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.'
हन्तास्मि त्वां सहामात्यं सपुत्रज्ञातिबान्धवम्। निरुद्विग्नास्त्रयो लोका भविष्यन्ति हते त्वयि
I will slay you, together with your ministers, sons, kinsmen, and relatives; when you are slain, the three worlds will be free from fear.
देवदानवयक्षाणां गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। शत्रुमद्योद्धरिष्यामि त्वामृषीणां च कण्टकम्
I will remove you, the enemy, from among the gods, demons, yakṣas, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas, and rid the sages of their thorn.
विभीषणस्य चैश्वर्यं भविष्यति हते त्वयि। न चेत् सत्कृत्य वैदेहीं प्रणिपत्य प्रदास्यसि
When you are slain, the sovereignty will belong to Vibhīṣaṇa; unless you respectfully return Sītā, bowing before her.
इत्येवं परुषं वाक्यं ब्रुवाणे हरिपुङ्गवे। अमर्षवशमापन्नो निशाचरगणेश्वरः
As the foremost of monkeys spoke these harsh words, the lord of the night-wanderers was overcome by anger.
ततः स रोषमापन्नः शशास सचिवांस्तदा। गृह्यतामिति दुर्मेधा वध्यतामिति चासकृत्
Then, filled with rage, he ordered his ministers repeatedly, 'Seize him! Put him to death!'—thus spoke that evil-minded one.
रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा दीप्ताग्निमिव तेजसा। जगृहुस्तं ततो घोराश्चत्वारो रजनीचराः
Hearing Rāvaṇa's command, four fierce night-wanderers, blazing with energy like fire, seized him.
ग्राहयामास तारेयः स्वयमात्मानमात्मवान्। बलं दर्शयितुं वीरो यातुधानगणे तदा
The self-controlled son of Tāra allowed himself to be seized, wishing to display his strength to the host of demons.
स तान् बाहुद्वयासक्तानादाय पतगानिव। प्रासादं शैलसंकाशमुत्पपाताङ्गदस्तदा
Then Aṅgada, taking those who clung to his two arms as if they were birds, leapt up to a palace resembling a mountain.
तस्योत्पतनवेगेन निर्धूतास्तत्र राक्षसाः। भूमौ निपतिताः सर्वे राक्षसेन्द्रस्य पश्यतः
By the force of his leap, those rākṣasas were shaken off and all fell to the ground as the lord of the rākṣasas looked on.
ततः प्रासादशिखरं शैलशृङ्गमिवोन्नतम्। चक्राम राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वालिपुत्रः प्रतापवान्
Then the valiant son of Vali ascended the palace's pinnacle, towering like a mountain peak.
पफाल च तदाक्रान्तं दशग्रीवस्य पश्यतः। पुरा हिमवतः शृङ्गं वज्रेणेव विदारितम्
He shattered that pinnacle, as Ravana watched, like a summit of the Himalayas split by a thunderbolt.
भङ्क्त्वा प्रासादशिखरं नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः। विनद्य सुमहानादमुत्पपात विहायसा
Breaking the palace's pinnacle and announcing his name, he roared loudly and leapt into the sky.
व्यथयन् राक्षसान् सर्वान् हर्षयंश्चापि वानरान्। स वानराणां मध्ये तु रामपार्श्वमुपागतः
Disturbing all the rakshasas and delighting the vanaras, he came among the monkeys to Rama's side.
रावणस्तु परं चक्रे क्रोधं प्रासादधर्षणात्। विनाशं चात्मनः पश्यन् निःश्वासपरमोऽभवत्
Ravana grew intensely angry at the assault on his palace, seeing his own destruction, and breathed heavily.
रामस्तु बहुभिर्हृष्टैर्विनदद्भिः प्लवङ्गमैः। वृतो रिपुवधाकाङ्क्षी युद्धायैवाभ्यवर्तत
Rama, surrounded by many jubilant, roaring monkeys, eager for the enemy's death, advanced for battle.