Sloka & Translation

[Ravana sends Suka and Saarana as spies to the Vanara army. They assume the form of Vanaras and enter the Vanara army. Vibheeshana recognizes them but Rama lets them go.]

sabalēsāgaraṅtīrṇērāmēdaśarathātmajē .

amātyaurāvaṇaśrīmānabravīcchukasāraṇau ।।6.25.1।।

sabalē along with army, daśarathātmajē Dasaratha's son, rāmē Rama, sāgaram ocean, tīrṇē crossing the shore, śrīmān exuberant, rāvaṇaḥ Ravana, amātyau with ministers, śukasāraṇau to Suka and Saarana, abravīt spoke.

On hearing about Rama, the son of Dasaratha crossing the shore of the ocean along with the army, exuberant Ravana spoke to his ministers Suka and Saarana.

samagraṅsāgaraṅtīrṇaṅdustaraṅvānaraṅbalam .

abhūtapūrvaṅrāmēṇasāgarēsētubandhanam ।।6.25.2।।

samagraṅ all of them together, vānaram Vanaras, balam army, dustaram arduous, sāgaram ocean, tīrṇam crossed, rāmēṇa by Rama, sāgarē in the ocean abhūtapūrvam that which is not known before, sētubandhanam construction.

"That all the Vanara army together with Rama have crossed the arduous ocean and that the construction of a bridge (is possible) in the sea is not known before."

sāgarēsētubandaṅtunaśraddadhyāṅkathañcana .

avaśyaṅcāpisaṅ khyēyaṅtanmayāvānaraṅbalam ।।6.25.3।।

sāgarē in the sea, tam they, sētubandham constructed bridge, kathañcana even, naśraddadhām not believable, tat those, vānaraṅbalam Vanara force, mayā to me, avaśyam surely, saṅ khyēyaṅca the size of their army.

"It is not believable even to me that they constructed a bridge in the sea. Surely I wish to know the size of their army."

bhavantauvānaraṅsainyaṅpraviśyānupalakṣitau .

parimāṇaṅcavīryaṅcayēcamukhyāḥplavaṅghamāḥ ।।6.25.4।।

mantriṇōyēcarāmasyasugrīvasyacasammatā: .

yēpūrvamabhivartantēyēcaśūrāḥplavaṅgamāḥ ।।6.25.5।।

sacasēturyathābaddhassāgarēsalilārṇavē .

nivēśaṅcayadhātēṣāṅvānarāṇāṅmahātmanām ।।6.25.6।।

rāmasyavyavasāyaṅcavīryaṅpraharaṇānica .

lakṣmaṇasyacavīryaṅtattvatōjñātumarhathaḥ ।।6.25.7।।

bhavantau you both, anupalakṣitau without their notice, vānaram Vanara's, sainyam army, praviśya entering, parimāṇaṅca size of it, vīryaṅca heroes, yē of those, plavaṅgamāḥ of the monkeys, mukhyāḥ chief, rāmasya Rama's, sugrīvasyaca and Sugriva's, yē of those, mantriṇaḥ ministers, saṅgatāḥ groups, yē of those, pūrvam earlier, abhivartantē those who are in forefront, yē of those, plavaṅgamāḥ monkeys, śūrāḥ warriors, salilārṇanē in the abode of waters, sāgarē in the sea, saḥ that, sētuḥ bridge, yadhā centre, baddhaḥ built, mahātmanām great, tēṣāṅ of those vānarāṇām of the Vanaras, nivēśam location, yathā in the same way, rāmasyavyavasāyaṅca Rama's efforts, vīryam valour, praharaṇānica weapons also, vīrasya of the heroes, lakṣayaṇasyaca and of Lakshmana's, tattvataḥ truly, jñātum wish to know, arhathaḥ I ought.

"Both of you enter Vanara's army without their knowledge and know about the size of the army, of Rama and Sugriva's ministers, of army chiefs who are in the forefront, of the warriors, how they have built bridge in the middle of the sea, about the location of Vanaras and in the same way the efforts and valour of heroes Rama and Lakshmana, I ought to know truly."

kaścasēnāpatistēṣāṅvānarāṇāṅmahaujasām .

taccajñātvāyathātattvaṅśīghramagantumarhathaḥ ।।6.25.8।।

mahaujasām highly energetic ones, tēṣām those, vānarāṇām among the Vanaras, sēnāpatiḥ army chief, kaḥ who, tacca all these, yathātattvam their matters, jñātvāśīghram knowing quickly, agantum you return, arhathaḥ fit.

Among those energetic Vanaras, who is the chief of the army? Knowing all these matters, it is fit for you to return quickly.

itipratisamādiṣṭaurākṣasauśukasāraṇau .

harirūpadharauvīraupraviṣṭauvānaraṅbalam ।।6.25.9।।

iti thus, pratisamādhiṣṭau having accepted the order, vīrau heroes, śukasāraṇau S uka and Saarana, rākṣasau both Rakshasas, harirūpadharau taking the form of Vanaras, vānaram in to Vanaras, balam army, praviṣṭau entered.

Having accepted the order, both the Rakshasa heroes, Suka and Saarana took the form of Vanaras and entered the Vanara army.

tatastadvānaraṅsainyamacintyaṅrōmaharṣaṇam .

saṅ khyātuṅnādhyagacchētāṅtadātauśukasāraṇau ।।6.25.10।।

tataḥ there upon, tau both of them, śukasāraṇau Suka and Saarana, ācintyam that which cannot be conceived, rōmaharṣaṇam that which caused raising of hair (stunned), tat that, vānaram Vanara's, sainyam army, saṅ khyātum to count the numbers, tadā that time, nādhyagacchētām whose number could not be known (not conceived).

There upon both Suka and Saarana did not know the numbers (of the army) at that time as they could not count the numbers from there as it could not be conceived. It caused the raising of their hair.

saṅsthitaṅparvatāgrēṣunirdarēṣuguhāsuca .

samudrasyacatīrēṣuvanēṣūpavanēṣuca ।।6.25.11।।

taramāṇaṅcatīrṇaṅcatartukāmaṅcasarvaśaḥ .

niviṣṭaṅniviścaivabhīmanādaṅmahābalam ।।6.25.12।।

tadbalārṇavamakṣōbhyaṅdadṛśātēniśācarau .

parvatāgrēṣu on mountain summits, nirdarēṣu in caverns, guhāsuca in caves, samudrasya ocean's, tīrēṣu shores, vanēṣu in forests, upavanēṣuca and adjoining gardens, sthitam settled, taramāṇam crossing, tīrṇaṅca shores, tartukāmaṅca some in the process of crossing, sarvaśaḥ all over, niviṣṭam settled, niviścē staying, bhīmanādam terrific noise, mahābalam great force, akṣōbhyam that which is never ending, tadbalārṇavam that ocean of army, niśācarau the Rakshasas, dadṛśātē witnessed.

The ocean of army settled on the mountain summits, in caverns and caves, on the shores of the ocean, in the forests and adjoining gardens; some who crossed the sea some in the process of crossing settled all over was witnessed by the Rakshasas. It was never ending and making terrific noise.

taudadarśamahātējāḥpraticchannaucavibhīṣaṇaḥ .

ācacakṣē.tharāmāyagṛhītvāśukasāraṇau ।।6.25.13।।

mahātējāḥ brilliant one, vibhīṣaṇaḥ Vibheeshana, praticchannau hidden, tau those two, dadarśa saw, saḥ that, śukasāraṇau Suka and Saarana, gṛhītvā took hold of, rāmāya Rama's, ācacakṣē brought to the notice.

Brilliant Vibheeshana saw both Suka and Saarana hidden in the army. He took hold of them and brought to the notice of Rama.

tasyaimaurākṣasēndrasyamantriṇauśukasāraṇau .

laṅkāyassamanuprāptaucārauparapurañjaya:।। 6.25.14।।

parapurañjaya conqueror of enemy 's citadels, tasya its, rākṣasēndrasya Rakshasa king's, mantriṇau ministers, ētau those two, śukasāraṇau Suka and Saarana, cārau spies, laṅkāyāḥ from Lanka, samanuprāptau have come to find out.

"O conqueror of enemy's citadels! these are spies from Lanka, Suka and Saarana who have come to find us out."

taudṛṣṭavāvyathitaurāmaṅnirāśaujīvitētathā .

kṛtāñjalipuṭaubhītauvacanaṅcēdamūcatuḥ ।।6.25.15।।

tau those two, rāmam at Rama, dṛṣṭavā to look, vyathitau worried, tathā so also, jīvitē of life, nirāśau lost hope, bhītau caught up with fear, kṛtāñjalipuṭau lifted up their palms greeting, idam these, vacanam words, ūcatuḥ expressed.

The two (Rakshasa spies) got worried to look at Rama and also lost hope of their life. Caught up with fear they lifted their palms greeting Rama and expressed these words.

āvāmihāgatausaumya rāvaṇaprahitāvubhau .

parijñātuṅbalaṅsarvaṅtavēdaṅraghunandana:।। 6.25.16।।

saumya noble, rāghavanandana delight of Raghu race, āvām come, rāvaṇasrahitau assigned by Ravana, tava to you, idam thus, sarvam entire, balam army strength, parijñātum to know about, iha here, āgatau arrived.

"O noble one! We have come to you assigned by Ravana. O delight of Raghu race, thus we arrived here to know about the entire strength of your army."

tayōstadvacanaṅśrutvārāmōdaśarathātmajaḥ .

abravītprahasanvākyaṅsarvabhūtahitērataḥ ।।6.25.17।।

daśarathātmajaḥ Dasaratha's son, sarvabhūtahitē the wellbeing of all beings, rataḥ remains devoted, rāmaḥ Rama, tayōḥ to both of them, tat those, vacanam words, śrūtvā on hearing, prahasan smiling, vākyam words, ābravīt spoke.

"On hearing (the spies) Dasaratha's son Rama who remains devoted to the wellbeing of all beings spoke these words smiling at both of them."

yadidṛṣṭaṅbalaṅsarvaṅvayaṅvāsuparikṣitāḥ .

yathōktaṅvākṛtaṅkāryachandataḥpratigamyatām ।।6.25.18।।

sarvam entire, balam army, dṛṣṭaṅyadi looking at the, vayam our, suparikṣitāḥvā observing well, yathōktam that which is appropriate, kāryam action, kṛtaṅnā accomplishing, chandataḥ freely, pratigamyatām you may return back.

After observing our entire army carefully, acting appropriately (according to Ravana's words) and accomplishing your task you may freely return (said Rama to the spies).

athakiñcidadṛṣṭaṅvābhūyastaddraṣṭumarhathaḥ .

vibhīṣaṇōvākātsnaryēnabhūyassandarśayiṣyati ।।6.25.19।।

athā and now, kiñcit even a bit, adṛṣṭaṅvā not seen, tat that, bhūyaḥ you may do, draṣṭum see, arhathaḥ ought to see, nā or else, vibhīṣaṇaḥ Vibheeshana kātsnaryēna in totality, bhūyaḥ you may, sandarśayiṣyati will show you.

"If you have not seen even a bit, you ought to see. Or else Vibheeshana will show you the total army."

nacēdaṅgrahaṇaṅprāpyabhēttavyaṅjīvitaṅprati .

nyastaśastraugṛhatauvānadūtauvadhamarhataḥ ।।6.25.20।।

idam thus, graham having been caught, prāpya by us, jīvitaṅprati in turn of your life, na not, vā or, bhētavyam apprehension, nyastaśastrau those who do not possess, gṛhītau wield, dūtau envoys, vadam to slay arhataḥ ought to.

As you have been caught by us like this you need not have apprehension of your life. Those who do not possess wield or those who are envoys ought not to be slayed.

pracchamānauvimuñcaitaucāraurātriṅcarāvubhau .

śatrupakṣasyasatataṅvibhīṣaṇa: vikarṣiṇau ।।6.25.21।।

vibhīṣaṇa Vibheeshana, satataṅ ever, śatrupakṣasya enemy's side, vikarṣiṇau seeking to divide, pracchamānau are requesting, cārau spies, ubhau both, rātriṅcarau night rangers, vimuñca free.

"Vibheeshana! Even though they are spies seeking to divide the enemy army as both the night rangers have been requesting, you may set them free."

praviśyanagarīṅlaṅkāṅbhavad bhyāṅdhanadānujaḥ .

vaktavyōrakṣasāṅrājāyathōktaṅvacanaṅmama ।।6.25.22।।

laṅkāṅnagarīm into the city of Lanka, praviśya on entering, rakṣasām Rakshasas, rājā king, dhanadānujaḥ younger brother of Kubera, bhavad bhyām to them, mamavacanam my words, yathōktam as it is told by me, vaktavyaḥ you may tell.

"Upon entering the city of Lanka, you may tell my words to the king of Rakshasas, the younger brother of Kubera just as it was told by me."

yadbalaṅcasamāśrityasītāṅmēhṛtavānapi .

taddarśayayathākāmaṅsasainyassahabāndhavaḥ ।।6.25.23।।

yat that which, balam strength, samāśritya relying on which, mē my, sītām Sita, hṛtāvān has been abducted apica and also, tat that, sasainyaḥ along with army, sahabhāndava and relations, yathākām at his will, darśaya you may display.

"Let him display the strength on which he has abducted my Sita along with his army and relations at his will."

śvaḥkālyēnagarīṅlaṅkāṅsaprākārāṅsatōraṇām .

rakṣasaṅcabalaṅpaśyaśarairvidhvaṅsitaṅmayā ।।6.25.24।।

śvaḥ tomorrow, kālyē at day dawn, mayā of me, śaraiḥ arrows, vidhvaṅsitam will crush, rakṣasam Rakshasas, balam strength, saprākārām in the same manner, satōraṇām the arches of the entrance, laṅkāṅnagarīm of Lanka city, paśya you may see.

At dawn tomorrow, you may see how I will crush the arches of the entrance of Lanka city and the strength of Rakshasas."

krōdhaṅbhīmamahaṅmōkṣyēsasainyētvayirāvaṇa: .

śvaḥkālyēvajravānvajraṅdānavēṣvivavāsavaḥ ।।6.25.25।।

rāvaṇa Ravana, śvaḥ tomorrow, kālyē at day dawn, vajravān wielder of thunderbolt, vāsavaḥ Vasava, dānavēṣu at Rakshasas, vajram iva like the thunder bolt, sasainyē even the army also, tvayi you. bhīmam dreadful, krōdham anger, aham of mine, mōkṣyāmi will release.

"Tomorrow at the dawn of the day I will release my dreadful anger on Ravana and even on Rakshasas just as the thunderbolt of Indra was released on Rakshasas."

itipratisamādiṣṭaurākṣasauśukasāraṇau ।।6.25.26।।

jayētipratinandyaitaurāghavaṅdharmavatsalam .

āgamyanagarīṅlaṅkāmabrūtāṅrākṣasādhipam ।।6.25.27।।

iti thus, pratisamādhiṣṭau heard the words of reply, rākṣasau both the Rakshasas, śukasāraṇau Suka and Saarana, dharmavatsalam lover of dharma, ēnam in that manner, rāghavam Raghava, jayaitipratinandya praising saying ' victory to you', laṅkāṅnagarīm to Lanka, āgamya having reached, rākṣasādhipam king of Rakshasas, abrūtām said like this.

Having heard the reply of Rama, both the Rakshasas Suka and Saarana praising Rama saying, "Victory to you!" reached Lanka and said to the king of Rakshasas as follows.

vibhīṣaṇagṛhītautuvadhārtaurākṣasēśvara: .

dṛṣṭavādharmātmanāmuktaurāmēṇāmitatējasā ।।6.25.28।।

kṣasēśvara Lord of Rakshasas, vadhārtham for the sake of slaying, vibhīṣaṇagṛhītau held captive by Vibheeshana, dharmātmanā righteous self, amitatējasā highly effulgent, rāmēṇa by Rama, dṛṣṭavā seeing, muktau released.

"O king of Rakshasas! Vibheeshana held us captive for slaying us. But righteous self, Rama, the highly effulgent one released us on seeing."

ēkasthānagatāyatracatvāraḥpuruṣarṣabhāḥ .

lōkapālasamāśśūrāḥkṛtāstrādṛḍhavikramā ।।6.25.29।।

rāmōdāśarathśīmān lakṣmaṇaścavibhīṣaṇaḥ .

sugrīvaścamahātējāmahēndrasamavikramaḥ ।।6.25.30।।

ētēśaktāḥpurīlaṅkāṅsaprākārāṅsatōraṇām .

utpāṭyasaṅkramayituṅsarvētiṣṭhantuvānarāḥ ।।6.25.31।।

lōkapālasamāḥ equal to rulers of the world, śūrāḥ heroic ones, kṛtāstrāḥ wielders of weapons, dṛḍhavikramāḥ of remarkable bra very, dāśarathiḥ son of Dasaratha, rāmaḥ Rama, śrīmān exuberant, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, vibhīṣaṇaḥ Vibheeshana, mahātējāḥ highly brilliant one, mahēndrasamavikramaḥ resembles Indra in valour, sugrīvaśca and Sugriva's, catvāraḥ all the four, puruṣarṣabhāḥ bulls among men, yatra there, ēkasthānagatāḥ come together, ētē these, saprākārām that manner, satōraṇām the archways, laṅkāṅpurīm of Lanka, utpāṭya unearth, saṅkramayitum , śaktāḥ capable, sarvē even if all, vānarāḥ Vanaras, tiṣṭhantu keep away.

"Exuberant Rama and Lakshmana, highly brilliant Vibheeshana, and Sugriva who resembles Indra in his valour, are like rulers of the world and are heroic, wielders of weapons and bulls among men. If all four of them come together there in that manner, they will unearth the arch ways and even the city of Lanka. They are capable even if the Vanaras are kept away."

yādṛśyaṅtasyarāmasyarūpaṅpraharaṇānica .

vadhiṣyatipurīṅlaṅkāmēkastiṣṭhantutētrayaḥ ।।6.25.32।।

rāmasya Rama's, tat that, rūpam form, yādṛśam to see, praharaṇānicaēkaḥ weapons, he alone, laṅkāṅpurīm Lanka city, vadhiṣyati will slay, tētrayaḥ those three, tiṣṭhantu even keep away.

"If we see Rama's form and his weapon it is enough. He can alone slay even when all the other three keep away."

rāmalakṣmaṇaguptāsāsugrīvēṇacavāhinī .

babhūvadurdarṣatarāsarvairapisurāsuraiḥ ।।6.25.33।।

rāmalakṣmaṇaguptā even if Rama and Lakshmana are protected, sugrīvēṇaca and Sugriva also, sāvāhinī that ocean of army, sarvaiḥ entire, surāsuraiḥapi even suras and asuras, durdarṣatara formidable, babhūva seems.

"Even if Rama and Lakshmana are protected, and even Sugriva also, the entire army seems formidable like suras and asuras."

prahṛṣṭarūpādhvajinīvanaukasāṅ .

mahātmanām sampratiyōddhumicchatām .

alaṅvirōdhēnaśamōvidhīyatāṅpradīyatāṅdāśarathāyamaidilī ।।6.25.34।।

samprati at this time, yōddhum war, icchatām desiring, mahātmanām with great (Vanara) heroes, vanaukasām wanderers of woods, dhvajinī the army, prahṛṣṭarūpā are highly delighted, virōdhēna to wage war, alam not good, śama anger, vidhīyatām give up, maithilī Mythili, dāśarathāya to Rama, pradīyatām give away.

At this time, desiring war with those great Vanara heroes, the wanderers of woods, is not good. Their army is highly delighted to wage war. You may give away Mythili to Rama (said Suka and Saarana to Ravana).
।। ityārṣēvālmīkīyēśrīmadrāmāyaṇēādikāvyēyuddhakāṇḍēpañcaviṅśassargaḥ ।।
This is the end of the twenty fifth sarga of Yuddha Kanda of the first epic the holy Ramayana composed by sage Valmiki.