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.
प्रविवेश तदा लङ्कां रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। तां सुवर्णपरिष्कारे शुभे महति वेश्मनि
At that time, Ravana, lord of the Rakshasas, entered Lanka, that splendid great palace adorned with gold.
प्रवेश्य मैथिलीं वाक्यैः सान्त्वयामास रावणः। तृणवद् भाषितं तस्य तं च नैर्ऋतपुङ्गवम्
Having brought Maithili inside, Ravana tried to soothe her with words; but she regarded his speech as mere straw, and that foremost of the demons likewise.
अचिन्तयन्ती वैदेही ह्यशोकवनिकां गता। न्यवर्तत तदा रामो मृगं हत्वा तदा वने
Vaidehi, paying no heed, went to the Ashoka grove; meanwhile, Rama, having slain the deer in the forest, turned back.
निवर्तमानः काकुत्स्थो दृष्ट्वा गृध्रं स विव्यथे। गृध्रं हतं तदा दृष्ट्वा रामः प्रियतरं पितुः
As Kakutstha was returning, he saw the vulture and was distressed; seeing the vulture slain, Rama grieved for one dearer than his own father.
मार्गमाणस्तु वैदेहीं राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। गोदावरीमनुचरन् वनोद्देशांश्च पुष्पितान्
Raghava, searching for Vaidehi with Lakshmana, wandered along the Godavari and through blossoming regions of the forest.
आसेदतुर्महारण्ये कबन्धं नाम राक्षसम्। ततः कबन्धवचनाद् रामः सत्यपराक्रमः
In the great forest, they encountered Kabandha, a Rakshasa by name; then, by Kabandha's words, Rama, whose valor is true, acted.
ऋष्यमूकगिरिं गत्वा सुग्रीवेण समागतः। तयोः समागमः पूर्वं प्रीत्या हार्दो व्यजायत
Going to the mountain Rishyamuka, he met Sugriva; their meeting at first brought forth heartfelt affection.
भ्रात्रा निरस्तः क्रुद्धेन सुग्रीवो वालिना पुरा। इतरेतरसंवादात् प्रगाढः प्रणयस्तयोः
Sugriva, formerly cast out by his angry brother Vali, formed a deep bond of friendship with Rama through mutual conversation.
रामः स्वबाहुवीर्येण स्वराज्यं प्रत्यपादयत्। वालिनं समरे हत्वा महाकायं महाबलम्
Rama, by the strength of his own arms, restored Sugriva's kingdom, having slain Vali, the mighty and great-bodied one, in battle.
सुग्रीवः स्थापितो राज्ये सहितः सर्ववानरैः। रामाय प्रतिजानीते राजपुत्र्यास्तु मार्गणम्
Sugriva was established in the kingship, accompanied by all the Vanaras; he pledged to Rama to search for the princess.