भवन्तं सर्वभूतानां शरण्यं शरणं गतः। परित्यक्ता मया लङ्का मित्राणि च धनानि च
I have sought refuge in you, the protector of all beings; I have abandoned Lanka, my friends, and my wealth.
भवद्गतं हि मे राज्यं जीवितं च सुखानि च। तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा रामो वचनमब्रवीत्
My kingdom, my life, and my happiness are now dependent on you; having heard these words, Rama spoke as follows.
वचसा सान्त्वयित्वैनं लोचनाभ्यां पिबन्निव। आख्याहि मम तत्त्वेन राक्षसानां बलाबलम्
Comforting him with words and gazing at him intently, Rama said: 'Tell me truthfully the strengths and weaknesses of the rakshasas.'
एवमुक्तं तदा रक्षो रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। रावणस्य बलं सर्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे
Thus addressed by Rama, whose actions are flawless, the rakshasa began to describe all of Ravana’s strength.
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानां गन्धर्वोरगपक्षिणाम्। राजपुत्र दशग्रीवो वरदानात् स्वयम्भुवः
O prince, by the boon of the Self-born, the ten-headed Ravana cannot be slain by any being, nor by gandharvas, serpents, or birds.
रावणानन्तरो भ्राता मम ज्येष्ठश्च वीर्यवान्। कुम्भकर्णो महातेजाः शक्रप्रतिबलो युधि
My elder brother, next after Ravana, is Kumbhakarna, mighty and radiant, equal to Indra in battle.
राम सेनापतिस्तस्य प्रहस्तो यदि ते श्रुतः। कैलासे येन समरे मणिभद्रः पराजितः
O Rama, his commander is Prahasta, if you have heard of him, who defeated Manibhadra in battle on Mount Kailasa.
बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणस्त्ववध्यकवचो युधि। धनुरादाय यस्तिष्ठन्नदृश्यो भवतीन्द्रजित्
Wearing armor impenetrable in battle and gauntlets bound on his arms, Indrajit, invisible while standing with his bow, cannot be slain.
संग्रामे सुमहद्व्यूहे तर्पयित्वा हुताशनम्। अन्तर्धानगतः श्रीमानिन्द्रजिद्धन्ति राघव
In the great and vast battle, after offering oblations to the fire, the illustrious Indrajit, having become invisible, kills, O Raghava.
महोदरमहापार्श्वौ राक्षसश्चाप्यकम्पनः। अनीकपास्तु तस्यैते लोकपालसमा युधि
Mahodara and Mahaparsva, and also the rakshasa Akampana, these are his generals, equal to the guardians of the worlds in battle.
दशकोटिसहस्राणि रक्षसां कामरूपिणाम्। मांसशोणितभक्ष्याणां लङ्कापुरनिवासिनाम्
There are one hundred thousand million rakshasas of changing forms, eaters of flesh and blood, dwelling in the city of Lanka.
स तैस्तु सहितो राजा लोकपालानयोधयत्। सह देवैस्तु ते भग्ना रावणेन दुरात्मना
With these, the king fought against the guardians of the worlds; together with the gods, they were defeated by Ravana, the wicked one.
विभीषणस्य तु वचस्तच्छ्रुत्वा रघुसत्तमः। अन्वीक्ष्य मनसा सर्वमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words of Vibhishana, the best of Raghus, after considering all this in his mind, spoke the following words.
यानि कर्मापदानानि रावणस्य विभीषण। आख्यातानि च तत्त्वेन ह्यवगच्छामि तान्यहम्
Whatever evil deeds of Ravana have been described, O Vibhishana, I truly understand them as you have recounted.
रसातलं वा प्रविशेत् पातालं वापि रावणः। पितामहसकाशं वा न मे जीवन् विमोक्ष्यते
Even if Ravana enters Rasatala or Patala, or goes to the presence of the Grandsire, he shall not escape alive from me.
अहत्वा रावणं संख्ये सपुत्रजनबान्धवम्। अयोध्यां न प्रवेक्ष्यामि त्रिभिस्तैर्भ्रातृभिः शपे
Without killing Ravana in battle, along with his sons, kin, and relatives, I will not enter Ayodhya; by these three brothers I swear.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। शिरसाऽऽवन्द्य धर्मात्मा वक्तुमेवं प्रचक्रमे
Hearing the words of Rama, whose deeds are flawless, the righteous one bowed his head and began to speak thus.
राक्षसानां वधे साह्यं लङ्कायाश्च प्रधर्षणे। करिष्यामि यथाप्राणं प्रवेक्ष्यामि च वाहिनीम्
I will do all in my power to help in the destruction of the rakshasas and the conquest of Lanka, and I will enter the army.
इति ब्रुवाणं रामस्तु परिष्वज्य विभीषणम्। अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणं प्रीतः समुद्राज्जलमानय
As he was speaking thus, Rama embraced Vibhishana and, pleased, said to Lakshmana: 'Bring water from the ocean.'
तेन चेमं महाप्राज्ञमभिषिञ्च विभीषणम्। राजानं रक्षसां क्षिप्रं प्रसन्ने मयि मानद
With that water, O giver of honor, quickly anoint this wise Vibhishana as king of the rakshasas, with my favor.
एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्रिरभ्यषिञ्चद् विभीषणम्। मध्ये वानरमुख्यानां राजानं राजशासनात्
Thus addressed, Saumitri anointed Vibhishana as king, in the midst of the foremost vanaras, by the command of the king.
तं प्रसादं तु रामस्य दृष्ट्वा सद्यः प्लवङ्गमाः। प्रचुक्रुशुर्महात्मानं साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्
Seeing this favor of Rama, the vanaras immediately shouted, praising the great-souled one, saying, 'Well done! Well done!'
अब्रवीच्च हनूमांश्च सुग्रीवश्च विभीषणम्। कथं सागरमक्षोभ्यं तराम वरुणालयम्। सैन्यैः परिवृताः सर्वे वानराणां महौजसाम्
Then Hanuman and Sugriva spoke to Vibhishana: 'How shall we cross the unshakable ocean, the abode of Varuna, surrounded as we are by all the mighty vanaras?'
उपायैरभिगच्छाम यथा नदनदीपतिम्। तराम तरसा सर्वे ससैन्या वरुणालयम्
Let us approach the lord of rivers and streams by some means, so that we may all cross swiftly, with our army, the abode of Varuna.
एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा प्रत्युवाच विभीषणः। समुद्रं राघवो राजा शरणं गन्तुमर्हति
Thus addressed, the righteous Vibhishana replied: 'Raghava, the king, should seek refuge with the ocean.'
खानितः सगरेणायमप्रमेयो महोदधिः। कर्तुमर्हति रामस्य ज्ञातेः कार्यं महोदधिः
This immeasurable great ocean was dug by Sagara; the great ocean ought to do the work for Rama, his descendant.
एवं विभीषणेनोक्तो राक्षसेन विपश्चिता। आजगामाथ सुग्रीवो यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः
Thus spoken to by the wise rakshasa Vibhishana, Sugriva then came to where Rama was, together with Lakshmana.
ततश्चाख्यातुमारेभे विभीषणवचः शुभम्। सुग्रीवो विपुलग्रीवः सागरस्योपवेशनम्
Then Sugriva, broad-necked, began to relate the auspicious words of Vibhishana, as they sat by the shore of the ocean.
प्रकृत्या धर्मशीलस्य रामस्यास्याप्यरोचत। सलक्ष्मणं महातेजाः सुग्रीवं च हरीश्वरम्
By nature, the proposal suited Rama, who was righteous, as well as the mighty Lakshmana and Sugriva, lord of the monkeys.
सत्क्रियार्थं क्रियादक्षं स्मितपूर्वमभाषत। विभीषणस्य मन्त्रोऽयं मम लक्ष्मण रोचते
For the sake of proper conduct, Rama, skilled in action, spoke with a smile: 'Lakshmana, this counsel of Vibhishana pleases me.'