नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः। चीराजिनजटाधारी रामो भवतु तापसः
For nine and five years, let Rama dwell in the Dandaka forest, wearing bark, skins, and matted hair, becoming an ascetic.
स तं राजा वरं श्रुत्वा विप्रियं दारुणोदयम्। दुःखार्तो भरतश्रेष्ठ न किंचिद्व्याजहार ह
The king, hearing that boon—harsh and grievous, causing sorrow—spoke nothing, afflicted for the sake of the noble Bharata.
ततस्तथोक्तं पितरं रामो विज्ञाय वीर्यवान्। वनं प्रतस्थे धर्मात्मा राजा सत्यो भवत्विति
Then, understanding his father's command, Rama, mighty and righteous, set out for the forest, saying, 'Let the king be true.'
तमन्वगच्छल्लक्ष्मीवान्धनुष्माँल्लक्ष्मणस्तदा। सीता च भार्या भद्रं ते वैदेही जनकात्मजा
Lakshmana, endowed with fortune and bearing a bow, then followed him; and Sita, his wife, the blessed Vaidehi, daughter of Janaka.
ततो वनं गतेरामे राजा दशरथस्तदा। समयुज्यत देहस्य कालपर्यायधर्मणा
Then, when Rama had departed for the forest, King Dasharatha was overcome by the law of the body's end, through the course of time.
रामं तु गतमाज्ञाय राजानं च तथागतम्। अनार्या भरतं देवी कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When Rama had gone and the king likewise departed, the unworthy Kaikeyi spoke to Bharata, her son, these words.
गतोदशरथः स्वर्गं वनस्थौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। गृहाण राज्यंविपुलं क्षेमं निहतकण्टकम्
With Daśaratha having gone to heaven, and Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa dwelling in the forest, take up the vast and secure kingdom, now freed from obstacles.
तामुवाच स धर्मात्मा नृशंसं बत ते कृतम्। पतिं हत्वाकुलं चेदमुत्साद्य धनलुब्धया
To her, that righteous one spoke: 'Alas, what a cruel thing you have done—having killed your husband, you have brought ruin to this family, driven by greed for wealth.'
अयशः पातयित्वा मे मूर्ध्नि त्वं कुलपांसने। सकामा भव मे मातरित्युक्त्वा प्ररुरोद ह
'Having cast disgrace upon my head, O defiler of the lineage, be satisfied now, O mother,' he said, and then began to weep.
स चारित्रं विशोध्याथ सर्वप्रकृतिसन्निधौ। अन्वयाद्धातरं रामं विनिवर्तनलालसः
Then, having cleared his character in the presence of all the people, longing to bring Rāma back, he followed after his elder brother.
कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च कैकेयीं च सुदुःखितः। अग्रे प्रस्थाप्य यानैः स शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ
Deeply distressed, he sent ahead Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī in vehicles, and went together with Śatrughna.
वसिष्ठवामदेवाभ्यां विप्रैश्चान्यैः सहस्रशः। पौरजानपदैः सार्धं रामानयनकाङ्क्षया
Accompanied by Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, and thousands of other brahmins, along with citizens and countryfolk, all desiring to bring Rāma back,
ददर्श चित्रकूटस्थं स रामं सहलक्ष्मणम्। तापसानामलंकारं धारयन्तं धनुर्धरम्
He saw Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, dwelling at Citrakūṭa, bearing the marks of ascetics and carrying a bow.
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वाप्रणिपत्य रघूत्तमम्। शशंस मरणं राज्ञः सोऽनाथांश्चापि कोसलान्
With joined palms, having bowed to the best of the Raghu line, he spoke, announcing the king’s death and that the Kośalas were now without a protector.
नाथ त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व स्वराज्यमिति चोक्तवान्
He also said, 'You, Lord, must accept your rightful kingdom.'
स तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रामः परमदुःखितः। चकार देवकल्पस्य पितुः स्नात्वोदकक्रियाम्
Hearing his words, Rāma, greatly distressed, performed the water-rite for his godlike father after bathing.
अब्रवीत्स तदारामो भ्रातरं भ्रातृवत्सलम्। पादुके मे भविष्येते राज्यगोप्त्र्यौ परंतप। एवमस्त्विति तं प्राह भरतः प्रणतस्तदा
Then Rāma spoke to his brother, who was devoted to him: 'Let the sandals be the guardians of the kingdom for me, O subduer of foes.' Bharata, bowing, replied, 'So be it.'
विसर्जितः स रामेण पितुर्वचनकारिणा। नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद्राज्यं पुरस्कृत्यास्य पादुके
Dismissed by Rāma, who was obedient to his father’s command, Bharata ruled at Nandigrāma, installing Rāma’s sandals at the forefront.
रामस्तु पुनराशङ्क्य पौरजानपदागमम्। प्रविवेश महारण्यं शरभङ्गाश्रमं प्रति
But Rāma, suspecting the arrival of townsfolk and country people, entered the great forest, heading towards the hermitage of Śarabhaṅga.
सत्कृत्य शरभङ्गं स दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः। नदीं गोदावरीं रम्यामाश्रित्य न्यवसत्तदा
Having honored Śarabhaṅga, he took up residence in the Daṇḍaka forest, settling by the beautiful river Godāvarī.
वसतस्तस्य रामस्य ततः शूर्पणखाकृतम्। खरेणासीन्महद्वैरं जनस्थाननिवासिना
While Rāma was living there, a great enmity arose with Khara, the resident of Janasthāna, instigated by Śūrpaṇakhā.
रक्षार्थं तापसानां तु राघवो धर्मवत्सलः। चतुर्दशसहस्राणि जघान भुवि राक्षसान्
For the protection of the ascetics, Rāghava, devoted to righteousness, slew fourteen thousand rākṣasas on earth.
दूषणं च स्वरं चैवनिहत्य सुमहाबलौ। चक्रे क्षेमं पुनर्धीमान्धर्मारण्यं स राघवः
Having slain the mighty Dūṣaṇa and Svara as well, the wise Rāghava restored safety to the righteous forest.
हतेषु तेषु रक्षःसु ततः शूर्पणखा पुनः। ययौ निकृत्तनासोष्ठी लङ्कां भ्रातुर्निवेशनम्
When those rākṣasas were slain, then Śūrpaṇakhā, her nose and lips cut off, went to Laṅkā, to her brother’s abode.
ततो रावणमभ्येत्य राक्षसी दुःखमूर्च्छिता। पपात पादयोर्भ्रातुः संशुष्करुधिरानना
Then, the demoness, overcome with sorrow, approached Ravana and collapsed at her brother’s feet, her face dried and bloodless.
तां तथा विकृतां दृष्ट्वा रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। उत्पपातासनात्क्रुद्धो दन्तैर्दन्तानुपस्पृशन्
Seeing her in such a state, Ravana, seized by anger, sprang up from his seat, furious, grinding his teeth against each other.
स्वानमात्यान्विसृज्याथ विविक्ते तामुवाच सः। केनास्येवं कृता भद्रे मामचिन्त्यावमत्य च
He dismissed his own ministers and, in private, spoke to her: 'Who has done this to you, dear one, disregarding me, who should not be underestimated?'
कः शूलं तीक्ष्णमासाद्य सर्वगात्रेषु सेवते। कः शिरस्यग्निमाधाय विश्वस्तः स्वपते सुखम्
Who, having found a sharp spear, applies it to all their limbs? Who, trusting, sleeps peacefully with fire placed upon their head?
आशीविषं घोरतरं पादेन स्पृशतीह कः। सिंहं केसरिणं मत्तः स्पृष्ट्वा दंष्ट्रासु तिष्ठति
Who here touches a deadly serpent with their foot? Who, having provoked a furious lion, stands before its fangs?
इत्येवं ब्रुवतस्तस्य नेत्रेभ्यस्तेजसोऽर्चिषः। निश्चेरुर्दह्यतो रात्रौ वृक्षस्येव स्वरन्ध्रतः
As he spoke thus, flames of energy issued from his eyes at night, like fire bursting from the hollow of a tree.