Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
Ravana asks Prahasta to go to the battle. Prahasta sets out for the combat along with a huge army and enters the eastern gate. Bad omens appeared, as Prahasta enters the battle-field. The army of monkeys seized hold of trees and rocks, to attack the demons. |
akampana vadham shrutvaa kruddho vai raakSasa iishvaraH |
kimcid diina mukhash ca api sacivaams taan udaikSata || 6-57-1
1. shrutvaa= hearing; akampana vadham= about the killing of Akampana; raakSaseshvaraH= Ravana the Lord of demons; kruddhaH= was enraged; kimchit diinamukhaH cha api= had a little depressed face; udaikSata= and looked; taan sachivaan= towards those ministers.
Hearing of Akampana's killing, Ravana the Lord of demons, with a little depressed face, was enraged and looked towards his ministers.
sa tu dhyaatvaa muhuurtam tu mantribhih samvicaarya ca |
tatastu raavaNaH puurvadivase raakSasaadhipaH || 6-57-2
puriim pariyayau lankaam sarvaan gulmaan avekSitum |
2. dhyaatvaa= having reflected; muhuurtam= a while; samvichaarya= and deliberated; mantribhiH= with his ministers; saH raavaNaH= that Ravana; raakSasaadhipaH= the king of Demons; tataH= then; yayau= went; laN^kaam puriim= to the City of Lanka; avekSitum= to inspect; sarvagulmaan= all his defenses; puurvadivasa= in the forenoon.
Having reflected awhile and deliberated with his ministers, Ravana the king of Demons then passed that forenoon in inspecting his defenses in the City of Lanka.
taam raakSasa gaNair guptaam gulmair bahubhir aavR^itaam || 6-57-3
dadarsha nagariim lankaam pataakaa dhvaja maaliniim |
3. raajaa= the king Ravana; dadarsha= saw; taam nagariim= that city; guptaam= protected; taam raakSasagaNaiH= by those groups of demons; aavR^itaam= and surrounded; bahubhiH= by many; gulmaiH= bodies of troops; pataaka dhvajamaaliniim= decorated with banners and flags.
The king Ravana saw that City, guarded by groups of demons, filled with innumerable troops and decorated with banners and flags.
ruddhaam tu nagariim dR^iSTvaa raavaNo raakSasa iishvaraH || 6-57-4
uvaaca amarSitah kaale prahastam yuddha kovidam |
4. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; nagariim= the City; ruddhaam= besieged; raavaNaH= Ravana; raakSaseshvaraH= the Lord of Demons; uvaacha= spoke; (as follows); prahastam= to Prahasta; yuddha kovidam= who was skilled in war-fare; aatmahitam= and who wished well of him; kaale= even at a critical time.
Seeing Lanka besieged, Ravana the Lord of Demons spoke as follows to Prahasta who was skilled in war-fare and who wished well of him even at a critical time.
purasya upaniviSTasya sahasaa piiDitasya ha || 6-57-5
na anyam yuddhaat prapashyaami mokSam yuddha vishaarada |
5. yuddha vishaarada= O, the proficient one in war-free!; na prapashyaami= I do not see; anyam= any other; mokSam= deliverance; yuddhaat= than a battle; purasya= for this City; upaniviSTasya= which is beseiged; sahasaa= suddenly; piiDitasya= and being devastated.
"O, Prahasta the proficient in war-free! I do not see any other deliverance than a battle for this city, which is besieged suddenly and being devastated."
aham vaa kumbha karNo vaa tvam vaa senaa patir mama || 6-57-6
indrajid vaa nikumbho vaa vaheyur bhaaram iidR^isham |
6. aham vaa= either I; kumbhakarNovaa= or Kumbhakarna; tvam vaa= or you; mama= my; senaapatiH= army-chief; indrajit vaa= or Indrajit; nikumbho vaa= or Nikumbha; vaheyuH= can bear; iidR^isham= such; bhaaram= a burden.
"Either myself or Kumbhakarna or yourself my army-chief or Indrajit or Nikumbha and none else could undertake such a task!"
sa tvam balam itah shiighram aadaaya parigR^ihya ca || 6-57-7
vijayaaya abhiniryaahi yatra sarve vana okasaH |
7. ataH= for that reason; saH tvam= you as such; aadaaya= taking; balam= the army; shiighram= quickly; parigR^ihyacha= and placing yourself in their midst; abhiniryaahi= set forth; vijayaaya= for victory; yatra= to the place where; sarve= all; vanaukasaH= the monkeys (are stationed)
"For that reason, taking a company of warriors, you quickly place yourself in their midst and set forth in order to triumph over all those monkeys."
niryaaNaad eva te nuunam capalaa hari vaahinii || 6-57-8
nardataam raakSasa indraaNaam shrutvaa naadam draviSyati |
8. harivaahinii= the army of monkeys; chalitaa= becoming disturbed; tuurNam= soon; nirNayaadeva= on (knowing) your decision (to go for the battle); draviSyati= will run away; shrutvaa= on hearing; naadam= the sound; raakSasendraaNaam= of the leaders of demons; nardataam= roaring.
"Unsettled in no time on knowing your decision to enter the battle-field, the army of monkeys will run away on hearing the raring sound of the leaders of demons."
capalaa hy aviniitaash ca cala cittaash ca vaanaraaH || 6-57-9
na sahiSyanti te naadam simha naadam iva dvipaaH |
9. vaanaraaH= the monkeys; chapalaaH= are unsteady; aviniitaashcha= mis-behaved; chalachittashcha= and fickle-minded; na sahiSyanti= (They) do not tolerate; te= your; naadam= sound; dvipaaH iva= as elephants; simhanaadani= the lion's roar.
"The monkeys are unsteady, mis-behaved and fickle-minded. They do not tolerate your sound, as elephants the lion's roar."
vidrute ca bale tasmin raamah saumitriNaa saha || 6-57-10
avashaste niraalambah prahasta vasham eSyati |
10. prahasta= O, Prahsta! tasmin bale= (As) that army; vidrude= takes to its heels; raamaH= Rama; saumitriNaa saha= along with Lakshmana; niraalambaH= without any support; avashaH= unwillingly; eSyati= will fall; vasham= into your power.
"O, Prahasta! As that army takes to its heels, Rama along with Lakshmana being supportless, will fall into your power though unwillingly."
aapat samshayitaa shreyo na atra nihsamshayii kR^itaa || 6-57-11
pratiloma anulomam vaa yad vaa no manyase hitam |
11. samshayitaa= A skeptical; aapat= misfortune; shreyaH= is preferable; na= and not; niH samshayiikR^itaa= that which is certain; atra= here; tu= but; pratilomaanu lomam vaa= whether it is unpleasing to hear or no; (say what); manyase= you consider; yat= that which; hitam= is advantageous; naH= for us.
"A skeptical misfortune is preferable to one that is certain! Whether it is unpleasing to hear or not, say what you consider as an advantage to us."
raavaNena evam uktas tu prahasto vaahinii patiH || 6-57-12
raakSasa indram uvaaca idam asura indram iva ushanaa |
12. vaahiniipatiH= the army-general; prahastaH= Prahasta; evam= thus; uktaH= spoken; raavaNena= by Ravana; uvaacha= spoke; idam= these words; raakSasendram= to Ravana; ushanaa= like Ushanaa= like Ushana (the preceptor of demons) asurendramiva= to Bali the king of Asuras.
Hearing the words of Ravana, Prahasta the Army-General spoke the following words to Ravana, like Ushana the preceptor of demons would speak to Bali, the king of demons.
raajan mantrita puurvam nah kushalaih saha mantribhiH || 6-57-13
vivaadasH ca api no vR^ittah samavekSya parasparam |
13. raajan= O, king!; mantrita puurvam= formerly it was deliberated; naH= by us; mantribhiH saha= along with ministers; kushalaiH= who were skilful; samavekSya= having observed attentively; parasparam= with one another; vivaadashcha= a disagreement; vR^ittaH= arose; naH= between us.
O, king! Formerly, we deliberated this matter with our wise ministers and, after having a good dialogue with each other, a disagreement arose between us."
pradaanena tu siitaayaah shreyo vyavasitam mayaa || 6-57-14
apradaane punar yuddham dR^iSTam etat tathaiva naH |
14. pradaanena= to return; siitaayaaH= Seetha; vyavasitam= was resolved; mayaa= by me; shreyaH= as preferable; apradaane punaH= not to return Seetha; yuddham= (meant) war; tathaiva= dR^iSTameva= we foresaw this.
"To return Seetha was what I considered preferable. Not to do so meant war; we foresaw this."
so aham daanaish ca maanaish ca satatam puujitas tvayaa || 6-57-15
saantvaisH ca vividhaih kaale kim na kuryaam priyam tava |
15. satatam= ever; puujitaH= honoured; tvayaa= by you; kaale= at appropriate time; daanaishcha= by gifts; maanaishcha= by felicitations; vividhaiH= by various; saanaishcha= nice words; kim= what; saH aham= I as such; na kuryaam= cannot do; hitam= benefit; tava= to you?
"I have ever been honoured by you at appropriate times by gifts, felicitations and nice words. When the opportunity arises, is it not for me to render you a service?"
na hi me jiivitam rakSyam putra daara dhanaani vaa || 6-57-16
tvam pashya maam juhuuSantam tvad arthe jiivitam yudhi |
16. me= to me; jiivitam= life; na hi= is indeed not; rakSyam= to be spared; putra daara dhanaanicha= (nor) sons; wives or riches; tvam= you; pashya= see; maam= me; juhuuSantam= who wish to sacrifice; jiivitam= my life; tvadarthe= for your sake; yudhi= in the battle.
"Neither wives nor sons nor riches are going to be spared by me. See you me, intending to sacrifice my life for your sake in the battle."
evam uktvaa tu bhartaaram raavaNam vaahinii patiH || 6-57-17
uvaachedam balaadhyakSaan prahastah purataH sthitaan |
17. uktvaa= having spoken; evam= thus; raavaNam= to Ravana; bhartaaram= the lord; prahastaH= Prahasta; vaahiniipatiH= the Army-general; uvaacha= spoke; idam= those words; balaadhyakSaan= to his leading officers; sthitaan= stationed; purataH= in front.
Having spoken thus to Lord Ravana, the General Prahasta said to his leading officers who stood before him as follows:
samaanayata me shiighram raakSasaanaam mahad balam || 6-57-18
mad baaNa ashani vegena hataanaam tu raNa ajire |
adya tR^ipyantu maamsena pakSiNah kaanana okasaam || 6-57-19
18, 19. samaanayata= gather; mahaabalam= a large army; raakSasaanaam= of demons; me= for me; madbaaNaanaam= With my arrows; vegena= by their swiftness; raaNaajire= on the battle field; maamsaadaaH= the flesh-eating; pakSiNaH= birds; kaanakausaH= and beasts; tR^ipyantu= shall feed; hataanaam= on the enemy that I stroke down; adya= today.
"Gather a large army of demons together for me. Today, the flesh-eating birds and beasts shall feed on the enemy that I strike down on the battle-field with my swift arrows."
tasya tadvachanam shrutvaa balaadhyakSaa mahaabalaaH |
balam udyojayaam aasus tasmin raakSasa mandire || 6-57-20
20. shrutvaa= hearing; tat= that; vachanam= command; tasya= of Prahasta; mahaabalaah= the mighty; balaadhyakSaaH= leaders of the army; udyojayaamaasuH= assembled; balam= the forces; tasmin raakSasa mandire= in the abode of that demon.
Hearing that command of Prahasta, the mighty leaders of the army assembled the forces in the abode of that demon.
saa babhuuva muhuurtena tigma naanaa vidha aayudhaiH |
lankaa raakSasa viirais tair gajair iva samaakulaa || 6-57-21
21. muhuurtena= within a short while; saa laN^kaa= that City of Lanka; babhuuva= became; samaakulaa= filled; tai= with those; bhiimaiH= terrific; raakSasa viiraiH= demon-warriors; gajairiva= resembling elephants; naanaa vidhaayudhaiH= wielding various types of weaponry.
Within a short while, that City of Lanka was filled with those terrific demon-warriors, resembling elephants and wielding various types of weaponry.
huta ashanam tarpayataam braahmaNaamsh ca namasyataam |
aajya gandha prativahah surabhir maaruto vavau || 6-57-22
22. (While some demons); tarpayataam= propitiated; hutaashanam= the fire-god; (with their offerings); namasyataam= and paid homage; braahmaNaamshcha= to Brahmanas; surabhiH= a fragrant; maarutaH= freeze; aajyagandha prativahaH= bearing the scent of clarified butter vavou= began to blow.
While some demons propitiated the fire-god with their offerings and paid homage to Brahmanas, a fragrant freeze bearing the scent of clarified butter, began to blow.
srajasH ca vividha aakaaraa jagR^ihus tv abhimantritaaH |
samgraama sajjaaH samhR^iSTaa dhaarayan raakSasaas tadaa || 6-57-23
23. tadaa= then; raakSasaaH= the demons; samgraama sajjaaH= ready for the battle; samhR^iSTaaH= delightedly; jagR^ihuH= wore; srajashcha= garlands; vividhaakaaraaH= of different shapes; abhimantritaaH= consecrated by certain Mantras (sacred formulas).
Then, the demons who were ready for the battle, delightedly wore garlands of different shapes, consecrated by certain Mantras (sacred formulas).
sadhanuSkaah kavacino vegaad aaplutya raakSasaaH |
raavaNam prekSya raajaanam prahastam paryavaarayan || 6-57-24
24. raakSasaaH= the demons; sadhanuSkaaH= with their bows; kavachinaH= and armours; prekSya= seeing; raajaanam= the king; raavaNam= Ravana; aaplutya= and jumping; vegaat= swiftly; paryavaarayan= ranged themselves towards; prahastam= Prahasta.
Thereafter, armed with bows and armours, the demons with their eyes turned towards their king Ravana, marched at a brisk pace and ranged themselves round Prahasta.
atha aamantrya ca raajaanam bheriim aahatya bhairavaam |
aaruroha ratham divyam prahastah sajja kalpitam || 6-57-25
hayair mahaa javair yuktam samyak suuta susamyutam |
mahaa jalada nirghoSam saakSaac candra arka bhaasvaram || 6-57-26
uraga dhvaja durdharSam suvaruutham svapaskaram |
suvarNa jaala samyuktam prahasantam iva shriyaa || 6-57-27
25, 26, 27. atha= then; prahastaH= Prahasta; yuktaH= who got ready with his weapons and armour; aamantrya= taking leave; raajaanam= of the king; aahatya= striking; bhairavaam= the terrible; bherniim= kettle-drum; aaruroha= mounted; ratham= his chariot; sajjakalpitam= which was kept ready; yuktam= yoked; mahaajavaiH= an extremely swift; hayaiH= horses; samyak suuta susamyatam= well-controlled by a charioteer; mahaajalada ninghoSam= with a noise resembling that of a large cloud; saakSaat= actually; chandraarka bhaasvaram= shining like moon-light; uraga dhvaja durdharSam= inviolable, with a flag bearing an ensign of snake; suvaruutham= with a good collision-guard; svavaskaram= having good wheels; suvarNajaala samyuktam= decorated with a net of pure gold; prahastamiva= smiling as it were; shriyaa= in its magnificence.
Then, Prahasta who got ready with his weapons and armour, after bidding obeisance to the king and striking a terrible kettle-drum, mounted his chariot, which was kept ready, yoked to an extremely swift horses, well controlled by a charioteer, emanating a noise resembling that of a large cloud, actually shining like moon-light, inviolable with a flag bearing an ensign of snake, with a good collision-guard, with nice wheels and decorated with a net of pure gold smiling as it were in its magnificence.
tatas tam ratham aasthaaya raavaNa arpita shaasanaH |
lankaayaa niryayau tuurNam balena mahataa vR^itaH || 6-57-28
28. tataH= then; raavaNaarpita shaasanaH= Prahasta, to whom command was given by Ravana; aasthaaya= mounted; ratham= his chariot; niryayau= set out; laN^kaayaaH= from Lanka; tuurnam= quickly; vR^itaH= along with; mahataa= a huge; balena= army.
Then, Prahasta the one who was commanded by Ravana, ascended his chariot and set out from Lanka soon along with a huge army.
tato dumdubhi nirghoSah parjanya ninada upamaH || 6-57-29
shushruve shankha shabdash ca prayaate vaahinii patau |
29. vaahiniipatau= (While) Prahasta the General; prayaate= sallied forth; tataH= then; dundubhi nirghoSaH= the sound of a kettle-drum; ninadaH cha= the sound; vaaditraaNaam= of musical instruments; shN^kha shabdashcha= and the sound of couches; shushruve= were heard; puurayanniva= as though filling; mediniim= the earth; parjanya; ninadopamaH= resembling the roar of a cloud.
While Prahasta the general sallied forth, the sound of a kettle-drum, the resonance of musical instruments and the sound of conches were heard, as though filling the earth like the roar of a cloud.
ninadantaH svaraan ghoraan raakSasaa jagmur agrataH || 6-57-30
bhiima ruupaa mahaa kaayaah prahastasya purah saraaH |
30. raakSasaaH= the demons; bhiimaruupaaH= having terrific forms; mahaakaayaaH= and bulky bodies; ninadantaH= shouting; ghoraan= with terrible; svaraan= voices; jagmuH= went; agrataH= in front; puraH saraaH= as forerunners; prahastasya= of Prahasta.
The demons with terrific forms and bulky bodies, shouting with dreadful voices, went in front, as forerunners of Prahasta.
naraantakaH kumbhahanurmahaanaadaH samunnataH | 6-57-31
prahastasachivaa hyete niryayuH parivaarya tam |
31. naraantakaH= Narantaka; kumbhahanuH= Kumbhahanu; mahaanaadaH= Mahanada; samunnataH= Samunnata; prahasta sachivaaH= attendants of Prahasta; ete= they; niryayuH= sallied forth; parivaarya= surrounding; tam= him.
Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata, attendants of Prahasta sallied forth, surrounding him on all sides.
vyuuDhena eva sughoreNa puurva dvaaraat sa niryayau || 6-57-32
gaja yuutha nikaashena balena mahataa vR^itaH |
32. saH= He; niryayau= emerged; puurva dvaaraat= from the eastern gate; vR^itaH= in the midst; mahataa= of an immense; sughoSeNa= formidable; vyuuDheneva= and orderly arranged; balena= army; gaja yuutha nikaashena= resembling a herd of elephants.
He emerged from the eastern gate in the midst of an immense, formidable and orderly arranged army, resembling a herd of elephants.
saagara pratima oghena vR^itas tena balena saH || 6-57-33
prahasto niryayau tuurNam kruddhah kaala antaka upamaH |
33. vR^itaH= In the centre; tena= of that; balena= army; saagara prati maughena= vast as the sea; saH prahastaH= that Prahasta; kruddhaH= in his fury; niryayau= came forth; kaalaantakayamopamaH= appearing like Death at the end of the world.
In the centre of that army, vast as the sea, that Prahasta in his fury, came forth appearing like Death at the end of the world.
tasya niryaaNa ghoSeNa raakSasaanaam ca nardataam || 6-57-34
lankaayaam sarva bhuutaani vinedur vikR^itaih svaraiH |
34. tasya niryaaNaghoSeNa= the uproar that arose on his setting forth; raakSasaanaam cha= with his demons; nardataam= raising their war cries; vineduH= sounded forth; vikR^itaiH= sinister; svaraiH= answering calls; sarvabhuutaani= from all creatures; laN^kaayaam= in Lanka.
The uproar that arose on his setting forth with his demons raising the war-cries drew sinister answering calls from all creatures in Lanka.
vyabhram aakaasham aavishya maamsa shoNita bhojanaaH || 6-57-35
maNDalaany apasavyaani khagaash cakruu ratham prati |
35. khagaaH= birds; maamsashoNitabhojanaaH= eating flesh and blood; aavishya= entering; nyabhram= cloudless; aakaasham= sky; chakruH= flew; maN^Dalaani= in circles; apasvyaani= from left to right; rathamprati= towards the chariot.
In a cloudless sky, birds of prey eating flesh and blood, flew in circles from left to right towards the chariot.
vamantyah paavaka jvaalaah shivaa ghoraa vavaashire || 6-57-36
antarikSaat papaata ulkaa vaayush ca paruSo vavau |
36. ghoraaH= fearful; shivaaH= jackals; vamantyaH= vomited forth; paavaka jvaalaaH= fire and flames; vavaashire= howling repeatedly; ulkaa= a meteor; papaata= fell; antarikSaat= from the sky; vaayushcha= and the wind; vavau= blew; paruSam= harshly.
Fearful jackals vomited forth fire and flames, howling repeatedly. A meteor fell from the sky and the wind blew harshly.
anyonyam abhisamrabdhaa grahaash ca na cakaashire || 6-57-37
meghaashcha kharanirghoSaa rathasyopari rakSasaH |
vavarSuu rudhiram ca asya siSicush ca purah saraan || 6-57-38
37, 38. grahaashcha= the planets; abhisamrabdhaaH= were in opposition; anyonyam= to each other; na cha prakaashire= and lost their brilliance; meghaashcha= the clouds; kharanirghoSaaH= made harsh sounds; vavarSuH= and rained; rudhiram= blood; upari= above; raakSasaH= the demons; rathasya= chariot; siSichushcha= and dampened; puraH saraan= those who were walking in front.
The plants, in opposition to each other, lost their brilliance. The clouds, with their raucous sound, showered blood on Prahasta's chariot and dampened those who were walking in front of it.
ketu muurdhani gR^idhro asya viliino dakSiNaa mukhaH |
nadannubhayataH paarshvaM samagraamaharatprabhaam || 6-57-39
39. gR^idhraH= A vulture; dakSiNaamukhaH= facing the south; viliinaH= alighted; muurdhani= on the top; ketoH= of the standard; nadan= croaking; ubhayataH paarshvam= on its both the sides; aharat= and deprived; (the demon); samagraam= of his entire; prabhaam= lustre.
A vulture facing the south alighted on the top of the standard, croaking towards both of its sides and deprived the demon of his entire lustre.
saarather bahushasH ca asya samgraamam avagaahataH |
pratodo nyapatadd hastaat suutasya haya saadinaH || 6-57-40
40. pratodaH= the goad; nyapata= fell; bahushaH= several times; atra= then; hastaat= from the hand; saarathaH= of the charioteer; suutasya= a Suta (the son of a Kshastriya by a Brahmana woman); hayasaadinaH eventhough skilled in controlling the horses; avagaahataH= as he entered; samgraamam= the battle-field.
The goad fell several times then from the hand of the charioteer, himself a Suta (the son of a Kshatriya by a Brahamana woman) eventhough skilled in controlling the horses, as he entered the battle-field.
niryaaNa shriish ca yaa asya aasiid bhaasvaraa ca sudurlabhaa |
saa nanaasha muhuurtena same ca skhalitaa hayaaH || 6-57-41
41. sudurlabhaa= that rarely; bhaasvaraa= splendour; yaa= which (clothed); niryaaNashriiH= (Prahasta) at the time of his exit; saa= that one; nanaasha= vanished; muhuurtena= in an instant; hayaashcha= and horses; sthalitaaH= stumbled; same= on the even ground.
That rarely splendour which clothed Prahasta at the time of his exit vanished in an instant and horses stumbled on the even ground.
prahastam tv abhiniryaantam prakhyaata bala pauruSam |
yudhi naanaa praharaNaa kapi senaa abhyavartata || 6-57-42
42. tam prahastam= (Beholding) that Prahasta; prakhyaata guNa pauruSam= renowned for his excellences and martial valour; niryaantam= as he advanced to give battle; kapisenaa= the army of monkeys; naana praharaNaa= furnished with weapons of every kind; abhyavartata= turned towards; yudii= the battle.
Beholding that Prahasta, renowned for his excellences and martial valour; as he advanced to give battle, the army of monkeys went forward to attack him.
atha ghoSah sutumulo hariiNaam samajaayata |
vR^ikSaan aarujataam caiva gurviish ca agR^ihNataam shilaaH || 6-57-43
43. atha= thereafter; sutumulaH= an exceedingly tumultuous; ghoSaH= clamour; samajayata= arose; hariiNaam= among the monkeys; aarujataam chaiva= as they tore up; vR^ikSaan= the trees; gR^ihNataam= seized hold of; gurviiH= of huge; shilaaH= rocks.
Thereafter, an exceedingly tumultuous clamour arose among the monkeys as they tore up the trees and seized hold of huge rocks.
nadataam raakSasaanaaM cha vaanaraaNaam cha garjataam |
ubhe pramudite sainye rakSo gaNa vana okasaam || 6-57-44
vegitaanaam samarthaanaam anyonya vadha kaankSiNaam |
parasparam ca aahvayataam ninaadah shruuyate mahaan || 6-57-45
44, 45. nadataam= the yelling; raakSasaanaamcha= demons; garjataam= and the roaring; vaanaraaNaamcha= monkeys; ubhau= both; sainye= the armies; pramudite= were delighted; vegitaanaam= impetuous; samarthaanaam= and powerful; anyonya vadhakaaNkSiNaam= with impatience to slay each other; aahvayataam= challenging parasparam= each other; mahaan= and tremendous; ninaadaH= shouts; rakSogaNa vanaukasaam= of troops of demons and monkeys; shruuyati= were heard.
Both the armies of the yelling demons and the roaring monkeys were delighted, impetuous and powerful with impatience to slay each other and challenging each other with great shouts.
tataH prahastaH kapi raaja vaahiniim |
abhi pratasthe vijayaaya durmatiH |
vivR^iddha vegaam ca vivesha taam camuum |
yathaa mumuurSuh shalabho vibhaavasum || 6-57-46
46. tataH= thereafter; durmatiH= the evil-minded; prahastaH= Prahasta; pratasthe= sallied forth; vijayaaya= for victor; kapiraaja vaahiniim= towards the army of Sugreeva; mumurSuH= whom in his folly imagined he would destroy vivR^iddha vegaH cha= with an accelerated speed; shalabhaH iva= as a grasshopper; vibhaavasum= falls into a flame.
Thereafter, the evil-minded Prahasta sallied forth for victory towards the army of Sugreeva, whom in his folly, imagined he would destroy, with an accelerated speed as a grass-hopper rushes towards a flame.
ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe saptapaJNchaashaH sargaH
Thus completes 57th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
© April 2006, K. M. K. Murthy