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.
एष सेतुं महोत्साहः करोतु मयि वानरः। तमहं धारयिष्यामि यथा ह्येष पिता तथा
Let this enthusiastic monkey build a bridge over me; I will support it, just as his father once did.
एवमुक्त्वोदधिर्नष्टः समुत्थाय नलस्ततः। अब्रवीद् वानरश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं रामं महाबलम्
Having spoken thus, the Ocean vanished; then Nala arose and, best among monkeys, addressed mighty Rāma with these words:
अहं सेतुं करिष्यामि विस्तीर्णे मकरालये। पितुः सामर्थ्यमासाद्य तत्त्वमाह महोदधिः
I will build a bridge across this vast abode of crocodiles, for I have inherited my father’s skill, as the great Ocean has declared.
दण्ड एव वरो लोके पुरुषस्येति मे मतिः। धिक् क्षमामकृतज्ञेषु सान्त्वं दानमथापि वा
Punishment alone is best for a man in this world, so I believe; shame on forbearance, conciliation, or even giving gifts to the ungrateful.
अयं हि सागरो भीमः सेतुकर्मदिदृक्षया। ददौ दण्डभयाद् गाधं राघवाय महोदधिः
Indeed, this dreadful ocean, desiring to witness the building of the bridge, gave a deep passage to Rāghava out of fear of punishment.
मम मातुर्वरो दत्तो मन्दरे विश्वकर्मणा। मया तु सदृशः पुत्रस्तव देवि भविष्यति
My mother received a boon from Viśvakarman on Mandara: 'A son equal to me will be born to you, O Lady.'
औरसस्तस्य पुत्रोऽहं सदृशो विश्वकर्मणा। स्मारितोऽस्म्यहमेतेन तत्त्वमाह महोदधिः। न चाप्यहमनुक्तो वः प्रब्रूयामात्मनो गुणान्
I am his own son, equal to Viśvakarman; by him I have been reminded of this truth, O great ocean. Nor would I, unasked by you, speak of my own virtues.
समर्थश्चाप्यहं सेतुं कर्तुं वै वरुणालये। तस्मादद्यैव बध्नन्तु सेतुं वानरपुङ्गवाः
I am also able to build a bridge over the abode of Varuṇa; therefore, let the foremost of the monkeys build the bridge today itself.
ततो विसृष्टा रामेण सर्वतो हरिपुङ्गवाः। उत्पेततुर्महारण्यं हृष्टाः शतसहस्रशः
Then, released by Rāma, all the foremost monkeys, delighted, leapt into the great forest in their hundreds of thousands.
ते नगान् नगसंकाशाः शाखामृगगणर्षभाः। बभञ्जुः पादपांस्तत्र प्रचकर्षुश्च सागरम्
Those leaders of the monkey-troops, resembling mountains, broke the trees there and dragged them toward the ocean.