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.
तस्य तत्सर्वमाचख्यौ भगिनी रामविक्रमम्। खरदूषणसंयुक्तं राक्षसानां पराभवम्
His sister recounted everything to him: Rama’s valor, the defeat of the rakshasas alongside Khara and Dushana.
ततो ज्ञातिवधं श्रुत्वा रावणः कालचोदितः। रामस्य वधमाकाङ्क्षन्मारीचं मनसागमत्
Then, hearing of his kin’s slaughter, Ravana, urged by fate, desired Rama’s death and turned his thoughts to Maricha.
स निश्चित्यततः कृत्यं सागरं लवणाकरम्। ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे राजा विधाय नगरे विधिम्
Having resolved his course of action, the king crossed the salty ocean, after arranging affairs in his city.
त्रिकूटं समतिक्रम्य कालपर्वतमेव च। ददर्श मकरावासं गम्भीरोदं महोदधिम्
Passing Trikuta and the mountain Kala, he beheld the vast, deep ocean, abode of makaras.
तमतीत्याथ गोकर्णमभ्यगच्छद्दशाननः। दयितं स्तानमव्यग्रं शूलपाणेर्महात्मनः
Then, crossing that, Ravana reached Gokarna, the beloved and undisturbed place of the great soul wielding the trident.
तत्राभ्यगच्छन्मारीचं पूर्वामात्यं दशाननः। पुरा रामभयादेव तापसं प्रियजीवितम्
There, Ravana approached Maricha, his former minister, who, out of fear of Rama, had previously become an ascetic cherishing his life.
मारीचस्त्वथ संभ्रान्तो दृष्ट्वा रावणमागतम्। पूजयामास सत्कारैः फलमूलादिभिस्ततः
Maricha, startled upon seeing Ravana arrive, honored him with hospitality, offering fruits and roots.
विश्रान्तं चैनमासीनमन्वासीनः स राक्षसः। उवाच प्रश्रितं वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकोविदम्
After Ravana rested and was seated, Maricha, himself seated nearby, addressed him with courteous words, skilled in speech.
न ते प्रकृतिमान्वर्णः कच्चित्क्षेमं पुरे तव। कच्चित्प्रकृतयः सर्वा भजन्ते त्वां यथा पुरा
Your appearance is not as usual; is all well in your city? Do all your subjects still serve you as before?
किमिहागमने चापि कार्यं ते राक्षसेश्वर। कृतमित्येव तद्विद्धि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुष्करम्
What purpose brings you here, lord of the rakshasas? Consider it done, even if it is most difficult.