Hanuman Tells the Story of Rama

Verse 1 (3.150.1)

हृतदारः सह भ्रात्रा पत्नीं मार्गन्स राघवः । दृष्टवाञ्शैलशिखरे सुग्रीवं वानरर्षभम् ॥

hṛtadāraḥ saha bhrātrā patnīṃ mārgansa rāghavaḥ | dṛṣṭavāñśailaśikhare sugrīvaṃ vānararṣabham

Raghava, robbed of his wife, was searching for her with his brother when he saw Sugriva, the bull among monkeys, on a mountain peak.

Verse 2 (3.150.2)

तेन तस्याभवत्सख्यं राघवस्य महात्मनः । स हत्वा वालिनं राज्ये सुग्रीवं प्रत्यपादयत् ॥

tena tasyābhavatsakhyaṃ rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ | sa hatvā vālinaṃ rājye sugrīvaṃ pratyapādayat

Friendship arose between him and the great-souled Raghava. Rama killed Vali and set Sugriva on the throne.

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.147.32a–d; the critical edition’s third line (32ef) corresponds to the first line of the next verse.

Verse 3 (3.150.3)

स राज्यं प्राप्य सुग्रीवः सीतायाः परिमार्गणे । वानरान्प्रेषयामास शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

sa rājyaṃ prāpya sugrīvaḥ sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇe | vānarānpreṣayāmāsa śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Having gained the kingdom, Sugriva sent out monkeys by the hundreds and the thousands to search for Sita.

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 3.147.32ef (sa harīn preṣayām āsa sītāyāḥ parimārgaṇe); the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 728* in its apparatus).

Verse 4 (3.150.4)

ततो वानरकोटीभिः सहितोऽहं नरर्षभ । सीतां मार्गन्महाबाहो प्रस्थितो दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥

tato vānarakoṭībhiḥ sahito'haṃ nararṣabha | sītāṃ mārganmahābāho prasthito dakṣiṇāṃ diśam

Then, bull among men, mighty-armed one, I set out toward the southern quarter with millions of monkeys, searching for Sita.

Note on the text: A fuller form of CE 3.147.33ab (tato vānarakoṭībhir yāṃ vayaṃ prasthitā diśam), as in star passage 729* of the critical edition’s apparatus (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 5 (3.150.5)

ततः प्रवृत्तिः सीताया गृध्रेण सुमहात्मना । संपातिना समाख्याता रावणस्य निवेशने ॥

tataḥ pravṛttiḥ sītāyā gṛdhreṇa sumahātmanā | saṃpātinā samākhyātā rāvaṇasya niveśane

Then the great-souled vulture Sampati gave us news of Sita: that she was in Ravana’s dwelling.

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 3.147.33cd (tatra pravṛttiḥ sītāyā gṛdhreṇa pratipāditā); the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 730*).

Verse 6 (3.150.6)

ततोऽहं कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः । शतयोजनविस्तारमर्णवं सहसा प्लुतः ॥

tato'haṃ kāryasiddhyarthaṃ rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ | śatayojanavistāramarṇavaṃ sahasā plutaḥ

Then, to accomplish the purpose of Rama, whose deeds never falter, I leapt at a bound across the ocean, a hundred yojanas wide.

Verse 7 (3.150.7)

अहं स्ववीर्यादुत्तीर्य सागरं मकरालयम् । सुतां जनकराजस्य सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् ॥

ahaṃ svavīryāduttīrya sāgaraṃ makarālayam | sutāṃ janakarājasya sītāṃ surasutopamām

Having crossed by my own strength the ocean, the home of sea-monsters, I saw the daughter of King Janaka, Sita, who is like a daughter of the gods —

Note on the text: Corrected सुररसुतोपमाम् → सुरसुतोपमाम् (misprint in Wikisource; doubled akshara, the critical edition’s apparatus reads surasutopamām). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it in its apparatus as star passage 732*, after 3.147.34.

Verse 8 (3.150.8)

दृष्टवान्भरतश्रेष्ठ रावणस्य निवेशने । समेत्य तामहं देवीं वैदेहीं राघवप्रियाम् ॥

dṛṣṭavānbharataśreṣṭha rāvaṇasya niveśane | sametya tāmahaṃ devīṃ vaidehīṃ rāghavapriyām

I saw her, best of the Bharatas, in Ravana’s dwelling. Having met that queen, Vaidehi, the beloved of Raghava,

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 3.147.35ab (dṛṣṭā sā ca mayā devī rāvaṇasya niveśane); the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 733*, line 1).

Verse 9 (3.150.9)

दग्ध्वा लङ्कामशेषेण साट्टप्राकारतोरणाम् । प्रत्यागतश्चास्य पुनर्नाम तत्र प्रकाश्य वै ॥

dagdhvā laṅkāmaśeṣeṇa sāṭṭaprākāratoraṇām | pratyāgataścāsya punarnāma tatra prakāśya vai

I burned Lanka to the ground, with its towers, ramparts and gateways, and came back again, having proclaimed his name there.

Note on the text: Corrected सादृप्राकारतोरणाम् → साट्टप्राकारतोरणाम् (misprint in Wikisource; दृ for ट्ट, the critical edition’s apparatus reads sāṭṭaprākāratoraṇām) and restored a missing word space (तत्रप्रकाश्य → तत्र प्रकाश्य). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 733*, line 2); the second is CE 3.147.35cd, with चास्य (“his”, i.e. Rama’s) for cāpi.

Verse 10 (3.150.10)

मद्वाक्यं चावधार्याशु रामो राजीवलोचनः । अबद्धपूर्वमन्यैश्च बद्ध्वा सेतुं महोदधौ । वृतो वानरकोटीभिः समुत्तीर्णो महार्णवम् ॥

madvākyaṃ cāvadhāryāśu rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ | abaddhapūrvamanyaiśca baddhvā setuṃ mahodadhau | vṛto vānarakoṭībhiḥ samuttīrṇo mahārṇavam

Lotus-eyed Rama, quickly weighing my report, built across the great ocean a bridge such as no one had ever built before, and, surrounded by millions of monkeys, crossed over the great sea.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it in its apparatus as star passage 734*, after 3.147.35.

Verse 11 (3.150.11)

ततो रामेण वीर्येण हत्वा तान्सर्वराक्षसान् । रणे तु राक्षसगणं रावणं लोकरावणम् ॥

tato rāmeṇa vīryeṇa hatvā tānsarvarākṣasān | raṇe tu rākṣasagaṇaṃ rāvaṇaṃ lokarāvaṇam

Then Rama by his valor killed all those rakshasas; and in battle he killed the host of rakshasas and Ravana, who made the worlds weep —

Note on the text: Corrected ररामेण → रामेण (misprint in Wikisource; doubled akshara, the critical edition reads rāmeṇa). The first line is CE 3.147.36ab (वीर्येण for vīreṇa); the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 735*, line 1).

Verse 12 (3.150.12)

निशाचरेन्द्रं हत्वा तु सभ्रातृसुतबान्धवम् । राज्येऽभिषिच्य लङ्कायां राक्षसेन्द्रं विभीषणम् ॥

niśācarendraṃ hatvā tu sabhrātṛsutabāndhavam | rājye'bhiṣicya laṅkāyāṃ rākṣasendraṃ vibhīṣaṇam

having slain that lord of the night-rangers with his brothers, sons and kinsmen, he consecrated Vibhishana in Lanka as king of the rakshasas,

Note on the text: Corrected निशाचरेनद्रं → निशाचरेन्द्रं (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, the critical edition’s apparatus reads niśācarendraṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); star passage 735*, lines 2–3.

Verse 13 (3.150.13)

धार्मिकं भक्तिमन्तं च भक्तानुगतवत्सलः । प्रत्याहृत्य ततः सीतां नष्टां वेदश्रुतिं यथा ॥

dhārmikaṃ bhaktimantaṃ ca bhaktānugatavatsalaḥ | pratyāhṛtya tataḥ sītāṃ naṣṭāṃ vedaśrutiṃ yathā

for he was righteous and devoted, and Rama is tender to those who follow him in devotion. Then he won Sita back, as one recovers a lost text of the Veda.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 735*, line 4); the second is a variant of CE 3.147.36cd (punaḥ pratyāhṛtā bhāryā naṣṭā vedaśrutir yathā).

Verse 14 (3.150.14)

तयैव सहितः साध्व्या पत्न्या रामो महायशाः । गत्वा ततोऽतित्वरितः स्वां पुरीं रघुनन्दनः । अध्यावसत्ततोऽयोध्यामयोध्यां द्विषतां प्रभुः ॥

tayaiva sahitaḥ sādhvyā patnyā rāmo mahāyaśāḥ | gatvā tato'titvaritaḥ svāṃ purīṃ raghunandanaḥ | adhyāvasattato'yodhyāmayodhyāṃ dviṣatāṃ prabhuḥ

With that same virtuous wife the glorious Rama, the joy of the Raghus, went with all speed to his own city; and there the lord who subdues his foes dwelt in Ayodhya, the city no enemy can assail.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it in its apparatus as star passage 736*, after 3.147.36.

Verse 15 (3.150.15)

ततः प्रतिष्ठितो राज्ये रामो नृपतिसत्तमः । वरं मया याचितोऽसौ रामो राजीवलोचनः ॥

tataḥ pratiṣṭhito rājye rāmo nṛpatisattamaḥ | varaṃ mayā yācito'sau rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ

When Rama, best of kings, was established in his kingdom, I asked a boon of lotus-eyed Rama:

Note on the text: The first line is a variant of CE 3.147.37ab (tataḥ pratiṣṭhite rāme vīro ’yaṃ yācito mayā); the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 737*).

Verse 16 (3.150.16)

यावद्रामकथेयं ते भवेल्लोकेषु शत्रुहन् । तावज्जीवेयमित्येवं तथाऽस्त्विति च सोऽब्रवीत् ॥

yāvadrāmakatheyaṃ te bhavellokeṣu śatruhan | tāvajjīveyamityevaṃ tathā'stviti ca so'bravīt

“Slayer of foes, may I live for as long as this story of yours, the story of Rama, endures in the worlds.” And he said, “So be it.”

Note on the text: Restored a missing avagraha (सोब्रवीत् → सोऽब्रवीत्). This verse is CE 3.147.37cd–ef.

Verse 17 (3.150.17)

सीताप्रसादाच्च सदा मामिहस्थमरिंदम । उपतिष्ठन्ति दिव्या हि भोगा भीम यथेप्सिताः ॥

sītāprasādācca sadā māmihasthamariṃdama | upatiṣṭhanti divyā hi bhogā bhīma yathepsitāḥ

And by Sita’s grace, tamer of foes, Bhima, heavenly pleasures always come to me here, just as I wish.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it in its apparatus as star passage 738*, after 3.147.37.

Verse 18 (3.150.18)

दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च । राज्यं कारितवान्रामस्ततः स्वभवनं गतः ॥

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi daśavarṣaśatāni ca | rājyaṃ kāritavānrāmastataḥ svabhavanaṃ gataḥ

Rama ruled the kingdom for ten thousand years and ten hundred years, and then went to his own abode.

Verse 19 (3.150.19)

तदिहाप्सरसस्तात गन्धर्वाश्च सदाऽनघ । तस्य वीरस्य चरितं गायन्त्यो रमयन्ति माम् ॥

tadihāpsarasastāta gandharvāśca sadā'nagha | tasya vīrasya caritaṃ gāyantyo ramayanti mām

So here, my son, sinless one, the apsaras and gandharvas always delight me by singing the deeds of that hero.

Verse 20 (3.150.20)

अयं च मार्गो मर्त्यानामगम्यः कुरुनन्दन । ततोऽहं रुद्धवान्मार्गं तवेमं देवसेवितम् ॥

ayaṃ ca mārgo martyānāmagamyaḥ kurunandana | tato'haṃ ruddhavānmārgaṃ tavemaṃ devasevitam

This path, joy of the Kurus, cannot be travelled by mortals. That is why I blocked this path of yours, which the gods frequent,

Note on the text: This verse is CE 3.147.40ab–cd.

Verse 21 (3.150.21)

त्वामनेन पथा यान्तं यक्षो वा राक्षसोऽपि वा । धर्षयेद्वा शपेद्वाऽपि मा कश्चिदिति भारत ॥

tvāmanena pathā yāntaṃ yakṣo vā rākṣaso'pi vā | dharṣayedvā śapedvā'pi mā kaściditi bhārata

so that no yaksha or rakshasa might attack you or curse you as you went along this path, Bharata.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') and restored a missing avagraha (राक्षसोपि → राक्षसोऽपि). The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; star passage 739*); the second is CE 3.147.40ef.

Verse 22 (3.150.22)

दिव्यो देवपथो ह्येष नात्र गच्छन्ति मानुषाः । यदर्थमागतश्चासि अत एव सरश्च तत् ॥

divyo devapatho hyeṣa nātra gacchanti mānuṣāḥ | yadarthamāgataścāsi ata eva saraśca tat

This is a divine road, the path of the gods; men do not walk it. And the lake for which you have come lies this very way.