Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty fifth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The battle was drawing near. As the vAnara army made the garuDa formation marshalled by rAma himself standing at the very top and leading it and moved towards lanka, the rival armies could hear each other’s roars and respond to it with an even more deafening roar that showed the excitement in both camps. The envoy of rAvaNa who came when the army was on the other side of the ocean and was taken captive was finally let go on the advice of rAma. The ruffled Suka hurried back to rAvaNa and gave him the news of the advance of the enemy right unto their city and asked rAvaNa to decide between truce or tussle fast. The very word truce annoyed rAvaNa as he thumped his chest and praised himself for his past heroics. He pressed Suka to and sAraNa to fetch more details of the enemy. Onwards…
As rAma, the son of daSaratha crossed over the ocean along with his entire army, the illustrious rAvaNa turned to his ministers, Suka and sAraNa and said –
“The uncrossable ocean has been crossed by the large vAnara army in its entirety using the unprecedented and astonishing bridge built by rAma. Such a feat has never been accomplished before. Of course, I must then know the size of the vAnara army. You both infiltrate into the vAnara army and find out who among the vAnaras are noted warriors in terms of their capabilities and valour and who among them are their key warriors. Which wise vAnaras among them are the ministers of rAma and sugrIva. Find out who among the vAnaras are already distinguished for their abilities, how did they manage to build the sEtU across the ocean and also learn about the exploits of the enterprising vAnaras. Reliably learn about how determined rAma is in his efforts, how does he strike, what are the strengths of lakshmaNa, who is the commander-in-chief of the splendorous vAnaras? Gather information on all these and come back quickly”.
Ordered thus, the duo Suka and sAraNa, in the guise of vAnaras infiltrated into the vAnara army and were unable to estimate the unimaginable enormity of the army which was caused horripilation. They saw vAnaras on mountain tops, caves, caverns, on the sea shore, forests, gardens. Some of them were swimming across the ocean and others who had crossed were settling down in the shores. That vast ocean of the mighty vAnara army was beheld by the duo who were spying on them. The two were noticed by the illustrious vibhIshaNa and were immediately taken captive. He presented them in front of rAma and introduced them as the ministers of rAvaNa by name Suka and sAraNa who were spying on them. The duo was very stressed to see rAma and lost all hope on their life and with a scared voice folded their hands and submitted –
“O gentle rAma, we have been pressed into this by rAvaNa to find out all about your army and might”.
rAma, ever engaged in the welfare of all beings, smiled upon hearing their submission and said –
“If you have seen the whole army, examined us thoroughly and comprehensively and have completed your stated mission, you may now go back. However if you still have something unseen, you must see that as well! vibhIshaNa can well give you a comprehensive tour!
यदिदृष्टंबलंसर्वंवयंवासुपरिक्षिताः ।
यथोक्तंवाकृतंकार्यछन्दतःप्रतिगम्यताम् ।।6.25.18।।
अथकिञ्चिददृष्टंवाभूयस्तद्द्रष्टुमर्हथः ।
विभीषणोवाकात्स्नर्येनभूयस्सन्दर्शयिष्यति ।।6.25.19।।
Since you have been caught while doing your duty, you don’t need to fear for your life. Messengers who do not wield weapons or who are captives ought not be slayed”.
नचेदंग्रहणंप्राप्यभेत्तव्यंजीवितंप्रति ।
न्यस्तशस्त्रौगृहतौवानदूतौवधमर्हतः ।।6.25.20।।
O vibhIshaNa you may set these two spies free who are seeking to peep into the enemy camp and divide it.
You both, enter lanka and let these words of mine be told to rAvaNa verbatim by you.
‘Relying on whatever might you dared to abduct sItA, bring all of it on along with your entire army and kin. At the strike of dawn tomorrow, I will unleash my intense anger on you, my arrows will strike you like the thunderbolt of indra strikes the demons and you will see me bring to ruins your lanka with its arches and compounds and all your kin”.
Thus spared and ordered by rAma, the duo Suka and sAraNa hailed the righteous rAma and returning to lanka said to rAvaNa –
“O demon king, we were caught by vibhIshaNa and were sure to be killed when the righteous rAma saw and spared us with life. The four greats – rAma, lakshmaNa, sugrIva and vibhIshaNa, with valour equal to the guardian deities of the four qurters, have converged in one place along with their weapons. The vAnaras are not even needed, only these four are capable of destroying the entire lanka with its arches and fortifications.
The kind of weaponry and terrifying form he has, rAma alone is capable of doing that even if the other three are not in action. That army safe guarded by rAma, lakshmaNa and sugrIva is impregnable even by the gods and demons. They built a sEtU that is hundred yOjanas long along the ocean and ten yOjanas in width. They have camped on the southern shores of the ocean and the vAnara army extends beyond how far one can see.
The army is excited, delighted and raring to wage this war. Enough of this enmity with them, strike an accord of peace and return maithilI to rAma.
Here we conclude the twenty fifth 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: 6.026. Profiling the enemy camp
Previous: 6.024. rAma draws strategy, rAvaNa thumps chest
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 