Episode 01 - Chapter 30 - Canto on Ravana viewing his regrouped army.
Chapter 30 – Canto on Ravana viewing his (regrouped) Army - படைக் காட்சிப் படலம்
(The Aadhi Kaavy a manages to present this formation in ONE VERSE. Kamban has invested a whole canto – FIFTY ONE VERSES!! ; our poet invents some exotic places to have this mobilization come from, with tribes with exotic attributes. Like the canto on Maya Janaka, this canto of Kamban is very much a fifth wheel in the coach – dispensable. But he presents some very juicy narratives, exotic geography and some pithy dialogues. Why not look in – but in a summary fashion?)
அத் தொழில் அவரும் செய்தார்; ஆயிடை, அனைத்துத் திக்கும்
பொத்திய நிருதர் தானை கொணரிய போய தூதர்,
ஒத்தனர் அணுகி வந்து வணங்கினர், 'இலங்கை உன் ஊர்ப்
பத்தியின் அடைந்த தானைக்கு இடம் இலை; பணி என்?' என்றார்.
Ravana’s command (to preserve Indrajit’s remains) was duly executed.
The messengers who spread out to mobilise Rakshasa forces from far and wide,
Returned and, paying obeisance to their King, there is no space to accommodate the forces that have been mobilized. What is your command?”
ஏம்பலுற்று எழுந்த மன்னன், 'எவ் வழி எய்திற்று?' என்றான்;
கூம்பலுற்று உயர்ந்த கையர், 'ஒரு வழி கூறலாமோ?
வாம் புனல் பரவை ஏழும் இறுதியின் வளர்ந்தது என்னாத்
தாம் பொடித்து எழுந்த தானைக்கு உலகு இடம் இல்லை' என்றார்.
Enthusiastic now, (with the all-encompassing mobilization effort yielding impressive results) Ravana queried: By what means was this accomplished? The messengers with their hands clasped in prayer would proudly respond: ‘How could we say – not one! This has grown like all the seven seas had gathered into a single deluge and- there is no place for this army in this world.’
Kamban presents the mind-blowing expanse and grandeur of this mobilization – from exotic corners of the world – in five capitivating verses. We pick but one.
நெருக்குடை வாயிலூடு புகும் எனின், நெடிது காலம்
இருக்கும் அத்தனையே' என்னா, மதிலினுக்கு உம்பர் எய்தி,
அரக்கனது இலங்கை உற்ற - அண்டங்கள் அனைத்தின் உள்ள
கருக் கிளர் மேகம் எல்லாம் ஒருங்கு உடன் கலந்தது என்ன.
For this humongous formation to enter Lanka through its four gates might have taken an eternity. Therefore, the forces began to spill into the city climbing all over its long ramparts. Drawn into the city, the formation resembled the collection in one place of all the dark clouds in all the three worlds.
Ravana views this formation from atop a tower:
அதுபொழுது, அரக்கர்கோனும், அணிகொள் கோபுரத்தின் எய்தி,
பொதுவுற நோக்கலுற்றான், ஒரு நெறி போகப் போக,
விதி முறை காண்பென் என்னும் வேட்கையான், வேலை ஏழும்
கதுமென ஒருங்கு நோக்கும் பேதையின் காதல் கொண்டான்.
Ravana goes atop a tall tower and comprehensively viewed the formation . He was overcome by a childish desire of seeing, in one go, this formation likened to the seven seas in one place, forced by his physical limitation began to cast his view in one direction at a time.
The messengers began to brief the King about the sourcing of this huge formation.
(We are just paraphrasing the verses very, very briefly)
1. These are from the island of Saka. These are Dhanavas (a branch of asuras). Were born in a yajna ritual. Had vanquished all the celestials. Great in illusory tricks. Have huge bodies that could be touching the clouds. (Saka is Teak; evidently the island was rich in this flora)
2. These are tribes resident in”Kusai” island. Capable of upbraiding and subjugating even the god of death. Are the singular cause of the celestials losing their wealth, domain and influence. They believe that they are the epitome of victory. “Kusai” stands for “Kusa” – Dharba grass. Apparently the island was flush with that plant.
3. These are from “Ilava” island. These fought with Indra and the celestials and caused the destruction of Indra’s Amaravati. They carry the boon of Lord Siva. Angry like a forest fire.
4. These are from the ‘Andril’ island. Have the reputation of pulling out the Maha Meru, the doman of celestials: as they intended to throw this into the deep seas, with the celestials begging with them, restored that doman for them, with grace. “AndriL’ is the Krauncha bird. We have heard about this at the very beginning of this epic. The island must have been replete with this particular fauna.
5. These are from the Coral island. Were born to Sukracharya and a Rakshasa maiden that he cohabited with. Two crores strong. Have the reputation of having drunk the Thirupparkadal completely.
6. These reside in the “Gandhamaadhanam:” hill. Were born with the “Aalahaala’ poison (when the Thiruppaarkadal was churned). These are contless.
7. These were born in the mountains called ‘Malayam” aka ‘Pothigai’. They reside in an island in the middle of the ocean. As Brahma thought that these could destroy the world (if let to live in Pothigai), he pointed to that island and begged of them to live there for ever -
Without being assailed.
8. This tribe has three hands. Carry Tridents. Also carry ‘Moosundi’ and the disc as weapons. Carry a bow as well. Are more valourous than Indra himself. They lord over the crocodiles-infested seven seas. They reside in an island called “Pushkaram”.
9. These live in an island called “Irali”. They imprisoned Yama the god of death in the mighty “Chakravaalam” mountain, on being commanded by their mother and let him off on Brahama’s intercession.
10. This queer tribe – with limbs of the.’Vedaalam’ **ghost – was ordained by Brahma to go take residence in the nether world as the other worlds cannot accommodate them and so they hail from there; they have volunteered to fight for you because of the love they have for you.
** வேதாளம் சேருமே வெள்ளெருக்குப் பூக்குமே
பாதாள மூலிவந்து படருமே - மூதேவி
சென்றிருந்து வாழ்வளே சேடன் குடிபுகுமே
மன்றோரம் சொன்னார் மனை”Avvaiyaar’s ‘Nalvazhi’.
(மன்றோரம் சொன்னார் – those who give false evidence in courts)
11. These dark complexioned ones are descendants of “Niruthi” who commands South West of the eight directions. They match your lineage in exalted origins. Equal the prowess of Surya. Capable of drinking off the seven seas if their thirst for blood could not be quenched. Even one of them could lift the seven great mountains.
12. These anklet-wearing ones are offspring of Bhooma Devi and Sri Varaha Murthi; Besting Indra, they stood Dig Gajas of their own in the eight directions, as a mark of their overwhelming Indra.
13. These most ruthless and fierce tribe reside in the bottom most nether world. Aadhi Sesha, the thousand hooded divine serpent – who holds this earth on his hoods – is perpetually sleepless because of the harassment that these cause him.
14. When Lord Siva demonstrated his dancing skills to his consort Kaali, provoking her to an incensed fury, these were born out of the fire from her fury. Their co-borns are ghosts. These are marching in great numbers in this formation – with their swords flashing and their curved incissors gleaming.
15. These were born when sin was born. Their eyes are like lighted torches. Should they be provoked to their blind anger, they would kill even their mother. Holding their bows, they are arriving from the north.
16. These fierce ones were born in the forehead eye of Siva when he burnt the worlds with his fury. And 17. Those are vengeful ones who were born to a female that was the epitome of cruelty.
18. These trident-wielding ones were born out of the blood flow from the God of Death when Lord Siva kicked him (the legend of Markandeya). 19, Those who stand beside them, are Rakshasas born out of the churning of Thiruppaarkadal – before Aala Haala poison and the Divine Nectar.
20. These ones were born out of the Vadavamukhagni that flowed from the distressed Vasukhi serpent when she was used as the churn rope to churn the Thiruppaarkadal. 21. Those near them are endowed with a huge body that tilts at the clouds and have fiery-orange hair. 22. And those next to them were born out of the calamity when Lord Siva rode that grand chariot that had Brahma as it charioteer.
இனையர் இன்னவர் என்பது ஓர் அளவு இலர் - ஐய !-
நினையவும், குறித்து உரைக்கவும், அரிது; இவர் நிறைந்த
வினையமும் பெரு வரங்களும் தவங்களும் விளம்பின்,
அனைய பேர் உகம் ஆயிரத்து அளவினும் அடங்கா.
“Oh! My Lord! This is just a broad indication of who all are here and what they are capabe of. It would impossible to comprehend – much less narrate – all their skills, capabilities, all their ascetic boons and strengths. Should one get to narrate these, even a thousand yugas would not suffice.
A bombastic boast:
ஒருவரே சென்று, அவ் உறு திறல் குரங்கையும்,
உரவோர்இருவர் என்றவர்தம்மையும், ஒரு கையோடு எற்றி,
வருவர்; மற்று இனிப் பகர்வது என்? - வானவர்க்கு அரிய
திருவ!' என்றனர், தூதுவர். இராவணன் செப்பும்:
“Oh! The One Who is more resplendent than the celestials! Just one of these would go and single-handedly defeat those valarous vanaras and the two mighty humans. What to say more?” Ravana, pleased would ask:
'எத் திறத்து இதற்கு எண் எனத் தொகை வகுத்து, இயன்ற
அத் திறத்தினை அறைதிர்' என்று உரைசெய, அவர்கள்,
'ஒத்த வெள்ளம் ஓர் ஆயிரம் உளது' என உரைத்தார்,
பித்தர்; இப் படைக்கு 'எண் சிறிது' என்றனர், பெயர்ந்தார்.
“What would be the numerical strength of this army, tell me?” The messengers would say, “If someone would say ‘All of One Thousand Vellam strong,’ that person ought to be out his mind; that number is too small ” With that parting comment, they left.
படைப் பெருங் குலத் தலைவரைக் கொணருதிர், என்பால் -
கிடைத்து, நான் அவர்க்கு உற்றுள பொருள் எலாம் கிளத்தி,
அடைத்த நல் உரை விளம்பினென் அளவளாய், அமைவுற்று,
உடைத்த பூசனை வரன்முறை இயற்ற' என்று உரைத்தான்.
“Bring to me the leader of this great flock. Let me brief them comprehensively and offer him appropriate oblations.”
தூதர் கூறிட, திசைதொறும் திசைதொறும் தொடர்ந்தார்,
ஓத வேலையின் நாயகர் எவரும் வந்து உற்றார்;
போது தூவினர், வணங்கினர், இராவணன் பொலன் தாள்
மோதும் மோலியின் பேர் ஒலி வானினை முட்ட.
An endless retinue of leaders of the different tribes trouped down to pay obeisance at Ravana’s feet, paying him a floral tribute.
அனையர் யாவரும் அருகு சென்று, அடி முறை வணங்கி,
வினையம் மேவினர், இனிதின் அங்கு இருந்தது ஓர் வேலை,
'நினையும் நல் வரவு ஆக, நும் வரவு!' என நிரம்பி,
'மனையும் மக்களும் வலியரே?' என்றனன், மறவோன்.
Ravana made polite and kind enquiries of each one of them.
'மாதரார்களும் மைந்தரும் நின் மருங்கு இருந்தார்
பேது உறாதவர் இல்லை; நீ வருந்தினை, பெரிதும்;
யாது காரணம்? அருள்' என, அனையவர் இசைத்தார்;
சீதை காதலின் புகுந்துள பரிசு எலாம் தெரித்தான்.
As the leaders of the tribes enquired of Ravana ‘You and all those by your side, your wives and other kin seem to be in distress. What is the cause? Kindly tell us.” Ravana briefed them comprehensively, beginning from his infatuation for Sita and the subsequent tragic happenings in Lanka.
The leaders, in disbelief, would scoff at the story:
கும்பகன்னனோடு இந்திரசித்தையும், குலத்தின்
வெம்பு வெஞ் சினத்து அரக்கர்தம் குழுவையும்,வென்றார்
அம்பினால், சிறு மனிதரே! நன்று, நம் ஆற்றல்!
நம்ப! சேனையும் வானரமே!' என நக்கார்.
“Two dimunitive humans vanquished the mighty Kumbhakarna and invincible Indrajit together with the fierce Rakshasa forces? And their forces were pathetic monkeys? Great must have been our valour!” The leaders laughed in disbelief and derision.
The leaders’ mock and derision continue:
உலகைச் சேடன்தன் உச்சிநின்று எடுக்க அன்று, ஓர் ஏழ்
மலையை வேரொடும் வாங்க அன்று, அங்கையால் வாரி
அலைகொள் வேலையைக் குடிக்க அன்று,அழைத்தது; மலரோடு
இலைகள் கோதும் அக் குரங்கின்மேல் ஏவக்கொல்,எம்மை?'
“You have called us here – not for plucking this planet from the head of Aadhi Sesha? Not for uprooting the seven great mountains? Not for drinking off the seven seas? You called us to be deployed against those pathetic leaf-eating monkeys?”
என்ன, கை எறிந்து, இடி உரும்ஏறு என நக்கு,
மின்னும் வாள் எயிற்று அரக்கரை அம் கையால் விலக்கி,
வன்னி என்பவன், புட்கரத் தீவுக்கு மன்னன்,
'அன்ன மானுடர் ஆர் வலியாவது' என்று அறைந்தான்.
Waving the mocking leaders to be quiet, the elder amongst them, Vanni, the King of the Pushkara island, came forward and asked: “What is the real strength of those humans/”
Maalyavaan intercedes and provides a comprehensive answer to Vanni.
Have you head of Vaali? The one who could leap across the seven seas and who lifted the seven great mountains? This human’s one dart took that one’s life. (The seven great mountains: Himalaya, Mandhara, Vindhya, Nishadam, Hemakootam and Gandhamadhanam)
The mighty shouldered Virata got killed and so was Maareecha. And the feared Kara Dhushanas and Trisira along with their huge army were all destroyed in one naazhigai (24 minutes) with just one man holding a bow.
How come you come here and make that query? Did you not feel the oceans in your quarters set to boil (with Rama’s arrow)? And did you not hear the great universal thunderous noise of the Siva Dhanus being broken (by Rama) which all the worlds heard?
Lanka boasted an army of one thousand vellam strong – of battle-hard, war-hungry Rakshasas. All all of it is gone – apparently wishing to enter the domain of the god of death. All with the darts from the bows of those yajnopaveedha-wearing ascetic humans.
Kumbhakarna, Ravana’s sons, Brahastha and all others along with Indrajit are dead. Your king Ravana and I alone are still left.
There is still left the core security complement – three hundred vellam strong. And as very timely help, you all have arrived. (Against this) I need to illustrate the opposing strength – the vanara commanders’ war-skills and the capabilities of he vanara forces they command.
One vanara came and set fire to the whole of Lanka; killed Akshakumara, the Rakshasa warrior of repute, squashing him into dust; fought its way through, conveyed its message and returned, leaving the Rakshasa women to wail, leaping across the seas.
'கண்டிலீர்கொலாம், கடலினை மலை கொண்டு கட்டி,
மண்டு போர் செய, வானரர் இயற்றிய மார்க்கம்?
உண்டு வெள்ளம் ஓர் எழுபது; மருந்து ஒரு நொடியில்
கொண்டு வந்தது, மேருவுக்கு அப்புறம் குதித்து.
“Did you see? The sea was dammed with hills and wrought a road for the vanaras to arrive for the war? The count is Seventy Vellam. And one brought the herbal mountain in a trice, leaping across to Mount Meru.
இது இயற்கை; ஓர் சீதை என்று இருந்தவத்து இயைந்தாள்,
பொது இயற்கை தீர் கற்புடைப் பத்தினி பொருட்டால்,
விதி விளைத்தது; அவ் வில்லியர் வெல்க! நீர் வெல்க!
முதுமொழிப் பதம் சொல்லினென்' என்று, உரை முடித்தான்.
“This is our strength. This is our adversaries’ strength. All this is wrought by destiny – on account of an extraordinary (பொது இயற்கை தீர்) virtuous woman. Let those archers win. Let you all win. (as the dice may fall). These are my elderly words.” Thus concluded Maalyavaan.
When asked by Vanni why did he have to preside over this carnage, Ravana LIES!
வன்னி, மன்னனை நோக்கி, 'நீ இவர் எலாம் மடிய,
என்ன காரணம், இகல் செயாதிருந்தது?' என்று இசைத்தான்;
'புன்மை நோக்கினென்; நாணினால் பொருதிலேன் என்றான்;
'அன்னதேல், இனி அமையும் எம் கடமைஅஃது' என்றான்.
Vanni enquired of Ravana: “Why did all the carnage had to happen? Why were you not fighting?” (the presumption was that if Ravana had taken the battle responsibility, the carnage would have been averted). Ravana blurts out a huge lie: “Looking to the pathetic status of the adversaries, feeling shameful to take them on, I did not fight. However, my part shall happen. I is my duty.”
Vanni concludes that the war, though wholly avertable at some stage, was inevitable now:
மூது உணர்ந்த இம் முது மகன் கூறிய முயற்சி
சீதை என்பவள்தனை விட்டு, அம் மனிதரைச் சேர்தல்;
ஆதியின்தலை செயத்தக்கது; இனிச் செயல் அழிவால்,
காதல் இந்திரசித்தையும் மாய்வித்தல் கண்டும்?
Vanni would wind up: “What Maalyavaan’s elderly counsel was to let Sita go to Rama. That was possible right at the start. To contemplate that now, even after the killing of Inderjit, would be derogatory for us.”
விட்டம்ஆயினும் மாதினை, வெஞ் சமம் விரும்பிப்
பட்ட வீரரைப் பெறுகிலெம்; பெறுவது பழியால்;
முட்டி, மற்றவர் குலத்தொடு முடிக்குவது அல்லால்,
கட்டம், அத் தொழில்; செருத் தொழில் இனிச் செயும் கடமை'
“If we now let Sita go, we are not going to regain the lives lost and would be calumnious. Peace now is impossible. All that we can now do, which is our warrior duty, is to fight the adversaries and destroy them completely.”
என்று, எழுந்தனர் இராக்கதர், 'இருக்க நீ; யாமே
சென்று, மற்றவர் சில் உடல் குருதி, நீர் தேக்கி,
வென்று மீளுதும்; வெள்குதுமேல், மிடல் இல்லாப்
புன் தொழில் குலம் ஆதும்' என்று உரைத்தனர், போனார்.
As Vanni concluded thus, the Rakshasas assured Ravana: “You stay assured. We shall go, vanquish the enemies and return. Should we think of retreating, that would be an unpardonable dastardly act in our tribe.” So, assuring Ravana, the Rakshasa forces left (for the battle front.)