अद्भुतश्च विचित्रश्च तेषामासीत् समागमः। तत्र वानरसैन्यानां शलभानामिवोद्गमः
Their gathering was both wondrous and diverse; the assembly of the monkey army was like the rising of swarms of locusts.
परिपूर्णमिवाकाशं सम्पूर्णेव च मेदिनी। लङ्कामुपनिविष्टैश्च सम्पतद्भिश्च वानरैः
The sky seemed completely filled, and the earth as well, with monkeys encamped around Laṅkā and leaping about.
शतं शतसहस्राणां पृतनर्क्षवनौकसाम्। लङ्काद्वाराण्युपाजग्मुरन्ये योद्धुं समन्ततः
Hundreds of thousands of monkey warriors approached the gates of Laṅkā from all sides, ready to fight.
आवृतः स गिरिः सर्वैस्तैः समन्तात् प्लवङ्गमैः। अयुतानां सहस्रं च पुरीं तामभ्यवर्तत
That mountain was surrounded on all sides by those monkeys, and a host of ten thousand divisions advanced toward that city.
वानरैर्बलवद्भिश्च बभूव द्रुमपाणिभिः। सर्वतः संवृता लङ्का दुष्प्रवेशापि वायुना
Lanka became encircled on every side by powerful monkeys wielding trees, making it impenetrable even to the wind.
राक्षसा विस्मयं जग्मुः सहसाभिनिपीडिताः। वानरैर्मेघसंकाशैः शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमैः
The rākṣasas, suddenly beset by monkeys resembling clouds and equal in valor to Indra, were struck with amazement.
महाञ्छब्दोऽभवत् तत्र बलौघस्याभिवर्ततः। सागरस्येव भिन्नस्य यथा स्यात् सलिलस्वनः
A great sound arose there from the advancing mass of troops, like the roar of the ocean when it is broken open.
तेन शब्देन महता सप्राकारा सतोरणा। लङ्का प्रचलिता सर्वा सशैलवनकानना
By that tremendous sound, all of Lanka—with its ramparts, gateways, mountains, forests, and groves—was shaken.
रामलक्ष्मणगुप्ता सा सुग्रीवेण च वाहिनी। बभूव दुर्धर्षतरा सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः
That army, protected by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sugrīva, became unconquerable even by all the gods and asuras together.
राघवः संनिवेश्यैवं स्वसैन्यं रक्षसां वधे। सम्मन्त्र्य मन्त्रिभिः सार्धं निश्चित्य च पुनः पुनः
Rāghava, having thus arrayed his army for the destruction of the rākṣasas, consulted repeatedly with his counselors.
आनन्तर्यमभिप्रेप्सुः क्रमयोगार्थतत्त्ववित् । विभीषणस्यानुमते राजधर्ममनुस्मरन्
Desiring immediate action, knowing the proper order and essence of strategy, and with Vibhīṣaṇa’s approval, he recalled the duties of kingship.
अङ्गदं वालितनयं समाहूयेदमब्रवीत्। गत्वा सौम्य दशग्रीवं ब्रूहि मद्वचनात् कपे
He summoned Aṅgada, son of Vāli, and spoke these words: 'Go, gentle one, and say this to the ten-headed one on my behalf, O monkey.'
लङ्घयित्वा पुरीं लङ्कां भयं त्यक्त्वा गतव्यथः। भ्रष्टश्रीकं गतैश्वर्यं मुमूर्षानष्टचेतनम्
'Having crossed into Lanka’s city, casting off fear and all anxiety, you are now bereft of splendor, deprived of power, wishing for death, and your senses are lost.'
ऋषीणां देवतानां च गन्धर्वाप्सरसां तथा। नागानामथ यक्षाणां राज्ञां च रजनीचर
'O night-wanderer, among the seers, gods, gandharvas, apsarases, nāgas, yakṣas, and kings—'
यच्च पापं कृतं मोहादवलिप्तेन राक्षस। नूनं ते विगतो दर्पः स्वयंभूवरदानजः। तस्य पापस्य सम्प्राप्ता व्युष्टिरद्य दुरासदा
'Whatever evil you committed out of delusion and arrogance, O rākṣasa, your pride born of the boon of the Self-born is surely gone; now the dreadful retribution for that sin has come upon you.'
यस्य दण्डधरस्तेऽहं दाराहरणकर्शितः। दण्डं धारयमाणस्तु लङ्काद्वारे व्यवस्थितः
'I, the wielder of punishment, tormented by the abduction of my wife, stand at Lanka’s gate, bearing the rod of justice.'
पदवीं देवतानां च महर्षीणां च राक्षस। राजर्षीणां च सर्वेषां गमिष्यसि युधि स्थिरः
'O rākṣasa, in battle you will follow the path of the gods, great seers, and all royal sages, if you remain steadfast.'
बलेन येन वै सीतां मायया राक्षसाधम। मामतिक्रमयित्वा त्वं हृतवांस्तन्निदर्शय
'By the same force and deceit with which you, lowest of rākṣasas, abducted Sītā, now show that power—do not overstep it.'
अराक्षसमिमं लोकं कर्तास्मि निशितैः शरैः। न चेच्छरणमभ्येषि तामादाय तु मैथिलीम्
'If you do not seek refuge and return Maithilī, I will make this world free of rākṣasas with sharp arrows.'
धर्मात्मा राक्षसश्रेष्ठः सम्प्राप्तोऽयं विभीषणः। लङ्कैश्वर्यमिदं श्रीमान् ध्रुवं प्राप्नोत्यकण्टकम्
'This Vibhīṣaṇa, best of rākṣasas and righteous-souled, has arrived; surely, this glorious one will obtain the sovereignty of Lanka without obstacle.'
नहि राज्यमधर्मेण भोक्तुं क्षणमपि त्वया। शक्यं मूर्खसहायेन पापेनाविदितात्मना
'For you, with foolish allies, sinful and ignorant of your own self, it is not possible to enjoy the kingdom even for a moment through unrighteousness.'
युध्यस्व मा धृतिं कृत्वा शौर्यमालम्ब्य राक्षस। मच्छरैस्त्वं रणे शान्तस्ततः पूतो भविष्यसि
Fight, O Rākṣasa, with steadfastness and courage; in battle you will be subdued by my arrows, and then you shall be purified.
यद्याविशसि लोकांस्त्रीन् पक्षीभूतो निशाचर। मम चक्षुःपथं प्राप्य न जीवन् प्रतियास्यसि
Even if you enter the three worlds, transformed into a bird, O night-wanderer, once you come within my sight, you shall not return alive.
ब्रवीमि त्वां हितं वाक्यं क्रियतामौर्ध्वदेहिकम्। सुदृष्टा क्रियतां लङ्का जीवितं ते मयि स्थितम्
I speak to you words of benefit: let the funeral rites be prepared; let Lanka be well guarded; for your life rests with me.
इत्युक्तः स तु तारेयो रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। जगामाकाशमाविश्य मूर्तिमानिव हव्यवाट्
Thus addressed by Rāma, whose deeds are unwearied, the son of Tāra entered the sky, appearing as if the fire that receives oblations had taken form.
सोऽतिपत्य मुहूर्तेन श्रीमान् रावणमन्दिरम्। ददर्शासीनमव्यग्रं रावणं सचिवैः सह
Swiftly crossing over in a moment, the illustrious one reached Rāvaṇa's palace and saw Rāvaṇa seated calmly with his ministers.
ततस्तस्याविदूरेण निपत्य हरिपुंगवः। दीप्ताग्निसदृशस्तस्थावङ्गदः कनकाङ्गदः
Then, not far from him, the foremost of monkeys, Aṅgada, shining like blazing fire and adorned with golden armlets, landed and stood.
तद् रामवचनं सर्वमन्यूनाधिकमुत्तमम्। सामात्यं श्रावयामास निवेद्यात्मानमात्मना
He proclaimed in full the excellent message of Rāma, lacking nothing, to the assembly of ministers, introducing himself in his own words.
दूतोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। वालिपुत्रोऽङ्गदो नाम यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः
I am the envoy of Rāma, lord of Kosala, whose actions are unwearied; I am Aṅgada, son of Vāli, if that name has reached your ears.
आह त्वां राघवो रामः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। निष्पत्य प्रतियुध्यस्व नृशंस पुरुषो भव
Rāghava Rāma, the joy of Kausalyā, speaks to you: 'Come forth and fight; act as a true man, not a cruel one.'