Summary
Mahodara excitedly speaks to Kumbhakarna about the true character of virtue, worldly gain as well as sensuous pleasure in a person and supports Ravana for his actions. He advises Kumbhakarna not to go single-handed to fight with mighty Rama, but to take the army with him. Mahodara then suggests to Ravana a strategy to fulfill his purpose without a combat.
Chapter [Sarga] 64 in Detail
taduktamatikaayasya balino baahushaalinah |
kumbhakarnasya vachanam shrutvovaacha mahodarah || 6-64-1
Hearing those words spoken by the mighty Kumbhakarna of colossal body and large arms, Mahodara spoke as follows:
kumbhakarnakule jaato dhrishtah praakritadarshanah |
avalipto na shaknoshi krityam sarvatra veditum || 6-64-2
"O Kumbhakarna! Though born in a good race, you are audacious, having the perception of an ordinary man as also arrogant. You are unable to know the right to be done at all times."
na hi raajaa na jaanite kumbhakarna nayaanayau |
tvam tu kaishorakaaddhrishtah kevalam vaktumichchhasi || 6-64-3
"O Kumbhakarna! It is not that the king does not know about the prudent and the imprudent conducts. Due to childishness and audacity, you, on your part, are craving merely to talk."
sthaanam vriddhim cha haanim cha deshakaalavibhaagavit |
aatmanashcha pareshaam cha budhyate raakshasarshabha || 6-64-4
"The king of demons, knowing about apportioning of place and time, understands the subject about strengthening and mining (of relationships) as well as his own position and the position of others."
yattu shakyam balavataa kartum praakritabuddhinaa |
anupaasitavriddhena kah kuryaattaadrisham budhah || 6-64-5
"What would a wise man attempt to do that which cannot be achieved by a man of ordinary intellect, though strong, does not sever his elders?"
yaamstu dharmaarthakaamaamstvam bravishi prithagaashrayaan |
avaboddhum svabhaavena na hi lakshanamasti te || 6-64-6
"You are speaking as though virtue, wealth and pleasure are dwelling separately (in water-tight compartments). By their very nature, there is no accurate description to know those things."
karma chaiva hi sarveshaam kaaranaanaam prayojanam |
shreyah paapiiyasaam chaatra phalam bhavati karmanaam || 6-64-7
"Action alone is indeed the means to get all the consequences. Even sinful acts spring up into a fruit of prosperity!"
nihshreyasa phalaaveva dharmaarthaavitaraavapi |
adharmaanarthayoh praaptih phalam cha pratyavaayikam || 6-64-8
"Acts instrumental to virtue and wealth as well as other acts (instrumental to injustice and non-value) have just the prosperity as their fruit. But, acts instrumental to injustice and non-value gain the fruit of offence of omission."
aihalaukikapaaratryam karma pumbhirnishevyate |
karmaanyapi tu kalpyaani labhate kaamamaasthitah || 6-64-9
Living beings reap the fruit of good actions in this and in the other world. However, he who remains diligently devoted to actions with a view to attaining sensuous pleasure enjoys blessing even in this life."
tatra kliptamidam raagyaa hridi kaaryam matam cha nah |
shatrau hi saahasam yatsyaatkimivaatraapaniiyate || 6-64-10
"In such a situation, this act of pursuit of sensuous pleasure has been cherished in his heart by the king and was approved by us. What violation is there in doing this daring act against the enemy?"
ekasyaivaabhiyaane tu heturyah prakritastvayaa |
tatraapyanupapannam te vakshyaami yadasaadhu cha || 6-64-11
"Regarding the reason which you have adduced for marching all alone for the encounter, I shall tell you what is irrelevant and not so good."
yena purvam janasthaane bahavo.atibalaa hataah |
raakshasaa raaghavam tam tvam kathameko jayishyasi || 6-64-12
"How will you conquer, single-handed, that Rama by whom several mighty demons were destroyed in Janasthaana earlier."
ye puraa nirjitaastena janasthaane mahaujasah |
raakshasaamstaanpure sarvaanbhiitaanadyaapi pashyasi || 6-64-13
"Are you not seeing those frightened demons (though highly energetic) who are now staying in the City, but who were earlier conquered by Rama in Janasthaana?"
tam simhamiva sankruddham raamam dasharathaatmajam |
sarpam suptamivaabudhhyaa prabodhayitumichchhasi || 6-64-14
"Though you know that Rama, the son of Dasaratha, is like an enraged lion, you wish to awaken a serpent, who is sleeping."
jvalantam tejasaa nityam krodhena cha duraasadam |
kastam mrityumivaasahyamaasaadayitumarhati || 6-64-15
"Who would be competent to approach that Rama, who is forever shining with a splendor, dangerous to catch-up and as unbearable as death?"
samshayasthamidam sarvam shatroh pratisamaasane |
ekasya gamanam tatra na hi me rochate tava || 6-64-16
"Standing face-to-face with that enemy is all remaining in doubt. Going there single-handed does not indeed find favor with me."
hiinaarthastu samriddhaartham ko ripum praakrito yathaa |
nishchitam jiivitatyaage vashamaanetumichchhati || 6-64-17
"Having lost his advantage, who would feel inclined to reduce to submission, an enemy, who is rich in advantage and determined to lay down his life, as an ordinary person?"
yasya naasti manushyeshu sadrisho raakshasottama |
kathamaashamsase yoddhum tulyenendravivasvatoh || 6-64-18
"O Kumbhakarna, the foremost among the demons! How do you wish to combat with Rama, with whom none in the human beings is equal and who is equal of Indra and the sun?"
evamuktvaa tu samrabdham kumbhakarnam mahodarah |
uvaacha rakshasaam madhye raavano lokaraavanam || 6-64-19
Having thus spoken to the enraged Kumbhakarna, Mahodara on his part spoke as follows, in the midst of demons, to Ravana, who made the people cry.
labdhvaa punastaam vaidehiim kimartham tvam prajalpasi |
yadechchhasi tadaa siitaa vashagaa te bhavishyati || 6-64-20
"Why are you delaying further, after having captured Seetha already? If you do so wish, Seetha will be submissive to you."
drishtah kashchidupaayo me siitopasthaanakaarakah |
ruchitashchetsvayaa buddhyaa raakshaseshvara tam shrinu || 6-64-21
"Some strategy has been discovered by me, as a means of bringing her round. If it is found agreeable to your intellect, then listen to it.
aham dvijihvah samhraadii kumbhakarno vitardanah |
pancharaamavadhaayaite niryaantiityavaghoshaya || 6-64-22
"Announce (by a beat of drum in the city-streets) that myself, Dvijihva, Samhraadi, Kumbhakarna and Vitardana these five demons are setting out for the battle to kill Rama."
tato gatvaa vayam yuddham daasyaamastasya yatnatah |
jeshyaamo yadi te shatrunnopaayaih krityamasti nah || 6-64-23
"Thereupon, having gone to the battle field deliberately, we shall give him a fight. If we conquer your enemies, there is no need for any strategies to us."
atha jiivati nah shatrurvayam cha kritasamyugaah |
tatah samabhipatsyaamo manasaa yatsamiikshitum || 6-64-24
"Otherwise, if our enemy survives, we, who have engaged in the fight, then shall implement the plan which was resolved by us in the mind."
vayam yuddhaadihaishyaamo rudhirena samukshitaah |
vidaaryaa svaataanum baanai raamanaamaankitaih shitaih || 6-64-25
“Moistened with blood on having our bodies torn with arrows marked with the name of Rama engraved on them, we shall come back here from the battle."
bhakshito raaghavo.asmaabhirlakshmanashcheti vaadinah |
tava paadau grahiishyaamastvam nah kaama prapuraya || 6-64-26
Saying "Rama as well as Lakshmana has been devoured by us", we shall clasp your feet. You fully grant our desire."
tatoavaghoshaya pure gajaskandhena paarthiva |
hato raamah saha bhraatraa sasainya iti sarvatah || 6-64-27
"O king! Then, have it proclaimed by beating of trumpets in the entire city, on the back of an elephant, that Rama has been killed along with his brother and his army."
priito naama tato bhutvaa bhrityaanaam tvamarindama |
bhogaamshcha parivaaraamshcha kaamaamshcha vasudaapaya || 6-64-28
"O annihilator of enemies! Becoming pleased for the name-sake, arrange to bestow on your servants, objects of enjoyment, other desired objects and gold."
tato maalyaani vaasaamsi viiraanaam anulepanam |
deyam cha bahu yodhebhyah svayam cha muditah piba || 6-64-29
"Then, present garlands, garments and cosmetics to champions as well as abundant gifts to other warriors. Drink yourself delighted."
tato.asminbahuliibhute kauliine sarvato gate |
bhaksitah sasuhridraamo raaksasairiti vishrute || 6-64-30
pravishyaashvaasya chaapi tvam siitaam rahasi saantvaya |
dhanadhaanyaishcha kaamaishcha ratnaishchainaam pralobhaya || 6-64-31
"When this thick rumor has gone to all sides that Rama along with his companions have been devoured by the demons and you approach Seetha in private and restoring her to confidence and even conciliating her, tempt her with gold and grain, as well as luxuries and precious tones."
anayopadhayaa raajanbhayashokaanubandhayaa |
akaamaa tvadvasham siitaa nashtanaathaa gamishyati || 6-64-32
"By this false pretence, creating fear and anguish, Seetha who thinks she lost her husband, will submit reluctantly to your will."
ramaniiyam hi bhartaaram vinashtamavagamya saa |
nairaashyaatstriilaghutvaachcha tvadvasham pratipatsyate || 6-64-33
"Believing that her charming husband is destroyed, Seetha from her hopelessness and feminine feeling of flexibility will come to your will."
saa puraa sukhasamvriddhaa sukhaarhaa duhkhakarshitaa |
tvayyadhiinah sukham gyaatvaa sarvathopagamishyati || 6-64-34
"Seetha, who grew up with comfort, who is deserving of happiness; but emaciated with grief, knowing that her happiness depends on you, will by all means come near to you."
etatsuniitam mama darshanena
raamam hi drishtvaiva bhavedanarthah |
ihaiva te setsyati motsukobhuu |
rmahaanayuddhena sukhasya laabhah || 6-64-35
"After contemplating very well, I have conveyed like this. As soon as you see Rama, a calamity will happen. While you stay here itself without fighting, you will obtain a great benefit of happiness. Do not become restless."
anashtasainyo hyanavaaptasamshayo
ripuunayuddhena jayan janaadhipa |
yashashcha punyam cha mahanmahiipate |
shriyam cha kiirtim cha chiram samashnute || 6-64-36
"O king! An emperor who conquers his enemies without losing his army, without meeting with danger and without a combat will obtain for long, a great fame, merit, prosperity and glory."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye yuddhakaande chatuhsastitamah sargah
Thus completes 64th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate