चारेण तु सुयुक्तेन शत्रोः शक्तिमवेक्षता। गूढेन चरता तावदवेक्षितमिदं मया
By means of careful espionage, while assessing the enemy's strength and moving in concealment, I have observed all this.
राक्षसानां विशेषश्च पुरी चेयं निरीक्षिता। राक्षसाधिपतेरस्य प्रभावो रावणस्य च
I have examined the distinctions among the rakshasas, this city itself, and the power of Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas.
यथा तस्याप्रमेयस्य सर्वसत्त्वदयावतः। समाश्वासयितुं भार्यां पतिदर्शनकांक्षिणीम्
How can I reassure the wife of that immeasurable one, compassionate toward all beings, who longs to see her husband?
अहमाश्वासयाम्येनां पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्। अदृष्टदुःखां दुःखस्य न ह्यन्तमधिगच्छतीम्
I will comfort her, whose face resembles the full moon, who has never known sorrow, and who cannot find an end to her suffering.
यदि ह्यहं सतीमेनां शोकोपहतचेतनाम्। अनाश्वास्य गमिष्यामि दोषवद् गमनं भवेत्
If I depart without consoling this virtuous woman, whose mind is overwhelmed by grief, my departure would be blameworthy.
गते हि मयि तत्रेयं राजपुत्री यशस्विनी। परित्राणमपश्यन्ती जानकी जीवितं त्यजेत्
If I leave, and this illustrious princess, Janaki, sees no protection, she may abandon her life.
यथा च स महाबाहुः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननः। समाश्वासयितुं न्याय्यः सीतादर्शनलालसः
Just as that mighty-armed one, whose face is like the full moon, rightly desires to comfort Sita and longs to see her.
निशाचरीणां प्रत्यक्षमक्षमं चाभिभाषितम्। कथं नु खलु कर्तव्यमिदं कृच्छ्रगतो ह्यहम्
The words spoken openly by the night-dwelling women are intolerable; how indeed should I act in this difficult situation?
अनेन रात्रिशेषेण यदि नाश्वास्यते मया। सर्वथा नास्ति संदेहः परित्यक्ष्यति जीवितम्
If, during the remainder of this night, I do not console her, there is no doubt at all that she will give up her life.
रामस्तु यदि पृच्छेन्मां किं मां सीताब्रवीद्वचः। किमहं तं प्रतिब्रूयामसम्भाष्य सुमध्यमाम्
If Rama asks me, 'What did Sita say to you?'—how could I reply to him, having not spoken with that graceful lady?
सीतासंदेशरहितं मामितस्त्वरया गतम्। निर्दहेदपि काकुत्स्थः क्रोधतीव्रेण चक्षुषा
If I hastily depart from here without Sita's message, Kakutstha might burn me with his fierce gaze, inflamed by anger.
यदि वोद्योजयिष्यामि भर्तारं रामकारणात्। व्यर्थमागमनं तस्य ससैन्यस्य भविष्यति
If I bring Rama here for her sake without informing him, his coming with the army will be in vain.
अन्तरं त्वहमासाद्य राक्षसीनामवस्थितः। शनैराश्वासयाम्यद्य संतापबहुलामिमाम्
Having found an opportunity among the rakshasi women, I will gently comfort her today, who is overwhelmed by distress.
अहं ह्यतितनुश्चैव वानरश्च विशेषतः। वाचं चोदाहरिष्यामि मानुषीमिह संस्कृताम्
Since I am very slender and, above all, a vanara, I will speak here in refined human language.
यदि वाचं प्रदास्यामि द्विजातिरिव संस्कृताम्। रावणं मन्यमाना मां सीता भीता भविष्यति
If I speak in refined language like a twice-born, Sita, thinking I am Ravana, will be frightened of me.
अवश्यमेव वक्तव्यं मानुषं वाक्यमर्थवत्। मया सान्त्वयितुं शक्या नान्यथेयमनिन्दिता
It is absolutely necessary to speak meaningful human words; only by me can she be consoled, this blameless one, in no other way.
सेयमालोक्य मे रूपं जानकी भाषितं तथा। रक्षोभिस्त्रासिता पूर्वं भूयस्त्रासमुपैष्यति
If Janaki sees my form and hears my speech in this way, having previously been terrified by the demons, she will again become afraid.
ततो जातपरित्रासा शब्दं कुर्यान्मनस्विनी। जानाना मां विशालाक्षी रावणं कामरूपिणम्
Then, seized by fear, that noble-minded, wide-eyed lady might cry out, thinking me to be Ravana, the shape-shifting demon.
सीतया च कृते शब्दे सहसा राक्षसीगणः। नानाप्रहरणो घोरः समेयादन्तकोपमः
And if Sita cries out, then suddenly the host of fierce demonesses, armed with various weapons and dreadful as Death, would gather.
ततो मां सम्परिक्षिप्य सर्वतो विकृताननाः। वधे च ग्रहणे चैव कुर्युर्यत्नं महाबलाः
Then, surrounding me on all sides with their distorted faces, those mighty ones would strive greatly to kill or capture me.
तं मां शाखाः प्रशाखाश्च स्कन्धांश्चोत्तमशाखिनाम्। दृष्ट्वा च परिधावन्तं भवेयुः परिशङ्किताः
Seeing me, leaping among the branches and boughs of the best trees, they would become suspicious as I run about.
मम रूपं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य वने विचरतो महत्। राक्षस्यो भयवित्रस्ता भवेयुर्विकृतस्वराः
Observing my great form moving about the forest, the demonesses, terrified and trembling, would become shrill-voiced with fear.
ततः कुर्युः समाह्वानं राक्षस्यो रक्षसामपि। राक्षसेन्द्रनियुक्तानां राक्षसेन्द्रनिवेशने
Then the demonesses would summon even the demons stationed in the demon king's palace, appointed by the lord of demons.
ते शूलशरनिस्त्रिंशविविधायुधपाणयः। आपतेयुर्विमर्देऽस्मिन् वेगेनोद्वेगकारणात्
Those, bearing spears, arrows, swords, and various weapons in their hands, would rush into this conflict with speed, driven by alarm.
संरुद्धस्तैस्तु परितो विधमे राक्षसं बलम्। शक्नुयां न तु सम्प्राप्तुं परं पारं महोदधेः
Surrounded on all sides by them, I would have to destroy the demon force, but I would not be able to reach the far shore of the great ocean.
मां वा गृह्णीयुरावृत्य बहवः शीघ्रकारिणः। स्यादियं चागृहीतार्था मम च ग्रहणं भवेत्
Many swift-acting ones might seize me, encircling me, and this purpose would not be accomplished, and I would be captured.
उद्देशे नष्टमार्गेऽस्मिन् राक्षसैः परिवारिते। सागरेण परिक्षिप्ते गुप्ते वसति जानकी
In this place, with the path lost, surrounded by demons and encircled by the ocean, Janaki dwells in hiding.
विशस्ते वा गृहीते वा रक्षोभिर्मयि संयुगे। नान्यं पश्यामि रामस्य सहायं कार्यसाधने
If I am slain or captured by the demons in battle, I see no other helper for Rama in accomplishing his purpose.
विमृशंश्च न पश्यामि यो हते मयि वानरः। शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं लङ्घयेत महोदधिम्
Thinking carefully, I do not see any monkey who, if I am killed, could cross the great ocean, a hundred yojanas wide.
कामं हन्तुं समर्थोऽस्मि सहस्राण्यपि रक्षसाम्। न तु शक्ष्याम्यहं प्राप्तुं परं पारं महोदधेः
Indeed, I am able to slay even thousands of demons, but I would not be able to reach the far shore of the great ocean.