December 10 - Sargas 25 and 26 of Yuddha Kanda.
Ravana is incredulous to hear that Sri Rama and his army have built a bridge to Lanka over the sea and are camping on its outskirts. He sends his two ministers Shuka and Sarana to go in disguise and penetrate the vanara army to discover the details of their military commanders and army arrangements.
They are soon discovered by Vibhishana. He takes them to Sri Rama who smilingly allows them to gather all the military information and report to Ravana adding his stern warning of the impending destruction of the entire Lanka.
Ravana is advised by these two to give up Sita. He is livid. He repeats his favourite line that nobody can scare him and make him give up Sita.
Ravana personally goes to his palace's high balcony and asks Sarana to point to the vanara chiefs and their strengths. Sarana begins a long narrative.
***
Ravana sent for his able ministers Shuka and Sarana. This Shuka is different from the one who just came back and reported to Ravana.
Ravana says to them:
अभूतपूर्वं रामेण सागरे सेतुबन्धनम् - "Rama's building a bridge over the ocean is unprecedented. "
तं श्रद्दध्यां न कथञ्चन - "I would never believe such a thing can be done ever."
भवन्तौ वानरं सैन्यं प्रविश्यानुपलक्षितौ परिमाणं च वीर्यं च ये च मुख्याः प्लवङ्गमाः
"You two please go incognito and discover the exact strengths and numbers in the vanara army, and who are the chief warriors there. Who are Sugriva's and Rama's confidants and advisors? Who are indeed notable for their bravery? How did he manage to build that bridge? How and where have the vanaras encamped now? Indeed it is vital to know what are Rama's military attributes, his courage, his special weapons if any. The same thing about Lakshmana. After you find out everything about them and the vanara chiefs, come back quickly and report to me. शीघ्रमागन्तुमर्हथः "
Shuka and Sarana immediately assumed the forms of vanaras and went into Sugriva's army.
Their jaws dropped to see a breathtaking sea of vanaras of great prowess. Their hairs stood on end. It was impossible to count or assess the details. Vanaras filled every bit of space on the shore, on mountains, near rivers, in forests, in caves, and still, there were thousands coming over the bridge, and at the other end, there were thousands waiting to cross! Some detachments had made tents. Some were making tents.
Unfortunately for Shuka and Sarana, they were quickly discovered by Vibhishana despite their vanara disguise. They were sternly treated and taken prisoners to Sri Rama. The two assumed the worst and expected to be put to death.
They bowed low in utter fright and spoke meekly: "Oh gentle Sri Rama! We have been sent by our lord Ravana to find out everything about your military strengths and the army's numbers."
अब्रवीत् प्रहसन् वाक्यं सर्वभूतहिते रतः - "Sri Rama, Dasharatha's son, who was interested in the welfare of all beings, smilingly said:
"Of course! I hope you have had a good look at everything! Did you find out our strengths by going around incognito? If you are done, please go back and report to Ravana. Or, if you have not seen some details or quarters, lord Vibhishana himself will escort you and show you everything! Have absolutely no fear for your lives. You are unarmed and are only Ravana's messengers. Lord Vibhishana! These two have come to spy on us and find out our military strength. Anyway, you have exposed them. Now would you please let them go.
"One thing though! When you two spies enter Lanka and debrief Ravana, please convey my following words.
यद्बलं त्वं समाश्रित्य सीतां मे हृतवानसि ।
तद्दर्शय यथा कामं ससैन्यश्च सबानधवः ॥
श्वः काले नगरीं लङ्कां सप्राकारां सतोरणां ।
रक्षसां च बलं पश्य शरैर्विध्वंसितं मया ॥
क्रोधं भीममहं मोक्ष्ये ससैन्ये त्वयि रावण ।
श्वः काल्ये वज्रवान् वज्रं दानवेष्विव वासवः ॥
"Oh Ravana! You who are arrogant with whatever your powers you trusted while abducting my wife Sita, watch tomorrow morning those very powers, along with your army, and all your people, being totally destroyed by my arrows. Your city Lanka with its ramparts and huge, guarded gates, will be razed to the ground along with the rakshasas. I shall unleash such fury over your army that I will be like Indra with his infallible thunderbolt when he attacked the danavas. "
Shuka and Sarana intently absorbed these words. They bowed low in gratitude for their lives being spared. They hailed Sri Rama and hailed his forthcoming victory जयेति प्रतिनन्द्यैनं राघवं "Victory to Raghava!" they said, and directly went to Ravana in Lanka.
***
विभीषणगृहीतौ तु वधार्थं राक्षसेश्वर ।
दृष्ट्वा धर्मात्मना मुक्तौ रामेण अमिततेजसा ॥
"Oh supreme lord of rakshasas, Ravana! As soon as we went there, we were caught by Vibhishana. We were taken for awarding death punishment by Sri Rama. Sri Rama, of incomparable glory, with his soul immersed in Dharma, released us alive, without harm!"
You can guess the rest of their debrief.
"Glorious Sri Rama, the great Lakshmana, Vibhishana, and King Sugriva who matches Mahendra in prowess, these four alone are sufficient to destroy Lanka, oh lord! No army is needed!
यादृशन्तद्धि रामस्य रूपं प्रहरणानि च ।
वधिष्यति पुरीं लङ्कामेकस्तिष्ठन्तु ते त्रयः ॥
"Indeed, seeing Sri Rama's formidable form, and his array of divine weapons, he alone can single-handedly destroy Lanka and his enemies, oh lord! In fact, the other three - Lakshmana, Vibhishana and Sugriva, can remain mere witnesses!"
"We can tell you lord that the vanara army of Sugriva under Sri Rama's and Lakshmana's command is so vast and so formidable that it cannot be defeated even by all the gods and demons put together. They are raring to launch their terrific attack on Lanka. "
अलं विरोधेन शमो विधीयतां प्रदीयतां दाशरथाय मैथिली
"Oh lord, as your ministers, this is our final advice. Enough of this enmity, lord. Your only course is to make peace with Sri Rama and return Maithili Sita to him and avert the war."
***
Ravana replied. "Look, even if gods and demons attack me all together at once, I shall not give up Sita. "
He repeated his pet line: नैवं सीतामहं दद्यां सर्वलोकभयादापि - " I shall not give up Sita even if the whole world tries to scare me."
"Oh Sarana, I sympathize with you. After all, you were so badly treated by the vanaras that you have not yet recovered from your fright. That is why you are asking me to give back Sita to Rama. But do you realize that there is none, I repeat none, who can defeat me in battle?"
Ravana did not hide his anger at his two ministers.
Then he decided to take a look himself. He proceeded to his magnificent high terrace, and taking Sarana with him, asked him to point out the various vanara chiefs and describe their prowess. But Ravana was himself not prepared for what he saw- the endless vanara army everywhere around Lanka!
के पूर्वमभिवर्तन्ते महोत्साहाः समन्ततः केषां शृणोति सुग्रीवः - "Tell me Sarana, among those vanaras we can see from here, who are indeed the foremost warriors, full of military enthusiasm, and whom does Sugriva listen to for advice?"
Sarana replied:
"Oh Lord, that terrific warrior, surrounded by thousands of military leaders, roaring as he is focussed on Lanka, whose roar is reverberating through the entire city, is the vanara commander Nila. He leads them from the front.
"That incredibly huge, powerful warrior, spitting fury, of a lotus-like hue and big as a mountain, striking the earth menacingly with his tail, has been anointed by Sugriva as the prince. His name is Angada, and in every way, he is the equal of his father Vali. See, he is calling you for battle! Like Varuna thunders and rains to please Indra, Angada will do anything to please Sri Rama.
"Lord, it was this clever Angada who put up Hanuman to come here and discover Sita.
"That one behind Angada is Nala, who built the bridge over the ocean. There are thousands and thousands of vanaras under his command, all eager for battle, normally encamped in the sandalwood forest.
"That silver-coloured chief is Shweta. His job is to constantly egg the army on and fill all ranks with military passion. That chief is Kumuda, who rules over a huge army, stationed usually on the banks of the Gomati. Look at his impressive tail, with its multicoloured hairs!
"That ruthless vanara chief is Chanda. That one with leoline manes is Rambha. He wants to single-handedly burn down Lanka. He normally roams the mountains in Vindhyas southwards. That fearless warrior with his ears dancing in military eagerness is Sharabha. He fears not death. He is roaring like a lion. That one bringing up the rear, with his unbearably loud roar, is Panasa. That one Vinata is supervising the army just on the ocean shore, and that army looks as vast as the ocean itself! Then there is Krodhana, Gavaya..."
Sarana gives the details of which regions and vanara detachments each of these mighty vanaras rule usually.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
