ततः पूर्वेण तौ गत्वा त्रिक्रोशं भ्रातरौ तदा। क्रौञ्चारण्यमतिक्रम्य मतङ्गाश्रममन्तरे
Then, having gone three krośas eastward, the two brothers, passing through the Krauncha forest, came near the hermitage of Matanga.
दृष्ट्वा तु तद् वनं घोरं बहुभीममृगद्विजम्। नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं सर्वं गहनपादपम्
There, seeing that dreadful forest, filled with many fearsome beasts and birds, crowded with various trees, and entirely dense with great trees.
ददृशाते गिरौ तत्र दरीं दशरथात्मजौ। पातालसमगम्भीरां तमसा नित्यसंवृताम्
There, the sons of Dasaratha saw on the mountain a cave, as deep as the underworld, always covered in darkness.
आसाद्य च नरव्याघ्रौ दर्यास्तस्याविदूरतः। ददर्शतुर्महारूपां राक्षसीं विकृताननाम्
Approaching that cave, the tiger-like men, not far from its entrance, saw a rakshasi of huge form and distorted face.
भयदामल्पसत्त्वानां बीभत्सां रौद्रदर्शनाम्। लम्बोदरीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां करालीं परुषत्वचम्
Terrifying to the faint-hearted, hideous, dreadful in appearance, with a hanging belly, sharp fangs, fierce, and harsh-skinned.
भक्षयन्तीं मृगान् भीमान् विकटां मुक्तमूर्धजाम्। अवैक्षतां तु तौ तत्र भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
Devouring fearsome animals, monstrous, with disheveled hair—there the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, saw her.
सा समासाद्य तौ वीरौ व्रजन्तं भ्रातुरग्रतः। एहि रंस्यावहेत्युक्त्वा समालम्भत लक्ष्मणम्
Approaching those two heroes as they went, with the younger brother in front, she said, 'Come, let us enjoy,' and seized Lakshmana.
उवाच चैनं वचनं सौमित्रिमुपगुह्य च। अहं त्वयोमुखी नाम लाभस्ते त्वमसि प्रियः
Embracing Saumitri, she spoke these words: 'I am Ayomukhi by name; you are fortunate, you are dear to me.'
नाथ पर्वतदुर्गेषु नदीनां पुलिनेषु च। आयुश्चिरमिदं वीर त्वं मया सह रंस्यसे
'Lord, in the mountain fastnesses and on the riverbanks, you will enjoy a long life with me, O hero.'
एवमुक्तस्तु कुपितः खड्गमुद्धृत्य लक्ष्मणः। कर्णनासस्तनं तस्या निचकर्तारिसूदनः
Thus addressed, Lakshmana, enraged, drew his sword and, destroyer of foes, cut off her ears, nose, and breasts.
कर्णनासे निकृत्ते तु विस्वरं विननाद सा। यथागतं प्रदुद्राव राक्षसी घोरदर्शना
With her ears and nose severed, she howled in a hoarse voice, and the dreadful-looking rakshasi fled the way she had come.
तस्यां गतायां गहनं व्रजन्तौ वनमोजसा। आसेदतुरमित्रघ्नौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
When she had departed, the two brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, destroyers of enemies, entered the dense forest with vigor.
लक्ष्मणस्तु महातेजाः सत्त्ववाञ्छीलवाञ्छुचिः। अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम्
Then Lakṣmaṇa, of great splendor, steadfast, virtuous, and pure, spoke with joined palms to his brother, radiant in brilliance.
स्पन्दते मे दृढं बाहुरुद्विग्नमिव मे मनः। प्रायशश्चाप्यनिष्टानि निमित्तान्युपलक्षये
My arm throbs intensely, my mind is agitated, and I observe many unfavorable omens.
तस्मात् सज्जीभवार्य त्वं कुरुष्व वचनं मम। ममैव हि निमित्तानि सद्यः शंसन्ति सम्भ्रमम्
Therefore, noble one, be prepared and heed my words; for these omens of mine immediately foretell alarm.
एष वञ्जुलको नाम पक्षी परमदारुणः। आवयोर्विजयं युद्धे शंसन्निव विनर्दति
This bird called Vañjulaka, exceedingly dreadful, cries out as if proclaiming our victory in battle.
तयोरन्वेषतोरेवं सर्वं तद् वनमोजसा। संजज्ञे विपुलः शब्दः प्रभञ्जन्निव तद् वनम्
As the two searched thus with vigor, a great sound arose in that forest, as if shattering it.
संवेष्टितमिवात्यर्थं गहनं मातरिश्वना। वनस्य तस्य शब्दोऽभूद् वनमापूरयन्निव
The sound in that forest, as if tightly enveloped by the wind, seemed to fill the entire woodland.
तं शब्दं कांक्षमाणस्तु रामः खड्गी सहानुजः। ददर्श सुमहाकायं राक्षसं विपुलोरसम्
Eager for that sound, Rāma, sword in hand and with his brother, beheld a mighty-bodied Rākṣasa of vast chest.
आसेदतुश्च तद्रक्षस्तावुभौ प्रमुखे स्थितम्। विवृद्धमशिरोग्रीवं कबन्धमुदरेमुखम्
The two approached that Rākṣasa, standing before them, headless and neckless, Kabandha with a mouth on his belly.
रोमभिर्निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्महागिरिमिवोच्छ्रितम्। नीलमेघनिभं रौद्रं मेघस्तनितनिःस्वनम्
Covered with sharp, bristling hair, towering like a great mountain, dark as a rain cloud, terrible, with a roar like thunder.
अग्निज्वालानिकाशेन ललाटस्थेन दीप्यता। महापक्षेण पिङ्गेन विपुलेनायतेन च
With a blazing brow like a mass of fire, with vast, tawny, outstretched wings.
एकेनोरसि घोरेण नयनेन सुदर्शिना। महादंष्ट्रोपपन्नं तं लेलिहानं महामुखम्
With a single, fearsome, clearly visible eye on his chest, with great fangs, licking his huge mouth.
भक्षयन्तं महाघोरानृक्षसिंहमृगद्विजान्। घोरौ भुजौ विकुर्वाणमुभौ योजनमायतौ
Devouring dreadful bears, lions, deer, and birds, he moved his two terrible arms, each a yojana long.
कराभ्यां विविधान् गृह्य ऋक्षान् पक्षिगणान् मृगान्। आकर्षन्तं विकर्षन्तमनेकान् मृगयूथपान्
With his hands he seized various bears, flocks of birds, and deer, dragging and pulling many leaders of herds.
स्थितमावृत्य पन्थानं तयोर्भ्रात्रोः प्रपन्नयोः। अथ तं समतिक्रम्य क्रोशमात्रं ददर्शतुः
Stationed, blocking the path of the two brothers as they advanced, they saw him at a distance of a krośa after passing by.
महान्तं दारुणं भीमं कबन्धं भुजसंवृतम्। कबन्धमिव संस्थानादतिघोरप्रदर्शनम्
They saw Kabandha, immense, dreadful, terrifying, covered with arms, and exceedingly horrible in appearance, like a trunk in form.
स महाबाहुरत्यर्थं प्रसार्य विपुलौ भुजौ। जग्राह सहितावेव राघवौ पीडयन् बलात्
That mighty-armed being, stretching out his vast arms to the utmost, seized both Rāghavas together, forcefully gripping them.
खड्गिनौ दृढधन्वानौ तिग्मतेजौ महाभुजौ। भ्रातरौ विवशं प्राप्तौ कृष्यमाणौ महाबलौ
The two brothers, armed with swords and strong bows, fierce in energy and mighty-armed, found themselves helpless, being dragged by that powerful being.
तत्र धैर्याच्च शूरस्तु राघवो नैव विव्यथे। बाल्यादनाश्रयाच्चैव लक्ष्मणस्त्वभिविव्यथे
There, because of his courage, the heroic Rāghava was not at all disturbed; but Lakṣmaṇa, due to his youth and lack of support, was indeed shaken.