राजन् मन्त्रितपूर्वं नः कुशलैः सह मन्त्रिभिः। विवादश्चापि नो वृत्तः समवेक्ष्य परस्परम्
O King, we have already deliberated with skilled counselors, and a discussion has taken place among us, considering each other’s views.
प्रदानेन तु सीतायाः श्रेयो व्यवसितं मया। अप्रदाने पुनर्युद्धं दृष्टमेव तथैव नः
I have determined that the best course is to return Sītā; if she is not returned, then battle is inevitable for us.
सोऽहं दानैश्च मानैश्च सततं पूजितस्त्वया। सान्त्वैश्च विविधैः काले किं न कुर्यां हितं तव
You have always honored me with gifts, respect, and various timely consolations; what would I not do for your good?
नहि मे जीवितं रक्ष्यं पुत्रदारधनानि च। त्वं पश्य मां जुहूषन्तं त्वदर्थे जीवितं युधि
My life, my sons, wife, and wealth are not to be protected for my own sake; see me, ready to lay down my life for you in battle.
एवमुक्त्वा तु भर्तारं रावणं वाहिनीपतिः। उवाचेदं बलाध्यक्षान् प्रहस्तः पुरतः स्थितान्
Having thus spoken to his lord Rāvaṇa, Prahasta, the commander, addressed the officers of the army who stood before him.
समानयत मे शीघ्रं राक्षसानां महाबलम्। मद्बाणानां तु वेगेन हतानां च रणाजिरे
Quickly assemble for me the mighty force of rākṣasas, those intoxicated with power and those who have fallen in battle on the field.
अद्य तृप्यन्तु मांसादाः पक्षिणः काननौकसाम्। तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा बलाध्यक्षा महाबलाः
Today let the flesh-eating birds of the forest-dwellers be satisfied; hearing these words, the mighty army officers—
बलमुद्योजयामासुस्तस्मिन् राक्षसमन्दिरे। सा बभूव मुहूर्तेन भीमैर्नानाविधायुधैः
Deployed the army in that rākṣasa palace; in a moment it was filled with fearsome warriors bearing many kinds of weapons.
लङ्का राक्षसवीरैस्तैर्गजैरिव समाकुला। हुताशनं तर्पयतां ब्राह्मणांश्च नमस्यताम्
Lanka was crowded with those rākṣasa heroes, like elephants; they offered oblations to fire and paid homage to the brāhmaṇas.
आज्यगन्धप्रतिवहः सुरभिर्मारुतो ववौ। स्रजश्च विविधाकारा जगृहुस्त्वभिमन्त्रिताः
A fragrant wind, carrying the scent of clarified butter, blew gently; and garlands of various forms, unblessed by mantras, were taken up.
संग्रामसज्जाः संहृष्टा धारयन् राक्षसास्तदा। सधनुष्काः कवचिनो वेगादाप्लुत्य राक्षसाः
Then the rakshasas, prepared for battle and delighted, bearing bows and clad in armor, swiftly leapt forward.
रावणं प्रेक्ष्य राजानं प्रहस्तं पर्यवारयन्। अथामन्त्र्य तु राजानं भेरीमाहत्य भैरवाम्
Seeing Ravana the king, they surrounded Prahasta; then, after addressing the king and striking the dreadful war drum—
आरुरोह रथं युक्तः प्रहस्तः सज्जकल्पितम्। हयैर्महाजवैर्युक्तं सम्यक्सूतं सुसंयतम्
Prahasta, fully equipped and ready, mounted his chariot, which was yoked with high-speed horses, well-driven and firmly controlled.
महाजलदनिर्घोषं साक्षाच्चन्द्रार्कभास्वरम्। उरगध्वजदुर्धर्षं सुवरूथं स्वपस्करम्
That chariot, thundering like a great cloud, shone like the sun and moon, was unassailable with the serpent-banner, adorned with golden armor and its own banner.
सुवर्णजालसंयुक्तं प्रहसन्तमिव श्रिया। ततस्तं रथमास्थाय रावणार्पितशासनः
It was decorated with golden mesh, radiant as if laughing with splendor; then, ascending that chariot, under Ravana’s command—
लङ्काया निर्ययौ तूर्णं बलेन महता वृतः। ततो दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः पर्जन्यनिनदोपमः। वादित्राणां च निनदः पूरयन्निव मेदिनीम्
He swiftly departed from Lanka, surrounded by a great army; then the sound of drums, like the roar of clouds, and the blare of instruments seemed to fill the earth.
शुश्रुवे शङ्खशब्दश्च प्रयाते वाहिनीपतौ। निनदन्तः स्वरान् घोरान् राक्षसा जग्मुरग्रतः
As the commander of the army set out, the sound of conches was heard; the rakshasas, roaring terrible notes, marched at the front.
भीमरूपा महाकायाः प्रहस्तस्य पुरःसराः। नरान्तकः कुम्भहनुर्महानादः समुन्नतः। प्रहस्तसचिवा ह्येते निर्ययुः परिवार्य तम्
Of terrifying form and immense size, Prahasta’s foremost warriors—Narāntaka, Kumbhahanur, Mahānāda, and Samunnata—his counselors, set out, surrounding him.
व्यूढेनैव सुघोरेण पूर्वद्वारात् स निर्ययौ। गजयूथनिकाशेन बलेन महता वृतः
With a fearsome, well-ordered formation, he went out through the eastern gate, surrounded by a mighty force resembling a herd of elephants.
सागरप्रतिमौघेन वृतस्तेन बलेन सः। प्रहस्तो निर्ययौ क्रुद्धः कालान्तकयमोपमः
Encircled by that army, surging like the ocean, Prahasta, enraged and resembling Death at the end of time, set forth.
तस्य निर्याणघोषेण राक्षसानां च नर्दताम्। लङ्कायां सर्वभूतानि विनेदुर्विकृतैः स्वरैः
At the sound of his departure and the roaring of the rakshasas, all creatures in Lanka wailed with strange voices.
व्यभ्रमाकाशमाविश्य मांसशोणितभोजनाः। मण्डलान्यपसव्यानि खगाश्चक्रू रथं प्रति
Birds that feed on flesh and blood, entering the cloudless sky, circled the chariot in counterclockwise omens.
वमन्त्यः पावकज्वालाः शिवा घोरा ववाशिरे। अन्तरिक्षात् पपातोल्का वायुश्च परुषं ववौ
Dreadful jackals howled, vomiting flames; a meteor fell from the sky, and the wind blew harshly.
अन्योन्यमभिसंरब्धा ग्रहाश्च न चकाशिरे। मेघाश्च खरनिर्घोषा रथस्योपरि रक्षसः
The planets, agitated against each other, did not shine; and clouds, with harsh thunder, gathered above the rakshasa’s chariot.
ववर्षू रुधिरं चास्य सिषिचुश्च पुरःसरान्। केतुमूर्धनि गृध्रस्तु विलीनो दक्षिणामुखः
They rained blood upon him and drenched his foremost warriors; a vulture, facing south, vanished into the banner atop his chariot.
नदन्नुभयतः पार्श्वं समग्रां श्रियमाहरत्। सारथेर्बहुशश्चास्य संग्राममवगाहतः
Crying out on both sides, it took away all his splendor; and the charioteer, though repeatedly entering the battle, was shaken.
प्रतोदो न्यपतद्धस्तात् सूतस्य हयसादिनः। निर्याणश्रीश्च या च स्याद् भास्वरा च सुदुर्लभा
The whip fell from the hand of the charioteer, the driver of the horses; and the radiant, exceedingly rare glory of departure was lost.
सा ननाश मुहूर्तेन समे च स्खलिता हयाः। प्रहस्तं तं हि निर्यान्तं प्रख्यातगुणपौरुषम्। युधि नानाप्रहरणा कपिसेनाभ्यवर्तत
In a moment she vanished, and the horses stumbled on the even ground; as Prahasta, renowned for his virtues and valor, set out, the monkey army, armed with many weapons, advanced to meet him in battle.
अथ घोषः सुतुमुलो हरीणां समजायत। वृक्षानारुजतां चैव गुर्वीर्वै गृह्णतां शिलाः
Then a tremendous uproar arose among the monkeys, as they tore up trees and seized massive rocks.
नदतां राक्षसानां च वानराणां च गर्जताम्। उभे प्रमुदिते सैन्ये रक्षोगणवनौकसाम्
The Rakshasas roared and the monkeys thundered; both armies, the hosts of Rakshasas and forest-dwelling monkeys, rejoiced.