निमित्तदर्शनम् (Portents Before the March to Laṅkā)
युद्धकाण्ड
Sarga 23 is structured as a command-and-omen discourse. Rāma, described as perceiving portents, embraces Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa) and issues operational instructions: arrange a secure forest halt with cool water and fruit, divide the battalions, and stand in formation (vyūha) with vigilance. He then interprets a cascade of apocalyptic signs—dust-laden winds, trembling earth and mountains, falling trees, flesh-colored clouds raining blood-like drops, a terrifying twilight, fiery masses seeming to fall from the sun, distressed animals crying against the sun, and the moon and sun displaying abnormal hues and halos. These nimittas are framed not as paralysis but as forewarning of heavy casualties among bears, monkeys, and rākṣasas, and as the imminence of decisive violence. The chapter closes with immediate mobilization: the Vānara host turns toward Rāvaṇa’s city, Rāma advances at the front with bow in hand, and Sugrīva and Vibhīṣaṇa proceed roaring, while the Vānara warriors perform exuberant actions to hearten Rāma—linking morale-building to dharmic resolve in war.
Verse 6.23.1
निमित्तानिनिमित्ताज्ञोदृष्टवालक्ष्मणपूर्वजः ।सौमित्रिंसम्परिष्वज्यइदंवचनमब्रवीत् ।।6.23.1।।
Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa’s elder brother, skilled in reading portents, having observed the signs, embraced Saumitrī and spoke these words.
Verse 6.23.2
निमित्तानिपरिगृह्योदकंशीतंवनानिफलवन्तिच ।बलौघंसंविभज्येमंव्यूह्यतिष्ठेमलक्ष्मण ।।6.23.2।।
Having spoken thus, righteous-souled Rāma—bow in hand, a source of dread in battle—set out at the front, turning his face toward Laṅkā, the mighty one leading the way.
Verse 6.23.3
लोकक्षयकरंभीमंभयंपश्याम्युपस्थितम् ।निबर्हणंप्रवीराणामृक्षवानररक्षसाम् ।।6.23.3।।
Then those best of the vānaras—together with Vibhīṣaṇa and Sugrīva—set forth with roaring cries, firmly resolved to slay their foes.
Verse 6.23.4
वाताश्चकलुषावान्तिकम्पतेचवसुन्धराः ।पर्वताग्राणिवेपन्तेपतन्तिचमहीरुहाः ।।6.23.4।।
And those exceedingly valiant vānaras, wishing to please Rāghava, displayed spirited deeds and gestures; seeing them, the foremost of the Raghu line was delighted.
Verse 6.23.5
मेघाःक्रव्यादसङ्काशाःपरुषाःपरुषस्वनाः ।क्रूराःक्रूरंप्रवर्षन्तिमिश्रंशोणितबिन्दुभिः ।।6.23.5।।
Clouds, the color of raw flesh, roar with harsh and dreadful sounds, and pour down a terrifying rain mixed with drops like blood—an omen of impending ruin.
Verse 6.23.6
रक्तचन्दनसङ्काशासन्ध्यापरमदारुणा ।ज्वलतःप्रपतत्येतदादित्यादग्निमण्डलम् ।।6.23.6।।
The twilight, red like sandalwood paste, turns exceedingly dreadful; and from the blazing sun there seems to fall a circle-mass of fire—another fearful portent.
Verse 6.23.7
दीनादीनस्वराःक्रूरास्सर्वतोमृगपक्षिणः ।प्रत्यादित्यंविनर्धन्तिजनयन्तोमहाद्भयम् ।।6.23.7।।
All around, beasts and birds, cruel in aspect, utter wretched, wailing cries, roaring as if facing the sun, and they stir up great fear—a sign that danger is at hand.
Verse 6.23.8
रजन्यामप्रकाशस्तुसन्तापयतिचन्द्रमाः ।कृष्णरक्तांशुपर्यन्तोलोकक्षयइवोदितः ।।6.23.8।।
Even at night the moon is without radiance and brings distress; ringed with black and red rays, it rises like a luminary at the world’s dissolution—an omen of devastation.
Verse 6.23.9
ह्रस्वोरूक्षोऽप्रशस्तश्चपरिवेषस्सुलोहितः ।आदित्येविमलेनीलंलक्ष्मलक्ष्मणदृश्यते ।।6.23.9।।
O Lakṣmaṇa, on the bright, clear sun there appears a dark blemish, while its surrounding halo is intensely copper-red; the sun seems shrunken and dreary—an unprecedented and inauspicious sign.
Verse 6.23.10
रजसामहताचापिनक्षत्राणिहतानिच ।युगान्तमिवलोकानांपश्यशंसन्तीवलक्ष्मण ।।6.23.10।।
“Lakṣmaṇa, taking note of these portents, arrange a position where there is cool water and fruit-bearing forests. Then divide this mass of troops, form them into battle-array, and let us stand ready.”
Verse 6.23.11
काकाश्श्येनास्तथानीचागृध्राःपरिपतन्तिच ।शिवाश्चाप्यशिवान्नादान्नदन्तिसुमहाभयान् ।।6.23.11।।
“I foresee a dreadful fear approaching—one that brings ruin upon peoples—and the slaughter of mighty warriors among bears, vānaras, and rākṣasas.”
Verse 6.23.12
शैलैश्शूलैश्चखढगैश्चविसृष्टैःकपिराक्षसैः ।भविष्यत्यावृताभूमिर्मांसशोणितकर्दमा ।।6.23.12।।
“Dust-laden winds blow; even the earth trembles; mountain-peaks quiver, and great trees snap and fall.”
Verse 6.23.13
क्षिप्रमद्यैवदुर्दर्षांपुरींरावणपालिताम् ।अभियामजनेनैवसर्वतोहरिभिर्ववृताः ।।6.23.13।।
And see, Lakṣmaṇa: beneath this heavy haze the stars seem bereft of their light, as though proclaiming to the worlds the yugānta, the end-time of dissolution.
Verse 6.23.14
इत्येवमुक्त्वाधर्मात्माधनवीसङ्ग्रामहर्षणः ।प्रतस्थेपुरतोरामोलङ्कामभिमुखोविभुः ।।6.23.14।।
Crows, hawks, and even low-flying vultures are tumbling down; and jackals, too, cry out with inauspicious, terrifying calls.
Verse 6.23.15
सविभीषणसुग्रीवास्ततस्तेवानरर्षभाः ।प्रतस्थिरेविनर्दन्तोनिश्चिताद्विषतांवधे ।।6.23.15।।
With mountains, tridents, and swords hurled by vānaras and rākṣasas, the earth will be covered over—turned into mire of flesh and blood.
Verse 6.23.16
राघवस्यप्रियार्थंतुसुतरांवीर्यशालिनाम् ।हरीणांकर्मचेष्टाभिस्तुतोषरघुपुङ्गवः ।।6.23.16।।
Swiftly—this very day—we shall advance at speed upon that formidable city ruled by Rāvaṇa, as the vānaras spread out and surround it on every side.