1. saH raavaNaH= that Ravana; kR^itaanta bala choditaH= impelled by strength of Destiny; krodha samraktanayanaH= with his red-blood eyes through anger; mohaat= due to infatnation; abraviit= spoke; suutam= to his charioteer (as follows):

2, 3. durbuddhe= O evil-minded fellow!; avaGYaa= despising; maam= me; vivarjitam= as though I were bereft; pauruSheNa= of manliness; ashaktam= incapable; hiina viiryamiva= deficient in prowess; bhiirum= cowardly; laghumiva= petty-minded; asattvam= devoid of energy; vihiinamiva tejasaa= deserted of conjuring tricks; bahiShkR^itam iva astraiH= and abandoned by mystic missiles; vicheShTase= you are acting; svayaa buddhyaa= as per your discretion!

4. kimartham= why have you; apavaahitaH= carried away; me ayam rathaH= this chariot of mine; avajNaaya= humiliating; maam= me; shatrusamakSham= before my enemies; anavekShya cha= and overlooking; machchhandam= my will?

5. anaarya= O vulgar fellow!; mama= my; yashaH= fame; chirakaala samaarjitam= which was earned through a long period; tejashcha= vital power; pratyayashcha= and trust; vinaashitaH= have been destroyed; tvayaa= by you; adya= today.

6. aham= I; yuddha lubdhaH= having an ardent desire for battle; kR^itaH= was made; kaapuruShaH= a contemptible person; tvayaa= by you; shatroH= while my enemy; prakhyaata viirasya= having an illustrious prowess; raN^janiiyasya= making others delightful; vikramaiH= through feats of his; pashyataH= stood looking on.

7. durmate= O evil-minded fellow!; yaH tvam= in case you; na= do not; mohaat= by perversity; vahasi= carry away; idam chariot= this chariot; chet= at any event; ayam pratitarkaH= this expectation of mine; tvam= that you; upaskR^itaH= stand corrupted; pareNa= by the enemy; satyaH= will be a fact.

8. etat= this act; yat= which; anuShThitam= has been done; tvayaa= by you; etat= this; sadR^isham= is befitting; ripuuNaam= of enemies; tat= that; na vidyate hi= is indeed not; karma= the work; suhR^idaH= of a friend; hitakaaN^kShiNaH= who wishes me well.

9. asi yadi tvam= If you; adhyuShitaH= inhabited with me for a long time; yadismaryate= and if you remember; me= my; guNah= merit; nivartaya= drive back; ratham= the chariot; shiighram= swiftly; yaavat= till; me ripuH= my enemy; naapaiti= does not withdraw.

10. evam uktaH= thus spoken; paruSham= harshly; abuddhinaa= by the foolish Ravana; hita buddhiH= the friendly-minded; suutaH= charioteer; abraviit= spoke; saannyam vachaH= conciliatory words; raavaNam= to Ravana (as follows):

11. naasmi= I was not; bhiitaH= frightened; na asmi= I was not; muuDhaH= stupid; na asmi= I was not; upajaptaH= bribed; shatrubhiH= by the enemies; na asmi= I was not; pramattaH= a blunderer; na niH snehaH= I was not disloyal; satkriyaacha= your good; na vismR^itaa= was not forgotten.

12. mayaa= by me; hita kaamena= who wish well to you; parikShataa= who protect; yashashcha= your honour; sneha prasanna manasaa= with a mind affectionately disposed towards you through attachment; apriyam= an act which was not to your liking; kR^itam= was done; hitam iti= as something conducive to your interest.

13. mahaaraaja= O monarch!; kashchit laghuH anaaryaH iva= like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy; tvam na arhasi= you ought not; maam gantum= to hold me; priyahite ratam= devoted as I am to your pleasure and good; doShataH= guilty; asmin arthe= in this matter.

14. mahaaraaja= O monarch!; kashchit laghuH anaaryaH iva= like somebody who is petty-minded and unworthy; tvam na arhasi= you ought not; maam gantum= to hold me; priyahite ratam= devoted as I am to your pleasure and good; doShataH= guilty; asmin arthe= in this matter.

15. pratidaasyaami= I am giving a reply; shruuyataam= let it be listened (by you); yannimittam= why; rathaH= the chariot; vinivartitam= was carried away; samyuge= in the battle-field; nadiivegaH iva= as the onrush of a stream; aabhoge= (is pushed back) by a tide.

16. me rathavaajinaH= the horses of my chariot; bhagnaaH= were broken down; rathodvahanakhinnaaH= and were exhausted by drawing the chariot; diinaaH= they became miserable; gharmaparishraantaaH= and thoroughly fatigued; gaavaH iva= like the cows; varSha hataaH= lashed by rain.

17. lakShayaami= I am seeing; apradakShiNam= inauspiciousness; yaani nimittaani= in those portents; praadurbhavanti= which appear; naH= to us; bhuuyiShTham= in large numbers; abhipanneShu= and examined; teShu teShu= in all of them.

18. desha kaalaucha= (propitious and unpropitious) time and place; lakShaNaani= (good and bad) omens; inN^gitaani= facial expressions; dainyam harShashcha= depression and liveliness; khedashcha= the measure of fatigue; balaabalam= as also the strength andweakness; rathinaH= of the warrior occupying the chariot; viJNeyau= must be ascertained (by a charioteer).

19. sthala nimnaani= the eminences and depressions; bhuumeH= of the ground; samaani viShamaanicha= as well as the parts which are level and rugged; yuddhakaalaashcha= the time appropriate for the combat; antaradarshanam= and the visible weak points; parasya= of the enemy; viJNeya= must be known (by a charioteer).

20. upayaanaapayaane= arrival and retreat; sthaanam pratyapasarpaNam= how to hold one's position and how to recede; etat sarvam= all this; JNeyam= must be known; rathakuTumbinaa= by charioteer; rathasthena= seated in the chariot.

21. idam= this; kShamam= appropriate action; kR^itam= was taken; mayaa= by me; tava vishraanta hetoH= in order to give rest to you; tathaa= and; eShaam rathavaajinaam= to these horses of the chariot; varjayataa= and to relieve; raudram khedam= your terrible fatigue.

22. viira prabho= O the valiant lord!; ayam= this; rathaH= chariot; na apavaahitaH= was not removed; mayaa= by me; svechchhayaa= arbitrarily; idam yat kR^itam= that which was done; mayaa= by me; (was) bhartR^isneha paritena= because I was overwhelmed with affection for my master.

23. ariShudana= O annihilator of enemies!; viira= O hero!; aajJNaapaya= give a command!; yathaa= how; tvam= you; vakShyasi= tell me; tat= that act; tat= that; aham= I; kariShyaami= will do; chetasaa= with attention; gataanR^iNyena= with a mind which feels relieved of all that is due.

24. samtushTaH= satisfied; tena vaakyena= with the explanation; tasya saaratheH= of that charioteer; prashasya= applauding; enam= him; bahuvidham= in many ways; raavaNaH= Ravana; yuddha labdthaH= who was avaricious of fighting; abraviit= spoke; idam= the following words:

25. suuta= O charioteer!; maya= take; imam= this; ratham= chariot; shiighram= quickly; raaghavaabhimukham= towards Rama; raavaNaH= Ravana; na nivartiShyati= does not turn back; samare= in battle; ahatvaa= without killing; shatruun= his enemies.

26. evam uktvaa= thus speaking; raavaNaH= Ravana; raakShaseshvaraH= the lord of demons; tuShTaH= was pleased; tataH= and then; dadau= presented; ekam= one; shubham= beautiful; uttamam= and excellent; hastaabharaNam= ornament for the land; tasyam= to him; saH saarathiH= that charioteer; shrutvaa= after hearing; raavaNavaakyaami= the instructions of Ravana; nyavartata= drove the chariot back to the battle-field.

27. tataH= thereupon; raavaNavaakya choditaH= impelled by Ravana's command; saH saarathiH= that charioteer; drutam= quickly; prachodayaamaasa= drove forward; hayaan= the horses; tataH= then; raakShasendrasya saH mahaarathaH= that chariot of Ravana; kShaNena= within a moment; abhavat= stood; raamasya rathaagrataH= in front of Rama's chariot.