Yuddha KandaSarga 9644 Verses

Sarga 96

युद्धाय रावणस्य निर्याणं तथा उत्पातदर्शनम् (Ravana’s Mobilization for War and the ظهور of Fatal Portents)

युद्धकाण्ड

Sarga 96 opens with Rāvaṇa hearing lamentation throughout Laṅkā, indicating civic distress and the war’s domestic toll. He pauses, then assumes a terrifying, wrathful demeanor and issues rapid commands to Mahodara, Mahāpārśva, and Virūpākṣa to mobilize the remaining night-rangers. In a sequence of boastful martial vows, Rāvaṇa declares he will dispatch Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa to Yama’s abode, avenge fallen champions (Khara, Kumbhakarṇa, Prahasta, Indrajit), and annihilate Vānara battalions with cloudlike volleys of arrows. The Rākṣasa forces arm themselves with a catalogue of weapons and sortie with chariots and roars. As Rāvaṇa advances—glowing, bow raised—cosmic and bodily omens erupt: the sun dims, directions darken, meteors fall, blood rains, animals cry inauspiciously, and his left eye and arm twitch. Despite these death-signs, he proceeds, and a tumultuous engagement begins in which his golden-feathered arrows inflict grievous injuries on the Vānara ranks.

Shlokas

Verse 6.96.1

आर्तानांराक्षसीनांतुलङ्कायांवैकुलेकुले ।रावणःकरुणंशब्दंशुश्रावपरिदेवितम् ।।6.96.1।।

In Laṅkā, from house to house and clan to clan, Rāvaṇa heard the afflicted rākṣasī women raising piteous cries of lamentation.

Verse 6.96.2

स तुदीर्घंविनिःश्वस्यमुहूर्तंध्यानमास्थितः ।बभूवपरमक्रुद्धोरावणोभीमदर्शनः ।।6.96.2।।

“Today, in battle, I shall make the earth strewn with Vānaras—split by my arrows and bereft of life—so that the ground itself will be seen only with effort,” said Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.3

सन्दश्यदशनैरोष्ठंक्रोधसम्रक्तलोचनः ।राक्षसैरपिदुर्दर्शःकालाग्निरिवमूर्छितः ।।6.96.3।।

With Rāvaṇa’s permission, Mahāpārśva and Mahodara—and the hard-to-overcome Virūpākṣa as well—then mounted their chariots.

Verse 6.96.4

उवाच च समीपस्थान्राक्षसान्राक्षसेश्वरः ।क्रोधाव्यक्तकथस्तत्रनिर्दहन्निवचक्षुषा ।।6.96.4।।महोदरंमहापार्श्वंविरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् ।शीघ्रंवदतसैन्यानिनिर्यातेतिममाज्ञया ।।6.96.5।।

Then the lord of the rākṣasas addressed the rākṣasas standing near him—his words choked by anger, his eyes as though burning. He said to Mahodara, Mahāpārśva, and the rākṣasa Virūpākṣa: “Quickly, order the troops to march out—this is my command.”

Verse 6.96.5

He addressed the rākṣasas—Mahodara, Mahāpārśva, and Virūpākṣa—saying: “Quickly, by my command, tell the troops to march out.”

Verse 6.96.6

तस्यतद्वचनंश्रुत्वाराक्षसास्तेभयार्दिताः ।चोदयामासुरव्यग्रान्राक्षसांस्तान्नृपाज्ञया ।।6.96.6।।

Hearing those words of their king, the rākṣasas—stricken with fear—nevertheless, by the royal command, urged on the others who remained steady.

Verse 6.96.7

तेतुसर्वेतथेत्युक्त्वाराक्षसाभीमदर्शनाः ।कृतस्वस्त्वयनाःसर्वेतेरणाभिमुखाययुः ।।6.96.7।।

Then all those fearsome-looking rākṣasas, saying “So be it,” and having made their auspicious preparations, went forth facing the battlefield.

Verse 6.96.8

प्रतिपूज्ययथान्यायंरावणंतेमहारथाः ।तस्थुःप्राञ्जलयःसर्वेभर्तुर्विजयकाङ्क्षिणः ।।6.96.8।।

Having duly paid respect to Rāvaṇa, those great chariot-warriors all stood with folded hands, wishing for their lord’s victory.

Verse 6.96.9

अथोवाचप्रहस्यैतान्रावणःक्रोधमूर्छितः ।महोदरमहापार्श्वौविरूपाक्षं च राक्षसम् ।।6.96.9।।

Then Rāvaṇa—beside himself with anger—laughed and spoke to these rākṣasas: Mahodara, Mahāpārśva, and Virūpākṣa.

Verse 6.96.10

अद्यबाणैर्धनुर्मुक्स्सैर्युगान्तादित्यसन्निभैः ।राघवंलक्ष्मणंचैवनेष्यामियमसादनम् ।।6.96.10।।

“Today, with arrows loosed from my bow—blazing like the sun at the world’s end—I shall send Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa to Yama’s abode,” declared Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.11

खरस्यकुम्भकर्णस्यप्रहसेन्द्रजितोस्तथा ।करिष्यामिप्रतीकारमद्यशत्रुवधादहम् ।।6.96.11।।

“Today, by slaying the enemy, I shall exact vengeance—for Khara, for Kumbhakarṇa, and likewise for Prahasta and Indrajit,” said Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.12

नैवान्तरिक्षं न दिशो न नद्यौर्नापिसागराः ।प्रकाशत्वंगमिष्यन्तिमद्बाणजलदावृताः ।।6.96.12।।

“Covered by the cloud-mass of my arrows, neither the sky nor the quarters, neither the rivers nor even the oceans will keep their brightness,” boasted Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.13

अद्यवानरमुख्यानांतानियूथानिभागशः ।धनुषाशरजालेनवधिष्यामिपतत्रिणा ।।6.96.13।।

“Today, with my bow and a net of feathered arrows, I shall slaughter those troops of the foremost vānara—piece by piece,” said Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.14

अद्यवानरसैन्यानिरथेनपवनौजसा ।धनुस्समुद्रादुद्भूतैर्मथिष्यामिशरोर्मिभिः ।।6.96.14।।

“Today, mounted on my chariot and swift as the wind, I will churn and shatter the vānara forces with wave-like torrents of arrows rising from the ocean of my bow,” declared Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.15

व्याकोशपद्मवक्त्राणिपद्मकेसरवर्चसाम् ।अद्ययूथतटाकानिगजवत्प्रमथाम्यहम् ।।6.96.15।।

“Today I will ravage the battalion-ponds of those vānara—whose faces are like fully opened lotuses and whose splendor is like lotus-filaments—just as an elephant tramples ponds,” boasted Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.16

सशरैरद्यवदनैस्सङ्ख्येवानरयूथपाः ।मण्डयिष्यन्तिवसुधांसनालैरिवपङ्कजैः ।।6.96.16।।

“Today, in battle, the vānara troop-leaders—faces transfixed with arrows—will adorn the earth like lotuses still attached to their stalks,” said Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.17

अद्ययूथप्रचण्डानांहरीणांद्रुमयोधिनाम् ।मुक्तेनैकेषुणायुद्धेभेत्स्यामि च शतंशतम् ।।6.96.17।।

“Today, in battle, with each single arrow I release, I shall pierce a hundred upon a hundred of those fierce Vānara warriors who fight with trees,” declared Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.18

हतोभर्ताहतोभ्रातायासां च चतनयोहतः ।वधेनाद्यरिपोस्तासांकरोम्यश्रुप्रमार्जनम् ।।6.96.18।।

“By slaying the enemy today, I shall wipe away the tears of those women whose husband is slain, whose brother is slain, and whose son too is slain,” said Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.19

अद्यमद्भाणनिर्भिन्नैःप्रकीर्णैर्गतचेतनैः ।करोमिवानरैर्युद्धेयत्नावेक्ष्यतलांमहीम् ।।6.96.19।।

Rāvaṇa, heaving a long sigh and pausing for a moment in thought, became exceedingly enraged, and his appearance turned terrifying.

Verse 6.96.20

अद्यगोमयवोगृध्राश्चये च मांसाशिनोऽपरे ।सर्वांस्तांस्तर्पयिष्यामिशत्रुमांसैश्शरार्दितैः ।।6.96.20।।

“Today I shall sate the jackals, the vultures, and all other flesh-eaters with the enemies’ flesh, torn by my arrows,” said Rāvaṇa.

Verse 6.96.21

कल्प्यतांमेरथंशीघ्रंक्षिप्रमानीयतांधनुः ।अनुप्रयान्तुमांयुद्धेयेऽत्रशिष्टानिशाचराः ।।6.96.21।।

“Make my chariot ready at once; bring my bow quickly. And let the Night-ranging Rākṣasas who remain here follow me into battle.”

Verse 6.96.22

तस्यतद्वचनंश्रुत्वामहापार्श्वोऽब्रवीद्वचः ।बलाध्यक्षान् स्थिथांस्तत्रबलंसंत्वर्यतामिति ।।6.96.22।।

Hearing his words, Mahāpārśva spoke to the army chiefs standing there: “Hasten the forces—make them ready at once!”

Verse 6.96.23

बलाध्यक्षास्तुसम्रब्दाराक्षसांस्तान् गृहेगृहे ।चोदयन्तःपरिययुर्लङ्कांलघुपराक्रमाः ।।6.96.23।।

Then the army commanders, acting swiftly, went through Laṅkā from house to house, rousing the Rākṣasas to assemble.

Verse 6.96.24

ततोमुहूर्तान्निष्पेतूराक्षसाभीमदर्शनाः ।नदन्तोभीमवदनानानाप्रहरणैर्भुजैः ।।6.96.24।।असिभिःपट्टसै: शूलैर्गदाभिर्मुसलैर्हलैः ।शक्तिभिस्तीक्ष्णधाराभिर्महद्भि: कूटमुद्गरैः ।।6.96.25।।यष्टिभिर्विमलैश्चक्रैर्निशितैश्चपरश्वथै: ।भिन्दिपालैःशतघ्नीभिरन्यैश्चापिवरायुधैः ।।6.96.26।।

Soon after, the fearsome Rākṣasas rushed out, roaring, grim-faced, bearing many kinds of weapons on their arms: swords, spears, tridents, maces, clubs, and ploughshares; sharp javelins and massive spiked hammers; staffs, shining discus-weapons, keen axes, bhindipālas, śataghnīs, and other excellent arms.

Verse 6.96.25

Then, by Rāvaṇa’s command, the army chief swiftly brought a chariot—quick, with its charioteer in place, yoked to eight horses. At that time the dreadful Rāvaṇa, blazing with his own splendor, mounted it.

Verse 6.96.26

They went forth bearing staffs, bright discus-weapons, and keen-edged axes—along with bhindipālas, śataghnīs, and other excellent arms.

Verse 6.96.27

अथानयद्बलाध्यक्षस्सत्वरोरावणाज्ञया ।द्रुतंसूतसमायुक्तंयुक्ताष्टतुरगंरथम् ।आरुरोहतदाभीमोदीप्यमानंस्वतेजसा ।।6.96.27।।

Then, at Rāvaṇa’s command, the chief of the army swiftly brought the chariot, attended by its charioteer and yoked to eight horses. Thereupon the dreadful Rāvaṇa mounted it, blazing with his own radiance.

Verse 6.96.28

ततःप्रयातस्सहसाराक्षसैर्भहुभिर्वृतः ।।6.96.28।।रावणःसत्त्वगाम्भीर्याद्दारयन्निवमेदिनीम् ।

Clenching his lip between his teeth, his eyes reddened with rage, Rāvaṇa became a dreadful sight—even to the rākṣasas—like the fire of Time itself when it flares up.

Verse 6.96.29

रावणेनाभ्यनुज्ञातौमहापार्श्वमहोदरौ ।विरूपाक्षश्चदुर्धर्षोरथानारुरुहुस्तदा ।।6.96.29।।

Then Rāvaṇa set out at once, surrounded by many rākṣasas, seeming—by the sheer weight of his proud might and grim resolve—to tear open the earth itself.

Verse 6.96.30

तेतुहृष्टाविवर्धन्तोभिन्दन्तइवमेदिनीम् ।नादंघोरंविमुञ्चन्तोनिर्ययुर्जयकाङ्क्षिणः ।।6.96.30।।

They, exultant and swollen with pride, marched forth as though cleaving the earth, unleashing dreadful roars, thirsting for victory.

Verse 6.96.31

ततोयुद्धायतेजस्वीरक्षोगणबलैर्वृतः ।निर्ययावुद्यतधनुःकालान्तकयमोपमः ।।6.96.31।।

Then the radiant Rāvaṇa, encircled by the might of the rākṣasa hosts, went forth to battle with bow upraised—like Yama, the end-time destroyer.

Verse 6.96.32

ततःप्रजविताश्वेनरथेन स महारथः ।द्वारेणनिर्ययौतेनयत्रतौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।।6.96.32।।

Then that great chariot-warrior drove out through the gate in his chariot yoked to exceedingly swift horses, toward where Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa stood.

Verse 6.96.33

ततोनष्टप्रभःसूर्योदिशश्चतिमिरावृताः ।द्विजाश्चनेदुर्घोराश्चसञ्चचाल च मेदिनी ।।6.96.33।।

Then the sun’s radiance seemed to fail; the directions were wrapped in darkness; birds cried out ominously, and the earth itself began to tremble.

Verse 6.96.34

ववर्षरुधिरंदेवश्चस्खलुश्चतुरङ्गमाः ।ध्वजाग्रेन्यपतद्गृध्रोविनेदुश्चाशिवाःशिवाः ।।6.96.34।।

The heavens seemed to rain blood; the horses stumbled; a vulture alighted upon the banner-top; and inauspicious jackals howled.

Verse 6.96.35

नयनंचास्फुरद्वामंवामोबाहुरकम्पत ।विवर्णवदनश्साकतिंचिदभ्रश्यतस्वनः ।।6.96.35।।

His left eye twitched; his left arm quivered; his face grew pale, and his voice faltered—hoarse and broken.

Verse 6.96.36

ततोनिष्पततोयुद्धेदशग्रीवस्यरक्षसः ।रणेनिधनशंसीनिरूपाण्येतानिजज्ञिरे ।।6.96.36।।

Then, as the rākṣasa Daśagrīva rushed into battle, these very forms appeared—omens foretelling death in war.

Verse 6.96.37

अन्तरिक्षात्पपातोल्कानिराघतसमनिर्घास्वना ।विनेदुरशिवागृध्रावायसैरभिमिश्रिताः ।।6.96.37।।

A meteor fell from the sky with a roar like thunder; and inauspicious cries rang out—vultures and crows calling together.

Verse 6.96.38

एतानचिन्तयन्घोरानुत्पातान्समवस्थितान् ।निर्ययौरावणोमोहाद्वधार्थंकालचोदितः ।।6.96.38।।

Not reflecting on these dreadful portents that had arisen, Rāvaṇa—deluded and driven by Time—marched out toward the destruction that awaited him.

Verse 6.96.39

तेषांतुरथघोषेणराक्षसानांमहात्मनाम् ।वानराणामपिचमूर्युद्धायैवाभ्यवर्तत ।।6.96.39।।

At the thunder of the rākṣasas’ chariots, the vānaras’ host also moved forward, arraying itself for battle.

Verse 6.96.40

तेषांतुतुमुलंयुद्धंबभूवकपिरक्षसाम् ।अन्योन्यमाह्वयानानांक्रुद्धानांजयमिच्छताम् ।।6.96.40।।

Then a fierce battle erupted between the vānaras and the rākṣasas—each side angrily challenging the other, each longing for victory.

Verse 6.96.41

ततःक्रुद्धोदशग्रीवश्शरैःकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।वानराणामनीकेषुचकारकदनंमहत् ।।6.96.41।।

Then Daśagrīva, enraged, with arrows adorned in gold, wrought great carnage among the vānaras’ battle-formations.

Verse 6.96.42

विकृत्तशिरसःकेचिद्रावणेनवलीमुखाः ।केचिद्विच्छिन्नहृदयाःकेचिच्छ्रोत्रविवर्जिताः ।।6.96.42।।

Some vānaras had their heads mangled by Rāvaṇa; some had their hearts pierced; and some were left without ears.

Verse 6.96.43

निरुच्छवासाहताःकेचित्केचित्पार्श्वेषुदारिताः ।केचिद्विभिन्नशिरसःकेचिच्चक्षुर्विनाकृताः ।।6.96.43।।

Some were slain and left without breath; some had their flanks torn open; some had their heads shattered; and some were deprived of their eyes.

Verse 6.96.44

Wherever the enraged Rāvaṇa charged in his chariot, there and then the monkey battalions could not endure his assault—overwhelmed by the force and speed of his arrows as his wrath drove him through the field.