एवमुक्तौ तु सव्रीडौ तौ दृष्ट्वा शुकसारणौ। रावणं जयशब्देन प्रतिनन्द्याभिनिःसृतौ
Thus addressed, Shuka and Sarana, abashed, looked at each other, then went out, hailing Ravana with cries of victory.
अब्रवीच्च दशग्रीवः समीपस्थं महोदरम्। उपस्थापय मे शीघ्रं चारानिति निशाचरः। महोदरस्तथोक्तस्तु शीघ्रमाज्ञापयच्चरान्
Then the ten-headed Ravana spoke to Mahodara, who stood nearby: 'Quickly bring the spies to me,' said the night-walker. Mahodara, thus instructed, promptly summoned the spies.
ततश्चाराः संत्वरिताः प्राप्ताः पार्थिवशासनात्। उपस्थिताः प्राञ्जलयो वर्धयित्वा जयाशिषः
Thereupon, the spies, hastened by the king's command, arrived and stood before him with joined palms, offering blessings for victory.
तानब्रवीत् ततो वाक्यं रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। चारान् प्रत्यायिकान् शूरान् धीरान् विगतसाध्वसान्
Then Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, addressed those spies—loyal, brave, steadfast, and fearless.
इतो गच्छत रामस्य व्यवसायं परीक्षितुम्। मन्त्रेष्वभ्यन्तरा येऽस्य प्रीत्या तेन समागताः
Go from here to examine Rama's intentions, those who are close to him through affection and are privy to his counsel.
कथं स्वपिति जागर्ति किमद्य च करिष्यति। विज्ञाय निपुणं सर्वमागन्तव्यमशेषतः
Find out how he sleeps, how he keeps watch, and what he will do today; learn everything thoroughly and return without leaving anything out.
चारेण विदितः शत्रुः पण्डितैर्वसुधाधिपैः। युद्धे स्वल्पेन यत्नेन समासाद्य निरस्यते
When an enemy is discovered by spies, wise rulers of the earth, by exerting little effort in battle, confront and defeat him.
चारास्तु ते तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रहृष्टा राक्षसेश्वरम्। शार्दूलमग्रतः कृत्वा ततश्चक्रुः प्रदक्षिणम्
The spies, having replied 'so be it,' joyfully honored the lord of the rakshasas, placed a tiger in front, and then circled him clockwise.
ततस्तं तु महात्मानं चारा राक्षससत्तमम्। कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं जग्मुर्यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः
Then those spies, having circled the great-souled, foremost rakshasa, departed to where Rama and Lakshmana were.
ते सुवेलस्य शैलस्य समीपे रामलक्ष्मणौ। प्रच्छन्ना ददृशुर्गत्वा ससुग्रीवविभीषणौ
They went and, concealed near the Suvela mountain, saw Rama and Lakshmana together with Sugriva and Vibhishana.
प्रेक्षमाणाश्चमूं तां च बभूवुर्भयविह्वलाः। ते तु धर्मात्मना दृष्टा राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसाः
Observing that army, they became agitated with fear; but those rakshasas were seen by the righteous Vibhishana.
विभीषणेन तत्रस्था निगृहीता यदृच्छया। शार्दूलो ग्राहितस्त्वेकः पापोऽयमिति राक्षसः
Vibhishana, who was present there, seized them by chance; one rakshasa was caught, saying, 'This one is wicked.'
मोचितः सोऽपि रामेण वध्यमानः प्लवंगमैः। आनृशंस्येन रामेण मोचिता राक्षसाः परे
He too was released by Rama, though being killed by the monkeys; out of compassion, Rama freed the other rakshasas.
वानरैरर्दितास्ते तु विक्रान्तैर्लघुविक्रमैः। पुनर्लङ्कामनुप्राप्ताः श्वसन्तो नष्टचेतसः
Those spies, harassed by the valiant and swift monkeys, returned again to Lanka, panting and bewildered.
thumb|त्रिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे त्रिंशः सर्गः ॥६-
The thirtieth chapter is to be heard. In the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, in the Yuddha Kanda, the thirtieth chapter.
ततस्तमक्षोभ्यबलं लङ्काधिपतये चराः। सुवेले राघवं शैले निविष्टं प्रत्यवेदयन्
Then the spies informed the lord of Lanka that Rama, with his unshakable army, was encamped on the Suvela mountain.
चाराणां रावणः श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं रामं महाबलम्। जातोद्वेगोऽभवत् किंचिच्छार्दूलं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Hearing from the spies that mighty Rama had arrived, Ravana became somewhat anxious and spoke to Shardula.
अयथावच्च ते वर्णो दीनश्चासि निशाचर। नासि कच्चिदमित्राणां क्रुद्धानां वशमागतः
Your appearance is not as it should be, and you seem dejected, night-walker; surely you have not fallen into the hands of angry enemies?
इति तेनानुशिष्टस्तु वाचं मन्दमुदीरयन्। तदा राक्षसशार्दूलं शार्दूलो भयविक्लवः
Thus instructed by him, Shardula, the tiger among rakshasas, spoke slowly, trembling with fear.
न ते चारयितुं शक्या राजन् वानरपुङ्गवाः। विक्रान्ता बलवन्तश्च राघवेण च रक्षिताः
O King, the foremost of the monkeys cannot be made to wander; they are valiant, powerful, and protected by Rāghava.
नापि सम्भाषितुं शक्याः सम्प्रश्नोऽत्र न लभ्यते। सर्वतो रक्ष्यते पन्था वानरैः पर्वतोपमैः
Nor is it possible to converse with them; no inquiry can be made here. The path is guarded on all sides by monkeys as mighty as mountains.
प्रविष्टमात्रे ज्ञातोऽहं बले तस्मिन् विचारिते। बलाद् गृहीतो रक्षोभिर्बहुधास्मि विचारितः
As soon as I entered and was noticed in that army, I was seized by the Rākṣasas and subjected to much scrutiny.
जानुभिर्मुष्टिभिर्दन्तैस्तलैश्चाभिहतो भृशम्। परिणीतोऽस्मि हरिभिर्बलमध्ये अमर्षणैः
I was struck severely by the monkeys with knees, fists, teeth, and palms, and was dragged about in the midst of the army by those relentless ones.
परिणीय च सर्वत्र नीतोऽहं रामसंसदि। रुधिरस्राविदीनाङ्गो विह्वलश्चलितेन्द्रियः
Dragged everywhere, I was brought before Rāma’s assembly, my body streaming with blood, weakened, and my senses reeling.
हरिभिर्वध्यमानश्च याचमानः कृताञ्जलिः। राघवेण परित्रातो मा मेति च यदृच्छया
While being beaten by the monkeys, I pleaded with joined palms; by chance, I was spared by Rāghava, who said, 'Do not [kill] him.'
एष शैलशिलाभिस्तु पूरयित्वा महार्णवम्। द्वारमाश्रित्य लङ्काया रामस्तिष्ठति सायुधः
Here is Rāma, armed, standing at the gate of Laṅkā after filling the great ocean with mountain rocks and slabs.
गरुडव्यूहमास्थाय सर्वतो हरिभिर्वृतः। मां विसृज्य महातेजा लङ्कामेवातिवर्तते
Having assumed the Garuḍa formation, surrounded on all sides by monkeys, the mighty Rāma, letting me go, now advances straight to Laṅkā.
पुरा प्राकारमायाति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु। सीतां वापि प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम्
Before he reaches the rampart, quickly choose one thing: either promptly return Sītā or grant battle.
मनसा तत् तदा प्रेक्ष्य तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसाधिपः। शार्दूलं सुमहद्वाक्यमथोवाच स रावणः
Hearing and considering this, the lord of the Rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, then spoke these great words to Śārdūla.
यदि मां प्रतियुध्यन्ते देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। नैव सीतां प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि
Even if the gods, Gandharvas, and Dānavas fight against me, I will not give up Sītā, even out of fear of all the worlds.