Ravana Rebukes His Charioteer

Shloka 1 (yuddha.104.1)

स तु मोहात्सुसंक्रुद्धः कृतान्तबलचोदितः। क्रोधसंरक्तनयनो रावणः सूतमब्रवीत् ॥ 104.1 ॥

sa tu mohātsusaṃkruddhaḥ kṛtāntabalacoditaḥ| krodhasaṃraktanayano rāvaṇaḥ sūtamabravīt || 104.1 ||

That Ravana, driven by the force of Fate and blinded with fury, his eyes reddened with rage, spoke to his charioteer:

Shloka 2 (yuddha.104.2)

हीनवीर्यमिवाशक्तं पौरुषेण विवर्जितम्। भीरुं लघुमिवासत्त्वं विहीनमिव तेजसा ॥ 104.2 ॥

hīnavīryamivāśaktaṃ pauruṣeṇa vivarjitam| bhīruṃ laghumivāsattvaṃ vihīnamiva tejasā || 104.2 ||

"O evil-minded one, treating me with contempt — as if I were feeble and powerless, bereft of manhood, cowardly and petty, devoid of energy,

Shloka 3 (yuddha.104.3)

विमुक्तमिव मायाभिरस्त्रैरिव बहिष्कृतम्। मामवज्ञाय दुर्बुद्धे स्वया बुद्ध्या विचेष्टसे ॥ 104.3 ॥

vimuktamiva māyābhirastrairiva bahiṣkṛtam| māmavajñāya durbuddhe svayā buddhyā viceṣṭase || 104.3 ||

as if stripped of my powers of illusion and abandoned by my weapons — you disregard me and act on your own judgment!"

Shloka 4 (yuddha.104.4)

किमर्थं मामवज्ञाय मच्छन्दमनवेक्ष्य च। त्वया शत्रुसमक्षं मे रथोऽयमपवाहितः ॥ 104.4 ॥

kimarthaṃ māmavajñāya macchandamanavekṣya ca| tvayā śatrusamakṣaṃ me ratho'yamapavāhitaḥ || 104.4 ||

"Why, disregarding me and paying no heed to my will, have you driven this chariot of mine away, before the very eyes of my enemy?

Shloka 5 (yuddha.104.5)

त्वयाद्य हि ममानार्य चिरकालसमार्जितम्। यशो वीर्यं च तेजश्च प्रत्ययश्च विनाशितम् ॥ 104.5 ॥

tvayādya hi mamānārya cirakālasamārjitam| yaśo vīryaṃ ca tejaśca pratyayaśca vināśitam || 104.5 ||

"O ignoble one, today you have destroyed my fame, valour, splendour and the trust reposed in me — all earned over a long time!

Shloka 6 (yuddha.104.6)

शत्रोः प्रख्यातवीर्यस्य रञ्जनीयस्य विक्रमैः। पश्यतो युद्धलुब्धोऽहं कृतः कापुरुषस्त्वया ॥ 104.6 ॥

śatroḥ prakhyātavīryasya rañjanīyasya vikramaiḥ| paśyato yuddhalubdho'haṃ kṛtaḥ kāpuruṣastvayā || 104.6 ||

"While that enemy of renowned prowess, delightful to behold in his feats of valour, stood watching, you have made me — who am so eager for battle — appear a coward!

Shloka 7 (yuddha.104.7)

यस्त्वं रथमिमं मोहान्न चोद्वहसि दुर्मते। सत्योऽयं प्रतितर्को मे परेण त्वमुपस्कृतः ॥ 104.7 ॥

yastvaṃ rathamimaṃ mohānna codvahasi durmate| satyo'yaṃ pratitarko me pareṇa tvamupaskṛtaḥ || 104.7 ||

"O foolish one, since through delusion you would not drive this chariot forward, my suspicion proves true — that you have been won over by the enemy!

Shloka 8 (yuddha.104.8)

न हीदं विद्यते कर्म सुहृदो हितकाङ्क्षिणः। रिपूणां सदृशं चैतन्न त्वयैतत्स्वनुष्ठितम् ॥ 104.8 ॥

na hīdaṃ vidyate karma suhṛdo hitakāṅkṣiṇaḥ| ripūṇāṃ sadṛśaṃ caitanna tvayaitatsvanuṣṭhitam || 104.8 ||

"This is not the act of a well-wishing friend — this deed of yours, which so befits an enemy, is not something you have done unknowingly!

Shloka 9 (yuddha.104.9)

निवर्तय रथं शीघ्रं यावन्नापैति मे रिपुः। यदि वाप्युषितोऽसि त्वं स्मर्यन्ते यदि वा गुणाः ॥ 104.9 ॥

nivartaya rathaṃ śīghraṃ yāvannāpaiti me ripuḥ| yadi vāpyuṣito'si tvaṃ smaryante yadi vā guṇāḥ || 104.9 ||

"Turn the chariot back at once, before my enemy withdraws — if indeed you have long dwelt with me, and if you still remember my worth!"

Shloka 10 (yuddha.104.10)

एवं परुषमुक्तस्तु हितबुद्धिरबुद्धिना। अब्रवीद्रावणं सूतो हितं सानुनयं वचः ॥ 104.10 ॥

evaṃ paruṣamuktastu hitabuddhirabuddhinā| abravīdrāvaṇaṃ sūto hitaṃ sānunayaṃ vacaḥ || 104.10 ||

Thus harshly addressed by the unwise Ravana, the well-meaning charioteer spoke these beneficial and conciliatory words to him:

Shloka 11 (yuddha.104.11)

न भीतोऽस्मि न मूढोऽस्मि नोपजप्तोऽस्मि शत्रुभिः। न प्रमत्तो न निःस्नेहो विस्मृता न च सत्क्रिया ॥ 104.11 ॥

na bhīto'smi na mūḍho'smi nopajapto'smi śatrubhiḥ| na pramatto na niḥsneho vismṛtā na ca satkriyā || 104.11 ||

"I am neither frightened, nor foolish, nor bribed by your enemies; I am not careless, nor disloyal, nor have I forgotten your kindness to me.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.104.12)

मया तु हितकामेन यशश्च परिरक्षता। स्नेहप्रस्कन्नमनसा प्रियमित्यप्रियं कृतम् ॥ 104.12 ॥

mayā tu hitakāmena yaśaśca parirakṣatā| snehapraskannamanasā priyamityapriyaṃ kṛtam || 104.12 ||

"It was I, wishing you well and guarding your honour, my mind overflowing with affection, who did this unwelcome thing believing it would serve your good.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.104.13)

नास्मिन्नर्थे महाराज त्वं मां प्रियहिते रतम्। कश्चिल्लघुरिवानार्यो दोषतो गन्तुमर्हसि ॥ 104.13 ॥

nāsminnarthe mahārāja tvaṃ māṃ priyahite ratam| kaścillaghurivānāryo doṣato gantumarhasi || 104.13 ||

"O great king, you ought not, in this matter, to hold me — devoted as I am to your welfare and pleasure — guilty, as some petty and ignoble man might.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.104.14)

श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि यन्निमित्तं मया रथः। नदीवेग इवाम्भोभिः संयुगे विनिवर्तितः ॥ 104.14 ॥

śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi yannimittaṃ mayā rathaḥ| nadīvega ivāmbhobhiḥ saṃyuge vinivartitaḥ || 104.14 ||

"Listen, and I shall tell you the reason why, like the current of a river turned back by the tide, I turned the chariot back in that battle.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.104.15)

श्रमं तवावगच्छामि महता रणकर्मणा। न हि ते वीर सौमुख्यं प्रहर्षं वोपधारये ॥ 104.15 ॥

śramaṃ tavāvagacchāmi mahatā raṇakarmaṇā| na hi te vīra saumukhyaṃ praharṣaṃ vopadhāraye || 104.15 ||

"I perceived your exhaustion from this great labour of battle, O hero; I did not sense in you your usual good cheer, nor your delight.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.104.16)

रथोद्वहनखिन्नाश्च त इमे रथवाजिनः। दीना घर्मपरिश्रान्ता गावो वर्षहता इव ॥ 104.16 ॥

rathodvahanakhinnāśca ta ime rathavājinaḥ| dīnā gharmapariśrāntā gāvo varṣahatā iva || 104.16 ||

"And these horses of your chariot too, worn out from drawing it, have grown wretched and exhausted by the heat, like cattle battered by rain.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.104.17)

निमित्तानि च भूयिष्ठं यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति नः। तेषु तेष्वभिपन्नेषु लक्षयाम्यप्रदक्षिणम् ॥ 104.17 ॥

nimittāni ca bhūyiṣṭhaṃ yāni prādurbhavanti naḥ| teṣu teṣvabhipanneṣu lakṣayāmyapradakṣiṇam || 104.17 ||

"And in the many omens that have been appearing to us, on close examination of each, I perceive only ill fortune.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.104.18)

देशकालौ च विज्ञेयौ लक्ष्मणानीङ्गितानि च। दैन्यं हर्षश्च खेदश्च रथिनश्च बलाबलम् ॥ 104.18 ॥

deśakālau ca vijñeyau lakṣmaṇānīṅgitāni ca| dainyaṃ harṣaśca khedaśca rathinaśca balābalam || 104.18 ||

"Place and time must be known by a charioteer, and omens, and gestures; the despondency, joy, and fatigue, and the strength or weakness of the warrior he carries;

Shloka 19 (yuddha.104.19)

स्थलनिम्नानि भूमेश्च समानि विषमाणि च। युद्धकालश्च विज्ञेयः परस्यान्तरदर्शनम् ॥ 104.19 ॥

sthalanimnāni bhūmeśca samāni viṣamāṇi ca| yuddhakālaśca vijñeyaḥ parasyāntaradarśanam || 104.19 ||

"the high and low points of the ground, its level and uneven parts, the right moment for combat, and the visible openings in the enemy's guard — all this a charioteer must know.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.104.20)

उपयानापयाने च स्थानं प्रत्यपसर्पणम्। सर्वमेतद्रथस्थेन ज्ञेयं रथकुटुम्बिना ॥ 104.20 ॥

upayānāpayāne ca sthānaṃ pratyapasarpaṇam| sarvametadrathasthena jñeyaṃ rathakuṭumbinā || 104.20 ||

"Advance and retreat, when to hold one's ground and when to fall back — all this the charioteer, seated in the chariot, entrusted with its care, must know.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.104.21)

तव विश्रामहेतोस्तु तथैषां रथवाजिनाम्। रौद्रं वर्जयता खेदं क्षमं कृतमिदं मया ॥ 104.21 ॥

tava viśrāmahetostu tathaiṣāṃ rathavājinām| raudraṃ varjayatā khedaṃ kṣamaṃ kṛtamidaṃ mayā || 104.21 ||

"It was in order to give you rest, and these chariot-horses too, and to spare you further dreadful exhaustion, that I did this fitting thing.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.104.22)

न मया स्वेच्छया वीर रथोऽयमपवाहितः। भर्तृस्नेहपरीतेन मयेदं यत्कृतं विभो ॥ 104.22 ॥

na mayā svecchayā vīra ratho'yamapavāhitaḥ| bhartṛsnehaparītena mayedaṃ yatkṛtaṃ vibho || 104.22 ||

"It was not by my own arbitrary will, O hero, that I drove this chariot away — O lord, what I did, I did overwhelmed by love for my master.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.104.23)

आज्ञापय यथातत्त्वं वक्ष्यस्यरिनिषूदन। तत्करिष्याम्यहं वीरं गतानृण्येन चेतसा ॥ 104.23 ॥

ājñāpaya yathātattvaṃ vakṣyasyariniṣūdana| tatkariṣyāmyahaṃ vīraṃ gatānṛṇyena cetasā || 104.23 ||

"Command me, O slayer of foes, exactly as you see fit; whatever you tell me, that I shall do, my heart now free of any debt to you."

Shloka 24 (yuddha.104.24)

संतुष्टस्तेन वाक्येन रावणस्तस्य सारथेः। प्रशस्यैनं बहुविधं युद्धलुब्धोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ 104.24 ॥

saṃtuṣṭastena vākyena rāvaṇastasya sāratheḥ| praśasyainaṃ bahuvidhaṃ yuddhalubdho'bravīdidam || 104.24 ||

Pleased with these words of his charioteer, Ravana, ever eager for battle, praised him greatly in many ways and spoke as follows:

Shloka 25 (yuddha.104.25)

रथं शीघ्रमिमं सूत राघवाभिमुखं कुरु। नाहत्वा समरे शत्रून्निवर्तिष्यति रावणः ॥ 104.25 ॥

rathaṃ śīghramimaṃ sūta rāghavābhimukhaṃ kuru| nāhatvā samare śatrūnnivartiṣyati rāvaṇaḥ || 104.25 ||

"O charioteer, turn this chariot quickly to face Raghava. Ravana does not withdraw from battle without slaying his enemies."

Shloka 26 (yuddha.104.26)

एवमुक्त्वा ततस्तुष्टो रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। ददौ तस्य शुभं ह्येकं हस्ताभरणमुत्तमम् ॥ 104.26 ॥

evamuktvā tatastuṣṭo rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ| dadau tasya śubhaṃ hyekaṃ hastābharaṇamuttamam || 104.26 ||

So saying, Ravana, lord of the demons, pleased, then bestowed upon him a single beautiful and excellent bracelet.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.104.27)

ततो द्रुतं रावणवाक्यचोदितः। प्रचोदयामास हयान्स सारथिः। स राक्षसेन्द्रस्य ततो महारथः। क्षणेन रामस्य रणाग्रतोऽभवत् ॥ 104.27 ॥

tato drutaṃ rāvaṇavākyacoditaḥ| pracodayāmāsa hayānsa sārathiḥ| sa rākṣasendrasya tato mahārathaḥ| kṣaṇena rāmasya raṇāgrato'bhavat || 104.27 ||

Then, urged on by Ravana's word, that charioteer swiftly drove the horses forward; and in an instant, that great chariot of the demon-king stood before Rama, at the very front of the battle.