एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा रावणः पुनरब्रवीत्। चरिता भवता सेना केऽत्र शूराः प्लवंगमाः
Having spoken thus, the mighty Rāvaṇa spoke again: 'You have observed the army; who among these monkeys are the heroes?'
किंप्रभाः कीदृशाः सौम्य वानरा ये दुरासदाः। कस्य पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च तत्त्वमाख्याहि राक्षस
'What is their radiance, what are they like, gentle one? Who are these monkeys who are hard to withstand? Whose sons and grandsons are they? Tell me the truth, O Rākṣasa.'
तथात्र प्रतिपत्स्यामि ज्ञात्वा तेषां बलाबलम्। अवश्यं खलु संख्यानं कर्तव्यं युद्धमिच्छता
'Knowing their strengths and weaknesses, I will act accordingly. Surely, anyone desiring battle must take account of their numbers.'
अथैवमुक्तः शार्दूलो रावणेनोत्तमश्चरः। इदं वचनमारेभे वक्तुं रावणसंनिधौ
Thus addressed by Rāvaṇa, the excellent spy Śārdūla began to speak these words in Rāvaṇa’s presence.
अथर्क्षरजसः पुत्रो युधि राजन् सुदुर्जयः। गद्गदस्याथ पुत्रोऽत्र जाम्बवानिति विश्रुतः
'Here is the son of Arka and Rajasa, unconquerable in battle, and here, O King, is Jāmbavān, famed as the son of Gadgada.'
गद्गदस्याथ पुत्रोऽन्यो गुरुपुत्रः शतक्रतोः। कदनं यस्य पुत्रेण कृतमेकेन रक्षसाम्
'And another son of Gadgada is here, the preceptor’s son of Śatakratu, by whose son alone a massacre of Rākṣasas was wrought.'
सुषेणश्चात्र धर्मात्मा पुत्रो धर्मस्य वीर्यवान्। सौम्यः सोमात्मजश्चात्र राजन् दधिमुखः कपिः
'Here too is Suṣeṇa, righteous and mighty, son of Dharma; and here, O King, is Dadhimukha the monkey, gentle, son of Soma.'
सुमुखो दुर्मुखश्चात्र वेगदर्शी च वानरः। मृत्युर्वानररूपेण नूनं सृष्टः स्वयंभुवा
Here are Sumukha and Durmukha, and the swift-moving monkey Vegadarshi; surely Death himself has been created by the Self-born, taking the form of a monkey.
पुत्रो हुतवहस्यात्र नीलः सेनापतिः स्वयम्। अनिलस्य तु पुत्रोऽत्र हनूमानिति विश्रुतः
Here is Nila, the commander of the army, the son of the fire-god; and here, renowned as the son of the wind-god, is Hanuman.
नप्ता शक्रस्य दुर्धर्षो बलवानङ्गदो युवा। मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चोभौ बलिनावश्विसम्भवौ
Here is Angada, the indomitable and mighty youth, grandson of Indra; and both Mainda and Dvivida, powerful sons of Ashvins.
पुत्रा वैवस्वतस्याथ पञ्च कालान्तकोपमाः। गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः
Then, five sons of Vaivasvata, fierce as Death at the end of time: Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, and Gandhamadana.
दश वानरकोट्यश्च शूराणां युद्धकाङ्क्षिणाम्। श्रीमतां देवपुत्राणां शेषं नाख्यातुमुत्सहे
And ten crores of valiant monkeys, eager for battle; the rest, illustrious sons of the gods, I am unable to recount.
पुत्रो दशरथस्यैष सिंहसंहननो युवा। दूषणो निहतो येन खरश्च त्रिशिरास्तथा
This is the son of Dasharatha, youthful and lion-like in form, who has slain Dushana, Khara, and also Trishira.
नास्ति रामस्य सदृशे विक्रमे भुवि कश्चन। विराधो निहतो येन कबन्धश्चान्तकोपमः
There is no one on earth equal to Rama in valor; by whom Viradha was slain, and Kabandha, dreadful as Death.
लक्ष्मणश्चात्र धर्मात्मा मातंगानामिवर्षभः। यस्य बाणपथं प्राप्य न जीवेदपि वासवः
Here is Lakshmana, righteous in soul, like the bull among elephants; even Indra could not survive if struck by his arrows.
विश्वकर्मसुतो वीरो नलः प्लवगसत्तमः। विक्रान्तो वेगवानत्र वसुपुत्रः स दुर्धरः
Here is Nala, the heroic son of Vishvakarma, foremost among monkeys, mighty and swift, and Durdhara, son of Vasu.
राक्षसानां वरिष्ठश्च तव भ्राता विभीषणः। प्रतिगृह्य पुरीं लङ्कां राघवस्य हिते रतः
And your brother Vibhishana, the best among rakshasas, having accepted the city of Lanka, is devoted to the welfare of Raghava.
इति सर्वं समाख्यातं तथा वै वानरं बलम्। सुवेलेऽधिष्ठितं शैले शेषकार्ये भवान् गतिः
Thus everything has been described, as well as the monkey army stationed on Mount Suvela; for the remaining task, you are the refuge.
thumb|एकत्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे एकत्रिंशः सर्गः ॥६-
Hear now the thirty-first sarga in the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda.
ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलं लङ्कायां नृपतेश्चराः। सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन्
Then the spies in Lanka reported that Rama, with his unshakable army, was encamped on Mount Suvela.
चाराणां रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं रामं महाबलम्। जातोद्वेगोऽभवत् किंचित् सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्
Hearing from the spies that mighty Rama had arrived, Ravana became somewhat anxious and spoke to his ministers.
मन्त्रिणः शीघ्रमायान्तु सर्वे वै सुसमाहिताः। अयं नो मन्त्रकालो हि सम्प्राप्त इति राक्षसाः
Let all the counselors come quickly, fully attentive; for now, O rakshasas, is the time for counsel.
तस्य तच्छासनं श्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणोऽभ्यागमन् द्रुतम्। ततः स मन्त्रयामास राक्षसैः सचिवैः सह
Hearing his command, the ministers came swiftly; then he began to deliberate with his rakshasa counselors.
मन्त्रयित्वा तु दुर्धर्षः क्षमं यत् तदनन्तरम्। विसर्जयित्वा सचिवान् प्रविवेश स्वमालयम्
Having taken counsel, the indomitable one did what was fitting; then, dismissing his ministers, he entered his own palace.
ततो राक्षसमादाय विद्युज्जिह्वं महाबलम्। मायाविनं महामायं प्राविशद् यत्र मैथिली
Then, taking with him the mighty rakshasa Vidyujjihva, master of illusions and great in magic, he entered where Maithili was.
विद्युज्जिह्वं च मायाज्ञमब्रवीद् राक्षसाधिपः। मोहयिष्यावहे सीतां मायया जनकात्मजाम्
The lord of the Rākṣasas spoke to Vidyujjihva, master of illusion: 'Let us bewilder Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, by means of magic.'
शिरो मायामयं गृह्य राघवस्य निशाचर। मां त्वं समुपतिष्ठस्व महच्च सशरं धनुः
Take this illusory head of Rāghava, O night-wanderer, and approach me, holding also the great bow with arrows.
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्याह विद्युज्जिह्वो निशाचरः। दर्शयामास तां मायां सुप्रयुक्तां स रावणे
Thus addressed, Vidyujjihva, the night-wanderer, replied, 'So be it,' and skillfully displayed that illusion before Rāvaṇa.
तस्य तुष्टोऽभवद् राजा प्रददौ च विभूषणम्। अशोकवनिकायां च सीतादर्शनलालसः
The king was pleased with him and gave him a reward; eager to see Sītā in the Aśoka grove.
नैर्ऋतानामधिपतिः संविवेश महाबलः। ततो दीनामदैन्यार्हां ददर्श धनदानुजः
The mighty lord of the Niṣādas entered, and the younger brother of Kubera saw her, who was deserving of pity and dejection.