Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— गते तु लक्ष्मणे वीरे किष्किन्धां नगरीं रामः। उद्धर्तुकामो लङ्केशं वन्दीयाता मृगीदृशः॥१॥
Brahmā said: When valiant Lakṣmaṇa had gone to the city of Kiṣkindhā, Rāma desired to rescue the doe-eyed women who had become captives of Laṅkā's lord.
Passage 2
सुवेलगिरिसुस्निग्धगह्वरान्तरकाननम्। अनेककुञ्जपुञ्जाढ्यमगमद्रघुपुङ्गवः॥२॥
The foremost Raghu entered the forest within a lovely cavern of Mount Suvela, a place abounding in many clusters of bowers.
Passage 3
लङ्कायां तत्र ता रुद्धाः कन्यास्त्रिजगदोकसः। नरनागनगोद्धृताः सुरकिन्नरसम्भवाः॥३॥
There in Laṅkā were confined maidens from throughout the three worlds, taken from human beings, nāgas, and mountain peoples and born among gods and kinnaras.
Passage 4
नानादेशमहीपानां कन्याश्च हरिणेक्षणाः। दिक्पतीनां पुरभवास्तथान्या हरिणीदृशः॥४॥
There were doe-eyed daughters of kings from many lands, maidens born in the cities of the guardians of the directions, and still other women with the eyes of deer.
Passage 5
अभुक्ता रावणेनापि श्रीरामनिहिताशयाः। रत्नभूता मृगदृशः स्त्रीणां कामकलाकुलाः॥५॥
Untouched even by Rāvaṇa, their hearts fixed upon Śrī Rāma, those doe-eyed women were jewels among women and richly endowed with the arts of love.
Passage 6
अभ्युद्धार ताः सर्वाः सीतया सहितो विभुः। आरामे राक्षसपतेः शतयोजनविस्तृते॥६॥
Together with Sītā, the Lord raised up all those women in the rākṣasa king's pleasure garden, which extended for a hundred yojanas.
Passage 7
तत्राशोकतरोर्मूले जानकीं विरहाकुलाम्। आजुहाव प्रियस्तत्र यत्र ताभिररीरमत्॥७॥
There he summoned his beloved Jānakī, distressed by separation beneath the aśoka tree, to the place where he delighted with those maidens.
Passage 8
विस्तार्य रजनीं दिव्यां पूर्णचन्द्रकरोज्ज्वलाम्। प्रमुद्वनश्रियं तस्यामाविर्भाव्य निजेच्छया॥८॥
By his own will he prolonged that divine night, bright with the full moon's rays, and manifested within it the splendor of Pramodavana.
Passage 9
सहजानन्दिनीसीतासम्पर्कसुखिताशयः। मोदयामास ताः सर्वाः कन्यास्त्रिजगदोकसः॥९॥
His heart gladdened by contact with Sītā, who bestows innate bliss, he brought joy to all those maidens from the three worlds.
Passage 10
प्रभुः कृतार्थयामास स्वरूपानन्ददानतः। ततः समाययौ देवो लक्ष्मणागमनक्षणे॥१०॥
The Lord fulfilled them by granting the bliss of his own essential form. The divine one then returned at the moment of Lakṣmaṇa's arrival.
Passage 11
रम्ये माल्यवति क्ष्माभृत्यखिलर्तुमनोहरे। भूतिलिप्तो जटाधारी वल्कलाजिनवाससा॥११॥
Upon lovely Mālyavat, the mountain delightful in every season, Rāma appeared smeared with ash, wearing matted hair and garments of bark and deerskin.
Passage 12
कैलासनाथसदृशो रामः कारणमानुषः। तमभिप्रययौ श्रीमान् कृतकार्यश्च लक्ष्मणः॥१२॥
Rāma, the causal Lord in human form, resembled the lord of Kailāsa. His task completed, illustrious Lakṣmaṇa approached him. Bhuśuṇḍi Asks About Lakṣmaṇa's Entry into Kiṣkindhā
Passage 13
भुशुण्ड उवाच— कथं सुमित्रातनयः किष्किन्धानगरीमगात्। कथं च सत्कृतस्तत्र सुग्रीवाद्यैः कपीश्वरैः॥१३॥
Bhuśuṇḍi said: “How did Sumitrā's son enter the city of Kiṣkindhā, and how was he honored there by Sugrīva and the other monkey lords?” Lakṣmaṇa Crosses the Fortified Capital
Passage 14
ब्रह्मोवाच— आर्येणादिष्टमात्रोऽसौ लक्ष्मणः परवीरभित्। बद्धतूणो धनुष्पाणिः किष्किन्धानगरीमगात्॥१४॥
Brahmā said: As soon as his noble brother commanded him, Lakṣmaṇa, terror of enemy warriors, bound on his quiver, took bow in hand, and entered Kiṣkindhā.
Passage 15
पालितां तेन बलिना सुग्रीवेण महौजसा। राजधानीं कपीन्द्राणां सर्वसौख्यसमन्विताम्॥१५॥
It was the capital of the monkey lords, filled with every comfort and governed by powerful, mighty Sugrīva.
Passage 16
परिस्फुरद्गृहारामकोष्ठाट्टालकगोपुराम्। हट्टापथस्थितानेकसम्पद्भरसमाकुलाम्॥१६॥
Its houses, gardens, chambers, lofty mansions, and gateways gleamed, while the market roads overflowed with abundant riches of many kinds.
Passage 17
आस्फोटयद्भिर्दोर्दण्डात् सुग्रीवबलबन्धिभिः। वारुणीपानमत्तैश्च कपीन्द्रैः सेवितां सदा॥१७॥
It was always attended by monkey chiefs allied to Sugrīva's forces, slapping their mighty arms and intoxicated from drinking vāruṇī liquor.
Passage 18
विशालपरिखान्तःस्थदृढप्राकारसंवृताम्। महाप्रासादमौलिस्थवैजयन्तीविभूषिताम्॥१८॥
It was enclosed by massive ramparts within a broad moat and adorned by victory banners flying from the summits of great palaces.
Passage 19
अलंकृतैः सदा हृष्टैर्नरनारीगणैर्वृताम्। राजद्वारसदावाद्यद्भिर्दुन्दुभिनादिताम्॥१९॥
Crowds of perpetually joyful, ornamented men and women filled the city, and kettledrums continually sounded at the royal gate.
Passage 20
तत्रार्यस्य निदेशेन गत्वा द्रुततरं ततः। कपिराजस्य भवनं जगाम धृतकार्मुकः॥२०॥
Following his noble brother's order, Lakṣmaṇa moved swiftly through the city and, holding his bow, reached the monkey king's palace.
Passage 21
करालतोमरकरः कट्योस्तूणीयुगान्वितः। कपिराजसभां प्राप वृद्धैः कपिवरैर्युताम्॥२१॥
With a fearsome spear in hand and a pair of quivers at his waist, he entered the monkey king's assembly, which was attended by elder monkey chiefs. Lakṣmaṇa Confronts the Monkey Chiefs
Passage 22
तत्रोपविष्टांस्तानुच्चै रामानुज उवाच ह। अहो रे वानरा ब्रूत क्व सुग्रीवः स नः सखा॥२२॥
Rāma's younger brother spoke loudly to those seated there: “Ho, monkeys, tell me—where is that Sugrīva who calls himself our friend?
Passage 23
विश्वास्य वचनैरार्यं स्त्रीवियुक्तं वनालयम्। योऽननुध्यातमैत्रीको विषयान् सेवते पुरे॥२३॥
“He won the trust of my noble brother, who dwells in the forest separated from his wife, yet without reflecting upon friendship he enjoys sensual pleasures in the city.
Passage 24
क ईदृशः सुहृन्मैत्रीं विहन्याद्वचसोजिताम्। अज्ञातमित्रसंक्लेशः साधितस्वप्रयोजनः॥२४॥
“Who would destroy a friendship with such an ally, a friendship won by one's pledged word? Having achieved his own purpose, Sugrīva remains heedless of his friend's anguish.
Passage 25
प्रायोऽन्तःपुर एवास्ति स सुखी तारया सह। विस्मृत्य सुहृदं रामं भुङ्क्ते भोगान् यथेप्सितान्॥२५॥
“He is probably happy inside the women's apartments with Tārā, enjoying whatever pleasures he desires after forgetting his friend Rāma.
Passage 26
तद् ब्रूत त्वरितं गत्वा मदागमनकारणम्। नियुक्तो राघवेन्द्रेण प्राप्तोऽहं तस्य संनिधौ॥२६॥
“Go quickly and tell him the reason for my arrival. Sent by Rāghavendra, I have come into his presence.
Passage 27
आकारणार्थं राज्यश्रीभोगमत्तस्य सम्प्रति। स चेत्त्वरितमागच्छेद् रामचन्द्रस्य सन्निधौ॥२७॥
“I have come now to summon him, intoxicated as he is by royal splendor and enjoyment. If he comes swiftly into Rāmacandra's presence,
Passage 28
तदा भवेच्छुभं नो चेद्यन्तासौ वालिनो गतिम्। विस्मृत्य तादृशं मित्रं पुरोपकृतिकारिणम्॥२८॥
“then all will be well; otherwise he will meet Vāli's fate, for he has forgotten so great a friend who formerly rendered him aid.”
Passage 29
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथ ते कपिपुङ्गवाः समस्तास्त्वरितं भक्तिभरेण तं प्रणम्य। भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननं च भीताः कृतभूरिप्रणिपातमेतदूचुः॥२९॥
Brahmā said: All those foremost monkeys promptly bowed to him with profound devotion. Frightened by his face drawn tight beneath a frowning brow, they made repeated deep prostrations and spoke as follows.