अथ तौ देशकालज्ञौ राजपुत्रावरिंदमौ। देशे काले च वाक्यज्ञावब्रूतां कौशिकं वचः॥
Then those princes, repressors of foes, cognizant of place, and time, and words, thus spoke to Kuśika's son agreeably to time and place, saying,
भगवञ्छोतुमिच्छावो यस्मिन् काले निशाचरौ। संरक्षणीयौ तौ ब्रूहि नातिवर्तेत तत्क्षणम्॥
O adorable one, do you tell us as to the time when we should oppose those rangers of the night! Let not that hour pass away!
एवं ब्रुवाणौ काकुत्स्थौ त्वरमाणौ युयुत्सया। सर्वे ते मुनयः प्रीताः प्रशशंसुर्नृपात्मजौ॥
Upon the two Kākutsthas' saying this, and finding them prompt for the encounter, those ascetics well-pleased, fell to extolling the sons of the king.
अद्यप्रभृति षड्रात्रं रक्षतां राघवौ युवाम्। दीक्षां गतो ह्येष मुनिौनित्वं च गमिष्यति॥
For six nights from to-day, you should protects us. This ascetic has been initiated into the sacrifice, and must, therefore, observe taciturnity.
तौ तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रौ यशस्विनौ। अनिद्रं षडहोरात्रं तपोवनमरक्षताम्॥ उपासांचक्रतुर्वीरौ यत्तौ परमधन्विनौ। ररक्षतुर्मुनिवरं विश्वामित्रमरिंदमौ॥
Hearing these words of theirs, those illustrious princes, renouncing sleep, began to guard the hermitage day and night; and those heroic and mighty archers protected that best of ascetics and subduer of enemies.
अथ काले गते तस्मिन् षष्ठेऽहनि तदागते। सौमित्रिमब्रवीद् रामो यत्तो भव समाहितः॥
When time had thus gone by and the sixth day had arrived, Rāma said to Sumitrā's son. Being well equipped, be you vigilant!
रामस्यैवं ब्रुवाणस्य त्वरितस्य युयुत्सया। प्रजज्वाल ततो वेदिः सोपाध्यायपुरोहिता॥ सदर्भचमसनुक्का ससमित्कुसुमोच्चया। विश्वामित्रेण सहिता वेदिर्जज्वाल सर्विजा॥
When Räma, manifesting emotion, and being eager for encounter, had said this, the priests and spiritual guides lit up the altar. And along with Viśvāmitra and the family priests, they lit up the altar furnished with Kusa, and Kasa, and ladles, and faggots, and flowers.
मन्त्रवच्च यथान्यायं यज्ञोऽसौ सम्प्रवर्तते। आकाशे च महाञ्छब्दः प्रादुरासीद् भयानकः॥
And as reciting mantras, they were about to duly engage in that sacrifice, there arose a mighty and dreadful uproar in the sky.
आवार्य गगनं मेघो यथा प्रावृषि दृश्यते। तथा मायां विकुर्वाणौ राक्षसावभ्यधावताम्॥ मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च तयोरनुचरास्तथा। आगम्य भीमसंकाशा रुधिरौघानवासृजन्॥
And as in the rains, masses of clouds appear enveloping the firmament, the Rākşasas, displaying illusions in that wise, began to rush onward. And Mārīca and Subāhu together with their followers coming in dreadful forms, began to shower down blood upon the altar.
तां तेन रुधिरौघेण वेदिं वीक्ष्य समुक्षिताम्। सहसाभिद्रुतो रामस्तानपश्यत् ततो दिवि॥ तावापतन्तौ सहसा दृष्ट्वा राजीवलोचनः। लक्ष्मणं त्वभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य रामो वचनमब्रवीत्॥
And on seeing the altar deluged with gore, Rāma suddenly rushed forward, and behold them in the sky. And suddenly seeing them rushing in amain, the lotus-eyed Rāma fixing his gaze at Laksmana, said.
पश्य लक्ष्मण दुर्वृत्तान् राक्षसान् पिशिताशनान्। मानवास्त्रसमाधूताननिलेन यथा घनान्॥ करिष्यामि न संदेहो नोत्सहे हन्तुमीदृशान्।
Behold O Lakşmana, by means of a Mānava weapon, I shall, without doubt, drive away the wicked; flesh-eating Raksasas, even as the wind drive away clouds before it. Surely I cannot bring myself to slay such as these.
इत्युक्त्वा वचनं रामश्चापं संधाय वेगवान्॥ मानवं परमोदारमस्त्रं परमभास्वरम्। वक्षेप परमवुद्धो मारीचोरसि राघवः॥
Saying this, that descendant of Raghu, Rāma, in vehemence fixing on his bow an exceedingly mighty and gloriously-dazzling Mānava weapon, discharged it in great wrath at Mārīca's chest.
स तेन परमास्त्रेण मानवेन समाहतः। सम्पूर्ण योजनशतं क्षिप्तः सागरसम्प्लवे॥
And wounded by that foremost of Mānava weapons, Mārīca carried off a sheer hundred Yojanas, dropped in the midst of the ocean.
विचेतनं विघूर्णन्तं शीतेषुबलपीडितम्। निरस्तं दृश्य मारीचं रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत्॥
And finding Mārica senseless, and whirling, and afflicted by the might of the weapon, and overcome, Rama addressed Laksmana, saying.
पश्य लक्ष्मण शीतेषु मानवं मनुसंहितम्। मोहयित्वा नयत्येनं न च प्राणैर्वियुज्यते॥
Behold, O Laksmana, this Manava weapon first used by Manu, depriving him of his senses has carried him off, and yet has not taken his life!
इमानपि वधिष्यामि निघृणान् दुष्टचारिणः। राक्षसान् पापकर्मस्थान् यज्ञघ्नान् रुधिराशनान्॥
But these shameless, wicked, and blooddrinking Raksasas, delighting in wrong-doing, these disturbers of sacrifices, will I slaughter.
इत्युक्त्वा लक्ष्मणं चाशु लाघवं दर्शयन्निव। विगृह्य सुमहच्चास्त्रमाग्नेयं रघुनन्दनः॥ सुबाहूरसि चिक्षेप स विद्धः प्रापतद् भूवि। शेषान् वायव्यमादाय निजघान महायशाः। राघवः परमोदारो मुनीनां मुदमावहन्॥
Having said this, anon showing to Lakşmaņa his lightness of hand, Raghu's descendant took out a mighty Āgneya weapon, and discharged it at the breast of Subāhu. Thereat being pierced with that shaft, he fell down upon the ground. Then taking a Vāyavya weapon, the illustrious and exceedingly generous Rāghava, bringing delight to those ascetics, slew the rest.
स हत्वा राक्षसान् सर्वान् यज्ञघ्नान् रघुनन्दनः। ऋषिभिः पूजितस्तत्र यथेन्द्रो विजये पुरा॥
Having destroyed all those Rākşasas disturbing sacrifices, Raghu's descendant was honoured by the saints, even as Indra in day of yore, after having vanquished the Asuras.
अथ यज्ञे समाप्ते तु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। निरीतिका दिशो दृष्ट्वा काकुत्स्थमिदमब्रवीत्॥
When the sacrifice had been completed, the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra, beholding all sides cleared of Rākṣasas, spoke to Käkutstha, saying,
कृतार्थोऽस्मि महाबाहो कृतं गुरुवचस्त्वया। सिद्धाश्रममिदं सत्यं कृतं वीर महायशः। स हि रामं प्रशस्यैवं ताभ्यां संध्यामुपागमत्॥
O mighty-armed one, I have obtained my desire; and you have executed your preceptor's mandate. And, O illustrious hero, you have truly made this a Siddhāśrama. Having thus extolled Rāma, he took Rāma and Lakşmaņa, to perform his evening devotions.