अद्य नैर्ऋतकन्यानां श्रोष्याम्यन्तःपुरे रवम्। करेणुसङ्घस्य यथा निनादं गिरिगह्वरे
Today, within the inner chambers, I shall hear the wailing of the daughters of Nirriti, like the trumpeting of a herd of female elephants in a mountain cave.
यौवराज्यं च लङ्कां च रक्षांसि च परंतप। मातरं मां च भार्याश्च क्व गतोऽसि विहाय नः
The heir-apparency, Lanka, the rakshasas, your mother, myself, and your wives—where have you gone, abandoning us?
मम नाम त्वया वीर गतस्य यमसादनम्। प्रेतकार्याणि कार्याणि विपरीते हि वर्तसे
O hero, now that you have gone to the abode of Yama, the rites for the dead must be performed for you; truly, you dwell in a reversed state.
स त्वं जीवति सुग्रीवे लक्ष्मणे च सराघवे। मम शल्यमनुद्धृत्य क्व गतोऽसि विहाय नः
While Sugriva, Lakshmana, and Rama are still alive, where have you gone, leaving us, without removing the thorn from my heart?
एवमादिविलापार्तं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्। आविवेश महान् कोपः पुत्रव्यसनसम्भवः
As Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, was thus tormented by grief and lamenting, a great wrath arose in him, born of his son's calamity.
प्रकृत्या कोपनं ह्येनं पुत्रस्य पुनराधयः। दीप्तं संदीपयामासुर्घर्मेऽर्कमिव रश्मयः
By nature prone to anger, his son's death further inflamed him, as the rays intensify the blazing sun in the heat.
ललाटे भ्रुकुटीभिश्च संगताभिर्व्यरोचत। युगान्ते सह नक्रैस्तु महोर्मिभिरिवोदधिः
With furrowed brows gathered on his forehead, he shone like the ocean at the end of an age, surging with great waves and crocodiles.
कोपाद् विजृम्भमाणस्य वक्त्राद् व्यक्तमिव ज्वलन्। उत्पपात सधूमाग्निर्वृत्रस्य वदनादिव
From his face, as his anger swelled, fire with smoke seemed to burst forth, like the flame from Vritra's mouth.
स पुत्रवधसंतप्तः शूरः क्रोधवशं गतः। समीक्ष्य रावणो बुद्ध्या वैदेह्या रोचयद् वधम्
Tormented by his son's death, the warrior, overcome by wrath, Ravana, considering with his mind, resolved upon the killing of Vaidehi.
तस्य प्रकृत्या रक्ते च रक्ते क्रोधाग्निनापि च। रावणस्य महाघोरे दीप्ते नेत्रे बभूवतुः
In Ravana, whose nature was fierce and whose eyes were reddened by the fire of anger, both eyes became terribly inflamed.
घोरं प्रकृत्या रूपं तत् तस्य क्रोधाग्निमूर्च्छितम्। बभूव रूपं क्रुद्धस्य रुद्रस्येव दुरासदम्
His form, by nature dreadful and now charged with the fire of wrath, became as unapproachable as that of Rudra in his fury.
तस्य क्रुद्धस्य नेत्राभ्यां प्रापतन्नश्रुबिन्दवः। दीपाभ्यामिव दीप्ताभ्यां सार्चिषः स्नेहबिन्दवः
From his angry eyes fell drops of tears, like drops of oil falling from two blazing lamps with flames.
दन्तान् विदशतस्तस्य श्रूयते दशनस्वनः। यन्त्रस्याकृष्यमाणस्य मथ्नतो दानवैरिव
As he ground his teeth, the sound of his jaws was heard, like the noise of a machine being pulled and churned by demons.
कालाग्निरिव संक्रुद्धो यां यां दिशमवैक्षत। तस्यां तस्यां भयत्रस्ता राक्षसाः संविलिल्यिरे
Enraged like the fire of destruction, whichever direction he looked, in that very direction the terrified rākṣasas melted away in fear.
तमन्तकमिव क्रुद्धं चराचरचिखादिषुम्। वीक्षमाणं दिशः सर्वा राक्षसा नोपचक्रमुः
Seeing him, furious like Death itself, eager to devour all beings, the rākṣasas did not approach him as he gazed in every direction.
ततः परमसंक्रुद्धो रावणो राक्षसाधिपः। अब्रवीद् रक्षसां मध्ये संस्तम्भयिषुराहवे
Then, exceedingly enraged, Rāvaṇa, lord of the rākṣasas, spoke among the rākṣasas, wishing to steady them in battle.
मया वर्षसहस्राणि चरित्वा परमं तपः। तेषु तेष्ववकाशेषु स्वयंभूः परितोषितः
For thousands of years I performed the highest austerity; in every place, the Self-born was pleased with me.
तस्यैव तपसो व्युष्ट्या प्रसादाच्च स्वयंभुवः। नासुरेभ्यो न देवेभ्यो भयं मम कदाचन
By the fruition of that very austerity and the favor of the Self-born, I have no fear at any time from asuras or from gods.
कवचं ब्रह्मदत्तं मे यदादित्यसमप्रभम्। देवासुरविमर्देषु न च्छिन्नं वज्रमुष्टिभिः
The armor given to me by Brahmā, shining like the sun, was never broken by thunderbolts or fists in battles between gods and asuras.
तेन मामद्य संयुक्तं रथस्थमिह संयुगे। प्रतीयात् कोऽद्य मामाजौ साक्षादपि पुरंदरः
Who today, with me thus equipped and standing on my chariot in this battle, could face me in combat—even Purandara himself?
यत् तदाभिप्रसन्नेन सशरं कार्मुकं महत्। देवासुरविमर्देषु मम दत्तं स्वयंभुवा
That great bow with arrows, which was given to me by the Self-born when he was well pleased, in the battles of gods and asuras—
अद्य तूर्यशतैर्भीमं धनुरुत्थाप्यतां मम। रामलक्ष्मणयोरेव वधाय परमाहवे
Let my dreadful bow be raised today with hundreds of war-drums, for the destruction of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in this supreme battle.
स पुत्रवधसंतप्तः क्रूरः क्रोधवशं गतः। समीक्ष्य रावणो बुद्ध्या सीतां हन्तुं व्यवस्यत
Tormented by his son's death, cruel and overcome by anger, Rāvaṇa, reflecting with his mind, resolved to kill Sītā.
प्रत्यवेक्ष्य तु ताम्राक्षः सुघोरो घोरदर्शनः। दीनो दीनस्वरान् सर्वांस्तानुवाच निशाचरान्
Then, that red-eyed, exceedingly terrifying and fearsome-looking Rāvaṇa, dejected, addressed all those night-stalkers in a sorrowful voice.
मायया मम वत्सेन वञ्चनार्थं वनौकसाम्। किंचिदेव हतं तत्र सीतेयमिति दर्शितम्
By my magic, for the sake of deceiving the forest-dwellers, only a little was killed there, and it was shown as if this was Sītā.
तदिदं तथ्यमेवाहं करिष्ये प्रियमात्मनः। वैदेहीं नाशयिष्यामि क्षत्रबन्धुमनुव्रताम्
Now I will truly do what pleases me: I will destroy Vaidehī, who is devoted to her warrior husband.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा सचिवान् खड्गमाशु परामृशत्। उद्धृत्य गुणसम्पन्नं विमलाम्बरवर्चसम्
Having spoken thus to his counselors, he quickly grasped his sword, splendid with excellent qualities and a spotless, radiant blade.
निष्पपात स वेगेन सभार्यः सचिवैर्वृतः। रावणः पुत्रशोकेन भृशमाकुलचेतनः
Rāvaṇa, his mind greatly disturbed by grief for his son, descended swiftly, surrounded by his wife and counselors.
संक्रुद्धः खड्गमादाय सहसा यत्र मैथिली। व्रजन्तं राक्षसं प्रेक्ष्य सिंहनादं विचुक्रुशुः
Enraged, sword in hand, he went at once to where Maithilī was; seeing the rākṣasa approaching, they cried out with lion-roars.
ऊचुश्चान्योन्यमालिङ्ग्य संक्रुद्धं प्रेक्ष्य राक्षसम्। अद्यैनं तावुभौ दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरौ प्रव्यथिष्यतः
They spoke to each other, embracing, as they saw the enraged Rākṣasa; today, seeing these two brothers, he will be shaken.