{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry436.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry436.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry436.htm","text":"Lords of the legions of the wood,\n The chieftains with Vibh\u00edshan stood,\n And, strangers in the foeman's land,\n Their hopes and fears in council scanned:\n 'See, see where Lank\u00e1's towers ascend,\n Which R\u00e1van's power and might defend,\n Which Gods, Gandharvas, fiends would fail\n To conquer, if they durst assail.\n How shall our legions pass within,\n The city of the foe to win,\n With massive walls and portals barred\n Which R\u00e1van keeps with surest guard?'\n With anxious looks the walls they eyed:\n And sage Vibh\u00edshan thus replied:\n 'These lords of mine \u00a02b can answer: they\n Within the walls have found their way,\n The foeman's plan and order learned,\n And hither to my side returned.\n Now, R\u00e1ma, let my tongue declare\n How R\u00e1van's hosts are stationed there.\n Prahasta heads, in warlike state,\n His legions at the eastern gate.\n To guard the southern portal stands\n Mahodar, girt by R\u00e1kshas bands,\n Where mighty Mah\u00e1p\u00e1rs'va, sent\n By R\u00e1van's hest, his aid has lent.\n Guard of the gate that fronts the west\n Is valiant Indrajit, the best\n Of warriors, R\u00e1van's joy and pride;\n And by the youthful chieftain's side\n Are giants, armed for fierce attacks\n With sword and mace and battle-axe.\n North, where approach is dreaded most,\n The king, encompassed with a host\n Of giants trained in war, whose hands\n Wield maces, swords and lances, stands.\n \n \n All these are chiefs whom R\u00e1van chose\n As mightiest to resist his foes;\n And each a countless army \u00a01 leads\n With elephants and cars and steeds.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Then R\u00e1ma, while his spirit burned\n For battle, words like these returned:\n 'The eastern gate be N\u00edla's care.\n Opponent of Prahasta there.\n The southern gate, with troops arrayed\n Let Angad, B\u00e1li's son, invade.\n The gate that fronts the falling sun\n Shall be by brave Han\u00fam\u00e1n won;\n Soon through its portals shall he lead\n His myriads of V\u00e1nar breed.\n The gate that fronts the north shall be\n Assailed by Lakshman and by me.\n For I myself have sworn to kill\n The tyrant who delights in ill.\n Armed with the boon which Brahm\u00e1 gave,\n The Gods of heaven he loves to brave.\n And through the trembling worlds he flies,\n Oppressor of the just and wise.\n Thou, J\u00e1mbav\u00e1n, and thou, O King\n Of V\u00e1nars, all your bravest bring,\n And with your hosts in dense array\n Straight to the centre force your way.\n But let no V\u00e1nar in the storm\n Disguise him in a human form.\n Ye chiefs who change your shapes at will,\n Retain your V\u00e1nar semblance still.\n Thus, when we battle with the foe,\n Both men and V\u00e1nars will ye know,\n In human form will seven appear;\n Myself, my brother Lakshman here;\n Vibh\u00edshan, and the four he led\n From Lank\u00e1's city when he fled.'\n \n \n Thus Raghu's son the chiefs addressed:\n Then, gazing on Suvela's crest,\n Transported by the lovely sight,\n He longed to climb the mountain height.\n \n \n \n \n455:1b The poet appears to have forgotten that Suka and S\u00e1ran were dismissed with ignominy in Canto XXIX., and have not been reinstated.\n455:2b The four who fled with him. Their names are Anala*, Panasa, Samp\u00e1ti, and Pramati.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XXXVII.: Preparations.","type":"page"}