तच्छ्रुत्वा राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा मारीचो राक्षसेश्वरम्॥
Hearing the words of that sovereign of the Rākşasas, the highly energetic Mārica, skilled in speech, answered the Raksasa chief.
सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततं प्रियवादिनः। अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः॥
O king, the speaker of soft words is common, but the speaker and the listener of unwelcome though beneficial words are rarities.
न नूनं बुध्यसे रामं महावीर्यगुणोन्नतम्। अयुक्तचारश्चपलो महेन्द्रवरुणोपमम्॥
Volatile, and employing no spies, you surely do not understand the exceedingly powerful Rāma towering high in virtues, and resembling the illustrious Indra or Varuņa himself.
अपि स्वस्ति भवेत् तात सर्वेषामपि रक्षसाम्। अपि रामो न संक्रुद्धः कुर्याल्लोकानराक्षसान्॥
I shall be well, me child, if Rāma fired with rage, do not render all the world bereft of Rākşasas;
अपि ते जीवितान्ताय नोत्पन्ना जनकात्मजा। अपि सीतानिमित्तं च स भवेद् व्यसनं महत्॥
If Janaka's daughter has not sprung to compass your destruction, if a dreadful disaster do not befall you because of Sītā,
अपि त्वामीश्वरं प्राप्य कामवृत्तं निरङ्कशम्। नि विनश्येत् पुरी लङ्का त्वया सह सराक्षसा॥
And if having obtained for her lord you that are wilful and wicked, the city of Lankā with you and the Rākṣasas do not meet with utter extermination.
त्वद्विधः कामवृत्तो हि दुःशीलः पापमन्त्रितः। आत्मानं स्वजनं राष्ट्रं स राजा हन्ति दुर्मतिः॥
The sovereign who is wicked, whimsical and of evil intent like you, bring about his own destruction as well as that of his kingdom and relatives.
न च पित्रा परित्यक्तो नामर्यादः कथंचन। न लुब्धो न च दुःशीलो न च क्षत्रियपांसनः॥
Rāma, the enhancer of Kausalyā's delight had not been abandoned by his father, nor is he devoid of propriety of conduct; he is not avaricious, wicked nor the destroyer of Kaşatriya race.
न च धर्मगुणैर्हीनः कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। स च तीक्ष्णो हि भूतानां सर्वभूतहिते रतः॥
He does not lack religious merits or accomplishments, nor is he of a harsh temperament and intent on causing misery to creatures.
वञ्चितं पितरं दृष्ट्वा कैकेय्या सत्यवादिनम्। करिष्यामीति धर्मात्मा ततः प्रव्रजितो वनम्॥ कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं पितुर्दशरथस्य च। हित्वा राज्यं च भोगांश्च प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम्॥
Finding his truthful sire imposed on by Kaikeyi he has sojourned to woods. For compassing the welfare of his father Dasaratha and Kaikeyi he has entered the forest of Dandaka.
न रामः कर्कशस्तात नाविद्वान् नाजितेन्द्रियः। अनृतं न श्रुतं चैव नैव त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥
Rāma, O my child is not harsh or foolish; nor has he not control over his senses. Far from speaking untruth he does not know false stories even.
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्म: साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः। राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानामिव वासवः॥
It did not behove you therefore to use such improper language towards him. he is an incarnation of virtue, pious and truthful, and lord of all men as Vāsava of all celestials.
कथं नु तस्य वैदेहीं रक्षितां स्वेन तेजसा। इच्छसे प्रसभं हर्तुं प्रभामिव विवस्वतः॥
How does you then wish to carry away by force his Vaidehī, protected by virtue of her own chastity, like to the rays of Sun?
शरार्चिषमनाधृष्यं चापखङ्गेन्धनं रणे। रामाग्निं सहसा दीप्तं न प्रवेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि॥
It did not behove you to enter that fire of Rāma who has arrows for rays and bow and scimitar for fuel. It did not behove you,
धनुर्व्यादितदीप्तास्यं शरार्चिषममर्षणम्। चापबाणधरं तीक्ष्णं शत्रुसेनापहारिणम्॥ राज्यं सुखं च संत्यज्य जीवितं चेष्टमात्मनः। नात्यासादयितुं तात रामान्तकमिहार्हसि ॥
O Rāvana, to approach Räma renouncing your kingdom, happiness and love of life, who is like to death itself and has bow for his widened and flaming mouth, and arrows for his rays and who is irrepressible, of mighty prowess, holding bows and arrows and repulsing the forces of the enemy.
अप्रमेयं हि तत्तेजो यस्य सा जनकात्मजा। न त्वं समर्थस्तां हर्तुं रामचापाश्रयां वने॥
Incomparable is his power; daughter of Janaka is his wife and lives in the forest confiding in the mighty strength of his bow; you shall not be able to carry her away.
तस्य वै नरसिंहस्य सिंहोरस्कस्य भामिनी। प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियतरा भार्या नित्यमनुव्रता॥
She is the beloved wife of that best of men having a leonine chest—and he holds his wife dearer than his life and is ever attached to her.
न सा धर्षयितुं शक्या मैथिल्योजस्विनः प्रिया। दीप्तस्येव हुताशस्य शिखा सीता सुमध्यमा॥
And young Sītā beloved of the mighty Rāma, and like to the rays of flaming fire is ever incapable of being carried away by you.
किमुद्यमं व्यर्थमिमं कृत्वा ते राक्षसाधिप। दृष्टश्चेत् त्वं रणे तेन तदन्तमुपजीवितम्॥
Of what avail is this vain attempt O Rākşasa chief? No sooner Rāma shall see you in the battle you shall meet with your end.
जीवितं च सुखं चैव राज्यं चैव सुदुर्लभम्। यदीच्छसि चिरं भोक्तुं मा कृथा रामविप्रियम्॥ स सर्वैः सचिवैः सार्धं विभीषणपुरस्कृतैः। मन्त्रयित्वा स धर्मिष्ठः : कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः। दोषाणां च गुणानां च सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्॥ आत्मनश्च बलं ज्ञात्वा राघवस्य च तत्त्वतः। हितं हि तव निश्चित्य क्षमं त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि॥
Hard it is to attain life, happiness and kingdom, so it behoved you to act properly, after consulting with your ministers headed by Vibhīşaņa, judging Rāma's merits and demerits and ascertaining his and your own strength and as well as your welfare.
अहं तु मन्ये तव न क्षमं रणे समागमं कोसलराजसूनुना। इदं हि भूयः शृणु वाक्यमुत्तमं क्षमं च युक्तं च निशाचराधिप॥
Methinks your approaching conflict with the son of the Kosala chief forebodes no good to you; hear again therefore O prince of the night rangers, words sensible and lending to your welfare.