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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निमित्तानि निमित्तज्ञो दृष्ट्वा लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः |
सौमित्रिम् सम्परिष्वज्य इदम् वचनम्ब्रवीत् || ६-२१-१

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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परिगृह्योदकम् शीतम् वनानि फलवन्ति च |
बलौ घम् सम्विभज्येमम् व्यूह्य तिष्ठेम लक्ष्मण || ६-२१-२

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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लोकक्षयकरम् भीमम् भयम् पश्याम्युपस्थितम् |
प्रबर्हणम् प्रवीराणामृक्षवानररक्षसाम् || ६-२१-३

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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वाताश्च कलुषा वान्ति कम्पते च वसुन्धरा |
पर्वताग्राणि वेपन्ते पतन्ति च महीरुःआः || ६-२१-४

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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मेघाः क्रव्यादसम्काशाः परुषाः परुषस्वनाः |
क्रूराः क्रूरम् प्रवर्षन्ति मिश्रम् शोणितबिन्दुभिः || ६-२१-५

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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रक्तचन्दनसम्काशा संध्या परमदारुणा |
ज्वलतः प्रपतत्येतदादित्यादग्निमण्डलम् || ६-२१-६

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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दीना दीनस्वराः क्रूराः सर्वतो मृगपक्षिणः |
प्रत्यादित्यम् विनर्दन्ति जनयन्तो महद्भयम् || ६-२१-७

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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रजन्यामप्रकाशस्तु सम्तापयति चन्द्रमाः |
कृष्णरक्तांशुपर्यन्तो लोकक्षय इवोदितः || ६-२१-८

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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ह्रस्वो रूक्षोऽप्रशस्तश्च परिवेषस्तु लोहितः |
आदित्ये विमले वीलम् लक्ष्म लक्ष्मण दृश्यते || ६-२१-९

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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रजसा महता चापि नक्षत्राणि हतानि च |
युगान्तमिव लोकानाम् पश्य शसन्ति लक्ष्मण || ६-२१-१०

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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काकाः श्येनास्तथा नीचा गृध्राः परिपतन्ति च |
शिवाश्चाप्यशुभान्नादान्नदन्ति सुमहाभयान् || ६-२१-११

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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शैलैः शूलैश्च खड्गैश्च विमुकैः कपिराक्षसैः |
भविष्यत्यावृता भूमिर्मांसशोणितकर्दमा || ६-२१-१२

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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क्षिप्रमद्यैव दुर्धर्षाम् पुरीम् रावणपालिताम् |
अभियाम जवेनैव सर्वैर्हरिभिरावृताः || ६-२१-१३

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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इत्येवमुक्त्वा धन्वी स रामः सम्ग्रामधर्षणः |
प्रतस्थे पुरतो रामो लङ्कामभिमुखो विभुः || ६-२१-१४

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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सविभीषणसुग्रीवाः सर्वे ते वानरर्षभाः |
प्रतस्थिरे विनर्दन्तो धृतानाम् द्विषताम् वधे || ६-२१-१५

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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राघवस्य प्रियार्थम् तु सुतराम् वीर्यशालिनाम् |
हरीणाम् कर्मचेष्टाभिस्तुतोष रघुनन्दनः || ६-२१-१६

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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इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे त्रयोविंशः सर्गः

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