अतिकाय उवाच- निश्चितमिदं पुरास्माभिः कार्यं सेनां विभागशः कृत्वा विद्युन्मालीनाम राक्षसो महाबलो विचित्रयोधी दर्शनादर्शनयोधी वानरैः सर्वैरेक एव युध्यते
Atikaya said: 'This was certainly planned by us before, dividing the army into sections. The mighty demon Vidyunmali, a remarkable warrior, visible and invisible, fights alone against all the monkeys.'
अपरे च बलिनो महांतः शिक्षितास्त्राश्चागता आवां च युवाभ्यां युध्यावो रावणः पुष्पकमारुह्यापरभागेन त्वामेव निहनिष्यति
Others, powerful and great, skilled in weapons, have also arrived. We two will fight with you both; Ravana, mounting the Pushpaka, will slay you with another division.
अन्ये च राक्षसाः कुंभकर्णमुखाश्चात्मरूपं कृत्वा त्वां परिवार्य गृहीत्वा सीतायै दर्शयित्वा तत्संनिधावेव हनिष्यति
And other rākṣasas, led by Kumbhakarṇa, taking on your form, will surround you, seize you, show you to Sītā, and then kill you right there in her presence.
रामः प्राह अहो बलवतां किमसाध्यमेवं भवति दैवगतिः कुटिला सुग्रीवोऽतिकोपनः सक्रोधं दृष्ट्वा राममुवाच
Rāma said: 'Ah! What is impossible for the mighty? Such is the crooked course of fate.' Sugrīva, exceedingly angry, seeing Rāma thus, spoke with wrath.
वध्यावेतौ न मोचनीयौ
These two are to be killed; they must not be released.
रामः प्राहावध्यौ मोचनीयावेतौ वसनानि भूषणान्यानयेत्युक्तमात्रे हनूमता तान्यानीतानि रामस्ताभ्यां दत्तवान्
Rāma said: 'They are not to be killed; these two should be released. Bring their garments and ornaments.' As soon as Hanumān was told, he brought them, and Rāma gave them to the two.
नत्वा यदेतल्लंकाद्वारे दृश्यते दारुपंचवक्त्रं शुक्रेणोक्तमेतेन च्छिन्नेन रावणो हन्यते
Having bowed, he said: 'That wooden five-faced figure seen at the gate of Laṅkā—Śukra has said that when this is cut down, Rāvaṇa will be slain.'
अथ च दारुच्छेदनसमनंतरं पातालं गंतव्यमिति भार्गवभाषितं शासनं लिखितम्
And immediately after the cutting of the wood, one must go to the netherworld—this is the command spoken by Bhārgava, written down.
तस्मात्त्वमिदं दार्वेकप्रयत्नैकबाणनिपातेन पंचधाच्छिंधि ततस्तव शक्तिं ज्ञात्वा युद्धमतिदृढं कुर्वीमहि
Therefore, with a single effort, strike this wooden figure with one arrow and cut it into five parts; then, knowing your power, we will fight with utmost strength.
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, making Hanumān and the two rākṣasas hear, 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, the two rākṣasas watched its path; seeing the wood cut into five pieces by the arrow, they requested Rāma: 'Let our children be protected by you.' Rāma agreed, and the rākṣasas 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 vānaras went to fight at the rampart, making the whole enclosure level with their heels, feet, knees, hands, and backs, and reached the second rampart. At that time, Rāvaṇa came, drove them all away with arrows, and, pursuing them, went toward Rāma.
अथ राममपि पंचभिर्बाणैर्विव्याध
Then he struck Rāma as well 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 the 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 killed crores upon crores of rākṣasas.
अथपरस्मिन्नहनि विभीषणो रावणं विचार्येदमुवाच
Then, on the next day, Vibhīṣaṇa, having considered, spoke thus to Rāvaṇa.
तृतीयोपायकालोऽयं चतुर्थं न विचारय । चतुर्थो विपरीतो न शस्तः शस्तार्थकारिणः
This is the time for the third strategy; do not consider a fourth. The fourth, being contrary, is not proper for one who seeks what is right.
परस्य चाऽत्मनः शक्तिं विदित्वा चाऽत्मनोऽधिकाम् । तदा युद्धं प्रशस्तं स्याद्विपरीतं विनाशकम्
Having understood both the power of the other and one's own, and knowing one's own to be superior, then battle is commendable; if the opposite, it leads to destruction.
रामेण बलिनानैव युद्धं ते दुर्बलस्य च । एकेषुवालिहन्ताऽसौ वालिर्ज्ञातस्त्वया पुरा
Rama, being strong, fought not with the weak; you know well that Vali, who was slain with a single arrow, was once known to you.
मारीचमेकबाणेन भवानपि पलायितः । निहता राक्षसाः शूरा इन्द्र जिच्च सुतो हतः
You yourself fled when Marica was struck down with a single arrow; the brave Rakshasas were killed, Indrajit too, your son, was slain.
वरेण्यत्रितयं भग्नं तेन युद्धं च नैव ते । दासभावमथो वाऽपि दत्त्वा सीतामथाऽप्नुहि
The three great boons were broken by him, and you did not win the battle; therefore, either accept servitude or give Sita back and obtain peace.
गोपुरस्थं तथा दारु पञ्चवक्त्रमथेषुणा । चिच्छेद पञ्चधा तेन रामस्त्वां मारयिष्यति
Rama, with an arrow, cut into five pieces the wooden effigy with five faces placed on the tower; in the same way, he will kill you.
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, and 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, though she belongs to the strong, and send her back.
अनिच्छन्त्याः समायोगे भवेद्दुःखपरंपरा । दुर्गन्धमलसंयुक्तो नारीसङ्गो जुगुप्सितः
Union with one who is unwilling brings a succession of sorrows; association with women, joined with foulness and impurity, is to be shunned.
विरक्तिरथ चेज्जाता दुःखायाकार्यवर्तनम् । अनुरागोयदि भवेन्मरणं नरकं ततः
If dispassion arises, then acting wrongly leads to suffering; but if attachment remains, it brings death and hell.
आत्मनो मरणं व्यर्थं तस्याश्चाद्य समागमे । त्यागो वा मरणं तात धर्मपत्न्यास्तथा भवेत्
Your own death would be in vain if you unite with her today; O dear one, either renunciation or death is fitting regarding a lawful wife.