Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty eighth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The spies who were sent by rAvaNa, Suka and sAraNa were spared by the dharmic consideration of rAma and returned to rAvaNa. They ascended to the terrace and from the vantage point began to take a look at the enemy army that rivalled the ocean in its enormity. On the command of rAvaNa, sAraNa began to present the profile of the key warriors in the vAnara army. The army seemed neatly organized in a very modular manner under different warriors who hailed from different geographies. Each of them had crores of vAnaras fighting under their command. The sheer magnitude of the enemy force was sure to rattle rAvaNa, not to speak of the matchless past exploits of its generals among the vAnaras and the bears. sAraNa was not done yet and upon rAvaNa’s instruction, continued. Onwards…
Having heard what all sAraNa said to the king of the demons, rAvaNa, now taking a comprehensive view of the army, Suka spoke –
“All of them who are there resembling the mighty elephants and the banyan trees on the banks of the gangA and the sAl trees on the himavAn mountains, O king, are invincible, mighty and capable of assuming any form at will. They have valour like the gods and resemble the fierceness of the gods and demons in combat. In terms of count they are twenty one thousand crores in number. They are in thousands of Sankhas and hundreds of vRndas (Sankha and vRnda – these are units which will be detailed later in this sarga).
That duo which you see, who have no equal in war are called mainda and dvivida. They are ministers of sugrIva and have form like those of the gods. They are inhabitants of kishkindhA and have been specially created by lord brahma. Both of them have consumed to the nectar of immortality and are eager to destroy lanka with their splendour.
The duo next to them who are mountainous in stature are the sons of yama, the lord of death and are as powerful. They along with their army are casting their glare at lanka.
There whom you see stationed like an elephant, who can even torment the ocean with his anger, he has been to lanka before, and is known to you and vaidEhI. Look at him, he has returned! He is the elder son of the vAnara kEsari and is also the son of the wind god by his valour. He is famous by the name hanumAn and has leapt across the ocean. He can assume any form, is the best among the vAnaras, is endowed with might and a handsome form and is irresistible agility like the ever moving wind god himself. He was but a child when he sighted the rising sun and being hungry, leapt up three thousand yOjanas to swallow him to mitigate his hunger. He couldn’t be controlled by the gods or Rshis or demons and while going for the sun, he fell on the mountain from where the sun was rising. When he fell, one of his jaw hit a stone and was slightly displaced. Due to the strength of his jaw, he is known as hanumAn. He is known to me through my contacts. His might, form or influence is incomprehensible. He is raring to siege lanka on his own. The one by whose splendour you have been haunted, how do we forget him?
कामरूपीहरिश्रेष्टोबलरूपसमन्वितः ।
अनिवार्यगतिश्चैवयथासततगःप्रभुः ।।6.28.11।।
The one who is next to him, the great warrior, dark in complexion, has lotus like beautiful eyes, well known in the world for his supreme valour, an atiratha among the ikshvAkus, in whom unrighteousness never exists, who never transgresses dharma, who expertly wields the supreme brahmAstra, who is a knower of the vEdas and is the best among those who know it. He can go after the skies or destroy the mountain peaks with his arrows and his anger is deadly and heroism equal to that of indra. He is the one whose wife has been abducted by you from the janasthAna. He is rAma, O king who is coming to get you.
यस्मिन्नचलतेधर्मोयोधर्मंनातिवर्तते ।
योब्राह्ममस्त्रंवेदांश्चवेदवेदविदांवरः ।।6.28.19।।
यस्मिन्नचलतेधर्मोयोधर्मंनातिवर्तते ।
योब्राह्ममस्त्रंवेदांश्चवेदवेदविदांवरः ।।6.28.19।।
The one to his right in pure golden complexion, wide chested, copper eyed, black curled one is his brother by name lakshmaNa and is dear as life to rAma. He is an expert in statecraft, battle and in all the scriptures. He is a victor, hard to defeat, heroic, intelligent, powerful and is unforgiving. He is the right hand of rAma and is his life that runs exterior to him. For the sake of rAghava’s welfare he cares not for his life. He is keen to annihilate all the demons in battle.
नह्येषराघवस्यार्थेजीवितंपरिरक्षति ।
एषैवाशंसतेयुद्धेनिहन्तुंसर्वराक्षसान् ।।6.28.25।।
The one to the left of rAma and in his refuge, protected by demons, is king vibhIshaNa. The illustrious king of the kings (rAma) has coronated him as the king of lanka. He is also ready to fight this battle against you in resentment.
श्रीमताराजराजेनलङ्कायामभिषेचितः ।
त्वामेवप्रतिसंरब्दोयुद्धायैषोऽभिवर्तते ।।6.28.27।।
The one in the middle who is firm as a mountain, he is the undefeated lord of all the vAnaras. Just like the great himAlayas dwarfs all other mountains, he outshines everyone in lustre, intellect, fame, wisdom and pedigree. He lives in the inaccessible caves of kishkindhA protected by his warrior chiefs. Behold that golden garland of a hundred lotuses with lakshmI installed in it. It is hard for even men and the gods to covet this. This garland, tAra and the vAnara kingdom for eternity have been assigned to him by rAma after vanquishing vAli.
[The number system of bhArat]
The learned define a hundred hundred thousands as one kOTi (107) and a hundred thousand crores as Sankha (1012).
A hundred thousand Sankhas are known as a mahASankha (1017).
A hundred thousand mahASankhas are known as a vRnda (1022).
A hundred thousand vRndas are known as a mahAvRnda (1027).
A hundred thousand mahAvRndas are known as a padma (1032).
A hundred thousand padmas are known as a mahApadma (1037).
A hundred thousand mahApadmas are known as a kharva (1042).
A hundred thousand kharvas are known as a mahAkharva (1047).
A hundred thousand mahAkharvas are known as a samudra (1052).
A hundred thousand samudras are known as a mOgha (1057).
A hundred thousand mOghas are known as a mahougha (1062).
Thus surrounded by several crores, Sankhas, mahASankhas, vRndas, padmas, kharvas, samudras and mahoughas of vAnara army, vibhIshaNa and his ministers, the lord of the vAnaras, the mighty and valiant sugrIva is setting out for the war.
O king, behold this army that seems menacing like the burning planets and engage in a great effort that may secure victory for you and not defeat by the enemy.
Here we conclude the twenty eighth 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: 6.029. Different spies, same story!
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 