Lakshmana's Fury

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.96.1)

तां तथा दर्शयित्वा तु मैथिलीं गिरिनिम्नगाम्। निषसाद गिरिप्रस्थे सीतां मांसेन छन्दयन्॥ 96.1 ॥

tāṃ tathā darśayitvā tu maithilīṃ girinimnagām| niṣasāda giriprasthe sītāṃ māṃsena chandayan

Having thus shown Maithili that river flowing down from the mountain, Rama sat down on the hillside, gratifying Sita with roasted meat.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.96.2)

इदं मेध्यमिदं स्वादु निष्टप्तमिदमग्निना। एवमास्ते स धर्मात्मा सीतया सह राघवः॥ 96.2 ॥

idaṃ medhyamidaṃ svādu niṣṭaptamidamagninā| evamāste sa dharmātmā sītayā saha rāghavaḥ

"This is pure, this is savoury, this is well-roasted in the fire" — so saying, the righteous-souled Raghava stayed there together with Sita.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.96.3)

तथा तत्रासतस्तस्य भरतस्योपयायिनः। सैन्यरेणुश्च शब्दश्च प्रादुरास्तां नभस्स्पृशौ॥ 96.3 ॥

tathā tatrāsatastasya bharatasyopayāyinaḥ| sainyareṇuśca śabdaśca prādurāstāṃ nabhasspṛśau

While he sat there thus, the dust and the din of Bharata's approaching army arose, touching the very sky.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.96.4)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे त्रस्ताः शब्देन महता ततः। अर्दिता यूथपा मत्ताः सयूथा दुद्रुवुर्दिशः॥ 96.4 ॥

etasminnantare trastāḥ śabdena mahatā tataḥ| arditā yūthapā mattāḥ sayūthā dudruvurdiśaḥ

Meanwhile, terrified by that mighty sound, the tormented herd-leaders, maddened with rut, fled with their troops in every direction.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.96.5)

स तं सैन्यसमुद्धूतं शब्दं शुश्राव राघवः। तांश्च विप्रद्रुतान् सर्वान् यूथपानन्ववैक्षत॥ 96.5 ॥

sa taṃ sainyasamuddhūtaṃ śabdaṃ śuśrāva rāghavaḥ| tāṃśca vipradrutān sarvān yūthapānanvavaikṣata

Raghava heard that sound raised up by the army, and saw all those herd-leaders running away.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.96.6)

तांश्च विद्रवतो दृष्ट्वा तं च श्रुत्वा च निस्वनम्। उवाच रामः सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं दीप्ततेजसम्॥ 96.6 ॥

tāṃśca vidravato dṛṣṭvā taṃ ca śrutvā ca nisvanam| uvāca rāmaḥ saumitriṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ dīptatejasam

Seeing them flee and hearing that noise, Rama spoke to Lakshmana, Sumitra's son, of blazing energy.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.96.7)

हन्त लक्ष्मण पश्येह सुमित्रा सुप्रजास्त्वया। भीमस्तनितगम्भीरस्तुमुलः श्रूयते स्वनः॥ 96.7 ॥

hanta lakṣmaṇa paśyeha sumitrā suprajāstvayā| bhīmastanitagambhīrastumulaḥ śrūyate svanaḥ

"Ah, Lakshmana! See here — through you Sumitra is blessed with a fine son. A tumultuous sound, deep as the terrible roar of thunder, is being heard."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.96.8)

गजयूथानि वा ऽरण्ये महिषा वा महावने। वित्रासिता मृगाः सिंहैः सहसा प्रद्रुता दिशः॥ 96.8 ॥

gajayūthāni vā 'raṇye mahiṣā vā mahāvane| vitrāsitā mṛgāḥ siṃhaiḥ sahasā pradrutā diśaḥ

"It may be herds of elephants in the forest, or buffaloes in the great wood, or deer suddenly scattering in every direction, terrified by lions."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.96.9)

राजा वा राजमात्रो वा मृगयामटते वने। अन्यद्वा श्वापदं किञ्चित् सौमित्रे ज्ञातुमर्हसि॥ 96.9 ॥

rājā vā rājamātro vā mṛgayāmaṭate vane| anyadvā śvāpadaṃ kiñcit saumitre jñātumarhasi

"Or it might be a king or a prince roaming this forest in the hunt, or some other savage beast — O Saumitri, you ought to find out."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.96.10)

सुदुश्चरो गिरिश्चायं पक्षिणामपि लक्ष्मण। सर्वमेतद्यथातत्त्वमचिराज्ज्ञातुमर्हसि॥ 96.10 ॥

suduścaro giriścāyaṃ pakṣiṇāmapi lakṣmaṇa| sarvametadyathātattvamacirājjñātumarhasi

"This mountain, Lakshmana, is difficult to cross even for birds. You should find out the whole truth of this without delay."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.96.11)

स लक्ष्मणः संत्वरितः सालमारुह्य पुष्पितम्। प्रेक्षमाणो दिशः सर्वाः पूर्वां दिशमुदैक्षत॥ 96.11 ॥

sa lakṣmaṇaḥ saṃtvaritaḥ sālamāruhya puṣpitam| prekṣamāṇo diśaḥ sarvāḥ pūrvāṃ diśamudaikṣata

Lakshmana quickly climbed a flowering Sala tree, and scanning every direction, looked toward the east.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.96.12)

उदङ्मुखः प्रेक्षमाणो ददर्श महतीं चमूम्। रथाश्वगजसम्बाधां यत्तैर्युक्तां पदातिभिः॥ 96.12 ॥

udaṅmukhaḥ prekṣamāṇo dadarśa mahatīṃ camūm| rathāśvagajasambādhāṃ yattairyuktāṃ padātibhiḥ

Facing north and looking on, he saw a vast army crowded with chariots, horses and elephants, accompanied by alert foot-soldiers.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.96.13)

तामश्वगजसम्पूर्णां रथध्वजविभूषिताम्। शशंस सेनां रामाय वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ 96.13 ॥

tāmaśvagajasampūrṇāṃ rathadhvajavibhūṣitām| śaśaṃsa senāṃ rāmāya vacanaṃ cedamabravīt

He described to Rama that army, teeming with horses and elephants and adorned with chariots and banners, and spoke these words.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.96.14)

अग्निं संशमयत्वार्यः सीता च भजतां गुहाम्। सज्यं कुरुष्व चापं च शरांश्च कवचं तथा॥ 96.14 ॥

agniṃ saṃśamayatvāryaḥ sītā ca bhajatāṃ guhām| sajyaṃ kuruṣva cāpaṃ ca śarāṃśca kavacaṃ tathā

"Let the noble one put out the fire, and let Sita take refuge in a cave. String your bow, and make ready the arrows and the armour."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.96.15)

तं रामः पुरुषव्याघ्रो लक्ष्मणं प्रत्युवाच ह। अङ्गावेक्षस्व सौमित्रे कस्येमां मन्यसे चमूम्॥ 96.15 ॥

taṃ rāmaḥ puruṣavyāghro lakṣmaṇaṃ pratyuvāca ha| aṅgāvekṣasva saumitre kasyemāṃ manyase camūm

Rama, the tiger among men, answered Lakshmana: "Look closely, O Saumitri — whose army do you take this to be?"

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.96.16)

एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण लक्ष्मणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। दिधक्षन्निव तां सेनां रुषितः पावको यथा॥ 96.16 ॥

evamuktastu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇo vākyamabravīt| didhakṣanniva tāṃ senāṃ ruṣitaḥ pāvako yathā

Thus addressed by Rama, Lakshmana, incensed like a raging fire as if wishing to consume that army, spoke these words.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.96.17)

सम्पन्नं राज्यमिच्छंस्तु व्यक्तं प्राप्याभिषेचनम्। आवां हन्तुं समभ्येति कैकेय्या भरतः सुतः॥ 96.17 ॥

sampannaṃ rājyamicchaṃstu vyaktaṃ prāpyābhiṣecanam| āvāṃ hantuṃ samabhyeti kaikeyyā bharataḥ sutaḥ

"It is clear that Bharata, Kaikeyi's son, having won his coronation and wishing to make the kingdom secure, is coming here to kill both of us."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.96.18)

एष वै सुमहान् श्रीमान् विटपी सम्प्रकाशते। विराजत्युद्गतस्कन्धः कोविदारध्वजो रथे॥ 96.18 ॥

eṣa vai sumahān śrīmān viṭapī samprakāśate| virājatyudgataskandhaḥ kovidāradhvajo rathe

"See there — that great and splendid emblem of a tree gleams forth; the banner bearing the device of the Kovidara tree, its trunk raised high, shines upon the chariot."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.96.19)

भजन्त्येते यथा काममश्वानारुह्य शीघ्रगान्। एते भ्राजन्ति संहृष्टा गजानारुह्य सादिनः॥ 96.19 ॥

bhajantyete yathā kāmamaśvānāruhya śīghragān| ete bhrājanti saṃhṛṣṭā gajānāruhya sādinaḥ

"These men are riding about at will upon their swift horses; these riders, full of delight, shine forth mounted upon elephants."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.96.20)

गृहीतधनुषौ चावां गिरिं वीरश्रयावहै। अथवेहैव तिष्ठावः सन्नद्धावुद्यतायुधौ॥ 96.20 ॥

gṛhītadhanuṣau cāvāṃ giriṃ vīraśrayāvahai| athavehaiva tiṣṭhāvaḥ sannaddhāvudyatāyudhau

"Let the two of us, bows in hand, take refuge on the mountain, O hero; or else let us stand right here, armed and with weapons raised."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.96.21)

अपि नौ वशमागच्छेत् कोविदारध्वजो रणे। अपि द्रक्ष्यामि भरतं यत्कृते व्यसनं महत्। त्वया राघव सम्प्राप्तं सीतया च मया तथा॥ 96.21 ॥

api nau vaśamāgacchet kovidāradhvajo raṇe| api drakṣyāmi bharataṃ yatkṛte vyasanaṃ mahat| tvayā rāghava samprāptaṃ sītayā ca mayā tathā

"Will that Kovidara banner come under our power in battle? Shall I indeed see Bharata — he because of whom this great misfortune has befallen you, O Raghava, and Sita, and me as well?"

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.96.22)

यन्निमित्तं भवान् राज्याच्च्युतो राघव शाश्वतात्। सम्प्राप्तो ऽयमरिर्वीर भरतो वध्य एव मे॥ 96.22 ॥

yannimittaṃ bhavān rājyāccyuto rāghava śāśvatāt| samprāpto 'yamarirvīra bharato vadhya eva me

"He on whose account you, O Raghava, were cast out from your ancient kingdom — that enemy Bharata who has now come here, O hero, truly deserves to be slain by me."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.96.23)

भरतस्य वधे दोषं नाहं पश्यामि राघव। पूर्वापकारिणां त्यागे न ह्यधर्मो विधीयते॥ 96.23 ॥

bharatasya vadhe doṣaṃ nāhaṃ paśyāmi rāghava| pūrvāpakāriṇāṃ tyāge na hyadharmo vidhīyate

"I see no fault, O Raghava, in slaying Bharata. In striking down one who has wronged us first, no unrighteousness is incurred."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.96.24)

पूर्वापकारी भरतस्त्यक्तधर्मश्च राघव। एतस्मिन्निहते कृत्स्नामनुशाधि वसुन्धराम्॥ 96.24 ॥

pūrvāpakārī bharatastyaktadharmaśca rāghava| etasminnihate kṛtsnāmanuśādhi vasundharām

"Bharata is the aggressor and has forsaken righteousness, O Raghava. Once he is slain, rule over the whole earth."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.96.25)

अद्य पुत्रं हतं सङ्ख्ये कैकेयी राज्यकामुका। मया पश्येत् सुदुःखार्त्ता हस्तिभग्नमिव द्रुमम्॥ 96.25 ॥

adya putraṃ hataṃ saṅkhye kaikeyī rājyakāmukā| mayā paśyet suduḥkhārttā hastibhagnamiva drumam

"Today let Kaikeyi, so covetous of the kingdom, see her son slain by me in battle, overwhelmed with grief, like a tree crushed down by an elephant."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.96.26)

कैकेयीं च वधिष्यामि सानुबन्धां सबान्धवाम्। कलुषेणाद्य महता मेदिनी परिमुच्यताम्॥ 96.26 ॥

kaikeyīṃ ca vadhiṣyāmi sānubandhāṃ sabāndhavām| kaluṣeṇādya mahatā medinī parimucyatām

"I shall slay Kaikeyi too, together with her retinue and kinsfolk. Let the earth this day be rid of so great a sinner."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.96.27)

अद्येमं संयतं क्रोधमसत्कारं च मानद। मोक्ष्यामि शत्रुसैन्येषु कक्षेष्विव हुताशनम्॥ 96.27 ॥

adyemaṃ saṃyataṃ krodhamasatkāraṃ ca mānada| mokṣyāmi śatrusainyeṣu kakṣeṣviva hutāśanam

"Today, O giver of honour, I shall unleash upon the enemy troops this pent-up wrath and the insult done to us, as fire is loosed upon dry brushwood."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.96.28)

अद्यैतच्चित्रकूटस्य काननं निशितैः शरैः। भिन्दन् शत्रुशरीराणि करिष्ये शोणितोक्षितम्॥ 96.28 ॥

adyaitaccitrakūṭasya kānanaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ| bhindan śatruśarīrāṇi kariṣye śoṇitokṣitam

"Today, piercing my enemies' bodies with sharpened arrows, I shall make this forest of Chitrakuta drenched in blood."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.96.29)

शरैर्निर्भिन्नहृदयान् कुञ्जरांस्तुरगांस्तथा। श्वापदाः परिकर्षन्तु नरांश्च निहतान् मया॥ 96.29 ॥

śarairnirbhinnahṛdayān kuñjarāṃsturagāṃstathā| śvāpadāḥ parikarṣantu narāṃśca nihatān mayā

"Let savage beasts drag about the elephants and horses whose hearts are pierced by my arrows, and the men slain by me as well."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.96.30)

शराणां धनुषश्चाहमनृणो ऽस्मि महामृधे। ससैन्यं भरतं हत्वा भविष्यामि न संशयः॥ 96.30 ॥

śarāṇāṃ dhanuṣaścāhamanṛṇo 'smi mahāmṛdhe| sasainyaṃ bharataṃ hatvā bhaviṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ

"By slaying Bharata together with his army in this great battle, I shall surely discharge my debt to my arrows and my bow — of this there is no doubt."