Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 22 of 128 · 89 verses
The Ocean Appears; Nala Builds the Bridge
Rama threatens to dry up the ocean to its depths so the monkeys can walk across. He fits an arrow with the Brahma weapon and draws his bow. Heaven and earth seem to split, mountains shake, darkness covers the world, lakes and rivers churn, sun and moon move crosswise with the stars, meteors blaze, thunder crashes without clouds, winds tear up trees and peaks, and all creatures, seen and unseen, cry out in terror. The ocean surges a league beyond its shore.
Then from the middle of the waters Sagara himself rises, like the sun from the eastern mountain, with serpents with blazing mouths around him: dark as polished lapis, adorned with gold, in red garlands and clothes, lotus-eyed, wearing a heavenly garland of every flower and a gem like the Kaustubha’s brother on his broad chest, attended by the rivers led by the Ganga and the Sindhu. With joined palms he says: earth, wind, sky, water and light all keep to their nature; it is my nature to be fathomless and impassable. I cannot make my water still for any reason. But I will make a way: I will bear a bridge, and my creatures will not harm the army while it crosses.
Rama asks where to loose the arrow, which cannot be wasted. The Ocean names a holy region to the north called Drumakulya, where evil robbers drink his water; Rama shoots there, and the place becomes the famous desert Marukantara, with a well where the arrow struck. Rama blesses the desert to be good for cattle, healthy, rich in fruit, roots, honey, milk, fragrance and herbs. Then the Ocean says: here is Nala, son of Vishvakarman, who has his father’s gift; let him build the bridge, and I will bear it. Nala tells Rama that he can do it; force is the best argument in the world, for the Ocean gave way only out of fear of the rod. His mother was given a boon that her son would equal Vishvakarman; he did not speak of his gifts unasked.
The monkeys pour into the forests, tear up trees and rocks, sala, palm, mango, ashoka, and carry mountains with machines; water splashes into the sky. Some hold measuring cords a hundred leagues long, some hold poles. In five days they build the bridge: fourteen leagues on the first day, twenty on the second, twenty-one on the third, twenty-two on the fourth, twenty-three on the fifth, to Mount Suvela. Ten leagues wide and a hundred long, it shines on the sea like the parting in a woman’s hair, like the path of Svati in the sky; gods, gandharvas and sages come to see the marvel. Vibhishana stands guard on the far shore with his ministers. Rama rides on Hanuman, Lakshmana on Angada, at the head of the army; the monkeys cross on the bridge, beside it, through the water and through the air, their roar drowning the sea’s, and camp on the far shore. The gods, siddhas, charanas and sages come and consecrate Rama with holy water: “Conquer your enemies, god among men; rule the earth with its oceans for endless years.”
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अथोवाच रघुश्रेष्ठः सागरं दारुणं वचः । अद्य त्वां शोषयिष्यामि सपातालं महार्णव ॥ १ ॥
Then the best of the Raghus spoke cruel words to the ocean: “Today I will dry you up, great sea, to the underworld.
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The Ocean Appears; Nala Builds the Bridge 1 min read.
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शरनिर्दग्धतोयस्य परिशुष्कस्य सागर । मया निहतसत्त्वस्य पांसुरुत्पद्यते महान् ॥ २ ॥
“When your water has been burned by my arrows and you are dried up, ocean, and your creatures killed by me, a great dust will rise.
मत्कार्मुकविसृष्टेन शरवर्षेण सागर । परं तीरं गमिष्यन्ति पद्भिरेव प्लवंगमाः ॥ ३ ॥
“By the rain of arrows loosed from my bow, ocean, the leapers will go to the far shore on foot.
विचिन्वन्नाभिजानासि पौरुषं नापि विक्रमम् । दानवालय संतापं मत्तो नाम गमिष्यसि ॥ ४ ॥
“Searching, you do not recognise my manliness or my valour; home of the danavas, you will meet great anguish from me.”
ब्राह्मेणास्त्रेण संयोज्य ब्रह्मदण्डनिभं शरम् । संयोज्य धनुषि श्रेष्ठे विचकर्ष महाबलः ॥ ५ ॥
Joining to the Brahma weapon an arrow like Brahma’s rod, and fitting it to his excellent bow, the mighty one drew it back.
तस्मिन् विकृष्टे सहसा राघवेण शरासने । रोदसी सम्पफालेव पर्वताश्च चकम्पिरे ॥ ६ ॥
When Raghava suddenly drew back his bow, heaven and earth seemed to split, and the mountains shook.
तमश्च लोकमावव्रे दिशश्च न चकाशिरे । प्रतिचुक्षुभिरे चाशु सरांसि सरितस्तथा ॥ ७ ॥
Darkness covered the world, and the directions did not shine; lakes and rivers were suddenly shaken.
तिर्यक् च सह नक्षत्रैः संगतौ चन्द्रभास्करौ । भास्करांशुभिरादीप्तं तमसा च समावृतम् ॥ ८ ॥
Moon and sun moved crosswise with the stars. Lit by the sun’s rays and covered with darkness,
प्रचकाशे तदाऽऽकाशमुल्काशतविदीपितम् । अन्तरिक्षाच्च निर्घाता निर्जग्मुरतुलस्वनाः ॥ ९ ॥
the sky shone, lit up by hundreds of meteors; and from the atmosphere came thunderclaps of unmatched sound.
वपुःप्रकर्षेण ववुर्दिव्यमारुतपङ्क्तयः । बभञ्ज च तदा वृक्षाञ्जलदानुद्वहन्मुहुः ॥ १० ॥
Lines of heavenly winds blew with immense force; they broke trees and drove the clouds again and again,
आरुजंश्चैव शैलाग्रान् शिखराणि बभञ्ज च । दिवि च स्म महामेघाः संहताः समहास्वनाः ॥ ११ ॥
shattering mountain tops and breaking peaks. And in the sky great clouds massed together with great roars
मुमुचुर्वैद्युतानग्नींस्ते महाशनयस्तदा । यानि भूतानि दृश्यानि चुक्रुशुश्चाशनेः समम् ॥ १२ ॥
and let loose lightning fires, great thunderbolts. Visible beings cried out together with the thunder,
अदृश्यानि च भूतानि मुमुचुर्भैरवस्वनम् । शिश्यिरे चाभिभूतानि संत्रस्तान्युद्विजन्ति च ॥ १३ ॥
and invisible beings let out a dreadful sound. Overwhelmed, they lay down; terrified, they trembled;
सम्प्रविव्यथिरे चापि न च पस्पन्दिरे भयात् । सह भूतैः सतोयोर्मिः सनागः सहराक्षसः ॥ १४ ॥
they were in torment, and from fear they did not move. With its creatures, its water and waves, its serpents and its rakshasas,
सहसाभूत् ततो वेगाद् भीमवेगो महोदधिः । योजनं व्यतिचक्राम वेलामन्यत्र सम्प्लवात् ॥ १५ ॥
the great ocean suddenly became of terrible speed from that force; it overran its shore by a league, apart from its flooding.
तं तथा समतिक्रान्तं नातिचक्राम राघवः । समुद्धतममित्रघ्नो रामो नदनदीपतिम् ॥ १६ ॥
Even when it had so overrun its bounds, Raghava, Rama the slayer of enemies, did not step back from the swollen lord of rivers and streams.
ततो मध्यात् समुद्रस्य सागरः स्वयमुत्थितः । उदयाद्रिमहाशैलान्मेरोरिव दिवाकरः ॥ १७ ॥
Then from the middle of the ocean Sagara himself rose, like the sun from Meru, the great mountain of its rising.
पन्नगैः सह दीप्तास्यैः समुद्रः प्रत्यदृश्यत । स्निग्धवैदूर्यसंकाशो जाम्बूनदविभूषणः ॥ १८ ॥
The Ocean appeared with serpents with blazing mouths, like glossy lapis, adorned with gold,
रक्तमाल्याम्बरधरः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः । सर्वपुष्पमयीं दिव्यां शिरसा धारयन् स्रजम् ॥ १९ ॥
wearing red garlands and clothes, with eyes like lotus petals, bearing on his head a heavenly garland made of every flower,
जातरूपमयैश्चैव तपनीयविभूषणैः । आत्मजानां च रत्नानां भूषितो भूषणोत्तमैः ॥ २० ॥
adorned with ornaments of gold and refined gold, and with the finest ornaments of his own jewels,
धातुभिर्मण्डितः शैलो विविधैर्हिमवानिव । एकावलीमध्यगतं तरलं पाण्डरप्रभम् ॥ २१ ॥
like Himavat adorned with many minerals, bearing on his broad chest, in the middle of a single string, a pale shining central gem,
विपुलेनोरसा बिभ्रत्कौस्तुभस्य सहोदरम् । आघूर्णिततरङ्गौघः कालिकानिलसंकुलः ॥ २२ ॥
the brother of the Kaustubha; his masses of waves whirling, thronged with dark winds,
गङ्गासिन्धुप्रधानाभिरापगाभिः समावृतः । उद्वर्तितमहाग्राहः सम्भ्रान्तोरगराक्षसः ॥ २३ ॥
surrounded by the rivers, chief among them the Ganga and the Sindhu, his great crocodiles tossed up, his serpents and rakshasas in confusion,
देवतानां सुरूपाभिर्नानारूपाभिरीश्वरः । सागरः समुपक्रम्य पूर्वमामन्त्र्य वीर्यवान् ॥ २४ ॥
by goddesses of fair form and of many forms: the lord Sagara, mighty, approaching and first addressing him,
अब्रवीत् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं राघवं शरपाणिनम् ॥ २५ ॥
said with joined palms to Raghava, arrow in hand:
पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिश्च राघव । स्वभावे सौम्य तिष्ठन्ति शाश्वतं मार्गमाश्रिताः ॥ २६ ॥
“Earth, wind, sky, water and light, Raghava, keep to their own nature, gentle one, following their eternal course.
तत्स्वभावो ममाप्येष यदगाधोऽहमप्लवः । विकारस्तु भवेद् गाध एतत् ते प्रवदाम्यहम् ॥ २७ ॥
“This is my nature too, that I am fathomless and impassable; to be fordable would be a change. This I tell you.
न कामान्न च लोभाद् वा न भयात् पार्थिवात्मज । ग्राहनक्राकुलजलं स्तम्भयेयं कथंचन ॥ २८ ॥
“Not for desire, not for greed, not for fear, prince, could I in any way make my water, full of crocodiles and sharks, stand still.
विधास्ये येन गन्तासि विषहिष्येऽप्यहं तथा । न ग्राहा विधमिष्यन्ति यावत्सेना तरिष्यति । हरीणां तरणे राम करिष्यामि यथा स्थलम् ॥ २९ ॥
“I will arrange a way by which you will go, and I will bear it. The crocodiles will not attack while the army crosses. For the monkeys’ crossing, Rama, I will make it like dry land.”
तमब्रवीत् तदा रामः शृणु मे वरुणालय । अमोघोऽयं महाबाणः कस्मिन् देशे निपात्यताम् ॥ ३० ॥
Then Rama said to him: “Listen to me, home of Varuna. This great arrow is unfailing; where shall it be made to fall?”
रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा तं च दृष्ट्वा महाशरम् । महोदधिर्महातेजा राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ३१ ॥
Hearing Rama’s words and seeing that great arrow, the radiant great Ocean said to Raghava:
उत्तरेणावकाशोऽस्ति कश्चित् पुण्यतरो मम । द्रुमकुल्य इति ख्यातो लोके ख्यातो यथा भवान् ॥ ३२ ॥
“To the north there is a region of mine, very holy, famed in the world as Drumakulya, as famous as you are.
उग्रदर्शनकर्माणो बहवस्तत्र दस्यवः । आभीरप्रमुखाः पापाः पिबन्ति सलिलं मम ॥ ३३ ॥
“Many robbers of fierce looks and deeds, evil ones led by the Abhiras, drink my water there.
तैर्न तत्स्पर्शनं पापं सहेयं पापकर्मभिः । अमोघः क्रियतां राम अयं तत्र शरोत्तमः ॥ ३४ ॥
“I cannot bear that evil touch from those evildoers. Let this best of arrows be made unfailing there, Rama.”
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सागरस्य महात्मनः । मुमोच तं शरं दीप्तं परं सागरदर्शनात् ॥ ३५ ॥
Hearing those words of the great-souled Ocean, he loosed that blazing arrow beyond the sight of the ocean.
तेन तन्मरुकान्तारं पृथिव्यां किल विश्रुतम् । निपातितः शरो यत्र वज्राशनिसमप्रभः ॥ ३६ ॥
By it that place on earth became the desert Marukantara, famous, where the arrow, bright as the thunderbolt, was made to fall.
ननाद च तदा तत्र वसुधा शल्यपीडिता । तस्माद् व्रणमुखात् तोयमुत्पपात रसातलात् ॥ ३७ ॥
And the earth, pierced by the shaft, roared there then; from the mouth of that wound water sprang up from the underworld.
स बभूव तदा कूपो व्रण इत्येव विश्रुतः । सततं चोत्थितं तोयं समुद्रस्येव दृश्यते ॥ ३८ ॥
It became a well then, famous as Vrana, “the Wound”; and the water always rising there is seen like the ocean’s.
अवदारणशब्दश्च दारुणः समपद्यत । तस्मात् तद् बाणपातेन अपः कुक्षिष्वशोषयत् ॥ ३९ ॥
And a terrible sound of splitting arose; then by the fall of that arrow he dried up the waters in its hollows.
विख्यातं त्रिषु लोकेषु मरुकान्तारमेव च । शोषयित्वा तु तं कुक्षिं रामो दशरथात्मजः ॥ ४० ॥
And it became the desert famous in the three worlds. Having dried up that hollow, Rama, son of Dasharatha,
वरं तस्मै ददौ विद्वान् मरवेऽमरविक्रमः ॥ ४१ ॥
wise, of immortal valour, gave a boon to the desert:
पशव्यश्चाल्परोगश्च फलमूलरसायुतः । बहुस्नेहो बहुक्षीरः सुगन्धिर्विविधौषधिः ॥ ४२ ॥
“Good for cattle, with little disease, rich in fruits, roots and juices, with much ghee and much milk, fragrant, with herbs of many kinds.”
एवमेतैश्च संयुक्तो बहुभिः संयुतो मरुः । रामस्य वरदानाच्च शिवः पन्था बभूव ह ॥ ४३ ॥
So endowed with these many things, the desert, by Rama’s boon, became an auspicious path.
तस्मिन् दग्धे तदा कुक्षौ समुद्रः सरितां पतिः । राघवं सर्वशास्त्रज्ञमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ४४ ॥
When that hollow had been burned, the Ocean, lord of rivers, said this to Raghava, who knew all the treatises:
अयं सौम्य नलो नाम तनयो विश्वकर्मणः । पित्रा दत्तवरः श्रीमान् प्रीतिमान् विश्वकर्मणः ॥ ४५ ॥
“Gentle one, this is Nala, son of Vishvakarman, glorious, given a boon by his father, dear to Vishvakarman.
एष सेतुं महोत्साहः करोतु मयि वानरः । तमहं धारयिष्यामि यथा ह्येष पिता तथा ॥ ४६ ॥
“Let this monkey, of great energy, make a bridge over me; I will bear it, just as his father would.”
एवमुक्त्वोदधिर्नष्टः समुत्थाय नलस्ततः । अब्रवीद् वानरश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं रामं महाबलम् ॥ ४७ ॥
Having said this, the Ocean vanished. Then Nala, best of monkeys, rose and said to mighty Rama:
अहं सेतुं करिष्यामि विस्तीर्णे मकरालये । पितुः सामर्थ्यमासाद्य तत्त्वमाह महोदधिः ॥ ४८ ॥
“I will make a bridge over the wide home of sea monsters, drawing on my father’s ability; the great Ocean has spoken the truth.
दण्ड एव वरो लोके पुरुषस्येति मे मतिः । धिक् क्षमामकृतज्ञेषु सान्त्वं दानमथापि वा ॥ ४९ ॥
“The rod is the best thing for a man in the world: that is my view. Shame on patience toward the ungrateful, and on conciliation, or even gifts.
अयं हि सागरो भीमः सेतुकर्मदिदृक्षया । ददौ दण्डभयाद् गाधं राघवाय महोदधिः ॥ ५० ॥
“This terrible ocean, the great sea, gave a ford to Raghava out of fear of the rod, wanting to see the bridge-building.
मम मातुर्वरो दत्तो मन्दरे विश्वकर्मणा । मया तु सदृशः पुत्रस्तव देवि भविष्यति ॥ ५१ ॥
“A boon was given to my mother on Mandara by Vishvakarman: ‘Goddess, a son equal to me will be born to you.’
औरसस्तस्य पुत्रोऽहं सदृशो विश्वकर्मणा । स्मारितोऽस्म्यहमेतेन तत्त्वमाह महोदधिः । न चाप्यहमनुक्तो वः प्रब्रूयामात्मनो गुणान् ॥ ५२ ॥
“I am his true-born son, equal to Vishvakarman. I have been reminded of this by him; the great Ocean has spoken the truth. And unasked I would not tell you of my own gifts.
समर्थश्चाप्यहं सेतुं कर्तुं वै वरुणालये । तस्मादद्यैव बध्नन्तु सेतुं वानरपुङ्गवाः ॥ ५३ ॥
“I am able to build a bridge over Varuna’s home. So let the bulls among monkeys build the bridge this very day.”
ततो विसृष्टा रामेण सर्वतो हरिपुङ्गवाः । उत्पेततुर्महारण्यं हृष्टाः शतसहस्रशः ॥ ५४ ॥
Then, sent out by Rama, the bulls among monkeys leapt on every side into the great forest, delighted, by hundreds of thousands.
ते नगान् नगसंकाशाः शाखामृगगणर्षभाः । बभञ्जुः पादपांस्तत्र प्रचकर्षुश्च सागरम् ॥ ५५ ॥
Those chiefs among the hosts of monkeys, like mountains, broke trees and mountains there and dragged them to the ocean.
ते सालैश्चाश्वकर्णैश्च धवैर्वंशैश्च वानराः । कुटजैरर्जुनैस्तालैस्तिलकैस्तिनिशैरपि ॥ ५६ ॥
With salas and ashvakarnas, dhavas and bamboos, kutajas, arjunas, palms, tilakas and tinishas,
बिल्वकैः सप्तपर्णैश्च कर्णिकारैश्च पुष्पितैः । चूतैश्चाशोकवृक्षैश्च सागरं समपूरयन् ॥ ५७ ॥
bilvas, saptaparnas and flowering karnikaras, mangoes and ashoka trees, the monkeys filled the ocean.
समूलांश्च विमूलांश्च पादपान् हरिसत्तमाः । इन्द्रकेतूनिवोद्यम्य प्रजह्रुर्वानरास्तरून् ॥ ५८ ॥
With roots and without roots, the best of monkeys raised trees like Indra’s banners and carried them.
तालान् दाडिमगुल्मांश्च नारिकेलविभीतकान् । करीरान् बकुलान् निम्बान् समाजह्रुरितस्ततः ॥ ५९ ॥
Palms, pomegranate bushes, coconut and vibhitaka trees, kariras, bakulas and nimbas they brought from here and there.
हस्तिमात्रान् महाकायाः पाषाणांश्च महाबलाः । पर्वतांश्च समुत्पाट्य यन्त्रैः परिवहन्ति च ॥ ६० ॥
The huge, mighty ones tore up rocks as big as elephants, and mountains, and carried them with machines.
प्रक्षिप्यमाणैरचलैः सहसा जलमुद्धृतम् । समुत्ससर्प चाकाशमवासर्पत् ततः पुनः ॥ ६१ ॥
As the rocks were thrown in, the water was suddenly thrown up; it rose into the sky and then fell back again.
समुद्रं क्षोभयामासुर्निपतन्तः समन्ततः । सूत्राण्यन्ये प्रगृह्णन्ति ह्यायतं शतयोजनम् ॥ ६२ ॥
Falling in on every side, they churned the ocean. Others held cords stretched a hundred leagues.
नलश्चक्रे महासेतुं मध्ये नदनदीपतेः । स तदा क्रियते सेतुर्वानरैर्घोरकर्मभिः ॥ ६३ ॥
Nala made a great bridge in the middle of the lord of rivers and streams. The bridge was then being built by monkeys of fearsome deeds.
दण्डानन्ये प्रगृह्णन्ति विचिन्वन्ति तथापरे । वानरैः शतशस्तत्र रामस्याज्ञापुरःसरैः ॥ ६४ ॥
Others held poles, others gathered materials; by hundreds of monkeys there, with Rama’s command before them,
मेघाभैः पर्वताभैश्च तृणैः काष्ठैर्बबन्धिरे । पुष्पिताग्रैश्च तरुभिः सेतुं बघ्नन्ति वानराः ॥ ६५ ॥
with grass and timber like clouds and mountains they bound it; with trees with flowering tops the monkeys built the bridge.
पाषाणांश्च गिरिप्रख्यान् गिरीणां शिखराणि च । दृश्यन्ते परिधावन्तो गृह्य दानवसंनिभाः ॥ ६६ ॥
Rocks like mountains and mountain peaks they were seen carrying as they ran about, like danavas.
शिलानां क्षिप्यमाणानां शैलानां तत्र पात्यताम् । बभूव तुमुलः शब्दस्तदा तस्मिन् महोदधौ ॥ ६७ ॥
Of the rocks being thrown and the mountains being dropped there arose then a tumultuous noise in that great ocean.
कृतानि प्रथमेनाह्ना योजनानि चतुर्दश । प्रहृष्टैर्गजसंकाशैस्त्वरमाणैः प्लवङ्गमैः ॥ ६८ ॥
On the first day fourteen leagues were made by the delighted leapers, like elephants, in their haste.
द्वितीयेन तथैवाह्ना योजनानि तु विंशतिः । कृतानि प्लवगैस्तूर्णं भीमकायैर्महाबलैः ॥ ६९ ॥
On the second day likewise twenty leagues were quickly made by the leapers, of terrible bodies and great strength.
अह्ना तृतीयेन तथा योजनानि तु सागरे । त्वरमाणैर्महाकायैरेकविंशतिरेव च ॥ ७० ॥
On the third day likewise, in the ocean, twenty-one leagues by the huge ones in their haste.
चतुर्थेन तथा चाह्ना द्वाविंशतिरथापि वा । योजनानि महावेगैः कृतानि त्वरितैस्ततः ॥ ७१ ॥
On the fourth day likewise, twenty-two leagues were made by the very swift ones, hurrying.
पञ्चमेन तथा चाह्ना प्लवगैः क्षिप्रकारिभिः । योजनानि त्रयोविंशत् सुवेलमधिकृत्य वै ॥ ७२ ॥
And on the fifth day the leapers, quick to act, made twenty-three leagues, up to Suvela.
स वानरवरः श्रीमान् विश्वकर्मात्मजो बली । बबन्ध सागरे सेतुं यथा चास्य पिता तथा ॥ ७३ ॥
That glorious, mighty best of monkeys, son of Vishvakarman, built the bridge in the ocean just as his father would.
स नलेन कृतः सेतुः सागरे मकरालये । शुशुभे सुभगः श्रीमान् स्वातीपथ इवाम्बरे ॥ ७४ ॥
That bridge, made by Nala in the ocean, home of sea monsters, shone lovely and glorious, like the path of Svati in the sky.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । आगम्य गगने तस्थुर्द्रष्टुकामास्तदद्भुतम् ॥ ७५ ॥
Then the gods with the gandharvas, the siddhas and the supreme sages came and stood in the sky, wishing to see that marvel.
दशयोजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतम् । ददृशुर्देवगन्धर्वा नलसेतुं सुदुष्करम् ॥ ७६ ॥
Ten leagues wide and a hundred leagues long: the gods and gandharvas saw Nala’s bridge, so very hard to make.
आप्लवन्तः प्लवन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवंगमाः । तमचिन्त्यमसह्यं च ह्यद्भुतं लोमहर्षणम् ॥ ७७ ॥
Springing, leaping and roaring, the leapers; and that unthinkable, unbearable, marvellous, hair-raising
ददृशुः सर्वभूतानि सागरे सेतुबन्धनम् । तानि कोटिसहस्राणि वानराणां महौजसाम् ॥ ७८ ॥
bridge-building in the ocean all beings saw. Those thousands of crores of monkeys of great energy,
बध्नन्तः सागरे सेतुं जग्मुः पारं महोदधेः । विशालः सुकृतः श्रीमान् सुभूमिः सुसमाहितः ॥ ७९ ॥
building the bridge in the ocean, went to the far shore of the great sea. Wide, well made, glorious, with a good surface, well joined,
अशोभत महान् सेतुः सीमन्त इव सागरे । ततः पारे समुद्रस्य गदापाणिर्विभीषणः ॥ ८० ॥
the great bridge shone in the ocean like the parting in a woman’s hair. Then on the far shore of the ocean Vibhishana, mace in hand,
परेषामभिघातार्थमतिष्ठत् सचिवैः सह । सुग्रीवस्तु ततः प्राह रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥ ८१ ॥
stood with his ministers to strike at enemies. Then Sugriva said to Rama, of true valour:
हनूमन्तं त्वमारोह अङ्गदं त्वथ लक्ष्मणः । अयं हि विपुलो वीर सागरो मकरालयः ॥ ८२ ॥
“Climb on Hanuman, and let Lakshmana climb on Angada; for this ocean, home of sea monsters, is wide, hero.
वैहायसौ युवामेतौ वानरौ धारयिष्यतः । अग्रतस्तस्य सैन्यस्य श्रीमान् रामः सलक्ष्मणः ॥ ८३ ॥
“These two monkeys, who travel through the sky, will carry you both.” At the head of that army glorious Rama with Lakshmana
जगाम धन्वी धर्मात्मा सुग्रीवेण समन्वितः । अन्ये मध्येन गच्छन्ति पार्श्वतोऽन्ये प्लवंगमाः ॥ ८४ ॥
went, bow in hand, righteous, accompanied by Sugriva. Some leapers go along the middle, others at the sides;
सलिलं प्रपतन्त्यन्ये मार्गमन्ये प्रपेदिरे । केचिद् वैहायसगताः सुपर्णा इव पुप्लुवुः ॥ ८५ ॥
others plunge into the water, others took the road, some went into the sky and flew like Suparnas.
घोषेण महता घोषं सागरस्य समुच्छ्रितम् । भीममन्तर्दधे भीमा तरन्ती हरिवाहिनी ॥ ८६ ॥
With its great noise the terrible monkey army as it crossed drowned the terrible roar of the ocean that rose up.
वानराणां हि सा तीर्णा वाहिनी नलसेतुना । तीरे निविविशे राज्ञो बहुमूलफलोदके ॥ ८७ ॥
That army of monkeys, having crossed by Nala’s bridge, camped by the king’s command on the shore rich in roots, fruit and water.
तदद्भुतं राघवकर्म दुष्करं समीक्ष्य देवाः सह सिद्धचारणैः । उपेत्य रामं सहसा महर्षिभि- स्तमभ्यषिञ्चन् सुशुभैर्जलैः पृथक् ॥ ८८ ॥
Seeing that marvellous, difficult deed of Raghava, the gods with the siddhas and charanas came suddenly to Rama with the great sages and consecrated him separately with very auspicious waters:
जयस्व शत्रून् नरदेव मेदिनीं ससागरां पालय शाश्वतीः समाः । इतीव रामं नरदेवसत्कृतं शुभैर्वचोभिर्विविधैरपूजयन् ॥ ८९ ॥
“Conquer your enemies, god among men; rule the earth with its oceans for endless years.” So with many auspicious words they honoured Rama, honoured by gods and men.