Ravana's Boast

Shloka 1 (yuddha.24.1)

सा वीरसमिती राज्ञा विरराज व्यवस्थिता । शशिना शुभनक्षत्रा पौर्णमासीव शारदी ॥ 24.1 ॥

sā vīrasamitī rājñā virarāja vyavasthitā | śaśinā śubhanakṣatrā paurṇamāsīva śāradī || 24.1 ||

That assembly of warriors, arrayed under its king, shone forth like an autumn full-moon night, graced by the moon and auspicious stars.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.24.2)

प्रचचाल च वेगेन त्रस्ता चैव वसुंधरा । पीड्यमाना बलौघेन तेन सागरवर्चसा ॥ 24.2 ॥

pracacāla ca vegena trastā caiva vasuṃdharā | pīḍyamānā balaughena tena sāgaravarcasā || 24.2 ||

The earth trembled and shook with fear, pressed down beneath that mighty host, vast and forceful as the ocean itself.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.24.3)

ततः शुश्रुवुराक्रुष्टं लङ्कायां काननौकसः । भेरीमृदङ्गसंघुष्टं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम् ॥ 24.3 ॥

tataḥ śuśruvurākruṣṭaṃ laṅkāyāṃ kānanaukasaḥ | bherīmṛdaṅgasaṃghuṣṭaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam || 24.3 ||

Then the dwellers of the forest heard a great tumult rising from Lanka, a hair-raising uproar resounding with kettledrums and mridangas.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.24.4)

बभूवुस्तेन घोषेण संहृष्टा हरियूथपाः । अमृष्यमाणास्तद् घोषं विनेदुर्घोषवत्तरम् ॥ 24.4 ॥

babhūvustena ghoṣeṇa saṃhṛṣṭā hariyūthapāḥ | amṛṣyamāṇāstad ghoṣaṃ vinedurghoṣavattaram || 24.4 ||

At that sound, the vanara chiefs grew exultant, and unable to bear that roar, they answered it with an even louder roar of their own.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.24.5)

राक्षसास्तत् प्लवंगानां शुश्रुवुस्तेऽपि गर्जितम् । नर्दतामिव दृप्तानां मेघानामम्बरे स्वनम् ॥ 24.5 ॥

rākṣasāstat plavaṃgānāṃ śuśruvuste'pi garjitam | nardatāmiva dṛptānāṃ meghānāmambare svanam || 24.5 ||

The rakshasas in turn heard that roar of the vanaras, like the thundering of proud clouds bellowing in the sky.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.24.6)

दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम् । जगाम मनसा सीतां दूयमानेन चेतसा ॥ 24.6 ॥

dṛṣṭvā dāśarathirlaṅkāṃ citradhvajapatākinīm | jagāma manasā sītāṃ dūyamānena cetasā || 24.6 ||

Seeing Lanka, adorned with its many-colored banners and flags, the son of Dasharatha, his heart aching, turned his mind to Sita.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.24.7)

अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी रावणेनोपरुध्यते । अभिभूता ग्रहेणेव लोहिताङ्गेन रोहिणी ॥ 24.7 ॥

atra sā mṛgaśāvākṣī rāvaṇenoparudhyate | abhibhūtā graheṇeva lohitāṅgena rohiṇī || 24.7 ||

"Here that fawn-eyed one is held captive by Ravana, as Rohini, overwhelmed, is seized by the red-bodied planet Mars."

Shloka 8 (yuddha.24.8)

दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य समुद्वीक्ष्य च लक्ष्मणम् । उवाच वचनं वीरस्तत्कालहितमात्मनः ॥ 24.8 ॥

dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasya samudvīkṣya ca lakṣmaṇam | uvāca vacanaṃ vīrastatkālahitamātmanaḥ || 24.8 ||

Sighing long and hot with grief, and looking upon Lakshmana, the hero spoke words fitting for that moment:

Shloka 9 (yuddha.24.9)

आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थितां पश्य लक्ष्मण । मनसेव कृतां लङ्कां नगाग्रे विश्वकर्मणा ॥ 24.9 ॥

ālikhantīmivākāśamutthitāṃ paśya lakṣmaṇa | manaseva kṛtāṃ laṅkāṃ nagāgre viśvakarmaṇā || 24.9 ||

"Behold, Lakshmana, Lanka rising up as though etching the very sky, built by Vishvakarma atop this mountain as if by thought alone.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.24.10)

विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्का संकीर्णा रचिता पुरा । विष्णोः पदमिवाकाशं छादितं पाण्डुभिर्घनैः ॥ 24.10 ॥

vimānairbahubhirlaṅkā saṃkīrṇā racitā purā | viṣṇoḥ padamivākāśaṃ chāditaṃ pāṇḍubhirghanaiḥ || 24.10 ||

Lanka, thronged with countless aerial mansions, was built long ago; it appears like Vishnu's own heavenly realm, veiled by pale clouds.

Shloka 11 (yuddha.24.11)

पुष्पितैः शोभिता लङ्का वनैश्चित्ररथोपमैः । नानापतगसंघुष्टफलपुष्पोपगैः शुभैः ॥ 24.11 ॥

puṣpitaiḥ śobhitā laṅkā vanaiścitrarathopamaiḥ | nānāpatagasaṃghuṣṭaphalapuṣpopagaiḥ śubhaiḥ || 24.11 ||

Lanka is graced by blossoming groves resembling Chitraratha's own garden, auspicious woods alive with the calls of many birds amid fruit and flower.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.24.12)

पश्य मत्तविहंगानि प्रलीनभ्रमराणि च । कोकिलाकुलखण्डानि दोधवीति शिवोऽनिलः ॥ 24.12 ॥

paśya mattavihaṃgāni pralīnabhramarāṇi ca | kokilākulakhaṇḍāni dodhavīti śivo'nilaḥ || 24.12 ||

See the birds intoxicated with joy, the bees lost in the flowers, the groves alive with cuckoos — a gentle breeze stirs them all."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.24.13)

इति दाशरथी रामो लक्ष्मणं समभाषत । बलं च तत्र विभजच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥ 24.13 ॥

iti dāśarathī rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ samabhāṣata | balaṃ ca tatra vibhajacchāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā || 24.13 ||

So spoke Rama, son of Dasharatha, to Lakshmana; and then, according to the science of warfare, he divided the army there into its formations.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.24.14)

शशास कपिसेनां तां बलादादाय वीर्यवान् । अङ्गदः सह नीलेन तिष्ठेदुरसि दुर्जयः ॥ 24.14 ॥

śaśāsa kapisenāṃ tāṃ balādādāya vīryavān | aṅgadaḥ saha nīlena tiṣṭhedurasi durjayaḥ || 24.14 ||

The valiant Rama, taking command, ordered that army of vanaras: "Let Angada, together with Nila, unconquerable, hold the vanguard.

Shloka 15 (yuddha.24.15)

तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्या वानरौघसमावृतः । आश्रितो दक्षिणं पार्श्वमृषभो नाम वानरः ॥ 24.15 ॥

tiṣṭhed vānaravāhinyā vānaraughasamāvṛtaḥ | āśrito dakṣiṇaṃ pārśvamṛṣabho nāma vānaraḥ || 24.15 ||

Let the vanara named Rishabha, surrounded by a host of vanaras, take his stand on the right flank of the army."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.24.16)

गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः । तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यं पार्श्वमधिष्ठितः ॥ 24.16 ॥

gandhahastīva durdharṣastarasvī gandhamādanaḥ | tiṣṭhed vānaravāhinyāḥ savyaṃ pārśvamadhiṣṭhitaḥ || 24.16 ||

"Let Gandhamadana, swift and unassailable as a musth elephant, take up his stand upon the left flank of the vanara army.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.24.17)

मूर्ध्नि स्थास्याम्यहं यत्तो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः । जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः ॥ 24.17 ॥

mūrdhni sthāsyāmyahaṃ yatto lakṣmaṇena samanvitaḥ | jāmbavāṃśca suṣeṇaśca vegadarśī ca vānaraḥ || 24.17 ||

I myself shall stand alert at the head of the army, together with Lakshmana. And let Jambavan, Sushena, and the vanara Vegadarshi —

Shloka 18 (yuddha.24.18)

ऋक्षमुख्या महात्मानः कुक्षिं रक्षन्तु ते त्रयः । जघनं कपिसेनायाः कपिराजोऽभिरक्षतु । पश्चार्धमिव लोकस्य प्रचेतास्तेजसा वृतः ॥ 24.18 ॥

ṛkṣamukhyā mahātmānaḥ kukṣiṃ rakṣantu te trayaḥ | jaghanaṃ kapisenāyāḥ kapirājo'bhirakṣatu | paścārdhamiva lokasya pracetāstejasā vṛtaḥ || 24.18 ||

—those three great-souled chiefs of the bears — guard the flanks of the army. Let the king of the vanaras protect the rear of the host, as Varuna, cloaked in his own splendor, guards the western half of the world."

Shloka 19 (yuddha.24.19)

सुविभक्तमहाव्यूहा महावानररक्षिता । अनीकिनी सा विबभौ यथा द्यौः साभ्रसम्प्लवा ॥ 24.19 ॥

suvibhaktamahāvyūhā mahāvānararakṣitā | anīkinī sā vibabhau yathā dyauḥ sābhrasamplavā || 24.19 ||

That army, its great array skillfully arranged, guarded by mighty vanaras, shone like the heavens massed with clouds.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.24.20)

प्रगृह्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महतश्च महीरुहान् । आसेदुर्वानरा लङ्कां मिमर्दयिषवो रणे ॥ 24.20 ॥

pragṛhya giriśṛṅgāṇi mahataśca mahīruhān | āsedurvānarā laṅkāṃ mimardayiṣavo raṇe || 24.20 ||

Seizing mountain peaks and mighty trees, the vanaras, eager to crush their foes in battle, advanced upon Lanka.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.24.21)

शिखरैर्विकिरामैनां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा । इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरिपुङ्गवाः ॥ 24.21 ॥

śikharairvikirāmaināṃ laṅkāṃ muṣṭibhireva vā | iti sma dadhire sarve manāṃsi haripuṅgavāḥ || 24.21 ||

"With mountain-peaks, or even with our bare fists, we shall shatter this Lanka to pieces" — such was the resolve every one of those foremost vanaras held in his heart.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.24.22)

ततो रामो महातेजाः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत् । सुविभक्तानि सैन्यानि शुक एष विमुच्यताम् ॥ 24.22 ॥

tato rāmo mahātejāḥ sugrīvamidamabravīt | suvibhaktāni sainyāni śuka eṣa vimucyatām || 24.22 ||

Then Rama, of great splendor, spoke thus to Sugriva: "Our forces are now properly arrayed. Let this Shuka be set free."

Shloka 23 (yuddha.24.23)

रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रो महाबलः । मोचयामास तं दूतं शुकं रामस्य शासनात् ॥ 24.23 ॥

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā vānarendro mahābalaḥ | mocayāmāsa taṃ dūtaṃ śukaṃ rāmasya śāsanāt || 24.23 ||

Hearing Rama's words, the mighty lord of the vanaras released that messenger Shuka, in accordance with Rama's command.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.24.24)

मोचितो रामवाक्येन वानरैश्च निपीडितः । शुकः परमसंत्रस्तो रक्षोधिपमुपागमत् ॥ 24.24 ॥

mocito rāmavākyena vānaraiśca nipīḍitaḥ | śukaḥ paramasaṃtrasto rakṣodhipamupāgamat || 24.24 ||

Released by Rama's word, though he had been badly mauled by the vanaras, Shuka, utterly terrified, made his way back to the lord of the rakshasas.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.24.25)

रावणः प्रहसन्नेव शुकं वाक्यमुवाच ह । किमिमौ ते सितौ पक्षौ लूनपक्षश्च दृश्यसे ॥ 24.25 ॥

rāvaṇaḥ prahasanneva śukaṃ vākyamuvāca ha | kimimau te sitau pakṣau lūnapakṣaśca dṛśyase || 24.25 ||

Ravana, laughing, spoke these words to Shuka: "Why are these two wings of yours white — why do you appear as though your feathers were plucked away?

Shloka 26 (yuddha.24.26)

कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानां तेषां त्वं वशमागतः ॥ 24.26 ॥

kaccinnānekacittānāṃ teṣāṃ tvaṃ vaśamāgataḥ || 24.26 ||

Have you perhaps fallen prey to the fickle, ever-shifting minds of those many creatures?"

Shloka 27 (yuddha.24.27)

ततः स भयसंविग्नस्तेन राज्ञाभिचोदितः । वचनं प्रत्युवाचेदं राक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम् ॥ 24.27 ॥

tataḥ sa bhayasaṃvignastena rājñābhicoditaḥ | vacanaṃ pratyuvācedaṃ rākṣasādhipamuttamam || 24.27 ||

Then he, shaken with fear, thus questioned by the king, replied with these words to that foremost lord of the rakshasas:

Shloka 28 (yuddha.24.28)

सागरस्योत्तरे तीरेऽब्रुवं ते वचनं तथा । यथासंदेशमक्लिष्टं सान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णया गिरा ॥ 24.28 ॥

sāgarasyottare tīre'bruvaṃ te vacanaṃ tathā | yathāsaṃdeśamakliṣṭaṃ sāntvayan ślakṣṇayā girā || 24.28 ||

"On the northern shore of the ocean I delivered your message exactly as instructed, without distortion, speaking gently in a conciliatory voice.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.24.29)

क्रुद्धैस्तैरहमुत्प्लुत्य दृष्टमात्रः प्लवंगमैः । गृहीतोऽस्म्यपि चारब्धो हन्तुं लोप्तुं च मुष्टिभिः ॥ 24.29 ॥

kruddhaistairahamutplutya dṛṣṭamātraḥ plavaṃgamaiḥ | gṛhīto'smyapi cārabdho hantuṃ loptuṃ ca muṣṭibhiḥ || 24.29 ||

No sooner had those enraged vanaras caught sight of me than they leapt upon me and seized me, and set about to kill me and tear at me with their fists.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.24.30)

न ते संभाषितुं शक्याः सम्प्रश्नोऽत्र न विद्यते । प्रकृत्या कोपनास्तीक्ष्णा वानरा राक्षसाधिप ॥ 24.30 ॥

na te saṃbhāṣituṃ śakyāḥ sampraśno'tra na vidyate | prakṛtyā kopanāstīkṣṇā vānarā rākṣasādhipa || 24.30 ||

They cannot be reasoned with; there is no possibility of even questioning them, O lord of rakshasas — vanaras are, by their very nature, irritable and fierce.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.24.31)

स च हन्ता विराधस्य कबन्धस्य खरस्य च । सुग्रीवसहितो रामः सीतायाः पदमागतः ॥ 24.31 ॥

sa ca hantā virādhasya kabandhasya kharasya ca | sugrīvasahito rāmaḥ sītāyāḥ padamāgataḥ || 24.31 ||

That Rama, the slayer of Viradha, Kabandha, and Khara, has now come, together with Sugriva, to the very place where Sita is held.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.24.32)

स कृत्वा सागरे सेतुं तीर्त्वा च लवणोदधिम् । एष रक्षांसि निर्धूय धन्वी तिष्ठति राघवः ॥ 24.32 ॥

sa kṛtvā sāgare setuṃ tīrtvā ca lavaṇodadhim | eṣa rakṣāṃsi nirdhūya dhanvī tiṣṭhati rāghavaḥ || 24.32 ||

Having built a bridge across the ocean and crossed the salt sea, that Raghava now stands here, bow in hand, having swept aside the rakshasas.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.24.33)

ऋक्षवानरसङ्घानामनीकानि सहस्रशः । गिरिमेघनिकाशानां छादयन्ति वसुंधराम् ॥ 24.33 ॥

ṛkṣavānarasaṅghānāmanīkāni sahasraśaḥ | girimeghanikāśānāṃ chādayanti vasuṃdharām || 24.33 ||

Thousands of divisions of the massed bears and vanaras, resembling mountains and clouds, cover the very earth.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.24.34)

राक्षसानां बलौघस्य वानरेन्द्रबलस्य च । नैतयोर्विद्यते संधिर्देवदानवयोरिव ॥ 24.34 ॥

rākṣasānāṃ balaughasya vānarendrabalasya ca | naitayorvidyate saṃdhirdevadānavayoriva || 24.34 ||

Between the host of the rakshasas and the army of the lord of vanaras, no reconciliation is possible — no more than between the gods and the demons.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.24.35)

पुरा प्राकारमायान्ति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु । सीतां चास्मै प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम् ॥ 24.35 ॥

purā prākāramāyānti kṣipramekataraṃ kuru | sītāṃ cāsmai prayacchāśu yuddhaṃ vāpi pradīyatām || 24.35 ||

Very soon they will reach the very ramparts of our city. Do quickly one of the two: either restore Sita to him at once, or offer him battle."

Shloka 36 (yuddha.24.36)

शुकस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । रोषसंरक्तनयनो निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा ॥ 24.36 ॥

śukasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rāvaṇo vākyamabravīt | roṣasaṃraktanayano nirdahanniva cakṣuṣā || 24.36 ||

Hearing Shuka's words, Ravana spoke, his eyes reddened with rage, as though he would burn all before him with his very glance:

Shloka 37 (yuddha.24.37)

यदि मां प्रति युद्धेरन् देवगन्धर्वदानवाः । नैव सीतां प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि ॥ 24.37 ॥

yadi māṃ prati yuddheran devagandharvadānavāḥ | naiva sītāṃ pradāsyāmi sarvalokabhayādapi || 24.37 ||

"Even should the gods, gandharvas, and demons all rise up to fight against me, I would never give back Sita — not even out of fear of all the worlds combined.

Shloka 38 (yuddha.24.38)

कदा समभिधावन्त मामका राघवं शराः । वसन्ते पुष्पितं मत्ता भ्रमरा इव पादपम् ॥ 24.38 ॥

kadā samabhidhāvanta māmakā rāghavaṃ śarāḥ | vasante puṣpitaṃ mattā bhramarā iva pādapam || 24.38 ||

When shall my arrows rush upon Raghava, as intoxicated bees swarm upon a flowering tree in springtime?

Shloka 39 (yuddha.24.39)

कदा शोणितदिग्धाङ्गं दीप्तैः कार्मुकविच्युतैः । शरैरादीपयिष्यामि उल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम् ॥ 24.39 ॥

kadā śoṇitadigdhāṅgaṃ dīptaiḥ kārmukavicyutaiḥ | śarairādīpayiṣyāmi ulkābhiriva kuñjaram || 24.39 ||

When shall I set his body, drenched in blood, ablaze with the burning arrows loosed from my bow, as blazing torches consume an elephant?

Shloka 40 (yuddha.24.40)

तच्चास्य बलमादास्ये बलेन महता वृतः । ज्योतिषामिव सर्वेषां प्रभामुद्यन् दिवाकरः ॥ 24.40 ॥

taccāsya balamādāsye balena mahatā vṛtaḥ | jyotiṣāmiva sarveṣāṃ prabhāmudyan divākaraḥ || 24.40 ||

And I, girded by my own mighty army, shall eclipse the whole of his strength, as the rising sun eclipses the brightness of every star.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.24.41)

सागरस्येव मे वेगो मारुतस्येव मे बलम् । न च दाशरथिर्वेद तेन मां योद्धुमिच्छति ॥ 24.41 ॥

sāgarasyeva me vego mārutasyeva me balam | na ca dāśarathirveda tena māṃ yoddhumicchati || 24.41 ||

My onrush is like that of the ocean, my strength like that of the wind — but Dasharathi does not know this; that is why he desires to fight me.

Shloka 42 (yuddha.24.42)

न मे तूणीशयान् बाणान् सविषानिव पन्नगान् । रामः पश्यति संग्रामे तेन मां योद्धुमिच्छति ॥ 24.42 ॥

na me tūṇīśayān bāṇān saviṣāniva pannagān | rāmaḥ paśyati saṃgrāme tena māṃ yoddhumicchati || 24.42 ||

Rama has not yet seen my arrows, which lie in my quiver like venomous serpents, displayed in battle — that is why he desires to fight me.

Shloka 43 (yuddha.24.43)

न जानाति पुरा वीर्यं मम युद्धे स राघवः । मम चापमयीं वीणां शरकोणैः प्रवादिताम् ॥ 24.43 ॥

na jānāti purā vīryaṃ mama yuddhe sa rāghavaḥ | mama cāpamayīṃ vīṇāṃ śarakoṇaiḥ pravāditām || 24.43 ||

That Raghava has not known before now my valor in battle — how I play upon the vina that is my bow, its notes struck by the plectrum of my arrows,

Shloka 44 (yuddha.24.44)

ज्याशब्दतुमुलां घोरामार्तगीतमहास्वनाम् । नाराचतलसंनादां नदीमहितवाहिनीम् । अवगाह्य महारङ्गं वादयिष्याम्यहं रणे ॥ 24.44 ॥

jyāśabdatumulāṃ ghorāmārtagītamahāsvanām | nārācatalasaṃnādāṃ nadīmahitavāhinīm | avagāhya mahāraṅgaṃ vādayiṣyāmyahaṃ raṇe || 24.44 ||

its bowstring's twang the tumult, the terrible cries of the wounded its song, the clash of its iron shafts its rhythm — plunging into the vast arena of war, I shall make that river of my enemies resound with it.

Shloka 45 (yuddha.24.45)

न वासवेनापि सहस्रचक्षुषा युद्धेऽस्मि शक्यो वरुणेन वा स्वयम् । यमेन वा धर्षयितुं शराग्निना महाहवे वैश्रवणेन वा पुनः ॥ 24.45 ॥

na vāsavenāpi sahasracakṣuṣā yuddhe'smi śakyo varuṇena vā svayam | yamena vā dharṣayituṃ śarāgninā mahāhave vaiśravaṇena vā punaḥ || 24.45 ||

Not even by thousand-eyed Indra, nor by Varuna himself, nor by Yama with the fire of his weapon, nor even by Kubera, could I be overcome in a great battle."