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.
निःससर्प महाघोरं भीमघोषमिवार्णवम्। तस्य दाशरथेः पार्श्वे शूरास्ते कपिकुञ्जराः
That mighty and dreadful host surged forth, like a fearsome, roaring sea; those heroic monkey chiefs remained at the side of the son of Daśaratha.
तूर्णमापुप्लुवुः सर्वे सदश्वा इव चोदिताः। कपिभ्यामुह्यमानौ तौ शुशुभाते नरर्षभौ
All of them quickly leapt forward, like well-trained horses urged on; the two best of men shone, surrounded by the monkeys.
महद्भ्यामिव संस्पृष्टौ ग्रहाभ्यां चन्द्रभास्करौ। ततो वानरराजेन लक्ष्मणेन सुपूजितः
Touched by those great ones, as the moon and sun are by planets, then Rāma, honored by Lakṣmaṇa and the monkey king, proceeded.
जगाम रामो धर्मात्मा ससैन्यो दक्षिणां दिशम्। तमङ्गदगतो रामं लक्ष्मणः शुभया गिरा
Rāma, righteous in nature, set out with his army toward the southern direction; Lakṣmaṇa, approaching Rāma along with Aṅgada, spoke auspicious words.
उवाच परिपूर्णार्थं पूर्णार्थप्रतिभानवान्। हृतामवाप्य वैदेहीं क्षिप्रं हत्वा च रावणम्
He spoke words full of meaning, with perfect understanding: 'Having swiftly slain Rāvaṇa and recovered Sītā, you will return to Ayodhyā, your purpose fulfilled.'
समृद्धार्थः समृद्धार्थामयोध्यां प्रतियास्यसि। महान्ति च निमित्तानि दिवि भूमौ च राघव
'With your aim accomplished, you will return to Ayodhyā, prosperous and fulfilled; and, O Rāghava, great auspicious signs appear in the sky and on earth.'
शुभानि तव पश्यामि सर्वाण्येवार्थसिद्धये। अनुवाति शिवो वायुः सेनां मृदुहितः सुखः
'I see all auspicious omens for the attainment of your purpose; the gentle, favorable wind blows upon the army, bringing comfort.'
पूर्णवल्गुस्वराश्चेमे प्रवदन्ति मृगद्विजाः। प्रसन्नाश्च दिशः सर्वा विमलश्च दिवाकरः
'These animals and birds utter sweet, melodious sounds; all the quarters are clear, and the sun shines without blemish.'
उशना च प्रसन्नार्चिरनु त्वां भार्गवो गतः। ब्रह्मराशिर्विशुद्धश्च शुद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। अर्चिष्मन्तः प्रकाशन्ते ध्रुवं सर्वे प्रदक्षिणम्
'Uśanā, the Bhārgava, with radiant light, has gone before you; the pure constellation of Brahmā and the pure great sages, shining with brilliance, all appear to circle you.'
त्रिशङ्कुर्विमलो भाति राजर्षिः सपुरोहितः। पितामहः पुरोऽस्माकमिक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम्
'Triśaṅku, the royal sage, shines spotless with his priest; our ancestor, the great-souled progenitor of the Ikṣvāku line, is before us.'
विमले च प्रकाशेते विशाखे निरुपद्रवे। नक्षत्रं परमस्माकमिक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम्
'In the clear sky, the Viśākhā constellation shines undisturbed; that star is the supreme one for us, for the great-souled Ikṣvākus.'
नैर्ऋतं नैर्ऋतानां च नक्षत्रमतिपीड्यते। मूलो मूलवता स्पृष्टो धूप्यते धूमकेतुना
'The Nairṛta constellation, belonging to the Nairṛtas, is greatly afflicted; Mūla is touched by Mūlavat and is being smoked by the comet.'
सर्वं चैतद् विनाशाय राक्षसानामुपस्थितम्। काले कालगृहीतानां नक्षत्रं ग्रहपीडितम्
'All these are omens of destruction for the Rākṣasas; at this time, the constellation, afflicted by planets, belongs to those seized by death.'
प्रसन्नाः सुरसाश्चापो वनानि फलवन्ति च। प्रवान्ति नाधिका गन्धा यथर्तुकुसुमा द्रुमाः
The gods are pleased, the waters are clear, and the forests bear abundant fruit; sweet fragrances waft forth, and the trees blossom with flowers appropriate to the season.
व्यूढानि कपिसैन्यानि प्रकाशन्तेऽधिकं प्रभो। देवानामिव सैन्यानि संग्रामे तारकामये। एवमार्य समीक्ष्यैतत् प्रीतो भवितुमर्हसि
The assembled monkey armies shine forth exceedingly, O lord, like the armies of the gods in the battle with the demons; thus, noble one, seeing this, you ought to be pleased.
इति भ्रातरमाश्वास्य हृष्टः सौमित्रिरब्रवीत्। अथावृत्य महीं कृत्स्नां जगाम हरिवाहिनी
Thus consoling his brother, the joyful Saumitri spoke; then the monkey host, covering the entire earth, advanced.
ऋक्षवानरशार्दूलैर्नखद्रंष्ट्रायुधैरपि। कराग्रैश्चरणाग्रैश्च वानरैरुद्धतं रजः
With bears, monkeys, and monkey-leaders, armed with claws and fangs, the monkeys stirred up dust with their hands, feet, and toes.
भीममन्तर्दधे लोकं निवार्य सवितुः प्रभाम्। सपर्वतवनाकाशं दक्षिणां हरिवाहिनी
That mighty monkey army, covering the southern region along with its mountains, forests, and sky, concealed the world and blocked the sun's rays.
छादयन्ती ययौ भीमा द्यामिवाम्बुदसंततिः। उत्तरन्त्याश्च सेनायाः सततं बहुयोजनम्
That formidable host advanced, covering everything like a mass of clouds covers the sky; as the army crossed, it constantly spanned many leagues.
नदीस्रोतांसि सर्वाणि सस्यन्दुर्विपरीतवत्। सरांसि विमलाम्भांसि द्रुमाकीर्णांश्च पर्वतान्
All the river streams flowed in reverse, the clear lakes, and the mountains covered with trees.