Yuddha Kanda — Sarga 104

स तु मोहात्सुसंक्रुद्धं कृतान्तबलचोदितः। क्रोधसंरक्तनयनो रावणः सूतमब्रवीत्॥

After gradually regaining his senses, Rāvana, urged on by the force of the Finisher, getting into a furious passion, with his eyes reddened in wrath, addressed the charioteer, saying.

Yuddha Kanda 104.1

हीनवीर्यमिवाशक्तं पौरुषेण विवर्जितम्। भीरं लघुमिवासत्त्वं विहीनमिव तेजसा॥ विमुक्तमिव मायाबिरलैरिव बहिष्कृतम्। मामवज्ञाय दुर्बुद्धे स्वया बुद्ध्या विचेष्टसे॥

perverse sense, disregarding me as devoid of prowess, and incompetent, and bereft of vigour-as cowardly, light, nerveless and shorn of energy, and as divorced by the power of illusion and debarred by arms, you act on your own understanding.

Yuddha Kanda 104.2

किमर्थं मामवज्ञाय मच्छन्दमनवेक्ष्य च। त्वया शत्रुसमक्षं मे रथोऽयमपवाहितः॥

Wherefore disregarding me, and not minding O you of my purpose, have you taken away my car from before the presence of the enemy?

Yuddha Kanda 104.3

त्वयाद्य हि ममानार्य चिरकालमुपार्जितम्। यशो वीर्यं च तेजश्च प्रत्ययश्च विनाशितः॥

O abject one! by you have my long earned renown and energy and prowess and credit been brought to naught.

Yuddha Kanda 104.4

शत्रोः प्रख्यातवीर्यस्य रञ्जनीयस्य विक्रमैः। पश्यतो युद्धलुब्धोऽहं कृतः कापुरुषस्त्वया।६।।

In the very sight of an enemy of renowned prowess, and one capable of being gratified with valorous deeds, have you made me, burning for battle, look as if I were a coward.

Yuddha Kanda 104.5

यत्त्वं कथमिदं मोहान्न चेद्वहसि दुर्मते। सत्योऽयं प्रतितों मे परेण त्वमुपस्कृतः॥

As, O wicked minded one, you did not even through heedlessness, take the car to the field of batile, I infer for certain that you have been bribed by the foe.

Yuddha Kanda 104.6

नहि तद्विद्यते कर्म सुहृदो हितकामिणः। रिपूणां सदृशं त्वेतद्यत्त्वयैतदनुष्ठितम्॥

The act that you have done, does not appear as that of a friend seeking our welfare; but today you have acted like an enemy.

Yuddha Kanda 104.7

निवर्तय रथं शीघ्रं यावत्रापैति मे रिपुः। यदि वाध्युषितोऽसि त्वं स्मर्यते यदि मे गुणः॥

If you have been maintained by me, if you remember my merit, do you swiftly turn the car before my enemy has departed.

Yuddha Kanda 104.8

एवं परुषमुक्तस्तु हितबुद्धिरबुद्धिना। अब्रवीद्रावणं सूतो हितं सानुनयं वचः॥

Thus admonished by him of slender sense, the charioteer possessed of intelligence, humbly spoke to Råvaņa words fraught with good.

Yuddha Kanda 104.9

न भीतोऽस्मि न मूढोऽस्मि नोपजप्तोऽस्मि शत्रुभिः न प्रमत्तो न निःस्नेहो विस्मृता न च सत्क्रिया॥

I am not afraid, nor stupefied, nor have I been bribed by the foe, nor am I negligent. And I have not forgotten your affection or your good offices.

Yuddha Kanda 104.10

मया तु हितकामेन यशश्च परिरक्षता। स्नेहप्रसन्नमनसा हितमित्यप्रियं कृतम्॥

And studious of your welfare, I have saved your fame; and with a mind overflowing with affection I have done (to you) this unpalatable good.

Yuddha Kanda 104.11

नास्मिनर्थे महाराज त्वं मां प्रियहिते रतम्। कश्चिल्लघुरिवानार्यो दोषतो गन्तुमर्हसि ॥

O mighty monarch, for this, you should not, like a frivolous and base one, criminate me that am ever engaged in what is good and dear to you.

Yuddha Kanda 104.12

श्रूयतां प्रति दास्यामि यन्निमित्तं मया रथः। नदीवेग इवाम्भोभिः संयुगे विनिवर्तितः॥

Listen! I shall render you reason why I turned away from the field the car, rushing like a river when the sea is swelled up* *On the ascension of the Moon.

Yuddha Kanda 104.13

श्रमं तवावगच्छामि महता रणकर्मणा। नहि ते वीर्यसौमुख्यं प्रकर्ष नोपधारये॥

I knew that you had been fatigued in consequence of your mighty exertions in the fight. And I could not perceive that your prowess then stood superior (to that of the foe).* *Two negatives in this verse amounting to an affirmative. This is the only instance of double negatives in Valmiki.

Yuddha Kanda 104.14

रथोद्वहनखिन्नाश्च भग्ना मे रथवाजिनः। दीना धर्मपरिश्रान्ता गावो वर्षहता इव ॥

The steeds of my car were worn out by-carrying it; and they were battered, and helpless and perspired like kine in a shower.

Yuddha Kanda 104.15

निमित्तानि च भूयिष्ठं यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति नः। तेषु तेष्वभिपनेषु लक्षयाम्यप्रदक्षिणम्॥

And bad omens fast sprang up before us. And on these occurring, I perceived that things would go against us.

Yuddha Kanda 104.16

देशकालौ च विज्ञेयौ लक्षणानीङ्गितानि च। दैन्यं हर्षश्च खेदश्च रथिनश्च महाबल॥

O you endowed with exceeding might, a charioteer should be conversant with season and place, with omens, and the expressions of emotions; as also with depression of spirits, exhilaration, and grief.

Yuddha Kanda 104.17

स्थलनिम्नानि भूमेश्च समानि विषमाणि च। युद्धकालश्च विज्ञेयः परस्यान्तरदर्शनम् ॥

And he should have a knowledge of low, lever and uneven grounds, and the time for conflict, and he should be able to perceive the shortcomings of the enemy.

Yuddha Kanda 104.18

उपयानापयाने च स्थानं प्रत्यपसर्पणम्। सर्वमेतद्रथस्थेन ज्ञेयं रथकुटुम्बिना॥

And a charioteer mounted on a car, should know when to draw near an enemy, when to turn away from him when to stay; and when to turn round from before the foe-all these (he should know).

Yuddha Kanda 104.19

तव विश्रामहेतोस्तु तथैषां रथवाजिनाम्। रौद्रं वर्जयता खेदं क्षमं कृतमिदं मया॥

What I, for bringing respite to you as well as the horses of the car, have done by way of removing the terrific exhaustion, is proper.

Yuddha Kanda 104.20

स्वेच्छया न मया वीर रथोऽयमपवाहितः। भर्तुः स्नेहपरीतेन मयेदं यत्कृतं प्रभो॥

I did not, O hero, turn away the car of my own sheer will. What I have done, O lord, had been dictated by my affection for you.

Yuddha Kanda 104.21

आज्ञापय यथातत्त्वं वक्ष्यस्यरिनिषूदन। तत्करिष्याम्यहं वीर गतानृण्येन चेतसा ॥

Command me. What you say, O destroyer of foes. I will do every way, O hero with my whole soul.

Yuddha Kanda 104.22

संतुष्टस्तेन वाक्येन रावणस्तस्य सारथेः। प्रशस्यैनं बहुविधं युद्धलुब्धोऽब्रवीदिदम्॥

Thereat, well pleased with the speech of the charioteer, Ravana, eager for encounter, after praising him in various ways said.

Yuddha Kanda 104.23

रथं शीघ्रमिमं सूत राघवाभिमुखं नय। नाहत्वा समरे शत्रूनिवर्तिष्यति रावणः॥

O charioteer, do you swiftly take the car towards Rāghava. Without slaying his foe in fight, Ravana turn not away (from the field).

Yuddha Kanda 104.24

एवमुक्त्वा रथस्थस्य रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। ददौ तस्य शुभं ह्येकं हस्ताभरणमुत्तमम्।। श्रुत्वा रावणवाक्यानि सारथिः सन्यवर्तत।२६।।

Speaking thus Råvaņa-lord of Rākşasas-gave the charioteer on the car an excellent ornament for the hand. Hearing Ravana's words, the charioteer drove the car.

Yuddha Kanda 104.25

ततो द्रुतं रावणवाक्यचोदितः प्रचोदयामास हयान्स सारथिः। स राक्षसेन्द्रस्य ततो महारथः क्षणेन रामस्य रणाग्रतोऽभवत्॥

And urged on by the speech of Rāvana, the charioteer drove on the steeds, and in a moment the mighty chariot of the Rākşasa-chief appeared before Rāma in the field of battle.

Yuddha Kanda 104.26