तौ समेत्य मुनिं मार्गे जग्मतुश्चारुदर्शनौ । ताटका निहता मार्गे राक्षसी घोरदर्शना
The two, meeting the sage on the way, proceeded, beautiful in appearance; on the path, the fierce-looking demoness Tataka was slain.
रामेणैकेन बाणेन मुनीनां दुःखदा सदा । यज्ञरक्षा कृता तत्र सुबाहुर्निहतः शठः
By Rama, with a single arrow, Tataka, who always brought sorrow to the sages, was killed; there, the wicked Subahu was slain, and the sacrifice protected.
मारीचोऽथ मृतप्रायो निक्षिप्तो बाणवेगतः । एवं कृत्वा महत्कर्म यज्ञस्य परिरक्षणम्
Maricha, nearly dead, was hurled away by the force of the arrow; thus, having accomplished the great deed of protecting the sacrifice.
गतास्ते मिथिलां सर्वे रामलक्ष्मणकौशिकाः । अहल्या मोचिता शापान्निष्पापा सा कृताऽबला
Then Rama, Lakshmana, and Kaushika all went to Mithila; Ahalya was freed from her curse and made pure, without fault.
विदेहनगरे तौ तु जग्मतुर्मुनिना सह । बभञ्ज शिवचापञ्च जनकेन पणीकृतम्
In the city of Videha, the two went together with the sage; they broke the bow of Shiva, which had been set as a challenge by Janaka.
उपयेमे ततः सीतां जानकीञ्च रमांशजाम् । लक्ष्मणाय ददौ राजा पुत्रीमेकां तथोर्मिलाम्
Then Rama married Sita, daughter of Janaka and born of the earth; the king gave his daughter Urmila to Lakshmana.
कुशध्वजसुते कन्ये प्रापतुर्भ्रातरावुभौ । तथा भरतशत्रुघ्नौ सुशिलौ शुभलक्षणौ
Both brothers received brides, daughters of Kushadhvaja; likewise, Bharata and Shatrughna, virtuous and auspicious, received theirs.
एवं दारक्रियास्तेषां भ्रातॄणां चाभवन्नृप । चतुर्णां मिथिलायां तु यथाविधि विधानतः
Thus, the marriage rites of the brothers were performed, O king, for all four in Mithila, according to proper custom and rule.
राज्ययोग्यं सुतं दृष्ट्वा राजा दशरथस्तदा । राघवाय धुरं दातुं मनश्चक्रे निजाय वै
Seeing his son fit for kingship, King Dasharatha then resolved in his mind to give the throne to Raghava, his own.
सम्भारं विहितं दृष्ट्वा कैकेयी पूर्वकल्पितौ । वरौ सम्प्रार्थयामास भर्तारं वशवर्तिनम्
When Kaikeyi saw the preparations made for the coronation, she requested her husband, who was bound by her will, for the two boons previously promised.
राज्यं सुताय चैकेन भरताय महात्मने । रामाय वनवासञ्च चतुर्दशसमास्तथा
She asked for the kingdom for her son, the noble Bharata, and for Rama, exile in the forest for fourteen years.
रामस्तु वचनात्तस्याः सीतालक्ष्मणसंयुतः । जगाम दण्डकारण्यं राक्षसैरुपसेवितम्
Rama, by her command, accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, went to the Dandaka forest, inhabited by demons.
राजा दशरथः पुत्रविरहेण प्रपीडितः । जहौ प्राणानमेयात्मा पूर्वशापमनुस्मरन्
King Dasharatha, afflicted by separation from his son, abandoned his life, recalling the former curse.
भरतः पितरं दृष्ट्वा मृतं मातृकृतेन वै । राज्यमृद्धं न जग्राह भ्रातुः प्रियचिकीर्षया
Bharata, seeing his father dead by his mother’s deed, did not accept the prosperous kingdom, wishing to please his brother.
पञ्चवट्यां वसन् रामो रावणावरजां वने । शूर्पणखां विरूपां वै चकारातिस्मरातुराम्
While residing at Panchavati, Rama made Ravana’s sister, Shurpanakha, who was deformed, fall in love with him in the forest.
खरादयस्तु तां दृष्ट्वा छिन्ननासां निशाचराः । चक्रुः सङ्ग्राममतुलं रामेणामिततेजसा
When the night-dwelling demons Khar and others saw her with her nose cut off, they engaged in a fierce battle with Rama, whose power was immeasurable.
स जघान खरादींश्च दैत्यानतिबलान्वितान् । मुनीनां हितमन्विच्छन् रामः सत्यपराक्रमः
Rama, whose valor was true, slew Khar and the other mighty demons, seeking the welfare of the sages.
गत्वा शूर्पणखा लङ्कां खरदूषणघातनम् । दूषिता कथयामास रावणाय च राघवात्
Shurpanakha went to Lanka and told Ravana about the killing of Khar and Dushana, describing how she had been humiliated by Rama.
सोऽपि श्रुत्वा विनाशं तं जातः क्रोधवशः खलः । जगाम रथमारुह्य मारीचस्याश्रमं तदा
Hearing of their destruction, that wicked Ravana, overcome by anger, mounted his chariot and went to Maricha’s hermitage.
कृत्वा हेममृगं नेतुं प्रेषयामास रावणः । सीताप्रलोभनार्थाय मायाविनमसम्भवम्
Ravana, intending to entice Sita, ordered the magician Maricha to assume the form of a golden deer and lead her away.
सोऽथ हेममृगो भूत्वा सीतादृष्टिपथं गतः । मायावी चातिचित्राङ्गश्चरन्प्रबलमन्तिके
Then Maricha, taking the form of a golden deer with exceedingly beautiful limbs, entered Sita’s line of sight and wandered powerfully nearby.
तं दृष्ट्वा जानकी प्राह राघवं दैवनोदिता । चर्मानयस्व कान्तेति स्वाधीनपतिका यथा
Seeing him, Janaki, prompted by destiny, spoke to Rama, as a woman with authority over her husband would: 'Bring me the skin, beloved.'
अविचार्याथ रामोऽपि तत्र संस्थाप्य लक्ष्मणम् । सशरं धनुरादाय ययौ मृगपदानुगः
Without deliberation, Rama placed Lakshmana there, took up his bow and arrows, and went in pursuit of the deer’s tracks.
सारङ्गोऽपि हरिं दृष्ट्वा मायाकोटिविशारदः । दृश्यादृश्यो बभूवाथ जगाम च वनान्तरम्
The deer, expert in countless illusions, upon seeing Rama, became alternately visible and invisible, and then went deeper into the forest.
मत्वा हस्तगतं रामः क्रोधाकृष्टधनुः पुनः । जघान चातितीक्ष्णेन शरेण कृत्रिमं मृगम्
Rama, thinking he had the deer within his grasp, drew his bow in anger and slew the artificial deer with a very sharp arrow.
स हतोऽतिबलात्तेन चुक्रोश भृशदुःखितः । हा लक्ष्मण हतोऽस्मीति मायावी नश्वरः खलः
Struck by that exceedingly powerful arrow, the deceitful, mortal magician cried out in great pain, 'O Lakshmana, I am slain!'
स शब्दस्तुमुलस्तावज्जानक्या संश्रुतस्तदा । राघवस्येति सा मत्वा दीना देवरमब्रवीत्
That tumultuous cry was then heard by Janaki, who, believing it to be Rama’s, became distressed and spoke to her brother-in-law.
गच्छ लक्ष्मण तूर्णं त्वं हतोऽसौ रघुनन्दनः । त्वामाह्वयति सौमित्रे साहाय्यं कुरु सत्वरम्
'Go quickly, Lakshmana! Raghunandana has been killed. He is calling you, Saumitri; help him at once.'
तत्राह लक्ष्मणः सीतामम्ब रामवधादपि । नाहं गच्छेऽद्य मुक्त्वा त्वामसहायामिहाश्रमे
Lakshmana replied to Sita, 'Mother, even if Rama were slain, I will not go today, leaving you alone in this hermitage.'
आज्ञा मे राघवस्यात्र तिष्ठेति जनकात्मजे । तदतिक्रमभीतोऽहं न त्यजामि तवान्तिकम्
'I have Rama’s command here, Janaka’s daughter: “Stay.” Fearing to disobey, I will not leave your side.'