बहूनि नाम वर्षाणि गतस्य सुमहद्वनम्। शृणोम्यहं प्रीतिकरं मम नाथस्य कीर्तनम्॥
I hear the tidings of my brother affording me great delight who has been living in the huge forest for many a year.
कल्याणी वत गाथेयं लौकिकी प्रतिभाति माम्। एति जीवन्तमानन्दो नरं वर्षशतादपि॥
The saying of the people appear to me as instinct with well meaning that a man, if alive, may attain to joy even after a century.
राघवस्य हरीणां च कथमासीत्समागमः। कस्मिन्देशे किमाश्रित्य तत्त्वमाख्याहि पृच्छतः॥
Do you relate truly to me, how and in what country the union between Rāghava and the monkeys was brought about.
स पृष्टो राजपुत्रेण बृस्यां समुपवेशितः। आचचक्षे ततः सर्व रामस्य चरितं वने॥
Being thus accosted by the prince and seated on Kusa, he, thereupon, began to describe Rama's life in the forest.
यथा प्रव्राजितो रामो मातुर्दत्तौ वरौ तव। यथा च पुत्रशोकेन राजा दशरथो मृतः॥ यथा दूतैस्त्वमानीतस्तूर्णं राजगृहात्प्रभो। त्वयायोध्यां प्रविष्टेन यथा राज्यं न चेप्सितम्॥ चित्रकूटगिरिं गत्वा राज्येनामित्रकर्शनः। निमन्त्रितस्त्वया भ्राता धर्ममाचरता सताम्॥ स्थितेन राज्ञो वचने यथा राज्यं विसर्जितम्। आर्यस्य पादुके गृह्य यथासि पुनरागतः॥ सर्वमेतन्महाबाहो यथावद्विदितं तव। त्वयि प्रतिप्रयाते तु यद्वृत्तं तन्निबोध मे।।।।
How Råma was exiled, the two boons conferred upon your mother, how king Dasaratha died in consequence of (his) sons' grief, how by emissaries, O lord, you were brought up from the house of your maternal uncle, how you did not wish for the kingdom having entered Ayodhya, how your brother, the repressor of enemies, was solicited by you for accepting the kingdom, repairing to the mount Citrakūta, who have ever wended the track of the pious, the renouncement of kingdom (by him) abiding by the words of the king, your return after taking the sandals of your revered (brother), all these, O you of long-arms, are known to you. I shall relate to you all that happened after your return.
अपयाते त्वयि तदा समुद्रान्तमृगद्विजम्। परिघूनमिवात्यर्थं तद्वनं समपद्यत॥ तद्धस्तिमृदितं घोरं सिंहव्याघ्रमृगाकुलम्। प्रविवेशाथ विजनं स महद्दण्डकावनम्॥
Yourself having returned thence, all the bird and animals were overwhelmed with terror and that forest appeared as if distressed. Thereupon he entered the solitary and huge and dreadful forest Daņdaka distressed by the elephants and abounding in lion, tigers and deer.
तेषां पुरस्ताद्वलवान्गच्छतां गहने वने। विनदन्सुमहानादं विराधः प्रत्यदृश्यत॥
Your entering the dense forest there appeared before them the powerful Virādha* emitting a dreadful sound. *A demon of that name.
तमुत्क्षिप्य महानादमूर्ध्वबाहुमधोमुखम्। निखाते प्रक्षिपन्ति स्म नदन्तमिव कुञ्जरम्॥
Taking him up roaring aloud like an elephant Rāma threw him with his arms upwards and face downwards into a pit.
तत्कृत्वा दुष्करं कर्म भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। सायाह्ने शरभङ्गस्य रम्यमाश्रममीयतुः॥
Having accomplished that difficult work the two brothers Rāma and Lakşmaņa, arrived in the evening at the pleasant hermitage of Sarabhanga.
शरभङ्गे दिवं प्राप्ते रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। अभिवाद्य मुनीन्सर्वाञ्जनस्थानमुपागमत्॥
Śarabhanga having attained to heaven, Rāma, having truth for his prowess, saluting all the ascetics, repaired to Janasthāna.
चतुर्दश सहस्राणि जनस्थाननिवासिनाम्। हतानि वसता तत्र राघवेण महात्मना॥
And by the high-souled Rāghava, living there, fourteen thousand inhabitants of janasthāna were slain.
एकेन सह संगम्य रामेण रणमूर्धनि। अह्रश्चतुर्थभागेन निःशेषा राक्षसाः कृताः॥ महाबला महावीर्यास्तपसो विघ्नकारिणः। निहता राघवेणाजौ दण्डकारण्यवासिनः॥
In the company of one person only and at the commencement of the fight, by Rāma, within the one fourth part of a day, were exterminated all the highly powerful and valiant inhabitants of the forest of Dandaka always putting obstructions in the way of the ascetics.
राक्षसाश्च विनिष्पिष्टाः खरश्च निहतो रणे। दूषणं चाग्रतो हत्वा त्रिशिरास्तदनन्तरम्॥
All the Raksasas were grinded (to death) by Rāghava. Khara was slain in the conflict; Dūşaņa being slain first Triſiră was slain thereafter by him.
पश्चाच्छूर्पणखा नाम रामपार्श्वमुपागता। ततो रामेण संदिष्टो लक्ष्मणः सहसोत्थितः॥ प्रगृह्य खङ्गं चिच्छेद कर्णनासे महाबलः। ततस्तेनार्दिता बाला रावणं समुपागता॥ रावणानुचरो घोरो मारीचो नाम राक्षसः। लोभयामास वैदेहीं भूत्वा रत्नमयो मृगः॥
Thereafter (a she-demon) named Surpanakha, came to the side of Rāma. Thereupon being commanded by Rāma, the highly powerful Lakşmaņa rose up all on a sudden and taking a dagger chopped off her ears and nose. Being thus insulted by him that she-demon came to Rāmana. Thereupor a dreadful Rākşasa named Mārīca-an attendant of Rāvaņa, assuming the shape of a jewelled deer, allured Vaidehī.
सा राममब्रवीदृष्ट्वा वैदेही गृह्यतामिति। अयं मनोहरः कान्त आश्रमो नो भविष्यति॥
Beholding it, Vaidehī spoke to Rāma, saying, 'Do you catch it; with it when caught our hermitage shall be more charming'
ततो रामो धनुष्पाणिर्मूगं तमनुधावति। स तं जघान धावन्तं शरेणानतपर्वणा॥
Thereupon Rāma, with bow in his hand, pursued that deer and with one shaft destroyed it.
अथ सौम्य दशग्रीवो मृगयां याति राघवे। लक्ष्मणे चापि निष्क्रान्ते प्रविवेशाश्रमं तदा॥
O gentle one, Räghava going out on hunting, and Lakṣmaṇa having issued out of the hermitage, the Ten-necked (demon) entered therein.
जग्राह तरसा सीतां ग्रहः खे रोहिणीमिव। त्रातुकामं ततो युद्धे हत्वा गृधं जटायुषम्॥ प्रगृह्य सहसा सीतां जगामाशु स राक्षसः।
And he speedily got hold of Sītā, like to Rohiņi possessed by the planet in the sky. Thereupon slaying the vulture Jatayu in the conflict desirous of rescuing her and getting hold of Sītā that Rākşasa speedily repaired (to his capital).
ततस्त्वद्भुतसंकाशाः स्थिताः पर्वतमूर्धनि ॥ सीतां गृहीत्वा गच्छन्तं वानराः पर्वतोपमाः। ददृशुर्विस्मिताकारा रावणं राक्षसाधिपम्॥
Thereupon some monkeys resembling mountains, stationed on the summit of a mountain, stricken with wondrous fear and astonishment, beheld Ravana, the lord of Rākşasas proceed with Sītā.
ततः शीघ्रतरं गत्वा तद्विमानं मनोजवम्। आरुह्य सह वैदेह्या पुष्पकं स महाबलः॥ प्रविवेश तदा लङ्कां रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः।
Ascending the car Puspaka, going at will with Vaidehi and hastening his course that highly powerful Rāvana, the lord of Rākṣasas entered Lankā.
तां सुवर्णपरिष्कारे शुभे महति वेश्मनि॥ प्रवेश्य मैथिली वाक्यैः सान्त्वयामास रावणः।
Entering the huge and excellent golden palace Ravana consoled Maithili with (diverse) words.
तृणवद्भाषितं तस्य तं च नैर्ऋतपुङ्गवम्॥ अचिन्तयन्ती वैदेही ह्यशोकवनिकां गता।
But she regarded that foremost of Rākşasas and his words as straw. And Vaidehi was placed in the forest of Asoka.
न्यवर्तत तदा रामो मृगं हत्वा तदा वने॥ निवर्तमानः काकुत्स्थो दृष्ट्वा गृधं स विव्यथे। गृधं हतं तदा दृष्ट्वा रामः प्रियतरं पितुः॥
Thereupon returned Rāma after having slain the deer in the forest. Having returned and seen the vulture, dearer than his father, slain, Rāma, the descendant of Kākutstha was pained.
मार्गमाणस्तु वैदेहीं राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। गोदावरीमनुचरन्वनोद्देशांश्च पुष्पितान्॥ आसेदतुर्महारण्ये कबन्धं नाम राक्षसम्। ततः कबन्धवचनाद्रामः सत्यपराक्रमः॥ ऋष्यमूकगिरं गत्वा सुग्रीवेण समागतः।
And searching Vaidehi and ranging at the banks of Godaveri and forest-lands covered with flowers, Rāma with Laksmana, met in that huge forest a Rākşasa named Kabandha. Thereupon at the words of Kabandha, Rāma, having truth for his prowess, repairing to the mount Rishyamuka, was united with Sugrīva.
ततः समागमः पूर्वं प्रीत्या हार्दो व्यजायत॥ भ्राता निरस्तः कुद्धेन सुग्रीवो वालिना पुरा। इतरेतरसंवादात्प्रगाढः प्रणयस्तयोः॥
There had grown mutual love in them before they were known to each other. Sugrīva was driven away by his angry brother Váli. And informed of each other's affairs their friendship grew closer.
रामः स्वबाहुवीर्येण स्वराज्यं प्रत्यपादयत्। वालिनं समरे हत्वा महाकायं महाबलम्॥
Thereupon slaying the huge-bodied and highly powerful Vāli in the conflict by virtue of the strength of his own arms Rāma obtained (for Sugriva) his own kingdom.
सुग्रीवः स्थापितो राज्ये सहितः सर्ववानरैः। रामाय प्रतिजानीते राजपुत्र्यास्तु मार्गणम्॥
Being placed on the throne with all the monkeys, Sugrīva promised to Rāma the enquiry of the Princess (Sītā).
आदिष्टा वानरेन्द्रेण सुग्रीवेण महात्मना। दश कोट्यः प्लवंगानां सर्वाः प्रस्थापिता दिशः॥
Being commanded by the high-souled Sugrīva, the lord of monkeys, ten koțis of monkeys repaired to (various) quarters.
तेषां नो विप्रनष्टानां विन्ध्ये पर्वतसत्तमे। भृशं शोकाभितप्तानां महान्कालोऽत्यवर्तत॥
Among them some of us lost our way in a cavity of the Vindhya mountain, and were stricken with great terror-and accordingly much time was lost.
भ्राता तु गृध्रराजस्य संपातिर्नाम वीर्यवान्। समाख्याति स्म वसती सीतां रावणमन्दिरे।॥
The powerful brother of the king of vultures named Sampāti communicated to us the residence of Sītā in the palace of Rāvaņa.
सोऽहं दुःखपरीतानां दुखं तज्ज्ञातिनां नुदन्। आत्मवीयं समास्थाय योजनानां शतं प्लुतः।। तत्राहमेकामद्राक्षमशोकवनिकां गताम्॥ कौशेयवस्त्रां मलिनां निरानन्दां दृढव्रताम्। तया समेत्य विधिवत्पृष्ट्वा सर्वमनिन्दिताम्॥ अभिज्ञानं मया दत्तं रामनामाङ्गुलीयकम्। अभिज्ञानं मणिं लब्ध्वा चरितार्थोऽहमागतः॥
Thereupon removing the grief of my relatives stricken with sorrow and resorting to my own prowess, I jumped over hundred yayanas and beheld her placed in the forest of Asoka, wearing a red cloth, pale, deprived of all joy and observing strict penances. And then nearing her and beholding her of a perfectly blameless person I bestowed upon her an ensign a ring with Rāma's name engraven on it. And obtaining a jewel as an ensign, I, with my object accomplished, returned.
मया च पुनरागम्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। अभिज्ञानं मया दत्तमर्चिष्मान्स महामणिः॥
Having returned I presented Råma of unwearied actions with that ensign of a brilliant gem.
श्रुत्वा तां मैथिली रामस्त्वाशशंसे च जीवितम्। जीवितान्तमनुप्राप्तः पीत्वामृतमिवातुरः॥
Hearing (of the news of Vaidehi) Rama regained his life like one on the verge of death regaining his being after drinking nectar.
उद्योजययिष्यनुद्योगं दधे लङ्कावधे मनः। जिघांसुरिव लोकान्ते सँल्लिोकान्विभावसुः॥
And exciting (his soldiers) for making preparations like to Fire about to destroy all people he made up his mind for the devastation of Lanka.
ततः समुद्रमासाद्य नलं सेतुमकारयत्। अतरत्कपिवीराणां वाहिनी तेन सेतुना॥
Thereupon arriving at the banks of the ocean he had a bridge constructed by Nala by which the army of monkey heroes crossed (the deep).
प्रहस्तमवधीत्रीलः कुम्भकर्णं तु राघवः। लक्ष्मणो रावणसुतं स्वयं रामस्तु रावणम्॥
Nala destroyed Prahasta, Rāghava slew Kumbhakarņa, Lakşmaņa killed the son of Rāvana and Rāma himself slew Rāvana.
स शक्रेण समागम्य यमेन वरुणेन च। महेश्वरस्वयंभूभ्यां तथा दशरथेन च॥
He was then met by Sakra, Yama, Varuna, Siva, Brahmā and Dasaratha.
तैश्च दत्तवरः श्रीमानृषिभिश्च समागतैः। सुरर्षिभिश्च काकुत्स्थो वरॉल्लेभे परंतपः॥
That graceful descendant of Kākutstha, the slayer of foes, obtained the boon from them as well as from the saints assembled there (celestial and otherwise).
स तु दत्तवरः प्रीत्या वानरैश्च समागतः। पुष्पकेण विमानेन किष्किन्धामभ्युपागमत् ॥
Having obtained the boon he, delighted, met the monkeys and in the car Puspaka reached Kiskindha.
तां गङ्गां पुनरासाद्य वसन्तं मुनिसंनिधौ। अविघ्नं पुष्ययोगेन श्वो रामं द्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥
Again reaching the Ganges he is living with the ascetic; it become you to behold him tomorrow under the auspices of Pushya, without any hindrance.
ततः स वाक्यैर्मधुरैर्हनूमतो निशम्य हृष्टो भरतः कृताञ्जलिः। उवाच वाणी मनसः प्रहर्षिणी चिरस्य पूर्णं खलु मे मनोरथः॥
Thereupon being delighted with the sweet accents of Hanumān, Bharata addressed him, with folded hands, with words affording delight, saying, "After a long time my desire has been fulfilled.”