1. lakShmaNe= (While) Lakshmana; bhraatR^ivatsale= who was fond of his brother; aashvaasamaane= was consoling; raamam= Rama; vibhiiShaNaH= Vibhishana; nikShipya= keeping; gulmaan= the division of his army; svasthaane= in their respective positions; aagachchhat= arrived; tatra= there.

2, 3. saH= that Vibhishana; abhivR^itaH= surround; chaturbhiH viiraiH= by four warriors; naanaapraharaNaiH= wielding many types of weapons; yuuthapaiH= who were chiefs of troops; niilaaNjana chaakaaraiH= who looked like heaps of black collyrium; maataN^gaiH iva= and who were appearing like elephants; abhigamya= approaching; mahaatmaanam= the great souled; raaghavam= Lakshmana; shokalaalasam= who was totally absorbed in sorrow; dadR^ishe= saw; vaanaraamshchaapi= even the monkeys; baaShpaparyaakulekShaNaan= having their eyes filled with tears.

4. dadarsha cha= (Vibhishana) also saw; mahaatmaanam= the great souled Rama; ikShvaakukulanandanam= the delight of Ikshvaku dynasty; moham aapannam= fallen into a swoon; aashritam= and resting on; aN^kam= the lap; lakShmaNasya= of Lakshmana.

5. dR^iShTvaa= seeing; vriiDitam= the embarrassed; raamam= Rama; shokasantaptam= tormented with grief; saH vibhiiShaNaH= that Vibhishana; diinaatmaa= distressed in spirits; duHkhena= with agony; antaH= inside; abraviit= asked him; kim etat iti= “What is this?”

6. dR^iShTvaa= seeing; viibhiishaNamukham= Vibhishana’s face; sugriivam= Sugreeva; taan vaanaraamshcha= and those mokeys; lakShmaNaH= Lakshmana; baaShpa pariplutaH= with tears pouring down; uvaacha= spoke; idam= thse words, mandaartham= with splendid meaning.

7. saumya= O gentle Sir!; shrutvaiva= just after hearing; hanumadvachanaat= from the words of Hanuma; iti= that; siitaa= Seetha; hataa= was killed; indrajitaa= by Indrajit; raaghavah= Rama; tataH= then; upaagataH= entered into; moham= a swoon.

8. samnivaarya= Intercepting; saumitram= Lakshmana; kathayantam= who was thus narrating; vibhiiShaNaH= Vibhishana; abraviit= spoke; idam= the following; puShkalaartham= amply meaningful; vaakyam= words; raamam= to Rama; visamJNjam= who was unconscious.

9. aham= I; manye= think; yat tat= that which; tvam= you; uktaH= have been told; hanuumataa= by Hanuma; aartaruupeNa= with a sorrowful temper; manujendra= Oruler of men; ayuktam= is absurd; shoShaNam iva= as the drying up; saagarasya= of the sea.

10. mahaabaaho= O, the long-armed!; jaanaami= I know; abhipraayam= the design; duraatmanaH raavaNasya= of the evil-mined Ravana; siitaam prati= towards Seetha; na kariShyati= He would never do; ghaatam= the killing (of Seetha).

11. yaachyamaanaH= eventhough begged; mayaa= by me; hitachikiirShuNaa= the well-wisher; subahushaH= several times; utsR^ijasva iti= to give up; vaidehiim= Seetha; na kR^itavaan= he did not heed; tat vachaH= that advice.

12. na shakyeta= It is neither possible; draShTum api= even to see; saa= her; saamnaa= by conciliation; na daanena= nor by bestowing gifts; na bhedena= nor by sowing dissention; kutaH= how is it possible; yudhaa= by a war?; naiva= It is not possible; anyena kenachit= by any other strategy.

13. saH raakShasaH= that Indrajit; pratiyaataH= retracted; mohayitvaa= by hoodwinking; vaanaraan= the monkeys; mahaabaaho= O long armed!; viddhi= know; taam jaanakaatmajaam= that Seetha (who was seemingly killed by him); maayaamayiim= as unreal.

14. praapya= after reaching; chaityam= a sanctuary; nikumbhilaamnaama= by name, Nikumbhila; eShaH raavaNaatmajaH= this Indrajit; homam kariShyati= will pour oblations into the sacred fire; hutavaan upayaataH= on returning after pouring oblations into the sacred fire (Indrajit); bhavati duraadharShaH= will prove difficult to be overcome; samgraame= in battle; devairapi= even by celestials; sa vaasavaiH= including Indra.

15. nuuam= certainly; eShaa= this; maayaa= conjuring trick (in the form Seetha); prayojitaa= was exhibited; tena= by him; mohayataa= who was employing magical art; anvichchhataa= expecting; vighnam= interruption; paraakrame= by the prowess; vaanaraaNaam= of the monkeys; tatra= there.

16, 17. yaavat= before which time; tat= that act of offering oblations in the sacred fire; na samaapyate= is not completed; (within that time); gachchhaama= we shall go; tatra= there; sasainyaaH= along with an army; narashaarduula= O the foremost of men!; tyaja= give up; enam= this; mithyaa santaapam= improper grief; aagatam= has come upon (you); dR^iShTvaa= on seeing; tvaam= you; shokakarshitam= tormented by grief; sarvam= all; balam= the army; siidatehi= is indeed sinking into despondency.

18. tvam= you; tiShTha= stay; iha= here; svasthahR^idayaH= confident at heart; sattvasamuchchhritaH= and exalted in courage; preShaya= send; lakShmaNam= Lakshmana; asmaabhiH saha= with us; sainyaanukarShibhiH= who are summoning an army.

19. eShaH= this Lakshmana; narashaarduulaH= the eminent prince; raavaNim tyaajayiShyati= can make Indrajit abandon; tat= that; karma= act of sacrifice; nishitaiH sharaiH= by his sharp arrows; tataH= then; bhaviShyati vadhyaH= he will be susceptible to be killed.

20. ete sharaaH= these arrows; nishitaaH= which are sharp; tiikShaNaaH= fiery; patripatraaN^ga vaajinaH= with a speed equal to the speed of the wings of a bird; paasyanti= can drink; tasya shoNitam= his blood; asaumyaaH patatriNaH iva= like unlovely birds.

21. mahaabaaho= O the long-armed one!; tat= therefore; samdisha= dispatch; lakShmaNam= Lakshmana; shubhalakShaNaH= having auspicious body-marks; vajradhvaH yathaa= as Indra the lord of celestials; vajram (employed) the thunderbolt; vinaashaaya= for the destruction; raakShasasya= of Indrajit.

22. manujavara= O the best of men!; yat= for which reason; na kShamaH= it is not appropriate; kartum kaala viprakarShaH= to delay; ripunidhanam prati= the killing of the enemy; adya= at this time; (for that reason); tvam atisR^ija vaaNiim= you grant permission in your words; ripoH vadhaaya= to destroy the enemy; mahendraH yathaa= as Indra; divijaripoH madhane= (hurl his thunderbolt) to destroy the enemies of celestials.

23. saH raakShasaR^iShabhaH= that foremost among demons; samaapta karma= having completed the sacrifice; adR^ishyaH bhavati hi= he will indeed be invisible; suraasuraiH= to celestials and demons; samara= in battle; suraaNaamapi= even the celestials; bhavet mahaa samshayaH= feel a great doubt; tena= of him; samaaptakarmaNaa= who has completed the sacrifice; yuyutsataa= and has an intent to fight.