Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 23

23. Rāma Notices Omens

[Omens indicating death and suffering to the monkey army is noticed by Rāma. He becomes sad because of it.]

The elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa who was an expert in omens seeing the omens, hugged the son of Sumitrā and told the following words. 23.1

"After taking over this land blessed with cool water and fruits, let us divide the army into battalions and set them up there." 23.2

"I foresee great fear which will destroy this world and torture of eminent heroes among monkeys, bears and Rākṣasas." 23.3

"Dusty winds are blowing, the earth is shaking, the tops of the mountains are quivering and trees are falling down." 23.4

"Revolting clouds with the shape of wild beasts with horrifying sound are raining horrifying rain, with mixture of blood drops." 23.5

"The dusk of the colour of red sandalwood is very much dreadful and balls of fire fall from the blazing sun." 23.6

"All cruel birds and animals look pitiable and roaring out pitiably facing the sun and give rise to great fear." 23.7

"The moon rises as it would do at the time of final deluge and has a black and red halo and makes the mind depressed." 23.8

"O, Lakṣmaṇa, A dark stain appears on the cloudless solar disc, which is diminished, dreary, inauspicious and of copper colour." 23.9

"Great darkness is enveloping all the stars and seems to herald the final dissolution of the world." 23.10

"Crows, eagles, and vultures are flying nearer to the ground and Jackals are howling and give rise to inauspicious sound." 23.11

"By the tridents, mountains and swords thrown by monkeys and Rākṣasas, the earth will be covered with heaps of flesh and blood." 23.12

"We shall attack with great speed surrounded by monkeys, this evil town ruled by Rāvaṇa." 23.13

After saying this the charming Rāma who is the conqueror of enemies in battle along with his bow walked to the front of the army facing the city. 23.14

All those monkey chiefs who were marching ahead with Vibhīṣaṇa and Sugrīva were desiring for the destruction of their audacious enemies. 23.15

By the acts and gestures of all those strong monkeys with the idea to please him, Rāma became happy. 23.16

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