तत्तु माल्यवतो वाक्यं हितमुक्तं दशाननः। न मर्षयति दुष्टात्मा कालस्य वशमागतः॥
The Ten-necked one, come under the control of Time, did not brook the beneficial speech, spoken by Mālyavān.
स बद्ध्वाभ्रुकुटिं वक्त्रे क्रोधस्य वशमागतः। अमर्षात्परिवृत्ताक्षो माल्यवन्तमथाब्रवीत्॥
Contracting his face into a frown, he, coming under the masterdom of passion, with his eyes rolling in wrath, addressed Mayavān, saying.
हितबुद्ध्या यदहितं वचः परुषमुच्यते। परपक्षं प्रविश्यैव नैतच्छ्रोक्षगतं मम॥
The words which, deeming the strength of the enemy as superior, you have harshly spoken, considering it as beneficial, had never before entered my ears.
मानुषं कृषणं राममेकं शाखामृगाश्रयम्। समर्थ मन्यसे केन त्यक्तं पित्रा वनाश्रयम्।४।।
A (mere) man, and feeble, and alone, and having monkeys for his support, why do you deem Rāma, who has (further) been cast off by his sire, and has in consequence taken refuge in the woods, as competent (to cope with me)?
रक्षसामीश्वरं मां च देवानां च भयंकरम्। हीनं मां मन्यसे केन अहीनं सर्वविक्रमैः॥
Why do you consider me, who am the lord of the Räksasa, and feared even by the immortals, as weak and reft of all power?
वीरद्वेषेण वा शङ्के पक्षपातेन वा रिपोः। त्वयाहं परुषाण्युक्तो मम प्रोत्साहनेन वा॥
You, I suspect, speak (thus) roughly either from jealousy of my heroism, or for inciting me.
प्रभवन्तं पदस्थं हि परुषं कोऽभिभाषते। पण्डितः शास्त्रतत्त्वज्ञो विना प्रोत्साहनेन वा॥
Who that is wise and learned, ever address him roughly that is at once puissant and of (high) station, if not to spur him on?
आनीय च वनात्सीतां पद्महीनामिव श्रियम्। किमर्थं प्रतिदास्यामि राघवस्य भयादहम्।।
Why, having brought Sītā like a Sri shorn of her lotus, shall I give her up, from fear of Rāghava?
वृत्तं वानरकोटीभिः ससुग्रीवं सलक्ष्मणम्। पश्य कैश्चिदहोभिश्च राघवं निहतं मया॥
Behold Rāghava, environed by Koțis of monkeys, with Sugrīva and Lakşmaņa, slain on of these days!
द्वन्द्वे यस्य न तिष्ठन्ति दैवतान्यपि संयुगे। स कस्माद्रावणो युद्धे भयमाहारयिष्यति॥
He before whom even the gods cannot stay in the battle field, how can that Råvaņa ever come by fear?
द्विधा भज्येयमप्येवं न नमेयं तु कस्यचित्। एव मे सहजो दोषः स्वभावो दुरतिक्रमः॥
Better that I should be riven in twain, but bend I never will. This is my native fault; and nature is incapable of being overcome.
यदि तावत्समुद्रे तु सेतुर्बद्धो यदृच्छया। रामेण विस्मयः कोऽत्र येन ते भयमागतम्॥
If Rāma bath at his pleasure constructed a bridge over the ocean, what is the wonder in this that you have conceived such a fear?
स तु तीत्वर्णिवं रामः सह वानरसेनया। प्रतिजानामि ते सत्यं न जीवन्प्रतियास्यति ॥
And although Rāma has crossed the ocean along with the monkey-army, yet I swear to you truly, living, he shall not back hence.
एवं ब्रुवाणं संरब्धं रुष्टं विज्ञाय रावणम्। वीडितो माल्यवान्वाक्यं नोत्तरं प्रत्यपद्यत॥
When Ravana, wrought up with passion, had spoken thus, Malyavan, knowing him wroth, did not return a reply.
जयाशिषा तु राजानं वर्धयित्वा यथोचितम्। माल्यवानभ्यनुज्ञातो जगाम स्वं निवेशनम्॥
And, duly tendering blessings to the king, Mālyavān, taking his permission, went to his own abode.
रावणस्तु सहामात्यो मन्त्रयित्वा विमृश्य च। लङ्कायास्तु तदा गुप्तिं कारयामास राक्षसः॥
The Räkşasa, Rāvaņa, along with his courtiers, having consulted together as to what was fit to be done, set about the defence of Lankā.
व्यादिदेश च पूर्वस्यां प्रहस्तं द्वारि राक्षसम्। दक्षिणस्यां महावीयौँ महापार्श्वमहोदरौ॥ पश्चिमायामथ द्वारि पुत्रमिन्द्रजितं तदा। व्यादिदेश महामायं राक्षसैर्बहुभिर्वृतम्॥
He commanded the Raksasa Prahasta (to guard) the Eastern gate; and the exceedingly powerful Mahaparsva and Mahodara (to guard) the Southern gate; and he ordered his son Indrajit, possessing mighty powers of illusion, girt by innumerable Räkșasas, to guard the Western gate.
उत्तरस्यां पुरद्वारि व्यादिश्य शुकसारणौ। स्वयं तत्र गमिष्यामि मन्त्रिणस्तानुवाच ह॥
He commanded Suka and Sārana to defend the Northern gate. But he said to the counsellors, I will myself go thither.* *i.e. to defend the Northerm gate.
राक्षसं तु विरूपाक्षं महावीर्यपराक्रमम्। मध्यमेऽस्थापयद्गुल्मे बहुभिः सह राक्षसैः॥
And he posted in the middle in the garrison the Raksasa, Virupaksa, endowed with exceeding prowess and energy, backed by countless rākşasas.
एवं विधानं लङ्कायां कृत्वा राक्षसपुंगवः। कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यते कालचोदितः॥
Having taken these measures in Lankā, the raksasa-chief, urged by Fate, deemed himself as having achieved success.
विसर्जयामास ततः म मन्त्रिणो विधानमाज्ञाप्य पुष्कलम्। जयाशिषा मन्त्रिगणेन पूजितो विवेश सोऽन्तःपुरमृद्धिमन्महत्॥
Having thus completely provided for the defence of the city, he dismissed the ministers; and, honoured by the counsellors with blessings of victory, (then) entered his magnificent and splendid inner apartment.