Yuddha Kanda — Sarga 87

एवमुक्त्वा तु सौमित्रिं जातहर्षो विभीषणः। धनुष्पाणिं तमादाय त्वरमाणो जगाम सः॥

Having spoken thus to Sumitra's son, Vibhișaņa experienced delight, and taking (Laksmana) bearing a bow in his hand, hurriedly went off.

Yuddha Kanda 87.1

अविदूरं ततो मत्वा प्रविश्य तु महद्वनम्। अदर्शयत तत्कर्म लक्ष्मणाय विभीषणः॥

Proceeding some way and entering the mighty wood, Vibhīşaņa pointed out to Lakşmaņa the place (of sacrifice).

Yuddha Kanda 87.2

नीलजीमूतसंकाशं न्यग्रोधं भीमदर्शनम्। तेजस्वी रावणभ्राता लक्ष्मणाय न्यवेदयत्॥

The energetic brother of Rāvana showed to Lakşmaņa the Nyagrodha, dreadful to behold and resembling a mass of sable clouds.

Yuddha Kanda 87.3

इहोपहारं भूतानां बलवान्रावणात्मजः। उपहृत्य ततः पश्चात्संग्राममभिवर्तते।४॥

Here offering presents to the ghosts, the powerful son of Răvaņa afterwards engages in conflict.

Yuddha Kanda 87.4

अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति राक्षसः। निहन्ति समरे शत्रून्बध्नाति च शरोत्तमैः॥

Then the Rākşasas becomes invisible to all beings; and he slay his enemies in battle and fastens them with excellent shafts.

Yuddha Kanda 87.5

तमप्रविष्टं न्यग्रोधं बलिनं रावणात्मजम्। विध्वंसय शरैर्दीप्तैः सरथं साश्वसारथिम्॥

Do you, ere he has passed beyond the Nyagrodha, with flaming arrows destroy the powerful son of Rävaņa along with his car and steeds and charioteer.

Yuddha Kanda 87.6

तथेत्युक्त्वा महातेजाः सौमित्रिमित्रनन्दनः। बभूवावस्थितस्तत्र चित्रं विस्फारयन्धनुः॥

Thereupon saying, 'So be it,' the exceedingly energetic son of Sumitrā-that delight of his friends, took up his post there stretching his variegated bow.

Yuddha Kanda 87.7

स रथेनाग्निवर्णेन बलवानरावणात्मजः। इन्द्रजित्कवची खङ्गी सध्वजः प्रत्यदृश्यत ।।।।

Ravana's son Indrajit, endowed with strength, mailed, and armed with a sword, and furnished with a banner, was seen mounted on a fire-hued chariot.

Yuddha Kanda 87.8

तमुवाच महातेजाः पौलस्त्यमपराजितम्। समाह्वये त्वां समरे सम्यग्युद्धं प्रयच्छ मे।९।।

The highly powerful Lakşmaņa addressed Pulastya's son never knowing defeat, saying, I challenge you to the encounter. Do you give me battle, exerting your utmost.

Yuddha Kanda 87.9

एवमुक्तो महातेजा मनस्वी रावणात्मजः। अब्रवीत्परुषं वाक्यं तत्र दृष्ट्वा विभीषणम्॥

Thus addressed, the exceedingly energetic and intelligent son of Rāvana, seeing Vibhīşaņa there, spoke to him harshly, thus.

Yuddha Kanda 87.10

इह त्वं जातसंवृद्धः साक्षाद्भाता पितुर्मम। कथं दुह्यसि पुत्रस्य पितृव्यो मम राक्षस॥

Born and bred in this Rākşasa race, you are the very brother of my father Why, O Rākşasa being my uncle, did you range yourself against your son?

Yuddha Kanda 87.11

न ज्ञातित्वं न सौहार्द न जातिस्तव दुर्मते। प्रमाणं न च सौदर्यं न धर्मो धर्मदूषण॥

But neither kinship, nor emity, nor race, O wicked-minded one, nor co-birth, can, destroyer of righteousness, avail to make you discern your duty.

Yuddha Kanda 87.12

शोच्यस्त्वमसि दुर्बुद्धे निन्दनीयश्च साधुभिः। यस्त्वं स्वजनमुत्सृज्य परभृत्यत्वमागतः॥

O you of perverse understanding you are indeed to be pitied; as you are worthy of being reproached by the virtuous; since, renouncing your own, you have espoused servitude under another.

Yuddha Kanda 87.13

नैतच्छिथिलया बुद्ध्या त्वं वेत्सि महदन्तरम्। क्व च स्वजनसंवासः क्व च नीचपराश्रयः॥

Neither by your character nor yet your understanding did you perceive the mighty difference that Leith between living with one's own kindred, and taking refuge with the base.

Yuddha Kanda 87.14

गुणवान्वा परजनः स्वजनो निर्गुणोऽपि वा। निर्गुणः स्वजनः श्रेयान्यः परः पर एव सः॥

If one that is not our own, be furnished with every grace, and if one's own be void of all merit, one's kindred, albeit unworthy, is preferable; and he that is not ours, is even always such.

Yuddha Kanda 87.15

यः स्वपक्षं परित्यज्य परपक्षं निषेवते। स स्वपक्षे क्षयं याते पश्चात्तैरेव हन्यते॥

He that, forsaking his own party, serve that of another, is destroyed even by the latter, when his own party is destroyed.

Yuddha Kanda 87.16

निरनुक्रोशता चेयं यादृशी ते निशाचर। स्वजनेन त्वया शक्यं पौरुषं रावणानुज॥

O night-ranger, such is this your relentlessness, that, O Ravana's younger brother, you being a kindred, are capable of displaying your manliness (as no other person can do so).

Yuddha Kanda 87.17

इत्युक्तो भ्रातृपुत्रेण प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः। अजानन्निव मच्छीलं किं राक्षस विकत्थसे॥

Thus addressed by his brother's son, Vibhis ana answered, “O Raksasa, why did you speak as if in ignorance of my character? O impious son of the Rākşasa chief, do you for ego the roughness which you assume on behalf of my dignity.* *Or, on account of your heroism.

Yuddha Kanda 87.18

राक्षसेन्द्रसुतासाधो पारुष्यं त्यज गौरवात्। कुले यद्यप्यहं जातो रक्षसां क्रूरकर्मणाम्।। गुणो यः प्रथमो नृणां तन्मे शीलमराक्षसम्॥ न रमे दारुणेनाहं न चाधर्मेण वै रमे। भ्रात्रा विषमशीलोऽपि कथं भ्राता निरस्यते॥

Albeit born in the race of Rākşas of cruel deeds, yet having regard to the first of principles pertaining to men, my character is not that of a Rākşasa. I do not take pleasure in the terrible; not do I revel in unrighteousness.” But how can a brother, although differing from his brother in character, be renounced by the latter?* *Some read Vişamasilena. Then the sense would be: 'How else could a brother bearing a difference in character, renounce his brother' meaning Ravana.

Yuddha Kanda 87.19

धर्मात्प्रच्युतशीलं हि पुरुषं पापनिश्चयम्। त्यक्त्वा सुखमवाप्नोति हस्तादाशीविषं यथा॥

One renouncing a person, lapsing from virtue and bent on sinful acts, attain happiness, even as one does by shaking off a venomous snake from his hand.

Yuddha Kanda 87.20

परस्वहरणे युक्तं परदाराभिमर्शकम्। त्याज्यमाहुर्दुरात्मानं वेश्म प्रज्वलितं यथा ॥

The wise have called that impious cne given to stealing others goods and violating others wives, as worthy of being forsaken, even like a house that is aflame.

Yuddha Kanda 87.21

परस्वानां च हरणं परदाराभिमर्शनम्। सुहृदामतिशङ्का च त्रयो दोषाः क्षयावहाः॥

Robbing others property, outraging the wives of others, and inspiring fear among friends, these three vices lead to destruction.

Yuddha Kanda 87.22

महर्षीणां वधो घोरः सर्वदेवैश्च विग्रहः। अभिमानश्च रोषश्च वैरत्वं प्रतिकूलता॥ एते दोषा मम भ्रातुर्जीवितैश्वर्यनाशनाः। गुणान्प्रच्छादयामासुः पर्वतानिव तोयदाः॥

The dreadful slaughter of sages, rebellion against all the gods, overweening conceit, anger long-continued enmity, and running amuck of counsel, these sins are sapping the life and fortune of my brother; and they have hidden his virtues even as clouds cover a mountain.

Yuddha Kanda 87.23

दोषैरेतैः परित्यक्तो मया भ्राता पिता तव। नेयमस्ति पुरी लङ्का न च त्वं न च ते पिता॥

It is on account of these vices that my brother, your sire, has been deserted by me. And this city of Lankā will not be, nor you, nor your father.

Yuddha Kanda 87.24

अतिमानश्च बालश्च दुर्विनीतश्च राक्षस। बद्धस्त्वं कालपाशेन ब्रूहि मां यद्यदिच्छसि ॥

You are proud, and haughty, and a boy, O Raksasa. You are fettered by the noose of Fate. Do you say to me whatever you like.

Yuddha Kanda 87.25

अद्येह व्यसनं प्राप्तं यन्मां परुषमुक्तवान्। प्रवेष्टुं न त्वया शक्यं न्यग्रोधं राक्षसाधम ॥

To-day you have addressed harshly me, who have fallen on evil days; but, O worst of Raks asas, you cannot pass this Nyagrodha.

Yuddha Kanda 87.26

धर्षयित्वा च काकुत्स्थं न शक्यं जीवितुं त्वया। युध्यस्व नरदेवेन लक्ष्मणेन रणे सह।। हतस्त्वं देवताकार्य करिष्यसि यमक्षयम्॥

Having smitten the Kākutstha, you cannot live. Fight with that man-god, Laksmana, in encounter. Being slain, you shall serve the deities in the abode of Yama.

Yuddha Kanda 87.27

निदर्शयित्वात्मबलं समुद्यतं कुरुष्व सर्वायुधसायकव्ययम्। न लक्ष्मणस्यैत्य हि बाणगोचरं त्वमद्य जीवन्सबलो गमिष्यसि॥

Displaying you own prowess, do you spend all your weapons and all your shafts. But coming within the ken of Laksmana's arrows, your will not today go hence, living with your forces.

Yuddha Kanda 87.28