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.
लोकपाला हि चत्वारः क्रुद्धेनानेन निर्जिताः। बहवः शत्रवश्चान्ये संयुगेष्वभिपातिताः
For the four guardians of the world have been defeated by this one in his wrath, and many other enemies have been struck down by him in battle.
त्रिषु लोकेषु रत्नानि भुङ्क्ते आहृत्य रावणः। विक्रमे च बले चैव नास्त्यस्य सदृशो भुवि
Rāvaṇa enjoys the jewels of the three worlds, having seized them; in valor and strength, there is no one like him on earth.
तेषां संजल्पमानानामशोकवनिकां गताम्। अभिदुद्राव वैदेहीं रावणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
As they were conversing thus, Rāvaṇa, overcome by anger, rushed toward Vaidehī, who had gone to the Aśoka grove.
वार्यमाणः सुसंक्रुद्धः सुहृद्भिर्हितबुद्धिभिः। अभ्यधावत संक्रुद्धः खे ग्रहो रोहिणीमिव
Though restrained by well-meaning friends, greatly enraged, he charged forward in his fury, like a planet seizing Rohiṇī in the sky.
मैथिली रक्ष्यमाणा तु राक्षसीभिरनिन्दिता। ददर्श राक्षसं क्रुद्धं निस्त्रिंशवरधारिणम्
Maithilī, blameless, being guarded by Rākṣasī women, saw the furious Rākṣasa armed with a shining sword.
तं निशम्य सनिस्त्रिंशं व्यथिता जनकात्मजा। निवार्यमाणं बहुशः सुहृद्भिरनिवर्तिनम्
Hearing the sound of the sword, Janaka's daughter, distressed, saw him being repeatedly restrained by friends, yet not turning back.
सीता दुःखसमाविष्टा विलपन्तीदमब्रवीत्। यथायं मामभिक्रुद्धः समभिद्रवति स्वयम्
Sītā, overwhelmed by sorrow, lamenting, spoke these words: 'As this one, enraged, rushes toward me himself—'
वधिष्यति सनाथां मामनाथामिव दुर्मतिः। बहुशश्चोदयामास भर्तारं मामनुव्रताम्
'This wicked one will kill me, though I have a protector, as if I were without one; many times I urged my husband, to whom I am devoted.'
भार्या मम भवस्वेति प्रत्याख्यातो ध्रुवं मया। सोऽयं मामनुपस्थाने व्यक्तं नैराश्यमागतः
'He must have refused me, saying, "Be my wife"; so now, in my husband's absence, he has clearly fallen into despair.'
क्रोधमोहसमाविष्टो व्यक्तं मां हन्तुमुद्यतः। अथवा तौ नरव्याघ्रौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
'Overcome by anger and delusion, he is clearly intent on killing me; or perhaps those two tigers among men, the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—'