व्यचरन् दण्डकारण्यमृषिमांसानि भक्षयन्। विश्वामित्रोऽथ धर्मात्मा मद्वित्रस्तो महामुनिः
I wandered the Daṇḍaka forest, eating the flesh of sages; then Viśvāmitra, the righteous great sage, terrified of me—
स्वयं गत्वा दशरथं नरेन्द्रमिदमब्रवीत्। अयं रक्षतु मां रामः पर्वकाले समाहितः
Went himself to King Daśaratha and said this: 'Let Rāma protect me, intent, at the time of sacrifice.'
मारीचान्मे भयं घोरं समुत्पन्नं नरेश्वर। इत्येवमुक्तो धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा
'O king, a terrible fear of Mārīca has arisen in me.' Thus addressed, the righteous King Daśaratha at that time—
प्रत्युवाच महाभागं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। ऊनद्वादशवर्षोऽयमकृतास्त्रश्च राघवः
Replied to the illustrious Viśvāmitra, the great sage: 'This Rāghava is not yet twelve years old and untrained in arms.'
कामं तु मम तत् सैन्यं मया सह गमिष्यति। बलेन चतुरङ्गेण स्वयमेत्य निशाचरम्
'Indeed, my army will go with me; with my fourfold force, I myself will come against the night-stalker.'
वधिष्यामि मुनिश्रेष्ठ शत्रुं तव यथेप्सितम्। एवमुक्तः स तु मुनी राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
'I will slay your enemy, best of sages, as you desire.' Thus addressed, the sage spoke to the king as follows:
रामान्नान्यद् बलं लोके पर्याप्तं तस्य रक्षसः। देवतानामपि भवान् समरेष्वभिपालकः
There is no other force in the world, apart from Rāma, sufficient against that Rākṣasa; even among the gods, you are the protector in battles.
आसीत् तव कृतं कर्म त्रिलोकविदितं नृप। काममस्ति महत् सैन्यं तिष्ठत्विह परंतप
The deed you performed, O king, is renowned throughout the three worlds; though you have a great army, let it remain here, O scorcher of foes.
बालोऽप्येष महातेजाः समर्थस्तस्य निग्रहे। गमिष्ये राममादाय स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु परंतप
Even though he is a boy, this one of great brilliance is capable of restraining him; I will go, taking Rāma with me—may you fare well, O subduer of enemies.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा स मुनिस्तमादाय नृपात्मजम्। जगाम परमप्रीतो विश्वामित्रः स्वमाश्रमम्
Having spoken thus, the sage, exceedingly pleased, took the prince and departed for his own hermitage.
तं तथा दण्डकारण्ये यज्ञमुद्दिश्य दीक्षितम्। बभूवोपस्थितो रामश्चित्रं विस्फारयन् धनुः
There, in the Daṇḍaka forest, Rāma stood ready, having undertaken the vow for the sacrifice, wondrously stringing his bow.
अजातव्यञ्जनः श्रीमान् बालः श्यामः शुभेक्षणः। एकवस्त्रधरो धन्वी शिखी कनकमालया
Unmarked by beard, radiant, a dark-complexioned boy with auspicious eyes, wearing a single garment, carrying a bow, with a topknot adorned with a golden garland.
शोभयन् दण्डकारण्यं दीप्तेन स्वेन तेजसा। अदृश्यत तदा रामो बालचन्द्र इवोदितः
Illuminating the Daṇḍaka forest with his own blazing splendor, Rāma appeared then like the newly risen young moon.
ततोऽहं मेघसंकाशस्तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलः। बली दत्तवरो दर्पादाजगामाश्रमान्तरम्
Then I, dark as a cloud, wearing blazing golden earrings, strong and proud from the boon I had received, entered the hermitage.
तेन दृष्टः प्रविष्टोऽहं सहसैवोद्यतायुधः। मां तु दृष्ट्वा धनुः सज्यमसम्भ्रान्तश्चकार ह
As I entered, he saw me, weapon in hand; seeing me, he calmly readied his bow, without any confusion.
अवजानन्नहं मोहाद् बालोऽयमिति राघवम्। विश्वामित्रस्य तां वेदिमभ्यधावं कृतत्वरः
Out of delusion, I scorned Rāghava, thinking, 'He is just a boy,' and, hastening, I rushed toward Viśvāmitra’s sacrificial altar.
तेन मुक्तस्ततो बाणः शितः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। तेनाहं ताडितः क्षिप्तः समुद्रे शतयोजने
Then, a sharp arrow, released by him, destroyer of enemies, struck me and hurled me a hundred yojanas into the sea.
नेच्छता तात मां हन्तुं तदा वीरेण रक्षितः। रामस्य शरवेगेन निरस्तो भ्रान्तचेतनः
He did not wish to kill me then, O father, but protected me; driven away by Rāma’s arrow’s force, I lost consciousness.
पातितोऽहं तदा तेन गम्भीरे सागराम्भसि। प्राप्य संज्ञां चिरात् तात लङ्कां प्रति गतः पुरीम्
Then I was cast into the deep ocean by him; regaining consciousness after a long time, O father, I went to the city of Laṅkā.
एवमस्मि तदा मुक्तः सहायास्ते निपातिताः। अकृतास्त्रेण रामेण बालेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
Thus I was spared at that time, but your allies were slain by Rāma, though he was a boy, unwearied in action and unused to weapons.
तन्मया वार्यमाणस्तु यदि रामेण विग्रहम्। करिष्यस्यापदां घोरां क्षिप्रं प्राप्य न शिष्यसि
Therefore, if you, despite my warning, engage in conflict with Rāma, you will quickly meet with terrible calamities and will not survive.
क्रीडारतिविधिज्ञानां समाजोत्सवदर्शिनाम्। रक्षसां चैव संतापमनर्थं चाहरिष्यसि
You will bring grief and disaster upon the Rākṣasas, who are skilled in games, pleasures, and festivities, and who witness assemblies and celebrations.
हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधां नानारत्नविभूषिताम्। द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं पुरीं लङ्कां विनष्टां मैथिलीकृते
You will see the city of Laṅkā, crowded with mansions and palaces, adorned with various jewels, destroyed for the sake of Maithilī.
अकुर्वन्तोऽपि पापानि शुचयः पापसंश्रयात्। परपापैर्विनश्यन्ति मत्स्या नागह्रदे यथा
Even those who do not commit sins, being pure, perish through association with the wicked—just as fish perish in a serpent-infested pool.
दिव्यचन्दनदिग्धाङ्गान् दिव्याभरणभूषितान्। द्रक्ष्यस्यभिहतान् भूमौ तव दोषात् तु राक्षसान्
You will see the demons, adorned with divine sandalwood and decorated with celestial ornaments, struck down upon the ground because of your fault.
हृतदारान् सदारांश्च दश विद्रवतो दिशः। हतशेषानशरणान् द्रक्ष्यसि त्वं निशाचरान्
You will see the night-wanderers, their wives taken, some with their wives fleeing in all directions, and the survivors, helpless and without refuge.
शरजालपरिक्षिप्तामग्निज्वालासमावृताम्। प्रदग्धभवनां लङ्कां द्रक्ष्यसि त्वमसंशयम्
You will surely see Lanka, surrounded by volleys of arrows and enveloped in flames, its buildings burned.
परदाराभिमर्शात् तु नान्यत् पापतरं महत्। प्रमदानां सहस्राणि तव राजन् परिग्रहे
There is no greater sin than the violation of another's wife; O king, you have thousands of women in your possession.
भव स्वदारनिरतः स्वकुलं रक्ष राक्षसान्। मानं वृद्धिं च राज्यं च जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः
Be devoted to your own wife, protect your lineage and the demons, and preserve your honor, prosperity, kingdom, and your own cherished life.
कलत्राणि च सौम्यानि मित्रवर्गं तथैव च। यदीच्छसि चिरं भोक्तुं मा कृथा रामविप्रियम्
If you wish to enjoy your gentle wives and circle of friends for a long time, do not do anything displeasing to Rama.