सबले सागरं तीर्णे रामे दशरथात्मजे। अमात्यौ रावणः श्रीमानब्रवीच्छुकसारणौ॥
On Dasaratha's son, Rama, having crossed the Ocean with his forces, the graceful Răvaņa addressed his two counsellors, Suka and Sarana, saying.
समग्रं सागरं तीण दुस्तरं वानरं बलम्। अभूतपूर्व रामेण सागरे सेतुबन्धनम्॥
The crossing the entire ocean incapable of being crossed, by the monkey-forces, and the building over the sea of the bridge by Rāma, all this had never happened before.
सागरे सेतुबन्धं तं न श्रद्दध्यां कथंचन। अवश्यं चापि संख्येयं तन्मया वानरं बलम्॥
The construction of a bridge over the ocean cannot at all command credence. But (however it be), I must enumerate the monkey-hosts.
भवन्तौ वानरं सैन्यं प्रविश्यानुपलक्षितौ। परिमाणं च वीर्यं च ये च मुख्याः प्लवंगमाः॥ मन्त्रिणो ये च रामस्य सुग्रीवस्य च संगताः। ये पूर्वमभिवर्तन्ते ये च शूराः प्लवंगमाः॥ स च सेतुर्यथा बद्धः सागरे सलिलार्णवे। निवेशं च यथा तेषां वानराणां महात्मनाम्॥ रामस्य व्यवसायं च वीर्यं प्रहरणानि च। लक्ष्मणस्य च वीरस्य तत्त्वतो ज्ञातुमर्हथः॥ कश्च सेनापतिस्तेषां वानराणां महात्मनाम्। तच्च ज्ञात्वा यथातत्त्वं शीघ्रमागन्तुमर्हथः ॥
Entering the monkey-army unobserved, it behove you to ascertain the magnitude thereof, its strength, who are the foremost monkeys, who are the councillors assembled there of Rāma, and who of Sugrīva, who range at the head, who among the monkeys are heroic; how they have constructed the bridge over the water of the ocean; how the high-souled monkeys stay there; Rama's as well as Laksmana's purpose, prowess and the arms (they fight with). And who is the commander of those magnanimous monkeys? Having learnt all this truly, you ought to return speedily.
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टौ राक्षसौ शुकसारणौ। हरिरूपधरौ वीरौ प्रविष्टौ वानरं बलम्॥
Being thus commissioned, these heroes, the Raksasas, Suka and Sarana, assuming monkeyshapes, entered into the hosts of monkeys.
ततस्तद्वानरं सैन्यमचिन्त्यं लोमहर्षणम्। संख्यातुं नाध्यगच्छेतां तदा तौ शुकसारणौ॥
But Suka and Sāraṇa could not number that army of monkeys, incomprehensible and capable of making people's hair stand on end.
तत्स्थितं पर्वताग्रेषु निझरेषु गुहासु च। तरमाणं च तीर्णं च ततुकामं च सर्वशः॥ निविष्टं निविशच्चैव भीमनादं महाबलम्। तद्वलार्णवमक्षोभ्यं ददृशाते निशाचरौ ॥
The forces were on mountain-tops, by fountains and in caves. And those rangers of the night beheld those forces, some having already crossed, and some crossing, and some intent on doing so, and some having sat down and some sitting that mighty army sending terrific roars, that ocean of hosts incapable of being disturbed.
तौ ददर्श महातेजाः प्रतिच्छन्नौ बिभीषणः। आचचक्षे स रामाय गृहीत्वा शुकसारणौ॥
As they remained thus disguised, they were discovered by Vibhisana. Thereat, taking them captive, he unfolded (the fact) to Rama, saying.
तस्यैतौ राक्षसेन्द्रस्य मन्त्रिणौ शुकसारणौ। लङ्कायाः समनुप्राप्तौ चारौ परपुरंजय॥
These are the counsellors of the lord of Raksasas-Suka and Sarana. O captor of hostile capitals, they have come as spies from Lankā.
तौ दृष्ट्वा व्यथितौ रामं निराशौ जीविते तथा। कृताञ्जलिपुटौ भीतौ वचनं चेदमूचतुः॥
Seeing Ráma, they were greatly afflicted, and, despairing of their lives and exercised with fear, with joined hands, said.
आवामिहागतौ सौम्य रावणप्रहितावुभौ। परिज्ञातुं बलं सर्वं तदिदं रघुनन्दन ॥
O placid one, commanded by Ravana, we have come here, O son of Raghu, for the purpose of gathering information concerning this army.
रामो दशरथात्मजः। अब्रवीत्प्रहसन्वाक्यं सर्वभूतहिते रतः॥
Hearing their speech, Rāma, son to Dasaratha, ever engaged in the welfare of all beings, laughing, remarked.
यदि दृष्टं बलं सर्वं वयं वा सुसमाहिताः। यथोक्तं वा कृतं कार्यं छन्दतः प्रतिगम्यताम्॥
If you have heedfully noted this entire array, or if you have done what you had been commanded to do, return in peace.
अथ किंचिददृष्टं वा भूयस्तद्बष्टुमर्हथः। विभीषणो वा कात्स्येन पुनः संदर्शयिष्यति॥ तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा
If aught remain unseen, do you see it anew. Or Vibhīşaņa will again fully show it to you.
न चेदं ग्रहणं प्राप्य भेतव्यं जीवितं प्रति। न्यस्तशस्त्रौ गृहीतौ च न दूतौ वधमर्हतः॥
Having been taken, you need not fear on the score of your lives. Even if envoys happen to be taken who are equipped with weapons, they should not be slain.
प्रच्छन्नौ च विमुञ्चेमौ चारौ रात्रिंचरावुभौ। शत्रुपक्षस्य सततं विभीषण विकर्षिणौ॥
And albeit these night-rangers have come as spies in disguise, with the view of creating division among their foes, yet, O Vibhisana, let them off.
प्रविश्य महतीं लङ्कां भवद्भ्यां धनदानुजः। वक्तव्यो रक्षसां राजा यथोक्तं वचनं मम ॥
Entering the extensive Lankā, you should say to the king-younger brother to the Dispenser of riches-the words which I utter.
यदलं त्वं समाश्रित्य सीतां मे हृतवानसि। तदर्शय यथाकामं ससैन्यैश्च सबान्धवः॥
That force relying on which you have carried away my Sita, do you as you wish, along with your forces and friends, display the same.
श्वः काल्ये नगरी लङ्कां सप्राकारां सतोरणाम्। रक्षसां च बलं पश्य शरैविध्वंसितं मया।॥
On the morning of the morrow behold the city of Larikā with her wall and gates, as well as the hosts of Räkşasas, destroyed by me with my shafts.
क्रोधं भीममहं मोक्ष्ये ससैन्ये त्वयि रावण। श्वः काल्ये वज्रवान्वजं दानवेष्विव वासवः॥
As Väsava equipped with the thunder-bolt hurled the same amidst the Dänavas, will I, O Rāvana, on the morning of the morrow pour down my dreadful ire upon you along with your forces.
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टौ राक्षसौ शुकसारणौ। जयेति प्रतिनन्द्यैनं राघवं धर्मवत्सलम्॥ आगम्य नगरी लङ्कामव्रतां राक्षसाधिपम्।
Thus directed (by Rama), those Raksasas, Śuka and Säraņa, having saluted the righteous Raghava with 'Victory!,' came (back) to Lanka and spoke to the lord of Rākşasas, saying.
बिभीषणगृहीतौ तु वधार्य राक्षसेश्वर॥ दृष्ट्वा धर्मात्मना मुक्तौ रामेणामिततेजसा।
O lord of Rākşasas, having been taken by Vibhīşaņa for the purpose of being slain, we came to be seen by the righteous-souled Rāma of immeasurable energy, and (finally) were liberated (by him).
एकस्थानमता यत्र चत्वारः पुरुषर्षभाः॥ लोकपालसमाः शूराः कृतास्त्रा दृढविक्रमाः। रामो दाशरथिः श्रीमाल्लक्ष्मणश्च बिभीषणः॥ सुग्रीवश्च महातेजा महेन्द्रसमविक्रमः। एते शक्ताः पुरीं लङ्कां सप्राकारां सतोरणाम्॥ उत्पाट्य संक्रामयितुं सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु वानराः।
As these four persons have combined—like to the Lokapālas, heroic, accomplished in arms, and of steady prowess-viz., Dasaratha's son, Rama, the graceful Laksmana, Vibhisana, and the highly powerful Sugrīva, resembling the great Indra, these are capable of uprooting the city of Larkā—walls and gateways-and replacing her (on her former site), leave you the monkeys aside.
यादृशं तद्धि रामस्य रूपं प्रहरणानि च॥ वधिष्यति पुरीं लङ्कामेकस्तिष्ठन्तु ते त्रयः।
Such is Rāma's figure and arms that he shall alone demolish Lankā, leave the other three alone.
रामलक्ष्मणगुप्ता सा सुग्रीवेण च वाहिनी।। बभूव दुर्धर्षतरा सर्वैरपि सुरासुरैः॥
That host protected by Rāma, Lakşmaņa and Sugrīva, shall become exceedingly hard to combat even by the Asuras and gods.
प्रहृष्टयोधा ध्वजिनी महात्मनां वनौकसां संप्रति योद्भुमिच्छताम्। अलं विरोधेन शमो विधीयतां प्रदीयतां दाशरथाय मैथिली॥
The army of the high-souled rangers of the woods, eager for encounter, contains warriors bursting with high spirits. No use of dispute. Be you intent on pacification. Do you render back Maithili to Dasaratha's son.