Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— आरभ्य राक्षसाधीशः पौषकृष्णत्रयोदशीम्। यावत्कुहूदिनं सर्वान् राक्षसांश्च चमूपतीन्। तत्तत्स्थानेषु युद्धार्थं संख्यां कृत्वाध्यरोपयत्॥१॥
Brahmā said: “Beginning on the thirteenth day of the dark half of Pauṣa and continuing until the new-moon day, the lord of the rākṣasas counted all the rākṣasas and army commanders and deployed them in their respective positions for battle.
Passage 2
प्राच्यवाचीप्रतीचीषु तथोदीच्यां च राक्षसाः। रोपितास्तेन बलिना युद्धार्थं कपिसैनिकैः॥२॥
“That powerful king stationed rākṣasas in the east, south, west, and north to fight the monkey soldiers.
Passage 3
तस्य चार्धाङ्गिनी साध्वी नाम्ना मन्दोदरी तु या। अब्रवीत्सा सविनयमागत्य विहिताञ्जलिः॥३॥
“His virtuous wife named Mandodarī approached respectfully with joined palms and spoke.
Passage 4
पश्य पश्य चमूमेनां रामस्य प्राणवल्लभ। यावदवकाशो हरितां तावद्दृष्टेः प्रसारय॥४॥
“‘Beloved of my life, look—look at this army of Rāma. Extend your gaze as far as there is space in the directions.
Passage 5
पश्यावकाशमाकाशे क्वापि पश्यन्ति नो जनाः। पुरीनिवासिनः सर्वे साश्चर्या एव सम्प्रति॥५॥
“‘See how the people cannot find open space anywhere in the sky. All the city's residents are now filled with wonder.
Passage 6
मज्जन्ति ये मज्जयन्ति तेऽपि प्रस्तरराशयः। पयःपृष्ठस्थिताः कान्त तरन्ति खलु सम्प्रति॥६॥
“‘Beloved, those masses of rock that sink and cause other things to sink now remain upon the water's surface and float.
Passage 7
करप्रचालनेनापि ये त्रस्यन्ति भृशं नृणाम्। तैरियं वेष्टिता कृत्स्ना ग्रासाय कपिभिः पुरी॥७॥
“‘This entire city has been surrounded for devouring by monkeys who ordinarily tremble even when men wave a hand at them.
Passage 8
यद्भक्ष्यं राक्षसानां स्यात्तौ मर्त्याविह संगतौ। क्षयाय राक्षसेन्द्राणां हेलाजितचतुर्दिशाम्॥८॥
“‘The two mortals who should have been food for rākṣasas have come here to destroy the rākṣasa chiefs who arrogantly conquered the four directions.
Passage 9
यत्सीमापि न गीर्वाणैर्लङ्घिता साद्य वानरैः। लङ्घ्यते नगरी लङ्का जातः कालविपर्ययः॥९॥
“‘Laṅkā, whose very boundary the gods could not cross, is crossed today by monkeys. Time has reversed its course.
Passage 10
रिपोरन्त्यं गतो नाथ सोदरोऽपि तवाहितः। अद्य दैवविपर्यासाद्विपर्यस्तमिवाखिलम्॥१०॥
“‘Lord, even your own brother has gone into the presence of your enemy and turned against you. Today, through a reversal of fate, everything appears overturned.
Passage 11
शत्रुश्च तेऽतिप्रबलो न कथं शङ्क्यते मुहुः। येनैकेन हताः सम्यग्वीर्यवन्तः खरादयः॥११॥
“‘Why do you not repeatedly take thought of your exceedingly powerful enemy, who alone completely slew mighty Khara and the others?
Passage 12
त्वत्तोऽप्यधिकवीर्यास्ते तस्य हृत्वा प्रियां भवान्। आगतः कृतवानेतदनर्हं कर्म तद्दृशम्॥१२॥
“‘Those warriors possessed even greater valor than you. Yet you abducted his beloved and returned here after committing that unworthy deed against such a man.
Passage 13
दुर्गान्तःस्थापिता सापि दग्धा शोकाग्निना भृशम्। शपति त्वामविरतं विनाशाय सहात्मजैः॥१३॥
“‘Confined within the fortress and severely burned by the fire of grief, she ceaselessly curses you to destruction together with your sons.
Passage 14
विधाय स महासेतुं जलधौ धरणीधरैः। प्राप्तस्त्रिकूटमचलं कथं नाथ न पश्यसि॥१४॥
“‘He built a great bridge across the ocean with mountains and has reached Mount Trikūṭa. Lord, how can you fail to see this? Mandodarī Urges Peace
Passage 15
कथमन्धायसे श्रीमन् विशत्यापि विलोचनैः। तव शीर्षावलीं मुक्त्वा विच्छेद छत्रमण्डलम्॥१५॥
“‘Glorious one, how are you blind even with twenty eyes? Rāma spared your row of heads and cut down only the royal parasol.
Passage 16
रामः पुलस्त्यवंशे तदाऽऽविष्कृते दयां पराम्। कृतं निरवशेषं यदद्यैव खलु नामुना॥१६॥
“‘Rāma thereby displayed supreme mercy toward Pulastya's lineage, for he could certainly have ended it completely today.
Passage 17
सम्प्रत्यवसरोऽस्त्येकः कर्तुं संधिं तव प्रभो। समर्पय श्रीरामस्य प्रियां जीवन्तु राक्षसाः॥१७॥
“‘Lord, there is now one opportunity to make peace. Return glorious Rāma's beloved so that the rākṣasas may live.
Passage 18
जानासि वालिनो बाह्वोर्बलं च त्वमशेषतः। अलं प्रकथ्य तद्वार्तामनुभूय स्थितो ह्यसि॥१८॥
“‘You know fully the strength of Vāli's arms. There is no need to recount that affair, for you experienced it yourself and remain alive.
Passage 19
सोऽपि श्रीराममुक्तेन मार्गेण निहतः क्षणात्। तस्य प्रियतमां हृत्वा कुबुद्धयेव महात्मनः॥१९॥
“‘Even he was slain in an instant by the missile released by glorious Rāma. Yet with evil understanding you abducted that great soul's beloved.
Passage 20
भवान् कथं सुखं शेते नूनमन्धापितो विभो। आत्मनः कुलनाशाय जाने कृत्या त्वयार्जिता॥२०॥
“‘Mighty lord, how can you sleep peacefully? Surely you have been blinded. I believe you have summoned a deadly spirit to destroy yourself and your lineage.’
Passage 21
इति मन्दोदरीवाक्यमाकर्ण्य दशकन्धरः। उवाच भीरुरित्यन्तरवज्ञानपरो भृशम्॥२१॥
“Hearing Mandodarī's words, the ten-necked one inwardly dismissed her as fearful and spoke with intense contempt. Rāvaṇa Dismisses Her Fear
Passage 22
अलं भयेन ते तन्वि न जानासि बलाधिकान्। लङ्काधिवासिनो वीरान् रक्षोवर्यान् परःशतान्॥२२॥
“‘Slender one, enough of your fear. You do not know the hundreds upon hundreds of supremely powerful rākṣasa heroes who dwell in Laṅkā.
Passage 23
किमेतैः कपिभिः प्राप्तैः संछन्नैः परितो दिशम्। भक्ष्या एव किलास्माभिरेते देवोपसादिताः॥२३॥
“‘What of these monkeys who have arrived and covered every direction? The gods have delivered them to us merely as food.
Passage 24
अमीभिर्हृष्टपुष्टाङ्गैः कोटिसंख्यैः कपीश्वरैः। सम्यक् पुष्टिं प्रयास्यन्ति क्षुधिता मम राक्षसाः॥२४॥
“‘My hungry rākṣasas will be thoroughly nourished by these tens of millions of monkey chiefs with their strong, well-fed bodies.
Passage 25
प्रसारयाम्यहं यावद्दृशस्तावद्विलोकये। मांसभारांश्चतुर्दिक्षु भक्ष्यान् देवोपसादितान्॥२५॥
“‘Wherever I extend my eyes, I see in the four directions masses of meat delivered by the gods to be eaten.
Passage 26
नाशायात्मन एवैतैर्बद्धः सेतुः पयोनिधौ। पलायिता अपि रणान्नामी मोच्या निशाचरैः॥२६॥
“‘They built the bridge across the ocean only for their own destruction. Even if they flee from battle, these creatures must not be released by the night-roamers.
Passage 27
वेष्टयन्तु पुरीमेतां सुखेन खलु मर्कटाः। यावन्नावतरन्त्येते मम वीरा रणाङ्गणम्॥२७॥
“‘Let the monkeys comfortably surround this city until my heroes descend into the field of battle.
Passage 28
ये ग्रस्तुकामा नगरीं मम मर्कटयूथपाः। ग्रसनीयास्त एवामी क्षुधितैर्मम राक्षसैः॥२८॥
“‘These monkey troop-leaders who want to swallow my city are themselves to be swallowed by my hungry rākṣasas.
Passage 29
एषां दैवं विपर्यस्तं स्वयमेवागता यतः। मर्तुकामा राक्षसानामङ्केषु विपुलक्षुधाम्॥२९॥
“‘Their fortune has turned against them, for desiring death they have come of their own accord into the arms of ravenously hungry rākṣasas.
Passage 30
यदेतैर्मर्कटप्रायैर्लङ्घिता नगरी मम। तत्किं भिया सुनयने दुर्जयाः किल राक्षसाः॥३०॥
“‘Beautiful-eyed one, why be afraid merely because creatures resembling monkeys have crossed into my city? The rākṣasas are surely unconquerable.
Passage 31
यच्छत्रोरन्तिकं यातो भीरुरेष विभीषणः। तत्फलं यास्यति ध्वस्तसपत्ने मयि भामिनि॥३१॥
“‘Lovely one, this timid Vibhīṣaṇa has gone near the enemy. When I have crushed my rival and stand victorious, he will receive the fruit of that act.
Passage 32
किमस्य बलमाश्रित्य जितवानहमाजिषु। नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणान् दिक्पतीन् वासवादिकान्॥३२॥
“‘Did I rely upon his strength when I conquered in battle the guardians of the directions—Indra and the others—who wield many kinds of weapons?
Passage 33
संगच्छतामयं द्वेष्यैर्भयशीलो विभीषणः। निद्रातु कुम्भकर्णोऽपि क्रीडन्त्विन्द्रजिदादयः॥३३॥
“‘Let fearful Vibhīṣaṇa join my enemies. Let even Kumbhakarṇa sleep, and let Indrajit and the others continue their sport.
Passage 34
शक्तोऽहमात्मनैवैकस्तापसस्यास्य दुर्धियः। प्रसभं सम्प्रमथने भ्रूभङ्गनियताम्बुधेः॥३४॥
“‘I alone am capable of violently crushing this evil-minded ascetic who constrained the ocean merely by bending his brow.
Passage 35
वानराणां प्रमथने शक्ताश्च मम राक्षसाः। अलं भयेन ते कान्ते पश्य तावत्कुतूहलम्॥३५॥
“‘My rākṣasas are capable of crushing the monkeys. Beloved, enough of your fear; simply watch the spectacle. Rāvaṇa Refuses to Yield
Passage 36
किं शङ्कनीयः खल्वेष मानुषः सोऽपि तापसः। किं दैवान्निहतैश्चापि शापदग्धैः खरादिभिः॥३६॥
“‘Why should this human, who is also an ascetic, be feared? What significance is there in Khara and the others, already burned by a curse, being slain through fate?
Passage 37
किमहं कृतवान् गर्ह्यं जानकीं यदिहानयम्। येन बन्दीकृताः कान्ते देवनार्यः परः शताः॥३७॥
“‘Beloved, what blameworthy act have I committed by bringing Jānakī here, when I have imprisoned hundreds upon hundreds of divine women?
Passage 38
यद्यं तापसो मोहाच्चिच्छेद मम मूर्धगम्। छत्रं त्रैलोक्यराज्यश्रीविश्रामस्थानमुद्यतम्॥३८॥
“‘If this deluded ascetic cut down the lofty parasol above my head—the resting place of the royal splendor of the three worlds—
Passage 39
तदात्मनो विनाशाय नियतं विद्धि सुन्दरि। पतङ्ग इव पक्षाभ्यामाक्षिपन् दीपगां शिखाम्॥३९॥
“‘understand, beautiful one, that he did so only for his own certain destruction, like a moth striking with its wings at a flame rising from a lamp.
Passage 40
अयमन्धायते कामं मानुषः सोऽपि तापसः। आत्मानं पातयन्नङ्के रक्षसां घोरकर्मणाम्॥४०॥
“‘This human ascetic is certainly blinded by desire and casts himself into the arms of rākṣasas who perform terrible deeds.
Passage 41
नियतं नार्पयिष्यामि जानकीमस्य भामिनि। ध्रुवमङ्केऽर्पयिष्यामि हत्वा रामं महाहवे॥४१॥
“‘Lovely one, I will certainly not return Jānakī to him. After killing Rāma in the great battle, I will surely place her in my own lap.
Passage 42
दैवेन निहतो वाली वृद्धः संजीर्णविग्रहः। किमहं तेन भेष्यामि जगज्जेता दशाननः॥४२॥
“‘Vāli was aged, his body worn out, and he was slain by fate. Why should I, the ten-headed conqueror of the world, fear on account of him?
Passage 43
स्वप्स्यामि सुखमेवाहं यावन्मे राक्षसोत्तमाः। महाबला महाकाया जेष्यन्ति समरे रिपून्॥४३॥
“‘I shall sleep peacefully while my supremely strong, immense-bodied rākṣasa chiefs conquer the enemies in battle.
Passage 44
नाहं विभीषणो भीरुर्यः कुर्यात्समरं विना। संधिं विपक्षैः संगम्य नन्वहं दशकन्धरः॥४४॥
“‘I am not the timid Vibhīṣaṇa, who would join the enemy and make peace without a battle. I am the ten-necked one.
Passage 45
शिरांसि येन गिरिशस्याङ्घ्रिपद्मद्वये प्रभोः। उपहारीकृत्य लब्धास्त्रैलोक्यविजयश्रियः॥४५॥
“‘I offered my heads at the twin lotus feet of Lord Śiva and thereby obtained the splendor of victory over the three worlds.
Passage 46
कान्ते ननु मयाऽऽज्ञाता महावीर्या निशाचराः। भक्षयिष्यन्ति सपदि यूथशो मर्कटानमून्॥४६॥
“‘Beloved, the immensely heroic night-roamers whom I have commanded will immediately devour these monkeys troop by troop.
Passage 47
प्रिये किं मां न जानासि हेलयैव जिगाय यः। त्रैलोक्यवर्तिनो वीरान् सस्त्रीसुतधनश्रियः॥४७॥
“‘Dear one, do you not know me, who effortlessly conquered the heroes throughout the three worlds together with their wives, sons, wealth, and glory?
Passage 48
किमात्मतनयं वीरं मेघनादं न वेत्सि च। येन लब्धेन्द्रजित्ख्यातिः संख्ये जित्वा पुरन्दरम्॥४८॥
“‘Do you not know my heroic son Meghanāda, who gained the renown “Conqueror of Indra” by defeating the lord of the gods in battle?
Passage 49
किं बिभेषि मुहुः कान्ते दृष्ट्वेमाः कपिवाहिनीः। भक्ष्या राक्षसवीराणामेकैककवलक्रमात्॥४९॥
“‘Beloved, why do you repeatedly grow afraid upon seeing these monkey armies? Each will become no more than a single mouthful for the rākṣasa heroes.’
Passage 50
इति समधिकदर्पोद्दामधैर्यत्तचेतास्त्रिभुवनजयकारी सम्पदा मुह्यमानः। दिनकरकुलकेतावासुरीं बुद्धिमात्तो मृगदृशमभिधायातिष्ठदालिङ्ग्य दोर्भिः॥५०॥
Thus the conqueror of the three worlds, his mind seized by the unrestrained force of excessive pride and deluded by his prosperity, spoke his demonic judgment to the doe-eyed woman and stood embracing her with his arms.