November 28 - Sargas 5 and 6 of Yuddha Kanda.
Sri Rama muses on his situation, whereas Ravana prepares for war.
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Nila marshalls all the vanaras into the camps on the sea-side. Mainda and Dvivida protect the camps.
Sri Rama speaks melancholically to Lakshmana that thoughts of Sita and the ultimatum she is serving are causing him great sorrow.
वाहि वात यतः कान्ता तां स्पृष्ट्वा मामापि स्पृश ।
त्वयि मे गात्रसंस्पर्शश्चन्द्रे दृष्टिस्मागमः ॥
"Oh Wind-god, please touch my beloved Sita and then blow over to me carrying the spirit of that touch. If you do so, I will feel in my limbs a delight that one would feel on sighting the beautiful moon (unexpectedly.)"
Sri Rama suggests that Lakshmana should stay on the shore and Sri Rama will dive into the ocean and sleep, cooling himself from the burning separation from Sita. He craves for Sita's embrace. He mourns her situation of being held captive, a princess of Mithila and the daughter-in-law of Ikshwakus who should have enjoyed royal comforts. He is highly impatient to go and kill Ravana and the rakshasas and bring Sita back. It is evenfall. Lakshmana consoles him and Sri Rama goes to do the evening Sandhya prayer.
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Ravana is holding court. He takes stock of all the events just gone by and the extensive damage done to Lanka by Hanuman. He shamefacedly tells his chiefs that Hanuman not only breached their security, met with Sita, but also unleashed his terror on Lanka. He asks the wise counsel to advise what is to be done now.
मन्त्रमूलं च विजयं प्रवदन्ति मनस्विनः ।
तस्माद् वै रोचये मन्त्रं रामं प्रति महाबलाः ॥
"Oh my brave warriors and counsellors, the learned and intelligent men say that good advice from ministers is key to a king' success. Please tell me what should be done next to take care of Rama."
"There are three categories of men. Those who take counsel from capable wellwishers and close relatives and go about their mission trusting Divinity are placed in the best category. The middle-level men take their decisions on their own, focus on one task at a time and go about it well trusting Dharma. The lowest category is of those who act without due deliberation and act with disregard to Divinity.
"Similarly, the quality of counsel from the ministers falls into three categories. The best one is where all of them have unanimity of advice from the word go. The middle ones start with differing advice but converge to a consensus finally. The worst ones show up differences and quarrel among themselves, sacrificing the prospect of good outcomes. You are, all, wise. Confer among yourselves and come up with a course of recommended action for me."
तरिष्यति च सुव्यक्तं राघवः सागरं सुखम् ।
तरसा युक्तरूपेण सानुजः सबलानुगः ॥
"My question is in this context - Rama is going to easily and quickly cross the ocean and come here for battle, along with his brother as well as his army.
"Indeed, Rama may even dry up the ocean to attack Lanka. He may come up with another plan. So we should be prepared to defend Lanka."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
