Ravana's Rage and Suparshva's Counsel

Shloka 1 (yuddha.92.1)

ततः पौलस्त्यसचिवाः श्रुत्वा चेन्द्रजितो वधम्। आचचक्षुरभिज्ञाय दशग्रीवाय सत्वराः ॥ 92.1 ॥

tataḥ paulastyasacivāḥ śrutvā cendrajito vadham| ācacakṣurabhijñāya daśagrīvāya satvarāḥ || 92.1 ||

Then Ravana's counsellors, hearing of Indrajit's death, ascertained the news and hastened to report it to the ten-necked king.

Shloka 2 (yuddha.92.2)

युद्धे हतो महाराज लक्ष्मणेन तवात्मजः। विभीषणसहायेन मिषतां नो महाद्युतिः ॥ 92.2 ॥

yuddhe hato mahārāja lakṣmaṇena tavātmajaḥ| vibhīṣaṇasahāyena miṣatāṃ no mahādyutiḥ || 92.2 ||

"O great king, your radiant son has been slain in battle by Lakshmana with Vibhishana's help, before our very eyes."

Shloka 3 (yuddha.92.3)

शूरः शूरेण संगम्य संयुगेष्वपराजितः। लक्ष्मणेन हतः शूरः पुत्रस्ते विबुधेन्द्रजित् ॥ 92.3 ॥

śūraḥ śūreṇa saṃgamya saṃyugeṣvaparājitaḥ| lakṣmaṇena hataḥ śūraḥ putraste vibudhendrajit || 92.3 ||

"That hero, unconquered till now in every combat, met a hero in Lakshmana and was slain—your son, the very conqueror of the gods."

Shloka 4 (yuddha.92.4)

गतः स परमाँल्लोकान् शरैः संतर्प्य लक्ष्मणम्। स तं प्रतिभयं श्रुत्वा वधं पुत्रस्य दारुणम् ॥ 92.4 ॥

gataḥ sa paramā̐llokān śaraiḥ saṃtarpya lakṣmaṇam| sa taṃ pratibhayaṃ śrutvā vadhaṃ putrasya dāruṇam || 92.4 ||

"Having satisfied Lakshmana with his own arrows, he has gone to the highest worlds." Hearing that dreadful, terrifying news of his son's death,

Shloka 5 (yuddha.92.5)

घोरमिन्द्रजितः संख्ये कश्मलं प्राविशन्महत्। उपलभ्य चिरात् संज्ञां राजा राक्षसपुंगवः ॥ 92.5 ॥

ghoramindrajitaḥ saṃkhye kaśmalaṃ prāviśanmahat| upalabhya cirāt saṃjñāṃ rājā rākṣasapuṃgavaḥ || 92.5 ||

Ravana fell into a great and terrible swoon over Indrajit's death in battle; and when, after a long while, that bull among rakshasas, the king, regained his senses,

Shloka 6 (yuddha.92.6)

पुत्रशोकाकुलो दीनो विललापाकुलेन्द्रियः। हा राक्षसचमूमुख्य मम वत्स महाबल ॥ 92.6 ॥

putraśokākulo dīno vilalāpākulendriyaḥ| hā rākṣasacamūmukhya mama vatsa mahābala || 92.6 ||

overwhelmed with grief for his son, wretched and shaken in every sense, he lamented: "Alas, my child, chief of the rakshasa host, mighty one—"

Shloka 7 (yuddha.92.7)

जित्वेन्द्रं कथमद्य त्वं लक्ष्मणस्य वशं गतः। ननु त्वमिषुभिः क्रुद्धो भिन्द्याः कालान्तकावपि ॥ 92.7 ॥

jitvendraṃ kathamadya tvaṃ lakṣmaṇasya vaśaṃ gataḥ| nanu tvamiṣubhiḥ kruddho bhindyāḥ kālāntakāvapi || 92.7 ||

"you who once conquered Indra himself—how have you fallen today under Lakshmana's power? Surely, enraged, you could pierce with your arrows even Death, the ender of all time,"

Shloka 8 (yuddha.92.8)

मन्दरस्यापि शृङ्गाणि किं पुनर्लक्ष्मणं युधि। अद्य वैवस्वतो राजा भूयो बहुमतो मम ॥ 92.8 ॥

mandarasyāpi śṛṅgāṇi kiṃ punarlakṣmaṇaṃ yudhi| adya vaivasvato rājā bhūyo bahumato mama || 92.8 ||

"even the peaks of Mount Mandara—what then to say of Lakshmana in battle? Today, King Yama, son of Vivasvat, has become greater in my esteem,"

Shloka 9 (yuddha.92.9)

येनाद्य त्वं महाबाहो संयुक्तः कालधर्मणा। एष पन्थाः सुयोधानां सर्वामरगणेष्वपि। यः कृते हन्यते भर्तुः स पुमान् स्वर्गमृच्छति ॥ 92.9 ॥

yenādya tvaṃ mahābāho saṃyuktaḥ kāladharmaṇā| eṣa panthāḥ suyodhānāṃ sarvāmaragaṇeṣvapi| yaḥ kṛte hanyate bhartuḥ sa pumān svargamṛcchati || 92.9 ||

"for it is by him, O mighty-armed one, that you have today been joined to the law of time. This is the path of great warriors even among all the hosts of the immortals: the man who is slain in his lord's cause attains heaven."

Shloka 10 (yuddha.92.10)

अद्य देवगणाः सर्वे लोकपाला महर्षयः। हतमिन्द्रजितं श्रुत्वा सुखं स्वप्स्यन्ति निर्भयाः ॥ 92.10 ॥

adya devagaṇāḥ sarve lokapālā maharṣayaḥ| hatamindrajitaṃ śrutvā sukhaṃ svapsyanti nirbhayāḥ || 92.10 ||

"Today, on hearing that Indrajit is slain, all the hosts of gods, the guardians of the world, and the great sages will sleep in comfort, free of fear."

Shloka 11 (yuddha.92.11)

अद्य लोकास्त्रयः कृत्स्ना पृथिवी च सकानना। एकेनेन्द्रजिता हीना शून्येव प्रतिभाति मे ॥ 92.11 ॥

adya lokāstrayaḥ kṛtsnā pṛthivī ca sakānanā| ekenendrajitā hīnā śūnyeva pratibhāti me || 92.11 ||

"Today, bereft of Indrajit alone, the whole of the three worlds, and the earth with all her forests, seem utterly empty to me."

Shloka 12 (yuddha.92.12)

अद्य नैर्ऋतकन्यानां श्रोष्याम्यन्तःपुरे रवम्। करेणुसङ्घस्य यथा निनादं गिरिगह्वरे ॥ 92.12 ॥

adya nairṛtakanyānāṃ śroṣyāmyantaḥpure ravam| kareṇusaṅghasya yathā ninādaṃ girigahvare || 92.12 ||

"Today I shall hear in my inner chambers the wailing of the rakshasa maidens, like the trumpeting of a herd of she-elephants echoing in a mountain cave."

Shloka 13 (yuddha.92.13)

यौवराज्यं च लङ्कां च रक्षांसि च परंतप। मातरं मां च भार्याश्च क्व गतोऽसि विहाय नः ॥ 92.13 ॥

yauvarājyaṃ ca laṅkāṃ ca rakṣāṃsi ca paraṃtapa| mātaraṃ māṃ ca bhāryāśca kva gato'si vihāya naḥ || 92.13 ||

"O scorcher of foes, where have you gone, leaving behind your right to the crown, Lanka, the rakshasas, your mother, me, and your wives—leaving us all?"

Shloka 14 (yuddha.92.14)

मम नाम त्वया वीर गतस्य यमसादनम्। प्रेतकार्याणि कार्याणि विपरीते हि वर्तसे ॥ 92.14 ॥

mama nāma tvayā vīra gatasya yamasādanam| pretakāryāṇi kāryāṇi viparīte hi vartase || 92.14 ||

"O hero, it was I who should have gone to Yama's abode, and it was you who should have performed my funeral rites—but you have taken the reversed path."

Shloka 15 (yuddha.92.15)

स त्वं जीवति सुग्रीवे लक्ष्मणे च सराघवे। मम शल्यमनुद्धृत्य क्व गतोऽसि विहाय नः ॥ 92.15 ॥

sa tvaṃ jīvati sugrīve lakṣmaṇe ca sarāghave| mama śalyamanuddhṛtya kva gato'si vihāya naḥ || 92.15 ||

"While Sugriva, Lakshmana, and Rama still live, where have you gone, leaving us and leaving this thorn undrawn from my heart?"

Shloka 16 (yuddha.92.16)

एवमादिविलापार्तं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्। आविवेश महान् कोपः पुत्रव्यसनसम्भवः ॥ 92.16 ॥

evamādivilāpārtaṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam| āviveśa mahān kopaḥ putravyasanasambhavaḥ || 92.16 ||

As Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, lamented thus in his anguish, a mighty rage born of his son's calamity took hold of him.

Shloka 17 (yuddha.92.17)

प्रकृत्या कोपनं ह्येनं पुत्रस्य पुनराधयः। दीप्तं संदीपयामासुर्घर्मेऽर्कमिव रश्मयः ॥ 92.17 ॥

prakṛtyā kopanaṃ hyenaṃ putrasya punarādhayaḥ| dīptaṃ saṃdīpayāmāsurgharme'rkamiva raśmayaḥ || 92.17 ||

He who was by nature irascible—the fresh anguish of his son's death inflamed him further, as the sun's own rays inflame the blazing sun in summer.

Shloka 18 (yuddha.92.18)

ललाटे भ्रुकुटीभिश्च संगताभिर्व्यरोचत। युगान्ते सह नक्रैस्तु महोर्मिभिरिवोदधिः ॥ 92.18 ॥

lalāṭe bhrukuṭībhiśca saṃgatābhirvyarocata| yugānte saha nakraistu mahormibhirivodadhiḥ || 92.18 ||

With his eyebrows knitted together on his forehead, he blazed like the ocean at the world's end, heaving with monstrous waves and crocodiles.

Shloka 19 (yuddha.92.19)

कोपाद् विजृम्भमाणस्य वक्त्राद् व्यक्तमिव ज्वलन्। उत्पपात सधूमाग्निर्वृत्रस्य वदनादिव ॥ 92.19 ॥

kopād vijṛmbhamāṇasya vaktrād vyaktamiva jvalan| utpapāta sadhūmāgnirvṛtrasya vadanādiva || 92.19 ||

As he yawned wide with rage, a visible, blazing fire mixed with smoke seemed to burst from his mouth, as it once did from the mouth of Vritra.

Shloka 20 (yuddha.92.20)

स पुत्रवधसंतप्तः शूरः क्रोधवशं गतः। समीक्ष्य रावणो बुद्ध्या वैदेह्या रोचयद् वधम् ॥ 92.20 ॥

sa putravadhasaṃtaptaḥ śūraḥ krodhavaśaṃ gataḥ| samīkṣya rāvaṇo buddhyā vaidehyā rocayad vadham || 92.20 ||

That mighty one, tormented by his son's death and overcome with wrath, pondered deeply and resolved upon the killing of Vaidehi.

Shloka 21 (yuddha.92.21)

तस्य प्रकृत्या रक्ते च रक्ते क्रोधाग्निनापि च। रावणस्य महाघोरे दीप्ते नेत्रे बभूवतुः ॥ 92.21 ॥

tasya prakṛtyā rakte ca rakte krodhāgnināpi ca| rāvaṇasya mahāghore dīpte netre babhūvatuḥ || 92.21 ||

That Ravana's two eyes, red by their very nature and reddened further by the fire of his wrath, became terrible and blazing.

Shloka 22 (yuddha.92.22)

घोरं प्रकृत्या रूपं तत् तस्य क्रोधाग्निमूर्च्छितम्। बभूव रूपं क्रुद्धस्य रुद्रस्येव दुरासदम् ॥ 92.22 ॥

ghoraṃ prakṛtyā rūpaṃ tat tasya krodhāgnimūrcchitam| babhūva rūpaṃ kruddhasya rudrasyeva durāsadam || 92.22 ||

That form of his, terrible by nature and now further charged with the fire of wrath, became as unapproachable as the form of the enraged Rudra.

Shloka 23 (yuddha.92.23)

तस्य क्रुद्धस्य नेत्राभ्यां प्रापतन्नश्रुबिन्दवः। दीपाभ्यामिव दीप्ताभ्यां सार्चिषः स्नेहबिन्दवः ॥ 92.23 ॥

tasya kruddhasya netrābhyāṃ prāpatannaśrubindavaḥ| dīpābhyāmiva dīptābhyāṃ sārciṣaḥ snehabindavaḥ || 92.23 ||

From that furious one's eyes fell drops of tears, as drops of blazing oil fall from lamps burning with flame.

Shloka 24 (yuddha.92.24)

दन्तान् विदशतस्तस्य श्रूयते दशनस्वनः। यन्त्रस्याकृष्यमाणस्य मथ्नतो दानवैरिव ॥ 92.24 ॥

dantān vidaśatastasya śrūyate daśanasvanaḥ| yantrasyākṛṣyamāṇasya mathnato dānavairiva || 92.24 ||

The grinding of his teeth was heard, as he ground them together, like the noise of some vast machine being cranked and worked by demons.

Shloka 25 (yuddha.92.25)

कालाग्निरिव संक्रुद्धो यां यां दिशमवैक्षत। तस्यां तस्यां भयत्रस्ता राक्षसाः संविलिल्यिरे ॥ 92.25 ॥

kālāgniriva saṃkruddho yāṃ yāṃ diśamavaikṣata| tasyāṃ tasyāṃ bhayatrastā rākṣasāḥ saṃvililyire || 92.25 ||

Enraged like the fire of universal dissolution, whichever direction he turned his gaze, in that direction the terror-stricken rakshasas would cower and hide.

Shloka 26 (yuddha.92.26)

तमन्तकमिव क्रुद्धं चराचरचिखादिषुम्। वीक्षमाणं दिशः सर्वा राक्षसा नोपचक्रमुः ॥ 92.26 ॥

tamantakamiva kruddhaṃ carācaracikhādiṣum| vīkṣamāṇaṃ diśaḥ sarvā rākṣasā nopacakramuḥ || 92.26 ||

None of the rakshasas dared approach him as he glared in every direction, furious as Death itself, seeming ready to devour all creatures, moving and unmoving.

Shloka 27 (yuddha.92.27)

ततः परमसंक्रुद्धो रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। अब्रवीद् रक्षसां मध्ये संस्तम्भयिषुराहवे ॥ 92.27 ॥

tataḥ paramasaṃkruddho rāvaṇo rākṣasādhipaḥ| abravīd rakṣasāṃ madhye saṃstambhayiṣurāhave || 92.27 ||

Then that supremely furious Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, wishing to steel his forces for battle, spoke in the midst of the rakshasas:

Shloka 28 (yuddha.92.28)

मया वर्षसहस्राणि चरित्वा परमं तपः। तेषु तेष्ववकाशेषु स्वयंभूः परितोषितः ॥ 92.28 ॥

mayā varṣasahasrāṇi caritvā paramaṃ tapaḥ| teṣu teṣvavakāśeṣu svayaṃbhūḥ paritoṣitaḥ || 92.28 ||

"By me, having practised supreme austerity for a thousand years, at intervals during those years, Svayambhu, the Self-Existent One, was gratified."

Shloka 29 (yuddha.92.29)

तस्यैव तपसो व्युष्ट्या प्रसादाच्च स्वयंभुवः। नासुरेभ्यो न देवेभ्यो भयं मम कदाचन ॥ 92.29 ॥

tasyaiva tapaso vyuṣṭyā prasādācca svayaṃbhuvaḥ| nāsurebhyo na devebhyo bhayaṃ mama kadācana || 92.29 ||

"By the fruit of that very austerity and by the grace of Svayambhu, I have never had cause to fear either the asuras or the gods."

Shloka 30 (yuddha.92.30)

कवचं ब्रह्मदत्तं मे यदादित्यसमप्रभम्। देवासुरविमर्देषु न च्छिन्नं वज्रमुष्टिभिः ॥ 92.30 ॥

kavacaṃ brahmadattaṃ me yadādityasamaprabham| devāsuravimardeṣu na cchinnaṃ vajramuṣṭibhiḥ || 92.30 ||

"The armour Brahma gave me, radiant as the sun, could never be pierced in the clashes of gods and asuras, even by hands that gripped the thunderbolt."

Shloka 31 (yuddha.92.31)

तेन मामद्य संयुक्तं रथस्थमिह संयुगे। प्रतीयात् कोऽद्य मामाजौ साक्षादपि पुरंदरः ॥ 92.31 ॥

tena māmadya saṃyuktaṃ rathasthamiha saṃyuge| pratīyāt ko'dya māmājau sākṣādapi puraṃdaraḥ || 92.31 ||

"Wearing that armour today, mounted on my chariot in this battle, who, even Indra himself in person, could dare face me in combat now?"

Shloka 32 (yuddha.92.32)

यत् तदाभिप्रसन्नेन सशरं कार्मुकं महत्। देवासुरविमर्देषु मम दत्तं स्वयंभुवा ॥ 92.32 ॥

yat tadābhiprasannena saśaraṃ kārmukaṃ mahat| devāsuravimardeṣu mama dattaṃ svayaṃbhuvā || 92.32 ||

"That mighty bow, together with its arrows, which the well-pleased Svayambhu once gave me during the clash of gods and asuras—"

Shloka 33 (yuddha.92.33)

अद्य तूर्यशतैर्भीमं धनुरुत्थाप्यतां मम। रामलक्ष्मणयोरेव वधाय परमाहवे ॥ 92.33 ॥

adya tūryaśatairbhīmaṃ dhanurutthāpyatāṃ mama| rāmalakṣmaṇayoreva vadhāya paramāhave || 92.33 ||

"let that terrible bow of mine be brought forth today to the sound of a hundred war-drums, for the sole purpose of slaying Rama and Lakshmana in the great battle to come."

Shloka 34 (yuddha.92.34)

स पुत्रवधसंतप्तः क्रूरः क्रोधवशं गतः। समीक्ष्य रावणो बुद्ध्या सीतां हन्तुं व्यवस्यत ॥ 92.34 ॥

sa putravadhasaṃtaptaḥ krūraḥ krodhavaśaṃ gataḥ| samīkṣya rāvaṇo buddhyā sītāṃ hantuṃ vyavasyata || 92.34 ||

That cruel Ravana, tormented by his son's death and overcome by wrath, having deliberated in his mind, resolved to kill Sita.

Shloka 35 (yuddha.92.35)

प्रत्यवेक्ष्य तु ताम्राक्षः सुघोरो घोरदर्शनः। दीनो दीनस्वरान् सर्वांस्तानुवाच निशाचरान् ॥ 92.35 ॥

pratyavekṣya tu tāmrākṣaḥ sughoro ghoradarśanaḥ| dīno dīnasvarān sarvāṃstānuvāca niśācarān || 92.35 ||

That copper-eyed, most terrible one, of dreadful aspect, looking upon them, spoke, though wretched himself, to those rakshasas who were crying out in wretched voices:

Shloka 36 (yuddha.92.36)

मायया मम वत्सेन वञ्चनार्थं वनौकसाम्। किंचिदेव हतं तत्र सीतेयमिति दर्शितम् ॥ 92.36 ॥

māyayā mama vatsena vañcanārthaṃ vanaukasām| kiṃcideva hataṃ tatra sīteyamiti darśitam || 92.36 ||

"By my son's magic, in order to deceive the forest-dwellers, something else altogether was slain there and shown as if it were Sita."

Shloka 37 (yuddha.92.37)

तदिदं तथ्यमेवाहं करिष्ये प्रियमात्मनः। वैदेहीं नाशयिष्यामि क्षत्रबन्धुमनुव्रताम् ॥ 92.37 ॥

tadidaṃ tathyamevāhaṃ kariṣye priyamātmanaḥ| vaidehīṃ nāśayiṣyāmi kṣatrabandhumanuvratām || 92.37 ||

"That very deception I shall now make true, for my own satisfaction—I shall destroy Vaidehi, devoted as she is to that poor excuse for a warrior."

Shloka 38 (yuddha.92.38)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा सचिवान् खड्गमाशु परामृशत्। उद्धृत्य गुणसम्पन्नं विमलाम्बरवर्चसम् ॥ 92.38 ॥

ityevamuktvā sacivān khaḍgamāśu parāmṛśat| uddhṛtya guṇasampannaṃ vimalāmbaravarcasam || 92.38 ||

Having spoken thus to his ministers, he quickly seized his sword, and drew it out—a fine blade, gleaming like the clear sky.

Shloka 39 (yuddha.92.39)

निष्पपात स वेगेन सभार्यः सचिवैर्वृतः। रावणः पुत्रशोकेन भृशमाकुलचेतनः ॥ 92.39 ॥

niṣpapāta sa vegena sabhāryaḥ sacivairvṛtaḥ| rāvaṇaḥ putraśokena bhṛśamākulacetanaḥ || 92.39 ||

Ravana, his mind sorely disturbed by grief for his son, sprang forth with speed, surrounded by his ministers,

Shloka 40 (yuddha.92.40)

संक्रुद्धः खड्गमादाय सहसा यत्र मैथिली। व्रजन्तं राक्षसं प्रेक्ष्य सिंहनादं विचुक्रुशुः ॥ 92.40 ॥

saṃkruddhaḥ khaḍgamādāya sahasā yatra maithilī| vrajantaṃ rākṣasaṃ prekṣya siṃhanādaṃ vicukruśuḥ || 92.40 ||

furious, sword in hand, straight to where Maithili was. Seeing the rakshasa king going, his followers let out a lion's roar.

Shloka 41 (yuddha.92.41)

ऊचुश्चान्योन्यमालिङ्ग्य संक्रुद्धं प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसम्। अद्यैनं तावुभौ दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरौ प्रव्यथिष्यतः ॥ 92.41 ॥

ūcuścānyonyamāliṅgya saṃkruddhaṃ prekṣya rākṣasam| adyainaṃ tāvubhau dṛṣṭvā bhrātarau pravyathiṣyataḥ || 92.41 ||

Embracing one another as they watched their king in his fury, they said to each other: "Today, seeing him thus, those two brothers will surely tremble."

Shloka 42 (yuddha.92.42)

लोकपाला हि चत्वारः क्रुद्धेनानेन निर्जिताः। बहवः शत्रवश्चान्ये संयुगेष्वभिपातिताः ॥ 92.42 ॥

lokapālā hi catvāraḥ kruddhenānena nirjitāḥ| bahavaḥ śatravaścānye saṃyugeṣvabhipātitāḥ || 92.42 ||

"Even the four guardians of the world were conquered by him in his fury; and many other enemies too have been struck down by him in battle."

Shloka 43 (yuddha.92.43)

त्रिषु लोकेषु रत्नानि भुङ्क्ते आहृत्य रावणः। विक्रमे च बले चैव नास्त्यस्य सदृशो भुवि ॥ 92.43 ॥

triṣu lokeṣu ratnāni bhuṅkte āhṛtya rāvaṇaḥ| vikrame ca bale caiva nāstyasya sadṛśo bhuvi || 92.43 ||

"Ravana enjoys the treasures of all three worlds, having gathered them by force; in valor and in strength, none on earth is his equal."

Shloka 44 (yuddha.92.44)

तेषां संजल्पमानानामशोकवनिकां गताम्। अभिदुद्राव वैदेहीं रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥ 92.44 ॥

teṣāṃ saṃjalpamānānāmaśokavanikāṃ gatām| abhidudrāva vaidehīṃ rāvaṇaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ || 92.44 ||

While they were thus talking among themselves, Ravana, overcome with fury, rushed toward Vaidehi, who was there in the Ashoka grove.

Shloka 45 (yuddha.92.45)

वार्यमाणः सुसंक्रुद्धः सुहृद्भिर्हितबुद्धिभिः। अभ्यधावत संक्रुद्धः खे ग्रहो रोहिणीमिव ॥ 92.45 ॥

vāryamāṇaḥ susaṃkruddhaḥ suhṛdbhirhitabuddhibhiḥ| abhyadhāvata saṃkruddhaḥ khe graho rohiṇīmiva || 92.45 ||

Though held back by well-wishing friends, that furious one rushed on, like a raging planet in the sky rushing toward the star Rohini.

Shloka 46 (yuddha.92.46)

मैथिली रक्ष्यमाणा तु राक्षसीभिरनिन्दिता। ददर्श राक्षसं क्रुद्धं निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणम् ॥ 92.46 ॥

maithilī rakṣyamāṇā tu rākṣasībhiraninditā| dadarśa rākṣasaṃ kruddhaṃ nistriṃśavaradhāriṇam || 92.46 ||

The blameless Maithili, guarded there by rakshasi women, saw the furious rakshasa king coming, bearing an excellent sword.

Shloka 47 (yuddha.92.47)

तं निशम्य सनिस्त्रिंशं व्यथिता जनकात्मजा। निवार्यमाणं बहुशः सुहृद्भिरनिवर्तिनम् ॥ 92.47 ॥

taṃ niśamya sanistriṃśaṃ vyathitā janakātmajā| nivāryamāṇaṃ bahuśaḥ suhṛdbhiranivartinam || 92.47 ||

Seeing him thus, sword in hand, refusing to turn back even though held back again and again by his well-wishers, Janaka's daughter was struck with fear.

Shloka 48 (yuddha.92.48)

सीता दुःखसमाविष्टा विलपन्तीदमब्रवीत्। यथायं मामभिक्रुद्धः समभिद्रवति स्वयम् ॥ 92.48 ॥

sītā duḥkhasamāviṣṭā vilapantīdamabravīt| yathāyaṃ māmabhikruddhaḥ samabhidravati svayam || 92.48 ||

Sita, overwhelmed with anguish, lamented to herself: "By the way he himself is rushing at me in such fury,"

Shloka 49 (yuddha.92.49)

वधिष्यति सनाथां मामनाथामिव दुर्मतिः। बहुशश्चोदयामास भर्तारं मामनुव्रताम् ॥ 92.49 ॥

vadhiṣyati sanāthāṃ māmanāthāmiva durmatiḥ| bahuśaścodayāmāsa bhartāraṃ māmanuvratām || 92.49 ||

"this evil-minded one will surely kill me, though I have a protector, as if I had none. Many times he pressed me, devoted as I am to my husband, to accept him instead."

Shloka 50 (yuddha.92.50)

भार्या मम भवस्वेति प्रत्याख्यातो ध्रुवं मया। सोऽयं मामनुपस्थाने व्यक्तं नैराश्यमागतः ॥ 92.50 ॥

bhāryā mama bhavasveti pratyākhyāto dhruvaṃ mayā| so'yaṃ māmanupasthāne vyaktaṃ nairāśyamāgataḥ || 92.50 ||

"'Become my wife,' he said—and I firmly refused him. Now, since I would not yield, he has clearly fallen into utter despair,"

Shloka 51 (yuddha.92.51)

क्रोधमोहसमाविष्टो व्यक्तं मां हन्तुमुद्यतः। अथवा तौ नरव्याघ्रौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ 92.51 ॥

krodhamohasamāviṣṭo vyaktaṃ māṃ hantumudyataḥ| athavā tau naravyāghrau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau || 92.51 ||

"and, overcome with anger and delusion, is now plainly bent on killing me. Or else—those two tiger-like brothers, Rama and Lakshmana,"

Shloka 52 (yuddha.92.52)

मन्निमित्तमनार्येण समरेऽद्य निपातितौ। भैरवो हि महान् नादो राक्षसानां श्रुतो मया ॥ 92.52 ॥

mannimittamanāryeṇa samare'dya nipātitau| bhairavo hi mahān nādo rākṣasānāṃ śruto mayā || 92.52 ||

"have perhaps today been struck down in battle by this base wretch because of me. For I did hear a great, terrible roar of rakshasas—"

Shloka 53 (yuddha.92.53)

बहूनामिह हृष्टानां तथा विक्रोशतां प्रियम्। अहो धिङ्मन्निमित्तोऽयं विनाशो राजपुत्रयोः ॥ 92.53 ॥

bahūnāmiha hṛṣṭānāṃ tathā vikrośatāṃ priyam| aho dhiṅmannimitto'yaṃ vināśo rājaputrayoḥ || 92.53 ||

"many of them here, jubilant, crying out over something they found pleasing. Ah, shame on me, if this destruction of the two princes came about because of me!"

Shloka 54 (yuddha.92.54)

अथवा पुत्रशोकेन अहत्वा रामलक्ष्मणौ। विधमिष्यति मां रौद्रो राक्षसः पापनिश्चयः ॥ 92.54 ॥

athavā putraśokena ahatvā rāmalakṣmaṇau| vidhamiṣyati māṃ raudro rākṣasaḥ pāpaniścayaḥ || 92.54 ||

"Or else, unable to kill Rama and Lakshmana, this terrible rakshasa of sinful resolve, driven by grief for his son, will now destroy me instead."

Shloka 55 (yuddha.92.55)

हनूमतस्तु तद् वाक्यं न कृतं क्षुद्रया मया। यद्यहं तस्य पृष्ठेन तदायासमनिर्जिता ॥ 92.55 ॥

hanūmatastu tad vākyaṃ na kṛtaṃ kṣudrayā mayā| yadyahaṃ tasya pṛṣṭhena tadāyāsamanirjitā || 92.55 ||

"Those words of Hanuman I, in my folly, did not heed. Had I, that day, gone upon his back without waiting to be won back—"

Shloka 56 (yuddha.92.56)

नाद्यैवमनुशोचेयं भर्तुरङ्कगता सती। मन्ये तु हृदयं तस्याः कौसल्यायाः फलिष्यति ॥ 92.56 ॥

nādyaivamanuśoceyaṃ bharturaṅkagatā satī| manye tu hṛdayaṃ tasyāḥ kausalyāyāḥ phaliṣyati || 92.56 ||

"I would not today be grieving thus, but resting, a chaste wife, in my husband's embrace. I fear the heart of Kausalya, that mother, will surely break—"

Shloka 57 (yuddha.92.57)

एकपुत्रा यदा पुत्रं विनष्टं श्रोष्यते युधि। सा हि जन्म च बाल्यं च यौवनं च महात्मनः ॥ 92.57 ॥

ekaputrā yadā putraṃ vinaṣṭaṃ śroṣyate yudhi| sā hi janma ca bālyaṃ ca yauvanaṃ ca mahātmanaḥ || 92.57 ||

"when she, who has but one son, hears that her son has perished in battle. She will recall his birth, his childhood, and the youth of that great-souled one,"

Shloka 58 (yuddha.92.58)

धर्मकार्याणि रूपं च रुदती संस्मरिष्यति। निराशा निहते पुत्रे दत्त्वा श्राद्धमचेतना ॥ 92.58 ॥

dharmakāryāṇi rūpaṃ ca rudatī saṃsmariṣyati| nirāśā nihate putre dattvā śrāddhamacetanā || 92.58 ||

"his righteous deeds and his beauty, weeping as she remembers. Bereft of hope when her son is slain, senseless with grief, having performed his final rites,"

Shloka 59 (yuddha.92.59)

अग्निमावेक्ष्यते नूनमपो वापि प्रवेक्ष्यति। धिगस्तु कुब्जामसतीं मन्थरां पापनिश्चयाम् ॥ 92.59 ॥

agnimāvekṣyate nūnamapo vāpi pravekṣyati| dhigastu kubjāmasatīṃ mantharāṃ pāpaniścayām || 92.59 ||

"she will surely enter the fire, or else drown herself in water. A curse upon that hunchbacked, faithless Manthara of sinful resolve,"

Shloka 60 (yuddha.92.60)

यन्निमित्तमिमं शोकं कौसल्या प्रतिपत्स्यते। इत्येवं मैथिलीं दृष्ट्वा विलपन्तीं तपस्विनीम् ॥ 92.60 ॥

yannimittamimaṃ śokaṃ kausalyā pratipatsyate| ityevaṃ maithilīṃ dṛṣṭvā vilapantīṃ tapasvinīm || 92.60 ||

"because of whom Kausalya will come to bear this grief." Seeing Maithili, that ascetic-like lady, lamenting thus,

Shloka 61 (yuddha.92.61)

रोहिणीमिव चन्द्रेण बिना ग्रहवशं गताम्। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तस्य अमात्यः शीलवान् शुचिः ॥ 92.61 ॥

rohiṇīmiva candreṇa binā grahavaśaṃ gatām| etasminnantare tasya amātyaḥ śīlavān śuciḥ || 92.61 ||

like Rohini fallen into the grip of a malevolent planet while separated from the moon—just then, one of Ravana's ministers, a man of good character and pure conduct,

Shloka 62 (yuddha.92.62)

सुपार्श्वो नाम मेधावी रावणं रक्षसां वरम्। निवार्यमाणः सचिवैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 92.62 ॥

supārśvo nāma medhāvī rāvaṇaṃ rakṣasāṃ varam| nivāryamāṇaḥ sacivairidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 92.62 ||

the wise Suparshva by name, though restrained by fellow ministers, spoke these words to Ravana, foremost of rakshasas:

Shloka 63 (yuddha.92.63)

कथं नाम दशग्रीव साक्षाद्वैश्रवणानुज। हन्तुमिच्छसि वैदेहीं क्रोधाद् धर्ममपास्य च ॥ 92.63 ॥

kathaṃ nāma daśagrīva sākṣādvaiśravaṇānuja| hantumicchasi vaidehīṃ krodhād dharmamapāsya ca || 92.63 ||

"How is it, O ten-necked one, own brother of Vaishravana himself, that you wish to kill Vaidehi, casting aside righteousness in your wrath?"

Shloka 64 (yuddha.92.64)

वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातः स्वकर्मनिरतस्तथा। स्त्रियः कस्माद् वधं वीर मन्यसे राक्षसेश्वर ॥ 92.64 ॥

vedavidyāvratasnātaḥ svakarmaniratastathā| striyaḥ kasmād vadhaṃ vīra manyase rākṣaseśvara || 92.64 ||

"You, who have bathed after completing the vow of Vedic study, and who are ever devoted to your own proper duties—why, O hero, O lord of rakshasas, do you contemplate the killing of a woman?"

Shloka 65 (yuddha.92.65)

मैथिलीं रूपसम्पन्नां प्रत्यवेक्षस्व पार्थिव। तस्मिन्नेव सहास्माभिराहवे क्रोधमुत्सृज ॥ 92.65 ॥

maithilīṃ rūpasampannāṃ pratyavekṣasva pārthiva| tasminneva sahāsmābhirāhave krodhamutsṛja || 92.65 ||

"Look again, O king, upon Maithili, endowed as she is with beauty, and unleash your wrath instead, together with us, upon Rama alone in battle."

Shloka 66 (yuddha.92.66)

अभ्युत्थानं त्वमद्यैव कृष्णपक्षचतुर्दशी। कृत्वा निर्याह्यमावास्यां विजयाय बलैर्वृतः ॥ 92.66 ॥

abhyutthānaṃ tvamadyaiva kṛṣṇapakṣacaturdaśī| kṛtvā niryāhyamāvāsyāṃ vijayāya balairvṛtaḥ || 92.66 ||

"Make ready this very day—the fourteenth of the dark fortnight—and march forth tomorrow, on the new-moon day, surrounded by your forces, for victory."

Shloka 67 (yuddha.92.67)

शूरो धीमान् रथी खड्गी रथप्रवरमास्थितः। हत्वा दाशरथिं रामं भवान् प्राप्स्यति मैथिलीम् ॥ 92.67 ॥

śūro dhīmān rathī khaḍgī rathapravaramāsthitaḥ| hatvā dāśarathiṃ rāmaṃ bhavān prāpsyati maithilīm || 92.67 ||

"Valiant, wise, a master charioteer and swordsman, mounted upon your finest chariot—by killing Rama, son of Dasharatha, you shall win Maithili for yourself."

Shloka 68 (yuddha.92.68)

स तद् दुरात्मा सुहृदा निवेदितं वचः सुधर्म्यं प्रतिगृह्य रावणः। गृहं जगामाथ ततश्च वीर्यवान् पुनः सभां च प्रययौ सुहृद्वृतः ॥ 92.68 ॥

sa tad durātmā suhṛdā niveditaṃ vacaḥ sudharmyaṃ pratigṛhya rāvaṇaḥ| gṛhaṃ jagāmātha tataśca vīryavān punaḥ sabhāṃ ca prayayau suhṛdvṛtaḥ || 92.68 ||

Accepting that just counsel offered by his friend, the wicked Ravana went to his private chambers; and then that mighty one, surrounded by his companions, proceeded once more to his assembly hall.