Yuddha Kanda — Sarga 17
इत्युक्त्वा परुषं वाक्यं रावणं रावणानुजः। आजगाम मुहूर्तेन यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः॥
Having addressed Rāvana with these harsh words, his younger brother, reached in no time, where Rāma along with Lakṣmaṇa was.
Yuddha Kanda 17.1
तं मेरुशिखराकारं दीप्तामिव शतहदाम्। गगनस्थं महीस्थास्ते ददृशुर्वानराधिपाः॥
The leading monkeys, stationed on earth, espied him on the welkin, resembling in size the summit of the mount Meru, and burning like lightning in the effulgence of his own person.
Yuddha Kanda 17.2
ते चाप्यनुचरास्तस्य चत्वारो भीमविक्रमाः। तेऽपि वर्मायुधोपेता भूषणोत्तमभूषिताः॥
And his four attendants of terrible prowess were adorned with excellent ornaments and armed with armours and maces.
Yuddha Kanda 17.3
स च मेघाचलप्रख्यो वज्रायुधसमप्रभः। वरायुधधरो वीरो दिव्याभरणभूषितः॥
He was like to a collection of clouds, powerful as the thunder-bolt, holding an excellent mace, heroic and embellished with excellent ornaments.
Yuddha Kanda 17.4
तमात्मपञ्चमं दृष्ट्वा सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः। वानरैः सह दुर्धर्षश्चिन्तयामास बुद्धिमान्॥
Beholding him along with four counsellors, the highly intelligent Sugrīva, the lord of monkeys, engaged in meditation along with them.
Yuddha Kanda 17.5
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु वानरांस्तानुवाच ह। हनुमत्प्रमुखान्सर्वानिदं वचनमुत्तमम्॥
And meditating for a while, he spoke to the monkeys headed by Hanuman the following excellent words.
Yuddha Kanda 17.6
एष सर्वायुधोपेतश्चतुर्भिः सह राक्षसैः। राक्षसोऽभ्येति पश्यध्वमस्मान्हन्तुं न संशयः।७।।
Behold, there comes a Rākşasa, armed with various weapons and followed by four demons to slay us and there is not the least doubt about it.
Yuddha Kanda 17.7
सुग्रीवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते वानरोत्तमाः। शालानुद्यम्य शैलांश्च इदं वचनमब्रुवन्।।।।।
And hearing the words of Sugrīva, the excellent monkeys, taking up huge trees and crages, bespoke him.
Yuddha Kanda 17.8
शीघ्रं व्यादिश नो राजन्वधायैषां दुरात्मनाम्। निपतन्ति हता यावद्धरण्यामल्पचेतनाः॥
Do you order us, O king, to destroy these vicious-souled demons. These shall crush them to death, limited as is the tenure of their life.
Yuddha Kanda 17.9
तेषां संभाषमाणानामन्योन्यं स विभीषणः। उत्तरं तीरमासाद्य स्वस्थ एव व्यतिष्ठत॥
They addressing each other in this wise, Vibhīşaņa descended from the sky on the northern shore.
Yuddha Kanda 17.10
स उवाच महाप्राज्ञः स्वरेण महता महान्। सुग्रीवं तांश्च संप्रेक्ष्य स्वस्थ एव विभीषणः॥
And beholdings Sugrīva and all others stationed near him, the highly intelligent Vibhīşaņa accosted them, at the highest pitch of his voice, saying.
Yuddha Kanda 17.11
रावणो नाम दुर्वृत्तो राक्षसो राक्षसेश्वरः। तस्याहमनुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः॥
There lives a Raksasa, named Ravana, the lord of demons, and perpetrator of many iniquitous deeds. I am his younger brother known as Vibhişaņa.
Yuddha Kanda 17.12
तेन सीता जनस्थानाद्धृता हत्वा जटायुषम्। रुद्धा च विवशा दीना राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता॥
By him, slaying the vulture Jatayu, was carried away Sītā from Janasthana. She is imprisoned, brought under his sway, poorly, and being well guarded by the Rakşasees.
Yuddha Kanda 17.13
तमहं हेतुभिर्वाक्यैर्विविधैश्च न्यदर्शयम्। साधु निर्यात्यतां सीता रामायेति पुनः पुनः॥
With various well meaning words and reasonings I pointed out to him, the necessity of rendering back Sītā to Rāma.
Yuddha Kanda 17.14
स च न प्रतिजग्राह रावणः कालचोदितः। उच्यमानं हितं वाक्यं विपरीत इवौषधम्॥
And Ravana, possessed by Death, paid no heed to my well-meaning words, like to one, lying on the brink of death, neglecting the administration of medicine.
Yuddha Kanda 17.15
सोऽहं परुषितस्तेन दासवच्चावमानितः। त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च राघवं शरणं गतः॥
Being reviled by him and treated harshly like a menial, I have come to seek Rāghava's shelter, renouncing my children and wives.
Yuddha Kanda 17.16
निवेदयत मां क्षिप्रं राघवाय महात्मने। सर्वलोकशरण्याय विभीषणमुपस्थितम्॥
Do you soon mention to the high-souled Rāghava, the refuge of all creatures, that Vibhīşaņa has arrived.
Yuddha Kanda 17.17
एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो लघुविक्रमः। लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो रामं संरब्धमिदमब्रवीत्॥
Hearing those words the quick-paced Sugrīva, excited with ire, spoke to Rāma, before Laksmana, saying.
Yuddha Kanda 17.18
प्रविष्टः सत्रुसैन्यं हि प्राप्तः शत्रुरतर्कितः। निहन्यादन्तरं लब्ध्वा उलूको वायसानिव॥
Forsooth has an enemy entered secretly in our midst and he shall slay us getting an opportunity like to an owl killing the crows.
Yuddha Kanda 17.19
मन्त्रे व्यूहे नये चारे युक्तो भवितुमर्हसि। वानराणां च भद्रं ते परेषां च परंतप॥
O slayer of foes, it now behove you to be particularly careful about the counsels, arrangement of soldiers, polity-civil and military and spies of our own party as well as those of the enemies.
Yuddha Kanda 17.20
अन्तर्धानगता ह्येते राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः। शूराश्च निकृतिज्ञाश्च तेषां जातु न विश्वसेत्॥
These Rākşasas are heroic; they assume shapes at will, always lie in ambush and secretly bring about others' ruin-we should not therefore place confidence in them.
Yuddha Kanda 17.21
प्रणिधी राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य भवेदयम्। अनुप्रविश्य सोऽस्मासु भेदं कुर्यान्न संशयः॥ अथ वा स्वयमेवैष छिद्रमासाद्य बुद्धिमान्। अनुप्रविश्य विश्वस्ते कदाचित्प्रहरेदपि ॥
This must be the emissary of Rāvaņa-the lord of Raksasas. Entering in our midst, he shall, in sooth, sow dissensions in our camp, or he shall slay us when we are careless, confiding in them.
Yuddha Kanda 17.22
मित्राटविबलं चैव मौलभृत्यबलं तथा। सर्वमेतद्वलं ग्राह्यं वर्जयित्वा द्विषद्बलम्॥
Avoiding the enemies, we should now collect the forest-rangers our friends and servants.
Yuddha Kanda 17.23
प्रकृत्या राक्षसो ह्येष भ्रातामित्रस्य वै प्रभो। आगतश्च रिपुः साक्षात्कथमस्मिंश्च विश्वसेत्॥
O lord, this man is a Rākşasa by birth and the brother of our foe and so is he our enemy, how can we trust him?
Yuddha Kanda 17.24
रावणस्यानुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः। चतुर्भिः सह रक्षोभिर्भवन्तं शरणं गतः॥
Ravana's younger brother, known Vibilisana, uc come here with four Raksasas, to seck your shelter.
Yuddha Kanda 17.25
रावणेन प्रणीतं हि तमवेहि विभीषणम्। तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये क्षमं क्षमवतां वर॥
O you the foremost of forgiving persons, I consider this Vibhīşaņa, who has been despatched by Ravana, worthy of being slain. as
Yuddha Kanda 17.26
राक्षसो जिह्मया बुद्ध्या संदिष्टोऽयमिहागतः। प्रहर्तुं मायया छनो विश्वस्ते त्वयि चानघ॥ बध्यतामेष तीव्रण दण्डेन सचिवैः सह। रावणस्य नृशंसस्य भ्राता ह्येष विभीषणः॥
Being impelled by his wicked intention and commissioned by Rävaņa, this Rākşasa has come here and secretly by virtue of his illusive powers he shall slay you, O innocent one, when you shall place confidence in him.
Yuddha Kanda 17.27
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं रामं संरब्धो वाहिनीपतिः। वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं ततो मौनमुपागमत्॥
Having thus accosted Rāma, skilled in the are of speech, that lord of the army, Sugriva, well versed in speech, became silent.
Yuddha Kanda 17.28
सुग्रीवस्य तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामो महाबलः। समीपस्थानुवाचेदं हनुमत्प्रमुखान्कपीन्॥
And hearing the words of Sugrīva, the mighty Rāma spoke to the monkeys, near him, headed by Hanumān, saying.
Yuddha Kanda 17.29
यदुक्तं कपिराजेन रावणावरजं प्रति। वाक्यं हेतुमदत्यर्थं भवद्भिरपि च श्रुतम्॥
You have all heard, the words well grounded in reason, the lord of monkeys has said, regarding Rāvana's younger brother.
Yuddha Kanda 17.30
सुहृदामर्थकृच्छ्रेषु युक्तं बुद्धिमता सदा। समर्थेनोपसंदेष्टुं शाश्वतीं भूतिमिच्छता॥
It behove him, who desires for perpetual wealth, and is intelligent and capable of giving sound counsels, to advise his friends in difficult matters.
Yuddha Kanda 17.31
इत्येवं परिपृष्टास्ते स्वं स्वं मतमतन्द्रिताः। सोपचारं तदा राममूचुः प्रियचिकीर्षवः॥
Being thus addressed by Rāma (to minister to him best counsels) all those monkeys, intent upon encompassing his well-being, gave out their respective opinions.
Yuddha Kanda 17.32
अज्ञातं नास्ति ते किंचित्रिषु लोकेषु राधव। आत्मानं पूजयन्राम पृच्छस्यस्मान्सुहत्तया ॥
O Rāghava, there is nothing beyond your knowledge in the three worlds. It is only to show your respect towards us; O Răma, that you did accost us in this wise.
Yuddha Kanda 17.33
त्वं हि सत्यव्रतः शूरो धार्मिको दृढविक्रमः। परीक्ष्यकारी स्मृतिमानिसृष्टात्मा सुहृत्सु च।३६।।
You are of truthful vows, heroic, pious, of firm prowess, discriminating, recollecting and having implicit confidence in your friends.
Yuddha Kanda 17.34
तस्मादेकैकशस्तावब्रुवन्तु सचिवास्तव। हेतुतो मतिसंपन्नाः समर्थाश्च पुनस्तथा॥
Let the intelligent and capable counsellors deliver their reasonable opinions to you.
Yuddha Kanda 17.35
इत्युक्ते राघवायाथ मतिमानङ्गदोऽग्रतः। विभीषणपरीक्षार्थमुवाच वचनं हरिः॥
They speaking thus to Rāghava, the intelligent monkey Angada, spoke as follows for sounding the intention of Vibhīşaņa.
Yuddha Kanda 17.36
शत्रोः सकाशात्संप्राप्तः सर्वथा तय॑ एव हि। विश्वासनीयः सहसा न कर्तव्यो विभीषणः॥
We should always suspect him since he has come from the side of our enemies, and should not, all on a sudden, place confidence in him.
Yuddha Kanda 17.37
छादयित्वात्मभावं हि चरन्ति शठबुद्धयः। प्रहरन्ति च रन्ध्रेषु सोऽनर्थः सुमहान्भवेत्॥
The wicked-minded always move about hiding their real self, and bring about peoples' calamity, taking advantage of their weak points. And great is the disaster thereof.
Yuddha Kanda 17.38
अर्थानौँ विनिश्चित्य व्यवसायं भजेत ह। गुणतः संग्रहं कुर्याद्दोषतस्तु विसर्जयेत्॥
It is always proper to engage in actions, considering what is right and what is wrong. Virtues should always be gathered and vices abondoned.
Yuddha Kanda 17.39
यदि दोषो महांस्तस्मिंस्त्यज्यतामविशङ्कितम्। गुणान्वापि बहून्ज्ञात्वा संग्रहः क्रियतां नृप।॥
Do you renounce him unhesitatingly, if did you find in him a source of a great calamity and do you embrace him if did you find him crowned with many virtues.
Yuddha Kanda 17.40
शरभस्त्वथ निश्चित्य सार्थं वचनमब्रवीत्। क्षिप्रमस्मिन्नरव्याघ्र चारः प्रतिविधीयताम्॥
There upon followed Sarava with words fraught with high import, best of men, do you speedily despatch emissaries to sound Vibhis ana.
Yuddha Kanda 17.41
प्रणिधाय हि चारेण यथावत्सूक्ष्मबुद्धिना। परीक्ष्य च ततः कार्यों यथान्यायं परिग्रहः॥
If did you, sounding him well through the instrumentality of sharp spies, find him friendly, do you win him over to your side.
Yuddha Kanda 17.42
जाम्बवांस्त्वथ संप्रेक्ष्य शास्त्रबुद्ध्या विचक्षणः। वाक्यं विज्ञापयामास गुणवद्दोषवर्जितम्॥
There upon the wise Jāmbavān, arriving at conclusions by virtue of his knowledge of Šāstras, began with words, void of defects.
Yuddha Kanda 17.43
बद्धवैराच्च पापाच्च राक्षसेन्द्राद्विभीषणः। अदेशकाले संप्राप्तः सर्वथा शङ्कयतामयम्॥
Surely does Vibhīşaņa come from the vicious lord of Räkşasas, dead set against us and has arrived at such a bad piace and in such a bad hour. We should always fear him.
Yuddha Kanda 17.44
ततो मैन्दस्तु संप्रेक्ष्य नयापनयकोविदः। वाक्यं वचनसंपन्नो बभाषे हेतुमुत्तरम्॥
There upon followed Mainda, conversant with what is right and wrong, after due deliberation, with words pregnant with words pregnant with reason.
Yuddha Kanda 17.45
अनुजो नाम तस्यैष रावणस्य विभीषणः। पृच्छ्यतां मधुरेणायं शनैर्नरपतीश्वर॥
He is Rāvana's younger brother, by name Vibhīşana. Let the lord of men ask him every thing at first in sweet words.
Yuddha Kanda 17.46
भावमस्य तु विज्ञाय तत्त्वतस्त्वं करिष्यसि। यदि दुष्टो न दुष्टो वा बुद्धिपूर्वं नरर्षभ॥
Do you first ascertain, O foremost of men, with what intention he has come evil or good and then settle what course to adopt.
Yuddha Kanda 17.47
अथ संस्कारसंपन्नो हनूमान्सविचोत्तमः। उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णमर्थवन्मधुरं लघु॥
There upon spoke Hanumān, the foremost of the counsellors and well versed in Šāstras, in accents sweet, glorious and fraught with a high value.
Yuddha Kanda 17.48
न भवन्तं मतिश्रेष्ठं समर्थं वदतां वरम्। अतिशाययितुं शक्तो बृहस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन्।५१।।
Even Brhaspati, (the lord of speech) cannot excel you, capaable,* gifted with the best of intellect and foremost of those skilled in the are of speech, as you are. *Capable to ascertain the truth of all Sastras.
Yuddha Kanda 17.49
न वादान्नापि संघर्षानाधिक्यान च कामतः। वक्ष्यामि वचनं राजन्यथार्थं राम गौरवात्॥
And what I know I speak, o king. I do so, in the interest of Rāma's work and not impelled by my skill in the are of speech, by the pride of being a counsellor, by the vanity of being gifted with a high intellect or by the desire of speaking for its own sake.
Yuddha Kanda 17.50
अर्थानर्थनिमित्तं हि यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव। तत्र दोषं प्रपश्यामि क्रिया नह्युपपद्यते॥
What your counsellors have said for ascertaining the good or evil intention of Vibhīş aņa appear to me as most defective and productive of no consequence whatever. It is impossible to sound him without any command.* *To command to relate for what he has come.
Yuddha Kanda 17.51
ऋते नियोगात्सामर्थ्यमवबोद्धं न शक्यते। सहसा विनियोगोऽपि दोषवान्प्रतिभाति मे।५४।।
And even to command him now for the same appears to me as improper.
Yuddha Kanda 17.52
चारप्रणिहितं युक्तं यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव। अर्थस्यासंभवात्तत्र कारणं नोपपद्यते॥
And as regards the despatch of spies, anent what you have been advised by your ministers, I do not observe any utility.
Yuddha Kanda 17.53
अदेशकाले संप्राप्त इत्ययं यद्भिभीषणः। विवक्षा तत्र मेऽस्तीयं तां निबोध यथामति।५६॥
And what little I have thought of, I have something to say (regarding Jambaban's proposal) that Vibhīşaņa has arrived at such a bad place and in such an evil hour.
Yuddha Kanda 17.54
एष देशश्च कालश्च भवतीह यथा तथा। पुरुषात्पुरुषं प्राप्य तथा दोषगुणावपि ॥ दौरात्म्यं रावणे दृष्ट्वा विक्रमं च तथा त्वयि। युक्तमागमनं ह्यत्र सदृशं तस्य बुद्धितः॥
He has really come to a very good place and in a very good hour. And truly has he performed a becoming and sensille action by coming here after duly ascertaining that Rāvana is a vicious wight and you are a pious person-he is full of vices-you are gifted with many virtues-he is tyrannical and you are powerful.
Yuddha Kanda 17.55
अज्ञातरूपैः पुरुषैः स राजन्पृच्छ्यतामिति। यदुक्तमत्र मे प्रेक्षा काचिदस्ति समीक्षिता॥
And what they have said, O king, as regards sounding him through secret spies, appear to me as one requiring great wisdom.
Yuddha Kanda 17.56
पृच्छयमानो विशङ्केत सहसा बुद्धिमान्वचः। तत्र मित्रं प्रदुष्येत मिथ्या पृष्टं सुखागतम्॥
An intelligent man, when questioned by any suddenly, suspects many things. And if the newcomer be a friend and has come here for his own happiness, how greatly shall his mind be changed by such a course?
Yuddha Kanda 17.57
अशक्यं सहसा राजन्भावो बोद्धं परस्य वै। अन्तरेण स्वरैभिन्नै पुण्यं पश्यतां भृशम्॥
Besides by a sudden questioning it is impossible to ascertain the intention of a foreigner. Do you therefore yourself accost him and determine, by his voice, his secret motive.
Yuddha Kanda 17.58
न त्वस्यब्रुवतो जातु लक्ष्यते दुष्टभावता। प्रसन्न वदनं चापि तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः॥
I did not however mark anything of his wickedness while he spoke; rather I did observe signs of gladness on his countenance. So I do not suspect him.
Yuddha Kanda 17.59
अशङ्कितमतिः स्वस्थो न शठः परिसर्पति। न चास्य दुष्टवागस्ति तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः॥
The wily can never come fearless and undisturbed. Nor were his words cunning. So I do not suspect him.
Yuddha Kanda 17.60
आकारश्छाद्यमानोऽपि न शक्यो विनिगुहितुम्। बलाद्धि विवृणोत्येव भावमन्तर्गतं नृणाम्॥
It is not very easy to hide one's real nature. It manifests itself by force.
Yuddha Kanda 17.61
देशकालोपपन्नं च कार्य कार्यविदां वर। सफलं कुरुते क्षिप्रं प्रयोगेणाभिसंहितम्॥
So this action of Vibhīşana is not out of place or season. When accomplished it shall redound to his own interest.
Yuddha Kanda 17.62
उद्योगं तव संप्रेक्ष्य मिथ्यावृत्तं च रावणम्। वालिनं च हतं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवं चाभिषेचितम्॥ राज्यं प्रार्थयमानस्तु बुद्धिपूर्वमिहागतः। एतावतु पुरस्कृत्य विद्यते तस्य संग्रहः॥
Considering well your preparations for war and Ravana's vain conduct, hearing of Vah's destruction and Sugrīva's installation on the throne he has, impelled by his good sense, come here, desirous of gaining the kingdom. Taking these into account, it seems prudent to take him to our side.
Yuddha Kanda 17.63
यथाशक्ति मयोक्तं त राक्षसस्यार्जवं प्रति। प्रमाणं त्वं हि शेषस्य श्रुत्वा बुद्धिमतां वर॥
O you the foremost of the intelligent, I have spok thus considering him sincere. It now behove you to perform what you think proper.
Yuddha Kanda 17.64