Chapter 6(12)
Hearing what Vayu’s son had said, Rama was pleased in his mind. The invincible and learned one replied, stating what he had decided. ‘I also wish to speak about my attitude towards Vibhishana. All of you are interested in our welfare and therefore, I wish that all of you should hear this. Someone who has arrived as a friend must never be discarded, even if there are taints in him. The virtuous ones condemn that.’
Hearing Rama’s words, Sugriva, the lord of the apes, was goaded by his affection and replied to Kakutstha. ‘O one who knows about dharma! O lord of the worlds! O one who is like the jewel on a crest! How wonderful. You have spoken like a spirited and noble one, established along the path of virtue. My inner thoughts are also that this Vibhishana is pure. On the basis of his inclinations, this is my surmise and I have examined it in every possible way. O Raghava! Therefore, let him quickly become one of our equals. We will then obtain the friendship of the immensely wise Vibhishana.’
Rama examined the words that had been spoken by Sugriva. He then addressed the bull among apes in words that were even more auspicious. ‘How does it matter whether this roamer in the night is extremely wicked or not wicked? He is incapable of causing the slightest bit of injury to me. O lord of large numbers of apes! If I so wish, I can kill pishachas, danavas, yakshas and all the rakshasas on earth with the tips of my fingers. It has been heard that an enemy arrived and sought refuge. As is proper, a dove honoured and invited him and offered him his own flesh. He received someone who had come to kill his wife. O best among apes! If a dove did that, what about a person like me?46 The rishi Kanva’s son was Kandu and he was a supreme sage. He was full of dharma and spoke the truth. Listen to the chant he had recited in ancient times. “O scorcher of enemies! Even if an enemy wishing to cause injury arrives in a distressed state, with his hands cupped, and seeks refuge, he should not be killed. Even if an enemy is insolent, if he seeks refuge in a distressed state, a person who has cleansed his soul should protect that enemy, even at the cost of his own life. Because of fear, confusion or desire, if he does not protect, despite possessing the capacity and the spirit, he commits a sin and is condemned by the worlds. If a potential protector sees someone who seeks refuge being destroyed, when the person who should have been protected departs, he takes away all the good deeds of the potential protector. There is a great sin in not protecting someone who seeks refuge. It destroys heaven and fame. It destroys strength and valour.” I will truly follow the meaning of Kandu’s excellent words. It leads to the following of dharma. It leads to fame. It leads to the fruit of heaven being obtained. If a person seeks refuge and says, “I am yours”, against all creatures, I will grant him freedom from fear. That is my vow. O best among the apes! Bring him here. Whether it is Vibhishana or whether it is Ravana himself, I will grant him freedom from fear.’ After hearing Sugriva’s words, the lord of men addressed the lord of the apes in this way. Vibhishana quickly arrived to meet him, like the king of the birds meeting Purandara.
Chapter 6(13)
When Raghava granted him freedom from fear, Ravana’s younger brother, lowered himself, and with his faithful companions, descended on to the ground. Vibhishana, with dharma in his soul, descended and sought refuge at Rama’s feet, with the four rakshasas. Vibhishana addressed Rama in these words. They were appropriate and full of dharma, causing delight. ‘I am Ravana’s younger brother and I have been humiliated by him. You are the refuge of all creatures and I am seeking refuge with you. I have abandoned Lanka, my friends and my riches. My kingdom, my life and my happiness are now vested in you. I will help you in killing the rakshasas and attacking Lanka. As long as I am alive, I will attack and penetrate that army.’
Thus addressed, Rama embraced Vibhishana. Rejoicing, he told Lakshmana, ‘Fetch water from the ocean. O one who shows honours! Using that, quickly consecrate the immensely wise Vibhishana as the king of the rakshasas, so that I am pleased.’ Thus addressed, following Rama’s instruction, in the midst of the foremost apes, Soumitri consecrated Vibhishana as the king. Seeing that Rama was pleased, the apes immediately emitted a loud roar and uttered words praising him.47
Hanumat and Sugriva spoke to Vibhishana. ‘The ocean cannot be agitated. How can we cross Varuna’s abode? We must swiftly find a means so that all the soldiers can cross over Varuna’s abode, the lord of the male and female rivers.’ Addressed in this way, Vibhishana, who knew about dharma, replied, ‘To proceed, King Raghava should seek refuge with the ocean. The immeasurable and great ocean was dug by Sagara. Knowing that Rama is a relative, the great ocean should perform this task.’48 The learned rakshasa, Vibhishana, spoke in this way. Raghava was naturally devoted to dharma and this appealed to him, since it was a good deed to accomplish the purpose. He first smiled and then spoke to the immensely energetic Lakshmana and Sugriva, the lord of the apes. ‘O Lakshmana! Vibhishana’s advice appeals to me. With Sugriva, tell me if the idea appeals to you. Sugriva is always learned and you are skilled in offering counsel. Both of you decide whether what has been said appeals to you.’ Thus addressed, both those brave ones, Sugriva and Lakshmana, spoke these words with humility. ‘O tiger among men! O Raghava! Why will it not appeal to us? At this time, what Vibhishana has spoken will bring us joy. Varuna’s abode is terrible. Without building a bridge across the ocean, not even Indra, with the gods and the asuras, is capable of reaching Lanka. Let us act exactly in accordance with the brave Vibhishana’s words. We have spent an excessive amount of time already. Let us engage with the ocean.’ Thus addressed, Rama spread out kusha grass on the shores of the lord of the male and female rivers, like a sacrificial altar laid out for a fire.
Chapter 6(14)
Having spread out kusha grass on the ground, Rama controlled himself and attentively lay down there, spending three nights. But the careless ocean did not show himself to Rama,49 despite Rama making every effort to show him the honour that he deserved and worshipping him. At this, Rama became angry at the ocean and the corners of his eyes turned red.
Lakshmana, with the auspicious marks, was near him and he said, ‘O Lakshmana! Behold. An ignoble one has been worshipped. The ocean has not shown himself. This is arrogance. The qualities of virtuous ones—tranquility, forgiveness, uprightness and pleasantness in speech, are incapable of yielding fruits when directed at those devoid of qualities. The world regards a man who praises himself, is wicked and shameless, proceeds in a contrary direction and raises the rod of chastisement everywhere as someone who is virtuous. Conciliation is not capable of ensuring deeds. Conciliation is not capable of ensuring fame. O Lakshmana! Nor, in this world, can one obtain victory in the field of battle through that. Today, the makaras in this abode of makaras will be mangled with my arrows. O Soumitri! Behold. Everywhere, I will obstruct the flow of the water. O Lakshmana! Behold. I will mangle the giant snakes, the fish, the trunks of elephants50 and the serpents. In the great encounter today, I will use my arrows to dry up the ocean, with its conch shells, nets of oysters, fish and makaras. This abode of makaras takes me to be someone who is forgiving. He considers me to be incapable. Shame on those who are forgiving towards such people. O Soumitri! Bring me my bow and the arrows that are like virulent serpents. Even if he cannot be agitated, I am angry and will agitate the ocean. The turbulent waves do not cross the shoreline. However, with my arrows, I will make Varuna’s abode cross all boundaries.’
Saying this, with the bow in his hand, he dilated his eyes in rage. The invincible Rama looked like the blazing fire of destruction at the end of a yuga. He stretched his bow and made the world tremble with a terrible arrow. He released the fierce arrow, like Shatakratu does with the vajra. That excellent arrow blazed in its energy and was immensely forceful. It entered the waters of the ocean and terrified the serpents. With the large crocodiles and makaras and an extremely terrible wind, there was great turbulence in the ocean. A large garland of waves, filled with conch shells and oysters, spread out in every direction. Everywhere in the great ocean, there were vio
lent waves full of smoke. With mouths flaming and eyes blazing, the serpents suffered. So did the immensely valiant danavas who resided in patala. Thousands of waves, like Vindhya and Mandara, leapt up in the king of the waters, filled with crocodiles and makaras. The torrent of waves whirled around, terrifying the serpents and the rakshasas. Giant crocodiles leapt up from the abode of the waters.
Chapter 6(15)
After this, from the middle of the ocean, Sagara51 himself arose, like the sun arising atop the great mountain of Meru. The ocean was seen, together with serpents with flaming mouths. He was dressed in red garlands and garments and his eyes were like the petals of lotuses. He was adorned with molten gold and his complexion was like that of mild lapis lazuli. After having taken the valiant one’s permission first, Sagara approached Raghava, with the bow and arrow in his hand. He joined his hands in salutation and spoke these words. ‘O Raghava! O amiable one! The earth, the wind, the sky, water and light are stationed in their natural states, following their eternal paths. I am also in my natural state. I am fathomless and cannot be leapt across. I am telling you that it will be unnatural for me not to be fathomless. O son of a king! My water is full of crocodiles and sharks and out of desire, avarice or fear, it is impossible for me to stupefy it. O Rama! I will arrange it so that you can cross over me. While the soldiers are crossing, the crocodiles will not strike. O amiable one! This one, named Nala, is Vishvakarma’s son. Thanks to the boon bestowed on him by his father, he is Vishvakarma’s equal. This ape, great in endeavour, will build a bridge over me and I will bear it. He is just like his father.’ Having said this, the ocean vanished.
The immensely strong Nala, supreme among apes, arose and addressed Rama in these words. ‘I will construct an extensive bridge over Varuna’s abode. The great ocean has spoken the truth. I can resort to my father’s capability. On Mandara, Vishvakarma granted my mother a boon. Vishvakarma said, “The son born through you will be my equal.” Since I had not been asked, I had not spoken to you about my qualities. Therefore, let the bulls among the apes now fashion the bridge.’
Given their leave by Rama, hundreds of thousands of delighted leaders of the apes left in every direction and went to the great forest. The bulls among the apes resembled boulders and dragged boulders. The apes shattered these and started to drag them towards the ocean. The apes filled the ocean with salas, ashvakarnas, dhavas, bamboos, kutajas, arjunas, talas, tilakas, timishas, bilvas, saptaparnas, blossoming karnikaras, mangos and ashoka trees. The supreme among apes brought some trees with roots, others without roots. Like Indra’s standard, the apes raised up and dragged trees. Large boulders were violently hurled in and the waters surged up, touching the sky and then falling back again. In the middle of the lord of the male and female rivers, Nala constructed a gigantic bridge that was ten yojanas wide and one hundred yojanas long. Boulders were flung in. Boulders were thrown in there. At that time, a tumultuous sound arose within that great ocean. Thus, Nala constructed a beautiful and handsome bridge across the abode of the makaras. It was as radiant as Svati’s path in the firmament.52 Wishing to see this extraordinary sight, the gods, the gandharvas, the siddhas53 and the supreme rishis arrived and stood there, in the sky. The apes roared. They leapt up and leapt down. This was unthinkable. This was impossible to believe. This was extraordinary and made the body hair stand up. All the creatures witnessed the bridge being built over the ocean. There were thousands of crores of greatly energetic apes. Having constructed the bridge across the ocean, they crossed over to the other shore of the great ocean. It was beautiful, large and constructed well. It was planned well and the path was smooth. The radiant and grand bridge could be seen like a line drawn through the ocean.
With a club in his hand, Vibhishana stood on the shore of the ocean. He stood there with his advisers, waiting to attack the enemy. The handsome Rama and Lakshmana were in front of the soldiers. With dharma in their souls, the archers were with Sugriva. Some apes passed along the middle, others passed through the sides. Others did not use that path, but leapt into the water. Some resorted to the sky and leapt across, like Suparna. The giant roar of the ocean was surpassed by their loud roars. The terrible army of the apes crossed over the terrible ocean. Using the bridge built by Nala, the army of the apes crossed. The king54 made them camp at a spot on the shore where there were many roots and fruits and a lot of water. Raghava performed an extraordinary task that was very difficult to accomplish. On seeing this, the gods, together with the siddhas, the charanas55 and the maharshis, approached Rama and separately sprinkled him with auspicious water. ‘O god among men on earth! Defeat the enemy. Rule up to the frontiers of the ocean for an eternal number of years.’ Thus was Rama, god among men, honoured and worshipped with many kinds of auspicious words.
Chapter 6(16)
Rama, Dasharatha’s son, crossed the ocean with the army. The prosperous Ravana spoke to his two advisers, Shuka and Sarana. ‘The entire army of the apes has crossed over the ocean, which is extremely difficult to cross. Rama’s act of constructing a bridge across the ocean is unprecedented. I would never have been able to believe that a bridge could be constructed across the ocean. I must certainly pay attention to this army of the apes. Without being detected, the two of you penetrate the army of the apes and ascertain the number and valour of the foremost among the apes. Which advisers of Rama and Sugriva have assembled? Which brave apes are striding around in front? How was a bridge constructed over the ocean, full of water? Where have the great-souled apes camped? You must ascertain the truth about Rama’s conduct, valour and weapons and those of the brave Lakshmana. Who are the commanders of the immensely energetic apes? To find the truth out about all this, the two of you must swiftly depart and return.’ The two rakshasas, Shuka and Sarana, were commanded in this way. Those two brave ones adopted the forms of apes and entered the army of the apes. They found that army of apes to be unthinkable and their body hair stood up. Shuka and Sarana were unable to count their number. Everywhere, there were some who had crossed, some who were crossing and some who wished to cross. Some had camped, others were setting up camp. There was a terrible roar from that loud army.
Though those two immensely energetic ones, Shuka and Sarana, were disguised, Vibhishana detected and captured them and spoke to Rama. ‘O destroyer of enemy cities! These two are spies and have come here from Lanka.’ Seeing Rama, those two were distressed and lost all hopes of remaining alive. Terrified, they joined their hands in salutation and spoke these words. ‘O amiable one! Sent by Ravana, the two of us have come here. O descendant of the Raghu lineage! We were to find out everything about your army.’
Hearing their words, Rama, Dasharatha’s son, engaged in the welfare of all beings, laughed and said, ‘Have you seen the entire army? Have you examined us well? Have you accomplished the task you were told to? If you have, return at ease. When you enter the city of Lanka, exactly recount the words I speak to the king of the rakshasas, the younger brother of the lord of riches. “When you abducted Sita, you resorted to your strength. As you wish, display that, with your soldiers and your relatives. When it is tomorrow, you will see me use my arrows to destroy the city of Lanka, with its gates and ramparts, and the army of the rakshasas. O Ravana! Use all your strength to free yourself from my rage. When it is tomorrow, I will be like Vasava with his vajra, unleashing his vajra on the danavas.”’
Having been thus commanded, the two rakshasas, Shuka and Sarana, praised Raghava for being devoted to dharma and said, ‘May you be victorious.’ They went to the city of Lanka and spoke to the lord of the rakshasas. ‘O lord of the rakshasas! We were captured by Vibhishana and deserved to be killed. However, on seeing us, the infinitely energetic Rama, with dharma in his soul, freed us. The four bulls among men are in the same place. They are brave, like the guardians of the world. They are accomplished in the use of weapons and are firm in their valour. They are Rama, Dasharatha’s son, the handsome Lakshmana, Vibhishana and the greatly energetic Sugriva, who is like the great Indra i
n his prowess. Even if all the other apes remain standing, these are capable of uprooting and flinging away the city of Lanka, with its gates and its ramparts. Rama’s weapons are just as his form is. Even if the other three remain standing, he can single-handedly destroy the city of Lanka. The army is protected by Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva. All of them are invincible, even to the gods and the asuras. The forms of the residents of the forest are joyous and they have standards. The residents of the forest have arrived, desiring to fight. Enough of this enmity. Peace is indicated. Give Maithilee back to Dasharatha’s son.’
The Valmiki Ramayana Page 93
