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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 90: Lakṣmaṇa suspects Bharata’s army
Summary. He recognizes the banner, assumes an attack and urges Rāma to extinguish the fire, hide Sītā and prepare to fight
Sequence
- The approaching army raises dust and noise, sending animals fleeing (2.90.1–4)
- Rāma asks Lakṣmaṇa to find out whether a ruler is hunting nearby or some other danger has disturbed the forest (2.90.5–6)
- Lakṣmaṇa climbs a tree and sees the army to the north → he tells Rāma to put out the fire, hide Sītā in a cave, and prepare his weapons (2.90.7–10)
- recognizing Bharata's banner, he assumes Bharata has come to kill them after securing the throne (2.90.11–14)
- he urges taking a defensible position and attacking (2.90.15–17)
- he argues that killing the supposed aggressor would be justified (2.90.18–19)
- his anger grows into threats against Bharata, Kaikeyī, and the army. (2.90.20–25)
Verses 2.90.1–25
2.90.1
tathā tatrāsatas tasya bharatasyopayāyinaḥ
sainya reṇuś ca śabdaś ca prādurāstāṃ nabhaḥ spṛśau
As Bharata thus tarried there and advanced, the dust and the din of the army arose, touching the sky.
Words: tathā — thus, so; tatrāsatas — as he stayed there; tasya — his; bharatasyopayāyinaḥ — of Bharata as he advanced; sainya reṇuś — the dust of the army; ca — and; śabdaś — and the noise; ca — and; prādurāstāṃ — the two arose, appeared; nabhaḥ spṛśau — touching the sky (dual)
2.90.2
etasminn antare trastāḥ śabdena mahatā tataḥ
arditā yūthapā mattāḥ sayūthā dudruvur diśaḥ
At that moment, terrified by the great noise, the rutting herd-leaders, tormented, fled with their herds in all directions.
Words: etasminn antare — at that moment; trastāḥ — terrified; śabdena mahatā — by the great noise; tataḥ — then; arditā — tormented; yūthapā — the herd-leaders; mattāḥ — rutting, in must; sayūthā — together with their herds; dudruvur — fled; diśaḥ — in the directions
2.90.3
sa taṃ sainyasamudbhūtaṃ śabdaṃ śuśrava rāghavaḥ
tāṃś ca vipradrutān sarvān yūthapān anvavaikṣata
Rāghava heard that noise raised by the army, and gazed upon all those herd-leaders fleeing away.
Words: sa — he; taṃ — that; sainyasamudbhūtaṃ — arisen from the army; śabdaṃ — the noise; śuśrava — heard; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Rāma); tāṃś — and those; ca — and; vipradrutān — fleeing, scattering; sarvān — all; yūthapān — the herd-leaders; anvavaikṣata — looked upon, observed
2.90.4
tāṃś ca vidravato dṛṣṭvā taṃ ca śrutvā sa niḥsvanam
uvāca rāmaḥ saumitriṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ dīptatejasaṃ
Seeing them fleeing and hearing that din, Rāma said to Saumitri — Lakṣmaṇa of blazing splendor:
Words: tāṃś — and those; ca — and; vidravato — fleeing, running off; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; taṃ ca — and that; śrutvā — having heard; sa — he; niḥsvanam — the din, sound; uvāca — said; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṃ — to Saumitri (son of Sumitrā); lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; dīptatejasaṃ — of blazing splendor
2.90.5
hanta lakṣmaṇa paśyeha sumitrā suprajās tvayā
bhīmastanitagambhīras tumulaḥ śrūyate svanaḥ
“Ah, Lakṣmaṇa, look here — in you Sumitrā has a noble son! A tumultuous sound is heard, deep as terrible thunder.
Words: hanta — ah!, come now; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; paśyeha — look here; sumitrā — Sumitrā (your mother); suprajās — having a noble son; tvayā — through you, by you; bhīmastanitagambhīras — deep as terrible thunder; tumulaḥ — tumultuous, loud; śrūyate — is heard; svanaḥ — the sound
2.90.6
rājā vā rājamātro vā mṛgayām aṭate vane
anyad vā śvāpadaṃ kiṃ cit saumitre jñātum arhasi
sarvam etad yathātattvam acirāj jñātum arhasi
Either a king, or one of royal rank, roams the forest in the hunt — or perhaps it is some other wild beast, Saumitri; you should find out. You should soon learn all this exactly as it is.
Words: rājā vā — either a king; rājamātro vā — or one of royal rank; mṛgayām — the hunt, chase; aṭate — roams, wanders; vane — in the forest; anyad vā — or some other; śvāpadaṃ — wild beast, beast of prey; kiṃ cit — some; saumitre — O Saumitri; jñātum arhasi — you should find out; sarvam etad — all this; yathātattvam — exactly as it is; acirāj — soon, before long; jñātum arhasi — you should learn
2.90.7
sa lakṣmaṇaḥ saṃtvaritaḥ sālam āruhya puṣpitam
prekṣamāṇo diśaḥ sarvāḥ pūrvāṃ diśam avaikṣata
That Lakṣmaṇa, in haste, climbed a flowering sāla tree and, surveying all directions, looked toward the east.
Words: sa lakṣmaṇaḥ — that Lakṣmaṇa; saṃtvaritaḥ — in haste, hurrying; sālam — a sāla tree; āruhya — having climbed; puṣpitam — flowering; prekṣamāṇo — surveying, looking; diśaḥ sarvāḥ — all the directions; pūrvāṃ diśam — toward the eastern direction; avaikṣata — looked
2.90.8
udaṅmukhaḥ prekṣamāṇo dadarśa mahatīṃ camūm
rathāśvagajasaṃbādhāṃ yattair yuktāṃ padātibhiḥ
Turning to face north and looking, he saw a great army, dense with chariots, horses, and elephants, and furnished with alert foot-soldiers.
Words: udaṅmukhaḥ — facing north; prekṣamāṇo — looking, gazing; dadarśa — saw; mahatīṃ camūm — a great army; rathāśvagajasaṃbādhāṃ — dense with chariots, horses, and elephants; yattair — by the alert, ready ones; yuktāṃ — furnished, joined; padātibhiḥ — with foot-soldiers
2.90.9
tām aśvagajasaṃpūrṇāṃ rathadhvajavibhūṣitām
śaśaṃsa senāṃ rāmāya vacanaṃ cedam abravīt
He announced to Rāma that army, full of horses and elephants, adorned with chariots and banners, and spoke these words:
Words: tām — that; aśvagajasaṃpūrṇāṃ — full of horses and elephants; rathadhvajavibhūṣitām — adorned with chariots and banners; śaśaṃsa — announced, reported; senāṃ — the army; rāmāya — to Rāma; vacanaṃ cedam — and these words; abravīt — spoke
2.90.10
agniṃ saṃśamayatv āryaḥ sītā ca bhajatāṃ guhām
sajyaṃ kuruṣva cāpaṃ ca śarāṃś ca kavacaṃ tathā
“Let the noble one put out the fire, and let Sītā take to a cave; string your bow, and make ready your arrows and your armor.
Words: agniṃ — the fire; saṃśamayatv — let (him) extinguish; āryaḥ — the noble one (Rāma); sītā ca — and Sītā; bhajatāṃ — let (her) resort to; guhām — a cave; sajyaṃ kuruṣva — make (it) strung, ready; cāpaṃ ca — and the bow; śarāṃś ca — and the arrows; kavacaṃ tathā — and likewise the armor
2.90.11
taṃ rāmaḥ puruṣavyāghro lakṣmaṇaṃ pratyuvāca ha
aṅgāvekṣasva saumitre kasyaitāṃ manyase camūm
To him Rāma, tiger among men, replied: “Just consider, Saumitri — whose army do you take this to be?”
Words: taṃ — to him; rāmaḥ — Rāma; puruṣavyāghro — tiger among men; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; pratyuvāca ha — replied; aṅgāvekṣasva — just look, consider; saumitre — O Saumitri; kasyaitāṃ — whose this; manyase — do you think; camūm — army
2.90.12
evam ukktas tu rāmeṇa lakṣmāṇo vākyam abravīt
didhakṣann iva tāṃ senāṃ ruṣitaḥ pāvako yathā
Thus addressed by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa spoke these words, as if to burn up that army, enraged like fire:
Words: evam — thus; ukktas — addressed; tu — but, and; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; lakṣmāṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; vākyam abravīt — spoke words; didhakṣann iva — as if wishing to burn; tāṃ senāṃ — that army; ruṣitaḥ — enraged; pāvako yathā — like fire
2.90.13
saṃpannaṃ rājyam icchaṃs tu vyaktaṃ prāpyābhiṣecanam
āvāṃ hantuṃ samabhyeti kaikeyyā bharataḥ sutaḥ
Clearly, wishing to secure the kingdom, having obtained the consecration, Bharata, Kaikeyī's son, comes to kill the two of us.
Words: saṃpannaṃ — secured, accomplished; rājyam — the kingdom; icchaṃs — wishing; tu — indeed; vyaktaṃ — clearly; prāpyābhiṣecanam — having obtained the consecration; āvāṃ — us two; hantuṃ — to kill; samabhyeti — approaches, comes; kaikeyyā — of Kaikeyī; bharataḥ — Bharata; sutaḥ — the son
2.90.14
eṣa vai sumahāñ śrīmān viṭapī saṃprakāśate
virājaty udgataskandhaḥ kovidāra dhvajo rathe
There indeed shines forth that great, splendid, spreading tree; the kovidāra banner, its top upraised, gleams upon the chariot.
Words: eṣa vai — this indeed; sumahāñ — very great; śrīmān — splendid, glorious; viṭapī — the spreading, branchy tree; saṃprakāśate — shines forth; virājaty — gleams; udgataskandhaḥ — with upraised top/trunk; kovidāra dhvajo — the kovidāra-tree banner; rathe — on the chariot
2.90.15
bhajanty ete yathākāmam aśvān āruhya śīghragān
ete bhrājanti saṃhṛṣṭā jagān āruhya sādinaḥ
These men, mounting swift horses, range about at will; these gladdened riders shine as they mount their steeds.
Words: bhajanty — move about, range; ete — these; yathākāmam — at will; aśvān — horses; āruhya — having mounted; śīghragān — swift-going; ete — these; bhrājanti — shine, gleam; saṃhṛṣṭā — gladdened, thrilled; jagān — their mounts (steeds); āruhya — having mounted; sādinaḥ — the riders, horsemen
2.90.16
gṛhītadhanuṣau cāvāṃ giriṃ vīra śrayāvahe
api nau vaśam āgacchet kovidāradhvajo raṇe
With our bows taken up, O hero, let us two take to the mountain; perhaps the kovidāra-bannered one will fall into our power in battle.
Words: gṛhītadhanuṣau — the two with bows taken up; cāvāṃ — and we two; giriṃ — the mountain; vīra — O hero; śrayāvahe — let us two resort to; api — perhaps; nau — of us two, into our; vaśam — power, control; āgacchet — may come; kovidāradhvajo — the kovidāra-bannered one; raṇe — in battle
2.90.17
api drakṣyāmi bharataṃ yatkṛte vyasanaṃ mahat
tvayā rāghava saṃprāptaṃ sītayā ca mayā tathā
Shall I indeed see Bharata, for whose sake this great calamity has befallen you, Rāghava, and Sītā, and me alike?
Words: api drakṣyāmi — shall I see; bharataṃ — Bharata; yatkṛte — for whose sake; vyasanaṃ mahat — great calamity; tvayā — by you; rāghava — O Rāghava; saṃprāptaṃ — obtained, befallen; sītayā ca — and by Sītā; mayā tathā — and by me likewise
2.90.18
yannimittaṃ bhavān rājyāc cyuto rāghava śāśvatīm
saṃprāpto 'yam arir vīra bharato vadhya eva me
He on whose account you, Rāghava, have fallen from the everlasting kingship — this enemy Bharata has come, O hero; he is surely to be slain by me.
Words: yannimittaṃ — on whose account; bhavān — your honor; rājyāc — from the kingdom; cyuto — fallen; rāghava — O Rāghava; śāśvatīm — the everlasting (royal fortune); saṃprāpto 'yam — this one has arrived; arir — the enemy; vīra — O hero; bharato — Bharata; vadhya eva me — is surely to be slain by me
2.90.19
bharatasya vadhe doṣaṃ nāhaṃ paśyāmi rāghava
pūrvāpakariṇāṃ tyāge na hy adharmo vidhīyate
etasminn nihate kṛtsnām anuśādhi vasuṃdharām
I see no fault in slaying Bharata, Rāghava; for in doing away with those who have first done wrong no unrighteousness is ordained. With him slain, rule the whole earth.
Words: bharatasya — of Bharata; vadhe — in the slaying; doṣaṃ — fault, wrong; nāhaṃ — not I; paśyāmi — see; rāghava — O Rāghava; pūrvāpakariṇāṃ — of those who have first done harm; tyāge — in the doing-away, killing; na hy — for not; adharmo — unrighteousness; vidhīyate — is ordained, enjoined; etasminn nihate — when he is slain; kṛtsnām — the whole; anuśādhi — rule, govern; vasuṃdharām — the earth
2.90.20
adya putraṃ hataṃ saṃkhye kaikeyī rājyakāmukā
mayā paśyet suduḥkhārtā hastibhagnam iva drumam
Today let Kaikeyī, greedy for the kingdom, sore-stricken with grief, behold her son slain by me in battle, like a tree broken by an elephant.
Words: adya — today; putraṃ hataṃ — her son slain; saṃkhye — in battle; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; rājyakāmukā — greedy for the kingdom; mayā — by me; paśyet — may she behold; suduḥkhārtā — sorely stricken with grief; hastibhagnam — broken by an elephant; iva drumam — like a tree
2.90.21
kaikeyīṃ ca vadhiṣyāmi sānubandhāṃ sabāndhavām
kaluṣeṇādya mahatā medinī parimucyatām
And I shall slay Kaikeyī, with her adherents and kinsmen; let the earth today be rid of a great defilement.
Words: kaikeyīṃ ca — and Kaikeyī; vadhiṣyāmi — I shall slay; sānubandhāṃ — with her adherents; sabāndhavām — with her kinsmen; kaluṣeṇādya — of a defilement, today; mahatā — great; medinī — the earth; parimucyatām — let it be freed, rid
2.90.22
adyemaṃ saṃyataṃ krodham asatkāraṃ ca mānada
mokṣyāmi śatrusainyeṣu kakṣeṣv iva hutāśanam
Today, O giver of honor, I shall loose this pent-up anger and (avenge) the insult upon the enemy hosts, as fire set loose in dry brushwood.
Words: adyemaṃ — today this; saṃyataṃ — restrained, pent-up; krodham — anger; asatkāraṃ ca — and the insult, dishonor; mānada — O giver of honor; mokṣyāmi — I shall release, loose; śatrusainyeṣu — upon the enemy armies; kakṣeṣv iva — as in dry brushwood; hutāśanam — fire
2.90.23
adyaitac citrakūṭasya kānanaṃ niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
bhindañ śatruśarīrāṇi kariṣye śoṇitokṣitam
Today, piercing the enemies' bodies with sharp arrows, I shall make this forest of Citrakūṭa drenched with blood.
Words: adyaitac — today this; citrakūṭasya — of Citrakūṭa; kānanaṃ — the forest; niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ — with sharp arrows; bhindañ — piercing, splitting; śatruśarīrāṇi — the bodies of the enemies; kariṣye — I shall make; śoṇitokṣitam — drenched with blood
2.90.24
śarair nirbhinnahṛdayān kuñjarāṃs turagāṃs tathā
śvāpadāḥ parikarṣantu narāś ca nihatān mayā
Let the wild beasts drag off the elephants and horses, their hearts pierced through by my arrows, and the men slain by me.
Words: śarair — by arrows; nirbhinnahṛdayān — with hearts pierced through; kuñjarāṃs — the elephants; turagāṃs tathā — and likewise the horses; śvāpadāḥ — the wild beasts of prey; parikarṣantu — let them drag about; narāś ca — and the men; nihatān mayā — slain by me
2.90.25
śarāṇāṃ dhanuṣaś cāham anṛṇo 'smi mahāvane
sasainyaṃ bharataṃ hatvā bhaviṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ
By slaying Bharata together with his army in this great forest, I shall, beyond doubt, become free of my debt to my arrows and my bow.
Words: śarāṇāṃ — to the arrows; dhanuṣaś — and to the bow; cāham — and I; anṛṇo 'smi — I am free of debt; mahāvane — in the great forest; sasainyaṃ — together with his army; bharataṃ — Bharata; hatvā — having slain; bhaviṣyāmi — I shall become; na saṃśayaḥ — (there is) no doubt
← 2.89 Rāma invites Sītā into the Mandākinī · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.91 Rāma restrains Lakṣmaṇa →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
Plain text: /text/2/90.md · JSON: /data/2/90.json