1. tayaa= by that Seetha; saH vaanaraH= that Hanuma; gamiSyan= who was ready to go; puujitaH= was treated well; prashastaabhiH vaagbhiH= with commendable words; tasmaat= from that; deshaat= place; apakramya= (Hanuma) having gone to a distance; chintayaamaasa= thought (in this way):

2. iyam= this; asitekSaNaa= black-eyed Seetha; dR^iSTaa= has been seen; idam kaaryam alpa sheSam= there is only a little that remains to be done; atikramya= transgressing; triin= the three; upaayaan= strategies viz. sowing dissension; negotiation and bribery; chaturthaH= the fourth strategy viz. open assault; dR^ishyate= is seen; iha= here.

3. rakSassu= in the case of demons; saama guNaaya= the strategy of negotiation; na kalpate= is not practicable; arthopachiteSu= in the case of persons having abundant wealth; daanam= the strategy of bribery; na yujyate= is not appropriate; bala darpitaa= who are proud of their strength; na bheda saadhyaaH= the strategy of sowing dissension is not amenable. mama= to me; iha= here; paraakramastvaiva= prowess alone; rochate= is agreeable.

4. na vinishchayaH= no decision; kashchit= whatsoever; upapadyate= is adequate; asya kaaryasya paraakramaat R^ite= except showing valour; asya kaaryasya= in this task yat= for; raakSasaaH= the demons; hata praviiraaH= being heroes killed; raNe= in combat; iiyuH= may obtain; maardvam= weakness; adya= now; iha= and here; katham chit= somehow or other.

5. karmaNi= (when) a work; nirdiSTe= is directed; kaarye= to be done; yaH= who; saadhayet= implements; bahuunyapi= many tasks; puurva kaaryaa virodhena= which are not inconsistent to the initial task; saH= he; arhati= is worthy; kaaryam= of doing that work.

6. na hi ekaH= there is indeed no single; hetuH= manner; saadhakaH= to implememtn; svalpasya api karmaNaH= even a small task; yaH= whoever; veda= knows; artham= (to do) a task; bahudhaa= in many ways; saH= he alone; samarthaH= is capable; artha saadhane= of promoting that task.

7. aham vrajeyam yadi= If I go; plavageshvaraalayam= to the abode of Sugreeva the Lord of monkeys; kR^ita nishchyaat paraatma samaarda visheSatattvavit= having ascertained the truth as to who will predominate in an encounter between the adversary and ourselves; ihaiva taavat= here itself; tataH= then; mama bhartR^ishaasanam= will the command of my master; kR^itam syaat= be carried out.

8. kathamnu= how can; mama yuddham= my combat; raakSasaiH saha= with the demons; adya= now; prasahya= will very much; sukhaagatam= come to be a happy one?; tathaiva= in the same manner; aatmabalam bhavet= how will my strength become; saaravat= fruitful?; saH dashaananaH= (How) indeed will that Ravana; maanayet= applaud; maam= me; raNe= in battle?

9. tataH= then; samaasaadya= meeting; dashaananam= Ravana; samantrigaNam= with his troop of ministers; sabalaprayaayinam= with his army and followers marching; raNe= in battle; mattvaa= knowing; matam= the opinion; sthitam= established; hR^idi= in his heart; balamcha vai= and also about his strength; aham= I; punaH vraje= will go back; itaH= from here; sukhena= happily.

10. idam uttamam= this excellent; vanam= grove; asya nR^ishamsasya= of this cruel Ravana; naanaadrumalataayutam= with various kinds of trees and creepers; netramanaHkaantam= and which is pleasing to the eyes and mind; nandanopamam= is looking like Nandana, Indra's paradise.

11. vidhvamsayiSyaami= I will destroy; idam= this grove; analaH iva= like fire; shuSkam vanam= searching a dried up forest; asmin bhagne= while this grove gets demolished; dashaananaH= Ravana; kariSyati kopam= will get angry; tataH= then.

12. tataH= then; raakSasaadhipaH= Ravana; samaadeskSyati= will order for; balam= an army; saashvamahaaratha dvipam= consisting of horses, great chariots and elephants; mahat trishuula kaalaayasapaTTisaayudham= and armed with weapons like great tridents and spears made of iron; tataH= and then; idam= this; mahat= great; yuddham= combat; bhaviSyati= will follow.

13. sametya= attacking; taiH= those; rakSobhiH= demons; chaNDa vikramaiH= of terrific prowess; aham tu= I too; asahya vikramaH= with an unbearable strength; nihatya= killing; tat= that; balam= army; raavaNa choditam= incited by Ravana; gamiSyaami= will return; kapiishvaraalayam= to the place of Sugreeva; sukham= happily.

14. tataH= thereafter; maarutiH= Hanuma; bhiima vikramaH= of terrific prowess; kruddhaH= getting angry; atha= then; aarabhat= started; kSeptum= to throw away; drumaan= trees; mahataa uuruvegena= by a highly violent jerk of his thighs; maarutavat= like a wind.

15. tataH= then; viiraH= the valiant; hanumaan= Hanuma; babhaN^ja= laid waste; pramadaavanam= the royal garden attached to the gynaecium; mattadvija samaaghuSTam= resonant with cries of birds in heat; naanaadruma lataayutam= and endowed with various kinds of trees and creepers.

16. vR^ikSaiH= with trees; mathitaiH= damaged; salilaashayaiH= with ponds; bhinnaiH= destroyed; parvataagraishcha= with tops of pleasure-hills; chuurNitaiH= powdered; tat vanam= that grove; babhuuva= became; apriyadarshanam= nasty at sight.

17, 18. klaanta druma lataayutam= with its trees and creepers dried up; naanaa shakuntavirtaiH= with the howls of various birds; salilaashayaiH= with its ponds; prabhinnaiH= destroyed; taamraiH kisalayaiH= with its copper-coloured sprouts; klaantaiH= dried up; tatra= there; tat vanam= that grove; na babhau= did not look bright; daavaanalahatam yathaa= as if it had been destroyed by a wild fire; taaH lataaH= those; creepers; vyaakulaavaraNaaH= with their bars of support displaced; rejuH vihvalaaH iva= fell like distressed women.

19. lataagR^haiH= with its arbours; chitragR^ihaiH= and picture-galleries; naashitaiH= destroyed; mahoragaiH= its great serpents; vychaLamR^igaishcha= and wild animals; niruddhaiH= emitting cries of distress; shilaagR^ihaiH= its grottos; gR^ihaiH= (and other) structures unmathitaiH= demolished; tat mahat vanam= that extensive grove; abhuut= became; praNaSTaruupam= defaced.

20. saa vanasthalii= that woody land; pramadaa vanasya= of that pleasure-garden; dashaasya pramadaa avamasya= which afforded shelter to the women-folk of Ravana; ashoka lataa prataanaa= which has clusters of Ashoka creapers; jaataa= became; shokalataaprataanaa= a jumple of creepers of sorrow; vihvalaa= for the distressed women; kapeH= by Hanuma's; balaat= strength.

21. kR^itvaa= doing; mahat= a great; vyaliikam= displeasure; manasaH= to the mind; tasya= of that; mahaatmanaH= high-souled; jagatiipate= Ravana, Lord of the land of Lanka; mahaakapiH= that Hanuma; yuyutsaH= decided to combat; ekaH= alone; bahubhiH= with many; mahaabalaiH= mighty demons; aasthitaH= and stayed; jvalam shriyaa= with a blazing splendour; toraNam= at the entrance (of the grove).