अतिकायमभाषत रामः
Rāma spoke to Atikāya.
रावणस्य मम युद्धं ब्रूहि सचिवानामन्येषां महाभयानां च
Tell me of my battle with Rāvaṇa, and of the other ministers and those great and terrible ones.
अतिकाय उवाच- निश्चितमिदं पुरास्माभिः कार्यं सेनां विभागशः कृत्वा विद्युन्मालीनाम राक्षसो महाबलो विचित्रयोधी दर्शनादर्शनयोधी वानरैः सर्वैरेक एव युध्यते
Atikāya said: This was certainly planned by us before—dividing the army into sections, the mighty demon Vidyunmālī, skilled in various forms of combat, fights alone with all the monkeys, visible and invisible.
अपरे च बलिनो महांतः शिक्षितास्त्राश्चागता आवां च युवाभ्यां युध्यावो रावणः पुष्पकमारुह्यापरभागेन त्वामेव निहनिष्यति
Others, powerful and great, trained in weapons, have also come; we two will fight with you both, and Rāvaṇa, mounting the Puṣpaka, will slay you by another means.
अन्ये च राक्षसाः कुंभकर्णमुखाश्चात्मरूपं कृत्वा त्वां परिवार्य गृहीत्वा सीतायै दर्शयित्वा तत्संनिधावेव हनिष्यति
Other demons, led by Kumbhakarṇa, taking your form, will surround and capture you, show you to Sītā, and then kill you in her presence.
रामः प्राह अहो बलवतां किमसाध्यमेवं भवति दैवगतिः कुटिला सुग्रीवोऽतिकोपनः सक्रोधं दृष्ट्वा राममुवाच
Rāma said: Ah, what is unattainable for the mighty? Such is the crooked course of fate. Sugrīva, greatly enraged, seeing Rāma, spoke with anger.
वध्यावेतौ न मोचनीयौ
These two are to be slain, not released.
रामः प्राहावध्यौ मोचनीयावेतौ वसनानि भूषणान्यानयेत्युक्तमात्रे हनूमता तान्यानीतानि रामस्ताभ्यां दत्तवान्
Rāma said: They are not to be killed; they must be released. Bring garments and ornaments for them. As soon as he said this, Hanumān brought them, and Rāma gave them to the two.
नत्वा यदेतल्लंकाद्वारे दृश्यते दारुपंचवक्त्रं शुक्रेणोक्तमेतेन च्छिन्नेन रावणो हन्यते
Having bowed, he said: That which is seen at the gate of Laṅkā, the wooden five-faced figure—Śukra said that when it is cut down, Rāvaṇa will be slain.
अथ च दारुच्छेदनसमनंतरं पातालं गंतव्यमिति भार्गवभाषितं शासनं लिखितम्
And after the cutting of the wood, one must immediately go to the netherworld—this is the command spoken by Bhārgava and written down.
तस्मात्त्वमिदं दार्वेकप्रयत्नैकबाणनिपातेन पंचधाच्छिंधि ततस्तव शक्तिं ज्ञात्वा युद्धमतिदृढं कुर्वीमहि
Therefore, you must cut this wood into five parts with a single, concentrated arrow; then, knowing your power, we will wage a most intense battle.
अथ भार्गववचोविज्ञाय रामः पूर्वकोट्यां स्पर्शमात्रेण सज्यं कृत्वा धनुषि बाणं संयोज्य रक्षोभ्यां हनूमताश्रावयन्नेव बाणं मुमोच
Then, understanding Bhārgava's words, Rāma, at the eastern gate, merely by touch strung his bow, fitted an arrow, and, with Hanumān making the demons listen, released the arrow.
बाणं धनुषश्चलितं तौ राक्षसौ बाणमार्गं निरीक्षमाणौ दारु बाणेन पंचधा च्छिन्नं निरीक्ष्य रामं व्यज्ञापयतामावयोः शिशवो रक्षणीयास्त्वयेति तथेत्याह रामः राक्षसौ लंकां प्रविष्टौ
As the arrow left the bow, those two demons watched its path; seeing the wood cut into five pieces by the arrow, they petitioned Rāma: 'Let our children be protected by you.' Rāma replied, 'So be it,' and the demons entered Laṅkā.
अथ प्राकारयुद्धं कर्तुं वानरा गत्वा सर्वतो वरणमात्रं हि पार्ष्णिभिः पादैर्जानुभिः करैः पृष्ठैश्च तलसमं कृत्वा द्वितीयप्राकारं गतास्तदा च रावणः समागत्य सर्वानेवेषुभिर्द्रावयित्वा तदनुगच्छन्राममगात्
Then the monkeys went to fight at the rampart, making the entire enclosure level with their heels, feet, knees, hands, and backs, and reached the second rampart. At that time, Rāvaṇa came, scattering all with arrows, and, pursuing them, went toward Rāma.
अथ राममपि पंचभिर्बाणैर्विव्याध
Then he struck Rāma with five arrows.
अथ रामो दशभिर्बाणै रावणं सव्रणं चकार
Then Rāma wounded Rāvaṇa with ten arrows.
अनयोरतिदारुणमन्योन्यं युद्धं बभूव
A most terrible battle took place between these two.
रावणो दशभिर्बाणैर्विव्याध
Rāvaṇa struck with ten arrows.
अथ रामबाणैश्च क्षतशरीरो राक्षसः पलायनपरोऽभवत्
Then, wounded by Rāma's arrows, the Rākṣasa became intent on fleeing.
वानरा लक्ष्मणश्च कोटिकोटिराक्षसानघ्नन्
The Vānaras and Lakṣmaṇa were slaying countless millions of Rākṣasas.
अथपरस्मिन्नहनि विभीषणो रावणं विचार्येदमुवाच
Then, on the next day, Vibhīṣaṇa, having considered, spoke this to Rāvaṇa:
तृतीयोपायकालोऽयं चतुर्थं न विचारय । चतुर्थो विपरीतो न शस्तः शस्तार्थकारिणः
This is the time for the third strategy; do not consider the fourth, for the fourth, being contrary, is not proper for one seeking what is right.
परस्य चाऽत्मनः शक्तिं विदित्वा चाऽत्मनोऽधिकाम् । तदा युद्धं प्रशस्तं स्याद्विपरीतं विनाशकम्
Having understood both the enemy's and one's own strength, and knowing one's own to be greater, then battle is proper; if the opposite, it leads to destruction.
रामेण बलिनानैव युद्धं ते दुर्बलस्य च । एकेषुवालिहन्ताऽसौ वालिर्ज्ञातस्त्वया पुरा
Battle with Rāma, who is powerful, is not for one who is weak; that Vāli, who slew with a single arrow, you have known before.
मारीचमेकबाणेन भवानपि पलायितः । निहता राक्षसाः शूरा इन्द्र जिच्च सुतो हतः
You yourself fled when Mārīca was struck down with a single arrow; the heroic Rākṣasas have been slain, and Indrajit, your son, is dead.
वरेण्यत्रितयं भग्नं तेन युद्धं च नैव ते । दासभावमथो वाऽपि दत्त्वा सीतामथाऽप्नुहि
The three boons have been broken by him, and you have not won the battle; therefore, either accept servitude or return Sītā and obtain peace.
गोपुरस्थं तथा दारु पञ्चवक्त्रमथेषुणा । चिच्छेद पञ्चधा तेन रामस्त्वां मारयिष्यति
He cut into five pieces, with an arrow, the five-headed Dāru who stood on the rampart; Rāma will kill you as well.
त्वदर्थं बहवो नष्टा नाशमेष्यंति चापरे । एको न्यायः सुखार्थाय न च मौढ्यं सहोदर
Many have perished for your sake, and others will meet destruction; there is only one just path for happiness, not folly, O brother.
मानुषीं मृत्युसंयुक्तामनिच्छन्तीं पतिव्रताम् । पत्नीं बलवतश्चापि पूजयित्वा विसर्जय
A human wife, joined with death, unwilling and devoted to her husband—honor her and send her back, even if you are powerful.
अनिच्छन्त्याः समायोगे भवेद्दुःखपरंपरा । दुर्गन्धमलसंयुक्तो नारीसङ्गो जुगुप्सितः
Union with one who is unwilling brings a succession of sorrows; association with a woman, tainted by foul smell and impurity, is to be shunned.