Sarga 39

Verse 1

तांरात्रिमुषितास्तत्रसुवेलेहरिपुङ्गवाः ।लङ्कायांददृशुर्वीरावनान्युपवनानिच ।।6.39.1।।

Spending that night there on Suvela, the heroic leaders of the monkeys beheld in Laṅkā its forests and its pleasure-groves.

Verse 2

समसौम्यानिरम्याणिविशालान्यायतानिच ।दृष्टिरम्याणितेदृष्टवाबभूवुर्जातविस्मयाः ।।6.39.2।।

Seeing the level, gentle, delightful stretches—broad and far-reaching, pleasing to the eye—they were filled with wonder.

Verse 3

चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागसालतालसमाकुला ।तमालवनसञ्छन्नानागमालासमावृता ।।6.39.3।।हिन्तालैरर्जुनैर्नीपैस्सप्तपर्णैश्चपुष्पितैः ।तिलकैःकर्णिकारैश्चपाटलैश्चसमन्ततः ।।6.39.4।।शुशुभेपुष्पिताग्रैश्चलतापरिगतैर्द्रुमैः ।लङ्काबहुविधैर्दिव्यैर्यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती ।।6.39.5।।विचित्रकुसुमोपेतैरक्तकोमलपल्लवैः ।शाद्वलैश्चतथानीपैश्चित्राभिर्वनराजिभिः ।।6.39.6।।

Laṅkā appeared richly wooded—filled with campaka, aśoka, punnāga, sāla, tāla and other trees; screened by groves of tamāla and encircled by nāgamāla. Everywhere it was adorned with blossoming hintāla, arjuna, nīpa, saptaparṇa, tilaka, karṇikāra, and pāṭala trees. With flower-laden crowns and creepers twining about the trunks, the city shone with many kinds of wondrous growth, like Indra’s Amarāvatī—bright with variegated blossoms, tender reddish shoots, green lawns, and colorful forest-belts.

Verse 4

चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागसालतालसमाकुला ।तमालवनसञ्छन्नानागमालासमावृता ।।6.39.3।।हिन्तालैरर्जुनैर्नीपैस्सप्तपर्णैश्चपुष्पितैः ।तिलकैःकर्णिकारैश्चपाटलैश्चसमन्ततः ।।6.39.4।।शुशुभेपुष्पिताग्रैश्चलतापरिगतैर्द्रुमैः ।लङ्काबहुविधैर्दिव्यैर्यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती ।।6.39.5।।विचित्रकुसुमोपेतैरक्तकोमलपल्लवैः ।शाद्वलैश्चतथानीपैश्चित्राभिर्वनराजिभिः ।।6.39.6।।

Laṅkā appeared richly wooded—filled with campaka, aśoka, punnāga, sāla, tāla and other trees; screened by groves of tamāla and encircled by nāgamāla. Everywhere it was adorned with blossoming hintāla, arjuna, nīpa, saptaparṇa, tilaka, karṇikāra, and pāṭala trees. With flower-laden crowns and creepers twining about the trunks, the city shone with many kinds of wondrous growth, like Indra’s Amarāvatī—bright with variegated blossoms, tender reddish shoots, green lawns, and colorful forest-belts.

Verse 5

चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागसालतालसमाकुला ।तमालवनसञ्छन्नानागमालासमावृता ।।6.39.3।।हिन्तालैरर्जुनैर्नीपैस्सप्तपर्णैश्चपुष्पितैः ।तिलकैःकर्णिकारैश्चपाटलैश्चसमन्ततः ।।6.39.4।।शुशुभेपुष्पिताग्रैश्चलतापरिगतैर्द्रुमैः ।लङ्काबहुविधैर्दिव्यैर्यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती ।।6.39.5।।विचित्रकुसुमोपेतैरक्तकोमलपल्लवैः ।शाद्वलैश्चतथानीपैश्चित्राभिर्वनराजिभिः ।।6.39.6।।

Laṅkā appeared richly wooded—filled with campaka, aśoka, punnāga, sāla, tāla and other trees; screened by groves of tamāla and encircled by nāgamāla. Everywhere it was adorned with blossoming hintāla, arjuna, nīpa, saptaparṇa, tilaka, karṇikāra, and pāṭala trees. With flower-laden crowns and creepers twining about the trunks, the city shone with many kinds of wondrous growth, like Indra’s Amarāvatī—bright with variegated blossoms, tender reddish shoots, green lawns, and colorful forest-belts.

Verse 6

चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागसालतालसमाकुला ।तमालवनसञ्छन्नानागमालासमावृता ।।6.39.3।।हिन्तालैरर्जुनैर्नीपैस्सप्तपर्णैश्चपुष्पितैः ।तिलकैःकर्णिकारैश्चपाटलैश्चसमन्ततः ।।6.39.4।।शुशुभेपुष्पिताग्रैश्चलतापरिगतैर्द्रुमैः ।लङ्काबहुविधैर्दिव्यैर्यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती ।।6.39.5।।विचित्रकुसुमोपेतैरक्तकोमलपल्लवैः ।शाद्वलैश्चतथानीपैश्चित्राभिर्वनराजिभिः ।।6.39.6।।

Laṅkā appeared richly wooded—filled with campaka, aśoka, punnāga, sāla, tāla and other trees; screened by groves of tamāla and encircled by nāgamāla. Everywhere it was adorned with blossoming hintāla, arjuna, nīpa, saptaparṇa, tilaka, karṇikāra, and pāṭala trees. With flower-laden crowns and creepers twining about the trunks, the city shone with many kinds of wondrous growth, like Indra’s Amarāvatī—bright with variegated blossoms, tender reddish shoots, green lawns, and colorful forest-belts.

Verse 7

गन्धाढ्यान्यभिरम्याणिपुष्पाणिचफलानिच ।धारयन्त्यगमास्तत्रभूषणानीवमानवाः ।।6.39.7।।

There, on reaching that place, the trees bore fragrant, enchanting flowers and fruits, as though people were wearing ornaments.

Verse 8

तच्चैत्ररथसङ्काशंमनोज्ञंनन्दनोपमम् ।वनंसर्वरर्तुकंरम्यंशुशुभेषटपदायुतम् ।।6.39.8।।

That delightful grove resembled Caitraratha and was like Indra’s Nandana garden—lovely in every season, and radiant with swarms of bees.

Verse 9

नत्यूहकोयष्टिमकैर्नृत्यमानैश्चबर्हिभि ।रुतंपरभृतानांचशुश्रुवुर्वन्निर्झरे ।।6.39.9।।

In that grove with its cascades, they heard the calls of cuckoos, while peacocks danced, and water-birds—gallinules, lapwings, and herons—cried out.

Verse 10

नित्यमत्तविहङ्गानिभ्रमराचरितानिच ।कोकिलाकुलषण्डानिविहगाभिरुतानिच ।।6.39.10।।भृङ्गराजाभिगीतानिभ्रमरैस्सेवितानिच ।कोणालकविघुष्टानिसारसाभिरुतानिच ।।6.39.11।।विविशुस्तेततस्तानिवनान्युपवनानिच ।हृष्टाःप्रमुदितावीराहरयःकामरूपिणः ।।6.39.12।।

Then those heroic monkeys—able to assume forms at will—entered those forests and gardens, delighted and exhilarated: places alive with birds in constant excitement, frequented by roaming bees; groves crowded with cuckoos and filled with birdsong; resonant with the humming ‘kings of bees,’ thronged by bees; and echoing with the calls of many birds and the cries of cranes.

Verse 11

नित्यमत्तविहङ्गानिभ्रमराचरितानिच ।कोकिलाकुलषण्डानिविहगाभिरुतानिच ।।6.39.10।।भृङ्गराजाभिगीतानिभ्रमरैस्सेवितानिच ।कोणालकविघुष्टानिसारसाभिरुतानिच ।।6.39.11।।विविशुस्तेततस्तानिवनान्युपवनानिच ।हृष्टाःप्रमुदितावीराहरयःकामरूपिणः ।।6.39.12।।

They entered groves that rang with the song of the great black bees, were thronged by swarming bees, echoed with the calls of koṇāla-birds, and resounded with the cries of cranes.

Verse 12

नित्यमत्तविहङ्गानिभ्रमराचरितानिच ।कोकिलाकुलषण्डानिविहगाभिरुतानिच ।।6.39.10।।भृङ्गराजाभिगीतानिभ्रमरैस्सेवितानिच ।कोणालकविघुष्टानिसारसाभिरुतानिच ।।6.39.11।।विविशुस्तेततस्तानिवनान्युपवनानिच ।हृष्टाःप्रमुदितावीराहरयःकामरूपिणः ।।6.39.12।।

Then those heroic Vānara warriors—able to assume forms at will—joyful and exhilarated, entered those woods and pleasure-groves.

Verse 13

तेषांप्रविशतांतत्रवानराणांमहौजसाम् ।पुष्पसंसर्गसुरभिर्ववौघ्राणसुखोऽनिलः ।।6.39.13।।

As those mighty Vānara troops entered there, a wind fragrant with the mingled scent of blossoms blew—bringing delight to the sense of smell.

Verse 14

अन्येतुहरिवीराणांयूथान्निष्क्रम्ययूथपाः ।सुग्रीवेणाभ्यनुज्ञातालङ्कांजग्मुःपताकिनीम् ।।6.39.14।।

Others—leaders of Vānara bands—departed from their troops and, with Sugrīva’s permission, went toward Laṅkā, the city adorned with banners.

Verse 15

वित्रासयन्तोविहगांस्त्रासयन्तोमृगद्विपान् ।कम्पयन्तश्चतांलङ्कांनादैस्तेनदतांवराः ।।6.39.15।।

Best among those who can roar, they advanced with their thunderous cries—startling birds, frightening deer and elephants, and making Laṅkā itself tremble.

Verse 16

कुर्वन्तस्तेमहावेगामहींचरणपीडिताम् ।रजश्चसहसैवोर्थ्वंजगामचरणोत्थितम् ।।6.39.16।।

Those swift-moving ones trampled the earth underfoot with such force that dust, kicked up by their steps, rose upward at once.

Verse 17

ऋक्षास्सिंहावराहाश्चमहिषावारणामृगाः ।तेनशब्देनवित्रस्ताजग्मुर्भीतादिशोदश ।।6.39.17।।

Bears, lions, boars, buffaloes, and elephant-herds—alarmed by that uproar—fled in fear in all ten directions.

Verse 18

शिखरंतत्त्रिकूटस्यप्रांशुचैकंदिविस्पृशम् ।समन्तात्पुष्पसंञ्छन्नंमहारजतसन्निभम् ।।6.39.18।।शतयोजनविस्तीर्णंविमलंचारुदर्शनम् ।श्लक्ष्णंश्रीमन्महच्छैवदुष्प्रापंशकुनैरपि ।।6.39.19।।मनसाऽपिदुरारोहंकिंपुनःकर्मणाजनैः ।

That lofty, singular peak of Trikūṭa rose as though touching the sky—covered everywhere with blossoms and gleaming like bright silver. Spreading a hundred yojanas, pure, beautiful to behold, smooth and splendid, it was hard to reach even for birds—difficult to ascend even in thought, let alone by human effort.

Verse 19

शिखरंतत्त्रिकूटस्यप्रांशुचैकंदिविस्पृशम् ।समन्तात्पुष्पसंञ्छन्नंमहारजतसन्निभम् ।।6.39.18।।शतयोजनविस्तीर्णंविमलंचारुदर्शनम् ।श्लक्ष्णंश्रीमन्महच्छैवदुष्प्रापंशकुनैरपि ।।6.39.19।।मनसाऽपिदुरारोहंकिंपुनःकर्मणाजनैः ।

That lofty, singular peak of Trikūṭa rose as though touching the sky—covered everywhere with blossoms and gleaming like bright silver. Spreading a hundred yojanas, pure, beautiful to behold, smooth and splendid, it was hard to reach even for birds—difficult to ascend even in thought, let alone by human effort.

Verse 20

निविष्टातत्रशिखरेलङ्कारावणपालिता ।।6.39.20।।शतयोजनविस्तीर्णात्रिंशद्योजनमायता ।

There upon that peak lay Laṅkā, ruled by Rāvaṇa—spanning a hundred yojanas in breadth and thirty yojanas in length.

Verse 21

सापुरीगोपुरैरुच्चैःपाण्डुराम्बुदसन्निभैः ।काञ्चनेनचशालेनराजतेनचशोभते ।।6.39.21।।

That city looked radiant: its lofty gate-towers, like pale white clouds, gleamed—its structures fortified and adorned with gold and with silver.

Verse 22

प्रासादैश्चविमानैश्चलङ्कापरमभूषिता ।घनैरिवाऽतपापायेमध्यमंवैष्णवंपदम् ।।6.39.22।।

Adorned with palaces and aerial mansions (vimānas), Laṅkā was exquisitely decorated; and its central edifice, radiant like clouds when the sun breaks through, seemed like the abode of Viṣṇu.

Verse 23

यस्यांस्तम्भसहस्रेणप्रासादस्समलङ्कृतः ।कैलासशिखराकारोदृश्यतेखमिवोललिखन् ।।6.39.23।।चैत्यस्सराक्षसेन्द्रस्यबभूवपुरभूषणम् ।शतेनरक्षसांनित्यंयस्समग्रेणरक्ष्यते ।।6.39.24।।

In that city stood a palace ornamented with a thousand pillars, shaped like the summit of Mount Kailāsa, appearing as though it scratched the sky. That grand shrine-like structure of the lord of rākṣasas became the city’s chief ornament—ever guarded in full measure by a hundred rākṣasas.

Verse 24

यस्यांस्तम्भसहस्रेणप्रासादस्समलङ्कृतः ।कैलासशिखराकारोदृश्यतेखमिवोललिखन् ।।6.39.23।।चैत्यस्सराक्षसेन्द्रस्यबभूवपुरभूषणम् ।शतेनरक्षसांनित्यंयस्समग्रेणरक्ष्यते ।।6.39.24।।

In that city stood a palace ornamented with a thousand pillars, shaped like the summit of Mount Kailāsa, appearing as though it scratched the sky. That grand shrine-like structure of the lord of rākṣasas became the city’s chief ornament—ever guarded in full measure by a hundred rākṣasas.

Verse 25

मनोज्ञांकाननवतींपर्वतैरुपशोभिताम् ।नानाधातुविचित्रैश्चउद्यानैरुपशोभिताम् ।।6.39.25।।नानाविहङ्गासङ्घुष्टांनानामृगनिषेविताम् ।नानाकुसुमसञ्छन्नांनानाराक्षससेविताम् ।।6.39.26।।तांसमृद्धांसमृद्धार्धांलक्ष्मीनान्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः ।रावणस्यपुरींरामोददर्शसहवानरैः ।।6.39.27।।

Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa’s elder brother—himself endowed with prosperity and auspiciousness—beheld Rāvaṇa’s city along with the vānaras: delightful with forests and made splendid by mountains streaked with many minerals; beautified by gardens; resonant with many birds; frequented by many kinds of deer; covered with diverse flowers; and attended by many rākṣasas—abundant and richly flourishing.

Verse 26

मनोज्ञांकाननवतींपर्वतैरुपशोभिताम् ।नानाधातुविचित्रैश्चउद्यानैरुपशोभिताम् ।।6.39.25।।नानाविहङ्गासङ्घुष्टांनानामृगनिषेविताम् ।नानाकुसुमसञ्छन्नांनानाराक्षससेविताम् ।।6.39.26।।तांसमृद्धांसमृद्धार्धांलक्ष्मीनान्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः ।रावणस्यपुरींरामोददर्शसहवानरैः ।।6.39.27।।

Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa’s elder brother—himself endowed with prosperity and auspiciousness—beheld Rāvaṇa’s city along with the vānaras: delightful with forests and made splendid by mountains streaked with many minerals; beautified by gardens; resonant with many birds; frequented by many kinds of deer; covered with diverse flowers; and attended by many rākṣasas—abundant and richly flourishing.

Verse 27

मनोज्ञांकाननवतींपर्वतैरुपशोभिताम् ।नानाधातुविचित्रैश्चउद्यानैरुपशोभिताम् ।।6.39.25।।नानाविहङ्गासङ्घुष्टांनानामृगनिषेविताम् ।नानाकुसुमसञ्छन्नांनानाराक्षससेविताम् ।।6.39.26।।तांसमृद्धांसमृद्धार्धांलक्ष्मीनान्लक्ष्मणाग्रजः ।रावणस्यपुरींरामोददर्शसहवानरैः ।।6.39.27।।

Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa’s elder brother—himself endowed with prosperity and auspiciousness—beheld Rāvaṇa’s city along with the vānaras: delightful with forests and made splendid by mountains streaked with many minerals; beautified by gardens; resonant with many birds; frequented by many kinds of deer; covered with diverse flowers; and attended by many rākṣasas—abundant and richly flourishing.

Verse 28

तांमहागृहसम्बाधांदृष्टवालक्ष्मणपूर्वजः ।नगरीममरप्रख्योविस्मयंप्राप्यवीर्यवान् ।।6.39.28।।

Seeing that city crowded with great mansions, the valiant elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa—radiant like an immortal—was struck with wonder.

Verse 29

तांरत्नपूर्णांबहुसंविधानांप्रासादमालाभिरलङ्कृतांच ।पुरींमहायन्त्रकवाटमुख्यांददर्शरामोमहताबलेन ।।6.39.29।।

With his great host, Rāma beheld that city—filled with jewels, richly arranged in many ways, adorned with rows of palaces, and marked by massive gates fitted with formidable war-engines.