Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War

Chapter [Sarga] 23
Verses converted to UTF-8, Nov 09

Introduction

Rama explains to Lakshmana the various portents, he observes around him, that signal a destructive war fare. He orders for formation of battalions in the army and surges forth together with the battalions towards Lanka.

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nimittāni nimittajño dṛṣṭvā lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ |
saumitrim sampariṣvajya idam vacanambravīt || 6-21-1

1. lakshhmaNa puurvajaH = Rama; nimittaj^NaH = who was acquainted with omens; dR^IshhTNaa = on seeing; nimittaani = the omens; samparishhvajya = embraced; soumitrim = Lakshmana; abraviit = and spoke; idam = these; vachanam = words.

Rama, who was well acquainted with portents, on seeing the portents around, embraced Lakshmana and spoke as follows:

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parigṛhyodakam śītam vanāni phalavanti ca |
balau gham samvibhajyemam vyūhya tiṣṭhema lakṣmaṇa || 6-21-2

2. lakshhmaNa = O; Lakshmana; parigR^ihya = acquiring (this region provided with); shiitam = cold; udakam = water; vanaanicha = and woods; phalavanti = abounding in fruit; samvibhajya = let us speedily divide; idam = this; balougham = multitude of forces; (into battalions); vyuuhya = and drawing it up in battle array; tishhThema = we shall remain stand at attention.

"O, Lakshmana! Acquiring this region endowed with cold water and woods abounding in fruits, let us speedily divide this multitude of forces into battalions and drawing it up in battle array, we shall stand attentive."

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lokakṣayakaram bhīmam bhayam paśyāmyupasthitam |
prabarhaṇam pravīrāṇāmṛkṣavānararakṣasām || 6-21-3

3. pashyaami = I see; upasthitam = an impending;; bhayam = danger; bhiimam = which is terrific; lokakshhayakaram = causing destruction to the world; prabarhaNam = and torture; praviiraaNaam = the eminent heroes; R^ikshha vaanara raakshhasaam = among bears; monkeys and demons.

"I perceive an impending danger which will be terrific, causing destruction to the world, and torture to the eminent heroes among bears monkeys and demons."

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vātāśca kaluṣā vānti kampate ca vasundharā |
parvatāgrāṇi vepante patanti ca mahīruḥāḥ || 6-21-4

4. vaataaH = winds; vaanti = are blowing; kalushhaH = with dust; vasundharaacha = and earth; kampate = is trembling; parvataagraaNi = mountain-tops; vepanti = are quivering; mahiiruhaaH = trees; patanticha = are falling down.

"Winds are blowing with dust and earth is trembling. Mountain- tops are quivering and trees are falling down."

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meghāḥ kravyādasamkāśāḥ paruṣāḥ paruṣasvanāḥ |
krūrāḥ krūram pravarṣanti miśram śoṇitabindubhiḥ || 6-21-5

5. kruuraH = ferocious; meghaaH = clouds; kravyaada samkaashaH = resembling wild beasts; parushhaaH = dirty colored; parushha svanaaH = with harsh sound; pravarshhanti = are raining; kruuram = cruelly; mishram = mixed; shoNitabindubhiH = with drops of blood.

"Ferocious clouds resembling wild beasts were dirty colored and emit a terrific roaring and let loose dreadful showers mingled with drops of blood."

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raktacandanasamkāśā saṃdhyā paramadāruṇā |
jvalataḥ prapatatyetadādityādagnimaṇḍalam || 6-21-6

6. samdhyaa = evening twilight; raktachandana samkaashaah = resembling red sandalwood; paramadaaruNaa = is very much dreadful; jvalatah = from the blazing; aadityaat = sun; etat = this; agnimaN^Dalam = ball of fire; patanticha = falls.

"Evening twilight resembling red sandal wood is very much dreadful. From the blazing sun, balls of fire fall."

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dīnā dīnasvarāḥ krūrāḥ sarvato mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ |
pratyādityam vinardanti janayanto mahadbhayam || 6-21-7

7. kruura mR^iga pakshhiNaH = wild animals and birds; vinardanti = are roaring; diinaaH = pitiably; diinasvaraaH = with melancholic sound; pratyaadityam = facing towards the sun; mahat = in great; bhayam = fear.

"Wild animals and birds from all sides are roaring pitiably with melancholic sound, facing towards the sun in great fear."

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rajanyāmaprakāśastu samtāpayati candramāḥ |
kṛṣṇaraktāṃśuparyanto lokakṣaya ivoditaḥ || 6-21-8

8. chandramaah = the moon; uditaiva = as though rising; lokakshhaye = at the time of universal dissolution;kR^ishhNa raktaamshu paryantaH = invested with a black and red halo; samtaapayati = is tormenting(the mind); aprakaashaH = splendourless; rajanyaam = at night.

"The splendorous moon as though rising at the time of universal dissolution, invested with a black and red halo is tormenting the mind this night."

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hrasvo rūkṣo.apraśastaśca pariveṣastu lohitaḥ |
āditye vimale vīlam lakṣma lakṣmaṇa dṛśyate || 6-21-9

9. lakshhmaNa = O; Lakshmana! Niilam = a dark; lakshhma = stain; dR^ishyate = appears; vimale aaditye pariveshhaH = on the colorless solar disc; hrasvaH = which is diminished; ruukshhaH = dreary; aprashastah = inauspicious; lohitaH = and coppery.

"O, Lakshmana! A dark stain appears on the cloudless solar disc, which is diminished, dreary, inauspicious and coppery."

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rajasā mahatā cāpi nakṣatrāṇi hatāni ca |
yugāntamiva lokānām paśya śasanti lakṣmaṇa || 6-21-10

10. O; lakshhmaNa = O; Lakshmana! Pashya = look! Nakshhatraani = stars; hataani = enveloped; mohataa = in enormous; rajasaa = dust; shamsantiiva = appear to announce; yugaantam = a dissolution; lokaanaam = of the worlds.

"O, Lakshmana! Look! Stars enveloped in enormous dust, appear to announce a dissolution of the world."

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kākāḥ śyenāstathā nīcā gṛdhrāḥ paripatanti ca |
śivāścāpyaśubhānnādānnadanti sumahābhayān || 6-21-11

11. kaakaaH = crows; shyenaaH = eagles; tathaa = and; gR^iddhaaH = vultures; paripatanti = are flying; niichaaH = low; shivaashchaapi = jackals also; nadanti = are howling; sumahaabhayaan = very dreadful; ashubhaan = and inauspicious; naadaan = sounds.

"Crows, eagles and vultures are flying low. Jackals too are howling very dreadful and inauspicious sounds."

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śailaiḥ śūlaiśca khaḍgaiśca vimukaiḥ kapirākṣasaiḥ |
bhaviṣyatyāvṛtā bhūmirmāṃsaśoṇitakardamā || 6-21-12

12. bhuumiH = earth; bhavishhyati = will become; aavR^itaaH = covered by; shailaiH = rocks; shuulaiH = spears; khadgaishcha = and swords; vimuktaiH = hurled; kapiraakshhsaiH = by monkeys and demons; maamsa shoNita kardamaa = and a quagmire of flesh and blood.

"Earth will become a quagmire of flesh and blood, covered with rocks spears and swords hurled by monkeys and demons."

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kṣipramadyaiva durdharṣām purīm rāvaṇapālitām |
abhiyāma javenaiva sarvairharibhirāvṛtāḥ || 6-21-13

13. aavR^itaaH = abounding with; sarvaiH = all; haribhiH = monkeys; abhiyaama = we shall attack; puriim = the city; raavaNaHpaalitaam = ruled by Ravana; adyaiva = now itself; kshhipram = quickly; javenaiva = with a speed.

"Abounding with all the monkeys we shall attack the city ruled by Ravana, now itself at a quick pace."

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ityevamuktvā dhanvī sa rāmaḥ samgrāmadharṣaṇaḥ |
pratasthe purato rāmo laṅkāmabhimukho vibhuḥ || 6-21-14

14. raamaH = Rama; vibhuH = the Lord; samgraama dharshhaNaH = the conqueror of enemies in battle; raamaH = and a charming man; ityevam = thus; uktvaa = speaking; dhanvii = wielding a bow; pratasthe = and traveled; purataH = in front; abhimukhaH = facing; laNkaam = towards Lanka.

Rama the lord, the conqueror of enemies and a charming man thus speaking, wielded a bow and sallied forth in front, facing towards Lanka.

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savibhīṣaṇasugrīvāḥ sarve te vānararṣabhāḥ |
pratasthire vinardanto dhṛtānām dviṣatām vadhe || 6-21-15

15. sarve- = all; te = those; vaanarshhabhaaH = excellent monkeys; savibhiishhaNasugrivaaH = together with Vibhishana and Sugriva; vinardantaH = making roaring sounds; pratasthire = surged forth; vadhe = for thedestruction; dvishhataam = of enemies; dhR^itaanaam = the audacious.

All those excellent monkeys, together with Vibhishana and Sugriva making roaring sounds surged forth for the destruction of the audacious enemies.

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rāghavasya priyārtham tu sutarām vīryaśālinām |
harīṇām karmaceṣṭābhistutoṣa raghunandanaḥ || 6-21-16

16. raghunandanaH = Rama; tutoshha = was pleased; karmacheshhTaabhiH = by the acts and gestures; sutaraam = of very; viirya shaalinaam = strong; hariiNaam = monkeys; priyaartham = for the sake of their beloved; raaghavasya = Rama.

Rama on his part was pleased by the act and gestures of those very strong monkeys, with their intention to gratify him.

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ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe trayoviṃśaḥ sargaḥ

Thus completes 23rd Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Verse Locator for Book VI : Yuddha Kanda - Book Of War : Chapter 23

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© February 2004, K. M. K. Murthy