Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— पुनः सुग्रीव आगत्य किष्किन्धापुरसन्निधौ। जगर्ज कलिताटोपो रामस्य बलमास्थितः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Sugrīva again came near the city of Kiṣkindhā and, relying on Rāma's strength, roared with a deliberate show of power.
Passage 2
आरक्तलोचनः कोपादास्फोटितभुजद्वयः। चक्रे सिंहनिनादं च दर्पनिर्व्यूढमानसः॥२॥
His eyes reddened with anger, he slapped both arms and gave a lion's roar, his heart fortified by pride.
Passage 3
तस्य गर्जितमाकर्ण्य वालिः शुद्धान्तसंस्थितः। आः स एव पुनर्मूढः प्राप्तो मां युद्धकामुकः॥३॥
Hearing that roar while inside the royal apartments, Vālin said, “Ah! That same fool has returned, eager to fight me again.
Passage 4
नाधुना मोचनीयोऽसौ वध्य एव मया खलः। यदनादृत्य संत्यक्तस्तत्फलं पुनरागतः॥४॥
“This time the villain must not be released; I must kill him. Because I dismissed him contemptuously before, he has returned to reap the consequence.
Passage 5
कस्य वीर्यमुपाश्रित्य गर्जत्येष मयि स्थिते। ननु मूढोऽयमधुना नोपेक्ष्यः खलवृत्तिभृत्॥५॥
“On whose valor does he depend that he roars while I am here? This fool, bearer of a villain's nature, must certainly not be overlooked again.
Passage 6
खला हि जीवनार्थाय भवन्ति न तु वृत्तये। जीविताः पुनरुन्नम्रा जायन्ते वेतसा इव॥६॥
“Villains care only to preserve their lives, not to live rightly. If spared, they rise upright again like reeds.
Passage 7
शत्रुर्नोपेक्षणीयः स्यात् प्रमादाच्चेदुपेक्षितः। सम्प्राप्ते वसरे स्वीये पुनर्मूलं निकृन्तति॥७॥
“An enemy must never be ignored. If negligence lets him pass, he will cut one down at the root when his own opportunity arrives.
Passage 8
अतो हन्तुमिमं शत्रुं प्रयाम्येष विनिश्चितम्। इत्थं कृतमतिर्वालिरन्तःपुरसुखस्थितः॥८॥
“Therefore I shall go and kill this enemy; that is settled.” Thus Vālin made his decision while still amid the comforts of the inner palace.
Passage 9
ततः प्रचलितुं वीरश्चकमे क्रोधमूर्छितः। आज्ञां ययाचे भार्यां स बद्ध्वा परिकरं दृढम्॥९॥
Overwhelmed by anger, the hero desired to set out. Fastening his battle gear firmly, he sought leave from his wife. Tārā Reads the Omens
Passage 10
तस्य भार्या तु सा तारा राज्यश्रीरिव सुन्दरी। युद्धाय सज्जं दयितं वारयामास यत्नतः॥१०॥
His beautiful wife Tārā, lovely as the fortune of a kingdom, earnestly tried to restrain her beloved as he prepared for battle.
Passage 11
दृष्ट्वापशकुनान्यद्धा भर्तुः कुशलमिच्छती। नैतस्यां नाथ वेलायां युक्ता सम्प्रस्थितिर्युधे॥११॥
Seeing unmistakable evil omens and desiring her husband's welfare, she said, “My lord, it is not right to depart for battle at this hour.
Passage 12
पश्यैताः खलु फेरव्यो रटन्ति तव सम्मुखे। सूचयन्त्येव सहसा दुर्निमित्तं निपातुकम्॥१२॥
“Look—these female jackals howl directly before you, plainly foretelling a sudden calamity about to fall.
Passage 13
दिग्दाहं चापि पश्यामि रजसेवार्कमावृतम्। कम्पतीव मनोऽत्यर्थं त्वद्देहाद् द्रवतीव मे॥१३॥
“I see a fiery glow in the quarter and the sun seemingly covered with dust. My heart trembles violently, as though it were fleeing from your body.
Passage 14
वामं स्फुरति चक्षुर्मे भुजमूलं च दक्षिणम्। प्रलपत्येष पापात्मा काकः कटुरटन्मुहुः॥१४॥
“My left eye twitches, as does the base of my right arm, and this ill-omened crow repeatedly cries out harshly.
Passage 15
भवन्त्यन्यानि भूयांसि दुर्निमित्तानि चापि ते। प्रस्थानं वारयन्त्येवेदानीं नावसरो युधः॥१५॥
“Many other evil omens are also appearing for you. They forbid your departure: now is not the time for battle.
Passage 16
मनो नोत्सहते वीर मामकं प्रस्थितौ तव। अतः कालान्तरे युद्धं क्रियतां शत्रुणा सह॥१६॥
“Hero, my heart cannot consent to your departure. Fight the enemy at another time. Tārā Counsels Prudence
Passage 17
सन्मुहूर्तमुपाश्रित्य यद्धि कार्यं प्रवर्तते। भवेदविहतं तद्वै नेतरद् बलिनामपि॥१७॥
“An undertaking begun under an auspicious moment proceeds unobstructed; otherwise, even the strong may fail.
Passage 18
सम्पन्नोऽपि बलेनोच्चैः प्रतीक्षेत विधेर्बलम्। अनुकूले विधौ सर्वमनुकूलं यतो भवेत्॥१८॥
“Even one endowed with immense strength should wait upon the power of destiny, for when destiny is favorable, everything becomes favorable.
Passage 19
यस्तु कालवशं प्राप्तस्तस्य बुद्धिर्विचाल्यते। ध्रुवं चलितबुद्धीनां विध्वंसो जायते भुवि॥१९॥
“When a person comes under the power of Time, his judgment is shaken. In this world, destruction surely comes to those whose judgment has become unsteady.
Passage 20
न जातु चावमन्येत प्रज्ञावन्तं जनं नृपः। साध्यते प्रज्ञया कार्यं न तद्बलशतैरपि॥२०॥
“A king must never disregard a wise person. A task accomplished by insight may not be achieved even by a hundred measures of strength.
Passage 21
बन्धूनां च हितं वाक्यं नोच्छेद्यं साधुबुद्धिना। उपचारं हि कुर्वन्ति सन्त्युदासीनवृत्तयः॥२१॥
“A person of sound judgment should not reject the beneficial words of kin; people who are merely indifferent offer only formal courtesies.
Passage 22
उपेक्षेत रिपुं क्वापि तुदन्तमपि वाक्शरैः। नोपेक्षेत कदाचित्तु भाषमाणमपि प्रियम्॥२२॥
“One might sometimes disregard an enemy even when he wounds with arrows of speech, but one should never disregard a loved one who speaks for one's good.
Passage 23
देशं कालं बलं देवमाश्रित्य विधिवन्नरः। अप्रमत्तः स्वकार्याणि साधयेद् जयकाङ्क्षया॥२३॥
“A person who desires victory should carefully assess place, time, strength, and providence, and then accomplish his purposes without negligence.
Passage 24
विहीनमेकमप्यङ्गं राज्यं विकलयेद् ध्रुवम्। सर्वाङ्गसंयुतं राज्यं शासद्भूपः सुखी भवेत्॥२४॥
“The loss of even one essential limb will certainly cripple a kingdom; a king who governs a realm complete in all its limbs will prosper.
Passage 25
प्रमादः किल सर्वेषां कार्याणां मूलनाशकः। अप्रमत्तधियो भूपा राज्यं शासन्ति शर्मणा॥२५॥
“Negligence destroys every undertaking at its root. Kings of vigilant intelligence govern their realms in security.
Passage 26
तदयं संगतः शत्रुर्गर्जन्नपि न वै त्वया। योद्धव्योऽस्मिन् दुर्निमित्तसूचके समये प्रिय॥२६॥
“Therefore, beloved, although this enemy has appeared and roars, you must not fight him at this hour marked by evil omens.
Passage 27
प्रेष्यन्तां कतिचिद्वीराः कपयः कपिनायकाः। योत्स्यन्ते तेऽमुना सार्धं तावत्त्वमपि यास्यसि॥२७॥
“Let several heroic monkey commanders be sent. They can fight him, and meanwhile you may go when the proper moment comes.
Passage 28
ज्योतिर्विदः शाकुनिकाः पृच्छ्यन्तामितरेऽपि ते। सूचयिष्यन्ति सम्पृष्टास्तव राजन् शुभाशुभम्॥२८॥
“Ask the astrologers, omen readers, and other experts. When consulted, O king, they will tell you what is favorable and unfavorable. Vālin Rejects Her Counsel
Passage 29
इति भार्यावचः श्रुत्वा वालिः प्रहरतां वरः। प्रहस्य समुवाचैनामात्मनो हितकाङ्क्षिणीम्॥२९॥
Hearing his wife's words, Vālin, foremost among fighters, laughed and answered her, though she desired only his welfare.
Passage 30
अलं भिया तव प्राणप्रिये सन्ति स्वभावतः। भीरवो हि स्त्रियो लोके त्वं पुनर्वीरपत्न्यसि॥३०॥
“Enough of your fear, beloved of my life. Women are naturally timid in this world, but you are the wife of a hero.
Passage 31
प्रसादं कुरु मे कान्ते प्रहस्याशिषमर्पय। हरामि येन तस्याशु विपक्षस्य शिरो रणे॥३१॥
“Be gracious, beloved: smile and give me your blessing, so that in battle I may swiftly take the head of that enemy.
Passage 32
अलं ते कातरतया मयि वीरे मनस्विनि। दिशो मया जिताः सर्वाः कोऽयं सुग्रीव आतुरः॥३२॥
“Enough of cowardice while I, a resolute hero, am here. I have conquered every quarter—what threat can this desperate Sugrīva pose?
Passage 33
मया विनिर्जितः पूर्वं द्रावितश्चैव संगरात्। मृत्युनाप्रेरितो नूनं मामयं पुनरागतः॥३३॥
“I defeated him before and drove him from battle. Surely Death himself has propelled him back to me.
Passage 34
हनिष्यामि ध्रुवं सुश्रु तमिमं रिपुमात्मनः। नायं खलो मयोपेक्ष्य इदानीं रुष्टचेतसा॥३४॥
“Good woman, I shall certainly kill this enemy of mine. Now that my heart is enraged, this villain cannot be overlooked.
Passage 35
गच्छत्यवसरस्तन्वि तद्वधस्यायमुत्तमः। हसित्वा देहि मे खड्गं येनास्य कम्पमाहरे॥३५॥
“The opportunity is slipping away, slender one; this is the best moment to kill him. Smile and give me my sword, with which I shall end his trembling.
Passage 36
विलम्बं सहते नायस्तापितं घटने यथा। रोषावेशवशं चित्तं तथैवास्य वधे मम॥३६॥
“Just as heated iron tolerates no delay in being shaped, my anger-driven heart can tolerate none in killing him.
Passage 37
किं विलम्बयसे मूढे मामस्य हननोद्यतम्। यत्पूर्वमस्मिन् रक्तासीस्तेनैव सदयासि किम्॥३७॥
“Foolish woman, why delay me when I am ready to kill him? Because you were fond of him before, are you still compassionate toward him now?
Passage 38
न विघ्नयत मां कान्ते मामस्य विजयोद्यतम्। प्रसीद देहि मे खड्गं जेतुं गच्छामि विद्विषम्॥३८॥
“Do not obstruct me, beloved, when I am intent on defeating him. Be gracious and give me my sword; I am going to conquer my enemy.
Passage 39
अकृत्वास्य वधं वाली नैव द्रक्ष्यति ते मुखम्। इति मे सत्यवचसो नितरामाहितः पणः॥३९॥
“Vālin will not look upon your face again without first killing him. I speak the truth: this is the solemn wager I have laid down.
Passage 40
पुरीपरिसरे तावदेष गर्जति बालिशः। विस्फारितासिर्नो यावद्दर्शयाम्येनभक्षिणीम्॥४०॥
“This fool will roar outside the city only until I show him my unsheathed sword, ready to devour him.
Passage 41
अयं गर्जति दर्पेण पुरीपरिसरे मम। अहं पश्येय शकुनान्यहो कातरता भृशम्॥४१॥
“He roars proudly on the outskirts of my own city—and I should stop to consult omens? What utter cowardice!
Passage 42
यो दूराद्रिपुमालक्ष्य पतति श्येनवन्न च। नासौ वीरसभामध्येऽवस्थातुमुचितो जनः॥४२॥
“One who sees his enemy from afar but does not swoop upon him like a hawk is unfit to stand in an assembly of heroes.
Passage 43
देशं कालं सहायांश्च बलं स्वपरपक्षयोः। यो विचारयते संख्ये नासौ वीरः स कातरः॥४३॥
“One who pauses in battle to weigh place, time, allies, and the strength of both sides is no hero; he is a coward.
Passage 44
अलं शाकुनवार्ताभिर्द्वयोरेकं विनिश्चितम्। मां हनिष्यति सुग्रीवस्तमहं वा वरानने॥४४॥
“Enough talk of omens. One outcome between the two of us is certain, lovely woman: Sugrīva will kill me, or I will kill him.” Vālin Reaches for His Sword
Passage 45
इत्थं करालतमकालवशं गतोऽसौ निर्धूय दुःशकुनवृन्दमुदग्रबुद्धिः। उक्त्वा वचः सपदि यावदुपाददीताक्षिप्य प्रियामसिमवोचत तावदेषा॥४५॥
Thus Vālin, fallen under the power of most terrible Time, arrogantly swept aside the host of evil omens. Having spoken and pushed away his beloved, he was just reaching for his sword when Tārā addressed him once more.