Sarga 31

Verse 6.31.1

ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलंलङ्काधिपतयेचराः ।सुवेलेराघवंशैलेनिविष्टंप्रत्यवेदयन् ।।।।

Then the spies reported to the lord of Laṅkā that Rāghava, with an unshakable army, had taken position on Mount Suvela.

Verse 6.31.2

चाराणांरावणश्श्रुत्वाप्राप्तंरामंमहाबलम् ।जातोद्वेगोऽभवत्किञ्चित्सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Hearing from his spies that mighty Rāma had arrived, Rāvaṇa grew somewhat alarmed and spoke these words to his ministers.

Verse 6.31.3

मन्त्रिणश्शीघ्रमायान्तुसर्वेवैसुसमाहिताः ।अयंनोमन्त्रकालोहिसम्प्रप्ताइतिराक्षसाः ।।।।

Panasa lies upon the earth like a fallen jackfruit tree; Darīmukha lies on the ground, shattered by many steel-pointed arrows; and Kumuda, though radiant in might, has been torn open by shafts and lies silent.

Verse 6.31.4

तस्यतद्वचनंश्रुत्वामन्त्रिणोऽभ्यागमन् द्रुतम् ।ततस्समन्त्रयामासराक्षसैस्सचिवैस्सह ।।।।

Hearing his words, the ministers quickly came; then he consulted together with the rākṣasas and his counsellors.

Verse 6.31.5

मन्त्रयित्वासदुर्धर्षःक्षमंयत्समनन्तरम् ।विसर्जयित्वासचिवान्प्रविवेशस्वमालयम् ।।।।

Thus addressed, the night-roamer Vidyujjihva replied, “So be it,” and displayed to Rāvaṇa the illusion, deftly wrought. The king, pleased, bestowed an ornament upon him.

Verse 6.31.6

ततोराक्षसमाहूयविद्युज्जिह्वंमहाबलम् ।मायाविदंमहामायःप्राविशद्यत्रमैथिली ।।।।

Having spoken thus, that rākṣasa swiftly set the pleasing-to-behold head beside Sītā and at once vanished from sight.

Verse 6.31.7

विद्युज्जिह्वंचमायाज्ञमब्रवीद्राक्षसाधिपः ।मोहयिष्यावहेसीतांमाययाजनकात्मजाम् ।।।।

Rāvaṇa too cast down the great, radiant bow—famed in the three worlds—and then spoke these words to Sītā.

Verse 6.31.8

शिरोमायामयंगृह्यराघवस्यनिशाचर: ।त्वंमांसमुतिष्ठस्वमहच्चसशरंधनुः ।।।।

“This is your Rāma’s bow, strung with its bowstring. Prahasta has brought it here, having slain that man in the night.”

Verse 6.31.9

एवमुक्तस्तथेत्याहविद्युज्जिह्वोनिशाचरः ।दर्शयामासतांमायांसुप्रयुक्तांसरावणे ।।।।तस्यतुष्टोऽभवद्राजाप्रददौचविभूषणम् ।

Then Rāvaṇa, together with Vidyujjihva, cast that head and the bow upon the ground; and he said to the illustrious daughter of the king of Videha: “Now be obedient to my will.”

Verse 6.31.10

अशोकवनिकायांतुसीतादर्शनलालसः ।वैरृतानामधिपतिस्संविवेशमहाबलः ।।।।

Eager to see Sītā, the mighty lord of the Rākṣasas entered the Aśoka grove.

Verse 6.31.11

ततोदीनामदैन्यार्हांददर्शधनदानुजः ।।।।अधोमुखींशोकपरामुपविष्टांमहीतले ।भर्तारमेवध्यायन्तीमशोकवविकांगताम् ।।।।

Then Dhanada’s younger brother (Rāvaṇa) saw Sītā—sorrowful though undeserving of such misery—seated on the ground with her face cast down, overwhelmed with grief, thinking only of her husband in the Aśoka grove.

Verse 6.31.12

ततोदीनामदैन्यार्हांददर्शधनदानुजः ।।6.31.11।।अधोमुखींशोकपरामुपविष्टांमहीतले ।भर्तारमेवध्यायन्तीमशोकवविकांगताम् ।।6.31.12।।

As she sat closely watched on every side by dreadful rākṣasī women, he approached Sītā with delight, praising himself, and spoke to Janaka’s daughter these shameless words.

Verse 6.31.13

उपास्यमानांघोराभीराक्षसीभिरितस्ततः ।उपसृत्यततस्सीतांप्रहर्षंनामकीर्तयन् ।।।।इदंचवचनंधृष्टमुवाचजनकात्मजाम् ।

“O gentle lady, though I try to placate you, you keep clinging to the one you boast of—your husband Rāghava, slayer of Khara; he has been killed in battle.”

Verse 6.31.14

सान्त्व्यमानामयाभद्रेयमुपाश्रित्यवल्गसे ।खरहन्तासतेभर्ताराघवस्समरेहतः ।।।।

Your support has been cut off on every side; your pride has been crushed by me. O Sītā, by your own helpless calamity, you shall become my wife.

Verse 6.31.15

छिन्नंतेसर्वतोमूलंदर्पस्तेनिहतोमया ।व्यसनेनात्मनस्सीते ममभार्याभविष्यसि ।।।।

O Sītā, your roots have been severed on all sides, and your pride has been struck down by me. In this calamity of yours, you shall become my wife.

Verse 6.31.16

विसृजेमांमतिंमूढे: किंमृतेनकरिष्यसि ।भवस्वभद्रे: भार्याणांसर्वेसामीश्वरीमम ।।।।

Foolish woman—abandon this thought. What will you do with a husband who is as good as dead? O fair one, become the queen over all my wives.

Verse 6.31.17

अल्पपुण्ये: निवृत्तार्थे: मूढे: पण्डितमानिनि: ।शृणुभर्तृवधंसीते: घोरंवृत्रवधंयथा ।।।।

O woman of scant merit, withdrawn from life’s aims—foolish one who fancies herself learned—O Sītā, hear of your husband’s dreadful killing, like the slaying of Vṛtra.

Verse 6.31.18

समायातस्समुद्रान्तंमांहन्तुंकिलराघवः ।वानरेन्द्रप्रणीतेनबलेनमहतावृतः ।।।।

Rāghava has indeed reached the sea-shore to kill me, surrounded by a vast host led by the lord of the Vānaras.

Verse 6.31.19

सन्निविष्टस्समुद्रस्यपीड्यतीरमथोत्तरम् ।बलेनमहतारामोव्रजत्यस्तंदिवाकरे ।।।।

Then, as the sun set, Rāma, with his mighty host, encamped on the ocean’s northern shore, pressing close upon the coastline, ready to strike.

Verse 6.31.20

अथाध्वनिपरिश्रान्तमर्धरात्रेस्थितंबलम् ।सुखसुप्तंसमासाद्यचारित्रंप्रथमंचरैः ।।।।

Then, when the army—wearied by the march—had halted at midnight and was sleeping soundly, my foremost spies drew near and learned fully their condition and movements.

Verse 6.31.21

तत्प्रहस्तप्रणीतेनबलेनमहतामम ।बलमस्यहतंरात्रौयत्ररामस्सलक्ष्मणः ।।।।

There, in the night, my great force led by Prahasta struck down their troops—where Rāma was, together with Lakṣmaṇa.

Verse 6.31.22

पट्टसान्परिघांश्चक्रान्दण्डान्महायशान् ।बाणजालानिशूलानिभास्वरान्कूटमुद्गरान् ।।।।यष्टीश्चतोमरान् शक्तीश्चक्राणिमुसलानिच ।उद्यम्योद्यम्यरक्षोभिर्वानरेषुनिपातितां ।।।।

Again and again the Rākṣasas lifted and hurled upon the Vānaras spears, iron bars, discs, heavy staves, showers of arrows, tridents, shining iron mallets, clubs, lances, śaktis, more discs, and maces.

Verse 6.31.23

पट्टसान्परिघांश्चक्रान्दण्डान्महायशान् ।बाणजालानिशूलानिभास्वरान्कूटमुद्गरान् ।।6.31.22।।यष्टीश्चतोमरान् शक्तीश्चक्राणिमुसलानिच ।उद्यम्योद्यम्यरक्षोभिर्वानरेषुनिपातितां ।।6.31.23।।

Then Prahasta—skilled and formidable—severed the head of sleeping Rāma with a great sword, without hesitation or attachment.

Verse 6.31.24

अथसुप्तस्यरामस्यप्रहस्तेनप्रमाथिना ।असक्तंकृतहस्तेनशिरश्छिन्नंमहासिना ।।।।

Thereafter, the head of Rama, who was sleeping, was severed unhesitatingly with a huge sword by the crushing Prahasta, who is skilled of hand.

Verse 6.31.25

विभीषणस्समुत्पत्यनिगृहीतोयदृच्छया ।दिशःप्रव्राजितस्सर्वैस्सर्लक्ष्मणःप्लवगैस्सहा ।।।।

Let all the ministers come at once, fully composed. The time for counsel has arrived for us, thus spoke the rākṣasas.

Verse 6.31.26

सुग्रीवोग्रीनयासीतेभग्नयाप्लवगाधिपः ।निरस्तहनुकश्शेतेहनुमान्राक्षसैर्हतः ।।।।

When Vibhīṣaṇa sprang up, he was seized unexpectedly; and Lakṣmaṇa—along with the vānara hosts—was driven to scatter in all directions.

Verse 6.31.27

जाम्बवानथजानुभ्यामुत्पतन्निहतोयुधि ।पट्टसैर्बहुभिश्छिन्नोनिकृत्तःपादपोयथा ।।।।

O Sītā! Sugrīva, lord of the vānara-s, lies with his neck broken; and Hanumān lies with his jaw shattered—slain by the rākṣasas.

Verse 6.31.28

मैन्दश्चद्विविदश्चोभौनिहतौवानरर्षभौ ।।।।निश्श्वसन्तौरुदन्तौचरुधिरेणसमुक्षितौ ।असिनाव्यायतौछिन्नौमध्येह्यरिनिषूदनौ ।।।।

And Jāmbavān, rising in battle upon his knees, was hewn by many paṭṭasa-blades and fell, like a tree cut down.

Verse 6.31.29

मैन्दश्चद्विविदश्चोभौनिहतौवानरर्षभौ ।।6.31.28।।निश्श्वसन्तौरुदन्तौचरुधिरेणसमुक्षितौ ।असिनाव्यायतौछिन्नौमध्येह्यरिनिषूदनौ ।।6.31.29।।

Mainda and Dvivida—both bulls among the vānara-s, slayers of foes—lie struck down: gasping and crying, drenched in blood, their great bodies cleft through the middle by a sword.

Verse 6.31.30

अनुतिष्ठतिमेदिन्यांपनसःपनसोयथा ।।।।नाराचैर्बहुभिश्चिन्नश्शेतेदर्यांदरीमुखः ।कुमुदस्तुमहातेजानिष्कूजन्सायकै: कृतः ।।।।

Angada, assailed by the rākṣasas and cut by many arrows, fell upon the earth, spitting blood, his armlets slipping down as he lay.

Verse 6.31.31

अनुतिष्ठतिमेदिन्यांपनसःपनसोयथा ।।6.31.30।।नाराचैर्बहुभिश्चिन्नश्शेतेदर्यांदरीमुखः ।कुमुदस्तुमहातेजानिष्कूजन्सायकै: कृतः ।।6.31.31।।

Some vānara-s were crushed by elephants, others by masses of chariots; and some, struck down and trampled by swift-charging horses, lay scattered—like clouds torn apart by the force of the wind.

Verse 6.31.32

अङ्गदोबहुभिश्छिन्नश्शरैरासाद्यराक्षसैः ।पतितोरुधिरोद्गारीक्षितौनिपतिताङ्गदः ।।।।

Overwhelmed by the rākṣasas and pierced by many arrows, Angada fell upon the earth, vomiting blood, his armlets scattered about.

Verse 6.31.33

हरयोमथितानागैरथजातैस्तथापरे ।शयितामृदिताश्चाश्वैर्यायुवेगैरिवाम्बुदाः ।।।।

Some sleeping monkeys were crushed by elephants and by multitudes of chariots; others were trampled by horses, as clouds are scattered by the force of the wind.

Verse 6.31.34

प्रहृताश्चपरेत्रस्ताहस्यमानाजघन्यतः ।अभिद्रुतास्तुरक्षोभिस्सिंहैरिवमहाद्विपाः ।।।।

Some, struck and terrified, were chased from behind, hard pressed by the rākṣasas, like great elephants harried by lions.

Verse 6.31.35

सागरेपतिताःकेचित्केचिग्दगनमाश्रिताः ।ऋक्षावृक्षानुपारूढावानरींवृत्तिमाश्रिताः ।।।।

Some plunged into the sea; some sought refuge in the sky. The bears (ṛkṣa), adopting the ways of the vānaras, climbed up into trees.

Verse 6.31.36

सागरस्यचतीरेषुशैलेषुचवनेषुच ।पिङ्गलास्तेविरूपाक्षैर्बहुभिर्बहवोहताः ।।।।

On the seashore, on the mountains, and in the forests, many of those tawny-eyed vānaras were slain by numerous fierce-eyed rākṣasas.

Verse 6.31.37

एवंतवहतोभर्ताससैन्योममसेनया ।क्षतजार्द्रंरजोध्वस्तमिदंचस्याहृतंशिरः ।।।।

Thus your husband, together with his army, has been slain by my forces; and here is his head—wet with blood and smeared with dust—brought back.

Verse 6.31.38

ततःपरमदुर्धर्षोरावणोराक्षसेश्वरः ।सीतायामुपशन्त्यांराक्षसीमिदमब्रवीत् ।।।।

Then Rāvaṇa, the rākṣasa-lord, hard to assail, spoke these words to a rākṣasī while Sītā listened.

Verse 6.31.39

राक्षसंक्रूरकर्माणंविद्युज्जिह्वंत्वमानय ।येनतद्राघवशिरस्सङ्ग्रामात्स्वयमाहृतम् ।।।।

Bring here the rākṣasa Vidyujihva, of cruel deeds—he who himself brought that head of Rāghava from the battlefield.

Verse 6.31.40

विद्युज्जिह्वस्ततोगृह्यशिरस्तत्सशरासनम् ।प्रणामंशिरसाकृत्वारावणस्याग्रतस्थितः ।।।।

Then Vidyujihva, holding that head together with the bow, bowed with his head in salutation and stood before Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.31.41

तमब्रवीत्ततोराजारावणोराक्षसंस्थितम् ।विद्युज्जिह्वंमहाजिह्वंसमीपपरिवर्तिनम् ।।।।

Then King Ravana spoke to that rakshasa Vidyujjihva—great-tongued—who had come close and stood nearby.

Verse 6.31.42

अग्रतःकुरुसीतायाश्शीघ्रंदाशरधेशशिरः ।अवस्थांपश्चिमांभर्तुःकृपणासाधुपश्यतु ।।।।

"Quickly place the head of Dasharatha's son before Sita. Let that pitiable woman see her husband's final condition."

Verse 6.31.43

एवमुक्तंतुतद्रक्षशशिरस्तत्प्रियदर्शनम् ।उपनिक्षिप्यसीतायाःक्षिप्रमन्तरधीयत ।।।।

Thereafter, the unassailable Ravana reflected on what would be proper to do next; dismissing his ministers, he entered his own residence.

Verse 6.31.44

रावणश्चापिचिक्षेपभस्वरंकार्मुकंमहत् ।त्रिषुलोकेषुविख्यातंसीतामिदमुवाचह ।।।।

Then the great illusionist Ravana summoned the mighty rakshasa Vidyujjihva, skilled in magical arts, and proceeded to the place where Maithili was.

Verse 6.31.45

इदंतुतवरामस्यकार्मुकंज्यासमायुतम् ।इहप्रहस्तेनानीतंहत्वातंनिशिमानुषम् ।।।।

The lord of the rakshasas said to Vidyujjihva, who was expert in illusion: "By a magical trick we shall delude Sita, Janaka's daughter."

Verse 6.31.46

सविद्युज्जिह्वेनसहैवतच्छिरोधनुश्चभूमौविनिकीर्यरावणः ।विदेहराजस्यसुतांयशस्विनींततोऽब्रवीत्तांभवमेवशानुगा ।।।।

O night-roaming rākṣasa, take the illusory head of Rāghava and stand before me—bearing also the great bow with its arrow.