thumb|षड्विंशत्यधिकशततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे युद्धकाण्डे षड्विंशत्यधिकशततमः सर्गः ॥६-
Listen now to the one hundred twenty-sixth sarga.
बहूनि नाम वर्षाणि गतस्य सुमहद्वनम्। शृणोम्यहं प्रीतिकरं मम नाथस्य कीर्तनम्
For many years, since he went to the great forest, I have longed to hear joyful news of my lord's fame.
कल्याणी बत गाथेयं लौकिकी प्रतिभाति माम्। एति जीवन्तमानन्दो नरं वर्षशतादपि
Truly, this ancient saying appears blessed to me: 'The joy of seeing a loved one alive surpasses even a hundred years.'
राघवस्य हरीणां च कथमासीत् समागमः। कस्मिन् देशे किमाश्रित्य तत्त्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः
How did the meeting of Raghava and the monkeys take place? In what land, and under what circumstances? Tell me the truth as I ask.
स पृष्टो राजपुत्रेण बृस्यां समुपवेशितः। आचचक्षे ततः सर्वं रामस्य चरितं वने
Thus questioned by the prince and seated on a fine seat, Hanuman then recounted all of Rama's deeds in the forest.
यथा प्रव्राजितो रामो मातुर्दत्तौ वरौ तव। यथा च पुत्रशोकेन राजा दशरथो मृतः
He told how Rama was exiled because of the two boons granted to your mother, and how King Dasharatha died from grief for his son.
यथा दूतैस्त्वमानीतस्तूर्णं राजगृहात् प्रभो। त्वयायोध्यां प्रविष्टेन यथा राज्यं न चेप्सितम्
He told how you, lord, were summoned swiftly from the royal palace by messengers, and how, upon entering Ayodhya, you did not desire the kingdom.
चित्रकूटगिरिं गत्वा राज्येनामित्रकर्शनः। निमन्त्रितस्त्वया भ्राता धर्ममाचरता सताम्
He told how, after going to Chitrakuta mountain, you, destroyer of foes, invited your brother, who was steadfast in righteousness, to accept the kingdom.
स्थितेन राज्ञो वचने यथा राज्यं विसर्जितम्। आर्यस्य पादुके गृह्य यथासि पुनरागतः
He told how, by obeying the king's command, you renounced the kingdom, and, taking the noble one's sandals, returned again.
सर्वमेतन्महाबाहो यथावद् विदितं तव। त्वयि प्रतिप्रयाते तु यद् वृत्तं तन्निबोध मे
All this, mighty-armed one, is already known to you; now hear from me what happened after you departed.
अपयाते त्वयि तदा समुद्भ्रान्तमृगद्विजम्। परिद्यूनमिवात्यर्थं तद् वनं समपद्यत
When you had gone, that forest, filled with clouds, deer, and birds, became exceedingly desolate and forlorn.
तद्धस्तिमृदितं घोरं सिंहव्याघ्रमृगाकुलम्। प्रविवेशाथ विजनं स महद् दण्डकावनम्
Then, that great Dandaka forest, dreadful and filled with elephants, lions, tigers, and deer, was entered by him, deserted and vast.
तेषां पुरस्ताद् बलवान् गच्छतां गहने वने। विनदन् सुमहानादं विराधः प्रत्यदृश्यत
As they, powerful, moved ahead through the dense forest, Viradha appeared before them, roaring with a terrible sound.
तमुत्क्षिप्य महानादमूर्ध्वबाहुमधोमुखम्। निखाते प्रक्षिपन्ति स्म नदन्तमिव कुञ्जरम्
Lifting him up, as he roared with arms raised and head lowered, they cast him into a pit, like an elephant bellowing.
तत् कृत्वा दुष्करं कर्म भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। सायाह्ने शरभङ्गस्य रम्यमाश्रममीयतुः
Having performed that difficult deed, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana, in the evening, went to the pleasant hermitage of Sharabhanga.
शरभङ्गे दिवं प्राप्ते रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। अभिवाद्य मुनीन् सर्वाञ्जनस्थानमुपागमत्
When Sharabhanga ascended to heaven, Rama, steadfast in truth and valor, after saluting all the sages, approached the place of the people.
पश्चाच्छूर्पणखा नाम रामपार्श्वमुपागता। ततो रामेण संदिष्टो लक्ष्मणः सहसोत्थितः
Afterwards, a woman named Shurpanakha came near Rama; then, at Rama's command, Lakshmana quickly rose up.
प्रगृह्य खड्गं चिच्छेद कर्णनासं महाबलः। चतुर्दश सहस्राणि रक्षसां भीमकर्मणाम्
Seizing his sword, the mighty Lakshmana cut off her ears and nose; fourteen thousand fierce and terrible rakshasas—
हतानि वसता तत्र राघवेण महात्मना। एकेन सह संगम्य रामेण रणमूर्धनि
—were slain there by the great-souled Raghava, while dwelling there, together with Rama, in the midst of battle.
अह्नश्चतुर्थभागेन निःशेषा राक्षसाः कृताः। महाबला महावीर्यास्तपसो विघ्नकारिणः
Within a fourth part of a day, the rakshasas, mighty and powerful, who were obstructers of asceticism, were utterly destroyed.
निहता राघवेणाजौ दण्डकारण्यवासिनः। राक्षसाश्च विनिष्पिष्टाः खरश्च निहतो रणे
The rakshasas dwelling in Dandaka forest were slain in battle by Raghava, and Khara was also killed in the fight.
दूषणं चाग्रतो हत्वा त्रिशिरास्तदनन्तरम्। ततस्तेनार्दिता बाला रावणं समुपागता
After killing Dushana first, then Trishira immediately after, those afflicted and weakened ones went to Ravana.
रावणानुचरो घोरो मारीचो नाम राक्षसः। लोभयामास वैदेहीं भूत्वा रत्नमयो मृगः
A dreadful rakshasa named Maricha, an attendant of Ravana, tempted Vaidehi by taking the form of a jewel-encrusted deer.
सा राममब्रवीद् दृष्ट्वा वैदेही गृह्यतामिति। अयं मनोहरः कान्त आश्रमो नो भविष्यति
Seeing it, Vaidehi said to Rama, 'Please capture this charming and lovely creature; our hermitage will not be beautiful without it.'
ततो रामो धनुष्पाणिर्मृगं तमनुधावति। स तं जघान धावन्तं शरेणानतपर्वणा
Then Rama, with bow in hand, pursued that deer; he struck it as it ran with a sharp, unfailing arrow.
अथ सौम्य दशग्रीवो मृगं याति तु राघवे। लक्ष्मणे चापि निष्क्रान्ते प्रविवेशाश्रमं तदा
Then, gentle one, when the deer went to Raghava and Lakshmana had gone out, the ten-headed one entered the hermitage at that time.
जग्राह तरसा सीतां ग्रहः खे रोहिणीमिव। त्रातुकामं ततो युद्धे हत्वा गृध्रं जटायुषम्
With force, he seized Sita, as the planet Graha seizes Rohini in the sky; wishing to protect her, the vulture Jatayu was slain in battle.
प्रगृह्य सहसा सीतां जगामाशु स राक्षसः। ततस्त्वद्भुतसंकाशाः स्थिताः पर्वतमूर्धनि
Having swiftly seized Sita, that rakshasa departed; then, wondrous beings stood on the mountain peak.
सीतां गृहीत्वा गच्छन्तं वानराः पर्वतोपमाः। ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्
As Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, went carrying Sita, the vanaras, mountain-like in form, saw him and were astonished.
ततः शीघ्रतरं गत्वा तद् विमानं मनोजवम्। आरुह्य सह वैदेह्या पुष्पकं स महाबलः
Then, swiftly approaching, that mighty one boarded the Pushpaka, the chariot swift as thought, together with Vaidehi.