Sloka & Translation

[Ravana asks Prahastha to decide for the safety of Lanka and also inform Kumbhakarna of the situation.]

satāṅpariṣadaṅkṛtsnāṅsamīkṣyasamitiñjayaḥ .

pracōdayāmāsatadāprahastaṅvāhinīpatim ।।6.12.1।।

tadā: then, samitiñjayaḥ one who is victorious in wars, saḥ he, kṛtsnām vast, tāṅpariṣadam that assembly, dṛṣṭavā: on seeing, tadā: then, vāhinīpatim chief of the army, prahastam to Prahastha, pracōdayāmāsa: ordered.

Then Ravana who is victorious in wars, looking at the vast assembly (of Rakshasas) ordered Prahastha, the chief of the army.

sēnāpatēyathātēsyuḥkṛtavidyāścaturvidhāḥ .

yōdhānagararakṣāyāṅtathāvyādēṣṭumarhasi ।।6.12.2।।

sēnāpatē: O chief of the army! caturvidhāḥ warriors of four divisions of army, kṛtavidyāḥ those who are well versed in the knowledge of all kinds of wars, tē: you, yōdhāḥ war, nagararakṣāyām to safeguarding the city, yathā: likewise, syuḥ you entrust, tathā: so also, vyādēṣṭum you order to be more alert, arhasi: you ought.

"O Chief of the army! You order those who are well versed in the knowledge of all kinds of war and entrust those warriors of four divisions of the army to safeguard the city. Likewise, you ought to order them to be more alert."

saprahastaḥpraṇītātmācikīrṣan rājaśāsanam .

vinikṣipadbalaṅsarvaṅbahirantaścamandirē ।।6.12.3।।

praṇītātmā: celebrated, saḥprahastaḥ that Prahastha, rājaśāsanam by king's order, cikīrṣan desiring to do, mandirē: city, bahiḥ outside, antaśca: inside, sarvam all, balam army, vinikṣipat assigned.

Celebrated Prahastha desiring to carry out the king's order assigned the army inside and outside the city.

tatōvinikṣipyabalaṅsarvanagaraguptayē .

prahastaḥpramukhērājñōniṣasādajagādaca ।।6.12.4।।

tataḥ thereafter, prahastaḥ Prahastha, sarvam all, balam army, nagaraguptayē: for guarding the city, vinikṣipya: having assigned, rājñaḥ of the king, pramukhē: in front, niṣasāda: sat down, jagādaca: and appealed.

There after Prahastha, having assigned the army for guarding the city, sat down in front of the king, and appealed.

vihitaṅbahirantaścabalaṅbalavatastava .

kuruṣyāvimanāḥkṣipraṅyadabhiprētamastutē ।।6.12.5।।

balavataḥ one who is powerful, tava: your, balam strength, bahiḥ outside, antaśca: and inside, vihitam kept, avimanāḥ with undistracted mind, tē: to you, yat that which, abhiprētam you intend to do, astu: you will, kṣipram at once, kuruṣva: you may tell.

"You are a powerful one. Your army has been posted outside as well as inside. You may tell me at once without any distraction what you intend to do."

prahastasyavacaśśrutvārājārājyahitaiṣiṇaḥ .

sukhēpsussuhṛdāṅmadhyēvyājahārasarāvaṇaḥ ।।6.12.6।।

rājā: king, saḥ that, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, rājyahitaiṣiṇaḥ keen on doing good to the kingdom, prahastasya: Prahastha's, vacaḥ words, śrutvā: having heard, sukhēpsuḥ desiring happiness, suhṛdām dear ones, madhyē: in the midst, vyājahāra: said this.

Ravana who was keen on doing good to the kingdom desiring happiness and having heard Prahastha's word, said this in the midst of his dear ones.

priyāpriyēsukhaṅduḥkhaṅlābhālābhēhitāhitē .

dharmakāmārthakṛcchrēṣuyūyamarhathavēditum ।।6.12.7।।

yūyam you all, dharmakāmārthakṛcchrēṣu: among dharma (righteous code of conduct), artha (material wealth) and kama (desire), priyāpriyē: that which is desirable and undesirable, sukham happiness, duḥkham sorrow, lābhālābhē: gain and loss, hitāhitē: good and bad, vēditum to know, arhatha: you are capable.

"When there is doubt about dharma, artha and kama, you are capable of deciphering between desirable and undesirable, happiness and sorrow, gain and loss."

sarvakṛtyāniyuṣmābhissamārabdhānisarvathā .

mantrakarmaniyuktāninajātuviphalānimē ।।6.12.8।।

sarvathā: always, yuṣmābhiḥ all of you, samārabdhāni: started, mantrakarmaniyuktāni: that which has been well thought out and decided, mē: by me, sarvakṛtyāni: actions carried out, jātu: that I know, naviphalāni: never futile.

"The actions carried out by me are always after it is well thought out and decided by all of you. I know that those actions have not failed."

sasōmagrahanakṣatrairmarudbhirivavāsavaḥ .

bhavadbhirahamatyarthaṅvṛtaśriyamavāpnuyām ।।6.12.9।।

sasōmagrahanakṣatraiḥ ruling over the moon, sun and stars, marudbhi: even gods, vāsavaḥiva: just as Indra bhavadbhiḥ with you also, vṛtaḥ accompanied, aham I, atyartham exceedingly, śriyam at once, avāpnuyām attain fortune.

"Just as Indra who rules over the moon, sun, stars, and gods attains fortune, accompanied by you I will attain fortune exceedingly at once."

ahaṅtukhalusarvānvassamarthayitumudyataḥ .

kumbhakarṇasyatusvapnānnēmamarthamacōdayam ।।6.12.10।।

aham I, vaḥ earlier, sarvān all, khalu: indeed, samarthayitum right, udyataḥ told you, kumbhakarṇasyatu: to Kumbhakarna, svapnāt was sleeping, mam I, imam this, arthaṅ: matter, naacōdayam not informed.

"Indeed, rightly I told all of you earlier. Since Kumbhakarna was sleeping I had not informed him about this matter."

ayaṅhisuptaḥṣaṇmāsānkumbhakarṇōmahābalaḥ .

sarvaśastrabhṛtāṅmukhyassaidānīṅsamutthitaḥ ।।6.12.11।।

sarvaśastrabhṛtām among the wielders of weapons, mukhyaḥ foremost, ayam this, mahābalaḥ very strong, kumbhakarṇaḥ Kumbhakarna, ṣaṭ māsān six months, suptaḥhi: was sleeping, saḥ he, idānīm here, samutthitaḥ has arrived now.

"Kumbhakarna, the foremost among the wielders of weapons, is very strong. He was sleeping these six months and has arrived now."

iyaṅcadaṇḍakāraṇyādrāmasyamahiṣīmayā .

rakṣōbhiścaritōddēśādānītājanakātmajā ।।6.12.12।।

rāmasya: Rama's, mayā: by me, mahiṣī: consort, iyam this, janakātmajā: Sita, rakṣōbhiḥ Rakshasas, caritōddēśāt wandering place, daṇḍakāraṇyāt from Dandakaranya, ānītā: brought.

"This Sita, the consort of Rama was brought from D and akaranya, a place where rakshasas wander."

sāmēvaśayyāmārōḍhumicchatyalasagāminī .

triṣulōkēṣucānyāmēnasītāsadṛśīmatā ।।6.12.13।।

alasagāminī: one whose pace of walk is modest, sā: she, mē: my, śayyām bed, ārōḍhum to lay her feet (to love), naicchati: not like, triṣu: in the three, lōkēṣu: in the world, anyā: others, sītāsadṛśī: one who has the looks like Sita, mē: to me, namatā: not think.

"Sita who walks modestly did not like to enter into my bed (love me ) however much I prayed. I do not think there is anyone who looks like her in the three worlds."

tanumadhyāpṛthuśrōṇīśaradindunibhānanā .

hēmabimbanibhāsaumyāmāyēvamayanirmitā ।।6.12.14।।

tanumadhyā: one of slender waist, pṛthuśrōṇī: plump hips, śaradindunibhānanā: of autumnal full moon like face, hēmabimbanibhā: like golden image, saumyā: gentle lady, mayanirmitā: constructed by Maya (Rakshasa), māyēva: like a magical one.

"She is a woman of slender waist, plump hips, whose face is like an autumnal full moon. She is gentle and like a golden image. She is like a magical one constructed by Maya."

sulōhitatalauślakṣ ṇaucaraṇausupratiṣṭhitau .

dṛṣṭvātāmranakhautasyādīpyatēmēśarīrajaḥ ।।6.12.15।।

sulōhitatalau: red coloured soles of feet, ślakṣ ṇau: smooth, supratiṣṭhitau: evenly shaped, tāmranakhau: pinkish nails, tasyāḥ of her, caraṇau: feet, dṛṣṭvā: on beholding, mē: my, śarīrajaḥ born in me, dīpyatē: kindled.

"Beholding her smooth red soles and evenly shaped pinkish nails of feet, love is kindled in me."

hutāgnirarcissaṅkāśāmēnāṅsaurīmivaprabhām .

unnasaṅvimalaṅvalguvipulāṅcārulōcanam ।।6.12.16।।

paśyaṅstadavaśastasyāḥkāmasyavaśamēyivān .

hutāgnirarciḥ like the sacrificial fire, saṅkāśām like the radiance, saurīm of Sun, prabhāmiva: like the glow, ēnām her, unnasam prominent nose, vipulam large, valgu: attractive, cārulōcanam beautiful eyes, tasyāḥ of her, tat those, paśyan seeing, avaśaḥ surely, kāmasya: by love, vaśam overtaken, ēyivān slave to her.

"On beholding the sacrificial fire-like face of Sita glowing like the radiance of the Sun, seeing her prominent nose, her large attractive countenance with beautiful eyes surely, I am overtaken by love and have become a slave to her."

krōdhaharṣasamānēnadurvarṇakaraṇēnaca ।।6.12.17।।

śōkasantāpanityēnakāmēnakaluṣīkṛtaḥ .

krōdhaharṣasamānēna: is equal in anger and happiness, durvarṇakaraṇēnaca: makes one pale, śōkasantāpanityēna: either in grief or agony, kāmēna: by passion, kaluṣīkṛtaḥ disturbed.

"I have been disturbed by passion, which is equal in anger or happiness and makes one pale in grief or agony."

sātusaṅvatsaraṅkālaṅmāmayācatabhāminī ।।6.12.18।।

pratīkṣamāṇābhartāraṅrāmamāyatalōcanā .

tanmayācārunētrāyaḥpratijñātaṅvacaśśubham ।।6.12.19।।

śrāntō.haṅsatataṅkāmādyātōhayaivādhvani .

bhartāram husband, rāmam Rama, pratīkṣamāṇā: expecting to come, āyatalōcanā: broadeyed Sita, sā: that, bhāminī: beautiful woman, mām me, saṅvatsaraṅkālam one year time, āyācata: had requested, mayā: by me, cārunētrāyāḥ lady with beautiful eyes, śubham auspicious, tat that, vacaḥ word, pratijñātam promised in turn, satatam ever, adhvani: feel exhausted, yātaḥ one that has marched, hayaḥiva: like the horse, aham I, kāmāt on account of passion, śrānta: tired.

"Broad-eyed Sita requested me one year time expecting her husband Rama to come (this is a false statement made by Ravana here) and I promised in turn to Sita of beautiful eyes. Just like an exhausted horse that marched I am tired on account of my passion."

kathaṅsāgaramakṣōbhyaṅtariṣyantivanaukasaḥ ।।6.12.20।।

bahusattvasamākīrṇaṅtauvādaśarathātmajau .

akṣōbhyam unassailable, bahusattvasamākīrṇam inhabited by many crocodiles, sāgaram the ocean, vanaukasaḥ Vanaras, tau: both the, daśarathātmajauvā: even the sons of Dasaratha, katham how, tariṣyanti: will they cross.

"How will the Vanaras and even both the sons of Dasaratha be able to cross the unassailable ocean inhabited by huge crocodiles?"

athavākapinaikēnakṛtaṅnaḥkadanaṅmahat ।।6.12.21।।

dur jñēyāḥkāryagatayōbrūtayasyayathāmati .

athavā: Even so, ēkēna: singly, kapinā: monkey, naḥ let us think, mahat great, kadanam most difficult, kṛtam after having done, kāryagatayaḥ did and went, dur jñēyāḥ is difficult to ascertain, yasya: his, yathāmati: whatever you feel, brūta: you may tell.

"Even so, a huge destruction was done to us, by a single monkey. The consequences of their acts are unpredictable. Tell me what is there in your mind, according to your own understanding."

mānuṣyānnōbhayaṅnāstitathāpituvimṛśyatām ।।6.12.22।।

tadādēvāsurēyuddhēyuṣmābhissahitō.jayam .

tēmēbhavantaścatathāsugrīvapramukhānharīn ।।6.12.23।।

parēpārēsamudrasyapuraskṛtyanṛpātmajau .

sītāyāḥpadavīṅprāpyasamprāptauvaruṇālayām ।।6.12.24।।

mānuṣāt of human beings, naḥ to me, bhayam fear, nāsti: not there, tathāpi: in the same way, vimṛśyatām let it be deliberated, tadā: then, dēvāsurēyuddhē: in the battle of Devas and asuras, yuṣmābhiḥ you also, sahitaḥ along with, ajayam victory, mē: to me, tē: by you, bhavantaśca: as it is all of you, tathā: be like that, nṛpātmajau: sons of King (Rama and Lakshmana), sītāyāḥ Sita's, padavīm a way out, prāpyā: gain, sugrīvapramukhān Sugriva and other leaders, harīn Vanaras, puraskṛtya: placed in front, samudrasya: ocean's, parē: shore, pārē: collected, varuṇālayam abode of Varuna, the ocean, samprāptau: arrived.

"There is no fear of human beings for me. I won the war between Devas and asuras along with you. As it is, all of you are there. There at the shore of the ocean Rama and Lakshmana have collected with Sugriva and other leaders placing Vanaras in front to get back Sita. You may suggest a way out to gain."

adēyācayathāsītāvadhyaudaśarathātmajau .

bhavadbhirmantryatāṅmantrassunītaṅcābhidhīyatām ।।6.12.25।।

yathā: that way, sītā: Sita, ādēyā: without giving, daśarathātmajau: Dasaratha's sons,vadhyauca: to kill, bhavadbhiḥ you may also, mantraḥ suggestion, mantryatām thinking over, sunītam good scheme, abhidhīyatāṅca: and suggest me.

"You may also think over and suggest to me a plan to kill Rama and Lakshmana without giving Sita."

nahiśaktiṅprapaśyāmijagatyanyasyakasyacit .

sāgaraṅvānaraistīrvāniścayēnajayōmama ।।6.12.26।।

vānaraiḥ Vanaras, sāgaram ocean, tīrtvā: to cross, anyasya: no one, kasyacit as such, śaktim capacity, naprapaśyāmi: I do not find in any one, mama: to me, jayaḥ will be victorious, niścayēna: surely.

"No one can cross the ocean with Vanaras (help). As such I do not find anyone has the capacity. I am certain of victory."

tasyakāmaparītasyaniśamyaparidēvitam .

kumbhakarṇaḥpracukrōdhavacanaṅcēdamabravīt ।।6.12.27।।

kāmaparītasya: seized with passion, tasya: his, paridēvitam lamentation, niśamya: hearing, kumbhakarṇaḥ Kumbhakarna, pracukrōdha: enraged, idam these, vacanam words, abravīt ca: uttered.

On hearing the lamentation of Ravana seized with passion, enraged Kumbhakarna uttered these words.

yadāturāmasyasalakṣmaṇasyaprasahyasītākhalusāihā.hṛtā .

sakṛtsamīkṣyaivasuniścitaṅtadābhajētacittaṅyamunēvayāmunam ।।6.12.28।।

salakṣmaṇasya: accompanied by Lakshmana, rāmasya: Rama's, sītā: Sita, prasahya: by force, yadā: at that time, iha: here, ahṛtā: brought, tadā: then, sakṛt formerly, samīkṣyaiva: should have discussed, cittam mind, yamunā: Yamuna, yāmunamiva: like it fills Yamuna mountain, suniścitam decided, bhajēta: would be.

"If you had at that time, that is before bringing Sita by force, which was accompanied by Rama and Lakshmana, discussed, and thought of, then you would be sure in your mind like the Yamuna River filling the Yamuna (mountain )."

sarvamētanmahārājakṛtamapratimaṅtava .

vidhīyētasahāsmābhirādāvēvāsyakarmaṇaḥ ।।6.12.29।।

mahārāja: great king, asya: about, karmaṇa: the action, ādāvēva: earlier, ētat this, sarvam all, kṛtam done, tava: your, asmābhiḥsaha: along with us, vidhīyētayadi: if you had, apratimam it would have been very good.

"Great king! If you had discussed with us about all this action earlier, it would have been very good."

nyāyēnarājakāryāṇiyaḥkarōtidaśānana: .

nasasantapyatēpaścānniścitārthamatirnṛpaḥ ।।6.12.30।।

daśānana: Ravana, yaḥ whosoever, nṛpaḥ is the king, nyāyēna: justifiably, niścitārthamatiḥ having sense of determination, rājakāryāṇi: princely duties, karōti: does, saḥ he, paścāt later, nasantapyatē: will not regret.

"O Ravana! Whoever is the king, having a sense of determination, thinks justifiably and carries out princely duties will not regret."

anupāyēnakarmāṇiviparītāniyānica .

kriyamāṇāniduṣyantihavīṅṣyaprayatēṣviva ।।6.12.31।।

anupāyēna: without proper plan, kriyamāṇāni: tasks carried out, viparītāni: contrary to the principle, karmāṇi: tasks, aprayatē: not auspicious, havīṅṣīva: like anything fit for oblation, duṣyanti: spoilt.

"Tasks carried out without proper plan and contrary to the right principles are spoilt like inauspicious oblations offered into sacrificial fire."

yaḥpaścātpūrvakāryāṇikarmāṇyabhicikīrṣati .

pūrvaṅcāparakāryāṇinasavēdanayānayau ।।6.12.32।।

yaḥ whoever, pūrvakāryāṇi: that which has to be performed earlier, karmāṇi: acts, paścāt afterwards, aparakāryāṇi: that which has to be done later, pūrvaṅca: does earlier, cikīrṣatisaḥ seeks to perform, nayānayau: right and wrong, navēda: does not know.

"He who seeks to perform earlier what has to be done later and does later what have to be done earlier is not a knower of right and wrong."

capalasyatukṛtyēṣuprasamīkṣyādhikaṅbalam .

kṣipramanyēprapadyantēkrauñcasyakhamivadvijāḥ ।।6.12.33।।

adhikam superior, balam strength, prasamīkṣya: without thinking, kṛtyēṣu: one who acts, capalasya: a hasty one, kṣipram at once, krauñcasya: Krauncha's, kham digs, dvijāḥiva: like the swans, prapadyantē: penetrates and goes.

A hasty one who acts without thinking of the superior strength (of enemy) gets out at once like the swan penetrates into the crevice of Krauncha (mountain).

tvayēdaṅmahādārabdhaṅkāryamapraticintitam .

diṣṭyātvāṅnāvadhīdrāmōviṣamiśramivāmiṣam ।।6.12.34।।

tvayā: by you, apraticintitam without thinking, idam thus, mahat great, kāryam action, ārabdham beginning, viṣamiśram mixed with poison, amiṣam iva: like the flesh, rāmaḥ Rama, tvām you, diṣṭyā: fortunately, nāvadhīt not killed.

"Without prior thought this great act has been done by you. Rama has not killed you, fortunately like poison mixed flesh would kill."

tasmāttvayāsamārabdhaṅkarmahyapratimaṅparaiḥ .

ahaṅsamīkariṣyāmihatvāśatrūṅstavānagha ।।6.12.35।।

ānagha: sinless one, tasmāt therefore, tvayā: by you, paraiḥ other than me, samārabdam undertaking, apratimam which is not possible, karma: act aham I, tava: your, śatrūn enemy, hatvā: killing, samīkariṣyāmi: accomplish your goal.

"O Sinless Ravana! Therefore, that which you have done is not possible for none other than me. I will kill your enemy and accomplish your goal for you."

ahamutsādayiṣyāmiśatrūṅstavaniśācara .

yadiśakravivasvantauyadipāvakamārutau ।।6.12.36।।

tāvahaṅyōdhayiṣyāmikubēravaruṇāvapi .

niśācara: Rakshasa, aham I, tava: your, śatrūn enemy, utsādayiṣyāmi: will ruin them, śakravivasvantau: even Indra and Sun,, pāvakamārutau: fire and wind god, kubēravaruṇāvapi: even if Kubera and Varuna, tau: both, aham I, yōdhayiṣyāmi: will fight in war.

"O Rakshasa! I will ruin the enemy. I will fight with both of them (Rama and Lakshmana) even if they are Indra and sun, fire god and wind god or Kubera and Varuna."

girimātraśarīrasyamahāparighayōdhinaḥ .

nardatastīkṣṇadaṅṣṭrasyabibhīyādvaipurandaraḥ ।।6.12.37।।

girimātraśarīrasya: one with mountain like body, mahāparighayōdhinaḥ holding huge iron bar, tīkṣṇadaṅṣṭrasya: with sharp teeth, nardataḥ roaring like a lion, purandaraḥ Indra, bibhīyāt vai: will run out of fear.

"If I go with a mountain like body and sharp teeth, holding a huge iron bar roaring like a lion, even Indra will run away out of fear."

punarmāṅsadvitīyēnaśarēṇanihaniṣyati .

tatō.haṅtasyapāsyāmirudhiraṅkāmamāśvasa ।।6.12.38।।

saḥ he, dvitīyēna: second, śarēṇa: arrow, mām on me, punaḥ again, nihaniṣyati: by the time he releases tataḥ immediately, tasya: his, rudhiram blood, pāsyāmi: will drink, kāmam stay quiet, āśvasa: confidently.

"By the time he releases a second arrow again, I will immediately drink his blood. Stay quiet with confidence."

vadhēnavaidāśarathēssukhāvahaṅjayaṅtavāhartumahaṅyatiṣyē .

hatvācarāmaṅsahalakṣmaṇēnakhādāmisarvānhariyūthamukhyān ।।6.12.39।।

dāśarathēḥ Dasaratha's son, vadhēna: by killing, tava: your, sukhāvaham I will make you happy, jayam victorious, āhartum will do, aham I, yatiṣyē: attempt, lakṣmaṇēnasaha: with Lakshmana, rāmam Rama also, hatvā: on killing, sarvān all, hariyūthamukhyān Vanara leaders, khādāmi: will consume.

"By killing Rama, I will try to make you happy and victorious. On killing Rama and Lakshmana like that I will consume the Vanara leaders."

ramasvakāmam pibacāgyravāruṇīṅkuraṣvakāryāṇihitānivijvaraḥ .

mayāturāmēgamitēyamakṣayaṅcirāyasītāvaśagābhaviṣyati ।।6.12.40।।

kāmam freely, ramasva: sport, agyravāruṇīm best of wines, piba: drinking, vijvaraḥ free from fear, hitāni: that which you like, kāryāṇi: action, kuraṣva: you may do, rāmē: Rama, mayā: by me, yamakṣayaṅ: to the god of death, gamitē: on reaching, sītā: Sita,cirāya: for a long time, vaśagā: under your control, bhaviṣyati: will be.

"You be free from fear, sporting and drinking the best of wines and doing actions that you like. Rama will be sent to the abode of the god of death. On reaching their Sita will be under your control for long."
।।ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēdvādaśassargaḥ।।
This is the end of twelfth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.