Mahodara's Deceptive Counsel

Shloka 1 (yuddha.64.1)

तदुक्तमतिकायस्य बलिनो बाहुशालिनः। कुम्भकर्णस्य वचनं श्रुत्वोवाच महोदरः ॥ 64.1 ॥

taduktamatikāyasya balino bāhuśālinaḥ| kumbhakarṇasya vacanaṃ śrutvovāca mahodaraḥ || 64.1 ||

Hearing that speech of mighty Kumbhakarna, huge of body and strong of arm, Mahodara then spoke --

Shloka 2 (yuddha.64.2)

कुम्भकर्ण कुले जातो धृष्टः प्राकृतदर्शनः। अवलिप्तो न शक्नोषि कृत्यं सर्वत्र वेदितुम् ॥ 64.2 ॥

kumbhakarṇa kule jāto dhṛṣṭaḥ prākṛtadarśanaḥ| avalipto na śaknoṣi kṛtyaṃ sarvatra veditum || 64.2 ||

-- 'O Kumbhakarna, though born in a noble line, you are rash, common in outlook, and puffed up with pride -- you are not able to discern what is truly to be done in every matter.'

Shloka 3 (yuddha.64.3)

नहि राजा न जानीते कुम्भकर्ण नयानयौ। त्वं तु कैशोरकाद् धृष्टः केवलं वक्तुमिच्छसि ॥ 64.3 ॥

nahi rājā na jānīte kumbhakarṇa nayānayau| tvaṃ tu kaiśorakād dhṛṣṭaḥ kevalaṃ vaktumicchasi || 64.3 ||

-- 'It is not, O Kumbhakarna, that the king does not know right policy from wrong; you, rash from your very boyhood, merely wish to talk.'

Shloka 4 (yuddha.64.4)

स्थानं वृद्धिं च हानिं च देशकालविधानवित्। आत्मनश्च परेषां च बुध्यते राक्षसर्षभः ॥ 64.4 ॥

sthānaṃ vṛddhiṃ ca hāniṃ ca deśakālavidhānavit| ātmanaśca pareṣāṃ ca budhyate rākṣasarṣabhaḥ || 64.4 ||

-- 'This bull among rakshasas well understands what is stable, what is rising, what is in decline, knowing the proper measure of place and time, both for himself and for others.'

Shloka 5 (yuddha.64.5)

यत् त्वशक्यं बलवता वक्तुं प्राकृतबुद्धिना। अनुपासितवृद्धेन कः कुर्यात् तादृशं बुधः ॥ 64.5 ॥

yat tvaśakyaṃ balavatā vaktuṃ prākṛtabuddhinā| anupāsitavṛddhena kaḥ kuryāt tādṛśaṃ budhaḥ || 64.5 ||

-- 'What is impossible even for a strong man of ordinary intellect, who has never sat at the feet of the wise, to speak of rightly -- what wise man would attempt such a thing?'

Shloka 6 (yuddha.64.6)

यांस्तु धर्मार्थकामांस्त्वं ब्रवीषि पृथगाश्रयान्। अवबोद्धुं स्वभावेन नहि लक्षणमस्ति तान् ॥ 64.6 ॥

yāṃstu dharmārthakāmāṃstvaṃ bravīṣi pṛthagāśrayān| avaboddhuṃ svabhāvena nahi lakṣaṇamasti tān || 64.6 ||

-- 'As for this dharma, artha, and kama, which you speak of as though each rested on its own separate ground -- there is, by their very nature, no fixed mark by which to know them apart.'

Shloka 7 (yuddha.64.7)

कर्म चैव हि सर्वेषां कारणानां प्रयोजनम्। श्रेयः पापीयसां चात्र फलं भवति कर्मणाम् ॥ 64.7 ॥

karma caiva hi sarveṣāṃ kāraṇānāṃ prayojanam| śreyaḥ pāpīyasāṃ cātra phalaṃ bhavati karmaṇām || 64.7 ||

-- 'Action alone is the true purpose behind all causes; and it is from action that the fruit -- whether good or evil -- comes.'

Shloka 8 (yuddha.64.8)

निःश्रेयसफलावेव धर्मार्थावितरावपि। अधर्मानर्थयोः प्राप्तं फलं च प्रत्यवायिकम् ॥ 64.8 ॥

niḥśreyasaphalāveva dharmārthāvitarāvapi| adharmānarthayoḥ prāptaṃ phalaṃ ca pratyavāyikam || 64.8 ||

-- 'Dharma and artha alone bear the fruit of highest good; while the fruit reaped from adharma and loss is only harm.'

Shloka 9 (yuddha.64.9)

ऐहलौकिकपारक्यं कर्म पुंभिर्निषेव्यते। कर्माण्यपि तु कल्याणि लभते काममास्थितः ॥ 64.9 ॥

aihalaukikapārakyaṃ karma puṃbhirniṣevyate| karmāṇyapi tu kalyāṇi labhate kāmamāsthitaḥ || 64.9 ||

-- 'Men pursue action for the sake of both this world and the next; yet it is the auspicious deeds, undertaken with due purpose, that truly bear fruit.'

Shloka 10 (yuddha.64.10)

तत्र क्लृप्तमिदं राज्ञा हृदि कार्यं मतं च नः। शत्रौ हि साहसं यत् तत् किमिवात्रापनीयते ॥ 64.10 ॥

tatra klṛptamidaṃ rājñā hṛdi kāryaṃ mataṃ ca naḥ| śatrau hi sāhasaṃ yat tat kimivātrāpanīyate || 64.10 ||

-- 'In this matter, what the king has resolved in his heart, and what we too have judged right -- for what fault is there in showing boldness against an enemy?'

Shloka 11 (yuddha.64.11)

एकस्यैवाभियाने तु हेतुर्यः प्राहृतस्त्वया। तत्राप्यनुपपन्नं ते वक्ष्यामि यदसाधु च ॥ 64.11 ॥

ekasyaivābhiyāne tu heturyaḥ prāhṛtastvayā| tatrāpyanupapannaṃ te vakṣyāmi yadasādhu ca || 64.11 ||

-- 'But as for the reason you gave for marching out alone -- I shall now point out to you what is unsound and improper in it.'

Shloka 12 (yuddha.64.12)

येन पूर्वं जनस्थाने बहवोऽतिबला हताः। राक्षसा राघवं तं त्वं कथमेको जयिष्यसि ॥ 64.12 ॥

yena pūrvaṃ janasthāne bahavo'tibalā hatāḥ| rākṣasā rāghavaṃ taṃ tvaṃ kathameko jayiṣyasi || 64.12 ||

-- 'He by whom, at Janasthana, so many mighty rakshasas were slain before -- that same Raghava -- how will you conquer him single-handed?'

Shloka 13 (yuddha.64.13)

ये पूर्वं निर्जितास्तेन जनस्थाने महौजसः। राक्षसांस्तान् पुरे सर्वान् भीतानद्य न पश्यसि ॥ 64.13 ॥

ye pūrvaṃ nirjitāstena janasthāne mahaujasaḥ| rākṣasāṃstān pure sarvān bhītānadya na paśyasi || 64.13 ||

-- 'Do you not see, even today, in this city, all those mighty rakshasas who were defeated by him before at Janasthana -- still trembling with fear?'

Shloka 14 (yuddha.64.14)

तं सिंहमिव संक्रुद्धं रामं दशरथात्मजम्। सर्पं सुप्तमहो बुद्ध्वा प्रबोधयितुमिच्छसि ॥ 64.14 ॥

taṃ siṃhamiva saṃkruddhaṃ rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam| sarpaṃ suptamaho bud‍dhvā prabodhayitumicchasi || 64.14 ||

-- 'That Rama, son of Dasharatha, enraged as a lion -- ah, do you wish to rouse him, as one might knowingly wake a sleeping serpent?'

Shloka 15 (yuddha.64.15)

ज्वलन्तं तेजसा नित्यं क्रोधेन च दुरासदम्। कस्तं मृत्युमिवासह्यमासादयितुमर्हति ॥ 64.15 ॥

jvalantaṃ tejasā nityaṃ krodhena ca durāsadam| kastaṃ mṛtyumivāsahyamāsādayitumarhati || 64.15 ||

-- 'Who indeed dares to approach one who ever blazes with brilliance, unassailable in his wrath, unbearable as very Death itself?'

Shloka 16 (yuddha.64.16)

संशयस्थमिदं सर्वं शत्रोः प्रतिसमासने। एकस्य गमनं तात नहि मे रोचते भृशम् ॥ 64.16 ॥

saṃśayasthamidaṃ sarvaṃ śatroḥ pratisamāsane| ekasya gamanaṃ tāta nahi me rocate bhṛśam || 64.16 ||

-- 'All this stands upon a knife's edge, once one confronts the enemy -- your going alone, dear one, does not please me in the least.'

Shloka 17 (yuddha.64.17)

हीनार्थस्तु समृद्धार्थं को रिपुं प्राकृतं यथा। निश्चितं जीवितत्यागे वशमानेतुमिच्छति ॥ 64.17 ॥

hīnārthastu samṛddhārthaṃ ko ripuṃ prākṛtaṃ yathā| niścitaṃ jīvitatyāge vaśamānetumicchati || 64.17 ||

-- 'What ordinary man, lacking resources, without being resolved on giving up his very life, would wish to bring under his sway an enemy who is flourishing and strong?'

Shloka 18 (yuddha.64.18)

यस्य नास्ति मनुष्येषु सदृशो राक्षसोत्तम। कथमाशंससे योद्धुं तुल्येनेन्द्रविवस्वतोः ॥ 64.18 ॥

yasya nāsti manuṣyeṣu sadṛśo rākṣasottama| kathamāśaṃsase yoddhuṃ tulyenendravivasvatoḥ || 64.18 ||

-- 'O foremost of rakshasas, how do you hope to fight, as an equal, one among men who has no peer -- one equal to Indra and to the Sun himself?'

Shloka 19 (yuddha.64.19)

एवमुक्त्वा तु संरब्धं कुम्भकर्णं महोदरः। उवाच रक्षसां मध्ये रावणं लोकरावणम् ॥ 64.19 ॥

evamuktvā tu saṃrabdhaṃ kumbhakarṇaṃ mahodaraḥ| uvāca rakṣasāṃ madhye rāvaṇaṃ lokarāvaṇam || 64.19 ||

Having thus spoken to the furious Kumbhakarna, Mahodara then addressed, in the midst of the rakshasas, Ravana, terror of the worlds --

Shloka 20 (yuddha.64.20)

लब्ध्वा पुरस्ताद् वैदेहीं किमर्थं त्वं विलम्बसे। यदीच्छसि तदा सीता वशगा ते भविष्यति ॥ 64.20 ॥

labdhvā purastād vaidehīṃ kimarthaṃ tvaṃ vilambase| yadīcchasi tadā sītā vaśagā te bhaviṣyati || 64.20 ||

-- 'Having already won Vaidehi and brought her here, why do you delay? If you truly desire it, Sita can be made to come under your sway.'

Shloka 21 (yuddha.64.21)

दृष्टः कश्चिदुपायो मे सीतोपस्थानकारकः। रुचितश्चेत् स्वया बुद्ध्या राक्षसेन्द्र ततः शृणु ॥ 64.21 ॥

dṛṣṭaḥ kaścidupāyo me sītopasthānakārakaḥ| rucitaścet svayā buddhyā rākṣasendra tataḥ śṛṇu || 64.21 ||

-- 'I have thought of a certain device by which Sita may be brought to your side -- if it pleases your own judgment, O lord of the rakshasas, then hear it.'

Shloka 22 (yuddha.64.22)

अहं द्विजिह्वः संह्रादी कुम्भकर्णो वितर्दनः। पञ्च रामवधायैते निर्यान्तीत्यवघोषय ॥ 64.22 ॥

ahaṃ dvijihvaḥ saṃhrādī kumbhakarṇo vitardanaḥ| pañca rāmavadhāyaite niryāntītyavaghoṣaya || 64.22 ||

-- 'Let it be proclaimed: "I, and Dvijihva, and Samhradi, and Kumbhakarna, and Vitardana -- these five are setting forth for the slaying of Rama."'

Shloka 23 (yuddha.64.23)

ततो गत्वा वयं युद्धं दास्यामस्तस्य यत्नतः। जेष्यामो यदि ते शत्रून् नोपायैः कार्यमस्ति नः ॥ 64.23 ॥

tato gatvā vayaṃ yuddhaṃ dāsyāmastasya yatnataḥ| jeṣyāmo yadi te śatrūn nopāyaiḥ kāryamasti naḥ || 64.23 ||

-- 'Then, going forth, we shall give him battle in earnest. If we defeat your enemies, we shall have no need of further stratagems.'

Shloka 24 (yuddha.64.24)

अथ जीवति नः शत्रुर्वयं च कृतसंयुगाः। ततः समभिपत्स्यामो मनसा यत् समीक्षितम् ॥ 64.24 ॥

atha jīvati naḥ śatrurvayaṃ ca kṛtasaṃyugāḥ| tataḥ samabhipatsyāmo manasā yat samīkṣitam || 64.24 ||

-- 'But if, after we have joined battle, the enemy still lives, then we shall carry out what has been devised in mind.'

Shloka 25 (yuddha.64.25)

वयं युद्धादिहैष्यामो रुधिरेण समुक्षिताः। विदार्य स्वतनुं बाणै रामनामाङ्कितैः शरैः ॥ 64.25 ॥

vayaṃ yuddhādihaiṣyāmo rudhireṇa samukṣitāḥ| vidārya svatanuṃ bāṇai rāmanāmāṅkitaiḥ śaraiḥ || 64.25 ||

-- 'We shall return here from the battle drenched in blood, having gashed our own bodies with arrows marked with Rama's name.'

Shloka 26 (yuddha.64.26)

भक्षितो राघवोऽस्माभिर्लक्ष्मणश्चेति वादिनः। ततः पादौ ग्रहीष्यामस्त्वं नः कामं प्रपूरय ॥ 64.26 ॥

bhakṣito rāghavo'smābhirlakṣmaṇaśceti vādinaḥ| tataḥ pādau grahīṣyāmastvaṃ naḥ kāmaṃ prapūraya || 64.26 ||

-- 'Declaring, "Raghava has been devoured by us, and Lakshmana too!" -- then we shall clasp your feet; grant us in return whatever we desire.'

Shloka 27 (yuddha.64.27)

ततोऽवघोषय पुरे गजस्कन्धेन पार्थिव। हतो रामः सह भ्रात्रा ससैन्य इति सर्वतः ॥ 64.27 ॥

tato'vaghoṣaya pure gajaskandhena pārthiva| hato rāmaḥ saha bhrātrā sasainya iti sarvataḥ || 64.27 ||

-- 'Then, O king, mounted upon an elephant, have it proclaimed everywhere throughout the city: "Rama has been slain, together with his brother and his army!"'

Shloka 28 (yuddha.64.28)

प्रीतो नाम ततो भूत्वा भृत्यानां त्वमरिंदम। भोगांश्च परिवारांश्च कामान् वसु च दापय ॥ 64.28 ॥

prīto nāma tato bhūtvā bhṛtyānāṃ tvamariṃdama| bhogāṃśca parivārāṃśca kāmān vasu ca dāpaya || 64.28 ||

-- 'Then, O vanquisher of foes, feigning great joy, bestow upon your servants pleasures, retinue, whatever they desire, and wealth.'

Shloka 29 (yuddha.64.29)

ततो माल्यानि वासांसि वीराणामनुलेपनम्। पेयं च बहु योधेभ्यः स्वयं च मुदितः पिब ॥ 64.29 ॥

tato mālyāni vāsāṃsi vīrāṇāmanulepanam| peyaṃ ca bahu yodhebhyaḥ svayaṃ ca muditaḥ piba || 64.29 ||

-- 'Then give garlands, garments, and fragrant unguents to your warriors, and abundant drink to your soldiers -- and yourself, rejoicing, drink as well.'

Shloka 30 (yuddha.64.30)

ततोऽस्मिन् बहुलीभूते कौलीने सर्वतो गते। भक्षितः ससुहृद् रामो राक्षसैरिति विश्रुते ॥ 64.30 ॥

tato'smin bahulībhūte kaulīne sarvato gate| bhakṣitaḥ sasuhṛd rāmo rākṣasairiti viśrute || 64.30 ||

-- 'Then, when this news has spread far and wide and the report has gone abroad on every side, that Rama has been devoured by the rakshasas together with his allies --'

Shloka 31 (yuddha.64.31)

प्रविश्याश्वास्य चापि त्वं सीतां रहसि सान्त्वयन्। धनधान्यैश्च कामैश्च रत्नैश्चैनां प्रलोभय ॥ 64.31 ॥

praviśyāśvāsya cāpi tvaṃ sītāṃ rahasi sāntvayan| dhanadhānyaiśca kāmaiśca ratnaiścaināṃ pralobhaya || 64.31 ||

-- '-- then go in to Sita, comfort her, and speaking gently to her in private, tempt her with wealth, grain, desired things, and jewels.'

Shloka 32 (yuddha.64.32)

अनयोपधया राजन् भूयः शोकानुबन्धया। अकामा त्वद्वशं सीता नष्टनाथा गमिष्यति ॥ 64.32 ॥

anayopadhayā rājan bhūyaḥ śokānubandhayā| akāmā tvadvaśaṃ sītā naṣṭanāthā gamiṣyati || 64.32 ||

-- 'By this deceit, O king, weighted further with grief, Sita, though unwilling, believing her protector lost, will come under your power.'

Shloka 33 (yuddha.64.33)

रमणीयं हि भर्तारं विनष्टमधिगम्य सा। नैराश्यात् स्त्रीलघुत्वाच्च त्वद्वशं प्रतिपत्स्यते ॥ 64.33 ॥

ramaṇīyaṃ hi bhartāraṃ vinaṣṭamadhigamya sā| nairāśyāt strīlaghutvācca tvadvaśaṃ pratipatsyate || 64.33 ||

-- 'Learning that her beloved husband is no more, she will, out of despair and the natural frailty of women, submit to your will.'

Shloka 34 (yuddha.64.34)

सा पुरा सुखसंवृद्धा सुखार्हा दुःखकर्शिता। त्वय्यधीनं सुखं ज्ञात्वा सर्वथैव गमिष्यति ॥ 64.34 ॥

sā purā sukhasaṃvṛddhā sukhārhā duḥkhakarśitā| tvayyadhīnaṃ sukhaṃ jñātvā sarvathaiva gamiṣyati || 64.34 ||

-- 'She, once reared in happiness, deserving of ease, now worn thin by sorrow -- once she knows that happiness lies only in dependence on you, she will yield in every way.'

Shloka 35 (yuddha.64.35)

एतत् सुनीतं मम दर्शनेन। रामं हि दृष्ट्वैव भवेदनर्थः। इहैव ते सेत्स्यति मोत्सुको भू-। र्महानयुद्धेन सुखस्य लाभः ॥ 64.35 ॥

etat sunītaṃ mama darśanena| rāmaṃ hi dṛṣṭvaiva bhavedanarthaḥ| ihaiva te setsyati motsuko bhū-| rmahānayuddhena sukhasya lābhaḥ || 64.35 ||

-- 'This, in my judgment, is the wisest course. The mere sight of Rama could bring only disaster; here, without stirring, your end will be gained -- be not impatient -- a great happiness may be won even without war.'

Shloka 36 (yuddha.64.36)

अनष्टसैन्यो ह्यनवाप्तसंशयो। रिपुं त्वयुद्धेन जयञ्जनाधिपः। यशश्च पुण्यं च महान्महीपते। श्रियं च कीर्तिं च चिरं समश्नुते ॥ 64.36 ॥

anaṣṭasainyo hyanavāptasaṃśayo| ripuṃ tvayuddhena jayañjanādhipaḥ| yaśaśca puṇyaṃ ca mahānmahīpate| śriyaṃ ca kīrtiṃ ca ciraṃ samaśnute || 64.36 ||

-- 'A king who, without losing his army, without incurring any risk, conquers his enemy without battle -- such a great lord of men enjoys fame, merit, prosperity, and glory for a long time to come.'