Sri Valmiki Ramayanam -Yuddha Kanda -Book 6 - chapters 37 to 41

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar, 

 Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 37

Rama, Sugreeva, Hanuman and others assemble to take counsel together, upon reaching the precinets of Lanks. While they were delibrating on the ways and means for the success of their mission, Vibhishana informs that he has sent his counsellors as spies to gather information about the enemy's plans and that they returned after gathering the required news about Ravana's arrangements at the four gates of theity. After hearing Vibhishana's information, Rama orders Nila, Angada Hanuman and others to storm the four gates and decides to stay on Suvela mountain with his army.nara vaanara raajau tau sa ca vaayu sutaH kapiH |
jaambavaan R^ikSa raajasH ca raakSasasH ca vibhiiSaNaH || 6-37-1
angado vaali putrasH ca saumitriH sharabhaH kapiH |
suSeNaH saha daayaado maindo dvivida;eva ca || 6-37-2
gajo gava akSo kumudo nalo atha panasas tathaa |
amitra viSayam praaptaaH samavetaaH samarthayan || 6-37-3

1, 2, 3. (Meanwhile); naravaanara raajanau= Rama, the king of men and Sugreeva the sovereign of monkeys; saH kapiH= that Hanuman; vaayusutaH= the son of the wind; jaambavaan= Jambavan; R^ikSaraajaH= the king of the bears; vibhiiSaNaH= Vibhishana; raakSasaH= the demon; aN^gadaH= Angada; vaaliputraH= the son of Vali; saumitriH= lakshmana; sharabhaH kapiH= the Ape Sharabha; suSeNaH= Sushena; saha daayadaH= along with his kin's folk; maindaH= Mainda; dvivida evacha= Dvivida; gajaH= Gaja; atha= and; gavaakSaH= Gavaksha; kumudaH= Kumuda; tathaa= and; nalaH= Nala; atha= and; panasaH= Panasa; praaptaaH= (all) having reached; anitraviSayam= the enemy's territory; samavetaaH= assembled; samarthayan= for deliberation.

Meanwhile, Rama the king of men and Sugreeva the Sovereign of monkeys, Hanuman the son of the wind, Jambavan the king of the Bears, Vibhishana the demon, Angada the son of Vali, Lakshmana, Sushena along with his kinsfolk, Mainda, Dvivida, Gaja, Gavaksha, Kumuda, Nala and Panasa, all having reached the enemy's territory, assembled to take counsel together.

iyam saa lakSyate lankaa purii raavaNa paalitaa |
saasura uraga gandharvair amarair api durjayaa || 6-37-4

4. lakshhate= observe; iyam= this; saa= that very; laN^kaapurii= City of Lanka; raavaNapaalitaa= ruled by Ravana; durjayaa= impregnable; amarairapi= even to celestials; saasuraH= and the demons together; uraga gandharvaiH= or the uragas (the serpant-demons) and Gandharvas (Celestials musicians)

"Observe this city of Lanka, ruled by Ravana, impregnable both to celestials and the demons together, or the uragas (the serpent-demons) and Gandharvas (celestial musicians)."

kaarya siddhim puras kRtya mantrayadhvam vinirNaye |
nityam samnihito hy atra raavaNo raakSasa adhipaH || 6-37-5

5. raavaNaH= Ravana; raakSasaadhipaH= the Lord of Demons; nityam= always; samnihitaH hi= indeed stays; atra= there; mantrayadhvam= think; vinirNaye= of determining our duty; puraskR^itya= with regard to; kaarya siddhim= the success of our expedition.

"Ravana, the lord of demons always stays in the City. Think of the ways and means for the success of our expedition."

tathaa teSu bruvaaNeSu raavaNa avarajo abraviit |
vaakyam agraamya padavat puSkala artham vibhiiSaNaH || 6-37-6

6. atha= then; (while); teSu= they; bruvaaNeSu= were talking thus; vibhiiSaNaH= Vibhishana; raavaNaavarajaH= the younger brother of Ravana; abraviit= spoke; (the following); puSkalaartham= meaningful; agraamyapadavat= and polished; vaakyam= words.

While they were talking thus, Vibhishana the younger brother of Ravana spoke the following meaningful and polished words:

analaH sharabhasH caiva sampaatiH praghasas tathaa |
gatvaa lankaam mama amaatyaaH puriim punar iha aagataaH || 6-37-7

7. mama= My; amatyaaH= counsellors; (named) analaH= Anala; panasashchaiva= and Panasa; sampaatiH= Sampati; tathaa= and; pramatiH= Pramati; gataa= went; laN^kaampuriim= to the City of Lanka; punaH aagataaaH= and returned; iha= here.

"My counsellors named Anala, Panasa, Sampati and Pramati went to the City of Lanka and returned here."

bhuutvaa shakunayaH sarve praviSTaasH ca ripor balam |
vidhaanam vihitam yac ca tad dRSTvaa samupasthitaaH || 6-37-8

8. bhuutvaa= by transforming into; shakunayaH= birds; sarve= all of them; praviSTaaH= entered; rupoH= the enemy's balam= army; samupasthitaaH= (they) came; dR^iSTvaa= after observing; yat= which; tat= that; vidhaanam= arrangement; vihitam= was done.

"Assuming the form of birds, all the four entered that enemy's citadel and observed the measures taken by Ravana closely."

samvidhaanam yathaa aahus te raavaNasya duraatmanaH |
raama tad bruvataH sarvam yathaatathyena me shR^iNu || 6-37-9

9. raama= O, Rama! shruNu= hear; me= from me; bruvataH= telling; sarvam= all; yathaatathyena= the exact position; yathaa= as; te= they; aahuH= informed; samvidhaanam= about the arrangement; raavaNasya= of Ravana; duraatmanaH= the evil-minded.

"O, Rama! I give a detailed report as it was given to me of the defence-arrangements made by tha evil-minded Ravana, hear me."

puurvam prahastaH sabalo dvaaram aasaadya tiSThati |
dakSiNam ca mahaa viiryau mahaa paarshva mahaa udarau || 6-37-10

10. prahastaH= Prahasta; prabalaH= of great strenght; tiSThati= is standing; aasaadya= accussed; puurvam dvaaram= to the eastern gate; mahaa paarshva mahodarau= Mahaparshva and Mahodara; mahaaviiryau= of mighty prowess; ( are at); dakSiNamcha= the southern gate.

"The very strong Prashata is standing near the eastern gate. Mahaparshva and Mahodara of mighty prowess are at the southern gate."

indrajit pashcima dvaaram raakSasair bahubhir vR^itaH |
paTTasa asi dhanuSmadbhiH shuula mudgara paaNibhiH || 6-37-11
naanaa praharaNaiH shuurair aavR^ito raavaNa aatmajaH |

11. indrajit= Indrajit; raavaNaatmajaH= the son of Ravana; vR^itaH= along with; bahubhiH= many; raakSasaiH= demons; pattishaasidhanuSmadbhiH= harpoon, swords, bows; shuula mudgaraH= spears and hammers; aavR^itaH= and along with; bhuuraiH= warriors; naanaapraharaNaiH= furnished with weapons of many kinds; pashchimam dvaaram= is at the western gate.

"Indragit, the son of Ravana is at the western gate along with many demons armed with harpoons, swords, bows, spears and hammers together with warriors furnished with weapons of various kinds."

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raakSasaanaam sahasrais tu bahubhiH shastra paaNibhiH || 6-37-12
yuktaH parama samvigno raakSasair bahubhir vRtaH |
uttaram nagara dvaaram raavaNaH svayam aasthitaH || 6-37-13

12, 13. paramasamvigraH= a prey to great anxiety; raavaNaH= Ravana; mantravit= knower of magical formulas; svayam= is himself; aasthitaH= stationed; uttaram nagaradvaaram= at the northern gate; yuktaH= along with; raakSasaiH= thousands; shatra paaNibhiH= holding lances in their hand.

"A prey to great anxiety, Ravana knower of magical formulas, is himself stationed at the northern gate, along with several thousands of demons holding lances in their hand."

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viruupa akSas tu mahataa shuula khaDga dhanuSmataa |
balena raakSasaiH saardham madhyamam gulmam aasthitaH || 6-37-14

14. viruupakSastu= as for virupaksha; mahataa balena= with a nighty army; shuula khedga dhanuSmataa= armed with spears, clubs and bows; raakSasaiH saardham= along with demons; aashritaH= occupies; madhyamam gulamam= the center of the fort.

"As for Virupaksha he with mighty army carrying spears, clubs and bows along with other demons, occupies the center of the fort."

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etaan evam vidhaan gulmaaml lankaayaam samudiikSya te |
maamakaaH sacivaaH sarve shiighram punar iha aagataaH || 6-37-15

15. sarve= all; te mantriNaH= those counsellors; maamakaraH= of mine; samudiikSya= observed; etaan= these; gulmaan= arranged in this manner; laN^kaayaam= in Lanka; punaH aagataaH= and returned; iha= here; shiighram= quickly.

"All these counsellors of mine watched those groups of troops arranged in Lanka in this manner and immediately returned here."

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gajaanaam ca sahasram ca rathaanaam ayutam pure |
hayaanaam ayute dve ca saagra koTii ca rakSasaam || 6-37-16
vikraantaa balavantasH ca samyugeSv aatataayinaH |
iSTaa raakSasa raajasya nityam ete nishaa caraaH || 6-37-17

16, 17. dashasaahasaram= ten thousand; gajaanaam= elephants; tathaa= and; ayutam= ten thousand; ruthaanaam= chariots; dve ayutam= twenty thousand; hayaanaam= cavalry; saagraa= a little more than; koTishcha= crore; rakSasaam= foot soldiers; balavantashcha= who are strong; vikraantaaH= intrepid; aatataayinaH= in battle; nityam= have even been; raakSasa raajasya= of their sovereign's; iSTaaH= favourites.

"The elephants and chariots number some ten thousand each, the cavalry twenty thousand and there are more than a crore foot soldiers. These strong and intrepid demons endeavouring to kill someone in battle have ever been their sovereign's favourites."

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eka ekasya atra yuddha arthe raakSasasya vishaam pate |
parivaaraH sahasraaNaam sahasram upatiSThate || 6-37-18

18. vishaampate= O, king! atra= in these demons; ekasya= for each; raakSasya= demon; parivaaraH= a retime; sahasraaNaam sahasram= of ten lacs; upatiSThate= is near at land.

"O, Rama! In these demons, a retinue of ten lacs each is near at hand for each demon."

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etaam pravR^ittim lankaayaam mantri proktam vibhiiSaNaH |
raamam kamala patra akSam idam uttaram abraviit || 6-37-19

19. mahaabaahuH= the mighty-armed; vibhiiSaNaH= Vibhishana; aadarshayat= showed; taan= those; raakSasaan= demons (his counsellors); uktvaa= after speaking; itaam= this; pravR^ittim= news; laN^kaayaam= in Lanka; evam= thus; mantriproktaam= spoken by his counsellors.

The mighty armed Vibhishana showed those counsellors to Rama after reporting the aforesaid news pertaining to Lanka, thus informed by his counsellors.

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laN^kaayaam sacivaiH raamaaya pratyavedayat |
raamaM kamalapatraakshamidamuttaramabraviit || 6-37-20
raavaNaavarajaH shriimaan raamapriyachikiirSayaa |

20. sachivaiH= the counsellors; pratyavedayat= confirmed; sarvam= all that was known; laN^kaayaam= regarding Lanks; (thereafter); shromaan= the illustrious; raavaNaavarajaH= Vibhishana raama priya chikiirSayaa= in his desire to please Rama; abraviit= addressed; kamalapatraakSam= that lotus-eyed; raamam= Rama; uttaram= further; idam= with these words.

The counsellors of Vibhishana themselves confirmed all that was known regarding Lanka. Thereafter, the illustrious Vibhishana, in his desire to please Rama, addressed that lotus-eyed one, further with the following words:

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kuberam tu yadaa raama raavaNaH pratyayudhyata || 6-37-21
SaSTiH shata sahasraaNi tadaa niryaanti raakSasaaH |
paraakrameNa viiryeNa tejasaa sattva gauravaat || 6-37-22
sadR^ishaa yo atra darpeNa raavaNasya duraatmanaH |

21, 22. raama= O, Rama!; yadaa= when; raavaNaH= Ravana; kuberam pratyayudhyata= attacked Kubera in battle; SaSTiH= sixty shatasahasraaaNi= lacs of raakSasaam= demons; niryaanti= sallied forth; tadaa= then(with him); sadR^ishaa= (all of them) were similar; raavaNasya= to Ravana; duraatmanaH= the evil minded; paraakramaNa= in prowess; viiryeNa= in strength; tejasaa= in splendour; stattvagouravaat= because of angmented courage; darpNa= and a pride; atra= there.

"O, Rama! When Ravana attacked Kubera in battle, sixty lacs of demons sallied forth with him. All of them were akin to the evil-minded Ravana in prowess, in strength, in courage and in pride."

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atra manyur na kartavyo roSaye tvaam na bhiiSaye || 6-37-23
samartho hy asi viiryeNa suraaNaam api nigrahe |

23. manyuH= Indignation; na kartavyaH= is not required; atra= in this matter; tvaam roSaye= I am making you irritated; na bhiiSaye= and not terrifying; asihi= you are indeed; samarthaH= capable; nigrahe.api= of even overpowering; suraaNaam= the celestials; viiryeNa= by your valour.

"Indignation need not be resorted to (by you) based on this report. I am not terrifying you, bt only arousing your wrath. You are indeed capable of overpowering even celestials by your valour."

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tad bhavaamsH catur angeNa balena mahataa vR^itaH || 6-37-24
vyuuhya idam vaanara aniikam nirmathiSyasi raavaNam |

24. tat= for this reason; vyuuhya vaanaraaniikam= having set out these monkey forces in battle-array; bhavam= you; nirmathiSyati= shall destroy; raavaNam= Ravana; idam= (with) this; vaanaraaniikam= army of monkeys; charaNgeNa balena= composed of four division; vR^itam= which surround you.

"Having set out these monkey-forces in battle-array, you shall destryoy Ravana with this great army of monkeys, composed of four divisions, which surround you."

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raavaNa avaraje vaakyam evam bruvati raaghavaH || 6-37-25
shatruuNaam pratighaata artham idam vacanam abraviit |

25. raavaNaavaraje= Vibhishana; bruvatisati= having spoken; vaakyam= words; evam= thus; raaghavaH= Rama; abraviit= gave; idam= the following; vachanam= orders; pratighaataartham= for the attack; shatruuNaam= of the adversaries.

Vibhishana having spoken thus Rama gave the following orders for the attack of the adversaries.

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puurva dvaare tu lankaayaa niilo vaanara pumgavaH || 6-37-26
prahastam pratiyoddhaa syaad vaanarair bahubhir vR^itaH |

26. puurva dvaare= at the eastern gate; laN^kaayaaH= of Lanka; niilaH= Nila; vaanarapuNgavaH= that lion among monkeys; syaat= for his part; vR^itaH= surrounded; bahubhiH= by many; vaanaraiH= monkeys; prahasta pratiyoddhaa= should attack Prahasta.

"At the eastern gate of Lanka, Nila that lion among monkeys for his part, surrounded by many monkeys, should attack Prahasta."

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angado vaali putras tu balena mahataa vR^itaH || 6-37-27
dakSiNe baadhataam dvaare mahaa paarshva mahaa udarau |

27. dakSiNa dvaare= At the southern gate; aNgadaH= Angada; vaaliputraH= the son of Vali, vR^itaH= surrounded; mahataa= by his mighty; balena= army; baadhataam= should oppose; mahaapaarshva mahodarau= Mahaparshva and Mahodara.

"At the southern gate, Angada the son of Vali, surrounded by his mighty army, should oppose Mahaparshva and Mahodara."

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hanuumaan pashcima dvaaram nipiiDya pavana aatmajaH || 6-37-28
pravishatv aprameya aatmaa bahubhiH kapibhir vR^itaH |

28. (Let); hanumaan= Hanuman; pavanaatmajaH= the son of wind; aprameyaatmaa= (and) of inscrutable spirit; vR^itaH= surrounded; bahubhiH= by a multitude; kapibhiH= of monkeys; niSpiiDya= having crashed; pashchima dvaare= into the western gate; praveshitu= enter (the City)

"Let Hanuman that son of the Wind and of inscrutable spirit, surrounded by a multitude of monkeys, enter the City through the western gate."

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daitya daanava samghaanaam R^iSiiNaam ca mahaatmanaam || 6-37-29
viprakaara priyaH kSudro vara daana bala anvitaH |
parikraamati yaH sarvaaml lokaan samtaapayan prajaaH || 6-37-30
tasya aham raakSasa indrasya svayam eva vadhe dhR^itaH |
uttaram nagara dvaaram aham saumitriNaa saha || 6-37-31
nipiiDya abhipravekSyaami sabalo yatra raavaNaH |

29, 30 , 31. aham= I; svayameva= am myself; dhR^itaH= determined; vadhe= to slay; tasya= that; kSudraH= mean fellow; raakSasendrasya= Ravana; yaH= who; varadaan abalaanivitaH= owing to the boon he has received; viprakaara priyaH= enjoys oppressing; daitya daanavasanghaanaam= multitudes of Daityas (giants) and daanavas (demons); mahaat manaam= as also the magnanimous; R^iSiiNaam cha= sages; parikraamati= and who ranges; lokaan= the worlds; samtaapayan= persecnting; sarvaan= all; prajaaH= being; saumitreNa saha= with the aid of Lakshaman; aham= I; nipiiDya= shall forcibly; abhipravekSyaami= enter; uttaram nagara dvaaram= the northern gate; yatra; raavaNaH= where Ravana is there; sabalaH= along with the army.

I am myself determined to slay that wicked who owing to the boon he has received, enjoys oppressing multitudes of Daityas (gaints) and Daanavas (demons), as also the magnanimous sages and who ranges the world, persenting all being. With the aid of Lakshmana, I shall forcibly enter the northern gate where Ravana is stationed along with his army."

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vaanara indrasH ca balavaan R^ikSa raajasH ca jaambavaan || 6-37-32
raakSasa indra anujasH caiva gulme bhavatu madhyame |

32. balavaan= the mighty; vaanarendrashcha= Sugreeva the king of monkeys; viiryavaan= the valiant; R^ikSaraajashcha= jambavanshchaiva= and vibhishana, the younger brother of the Lord of demons; bhavatu= be; gulme= of the army.

"Let the mighty Sugreeva the king of monkeys, the valiant Jambavan the king of bears and Vibhishana, the younger brother of the Lord of demons occupy the central position of the army."

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na ca eva maanuSam ruupam kaaryam haribhir aahave || 6-37-33
eSaa bhavatu naH samjnaa yuddhe asmin vaanare bale |

33. maanuSam= Human; ruupam= form; na chaiva kaaryam= should not be assumed; haribhiH= by the monkeys; aahave= in battle; bale= in the army; vaanare= of monkeys; eSaa= this monkey-shape; bhavatu= should be; samjJNaa= a sign of recognition; naH= among us; asmin= in this; yuddhe= battle.

"Monkeys should not assume human form in the battle, for, in the army of monkeys, this monkey-shape should serve as a sign of recognition among us."

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vaanaraa;eva nishcihnam sva jane asmin bhaviSyati || 6-37-34
vayam tu maanuSeNa eva sapta yotsyaamahe paraan |
aham eva saha bhraatraa lakSmaNena mahaa ojasaa || 6-37-35
aatmanaa pancamasH ca ayam sakhaa mama vibhiiSaNaH |

34, 35. asmin svajane= in our own people among us; vaanaraaH eva= the form of monkeys itself; bhaviSyati= will become; chihnam= a sign of recognition; naH= for us; sapta= seven; vayam= fo us; yotsyaamahe= will attack; paraan= the foe; maanuSeNaiva= in human form, eSaH= this; aham= I; (along with); bhraatraa= my brother; lakSmaNena= Lakshmana; mohaujasaa= who is full of valour; mama sakhaa= my friend, ayam= this; vibhiiSaNaH= Vibhishana; paN^chamaH= the fifhth; aatmanaa= with him (along with his four companions).

"Among our own people also, the form of monkeys will become a sign of recognition for us. Seven of us will attack the foe in our human form, I, my brother Lakshmana, who is full of valour, my friend Vibhishana and his four companions."

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sa raamaH kaarya siddhy artham evam uktvaa vibhiiSaNam || 6-37-36
suvela aarohaNe buddhim cakaara matimaan matim |
ramaNiiyataram dR^iSTvaa suvelasya girestaTm || 6-37-37

36, 37. uktvaa= having said; evam= thus; vibhiiSaNam= to Vibhishana; kR^itya siddhyartham= for the success of the enterprise; saH raamaH= that Rama; matimaan prabhuH= in the role of a wise leader; chakaara= made up; buddhim= his mind; suvelaarohaNe= to ascend Mount Suvela; ramaNiiyataram= the more charming; taTam= slope; suvelasya gireH= of the Mount Suvela; dR^iSTvaa= (he) had observed.

Having said thus to Vibhishana for the success of the enterprise, Rama in the role of a wise leader, decided to stay on Mount Suvela, after observing its charming slopes.

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tatas tu raamo mahataa balena |
pracchaadya sarvaam pR^ithiviim mahaatmaa |
prahR^iSTa ruupo abhijagaama lankaam |
kR^itvaa matim so ari vadhe mahaatmaa || 6-37-38

38. tataH= Thereafter; prachchhaadi= having covered; sarvaam pR^ithiviim= the entire field; mahataa balena= with his great army; kR^itvaa= having made up; matim= his mind; arivadhe= to slain the enemies; mahaatmaa= that high-souled; raamaH= Rama; mahaatmaa= of great courage; abhijagaama= set out; laN^kaam= for Lanka; prahR^iSTa ruupaH= with a joyous and exultant air.

Thereafter, having covered the entire filed with his great army and having made up his mind to destroy the enemies, that high-souled Rama of great courage, set out for Lanka with a joyous and exultant air.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddha kaande saptatriMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 37th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book VI :Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 38

Introduction

Rama expresses his desire to Vibhishana and Sugreeva to halt on Suvela mountain for that night, and to envision the City of Lanka. Rama along with Lakshmana, Vibhishana, Sugreeva and his army ascend the mountain and witness the beauty of Lanka. They halt on that mountain-resort for the night.sa tu kR^itvaa suvelasya matim aarohaNam prati |
lakSmaNa anugato raamah sugriivam idam abraviit || 6-38-1
vibhiiSaNam ca dharmajnam anuraktam nizaa caram |
mantrajnam ca vidhijnam ca zlakSNayaa parayaa giraa || 6-38-2

1, 2. saH raamaH= that Rama; lakshhmaNaanugataH= who was followed by Lakshmana; kR^itvaa= having made up; matim= his mind; aarohaNam prati= to ascend; suvelasya= Mount Suvela; abraviit= spoke; idam this; shalakSNayaa= with gentle; parayaa= and prime; giraa= voice; sugriivam= to Sugreeva; vibhiSaNamcha= and to Vibhishana; dharmaJJNam= the knower of what is right; nishaacharam= a demon; anuraktam= devoted to him; mantrajJNam= experienced in counsel; vidhijJNam- and the knower of prescribed rules.

Rama, who was followed by Lakshmana, having made up his mind to ascend Mount Suvela, spoke in a gentle and prime voice to Sugreeva and to Vibhishana who was the knower of what is right, a demon devoted to him who was experienced in counsel and a knower of prescribed rules (as follows):

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suvelam saadhu zaila indram imam dhaatu zataiz citam |
adhyaarohaamahe sarve vatsyaamo atra nizaam imaam || 6-38-3

3. adhyaarohaamahe= we shall ascend up on high; imam= this; suvelam shailendram= Suvela mountain; chitam= shining; saadhu= well; dhaatushataiH= with hundreds of minerals; sarve= all of us; vatsyaamahe= will stay; atra= on this mountain; imam= for this; nishaam= right.

"We shall ascend up on high this Suvela mountain, shining well with hundreds of minerals. All of us will stay on this mountain for this night."

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lankaam ca aalokayiSyaamo nilayam tasya rakSasah |
yena me maraNa antaaya hR^itaa bhaaryaa duraatmanaa || 6-38-4
yena dharmo na vijnaato na vR^ittam na kulam tathaa |
raakSasyaa niicayaa buddhyaa yena tad garhitam kR^itam || 6-38-5

4, 5. aalokayiSyaamaH cha= we shall see; laN^kaam= Lanka; nilayam= the abode; tasya raakSasaH= of that demon, Ravana; yena= by whom; duraatmanaa= the evil minded; bhaaryaa= my wife; hR^itaa= was taken away; maraNaantaaya= for the sake of his own death; yena= by whom; dharmaH= virtue; navijJNaataH= was not understaood; vR^ittam= good character; na= was not known; tathaa= and; kulam= noble lineage; na= was not seen; yena= by whom ; tat garhitam= that contemptible action; kR^itam= was done; niichayaa= with an inferior; raakSasyaa buddhyaa= demoniacal mind.

"We shall see Lanka the abode of that demon, Ravana the evil-minded by whom my wife was taken away for the sake of his own death, by whom virtue was not understood, good character was not known and noble lineage was not seen and by whom that contemptible act was done with an inferior demoniacal mind."

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yasmin me vardhate roSah kiirtite raakSasa adhame |
yasya aparaadhaan niicasya vadham drakSyaami rakSasaam || 6-38-6

6. me= My; roSaH= anger; vartate= is enhancing; kiirtite= on hearing the name; tasmin= of such; raakSascadhame= worst demon; aparaadhaat= Due to the offence; yasya= of whom; niichasya= the lowest; drakSyaami= I shall see; vadham= the destroyer; rakSasaam= of the demons.

"My anger is increased on hearing the name of that demon. Because of the offence committed by him, I shall see that all these demons are destroyed."

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eko hi kurute paapam kaala paaza vazam gataH |
niicena aatma apacaareNa kulam tena vinazyati || 6-38-7

7. gataH= approaching; kaalapaashavasham= and falling into the power of trap of death; ekaH= one; kurute= will do; paapam= an evil act; tena= by him; niichena= the vilest; aatmaapachaareNa= because of his offence; kulam= his lineage; vinashyati= is destroyed.

"Falling into that power of trap of death, one does an evil act. Because of the offence committed by him the vilest, his lineage is destroyed."

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evam sammantrayann eva sakrodho raavaNam prati |
raamah suvelam vaasaaya citra saanum upaaruhat || 6-38-8

8. raamaH= Rama; evam= thus; sammantrayanneva= thinking; raavaNamprati= of Ravana; sakrodhaH= with anger; aasaadya= approached; upaaruthat= and ascended; suvelam= the mountain of Suvela; chitrasaanum= with its conspicuous summits.

Rama, thus thinking of Ravana in anger, approached and ascended the mountain of Suvela with its conspicuous summits.

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pR^iSThato lakSmaNa ca enam anvagacchat samaahitaH |
sazaram caapam udyamya sumahad vikrame rataH || 6-38-9
tam anvarohat sugriivah saamaatyah savibhiiSaNah |

9. lakSmaNashcha= Lakshmana too; rataH= delighted in; vikrame= his valour; samaahitaH= and stead fasteness; udyamya= keeping ready; sumahat= his mighty; chaapam= bow; sasharam= wtih arrows; anragachchhat= accompanied; pR^iSThataH= behind; evam= this Rama; sugriivaH= Sugreeva; saamaatyaH= together with his ministers; savibhiiSaNaH= along with vibhishana; anvaarohat= ascended by following; tam= him.

Lakshamana too who took delight in his own valour and steadfastness, keeping ready his mighty bow with arrows, followed behind Rama Sugreeva along with his ministers and Vibhishana ascended the mountain, by following him.

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hanuumaan angado niilo maindo dvivida;eva ca || 6-38-10
gajo gava akSo gavayah zarabho gandha maadanah |
panasah kumudaz caiva haro rambhaz ca yuuthapah || 6-38-11
jaambavaamshcha suSeNashcha R^iSabhashcha mahaamatiH |
durmukhashcha mahaatejaastathaa shatabaliH kapiH || 6-38-12
ete ca anye ca bahavo vaanaraah ziighra gaaminah |
te vaayu vega pravaNaas tam girim giri caariNah || 6-38-13
adhyaarohanta zatazah suvelam yatra raaghavah |

10, 11, 12, 13. hanumaan= Hanuman, aN^gadaH= Angada; niilaH= Nila; maindaH= Mainda; dvivida evacha= Dvivida; gajaH= Gaja; gavaakSaH= Gavaksha; gavayaH= Gavaya; sharabhaH= Sharabha; gandhamaadanaH= Gandhamadana; panasaH= Panasa; kumudashchaiva= Kumuda; haraH= Hara; rambhashcha= Rambha; yuuthapaH= the chief of the troop; jaambavaamshcha= Jambavan; suSeNashcha= sushena; mahaamatiH= the greatly wise; R^iSebhashcha= Rishabha; durmukhashcha= Durmukha; mahaatejaaH= of great splendour; shatabaliH= shatabali; kapiH= the monkey; anyecha bahavo shatashaH= and other many hundreds of; te= those; vaanaraaH= monkeys; etecha= here; shiighragaaminaH= which are fast moving; girichaariNaH= which can wander easily on mountains; vaayuvega pravaNaaH= with a speed akin to that of wind; adhyaarohanta= ascended; tam= that; suvelamgirim= Suvela mountain; yatra raaghavaH= where Rama was there.

Hanuman, Angada, Nila, Mainda, Dvivida, Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, Gandhamadana, Panasa, Kumuda, Hara, Rambha the chief of the troop, Jambavan, sushena, the greatly wise Rishabha, Durmukha of great splendour, Shatabali the monkey and other hundreds of monkeys which are fast-moving, which can wander easily on mountains with a speed akin to that of wind, ascended that Suvela mountain which Rama ascended.

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te tv adiirgheNa kaalena girim aaruhya sarvatah || 6-38-14
dadR^izuh zikhare tasya viSaktaam iva khe puriim |

14. te tu= they; adiirghena kaalena= within no long time; aaruuhya= having ascended; girim= the mountain; sarvataH= from all sides; shikhare= and at the apex; tasya= of it; dadR^ishaH= saw; puriim= the City of Lanka; vishhaktaamiva= which appeared hanging, khe= in the sky.

Having ascended the mountain from all sides within no long time, they saw at its apex, the city of Lanka which appeared as though it was hanging in the sky.

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taam zubhaam pravata dvaaraam praakaara vara zobhitaam || 6-38-15
lankaam raakSasa sampuurNaam dadR^izur hari yuuthapaah |

15. hariyuuthapaaH= the chiefs of monkey-troops; dadR^ishaH= saw; taam shubhaam laN^kaam= that beautiful City of Lanka; pravaradvaaram= having excellent gates; praakaaravara shobhitaam= enriched with exquisite ramparts; raakSasa sampuurNaam= and pervaded with demons.

The chiefs of monkey-troops saw that beautiful City of Lanka, furnished with excellent gates, enriched with exquisitc ramparts and pervaded all over with demons.

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praakaara caya samsthaiz ca tathaa niilair nizaa caraih || 6-38-16
dadR^izus te hari zreSThaah praakaaram aparam kR^itam |

16. te= those; harishreSThaaH= excellent monkeys; dadR^ishuH= saw; aparam= another; praakaaram= rampart; kR^itam= formed; niilashcha raakshasaiH= our of the black demons; praakara vara samsthaiH tathaa= so standing together on that exquisite rampart.

Those excellent monkeys saw another rampart formed out of the black demons so standing together scribble on that existing exquisite rampart.

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te dR^iSTvaa vaanaraah sarve raakSasaan yuddha kaankSiNah || 6-38-17
mumucur vipulaan naadaams tatra raamasya pazyatah |

17. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; raakSasaan= the demons; yuddhakaaNkSiNaH= craving for war; sarve te vaanaraaH= all those monkeys; mumuchuH= made; vividhaan= various kinds; naadaan= of sounds; (while); tasya= that; raamasya= Rama; pashyataH= was witnessing.

Seeing the demons who were craving for war, all those monkeys made various types of noises, while Rama was witnessing the scene.

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tato astam agamat suuryah samdhyayaa pratiranjitah || 6-38-18
puurNa candra pradiipaa ca kSapaa samabhivartate |

18. tataH= then; suuryaH= the sun; pratiraN^jitaH= reddened; sandhyayaa= by evening twillight; astam aagamat= wnet down; kSapaacha= (and) the night; puurNachandra pradiiptaa= shining with full moon; samativartata= arrived.

Then, the sun reddened with evening-twillight went down and the night shining with full moon arrived.

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tataH sa raamo hari vaahinii patir |
vibhiiSaNena pratinandya satkR^itaH |
salakSmaNo yuuthapa yuutha samvR^itaH |
suvela pR^iSThe nyavasad yathaa sukham || 6-38-19

19. tataH= thereafter; saH= that; raamaH= Rama; sa lakshhmaNaH= along with Lakshmana, harivaahiniipatiH= and Sugreeva the Lord of monkeys; yuuthapa yuutha samyutaH= together with troops and captains of troops; pratinandya= greeted welcoming (and); satkR^itaH= treated hospitably; vibhiiSaNena= by Vibhishana; nyavasat= stayed; yathaasukham= happily; suvela pR^iSThe= on the mountain resort of Suvela

Thereafter, Rama along with Lakshmana as well as Sugreeva the Lord of monkeys together with troops and captions of troops, duly greeted welcomingly and treated hospitably by Vibhishana, halted happily on the mountain resort of Suvela.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe aSTaatrimshaH sargaH

Thus completes 38th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 39

Introduction

Rama and the monkeys see the charming gardens and groves located in Lanka, viewing them from the top of Suvela mountain. Some of the monkeys, thrilling with rapture, enter the gardens and enjoy their beauty of flowers and birds. Some others went towards Lanka; located on the apex of Trikuta mountain. They see the city with its large mansions and seven storied buildings, including the thousand-pillared mansion of Ravana with a height almost touching the skiestaam raatrim uSitaas tatra suvele hari pumgavaaH |
lankaayaam dadR^ishur viiraa vanaany upavanaani ca || 6-39-1

1. viiraaH= the valiant; hariyuuthapaaH= chief of the army of monkeys; uSitaaH= stayed; taam= that; raatrim=night; suvela= Suvela Mountain; dadR^ishaH=and saw; vanaani upavanaanicha= the gardens andgroves; laN^kaayaam= in Lanka

The valiant army-chiefs of monkeys stayed on Suvela mountain for that night and saw the garden and groves in Lanka.

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sama saumyaani ramyaaNi vishaalaany aayataani ca |
dR^iSTi ramyaaNi te dR^iSTvaa babhuuvur jaata vismayaaH || 6-39-2

2. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; (the gardens); samasaumyaani= which were levelled; beautiful;vishaalaani= spacious; dR^iSTiramyaaNi= and charming to look at; te= they; babhuuvuH= became; jaata vismayaaaH= astonished.

Seeing those gardens which were levelled, beautiful, spacious, majestic and enchanting to look at, they became astonished.

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campaka ashoka pumnaaga saala taala samaakulaa |
tamaala vana samchannaa naaga maalaa samaavR^itaa || 6-39-3
hintaalair arjunair niipaiH sapta parNaish ca puSpitaiH |
tilakaiH karNikaaraish ca paTaalaish ca samantataH || 6-39-4
shushubhe puSpita agraish ca lataa parigatair drumaiH |
lankaa bahu vidhair divyair yathaa indrasya amaraavatii || 6-39-5
vicitra kusuma upetai rakta komala pallavaiH |
shaadvalaish ca tathaa niilaish citraabhir vana raajibhiH || 6-39-6

3, 4, 5, 6. champakaashoka vakula shaalataala samaakulaa= thick with champaka, Ashoka, Vakula, sal and palmyra trees; tamaala panasachchhannaa= covered with groves of Tamala and Panasa trees; naagamaalaasamaavR^itaa= surrounded with rows of Naga kesara trees laN^ka= Lanka; shushubhe= looked splendid; samastataH= on all sides; amaraavatii yathaa= like the city of Amaravati indrasya= reigned by Indra the god of celestials; niilaiH= with green; shaadvalaiH= lawns; chitraabhiH= and variegated; vana raajibhiH= avenues; tathaa= and; divyaiH= with beautiful; bahuvidhaiH= trees of various kinds; hintaalaiH= like Hintala; arjunaiH= Arjuna; niipaiH= Nipa; saptaparNaiH= and saptaparna; supuSpitaih= full flowering; tilakaiH= Tilaka; karNikaarnaisheha= Karnikara; tilakaiH= tilaka; karNikaaraishcha= karnikara; paaTalaiH= and Patala; puSipitaagraiH= whose crests were laden with flowers; lataa parigata drumaiH= and which were intertwined with climbers; vichitra kusumopetaiH= which were laden with multi-coloured flowers; raktakomala pallavaiH= and red tender leaves.

Thick with Champaka, Ashoka, Vakula Sala and palmyra trees, covered with groves of Tamala and Panasa trees, surrounded with rows of Nagakesara trees, Lanka looked splended on all sides like the city of Amaravati reigned by Indra the god of celestials, with green lawns and variegated avenues and with beautiful trees of various kinds like Hintala, Arjuna, Nipa Saptaparna in full flowering, Tilaka, Karnikara and Patal whose crests were laden with flowers and which were intertwined with climbers laden with multi-coloured flowers and red tender leaves.

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gandha aaDhyaany abhiramyaaNi puSpaaNi ca phalaani ca |
dhaarayanty agamaas tatra bhuuSaNaani iva maanavaaH || 6-39-7

7. agamaaH= the trees; tatra= there; dharayanti= were laden; gandhaaDhyaani= with fragrant; atiramyaaNi= and very much enchanting; puSpaaNicha= flowers; phaaanicha= and fruits; maanavaaH iva= as human beings; bhuuSaNaani= the ornaments;

The trees there were laden with fragrant and greatly enchanting flowers and fruits, as human beings were laden with ornaments.

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tac caitra ratha samkaasham manojnam nandana upamam |
vanam sarva R^itukam ramyam shushubhe SaTpada aayutam || 6-39-8

8. tat= that; vanam= garden; sarvartukam= which bore flowers and fruits in relation to all seasons; SaTpadaayutam= and full of bees; chaitrarathasamkaasham= like chaitraratha (the garden of Kubera the god of riches); shushubhe= was quite charming; nandanopamam= resembling Nandana (the garden of Indra the Lord of celestials)

That garden, which bore flowers and fruits in relation to all seasons and with full of bees, like chaitraratha (garden of Kubera, the god of riches), was quite charming, like Nandana (garden of Indra the Lord of celestials)

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natyuuha koyaSTi bhakair nR^ityamaanaish ca barhibhiH |
rutam para bhR^itaanaam ca shushruve vana nirjhare || 6-39-9

9. vana nirjhare= In that garden abounding in cascades; rutamcha= the songs; daatyuuha koyaSTibhakaiH= of gallinules and lapwings (small white cranes); nR^ityamaanaiH= and of dancing; barhiNaiH= pea-cocks; parabhiR^itaanaam= and cuckoos; shushruve= were heard.

In that garden abounding in cascades, the songs of birds like gallinules, lapwings(small white cranes), dancing peacocks and cuckoos were heard.

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nitya matta vihamgaani bhramara aacaritaani ca |
kokila aakula SaNDaani vihaga abhirutaani ca || 6-39-10
bhR^inga raaja abhigiitaani bhramaraiH sevitaani ca |
koNaalaka vighuSTaani saarasa abhirutaani ca || 6-39-11
vivishus te tatas taani vanaany upavanaani ca |
hR^iSTaah pramuditaa viiraa harayaH kaama ruupiNaH || 6-39-12

10,11, 12. tataH= then; te= those; harayaH= monkeys; hR^iSTaaH= thrilling with rapture; pramuditaaH= delighted; viiraaH= brave; kaamaruupiNaH= and assuming any shape at will; vivushuH= entered; taani= those; vanaani= groves; upavanaanicha= and gardens; nityamattavihangaani= with birds ever excited with joy; bhramaraacharitaanicha= wandered by bees; kokulaa kula khaNDaani= with clusters of trees occupied by Cuckoos; vihangaabhirutaanicha= having variegated sounds of birds; bhR^inga raajaadhigiitaani= with singing by the large bees; kura rasva nitaanicha= abounding with sounds of ospreys; koNaalakavighuSTaani= with the musical sounds of wag tails; saarasaabhirutaani= and cries of cranes.

Then, those monkeys, thrilling with rapture, delighted, brave and assuming any shape at will, entered the aforesaid groves and gardens, with birds ever excited with joy, wandered by bees, with clusters of trees occupied by cuckoos, having variegated sounds of birds and song of the large bees, abounding with sounds of ospreys, with the music of wagtails and cries of canes.

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teSaam pravishataam tatra vaanaraaNaam mahaa ojasaam |
puSpa samsarga surabhir vavau ghraaNa sukho anilaH || 6-39-13

13. (While); teSaam= those; mahaujasaam= mighty and splendid; vaanarvaaNaam= monkeys; pravishataam= were entering; tatra= there; anilaH= a breeze; puSpasamsarga surabhiH= sweet smelling due to contact with flowers; ghraaNasukhaH= delightful to the nose; vavau= blew.

While those mighty and splendid monkeys were entering the groves a breeze with flowery fragrance, delightful to the nose, blew.

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anye tu hari viiraaNaam yuuthaan niSkramya yuuthapaaH |
sugriiveNa abhyanujnaataa lankaam jagmuH pataakiniim || 6-39-14

14. anye= some other; yuuthapaaH tu= of the troop-leaders; hariviiraaNaam= of the valiant monkeys; niSkranya= come out; yuuthaat= of their troops; abhyanujNaataaH= duly permitted; sugriiveNa= by Sgureeva; jagmu= and went; laN^kaam= towards Lanka; pataakiniim= adorned with flags.

Some other troop-leaders of the valiant monkeys came out of their troops with due permission from sugreeva and went towards Lanka, the city adorned with flags

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vitraasayanto vihagaams traasayanto mR^iga dvipaan |
kampayantash ca taam lankaam naadaiH svair nadataam varaaH || 6-39-15

15. (Those monkeys) nadataam varaaH= great in making noises; vihagaan vitraasayantoH= causing the birds to frighten; glaapayantaH= and displeaseing; mR^iga dvipaan= to the animals and elephants; (went) ; taam laN^kaam kampayantashcha= causing that Lanka to tremble; svaiH= by their; naadaiH= sounds.

Those monkeys, great in making noises causing the birds to frighten and displeasing to the animals and elephants, went, causing that Lanka to tremble, by their noises.

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kurvantas te mahaa vegaa mahiim caaraNa piiDitaam |
ajash ca sahasaa eva uurdhvam jagaama caraNa uddhatam || 6-39-16

16. te= those monkesy; mahaavegaaH= with great speed; kurvantaH= making; mahiim= the earth; charaNa piiDitaam= flattened by their feet; rajashcha= and the dust; charaNotthitam= raised by their feet; jagaama= went up; sahasaiva= instantaneously.

Those monkeys with great speed marched ahead, making the earth flattened by their feet and the dust thus raised by their feet went up instant aneously.

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R^ikSaaH simhaa varaahaash ca mahiSaa vaaraNaa mR^igaaH |
tena shabdena vitrastaa jagmur bhiitaa disho dasha || 6-39-17

17. vitrastaaH= frightened; tena shabdena= by that sound; R^ikSaaH= bears; simhaashcha= lions; mahiSaaH= buffales; vaaraNaashcha= elephants; mR^igaaH= deer; khagaaH= birds; vitrastaaH= were trembled; bhiitaaH= terrified; jagmuH= and hastened toward; dasha dishaH= ten directions.

Frightened by that sound, bears lions buffaloes elephants, deers and birds were trembled and terrified and hastened towards ten different directions.

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shikharam tu trikuuTasya praamshu ca ekam divi spR^isham |
samantaat puSpa samchannam mahaa rajata samnibham || 6-39-18
shata yojana vistiirNam vimalam caaru darshanam |
shlakSNam shriiman mahac caiva duSpraapam shakunair api || 6-39-19
manasaa api duraaroham kim punaH karmaNaa janaiH |

18,19. ekam= the solitary; trikuuTasya Shikharam= peak of Trikuta mountain; praamshu= which is so high; divispR^isham= as touching the sky; puSpasamchhannam= enveloped by flowers; samantaat= all oer; mahaarajata samnibham= resembling gold; shatayojana vistiirNam= to an extent of hundred yojanas(eight hundred miles); vimalam= bright; chaarudarshanam= charming to look at; shlakSTam= beautiful; shriimat= glorious; mahachchaiva= magestic; duSpraapam= inaccessible; shakunairapi= even by birds; duraaroham= hard to be asecended; janaiH= by the mind; kim punaH= how much more; karmaNaa= by an act of walking.

The solitary peak of Trikuta mountain, which is so high as if touching the sky, all over covered with flowers entirely, resembling gold; to an extent of eight hundred miles; bright; charming to look at, beautiful, glorious, majestic, inaccessible even by birds, hard to be ascended by people may, even by the mind-how much more by an act of walking?

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niviSTaa tatra shikhare lankaa raavaNa paalitaa || 6-39-20
dashayojanavistiirNaa vimshadyojanamaayataa |

20. laN^kaa= Lanka; raavaNa paalitaa= ruled by Ravana; dashayogana istiirNaa= with a breadth of ten yojanas (eight miles); aayataa vimshadyojanam= and a lenght of twenty yojanas (one hundred sixty miles); niviSTaa= was located; shikhare= on the apex of the mountain; tatra= there.

Lanka, ruled by Ravana, with a breadth of eighty mile and a length of one hundred sixty miles, was located on the apex of the mountain there.

The length and breadth of the city given here varies from that given elsewhere - which is a hundred Yojanas wide and thirty yojanas long. This anomaly is reconciled by commentators by explaining the present verse as referring to the length and breadth of Lanka proper, which comprised the residence of Ravana.

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saa purii gopurair uccaiH paaNDura ambuda samnibhaiH |
kaancanena ca saalena raajatena ca shobhitaa || 6-39-21

21. saa= that; purii= city; shobhate= looked beautiful; uchchaiH gopuraiH= with its towering City-gates; paaNDuraambuda samnibhaiH= resembling white clouds; kaaNchanena= and with golden; raajatena= and silver shaalena= ramparts

The city of Lanka looked beautiful with its towering City-gates resembling white clouds as well as with golden and silver ramparts.

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praasaadaish ca vimaanaish ca lankaa parama bhuuSitaa |
ghanair iva aatapa apaaye madhyamam vaiSNavam padam || 6-39-22

22. laN^kaa= the city of Lanka; parama bhuuSitaa= greatly adorned by; praasaadaishcha= palaces; vimaanaishcha= and seven-storied mansions; ghanaiH iva= as clouds; aatapaapaaye= at the end of a summer; vaiSNava padam= are to the region of Vishnu the god of preservation; madhyamam= between (earth and heaven)

The city of Lanka, greatly adorned by palaces and seven storied mansions, looked like the sky with clouds at the end of a summer and as a region of Vishnu (the god of preservation) between earth and heaven.

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tasyaam stambha sahasreNa praasaadaH samalamkR^itaH |
kailaasa shikhara aakaaro dR^ishyate kham iva ullikhan || 6-39-23
caityaH sa raakSasa indrasya babhuuva pura bhuuSaNam |
shatena rakSasaam nityam yaH samagreNa rakSyate || 6-39-24

23, 24. chaitya praasaadaH= A palace; samalaNkR^itaH= duly graced; stambha sahasreNa= with a thousand pillars; kailaasa shikharaakaaraH= which looked like a peak of Mount Kailasa; yasyaam= in the city of Lanka; yaH= which was; rakSyate= protected by; nityam= always; samagreNa= a complete; balena= army; rakSasaam= of demons; ullikhanniva= which seemed to lick; kham= the sky; dR^ishyate= was to be seen; saH= that; babhuuva= remained; purabhuuSaNam= as an ornament of the city; raaakSasendra= of Ravana.

A palace, duly graced with a thousand pillars, which looked like a peak of Mount Kailasa was three in the City of Lanka, which was always the City of Lanka, which was always protected by a complete army of demons. The palace seemed to be scraping the skies and was to be seen as an ornament to the City of Ravana.

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manojJNaam kaaJNcanavatiim sarvatairupashobhitaam |
naanaadhaatuvichitraishca udyaanairupashobhitaam || 6-39-25
naanaavihagasamghaSTaam naanaamR^iganiSevitaam |
naanaakusumasaMpannaam naanaaraakshasasevitaam || 6-39-26
taam samR^iddhaam samR^iddha artho lakSmiivaaml lakSmaNa agrajaH |
raavaNasya puriim raamo dadarsha saha vaanaraiH || 6-39-27

25, 26, 27. lakshmiivaan= the glorious; lakSmaNaagrajaH= Rama the elder brother of Lakshmana; raamai saha= along with monkeys; dadarsha= saw; taam= that; manojJNaam= charming; kaaNchanavatiim= golden; raavaNasya puriim= city of Ravana; parvataiH= mountains; naanaa dhaatu vichitraiH= Picturesque with various minerals; upashobhitaam= splendid; udyaanaiH= with gardens; naanaa vihagasamghuSTaam= re-echoing with songs of birds of every kind; naanaa mR^iga niSevitaam= frequented by varieties of deer; naanaakusumasampannaam= richly endowed with various kinds of flowers; naanaa rakSasa sevitaam= inhabited by demons of every degree; samR^iddhaam= duly flourishing; samR^iddhaam= duly flourishing; samR^iddhaam= duly flourishing; samR^iddhaarthaam= having increased its wealth.

The glorious Rama the elder brother of Lakshmana along with monkeys saw that charming golden city of Ravana, graced with mountains picturesque with various minerals, splendid with gardens reechoing with songs of birds of every kind, frequented by varieties of deer, richly endowed with various kinds of flowers, inhabited by demons of every degree and duly flourishing, having increased its wealth.

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taam mahaagR^ihasambaadhaaM dR^iSTvaa lakSmaNapuurvajaH |
nagariiM tridivaprakhyaaM vismayaM praapa viiryavaan 6-39-28

28. dR^iSTvaa= beholding; taam= that; nagariim= city; tridivaprakhyaam= which looks like heaven; mahaagR^iha sambaadhaam= and crammed with huge palaces; lakSmaNa puurvajaH= Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana; praapa= was seized; vismayam= with astonishment.

Beholding that City, which looks like heaven and crammed with huge palaces, the valiant Rama the elder brother of Lakshmana was seized with astonishment.

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taam ratna puurNaam bahu samvidhaanaam |
praasaada maalaabhir alamkR^itaam ca |
puriim mahaa yantra kavaaTa mukhyaam |
dadarsha raamo mahataa balena || 6-39-29

29. raamaH= Rama; mahataa balena= with the great army; dadarsha= saw; taam= that; puriim= city; ratna puurNaam= full of precious gems; bahusamvidhaanaam= having various kinds of facilities; alamkR^itaamcha= adorned with; praasaada maalaabhiH= rows of mansions; mayaayantrakavaaTa= mukhyaam= having excellent doors with huge mechanical appliances; mahataa= and with a large; balena= armed forces (protecting the city)

Rama with his great army saw that City, full of precious gems, having all kinds of facilities, adorned with rows of mansions, having excellent doors with huge mechanical appliances and with a large armed forces protecting the City.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe ekonacatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 39th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 40

Introduction

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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:

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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."

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 41

introduction

Rama advises Sugreeva not to repeat such reckless acts in future on the ground of he being a king. Then Rama tells Lakshmana about the various evil portents he had seen. Rama commands the monkey-generals to besiege all the four gates of Lanka. He himself along with Lakshmana protects the army, besieging the northern gate being guarded by Ravana. Then, Rama sends Angada to Ravana, to expostulate him and to bring him back to reason. Angada tries his best to convince Ravana, but in vain. Ravana commands his attendants to seize Angada. Angada shakes out those attendants who tried to seize him ascends the roof of Ravana’s palace, tramples ad crushes it down by his strength. Angada finally returns to Rama, who was stationed in the midst of the monkey-forces.

atha tasmin nimittaani dR^iSTvaa lakSmaNa puurvajaH |
sugriivam sampariSvajya raamo vachanamabraviit || 6-41-1

1. atha= then; dR^iSTvaa= seeing; nimitthaani= the marks of conflict; raamaH= Rama; tasmi= on the person of Sugreeva; puurvajaH= the elder brother of Lkshmana; sampariSvajya= embracing sugriivam= Sugreeva; abraviit= and spoke; vachanam= (these) words.

Seeing the marks of conflict on the person of Sugreeva, Rama the elder brother of Lakshmana after embracing Sugreeva spoke these words.

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asaMmantyra mayaa saartham tadidam saahasaM kR^itam |
evam saahasayuktaani na kurvanti janeshvaraaH || 6-41-2

2. asammantray= without consulting; mayaa saardham= me closely; idam= this; tat= such; saahasam= a reckless act; kR^itam= has been done; janeshvaraaH= the kings; na kurvanti= cannot do; saahasa yuktaani= such rash acts; evam= in this manner.

“Without consulting me closely, such a reckless act has been done by you, such a rashness is not seemly in a king.”

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saMshaye sthaapya maam chedam balam chemam vibhiiSanam |
kaSTaM kR^itamidaM viira saahasaM saahasapriya || 6-41-3

3. viira= O, warrior; saahasa priya= longing for acts of daring!; idam= this; kaSTam- wrong; saahasam= reckless act; kR^itam= has been done (by you); sthaapya= keeping; maamcha= me; idam= this; balamcha= army; imam= and this; vibhiiSaNam cha= Vibhishana; samshaye= in anxiety.

“O, warrior longing for acts of daring! This wrong and reckless act has been done by you, causing me, this army and Vibhishana great anxiety.”

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idaaniiM maa kR^ithaa viira evam vidhamarimdama |
tvayi kimchitsamaapanne kim kaaryam siitayaa mama || 6-41-4
bharatena mahaabaaho lakSmaNena yaviiyasaa |
shatrughnena cha shatrughna svashariireNa vaa punaH || 6-41-5

4, 5. viira= O, warrior!; arimdama= O, Vanquisher of foes!; ma kR^ithaaH= do not act; evamvidham= thus; idaaniim- now; mahaabaaho= O, the mighty armed!; Shatrughna= O, annihilator of enemies!; O, annihilator of enemies!; tvayi= (If) you; kimchit samaapanne= have come by some misfortune; mama= to me; kim kaaryam= what is the use; siitayaa= with Seetha; bharatena= Bharata; lakSmaNena= Lakshmana; yaniiyasaa= and still younger; shatrughnena= Shatrughna; sva shariineNa vaa punaH= or even with my own person?

“O, warrior! O, vanquisher of foes! Do not act thus in future. O, the mighty armed! O, annihilator of enemies! If you have come by some misfortune, I would have had nothing to do with Seetha, Bharata, Lakshmana or still younger Shatrughna or even with my own person.”

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tvayi chaanaagate puurvamiti me nishchitaa matiH |
jaanatashchaapi te viiryam mahendravaruNopanu || 6-41-6
hatvaaham raavaNam raavaNam yuddhe saputrabalavaahanm |
abhiSichya cha laN^kaayaam vibhiiSaNa mathaapi cha || 6-41-7
bharate raajyamaaropya tyakShye deham mahaabala |

6, 7. mahaabala= O, monkey of great strength, mahendra varuNopama= equal to Indra the god of celestials and Varuna king of the Universe!; tvayi= (If) you; anaagate= have not returned; jaanatashchaapi= though I am conversant; te= with your; viiryam= valour; me= (this was) my; puurvam= earlier; matiH= determined; nishchitaa= resolve; hatvaa= having killed; raavaNam= Ravana; yuddhe= in fight; saputra bala vaahanam= with his sons forces and chariots; aham= I; abhiSichya= should have installed; vibhiiSaNam= Vibhishana (as king); laNkaayaam= of Lanka; aaropya= placing; raajyam= the kingdom; bharate= in Bharata; athaapi= and even; tyakSye= renounced; deham- my body.

“O, monkey of great strength, equal to Indra the god of celestials and Varuna the king of universe! If you have not returned, though I am conversant with your valour, this was my pre-determined resolve that having killed Ravana in fight with his sons forces and chariots, I should have installed Vibhishana as king of Lanka, placing the kingdom of Ayodhya in the hands of Bharata and renounced my life.”

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tamevamvaadinaM raamaM sugriivaH pratyabhaaSata || 6-41-8
tava bhaaryaapahartaaraM dR^iSTvaa raaghava raavaNam |
marSayaami katham viira jaananvikramamaatmanaH || 6-41-9

8, 9. sugriivaH= Sugreeva; pratyabhaaSata= replied; tam= to that; raamam= Rama; evam vaadinam= who was thus peaking; viira= O, brave; raaghava= Rama!; dR^iSTvaa= seeing; raavaNam= Ravana; tava bhaaryaapahartaaram= who had taken away your consort; jaanan= conscious; aatmanaH= of my own; balam= strength; katham= how; marSayaami= can I bear it?

Hearing Rama’s words, Sugreeva replied as follows: “O, brave Rama! Seeing Ravana who had taken away your consort and being conscious of my own strength, how can I act otherwise?”

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ityevaMvaadinaM viiramabhinandya cha raaghavaH |
lakSmaNam lakSmi sampannam idam vacanam abraviit || 6-41-10

10. abhinandya= complimenting; viiram= that hero, Sugreeva; ityevam raadinam= who was thus speaking raaghavaH= Rama; abraviit= spoke; idam= these; vachanam= words; lakSmaNam= to Lakshmana; lakSmi sampannam= was was endowed with auspicious marks.

Complimenting that hero Sugreeva who was thus speaking, Rama addressed Lakshmana, who was endowed with auspicious marks, saying:

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parigR^ihya udakam shiitam vanaani phalavanti ca |
bala ogham samvibhajya imam vyuuhya tiSThema lakSmaNa || 6-41-11

11. lakSmaNa= O, Lakshmana!; parigR^ihya= occupying; ( a region); shiitam= providing fresh; udakam= water; vanaanicha= and trees; phalavanti= with fruit; samvibhajya= duly divinding; imam= this; balaugham= multitude of troops; vyuuhya= and drawing it up in a battle array; tiSThaama= we should remain alert.

“O, Lakshmana! Beside these fresh waters and trees laden with fruit, let us divide this multitude of troops, drawing it up in a battle array and remain alert.”

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loka kSaya karam bhiimam bhayam pashyaamy upasthitam |
nibarhaNam praviiraaNaam R^ikSa vaanara rakSasaam || 6-41-12

12. pashyaami= I foresee; bhayam= a terrible calamity; upasthitam= to have come; lokakSayakaram= boding universal destruction; bhiimam= awful ; nibarhaNam= and death; praviiraaNaam= to the intrepid; R^ikSavaanara rakSasaam= bears, monkeys and demons.

“I foresee a terrible calamity to come, boding universal destruction and death to the intrepid bears, monkeys and demons.”

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vaataash ca paruSam vaanti kampate ca vasum dharaa |
parvata agraaNi vepante patanti dharaNii dharaaH || 6-41-13

13. paruSam= Harsh; vaataaH= winds; vaanti= blow; vasundharaacha= the earth; kampate= trembles; parvataagraaNi= Mountain-peaks; vepante= shake; dharNiidharaaH= and the elephants bearing the earth; nadanti= trumpet.

“Harsh winds blow. The earth trembles. Mountain-peaks shake and the elephants bearing the earth trumpet.”

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meghaaH kravyaada samkaashaah paruSaah paruSa svanaaH |
kruuraah kruuram pravarSanti mishram shoNita bindubhiH || 6-41-14

14. kruuraH= Sinister; meghaaH= clouds; paruSa svanaaH= prey roar; paruSaaH= violently; kravyaada samkaashaaH= like carnivorous animals; pravarSanti= and let fall rain; mishram= mixed; shoNita bindubhiH= with drops of blood.

“Sinister clouds prey-roar violently like carnivorous animals and let fall a rain mixed with drops of blood.”

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rakta candana samkaashaa samdhyaa parama daaruNaa |
jvalac ca nipataty etad aadityaad agni maNDalam || 6-41-15

15. sandhyaa= the dusk; raktachandana samkaashaa= red as sandal; param= daaruNaa= is full of horror; aadityaat= and from the sun; etat= this; jvalat= blazing; agnimaNDalam= mass of fire; nipatati= falls.

“The dusk, red as sandal, is full of horror and from the sun, this blazing mass of fire falls.”

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aadityam abhi vaashyante janayanto mahad bhayam |
diinaa diina svaraa ghoraa;aprashastaa mR^iga dvijaaH || 6-41-16

16. KruuraaH= wild; mR^iga dvijaaH= beasts and birds; diina svaraaH= emit frantic cris; diinaaH= and are ill at ease; aprashastaaH= ominous; janayantaH= inspiring; mahat= great; bhayam= fear; abhi vaashyanti= facing; aadityam= the sun.

“Wile beasts and birds emit frantic cries, ill at ease and ominous, inspiring great fear, facing the sun.”

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rajanyaam aprakaashash ca samtaapayati candramaaH |
kR^iSNa rakta amshu paryanto yathaa lokasya samkSaye || 6-41-17

17. chandramaaH= the moon; aprashastaH= shorn of its radiance; kR^iSNa raktaamshu paryantaH= surrounded by black and fiery rays; burns red; samkSaye tathaa= as at the time of the destraction of the world; samtaapayati= (and) is creating anguish; rajanyaam= in the night.

“The moon shorn of its radiance, surrounded by black and fiery rays, burns red as at the time of destruction of the word and is creating an anguish in the night.”

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hrasvo ruukSo aprashastash ca pariveSah sulohitaH |
aaditya maNDale niilam lakSma lakSmaNa dR^ishyate || 6-41-18

18. lakSmaNa= O, Lakshamana!; aaditya maNDale= In the disk of the sun; hrasvaH= a small; pariveSaH= halo; niilam= with a black; lakSma= mark; ruukSaH= fiery; aprashastaH= shoren of its radiance; sulohitaH= and of coppery hue; lakSyate= is seen.

“O, Lakshmana! In the disk of the sun, a small halo with a black mark, fiery, shorn of its radiance and of coppery hue is seen.”

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dR^ishyante na yathaavac ca nakSatraaNy abhivartate |
yuga antam iva lokasya pashya lakSmaNa shamsati || 6-41-19

19. lakSmaNa= O, Lakshmana!; pashya= behold; nakSatraaNi= (that) the stars; dR^ishyante= are not appearing; yathaavat= as they should be; shamsatiiva= foretelling; abhivartate= and intending to quicken; yugaantam= a final dissolution; lokasya= of the world.

“O, Lakshmana! The stars are not appearing as they should be duly foretelling their intention to hasten a final dissolution of the world.”

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kaakaaH shyenaas tathaa gR^idhraa niicaih paripatanti ca |
shivaash ca apy ashivaa vaacah pravadanti mahaa svanaaH || 6-41-20

20. kaakaaH= crows; shyenaaH= eagles; tathaa= and gR^idhraaH= vultures; paripatanti cha= are whirling round; niichaiH= at a lower level; shivaashcha= Jackals to; pravadanti= are howling; ashubhaaH= inauspicious; vaachaH= sounds.

“Crows, eagles and vultures are whirling round at a lower level. Jackals too are howling inauspicious sounds.”

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shailaiH shuulaishcha khaDgaishcha vimukteH kapiraakSasaiH |
bhaviSyatyaavR^itaa bhuumirmaaMsashoNitakardamaa || 6-41-21

21. bhuumiH= the earth; aavR^itaa= crowded; shailaiH= with rocks; shuulaishcha= darts; khaDgaishcha= and dagers; vimuktaiH= discharged; kapi raakSasaiH= by monkeys and demons; bhaviSyati= will become; maamasa shoNita kardamaa= a slime of flesh and blood.

“The earth, crowded with rocks, darts and daggers discharged by monkeys and demons, will become a slime of flesh and blood.”

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kSipram adya duraadharSaam puriim raavaNa paalitaam |
abhiyaama javena eva sarvato haribhir vR^itaaH || 6-41-22

22. abhiyaama= we shall attack; duraadharSaam= the invincible puriim= city; raavaNa paalitaam= ruled by Ravana; javenaiva= swiftly; sarvataH= from all sides; adya= now; kSipram= quickly; vR^itaaH= surrounded; haribhiH= by the monkeys.

“Now surrounded by the monkeys from all sides, let us make an attack on that invincible citadel ruled by Ravana quickly and swiftly.”

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ity evam tu vadan viiro lakSmaNam lakSmaNa agrajaH |
tasmaad avaatarat shiighram parvata agraan mahaa balaH || 6-41-23

23. ityevam= thus; vadan= speaking; lakSmaNam= to Lakshmana; viiraH= the heroic; lakSmaNaagrajaH= Rama; mahaabalaH= of great strength; avaatarat= descended; shiighram= quickly; tasmaat= from that; parvataagraat= mountain-peak.

Thus speaking to Lakshmana, the heroic Rama of great strength climbed down from that mountain-peak.

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avatiirya tu dharma aatmaa tasmaat shailaat sa raaghavaH |
paraiH parama durdharSam dadarsha balam aatmanaH || 6-41-24

24. avatiirya= having descended; tasmaat= shailaat= from that mountain; saH= that; dharmaatmaa= righteous minded; raaghavaH= Rama; dadarsha= saw; aatmanaH balam= his own army; param durdharSam= which was verily unconquerable; pariah= by the enemies.

Having descended from that mountain, Rama, whose mind was set on righeousness, held a review of his own army, which was verily difficult to conquer for the enemies.

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samnahya tu sasugriivah kapi raaja balam mahat |
kaalajno raaghavah kaale samyugaaya abhyacodayat || 6-41-25

25. raaggavaH= Rama; kaaljJNaH= who knows the appropriate time; sasugriivaH= along with Sugreeva; samnahya= made ready; mahat= the great; kapila raja balam= army of Sugreeva; abhyachodayat= and commanded (the army) to advance; kale at the appropriate moment; samyngaaya= for the battle.

Rama, who knew the fitting moment to act, along with Sugreeva made ready the great army and commanded the army to advance, at the appropriate moment for the battle.

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tataH kaale mahaa baahur balena mahataa vR^itaH |
prasthitah purato dhanvii lankaam abhimukhah puriim || 6-41-26

26. tataH= then; mahaabaahuH= Rama, the mighty armed; vR^itaH= together with; mahataa= the mighty; balena= army; prasthitaH= marched; purataH= in front; dhanvii= wielding a bow; abhimukhaH= towards; laNkaam puriim= the city of Lanka; kale= at the befitting moment.

Rama, the mighty armed, together with the mighty army marched in front, wielding a bow, towards the city of Lanka, at the befitting moment.

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tam vibhiiSaNa sugriivau hanuumaan jaambavaan nalaH |
R^ikSa raajas tathaa niilo lakSmaNash ca anyayus tadaa || 6-41-27

27. tadaa= then; vibhiiSaNa sugriivau= Vibhishana, Sugreeva; hanuman= Hanuman; Jaambavau= Jambavan; R^ikSaraajaH= the king of bears; nalaH= Nala; tathaa= and; niilaH= Nila; lakSmaNashcha= and Lakshmana; anvayuH= accompanied; tam= that Rama.

Then, Vibhishana, Sugreeva, Hanuman, Jambavan the king of bears, Nala, Nila and Lakshmana accompanied that Rama.

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tataH pashcaat sumahatii pR^itanaa R^ikSa vana okasaam |
pracchaadya mahatiim bhuumim anuyaati sma raaghavam || 6-41-28

28. tataH= thereafter; prachchhaadya= enveloping; mahatiim= the extensive; bhuumim= earth; mahatii= the great; pR^itanaa= army; R^ikSa vanaukasaam= of bears and monkeys; pashchaat= behind them; anuyaati sma= went, accompanying; raaghavam= Rama.

Thereafter, fully covering a vast stretch of land, the great army of bears and monkeys, followed in the wake of Rama.

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shaila shR^ingaaNi shatashah pravR^iddhaamsh ca mahii ruhaam |
jagR^ihuh kunjara prakhyaa vaanaraah para vaaraNaaH || 6-41-29

29. vaanaraH= monkeys; paravaaraNaaH= the annihilator of enemies; kuNjara prakhyaaH= resembling elephants; jagR^ihuH= took hold of; shailashR^iNgaaNi= mountain-peaks; shatashaH= and hundreds of; pravR^iddhaan= well- grown; mahiiruhaan= huge trees.

Monkeys, the annihilator of enemies, resembling elephants, took hold of mountain-peaks and hundreds of well-grown huge trees.

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tau tv adiirgheNa kaalena bhraatarau raama lakSmaNau |
raavaNasya puriim lankaam aasedatur arim damau || 6-41-30

30. tau= bhraatarau raama lakSmaNau= those brothers, Rama and Lakshmana;arindamau= the destroyers of adversaries; aasedatuH= reached; purrim= the city; laN^aam= of Lanka; raavaNasya= of Ravana; adiirgheNa= in not a long; kaalena= time.

Those two brothers Rama and Lakshmana, the destroyers of their adversaries, reached the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana, in not a long time.

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pataakaa maaliniim ramyaam udyaana vana shobhitaam |
citra vapraam suduSpraapaam ucca praakaara toraNaam || 6-41-31
taam surair api durdharSaam raama vaakya pracoditaaH |
yathaa nidesham sampiiDya nyavishanta vana okasaH || 6-41-32

31, 32. vanaukasaH= the monkeys; raama vaakya prachoditaaH= encouraged by the sound of Rama’s voice (and); sampiiDya= obedient; yathaanidesham= to his command; nyavishanta= halted before; taam= that Lanka; pataaka maaliniim= garlanded with banners; ramyaam= beautiful; udyaana vana shobitaam= splendid with pleasure gardens; chitra vapraam= having an unusual rampart; suduSpraapaam= which is inaccessible; uchchaiH praakaara toraNaam= with its elevated arched door-ways; durdharSaam= invincible; surairapi= even by celestials.

The monkeys, encouraged by the sound of Rama’s voice and obedient to his command, halted before the city of Lanka, garlanded with banners, beautiful and splendid with pleasure-gardens, having an unusual rampart which is inaccessible with its elevated arched door-ways and invincible even by the celestials.

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lankaayaas tu uttara dvaaram shaila shR^ingam iva unnatam |
raamaH saha anujo dhanvii jugopa ca rurodha ca || 6-41-33
lankaam upaniviSTash ca raamo dasharatha aatmajaH |
lakSmaNa anucaro viirah puriim raavaNa paalitaam || 6-41-34
uttara dvaaram aasaadya yatra tiSThati raavaNaH |
na anyo raamaadd hi tad dvaaram samarthah parirakSitum || 6-41-35
raavaNa adhiSThitam bhiimam varuNena iva saagaram |
saayudhau raakSasair bhiimair abhiguptam samantataH || 6-41-36
laghuunaam traasa jananam paataalam iva daanavaiH |

33, 34, 35, 36. aasaadya= Reaching; laNkaam puriim= the city of Lanka; raavaNa paalitaam= ruled by Ravana; viiraH= the heroic; raamaH= Rama; dasharaatmajaH= the son of Dasaratha; lakSmaNaamaNaanu charaH= accompanied by Lakshmana; upaniviSTaH= halted near; uttara dvaaram= the northern gate; yatra= where; raavaNaH= Ravana; tiSThati= stayed; anyaH= who else; na samarthaH hi= indeed is capable; parirakSitum= to examine; tata dvaaram= that gate; raavaNaadhiSThitam= regulated by Ravana; bhiimam= terrific; saagaram iva= as an ocean; varuNena= regulated by Varuna; abhiguptam= guarded; bhiimaiH= by awful; daanavaiH= demons; samastataH= on all sides; traasajananam= creating fear; laghuunaam= to the lay men; paataalamiva= like a subterranean region; rakSasaiH= guarded by demons.

Reaching the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana, the heroic Rama the son of Dasaratha accompanied by Lakshmana, halted near the northern gate, where Ravana stayed. Who else but Rama is capable of protecting the army besieging that gate, regulated by Ravana, as an ocean, regulated by Varuna, guarded by awful demons on all sides and creating fear to the weak as a subterranean region is guarded by demons?

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vinyastaani ca yodhaanaam bahuuni vividhaani ca |
dadarsha aayudha jaalaani tathaiva kavacaani ca || 6-41-37

37. dadarsha= (Rama) saw; vividhaanicha= various types; bahuuni= and multitude; aayudhajaalaani= of collection of weapons; tathaiva= and kavachaanicha= and shields; vinyastaani= kept there; yodhaanaam= by the warriors.

Rama saw various types and multitude of weapons and shields kept there by the warriors.

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puurvam tu dvaaram aasaadya niilo hari camuu patiH |
atiSThat saha maindena dvividena ca viiryavaan || 6-41-38

38. niilaH= Nila; viiryavaan= the valiant; hari chamuupatiH= army-chief of monkeys; maindena saha= together with Mainda; dvividena cha saha= and Dvivida; aasaadya= reached; aatiSThat= and halted; (near); puurvam dvaaram= eastern gate.

Nila, the valiant army-chief of monkeys together with Mainda and Dvivida reached and halted before the Eastern gate.

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angado dakSiNa dvaaram jagraaha sumahaa balaH |
RSabheNa gava akSeNa gajena gavayena ca || 6-41-39

39. aNgadaH= Angada; sumahaabalaH= of very mighty prowess; R^iSabheNa= together with R^iShabha; gavaakSeNa= Gavaksha; gajena= Gaja; gavayena= and Gavaya; jagraaha= took hold; dakSiNa dvaaram= of southern gate.

Angada of very mighty prowess, together with Rishhabha, Gavaksha, Gaja and Gavaya took charge of the Southern gate.

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hanuumaan pashcima dvaaram rarakSa balavaan kapiH |
pramaathi praghasaabhyaam ca viirair anyaish ca samgataH || 6-41-40

40. balavaan = the storng; kapiH= monkey; hanuman= Hanuman; prajaN^gha sangataH= along with; tarasaabhyaam cha= Prajangha, Tarasa; anyeH= and other; viiraishcha= warriors; rarakSa= guarded; pashchima dvaaram= the western gate.

The strong monkey Hanuman together with Prajangha, Tarasa and other warriors, guarded the western gate.

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madhyame ca svayam gulme sugriivah samatiSThata |
saha sarvair hari shreSThaih suparNa shvasana upamaiH || 6-41-41

41. sugriivaH= Sugreeva; saha sarvaiH= along with all; harishreSThaiH= the chiefs of monkeys; ssuparNa pavanopamaiH= equal to Garuda the eagle and the vehicle of Vishnu and Vayu the god of the wind; samatiSThata= stationed svayam- himself madhyame= in the middle; gulme= of the fort.

Sugreeva, along with all the chiefs of monkeys equal to the strength of Garuda (the eagle and the vehicle of Vishnu) as well as Vayu the god of the wind, was stationed himself in the middle of the fort.

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vaanaraaNaam tu SaT trimshat koTyah prakhyaata yuuthapaaH || 6-41-42
nipiiDya upaniviSTaash ca sugriivo yatra vaanaraH |

42. SaTtrimshatkoTya= thirty six crores; vaanaraaNaam= of monkeys; prakyaata yuuthapaaH= highly renowned generals; upanivivSTaaH= stood besiezed; yatra= where; vaanaraH= the monkey; sugriivaH= Sugreeva (was); nipiiDya= having exerted pressure (on the demons occupying that post).

Thirty six crores of monkeys, highly renowned generals stood besiezed, where the monkey Sugreeva was there, having exerted pressure on the demons occupying that post.

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shaasanena tu raamasya lakSmaNah savibhiiSaNaH || 6-41-43
dvaare dvaare hariiNaam tu koTim koTim nyaveshayat |

43. raamasya= under Rama’s; shaasanena= command; lakSmaNaH= Lakshmana; savibhiiSanaH= along with Vibhishana; nyaveshayat= distributed; koTim koTim= a crore each; hariiNaam= of monkeys; dvaare dvaare= at each gate.

Meanwhile, under Rama’s command, Lakshmana along with Vibhishana distributed a crore each of his monkeys at each gate.

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pashcimena tu raamasya sugriivah saha jaambavaan || 6-41-44
aduuraan madhyame gulme tasthau bahu bala anugaH |

44. pashchimena= behind; raamasya= Rama; aduuraat= not far from him; suSeNaH= Sushena; saha jaambavaan= together with Jambavan; bahubalaanugaH= followed by a multitude of forces; tasthau= stood; madhyaame gulme= at the intermediate post.

Behind Rama and not far from him, Sushena together with Jambavan, followed by a multitude of forces, stood at the intermediate post.

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te tu vaanara shaarduulaah shaarduulaa;iva damSTriNaH || 6-41-45
gR^ihiitvaa druma shaila agraan hR^iSTaa yuddhaaya tasthire |

45. te= those; vaanara shaarduulaaH= lions among the monkeys; damSTriNaH= possessing the teeth; shaarduulaaH iva= of tigers; gR^ihiitvaa= taking hold; druma shailaagraan= of trees ad rocks; tasthire= waited; hR^iSTaraH= delightedly; yuddhaaya= (for the signal) to fight.

Those lions among the monkeys, possessing the teeth of tigers, taking hold of trees and rocks, waited delightedly for the signal to fight.

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sarve vikR^ita laanguulaah sarve damSTraa nakha aayudhaaH || 6-41-46
sarve vikR^ita citra angaah sarve ca vikR^ita aananaaH |

46. sarve= all of them were; feverishly; sarve= all of them were; damSTraanakhaayudhaaH= using their jaws and nails as weapons; sarve= all of them were; vikR^ita chitraaNgaaH= trembling in every limb; sarve cha= all of them; vikR^itaananaaH= had their faces set grimly.

All of them were lashing their tails feverishly, using their jaws and nails as weapons, trembling in every limb and had their faces set grimly.

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dasha naaga balaah kecit kecid dasha guNa uttaraaH || 6-41-47
kecin naaga sahasrasya babhuuvus tulya vikramaaH |

47. kechit= some were; dashanaaga balaaH= having a strength of ten elephants; kachit; some were; dashaguNottaraaH= having a strength of ten times of that; kechit= some; babhuuvuH= were; tulya vikramaaH= equal to the strength of a thousand elephants.

Some were having the strength of ten elephants, some a ten times of that and some were equal to the strength of a thousand elephants.

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santi ca oghaa balaah kecit kecit shata guNa uttaraaH || 6-41-48
aprameya balaash ca anye tatra aasan hari yuuthapaaH |

48. kechit= some were; oghabalaaH= having the strength of an ogha* of elephants; kechit= some; santi= were; dashaguNottaraaH= having strength, ten times to that; anye= some others; tatra= there; aasan= were; hari yuuthapaaH= chiefs of monkeys; aprameya balaashcha= having a strength, which was immeasurable.

Some were having the strength of an ogha* of elephants. Some were endowed with a strength of ten times to that. some others there were chiefs of monkeys, having an immeasurable strength.

*For the number represented by on ogha vide canto 28, Sarga 37.

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adbhutash ca vicitrash ca teSaam aasiit samaagamaH || 6-41-49
tatra vaanara sainyaanaam shalabhaanaam iva udgamaH |

49. adbhutashcha= marvelous; vichitrashcha= and astonishing; aasiit= was; samaagamaH= the gathering; teSaam= of those; vaanara sainyaanaam= troops of monkeys; tatra= there; udgamaH iva= like aflight; shalabhaanaam= of locusts.

Marvellous and astonishing was the gathering of those troops of monkeys there, like a swarm of locusts.

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patipuurNam iva aakaasham samchannaa iva ca medinii || 6-41-50
lankaam upaniviSTaish ca sampatadbhish ca vaanaraiH |

50. vaanaraiH= by the monkeys; upaniviSTaiH= who reached; laNkaam= Lanka; sampatadbhishcha= and by those stationed already beneath its walls; aakaasham= the air; pratipuurNamiva= seems to be completely filled; mediniicha= the land also; sampuurNeva= seems to be entirely filled.

By the monkeys who reached Lanka and by those stationed already beneath its walls, the air and earth seem to be completely filled.

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shatam shata sahasraaNaam pR^ithag R^ikSa vana okasaam || 6-41-51
lankaa dvaaraaNy upaajagmur anye yoddhum samantataH |

51. shatam= a hundred divisions; shatasahasraaNaam= of on lakh; R^ijSa vanaukasaam= bears and monkeys; pR^ithak= each; upaajagmuH= poured; laNkaadvaaraaNi= towards the gates of Lanka; (while) anye= others; (proceeded); yoddhum= to fight; samantataH= on every side.

A hundred divisions of one lakh each of bears and monkeys poured towards the gates of Lanka, while others proceeded to fight on every side.

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aavR^itah sa girih sarvais taih samantaat plavam gamaiH || 6-41-52
ayutaanaam sahasram ca puriim taam abhyavartata |

52. saH giriH= that mountain; aavR^itaH= was covered; taiH= by those; plavaNgamaiH= monkeys; samantaat= on every side; sahasram aayutaanaam= A crore; abhyavartataH= ranged round; taam= that; puriim= city.

Those monkeys covered the mountain on every side. A crore of them ranged round that city.

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vaanarair balavadbhish ca babhuuva druma paaNibhiH || 6-41-53
sarvatah samvR^itaa lankaa duSpraveshaa api vaayunaa |

53. vaayunaapi= even winds; babhuuva= were; duSpraveshaa= unable to enter; laN^kaa= in Lanka; savR^itaa= surrounded; sarvataH= on all sides; vaanaraiH= by monkeys; drumapaaNibhiH= holding tree trunks in their hands; balavadbhiH= being strong as they were.

Even winds were unable to penetrate Lanka being surrounded on all sides by heroic monkeys holding tree trunks in their hands.

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raakSasaa vismayam jagmuh sahasaa abhinipiiDitaaH || 6-41-54
vaanarair megha samkaashaih shakra tulya paraakramaiH |

54. raakSasaaH= the demons; shakratulya paraakramaiH= who in their valour equaled indra the ruler of gods; abhinipiiDitaaH= (seeing themselves) beseized; vaanaraiH= by monkeys; meghasamkaashaiH= like clouds; jagmuH= were struck; sahasaa= with sudden; vismayam= terror.

The demons, who in their valour equaled Indra the ruler of gods, seeing themselves besieged, as by clouds, were struck with sudden terror.

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mahaan shabdo abhavat tatra bala oghasya abhivartataH || 6-41-55
saagarasya iva bhinnasya yathaa syaat salila svanaH |

55. balaughasya= (while) the flock of troops; abhivartataH= was advancing; tatra= there; mahaan= a tremendous; shabdaH= clamour; abhavat= arose; yathaa= as; syaat= becomes of; salilasvanaH= a roar in the water; saagarasyena= of the ocen; bhinnasya= beating against its shore.

While the flock of monkey- troops was advancing there, a tremendous clamour arose, resembling a roar in the ocean beating against its shore.

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tena shabdena mahataa sapraakaaraa satoraNaa || 6-41-56
lankaa pracalitaa sarvaa sashaila vana kaananaa |

56. mahataa tena shabdena= by that great tumult; sarvaa= the entire; laN^kaa= Lanka; sapraakaaraa= with its ramparts; satoraNaa= arches; sashaila vana kaananaa= hills woods and forests; prachalitaa= began to tremble.

By that great tumult, the entire Lanka with its ramparts arches, hills, woods and forests began to tremble.

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raama lakSmaNa guptaa saa sugriiveNa ca vaahinii || 6-41-57
babhuuva durdharSataraa sarvair api sura asuraiH |

57. saa= that; harivaahinii= army of monkeys; raama lakSmaNa guptaa= guarded by Rama, Lakshmana; sugriiveNacha= and Sugreeva; babhuuva= became; durdharSataraa= even more inivincible; sarvaiH= than all; suraasurairapi= celestials and demons.

That army of monkeys, guarded by Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva became even more invinceible than all the celestials and demons put together.

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raaghavah samniveshya evam sainyam svam rakSasaam vadhe || 6-41-58
sammantrya mantribhih saardham nishcitya ca punah punaH |
aanantaryam abhiprepsuh krama yoga artha tattvavit || 6-41-59
vibhiiSaNasya anumate raaja dharmam anusmaran |
angadam vaali tanayam samaahuuya idam abraviit || 6-41-60

58, 59, 60. samviveshya= having ranged; svam= his; sainyam= forces; evam= thus; (in the battle-array); vadhe= with a view to destruct; rakSasaam= the demons; raaghavaH= Rama; karma yogaartha tattva vit= who knew about four expedients (to be used against an enemy in the shape of conciliation, gift, sowing dissention and punishment) employed in succession; sammantrtray= took counsel; punaH punaH= again and again; mantribhiH saartham= with his counsellors; nishchitya= and arrived at a decision; anusmaran= calling to his mind; raja dharmam= the duty of the kings; samaahuuya= summoning; aN^gadam= Angada; vaalitanayam= the son of Vali; (Rama); aanantaryam abhipropsum= who was eager to undertake what was to be done next; animate= acting in concurrence with; vibhiiSaNasya= Vibhishana; abraviit= spoke; idam= these words.

Having thus ranged his forces, with a view to destroy the demons, Rama who knew about the four expedients (to be used against an enemy in the shape of conciliation, gift, sowing dissension and punishment) employed in succession, took counsel again and again with his ministers and arrived at a decision. Calling to his mind the duty of the kings, Rama who was eager to undertake what was to be done next, in concurrence with Vibhishana, summoned Angada the son of Vali and spoke as follows:

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gatvaa saumya dashagriivam bruuhi mad vacanaat kape |
langhayitvaa puriim lankaam bhayam tyaktvaa gata vyathaH || 6-41-61
bhraSTa shriika gata aishvarya mumuurSo naSTa cetanaH |

61. saumya= O, gentle; kape= Angada!; laN^ghayitvaa= after passing; laNKaam purrim= the city of Lanka; tyaktvaa= abandoning; bhayam= fear; gata vyathaH= free from anxiety; gatvaa= and approaching; dashagriivam= Ravana; bhraSTa shriikam= the unfortunate demon; gataishvaryam= devoid of sovereignity; mumuurSanaSTa chetasam= who lost splendour because of his desire for death; bruuhi= tell (him); madvachanaat= as my words.

“Go my gentle Angada on my behalf and, passing thought the city of Lanka without fear and anxiety and Lanka without fear and anxiety and approaching Ravana – the unfortunate demon devoid of sovereignty and who has lost his splendour because of his inclination to die – admonish him in the following words:”

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R^iSiiNaam devataanaam ca gandharva apsarasaam tathaa || 6-41-62
naagaanaam atha yakSaaNaam raajnaam ca rajanii cara |
yac ca paapam kR^itam mohaad avaliptena raakSasa || 6-41-63
nuunam adya gato darpah svayambhuu vara daanajaH |
tasya daNDa dharas te aham daara aaharaNa karshitaH || 6-41-64

62, 63, 63. rajaniichara= O, Ravana the ranger of the night!; yat= which; paapam= sin; kR^itam= was performed; avaliptena= by you the arrogant; mohaat= and the ignorant one; R^iSiiNaam= to sages; devataanaam= to celestials; tathaa= an; gandharvaapsarasaam= to the celestial musicians and their wives; naagaaanaam= to the serpent- demons; atha= and; yakSaaNaam= to yakshas the semidivine beings; raajJNaamcha= and to the kings; tasya= that; paapasya= sin’s; duraasadaa= unparalleled; vyuSTiH= consequence; sampraaptaa= has come; adye= now; te= your; darpaH= arrogance; svayambhuuvaradaanajaH= born out of the boon granted to you by Brahma the god of creation; vigataH= has gone (will go).

“O, Ravana the Ranger of the Night! In your reckless arrogance, sages, celestials, celestial musicians and their wives, serpent – demons, yakshas the semi-divine beings and kings have been oppressed by you. From now on, that arrogance, born of the boon you received from Brahma the Lord of creation, shall be subdued.”

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tasya daNDadharaste.aham daaraaharaNakarshitaH |
daNDam dhaarayamaaNas tu lankaa dvare vyavasthitaH || 6-41-65

65. aham= I; daaraaharaNa karshitaH= having been hurt because of taking away of my wife; daN^DadharaH= have become a punisher; te= to you; tasya= on that account; dhaarayamaaNaH= wielding; daN^Dam= as rod of chastisement; vyavasthitaH= I am stationed; laNkaa dvaare= at the gate of Lanka.

“I shall inflict a fitting penalty for your ruthless abduction of my consort. I am stationed myself at the gate of Lanka, with a Rod of chastisement.”

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padaviim devataanaam ca maharSiiNaam ca raakSasa |
raajarSiiNaam ca sarveNaam gamiSyasi mayaa hataH || 6-41-66

66. raakSasa= O, demon!; hataH= Slain; mayaa= by me; gamiSyasi= you will ontain; padaviim= the path (death); devataanaam cha= of the Gods; maharSiiNaam cha= great sages; sarveSaam= and all; raajarSiiNaam cha= the royal sages.

“O, demon! Slain by me, you will attain the region of Gods, of all the great sages and all the royal sages.”

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balena yena vai siitaam maayayaa raakSasa adhama |
maam atikraamayitvaa tvam hR^itavaams tad vidarshaya || 6-41-67

67. raakSasaadhama= O, the worst demon!; nidarshaya= Demonstrate; tat= that; balena= courage; maayayaa= and magic; yena= by which; tvam= you; atikraamayitvaa= have distanced; siitaam= Seetha; maam= from me; hR^itavaan= and stolen (her).

“O, the worst demon! Demonstrate the same courage and magic that you did employ in bearing Seetha away from me.”

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araakSasam imam lokam kartaa asmi nishitaih sharaiH |
na cet sharaNam abhyeSi maam upaadaaya maithiliim || 6-41-68

68. na abhyeSi yadi= If you do not make an appeal; sharaNam= to my clemency; aadaaya= by returning; tat= that; maithiliim= Seetha; karmaasmi= I shall make; imam= this; lokam= world; araakSasam= devoid of demons.

“If you do not make an appeal to my clemency by returning Seetha, I shall make this world devoid of all demons.”

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dharma aatmaa rakSasaam shreSThah sampraapto ayam vibhiiSaNaH |
lankaa aishvaryam dhruvam shriimaan ayam praapnoty akaNTakam || 6-41-69

69. ayam vibhiiSaNaH= this Vibhishana; dharmaatmaa= the pious minded; raakSasa shreSThaH= and the foremost of demons; sampraaptaH= has come to me; dhruvam= Surely; shriimaan= this illustrious demon; praaproti= will obtain; idam= this; laN^kaishvaryam= kingdom of Lanka; akaN^Takam= free from troubles.

“This pious minded Vibhishana, the foremost of demons has come to me. Surely, this illustrious demon will obtain the kingdom of Lanka, which will henceforth be free from troubles.”

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na hi raajyam adharmeNa bhoktum kSaNam api tvayaa |
shakyam muurkha sahaayena paapena avijita aatmanaa || 6-41-70

70. tvayaa= by you; muurkha sahaayena= having stupid followers; paapena= a sinful demon; aviditaatmanaa= without a knowledge of the self; na shakyam hi= can not indeed; bhoktum= enjoy; raajyam= the kingdom; kSaNampi= even for a moment; adharmeNa= by this unrightousness.

“You, without a knowledge of the self and a sinful demon having stupid followers around you, cannot indeed enjoy the kingdom even for a moment, by this unrighteousness.”

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yudhyasva vaa dhR^itim kR^itvaa shauryam aalambya raakSasa |
mat sharais tvam raNe shaantas tatah puuto bhaviSyasi || 6-41-71

71. raakSasa= O, demon!; vaa= otherwise; yudhyasva= get ready for a battle; kR^itvaa= by gathering; dhR^itim= courage; aalambya= and laying hold of; shauryam= your valour; shaantaH= having been slain; machharaiH= by my arrows; raNe= in combat; bhaviSyasi= you will be laid; shaantaH= in peace.

“O, demon! Otherwise, get ready for a battle, by gathering courage and laying hold of your valour. Having been slain by my arrows in combat, you will be laid in peace.

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yadyaavishasi lokaams triin pakSi bhuuto mano javaH |
mama cakSuS patham praapya na jiivan pratiyaasyasi || 6-41-72

72. nishaachara= O, Ranger of the Night!; bhuutvaa= (Even if) you become; pakSii= a bird; aavishasi= and enter; triin= the three; lokaan= world’s; na pratiyaasyasi= you will not return; jiivan= alive; praapya= when you come into; mama= my; chakSuH patham= range of sight.

“O, Ranger of the Night! Even if you range the three worlds in the forms of a bird, you will not return alive, when you come into my range of sight.”

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braviimi tvaam hitam vaakyam kriyataam aurdhvadekikam |
sudR^iSTaa kriyataam lankaa jiivitam te mayi sthitam || 6-41-73

73. braviim= I am telling; vaakyam= the words; hitam= beneficial; tvaam= to you; kriyataam= be obliged; surd^iSTaa= to be seen well (by you); (as) te jiivitam= your survival; sthitam= is dependent; mayi= on me.

“I give you this salutary counsel prepare for your obsequies. Let Lanka be obliged to be seen well by you (like your last sight), as your survival is in my hands.”

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ity uktah sa tu taareyo raameNa akliSTa karmaNaa |
jagaama aakaasham aavishya muurtimaan iva havya vaaT || 6-41-74

74. uktaH= spoken; iti= thus; raameNa= by Rama; akliSTa karmaNaa= who was unwearied inaction; taareyaH= Angada the son of Tara; aavishya= entered; aakaasham- the air; havyavaaTiva= like a god of fire; muurtimaan= personified; jagaama= and proceeded ahead.

Hearing the words of Rama, who was unwearied in action, Angada the son of Tara, leapt into air like a god of fire personified and marched ahead.

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so atipatya muhuurtena shriimaan raavaNa mandiram |
dadarsha aasiinam avyagram raavaNam sacivaih saha || 6-41-75

75. atipatya= reaching; raavaNa mandiram= Ravana’s palace; muhuurtena= within a moment; shriimaan= the illustrious; saH= Angada; dadarsha= saw; raavaNam= Ravana; aasiinam= seated; avyagram= coolly; sachivaiH saha= along with his ministers.

Reaching Ravana’s palace in an instant, the illustrious Angada saw Ravana, seated coolly along with his ministers.

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tatas tasya aviduureNa nipatya hari pumgavaH |
diipta agni sadR^ishas tasthaav angadah kanaka angadaH || 6-41-76

76. tataH= thereafter; aN^gadaH= Angada; haripuNgavaH= the foremost of the monkeys; kanakaaN^gadaH= wearing golden bracelets; nipatya= descended; aduureNa= close; tasya= to the king; tasthau= and stood; diipaagni; sadR^ishaH= like a flaming torch.

Angada, the foremost of the monkeys, wearing golden bracelets, descended close to the king and stood there like a flaming torch.

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tad raama vacanam sarvam anyuuna adhikam uttamam |
saamaatyam shraavayaam aasa nivedya aatmaanam aatmanaa || 6-41-77

77. nivedya aatmaanam aatmanaa= haing made himself known; (Angada); shravayaamaasaa= caused to be communicated; tat= that; sarvam= whole; uttamam= of excellent; raama vachanam= speech of Rama; anyuunaadhikam= without adding or subtracting anything; saamaatyam= to Ravana in the presence of his ministers (a follows):

Having made himself known, Angada communicated, that whole of the excellent speech of Rama without adding or subtracting anything to Ravana in the presence of Ravana’s ministers, saying:

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duuto aham kosala indrasya raamasya akliSTa karmaNaH |
vaali putro angado naama yadi te shrotram aagataH || 6-41-78

78. aham= I; vaaliputraH= am the son of Vali; aNgado naama= called Angada; duutaH= the messenger; koshalendrasya= of the king of Koshala; raamasya= Rama; akliSTa karmaNaH= of imperishable= exploits; aagataH yadi= (has my name) ever reached; te= your; shrotram= ear?

“I am the son of Vali, Angada by name. I have come as a messenger for the king of Koshala, Rama of imperishable exploits. Has my name ever reached your ears?”

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aaha tvaam raaghavo raamah kausalya aananda vardhanaH |
niSpatya pratiyudhyasva nR^ishamsam puruSa adhama || 6-41-79

79. raamaH= Rama; Kausalya nandaardhanaH= who augments the joy of Kausalya; raaghavaH= and the one born in Raghu dynasty; aha= speaks (thus); tvaam= to you; nR^ishamsa= O, ruthless demon!; niSpatya= come forth; yudhyasva= and enter into combat; bhava= prove; puruSaH= to be the representative of your race.

“Rama who is born in Raghu dynasty and who augements the joy of Kausalya speaks thus to you, ‘O, ruthless demon! Come forth and enter into combat. Prove to be the representative of your race!’ ”

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hantaa asmi tvaam saha amaatyam saputra jnaati baandhavam |
nirudvignaas trayo lokaa bhaviSyanti hate tvayi || 6-41-80

80. hantaasmi= I shall kill tvaam= you; sahaamaatyam= along with your ministers; saputra jJNaati baandhavaH= sons, cousins and relatives; tvam= you; hate= being dead; trayaH= the three; lokaah= worlds; bhaviSyanti= will be; nirudvignaaH= rid of fear.

“ ‘I shall kill you along with your ministers, sons, cousins and other relatives. You being dead, all the three worlds will be rid of fear.’”

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deva daanava yakSaaNaam gandharva uraga rakSasaam |
shatrum adya uddhariSyaami tvaam R^iSiiNaam ca kaNTakam || 6-41-81

81. adya= now; uddhariSyaami= I shall uproot out; tvam= you; kaN^Takamcha= who are a thorn; R^iSiiNaam= to sages; shatrum= and enemy; deva daanava yakSaaNaam= to celestials, demons, semi-divine beings; gandharvoraga rakSasaam= celestial musicians, serpent-gods and ogres.

“ ‘Now, I shall uproot you, a thorn to sages and an enemy to celestials, demons, semi-divine beings, celestial musicians, serpent-gods and ogres’.”

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vibhiiSaNasya ca aishvaryam bhaviSyati hate tvayi |
na cet satkR^itya vaidehiim praNipatya pradaasyasi || 6-41-82

82. na pradaasyasi chet= If you do not restore; vaidehiim= Seetha; satkR^itya= honourably; praNipatya= by bowing respectfully before me; tvayi= you; hate= ae slain; aishvaryam= and the kingdom; bhaviSyati= will belong; vibhiiSaNasya= to Vibhishana.

“If you do not restore Seetha honourably, by bowing respectfully before me, you are slain and Vibhishana will become the king.’”

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ity evam paruSam vaakyam bruvaaNe hari pumgave |
amarSa vasham aapanno nishaa cara gaNa iishvaraH || 6-41-83

83. hari puN^gave= (While) the lion among monkeys, Angada; bruvaaNe= was speaking; ityevam= thus; paruSam= in harsh; vaakyam= words; nishaacharagaNeshvaraH= Ravana the Lord of the demon-tribe; aapannaH= prevailed; amarSa vasham= on the influence of anger.

Hearing these harsh words from Angada the lion among the monkeys, Ravana the Lord of the demon-tribe was infuriated.

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tataH sa roSa taamra akSah shashaasa sacivaams tadaa |
gR^ihyataam eSa durmedhaa vadhyataam iti ca asakR^it || 6-41-84

84. tataH= thereafter; saH= Ravana; aapannaH= who obtained; roSam= wrath; tadaa= then; asakR^it= respeatedly; shasaasa= commanded; sachivaan= his attendants; iti= thus; durmedhaaH= (Let) this stupid monkey; gR^ihyataam= be seized; vadhyataam= and killed.

Then, the enraged Ravana repeatedly commanded his attendants, saying: “Let this stupid monkey be seized and put to death.”

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raavaNasya vacah shrutvaa diipta agni sama tejasaH |
jagR^ihus tam tato ghoraash catvaaro rajanii caraaH || 6-41-85

85. tataH= then; shrutvaa= hearing; raavaNasya= Ravana’s vachaH= words; chatvaaraH= four; ghoraaH= terrible; rajaniicharaah= demons; jagR^ihuH= seized; tam= Angada; tejasaa= who, in his splendour; diiptaagnimiva= resembled a blazing torch.

Hearing Ravana’s words, four terrible demons seized Angada who, in his splendour, resembled a blazing torch.

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graahayaam aasa taareyah svayam aatmaanam aatmanaa |
balam darshayitum viiro yaatu dhaana gaNe tadaa || 6-41-86

86. tadaa= then; taareyaH= Angada the son of Tara; aatmavaan= the prudent; viiraH= and the heroic monkey; svayam= voluntarily; graahayaamaasa aatmaanaam= allowed himself to be seized; darshayitum= to display; balam= his prowess; yaatudhaanagaNe= before the host of demons.

Then, the prudent and heroic Angada the son of Tara voluntarily allowed himself to be seized, in order to display his prowess before the host of demons.

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sa taan baahu dvaye saktaan aadaaya patagaan iva |
praasaadam shaila samkaasham utpaapaata angadas tadaa || 6-41-87

87. tadaa= then; aadaaya= seizing; patagaaniva= like unto birds; taan= those attendants; baahudvayaa= saktaan= entangled in both of his arms; utpapaata= he leapt on; praasaadam= to the palace; shaila sankaasham= that resembled like a mountain.

Then, seizing like unto birds those attendants clung to his arms, Angada leapt on to the palace that resembled like a mountain.

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tesyotpatanavegena nirdhuutaastatra raakSasaaH |
bhumau nipatitaah sarve raakSasa indrasya pashyataH || 6-41-88

88. sarve= all those four; raakSasaaH= demons; nirdhuutaaH= were shaken out; tasya= by Angada’s utpatana vegena= impetuous leap; nipatitaaH= and they fell; bhuumau= on the ground; tatra= there; pashyataH= under the eyes; raakSasendrasya= of the king of demons.

All those four demons were shaken out by Angada’s impetuous leap and fell on the ground there under the eyes of their king.

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tataH praasaada shikharam shaila shR^ingam iva unnatam |
tat paphaala tadaa aakraantam dashagriivasya pashyataH || 6-41-89

89. tataH= thereafter; prataapavaan= the glorious; vaali putraH= Angada the son of Vali; chakraama= ascended; praasaada shikharam= the roof of the palace; raakSasendrsya= of Ravana; shailashR^igamiva= which equaled the summit of a mountain; unnatam= in height.

Thereafter, the glorious Angada the son of Vali ascended the roof of Ravana’s palace, which equaled the summit of a mountain in height.

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paphaala cha tadaakraantaM dashagriivasya pashyataH |
puraa himavataH shR^iN^gaM vajreNeva vidaaritam 6-41-90

90. tadaakraantam= that roof of the palace, trampled by Angada; paphaalacha= crumbled; himaataH shR^iN^gamiva= as a peak of Himalayan range; vidaaritam= was shattered; puraa= long ago; vajreNa= by lightening; dashagriivasya= before Ravana’s pashyatah= gaze.

That roof of the palace, trampled by Angada, crumbled – as a peak of Himalayan range was shattered long ago by lightening – before Ravana’s gaze.

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bhanktvaa praasaada shikharam naama vishraavya ca aatmanaH |
vinadya sumahaa naadam utpapaata vihaayasaa || 6-41-91

91. bhaNKtvaa= after destroying; prasaada shikharam= the roof of the palace; naama vishraavyacha aatmanaH= proclaiming his name; vinadya= roaring; sumahaa naadam= with a very great noise; utpapaata= rose; vihaayasaa= into the air.

After destroying the roof of the palace, Angada proclaimed his name and with a triumphant roar, rose into the air.

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vyathayan raakSasaan sarvaan harSayamshchaapi vaanaraan |
sa vaanaraaNaaM madhye tu raamapaarshvamupaagataH 6-41-92

92. vyathayan= causing restlessness, sarvaan= to all; raakSasaan= the demons; harSayam shchaapi= but delight; vaanaraaNaam= to the monkeys; (Angada); upaagataH= approached; raama paarshvam= close to Rama; madhye= in the middle; vaanaraaNaam= of the monkeys.

Causing restlessness to all the demons but delight to the monkeys, Angada approached close to Rama, who was stationed in the middle of the monkey-forces.

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raavaNas tu param cakre krodham praasaada dharSaNaat |
vinaasham ca aatmanah pashyan nihshvaasa paramo abhavat || 6-41-93

93. praasaada dharSaNaat= because of the destruction of the palace; raavaNastu= Ravana on his part; chakre= got; param= extreme; krodham= anger; pashyan= foreseeing; aatmaanaH= his own; vinaasham= destruction; abhavat= he became; niH shvaasa paramaH= a desponded demon.

Because of the destruction of his palace, Ravana on his part got extremely angry. Foreseeing his own destruction, he became a desponded demon.

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raamas tu bahubhir hR^iSTair ninadadbhih plavam gamaiH |
vR^ito ripu vadha aakaankSii yuddhaaya eva abhyavartata || 6-41-94

94. vR^itaH= surrounded; bahubhiH plavaNgamaiH= by many monkeys; vinadadbhiH= roaring; hR^iSTaiH= with delight; raamastu= Rama on his part; abhivartata= was proceeding ahead; yuddhaayaiva= for the battle already; ripuvadhaa kaaN^kSii= with an intent to wipe out the enemy.

Surrounded by many monkeys, roaring with delight, Rama on his part was proceeding ahead already for the battle, with an intent to wipe out the enemy.

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suSeNas tu mahaa viiryo giri kuuTa upamo hariH |
bahubhih samvR^itas tatra vaanaraih kaama ruupibhiH || 6-41-95

95. suSeNastu= now Sushena; mahaaviiryaH= the most valiant; hariH= girikuuTopamaH= was like the head of the mountain; tatra= there; bahubhiH= samvR^itaH= surrounded by; innumerable; vaanaraiH= monkeys; kaamaruupibhiH= who were able to change their form at will.

Now, Sushena the highly valiant monkey, was stationed there like the head of the mountain surrounded by innumerable monkeys, who were bale to change their form at will.

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sa tu dvaaraaNi sarvaaNi sugriiva vacanaat kapiH |
paryaakramata durdharSo nakSatraaNi iva candramaaH || 6-41-96

96. Sugreeva vachanaat= under the order of Sugreeva; saH kapiH= that monkey; durdharSaH= the invincible; samyamya= was patrolling; dvaaraaNi= the gates; paryakraamata= and wandering; nakSatraaNiva= like among stars; chandramaaH= the moon.

Under the order of Sugreeva, the invincible monkey, Sushena was patrolling the gates and wandering like a moon among the stars.

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teSaam akSauhiNi shatam samavekSya vana okasaam |
lankaam upaniviSTaanaam saagaram ca ativartataam || 6-41-97
raakSasaa vismayam jagmus traasam jagmus tathaa apare |
apare samara uddharSaadd harSam eva upapedire || 6-41-98

97, 98. samavekSya= seeing; akSauhiNi shatam= hundreds of divisions; teSaam= of those; vanaukasaam= monkeys; abhivartataam= encamped; laN^kaam upaniviSTaanaam= under the walls of Lanksa; saagaram cha= (marshaled on the shores) of the sea; raakSasaaH= the demons; jagmuH= got; vismayam= amazed; tathaa= and; apare= some others; jagmuH= got; tathaa= and; apare= some others; jagmuH= got; taasam= terror-struck; apare= (while) others; traasam= terror-struck; apare= (While) others; harSaat= overjoyed; samara= at the prospect of fighting; upapedire= leapt; harSameva= even in exultation.

Seeing hundreds of divisions of those monkeys encamped under the walls of Lanka, marshaled on the shores of the sea, the demons were amazed and some others were terror-struck while others, overjoyed at the prospect of fighting, leapt even in exultation.

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kR^itsnam hi kapibhir vyaaptam praakaara parikha antaram |
dadR^ishuu raakSasaa diinaah praakaaram vaanarii kR^itam || 6-41-99
haahaakaaramakurvanta raakSasaa bhayamaagataaH |

99. diinaH= the miserable; rakSasaaH= demons; dadR^ishuH= saw; kR^itsnam= the entire; vyaaptam= extensive; praakaara parikhaantaram= space between the walls and the moat; vaanariikR^itam= being occupied by the monkeys; praakaaram= like under unto a second rampart; raakSasaaH= the demons; aagataH= got; bhayam= a panic; akurvanta= and cried out; haahaakaaram= “woe! Alas!”

Those miserable demons saw the entire extensive space between the walls and the moat being occupied by the monkeys, like unto a second rampart. The demons cried out, “Woe! Alas!” in panic.

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tasmin mahaa bhiiSaNake pravR^itte |
kolaahale raakSasa raajadhaanyaam |
pragR^ihya rakSaamsi mahaa aayudhaani |
yuga anta vaataa;iva samviceruh || 6-41-100

100. pravR^itte= as a result; tasmin= of that; mahaa bhiiSaNake= appalling; kolaahale= tumult; raakSasa raajadhaanyaam= in the capital city of demons; rakSaamsi= the demons; pragR^ihya= seized hold of; mahaayudhaani= their great weapons; samvicheruH= and sallied forth; yugaantaa raataaH iva= like the winds that blow at the dissolution of the worlds.

As a result of that appalling tumult in the capital city of the demons, the soldiers of Ravana seized hold of their great weapons and sallied forth like the winds that blow at the dissolution of the worlds.

ityaarSe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye yuddhakaaNDe ekachatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 41st Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection