रक्तचन्दनसंकाशा संध्या परमदारुणा। ज्वलतः प्रपतत्येतदादित्यादग्निमण्डलम्
The twilight is intensely red, like red sandalwood; from the blazing sun, a fiery circle falls.
दीना दीनस्वराः क्रूराः सर्वतो मृगपक्षिणः। प्रत्यादित्यं विनर्दन्ति जनयन्तो महद्भयम्
Everywhere, wild animals and birds, distressed and with mournful cries, wail toward the sun, causing great fear.
रजन्यामप्रकाशस्तु संतापयति चन्द्रमाः। कृष्णरक्तांशुपर्यन्तो लोकक्षय इवोदितः
The moon, unlit at night, torments with its rays, black and red at the edges, as if risen to destroy the world.
ह्रस्वो रूक्षोऽप्रशस्तश्च परिवेषस्तु लोहितः। आदित्ये विमले नीलं लक्ष्म लक्ष्मण दृश्यते
A short, harsh, inauspicious, and red halo is seen around the clear sun, O Lakṣmaṇa, and a blue mark appears.
रजसा महता चापि नक्षत्राणि हतानि च। युगान्तमिव लोकानां पश्य शंसन्ति लक्ष्मण
By a great mass of dust, the stars are obscured; see, Lakṣmaṇa, they foretell the end of the world.
काकाः श्येनास्तथा नीचा गृध्राः परिपतन्ति च। शिवाश्चाप्यशुभान् नादान् नदन्ति सुमहाभयान्
Crows, hawks, and vultures fly low, and jackals howl with ominous, terrifying cries.
शैलैः शूलैश्च खड्गैश्च विमुक्तैः कपिराक्षसैः। भविष्यत्यावृता भूमिर्मांसशोणितकर्दमा
The earth will be covered with mountains, spears, swords, and the bodies of monkeys and rākṣasas, thick with mud of flesh and blood.
क्षिप्रमद्यैव दुर्धर्षां पुरीं रावणपालिताम्। अभियाम जवेनैव सर्वैर्हरिभिरावृताः
Let us swiftly advance today itself, surrounded by all the monkeys, upon that formidable city ruled by Ravana, with speed.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा धन्वी स रामः संग्रामधर्षणः। प्रतस्थे पुरतो रामो लङ्कामभिमुखो विभुः
Having spoken thus, Rama, the wielder of the bow and the terror of the battlefield, set forth at the front, facing Lanka, the mighty one.
सविभीषणसुग्रीवाः सर्वे ते वानरर्षभाः। प्रतस्थिरे विनर्दन्तो धृतानां द्विषतां वधे
Together with Vibhishana and Sugriva, all those foremost monkeys set out, roaring, intent on the destruction of their steadfast foes.
राघवस्य प्रियार्थं तु सुतरां वीर्यशालिनाम्। हरीणां कर्मचेष्टाभिस्तुतोष रघुनन्दनः
For the sake of Rama’s happiness, the son of Raghu was greatly pleased by the valorous deeds and efforts of the monkeys.
thumb|चतुर्विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः ॥६-
Let the twenty-fourth sarga be heard in the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, in the Yuddha Kanda, the twenty-fourth chapter.
सा वीरसमिती राज्ञा विरराज व्यवस्थिता। शशिना शुभनक्षत्रा पौर्णमासीव शारदी
That assembly of heroes, arranged by the king, shone like the autumnal full moon night adorned with auspicious stars.
प्रचचाल च वेगेन त्रस्ता चैव वसुंधरा। पीड्यमाना बलौघेन तेन सागरवर्चसा
The earth trembled violently and was terrified, oppressed by that mass of troops possessing the brilliance of the ocean.
ततः शुश्रुवुराक्रुष्टं लङ्कायां काननौकसः। भेरीमृदङ्गसंघुष्टं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्
Then the forest-dwellers in Lanka heard a tumultuous, hair-raising sound, the blaring of drums and kettledrums.
बभूवुस्तेन घोषेण संहृष्टा हरियूथपाः। अमृष्यमाणास्तद् घोषं विनेदुर्घोषवत्तरम्
The monkey chiefs were gladdened by that sound; unable to bear it, they roared even more thunderously.
राक्षसास्तत् प्लवंगानां शुश्रुवुस्तेऽपि गर्जितम्। नर्दतामिव दृप्तानां मेघानामम्बरे स्वनम्
The rakshasas also heard the roaring of the monkeys, like the rumbling of proud clouds in the sky.
दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम्। जगाम मनसा सीतां दूूयमानेन चेतसा
Seeing Lanka, adorned with varied banners and pennants, Rama, son of Dasaratha, thought of Sita with a heart in turmoil.
अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी रावणेनोपरुध्यते। अभिभूता ग्रहेणेव लोहिताङ्गेन रोहिणी
Here, that doe-eyed lady is beset by Ravana, overcome like Rohini by the red planet Mars.
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य समुद्वीक्ष्य च लक्ष्मणम्। उवाच वचनं वीरस्तत्कालहितमात्मनः
Breathing a long, hot sigh and gazing at Lakshmana, the hero spoke words suited to the moment and to himself.
आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थितां पश्य लक्ष्मण। मनसेव कृतां लङ्कां नगाग्रे विश्वकर्मणा
See, Lakshmana, how Lanka appears as if drawn in the sky, as if crafted by Visvakarma for the mind alone, standing atop the mountain.
विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्का संकीर्णा रचिता पुरा। विष्णोः पदमिवाकाशं छादितं पाण्डुभिर्घनैः
Lanka, filled with many palaces, was built long ago, like Vishnu’s own abode in the sky, concealed by pale clouds.
पुष्पितैः शोभिता लङ्का वनैश्चित्ररथोपमैः। नानापतगसंघुष्टफलपुष्पोपगैः शुभैः
Lanka is adorned with blossoming forests, like the famed Chitraratha, resounding with various birds and laden with beautiful fruits and flowers.
पश्य मत्तविहंगानि प्रलीनभ्रमराणि च। कोकिलाकुलखण्डानि दोधवीति शिवोऽनिलः
See the intoxicated birds and the bees nestled within, the groves filled with cuckoos, and the gentle, auspicious wind blowing.
इति दाशरथी रामो लक्ष्मणं समभाषत। बलं च तत्र विभजच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा
Thus Rama, son of Dasaratha, spoke to Lakshmana, and there divided the army according to the practice prescribed in the scriptures.
शशास कपिसेनां तां बलादादाय वीर्यवान्। अङ्गदः सह नीलेन तिष्ठेदुरसि दुर्जयः
The valiant Angada, together with Nila, forcefully took command of that monkey army and stood, unconquerable, at the front.
तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्या वानरौघसमावृतः। आश्रितो दक्षिणं पार्श्वमृषभो नाम वानरः
On the right flank of the monkey host, surrounded by a multitude of monkeys, stood a vanara named Rishabha.
गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः। तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यं पार्श्वमधिष्ठितः
Swift and unassailable like a wild elephant, Gandhamadana took position on the left flank of the monkey army.
मूर्ध्नि स्थास्याम्यहं यत्तो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः। जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः
I myself will stand at the center, vigilant, together with Lakshmana, Jambavan, Sushena, and the swift-moving vanara Vegadarshi.
ऋक्षमुख्या महात्मानः कुक्षिं रक्षन्तु ते त्रयः। जघनं कपिसेनायाः कपिराजोऽभिरक्षतु। पश्चार्धमिव लोकस्य प्रचेतास्तेजसा वृतः
Let those three great-souled leaders of the bears protect the center, while the monkey king guards the rear of the army, shining like the lord of waters, enveloped in brilliance.