आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थितां पश्य लक्ष्मण। मनसेव कृतां लङ्कां नगाग्रे विश्वकर्मणा
See, Lakshmana, how Lanka appears as if drawn in the sky, as if crafted by Visvakarma for the mind alone, standing atop the mountain.
विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्का संकीर्णा रचिता पुरा। विष्णोः पदमिवाकाशं छादितं पाण्डुभिर्घनैः
Lanka, filled with many palaces, was built long ago, like Vishnu’s own abode in the sky, concealed by pale clouds.
पुष्पितैः शोभिता लङ्का वनैश्चित्ररथोपमैः। नानापतगसंघुष्टफलपुष्पोपगैः शुभैः
Lanka is adorned with blossoming forests, like the famed Chitraratha, resounding with various birds and laden with beautiful fruits and flowers.
पश्य मत्तविहंगानि प्रलीनभ्रमराणि च। कोकिलाकुलखण्डानि दोधवीति शिवोऽनिलः
See the intoxicated birds and the bees nestled within, the groves filled with cuckoos, and the gentle, auspicious wind blowing.
इति दाशरथी रामो लक्ष्मणं समभाषत। बलं च तत्र विभजच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा
Thus Rama, son of Dasaratha, spoke to Lakshmana, and there divided the army according to the practice prescribed in the scriptures.
शशास कपिसेनां तां बलादादाय वीर्यवान्। अङ्गदः सह नीलेन तिष्ठेदुरसि दुर्जयः
The valiant Angada, together with Nila, forcefully took command of that monkey army and stood, unconquerable, at the front.
तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्या वानरौघसमावृतः। आश्रितो दक्षिणं पार्श्वमृषभो नाम वानरः
On the right flank of the monkey host, surrounded by a multitude of monkeys, stood a vanara named Rishabha.
गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः। तिष्ठेद् वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यं पार्श्वमधिष्ठितः
Swift and unassailable like a wild elephant, Gandhamadana took position on the left flank of the monkey army.
मूर्ध्नि स्थास्याम्यहं यत्तो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः। जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः
I myself will stand at the center, vigilant, together with Lakshmana, Jambavan, Sushena, and the swift-moving vanara Vegadarshi.
ऋक्षमुख्या महात्मानः कुक्षिं रक्षन्तु ते त्रयः। जघनं कपिसेनायाः कपिराजोऽभिरक्षतु। पश्चार्धमिव लोकस्य प्रचेतास्तेजसा वृतः
Let those three great-souled leaders of the bears protect the center, while the monkey king guards the rear of the army, shining like the lord of waters, enveloped in brilliance.
सुविभक्तमहाव्यूहा महावानररक्षिता। अनीकिनी सा विबभौ यथा द्यौः साभ्रसम्प्लवा
That army, well arrayed in great formations and guarded by mighty monkeys, shone like the sky covered with masses of clouds.
प्रगृह्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महतश्च महीरुहान्। आसेदुर्वानरा लङ्कां मिमर्दयिषवो रणे
Grasping mountain peaks and great trees, the monkeys approached Lanka, eager to crush it in battle.
शिखरैर्विकिरामैनां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा। इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरिपुङ्गवाः
All the foremost monkeys resolved in their minds: 'We will shatter Lanka with peaks or even with our fists.'
ततो रामो महातेजाः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत्। सुविभक्तानि सैन्यानि शुक एष विमुच्यताम्
Then Rama, of great splendor, said to Sugriva: 'The armies are well arrayed; let this Shuka be released.'
रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रो महाबलः। मोचयामास तं दूतं शुकं रामस्य शासनात्
Hearing Rama's words, the mighty monkey king released that messenger Shuka, as commanded by Rama.
रावणः प्रहसन्नेव शुकं वाक्यमुवाच ह। किमिमौ ते सितौ पक्षौ लूनपक्षश्च दृश्यसे
Ravana, laughing, spoke to Shuka: 'Why do your wings appear white, and yet you look as if your wings have been plucked?'
कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानां तेषां त्वं वशमागतः। ततः स भयसंविग्नस्तेन राज्ञाभिचोदितः। वचनं प्रत्युवाचेदं राक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम्
Surely you have not fallen under the control of those many-minded ones? Then, frightened and urged by that king, he replied these words to the foremost of rakshasas.
सागरस्योत्तरे तीरेऽब्रुवं ते वचनं तथा। यथा संदेशमक्लिष्टं सान्त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णया गिरा
On the northern shore of the ocean, I spoke your message just as it was, gently and soothingly, as instructed.
क्रुद्धैस्तैरहमुत्प्लुत्य दृष्टमात्रः प्लवंगमैः। गृहीतोऽस्म्यपि चारब्धो हन्तुं लोप्तुं च मुष्टिभिः
But as soon as I was seen by those angry monkeys, I leapt up, was seized, and they began to strike and pummel me with their fists.
न ते संभाषितुं शक्याः सम्प्रश्नोऽत्र न विद्यते। प्रकृत्या कोपनास्तीक्ष्णा वानरा राक्षसाधिप
It is not possible to converse with them, nor is there any questioning there; by nature, O lord of rakshasas, the monkeys are irascible and fierce.
स च हन्ता विराधस्य कबन्धस्य खरस्य च। सुग्रीवसहितो रामः सीतायाः पदमागतः
That Rama, together with Sugriva, who slew Viradha, Kabandha, and Khara, has reached Sita's abode.
स कृत्वा सागरे सेतुं तीर्त्वा च लवणोदधिम्। एष रक्षांसि निर्धूय धन्वी तिष्ठति राघवः
Having built a bridge across the ocean and crossed the salty sea, this Raghava, bow in hand, stands here after driving away the rakshasas.
ऋक्षवानरसङ्घानामनीकानि सहस्रशः। गिरिमेघनिकाशानां छादयन्ति वसुंधराम्
Thousands of divisions of bears and monkeys, resembling mountains and clouds, cover the earth.
राक्षसानां बलौघस्य वानरेन्द्रबलस्य च। नैतयोर्विद्यते संधिर्देवदानवयोरिव
There can be no alliance between the hordes of rakshasas and the army of the monkey king, just as there is none between gods and demons.
पुरा प्राकारमायान्ति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु। सीतां चास्मै प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम्
Before they reach the rampart, quickly decide: either hand over Sita to him at once, or grant him battle.
शुकस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। रोषसंरक्तनयनो निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा
Hearing Shuka's words, Ravana, his eyes red with anger as if burning with his gaze, spoke.
यदि मां प्रति युद्धेरन् देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। नैव सीतां प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि
Even if gods, gandharvas, and demons were to fight against me, I would not give up Sita, not even out of fear of all the worlds.
कदा समभिधावन्त मामका राघवं शराः। वसन्ते पुष्पितं मत्ता भ्रमरा इव पादपम्
When will my arrows rush at Raghava like intoxicated bees swarming a blossoming tree in spring?
कदा शोणितदिग्धाङ्गं दीप्तैः कार्मुकविच्युतैः। शरैरादीपयिष्यामि उल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम्
When will I set him ablaze with flaming arrows, staining his body with blood, like meteors striking an elephant?
तच्चास्य बलमादास्ये बलेन महता वृतः। ज्योतिषामिव सर्वेषां प्रभामुद्यन् दिवाकरः
I will seize his strength, surrounded by my great power, as the sun takes away the brilliance of all the stars.