एवमुक्ते तु वचसि रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। संघर्षमाणाः प्लवगाः सिंहनादैरनादयन्
When Rama, whose deeds are unblemished, had spoken these words, the vanaras, roaring like lions, raised a tumult as they clashed.
शिखरैर्विकिरामैतां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा। इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरियूथपाः
Let us scatter this Lanka with its peaks, or with our fists alone—so resolved all the leaders of the monkey troops.
उद्यम्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महान्ति शिखराणि च। तरूंश्चोत्पाट्य विविधांस्तिष्ठन्ति हरियूथपाः
Uplifting great mountain summits and various trees, the leaders of the monkeys stood ready.
प्रेक्षतो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य तान्यनीकानि भागशः। राघवप्रियकामार्थं लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा
Before the eyes of the king of the rakshasas, those divisions, intent on pleasing Raghava, then mounted Lanka.
ते ताम्रवक्त्रा हेमाभा रामार्थे त्यक्तजीविताः। लङ्कामेवाभ्यवर्तन्त सालभूधरयोधिनः
With coppery faces, shining like gold, those warriors who had staked their lives for Rama, armed with sala trees and mountain peaks, advanced upon Lanka.
ते द्रुमैः पर्वताग्रैश्च मुष्टिभिश्च प्लवंगमाः। प्राकाराग्राण्यसंख्यानि ममन्थुस्तोरणानि च
With trees, mountain tops, and their fists, the vanaras battered the countless ramparts and gateways.
परिखान् पूरयन्तश्च प्रसन्नसलिलाशयान्। पांसुभिः पर्वताग्रैश्च तृणैः काष्ठैश्च वानराः
Filling the clear-watered moats with earth, mountain peaks, grass, and wood, the vanaras pressed forward.
ततः सहस्रयूथाश्च कोटियूथाश्च यूथपाः। कोटियूथशताश्चान्ये लङ्कामारुरुहुस्तदा
Then, leaders of a thousand troops, of ten million troops, and others commanding a hundred million troops, mounted Lanka.
काञ्चनानि प्रमर्दन्तस्तोरणानि प्लवंगमाः। कैलासशिखराग्राणि गोपुराणि प्रमथ्य च
The vanaras crushed the golden gateways and, shattering the towers that resembled the peaks of Kailasa, pressed on.
आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः। लङ्कां तामभिधावन्ति महावारणसंनिभाः
Leaping, swimming, and roaring, the vanaras, resembling great elephants, rushed toward that Lanka.
जयत्युरुबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः
Victorious is mighty Rama, and Lakshmana, strong in battle; victorious is King Sugriva, protected by Raghava.
इत्येवं घोषयन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः। अभ्यधावन्त लङ्कायाः प्राकारं कामरूपिणः
Thus proclaiming and roaring, the vanaras, who could assume any form at will, rushed toward the rampart of Lanka.
वीरबाहुः सुबाहुश्च नलश्च पनसस्तथा। निपीड्योपनिविष्टास्ते प्राकारं हरियूथपाः। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे चक्रुः स्कन्धावारनिवेशनम्
Virabahu, Subahu, Nala, and also Panasa, those leaders of the monkeys, pressed and settled near the rampart; meanwhile, they established the encampment.
पूर्वद्वारं तु कुमुदः कोटिभिर्दशभिर्वृतः। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ हरिभिर्जितकाशिभिः
Kumuda, surrounded by ten million monkeys who had conquered fatigue, took up position at the eastern gate with his powerful force.
सहायार्थे तु तस्यैव निविष्टः प्रघसो हरिः। पनसश्च महाबाहुर्वानरैरभिसंवृतः
For his support, Praghasa the monkey took position, and the mighty-armed Panasa, surrounded by vanaras, also encamped there.
दक्षिणद्वारमासाद्य वीरः शतबलिः कपिः। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ विंशत्या कोटिभिर्वृतः
The heroic monkey Shatabali, reaching the southern gate, stood there in strength, surrounded by twenty crores of warriors.
सुषेणः पश्चिमद्वारं गत्वा तारापिता बली। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ कोटिकोटिभिरावृतः
Mighty Sushena, sent by Tara, went to the western gate and, powerful, stood there encircled by countless crores.
उत्तरद्वारमागम्य रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। आवृत्य बलवांस्तस्थौ सुग्रीवश्च हरीश्वरः
Rama, together with Saumitri, came to the northern gate, and there, along with Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, stood firm with his forces.
गोलाङ्गूलो महाकायो गवाक्षो भीमदर्शना। वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः
The great-bodied, dreadful-looking Golangula, Gavaksha of immense valor, stood by Rama’s side, surrounded by a crore.
ऋक्षाणां भीमकोपानां धूम्रः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। वृतः कोट्या महावीर्यस्तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः
Dhumra, destroyer of enemies, leader of the wrathful bears, stood by Rama’s side, surrounded by a crore, mighty in valor.
संनद्धस्तु महावीर्यो गदापाणिर्विभीषणः। वृतो यत्तैस्तु सचिवैस्तस्थौ यत्र महाबलः
Vibhishana, of great might, armed with a mace and fully armored, stood with his attentive ministers where the great army was.
गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः। समन्तात् परिधावन्तो ररक्षुर्हरिवाहिनीम्
Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, and Gandhamadana, running all around, protected the monkey army on every side.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। निर्याणं सर्वसैन्यानां द्रुतमाज्ञापयत् तदा
Then Ravana, lord of the night-walkers, his mind seized by anger, swiftly ordered the departure of all his troops.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यं रावणस्य मुखेरितम्। सहसा भीमनिर्घोषमुद्घुष्टं रजनीचरैः
Hearing these words spoken by Ravana, a sudden, terrifying roar arose from the night-walkers.
ततः प्रबोधिता भेर्यश्चन्द्रपाण्डुरपुष्कराः। हेमकोणैरभिहता राक्षसानां समन्ततः
Then the drums, pale as the moon and broad-faced, were sounded all around by the rakshasas, struck with golden sticks.
विनेदुश्च महाघोषाः शङ्खाः शतसहस्रशः। राक्षसानां सुघोराणां मुखमारुतपूरिताः
And conches, filling the air with dreadful sound, numbering in their hundreds of thousands, were blown by the fierce rakshasas, their mouths filled with wind.
ते बभुः शुभनीलाङ्गाः सशङ्खा रजनीचराः। विद्युन्मण्डलसंनद्धाः सबलाका इवाम्बुदाः
Those night-walkers, with beautiful dark limbs, bearing conches, adorned with circles of lightning, looked like rain clouds with lightning and streaks of cloud.
निष्पतन्ति ततः सैन्या हृष्टा रावणचोदिताः। समये पूर्यमाणस्य वेगा इव महोदधेः
Then, urged by Ravana, the delighted troops marched out, like the surging waves of the great ocean at the appointed time.
ततो वानरसैन्येन मुक्तो नादः समन्ततः। मलयः पूरितो येन ससानुप्रस्थकन्दरः
Then a roar arose on all sides from the monkey army, filling Mount Malaya with its peaks, slopes, and caves.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः सिंहनादस्तरस्विनाम्। पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं च सागरं चाभ्यनादयत्
The blare of conches and drums, the lion-roars of the swift, resounded across earth, sky, and sea.