Malyavan Advises Ravana
The elder statesman Malyavan advises Ravana to make peace and act wisely. Ravana refuses to turn back from his destructive resolve.
Lanka Kand · Episode 12 / 37
Episode Text
निसा जानि कपि चारिउ अनी। आए जहाँ कोसला धनी॥ राम कृपा करि चितवा सबही। भए बिगतश्रम बानर तबही॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nisā jāni kapi cāriu anī। āe jahāṃ kosalā dhanī॥ rāma kṛpā kari citavā sabahī। bhae bigataśrama bānara tabahī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Knowing that night had fallen, the four divisions of the monkeys came to where the Lord of Kosala, Rama, was. As soon as Rama glanced upon them with grace, the monkeys became free of fatigue.
उहाँ दसानन सचिव हँकारे। सब सन कहेसि सुभट जे मारे॥ आधा कटकु कपिन्ह संघारा। कहहु बेगि का करिअ बिचारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
uhāṃ dasānana saciva haṃkāre। saba sana kahesi subhaṭa je māre॥ ādhā kaṭaku kapinha saṃghārā। kahahu begi kā karia bichārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
There in Lanka, Ravana summoned his ministers and spoke of all the warriors who had been killed. He said, 'The monkeys have destroyed half the army! Quickly tell me, what should be done?'
माल्यवंत अति जरठ निसाचर। रावन मातु पिता मंत्री बर॥ बोला बचन नीति अति पावन। सुनहु तात कछु मोर सिखावन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mālyavaṃta ati jaraṭha nisācara। rāvana mātu pitā maṃtrī bara॥ bolā bacana nīti ati pāvana। sunahu tāta kachu mora sikhāvana॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Malyavan was a very old demon. He was the father of Ravana's mother, that is, Ravana's maternal grandfather, and an excellent minister. He spoke words of most sacred policy: 'Listen, my son, to some counsel of mine.'
जब ते तुम्ह सीता हरि आनी। असगुन होहिं न जाहिं बखानी॥ बेद पुरान जासु जसु गायो। राम बिमुख काहुँ न सुख पायो॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaba te tumhaṃ sītā hari ānī। asaguna hohiṃ na jāhiṃ bakhānī॥ beda purāna jāsu jasu gāyo। rāma bimukha kāhūṃ na sukha pāyo॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Ever since you have brought Sita away, such evil omens have occurred that they cannot be described. No one has ever found happiness by turning away from Rama, whose glory is sung by the Vedas and Puranas.
हिरन्याच्छ भ्राता सहित मधु कैटभ बलवान। जेहिं मारे सोइ अवतरेउ कृपासिंधु भगवान॥ ४८ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hiranyāccha bhrātā sahita madhu kaiṭabha balavāna। jehiṃ māre soi avatareu kṛpāsiṃdhu bhagavāna॥ 48 (a) ॥
Meaning:
The same Lord, the ocean of compassion, who destroyed Hiranyaksha along with his brother and the mighty demons Madhu and Kaitabha, has now descended as an incarnation.
कालरूप खल बन दहन गुनागार घनबोध। सिव बिरंचि जेहि सेवहिं तासों कवन बिरोध॥ ४८ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kālarūpa khala bana dahana gunāgāra ghanabodha। siva biraṃci jehi sevahiṃ tāsoṃ kavana birodha॥ 48 (b) ॥
Meaning:
He is Time itself, the fire that burns the forest of the wicked, the treasury of virtues, and the dense cloud of wisdom. Since even Shiva and Brahma serve Him, how can there be any hostility toward Him?
परिहरि बयरु देहु बैदेही। भजहु कृपानिधि परम सनेही॥ ताके बचन बान सम लागे। करिआ मुह करि जाहि अभागे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
parihari bayaru dehu baidehī। bhajahu kṛpānidhi parama sanehī॥ tāke bacana bāna sama lāge। kariā muha kari jāhi abhāge॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
[Therefore] abandon enmity, give Sita to Him, and worship the compassionate, supremely loving Lord Rama. Ravana felt those words strike him like arrows. He said, 'You wretch! Blacken your face and get out of here.'
बूढ़ भएसि न त मरतेउँ तोही। अब जनि नयन देखावसि मोही॥ तेहिं अपने मन अस अनुमाना। बध्यो चहत एहि कृपानिधाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
būṛha bhaesi na ta marateuṃ tohī। aba jani nayana dekhāvasi mohī॥ tehiṃ apane mana asa anumānā। badhyo cahata ehi kṛpānidhānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
'You have grown old; otherwise I would have killed you.' 'Now do not show me your face.' Hearing Ravana's words, he (Malyavan) thought in his mind that the compassionate Lord Rama must now surely wish to kill him.
सो उठि गयउ कहत दुर्बादा। तब सकोप बोलेउ घननादा॥ कौतुक प्रात देखिअहु मोरा। करिहउँ बहुत कहौं का थोरा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so uṭhi gayau kahata durbādā। taba sakopa boleu ghananādā॥ kautuka prāta dekhiahu morā। karihauṃ bahuta kahauṃ kā thora॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
He rose and left, speaking harsh words to Ravana. Then Meghanada said angrily, 'See my wonders tomorrow morning. I will do many things—what little can I even say?'
सुनि सुत बचन भरोसा आवा। प्रीति समेत अंक बैठावा॥ करत बिचार भयउ भिनुसारा। लागे कपि पुनि चहूँ दुआरा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni suta bacana bharosā āvā। prīti sameta aṃka baiṭhāvā॥ karata bicāra bhayau bhinusārā। lāge kapi puni cahūṃ duārā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing his son's words, Ravana became reassured. He lovingly seated him in his lap. While he was still thinking, dawn arrived. The monkeys again took positions at the four gates.
कोपि कपिन्ह दुर्घट गढ़ु घेरा। नगर कोलाहलु भयउ घनेरा॥ बिबिधायुध धर निसिचर धाए। गढ़ ते पर्बत सिखर ढहाए॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kopi kapinha durghaṭa gaṛhu gherā। nagara kolāhalu bhayau ghanerā॥ bibidhāyudha dhara nisicara dhāe। gaṛha te parabata sikhara ḍhāhāe॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys angrily surrounded the formidable fort. A great uproar arose in the city. The demons rushed out bearing many kinds of weapons, and from the fort they sent the mountain peaks crashing down.
ढाहे महीधर सिखर कोटिन्ह बिबिध बिधि गोला चले। घहरात जिमि पबिपात गर्जत जनु प्रलय के बादले॥ मर्कट बिकट भट जुटत कटत न लटत तन जर्जर भए। गहि सैल तेहि गढ़ पर चलावहिं जहँ सो तहँ निसिचर हए॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ḍhāhe mahīdhara sikhara koṭinha bibidha bidhi golā cale। ghaharāta jimi pabipāta garjata janu pralaya ke bādale॥ markaṭa bikaṭa bhaṭa juṭata kata na laṭata tana jarjara bhae। gahi saila tehi gaṛha para calāvahiṃ jahaṃ so tahṃ nisicara hae॥
Meaning:
They brought down the peaks of countless mountains, and missiles of many kinds began to fly. Those missiles thundered like lightning striking, and the warriors roared like the clouds of dissolution. Fierce monkey warriors fought on; though cut and mangled, their bodies became shattered, yet they did not falter. Lifting mountains, they hurled them onto the fort, and the demons were struck down wherever they stood.
मेघनाद सुनि श्रवन अस गढ़ु पुनि छेंका आइ। उतर्यो बीर दुर्ग तें सन्मुख चल्यो बजाइ॥ ४९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
meghanāda suni śravana asa gaṛhu puni cheṃkā āi। utaryo bīra durga teṃ sanmukha calyo bajāi॥ 49 ॥
Meaning:
Meghanada heard, with his own ears, that the monkeys had come and once again surrounded the fort. Then that warrior descended from the fort and advanced before them, beating his drum.
कहँ कोसलाधीस द्वौ भ्राता। धन्वी सकल लोक बिख्याता॥ कहँ नल नील दुबिद सुग्रीवा। अंगद हनूमंत बल सींवा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahāṃ kosalādhīsa dvau bhrātā। dhanvī sakala loka bikhyātā॥ kahāṃ nala nīla duvida sugrīvā। aṃgada hanūmaṃta bala sīṃvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
'Where are the two brothers, the lords of Kosala, famed archers throughout the world? Where are Nala, Nila, Dwivid, Sugriva, and Angada and Hanuman, the limit of strength?'
कहाँ बिभीषनु भ्राताद्रोही। आजु सबहि हठि मारउँ ओही॥ अस कहि कठिन बान संधाने। अतिसय क्रोध श्रवन लगि ताने॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahāṃ bibhīṣanu bhrātādrohī। āju sabahi haṭhi mārauṃ ohī॥ asa kahi kaṭhina bāna saṃdhāne। atisaya krodha śravana lagi tāne॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
'Where is Vibhishana, the traitor to his brother? Today I shall surely kill him and everyone else!' Saying this, he fitted terrible arrows to his bow and, in great fury, drew it back to his ear.
सर समूह सो छाड़ै लागा। जनु सपच्छ धावहिं बहु नागा॥ जहँ तहँ परत देखिअहिं बानर। सन्मुख होइ न सके तेहि अवसर॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sara samūha so chāṛai lāgā। janu sapaccha dhāvahiṃ bahu nāgā॥ jahāṃ tahāṃ parata dekhi ahiṃ bānara। sanmukha hoi na sake tehi avasara॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
He began releasing a torrent of arrows, like many winged serpents racing forth. Monkeys could be seen falling everywhere, and at that moment no one could stand before him.
जहँ तहँ भागि चले कपि रीछा। बिसरी सबहि जुद्ध कै ईछा॥ सो कपि भालु न रन महँ देखा। कीन्हेसि जेहि न प्रान अवसेषा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahāṃ tahāṃ bhāgi cale kapi rīchā। bisarī sabahi juddha kai īchā॥ so kapi bhālu na rana mahaṃ dekhā। kīnhesi jehi na prāna avaseṣā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The bears and monkeys fled in every direction. Everyone forgot the desire to fight. There was not a single monkey or bear seen on the battlefield whom he had not reduced to only the barest remnant of life.
दस दस सर सब मारेसि परे भूमि कपि बीर। सिंहनाद करि गर्जा मेघनाद बल धीर॥ ५० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dasa dasa sara saba māresi pare bhūmi kapi bīra। siṃhanāda kari garjā meghanāda bala dhīra॥ 50 ॥
Meaning:
Then he struck them all with ten arrows each, and the monkey heroes fell to the ground. Mighty and steadfast Meghanada roared with a lion's cry.
देखि पवनसुत कटक बिहाला। क्रोधवंत जनु धायउ काला॥ महासैल एक तुरत उपारा। अति रिस मेघनाद पर डारा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi pavanasuta kaṭaka bihālā। krodhavanta janu dhāyau kālā॥ mahāsaila eka turata upārā। ati risa meghanāda para ḍārā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Pavanputra Hanuman in distress in the army, he rushed forward in fury, as though Time itself were charging in. He quickly uprooted a huge mountain and hurled it at Meghnad in great anger.
आवत देखि गयउ नभ सोई। रथ सारथी तुरग सब खोई॥ बार बार पचार हनुमाना। निकट न आव मरमु सो जाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āvata dekhi gayau nabha soī। ratha sārathe turaga saba khoī॥ bāra bāra pacāra hanumānā। nikaṭa na āva maramu so jānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the mountain coming, he rose into the sky. His chariot, charioteer, and horses were all destroyed. Hanuman kept challenging him again and again, but he did not come near, because he knew the secret of Hanuman's strength.
रघुपति निकट गयउ घननादा। नाना भाँति करेसि दुर्बादा॥ अस्त्र सस्त्र आयुध सब डारे। कौतुकहीं प्रभु काटि निवारे॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
raghupati nikaṭa gayau ghananādā। nānā bhāṃti karesi durbādā॥ astra sastra āyudha saba ḍāre। kautukahīṃ prabhu kāṭi nivāre॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then Meghnad went near Raghupati and uttered many kinds of vile words. He then hurled all sorts of missiles and weapons at the Lord. In play, the Lord cut them all down.
देखि प्रताप मूढ़ खिसिआना। करै लाग माया बिधि नाना॥ जिमि कोउ करै गरुड़ सैं खेला। डरपावै गहि स्वल्प सपेला॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi pratāpa mūḍha khisiyānā। karai lāga māyā bidhi nānā॥ jimi kou karai garuḍa saiṃ khelā। ḍarapāvai gahi svalpa sapelā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the Lord's power, the fool grew embarrassed and began to create many kinds of illusions. It is like someone trying to frighten Garuda by holding a tiny snake in his hand and playing tricks.
जासु प्रबल माया बस सिव बिरंचि बड़ छोट। ताहि दिखावइ निसिचर निज माया मति खोट॥ ५१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāsu prabala māyā basa siva biraṃci baṛa choṭa। tāhi dikhāvai nisicara nija māyā mati khoṭa॥ 51 ॥
Meaning:
Shiva and even Brahma, great and small alike, are under the sway of that mighty illusion; the low-minded demon shows his own illusion to them.
नभ चढ़ि बरष बिपुल अंगारा। महि ते प्रगट होहिं जलधारा॥ नाना भाँति पिसाच पिसाची। मारु काटु धुनि बोलहिं नाची॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nabh caṛhi baraṣa bipula aṅgārā। mahi te pragaṭa hohiṃ jaldhārā॥ nānā bhāṃti pisāca pisācī। māru kāṭu dhuni bolahiṃ nācī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Rising up into the sky, he showered countless embers; from the earth streams of water appeared. Many kinds of ghosts and female spirits danced and shouted, "Kill! Cut!"
बिष्टा पूय रुधिर कच हाड़ा। बरषइ कबहुँ उपल बहु छाड़ा॥ बरषि धूरि कीन्हेसि अँधिआरा। सूझ न आपन हाथ पसारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
biṣṭā pūya rudhira kaca hāṛā। baraṣai kabahuṃ upala bahu chāṛā॥ baraṣi dhūri kīnhesi aṃdhiārā। sūjha na āpana hātha pasārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Sometimes he rained filth, pus, blood, hair, and bones; at other times he threw many stones. Then he raised dust and made such darkness that even his own outstretched hand could not be seen.
कपि अकुलाने माया देखें। सब कर मरन बना एहि लेखें॥ कौतुक देखि राम मुसुकाने। भए सभीत सकल कपि जाने॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kapi akulāne māyā dekheṃ। saba kara marana banā ehi lekheṃ॥ kautuka dekhi rāma musukāne। bhae sabhīta sakala kapi jāne॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys grew agitated at the sight of the illusion. They thought, "At this rate, everyone is doomed to die." Seeing this spectacle, Rama smiled. He knew that all the monkeys had become frightened.
एक बान काटी सब माया। जिमि दिनकर हर तिमिर निकाया॥ कृपादृष्टि कपि भालु बिलोके। भए प्रबल रन रहहिं न रोके॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka bāna kāṭī saba māyā। jimi dinakara hara timira nikāyā॥ kṛpādṛṣṭi kapi bhālu biloke। bhae prabala rana rahahiṃ na roke॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then Rama cut away all the illusion with a single arrow, just as the sun removes a mass of darkness. Afterwards He looked upon the monkeys and bears with a compassionate glance, and they became so powerful that they would not stop even when restrained in battle.
आयसु मागि राम पहिं अंगदादि कपि साथ। लछिमन चले क्रुद्ध होइ बान सरासन हाथ॥ ५२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āyasu māgi rāma pahiṃ aṅgadādi kapi sātha। lachimana cale kruddha hoi bāna sarāsana hātha॥ 52 ॥
Meaning:
Having asked Rama for permission, Lakshman set out in anger with Angad and the other monkeys, bow and arrows in hand.
छतज नयन उर बाहु बिसाला। हिमगिरि निभ तनु कछु एक लाला॥ इहाँ दसानन सुभट पठाए। नाना अस्त्र सस्त्र गहि धाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
chhataja nayana ura bāhu bisālā। himagiri nibha tanu kachu eka lālā॥ ihāṃ dasānana subhaṭa paṭhāe। nānā astra sastra gahi dhāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
They had red eyes, broad chests, and great arms. Their bodies, white like the Himalayan mountain, had a slight reddish tint. Meanwhile, Ravana also sent brave warriors, and they rushed forward armed with every kind of missile and weapon.
भूधर नख बिटपायुध धारी। धाए कपि जय राम पुकारी॥ भिरे सकल जोरिहि सन जोरी। इत उत जय इच्छा नहिं थोरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūdhar nakha biṭapāyudha dhārī। dhāe kapi jaya rāma pukārī॥ bhire sakala jorihi sana jorī। ita uta jaya icchā nahiṃ thorī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Carrying mountains, nails, and tree-branches as weapons, the monkeys ran, crying, "Victory to Rama!" Monkey and demon clashed one against the other. On both sides, the desire for victory was no less.
मुठिकन्ह लातन्ह दातन्ह काटहिं। कपि जयसील मारि पुनि डाटहिं॥ मारु मारु धरु धरु धरु मारू। सीस तोरि गहि भुजा उपारू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muṭhikanha lātanha dātanha kāṭahiṃ। kapi jayasīla māri puni dāṭahiṃ॥ māru māru dharu dharu dharu mārū। sīsa tori gahi bhujā upārū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys struck them with fists and kicks and bit them with their teeth. The victorious monkeys beat them and then scolded them too: "Strike, strike! Seize, seize! Seize and kill! Break the head and, grabbing the arms, tear them off!"
असि रव पूरि रही नव खंडा। धावहिं जहँ तहँ रुंड प्रचंडा॥ देखहिं कौतुक नभ सुर बृंदा। कबहुँक बिसमय कबहुँ अनंदा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asi rava pūri rahī nava khaṃḍā। dhāvahiṃ jahaṃ tahaṃ ruṇḍa pracaṇḍā॥ dekhaṃhi kautuka nabha sura bṛndā। kabahuṃka bisamaya kabahuṃ anandā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Such a sound filled the ten directions. Fierce headless bodies ran everywhere. The gods in the sky watched this spectacle; at times they were astonished, and at times delighted.
रुधिर गाड़ भरि भरि जम्यो ऊपर धूरि उड़ाइ। जनु अँगार रासिन्ह पर मृतक धूम रह्यो छाइ॥ ५३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rudhira gāṛa bhari bhari jamyo ūpara dhūri uṛāi। janu aṅgāra rāsinha para mṛtaka dhūma rahyo chāi॥ 53 ॥
Meaning:
Blood pooled and solidified in pits, and dust flew and settled on top of it, as though ash were falling over heaps of embers.