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—'
मन्निमित्तमनार्येण समरेऽद्य निपातितौ। भैरवो हि महान् नादो राक्षसानां श्रुतो मया
'For my sake, have been struck down in battle by this ignoble one today; for I have heard a terrible, great sound from the Rākṣasas.'
बहूनामिह हृष्टानां तथा विक्रोशतां प्रियम्। अहो धिङ्मन्निमित्तोऽयं विनाशो राजपुत्रयोः
'From many here, exulting and crying out in joy; alas, this destruction of the royal princes is because of me.'
अथवा पुत्रशोकेन अहत्वा रामलक्ष्मणौ। विधमिष्यति मां रौद्रो राक्षसः पापनिश्चयः
'Or else, tormented by grief for his sons, without having killed Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, this fierce Rākṣasa, intent on evil, will slay me.'
हनूमतस्तु तद् वाक्यं न कृतं क्षुद्रया मया। यद्यहं तस्य पृष्ठेन तदायासमनिर्जिता
'But Hanumān's advice was not followed by me, wretched as I am; if I had mounted his back, I would not have suffered this distress.'
नाद्यैवमनुशोचेयं भर्तुरङ्कगता सती। मन्ये तु हृदयं तस्याः कौसल्यायाः फलिष्यति
'I would not now be lamenting thus, seated on my husband's lap; but I think the heart of Kausalyā will bear fruit.'
एकपुत्रा यदा पुत्रं विनष्टं श्रोष्यते युधि। सा हि जन्म च बाल्यं च यौवनं च महात्मनः
'When she, having only one son, hears that her son has perished in battle, she will recall, weeping, his birth, childhood, and youth, that great-souled one.'
धर्मकार्याणि रूपं च रुदती संस्मरिष्यति। निराशा निहते पुत्रे दत्त्वा श्राद्धमचेतना
'She will remember his righteous deeds and his form, weeping; bereft of hope, with her son slain, having offered the funeral rites, she will become insensible.'
अग्निमावेक्ष्यते नूनमपो वापि प्रवेक्ष्यति। धिगस्तु कुब्जामसतीं मन्थरां पापनिश्चयाम्
Surely she will look to enter the fire or plunge into water; shame on that hunchbacked, unfaithful Manthara, whose mind is set on evil.
यन्निमित्तमिमं शोकं कौसल्या प्रतिपत्स्यते। इत्येवं मैथिलीं दृष्ट्वा विलपन्तीं तपस्विनीम्
Because of whom Kausalya will suffer this grief—thus, seeing Maithili, the ascetic, lamenting in this way—
रोहिणीमिव चन्द्रेण बिना ग्रहवशं गताम्। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तस्य अमात्यः शीलवान् शुचिः
Like Rohini, seized by a planet, left without the moon—at that moment, his virtuous and pure-minded minister,