Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War
The demons inspire Ravana with confidence and eulogise his army’s strength. They suggest that Indrajit alone is enough to kill the army of monkeys together with Rama. |
iti uktaa raakSasa indreNa raakSasaaste mahaabalaaH |
uucuH praanjalayaH sarve raavaNam raakSasa iishvaram || 6-7-1
dviStpakshhmavijJNaaya niitibaahyaastvabuddhayaH |
1-2a. uktaaH= after spoken; iti= thus; raakSasa indreNa= by Ravana; te raakSasaaste= those demons; mahaabalaH= who were very strong; niitibaahyaaH= who were without moral behaviour; abuddhayaH= who were stupid; sarve= all praaNjalayaH= who lifted up their joined palms; avijJNaaya= ignorant; dviSatpakshham= of the enemy’s side; uuchuH= spoke; raavaNam= to Ravana; raakSaseshvaram= the king of demons.
Hearing the words of Ravana, those demons who were strong, stupid and without moral conduct, all raising up their joined palms and spoke to Ravana the king of demons, without knowing the strengths of their enemy’s side (as follows):
raajan parigha shakti R^iSTi shuula paTTasa samkulam || 6-7-2
sumahan no balam kasmaad viSaadam bhajate bhavaan |
2b-3a. raajan= Oh, king; naH balam= our army; parigha shakti R^iSTi shuula paTTasa samkulam= equipped with iron bars, javelins, double-edged swords, darts and sharp-edged spears; sumahat= is very great; kasmaat= why; bhavaan bhajate= are you getting; viSaadam= worry?
“Oh, king! Our army, equipped with iron bars, javelins, double-edged swords, darts and sharp-edged spears, is very great. Why are you getting worried?”
tvayaa bhogavatiim gatvaa nirjataaH pannagaa yudhi || 6-7-3
kailaasa shikhara aavaasii yakSair bahubhir aavR^itaH |
sumahat kadanam kR^itvaa vashyas te dhanadaH kR^itaH || 6-7-4
3b-4. gatvaa= after proceeding; bhogavatiim= to Bhogavati city (the abode of Nagas in Patala, one of the seven regions under the earth); pannagaaH= the serpents; nirjataaH= were defeated; tvayaa= by you; dhanadaH= Kubera (the bestower of riches); kailaasa shikhara aavaasii= who resides on the peak of Mount Kailasa; aavR^itaH= surrounded by; bahubhiH= many; yakshhaiH= Yakshas (a class of demi-gods); kR^itvaa= having done; sumahat= a very great; kadanam= battle; vashyaH= surrendered; te= to you.
“After proceeding to Bhogavati city (the abode of Nagas in Patala one of the seven regions under the earth), the serpents there were defeated by you. Kubera (the bestower of riches) who resides on the peak of Mount Kailasa, surrounded by many yakshas (a class of demi-gods) surrendered to you after doing a great battle.”
sa mahaaiishvara sakhyena shlaaghamaanas tvayaa vibho |
nirjitaH samare roSaal loka paalo mahaabalaH || 6-7-5
5. vibho= “Oh, Lord; roSaal= by your rage; saH= that Kubera; shlaaghamaanaH= who was praising himself; maheshvara sakhyena= for his friendship with Lord Shiva (the Supreme Lord); loka paalaH= a guardian of the world; mahaabalaH= with great strength; nirjitaH= was defeated samare= in battle; tvayaa= by you.
“Oh, Lord! By your rage, Kubera who was boasting himself for his friendship with Lord Shiva (the Supreme Lord) and said to be a guardian of the world possessing great strength, was defeated by you in battle.”
vinihatya ca yakSaughaan vikSobhya ca vigR^ihya ca |
tvayaa kailaasa shikharaad vimaanam idam aahR^itam || 6-7-6
6. vinihatya= throwing down; yakSaughaan= a group of Yakshas; vikSobhya= and taking them into prison; idam= this; vimaanam= aerial car (Pushpak); aahR^itam= was procured; tvayaa= by you; kailaasa sikharaat= from Mount Kailasa.
“Throwing down a group of Yakshas, after causing a flutter among them and taking them in prison, this aerial car (Pushpak) was procured by you from Mount Kailasa.”
mayena daanava indreNa tvad bhayaat sakhyam icchataa |
duhitaa tava bhaaryaa arthe dattaa raakSasa pumgava || 6-7-7
7. raakSasa pumgava= Oh, the best of demons; mayena= by Maya; daanava indreNa= the lord of demons; duhitaa= his daughter (Mandodari); dattaa= was give; tava= to you; bharyaa arthe= as wife; tvad bhayaat= due to fear from you; icchataa= and desiring; sakhyam= friendship.
“Oh, the best of ogres! By Maya, the lord of demons, Mandodari his daughter was given to you in marriage, due to fear from you and duly desiring your friendship.”
daanava indro madhur naama viirya utsikto duraasadaH |
vigR^ihya vasham aaniitaH kumbhiinasyaaH sukha aavahaH || 6-7-8
8. mahaabaaho= Oh, mighty armed; kumbhiinasyaaH= Kumbhinasa’s; sukha aavahaH= husband; daanava indraH= a king of demons; viirya utsiktaH= who was proud of his valour; duraasadaH= and who was difficult to be defeated; aaniitaH= was taken into; vasham= (your) subjugation; vigR^ihya= having warred against him.
Oh, mighty armed! Madhu Kumbhinasa’s (your sister’s) husband, another ruler of demons, who was proud of his valour and who was difficult to be defeated, was taken into your subjugation, your having won a battle against him.”
nirjitaas te mahaabaaho naagaa gatvaa rasaa talam |
vaasukis takSakaH shankho jaTii ca vasham aahR^itaaH || 6-7-9
9. mahaabaaho= Oh, mighty armed! Gatvaa= after going; rasaa talam= to Rasatala (the penultimate subterranean region); naagaaH= the serpent-demons; vaasukiH= Vasuki; takSakaH= Takshaka; shankhaH= Sankha; jaTii ca= and Jati; nirjitaaH= were conquered; te= by you; aahR^itaaH= and were captivated; vasham= as your subject.
“Oh, mighty armed! After moving down to rasatala (the penultimate subterranean region), the you conquered serpent-demons Vasukim Takshaka, Saukha and Jati were conquered by you and captivated as your subjects.”
akSayaa balavantaH ca shuuraa labdha varaaH punaH |
tvayaa samvatsaram yuddhvaa samare daanavaa vibho || 6-7-10
sva balam samupaashritya niitaa vasham arim dama |
maayaaH ca adhigataas tatra bahavo raakSasa adhipa || 6-7-11
10-11. arindamau= Oh, annihilator of enemies; raakSasa adhipa= commander of demons; vibho= Oh, Lord; yuddhvaa= after performing battle; samvatsaram= for a year; tvayaa= by you; daanavaaH= demons; akSayaaH= who were beyond destruction; balavantaH ca= mighty and; shuuraaH= valiant; punaH= and; labdhavaraaH= who obtained boons; vasham niitaaH= were defeated; samupaashritya= taking resort; sva balam= to your own strength; samare= in the combat; bahvyaH= several; maayaashcha= fascinating tricks also; adhigataaH= were obtained from them.
“Oh, annihilator of enemies, Commander of demons and the Lord! You after performing a battle for a year by you mighty demons who were beyond destruction, who were valiant and who obtained boons (for immortality) were defeated using your own strength in combat. Several fascinating tricks also were learnt from them.”
shuuraaH ca balavantaH ca varuNasya sutaa raNe |
nirjitaas te mahaabaaga catur vidha bala anugaaH || 6-7-12
12. mahaabhaaga= Oh, the illustrious; varuNasya= Varuna’s; sutaaH= sons; shuuraaH ca= the valiant ones; balavantaH cha= the strong ones; catur vidha bala anugaaH= who were followed by an army having four limbs (viz. elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry); nirjitaaH= were defeated; te= by you; raNe= in a battle.
“Oh, illustrious king! Varuna’s sons, valiant strong and who were followed by an army having four limbs (viz. elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry) were defeated by you in a battle.”
mR^ityu daNDa mahaagraaham shaalmali dviipa maNDitam |
kaalapaashamahaaiichim yamakimkarapannagam || 6-7-13
mahaajvareNa durdharSam yamalokamahaarNavam |
avagaahya tvayaa raajan yamasya bala saagaram || 6-7-14
jayaH ca viplulaH praapto mR^ityuH ca pratiSedhitaH |
suyuddhena ca te sarve lokaas tatra sutoSitaaH || 6-7-15
13-15. raajan= Oh, king; avagaahya= after entering; yamalokamahaarNavam= a great ocean in the shape of Yama’s realm; mR^ityu daNDa mahaagraaham= with a huge alligator in the form of Death’s rod of punishment; shaalmali druma maNDitam= adorned with silk cotton trees (bristling with thorns to be used as weapons); kaalapashamahaaviicim= turbulent with a huge wave in the shape of the noose of Kala (Time spirit); yamakimkarapannagam= with serpents in the form of Yama’s servants; durdharSam= and difficult to be conquered; mahaa jvareNa= on account of mighty Jvara (spirit presiding over fevers); saagaram= (and churning) the sea; bala saagaram= in the form of Yama’s forces; viplulaH= a great; jayaH ca= victory; praaptaH= was obtained; mR^ityuH ca= and Death; pratiSedhitaH= warded off; tvayaa= by you; sarve= all lokaH= the people; tatra= there; sutoSitaaH= were delighted; te suyuddhena= by your good battle.
Oh, king! After entering a great ocean in the shape of Yama’s realm, with a huge alligator in the form of death’s rod of punishment, adorned with silk-cotton trees (bristling with thorns to be used a weapons), turbulent with a huge wave in the shape of noose of Kala (Time Spirit), with serpents in the form of Yama’s servants and difficult to be conquered on account of mighty Jvara (Spirit presiding over fevers), and churning the sea in the form of Yama’s forces, a great victory was obtained and death warded off by you. All the people there were delighted to see your good battle.”
kSatriyair bahubhir viiraiH shakra tulya paraakramaiH |
aasiid vasumatii puurNaa mahadbhir iva paadapaiH || 6-7-16
16. vasumatii= the earth; aasiit= was; puurNaa= filled; madadbhiH paadapaiH iva= as with big trees; bahubhiH= with many; kSatviyaiH= warriors; viiraiH= who were strong; shakra tulya paraakramaiH= with a courage equal to that of Devendra (Lord of celestials).
“The earth was filled, like with big trees, with many warriors who were strong with a courage equal to that Devendra (Lord of celestials).
teSaam viirya guNa utsaahair na samo raaghavo raNe |
prasahya te tvayaa raajan hataaH parama durjayaaH || 6-7-17
17. raajan= Oh, king; raaghavaH= Rama; na= was not; samaH= equal; teSaam= to them; raNe= in combat; viirya guNa utsaahaiH= by their valour, excellence and energy; te= those warriors; samo raNe durjayaaH= who were difficult to be overcome in a battle; prasahya= were over powered; hataaH= and killed; tvayaa= by you.”
“Oh, King! Rama was not equal to them in combat, by their valour excellence and energy. Those warriors, who were difficult to be overcome in battle, were overpowered and killed by you.”
tiSTha vaa kim mahaaraaja shrameNa tava vaanaraan |
ayameko mahaaraja indrajit kshapayiSyati || 6-7-18
18. mahaaraaja= Oh, emperor; vaa= or; tiSTha= you stay; kim= why; shrameNa= by exertion; tava= to you? Mahaaraaja= Oh, emperor! Ayam= this; indrajit= Indrajit; ekaH= alone; kshapayiSyati= can destroy; vaanaraan= the monkeys.
Oh, emperor! Why exertion to you? You remain here. Oh, emperor! This Indrajit alone can destroy the monkeys.”
anena hi mahaaraaja maheshvaramanuttamam |
iSTvaa yajJNam varo labdho loke paramadurlabhaH || 6-7-19
19. mahaaraja= Oh, emperor; iSTvaa= after performing; anuttamam= an excellent; yajJNam= sacrifice; mahesvaram= to propitiate Mahesvara (the great Lord, shiva); varaH= a boon; parama durlabhaH= very rare to be obtained; loke= in the world; labdhaH hi= was indeed acquired; anena= by him.”
“Oh, emperor! After performing an excellent sacrifice to propitiate Mahesvara (the great lord shiva), a boon very rare to be obtained in the world, was acquired by him.”
shaktitomaramiinam cha vinikiirNaantrashaivalam |
gajakacchapasambaadhamshvamaNDuukasamkulam || 6-7-20
rudraadityamahaagraaham marudvasumahoragam |
rathashvagajatoyaugham padaatipulinam mahat || 6-7-21
anena hi samaasaadya devaanaam balasaagam |
gR^ihiito daivatapatirlaN^kaam caapi praveshitaH || 6-7-22
20-22. samaasaadya= Approaching; mahat= the huge; balasaagaram= ocean of army; devaanaam= celestials; shaktitomaramiinam ca= whose fist are lances and spheres; vinikiirNaantrashaivalam= and guts thrown asunder as duck-weeds; gajakacchapasambaadhaam= whose turtles are the elephants; ashvamanDuuka samkulam= whose frogs are the teeming horses; rudraadityamahaagraaham= infested with alligators in the form of (eleven) Rudras (gods of destruction) and (twelve) Adityas (sons of Aditi); marudvasumahoragam= with huge serpents in the form of (forty nine) maruts (winds gods) and (eight) Vasus, rathashvagajatoyaugham= having chariots, horses and elephants for its volume of waters; padaatipulinam= the sandy banks its infantry; daivatapatiH= Devendra (Lord of celestials); gR^ihiitaH= was captured; anena= by him; praveshitaH caapi= and was impelled to enter; laN^kaam= Lanka (as a detenu).
“Approaching that huge ocean of army of celestials, whose fish are lanes and spheres, whose guts thrown asunder as duck-weeds, whose turtles are the elephants, whose frogs are the teeming horses, infested with alligators in the form of (eleven) Rudras (gods of destruction) and (twelve) Adityas (sons of Aditi), with huge serpents in the form of (forty nine) Maruts (wind gods) and (eight) Vasus, having chariots horses and elephants for its volume of waters and the sandy elephants for its volume of waters and the sandy banks its infantry, Devendra (Lord of celestials) was captured by him and was impelled to come to Lanka (as a detenu).
piitaamahaniyogaacca muktaH shambaravR^itrahaa |
gatastriviSTapam raajan sarvadevanamaskR^itaH || 6-7-23
23. raajan= Oh, king; muktaH= having been released; piitaamahaniyogaacca= by the orders of Lord Brahma (your grand-father); shambaravR^itrahaa= Devendra who killed demons called Shambara and Vritra; sarvadevanamaskR^itaH= and who was adored by all celestials; gataH= went (back); tritviSTapam= to heaven.
“Oh, king! Having been released by the orders of your grand father Brahma, Devendra who killed demons called Shambara and Vrita and who was adored by all celestials, went back to heaven.”
tameva tvam mahaaraaja visR^ijendrajitam sutam |
yaavadvaanarasenaam taam paraamaam nayati kshhayam || 6-7-24
24. mahaaraaja= Oh, emperor; tvam= you; visR^ija= send; tam= that; indrajitameva= Indrajit alone; taam= that; vaanara senaam= army of monkeys; paraamaam= together with Rama; yaavadnayati= will be brought; kSayam= to an end.
"Oh, emperor! You send that Indrajit alone, so that the army of monkeys together with Rama will be brought to an end.”
raajan na aapad ayuktaa iyam aagataa praakR^itaaj janaat |
hR^idi na eva tvayaa kaaryaa tvam vadhiSyasi raaghavam || 6-7-25
25. raajan= Oh, king; iyam= this; ayuktaa= unbefitting; aapad= danger; aagataa= has come; janaat= from a man; praakR^itaaj= who is ordinary; naiva kaaryaa= It is not to be kept; tvayaa= by you; hR^idi= in mind; tvam= you; vadhiSyasi= will kill; raaghavam= Rama.
"Oh, king! This unbefitting danger has come froma a man who is ordinary. It is not to be kept by you in mind, you will kill Rama."
ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye saptamaH sargaH
Thus completes 7th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
© May 2003, K. M. K. Murthy