तथा तु तं समादिश्य भ्रातरं रघुनन्दनः। बबन्धासिं महातेजा जाम्बूनदमयत्सरुम्॥
Having thus directed his brother, the highly energetic son of Raghu equipped himself with his gold-hilted scimitar.
ततस्त्रिविनतं चापमादायात्मविभूषणम्। आबध्य च कपालौ द्वौ जगामोदग्रविक्रमः॥
And girding himself with his bow bent at three places, which served him ornament,—as well as a couple of quivers, that one of fierce energy sallied out.
तं वन्यराजो राजेन्द्रमापतन्तं निरीक्ष्य वै। बभूवान्तर्हितस्त्रासात् पुनः संदर्शनेऽभवत्॥
Seeing that foremost of monarchs approach, that best of beasts from fear disappeared; and then again showed himself. as an
बद्धासिर्धनुरादाय प्रदुद्राव यतो मृगः। तं स्म पश्यति रूपेण द्योतयन्तमिवाग्रतः॥ अवेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य धावन्तं धनुष्पाणिर्महावने। अतिवृत्तमिवोत्पाताल्लोभयानं कदाचन॥ शङ्कितं तु समुद्मास्तमुत्पतन्तमिवाम्बरम्। दृश्यमानमदृश्यं च वनोद्देशेषु केषुचित्॥ छिन्नाभैरिव संवीतं शारदं चन्द्रमण्डलम्। मुहूर्तादेव ददृशे मुहुर्दूरात् प्रकाशते॥
Thereat girt with the bow and sword, (Rāma) rushed where the deer was; and beheld him illumining all before him with his beauty, and bow in hand (Rāma beheld) him in that vast forest, darting away after gazing at him,-and sometimes seeming to have got beyond arrow range, and at others tempting Rāma (by his vicinity). And sometimes influenced by fear and bewildered, (the deer) seemed to course the welkin; and in the forest now he became visible and now vanished from sight. And like the autumual lunar disc enveloped by indented clouds, he momentarily showed himself, and anon discovered himself at a distance.
दर्शनादर्शनेनैव सोऽपाकर्षत राघवम्। स दूरमाश्रमस्यास्य मारीचो मृगतां गतः॥
And Mārica wearing the shape of a deer, showing himself and disappearing from sight, drew Rāghava a long way from the hermitage.
आसीत् क्रुद्धस्तु काकुत्स्थो विवशस्तेन मोहितः। अथावतस्थे सुश्रान्तश्छायामाश्रित्य शाबले॥
Thereat Rāma, eagerly anxious to secure the deer, being foiled by the deer, and in consequence growing enraged, wearied out, rested under a shadow, on a sward.
स तमुन्मादयामास मृगरूपो निशाचरः। मृगैः परिवृतोऽथान्यैरदूरात् प्रत्यदृश्यत॥
And that ranger of the night, wearing the form of a deer, maddening Rāma, discovered himself (again) at a distance surrounded by (other) deer,
ग्रहीतुकामं दृष्ट्वा तं पुनरेवाभ्यधावत। तत्क्षणादेव संत्रासात् पुनरन्तर्हितोऽभवत्॥
And Rama desirous of taking (the beast), seeing him again, set off at speed. At the very moment the deer disappeared from fear,
पुनरेव ततो दूराद् वृक्षखण्डाद् विनिःसृतः। दृष्ट्वा रामो महातेजास्तं हन्तुं कृतनिश्चयः॥ भूयस्तु शरमुद्धत्य कुपितस्तत्र राघवः। सूर्यरश्मिप्रतीकाशं ज्वलन्तमरिमर्दनम् ॥ संधाय सुदृढे चापे विकृष्य बलवदबली। तमेव मृगमुद्दिश्य श्वसन्तमिव पन्नगम्॥ मुमोच ज्वलितं दीप्तमस्त्रं ब्रह्मविनिर्मितम्।
And again showed himself at a distance behind a tree. And seeing him, the exceedingly energetic and strong Rāghava, determined to slay him, growing wroth, taking out a flaming shaft, resembling the rays of the sun, powerfully drew his bow, and firmly setting the shaft, and aiming it at the deer, let go the blazing and burning weapon forged by Brahmā, resembling a flaiming serpent.
शरीरं मृगरूपस्य विनिर्भिद्य शरोत्तमः॥ मारीचस्यैव हृदयं बिभेदाशनिसंनिभः।
And that best of arrows, like to a thunderbolt, deeply pierced the breast of Mārīca, wearing the shape of a deer.
तालमीत्रमथोत्प्लुत्य न्यपतत् स भृशातुरः॥ व्यनदद् भैरवं नादं धरण्यामल्पजीवितः।
Thereat bounding up high as a palmyra palm, that one whose saws had almost run out, uttered terrible sounds, lying on the earth.
म्रियमाणस्तु मारीचो जहौ तां कृत्रिमा तनुम्॥ स्मृत्वा तद्वचनं रक्षो दध्यौ केन तु लक्ष्मणम्। इह प्रस्थापयेत् सीता तां शून्ये रावणो हरेत्॥
And while on the point of death, Mārīca renounced his counterfeit shape. And remembering the words of Rāvana, the Rākşasa reflected, by what means can Sītā send away Lakşmaņa, and Rāvana carry off Sītā staying in solitude?
स प्राप्तकालमाज्ञाय चकार च ततः स्वनम्। सदृशं राघवस्येव हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च ॥ तेन मर्मणि निर्विद्धं शरेणानुपमेन हि। मृगरूपं तु तत् त्यक्त्वा राक्षसं रूपमास्थितः॥
And pierced to the marrow by that peerless shaft, Marica, renouncing his deer form, resumed his Rākşasa lineaments; and giving up his life attaining a huge person, considering the time had come (for availing himself of the advice tendered by Rāvana), began to cry with the voice of Rāghava, Ah Sita! Ah Laksmana!
चक्रे स सुमहाकायो मारीचो जीवितं त्यजन्। तं दृष्ट्वा पतितं भूमौ राक्षसं भीमदर्शनम्॥ रामो रुधिरसिक्ताङ्ग चेष्टमानं महीतले। जगाम मनसा सीतां लक्ष्मणस्य वचः स्मरन् ॥
And seeing that grim-visaged Rākşasa lying low on the ground, with his person bathed in blood, and rolling hither and thither, Rāma proceeded towards the asylum thinking of Sītā and revolving within himself Laksmana's words.
मारीचस्य तु मायैषा पूर्वोक्तं लक्ष्मणेन तु। तत् तथा ह्यभवच्चाद्य मारीचोऽयं मया हतः॥
While returning he thought Mārīca aside Lakş mana said before that this was Mārica's illusion! His words have been verified now. Truly have I killed Mārīca.
हा सीते लक्ष्मणेत्येवमाक्रुश्य तु महास्वनम्। ममार राक्षसः सोऽयं श्रुत्वा सीता कथं भवेत्॥
Mārīca has given up his ghost exclaiming aloud Ah! Sītā, Ah! Laksmana. I do not know what shall Sītā do hearing the cry? And what shall the mighty-armed Laksmana do?
लक्ष्मणश्च महाबाहुः कामवस्थां गमिष्यति। इति संचिन्त्य धर्मात्मा रामो हृष्टतनूरूहः॥ तत्र रामं भयं तीव्रमाविवेश विषादजम्। राक्षसं मृगरूपं तं हत्वा श्रुत्वा च तत्स्वनम्॥
While pondering thus the hairs of the virtuous-souled Rāma stood on their end. Killing that Räkşasa assuming the shape of a deer and hearing his terrible cry Rāma was overwhelmed with fear arising out of sorrow.
निहत्य पृषतं चान्यं मांसमादाय राघवः। त्वरमाणो जनस्थानं ससाराभिसुखं तदा॥
Thereupon killing a deer and taking its flesh he hastened towards Janasthāna.