स एवमुक्त्वा ज्वलनप्रकाशं रथं तुरंगोत्तमराजियुक्तम्। प्रकाशमानं वपुषा ज्वलन्तं समारुरोहामरराजशत्रुः
Having spoken thus, the enemy of the king of the gods, shining with the radiance of fire, ascended his chariot, yoked with the best of horses, resplendent in form and blazing in appearance.
स शङ्खभेरीपणवप्रणादै- रास्फोटितक्ष्वेडितसिंहनादैः । पुण्यैः स्तवैश्चापि सुपूज्यमान- स्तदा ययौ राक्षसराजमुख्यः
Then that foremost of the rakshasa kings set out, honored with auspicious hymns and praised, amid the sounds of conches, drums, and panavas, with shouts, clapping, whistling, and lion-roars.
स शैलजीमूतनिकाशरूपै- र्मांसाशनैः पावकदीप्तनेत्रैः। बभौ वृतो राक्षसराजमुख्यो भूतैर्वृतो रुद्र इवामरेशः
That chief of the rakshasa kings, surrounded by beings with forms like mountains and clouds, flesh-eating, with eyes blazing like fire, shone like Rudra, lord of immortals, encircled by spirits.
ततो नगर्याः सहसा महौजा निष्क्रम्य तद् वानरसैन्यमुग्रम्। महार्णवाभ्रस्तनितं ददर्श समुद्यतं पादपशैलहस्तम्
Then, the mighty one suddenly emerged from the city and saw that fierce army of monkeys, roaring like the thunder of a great ocean-cloud, with trees and mountain-peaks raised in their hands.
तद् राक्षसानीकमतिप्रचण्ड- मालोक्य रामो भुजगेन्द्रबाहुः। विभीषणं शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठ- मुवाच सेनानुगतः पृथुश्रीः
Seeing that exceedingly fierce army of rakshasas, Rama, whose arms were like the king of serpents, spoke to Vibhishana, the foremost of weapon-bearers, accompanied by his army and resplendent in glory.
नानापताकाध्वजछत्रजुष्टं प्रासासिशूलायुधशस्त्रजुष्टम्। कस्येदमक्षोभ्यमभीरुजुष्टं सैन्यं महेन्द्रोपमनागजुष्टम्
This army, adorned with various banners, flags, and parasols, equipped with spears, swords, lances, and other weapons, unshakable and fearless, like the army of Mahendra—whose is it?
ततस्तु रामस्य निशम्य वाक्यं विभीषणः शक्रसमानवीर्यः। शशंस रामस्य बलप्रवेकं महात्मनां राक्षसपुंगवानाम्
Then, hearing Rama's words, Vibhishana, equal in strength to Indra, described to Rama the foremost warriors among the mighty rakshasas and the leaders of their army.
योऽसौ गजस्कन्धगतो महात्मा नवोदितार्कोपमताम्रवक्त्रः। संकम्पयन्नागशिरोऽभ्युपैति ह्यकम्पनं त्वेनमवेहि राजन्
That great-souled one who rides on the elephant's back, whose face is coppery like the newly risen sun, who makes the elephant's head tremble as he approaches—know him, O king, as Akampana.
योऽसौ रथस्थो मृगराजकेतु- र्धुन्वन् धनुः शक्रधनुःप्रकाशम्। करीव भात्युग्रविवृत्तदंष्ट्रः स इन्द्रजिन्नाम वरप्रधानः
He who stands on the chariot, bearing the lion-banner, wielding a bow shining like Indra's rainbow, and who appears like an elephant with fierce, curved tusks—he is Indrajit, foremost among the chosen.
यश्चैष विन्ध्यास्तमहेन्द्रकल्पो धन्वी रथस्थोऽतिरथोऽतिवीरः। विस्फारयंश्चापमतुल्यमानं नाम्नातिकायोऽतिविवृद्धकायः
And he who is like Vindhya or Mahendra, an archer, standing on a chariot, a great warrior and hero, drawing a bow of incomparable strength—by name Atikaya, of exceedingly great body.
योऽसौ नवार्कोदितताम्रचक्षु- रारुह्य घण्टानिनदप्रणादम्। गजं खरं गर्जति वै महात्मा महोदरो नाम स एष वीरः
That great-souled one with eyes coppery as the newly risen sun, who has mounted the elephant Khara, roaring with the sound of bells—he is Mahodara, the mighty hero.
योऽसौ हयं काञ्चनचित्रभाण्ड- मारुह्य संध्याभ्रगिरिप्रकाशम्। प्रासं समुद्यम्य मरीचिनद्धं पिशाच एषोऽशनितुल्यवेगः
He who has mounted a horse adorned with golden trappings, shining like a mountain cloud at dusk, raising a spear bound with gold—this is Pisaca, swift as lightning.
यश्चैष शूलं निशितं प्रगृह्य विद्युत्प्रभं किंकरवज्रवेगम्। वृषेन्द्रमास्थाय शशिप्रकाश- मायाति योऽसौ त्रिशिरा यशस्वी
And he who, grasping a sharp spear shining like lightning, with the speed of Kimkara's thunderbolt, riding the lord of bulls and shining like the moon—he is the renowned Trisira.
असौ च जीमूतनिकाशरूपः कुम्भः पृथुव्यूढसुजातवक्षाः। समाहितः पन्नगराजकेतु- र्विस्फारयन् याति धनुर्विधुन्वन्
And that one, whose form is like a rain-cloud, is Kumbha, broad-chested and well-formed, intent, bearing the banner of the king of serpents, drawing and brandishing his bow.
यश्चैष जाम्बूनदवज्रजुष्टं दीप्तं सधूमं परिघं प्रगृह्य। आयाति रक्षोबलकेतुभूतो योऽसौ निकुम्भोऽद्भुतघोरकर्मा
And he who, wielding a blazing, smoking iron club adorned with gold and diamond, comes as the standard-bearer of the rakshasa forces—he is Nikumbha, of wondrous and terrible deeds.
यश्चैष चापासिशरौघजुष्टं पताकिनं पावकदीप्तरूपम्। रथं समास्थाय विभात्युदग्रो नरान्तकोऽसौ नगशृङ्गयोधी
And he who, equipped with bow, sword, and a multitude of arrows, riding a chariot adorned with banners, blazing like fire, appears fierce—he is Narantaka, the slayer of men, who fights with mountain peaks.
यश्चैष नानाविधघोररूपै- र्व्याघ्रोष्ट्रनागेन्द्रमृगाश्ववक्त्रैः । भूतैर्वृतो भाति विवृत्तनेत्रै- र्योऽसौ सुराणामपि दर्पहन्ता
And he who shines, surrounded by beings of various terrifying forms—tiger, camel, elephant, deer, and horse-faced—whose eyes are wide and who destroys the pride even of the gods.
यत्रैतदिन्दुप्रतिमं विभाति छत्रं सितं सूक्ष्मशलाकमग्र्यम्। अत्रैष रक्षोधिपतिर्महात्मा भूतैर्वृतो रुद्र इवावभाति
Where this white parasol, delicate and foremost, shines like the moon, there stands the great-souled lord of the rakshasas, surrounded by beings, radiant like Rudra.
असौ किरीटी चलकुण्डलास्यो नगेन्द्रविन्ध्योपमभीमकायः। महेन्द्रवैवस्वतदर्पहन्ता रक्षोधिपः सूर्य इवावभाति
He, crowned and with moving earrings, whose terrifying body rivals the Himalayas and Vindhyas, who humbles the pride of Indra and Yama, the lord of the rakshasas, shines like the sun.
प्रत्युवाच ततो रामो विभीषणमरिंदमः। अहो दीप्तमहातेजा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः
Then Rama, the destroyer of foes, spoke to Vibhishana: 'Ah! Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, possesses blazing, immense energy.'
आदित्य इव दुष्प्रेक्ष्यो रश्मिभिर्भाति रावणः। न व्यक्तं लक्षये ह्यस्य रूपं तेजःसमावृतम्
Ravana shines with rays, difficult to gaze upon like the sun; I cannot clearly discern his form, for it is enveloped in brilliance.
देवदानववीराणां वपुर्नैवंविधं भवेत्। यादृशं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वपुरेतद् विराजते
The form of the rakshasa king, which shines here, is not found among the heroes of gods or demons.
सर्वे पर्वतसंकाशाः सर्वे पर्वतयोधिनः। सर्वे दीप्तायुधधरा योधास्तस्य महात्मनः
All his warriors are mountain-like, all are mountain-fighters, all bear blazing weapons, those warriors of the great-souled one.
विभाति रक्षोराजोऽसौ प्रदीप्तैर्भीमदर्शनैः। भूतैः परिवृतस्तीक्ष्णैर्देहवद्भिरिवान्तकः
That king of the rakshasas shines, surrounded by fierce, terrifying beings, blazing like Death himself with embodied forms.
दिष्ट्यायमद्य पापात्मा मम दृष्टिपथं गतः। अद्य क्रोधं विमोक्ष्यामि सीताहरणसम्भवम्
By fortune, this evil-souled one has today come within my sight; today I will release the anger born from Sita's abduction.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो रामो धनुरादाय वीर्यवान्। लक्ष्मणानुचरस्तस्थौ समुद्धृत्य शरोत्तमम्
Having spoken thus, Rama, mighty in valor, took up his bow, and, accompanied by Lakshmana, stood ready, having drawn forth the finest arrow.
ततः स रक्षोधिपतिर्महात्मा रक्षांसि तान्याह महाबलानि। द्वारेषु चर्यागृहगोपुरेषु सुनिर्वृतास्तिष्ठत निर्विशङ्काः
Then the great-souled lord of the rakshasas addressed those powerful rakshasas: 'Remain secure and untroubled at the gates, in the guardhouses, and at the towers.'
इहागतं मां सहितं भवद्भि- र्वनौकसश्छिद्रमिदं विदित्वा। शून्यां पुरीं दुष्प्रसहां प्रमथ्य प्रधर्षयेयुः सहसा समेताः
'Knowing that I have arrived here together with you forest-dwellers, they may suddenly attack this empty, hard-to-conquer city, having discovered its weakness.'
विसर्जयित्वा सचिवांस्ततस्तान् गतेषु रक्षःसु यथानियोगम्। व्यदारयद् वानरसागरौघं महाझषः पूर्णमिवार्णवौघम्
After dismissing his ministers, and when the rakshasas had departed as ordered, he tore through the ocean-like mass of monkeys like a great fish through a full sea.
तमापतन्तं सहसा समीक्ष्य दीप्तेषुचापं युधि राक्षसेन्द्रम्। महत् समुत्पाट्य महीधराग्रं दुद्राव रक्षोधिपतिं हरीशः
Seeing the rakshasa king rushing swiftly in battle, with blazing arrows and bow, the monkey lord uprooted a great mountain peak and charged at the lord of the rakshasas.