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.
शशंस रावणस्तस्मै तत्सर्वं रामचेष्टितम्। समासेनैव कार्याणि क्रोधामर्षसमन्वितः
Ravana told him everything about Rama’s actions, briefly stating his intentions, filled with anger and resentment.
मारीचस्त्वब्रवीच्छ्रत्वा समासेनैव रावणम्। अलं ते राममासाद्य वीर्यज्ञो ह्यस्मि तस्य वै
Maricha, having heard, replied to Ravana in brief: 'Enough for you to confront Rama; I know his strength well.'
बाणवेगं हि कस्तस्य शक्तः सोढुं महात्मनः। प्रव्रज्यायां हि मे हेतुः स एव पुरुषर्षभः। विनाशमुखमेतत्ते केनाख्यातं दुरात्मना
Who indeed is able to withstand the force of his arrows, that great soul? He alone, O best of men, is the cause of my renunciation. Who has told you of this path to destruction, and with what evil intent?
तमुवाचाथ सक्रोधो रावणः परिभर्त्सयन्। अकुर्वतोऽस्मद्वचनं स्यान्मृत्युरपि ते ध्रुवम्
Then Ravana, angered, rebuked him and said: If you do not obey my command, even death itself is certain for you.
मरीचश्चिन्तयामास विशिष्टान्मरणं वरम्। अवश्यं मरणे प्राप्ते करिष्याम्यस्य यन्मतम्
Maricha thought: Death at the hands of Rama is preferable to any other. Since death is inevitable, I will do as he wishes.
ततस्तं प्रत्युवाचाथ मारीचो रक्षसांवरम्। किं ते साह्यां मया कार्यं करिष्याम्यवशोपि तत्
Then Maricha, foremost among the Rakshasas, replied to him: What help do you require from me? Even against my will, I will do it.
तमब्रवीद्दशग्रीवो गच्छ सीतां प्रलोभय। रत्नशृङ्गो मृगो भूत्वा रत्नचित्रतनूरुहः
The ten-headed one said to him: Go and entice Sita, taking the form of a deer with jeweled horns and a body adorned with gems.
ध्रुवं सीता समालक्ष्यत्वां रामं चोदयिष्यति। अपक्रान्ते च काकुत्स्थे सीता वश्या भविष्यति
Certainly Sita, upon seeing you, will urge Rama to pursue you; and when Kakutstha has departed, Sita will be within my power.
तामादायापनेष्यामि ततः स नभविष्यति। भार्यावियोगाद्दुर्बुद्धिरेतत्साह्यं कुरुष्व मे
I will then seize her and take her away, and Rama will be helpless. Deprived of his wife, that fool will be lost—therefore, assist me in this.
इत्येवमुक्तोमारीचः कृत्वोदकमथात्मनः। रावणं पुरतो यान्तमन्वगच्छत्सुदुःखितः
Thus addressed, Maricha performed water-rites for himself, and, deeply distressed, followed Ravana as he went forth.
ततस्तस्याश्रमं गत्वारामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। चक्रतुस्तद्यथा सर्वमुभौ यत्पूर्वमन्त्रितम्
Then, reaching the hermitage of Rama, whose deeds are pure, both of them carried out everything as they had previously planned.
रावणस्तु यतिर्भूत्वा मुण्डः कुण्डीत्रिदण्डधृत्। मृगश्चभूत्वामारीचस्तं देशमुपजग्मतुः
Ravana took the guise of an ascetic—shaven-headed, with water-pot and triple staff—while Maricha became a deer, and they entered that place.
दर्शयामास मारीचो वैदेहीं मृगरूपधृत्। चोदयामास तस्यार्थे सा रामं विधिचोदिता
Maricha, having assumed the form of a deer, appeared before Vaidehi; and, as fate would have it, she urged Rama to pursue it.
रामस्तस्याः प्रियं कुर्वन्धनुरादाय सत्वरः। रक्षार्थे लक्ष्मणं न्यस्य प्रययौ मृगलिप्सया
Rama, wishing to please her, swiftly took up his bow, left Lakshmana to guard her, and went in pursuit of the deer.
स धन्वी बद्धतूणीरः खङ्गगोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्। अन्वधावन्मृगं रामो रुद्रस्तारामृगं यथा
Armed with bow and quiver, sword and gauntlets, Rama chased after the deer, as Rudra once pursued the star-deer.
सोऽन्तर्हितः पुनस्तस्य दर्शनं राक्षसो व्रजन्। चकर्ष महदध्वानं रामस्तं वुबुधे ततः
The Rakshasa, vanishing and reappearing, led Rama far away; but Rama became aware of his deception.
निशाचरं विदित्वा तं राघवः प्रतिभानवान्। अमोघं शरमादाय जघान मृगरूपिणम्
Perceiving him to be a night-wanderer, the wise Raghava took up an unfailing arrow and struck down the one in deer form.
स रामवाणाभिहतः कृत्वा रामस्वरं तदा। हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवं चुक्रोशार्तस्वरेण ह
Struck by Rama's arrow, he then cried out in Rama's voice, 'Alas, Sita! Alas, Lakshmana!' in a tone of great distress.
शुश्राव तस्य वैदेही ततस्तां करुणां गिरम्। साप्रापतत्ततः सीता तामुवाचाथ लक्ष्मणः
Vaidehi heard that pitiful cry, and Sita, deeply troubled, spoke to Lakshmana.
अलं ते शङ्कया भीरु को रामं प्रहरिष्यति। मुहूर्ताद्द्रक्ष्यसे रामं भर्तारं त्वं शुचिस्मितम्
Lakshmana said to her: Enough of your fear, timid one; who could harm Rama? In a moment you will see your husband, O fair-smiling one.