नलनीलाङ्गदक्राथमैन्दद्विविदपालिता। ययौ सुमहती सेना राघवस्यार्थसिद्धये
Led by Nala, Nila, Angada, Kratha, Mainda, and Vividha, the immense army advanced for Raghava's success.
विविधेषु प्रशस्तेषु बहुमूलफलेषु च। प्रभूतमधुमांसेषु वारिमत्सु विवेषु च
In various pleasant places, rich with many roots and fruits, abundant honey and meat, and waters in lakes,
निवसन्ती निराबाधा तथैवगिरिसानुषु। उपायाद्धिरिसेना सा क्षारोदमथ मागरम्
Dwelling unhindered on the mountain slopes, the monkey army, by their efforts, crossed the saline sea and entered the Magara region.
द्वितीयसागरनिमं तद्बलंबहुलध्वजम्। वेलावनं समासाद् निवासमकरोत्तदा
That force, bearing many banners, reached the second ocean and made camp in the coastal forest.
ततो दाशरथिः श्रीमान्सुग्रीवं प्रत्यभाषत। मध्ये वानरमुख्यानां प्राप्तकालमिदं वचः
Then the illustrious son of Dasharatha addressed Sugriva, speaking these timely words amidst the foremost of the vanaras.
उपायः कोनु भवतां मतः सागरलङ्घने। इयं हि महती सेना सागरश्चातिदुस्तरः
What means do you consider suitable for crossing the ocean? For this army is vast, and the ocean exceedingly difficult to traverse.
तत्रान्ये व्याहरन्ति स्म वानराः पटुमानिनः। समर्था लङ्घने सिन्दोर्न तत्कृत्स्नस्य वानराः
Thereupon, other vanaras, confident in their skill, spoke; yet not all the vanaras were capable of crossing the entire expanse of the sea.
केचिन्नौभिर्व्यवस्यन्ति केचिच्च विविधैः प्लवैः। नेति रामस्तु तानसर्वान्सान्त्वयन्प्रत्यभाषत
Some resolved to use boats, others various rafts; but Rama, gently consoling them all, replied thus.
शतयोजनविस्तारं न शक्ताः सर्ववानराः। क्रान्तुं तोयनिधिं वीरानैषा वो नैष्ठिकी मतिः
None among all the vanaras are able to cross the ocean, which stretches a hundred yojanas; this is not your steadfast resolve.
नावो न सन्ति सेनाया बह्व्यस्तारयितुं तथा। वणिजामुपघातं च कथमस्मद्विधश्चरेत्
There are not enough boats in the army to carry everyone across; and how could those like us act so as to harm merchants?
विस्तीर्णं चैव नः सैन्यं हन्याच्छिद्रेण वै परः। प्लवोडुपप्रतारश्चनैवात्रमम रोचते
Moreover, our vast army could be destroyed by the enemy through a breach; neither swimming nor crossing by rafts appeals to me here.
अहं त्विमं जलनिधिं समारप्स्याम्युपायतः। प्रतिशेष्याम्युपवसन्दर्शयिष्ति मां ततः
I shall attempt to approach this ocean by some means; I will fast and display myself, and then it will reveal itself to me.
न चेद्दर्शयिता मार्गं धक्ष्याम्यनमहं ततः। महास्त्रैरप्रतिहतैरत्यग्निपवनोज्ज्वलैः
If it does not show me a path, then I shall dry it up with my wrath, using mighty weapons, blazing with fire and wind, unstoppable.
इत्युक्त्वा सहसौमित्रिरुपस्पृश्याथ राघवः। प्रतिशिस्ये जलनिधं विधिवत्कुशसंस्तरे
Having spoken thus, Rama, together with Saumitri, touched water and then lay down beside the ocean, properly on a bed of kusa grass.
सागरस्तु ततः स्वप्ने दर्शयामास राघवम्। देवो नदनदीमर्ता श्रीमान्यादोगणैर्वृतः
Then, in a dream, the ocean revealed itself to Rama: a divine being, lord of rivers and streams, splendid, surrounded by hosts of aquatic creatures.
कौसल्यामातरित्येवमाभाष्य मधुरं वचः। इदमित्याह रत्नानामाकरैः शतशो वृतः
Addressing him sweetly as 'Kausalya's son,' he spoke these words, appearing amidst hundreds of mines filled with gems.
ब्रूहि किं तेकरोम्यत्रसाहाय्यं पुरुषर्षभ। ऐक्ष्वाको ह्यस्मि ते ज्ञाती राम सत्यपराक्रमः। एवमुक्तः समुद्रेण रामो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्
Tell me, what shall I do here to assist you, O best of men? I am of the Ikshvaku line, your kinsman, Rama of true valor. Thus addressed by the ocean, Rama then spoke.
मार्गमिच्छामि सैन्यस्य दत्तं नदनदीपते। येन गत्वादशग्रीवं हन्याम कुलपांसनम्। `राक्षसंसानुबन्धं तं मम भार्यापहारिणम्
O lord of rivers and streams, I desire a path for my army, so that, proceeding, we may slay the ten-headed one, the defiler of our lineage, the rakshasa who abducted my wife.
यद्येवं याचतो मार्गं न प्रदास्यति मे भवान्। शरैस्त्वां शोषयिष्यामि दिव्यास्त्रयतिमन्त्रितैः
If, despite my request, you do not grant me a path, I will dry you up with arrows, empowered by divine weapons and sacred mantras.
इत्येवंब्रुवतः श्रुत्वारामस्य वरुणालयः। उवाचव्यथितोवाक्यमितिबद्धाञ्जलिःस्थितः
Hearing Rama speak thus, the abode of Varuna, troubled, replied, standing with hands joined in reverence.
नेच्छामि प्रतिघातं ते नास्मि विघ्नकरस्तव। शृणु चेदं वचोराम श्रुत्वा कर्तव्यमाचर
I do not wish to oppose you, nor am I your obstacle; listen to these words, Rama, and having heard, act accordingly.
यदि दास्यामि ते मार्गं सैन्यस् व्रजतोऽऽज्ञया। अन्येऽप्याज्ञापयिष्यन्ति मामेवं धनुषोबलात्
If I grant you a path for your army to cross at your command, others too will compel me thus by force of arms.
अस्तित्वत्रनलो नाम वानरः शिल्पिसंमतः। त्वष्टुः काकुत्स्थ तनयो बलवान्विश्वकर्मणः
There exists a vanara named Nala, esteemed among craftsmen; he is the powerful son of Tvaṣṭṛ, descendant of Kakutstha, and Visvakarma.
स यत्काष्ठं तृणं वाऽपिशिलां वा क्षेप्स्यते मयि। सर्वं तद्धारयिष्यामि स ते सेतुर्भविष्यति
Whatever wood, grass, or stone he throws upon me, I will support it all; thus, a bridge for you will be formed.
इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तर्हिते तस्मिन्रामो नलमुवाच ह। कुरु सेतुं समुद्रे त्वंशक्तो ह्यसि मतो मम
After saying this and disappearing, Rama spoke to Nala: Build a bridge across the ocean; I believe you are capable.
तेनोपायेन काकुत्स्थः सतुबन्धमकारयत्। दशयोजनविस्तारमायतं शतयोजनम्
By that means, Kakutstha had a bridge constructed, ten yojanas wide and one hundred yojanas long.
नलसेतुरिति ख्यातो योऽद्यापि प्रथितो भुवि। रामस्याज्ञां पुरस्कृत्य धार्यते गिरिसंनिभः
Known as Nala's bridge, it is still celebrated on earth today; obeying Rama's command, it stands firm like a mountain.
तत्रस्थं स तु धर्मात्मा समागच्चद्विभीषणः। भ्राता वै राक्षसेन्द्रस्य चतुर्भिः सचिवैः सह
There, the righteous Vibhīṣaṇa approached, accompanied by four counselors, the brother of the king of the rakṣasas.
प्रतिजग्राह रामस्तं स्वागतेन महामनाः। सुग्रीवस्य तु शङ्काऽभूत्प्रणिधिः स्यादिति स्मह
Rama, noble-minded, welcomed him warmly; yet Sugriva grew suspicious, thinking he might be a spy.
राघवः सत्यचेष्टाभिः सम्यक्व चरितेङ्गितैः। यदा तत्त्वेन तुष्टोऽभूत्तत एनमपूजयत्
When Rāghava was satisfied by Vibhīṣaṇa's truthful actions and proper conduct, he honored him.