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.
उवाच च विषण्णः सन् राघवं राघवानुजः। पश्य मां विवशं वीर राक्षसस्य वशंगतम्
And, distressed, Lakṣmaṇa, the younger brother of Rāghava, spoke to Rāghava: "See me, helpless, O hero, fallen under the power of a Rākṣasa."
मयैकेन तु निर्युक्तः परिमुच्यस्व राघव। मां हि भूतबलिं दत्त्वा पलायस्व यथासुखम्
"You alone must escape, Rāghava; free yourself. Offer me as a sacrifice to the spirits and flee as you wish."
अधिगन्तासि वैदेहीमचिरेणेति मे मतिः। प्रतिलभ्य च काकुत्स्थ पितृपैतामहीं महीम्
"You will soon reach Vaidehī, this is my conviction; and, O descendant of Kakutstha, you will regain the kingdom of your fathers and grandfathers."
तत्र मां राम राज्यस्थः स्मर्तुमर्हसि सर्वदा। लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु रामः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्
"There, O Rāma, established in the kingdom, you should always remember me." Thus addressed by Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma spoke to the son of Sumitrā:
मा स्म त्रासं वृथा वीर नहि त्वादृग् विषीदति। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे क्रूरो भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
"Do not be afraid in vain, O hero; one such as you should not despair." Meanwhile, the cruel one approached the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
तावुवाच महाबाहुः कबन्धो दानवोत्तमः। कौ युवां वृषभस्कन्धौ महाखड्गधनुर्धरौ
Then the mighty-armed Kabandha, foremost among Dānavas, spoke to them: "Who are you two, with shoulders like bulls, bearing great swords and bows?"
घोरं देशमिमं प्राप्तौ दैवेन मम चाक्षुषौ। वदतं कार्यमिह वां किमर्थं चागतौ युवाम्
"You have come to this dreadful place, destined by fate to fall under my gaze. Tell me, what is your purpose here, and why have you come?"
इमं देशमनुप्राप्तौ क्षुधार्तस्येह तिष्ठतः। सबाणचापखड्गौ च तीक्ष्णशृङ्गाविवर्षभौ
"You have entered this place where I, tormented by hunger, remain. With bows, arrows, and swords, you stand like bulls with sharp horns."
मां तूर्णमनुसम्प्राप्तौ दुर्लभं जीवितं हि वाम्। तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा कबन्धस्य दुरात्मनः
"You have come swiftly to me; for you, life is now hard to obtain." Hearing these words of the wicked Kabandha—
उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामो मुखेन परिशुष्यता। कृच्छ्रात् कृच्छ्रतरं प्राप्य दारुणं सत्यविक्रम
Rāma, his mouth parched, spoke to Lakṣmaṇa: "Having encountered this calamity, harsher than any before, O truly valiant one—"