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.
सर्वराक्षसराज्येचाप्यभ्यपिञ्चद्विभीषणम्। चक्रे च मन्त्रसचिवं सहृदंलक्ष्मणस् च
Vibhīṣaṇa was granted the entire kingdom of the rakṣasas, and was made a counselor and friend, along with Lakṣmaṇa.
विभीषणमते चैव सोऽत्यक्रामन्महार्णवम्। ससैन्यः सेतुना तेन मार्गेणैव नराधिपः
Following Vibhīṣaṇa's advice, the king, with his army, crossed the vast ocean by that bridge.
ततो गत्वासमासाद्य लङ्कोद्यानान्यनेकशः। भेदयामास कपिभिर्महान्ति च बहूनि च
Then, reaching the many gardens of Lanka, the monkeys broke through and destroyed many great ones.
तत्रास्तां रावणामात्यौ राक्षसौ शुकसारणौ। चरौ वानररूपेण तौ जग्राह विभीषणः
There were two rakṣasa ministers of Ravana, Śuka and Sāraṇa, disguised as monkeys; Vibhīṣaṇa captured them.
प्रतिपन्नौ यदा रूपं राक्षसं तौ निशाचरौ। दर्शयित्वा ततः सैन्यं रामः पश्चादवासृजत्
When those night-wandering rakṣasas resumed their own form, Rama, after showing them the army, released them.
निवेश्योपवने सैन्यं स शूरः प्राज्यवानरम्। प्रेषयामास दुत्येन रावणस्य ततोऽङ्गदम्
Stationing the army in the grove, the heroic Angada, chief among monkeys, was sent as a messenger to Ravana.
प्रभूतान्नोदकेतस्मिन्बहुमूलफले वने। सेनां निवेश्य काकुत्स्थो विधिवत्पर्यरक्षत
In that forest, abundant with food, water, roots, and fruits, Kakutstha stationed the army and guarded it properly.
रावणः संविधं चक्रे लङ्कायां शास्त्रनिर्मिताम्। प्रकृत्यैवदुराधर्षा दृढप्राकारतोरणा
Ravana arranged the defenses of Lanka according to the scriptures; naturally formidable, with strong walls and gates.
अगाधतोयाः परिखा मीननक्रसमाकुलाः। बभूवुः सप्त दुर्धर्षाः स्वादिरैः शङ्कुभिश्चिताः
There were seven moats, deep and filled with water, teeming with fish and crocodiles, difficult to cross, lined with stakes.
कर्णाटयन्त्रा दुर्धर्षा बभूवुः सहुडोपलाः। साशीविषघटायोधाः ससर्जरसपांसवः
Impenetrable machines from Karnata, with heaps of stones, poisonous jars, warriors, and streams of resin and sand, were deployed.