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.
मुसलालातनाराचतोमरासिपरश्वथैः। अन्विताश्चशतघ्नीभिः समधूच्छिष्टमुद्गराः
Armed with clubs, spears, iron rods, javelins, axes, and also equipped with machines for hurling hundreds of missiles, they stood ready with heavy maces.
पुरद्वारेषु सर्वेषु गुल्माः स्थावरजङ्गमाः। बभूवुः पत्तिबहुलाः प्रभूतगजवाजिनः
At all the city gates, battalions—both stationary and mobile—were stationed, filled with infantry, and abundant with elephants and horses.
अङ्गदस्त्वथ लङ्कायां द्वारदेशमुपागतः। विदितो रराक्षसेन्द्रस्य प्रविवेशगतव्यथः
Then Angada, arriving at the gate of Lanka, recognized and fearless, entered, known to the king of the Rakshasas.
मध्ये राक्षसकोटीनां बह्वीनां सुमहाबलः। शुशुभे मेघमालाभिरादित्य इव संवृतः
In the midst of countless, mighty Rakshasas, he shone like the sun veiled by masses of clouds.
ससमासाद्य पौलस्त्यममात्यैरभिसंवृतम्। रामसंदेशमामन्त्र्य वाग्मी वक्तुं प्रचक्रमे
Approaching the descendant of Pulastya, surrounded by his ministers, the eloquent one began to speak, delivering Rama’s message.
आह त्वां राघवो राजन्कोसलेन्द्रो महायशाः। प्राप्तकालमिदं वाक्यं तदादत्स्व सुदुर्मते
"Raghava, the illustrious king of Kosala, speaks to you, O king: Accept these timely words, O one of evil mind.
अकृतात्मानमासाद्य राजानमनये रतम्। विनश्यन्त्यनयाविष्टा देशाश्च नगराणि च
When a king, devoted to unrighteousness, is approached by one lacking self-control, both the land and its cities, seized by misrule, are destroyed.
त्वयैकेनापराद्धं मे सीतामाहरता बलात्। वधायानपराद्धानामन्येषां तद्भविष्यति
By you alone, through the forceful abduction of Sita, you have wronged me; for this, the destruction of the innocent will be upon you.
ये त्वया बलदर्पाभ्यामाविष्टेन वनेचराः। ऋषयोहिंसिताः पूर्वंदेवाश्चाप्यवमानिताः
Those forest-dwellers whom you, intoxicated by power, have harmed before—sages and even gods whom you have insulted—
राजर्षयश्च निहता रुदत्यश्चाहृताः स्त्रियः। तदिदं समनुप्राप्तं फलंतस्यानयस्य ते
Royal sages have been slain, women have been seized weeping; now, the fruit of that wrongdoing has come upon you.