I was reading up a scene in the Kamba Ramayanam, where Mandodari, Ravana's virtuous wife, rushes to the battlefield, sees the dead Ravana, and plunges into uncontrolled dirge. Out of curiosity, I wanted to compared how Valmiki has described the same scene in the original, and how Kamban's version stacks up.
My verdict - it is hard to say which one is better. Both are absolutely beautiful in their own ways. I am quoting the Original texts, as well as giving their their meanings as I understand them. It is apparent, looking through the verses in both Sanskrit as well in Tamil, that the two great poets have approached the same scene with their own different imaginations.
I am only quoting the relevant section of the Yudha Kandam here from Valmiki Ramayanam. . In the earlier part of the same chapter, Mandodari starts off , by waxing eloquent about Rama's virtues, and the fact that Ravana's infatuation for Sita cost him and his country dear. Here, in these verses, Valimiki has dwelled more on the virtues of Ravana, as seen from Mandodari's eyes, and the fact that his body has been sieved by Rama's arrows, and that that illustrious body has been reduced to a caracas by the might of the virtuous Rama's arrows. Of particular interest, is the way he has described Ravana's slain body, which now looks akin to " arrows looking like the seep spikes on the body of a porcupine" and " a mountain broken down by a thunderbolt".
Kamban, in contrast, focuses on the arrows piercing Ravana's body, and his interpretation of it. While saying that the arrows have pierced so close to each other, on Ravana's body, that there is no place even for sesame seeds to fall in the cracks, he goes further with this masterpiece of description, where he says " it is as if the arrows are frisking his entire body, to see if there is any place in his body that still harbours infatuation over Janaki ( Sita), in order to flush them out".
I really enjoyed comparing and enjoying both versions.
Valmiki Ramayanam:
स्निग्देन्द्रनीलनीलं तु प्रांशुशैलोपमं महत् || ६-१११-४४
केयूराङ्गदवैदूर्यमुक्ताहारस्रगुज्ज्वलम् |
कान्तं विहारेष्वधिकं दीप्तं संग्रामभूमिषु || ६-१११-४५
भात्यभरणभाभिर्यद्विद्युद्भिरिव तोयदः |
तदेवाद्य शरीरं ते तीक्ष्णैर्नैकशरैश्चितम् || ६-१११-४६
पुनर्दुर्लभसंस्पर्शं परिष्वक्तुं न शक्यते |
श्वाविधः शलकैर्यद्वद्बाणैर्लग्नैर्निरन्तरम् || ६-१११-४७
स्वर्पितैर्मर्मसु भृशं संचिन्नस्नायुबन्धनम् |
क्षितौ निपतितं राजन् श्यामं वै रुधिरच्छवि || ६-१११-४८
व्ज्रप्रहाराभिहतो विकीर्ण इव पर्वतः |
Rough translation:
"O king! The body of yours which was really dark as glossy sapphire, gigantic like a lofty mountain and resplendent with Keyuras and Angadas (two varieties of armlets) and necklace of cat's eye-gems and pearls and wreaths of flowers, which body looked more charming during your pleasure-walks and dazzling in battle-fields, which shone with luster of jewels as a rainy cloud with flashes of lightning lies transfixed in numerous sharp arrows today. Though it will be difficult for me to touch it again, it is no longer possible to embrace it. It has tendons cut to pieces, by arrows of Rama, dug deep into your vital parts and closely transfixed like the spikes of a porcupine. Though dark of complexion, it is now transformed into the colour of blood and lies fallen on the ground like a mountain broken into pieces when hit by a stroke of thunder-bolt."
Kamba Ramayanam:
வெள் எருக்கஞ் சடை முடியான் வெற்பு எடுத்த
திரு மேனி, மேலும் கீழும்
எள் இருக்கும் இடன் இன்றி, உயிர் இருக்கும்
இடன் நாடி, இழைத்தவாறோ?
''கள் இருக்கும் மலர்க் கூந்தல் சானகியை
மனச் சிறையில் கரந்த காதல்
உள் இருக்கும்'' எனக் கருதி, உடல் புகுந்து,
தடவியதோ ஒருவன் வாளி?
Rough Translation:
The incomparable Rama's arrows have pierced both the top and bottom halves of the body of Ravana, who had so nonchalantly lifted the Kailasa mountain, the abode of Shiva, who adorns the Crown flower on his hair, so densely that there is no space even for sesame seeds to fall in the cracks. Are they frisking his body for any remnants of infatuation for Janaki?
ஒப்பற்ற இராமபிரானின் அம்பு வெள்ளை எருக்கம் பூவை (முடியில்)
சூடும் சிவபெருமானுடைய கயிலை மலையைத் தூக்கிய இராவணனுடைய அழகிய உடலின் உடம்பின் மேல்பகுதியிலும் கீழ்ப்பகுதியிலும் எள் இருக்கும் இடம் கூட இல்லாமல் உயிர் இருக்கும் இடம்
முழுவதையும் தேடி ஆராய்ந்த வண்ணமோ? தேன் குடிகொள்ளும்
மலர்களைச் சூடிய கூந்தலையுடைய சீதாதேவியை மனம் எனும் சிறையில் ஒளித்து வைத்திருந்த காதலானது உள்ளே (இன்னும்
எங்காவது) பதுங்கியிருக்கும் என்று எண்ணி; உடல் புகுந்து
தடவியதோ? உடல் முழுதும் நுழைந்து (நுழைந்து) தடவிப்
பார்த்ததோ?
ஒருவன் வாளி - ஒப்பற்ற இராமபிரானின் அம்பு; வெள்
எருக்கம் சடைமுடியான்- வெள்ளை எருக்கம் பூவை (முடியில்)
சூடும் சிவபெருமானுடைய; வெற்பு எடுத்த திருமேனி - கயிலை
மலையைத் தூக்கிய இராவணனுடைய அழகிய உடலின்; மேலும்
கீழும் - உடம்பின் மேல்பகுதியிலும் கீழ்ப்பகுதியிலும்; எள்
இருக்கும் இடம் இன்றி- எள் இருக்கும் இடம் கூட இல்லாமல்;
உயிர் இருக்கும் இடம் நாடி- உயிர் இருக்கும் இடம்
முழுவதையும் தேடி; இழைத்த ஆறோ?- ஆராய்ந்த வண்ணமோ?
கள் இருக்கும் மலர்க்கூந்தல் சானகியை- தேன் குடிகொள்ளும்
மலர்களைச் சூடிய கூந்தலையுடைய சீதாதேவியை; மனச் சிறையில்
கரந்த காதல் - மனம் எனும் சிறையில் ஒளித்து வைத்திருந்த
காதலானது;உள் இருக்கும் எனக் கருதி - உள்ளே (இன்னும்
எங்காவது) பதுங்கியிருக்கும் என்று எண்ணி; உடல் புகுந்து
தடவியதோ? - உடல் முழுதும் நுழைந்து (நுழைந்து) தடவிப்
பார்த்ததோ?
ஒப்பற்ற இராமபிரானின் அம்பு வெள்ளை எருக்கம் பூவை (முடியில்)
சூடும் சிவபெருமானுடைய கயிலை மலையைத் தூக்கிய இராவணனுடைய அழகிய உடலின் உடம்பின் மேல்பகுதியிலும் கீழ்ப்பகுதியிலும் எள் இருக்கும் இடம் கூட இல்லாமல் உயிர் இருக்கும் இடம்
முழுவதையும் தேடி ஆராய்ந்த வண்ணமோ? தேன் குடிகொள்ளும்
மலர்களைச் சூடிய கூந்தலையுடைய சீதாதேவியை மனம் எனும் சிறையில் ஒளித்து வைத்திருந்த காதலானது உள்ளே (இன்னும்
எங்காவது) பதுங்கியிருக்கும் என்று எண்ணி; உடல் புகுந்து
தடவியதோ? உடல் முழுதும் நுழைந்து (நுழைந்து) தடவிப்
பார்த்ததோ?
Source: tvu.org
हा राजन् सुकुमारं ते सुभ्रु सुत्वक्समुन्नसम् || ६-१११-३६
कान्तिश्रीद्युतिभिस्तुल्यमिन्दुपद्मदिवाकरैः |
किरीटकूटोज्ज्वलितं ताम्रास्यं दीप्तकुण्डलम् || ६-१११-३७
मदव्याकुललोलाक्षं भूत्वा यत्पानभूमिषु |
विविधस्रग्धरं चारु वल्गुस्मितकथं शुभम् || ६-१११-३८
तदेवाद्य तवैवं हि वक्त्रं न भ्राजते प्रभो |
रामसायकनिर्भिन्नं रक्तं रुधिरविस्रवैः || ६-१११-३९
वीशीर्णमेदोमस्तिष्कं रूक्षम् स्यन्दनरेणुभिः |
36-39. haa! raajan = Alas; O king!; prabho = O lord!; yat vaktram = that face of yours; sukumaaram = which was so tender; subhru = and distinguished by charming eye-brows; sutvak = a glossy surface; samunnasam = having an exceptionally prominent nose; taamraasyam = coppery lips; diipta kuN^Dalam = and brilliant ear-rings; tulyam indupadma divaakaraiH = which vied with the mood; the lotus and the sun; kaanti shrii dyutibhiH = in loveliness light; and luster; kiriiTakuuTojjvalitam = was illumined by a number of diadems; bhuutvaa madavyaakula lolaakSham = which shone with its eyes wild and rolling through inebriety; paana bhuumiShu = in banqueting places; vividdha sragdharam = bore garlands of various kinds; chaaru = was lovely and charming (in every way); valgusmita shubham katham = was lit with a captivating smile and indulged in a delightful talk; tava tadeva = that face of yours; na bhraajate = does not actually sine; adya = as before today;
"Alas, O king! That face of yours which was so tender, O lord, and distinguished by charming eye-brows, a gloss surface, having an exceptionally prominent nose, coppery lips and brilliant ear-rings, which vied with the moon the lotus and the sun in loveliness, light and luster, was illumined by a number of diadems, which shone with its eyes wild and rolling through inebriety in banqueting places, bore garlands of various kinds, was lovely and charming in every way, was lit with a captivating smile and indulged in a delightful talk - that face of yours does not actually shine as before today pierced with Rama's arrows, it lies dyed with streams of blood. It has its marrow shattered and has got soiled through the dust raised by the chariots."
स्निग्देन्द्रनीलनीलं तु प्रांशुशैलोपमं महत् || ६-१११-४४
केयूराङ्गदवैदूर्यमुक्ताहारस्रगुज्ज्वलम् |
कान्तं विहारेष्वधिकं दीप्तं संग्रामभूमिषु || ६-१११-४५
भात्यभरणभाभिर्यद्विद्युद्भिरिव तोयदः |
तदेवाद्य शरीरं ते तीक्ष्णैर्नैकशरैश्चितम् || ६-१११-४६
पुनर्दुर्लभसंस्पर्शं परिष्वक्तुं न शक्यते |
श्वाविधः शलकैर्यद्वद्बाणैर्लग्नैर्निरन्तरम् || ६-१११-४७
स्वर्पितैर्मर्मसु भृशं संचिन्नस्नायुबन्धनम् |
क्षितौ निपतितं राजन् श्यामं वै रुधिरच्छवि || ६-१११-४८
व्ज्रप्रहाराभिहतो विकीर्ण इव पर्वतः |
snigdendraniilaniilaM tu praaMshushailopamaM mahat || 6-111-44
keyuuraaN^gadavaiduuryamuktaahaarasragujjvalam |
kaantaM vihaareSvadhikaM diiptaM saMgraamabhuumiShu || 6-111-45
bhaatyabharaNabhaabhiryadvidyudbhiriva toyadaH |
tadevaadya shariiraM te tiikShNairnaikasharaishchitam || 6-111-46
punardurlabhasaMsparshaM pariShvaktuM na shakyate |
shvaavidhaH shalakairyadvadbaaNairlagnairnirantaram || 6-111-47
svarpitairmarmasu bhR^ishaM saMchinnasnaayubandhanam |
kShitau nipatitaM raajan shyaamaM vai rudhirachchhavi || 6-111-48
vjraprahaaraabhihato vikiirNa iva parvataH |
"O king! The body of yours which was really dark as glossy sapphire, gigantic like a lofty mountain and resplendent with Keyuras and Angadas (two varieties of armlets) and necklace of cat's eye-gems and pearls and wreaths of flowers, which body looked more charming during your pleasure-walks and dazzling in battle-fields, which shone with luster of jewels as a rainy cloud with flashes of lightning lies transfixed in numerous sharp arrows today. Though it will be difficult for me to touch it again, it is no longer possible to embrace it. It has tendons cut to pieces, by arrows of Rama, dug deep into your vital parts and closely transfixed like the spikes of a porcupine. Though dark of complexion, it is now transformed into the colour of blood and lies fallen on the ground like a mountain broken into pieces when hit by a stroke of thunder-bolt."
44-48. raajan= O king!; te shariiram= the very body of yours snigdhendraniila niilam= which was really dark as a glossy sapphire; praamshu mahat shailopamam= gigantic like a lofty mountain; keyuuraaNgada vaiduurya muktaahaara sragujjvalam= and resplendent with Keyuras and Angadas (two varieties of armlets), necklace of cat's eye-gems and pearls and wreaths of flowers; adhikam kaantam= which looked more charming; vihaareShu= during pleasure-walks; diiptam= and dazzling; sangraama bhuumiShu= in battle fields; yat= which; bhaati= shone; aabharaNa abhiH= with the lustre of jewels; toyadaH iva= as a rainy cloud; vidyudbhiH= with flashes of lightning; chitam= lies transfixed; tiikShNaiH naikasharaiH= with numerous sharp arrows; adya= today; punaH durlabha samsparsham= though it will be difficult for me to touch it again; na shakyate= it is no longer possible; pariShvaktum= to embrace; tadeva= it; sambhinna snaayubandhanam= it has tendons cut to pieces; baaNaiH= by arrows (of Rama); svarpitaiH= dug deep; marmasu= into your vital parts; lagnaiH= aim closely transfixed; shalakaiH yadvat= like the spines; shvaavidhaH= of a porcupine; shyaam= though spines; shvaavidhaH= of porcupine; shyaam= though dark of complexion; rudhira chhavi= it is now transformed into the colour of blood; nipatitam= and lies fallen; kShitau= on the ground; parvataH iva= like a mountain; vikiirNaH= broken into pieces; vajra prahaaraabhihataH= when hit by a stroke of thunder-bolt.
http://www.valmikiramayan.net/
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