कूजन्तं राम रामेति मधुरं मधुराक्षरम् । आरुह्य कविताशाखां वन्दे वाल्मीकिकोकिलम् ॥
Sage Valmiki portrays Srimad Ramayana, the story of Sri Rama, full of melodious syllables "Rama! Rama!" in the same way cuckoo mesmerizes the listeners
प्रोद्यमाने जगन्नाथं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्। कौसल्याजनयद् रामं दिव्यलक्षणसंयुतम् ॥
विष्णोरर्ध महाभागं पुत्रमैक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम् । लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं रक्तोष्ठं दुन्दुभिस्वनम् ॥ (1. 18. 10,11)
Queen Kausalya was extremely delighted to see her newborn baby endowed with auspicious body marks, long arms, deep-red eyes, ruddy lips and voice resembling kettledrum, who is no other than one-half of the Lord Visnu
शालायास्त्वग्रतस्तस्या स ददर्श भरतस्तदा । काष्ठानि चावभग्नानि पुष्पाण्यपचितानि च ॥ (2. 99. 5)
When Bharata was searching to locate Sri Rama's hermitage in the dense forest of Chitrakoota, he noticed a small hut, and pieces of woods and flowers gathered for worship in front of the hut
तच्च सर्वं महाबाहो शक्यं वोढुं जितेन्द्रियैः । तव वश्येन्द्रियत्वं च जानामि शुभदर्शन ॥
तृतीयं यदिदं रौद्रं परप्राणाभिहिंसनम् । निर्वैरं क्रियते मोहात् तच्च ते समुपस्थितम् ॥ (3. 9. 8, 9)
"Dharma and Truth-everything is well-established in you. You are the best observer of Dharma and true to your promise and obedient to your father. All these, O mighty-armed one, can be cherished by those who have conquered the senses; I know your control over the senses, O handsome prince! But the third terrible evil, viz., the taking of others' lives, which is done without enmity due to ignorance, is facing you."
When reaching Dandaka Forest, Sita advises Rama on Truth and Dharma as the fundamental basis of everything. She points out to Sri Rama how it is inappropriate to constantly roam in the forest with bow and arrows in hand and also his habit of hunting animals. She also reminds her husband that Ksatriya should use weapons only for the protection of the people.
स विद्धः क्षतजादिग्धः सर्वगात्रेषु राघवः। बभूव रामः सन्ध्याभ्रैर्दिवाकर इवावृतः।। 3.25.14
With pierced and besmeared by all weapons, and blood all over in his limbs, the non-afflicted Sri Rama looked like the red evening sun screened by clouds.
तैर्मुक्तकेशैस्समरे पतितैश्शोणितोक्षितैः। आस्तीर्णा वसुधा कृत्स्ना महावेदिः कुशैरिव।। 3.26.33
Like a large sacrificial altar with blades of (the sacred) Kusa grass, the whole battlefield was completely strewn with the ogres killed by Sri Rama bathed in blood, with disheveled hair on the battlefield.
तं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुहन्तारं महर्षीणां सुखावहम्। बभूव हृष्टा वैदेही भर्तारं परिषस्वजे।।3.30.39।।
After Sri Rama killed fourteen thousand ogres, who were tormenting Vedic seers and sages entered the hermitage, Sita felt rejoiced and embraced him.
देवासुरविमर्देषु वज्राशनिकृतव्रणम्। ऐरावतविषाणग्रैरुद्घृष्टकिणवक्षसम्।।3.32.7।।
King Ravana, the leader of ogres, bore wound scars caused by thunderbolts and lightening during battles with gods and demons. His chest had calloused skin due to abrasion by the tusks of great elephant Airavata
अजातव्यञ्जनश्रीमान्पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणः। एकवस्त्रधरो धन्वी शिखी कनकमालया।।3.38.14।।
शोभयन् दण्डकारण्यं दीप्तेन स्वेन तेजसा। अदृश्यत ततो रामो बालचन्द्र इवोदितः।।3.38.15।।
Rama, the handsome prince, in whom the marks of manhood had not appeared yet, dark complexion, with lotus like charming eyes, clad in single rob with tuft of hair, with bow adorned with string of gold, looked like a new moon in the Dandaka forest
ओष्ठौ परिलिहञ्चुष्कौ नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव। मृतभूत इवार्तस्तु रावणं समुदैक्षत।।3.36.23।।
After listening to the plan of Ravana on abducting Sita, astounded Marica licking his dry lips stared at Ravana without his eyes winking
रकारादीनि नामानि रामत्रस्तस्य रावण। रत्नानि च रथाश्चैव त्रासं संजनयन्ति मे।।3.39.17।।
Marica tries to persuade away Ravana from abducting Sita by saying his own experience on standing against Rama, "O Ravana, even the names beginning with R like Ratnas, Rathas, etc strike me with terror".
अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः। न वेत्येतन्न जानामि वैदेहि जनकात्मजे।।3.45.35।।
On castigating remarks by Sita, Lakshmana decided to leave Sita to see Sri Rama, "Oh large-eyed lady, I see evil omens and I am not sure whether I would be able to see you after returning back with Rama"
अक्षि सूच्या प्रमृजसि जिह्वया लेक्षि च क्षुरम्। राघवस्य प्रियां भार्यां योऽधिगन्तुं त्वमिच्छसि।।3.47.41।।
Sita twits Ravana sharply, "You seek to covet the wife of Sri Rama, you're rubbing your eyes with needle and licking the razor with your tongue"
अपहृत्य शचीं भार्यां शक्यमिन्द्रस्य जीवितुम्। न च रामस्य भार्यां मामपनीयास्ति जीवितम्।।3.48.23।।
Sita warns Ravana, "It maybe possible to survive after abducting the consort of Lord Indra, but none can live in peace after abducting me, the consort of Sri Rama"
सन्ध्याकालमनाः श्यामा ध्रुवमेष्यति जानकी। नदीं चेमां शुभजलां सन्ध्यार्थे वरवर्णिनी।।5.14.49।।
Hanuman with intent to meet Sita decided to stop near a river as he knows the daughter of Janaka will not miss her daily (Santyakala) devotions to be performed near a water body during twilight.
दीनो वा राज्यहीनो वा यो मे भर्ता स मे गुरुः। तं नित्यमनुरक्तास्मि यथा सूर्यं सुवर्चला।।5.24.9।।
Threatened by various ogresses to join Ravana, the suzerain of the whole world, and to withdraw her mind from Rama, who is deprived of his own kingdom, Sita replies, "Destitute and dethroned of his kingdom, he who is my husband is my adorable deity, and I am devoted to him like Suvarcala to Sun god".
मद्विशिष्टाश्च तुल्याश्च सन्ति तत्र वनौकसः। मत्तः प्रत्यवरः कश्चिन्नास्ति सुग्रीवसन्निधौ।।5.39.38।।
अहं तावदिह प्राप्तः किं पुनस्ते महाबलाः। न हि प्रकृष्टाः प्रेष्यन्ते प्रेष्यन्ते हीतरे जनाः।।5.39.39।।
To instill confidence in Sita about the might of monkey army that will soon come under the leadership of Sri Rama and Sugriva, Hanuman says that if he would be able to come to Lanka, then every monkey in the army of Sugriva will be able to do greater deeds. And continues to say that everyone in the army is powerful than him and usually errands like him are sent as messengers.
जयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः। राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः।।
दासोऽहं कोसलेन्द्रस्य रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। हनुमान्शत्रुसैन्यानां निहन्ता मारुतात्मजः।।
न रावणसहस्रं मे युद्धे प्रतिबलं भवेत्। शिलाभिस्तु प्रहरतः पादपैश्च सहस्रशः।।
अर्दयित्वा पुरीं लङ्कामभिवाद्य च मैथिलीम्। समृद्धार्थो गमिष्यामि मिषतां सर्वरक्षसाम्।।
तस्य सन्नादशब्देन तेऽभवन्भयशङ्किताः। ददृशुश्च हनूमन्तं सन्ध्यामेघमिवोन्नतम्।।5.42.33-37
(These five verses are also known as VijAya Panchakam)
Provoked Hanuman, pats his tail with great speed and proclaims in loud voice as, "Victory to Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva. Myself, the son of Wind, and the servant of Prince of Kosala will attack the enemies with mere rocks and trees, and my strength cannot be overpowered even by thousands of Ravana. I would alone destroy the enemy army and take the Princess of Mithila even while you watch". On hearing this terrific roar, the kinkAras dispatched by Ravana are terror struck.
न खल्वयं नाभिभवेदुपेक्षितः पराक्रमो ह्यस्य रणे विवर्धते। प्रमापणं त्वेव ममाद्य रोचते न वर्धमानोऽग्निरुपेक्षितुं क्षमः।।5.47.29
Wonderstruck on seeing the valor of Prince AkSa (a son of Ravana), Hanuman looks at the young boy who has excellent power, shift movements, and dares to look straight into the eyes of enemy unlike young warriors of his age. Initially, felt hesitant to kill the young boy, Hanuman however decides to kill him in the combat.