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.
सुविभक्तमहाव्यूहा महावानररक्षिता। अनीकिनी सा विबभौ यथा द्यौः साभ्रसम्प्लवा
That army, well arrayed in great formations and guarded by mighty monkeys, shone like the sky covered with masses of clouds.
प्रगृह्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महतश्च महीरुहान्। आसेदुर्वानरा लङ्कां मिमर्दयिषवो रणे
Grasping mountain peaks and great trees, the monkeys approached Lanka, eager to crush it in battle.
शिखरैर्विकिरामैनां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा। इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरिपुङ्गवाः
All the foremost monkeys resolved in their minds: 'We will shatter Lanka with peaks or even with our fists.'
ततो रामो महातेजाः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत्। सुविभक्तानि सैन्यानि शुक एष विमुच्यताम्
Then Rama, of great splendor, said to Sugriva: 'The armies are well arrayed; let this Shuka be released.'
रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रो महाबलः। मोचयामास तं दूतं शुकं रामस्य शासनात्
Hearing Rama's words, the mighty monkey king released that messenger Shuka, as commanded by Rama.
रावणः प्रहसन्नेव शुकं वाक्यमुवाच ह। किमिमौ ते सितौ पक्षौ लूनपक्षश्च दृश्यसे
Ravana, laughing, spoke to Shuka: 'Why do your wings appear white, and yet you look as if your wings have been plucked?'
कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानां तेषां त्वं वशमागतः। ततः स भयसंविग्नस्तेन राज्ञाभिचोदितः। वचनं प्रत्युवाचेदं राक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम्
Surely you have not fallen under the control of those many-minded ones? Then, frightened and urged by that king, he replied these words to the foremost of rakshasas.
सागरस्योत्तरे तीरेऽब्रुवं ते वचनं तथा। यथा संदेशमक्लिष्टं सान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
On the northern shore of the ocean, I spoke your message just as it was, gently and soothingly, as instructed.
क्रुद्धैस्तैरहमुत्प्लुत्य दृष्टमात्रः प्लवंगमैः। गृहीतोऽस्म्यपि चारब्धो हन्तुं लोप्तुं च मुष्टिभिः
But as soon as I was seen by those angry monkeys, I leapt up, was seized, and they began to strike and pummel me with their fists.
न ते संभाषितुं शक्याः सम्प्रश्नोऽत्र न विद्यते। प्रकृत्या कोपनास्तीक्ष्णा वानरा राक्षसाधिप
It is not possible to converse with them, nor is there any questioning there; by nature, O lord of rakshasas, the monkeys are irascible and fierce.