1. shrutvaa= hearing; akampana vadham= about the killing of Akampana; raakSaseshvaraH= Ravana the Lord of demons; kruddhaH= was enraged; kimchit diinamukhaH cha api= had a little depressed face; udaikSata= and looked; taan sachivaan= towards those ministers.

2. dhyaatvaa= having reflected; muhuurtam= a while; samvichaarya= and deliberated; mantribhiH= with his ministers; saH raavaNaH= that Ravana; raakSasaadhipaH= the king of Demons; tataH= then; yayau= went; laN^kaam puriim= to the City of Lanka; avekSitum= to inspect; sarvagulmaan= all his defenses; puurvadivasa= in the forenoon.

3. raajaa= the king Ravana; dadarsha= saw; taam nagariim= that city; guptaam= protected; taam raakSasagaNaiH= by those groups of demons; aavR^itaam= and surrounded; bahubhiH= by many; gulmaiH= bodies of troops; pataaka dhvajamaaliniim= decorated with banners and flags.

4. dR^iSTvaa= seeing; nagariim= the City; ruddhaam= besieged; raavaNaH= Ravana; raakSaseshvaraH= the Lord of Demons; uvaacha= spoke; (as follows); prahastam= to Prahasta; yuddha kovidam= who was skilled in war-fare; aatmahitam= and who wished well of him; kaale= even at a critical time.

5. yuddha vishaarada= O, the proficient one in war-free!; na prapashyaami= I do not see; anyam= any other; mokSam= deliverance; yuddhaat= than a battle; purasya= for this City; upaniviSTasya= which is beseiged; sahasaa= suddenly; piiDitasya= and being devastated.

6. aham vaa= either I; kumbhakarNovaa= or Kumbhakarna; tvam vaa= or you; mama= my; senaapatiH= army-chief; indrajit vaa= or Indrajit; nikumbho vaa= or Nikumbha; vaheyuH= can bear; iidR^isham= such; bhaaram= a burden.

7. ataH= for that reason; saH tvam= you as such; aadaaya= taking; balam= the army; shiighram= quickly; parigR^ihyacha= and placing yourself in their midst; abhiniryaahi= set forth; vijayaaya= for victory; yatra= to the place where; sarve= all; vanaukasaH= the monkeys (are stationed)

8. harivaahinii= the army of monkeys; chalitaa= becoming disturbed; tuurNam= soon; nirNayaadeva= on (knowing) your decision (to go for the battle); draviSyati= will run away; shrutvaa= on hearing; naadam= the sound; raakSasendraaNaam= of the leaders of demons; nardataam= roaring.

9. vaanaraaH= the monkeys; chapalaaH= are unsteady; aviniitaashcha= mis-behaved; chalachittashcha= and fickle-minded; na sahiSyanti= (They) do not tolerate; te= your; naadam= sound; dvipaaH iva= as elephants; simhanaadani= the lion's roar.

10. prahasta= O, Prahsta! tasmin bale= (As) that army; vidrude= takes to its heels; raamaH= Rama; saumitriNaa saha= along with Lakshmana; niraalambaH= without any support; avashaH= unwillingly; eSyati= will fall; vasham= into your power.

11. samshayitaa= A skeptical; aapat= misfortune; shreyaH= is preferable; na= and not; niH samshayiikR^itaa= that which is certain; atra= here; tu= but; pratilomaanu lomam vaa= whether it is unpleasing to hear or no; (say what); manyase= you consider; yat= that which; hitam= is advantageous; naH= for us.

12. vaahiniipatiH= the army-general; prahastaH= Prahasta; evam= thus; uktaH= spoken; raavaNena= by Ravana; uvaacha= spoke; idam= these words; raakSasendram= to Ravana; ushanaa= like Ushanaa= like Ushana (the preceptor of demons) asurendramiva= to Bali the king of Asuras.

13. raajan= O, king!; mantrita puurvam= formerly it was deliberated; naH= by us; mantribhiH saha= along with ministers; kushalaiH= who were skilful; samavekSya= having observed attentively; parasparam= with one another; vivaadashcha= a disagreement; vR^ittaH= arose; naH= between us.

14. pradaanena= to return; siitaayaaH= Seetha; vyavasitam= was resolved; mayaa= by me; shreyaH= as preferable; apradaane punaH= not to return Seetha; yuddham= (meant) war; tathaiva= dR^iSTameva= we foresaw this.

15. satatam= ever; puujitaH= honoured; tvayaa= by you; kaale= at appropriate time; daanaishcha= by gifts; maanaishcha= by felicitations; vividhaiH= by various; saanaishcha= nice words; kim= what; saH aham= I as such; na kuryaam= cannot do; hitam= benefit; tava= to you?

16. me= to me; jiivitam= life; na hi= is indeed not; rakSyam= to be spared; putra daara dhanaanicha= (nor) sons; wives or riches; tvam= you; pashya= see; maam= me; juhuuSantam= who wish to sacrifice; jiivitam= my life; tvadarthe= for your sake; yudhi= in the battle.

17. uktvaa= having spoken; evam= thus; raavaNam= to Ravana; bhartaaram= the lord; prahastaH= Prahasta; vaahiniipatiH= the Army-general; uvaacha= spoke; idam= those words; balaadhyakSaan= to his leading officers; sthitaan= stationed; purataH= in front.

18, 19. samaanayata= gather; mahaabalam= a large army; raakSasaanaam= of demons; me= for me; madbaaNaanaam= With my arrows; vegena= by their swiftness; raaNaajire= on the battle field; maamsaadaaH= the flesh-eating; pakSiNaH= birds; kaanakausaH= and beasts; tR^ipyantu= shall feed; hataanaam= on the enemy that I stroke down; adya= today.

20. shrutvaa= hearing; tat= that; vachanam= command; tasya= of Prahasta; mahaabalaah= the mighty; balaadhyakSaaH= leaders of the army; udyojayaamaasuH= assembled; balam= the forces; tasmin raakSasa mandire= in the abode of that demon.

21. muhuurtena= within a short while; saa laN^kaa= that City of Lanka; babhuuva= became; samaakulaa= filled; tai= with those; bhiimaiH= terrific; raakSasa viiraiH= demon-warriors; gajairiva= resembling elephants; naanaa vidhaayudhaiH= wielding various types of weaponry.

22. (While some demons); tarpayataam= propitiated; hutaashanam= the fire-god; (with their offerings); namasyataam= and paid homage; braahmaNaamshcha= to Brahmanas; surabhiH= a fragrant; maarutaH= freeze; aajyagandha prativahaH= bearing the scent of clarified butter vavou= began to blow.

23. tadaa= then; raakSasaaH= the demons; samgraama sajjaaH= ready for the battle; samhR^iSTaaH= delightedly; jagR^ihuH= wore; srajashcha= garlands; vividhaakaaraaH= of different shapes; abhimantritaaH= consecrated by certain Mantras (sacred formulas).

24. raakSasaaH= the demons; sadhanuSkaaH= with their bows; kavachinaH= and armours; prekSya= seeing; raajaanam= the king; raavaNam= Ravana; aaplutya= and jumping; vegaat= swiftly; paryavaarayan= ranged themselves towards; prahastam= Prahasta.

25, 26, 27. atha= then; prahastaH= Prahasta; yuktaH= who got ready with his weapons and armour; aamantrya= taking leave; raajaanam= of the king; aahatya= striking; bhairavaam= the terrible; bherniim= kettle-drum; aaruroha= mounted; ratham= his chariot; sajjakalpitam= which was kept ready; yuktam= yoked; mahaajavaiH= an extremely swift; hayaiH= horses; samyak suuta susamyatam= well-controlled by a charioteer; mahaajalada ninghoSam= with a noise resembling that of a large cloud; saakSaat= actually; chandraarka bhaasvaram= shining like moon-light; uraga dhvaja durdharSam= inviolable, with a flag bearing an ensign of snake; suvaruutham= with a good collision-guard; svavaskaram= having good wheels; suvarNajaala samyuktam= decorated with a net of pure gold; prahastamiva= smiling as it were; shriyaa= in its magnificence.

28. tataH= then; raavaNaarpita shaasanaH= Prahasta, to whom command was given by Ravana; aasthaaya= mounted; ratham= his chariot; niryayau= set out; laN^kaayaaH= from Lanka; tuurnam= quickly; vR^itaH= along with; mahataa= a huge; balena= army.

29. vaahiniipatau= (While) Prahasta the General; prayaate= sallied forth; tataH= then; dundubhi nirghoSaH= the sound of a kettle-drum; ninadaH cha= the sound; vaaditraaNaam= of musical instruments; shN^kha shabdashcha= and the sound of couches; shushruve= were heard; puurayanniva= as though filling; mediniim= the earth; parjanya; ninadopamaH= resembling the roar of a cloud.

30. raakSasaaH= the demons; bhiimaruupaaH= having terrific forms; mahaakaayaaH= and bulky bodies; ninadantaH= shouting; ghoraan= with terrible; svaraan= voices; jagmuH= went; agrataH= in front; puraH saraaH= as forerunners; prahastasya= of Prahasta.

31. naraantakaH= Narantaka; kumbhahanuH= Kumbhahanu; mahaanaadaH= Mahanada; samunnataH= Samunnata; prahasta sachivaaH= attendants of Prahasta; ete= they; niryayuH= sallied forth; parivaarya= surrounding; tam= him.

32. saH= He; niryayau= emerged; puurva dvaaraat= from the eastern gate; vR^itaH= in the midst; mahataa= of an immense; sughoSeNa= formidable; vyuuDheneva= and orderly arranged; balena= army; gaja yuutha nikaashena= resembling a herd of elephants.

33. vR^itaH= In the centre; tena= of that; balena= army; saagara prati maughena= vast as the sea; saH prahastaH= that Prahasta; kruddhaH= in his fury; niryayau= came forth; kaalaantakayamopamaH= appearing like Death at the end of the world.

34. tasya niryaaNaghoSeNa= the uproar that arose on his setting forth; raakSasaanaam cha= with his demons; nardataam= raising their war cries; vineduH= sounded forth; vikR^itaiH= sinister; svaraiH= answering calls; sarvabhuutaani= from all creatures; laN^kaayaam= in Lanka.

35. khagaaH= birds; maamsashoNitabhojanaaH= eating flesh and blood; aavishya= entering; nyabhram= cloudless; aakaasham= sky; chakruH= flew; maN^Dalaani= in circles; apasvyaani= from left to right; rathamprati= towards the chariot.

36. ghoraaH= fearful; shivaaH= jackals; vamantyaH= vomited forth; paavaka jvaalaaH= fire and flames; vavaashire= howling repeatedly; ulkaa= a meteor; papaata= fell; antarikSaat= from the sky; vaayushcha= and the wind; vavau= blew; paruSam= harshly.

37, 38. grahaashcha= the planets; abhisamrabdhaaH= were in opposition; anyonyam= to each other; na cha prakaashire= and lost their brilliance; meghaashcha= the clouds; kharanirghoSaaH= made harsh sounds; vavarSuH= and rained; rudhiram= blood; upari= above; raakSasaH= the demons; rathasya= chariot; siSichushcha= and dampened; puraH saraan= those who were walking in front.

39. gR^idhraH= A vulture; dakSiNaamukhaH= facing the south; viliinaH= alighted; muurdhani= on the top; ketoH= of the standard; nadan= croaking; ubhayataH paarshvam= on its both the sides; aharat= and deprived; (the demon); samagraam= of his entire; prabhaam= lustre.

40. pratodaH= the goad; nyapata= fell; bahushaH= several times; atra= then; hastaat= from the hand; saarathaH= of the charioteer; suutasya= a Suta (the son of a Kshastriya by a Brahmana woman); hayasaadinaH eventhough skilled in controlling the horses; avagaahataH= as he entered; samgraamam= the battle-field.

41. sudurlabhaa= that rarely; bhaasvaraa= splendour; yaa= which (clothed); niryaaNashriiH= (Prahasta) at the time of his exit; saa= that one; nanaasha= vanished; muhuurtena= in an instant; hayaashcha= and horses; sthalitaaH= stumbled; same= on the even ground.

42. tam prahastam= (Beholding) that Prahasta; prakhyaata guNa pauruSam= renowned for his excellences and martial valour; niryaantam= as he advanced to give battle; kapisenaa= the army of monkeys; naana praharaNaa= furnished with weapons of every kind; abhyavartata= turned towards; yudii= the battle.

43. atha= thereafter; sutumulaH= an exceedingly tumultuous; ghoSaH= clamour; samajayata= arose; hariiNaam= among the monkeys; aarujataam chaiva= as they tore up; vR^ikSaan= the trees; gR^ihNataam= seized hold of; gurviiH= of huge; shilaaH= rocks.

44, 45. nadataam= the yelling; raakSasaanaamcha= demons; garjataam= and the roaring; vaanaraaNaamcha= monkeys; ubhau= both; sainye= the armies; pramudite= were delighted; vegitaanaam= impetuous; samarthaanaam= and powerful; anyonya vadhakaaNkSiNaam= with impatience to slay each other; aahvayataam= challenging parasparam= each other; mahaan= and tremendous; ninaadaH= shouts; rakSogaNa vanaukasaam= of troops of demons and monkeys; shruuyati= were heard.

46. tataH= thereafter; durmatiH= the evil-minded; prahastaH= Prahasta; pratasthe= sallied forth; vijayaaya= for victor; kapiraaja vaahiniim= towards the army of Sugreeva; mumurSuH= whom in his folly imagined he would destroy vivR^iddha vegaH cha= with an accelerated speed; shalabhaH iva= as a grasshopper; vibhaavasum= falls into a flame.