सहसाभूत् ततो वेगाद् भीमवेगो महोदधिः। योजनं व्यतिचक्राम वेलामन्यत्र सम्प्लवात्
Then, suddenly, the mighty ocean, with terrible force, crossed a league beyond its shore in a great flood.
तं तथा समतिक्रान्तं नातिचक्राम राघवः। समुद्धतममित्रघ्नो रामो नदनदीपतिम्
Rāghava, the destroyer of enemies, did not cross that ocean which had so surged, but stood by the lord of rivers and streams.
ततो मध्यात् समुद्रस्य सागरः स्वयमुत्थितः। उदयाद्रिमहाशैलान्मेरोरिव दिवाकरः
Then from the midst of the ocean, Sāgara himself arose, like the sun rising from the great mountain Udaya or from Meru.
पन्नगैः सह दीप्तास्यैः समुद्रः प्रत्यदृश्यत। स्निग्धवैदूर्यसंकाशो जाम्बूनदविभूषणः
The ocean appeared together with serpents whose mouths blazed, shining like smooth beryl, adorned with gold ornaments.
रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः। सर्वपुष्पमयीं दिव्यां शिरसा धारयन् स्रजम्
Wearing red garlands and garments, with eyes like lotus petals, bearing on his head a divine garland made of all flowers.
जातरूपमयैश्चैव तपनीयविभूषणैः। आत्मजानां च रत्नानां भूषितो भूषणोत्तमैः
Adorned with ornaments of pure gold and refined gold, and with the finest jewels born from himself.
धातुभिर्मण्डितः शैलो विविधैर्हिमवानिव। एकावलीमध्यगतं तरलं पाण्डरप्रभम्
Adorned with various minerals, like Himavat with many kinds of ores, in the midst of a single row, shining with a trembling pale light.
गङ्गासिन्धुप्रधानाभिरापगाभिः समावृतः। उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहः सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः
Surrounded by rivers led by the Gaṅgā and Sindhu, with great crocodiles rolling, and with agitated serpents and rākṣasas.
देवतानां सुरूपाभिर्नानारूपाभिरीश्वरः। सागरः समुपक्रम्य पूर्वमामन्त्र्य वीर्यवान्
The lord Sāgara, possessing strength, approached, first addressing the gods of beautiful forms, of many shapes.
अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं राघवं शरपाणिनम्
With joined palms, he spoke these words to Rāghava, who held an arrow in his hand.
पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिश्च राघव। स्वभावे सौम्य तिष्ठन्ति शाश्वतं मार्गमाश्रिताः
Earth, wind, space, water, and fire, O Rāghava, all remain in their own eternal nature, following the everlasting path.
तत्स्वभावो ममाप्येष यदगाधोऽहमप्लवः। विकारस्तु भवेद् गाध एतत् ते प्रवदाम्यहम्
This is also my nature, that I am deep and uncrossable; if I were shallow, that would be a change—this I declare to you.
न कामान्न च लोभाद् वा न भयात् पार्थिवात्मज। ग्राहनक्राकुलजलं स्तम्भयेयं कथंचन
Not from desire, nor from greed, nor from fear, O prince, could I ever stop the waters filled with crocodiles and alligators.
विधास्ये येन गन्तासि विषहिष्येऽप्यहं तथा। न ग्राहा विधमिष्यन्ति यावत्सेना तरिष्यति। हरीणां तरणे राम करिष्यामि यथा स्थलम्
I will arrange a way for you to cross, and I will endure it; the crocodiles will not hinder as long as your army crosses. For the crossing of the monkeys, Rāma, I will make it as firm as land.
तमब्रवीत् तदा रामः शृणु मे वरुणालय। अमोघोऽयं महाबाणः कस्मिन् देशे निपात्यताम्
Then Rāma said to him, 'Hear me, O abode of Varuṇa: this great arrow of mine is unfailing—on which region should it be released?'
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा तं च दृष्ट्वा महाशरम्। महोदधिर्महातेजा राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing Rāma’s words and seeing that great arrow, the mighty and radiant Ocean spoke to Rāghava as follows:
उत्तरेणावकाशोऽस्ति कश्चित् पुण्यतरो मम। द्रुमकुल्य इति ख्यातो लोके ख्यातो यथा भवान्
To the north, there is a certain place of mine, even more sacred, known among people as Drumakulya, just as you are renowned.
उग्रदर्शनकर्माणो बहवस्तत्र दस्यवः। आभीरप्रमुखाः पापाः पिबन्ति सलिलं मम
There, many fierce and violent bandits, led by Ābhīras and other wicked men, drink my waters.
तैर्न तत्स्पर्शनं पापं सहेयं पापकर्मभिः। अमोघः क्रियतां राम अयं तत्र शरोत्तमः
I cannot endure that sinful pollution by those evil-doers; let this unfailing, excellent arrow of yours, Rāma, be used there.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सागरस्य महात्मनः। मुमोच तं शरं दीप्तं परं सागरदर्शनात्
Hearing those words of the great-souled Ocean, he released that blazing arrow, turning it away from the ocean as directed.
तेन तन्मरुकान्तारं पृथिव्यां किल विश्रुतम्। निपातितः शरो यत्र वज्राशनिसमप्रभः
By that arrow, the region called Marukāntāra, famed upon the earth, was struck down, where the arrow shone like thunder and lightning.
ननाद च तदा तत्र वसुधा शल्यपीडिता। तस्माद् व्रणमुखात् तोयमुत्पपात रसातलात्
Then, the earth groaned there, pierced by the missile, and from that wound’s mouth, water sprang forth from the netherworld.
स बभूव तदा कूपो व्रण इत्येव विश्रुतः। सततं चोत्थितं तोयं समुद्रस्येव दृश्यते
Thereupon, a well appeared, known as the ‘wound,’ and water constantly rises there, visible like that of the ocean.
अवदारणशब्दश्च दारुणः समपद्यत। तस्मात् तद् बाणपातेन अपः कुक्षिष्वशोषयत्
A dreadful rending sound arose, and by the fall of that arrow, the water was dried up in the depths.
विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु मरुकान्तारमेव च। शोषयित्वा तु तं कुक्षिं रामो दशरथात्मजः
That Marukāntāra became renowned in the three worlds; and after drying up that region, Rāma, son of Daśaratha,
वरं तस्मै ददौ विद्वान् मरवेऽमरविक्रमः
The wise and heroic Rāma granted a boon there to the desert.
पशव्यश्चाल्परोगश्च फलमूलरसायुतः। बहुस्नेहो बहुक्षीरः सुगन्धिर्विविधौषधिः
It would have cattle, little disease, abundant fruits and roots, much affection, much milk, sweet fragrance, and various herbs.
एवमेतैश्च संयुक्तो बहुभिः संयुतो मरुः। रामस्य वरदानाच्च शिवः पन्था बभूव ह
Thus, endowed with these and many other blessings by Rāma’s boon, the desert became a safe and auspicious path.
तस्मिन् दग्धे तदा कुक्षौ समुद्रः सरितां पतिः। राघवं सर्वशास्त्रज्ञमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
When that region had been burned, the Ocean, lord of rivers, spoke these words to Rāghava, knower of all scriptures:
अयं सौम्य नलो नाम तनयो विश्वकर्मणः। पित्रा दत्तवरः श्रीमान् प्रीतिमान् विश्वकर्मणः
This gentle Nala, son of Viśvakarman, is endowed with a boon from his father and is dear to him.