Lakshmana Marches to Nikumbhila

Shloka 1 (yuddha.85.1)

तत्तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवः शोककश्मितः। नोपधारयते व्यक्तं यदुक्तं तेन रक्षसा॥ 85.1 ॥

tattasya vacanaṃ śrutvā rāghavaḥ śokakaśmitaḥ | nopadhārayate vyaktaṃ yaduktaṃ tena rakṣasā || 85.1 ||

Hearing those words of Vibhishana, Rama, wasted with grief, could not clearly grasp what that demon had said.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.85.2)

ततो धैर्यमवष्टभ्य रामः परपुरंजयः। विभीषणमुपासीनमुवाच कपिसंनिधौ॥ 85.2 ॥

tato dhairyamavaṣṭabhya rāmaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ | vibhīṣaṇamupāsīnamuvāca kapisaṃnidhau || 85.2 ||

Then Rama, conqueror of enemy cities, mustering his composure, spoke to Vibhishana, who sat nearby, in the presence of the monkeys.

Shloka 3 (yuddha.85.3)

नैरृताधिपते वाक्यं यदुक्तं ते विभीषण। भूयस्तच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि ब्रूहि यत्ते विवक्षितम्॥ 85.3 ॥

nairṛtādhipate vākyaṃ yaduktaṃ te vibhīṣaṇa | bhūyastacchrotumicchāmi brūhi yatte vivakṣitam || 85.3 ||

"O lord of the rakshasas, Vibhishana, I wish to hear again the words you have spoken; tell me once more what you intend.

Shloka 4 (yuddha.85.4)

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। यत्तत्पुनरिदं वाक्यं बभाषेऽथ विभीषणः॥ 85.4 ॥

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ | yattatpunaridaṃ vākyaṃ babhāṣe'tha vibhīṣaṇaḥ || 85.4 ||

Hearing Rama's words, Vibhishana, skilled in speech, spoke once more, this same message.

Shloka 5 (yuddha.85.5)

यथाज्ञप्तं महाबाहो त्वया गुल्मनिवेशनम्। तत्तथानुष्ठितं वीर त्वद्वाक्यसमनन्तरम्॥ 85.5 ॥

yathājñaptaṃ mahābāho tvayā gulmaniveśanam | tattathānuṣṭhitaṃ vīra tvadvākyasamanantaram || 85.5 ||

"O mighty-armed hero, exactly as you commanded, the stationing of the troop-divisions was carried out immediately after your word.

Shloka 6 (yuddha.85.6)

तान्यनीकानि सर्वाणि विभक्तानि समन्ततः। विन्यस्ता यूथपाश्चैव यथान्यायं विभागशः॥ 85.6 ॥

tānyanīkāni sarvāṇi vibhaktāni samantataḥ | vinyastā yūthapāścaiva yathānyāyaṃ vibhāgaśaḥ || 85.6 ||

"All those forces have been distributed on every side, and their commanders too have been duly stationed, each according to rank.

Shloka 7 (yuddha.85.7)

भूयस्तु मम विज्ञाप्यं तच्छृणुष्व महाप्रभो। त्वय्यकारणसन्तप्ते सन्तप्तहृदया वयम्॥ 85.7 ॥

bhūyastu mama vijñāpyaṃ tacchṛṇuṣva mahāprabho | tvayyakāraṇasantapte santaptahṛdayā vayam || 85.7 ||

"There is more, O great lord, that I must tell you — hear it. While you grieve without cause, our own hearts too are pained.

Shloka 8 (yuddha.85.8)

त्यज राजन्निमं शोकं मिथ्यासंतापमागतम्। तदियं त्यज्यतां चिन्ता शत्रुहर्षविवर्धिनी॥ 85.8 ॥

tyaja rājannimaṃ śokaṃ mithyāsaṃtāpamāgatam | tadiyaṃ tyajyatāṃ cintā śatruharṣavivardhinī || 85.8 ||

"O king, abandon this grief, this false anguish that has come over you; give up this worry, which only increases the delight of your enemies.

Shloka 9 (yuddha.85.9)

उद्यमः क्रियतां वीर हर्षः समुपसेव्यताम्। प्राप्तव्या यदि ते सीता हन्तव्याश्च निशाचराः॥ 85.9 ॥

udyamaḥ kriyatāṃ vīra harṣaḥ samupasevyatām | prāptavyā yadi te sītā hantavyāśca niśācarāḥ || 85.9 ||

"Rouse yourself to action, O hero, and cultivate cheer — if you would win back Sita and destroy the night-roamers.

Shloka 10 (yuddha.85.10)

रघुनन्दन वक्ष्यामि श्रूयतां मे हितं वचः। साध्वयं यातु सौमित्रिर्बलेन महता वृतः॥ 85.10 ॥

raghunandana vakṣyāmi śrūyatāṃ me hitaṃ vacaḥ | sādhvayaṃ yātu saumitrirbalena mahatā vṛtaḥ || 85.10 ||

"O delight of the Raghus, I shall speak; hear my beneficial counsel: let this Lakshmana go forth at once, surrounded by a great army,

Shloka 11 (yuddha.85.11)

निकुम्भिलायां संप्राप्तं हन्तुं रावणिमाहवे। धनुर्मण्डलनिर्मुक्तैराशीविषविषोपमैः॥ 85.11 ॥

nikumbhilāyāṃ saṃprāptaṃ hantuṃ rāvaṇimāhave | dhanurmaṇḍalanirmuktairāśīviṣaviṣopamaiḥ || 85.11 ||

—to kill, in battle, that Ravani who has reached Nikumbhila, with arrows deadly as serpent-venom loosed from the circle of his bow.

Shloka 12 (yuddha.85.12)

तेन वीरेण तपसा वरदानात्स्वयंभुवः। अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरः प्राप्तं कामगाश्च तुरंगमाः॥ 85.12 ॥

tena vīreṇa tapasā varadānātsvayaṃbhuvaḥ | astraṃ brahmaśiraḥ prāptaṃ kāmagāśca turaṃgamāḥ || 85.12 ||

"That valiant one obtained, through his own penance and by the boon of Brahma the self-born, the Brahmashira missile, and horses that course wherever he wills.

Shloka 13 (yuddha.85.13)

स एष सह सैन्येन प्राप्तः किल निकुम्भिलाम्। यद्युत्तिष्ठेत्कृतं कर्म हतान्सर्वांश्च विद्धि नः॥ 85.13 ॥

sa eṣa saha sainyena prāptaḥ kila nikumbhilām | yadyuttiṣṭhetkṛtaṃ karma hatānsarvāṃśca viddhi naḥ || 85.13 ||

"That very Indrajit, along with his army, has, it is said, reached Nikumbhila; if he emerges having completed his rite, know that all of us are as good as slain.

Shloka 14 (yuddha.85.14)

निकुम्भिलामसंप्राप्तमहुताग्निं च यो रिपुः। त्वामातायिनं हन्यादिन्द्रशत्रो स ते वधः॥ 85.14 ॥

nikumbhilāmasaṃprāptamahutāgniṃ ca yo ripuḥ | tvāmātāyinaṃ hanyādindraśatro sa te vadhaḥ || 85.14 ||

"'O foe of Indra, that enemy alone who strikes you down while you march with bow drawn, before you reach Nikumbhila or have offered oblation to the fire — he alone shall be the cause of your death.'

Shloka 15 (yuddha.85.15)

वरो दत्तो महाबाहो सर्वलोकेश्वरेण वै। इत्येवं विहितो राजन्वधस्तस्यैष धीमतः॥ 85.15 ॥

varo datto mahābāho sarvalokeśvareṇa vai | ityevaṃ vihito rājanvadhastasyaiṣa dhīmataḥ || 85.15 ||

"Such was the boon granted, O mighty-armed one, by the lord of all worlds; thus, O king, has the manner of that wise demon's death already been ordained.

Shloka 16 (yuddha.85.16)

वधायेन्द्रजितो राम संदिशस्व महाबल। हते तस्मिन् हतं विद्धि रावणं ससुहृद्गणम्॥ 85.16 ॥

vadhāyendrajito rāma saṃdiśasva mahābala | hate tasmin hataṃ viddhi rāvaṇaṃ sasuhṛdgaṇam || 85.16 ||

"O mighty Rama, give the command for the slaying of Indrajit; once he is killed, know that Ravana, along with all his kinsmen, is as good as slain."

Shloka 17 (yuddha.85.17)

विभीषणवचः श्रुत्वा रामो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्। जानामि तस्य रौद्रस्य मायां सत्यपराक्रम॥ 85.17 ॥

vibhīṣaṇavacaḥ śrutvā rāmo vākyamathābravīt | jānāmi tasya raudrasya māyāṃ satyaparākrama || 85.17 ||

Hearing Vibhishana's words, Rama then spoke: "O Vibhishana of true valor, I know that terrible demon's power of illusion.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.85.18)

स हि ब्रह्मस्त्रवित्प्राज्ञो महामायो महाबलः। करोत्यसम्ज्ञान् संग्रामे देवान्सवरुणानपि॥ 85.18 ॥

sa hi brahmastravitprājño mahāmāyo mahābalaḥ | karotyasamjñān saṃgrāme devānsavaruṇānapi || 85.18 ||

"He is skilled in the Brahma-weapon, wise, a master of great illusions, mighty — able even to render the gods, together with Varuna, senseless in battle.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.85.19)

तस्यान्तरिक्षे चरतः सरथस्य महायशः। न गतिर्ज्ञायते वीर सूर्यस्येवाभ्रसंप्लवे॥ 85.19 ॥

tasyāntarikṣe carataḥ sarathasya mahāyaśaḥ | na gatirjñāyate vīra sūryasyevābhrasaṃplave || 85.19 ||

"O illustrious hero, as he moves through the sky upon his chariot, his course cannot be discerned, just as the sun's path is hidden beneath a mass of clouds.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.85.20)

राघवस्तु रिपोर्ज्ञत्वा मायावीर्यं दुरात्मनः। लक्ष्मणं कीर्तिसंपन्नमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ 85.20 ॥

rāghavastu riporjñatvā māyāvīryaṃ durātmanaḥ | lakṣmaṇaṃ kīrtisaṃpannamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 85.20 ||

Then Rama, knowing the strength of that evil enemy's illusion, spoke these words to the glorious Lakshmana:

Shloka 21 (yuddha.85.21)

यद्वानरेन्द्रस्य बलं तेन सर्वेण संवृतः। हनूमत्प्रमुखैश्चैव यूथपैः सह लक्ष्मण॥ 85.21 ॥

yadvānarendrasya balaṃ tena sarveṇa saṃvṛtaḥ | hanūmatpramukhaiścaiva yūthapaiḥ saha lakṣmaṇa || 85.21 ||

"O Lakshmana, surrounded by the whole army of the lord of monkeys, together with the troop-leaders headed by Hanuman,

Shloka 22 (yuddha.85.22)

जाम्बवेनार्क्षपतिना सहसैन्येन संवृतः। जहि तं राक्षससुतं मायाबलसमन्वितम्॥ 85.22 ॥

jāmbavenārkṣapatinā sahasainyena saṃvṛtaḥ | jahi taṃ rākṣasasutaṃ māyābalasamanvitam || 85.22 ||

"—and accompanied also by Jambavan, lord of the bears, with his army, go and slay that son of the rakshasa, endowed as he is with the strength of illusion.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.85.23)

अयं त्वां सचिवैः सार्धं महात्मा रजनीचरः। अभिज्ञस्तस्य मायानां पृष्ठतोऽनुगमिष्यति॥ 85.23 ॥

ayaṃ tvāṃ sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ mahātmā rajanīcaraḥ | abhijñastasya māyānāṃ pṛṣṭhato'nugamiṣyati || 85.23 ||

"This great-souled night-wanderer, Vibhishana, who knows all his illusions, will follow behind you together with his counsellors."

Shloka 24 (yuddha.85.24)

राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः सविभीषणः। जग्राह कार्मुकश्रेष्ठमत्यद्भुतपराक्रमः॥ 85.24 ॥

rāghavasya vacaḥ śrutvā lakṣmaṇaḥ savibhīṣaṇaḥ | jagrāha kārmukaśreṣṭhamatyadbhutaparākramaḥ || 85.24 ||

Hearing Rama's words, Lakshmana, of wondrous prowess, together with Vibhishana, took up his splendid bow.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.85.25)

संनद्धः कवची खड्गी सशरो वामचापभृत्। रामपादावुपस्पृश्य हृष्टः सौमित्रिरब्रवीत्॥ 85.25 ॥

saṃnaddhaḥ kavacī khaḍgī saśaro vāmacāpabhṛt | rāmapādāvupaspṛśya hṛṣṭaḥ saumitrirabravīt || 85.25 ||

Armored, sword in hand, quiver full, bow held in his left hand, Lakshmana touched Rama's feet and, rejoicing, spoke:

Shloka 26 (yuddha.85.26)

अद्य मत्कार्मुकोन्मुक्ताः शरा निर्भिद्य रावणिम्। लङ्कामभिपतिष्यन्ति हंसाः पुष्करिणीमिव॥ 85.26 ॥

adya matkārmukonmuktāḥ śarā nirbhidya rāvaṇim | laṅkāmabhipatiṣyanti haṃsāḥ puṣkariṇīmiva || 85.26 ||

"Today, the arrows loosed from my bow, having pierced through Ravani, shall fall upon Lanka, as swans descend upon a lotus-pool.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.85.27)

अद्यैव तस्य रौद्रस्य शरीरं मामकाः शराः। विधमिष्यन्ति भित्त्वा तं महाचापगुणच्युताः॥ 85.27 ॥

adyaiva tasya raudrasya śarīraṃ māmakāḥ śarāḥ | vidhamiṣyanti bhittvā taṃ mahācāpaguṇacyutāḥ || 85.27 ||

"This very day, my arrows, loosed from the string of my great bow, shall pierce and shatter the body of that terrible one."

Shloka 28 (yuddha.85.28)

एवमुक्त्वा तु वचनम् द्युतिमान् भ्रातुरग्रतः। स रावणिवधाकाङ्क्षी लक्ष्मणस्त्वरितं ययौ॥ 85.28 ॥

evamuktvā tu vacanam dyutimān bhrāturagrataḥ | sa rāvaṇivadhākāṅkṣī lakṣmaṇastvaritaṃ yayau || 85.28 ||

Having spoken thus before his brother, the radiant Lakshmana, eager to slay Ravani, set out swiftly.

Shloka 29 (yuddha.85.29)

सोऽभिवाद्य गुरोः पादौ कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणं। निकुम्भिलामभिययौ चैत्यं रावणिपालितम्॥ 85.29 ॥

so'bhivādya guroḥ pādau kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇaṃ | nikumbhilāmabhiyayau caityaṃ rāvaṇipālitam || 85.29 ||

Saluting his elder brother's feet and circling him in reverence, Lakshmana proceeded toward the sanctuary of Nikumbhila, guarded by Ravani.

Shloka 30 (yuddha.85.30)

विभीषणेन सहितो राजपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। कृतस्वस्त्ययनो भ्रात्रा लक्ष्मणस्त्वरितो ययौ॥ 85.30 ॥

vibhīṣaṇena sahito rājaputraḥ pratāpavān | kṛtasvastyayano bhrātrā lakṣmaṇastvarito yayau || 85.30 ||

The mighty prince Lakshmana, blessed by his brother, set out swiftly, accompanied by Vibhishana.

Shloka 31 (yuddha.85.31)

वानराणाम् सहस्रैस्तु हनुमान् बहुभिर्वृतः। विभीषणश्च सामात्यो तदा लक्ष्मणमन्वगात्॥ 85.31 ॥

vānarāṇām sahasraistu hanumān bahubhirvṛtaḥ | vibhīṣaṇaśca sāmātyo tadā lakṣmaṇamanvagāt || 85.31 ||

Then Hanuman, accompanied by many thousands of monkeys, and Vibhishana with his ministers, followed behind Lakshmana.

Shloka 32 (yuddha.85.32)

महता हरिसैन्येन सवेगमभिसंवृतः। ऋक्षराजबलं चैव ददर्श पथि विष्ठितम्॥ 85.32 ॥

mahatā harisainyena savegamabhisaṃvṛtaḥ | ṛkṣarājabalaṃ caiva dadarśa pathi viṣṭhitam || 85.32 ||

Surrounded swiftly by the great monkey army, Lakshmana also saw, stationed along the way, the army of the lord of bears.

Shloka 33 (yuddha.85.33)

स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं सौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः। राक्षसेन्द्रबलं दूरादपश्यद्व्यूहमाश्रितम्॥ 85.33 ॥

sa gatvā dūramadhvānaṃ saumitrirmitranandanaḥ | rākṣasendrabalaṃ dūrādapaśyadvyūhamāśritam || 85.33 ||

Having traveled a long way, Lakshmana, the delight of his friends, saw from a distance the army of the rakshasa-lord arrayed in battle formation.

Shloka 34 (yuddha.85.34)

स तं प्राप्य धनुष्पाणिर्मायायोगमरिंदमः। तस्थौ ब्रह्मविधानेन विजेतुं रघुनन्दनः॥ 85.34 ॥

sa taṃ prāpya dhanuṣpāṇirmāyāyogamariṃdamaḥ | tasthau brahmavidhānena vijetuṃ raghunandanaḥ || 85.34 ||

Reaching that place, bow in hand, that conqueror of foes, the delight of the Raghus, stood ready to overcome the illusion-wielding Indrajit, in accordance with Brahma's ordinance.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.85.35)

विभीषणेन सहितो राजपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। अङ्गदेन च वीरेण तथानिलसुतेन च॥ 85.35 ॥

vibhīṣaṇena sahito rājaputraḥ pratāpavān | aṅgadena ca vīreṇa tathānilasutena ca || 85.35 ||

The valiant prince stood there, together with Vibhishana, the heroic Angada, and Hanuman, son of the Wind.

Shloka 36 (yuddha.85.36)

विविधममलशस्त्रभास्वरं तद् ध्वजगहनं गहनं महारथैश्च। प्रतिभयतममप्रमेयवेगं तिमिरमिव द्विषतां बलं विवेश॥ 85.36 ॥

vividhamamalaśastrabhāsvaraṃ tad dhvajagahanaṃ gahanaṃ mahārathaiśca | pratibhayatamamaprameyavegaṃ timiramiva dviṣatāṃ balaṃ viveśa || 85.36 ||

And he penetrated that enemy army — of every kind, gleaming with spotless weapons, dense with banners, thick with great chariots, most fearsome, of immeasurable force — as one might plunge into a mass of darkness.