Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam
( Translation and Commentary by Scholar,
Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji
and Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )
Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 97
| Ravana sends Mahodara to the battle-field. Mahodara creates havoc, by cutting off the hands, feet and thighs of monkeys. Some monkeys seek refuge with Sugreeva and some ran away for life. Sugreeva attacks Mahodara and initially kills the horses of the latter. Both of them fight till the weapons in their hands get broken. Then, they start wrestling with each other, till they get exhausted. Finally, Sugreeva cuts off Mahodara's head with a huge sword. |
Being killed by each other in that major battle, those two armies were very much diminished soon, like two lakes in a severe summer. Ravana the lord of demons got doubly enraged because of the destroyal of his own army and the fall of Virupaksha.
He felt restless to find his own army diminished while being killed by the monkeys and to see the reversal of his fate.
He spoke to Mahodara, the annihilator of enemies, standing beside him (as follows): "O the long-armed! At this juncture, my hope for victory is centered in you. O the brave demon! Destroy the army of our enemies. Show your prowess now. This is the time to repay the debt of your master (received in the form of sustenance from him). Fight well."
Hearing the words of Ravana, Mahodara the chief of demons saying "So it be”, penetrated into the army of enemies, as a moth rushed into a flame. Emboldened by the words of his master, that mighty demon, with full of energy, destroyed the monkeys by dint of his own valour.
Taking hold of huge rocks and penetrating the terrific army of enemies, those highly strong monkeys too started killing all the demons. In that great battle, the highly enraged Mahodara, with his arrows decked in gold, chopped off the hands, feet and thighs of monkeys.
Then, among all those monkeys who were tormented by the demons, some ran away into ten directions. Some others sought refuge with Sugreeva. Seeing the large army of monkeys defeated in the battle, Sugreeva rushed towards Mahodara who was immediately close to him.
Seizing hold of a large and terrific rock, which looked like a mountain, Sugreeva who was endowed with a great energy, hurled it with an aim to kill the demon. Seeing that rock falling suddenly, Mahodara, then unagitated, tore it with his arrows, though it was difficult to approach.
That rock, broken to a thousand pieces by that demon with a multitude of his arrows, forthwith fell down on earth, like a flock of frightened vultures. Filled with rage on seeing that rock broken and uprooting a Sala tree, Sugreeva hurled it at his enemy and Mahodara chopped it off into many pieces.
The valiant Mahodara, who was the tormentator of hostile forces, lacerated Sugreeva with his arrows. That enraged Sugreeva then saw an iron rod on the ground. Swinging that flashing iron rod and showing it to him, Sugreeva killed the excellent horses of Mahodara with that iron rod of terrible speed.
Jumping down from that huge chariot, whose horses had been killed, that valiant Mahodara the demon, thereupon seized hold of a mace with anger. With a mace and an iron road respectively in their hands and roaring like two bulls and resembling like two clouds charged with lightning, those two heroes closed in for a battle.
Mahodara the demon was angry with Sugreeva and thereupon hurled his blazing mace, which shone like the sun, on Sugreeva. Seeing that highly terrible mace, falling on him in that great battle, the mighty Sugreeva, the King of monkeys, was enraged with red eyes and struck that mace, by lifting up the iron rod. That iron rod broke off and fell on the ground.
Thereupon, the spirited Sugreeva took hold of a formidable steel club, entirely decked with gold, from the earth-surface. Lifting that steel club, Sugreeva hurled it. Mahodara too hurled another mace on him. Those two weapons, clashing each other, broke and fell on the floor.
As all their weapons were broken, those two warriors, who were endowed with spirit and strength, resembling two blazing fires, started contending with fists. Roaring again and again, those two warriors then banged each other. Slapping each other with their palms, they rolled on the earth's surface.
They raised quickly on their feet and then began to strike each other. Remaining unyielded, the two heroes pushed each other on their shoulders. Those two heroes, the annihilators their enemies, felt exhausted in the course of their wrestling. Then the highly fast Mahodara the demon took hold of a sword and a shield, lying not very far.
In the same way, the highly swift Sugreeva the foremost of monkeys took hold of a large sword together with a shield, lying there. Thereupon, those two warriors, who were skilled in the use of weaponry in the battle-field and whose limbs were seized with anger, galloped forward, roaring with joy, with their swords upraised.
With their thoughts concentrated on one point of victory, both the warriors were enraged with each other and performed circumambulations form left to right, very quickly. That valiant and evil-minded Mahodara, who was boasting of his own prowess, let fall with very high speed, that sword on the heavy shield of Sugreeva.
Even while Mahodara was extracting his sword which had got struck in the shield, Sugreeva severed with his own sword, Mahodara's head, which was adorned with ear-rings and helmet. While Mahodara, with his head chopped off, was falling on the ground, Ravana's army, on seeing it, could no longer be seen on the battle-field.
Having killed Mahodara, Sugreeva made a rejoicing roar with his monkeys. Ravana was enraged. Rama looked rejoicing. With their faces looking low-spirited all the demons felt dejected. With their minds stricken with fear, all of them ran away from the battle-field. Having thrown down to the ground that Mahodara, looking like a part of a huge mountain lying shattered the invincible Sugreeva shone in glory in the battle-field like the sun shines with its rays.
Having attained victory in the battle-front, Sugreeva then continued to be looked at by the multitude of gods, Siddhas (a class of demigods who are endowed with mystic powers) and Yakshas (another class of demigods attending on Kubera, the god of riches) as also a host of beings standing on the earth's surface who were all overwhelmed with joy.
Thus, this is the 97th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 98
| When Mahaparsva enters the battle-field and torments the monkeys, Angada comes to their rescue and hits him. Jambavan also enters the field and breaks the chariot and the horses of Mahaparsva. Then, Angada knocks the bow and the helmet of Mahaparsva, as they fall down. Finally, Mahaparsva falls dead, succumbing to a forcible blow of Angada’s fist. |
Seeing Mahodara killed by Sugreeva the mighty Mahaparsva for his part with his red-blood eyes through anger, forthwith stirred up the terrific army of Angada with his arrows. That demon struck down the heads of monkey-chiefs from their trunks, as wind would throw down a fruit from its stalk.
Moreover, that demon very quickly chopped off the arms of some monkeys with his arrows and struck down the region of the ribs of others. Tormented by the flight of arrows of Mahaparsva, all those monkeys were downcast with despair and lost heart.
Seeing his army depressed on being tormented by the demon, Angada who was endowed with a great impetuosity, exhibited his tempo like an ocean on full-moon days. Taking hold of a steel rod, with its radiance equal to that of the sun, hurled it on Mahaparsva in that combat.
By that blow, that Mahaparsva dropped senseless and unconscious on the ground from his chariot along with is charioteer. The energetic Jambavan, looking like a heap of black collyrium, who was exceedingly powerful, battalion which resembled a black cloud a mountain-peak, killed his horses with his strength and broke that chariot too.
Regaining his consciousness within a while, the mighty Mahaparsva again struck Angada with his many arrows. He struck Jambavan, the king of bears with three arrows in his chest and struck Gavaksha too with many arrows. Seeing Gavaksha and Jambavan tormented by the arrows, that Angada was infatuated with anger and seized hold of a terrific iron rod.
Firmly holding that iron rod, which shone like the rays of the sun, with both hands and turning it around with force, Angada son of Vali, his eyes red with anger, hurled it on that Mahaparsva the demon, who stood at a distance, with an intention to kill him. Hurled by the mighty Angada, that iron rod for its part, knocked the bow with the arrow fitted to it, from the demon's hand and also his helmet.
Approaching him with speed and with anger, the valiant Angada slapped him on the temple (root of the ear), shining with an ear-ring. Enraged as he was, that Mahaparsva for his part, who was endowed with a great swiftness and enormous splendour, seized hold of a huge axe in one hand.
Extremely enraged, the demon hurled that stainless and strong axe, which had been washed in oil and which was made of steel, on Angada. Full of anger, that Angada evaded that axe, which had been aimed by him mostly at his left shoulder-bone.
That valiant Angada, with his prowess equal to that of his father, was quite enraged and firmly tightened his fist resembling a thunder-bolt. Knowing the vital parts of the body, Angada pounced his fist, which invaded like a thunderbolt, on the boson of the demon, in the vicinity of his breasts. With the blow of that fist in that great combat, the fleshy part of his heart was blasted and he fell dead on the ground. When Mahaparsva fell dead on the ground, his army got confused. A mammoth anger arose in Ravana.
That highly profound lion's roar of the rejoiced monkeys, by its noise, was well like the loud sound of the gods along with Indra the lord celestials, nay, by its vibrations breaking asunder as it were the City of Lanka with its attics and town-gates. Hearing the loud noise of monkeys, as also of the celestials in the battle-field, the enraged Ravana the adversary of Indra, then stood prepared for a battle again.
Thus, this is the 98th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 99
| Ravana enters the battle-field and with his mystic missile, frightens several monkeys and destroys them. Rama and Lakshmana come and attack Ravana. Then, Rama and Ravana fight each other with various kinds of arrows. When the missile employed by Ravana is struck down by Rama, all the monkeys shout loudly with a rejoice. |
Seeing Mahodara and Mahaparshva the demons having been killed, and that valiant and mighty Virupaksha struck down in that great battle, a tremendous anger took possession of Ravana. He urged on his charioteer and addressed to him the following words: "Killing those two princes, Rama and Lakshmana, I will remove surely the sorrow caused to me on account of the ministers who have been killed and the city which has been laid siege to (by the monkeys). In the battle, I will cut down the tree in the shape of Rama, which is going to yield fruit through its flower in the form of Seetha, whose principal branches are Sugreeva, Jambavan, Kumuda, Nala, Dvivida, Mainda, Angada, Gandhamadana, Hanuma, Sushena and all the chiefs of monkey-warriors."
Ravana, the mighty and the surpassing Chariot-Warrior, went quickly, making a noise in all the ten directions, with the sound of the chariot, rushing towards Rama. Filled with that sound, the entire earth, with its rivers, mountains and forests, trembled, throwing lions, antelopes and birds, into fright. He employed very highly terrific and exceedingly frightful mystic missile called Tamasa, which began to consume all the monkeys, who started falling down on all sides.
Dust began to fly up from the earth, while those frustrated monkeys were fleeing away for they could no longer bear that missile built by Brahma himself. Seeing those hundreds of many of his armies shattered by excellent arrows of Ravana, Rama took his stand, ready for the battle.
Having driven away the army of monkeys, Ravana the foremost among the demons then saw Rama, the annihilator of his enemies, who was endowed with long arms and eyes as wide as lotus petals standing unconquered with his brother Lakshmana-like Indra the lord of celestials is seen with Vishnu, the supreme lord of preservation-holding up his great bow as though scraping the sky.
Seeing the disappointed monkeys and Ravana advancing, the mighty Rama who was endowed with a great splendour and accompanied by Lakshmana who were born in Raghu dynasty, then pleasingly seized his bow at the middle. Thereupon, Rama began to stretch his excellent bow, which was endowed with great force and sonorous, as though he was breaking the earth asunder.
Then, due to that buzzing sound produced by the streams of Ravana's arrows as also by the twang of Rama's bow, those demons fell down in their hundreds. That Ravana, coming within the range of arrow-shots of Rama and Lakshmana, resembled Rahu (the demon who is supposed to seize the sun and the moon), standing in the vicinity of the moon and the sun.
Wishing to fight him with his sharp arrows at the earliest, Lakshmana stretching his bow, released his arrows which were like flames of fire. Ravana of extra ordinary energy prevented those arrows, the moment they were released by Lakshmana, with his arrows, in the sky itself.
Showing the dexterity of his hand, Ravana split the arrows of Lakshmana one with one, three with three and ten with ten arrows. Overpassing Lakshmana, Ravana the victorious in battle, approached Rama, who stood like another mountain, in the battle-field.
Having approached Rama, Ravana the lord of demons, having his eyes turning red-blood through anger, released streams of arrows upon him. Just on seeing streams of arrows coming forth, loosed from Ravana's bow, Rama thereupon quickly seized hold of 'Bhalla'* arrows in haste.
Bhalla - A variety of arrows with a crescent - shaped head.
Then, Rama tore off that multitude of arrows, which were blazing and looking very terrific like enraged serpents, with his sharp Bhalla - arrows. Rama on Ravana and Ravana on Rama, quickly showered each other with streams of sharp-pointed arrows of various kinds.
Pushing back each other with the velocity of their arrows and remaining undefeated, the two warriors described circles of different kinds each moving from left to right, for a long time. Created beings were frightened, even as both the terrific warriors were fighting all at once, releasing their arrows at each other, thus resembling the god of retribution and the god of Death respectively.
The sky at that time became dense with arrows of various kinds, even as it is covered, at the end of the monsoon, with clouds crowded with crowns of lightning. The sky was studded as with eye-holes, by showers of arrows of high velocity, which were extremely sharp-pointed and adorned with plumes of vultures and were loosed with high speed.
They initially made the sky dark with arrows. Even after the sun-set, they made it dark, like two huge clouds risen in it. A great combat ensued between both of them, who were willing to kill each other. That battle was unimaginable and unapproachable, like the duel that took place between Vritra the demon and Indra the lord of celestials.
Both the warriors were excellent archers. Both were skilled in war-fare. Both were eminently skilled in the use of missiles. Both moved unhindered in the battle-field. In whichever course both of them went, in the same respective direction, streams of arrows went, like waves in two oceans, whipped by the wind.
Ravana, having skilful hands and a cause for the cry of the world, released a row of steel arrows on Rama's forehead. Rama endured on his head, that row of steel arrows, having a lustre of black lotus-petals, discharged from the terrific bow. He did not get perturbed.
Thereupon, seizing hold of more arrows, reciting sacred incantations and making use of the missile presided over by Rudra and stretching his bow, the valiant Rama of great splendour was filled with anger and released those arrows.
Fallen on the unbreakable armour of Ravana, which looked like a large cloud, those arrows could not cause any pain to him at that time. Rama, who was skilled in the use of all types of mystic missiles, forthwith pierced in the forehead, yet again by a paramount missile, that Ravana seated in his chariot.
Having pierced the frames of arrows of Ravana, Rama's arrows penetrated like five-headed hissing serpents into the earth, when rebuffed by Ravana. Striking down Rama's missile, that Ravana, who was stupefied with anger, employed another exceedingly terrific missile presided over by demoniac forces.
He released sharp arrows, having the heads of lions and tigers, those of buzzards and crows, even of vultures and faloons, as well as those of jackals and wolves, arrows with their mouths wide open, having the heads of venomous snakes with five heads, bringing fear.
Hissing like a serpent provoked to anger Ravana who was endowed with extraordinary energy and conjuring tricks, released towards Rama these and other arrows, having the heads of donkeys, those of boars, dogs and cocks as also of alligators and venomous snakes.
Possessed by a missile presided over by demoniac forces, that Rama endowed with a great strength and resembling the god of fire, released a missile presided over by the god of fire. Rama employed there, various kinds of arrows, with heads bright as fire, others with heads shining like the sun, the moon, the crescent, a comet, others shining like planets, lunar mansions and a huge meteor and some arrows resembling flashes of lightning.
Struck by Rama's missile, the terrific arrows of Ravana got destroyed in the sky and fell down in thousands of pieces. Rejoiced to see that missile struck down by Rama, who was unweary in action, all the valiant monkeys, who were capable of changing their form at will, then encompassing Rama, raised a clamour, facing Sugreeva.
Striking down with force that missile which came forth from Ravana's arms, the great-souled Rama, then was filled with rejoice while the chiefs of monkeys, full f joy, shouted loudly.
Thus, this is the 99th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 100
| Rama and Ravana confront each other with various arrows and missiles. Meanwhile, Lakshmana joins the fight and chops off Ravana's bow with his arrows. Vibhishana also fights and kills Ravana's horses. Lakshmana rescues Vibhishana, when a spear is hurled on him by Ravana. Then, Ravana throws a spear on Lakshmana. As it penetrates Lakshmana's bosom, Lakshmana falls down unconscious. Rama hurls hails of arrows on Ravana from his flaming bow. Ravana takes to his heels out of fear. |
When that missile was made defunct, Ravana the king of demons, for his part, doubled his fury and in his anger, began to employ another missile immediately. Ravana, who was endowed with extraordinary splendour, started to release another cruel and terrific missile built by Maya the demon, on Rama.
Then, from that bow, came forth, blazing pikes, maces and clubs, which were hard as adamant, on all sides. Various kinds of furious mallets, deceptive nooses and blazing thunderbolts came forth, like piercing gales at the time of the destruction of the world.
The glorious Rama, the foremost among the knower in the use of excellent missiles and who was endowed with extra ordinary splendour, struck down that missile with an excellent missile presided over by Gandharvas the celestial musicians.
When that missile was made defunct by the great souled Rama, Ravana with his coppery eyes in anger, employed a missile presided over by the sun-god. Then came forth resplendent and large discuses, from the bow of that intelligent Ravana, of terrific impetuosity. Even as they came forth and falling on all sides, the sky was blazing and the quarters illuminated, as by the moon, the sun and other planets.
In the forefront of Ravana's army, that Rama split those discuses and other strange weapons, with a multitude of arrows. Seeing that missile struck down, Ravana the king of demons, for his part, pierced Rama with ten arrows in all his vital parts.
Even though that Ravana struck Rama with those ten arrows released from his great bow, Rama of extraordinary energy was not shaken. Then, Rama the victorious in battle, was quite enraged and struck Ravana in all his organs with a multitude of arrows.
In the meantime, the mighty and enraged Lakshmana, Rama's younger brother, the destroyer of valiant enemies, seized hold of seven arrows. Lakshmana of great brilliance, with those arrows of high velocity, tore off into many pieces, the flag-staff of Ravana, which bore the emblem of a man's head.
The glorious and mighty Lakshmana, with a single arrow, tore the head of Ravana's charioteer, which was adorned with blazing ear-rings. With five sharp arrows, Lakshmana then chopped off Ravana's bow, which looked like an elephant's trunk.
Bouncing forward, Vibhishana killed, with his mace, the excellent horses of Ravana, which looked like black clouds and were tall as mountains. Leaping down with speed from his large chariot, whose horses had been killed, Ravana then exhibited a violent anger towards the younger brother of Rama.
Then, Ravana, of great energy and prowess, hurled a spear looking like a blazing thunderbolt, on Vibhishana. Even before the spear reached Vibhishana, Lakshmana tore it with three of his arrows and a loud cheer then arose from the monkeys in the battle-field.
That gold-crowned spear, torn into three pieces, fell like a large meteor with sparks of fire falling from the sky. Thereupon, Ravana took hold of another large most competent spear, which was difficult to be approached even by Yama the lord of Death and blazing as it was, with its own splendour.
The mighty and the evil-minded Ravana swiftly hurled that very great spear, burning with a radiance similar to that of a blazing thunder-bolt. In the meanwhile, the valiant Lakshmana quickly rushed towards that Vibhishana, who got a danger to his life.
To rescue that Vibhishana, the heroic Lakshmana, having stretched his bow, threw out streams of arrows on Ravana who was holding a spear in his hand. Poured in with a multitude of arrows discharged by the great-souled Lakshmana, Ravana with his attach frustrated, did not make up his mind to attack Vibhishana further.
Seeing Vibhishana his brother rescued by Lakshmana, that Ravana, turning his face towards Lakshmana spoke the following words: "O Lakshmana, exalter of your own strength! As Vibhishana was rescued by you in this way, this spear, on letting off Vibhishana the demon, is being hurled on you now. This spear, having blood-marks and hurled by bludgeon-like arm, having pierced your heart, will depart only after taking your life."
Thus saying, the greatly enraged Ravana roared and hurled towards Lakshmana, that unfailing spear, which was adorned with eight loudly clamouring bells, which had been designed by Maya the demon by dint of his conjuring trick, capable of destroying adversaries and blazing as it was with splendour. That spear, with a sound equal to Indra's thunder-bolt, hurled by the terribly swift Ravana, soon fell with speed on Lakshmana in the battle-front.
Rama repeatedly uttered to that spear even as it was rushing forth (on Lakshmana) as follows: "May it be well with Lakshmana! May you prove useless! May your effort be frustrated!" That spear, which was looking like a venomous serpent, released by the enraged Ravana in the battle, quickly penetrated the bosom of Lakshmana, who stood fearless.
That spear, like the tongue of Vasuki (the lord of serpents), blazing with a great dazzle, fell on the broad chest of Lakshmana, with enormous speed. Penetrated very deeply and pierced through his heart by the spear due to the force exerted by Ravana, Lakshmana fell to the ground.
Seeing Lakshmana in that state, Rama, of extraordinary splendour, who was stationed in the vicinity, became sorrowful at heart because of the love towards his brother. Rama, whose eyes were filled with tears, reflected just for a while and then was very much enraged, like fire at the time of dissolution of the world.
Becoming aware that it was not the time for feeling despondent, and looking at Lakshmana, Rama resumed that highly tumultuous battle with a great and whole-hearted endeavour, determined as he was to destroy Ravana.
Then, Rama saw Lakshmana, who was struck by the spear in that Great War, bathed as he was in blood and looking like a mountain with a snake (entering its centre). Even with an exertion to pull out that spear hurled by the mighty Ravana, those foremost of the monkeys could not those foremost of the monkeys could not do it because they were being tormented by Ravana the foremost of demons with a stream of his arrows.
Penetrating through Lakshmana's bosom, that spear touched the earth. Seizing hold of awful spear with his hands, the mighty Rama drew it out and getting enraged, broke it during the course of the battle. While Rama was drawing the spear out; arrow, which pierced his vital organs, were sunk by the mighty Ravana on all his limbs.
Ignoring those arrows and having embraced Lakshmana, Rama spoke to Hanuma and Sugreeva, the king of monkeys, as follows: "O the chiefs of monkeys! Remain just encompassing Lakshmana. Let this malicious Ravana of evil designs be killed. The time to manifest my prowess, which I have been wishing for long, has come, as for a chataka bird, the site of a cloud would come, as sought by it, at the end of a hot season. I take this vow in truth before you, at this moment, O monkeys, that without delay, you will see the world devoid of Ravana or Rama (myself)."
"I encountered with the loss of sovereignity, the dwelling in the forest, the wandering around in the woods of Dandaka and the rough treatment of Seetha by the demons. A great and terrible suffering has happened to me and an agony equivalent to hell. Now, by killing Ravana in battle, I will relieve myself of all that agony."
"That sinful demon, for whose sake, this army of monkeys has been brought by me, Sugreeva has been anointed on the throne after killing Vali and for whose sake the ocean has been crossed and a bridge built on it, has come within the range of my sight in the battle-field now."
"This Ravana, having come within the range of my vision, cannot survive, any more than the one who has come within the range of vision of a snake injecting deadly poison with its very glance or than a serpent who has come within the range of vision of Garuda, the king of birds and the enemy of serpents. O the foremost of the monkeys who are so difficult to conquer! Seated on the mountain-peaks, you witness at ease, this battle between myself and Ravana."
"Let the three worlds (viz. the earth, heaven and the intermediate region) including Gandharvas the celestial musicians, the gods, the sages and the celestial bards see today the Ramahood of Rama during the course of my battle. I shall perform today a feat, which people in the world including all living beings both mobile and immobile, as also gods, will ever narrate together, describing how the battle proceeded, as long as the earth is able to support those who occupy it."
Thus speaking, Rama with an attentive mind in the battle-field, struck Rama with sharp arrows, decked in pure gold. Thereupon, Ravana streamed forth blazing steel arrows and then clubs, as clouds would stream forth the rains. A tumultuous sound arose from the excellent arrows, released by Rama and Ravana, as they struck each other.
The arrows of Rama and Ravana, split asunder and scattered off, with their blazing points, fell from the space on to the surface of the earth. The loud sound, produced by the impact of the bow-string on the palms of those two heroes Rama and Ravana, which struck terror in all the living beings, was felt astonished by the audience.
Torn asunder by the streams of a multitude of arrows by the great-souled Rama, who was armed with a blazing bow, while coming in collusion with him, Ravana took to his heels out of fear, like a cloud when pushed by a tempest.
Thus, this is the 100th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 101
| Rama laments over the uncertain condition of Lakshmana. He calls Sushena, the monkey-physician. Sushena tests Lakshmana and says he is still alive. Sushena then requests Hanuma to go all the way to Himalayas and bring the required herbs to treat Lakshmana. Hanuma proceeds to Mount Mahodara and failing to identify the herbs there, carries the mountain-peak itself and brings it to Sushena. Lakshmana regains consciousness, after getting treated with that herb by Sushena. |
Seeing the valiant Lakshmana bathed in a stream of blood, when struck down in battle with a spear by the mighty Ravana and having given a tumultuous fight, to the evil-minded Ravana, Rama spoke as follows to Sushena, even while releasing a multitude of arrows (at Ravana):
"This heroic Lakshmana, falling down on earth yielding to Ravana's prowess, is wiggling like a serpent, causing an increase in grief to me. My energy to fight is failing, even as I see this valiant Lakshmana, who is dearer to me than life, bathed in blood, my mind being greatly disturbed. Of what use is life or happiness to me, if this illustrious brother of mine, who is endowed with auspicious bodily marks and who always speaks highly of war, meets with his death?"
"My valour is feeling shy, as it were. My bow seems to fall down from any hand. My arrows are dropping down. My vision has been overcome with tears. My limbs seem to sink down, like those of men in sleep. I have a serious tension, growing in me. I even wish to die. My brother has been struck down by the evil-minded Ravana, seriously wounded in his vital parts, afflicted with agony and glooming.”
Seeing his beloved brother, who was his very life-breath moving outside, Rama was afflicted with excessive agony and gave himself up to anxiety and grief. Seeing Lakshmana his brother lying wounded in the dust of the battle-field, he got into extreme despondency and lamented (as follows), confused in mind, as he was:
"O the valiant Lakshmana! Even victory cannot create a pleasure for me. What pleasure can the moon create for a man who has lost his vision? What purpose of mine will be served by fighting or eve by life? When this Lakshmana lies killed in the forefront of battle here, I have no use for the war. In the same way as the very glorious Lakshmana followed me When I was going to the forest, I too will in the same way follow him to the abode of Yama the lord of Death. The demons, who fight treacherously, created this condition to Lakshmana, who loved his relatives and who was ardently devoted forever to me. Wives may be obtained ever where. Relatives can be had everywhere. However, I do not find a brother, born of the same womb, at such a place whatsoever.”
The monkeys saw that Rama, thus lamenting with his mind reeling and distressed in grief and pitiably sighing his breath repeatedly:
"Of what use is the kingdom for me, without Lakshmana, who was difficult to over power? What can I tell to Sumitra, the mother who was so fond of her son? I shall not be able to bear the reproach, which will be levelled by Sumitra. What shall I pay to Kausalya the mother or what shall I say to Kaikeya? What shall I say to Bharata or to the mighty Shatrughna, when they ask me, how I came back without Lakshmana even though I went to the forest along with him? It is better to die at this place only, rather than hear the reproaches of one's own people. What sinful act was done by me in a previous birth due to which my righteous brother lies killed before me?”
"Alas! O the powerful brother, the best of men! O the foremost among the valiant men! Why are you going to the other world, deserting me? O brother! Why don't you talk to me, even though I am lamenting? Rise and see! Why are you lying down? See me, by opening your own eyes, miserable as I am. O the mighty armed! You have been indeed comforting me, whenever stricken with grief, I roamed listlessly among mountains and forests or felt low-spirited.”
Comforting Rama, whose mind was full of grief and who was thus lamenting, Sushena, for his part, addressed the following excellent words: "O the excellent among men! Give up this notion, which causes despondency in you, this anguish which gives rise to grief and is as piercing as arrows, in the forefront of battle. Lakshmana, the augmenter of prosperity, has not got into death. His countenance is not changed, nor has it become dark. His face may be seen with a good brightness and very much placid. The palms of his hands are resembling the petals of a lotus. His eyes too are very bright."
"O king! The appearance of the dead does not look like this. O hero, the annihilator of enemies! He is all with his life. Do not worry. The repeatedly beating heart with the signs of breath of Lakshmana, lying on the earth's surface, fast asleep, with his limbs relaxed are telling it, O the gallant prince!"
Having addressed the words thus to Rama, the highly learned Sushena spoke the following words to Hanuma the great monkey, who was standing nearby:
"Proceeding from this place with full speed, O gentle one!, to the mountain called Oushadhi (Mahodaya), which was already described to you previously by Jambavan, O brave one! Bring here for restoring the great-souled and heroic Lakshmana to consciousness, the precious herb Vishalyakarani (1) by name which was sprung up on its southern peak, Savarnakarnani (2), Samjivakarani(3) and the precious herb, Samdhanakarani (4)."
(1) Vishalyakarani: A herb credited with the virtue of expelling an arrow /other weapons from the body, healing the wound and relieving pain. (2) Savarnakarani: Another herb supposed to possess the property of counteracting the discolouration caused by a wound, burns etc. and restoring the original colour of the skin. (3) Samjivakarani: Another herb believed to possess the virtue of bringing back an unconscious person to consciousness. (4) Samdhani: A herb credited with the property of joining a fractured bone.
Hearing those words, Hanuma, having sprung to Mount Oushadhi, could not identify those precious herbs and became thoughtful. The following thought arose to that Hanuma, whose strength was unlimited: "I will go back, taking this mountain-peak itself. By conjecture, I understand that the delightful herb must have sprouted in this mountain-peak. Sushena indeed has said so. If I go without taking Vishalyakarani, harm may come through passage of time and a great perplexity may arise."
Thinking thus, the mighty Hanuma the excellent of monkeys, having gone quickly and approaching that excellent mountain, taking that mountain-peak with his arms, shaking it violently for three times and uprooting the mountain-peak, which was endowed with many trees in bloom, lifted it up, so mighty as he was.
Taking that mountain-peak, which looked like a dark rainy cloud, that Hanuman jumped up into the sky. Arriving with a great speed, Hanuma putting down the mountain-peak and resting for a while, spoke the following words to Sushena: "O the excellent of monkeys! I have brought the entire mountain-peak, as I could not identify those herbs."
Eulogizing Hanuma, who was thus narrating his trip, Sushena, the excellent of monkeys, pulling out the herbs, took hold off them. All those monkey-chiefs and even the gods were surprised to see that most difficult feat of Hanuma.
Then, crushing that herb, Sushena the excellent of monkeys, having a great splendour, administered it through Lakshmana's nose. Duly inhaling it well, that Lakshmana, the annihilator of adversaries, having the spear lodged in his body, raised quickly from the earth's surface rid as he was of the spear and his pain.
Seeing that Lakshmana risen from the ground, the monkeys were overjoyed and applauded Lakshmana, saying, "Excellent, excellent!".
Rama, the destroyer of enemies, said to Lakshmana, "come, come!" and embraced him firmly with affection, with his eyes clouded with tears.
After embracing Lakshmana, Rama then said to him: "Luckily, O valiant one, I see you here, returned from death. There is no purpose of mine, by me own life nor of Seetha nor of victory. If you have attained demise, tell me what significance is there for it to me?"
While the great souled Rama was speaking thus, the exhausted Lakshmana, in a feeble tone, spoke the following words: "Having solemnly taken that pledge (of killing Ravana) before, O brother true to your promise, you ought not to speak as you have done like a weak and courageless man. Those who speak the truth never render their promise futile. Fulfilling their pledge is the indeed the attribute of the greatness."
"O the faultless one! Getting into homelessness for my sake is not befitting of you. Fulfill your promise now, by killing Ravana. An enemy, who falls victim to your arrows, cannot turn out alive, as a huge elephant which gets into the path of a roaring lion possessing terrible tusks."
"I, for my part, wish to see the death of this evil-minded fellow instantly, even before this sun, having finished his task, does not sink below the horizon. O venerable hero! If you wish to kill Ravana in battle, if you wish to fulfill your promise and if you feel affectionate towards Seetha, do as I tell you soon and now."
Thus, this is the 101st chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 102
| The battle between Rama and Ravana starts. Indra sends a chariot, an armour, some arrows and a powerful spear. A tumultuous and thrilling battle ensues between Rama and Ravana. A spear hurled by Ravana is thwarted by a powerful spear (sent by Indra) of Rama. Then, Rama strikes Ravana's horses with arrows. He also pierces the chest region and the forehead of Ravana with his fierce arrows. Ravana gets severely hurt. |
Hearing those words of Lakshmana, that valiant Rama, the annihilator of his enemies, taking hold of his bow, fixed an arrow on the bow-string. In the forefront of battle, Rama released terrific arrows towards Ravana. Then, occupying another chariot, Ravana the king of demons rushed towards Rama, even as Rahu the seizer-demon rushes towards the sun.
Ravana for his part, standing in his chariot struck Rama with thunderbolt-like arrows, as a cloud strikes gushes of rain on a huge mountain. With an attentive mind, Rama showered golden decked arrows, looking like blazing flames of fire, on Ravana in the battle-field. The gods, celestial musicians and kinnaras the mythical beings thought that the battle was not equal between Rama standing on the ground and Ravana fighting from a chariot.
Hearing their nectar-like words, the illustrious Indra, the chief f celestials then called Matali and spoke as follows: "Go quickly with my chariot to Rama, who is standing on the earth. After reaching the earth, invite him to take his seat in the chariot and carry out a great service to the gods."
Hearing the words of Indra, Matali, the charioteer of Indra, offering salutation to him by bowing his head, spoke then the following words: "O Indra! Providing with green horses the excellent chariot, I will proceed then immediately and perform the duty of a charioteer to Rama.”
Then came the glorious and excellent chariot of Indra, having variegated body decked in gold, which was fitted with hundreds of tiny bells, with its pole of cat's eye gems shone like the morning sun, yoked to excellent green horses, having golden chaplets on their heads, having white whisks, covered with nets of gold, shining like the sun and bearing a flag-staff raised on a golden bamboo. Ascending the chariot, as enjoined by Indra and descending from paradise, Matali approached Rama.
Then Matali, the charioteer of Indra, along with a whip in his hand, stayed in the chariot itself and joining his palms in salutation, spoke the following words to Rama. "Indra has sent this chariot to you for your victory, O the mighty and the glorious Rama, the destroyer of adversaries! Here is the great bow belonging to Indra, an armour shining as fire, some arrows as bright as sun and a stainless auspicious spear. O heroic king! Mounting this chariot with me as a charioteer, kill Ravana the king, as earlier Indra the lord of celestials killed the demons."
Duly circumambulating that chariot (as a mark of respect) and offering his salutation, when thus spoken by Matali, Rama then ascended the chariot, causing the three worlds to shine forth with his splendour. Then ensued a tumultuous and thrilling battle, between the great armed Rama and Ravana, the demon.
That Rama, who was skilled in the use of great missiles, struck the missile presided over by Gandharvas and the missile presided over by gods, by means of missiles of the same type. Ravana, the king of demons was very much enraged and again released another extra-ordinarily terrific missile presided over by demons.
Those arrows, decked with gold, discharged from Ravana's bow, turning as they were into highly poisonous snakes and rolled towards Rama. With flaming mouths wide open and vomiting blazing fire, those dreadful snake-like arrows dashed towards Rama alone.
All the quarters stood covered by highly poisonous serpents, whose impact was as hard as that of Vasuki (the king of serpents), with the flaming coils. Even the corners between the quarters stood enveloped by them.
Seeing those serpents rushing towards him in the battle-field, Rama released the terrific and dangerous missile presided over by Garuda the eagle (an enemy of serpents). With golden shafts which shone like flames, discharged by Rama's bow turning into golden eagles (the enemies of serpents) those arrows flew all around.
Those arrows of Rama, which can assume any form at will, appeared in the form of eagles and destroyed all those arrows, which flew with a great speed in the form of snakes. Enraged on his missile having been frustrated by Rama, Ravana streamed forth terrific showers of arrows on Rama.
Tormenting Rama of unwearied action with thousand arrows, Ravana then pierced Matali with a multitude of arrows. Targeting with only one arrow, Ravana tore off the flag-staff. Striking down the golden flag-staff from the top of the chariot down to the seat of the chariot, Ravana struck even Indra's horses with a multitude of arrows.
Seeing Rama afflicted, the gods, Gandharvas the celestial musicians, Charanas the celestials bards along with the demons, as also Siddhas the demi-gods and the great sages felt dejected. Seeing the moon in the shape of Rama eclipsed by Rahu in the shape of Ravana, the monkey-chiefs too, along with Vibhishana, felt perturbed.
Seeing thus the moon in the shape of Rama eclipsed by the planet Rahu in the shape of Ravana, the planet Mercury stood, assailing the constellation Rohini presided over by the god Prajapati (the lord of creation), the beloved of the moon the heavenly body and spelling disaster to all created beings.
Blazing as it were in fury, the ocean rose high at that time, as though it was going to touch the sun, its mist-wreathed waves moving to-and-fro. The sun, looking ashy in colour assuming a piercing aspect, and its rays grown exhilarated, appeared in a headless trunk in its lap and united with a comet.
The planet Mars stood assailing in the sky, the constellation Vishakha, presided over by the gods Indra and Agni (the god of fire), which is adorned by the kings of Kosala.
That Ravana, having ten faces and twenty arms, holding a bow tightly in his hands, looked like Mount Mainaka. Being overwhelmed by Ravana the demon in the battle-front, Rama could not fit his arrows to his bow. The enraged Rama, knitting his eye-brows and with his eyes turned slightly blood-red, was provoked to fierce anger, as though he would burn out the demons.
Seeing the face of the sagacious Rama getting provoked of anger, all the living beings got frightened. The earth too began to tremble. The mountain, with lions, tigers and swaying trees, was trembled. Even the ocean, the lord of rivers, became agitated.
Dense clouds, emitting harsh sounds and assuming a stern aspect, roamed all over in the sky, thundering. Seeing the very much enraged Rama and also the terrific portents, all the living beings were frightened. Fear seized Ravana too.
Seated in their aerial cars, gods, Gandharvas the celestial musicians, great Nagas (semi divine beings having the face of a man and the tail of a serpent), the sages, demons, giants and those eagles remaining in the air, saw then the battle of two heroes, fighting steadily with various dreadful weapons and looking like the final dissolution of the world.
Getting rejoiced on observing that great battle, all the gods and demons who had come to witness the conflict at that time, responded: The demons who reached there cried out to Ravana, "Be victorious!". Those gods called to Rama saying again and again: "Be you victorious!".
In the meantime, that evil-minded Ravana, who caused enemies to cry, stroking with anger a great weapon wishing to strike Rama, took hold off with fury, a spike, which was powerful as a thunderbolt, which made a loud noise (when hurled at a target), capable of exterminating all enemies, resembling the mountain-peaks, which with its sharp points dreadful to conceive and to behold, resembling a smoke-crested mass of fire blazing at the end of the world-cycle, exceedingly furious, which was difficult to approach even for Death, which was unassailable, which was a terror for all beings, capable as it was of tearing and splitting them and blazing as it was.
That valiant Ravana, surrounded by warriors of demons in battle, was very much enraged and took hold of that spear at its middle. With blood-red eyes in anger, Ravana with his collossal body, duly raising the spear and bringing rejoice to his own army, roared terribly in battle.
The terrific noise made by Ravana then trembled the earth, the sky, the four quarters and the angles of the compass. By that roar of that evil-minded Ravana of a collossal body, all the living beings were frightened. The ocean too got agitated.
Taking hold of that large spear, that Ravana of great prowess, emitting a very loud roar, spoke the following harsh words to Rama: "Raised in fury by me, O Rama! This spear with the power of a thunder-bolt, will take away surely your life along with the life of your bother, your help-mate. Killing you with my strength now, I, who always commend war-fare, will make you level with the valiant demons, who have been killed in the battle-front."
"Wait, I will kill you with the spear now, O Rama!" Saying so, that demon hurled that spear. That spear, wreathed as it was in a circle of lightning, provided as it was with eight bells and making a loud noise, released from Ravana's hand, splashed, as it went into the sky.
Seeing that blazing spear of terrible appearance, the valiant Rama who was born in Raghu dynasty, having stretched his bow, released the arrows. With streams of arrows, Rama warded off that spear, which was rushing upon him, as with streams of water, Indra the lord of celestials warded off the fire shooting up at the time of dissolution of the world.
That large spear of Ravana consumed those arrows coming forth from Rama's bow, as fire would consume the moths. Seeing those arrows smashed by coming into contact with the spear and reduced to ashes even while positioned in the sky, Rama was seized with fury.
That Rama, the delight of Raghus, was quite enraged and took hold of that spear brought by Matali the charioteer, as desired by Indra the lord of celestials. That spear, lifted up by the powerful Rama, which was rendered resonated by the bells, began to blaze like a blazing meteor at the time of the dissolution of the world.
That spear, hurled by Rama, fell on that Ravana's spear. Torn down by Rama's spear, the large spear of Ravana fell on the ground, with its lustre extinguished. With terrific arrows of high speed, with their shafts made of reeds, going straight to their target, Rama pierced the exceedingly fleet horses of Ravana.
With his sharp arrows, Rama then pierced the chest-region of Ravana. He also struck, quite deliberately, the forehead of Ravana with three arrows. With all his limbs torn down by arrows and with blood flowing from his limbs, that Ravana in the midst of demons, shone like a blooming Ashoka tree in the midst of a multitude of trees. With his limbs severely injured by Rama's arrows and with his body bathed in blood, that Ravana felt exhausted in the middle of a multitude of demons and gave went to a violent anger at that time.
Thus, this is the 102nd chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 103
| A ferocious battle ensues between Rama and Ravana, hurling thousands of arrows on each other. Each one intercepts the other’s arrows. Rama speaks harsh words to Ravana for having carried away Seetha from Janasthana-forest to Lanka and vows that he will soon dispatch him surely to the world of Death. Rama then pours down streams of arrows on Ravana. Rama more vehemently torments Ravana with his sharp arrows and mystic missiles, till Ravana becomes helplessly weak and confused. Ravana’s charioteer carries away Ravana in the chariot, camly and slowly away from the battle-front. |
Tormented by Rama in fury, that Ravana then for his part, who was boasting of his fight, flew into a great rage. Raising his bow, his eyes blazing with anger, extremely enraged as he was with Rama in that great battle, the valiant Ravana of prowess continued to oppress, by covering Rama with thousands of streams of arrows, as a rainy cloud would fill a pond with thousands of arrow-like torrents from the sky.
Covered by a multitude of arrows discharged from Ravana’s bow in battle, Rama did not wince, like a large mountain which was unshakable. The valiant Rama stood interrupting the torrents of arrows with his own arrows in the battle-field and endured them as rays of the sun.
Then, the enraged Ravana of brisk hand, struck thousands of arrows into the breast of the great-souled Rama. Rama, bathed in blood in the battle-field, appeared like a very big Kimshuka tree with bloom in a forest. Enraged at the impact of the arrows, that Rama of very great splendour , took hold of arrows which shone like the sun at the time of dissolution of the world.
Both Rama and Ravana who were see each other at that time in the battle-field, which was shrouded in darkness by the arrows. Bursting into laughter, though filled with anger, the valiant Rama, the son of Dasaratha spoke the following harsh words to Ravana.
“O the worst of demons! Since you took away my helpless wife without my notice from Janasthana, hence you are not a person of prowess. Having taken away by force the miserable Seetha while she was staying in the forest away from me, you think: ‘I am a champion’.”
“Having done an act of cowardly persons of laying your hands on another’s wife, posing as a hero in relation to women without a protector, you think: “I am a champion’. O shameless person, who have broken the bounds of morality and are unstable of customs, having laid hold through vanity of death (in the form of Seetha) you think ‘I am a champion’.”
“Indeed a praiseworthy, great and glorious act has been performed by you, a valiant brother of Kubera, the god of wealth, rich in strength! Reap now and today the stupendous fruit of that noxious and contemptible act, perpetrated through sheer vanity. O evil-minded one! You think: ‘I am a champion’ yourself! Shame did not stand in your way at all, for having taken away Seetha like a thief.”
“If Seetha were laid hands upon by you in my presence, you would have surely seen your brother Khara at that very moment when killed with my arrows. Thank heaven, O stupid fellow, you have come within the range of my sight. I will dispatch you to the world of Death, by my sharp arrows, today. Let your head, having blazing ear-rings lying on the dust-laden battle-field, be carried away by beasts of prey, after being chopped off by my arrows today.”
“O Ravana! Let vultures fly down on your wounded breast when you have been thrown down on the ground and oozing out from the orifices caused by the impact of my pointed arrow-tips. Let birds (such as crows and vultures) tear out your bowels, as eagles would drag serpents when you fall down dead when pierced by my arrows today.”
Thus speaking, the valiant Rama, the annihilator of enemies, poured out streams of arrows on Ravana, who was in the vicinity. The prowess, the strength, the enthusiasm and the stamina of arms of Rama became two-fold, when he longed for the death of his enemy in battle. All kinds of mystic missiles came to light in the mind of Rama the learned self and in his excessive enthusiasm, Rama of extra-ordinary energy became all the more swift-handed.
Recognizing those good omens, Rama, the destroyer of demons, tormented Ravana even more vehemently. While being struck by volleys of stones hurled by the monkeys and the showers of arrows coming from Rama, Ravana felt bewildered at heart. Ravana could no longer take up weapons, nor stretch his bow, nor reacted to Rama’s prowess – on account of his mind being confused.
As the time of his death approached, the arrows swiftly hurled and the various kinds of missiles employed by Ravana did not turn to be of any use in battle. Seeing Ravana reduced to such a plight, the charioteer driving the chariot, for his part, without getting excited, calmly and slowly carried off his chariot away from the battle-front.
On seeing Ravana, the king sunk down; hopelessly bereft of energy, the charioteer diverting in haste the chariot of Ravana, which was rumbling like a cloud, thereupon sneaked away from the battle-field in dismay.
Thus, this is the 103rd chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 104
| Ravana reproached the charioteer for having turned back his chariot away from the battle-field. The charioteer explains to Ravana, the various reasons as to why he has taken back the chariot. Satisfied with the explanation given by his charioteer, Ravana instructs him to take the chariot back to the battle-field. Thereupon, the charioteer brings the chariot in an instant before Rama on the battle-field. |
Impelled by force of Destiny and with his red-blood eyes through anger due to infatuation, that Ravana spoke to his charioteer as follows: "O evil-minded fellow! Despising me as though I were bereft of manliness, incapable, deficient in prowess, cowardly, petty-minded, devoid of energy, bereft of brilliance, deserted of conjuring tricks and abandoned by mystic missiles, you are acting as per your discretion! Why have you carried away this chariot of mine, thus humiliating me in the presence of my enemies and overlooking my will?"
"O vulgar fellow! You have destroyed my fame which was earned through a long period, prowess, vital power and the trust of people today. While my adversary, having an illustrious prowess and making others delightful through feats of his valour, stood looking on, myself, who has an ardent desire for fighting and who was made contemptible by you!"
"O evil-minded fellow! In case you do not, by perversity, carry away this chariot at any event, this expectation of mine that you stand corrupted by the enemy, will be a fact. This act, which has been done by you, is only befitting of enemies. This is indeed not the work of a friend, who wishes me well. If you inhabited with me in Lanka for a long time and if you remember my merit, drive back the chariot swiftly till my enemy does not withdraw."
Hearing those harsh words of the foolish Ravana, the friendly-minded charioteer spoke the following conciliatory words of Ravana: "I was neither frightened nor I was stupid. I was not bribed by the enemies, nor was I a blunderer. I was not disloyal to you. I have not forgotten the benefits conferred by you. An act which was not to your taste was done by me as something conducive to your interest, by wishing well of you, for protecting your honour and with mind affectionately disposed towards you through attachment. O monarch! Like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy, you ought not to hold me, devoted as I am to your pleasure and good, guilty in this matter."
"O monarch! Like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy, you ought not to hold me, devoted as I am to your pleasure and good, guilty in this matter. I understand your exhaustion, due to your strenuous fighting in the great battle. I am not reflecting on the inclination of your valour or on your superiority over your enemy."
"The horses of my chariot were broken down and were exhausted by drawing the chariot. They became miserable and thoroughly fatigued, like the cows lashed by heavy rain. I am seeing inauspiciousness in all the portents, which appear to us in large numbers and duly examined by me. (Propitious and unpropitious) time and place, (good and bad) omens, facial as also the strength and weakness of the warrior occupying the chariot must be ascertained (by a charioteer)."
"The eminences and depressions of the ground as well as the parts which are level and rugged, the time appropriate for the combat and the visible weak points of the enemy must be known (by a charioteer). How to arrive and retreat, how to hold one's position and to recede all this must be known by a charioteer, seated in the chariot."
"This action appropriate was taken by me in order to give rest to you and to these horses of the chariot as also to relieve your terrible fatigue. O the valiant lord! This chariot was not removed by me arbitrarily. That which was done by me was because I was overwhelmed with affection for my master. O annihilator of enemies! O hero! Give me a command! I will do that which you will enjoin me to do, with due attention and with a mind which feels relieved of all that is due."
Satisfied with the explanation given by his charioteer and applauding him in many ways, Ravana who was avaricious of fighting, spoke the following words: "O charioteer! Take this chariot quickly towards Rama. Ravana does not turn back in battle, without killing his enemies."
Thus speaking Ravana the lord of demons was pleased and then presented a beautiful and excellent ornament for the hand to him. That charioteer, after hearing Ravana's instructions drove the chariot back to the battle-field. Impelled by Ravana's command, that charioteer thereupon quickly drove the horses forward. Then, that chariot of Ravana stood within a moment, before Rama's chariot on the battle-field.
Thus, this is the 104th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 105
| Sage Agastya advises Rama to recites the 'Aditya Hridaya', a collection of verses in praise of the sun-god, with a view to gaining victory. |
Approaching Rama standing absorbed in fight in the battle-field, exhausted as he was by the fight, and seeing Ravana who came nearby, facing him duly prepared for the battle, the glorious sage, Agastya, who had come together with the gods, to perceive the battle, then spoke as follows: "O Rama, the mighty armed! Hear the following eternal secret, by which you can conquer all the enemies in battle, my child! Worship the sun-god, the ruler of the worlds, who is crowned with the rays, who appears at the horizon, who is greeted by the gods and the demons alike, shines forth; covering up all other lights and brings light to the world. He is the embodiment of all gods, full of glory and the reflector of rays. He protects the multitude of gods and demons as well as their worlds by his rays."
"He is Brahma the creator, Vishnu the protector of the Universe, Lord Shiva the god of destruction, Skanda (son of Lord Shiva), Prajapati (the ten lords of created beings), Indra the ruler of gods, Kubera the bestower of riches, Kala the Time-spirit, Yama the god of retribution, Soma the moon-god and Varuna the ruler of the waters. The Pitrus (manes), the eight Vasus, the twelve Sadhyas, the two Ashvins the physicians of gods, the fortymine Maruts (wind-gods), Manu (a progenitor of the human race), Vayu the wind-god, the fire-god, the created beings, the life-breath of the universe, the source of the seasons and the store-house of light."
"An off-spring of Aditi, the progenitor of all, Surya the sun-god and the provocateur of acts in people, the courser in the sky, the nourisher of all with rain, the possessor of rays the golden, the brilliant, having golden seed whose energy constitutes the seed of the universe and the maker of the day. He has seven green horses, is thousand-rayed, full of rays, the destroyer of darkness, the source of happiness, maker of thinness, the infuser of life in the lifeless cosmic egg and radiant."
"He is a golden foetus, maker of coolness, creator of heat, the bringer of a day, the one who is eulogized by all, pregnant with fire, the son of Aditi, the one who pacifies himself in the evening and the destroyer of frost. He is the lord of the sky, the disperser of darkness, the master of the three Vedas (Viz. Rik, Sama and Yajur), the sender of thick rain, the friend of water and the on who courses swiftly in the path of the sky."
"He is the radiator of heat and adorned with a circle of rays. He is death himself, tawny of hue, a giver of warmth to all, omniscient, all-formed, endowed with extra-ordinary splendour, the one who has an affection in all and the source of all evolutes."
"He is the controller of all lunar mansions, planets and stars, the creator of all and the resplendent among the splendid. O god, appearing in twelve forms (in the shape of twelve months in a year), hail to you. Hail to you in the form of eastern mountain and hail to the western mountain. Hail to the lord of host of luminaries and hail to the lord of the day."
"Hail to you, the giver of victory, hail to you, the joy born of victory! Hail to you, the god with green horses, hail to you, having thousands of rays! Hail, hail to you the son of Aditi! Hail to you, the fierce one, hail to you the valiant one! Hail to you, the one with variegated colours! Hail to you, the awakener of the louts, hail to you, the furious one!"
"Hail to you, the ruler of Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu the infallible, the sun-god, the light indwelling the solar orb, the resplendent one, the devourer of all, appearing in form of Rudra. Hail to you, the dispeller of darkness, the destroyer of cold, the exterminator of foes, the one whose extent in immeasurable, the destroyer of the ungrateful, the god, who is the ruler of all lights."
"Hail to you, possessing the lustre of refined gold, the dispeller of ignorance, the architect of the universe, the uprooter of darkness, the splendour incarnate, the onlooker of the world!' This sun, the lord alone destroys and brings into existence all the brings. He radiates heat by his rays. He sends the rain."
"Planted in all created beings, he remains awake, when they have fallen asleep. He alone is the oblation to the fire-god and the fruit attained by those who pour such oblations. He comprises all the gods, as well as the scarifies as also the fruit of all sacrifices. He is a supremely competent one of all activities, which are found in all the worlds."
"O Rama! No individual glorifying this sun-god, in distresses in difficulties; in the woods or in times of peril, comes to grief. Worship this sun-god, the lord of the universe and the god of all gods with undivided attention. Muttering this praise three times, you will come out victorious in battles."
"You will be able to kill Ravana at this very moment, O mighty armed one!" Saying so, the sage, Agastya, thereupon, left as in the same way as he had come. Hearing this, Rama of extra ordinary energy, then became bereft of anguish. Feeling greatly delighted, Rama retained that hymn in his memory with a devoted mind.
Sipping the water thrice and getting purified looking intently on the orb of the sun and repeating this prayer, the valiant Rama obtained a great rejoice. Seizing hold of his bow and seeing Ravana, Rama felt delighted in mind and marched forward for the fight. He stood void to kill Ravana, with an intense and all-sided effort. Seeing Rama with a delighted mind, and becoming most exhilarated on foreseeing the death of Ravana, the sun-god, standing in the middle of a troop of celestials, exclaimed, "Hasten up."
Thus, this is the 105th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 106
| Seeing Ravana’s chariot coming, Rama asks Matali the charioteer to be on his guard. Bad omens prognosticating the fall of Ravana and good omens predicting the victory of Rama appeared in the scene of battle-field. |
Thrilling with rapture, that charioteer, the charioteer of Ravana, drove forward quickly, his chariot, a chariot, which was capable of attacking the army of enemies, a wonderful piece of art like Gandharva-city, an imaginary city in the sky, mounted with flags, yoked with horses of excellent quality adorned with golden necklaces, filled with war-implements, adorned with rows of flags and banners, which was devouring the sky as it were, making the earth resound, which was the destroyer of the army of adversaries and caused delight to its own.
Rama saw that Ravana’s chariot, which was coming speedily with a noise, bearing a large flag-staff, yoked with black horses, endowed with a terrific luster, blazing like an aerial car in the sky, with a luster of the sun, filled with lightning-like flags and with a beautiful appearance of a rain-bow.
Seeing that chariot, releasing streams of arrows, like a cloud releasing streams of rain, with a noise equal to that of a bursting mountain, struck with a diamond, Rama after stretching his bow in a crescent shape, spoke to Matali, Indra’s charioteer as follows: “O Matali! From the way in which the enemy is marching forward from left to right with a great speed in his chariot more, it appears that heart has been set by him upon destroying himself in the battle.”
“Therefore, take care and march forward, facing the chariot of the enemy I wish to destroy it, even as the wind would blow a cloud. Without fear and flurry and with a steady heart and vision, and the movement of the reins fully controlled, drive the chariot swiftly.”
“You need not be instructed by me, accustomed as you are to drive the chariot of Indra the lord of celestials. Keen as I am to fight with a close attention, I am just reminding you and not teaching you. Extremely gratified with those words of Rama, that Matali the excellent charioteer of gods drove on the chariot. Passing the huge chariot of Ravana on the right, the charioteer then set Ravana shaking, by the dust risen from the wheels of his own chariot.
The enraged Ravana then, with his coppery eyes wide open, trembled Rama, who stood facing his chariot, with arrows. Meeting fortitude with anger, though provoked with assault, Rama took hold of Indra’s bow, which was possessed of extra ordinary impulse in the battle-field.
He also seized hold of arrows of exceeding swiftness, which were shining like sun-beams. Then began that great battle between the two warriors (Rama and Ravana) who were desirous of killing each other, while facing each other like two proud lions.
Then, the gods along with the Gandharvas the celestial musicians, Siddhas the demigods and great sages, desirous of Ravana’s ruin, arrived to see the battle of both the chariot-warriors. Thereupon, terrific portents that caused one’s hair to stand on end, appeared giving an augury of doom to Ravana and prosperity to Rama.
The god of rains poured blood on Ravana’s chariot. Horrible winds blew from right to left, forming circles. A large flock of vultures, roaming about in the sky, was flying forward in the same direction in which Ravana’s chariot was going.
Lanka was overcast with dusk, resembling a (red) Japa flower. The land in Lanka, as also the day appeared as if they were blazing. Large meteors, along with lightnings fell with great noise. Those entities, inimical to Ravana, made demons to lament.
The earth on which Ravana was there, trembled. The arms of fighting demons looked as if they were clasped. Fallen before Ravana, the rays of the sun appeared coppery, yellow, white and dark, like mineral ores on a mountain. The she-jackals followed by vultures hastily uttered inauspicious howls, on beholding Ravana’s face as also vomiting fire from their mouths.
Scattering the dust upwards over the battle-field and clouding the vision of that Ravana, the wind blew in a direction inimicable to him. Even without the appearance of clouds, thunderbolts fell on his army on all sides, with a noise which was hard to endure.
All the quarters and intermediate points of the compass became covered with darkness and due to outpourings of dust, the sky became difficult to be seen. Hundreds of dreadful Sarika* birds, with their awful howls, terribly fighting there, fell down upon Ravana’s chariot.
*Sarika bird: zoological name: Turdus salica.
His horses discharged sparks of fire from their hips and loins as also tears from their eyes, releasing out fire and water at the same time continuously. Frightful portents in multitude thus sprang up, bringing danger and destruction to Ravana.
Pleasant and auspicious omens, depicting victory of Rama appeared on all sides, before Rama. Seeing the pleasant omens depicting his victory, Rama was very much pleased and considered Ravana as (already) dead. Then Rama, with the knowledge of all omens, having seen those portents in his own way in the battle-field, obtained rejoice as well as extreme happiness and shown enhanced prowess in combat.
Thus, this is the 106th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 107
| Loosing arrows at each other, Rama and Ravana perform a fierce battle. Ravana's flag-staff is thrown down by Rama's arrows. When Rama begins to cut off Ravana's head, another head starts to crop up in its place. The fierce encounter continues thus for seven days. |
Then ensued a fierce and a prolonged chariot-duel between Rama and Ravana, which was frightful to all the worlds. Then, the army of demons and the huge army of monkeys, stood motionless with their weapons held fast in their hands. Having their hearts captivated in seeing those two warriors, a human being and a demon, both in full strength engaged in a fight, all for their part experienced a great wonder.
Having their hands occupied with various kinds of weapons, all those warriors stood amazed in mind in beholding that duel. They did not go for war on each other. The demons beholding Ravana and the army of monkeys seeing Rama with their eyes in amazement appeared as though they were paintings.
Having made up their minds and being firm in their anger, those two warriors for their part, Rama and Ravana fought fearlessly, as it were, on seeing the portents in the battle. Rama, who was convinced that he was going to win and Ravana who was firmly persuaded that he would die, then demonstrated the entire wealth of their prowess in battle on that occasion.
Thereupon, the valiant Ravana, fitting his arrows with anger, released them, directing them towards the flag-staff fixed on Rama's chariot. Without even reaching the ensign on Indra's chariot and touching off the staff which supported the banner of the chariot, the arrows fell on the ground.
Thereafter, the valiant Rama too, in great anger, stretching his bow, proceeded with his mind, to return blow for blow. Rama released a sharp arrow, looking like a huge serpent and which was unbearable, as though blazing with its own splendour, directing towards Ravana's flag-staff.
As the brilliant Rama released the arrow towards the flag-staff, that arrow, tearing asunder Ravana's flag-staff, entered the earth. That standard, mounted on Ravana's chariot, having been torn off, fell on the ground. Seeing the thrown-down piece of his flag-staff, that mighty Ravana stood blazing as though he was laughing with intolerance. Flaming up with anger, he showered a stream of arrows afflicted as he was, with the power of wrath.
Ravana struck Rama's horses with blazing arrows. Those divine horses were neither shaken nor stumbled in the battle-field. They were indeed healthy at heart and felt as though they were just struck with lotus-stalks. Seeing those horses unstumbled, Ravana then was very much enraged and released showers of arrows.
He also hurled maces, iron bludgeons, discs, iron clubs, mountain-tops, trees, spikes and axes. Unwearied as he was in his heart and in effort, Ravana then employed streams of missiles as a creation of magic and also thousands of arrows.
In that battle, abundant rain of various missiles, which were tumultuous, generating fear, terrific and attended with a terrible echo, descended. Leaving alone Rama's chariot, Ravana released arrows on the army of monkeys on all sides, thus wholly covering the sky.
Ravana released arrows with a mind, which had given up all hope of survival. Seeing that Ravana, who was interested in the battle, putting forth his great effort, Rama fitted Sharp arrows to his bow, as though laughing and thereupon he loosed the arrows in hundreds and thousands.
Seeing those arrows, Ravana completely covered the sky with his own arrows. Due to that dazzling shower of arrows then employed by the two warriors, the shining sky looked like a second sky built with arrows. While Rama and Ravana were discharging the arrows thus in the battle0field, no arrow missed the target, no one failed to pierce the target and none had gone in vain. Colliding with each other, they fell on the ground.
Releasing the arrows left and right continually, they fought at each other. With their terrific arrows, they made the sky, bereft of even a breathing space. Rama struck Ravana's horses. Ravana struck Rama's horses. Both the warriors then struck at each other, doing anything before and after.
Those two extremely enraged warriors in this way, carried out are excellent combat. A tumultuous battle ensued for an hour or so, causing the hair to stand erect. The mighty Ravana and Rama carried out the fight well with sharp arrows in the battle-field. That Ravana at that time was very much enraged with Rama, as his flag-staff was thrown down.
All the created beings for their part gazed with an astonished mind on Rama and Ravana, who thus were fighting at each other in the battle-field. Furiously attacking each other in the battle-field, those excellent chariots of the two warriors ran towards each other.
Intent on destroying each other, those chariots, displaying various types of movements such as, moving in circles, moving straight and darting forward as also receding forthwith, originated from the capabilities of those charioteers, assumed a terrible aspect.
Rama wounding Ravana and Ravana too wounding Rama, both of them had recourse to speed in movement in their forward and backward motions. Those excellent chariots, casting streams of arrows, strolled in the battle-field, like two clouds pouring showers.
Showing various kinds of movement in the battle-field, those chariots then again stood facing each other. The shaft of the two chariots even as they stood at that moment, met one with the other shaft the muzzle of the horses met the one with the other and the flags met the one with the other flags.
Then Rama, with his four sharp arrows discharged from his bow, drove back the four splendid horses of Ravana. That Ravana, falling a prey to anger for retreating his horses, discharged sharp arrows on Rama. Rama, who was severely struck by the mighty Ravana, did not get upset nor was even tottered.
Directing towards Matali, Indra's charioteer, Ravana hurled arrows with a sound similar to that of a thunder-bolt. Arrows of great speed, fallen on Matali's body, did not cause even a pretty little of bewilderment or hurt on him in that battle.
Enraged at that daring attack on Matali, Rama who for his part did not feel provoked by the attack on himself, made his enemy turn away by hurling a net work of arrows on him. The valiant Rama discharged twenty, thirty, sixty and hundreds and thousands of arrows on the enemy's chariot.
Thereupon, even Ravana, the enraged king of demons, who was seated in the chariot, tormented Rama, by showering maces and mallets on him in the battle. The battle thus started again by then, was tumultuous, causing one's hair to stand erect. With the sounds of maces, mallets and iron rods and with the gusts raised by the plumes adorning the flying arrows, the seven agitated oceans felt disquieted.
Thousands of all the demons and serpents, inhabiting in the nethermost subterranean region of the agitated oceans, felt disturbed. The entire earth, including mountains, groves and forests trembled. The sun too became gloomy even the wind did not blow.
Then, the gods along with Gandharvas the celestial musicians, Siddhas the semi-divine beings, great sages and all including Kinnaras the mythical beings and great serpents became disquieted. At that time, those gods along with troops of sages, saying "May all be well with the cows and Brahmanas, May all the worlds endure forever, May Rama conquer Ravana!", saw a terrific battle between Rama and Ravana, which caused one's hair to stand on end.
Seeing that matchless struggle and observing that the sky is its own compeer and the ocean is its own analogue, the battle between Rama and Ravana can be likened only to the battle between Rama and Ravana, the hosts of Gandharvas the celestial musicians and Apsaras, the heavenly lymph’s, looked on that battle between Rama and Ravana.
Thereupon, the great-armed Rama who augmented the fame of the kings born in Raghu dynasty, stretching with anger, the serpent-like arrow with his bow, chopped off the glorious head of Ravana, which was graced with blazing ear-rings. Then, all the three worlds saw that head, fallen on the ground.
Another head, exactly similar to that head, cropped up on the shoulders of Ravana. That second head was again chopped off by Rama, possessing a swift hand and who was swift in his act. The second head of Ravana was cut off by arrows in that battle. Soon after that head was chopped off, it again rose into view.
Rama chopped off that head too with his arrows looking like thunderbolts. In the same manner, a hundred of Ravana's heads of equal splendour were chopped off by Rama. Yet, no certainty about Ravana's death could be seen. Thought equipped with many arrows and well-versed with all kinds of missiles, the valiant Rama, the augmentor of Kausalya's joy, then became thoughtful (said to himself as follows):
"What is the reason, these arrows by which Mareecha, Khara, Dushana, Kabandha in Kroucha-forest, and Viradha in Dandaka-forest were killed, by which seven Sala trees and the mountains were burst, by which Vali was killed and the ocean shaken up all these arrows which provided immediate succour to me in battle, have proved of little efficacy in the case of Ravana."
Thus absorbed in thought, Rama remained vigilant in the battle-field. He showered streams of arrows in Ravana's chest. Thereupon, even Ravana, the enraged king of demons, who was seated in his chariot, tormented Rama by showering maces and mallets on him in the combat.
That great tumultuous battle, which caused one's hair to stand on end, took place in the sky, on the ground and furthermore on the mountain. While the gods, the demons, Yakshas the super-natural beings, the devils, the serpents and the ogres were witnessing, that great battle occurred for seven days.
There was no respite in battle between Rama and Ravana, either in the might or in the day-time or for an hour or even for a instant. Not beholding the victory of Rama in the combat between Rama and Ravana that great-souled Matali, the charioteer of Indra quickly spoke the following words to Rama, who was still engaged in fighting.
Thus, this is the 107th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 108
| On the advice of Matali the charioteer, Rama employs on Ravana, a mystic missile presided over by Brahma. That arrow penetrates Ravana's heart and kills him. Ravana falls down dead from his chariot to the earth. |
Thereupon, Matali refreshed the memory of Rama as follows: "O the valiant one! Why are you still carrying out the battle with Ravana as though you are unaware (of how to dispose of him)? "O lord! You can employ a mystic missile presided over by Brahma the lord of creation. The time for his destruction has come now, as expressed by the celestials."
Then, the valiant Rama, who was reminded thus by Matali, took hold of a blazing arrow, which was given by Brahma and which in turn was given to him by the glorious sage, Agastya earlier in the battle-field and which looked like a hissing serpent. Having been made formerly for Indra, the lord of celestials by Brahma, the lord of creation of infinite strength, it was bestowed in the past on the ruler of gods, who was desirous of conquering the three worlds.
In its feathers, wind was established. In its end-point were the fire and the sun. In its heaviness were Mounts Meru and Mandara. Its shaft was made of ether. Provided with good shaft decked with gold, the arrow which had its body shining, had been made up of the efficacy of all the elements and an illuminating power of the sun.
Blazing like a fire at the time of universal dissolution enveloped in smoke and looking like a venomous snake, it was swift in action and capable of bursting hosts of men, elephants and horses. It broke gate-ways, iron bars, and even mountains. Smeared witht he blood of various victims and quoted with their marrow, it presented a very terrific appearance. That arrow had an efficacy of a thunder bolt, loud-sounding, tearing off armies of adversaries in many battles and creating fear to all, like a hissing serpent.
It was giving perennial feed to vultures, eagles, cranes, troops of jackals and demons in the battle-field, possessing a form of Yama the lord of Death and was fearful. That arrow bestowed joy on the monkey-leaders and destroyed the demons. It was made speedy, by tying various kinds of beautiful coloured feathers of Garuda, the king of eagles, to it.
Making it sacred by a special formula as per the procedure specified in scriptures, Rama who was endowed with an extraordinary strength then fixed that arrow which was the foremost among the three worlds, capable of removing the fear of Ikshwaku dynasty, taking away the glory of the enemies and bestowing joy to one's own self on his bow.
While that excellent arrow was being fixed by Rama, all the beings were frightened and the earth trembled. That enraged Rama, stretching his bow well and with an attentive mind, hurled that arrow which can tear off the vitals, towards Ravana. That arrow, which was inviolable as a thunderbolt hurled by the arms of Indra and irresistible as Yama the lord of Death, fell upon Ravana's chest.
That arrow, released with great speed and which was capable of destroying the body, tore off the heart of that evil-minded Ravana. That arrow, which was capable of causing death to the body, after taking away the life of Ravana and having been anointed with blood, penetrated the earth.
Smeared with blood on having killed Ravana and thereby accomplishing its mission, that arrow re-entered its own quiver (of Rama) silently. From the hands of the slain Ravana, who was being separated from his life, fell his bow with its arrows (fitted to it), at the same time coinciding indeed with his life-breath.
Having lost his life, that king of demons for his part, who was endowed with terrible swiftness and invested with great splendour, fell down from the chariot to the ground, like Vritra the demon when the latter was struck down by the thunderbolt.
Seeing Ravana fallen down on earth, the surviving demons whose king had been killed, were panic stricken and ran away to all sides. The monkeys, who fought with trees, fell upon the demons from all sides. Seeing the killing of Rvana, the monkeys assumed a triumphant appearance.
Tormented by the monkeys, the demons rushed back with panic towards Lanka, with faces looking miserable and tears flowing down, their supporter having been killed. Roaring shouts of joy, quite rejoiced as they were, and proclaiming Rama's victory and the killing of Ravana in his hands, the monkeys behaved like conquerors.
Then the cheerful kettle-drum of the gods reverberated in the sky. Very pleasant winds, carrying divine odour, blew there. Pouring over the chariot of Rama quite fascinating shower of flowers, which was difficult to be accomplished (elsewhere), fell from the heavens to the earth on that occasion.
Excellent pronouncements of the great-souled gods saying "well done! Bravo!", combined with a panegyric in praise of Rama, was distinctly heard in the sky. When Ravana, the cruel demon and the terror of all the worlds, was killed, a great rejoice filled the hearts of gods and charanas the celestial bards.
Having been pleased with the killing of Ravana, Rama then fulfilled the desire of Sugreeva, Angada and Vibhishana. Then, troops of celestials got their mental peace. All the quarters were brightened up and the sky became clear. The earth did not tremble. The wind blew gently. The sun too shed a steady light.
Rejoiced with the victory in battle, Sugreeva, Vibhishana and Angada together with Lakshmana along with their friends paid their respects with due ceremony to Rama, who looked charming. That Rama, the delight of Dasaratha, for his part, who had just killed his enemy and thus who was steadfast in his vows and who was endowed with a great splendour, who stood surrounded on the battle-field by his own people and the army shone like Indra the lord of celestials.
Thus, this is the 108th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 109
| Vibhishana laments a lot, after seeing Ravana lying dead on the battle-field. Rama comforts him, saying that a warrior killed in battle, need not be mourned. Vibhishana describes the personality of Ravana and his qualities to Rama and seeks permission of Rama to perform funeral rites to Ravana. Rama directs Vibhishana to perform the obsequies to Ravana, his deceased brother. |
Seeing his brother lying down dead after defeat in battle, Vibhishana lamented, with his mind filled with an outburst of sorrow: "Why are you lying killed on the ground, though you are highly worthy of turning towards lofty beds, O hero! The valiant one, the celebrated one, prudent in polity? Having thrown about your two long arms which though decked with armlets, are now motionless and with your diadem brilliant as the sun, knocked down; why are you lying killed on the ground?"
"O the valiant brother! That which was told by me earlier and that which was not liked by you, as you were overcome with sensuality and infatuation; that very fate has been obtained by you. For that which, because of arrogance, neither Prahasta nor Indrajit and others, nor Kumbhakarna nor Atiratha nor Narantaka nor you yourself has agreed to my counsel, the consequence of it has come now."
"As this hero, the foremost of those who wield the weapons, has fallen on the ground, the established rule of well-conducted persons has gone. The incarnation of virtue has departed. The epitome of strength has gone. The refuge of eulogies has gone out of sight. The sun has fallen to the earth. The moon has merged in darkness. Fire has extinguished its flames and a strenuous effort has become inactive."
"What is remaining in this world now, while Ravana the foremost of demons, is at present lying fast asleep in the dust? With firmness for its shoot, endurance for its excellent blossom, asceticism for its strength, and valour for its firm root, the large tree in the shape of Ravana has been crushed in the battle-field, by the tempest in the shape of Rama."
"With sharpness for its tusks, the line of ancestors for its back-bone, anger for its lower parts and graciousness for its proboscis, the elephant in rut in the shape of Ravana is lying asleep on the ground, its body having been overthrown by a lion in the shape of Rama. With prowess and power for its expanded flames, sighs for its smoke and his native strength for its glowing heat, the blazing fire in the shape of Ravana the demon has been extinguished in the battle-field by the rainy cloud in the shape of Rama."
"With the demons for its tail; hump and horn and fickleness for its ears and eyes, the bull in the shape of Ravana the demon, the conqueror of its enemies, which vied with the wind in energy, is lying dead, struck down by a tiger in the shape of Rama, the ruler of the earth."
To Vibhishana, who was thus speaking; enveloped in sorrow, Rama spoke the following words, full of reason and which revealed his determined view of the matter. "Ravana did not die in battle, without making an effort. He has fallen in combat, eventhough he was endowed with terrible prowess and exhibited extra ordinary enthusiasm of a very exalted type and remained confident throughout."
"There is no occasion to grieve for him having fallen into death in the battle-field and by whom the development of his country was wished for, while remaining steadfast in the duty of Kshatriya the warrior. There is no occasion to grieve for his having been brought under the sway of death by whom intelligent as he was, all the three worlds including Indra were frightened."
"In the past, none has ever been exclusively victorious in a combat. A hero either has been killed by his adversaries or had killed the enemies in battle. Such is the destiny proclaimed by the ancients, as highly esteemed for a warrior. A warrior killed in battle, does not deserve to be mourned. Such is the ascertainment of the sacred scriptures."
"Therefore, seeing this ascertainment, understanding the true principle, and free from grief, think here of what duty that deserves to be performed.”
To that valiant prince (Rama) by whom the aforesaid words were spoken, Vibhishana, who was tormented with grief, spoke (as follows) about the suitable action to be done next in relation to his brother. "The demon, who had never been conquered before in battles, by even all the gods combined or by Indra himself, has been conquered, on confronting you in the battle-field, as the sea breaks up, on reaching the shore."
"By him, gifts were endowed to mendicants. Pleasures too were enjoyed. The king's servants were fully maintained. Riches were made over to friends. Grudges against enemies were revenged. He maintained a perpetually sacred fire. He practiced great religious austerities. He completely mastered Vedas, the sacred scriptures. He was highly proficient even in the ritual acts. I desire to do, with you graciousness, that which is to be performed to him, who has departed to the other world."
Thus getting the personality of Ravana well-acquainted by Vibhishana by his compassionate words, Rama possessing unimpaired goodness, directed Vibhishana to perform funeral rites, which were intended to lead the departed soul to heaven: "Hostilities end with death. Our purpose has been accomplished. Let his funeral rites be performed. He is even as good mine, as yours."
Thus, this is the 109th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 110
| All the consorts of Ravana lament, recollecting the valour of Ravana and with a stunning surprise of how he has been killed by an ordinary mortal. They feel sorry that, had Seetha been restored by Ravana to Rama, this major disaster would not have befallen them. |
Seeing Ravana killed by the great-souled Rama, the female-demons were stricken with grief and rushed out from their gynaecium. Even though impeded now and then by their maid servants, they were rolling in the dust of the streets, with their hair dishevelled, tormented as they were with grief like cows that had lost their calf.
Issuing out of the northern gate along with demons and penetrating into the terrific battle-field, searching for their husband, who had been killed and crying out, "Ah my lord! Ah my husband!" They all ran hither and thither on the ground which was covered with headless trunks and rendered muddy with blood."
Those women, who were overcome with grief about the death of their husband, having their eyes filled with tears, loudly lamented like female-elephants who had lost the leader of their herd. Those women saw the gigantic Ravana, who was endowed with a great strength and invested with a great splendour, lying killed on the ground, like a heap of black collyrium.
Suddenly seeing their husband lying in dust of the battle-field, those women fell down on his limbs, like uprooted wild creepers. A woman wept, embracing him out of great regard, another woman clinging to his feet and another, catching hold of his neck.
A woman rolled over the ground, with her arms thrown up. On seeing the face of her deceased husband, another woman fell into a swoon. Keeping Ravana's head in her lap, a woman, looking at his face, wept moistening that face with her tears, as dew drops moisten a lotus-flower.
"That Ravana, by whom Indra was thrown into fear, Yama was struck with terror, by whom Kubera the king was deprived of Pushpaka the aerial car, and by whom fear was caused on the battle-field in the Gandharva the celestial musicians, in the sages and the great-souled gods, lies killed in the battle-field. This danger has come from a mortal to him, who did not conceive any fear from the demons or the gods or even the serpents for that matter! Here lies killed in battle, by a pedestrian man coming from Ayodhya, that Ravana, who was incapable of being killed by gods and even so by devils and demons too. He who could not be killed by gods, Yakshas and demons alike, could be killed by a mortal like one devoid of strength."
Thus uttering, those women of Ravana, wailing as aforesaid, burst into tears. They once more and repeatedly lamented, stricken, as they were, with grief (as follows):
"For your own death, Seetha was borne away by you, who did not listen to your near and dear ones, who always offered friendly counsel to you. The demons were struck down. Here, stand we (your consorts) as well as your own self, struck down now. Though tendering salutary advice to you, Vibhishana your beloved brother, was harshly scolded through ignorance by you, who sought your own destruction."
"If you had restored Seetha a princess of Mithila to Rama, this appallingly terrific disaster, which has robbed us of every root, would not have befallen us. If you had restored Seetha to Rama, Vibhishana your brother would have had his desire fulfilled. Rama would have been in the company of our allies. All of us would have been spared the curse of widowhood and our enemies would not have realized their ambition."
"By you, however, who forcefully captivated Seetha cruelly, the demons, we (your consorts) and your own self all the three have been destroyed all at once. O the excellent demon! Your act of following your own free will, may not be the reason for your destruction, either for, all is being run by a divine power, struck and ruined by the divine power. This destruction of the monkeys, your demons as also yourself, in the battle, has happened at the juncture of the Providence (alone), O the great armed! The course of destiny, when ready to bear fruit, cannot be diverted either by money, or by wish, or by valour or even by command in this world."
Those consorts of Ravana, depressed as they were and afflicted with grief, with their eyes full of tears, thus lamented like female ospreys.
Thus, this is the 110th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 111
| Mandodari stares at the dead body of Ravana and laments, recollecting the strength and power of Ravana. But, she realizes that Rama, who killed Ravana, is none other than Vishnu the lord of maintenance of the world. She further laments that Ravana has done a sinful deed in abducting Seetha and that he has faced the consequence in the form of his death; in the hands of Rama. She describes the charming personality and the unconquerable prowess of Ravana, but expresses her surprise how he has been killed by a mortal like Rama. Mandodari's co-wives console her. Meanwhile, Rama asks Vibhishana to perform obsequies to Ravana. Initially, Vibhishana refuses to perform the last rites, but when Rama convinces him, he begins to perform the funeral of Ravana. After the funeral is over, Vibhishana comes and joins Rama, who along with Lakshmana, Sugreeva and others experience happiness for having destroyed their enemy. |
While those consorts were weeping on that occasion, Mandodari, the senior most and beloved wife of Ravana, who was feeling miserable, stared at her husband.
Gazing at Ravana, her husband who was killed by Rama of unimaginable exploits, Mandodari there, miserably lamented (as follows): "O the great armed, the brother of Kubera! Even Indra the destroyer of strongholds, indeed dares not to stand before you, when you were enraged. Because of fear from you, eminent sages, illustrious Gandharvas the celestial musicians and the wandering bards indeed fled in all directions."
"O the lord of demons! O king! How is it that you are not ashamed, though you were conquered in battle, by Rama, a mere mortal? How did a mortal, wandering in a forest, killed you, who having overcome the three worlds by dint of your prowess, had grown irresistible and were endowed with glory?"
"It is not possible of annihilation of yourself, who lived in a place not accessible to men and was able to assume any form at your will, by Rama in battle. I do not believe this act of Rama in the battle-front, nor do I believe of the attack by him, on your army, fully equipped with all the implements of war."
"The moment your brother Khara was killed by Rama in Janasthana, though surrounded by a multitude of demons, it became evident that Rama was really no mortal. We felt painful, the moment Hanuma penetrated, by dint of his prowess, deep into the City of Lanka, which was difficult to be entered even for gods."
"The day when the terrific monkeys built a bridge on the great ocean, that day itself I believed that Rama was not an ordinary mortal. Otherwise, for your destruction, Yama, the lord of Death came himself assuming the form of Rama having arranged an unimaginable form of illusion."
"O the mighty lord! Otherwise, you might have been overpowered by Indra the lord of celestials. But for Indra, where is the capacity even to behold you in battle? This Rama is certainly a great ascetic, an eternal person, having no beginning middle or end, greater than distinguished universal spirit like Brahma, the one beyond ignorance, the nourisher, wielding a conch, a disc and a mace, wearing the 'Srivatsa' mark on his chest, of lasting beauty, incapable of being conquered, a perpetual one, being the constant soul of the universe, truly mighty, the lord of all the worlds, the prosperous one having a great splendour and Vishnu, the lord of maintenance of the world with a wish to benefit the worlds, assuming a human form surrounded by all the gods in the form of monkeys, Rama killed you, surrounded by demons.
"In the past, by performing a great penance, you conquered the senses and conquered the three worlds. Now, as if revenging that enmity, those very senses conquered you. The moment your brother Khara was killed by Rama in Janasthana, though surrounded by a multitude of demons, it became evident that Rama was really no mortal. We felt perturbed, the moment Hanuma penetrated, by dint of his prowess, deeply into the City of Lanka, which was difficult to be entered even for gods. This evil result has come upon you, since you did not heed to my advice, saying that no hostility should be entered into with Rama."
"O the foremost of demons! For the annihilation of your power, your body and your own people, you conceived a desire for Seetha suddenly. O the foolish one! An unworthy act was indeed done by you, in offending Seetha, who was more distinguished and more respectable than Arundhati (wife of sage Vasishta) and Rohini (the principal spouse of moon-god)."
"O my lord, who annihilated yourself and your people! Seetha is the model of forbearance even to the Goddess Earth and a model of grace to Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and charm. She is extremely fond of her husband. By a recourse to a fraud in bringing that Seetha in a lonely forest, faultless in every limb as she was, and charming though miserable, and having failed to fulfill your desire for union with Seetha and due to your own fault you have been surely consumed by the asceticism of that woman, devoted as she was to her husband."
"It is because, the gods together with Indra the ruler of gods including those headed by the fire-god fear you, that you were not consumed even while you were laying hands on Seetha, the slender-waisted woman."
"There is no doubt that when the time comes, the doer surely reaps a harsh fruit of his sinful deed. The doer of an auspicious act obtains happiness, while the doer of a sinful act reaps misery. While Vibhishana has obtained happiness, you met with such an evil destiny."
"There are other women, more excellent in form than Seetha for you in your gynaecium. Having fallen a prey to the power of passion, you did not know it through ignorance. Seetha is no match for me either in birth or in beauty or in amiability. You did not perceive this through infatuation."
"At any time, there is no causeless death for any living being. As for you, this Seetha has become a cause. Death which was brought about on account of Seetha was invited by you from a far-off distance. Free from sorrow, Seetha will now be enjoying herself with Rama."
"I, however, whose stock of merit was deficient, have fallen into a terrific ocean of grief. I, who having enjoyed myself with you in suitable aerial cars in Mount Kailasa, mount Mandara, Mount Meru and in a grove named Chaitraratha and in all celestial gardens, decked as was with lovely garlands and clad in colorful robes and invested in matchless splendour, visiting and seeing various lands of every description have now been deprived of all sense- enjoyments because of your death. Though the same, I stand transformed into another as it were. Woe be to the flickering fortunes of kings!"
"Alas, O king! That face of yours which was so tender, O lord, and distinguished by charming eye-brows, a gloss surface, having an exceptionally prominent nose, coppery lips and brilliant ear-rings, which vied with the moon the lotus and the sun in loveliness, light and luster, was illumined by a number of diadems, which shone with its eyes wild and rolling through inebriety in banqueting places, bore garlands of various kinds, was lovely and charming in every way, was lit with a captivating smile and indulged in a delightful talk - that face of yours does not actually shine as before today pierced with Rama’s arrows, it lies dyed with streams of blood. It has its marrow shattered and has got soiled through the dust raised by the chariots."
"Alas! The last stage of my life, which conferred widow ship on me, has come and which was never contemplated me at any time; a stupid woman as I am. I was very much proud that my father was king of demons, my husband a lord of demons and my son, a conqueror of Indra the lord of celestials."
"I had a firm conviction that my guardians were capable of crushing their arrogant adversaries, heroes as they were, renowned for their might and valour, and as such had no fear from any quarter."
"How did this unknown danger come from a mortal to you, who were so powerful? O king! The body of yours which was really dark as glossy sapphire, gigantic like a lofty mountain and resplendent with Keyuras and Angadas (two varieties of armlets) and necklace of cat's eye-gems and pearls and wreaths of flowers, which body looked more charming during your pleasure-walks and dazzling in battle-fields, which shone with luster of jewels as a rainy cloud with flashes of lightning lies transfixed in numerous sharp arrows today. Though it will be difficult for me to touch it again, it is no longer possible to embrace it. It has tendons cut to pieces, by arrows of Rama, dug deep into your vital parts and closely transfixed like the spines of a porcupine. Though dark of complexion, it is now transformed into the colour of blood and lies fallen on the ground like a mountain broken into pieces when hit by a stroke of thunder-bolt."
“Alas! Is it a dream? Is it the reality? But, how could you be killed by Rama? You were the death, even to Death himself. How did you depart from this world, falling under the sway of Death? My husband enjoyed the wealth of all the three worlds. He gave tremendous fear to the three worlds. He conquered the guardians of the worlds and lifted up Lord Shiva (along with his seat, Mount Kailasa).”
“My husband held down those who were arrogant. He manifested his prowess and shook up the worlds. He caused the living beings to weep, with his roars. He used to utter arrogant words with vigour in the presence of his enemies. He was the protector for his troop and his servants. He was the killer of those who indulged in terrible acts.”
“He was the killer of the lords of demons and Yakshas the super natural beings in thousands. He was drawing to himself, the demons called Nivatakavachas, in battles. My husband ruined several sacrificial performances. He was the protector of his own people. He violated the moral order. He violated the moral order. He created conjuring tricks on the battle-field.”
“He used to bring the virgin-daughters of gods, demons and human beings from here and there. He brought mourning to his enemy’s wives. He was the leader of his own people. He was the protector of the island of Lanka. He was the doer of terrible deeds. He was the bestower of desires and sensual gratifications to us. He was excellent among the chariot-warriors.”
“Seeing my husband with such power struck down by Rama, I, having my husband killed, am hard-hearted indeed, still bearing this body. Having reposed on very valuable coaches, O the king of demons, why are you lying buried in sleep slumber on the bare ground and shrouded in dust?"
“When Indrajit, your son was killed in battle by Lakshmana, I was hard-hit then and today, of course, I am completely beaten down. Bereft of kinsfolk and forsaken by you, my lord, and deprived of desires and sensual enjoyments, I shall lament for ever more years.”
“O king! Having embarked today on a long journey, which is very difficult to be traversed, take me too with you, tormented as I am with grief. I shall not survive without you. Why do you intend to go, leaving me here, miserable as I am? Why do you not speak to me, a sad and lamenting creature, and unfortunate as I am?”
“O Lord! Are you not indeed enraged, in seeing me on foot in this way out through the city-gate, unveiled and come on foot in the way? O lover of your consorts! Look at all your spouses, who came out, with their veils dropped off. Why are you not getting enraged in seeing this?”
“This Mandodari, who was helping in your sport with you, is weeping with helplessness. You are not consoling her. Do you not have a high esteem of her? You have fallen under the sway of your enemies in that you were cursed by the numerous women of noble lineage, who, though devoted to their husband, fond of piety and intent on the service of their elders, had been widowed by you, O king, and were accordingly tormented with grief. That curse which was pronounced at that time by those aggrieved women on their having been wronged by you, has fallen on you.”
“The popular saying that ‘the tears of virtuous wives d not generally fall on the ground in vain’ has come out probably true in your case O king! How was this mean act of abducting a lady, done by you, who having invaded the three worlds, were proud f your prowess?”
“It was indeed a mark of your cowardice that Rama’s consort was borne away by you, after luring away Rama from his hermitage in the pretext of deer. I do not recall your faint-heartedness at any time on the battle-field. That case of abduction of Seetha, however, was due to your ill-luck and certainly as the result of your sins.”
"O the mighty armed one! Whatever my younger brother-in-law, Vibhishana who knows matters relating to the pat and of the future and also conversant with the present said after reflecting and sighing for long, on seeing Seetha abducted by you: 'The destruction of the chiefs among the demons now is imminent, have become true words. This misfortune had come from the lust, wrath and addiction to the vice of deep attachment."
"This major disaster occurred, destroying our very root, because of you. This entire race of demons has been deprived of its protector, by you. You, who were far illustrious for your strength and prowess, do not deserve to be lamented for by me. But, because of feminine nature, my mind is leaning towards melancholy."
"By taking away your merit and sin, you obtained your course of fate. I, however, mourn for my own self, so afflicted as I am, by your death. O Ravana! You did not hear the advice of your friends, who wish for your welfare. Nor did you hear the words of your brothers completely."
"The counsel offered by Vibhishana, which was endowed with reason, meaning, rule of conduct, wholesome, gentle and well-founded, was not implemented by you. The advices offered by Mareecha, Kumbhakarna, myself and my father have not been heeded by you, who were arrogant of your prowess. What is followed is a bitter consequence of your perversity."
"My lord, resembling a dark cloud in hue, clad in yellow and decked with brilliant armlets, why are you lying with your limbs, cast away on the ground and bathed in blood? As though fast asleep, why are you not replying to me, the granddaughter of Somali the demon who was clever, endowed with extraordinary prowess and never retreated in battles, tormented with grief as I am?"
"Arise, arise! Why are you lying down, though subjected to a fresh insult? The sun's rays have penetrated deep into Lanka today, without any fear. Torn into thousand pieces, that iron bludgeon of yours, which was brilliant as the sun, like a thunderbolt of Indra, with which you killed your enemies in the battle-field, which was constantly honoured by you, which had struck many in battle and which was decked with gold, lies scattered."
Why are you lying down, embracing the battle-ground, as one would embrace a loved one? Why do you not feel inclined to reply to me, as though I were abhorrent to you? Woe be to me, that my heart is not bursting into pieces, tormented as I am with grief, now that you have returned to the five elements.”
Lamenting thus, with her eyes filled with tears and her heart moistened with love, Mandodari, at that time, fell into a swoon. Fallen on the breast of Ravana, that dispirited Mandodari, stricken as she was with grief, shone like a vivid flash of lightning across a rainy cloud, reddened by the flow of twilight.
Raising up Mandodari, who was in that condition bitterly weeping, her co-wives who were also weeping, very much distressed as they were, began to console her (as follows): "Don't you know the uncertain state of the worlds, O queen, that the wealth of kings is unsteady, when there is a change in the tide of their fate? While they were consoling thus, Mandodari, moistening her breasts and her spotless face in tears, wept aloud at that moment.
In the meanwhile, Rama spoke to Vibhishana as follows: "Let the obsequies of your brother be performed and let these crews of women be consoled.”
Reflecting with his intellect, the intelligent Vibhishana, the knower of virtue, thereupon, spoke to Rama, the following words, which were in conformity with righteousness and self-interest. "I am not obliged to perform the obsequies to him, who had abandoned the vow of virtue, who was cruel, who killed human beings, who was a cheater and who had longed for others' wives. This Ravana, who was interested in wishing evil to all, though venerable as a respectable elder, is not fit for honour. He is my enemy, in the guise of a brother."
"If I do not perform obsequies, O Rama, the human beings on earth will speak about me as ruthless. But, on hearing about his bad qualities all of them will speak of it as a good act.”
Hearing those words, Rama the best among the supporters of virtue and skilled in speech, was very much pleased and spoke the following words to Vibhishana, the intelligent one in his speech. "O king of demons! I too have to do a favour to you. I won the battle because of you. Certainly I have to give you an appropriate advice. This demon may be full of unrighteousness and falsehood. But, he was brilliant, strong and ever a brave warrior in battles."
"It is heard that Ravana who was mighty, endowed with strength and who was causing people to cry, was not conquered by the chiefs like Indra and others. Hostilities end with death. Our purpose has been accomplished. Let his funeral rites be performed. He is even as good mine also, as yours. According to rule, Ravana is eligible to get the last rites on his dead body from you, by usage. You will also become fit for glory."
Having heard the words of Rama, Vibhishana in haste began to do obsequies to Ravana, his dead brother. Entering the City of Lanka, that Vibhishana, the lord of demons, quickly concluded the Agnihotra (the act of pouring oblations into the sacred fire) carried on by Ravana.
Vibhishana actually caused to be brought together, carts, excellent varieties of firewood, the three sacred fires and the priests required to officiate at the obsequies, logs of sandalwood, various types of firewood, pieces of fragrant aloe-wood, odorous perfumes, as well as gems, pearls and corals.
Surrounded with demons, he came back for a while and thereupon, Vibhishana along with malyavan (the father of his own mother) initiated the obsequies. Placing Ravana, the lord of demons, who was covered with linen, accompanied by blasts of various musical instruments as well as panegyrists singing his the Brahmanas (forming part of the demon's race, which was apparently divided into four classes, like human beings) stood around him with their faces filled in tears. Lifting up that palanquin, which had been decorated with colorful flags and flowers and taking up blocks of wood, all the demons for their part, with Vibhishana in front, proceeded with their face turned towards the south.
Those sacrificial fires were ignited and re-animated, as they were, by Adhvaryu priests, the performers of the sacrificial act, at that time. Those sacrificial fires were contained in earthen pots and went in front of Ravana's body. All those women of the gynaecium, while weeping, followed at his heels with quick paces, stumbling, as they were, on all sides.
Keeping the body of Ravana on a consecrated spot, Vibhishana and others, who were very much afflicted with grief, piled up a sacred pyre, with logs of sandalwood, moistened with perfumes called Padmaka and Koshira and covered with the skin of black antelopes, turned about to perform the obsequies in accordance with Vedic rites in honour of the king.
They performed the ancestral oblations to Ravana in a superb way. They constructed an altar in the south-east the funeral pile) and placed the sacred fire in its proper place. They poured a ladle-full of ghee mixed with curds on his shoulders, placed a cart at his feet and then a wooden mortar at his thighs.
Having set at their proper place, all the wooden vessels (used in Agnihotra), the lower piece of wood used for kindling fire at a sacrifice and the upper piece of wood (which is rotated at great speed on to lower one, to produce fire by friction), the wooden pestle and other things used in the sacrifice, they circled around the funeral pyre.
According to ordinance laid down by eminent sages and according to the rules viewed in Vedas, having sacrificed a goat fit for sacrifice at that spot, the demons dampened with ghee on Ravana the King of demons. Having decorated the body of Ravana with perfumes, garlands and various kinds of clothes; those demons accompanied by Vibhishana, distressed as they were in their minds, poured parched grains of rice, with their faces bathed in tears.
That Vibhishana set fire to Ravana, according to the rules in the scriptures. Washing himself and offering in his wet clothes, according to scriptural ordinance, sesame seeds mixed with water, as well as blades of Kusha grass and offering obeisance to Ravana by bowing his head, Vibhishana entreated those women to return, consoling them again and again. Then, all of the returned to the City.
When those women were re-entering the City, Vibhishana the lord of demons on approaching Rama's vicinity then remained standing there with humility. Having destroyed the enemy, Rama too experienced happiness, along with his army as well as with Sugreeva and Lakshmana, even as Indra the wielder of thunderbolt did on destroying Vritra the demon.
Thereupon, taking off his bow and arrows as also that great armour endowed to him by Indra, Rama the annihilator of his enemies, taking off his anger too, because of the enemy's defeat, then obtained a charming benevolence.
Thus, this is the 111th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 112
| Matali, Indra's charioteer leaves the battle-field and returns to his heaven. Then, Rama instructs Lakshmana to arrange for the installation of Vibhishana on the throne of Lanka. Lakshmana arranges to get sea-water from some monkey-chiefs and sprinkles it on Vibhishana, to install him as the King of Lanka, in the presence of the demons there. Then, Rama sends his message to Seetha through Hanuma. |
Having seen the destruction of Ravana, those gods, celestial musicians and demons, while chatting about the auspicious narrative, went away in their respective aerial cars. Chatting themselves about the awful destruction of Ravana, the terrific prowess of Rama, the admirable combat of the monkeys, the counsel tendered by Sugreeva, the affection and valour of Lakshmana; the son of Sumitra; the loyalty of Seetha to her husband and about the strength of Hanuma, the illustrious celestials and others rejoicingly returned as they had come.
Taking leave of the celestial chariot, which had been given by Indra the lord of celestials and which shone like fire, the mighty armed Rama respectfully saluted Matali. As assented by Rama, Matali Indra's charioteer, mounting that celestial chariot, ascended to the heaven itself. When Matali ascended to heaven along with his chariot, Rama, the foremost one among the chariot-warriors was highly rejoiced and embraced Sugreeva.
Having embraced Sugreeva greeted by Lakshmana and having been honoured by the monkey-troops. Rama came to the camp where the army had been stationed. Then, Rama spoke (as follows) to Lakshmana, son of Sumitra, who was endowed with strength and having auspicious marks, who stayed nearby.
"O the benevolent Lakshmana! Consecrate on the throne of Lanka, this Vibhishana to whom everyone is attached, a loyal person as he is and the one who has formerly done a service to us. O gentle one! This s my paramount desire that I should see this Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana being consecrated for throne in Lanka."
Hearing the words of the great soled Rama, Lakshmana replied, 'so it be' and rejoicingly procured a golden pot. That mighty Lakshmana, then placing that pot in the hands of the monkey-chiefs, instructed them, who were as swift as thought, to bring sea-water.
Thereupon, those excellent monkeys, with the swiftness of thought, moving very quickly from that place, returned, having obtained the water from the sea. Thereupon, Lakshmana together with his friends, taking one pot and making Vibhishana to sit on the throne, sprinkled him with sea-water from that pot in accordance with the rule prescribed in Vedic scriptures, while the demons were witnessing the ceremony, to make him the king for Lanka, as directed by Rama.
Then, all the demons as well as the monkeys consecrated Vibhishana. Having gained extra ordinary delight, they indeed eulogized Rama. Seeing Vibhishana the lord of demons consecrated for the throne of Lanka, his four counsellors who were always together with him and such of those demons who were devoted to him, were rejoiced.
Rama together with Lakshmana were greatly delighted. That Vibhishana, having gained that great kingdom bestowed on him by Rama, was also greatly delighted. After consoling his people, Vibhishana then sought to presence of Rama. Now, the demons who were residing in the city were quite delighted and brought to him (by way of presents) curds, unbroken grains of rice, sweets shaped like balls, parched grains of unhusked rice and flowers too.
Accepting them, the valiant and unconquerable Vibhishana happily offered all those auspicious objects to Rama and Lakshmana. Seeing Vibhishana, who had accomplished his act and increased his resources, Rama accepted it all, with a sole desire to show gratefulness to him.
Thereupon, Rama spoke the following words to the valiant Hanuma the monkey who was equal in size to a mountain and who was standing in humility, with his hands joined in salutation. "O the benevolent one! Taking permission from this Vibhishana, the great king and entering into the City of Lanka, inform about our welfare to Seetha. O Hanuma, the proficient one in speech! Inform Seetha that myself together with Lakshmana and Sugreeva are well and that Ravana had been killed in battle."
"O Hanuma the master of monkeys! Making clear this favourite news to Seetha, you ought to return, taking back her message."
Thus, this is the 112th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 113
| Matali, Indra's charioteer leaves the battle-field and returns to his heaven. Then, Rama instructs Lakshmana to arrange for the installation of Vibhishana on the throne of Lanka. Lakshmana arranges to get sea-water from some monkey-chiefs and sprinkles it on Vibhishana, to install him as the King of Lanka, in the presence of the demons there. Then, Rama sends his message to Seetha through Hanuma. |
Thus directed by Rama, Hanuma the son of wind-god, entered deeply into the City of Lanka, being respectfully received by the demons. That Hanuma, the monkey, known to Seetha, having entered the City of Lanka, seeking permission from Vibhishana, getting approval from him and entering Ashoka grove as per the prevailing regulation, saw at the foot of a tree, Seetha, who was bereft of freshness, looking joylessly like a frightened cow and surrounded with female-demons. Approaching her humbly by offering salutation to her in bending his head, he stood there silently.
Even after seeing the mighty Hanuma who came there, Seetha kept herself silent. Then, seeing and recollecting him, she became rejoiced. Seeing her cool face, Hanuma the excellent monkey began to narrate the entire message of Rama.
“O Seetha! Rama is well, together with Sugreeva and Lakshmana, along with Vibhishana as his supporter and collectively with the army of monkeys. O the divine lady! Having destroyed his enemy, Rama the annihilator of his adversaries, having accomplished his object, is informing you about his welfare. Rama and Lakshmana, with the support of Vibhishana and the monkeys, killed the valiant Ravana.”
“O the divine lady! I am telling a pleasant news and again eulogizing you. O Seetha, the knower of righteousness! Rama accomplished this great victory in the battle, because of your power. Be free from your grief and be comfortable. Ravana, the enemy was killed. Even the Lanka has been subdued. With a firm determination to win you back, by me who have had no sleep, a bridge has been constructed across the great ocean and this vow (of winning you back) has been fulfilled.”
“You ought not to have any fear, living as you do in Ravana’s abode. This kingdom of Lanka has now been placed indeed under the dominion ship of Vibhishana. That is why, console yourself complacently. You are staying in your own house. This Vibhishana too is coming to you with a rejoice, as he is so eager to see you.”
Hearing these words, that Seetha the divine lady, whose face resembled the moon, could not speak, tongue-tied as she was with a thrill of delight.
Thereupon, Hanuma spoke to Seetha, who was not making any answer (as follows): “O divine lady! What are you reflecting upon? Why don’t you speak to me?”
Thus asked by Hanuma, Seetha, who was ever established in a righteous path, was very much delighted and spoke (as follows) in a voice choked with tears. “Hearing these pleasant tidings about the victory of my husband, I became speechless for a while, overpowered as I was, by extreme joy. O, Hanuman! I indeed do not see any appropriate thing here, which pleases you in return, to offer you, who have announced these tidings pleasant to me, even after enervating my brain.”
“Nor, do I perceive anything worthy for you on this earth for you act of conveying this agreeable news to me and on bestowing which on you, happiness may come to me. Neither silver, nor gold nor even diamonds nor the sovereignty of the three worlds, can be worthy of this message.”
Hearing the words of Seetha, Hanuma standing with his face turned towards Seetha and with his hands joined in salutation, joyfully replied as follows:
"O faultless lady, interested in things agreeable and beneficial to husband and wishing for his victory! You alone deserve to speak such words filled with affection. O gentle lady! These words of yours, endowed with preciousness and affection, are better than various kinds of collection of diamonds or the sovereignty over the celestials. I see Rama victorious and happy, he having killed the enemies and having obtained victory. That is to say, I have attained the blessing like the sovereignty over the celestials and other good qualities.”
Hearing those words of Hanuma, Seetha the daughter of Janaka thereupon spoke the following auspicious words to Hanuma.
“You alone can utter these words, endowed with exceedingly good attributes, embellished with a grace of style and filled with an intelligence, consisting of eight excellences.*”
*1) Keenness to hear discourse on the Spirit 2) readiness to hear such discourses, 3) receptivity, 4) retentive power, 5) reasoning for and 6) against a proposition, 7) the faculty of comprehension and 8) realization of truth: These are the eight characteristics of good intelligence, according to Neetisara Kamandaka, often quoted by the commentators in Sanskrit: shushruShaa shravaNaM chaiva | ghruhaNaM dhaaraNaM tathaa | uuhoapehoarthavijJnaanaM | tattvajJNaanaM cha dhiiguNaaH ||
“You are a praiseworthy and supremely virtuous son of the wind-god. Numerous good qualities are there in you along (as follows, along with others): strength, valour, knowledge of scriptures, vigour, prowess, superlative skill (in action), spirit, forbearance, firmness, stability and re is no humility. There is no doubt about it.”
Thereafter, having joined his hands together in salutation, standing in front of Seetha in humility and free from flurry, Hanuma again spoke to Seetha (as follows):
“If you permit me, I wish to kill of all these notorious female-demons, by whom you have been frightened earlier. These cruel female-demons of terrific form and behavior, with still more cruel eyes, having ugly faces, were heard by me here speaking again and again harsh words to you, who are so devoted to your husband, at Ravana’s command, when you were suffering hardships in the Ashoka grove, O divine lady!”
“I wish to kill with various kinds of strokes, these cruel, extremely rough and deformed female-demons, with distorted features and terrific hairs and eyes, talking together roughly. (Pray) grant this boon to me. I wish to kill the female-demons, who have spoken harsh words to you and wronged you, striking them down with my fists, hand-blows, long arms, blows of my shanks and knees, by causing pain to their teeth, biting off their ears and nose and pulling out their hair, making them severely dry-mouthed, tearing them off, leaping over them, encountering them and throwing down their bodies, with their burst cheeks, necks, shoulders and ribs. O illustrious lady! Striking them with several blows in this way, I would destroy the female-demons of terrible form, by whom you have been threatened in the past.”
Reflecting as pondering for a while, when spoke thus by Hanuma, the compassionate Seetha, who was kind to the miserable, spoke to Hanuma as follows: “O the foremost of monkey! Who will be angry with servant-maids, who are dependent on their king’s command and work in obedience to the orders of others? All this is reaped by me, as a consequence of my bad fortune or an account of a misdeed committed by me in the past. The fruit of one’s own making is indeed experienced (in one’s life).”
“O the great-armed Hanuma! Do not speak like this. This is indeed a great divine strategy. It was ordained that this type of situation is to be obtained by me, due to the application of fate. Feeble as I am in these matters, I am forgiving the servant-maids of Ravana here.”
“O Hanuma! As commanded by Ravana the threatened me. As he is dead now, they will not do the threatening. O Hanuma! There is an old axim possessed of merit, actually uttered by a bear in the presence of a tiger. Hear it from me.”
“A superior person does not take into account the sin of those who have committed an offence evil for evil must be carried out at all costs virtuous persons account good conduct as an ornament. Kindness is to be shown by a noble person either towards a sinner or to a virtuous person or even to a person who deserves death, for, there is none who never commits a wrong. No evil is to be done, even to those cruel persons of sinful deeds, who take pleasure to harm the life of others and continue to perpetrate their sinful acts.”
Hearing the words of Seetha, Hanuma who was skilled in speech, then replied to the faultless Seetha, Rama’s consort (as follows):
“O divine lady! You are the apt wife of Rama, full of virtue. Give me a message in return. I will go to the place where Rama is.”
Thus spoken by Hanuma, that Seetha the daughter of Janaka spoke as follows: “O the foremost of monkeys! I long to see my husband.”
Hearing those words of Seetha, the highly intelligent Hanuma, the son of wind-god, bringing delight to Seetha, spoke the following words:
“You shall see today, Rama whose countenance is like a full moon, whose friends (like Sugreeva and Vibhishana) are alive, whose enemies have been killed along with Lakshmana, as Shachi (the consort of Indra) would see Indra the lord of gods.”
Thus speaking to that Seetha, who appeared radiant before his eyes as Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity, Hanuma of great splendor, came to the place where Rama was. Then, Hanuma the excellent of monkeys speedily narrated, in order of sequence, the message given by Seetha, to Rama who was equal to Indra the chief of celestials.
Thus, this is the 113th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 114
| Rama sends Vibhishana to bring Seetha to his presence. Vibhishana brings Seetha to Rama's presence. Seetha casts her looks on the moon-like face of Rama, her beloved husband. |
Having offered his salutation to that Rama, who was excellent among all the wielders of the bow and whose eyes resembled the lotus-petals that highly intelligent Hanuma spoke to him as follows: “You ought to see Seetha that divine lady who is consumed by grief, for whose sake this course of actions was undertaken and which has (now) borne fruit."
"Hearing the news of your victory, that Seetha, stricken as she was with grief, is now longing to see you, her eyes filled with tears of joy. By her, who has trust in me because of confidence which has trust in me because of confidence which had been inspired me on a former occasion, I was spoken as follows: 'I desire to see my husband, who has accomplished his purpose, together with Lakshmana.'"
Hearing Hanuma's words, Rama who was the foremost among the supporters of righteousness, was a little over whelmed with tears and suddenly became a bit thoughtful. Drawing a deep and warm breath and casting his looks on the ground, he spoke (as follows) to Vibhishana, who closely resembled a cloud in hue and who was standing nearby.
"Bring here Seetha, after she has bathed her head, has been anointed with charming cosmetics and adorned with beautiful jewels. Let there be no delay.”
Hearing the words of Rama, Vibhishana, after entering the gynaecium in haste, communicated his presence to Seetha, through his own women. Then, the glorious Vibhishana the king of demons, after seeing the highly fortunate Seetha, with his palms joined over his head, humbly spoke to her as follows: "O Seetha! Anointed with charming cosmetics and adorned with beautiful jewels if you please, mount on the vehicle. Your husband wants to see you.”
Hearing the words of Vibhishana, replied as follows: "O king of demons! I wish to see my husband, even without taking my bath."
Hearing those words of Seetha, Vibhishana replied as follows: "You ought to do the bidding of Rama, your husband, as he has enjoined you to do."
Hearing those words of Vibhishana, the virtuous Seetha, regarding her husband as a divinity, endowed as she was with a devotion to her husband, said in reply, "So t be!"
Prevailing upon Seetha to ascend a shining palanquin, covered with an exceedingly valuable cloth and guarded by numerous demons, after she had bathed her head and cleansed her body, had put on costly robes and had been adorned with exceedingly valuable jewels, Vibhishana then brought her to the presence of Rama. Approaching the great-souled Rama, who was absorbed in thought, even after coming to know that Seetha had arrived, Vibhishana offered his obeisance and with full of great joy, announced to him that Seetha had arrived.
Hearing that Seetha had arrived after living long in the abode of a demon, Rama was filled with joy, indignation and felt miserable too all the three emotions at the same time. Feeling unhappy on considering with deep thought, the question of Seetha having come in a palanquin, all the way, Rama then spoke the following words, looking at Vibhishana who was beside him.
"O the gently king of demons, who is forever intent on my victory! Let Seetha duly seek my presence quickly."
Hearing those words of that Rama, Vibhishana, who knew what was right, began to disperse the crowd there quickly. Demons wearing jackets and turbans, their hands carrying staffs which made a jingling sound, walked there all round, dispersing those warriors.
Crowds of bears, monkeys and demons, dispersed on all sides, bounced for a distance, from their nearness to the palanquin. While those warriors were being driven away, there was a very great sound, resembling the roar of a sea, lashed by a storm.
Seeing them being dispersed on all sides excited, Rama then stopped that operation of those who were dispersing them, out of kindness (for those who were being driven away) and resentment (at the behaviour of the demons who were dispersing them).
The enraged Rama, consuming the demons with his looks as it were, Rama spoke the following reproaching words to the highly intelligent Vibhishana. "Why disregarding me, are these people harassed by you? Stop this exertion. They are my own people. An apartment is not a thing that protects a woman, nor robes, nor compound-walls, nor concealments nor such royal honours. Her character is her shield."
"A woman becoming visible to public in times of a calamity is not condemned in difficult situations, nor in battles, nor in self-choosing of a husband by a princess at a public assembly of suitors, nor in sacrificial ceremonies nor in marriage-functions."
"The younder Seetha is in distress and beset with a great difficulty. There is no fault in her appearance in public, particularly in my presence. That is why, let her come on foot alone, leaving the palanquin there. Let these monkeys see Seetha in my presence."
Hearing the words of Rama the intelligent Vibhishana, with decency, brought Seetha to Rama's vicinity. Lakshmana, Sugreeva and Hanuma the monkey then felt very much perturbed.
From the pitiless facial features of Rama, showing indifference to his consort, they conjectured as if Rama had some displeasure towards Seetha. Seetha, for her part, shrinking into her limbs with modesty, approached her husband, duly followed by Vibhishana.
The pleasant-faced Seetha, who considered her husband as the divinity, saw the charming face of her husband, with a surprise, rejoice and affection. Seeing the face of her beloved husband, which had not been seen for a long time and which was charming like the rising full moon, she forth dispelled her mental fatigue.
Thus, this is the 114th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda in Prose Sarga 115
| Rama informs Seetha that the dishonour meted out to him and the wrong done to her by Ravana have been wiped off, by his victory over the enemy with the assistance of Hanuma, Sugreeva and Vibhishana. However, regarding with suspicion the character of Seetha, Rama disowns her and asks her to seek shelter elsewhere. |
Seeing that Seetha, who stood at his vicinity bowing low, Rama began to tell his feeling hidden in his heart (as follows): "You are won back by me, after conquering the enemy in the battle-field, my dear lady! That which is to be done through human effort, has been accomplished by me. I have come to the end of my indignation and my outrage has been completely requited as also the contempt against the enemy have been wiped out, all at once, by me."
"Now, my manly strength has been seen by all. Today, my toil has borne fruit. Now, I have fulfilled my promise. Today, I am the master of myself. The wrong done to you, when you were deserted from me, in that you were taken away by a fickle-minded demon, which was ordained by the destiny, has been corrected by me as a human being."
"What is the use of a prowess, however great, of that weak-minded man who does not wipe out, by his energy, the insult fallen to his lot? The praise-worthy act of Hanuma in the form of crossing of the ocean and the destroying of Lanka, has borne fruit today. The endeavour of Sugreeva, who exhibited his prowess on the battle-field with his army and tendered a good advice, is fruitful today."
"Furthermore, the exertion of Vibhishana, who after deserting his brother who was void of good qualities sought my presence, is fruitful today.”
Hearing those words spoken thus by Rama, Seetha with her eyes wide open like those of a female-deer, was bathed in tears.
The heart of King Rama, as he saw Seetha, (the beloved of his heart) near him, was torn for fear of public scandal. In the midst of monkeys and demons, Rama spoke (as follows) to Seetha, whose eyes resembled the petals of a lotus, who wore dark curly hair and was endowed with fine hips.
"I, wanting for an honour, have done this particular act, which ought to be done by a man, in killing Ravana and thus wiping away the insult meted out to me. You have been won by me, whose mind stands purified by asceticism as the southern quarter, which was difficult to be approached by the world of mortals, was conquered by the Sage Agastya."
"Let it be known to you that this endeavor in the shape of war, which has been successful carried through, due to the strength of my friends was not undertaken for your sake. Let there be prosperity to you! This was done by me in order to keep up my good conduct and to wipe off the evil-speaking from all sides as well as the insinuation on my own illustrious dynasty."
"You, with a suspicion arisen on your character, standing in front of me, are extremely disagreeable to me, even as a light to one, who is suffering from a poor eye-sight. O Seetha! That is why, I am permitting you now. Go wherever you like. All these ten directions are open to you, my dear lady! There is no work to be done to me, by you."
"Which noble man, born in an illustrious race, will take back a woman who lived in another's abode, with an eager mind? While mentioning greatly about my lineage, how can I accept again, you who were harassed in Ravana's lap (while being borne away by him) and who were seen (by him) with evil looks?"
"You were won by me with that end in view (viz. the retrieval of my lost honour). The honour has been restored by me. For me, there is no intense attachment in you. You may go wherever you like from here. O gracious lady! Therefore, this has been spoken by me today, with a resolved mind. Set you mind on Lakshmana or Bharata, as per your ease."
"O Seetha! Otherwise, set your mind either on Shatrughna or on Sugreeva or on Vibhishana the demon; or according to your own comfort. Seeing you, who are endowed with a beautiful form and attractive to the sense, detained for long in his abode, Ravana could not have endured your separation."
Hearing that unpalatable speech of her beloved husband, Seetha who used to hear pleasing words alone, was very much trembled for long, like a creeper attacked by the proboscis of an elephant and thereupon shed tears.
Thus, this is the 115th chapter in Yuddha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
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
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