युद्धकाण्डे पञ्चनवतितमः सर्गः (Sarga 95: Lamentation in Laṅkā and the Causal Chain of Enmity)
युद्धकाण्ड
This chapter presents a wartime audit of devastation and a reflective diagnosis of its causes. It opens with a hyperbolic catalogue of Rāvaṇa’s dispatched forces—fire-colored horses, chariots with banners and golden ornamentation, iron-bar wielding fighters, and shape-shifting rākṣasas—now felled by Rāma’s sharp, glowing, gold-adorned arrows, emphasizing his tireless efficacy (akliṣṭa-karman). The narrative then pivots to interpretive lament: rākṣasī women and survivors gather, bewailing husbands, sons, and kin, while questioning how the chain began—specifically Surpaṇakhā’s ill-fated desire for Rāma and her condemned assault, which precipitated the destruction of Khara and Dūṣaṇa and ultimately the abduction of Sītā. A sequence of exempla is cited as “sufficient proof” of Rāma’s prowess: the slaying of Virādha, the Janasthāna campaign, the deaths of Khara, Dūṣaṇa, Triśiras, Kabandha, and Vāli, and Sugrīva’s restoration. Vibhīṣaṇa’s dharmic counsel is noted as rejected by Rāvaṇa, and the chapter intensifies into collective fear: Laṅkā is imagined as a cremation ground, omens rise, and Rāma is compared to Rudra, Viṣṇu, Indra, or even Antaka (Death). The theological-political backstory of Rāvaṇa’s boon from Brahmā—protection from devas, dānavas, and rākṣasas but not from humans—is recalled to explain why human-born Rāma becomes the instrument of downfall. The sarga closes with the women embracing one another in despondent cries, framing the war not only as military defeat but as a moral reckoning.
Verse 6.95.1
तानितानिसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।रथानांत्वग्निवर्णानांसध्वजानांसहस्रशः ।।।।राक्षसानांसहस्राणिगदापरिघयोधिनाम् ।काञ्चनध्वजचित्राणांशूराणांकामरूपिणाम् ।।।।निहतानिशरैर्दीस्तीक्ष्णैस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।रावणेनप्रयुक्तानिरामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ।।।।
Thousands upon thousands of chariots, with their riders, yoked to horses blazing like fire and bearing countless standards; and thousands of rākṣasas—heroic, able to change form at will—fighting with maces and iron bars, their banners adorned with golden designs: those forces, dispatched by Rāvaṇa, were cut down by Rāma, tireless in action, with sharp, radiant arrows fitted with heated-gold ornaments.
Verse 6.95.2
तानितानिसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।रथानांत्वग्निवर्णानांसध्वजानांसहस्रशः ।।6.95.1।।राक्षसानांसहस्राणिगदापरिघयोधिनाम् ।काञ्चनध्वजचित्राणांशूराणांकामरूपिणाम् ।।6.95.2।।निहतानिशरैर्दीस्तीक्ष्णैस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।रावणेनप्रयुक्तानिरामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ।।6.95.3।।
Thousands of Rākṣasa warriors—fighters wielding maces and iron bars, splendid with golden banners and ornamented emblems—those brave ones, able to assume forms at will, were struck down in the battle.
Verse 6.95.3
तानितानिसहस्राणिसारोहाणां च वाजिनाम् ।रथानांत्वग्निवर्णानांसध्वजानांसहस्रशः ।।6.95.1।।राक्षसानांसहस्राणिगदापरिघयोधिनाम् ।काञ्चनध्वजचित्राणांशूराणांकामरूपिणाम् ।।6.95.2।।निहतानिशरैर्दीस्तीक्ष्णैस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।रावणेनप्रयुक्तानिरामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ।।6.95.3।।
Those forces dispatched by Rāvaṇa were cut down by Rāma—unceasing in action—using blazing, razor-sharp arrows adorned with heated gold.
Verse 6.95.4
दृष्टवाश्रुत्वा च सम्भ्रान्ताहतशेषानिशाचराः ।राक्षसीश्चसमागम्यदीनाश्चिन्तापरिप्लुताः ।।।।विधवाहतपुत्राश्चक्रोशन्त्योहतबान्दवाः ।राक्षस्यःसहसङ्गम्यदुःखार्ताःपर्यदेवयन् ।।।।
Seeing and hearing what had happened, the surviving night-rangers were shaken. The rākṣasī women gathered together—wretched and flooded with anguish. Widowed, with sons and kinsmen slain, they cried out and, assembling in groups, lamented in grief.
Verse 6.95.5
दृष्टवाश्रुत्वा च सम्भ्रान्ताहतशेषानिशाचराः ।राक्षसीश्चसमागम्यदीनाश्चिन्तापरिप्लुताः ।।6.95.4।।विधवाहतपुत्राश्चक्रोशन्त्योहतबान्दवाः ।राक्षस्यःसहसङ्गम्यदुःखार्ताःपर्यदेवयन् ।।6.95.5।।
How did the aged Śūrpaṇakhā—dreadful and hideous—approach Rāma in the forest, he whose beauty was like Kāma himself?
Verse 6.95.6
कथंशूर्पणखावृद्धाकरालानिर्णतोदरी ।आससादवनेरामंकन्दर्पमिवरूपिणम् ।।।।
Seeing him—gentle, great in spirit, and devoted to the welfare of all beings—that ugly woman, scorned by the world, was inflamed with desire.
Verse 6.95.7
सुकुमारंमहासत्त्वंसर्वभूतहितेरतम् ।तंदृष्टवालोकनिन्द्यासाहीनरूपाप्रकामिता ।।।।
How did that rākṣasī—bereft of virtues and foul-faced—dare to desire Rāma, who was rich in virtues, radiant in might, and fair of countenance?
Verse 6.95.8
कथंसर्वगुणैर्हीनागुणवन्तंमहौजसम् ।सुमुखंदुर्मुखीरामंकामयामासराक्षसी ।।।।
Because this people’s fortune was scant, that wrinkled, grey‑haired, misshapen woman committed a wrongful deed—ridiculous and condemned by all the world. By assaulting Rāghava, she became the cause of the destruction of the rākṣasas, and of Dūṣaṇa and Khara as well.
Verse 6.95.9
जनस्यास्याल्पभाग्यत्वाद्वलिनीश्वेतमूर्धजा ।अकार्यमपहास्यं च सर्वलोकविगर्हितम् ।।।।राक्षसानांविनाशायदूषणस्यखरस्य च ।चकाराप्रतिरूपासाराघवस्यप्रधर्षणम् ।।।।
Because her good fortune was scant, that wrinkled, grey‑haired woman committed a disgraceful misdeed—fit for ridicule and condemned by all the world. In her unseemly state she attempted to assault Rāghava, bringing ruin upon the rākṣasas, and upon Dūṣaṇa and Khara as well.
Verse 6.95.10
जनस्यास्याल्पभाग्यत्वाद्वलिनीश्वेतमूर्धजा ।अकार्यमपहास्यं च सर्वलोकविगर्हितम् ।।6.95.9।।राक्षसानांविनाशायदूषणस्यखरस्य च ।चकाराप्रतिरूपासाराघवस्यप्रधर्षणम् ।।6.95.10।।
That misshapen Śūrpaṇakhā, by her reckless assault upon Rāghava, became the very cause of the rākṣasas’ destruction—of Khara and Dūṣaṇa as well.
Verse 6.95.11
तन्निमित्तमिदंवैरंरावणेनकृतंमहत् ।वधायसीतासासीतादशग्रीवेणरक्षसा ।।।।
For that very reason Rāvaṇa has brought about this great enmity; and that Sītā, Janaka’s daughter, was carried off by the ten-necked rākṣasa, thus sealing the path to his own destruction.
Verse 6.95.12
न च सीतांदशग्रीवःप्राप्नोतिजनकात्मजाम् ।बद्धंबलवतावैरमक्षयंराघवेण च ।।।।
And Daśagrīva shall not have Sītā, Janaka’s daughter; for by this forcible act an undying enmity has been bound fast with Rāghava.
Verse 6.95.13
वैदेहींप्रार्थयानंतंविराधंप्रेक्षयराक्षसम् ।हतमेकेनरामेणपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।
Seeing the rākṣasa Virādha pursuing Vaidehī, Rāma slew him single-handed; that alone is proof enough of his might.
Verse 6.95.14
चतुर्धशसहस्राणिरक्षसांभीमकर्मणाम् ।निहतानिजनस्थानेशरैरग्निशिखोपमैः ।।।।
At Janasthāna, fourteen thousand rākṣasas of dreadful deeds were destroyed by his arrows, like tongues of fire.
Verse 6.95.15
खरश्चनिहतःसङ्ख्येदूषणस्त्रिशिरास्तथा ।शरैरादितसङ्काशैःपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।
In battle, Khara was slain—and so too Dūṣaṇa and Triśiras—by arrows radiant as the sun; that is proof enough.
Verse 6.95.16
हतोयोजनबाहुश्चकबन्दोरुदिराशनः ।क्रोधान्नादंनदन् सोऽथपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।
And Kabandha too—blood-eating, with arms a yojana long—came roaring in wrath, yet was slain; that also is proof enough.
Verse 6.95.17
जघानबलिनंरामस्सहस्रनयनात्मजम् ।वालिनंमेरुसङ्काशंपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।
Rāma slew the mighty Vālin, son of Sahasranayana (Indra), who was like Mount Meru; that is proof enough.
Verse 6.95.18
ऋष्यमूकेवसंश्चैवदीनोभग्नमनोरथः ।सुग्रीवःप्रापितोराज्यंपर्याप्तंतन्निदर्शनम् ।।।।
Sugrīva, dwelling on Ṛṣyamūka, dejected and with hopes shattered, was restored to his kingdom; that is proof enough.
Verse 6.95.19
धर्मार्थसहितंवाक्यंसर्वेषांरक्षसांहितम् ।युक्तंविभीषणेनोक्तंमोहत्तस्य न रोचते ।।।।
Though Vibhīṣaṇa spoke words grounded in dharma and sound policy, beneficial to all the rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, deluded, took no delight in them and would not accept them.
Verse 6.95.20
विभीषणवचःकुर्याद्यदिस्मधनदानुजः ।श्मशानभूतादुःखार्तानेयंलङ्काभविष्यति ।।।।
Had the younger brother of Kubera truly heeded Vibhīṣaṇa’s counsel, this Lanka would not have become a cremation-ground, afflicted with grief.
Verse 6.95.21
कुम्भकर्णंहतंश्रुत्वाराघवेणमहाबलम् ।अतिकायं च दुर्मर्षंलक्ष्मणेनहतंतदा ।।।।प्रियंचेन्द्रजितंपुत्रंरावणोनावबुध्यते ।
Even after hearing that mighty Kumbhakarṇa was slain by Rāghava, and that Atikāya—hard to withstand—was then killed by Lakṣmaṇa, and that his beloved son Indrajit too had fallen, Rāvaṇa still did not come to his senses.
Verse 6.95.22
ममपुत्रोममभ्राताममभर्तारणेहतः ।।।।इत्येषश्रूयतेशब्दोराक्षसीनांकुलेकुले ।
“My son is slain; my brother is slain; my husband is slain in battle”—such cries were heard, from household to household, among the Rākṣasa women.
Verse 6.95.23
रथश्चाश्वाश्चनागाश्चहताःशतसहस्रशः ।।।।रणेरामेणशूरेणहताश्चापिपदातयः ।
Chariots, horses, and elephants were destroyed by hundreds and thousands; and in that battle even the foot-soldiers were slain by the heroic Rāma.
Verse 6.95.24
रुद्रोवायदिवाविष्णुर्महेन्द्रोवाशतक्रतुः ।।।।हन्तिनोरामरूपेणयदिवास्वयमन्तकः ।
Is it Rudra, or Viṣṇu, or great Indra of a hundred sacrifices—or is it Death itself—that, in the form of Rāma, is slaying us?
Verse 6.95.25
हतप्रवीरारामेणनिराशाजीवितेवयम् ।।।।अपश्य्नत्योभयस्यान्तमनाथाविलपामहे ।
With our foremost heroes slain by Rāma, we have lost hope of life; unable to see any end to this terror, we wail like the unprotected.
Verse 6.95.26
रामहस्ताद्धशग्रीवश्शूरोदत्तमहावरः ।।।।इदंभयंमहाघोरंसमुत्पन्नं न बुध्यते ।
Daśagrīva—though a famed warrior, though fortified by mighty boons—does not recognize the most dreadful danger that has arisen from the hand of Rāma.
Verse 6.95.27
तं न देवा न गन्धर्वा न पिशाचा न राक्षसाः ।।।।उपसृष्टंपरित्रातुंशक्तारामेणसम्युगे ।
When he is assailed by Rāma in battle, neither the Devas nor the Gandharvas, neither the Piśācas nor even the Rākṣasas, are able to protect him.
Verse 6.95.28
त्पताश्चापिदृश्यन्तेरावणस्यरणेरणे ।।।।कथयन्तिहिरामेणरावणस्यनिबर्हणम् ।
In battle after battle, ominous portents are seen for Rāvaṇa; indeed, they foretell Rāvaṇa’s destruction at the hands of Rāma.
Verse 6.95.29
पितामहेनप्रीतेनदेवदानवराक्षसैः ।।।।रावणस्याभयंदत्तंमनुष्येभ्यो न याचितम् ।
Brahmā, being pleased, granted Rāvaṇa immunity from the Devas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas; but protection from human beings was not asked for.
Verse 6.95.30
तदिदंमानुषंमन्येप्राप्तंनिःसंशयंभयम् ।।।।जीवितान्तकंघोरंरक्षसांरावणस्य च ।
Therefore, I think this fear arising from a human has surely come—terrible, ending life—for the Rākṣasas and for Rāvaṇa as well.
Verse 6.95.31
पीड्यमानास्तुबलिनावरदानेनरक्षसा ।।।।दीप्स्सैस्तपोभिर्विबुधाःपितामहमपूजयन् ।
Oppressed by the mighty Rākṣasa, empowered by a boon, the wise gods worshipped Pitāmaha Brahmā with blazing austerities (tapas).
Verse 6.95.32
देवतानांहितार्थायमहात्मावैपितामहः ।।।।उवाचदेवताःसर्वाइदंतुष्टोमहद्वचः ।
For the welfare of the gods, the great-souled Pitāmaha Brahmā, well pleased, addressed all the deities with these weighty words.
Verse 6.95.33
अद्यप्रभृतिलोकांस्त्रीन् सर्वेदानवराक्षसाः ।।।।भयेनप्रावृतानित्यंविचरिष्यन्तिशाश्वतम् ।
From this day onward, all Dānavas and Rākṣasas will roam the three worlds, ever enveloped in fear, for a long time to come.
Verse 6.95.34
दैवतैस्तुसमागम्यसर्वैश्चेन्द्रपुरोगमैः ।।।।वृषध्वजस्त्रिपुरहामहादेवःप्रसादितः ।
Then all the gods, with Indra at their head, assembled and propitiated Mahādeva—bull-bannered, the slayer of Tripura.
Verse 6.95.35
प्रसन्नस्तुमहादेवोदेवानेतद्वचोऽब्रवीत् ।।।।उत्पत्स्यतिहितार्थंवोनारीरक्षःक्षयावहा ।
Pleased, Mahādeva spoke to the gods: “For your welfare, a woman will be born—one who will bring about the destruction of the Rākṣasas.”
Verse 6.95.36
एषादेवैःप्रयुक्तातुक्षुद्यथादानवान् पुरा ।।।।भक्षयिष्यतिनःसीताराक्षसघ्नीसरावणान् ।
This Sītā—set in motion by the gods—will consume the Rākṣasas along with Rāvaṇa, just as hunger once consumed the Dānavas.
Verse 6.95.37
रावणस्यापनीतेनदुर्विनीतस्यदुर्मतेः ।।।।अयंनिष्टानकोघोरंशोकेनसमभिप्लुतः ।
Because of the wicked deed of Rāvaṇa—ill-disciplined and evil-minded—this dreadful catastrophe, flooded with grief, now looms upon us.
Verse 6.95.38
तंन पश्यामहेलोकेयोनःशरणदोभवेत् ।।।।राघवेणोपसृष्टानां कालेनेव युगक्षये ।
Assailed by Rāghava, we see no one in this world who could grant us refuge—just as, at the end of an age, beings are overwhelmed by Time itself.
Verse 6.95.39
नास्तिनःशरणंकश्चिद्भयेमहतितिष्ठताम् ।।।।दावाग्निवेष्टितानांहिकरेणूनांयथावने ।
For us who stand amid this great terror, there is truly no refuge—like female elephants in a forest surrounded by a raging wildfire.
Verse 6.95.40
प्राप्तकालंकृतंतेनपौलस्त्येनमहात्मना ।।।।यतएवंभयंदृष्टंतमेवशरणंगतः ।
That great-souled one of the Paulastya line, seeing fear in this form and knowing the time to be ripe, went to him alone and sought refuge.
Verse 6.95.41
इतीवसर्वारजनीचरस्त्रियःपरस्परंसम्परिरभ्यबाहुभिः ।विषेदुरार्तातिभयाभिपीडिताविनेदुरुच्चैश्चतदासुदारुणम् ।।।।
Thus all the women of the night-rangers, clasping one another in their arms, sank into despair; crushed by extreme fear, they then wailed aloud in a most dreadful way.