YUDDHA KANDAM

The Yuddha Kandam describes the battle in Lanka between the monkey and the demon armies of Rama and Ravana, respectively in which Ravana is defeated. It is also known as the book of War or the Lanka Kandam.

Rama listened with rapt attention to all that Anjenaya said. He observed that such an exploit was possible to Anjenaya and to none else. As a mark of gratitude he warmly embraced the adventurer. Now the grave problem was how to cross the ocean and get to Lanka. Things still seemed gloomy to Rama. Dejection was still lurking in his heart. Just then Sugreeva had his say in the matter. Calmly he came out with it, "Raghava, you are the knower of everything. Yet I shall put in a word. That man who is unduly dejected and depressed achieves nothing in life. Sorrow wears away prowess. Now that the whereabouts and welfare of Sita is known our immediate concern is to find out the ways and means of reclaiming her. Our resources are great; the intelligent and variant manpower at our disposal is immense. Our representative and eminent men are all eager to start on expedition. The great army was forthwith mobilized. At an auspicious time Rama gave permission to move. Full of war zeal the entire force marched towards the south sea shore. The dust raised by the moving army rose up in clouds. The noise of march was tumultuous. Reaching the seashore the army was comfortably lodged in the adjoining forest. Rama, Lakshamana and Sugreeva gave thought to the measures to be taken for crossing the sea.

In Lanka, Ravana's position was awkward. He was ashamed of the exploits of Anjenaya. Fear of impending trouble disturbed his mind. He was informed of the movement of Sugreeva's army to the opposite shore. He would somehow manage to infiltrate into the island. Rama was the sworn enemy. For all these reasons he called for a council of ministers and invited their opinion on the grave situation that was thwarting Lanka. Supplementing one another all the ministers and commanders struck the same note that Ravana was invincible in all the three worlds, that Indrajit or anyone of the generals was sufficient to wipe out the whole of the monkey forces and to defeat and kill Rama and Lakshmana. Vibheeshana the youngest brother of Ravana was the only person who struck a dissident note. With the due reverence to the eldest brother and in clear terms, he pointed out that what Rama did was in self defence. There was neither virtue nor justification in Ravana's stealing away Sita. The enemy's strength was not truly known. Lanka's strength was over estimated. Hanuman's action in Lanka were fore warnings. In these circumstances a peaceful and honourable return of Sita to her husband was the safest course. Delay in this respect would be disastrous. Ravana gave a patient hearing to this counsel. Then he dissolved the council in order to get time for consideration. The virtue imbued youngest brother again called all alone on the lust laden eldest brother, prostrated before him and pleaded with him, "Ever since you brought Sita captive into Lanka, its prosperity is rapidly waning, its magnificence is fading. Inauspicious omens are in evidence everywhere. These are not only my observations but also of many discerning citizens.


They are afraid of expressing their views to you. I pray to you to give thought to these very consequential developments." Ravana made no response. He simply asked his brother to go. An emergency council was hastily summoned. It was imperative on all the potentates to participate in it.Ravana made a pageant royal drive from his palace to the hall of council in a stately golden carriage. Warriors in gorgeous uniforms marched along with him. Trumpets were blown and drums were beaten. People who thronged the royal road bowed in loyalty and shouted for his victory. Ravana sat on the throne in the spacious chamber. The dignitaries occupied seats according to their rank. Imposing was the assembly. The king addressed it on the issue that agitated his mind. He had carried away Sita from Dandaka forest having fallen in love with her. She has not yet responded to him in any way. Returning her to Rama is out of question. Sugreeva and Rama had encamped on the other shore of the sea. The ways and means of killing them should be evolved. The council had become belated due to Kumbhakarna's period of sleep. Even then it was not too late. Kumbhamarna was the first to debate. He said, "A wise King first consults and then acts. Whereas you have foolishly acted and now you consult us to gain mettle. If you had vanquished Rama in war and taken Sita as the prize, she should have followed you even as a river flows from a mount to a moat.

The delay in Rama's discharge of arrows is your extra span of life. You are my brother. In spite of your blunders I am ever yours. I have resolved to kill Rama and Lakshmana. When my decision bears fruit you enjoy Sita to your hearts' content. Ravana explained his position, "I am prevented from knowing Sita. I may take a woman captive. But if I test her modesty against her consent my head will burst into pieces. That is the curse inflicted on me by Brahma, the creator." Prahstha recounted the invincible strength of Ravana. The flattery tickled the king's vanity. The assembly applauded the chief counsellor's speech. Vibheeshana was the solitary figure who did not join in the applause. He warned his royal brother of the impending death and of the destruction of Lanka. In clear and unmistakable terms he defined the divine valour of Rama. Indrajit disliked this note of warning made by his uncle. He blurted out, "I am ashamed of my uncle's cowardice. He lacks the mettle of our race. We are not meekly submitting to his proposal. Vibheeshana's so-called warning is an insult to the people of Lanka." Vibheeshana gave him the calm reply, "You are still inexperienced. Strength without virtue leads to damnation. You and the ministers are party to your father's wickedness. You are all heading towards annihilation. Because of love for my people I oppose your evil designs." Now Ravana got enraged. He thundered, "One may live with sworn enemies and with serpents, but never with treacherous brothers and cousins.

The elephant in the forest is not afraid of the hunters as it is afraid of the tamed brother elephants that betrays it to the hunters. As the bee abandons the flower after sucking honey, the envious brother topples down his prosperous brother at a critical time. Vibheeshana, I would have you slain this moment. Because you are my brother I spare you. Vanish from my sight." Vibheeshana made his parting statement, "Brother goaded by your evil ways, you are rushing headlong towards destruction. Let me atleast save Lanka to the extent I can." With four other good rakshasas Vibheeshana rose in the air and hastened northward to the place where Rama was encamped. Sugreeva sighted a shining mass in the sky moving towards his cantonment. When it came near it was found to consist of five rakshasas armed to the hilt. As they stay suspended in the air, the chief of them introduced himself as Vibheeshana the youngest brother of Ravana who has come over there having fallen out with his brother on the issue of the imprisonment of Sita. He wanted to surrender himself to Rama. Sugreeva reported the matter to Rama and expressed his own doubts about the genuineness of the case. The unscrupulous demons were capable of any wickedness in any form. The proper course would be to kill all the five down right. True to his royalty Rama invited the opinions of his chiefs on this knotty issue.

Angada the monkey prince came out with his views. He said, "The rakshasas are rash and foolhardy. Sometimes they are capable of doing good in their own violent way. If we can utilize this brother of Ravana and his four men to serve our anti rakshasa purpose we shall absorb them. If that is not possible we shall turn them out." Sarabha submitted that an expert detective might be engaged to probe into the demon's motif. On the basis of his findings the refugee was to be treated. Jambhavan who was well versed in the lore of sacred books presented his opinion, "The brother of Ravana our enemy has come out to a wrong place at an improper time seeking our friendship. Therefore his arrival should be viewed with suspicion." Now Anjenaya' turn came, "I do not speak to display my earning or the talent of debate. What is expedient, that I place before you. The enemy becomes weak if the best of his men alienates from him and allies with us. So the question of killing the refugee does not rise at the outset. Even the wicked can be utilized for virtuous purposes if one knows the art of doing it. In the present state of emergency there is no time to appoint detectives to probe into the mental make-up of the fugitive. The pace and time chosen by Vibheeshana are quite regular. The enormity of the wickedness on the other side is becoming increasingly every day. Taking not of it he has hastened to the right place in the right time.