Sarga 102

Verse 6.102.1

शक्त्याविनिहतंदृष्टवारावणेनबलीयसा ।लक्ष्मणंसमरेशूरंरूधिरौघपरिप्लुतम् ।।।।स दत्त्वातुमुलंयुद्धंरावणस्यदुरात्मनः ।विसृजन्नेवबाणौघान् सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Seeing heroic Lakṣmaṇa struck down in battle by the javelin of the exceedingly powerful Rāvaṇa, drenched in streams of blood, Rāma nonetheless pressed the fierce combat against that evil-minded Rāvaṇa—still releasing volleys of arrows—and then spoke these words to Suṣeṇa.

Verse 6.102.2

शक्त्याविनिहतंदृष्टवारावणेनबलीयसा ।लक्ष्मणंसमरेशूरंरूधिरौघपरिप्लुतम् ।।6.102.1।।स दत्त्वातुमुलंयुद्धंरावणस्यदुरात्मनः ।विसृजन्नेवबाणौघान् सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत् ।।6.102.2।।

Seeing heroic Lakṣmaṇa struck down in battle by the spear of the mighty Rāvaṇa and drenched in torrents of blood, Rāma—while waging a fierce fight against that wicked one and still releasing volleys of arrows—spoke these words to Suṣeṇa.

Verse 6.102.3

एषरावणवीर्येणलक्ष्मणःपतितोभुविः ।सर्पवच्चेष्टतेवीरोभूमौशोकमुदिरीयन् ।।।।

If I go without taking Viśalyakaraṇī, delay in time will become a fault, and great confusion will arise.

Verse 6.102.4

शोणितार्द्रमिमंवीरंप्राणैःप्रियतरंमम ।पश्यतोममकाशक्तिर्योद्धुंपर्याकुलात्मनः ।।।।

Rāma, slayer of the enemy’s heroes, called to Lakṣmaṇa, “Come, come!” and with eyes clouded by tears, embraced him tightly in deep affection.

Verse 6.102.5

अ यं स समरश्लाघीभ्रातामेशुभलक्षणः ।यदिपञ्चत्वमापन्नःप्राणैर्मेकिंसुखेनवा ।।।।

For those who speak truth do not make vows in vain; keeping one’s pledge is indeed the mark of greatness.

Verse 6.102.6

लज्जतीवहिवीर्यंभ्रश्यतीवकराद्धनुः ।सायकाव्यवसीदन्तिदृष्टिर्भाष्पवशंगता ।।।।

O sinless one, it is not fitting for you to fall into despair on my account. Today, by slaying Rāvaṇa, uphold your vow.

Verse 6.102.7

अवसीदन्तिगात्राणिस्वप्नयानेनृणामिव ।चिन्तामेवर्ततेतीव्रामुमूर्षापि च जायते ।।।।

No enemy who has entered the path of your arrows will escape alive—just as a great elephant cannot live when caught by a roaring lion with sharp fangs.

Verse 6.102.8

भ्रातरंनिहतंदृष्टवारावणेनदुरात्मना ।विष्टनन्तंतुदुःखार्तंमर्मण्यभिहतंभृशम् ।।।।

I wish to see the death of this evil-minded one swiftly—before the sun, having completed his course, sets.

Verse 6.102.9

राघवोभ्रातरंदृष्टवाप्रियंप्राणंबहिश्चरम् ।दुःखेनमहताविष्टोध्यानशोकपरायणः ।।।।

O hero, noble one—if you wish for Rāvaṇa’s death in battle, if you would see your beneficent vow fulfilled, and if you long for the king’s daughter—then do what I say, quickly, today.

Verse 6.102.10

परंविषादमापन्नोविललापाकुलेन्द्रियः ।भ्रातरंनिहतंदृष्टवालक्ष्मणंरणपांसुषु ।।।।

When he saw his brother Lakṣmaṇa struck down amid the dust of the battlefield, Rāma was overcome with profound despair; his senses shaken, he lamented aloud.

Verse 6.102.11

विजयोऽपिहिमेशूर न प्रियायोपकल्पते ।अचक्षुर्विषयश्चन्द्रःकांप्रीतिंजनयिष्यति ।।।।

O hero, even victory brings me no joy. What delight can the moon give to one for whom it is no longer within the reach of sight?

Verse 6.102.12

किंमेयुद्धेनकिंप्राणैर्युद्धकार्यं न विद्यते ।यत्रायंनिहतश्शेतेरणमूर्धनिलक्ष्मणः ।।।।

What use to me is this battle, what use is life itself? There is no purpose in fighting when Lakṣmaṇa lies struck down at the very front of the fray.

Verse 6.102.13

यथैवमांवनंयान्तमनुयातिमहाद्युतिः ।अहमप्युपयास्यामितथैवैनंयमक्षयम् ।।।।

Just as the radiant Lakṣmaṇa followed me when I went to the forest, so too will I follow him now—to the imperishable abode of Yama, the Lord of Death.

Verse 6.102.14

इष्टबन्धुजनोनित्यंमां स नित्यमनुव्रतः ।इमामवस्थांगमितोराक्षसैःकूटयोधिभिः ।।।।

He who always cherished his loved ones and ever followed faithfully after me—he has been brought to this dreadful condition by the Rākṣasas who fight by deceit.

Verse 6.102.15

देशेदेशेकलत्राणिदेशेदेशे च बान्दवाः ।तंतुदेशं न पश्यामियत्रभ्रातासहोदरः ।।।।

Wives may be found in many places, and relatives too in many places; but I see no land where one can find again a true brother born of the same mother.

Verse 6.102.16

इत्येवंविलपन्तंतंशोकविह्वलितेद्रनियम् ।विवेष्टमानंकरुणमच्छवसन्तंपुनःपुनः ।।।।राममाश्वासयनवीरसुषेनोवाक्यमब्रवीत

As Rāma lamented thus—his senses overwhelmed by grief, writhing in compassion and heaving deep sighs again and again—Suṣeṇa, the valiant one, consoled him and spoke.

Verse 6.102.17

किनुराज्येनदुर्धर्षलक्ष्मणेनविनामम ।कथंवक्ष्याम्यहंत्वम्बांसुमित्रांपुत्रवत्सलाम् ।।।।

“Without Lakṣmaṇa—so hard to overcome—what is a kingdom to me? And how could I ever speak to mother Sumitrā, so tender toward her son?”

Verse 6.102.18

न मृथोयंमहाबाहो लक्ष्मणोलक्षमिवर्धन: ।न चास्यविक्रतंवक्त्रानापिशस्वासं न निष्प्रभं ।।।।

“O mighty-armed one, enhancer of fortune—Lakṣmaṇa is not dead. His face is not distorted; his breath has not ceased; and his radiance has not faded.”

Verse 6.102.19

सुप्रभंसुप्रसन्नं च मुखमस्यनिरीक्ष्यताम् ।।।।पद्मपत्रतलौहस्तौसुप्रसन्ने च लोचने ।

“Look—his face is radiant and serene; his palms are like the surface of lotus-leaves, and his eyes too are calm and clear.”

Verse 6.102.20

ऐ वं न विद्यतेरूपंगतासूनांविशम्पते ।।।।माविषादंमृकृथावीरसप्राणोऽयमरिन्दम ।

O lord among men, such an appearance is not found in those whose life has departed. Do not sink into grief, O hero—this tamer of foes is still alive.

Verse 6.102.21

आ ख्यासतितुप्रसुप्तस्यस्रस्तगात्रस्यभूतले ।।।।सोच्छवासंहृदयंवीरकम्पमानंमुहुर्मुहुः ।

Though he lies on the ground as if asleep, his limbs slack, his breathing and the hero’s heart—throbbing again and again—make it known that life still endures.

Verse 6.102.22

एवमुक्त्वामहाप्राज्ञःसुषेणोराघवंवचः ।।।।समीपस्थमुवाचेदंहनूमन्तंमहाकपिम् ।

Having spoken these words to Rāghava, the very wise Suṣeṇa then addressed Hanumān, the great monkey, who stood nearby.

Verse 6.102.23

सौम्य शीघ्रमितोगत्वाशैलमौषधिपर्वतम् ।।।।पूर्वंतुकथितोयोऽसौवीर जाम्बवताशुभ: ।दक्षिणेशिखरेजातामोषधिमानय ।।।।सवर्णकरणींनाम्नासावर्ण्यकरणींतथा ।सञ्जीवकरणींवीरसन्धानीं च महौषधीम् ।।।।सञ्जीवनार्धंवीरस्यलक्ष्मणस्यमहात्मनः ।

O gentle one, go quickly from here to the mountain of herbs—the auspicious one that Jāmbavān earlier told you about. Bring the herbs that grow on its southern peak: Savarṇakaraṇī, Sāvarṇyakaraṇī, Sañjīvakaraṇī, and the great herb Sandhāni—so that the heroic, great-souled Lakṣmaṇa may be restored to life.

Verse 6.102.24

सौम्य शीघ्रमितोगत्वाशैलमौषधिपर्वतम् ।।6.102.23।।पूर्वंतुकथितोयोऽसौवीर जाम्बवताशुभ: ।दक्षिणेशिखरेजातामोषधिमानय ।।6.102.24।।सवर्णकरणींनाम्नासावर्ण्यकरणींतथा ।सञ्जीवकरणींवीरसन्धानीं च महौषधीम् ।।6.102.25।।सञ्जीवनार्धंवीरस्यलक्ष्मणस्यमहात्मनः ।

Thus instructed, the illustrious Hanumān went to the mountain of herbs; but, unable to recognize those great healing plants, he fell into anxious reflection.

Verse 6.102.25

सौम्य शीघ्रमितोगत्वाशैलमौषधिपर्वतम् ।।6.102.23।।पूर्वंतुकथितोयोऽसौवीर जाम्बवताशुभ: ।दक्षिणेशिखरेजातामोषधिमानय ।।6.102.24।।सवर्णकरणींनाम्नासावर्ण्यकरणींतथा ।सञ्जीवकरणींवीरसन्धानीं च महौषधीम् ।।6.102.25।।सञ्जीवनार्धंवीरस्यलक्ष्मणस्यमहात्मनः ।

“Bring, O hero, the great herbs named Savarṇakaraṇī, Sāvarṇyakaraṇī, and also Sañjīvakaraṇī and Sandhānī—so that the heroic Lakṣmaṇa, that great-souled one, may be restored to life.”

Verse 6.102.26

इत्येवमुक्तोहनुमान्गत्वाचौषथिपर्वतम् ।।।।चिन्तामभ्यगमछ्रचीमानजानं स्ता महौषधीः ।

Thus addressed, the glorious Hanumān went to the Mountain of Herbs. Yet, unable to identify those particular great herbs, he fell into deep thought.

Verse 6.102.27

तस्यबुद्धि: समुत्पन्नामारुतेरमितौजसः ।।।।इदमेवगमिष्यामिगृहीत्वाशिखरंगिरेः ।

Struck down by Rāvaṇa’s might, Lakṣmaṇa has fallen upon the earth; that heroic one writhes on the ground like a serpent, stirring up grief.

Verse 6.102.28

अस्मिंस्तुशिखरेजातामोषधिंतांसुखावहाम् ।।।।प्रतर्केणावगच्छामिसुषेणोह्यवमब्रवीत् ।

Then a keen resolve arose in Hanumān, the son of the Wind, of boundless energy: “I will go at once—taking the mountain’s peak itself.”

Verse 6.102.29

अगृह्ययदिगच्छामिविशल्यकरणीमहम् ।।।।कालात्ययेनदोषःस्याद्वैक्लब्यं च महद्भवेत् ।

By reasoning I conclude that the healing herb—the one that brings relief—grows on this very peak, for Suṣeṇa said so.

Verse 6.102.30

इतिसञ्चिन्त्यहनूमान्गत्वाक्षिप्रंमहाबलः ।।।।आसाद्यपर्वतश्रेष्ठंप्रक्रम्यगिरेश्शिरः ।फुल्लनानातरुगणंसमुत्पाट्यमहाबलः ।।।।गृहीत्वाहरिशार्दूलोहस्ताभ्यांसमतोलयत् ।

Thus reflecting, mighty Hanuman swiftly went and reached the foremost of mountains. Drawing near its summit, he uprooted the peak with its many trees in bloom; and, tiger among the vanaras, he lifted it and held it steady with both hands.

Verse 6.102.31

इतिसञ्चिन्त्यहनूमान्गत्वाक्षिप्रंमहाबलः ।।6.102.30।।आसाद्यपर्वतश्रेष्ठंप्रक्रम्यगिरेश्शिरः ।फुल्लनानातरुगणंसमुत्पाट्यमहाबलः ।।6.102.31।।गृहीत्वाहरिशार्दूलोहस्ताभ्यांसमतोलयत् ।

Holding the mountain’s peak, Hanuman sprang up into the sky—like a dark rain-cloud, heavy with water, rising aloft.

Verse 6.102.32

सनीलमिवजीमूतंतोयपूर्णंनभस्तलात् ।।।।उत्पपातगृहीत्वातुहनूमान् शिखरंगिरेः ।

Arriving with great speed, Hanuman set down the mountain peak; after resting a moment, he spoke these words to Sushena.

Verse 6.102.33

समागम्यमहावेगःसंन्यस्यशिखरंगिरेः ।।।।विश्रम्यकिञ्चिद्धनुमान्सुषेणमिदमब्रवीत् ।

“O foremost of the vanaras, I could not recognize those herbs; therefore I have brought here the entire peak of that mountain.”

Verse 6.102.34

ओषधीर्नावगच्छामिताअहंहरिपुङ्गव ।।।।तदिदंशिखरंकृत्स्नंगिरेस्तस्याहृतंमया ।

As the Son of the Wind spoke thus, Suṣeṇa—foremost among the Vānaras—praised him, uprooted the needed healing herbs, and took them up.

Verse 6.102.35

एवंकथयमानंतुप्रशस्यपवनात्मजम् ।।।।सुषेणोवानरश्रेष्ठोजग्राहोत्पाट्यचौषधीः ।

After praising the Son of the Wind-God as he spoke in this manner, Suṣeṇa, the most excellent among the Vānaras, uprooted the medicinal herbs and took them.

Verse 6.102.36

विस्मितास्तुबभूवुस्तेसर्वेवानरपुङ्गवाः ।।।।दृष्टवाहनूमतःकर्मसुरैरपिसुदुष्करम् ।

All the foremost leaders among the Vānaras were astonished on witnessing Hanumān’s deed—an undertaking exceedingly difficult even for the gods.

Verse 6.102.37

ततःसङ्क्षोदयित्वातामोषधिंवानरोत्तमः ।।।।लक्ष्मणस्यददौनस्तस्सुषेणस्सुमहाद्युतिः ।

Then Suṣeṇa—the radiant foremost among the Vānaras—crushed that herb and administered it into Lakṣmaṇa’s nostrils.

Verse 6.102.38

विशल्यस्ससमाघ्रायलक्ष्मणःपरवीरहा ।।।।विशल्योविरुजश्शीघ्रमुदतिष्ठन्महीतलात् ।

Lakṣmaṇa, slayer of enemy champions, inhaled it; freed from the embedded weapon and released from pain, he quickly rose up from the earth.

Verse 6.102.39

तमुत्थितंतुहरयोभूतलात्प्रेक्ष्यलक्ष्मणम् ।।।।साधुसावधितिसुप्रीतालक्ष्मणंप्रत्यपूजयन् ।

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa rise up from the ground, the Vānaras, filled with joy, cried, “Well done! Well done!” and honored him with reverent homage.

Verse 6.102.40

एह्येहीत्यब्रवीद्रामोलक्ष्मणंपरवीरहा ।।।।सस्वजेस्नेहगाढं च बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः ।

Then Rāghava, embracing Saumitri, said, “By good fortune, hero, I see you returned once more from death.”

Verse 6.102.41

ब्रवीच्छपरिष्वज्यसौमित्रिंराघवस्तदा ।।।।दिष्ट्यात्वांवीरपश्यामिमरणात्पुनरागतम् ।

“For me, life itself would have no purpose—nor even Sītā, nor victory—if you had fallen into death; what value would any words of mine have then?”

Verse 6.102.42

न हिमेजीवितेनार्थस्सीतयाविजयनेवा ।।।।कोहिमेवदतेनार्धस्त्वयिपञ्चत्वमागते ।

As the great-souled Rāghava spoke in this way, Lakṣmaṇa, moved by those faltering, weakened words, replied in return.

Verse 6.102.43

इत्येवंवदतस्तस्यराघवस्यमहात्मनः ।।।।भिन्नश्शिथिलयावाचालक्ष्मणोवाक्यमब्रवीत् ।

O you of truth-founded valor—having earlier taken that vow—you should not speak like this now, as though you were some petty, spiritless man.

Verse 6.102.44

तांप्रतिज्ञांप्रतिज्ञायपुरासत्यपराक्रम ।।।।लघुःकश्चिदिवासत्त्वोनैवंवक्तुमिहार्हसि ।

As I watch this hero—dearer to me than life itself—soaked in blood, my very mind is thrown into turmoil. How can I have the strength to fight?

Verse 6.102.45

न हिप्रतिज्ञांकुर्वन्तिवितथांसत्यवादिनः ।।।।लक्षणंहिमहत्त्वस्यप्रतिज्ञापरिपालनम् ।

This brother of mine—renowned in battle and marked with auspicious signs—if he has met with death, what use to me are life or happiness?

Verse 6.102.46

नैराश्यमुपगन्तुं च नालंतेमत्कृतेऽनघ ।।।।वधेनरावणस्याद्यप्रतिज्ञामनुपालय ।

My valor seems to shrink in shame; the bow seems to slip from my hand; my arrows fall away, and my sight has gone under the power of tears.

Verse 6.102.47

नजीवन्यास्यतेशत्रुस्तवबाणपथंगतः ।।।।नर्दतस्तीक्षणदंष्ट्रस्यसिंहस्येवमहागजः ।

My limbs give way, as though I were moving in a dream; fierce anxiety alone surges within me, and even the wish to die arises.

Verse 6.102.48

अहंतुवधमिच्छामिशीघ्रमस्यदुरात्मनः ।।।।यावदस्तं न यात्येषकृतकर्मादिवाकरः ।

Seeing his brother struck down by the evil-minded Rāvaṇa—grievously wounded in vital parts and writhing in pain—Rāma was overwhelmed with sorrow.

Verse 6.102.49

यदिवधमिच्छसिरावणस्यसङ्ख्येयदि च कृतांहितवेच्छसिप्रतिज्ञाम् ।यदितवराजसुताभिलाषआर्यकुरु च वचोममशीघ्रमद्यवीर ।।।।

Rāghava, seeing his brother—dearer than life itself, as though his very life moved outside him—was engulfed by immense grief, wholly given over to sorrowful brooding.