Summary
All the demons of King Ravana present there namely Prahasta, Durmukha, Vajradamshtra, Nikumbha and Vajrahanu, eulogizing their strengths, assure the king that they can individually kill Rama and his army within no time.
Chapter [Sarga] 8 in Detail
tato niila ambuda nibhah prahasto naama raaksasah |
abraviit praajnjalir vaakyam shuurah senaa patistadaa || 6-8-1
A valiant demon by name Prahasta, the commander-in-chief, appearing like a dark cloud, joined his palms in salutation and spoke these words.
deva daanava gandharvaah pishaacapatagauragaah |
na tvaam dharsayitum shaktaah kim punar vaanaraa rane || 6-8-2
“All gods, demons, Gandharvas, devils, birds and serpents can be attacked by you in battle. Why to talk about two human beings?”
sarve pramattaa vishvastaa vancitaah sma hanuumataa |
na hi me jiivato gacchej jiivan sa vana gocarah || 6-8-3
“All of us, in good faith but with negligence, were cheated by Hanuma. That monkey cannot go alive, while I am alive.”
sarvaam saagara paryantaam sashaila vana kaananaam |
karomi avaanaraam bhuumim aaj~naapayatu maam bhavaan || 6-8-4
“I shall make the entire earth extending upto the ocean, along with mountains forests and woods, bereft of monkeys. You command me.”
raksaam caiva vidhaasyaami vaanaraad rajanii cara |
na aagamisyati te duhkham kimcid aatma aparaadhajam || 6-8-5
“Oh, Ravana! I shall arrange for your defense from that monkey. Not a little trouble will come to you on account of your guilt (abduction of Seetha).”
abraviittam susamkruddho durmukho naama raaksasah |
idam na ksamaniiyam hi sarvesaam nah pradharsanam || 6-8-6
A demon by name Durmukha, being seriously enraged, spoke to him as follows: “This humiliation meted out to us by that monkey is indeed not to be tolerated.”
ayam paribhavo bhuuyah purasya antah purasya ca |
shriimato raaksasa indrasya vaanara indra pradharsanam || 6-8-7
“This insult to the city of Lanka and the palaces together with attack by Sugreeva on the glorious Ravana are still outrageous.”
asmin muhuurte hatvaa eko nivartisyaami vaanaraan |
pravistaan saagaram bhiimam ambaram vaa rasaa talam || 6-8-8
“Proceeding at this moment alone, I shall destroy those monkeys, whether they entered the ocean or the subterranean region or the sky.”
tato abraviit susamkruddho vajra damstro mahaabalah |
pragrihya parigham ghoram maamsa shonita ruupitam || 6-8-9
Thereafter the very strong Vajradamshtra, beset with great anger, took hold of a terrific iron club smeared with flesh and blood and spoke (as follows):
kim no hanumataa kaaryam kripanena tapasvinaa |
raame tisthati durdharse sugriive saha laksmane || 6-8-10
“What work for us with that pitiable and miserable Hanuma, when Rama along with Lakshmana and Sugreeva who are difficult to be conquered exist?”
adya raamam sasugriivam parighena salaksmanam |
aagamisyaami hatvaa eko viksobhya hari vaahiniim || 6-8-11
“Now itself, with this iron club, killing Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva after perturbing the army of monkeys, I shall come back.”
idam mamaaparam vaakyam shrinu raajanyadiicchasi |
upaayakushalo hyeva jayecchatrunatandritah || 6-8-12
“Oh, king! If you are willing, hear my words further. One who is skilled din a stratagem alone will be without lassitude and can indeed defeat the enemies.”
kaamaruupadharaah shuuraah subhiimaa bhiimadarshanaah |
raakshasaa vaa sahasraani raakshasaadhipa nishchitaah || 6-8-13
kaakutthsamupasamgamya bibhrato maanusam vapuh |
sarve hyasambhramaa bhuutvaa bruvantu raghusattamam || 6-8-14
O, king of demons! Thousands of demons able to change their form at will courageaous appalling terrifying to look at and firm (in their purpose) can wear human body approach Rama without embarrassment and all speak to Rama (as follows).
presitaa bharatenaiva bhraatraa tava yaviiyasaa |
sa hi senaam samutthaapya kshipramevopayaasyati || 6-8-15
“We have been dispatched by Bharata, your younger brother. He is summoning his forces and will surely come here soon.”
tato vayamitasturnam shuulashaktigadaadharaah |
caapabaanaasihastashcha tvaritaastatra yaamahe || 6-8-16
“Carrying spikes, javelins and maces together with arrows and swords in hand, we will quickly go there from here soon.”
aakaashe ganashah sthitvaa hatvaa taam harivaahiniim |
ashmashastramahaavristvaa praapayaam yamakshayam || 6-8-17
“Standing as groups in the sky and beating that army of monkeys with a mighty hail of stones and missiles, we should send them to the world of Death.”
evam cedupasarpetaamanayam raamalakshmanau |
avashyamapaniitena jahataameva jiivitam || 6-8-18
“If Rama and Lakshmana thus approach softly into our trap they will surely abandon their lives as they are taken away by the trap.”
kaumbhakarnis tato viiro nikumbho naama viiryavaan |
abraviit parama kurddho raavanam loka raavanam || 6-8-19
Thereafter Kumbhakarna’s son, by name Nikumbha, strong and powerful, became very angry and spoke (as follows) to Ravana, who made people cry.
sarve bhavantas tisthantu mahaaraajena samgataah |
aham eko hanisyaami raaghavam saha laksmanam || 6-8-20
sugriivam sahanuumantam sarvaamshchaivaatra vaanaraan |
All of you stay along with the king. I alone will kill there, Rama along with Lakshmana, Sugreeva along with Hanuma and all the monkeys also.
tato vajrahanurnaama raakshasah parvatopamah || 6-8-21
kruddhah parilihan vaktram jihvayaa vaakyam abraviit |
Then, a demon by name Vajrahanu who resembled a mountain, becoming enraged and licking the corners of his mouth with his tongue, spoke as follows:
svairam kurvantu kaaryaani bhavanto vigata jvaraah || 6-8-22
eko aham bhaksayisyaami taan sarvaan hari yuuthapaan |
svasthaah kriidantu nishcintaah pibantu madhu vaaruniim || 6-8-23
“You do your occupations freely redeemed of mental pain, play comfortably and drink spirituous liquor without any worry. I alone will devour the entire army of monkeys.”
aham eko hanisyaami sugriivam saha laksmanam |
sa angadam ca hanuumantam raamam ca rana kunjaram || 6-8-24
At this time I alone will kill Sugreeva along with Lakshmana Hanuma along with Angada and all monkeys.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye astamah sargah
Thus completes 8th Chapter of Yuddha Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate