Hanuman Searches the Drinking-Hall of Ravana

Shloka 1 (sundara.11.1)

अवधूय च तां बुद्धिं बभूवावस्थितस्तदा । जगाम चापरां चिन्तां सीतां प्रति महाकपिः ॥ 11.1 ॥

avadhūya ca tāṃ buddhiṃ babhūvāvasthitastadā | jagāma cāparāṃ cintāṃ sītāṃ prati mahākapiḥ || 11.1 ||

Casting off that thought, the great monkey Hanuman then became settled in mind, and turned to another thought concerning Sita.

Shloka 2 (sundara.11.2)

न रामेण वियुक्ता सा स्वप्तुमर्हति भामिनी । न भोक्तुं नाप्यलंकर्तुं न पानमुपसेवितुम् ॥ 11.2 ॥

na rāmeṇa viyuktā sā svaptumarhati bhāminī | na bhoktuṃ nāpyalaṃkartuṃ na pānamupasevitum || 11.2 ||

"That lovely woman, separated from Rama, would not be able to sleep, nor to eat, nor to adorn herself, nor to partake of any drink,

Shloka 3 (sundara.11.3)

नान्यं नरमुपस्थातुं सुराणामपि चेश्वरम् । न हि रामसमः कश्चिद् विद्यते त्रिदशेष्वपि ॥ 11.3 ॥

nānyaṃ naramupasthātuṃ surāṇāmapi ceśvaram | na hi rāmasamaḥ kaścid vidyate tridaśeṣvapi || 11.3 ||

"nor approach any other man, even were he the lord of the gods himself; for indeed there is no one equal to Rama, even among the thirty gods."

Shloka 4 (sundara.11.4)

अन्येयमिति निश्चित्य भूयस्तत्र चचार सः । पानभूमौ हरिश्रेष्ठः सीतासंदर्शनोत्सुकः ॥ 11.4 ॥

anyeyamiti niścitya bhūyastatra cacāra saḥ | pānabhūmau hariśreṣṭhaḥ sītāsaṃdarśanotsukaḥ || 11.4 ||

Concluding, "this is a different woman," that best of monkeys, eager for the sight of Sita, paced about there again in the drinking-hall.

Shloka 5 (sundara.11.5)

क्रीडितेनापराः क्लान्ता गीतेन च तथापराः । नृत्येन चापराः क्लान्ताः पानविप्रहतास्तथा ॥ 11.5 ॥

krīḍitenāparāḥ klāntā gītena ca tathāparāḥ | nṛtyena cāparāḥ klāntāḥ pānaviprahatāstathā || 11.5 ||

Some women were weary from sport, others likewise from singing; some were tired from dancing, and others overcome by drink.

Shloka 6 (sundara.11.6)

मुरजेषु मृदंगेषु चेलिकासु च संस्थिताः । तथास्तरणमुख्येषु संविष्टाश्चापराः स्त्रियः ॥ 11.6 ॥

murajeṣu mṛdaṃgeṣu celikāsu ca saṃsthitāḥ | tathāstaraṇamukhyeṣu saṃviṣṭāścāparāḥ striyaḥ || 11.6 ||

Some lay resting upon tabors, drums, and low seats; other women lay stretched upon fine coverlets and the like.

Shloka 7 (sundara.11.7)

अंगनानां सहस्रेण भूषितेन विभूषणैः । रूपसंलापशीलेन युक्तगीतार्थभाषिणा ॥ 11.7 ॥

aṃganānāṃ sahasreṇa bhūṣitena vibhūṣaṇaiḥ | rūpasaṃlāpaśīlena yuktagītārthabhāṣiṇā || 11.7 ||

By a thousand women adorned with ornaments, given to talk of beauty, skilled at expounding the meaning of the songs being sung,

Shloka 8 (sundara.11.8)

देशकालाभियुक्तेन युक्तवाक्याभिधायिना । रताधिकेन संयुक्तां ददर्श हरियूथपः ॥ 11.8 ॥

deśakālābhiyuktena yuktavākyābhidhāyinā | ratādhikena saṃyuktāṃ dadarśa hariyūthapaḥ || 11.8 ||

and speaking words fitting to time and place — that gathering marked by excessive love-play — the lord of the monkey-troop beheld.

Shloka 9 (sundara.11.9)

तासां मध्ये महाबाहुः शुशुभे राक्षसेश्वरः । गोष्ठे महति मुख्यानां गवां मध्ये यथा वृषः ॥ 11.9 ॥

tāsāṃ madhye mahābāhuḥ śuśubhe rākṣaseśvaraḥ | goṣṭhe mahati mukhyānāṃ gavāṃ madhye yathā vṛṣaḥ || 11.9 ||

In the midst of those women, the mighty-armed lord of the rakshasas shone like a bull amid the finest cows in a great cow-pen.

Shloka 10 (sundara.11.10)

स राक्षसेन्द्रः शुशुभे ताभिः परिवृतः स्वयम् । करेणुभिर्यथारण्ये परिकीर्णो महाद्विपः ॥ 11.10 ॥

sa rākṣasendraḥ śuśubhe tābhiḥ parivṛtaḥ svayam | kareṇubhiryathāraṇye parikīrṇo mahādvipaḥ || 11.10 ||

That lord of rakshasas, himself surrounded by those women, shone like a great elephant encircled by she-elephants in the forest.

Shloka 11 (sundara.11.11)

सर्वकामैरुपेतां च पानभूमिं महात्मनः । ददर्श कपिशार्दूलस्तस्य रक्षःपतेर्गृहे ॥ 11.11 ॥

sarvakāmairupetāṃ ca pānabhūmiṃ mahātmanaḥ | dadarśa kapiśārdūlastasya rakṣaḥpatergṛhe || 11.11 ||

In the house of that great-souled lord of the rakshasas, the tiger among monkeys also saw a drinking-hall furnished with everything desirable.

Shloka 12 (sundara.11.12)

मृगाणां महिषाणां च वराहाणां च भागशः । तत्र न्यस्तानि मांसानि पानभूमौ ददर्श सः ॥ 11.12 ॥

mṛgāṇāṃ mahiṣāṇāṃ ca varāhāṇāṃ ca bhāgaśaḥ | tatra nyastāni māṃsāni pānabhūmau dadarśa saḥ || 11.12 ||

There, in the drinking-hall, he saw the flesh of deer, of buffalo, and of boar, set out portion by portion.

Shloka 13 (sundara.11.13)

रौक्मेषु च विशालेषु भाजनेष्वप्यभक्षितान् । ददर्श कपिशार्दूलो मयूरान् कुक्कुटांस्तथा ॥ 11.13 ॥

raukmeṣu ca viśāleṣu bhājaneṣvapyabhakṣitān | dadarśa kapiśārdūlo mayūrān kukkuṭāṃstathā || 11.13 ||

In broad golden vessels the tiger among monkeys also saw peacocks and fowl yet untouched,

Shloka 14 (sundara.11.14)

वराहवाध्रीणसकान् दधिसौवर्चलायुतान् । शल्यान् मृगमयूरांश्च हनुमानन्ववैक्षत ॥ 11.14 ॥

varāhavādhrīṇasakān dadhisauvarcalāyutān | śalyān mṛgamayūrāṃśca hanumānanvavaikṣata || 11.14 ||

and dishes of boar-meat prepared with curd and rock-salt; Hanuman closely examined the bony cuts of deer and peacock,

Shloka 15 (sundara.11.15)

कृकरान् विविधान् सिद्धांश्चकोरानर्धभक्षितान् । महिषानेकशल्यांश्च छागांश्च कृतनिष्ठितान् ॥ 11.15 ॥

kṛkarān vividhān siddhāṃścakorānardhabhakṣitān | mahiṣānekaśalyāṃśca chāgāṃśca kṛtaniṣṭhitān || 11.15 ||

and various cooked partridges, half-eaten cakora birds, single-boned cuts of buffalo, and goats fully dressed and cooked.

Shloka 16 (sundara.11.16)

लेह्यानुच्चावचान् पेयान् भोज्यान्युच्चावचानि च । तथाम्ललवणोत्तंसैर्विविधै रागखाण्डवैः ॥ 11.16 ॥

lehyānuccāvacān peyān bhojyānyuccāvacāni ca | tathāmlalavaṇottaṃsairvividhai rāgakhāṇḍavaiḥ || 11.16 ||

There were confections of every kind, drinks, and foods of every kind besides; likewise various sour, salted, and sweet relishes,

Shloka 17 (sundara.11.17)

महानूपुरकेयूरैरपविद्धैर्महाधनैः । पानभाजनविक्षिप्तैः फलैश्च विविधैरपि ॥ 11.17 ॥

mahānūpurakeyūrairapaviddhairmahādhanaiḥ | pānabhājanavikṣiptaiḥ phalaiśca vividhairapi || 11.17 ||

costly great anklets and armlets lay cast off here and there, and fruits of many kinds lay scattered among the drinking-vessels.

Shloka 18 (sundara.11.18)

कृतपुष्पोपहारा भूरधिकां पुष्यति श्रियम् । तत्र तत्र च विन्यस्तैः सुश्लिष्टशयनासनैः ॥ 11.18 ॥

kṛtapuṣpopahārā bhūradhikāṃ puṣyati śriyam | tatra tatra ca vinyastaiḥ suśliṣṭaśayanāsanaiḥ || 11.18 ||

The ground, adorned with offerings of flowers, wore an ever-greater beauty; and with well-fitted couches and seats placed here and there,

Shloka 19 (sundara.11.19)

पानभूमिर्विना वह्निं प्रदीप्तेवोपलक्ष्यते । बहुप्रकारैर्विविधैर्वरसंस्कारसंस्कृतैः ॥ 11.19 ॥

pānabhūmirvinā vahniṃ pradīptevopalakṣyate | bahuprakārairvividhairvarasaṃskārasaṃskṛtaiḥ || 11.19 ||

the drinking-hall seemed as if ablaze though without fire; there, excellent meats of many kinds, skilfully prepared,

Shloka 20 (sundara.11.20)

मांसैः कुशलसंयुक्तैः पानभूमिगतैः पृथक् । दिव्याः प्रसन्ना विविधाः सुराः कृतसुरा अपि ॥ 11.20 ॥

māṃsaiḥ kuśalasaṃyuktaiḥ pānabhūmigataiḥ pṛthak | divyāḥ prasannā vividhāḥ surāḥ kṛtasurā api || 11.20 ||

were set apart about the drinking-hall; there were divine, clear liquors of many kinds, and wines skilfully prepared as well,

Shloka 21 (sundara.11.21)

शर्करासवमाध्वीकाः पुष्पासवफलासवाः । वासचूर्णैश्च विविधैर्मृष्टास्तैस्तैः पृथक् पृथक् ॥ 11.21 ॥

śarkarāsavamādhvīkāḥ puṣpāsavaphalāsavāḥ | vāsacūrṇaiśca vividhairmṛṣṭāstaistaiḥ pṛthak pṛthak || 11.21 ||

sugar-wine and honey-wine, flower-wine and fruit-wine — each perfumed separately with its own various scented powders.

Shloka 22 (sundara.11.22)

संतता शुशुभे भूमिर्माल्यैश्च बहुसंस्थितैः । हिरण्मयैश्च कलशैर्भाजनैः स्फाटिकैरपि ॥ 11.22 ॥

saṃtatā śuśubhe bhūmirmālyaiśca bahusaṃsthitaiḥ | hiraṇmayaiśca kalaśairbhājanaiḥ sphāṭikairapi || 11.22 ||

The ground shone everywhere with garlands set thickly about, and with golden pitchers and vessels of crystal as well,

Shloka 23 (sundara.11.23)

जाम्बूनदमयैश्चान्यैः करकैरभिसंवृता । राजतेषु च कुम्भेषु जाम्बूनदमयेषु च ॥ 11.23 ॥

jāmbūnadamayaiścānyaiḥ karakairabhisaṃvṛtā | rājateṣu ca kumbheṣu jāmbūnadamayeṣu ca || 11.23 ||

and was covered too with other jars made of jambunada gold. And in pots of silver, and in pots of that same gold,

Shloka 24 (sundara.11.24)

पानश्रेष्ठां तथा भूमिं कपिस्तत्र ददर्श सः । सोऽपश्यच्छातकुम्भानि सीधोर्मणिमयानि च ॥ 11.24 ॥

pānaśreṣṭhāṃ tathā bhūmiṃ kapistatra dadarśa saḥ | so'paśyacchātakumbhāni sīdhormaṇimayāni ca || 11.24 ||

the monkey saw there the ground filled with the finest drink; he also saw vessels of pure gold and of jewels, filled with sidhu-wine,

Shloka 25 (sundara.11.25)

तानि तानि च पूर्णानि भाजनानि महाकपिः । क्वचिदर्धावशेषाणि क्वचित् पीतान्यशेषतः ॥ 11.25 ॥

tāni tāni ca pūrṇāni bhājanāni mahākapiḥ | kvacidardhāvaśeṣāṇi kvacit pītānyaśeṣataḥ || 11.25 ||

and the great monkey saw those very vessels, some full, some half-emptied, and some drunk completely dry,

Shloka 26 (sundara.11.26)

क्वचिन्नैव प्रपीतानि पानानि स ददर्श ह । क्वचिद् भक्ष्यांश्च विविधान् क्वचित् पानानि भागशः ॥ 11.26 ॥

kvacinnaiva prapītāni pānāni sa dadarśa ha | kvacid bhakṣyāṃśca vividhān kvacit pānāni bhāgaśaḥ || 11.26 ||

and some drinks he saw not touched at all; here various foods, there portions of drink set out separately,

Shloka 27 (sundara.11.27)

क्वचित्प्रभिन्नैः करकैः क्वचिदालोडितैर्घटैः । क्वचित्संपृक्तमाल्यानि जलानि च फलानि च ॥ 11.27 ॥

kvacitprabhinnaiḥ karakaiḥ kvacidāloḍitairghaṭaiḥ | kvacitsaṃpṛktamālyāni jalāni ca phalāni ca || 11.27 ||

here shattered jugs, there jars overturned and stirred about, and here garlands mingled together with water and fruit —

Shloka 28 (sundara.11.28)

क्वचिदर्धावशेषाणि पश्यन् वै विचचार ह । शयनान्यत्र नारीणां शून्यानि बहुधा पुनः । परस्परं समाश्लिष्य काश्चित् सुप्ता वरांगनाः ॥ 11.28 ॥

kvacidardhāvaśeṣāṇi paśyan vai vicacāra ha | śayanānyatra nārīṇāṃ śūnyāni bahudhā punaḥ | parasparaṃ samāśliṣya kāścit suptā varāṃganāḥ || 11.28 ||

seeing all this half-consumed, he wandered about. Many of the women's couches lay empty there again and again; while some lovely women, embracing one another, lay fast asleep,

Shloka 29 (sundara.11.29)

काचिच्च वस्त्रमन्यस्या अपहृत्योपगुह्य च । उपगम्याबला सुप्ता निद्राबलपराजिता ॥ 11.29 ॥

kācicca vastramanyasyā apahṛtyopaguhya ca | upagamyābalā suptā nidrābalaparājitā || 11.29 ||

and one, having drawn away another's garment and clasped it close, lay pressed near her, asleep, overcome by the force of slumber.

Shloka 30 (sundara.11.30)

तासामुच्छ्वासवातेन वस्त्रं माल्यं च गात्रजम् । नात्यर्थं स्पन्दते चित्रं प्राप्य मन्दमिवानिलम् ॥ 11.30 ॥

tāsāmucchvāsavātena vastraṃ mālyaṃ ca gātrajam | nātyarthaṃ spandate citraṃ prāpya mandamivānilam || 11.30 ||

By the breath of their breathing, the garments and the garlands on their bodies stirred but very faintly — strange it seemed, as though touched by the gentlest of winds.

Shloka 31 (sundara.11.31)

चन्दनस्य च शीतस्य सीधोर्मधुरसस्य च । विविधस्य च माल्यस्य पुष्पस्य विविधस्य च ॥ 11.31 ॥

candanasya ca śītasya sīdhormadhurasasya ca | vividhasya ca mālyasya puṣpasya vividhasya ca || 11.31 ||

Of cool sandalwood, of the honeyed sidhu-wine, of garlands of many kinds, and of flowers of many kinds,

Shloka 32 (sundara.11.32)

बहुधा मारुतस्तस्य गन्धं विविधमुद्वहन् । स्नानानां चन्दनानां च धूपानां चैव मूर्च्छितः ॥ 11.32 ॥

bahudhā mārutastasya gandhaṃ vividhamudvahan | snānānāṃ candanānāṃ ca dhūpānāṃ caiva mūrcchitaḥ || 11.32 ||

the wind, carrying their varied fragrance on every side, grew still more dense with the scent of bathing-waters, sandal-paste, and incense,

Shloka 33 (sundara.11.33)

प्रववौ सुरभिर्गन्धो विमाने पुष्पके तदा । श्यामावदातास्तत्रान्याः काश्चित् कृष्णा वरांगनाः ॥ 11.33 ॥

pravavau surabhirgandho vimāne puṣpake tadā | śyāmāvadātāstatrānyāḥ kāścit kṛṣṇā varāṃganāḥ || 11.33 ||

and blew fragrant then through the Pushpaka chariot. There, some lovely women were of a dark golden hue, others were dark-complexioned,

Shloka 34 (sundara.11.34)

काश्चित् काञ्चनवर्णाङ्ग्यः प्रमदा राक्षसालये । तासां निद्रावशत्वाच्च मदनेन विमूर्च्छितम् ॥ 11.34 ॥

kāścit kāñcanavarṇāṅgyaḥ pramadā rākṣasālaye | tāsāṃ nidrāvaśatvācca madanena vimūrcchitam || 11.34 ||

and some, in that dwelling of the rakshasa, had limbs of a golden hue; and because they were overcome by sleep and had swooned with passion,

Shloka 35 (sundara.11.35)

पद्मिनीनां प्रसुप्तानां रूपमासीद् यथैव हि । एवं सर्वमशेषेण रावणान्तःपुरं कपिः । ददर्श स महातेजा न ददर्श च जानकीम् ॥ 11.35 ॥

padminīnāṃ prasuptānāṃ rūpamāsīd yathaiva hi | evaṃ sarvamaśeṣeṇa rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṃ kapiḥ | dadarśa sa mahātejā na dadarśa ca jānakīm || 11.35 ||

their beauty was just like that of sleeping lotus-flowers. Thus did the monkey of great splendour behold, in its entirety, the whole inner apartments of Ravana — yet he did not see Janaki there.

Shloka 36 (sundara.11.36)

निरीक्षमाणश्च ततस्ताः स्त्रियः स महाकपिः । जगाम महतीं शंकां धर्मसाध्वसशंकितः ॥ 11.36 ॥

nirīkṣamāṇaśca tatastāḥ striyaḥ sa mahākapiḥ | jagāma mahatīṃ śaṃkāṃ dharmasādhvasaśaṃkitaḥ || 11.36 ||

Then, gazing upon those women, that great monkey fell into a deep misgiving, troubled by fear of a breach of dharma.

Shloka 37 (sundara.11.37)

परदारावरोधस्य प्रसुप्तस्य निरीक्षणम् । इदं खलु ममात्यर्थं धर्मलोपं करिष्यति ॥ 11.37 ॥

paradārāvarodhasya prasuptasya nirīkṣaṇam | idaṃ khalu mamātyarthaṃ dharmalopaṃ kariṣyati || 11.37 ||

"This gazing upon another's sleeping wives will surely bring about, for me, a most grievous breach of dharma —

Shloka 38 (sundara.11.38)

न हि मे परदाराणां दृष्टिर्विषयवर्तिनी । अयं चात्र मया दृष्टः परदारपरिग्रहः ॥ 11.38 ॥

na hi me paradārāṇāṃ dṛṣṭirviṣayavartinī | ayaṃ cātra mayā dṛṣṭaḥ paradāraparigrahaḥ || 11.38 ||

"for indeed my sight has never before rested upon another's wives, and yet here I have looked upon this whole company of another's wives."

Shloka 39 (sundara.11.39)

तस्य प्रादुरभूच्चिन्ता पुनरन्या मनस्विनः । निश्चितैकान्तचित्तस्य कार्यनिश्चयदर्शिनी ॥ 11.39 ॥

tasya prādurabhūccintā punaranyā manasvinaḥ | niścitaikāntacittasya kāryaniścayadarśinī || 11.39 ||

Then another thought arose again in that wise one, whose mind was fixed and resolute — a thought that discerned the truth of the matter:

Shloka 40 (sundara.11.40)

कामं दृष्टा मया सर्वा विश्वस्ता रावणस्त्रियः । न तु मे मनसा किंचिद् वैकृत्यमुपपद्यते ॥ 11.40 ॥

kāmaṃ dṛṣṭā mayā sarvā viśvastā rāvaṇastriyaḥ | na tu me manasā kiṃcid vaikṛtyamupapadyate || 11.40 ||

"Though I have indeed looked freely upon all these unguarded wives of Ravana, yet no perversity whatsoever has arisen in my mind."

Shloka 41 (sundara.11.41)

मनो हि हेतुः सर्वेषामिन्द्रियाणां प्रवर्तने । शुभाशुभास्ववस्थासु तच्च मे सुव्यवस्थितम् ॥ 11.41 ॥

mano hi hetuḥ sarveṣāmindriyāṇāṃ pravartane | śubhāśubhāsvavasthāsu tacca me suvyavasthitam || 11.41 ||

"For the mind alone is the cause of the working of all the senses, in states both fair and foul; and mine has remained well-governed."

Shloka 42 (sundara.11.42)

नान्यत्र हि मया शक्या वैदेही परिमार्गितुम् । स्त्रियो हि स्त्रीषु दृश्यन्ते सदा सम्परिमार्गणे ॥ 11.42 ॥

nānyatra hi mayā śakyā vaidehī parimārgitum | striyo hi strīṣu dṛśyante sadā samparimārgaṇe || 11.42 ||

"Besides, nowhere else could Vaidehi have been sought by me — for women, in a thorough search, are always to be looked for among women."

Shloka 43 (sundara.11.43)

यस्य सत्त्वस्य या योनिस्तस्यां तत् परिमार्गते । न शक्यं प्रमदा नष्टा मृगीषु परिमार्गितुम् ॥ 11.43 ॥

yasya sattvasya yā yonistasyāṃ tat parimārgate | na śakyaṃ pramadā naṣṭā mṛgīṣu parimārgitum || 11.43 ||

"Whatever creature belongs to whatever species is sought among its own kind; a lost woman cannot be searched for among deer."

Shloka 44 (sundara.11.44)

तदिदं मार्गितं तावच्छुद्धेन मनसा मया । रावणान्तःपुरं सर्वं दृश्यते न च जानकी ॥ 11.44 ॥

tadidaṃ mārgitaṃ tāvacchuddhena manasā mayā | rāvaṇāntaḥpuraṃ sarvaṃ dṛśyate na ca jānakī || 11.44 ||

"So then, this entire inner apartment of Ravana has now been searched by me with a pure mind — and yet Janaki is nowhere to be seen."

Shloka 45 (sundara.11.45)

देवगन्धर्वकन्याश्च नागकन्याश्च वीर्यवान् । अवेक्षमाणो हनुमान् नैवापश्यत जानकीम् ॥ 11.45 ॥

devagandharvakanyāśca nāgakanyāśca vīryavān | avekṣamāṇo hanumān naivāpaśyata jānakīm || 11.45 ||

Though the mighty Hanuman looked closely even upon the daughters of gods and gandharvas and the daughters of nagas, still he did not see Janaki.

Shloka 46 (sundara.11.46)

तामपश्यन् कपिस्तत्र पश्यंश्चान्या वरस्त्रियः । अपक्रम्य तदा वीरः प्रध्यातुमुपचक्रमे ॥ 11.46 ॥

tāmapaśyan kapistatra paśyaṃścānyā varastriyaḥ | apakramya tadā vīraḥ pradhyātumupacakrame || 11.46 ||

Not seeing her there, but seeing only other lovely women, that heroic monkey then withdrew and began to ponder deeply.

Shloka 47 (sundara.11.47)

स भूयस्तु परं श्रीमान् मारुतिर्यत्नमास्थितः । अपानभूमिमुत्सृज्य तद्विचेतुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ 11.47 ॥

sa bhūyastu paraṃ śrīmān mārutiryatnamāsthitaḥ | apānabhūmimutsṛjya tadvicetuṃ pracakrame || 11.47 ||

Then that glorious son of the Wind-god, resorting once more to the utmost effort, abandoned the drinking-hall and set out to search further for her.