Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— दृष्ट्वा सेतुं महोच्छ्रायं पारावारविनिर्मितम्। मुमुदेऽतितरां रामः प्राप्तां मेने च जानकीम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: “Seeing the lofty bridge constructed across the ocean, Rāma rejoiced exceedingly and considered Jānakī already recovered.
Passage 2
कृत्वा सेतुविनिर्माणं सुग्रीवः कपिनायकः। हनुमांश्च नलो विद्वानन्ये च कपिपुङ्गवाः॥२॥
“Having completed the bridge, Sugrīva the monkey king, Hanumān, wise Nala, and the other foremost monkeys—
Passage 3
प्रणेमुः श्रीरघुश्रेष्ठं प्रसीदन्तं मुहुर्मुहुः। स च ताननुजग्राह दृक्प्रसादेन भूयसा॥३॥
“bowed to the gracious, glorious chief of Raghu's line again and again. He welcomed them with the abundant favor of his gaze.
Passage 4
त ऊचुरञ्जलीन् बद्ध्वा विनयानतकन्धराः। अयं ते निर्मितः सेतुर्दृश्यतां रघुपुङ्गव॥४॥
“With palms joined and necks bowed in humility, they said, ‘Foremost Raghu, this bridge has been built for you. Behold it.
Passage 5
अनेन गम्यतां नाथ सुखं शत्रुजिगीषया। सुखं संतारय विभो कपिसैन्यानि कोटिशः॥५॥
“‘Lord, proceed easily upon it in your desire to conquer the enemy. Mighty one, carry the millions of monkey troops comfortably across.
Passage 6
तव प्रभावात्सिद्धोऽयं श्रीमद्रघुकुलाग्रणीः। नास्माकमस्ति सामर्थ्यमेतस्य खलु निर्मितौ॥६॥
“‘Glorious chief of Raghu's line, it was accomplished through your power. We ourselves truly possess no ability to construct such a thing.
Passage 7
येन बद्धो महासेतुर्मध्ये लवणवारिधेः। स एव रावणानीकं क्षणात्त्वं चूर्णयिष्यसि॥७॥
“‘You whose power built this great bridge in the midst of the salt ocean will yourself pulverize Rāvaṇa's forces in an instant.’
Passage 8
इत्युक्तो रघुशार्दूलः कपिभिर्नतकन्धरैः। सोत्साहहृदयो लङ्कां प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे॥८॥
“Thus addressed by the bowing monkeys, the tiger of Raghu's line set about departing for Laṅkā with an eager heart. Worship at the Crossing
Passage 9
स तत्र प्रतिष्ठापयामास देवं शिवं चन्द्रचूडं शुभं विश्ववन्द्यम्। सदा सन्निधानं स्वयं व्यक्तमीशं परं ज्योतिराद्यं भवानीसमेतम्॥९॥
“There he installed the auspicious, universally worshiped Lord Śiva, crowned with the moon—self-manifest, eternally present, the primordial supreme light, together with Bhavānī.
Passage 10
गन्धैः पुष्पैस्तथा धूपैर्दीपैर्नैवेद्यराशिभिः। ईश्वरं पूजयामास लोकवृत्तमुपाश्रितः॥१०॥
“Adopting the conduct observed in the world, he worshiped the Lord with fragrances, flowers, incense, lamps, and abundant food offerings.
Passage 11
अघोरं वामदेवं च सद्योजातं महेश्वरम्। तत्पुरुषमीशानं पूजयामास भक्तितः॥११॥
“With devotion he worshiped Maheśvara in the five aspects Aghora, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta, Tatpuruṣa, and Īśāna.
Passage 12
पञ्चवक्त्रं च सम्पूज्य कालिकां समपूजयत्। बलिभिर्धूपदीपैश्च उपहारैरनेकशः॥१२॥
“Having fully worshiped the five-faced Lord, he also worshiped Kālī with offerings, incense, lamps, and many gifts.
Passage 13
नत्वा स्तुत्वा क्षमाप्याथ स देवौ लोकमातरौ। प्रययौ सेतुमार्गेण लङ्कानाथं जिगीषया॥१३॥
“After bowing to, praising, and asking forgiveness from the two divine parents of the world, he proceeded by the bridge-road, intent on conquering Laṅkā's lord. The Army Crosses the Ocean
Passage 14
कपीनुत्तारयामास चतुर्दश्यां कृतार्चनः। सर्वे त्रिभिश्च दिवसैरुत्तीर्य जलधेर्जलम्॥१४॥
“Having performed the worship, he began taking the monkeys across on the fourteenth lunar day. Within three days they had all crossed the ocean's water—
Passage 15
पारं प्रयाताः कपयो रामबाहुबलाश्रयाः। गर्जन्तो निनदैर्भूरि निशाचरपुरीं प्रति॥१५॥
“and reached the farther shore, sheltered by the strength of Rāma's arm, roaring mightily toward the city of the night-roamers.
Passage 16
मर्दनाय कृतास्फोटाः साटोपं सुमहोद्धताः। कृतत्वराश्च साक्षेपं रक्षोनाथविमर्दने॥१६॥
“Violently exultant, they cracked their limbs in preparation for destruction and hastened with fierce gestures to crush the lord of the rākṣasas.
Passage 17
अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वमिति संरम्भभीषणाः। उच्चैः किलकिलाशब्दैर्नादयन्तोऽखिला दिशः॥१७॥
“Terrible in their fury, each cried, ‘I shall be first! I shall be first!’ Their loud chattering cries resounded through every direction.
Passage 18
व्याप्नुवन्तो नभो भूमिं सुसंकटगतिक्रमाः। कुर्वन्तो वर्त्मसम्बाधं धारानुकृतियायिनः॥१८॥
“Filling sky and earth, they advanced in a densely crowded movement, choking the road as they flowed onward like a torrent.
Passage 19
निनदै राक्षसेन्द्राणां स्फोटयन्तः शिरःश्रुतिम्। निर्दारयन्तो हृदयं मानसोत्साहभञ्जनाः॥१९॥
“Their roars burst upon the ears of the rākṣasa chiefs, tore their hearts, and shattered the courage in their minds.
Passage 20
उत्तार्य तन्महासैन्यं रामवीरो महाभुजः। कृत्स्नं निवेशयामास सुवेलगिरिमूर्धनि॥२०॥
“Having brought that entire great army across, heroic, mighty-armed Rāma stationed it upon the summit of Mount Suvela.
Passage 21
एवं निरुध्य लङ्काया हृदयं वानरोद्भवैः। तस्थौ सुवेलशिरसि राक्षसानां यथान्तकः॥२१॥
“Having thus hemmed in the heart of Laṅkā with the monkey hosts, he stood upon Suvela's summit like Death confronting the rākṣasas. Laṅkā Is Surrounded
Passage 22
वानरास्ते दशग्रीवपुरीप्राकारमुन्नतम्। आक्रम्य नितरां तस्थुर्गर्जन्तो दर्पसंयुताः॥२२॥
“Those monkeys occupied the lofty rampart of the ten-necked one's city and stood there roaring, filled with boldness.
Passage 23
कोष्ठान्यट्टालकांश्चैव गोपुराणि सहस्रशः। शिखराणि समारुह्य स्थिताः केचिन्महोद्भटाः॥२३॥
“Some mighty warriors climbed and occupied the chambers, watchtowers, thousands of gateways, and lofty peaks.
Passage 24
संचूर्णयन्तो हृदयं रावणस्य रवैर्मुहुः। एकैकः कपिवीरस्तेष्वेकैकस्माद्बलाधिकः॥२४॥
“Again and again their cries pulverized Rāvaṇa's heart. Every monkey hero among them was stronger than the next.
Passage 25
सर्वे जगुर्गम्भीरं कृतास्फोटाश्चुकूदिरे। महाबाहुबलोत्सिक्ताः कृतदोर्जङ्घताडनाः॥२५॥
“They all sounded deep cries and leapt after cracking their limbs, swelling with the strength of their mighty arms and slapping their arms and thighs.
Passage 26
निर्दारयन्तो लङ्काया हृदयं सुमहोद्धटाः। गिरीन्द्रा इव कायास्ते रक्षसामतिभीषणाः॥२६॥
“Violently exultant, they tore the heart of Laṅkā. Their bodies were like kings of mountains and exceedingly terrifying to the rākṣasas.
Passage 27
सोज्जृम्भवदनाः सर्वे लङ्काया ग्रासहेतवे। रामदत्तबलोन्मत्ता आज्ञामात्रप्रतीक्षणाः॥२७॥
“All opened their mouths wide as though to devour Laṅkā. Intoxicated by the strength Rāma had given them, they waited only for his command.
Passage 28
आमोटयन्तः स्वाङ्गानि सोद्रेका रणहेतवे। बाहुकण्डूप्रहाणेच्छाः प्रोद्धुरा रणवाञ्छकाः॥२८॥
“Flexing their limbs in excitement for battle, those eager for war swelled with pride, longing to strike and relieve the itching of their arms.
Passage 29
बलात्पिपतिषन्तश्च राक्षसानां बलोपरि। अन्योन्यमनपेक्षन्तः सर्वे भूरिबलाधिकाः॥२९॥
“All possessed immense strength and wanted to hurl themselves by force upon the rākṣasa army without waiting for one another.
Passage 30
तेऽष्टभिर्दिवसैस्तत्र संवेष्ट्य परितः पुरीम्। स्थापिता रघुनाथेन यथास्थानं कपीश्वराः॥३०॥
“Over eight days those monkey lords encircled the city on every side and were stationed by Raghunātha in their appointed places. Śuka and Sāraṇa Enter the Camp
Passage 31
रामस्य तद्बलममेयमसंख्यसंख्यं संवीक्षितुं दशमुखेन ततो नियुक्तौ। प्राप्तौ मदाद्धरिदिने शुकसारणाह्वौ चारौ निरीक्ष्य निखिलं च विमोहितौ च॥३१॥
“The ten-headed one then commissioned two spies to inspect Rāma's immeasurable host, whose number was beyond counting. The spies named Śuka and Sāraṇa arrived proudly on Hari's day; after surveying the whole army, both were bewildered.”