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.
आदिष्टा वानरेन्द्रेण सुग्रीवेण महात्मना। दश कोट्यः प्लवङ्गानां सर्वाः प्रस्थापिता दिशः
Commanded by the noble Sugriva, king of the monkeys, ten crores of Vanaras were dispatched in all directions.
तेषां नो विप्रकृष्टानां विन्ध्ये पर्वतसत्तमे। भृशं शोकाभितप्तानां महान् कालोऽत्यवर्तत
For those not far off, on the excellent Vindhya mountain, a great time passed, as they were deeply afflicted by sorrow.
भ्राता तु गृध्रराजस्य सम्पातिर्नाम वीर्यवान्। समाख्याति स्म वसतीं सीतां रावणमन्दिरे
The valiant brother of the king of vultures, named Sampati, revealed the dwelling place of Sita in Ravana's palace.
सोऽहं दुःखपरीतानां दुःखं तज्ज्ञातिनां नुदन्। आत्मवीर्यं समास्थाय योजनानां शतं प्लुतः। तत्राहमेकामद्राक्षमशोकवनिकां गताम्
I, dispelling the sorrow of those overwhelmed by grief, relying on my own strength, leapt a hundred yojanas; there I saw her, gone to the Ashoka grove.
कौशेयवस्त्रां मलिनां निरानन्दां दृढव्रताम्। तया समेत्य विधिवत् पृष्ट्वा सर्वमनिन्दिताम्
Clad in silk garments, soiled, joyless, steadfast in vow; having met her properly, I questioned her fully, blameless in every way.
अभिज्ञानं मया दत्तं रामनामाङ्गुलीयकम्। अभिज्ञानं मणिं लब्ध्वा चरितार्थोऽहमागतः
I gave her the token, Rama's signet ring; having received the token jewel, my purpose accomplished, I returned.
मया च पुनरागम्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। अभिज्ञानं मया दत्तमर्चिष्मान् स महामणिः
And having returned again, I gave the token, the radiant great jewel, to Rama, whose deeds are unblemished.
श्रुत्वा तां मैथिलीं रामस्त्वाशशंसे च जीवितम्। जीवितान्तमनुप्राप्तः पीत्वामृतमिवातुरः
Hearing the words of Maithilī, Rāma regained hope for life, as a sick man, having drunk nectar, returns from the brink of death.
उद्योजयिष्यन्नुद्योगं दध्रे लङ्कावधे मनः। जिघांसुरिव लोकान्ते सर्वाँल्लोकान् विभावसुः
Resolved to undertake the campaign, he set his mind on the destruction of Laṅkā, like Fire at the end of the world intent on consuming all beings.
ततः समुद्रमासाद्य नलं सेतुमकारयत्। अतरत् कपिवीराणां वाहिनी तेन सेतुना
Then, reaching the ocean, Nala built a bridge; by that bridge, the army of heroic monkeys crossed over.