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.
हन्तास्मि त्वां सहामात्यैर्युध्यस्व पुरुषो भव। पश्य मे धनुषो वीर्यं मानुषस् निशाचर
I will slay you along with your ministers; fight, be a man! Witness the strength of my bow, O night-wanderer.
मुच्यतां जानकी सीता न मे मोक्ष्यमसि कर्हिचित्। अराक्षसमिमं लोकंकर्ताऽस्मि निशितैः शरैः
Release Janaki, Sita; otherwise, you will never be freed by me. With sharp arrows, I will make this world free of Rakshasas.
इतितस् ब्रुवाणस् दूतस् परुषं वचः। श्रुत्वा न ममृषे राजा रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
As the messenger spoke these harsh words, the king Ravana, overcome by anger, could not endure it.
हङ्गितज्ञास्ततो भर्तुश्चत्वारो रजनीचराः। चतुर्ष्वङ्गेषु जगृहुः शार्दूलमिव पक्षिणः
Then, four night-wanderers, skilled in their master’s signals, seized Angada by his four limbs, as birds seize a tiger.
तांस्तथाङ्गेषु संसक्तानङ्गदो रजनीचरान्। आदायैव खमुत्पत्य प्रासादतलमाविशत्
Thus seized by the night-wanderers at his limbs, Angada, taking them with him, leapt into the sky and entered the top of a palace.
वेगेनोत्पततस्तस्य पेतुस्ते रजनीचराः। भुवि संभिन्नहृदयाः प्रहारवरपीडिताः
As he sprang up with speed, the night-wanderers fell to the ground, their hearts shattered, afflicted by his mighty blows.
संसक्तोहर्म्यशिखरात्तस्मात्पुनरवापतत्। लङ्घयित्वा पुरं लङ्कां सुवेलस्य समीपतः
Clinging to the palace peak, from there he descended again, leaping over the city of Lanka to the vicinity of Suvela.
कोसलेन्द्रमथागम्य सर्वमावेद्य वानरः। विशश्राम स तेजस्वी राघवेणाभिनन्दितः
Then, coming to the king of Kosala, the heroic vanara reported everything, and, welcomed by Raghava, he rested.
ततः सर्वाभिसारेण हरीणां वातरंहसाम्। भेदयामास लङ्कायाः ग्राकारं रघुनन्दनः
Then, with the full force of the swift-moving monkeys, Raghunandana broke through the gate of Lanka.
विभीषणर्क्षाधिपती पुरस्कृत्याथ लक्ष्मणः। दक्षिणं नगरद्वारमवामृद्गाद्दुरासदम्
Thereafter, Lakshmana, with Vibhishana, lord of the bears, at his side, approached the southern city gate, which was difficult to assail.