03.268
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
प्रभूतान्नोदके तस्मिन्बहुमूलफले वने। सेनां निवेश्य काकुत्स्थो विधिवत्पर्यरक्षत ॥०३-२६८-१॥
In that forest, which was rich in many roots and fruits and had abundant food and water, Kākutstha stationed his army and guarded it properly. (03-268-1)
रावणश्च विधिं चक्रे लङ्कायां शास्त्रनिर्मितम्। प्रकृत्यैव दुराधर्षा दृढप्राकारतोरणा ॥०३-२६८-२॥
Rāvaṇa made arrangements in Laṅkā according to the treatises. By nature, it was indeed difficult to assail, having strong ramparts and gateways. (03-268-2)
अगाधतोयाः परिखा मीननक्रसमाकुलाः। बभूवुः सप्त दुर्धर्षाः खादिरैः शङ्कुभिश्चिताः ॥०३-२६८-३॥
There were seven impregnable moats of unfathomable water, filled with fish and crocodiles, planted with stakes made of khadira-wood. (03-268-3)
कर्णाट्टयन्त्रदुर्धर्षा बभूवुः सहुडोपलाः। साशीविषघटायोधाः ससर्जरसपांसवः ॥०३-२६८-४॥
They became unassailable by the machines of Karnataka, with piles of stones, with warriors wielding pots containing venomous snakes, and with powder of resin and sap. (03-268-4)
मुसलालातनाराचतोमरासिपरश्वधैः। अन्विताश्च शतघ्नीभिः समधूच्छिष्टमुद्गराः ॥०३-२६८-५॥
Clubs, pestles, firebrands, iron arrows, javelins, swords, and battle-axes, along with machines for slaying hundreds and maces mixed with various remnants, were present. (03-268-5)
पुरद्वारेषु सर्वेषु गुल्माः स्थावरजङ्गमाः। बभूवुः पत्तिबहुलाः प्रभूतगजवाजिनः ॥०३-२६८-६॥
At all the city gates there were various troops, both stationary and moving, rich in foot soldiers, and filled with many elephants and horses. (03-268-6)
अङ्गदस्त्वथ लङ्काया द्वारदेशमुपागतः। विदितो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य प्रविवेश गतव्यथः ॥०३-२६८-७॥
But then Aṅgada, having come to the gate region of Laṅkā, known to the king of the rākṣasas, entered without anxiety. (03-268-7)
मध्ये राक्षसकोटीनां बह्वीनां सुमहाबलः। शुशुभे मेघमालाभिरादित्य इव संवृतः ॥०३-२६८-८॥
In the midst of the many hordes of rākṣasas, the mighty warrior shone, enveloped by masses of clouds, like the sun. (03-268-8)
स समासाद्य पौलस्त्यममात्यैरभिसंवृतम्। रामसंदेशमामन्त्र्य वाग्मी वक्तुं प्रचक्रमे ॥०३-२६८-९॥
He, having come before Paulastya (Rāvaṇa) amidst his ministers, invoked Rāma's message and, being eloquent, began to speak. (03-268-9)
आह त्वां राघवो राजन्कोसलेन्द्रो महायशाः। प्राप्तकालमिदं वाक्यं तदादत्स्व कुरुष्व च ॥०३-२६८-१०॥
Rāghava, the lord of Kosala and a king of great fame, said to you: "This statement is timely; accept it and act upon it." (03-268-10)
अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्। विनश्यन्त्यनयाविष्टा देशाश्च नगराणि च ॥०३-२६८-११॥
When countries and cities come under a king who has not mastered himself and delights in injustice, overwhelmed by unrighteousness, they perish. (03-268-11)
त्वयैकेनापराद्धं मे सीतामाहरता बलात्। वधायानपराद्धानामन्येषां तद्भविष्यति॥०३-२६८-१२॥
It was you alone who wronged me by carrying away Sītā by force; for the killing of those others, innocent of wrongdoing, the blame will be upon you. (03-268-12)
ये त्वया बलदर्पाभ्यामाविष्टेन वनेचराः। ऋषयो हिंसिताः पूर्वं देवाश्चाप्यवमानिताः ॥०३-२६८-१३॥
Those forest-dwelling sages who were harmed before, and the gods who also were insulted, were afflicted by you when possessed by power and arrogance. (03-268-13)
राजर्षयश्च निहता रुदन्त्यश्चाहृताः स्त्रियः। तदिदं समनुप्राप्तं फलं तस्यानयस्य ते ॥०३-२६८-१४॥
Royal sages have been slain, and women, weeping, have been carried away; thus, this is the result that has fully come to you for that misdeed of yours. (03-268-14)
हन्तास्मि त्वां सहामात्यं युध्यस्व पुरुषो भव। पश्य मे धनुषो वीर्यं मानुषस्य निशाचर ॥०३-२६८-१५॥
I shall slay you together with your ministers; fight and show yourself a man. Behold the strength of my bow, O night-roaming demon in human form. (03-268-15)
मुच्यतां जानकी सीता न मे मोक्ष्यसि कर्हिचित्। अराक्षसमिमं लोकं कर्तास्मि निशितैः शरैः ॥०३-२६८-१६॥
Let Jānakī Sītā be released; you will never be released by me. I will make this world devoid of rākṣasas with sharp arrows. (03-268-16)
इति तस्य ब्रुवाणस्य दूतस्य परुषं वचः। श्रुत्वा न ममृषे राजा रावणः क्रोधमूर्छितः ॥०३-२६८-१७॥
Hearing those harsh words spoken by the messenger, King Rāvaṇa, overcome by anger, could not tolerate it. (03-268-17)
इङ्गितज्ञास्ततो भर्तुश्चत्वारो रजनीचराः। चतुर्ष्वङ्गेषु जगृहुः शार्दूलमिव पक्षिणः ॥०३-२६८-१८॥
Then, four night-wanderers who understood gestures of their master seized him by his four limbs like birds seize a tiger. (03-268-18)
तांस्तथाङ्गेषु संसक्तानङ्गदो रजनीचरान्। आदायैव खमुत्पत्य प्रासादतलमाविशत् ॥०३-२६८-१९॥
Thus, Aṅgada seized those night-wanderers clinging to his body, sprang up into the sky, and entered the palace terrace. (03-268-19)
वेगेनोत्पततस्तस्य पेतुस्ते रजनीचराः। भुवि सम्भिन्नहृदयाः प्रहारपरिपीडिताः ॥०३-२६८-२०॥
As he swiftly rose up, those night-wanderers fell to the ground, their hearts shattered and afflicted by the blows. (03-268-20)
स मुक्तो हर्म्यशिखरात्तस्मात्पुनरवापतत्। लङ्घयित्वा पुरीं लङ्कां स्वबलस्य समीपतः ॥०३-२६८-२१॥
He, freed from that palace rooftop, again descended, and after crossing the city of Laṅkā, arrived near his own army. (03-268-21)
कोसलेन्द्रमथाभ्येत्य सर्वमावेद्य चाङ्गदः। विशश्राम स तेजस्वी राघवेणाभिनन्दितः ॥०३-२६८-२२॥
Then, Aṅgada, having approached the lord of Kosala and reported everything, rested, honored by Rāghava. (03-268-22)
ततः सर्वाभिसारेण हरीणां वातरंहसाम्। भेदयामास लङ्कायाः प्राकारं रघुनन्दनः ॥०३-२६८-२३॥
Then Raghu's descendant (Rama), with the full force of the monkeys swift as the wind, broke through Lanka's rampart. (03-268-23)
विभीषणर्क्षाधिपती पुरस्कृत्याथ लक्ष्मणः। दक्षिणं नगरद्वारमवामृद्नाद्दुरासदम् ॥०३-२६८-२४॥
Then Lakṣmaṇa, with Vibhīṣaṇa and the lord of the bears in the lead, broke through the southern city gate, which was hard to approach. (03-268-24)
करभारुणगात्राणां हरीणां युद्धशालिनाम्। कोटीशतसहस्रेण लङ्कामभ्यपतत्तदा ॥०३-२६८-२५॥
Then, a crore hundred thousand monkeys with bodies reddish like elephants, skilled in battle, descended upon Lanka. (03-268-25)
उत्पतद्भिः पतद्भिश्च निपतद्भिश्च वानरैः। नादृश्यत तदा सूर्यो रजसा नाशितप्रभः ॥०३-२६८-२६॥
Because of the leaping, flying, and descending monkeys, the sun then was not visible, its brilliance destroyed by the dust. (03-268-26)
शालिप्रसूनसदृशैः शिरीषकुसुमप्रभैः। तरुणादित्यसदृशैः शरगौरैश्च वानरैः ॥०३-२६८-२७॥
By monkeys who were like rice-flowers, radiant as śirīṣa blossoms, shining like the young sun, and white as arrows. (03-268-27)
प्राकारं ददृशुस्ते तु समन्तात्कपिलीकृतम्। राक्षसा विस्मिता राजन्सस्त्रीवृद्धाः समन्ततः ॥०३-२६८-२८॥
O king, the rakṣasas, together with women and elders, saw the rampart reddened on all sides, everywhere, and were astonished. (03-268-28)
बिभिदुस्ते मणिस्तम्भान्कर्णाट्टशिखराणि च। भग्नोन्मथितवेगानि यन्त्राणि च विचिक्षिपुः ॥०३-२६८-२९॥
They split the jewel pillars and the spires of Karṇāṭṭa, and with force they shattered and toppled the machines, scattering them. (03-268-29)
परिगृह्य शतघ्नीश्च सचक्राः सहुडोपलाः। चिक्षिपुर्भुजवेगेन लङ्कामध्ये महाबलाः ॥०३-२६८-३०॥
The mighty warriors, having seized spiked missiles with wheels, along with clods and stones, hurled them into the midst of Lanka with the force of their arms. (03-268-30)
प्राकारस्थाश्च ये केचिन्निशाचरगणास्तदा। प्रदुद्रुवुस्ते शतशः कपिभिः समभिद्रुताः ॥०३-२६८-३१॥
The night-dweller groups who stood on the ramparts, some of them, then fled in hundreds, thoroughly pursued by the monkeys. (03-268-31)
ततस्तु राजवचनाद्राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः। निर्ययुर्विकृताकाराः सहस्रशतसङ्घशः ॥०३-२६८-३२॥
Then, in response to the king's command, the rākṣasas, able to take any form, went out in hordes of hundreds and thousands with distorted appearances. (03-268-32)
शस्त्रवर्षाणि वर्षन्तो द्रावयन्तो वनौकसः। प्राकारं शोधयन्तस्ते परं विक्रममास्थिताः ॥०३-२६८-३३॥
Pouring showers of weapons, driving away the forest-dwellers, and clearing the rampart, they acted with great valor. (03-268-33)
स माषराशिसदृशैर्बभूव क्षणदाचरैः। कृतो निर्वानरो भूयः प्राकारो भीमदर्शनैः ॥०३-२६८-३४॥
He, by the night-wanderers who resembled heaps of black gram, became (a rampart) once again void of monkeys, formed by those of fearsome appearance. (03-268-34)
पेतुः शूलविभिन्नाङ्गा बहवो वानरर्षभाः। स्तम्भतोरणभग्नाश्च पेतुस्तत्र निशाचराः ॥०३-२६८-३५॥
Many of the foremost monkeys, their bodies pierced by spears, fell; and there also fell night-wanderers, broken by pillars and arches. (03-268-35)
केशाकेश्यभवद्युद्धं रक्षसां वानरैः सह। नखैर्दन्तैश्च वीराणां खादतां वै परस्परम् ॥०३-२६८-३६॥
A hair-to-hair combat arose between the rākṣasas and the vānaras together, as the heroes bit each other with their nails and teeth. (03-268-36)
निष्टनन्तो ह्युभयतस्तत्र वानरराक्षसाः। हता निपतिता भूमौ न मुञ्चन्ति परस्परम् ॥०३-२६८-३७॥
Groaning on both sides, there, the monkeys and demons, though killed and fallen on the ground, do not release each other. (03-268-37)
रामस्तु शरजालानि ववर्ष जलदो यथा। तानि लङ्कां समासाद्य जघ्नुस्तान्रजनीचरान् ॥०३-२६८-३८॥
But Rama poured forth showers of arrows like a cloud; those arrows, reaching Lanka, killed those night-roaming beings. (03-268-38)
सौमित्रिरपि नाराचैर्दृढधन्वा जितक्लमः। आदिश्यादिश्य दुर्गस्थान्पातयामास राक्षसान् ॥०३-२६८-३९॥
The son of Sumitra too, wielding his strong bow and overcoming fatigue, repeatedly aimed his iron arrows at the demons stationed in fortress positions and brought them down. (03-268-39)
ततः प्रत्यवहारोऽभूत्सैन्यानां राघवाज्ञया। कृते विमर्दे लङ्कायां लब्धलक्षो जयोत्तरः ॥०३-२६८-४०॥
Then, by Rāghava's order, the armies retreated. After the battle was fought in Laṅkā, with the objective accomplished, victory was the outcome. (03-268-40)
