Ramayana

स च सेतुर्यथा बद्धः सागरे सलिलार्णवे। निवेशं च यथा तेषां वानराणां महात्मनाम्

And how that bridge was built across the ocean, the vast expanse of water, and the encampment of those great-souled monkeys—

रामस्य व्यवसायं च वीर्यं प्रहरणानि च। लक्ष्मणस्य च वीरस्य तत्त्वतो ज्ञातुमर्हथः

You should also learn accurately about Rāma’s resolve, his strength, his weapons, and about the valor of Lakṣmaṇa.

कश्च सेनापतिस्तेषां वानराणां महात्मनाम्। तच्च ज्ञात्वा यथातत्त्वं शीघ्रमागन्तुमर्हथः

Who is the commander of those great-souled monkeys? Having learned all this in detail, you must return quickly.

इति प्रतिसमादिष्टौ राक्षसौ शुकसारणौ। हरिरूपधरौ वीरौ प्रविष्टौ वानरं बलम्

Thus instructed, the two Rākṣasas, Śuka and Sāraṇa, heroic and disguised in monkey form, entered the army of monkeys.

ततस्तद् वानरं सैन्यमचिन्त्यं लोमहर्षणम्। संख्यातुं नाध्यगच्छेतां तदा तौ शुकसारणौ

Then, Śuka and Sāraṇa could not estimate that monkey army, which was immeasurable and terrifying to behold.

तत् स्थितं पर्वताग्रेषु निर्झरेषु गुहासु च। समुद्रस्य च तीरेषु वनेषूपवनेषु च। तरमाणं च तीर्णं च तर्तुकामं च सर्वशः

They saw it stationed on mountain peaks, at waterfalls, in caves, on the shores of the ocean, in forests and groves, crossing, crossed, and eager to cross everywhere.

निविष्टं निविशच्चैव भीमनादं महाबलम्। तद‍्बलार्णवमक्षोभ्यं ददृशाते निशाचरौ

They saw that mighty army, settled and settling, roaring fearfully, unshakable like an ocean of power.

तौ ददर्श महातेजाः प्रतिच्छन्नौ विभीषणः। आचचक्षे स रामाय गृहीत्वा शुकसारणौ

Vibhīṣaṇa, of great brilliance, saw those two concealed, and, seizing Śuka and Sāraṇa, reported them to Rāma.

तस्यैतौ राक्षसेन्द्रस्य मन्त्रिणौ शुकसारणौ। लङ्कायाः समनुप्राप्तौ चारौ परपुरंजय

These two, Śuka and Sāraṇa, are ministers of the king of the Rākṣasas, who have entered Laṅkā as spies, O conqueror of enemy cities.

तौ दृष्ट्वा व्यथितौ रामं निराशौ जीविते तथा। कृताञ्जलिपुटौ भीतौ वचनं चेदमूचतुः

Seeing Rāma, the two became distressed, despairing for their lives; with hands joined in supplication, frightened, they spoke these words:

आवामिहागतौ सौम्य रावणप्रहितावुभौ। परिज्ञातुं बलं सर्वं तदिदं रघुनन्दन

O gentle one, we both have come here, sent by Rāvaṇa, to ascertain all this army, O delight of the Raghu lineage.

तयोस्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा रामो दशरथात्मजः। अब्रवीत् प्रहसन् वाक्यं सर्वभूतहिते रतः

Hearing their words, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, devoted to the welfare of all beings, spoke with a smile:

यदि दृष्टं बलं सर्वं वयं वा सुसमाहिताः। यथोक्तं वा कृतं कार्यं छन्दतः प्रतिगम्यताम्

If you have seen the entire army and us, composed as we are, or if your task is done as instructed, you may return as you wish.

अथ किंचिददृष्टं वा भूयस्तद् द्रष्टुमर्हथः। विभीषणो वा कात्स्‍‍र्न्येन पुनः संदर्शयिष्यति

Or if there is anything yet unseen, you may see it further; or Vibhīṣaṇa will show you everything again in full.

न चेदं ग्रहणं प्राप्य भेतव्यं जीवितं प्रति। न्यस्तशस्त्रौ गृहीतौ च न दूतौ वधमर्हथः

And having been captured, you need not fear for your lives; with your weapons laid down and taken as envoys, you do not deserve death.

प्रच्छन्नौ च विमुञ्चेमौ चारौ रात्रिंचरावुभौ। शत्रुपक्षस्य सततं विभीषण विकर्षिणौ

Let these two spies, the night-roaming Rākṣasas, who have been caught in disguise and always harm the enemy’s side, be released, O Vibhīṣaṇa.

प्रविश्य महतीं लङ्कां भवद्‍भ्यां धनदानुजः। वक्तव्यो रक्षसां राजा यथोक्तं वचनं मम

Entering great Laṅkā, you both must tell the king of the Rākṣasas, the younger brother of the Lord of Wealth, my message as spoken.

यद् बलं त्वं समाश्रित्य सीतां मे हृतवानसि। तद् दर्शय यथाकामं ससैन्यश्च सबान्धवः

Whatever strength you relied on to abduct Sītā from me, show it now as you wish, with your army and your kin.

श्वः काल्ये नगरीं लङ्कां सप्राकारां सतोरणाम्। रक्षसां च बलं पश्य शरैर्विध्वंसितं मया

Tomorrow morning, behold the city of Lanka with its ramparts and gateways, and see the army of the rakshasas shattered by my arrows.

इति प्रतिसमादिष्टौ राक्षसौ शुकसारणौ। जयेति प्रतिनन्द्यैनं राघवं धर्मवत्सलम्

Thus instructed, the two rakshasas, Shuka and Sarana, responded to him, 'Victory!' and saluted Raghava, the upholder of righteousness.

आगम्य नगरीं लङ्कामब्रूतां राक्षसाधिपम्। विभीषणगृहीतौ तु वधार्थं राक्षसेश्वर

Having reached the city of Lanka, they spoke to the lord of the rakshasas, 'We were seized by Vibhishana for execution, O king of the rakshasas.'

दृष्ट्वा धर्मात्मना मुक्तौ रामेणामिततेजसा। एकस्थानगता यत्र चत्वारः पुरुषर्षभाः

But seeing that they were released by Rama, the righteous and immensely powerful, where the four foremost of men stood together—

लोकपालसमाः शूराः कृतास्त्रा दृढविक्रमाः। रामो दाशरथिः श्रीमाल्ँलक्ष्मणश्च विभीषणः

Heroes equal to the guardians of the worlds, skilled in weapons and firm in valor: Rama, son of Dasaratha, glorious Lakshmana, and Vibhishana.

सुग्रीवश्च महातेजा महेन्द्रसमविक्रमः। एते शक्ताः पुरीं लङ्कां सप्राकारां सतोरणाम्

And Sugriva, of great energy and prowess equal to Indra—these are capable of uprooting and crossing the city of Lanka with its ramparts and gateways.

उत्पाट्य संक्रामयितुं सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु वानराः। यादृशं तद्धि रामस्य रूपं प्रहरणानि च

Let all the vanaras stand ready to tear down and invade; such is the form of Rama and his weapons.

वधिष्यति पुरीं लङ्कामेकस्तिष्ठन्तु ते त्रयः। रामलक्ष्मणगुप्ता सा सुग्रीवेण च वाहिनी। बभूव दुर्धर्षतरा सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः

He alone will destroy the city of Lanka; let the other three stand aside. Guarded by Rama and Lakshmana, and with Sugriva, their army became unconquerable even by all the gods and demons.

प्रहृष्टयोधा ध्वजिनी महात्मनां वनौकसां सम्प्रति योद्धुमिच्छताम्। अलं विरोधेन शमो विधीयतां प्रदीयतां दाशरथाय मैथिली

The army of the great-souled forest-dwellers, their warriors rejoicing and eager for battle—there is no use in enmity; let peace be made, and let Maithili be returned to the son of Dasaratha.

thumb|षड्विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे षड्विंशः सर्गः ॥६-

Hear now the twenty-sixth sarga in the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda.

तद्वचः सत्यमक्लीबं सारणेनाभिभाषितम्। निशम्य रावणो राजा प्रत्यभाषत सारणम्

Hearing those true and manly words spoken by Sarana, King Ravana replied to him.