Vibhishana's Coronation and the Vigil by the Sea

Shloka 1 (yuddha.19.1)

राघवेणाभये दत्ते संनतो रावणानुजः। विभीषणो महाप्राज्ञो भूमिं समवलोकयत् ॥ 19.1 ॥

rāghaveṇābhaye datte saṃnato rāvaṇānujaḥ| vibhīṣaṇo mahāprājño bhūmiṃ samavalokayat || 19.1 ||

With the pledge of safety given by Raghava, Vibhishana, the wise brother of Ravana, bowed low and looked down toward the earth.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.19.2)

खात् पपातावनिं हृष्टो भक्तैरनुचरैः सह। स तु रामस्य धर्मात्मा निपपात विभीषणः ॥ 19.2 ॥

khāt papātāvaniṃ hṛṣṭo bhaktairanucaraiḥ saha| sa tu rāmasya dharmātmā nipapāta vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 19.2 ||

Joyfully he descended from the sky to the earth, together with his devoted companions - that righteous Vibhishana fell down near Rama.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.19.3)

पादयोर्निपपाताथ चतुर्भिः सह राक्षसैः। अब्रवीच्च तदा वाक्यं रामं प्रति विभीषणः ॥ 19.3 ॥

pādayornipapātātha caturbhiḥ saha rākṣasaiḥ| abravīcca tadā vākyaṃ rāmaṃ prati vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 19.3 ||

Then, together with the four rakshasas, he fell at Rama's feet; and Vibhishana spoke these words to Rama.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.19.4)

धर्मयुक्तं च युक्तं च साम्प्रतं सम्प्रहर्षणम्। अनुजो रावणस्याहं तेन चास्म्यवमानितः ॥ 19.4 ॥

dharmayuktaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca sāmprataṃ sampraharṣaṇam| anujo rāvaṇasyāhaṃ tena cāsmyavamānitaḥ || 19.4 ||

- words fitting, righteous, timely, and filled with joy: “I am the younger brother of Ravana, and by him I have been humiliated.”

Shloka 5 (yuddha.19.5)

भवन्तं सर्वभूतानां शरण्यं शरणं गतः। परित्यक्ता मया लङ्का मित्राणि च धनानि च ॥ 19.5 ॥

bhavantaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ śaraṇyaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ| parityaktā mayā laṅkā mitrāṇi ca dhanāni ca || 19.5 ||

“I have come for refuge to you, the refuge of all beings. I have forsaken Lanka, my friends, and my wealth.”

Shloka 6 (yuddha.19.6)

भवद्गतं हि मे राज्यं जीवितं च सुखानि च। तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा रामो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 19.6 ॥

bhavadgataṃ hi me rājyaṃ jīvitaṃ ca sukhāni ca| tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rāmo vacanamabravīt || 19.6 ||

“My kingdom, my very life, and my happiness now rest in your hands.” Hearing these words of his, Rama spoke in reply.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.19.7)

वचसा सान्त्वयित्वैनं लोचनाभ्यां पिबन्निव। आख्याहि मम तत्त्वेन राक्षसानां बलाबलम् ॥ 19.7 ॥

vacasā sāntvayitvainaṃ locanābhyāṃ pibanniva| ākhyāhi mama tattvena rākṣasānāṃ balābalam || 19.7 ||

Comforting him with gentle words, gazing at him as though drinking him in with his eyes, he said, “Tell me truly of the strengths and weaknesses of the rakshasas.”

Shloka 8 (yuddha.19.8)

एवमुक्तं तदा रक्षो रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। रावणस्य बलं सर्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे ॥ 19.8 ॥

evamuktaṃ tadā rakṣo rāmeṇākliṣṭakarmaṇā| rāvaṇasya balaṃ sarvamākhyātumupacakrame || 19.8 ||

Thus addressed by Rama, untiring in action, the rakshasa began to describe the entire strength of Ravana.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.19.9)

अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां गन्धर्वोरगपक्षिणाम्। राजपुत्र दशग्रीवो वरदानात् स्वयम्भुवः ॥ 19.9 ॥

avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ gandharvoragapakṣiṇām| rājaputra daśagrīvo varadānāt svayambhuvaḥ || 19.9 ||

“O prince, by a boon of the Self-Existent One, Dashagriva cannot be slain by any being - by gandharvas, serpents, or birds.”

Shloka 10 (yuddha.19.10)

रावणानन्तरो भ्राता मम ज्येष्ठश्च वीर्यवान्। कुम्भकर्णो महातेजाः शक्रप्रतिबलो युधि ॥ 19.10 ॥

rāvaṇānantaro bhrātā mama jyeṣṭhaśca vīryavān| kumbhakarṇo mahātejāḥ śakrapratibalo yudhi || 19.10 ||

“Next after Ravana comes my elder brother, the valiant and mighty Kumbhakarna, a match for Indra himself in battle.”

Shloka 11 (yuddha.19.11)

राम सेनापतिस्तस्य प्रहस्तो यदि ते श्रुतः। कैलासे येन समरे मणिभद्रः पराजितः ॥ 19.11 ॥

rāma senāpatistasya prahasto yadi te śrutaḥ| kailāse yena samare maṇibhadraḥ parājitaḥ || 19.11 ||

“O Rama, have you perhaps heard of his commander Prahasta, by whom Manibhadra was defeated in battle on Mount Kailasa?”

Shloka 12 (yuddha.19.12)

बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणस्त्ववध्यकवचो युधि। धनुरादाय यस्तिष्ठन्नदृश्यो भवतीन्द्रजित् ॥ 19.12 ॥

baddhagodhāṅgulitrāṇastvavadhyakavaco yudhi| dhanurādāya yastiṣṭhannadṛśyo bhavatīndrajit || 19.12 ||

“And there is Indrajit, who, having bound on his lizard-skin bow-guard and armor no weapon can pierce, stands in battle bow in hand, invisible.”

Shloka 13 (yuddha.19.13)

संग्रामे सुमहद्व्यूहे तर्पयित्वा हुताशनम्। अन्तर्धानगतः श्रीमानिन्द्रजिद्धन्ति राघव ॥ 19.13 ॥

saṃgrāme sumahadvyūhe tarpayitvā hutāśanam| antardhānagataḥ śrīmānindrajiddhanti rāghava || 19.13 ||

“O Raghava, having propitiated the fire-god amid the great array of battle, the glorious Indrajit strikes while remaining unseen.”

Shloka 14 (yuddha.19.14)

महोदरमहापार्श्वौ राक्षसश्चाप्यकम्पनः। अनीकपास्तु तस्यैते लोकपालसमा युधि ॥ 19.14 ॥

mahodaramahāpārśvau rākṣasaścāpyakampanaḥ| anīkapāstu tasyaite lokapālasamā yudhi || 19.14 ||

“Mahodara and Mahaparshva, and likewise the rakshasa Akampana - these are his commanders of the host, equal in battle to the guardians of the world.”

Shloka 15 (yuddha.19.15)

दशकोटिसहस्राणि रक्षसां कामरूपिणाम्। मांसशोणितभक्ष्याणां लङ्कापुरनिवासिनाम् ॥ 19.15 ॥

daśakoṭisahasrāṇi rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpiṇām| māṃsaśoṇitabhakṣyāṇāṃ laṅkāpuranivāsinām || 19.15 ||

“Ten thousand crores of rakshasas dwell in the city of Lanka, shape-shifters at will, whose food is flesh and blood.”

Shloka 16 (yuddha.19.16)

स तैस्तु सहितो राजा लोकपालानयोधयत्। सह देवैस्तु ते भग्ना रावणेन दुरात्मना ॥ 19.16 ॥

sa taistu sahito rājā lokapālānayodhayat| saha devaistu te bhagnā rāvaṇena durātmanā || 19.16 ||

“With these, King Ravana once made war upon the guardians of the worlds - and those guardians, together with the gods, were routed by the wicked Ravana.”

Shloka 17 (yuddha.19.17)

विभीषणस्य तु वचस्तच्छ्रुत्वा रघुसत्तमः। अन्वीक्ष्य मनसा सर्वमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 19.17 ॥

vibhīṣaṇasya tu vacastacchrutvā raghusattamaḥ| anvīkṣya manasā sarvamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 19.17 ||

Hearing these words of Vibhishana, the best of the Raghus, having weighed them all in his mind, spoke these words.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.19.18)

यानि कर्मापदानानि रावणस्य विभीषण। आख्यातानि च तत्त्वेन ह्यवगच्छामि तान्यहम् ॥ 19.18 ॥

yāni karmāpadānāni rāvaṇasya vibhīṣaṇa| ākhyātāni ca tattvena hyavagacchāmi tānyaham || 19.18 ||

“O Vibhishana, all the deeds and exploits of Ravana that you have truly related, I understand them well.”

Shloka 19 (yuddha.19.19)

अहं हत्वा दशग्रीवं सप्रहस्तं सहात्मजम्। राजानं त्वां करिष्यामि सत्यमेतच्छृणोतु मे ॥ 19.19 ॥

ahaṃ hatvā daśagrīvaṃ saprahastaṃ sahātmajam| rājānaṃ tvāṃ kariṣyāmi satyametacchṛṇotu me || 19.19 ||

“Having slain Dashagriva, together with Prahasta and his own son, I shall make you king - hear this truth from me.”

Shloka 20 (yuddha.19.20)

रसातलं वा प्रविशेत् पातालं वापि रावणः। पितामहसकाशं वा न मे जीवन् विमोक्ष्यते ॥ 19.20 ॥

rasātalaṃ vā praviśet pātālaṃ vāpi rāvaṇaḥ| pitāmahasakāśaṃ vā na me jīvan vimokṣyate || 19.20 ||

“Let Ravana enter Rasatala, or even Patala, or take shelter beside Brahma himself - he shall not escape me alive.”

Shloka 21 (yuddha.19.21)

अहत्वा रावणं संख्ये सपुत्रजनबान्धवम्। अयोध्यां न प्रवेक्ष्यामि त्रिभिस्तैर्भ्रातृभिः शपे ॥ 19.21 ॥

ahatvā rāvaṇaṃ saṃkhye saputrajanabāndhavam| ayodhyāṃ na pravekṣyāmi tribhistairbhrātṛbhiḥ śape || 19.21 ||

“Without slaying Ravana in battle, together with his sons, his people, and his kinsmen, I shall not enter Ayodhya - by these three brothers of mine I swear it.”

Shloka 22 (yuddha.19.22)

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। शिरसाऽऽवन्द्य धर्मात्मा वक्तुमेवं प्रचक्रमे ॥ 19.22 ॥

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ| śirasā''vandya dharmātmā vaktumevaṃ pracakrame || 19.22 ||

Hearing these words of Rama, untiring in action, the righteous Vibhishana bowed his head in salutation and began to speak thus.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.19.23)

राक्षसानां वधे साह्यं लङ्कायाश्च प्रधर्षणे। करिष्यामि यथाप्राणं प्रवेक्ष्यामि च वाहिनीम् ॥ 19.23 ॥

rākṣasānāṃ vadhe sāhyaṃ laṅkāyāśca pradharṣaṇe| kariṣyāmi yathāprāṇaṃ pravekṣyāmi ca vāhinīm || 19.23 ||

“I shall render aid, with all my strength, in the slaying of the rakshasas and the storming of Lanka; and I shall myself enter the ranks of your army.”

Shloka 24 (yuddha.19.24)

इति ब्रुवाणं रामस्तु परिष्वज्य विभीषणम्। अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं प्रीतः समुद्राज्जलमानय ॥ 19.24 ॥

iti bruvāṇaṃ rāmastu pariṣvajya vibhīṣaṇam| abravīllakṣmaṇaṃ prītaḥ samudrājjalamānaya || 19.24 ||

As he spoke thus, Rama, greatly pleased, embraced Vibhishana, and said to Lakshmana: “Bring water from the sea.”

Shloka 25 (yuddha.19.25)

तेन चेमं महाप्राज्ञमभिषिञ्च विभीषणम्। राजानं रक्षसां क्षिप्रं प्रसन्ने मयि मानद ॥ 19.25 ॥

tena cemaṃ mahāprājñamabhiṣiñca vibhīṣaṇam| rājānaṃ rakṣasāṃ kṣipraṃ prasanne mayi mānada || 19.25 ||

“With that water, O bestower of honor, consecrate this wise Vibhishana at once as king of the rakshasas, to please me.”

Shloka 26 (yuddha.19.26)

एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्रिरभ्यषिञ्चद् विभीषणम्। मध्ये वानरमुख्यानां राजानं राजशासनात् ॥ 19.26 ॥

evamuktastu saumitrirabhyaṣiñcad vibhīṣaṇam| madhye vānaramukhyānāṃ rājānaṃ rājaśāsanāt || 19.26 ||

Thus commanded, Saumitri consecrated Vibhishana as king, by the king's own decree, in the midst of the monkey chiefs.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.19.27)

तं प्रसादं तु रामस्य दृष्ट्वा सद्यः प्लवङ्गमाः। प्रचुक्रुशुर्महात्मानं साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन् ॥ 19.27 ॥

taṃ prasādaṃ tu rāmasya dṛṣṭvā sadyaḥ plavaṅgamāḥ| pracukruśurmahātmānaṃ sādhusādhviti cābruvan || 19.27 ||

Seeing that grace of Rama, the monkeys at once cried out loud, and exclaimed of the great-souled one, “Well done, well done!”

Shloka 28 (yuddha.19.28)

अब्रवीच्च हनूमांश्च सुग्रीवश्च विभीषणम्। कथं सागरमक्षोभ्यं तराम वरुणालयम्। सैन्यैः परिवृताः सर्वे वानराणां महौजसाम् ॥ 19.28 ॥

abravīcca hanūmāṃśca sugrīvaśca vibhīṣaṇam| kathaṃ sāgaramakṣobhyaṃ tarāma varuṇālayam| sainyaiḥ parivṛtāḥ sarve vānarāṇāṃ mahaujasām || 19.28 ||

Then Hanuman and Sugriva said to Vibhishana: “How shall we, surrounded by all our great and mighty army of monkeys, cross the unshakeable ocean, that abode of Varuna?”

Shloka 29 (yuddha.19.29)

उपायैरभिगच्छाम यथा नदनदीपतिम्। तराम तरसा सर्वे ससैन्या वरुणालयम् ॥ 19.29 ॥

upāyairabhigacchāma yathā nadanadīpatim| tarāma tarasā sarve sasainyā varuṇālayam || 19.29 ||

“By what means might we approach the lord of streams and rivers, so that all of us, together with our army, may swiftly cross that abode of Varuna?”

Shloka 30 (yuddha.19.30)

एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः। समुद्रं राघवो राजा शरणं गन्तुमर्हति ॥ 19.30 ॥

evamuktastu dharmātmā pratyuvāca vibhīṣaṇaḥ| samudraṃ rāghavo rājā śaraṇaṃ gantumarhati || 19.30 ||

Thus addressed, the righteous Vibhishana replied: “It is fitting that King Raghava should go to the ocean itself for refuge.”

Shloka 31 (yuddha.19.31)

खानितः सगरेणायमप्रमेयो महोदधिः। कर्तुमर्हति रामस्य ज्ञातेः कार्यं महोदधिः ॥ 19.31 ॥

khānitaḥ sagareṇāyamaprameyo mahodadhiḥ| kartumarhati rāmasya jñāteḥ kāryaṃ mahodadhiḥ || 19.31 ||

“This immense, immeasurable ocean was excavated by Sagara; the great ocean will surely be willing to do this service for Rama, its own kinsman.”

Shloka 32 (yuddha.19.32)

एवं विभीषणेनोक्तो राक्षसेन विपश्चिता। आजगामाथ सुग्रीवो यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः ॥ 19.32 ॥

evaṃ vibhīṣaṇenokto rākṣasena vipaścitā| ājagāmātha sugrīvo yatra rāmaḥ salakṣmaṇaḥ || 19.32 ||

Thus addressed by the wise rakshasa Vibhishana, Sugriva then came to where Rama was, together with Lakshmana.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.19.33)

ततश्चाख्यातुमारेभे विभीषणवचः शुभम्। सुग्रीवो विपुलग्रीवः सागरस्योपवेशनम् ॥ 19.33 ॥

tataścākhyātumārebhe vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śubham| sugrīvo vipulagrīvaḥ sāgarasyopaveśanam || 19.33 ||

Then broad-necked Sugriva began to relate Vibhishana's auspicious counsel - that they should sit before the ocean and beseech it.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.19.34)

प्रकृत्या धर्मशीलस्य रामस्यास्याप्यरोचत। सलक्ष्मणं महातेजाः सुग्रीवं च हरीश्वरम् ॥ 19.34 ॥

prakṛtyā dharmaśīlasya rāmasyāsyāpyarocata| salakṣmaṇaṃ mahātejāḥ sugrīvaṃ ca harīśvaram || 19.34 ||

This too found favor with Rama, righteous by nature; and the mighty one, together with Lakshmana, addressed Sugriva, lord of the monkeys -

Shloka 35 (yuddha.19.35)

सत्क्रियार्थं क्रियादक्षं स्मितपूर्वमभाषत। विभीषणस्य मन्त्रोऽयं मम लक्ष्मण रोचते ॥ 19.35 ॥

satkriyārthaṃ kriyādakṣaṃ smitapūrvamabhāṣata| vibhīṣaṇasya mantro'yaṃ mama lakṣmaṇa rocate || 19.35 ||

- who was skilled in action, honoring the counsel that had been offered, with a smile: “O Lakshmana, this counsel of Vibhishana pleases me.”

Shloka 36 (yuddha.19.36)

सुग्रीवः पण्डितो नित्यं भवान् मन्त्रविचक्षणः। उभाभ्यां सम्प्रधार्यार्थं रोचते यत् तदुच्यताम् ॥ 19.36 ॥

sugrīvaḥ paṇḍito nityaṃ bhavān mantravicakṣaṇaḥ| ubhābhyāṃ sampradhāryārthaṃ rocate yat taducyatām || 19.36 ||

“Sugriva is ever wise, and you yourself are skilled in counsel; let the two of you consider the matter together and tell me whatever seems best.”

Shloka 37 (yuddha.19.37)

एवमुक्तौ ततो वीरावुभौ सुग्रीवलक्ष्मणौ। समुदाचारसंयुक्तमिदं वचनमूचतुः ॥ 19.37 ॥

evamuktau tato vīrāvubhau sugrīvalakṣmaṇau| samudācārasaṃyuktamidaṃ vacanamūcatuḥ || 19.37 ||

Thus addressed, the two heroes Sugriva and Lakshmana together spoke these words, fitting to due courtesy.

Shloka 38 (yuddha.19.38)

किमर्थं नौ नरव्याघ्र न रोचिष्यति राघव। विभीषणेन यत् तूक्तमस्मिन् काले सुखावहम् ॥ 19.38 ॥

kimarthaṃ nau naravyāghra na rociṣyati rāghava| vibhīṣaṇena yat tūktamasmin kāle sukhāvaham || 19.38 ||

“O Raghava, tiger among men, why should what Vibhishana has proposed at this juncture, so wholesome as it is, not please us too?”

Shloka 39 (yuddha.19.39)

अबद्ध्वा सागरे सेतुं घोरेऽस्मिन् वरुणालये। लङ्का नासादितुं शक्या सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरैः ॥ 19.39 ॥

abaddhvā sāgare setuṃ ghore'smin varuṇālaye| laṅkā nāsādituṃ śakyā sendrairapi surāsuraiḥ || 19.39 ||

“Without building a bridge across this terrible ocean, this abode of Varuna, Lanka cannot be reached, even by the gods and demons together with Indra.”

Shloka 40 (yuddha.19.40)

विभीषणस्य शूरस्य यथार्थं क्रियतां वचः। अलं कालात्ययं कृत्वा सागरोऽयं नियुज्यताम्। यथा सैन्येन गच्छाम पुरीं रावणपालिताम् ॥ 19.40 ॥

vibhīṣaṇasya śūrasya yathārthaṃ kriyatāṃ vacaḥ| alaṃ kālātyayaṃ kṛtvā sāgaro'yaṃ niyujyatām| yathā sainyena gacchāma purīṃ rāvaṇapālitām || 19.40 ||

“Let the counsel of the valiant Vibhishana be duly carried out. Enough of wasting time - let this ocean be commanded, so that with our army we may reach the city ruled by Ravana.”

Shloka 41 (yuddha.19.41)

एवमुक्तः कुशास्तीर्णे तीरे नदनदीपतेः। संविवेश तदा रामो वेद्यामिव हुताशनः ॥ 19.41 ॥

evamuktaḥ kuśāstīrṇe tīre nadanadīpateḥ| saṃviveśa tadā rāmo vedyāmiva hutāśanaḥ || 19.41 ||

Thus addressed, Rama then lay down upon the kusha-strewn shore of the lord of streams and rivers, as the fire-god settles upon an altar.