Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
 | This chapter introduces us to the glorious city of Lanka and Hanuma's first encounter with it. The geography around the island where Lanka is located is described herein. The chapter also depicts the initial reaction of Hanuma on seeing the city and his initial thoughts about the feasibility of the task of overcoming the Rakshasas and Ravana to reunite Sri Rama with mother Seetha. As the book progresses, we shall see how Hanuma overcomes these thoughts and moves toward achieving this task. |
sa saagaramanaadhR^ishhyamatikramya mahaabalaH |
trikuuTashikhare laN^kaaM sthitaaM svastho dadarsha ha || 5-2-1
1. saH= that Hanuma, mahaabalaH= one with great strength, atikramya= crossed, anaadhrishhyam= the insurmountable, saagaram= ocean, svasthaH= (stayed) healthy (without any physical tiredness), dadarsha ha= and viewed, laN^kaam= the city of Lanka, sthitaam= situated, trikuuTa sikhare= on the peak of Mount Trikuta.
That Hanuma with great strength crossed the insurmountable ocean without becoming tired and viewed the city of Lanka located on the peak of Mount Trikuta.
tataH paadapamuktena pushhpavarshheNa viiryavaan |
abhivR^ishhTaH sthitastatra babhau pushhpamayo yathaa || 5-2-2
2. tataH= after that, viiryavaan= the powerful Hanuma, sthitaH= standing, tatra= there, babhau= shone, pushhpamayo yathaa= like one (with a body) of flowers, abhivR^ishhTaH= being showered, pushhpavarshheNa= by a rain of flowers, paadapamuktena= released by trees.
After that, the powerful Hanuma standing there shone like one made of flowers being showered by a rain of flowers released by trees.
Comment : Being showered by flowers is considered auspicious.
yojanaanaaM shataM shriimaaMstiirtvaapyuttamavikramaH |
aniHsvasan kapistatra na glaanimadhigachchhati || 5-2-3
3. shriimaan= the glorious, kapiH= Hanuma, uttama vikramaH= with the best courage, tiirtvaapi= even though crossing, shatam= a hundred, yojanaanaam= yojanas, aniHshvan= was without a sigh, na adhigachhati= (and) did not obtain, glaanim= tiredness, tatra= there.
The glorious Hanuma with the best courage, even though crossing a hundred yojanas, was without a sigh and did not obtain any tiredness.
Comment : This verse and others clearly mention that Hanuma crossed an ocean of hundred yojanas. At the present time the shore to shore distance between southern tip of India and Northern tip of Sri Lanka is around sixty miles. Even with a measure of 2.5 miles per yojana, hundred yojanas translate to 250 miles. To explain this anomaly, we need to consider that around the time of Ramayana, the distance was lot more than the current sixty miles. This is in sync with the current theories by geologists that the ocean between India and the current Sri Lanka had been replaced by land mass over a period of time. Most of the land to the south of current Raghunatha Pura had been covered by landmass in antiquity. Also according to Ramayana, the mountains Trikuta, Lamba and Suvela were to the north of Lanka, but currently the mountains are found in the southern part of Lanka. This suggests that the northern parts of current Lanka were submerged in water during the Ramayana period.
shataanyahaM yojanaanaaM krameyaM subahunyapi |
kiM punaH saagarasyaantaM saMkhyaataM shatayojanam || 5-2-4
4. aham= I, krameyam= will cross, subahuunyapi= a lot of, shataanyapi yojanaanaam= hundreds of yojanas also, kim punaH= what to say, antam= (about) the end, saagarasya= of the ocean, saMkhyaatam= counted, shata yojanam= to be hundred yojanas (long) .
"I can cross many hundreds of yojanas. What to say about the end of the ocean which had been counted to be hundred yojanas long?"
sa tu viiryavataaM shreshhThaH plavataamapi chottamaH |
jagaama vegavaan laN^kaaM laN^ghayitvaa mahodadhim || 5-2-5
5. saH tu= that Hanuma, shresahhThaH= best, viiryavataam= among the powerful ones, uttamaH= foremost, plavataamapi= also among those who fly, jagaama= went, vegavaan= with (good) speed, lan^kaam= for Lanka, laJNGhayitvaa= crossing, mahodadhim= the great ocean.
That Hanuma, the best among powerful ones and the foremost also among those who can fly, reached the city of Lanka by crossing the great ocean with good speed.
shaadvalaani cha niilaani gandhavanti vanaani cha |
gaNDavanti cha madhyena jagaama nagavanti cha || 5-2-6
6. jagaama= (He) passed, madhyena= in the middle of, vanaani cha= forests, niilaani= (with) dark green hued, gandhavanti= fragrant, shaadvalaani cha= lawns, gaNDavanti cha= with great rocks, nagavanti cha= and also hills.
He passed through forests with dark green hued fragrant lawns and also consisting of great rocks and hills.
shailaaMshcha tarusaMchannaan vanaraajiishcha pushhpitaaH |
abhichakraama tejasvii hanumaan plavagarshhabhaH || 5-2-7
7. hanumaan= Hanuma, plavagarshhabhaH= the best among Vanaras, tejasvii= the radiant one, abhichakraama= tread, shailaaMshcha= on mountains, tarusaMchannaan= covered with trees, vanaraajiishcha= and on series of trees, pushhpitaaH= (which were) blooming.
Hanuma, the best among Vanaras and the radiant one, tread on mountains covered with trees and on series of trees full of flowers.
sa tasminnachale tishhThanvanaanyupavanaani cha |
sa nagaagre cha taaM laN^kaaM dadarsha pavanaatmajaH || 5-2-8
8. saH pavanaatmajaH= that Hanuma, tishhThan= stood, tasmin achale= on that mountain, dadarsha= and saw, vanaani= forests, upavanaani cha= and gardens, taam laN^kaam= (and also) that city of Lanka, nagaagre= situated on the top of a mountain.
That son of God Vayu stood on a mountain and saw forests and gardens and also the city of Lanka situated on the top of a mountain.
saraLaan karNikaaraaMshcha kharjuuraaMshcha supushhpitaan |
priyaaLaanmuchuLindaaMshcha kuTajaan ketakaanapi || 5-2-9
priyaN^guun gandhapuurNaaMshcha niipaan saptachchhadaaMstathaa |
asanaan kovidaaraaMshcha karaviiraaMshcha pushhpitaan || 5-2-10
pushhpabhaaranibaddhaaMshcha tathaa mukuLitaanapi |
paadapaan vihagaakiirNaan pavanaadhuutamastakaan || 5-2-11
haMsakaaraNDavaakiirNaanvaapiiH padmotmalaayutaaH |
aakriiDaan vividhaan ramyaanvividhaaMshcha jalaashayaan || 5-2-12
saMtataan vividhairvaR^ikaiH sarvartuphalapushhpitaiH |
udyaanaani cha ramyaaNi dadarsha kapikuJNjaraH || 5-2-13
9,10,11,12,13. kapi kuJNaraH= The elephant among monkeys (Hanuma), dadarsha= saw, saraLaan= pine trees, karNikaaraaMshcha= Karnikaras, kharjuuraMshcha= date-palms, supushhpitaan= in full blossom, priyaalaan= Priyalas, muchulindas= lemon trees, kutajaan= wild jasmine trees, ketakaanapi= mogra trees, priyaJNguuMshcha= long pepper trees, gandhapuurNaan= filled with fragrance, niipaan= Kadamba trees, tathaa= and, saptachchhadaan= seven leaved banana trees, asanaan= Asanas, kovidaaraaMshcha= Kovidaras, karaviiraaMshcha= Karaviras, pushhpitaan= in full blossom, padapaan= trees, pushhpabhaara nibaddhaaMshcha= tied by the weight of flowers, tathaa= and, mukulitaanapi= with flower buds, vihagaakiirNaan= distressed by birds, pavanaadhuutamastakaan= with (their) peaks moved by wind, vaapiiH= wells, vividhaan= (and) various, ramyaan= glorious, aakriiDaan= pleasure-groves, vividhaiH vR^ikshaiH= (filled) by various trees, sarvartuphalapushhpitaiH= that give fruits and flowers in all seasons, ramyaaNi= (and) beautiful, udyaanaani cha= gardens also, saMtataan= surrounded by, vividhaan= various, jalaashayaaMshcha= ponds, haMsakaaraNDa vaakiirNaaH= consisting of swans and ducks.
Standing on that mountain, the elephant among monkeys, Hanuma, saw pine trees, Karnikaras, date-palms in full blossom, Priyalas, lemon trees, wild jasmine trees, mogra trees, long pepper trees filled with sweet fragrance, Kadamba trees and seven leaved banana trees, Asana trees, Kovidaras, Karaviras in full blossom, trees that were tied by the weight of their flowers and flower buds, that were distressed by birds, with their crests moved by wind, wells and various glorious pleasure-groves filled by various trees that give fruits and flowers in all seasons and beautiful gardens also, surrounded by various ponds consisting of swans and ducks.
samaasaadya cha lakshmiivan laN^kaaM raavaNapaalitaam |
parikhaabhiH sapadmaabhiH sotpalaabhiralaMkR^itaam || 5-2-14
siitaapaharaNaarthena raavaNena surakshitaam |
samantaadvicharadbhishcha raakshasairugradhanvibhiH || 5-2-15
kaaJNchanenaavR^itaaM ramyaaM praakaareNa mahaapuriim |
gR^ihaishcha grahasaMkaashaiH shaaradaambudasannibhaiH || 5-2-16
paaNDuraabhiH pratoLiibhiruchchaabhirabhisaMvR^itaam |
aTTaalakashataakiirNaaM pataakaadhvajamaaliniim || 5-2-17
toraNaiH kaaJNchanairdivyairlataapaN^kivichitritaiH |
dadarsha hanumaan laN^kaaM divi devapuriiM yathaa || 5-2-18
14, 15, 16, 17, 18. lakshmiivaan= the glorious, hanumaan= Hanuma, samaasaadya= neared, laN^kaam= the city of Lanka, raavaNa paalitaam= ruled by Ravana, alaMkR^itaam= decorated by, parikhaabhiH= moats, sapadmaabhiH= filled with lotuses, sotpalaabhiH= and water-lilies, surakshitaam= well protected, siitaapaharaNaarthena= due to the reason of Seetha's abduction, raavaNena= by Ravana, raakshasaiH= (and also) by Rakshasas, ugradhvanibhiH= with horrifying voices, vicharadbhiH= roaming, samantaat= around, aavR^itaam= surrounded, kaaJNchanena praakaareNa= by a golden boundary wall, ramyaam= the beautiful, mahaapuriim= great city, abhisaMvR^itaam= consisting, gR^ihaishcha= houses, girisaMkaashaiH= equal to mountains, shaaradaambudasannibhaiH= equal to the autumnal clouds, pratoliibhiH= (and) main streets, paaNDuraabhiH= which were white (plastered), uchchaabhiH= (and) which were elevated, pataakaadhvaja maaliniim= decorated with flags and pennons, toraNaiH= archaways, divyaiH= excellent, kaaJNchanaiH= golden hued, lataapaN^kti vichitritaiH= adorned with sculpted rows of climbers, dadarsha= (Hanuma) saw, laN^kaam= (that) Lanka, devapurrimiva= like the city of Gods, divi= in heaven.
The glorious Hanuma neared the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana, and saw the city which looked like the city of Gods in heaven, decorated by moats filled with lotuses and water-lilies, which was well protected, since the time of Seetha's abduction, by Ravana and by Rakshasas with horrifying voices roaming around, which was surrounded by a golden boundary wall, that beautiful great city consisted of houses equal in height to mountains and which looked like autumnal clouds, with white and elevated main streets, decorated with flags and pennons, with excellent golden hued archways adorned with sculpted rows of vines.
girimuurdhni sthitaaM laN^kaaM paaNDurairbhavanaiH shubhaiH |
dadarsha sa kapishreshhThaH puramaakaashagaM yathaa || 5-2-19
19. saH= that, kapi shreshhThaH= best among monkeys Hanuma, dadarsha= saw, laN^kaam= the city of Lanka, bhavanaiH= with buildings, paaNDuraiH= white in color, shubhaiH= beautiful ones, sthitaam= situated, giri muurdhni= on the top of a mountain, aakaashagam puram yathaa= like a city located in the sky.
That best among monkeys Hanuma saw the city of Lanka with beautiful white buildings situated on the top of a mountain like a city located in the sky.
paalitaaM raakshasendreNa nirmitaaM vishvakarmaNaa |
plavamaanaamivaakaashe dadarsha hanumaan puriim || 5-2-20
20. hanumaan= Hanuma, dadarsha= saw, puriim= that city, paalitaam= ruled, raakshasendreNa= by the king of Rakshasas, nirmitaam= constructed, vishvakarmaNaa= by Visvakarma - the architect of Gods, plavamaaniva= looked as though it were floating, aakaashe= in the sky.
Hanuma saw that city of Lanka ruled by Ravana the king of Rakshasas, constructed by Visvakarma (architect of Gods), and which looked as though it were floating in the sky.
paprapraakaarajaghanaaM vipulaambunavaambaraam |
shataghniishuulakeshaantaamaTTaalakavataMsakaam || 5-2-21
manseva kR^itaaM laN^kaaM nirmitaaM vishvakarmaNaa |
dvaaramuttaramaasaadya chintayaamaasa vaanaraH || 5-2-22
21, 22. vaanaraH= Hanuma (saw), laN^kaam= city of Lanka, vaprapraakaara jaghanaam= (with) buttress and enclosure wall as her hip and loins, vipulaambunavaambaraam= the vast body of water (in the moat) as her raiment, shataghnii shuula keshantaam= Satagnis and Sulas as her locks, aTTaalakavataMsakaam= the mansions as her earrings, nirmitaam= constructed, manasaa= by thought, (He) aasaadya= reached, uttaram dvaaram= the northern gate, chintayaamaasa= and thought ( thus - ) .
Hanuma saw the city of Lanka with buttress and enclosure wall as her hip and loins, the vast body pf water in the moat as her raiment, Satagnis and Sulas as her locks, the mansions as her earrings, constructed by thought. He reached the northern gate and thought thus.
kailaasashikharaprakhyaamaalikhsntiimivaambaram |
DiiyamaanaamivaakaashamuchchhritairbhavanottamaiH || 5-2-23
saMpuurNaaM raakshasairghorairnaagairbhogavatiimiva |
achintyaaM sukR^itaaM spashhTaaM kuberaadhyushhitaaM puraa || 5-2-24
daMshhTribhirbahubhiH shuuraiH shuulapaTTisapaaNibhiH |
rakshitaaM raakshasairghorairguhaamaashiivishhairiva || 5-2-25
tasyaashcha mahatiiM guptiM saagaraM cha niriikshya saH |
raavaNaM cha ripuM ghoraM chintayaamaasa vaanaraH || 5-2-26
23, 24, 25, 26. kailaasa shikhara prakhyaam= (Hanuma saw the city of Lanka ) equal to the peak of Kailasa, aalikhantiimiva= as though touching, ambaram= the sky, Diiyamaanaamiva= as though flying, aakaasham= for sky, ucchritaiH bhavanottamaiH= with its best mansions, saMpuurNaam= filled, ghoraiH= (with) horrible, raakshasaiH= Rakshasas, bhogavatiimiva= like in the city of Bhogavati, naagaiH= and by Serpents, achintyaam= one which is unfathomable, sukR^itaam= well arranged one, spashhTaam= the clear one, kuberaadhyushhitaam= governed by Kubera, puraa= in earlier times, rakshitaam= protected, aashiivishhaiH= by serpents, raakshasaiH= (and) Rakshasas, guhaamiva= (with a mouth) like a cave, daMshhTribhiH= with sharp teeth, shuuraiH= courageous ones, shuulapattisa paanibhiH= with spikes and Pattisas in their hands, ghoraiH= horrible ones, saH vaanaraH= that Hanuma, niriikshya= saw, tasyaaH= that Lanka's, mahatiim= great, guptim= protection, saagaram cha= and the ocean, raavaNam cha= and Ravana, ghoram ripum= the horrible enemy, chintayaamaasa= and thought thus.
Hanuma saw the city of Lanka equal to peak of Kailasa as though touching the sky, as though flying to reach the sky, with its best mansions, filled with horrible rakshasas and serpants like the city of Bhogavati (capital of Patala), one which was unfathomable, a well arranged and a clear city governed by Kubera in earlier times, protected by courageous, horrible serpents and Rakshasas with mouths with sharp teeth like a cave, with spikes and Pattisas (spears) in their hands. Hanuma saw that Lanka's great protection and the ocean and Ravana the horrible enemy and thought thus.
aagatyaapiiha harayo bhavishhyanti nirarathakaaH |
na hi yuddhena va laN^kaa shakyaa jetuM surairapi || 5-2-27
27. harayaH= vaanaras, aagatyaapi= even (if they) could come, iha= here, bhavishhyanti= they would become, nirarthakaaH= without success, laN^kaa= Lanka, na shakyaa hi= is not possible, jetum= to be overcome, yuddhena= in war, surairapi= even by Suras.
"Even if Vanaras were to come here they would not meet with success. It is not possible even for Devas to be victorious against Lanka in war".
imaaM tu vishhamaaM durgaaM laN^kaaM raavaNapaalitaam |
praapyaapi sa mahaabaahuH kim karishhyati raaghavaH || 5-2-28
28. praapyaapi= even after reaching, imaam= this, vishhamaam= very difficult, durgaam= impenetrable, laN^kaam= Lanka, raavaNa paalitaam= ruled by Ravana, kiM karishhyati saH mahaabaahuH raaghavaH= what can that Sri Rama with mighty arms do?.
"Even if He reaches this very difficult and impenetrable Lanka ruled by Ravana, what can that Sri Rama with mighty arms do"?
avakaasho na saantvasya rakshaseshhvabhigamyate |
na daanasya na bhedasya naiva yuddhasya dR^ishyate || 5-2-29
29. raakshaseshhu= in (the matter of overcoming) rakshasas, avakaashaH na abhigamyate= no opportunity can be obtained, saantvasya= for persuasion, na daanasya= no (opportunity for) gift, na bhedasya= no (opportunity for) dissension, yuddhasya= (an opportunity for) war, naiva drishyate= is not even to be seen.
"In the matter of overcoming rakshasas, there seems to be no opportunity for persuasion, gifts, dissension or even war".
chaturNaameva hi gatirvaanaraaNaaM mahaatmanaam |
vaaliputrasya niilasya mama raajJNashcha dhiimataH || 5-2-30
30. chaturNaam eva hi= only four, mahaatmaanaam= great, vaanaraaNaam= vanaras, gatiH hi= (have) the possibility of coming (here), vaaliputrasya= for the son of Vali - Angada, niilasya= for Nila, mama= for me, dhiimataH raaNJnashcha= and for the wise king Sugriva.
"Only four great Vanaras can come here - the son of Vali (Angada), Nila, myself and the wise king Sugriva".
yaavajjaanaami vaidehiiM yadi jiivati vaa na vaa |
tatraiva chintayishhyaami dR^ishhTvaa taaM janakaatmajaam || 5-2-31
31. yaavat jaanaami= I will find out, vaidehiim= about Seetha, yadi jeevati vaa= if she is alive or, na= not, chintayishhyaami= I will think, tatriava= there, dR^ishhTvaa= after seeing, taam janakaatmajaam= that Seetha.
"I will first find out if Seetha is alive or not. I will think all this later, after seeing that daughter of Janaka".
tataH sa chintayaamaasa muhuurtaM kapikuJNjaraH |
girishR^iN^ge sthitastasmin raamasyaabhyudaye rataH || 5-2-32
32. tataH= after that, saH kapikuJNaraH= that elephant among monkeys Hanuma, rataH= interested, abhyudaye= in the welfare, raamasya= of Sri Rama, sthitaH= stood, tasmin girishR^iJNge= on that mountain peak, chintayaamaasa= and thought, muhuurtam= for an instant.
After that, that elephant among monkeys Hanuma who was interested in the welfare of Sri Rama, stood on that mountain peak and thought for an instant.
anena ruupeNa mayaa na shakyaa rakshasaaM purii |
praveshhTuM raakshasairguptaa kruurairbalasamanvitaiH || 5-2-33
33. na shakyaa= it is not possible, praveshhTum= to enter, mayaa= by me, anena ruupeNa= in this appearance, purii= the city, rakshasaam= of rakshasa, guptaa= protected, raakshasaiH= by rakshasas, kruuraiH= (who are) cruel, balasamanvitaiH= (and) with strength.
"It is not possible for me to enter the city of ogres protected by cruel and strong rakshasas, with this appearance".
ugraujaso mahaaviiryaa balavantashcha raakshasaaH |
vaJNchaniiyaa mayaa sarve jaanakiiM parimaargataa || 5-2-34
34. raakshasaaH sarve= all rakshasas, ugraujasaH= who are with extraordinary energy, mahaaviiryaH= great prowess, balavantashcha= and of might, vaN^chaniiyaaH= are to be cheated, mayaa= by me, parimaargataa= who is searching, jaanakiim= Seetha.
"All these mighty ogres with extraordinary energy and great prowess are to be cheated by me while engaged in the search of Seetha".
lakshyaalakshyeNa ruupeNa raatrau laN^kaa purii mayaa |
praveshhTuM praaptakaalaM me kR^ityaM saadhayituM mahat || 5-2-35
35. saadhayitum= to acheive, me= my, mahat= great, kR^ityam= task, mayaa= by me, praveshhTum= to enter, laN^kaapurii= city of Lanka, lakshyaalakshyeNa= in a seen-unseen (barely seen), ruupeNa= form, raatrau= at night, praaptakaalam= is a timely (thing).
"To achieve this great deed successfully, entering the city of Lanka in a small form at night is a timely thing to do" .
taaM puriiM taadR^ishiiM dR^ishhTvaa duraadharshaaM suraasuraiH |
hanumaan chintayaamaasa vinishchitya muhurmuhuH || 5-2-36
36. hanumaan= Hanuma, dR^ishhTvaa= saw, taadR^ishiim= such, taam= that, puriim= city, duraadharshham= difficult to overcome, suraasuraiH= (even for) devas or asuras, chintayaamaasa= (and) thought, muhurmuhuH= repeatedly.
Hanuma saw such that city of Lanka, which was difficult to overcome even for Devas or asuras, and thought thus repeatedly.
kenopaayena pasheyaM maithiliiM janakaatmajaam |
adR^ishhTo raakshasendreNa raavaNena duraatmanaa || 5-2-37
37. kena= By which, upaayena= idea, pashyeyam= can I see, maithiliim= Seetha, janakaatmajaam= the daughter of Janaka, adR^ishhTaH= unseen, duraatmanaa raavaNena= by the wicked Ravana, raakshasendreNa= the king of ogres.
"By what idea can I see Seetha the daughter of Janaka, unseen by the wicked Ravana, the king of the ogres.
na vinashyetkathaM kaaryaM raamasya viditaatmanaH |
ekaamekashcha pashyeyaM rahite janakaatmajaam || 5-2-38
38. katham= how, kaaryam= (can) the task, viditaatmanaH raamsya= of Sri Rama, the knower of self, na vinashyet= not be destroyed, pashyeyam ekashcha= (How) can I alone see, janakaatmajaam= Seetha, ekaam= alone, rahite= in a place devoid of people.
"How can the task of Sri Rama, one who knows self, not be destroyed? How can I alone see Seetha alone in a place devoid of people?.”
bhuutaashchaarthaa vipadyante deshakaalavirodhitaaH |
viklabaM duutamaasaadya tamaH suuryodaye yathaa || 5-2-39
39. aasaadya= obtaining, duutam= a messenger, viklabam= with a gloomy mind, deshakaalavirodhitaaH= being against the place and time, bhuutaaH= ready, arthaaH= tasks, vipadyante= get harmed, tamaH yathaa= like darkness (getting destroyed), suuryodaye= at dawn.
"With a mediator who has an unsteady and gloomy mind working against time and place, tasks that are otherwise ready to succeed get harmed, like the darkness that gets destroyed at dawn".
arthaanarthaantare buddhirnishchitaapi na shobhate |
ghaatayanti hi kaaryaaNi duutaaH paNDitamaaninaH || 5-2-40
40. nishchitaaH buddhirapi= even a decided mind, na shobhate= will not shine, arthaanarthaantare= (when vacillating) between gain and loss, duutaaH= messengers, paNDitamaaninaH= who are respected by scholars, ghaatayanti hi= will also harm, kaaryaaNi= tasks (due to their arrogance).
"Even a decided mind will not shine when thinking about gain and loss. Mediators who are respected by scholarly people will also harm tasks due to their arrogance."
na vinashyetkathaM kaaryaM vaiklabyam na kathaM bhavet |
laN^ghanaM cha samudrasya kathaM nu na vR^ithaa bhavet || 5-2-41
41. katham= how, kaaryam= the task (at hand), na vinashyet= will not be harmed, katham= how, vaiklabyam= gloominess, na bhavet= will not be got, katham nu= how, laJNghanam cha= crossing, samudrasya= of the ocean, na bhavet= will not become, vR^idhaa= waste.
"How will the task at hand be not harmed? How will my mind not get gloominess? How will not the crossing of ocean go waste?."
mayi dR^ishhTe tu rakshobhii raamasya viditaatmanaH |
bhavedvyarthamidaM kaaryaM raavaNaanarthamichchhataH || 5-2-42
42. mayi dR^ishhTe tu= If I am seen, rakshobhiH= by rakshasas, idam kaaryam= this task, raamasya= of Sri Rama, viditaatmanaH= one with famed mind, icchataH= who desires, raavaNaanartham= the slaying of Ravana, bhavet= will become, vyartham= wasteful.
"If I were to be seen by rakshasas, this task of Sri Rama, with a famed mind, who desires the slaying of Ravana will become wasteful."
na hi shakyaM kvachit sthaatumavijJNaatena raakshasaiH |
api raakshasaruupeNa kimutaanyena kenachit || 5-2-43
43. na shakyam hi= it is not possible, sthaatum= to be, kvachit= in any place, raakshasa ruupeNaapi= with the form of a rakshasa, aviNJaatena= not being known, raakshaiH= by rakshasas, kimuta= what to say, anyena kenachit= (about) any other form.
"It is not possible to be in Lanka even in the form of a rakshasa. What to say about being there in any other form?”
vaayurapyatra naajJNaatashcharediti matirmama |
na hyastyaviditaM kiMchidraakshasaanaaM baliiyasaam || 5-2-44
44. iti= this, mama matiH= is my thought, vaayurapi= even wind, na charet= cannot pass, atra= here, aNJgnaataH= without being known, naasti hi kiMchit= there is nothing, aviditam= not known, baliiyasaam raakshasaanaam= to the mighty rakshasas.
"My thought goes thus: Even wind cannot pass here without being known. There is nothing not known to the might rakshasas.”
ihaahaM yadi tishhThaami svena ruupeNa saMvR^itaH |
vinaashamupayaasyaami bharturarthashcha hiiyate || 5-2-45
45. aham tishhThaami yadi= if I stay, iha= here, svena ruupeNa saMvR^itaH= consisting of my usual form, upayaasyaami= I can obtain, vinaasham= destruction, arthashcha= the task, bhartuH= of Lord Sri Rama, hiiyate= will also be harmed.
"If I stay here with my usual form, I can be destroyed. The task of the Lord will also be harmed.”
tadahaM svena ruupeNa rajanyaaM hrasvataaM gataH |
laN^kaamabhipatishhyaami raaghavasyaarthasiddhaye || 5-2-46
46. tat= for that (reason), aham= I, gataH= will obtain, hrasvataam= smallness, svena ruupeNa= in my usual form, abhipatishhyaami= and will enter, laN^kaam= Lanka, rajanyaam= at night, artha siddhaye= for the success of the task, raaghavasya= of Sri Rama.
"For that reason, I will become small in my appearance and will enter Lanka at night for the success of the task of Sri Rama.”
raavaNasya puriiM raatrau pravishya suduraasadaam |
vichinvan bhavanaM srvaM drakshyaami janakaatmajaam || 5-2-47
47. pravishya= entering, suduraasadaam= the unapproachable, puriim= city, raatrau= at night, vichinvan= searching, sarvam bhavanam= all the mansion, raavaNasya= of Ravana, drakshyaami= I can see, janakaatmajaam= Seetha.
"Entering the unapproachable city of Lanka at night and searching all the mansion of Ravana, I can see Seetha.”
iti saMchintya hanumaan suuryasyaastamayaM kapiH |
aachakaaMkshe tato viiro vaidehyaa drashanotusakaH || 5-2-48
48. viiraH kapiH= the courageous monkey, hanumaan= Hanuma, iti= thus, saMchintya= thinking, darshanotsukaH= interested in discovery, vaidehyaaH= of Seetha, tadaa= then, aachakaaMkshe= desired, suuryasya astamayam= the sun set.
The courageous Hanuma thus thinking and being interested in discovering Seetha, then desired the sun to set.
suurye chaastaM gate raatrau dehaM saMkshipya maarutiH |
vR^ishhadaMshakamaatraH san babhuuvaadbhutadarshanaH || 5-2-49
49. suurye astaMgate cha= After the sun had set, maarutiH= Hanuma, saMkshipya= reduced, deham= body, raatrau= at night, vR^ishhadaMshaka maatraH san= with a body size equal to that of a cat, babhuuva= became, adhuta darshanaH= a wonderful sight (to behold).
After the sun had set, Hanuma reduced His body at night with a size equal to that of a cat and became a wonderful sight to behold.
pradoshhakaale hanumaaMstuurNamutplutya viiryavaan |
pravivesha puriiM ramyaaM suvibhaktamahaapathaam || 5-2-50
50. viiryavaan= the courageous, hanumaan= Hanuma, tuurNam= quickly, utplutya= flew, pradoshhakaale= during the evening time, pravivesha= (and) entered, ramyaam= beautiful, puriim= city of Lanka, suvibhaktamahaapathaam= with well divided main pathways.
The courageous Hanuma quickly flew during evening time and entered the beautiful city with well divided main pathways.
praasaadamaalaavitataaM stambhaiH kaaJNchanaraajataiH |
shaatakumbhamayairjaalairgandharvanagaropamaam || 5-2-51
saptabhaumaashhTabhaumaishcha sa dadarsha mahaapuriim |
talaiH sphatikasaMkiirNaiH kaartasvaravibhuushhitaiH || 5-2-52
51, 52. saH= Hanuma, dadarsha= saw, mahaapuriim= (that) great city, praasaada maalaa vitataam= filled with series of mansions, kaaN^chana raajataiH= (with) golden hued, sthambhaiH= pillars, jaalaiH= and windows, gandharvanagaropamaam= equal to the city of Gandharvas, saptabhaumaashhTabhaumai cha= (consisting of) seven and eight storied houses, talaiH= (with) top portions, sphaTika saMkiirNaiH= inlaid with crystals, kaartasvaravibhuushhitaiH= and decorated with gold.
Hanuma saw that great city filled with series of mansions, golden hued pillars and window lattices, which was equal to the city of Gandharvas, consisting of seven and eight storied buildings with their top portions studded with crystals and pearls and decorated with gold.
vaiDuuryamaNichitraishcha muktaajaalavibhuushhitaiH |
talaiH shushubhire taani bhavanaanyatra rakshasaam || 5-2-53
53. atra= there (in that city of Lanka), bhavanaani= the houses, rakshasaam= of rakshasas, shushubhire= shone, talaiH= with top portions, vaiDuuryamaNi chitraiH= painted by cats-eyes and emeralds, muktaajaalavibhuushhitaiH= decorated by groups of pearls.
There in that city of Lanka, the houses of rakshasas shone with top portions painted by cats-eyes and emeralds and decorated by groups of pearls.
kaaJNchanaani cha chitraaNi toraNaani cha rakshasaam |
laN^kaamuddyotayaamaasuH sarvataH samalaMkR^itaam || 5-2-54
54. kaaN^chanaani= golden, toraNaani= archways, chitraaNi= with strange hues, uddyotayaamaasuH= illuminated, samalaMkR^itaam= well decorated, laN^kaam= city of Lanka, sarvataH= in all directions.
Golden archways with strange hues illuminated the well decorated city of Lanka in all directions.
achintyaamadbhutaakaaraaM dR^ishhTvaa laN^kaaM mahaakapiH |
aasiidvishhNDo hR^ishhTashcha vaidehyaa darshanotsukaH || 5-2-55
55. mahaakapiH= Hanuma, dR^ishhTvaa= seeing, achintyaam= the unimaginable, laN^kaam= city of Lanka, adbhutaakaaraam= with a wonderful appearance, darshanotsukaH= eager in discovery, vaidehyaaH= of Seetha, aasiit= became, vishhaNNaH= sad, hR^ishhTashcha= and happy.
Hanuma on seeing the unimaginable city of Lanka with a wonderful appearance became sad thinking about the prospect of capturing Lanka and also happy being eager to see Seetha.
sa paaNDuraaviddhavimaanamaaliniiM |
mahaarhajaambuunadajaalatoraNaam |
yashasviniiM raavaNabaahupaalitaaM |
kshapaacharairbhimabalaiH samaavR^itaam || 5-2-56
56. saH= Hanuma (saw Lanka), paaNDuraaviddhavimaanamaaliniim= with white, closely built series of buildings, mahaarhajaambuunadajaalatoraNaam= having golden windows and doorways of great value, yashasviniim= of great fame, samaavR^itaam= consisting, kshapaacharaiH= of ogres, bhimmabalaiH= of great strength, raavaNabaahupaalitaam= ruled by the hands of Ravana.
Hanuma saw that city of Lanka of great fame, with white, closely built buildings having golden windows and doorways of great value, consisting of ogres of great strength and ruled by the hands of Ravana.
chandro.api saachivyamivaasya kurvaM |
staaraagaNairmadhyagato viraajan |
jyotsnaavitaanena vitatya loka |
muttishhThate naikasahasrarashmiH || 5-2-57
57. naikasahasrarashmiH chandro~pi= Moon with many thousands of rays, taaraa gaNaiH= together with a retinue of stars, madhyagataH= obtaining the center of stars, viraajan= shining, vitatya= (and) covering, lokam= the earth, jyotsnaa vitaanena= with canopy of moon-light, uttishhThate= rose up, kurvanniva= as though performing, saachivyam= help, asya= to Him (Hanuma) . saH hari praviiraH= that Hanuma, dadarsha= saw, chandram= the moon, udgachchhamaanam= rising up, shaNJkhaprabham= with a glow of a conch, vyavabhaasamaanam= shining, kshiiramR^iNaala varNam= with milky white hue like a lotus-fiber, haMsamiva= like a swan, popluuyamaanam= swimming, sarasi= in a lake.
The shining moon too rose up with its many thousands of rays, as though performing help to Hanuma, being at the middle of its retinue of stars and covering the earth with a canopy of light. That Hanuma saw the moon rising up with a glow of a conch shell, shining with a milky white hue of a lotus-fiber, like a swan swimming in a lake.
shaN^khaprabhaM kshiiramR^iNaalavarNa |
mudgachchhamaanaM vyavabhaasamaanam |
dadarsha chandraM sa haripraviiraH |
plopluuyamaanaM sarasiiva haMsam || 5-2-58
58. saH haripraviiraH= that Hanuma; dadarsha= saw; chandram= the moon; udgachha maanam= who was rising up; shaN^kha prabham= with the splendour of a couch-shell; vyavabhaasamaanam= shining; kShiiramR^iNaala varNam= in white colour as milk and lotus-fibre; hamsamiva= and looking like a swan; popluuyamaanam= swimming; sarasi= in a lake.
That Hanuma saw the moon, who was rising up in the sky with the splendour of a couch-shell, shining in white colour as milk or lotus-fibre, and looking like a swan swimming in a lake.
ityaarShe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye sundarakaaNDe dvitiiyaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 2nd chapter in Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
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© 2008, K. M. K. Murthy [Revised : August 08]