विधमन्तो गिरिवरान् प्रययुः प्लवगर्षभाः। वृक्षेभ्योऽन्ये तु कपयो नदन्तो मधु दर्पिताः
The foremost monkeys advanced, scattering mountain peaks; others, intoxicated by honey, roared as they leapt from tree to tree.
अन्ये वृक्षान् प्रपद्यन्ते प्रपिबन्त्यपि चापरे। बभूव वसुधा तैस्तु सम्पूर्णा हरिपुङ्गवैः। यथा कमलकेदारैः पक्वैरिव वसुंधरा
Some approached trees, while others drank; the earth was filled by those leaders of monkeys, just as it is covered by ripe lotus fields.
महेन्द्रमथ सम्प्राप्य रामो राजीवलोचनः। आरुरोह महाबाहुः शिखरं द्रुमभूषितम्
Then Rama, lotus-eyed and mighty-armed, reached Mahendra and ascended its peak adorned with trees.
ततः शिखरमारुह्य रामो दशरथात्मजः। कूर्ममीनसमाकीर्णमपश्यत् सलिलाशयम्
Having climbed the summit, Rama, son of Dasharatha, saw the waters below, crowded with turtles and fish.
ते सह्यं समतिक्रम्य मलयं च महागिरिम्। आसेदुरानुपूर्व्येण समुद्रं भीमनिःस्वनम्
After crossing Sahya and the great mountain Malaya, they reached, in succession, the ocean with its terrifying roar.
अवरुह्य जगामाशु वेलावनमनुत्तमम्। रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठः ससुग्रीवः सलक्ष्मणः
Descending, Rama—the foremost of those who delight—together with Sugriva and Lakshmana, swiftly went to the excellent grove by the shore.
अथ धौतोपलतलां तोयौघैः सहसोत्थितैः। वेलामासाद्य विपुलां रामो वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, reaching the vast shore, its surface washed clean by sudden waves, Rama spoke these words.
एते वयमनुप्राप्ताः सुग्रीव वरुणालयम्। इहेदानीं विचिन्ता सा या नः पूर्वमुपस्थिता
Sugriva, we have arrived at Varuna's abode; now let us consider the plan that confronted us earlier.
अतः परमतीरोऽयं सागरः सरितां पतिः। न चायमनुपायेन शक्यस्तरितुमर्णवः
Beyond this lies the shore, and here is the ocean, lord of rivers; this sea cannot be crossed without a means.
तदिहैव निवेशोऽस्तु मन्त्रः प्रस्तूयतामिह। यथेदं वानरबलं परं पारमवाप्नुयात्
Let us settle here; let counsel be discussed so that this army of monkeys may reach the far shore.
इतीव स महाबाहुः सीताहरणकर्शितः। रामः सागरमासाद्य वासमाज्ञापयत् तदा
Thus, the mighty-armed Rama, distressed by Sita's abduction, upon reaching the ocean, ordered the encampment.
सर्वाः सेना निवेश्यन्तां वेलायां हरिपुङ्गव। सम्प्राप्तो मन्त्रकालो नः सागरस्येह लङ्घने
Let all the troops be stationed on the shore, O leader of monkeys; the time for counsel has come for crossing the ocean.
स्वां स्वां सेनां समुत्सृज्य मा च कश्चित् कुतो व्रजेत्। गच्छन्तु वानराः शूरा ज्ञेयं छन्नं भयं च नः
Let each release their own troop, and let no one stray anywhere; let the brave monkeys go forth, and let us discern any hidden danger.
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवः सहलक्ष्मणः। सेनां निवेशयत् तीरे सागरस्य द्रुमायुते
Hearing Rama's words, Sugriva, together with Lakshmana, stationed the army on the tree-lined shore of the ocean.
विरराज समीपस्थं सागरस्य च तद् बलम्। मधुपाण्डुजलः श्रीमान् द्वितीय इव सागरः
That force, near the ocean, shone splendidly, its honey-colored waters making it appear like a second ocean.
वेलावनमुपागम्य ततस्ते हरिपुङ्गवाः। निविष्टाश्च परं पारं काङ्क्षमाणा महोदधेः
Having reached the grove by the shore, those leaders of monkeys settled there, eagerly desiring to cross the great ocean.
तेषां निविशमानानां सैन्यसंनाहनिःस्वनः। अन्तर्धाय महानादमर्णवस्य प्रशुश्रुवे
As they settled, the sound of the army's assembly drowned out the great roar of the ocean and was heard all around.
सा वानराणां ध्वजिनी सुग्रीवेणाभिपालिता। त्रिधा निविष्टा महती रामस्यार्थपराभवत्
That army of the monkeys, guarded by Sugriva, was stationed in three divisions, vast and devoted to Rama’s purpose.
सा महार्णवमासाद्य हृष्टा वानरवाहिनी। वायुवेगसमाधूतं पश्यमाना महार्णवम्
Reaching the great ocean, the monkey host was filled with joy, gazing upon the mighty sea stirred by winds.
दूरपारमसम्बाधं रक्षोगणनिषेवितम्। पश्यन्तो वरुणावासं निषेदुर्हरियूथपाः
Beholding the distant, impassable shore, crowded with hosts of demons, the monkey leaders saw the abode of Varuna and settled there.
चण्डनक्रग्राहघोरं क्षपादौ दिवसक्षये। हसन्तमिव फेनौघैर्नृत्यन्तमिव चोर्मिभिः
At the beginning of night, as day waned, the sea appeared fierce with sharks and crocodiles, laughing with waves of foam, dancing with surging billows.
चन्द्रोदये समुद्भूतं प्रतिचन्द्रसमाकुलम्। चण्डानिलमहाग्राहैः कीर्णं तिमितिमिंगिलैः
At moonrise, the ocean was stirred, filled with reflections of the moon, crowded with fierce winds and great sea creatures like whales and dolphins.
दीप्तभोगैरिवाकीर्णं भुजङ्गैर्वरुणालयम्। अवगाढं महासत्त्वैर्नानाशैलसमाकुलम्
The abode of Varuna seemed covered with blazing serpents, immersed with mighty beings, and filled with various mountains.
सुदुर्गं दुर्गमार्गं तमगाधमसुरालयम्। मकरैर्नागभोगैश्च विगाढा वातलोलिताः। उत्पेतुश्च निपेतुश्च प्रहृष्टा जलराशयः
That place was exceedingly difficult, with impassable paths, deep darkness, and the dwelling of demons; the waters, churned by makaras and serpents, rose and fell, delighted.
अग्निचूर्णमिवाविद्धं भास्वराम्बुमहोरगम्। सुरारिनिलयं घोरं पातालविषयं सदा
It appeared as if sprinkled with fire-dust, shining with great aquatic serpents, always a dreadful abode of enemies of the gods and the realm of the underworld.
सागरं चाम्बरप्रख्यमम्बरं सागरोपमम्। सागरं चाम्बरं चेति निर्विशेषमदृश्यत
The sea resembled the sky, and the sky was like the sea; sea and sky appeared indistinguishable.
सम्पृक्तं नभसाप्यम्भः सम्पृक्तं च नभोऽम्भसा। तादृग्रूपे स्म दृश्येते तारारत्नसमाकुले
The water blended with the sky, and the sky blended with the water; in such a form, both appeared, filled with stars and gems.
समुत्पतितमेघस्य वीचिमालाकुलस्य च। विशेषो न द्वयोरासीत् सागरस्याम्बरस्य च
With clouds rising and rows of waves surging, there was no distinction between the sea and the sky.
अन्योन्यैरहताः सक्ताः सस्वनुर्भीमनिःस्वनाः। ऊर्मयः सिन्धुराजस्य महाभेर्य इवाम्बरे
The waves of the lord of rivers, clashing and resounding with terrifying noise, were suspended in the air like great drums.
रत्नौघजलसंनादं विषक्तमिव वायुना। उत्पतन्तमिव क्रुद्धं यादोगणसमाकुलम्
The sound of the multitude of gems and water, as if seized by the wind, seemed to rise in anger, filled with hosts of aquatic creatures.