तपसा सेतुबन्धेन सागरोच्छोषणेन च। सर्वथापि समर्थोऽस्मि सागरस्यास्य लङ्घने
By ascetic power, by building a bridge, or by drying up the ocean, I am in every way capable of crossing this sea.
बलस्य परिमाणं च द्वारदुर्गक्रियामपि। गुप्तिकर्म च लङ्काया रक्षसां सदनानि च
Tell me in detail about the strength of the forces, the construction of the gates and fortifications, the defensive measures of Lanka, and the dwellings of the rakṣasas.
यथासुखं यथावच्च लङ्कायामसि दृष्टवान्। सर्वमाचक्ष्व तत्त्वेन सर्वथा कुशलो ह्यसि
As you have seen in Lanka, comfortably and thoroughly, tell me everything truthfully, for you are skilled in every way.
श्रुत्वा रामस्य वचनं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः। वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठो रामं पुनरथाब्रवीत्
Hearing Rāma’s words, Hanuman, son of the Wind, best among speakers, then spoke again to Rāma.
श्रूयतां सर्वमाख्यास्ये दुर्गकर्म विधानतः। गुप्ता पुरी यथा लङ्का रक्षिता च यथा बलैः
Listen as I describe everything—the arrangements of the fortifications, how the city of Lanka is guarded, and by what forces it is protected.
राक्षसाश्च यथा स्निग्धा रावणस्य च तेजसा। परां समृद्धिं लङ्कायाः सागरस्य च भीमताम्
How the rakṣasas are loyal, empowered by Rāvaṇa’s might, the great prosperity of Lanka, and the terrifying nature of the ocean.
विभागं च बलौघस्य निर्देशं वाहनस्य च। एवमुक्त्वा कपिश्रेष्ठः कथयामास तत्त्वतः
The divisions of the massed forces and the deployment of their vehicles—having said this, the foremost of monkeys began to describe everything in detail.
हृष्टप्रमुदिता लङ्का मत्तद्विपसमाकुला। महती रथसम्पूर्णा रक्षोगणनिषेविता
Lanka is joyful and exultant, crowded with intoxicated elephants, filled with many chariots, and attended by hosts of rakṣasas.
दृढबद्धकपाटानि महापरिघवन्ति च। चत्वारि विपुलान्यस्या द्वाराणि सुमहान्ति च
Its gates are firmly barred and equipped with great iron beams; there are four vast and immense gates.
तत्रेषूपलयन्त्राणि बलवन्ति महान्ति च। आगतं प्रतिसैन्यं तैस्तत्र प्रतिनिवार्यते
There, powerful and massive stone-throwing machines are set up; with these, any approaching enemy force is repelled.
द्वारेषु संस्कृता भीमाः कालायसमयाः शिताः। शतशो रचिता वीरैः शतघ्न्यो रक्षसां गणैः
At the gates, terrible and sharp weapons made of black iron have been prepared; hundreds of deadly machines have been constructed by bands of rakṣasa warriors.
सौवर्णस्तु महांस्तस्याः प्राकारो दुष्प्रधर्षणः। मणिविद्रुमवैदूर्यमुक्ताविरचितान्तरः
There was a great golden rampart of hers, difficult to assault, with interiors adorned with jewels, coral, cat's-eye, and pearls.
सर्वतश्च महाभीमाः शीततोया महाशुभाः। अगाधा ग्राहवत्यश्च परिखा मीनसेविताः
All around were great and fearsome moats, filled with cool, pure water, unfathomable, inhabited by crocodiles, and frequented by fish.
द्वारेषु तासां चत्वारः संक्रमाः परमायताः। यन्त्रैरुपेता बहुभिर्महद्भिर्गृहपङ्क्तिभिः
At the gates of those moats were four very broad causeways, equipped with many great machines and lined with rows of houses.
त्रायन्ते संक्रमास्तत्र परसैन्यागते सति। यन्त्रैस्तैरवकीर्यन्ते परिखासु समन्ततः
Those causeways there defend against the approach of enemy armies; with those machines, the moats are covered on all sides.
एकस्त्वकम्प्यो बलवान् संक्रमः सुमहादृढः। काञ्चनैर्बहुभिः स्तम्भैर्वेदिकाभिश्च शोभितः
But one causeway, unshakable and strong, is especially massive, adorned with many golden pillars and platforms.
स्वयं प्रकृतिमापन्नो युयुत्सू राम रावणः। उत्थितश्चाप्रमत्तश्च बलानामनुदर्शने
Rāvaṇa himself, in his own nature, eager for battle, arose alert and attentive to the movements of the armies.
लङ्का पुनर्निरालम्बा देवदुर्गा भयावहा। नादेयं पार्वतं वान्यं कृत्रिमं च चतुर्विधम्
Lankā, moreover, stands unsupported, like a divine fortress, terrifying; it is not situated on a mountain, nor in a forest, nor is it any of the four types of artificial strongholds.
स्थिता पारे समुद्रस्य दूरपारस्य राघव। नौपथश्चापि नास्त्यत्र निरुद्देशश्च सर्वतः
Situated on the far shore of the ocean, O Rāghava, at a great distance, there is no sea route here, and it is isolated on all sides.
शैलाग्रे रचिता दुर्गा सा पूर्देवपुरोपमा। वाजिवारणसम्पूर्णा लङ्का परमदुर्जया
Built atop a mountain peak, that fortress is like the city of the gods of old; Lankā, filled with horses and elephants, is supremely difficult to conquer.
परिखाश्च शतघ्न्यश्च यन्त्राणि विविधानि च। शोभयन्ति पुरीं लङ्कां रावणस्य दुरात्मनः
Moats, engines that slay by the hundreds, and various machines adorn the city of Lankā, belonging to the evil-minded Rāvaṇa.
अयुतं रक्षसामत्र पूर्वद्वारं समाश्रितम्। शूलहस्ता दुराधर्षाः सर्वे खड्गाग्रयोधिनः
At the eastern gate, ten thousand Rākṣasas are stationed, all bearing spears, hard to overcome, and skilled in sword-fighting.
नियुतं रक्षसामत्र दक्षिणद्वारमाश्रितम्। चतुरङ्गेण सैन्येन योधास्तत्राप्यनुत्तमाः
At the southern gate, a hundred thousand Rākṣasas are stationed, with a fourfold army, and the warriors there are unsurpassed.
प्रयुतं रक्षसामत्र पश्चिमद्वारमाश्रितम्। चर्मखड्गधराः सर्वे तथा सर्वास्त्रकोविदाः
At the western gate, a million Rākṣasas are stationed, all bearing shields and swords, and skilled in all weapons.
न्यर्बुदं रक्षसामत्र उत्तरद्वारमाश्रितम्। रथिनश्चाश्ववाहाश्च कुलपुत्राः सुपूजिताः
At the northern gate, a hundred million Rākṣasas are stationed, chariot-warriors and horsemen, noble sons, highly honored.
शतशोऽथ सहस्राणि मध्यमं स्कन्धमाश्रिताः। यातुधाना दुराधर्षाः साग्रकोटिश्च रक्षसाम्
Hundreds and thousands of fierce Yātudhānas, difficult to defeat, occupy the central division, along with a crore of Rākṣasas.
ते मया संक्रमा भग्नाः परिखाश्चावपूरिताः। दग्धा च नगरी लङ्का प्राकाराश्चावसादिताः। बलैकदेशः क्षपितो राक्षसानां महात्मनाम्
By me, those causeways were broken, the moats filled in, the city of Lankā was burned, the ramparts destroyed, and a portion of the mighty Rākṣasa army was annihilated.
येन केन तु मार्गेण तराम वरुणालयम्। हतेति नगरी लङ्का वानरैरुपधार्यताम्
By whatever means, let us cross the abode of Varuṇa; let the city of Lankā be considered as destroyed by the Vānaras.
अङ्गदो द्विविदो मैन्दो जाम्बवान् पनसो नलः। नीलः सेनापतिश्चैव बलशेषेण किं तव
Aṅgada, Dvivida, Mainda, Jāmbavān, Panasa, Nala, and Nīla the commander—what need is there for the rest of the army?
प्लवमाना हि गत्वा त्वां रावणस्य महापुरीम्। सपर्वतवनां भित्त्वा सखातां च सतोरणाम्। सप्राकारां सभवनामानयिष्यन्ति राघव
Indeed, after crossing over, they will reach you, having penetrated Ravana’s great city—together with its mountains and forests, its moats and gateways, its ramparts and palaces, O Raghava.