Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— एतद्धनुमता प्रोक्तं रामनामरहस्यकम्। श्रुत्वा नलः प्लवंगेशस्तत्तथैव चकार सः॥१॥
Brahmā said: “Having heard this secret of Rāma's name spoken by Hanumān, Nala, lord among the monkeys, did exactly as he had been told.
Passage 2
लिखित्वा दृषदां मध्ये नाम सीतापतेर्मुहुः। निचिक्षेप पयोराशौ बहूनुच्चावचान् गिरीन्॥२॥
“Again and again he wrote the name of Sītā's Lord upon the stones and cast many mountains, high and low, into the ocean.
Passage 3
संतरन्ति स्म दृषदो रामनामाङ्किता जले। तद्दृष्ट्वा वानराः सर्वे बभूवुर्विस्मिता भृशम्॥३॥
“The stones marked with Rāma's name floated upon the water. Seeing this, all the monkeys were filled with immense wonder.
Passage 4
बबन्ध तैर्महाशैलैर्युक्त्या विनिहितैर्नलः। सेतुं महान्तमम्भोधौ यावत्सा रक्षसां पुरी॥४॥
“With those great mountains skillfully set in place, Nala built a mighty bridge across the ocean as far as the city of the rākṣasas.
Passage 5
बद्ध्यमानं महासेतुं स्वस्मिन् वीक्ष्य पयोनिधिः। विसिस्मियेतरां चित्ते रामनामप्रभावतः॥५॥
“Seeing the great bridge being built upon himself through the power of Rāma's name, the ocean marveled exceedingly within his heart.
Passage 6
भारव्याकुलितं तस्य हृदयं नामवत्तदा। रामनामाङ्कितैः शैलैः सुखमाप भृशं यतः॥६॥
“Though his heart was distressed by the weight, it then bore the Name; for through the mountains marked with Rāma's name, the ocean attained great ease.
Passage 7
सुग्रीवाद्याः कपिवराः सौमित्रिः पयसां निधिः। जाम्बवान्नाम ऋक्षेशः सर्वाण्यृक्षकुलानि च॥७॥
“Sugrīva and the other foremost monkeys, Saumitri, the ocean, Jāmbavān the lord of bears, and every clan of bears—
Passage 8
श्रीरामनाममाहात्म्यं जज्ञुः सर्वेऽपि तत्तथा। ससुरासुरमर्त्येषु लोकेष्वास सुविस्मयः॥८॥
“all came to know in that way the majesty of Śrī Rāma's name. Great astonishment arose throughout the worlds of gods, asuras, and mortals.
Passage 9
अहो तरन्ति पाथोधौ महीयांसो महीधराः। इति विस्मितचित्तानां जनानां विस्मयोऽभवत्॥९॥
“‘Ah, these immense mountains float upon the ocean!’ Thus wonder arose among all whose hearts were amazed. Rāvaṇa Dismisses the Warning
Passage 10
बद्ध्यमानं नलेनोच्चैर्दृष्ट्वा सेतुं पयोनिधौ। निश्चयोऽभूत्कपिकुले दशकन्धरनिर्जये॥१०॥
“Seeing the lofty bridge being built by Nala upon the ocean, the monkey host became certain of victory over the ten-necked Rāvaṇa.
Passage 11
दशकन्धर आकर्ण्य रामभ्रूभङ्गमात्रतः। पयोनिधिवशीभूतं विषसाद निजे हृदि॥११॥
“Hearing that the ocean had been subdued by the mere furrowing of Rāma's brow, the ten-necked one sank within his heart.
Passage 12
मनुष्येणाल्पमात्रेण महान्नियमितोऽम्बुधिः। अहो दैवगतिः कापि न जाने भावि किं मम॥१२॥
“‘The mighty ocean has been restrained by a mere insignificant man! Ah, the movement of fate is inscrutable; I do not know what is to become of me.
Passage 13
किं वानेन निबद्धेन भीरुणा जलराशिना। मनुष्यमात्रं नो भक्ष्यं सुखमायातु राघवः॥१३॥
“‘Yet what of this bridge built by the cowardly mass of waters? A mere man is food for us. Let Rāghava come without fear.
Passage 14
अहो अस्य चमूः साधुः समेता दैवयोगतः। हस्तचालनमात्रेण भीतिशीलैः प्लवंगमैः॥१४॥
“‘Ah, what an excellent army fate has assembled for him—monkeys who are frightened by the mere movement of a hand!
Passage 15
अनायासेन यातूनां भक्ष्यमेतदुपस्थितम्। किं शोचित्वातिमात्रं मे रिपावस्मिल्लघीयसि॥१५॥
“‘Food for the rākṣasas has presented itself without effort. Why should I grieve so excessively over this most insignificant enemy?’
Passage 16
इत्यनादृत्य मनसा रामस्यागमनं प्रति। तस्थौ विचिन्तहृदयो वीरमानी दशानन॥१६॥
“Thus mentally dismissing Rāma's approach, the ten-headed one stood free of concern, regarding himself as a hero. The Completed Causeway
Passage 17
निबद्ध एव सेतुस्तु नलेनाहितयुक्तिना। उच्चावचैः क्षितिधरैः पङ्क्त्याकारो महोदधौ॥१७॥
“The bridge was now firmly built in rows upon the great ocean by Nala, whose skill was fully applied, using mountains both high and low.
Passage 18
समान् समैः सुसंयोज्य विषमान् विषमैरेव। जले बद्धो महासेतुर्नलेनातिपटीयसा॥१८॥
“Joining even forms perfectly with even and uneven forms with uneven, the exceedingly skillful Nala built the great bridge upon the water.
Passage 19
ददृशे सुमहाच्छायो घनसंहतिमेचकः। नलबद्धो महासेतुर्मध्ये वारिनिधेर्महान्॥१९॥
“The mighty bridge built by Nala appeared in the midst of the ocean, casting an immense shadow and dark as a mass of clouds.
Passage 20
दशयोजनविस्तीर्णो दैर्घ्येण शतयोजनः। महोच्छ्रितो महासेतुर्ददृशेऽब्धौ महादृढः॥२०॥
“Ten yojanas broad and a hundred yojanas long, the great bridge rose high upon the ocean, immensely strong.
Passage 21
यथैव सरसो मध्ये सेतुरन्तः पयोनिधेः। बद्धो नलेन कीशानां जयोत्साहविवर्धनः॥२१॥
“Like a causeway spanning the middle of a lake, the bridge built by Nala within the ocean increased the monkeys' ardor for victory.
Passage 22
सुघट्टितमहाशैलदृषद्दृढनिबन्धनः। शृङ्गाग्ररूढविटपिघनच्छायसुशीतलः॥२२॥
“Its firm bond was made of closely fitted stones from great mountains, and it was delightfully cool beneath the dense shade of trees growing upon their peaks.
Passage 23
सरिन्निर्झरसंदोहविनिबद्धैरनेकशः। कासारैरक्षयाम्भोभिः सर्वत्रसुगमायनः॥२३॥
“Countless rivers and cascades were held within it, along with pools of inexhaustible water, and it offered an easy passage everywhere.
Passage 24
उच्चैरुभयतः सिन्धुलहरीगणसंगतः। तुङ्गैर्जलघटाभारैरनवाप्यस्थितिर्महान्॥२४॥
“Lofty hosts of ocean waves met it from both sides, yet even the towering masses of water could not reach the great bridge's standing height. Images of the Bridge's Purpose
Passage 25
शेषाहिरिव पातालादुन्मग्नो रामवर्त्मकृत्। स्थितः पातुमिवाम्भोऽब्धेर्महामेघघटागणः॥२५॥
“It seemed the serpent Śeṣa had risen from the netherworld to make Rāma's road, or that masses of great clouds stood there as if to drink the ocean's waters.
Passage 26
स्वामिने मार्गदानाय भूमिभाग इवागतः। नानावर्णशिलाजालैर्भूरिचित्रविचित्रितः॥२६॥
“It was as though a tract of land had come to offer a road to its Lord, wondrously variegated by networks of stones in many colors.
Passage 27
सिन्धुमुक्तास्फोटकम्बुसमाचिततटद्वयः। महामकरदंष्ट्राग्रपीडनाधःशिलागणः॥२७॥
“Both its banks were covered with the ocean's pearls, shells, and conches, while its lower masses of stone were pressed by the tips of the great makaras' teeth.
Passage 28
रघुवंशाधिभूकीर्तिलेखपट्ट इवायतः। नलहस्तमहायुक्तिपटिम्नः परिसूचकः॥२८॥
“It stretched like an inscription tablet recording the fame of the sovereign of Raghu's line, and proclaimed the great dexterity of Nala's hand and skill.
Passage 29
उद्योग इव रामस्य दशवक्त्रजयं प्रति। महीयान् कपिसैन्यस्य प्रोत्साह इव मूर्तिमान्॥२९॥
“It was like Rāma's endeavor to conquer the ten-headed one, or like the immense encouragement of the monkey army embodied in visible form.
Passage 30
राक्षसाधीशहृदयनिर्दार इव दारुणः। वेलावनावलिश्यामः सुघट्टितशिलास्थितिः॥३०॥
“Terrible as the rending of the rākṣasa lord's heart, it stood with stones tightly fitted and appeared dark with rows of forests along the shore.
Passage 31
नीरन्ध्रो दृढबन्धश्च कपिसैन्यभरक्षमः। अत्यायतोऽतिदीर्घश्च महोच्छ्रायो महीतलात्॥३१॥
“Without a gap, firmly bound, and able to bear the weight of the monkey army, it extended exceedingly far and long and rose high above the ground.
Passage 32
अभञ्जनार्हो रक्षोभिरमानुषविनिर्मितिः। पौलस्त्यवंशदहनस्थितिवेदिरिवोद्गतः॥३२॥
“Unbreakable by the rākṣasas and fashioned beyond human capacity, it rose like a sacrificial altar established for burning the lineage of Pulastya.
Passage 33
राक्षसानीकहृदयमहाभारप्रदायकः। सीतारघूद्वहमनःप्रेमसूत्रसमाकृतिः॥३३॥
“It laid an immense burden upon the hearts of the rākṣasa forces and took form as the thread of love joining the hearts of Sītā and the foremost Raghu.
Passage 34
उभयत्र सुसंलग्नो मनोरथ इवोभयोः। राक्षसस्तोमसंहारकालदण्ड इवायतः॥३४॥
“Joined securely at both ends, it was like the shared longing of those two, and stretched like Time's rod sent to destroy the hosts of rākṣasas.
Passage 35
लङ्कापुरीमहादुर्गपरिप्राप्तिपथो महान्। रावणस्यायुषो लक्ष्म्याश्चापसारपथोपमः॥३५॥
“It was the great road for reaching the mighty fortress-city of Laṅkā, resembling the path along which Rāvaṇa's life and fortune would depart.
Passage 36
अभूतपूर्वनिर्माणस्त्रैलोक्यजनविस्मयः। विनिर्मितो रामचन्द्रस्याज्ञया कपिपुङ्गवैः॥३६॥
“A construction without precedent and a wonder to the inhabitants of the three worlds, it was built by the foremost monkeys at Rāmacandra's command.
Passage 37
पौषस्य कृष्णदशमीदिवसे कपीन्द्रैरारब्ध एष सुमहोद्यमकारिभिस्तैः। सिद्धश्चतुर्भिरथ यो दिवसैः समस्तः सेतुश्चिरं विजयते स रघूद्वहस्य॥३७॥
“Begun on the dark tenth day of Pauṣa by those monkey chiefs who undertook the mighty labor, the whole bridge was completed in four days. May that bridge of the foremost Raghu triumph forever.”