युद्धकाण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः — राक्षससभा-युद्धपरामर्शः (War-Council Boasts and Stratagems)
युद्धकाण्ड
Sarga 8 stages a Laṅkā court war-council in which multiple Rākṣasa leaders compete to frame the threat and propose responses after Hanumān’s earlier disruptions. Prahasta, described as cloud-dark and speaking with folded palms, advances a rhetoric of contempt for Hanumān and proposes victory through upāya (cunning stratagem) and vigilance rather than raw bravado: thousands of kāmarūpa Rākṣasas should approach Rāma in human guise and deliver deceptive speech to destabilize Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. The discourse then shifts to escalating vows of single-handed slaughter: Durmukha condemns the humiliation as unforgivable; Vajradaṃṣṭra grasps a gore-stained iron bludgeon; Vajrahanu and others boast of consuming or killing the Vānara leaders (Sugrīva, Aṅgada, Hanumān) and even Rāma with Lakṣmaṇa. A further ruse is voiced—claiming Bharata is coming with an army—to sow confusion. The sarga thus documents the court’s psychology: strategic deception is articulated, but it is repeatedly overshadowed by performative martial arrogance, offering a literary study in counsel, propaganda, and the ethical contrast between dharmic resolve and adharmic manipulation.
Verse 6.8.1
ततोनीलाम्बुदनिभ: प्रहस्तोनामराक्षसः ।अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यंशूरस्सेनापतिस्तदा ।।6.8.1।।
Then the rākṣasa named Prahastha, dark as a rain-cloud, the heroic commander, spoke with folded hands.
Verse 6.8.2
देवदानवगन्धर्वाःपिशाचपतगोरगाः ।नत्वांधर्षयितुंशक्याःकिंपुनर्वानरारणे ।।6.8.2।।
Thereupon Nikumbha—the heroic, valiant son of Kumbhakarṇa—highly enraged, spoke to Rāvaṇa, the one who makes the world cry out.
Verse 6.8.3
सर्वेप्रमत्ताविश्वस्तावञ्चितास्स्महनूमता ।नहिमेजीवतोगच्छेज्जीवन् सवनगोचरः ।।6.8.3।।
Let my lord but command me: I will make the whole earth—bounded by the ocean, with its mountains and forests—free of vānara.
Verse 6.8.4
सर्वांसागरपर्यन्तांसशैलवनकाननाम् ।करोम्यवानरांभूमिमाज्ञापयतुमांभवान् ।।6.8.4।।
O night-roamer, I will indeed arrange protection against the vānara. You need not suffer even the least sorrow arising from your own fault.
Verse 6.8.5
रक्षांचैवविधास्यामिवानराद्रजनीचर ।नागमिष्यतितेदुःखंकिञ्चिदात्मापराधजम् ।।6.8.5।।
Then the rākṣasa named Durmukha, inflamed with wrath, spoke: “This humiliation of all of us is not to be forgiven.”
Verse 6.8.6
अब्रवीच्चसुसङ्कृद्धोदुर्मुखोनामराक्षसः ।इदंनक्षमणीयंहिसर्वेषांनःप्रधर्षणम् ।।6.8.6।।
This is a further outrage—an assault by a mere vānara upon the city, and even upon the inner palace of the prosperous lord of rākṣasas.
Verse 6.8.7
अयंपरिभवोभूयःपुरस्यान्तःपुरस्यच ।श्रीमतोराक्षसेन्द्रस्यवानरेणप्रधर्षणम् ।।6.8.7।।
This very moment I will go alone and put an end to the vānaras—even if they have entered the dreadful ocean, the sky, or the netherworld.
Verse 6.8.8
अस्मिन् मुहूर्तेगत्वैकोनिवर्तिष्यामिवानरान् ।प्रविष्टान् सागरंभीममम्बरंवारसातलम् ।।6.8.8।।
Then the mighty Vajradaṃṣṭra, burning with rage, spoke—gripping a dreadful iron club smeared with flesh and blood.
Verse 6.8.9
ततोऽब्रवीत्सुसङ्कृद्धोवज्रदंष्ट्रोमहाबलः ।प्रगृह्यपरिघंघोरंमांसशोणितरूषितम् ।।6.8.9।।
I alone will slay Sugrīva along with Lakṣmaṇa—Angada and Hanumān as well—and even Rāma, that great war-elephant.
Verse 6.8.10
किंवोहनुमताकार्यंकृपणेनतपस्विना ।रामेतिष्ठतिदुर्धर्षेससुग्रीवेऽपिसलक्ष्मणे ।।6.8.10।।
“What need have we to deal with Hanumān—wretched and helpless—when the unassailable Rāma stands there, along with Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa?”
Verse 6.8.11
अद्यरामंससुग्रीवंपरिघेणसलक्ष्मणम् ।आगमिष्यामिहत्वैकोविक्षोभ्यहरिवाहिनीम् ।।6.8.11।।
“Today I shall go alone and, with an iron bar, slay Rāma, Sugrīva, and Lakṣmaṇa, then return after throwing the vānaras’ army into turmoil.”
Verse 6.8.12
इदंममापरंवाक्यंशृणुराजन् यदीच्छसि ।उपायकुशलोह्येवजयेच्छत्रूनतन्द्रितः ।।6.8.12।।
“O King, if you wish, hear another word from me: only one skilled in means and ever vigilant truly conquers enemies.”
Verse 6.8.13
कामरूपधराश्शूरास्सुभीमाभीमदर्शनाः ।राक्षसावैसहस्राणिराक्षसाधिपनिश्चिताः ।।6.8.13।।काकुत्स्थमुपसङ्गम्यबिभ्रतोमानुषंवपुः ।सर्वेह्यसम्भ्रमाभूत्वाब्रुवन्तुरघुसत्तमम् ।।6.8.14।।
O lord of the rākṣasas, let thousands of rākṣasas—heroes of dreadful aspect, able to assume any form at will—approach Kakutstha (Rāma) clad in human bodies and, without agitation, address the foremost of the Raghus.
Verse 6.8.14
कामरूपधराश्शूरास्सुभीमाभीमदर्शनाः ।राक्षसावैसहस्राणिराक्षसाधिपनिश्चिताः ।।6.8.13।।काकुत्स्थमुपसङ्गम्यबिभ्रतोमानुषंवपुः ।सर्वेह्यसम्भ्रमाभूत्वाब्रुवन्तुरघुसत्तमम् ।।6.8.14।।
Approaching Kakutstha (Rāma) while assuming a human form, let them all, remaining unperturbed, address Rāma—the foremost of the Raghu line.
Verse 6.8.15
प्रेषिताभरतेनैवभ्रात्रातवयवीयसा ।सहिसेनांसमुत्थाप्यक्षिप्रमेवोपयास्यति ।।6.8.15।।
Even devas, dānavas, and gandharvas—yes, even piśācas, birds, and serpents—cannot dare confront you in battle; how much less, then, the vānaras in war.
Verse 6.8.16
ततोवयमितस्तूर्णंशूलशक्तिगदाधराः ।चापबाणासिहस्ताश्चत्वरितास्तत्रयामहे ।।6.8.16।।
We have been sent by your younger brother Bharata. He has roused the army and will come here very soon.
Verse 6.8.17
आकाशेगणशस्थ्सित्वाहत्वातांहरिवाहिनीम् ।अश्मशस्त्रमहावृष्ट्याप्रापयामयमक्षयम् ।।6.8.17।।
Then we shall swiftly go from here to that place, bearing tridents, javelins, and maces—bows, arrows, and swords in hand—hastening to the fight.
Verse 6.8.18
एवंचेदुपसर्पेतामनयंरामलक्ष्मणौ ।अवश्यमपनीतेनजहतामेवजीवितम् ।।6.8.18।।
Stationed in the sky in companies, we shall strike down that host of vānara; with a mighty rain of stones and weapons we will send them to Yama’s abode.
Verse 6.8.19
कौम्भकर्णिस्ततोवीरोनिकुम्भोनामवीर्यवान् ।अब्रवीत्परमक्रुद्धोरावणंलोकरावणम् ।।6.8.19।।
If in this manner Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were brought into distress, then surely, by deception, they would be made to relinquish their very lives.
Verse 6.8.20
सर्वेभवन्तस्तिष्ठन्तुमहाराजेनसङ्गताः ।अहमेकोहनिष्यामिराघवंसहलक्ष्मणम् ।।6.8.20।।सुग्रीवञ्चहनूमन्तंसर्वांनेवचवानरान् ।
All of you remain here with the great king. I alone will kill Rāghava together with Lakṣmaṇa—and Sugrīva and Hanūmān as well, indeed all the vānara.
Verse 6.8.21
ततोवज्रहनुर्नामराक्षसःपर्वतोपमः ।।6.8.21।।क्रुद्ध: परिलिहन्सृक्कांजिह्वयावाक्यमब्रवीत् ।
Then the rākṣasa named Vajrahanu, mountain-like in form, enraged and licking his lips with his tongue, spoke these words.
Verse 6.8.22
स्वैरंकुर्वन्तुकर्माणिभवन्तोविगतज्वराः ।।6.8.22।।एकोऽहंभक्षयिष्यामितांसर्वांहरियूथपान् ।स्वस्थाःक्रीडन्तुनिश्चिन्ताःपिबन्तुमधुवारुणीम् ।।6.8.23।।
Go about your duties as you please, free from all anxiety. I alone will devour the entire host of vānara chieftains. Rest at ease—sport without worry, and drink sweet wine.
Verse 6.8.23
स्वैरंकुर्वन्तुकर्माणिभवन्तोविगतज्वराः ।।6.8.22।।एकोऽहंभक्षयिष्यामितांसर्वांहरियूथपान् ।स्वस्थाःक्रीडन्तुनिश्चिन्ताःपिबन्तुमधुवारुणीम् ।।6.8.23।।
Carry out your tasks as you please, free from anxiety. I alone will devour that entire host of monkey-chieftains. At ease, sport without worry, and drink the honey-sweet vāruṇī.
Verse 6.8.24
अहमेकोवधिष्यामिसुग्रीवंसहलक्ष्मणम् ।साङ्गदंचहनूमन्तंरामंचरणकुञ्जरम् ।।6.8.24।।
All of us, careless and overconfident, were outwitted by Hanumān. While I still live, that forest-ranging one will not escape alive.