आगम्य राज्यं रघुनंदनोऽपि बहूनि वर्षाणि समातनोति । प्रशस्तकीर्तिर्निखिलेपि लोके शर्वेण देवेन चिरं न्यवात्सीत्
After returning to the kingdom, the descendant of Raghu will rule for many years. His renowned fame will spread throughout the world, and Lord Shiva will dwell with him for a long time.
सुपुत्रयुक्तो बहुयज्ञयाजी परिवृढः सर्वगुणाधिकश्च
He will be blessed with good sons, perform many great sacrifices, grow in prosperity, and surpass all in virtues.
इति वसिष्ठवचनं श्रुत्वा दशरथो रामगुणाननुस्मरन्नित्युवाच श्रेयो मे मरणं रामस्य निर्गमने इति
Hearing Vasistha's words, Dasharatha, constantly recalling Rama's virtues, said, 'For me, it is better to die than to see Rama depart.'
अथ रामो मातरं पितरं गुरुं च वसिष्ठं पितृपत्नीर्नमस्कृत्य वनाय जगाम
Then Rama, after bowing to his mother, father, teacher Vasistha, and his father's wives, departed for the forest.
अथोपवने दिनमेकं स्थित्वा जटाः कारयित्वा वल्कलं वासो धृत्वैकोपवीती कृतदंतशुद्धिरेकेनोपवीतेन जटां बद्ध्वा भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वांगो भसित निष्ठुरकायो मुक्ताफलदाममणिव्यत्यस्त रुद्राक्षमालामुरसि दधानोऽल्पभूषणाधिभूषित सीतासहायो लक्ष्मणानुचरो विवेश वनांतरम्
Then, after staying one day in a grove, he had his hair matted, donned bark garments, wore a single sacred thread, purified his teeth, tied up his hair with a single thread, covered his whole body with ashes, his body rough with ash, adorned with only a few ornaments, a string of pearls, gems, and rudraksha beads on his chest, accompanied by Sita and followed by Lakshmana, he entered deep into the forest.
अथानेक राक्षसांस्तस्मिन्निजघान भवानिव निखिलं चकार सीतापहरणादिनिखिलमपि भवता यथातथा स्याथ सुग्रीवाश्रममृष्यमूकपर्वतं रामो जगाम निबिडच्छायाचूतवृक्षमासाद्य लक्ष्मणसहायः परिश्रयमकल्पयत् । वृक्षे तु धनुषी आरोप्यासीनलक्ष्मणांके शिरः कृत्वा हरिचर्मशय्याशयनोलक्षितांगीतिं शृण्वन्वृक्षफलं निरीक्षमाणो वानरमेकं मणिकुंडलं हेमपिंगलं सदृढबद्धमौंजीकौपीनमच्छोपवीतिनमतिचंचलं फलमादायात्मनिविक्षिपंतं पुष्पमंजरीश्च किरंतं गानमनुकुर्वंतं व्यजनेन रामं वीजयंतमारुह्य शाखामपि तथा वीजयंतमाबद्धचूतफलमात्रं रामो वीक्ष्य लक्ष्मणमभाषत
There, he slew many demons, just as Shiva did, and all the events such as Sita's abduction occurred as before. Then Rama went to Sugriva's hermitage on Mount Rishyamuka, found a dense-shaded mango tree, and, with Lakshmana, arranged a resting place. Placing his bow on the tree, resting his head on Lakshmana's lap, lying on a bed of deerskin, listening to the song of birds, watching the fruits, he saw a monkey with jeweled earrings, golden-brown, firmly tied with a munja girdle, pure-threaded, very restless, taking fruit and putting it in his mouth, scattering flower clusters, imitating songs, fanning Rama with a fan, climbing the branch and fanning him, and only taking mango fruit. Seeing this, Rama spoke to Lakshmana.
लक्ष्मण कोऽयं कपिरिति
Lakshmana, who is this monkey?
लक्ष्मणोऽपि न जान इत्युवाच अथ रामः समाहूय कस्य त्वं किं नामत्येपृच्छत्
Lakshmana also did not know and said so. Then Rama called out and asked, 'Whose are you? What is your name?'
स च सुग्रीवस्य हनूमानित्युवाच
He replied, 'I am Hanuman, servant of Sugriva.'
रामं नत्वा सुग्रीवमेत्य नत्वा देवनारायणइवापरः पुरुषो युवा मेघश्यामो जटी आजानुबाहुरतियशस्वी सूर्यसंकाशेन सहापरेण नरेण इहास्ते
After bowing to Rama, Hanuman approached Sugriva and bowed to him. He said, 'Here is another person, like the god Narayana, a young man, dark as a rain cloud, with matted hair, arms reaching to his knees, exceedingly famous, accompanied by another man shining like the sun.'
अथ तरुच्छायाधः संस्थितौ सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नौ राजपुत्रौ दृष्ट्वा उक्तश्च ताभ्यां सुग्रीवाय निवेदयेति तत्त्वयि निवेदितम्
Then, seeing the two princes, perfect in all marks, standing beneath the shade of a tree, Hanuman was told by them, 'Inform Sugriva.' Thus, he reported to Sugriva.
अथ सुग्रीवः सत्वरमुत्थाय पुष्पसलिलादिद्रव्यमादाय पादप्रक्षालनादिकं कृत्वा फलानि समर्प्य व्यज्ञापयत्
Then Sugriva, rising quickly, took flowers, water, and other offerings, washed his feet, presented fruits, and made his request.
कौ युवां किमर्थमागतौ राजपुत्रौ तपस्विनाविति सुग्रीववचनमाकर्ण्य लक्ष्मणेनाभाषत रामः
Hearing Sugriva's words, 'Who are you two, for what purpose have you come, princes and ascetics?', Rama spoke through Lakshmana.
दशरथतनयावावां रामलक्ष्मणौ दुष्टनिग्रह शिष्टपरिपालनाय वनं गताविति
We are the sons of Dasharatha, Rama and Lakshmana, who have entered the forest to subdue the wicked and protect the virtuous.
अथ सुग्रीव आह युवयोरुपकारमपकारं कार्यमस्तीति लक्ष्यते
Then Sugriva said, 'It appears that there is some matter of help or harm between you two.'
अन्यथा सेनासमेतावागमिष्यतः लक्ष्मण आह अस्ति कार्यांतरम् अमुष्य भार्या केनापहृता न ज्ञायते तामन्वेष्टुमागतौ तदेवावयोः कार्य्यमन्यदानुषंगिकम् तदर्थमपि जलधिं तराव अपि पातालं प्रविशाव अपि नाकं साधयावः अपि महेंद्रं पातयावः अपि बलिनं हनावः किमपि कुर्वहे
Otherwise, you would not have come accompanied by an army. Lakshmana said, 'There is another matter: someone's wife has been abducted by an unknown person; we have come to search for her. That is our main task; other matters are incidental. For this purpose, we are ready to cross the ocean, enter the netherworld, ascend to heaven, overthrow Mahendra, or slay the mighty—whatever needs to be done.'
सुग्रीव उवाच- रावणेनापहृतया कयाचिद्ध्रियमाणागतया विभूषणानि कानिचित्परित्यक्ता निगतानि मया संगृहीतानि तानि दर्शयामीत्याभाष्य रामं मंदिरमागमय्य दर्शयामास
Sugriva said, 'Some ornaments were dropped by a woman abducted by Ravana and carried away; I have collected those ornaments. I will show them.' Saying this, he brought Rama to his dwelling and showed them.
रामोऽपि निरीक्ष्य निश्चित्य प्ररुद्य क्व गतोऽसौ रावण इति पप्रच्छ स च दक्षिणामाशां गत इति बभाषे
Rama, after examining and confirming them, wept and asked, 'Where has she gone? Where is Ravana?' Sugriva replied, 'He has gone toward the southern direction.'
अथ रामस्तेन सख्यमकरोत् अपृच्छच्च किमर्थमिह भार्य्याहीनः स्थित इति
Then Rama made friendship with him and asked, 'Why are you staying here without your wife?'
सुग्रीव उवाच-। मम भ्राता वाली महाबलो ममभार्य्यां राज्यं चापहृत्य किष्किन्धायामास्ते युद्धेन चाहं पराजितः तद्वधाय सर्वथा मम चिंता यथासौ त्वया निहन्यते तथाहमपि सागरं बद्ध्वा परतीरे लंकायां स्थितां सीतां रावणेनापहृतां तव समर्पयामीत्याभाष्य शपथं कृत्वा सुग्रीवो वालिनातिबलिना युद्धायाहूतेन युयुधे
Sugriva said, 'My brother Vali, of great strength, has taken my wife and kingdom, and resides in Kishkindha. I was defeated in battle. My constant concern is for his death, so that you may slay him. Then, having built a bridge across the ocean, I will deliver Sita, who is held by Ravana in Lanka, to you.' Having spoken thus and sworn an oath, Sugriva, challenged by the exceedingly strong Vali, engaged him in battle.
रामोप्यनंतरमनिश्चयाद्वालिनं नाहनत्
Rama, due to uncertainty, did not slay Vali immediately.
अथ सुग्रीवः पलायितो राममिदमभाषत
Then Sugriva, having fled, spoke this to Rama.
तव चित्तमविज्ञाय प्रवृत्तोऽहमरणाय
'Without knowing your intention, I engaged in battle.'
रामोपि युवयोर्विशेषाज्ञानान्मया तूष्णीं भूतं चिह्नितं त्वा निरीक्ष्यतं हन्मि
Rama said, 'Because I could not distinguish between you two, I remained silent; mark yourself, and I will observe and slay him.'
अथ सुग्रीवश्चिह्नं कृत्वा वालिनं युद्धायाहूय समतिष्ठत
Then Sugriva, marking himself, challenged Vali to battle and stood ready.
तारा बभाषे वालिनम्
Tara spoke to Vali.
सहायवानिव लक्ष्यते सुग्रीवो नोचेदेवं नाह्वयति ज्ञातं मया रामलक्ष्मणौ दशरथतनयौ नारायणांशौ भूभारावतरणाय समागतौ तावस्य सहायभूतौ
'Sugriva appears to have an ally; otherwise, he would not challenge you. I know that Rama and Lakshmana, sons of Dasharatha, portions of Narayana, have come to relieve the burden of the earth. They are his allies.'
वाल्युवाच- नीतिमान्राम इति मया श्रुतः । नहि बलवंतं विहाय दुर्बलं भजते तादृशः समायातु वा रामः प्रतिपन्नमधिकं कृत्वा बिभेति वीरो यदि रामः स्वयं युद्धाय यातस्तदा युद्धं कर्तव्यमित्याभाष्य तारां संभाव्य सुग्रीवयुद्धाय निर्य्यातः
Vali said, 'I have heard that Rama is righteous. Such a person does not abandon the strong to side with the weak. If Rama himself has come for battle, then battle must be undertaken.' Having said this, he reassured Tara and went out to fight Sugriva.
अथ मुष्टियुद्धमन्योन्यमभूत्
Then a fist-fight occurred between them.
रामोऽपि वालिनं जघान
Rama slew Vali.