यथासौ सम्प्रहृष्टानां वानराणामुपस्थितः। बहूनां सुमहान् नादो मेघानामिव गर्जताम्
Just as a great sound arises from many delighted monkeys assembled, like the rumbling of clouds—
सुव्यक्तं महती प्रीतिरेतेषां नात्र संशयः। तथाहि विपुलैर्नादैश्चुक्षुभे लवणार्णवः
It is clear there is great joy among them, there is no doubt; for even the ocean is agitated by their mighty cries.
तौ तु बद्धौ शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। अयं च सुमहान् नादः शङ्कां जनयतीव मे
Yet those two brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, are bound with sharp arrows, and this great noise gives rise to suspicion in me.
एवं च वचनं चोक्त्वा मन्त्रिणो राक्षसेश्वरः। उवाच नैर्ऋतांस्तत्र समीपपरिवर्तिनः
Having spoken thus, the lord of the rākṣasas addressed his ministers and those night-wanderers standing nearby.
ज्ञायतां तूर्णमेतेषां सर्वेषां च वनौकसाम्। शोककाले समुत्पन्ने हर्षकारणमुत्थितम्
Quickly find out the cause of this joy that has arisen among all these forest-dwellers at a time of sorrow.
तथोक्तास्ते सुसम्भ्रान्ताः प्राकारमधिरुह्य च। ददृशुः पालितां सेनां सुग्रीवेण महात्मना
Thus addressed, they, greatly agitated, ascended the rampart and saw the army guarded by the noble Sugriva.
तौ च मुक्तौ सुघोरेण शरबन्धेन राघवौ। समुत्थितौ महाभागौ विषेदुः सर्वराक्षसाः
And those two illustrious sons of Raghu, released from the dreadful binding of arrows, rose up, causing all the rakshasas to despair.
संत्रस्तहृदयाः सर्वे प्राकारादवरुह्य ते। विवर्णा राक्षसा घोरा राक्षसेन्द्रमुपस्थिताः
All those fierce rakshasas, their hearts terrified, descended from the rampart, pale-faced, and approached their lord of the rakshasas.
तदप्रियं दीनमुखा रावणस्य च राक्षसाः। कृत्स्नं निवेदयामासुर्यथावद् वाक्यकोविदाः
With distressed faces, the rakshasas faithfully reported all the unpleasant news to Ravana, skilled in speech.
यौ ताविन्द्रजिता युद्धे भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। निबद्धौ शरबन्धेन निष्प्रकम्पभुजौ कृतौ
Those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, whom Indrajit had bound in battle with a net of arrows, their arms unwavering, were made captive.
विमुक्तौ शरबन्धेन दृश्येते तौ रणाजिरे। पाशानिव गजौ छित्त्वा गजेन्द्रसमविक्रमौ
Now freed from the binding of arrows, those two are seen on the battlefield, like mighty elephants breaking their bonds, equal in valor to the lord of elephants.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां राक्षसेन्द्रो महाबलः। चिन्ताशोकसमाक्रान्तो विवर्णवदनोऽभवत्
Hearing their words, the powerful king of the rakshasas was seized by anxiety and grief, his face losing its color.
घोरैर्दत्तवरैर्बद्धौ शरैराशीविषोपमैः। अमोघैः सूर्यसंकाशैः प्रमथ्येन्द्रजिता युधि
Bound by dreadful arrows, granted as boons, resembling venomous serpents, unfailing and shining like the sun, they were struck by Indrajit in battle.
तदस्त्रबन्धमासाद्य यदि मुक्तौ रिपू मम। संशयस्थमिदं सर्वमनुपश्याम्यहं बलम्
If, having encountered the binding of those weapons, my enemies are now released, I see all my forces as standing in uncertainty.
निष्फलाः खलु संवृत्ताः शराः पावकतेजसः। आदत्तं यैस्तु संग्रामे रिपूणां जीवितं मम
Indeed, those arrows, blazing with the fire of battle, have proved fruitless, though they had taken the lives of my enemies in combat.
एवमुक्त्वा तु संक्रुद्धो निःश्वसन्नुरगो यथा। अब्रवीद् रक्षसां मध्ये धूम्राक्षं नाम राक्षसम्
Having spoken thus, enraged and breathing like a serpent, he addressed, in the midst of the rakshasas, a demon named Dhūmrākṣa.
बलेन महता युक्तो रक्षसां भीमविक्रम। त्वं वधायाशु निर्याहि रामस्य सह वानरैः
Endowed with great strength and terrifying valor among the rakshasas, you must quickly go forth to slay Rama along with the monkeys.
एवमुक्तस्तु धूम्राक्षो राक्षसेन्द्रेण धीमता। परिक्रम्य ततः शीघ्रं निर्जगाम नृपालयात्
Thus addressed by the wise king of the rakshasas, Dhūmrākṣa circumambulated him and swiftly departed from the royal palace.
अभिनिष्क्रम्य तद् द्वारं बलाध्यक्षमुवाच ह। त्वरयस्व बलं शीघ्रं किं चिरेण युयुत्सतः
Emerging at the gate, he spoke to the commander of the forces: 'Hasten the army quickly; why delay when eager for battle?'
धूम्राक्षवचनं श्रुत्वा बलाध्यक्षो बलानुगः। बलमुद्योजयामास रावणस्याज्ञया भृशम्
Hearing Dhūmrākṣa's command, the commander, following his lead, mobilized the army vigorously at Ravana's order.
ते बद्धघण्टा बलिनो घोररूपा निशाचराः। विनद्यमानाः संहृष्टा धूम्राक्षं पर्यवारयन्
Those powerful night-dwellers, fierce in form, with bells tied on, roaring joyfully, surrounded Dhūmrākṣa.
विविधायुधहस्ताश्च शूलमुद्गरपाणयः। गदाभिः पट्टिशैर्दण्डैरायसैर्मुसलैरपि
With various weapons in hand—spears, maces, clubs, iron rods, and pestles—they advanced.
परिघैर्भिन्दिपालैश्च भल्लैः पाशैः परश्वधैः। निर्ययू राक्षसा घोरा नर्दन्तो जलदा यथा
With iron bars, slings, arrows, nooses, axes, the fierce rakshasas marched out, roaring like thunderclouds.
रथैः कवचिनस्त्वन्ये ध्वजैश्च समलंकृतैः। सुवर्णजालविहितैः खरैश्च विविधाननैः
Others, wearing armor, rode in chariots adorned with banners and decorated with golden latticework, as well as on mules with various faces.
हयैः परमशीघ्रैश्च गजैश्चैव मदोत्कटैः। निर्ययुर्नैर्ऋतव्याघ्रा व्याघ्रा इव दुरासदाः
With horses of utmost swiftness and elephants fierce with rut, the night-stalking tigers set out, formidable as tigers and difficult to approach.
वृकसिंहमुखैर्युक्तं खरैः कनकभूषितैः। आरुरोह रथं दिव्यं धूम्राक्षः खरनिःस्वनः
Dhūmrākṣa, resounding with the cries of mules, ascended his divine chariot, yoked to mules adorned with golden ornaments and bearing the faces of wolves and lions.
स निर्यातो महावीर्यो धूम्राक्षो राक्षसैर्वृतः। हसन् वै पश्चिमद्वाराद्धनूमान् यत्र तिष्ठति
That mighty Dhūmrākṣa, surrounded by rākṣasas, set out laughing from the western gate, where Hanūmān was stationed.
रथप्रवरमास्थाय खरयुक्तं खरस्वनम्। प्रयान्तं तु महाघोरं राक्षसं भीमदर्शनम्
Mounting his foremost chariot, drawn by mules and resounding with their cries, that terrifying rākṣasa of dreadful appearance advanced.
अन्तरिक्षगताः क्रूराः शकुनाः प्रत्यषेधयन्। रथशीर्षे महाभीमो गृध्रश्च निपपात ह
Cruel birds moving through the sky obstructed him, and a great, fearsome vulture fell upon the head of his chariot.
ध्वजाग्रे ग्रथिताश्चैव निपेतुः कुणपाशनाः। रुधिरार्द्रो महान् श्वेतः कबन्धः पतितो भुवि
On the tip of his banner, bound together, fell lumps of flesh and stones; a great white headless trunk, drenched in blood, dropped to the ground.