तत्कार्यमनुगम्याथ यथावदुपलभ्य च।
दोषाणां च गुणानां च संप्राधार्य बलाबलम्॥
इतिकर्तव्यमित्येव कृत्वा निश्चयमात्मनः।
स्थिरबुद्धिस्ततो रम्यां यानशालां जगाम ह॥
tat kāryam anugamyātha yathāvad upalabhya ca
doṣāṇāṁ ca guṇānāṁ ca sampradhārya balābalam
iti-kartavyam ity eva kṛtvā niścayam ātmanaḥ
sthira-buddhis tato ramyāṁ yāna-śālāṁ jagāma ha
tat = the; kāryam = work to be accomplished; anugamya = he personally reflected on; atha = and then; yathāvat = properly; upalabhya ca = ascertained what is what; doṣāṇām = demerits [of his options]; ca = and; guṇānām = the merits; ca = as well as; sampradhārya = weighing; bala-abalam = his strengths and weaknesses; iti-kartavyam iti eva = that he would factually execute this task; kṛtvā niścayam ātmanaḥ = he personally decided; sthira-buddhiḥ = with unshakeable determination; tataḥ = then; ramyām = to his beautiful; yāna-śālām = cart-shed; jagāma ha = he departed.
tat = the; kāryam = work to be accomplished; anugamya = he personally reflected on; atha = and then; yathāvat = properly; upalabhya ca = ascertained what is what; doṣāṇām = demerits [of his options]; ca = and; guṇānām = the merits; ca = as well as; sampradhārya = weighing; bala-abalam = his strengths and weaknesses; iti-kartavyam iti eva = that he would factually execute this task; kṛtvā niścayam ātmanaḥ = he personally decided; sthira-buddhiḥ = with unshakeable determination; tataḥ = then; ramyām = to his beautiful; yāna-śālām = cart-shed; jagāma ha = he departed.
[After ascertaining what is what, Rāvaṇa] weighed the merits and demerits [of his options] as well as his strengths and weaknesses in order to reinforce [his decision].
He considered, “I want to kidnap Sītā. Is that easy to accomplish [by proceeding directly] with manly strength or should it be done by kidnapping [her]? Which of these two options involves minimal problems and maximal benefits? It is impossible to accomplish this [by proceeding directly] with manly strength, for I have learnt of Rāma’s inconceivable prowess in His battle with Khara and others. I don’t see any problem in resorting to kidnapping [her], [an option] contrived as a means [to achieve my goal]. It is impossible for Rāma to give me any trouble, [for] He will be in a state of adversity when He is separated from Sītā. Therefore, this is the right option [for me].”
His cart-shed was his horse-shed [that had the mules that were to be yoked to the chariot].