Vibhishana's Lament

Shloka 1 (yuddha.109.1)

भ्रातरं निहतं दृष्ट्वा शयानं निर्जितं रणे। शोकवेगपरीतात्मा विललाप विभीषणः॥॥ 109.1 ॥

bhrātaraṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā śayānaṃ nirjitaṃ raṇe| śokavegaparītātmā vilalāpa vibhīṣaṇaḥ|||| 109.1 ||

Seeing his brother lying slain, defeated in battle, Vibhishana, his mind overwhelmed by a surge of grief, cried out in lament:

Shloka 2 (yuddha.109.2)

वीरविक्रान्त विख्यात प्रवीण नयकोविद। महार्हशयनोपेत किं शेषे निहतो भुवि॥॥ 109.2 ॥

vīravikrānta vikhyāta pravīṇa nayakovida| mahārhaśayanopeta kiṃ śeṣe nihato bhuvi|||| 109.2 ||

"O hero, O valiant one, O renowned one, skilled and versed in statecraft, worthy of the most princely of beds — why do you now lie slain upon the ground?

Shloka 3 (yuddha.109.3)

निक्षिप्य दीर्घौ निश्चेष्टौ भुजावङ्गदभूषितौ। मुकुटेनापवृत्तेन भास्कराकारवर्चसा॥॥ 109.3 ॥

nikṣipya dīrghau niśceṣṭau bhujāvaṅgadabhūṣitau| mukuṭenāpavṛttena bhāskarākāravarcasā|||| 109.3 ||

Your two long arms, once adorned with armlets, now flung out motionless, and your crown, radiant as the sun, knocked away —

Shloka 4 (yuddha.109.4)

तदिदं वीर सम्प्राप्तं यन्मया पूर्वमीरितम्। काममोहपरीतस्य यत् तन्न रुचितं तव॥॥ 109.4 ॥

tadidaṃ vīra samprāptaṃ yanmayā pūrvamīritam| kāmamohaparītasya yat tanna rucitaṃ tava|||| 109.4 ||

O hero, that very fate has now overtaken you which I foretold long ago — the counsel which, blinded by desire and delusion, you did not care to heed.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.109.5)

यन्न दर्पात् प्रहस्तो वा नेन्द्रजिन्नापरे जनाः। न कुम्भकर्णोऽतिरथो नातिकायो नरान्तकः। न स्वयं बहु मन्येथास्तस्योदर्कोऽयमागतः॥॥ 109.5 ॥

yanna darpāt prahasto vā nendrajinnāpare janāḥ| na kumbhakarṇo'tiratho nātikāyo narāntakaḥ| na svayaṃ bahu manyethāstasyodarko'yamāgataḥ|||| 109.5 ||

That which, out of pride, neither Prahasta nor Indrajit nor others heeded, nor Kumbhakarna, nor Atikaya, nor Narantaka, nor even you yourself thought worth much regard — its consequence has now come to pass.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.109.6)

गतः सेतुः सुनीतीनां गतो धर्मस्य विग्रहः। गतः सत्त्वस्य संक्षेपः प्रस्तावानां गतिर्गता॥॥ 109.6 ॥

gataḥ setuḥ sunītīnāṃ gato dharmasya vigrahaḥ| gataḥ sattvasya saṃkṣepaḥ prastāvānāṃ gatirgatā|||| 109.6 ||

Gone is the bridge of righteous counsel, gone is the very embodiment of virtue, gone is the sum of all strength, gone is the refuge in which praise itself took shelter.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.109.7)

आदित्यः पतितो भूमौ मग्नस्तमसि चन्द्रमाः। चित्रभानुः प्रशान्तार्चिर्व्यवसायो निरुद्यमः। अस्मिन् निपतिते वीरे भूमौ शस्त्रभृतां वरे॥॥ 109.7 ॥

ādityaḥ patito bhūmau magnastamasi candramāḥ| citrabhānuḥ praśāntārcirvyavasāyo nirudyamaḥ| asmin nipatite vīre bhūmau śastrabhṛtāṃ vare|||| 109.7 ||

The sun has fallen to earth, the moon lies drowned in darkness, fire has quenched its own flames, and endeavour itself has grown idle, now that this hero, foremost among wielders of weapons, has fallen upon the ground.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.109.8)

किं शेषमिहलोकस्य गतसत्त्वस्य सम्प्रति। रणे राक्षसशार्दूले प्रसुप्त इव पांसुषु॥॥ 109.8 ॥

kiṃ śeṣamihalokasya gatasattvasya samprati| raṇe rākṣasaśārdūle prasupta iva pāṃsuṣu|||| 109.8 ||

What now remains for this world, when that tiger among demons, his very life-force gone, lies now in the battlefield as though merely asleep in the dust?

Shloka 9 (yuddha.109.9)

धृतिप्रवालः प्रसभाग्र्यपुष्प- स्तपोबलः शौर्यनिबद्धमूलः। रणे महान् राक्षसराजवृक्षः सम्मर्दितो राघवमारुतेन॥॥ 109.9 ॥

dhṛtipravālaḥ prasabhāgryapuṣpa- stapobalaḥ śauryanibaddhamūlaḥ| raṇe mahān rākṣasarājavṛkṣaḥ sammardito rāghavamārutena|||| 109.9 ||

That great tree which was the king of demons — its shoots were firmness, its finest blossoms were violence, its strength was asceticism, its roots were bound fast with valour — has been crushed on the battlefield by the tempest that is Rama.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.109.10)

तेजोविषाणः कुलवंशवंशः कोपप्रसादापरगात्रहस्तः। इक्ष्वाकुसिंहावगृहीतदेहः सुप्तः क्षितौ रावणगन्धहस्ती॥॥ 109.10 ॥

tejoviṣāṇaḥ kulavaṃśavaṃśaḥ kopaprasādāparagātrahastaḥ| ikṣvākusiṃhāvagṛhītadehaḥ suptaḥ kṣitau rāvaṇagandhahastī|||| 109.10 ||

That rutting elephant that was Ravana — its tusks were splendour, its spine was the line of its lineage, its hindquarters and trunk were wrath and grace — its body seized and brought down by the Ikshvaku lion, now lies asleep upon the earth.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.109.11)

पराक्रमोत्साहविजृम्भितार्चि- र्निःश्वासधूमः स्वबलप्रतापः। प्रतापवान् संयति राक्षसाग्नि- र्निर्वापितो रामपयोधरेण॥॥ 109.11 ॥

parākramotsāhavijṛmbhitārci- rniḥśvāsadhūmaḥ svabalapratāpaḥ| pratāpavān saṃyati rākṣasāgni- rnirvāpito rāmapayodhareṇa|||| 109.11 ||

That fire that was Ravana — its flames leaping high with valour and vigour, its smoke his very sighs, its scorching heat his own might — mighty as it was, has been quenched in battle by Rama, the rain-cloud.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.109.12)

सिंहर्क्षलाङ्गूलककुद्विषाणः पराभिजिद्गन्धनगन्धवाहः। रक्षोवृषश्चापलकर्णचक्षुः क्षितीश्वरव्याघ्रहतोऽवसन्नः॥॥ 109.12 ॥

siṃharkṣalāṅgūlakakudviṣāṇaḥ parābhijidgandhanagandhavāhaḥ| rakṣovṛṣaścāpalakarṇacakṣuḥ kṣitīśvaravyāghrahato'vasannaḥ|||| 109.12 ||

That bull that was Ravana — his tail, hump and horns were the very demons of his host, his ears and eyes were restlessness itself, ever victorious over rivals, matching the wind in vigour — now lies fallen, struck down by the tiger that is the lord of the earth.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.109.13)

वदन्तं हेतुमद्वाक्यं परिदृष्टार्थनिश्चयम्। रामः शोकसमाविष्टमित्युवाच विभीषणम्॥॥ 109.13 ॥

vadantaṃ hetumadvākyaṃ paridṛṣṭārthaniścayam| rāmaḥ śokasamāviṣṭamityuvāca vibhīṣaṇam|||| 109.13 ||

To Vibhishana, who spoke thus, overwhelmed with grief, Rama replied with words full of reason, revealing his own settled understanding of the matter:

Shloka 14 (yuddha.109.14)

नायं विनष्टो निश्चेष्टः समरे चण्डविक्रमः। अत्युन्नतमहोत्साहः पतितोऽयमशङ्कितः॥॥ 109.14 ॥

nāyaṃ vinaṣṭo niśceṣṭaḥ samare caṇḍavikramaḥ| atyunnatamahotsāhaḥ patito'yamaśaṅkitaḥ|||| 109.14 ||

"This one did not perish inertly in battle — he, of fierce prowess, of soaring and boundless spirit, has fallen still undaunted.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.109.15)

नैवं विनष्टाः शोच्यन्ते क्षत्रधर्मव्यवस्थिताः। वृद्धिमाशंसमाना ये निपतन्ति रणाजिरे॥॥ 109.15 ॥

naivaṃ vinaṣṭāḥ śocyante kṣatradharmavyavasthitāḥ| vṛddhimāśaṃsamānā ye nipatanti raṇājire|||| 109.15 ||

Those who, steadfast in the duty of the warrior, fall on the field of battle while yet hoping for their own advancement — such fallen ones are never to be mourned.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.109.16)

येन सेन्द्रास्त्रयो लोकास्त्रासिता युधि धीमता। तस्मिन् कालसमायुक्ते न कालः परिशोचितुम्॥॥ 109.16 ॥

yena sendrāstrayo lokāstrāsitā yudhi dhīmatā| tasmin kālasamāyukte na kālaḥ pariśocitum|||| 109.16 ||

For him, that wise one who once struck fear into the three worlds together with Indra himself, now that he has been overtaken by time, this is no occasion for grief.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.109.17)

नैकान्तविजयो युद्धे भूतपूर्वः कदाचन। परैर्वा हन्यते वीरः परान् वा हन्ति संयुगे॥॥ 109.17 ॥

naikāntavijayo yuddhe bhūtapūrvaḥ kadācana| parairvā hanyate vīraḥ parān vā hanti saṃyuge|||| 109.17 ||

Never in the past has victory belonged exclusively to one side in battle: a hero either is slain by his foes, or slays his foes in combat.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.109.18)

इयं हि पूर्वैः संदिष्टा गतिः क्षत्रियसम्मता। क्षत्रियो निहतः संख्ये न शोच्य इति निश्चयः॥॥ 109.18 ॥

iyaṃ hi pūrvaiḥ saṃdiṣṭā gatiḥ kṣatriyasammatā| kṣatriyo nihataḥ saṃkhye na śocya iti niścayaḥ|||| 109.18 ||

This indeed is the path laid down by the ancients, esteemed by warriors: a kshatriya slain in battle is not to be mourned — such is the settled teaching.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.109.19)

तदेवं निश्चयं दृष्ट्वा तत्त्वमास्थाय विज्वरः। यदिहानन्तरं कार्यं कल्प्यं तदनुचिन्तय॥॥ 109.19 ॥

tadevaṃ niścayaṃ dṛṣṭvā tattvamāsthāya vijvaraḥ| yadihānantaraṃ kāryaṃ kalpyaṃ tadanucintaya|||| 109.19 ||

Therefore, having seen this settled truth, holding fast to it, and freeing yourself from anguish, consider now what is next to be done and fitting."

Shloka 20 (yuddha.109.20)

तमुक्तवाक्यं विक्रान्तं राजपुत्रं विभीषणः। उवाच शोकसंतप्तो भ्रातुर्हितमनन्तरम्॥॥ 109.20 ॥

tamuktavākyaṃ vikrāntaṃ rājaputraṃ vibhīṣaṇaḥ| uvāca śokasaṃtapto bhrāturhitamanantaram|||| 109.20 ||

To that valiant prince who had spoken thus, Vibhishana, still tormented by grief, replied at once concerning what was fitting for his brother:

Shloka 21 (yuddha.109.21)

योऽयं विमर्देष्वविभग्नपूर्वः सुरैः समस्तैरपि वासवेन। भवन्तमासाद्य रणे विभग्नो वेलामिवासाद्य यथा समुद्रः॥॥ 109.21 ॥

yo'yaṃ vimardeṣvavibhagnapūrvaḥ suraiḥ samastairapi vāsavena| bhavantamāsādya raṇe vibhagno velāmivāsādya yathā samudraḥ|||| 109.21 ||

"This one, who had never before been broken in combat, not even by all the gods together nor by Indra himself, has now been broken on meeting you in battle, as the ocean breaks itself upon reaching the shore.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.109.22)

अनेन दत्तानि वनीपकेषु भुक्ताश्च भोगा निभृताश्च भृत्याः। धनानि मित्रेषु समर्पितानि वैराण्यमित्रेषु निपातितानि॥॥ 109.22 ॥

anena dattāni vanīpakeṣu bhuktāśca bhogā nibhṛtāśca bhṛtyāḥ| dhanāni mitreṣu samarpitāni vairāṇyamitreṣu nipātitāni|||| 109.22 ||

By him gifts were bestowed upon suppliants, pleasures were enjoyed, servants were faithfully maintained, riches were made over to friends, and enmities were struck down upon his foes.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.109.23)

एषोऽहिताग्निश्च महातपाश्च वेदान्तगः कर्मसु चाग्र्यशूरः। एतस्य यत् प्रेतगतस्य कृत्यं तत् कर्तुमिच्छामि तव प्रसादात्॥॥ 109.23 ॥

eṣo'hitāgniśca mahātapāśca vedāntagaḥ karmasu cāgryaśūraḥ| etasya yat pretagatasya kṛtyaṃ tat kartumicchāmi tava prasādāt|||| 109.23 ||

This one maintained the sacred fire, performed great austerities, mastered the end of the Vedas, and excelled foremost in ritual acts; whatever rite is due to him who has now departed, that I wish to perform, by your grace."

Shloka 24 (yuddha.109.24)

स तस्य वाक्यैः करुणैर्महात्मा सम्बोधितः साधु विभीषणेन। आज्ञापयामास नरेन्द्रसूनुः स्वर्गीयमाधानमदीनसत्त्वः॥॥ 109.24 ॥

sa tasya vākyaiḥ karuṇairmahātmā sambodhitaḥ sādhu vibhīṣaṇena| ājñāpayāmāsa narendrasūnuḥ svargīyamādhānamadīnasattvaḥ|||| 109.24 ||

That great-souled son of the king, thus rightly informed by Vibhishana's compassionate words, of undiminished strength of spirit, directed that the funeral rites, which lead the departed to heaven, be performed.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.109.25)

मरणान्तानि वैराणि निर्वृत्तं नः प्रयोजनम्। क्रियतामस्य संस्कारो ममाप्येष यथा तव॥॥ 109.25 ॥

maraṇāntāni vairāṇi nirvṛttaṃ naḥ prayojanam| kriyatāmasya saṃskāro mamāpyeṣa yathā tava|||| 109.25 ||

"Enmities end with death; our purpose has been accomplished. Let his funeral rites now be performed — he is as much mine as he is yours."