thumb|सप्ताशीतितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे सप्ताशीतितमः सर्गः ॥६-
Hear now the eighty-seventh sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa.
एवमुक्त्वा तु सौमित्रिं जातहर्षो विभीषणः। धनुष्पाणिं तमादाय त्वरमाणो जगाम सः
Having spoken thus to Saumitri, Vibhīṣaṇa, filled with joy, quickly took up his bow and set out.
अविदूरं ततो गत्वा प्रविश्य तु महद् वनम्। अदर्शयत तत्कर्म लक्ष्मणाय विभीषणः
Going a short distance, he entered a great forest and showed that act to Lakṣmaṇa.
नीलजीमूतसंकाशं न्यग्रोधं भीमदर्शनम्। तेजस्वी रावणभ्राता लक्ष्मणाय न्यवेदयत्
The radiant brother of Rāvaṇa pointed out to Lakṣmaṇa a terrifying banyan tree, dark as a rain cloud.
इहोपहारं भूतानां बलवान् रावणात्मजः। उपहृत्य ततः पश्चात् संग्राममभिवर्तते
'Here, the powerful son of Rāvaṇa has offered a sacrifice to the beings; after that, he advances to battle.'
अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति राक्षसः। निहन्ति समरे शत्रून् बध्नाति च शरोत्तमैः
Then the rakshasa becomes invisible to all beings, strikes down enemies in battle, and binds them with his finest arrows.
तमप्रविष्टं न्यग्रोधं बलिनं रावणात्मजम्। विध्वंसय शरैर्दीप्तैः सरथं साश्वसारथिम्
Destroy that powerful son of Ravana, who has entered the banyan tree, with blazing arrows—together with his chariot, horses, and charioteer.
तथेत्युक्त्वा महातेजाः सौमित्रिर्मित्रनन्दनः। बभूवावस्थितस्तत्र चित्रं विस्फारयन् धनुः
Having said, 'So be it,' the radiant Saumitri, delight of his friends, stood firm there, wondrously drawing his bow.
स रथेनाग्निवर्णेन बलवान् रावणात्मजः। इन्द्रजित् कवची खड्गी सध्वजः प्रत्यदृश्यत
Then Ravana's mighty son, Indrajit, clad in armor, sword in hand, with banner raised, appeared in his chariot shining like fire.
तमुवाच महातेजाः पौलस्त्यमपराजितम्। समाह्वये त्वां समरे सम्यग् युद्धं प्रयच्छ मे
The illustrious one addressed the undefeated descendant of Pulastya: 'I challenge you to battle—grant me a fair fight here and now.'
एवमुक्तो महातेजा मनस्वी रावणात्मजः। अब्रवीत् परुषं वाक्यं तत्र दृष्ट्वा विभीषणम्
Thus addressed, the mighty and resolute son of Ravana spoke harsh words there, seeing Vibhishana.
इह त्वं जातसंवृद्धः साक्षात् भ्राता पितुर्मम। कथं द्रुह्यसि पुत्रस्य पितृव्यो मम राक्षस
'Here you were born and raised, my father's own brother—how, uncle, do you betray your brother's son, O rakshasa?'
न ज्ञातित्वं न सौहार्दं न जातिस्तव दुर्मते। प्रमाणं न च सौदर्यं न धर्मो धर्मदूषण
'You have neither kinship nor friendship, nor even true lineage, O wicked-minded one; neither noble appearance nor righteousness, O corrupter of virtue.'
शोच्यस्त्वमसि दुर्बुद्धे निन्दनीयश्च साधुभिः। यस्त्वं स्वजनमुत्सृज्य परभृत्यत्वमागतः
'You are pitiable, O fool, and worthy of censure by the virtuous, for you have abandoned your own people and become a servant of others.'
नैतच्छिथिलया बुद्ध्या त्वं वेत्सि महदन्तरम्। क्व च स्वजनसंवासः क्व च नीच पराश्रयः
'With such a feeble mind, you do not grasp the great difference: where is living among your own, and where is the lowliness of dependence on outsiders?'
गुणवान् वा परजनः स्वजनो निर्गुणोऽपि वा। निर्गुणः स्वजनः श्रेयान् यः परः पर एव सः
'Whether an outsider is virtuous or one's own is without virtue, one's own—though lacking merit—is better; the outsider remains an outsider.'
यः स्वपक्षं परित्यज्य परपक्षं निषेवते। स स्वपक्षे क्षयं याते पश्चात् तैरेव हन्यते
'He who abandons his own side and serves the enemy, when his own is destroyed, is later killed by those very others.'
निरनुक्रोशता चेयं यादृशी ते निशाचर। स्वजनेन त्वया शक्यं पौरुषं रावणानुज
'Such is your pitilessness, O night-stalker; with your own kin, O Ravana's brother, you could have shown your valor.'
इत्युक्तो भ्रातृपुत्रेण प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः। अजानन्निव मच्छीलं किं राक्षस विकत्थसे
Thus addressed by his brother's son, Vibhishana replied: 'Why do you boast, O rakshasa, as if you do not know my character?'
राक्षसेन्द्रसुतासाधो पारुष्यं त्यज गौरवात्। कुले यद्यप्यहं जातो रक्षसां क्रूरकर्मणाम्। गुणो यः प्रथमो नॄणां तन्मे शीलमराक्षसम्
'O noble son of the rakshasa king, out of respect, abandon harshness; though I was born in a clan of rakshasas, cruel in deed, the foremost virtue among men—that is my character, not that of a rakshasa.'
न रमे दारुणेनाहं न चाधर्मेण वै रमे। भ्रात्रा विषमशीलोऽपि कथं भ्राता निरस्यते
'I do not delight in cruelty, nor indeed in unrighteousness; even if my brother has a different nature, how can a brother be cast aside?'
धर्मात् प्रच्युतशीलं हि पुरुषं पापनिश्चयम्। त्यक्त्वा सुखमवाप्नोति हस्तादाशीविषं यथा
'One who has fallen from virtue and is intent on evil, when abandoned, brings happiness—just as a venomous snake dropped from the hand.'
परस्वहरणे युक्तं परदाराभिमर्शकम्। त्याज्यमाहुर्दुरात्मानं वेश्म प्रज्वलितं यथा
'They say that a wicked man, who is given to seizing others' wealth or coveting others' wives, should be abandoned like a house on fire.'
परस्वानां च हरणं परदाराभिमर्शनम्। सुहृदामतिशङ्का च त्रयो दोषाः क्षयावहाः
Theft of others' property, violation of another's wife, and suspicion towards friends—these three faults bring destruction.
महर्षीणां वधो घोरः सर्वदेवैश्च विग्रहः। अभिमानश्च रोषश्च वैरित्वं प्रतिकूलता
Terrible killing of great sages, conflict with all the gods, pride, anger, enmity, and hostility.
एते दोषा मम भ्रातुर्जीवितैश्वर्यनाशनाः। गुणान् प्रच्छादयामासुः पर्वतानिव तोयदाः
These faults destroyed my brother's life and prosperity; they concealed his virtues like clouds covering mountains.
दोषैरेतैः परित्यक्तो मया भ्राता पिता तव। नेयमस्ति पुरी लङ्का न च त्वं न च ते पिता
Because of these faults, I have abandoned my brother, who was your father; now this city of Lanka, you, and your father no longer exist.
अतिमानश्च बालश्च दुर्विनीतश्च राक्षस। बद्धस्त्वं कालपाशेन ब्रूहि मां यद् यदिच्छसि
You are arrogant, childish, and ill-behaved, O Rakshasa; bound by the noose of time, speak to me whatever you wish.
अद्येह व्यसनं प्राप्तं यन्मां परुषमुक्तवान्। प्रवेष्टुं न त्वया शक्यं न्यग्रोधं राक्षसाधम
Today you have met with misfortune, for you have spoken harshly to me; you will not be able to enter the banyan tree, O lowest of Rakshasas.
धर्षयित्वा च काकुत्स्थं न शक्यं जीवितुं त्वया। युध्यस्व नरदेवेन लक्ष्मणेन रणे सह। हतस्त्वं देवताकार्यं करिष्यसि यमक्षयम्
Having insulted Kakutstha, you cannot survive; fight with the prince Lakshmana in battle; when slain, you will fulfill the gods' purpose and reach Yama's abode.