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.
समान् भूमिप्रदेशांश्च वनानि फलवन्ति च। मध्येन च समन्ताच्च तिर्यक् चाधश्च साविशत्
They entered level tracts of land, fruit-laden forests, and moved through the middle, around, across, and below.
समावृत्य महीं कृत्स्नां जगाम महती चमूः। ते हृष्टवदनाः सर्वे जग्मुर्मारुतरंहसः
Having covered the whole earth, the great army advanced; all of them, with joyful faces, went with the speed of the wind.
हरयो राघवस्यार्थे समारोपितविक्रमाः। हर्षं वीर्यं बलोद्रेकान् दर्शयन्तः परस्परम्
The monkeys, empowered for Rāghava's sake, displayed to each other their joy, valor, and the excess of their strength.
यौवनोत्सेकजाद् दर्पाद् विविधांश्चक्रुरध्वनि। तत्र केचिद् द्रुतं जग्मुरुत्पेतुश्च तथापरे
Out of the pride born of youth, they performed various feats along the way; some went swiftly, and others leapt up.
केचित् किलकिलां चक्रुर्वानरा वनगोचराः। प्रास्फोटयंश्च पुच्छानि संनिजघ्नुः पदान्यपि
Some monkeys, dwellers of the forest, made loud noises; some shook their tails, and others struck the ground with their feet.
भुजान् विक्षिप्य शैलांश्च द्रुमानन्ये बभञ्जिरे। आरोहन्तश्च शृङ्गाणि गिरीणां गिरिगोचराः
Some brandished their arms, others broke mountains and trees; those who roamed the mountains climbed their peaks.
महानादान् प्रमुञ्चन्ति क्ष्वेडामन्ये प्रचक्रिरे। ऊरुवेगैश्च ममृदुर्लताजालान्यनेकशः
Some uttered great roars, others made whistling sounds; with the force of their thighs, many trampled down thickets of creepers.
जृम्भमाणाश्च विक्रान्ता विचिक्रीडुः शिलाद्रुमैः। ततः शतसहस्रैश्च कोटिभिश्च सहस्रशः
Stretching and displaying their prowess, they played with rocks and trees; then, by hundreds of thousands and by millions upon thousands,
वानराणां सुघोराणां श्रीमत्परिवृता मही। सा स्म याति दिवारात्रं महती हरिवाहिनी
The earth was filled with those fierce and splendid monkeys; that great monkey army moved day and night.
प्रहृष्टमुदिताः सर्वे सुग्रीवेणाभिपालिताः। वानरास्त्वरिता यान्ति सर्वे युद्धाभिनन्दिनः। प्रमोक्षयिषवः सीतां मुहूर्तं क्वापि नावसन्
All the monkeys, delighted and joyful, protected by Sugrīva, hurried forward, all eager for battle, intent on rescuing Sītā; they did not linger anywhere even for a moment.