Chapter 24 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 24

Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda

Verse 24.23

इति सम्भाष्यमाणे तु देवगन्धर्वचारणैः। ततो गम्भीरनिदिं घोरचर्मायुधध्वजम्॥ अनीकं यातुधानानां समन्तात् प्रत्यपद्यत। वीरालापान् विसृजतामन्योन्यमभिगच्छताम्॥ चापानि विस्फारयतां जृम्भतां चाप्यभीक्ष्णशः। विप्रघुष्टस्वनानां च दुन्दुभींश्चापि निघ्नताम्॥

iti sambhāṣyamāṇe tu devagandharvacāraṇaiḥ| tato gambhīranidiṃ ghoracarmāyudhadhvajam|| anīkaṃ yātudhānānāṃ samantāt pratyapadyata| vīrālāpān visṛjatāmanyonyamabhigacchatām|| cāpāni visphārayatāṃ jṛmbhatāṃ cāpyabhīkṣṇaśaḥ| vipraghuṣṭasvanānāṃ ca dundubhīṃścāpi nighnatām||

English Meaning

While the gods, Gandharvas and Cāraņas were thus conversing, the forces of the Rākṣasas sending up solemn sounds, furnished with horrible armour, arms and flags, conversing in heroic parlance, roaring at each other, stretching bows, momentarily yawning, sending forth shouts, and blowing trumpets. The commentator says the yawning was in consequence of the soldiers having during the conflict indulged in liquor.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)