Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 2

तं तु शोकपरिघुनं रामं दशरथात्मजम्। उवाच वचनं श्रीमान्सुग्रीवः शोकनाशनम्॥
Then the graceful Sugrīva spoke words capable of soothing sorrow, to Dasaratha's son, Rāma, who was wrought up with grief.

किं त्वयातप्यते वीर यथान्यः प्राकृतस्तथा। मैवं भूस्त्यज संतापं कृतघ्न इव सौहृदम्॥
Why, O hero, does you grieve, like one that is base? Let not this be so. Chase away you grief, even as an ingrate resign amity.

संतापस्य च ते स्थानं नहि पश्यामि राघव। प्रवृत्तावुपलब्धायां ज्ञाते च निलये रिपोः॥
Nor, O Rāghava, when the whereabouts of Sītă has been discovered, and when too the abode itself of the foe has been known, do I perceive the reason of your sorrow.

मतिमाशास्त्रवित्प्राज्ञः पण्डितश्चासि राघव। त्यजेमां प्राकृतां बुद्धिं कृतात्मेवार्थदूषिणीम्॥
You, O Raghava, are intelligent, conversant with learning, wise, and judicious. Do you cast away this sorry way of thinking, even as a selfcontrolled (ascetic) caste away any course of thought interfering with the attainment of his purpose.

समुद्रं लवयित्वा तु महानक्रसमाकुलम्। लङ्कामारोहयिष्यामो हनिष्यामश्च ते रिपुम्॥
Crossing over the ocean swarming with gigantic alligators, we shall enter Lankā and slay the enemy.

निरुत्साहस्य दीनस्य शोकपर्याकुलात्मनः। सर्वार्था व्यवसीदन्ति व्यसनं चाधिगच्छति॥
Of a person that is dispirited and poor in pluck and that has his soul overwhelmed with grief, every interest droops, and he comes by misfortunes (one after another).

इमे शूराः समर्थाश्च सर्वतो हरियूथपाः। त्वत्प्रियार्थं कृतोऽत्साहाः प्रवेष्टुमपि पावकम्। एषां हर्षेण जानामि तर्कश्चापि दृढो मम ॥
All these heroes, these leaders of monkeyhordes, who are ardent for they welfare, are competent to enter into fire itself. From their cheerful attitude I know this, and firm is my faith.

विक्रमेण समानेष्ये सीतां हत्वा यथा रिपुम्। रावणं पापकर्माणं तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि॥
It behove you so to arrange things that, slaying the foe, Rāvana of impious acts, we may bring higher Sītā by our own prowess.

सेतुरत्र यथा बद्ध्येद्यथा पश्येम तां पुरीम्। तस्य राक्षसराजस्य तथा त्वं कुरु राघव॥
Do you, O Rāghava, so order matters that a bridge may be constructed (over the main), and that we may behold the palace of the Rākşasa monarch.

दृष्ट्वा तां हि पुरीं लङ्कां त्रिकूटशिखरे स्थिताम्। हतं च रावणं युद्धे दर्शनादवधारय ॥
We having seen the city of Lankā, established on the summit of Triküța, do you for certain conclude Răvaņa as slain in battle immediately after (we see her).

अबद्ध्वा सागरे सेतुं घोरे च वरुणालये। लङ्का न मर्दितुं शक्या सेन्ट्रैरपि सुरासुरैः॥
Without throwing a bridge over the ocean-the dread abode of Varuņa-even the Asuras and celestials with Indra (at their head) are unequal to subduing Laňkā.

सेतुबन्धः समुद्रे च यावल्लङ्कासमीपतः। सर्वं तीर्णं च मे सैन्यं जितमित्युपधारय। तथा हि समरे वीरा हरयः कामरूपिणः॥ तदलं विक्लवां बुद्धिं राजन्सर्वार्थनाशनीम्। पुरुषस्य हि लोकेऽस्मिन् शोकः शौर्यापकर्षणः॥
When the bridge over the ocean has been constructed up to near Laňkä, and when my forces have crossed (over the sea), consider victory as secured. As these monkeys are heroic in fight, and able to wear forms at will, O king, do not let your intellect get stupefied and thus mar all interests. In this world, sorrow berefts people of their prowess.

यत्तु कार्यं मनुष्येण शौटीर्यमवलम्ब्यताम्। तदलंकरणायैव कर्तुर्भवति सत्वरम्॥
Do you do even what should be done by a man-summon your manliness; for what an actor does promptly, conduce to his success.

अस्मिन्काले महाप्राज्ञ सत्त्वमातिष्ठ तेजसा। शूराणां हि मनुष्याणां त्वद्विधानां महात्मनाम्। विनष्टे वा प्रनष्टे वा शोकः सर्वार्थनाशनः॥
At this time, O eminently wise one, do you realise goodness through they energy.* Of heroic, high-souled, men like yourself, on their sustaining and entire or a partial loss, grief undo every interest. *i.e. as I understand this rather obscure passage, prove the good through your vigour-secure victory to the cause of goodness through they might.

तत्त्वं बुद्धिमतां श्रेष्ठः सर्वशा स्वार्थकोविदः। मद्विधैः सचिवैः सार्धमरिं जेतुं समर्हसि ॥
Therefore, the foremost of intelligent persons, and conversant with every lore, you should along with councillors like me, strive to beat they foe.

नहि पश्याम्यहं कंचित्रिषु लोकेषु राघव। गृहीतधनुषो यस्ते तिष्ठेदभिमुखो रणे॥
Find I none in the three worlds, O Rāghava, who can stay in fight before you equipped with your bow,

वानरेषु समासक्तं न ते कार्य विपत्स्यते। अचिराद्रक्ष्यसे सीतां तीर्खा सागरमक्षयम्॥
Your business entrusted to these monkeys shall not (anyway) suffer. And soon, crossing over the boundless main, you shall behold Sītā.

तदलं शोकमालम्ब्य क्रोधमालम्ब भूपते। निश्चेष्टाः क्षत्रिया मन्दाः सर्वे चण्डस्य बिभ्यति ॥
Therefore, O king, renounce your sorrow, and call up wrath. Those Ksatriyas that conceive no anger in respect of their enemies, have their activity annulled; and all fear furious persons.

लङ्घनार्थं च घोरस्य समुद्रस्य नदीपतेः। सहास्माभिरिहोपेतः सूक्ष्मबुद्धिर्विचारय॥
Drawing nigh to us, do you, gifted with acute intelligence, cast about for crossing over the dreadful deep, lord of streams, along with us.

लङ्घिते तत्र तैः सैन्यैर्जितमित्येव निश्चिनु। सर्वं तीर्णं च मे सैन्यं जितमित्यवधार्यताम्॥
On these forces getting beyond the ocean, do you take it for certain that we have won; and when my whole host has reached the further shore, do you indubitably conclude that we have obtained victory.

इमे हि हरयः शूराः समरे कामरूपिणः। तानरीन्विधमिष्यन्ति शिलापादपवृष्टिभिः॥
These monkeys, heroic and capable of assuming in fight forms at will, shall slaughter those foes by showering rocks and trees.

कथंचित्यपरिपश्यामि लचितं वरुणालयम्। हतमित्येव तं मन्ये युद्धे शत्रुनिबर्हण॥
If I see any means of crossing the ocean, Varuna's abode, I shall, O destroyer of foes, deem him as slain in battle.

किमुक्त्वा बहुधा चापि सर्वथा विजयी भवान्। निमित्तानि च पश्यामि मनो मे संप्रहृष्यति॥
And what is the use of dilating? Every way you shall prove victorious. And I see omens, and my mind is filled with delight.