तेन शङ्खविमिश्रेण भेरीशब्देन नादिना। उपयाति महाबाहू रामः परपुरंजयः॥
That captor of hostile capitals, the mightarmed Rāma, was advancing (upon Larikā) with the sounds of drums mixed with the blares of conchs.
तं निनादं निशम्याथ रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। मुहूर्त ध्यानमास्थाय सचिवानभ्युदैक्षत॥
Hearing this noise, Ravana-lord of Raks asas-reflecting for a while, cast his eyes upon his counsellors.
अथ तान्सचिवांस्तत्र सर्वानाभाष्य रावणः। सभां संनादयन्सनित्युवाच महाबलः॥ जगत्संतापनः क्रूरोऽगर्हयनराक्षसेश्वरः। तरणं सागरस्यास्य विक्रमं बलपौरुषम्॥
Addressing there all those counsellors, that afflictor of the world—the crooked and highly powerful lord of the Rākşasas, Rāvaņa, making his court resound, running down (Rāma's) crossing the main, as well as his vigour, strength and manhood, said to them.
यदुक्तवन्तो रामस्य भवन्तस्तन्मया श्रुतम्। भवतश्चाप्यहं वेधि युद्धे सत्यपराक्रमान्।। तूष्णीकानीक्षतोन्योन्यं विदित्वा रामविक्रमम् ॥
What you have said touching Rama's (prowess), has been heard by me. And I also know you to be of sterling valour in the field. Yet why, knowing Rāma's prowess, do you silently look at each other?
ततस्तु सुमहाप्राज्ञो माल्यवान्नाम राक्षसः। रावणस्य वचः श्रुत्वा इति मातामहोऽब्रवीत्॥
Then the maternal grand sire (of Rāvaņa), possessed of exceeding wisdom, named Malyavān, hearing his words, said.
विद्यास्वभिविनीतो यो राजा राजनयानुगः। स शास्ति चिरमैश्वर्यमरीश्च कुरुते वशे॥
The king that is accomplished in the various kinds of learning,* and that follow polity, ever command affluence and bring his enemies under his subjection. *The commentator says there are four and ten kinds of learning; but unfortunately he does not enumerate them.
संदधानो हि कालेन विगृह्णश्चारिभिः सह। स्वपक्षे वर्धनं कुर्वन्महदैश्वर्यमश्नुते॥
He that seasonably concludes peace and carries on war with his enemies, and who advances his own party, attain great affluence.
हीयमानेन कर्तव्यो राज्ञा संधिः समेन च। न शत्रुमवमन्येत ज्यायान्कुर्वीत विग्रहम्॥
A king should enter into peace, if he be an equal or inferior of his adversary, and engage in war, if be more powerful, but an enemy should never be disergarded.
तन्मह्यं रोचते संधिः सह रामेण रावण। यदर्थमभियुक्तोऽसि सीता तस्मै प्रदीयताम्॥
Therefore, O Rāvana, peace with Rāma is what commends itself to me; and do you render to him that for which you have been invaded (by him), viz., Sītā.
तस्य देवर्षयः सर्वे गन्धर्वाश्च जयैषिणः। विरोधं मा गमस्तेन संधिस्ते तेन रोचताम्॥
All the Devarsis and Gandharvas wish for (Rāma's) victory. Therefore, do not enter into hostilities with him; but do you bend your mind to the conclusion of peace with him.
असृजद्भगवान्पक्षौ द्वावेव हि पितामहः। सुराणामसुराणां च धर्माधर्मों तदाश्रयौ॥
That possessor of the six attributes, the Greatfather, has appointed two courses, (respectively) for the Asuras and the celestials, having for their eousness.
धर्मो हि श्रूयते पक्ष अमराणां महात्मनाम्। अधर्मो रक्षसां पक्षो ह्यसुराणां च राक्षस॥
Righteousness, we hear, is the course of the high-souled celestials, as, O. Rākşasa, unrighteousness is that of Rākşasa and Asuras.
धर्मो वै ग्रसतेऽधर्मं यदा कृतमभूधुगम्। अधर्मो ग्रसते धर्म तदा तिष्यः प्रवर्तते॥
During the Kţta Yuga, righteousness swallow up sin; and during Tisya,* unrighteousness swallow up virtue. *The Kali Yuga.
तत्त्वया चरता ले कान्धर्मोऽपि निहतो महान्। अधर्मः प्रगृहीतश्च तेनास्मदलिनः परे॥
You, ranging the three worlds, worlds, had extinguished pregnant piety, and reaped unrighteousness; and it is for this that your foes have waxed potent. *While ranging the three worlds on a career of conquest, you didst, disturbing sacrifices, etc., wrong righteousness.
स प्रमादात्प्रवृद्धस्तेऽधर्मोऽहिर्ग्रसते हि नः। विवर्धयति पक्षं च सुराणां सुरभावनः॥
Having grown through through your your neglect, unrighteousness devour us, and that protector of the gods, (righteousness), is strengthening the side of the celestials.
विषयेषु प्रसक्तेन यत्किचित्कारिणा त्वया। ऋषीणामग्निकल्पानामुद्वेगो जनितो महान्॥
You, addicted to carnal pleasures and acting in defiance of duty, had aroused the high wrath of the saints resembling fire.
तेषां प्रभावो दुर्धर्षः प्रदीप्त इव पावकः। तपसा भावितात्मानो धर्मस्यानुग्रहे रताः॥
The power of these possessed of souls sanctified through asceticism, and ever engaged in invoking the aid of righteousness, is incapable of being resisted and is like flaming fire.
मुख्यैर्यज्ञैर्यजन्त्येते तैस्तैर्यत्ते द्विजातयः। जुह्वत्यग्नींश्च विधिवद्वेदांश्चोच्चैरधीयते। अभिभूय च रक्षांसि ब्रह्मघोषानुदीरयन्॥ दिशो विप्रदूताः सर्वे स्तनयित्नुरिवोष्णगे।
The twice-born ones engage in contemplation with intent minds, offer oblations into the fire according to the ordinance, and loudly recite the Vedas. They overpower the Rākşasa, uttering the Vedas; and thereat they fly in all directions like clouds scattered in summer.
ऋषीणामग्निकल्पानामग्निहोत्रसमुत्थितः॥ आवृत्य रक्षसां तेजो धूमो व्याप्य दिशो दश। तेषु तेषु च देशेषु पुण्येष्ट्यवधृतव्रतैः॥
The smoke that arise from the Agnihotra sacrifices of saints resembling fire, enveloping the energy of the Räkşasas, spreads over the ten cardinal quarters.
चर्यमाणं तपस्तीव्र संतापयति राक्षसान्। देवदानवयक्षेभ्यो गृहीतश्च वरस्त्वया॥
The fierce austerities of vow-observing saints, performed at particular sacred spots, try the Rākş asas sore.
मनुष्या वानरा ऋक्षा गोलाषेला महाबलाः। बलवन्त इहागम्य गर्जन्ति दृढविक्रमाः॥
You have obtained a boon, conferring immunity at the hands of deities, Dänavas and Yakşas. But men and monkeys, bears and Golăngülas, possessed of enormous strength and endowed with vigour, and of indomitable prowess, coming here, are setting up roars.
उत्पातान्विविधान्दृष्ट्वा घोरान्बहुविधान्बहून्। विनाशमनुपश्यामि सर्वेषां रक्षसामहम्॥
Witnessing various and many dire portents, I perceive the destruction of all the Rākşasas.
खराभिस्तनिता घोरा मेघाः प्रतिभयंकराः। शोणितेनाभिवर्षन्ति लङ्कामुष्णेन सर्वतः॥
Dreadful and terrific clouds, uttering harsh sounds, are showering blood all around Lankā.
रुदतां वाहनानां च प्रपतन्त्यश्रुबिन्दवः। रजोध्वस्ता विवर्णाश्च न प्रभान्ति यथापुरम्॥
And (live) vehicles are dropping profuse tears. And all sides, covered with dust, do not appear bright as formerly.
व्याला गोमायवो गृध्रा वाश्यन्ति च सुभैरवम्। प्रविश्य लङ्कामारामे समवायाश्च कुर्वते॥
And beasts of prey, jackals and vultures, are emitting frightful cries, and, entering into the garden of Lankā, form themselves into bands.
कालिकाः पाण्डुरैर्दन्तैः प्रहसन्त्यग्रतः स्थिताः। स्त्रियः स्वप्नेषु मुष्णन्त्यो गृहाणि प्रतिभाष्य च।।२८
In dreams mighty dark-hued women in front of dwellings, seizing at (the furniture) thereof, and speaking inauspiciously, laugh displaying their sable teeth.
गृहाणां बलिकर्माणि श्वानः पर्युपसेवते। खरा गोषु प्रजायन्ते मूषका नकुलेषु च ॥
In houses dogs are feasting on the articles of worship. And cows bring forth asses, and mungooses, mice.
मार्जारा द्वीपिभिः सार्धं सूकराः शुनकैः सह। किंनरा राक्षसैश्चापि समेयुर्मानुषैः सह॥
And cats are pairing with leopards, and swine with dogs, and Kinnaras with Rākşasas and human being.
पाण्डुरा रक्तपादाश्च विहगाः कालचोदिताः। राक्षसानां विनासाय कपोता विचरन्ति च ॥
are And red-footed white sky-coursing pigeons, urged on by Doom, are going about for the destruction of the Raksasas.
चीचीकूचीति वाशन्तः शारिका वेश्मसु स्थिताः। पतन्ति ग्रथिताश्चपि निर्जिताः कलहैषिभिः॥
And female-parrots in houses, wounded and worsted by other birds delighting in discord, are dropping down, emitting indistinct notes.
पक्षिणश्च मृगाः सर्वे प्रत्यादित्यं रुदन्ति ते। करालो विकलो मुण्डः पुरुषः कृष्णपिङ्गलः॥ कालो गृहाणि सर्वेषां कलो कालेऽन्ववेक्षते।
All the birds and beasts crying (distressfully) with their faces turned towards the sun. And at dusk a frightful, withered, tawnyhued male figure, looking like Death himself, with his head shaven, peer into the houses (of people).
एतान्यन्यानि दुष्टानि निमित्तान्युत्पतन्ति च।। विष्णुं मन्यामहे रामं मानुषं रूपमास्थितम्। न हि मानुषमात्रोऽसौ राघवो दृढविक्रमः।। येन बद्धः समुद्रे च सेतुः स परमाद्भुतः। कुरूष्व नरराजेन सन्धि रामेण रावण।। ज्ञात्वावधार्य कर्माणि क्रियतामायतिक्षमम्॥
These and other evil omens occur. Rama I deem as Vişnnu assuming the form of a man. Rāghava of steady prowess, for certain, is no human being, he that has built a bridge over the deep, must be an exceedingly wonderful person. Therefore, O Rāvana, conclude peace with Rāma-king of men. Having ascertained fit course, do you act properly.
इदं वचस्तस्य निगद्य माल्यवान् परीक्ष्य रक्षोधिपतेर्मनः पुनः। अनुत्तमेषूत्तमपौरुषो बली बभूव तूष्णीं समवेक्ष्य रावणम्॥
Having said this to that vile one, and known the intention of the lord of Rākşasa, that strong Mālyavān, of exceeding prowess, became silent, eying Ravana.