Book V : Sundara Kanda - Book Of Beauty
Entering Lanka at night by placing His left foot desiring the destruction of enemies, Hanuma hears various musical instruments being played upon inside. He also observes enemies' forces and moves towards the royal gynaeceum. |  |
sa nirjatya puriim laNkaa shreshhThaam taam kaamaruupiNiim |
vikrameNa mahaatejaa hanumaan kapisattamaH || 5-4-1
advaareNa maHaatejaa haumaan kapisattamaH |
1. saH hanumaan = that Hanuma, kapisattamaH = the best among Vanaras, mahaatejaaH = the great radiant one, mahaa baahuH = the long armed one, nirjitya = conquered, vikrameNa = by strength, taam laN^kaam = that Lanka, shreeshhThaam = the best one, kaamaruupiNiim = capable of assuming desired form, abhipupluve = leapt, praakaaram = (over) fortress wall, advaareNa = at a non-entry gate.
That Hanuma the best among Vanaras, the great radiant one, the long armed one, conquered with His might the best Lanka who is capable of assuming desired form. He then leapt over the city wall at a place that was not a gate.
pravishya nagariim laN^kaam kapiraajahitamkaraH || 5-4-2
chakreNaa.atha padam savyam shatruuNaam sa tu muurdhani |
2. kapiraaja hitaMkaraH = desiring the benefit of the king of Vanaras, saH = that Hanuma, pravishya = entered, laN^kaam nagariim = the city of Lanka, atha = and, chakre = made, savyaM paadam = left foot, shatruuNaam muurdhani = on enemies' head.
Desiring the benefit of the king of Vanaras Sugreeva, that Hanuma entered the city of Lanka and thus actually placed His left foot on the enemies' heads.
Comment : When entering a city of enemies, one who wishes their destruction should always place one's left foot first into the city.
pravishhTaH sattvasaMpanno vishaayaam maarutaatmajaH || 5-4-3
sa mahaapathamaasthaaya muktaapushhpaviraajitam |
tatastu taam puriim laN^kaam ramyaamabhiyayau kapiH || 5-4-4
3,4. saH maarutaatmajaH = that son of Vayu, sattva saMpannaH = endowed with great strength, praishhTaH = entered, nishaayaam = at night, aasthaaya = and took, mahaa patham = the grand road, muktaa pushhpa viraajitam = shone by pearls and flowers, tataH = then, kapiH = Hanuma, abhiyayau = went, taam ramyaam la^kaam puriim = towards that beautiful city of Lanka.
That son of Vayu endowed with great strength, entered the city at night and took the grand road shone by flowers and pearls. After that Hanuma went towards that beautiful city of Lanka.
hasita udghuSTa ninadaiH tuurya ghoSa puraH saraiH |
vajra ankusha nikaashaiH ca vajra jaala vibhuuSitaiH || 5-4-5
gR^iha medhaiH purii ramyaa babhaase dyauH iva ambudaiH |
5. ramyaa purii = the beautiful city, babhaase = shone, dyauriva = like the sky, ambudaiH = with clouds, gR^iha meghaiH = with cloud like houses, hasitotkR^ishhTa ninadaiH = with sounds of laughter, tuurya ghoshha puraH saraiH = with sounds of musical instruments at the interior, vajraaMkusha nikaashaishcha = equal (in strength) to diamonds and clubs, vajra jaala vibhuushhitaiH = with windows decorated with diamonds.
The beautiful city shone like the sky together with clouds, with its cloud like houses filled with sounds of laughter and with sounds of musical instruments at the interior, equal in strength to diamonds and clubs and with windows decorated with diamonds.
prajajvaala tadaa lankaa rakSaH gaNa gR^ihaiH shubhaiH || 5-4-6
sita abhra sadR^ishaiH citraiH padma svastika samsthitaiH |
vardhamaana gR^ihaiH ca api sarvataH suvibhaaSitaiH || 5-4-7
6,7. tataH = then, (the city) prajajvaalaa = shone, suvibhuushhitaa = being well decorated, sarvataH = everywhere, rakshogaNagR^ihaiH = by houses of Rakshasas, varthamaana gR^ihaishchaai = and also modern houses, sitaabhra sadR^ishaiH = equalling white clouds, chitraiH = surprising ones, padmasvastika saMsthitaiH = with the shape of lotus and swastika, shubhaiH = (and) auspicious.
Then that city of Lanka shone brilliantly being well decorated by the houses of Rakshasas. These were modern houses which equalled white clouds, which were surprising with the shape of lotus and swastika and which were auspicious.
taam citra maalya aabharaNaam kapi raaja hitam karaH |
raaghava artham caran shriimaan dadarsha ca nananda ca || 5-4-8
8. kapi raaja hitaM karaH = performer of good deeds for the king of monkeys, shriimaan = the glorious Hanuma, charan = moving, raaghavaartham = for the sake of Sri Rama, dadarsha = saw, taam = that city, chitramaalyaa bharaNaam = with wonderful garlands and jewellery, nananda cha = and became happy too.
That glorious Hanuma, performer of beneficial deeds for Sugreeva the king of monkeys, moved around the city of Lanka which had wonderful garlands and jewellery, for the sake of Sri Rama. He saw the city and became happy too.
bhavanaadbhavanaM gachchhn dadarsha pavanaatmajaH |
vividhaakR^itiruupaaNi bhavanaani tatastataH || 5-4-9
9. gacchan = going, bhavanaat bhavanam = from one buiding to another, pavanaatmajaH = Hanuma, dadarsha = saw, bhavanaani = buildings, vividhaakR^iti ruupaaNi = in various shapes and forms, tatastataH = on every side.
Going from one building to another, Hanuma saw buildings in various shapes and forms on every side.
shushraava madhuram giitam tri sthaana svara bhuuSitam |
striiNaam mada samR^iddhaanaam divi ca apsarasaam iva || 5-4-10
10. apsarasaam+iva= like Apsarasa women; divi= in heaven; mada samR^iddhaanaam= filled with love; striiNaam= of women; tristhaanasvarabhuuSitam= decorated by sounds born from the three areas- Mandra, Madhya, Tara; shushraava= heard; giitam= song; madhuram= which was sweet.
Hanuma heard a sweet song which was decorated by sound from the three svaras - Mandra, Madhya and Tara of love lorne women like Apsara women in heaven.
shushraava kaancii ninadam nuupuraaNaam ca nihsvanam |
sopaana ninadaamH caiva bhavaneSu mahaatmanam || 5-4-11
11. shushraava= (He) heard; tataH tataH= there and there; mahaatmanam bhavaneshhu= in houses of wealthy people; kaanciininadamnuupuraaNaam nihsvanam= tinkling of ornaments worn around the waist ; sopaana ninadaam cha iva= sound footfall over stairs; aspotita ninaadamcha= sound from warriors due to clapping of arms; kshveLitaamshcha= roar of ogres.
Hanuma also heard there and there sound from the tinkling of ornaments worn around the waist in the houses of wealthy people, sounds of footfall over stair, sound from clapping of arms by warriors and roar of ogres.
aasphoTita ninaadaamH ca kSveDitaamH ca tataH tataH |
shushraava japataam tatra mantran rakshogR^iheshhu vai || 5-4-12
12. shushraava= (He) heard; tataH tataH= there and there; mahaatmanam bhavaneshhu= in houses of wealthy people; kaanciininadamnuupuraaNaam nihsvanam= tinkling of ornaments worn around the waist ; sopaana ninadaam cha iva= sound footfall over stairs; aasphoTita ninaadaamH ca= sound from warriors due to clapping of arms; kSveDitaamH ca= roar of ogres.
Hanuma also heard there and there sound from the tinkling of ornaments worn around the waist in the houses of wealthy people, sounds of footfall over stair, sound from clapping of arms by warriors and roar of ogres.
svaadhyaaya nirataamH caiva yaatu dhaanaan dadarsha saH |
raavaNa stava samyuktaan garjataH raakSasaan api || 5-4-13
13. shushraava= (He) heard; mantraan= ritual chantings; japataam= chanted by ogres; tatra= there; rakshogR^iheshhu= in the house of rakshasas; saH= He; dadarsha= saw; yatudhaanaam= a class of ogres; svadhyaayanirataan= engaged in study of Vedas; dadarsha= saw; raakshasaanapi= also rakshasas; garjataH= roaring; ravanastatasamyuktaan= who came together praise to Ravana.
There Hanuma heard ritual chantings muttered by rakshasas in their houses. He saw ogres engaged in study of Vedas. He also saw roaring rakshasas who came together to praise Ravana.
raaja maargam samaavR^itya sthitam rakSaH balam mahat |
dadarsha madhyame gulme raakSasasya caraan bahuun || 5-4-14
14. dadarsha= (He) saw; bahuun caraan= many spies; raavanasya= of Ravana; rakshobalam= army of ogres; mahat= which was a big one; stitam= which stood; raajamaargam smaavR^itya= surrounding royal highway; madhyame gulme= in the central zone of the city.
He saw many spies of Ravana and a big army of ogres which stood surrounding the royal highway in the central zone of city.
diikSitaan jaTilaan muNDaan gaH ajina ambara vaasasaH |
darbha muSTi praharaNaan agni kuNDa aayudhaamH tathaa || 5-4-15
kuuTa mudgara paaNiimH ca daNDa aayudha dharaan api |
eka akSa aneka karNaamH ca calal lamba payaH dharaan || 5-4-16
karaalaan bhugna vaktraamH ca vikaTaan vaamanaamH tathaa |
dhanvinaH khaDginaH caiva shataghnii musala aayudhaan || 5-4-17
parigha uttama hastaamH ca vicitra kavaca ujjvalaan |
naatisthuulaan naatikR^ishaan naatidiirgha atihrasvakaan || 5-4-18
naatigauraannaatikR^ishhNaannaatikubjaanna vaamanaan |
viruupaan bahu ruupaamH ca suruupaamH ca suvarcasaH || 5-4-19
15,16,17,18,19. dadarsha= (He)saw; diikshitaan= those who were initiated into various Vedic practices; jaTilaan= those who wore matted locks on their head; muNDaan= those who had shaven heads; gojinaambaravasinaH= those who had worn cow hides and other clothing; darbhamushhTipraharaNaan= those who were carrying Kusa grass as weapons; tadhaa= and also; agnikunDaayudhaan= those who had fire vessels as weapons; kuuTamudgarapaaNiimshca= those who carried hammers and clubs in their hands; daNDaayudhadharaanapi= and also those who had worn staffs as weapons; ekaakshaan= those who were one-eyed; ekakarNaamshca= those who had one ear; lambodarapayodharaan= those who were pot-bellied and with hanging breast; karaaLaan= those who had horrible appearances; bhugnavaktramshca= those with twisted mouths; vikaTaan= those who were horrific; tadhaa= and also; vaamanaan= short people; dhanvinaH= those who carried bows and arrows; khaDginashcaiva= those who carried swords; shataghnimusalaayudhaan= those who carried pestles and clubs as weapons; parighottamahastaamshca= those who carried excellent Parighas in their hands; vicitrakavacojjvalaan= those who shone with strange armour; naatisthuulaan= those who were not very fat; naatikR^ishaan= those who were not too thin; naatidhiirghaatihrasvaakaan= those who were neither tall nor short; naatigauraan= those who were not very fair; naatikR^ishhNaan= those who were not very dark; naatikubjaan= those who were not very hunchbacked; na vaamanaan= those who were not very short; viruupaan= those who had distorted appearance; bahuruupanshca= those who had multiple appearances; suruupaaMshca= those who had a good appearance; suvarcasaH= those who had great brilliance; dhvajiin= those who carried banners; pataakinashcaiva= those who carried flags; vividhaayudhaan= those who carried different weapons.
Hanuma saw those who were initiated into various Vedic practices, those who wore matted locks on their head, those who had shaven heads, those who wore cow hides and other clothing, those who were carrying Kusa grass as weapons and also those who had fire vessels as weapons, those who carried hammers and clubs in their hands and also those who had worn staffs as weapons, hose who were one-eyed, those who had one ear, hose who were pot-bellied and with hanging breast, those who had horrible appearances, those with twisted mouths, those who were horrific and also short people, those who carried bows and arrows those who carried swords, those who carried pestles and clubs as weapons, those who carried excellent Parighas in their hands, those who shone with strange armour, those who were not very fat, those who were not too thin, those who were neither tall nor short, those who were not very fair, those who were not very dark, those who were not very hunchbacked, those who were not very short, those who had great brilliance, those who carried banners, those who carried flags and those who carried different weapons.
dhvajiin pataakinashchaiva dadarsha vividhaayudhaan |
shakti vR^ikSa aayudhaamH caiva paTTisha ashani dhaariNaH || 5-4-20
kSepaNii paasha hastaamH ca dadarsha sa mahaa kapiH |
sragviNaH tv anuliptaamH ca vara aabharaNa bhuuSitaan || 5-4-21
naanaaveshhasamaayuktaanyathaasvairagataan bahuun |
tiikSNa shuula dharaamH caiva vajriNaH ca mahaa balaan | | 5-4-22
20,21,22. mahaakapiH= Hanuma; dadarsha= saw; shektivR^ikshayudhaamshcaiva= those who carried javelins and trees as weapons; paTisashenidhaariNaH= or holding Pattisa and thunderbolts; kshepaNiipaashahastaamshcha= and holding a sling and noose in their hands; sragviNaH= those who carried flower garlands; anuliptaamshcha= those who wore sandal pastes; varaabharanabhooshhitaan= decorated with best jewellery; naanaaveshhasamaayuktaan= with various kinds of appearances; yadhaasvairagataan= moving about at will; bahuun= many people; tiikshnastuuladhaaranshchaiva= those who carried sharp spikes; vajrinashcha= along with thunderbolt; mahaabalaan= those who had great might
Hanuma saw many people, who had great might, who carried javelins and trees as weapons, those who carried Pattisas and thunderbolts, those who carried in their hands sling and nooses, those who carried flowered garlands, wearing sandal paste and decorated with best jewellery, those who had various kinds of appearances roaming freely at will, those who carried sharp spikes and thunderbolts.
shata saahasram avyagram aarakSam madhyamam kapiH |
rakshodhipatinirdishhTam dadarshaantaHpuraagrataH || | 5-4-23
23. kapiH= Hanuma; dadarsha= saw; antaHpuraagrataH= (statoned) before inner city; madhyamaMaaraksham= central protective force; avyagram= attentive; setasahasram= equal in hundred thousand; rakhodhipatinirdishhTam= positioned at the command of Ravana.
Hanuma saw at the front of inner city, a hundred thousand central protective force which was attentive and was positioned there at the command of Ravana.
sa tadaa tadgR^iham dR^ishhTvaa mahaahaaTakatoraNam |
raakshasendrasya vikhyaatamadrimuurdhni pratishhThitam || 5-4-24
puNDariikaavatamsaabhiH parikhaabhiralamkR^itam |
praakaara aavR^itam atyantam dadarsha sa mahaa kapiH || 5-4-25
24,25. saH= that; mahaakapiH= Hanuma; dadarsha= saw; tat gR^iham= that house; raakshasendrasya= of Ravana;mahaahatakaToraNam= with a great golden doorway; ardrimuurdriNi= on a top of mountain; pratishhThitam= situated; vikyaatam= famous; pudariikavatamsaabhiH= with lotuses as decorations; parikaabhiHalamkR^itam= garnished by moats; praakaaravR^itam= surrounded by a compound wall; tadaa= then; dR^ishhtvaa= seeing; atyantam= a lot.
That Hanuma saw Ravana's house with a golden doorway. That famed house was on the top of a mountain. Motes filled with white lotuses surrounded it. It was also surrounded by a compound wall. He watched the house again and again.
triviSTapa nibham divyam divya naada vinaaditam |
vaaji heSita samghuSTam naaditam bhuuSaNaiH tathaa || 5-4-26
rathaiH yaanaiH vimaanaiH ca tathaa gaja hayaiH shubhaiH |
vaaraNaiH ca catuH dantaiH shveta abhra nicaya upamaiH || 5-4-27
bhuuSitam rucira dvaaram mattaiH ca mR^iga pakSibhiH |
raakSasa adhipateH guptam aavivesha gR^iham kapiH || 5-4-28
26,27,28.. mahaakapiH= The great Hanuma; aavivesha= entered; guptam= secretly; raakshasaadhipateeH= Ravana's inner city; trivishhTapaHnibham= (which was like a) paradise; divyam= best one; vaajighoshhitasangushhTam= resonating with neighing of horses; tadhaa= and; naaditam= made noisy; bhuushhanaiH= with ornaments; radhaiH= by chariots; yaanaiH= by vehicles; vimaanaishca= and by aerial-cars; tadhaa= and; bhuushhitam= decorated by;; subhaiHhayagajaiH= by auspicious horses and elephants; swetaabranicayopamaiH= equalling a group of white clouds; vaaraNaishca= by great elephants; caturdantaiH= with four tusks; mR^igapakshibhiH= by animals and birds; mattaiH= in heat; ruciradvaaram= with a beautiful entrance; rakshitam= protected; yaatudhaanaiH= by raksasas; sumahaaviiraiH= with great strength; shahasrasheH= in thousands.
The great Hanuma entered secretly Ravana's inner city which was equal to paradise, rendered noisy by neighing of horses and tinkling of ornaments, by chariots, vehicles and aerial-cars and decorated by auspicious elephants and horses and great elephants with four tusks and by birds and animals in heat. It had beautiful entrances and was protected by thousands of rakshasas with great strength.
sahemajaambuunadachakravaaLam |
mahaarha muktaamaNibhuushhitaantam |
paraarthyakaalaaguruchandanaaktaM |
sa raavaNaantHpuramaavivesha || 5-4-29
29. saH= Hanuma; aavivesha= entered; raavanaataHpuram= the in inner city of Ravana; sahema= filled with gold; jaabuunadacakravaaLam= with a golden court-yard; mahaaraHmuktaamaNibhuushhitaantam= with a central area decorated by pearls and diamonds of great value; paraardhyakaalaagurucandanaaktam= and which was sprinkled with water containing superb agallocum and sandal-wood.
Hanuma entered the inner city of Ravana which was filled with gold, which had a golden court-yard , with a central area decorated by pearls and diamonds of great value and sprinkled daily with water containing superb algallocum and sandal-wood.
|| iti raamaayane sundarakaaNDe chaturthaH sargaH ||
Thus, this is the 4th chapter in Sundara Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2002 August, Durga and Kishore Kopalle