Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty fourth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The vAnara army led by rAma crossed over the ocean using the sEtu built by warrior nala. What mahaRshi says in 1.15. that every vAnara warrior possessed the supreme abilities of the god who blessed their birth comes true once again as nala displays the mettle of the divine architect viSwakarma to build the sEtu and help the army cross over. The detail to which mahaRshi vAlmIki goes is astounding as he writes that the bridge was built in five days at an astounding pace with 14, 20, 21, 22 and 23 yOjanas on each day respectively showcasing both the improvement every single day and the urgency that the army faced. Having reached the southern shore, they camped there for a while, gathered fruits and water and as per the strategy laid out by rAma and lakshmaNa moved towards the siege of lanka as rAma clearly foresaw the untold destruction that would be unleashed in the war. Onwards…
The terrific vAnara warriors surrounded rAma and the sight resembled a dazzling autumn sky in which the moon was surrounded by the stars. They moved forth, surging like the ocean and the stamping of their feet made the earth anxious. The vAnara warriors then heard the tumultuous sounds along with the beating of war drums that was hair raising, coming from lanka. These sounds fired them up and they also roared loudly outshouting the demons. The demons in turn roared in response and it seemed as if the clouds were thundering.
The son of daSaratha, rAma, took a look at the lanka that had varieties of flags flying all over and his thoughts went to sItA and made his heart heavy. He thought to himself that this is where sItA of lovely eyes is held under captivity by rAvaNa like the star rOhiNI was under the siege of the red planet. He sighed heavy and long, took a good look and the valorous rAma spoke words that befitted him at that moment and said –
“O lakshmaNa look at the city of lanka built on top of the mountain. It seems as if this city that is dotting the skyline has dropped straight from the imagination of lord viSwakarma. The city is full of sky scrapers that shine forth like lord vishNu’s foot in the sky covered by the white clouds. The city has gardens resembling the chaitraratha of kubEra that has a large variety of plants and trees that are replete with flowers and fruits. Birds are having a feast and are intoxicated with the honey. The honey bees are buzzing and have camouflaged in the flowers. The gentle breeze has made the branches into swings for the cuckoo birds”.
Describing lanka thus to lakshmaNa, rAma, divided his army strategically as per the texts of the war. Then he ordered the vAnara army to take appropriate positions. (Later the formation of the attack has been mentioned by mahaRshi vAlmIki as the one of garuDa – eagle. Presumably, rAma is referring to the parts of that formation here). He ordered –
शशासकपिसेनायांबलमादायवीर्यवान् ।
अङ्गदस्सहनीलेनतिष्ठेदुरसिदुर्जयः ।।6.24.14।।
“The invincible angada and nIla shall stay at the heart (of the formation). Surrounded by the stalwarts of the vAnara and Rksha (bears) army warrior Rshabha will stay on the southern (right) side (of the formation). Capable of causing terror like a mighty and wild elephant, warrior gandhamAdana will guard the left side (of the formation). I will stay right at the head of the formation along with lakshmaNa. The greats jAmabavAn, sushENa and vEgadarSi will guard the stomach (central part).
मूर्ध्निस्थास्याम्यहंयुक्तोलक्ष्मणेनसमन्वितः ।
जाम्बवांश्चसुषेणश्चवेगदर्शीचवानरः ।।6.24.17।।
ऋक्षमुख्यामहात्मानःकुक्षिंरक्षन्तुतेत्रयः ।
Let the posterior portion of the formation be guarded by the king of vAnaras, sugrIva just as lord varuNa protects the western half of the world by his splendour”.
The great army was thus divided into the formations and dazzled like a sky with dense clouds. The mighty vAnaras moved holding mountain peaks and large trees, resolving in their minds to smash lanka into pieces even with their bare fists! Thus, determined and excited they moved forth.
In the meantime, the envoy of rAvaNa Suka was taken captive. Then rAma instructed sugrIva to let the envoy who was being tortured by the vAnaras to go. Spared by the instruction of rAma, the terrified envoy headed to the lord of the demons and presented himself. Seeing him in tatters, rAvaNa laughed at him and inquired if by any chance he was taken captive by the fickle minded vAnaras of myriad thoughts since his wings seemed clipped and he appeared roughed up. The tormented Suka, pressed by the king then started speaking beneficial words to the demon king –
सागरस्योत्तरेतीरेऽब्रवंतेवचनंतथा ।
यथासन्धेशमक्लिष्टंसान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णयागिरा ।।6.24.28।।
“As commissioned by you, I went to the northern shores of the ocean and clearly and gently conveyed your message. The angry vAnaras, no sooner did they see me, pounced on me and began raining blows on me taking me captive. There is no way to speak there and no scope for a dialogue. O king, by nature the vAnaras are sharp and an angry lot.
That vanquisher of virAdha, kabandha and khara, rAma along with sugrIva has reached the vicinity of sItA.
सचहन्ताविराधस्यकबन्धस्यखरस्यच ।
सुग्रीवसहितोरामस्सीताया: पदमागतः ।।6.24.31।।
Defying the demons, rAghava, wielding his bow has crossed the salt water ocean accompanied by thousands and thousands of vAnaras and Rkshas who are swamping the earth like the mountains and clouds. A truce between the vAnara and the demon army doesn’t seem any more probable than the truce between the gods and the demons. Be quick, be decisive, before they knock your door, either give sItA to rAma or give a good fight”.
Responding to the counsel of Suka, rAvaNa was livid with anger and casting a death glare with his red eyes, he said –
“Listen, even if the gods, gandharvas and the demons unite and fight me, even for the fear of the whole world uniting against me, I will no way return sItA. I cannot wait to see how soon my arrows will be chasing rAghava like the bees chase flowers in the spring. I am restless to see when arrows unleashed from my bow will haunt rAma like the fire torches haunt the elephant. Like the risen sun sucks out the illumination of the stars, I will remove his strength.
rAghava has never fought me and is innocent of my might that is deep like the ocean and speed that is swift like the wind. That is why he desiring a combat with me. He is unaware that the arrows in my quiver are terrible like venomous serpents and hence he is fancying a fight with me. I shall enter the great stage of the battle, wielding my bow like a vINA. I shall play on it plucking the string with my fingers and generating the terrifying twang that will cause havoc and loud cries in the enemy camps. I am unassailable by either the thousand-eyed vAsava (indra) or equally so by verily varuNa himself. Similarly neither the lord yama nor kubEra have the ability to withstand my fiery arrows in the battle”.
Here we conclude the twenty fourth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 6.025. Ultimatum using the enemy’s spies!
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 