkey; samutthaaya= bouncing up; kanduvat= like a ball; aakSipat= flung back (his adversary); baahubhyaam with his arms.
Speaking thus, Ravana raised up and quickly flung Sugreeva to the ground with both his arms. Bouncing like a ball, Sugreeva flung back his adversary with his arms.
parasparaM svedavidigdhagaatrau |
parasparam shoNitaraktadehau |
parasparaM shliSTaniruddhacheSTau |
parasparaM shaalmalikiMshukaaviva || 6-40-14
muSTiprahaaraishcha talaprahaarai |
raratnighaataishcha karaagraghaataiH |
tau chakraturyuddhamasahyaruupaM |
mahaabalau raakshasavaanarendrau || 6-40-15
14, 15. tau= those two; raakSasa vaanarendrau= Ravana and Sugreeva; mahaabalau= of great strength; sveda vidigdha gaatrau= with perspiration broke out on the limbs; parasparam= of one another; shoNita rakta dehau= with their bodies red with blood; parasparam= on one another; parasparam shliSTa niruddha cheSTau= each clung to the other, paralyzing his opponents movements; shaalamali kimshukaa vira= resembled the shalmali and Kimshuka trees; chakratuH= (They) created; asahyaruupam= an unbearable; yuddham= struggle; muSTiprahaaraishcha= with blows of fists; talapraaharaiH= with slaps of hands; aratnighaataiH cha= hurting with elbows; karaagra ghaataiH= and with blows of fingers.
Ravana and Sugreeva of great strength carried on a duel which was unbearable, with perspiration broke out on their limbs, with their bodies red with blood, each clung to other other paralyzing his opponent's movements resembling silk-cotton and Kimshuka trees, followed by blows of fists, slaps of hands blows of elbows and blows of fingers on each other.
kR^itvaa niyuddhaM bhR^ishamugravegau |
kaalaM chiraM gopuravedimadhye |
utkshipya chotkshipya vinamya dehau |
paadakramaadgopuravedilagnau || 6-40-16
16. kR^itvaa niyuddham= having wrestled; chiram kaalam= for a long time; gopura vedimadhye= in the centre of the flat roof of the gate-way; utkSipya utkSipya= repeatedly lifting; dehau= their bodies (each in turn); vinamya= bending; paada kramaat= their feet in a particular way;bhR^isham ugra vegau= the two combatants with very high swiftness; gopura vedi lagnau= remained in that flat roof of the gate-way.
Having wrestled for a long time in the center of the flat floor of the gate way, each in turn repeatedly lifting their bodies and bending their feet in a particular way, the two highly swift combatants remained in that flat roof of the gate way.
anyonyamaapiiDya vilagnadehau |
tau petutuH paalanikhaatamadhye |
utpetaturbhuumitalam spR^ishantau |
sthitvaa muhuurtaM tvabhiniHshvasantau || 6-40-17
17. aapiiDya= crushing; anyonyam= one another; vilagna dehau= their bodies clung together; tau= they both; nipetatauH= dropped down; saala nikhaata madhye= between the defensive walls and the moat; utpetatuH= they would leap up again; bhuumitalam= from the ground; spR^ishantau= seizing each other; sthitvaa= after pausing; muhuurtam= an instant; abhiniH shvasantau= to regain their breath.
Crushing one another and their bodies clung together, they both dropped down between the defensive walls and the moat. They would leap up again, seizing each other from the ground, after pausing an instant to regain their breath.
aaliN^gya chaaliN^Gya cha baahuyoktraiH |
saMyojayaamaasaturaahave tau |
samrambhashikshaabalasamprayuktau |
sucheratuH samprati yuddhamaarge || 6-40-18
18. baahuyoktraiH= with arms interlaced like with ropes; samyojayaamaasatuH= joined together; tau= they; aaliN^gyacha aaliN^gyacha= remained locked together; aahve= in the struggle; samrambhashikSaa bala samprayuktau= (they) who had received training in wrestling and were fully endowed with night; samprati sucheratuH= were now moving to and fro yuddha maarge= in the arena.
With arms interlaced like with ropes joined together, they remained locked together in the struggle. Both of them, who had received training in wrestling and fully endowed with night, were now moving to and fro in the arena.
shaarduulasiMhaviva jaatadaMSTrau |
gajendrapotaaviva saMprayuktau |
saMhatya saMvedya cha tau karaabhyaaM |
taU petuturvai yugapaddharaayaam || 6-40-19
19. tau= the two heroes; shaarduula simhaaviva= who resembled a tiger and a lion; jaata damSTrau= having their tusks growing; gajendra potaaviva= or two young lordly elephants; samprayuktau= encountering in a hostile manner; karaabhyaam= with arms; samhatya= interlaced; samvedya cha= and having duly tired their strength; petatuHvai= fell; dharaayaam= on the ground; yugapat= together.
The two heroes, who resembled a tiger and a a lion having their tusks growing or two young lordly elephants encountening in a hostile manner, with arms interlaced and having duly tried their strength, fell on the ground together.
udyamya chaanyonyamadhikshipantau |
saMchakramaate bahu yuddhamaarge |
vyaayaamashikshaabalasaMprayuktau |
klamaM na tau jagmaturaashu viirau || 6-40-20
20. udyamya= Rising; tau viirau= those two heroes; adhikSipantau= hurled themselves; anyonyam= on each other; samchakra maate= circling round; yuddhe maarge= the arena; bahu= again and again; vyaayaama shikSabala samprayuktau= like skilled and mighty wrestlers; na jagmatuH= nor did they obtain; aashu= so quickly; klamam= fatigue.
Thereafter rising, those two heroes hurled themselves on each other, circling around the arena again and again, like skilled and mighty wrestlers, nor were they easily fatigued.
baahuttamairvaaraNavaaraNaabhai |
rnivaarayantau paravaaraNaabhau|
chireNa kaalena bhR^ishaM prayuddhau |
saMcheraturmaNDalamaargamaashu || 6-40-21
21. varavaaraNaabhau= like unto great tuskers; bahuuttamaiH= with their enormous arms; vaaraNa vaaraNaabhaiH= resembling the trunks; nivaarayantau= (they were) keeping back each other; prayuddhau= fought; bhR^isham= vehemently; chireNa kaalena= for a long time; samcheratuH= and moved; aashu=speedily; maNDala maargam= in a circular path.
Like unto great tuskers with their enormous arms resembling the trunks, those two warriors were keeping back each other, fought vehemently for a long time and moved speedily in a circular arena.
tau paraspara maasaadya yattaavanyonyasuudane |
maarjaaraaviva bhakshaarthe.avatasthaate muhurmuhuH || 6-40-22
22. aasaadya= approaching; parasparam= each other; maarjaaraaviva= like two wild cats; bhakSyaarthe= fighting over a piece of meat; yattau= trying; anyonya suudane= to kill each other; avatasthaate= they stood; (growling) muhurmuhuH= again and again.
Approaching each other like tow wild cats fighting over a piece of meat trying to kill each other, they stood growling again and again.
maNDalaani vichitraaNi sthaanaani vividhaani cha |
gomuutrakaaNi chitraaNi gatapratyaagataani cha || 6-40-23
tiirshiinagataanyeva tathaa vakragataani cha |
parimokshaM prahaaraaNaaM varjanaM paridhaavanam || 6-40-24
abhidravaNamaaplaavamavasthaanaM savigraham |
paraavR^ittamapaavR^ittamapadrutamavaplutam || 6-40-25
upanyastamapanyastaM yuddhamaargavishaaradau |
tau vicheraturnyonyaM vaanarendrashcha raavaNaH || 6-40-26
23, 24, 25, 26. tau= the two warriors; vaanarendrashcha= Sugreeva; raavaNaH= and Ravana; yuddha maarga vishaaradau= who were skilled in wrestling; vicheratuH= executed; vividhaani= innumerable; vichitraaNi= and myriad; maNDalaani= evolutions; anyonyam= in mutual conflict; chitraaNi= (taking up) diverse; sthaanaani=postures; gomuutrakaaNi= moving in a curved line like an ox's urine, gata pratyaagataanicha= coming and going; tirashchiinagataanyena= stepping sideways; tathaa= and; vakragataani cha= having a retrograde motion; parimokSam= to avoid; prahaaraaNaam= blows; paridhaavanam= turning about; varjanam= abandoing the attack; abhidravaNam= dashing towards each other; aaplaavam= leaping; avasthaanam= standing; savigraham= firm and erect; paraavR^itam= retreating; apaavR^itam= turned sideways; apadrutam= rushed in a bent posture; avaplutam= ran lifting their foot to kick the opponent; upanyastam= by letting go; apanyastam= or stealing away.
The two warriors, Sugreeva and Ravana, who were skilled in wrestling, excuted innumerable and myraid evolutions, taking up diverse postures, moving in a curved line like an ox's urine, coming and going, stepping side ways, having a retrograde motion to avoid blows, turning about abandoning the attack, dashing towards each other, leaping, standing firm and erect, retreated, turned sideways, rushed in a bent posture, ran lifting their foot to kick the opponent and by letting go or stealing away.
etasminnantare raksho maayaabalamathaatmanaH |
aarabdumupasam pede jJNaatvaa tam vaanaraadhipaH || 6-40-27
utpapaata tadaakaashaM jitakaashii jitaklamaH |
raavaNaH sthita evaatra hariraajena vaJNchitaH || 6-40-28
27, 28. atha= then; etasmin antare= in the meanwhile; rakSaH= Ravana, the demon; upasampede= decided; aarabdhum= to commence; maayaabalam= his magic power; jJNaatvaa= knowing; tam= it; vaanaraadhipaH= Sugreeva; utpapaata= flew; aakaasham= into the sky; jita kaashii= triumphantly; jitaklamaH= shaking off all fatigue; (While); raavaNaH= Ravana; vaN^chitaH= baffled; hariraajena= by Sugreeva; sthitaH= stood (confounded); atraiva= there alone.
Meanwhile, Ravana decided to common using his magic power. Knowing it, Sugreeva flew into the sky triumphantly shaking off all fatigue, while Ravana, baffled by Sugreeva stood confounded there alone.
atha harivaranaathaH praaptasaMgraamakiirti |
rnishicharapatimaajau yojayitvaa shrameNa |
gaganamativishaalaM laN^ghayitvaarkasuuma |
rharigaNabalamadhye raamapaarshvaM jagaam || 6-40-29
29. atha= then; harivaranaathaH= the Lord of the monkeys; praapta samgraama kiirtiH= acquiring fame as a warrior; yojayitvaa= reducing; nishicharapatim= Ravana; shrameNa= to exhaustion; laNghayitvaa= ascended; ativishaalam= into the infinite; gaganam= sky; arkasuunuH= and that offspring of the Sun, Sugreeva; jagaama= went; raamapaarshvam= to the side of Rama; harigaNabalamadhye= in the middle of the monkey-troops.
Thus, the Lord of the monkeys, acquiring fame as a warrior, reducing Ravana to exhaustion, ascended into the infinite sky and the offspring of the Sun then went to the side of Rama, who as in the middle of the mokye-troops.
sa iti savitR^isuunustatra tatkarma kR^itvaa |
pavanagatiraniikaM praavishatsaMprahR^iSTaH |
raghuvaranR^ipasuunodvardhayan yuddhaharSaM |
tarumR^igagaNamukhyaiH puujyamaano hariindraH || 6-40-30
30. saH= that Sugreeva; savitR^isuumuH= the offspring of the Sun; pavanagatiH= who endowed with a speed of the wind; kR^itvaa= having accomplished; tat karma= that act; tatra= there; vardhyan= increasing; yuddha harSam= the joy of the battle; raghuvaranR^ipasuunoH= of the foremost of the Raghu dynasty; puuhyamaanaH= honoured; tarumR^iga samprahR^iSTaH= and delighted; praavishat= rejoined; aniikam= the army.
That Sugreeva, the offspring of the Sun, who was endowed with a speed of the wind, having accomplished that feat there, increasing the military zeal of the foremost of Raghu dynasty, honoured by the monkey leaders and delighted, rejoined the army.
ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe chatvaariMshaH sargaH
Thus completes 40th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
© January 2005, K. M. K. Murthy