The Hidden Cave of Rikshabila

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.50.1)

सह ताराङ्गदाभ्यां तु संगम्य हनुमान् कपिः । विचिनोति च विन्ध्यस्य गुहाश्च गहनानि च ॥ 50.1 ॥

saha tārāṅgadābhyāṃ tu saṃgamya hanumān kapiḥ | vicinoti ca vindhyasya guhāśca gahanāni ca || 50.1 ||

Joining together with Tara and Angada, the monkey Hanuman searched the caves and thickets of the Vindhya mountains,

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.50.2)

सिंहशार्दूलजुष्टाश्च गुहाश्च परितस्तदा । विषमेषु नगेन्द्रस्य महाप्रस्रवणेषु च ॥ 50.2 ॥

siṃhaśārdūlajuṣṭāśca guhāśca paritastadā | viṣameṣu nagendrasya mahāprasravaṇeṣu ca || 50.2 ||

and all around, the caves frequented by lions and tigers, and the great, precipitous waterfalls of that lord of mountains.

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.50.3)

आसेदुस्तस्य शैलस्य कोटिं दक्षिणपश्चिमाम् । तेषां तत्रैव वसतां स कालो व्यत्यवर्तत ॥ 50.3 ॥

āsedustasya śailasya koṭiṃ dakṣiṇapaścimām | teṣāṃ tatraiva vasatāṃ sa kālo vyatyavartata || 50.3 ||

They reached the south-western peak of that mountain, and while they remained there, the appointed time slipped away.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.50.4)

स हि देशो दुरन्वेष्यो गुहागहनवान् महान् । तत्र वायुसुतः सर्वं विचिनोति स्म पर्वतम् ॥ 50.4 ॥

sa hi deśo duranveṣyo guhāgahanavān mahān | tatra vāyusutaḥ sarvaṃ vicinoti sma parvatam || 50.4 ||

For that vast region, with its many caves and thickets, was very hard to search; yet there the son of the Wind-god searched the whole mountain.

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.50.5)

परस्परेण रहिता अन्योन्यस्याविदूरतः । गजो गवाक्षो गवयः शरभो गन्धमादनः ॥ 50.5 ॥

paraspareṇa rahitā anyonyasyāvidūrataḥ | gajo gavākṣo gavayaḥ śarabho gandhamādanaḥ || 50.5 ||

Never far apart from one another, though each searching separately — Gaja, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha, Gandhamadana,

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.50.6)

मैन्दश्च द्विविदश्चैव हनूमान् जाम्बवानपि । अङ्गदो युवराजश्च तारश्च वनगोचरः ॥ 50.6 ॥

maindaśca dvividaścaiva hanūmān jāmbavānapi | aṅgado yuvarājaśca tāraśca vanagocaraḥ || 50.6 ||

Mainda, Dvivida, Hanuman, and Jambavan too, the crown-prince Angada, and forest-roving Tara —

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.50.7)

गिरिजालावृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणां दिशम् । विचिन्वन्तस्ततस्तत्र ददृशुर्विवृतं बिलम् ॥ 50.7 ॥

girijālāvṛtān deśān mārgitvā dakṣiṇāṃ diśam | vicinvantastatastatra dadṛśurvivṛtaṃ bilam || 50.7 ||

all of them, having scoured the southern quarter, hemmed in with clustered mountains, in the course of their search there came upon a wide-open cave-mouth,

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.50.8)

दुर्गमृक्षबिलं नाम दानवेनाभिरक्षितम् । क्षुत्पिपासापरीतास्तु श्रान्तास्तु सलिलार्थिनः ॥ 50.8 ॥

durgamṛkṣabilaṃ nāma dānavenābhirakṣitam | kṣutpipāsāparītāstu śrāntāstu salilārthinaḥ || 50.8 ||

an impassable cave named Rikshabila, guarded by a danava. Overcome by hunger and thirst, exhausted, and longing for water,

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.50.9)

अवकीर्णं लतावृक्षैर्ददृशुस्ते महाबिलम् । तत्र क्रौञ्चाश्च हंसाश्च सारसाश्चापि निष्क्रमन् ॥ 50.9 ॥

avakīrṇaṃ latāvṛkṣairdadṛśuste mahābilam | tatra krauñcāśca haṃsāśca sārasāścāpi niṣkraman || 50.9 ||

they saw that great cave, strewn about with creepers and trees, out of which curlews, swans, and cranes were emerging,

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.50.10)

जलार्द्राश्चक्रवाकाश्च रक्ताङ्गाः पद्मरेणुभिः । ततस्तद् बिलमासाद्य सुगन्धि दुरतिक्रमम् ॥ 50.10 ॥

jalārdrāścakravākāśca raktāṅgāḥ padmareṇubhiḥ | tatastad bilamāsādya sugandhi duratikramam || 50.10 ||

and chakravaka birds too, wet with water, their bodies reddened with lotus-pollen. Then, approaching that fragrant but impenetrable cave,

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.50.11)

विस्मयव्यग्रमनसो बभूवुर्वानरर्षभाः । संजातपरिशङ्कास्ते तद् बिलं प्लवगोत्तमाः ॥ 50.11 ॥

vismayavyagramanaso babhūvurvānararṣabhāḥ | saṃjātapariśaṅkāste tad bilaṃ plavagottamāḥ || 50.11 ||

those bulls among vanaras became agitated with wonder; those best of monkeys, filled with misgiving, drew near to that cave,

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.50.12)

अभ्यपद्यन्त संहृष्टास्तेजोवन्तो महाबलाः । नानासत्त्वसमाकीर्णं दैत्येन्द्रनिलयोपमम् ॥ 50.12 ॥

abhyapadyanta saṃhṛṣṭāstejovanto mahābalāḥ | nānāsattvasamākīrṇaṃ daityendranilayopamam || 50.12 ||

yet delighted too, being resplendent and mighty. It was thronged with creatures of every kind, resembling the abode of the lord of daityas,

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.50.13)

दुर्दर्शमिव घोरं च दुर्विगाह्यं च सर्वशः । ततः पर्वतकूटाभो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ॥ 50.13 ॥

durdarśamiva ghoraṃ ca durvigāhyaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | tataḥ parvatakūṭābho hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ || 50.13 ||

dreadful to look upon, terrible, and impossible to fathom from any side. Then Hanuman, the son of the Wind-god, resplendent as a mountain-peak,

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.50.14)

अब्रवीद् वानरान् घोरान् कान्तारवनकोविदः । गिरिजालावृतान् देशान् मार्गित्वा दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥ 50.14 ॥

abravīd vānarān ghorān kāntāravanakovidaḥ | girijālāvṛtān deśān mārgitvā dakṣiṇāṃ diśam || 50.14 ||

who was well-versed in wild forest-tracts, spoke to those fierce vanaras: "We have searched the southern quarter, hemmed in with clustered mountains,

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.50.15)

वयं सर्वे परिश्रान्ता न च पश्याम मैथिलीम् । अस्माच्चापि बिलाद्धंसाः क्रौञ्चाश्च सह सारसैः ॥ 50.15 ॥

vayaṃ sarve pariśrāntā na ca paśyāma maithilīm | asmāccāpi bilāddhaṃsāḥ krauñcāśca saha sārasaiḥ || 50.15 ||

and we are all utterly exhausted, yet we have not seen Maithili. From this very cave, swans and curlews together with cranes,

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.50.16)

जलार्द्राश्चक्रवाकाश्च निष्पतन्ति स्म सर्वशः । नूनं सलिलवानत्र कूपो वा यदि वा ह्रदः ॥ 50.16 ॥

jalārdrāścakravākāśca niṣpatanti sma sarvaśaḥ | nūnaṃ salilavānatra kūpo vā yadi vā hradaḥ || 50.16 ||

and water-drenched chakravakas, keep flying out on every side; surely there must be a spring here, or perhaps a pool.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.50.17)

तथा चेमे बिलद्वारे स्निग्धास्तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः । इत्युक्तास्तद् बिलं सर्वे विविशुस्तिमिरावृतम् ॥ 50.17 ॥

tathā ceme biladvāre snigdhāstiṣṭhanti pādapāḥ | ityuktāstad bilaṃ sarve viviśustimirāvṛtam || 50.17 ||

And see, the very trees at the mouth of this cave are lush and green." At these words, they all entered that cave, shrouded in darkness.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.50.18)

अचन्द्रसूर्यं हरयो ददृशू रोमहर्षणम् । निशाम्य तस्मात् सिंहांश्च तांस्तांश्च मृगपक्षिणः ॥ 50.18 ॥

acandrasūryaṃ harayo dadṛśū romaharṣaṇam | niśāmya tasmāt siṃhāṃśca tāṃstāṃśca mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ || 50.18 ||

The vanaras found it without moon or sun, hair-raising in its darkness; observing lions and various beasts and birds emerging from it,

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.50.19)

प्रविष्टा हरिशार्दूला बिलं तिमिरसंवृतम् । न तेषां सज्जते दृष्टिर्न तेजो न पराक्रमः ॥ 50.19 ॥

praviṣṭā hariśārdūlā bilaṃ timirasaṃvṛtam | na teṣāṃ sajjate dṛṣṭirna tejo na parākramaḥ || 50.19 ||

those tiger-like vanaras still entered the darkness-enveloped cave; yet neither their sight, nor their vigour, nor their courage was hindered —

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.50.20)

वायोरिव गतिस्तेषां दृष्टिस्तमसि वर्तते । ते प्रविष्टास्तु वेगेन तद् बिलं कपिकुञ्जराः ॥ 50.20 ॥

vāyoriva gatisteṣāṃ dṛṣṭistamasi vartate | te praviṣṭāstu vegena tad bilaṃ kapikuñjarāḥ || 50.20 ||

their motion was like that of the wind, and their sight remained keen even in the darkness. Those elephantine monkeys, having entered that cave with speed,

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.50.21)

प्रकाशं चाभिरामं च ददृशुर्देशमुत्तमम् । ततस्तस्मिन् बिले भीमे नानापादपसंकुले ॥ 50.21 ॥

prakāśaṃ cābhirāmaṃ ca dadṛśurdeśamuttamam | tatastasmin bile bhīme nānāpādapasaṃkule || 50.21 ||

presently beheld a most excellent region, bright and lovely. Then, in that fearsome cave, thick with all manner of trees,

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.50.22)

अन्योन्यं सम्परिष्वज्य जग्मुर्योजनमन्तरम् । ते नष्टसंज्ञास्तृषिताः सम्भ्रान्ताः सलिलार्थिनः ॥ 50.22 ॥

anyonyaṃ sampariṣvajya jagmuryojanamantaram | te naṣṭasaṃjñāstṛṣitāḥ sambhrāntāḥ salilārthinaḥ || 50.22 ||

clasping one another's hands, they advanced a full yojana's distance; bewildered, thirsty, and confused, they longed only for water.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.50.23)

परिपेतुर्बिले तस्मिन् कंचित् कालमतन्द्रिताः । ते कृशा दीनवदनाः परिश्रान्ताः प्लवङ्गमाः ॥ 50.23 ॥

paripeturbile tasmin kaṃcit kālamatandritāḥ | te kṛśā dīnavadanāḥ pariśrāntāḥ plavaṅgamāḥ || 50.23 ||

For some time they wandered through that cave, tireless in their effort, though those vanaras had grown thin, wretched-faced, and utterly exhausted.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.50.24)

आलोकं ददृशुर्वीरा निराशा जीविते यदा । ततस्तं देशमागम्य सौम्या वितिमिरं वनम् ॥ 50.24 ॥

ālokaṃ dadṛśurvīrā nirāśā jīvite yadā | tatastaṃ deśamāgamya saumyā vitimiraṃ vanam || 50.24 ||

When those valiant ones had almost given up hope of living, they at last saw a light; and coming to that place, they found a gentle, shadowless forest.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.50.25)

ददृशुः काञ्चनान् वृक्षान् दीप्तवैश्वानरप्रभान् । सालांस्तालांस्तमालांश्च पुंनागान् वञ्जुलान् धवान् ॥ 50.25 ॥

dadṛśuḥ kāñcanān vṛkṣān dīptavaiśvānaraprabhān | sālāṃstālāṃstamālāṃśca puṃnāgān vañjulān dhavān || 50.25 ||

They saw golden trees, glowing like blazing fire — sala, tala, and tamala trees, punnaga, vanjula, and dhava trees,

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.50.26)

चम्पकान् नागवृक्षांश्च कर्णिकारांश्च पुष्पितान् । स्तबकैः काञ्चनैश्चित्रै रक्तैः किसलयैस्तथा ॥ 50.26 ॥

campakān nāgavṛkṣāṃśca karṇikārāṃśca puṣpitān | stabakaiḥ kāñcanaiścitrai raktaiḥ kisalayaistathā || 50.26 ||

champaka, naga trees, and flowering karnikaras, wondrous with golden clusters of blossom, and likewise with tender red shoots,

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.50.27)

आपीडैश्च लताभिश्च हेमाभरणभूषितान् । तरुणादित्यसंकाशान् वैदूर्यमयवेदिकान् ॥ 50.27 ॥

āpīḍaiśca latābhiśca hemābharaṇabhūṣitān | taruṇādityasaṃkāśān vaidūryamayavedikān || 50.27 ||

crowned with garlands and creepers as if decked in golden ornaments, glowing like the rising sun, standing upon platforms made of beryl,

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.50.28)

बिभ्राजमानान् वपुषा पादपांश्च हिरण्मयान् । नीलवैदूर्यवर्णाश्च पद्मिनीः पतगैर्वृताः ॥ 50.28 ॥

bibhrājamānān vapuṣā pādapāṃśca hiraṇmayān | nīlavaidūryavarṇāśca padminīḥ patagairvṛtāḥ || 50.28 ||

those golden trees shone forth in their splendour; and lotus-ponds, whose lotuses were the hue of blue beryl, thronged with birds —

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.50.29)

महद्भिः काञ्चनैर्वृक्षैर्वृता बालार्कसंनिभैः । जातरूपमयैर्मत्स्यैर्महद्भिश्चाथ पङ्कजैः ॥ 50.29 ॥

mahadbhiḥ kāñcanairvṛkṣairvṛtā bālārkasaṃnibhaiḥ | jātarūpamayairmatsyairmahadbhiścātha paṅkajaiḥ || 50.29 ||

surrounded by great golden trees resembling the rising sun, with huge golden fish, and vast lotuses within them —

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.50.30)

नलिनीस्तत्र ददृशुः प्रसन्नसलिलायुताः । काञ्चनानि विमानानि राजतानि तथैव च ॥ 50.30 ॥

nalinīstatra dadṛśuḥ prasannasalilāyutāḥ | kāñcanāni vimānāni rājatāni tathaiva ca || 50.30 ||

there they saw lotus-lakes filled with clear water; and golden mansions, and likewise silver ones,

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.50.31)

तपनीयगवाक्षाणि मुक्ताजालावृतानि च । हैमराजतभौमानि वैदूर्यमणिमन्ति च ॥ 50.31 ॥

tapanīyagavākṣāṇi muktājālāvṛtāni ca | haimarājatabhaumāni vaidūryamaṇimanti ca || 50.31 ||

with golden lattice-windows overhung with strings of pearls, their floors of gold and silver, and studded everywhere with beryl gems.

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.50.32)

ददृशुस्तत्र हरयो गृहमुख्यानि सर्वशः । पुष्पितान् फलिनो वृक्षान् प्रवालमणिसंनिभान् ॥ 50.32 ॥

dadṛśustatra harayo gṛhamukhyāni sarvaśaḥ | puṣpitān phalino vṛkṣān pravālamaṇisaṃnibhān || 50.32 ||

There the vanaras saw such splendid mansions everywhere, and flowering, fruit-laden trees that resembled coral and gems,

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.50.33)

काञ्चनभ्रमरांश्चैव मधूनि च समन्ततः । मणिकाञ्चनचित्राणि शयनान्यासनानि च ॥ 50.33 ॥

kāñcanabhramarāṃścaiva madhūni ca samantataḥ | maṇikāñcanacitrāṇi śayanānyāsanāni ca || 50.33 ||

and golden bees everywhere, and honey too; and beds and seats wondrously wrought of gems and gold,

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.50.34)

विविधानि विशालानि ददृशुस्ते समन्ततः । हैमराजतकांस्यानां भाजनानां च राशयः ॥ 50.34 ॥

vividhāni viśālāni dadṛśuste samantataḥ | haimarājatakāṃsyānāṃ bhājanānāṃ ca rāśayaḥ || 50.34 ||

of every kind and vast in number, they saw all around; and heaps of vessels made of gold, silver, and bell-metal,

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.50.35)

अगुरूणां च दिव्यानां चन्दनानां च संचयान् । शुचीन्यभ्यवहाराणि मूलानि च फलानि च ॥ 50.35 ॥

agurūṇāṃ ca divyānāṃ candanānāṃ ca saṃcayān | śucīnyabhyavahārāṇi mūlāni ca phalāni ca || 50.35 ||

and stores of heavenly aloe-wood and sandalwood, and clean, wholesome foods, roots and fruits.

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.50.36)

महार्हाणि च पानानि मधूनि रसवन्ति च । दिव्यानामम्बराणां च महार्हाणां च संचयान् ॥ 50.36 ॥

mahārhāṇi ca pānāni madhūni rasavanti ca | divyānāmambarāṇāṃ ca mahārhāṇāṃ ca saṃcayān || 50.36 ||

They saw costly beverages, and flavourful honeys, and stores of precious, heavenly garments,

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.50.37)

कम्बलानां च चित्राणामजिनानां च संचयान् । तत्र तत्र च विन्यस्तान् दीप्तान् वैश्वानरप्रभान् ॥ 50.37 ॥

kambalānāṃ ca citrāṇāmajinānāṃ ca saṃcayān | tatra tatra ca vinyastān dīptān vaiśvānaraprabhān || 50.37 ||

and stores of wondrous blankets and deerskins; and, laid out here and there, heaps of gold gleaming like blazing fire —

Shloka 38 (kishkindha.50.38)

ददृशुर्वानराः शुभ्राञ्जातरूपस्य संचयान् । तत्र तत्र विचिन्वन्तो बिले तत्र महाप्रभाः ॥ 50.38 ॥

dadṛśurvānarāḥ śubhrāñjātarūpasya saṃcayān | tatra tatra vicinvanto bile tatra mahāprabhāḥ || 50.38 ||

those radiant vanaras saw stainless heaps of pure gold, as they searched here and there within that cave of great splendour.

Shloka 39 (kishkindha.50.39)

ददृशुर्वानराः शूराः स्त्रियं कांचिददूरतः । तां च ते ददृशुस्तत्र चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बराम् ॥ 50.39 ॥

dadṛśurvānarāḥ śūrāḥ striyaṃ kāṃcidadūrataḥ | tāṃ ca te dadṛśustatra cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarām || 50.39 ||

Then those valiant vanaras saw a certain woman not far away; and they saw that she was clad in bark-garments and a black antelope-skin,

Shloka 40 (kishkindha.50.40)

तापसीं नियताहारां ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा । विस्मिता हरयस्तत्र व्यवतिष्ठन्त सर्वशः । पप्रच्छ हनुमांस्तत्र कासि त्वं कस्य वा बिलम् ॥ 50.40 ॥

tāpasīṃ niyatāhārāṃ jvalantīmiva tejasā | vismitā harayastatra vyavatiṣṭhanta sarvaśaḥ | papraccha hanumāṃstatra kāsi tvaṃ kasya vā bilam || 50.40 ||

an ascetic woman, restrained in diet, seeming to blaze with her own inner radiance. The vanaras, astonished, all stood still there; and Hanuman asked her, "Who are you, and whose is this cave?"

Shloka 41 (kishkindha.50.41)

ततो हनूमान् गिरिसंनिकाशः कृताञ्जलिस्तामभिवाद्य वृद्धाम् । पप्रच्छ का त्वं भवनं बिलं च रत्नानि चेमानि वदस्व कस्य ॥ 50.41 ॥

tato hanūmān girisaṃnikāśaḥ kṛtāñjalistāmabhivādya vṛddhām | papraccha kā tvaṃ bhavanaṃ bilaṃ ca ratnāni cemāni vadasva kasya || 50.41 ||

Then Hanuman, mighty as a mountain, folding his hands in reverence to that aged lady, asked again, "Who are you? Whose is this mansion, this cave, and these jewels — please tell me."