स जगाम वनं वीरः प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन् । पितुर्वचननिर्देशात् कैकेय्याः प्रियकारणात् ॥१-१-
That hero went to the forest, fulfilling his vow, obeying his father's command, and for the sake of pleasing Kaikeyi.
तं व्रजन्तं प्रियो भ्राता लक्ष्मणोऽनुजगाम ह । स्नेहाद् विनयसम्पन्नः सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः ॥१-१-
His beloved brother Lakshmana followed him as he departed, out of affection, possessing humility, and increasing the joy of Sumitra.
भ्रातरं दयितो भ्रातुः सौभ्रात्रमनुदर्शयन् । रामस्य दयिता भार्या नित्यं प्राणसमा हिता ॥१-१-
Showing brotherly affection to his dear brother, Rama's beloved wife, always equal to his life and devoted to his welfare—
जनकस्य कुले जाता देवमायेव निर्मिता । सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्ना नारीणामुत्तमा वधूः ॥१-१-
Born in the house of Janaka, as if created by divine illusion, she was endowed with all auspicious marks, the foremost bride among women.
सीताप्यनुगता रामं शशिनं रोहिणी यथा । पौरैरनुगतो दूरं पित्रा दशरथेन च ॥१-१-
Sita too followed Rama, as Rohini follows the moon; he was accompanied for a long distance by the citizens and by his father Dasharatha.
शृङ्गवीरपुरे सूतं गङ्गाकूले व्यसर्जयत् । गुहमासाद्य धर्मात्मा निषादाधिपतिं प्रियम् ॥१-१-
In the city of Shringavera, he dismissed the charioteer on the banks of the Ganga, and met Guha, the righteous and beloved chief of the Nishadas.
गुहेन सहितो रामो लक्ष्मणेन च सीतया । ते वनेन वनङ्गत्वा नदीस्तीर्त्वा बहूदकाः ॥१-१-
Rama, together with Guha, Lakshmana, and Sita, entered the forest, crossing many rivers with abundant waters.
चित्रकूटमनुप्राप्य भरद्वाजस्य शासनात् । रम्यमावसथं कृत्वा रममाणा वने त्रयः ॥१-१-
Arriving at Chitrakuta by the instruction of Bharadvaja, the three made a pleasant dwelling and enjoyed themselves in the forest.
देवगन्धर्वसंकाशाः तत्र ते न्यवसन् सुखम् । चित्रकूटङ्गते रामे पुत्रशोकातुरस्तथा ॥१-१-
There, they lived happily, resembling gods and gandharvas; while Rama dwelled at Chitrakuta, his father was afflicted with grief for his son.
राजा दशरथस्स्वर्गं जगाम विलपन् सुतम् । गते तु तस्मिन् भरतो वसिष्ठप्रमुखैर्द्विजैः ॥१-१-
King Dasharatha went to heaven, lamenting for his son; after his departure, Bharata, urged by Vasishta and the foremost brahmins—
नियुज्यमानो राज्याय नैच्छत् राज्यं महाबलः । स जगाम वनं वीरो रामपादप्रसादकः ॥१-१-
Though appointed to the kingdom, the mighty Bharata did not desire to rule; that hero went to the forest, seeking the favor of Rama's feet.
गत्वा तु स महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् । अयाचद्भ्रातरं रामम् आर्यभावपुरस्कृतः ॥१-१-
Having gone to the great-souled Rama, steadfast in truth and valor, he requested his brother Rama, with reverence and noble conduct.
त्वमेव राजा धर्मज्ञ इति रामं वचोऽब्रवीत् । रामोऽपि परमोदारः सुमुखस्सुमहायशाः ॥१-१-
He spoke to Rama, saying, 'You alone are the king, knower of righteousness'; and Rama, supremely generous, gracious-faced, and of great fame—
न चैच्छत् पितुरादेशात् राज्यं रामो महाबलः । पादुके चास्य राज्याय न्यासं दत्त्वा पुनः पुनः ॥१-१-
But mighty Rāma, in obedience to his father's command, did not accept the kingdom; instead, he entrusted his sandals again and again for the rule.
निवर्तयामास ततो भरतं भरताग्रजः । स काममनवाप्यैव रामपादावुपस्पृशन् ॥१-१-
Then, the elder brother of Bharata persuaded Bharata to return; though his desire was unfulfilled, Bharata touched Rāma's feet.
नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद् राज्यं रामागमनकाङ्क्षया । गते तु भरते श्रीमान् सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः ॥१-१-
In Nandigrāma, the illustrious, truthful, and self-controlled Bharata ruled, awaiting Rāma's return.
रामस्तु पुनरालक्ष्य नागरस्य जनस्य च । तत्रागमनमेकाग्रो दण्डकान् प्रविवेश ह ॥१-१-
But Rāma, perceiving the coming of the townspeople, with focused mind, entered the Daṇḍaka forest.
प्रविश्य तु महारण्यं रामो राजीवलोचनः । विराधं राक्षसं हत्वा शरभङ्गं ददर्श ह ॥१-१-
Entering the great forest, lotus-eyed Rāma slew the demon Virādha and saw Śarabhaṅga.
सुतीक्ष्णं चाप्यगस्त्यं च अगस्त्यभ्रातरं तथा । अगस्त्यवचनाच्चैव जग्राहैन्द्रं शरासनम् ॥१-१-
He also met Sutikṣṇa, Agastya, and Agastya's brother; and by Agastya's word, he received Indra's bow.
खड्गञ्च परम प्रीतस्तूणी चाक्षयसायकौ । वसतस्तस्य रामस्य वने वनचरैः सह ॥१-१-
With great delight, he received a sword and inexhaustible quivers; while Rāma dwelled in the forest with the forest-dwellers.
ऋषयोऽभ्यागमन् सर्वे वधायासुररक्षसाम् । स तेषां प्रतिशुश्राव राक्षसानां तदा वने ॥१-१-
All the sages came to him, seeking the destruction of the demons and asuras; he promised them to destroy the demons in the forest.
प्रतिज्ञातश्च रामेण वधः संयति रक्षसाम् । ऋषीणामग्निकल्पानां दण्डकारण्यवासीनाम् ॥१-१-
Rāma vowed to slay the demons in battle, for the sake of the sages, who were like fire and dwelt in Daṇḍaka forest.
तेन तत्रैव वसता जनस्थाननिवासिनी । विरूपिता शूर्पणखा राक्षसी कामरूपिणी ॥१-१-
While he dwelled there, the demoness Śūrpaṇakhā, who could assume any form, was disfigured; she lived in Janasthāna.
ततः शूर्पणखावाक्यादुद्युक्तान् सर्वराक्षसान् । खरं त्रिशिरसं चैव दूषणं चैव राक्षसम् ॥१-१-
Then, at the words of Śūrpaṇakhā, all the demons, including Khara, Triśiras, and Dūṣaṇa, were roused to action.
निजघान रणे रामस्तेषां चैव पदानुगान् । वने तस्मिन् निवसता जनस्थाननिवासिनाम् ॥१-१-
Rāma slew them in battle, along with their followers, while dwelling in that forest among the inhabitants of Janasthāna.
रक्षसां निहतान्यासन् सहस्राणि चतुर्दश । ततो ज्ञातिवधं श्रुत्वा रावणः क्रोधमूर्छितः ॥१-१-
Fourteen thousand demons were slain; then, hearing of the slaughter of his kin, Rāvaṇa was seized by wrath.
सहायं वरयामास मारीचं नाम राक्षसम् । वार्यमाणः सुबहुशो मारीचेन स रावणः ॥१-१-
He sought as an ally the demon named Mārīca; though Mārīca tried to dissuade him repeatedly, Rāvaṇa did not heed.
न विरोधो बलवता क्षमो रावण तेन ते । अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं रावणः कालचोदितः ॥१-१-
Mārīca said to Rāvaṇa, 'It is not possible for you to oppose one so powerful'; but disregarding these words, Rāvaṇa, impelled by fate—
जगाम सहमारीचस्तस्याश्रमपदं तदा । तेन मायाविना दूरमपवाह्य नृपात्मजौ ॥१-१-
—went with Mārīca to that hermitage; by the trickster, the two princes were lured far away.
जहार भार्यां रामस्य गृध्रं हत्वा जटायुषम् । गृध्रञ्च निहतं दृष्ट्वा हृतां श्रुत्वा च मैथिलीम् ॥१-१-
He abducted Rāma's wife, having slain the vulture Jaṭāyu; seeing the vulture killed and hearing of Sītā's abduction—