सा वीरसमिति राज्ञा विरराज व्यवस्थिता। शशिना शुभनक्षत्रा पौर्णमासीव शारदी॥
With the presence of the king* that assembly of heroes looked beautiful, as does the autumnal night, garnished with beauteous stars, with the Moon. *Rāma.
प्रचचाल च वेगेन त्रस्ता चैव वसुंधरा। पीड्यमाना बलौघेन तेन सागरवर्चसा॥
And oppressed with the bursting energy of the host resembling the ocean, the Earth trembled.
ततः शुश्रुवुराक्रुष्टं लङ्कायां काननौकसः। भेरीमृदङ्गसंघुष्टं तुमुलं लोमहर्षणम्॥
Then the rangers of the forest heard a hubbub in Lankä, as well as the sounds of trumpets and Mşdangas, mighty and capable of making people's down stand on end.
बभूवुस्तेन घोषेण संहृष्टा हरियूथपाः। अमृष्यमाणास्तद्धोषं विनेदुर्घोषवत्तरम्॥
At those sounds, the leaders of monkey-bands were delighted beyond measure, and, resenting the same, set up cries louder than those sounds.
राक्षसास्तत्प्लवंगानां शुश्रुवुस्तेऽपि गर्जितम्। नर्दतामिव दृप्तानां मेघानामम्बरे स्वनम्॥
The Rākşasas also heard the roars of the monkeys, resembling the rumbling of haughty clouds in the sky.
दृष्ट्वा दाशरथिर्लङ्कां चित्रध्वजपताकिनीम्। जगाम मनसा सीतां दूयमानेन चेतसा॥
Beholding Lankā with variegated standards, and streamers, Dasaratha's son went* to Sītā with an aggrieved heart. *i.e. mentally.
अत्र सा मृगशावाक्षी रावणेनोपरुध्यते। अभिभूता ग्रहेणेव लोहिताङ्गेन रोहिणी॥
Here that one having eyes resembling those of a young deer, is confined by Rāvana, like to Rohini overpowered by the red-bodied planet.* *Angāraka.
दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वस्य समुद्रीक्ष्य च लक्ष्मणम्। उवाच वचनं वीरस्तकालहितमात्मनः॥
Sighing hot and long, and looking at Laks maņa, that hero spoke words fraught with his good at that time.
आलिखन्तीमिवाकाशमुत्थितां पश्य लक्ष्मण। मनसेव कृतां लङ्कां नगाग्रे विश्वकर्मणा॥
Behold, O Laksmana, Lanka towering up as if piercing the heavens; and, built by Viśvakarmā on the brow of the mountain, she seems to have been made by the Mind.
विमानैर्बहुभिर्लङ्का संकीर्णा रचिता पुरा । विष्णोः पदमिवाकाशं छादितं पाण्डुभिर्घनैः॥
Constructed in time past with edifices thronging her, Larkā looks the all-encasing air, covered with pale clouds.
पुष्पितैः शोभिता लङ्का वनैश्चित्ररथोपमैः। नानापतगसंघुष्टफलपुष्पोपगैः शुभैः॥
Larikā is embellished with groves resembling Citraratha, fair, and eloquent with the notes of various birds, and fraught with fruits and flowers.
पश्य मत्तविहङ्गानि प्रलीनभ्रमराणि च। कोकिलाकुलखण्डानि दोधवीति शिवोऽनिलः॥
Behold the intoxicated birds, and the black bees blending (with the blossoms). And the blessed breeze sway the trees vocal with the coels.
इति दाशरथी रामो लक्ष्मणं समभाषत। बलं च तत्र विभजच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥
Having divided his forces there agreeably to the directions of the scriptures, Dasaratha's son, Rāma, thus spoke to Laksmana.
शशास कपिसेनां तां बलादादाय वीर्यवान्। अङ्गदः सह नीलेन तिष्ठेदुरसि दुर्जयः॥
He ordered that monkey-army, saying, taking his own forces, let the puissant and invincible Angada along with Nila, station himself in the centre of the forces.
तिष्ठेद्वानरवाहिन्या वानरौघसमावृतः। आश्रितो दक्षिणं पार्श्वमृषभो नाम वानरः॥
Let the monkey, named Rşabha, surrounded by numbers of monkeys, post himself at the right of the monkey-army.
गन्धहस्तीव दुर्धर्षस्तरस्वी गन्धमादनः। तिष्ठेद्वानरवाहिन्याः सव्यं पक्षमधिष्ठितः॥
Let the active and irrepressible Gandhamādana, resembling an elephant fragrant with the temporal exudation, stay, occupying the left of the forces.
मूर्ध्नि स्थास्याम्यहं यत्तो लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः। जाम्बवांश्च सुषेणश्च वेगदर्शी च वानरः॥ ऋक्षमुख्या महात्मानः कुक्षिं रक्षन्तु ते त्रयः।
I myself along with Lakşmaņa, shall heedfully stay in the fore-front. And the monkeys, Jāmvabān, Sușeņa and Vagadarci, the three high-souled, foremost bears,* shall protect the interior (of the forces). *The epithet 'bear' coming after 'monkey' may look incongruous; but, I fancy, 'monkeys' is used in the general sense of being connected with the monkeys-hest.
जघनं कपिसेनायाः कपिराजोऽभिरक्षतु।। पश्चार्द्धमिव लोकस्य प्रचेतास्तेजसा वृतः॥
As the Sun, surcharged with energy, protects the hind half of the globe, let the monkeymonarch protect the rear of the monkey-army.
सुविभक्तमहाव्यूहा महावानररक्षिता। अनीकिनी सा विबभौ यथा द्यौः साभ्रसंप्लवा॥
That army being skilfully divided into parts and protected by great monkeys, resembled the welkin covered with clouds.
प्रगृह्य गिरिशृङ्गाणि महतश्च महीरुहान्। आसेदुर्वानरा लङ्कां मिमर्दयिषवो रणे॥
Then, taking up mountain-peaks and migh trees, the monkeys began to proceed towards Lankā, burning to crush Lankā in battle.
शिखरैर्विकिरामैनां लङ्कां मुष्टिभिरेव वा। इति स्म दधिरे सर्वे मनांसि हरिपुङ्गवाः॥
We shall demolish Lankā by hurling mountain-peaks, or with our clenched fists. Thus did the foremost of monkeys think in their minds.
ततो रामो महातेजाः सुग्रीवमिदमब्रवीत्। सुविभक्तानि सैन्यानि शुक एष विमुच्यताम्॥
Then the exceedingly energetic Rāma addressed Sugrīva, saying, Our forces have been rightly marshalled, let go (now) Suka.
रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा वानरेन्द्रो महाबलः। मोचयामास तं दूतं शुकं रामस्य शासनात्॥
Hearing Rāma's words, the lord of monkeys possessed of great strength, liberated the envoy, Suka, at the command of Rama.
मोचितो रामवाक्येन वानरैश्च निपीडितः। शुकः परमसंत्रस्तो रक्षोधिपमुपागमत् ॥
Liberated at the word of Rama, Suka, who had been sore tormented by the monkeys, oppressed with exceeding great fear, went to the lord of Raksasas.
रावणः प्रहसन्नेव शुकं वाक्यमुवाच ह। किमिमौ ते सितौ पक्षौ लूनपक्षश्च दृश्यसे॥ कञ्चिन्नानेकचित्तानां तेषां त्वं वशमागतः।
There at, Ravana, laughing, said to Suka, Are your wings fettered? And you seemst as if your wings had been severed. Why? Did you come under the control of the volatile (monkeys)?
ततः स भयसंविग्नस्तेन राज्ञाभिचोदिताः।। वचनं प्रत्युवाचेदं राक्षसाधिपमुत्तमम्॥
Thereat, exercised with fear, Suka, commanded by the monarch, answered the lord of Rākşasas in this excellent speech, saying.
सागरस्योत्तरे तीरेऽब्रुवं ते वचनं तथा। यथा संदेशमक्लिष्टं सान्त्वयश्लक्ष्णया गिरा॥
Repairing to the northern shore of the sea, I, pacifying (the monkeys) with mild speech, communicated your tidings clearly (to Sugrīva).
क्रुद्धस्तैरमुत्प्लुत्य दृष्टमात्रः प्लवंगमैः। गृहीतोऽस्म्यपि चारब्धो हन्तुं लोप्तुं च मुष्टिभिः॥
Thereat, as soon as they saw me, the monkeys flying into a wrath, captured me, and attempted to clip my wings and slay me with their clenched fists.
न ते संभाषितुं शक्याः संप्रश्नोऽत्र न विद्यते। प्रकृत्या कोपनास्तीक्ष्णा वानरा राक्षसाधिप॥
They are insuseptible of being spoken, to. No doubt whatever can exist that, o lord of Rāskhasas, the monkeys are by nature wrathful and fierce.
स च हन्ता विराधस्य कबन्धस्य खरस्य च। सुग्रीवसहितो रामः सीतायाः पदमागतः॥
The same Rāma that has slain Virādha and Kabandha and Khara, has arrived (here) along with Sugrīva, searching for the whereabouts of Sītă.
स कृत्वा सागरे सेतुं तीर्वा च लवणोदधिम्। एष रक्षांसि निर्धूय धन्वी तिष्ठति राघवः॥
Having thrown a bridge across the brine and crossed the salt sea, Rāghava, equipped with his bow, stay here, setting the Raksasa at naught.
ऋक्षवानरसङ्घानामनीकानि सहस्रशः। गिरिमेघनिकाशानां छादयन्ति वसुंधराम्॥
The hosts consisting of thousands of bears and monkeys, resembling hills and clouds, envelope the Earth.
राक्षसानां बलौघस्य वानरेन्द्रबलस्य च। नैतयोविद्यते संधिदेवदानवयोरिव ॥
And peace there can be none between the forces of the Rákşasas and the hosts of the sovereign of monkeys, like to the deities and the Danavas.
पुरा प्राकारमायान्ति क्षिप्रमेकतरं कुरु। सीतां चास्मै प्रयच्छाशु युद्धं वापि प्रदीयताम्॥
They advance before the wall. Speedily do one of these things-make over Sītā without delay, or give (him) battle.
शुकस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रावणो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। रोषसंरक्तनयनो निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा ॥
Hearing Suka's speech, Ravana with his eyes reddened in wrath, spoke, as if burning (Suka) with them.
यदि मां प्रति युद्धयेरन्देवगन्धर्वदानवाः। नैव सीतां प्रदास्यामि सर्वलोकभयादपि॥
Even if gods, and Gandharvas, and Danavas should array themselves against me, I will not from fear of all creatures, render (back) Sītā.
कदा समभिधावन्ति मामका राघवं शराः। वसन्ते पुष्पितं मत्ता भ्रमरा इव पादपम्॥
When shall my shafts pursue Raghava, like maddened Bhramaras making towards blossomy trees in spring?
कदा शोणितदिग्धाङ्गं दीप्तैः कार्मुकविच्युतैः। शरैरादीपयिष्यामि उल्काभिरिव कुञ्जरम्॥
When by means of flaming shafts shot from my bow shall I burn (Rāghava) with his body bathed in blood, even as a meteor (burn) an elephant?
तच्चास्य बलमादास्ये बलेन महता वृतः। ज्योतिषामिव सर्वेषां प्रभामुद्यन्दिवाकरः॥
When, surrounded by a mighty host, shall I confound his ranks, even as the Sun arising, (vanquish) the light of the stellar spheres?
सागरस्येव मे वेगो मारुतस्येव मे बलम्। न च दाशरथिर्वेद तेन मां योद्भुमिच्छति॥
My impetuosity like the Ocean's, my strength like the Wind's, Dācarathi does not know, and therefore it is that he desire to fight with me.
न मे तूणीशयान्बाणान्सविषानिव पन्नगान्। रामः पश्यति संग्रामे तेन मां योद्भुमिच्छति ॥
Rāma has not seen my shafts resting in the quiver, resembling venomous serpents, and therefore it is that he seek to fight with me.
न जानाति पुरा वीर्यं मम युद्धे स राघवः। मम चापमयीं वीणां शरकोणैः प्रवादिताम्।॥ ज्याशब्दतुमुलां घोरामार्तगीतमहास्वनाम्। नाराचतलसंनादां नदीमहितवाहिनीम्।। अवगाह्य महारङ्गं वादयिष्याम्यहं रणे॥
Rāghava has not in conflict formerly known my bow representing my Vinā sounded with my shafts; having tremendous sounds proceeding from the strings; dreadful; with the cries of distressed people for its mighty strains of music; and resonant with the reports of Nārāchas and palms. And, having bathed in the great field of battle of representing the river of bostile forces, I will in the encounter strike (this Vinā).
न वासवेनापि सहस्रचक्षुषा युद्धेऽस्मि शक्यो वरुणेन वा स्वयम्। यमेन वा धर्षयितुं शराग्निना महाहवे वैश्रवणेन वा स्वयम्॥
Neither the thousand-eyed Vasava, Varuna himself, can (cope) with me in battle; nor can Yama, or Vaiśravana's self vanquish me in mighty conflict with the fire of arrows. nor