न्यग्रोध-प्रवेश-निवारणम् (Preventing Indrajit’s Banyan-Tree Rite) / Indrajit Confronts Vibhishana
युद्धकाण्ड
This sarga stages a tactical briefing, a moral dispute, and a doctrinal rebuttal within the war narrative. Vibhīṣaṇa, satisfied after instructing Lakṣmaṇa, leads him into a forested area and identifies a भयङ्कर (frightening) nyagrodha (banyan tree) resembling dark clouds. He explains that Indrajit, after making offerings, becomes invisible and gains lethal advantage; therefore Lakṣmaṇa must strike before Indrajit enters the nyagrodha, destroying his chariot, horses, and charioteer with flaming arrows. Lakṣmaṇa accepts and waits, bow twanged, as Indrajit appears in a radiant chariot and is challenged to direct combat. The scene then pivots to a harsh exchange: Indrajit rebukes Vibhīṣaṇa for abandoning kin and seeking refuge with ‘strangers,’ arguing loyalty to one’s own side even if flawed. Vibhīṣaṇa replies with a dharma-centered self-definition: though born among rākṣasas, he renounced cruel deeds and rejects adharmic association (likened to shaking off a venomous serpent or fleeing a burning house). He enumerates destructive faults—stealing, violating others’ spouses, distrust of friends, killing sages, hostility to deities, pride, anger, animosity—asserting these obscured Rāvaṇa’s prospects like rainclouds veiling mountains, and prophesies Laṅkā’s impending ruin. The chapter closes with Vibhīṣaṇa’s warning that Indrajit, bound by death’s noose, will not return alive after facing Lakṣmaṇa’s arrows.
Verse 6.87.1
एवमुक्त्वातुसौमित्रिंजातहर्षोविभीषणः ।धनुष्पाणिंनमादायत्वरमाणोजगामसः ।।6.87.1।।
Having spoken thus to Saumitrī, Vibhīṣaṇa—filled with glad resolve—quickly set out, taking him along, as Lakṣmaṇa stood ready with bow in hand.
Verse 6.87.2
अविदूरंततोगत्वाप्रविश्यतुमहद्वनम् ।दर्शमामासतत्कर्मलक्ष्मणातविभीषणः ।।6.87.2।।
I take no pleasure in cruelty, nor do I delight in adharma. Even if a brother is of hostile nature, how can one brother cast out another?
Verse 6.87.3
नीलजीमूतसङ्काशंन्यग्रोधंभीमदर्शनम् ।तेजस्वीरावणभ्रातालक्ष्मणायन्यवेदयत् ।।6.87.3।।
Saying, “So be it,” the mighty and radiant Saumitrī—delight of his allies—stood firm there, twanging his splendid bow.
Verse 6.87.4
इहोपहारंभूतानांबलवान्रावणात्मजः ।उपहृत्यततःपश्चात्सङ्ग्राममभिवर्तते ।।6.87.4।।
O rākṣasa—arrogant, childish, and ill-disciplined—you are bound by the noose of Death. Say to me whatever you wish.
Verse 6.87.5
अदृश्टस्सर्वभूतानांततोभवतिराक्षसः ।निहन्तिसमरेशत्रून् बध्नाति च शरोत्तमैः ।।6.87.5।।
Today calamity has come upon you—what will you say to me here? You will not be able to enter the banyan, O worst of rākṣasas.
Verse 6.87.6
तमप्रविष्टंन्यग्रोधंबलिनंरावणात्मजम् ।विध्वंसयशरैर्दीप्टै: सरथंसाश्वसारथिम् ।।6.87.6।।
Having assailed a scion of the Kakutsthas, you cannot live. Fight in battle with Lakṣmaṇa, that godlike prince; once slain, you will serve the purposes of the gods in Yama’s abode.
Verse 6.87.7
तथेत्युक्त्वामहातेजास्सौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः । बभूवावस्थितस्तत्रचित्रंविस्फारयन्? धनुः ।।6.87.7।।
Saying, “So be it,” the mighty and radiant Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa)—a delight to his allies—stood firm there, twanging his splendid bow.
Verse 6.87.8
स रथेनाग्निवर्णेनबलवान्रावणात्मजः ।इन्द्रजित्कवचीखङ्गीसध्वजःप्रत्यदृश्यत ।।6.87.8।।
Rāvaṇa’s son Indrajit—mighty in strength—came into view, standing in a chariot glowing like fire, armed with armor and sword, and bearing a bannered standard.
Verse 6.87.9
तमुवाचमहातेजाःपौलस्त्यमपराजितम् ।समह्वयेत्वांसमरेसम्यग्युद्धंप्रयच्छमे ।।6.87.9।।
Then Lakṣmaṇa, radiant with great energy, addressed that undefeated scion of the Paulastya line: “I challenge you in battle—grant me a fair, face-to-face fight.”
Verse 6.87.10
एवमुक्तोमहातेजामनस्वीरावणात्मजः ।अब्रवीत्परुषंवाक्यंतत्रदृष्टवाविभीषणम् ।।6.87.10।।
Thus addressed, the high-splendored and resolute son of Rāvaṇa, seeing Vibhīṣaṇa there, spoke harsh words to him.
Verse 6.87.11
इहत्वंजातसम्वृद्धःसाक्षाद्भ्रातापितुर्मम ।कथंद्रुह्यसिपुत्रस्यपितृव्योममराक्षस ।।6.87.11।।
“Here you were born and raised; you are in truth my father’s own brother. How, then, O rākṣasa, can you bear hostility toward your nephew—toward me, his son?”
Verse 6.87.12
न ज्ञातित्वं न सौहार्धं न जातिस्तवदुर्मते ।प्रमाणं न च सौदर्यं न धर्मोधर्मदूषण ।।6.87.12।।
“You wicked-minded one—corrupter of dharma—there is in you no regard for kinship, no affection, no loyalty to your lineage; you recognize no proper measure, no brotherly bond, no righteousness at all.”
Verse 6.87.13
शोच्यस्त्वमसिदुर्बुद्धेनिन्दनीयश्चसाधुभिः ।यस्त्वंस्वजनमुत्सृज्यपरभृत्यत्वमागतः ।।6.87.13।।
“You are to be pitied, O foolish-minded one—and condemned by the good—for you have cast off your own people and come to serve another.”
Verse 6.87.14
नैतछचिथिलयाबुद्ध्यात्वंवेसतिमहदन्तरम् ।क्व च स्वजनसम्वासःक्व च नीचपराश्रयः ।।6.87.14।।
“With your slackened judgment you do not grasp the great difference: what is life among one’s own, and what is taking shelter with outsiders of low repute.”
Verse 6.87.15
गुणवान्वापरजनःस्वजनोनिर्गुणोऽपिवा ।निर्गुणःस्वजनःश्रेयान् यःपरःपरएवसः ।।6.87.15।।
Even if outsiders are virtuous and one’s own are without merit, one’s own—though flawed—are preferable; for whoever is “other” remains other still.
Verse 6.87.16
यसस्स्वपक्षंपरित्यज्यपरपक्षंनिषेवते ।स स्वपक्षेक्ष्यंप्राप्तेपश्चास्त्तैरेवहन्यते ।।6.87.16।।
Whoever abandons his own side and attaches himself to the other side—when ruin comes upon his former party, he is afterward destroyed by those very people whose side he sought.
Verse 6.87.17
निरनुक्रोशताचेयंयादृशीतेनिशाचर ।स्वजनेनत्वयाशक्यंपौरुषंरावणानुज ।।6.87.17।।
O night-roamer, Ravana’s brother! This is the sort of ruthlessness you display; such ‘heroism’ is possible only when turned against one’s own people.
Verse 6.87.18
इत्युक्तोभ्रातृपुत्रेणप्रत्युवाचविभीषणः ।अजानन्निवमछचीलंकिंराक्षसविकत्थसे ।।6.87.18।।
Thus addressed by his brother’s son, Vibhīṣaṇa replied: “O Rākṣasa, why do you boast as though you did not know my true nature?”
Verse 6.87.19
राक्षसेन्द्रसुतासाधोपारुष्यंत्यजगौरवात् ।कुलेयद्यप्यहंजातोरक्षसांक्रूरकर्मणाम् ।।6.87.19।।गुणोयःप्रथमोनृणंतन्मेशीलमराक्षसम् ।
O wicked son of the rākṣasa-king, abandon this harshness out of regard for honor. Though I was born in a clan of rākṣasas known for cruel deeds, I have embraced dharma as the foremost human virtue; therefore my character is not rākṣasa-like.
Verse 6.87.20
न रमेदारुणेनाहं न चाधर्मेणवैरमे ।।6.87.20।।भ्रात्राविषशीलोऽपिकथंभ्रातानिरस्यते ।
Indeed, by abandoning a man whose character has fallen away from dharma and who is resolved upon sin, one attains well-being—like shaking a venomous serpent off one’s hand.
Verse 6.87.21
धर्मात्प्रच्युतशीलंहिपुरुषंपापनिश्चयम् ।।6.87.21।।त्यक्त्वासुखमवाप्नोतिहस्तादाशीविषंयथा ।
One engaged in stealing others’ property and violating others’ wives—such an evil-minded person, they say, must be abandoned, like a house engulfed in flames.
Verse 6.87.22
परस्वहरणेयुक्तंपरदाराभिमर्शकम् ।।6.87.22।।त्याज्यमाहुर्दुरात्मानंवेश्मप्रज्वलितंयथा ।
Stealing others’ wealth, violating others’ wives, and excessive suspicion toward one’s friends—these three faults bring ruin.
Verse 6.87.23
परस्वानां च हरणंपरदाराभिमर्शनम् ।।6.87.23।।सुहृदामतिशङ्का च त्रयोदोषाःक्षयावहाः ।
The dreadful killing of great sages, hostility even toward all the gods, arrogance and fault-finding, enmity and perversity—these vices have destroyed my brother’s life and sovereignty. They have covered over his good qualities, as rain-clouds conceal mountains.
Verse 6.87.24
महर्षीणांवधोघोरस्सर्वदेवैश्चविग्रहः ।।6.87.24।।अभिमानश्चदोषश्चवैरित्वंप्रतिकूलता ।एतेदोषाममभ्रातुर्जीवितैश्वर्यनाशनाः ।।6.87.25।।गुणान्प्रच्छादयामासुःपर्वतानिवतोयदाः ।
Then, going a short distance and entering the great forest, Vibhīṣaṇa showed Lakṣmaṇa the deed that was to be done.
Verse 6.87.25
महर्षीणांवधोघोरस्सर्वदेवैश्चविग्रहः ।।6.87.24।।अभिमानश्चदोषश्चवैरित्वंप्रतिकूलता ।एतेदोषाममभ्रातुर्जीवितैश्वर्यनाशनाः ।।6.87.25।।गुणान्प्रच्छादयामासुःपर्वतानिवतोयदाः ।
Pride, wrongdoing, enmity, and contrariness—these very faults are ruinous to my brother’s life and sovereignty.
Verse 6.87.26
दोषैरेतैःपरित्यक्तोमयाभ्रातापितातव ।।6.87.26।।नेयमस्तिपुरीलङ्का न च त्वं न च तेपिता ।
Vibhīṣaṇa—the radiant brother of Rāvaṇa—pointed out to Lakṣmaṇa a dreadful banyan tree, dark as a mass of rain-clouds.
Verse 6.87.27
अतिमाननी च बालश्चदुर्विनीतश्चराक्षस ।बद्धस्त्वंकालपाशेनब्रूहिमांयद्यदिच्छसि ।।6.87.27।।
Here, the mighty son of Rāvaṇa, after presenting offerings to the spirits and beings, comes thereafter to the battlefield.
Verse 6.87.28
अद्यतेव्यसनंप्राप्तंकिंमांत्वामिहवक्ष्यसि ।प्रवेष्टुं न त्वयाशक्यंन्यग्रोधंराक्षसाधम ।।6.87.28।।
Thereafter that rākṣasa becomes invisible to all beings; in battle he slays enemies and also binds them fast with excellent arrows.
Verse 6.87.29
धर्षयित्वा च काकुत्स्थं न शक्यंजीवितुंत्वया ।युध्यस्वनरदेवेनलक्ष्मणेनरणेसह ।।6.87.29।।हतस्त्वंदेवताकार्यंकरिष्यसियमक्षये ।
Before he can enter the banyan, destroy that powerful son of Rāvaṇa with blazing arrows—together with his chariot, horses, and charioteer.
Verse 6.87.30
Because of these very faults, your father—who is my brother—has been renounced by me. Neither will this city of Laṅkā stand, nor will you, nor your father.