Summary
Ravana instructs Prahasta, chief of his army to defend the city of Lanka carefully. Prahasta positioned the army for defense accordingly at suitable places both inside and outside the city. Ravana then narrates how he brought beautiful Seetha to Lanka from Dandaka forest, because of his growing infatuation for her. Ravana asks his companions and relatives gathered there, to suggest ways and means to kill Rama and Lakshmana. Then, Kumbhakarna, Ravana's brother first accuses Ravana of his unworthy act but assures him that he would neutralize that dishonor by killing the enemies.
Chapter [Sarga] 12 in Detail
sa taam parisadam kritsnaam samiikshya samitimjayah |
prabodhayaamaasa tadaa prahastam vaahiniipatim || 6-12-1
Then, Ravana an eminent person in the assembly, having seen all that gathering, instructed Prahasta the chief of his army (as follows):
senaapate yathaa te syuh kritavidyaashcaturvidhaah |
yodhaa nagararakshaayaam tathaa vyaadestumarhasi || 6-12-2
"O, commander! You are allowed to issue an order to see that well-trained warriors belonging to the four divisions of the army (viz. cavalry, infantry, chariots and elephants) are entrusted with the defense of the city."
sa prahastah pratiitaatmaa cikiirsan raajashaasanam |
vinikshipad balam sarvam bahirantashca mandire || 6-12-3
Prahasta, resolute in his mind to follow the king's orders stationed the whole army both outside as well as inside the city.
tato vinikshipya balam sarvam nagaraguptaye |
prahastah pramukhe raajjno nisasaada jagaada ca || 6-12-4
Thereafter, Prahasta after keeping the whole army in defense of the city sat in front of the king and spoke (as follows):
vihitam bahirantashca balam balavatastava |
kurusvaavimanaah kshipram yadabhipretamasti te || 6-12-5
Your army, as strong as you are, has been positioned both outside and inside the city. Pray do quickly, with an undistracted mind, whatever is preferable to you."
prahastasya vachah shrutvaa raajaa raajyahitaisinah |
sukhepsuh suhridaam madhye vyaajahaara sa raavanah || 6-6-12
Hearing the words of Prahasta, who wished the welfare of the kingdom, king Ravana, with a desire to obtain happiness, spoke in the desire midst of his friends as follows:
priyaapriye sukha duhkham laabhaalaabhe sitaahite |
dharmakaamaarthakricchresu yuuyamaarhatha veditum || 6-12-7
When you are in difficult situations regarding virtue pleasure and wealth, you are able to have a correct notion of pleasant and unpleasant things, happiness and sorrow, gain and detriment as well as advantages and disadvantages."
sarvakrityaani yusmaabhih samaarabdhani sarvadaa |
mantrakarmaniyuktaani na jaatu viphalaani me || 6-12-8
"All of my works undertaken by you with an act of attention were never in vain."
sasomagrahanakshatrairmarudbhiriva vaasavah |
bhavadbhirahamatyartham vritah shriyamavaapnuyaam || 6-12-9
"I will obtain maximum prosperity, while abiding with you, as Indra obtains prosperity while abiding with moon, planets, stars and celestials."
aham tu khalu sarvanvah samarthayutumudyatah |
kumabhakarnasya tu svapnaannemamarthamacodayam || 6-12-10
"I am intent on reminding all of you again. But I could not inform this matter earlier to Kumbhakarna because of his sleep."
ayam hi suptah snmaasaan kumbhakarno mahaabalah |
sarvashastrabhritam mukhyah sa idaaniim samutthitah || 6-12-11
"This most powerful Kumbhakarna, the chief among all the wielders of weapons, was indeed sleeping for the last six months and now, he woke up."
iyam ca dandakaaranyaadraamasya mahisii priyaa |
rakshobhishcharitoddeshaadaaniitaa janakaatmajaa || 6-12-12
"Seetha the beloved wife of Rama was brought from the forest of Dandaka, the place frequented by demons."
saa me na shayyaamaarodhumicchatyalasagaaminii |
trisulokeshu caanyaa me na siitaasadrishii mataa || 6-12-13
Seetha of languid [slow] pace does not like to reach my bed. I do not imagine any other woman similar to Seetha existing in the three worlds."
tanumadhyaa prithushronii sharadindunibhaananaa |
hemabimbanibhaa saumyaamaayeva mayanirmitaa || 6-12-14
"She has a slim waist, well-developed hips, and a face similar to an autumnal moon. Looking like an idol of gold and being placid [calm] she appears like an illusory image created by Maya.
sulohitatalau shlakkshanau caranau supratisthatau |
dristvaa taamranakhau tasyaa diipyate me shariirajah || 6-12-15
"Seeing her feet with rose-colored soles, smooth and evenly resting on ground with the rosy soles, my lust is kindled."
hutaagnirarchihsamkaashaamenaam sauriimiva prabhaam |
unnasam vimalam valgu vadanam caarulocanam || 6-12-16
pashyamstadavashastasyaah kaamasya vashameyivaan |
"Seeing her countenance similar to the flame of a sacrificial fire and looking like the radiance of the sun, with her prominent nose and the pretty clear and handsome eyes, I became unrestrained, having submitted to the will of my passion."
krodhaharsasamaanena durvarnakaranena ca || 6-12-17
shokasamtaapanityena kaamena kalusiikritah |
"I have been polluted by lust and equally by anger and pleasure thus making me pale and I have been ever since in grief and anguish."
saa tu samvatsaram kaalam maamayaacata bhaaminii || 6-12-18
pratiikshamaanaa bhartaaram raamamaayatalocanaa |
tanmayaa caarunetraayaah pratijjnaatam vacah shubham || 6-12-19
shraanto.aham satatam kaamaadyaato haya ivaadhvani |
"Looking forward Rama, her husband, that longish large eyed Seetha, requested me to give time for one year. I accepted the auspicious words of the charmingly eyed Seetha. I am wearied of this lust, like a horse galloping along a path continuously."
katham saagaramakshobhyam tarishyanti vanaukasah || 6-12-20
bahusattvasamaakiirnam tau vaa dasharathaatmajau |
How the monkeys or even Rama and Lakshmana can cross the unassailable ocean, completely infested as it was with sea-animals?"
athavaa kapinaikena kritam nah kadanam mahat || 6-12-21
durjjneyaah kaaryagatayo bruuta yasya yathaamati |
"On the other hand, 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."
maanusaanno bhayam naasti tathaapi tu vimrishyataam || 6-12-22
tadaa devaasure yudde yusmaabhih sahito.ajayam |
te me bhavantashca tathaa sugriivapramukhaan hariin || 6-12-23
pare paare samudrasya puraskritya nripaatmajau |
siitaayaah padaviim praapya sampraaptau varunaalayam || 6-12-24
"We have no fear with human beings. Even so, the matter can be discussed. Earlier, together with you, I conquered the celestials in a battle between the celestials and demons. You also conquered them. Knowing the whereabouts of Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana together with Sugreeva and other monkeys reached the other shore of the ocean."
adeyaa ca yathaa siitaa vadhyau dasharathaatmajau |
bhavadbhirmantyrataam mantrah suniitam caabhidhiiyataam || 6-12-25
"Let a consultation be held by you and a judicious line of course suggested, so that Seetha may not have to be handed -over to them back and Rama and Lakshmana may be killed."
na hi shaktim prapashyaami jagatyanyasya kasyacit |
saagaram vaanaraistiirtvaa vishcayena jayo mama || 6-12-26
"I do not see any other's capability to cross the ocean even so with the monkeys. Victory is surely mine."
tasya kaamapariitasya nishamya paridevitam |
kumbhakarnah prachukrodha vacanam chedamabraviit || 6-12-27
Hearing the lamentation of Ravana who was captivated by lust, Kumbhakarna became angry and spoke the following words:
yadaa tu raamasya salakshmanasya |
prasahya siitaa khalu paa ihaa.ahritaa |
sakritsamiikshaiva sunishcitam tadaa |
bhajeta cittam yamuneva yaamunam || 6-12-28
"You should have contemplated thoroughly that very moment when Seetha was brought here forcibly only after a single impulsive thought from the hermitage of Rama, who was accompanied by Lakshmana, even like the river Yamuna, fills the depression at its source the moment it descends on earth."
sarvametanmahaaraaja kritamapratimam tava |
vidhiiyeta sahaasmaabhiraadaavevaasya karmanah || 6-12-29
"O, emperor! If all this act of consultation with us was done at the beginning of this action itself (of bringing Seetha here), it would have been worthy of you."
nyaayena raajakaaryaani yah karoti dashaanana |
na sa samtapyate pashcaannishcataarthamatirnripah || 6-12-30
"O, Ravana! A king, who performs king's functions with a mind duly ascertained by justice, will not repent thereafter."
anupaayena karmaani vipariitaani yaani ca |
kriyamaanaani dusyanti haviimsyaprayatesvina || 6-12-31
"Actions done perverted [corrupt] without use of any stratagem [trick] get spoiled, even as oblations not intent on devotion got spoiled.
yah pashcaatpuurvakaaryaani karmaanyabhicikiirsati |
puurvam caaparakaryaani na sa veda nayaanayau || 6-12-32
"He who is not aware of prudence and imprudence, wants to do actions which are to be done before at a later stage and actions which are to be done later at a stage before."
capalasya tu krityesu prasamiiksyaadhikam balam |
chidramanye prapadyante kraujncasya khamiva dvijaah || 6-12-33
"Seeing superior strength in a haste-full enemy, some look for his weak point, even as swans seek the cleavage [opening] in the Krouncha Mountain."
tvayedam mahaadaarabham kaarya mapraticintitam |
distyaa tvaam naavadhiidraamo visamishramivaamritam || 6-12-34
"This great act was undertaken by you without proper thinking. By good fortune, Rama did not kill you even as the meat mixed with poison would kill the consumer."
tasmaattvayaa samaarabdham karma hyapratimam paraih |
aham samiikarisyaami hatvaa shatruum stanaanagha || 6-12-35
"O, irreproachable brother! Therefore by killing your enemies, I shall neutralize the dishonorable act undertaken by you in relation to your enemies."
ahamutsaadayisyaami shatruumstava nishaacara |
yadi shakravivasvantau yadi paavakamaarutau || 6-12-36
taavaham yodhayisyaami kuberavarunaavapi |
"O, ranger of night! I shall destroy your enemies. I shall do battle with the two brothers, even if they are Indra and the sun-god or the god of fire and the wind-god or Kubera (the god of riches) and Varuna (the god of water).
girimaatrashariirasya mahaaparighayodhinah || 6-12-37
nardatastiikshnadamstrasya bibhiiyaadvai purandarah |
"Entering the combat with a mountain-sized body and fiery teeth, roaring the while and attacking with an immense bludgeon, I shall strike terror in Indra himself!"
punarmaam sadvitiiyena sharena nihanisyati || 6-12-38
tato.aham tasya paasyaami rudhiram kaamamaashvasa |
"Even before Rama strikes me once more with a second arrow, I shall drink his blood. Cheer up freely.
vadheva vai daasharatheh sukhaavaham |
jayam tavaahartumaham tayisye |
hatvaa ca raamam saha lakshmanena |
khaadaami sarvaan hariyuuthamukhyaan || 6-12-39
"I shall try to fetch victory, which brings pleasure to you, by the killing of Rama. By exterminating Rama along with Lakshmana, I shall devour all the leaders of monkey-troops."
ramasva kaamam piba caagryavaaruniim |
kurusva kaarvaani hitaani vijvarah |
mayaa tu raame gamite yamakshayam |
ciraaya siitaa vashagaa bhavisyati || 6-12-40
"Enjoy yourself freely. Drink excellent of wines to the extent of your desire without any anxiety. Rama, having been dispatched by me to the abode of death, Seetha will be at your disposal forever."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye yuddhakaande dvaadashah sargah
Thus completes 12th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate