Deliverance from the Cave

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.52.1)

अथ तानब्रवीत् सर्वान् विश्रान्तान् हरियूथपान् । इदं वचनमेकाग्रा तापसी धर्मचारिणी ॥ 52.1 ॥

atha tānabravīt sarvān viśrāntān hariyūthapān | idaṃ vacanamekāgrā tāpasī dharmacāriṇī || 52.1 ||

Then, to all those rested vanara chiefs, the single-minded and righteous ascetic woman spoke these words:

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.52.2)

वानरा यदि वः खेदः प्रणष्टः फलभक्षणात् । यदि चैतन्मया श्राव्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तां कथाम् ॥ 52.2 ॥

vānarā yadi vaḥ khedaḥ praṇaṣṭaḥ phalabhakṣaṇāt | yadi caitanmayā śrāvyaṃ śrotumicchāmi tāṃ kathām || 52.2 ||

'O vanaras, if your weariness has been dispelled by eating the fruits, and if it be fit for me to hear, I wish to hear that story of yours.'

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.52.3)

तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । आर्जवेन यथातत्त्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे ॥ 52.3 ॥

tasyāstad vacanaṃ śrutvā hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ | ārjavena yathātattvamākhyātumupacakrame || 52.3 ||

Hearing her words, Hanuman, son of the Wind-god, began to relate the whole matter truthfully and with sincerity.

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.52.4)

राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य महेन्द्रवरुणोपमः । रामो दाशरथिः श्रीमान् प्रविष्टो दण्डकावनम् ॥ 52.4 ॥

rājā sarvasya lokasya mahendravaruṇopamaḥ | rāmo dāśarathiḥ śrīmān praviṣṭo daṇḍakāvanam || 52.4 ||

Rama, son of Dasharatha, glorious, king over all the world, equal to Indra and Varuna, entered the Dandaka forest,

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.52.5)

लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा वैदेह्या सह भार्यया । तस्य भार्या जनस्थानाद् रावणेन हृता बलात् ॥ 52.5 ॥

lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā vaidehyā saha bhāryayā | tasya bhāryā janasthānād rāvaṇena hṛtā balāt || 52.5 ||

—together with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Vaidehi. His wife was forcibly abducted by Ravana from Janasthana.

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.52.6)

वीरस्तस्य सखा राज्ञः सुग्रीवो नाम वानरः । राजा वानरमुख्यानां येन प्रस्थापिता वयम् ॥ 52.6 ॥

vīrastasya sakhā rājñaḥ sugrīvo nāma vānaraḥ | rājā vānaramukhyānāṃ yena prasthāpitā vayam || 52.6 ||

That king's friend is a heroic vanara named Sugreeva, king of the foremost vanaras, by whom we were sent forth.

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.52.7)

अगस्त्यचरितामाशां दक्षिणां यमरक्षिताम् । सहैभिर्वानरैर्मुख्यैरङ्गदप्रमुखैर्वयम् ॥ 52.7 ॥

agastyacaritāmāśāṃ dakṣiṇāṃ yamarakṣitām | sahaibhirvānarairmukhyairaṅgadapramukhairvayam || 52.7 ||

We, together with these chief vanaras headed by Angada, to the southern quarter, traversed by sage Agastya and guarded by Yama,

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.52.8)

रावणं सहिताः सर्वे राक्षसं कामरूपिणम् । सीतया सह वैदेह्या मार्गध्वमिति चोदिताः ॥ 52.8 ॥

rāvaṇaṃ sahitāḥ sarve rākṣasaṃ kāmarūpiṇam | sītayā saha vaidehyā mārgadhvamiti coditāḥ || 52.8 ||

—were all sent forth, commanded: 'Search out together the shape-shifting demon Ravana, along with Vaidehi Sita.'

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.52.9)

विचित्य तु वनं सर्वं समुद्रं दक्षिणां दिशम् । वयं बुभुक्षिताः सर्वे वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रिताः ॥ 52.9 ॥

vicitya tu vanaṃ sarvaṃ samudraṃ dakṣiṇāṃ diśam | vayaṃ bubhukṣitāḥ sarve vṛkṣamūlamupāśritāḥ || 52.9 ||

Having searched the entire forest, the ocean and the southern region, we, all famished, took shelter at the foot of a tree.

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.52.10)

विवर्णवदनाः सर्वे सर्वे ध्यानपरायणाः । नाधिगच्छामहे पारं मग्नाश्चिन्तामहार्णवे ॥ 52.10 ॥

vivarṇavadanāḥ sarve sarve dhyānaparāyaṇāḥ | nādhigacchāmahe pāraṃ magnāścintāmahārṇave || 52.10 ||

All with pale faces, all sunk in thought, we could find no shore, submerged as we were in a great ocean of anxiety.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.52.11)

चारयन्तस्ततश्चक्षुर्दृष्टवन्तो महद् बिलम् । लतापादपसंछन्नं तिमिरेण समावृतम् ॥ 52.11 ॥

cārayantastataścakṣurdṛṣṭavanto mahad bilam | latāpādapasaṃchannaṃ timireṇa samāvṛtam || 52.11 ||

Then, casting our eyes about, we saw a great cave, concealed by creepers and trees, enveloped in darkness.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.52.12)

अस्माद्धंसा जलक्लिन्नाः पक्षैः सलिलरेणुभिः । कुरराः सारसाश्चैव निष्पतन्ति पतत्त्रिणः ॥ 52.12 ॥

asmāddhaṃsā jalaklinnāḥ pakṣaiḥ salilareṇubhiḥ | kurarāḥ sārasāścaiva niṣpatanti patattriṇaḥ || 52.12 ||

From it, swans with wings wet from water-spray, along with ospreys and cranes — winged creatures — were flying out.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.52.13)

साध्वत्र प्रविशामेति मया तूक्ताः प्लवङ्गमाः । तेषामपि हि सर्वेषामनुमानमुपागतम् ॥ 52.13 ॥

sādhvatra praviśāmeti mayā tūktāḥ plavaṅgamāḥ | teṣāmapi hi sarveṣāmanumānamupāgatam || 52.13 ||

'It is well that we should enter here,' I said to the monkeys; and all of them, too, arrived at the same conclusion.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.52.14)

अस्मिन् निपतिताः सर्वेऽप्यथ कार्यत्वरान्विताः । ततो गाढं निपतिता गृह्य हस्तैः परस्परम् ॥ 52.14 ॥

asmin nipatitāḥ sarve'pyatha kāryatvarānvitāḥ | tato gāḍhaṃ nipatitā gṛhya hastaiḥ parasparam || 52.14 ||

Then all of us, driven by the urgency of our task, plunged into it, gripping one another's hands tightly.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.52.15)

इदं प्रविष्टाः सहसा बिलं तिमिरसंवृतम् । एतन्नः कार्यमेतेन कृत्येन वयमागताः ॥ 52.15 ॥

idaṃ praviṣṭāḥ sahasā bilaṃ timirasaṃvṛtam | etannaḥ kāryametena kṛtyena vayamāgatāḥ || 52.15 ||

We suddenly entered this darkness-veiled cave; this is our task, and it is for this very purpose that we have come.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.52.16)

त्वां चैवोपगताः सर्वे परिद्यूना बुभुक्षिताः । आतिथ्यधर्मदत्तानि मूलानि च फलानि च ॥ 52.16 ॥

tvāṃ caivopagatāḥ sarve paridyūnā bubhukṣitāḥ | ātithyadharmadattāni mūlāni ca phalāni ca || 52.16 ||

And all of us, exhausted and famished, came to you; and the roots and fruits given to us as an act of hospitality,

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.52.17)

अस्माभिरुपयुक्तानि बुभुक्षापरिपीडितैः । यत् त्वया रक्षिताः सर्वे म्रियमाणा बुभुक्षया ॥ 52.17 ॥

asmābhirupayuktāni bubhukṣāparipīḍitaiḥ | yat tvayā rakṣitāḥ sarve mriyamāṇā bubhukṣayā || 52.17 ||

—were partaken of by us, tormented by hunger; and since you have thus saved all of us, who were dying of starvation,

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.52.18)

ब्रूहि प्रत्युपकारार्थं किं ते कुर्वन्तु वानराः । एवमुक्ता तु सर्वज्ञा वानरैस्तैः स्वयंप्रभा ॥ 52.18 ॥

brūhi pratyupakārārthaṃ kiṃ te kurvantu vānarāḥ | evamuktā tu sarvajñā vānaraistaiḥ svayaṃprabhā || 52.18 ||

—tell us what these vanaras may do in return for this kindness.' Thus addressed by those vanaras, the all-knowing Svayamprabha,

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.52.19)

प्रत्युवाच ततः सर्वानिदं वानरयूथपान् । सर्वेषां परितुष्टास्मि वानराणां तरस्विनाम् ॥ 52.19 ॥

pratyuvāca tataḥ sarvānidaṃ vānarayūthapān | sarveṣāṃ parituṣṭāsmi vānarāṇāṃ tarasvinām || 52.19 ||

—replied thus to all those vanara chiefs: 'I am well pleased with all of you swift vanaras.

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.52.20)

चरन्त्या मम धर्मेण न कार्यमिह केनचित् । एवमुक्तः शुभं वाक्यं तापस्या धर्मसंहितम् ॥ 52.20 ॥

carantyā mama dharmeṇa na kāryamiha kenacit | evamuktaḥ śubhaṃ vākyaṃ tāpasyā dharmasaṃhitam || 52.20 ||

'As one who lives by dharma, I have no need here of anything from anyone.' Addressed with this auspicious, righteous speech of the ascetic woman,

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.52.21)

उवाच हनुमान् वाक्यं तामनिन्दितलोचनाम् । शरणं त्वां प्रपन्नाः स्मः सर्वे वै धर्मचारिणीम् ॥ 52.21 ॥

uvāca hanumān vākyaṃ tāmaninditalocanām | śaraṇaṃ tvāṃ prapannāḥ smaḥ sarve vai dharmacāriṇīm || 52.21 ||

—Hanuman spoke this word to her of flawless eyes: 'O righteous one, we have all indeed taken refuge in you.

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.52.22)

यः कृतः समयोऽस्मासु सुग्रीवेण महात्मना । स तु कालो व्यतिक्रान्तो बिले च परिवर्तताम् ॥ 52.22 ॥

yaḥ kṛtaḥ samayo'smāsu sugrīveṇa mahātmanā | sa tu kālo vyatikrānto bile ca parivartatām || 52.22 ||

'The time-limit that the great-souled Sugreeva set for us has already passed, while we wandered about within this cave.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.52.23)

सा त्वमस्माद् बिलादस्मानुत्तारयितुमर्हसि । तस्मात् सुग्रीववचनादतिक्रान्तान् गतायुषः ॥ 52.23 ॥

sā tvamasmād bilādasmānuttārayitumarhasi | tasmāt sugrīvavacanādatikrāntān gatāyuṣaḥ || 52.23 ||

'You ought, therefore, to bring us out of this cave; for, having exceeded Sugreeva's appointed time, our lives are as good as forfeit.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.52.24)

त्रातुमर्हसि नः सर्वान् सुग्रीवभयशङ्कितान् । महच्च कार्यमस्माभिः कर्तव्यं धर्मचारिणि ॥ 52.24 ॥

trātumarhasi naḥ sarvān sugrīvabhayaśaṅkitān | mahacca kāryamasmābhiḥ kartavyaṃ dharmacāriṇi || 52.24 ||

'You should save us all, who are fearful of Sugreeva's wrath; and, O righteous one, a great task still remains for us to accomplish.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.52.25)

तच्चापि न कृतं कार्यमस्माभिरिह वासिभिः । एवमुक्ता हनुमता तापसी वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 52.25 ॥

taccāpi na kṛtaṃ kāryamasmābhiriha vāsibhiḥ | evamuktā hanumatā tāpasī vākyamabravīt || 52.25 ||

'And that task, too, remains undone by us while dwelling here.' Thus addressed by Hanuman, the ascetic woman spoke:

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.52.26)

जीवता दुष्करं मन्ये प्रविष्टेन निवर्तितुम् । तपसः सुप्रभावेण नियमोपार्जितेन च ॥ 52.26 ॥

jīvatā duṣkaraṃ manye praviṣṭena nivartitum | tapasaḥ suprabhāveṇa niyamopārjitena ca || 52.26 ||

'I consider it well-nigh impossible for one who has entered here to return alive. Yet, by the great power of my austerity, earned through strict observance,

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.52.27)

सर्वानेव बिलादस्मात् तारयिष्यामि वानरान् । निमीलयत चक्षूंषि सर्वे वानरपुङ्गवाः ॥ 52.27 ॥

sarvāneva bilādasmāt tārayiṣyāmi vānarān | nimīlayata cakṣūṃṣi sarve vānarapuṅgavāḥ || 52.27 ||

—I shall bring all of you vanaras safely out of this cave. Close your eyes, all you foremost of vanaras.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.52.28)

नहि निष्क्रमितुं शक्यमनिमीलितलोचनैः । ततो निमीलिताः सर्वे सुकुमाराङ्गुलैः करैः ॥ 52.28 ॥

nahi niṣkramituṃ śakyamanimīlitalocanaiḥ | tato nimīlitāḥ sarve sukumārāṅgulaiḥ karaiḥ || 52.28 ||

'For it is not possible to emerge with eyes open.' Then all of them, with their delicate fingers,

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.52.29)

सहसा पिदधुर्दृष्टिं हृष्टा गमनकांक्षया । वानरास्तु महात्मानो हस्तरुद्धमुखास्तदा ॥ 52.29 ॥

sahasā pidadhurdṛṣṭiṃ hṛṣṭā gamanakāṃkṣayā | vānarāstu mahātmāno hastaruddhamukhāstadā || 52.29 ||

—suddenly covered their eyes, delighted with eagerness to depart; and then those great-souled vanaras, their faces covered by their hands,

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.52.30)

निमेषान्तरमात्रेण बिलादुत्तारितास्तया । उवाच सर्वांस्तांस्तत्र तापसी धर्मचारिणी ॥ 52.30 ॥

nimeṣāntaramātreṇa bilāduttāritāstayā | uvāca sarvāṃstāṃstatra tāpasī dharmacāriṇī || 52.30 ||

—were brought out of the cave by her in the mere span of a wink. There, the righteous ascetic woman said to them all,

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.52.31)

निःसृतान् विषमात् तस्मात् समाश्वास्येदमब्रवीत् । एष विन्ध्यो गिरिः श्रीमान् नानाद्रुमलतायुतः ॥ 52.31 ॥

niḥsṛtān viṣamāt tasmāt samāśvāsyedamabravīt | eṣa vindhyo giriḥ śrīmān nānādrumalatāyutaḥ || 52.31 ||

—having comforted them upon their emergence from that perilous place, she said this: 'This is the glorious Vindhya mountain, filled with various trees and creepers.

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.52.32)

एष प्रस्रवणः शैलः सागरोऽयं महोदधिः । स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु गमिष्यामि भवनं वानरर्षभाः । इत्युक्त्वा तद् बिलं श्रीमत् प्रविवेश स्वयंप्रभा ॥ 52.32 ॥

eṣa prasravaṇaḥ śailaḥ sāgaro'yaṃ mahodadhiḥ | svasti vo'stu gamiṣyāmi bhavanaṃ vānararṣabhāḥ | ityuktvā tad bilaṃ śrīmat praviveśa svayaṃprabhā || 52.32 ||

'This is the Prasravana mountain, and this is the great ocean, the sea. May all be well with you, O foremost of vanaras; I shall now return to my mansion.' Having said this, Svayamprabha entered that splendid cave once more.