फलमूलवता नील शीतकाननवारिणा। पथा मधुमता चाशु सेनां सेनापते नय
Nila, general, lead the army swiftly along the path rich in fruits and roots, with cool forest waters and honeyed ways.
दूषयेयुर्दुरात्मानः पथि मूलफलोदकम्। राक्षसाः पथि रक्षेथास्तेभ्यस्त्वं नित्यमुद्यतः
The evil-minded rakshasas may defile the fruits, roots, and water along the way; you must always be vigilant to protect against them.
निम्नेषु वनदुर्गेषु वनेषु च वनौकसः। अभिप्लुत्याभिपश्येयुः परेषां निहितं बलम्
In the lowlands, forest strongholds, and woods, let the forest-dwellers leap and observe where the enemy’s forces are concealed.
यत्तु फल्गु बलं किंचित् तदत्रैवोपपद्यताम्। एतद्धि कृत्यं घोरं नो विक्रमेण प्रयुज्यताम्
If there is any weak force, let it be dealt with here itself; this dreadful task must be accomplished with valor.
सागरौघनिभं भीममग्रानीकं महाबलाः। कपिसिंहाः प्रकर्षन्तु शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
Let the lion-like monkeys, mighty in strength, draw forward the vanguard, terrifying as a mass of ocean, in hundreds and thousands.
गजश्च गिरिसंकाशो गवयश्च महाबलः। गवाक्षश्चाग्रतो यातु गवां दृप्त इवर्षभः
Gaja, resembling a mountain, and the mighty Gavaya, and Gavaksha—let them go at the front, like proud bulls among cows.
यातु वानरवाहिन्या वानरः प्लवतां पतिः। पालयन् दक्षिणं पार्श्वमृषभो वानरर्षभः
Let Rishabha, the foremost of monkeys and lord of those who leap, guard the right flank of the monkey army as it advances.
गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः। यातु वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यं पार्श्वमधिष्ठितः
Let Gandhamādana, swift and formidable like a war elephant, take position on the left flank of the monkey army.
यास्यामि बलमध्येऽहं बलौघमभिहर्षयन्। अधिरुह्य हनूमन्तमैरावतमिवेश्वरः
I myself will proceed into the midst of the army, inspiring the troops, mounted upon Hanuman as a lord upon Airavata.
अङ्गदेनैष संयातु लक्ष्मणश्चान्तकोपमः। सार्वभौमेन भूतेशो द्रविणाधिपतिर्यथा
Let Lakshmana, fierce as Death, advance together with Angada, just as the lord of beings would with a universal monarch.
जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः। ऋक्षराजो महाबाहुः कुक्षिं रक्षन्तु ते त्रयः
Let Jambavan, Sushena, and the swift monkey Vegadarshi—the mighty-armed king of bears—these three protect your rear.
राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो वाहिनीपतिः। व्यादिदेश महावीर्यो वानरान् वानरर्षभः
Hearing Rama’s words, Sugriva, the mighty leader of the army and foremost among monkeys, gave orders to the vanaras.
ते वानरगणाः सर्वे समुत्पत्य महौजसः। गुहाभ्यः शिखरेभ्यश्च आशु पुप्लुविरे तदा
Then all those powerful troops of monkeys sprang up and swiftly leapt from caves and mountain peaks.
ततो वानरराजेन लक्ष्मणेन च पूजितः। जगाम रामो धर्मात्मा ससैन्यो दक्षिणां दिशम्
Honored by the monkey king and by Lakshmana, Rama, righteous in soul, set out with his army toward the southern direction.
शतैः शतसहस्रैश्च कोटिभिश्चायुतैरपि। वारणाभैश्च हरिभिर्ययौ परिवृतस्तदा
He was surrounded then by monkeys in hundreds, hundreds of thousands, crores, and tens of millions, resembling elephants.
तं यान्तमनुयान्ती सा महती हरिवाहिनी। हृष्टाः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे सुग्रीवेणापि पालिताः
That great monkey army followed him as he went, all joyful and delighted, protected as well by Sugriva.
आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः। क्ष्वेलन्तो निनदन्तश्च जग्मुर्वै दक्षिणां दिशम्
The monkeys, leaping, springing, roaring, and bellowing, proceeded toward the southern direction.
भक्षयन्तः सुगन्धीनि मधूनि च फलानि च। उद्वहन्तो महावृक्षान् मञ्जरीपुञ्जधारिणः
They ate fragrant honey and fruits, carried great trees laden with clusters of blossoms.
अन्योन्यं सहसा दृप्ता निर्वहन्ति क्षिपन्ति च। पतन्तश्चोत्पतन्त्यन्ये पातयन्त्यपरे परान्
Proud, they suddenly seized and tossed each other; some fell, others leapt up, while some threw down their companions.
रावणो नो निहन्तव्यः सर्वे च रजनीचराः। इति गर्जन्ति हरयो राघवस्य समीपतः
Near Rama, the monkeys roared: 'Ravana and all the night-walkers must be slain by us!'
पुरस्तादृषभो नीलो वीरः कुमुद एव च। पन्थानं शोधयन्ति स्म वानरैर्बहुभिः सह
In front, the heroic Nila and Kumuda, together with many monkeys, cleared the path.
मध्ये तु राजा सुग्रीवो रामो लक्ष्मण एव च। बलिभिर्बहुभिर्भीमैर्वृतः शत्रुनिबर्हणः
In the center marched King Sugriva, Rama, and Lakshmana, surrounded by many mighty and fearsome warriors, destroyers of enemies.
हरिः शतबलिर्वीरः कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः। सर्वामेको ह्यवष्टभ्य ररक्ष हरिवाहिनीम्
The heroic monkey Shatabali, surrounded by ten crores, alone protected the entire monkey army.
कोटीशतपरीवारः केसरी पनसो गजः। अर्कश्च बहुभिः पार्श्वमेकं तस्याभिरक्षति
With a retinue of a hundred crores, Kesari, Panasa, Gaja, and Arka, along with many others, guarded one flank.
सुषेणो जाम्बवांश्चैव ऋक्षैर्बहुभिरावृतौ। सुग्रीवं पुरतः कृत्वा जघनं संररक्षतुः
Sushena and Jambavan, surrounded by many bears, protected the rear, placing Sugriva at the front.
तेषां सेनापतिर्वीरो नीलो वानरपुंगवः। सम्पतन् प्लवतां श्रेष्ठस्तद् बलं पर्यवारयत्
Their valiant commander, Nīla, foremost among the monkeys and best of those who leap, swiftly surrounded that army.
दरीमुखः प्रजङ्घश्च जम्भोऽथ रभसः कपिः। सर्वतश्च ययुर्वीरास्त्वरयन्तः प्लवंगमान्
Darīmukha, Prajaṅgha, Jambha, and the monkey Rabhasa, along with other heroes, advanced from all sides, urging on the monkeys.
एवं ते हरिशार्दूला गच्छन्ति बलदर्पिताः। अपश्यन्त गिरिश्रेष्ठं सह्यं गिरिशतायुतम्
Thus those tiger-like monkeys, filled with the pride of their strength, proceeded and beheld the great mountain Sahya, adorned with a hundred peaks.
सरांसि च सुफुल्लानि तटाकानि वराणि च। रामस्य शासनं ज्ञात्वा भीमकोपस्य भीतवत्
They saw lakes in full bloom and splendid ponds, and, knowing the command of Rāma—whose wrath is terrible—they moved as if in fear.
वर्जयन् नागराभ्याशांस्तथा जनपदानपि। सागरौघनिभं भीमं तद् वानरबलं महत्
Avoiding the vicinity of cities and likewise the inhabited regions, that vast monkey army, immense as a flood of the ocean, pressed onward.