Chapter 6(21)
The spies informed the lord of Lanka that an army that could not be agitated was camped near Mount Suvela. They also told him about Raghava. Ravana heard from the spies that the immensely strong Rama had arrived. Somewhat anxious, he addressed Shardula in these words. ‘O one who roams around in the night! Your complexion is distressed and not what it should be. I hope you did not come under the subjugation of the wrathful enemy.’
Thus asked, Shardula became senseless with fear. He softly addressed the tiger among rakshasas. ‘O king! I was incapable of spying on those bulls among apes. They are valiant and strong and are protected by Raghava. I was incapable of conversing with them or questioning them. The apes, resembling mountains, protected the path in every direction. In disguise, no sooner had I penetrated that army, than I was forcibly captured by many and they oppressed me in diverse ways. I was severely struck with thighs, fists, teeth and palms. Those powerful and intolerant apes paraded me around. Conveyed all over the place, I was taken to Rama’s presence. All my limbs were covered in blood. I was distracted and my senses were in a whirl. When the apes sought to kill me, I joined my hands in salutation and beseeched them. Raghava saved me and gave me scope to live as I chose. Rama has filled the great ocean with rocks and boulders. With his weapons, he has reached Lanka’s gate and is stationed there. Everywhere, he is surrounded by the apes, who are arranged in the form of a Garuda vyuha.78 Having released me, the immensely energetic one is advancing towards Lanka. Before he reaches the ramparts of the city, quickly do something. Either swiftly give him Sita, or grant him an excellent fight.’ Hearing this, the lord of the rakshasas was tormented in his mind. Ravana addressed Shardula in these great words. ‘Even if the gods and the gandharvas fight against me and even if there is fear from all the worlds, I will not return Sita.’
Having said this, the immensely energetic Ravana spoke again. ‘When you spied on the army, who were the brave apes who were present there? What kind of power do those invincible apes possess? Whose sons and grandsons are they? O rakshasa! Tell me the truth about this. One should certainly decide to fight after knowing about their strengths and weaknesses and about the size of the army.’ Shardula, the excellent spy, was addressed by Ravana in this way. In Ravana’s presence, he started to speak these words. ‘O king! Riksharaja’s son79 is extremely difficult to vanquish in a battle. Gadgada’s son is known by the name of Jambavat. There is another one of Gadgada’s sons. There is another one who is the son of Shatakratu’s preceptor.80 It is his son who single-handedly created the carnage among the rakshasas. Sushena, with dharma in his soul, is the valiant son of Dharma.81 O king! The amiable ape, Dadhimukha, is Soma’s son. Sumukha, Durmukha and the ape Vegadarshi are like Death in the form of apes. Indeed, they were created by Svayambhu himself. Nila, the commander, is the son of the fire god himself. The son of the wind god is famous by the name of Hanumat. The young, invincible and strong Angada is Shakra’s grandson. The powerful Mainda and Dvivida have been born from the two Ashvins. Vaivasvata82 has five sons there and they are like Death, the destroyer—Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadana. Shveta and Jyotirmukha have been born from the sun god. The ape Hemakuta is Varuna’s son. The brave Nala, supreme among apes, is Vishvakarma’s son. The brave and swift Sudurdhara is the son of the Vasus. There are ten crore apes who desire to fight. I am incapable of recounting the other handsome sons of the gods. Dasharatha’s young son can withstand a lion. He is the one who killed Dushana, Khara and Trishira. There is no one on earth who is Rama’s equal in valour. He is the one who killed Viradha and Kabandha, who was like Death. There is no man on earth who can narrate Rama’s qualities. The rakshasas who went to Janasthana were slain by him. Lakshmana, with dharma in his soul, is a bull among elephants. Someone who comes in the path of his arrows, even if it is Vasava, will not remain alive. Your brother, Vibhishana, is supreme among the rakshasas. Having accepted the city of Lanka,83 he is engaged in ensuring Raghava’s welfare. I have thus told you everything about the army of the apes. They have camped on Mount Suvela. You should decide what needs to be done next.’
Chapter 6(22)
The spies told the king of Lanka that Raghava and an army that could not be agitated was camped on Mount Suvela. Through the spies, Ravana heard that the immensely strong Rama had arrived. He was somewhat anxious and spoke to his advisers. ‘O advisers! All of you control yourselves and come quickly. O rakshasas! The time for consultations has arrived.’ Hearing his words, the ministers swiftly arrived. He consulted with his rakshasa advisers. The invincible one consulted about what should be done next. Then, having granted permission to the advisers to leave, he entered his own residence.
He summoned the immensely strong rakshasa, Vidyujjihva.84 With the one who was skilled in maya, the one who was great in the use of maya85 entered the spot where Maithilee was. The lord of the rakshasas told Vidyujjihva, who knew about maya. ‘Use your maya to confound Sita, Janaka’s daughter. O one who roams around in the night! Use your maya to create Raghava’s head. Fashion a great bow and arrows and present yourself before me.’ Thus instructed, Vidyujjihva, who roamed around in the night, agreed. He used his maya well and showed Ravana the result. The king was satisfied at this and gave him some ornaments.
The immensely strong one entered Ashokavana. The younger brother of the lord of riches saw the one who was in distress, though she did not deserve to be distressed. Overwhelmed by grief, she was seated on the ground, with her face lowered down. She sorrowed in Ashokavana, thinking about her husband. Near her, terrible rakshasis tended to her. Having approached Sita, he happily pronounced his name. He spoke these insolent words to Janaka’s daughter. ‘O fortunate one! You comforted yourself by thinking about your husband Raghava, the slayer of Khara. However, he has been killed in the battle. I have killed him and the foundation of your pride has been severed in every possible way. O Sita! Because of the calamity you face, you will now become my wife. O foolish one! You pride yourself on being learned. Withdraw from something that has little merit. O Sita! Hear the account of your husband being killed, as terrible as Vritra’s death. Indeed, Raghava crossed the ocean and attacked, so as to kill me. He was surrounded by a large army that had been brought together by the Indra among the apes. This reached and camped on the southern shore of the ocean. Rama arrived with this large army when the sun was about to set. They were exhausted at the end of the journey. The army was stationed there, happily asleep. In the middle of the night, the first spies approached it. My large army was led by Prahasta and reached the spot where Rama and Lakshmana were. His large army was destroyed at night. The attacking rakshasas repeatedly raised their weapons—spears, clubs, swords, chakras, large iron staffs, nets of arrows, javelins, radiant and spiked maces, daggers, lances, spikes, chakras86 and bludgeons to bring down the apes. While Rama was asleep, Prahasta struck him. Without anyone restraining his hand, he used a large sword to sever his head. Vibhishana was attacked and captured easily. It is through good fortune that Lakshmana and all the soldiers of the apes fled in different directions. O Sita! Sugriva, the lord of the apes, had his neck broken. With his jawbone shattered, Hanumat was slain by the rakshasas and is lying down. Just as Jambavat rose up on his knees, he was killed in the battle. He was severed with many javelins, just as a tree is cut down. Mainda and Dvivida, the bulls among the apes, have been killed. They sighed and wept and were covered in blood. Struck in the middle, those slayers of enemies were killed with the sword. Lying down on the ground, Panasa screamed. Mangled by many iron arrows, Darimukha is lying down in a pit. While he was shrieking, the greatly energetic Kumuda was killed by arrows. The rakshasas struck Angada’s body with many arrows. With blood flowing from his body, Angada fell down on the ground. Some apes were crushed, caught in the nets of elephants and chariots. Lying down, they were dispersed, like clouds by the force of the wind. Others were terrified and fled, but were pursued and killed by the rakshasas while they fled, like large elephants by lions. Some fell
down in the ocean. Some resorted to the sky. The bears, mingling with the apes, climbed trees. There were many with tawny eyes and disfigured eyes who were killed by the rakshasas along the shores of the ocean, in mountains and in forests. Thus, my soldiers killed your husband and his soldiers. This head, wet with blood and smeared with dust, has been seized.’
After this, the extremely unassailable Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, spoke to the rakshasis in Sita’s hearing. ‘Fetch the rakshasa Vidyujjihva, the performer of cruel deeds. He is the one who himself collected Raghava’s head from the field of battle.’ Vidyujjihva brought the head and the bow and arrows. He bowed his head down and stood in front of Ravana. King Ravana spoke to the rakshasa Vidyujjihva, the one with a large tongue, who was stationed there, asking him to come closer. ‘Quickly place the head of Dasharatha’s son in front of Sita. It is best that the pitiable one sees the final state of her husband.’ Thus addressed, the rakshasa flung down the beloved head before Sita and quickly vanished. Ravana flung down the large and radiant bow and said, ‘This is Rama’s, famous in the three worlds. This is truly Rama’s bow, which makes a sound when it is twanged. After having killed the human in the night, Prahasta brought it here.’ With the head flung down by Vidyujjihva, Ravana flung the bow down on the ground. He told the illustrious daughter of the king of Videha, ‘Submit yourself to me.’
Chapter 6(23)
Sita saw the head and the excellent bow. She heard about the destruction of Sugriva and Hanumat. The eyes and the complexion of the face were just like her husband’s face. So were the tips of the hair, the forehead and the auspicious chudamani.87 She was convinced because of all these signs and became extremely miserable. She shrieked like a female curlew and condemned Kaikeyee. ‘O Kaikeyee! May your wishes come true. The delight of the lineage has been killed. O one who is devoted to dissensions! You have destroyed the entire lineage. O Kaikeyee! What harm did the noble Rama do to you? Why did you exile him to the forest, with bark as garb?’ Trembling, the ascetic Vaidehi said this. Like a severed plantain tree, the young one fell down on the ground. In a short while, she regained her senses and comforted herself. The large-eyed one inhaled the fragrance of the head and lamented. ‘Alas! O mighty-armed one! I have been destroyed. I have followed one who was brave in his vows. This is your final state and I have become a widow. It is said that if a husband dies first, that is a bad quality in a woman. However, since you are good and virtuous in your conduct, you have departed before me. From one sorrow, I have moved to another sorrow. I am immersed in an ocean of grief. The one who stirred himself to save me has himself been brought down. O Raghava! You are the son of my mother-in-law, Kousalya. You were like a calf and she was like a cow. She is like a cow without her calf. O one whose valour is unthinkable! There are those who said that you would live for a long time. They uttered a lie. O Raghava! Your lifespan has been limited. Perhaps your wisdom was destroyed. Perhaps, despite your wisdom, your virtue was destroyed.88 Perhaps this is the power of destiny, which cooks creatures. You knew about the sacred texts of good policy. How could your death not have been foreseen? You were skilled in discerning hardships and accomplished in avoiding them. Thus, you have been embraced by the terrible and extremely violent night of destruction. O lotus-eyed one! You have been killed and have been taken away from me. O mighty-armed one! Abandoning me, the ascetic one, you are lying down. O bull among men! Like a beloved woman, you are embracing the auspicious earth. I have always worshipped your beloved bow carefully, with fragrances and garlands. O brave one! This is it, decorated with gold. O unblemished one! In heaven, it is certain that you have met your father and my father-in-law, Dasharatha, together with the earlier ancestors. Having performed great and beloved deeds, you have become a nakshatra in the sky. But in the process, you have neglected your own auspicious lineage of royal sages.89 O king! Why are you not looking at me? Why are you not replying to me? I am your wife and have been your companion, since the time you were a boy and obtained me, as a girl. You accepted my hand and took a pledge, “I will travel with you.” O Kakutstha! Remember that. I am extremely miserable. Take me with you. O supreme among those who reach their destinations! Why have you departed, leaving me? I am extremely miserable. I have been left in this world and you have gone to that world. This body was embraced by me and deserves to be adorned with fortunate objects. It is certainly being dragged by predatory beasts now. Why have you not obtained agnishtoma, agnihotra and other sacrifices and rites, with plenty of dakshina,90 and not been honoured properly?91 In her grief, Kousalya wishes to see us. Three of us left on the exile and she will only see Lakshmana return. When she asks him, he will certainly tell her how the army of your friends and you were killed by the rakshasas in the night. She will hear that you have been killed while asleep and that I am in the residence of the rakshasas. O Raghava! Her heart will be shattered. O Ravana! It is best that you bring me down on top of Rama. Perform this excellent and fortunate deed and unite the husband with the wife. Join my head with his head and my body with his body. O Ravana! I will follow and reach the destination obtained by my great-souled husband. I do not wish to remain alive even for an instant, because that would be a wicked life. In my father’s house, I have heard brahmanas who are learned in the Vedas speak about this. Those women who love their husbands obtain great worlds. He possessed forgiveness, self-control, truthfulness, dharma, gratefulness and non-violence towards all beings. When he is dead, what will happen to me?’ Tormented by grief, thus did the large-eyed one lament, as Janaka’s daughter beheld her husband’s head and the bow there.
While Sita was lamenting there, a rakshasa joined his hands in salutation and approached his master. He said, ‘O son of a noble one! May you be victorious.’ He greeted him, obtained his favours and informed him that Prahasta, the commander of the army, had arrived. ‘O lord! All the advisers are well and Prahasta has come with them. Please see them. There is some urgent task that needs to be undertaken.’ Hearing what the rakshasa had said, Dashagriva left Ashokavana to go and see the ministers. He entered the assembly hall. Knowing about Rama’s valour, he consulted with all his capable ministers about what he should himself do next. Within a short while after Ravana’s departure, the head and the excellent bow vanished. The Indra among rakshasas held consultations with his capable ministers, who were terrible in their valour. He determined what he should do about Rama. Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, was like Death. Wishing his welfare, the commanders of the battalions were stationed near him. He told them, ‘Quickly beat a drum with a stick. Make the sound be heard and summon the soldiers. Do not tell them the reason.’ The commanders of the battalions followed his instructions and swiftly assembled a large army. They informed their master, who desired to fight, that the forces had been summoned.
Chapter 6(24)
On seeing that Sita was confounded, her beloved friend, a rakshasi named Sarama,92 quickly approached her beloved Vaidehi. Ravana had asked her to protect Sita and contract her friendship. However, she was compassionate and was firm in her vows and actually protected her. Sarama saw that her friend, Sita, had lost her senses. Having rolled around on the ground like a mare, she had just arisen and was covered with dust. Affectionately, the one who was good in her vows comforted her friend. ‘O timid one! Because of my affection towards you as a friend, I have myself overheard everything that Ravana told you and what you said in reply. I abandoned all fear of Ravana and hid myself in the desolate sky. O large-eyed one! That was because of you and I do not care for my own life. There is a reason why the lord of the rakshasas was scared and left. O Maithilee! I know everything about the reason for his departure. Rama knows about his soul. It is not possible to approach the tiger among men when he is asleep and kill him. The apes fight with trees and it is not possible to kill them, even by the gods. They are extremely well protected by Rama and the bull among the gods.93 The handsome one has long and rounded arms. He is powerful and his chest is broad. He is an archer who can withstand everything. He possesse
s dharma in his soul and is famous on earth. He is valiant and always protects himself and others. He is with his accomplished brother, Lakshmana, who knows the sacred texts about good policy. He is the one who slays large tides of enemy soldiers. His strength and manliness are unthinkable. O Sita! It is not possible for the handsome Raghava, the slayer of enemies, to be killed. The one who acts against all creatures has done this with his perverted intelligence. The one who knows about maya has invoked a terrible maya on you. All your miseries have now gone and your good fortune has presented itself. It is certain that prosperity will now serve you. Hear the most pleasant tidings of all. With the army of the apes, Rama has crossed the ocean. Having reached the southern shore of the ocean, they have camped there. I have seen Kakutstha, with Lakshmana, accomplish this objective. Protected by the army, the two of them are stationed there, near the ocean. He94 sent some rakshasas who were dexterous in their valour. They have brought the news here, that Raghava has crossed the ocean. O large-eyed one! Having heard this, Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, is consulting all his advisers about what should be done.’
While the rakshasi Sarama was telling Sita this, a terrible sound was heard, signifying that the soldiers were making all kinds of efforts. The sound of sticks struck against musical instruments was heard and the loud sound of drums. Sweet in speech, Sarama told Sita, ‘O timid one! The terrible sound of drums is indicative of a war starting. Listen to the deep rumbling of drums, like the sound of clouds. Crazy elephants are being readied. Horses are being yoked to chariots. Here and there, foot soldiers are arming and preparing themselves. The royal roads are full of soldiers who are extraordinary to behold. The forceful ones are roaring, like waves of water in the ocean. There are sparkling weapons, armour and shields. The chariots, horses, elephants and the rakshasas have been ornamented. Behold the many kinds of radiance, of different hues, that have been created. It has the form of the fire, when it burns down a forest during the summer. Hear the sound of the bells. Hear the clatter of the chariots. Hear the horses neighing. Hear the blaring of the trumpets. A tumultuous sound has been created by the rakshasas preparing themselves and it makes the body hair stand up. Shri, the destroyer of sorrow, serves you. A fear has arisen for the rakshasas from the lotus-eyed Rama, like for the daityas from Vasava. He has conquered his rage and his valour is unthinkable. Having defeated and killed Ravana in the battle, your husband will come before you. With Lakshmana, your husband will exhibit his valour against the rakshasas. Among the enemy, he will be like Vishnu, the slayer of enemies, accompanied by Vasava. Rama will quickly arrive and you will be on his lap. With the enemy brought down, I will see you accomplish your objective. O beautiful one! When the one with the broad chest approaches you and embraces you against his chest, you will shed tears of joy. O queen! You have sported this single braid for a long time and it has reached your hips. O Sita! The immensely strong Rama will soon loosen it for you. O queen! You will see his face, resembling a full moon that has arisen. You will be freed from these tears of misery, like a female snake that sheds its skin. O Maithilee! Ravana will soon be slain in the battle. You deserve all the happiness that you love. You will obtain that happiness. United with the great-souled Rama, you will be delighted, like the earth, full of crops, rejoices when it has excellent rains. O queen! He is like the fearless sun that circles around the excellent mountain,95 driving its steeds swiftly along its path and exhibiting its powers to all creatures. You will soon find refuge with him.’
The Valmiki Ramayana Page 95
