Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— सुग्रीवस्य गिरं श्रुत्वा रघुवंशविभूषणः। मुमुदेऽतितरां चित्ते सख्येनाकैतवेन च॥१॥
Brahmā said: Hearing Sugrīva's words, the ornament of Raghu's line rejoiced exceedingly in his heart at this friendship free from guile.
Passage 2
अथ लङ्कापतिं दुष्टं जिघांसति रघूद्वहे। तदाज्ञया कपिश्रेष्ठ आजुहाव कपीनिह॥२॥
Then, when the scion of Raghu desired to slay the wicked lord of Laṅkā, the foremost monkey summoned the monkeys there at his command.
Passage 3
ये कपिभूमिवलये स्थिता दिक्षु विदिक्षु च। पुरग्रामगिरिद्रोणीवनोपवनवासिनः। आहूताः कपिराजेन कपयः सर्व एव ते॥३॥
Every monkey throughout the monkeys' realm—those dwelling in the cardinal and intermediate directions, in towns, villages, mountains, valleys, forests, and groves—was summoned by the monkey king.
Passage 4
नानादेशनिवासस्था नानागिरिनिवासिनः। नानाविपिनवास्तव्यास्तत्र सर्वेऽप्युपाययुः॥४॥
Those who lived in many lands, on many mountains, and in many forests all came there.
Passage 5
नानावर्णाः कपिभटा नानाजातिसमुद्भवाः। नानापरिकरोपेताः कपिराजनिदेशतः॥५॥
At the monkey king's order came monkey warriors of many colors, born among many peoples and equipped in many different ways.
Passage 6
सर्वे ते संगतास्तत्र श्रीमद्रघुपतेः पुरः। बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सौम्याः स्थिता आगत्य वानराः॥६॥
All those noble monkeys assembled there and, having arrived before the illustrious Lord of the Raghus, stood with palms joined. Forms as Varied as Storm Clouds
Passage 7
श्वेतारक्ताः पिशङ्गाभा नीलवर्णाश्च मेचकाः। श्वेताः पीताः कर्बुराश्च नानावर्णघनोपमाः॥७॥
Some were white and red, some tawny, blue, or dark; others were white, yellow, or mottled, resembling clouds of many colors.
Passage 8
स्थूलाः स्थूलतराश्चैव तेभ्यः स्थूलतमा अपि। गिरीन्द्रसदृशास्तुङ्गा गिरीन्द्रशिखरोपमाः॥८॥
Some were huge, others still larger, and others largest of all. Lofty as sovereign mountains, they resembled mountain peaks.
Passage 9
मत्तेभराजसदृशाः संग्राममखदीक्षिताः। आस्फोटयन्तो दोर्दण्डान् विचित्रगुणविक्रमाः॥९॥
They resembled lordly elephants in rut and were consecrated for battle as for a sacrifice. Possessed of manifold virtues and valor, they slapped their mighty arms.
Passage 10
कालास्या अरुणास्याश्च कर्बुरास्याश्च केचन। पीतास्याः पिङ्गलाक्षाश्च नानावर्णविलोचनाः॥१०॥
Some had black faces, some red, some mottled; others had yellow faces, tawny eyes, or eyes of many colors.
Passage 11
विचित्रवेगाः कपयो लाङ्गूलातपवारणाः। विशाललङ्केशकुलमूलोत्खननदीक्षिताः॥११॥
The monkeys moved with extraordinary speed, their tails serving as parasols, and had vowed to uproot the very root of the mighty lord of Laṅkā's lineage.
Passage 12
आबद्धबन्धुजीवाभरक्तकच्छोटकाम्बराः। मल्लातिमल्लाः प्रबलाः प्रतिमल्लविचूर्णनाः॥१२॥
They wore fastened loincloths red as bandhujīva flowers. Powerful wrestlers surpassing other wrestlers, they could crush every opposing champion. Warriors Born of Divine Portions
Passage 13
पतङ्गा इव कार्यार्थे स्वामिनस्त्यक्तजीविताः। त्यक्तप्राणास्त्यक्तगृहा आस्फोटितभुजोरवः॥१३॥
For their master's cause they had abandoned their lives like moths rushing into flame. Having renounced life and home, they made a thunderous sound by striking their arms.
Passage 14
उच्चैः किलकिलाशब्दैर्भीषयन्तो भयानकाः। उत्कूर्दमानाः सजवा दीर्घहुङ्कारपूरिताः॥१४॥
Terrible in appearance, they struck fear with loud shrieking cries, leaping powerfully while filling the air with prolonged roars.
Passage 15
संग्रामाङ्गणसम्मत्ताः प्रतिसैन्यनिरासकाः। निर्भयाश्चण्डमतयः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः॥१५॥
Intoxicated with the field of battle, they could rout an opposing army. Fearless and fierce in purpose, they were all masters of warfare.
Passage 16
देवांशाः श्रीहरांशाश्च निदेशाद् ब्रह्मणो भुवि। श्रीरामचन्द्रं परया भक्त्या सेवितुमागताः॥१६॥
Portions of the gods and portions of Śrī Hari, they had come to earth at Brahmā's direction to serve Śrī Rāmacandra with supreme devotion.
Passage 17
सर्वेऽपि तेजसातुल्या ज्वलन्तः पावका इव। दिशां जैत्राः समरभूताण्डवातुल्यशक्तयः॥१७॥
All were unequaled in splendor and blazed like fires. Victorious in every direction, their power in the tumult of battle was beyond comparison.
Passage 18
घनवद्गर्जमानाश्च सिंहविक्रान्तिशालिनः। वोढुं भूमिभृतां भारं समर्थाः सुमहाबलाः॥१८॥
They roared like thunderclouds and possessed the bold stride of lions. Immensely strong, they were capable of bearing the weight of mountains. Armed and Ready with Their Families
Passage 19
हीरहारभृतो मुक्तामालाभूषितवक्षसः। कर्णमौक्तिकशोभाढ्या हेमहारविभूषणाः॥१९॥
They wore diamond necklaces, their chests adorned with strings of pearls. They shone with pearl earrings and were ornamented with golden garlands.
Passage 20
सहानुगाः सहसुताः सहपौत्राः सबान्धवाः। सकुटुम्बा निष्कपटा योद्धुमाबद्धबुद्धयः॥२०॥
They came with followers, sons, grandsons, relatives, and entire households—guileless and firmly resolved to fight.
Passage 21
उत्तुङ्गतनवः स्थूला दीर्घदोर्दण्डशालिनः। शिलावृक्षप्रहरणा नखरायुधयोधिनः॥२१॥
Their bodies were lofty and massive, furnished with long, powerful arms. They fought with rocks and trees as missiles and with their claws as weapons.
Passage 22
दशनायुधयोद्धारो दोर्दण्डपरिघायुधाः। चपेटापातचतुराश्चण्डविक्रमशालिनः॥२२॥
They fought with their teeth as weapons and their arms as iron clubs. Skilled in the blow of an open hand, they possessed ferocious valor.
Passage 23
सर्वमल्लकलायुद्धप्रवीणा घोरयोधिनः। राक्षसान्तकराः क्रूराः प्रहारविधिपण्डिताः॥२३॥
Expert in every wrestler's art and method of combat, they were formidable warriors—fierce destroyers of rākṣasas and masters of every mode of striking.
Passage 24
शिलाचूर्णननिर्घाता घोरशब्दप्रहारिणः। कृतनानादेशजयाः संग्रामोर्जिततेजसः॥२४॥
Their impacts could pulverize rocks, and their blows sounded terrible. They had conquered many lands, their prowess strengthened in battle.
Passage 25
प्रसर्पन्तः प्रतिबलेषून्मत्ता युधि भीषणाः। बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे रामस्य पुर आययुः॥२५॥
Terrifying in war, they advanced madly against opposing forces. Now they all came before Rāma with joined palms.
Passage 26
अत्युद्दामाः समरसरसीगाहनात्युग्रवीर्याः। सुग्रीवस्य प्लवगनृपतेराज्ञया ते समेताः। तत्राजग्मुर्वनगिरिगुहाग्रामगेहाधिवासाः। सर्वेऽप्यष्टादशमितमहापद्मसंख्याः कपीन्द्राः॥२६॥
Exceedingly formidable and endowed with tremendous courage to plunge into the lake of battle, they assembled at the command of Sugrīva, king of the monkeys. From forest, mountain, cave, village, and dwelling they came there—all the monkey chiefs, numbering eighteen mahāpadmas.