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.
एवमाज्ञापय क्षिप्रं बलानां सर्वसंग्रहम्। मुहूर्तेन तु युक्तेन प्रस्थानमभिरोचय
Therefore, quickly command the full assembly of the forces; at the proper moment, arrange for the departure.
thumb|चतुर्थः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे चतुर्थः सर्गः ॥६-
Listen now to the fourth sarga in the Yuddha Kāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
श्रुत्वा हनूमतो वाक्यं यथावदनुपूर्वशः। ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजा रामः सत्यपराक्रमः
Having heard Hanuman’s words, properly and in order, the highly radiant and truly valiant Rama then spoke.
यन्निवेदयसे लङ्कां पुरीं भीमस्य रक्षसः। क्षिप्रमेनां वधिष्यामि सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते
What you report about Lanka, the city of the terrible rakshasa, I will soon destroy it; I speak this truth to you.
अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते सुग्रीव प्रयाणमभिरोचय। युक्तो मुहूर्ते विजये प्राप्तो मध्यं दिवाकरः
Sugriva, at this very moment, arrange for the march; the sun, favorable to victory, has now reached its zenith.
उत्तराफाल्गुनी ह्यद्य श्वस्तु हस्तेन योक्ष्यते। अभिप्रयाम सुग्रीव सर्वानीकसमावृताः
Today is Uttara Phalguni, and tomorrow it will be joined with Hasta; let us set out, Sugriva, with all our assembled troops.
निमित्तानि च पश्यामि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति वै। निहत्य रावणं सीतामानयिष्यामि जानकीम्
I see omens appearing, indeed; after slaying Ravana, I will bring back Sita, daughter of Janaka.
उपरिष्टाद्धि नयनं स्फुरमाणमिमं मम। विजयं समनुप्राप्तं शंसतीव मनोरथम्
My right eye is throbbing above, as if proclaiming the fulfillment of my cherished desire and the attainment of victory.
ततो वानरराजेन लक्ष्मणेन सुपूजितः। उवाच रामो धर्मात्मा पुनरप्यर्थकोविदः
Then Rama, knower of righteousness and wise in counsel, honored by the monkey king and Lakshmana, spoke again.
अग्रे यातु बलस्यास्य नीलो मार्गमवेक्षितुम्। वृतः शतसहस्रेण वानराणां तरस्विनाम्
Let Nila go ahead of this army to survey the route, accompanied by one hundred thousand swift monkeys.