Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 101

101. Suṣeṇa Cures Lakṣmaṇa

[Rāma is terribly upset and does not want to live. Suṣeṇa says he is not dead and sends Hanuman to get herbs from Oṣadhī Mountain. Hanuman not able to recognize the herb brings the mountain itself. Lakṣmaṇa is cured. He requests Rāma not to get upset but kill Rāvaṇa.]

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa fallen down and completely coated with blood after giving a tumultuous battle in which he showered very many arrows, due to the spear of the strong and evil minded Rāvaṇa, Rāma spoke as follows to Suṣeṇa. 101.1-101.2

"This Lakṣmaṇa who has fallen on earth due to the speedy arrows of Rāvaṇa and who is wiggling like a serpent and increasing my sorrow." 101.3

"My energy to fight is failing, even as I am looking at this valiant Lakṣmaṇa, who is dearer to me than life, bathed in blood and my mind being greatly disturbed." 101.4

"What is the use of this life or happiness to me, if my brother who has all auspicious marks, is interested in war and is famous were to meet his death." 101.5

"My heroism is feeling shy, my bow is falling down, my arrows are dropping down, and my vision is blurred by tears." 101.6

"My body is sinking down like those men who are asleep and tension is growing inside making me wish to die." 101.7

"I am seeing my brother has fallen down, wounded in his vital parts by that evil soul Rāvaṇa groaning with agony." 101.8

Seeing his brother whom he loved who was like his soul with losing his life breath, Rāma became greatly sorrowful and full of anxiety and grief. 101.9

Seeing Lakṣmaṇa his brother lying wounded in the dust of the battle-field, he got into extreme worry and lamented with a confused in mind. 101.10

"Oh valorous one, even if I win this war, I will not be happy, like a man without sight cannot see in spite of bright moon." 101.11

"What is the use of this war, what is the use of this soul to me with my brother being killed in this battle here and so I do not have any desire to fight." 101.12

"Like that greatly lustrous one followed me to the forest, I am also going to follow him for his journey to the place of God of death." 101.13

"Lakṣmaṇa who was loved by all his relations is forever ardently devoted to me and has reached this stage due to treacherous battle of the Rākṣasas." 101.14

"We can obtain wives from places and places, we can obtain relations in places and places but I do not see any place where I can get a brother who loves me this much." 101.15

They all saw Rāma wailing like this with mind reeling with distress and sighing and breathing deeply again and again. 101.16

"What is the use of the kingdom to me without Lakṣmaṇa who is difficult to defeat? What would I be able to Sumitrā, the mother who is very fond of her son?" 101.17

"I shall not be able to bear the reproaches which are bound to be told by Sumitrā and what shall I say to my mother Kausalya and my mother Kaikeyi." 101.18

"What shall I tell Bharata or to the very strong Śatrughna, when they ask me why I have come back without Lakṣmaṇa who came along with me to the forest?" 101.19

"Death now would be preferable rather than the reproaches from relatives. I might have done some sinful act in my previous births, for my younger brother to die before me." 101.20

"Alas oh brother, Oh best of men, best among valorous men, Oh Lord, why did you go to the other world deserting me?" 101.21

"Oh brother though I am wailing, why are you not talking to me? Oh brother, arise and see this miserable man with your eyes." 101.22

"Oh great one, you have always comforting and consoling me, whenever I feel sad and pained and listless among the mountains and forests." 101.23

When Rāma was saying like this full of sorrow in his mind, Suṣeṇa addressed him with the following excellent words. 101.24

"Oh tiger among men, give up this thought that causes you depression, for this sorrow which gives to grief is like piercing arrows in the battle." 101.25

"Lakṣmaṇa, who increases auspiciousness, has not still died as his looks have not changed and his skin colour has not turned dark." 101.26

"His face looks bright and has a pleasing look. The palms of his hands are as soft as lotus petals and are very bright." 101.27

"Oh king of the earth, the looks of dead ones are not like this. Oh valorous one who destroys his enemies. He is alive, so please do not worry." 101.28

"The repeated palpitation of his heart with him breathing, though he is lying on earth indicates that he is fast asleep with relaxation of the limbs, Oh valorous one." 101.29

After having addressed these words to Rāma, the very learned Suṣeṇa spoke the following words to the great monkey Hanuman who was standing nearby." 101.30

"Proceeding from this place with full speed, Oh gentle one, go to the mountain called Oṣadhī, which was already described to you previously by Jambavan, Oh brave one! Bring here for restoring the great-souled and heroic Lakṣmaṇa to consciousness, the precious herb Vishalyakarani by name which has sprung up on its southern peak, Savarnakarnani, Samjivakarani and the precious herb, Samdhanakarani." 101.31-101.33

As soon as Hanuman heard these words, he went to the Oṣadhī Mountain and since he was not able to identify that herb he became very thoughtful. 101.34

Then in the brain of son of wind god who had exceedingly great luster a thought arose, "I will take back the peak of the mountain itself." 101.35

"Since Suṣeṇa himself told me so, the herb must have sprouted on this mountain peak definitely." 101.36

"Suppose I do not take Vishalyakarani herb with me, over passage of time great problems may arise." 101.37

Thinking like this the very strong Hanuman approached that great mountain, shook it violently three times with his arms, uprooted the mountain peak which was having very many flowering plants, and lifted it up as he was very strong. 101.38-101.39

Carrying that great mountain peak which looked like a dark rainy cloud, Hanuman jumped up in to the sky. 101.40

Returning back with very great speed, after putting down that mountain peak and after relaxing a little, he spoke to Suṣeṇa the following words. 101.41

"Oh Great monkey, since I could not identify the required herb, I have brought along with me the entire mountain." 101.42

After appreciating the son of wind God who spoke thus, that excellent monkey pulled out the needed herbs and took hold of them. 101.43

All the great monkey chiefs as well all Devas were greatly surprised to see the most difficult job done by Hanuman. 101.44

Then after crushing the herb, that great monkey who was greatly lustrous, administered it in the nose of Lakṣmaṇa. 101.45

After inhaling that herb Lakṣmaṇa, the destroyer of enemy armies, having the spear lodged in his body, got rid of it, became painless and got up from the earth with great speed. 101.46

Seeing that Lakṣmaṇa has got up from the earth the monkeys said, "great, great" and applauded Suṣeṇa. 101.47

Rāma the destroyer of enemies, after seeing Lakṣmaṇa said "come, come" and embraced him with great affection, with eyes covered by tears. 101.48

After that Rāghava embraced the son of Sumitrā he said, "Oh valorous one, I am seeing you returned after death." 101.49

"There is no meaning in my living or victory or getting back Sītā, if you had attained death. Please tell me what is there for me after your death." 101.50

When the great Rāghava spoke like this, in a feeble voice Lakṣmaṇa spoke the following words. 101.51

"Oh brother who is valorous in truth, true to your promise of killing Rāvaṇa, you should not speak like a weak and cowardly man." 101.52

"Those who speak the truth do not make their oath futile for fulfilling the oath is the sign of greatness." 101.53

"Oh faultless one, your getting hopeless for the sake of me is not befitting you. Please fulfil your promise of killing Rāvaṇa." 101.54

"When you shower your arrows the enemy cannot continue to live, like a great elephant with mighty tusks cannot live if it crosses the path of a lion." 101.55

"I want to see that bad soul killed immediately, before the sun sets after finishing his task." 101.56

"Oh venerable hero, If you wish to kill Rāvaṇa in battle, if you wish to fulfil your promise and if you feel affectionate towards Sītā, do as I tell you soon and now." 101.57

This is the end of One Hundred and First Sarga of Yuddha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.