December 18 - Sarga 41 of Yuddha Kanda.
Sri Rama chides Sugriva for his impetuous attack on Ravana which could have ended badly. He later leads the sea-like vanara army to take their positions at the four gates under the designated commanders. He then sends Angada to deliver a final warning to Ravana.
***
सुग्रीवं संपरिष्वज्य रामो वचनमब्रवीत् -
असम्मन्त्र्य मया सार्धं तदिदं साहसं कृतं
एवं साहसयुक्तानि न कुर्वन्ति जनेश्वराः
"Sri Rama gave a good embrace to Sugriva on his return and spoke-
"Oh, dear Sugriva, your impetuous attack without consulting with me about its merits should not have been done, given that you are a king.""
Implying that going alone right into the den of Ravana unprepared could jeopardize his life, Sri Rama said that if at all Sugriva had not returned alive, the whole attack on Lanka would have become a failure. Sri Rama would then have still destroyed Ravana and his folk and established Vibhishana as the king. He would then have handed over Ayodhya to Bharata and would have given up his own life. Sri Rama said neither Sita nor his brothers mattered to him any more than Sugriva.
Sugriva had only one reply. तव भार्यापहर्तारं दृष्ट्वा कथं मर्षयामि "How could I not react on seeing that Ravana who dared abduct your wife?" Sri Rama had only an affectionate nod in response.
***
Sri Rama now says the time has come to prepare for attack. He notices many omens signifying the imminent bloodshed. He points several omens to Lakshmana, but I will quote only one-
काकाः श्येनास्तथा गृध्राः नीचैः परिपतन्ति च ।
शिवाश्वप्यशुभावाचः प्रवदन्ति महास्वनाः ॥
"Crows, eagles, and vultures are all flying low, relishing the prospect of a feast of carcasses. The wild foxes are also making inauspicious sounds loudly."
क्षिप्रमद्य दुराधर्षां पुरीं रावणपालिताम् ।
अभियाम जवेनैव सर्वतो हरिभिर्वृताः ॥
"Let us with our immense vanara army surround the impregnable Lanka ruled by Ravana and attack from all sides with full force and speed."
Sri Rama again gives detailed instructions and the vanara commanders go and take their respective positions at the eastern, western, southern, and northern gates, as well as prepare to attack directly right into Lanka's centre. Sri Rama and Lakshmana lead the attack at the northern gate where Ravana will himself come to war. Valmiki says that the uncountably large army of formidable vanaras that you saw everywhere ready to strike could only be compared with an attack by an immense army of locusts.
***
Sri Rama then conferred with the sagacious Vibhishana on the art of diplomacy and called Angada to his side. He asked him to go at once to Ravana with a message -
ब्रूहि मद्वचनात्कपे लङ्घयित्वा पुरीं लङ्कां भयं त्यक्त्वा गतव्यथः - "Oh Angada, take this message from me directly to Ravana in Lanka, be fearless and resolute."
Sri Rama's message was a stern warning that Ravana's time was up unless he immediately respectfully restored Sita to Sri Rama. Ravana could not escape death from his arrows even if he fled away in the form of a bird to any corner of creation. He should finish his own last rites as he and everyone else on his side would soon be exterminated.
Angada took off like a shooting flame into the sky and descended right into the presence of Ravana while he was holding his council. Angada was resplendent in his princely attire.
He spoke directly to Ravana, looking him straight in the eye.
दूतोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः ।
वालिपुत्रोऽङ्गदो नाम यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः ॥
"Know me as the emissary of Sri Rama, the king of Kosala, for whom no task is impossible. I am Vali's son, Angada, and perhaps you have heard of me."
"Here is Sri Rama's message to you, Ravana!"
निष्पत्य प्रतियुद्ध्यस्व नृशंसपुरुषो भव - "Come out and face me in battle like a brave man!"
शत्रुमद्योद्धरिष्यामि त्वां ऋषीणां च कङ्टकम् - "I shall eliminate you, the menace to rishis and others too."
विभीषणस्य चैश्वर्यं भविष्यति हते त्वयि । न चेत्सत्कृत्य वैदेहीं प्रणिपत्य प्रदास्यसि - "Vibhishana will be crowned with all prosperity on your death, unless you restore Sita to me bowing down in contrition and showing every respect."
Ravana heard these words and completely lost his cool. He shouted, "Catch him and kill him!", Right away, four fierce rakshasas came and caught hold of Angada, two on each arm. Angada stood motionless, biding his time. Suddenly, Angada shot up onto the terrace, just as those four rakshasas were still hanging on to his arms. They all dropped down and hit the ground as he went up and landed on the terrace. Angada then started walking menacingly, stomping on the terrace.
पफाल च पदाक्रान्तं पुरा हिमवतः शृङ्गं वज्रेणेव विदारितम् - "That palatial terrace was shattered under the force of Angada's blows with his feet, just as the Himalaya itself had once been cleaved by Indra's thunderbolt."
भङ्क्त्वा प्रासादशिखरं नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः विनद्य सुमहानादमुत्पपात विहायसा "Announcing his triumphant name, and giving an earth-shattering roar, Angada destroyed the terrace and its turrets and rose up high into the sky."
Angada landed near Sri Rama soon, to the celebrations of all the vanaras.
Ravana was now even more enraged, seeing his terrace and its turrets shattered in a few moments.
विनाशं चात्मनः पश्यन् निःश्वासपरमोऽभवत् "Ravana saw his own end was near, and gave a big sigh of dismay."
***
Sushena led an immense army of redoubtable vanaras and took hold of all the four entrance ways of Lanka, amidst terrific roars of the vanara army. This completely enervated the rakshasas inside. Valmiki says that the vanara army was of one hundred akshauhini-strength, all on the attack.
हाहाकारमकुर्वन्ति राक्षसा भयमागताः - "The rakshasas sounded their sense of terror very loudly."
The rakshasa army chiefs reacted by picking up deadly weapons and began their countermoves.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
