Shardula Reports the Vanara Army to Ravana

Shloka 1 (yuddha.30.1)

ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलं लङ्काधिपतये चराः । सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन् ॥ ६-३०-१ ॥

tatas tam akṣobhyabalaṃ laṅkādhipataye carāḥ | suvele rāghavaṃ śaile niviṣṭaṃ pratyavedayan || 6-30-1 ||

Thereafter the spies informed the lord of Lanka that Raghava, with his unshakeable host, had encamped upon Mount Suvela.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.30.2)

चाराणां रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं रामं महाबलम् । जातोद्वेगोऽभवत् किंचिच्छार्दूलं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ६-३०-२ ॥

cārāṇāṃ rāvaṇaḥ śrutvā prāptaṃ rāmaṃ mahābalam | jātodvego'bhavat kiṃcic chārdūlaṃ vākyam abravīt || 6-30-2 ||

Hearing from the spies of the arrival of the mighty Rama, Ravana became somewhat agitated, and spoke these words to Shardula:

Shloka 3 (yuddha.30.3)

अयथावच्च ते वर्णो दीनश्चासि निशाचर । नासि कच्चिदमित्राणां क्रुद्धानां वशमागतः ॥ ६-३०-३ ॥

ayathāvac ca te varṇo dīnaś cāsi niśācara | nāsi kaccid amitrāṇāṃ kruddhānāṃ vaśam āgataḥ || 6-30-3 ||

"O night-ranger, your complexion is not as it should be, and you look wretched. Have you, perhaps, fallen into the power of enraged enemies?"

Shloka 4 (yuddha.30.4)

इति तेनानुशिष्टस्तु वाचं मन्दमुदीरयत् । तदा राक्षसशार्दूलं शार्दूलो भयविह्वलः ॥ ६-३०-४ ॥

iti tenānuśiṣṭas tu vācaṃ mandam udīrayat | tadā rākṣasaśārdūlaṃ śārdūlo bhayavihvalaḥ || 6-30-4 ||

Thus questioned, Shardula, overwhelmed with fear, then spoke sluggish words to Ravana, tiger among rakshasas --

Shloka 5 (yuddha.30.5)

न ते चारयितुं शक्या राजन् वानरपुङ्गवाः । विक्रान्ता बलवन्तश्च राघवेण च रक्षिताः ॥ ६-३०-५ ॥

na te cārayituṃ śakyā rājan vānarapuṅgavāḥ | vikrāntā balavantaś ca rāghaveṇa ca rakṣitāḥ || 6-30-5 ||

"O king, those excellent monkeys, bold and mighty and guarded by Raghava himself, cannot be spied upon."

Shloka 6 (yuddha.30.6)

नापि सम्भाषितुं शक्याः सम्प्रश्नोऽत्र न लभ्यते । सर्वतो रक्ष्यते पन्था वानरैः पर्वतोपमैः ॥ ६-३०-६ ॥

nāpi sambhāṣituṃ śakyāḥ sampraśno'tra na labhyate | sarvato rakṣyate panthā vānaraiḥ parvatopamaiḥ || 6-30-6 ||

"Nor can they even be spoken with -- no questioning avails there. The entire path is guarded on every side by monkeys huge as mountains."

Shloka 7 (yuddha.30.7)

प्रविष्टमात्रे ज्ञातोऽहं बले तस्मिन्नचारिते । बलाद्गृहीतो रक्षोभिर्बहुधास्मि विचारितः ॥ ६-३०-७ ॥

praviṣṭamātre jñāto'haṃ bale tasminn acārite | balād gṛhīto rakṣobhir bahudhāsmi vicāritaḥ || 6-30-7 ||

"The moment I entered that army, before I could well survey it, I was recognized; I was seized by force and questioned at length by the demons of Vibhishana's retinue."

Shloka 8 (yuddha.30.8)

जानुभिर्मुष्टिभिर्दन्तैस्तलैश्चाभिहतो भृशम् । परिणीतोऽस्मि हरिभिर्बलवद्भिरमर्षणैः ॥ ६-३०-८ ॥

jānubhir muṣṭibhir dantais talaiś cābhihato bhṛśam | pariṇīto'smi haribhir balavadbhir amarṣaṇaiḥ || 6-30-8 ||

"I was struck hard with knees, fists, teeth, and open palms; the mighty, enraged monkeys dragged me about.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.30.9)

परिणीय च सर्वत्र नीतोऽहं रामसंसदि । रुधिराधिग्धसर्वाङ्गो विह्वलश्चलितेन्द्रियः ॥ ६-३०-९ ॥

pariṇīya ca sarvatra nīto'haṃ rāmasaṃsadi | rudhirādhigdhasarvāṅgo vihvalaś calitendriyaḥ || 6-30-9 ||

"Having thus been paraded everywhere, I was brought before Rama's assembly, my whole body smeared with blood, distraught, my senses shaken.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.30.10)

हरिभिर्वध्यमानश्च याचमानः कृताञ्जलिः । राघवेण परित्रातो मा मेति च यदृच्छया ॥ ६-३०-१० ॥

haribhir vadhyamānaś ca yācamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | rāghaveṇa paritrāto mā meti ca yadṛcchayā || 6-30-10 ||

"While being slain by the monkeys, and pleading with joined palms, I was fortunately saved by Raghava, who cried, 'No, do not -- do not!'"

Shloka 11 (yuddha.30.11)

एष शैलैः शिलाभिश्च पूरयित्वा महार्णवम् । द्वारमाश्रित्य लङ्काया रामस्तिष्ठति सायुधः ॥ ६-३०-११ ॥

eṣa śailaiḥ śilābhiś ca pūrayitvā mahārṇavam | dvāram āśritya laṅkāyā rāmas tiṣṭhati sāyudhaḥ || 6-30-11 ||

"This Rama, having filled the great ocean with mountains and boulders, now stands armed at the gate of Lanka."

Shloka 12 (yuddha.30.12)

गरुडव्यूहमास्थाय सर्वतो हरिभिर्वृतः । मां विसृज्य महातेजा लङ्कामेवाभिवर्तते ॥ ६-३०-१२ ॥

garuḍavyūham āsthāya sarvato haribhir vṛtaḥ | māṃ visṛjya mahātejā laṅkām evābhivartate || 6-30-12 ||

"Having arrayed his forces in the Garuda formation, encircled on every side by monkeys, that man of great splendour, having released me, now advances straight upon Lanka itself."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.30.13)

पुरा प्राकारमायाति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु । सीतां वापि प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम् ॥ ६-३०-१३ ॥

purā prākāram āyāti kṣipram ekataraṃ kuru | sītāṃ vāpi prayacchāśu yuddhaṃ vāpi pradīyatām || 6-30-13 ||

"Before he reaches the ramparts, do one thing or the other at once -- either give up Sita immediately, or else offer him battle."

Shloka 14 (yuddha.30.14)

मनसा तत्तदा प्रेक्ष्य तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसाधिपः । शार्दूलं सुमहद्वाक्यमथोवाच स रावणः ॥ ६-३०-१४ ॥

manasā tat tadā prekṣya tac chrutvā rākṣasādhipaḥ | śārdūlaṃ sumahad vākyam athovāca sa rāvaṇaḥ || 6-30-14 ||

Having heard this and reflected on it in his mind, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, then spoke these grave words to Shardula --

Shloka 15 (yuddha.30.15)

यदि मां प्रतियुध्येरन् देवगन्धर्वदानवाः । नैव सीतां प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि ॥ ६-३०-१५ ॥

yadi māṃ pratiyudhyeran devagandharvadānavāḥ | naiva sītāṃ pradāsyāmi sarvalokabhayād api || 6-30-15 ||

"Even should the gods, gandharvas, and danavas all rise up to fight against me, I will not give up Sita, not even from fear of all the worlds combined."

Shloka 16 (yuddha.30.16)

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा रावणः पुनरब्रवीत् । चरिता भवता सेना केऽत्र शूराः प्लवंगमाः ॥ ६-३०-१६ ॥

evam uktvā mahātejā rāvaṇaḥ punar abravīt | caritā bhavatā senā ke'tra śūrāḥ plavaṃgamāḥ || 6-30-16 ||

Having said this, the mighty Ravana again spoke: "Have you well surveyed that army? Who among them are the valiant monkeys?"

Shloka 17 (yuddha.30.17)

किंप्रभाः कीदृशाः सौम्य वानरा ये दुरासदाः । कस्य पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तत्त्वमाख्याहि राक्षस ॥ ६-३०-१७ ॥

kiṃprabhāḥ kīdṛśāḥ saumya vānarā ye durāsadāḥ | kasya putrāś ca pautrāś ca tattvam ākhyāhi rākṣasa || 6-30-17 ||

"Of what radiance, gentle one, and of what kind are those monkeys who are so hard to overcome? Whose sons and grandsons are they -- tell me truly, O rakshasa."

Shloka 18 (yuddha.30.18)

तथात्र प्रतिपत्स्यामि ज्ञात्वा तेषां बलाबलम् । अवश्यं खलु संख्यानं कर्तव्यं युद्धमिच्छता ॥ ६-३०-१८ ॥

tathātra pratipatsyāmi jñātvā teṣāṃ balābalam | avaśyaṃ khalu saṃkhyānaṃ kartavyaṃ yuddham icchatā || 6-30-18 ||

"Knowing their strength and weakness, I shall decide accordingly in this matter; surely one who desires battle must reckon the enemy's numbers."

Shloka 19 (yuddha.30.19)

अथैवमुक्तः शार्दूलो रावणेनोत्तमश्चरः । इदं वचनमारेभे वक्तुं रावणसंनिधौ ॥ ६-३०-१९ ॥

athaivam uktaḥ śārdūlo rāvaṇenottamaś caraḥ | idaṃ vacanam ārebhe vaktuṃ rāvaṇasaṃnidhau || 6-30-19 ||

Thus questioned by Ravana, Shardula, that excellent spy, then began to speak the following words in Ravana's presence:

Shloka 20 (yuddha.30.20)

अथर्क्षरजसः पुत्रो युधि राजन् सुदुर्जयः । गद्गदस्याथ पुत्रोऽत्र जाम्बवानिति विश्रुतः ॥ ६-३०-२० ॥

atharkṣarajasaḥ putro yudhi rājan sudurjayaḥ | gadgadasyātha putro'tra jāmbavān iti viśrutaḥ || 6-30-20 ||

"O king, the son of Riksharajas is exceedingly hard to conquer in battle. And here is the son of Gadgada, renowned as Jambavan."

Shloka 21 (yuddha.30.21)

गद्गदस्यैव पुत्रोऽन्यो गुरुपुत्रः शतक्रतोः । कदनं यस्य पुत्रेण कृतमेकेन रक्षसाम् ॥ ६-३०-२१ ॥

gadgadasyaiva putro'nyo guruputraḥ śatakratoḥ | kadanaṃ yasya putreṇa kṛtam ekena rakṣasām || 6-30-21 ||

"Another is likewise a son of Gadgada; and there is the son of Indra's own guru, whose single son alone wrought havoc among the rakshasas."

Shloka 22 (yuddha.30.22)

सुषेणश्चात्र धर्मात्मा पुत्रो धर्मस्य वीर्यवान् । सौम्यः सोमात्मजश्चात्र राजन् दधिमुखः कपिः ॥ ६-३०-२२ ॥

suṣeṇaś cātra dharmātmā putro dharmasya vīryavān | saumyaḥ somātmajaś cātra rājan dadhimukhaḥ kapiḥ || 6-30-22 ||

"Here is the righteous and valiant Sushena, son of Dharma the god of death; and here too, O king, is gentle Dadhimukha the monkey, son of the moon."

Shloka 23 (yuddha.30.23)

सुमुखो दुर्मुखश्चात्र वेगदर्शी च वानरः । मृत्युर्वानररूपेण नूनं सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा ॥ ६-३०-२३ ॥

sumukho durmukhaś cātra vegadarśī ca vānaraḥ | mṛtyur vānararūpeṇa nūnaṃ sṛṣṭaḥ svayaṃbhuvā || 6-30-23 ||

"Here too are Sumukha, Durmukha, and the monkey called Vegadarshi -- surely creations of Death itself in monkey form, wrought by the Self-born Brahma."

Shloka 24 (yuddha.30.24)

पुत्रो हुतवहस्यात्र नीलः सेनापतिः स्वयम् । अनिलस्य तु पुत्रोऽत्र हनूमानिति विश्रुतः ॥ ६-३०-२४ ॥

putro hutavahasyātra nīlaḥ senāpatiḥ svayam | anilasya tu putro'tra hanūmān iti viśrutaḥ || 6-30-24 ||

"Here is Nila, the son of the fire-god, himself commander of the army; and here is Vayu's son, renowned as Hanuman."

Shloka 25 (yuddha.30.25)

नप्ता शक्रस्य दुर्धर्षो बलवानङ्गदो युवा । मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभौ बलिनावश्विसम्भवौ ॥ ६-३०-२५ ॥

naptā śakrasya durdharṣo balavān aṅgado yuvā | maindaś ca dvividaś cobhau balināv aśvisambhavau || 6-30-25 ||

"The young Angada, Indra's grandson, is unassailable and mighty; and Mainda and Dvivida, both mighty, are born of the two Ashvins."

Shloka 26 (yuddha.30.26)

पुत्रा वैवस्वतस्याथ पञ्च कालान्तकोपमाः । गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः ॥ ६-३०-२६ ॥

putrā vaivasvatasyātha pañca kālāntakopamāḥ | gajo gavākṣo gavayaḥ śarabho gandhamādanaḥ || 6-30-26 ||

"The five sons of Vaivasvata, terrible as Death at the world's dissolution -- Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, and Gandhamadana --

Shloka 27 (yuddha.30.27)

दश वानरकोट्यश्च शूराणां युद्धकाङ्क्षिणाम् । श्रीमतां देवपुत्राणां शेषं नाख्यातुमुत्सहे ॥ ६-३०-२७ ॥

daśa vānarakoṭyaś ca śūrāṇāṃ yuddhakāṅkṣiṇām | śrīmatāṃ devaputrāṇāṃ śeṣaṃ nākhyātum utsahe || 6-30-27 ||

and ten crores of valiant monkeys eager for battle -- these are here. Of the remaining glorious sons of the gods I do not venture to speak.

Shloka 28 (yuddha.30.28)

पुत्रो दशरथस्यैष सिंहसंहननो युवा । दूषणो निहतो येन खरश्च त्रिशिरास्तथा ॥ ६-३०-२८ ॥

putro daśarathasyaiṣa siṃhasaṃhanano yuvā | dūṣaṇo nihato yena kharaś ca triśirās tathā || 6-30-28 ||

"This young man, built like a lion, is Dasharatha's son, by whom Dushana was slain, and Khara too, and Trishira."

Shloka 29 (yuddha.30.29)

नास्ति रामस्य सदृशे विक्रमे भुवि कश्चन । विराधो निहतो येन कबन्धश्चान्तकोपमः ॥ ६-३०-२९ ॥

nāsti rāmasya sadṛśe vikrame bhuvi kaścana | virādho nihato yena kabandhaś cāntakopamaḥ || 6-30-29 ||

"There is none on earth equal to Rama in valour, by whom Viradha was killed, and Kabandha too, who was like Death himself."

Shloka 30 (yuddha.30.30)

वक्तुं न शक्तो रामस्य गुणान् कश्चिन्नरः क्षितौ । जनस्थानगता येन तावन्तो राक्षसा हताः ॥ ६-३०-३० ॥

vaktuṃ na śakto rāmasya guṇān kaścin naraḥ kṣitau | janasthānagatā yena tāvanto rākṣasā hatāḥ || 6-30-30 ||

"No man on earth is able to recount the full virtues of Rama, by whom all those rakshasas dwelling in Janasthana were slain."

Shloka 31 (yuddha.30.31)

लक्ष्मणश्चात्र धर्मात्मा मातंगानामिवर्षभः । यस्य बाणपथं प्राप्य न जीवेदपि वासवः ॥ ६-३०-३१ ॥

lakṣmaṇaś cātra dharmātmā mātaṃgānām ivarṣabhaḥ | yasya bāṇapathaṃ prāpya na jīved api vāsavaḥ || 6-30-31 ||

"Here too is the righteous Lakshmana, like the foremost bull among elephants, in whose arrow's path even Indra himself could not survive."

Shloka 32 (yuddha.30.32)

श्वेतो ज्योतिर्मुखश्चात्र भास्करस्यात्मसम्भवौ । वरुणस्याथ पुत्रोऽथ हेमकूटः प्लवंगमः ॥ ६-३०-३२ ॥

śveto jyotirmukhaś cātra bhāskarasyātmasambhavau | varuṇasyātha putro'tha hemakūṭaḥ plavaṃgamaḥ || 6-30-32 ||

"Here are Shveta and Jyotirmukha, both sons of the sun-god; and here too is Hemakuta the monkey, son of Varuna."

Shloka 33 (yuddha.30.33)

विश्वकर्मसुतो वीरो नलः प्लवगसत्तमः । विक्रान्तो वेगवानत्र वसुपुत्रः स दुर्धरः ॥ ६-३०-३३ ॥

viśvakarmasuto vīro nalaḥ plavagasattamaḥ | vikrānto vegavān atra vasuputraḥ sa durdharaḥ || 6-30-33 ||

"The valiant Nala, son of Vishvakarma, is the very best of monkeys; and here too is the mighty, swift Durdhara, son of the Vasus."

Shloka 34 (yuddha.30.34)

राक्षसानां वरिष्ठश्च तव भ्राता विभीषणः । प्रतिगृह्य पुरीं लङ्कां राघवस्य हिते रतः ॥ ६-३०-३४ ॥

rākṣasānāṃ variṣṭhaś ca tava bhrātā vibhīṣaṇaḥ | pratigṛhya purīṃ laṅkāṃ rāghavasya hite rataḥ || 6-30-34 ||

"And there too is your own brother Vibhishana, foremost among rakshasas, who -- having accepted the city of Lanka as Rama's gift to come -- remains wholly devoted to Raghava's good."

Shloka 35 (yuddha.30.35)

इति सर्वं समाख्यातं तवेदं वानरं बलम् । सुवेलेऽधिष्ठितं शैले शेषकार्ये भवान् गतिः ॥ ६-३०-३५ ॥

iti sarvaṃ samākhyātaṃ tavedaṃ vānaraṃ balam | suvele'dhiṣṭhitaṃ śaile śeṣakārye bhavān gatiḥ || 6-30-35 ||

"Thus have I described to you in full this army of monkeys stationed upon Mount Suvela. In whatever remains to be done, you alone must now decide."