Sarga 38

Verse 1

सतुकृत्वासुवेलस्यमतिमारोहणंप्रति ।लक्ष्मणानुगतोरामःसुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत् ।।।।विभीषणंचधर्मज्ञमनुरक्तंनिशाचरम् ।मन्त्रज्ञंचविधिज्ञंचश्लक्क्ष्णयापरयागिरा ।।।।

Having resolved upon ascending Suvela, Rāma—accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa—spoke these words to Sugrīva, and also to Vibhīṣaṇa: righteous in conduct, deeply devoted, a rākṣasa by birth, yet skilled in counsel and right procedure—addressing them in polished and respectful speech.

Verse 2

सतुकृत्वासुवेलस्यमतिमारोहणंप्रति ।लक्ष्मणानुगतोरामःसुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत् ।।6.38.1।।विभीषणंचधर्मज्ञमनुरक्तंनिशाचरम् ।मन्त्रज्ञंचविधिज्ञंचश्लक्क्ष्णयापरयागिरा ।।6.38.2।।

And (he addressed) Vibhīṣaṇa—the night-ranger who knew dharma, who was devoted (to their cause), who understood counsel and knew proper procedure—speaking to him in a refined and excellent manner.

Verse 3

सुवेलंसाधुशैलेन्द्रमिमंधातुशतैश्चितम् ।अध्यारोहामहेसर्वेवत्स्यामोऽत्रनिशामिमाम् ।।।।

Let us all climb this excellent lordly mountain Suvela, richly adorned with hundreds of minerals, and stay here tonight.

Verse 4

लङ्कांचालोकयिष्यामोनिलयंतस्यरक्षसः ।येनमेमरणान्तायहृताभार्यादुरात्मना ।।।।येनधर्मोनविज्ञातोनतद्वृत्तंनकुलंतथा ।राक्षस्यानीचयाबुद् ध्यायेनतद्गर्हितंकृतम् ।।।।

And we shall look upon Laṅkā, the dwelling of that Rākṣasa—by whom, that evil-souled one, my wife was stolen, as though to bring me to death; by whom dharma was not understood, nor proper conduct, nor the honor of lineage—by whom, with a base rākṣasa-minded intellect, that shameful deed was done.

Verse 5

लङ्कांचालोकयिष्यामोनिलयंतस्यरक्षसः ।येनमेमरणान्तायहृताभार्यादुरात्मना ।।6.38.4।।येनधर्मोनविज्ञातोनतद्वृत्तंनकुलंतथा ।राक्षस्यानीचयाबुद् ध्यायेनतद्गर्हितंकृतम् ।।6.38.5।।

We shall look upon Laṅkā, the dwelling of that Rākṣasa—the evil-minded one who stole my wife, as though to bring me to death; who understood neither dharma nor proper conduct nor the honor of lineage, and who, with base rākṣasa-minded intellect, committed that disgraceful deed.

Verse 6

तस्मिन्मेवर्ततेरोषःकीर्तितेराक्षसाधमे ।यस्यापराधाननीचस्यवधंद्रक्ष्यामिरक्षसाम् ।।।।

At the very mention of that vile rākṣasa, my wrath rises; because of the offenses of that base one, I shall witness the destruction of the rākṣasas.

Verse 7

एकोहिकुरुतेपापंकालपाशवशंगतः ।नीचेनात्मापचारेणकुलंतेनविनश्यति ।।।।

Indeed, one man commits a sin and falls under the noose of Death; through that base person’s own misconduct, an entire lineage may perish because of him.

Verse 8

एवंसम्मन्त्रयन्नेवसक्रोधोरावणंप्रति ।रामःसुवेलमासाद्यचित्रसानुमुपारुहत् ।।।।

Thus, while speaking in this manner—his anger directed toward Rāvaṇa—Rāma reached Suvela and climbed up its beautiful slopes.

Verse 9

पृष्ठतोलक्ष्मणश्चैवमन्वगच्छत्समाहितः ।सशरंचापमुद्यम्यसुमहद्विक्रमेरतः ।।।।अन्वारोहत्सुग्रीवस्सामात्यस्सविभीषणः ।

Close behind, the composed Lakṣmaṇa followed, lifting his bow with arrows, intent on mighty valor; and Sugrīva too climbed after him, along with his ministers and Vibhīṣaṇa.

Verse 10

हनुमानङ्गदोनीलोमैन्दोद्विविदएवच ।।।।गजोगवाक्षोगवयश्शरभोगन्धमादनः ।पनसःकुमुदश्चैवहरोरम्भश्चयूथपः ।।।।जाम्बवांश्चसुषेणश्चऋषभश्चमहामतिः ।दुर्मुखश्चमहातेजास्तथाशतवलिःकपिः ।।।।एतेचान्येचबहवोवानराशशीघ्रगामिनः ।तेवायुवेगप्रवणास्तंगिरिगिरिचारिणः ।।।।अध्यारोहन्तशतशस्सुवेलंयत्रराघवः ।

Hanumān, Aṅgada, Nīla, Mainda, and Dvivida; Gaja, Gavākṣa, Gavaya, Śarabha, Gandhamādana; Panasa, Kumuda, Hara, Rambha—leaders of troops; Jāmbavān, Suṣeṇa, the wise Ṛṣabha; mighty Durmukha and Śatavali—these and many other swift-moving vānaras, skilled to surge like the wind and to range among mountains, ascended Suvela in hundreds, to where Rāghava was.

Verse 11

हनुमानङ्गदोनीलोमैन्दोद्विविदएवच ।।6.38.10।।गजोगवाक्षोगवयश्शरभोगन्धमादनः ।पनसःकुमुदश्चैवहरोरम्भश्चयूथपः ।।6.38.11।।जाम्बवांश्चसुषेणश्चऋषभश्चमहामतिः ।दुर्मुखश्चमहातेजास्तथाशतवलिःकपिः ।।6.38.12।।एतेचान्येचबहवोवानराशशीघ्रगामिनः ।तेवायुवेगप्रवणास्तंगिरिगिरिचारिणः ।।6.38.13।।अध्यारोहन्तशतशस्सुवेलंयत्रराघवः ।

Gaja, Gavākṣa, Gavaya, Śarabha, Gandhamādana, Panasa, Kumuda, Hara, and Rambha—these were the vanara leaders (yūthapas) as well.

Verse 12

हनुमानङ्गदोनीलोमैन्दोद्विविदएवच ।।6.38.10।।गजोगवाक्षोगवयश्शरभोगन्धमादनः ।पनसःकुमुदश्चैवहरोरम्भश्चयूथपः ।।6.38.11।।जाम्बवांश्चसुषेणश्चऋषभश्चमहामतिः ।दुर्मुखश्चमहातेजास्तथाशतवलिःकपिः ।।6.38.12।।एतेचान्येचबहवोवानराशशीघ्रगामिनः ।तेवायुवेगप्रवणास्तंगिरिगिरिचारिणः ।।6.38.13।।अध्यारोहन्तशतशस्सुवेलंयत्रराघवः ।

Jāmbavān and Suṣeṇa, and the great-minded Ṛṣabha; Durmukha of mighty energy, and likewise Śatavali the monkey—(these too were among the chiefs).

Verse 13

हनुमानङ्गदोनीलोमैन्दोद्विविदएवच ।।6.38.10।।गजोगवाक्षोगवयश्शरभोगन्धमादनः ।पनसःकुमुदश्चैवहरोरम्भश्चयूथपः ।।6.38.11।।जाम्बवांश्चसुषेणश्चऋषभश्चमहामतिः ।दुर्मुखश्चमहातेजास्तथाशतवलिःकपिः ।।6.38.12।।एतेचान्येचबहवोवानराशशीघ्रगामिनः ।तेवायुवेगप्रवणास्तंगिरिगिरिचारिणः ।।6.38.13।।अध्यारोहन्तशतशस्सुवेलंयत्रराघवः ।

These and many other vanaras—swift in movement—accustomed to the speed of the wind, and roaming from mountain to mountain, (advanced together).

Verse 14

तेत्वदीर्घेणकालेनगिरिमारुह्यसर्वतः ।।।।ददृशुशशिखरेतस्यविषक्तामिवखेपुरीम् ।

Then, in a very short time, having climbed the mountain from all sides, they saw upon its summit the city—seeming as though it clung to the sky.

Verse 15

तांशुभांप्रवरद्वारांप्राकारपरिशोभिताम् ।।।।लङ्कांराक्षससम्पूर्णांददृशुर्हरियूथपाः ।

The vanara commanders beheld Laṅkā—splendid, with excellent gateways, adorned by ramparts and walls, yet filled throughout with rākṣasas.

Verse 16

प्राकारवरसंस्थैश्चतथानीलैश्चराक्षसैः ।।।।ददृशुस्तेहरिश्रेष्ठाःप्राकारमपरंकृतम् ।

Those foremost of vanaras saw dark rākṣasas positioned along the excellent ramparts—forming, as it were, yet another living wall of defense.

Verse 17

तेदृष्टवावानराःसर्वेराक्षसान् युद्धकाङ् क्षिणः ।।।।मुमुचुर्विविधान्नादांतत्ररामस्यपश्यतः ।

Seeing the rākṣasas, all the vanaras—longing for battle—let out many kinds of war-cries there, even as Rāma looked on.

Verse 18

ततोऽस्तमगमत्पूर्यःसन्ध्ययाप्रतिरञ्जितः ।।।।पूर्णचन्द्रप्रदीप्ताचक्षपासमभिवर्तते ।

Then the sun set, reddened by twilight; and the night advanced, illumined by the full moon.

Verse 19

ततस्सरामोहरिवाहिनीपतिर्विभीषणेनप्रतिनन्द्यसत्कृतः ।सलक्ष्मणोयूथपयूथसम्वृतस्सुवेलपृष्ठेन्यवसद्यथासुखम् ।।।।

Then Rāma, lord of the vanara host—honoured and duly welcomed by Vibhīṣaṇa—together with Lakṣmaṇa and surrounded by companies of troop-leaders, took rest upon the slopes of Suvela as he pleased.