YUDDHAKAANDA – SARGA 14
Advised by Mahaparsva to take charge of Sita by force, Ravana expresses his inability to do so, because of a curse pronounced against him by Brahma (lord of creation) in the past. Ravana then boasts of his own prowess.
रावणम् क्रुद्धमाज्ञाय महापार्श्वो महाबलः |
मुहूर्त मनुसंचिन्त्य प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्य मब्रवीत् ||
आज्ञयया = noticing;
रावणम् = Ravana;
क्रुद्धम् = enraged;
महाबलः = a very strong;
महापार्श्वः= Mahaparsva;
अनुसंचिन्त्य = thought;
मुहूर्तम्= for a while;
प्राञ्जलिः= and with joined palms;
अब्रवीत् = spoke;
वाक्यं = these words:
Perceiving Ravana enraged, a very strong demon named Mahaparsva thought for a while and with joined palms, spoke as follows: 1.
यः खल्वपि वनम् प्राप्य मृगव्यालनिषेवितम् |
न पिबेन्मधु सम्प्राप्य स नरो बालिशो ध्रुवम् ||
खल्वपि = besides indeed;
यः नरः = which man;
प्राप्य = after reaching;
वनम् = a forest;
मृगव्यालनिषेवितम् = inhabited by wild beasts and vicious elephants;
सम्प्राप्य = obtained;
मधु= honey;
न पिबेत् = does not drink;
स : = he;
ध्रुवम् = surely;
बालिश: = is a fool.”
“That man indeed is a fool, who after reaching a forest inhabited by wild beasts and vicious elephants and having duly found honey, does not drink it.” 2.
ईश्वरस्येश्वरः कोऽस्ति तव शत्रुनिबर्हण |
रमस्व सह वैदेह्या शत्रूनाक्रम्य मूर्धसु ||
शत्रुनिबर्हण = O; annihilator of enemies!
कः = who;
अस्ति = is;
ईश्वरः= a lord;
तव = to you;
ईश्वरस्य= who are a lord of all?
अक्रम्य= stepping upon;
मूर्धसु = the heads;
शत्रून्= of your enemies;
रमस्व = you take pleasure;
वैदेह्या सह = with Sita.”
“O,annihilator of enemies! Who is a lord to you, who are a lord of all? Setting your foot upon the heads of your enemies, take pleasure with Sita.” 3.
बलात्कुक्कुटवृत्तेन प्रवर्तस्व महाबल |
अक्रम्याक्रम्य सीताम् वै ताम् भुङिक्स्व च रमस्व च ||
महाबल = O; ruler endowed with a mighty prowess!
प्रवर्तस्व = Behave;
कुक्कुटवृत्तेन = in the mode of a cock;
बलट= using force against her;
भुङिक्स्व = enjoy;
ताम् सीताम् = that Sita;
आक्रम्याक्रम्य = charging and charging;
रमस्व च = and revel with her.”
“O, ruler endowed with a mighty prowess! Act in the mode of a cock, forcibly against her. Enjoy that Sita, by charging on her again and again and revel with her.” 4.
लब्धकामस्य ते पश्चादागमिष्यति किम् भयम् |
प्राप्तमप्राप्तकालम् वा सर्वम् प्रतिविधास्यते ||
किम् भयम् = what fear;
आगमिष्यति= will come;
पश्चात् = after;
लब्धकामस्य = fulfilling your lust?
सर्वम् = All;
प्राप्तुं= that comes;
अप्राप्तकालम् = or yet to come;
प्रतिविधान्यते = will be prevented.”
“What fear will be there to you, after fulfilling your lust? All that comes or yet to come will be prevented (by us).” 5.
कुम्भकर्णः सहास्माभिरिन्द्रजिच्च महाबलः |
प्रतिषेधयितुम् शक्तौ सवज्रमपि वज्रिणम् ||
कुम्भकर्णः = Kumbhakarna;
इन्द्रजिच्च= and Indrajit;
महाबलः = of great might;
अस्माभिःच= with us;
शक्तौ = are capable;
प्रतिषेधयितुम् = of keeping off;
वज्रिणम् अपि= even Devendra(god of celestials);
सवज्रं= wielding the weapon of a thunderbolt”.
“Kumbhakarna and Indrajit of great might together with us are capable of keeping off even Devendra (god of celestials), wielding the weapon of a thunderbolt.” 6.
उपप्रदानम् सान्त्वम् वा भेदम् वा कुशलैः कृतम् |
समतिक्रम्य दण्डेन सिद्धिमर्थेषु रोचये ||
समतिक्रम्य = having overstepped;
उपप्रदानम् = the method of giving away gifts;
सा स्त्वं वा = or gentle means;
भेदम् वा= or showing dissention;
क्रिटम् = being done;
कुशलैः = by right men;
रोचये = I like;
सिद्धिम्= accomplishment;
अर्थेषु = in actions;
दण्डेन = through hostility.”
“Overstepping the methods of giving away gifts or conciliation or even showing dissention being followed by right men, I like accomplishment of actions through hostile means.” 7.
इह प्राप्तान्वयम् सर्वान् शत्रूंस्तव महाबल |
वशे शस्त्रप्रतापेन करिष्यामो न संशयः ||
महाबल = O; ruler endowed with great might!
वयं= We;
करिष्याम:= shall make;
सर्वान् = all;
तव = your;
शत्रूंन्= enemies;
प्राप्तान्= reached;
इह= here;
वशे = to surrender;
शस्त्रप्रतापेन = by the power of our weapons;
न संशयः = there is no doubt.”
“O, ruler endowed with great might! We shall make all your enemies reaching here to surrender, by the power of our weapons. There is no doubt about it.” 8.
एवमुक्तस्तदा राजा महापार्श्वएन रावणः |
तस्य सम्पूजयन्वाक्यमिदम् वचनमब्रवीत् ||
तदा= then;
सम्पूजयन् = appreciating;
तस्य = his;
वाक्यम्= words;
एवं = thus;
उक्तः = spoken;
महापार्श्वएन = by Mahaparsva;
राजा = king;
रावणः = Ravana;
अब्रवीत् = spoke;
इदम् = these;
वचनम्= words:
Appreciating the words spoken thus by Mahaparsva, King Ravana spoke the following words: 9.
महापार्श्व निबोध त्वम् रहस्यम् किंचिदात्मनः |
चिरवृत्तम् तदाख्यास्ये यदवाप्तम् पुरा मया ||
महापार्श्व = ” O;Mahaparsva;
निबोध = know;
किंचित्= a little;
रहस्यं = secret;
आत्मनः= about me;
आख्यास्ये= I shall tell;
तत्= that;
यत्= which;
अवाप्तं= was obtained;
मया = by me;
पुरा = previously;
चिरवृत्ताम् = which occurred long ago.”
“O, Mahaparsva! Know a little secret about me. I shall tell you an incident, which occurred to me long ago.” 10.
पितामहस्य भवनम् गच्चन्तीम् पुञ्जिकस्थलाम् |
चञ्चूर्यमाणामद्राक्षमाकाशेऽग्निशिखामिव ||
अद्राक्षम् = I saw;
पुञ्जिकस्थल= Punjikasthala; (by name);
अग्निशिखामिव= gleaming like a flame;
चञ्चूर्यमाणाम् = concealing herself (for fear of me);
आकाशे= in the sky;
गच्चन्तीम् = and proceeding;
भवनम् = to the abode;
पितामहस्य = of Brahma.”
“Once I saw a celestial nymph, Punjikasthala(by name) flashing like a flame, concealing herself in the sky and proceeding towards the abode of Brahma.” 11.
सा प्रसह्य मया भुक्ता कृता विवसना ततः |
स्वयम्भूभवनम् प्राप्ता लोलिता नलिनी यथा ||
सा = she;
कृता = was made;
विवसना = unclothed;
भुक्ता = and was enjoyed;
मया = by me;
प्रसह्य = forcibly;
ततः = thereafter;
प्राप्ता = she reached;
स्वयम्भूभवनम् = the abode of Brahma;
नलिनी यथा= like a lotus;
लोलिता = which was crumpled.”
“She was made unclothed by me and was enjoyed forcibly. Thereafter, appearing like a crumpled lotus, she went to the abode of Brahma.” 12.
तच्च तस्य तदा मन्ये ज्ञातमासीन्महात्मनः |
अथ सम्कुपितो वेधा मामिदम् वाक्यमब्रवी ||
मन्ये = I think;
तच्च = it;
ज्ञातम् = was informed;
तदा = then;
तस्य = to Brahma;
महात्मनः= the high soled;
अथ= and then;
सम्कुपित:= the enraged;
वेधाः= Brahama;
अब्रवीत् = spoke;
इदं= these;
वाक्यम्= words;
माम् = to me.”
“I think that the matter was made known to the high soled Brahama and then the enraged Brahma spoke to me the following words: 13.
अद्यप्रभृति यामन्याम् बलान्नारीम् गमिष्यसि |
तदा ते शतधा मुर्धा फलिष्यति न संशयः ||
अद्यप्रभृति = from today onwards;
गमिष्यसि = if you revel with;
यामन्याम् = any other;
नारीम् = woman;
बलान्= forcibly;
तदा = then;
ते = your;
मूर्धा = head;
फलिष्यति = will break asunder;
शतधा = into hundred (pieces);
न संशयः = there is no doubt.”
“From today onwards, if you revel with any other woman forcibly, your head then undoubtedly will break asunder into a hundred pieces.” 14.
इत्यहम् तस्य शापस्य भीतः प्रसभमेव ताम् |
नारोहये बलात्सीताम् वैदेहीम् शय्ने शुभे ||
भीतः = fearing;
तस्य = his;
शापस्य = curse;
इति = in this manner;
अहम्= I;
नारोहये ताम् सीताम् वैदेहीम् = am not making that Sita the daughter of king Videha to mount;
शुभे = (my) beautiful;
शय्ने = bed;
प्रसभमेव = hurriedly.”
“Fearing the curse given in this manner by Brahama, I am not violently making Sita the daughter of Videha, to mount on my beautiful bed forcibly.” 15.
सागरस्येव मे वेगो मारुतस्येव मे गतिः |
नैतद्दाशरथिर्वेद ह्यापादयति तेन माम् ||
मे = my;
वेग:= swiftness;
सागरस्येव = is like that of an ocean;
मे = my;
गतिः = movement;
मारुतस्येव = is like that of wind;
दासरथिः= Rama;
न वेद = does not know;
एतद्= this;
तेन= that is why;
आसादयति हि= he is indeed attacking;
माम् = me.”
“My swiftness is like that of an ocean. My movement is like that of a wind. Rama does not know this and hence he is indeed having an encounter with me.” 16.
को हि सिम्हमिवासीनम् सुप्तम् गिरिगुहाशये |
क्रुद्धम् मृत्युमिवाऽसीनम् सम्बोधयितुमिच्चति ||
को हि= who;
इच्छति= wants;
सम्बोधयितुम्= to arouse (me);
आसीनम्= sitting;
सिंहं इव= like a lion;
सुप्तम् = sleeping;
गिरिगुहाशये = at a place in a mountain cave;
मृत्युमिव = like death;
आसीनम्= sitting;
क्रुद्धम् = enraged.”
“If not otherwise, who wants to arouse me (for a combat) as one would awaken a lion asleep, sitting at a place in a mountain cave or arouse into activity an enraged Death?” 17.
न मत्तो निर्गतान् बाणान् द्विजिह्वान् पन्न्गानिव |
रामः पश्यति सम्ग्रामे तेन मामभिगच्चति ||
रामः= Rama;
न पश्यति = did not see;
बाणान् = the arrows;
पन्न्गानिव = looking like serpents;
द्विजिह्वान् = with two tongues;
निर्गतान् = coming forth;
मत्त:= from me;
तेन = for that reason;
अभिगच्चति = he is coming against;
माम् = me;
सम्ग्रामे = in battle.”
“Rama did not see the arrows, looking like two tongued serpents, coming forth from me. That is why he is marching against me for a battle” 18.
क्षिप्रम् वज्रसमैर्बाणैः शतधा कार्मुकचुतैः |
राममादीपयिष्यामि उल्कभिरिव कुञ्जरम् ||
आदीपयिष्यामि= I shall blaze up;
रामम् = Rama;
क्षिप्रम् = quickly;
बाणैः = by arrows;
वज्रसमै:= resembling thunderbolts;
शतधा = in hundreds;
कार्मुकचुतैः = released from my bow;
कुञ्जरम् इव = like an elephant;
उल्लाभिः= with fire brands.”
“I shall blaze up Rama swiftly with my arrows in hundreds resembling thunder bolts discharged from my bow, like tormenting an elephant with fire brands.” 19.
तच्चास्य बलमादास्ये बलेन महता वृतः |
उदितः सविता काले नक्षत्राणाम् प्रभामिव ||
वृतः = surrounded;
महता बलेन = by a great army;
आदस्य= I shall take away;
अस्य = his;
तत्= that;
बलं= strength;
प्रभामिव = like taking away the light;
नक्षत्राणाम् = of the stars;
उदितः= by a rising;
सविता= sun;
काले = in dawn.”
“Surrounded by great army, I shall take away that strength of Rama, as a rising sun at dawn takes away radiance of the stars.”20.
न वासवेनापि सहस्रचक्षुषा |
युधास्मि शक्यो वरुणेन वा पुनः |
मया त्वियम् बाहुबलेन निर्जिता |
पुरा पुरी वैश्रवणेन पालिता ||
वासवेनापि = even by Devendra(Lord of celestials);
सहस्रचक्षुषा = with thousand eyes;
वरुणेन वा= or by Varuna(king of the universe);
नक्ष्यः अस्मि = I am not capable of being conquered;
युधा= in a battle;
पुरा = once;
इयं पुरी = this city;
पालिता = ruled;
वैश्रवणेन = by Kubera; (Lord of riches);
निर्जिता = was conquered;
मया = by me;
बाहुबलेन = with the power of my arms.”
“Even Devendra (lord of celestials) with thousand eyes or Varuna (king of the Universe) can not conquer me in battle. Once upon a time, this city of Lanka ruled by Kubera (Lord of riches) was conquered by me with the power of my arms.” 21.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे चतुर्दशः सर्गः
Thus completes 14th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Janamejayan's धर्म जिज्ञासा 