SARGA 26
While Rama crossed over to the other shore of the sea, Ravana instructs his ministers, Suka and Sarana to enter the enemy’s army in disguise and to bring all the required information about them. When Suka and Sarana entered the enemy’s ranks, Vibhishana recognises and captures them. But Rama sets them free. Going back to Ravana, they explain the might strength of the enemy’s ranks and exhort him to restore Seetha to Rama.
सबले सागरम् तीर्णे रामे दशरथ आत्मजे |
अमात्यौ रावणः श्रीमान् अब्रवीत् शुक सारणौ ||
रामे = (While) Rama;
दशरथ आत्मजे = the son of Dasaratha;
तीर्णे = crossed;
सागरम् = the ocean;
सबले = along; with his army;
श्रीमान् = the illustrious;
रावणः = Ravana;
अब्रवीत् = spoke;
शुक सारणौ= to Shuka and sarana;
अमात्यौ = his ministers (as follows)
While Rama, the son of Dasaratha, crossed the ocean along with his army, the illustrious Ravana spoke to Shuka and Sarana, his ministers as follows: 1.
समग्रम् सागरम् तीर्णम् दुस्तरम् वानरम् बलम् |
अभूत पूर्वम् रामेण सागरे सेतु बन्धनम् ||
समग्रम् = the entire;
बलम् = army;
वानरम् = of monkeys;
तीर्णम् = crossed;
दुस्तरम् = the impassable;
सागरम् = ocean; अभूत पूर्वम्= the unprecedented;
सेतु बन्धनम् = construction of the bridge;
सागरे = across the ocean (was done);
रामेण = by Rama.
“The entire army of monkeys crossed the impassable ocean. The construction of the bridge, unprecedented, across the ocean was executed by Rama.” 2.
सागरे सेतु बन्धम् तु न श्रद्दध्याम् कथंचन |
अवश्यम् च अपि सम्ख्येयम् तन् मया वानरम् बलम् ||
न श्रद्दध्याम् = I am not able to believe;
कथंचन = under any circumstances;
तन् = that;
सेतु बन्धम्= construction of the bridge;
सागरे = across the ocean;
अवश्यम् = certainly;
तत्= that;
वानरम् बलम् = army of monkeys;
सम्ख्येयम्च = is worth to be conduted (carried weight);
मया = by me.
“I am not able to believe under any circumstances that a pass-way has been constructed across the ocean. Certainly, that army of monkeys is worth to be counted (carried weight) by me.” 3.
भवन्तौ वानरम् सैन्यम् प्रविश्य अनुपलक्षितौ |
परिमाणम् च वीर्यम् च ये च मुख्याः प्लवम् गमाः ||
मन्त्रिणो ये च रामस्य सुग्रीवस्य च सम्मताः |
प्लवम् गमाःपूर्वम् अभिवर्तन्ते ये च शूराः प्लवम् गमाः ||
स च सेतुर् यथा बद्धः सागरे सलिल अर्णवे |
निवेशः च यथा तेषाम् वानराणाम् महात्मनाम् ||
रामस्य व्यवसायम् च वीर्यम् प्रहरणानि च |
लक्ष्मणस्य च वीरस्य तत्त्वतो ज्ञातुम् अर्हथ ||
भवन्तौ = both of you;
अनुपलक्षितौ = unperceived (to others);
प्रविश्य = enter;
सैन्यम् = the army;
वानरम् = of monkeys;
अर्हथः = and ought;
णातुम् = to know;
तत्त्वतः = actually;
परिमाणम् च= the quantum of the army;
वीर्यम् च= their prowess;
ये = as to which;
प्लवम् गमाः= monkeys;
मुख्याः= are important ones;
ये = which;
मन्त्रिणः = ministers;
रामस्य = of Rama;
सुग्रीवस्य च = and of Sugreeva;
संगताः = have come together;
ये= which;
अभिवर्तन्ते = are abiding;
पूर्वम् = in front;
ये = which;
प्लवम् गमाः= monkeys;
शूराः = are valiant;
यथा = how;
सः = that;
सेतुः= bridge;
बद्धः = was constructed;
सागरे = across the ocean;
सलिल अर्णवे= full of water;
यथा = how;
निवेशम्= the encamping (is done);
तेषाम् वानराणाम् = for those monkeys;
महात्मनाम् = the great souled;
व्यवसायम् च= the determination;
वीर्यम् = the strength;
प्रहरणानि च= and the striking senses;
रामस्य = of Rama;
वीरस्य = and of the heroic;
लक्ष्मणस्य = Lakshmana.
“Become unrecognisable to others, enter the army of monkeys and make out the real quantum of their army, their prowess, as to which monkeys are important among them, which ministers of Rama and Sugreeva have come together, which monkeys are abiding in front, which monkeys are valiant, how that bridge was constructed across the ocean full of water, how the encamping is done for those great-souled monkeys; the determination, strength and the striking senses of Rama and of the heroic Lakshmana.” 4; 5; 6; 7.
कः च सेना पतिस् तेषाम् वानराणाम् महाओजसाम् |
एतज् ज्ञात्वा यथा तत्त्वम् शीघ्रम् अगन्तुम् अर्हथः ||
कः = who;
सेनापतिः = is the chief of army;
तेषाम् = of those;
महात्मनाम् = high-souled;
वानराणाम् = monkeys;
णात्वा = knowing;
तत्च = that also;
यथा तत्त्वम्= actually;
शीघ्रम् = and quickly;
अर्हथः = you ought;
आगन्तुम्= to come.
“Knowing also accurately who the Chief of Army of those high-souled monkeys is, you have to come back quickly.” 8.
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टौ राक्षसौ शुक सारणौ |
हरि रूप धरौ वीरौ प्रविष्टौ वानरम् बलम् ||
प्रतिसमादिष्टौ = having thus been commanded;
वीरौ = the valiant;
राक्षसौ = demons;
शुक सारणौ = Shuka and Sarana;
हरि रूप धरौ = both possessing the form of monkeys;
प्रविष्टौ = entered;
बल = (that) army;
वानरम् = of monkeys.
Having thus been commanded by Ravana, the valiant demons Shuka and Sarana, both in the disguise of monkeys, entered that army of monkeys. 9.
ततस् तद् वानरम् सैन्यम् अचिन्त्यम् लोम हर्षणम् |
सम्ख्यातुम् न अध्यगच्चेताम् तदा तौ शुक सारणौ ||
ततः= thereafter;
तौ = those;
शुक सारणौ = Shuka and Sarana;
तदा = then;
नाध्यगच्चेताम् = were not able;
सम्ख्यातुम् = to count;
सैन्यम् = the army;
तत् = of those;
वानरम् = monkeys;
अचिन्त्यम् = which was inconceivable;
लोम हर्षणम्= and causing their hair to stand erect.
Shuka and Sarana were not able to count then that inconceivable army of monkeys, causing their hair to stand on end. 10.
तत् स्थितम् पर्वत अग्रेषु निर्दरेषु गुहासु च |
समुद्रस्य च तीरेषु वनेषु उपवनेषु च ||
तरमाणम् च तीर्णम् च तर्तु कामम् च सर्वशः |
निविष्टम् निविशच् चैव भीम नादम् महाबलम् ||
तद्बलार्णवमक्षोभ्यम् ददृशाते निशाचरौ |
11; 12. तत् = that army;
स्थितम् = was stationed;
पर्वत अग्रेषु= on the tops of mountains;
निर्दरेषु = round about the water-falls;
गुहासु च= in the caves;
तीरेषु = on the shores;
समुद्रस्य = of the ocean;
वनेषु = in the woodlands;
उपवनेषु = and in the gardens;
तरमाणम् = (It was either in) the process of crossing the ocean;
तीर्णम् च = or had crossed it;
तर्तु कामम् च= or was intending to cross it;
सर्वशः = in its entirety;
निविष्टम् = (It had either) encamped;
निविशस्चैव= or was still encamping;
भीम नादम् = making a terrible noise;
निशाचरौ = the two demons;
ददृशाते = saw;
महाबलम् = that very stong;
अक्षोभ्यम्= and impeterbable;
तद्बलार्णवम् = sea of army.
That army was stationed on the tops of mountains, round about the waterfalls, in the caves, on the sea-shores, in the woodlands and in the gardens. It was either in the process of crossing the ocean, or was intending to cross it in its entirety. It had either encamped or was still encamping, making a terrible noise. The two demons saw that very strong and imperturbable sea of army.
तौ ददर्श महातेजाः प्रच्चन्नौ च विभीषणः ||
आचचक्षे अथ रामाय गृहीत्वा शुक सारणौ |
विभीषणः = Vibhishana;
महातेजाः = with great splendour;
ददशौ = beheld;
तौ = both of them;
प्रच्चन्नौ = in disguise;
सः = He;
गृहीत्वा = laid hold of;
शुक सारणौ = Shuka and Sarana;
आचचक्षे = and said;
रामाय = to Rama (as follows)
Vibhishana with great splendor beheld both of them in disguise. He caught hold of Shuka and Sarana and told Rama as follows:
तस्यैतौ राक्षसेन्द्रस्य मन्त्रिणौ शुक्सारणौ ||
लंकायाः समनुप्राप्तौ चारौ पर पुरम् जयौ |
पर पुरम् जय = O, Rama the conqueror of hostile citadels!;
इतौ = these;
शुक्सारणौ = Shuka and Sarana;
मन्त्रिणौ = the two miisters;
तस्य राक्षसेन्द्रस्य = of that Ravana;
समनुप्राप्तौ = and came;
चारौ = as spies;
लंकायाः = from Lanka.
“O, Rama the conqueror of hostile citadels! These two demons are Shuka and Sarana, the ministers of Ravana and they came here as spies from Lanka.” 14.
तौ दृष्ट्वा व्यथितौ रामम् निराशौ जीविते तदा ||
कृत अन्जलि पुटौ भीतौ वचनम् च इदम् ऊचतुः |
तौ = both of the them;
दृष्ट्वा = having seen;
रामम् = Rama;
व्यथितौ = were trembled;
तथा = and;
निराशौ = were without hope;
जीविते = for their lives;
भीतौ = were frightened;
च इदम्= and;
ऊचतु= spoke;
इदम् = these;
वचनम् = words;
कृत अन्जलि पुटौ = having joined their palms.
Both of them, having seen Rama, were trembled with fear, without any hope for their lives and having joined their palms, spoke the following words: 15.
आवाम् इह आगतौ सौम्य रावण प्रहिताव् उभौ ||
परिज्ञातुम् बलम् कृत्स्नम् तव इदम् रघु नन्दन |
रघु नन्दन= O, Rama!
सौम्य = O, excellent man!
आवाम् उभौ = we both;
रावण प्रहितौ = as sent by Ravana;
आगतौ = came;
इह = here;
परिज्ञातुम् = to know;
इदम्= this;
तत् = and that;
सर्वम् = entire;
बलम् = army.
“O, excellent man! O, Rama! We both of us, as sent by Ravana, came here together to know everything about your entire army.” 16.
तयोस् तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा रामो दशरथ आत्मजः ||
अब्रवीत् प्रहसन् वाक्यम् सर्व भूत हिते रतः |
रामः = Rama;
दशरथ आत्मजः= the son of Dasaratha;
रतः = who was interested;
सर्व भूत हिते = in the welfare of all being; श्रुत्वा = after hearing;
तत् = those;
वचनम् = words;
तयोः = of them both;
प्रहसन् = simingly;
अब्रवीत् = spoke;
वाक्यम् = (the following) words.
Hearing their aforesaid words, Rama the son of Dasaratha who was interested in the welfare of all beings, smilingly spoke the following words: 17.
यदि दृष्टम् बलम् कृत्स्नम् वयम् वा सुसमीक्षिताः ||
यथा उक्तम् वा कृतम् कार्यम् चन्दतः प्रतिगम्यताम् |
सर्वम् = (Has) the entire;
बलम् = army;
दृष्टम् यदि = been seen;
बलम् सुसमीक्षिताः वा = have we been seen well;
कृत्स्नम् वयम् वा = has the operation been accomplished;
यथा उक्तम् = as instructed;
प्रतिगम्यताम् = you may go back;
चन्दतः = according to your own wish.
“Has the entire army been observed by you? Have you observed us well? Have you accomplished the task, as entrusted to you? If so, you may go back now according to your free will.” 18.
अथ किंचिददृष्टम् वा भूयस्तद्द्रष्टुमर्हथः ||
विभीषनो वा कार्त्स्न्येन पुनः संदर्शयिष्यति |
अथ = or;
अदृष्टम् वा = even if you have not seen;
किंचित् = something;
अर्हथः = you ought;
द्रष्टुमम् = to see;
तत् = that;
भूयः= also;
वा = otherwise;
विभीषनः= Vibhishana;
संदर्शयति= will show you;
पुनः = again;
कार्त्स्न्येन = entirely.
“Even if you have not seen something you may see it now also. Otherwise, Vibhishana will show it to you again entirely.” 19.
न चेदम् ग्रहणम् प्रप्य भेतव्यम् जीवितम् प्रति ||
व्यस्तशस्त्रौ गृहीतौ च न दूतौ वधमर्हतः |
प्रप्य = having obtained;
ईदम्= this;
ग्रहणम् = seizure;
नभेतव्यम्= you need not fear;
जीवितम् प्रति = about your life;
गृहीतौ = the seized;
दूतौ = messengers;
न्यस्तशस्त्रौ= without weapons;
अर्हतः= deserve;
न वधम् = no killing.
“You, having been caught, need not fear about your life. The captured messengers holding no weapons indeed deserve no killing.” 20.
प्रच्चन्नौ च विमुञ्चएमौ चारौ रात्रिंच रावुभौ ||
शत्रुपक्षस्य सततम् विभीषण विकर्षिणौ |
विभीषण = O, Vibhishana!
सततम् = always;
विकर्षिणौ = draw a bow-string;
शत्रुपक्षस्य = on the opponents;
विमुञ्च= set free;
उभौ= the two;
रात्रिमहरौ = deomns;
चारौ = who are spies;
प्रच्चन्नौ = in disguise.
“O, Vibhishana! Always try to draw a bow-string on the opponents and not on these two demons. Set them both, who are spies in disguise, free.” 21.
प्रविश्य नगरीम् लंकाम् भवद्भ्याम् धनद अनुजः ||
वक्तव्यो रक्षसाम् राजा यथा उक्तम् वचनम् मम |
प्रविश्य = after entering;
लंकाम् नगरीम् = the city of Lanka;
धनद अनुजः = Ravana the younger half-brother of Kubera the god of riches;
राजा = and the king;
रक्षसाम् = of demons;
वक्तव्यः = be told;
भवद्भ्याम् = by you;
यतोक्तं = as told;
मम वचनम् = in my words.
“When you return to the city of Lanka, repeat my words faithfully to Ravana the younger half-brother of Kubera and the king of demons.” 22.
यद् बलम् च समाश्रित्य सीताम् मे हृतवान् असि ||
तद् दर्शय यथा कामम् ससैन्यः सह बान्धवः |
यद् = that;
बलम् = force;
समाश्रित्य = on which you relied;
हृतवान् असि = when you were taking away;
सीताम् = Seetha;
दर्शय = display;
यथा कामम्= at your will;
तत् = that force;
ससैनयैः = along with your troops;
सह बान्धवः= and with your allies.
“That force on which you relied when you were taking away Seetha from me, display that force at your will along with your troops and allies.” 23.
श्वः काले नगरीम् लंकाम् सप्राकाराम् सतोरणाम् ||
राक्षसम् च बलम् पश्य शरैर् विध्वंसितम् मया |
श्वः = tomorrow;
काले = at break of day;
पश्य = you will see;
नगरीम् = the city of Lanka;
सप्राकाराम् = with its ramparts;
सतोरणाम् = and arches;
बलम् = (as well as) the army;
राक्षसम् = of demons;
विध्वंसितम् = demolished;
मया = by me;
शरैः = by my arrows.
“Tomorrow, at break of day, you will see my arrows demolish the city of Lanka with its ramparts and arches as well as the army of demons.” 24.
खोधम् भीममहम् मोक्ष्ये बलम् धारय रावण ||
श्वः काले वज्रवान् दानवेष्व् इव वासवः |
रावण = O, Ravana!
श्वः = tomorrow;
काले = at break of day;
अहम् = I;
मोक्ष्यामि = shall cast;
भीमम्= my terrific;
क्रोधं = andger;
त्वयि= on you;
ससैन्ये = with your army;
वज्रम् इव = as casting a thunderbolt;
दानवेषु = on demons;
वासवः = Indra the Lord of Celestials;
वज्रवान् = wielding the thunder-bolt.
“O, Ravana! Tomorrow, at break of day I will cast my dreadful anger on you and your army as Indra the Lord of celestials wielding a thunderbolt casts the thunderbolt on demons.” 25.
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टौ राक्षसौ शुक सारणौ ||
जयेति प्रतिनन्द्यैनम् राघवम् धर्मवत्सलम् |
आगम्य नगरीम् लंकाम् अब्रूताम् राक्षस अधिपम् ||
इति = thus;
प्रतिसमादिष्टौ = commanded;
शुक सारणौ = Shuka and Sarana;
राक्षसौ = the demons;
प्रतिनन्द्य = admired;
इति = that;
जय = “May you be Victorious!”
एनम् = on this;
राघवम् = Rama;
धर्मवत्सलम् = who was intent on righteousness;
आगम्य = reached;
लंकाम् नगरीम् = the city of Lanka;
अब्रूताम् = and spoke;
राक्षस अधिपम् = to Ravana.
Receiving this command, the two demons, Shuka and Sarana, admiring his justice, cried out: “May you be victorious!”, reached the city of Lanka and spoke to Ravana as follows: 26; 27.
विभीषण गृहीतौ तु वध अर्हौ राक्षस ईश्वर |
दृष्ट्वा धर्म आत्मना मुक्तौ रामेण अमित तेजसा ||
राक्षस ईश्वर= O, king of demons!
विभीषण गृहीतौ = we were seized by Vibhishana;
वध अरथं= with the intention of killing us;
रामेण = but by Rama;
धर्म आत्मना= the pious
अमित तेजसा = whose valor is immeasurable;
मुक्तौ = we were released;
दृष्ट्वा = on seeing.
“O, king of demons! We were seized by Vibhishana with the intention of killing us. But, Rama, the pious minded whose valour is immeasurable, seeing us, set us free.” 28.
एक स्थान गता यत्र चत्वारः पुरुष ऋषभाः |
लोक पाल उपमाः शूराः कृत अस्त्रा दृढ विक्रमाः ||
रामो दाशरथिः श्रीमाम्ल् लक्ष्मणः च विभीषणः |
महातेजा महाइन्द्र सम विक्रमः ||
एते शक्ताः पुरीम् लंकाम् सप्राकाराम् सतोरणाम् |
उत्पाट्य सम्क्रामयितुम् सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु वानराः ||
यत्र = where;
चत्वारः = the four;
पुरुष ऋषभाः = eminent persons;
लोकपालसमाः = who are equal to the protector of the worlds;
शूराः = the valiant ones;
कृत अस्त्रा = skilled in the use of weapons;
दृढविक्रमः= and of proven prowess;
रामाः = Rama;
दाशरथिः = son of Dasartha;
श्रीमान् = the illustrious;
लक्ष्मणः = Lakshmana;
महातेजाः = the great resplendent;
विभीषणः = Vibhishana;
सुग्रीवः च = and Sugreeva;
महाइन्द्र सम विक्रमः = whose valour is equal to that of Indra the Lord of celestials;
एक स्थान गताः = are stationed at the same place;
एते= they;
उत्पाट्य = having plucked up;
लंकापुरीम् = the city of Lanka;
सप्राकाराम् = with its ramparts;
सतोरणाम् = and arches;
शक्ताः = are able;
सम्क्रामयितुम् = to transplant it elswhere;
सर्वे = (even if) all;
वानराः = (the) monkeys;
तिष्ठन्तु = keep aloof.
“Where the four eminent persons who are equal to the protector of the worlds, the valiant ones skilled in the use of weapons and of proven prowess namely Rama the son of Dasaratha, the illustrious Lakshmana, the great resplendent Vibhishana and Sugreeva whose valour is equal to Indra the Lord of celestials, are stationed at the same place, they can pluck up the city of Lanka with its ramparts and arches and transplant it elswhere, even if all the monkeys keep aloof.” 29; 20; 31.
यादृशम् तस्य रामस्य रूपम् प्रहरणानि च |
वधिष्यति पुरीम् लंकाम् एकस् तिष्ठन्तु ते त्रयः ||
तत् = such;
रामस्य = is Rama’s;
रूपम् = from;
यादृशम् = and such;
प्रहरणानि च= are his weapons;
एकः = that he can alone;
वधिष्यति = overthrow;
लंकापुरीम् = the city of Lanka;
ते त्रयः = his three companions;
तिष्ठन्तु = standing by.
“Such is Rama’s form and such are his weapons, that he can alone overthrow the city of Lanka, his three other companious standing by.” 32.
राम लक्ष्मण गुप्ता सा सुग्रीवेण च वाहिनी |
बभूव दुर्धर्षतरा सर्वैर् अपि सुर असुरैः ||
सा वाहिनी = that army;
राम लक्ष्मण गुप्ता= protected by Rama and Lakshmana;
सुग्रीवेण च = as well as by sugreeva;
बभूव = are;
दुर्धर्षतरा = exceedingly unconquerable;
सर्वैः = by all;
सुर असुरैः अपि = the gods and demons even.
“That army protected by Rama and Lakshmana as well as Sugreeva, are exceedingly unconquerable even by all the gods and demons.” 33.
प्रहृष्ट रूपा ध्वजिनी वन ओकसाम् |
वनौकसाम् सम्प्रति योद्धुम् इच्चताम् |
अलम् विरोधेन शमो विधीयताम् |
प्रदीयताम् दाशरथाय मैथिली ||
samprati = now;
ध्वजिनी = the army;
वनौकसाम् = of the monkeys;
महात्मनां = the minghty ones;
इच्चताम् = who are inclined;
योद्धुं= to fight;
फृह्रुष्टयोद्दाः = has cheerful warriors;
अलम् = enough;
विरोधेन = of hte enmity;
शमः = (Let) peace;
विधीयताम् = be made;
प्रदीयताम् = restore;
मैथिली = Seetha;
दाशरथाय = to Rama.
“Now, the army of the mighty monkeys, who are readily inclined to fight, consists of cheerful warriors. Mae peace, instead of enmity with them. Restore Seetha to Rama.” 34.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः
Thus completes 26th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Janamejayan's धर्म जिज्ञासा 