Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अथादिदेश भगवान् रामो वालिकपीशितुः। अङ्गजं वदतां श्रेष्ठमङ्गदं नाम वानरम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: “Then the blessed Rāma commissioned the monkey named Aṅgada, eloquent son of the monkey lord Vāli.
Passage 2
गच्छाङ्गदाशु तस्यान्ते रक्षोराजस्य सत्वरम्। मद्वाक्यं ब्रूहि तत्रेत्य यदिदं कथयाम्यहम्॥२॥
“‘Aṅgada, go swiftly into the presence of that king of the rākṣasas. Upon arriving, speak to him this message that I now tell you.
Passage 3
भवान् रहसि मद्भार्यां जहार रभसेन यत्। तदिदं कृतवान् गर्ह्यमात्मनाशाय रावण॥३॥
“‘Rāvaṇa, when you violently abducted my wife in secret, you committed a blameworthy act for your own destruction.
Passage 4
सोऽयं ते दुर्नयो भूयान् मया क्षान्ततमो भृशम्। धर्मद्वारपथो दत्तस्तव निर्गमनाय च॥४॥
“‘I have endured this immense wrongdoing of yours for far too long. I have also given you a path of departure through the gateway of dharma.
Passage 5
गच्छ तेन पथा शीघ्रं सबान्धवसुहृत्पशुः। लङ्काधिपत्ये तु मया स्थापितोऽयं विभीषणः॥५॥
“‘Depart quickly by that path with your relatives, friends, and animals. I have installed Vibhīṣaṇa as sovereign of Laṅkā.
Passage 6
यो मे शरणमायातः पूर्वमेव महामतिः। सोऽभिषिक्तो मयाप्येष लङ्काराज्येऽनुजस्तव॥६॥
“‘Your wise younger brother came to me for refuge before the battle, and I have consecrated him to Laṅkā's throne.
Passage 7
तवायमेव समयो यथोक्तं कर्तुमस्ति वै। नो चेन्मद्बाणवह्नेस्त्वं गमिष्यसि पतङ्गताम्॥७॥
“‘This alone is your opportunity to do as I have said. Otherwise, you will become like a moth in the fire of my arrows.
Passage 8
मा देहि राक्षसश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्महत्यामिमां मम। आततायिवधे दोषो नास्तीति मुनिभिर्मतम्॥८॥
“‘Foremost rākṣasa, do not burden me with this act of killing one born in a brahmin lineage. The sages hold that there is no fault in killing a murderous aggressor.
Passage 9
पुलस्त्यस्य मुनेर्वंशे जागर्ति करुणा मम। मा विलोपयतासि तां मदन्तःकरणस्थिताम्॥९॥
“‘Compassion for the lineage of the sage Pulastya remains awake within me. Do not make me extinguish that compassion residing in my heart.
Passage 10
जीवन्तु राक्षसाश्चापि तवैते कोटियूथपाः। नो चेत्सर्वेऽपि निधनं गमिष्यन्ति ममेषुभिः॥१०॥
“‘Let these tens of millions of rākṣasa troop-leaders of yours also live. Otherwise, every one of them will meet death through my arrows.’ Aṅgada Reaches the Royal Hall
Passage 11
इत्यादिष्टः स रामेण वालिनस्तनयोऽङ्गदः। माघशुक्लप्रतिपदि ययौ रक्षःपतेः सभाम्॥११॥
“Thus commissioned by Rāma, Vāli's son Aṅgada entered the lord of the rākṣasas' assembly on the first day of the bright half of Māgha.
Passage 12
महास्तम्भशतोपेतां दीप्यन्तीं सर्वतस्त्विषा। तलशब्दनिनादेन प्रतिशब्दायितां मुहुः॥१२॥
“The hall possessed a hundred immense pillars and shone radiantly on every side. The sounds made upon its floor repeatedly echoed through it.
Passage 13
मणिरत्नमहास्तम्भप्रतिबिम्बितमूर्तिभिः। रक्षोधिपैर्महाकायैः सर्वतः समलंकृताम्॥१३॥
“It was adorned on every side by immense-bodied rākṣasa chiefs whose forms were reflected in great pillars of jeweled stone.
Passage 14
नानावर्णैर्मणिगणैर्विचित्रविपुलाजिराम्। सुवर्णभित्तिप्रत्युप्तरत्नमाणिक्यदीपिताम्॥१४॥
“Its vast courtyard was variegated with clusters of many-colored gems, and jewels and rubies set into golden walls made it shine.
Passage 15
सर्वतो विपुलादर्शजटितायतभित्तिकाम्। हेमरत्नसुनिबद्धगवाक्षशतभूषिताम्॥१५॥
“Its long walls were covered on every side with immense mirrors, and a hundred windows finely fashioned from gold and jewels adorned it.
Passage 16
नानावर्णैर्मणिशिलाजालैर्निर्मिततोरणाम्। गगनस्पृङ्महास्तम्भरचितायततोरणाम्॥१६॥
“Its gateways were made from networks of many-colored jeweled stones, and its broad arches were formed by immense pillars touching the sky.
Passage 17
देहलीबद्धरत्नांशुच्छादितद्वारशोभिताम्। समन्तादास्तृतानेकविपुलास्तरणान्विताम्॥१७॥
“Its splendid doors were covered by rays from jewels fixed into the thresholds, and many broad carpets were spread everywhere.
Passage 18
विचित्रकम्बलास्तीर्णगृहभित्तिमनोरमाम्। ऊर्ध्वं चित्रपटच्छन्नां समन्ताच्च विचित्रिताम्॥१८॥
“Beautiful patterned blankets spread through the chamber delighted the mind; painted cloths covered it overhead, and it was richly decorated on every side.
Passage 19
रत्नस्तम्भसुनिबद्धमुक्तादामविलम्बिभिः। सांध्यमेघसमाकारैर्बहुवर्णविचित्रितैः॥१९॥
“Strings of pearls hung from the jeweled pillars, variegated with many colors and resembling clouds at twilight.
Passage 20
गमनोच्छ्रायिभिर्भूरिवितानैः समलंकृताम्। कृत्रिमैः पटवृक्षैश्च विचित्रकुसुमान्वितैः॥२०॥
“It was adorned with numerous lofty canopies and with artificial cloth trees bearing many-colored flowers.
Passage 21
समन्ताच्छोभितां तद्वद्धस्त्यश्वपुरुषव्रजैः। करालैः सुमहोद्दण्डैर्महाकायैर्महाभुजैः॥२१॥
“Companies of elephants, horses, and men beautified it on every side, together with formidable, immensely fierce, huge-bodied, mighty-armed beings—
Passage 22
साभिमानै रणोत्साहरोमाञ्चितसुविग्रहैः। नानावर्णैर्महाभीमैः कोणपेन्द्रैः समन्विताम्॥२२॥
“proud and terrifying rākṣasa lords of many complexions, whose powerful bodies thrilled with eagerness for battle.
Passage 23
राक्षसेन्द्राधिष्ठितोच्चरत्नसिंहासनोर्जिताम्। महाशब्दप्रतीहारनिवेदितसमागमैः॥२३॥
“It was dominated by the lofty jeweled throne occupied by the rākṣasa king, while loud-voiced doorkeepers announced those who entered.
Passage 24
अनेकराक्षसाधीशविनयार्जवशोभिताम्। हेलावश्यनमन्मौलिनाकपालादिसेविताम्॥२४॥
“The respectful sincerity of many rākṣasa chiefs lent it splendor, and even the guardians of heaven served there with their crowned heads effortlessly bowed.
Passage 25
सीतावियोगसंक्लिष्टदशास्यभयमौनितैः। रक्षोगणैः समन्ताच्च चित्रलेखायितामिव॥२५॥
“On every side groups of rākṣasas, silenced by fear of the ten-headed king who was tormented by separation from Sītā, seemed like figures painted upon a wall.
Passage 26
त्रैलोक्यवैभवश्रीभिः कृतस्थानां महोर्जिताम्। तां विवेश स निःशङ्कं कौतुकी वालिनः सुतः॥२६॥
“That magnificent hall contained the assembled splendors and riches of the three worlds. Curious and utterly fearless, Vāli's son entered it. The Message Is Delivered
Passage 27
स तत्र रक्षोधिपतेः पुरस्तान्महार्हसिंहासनमास्थितस्य। समेत्य निःशङ्कुमना यदुक्तं रामेण तत्सर्वमुवाच तस्मै॥२७॥
He approached the lord of the rākṣasas seated upon his exceedingly precious throne. With a fearless mind, Aṅgada repeated to him everything that Rāma had said.